Independent NewsPosts Tagged ‘Poverty’
New Census Report Shows America More Impoverished
Today the U.S. Department of Commerce released a report on Income, Poverty, and Health Insurance Coverage in the United States for 2009. Its findings showed: • The median household income in 2009 was not statistically different from the 2008 median in real [...]
Pensacola a “Forgotten City”
MIT researchers recently released a study that named America's 150 forgotten cities. The analysis is based on being a medium sized city/metropolitan area and failing in a number of areas—more notably, poverty. Pensacola was the only selection for Florida. Here is the study.
Don Gaetz’s Legislative Report
Press Release: 2010 Legislative Session Report The 112th session of the Legislature reflected the struggles of Florida families and businesses during the most challenging economic conditions since the Great Depression. Hard times brought rapidly increasing demands for [...]
Cutting funds for non-profits
The Pensacola City Council is faced with an estimated $1.8 million deficit in the fiscal year 2010-11 budget. Instead of looking at how it may save dollars by consolidating services with the county, the immediate reaction is to cut funding to United Way and other charities that deal with this [...]
Welfare isn’t the problem
I've read most of the comments on the Access Escambia. For some this initiative is an opportunity to voice opposition to welfare. Gang, Escambia County doesn’t have an abundance of welfare programs. We spend less than all but one Florida county on public health care. We pioneered workfare in [...]
What is real poverty
Food for Thought from MarketWatch.com: The richest two percent of the world's population owns more than half of the world's household wealth. Although you may believe you've heard this statistic before, you haven't: For the first time, personal wealth, not income, has been measured around the [...]
Double digit sales tax may replace property taxes
So you are angry over your property tax bill? Would you rather pay more sales tax? Hmmm, how about 7.5 percent more - from the current state rate of 6% to 13.5%? That's one of the controversial options recommended by a governor-appointed task force last week. Not sure the impact on county [...]
Legal counsel for indigent in trouble
State is having trouble paying for the legal fees of the poor. Can't pay for medical care. Low income housing is not being rebuilt after the hurricanes. Where's the safety net? Read pdf: Letter
Healthcare solution: free check-ups
The NY Times is reporting today that some hospital systems are experimenting with free preventative care to reduce the much higher write-offs of emergency room admissions - as a means of dealing with the uninsured. Denver’s public system, Denver Health, has 41,000 uninsured patients enrolled in [...]
To the victors the spoils
In doing some research on Congressional spending, I came across this 2002 Washington Post article written by David Post of AP - Majority status enriched GOP areas. The 1994 Congressional elections that swept the Republicans into power led to a major shift in federal spending from poor rural and [...]
Martini Night: Dem Studds was as bad as Foley
Last night: one Martini Night guest argued that Rep. Studds, a Democrat, had a similar scandal in 1983. Here are the facts:In 1983 Gerry Studds (D-MA) was excused of having sex with a 17-year-old male page in 1973 -ten years earlier. Republican Rep. Dan Crane was accused of also having a sexual [...]
Willie has all he needs
The Save Our City mentality still exists. Here's a letter sent to the PNJ: What will be at park, that we don't already have? One person recently wrote he was against the maritime park but will visit it because he is paying for it ("Vote them out," Letters, Sept. 11). Well, I am not of that [...]