Why Is Poverty a Problem in the Richest U.S. Cities and How to Solve It
California is home to several of the nation’s richest cities while New York City is undoubtedly the most famous and richest cities in the world. Strangely enough, millions of residents there struggle to pay their rent, find jobs that offer a fair living wage, or further their education. It’s a vicious cycle that can be solved through strategic public administration planning, but so far, neither mayors, council members, police chiefs, or anti-poverty advocates have been able to solve what has become a rapidly growing problem.
Researchers have shown that education is necessary to keep people from falling under the poverty line, but that isn’t the only solution. At the University of San Francisco, students can use financial aid to help pay for college. City College in New York works the same way. There needs to be more outreach if the working poor is going to see a positive change in their future.
The Working Poor Need to See a Brighter Future
Employers have to be encouraged to help their workforce and not exploit them. Landlords have to find relief from rising real estate taxes or else they will continue to increase rental rates. Poverty is a big problem in major cities and if public administrators don’t look for real solutions, there will be a mass exodus. The fact of the matter is that no one in New York City can earn minimum wage and afford to rent any kind of apartment, subsidized or not. Not all low wage earners can take on roommates or live in micro apartments either. These are the people who have families to support with school-aged children.
Major Cities Need Middle Class and Lower-Class Residents
Some well-to-do city dwellers might think that rising rents and gentrification is a good thing. In truth, lower class workers make it possible for upper-class individuals to live in comfort. Lower class workers are doormen, groundskeepers, nannies, cab drivers, and sanitation workers. If they can’t afford to live in the cities where they work and service the upper class, they will simply leave and go where it is more affordable. What would happen to public parks if there was no one around to empty out the trash cans? What if no waitresses or bartenders came to work at five-star restaurants? Major cities would be an uncomfortable place to live or visit.
Poverty is Multi-Generational
When you have a family that is, for instance, native to San Francisco, and who have grown up in poverty, they look to the younger generation for upward mobility. When major cities have smaller public education budgets, children aren’t able to excel or even believe that a world outside of what they see exists. These children grow up believing that they can’t go to college because they’re not smart or rich enough. Public administrators need to do more to show poor adolescents that scholarships are attainable and that local schools offer reduced tuition rates.
Even if poverty is eradicated, there will always be people who fall to the lower end of the economic spectrum. As long as they can afford to eat and save money they can still find happiness. When the poor can’t afford to pay for basic needs no matter how hard they work, they lose all hope.
Employers have to be encouraged to help their workforce and not exploit them. Landlords have to find relief from rising real estate taxes or else they will continue to increase rental rates. Poverty is a big problem in major cities and if public administrators don’t look for real solutions, there will be a mass exodus. The fact of the matter is that no one in New York City can earn minimum wage and afford to rent any kind of apartment, subsidized or not. Not all low wage earners can take on roommates or live in micro apartments either. These are the people who have families to support with school-aged children.
Major Cities Need Middle Class and Lower-Class Residents
Some well-to-do city dwellers might think that rising rents and gentrification is a good thing. In truth, lower class workers make it possible for upper-class individuals to live in comfort. Lower class workers are doormen, groundskeepers, nannies, cab drivers, and sanitation workers. If they can’t afford to live in the cities where they work and service the upper class, they will simply leave and go where it is more affordable. What would happen to public parks if there was no one around to empty out the trash cans? What if no waitresses or bartenders came to work at five-star restaurants? Major cities would be an uncomfortable place to live or visit.
Poverty is Multi-Generational
When you have a family that is, for instance, native to San Francisco, and who have grown up in poverty, they look to the younger generation for upward mobility. When major cities have smaller public education budgets, children aren’t able to excel or even believe that a world outside of what they see exists. These children grow up believing that they can’t go to college because they’re not smart or rich enough. Public administrators need to do more to show poor adolescents that scholarships are attainable and that local schools offer reduced tuition rates.
Even if poverty is eradicated, there will always be people who fall to the lower end of the economic spectrum. As long as they can afford to eat and save money they can still find happiness. When the poor can’t afford to pay for basic needs no matter how hard they work, they lose all hope.