smagagnini@sacbee.com

Published Friday, May. 01, 2009

As billions of stimulus dollars begin to flow into Sacramento and the rest of the state, will it get to those most in need?

African American leaders aren't so sure.

"We have to hold mayors, governors, work force boards and local school boards accountable to make sure this money doesn't bypass those most in need in urban communities," said Marc Morial, president of the National Urban League.

At a Thursday news conference at the state Capitol attended by Mayor Kevin Johnson, Assembly Speaker Karen Bass and other African American officials, Morial said leaders have to make sure the money's distributed equitably. "In communities of color, the unemployment rate is almost twice as high," he said.

Work force boards designed to pass through stimulus funds "have not placed enough emphasis on the disadvantaged - they've focused on higher skill training," said Morial, mayor of New Orleans from 1994-2002.

The training could focus on both high-end computer training and providing GEDs and basic computer skills to address inequities between communities of color and the rest of the population, he said.

"I know, because of my experience as a mayor, good intentions alone do not ensure fairness," Morial said.

"Without advocacy, without affirmative steps, without proactive steps," he said, those most in need of education and job training could be left out.

"We don't want people to sit back when all the decisions are made and then make an objection," he said.

James Shelby is president of the Greater Sacramento Urban League, which has helped hundreds get high school diplomas and jobs. He said for the billions of dollars to address long-standing inequities, the state and county must implement new policies.

Johnson said that "as bad as we want the money to flow to the city, it's going to flow to the state."

Now it's up to the state to do the right thing, said Morial and Shelby.