Thetimesweekly.com A report just released by the University of California Berkeley Labor Center reveals that 39 percent of construction worker families nationwide are forced to enroll in one or more safety net programs to make ends meet. That is higher than the 31 percent of all workers enrolled in such programs. The yearly cost to state and federal governments is a staggering $28 billion. Additionally, 31 percent of construction workers lack health insurance coverage, compared to 10 percent of all workers. Researchers attribute their findings to low pay, wage theft and illegal employment practices in the construction industry.
governments
Posted inTimes Weekly News
Will County, still no decision on doling out second round of stimulus
Many have inquired about how to get a piece of the $134 million Will County received earlier this year from the federal American Rescue Plan. County officials, however, have yet to dole out any of that second round of COVID relief funding and, as they did with the CARES Act funding, they plan to once again hire the same consultant to assist in the process of distributing funds.
“Although we have not made an official determination on how the funds will be disbursed, we have received quite a few requests from our Will County residents, businesses, municipalities, local governments, non-profits, county board members, department heads and other customers,” said Will County Board member Ken Harris (D-Bolingbrook). Harris is chairman of the county board’s Finance Committee.
Posted in#NNPA BlackPress, Black Experience, Black History, Commentary, Community, Dr. John Warren, Featured, National, News, NNPA, NNPA Newswire, Politics, San Diego Voice
COMMENTARY: The Haitian Dilemma
NNPA NEWSWIRE — The massive number of more than 100,000 Afghans recently airlifted by the U.S. government and expecting to find homes in America, and at the same time we have over 3 million DACA residents also seeking to be recognized and given citizenship, all adds up to numbers that frighten Americans with the question of when do we close the door? The big question is, are we going to treat everyone fairly and, if so, what constitutes “fair”? The same rules must apply to all without the appearance of favoritism. There has to be a limit on the number of people permitted in the boat or the boat itself will sink.
Posted in#NNPA BlackPress, Business, Commentary, Community, Coronavirus, COVID-19, Economy, Featured, Food, Health, National, News, NNPA, NNPA Newswire, Politics, World
PRESS ROOM: The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation Commits $922 Million to Advance Global Nutrition to Help Women and Children
NNPA NEWSWIRE — Accelerated investments in nutrition, food systems, and health systems must be a pillar of both the immediate and longer-term phases of the COVID-19 response. Recent impact modeling data predicts that without immediate action, there will be an additional 283,000 malnutrition-related deaths in children under 5 over the next three years, and 13.6 million more children under 5 will be wasted (underweight for their height) over the same period. As a result, we stand to lose a decade or more of progress on nutrition.
Posted inTimes Weekly News
Bertino-Tarrant recommends 11-District Board
At the September county board meeting, Will County Executive Jennifer Bertino-Tarrant presented her proposed redistricting plan for 11 two-member districts, which reduces the size of the Will County Board by four members.
Posted inTimes Weekly News
Will County leads national panel on pandemic rental assistance
Will County Board Member Denise Winfrey (Joliet) will moderate a panel on Friday that will examine best practices for counties across the United States that are administering Emergency Rental Assistance (ERA) for individuals who face housing insecurity because of the Coronavirus pandemic. The panel is hosted by the National Association of Counties (NACo) of which Winfrey is the First Vice President.
Posted inTimes Weekly News
Will County delivered over 85% of rental assistance
TTW Press Room
Will County was highlighted by the White House for rapidly delivering rental assistance to tenants in the county, staving off evictions as the pandemic upended the economy and threatened housing stability for many renters. The county was one of 22 state and local governments that were highlighted by the Biden Administration for delivering 85% or more of their rental assistance funds by the end of July. “The population of Will County has grown substantially over the last couple of decades, so the County Board was talking about housing before the pandemic shot a hole through the economy,” said Will County Board Speaker Mimi Cowan (Naperville). “When the layoffs started and businesses shut down, we knew we needed to act swiftly to stabilize the rental market both for tenants and landlords.”
Posted inTimes Weekly News
White House lauds Will County for speedy delivery of rental assistance
Will County was highlighted by the White House for rapidly delivering rental assistance to tenants in the county, staving off evictions as the pandemic upended the economy and threatened housing stability for many renters
Posted in#NNPA BlackPress, Business, Commentary, Community, Derrick Johnson, Economy, Featured, National, News, NNPA, NNPA Newswire, Op-Ed, Politics
OP-ED: Leading By Example — Biden’s Anti-Bias Executive Order
NNPA NEWSWIRE — Diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility (“DEI&A”) initiatives and training make governments, businesses, and organizations stronger. Surveys show that 67% of job seekers consider workplace diversity an important factor when considering employment opportunities. Sixty-one percent of employees believe diversity and inclusion strategies are beneficial and essential. If the federal government wants to attract and retain the best talent, it needs DEI&A training and programs with all deliberate speed.
Posted in#NNPA BlackPress, Featured, Homeownership, National, News, NNPA, NNPA Newswire, Politics, Ray Curry
2021 Fair Housing: Restoring HUD Rules and Revenues
NNPA NEWSWIRE – “By guaranteeing affordable mortgages for White families and excluding Black families or limiting Black families to purchase in less economically advantageous neighborhoods, the government created, encouraged, and reinforced intense residential racial segregation throughout the nation,” said Richard Rothstein, NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund, Inc.’s Senior Fellow Emeritus. “White flight,” or the creation of White suburbs, was also undergirded by massive federal investments in the construction of the interstate highway system. The federal government often took possession of homes and land in Black communities by claiming eminent domain in order to construct highways as physical barriers between White neighborhoods and areas with a large presence of African Americans or communities of color.”
