Report released on success of Community Benefits Agreement
Final draft is released of report on the success of the city of Portland's pilot projects under the Community Benefits Agreement. Click here to download the PDF.
Panama Papers Should Re-Ignite Focus on Closing Shell Companies and Tax Havens
Published in the Skanner News: April 21, 2016 It is hard to believe that the second easiest place in the world to run a shady, anonymous, and often criminal corporation is right here in the United States. According to a recent academic study, the United States is second only to Kenya for harboring these shell companies used to launder money and skirt their taxes. Much like the classic sleight of hand game, companies across the country, including many here in Oregon, are shift
Investments in the CBA lead to success
Two Portland Community Benefits Agreement pilot projects for the Portland Water Bureau, the Kelly Butte Reservoir and the Interstate Maintenance Facility, have met or exceeded all utilization goals for diverse apprentices and journey workers – except for the female journey worker goal. The female apprenticeship of 9% was surpassed on the Kelly Butte project at 28% and on the Interstate project at 34%. Investments in the CBA lead to success. Download the April 2016 report here
Minnesota Gov. outlines $100M proposal to reverse racial disparities
Minnesota Gov. Mark Dayton outlines $100M proposal to reverse persistent racial disparities in housing, education and labor. His proposals, if enacted, would provide infusions of capital into business-development programs, youth employment initiatives and down-payment assistance for lower-income first-time home buyers. He also wants more funding for the Department of Human Rights, a state agency that investigates complaints of discrimination in workplaces. Dayton’s agenda ref
PBDG newsletter features Thursday meet-and-greet with Jules Bailey, Ted Wheeler
Professional Business Development Group – a trade association for construction and professional services – and Micro Enterprise Services of Oregon (MESO) are hosting a Portland-mayoral-candidate, small-business meet and greet on Thursday, April 14 from 6:00 to 7:30 p.m. at Tamale Boy, 1764 N.E. Dekum St. This is a unique opportunity to network directly with the candidates about issues that impact small businesses. Jules Bailey will be available from 6:00 to 6:45 and Ted Wheel
City auditor's office needs independence, autonomy to do job correctly
The current city budget flap shows an essential need for preserving the independence of the auditor's office. How do you preserve the independence of that office when staffing and program decisions are subject to veto by those targeted for oversight? The relationship is clouded when the auditor is both watchdog to bureaus and reliant on them. Championing good governance requires being accountable to the voters. Oregonian Editorial: http://buff.ly/1XlB6XC
College to County mentorship program application
The Multnomah County College to County Mentorship Program is offering two Portland -based summer internships – for students from underrepresented communities or low-income family backgrounds – to upper-level or graduate students in architecture, civil engineering and construction management. This is an opportunity to work in the design phase for two capital building projects and to develop valuable relationships with staff and contractors. The positions are being offered at a
Two Fierce Oregon Women Who Insist on Defining Themselves
Urban League's Nkenge Harmon Johnson, comics writer Kelly Sue DeConnick on self-determination, aging and working in male dominated industries. Portland Monthly
