Activists Meet to Discuss Race and the Economy.

Concerned citizens from all walks of life spoke today about how they can implement policies into the economic stimulus that will not leave out low income communities and people of color.
As a call to action, the Applied Research Center, organized a conference call that took place today at 1pm. As a first of seven bi-weekly meetings that will take place in order to assess the first 100 days of the Obama Presidency, moderator Tammy Johnson asked the question, "Is the economic stimulus package a real solution or illusion?"

Here are the facts:

The $275 billion in tax cuts that will go towards business and homebuyer tax credits recieved a low score from panelist Andrea Batista Schlesinger, Exec. Dir. of the Drum Major Institute for Public Policy. "This is not going to help our community because the majority of people rent houses and do not own businesses."

$30 billion dollars for highway projects and $12 billion for transit and rail projects is a good start but it must focus on people on communities of color in order to benefit. We need to be able to get the word out to communities of color that these jobs will benefit them. Instead of hiring outside contractors, hire contractors with in the community.

An extra 33 weeks of unemployment benefits to single mothers will help communities of color recieved a thumbs up.

$80 billion to state schools
$13 billion in Title 1 funds which are dedicated to improving the academic achievement of the "disadvantaged" recieved a thumbs up as well.

$20 million to health information technology recieved a thumbs down.

The stimulus bill has passed in the House of Representatives and a similar version is now being debated in the Senate. The GOP along with 11 democrats were not in agreeance of the package but Obama hopes to have the legislation on his desk by the middle of this month.

Question from The Explainer:

How is the stimulus package supposed to stimulate the economy and create jobs?

President Barack Obama and congressional Democrats say that government spending on infrastructure projects, law enforcement, research and development, schools and other areas will pump money into the economy through increased public sector hiring, government contracting and grants to private companies. The plan also includes direct payments to individuals through tax credits, unemployment benefits and welfare programms, for example, and assumes people will spend much of the money.

The package includes tax breaks intended to put more money in people's pockets.

What would you suggest that Obama include in his stimulus package? Please respond.

Please refer to www.arc.org for more information on their bi-weekly sessions.