Woo Seeks Quicker Review of Airports’ Minority Contracts

In the wake of a controversy over the awarding of airport concession contracts, Los Angeles City Councilman Michael Woo on Tuesday called for an accelerated review of how people and firms are selected under the airport’s minority contracting program.

Woo’s motion, which was sent to the Governmental Operations Committee that he heads, acknowledges that Los Angeles’ chief administrative officer is already reviewing the entire city’s Disadvantaged Business Enterprises program, but said the mid-September deadline for completion is not soon enough, given recent revelations about airport contracts.

“Because of the need to quickly resolve the confusions that surround this issue, it is appropriate that the CAO be directed to immediately review the Department of Airports’ . . . contracting practices and report as soon as possible on this matter,” Woo said in his motion.

Woo’s action came at a time when concession agreements at city-owned Los Angeles and Ontario international airports, awarded without competitive bidding to such politically well-connected individuals as clergyman H. H. Brookins, have come under close scrutiny by airport officials. That is because they appear to lack the level of direct participation by the minority partners required by city and federal programs. The Airport Commission is scheduled to discuss the issue today.

Several individuals, including Los Angeles Urban League President John Mack and Betty Dixon, wife of U.S. Rep. Julian Dixon (D-Los Angeles), have joined with non-minority firms that have received lucrative contracts; both have acknowledged that their involvement in running the businesses has been minimal.

The intent of the program is to encourage experienced firms to invite women and minorities to participate in city contracts to provide the disadvantaged groups with enough experience and expertise to compete on their own in the future.

Woo said he expects the chief administrative officer to finish its airport contract review within 30 days after his motion comes back to the council for approval in the next week or two.

“My staff has already spoken to the CAO office and they’ve said there won’t be a problem with that time line,” Woo said.