Community

OP-ED: We Must Build Pathways Out of Poverty

Published

9 years ago

June 24, 2015

By Congresswoman Barbara Lee

An article in the recent Post Newspaper, “Oakland is Losing Its Racial, Age and Economic Diversity,” highlights the growing crisis of income inequality in our communities and our country.

Communities of color have always been hard-hit by income inequality because of the systemic and institutional barriers to economic opportunity.

African American unemployment and poverty rates are twice the rate for white Americans. Likewise, the unemployment rate for Latinos is two points higher than the rate for white Americans and nearly two and half times the poverty rate for white Americans.

Furthermore, the Asian American and Pacific Islanders community have a poverty rate nearly a full point higher than their white counterparts.

These barriers to opportunity also exist for women and their families. Across the board, women still earn just 78 cents for every dollar paid to white men. For women of color, the situation is far worse.

African American women are paid just 64 cents for each dollar paid to a white man; for Latinas, its 56 cents to the dollar. Since women of color are more likely to be the sole breadwinner for their families, the wage gap is a massive driver of racial and gender economic inequality.

Stagnant wages, raising income inequality and a decreased supply of affordable housing is forcing longtime residents – many of whom are our neighbors and friends – out of the city they’ve called home for years.

Instead of working to address this injustice, Republicans in Congress have blocked wage increase legislation and have cut vital funding for workforce training and affordable housing.

Recently, I reintroduced the Pathways out of Poverty Act (H.R. 2721) to address these issues. This legislation will create more good-paying American jobs while strengthening proven and evidence-based anti-poverty programs.

By enacting this legislation, Congress would have the opportunity to finally address the root causes of income inequality and provide vital resources to help allow families to stay in the communities they love.

Congresswoman Barbara Lee

Congresswoman Barbara Lee represents California’s 13th Congressional district.

Oakland Post

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Activism

Oakland Post: Week of April 24 – 30, 2024

The printed Weekly Edition of the Oakland Post: Week of April 24 – 30, 2024

Published

6 days ago

April 26, 2024

Oakland Post

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Alameda County

DA Pamela Price Stands by Mom Who Lost Son to Gun Violence in Oakland

Last week, The Post published a photo showing Alameda County District Attorney Pamela Price with Carol Jones, whose son, Patrick DeMarco Scott, was gunned down by an unknown assailant in 2018.

Published

1 week ago

April 22, 2024

Oakland Post

District Attorney Pamela Price with Carol Jones

Publisher’s note: Last week, The Post published a photo showing Alameda County District Attorney Pamela Price with Carol Jones, whose son, Patrick DeMarco Scott, was gunned down by an unknown assailant in 2018. The photo was too small for readers to see where the women were and what they were doing. Here we show Price and Jones as they complete a walk in memory of Scott. For more information and to contribute, please contact Carol Jones at 510-978-5517 at morefoundation.help@gmail.com. Courtesy photo.

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City Government

Vallejo Welcomes Interim City Manager Beverli Marshall

At Tuesday night’s Council meeting, the Vallejo City Council appointed Beverli Marshall as the interim city manager. Her tenure in the City Manager’s Office began today, Wednesday, April 10. Mayor Robert McConnell praised Marshall’s extensive background, noting her “wide breadth of experience in many areas that will assist the City and its citizens in understanding the complexity of the many issues that must be solved” in Vallejo.

Published

1 week ago

April 22, 2024

Oakland Post

Beverli Marshall began her first day with the City on April 10. ICMA image.

Special to The Post

At Tuesday night’s Council meeting, the Vallejo City Council appointed Beverli Marshall as the interim city manager. Her tenure in the City Manager’s Office began today, Wednesday, April 10.

Mayor Robert McConnell praised Marshall’s extensive background, noting her “wide breadth of experience in many areas that will assist the City and its citizens in understanding the complexity of the many issues that must be solved” in Vallejo.

Current City Manager Michael Malone, whose official departure is slated for April 18, expressed his well wishes. “I wish the City of Vallejo and Interim City Manager Marshall all the best in moving forward on the progress we’ve made to improve service to residents.” Malone expressed his hope that the staff and Council will work closely with ICM Marshall to “ensure success and prosperity for the City.”

According to the Vallejo Sun, Malone stepped into the role of interim city manager in 2021 and became permanent in 2022. Previously, Malone served as the city’s water director and decided to retire from city service e at the end of his contract which is April 18.

“I hope the excellent work of City staff will continue for years to come in Vallejo,” he said. “However, recent developments have led me to this decision to announce my retirement.”

When Malone was appointed, Vallejo was awash in scandals involving the housing division and the police department. A third of the city’s jobs went unfilled during most of his tenure, making for a rocky road for getting things done, the Vallejo Sun reported.

At last night’s council meeting, McConnell explained the selection process, highlighting the council’s confidence in achieving positive outcomes through a collaborative effort, and said this afternoon, “The Council is confident that by working closely together, positive results will be obtained.”

While the search for a permanent city manager is ongoing, an announcement is expected in the coming months.

On behalf of the City Council, Mayor McConnell extended gratitude to the staff, citizen groups, and recruitment firm.

“The Council wishes to thank the staff, the citizens’ group, and the recruitment firm for their diligent work and careful consideration for the selection of what is possibly the most important decision a Council can make on behalf of the betterment of our City,” McConnell said.

The Vallejo Sun contributed to this report.