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GOP: Homelessness is Among Top Concerns

Dorothy Day Center residents sit outside Convention CenterBesides pigeon dung, homelessness is among the top concerns for organizers of the Republican National Convention.  Not because they want to solve the homelessness problem, but because it’s going to be right across the street from their convention.

This year’s Republican National Convention is being held at the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul, Minnesota directly across the street from one of the city’s largest homeless shelters, the Dorothy Day Center.  The Center houses about 200 people and is clearly visible from the Convention steps. Continue reading “GOP: Homelessness is Among Top Concerns”

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Poverty Facts Released

The Urban Institute recently released a report called “Poverty Facts, 2004.”

According to the report:

In 2004, 36.6 million people—or 12.6 percent of the U.S. population—were poor. The “poverty gap”—the amount of additional income required to remove all Americans from poverty—was $105.6 billion. Poverty rates were highest for African Americans, Hispanics, women, and persons under 25. Without government benefits, 61 million people would be poor. Social Security and other social insurance programs remove 21 million people from poverty. Means tested programs remove 3 million people from poverty. If food and housing assistance were counted as income for poverty purposes, an additional 7.6 million people would be counted as not poor.

Full report: Poverty Facts, 2004

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Portland Considered Most Bicycle-Friendly City in North America

Portland has become an urban planner’s dream lately–with their urban growth boundary and celebrated environmental planning.

Now Portland’s considered North America’s most bicycle-friendly city.

Amy Goodman, host of Democracy Now, recently interviewed Scott Bricker, Executive Director of Portland’s Bicycle Transportation Alliance and Elly Blue, a Portland-based transportation activist about what makes Portland so bicycle friendly.

Amy’s guests were there to promote the Towards Carfree Cities Conference coming up in June.

Interview: Portland Considered Most Bicycle-Friendly City in North America
Above image from www.StreetsBlog.org.