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Donald Trump wins US presidency and the GOP flips the Senate; UT electric provider taps into the potential of 'virtual' power plants; Ohio State course bridges science and faith in polarized times; MI mayor prioritizes health, climate with 'health-in-all-policies' plan.

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Trump wins the White House. Republicans will take over the Senate after flipping several seats, and seem to be on track to hold the House. In spite of bomb threats and charges of fraud, a very high-turnout election mostly went smoothly.

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A Cambodian poultry farmer who lost his livelihood could be a hero for others, rural Montanans are anxiously awaiting a court ruling over a climate lawsuit brought by young people, and Northeast states say more housing for working families could boost jobs.

Richmond’s declining poverty rate raises questions

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Friday, October 4, 2024   

The most recent census figures show a significant drop in poverty in the Richmond metro area - and are being met with skepticism.

The American Community Survey reports the poverty rate in the metro area fell to 9.9% last year, down from 10.7% the previous year. Richmond City's rate is still higher, at more than 17%, although that's a notable drop from 21.7% in 2022.

Jay Speer, executive director of the Virginia Poverty Law Center, is unconvinced that these figures reflect real progress.

"First of all, I think the way we measure poverty is way, way, way too low," he said. "There's so many people struggling economically, trying to make enough money to pay the rent and utilities and all those sorts of things, that to say only 9% of people are in poverty just seems crazy to me."

In 2023, poverty-level income was about $31,000 for a family of four, and less than $16,000 for an individual. While conservative think tanks advocate for boosting businesses in the Commonwealth as a solution, others propose income support programs and universal health care as more equitable approaches.

Statewide, Virginia's poverty rate stands at 10.2%. The state's minimum wage has increased to $12 an hour, but Speer said he believes this is still insufficient to lift many families out of poverty. He contended that the federal poverty line also doesn't reflect real living costs, especially in high-rent areas such as Richmond.

"Basically, what I'm telling you is what I see, and I think a lot of this is sort of common sense," he said. "What does $12 get you for an hour's work? Or even $15, which a lot of people say is a living wage."

Speer shared his skepticism about poverty measurements with labor leader The Rev. William Barber, suggesting the census figures may mislead people into thinking the situation is improving. And stark disparities persist between urban and rural areas. Northern Virginia's poverty rate is lower than Richmond's, while regions such as Southside and Southwest Virginia still face higher poverty levels.

Disclosure: Virginia Poverty Law Center contributes to our fund for reporting on Civil Rights, Housing/Homelessness, Poverty Issues, Social Justice. If you would like to help support news in the public interest, click here.


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