The
American Center for Economic Equality
and The Black Contractors Group, Inc.
Pete Buttigieg
Secretary of Transportation
U. S. Department of Transportation
1200 New Jersey Ave. SE
Washington, DC 20590
March 20, 2023
Secretary Buttigieg:
I attended the Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) and the Kentucky Transportation
Cabinet (KYTC) $3.6 billion Brent Spence Bridge Corridor Project Networking Meet & Greet
and Outreach on Tuesday, March 7, 2023 at the Radisson Hotel in Covington, Kentucky and I am
extremely saddened to report that despite my hopes that things were about to take a turn for the
better towards economic equality and diversity I found that it was business as usual. The
Walsh/Kokosing Joint Venture team already has awarded the project to the chosen majority
contractors leaving the minimal crumbs as scraps for the disenfranchised blacks and minorities.
The proposals just went out last week and are not due in until June yet the pie has already been
sliced before we can even get to the table ensuring no significant black or minority participation.
All five companies that were there Walsh, Kokosing, AECOM, Parsons are all working together
on the same team. This is clearly collusion and contract steering and at worst a furtherance of the
systematic exclusion of black contractors and labor from achieving equitable and fair economic
opportunity. You would think that after the revealing of such massive political corruption with
the recent bribery scandal in Ohio the authorities would be conscious of the uneven playing field
we face as black and minority contractors. Not only do black and minority contractors have to
battle against the systemic discrimination which has incorporated itself in the process of
government contracting it must also contend with the obstacles of a corrupt political system that
has no concern for equality, diversity and providing economic opportunity to all.
The crumbs which have been served up to us in the past we will no longer accept. Our families
will no longer accept our being placated and appeased by less than what is our right, our
entitlement. No more second-class citizenry. No more electing puppets who serve other masters
rather than those who elect them. Our organization the American Center for Economic
Equality/Black Contractors Group, along with many other construction companies, construction
managers, consultants, architectural firms, engineering firms, material suppliers, trucking
companies, community groups, and residents are very angry, outraged, and disappointed to say
the least, at the nonexistence of Black participation in any leadership role at the top. We are
demanding inclusion.
The ACEE/Black Contractors Group says the demand is for representation that leads to fair and equitable
treatment. Representation will result into business growth, job creation and wealth production in our
communities. Lack of representation continues to feed economic deprivation and unemployment.
“It’s now time for action,” “We are encouraged by you Secretary Buttigieg.” We believe you are a
man of your word with no tolerance for the situation you inherited and we hope you will continue
to work with us to solve this national epidemic exclusion of black contractors and construction workers
being an afterthought on construction projects being financed with the assistance of our black tax dollars.
But time is of the essence and we are proceeding to organize a shutdown of the $3.6 billion dollar Brent
Spence Corridor Project to illustrate the severity of this, devastating ongoing crisis.
Please click on the attached links below from President Joe Biden and Secretary of Transportation
Pete Buttigieg regarding Blacks being shut out of construction projects.
https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/presidential-actions/2021/01/20/executive-order-advancing-
racial-equity-and-support-for-underserved-communities-through-the-federal-government/
https://lasentinel.net/president-biden-must-uphold-promise-to-black-labor-of-infrastructure-construction-jobs.html
https://apnews.com/article/race-and-ethnicity-racial-injustice-transportation-pete-buttigieg-
48e09f253781c89359d875f19fc70f9d
Sincerely,
Norman K. Edwards, President
American Center for Economic Equality
Black Contractors Group
16781 Chagrin Boulevard #525 Cleveland, Ohio 44120 Ph:216-355-0535
