Goodman lends support to panel on diversity
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.
archive
- Most Read
- Discussed
- Most E-mailed
- Man, 26, dies in collision with truck traveling at 100 mph
- MGM Mirage: CityCenter not affected by debt woes
- Metro admits to improper release of criminal history data
- Locomotives win inaugural UFL championship
- Was a foiled bank heist a cry for help?
- If Palin’s book is so bad, then why is it a best-seller?
- Bargain hunters hit stores for Black Friday
- Q&A: MMA fighter and Playboy model Latasha Marzolla
- Wonder drug for men flops, suggestive ad campaign coming under scrutiny
- UNLV recalls last year’s close shave at Louisville
Blogs
The Kats Report
Could a savior of shuttered Las Vegas Art Museum be ... Peter Max? (6 Comments)
For Paul Stanley and KISS, rock and roll is not over (6 Comments)
Twenty years ago today, Human Nature took root on the farm (1 Comment)
Robin Leach's Las Vegas Celebrity Watch
Photo Gallery: Donny Osmond’s triumphant return to the Flamingo
The Kats Report
'DWTS' champ Donny Osmond still deft afoot in return to Flamingo (8 Comments)
Politics: The Early Line
Meeting of GOP governors draws challengers, not Gibbons (5 Comments)
Politics: Ralston's Flash
Oscar loves forcing developers to sign labor peace agreements, Culinary loves the city's downtown plans and all is forgiven (10 Comments)
Calendar »
- 29 Sun
- 30 Mon
- 1 Tue
- 2 Wed
- 3 Thu
-
Tahoe Takeover at The Bank
The Bank | 10 p.m. to 11:59 p.m.
-
Playboy Club model search
Playboy Club | 10 p.m. to 11:59 p.m.
-
Queen of Queens at Revolution Lounge
Beatles Revolution Lounge | 10 p.m. to 11:59 p.m.
-
Zowie Bowie's Vintage Vegas Show at Monte Carlo
Lance Burton Theater
The Sun
Locally owned and independent for more than 50 years.
Technorati









