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Garner describes the role as coming up with “creative ways in order to ensure that the city awards contracts in a cost effective manner, but also in an inclusive manner.” In other words, helping the city increase agency spending on certified minority and women-owned business enterprises . Prior to working for the Adams administration, Garner served as the MTA’s chief diversity and inclusion officer. He also boasts experience with NYCHA and the New York City School Construction Authority.
Still, a “disparity within a disparity” remains for Black-owned businesses, as “non-certified” companies—which are usually owned by white men or corporations—still soak up a majority of contract pot. And within the program, certified white women and Asian men-owned businesses often bring home significantly more money from city contracts than their Black, brown, and Indigenous-owned counterparts.