FREE SPEECH ZONE | Let’s expand Gingrich’s child labor plan

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In a well documented and highly controversial statement, Republican presidential candidate Newt Gingrich called Child Labor Laws “truly stupid” while appearing at Harvard’s John F. Kennedy School of Government in November.Free Speech ZoneThe Free Speech Zone offers a space for contributions from readers, without editing by the TC Daily Planet. This is an open forum for articles that otherwise might not find a place for publication, including news articles, opinion columns, announcements and even a few press releases. He then went on to make a proposal that children in poor schools and neighborhoods (like Public Housing projects) would benefit if they were given janitorial tasks in their schools – like cleaning toilets and mopping floors.  If we were to make an assumption that such a plan would benefit these kids (and perhaps our economy long term), there might be a way to expand that idea, as described later in this commentary.Having said that, let’s first start by examining the negatives – and ramifications – of the Gingrich plan. To begin with, it is covertly racist. Gingrich has focused mostly on single mothers living in the projects contending these parents do not provide a good “role model” for honest work. Continue Reading

What is the “real” poverty rate?

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A single person, living alone, with earnings from employment totaling $10,000 falls below the United States poverty threshold ($10,890 for a one person household in 2011). The Census Bureau classifies that person as “in poverty.” But what if he or she receives government benefits, such as health care, with a value of $5,000 or more per year? Continue Reading

For these families in poverty, a better life

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Some years Thanksgiving, given its very name, is a tough holiday to get through, and this year, given the terrible economy, could be one of those.

Right: Korey Bell, Athena McKissick and their kids Keya, 5, and her brother Kohron, 4. (MinnPost photo by Cynthia Boyd)

Yet there are people like Korey Bell, an Ohio transplant who came to Minnesota in search of a better life. Life’s a lot better this Thanksgiving than last, he says. “I’m working now.”

Continue Reading

FREE SPEECH ZONE | Vital Community Programs

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Sponsored by Representative Jim Abeler of Anoka, HF128 would cut funding for children and community services, county child support administration, emergency Minnesota Supplemental Aid (MSA) and adult mental health services—-all necessary services in our community at the moment.  This bill would have lasting negative effects on our communities, but Representative Abeler says in the Session Weekly, that these cuts must happen because, “we are faced with a challenge that’s bigger than anybody ever had with less resources to draw on.” No one can argue that we don’t have fewer resources, however the the budget cuts that Rep. Abeler has sponsored, assist Minnesotans in addressing huge challenges that would rival Minnesota’s budget issues such as dependency, abuse, neglect, poverty, and chronic health conditions.  I urge him to go tell the aged, blind and disabled who are eligible MSA, or the parents across the state who depend on the quick processing of their child support checks that Minnesota’s challenges are bigger than theirs.  Reducing the funding that these programs receive will not help our state. As he proposes cutting $38.5 million dollars to children and community services, I ask him to think about the ways in which these programs contribute to closing the achievement gap.  We have one of the largest disparities between whites and people of color. We cannot become a great state when we are leaving so many intelligent people behind. Continue Reading

No home and no way to get to help

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State lawmakers showed signs of support this session for legislation that would allow non-profit agencies serving the homeless to purchase discounted bus passes. The proposal described in this article passed the House and Senate conference committee. Click here for Session Weekly article. Under the proposed legislation, twenty agencies serving the homeless could purchase half-price Super Saver bus passes and tokens on behalf of clients. Advocates argue that the legislation is crucial to connect homeless people with housing, health care, job training, and other basic services. Continue Reading

DINING | Dinner at the Homeless Cafe

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The menu for the second seating last Monday was considerably more elaborate than the first. For the 4:30 seating, diners were served chicken Alfredo, vegetable soup, fresh fruit and cookies. For the 7 p.m. seating, the five course $75 prix fixe menu, prepared by guest chef Serge Devesa of Hotel Sofitel, started with a crab bisque with truffle oil emulsion, followed by a salad of mesclun with toasted pine nuts, prosciutto and fresh hearts of palm. The fish course of Dover sole roulade with salmon and lobster mousse was followed by lamb prepared two ways – a lamb shop in a puff pastry jacket, accompanied by sliced lamb tenderloin. For dessert, warm chocolate cake with pineapple ginger relish, accompanied by a shot of Grand Marnier Centenaire. Continue Reading

Recession taking toll on Minnesota’s poor

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The economy is in the toilet. Anyone not locked in a basement bathroom for the last six months will have noticed the daily cascade of mass layoffs, cratering stock prices and dismal retail reports. But in a forum at the University of Minnesota’s Humphrey Institute yesterday, five eminent economists sounded surprisingly upbeat about the future. Art Rolnick, director of research at the Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis, began the discussion by pointing out that the country cycled through 10 recessions since World War II and always rebounded. Although he’s troubled by the systemic collapse of the housing market, he expects the current downturn to be no different. Continue Reading