Albany, New York: Yesterday Assemblymember Rodneyse Bichotte (Brooklyn-D), Chair of the Subcommittee on the Oversight of Minority and Women-Owned Business Enterprises (M/WBEs), introduced legislation which seeks to amend the State's current Finance Law. The Assembly Bill ( A. 8700) would require any municipalities or localities (village, town, city, county, or school districts within the State) that receive appropriated funds from the State budget to comply with New York State's M/WBE goal.

 

This Bill runs in line with Governor Cuomo's 2016 Legislative Proposal No. 14 to increase opportunity for minority and women-owned business enterprises across New York State with a goal of 30 percent for M/WBEs on all state funded contracts.

 

This joint-effort originated from a conversation that Assemblymember Bichotte had with Governor Cuomo at the Governor's Mansion during a session with members of the Black, Puerto Rican, Hispanic & Asian Legislative Caucus. "I am pleased that this Bill will help close the gap in economic disparity allowing opportunities for minority/women communities to flourish and advance in the workforce," said Assemblymember Bichotte. "I look forward to working continuously with the Governor and seeing this Bill become law."

 

Late last year Assemblymember Bichotte sent a letter to both the Real Estate Board of New York and the Building Trades Council of Greater New York regarding the inclusion of M/WBE goals in the negotiated 421 A tax exemption program. Bichotte concluded, "this nation has a promise of equality for all, it only makes sense that our economy reflects the same."

See related article on Crain's New York