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Who Put The Con In Economy?
In 2009 the National Law Center on Homelessness and Poverty and the National Coalition for the Homeless reported that the 10 meanest cities to the homeless are Los Angeles, St. Petersburg, Orlando, Atlanta, Gainesville, Kalamazoo, San Francisco, Honolulu, Bradenton and Berkley. These cities have increased the criminalization of homelessness. Since 2006 there has been an 11% increase in anti-loitering laws and a 7% increase in banning camping in public spaces. Providing housing, jobs and social services would be more cost effective than spending money on police and prisons. Maybe reciting the Statue of Liberty's inscription would help too.
In June 2009 with the national unemployment rate at 9.5% - the highest in 26 years - an increasing number of former white-collar workers applied to trucking schools. Applicants tended to be in their 40's and 50's - 10 to 15 years older than typical students, but they were attracted by the average pay of $37, 566 and a training period of 3 to 6 weeks. Even though shipments fell off 11% from April to May 2009, former white-collar workers in banking, newspapers, publishing and computers see shipping as relatively recession-proof; and they are willing to keep on truckin'.
In July 2009 Virginia became the fourth state to shut down its Interstate rest areas to save money. Maine and Colorado have both closed 2 and Vermont has decommissioned 4 and plans to demolish the buildings. By mid-September 19 of Virginia's 42 rest areas were closed. Because it is estimated that each rest area costs about half-a million dollars to operate a year, Virginia expects to save $9 million a year. Virginia officials say there is no timetable for re-opening the rest areas, but both candidates in November's race for governor promised that if elected, the rest area barricades "will have to go".
On July 21, 2009 Oakland, California became the first U.S. city to put a special tax on medical marijuana. The tax, which is effective January 1, 2010, will increase the business tax from $1.20 for every $1,000 in gross sales - which applies to all retail businesses - to $18. Based on annual sales of $17.5 million for Oakland's 4 marijuana clubs, the tax is expected to generate $294,000 in 2010. Marijuana club owners consider the tax further legitimization of their establishments and advocates of marijuana for recreational use hope that it leads to regulating marijuana like alcohol - but those may be pipe dreams.
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