MEMPHIS, Tenn. — The 250-page disparity study that cost taxpayers hundreds of thousands of dollars was released on Wednesday.
County Commissioners voted to waive the attorney client privilege that they said was standing between the citizens and the document that showed the majority of county contracts go to white men and businesses that are not even in the very city it’s supposed to uplift.
Commissioner Terry Roland said there’s a reason they had to handle things the way they did.
“Nobody’s ever going to accuse me of not being transparent.”
That was his response to those who think the commission should have released a tax-payer funded disparity study to the public two weeks ago.
“We voted today to waive our rights of counsel. Now, we can release the document.”
County Attorney Ross Dyer wouldn’t go on camera, but told us the company that conducted the more than $300,000 study, Mason Tillman Associates, was acting as special counsel to provide a legal analysis to the county.
That created an attorney-client relationship making the study a legal document that Dyer said shouldn’t have been made public until after the commission voted to accept it.
“I think everybody on this body wants transparency in government. We’re doing that today. I’m happy that we are releasing the study,” said Mark Billingsley.
In part, the study revealed that businesses owned by white men got more than 88% of the county contracts between 2012 and 2014.
Approximately 55% of contracts were given to businesses outside of Shelby County.
“Beyond the disparity, we’re also spending our tax dollars outside of Shelby County. So, we really need to work on that.”
The news had business owners like BJ Chester-Tamayo of Alcenia’s fired up.
“I’ve learned with this city, it’s the same people that always get the contracts. They don’t share the wealth.”
Now, two years and $300,000 later, commissioners say they’re finally ready to tackle that problem.
