NEW YORK—The New York City Coalition Against Hunger expressed its concern about greater economic inequality in New York City and also of an increase in poverty on Tuesday, September 28, at a press briefing at the Washington Heights Ecumenical Food Pantry.
According to the coalition, the number of city residents living below the federal poverty line increased from 1,500,484 to 1,546,046 from 2008 to 2009, or an increase of 18.2 percent to 18.7 percent. The median household income dropped citywide from $51,116 in 2008 to $50,033 in 2009.
“This data is the latest proof that low-income, hungry, and even middle-class New Yorkers are suffering mightily in this recession, even as the ultra-rich become even wealthier,” said Joel Berg, executive director of the Coalition. “We should all be appalled that New York is now the epicenter of the nation’s soaring inequality of wealth. The only silver lining in all this horrible news is that the federal recovery act prevented far more New Yorkers from falling into poverty.”
The coalition also protested the expected cut in funding for food stamps. They mentioned that in August Congress cut $11.9 billion from the SNAP/food stamp program in order to pay for the Federal Aviation Administration Bill, which includes aid to states and funding for teachers’ salaries and Medicaid. In the coming weeks, Congress will decide whether to make an additional $2.2 billion in cuts to the SNAP/food stamp program in order to pay for Child Nutrition Reauthorization (CNR), which determines funding and access to child nutrition programs, stated the coalition.
Council Member Yadanis Rodriguez, who himself used food stamps when he first arrived to the United States in the 1980s, emphasized that people who are in need of food stamps are not lazy, but hardworking people who really need the help.
After a recent week-long challenge, Rodriguez took to living on food stamps. He stated that it is impossible to eat a healthy balanced diet off $4.33 per day, the amount a low-income individual might receive in food stamps. “Ironically, Congress is considering paying for child nutrition programs by cutting the already insufficient amount of funds for food stamps—a move that will make children less healthy!” said Rodriguez.
According to the coalition, the number of city residents living below the federal poverty line increased from 1,500,484 to 1,546,046 from 2008 to 2009, or an increase of 18.2 percent to 18.7 percent. The median household income dropped citywide from $51,116 in 2008 to $50,033 in 2009.
“This data is the latest proof that low-income, hungry, and even middle-class New Yorkers are suffering mightily in this recession, even as the ultra-rich become even wealthier,” said Joel Berg, executive director of the Coalition. “We should all be appalled that New York is now the epicenter of the nation’s soaring inequality of wealth. The only silver lining in all this horrible news is that the federal recovery act prevented far more New Yorkers from falling into poverty.”
The coalition also protested the expected cut in funding for food stamps. They mentioned that in August Congress cut $11.9 billion from the SNAP/food stamp program in order to pay for the Federal Aviation Administration Bill, which includes aid to states and funding for teachers’ salaries and Medicaid. In the coming weeks, Congress will decide whether to make an additional $2.2 billion in cuts to the SNAP/food stamp program in order to pay for Child Nutrition Reauthorization (CNR), which determines funding and access to child nutrition programs, stated the coalition.
Council Member Yadanis Rodriguez, who himself used food stamps when he first arrived to the United States in the 1980s, emphasized that people who are in need of food stamps are not lazy, but hardworking people who really need the help.
After a recent week-long challenge, Rodriguez took to living on food stamps. He stated that it is impossible to eat a healthy balanced diet off $4.33 per day, the amount a low-income individual might receive in food stamps. “Ironically, Congress is considering paying for child nutrition programs by cutting the already insufficient amount of funds for food stamps—a move that will make children less healthy!” said Rodriguez.
