city contracts

It was a years-long effort to persuade city officials and police unions to allow civilians to take on the paid construction details that have long been the exclusive domain of police officers. When the administration of Mayor Michelle Wu in 2023 inked a contract with the patrolmen’s union that allowed civilians to work details, many activists were encouraged.

Spanning across the Charles River, there are many bridges — physical and metaphorical. Now there’s a new link as the cities of Boston and Cambridge are, together, aiming to increase opportunities for diverse businesses in an agreement between the two municipalities, announced last week.

After a study released last year looking at racial disparities in city contracts showed steep inequalities between dollars going to Black, Latinx and white bidders, Mayor Michelle Wu is now looking to close the gaps with a new pilot program being pitched to the City Council.

Acting Mayor Kim Janey announced a $2 million supplier diversity plan, following up on the lack of city contracts for Black-owned and women-owned businesses revealed in the city’s disparity study.

A coalition of minority business advocates filed a complaint against the city of Boston Monday, alleging that the city discriminates against Black and Latino-owned businesses in its $2.1 billion in annual contracting.