The Stimulus bill, HUD Act and you
Harry C. Alford/NNPA Columnist
Issue date: 3/29/09 Section: Politics
The Stimulus Bill is a reality. As House Majority Whip James Clyburn stated, "The President and Congress have made this happen. That was our job, and now you [businesses and advocates] must approach your governors and mayors and make it happen for your particular community or interest."
That is so profound and accurate. We must get active to make it happen.
The first money to come out of the Stimulus Bill is from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). The implementation of Section 3 of the HUD Act can make this opportunity a reality in our urban communities and provide serious business development for our entrepreneurs and vast job opportunities for our people.
This law has been on the books since 1968 after the first Watts riot of 1965. It was strengthened in 1992 after the Rodney King riot. I sure hope we do not have to burn down Los Angeles one more time for it to actually be implemented.
Most communities, including Los Angeles, do not abide by the law and opportunities are missed. One would think large organizations such as the NAACP or Urban League would champion this but that would conflict with their love of construction unions. You can't love construction unions and support Black employment or business development. When you are addicted to union money you will find your mission weakening.
Since 1998 the National Black Chamber of Commerce has begun an intensive campaign to get communities to comply with this law. The law states that if you receive HUD funding (cities, counties, states, housing authorities, etc.) 30 percent of the new jobs created by that funding must go to people living below 80 percent of the national medium-income level such as public housing residents, low-income and very low-income people.
Ten percent of the contracts created by the HUD money are to go to Section 3 businesses (those hiring Section 3 residents per the Act).
When we started to move on it, only 3 of the 5,000 HUD grantees were in compliance. Today, there are about 1300 responders out of the 5,000 grantees.
That is so profound and accurate. We must get active to make it happen.
The first money to come out of the Stimulus Bill is from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). The implementation of Section 3 of the HUD Act can make this opportunity a reality in our urban communities and provide serious business development for our entrepreneurs and vast job opportunities for our people.
This law has been on the books since 1968 after the first Watts riot of 1965. It was strengthened in 1992 after the Rodney King riot. I sure hope we do not have to burn down Los Angeles one more time for it to actually be implemented.
Most communities, including Los Angeles, do not abide by the law and opportunities are missed. One would think large organizations such as the NAACP or Urban League would champion this but that would conflict with their love of construction unions. You can't love construction unions and support Black employment or business development. When you are addicted to union money you will find your mission weakening.
Since 1998 the National Black Chamber of Commerce has begun an intensive campaign to get communities to comply with this law. The law states that if you receive HUD funding (cities, counties, states, housing authorities, etc.) 30 percent of the new jobs created by that funding must go to people living below 80 percent of the national medium-income level such as public housing residents, low-income and very low-income people.
Ten percent of the contracts created by the HUD money are to go to Section 3 businesses (those hiring Section 3 residents per the Act).
When we started to move on it, only 3 of the 5,000 HUD grantees were in compliance. Today, there are about 1300 responders out of the 5,000 grantees.
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