Goodman lends support to panel on diversity

Erin Neff

Friday, Aug. 25, 2000 | 11:13 a.m.

Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman on Thursday became the first white official to endorse the Urban Chamber of Commerce's soon-to-be-appointed "Blue Ribbon Committee on Race."

The chamber's executive director, E. Louis Overstreet, joined Goodman at his weekly press conference to herald the mayor's participation.

"He demonstrated the courage to come out on this issue long before the other politicians," Overstreet said.

In a July 14 letter to Clark County Commission and City Council members, Overstreet asked each official to address the community's unresolved racial issues.

"We have to understand how we're going to deal with diversity," Overstreet said.

Goodman said the decision to endorse the chamber's committee "was not a hard call on my part."

"Any elected official who isn't concerned about a level playing field for everyone doesn't have everyone's interest at heart," Goodman said.

Overstreet first proposed the committee after research on a book he wrote, "Black Steps in the Desert Sand," determined that nearly all public contracts are awarded to white contractors.

Of the state's $128 million in transportation projects last year, only $500,000 worth was awarded to a minority contractor.

"I knew it was poor or bad," Overstreet said. "But that's less than half of 1 percent, and that's horrible."

In addition to public contracts, the committee will examine the criminal justice system and educational opportunities for minorities.