April 9, 2012

Joe Roman, Executive Director The Greater Cleveland Partnership 1240 Huron Rd E. Suite 300 Cleveland, Ohio 44115

Dear Mr. Roman: After many years of your total disregard, disrespect and ignoring the facts that we have presented to you and your organization the Greater Cleveland Partnership over the past several years regarding decades of racism and discrimination against African-American & Minority Contractors and construction workers in the multi-billion dollar construction industry in the greater ClevelandCuyahoga County area you still to this day have done absolutely nothing to assist us in our quest for changes to stop racism & discrimination. We feel that you Mr. Roman, as the Executive Director of the GCP will continue to do the same. We now better understand you Mr. Roman; after attending the March 16, 2012 meeting at the Union Club regarding solutions to include diversity & inclusion of African-American and Minority Contractors and construction workers in our region you sat completely silent for almost two hours. Not one single word or commitment from you personally Mr. Roman about working towards a solution with us to help stop racism & discrimination in the construction industry; just your one comment at the very end of the meeting about the schools. Are you sponsoring these meetings just for show? Why are you not responding to my e-mail. It has become quite apparent Mr. Roman from your same non-response "I don't care attitude" and "why am I here attitude" about diversity & Inclusion at the meeting that I have endured from you and GCP over the years including the renovation work of your former headquarters ($90 million Higbee Bldg. that African-American & Minority Contractors and construction workers were not allowed to work on) regarding solutions that we have brought to your attention regarding African-American Contractors and construction workers being shut out of all the major construction projects in our area due to racism & discrimination in the construction industry in our area.

Due to your very close personal relationships and ties with the two major organizations the Cleveland Building Trades Unions and the Construction Employers Association both of whom vigorously and blatantly promote racism & discrimination more than any group, organization, or individual in Cuyahoga County. We now know the answer why you were silent; why you have been silent. You, GCP, CBTU and the CEA do not want to adopt the 10 recommendations that would enhance our chances at diversity & inclusion on all construction projects in our area; that were introduced at the meeting and would be instrumental for African American & Minority Contractors and construction workers to finally have their opportunity at attaining parity in the white dominated construction industry in Cuyahoga County. In order for the GCP to move forward to provide equality for all races, creed and/or color which they are supposed to represent, their leadership must understand that the African-American and Minority Community is fed up, tired and we have had enough of having our tax dollars being used to assist on publicly funded construction projects (tax increment financing and/or bonds) but denied the opportunity to work on them because of our skin color. Based on the facts that you Mr. Roman, GCP, CBTU, and the CEA have all allowed, condoned and accepted racism & discrimination to continue for decades here and you and the unions (we are not anti-union) do not want positive changes for diversity & inclusion our organization the American Center For Economic Equality along with many other African American & Minority groups, organizations and community residents are demanding that you be fired immediately. Since, you obviously believe that we are not important enough to respond to understand this, we are organizing these same groups, organizations and community residents which you, GCP, CBTU, and the CEA have discriminated against and held a monopoly on in the construction industry for so long. You along with the unions have assisted in also denying us our American Dream and Equal Opportunity to house, feed and clothe our families (who we love equally if not more than you, GCP, CBTU and the CEA). We are organizing protests & demonstrations within the next 14 business days at the Greater Cleveland Partnership headquarters at 1240 Huron Rd. Huron #300 Cleveland, Ohio 44115, along with future upcoming GCP events. We are not going away these issues must be addressed.

Sincerely,

Norman K. Edwards American Center For Economic Equality 216-355-0535

16781 Chagrin Boulevard #525 Shaker Heights, Ohio 44120

Phone: 216.355-.0535

www.americancenter.com