THE PLANK DECEMBER 30, 2009
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The economists tell us that the recession is over or, at least, nearly over. A California woman named Claudia Bruce might not agree:
Claudia Bruce was laid off from her well-paying job 13 months ago after the economy fell. Now, Bruce is among a growing number of people who, in what seemed like an instant, went from middle class incomes to relying on public assistance.
Second Harvest Food Bank of Santa Clara and San Mateo counties fed a record-breaking 272,000 people in November. That 16 percent increase from the same time last year denotes a concerning trend for the 300 or so local agencies distributing its food.
At Bruce's last job, she made about $70,000 a year managing an office for a telecommunications startup in Redwood Shores. In October 2008, the company cuts its staff in half and let Bruce go.
She now receives $950 in unemployment benefits every two weeks. Up until now she's been able to juggle her monthly expenses--$1,550 plus utilities for her two-bedroom apartment, $130 cell phone bill, $105 for cable and Internet, as well as minimum credit card payments.
But Bruce started getting food from local food banks in January when her unemployment checks were delayed because of high demand.
"I sort of feel bad for all the people who are in the same boat as me," Bruce said. "It brought home how serious and far-reaching it is."
That article appeared in the San Mateo County Times. But it could have appeared in any number of outlets from across the country. And it could have focused on people in far worse condition than Bruce. As the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities recently noted, plummeting tax receipts have wrecked state budgets, forcing them to cut back on social services just at the time when they are most needed:
In states facing budget gaps, the consequences are severe in many cases--for residents as well as the economy. As the 2009 fiscal year ended and states planned for 2010, budget difficulties have led at least 43 states to reduce services to their residents, including some of their most vulnerable families and individuals... If revenue declines persist as expected in many states, additional spending and service cuts are likely.
There's a clear policy message here: Now is not the time to start a crash course in budget balancing. Just as the economy still needs stimulus, individuals and families still need assistance.
But perhaps there's a personal message here, as well. If you're among those people making end-of-year charitable contributions, you might consider supporting an institution or organization addressing some of these unmet needs. And if you don't know of any such charities, here are a few I've encountered over the years, while reporting on health care and other public policy issues.
As far as I know, all of these are reputable non-profits, to which contributions are tax-deductible. But you should check them out for yourselves--and, while you're at it, get to know a little more about the work they do.
Clinica Monsenor Oscar A. Romero (Los Angeles, CA)
Eisner Pediatric and Family Center (Los Angeles, CA)
First Step (Plymouth, MI)
Greater Boston Food Bank (Boston, MA)
The Hope Clinic (Chelsea, MI)
Louisiana Disaster Recovery Foundation (Baton Rouge and New Orleans, LA)
Matthew Walker Comprehensive Health Center (Nashville, TN)
St. John's Well Child and Family Center (Los Angeles, CA)
Venice Family Clinic (Venice, CA)
Women in Distress of Broward County (Fort Lauderdale, FL)
Update: A few readers suggested Bruce wasn't in such bad shape, if she could afford a cell phone and internet service. I'm not sure I agree: It's hard to find work, given her apparent level of experience, without either of those. Either way, though, there are plenty of people doing far worse. So I added a reference to that effect.
Follow Jonathan Cohn on Twitter: @jcohntnr
8 comments
What economic recovery? Of course GDP and stock market indices shouldn't be the only, or even main measures of economic recovery. Wall Streeters added a lot to the GDP through activity, while creating 0 value.
- Juniper
December 30, 2009 at 3:57pm
$130.00 for a cell phone? She never heard of the pay as you go cell phones? and why does she still have cable, and you can use skype for phone, I pay $3 a month for unlimited calls in the US. Also, she is a divorced woman with grown children, why does she have a two bedroom apartment? If you are going to ask for money for charities, might I suggest you don't list the story of a person who on unemployment still makes a lot more than people who work full time.
- blackton
December 30, 2009 at 5:16pm
I have to agree with blackton in that an unbiased observer might think she's still living high off the hog. There are budget cuts she could make, and while she may need to keep her internet connection (for possible job openings, etc) the cable should go plus i'd recommend finding another phone service. I imagine if she took a hard look at her monthly budget, plenty of cuts could be made. I already donate to charities, but i like to keep mine local, except for St Jude's. The title of this thread got me thinking about the movie with the same name, starring charles bronson. If things get bad enough, will the old wldctfan142 have to make ends meet with pick-up, winner take all fist fights in the back alleys? Who knows, but this is why i still train faithfully every day as if i were a boxer in training camp.
- wldctfan142
December 30, 2009 at 6:35pm
I've lived without both a cell phone and cable for over a year, and if anything my life is better without them. Somehow I survive without people being able to call me to talk about mostly meaningless drivel. I can somehow make it through the day without receiving tweets promoting the latest corporate bullshit. And cable? That shit's poison. People who think they should pay for it should meet my old coke dealer--he loves that kind of "thinking." Cable customers are Uncle Toms--the good house niggers who eat the shit the Man serves them with a smile on their faces. Today I bought an old fashioned address book, out of retro treeware and everything. I'm tired of dragging out my old PDA to look up somebody's address only to find out it needs charging before I can open the database. Screw electronic toys. One of the more enlightening charities around is Meals on Wheels, IMO. I delivered for them for four years, and among the many things the experience taught me was how many stupid useless gadgets younger people feel they have to have, as opposed to older folks. Go into a poor old man's simple little apartment to drop off his dinner, and two things are likely to be true: he has very little electronic shit lying around, and he's probably in a better mood than you are. I'm amused by the notion that the problem with China's economy is that its people don't consume enough irrelevant Chinese shit, so it has to sell its irrelevant shit to us (on credit). I'm further amused by the notion that our economy hangs by a thread while it waits for us to resume hocking our children's future to buy said shit. I'm even more amused that the consumer confidence numbers--the gauge of how much poisonous, unnecessary, ecosystem-destroying shit we think we can get away buying in the short term without ending up under a bridge--drives the stock market. And I'm totally amused by the news this week that the stock market took a $12 billion hit because Tiger Woods' chicks couldn't keep their mouths shut. And I thought the girls I patronize are expensive. We are a very, very fucked up civilization nearly bereft of humanistic spirituality, and high unemployment and people depending on food banks whether they need it or not is the least of our worries.
- williamyard
December 30, 2009 at 7:08pm
I'm just guessing here, but I suspect that she didn't move at first because she expected the joblessness to be temporary. There was a point in my life where I could not put together first and last month's rent plus deposit to rent a new place, even if it would have been cheaper in the long run, and it is possible that this woman is in that situation now (my solution was to volunteer to go out and do fieldwork for a while, and have no residence, but that was an unusual option). I spend maybe $20-30 per month for my prepaid cell phone (not just for guys cheating on their wives!), but the cell companies all lock you into long term contracts if you get a normal plan. In any case, all of you are picking on some fairly small nits. If you just take out rent and gas/electric bill from the unemployment, the main point is that there is not much left no matter what you consider essential bills. And Jon's suggestion is a great end of year challenge for us in any case.
- JEFF FREY
December 31, 2009 at 1:37am
Also Blackton, it's possible a one bedroom where she lives wouldn't be that much cheaper than a two. The moving expenses alone would make it not worth the move.
- Juniper
December 31, 2009 at 10:15am
juniper and jeff, I don't mean to undercut the stress she must be going through, my main point is if you are going to play for people's sympathies to get charity, then there are more than enough real hardluck cases out there, such as a family living in a shelter, or a tent, etc.
- blackton
December 31, 2009 at 10:58am
Right, but rightly or wrongly, I think most people aren't relating to families living in a shelter - yet, because they still think of themselves as too removed from the homeless they see on the streets. This article was I think more about someone just like them who now needs food stamps.
- Juniper
December 31, 2009 at 1:40pm