Protesters Seek Hiring of Black Workers for Park Project

Two dozen community leaders and residents staged a demonstration Thursday in Leimert Park Village to call on a construction firm under contract with the city to hire blacks for a local park restoration.

Work on the city park, the frequent site of jazz festivals and other events, began in mid-January to repair crumbling bathrooms and the irrigation system.

Leimert Park Village has long been recognized as the cultural hub of black Los Angeles. But protesters said no black construction workers have been hired for the $600,000 project, expected to be completed in late August.

“This is the heart and soul of the black community. We want to make sure that African Americans in the community who are qualified are included here,” said Najee Ali, director of Project Islamic H.O.P.E. He became well-known after serving as the spokesman for Yolanda Manuel, whose 7-year-old daughter, Sherrice Iverson, was murdered in a Nevada casino bathroom.

Officials from Los Angeles City Councilman Mark Ridley-Thomas’ office said they have filed a formal request for the city to investigate whether D&M; Construction, a West Hills-based construction company, has been discriminatory in its hiring.

Given the neighborhood’s significance to the black community, activists said Thursday, at least some of the workers ought to be black.

“It’s an African American cultural center, which [D&M;] knew coming in,” said Beverly Cashen, executive director of the Leimert Park Village Community Development Corp. “It’s a matter of being sensitive to the community.”

Cashen’s group has been meeting regularly with Ridley-Thomas’ office since the renovation was proposed two years ago. The nonprofit group was assigned to monitor the project and to ensure community participation.

D&M; officials defended their hiring practices Thursday, saying they have met the city’s anti-discrimination requirements. About 80% of the workers are Latino, company officials said.

Ron Fitzpatrick, a parks and recreation official, confirmed that the company is in compliance with equal employment guidelines, which require some minority-owned subcontractors. The city, however, has little control over who is hired by subcontractors, he said.

D&M; began posting signs at the site Wednesday, advertising for residents to apply for on-site jobs. By Thursday, only one application had been filed, said Daniel Davidovicz, the company’s president.

“Nobody’s coming to fill out applications,” he said. “They’re just coming to demonstrate.”