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Showing posts with label MDDLE CLASS. Show all posts
Showing posts with label MDDLE CLASS. Show all posts
Wednesday, August 28, 2013
Socail Security Safety Blanket
Friday, December 30, 2011
Massachusetts Emergency Food Assistance Program
Between 2006 and 2010, the demand for food from food banks grew by 23 percent in Massachusetts.
Federal aid that propped up food bank resources during the height of the recession has receded, but the demand has not, according to officials from the Greater Boston Food Bank, which feeds 545,000 people a year. Places like the Salvation Army, the Red Cross, Rosie’s Place, the Pine Street Inn, and local food pantries in dozens of communities rely on the Greater Boston Food Bank for a bulk of their supplies.
Money from the Massachusetts Emergency Food Assistance Program helps buy locally-grown produce - eggs, milk and other fresh staples. But with food prices on the rise – dairy is up 8 percent, and the average price of peanut butter has skyrocketed 30 percent, D’Amato said, “that $11.5 million doesn’t get you $11.5 million anymore.”
The Greater Boston Food Bank serves approximately 550 pantries, soup kitchens and shelters in eastern Massachusetts.
Federal aid that propped up food bank resources during the height of the recession has receded, but the demand has not, according to officials from the Greater Boston Food Bank, which feeds 545,000 people a year. Places like the Salvation Army, the Red Cross, Rosie’s Place, the Pine Street Inn, and local food pantries in dozens of communities rely on the Greater Boston Food Bank for a bulk of their supplies.
Money from the Massachusetts Emergency Food Assistance Program helps buy locally-grown produce - eggs, milk and other fresh staples. But with food prices on the rise – dairy is up 8 percent, and the average price of peanut butter has skyrocketed 30 percent, D’Amato said, “that $11.5 million doesn’t get you $11.5 million anymore.”
The Greater Boston Food Bank serves approximately 550 pantries, soup kitchens and shelters in eastern Massachusetts.
Tuesday, November 15, 2011
More than 49 million Americans, or 16% of the population, were living in poverty in 2010
Rising poverty is a national tragedy and a brewing humanitarian crisis in America...
Which brings us to another edition of Taken to Task.
11/15/2011
The poverty figures released this week came after the U.S. Census Bureau adjusted the way in which it calculates poverty using the new Supplemental Poverty Measure. Instead of just tripling a family's minimum annual food budget, as previously, this new measure looks at how much families spend on food, shelter, clothing and utilities. You know, life's basic necessities.
Most groups saw their poverty rates increase using the new calculations, including married couples, whites, Asians, immigrants, homeowners with mortgages, those with private health insurance and the elderly. Poverty rates among those over 65 rose to 15.9% from the previously reported 9%. Poverty rates did, however, drop for Americans under the age of 18, African Americans, renters and people living in rural areas.
Which brings us to another edition of Taken to Task.
11/15/2011
The poverty figures released this week came after the U.S. Census Bureau adjusted the way in which it calculates poverty using the new Supplemental Poverty Measure. Instead of just tripling a family's minimum annual food budget, as previously, this new measure looks at how much families spend on food, shelter, clothing and utilities. You know, life's basic necessities.
Most groups saw their poverty rates increase using the new calculations, including married couples, whites, Asians, immigrants, homeowners with mortgages, those with private health insurance and the elderly. Poverty rates among those over 65 rose to 15.9% from the previously reported 9%. Poverty rates did, however, drop for Americans under the age of 18, African Americans, renters and people living in rural areas.
Tuesday, October 4, 2011
People are totally ready to get behind (Obama
After Obama's election, many Democrats said they falsely assumed that winning the White House would help them pass an agenda that would assist middle-class families. Instead, they were dismayed when Obama ditched a proposed "public option" for a government insurance plan from the health care overhaul and cringed when he cut a deal with Republicans to extend Bush-era tax cuts.
During the summer, the left argued that Obama gave up too much in spending cuts during the debt-ceiling fight and couldn't force Republicans to accept higher taxes on the wealthy in return.
"People are totally ready to get behind (Obama), but I think what they're not ready to give anybody is the benefit of the doubt that if we win an election and we all go home, things are going to change," said Andy Stern, the former president of the Service Employees International Union. "That was probably the theory of the Obama election and taking over the House by the Democrats and the Senate as well. I think it was a failed strategy."
So liberal organizations have tried to build a movement, holding hundreds of house meetings across the country and staging protests at town hall meetings held by Republican lawmakers — a tactic that tea party activists used to build opposition to Obama's health care plan.
Conference speakers said Obama's jobs bill could act as a turning point, a sign that the president is taking a more aggressive push to revive the economy and standing firm against deep cuts to Medicare and Social Security. The president has barnstormed the country, rallying support for the $447 billion plan for tax cuts and public works spending to stimulate the economy.
While the plan is unlikely to pass Congress in its entirety, the White House believes Obama's populist approach will build support among the public. And liberals think they've already moved the president.
"Why is the White House talking different? The White House is talking different because we are walking different," said Van Jones, a former Obama policy adviser who helped organize the conference.
Liberals took close note of Obama's discussion of deficit reduction measures and were pleased that he did not seek a gradual increase in the eligibility age for Medicare from 65 to 67. Last summer, Obama had agreed to the age increase in negotiations with House Speaker John Boehner before the talks fell apart. Many Democrats objected to the age increases, arguing it would undercut their criticisms of a Republican plan that would overhaul Medicare.
On Social Security, Democrats have railed against plans by Republican presidential hopefuls to partially privatize the retirement system, letting younger workers divert part of their payroll taxes into a personal account to be invested outside of Social Security.
Obama does not face a primary challenge, and Republicans have little chance of picking up support from hard-core Democrats next year. But Obama needs liberals to knock on doors, staff phone banks and register voters — must-do jobs for any candidate's base. Dissatisfied liberals could also stay home on Election Day or refuse to donate money to Obama's campaign.
There are signs of an enthusiasm gap. A recent survey by Gallup found that 45 percent of Democrats said they were more enthusiastic about the 2012 presidential election than they had been in past elections, while 44 percent said they were less enthusiastic. Fifty-eight percent of Republicans, meanwhile, said they were more enthusiastic about 2012 than in past elections, and 30 percent were less enthusiastic.
Gallup said the enthusiasm gap between Democrats and Republicans was the largest it has measured since 2000.
Many hope the American Dream movement can generate enthusiasm for Obama next year.
Rep. Jan Schakowsky, D-Ill., told attendees at one session that many of her supporters appeared "beaten down" by the status of the economy and Obama's standing among voters but said liberals needed to bring energy to next year's election.
"We have to set people's hair on fire about what America would look like if Republicans get their way," she said.
© 2011 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.
Additional Links:
During the summer, the left argued that Obama gave up too much in spending cuts during the debt-ceiling fight and couldn't force Republicans to accept higher taxes on the wealthy in return.
"People are totally ready to get behind (Obama), but I think what they're not ready to give anybody is the benefit of the doubt that if we win an election and we all go home, things are going to change," said Andy Stern, the former president of the Service Employees International Union. "That was probably the theory of the Obama election and taking over the House by the Democrats and the Senate as well. I think it was a failed strategy."
So liberal organizations have tried to build a movement, holding hundreds of house meetings across the country and staging protests at town hall meetings held by Republican lawmakers — a tactic that tea party activists used to build opposition to Obama's health care plan.
Conference speakers said Obama's jobs bill could act as a turning point, a sign that the president is taking a more aggressive push to revive the economy and standing firm against deep cuts to Medicare and Social Security. The president has barnstormed the country, rallying support for the $447 billion plan for tax cuts and public works spending to stimulate the economy.
While the plan is unlikely to pass Congress in its entirety, the White House believes Obama's populist approach will build support among the public. And liberals think they've already moved the president.
"Why is the White House talking different? The White House is talking different because we are walking different," said Van Jones, a former Obama policy adviser who helped organize the conference.
Liberals took close note of Obama's discussion of deficit reduction measures and were pleased that he did not seek a gradual increase in the eligibility age for Medicare from 65 to 67. Last summer, Obama had agreed to the age increase in negotiations with House Speaker John Boehner before the talks fell apart. Many Democrats objected to the age increases, arguing it would undercut their criticisms of a Republican plan that would overhaul Medicare.
On Social Security, Democrats have railed against plans by Republican presidential hopefuls to partially privatize the retirement system, letting younger workers divert part of their payroll taxes into a personal account to be invested outside of Social Security.
Obama does not face a primary challenge, and Republicans have little chance of picking up support from hard-core Democrats next year. But Obama needs liberals to knock on doors, staff phone banks and register voters — must-do jobs for any candidate's base. Dissatisfied liberals could also stay home on Election Day or refuse to donate money to Obama's campaign.
There are signs of an enthusiasm gap. A recent survey by Gallup found that 45 percent of Democrats said they were more enthusiastic about the 2012 presidential election than they had been in past elections, while 44 percent said they were less enthusiastic. Fifty-eight percent of Republicans, meanwhile, said they were more enthusiastic about 2012 than in past elections, and 30 percent were less enthusiastic.
Gallup said the enthusiasm gap between Democrats and Republicans was the largest it has measured since 2000.
Many hope the American Dream movement can generate enthusiasm for Obama next year.
Rep. Jan Schakowsky, D-Ill., told attendees at one session that many of her supporters appeared "beaten down" by the status of the economy and Obama's standing among voters but said liberals needed to bring energy to next year's election.
"We have to set people's hair on fire about what America would look like if Republicans get their way," she said.
© 2011 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.
Additional Links:
Thursday, January 22, 2009
TAX WORK OFF ABATEMENT PROGRAM
Many cities and towns have found this program viable. I feel the an
outreach program to adaquately staff the New Malden Senior Center is a
top priority and a great opportunity to get Seniors involved in their
programs and "aging in place"
Our newUS president and the administration are urging citizen
participation in their own destiny.volunteerism is on the adgenda as
well as home owner involvement thru this suggested program. HERE IS
WHAT ONE NEARBY TOWN IS DOING WHY NOT MALDEN IF NORTH ANDOVER CAN DO
IT
THE SLOGAN "YES WE CAN!!!
Tax Work-Off Abatement Program
The Council on Aging/Senior Center will be taking applications, during the
months of June and July, for the FY'09 Senior Citizens Property Tax Work-Off
Abatement Program. You must be 60 years of age or older and own and occupy
the property for which North Andover property taxes are paid. There are 30
positions funded and applicants will be chosen through a lottery. Workers must
complete 100 hours of service by May 29, 2009 with a maximum of 10 hours per
week for a $600.00 abatement on their real estate taxes. If you are interested,
please come in to the Senior Center at 120R Main Street to pick up an
application and additional instructions.
---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Gary Christenson
Date: Wed, Jan 21, 2009 at 8:47 PM
Subject: Re: Taxpayers over 60 may be eligible for a Senior Citizen
Workoff Abatement
- Show quoted text -
To: Howard McGowan
Hi Howard,
I raised this issue with the administration last year but I think the
liability concerns outweighed the benefits of such a program. Perhaps
they may look at it more closely with the current fiscal crisis but
the council did ask about the idea last year.
Gary
________________________________
From: Howard McGowan
To: Malden City Council; Chief of Staff
Rep Fallon; Ward 1 CouncilorGary
Christenson; Malden Council of Aging Director
; Council on Aging Debbie Camarata
; Ward4 Councilor Jim Nester
; Ward8 Councillor Malden ;
Ward 6 Coucillor
Cc: MSAC OrganizerPam Edwards; Malden asst
to Mayor Debbie Burke; Oak Grove IMprovcarol
Melle; Springfield Organizer MSAC
Sent: Wednesday, January 21, 2009 5:19:06 PM
Subject: Taxpayers over 60 may be eligible for a Senior Citizen
Workoff Abatement
.WITH THE SITUATION OF ECOMOMIC DISTRESS MAYBE OUR CITY OF MALDEN
OFFICIALS SHOULD RE CONSIDER THIS PROGRAM AS LISTED AS A BENEFIT FOR
SENIORS BY THE MASS DEPARTMENT OF REVENUE
-- Taxpayers over 60 may be eligible for a Senior Citizen
Property Tax Work-Off Abatement. Under this program,
taxpayers volunteer their services to their municipality
in exchange for a reduction in their property tax bills —
up to $750 annually. Check with your city or town to
see if they participate in this, or any related, program
I know what will be brought up the pros and cons.. discussion may be in order.
Howard McGowan
MaldenSenior
--
Howard McGowan
MaldenSenior
outreach program to adaquately staff the New Malden Senior Center is a
top priority and a great opportunity to get Seniors involved in their
programs and "aging in place"
Our newUS president and the administration are urging citizen
participation in their own destiny.volunteerism is on the adgenda as
well as home owner involvement thru this suggested program. HERE IS
WHAT ONE NEARBY TOWN IS DOING WHY NOT MALDEN IF NORTH ANDOVER CAN DO
IT
THE SLOGAN "YES WE CAN!!!
Tax Work-Off Abatement Program
The Council on Aging/Senior Center will be taking applications, during the
months of June and July, for the FY'09 Senior Citizens Property Tax Work-Off
Abatement Program. You must be 60 years of age or older and own and occupy
the property for which North Andover property taxes are paid. There are 30
positions funded and applicants will be chosen through a lottery. Workers must
complete 100 hours of service by May 29, 2009 with a maximum of 10 hours per
week for a $600.00 abatement on their real estate taxes. If you are interested,
please come in to the Senior Center at 120R Main Street to pick up an
application and additional instructions.
---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Gary Christenson
Date: Wed, Jan 21, 2009 at 8:47 PM
Subject: Re: Taxpayers over 60 may be eligible for a Senior Citizen
Workoff Abatement
- Show quoted text -
To: Howard McGowan
Hi Howard,
I raised this issue with the administration last year but I think the
liability concerns outweighed the benefits of such a program. Perhaps
they may look at it more closely with the current fiscal crisis but
the council did ask about the idea last year.
Gary
________________________________
From: Howard McGowan
To: Malden City Council
Rep Fallon
Christenson
Ward 6 Coucillor
Cc: MSAC OrganizerPam Edwards
to Mayor Debbie Burke
Melle
Sent: Wednesday, January 21, 2009 5:19:06 PM
Subject: Taxpayers over 60 may be eligible for a Senior Citizen
Workoff Abatement
.WITH THE SITUATION OF ECOMOMIC DISTRESS MAYBE OUR CITY OF MALDEN
OFFICIALS SHOULD RE CONSIDER THIS PROGRAM AS LISTED AS A BENEFIT FOR
SENIORS BY THE MASS DEPARTMENT OF REVENUE
-- Taxpayers over 60 may be eligible for a Senior Citizen
Property Tax Work-Off Abatement. Under this program,
taxpayers volunteer their services to their municipality
in exchange for a reduction in their property tax bills —
up to $750 annually. Check with your city or town to
see if they participate in this, or any related, program
I know what will be brought up the pros and cons.. discussion may be in order.
Howard McGowan
MaldenSenior
--
Howard McGowan
MaldenSenior
Monday, December 29, 2008
)Over 80 on the Internet
I get a lot of strange kind of looks when I tell people my grandma has a blog," said Cora Huffman of Moxee, Lemaster's 31-year-old granddaughter.
Internet use by seniors is on the rise, according to the Pew Internet and American Life Project, which released surveys on the subject in 2000 and 2004. The percentage of Americans 65 or older who go online jumped from 15 percent in 2000 to 22 percent in 2004 and appeared to be on an upward trajectory, the studies found.
"There are a lot of people who are 80 and over who are using computers and the Internet," said Phil Carnahan, a consultant with SeniorNet, a national group that offers computer training to seniors.
Carnahan, a 75-year-old retiree who lives in Sparks, Nev., said most people his age don't blog; but they are online and they use e-mail heavily.
"The biggest reason you have for people who come in (to a SeniorNet center) is they want to be able to correspond with their family," he said. "They want to e-mail their grandchildren."
Still, there is a relatively small proportion of seniors online compared with other age groups. There are older bloggers than Lemaster out there, but among her contemporaries it's still unusual.
"I don't think I've even told any of my friends," she said of her blog, which is frequented by family members and the occasional stranger who stumbles upon it. "They're not into computers. They wouldn't know what I was talking about."
Internet use by seniors is on the rise, according to the Pew Internet and American Life Project, which released surveys on the subject in 2000 and 2004. The percentage of Americans 65 or older who go online jumped from 15 percent in 2000 to 22 percent in 2004 and appeared to be on an upward trajectory, the studies found.
"There are a lot of people who are 80 and over who are using computers and the Internet," said Phil Carnahan, a consultant with SeniorNet, a national group that offers computer training to seniors.
Carnahan, a 75-year-old retiree who lives in Sparks, Nev., said most people his age don't blog; but they are online and they use e-mail heavily.
"The biggest reason you have for people who come in (to a SeniorNet center) is they want to be able to correspond with their family," he said. "They want to e-mail their grandchildren."
Still, there is a relatively small proportion of seniors online compared with other age groups. There are older bloggers than Lemaster out there, but among her contemporaries it's still unusual.
"I don't think I've even told any of my friends," she said of her blog, which is frequented by family members and the occasional stranger who stumbles upon it. "They're not into computers. They wouldn't know what I was talking about."
Modern computerized systems
Modern computerized systems have links to online information on best practices, treatment recommendations and harmful drug interactions. The potential benefits include fewer unnecessary tests, reduced medical errors and better care so patients are less likely to require costly treatment in hospitals.
The widespread adoption of electronic health records might also greatly increase evidence-based medicine. Each patient’s records add to a real-time, ever-growing database of evidence showing what works and what does not. The goal is to harness health information from individuals and populations, share it across networks, sift it and analyze it to make the practice of medicine more of a science and less an art.
The widespread adoption of electronic health records might also greatly increase evidence-based medicine. Each patient’s records add to a real-time, ever-growing database of evidence showing what works and what does not. The goal is to harness health information from individuals and populations, share it across networks, sift it and analyze it to make the practice of medicine more of a science and less an art.
Saturday, October 11, 2008
PRESCRITION DRUGS (GENERICS)
4. Prescription Drugs
The FDA must certify all generic medications (including over-the-counter products) as having the same quantity of active ingredient, and no significant difference in performance, says Gabriel Levitt, vice president of research for pharmacy-rating site PharmacyChecker.com. Going generic could cost you as much as 50% less. Just ask your doctor to note on prescriptions when the generic equivalent is OK.
Even if you're insured, tiered co-pays can offer substantial savings for switching to generics, says Tod Marks, senior editor for Consumer Reports. Blue Cross Blue Shield New England, for example, charges $5 for most generic medications, compared with $10 to $25 for brand names. Fill a prescription through Target or Wal-Mart's $4 generic prescription program, and save even more.
Tuesday, September 9, 2008
AFFORDABLE HEALTH INSURANCE
Healthcare Policy: providing access to health insurance and making it affordable, passing SCHIP expansion to cover working class families earning 300% of the federal poverty level or approximately $60K/Yr. for a family of 4, creating a healthcare purchasing exchange similar to what members of Congress enjoy, a Medicare Buy-in option, mandatory COBRA to age 65, increasing access to medical facilities and allowing National Guardsmen and Reservists to be eligible for TRICARE.
A plan also calls for lowering the cost of prescription drugs and, because of our proximity to Canada, allowing prescription drug reimportation if the prescriptions are safe and more affordable. Powers also calls for breaking up monopolies and increasing competition, citing the 400 healthcare mergers in the past decade.
Additionally, Powers' plan calls for electronic medical records to save money (and potentially avert health problems in emergencies), aid for small businesses for catastrophic care, phasing out of excessive Medicare overpayments to HMOs, and ensuring premiums are spent on patients.
After listening to seniors' concerns about the high costs of prescriptions , health insurance companies assessing risk pools like those for auto insurance. answer simple "Take away the incentive for it."
Saturday, August 23, 2008
Caring for your aging parents.
We live in a very mobile society where family members don’t always live in the same town or even the same state. In fact, according to the National Institute on Aging, approximately seven million Americans are long-distance caregivers, mostly caring for aging parents who live more than an hour away.
“It’s only natural that adult children of seniors will have some concerns about how their aging parents are doing, especially if they are apart during the holiday season,” said a member of the Right at Home office. “Identifying strategies for long-distance caregiving will make the challenges of caring for aging parents or loved ones more manageable.”
Below are tips from Right at Home for long-distance caregiving:
1) Establish Support Contacts in Your Aging Parents’ Community – Make a list of family, friends and neighbors’ phone numbers and addresses. Ask if you can check in with them to find out how your loved one is doing. They may also be willing to stop by your loved one's home for regular visits.
2) Stay in Touch With Your Parents – Keep in regular touch with your loved one by phone, letters, and e-mail. Record any changes you sense in his or her personality or ability to function day by day.
3) Make Observations During Visits – When you are able to visit your parents, pay attention to any changes in grooming, eating, or social activities. Look for changes in the way he or she manages money, cleans, shops, and gets around.
4) Keep Track of Important Information – Find out where your parents keep important documents such as his or her insurance policies, bank account numbers, investments, living will and power of attorney (for legal, financial, and health care purposes). It’s also beneficial to have a list of physicians that your relative is seeing, and any hospitals or clinics that are involved in his or her medical care, and any medications he or she is taking.
5) Look into Professional Help Options – There are several options for aging parents who need additional assistance. In home caregiving agencies, such as Right at Home, provide services such as companionship, meal preparation, and light housekeeping to help seniors continue to live independently with the help of a caregiver.
6) Identify Community Resources – Research local area agencies on aging, senior centers, churches, synagogues, or other volunteer organizations about available resources for seniors. To locate the area agency on aging, individuals can call Eldercare Locator, public service of the U.S. Administration on Aging, toll-free at (800) 677-1116 or visit www.eldercare.gov.
7) Involve Your Parent – Allow your parents to retain as much decision-making ability as possible. Remember that your primary objective is to help your loved one to fulfill his/her needs, not to take over your relative’s life. In some situations, when your loved one is unable to make decisions, you may need to do so on his/her behalf.
8) Take Time for Yourself – Caregiving can have an emotional and physical toll on caregivers, especially when done long-distance. Make sure you are eating right, getting enough rest, exercising regularly and keeping up with your own medical needs.
Remember, the holiday season is a time for family, togetherness and making memories. By taking the time to address these long-distance caregiving issues, your family will have the much-needed sense of security, comfort and hopefully the ability to create new memories with your aging loved ones for many years to come!
“It’s only natural that adult children of seniors will have some concerns about how their aging parents are doing, especially if they are apart during the holiday season,” said a member of the Right at Home office. “Identifying strategies for long-distance caregiving will make the challenges of caring for aging parents or loved ones more manageable.”
Below are tips from Right at Home for long-distance caregiving:
1) Establish Support Contacts in Your Aging Parents’ Community – Make a list of family, friends and neighbors’ phone numbers and addresses. Ask if you can check in with them to find out how your loved one is doing. They may also be willing to stop by your loved one's home for regular visits.
2) Stay in Touch With Your Parents – Keep in regular touch with your loved one by phone, letters, and e-mail. Record any changes you sense in his or her personality or ability to function day by day.
3) Make Observations During Visits – When you are able to visit your parents, pay attention to any changes in grooming, eating, or social activities. Look for changes in the way he or she manages money, cleans, shops, and gets around.
4) Keep Track of Important Information – Find out where your parents keep important documents such as his or her insurance policies, bank account numbers, investments, living will and power of attorney (for legal, financial, and health care purposes). It’s also beneficial to have a list of physicians that your relative is seeing, and any hospitals or clinics that are involved in his or her medical care, and any medications he or she is taking.
5) Look into Professional Help Options – There are several options for aging parents who need additional assistance. In home caregiving agencies, such as Right at Home, provide services such as companionship, meal preparation, and light housekeeping to help seniors continue to live independently with the help of a caregiver.
6) Identify Community Resources – Research local area agencies on aging, senior centers, churches, synagogues, or other volunteer organizations about available resources for seniors. To locate the area agency on aging, individuals can call Eldercare Locator, public service of the U.S. Administration on Aging, toll-free at (800) 677-1116 or visit www.eldercare.gov.
7) Involve Your Parent – Allow your parents to retain as much decision-making ability as possible. Remember that your primary objective is to help your loved one to fulfill his/her needs, not to take over your relative’s life. In some situations, when your loved one is unable to make decisions, you may need to do so on his/her behalf.
8) Take Time for Yourself – Caregiving can have an emotional and physical toll on caregivers, especially when done long-distance. Make sure you are eating right, getting enough rest, exercising regularly and keeping up with your own medical needs.
Remember, the holiday season is a time for family, togetherness and making memories. By taking the time to address these long-distance caregiving issues, your family will have the much-needed sense of security, comfort and hopefully the ability to create new memories with your aging loved ones for many years to come!
Tuesday, August 5, 2008
Malden Trash tax
Effective Monday, Oct. 6, Malden will institute the program. All household trash must be disposed of in special light blue City of Malden trash bags.
The 33-gallon bags will cost $2 each and will be sold in boxes of 10. They will be available for purchase at Lamson and Davis Ace Hardware, 190 Commercial St.; the Super 88 Market, 188 Commercial St.; three Stop & Shop locations: 99 Charles St., 60 Broadway and 540 Squire Road, Revere, at the Malden line; certain Malden Government Center offices, 200 Pleasant St., the Malden Department of Public Works, and JRM Hauling and Recycling, 1130 Eastern Ave. (M—F, 2 p.m. to 5 p.m.) in early September. Additional locations may be added in the future.
Under this new program, recyclables and yard waste will continue to be collected at no additional cost.
Recyclables are picked up weekly; yard waste pickup is on a seasonal schedule. Visit cityofmalden.org for more information.
Supported by the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection, the pay-per-throw program encourages recycling, as those who recycle more will pay less to dispose of their trash.
Under the program, all Malden residents, not just homeowners, who use the city’s trash service, will be charged the same.
The 33-gallon bags will cost $2 each and will be sold in boxes of 10. They will be available for purchase at Lamson and Davis Ace Hardware, 190 Commercial St.; the Super 88 Market, 188 Commercial St.; three Stop & Shop locations: 99 Charles St., 60 Broadway and 540 Squire Road, Revere, at the Malden line; certain Malden Government Center offices, 200 Pleasant St., the Malden Department of Public Works, and JRM Hauling and Recycling, 1130 Eastern Ave. (M—F, 2 p.m. to 5 p.m.) in early September. Additional locations may be added in the future.
Under this new program, recyclables and yard waste will continue to be collected at no additional cost.
Recyclables are picked up weekly; yard waste pickup is on a seasonal schedule. Visit cityofmalden.org for more information.
Supported by the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection, the pay-per-throw program encourages recycling, as those who recycle more will pay less to dispose of their trash.
Under the program, all Malden residents, not just homeowners, who use the city’s trash service, will be charged the same.
Friday, August 1, 2008
Swingvote
Active Grannies: the New Soccer Moms?
In the publication Politico on Tuesday, Democratic strategist Mark Penn wrote about the enormous importance of the senior vote in the race for president, especially in states like Florida, Ohio, and Pennsylvania. Penn declares that key swing voters in this election may be “active grannies” - empty-nesters who have found a new freedom in their lives after their kids have left, and who look at the world very differently than do their kids graduating college. Top issues in these “older grannies’” lives include: making income after the age of 65, fighting age discrimination, getting plugged into technology, having access to the latest medical treatments and good doctors through Medicare, and dealing with their families’ being torn apart by career-driven migration. In the coming months, active grannies are expected to be major viewers of cable television, the conventions and the debates. Fifteen percent of seniors surveyed in a recent poll were undecided, and 4 to 5% of undecided senior voters could be enough to tip the election.
Sunday, July 27, 2008
MIDDLE CLASS
The Middle Class in America Isn’t Happy
Posted in: individual
There has been a lot of talk about which presidential candidate has the best tax plan for “middle class” America. It’s an interesting question because I’m not sure that anyone can actually define “middle class” anymore - my readers seem to feel that it’s all over the place.
Middle class - as it’s widely defined - is generally defined as those families who are in the middle of income brackets. That can be confusing. Based on 2005 Census Bureau reports, 40% of Americans earned less than $36,000 a year (the bottom 20% earn less than $19,000). The next 40% - the so-called middle class - reported betwen $36,000 and $91,705 of earnings. The top 20% of earners, making $91,705 or more, earned 50% of the income reported in the US.
[Kelly’s geeky note: From a math perspective, that’s pretty interesting: while the richest 20% took in nearly 50% of income, the middle class (representing 40% of Americans) earned a fairly representative proportion of total income (37.5%).]
So there you have it, statistically you are middle class if you earn between $36,000 and $91,705 (adjusted for inflation since 2005) per year. Easy, right?
Not so fast.
There are a lot of factors that pure numbers don’t take into consideration including the size of your family and the cost of living in your geographical location. Lots of folks who make more than $75,000 per year may live comfortably in some areas of the world - but that kind of money won’t take you very far in areas like New York City or San Francisco where housing costs alone can easily reach $1 million for relatively modest homes.
The reality is that almost everyone thinks that they’re middle class, though of course, you can’t be. And realistically, you don’t want to be right now. Here’s why.
Elizabeth Warren, professor at Harvard Law School, just testified before the Joint Economic Committee in Congress that the middle class is suffering. How much so? Adjusted for inflation, median household income for middle class families has dropped by $1,175 between 2000 and 2007 - that represents a significant decline. While income is dropping, expenses are rising. The average family is spending $4,655 more each year on basic expenses, such as gas, food and health insurance.
Let’s talk the bane of my existence (as most working parents): child care costs. Families with children under the age of 5 spend $1,508 a month more on child care costs (yes, do the math, that’s more than $18,000) - older children cost about half that much. You don’t escape during the teens, either: the cost of sending a child to college has more than doubled over the last 20 years, far outpacing increases in income.
Also in the news these days are those folks who cannot afford housing. The proportion of families who spend more than 35% of income on housing has quadrupled in a single generation - a disproportionate number of middle class families spend nearly half of their income on housing. Two “middle class” Americans earning an average salary could not afford to pay the mortgage of a median-priced home in 2/3 of the nation’s metropolitan areas including my own Philadelphia (which is reasonably priced, I might add). In addition to the increased costs of housing stock, real estate taxes have also increased. Most municipalities have not tweaked their systems to account for a disproportionate increase in property “value” (albeit somewhat artificial) - this means that taxpayers are often paying too much (for reassessed properties at historic rates) or too little (for properties that have not been reassessed) in real estate tax from neighbor to neighbor. The high costs, as much as $10,000 in some middle class neighborhoods, are hitting folks in the pocketbook.
According to Warren, if you include real estate taxes, along with Medicare and other taxes, the total tax burden for a two income family today is 38% more compared to one income families a generation ago. And yes, I realize in a progressive tax system, that was bound to happen. It’s not so much that it happened that’s surprising, it’s what it means. It means less money in the pockets of middle class Americans at the end of the day.
Income is decreasing and expenses - including taxes - are increasing. So what are people doing? Charging up a storm. Credit card debt for middle-income families rose 75% between 1989 and 2001, according to Demos, a non-partisan public policy organization. Warren’s report claims that 10% of total disposable income in the United States goes to paying off credit cards. This, of course, jives with much of what you told me you would do with your economic stimulus check.
There has been a clamoring for a second stimulus package to offer some relief. Despite the rumors to the contrary, no such package has yet been seriously proposed. Jared Bernstein, senior economist with the Economic Policy Institute, has advised that a package should rely on getting funds together for the states, particularly for infrastructure projects, and not into the hands of taxpayers. Infrastructure means jobs - this was made abundantly clear when Congress thought about tinkering with the gas tax.
Second stimulus package or not, it’s clear that something needs to change. What is the breaking point before the middle class is no longer middle class?
Tags: America, cost of living, Economic Policy Institute, economic stimulus, economy, Elizabeth Warren, gas-tax, middle-class, second stimulus package
Posted in: individual
There has been a lot of talk about which presidential candidate has the best tax plan for “middle class” America. It’s an interesting question because I’m not sure that anyone can actually define “middle class” anymore - my readers seem to feel that it’s all over the place.
Middle class - as it’s widely defined - is generally defined as those families who are in the middle of income brackets. That can be confusing. Based on 2005 Census Bureau reports, 40% of Americans earned less than $36,000 a year (the bottom 20% earn less than $19,000). The next 40% - the so-called middle class - reported betwen $36,000 and $91,705 of earnings. The top 20% of earners, making $91,705 or more, earned 50% of the income reported in the US.
[Kelly’s geeky note: From a math perspective, that’s pretty interesting: while the richest 20% took in nearly 50% of income, the middle class (representing 40% of Americans) earned a fairly representative proportion of total income (37.5%).]
So there you have it, statistically you are middle class if you earn between $36,000 and $91,705 (adjusted for inflation since 2005) per year. Easy, right?
Not so fast.
There are a lot of factors that pure numbers don’t take into consideration including the size of your family and the cost of living in your geographical location. Lots of folks who make more than $75,000 per year may live comfortably in some areas of the world - but that kind of money won’t take you very far in areas like New York City or San Francisco where housing costs alone can easily reach $1 million for relatively modest homes.
The reality is that almost everyone thinks that they’re middle class, though of course, you can’t be. And realistically, you don’t want to be right now. Here’s why.
Elizabeth Warren, professor at Harvard Law School, just testified before the Joint Economic Committee in Congress that the middle class is suffering. How much so? Adjusted for inflation, median household income for middle class families has dropped by $1,175 between 2000 and 2007 - that represents a significant decline. While income is dropping, expenses are rising. The average family is spending $4,655 more each year on basic expenses, such as gas, food and health insurance.
Let’s talk the bane of my existence (as most working parents): child care costs. Families with children under the age of 5 spend $1,508 a month more on child care costs (yes, do the math, that’s more than $18,000) - older children cost about half that much. You don’t escape during the teens, either: the cost of sending a child to college has more than doubled over the last 20 years, far outpacing increases in income.
Also in the news these days are those folks who cannot afford housing. The proportion of families who spend more than 35% of income on housing has quadrupled in a single generation - a disproportionate number of middle class families spend nearly half of their income on housing. Two “middle class” Americans earning an average salary could not afford to pay the mortgage of a median-priced home in 2/3 of the nation’s metropolitan areas including my own Philadelphia (which is reasonably priced, I might add). In addition to the increased costs of housing stock, real estate taxes have also increased. Most municipalities have not tweaked their systems to account for a disproportionate increase in property “value” (albeit somewhat artificial) - this means that taxpayers are often paying too much (for reassessed properties at historic rates) or too little (for properties that have not been reassessed) in real estate tax from neighbor to neighbor. The high costs, as much as $10,000 in some middle class neighborhoods, are hitting folks in the pocketbook.
According to Warren, if you include real estate taxes, along with Medicare and other taxes, the total tax burden for a two income family today is 38% more compared to one income families a generation ago. And yes, I realize in a progressive tax system, that was bound to happen. It’s not so much that it happened that’s surprising, it’s what it means. It means less money in the pockets of middle class Americans at the end of the day.
Income is decreasing and expenses - including taxes - are increasing. So what are people doing? Charging up a storm. Credit card debt for middle-income families rose 75% between 1989 and 2001, according to Demos, a non-partisan public policy organization. Warren’s report claims that 10% of total disposable income in the United States goes to paying off credit cards. This, of course, jives with much of what you told me you would do with your economic stimulus check.
There has been a clamoring for a second stimulus package to offer some relief. Despite the rumors to the contrary, no such package has yet been seriously proposed. Jared Bernstein, senior economist with the Economic Policy Institute, has advised that a package should rely on getting funds together for the states, particularly for infrastructure projects, and not into the hands of taxpayers. Infrastructure means jobs - this was made abundantly clear when Congress thought about tinkering with the gas tax.
Second stimulus package or not, it’s clear that something needs to change. What is the breaking point before the middle class is no longer middle class?
Tags: America, cost of living, Economic Policy Institute, economic stimulus, economy, Elizabeth Warren, gas-tax, middle-class, second stimulus package
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