Gay Groups

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Apr. 9 - With gay attorney Michael Williams, Mayor Street's appointee to head the Minority Business Enterprise Council, slated to start work Monday, a group of African-American business leaders and activists yesterday urged the mayor to withdraw Williams' name and start over.

The group, some of whom are connected to the African American Chamber of Commerce, also defended chamber chairman A. Bruce Crawley who last week ignited the controversy by criticizing Street's selection as a political payoff to the gay and lesbian community.

Crawley said Williams, a former deputy director at Community Legal Services, lacks serious credentials in the area of African-American business development.

But George Burrell, Street's secretary of external affairs, said he was "100 percent sure that Mr. Williams will be on the job on Monday," adding, "I'm sure the mayor would be willing to meet with Mr. Crawley and any other members in the African-American business community if they want to talk."

Melvin Jackson, a West Philadelphia businessman and longtime Street supporter, said Crawley's critique "isn't about homophobia, it's about a person who isn't qualified. He had no track record in black development or empowerment."

Madaline G. Dunn, a real-estate broker and chamber member, said Street and Crawley need to sit down with an expert in conflict resolution "and work this out."

Dunn said, "I don't know Mr. Williams, and I've been around this city for a long time and I should have run into him."

Burrell rejected a third-party mediator and said the two men are "grown, sophisticated and accomplished men. They could talk in candor about their differences. But I don't think that discussion will result in Michael William's name being withdrawn."

Joining the group at the podium was Imam Shamsud-din Ali, a West Philadelphia businessman who is the target of a federal investigation into alleged municipal corruption. Ali urged Street to review his decision to name Williams.

Though Crawley did not attend the event, he said he was approached last week by activists who supported his stance.

Deborah Moore of the Coalition of Voters, Taxpayers & Businesses of the African-American Community said the group was concerned about "low levels of participation in city contracts and whether Mayor Street has been appropriately supportive of black voters."