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NEWS
| October 13, 2004
Arlington
Council OKs agreement
The resolution encourages minority
participation in the proposed Cowboys stadium construction.
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| The Shorthorn: Mark Roberts |
| Arlington residents gather outside
city hall Tuesday to express their disapproval of bringing
the Dallas Cowboys to Arlington with the construction
of a new stadium, an issue voters will decide on Nov.
2. The City Council passed an agreement encouraging minority-owned
business participation after the protest. |
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By Marti
Harvey
The Shorthorn Staff
After a silent protest, the Arlington City Council voted Tuesday
to ratify an agreement encouraging minority-owned business participation
in the proposed Dallas Cowboys stadium construction.
The No Jones Tax group marched outside city hall carrying “Sack
the Stadium” signs, and some wore paper bags over their heads
before the Fair Share Resolution Agreement with the Dallas Cowboys
was passed.
The agreement spells out the expected minority- and women-owned
business participation in the proposed Dallas Cowboys stadium construction
project.
Robert Rivera, co-chair of the pro-stadium group Vote Yes, said
he endorses the agreement and came to the meeting to show his group’s
support for the minority community.
Responding to No Jones Tax group complaints about the fact that
this is not a legally binding agreement, Rivera said it holds the
Cowboys accountable.
“The Cowboys will not
deviate from the agreement they have made,” he said. “They
will fulfill their end.”
No Jones Tax supporter Phil Cullens said he wasn’t so sure.
He is worried that the agreement is a ploy to buy the minority vote.
“The city and Jerry Jones are not that straightforward,”
he said. “Our side cares about the people, unlike them. We
may not have Jerry Jones’ money, but we have integrity.”
While the agreement offers no penalties if the Cowboys fail to meet
the minority hiring goals, it encourages the Dallas Cowboys to ensure
18 to 25 percent participation. That means at least 25 percent of
the contracts for stadium construction should go to minority owned
businesses.
To show their support of the agreement, the Cowboys have agreed
to give the city up to $100,000 per year to pay for a person to
oversee compliance. That person will report to the city on a regular
basis about the Cowboys’ progress in meeting those goals.
In the meeting, several speakers stood up to voice their approval
of the agreement, including Gerald Alley of the Black Contractor’s
Association of North Texas and Sal Morales, past chair of the Arlington
Hispanic Chamber of Commerce.
The only dissenting speaker was citizen Lori Richardson, who said
she was disappointed with the resolution. She said it barely meets
the standards of most minority business agreements in other requests
for proposals.
“It’s more of a press piece,” she said.
Before the meeting, Mayor Robert Cluck held an impromptu press conference
in the building, offering refreshments to the protesters outside.
While the refreshments were offered inside, Cluck declined to take
them out himself.
“They will get them when they come in,” he said.
Citizens can ask questions about the project at the fourth of five
town hall meetings to be held at 6:30 p.m. Monday at Mary Moore
Elementary School.
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