Major Contractor Investigates Allegations of Unfair Hiring Practices at Convention Center Hotel

A KTAL follow up: Walton Construction has completed its investigations into hiring practices on Shreveport`s Convention Center hotel project. In a press release issued today, the company says it did everything possible to hire as many minority contractors as possible. According to Walton, minority participation is at 20.3 percent. During a recent city council meeting, a controversy exploded after Walton Vice President Tommy Clark alledgedly stated that some minority sub-contractors working on the project were acting as "pass-throughs" for majority contractors. Walton officials say Clark`s comments were taken out of context. However, Shreveport Councilman Theron Jackson, District G, says that was not the case. "His statements weren`t taken out of context," Jackson said," perhaps he said them out of context but the council took them at face value." Walton Construction has served as general contractor on a number of major projects in Shreveport, such as the Shreveport city jail and the renovation of Sci-Port. The company says it is working to create educational and mentoring programs for minority contractors and small contractors in the Shreveport area.