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A Renaissance Black Man in a White Man's World

A Beacon for Freedom in the City

2012 Blog Entries
August

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STADIUM CONSTRUCTION  MONITOR/WATCH/SCORECARD
(posting begun on Saturday, Aug  11, 2012, 2:10 a.m.

Concerns that will impact on the Black Community:
1.  Diversity, inclusion job hiring compliance
2.  Delays
3.  Cost Overruns
Predictions in past columns:
1.  Fight to achieve hiring compliance given record of diversity non-compliance.
2,  “Blacks Need Not Apply” column of 9 projets, April 20, 2005
2.  1-2 year delay of opening
3.  Lots of pigs fighting at the trough, offering nothing
4.  Local liars will lead to out of state contractors
5.  Hearings will reveal information disqualifying local firms
6.  City and state will fight excellent planning suggesions, as here, here, and here.
Repeatedly raised question:  as companies working on the last five major projects (Target Field, TCF gophers Minn Board of Ed HQ on broadway, Fairview Children’s Hospital, Light rail in St. Paul), were not in compliance minimally through 2010 (if not later), which essentially now serve as their auditions, what now, given they can’t qualify for the Vikings stadium according to the Stadium legislation?
Posted Saturday, Augut 11, 2012, 2:10 a.m.

TUESDAY, August 4, 2012.
Could it be that the Vikings had to go out of state to Wisconsin to not only find a qualified firm, Hammes Company (did similar work on Laubeau Field, and on the Giants/Jets Stadium in New Jersey), but also to find one that has a record of diversity compliance lacking in Minnesota companies, that also has a “clean” record in hospital construction and can’t be disqualified for failure to be in past compliance? 
Posted Saturday, Augut 11, 2012, 2:10 a.m.

FRIDAY, August 3, 2012
1.  34 contracts awarded, none to Blacks
2.  1 year delay probability announced:  open in 2017
3.  1st category of cost overrun announced:  design delay up to a year.
4.  Mondale:  each year of delay adds $50M to cost
5.  Design RFP for $40-50 million seems very high.
6.  $750 million for environmental study suggests another year delay from findings.
7.  Legislation mandated equity plan still not completed and thus not in place, will add more delay.
Posted Thursday, Augut 11, 2012, 2:10 a.m.


Ron hosts “Black Focus” on Channel 17, MTN-TV, Sundays, 5-6 pm. Formerly head of the Minneapolis Civil Rights Commission and the Urban League, he continues his “watchdog” role for Minneapolis. Order his book, hear his voice, read his solution papers, and read his between columns “web log” at www.TheMinneapolisStory.com.

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