Like much of the rest of the nation, New York City is hurting. According to one of the City Council members, "The unemployment rate is now the highest its been in over twenty five years."
High unemployment hits people of every marital status and every parental status. The most recent controversy is over single people without children who are out of work and actively looking for jobs.
As it stands, singles without dependents who are looking for work are eligible for food stamps for only three months in a 3-year period (click here, then click the "Read Full Letter" link). Three months is not a lot of time to find a job in this economy. President Obama's economic stimulus package recognizes that, and offer states federal dollars to extend eligibility for food stamps through September 2010.
Again, the provision would let single people who are actively seeking work to continue to eat as they do so. They want to work; they are looking for a job; they haven't found one yet.
What's more, accepting the help would translate into greater economic benefits. As the Moody's analysis has shown, every dollar spent on food stamps results in $1.73 in gross domestic product. (Some figures for comparison: Making the Bush tax cuts permanent results in 31 cents for every dollar; spending on infrastructure results in $1.59 for every dollar.)
New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg isn't having it. He has refused to sign off on the waiver to extend food benefits to the eligible single people.
The Mayor doesn't have to find the money; he is getting the money. That money will create even more money. The food stamps will go to eligible singles who want to work and are trying to find work. Those singles aren't going to get Bernie Madoff-like penthouse accommodations. They are going to get to eat, just barely enough. (A CNN reporter tried it; he said the allowance amounted to $6.28 a day.)
This is nothing new. (For example, the 9/11 Victims Compensation Fund accorded the life of single people less worth than the life of marrieds, as I explained in Singled Out.) But it is still outrageous. Next time someone suggests to you that there is no discrimination against single people, remember this attempt to deny food to job-seeking singles.
In the meantime, you can make your opinion known. Follow this link, and under the second item, "Voice your opinion on this issue," you will find the phone number of the mayor's press office.
Many thanks to long-time activist Thomas Coleman for alerting me to all this. His posts to the Unmarried America informational site are a great resource.
