Economic Edge Goes LIVE on kalwnews.org!

We have finally launched our brand new website!  A venture we have been working on and designing for many months.  Take a look and give us your feedback -- our goal is to make this a place for the best local news, as well as a place to engage and come up with solutions to the issues we cover.

From now on, you can find the Economic Edge Blog posts here, and we hope you will keep following us and contributing to our project!

Art in Storefronts

Last Friday, I attended the launch of a new effort to revitalize commercial corridors in San Francisco.  It's called "Arts in Storefronts", and it's the topic of my next piece.  The SF Arts Commission joined up with the Mayor's office, and the Office of Economic and Workforce Development to commission art installations to fill empty storefronts in the Central Market, Bayview, Tenderloin and Market neighborhoods.  The idea is to join the artists, property owners, and merchants with the goal of avoiding blight and bringing foot traffic to these areas that sorely need it, especially after the recent economic downturn.


I was impressed with the turnout at the launch.  At 5pm, the corner of Sixth and Market was transformed, a live latin band started to play, people in cocktail dresses and neat suits started dancing in the street, people passing by lingered to hear the music and look at the art...for a few hours, it seemed to overshadow the usual rushed and abandoned feeling of the place.

But even as speakers took to a mic set up right there in the middle of the sidewalk, several homeless men got uncomfortably close to disrupting the flow of the evening, a vendor even pushed her cart right through the middle of the crowd as one of the key speakers addressed the crowd.  I couldn't help but think that these two worlds were going to have some trouble coming together, and just maybe, that they might carry different hopes for this neighborhood.

For more info on the Arts in Storefronts project, click here, and to listen to my report, tune in to Crosscurrents at 5pm on Nov. 2nd.

1 in 10 in SF Unemployed

Well, I guess this explains the crazy amount of people I see at cafes throughout the day, or lounging about in Dolores Park in the middle of the afternoon.

Seriously though, it is difficult to believe that the unemployment rate in San Francisco can be over 10%.  The Chronicle reports today that this is the highest percentage on record. Even harder to believe are the majority of economists who say "the recession is over."

Do you know anyone who is unemployed in the Bay Area? Are they young? College-educated?  Or coming out of retirement, a parent, or a grandparent?  We want to hear your stories about employment.  Write to us at news@kalw.org, or give us a call at 415-264-7106.

More Signs of the Recession

(I took this photo of a billboard off of Cesar Chavez, one of the many "signs" of the recession that I keep coming across in my daily life)

So it seems that the recession is showing its face in our lives in more ways than we might have imagined.  This SF Examiner article features census data that says the recession is leading to delayed marriage, longer commutes, and fewer immigrant laborers...just a few of the many social impacts of the economic downturn.

How are YOU seeing the recession appear in your life in unusual ways?  Can you represent it in a photo? Yes? Great! Email it to us, and we will feature it on this blog.  Just send it to Econ Edge Project, with your permission to publish it.

Featuring Oakland's Street Economy

For the past couple of weeks, Crosscurrents has been rolling out a special six-part series about the roots and solutions to violence in Oakland.  It is called the Oakland Fault Lines Project, and features a diverse array of perspectives from community leaders, drug dealers, activists, and young people, among others.

Today's installment happens to be related to the economic edge.  Reporter Sarah Gonzalez explores how disappearing formal economy jobs are replaced by the hustle of the street economy.  The conditions of this economy are harsh, competitive, and can quickly lead to crime and violence.  But in Oakland, where the unemployment rate is almost 16%, for many it is the best option.  Click here to listen.


(Photo taken by Reporter Sarah Gonzalez at Youth Alive in Oakland)

It's Everywhere

Doesn't it feel like sometimes the ECONOMY and signs of the recession are all around you?

I know that I am just a little more sensitive to it, given my profession, but these days it seems like I'm hearing more stories of muggings and robberies, lay offs, and life changes, and then there are little reminders like this van I photographed above, or billboards that use economic catchphrases to market things like pantyhose.

If you come across a "sign of the recession," whatever that may mean to you, take a picture and send it to us, or give us a call at (415) 264-7106 to tell us about it.  You can also write us a description and send it to news@kalw.org, with "Economic Edge" in the subject line.

"The Great Recession"

It seems that our Labor Day holiday yesterday was a chance for many of us to think of jobs, and how desperately we need some.  The California Budget Project released a new report yesterday that calls our current downturn "The Great Recession," finding that it stands apart from other downturns because of the breadth of its reach, especially when it comes to job loss.

If you look at today's headlines, you'd see that the media is reflecting exactly what the CPB has found.  All the stories are equally interesting, and one could say, equally depressing.  But better share in the despair, than suffer alone, right?  So I've included a list of the local economic stories that caught our eye today, mostly job-related.  Read on, but keep the tissue box handy.

LOCAL ECONOMIC HEADLINES:

1.3 million will lose unemployment benefits by the end of this year

California employment down to 2000 levels

Unemployment department still difficult to reach - Phone number takes an average of 17 tries, and 2/3 of calls are rejected

Budget cuts mean shelters can euthanize animals sooner - "The notion that your beloved pet could escape the yard and be put to death before you even have time to post flyers is a real possibility."

State government workers find themselves going to food banks

SF school volunteers program may be cut - Budget cutbacks for next year may be even harsher than this year

Frugality is the new normal, even after recession ends

Backlash against banks growing as modifications are rejected

Free Friday Fun

Lots of Free Friday Fun ideas for this Labor Day weekend...

SF Sunday Streets are back, this time on the Great Highway.  From 10am to 2pm on Sunday, you can walk, bike, run, and dance along Ocean Beach.  Don't  have a bike? Bay City Bikes offers free bike rentals!

And if you happen to have a Bank of America ATM card, it will grant you FREE access to several local museums this weekend, and every other first weekend of the month until January 2010.  For a list of where you can go, click here.

And in honor of many people's Labor Day Staycations, Yelp! offers these reviews of local hangouts that will at least feel like a getaway:

In need of a rush? Look no further than the Seward Street Slides. Tucked away amongst the hills of Noe Valley, Kirk A gushes, "It's quite possibly the city's best use of concrete in a public area." He warns, "You can get some real speed and airtime on these puppies, so use a bit of caution when you go." Thanks, Dad! For both dog owners and non-dog owners alike, you can't beat an afternoon at Fort Funston. Cyn W explains, "Sure, it's doggy heaven... but it's a heavenly place for humans as well! Be ready for a good climb, as the trails offer gorgeous scenery replete with the Pacific Ocean, Lake Merced, rugged sea cliffs, and cute pups galore." 

Whatever it Takes to Reduce Traffic

I am glad someone (a.k.a. The Reason Foundation) found the money to fund this study, which finds traffic congestion is costing bay area businesses and local governments billions of dolllars in lost productivity and potential economic activity.

The SF Examiner article puts it like this:

If around $29 billion (in 2005 dollars) were spent adding lane capacity in the next 20 years, the resulting drop in traffic congestion could bring Bay Area businesses annual productivity gains of around $10 billion, according to the study. The improvements could also bring local governments an extra $750 million in tax revenue from the increased economic activity. 

For me, some questions still remain: will the Bay Bridge closure during Labor Day weekend, increase or decrease traffic?

Will it cost us, or make us money in the long run?  

...and most importantly, will the mass exodus to Burning Man offset any losses?  

I guess only time will tell...maybe The Reason Foundation can fund a study about that next!

You Don't Have to be Uninsured to have Medical Debt

Last week, we aired a first installment of a series that takes a closer look at the Human Services Agency of San Francisco, the people they serve, the ones they don't, and how that latter group is sure to get bigger after the agency suffered budget cuts in the tens of millions of dollars this past year. What is clear from the conversation I had with Trent Rhorer, Executive Director of the HSA, is that there are some people who are left behind by welfare services, simply because they make just a little too much to qualify....Or they have a car...Or savings...or unemployment benefits...the list of disqualifications is a long one.

And today there was a headline in our digest that proved there are people on the margin of the health care debate that are suffering greatly as well - the insured poor. The UCLA Center for Health Policy Research released a report today that found 2/3rds of the 2.2 million Californians who say they are in medical debt, actually had health insurance when they incurred that debt.

If you are one of the people on the margin, barely making it, give us a call at 415 264 7106, and share your story with us. Or write to us at news@kalw.org.

First Day of School

The San Francisco School District kicks off classes today, and so will other schools and universities across the bay later this week. Students, parents, and teachers alike are heading into this school year with tight budgets.

This Facebook group was recently launched to connect Oakland teachers with people who could contribute to their classes needs, such as pencils and magazine subscriptions. (As of now, there is still an unmet request for glue sticks and spiral notebooks!)

Tomorrow we will air an interview conducted by one of our street team members with a student at UC Berkeley, who is considering dropping out of school due to rising tuition costs. This Oakland Tribune article discusses ways that families can better prepare for rising college tuition. One piece of advice? Start early. Applying for government-based grants can start during the early high school years. But the cheapest option is still the California community college system:

Even with this year's $6-per-unit fee increase, community colleges can make the first two years of college significantly more affordable, and they can also improve an academically weak student's chances of graduating from a high-quality university.

Good Job News for California, not for Nation

So it seems that nationally, first time unemployment claims are up...again. Two weeks in a row, in fact. Bad news for the U.S.

But California has the largest drop of unemployment claims in the whole country, down about 5,000 claims. Good news for us!

If you want a better breakdown of the recession by state and county, take a look at the Oakland Tribune's Special Report page called "Faces of the Recession." There you will find a map tracking where the recession has hit the hardest, a database of announced layoffs, and another database of foreclosures. Useful stuff.

Finally, an Optimist

Okay, so enough of the doom and gloom...where is the GOOD news?

Recently I discovered The Stimulist, a news blog that claims to have a daily dose of optimistic news for us - sign me up!

The posting that caught my eye was this list of advice for the recently laid off.

Have a good news economic story to share with us? PLEASE, call it in to our tip line, 415-264-7106, or email us at news@kalw.org with "Economic Edge" in the subject line.

EE INTERVIEW: Mills College Professor Daphne Muse

For our Economic Edge Project, we are asking prominent members of our bay area to tell us what the recession looks like through their eyes.

Today we aired an excerpt from a conversation with civil rights activist, educator, and writer, Daphne Muse. She will be losing her job as professor at Mills College at the end of this month due to the recession, but she says she is still hopeful, and grateful to be an elder in these hard times, to know that the good times always return. Take a listen.

(photo taken by Brant Ward at the SF Chronicle, for an article published on February 1, 2007)

Recession Roommates

Multiple roommates and co-habitation is nothing new to San Franciscans - it is not that uncommon to find four or five people living in one flat, sharing one bathroom, and often without a living room or common space.

But the Chronicle says now more people than ever are turning to extra roommates as a way to make ends meet. Just to give you an idea of how many people, Craigslist is saying their "roommates wanted" ads are up 85% in S.F. from last year!

I blogged in June about how S.F. is behind in creating affordable-housing units, so we can expect this to continue for quite some time.

For those of you who might join the fray of multiple roommates, (I count msyethe SF Chron included some tips from the people who know a thing or two about home sharing:

-- Take time in selecting; meet more than once.

-- Check references.

-- Get a deposit.

-- Write up a "living together" agreement.

-- Discuss how you'll solve disputes.

-- Address problems while they're still small.

Read more: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2009/08/17/MNOR196OF1.DTL#ixzz0OTmQzIK8

(photo obtained from photo blog, TheLensCap.wordpress.com)

Unemployed? They Need Skilled Employees in Alaska

Today, we will be airing on Crosscurrents a couple of stories from the "funemploymed", to prove there might be a silver lining to the staggering 11.6% unemployment rate in California.

If you are among the laid off and think it's about time to start over somewhere new, Business Week lists 20 of the top places to start over a life or career in the country, based on potential hiring and on quality of life.

Among the top? Anchorage, Alaska. And I love how the Professor of Economics quoted in the story says: "it's possible that out-of-work Californians who have come to Alaska looking for opportunities might be responsible for pushing up the unemployment rate a bit." We really do get blamed for everything, don't we?

Staggering Health Effects of the Recession

Tomorrow, we will highlight on Crosscurrents some people who have found the silver lining in their unemployment. They are sometimes termed the "funemployed," and include both people who have decided to take time off from regular work, and those who have found new career paths thanks to being laid off.

But with California's unemployment rate at 11.6%, almost 2% points higher than the national average, it is clear that there are many people facing desperate times.

(You can track the unemployment numbers by state and compare to the national average on this handy google chart of U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics).

A few days ago, the American Psychological Association reported a 25% increase in the amount of calls to their suicide prevention hotline, and attribute the spike to economic distress. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration says it will provide more than $1 million in additional money to suicide crisis centers to compensate for the increase demand of their services.

What have you heard or experienced when it comes to the health effects of the recession? Share your story or thoughts with us, at 415-264-7106, or by email at news@kalw.org.

Employment Development Department Has Their Own Problems

The EDD is meant to provide employment assistance to people in need, but it looks like they could use some assistance themselves right now.

Today, EDD employees picketed in front of the state capitol to protest the mandatory furloughs imposed on them by the governor. The furloughs reduce employee salaries by almost 14%, but none of those savings are passed on to the state because EDD is a federally-funded agency.

It is hard to believe that the agencies meant to help those in need are now in such dire need of help themselves to stay staffed and running. How are state furloughs affecting you and your community? Write to us at news@kalw.org, or leave us a message at 415-264-7106.

The Joy of Less

When I talk to people about how the recession has changed their lives, I am surprised by how many people end up having positive things to say.

Today we aired a positive profile of a cafe in Oakland reported by one of our Street Team members, Robert Vergas. The message from the cafe owner and customers is one of appreciation for what they have, rather than focusing on what they lack, and on making do with less.

It reminds me of an article I came across that was titled exactly that, "The Joy of Less," about a man who lived extravagantly in New York, but always dreamt of living a stoic life in Japan. One day he went for it, and he never looked back.

It is comforting to see that hard times can inspire people to leap for their dreams, or can push people to discover reserves of positive thinking and creative problem-solving to live their best life, today, regardless of the circumstances that might otherwise stand in their way.

Future of News: Nichepapers

Umair Haique's latest blog on the Harvard Business Publishing website (coincidentally called "Edge Economy") contains some pretty savvy economic advice for people in the business of selling newspapers: stop, and start over.

Many organizations are struggling to find new distribution strategies, ways to get people to pay for the same old product. Haique says this is the era of what he calls "nichepapers", that are making a product with their audience in mind. Here is an excerpt where he explains:

To reinvent the buying and selling of news, it's necessary first to reconceive the making of news. The AP's latest attempt at business model innovation, for example, is a heavyweight "rights management" system for the same old stuff. But protecting yesterday's "product" is exactly what prevented the music industry and Hollywood from rediscovering the art of value creation.

Nichepapers are, above all, "M" organizations. Today's radical innovators are confronting the truth that, because it failed the fundamental test of being meaningful, yesterday's news is, well, yesterday's news.

Nichepapers, in contrast, do meaningful stuff that matters the most. The great failing of 20th century news is that monopoly power became a substitute for meaningful value creation. At root, that's the lesson that newspapers are learning the hard way.