100 Million Poor People In America And 39 Other Facts About Poverty That Will Blow Your Mind
Michael Snyder
The Economic Collapse
July 25, 2012
Every single day more Americans fall into poverty. This should deeply alarm you no matter what political party you belong to and no matter what your personal economic philosophy is. Right now, approximately 100 million Americans are either “poor” or “near poor”.
For a lot of people “poverty” can be a nebulous concept, so let’s define it. The poverty level as defined by the federal government in 2010 was $11,139 for an individual and $22,314 for a family of four. Could you take care of a family of four on less than $2000 a month? Millions upon millions of families are experiencing a tremendous amount of pain in this economy, and no matter what “solutions” we think are correct, the reality is that we all should have compassion on them. Sadly, things are about to get even worse. The next major economic downturn is rapidly approaching, and when it hits the statistics posted below are going to look even more horrendous.
Amid protests, Englewood school board walks out before taking up outsourcing proposal
THURSDAY, JULY 26, 2012
BY REBECCA BAKER
STAFF WRITER
THE RECORD
The members of the Englewood school board, faced with a loud and, at times, angry protest over a plan to outsource nearly 100 jobs, abruptly stood up and walked out of a public meeting Thursday night just as they were poised to cast a vote approving the measure.
Englewood teaching assistant Sharon Vanterpool tells members of the school board Thursday night that on Election Day she will remember their decision to explore outsourcing.
About 150 district employees and their supporters had assembled in the cafeteria at the Dr. John Grieco Elementary School, united in their opposition to the outsourcing plan. As the crowd grew angrier and more animated, the board members abruptly got up and walked into a back room, leaving the audience dumbfounded.
The board members had not voted to go into executive session. Rather, they appeared to be on the verge of voting to hire two private staffing companies — Delta T. Group North Jersey Inc. and Mission One Educational Staffing — to replace the employees, including 24 secretaries and 66 full-time teaching assistants, when they walked out at 9:35 p.m.
The move came hours after the Englewood teachers union rejected an offer to avoid the outsourcing plan in exchange for agreeing to $1.5 million in concessions. The board members had yet to emerge as of midnight.
…STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL IMPACT BERGEN…BRONX…FAIRFIELD… HUDSON…KINGS (BROOKLYN)…NEW YORK (MANHATTAN)…NORTHERN ESSEX… NORTHERN NASSAU…PASSAIC…QUEENS…ROCKLAND…SUFFOLK AND WESTCHESTER COUNTIES…
AT 843 AM EDT…NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR WAS TRACKING
STRONG THUNDERSTORMS ALONG A LINE EXTENDING FROM OSSINING TO NANUET
TO RAMSEY TO 5 MILES SOUTHWEST OF WEST MILFORD…OR ALONG A LINE
EXTENDING FROM OSSINING TO NANUET TO RAMSEY TO WEST MILFORD…AND
MOVING SOUTHEAST AT 35 MPH.
“Fart bag” Incident creates disturbance at Little Theater
July 25,2012
the staff of the Ridgewood blog / Ridgewood Police Blotter
Normally we don’t report on Police Activity in the Village but we found the recent rash of summer silliness to good to pass up.
On July 19 2012 an Oradell resident reported that he had parked his vehicle at 1200 East Ridgewood Avenue. When he returned to his vehicle he observed a white male hitting the window of his vehicle. The window broke and a GPS was stolen. The matter is under investigation by the Ridgewood Detective Bureau. Well that sounds like serious police business .
On July 19 2012 at 9:20 PM patrol responded to Ridgewood High School on a disturbance in the Little Theater. During a play performance three juveniles entered the theater and set off “Fart Bags”, disrupting the play. The matter is under investigation by the Ridgewood Detective Bureau. Not sure if “Fart Bags” are serious jail time .
On July 20, 2012 three separate incidents of a white sedan driving past pedestrians and throwing eggs at them were reported. The matter is under investigation by the Ridgewood Detective Bureau. No mention as to whether the eggs were “free range ” on not.
On July 24 2012 at 11:30 PM Patrol responded to the area of Amsterdam Avenue on a report of juveniles damaging street signs. A search of the area was conducted and two juveniles that were involved in tearing the signs from the ground were located. The juveniles were released to the custody of their parents pending Family Court Action. Parents break out your check books
All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
A zero percent tax increase may or may not be the aim of the Ridgewood Board of Education (BOE) for next year.
TUESDAY JULY 24, 2012, 10:49 AM
BY LAURA HERZOG
STAFF WRITER
THE RIDGEWOOD NEWS
A zero percent tax increase may or may not be the aim of the Ridgewood Board of Education (BOE) for next year. It’s all in the wording the BOE adopts for its 2013-2014 goals.
At last Monday’s public meeting, BOE members expressed uncertainty about how they wanted to phrase their new goals: Committing to a zero percent tax increase or focusing on the services students would need without setting a specific financial goal. The consensus was they all want to provide a quality education to students.
BOE member Jim Morgan, however, said a zero percent tax increase is feasible for a school board that has a $90 million budget to work with. It’s better to start thinking with a frugal mindset, he argued during the meeting.
“It’s got to be started now before the budget really starts to be looked at for the 2013-2014 school year,” he said. Delivering a quality education “within the budget” was possible, he said, because there are “other ways of delivering goods and services” that should be considered.
What it is: The state Department of Education last week released a 23-page checklist for all new charter covering academic, financial and other operations. The framework sets standards on everything from how well students must fare on state tests to financial data on how much debt a school is carrying.
What it means: The Christie administration has continued to revise its accountability standards for charter schools as it faced increasing pressure from critics and local school districts. The new framework was announced at the same time that the administration cleared the way for another nine charter schools to open in the fall, including two that will provide a mix of online and in-person instruction. (Mooney, NJ Spotlight)
2012 WIBIT 50 METER SPLASH, Wednesday, July 25th (rain date 7/26) at 5:30 p.m. at
Graydon Pool – Co-sponsored by Commercial Recreation Specialists
All participants who have passed the Deep Water Test are welcome to join. Register individually or as part of a 5-man team and vie for 1st prize, a $100 gift card for the team, team picture and bragging rights. 2nd and 3rd prizes are $50 gift cards per team. The fee to participate is $25 per team prior to June 20th; $30 thereafter.
Individuals may register for $6 per person. All participants must provide a signed waiver and posess a Graydon Pool membership or purchase a daily pass.
Register in person or by mail: The Stable, 259 N. Maple Avenue, Ridgewood, NJ. Telephone 201-670-5560 with questions. Download the registration form
At my company, Honest Landscaping and Interiors, I have been hearing from my customers a lot about allergies. Millions of people suffer from severe allergies. Some people don’t even plant a garden for fears of making their allergies worse. Fear not, I have some hypoallergenic plants and tips for naturally eliminating your runny nose and headaches.
What to plant:
You can always count on boxwood. Boxwood are slow growing, flowerless, deer resistant, and hypo allergenic. Boxwood makes a great hedge row or standalone plant. They also tolerate sun or shade.
Hibiscus is a tropical plant that can only be outside in the spring and summer months. They get a large flower but the pollen is heavy and does not travel through the air. Rose of Sharon is a perennial variety that does grow in our area. Be sure to plant in sun or part sun for best results.
If you are looking for a more traditional plant Hydrangea may be what you want. There are many varieties of hydrangea including bush, tree,and climbing. They get an abundance of flowers in bright colors. Be aware that the Deer love to consume the flowers so you may want to use a natural deer repellant. Some selections will grow in sun some in shade.
Daffodils and Tulips bloom in the spring. Once again you have an assortment of colors and varieties. Plant them in rows or clumps for the best showing and be sure not to plant them too deep. Ask your local garden center about the varieties you are planting. Plant your bulbs in full sun or partial shade.
If you want fruit trees plant Apple, Pear, Plum or Cherry. Be sure to net your fruit trees to prevent birds or deer from eating your fruit. The first year of planting will sometimes not yield any fruit. Be sure to trim your
trees properly. Call a professional like me if you need someone to do it for you. Partial sun or full sun is the best for all fruit trees.
There are plenty of annuals you can plant in spring that will not agitate your allergies. Let’s start with the ones that grow in the sun. Sunflowers, Petunias, Periwinkles, Daisies and Pansies are great and add lots of color to your garden beds. For shady areas plant Begonias. The Periwinkle and Begonias are also considered deer resistant.
If you like Roses you are in luck. Believe it or not roses are considered hypoallergenic. I would say to plant smaller budded Roses. Roses have large pollen and that is not transmitted through the air, they are pollinated by insects. You may also cut them and bring them in your home. Roses prefer sun or partial sun for best growth.
Finally, plant a cactus garden. There are so many beautiful selections that thrive in this area. Don’t be afraid to mix them up. I would recommend speaking to your local garden center about which Cactus they will be carrying. If you ask for different types they can probably order them. Cactus love sunny and dry conditions. Perfect this year.
This article is presented by www.honestlandscapingandinteriors.com, a greener way to do landscaping and interior remodeling. Please contact Lisa with any landscaping questions or for a free estimate at (727) 637-8014 or [email protected].
The ‘other’ online charters get ready for new school year in NJ
They are the online charter schools that haven’t gotten much attention in New Jersey, the ones that will blend online tools with in-person teaching.
That lack of attention is likely to change soon, however.
Acting Education Commissioner Chris Cerf on Monday cleared the way for two of the so-called hybrid or blended charter schools to open out of Newark next month, offering students a full-day experience in the classroom, along with a heavy dose of online learning.
It’s a big distinction from the all-online programs that generated so much debate in the past month, where students would be taking classes out of their homes. The state on Monday postponed the opening of two such virtual schools for at least a year. (Mooney, NJ Spotlight)
Reader says , “The summer school “rules” were never clearly presented. “
The summer school “rules” were never clearly presented. I knew that they had summer school but the hours per day for remedial and new credit were not clear. A borderline D/F student had 24 hours to get registered if they failed the class at the final exam.
I researched summer school programs at other schools in New Jersey in an attempt to figure out how Ridgewood probably worked. There was a school that had summer school for less weeks and an hour more per day. This would be much more attractive to a family that had to make summer plans around a student in school.
They should have had the marketing club get the information out to the students. No one wants to go to summer school and it is targeted to students who did not do well the first time. Don’t make it like a punishment.
It would have been good to know what teachers would be in the classroom for summer school. My son had a terrible English teacher this year and there was no way we would send him to summer school with her. She should be editing book jackets in a cubicle somewhere away from children
The state’s first proposed full-time virtual charter school will have to wait at least year to begin educating students.
The state Department of Education today announced approval of nine new charter schools for September, but said the New Jersey Virtual Academy Charter School, a full-time online charter school, would instead be given a “planning” year to further develop “academic and operational components.”
However, two offering a mix of online and traditional learning did receive approval. Both Newark Prep and Merit Preparatory of Newark Charter School intend to offer “blended” learning in a school setting, Newark Prep serving high school students, and Merit Prep starting by enrolling sixth-graders. (Rundquist, The Star-Ledger)
Banning those whom you disagree with is intolerant and un-American
In a recent letter to the editor (The Ridgewood News, July 13, 2012) ( https://tinyurl.com/7hb3xvs ) the writer noted “I cannot understand why the continued and growing presence of the Tea Party in the Ridgewood Fourth of July parade is tolerated or permitted.” The writer then goes on to say that the Tea Party’s presence in the parade “alters the parade’s naturally inclusive character.” I don’t understand the logic: ban a group that the writer does not like to make the parade more inclusive, huh? The writer also states that the Fourth of July parade is a “non-partisan celebration of community service,” really?
July Fourth is not a day, as the writer says, “to honor public servants, elected officials, police, fire and other emergency service workers, military veterans, schools, hospital workers” (however honorable that may be). Even the parade rules state that the purpose of the parade is to celebrate The Declaration of Independence. I will point out that The Declaration is an extremely politically charged document, or as King George would have thought: partisan. We should not dishonor the sacrifice of our founders by changing the meaning of the day to some politically correct idea void of any connection to its true meaning of: Independence.
On March 23, 1780 a Revolutionary War battle was fought right here in Ridgewood, and many of our Bergen County citizens died in the Revolution. On July Fourth it is our duty to celebrate our freedoms, independence, and to remember the sacrifice of not only the American Revolution but all who have loved freedom. As Abraham Lincoln admonished us in his Gettysburg Address – “that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain—that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom—and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth.”
The New Jersey Tea Party Coalition (a citizens movement) marches in Ridgewood on July Fourth to celebrate the birth of our nation and to promote a new birth of freedom. We are proud Americans and we participate in the parade to support the tradition of what John Adams called “the great anniversary.” We march as people of this great land to celebrate and promote our American freedoms, and the preservation of liberty. Those ideals belong to “We the People” – not to either political party. Supporting the principles within our Nation’s foundational documents is not partisan or offensive – It’s American!
Banning those whom you disagree with is intolerant and un-American.
Tim Adriance Co-founder of the New Jersey Tea Party Coalition
“Municide” : Unless the Village starts looking at new forms of revenue this would not come as a surprise
As a former resident I would never wish “Municide” on my old hometown. Though unless the Village starts looking at new forms of revenue this would not come as a surprise.
In particular, solar panels paid for by utilities, cell phone towers which offer recurring revenue, and tasteful advertising to subsidize the annual losses at Graydon. “Tasteful” could use as a touchstone the same types of advertising found on little league baseball uniforms.
I’m not in favor of sacrificing the town’s character or visual appeal. I am in favor of avoiding casting the local unions and teachers as the cause of Ridgewood’s inevitable fiscal cliff. Teachers, Police, and Fire salaries and pensions are not the problem.
The Village has to realize that a massive number of real estate tax appeals and people moving to lower tax municipalities are the problems and that these are being ignored.
Ridgewood needs some creative types to work on raising revenues and not taxes.
NJEA looks to limit School choice takes tough stance on new charters
The relationship between the New Jersey Education Association and charter schools has been a checkered one.
In the early 1990s, the powerful teachers union fought against the state’s charter school law before ultimately signing on. Since then, it has openly said it supports charters — and has organized unions in a dozen of them — while raising protests about some aspects of the alternative schools.
Now, the union is again mixing it up, as the Christie administration is about to announce the latest round of final charters for schools opening this fall, including possibly New Jersey’s first all-online schools. (Mooney, NJ Spotlight)
The other foreclosure crisis: Losing a home over $400 in back taxes
By Les Christie @CNNMoney July 11, 2012: 9:59 AM ET
NEW YORK (CNNMoney) — People are losing their homes over unpaid tax bills that, in some cases, add up to just a few hundred dollars.
Outdated state laws that allow local governments to sell tax liens on delinquent properties to investors in order to more quickly collect on overdue property taxes is sparking a second “foreclosure crisis,” a report from the National Consumer Law Center said Tuesday.
When homeowners don’t pay property taxes or other municipal bills, like water or sewer fees, local governments have less money to maintain services like schools, police and fire departments and road maintenance. By selling tax liens, those governments can collect on what it is owed.
Investors, in return, effectively own a claim against the property until the homeowner pays the county or municipality back or until they default on the debt entirely. The investor can either collect interest on the taxes owed from the homeowner. Or, if the homeowner fails to pay up, the investor can take possession, or foreclose, on the home.
