Senator Gary Siplin (D-Orlando) has asked Governor Rick Scott to place an administrative freeze on the awarding of all new contracts under Phase 1 of SunRail, due to lack of diversity.
In a letter dated October 31, and submitted to Scott Thursday, Siplin cited documents that he had received from the Florida Department of Transportation which showed that only one African American subcontractor had been awarded a contract for services for close to $150,000 out of more than $240 million dollars that have already been awarded, to date.
“The Florida Department of Transportation…has shown complete disregard for the small and minority businesses – and particularly African American-owned businesses – in Central Florida in its awarding of contracts for the SunRail project,” Siplin stated in the letter.
Siplin, believes that this is just an indicator of what future contract diversity will look like throughout the SunRail project, which is estimated at $1.2 billion. He would like further disbursements to be stopped until a method can be developed whereby contract opportunities are made “equitably attainable.”
“In this time of economic depression for all Floridians, the minority businesses in this State are experiencing more severe effects than any other enterprises, and they deserve to be a part of any projects in this State where they can better themselves and improve the sustainability of their businesses,” Siplin added.
Siplin was initially opposed to SunRail when it was approved by the Legislature in 2009.
