All of Florida’s African-American Charlie Crist lovers better give the Governor and United States Senate candidate a quick call. If you disliked what “One Florida” did for Black business opportunities in Florida State government, you should hate what Charlie Crist is doing even more!
And while we’re talking about calling, your Black State Legislators should be getting a call too!
The Governor and Florida’s Black Legislators should know in no uncertain terms that Black people are tired of having their state government purchasing transaction opportunities eroded and we will not take it anymore!
Word has it that plans are underway to slash the budget and the staff of Florida’s Office of Supplier Diversity (OSD). OSD staff members have been told that the staff will possibly be reduced to six persons in an effort to save state dollars.
Black publishers/business persons should Call today before State Budget is Voted On.
If OSD workers caught hell trying to get more Black companies state business with the staff that they had, how in the hell can Black entrepreneurs get more state business help with six people? It takes more than six people to field a flag football team!
Yes, I’ve been critical sometimes of OSD’s apparent concentration on “certification” of minority business at the expense of Black business development opportunities but, in all honesty, I’ve been assisted by the OSD staff members. One month my company, All World Consultants, was even designated Florida Minority Business of the Month.
Many Black political puppets parrot their favorite political party and constantly criticize former Governor Jeb Bush for instituting One Florida but what Crist is allowing is worse!
Let me explain. When Bush began One Florida in an attempt to eliminate quotas and so-called set asides, Jeb Bush also ordered state agencies to go out and find minority business to award contracts to. For example, Black newspapers and media companies got more advertising initially with One Florida than they ever did before or since. That trend didn’t last forever but a little of something is always better than a lot of nothing.
Even though you have the state’s NAACP leader and other “leading Blacks” talking positively about Charlie Crist, he has failed to step up and help Black businesses in state government or in his Senate campaign when we need him the most!
No, don’t just stop at what Crist is doing or has done. Alex Sink, the Democratic gubernatorial candidate and all of the Republican and other candidates haven’t done squat either to increase Black business opportunities in the Sunshine State.
Now, The Florida Conference of Black State Legislators (FCBSL) are quick to say how they represent Florida’s Black citizens and communities but what is their stand on the demise of OSD and the lack of state business for African Americans in Florida? While we’re at it, FCBSL members have tons of campaign money to spend but are they spending most of it with businessmen that look like them or with business people that look and act like Charlie Crist?
Anyway, the disrespect, disloyaltay and the disdain being shown Florida’s Black business community is unacceptable. Black citizens, Black businesses and Black people should unite in protest and stand up against Black business misuse, abuse and neglect!
Yes brothers and sisters, if you think state government office holders, candidates and agency heads love you, your businesses, your expertise, your talent and your economic contributions, you’ve been misled, you’ve been bamboozled, you’ve been tricked and you’ve been had by elected officials that are not good but bad!
Now, the Governor, the Black Caucus and other elected officials can change all of this. All they have to do is stand up, speak out and support Black businesses by spending more money with Black owned companies and by increasing the staffs of OSD and other government agencies designed to assist minority companies.
Also, brothers and sisters, show Lucius some love because if politicians didn’t already hate The Gantt Report and its editor for telling the truth, they will now. But I try to write the truth whether politicians like the truth or not.
By Lucius Gantt
