Study Examines N.Y. Contract Inequality

"The report, financed by the City Council, studied contracts from 23 mayoral agencies for the city, which is about 60 percent minority. Among construction firms, the report found that businesses owned by white males won 71.5 percent of the contracts, although they represented only 43 percent of the available contractors. Black-owned firms won 1.7 percent and represented 16.7 percent of available firms; female contractors won 3.2 percent and represented 21.5 percent of firms. Former Mayor Rudolph Giuliani abolished most of the advantages that had been given to minority and female businesses, including eliminating a 10 percent price preference for such firms. But several City Council members said the study shows that institutional racism still exists. "