act now > gulf coast commission on reconstruction equity

February 13, 2006

Religious Leaders and Worker Advocates Investigate Contracting Abuses in the Gulf Coast

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New Orleans—Interfaith Worker Justice, the national religious network on worker justice issues, and Good Jobs First, a resource center promoting accountability in economic development, today announced an ethical reconstruction commission to monitor how Gulf Coast rebuilding contracts and incentive programs are benefiting local workers in the wake of hurricane devastation.

The Gulf Coast Commission on Reconstruction Equity is composed of religious leaders, community activists, and contract experts who are concerned about the abuses of workers employed by federally funded contractors. Members of the Commission have developed ethical criteria to be applied when evaluating contracts and incentives–including clean-up contracts and the Gulf Opportunity Zone program–to ensure that government monies encourage local hiring, living wages, maximum job creation, and opportunities for former Gulf Coast residents to find decent housing and work.

"Churches, synagogues, and mosques responded generously last fall when Katrina hit, and are still helping people today," said Kim Bobo, Executive Director of IWJ. "But people of faith want 'love of neighbor' incorporated into our federal contracts and government assistance."

"Billions have already been authorized and billions more are to come for Gulf Coast rebuilding," said Greg LeRoy, Executive Director of Good Jobs First. "But corporate interests have dominated much of the process, even though the region's recovery hinges on the restoration of families, jobs and consumer buying power to the area. Keeping a focus on how the monies benefit workers is the key to a just and lasting recovery."

Editor's Note - Press Conference: The Commission will issue a report card on the records of the largest contractors involved in the recovery of the Gulf Coast at a Washington, D.C. press conference on Tuesday, February 28, 2006, at 10 a.m. at the Methodist Building (110 Maryland Avenue, NE). The Commission will continue to monitor and grade the procurement contracts and economic development incentives measures offered to Gulf Coast businesses, based on how they meet human and economic needs of the residents of the Gulf Coast.

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