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Ohio Legislative Black Caucus Calls on Kasich to Veto Local
Hiring Ban Bill
Say state-level restrictions hold African-American
communities back
Special to The Truth
The Ohio Legislative Black Caucus (OLBC) last week called on
Governor John Kasich to veto House Bill 180, saying the
legislation to ban local hiring goals will
disproportionately harm African American workers and
minority communities while jeopardizing infrastructure
projects in Cincinnati, Toledo, Akron and Cleveland.
“Legislation that will soon reach your desk threatens to
take away good-paying Ohio jobs that can transform and
uplift minority communities across our state,” OLBC
President and State Rep. Alicia Reece (D-Cincinnati) wrote
in the letter.
The letter noted that African-American unemployment remains
twice as high as the overall state unemployment rate.
“House Bill 180 was passed with blatant disregard for the
realities minorities face in this state when it comes to
employment and pursuing a better quality of life. The
Department of Transportation’s own disparity report
demonstrates that state has historically failed to be
inclusive to minority workers,” said Rep. Stephanie Howse
(D-Cleveland). “The governor should not allow the state to
find ways to continue to discriminate against minorities and
vulnerable populations. I urge Governor Kasich to veto this
bill because it is the right thing to do, especially with
the Opportunity Corridor in jeopardy.”
Aside from Cleveland’s Opportunity Corridor, HB 180 also
jeopardizes the city of Akron’s $1.4 billion sewer and water
improvement plan, which currently has a local hiring target
of 30 percent that would increase to 50 percent by 2018.
“Facing a $1.4 billion unfunded mandate by the federal
government to fix the sewer system, the city of Akron found
a creative way to put its people back to work through local
hiring benchmarks,” said Rep. Emilia Sykes (D-Akron).
“Working people deserve an opportunity to access the
economic benefits from projects that are happening in their
own communities. There is no reason why local people should
be excluded from job opportunities right in their own
backyards. This bill effectively outsources good-paying,
local jobs.”
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