TESTIMONY
Testimony: Matthew from Patriots True Patriots of America Testifies on Gender Disparities in MWBE Certification
3:32:22
·
3 min
Matthew, representing the Patriots True Patriots of America committee, speaks on perceived gender disparities and equity concerns within the MWBE certification process, questioning the program's focus and suggesting a reevaluation of its approach towards equity. Discussion expands to include Council Member Brooks Powers' clarification on the meeting's focus on uplifting underutilized black and brown businesses, while addressing the aim to scale minority businesses to prime levels.
Speaker 22
3:32:22
Good evening.
3:32:23
My name is Matthew.
3:32:24
I'm here to represent my committee, the patriots true patriots of America.
3:32:28
I wanna preface everything I'm about to say with two words.
3:32:31
That's disparity and equity.
3:32:35
Disparity, we're gonna go with there's an unusual ratio of men to women in the New York State government for some reason.
3:32:44
I'm not really sure what that's about, but I believe there's a direct direct correlation between that and equity as it pertains to the NWBE.
3:32:55
I just wanna say, you speak the words equity, but in your beginning speech, your focus is primarily black woman M WBE.
3:33:02
So how could you ensure me a black man that there is no sort of feminist collusion in the New York State government as it pertains to MWDs.
Speaker 1
3:33:11
Just to be clear, my opening statement was focus on black and brown businesses.
3:33:17
We also took it a little bit more in terms of a granular level because when you look at the data, black women are the least utilized businesses out of all.
3:33:29
So that was to lift up a category that is by far the most underutilized category, but it does not take away from the fact that today's focus has been on black and brown businesses.
3:33:43
Whether male or female.
Speaker 22
3:33:45
Thank you for that.
3:33:46
I also wanted to know your position on why not just eliminate the MWDE and look at everybody else equally equitable and just do thorough investigations on firms that you believe are not that do not have the assets, but sufficient enough to carry out a contract if they were deemed sufficient enough to do so if given the funds.
Speaker 1
3:34:08
So I just wanna kind of shift how we're doing this.
3:34:12
Right now, your seat is to testify to tell us what you would like and then I can follow-up with questions to get greater clarity so we could work together.
3:34:24
So is there specific testimony that you'd like to share?
3:34:28
You're right.
3:34:29
You're right.
3:34:30
You're right.
3:34:32
You're right.
3:34:33
You're right.
3:34:34
Sorry.
Speaker 22
3:34:34
No.
3:34:34
I really just wanted to know your position on that to be quite frank.
Speaker 1
3:34:37
Okay.
3:34:37
Well, I can answer you on that in terms of the MWD program.
3:34:43
As we see even by the numbers right now with the WBE program.
3:34:48
Minority businesses in particular are still far too underutilized.
3:34:53
Without this program that places a requirement for good faith for these businesses to even have a space at the table, it would probably be even less of that.
3:35:06
So right now, we're trying to create opportunity and to ensure that prime contractors are providing opportunities to minority businesses.
3:35:18
But the real goal is to be able to scale them so that they can be prime businesses so that they don't always have to necessarily go through the m WBE program, but they have to get their foot in the door to have that access, and that's what we're seeking.
3:35:32
But thank you for coming here.
3:35:34
I would love to have additional conversations to understand your perspective a bit better.
Speaker 22
3:35:40
Thank you.
Speaker 1
3:35:40
Thank you.
Speaker 3
3:35:49
Thank you.
3:35:50
Our next panel will be Christopher Leon Johnson and Raul Rivera.