Jane Palmer is an activist and tireless fighter for the well-being of the City of Reading.
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As you may have heard, the New York Times reported this week that according to new Census Bureau data, “Reading has earned the unwelcome distinction of having the largest share of its residents living in poverty, barely edging out Flint,
Jane Palmer
Mich.” The poverty rate is now 41.3%, which means that in the heart of Berks County, more than 36,000 men, women and children don’t have enough money to make ends meet.
These are huge and terrible numbers. They don’t tell the whole story, though. In response to Act 47 mandates and recommendations from the Rebuilding Reading Poverty Commission and other initiatives, City Hall is becoming more business-friendly and accountable. Rival mayoral candidates Vaughn Spencer and Jim McHale both have proposals to improve quality of life and make it easier for entrepreneurs to do business here.
Rebuilding Reading education recommendations fed directly into the school district’s new Strategic plan and prompted a powerful Reading Education Summit, held in March and bringing together for the first time the major stakeholders in public education. That work continues, and in April of 2012, we’ll hold a Youth Summit for 11th and 12th graders in the city.
Transformative private initiatives are also underway, including the Reading Roots Urban Farm launched by policy and governance committee member Eron Lloyd. Economic development chair Lenin Agudo, who joined with the Berks County Community Foundation on a Business Jump Start Center in downtown Reading, was recently named a 2011 Rising Star by the Greater Reading Chamber of Commerce.
The press is focused on the bad news–and it is bad news–but Reading has rebuilt itself before and it can do it again. To do so we must have the support of our elected officials, starting with the passage of the American Jobs Act. We must have funding for infrastructure development and passenger rail, and a restoration of Governor Corbett’s recent savage cuts to education. Otherwise—while the super-rich get richer—a lot more people in Reading and Berks, including those who currently have jobs and who imagine they’re safely within the middle class, will fall into poverty.
This is no time for despair. Mother Jones famously said, “Pray for the dead, and fight like hell for the living.” Let’s fight like hell for our beloved city.
Karen O'Mara Voytas comments:
Thank you, Jane. I was not familiar with these census findings, by informing you are making a difference. I’m not from Reading, but your article inspired me to finally call and volunteer as a literacy and ESL tutor.
Karen
Cheyanne comments:
Miss. Palmer,
Your comments about Reading are enthusiastic for a community organizer, yet they remain less desirable in the minds of business and community planners. The repackaged programs appeared to be mirrored off the dismal attempts by countless others.
President Clinton (April 2008) offered funds for 100k new police officers and people cheered, then the federal money ran out and local taxes were raised. No one cheered then. Eventually these programs run out of tax payer money.
Miss. Palmer, the quicker people understand why we are out of money the sooner we will see a rebirth of Reading. Just today a major Reading business announced they are investing half a billion dollars in another state. Perhaps studying the data of Reading will assist many in understanding why Reading endures abject failure and habitually rejects honest reform. Inculcating residents to believe they deserve free services in perpetuity may be one reason why we are where we are.
Cheyanne
Ron Stouffer comments:
Cheyanne,
Please read my previous comment right before yours re: The Corporate Take Over is Now Complete. When you digest the big picture I presented, you will understand the reason austerity (brought on by the corporate class) is killing Reading and other cities, our schools, our states, and ultimately our country. Macro vs. micro, my friend.
jcfisher comments:
I grew up in Reading but left upon graduation in 1987. Both my parents grew up in Reading and my wife also grew up in Reading. I ultimately left the country and spent the last 15 years in Asia. I still come back every year and despite my kids being born in Hong Kong and Singapore and never lived in Reading they post their hometown as Reading. In 1987 the fall was visible. My wife’s sister had two boys go through RHS with the youngest this year. Both survived but just barely. In the 80′s my mom had hard times and we went on food stamps. She was embarrassed and shopped in the late evening to avoid anyone she knew to see her use food stamps for her food. Even then we would see others loading up their carts with meat we could only dream of eating and use stamps for purchase. The found a way to game the system. My Mom was just a single mother trying to survive another day. Living in Asia for 15 years and succeeding in certain ways I wonder out load why manufacturing in Reading is not booming. English speaking, stones through for over 25% of US population and cheap land. People like to say its the hand outs. I say forget about the people my age. Focus on the youth. Give them a way to a trade and they will take it. Do you think kids in RHS like coming out of school with no hope but to take a hand out, get girlfriend pregnant so they get more? I dont think so. Have faith. These kids want something better. They just dont see it and their parent are not able to guide them given the legacy. Create massive incentive for business in combination with internships with schools and Reading comes back quickly. But the money needs to be targeted. Also, the city should match dollar for dollar acquisition of homes with private equity firms in the downtown area that destroy the endless rowhomes and re-develop. Change the landscape and commitment and people will support it.