A civil grand jury in San Francisco has found that the city “continues to violate the state law that prohibits the use of race and gender preferences in awarding contracts, incurring ‘unnecessary risks and costs.'”
City attorney Dennis Herrera “said San Francisco’s affirmative action policy was sound.” He should know better, since this is the same city attorney Dennis Herrera who unsuccessfully defended San Francisco against similar charges a year ago.
San Francisco city officials are vowing to appeal a court ruling issued last week that struck down the city’s ordinance mandating affirmative action in city contracts.
Judge James Warren of the San Francisco Superior Court ruled the city’s ordinance violated Proposition 209 by unconstitutionally granting preferences to minority- and women-owned businesses.
San Francisco is by no means alone when it comes to cities that attempt to circumvent the law with respect to racial preferences —
From http://www.ithroughe.blogspot.com:
Arlington Texas & the United Way want to know your race
Here is a passage from a recent article in the Star-Telegram (Texas). It’s widely known that both business and government have used minority preferences in selection decisions, but they’re usually careful to cover their tracks and not leave any written evidence proving it.
It’s obvious that the City of Arlington Texas was sloppy in their blatant promotion of racial preferences in this instance:
City seeks diversity on boards
By Patricia Asaad
Special to the Star-Telegram
ARLINGTON – To get a more diverse pool of applicants, the city is asking board applicants about their ethnicities.
Mel LeBlanc, chairman of Arlington Human Services Planners, said the growing number of minority residents in Arlington is leading to an emphasis on diversity.
Last week, Arlington Human Services Planners, a collaboration of the United Way, invited representatives from business and civic groups to form a plan to bring more diversity to Arlington’s boards and commissions.