Exhibit
Port Co
Public Comment 

To:   Port of Seattle Commission

From: Tony Benjamin, Director, Urban League of Metropolitan Seattle  Contractor Development &
Competitiveness Center ("ULMSCDCC"); Participant, Community Coalition for Contracts
and Jobs ("CCCJ")

Date:  August 10, 2010

Re:   Proposed solutions toward improving processes for the inclusion of small, minority and
womenowned, and economically disadvantaged rms in the Port of Seattle's business
opportunities.

@
Community Concerns
The Port of Seattle Ofce of Social Responsibility's ("OSR") mission is, "To engage community
stakeholders to inspire commitment and ensure that all the Port's business actions are conducted
within the framework of socially responsible values such as fairness, inclusion, openness and
economic parity." This mission, further, is executed through:

.  Developing and participating in partnerships that address social responsibility goals.


- Working with the community to develop initiatives that effectively address the needs of the
region.

Many of the citizens present at this Commission meeting are concerned about recent statistical
reports evidencing a dearth of economic parity as relating to the sharing of business opportunities
offered by the Port. These gures support disparate participation by minority-owned rms, thus
contributing to degradation of our region's economic vitality.

Equity Barriers and Proposed Solutions

Contributing factors to economic inequity are long-standing, and characterized by complexities
extending beyond our ability to devote sufcient discussion within this testimony and writing.
Accordingly, we propose the following for your consideration in succinct form: (Barriers are bold,
proposed solutions after the colon)

1.  Policy and  Programs:   Establish  an  independent taskforce  (9.9.,  diversity oversight
committee) as relating to the Ports inclusion efforts.

2.  Resources and Training:   Direct a substantive nancial commitment toward regional
entrepreneurship and capacity-building specic to enhancing  the Port's competitive
positioning by encouraging both innovative solutions and high-quality performance as a
result.

3.  Contracting Methods:  Package business opportunities in a way that maximizes the small
rm participation

Public Comment
Port of Seattle Commission Meeting August 10, 2010                                        Page 1

Public Comment Continued
Tony Benjamin
Director
Urban League of Metropolitan Seattle  Contractor Development & Competitiveness Center


4.  Aspiration Goals: Conduct an availability study that will provide the Port with the ability to
clarify its inclusion objectives and contract terms as relating to the efforts of prime/rst tier
contractors to support the Port's goals

5.  Technology:  Install solutions that increase levels of transparency pertaining to both the
procurement processes used and results relating to the Port's business opportunities. This
technology should effectively bridge the communications gap and reduce the administrative
burdens of the small business community. These solutions should provide data and reports
to ensure rapid and targeted systems improvement as relating to inclusion efforts.

Conclusions

We are aware of both internal and external governance and legal rulings respectively, which
frequently bring focus to, "what can't be done!" In fact, the Port's spending report is clearly indicative
of why the minority business community is, especially, economically endangered. Our local, regional,
national, and global economic challenges determine that we must instead think and take action by
every means on "what can be done," in our region and State.

We implore, given the negative impact on the minority communities, the Port of Seattle to take
immediate action per the ve (5) abovelisted remedies in accordance with the title and mission given
the Ofce of Social Responsibility.

Thanks in advance for your prompt consideration of our petition.













m
Public Comment
Port of Seattle Commission Meeting August 10, 2010                                        Page 2