Read on Twitter
I want to be personal for a sec.
For 2 years, I’ve hoped & prayed for @NYC_DOT to work with my company @ooneepod to bring secure bike prking 2 nyc.
Sadly, despite success, we are barely noticed. Such is often the plight of black & brown biz owners. https://nyc.streetsblog.org/2020/07/22/shabazz-stuart-city-contracts-hold-a-key-to-the-next-black-renaissance/
For 2 years, I’ve hoped & prayed for @NYC_DOT to work with my company @ooneepod to bring secure bike prking 2 nyc.
Sadly, despite success, we are barely noticed. Such is often the plight of black & brown biz owners. https://nyc.streetsblog.org/2020/07/22/shabazz-stuart-city-contracts-hold-a-key-to-the-next-black-renaissance/
…for perspective only about 3 percent of citywide contract dollars are spent w/black & brown biz. The more I continue on this journey, the more I realize that I’m not alone.
There are so many brilliant people who want to work w/city but can’t get noticed or dnt have access.
There are so many brilliant people who want to work w/city but can’t get noticed or dnt have access.
…my own story starts in 2017. The City repetadly called for a solution to 
bike parking.
With my experience in the BID world and knowing NYC, I knew that I could make a solution work. I quit my job and gave everything to show this.
I really believed in this mission.
bike parking. With my experience in the BID world and knowing NYC, I knew that I could make a solution work. I quit my job and gave everything to show this.
I really believed in this mission.
…Since that time we’ve proven that it works.
Don’t take my word for it, elected officials and communities have all asked us to expand. Our first few pilots have been extremely popular and useful with the community. https://vimeo.com/379407049
Don’t take my word for it, elected officials and communities have all asked us to expand. Our first few pilots have been extremely popular and useful with the community. https://vimeo.com/379407049
…Given that this was literally a stated priority for the city (in the @NYC_DOT strategic plan), and given that we have no competitors (the city even cancelled its own pilot)
I thought that the City would be rush to work with us. It seemed like such a slam dunk.
I was niave.
I thought that the City would be rush to work with us. It seemed like such a slam dunk.
I was niave.
…we’ve waited and hoped for an RFP that would allow us to formally share our vision. So far, nothing.
Along the way, ppl have told us that we should hire lobbyists and be willing to spend hundreds of thousands more to pursue a relationship with gov’t.
I cant do that….
Along the way, ppl have told us that we should hire lobbyists and be willing to spend hundreds of thousands more to pursue a relationship with gov’t.
I cant do that….
…but bigger (usually white) firms can.
I now am facing a reality that clock may run out on us and maybe @NYC_DOT will one day do this, but with a larger, better and much whiter mega-corporation that builds on our progress.
It makes me emotional and sad to think about this...
I now am facing a reality that clock may run out on us and maybe @NYC_DOT will one day do this, but with a larger, better and much whiter mega-corporation that builds on our progress.
It makes me emotional and sad to think about this...
…and that’s the thing.
Systemic challenges w/city contracts typically favor these bigger whiter firms.
That’s why only 3 percent of contracts go to Blk & Brown even in city where over half of the people are such.
The effects of this are underapreciated….
Systemic challenges w/city contracts typically favor these bigger whiter firms.
That’s why only 3 percent of contracts go to Blk & Brown even in city where over half of the people are such.
The effects of this are underapreciated….
…foremost the NYC has enough power to decide which businesses live and die.
City contracts are that special. It’s a wealth & opportunity engine. Instead of being a tool for progress, it’s perpatuiating the status quo w/wealthy (white) folk getting in and POC out...
City contracts are that special. It’s a wealth & opportunity engine. Instead of being a tool for progress, it’s perpatuiating the status quo w/wealthy (white) folk getting in and POC out...
..very bad by itself, but in the context of gentrification and rising inequality the missed opportunity here is enormus.
Our city is missing a chance to right the ship and generate equity.
Instead the divide is just being deepened...
Our city is missing a chance to right the ship and generate equity.
Instead the divide is just being deepened...
…but this is also undemocratic.
I don’t think ppl realize how prominent public-private partnerships are. Bikeshare, e-scooters, the streetscape, transit etc are all led by mostly white companies…acting in a city that is mostly non-white.
Many critical decisions are made...
I don’t think ppl realize how prominent public-private partnerships are. Bikeshare, e-scooters, the streetscape, transit etc are all led by mostly white companies…acting in a city that is mostly non-white.
Many critical decisions are made...
…w/o black & brown voices at the table…and it profoundly impacts the way our city moves into the 21st Century.
The more I progress through this journey, the more I realize this problem is deeply systemic.
props to @NYCComptroller for writing the report that calls this out..
The more I progress through this journey, the more I realize this problem is deeply systemic.
props to @NYCComptroller for writing the report that calls this out..
..with respect to the lack of diversity in city contracts.
I really hope to find help from @JumaaneWilliams @NYCCouncil and @NYCMayorsOffice but the problems are systemic and go beyond just me that a deeper conversation is really required.
I hope to be part of it.
I really hope to find help from @JumaaneWilliams @NYCCouncil and @NYCMayorsOffice but the problems are systemic and go beyond just me that a deeper conversation is really required.
I hope to be part of it.
