Results 1 to 15 of 92

Thread: Bflo: #1 in Black male joblessness

Hybrid View

Previous Post Previous Post   Next Post Next Post
  1. #1
    Unregistered
    Join Date
    May 2004
    Location
    former west sider, now in Mpls.
    Posts
    2,154

    Bflo: #1 in Black male joblessness

    This serious issue is a test for SUWNY. Can it be responsibly discussed without deteriorating into the too common cynicism or outright racism of some posters?

    I hope that this depressing news will prompt a re-examination of BMHA, long the 'flagship' of Bflo's booming poverty industry. BMHA tenants are heavily black & poor, but city-run BMHA has too often been used as a bonanza of patronage & developer-driven projects instead of being an engine of poverty reduction.

    For example, many BMHA patronage workers live in suburbs, while idealy most would live in BMHA or nearby neighborhoods.

    There is an opportunity to reform BMHA. There are now two vacancies in the five Mayor-appointed board positions. Byron Brown can show real intent to address black poverty as well as housing blight by appointing proven advocates for affordable housing or the poor, instead of the too-often political opportunists of the past.

    http://www.buffalonews.com/home/story/463808.html

    Worst black male jobless rate: right here
    At 51.4% last year, Buffalo area unmatched as reflection of ‘a civic outrage’ nationally


    By Gene Warner NEWS STAFF REPORTER, Updated: 10/15/08 6:32 AM


    When an economics professor in Milwaukee studied the issue of black male unemployment, he found that his city had the second-highest such jobless rate in the nation last year.

    Guess who finished first: Buffalo.

    The Buffalo metro area topped the list among 35 large American cities with a staggering black male jobless rate of 51.4 percent, according to figures cited by Professor Marc V. Levine of the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee.

    Milwaukee finished a close second, at 51.1 percent, with Detroit third, St. Louis fourth and Chicago fifth. “It’s nothing less than a civic outrage to have these levels of joblessness,” Levine said in a telephone interview Tuesday.

    The study didn’t take Buffalo city officials by surprise. “I knew there was a high unemployment rate in the black male population, which is why we have worked so hard to enhance the employment environment in Buffalo,” Mayor Byron W. Brown said. “This is an inherited problem, which is decades in the making.”

    Asked for specifics about what his administration is doing to attack the problem, Brown cited the mayor’s summer youth employment program, which has grown from 1,294 youths in 2005 to 3,113 this past summer. The city also has instituted a winter program. It meant 100 youth jobs last winter and plans for 250 this winter. Such programs are crucial in making young people more employable, providing some income for hard-pressed families and teaching both the value and rewards of having a job, the mayor said.

    Denver had the lowest black male jobless rate, 28.7 percent, followed by Washington with 29.5 percent and San Diego with 31.1.

    The data, according to Levine’s study for the university’s Center for Economic Development, are based on figures from the U. S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey. In his study, Levine also compared the black and white jobless rates for each of the 35 metro areas. Milwaukee had a relatively low white jobless rate of 18.6 percent, meaning that the gap between its black and white jobless rates was 32.5 percentage points.

    That gave Milwaukee, by far, the biggest racial gap among the 35 metro areas in the study.

    Buffalo finished second in that category with a racial gap of 26.1 percentage points — the difference between its black jobless rate of 51.4 percent and its white jobless figure of 25.3. “Only in depressed, de-industrializing Buffalo did the racial gap in joblessness come close . . . to Milwaukee’s,” Levine wrote in his study.

    While Levine’s 21-page report deals mostly with the situation in Milwaukee, some of the report’s comments about black unemployment obviously would apply to Buffalo. “With a national economy poised on the edge of a major recession — or worse — and on top of an already-deteriorating labor market in Milwaukee, the city faces the grave prospect of further increases in black male joblessness,” the report states.

    Both cities, Levine said Tuesday, are in the grips of the recession already. In trying to improve their black male unemployment rates, the Buffalo and Milwaukee areas both face the same disconnect. Their segregated population patterns mean that more than 80 percent of their African-American labor force lives in the city, while any job growth occurs in the suburbs.

    Long distances and lack of suitable public transportation make it difficult for both cities to bridge that gap. “There’s a limited accessibility to the jobs that are being created in the metropolitan area,” Levine said.

    So what should Buffalo and Milwaukee take from the study? “Hopefully, these numbers are a big wake-up call to policymakers that we have an intolerably high jobless rate,” Levine said.

    Brown said he could use the study’s results in seeking tools to help reduce such joblessness. Among other recommendations, Levine called for a greater public infrastructure investment, not only as a national effort, but as a regional and local one. And he also called for a huge green economic investment that could create 2 million new “blue/green-collar” jobs across the country.

    gwarner@buffnews.com

  2. #2
    Member
    Join Date
    Sep 2008
    Location
    Amherst
    Posts
    11,438
    Well i think the first place to start would be to imporve the graduation rate across the board. It's hard to get a job with our a HS degree or GED!

  3. #3
    Tony Fracasso - Admin
    Join Date
    May 2003
    Location
    Buffalo, New York, United States
    Posts
    64,948
    Parents also have to be involved with their kids upbringing. You can not depend on a school for that.

  4. #4
    Member citymouse's Avatar
    Join Date
    Nov 2003
    Location
    South Buffalo
    Posts
    6,705
    If memory serves me at the height of the great depression the jobless rate average nationwide was 25%.
    At present the white male population in Buffalo is at 28% and the Black is 51.1%.
    Buffalo is poorer now than the nation was in the great depression in terms of unemployment. Yet, outside of WNY, that dosen't seem to raise an eyebrow. Show's how much Washington and Albany, and the rest of the nation as well, thinks of us.
    "If you want to know what God thinks of money just look at the people he gave it to."

    By the way, what happened to biker? I miss the old coot.

  5. #5
    Member leftWNYbecauseofBS's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2006
    Posts
    10,873
    Quote Originally Posted by citymouse View Post
    If memory serves me at the height of the great depression the jobless rate average nationwide was 25%.
    At present the white male population in Buffalo is at 28% and the Black is 51.1%.
    Buffalo is poorer now than the nation was in the great depression in terms of unemployment. Yet, outside of WNY, that dosen't seem to raise an eyebrow. Show's how much Washington and Albany, and the rest of the nation as well, thinks of us.
    It is not just the government that is to blame Mouse. Between the Great Depression and the two World Wars, the population of WNY exploded from migration from the south. A lot of this migration were blacks from the south moving from the farms to the factories.

    What has not happened is the migration of unskilled labor away from WNY when unskilled labor jobs left. Somehow in a generation or two, the mindset of a job in your birth location is a birthright was planted in the mind of some.

    I would be interested in knowing the education level of both the white and black unemployed population. How many have even a GED? How many have a HS degree?

    Added to that, the skeleton in the closet for unions is their blatant racism in the public workplace. Look at your hero TK from South Buffalo. While he did everything in his power to keep unions strong in the construction, he did NOTHING to ensure that there were equal opportunities for ALL races to get into the trades. Do you think this number of 51% is NEW? Hell no. This is just a new study.

  6. #6
    Tony Fracasso - Admin
    Join Date
    May 2003
    Location
    Buffalo, New York, United States
    Posts
    64,948
    Quote Originally Posted by leftWNYbecauseofBS View Post

    What has not happened is the migration of unskilled labor away from WNY when unskilled labor jobs left. Somehow in a generation or two, the mindset of a job in your birth location is a birthright was planted in the mind of some.
    Do you believe if we didn't have so many government transfer of wealth programs this would have happened?

  7. #7
    Member Eat My Gun's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2007
    Location
    The Socialist States of Amerika
    Posts
    1,641
    Quote Originally Posted by citymouse View Post
    If memory serves me at the height of the great depression the jobless rate average nationwide was 25%.
    At present the white male population in Buffalo is at 28% and the Black is 51.1%.
    Buffalo is poorer now than the nation was in the great depression in terms of unemployment. Yet, outside of WNY, that dosen't seem to raise an eyebrow. Show's how much Washington and Albany, and the rest of the nation as well, thinks of us.

    It doesn't raise an eyebrow because unemployment during the Great Depression was an entirely different animal in that there were no government social safety nets in place like welfare, food stamps, etc. as there are today.

    Of the 28% of whites and 51% of blacks who are unemployed, I'd be interested to know what proportion are receiving government benefits. Such benefits provide a huge disincentive to finding employment. Only after taking out those receiving some type of government benefit from the total number
    will you arrive at the true unemployment rates.


    "I won't live by rules that make no sense to me." - Evan Tanner 1971-2008

    Transfixus sed non Mortuus

  8. #8
    Member
    Join Date
    Dec 2006
    Location
    Formerly West Side
    Posts
    1,078
    Quote Originally Posted by kernwatch View Post

    There is an opportunity to reform BMHA. There are now two vacancies in the five Mayor-appointed board positions. Byron Brown can show real intent to address black poverty as well as housing blight by appointing proven advocates for affordable housing or the poor, instead of the too-often political opportunists of the past.
    Or, we could do something better.

    Let's abolish the failed Housing Authority. With something like 25,000 vacancies in this city it is absurd to claim that somebody can't find housing. I suggest we all write to our congressmen and representatives demanding that funding be slashed for this organization.

  9. #9
    Member
    Join Date
    Dec 2006
    Location
    Formerly West Side
    Posts
    1,078

    Statistics don't apply to individual people.

    There comes a time when people need to do something about their own circumstances and solve their own problems. Here are some points to kick start discussion:

    -When did people feel entitled to remain in one area their entire life? I've moved 3 times for better opportunity, twice across the country. If you can't afford to live in the place you are at, then you should find a job somewhere else and move. People who don't have nobody to blame but themselves.

    -It has not gotten to the level of the Great Depression where there are no jobs to be had. The classified section each week is full of unskilled jobs, and there are opportunities to learn a trade and better yourself. Perhaps what we need to do is get rid of the incentive to sit around and mooch off of everybody else. Abolish welfare. Replace it with private charity for those who are truly needy. This will result in a massive reduction in taxes and a better business environment which will lead to growth.

    -Become more colorblind. I'm sick and tired of everything becoming a racial issue. Is unemployment a problem? OK, let's work on unemployment. What does the skin color or background of the jobless person matter?

  10. #10
    Member
    Join Date
    Dec 2006
    Posts
    7,769
    What portion of the 50%+ are even looking?

  11. #11
    Member
    Join Date
    Jul 2006
    Posts
    400
    Quote Originally Posted by FisherRd View Post
    What portion of the 50%+ are even looking?
    Oh, you hit that one right on the head. It's hard to look for a job when you're too busy sitting on a stoop of a dilapidated building at Broadway and Coit Streets. All day. Everyday.

  12. #12
    Member CAugust's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jun 2007
    Location
    USA
    Posts
    1,779
    How many of those unemployed are seriously looking for a job?? I understand the lack of transportation can pose a problem, but didnt the immigrants have the same problem - even worse because they could not speak english?

    I would hire someone based on ability and personality - not color of their skin.

    Everyone thinks working at McDonalds or Burger King is beneath them, managers in those stores can make over 40k a year and then some. I assure you if you are a hard worker, it doesnt take a very long time to move up from employee to shift manager to asst manager to manager....BUT it's hard work.
    When I used to hire teenagers and I saw that they worked at a fast food place for a few years, I was totally impressed with them!!!!! They knew how to work - - - those jobs are always available.

    The mall is hiring for xmas help - everyone seems to be able to find transportation to Galleria Mall to shop or hang out - but to work????? hmmmm now that's a different story.

    Sorry, not buying jobs are not out there..........now, maybe the type of job they dont want to do are the ones available - but not everyone is a ceo.
    Colleen
    Realtor

    Visit My Website

  13. #13
    Member
    Join Date
    Mar 2007
    Posts
    3,075
    Wow,

    I actually agree with Lefty on something...

    I think Bannister's logic accounts for some of that unemployment, perhaps the percent difference b/w white and black in the city. If you look at incarceration rates, the numbers are there. Today, more than ever before, if you screw up, it's one reason for an employer not to hire you. Of course, you could say, "Well, don't screw up." But without parental guidance, or community guidance, or good lawyers, that's relatively hard for *kids* (remember everyone starts out as a kid) to do.

    Sure, the transfer of wealth programs provide a disincentive to finding gainful employment, however, I'm not so sure that cutting them is the solution, because as Lefty points out, the jobs are not there. The seasonal employment market is far from an economic solution. You don't get health coverage working 20 hrs/wk at the Galleria. Same at McD's. Employers make a concerted effort no to put your health care on their rolls.

    Sure, there is also sheer laziness. But people, everyone is lazy to some extent. If I had to commute 1.5 hrs each way to a $7.50 / hr job, I might be a little more than tempted to call in more often and get myself fired. However, if there were no safety net, I'd be less able to do so.

    Instead, why couldn't the jobs be "community" based? There is plenty of dilapidated housing stock. Most of it is in neighborhoods where people need employment. It doesn't require much skill to tear down a house. Couldn't these people be employed at minimum wage (perhaps higher) to tear down old houses, or fix them up? Cleaning up neighborhoods? Could material be supplied and they could be paid to beautify existing residences, insulate windows, I mean there's no shortage of *real* work that needs to be done. Summer youth employment is a joke (albeit somewhat necessary). Give people meaningful work, there's plenty of it, it's just not funded or on the radar of the voting public's eye.

    Of course there is a race issue, but it's less about race than it is about *class, language and behavior*. If someone shows up at an interview and "axes" a person a question, or says, "They don't have no car", you can be sure employers are going to be less likely to hire that person compared to someone who has proper diction.
    Last edited by Genoobie; October 16th, 2008 at 06:37 AM. Reason: Added information

Thread Information

Users Browsing this Thread

There are currently 1 users browsing this thread. (0 members and 1 guests)

Similar Threads

  1. Why was Black History Totally Distorted
    By Bringthetruth in forum Morning Breakfast - Breaking News
    Replies: 11
    Last Post: August 21st, 2008, 01:37 PM
  2. We've come a long way baby
    By ILOVEDNY in forum Morning Breakfast - Breaking News
    Replies: 8
    Last Post: June 11th, 2008, 09:16 AM
  3. Black College Produces its first White Valedictorian (Great Story)
    By Bringthetruth in forum Morning Breakfast - Breaking News
    Replies: 22
    Last Post: May 27th, 2008, 06:37 PM
  4. Black Christian Critiques Obama
    By ILOVEDNY in forum USA Politics and Our Economy - President Joe Biden
    Replies: 32
    Last Post: May 20th, 2008, 12:23 PM
  5. On Presidents day, remember your 5 BLACK Presidents
    By Bringthetruth in forum Morning Breakfast - Breaking News
    Replies: 56
    Last Post: March 10th, 2008, 01:30 PM

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •