Searchable Database Would Track City Workers' Residence, Race and Gender

Next time you want to know how many Bostonians actually work for the city of Boston, a quick search should be all it takes, thanks to a new ordinance passed Wednesday at the Boston City Council's last meeting of the year. 

The amendment to the Boston Jobs Policy will require the Boston Employment Commission and theBoston Redevelopment Authority to post an online, searchable database with information on residence, race and gender of all employees working on a project covered by Boston. 

The policy is aimed at large construction projects, and meant to promote employment opportunites for Boston residents -- particularly women and minorities. The city's policy is for developers and contractors to hire Boston residents for 50 percent of the total work hours performed, people of color for 25 percent of the work hours and women for 10 percent.

"Nothing could be more important than providing meaningful, good paying jobs to residents of our city, particularly in communities of color that experience far greater rates of unemployment in a downturn." District 8 Councilor Mike Ross said in a statement."Bringing greater transparency to the hiring process -- by providing information on-line for all to see -- will, I believe, improve the hiring practices of constructions companies, developers and unions."

Ross proposed the amendment, along with Councilor-At-Large Ayanna Pressley (who celebrated the approval of her first ordinance.) The change is particularly important given the economy, and the season, she said.

"In this economic climate, we couldn't just sit back as thousands of Boston residents are struggling to find work," Pressley said. "I hear from constituents across the city and there are too many stories of bills piling up, heat turned down low and fewer presents under the Christmas tree. Mortgages, tuitions and medical bills don't take a break over the holidays."

Other news

• The Boston City Council will meet with the Cambridge City Council Thursday at theMuseum of Science, for the first-ever meeting to discuss the economic competitiveness of the region. In a tough economy, cities need to work together, Ross said: "What does it matter if a business chooses the Longwood Center or Kendall Square, if we lose that company to Seattle?" 

• Construction will move forward at the . The Council approved the appropriation of $550,000 for a feasibility study from 2007, and accepted a $13 million grant from the Boston Redevelopment Authority to design, construct, renovate and equip the school.

• The cost of playing at the city's lighted fields will double for out-of-owners. Aimed at non-resident adult sports leagues, the fee's will go from $50 to $100 an hour. The change does not affect those living in the city. Boston leagues will still pay $25 an hour, and all youth sports will continue to be free. While it may seem "intense," said District 3 Councilor Maureen Feeney, the fees have not been increased since 1982, despite the increase of utility costs. It costs about $675,000 a year to light the fields, and revenue collected is only about $250,000 -- or less than half, she said.

• In a move to help people avoid foreclosures, the Council approved a home rule petition for a special law that would require the homeowner and the bank to sit down and try to work things out. It still has to be approved by the state, and means a mediator would have90 days to help the residents and lenders come to an agreement. The move is meant to help stabilize neighborhoods throughout Boston that have been affected by the recent mortgage crisis. "I think it's just an amazing step forward," Feeney said. "I don't see a downside to it."

The City Council set election dates to fill the vacant District 7 seat, despite a letter from former Councilor Chuck Turner challenging the board's authority to expel a member. The Council voted to oust Turner on Dec. 1, after he was convicted of accepting a $1,000 bribe to grant a liquor license.  The Special Preliminary Election will be on Feb 15, 2011, and the Special Municipal Election on March 15, 2011.