In 1996, California was the first state to adopt a constitutional ban on race-based and sex-based affirmative action. Proposition 209 ended California’s governmental institutions from considering race, gender, or ethnicity in government contracting. Several states, including Washington and Michigan, followed suit. The negative impact on Black, Latino, and women owned construction businesses remains alarming. In November, Californians will head back to the polls to vote on Proposition 16, which would reverse Proposition 209. This session will take a look at the legal and economic implications of Proposition 16 in the backdrop of 2020’s summer of racial unrest and the global pandemic.
Presented by:
Y. Lisa Colon
Smith, Currie & Hancock LLP
Y. Lisa Colon is a partner in the Fort Lauderdale office of Smith Currie & Hancock LLP. Lisa is Board Certified in Construction Law by the Florida Bar. She is also a member of the New York bar. Lisa is a Certified Mediator and Arbitrator. She represents owners, contractors, subcontractors, design professionals in all matters of public and private construction, real estate development, and local government contracting issues. Lisa is deeply immersed in issues relating to socio-economic programs such as small, minority and disadvantaged business programs. She serves as General Counsel for the National Association of Minority Contractors and participates in various construction industry groups. Lisa is a CLSA Fellow, and a Fellow of the American Bar Association, Forum on Construction Law. She was recognized as a Super Lawyer Rising Star and recognized as an Honoree for the South Florida Business & Wealth Prestigious Women Awards.