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Council Member Julie Won introduces and explains the importance of Proposed Introduction 23-A
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Council Member Julie Won, chair of the Committee on Contracts, opens the meeting and introduces Proposed Introduction 23-A, sponsored by Council Member Selvena Brooks-Powers. The bill requires the city controller to publish an annual report on citywide purchases from Minority and Women-Owned Business Enterprises (MWBEs), aiming to increase transparency in MWBE contracting.
- Won emphasizes the importance of MWBE contracting as a tool to increase business opportunities for marginalized communities
- The proposed legislation will provide essential data for future policy discussions on diversifying vendor selection
- Won urges her colleagues to vote in favor of the bill and acknowledges the committee staff for their work
Julie Won
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Good morning, and welcome to this committee vote of the New York City council's committee on contracts.
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Today is Thursday, 05/01/2025.
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My name is Julie Wan.
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I have the privilege of chairing this committee.
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Today marks a crucial moment in the council's ongoing efforts to improve New York City system for supporting minority and women owned business enterprises seeking public contracts.
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We're voting on a bill today sponsored by our colleague, council member, Selvina Brooks Powers, proposed introduction 23 a.
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This legislation will require the controller to publish an annual report on citywide purchases of goods and services from minority and women owned business enterprises or MWBEs.
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Proposed intro 23 a provides needed transparency into the state of MWBE contracting.
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The granting of contracts to MWBE firms is one of the most powerful tools in the city has to increase business opportunities for marginalized communities.
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Reporting requirements do exist informing lawmakers on agency progress and meeting MWBE goals.
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However gaps also exist in agency reporting and the controller's office has shown continued dedication to neutral and more detailed reporting.
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The citywide report will give policy makers, advocates, and businesses seeking work with agencies a clearer picture of whether we are making good on promises to expand these contracting opportunities year over year.
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It will also further demonstrate which parts of the city government needs to do a better job of meeting MWB contracting goals.
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The reports mandated by this bill will not be enough to the on their own to remedy the year of the years of discrimination that makes special MWB contracting programs necessary in the first place, they will provide information that will be an essential starting point to future discussions of the city's effort to diversify its vendor selection.
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I urge my colleagues to consider the impact of these of this bill will have and vote in favor favor of this.
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Before we vote, oh, I'd like to take I'd like to give council member, Selvina Brooks Powers, to talk about her bill.
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But before we vote, I'd like to thank the committee staff, senior counsel Alex Polinoff, counsel Christopher Sartori, policy analyst Alex Yablon, senior financial analyst Owen Kotowski for their hard work in putting this together for this hearing and preparing us for the vote.
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I'm gonna turn it over to council member Brooks Powers to share her statement on her bill.