PHILADELPHIA (AP) Firms owned by white males were given 96 percent of city contracts from 1998 through 2003, a new city report found.

The overwhelming majority of the city’s $2.78 billion in contracts for construction, goods and services were awarded to white males despite a pledge from Mayor John Street, who is African American, to increase diversity in the government.

Minority-owned businesses received 2.3 percent of the contracts and 1.8 percent went to firms owned by women. Street was elected in November 1999 and was in office for four years during the study period.

Administration officials have said the long-standing problem would take time to fix. They plan to use the report to reorganize the Minority Business Enterprise Council, the city agency that implements, monitors and enforces the city’s contractor-diversity laws, The Philadelphia Inquirer reported in its Sunday, April 18, editions.

A. Bruce Crawley, chairman of the African-American Chamber of Commerce in Greater Philadelphia, called the report’s findings “outrageous.” Crawley, a one-time political ally of Street’s, has been criticizing the mayor of late, claiming he has not done enough to help minority businesses.

Earlier this month, Street appointed Michael Williams, a former deputy director of Community Legal Services, to head the Minority Business Enterprise Council.

“This is why I’m here — to change these numbers,” Williams said. “I know that we can do a better job.”

The report comes a year after a study was released that examined local government spending from 1983 to 1995 and suggested women and minorities had lost millions in contracting opportunities. Both reports were done by Atlanta-based D.J. Miller & Associates.

Today's top stories

Blalock Crews Build TDOT's $67M Newport Bypass

New Bridges Part of Iowa's $114M Madison Avenue Project

Eagle Bridge Co. Works On Final Leg of U.S. 35 Upgrade

SAKAI Achieves Record Sales, Production

Takeuchi Recognizes Top Dealers at 2024 Dealer Summit

Equip Expo's Summer Giveaway Offers a Chance for Lifetime Trade Show Registration, Gift Card, Hotel Stay

Tennessee's Pugmill Systems LLC Expands Its Product Offerings to Include Concrete Plants

ASCENDUM Machinery Opens New Savannah, Ga., Facility