We're at the University of Pennsylvania with a great crowd and a great panel, talking about how to make poverty an issue in the mayor's race. We'll be sending in a full report a little later, but for now: some points to consider...all raised by the panel...
*A growing number of Philadelphians are not working
*One out of four Philadelphians are in poverty
*One in four Philadelphians aged 16 to 64 do not have a high school diploma
*We are next to last among the 50 biggest U.S. cities when ranked by the percent of people who have a high school diploma. The last: New Orleans.
That sounds like an issue for the Next Mayor to me. So does the panel -- one said we should ask the candidates, "What is your plan to lift people out of poverty?"
Read more coverage after the jump.
More from U. Penn's panel on poverty and the mayor's race:
The panel was impressive: Thomas Sugrue, the Edmund and Louise Kahn professor of history and sociology at the University of Pennsylvania, moderated; he wrote a book on race and inequality in Detroit. Panelists were Anne Price, senior associate for public investments at the Philadelphia Workforce Investment Board; Anne O'Callaghan, executive director of the Welcoming Center for New Pennsylvanians; Jeff Hornstein, district organizer coordinator for Local 32BJ of the Service Employees International Union in Philadelphia; and Lance Haver, director of Philadelphia’s Office of Consumer Affairs.
Some of the things that struck me:
Haver believes if we are honest, and talk about what people need to make to live instead of the federal poverty rate, the percentage of Philadelphians living in poverty is more like 40 percent.
He wants to ask of all the candidates: "What is your plan to lift people out of poverty?"
And he believes that, as a city, "We have to recognize the costs of not having an equitable distribution of wealth."
There are obvious costs - PGW bills that pay for people who don't, tax bills that pay for social-service programs - and less obvious costs, including the enormous cost of crime-fighting.
In the question period, he suggested using a small amount of the city's pension fund to strategically invest in unionized, inner-city businesses.
That really sounds like a good idea.
A passionate woman from the audience spoke up for better connecting universities - which get government funding - to creation of jobs. And she made the point that middle class is no longer the middle class, because in many neighborhoods lifelong workers have been priced out of their houses - though she's incorrect in saying that the city will go to full valuation of real estate soon.
There was also much talk about the difficulties that Philadelphia - and the state of Pennsylvania - throws at people who are trying find a job.
O'Callaghan told a story about coming here from Ireland and wanting to work as a nurse - and finding that the state of Pennsylvania wouldn't certify her because the schools in Dublin weren't accredited by the state of Pennsylvania. (She had to go to North Carolina, apply there and then apply for a reciprocal license here.)
Honestly, folks, that's the kind of thing that governments can fix.
And this reminder of the reality of the economy, from Hornstein, of the service-sector labor union SEIU: "The U.S. economy produces millions of terrible jobs today...requiring little real education."
Again, figuring out how to encourage good jobs - that do require and reward education - is something that governments can fix.
Here's something else interesting - these are the actions that Hornstein said the next mayor should take to help low-wage workers. From a union perspective, of course, and very thought-provoking.
*Make sure the labor standards unit of the Managing Director's office is staffed *Require "responsible" contracting which, among other things, would require contractors to pay union scale, provide health insurance and not fight organizing efforts.
*Build workforce housing
*Promote a progressive tax structure
Comments (2)
The graduation mark is right in the middle of the top 50 districts.
http://www.usatoday.com/news/education/2006-06-20-dropout-rates_x.htm#grad
Posted by Patricio | January 23, 2007 9:42 PM
When I read the report I knew that they covered older residents. Honestly though we need not just discussions on city levels in this country about children graduating but on the nationial level. Of course George Bush makes no mention of this in his STATE OF THE UNION. When 55.5% rate of graduation is your average, then the whole country is in trouble.
Posted by Patricio | January 23, 2007 11:21 PM