Yesterday, we found out that billionaires like Tea Party fan David Koch and Mayor Bloomberg are getting more billionaire-y. Now the U.S. Census reveals that one in five New York City residents lives in poverty. The NY Times reports, "From 2009 to 2010, 75,000 city residents were pushed into poverty, increasing the poor population to more than 1.6 million and raising the percentage of New Yorkers living below the official federal poverty line to 20.1 percent, the highest level since 2000. The 1.4-percentage-point annual increase in the poverty rate appeared to be the largest jump in nearly two decades." more ›

Mayor Bloomberg may have plenty of patience to go through a few swatches to get the PERFECT color of drapes, but he will not tolerate the return of the indigent squeegee men. "The police department has a lot to do, but we're not walking away from squeegee guys when they rear their heads…with their buckets and sponge," he said. Well! See if we ever give his Gulfstream a shine again. more ›

Forget the 46.2 million Americans who are living in poverty—when one of our nation's precious "job creators" is hurt, a bald eagle commits suicide. Billionaire Gristedes owner and relative to Dick Nixon by marriage John Catsimatidis may have to close the supermarket chain if the company can't afford to pay a $3.5 million settlement to 300 employees for back wages and overtime. "Gristedes is suffering," he tells the Post, citing a "squeeze play" by his vendors after rival Food Emporium declared bankruptcy last year. A "squeeze play" is also the technique for testing the ripeness of Gristedes produce, which involves gripping it tightly, pressing it to your face for a deep inhale, then placing it back amongst its brethren. (This technique is also an effective "negotiating" tactic when dealing with money-grubbing employees.) more ›

Today the Census Bureau released its report [pdf] on income, poverty and health insurance, and doggone it, would you believe these statistics are not specifically too good? According to the most recent census numbers from 2010, approximately 1 in 6 Americans are impoverished. That's 46.2 million people, up from 43.6 million in 2009—15.1 percent of the population were below the poverty line last year, the highest percentage since 1983. But hey, that was last year. We've still got more than three months left in 2011 to turn this thing around! more ›

Some of us are already regretting Friday's midnight dash to the grocery store. Don't! If you need to free up some space in the pantry, donate your uneaten food to the Food Bank For New York City. more ›

Currently about one in five New Yorkers are on food stamps, but many new recipients are not on welfare. That's because New Yorkers are special, and what would count as being in "poverty" here doesn't always count as poverty in the rest of the country. A new report (below) on city poverty from 2005 to 2009 from the Center for Economic Opportunity echoes that fact, saying that "the official poverty measure provides little useful information" for the city. However, they do argue that things like food stamps have kept people out of poverty. more ›

The anticipation of 2010 Census data has everyone crunching numbers about how we're living post-recession. And though we're faring better than most of the country, the results from the Census Bureau's 2009 American Community Survey show it's not pretty. For instance, the New York Times reports a rise in the number of New Yorkers living in apartments without kitchens, possibly proving that this whole foodie trend is just a paycheck away from dying. more ›

The Women’s Center for Education and Career Advancement recently released their Self-Sufficiency Standard for New York City report. And, according to data that will shock absolutely no one, they've discovered living expenses have been outpacing earnings. Seriously, rent is too damn high. more ›

Thanks to nationwide funding announced yesterday by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, 2,500 families may be saved from the possible Section 8 voucher cut. The vouchers allows poor residents to pay 30% of their income towards rent while the government pays for the rest. HUD Secretary Shaun Donavan told NY1, "A Section 8 voucher has never been more important that it is today in this economic crisis, and so this is a real lifeline for families at this time." HUD has $150 million in funds for housing authorities across the country, with $24 million set aside for New York City. more ›

Facing a $45 million deficit and never before seen demand, the NYC Housing Authority is considering the "inconceivable" measure of revoking vouchers that help low-income New Yorkers afford their rent. It may take back as many as 10,500 Section 8 permits, reports the Times, pushing recipients into overcrowded shelters. Judith Goldliner of NY's Legal Aid Society was shocked at the prospect. “This is just a disaster,” she said. “We don’t know who could be impacted by it.” more ›

Sketchy Harlem dental clinics aren't the only ones paying low-income New Yorkers to undergo teeth cleanings, the mayor is doing it too! Results are in for Mayor Bloomberg's Family Rewards Program, an effort to promote good habits among poor people by handing out cash. Since the program began two years ago 2,400 families took part receiving a total of $14 million to do responsible things like getting health insurance and attending parent-teacher conferences. There has been some success—10% more families got dental check-ups and others opened bank accounts, instead of immediately cashing checks—but other areas didn't improve enough, and the city will not expand the privately-financed program (which the Post describes as "bribes") into a publicly-financed one. more ›

This week Mayor Bloomberg is announcing the NYC Service Initiative, which aims to provide free legal services to homeowners in danger of foreclosure. In an announcement yesterday, the Mayor's office said it would "increase the availability and effectiveness of free legal representation for those facing foreclosure by training and dispatching 300 volunteer attorneys to expand legal services provided by non-profit organizations." more ›

According to a new standard based on research by the National Academy of Sciences, the number of people classified as "poor" in New York city rose by nearly 160,000 from 2005 to 2008, from 20.6% of the population to 22%. This new standard takes into account things like housing, medical and child care expenses. However, the federal census reports a decline in poverty for the city between 2005 and 2008, from 19.1% to 17.6%. So what's with the difference? more ›

To keep their unsold merchandise from being worn or put on the market by other sellers, Manhattan clothing retailers are shredding their excess merchandise instead of donating it, according to the Times. Scavengers have started sifting through the trash bags piled up behind the H&M's 34th Street shop in search of garb that hasn't been destroyed with box cutters or razors. A few doors down, a company contracted to work for Wal-Mart allegedly covered the sidewalk with trash bags stuffed clothing that had been punched with holes. Onlookers spotted gloves with the fingers cut off, shoes with scissors taken to the instep and jackets slashed across the arms and body. Both H&M and the company working with Wal-Mart are located around the corner from a major collection point for New York Cares, which conducts a coat drive every winter. more ›

In the distressing news pile today, a new study was released revealing that people are still going hungry in NYC in increased numbers. According to a report by the NYC Coalition Against Hunger (PDF), the number of people seeking emergency food services has risen nearly 21 percent from last year. While the survey finds "fewer agencies ran out of food than the year before," thanks to federal stimulus money, some food pantries are struggling to meet the growing need. more ›

According to a survey of low-income New Yorkers, Crain's reports that "two-thirds have less than $1,000 in savings to fall back on should even tougher times hit, while one-third have no savings at all." more ›

With all the talk that the recession has taken its biggest bite out of those in the top income brackets, it hasn't stopped the income gap in Manhattan being the greatest of any county in the country according to new census data. Other head-scratching numbers among the wealthy recorded in last year's census, the number of New Yorkers making over $200K rose by 19,000 and the median income among the top five percent jumped up to $857,000. The income disparities for the state also remain the largest in the nation. more ›

Yesterday, weather apparently prevented Mayor Bloomberg from giving a speech at the NAACP convention in Cleveland yesterday, but, in his place, Deputy Mayor Linda Gibbs said the city found 23% of NYC residents are living in poverty, above the 19% the U.S. Census Bureau found. more ›

Mayor Bloomberg is bringing his bottom-line approach to governance to the issue of poverty; specifically, where is the poverty line and who is below it? The Mayor is dissatisfied with the current federal standard for judging who is poor and who is not, which is based on the cost of groceries to feed a family. The current federal standard is 42 years old and criticized by many as totally off-base and outdated, especially since it discounts other costs of living, such as rent, utilities, and childcare. more ›

It’s not Tracy Letts’s fault that his play, August: Osage County, has been breathlessly overhyped by the critics, from the Times’s Charles Isherwood on down. It’s also not his fault that compared to many other Broadway spectacles the play stands out as a polestar of humor and intelligence. Still, it’s difficult to disassociate the play from the deafening buzz; August: Osage County is being heralded as an Important Theatrical Event, when it’s really just a well-crafted new play that happens to stand out among Broadway’s other lowbrow pygmies. (Tom Stoppard’s Rock ‘n’ Roll is well acted but as affectless as it is thought-provoking; the current revival of Harold Pinter’s The Homecoming is absolutely magnificent but, obviously, not the New American Drama critics lust after.) more ›

The City Council's Committee on Government Operations met this week to talk about possible changes to how much money council members make. Questions were raised about how raises were determined, leadership bonuses, and whether outside work should remain permitted. After a 25% increase in base pay in 2006, council members earn $112,500 annually. They can earn an additional $10,000 a year on average if a member holds a leadership position. In addition, members can hold... more ›

The Bureau of Labor Statistics has released data showing Manhattan as the country's highest paid place. Thanks to financial executives' salaries, the average weekly salary for a Manhattanite is $2,821. The next highest weekly salary in the country is Fairfield, Connecticut - $1,979. The figure reflect the heady first quarter of 2007. The rest of New York City residents make more modest amounts. Queens residents make an average of $831/week, followed by $788 made in... more ›

The financial markets may be taking a hit lately, but Wall Street is still planning about $38 billion in bonuses this year. Bloomberg News reports that the money was thanks to "a record $9 billion of fees for arranging acquisitions and $5 billion for underwriting initial public offerings and sales of junk bonds." This translate to an average Goldman Sachs, Merrill Lynch, Morgan Stanley, Lehman Brothers or Bear Stearns worker getting over $200,000 in bonuses.... more ›

The Critical Mass Halloween Ride is tonight! If you go, get some good pictures! more ›

Last night, a memorial bike ride was held in memory of Craig Murphey. Murphey, a 26-year-old who worked at the West Harlem Action Network Against Poverty, was biking when he was hit by an oil truck at Union Avenue and Ten Eyck Street in Williamsburg. more ›

This morning, President Bush is addressing the 62nd United Nations General Assembly. He is expected to discuss "global fight against terrorism, tyranny and poverty," as well as sanctions against Myanmar in support of the protest organized by Buddhist monks. However, he will only mention Iran briefly, and will opt to cover "broad themes." A White House spokesman said, "The president wanted this speech to focus on many other issues that are facing the world -- issues that people in Sudan and Zimbabwe and Burma and countless other countries are dealing with," referring to the United Nations' mission to ensuring freedom. more ›