High cost of poverty: Washington Post

[lagatta]

In some ways (food deserts for example, and better public transport), the situation doesn't seem quite as dire here, but I fear it might be similar in some places farther West where there is a strong ghettoisation of Indigenous urbanites:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/story/2009/05/18/ST2009051801162.html?sid=ST2009051801162

Thanks to Maysie at rabble for sharing this article.

[arborman]

I'm not sure what you mean by 'further West', but the downtown east side of Vancouver is right next to some of the most diverse and affordable groceries in town, often small scale.  Food desertlike conditions seem to be more the case in the burbs, where a car is necessary to get to one of the supermarkets. 

[lagatta]

Arborman, I was thinking more of some Prairie cities, and it was more a query than a statement - I couldn't say anything intelligent about food security in those regions as I'm far too unfamiliar with them. Yes, I know there are diverse and affordable small shops and "ethnic" supermarkets in Vancouver, and you must be a lot better than we are for Asian (East and South) than we are, though such places are still a bargain here for many items relative to big chains.

[arborman]

My prairie experience is about 20 years out of date, but I think the suburb/car model applies outside of the central and (much) older neighbourhoods (i.e. Strathcona in Edmonton, the equivalent in Calgary and elsewhere).

[Alison]

Andrew Coyne :

Without fanfare, ‘poverty rate’ lowest ever


[/size]Rick Goldman :
[/size]
[/size]There’s been no ‘extraordinary’ drop in poverty