Struggling New Yorkers dragged into poverty during the recession weren't surprised to hear that things have gotten worse at the bottom of the economic food chain.
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Although citywide poverty statistics won't be available until later this month, local advocates for the poor said there are more New Yorkers in need.
The West Side pantry experienced a 21% jump in visitors this year while St. John's Bread and Life, Brooklyn's largest soup kitchen program, reported a 47% increase in the number of people it served.
"These are people who were just getting by before. They can't work any harder. They just can't make it," said Anthony Butler, executive director of St. John's Bread and Life.
One woman, who asked not to be named, was visiting a food pantry for the first time Thursday because she hasn't been able to find work since her son was born a year ago.
Her husband's job as a security officer is no longer enough to pay their new expenses.
"It's harder to make ends meet," she said, adding "Things are more difficult in every way."
1 out of every 7 people in this country now live in poverty.
The unemployment rate stands at 9.6%.
The underemployment rate stands at 18%.
People are hurting.
What has Barack Obama's response been?
Bail out Wall Street, cut food stamps by $11.9 billion, and move to raise the retirement age to 72 with his Cat Food Commission.
Change we can believe in?
Nope - corporate governance from a corporate Dem.
The change I can believe in is seeing Barack Obama going the way of Adrian Fenty.
Having broken the working class years ago, Finance is busy sinking its teeth into the middle class.
ReplyDeleteAs a parasitic entity that produces little or no productive wealth, it fattens off interest, rent, fees and royalties, at the expense of the productive sectors of the economy.
That's capitalism with a snarling face for ya.