Progression Three

“Inequality, Race, and Remedy” Summary

In the article “Inequality, Race, and Remedy” Alan Jenkins, the executive director of The Opportunity Agenda, a communications, research, and advocacy organization with the mission of building the national will to expand opportunity in America, states that “our nation believes that all of us are created equal in terms of rights, dignity, and the potential to achieve great things, yet we still see inequality based on race, gender, and other social characteristics as not only unfortunate but unjust.” Jenkins asserts we can’t solve the problem, and be the country we want to be unless we truly stop connecting poverty and race. Jenkins points out that whites have it better because “the poverty rate among African Americans and Latinos taken together was still 2.6 times greater than that for white Americans.” Jenkins reported blacks and Latinos are more likely to be poor and live in high-poverty neighborhoods, which limits “resources and options” such as, access to better schools, healthcare, etc. Jenkins revealed inequality and racism still exists when applying for jobs, and in the real estate market. Jenkins claims media portrays poor people as people of color. Jenkins concludes by telling us what we can do to stop inequality and race.

Jenkins, Alan. "Inequality, Race, and Remedy." The American Prospect. The American Prospect,             22 Apr. 2007. Web. 25 Oct. 2015.

Rhetorical Analysis on “Los Angeles Confronts a Spike in Homelessness Amid Prosperity”

Adam Nagourney, an American journalist covering U.S. politics for The New York Times, wrote an article published in the New York Times on how the unemployment rate has dropped, but the homeless rate has sky rocketed. Nagourney wants his audience to be aware that the many homeless are homeless because they can’t afford a place to sleep with their income. Nagourney states “some business leaders and neighborhood groups dispute the idea that gentrification and rising housing costs are the main causes of the increase in the homeless population.” Nagourney article effectively conveys this issue by using photographs and credible sources.

Nagourney, Adam. "Los Angeles Confronts a Spike in Homelessness Amid Prosperity." The                    New York Times. The New York Times, 13 June 2015. Web. 2 Nov. 2015.

Rhetorical Analysis on “Los Angeles Puts $100 Million Into Helping Homeless”

Jennifer Medina, New York Times national correspondent in LA, wrote an article published in The New York Times on how the Mayor and City Council of Los Angeles propose to spend $100 million dollars in the next year on housing and other services. Medina wants her audience to be aware that rising housing costs in urban areas, and an uneven economic recovery have helped fuel a rise in homelessness. Medina citing Megan Hustings, the interim director of the National Coalition for the Homeless, states “this is the fallout of not having anywhere near the affordable housing that’s needed.” Medina article effectively conveys this issue by using photographs and credible sources.

Nagourney, Adam. "Los Angeles Confronts a Spike in Homelessness Amid Prosperity." The                    New York Times. The New York Times, 13 June 2015. Web. 2 Nov. 2015.

 Rhetorical Analysis: "Finding Nutrition in the Food Deserts of California."

Bobbi Murray, reporter on health care issues for Los Angeles, L.A. Weekly, and the Nation, wrote an article published on Pacific Standard about the “inability of L.A.’s low-income residents to purchase fresh food.” Murray wants his audience to know that there are more fast food restaurants in low-income communities, compared to high-income communities. Murray states that those who are obese and overweight, eat fast food, and have a low income, tend to lose workdays for health related issues, which causes them to bring in an even lesser income. Murrays’ article effectively conveys the urgency of this issue by using compelling statistics and credible sources.

Murray, Bobbi. "Finding Nutrition in the Food Deserts of California." Pacific Standard. The        Miller-McCune Center for Research, Media and Public Policy, 2 Mar. 2015. Web. 2 Nov.     2015.

 

Argument and Analysis: “Los Angeles Puts $100 Million Into Helping Homeless”

Jennifer Medina, a New York Times national correspondent, wrote an article on how the Mayor and City Council of Los Angeles propose to spend $100 million dollars in the next year on housing and other services. Medina wants her audience to be aware that rising housing costs in urban areas, and an uneven economic recovery have helped fuel a rise in homelessness. Medina citing Megan Hustings, the interim director of the National Coalition for the Homeless, states “this is the fallout of not having anywhere near the affordable housing that’s needed.” Medina article effectively conveys this issue by using photographs and credible sources. The aspect of increasing the length of stays in shelters and more rent subsidies to the street people sounds wrong to me. Some might say increasing the length of stays in shelters doesn’t give other street people a chance of shelter, and that more rent subsidies might not just go towards rent, possibly drugs. The evidence does not persuade me because if we allow street people to elongate their stay it does not help the “persistent problem with people living on the streets rather than in shelters.” Many people would say the assumption that “this is the fallout of not having anywhere near the affordable housing that’s needed” strikes them as problematic, because if houses were affordable the number of people off the streets would change drastically.

Medina, Jennifer. "Los Angeles Puts $100 Million Into Helping Homeless." New York Times. The               New York Times, 22 Sept. 2015. Web. 2 Nov. 2015.

Argumentative Proposal

Some might say that people in high poverty communities would be healthier if there were less food desserts. In the article "Finding Nutrition in the Food Deserts of California" Bobbi Murray, reporter on health care issues for Los Angeles, L.A. Weekly, and the Nation, wrote an article published on Pacific Standard about the “inability of L.A.’s low-income residents to purchase fresh food.” Murray wants his audience to know that there are more fast food restaurants in low-income communities, compared to high-income communities. Murray states that those who are obese and overweight, eat fast food, and have a low income, tend to lose workdays for health related issues, which causes them to bring in an even lesser income. Murrays’ article effectively conveys the urgency of this issue by using compelling statistics and credible sources.

Some might argue that providing healthier food options at local markets does not mean those living in high poverty areas will buy healthier food, because the shelf life of healthier foods is not as long as unhealthier foods. In the article “Giving the Poor Easy Access to Healthy Food Doesn’t Mean They’ll Buy It” Margot Sanger-Katz, a domestic correspondent for The New York Times quotes Barry Popkin. Barry Popkin, a professor of Nutrition at the University of North Carolina states, “When we put supermarkets in poor neighborhoods, people are buying the same food they just get it cheaper.”

What I believe is problematic with Murray’s claim is that they have a choice on whether or not they want to maintain a healthy life style. If you know something is wrong with your daily diet you should make a change and not wait for it to happen on its own. While some healthy foods can cost more and not last as long, switching a bag of chips for an apple, which doesn’t cost much, is the healthier option. Planning out meals, and what ingredients are necessary can be an easy way to eat healthier and use all the foods before their shelf life is out. Some scholars might say my claim requires money, time and transportation to and from the market.

  

Works Cited

Murray, Bobbi. "Finding Nutrition in the Food Deserts of California." Pacific Standard. The        Miller-McCune Center for Research, Media and Public Policy, 2 Mar. 2015. Web. 2 Nov.     2015.

Sanger-Katz, Margot. "Giving the Poor Easy Access to Healthy Food Doesn’t Mean They’ll Buy It." New York Times. The New York Times, 8 May 2015. Web. 10 Nov. 2015.

Annotated Bibliography

Holland, Gale. "A Growing Percentage of Women on Skid Row Are Older, Survey Finds." Los     Angeles Times. Los Angeles Times, 4 Aug. 2014. Web. 7 Nov. 2015.

Gale Holland wrote an article about how the women living in Skid Row are older, and are more likely to have poor health, or are disabled.  Holland wants her audience to know that the rise of older women on the streets emphasizes the need to assist the elderly. Holland blames the older women's poor health on the denied access of to clean, safe bathrooms and showers. Holland’s article effectively conveys this issue by using statistics and credible sources.

Holland, Gale. "L.A. City Council Committee Votes to Ease Penalties in Homeless Ordinance."    Los Angeles Times. Los Angeles Times, 27 Aug. 2015. Web. 7 Nov. 2015.

Gale Holland wrote an article about how the L.A. city Council committee passed an amendment to omit arrests and fines to those “who refuse to give up their property or put it in storage.” Holland wants her audience to know participants could have tickets, fines and warrants dismissed in exchange for four hours per citation of programs such as, community service or enrollment in drug counseling. Holland’s article effectively conveys this issue by using credible sources.

Medina, Jennifer. "Los Angeles Puts $100 Million Into Helping Homeless." New York                              Times. The New York Times, 22 Sept. 2015. Web. 2 Nov. 2015.

Jenifer Medina wrote an article on how the Mayor and City Council of Los Angeles propose to spend $100 million dollars in the next year on housing and other services. Medina wants her audience to be aware that rising housing costs in urban areas, and an uneven economic recovery have helped fuel a rise in homelessness. Medina citing Megan Hustings, the interim director of the National Coalition for the Homeless, states “this is the fallout of not having anywhere near the affordable housing that’s needed.” Medina article effectively conveys this issue by using photographs and credible sources.

Murray, Bobbi. "Finding Nutrition in the Food Deserts of California." Pacific Standard. The        Miller-McCune Center for Research, Media and Public Policy, 2 Mar. 2015. Web. 2 Nov.     2015.

Bobbi Murray wrote an article published on Pacific Standard about the “inability of L.A.’s low-income residents to purchase fresh food.” Murray wants his audience to know that there are more fast food restaurants in low-income communities, compared to high-income communities. Murray states that those who are obese and overweight, eat fast food, and have a low income, tend to lose workdays for health related issues, which causes them to bring in an even lesser income. Murrays’ article effectively conveys the urgency of this issue by using compelling statistics and credible sources.

Nagourney, Adam. "Los Angeles Confronts a Spike in Homelessness Amid Prosperity."                           New York Times. The New York Times, 13 June 2015. Web. 2 Nov. 2015.

Adam Nagourney wrote an article on how although the unemployment rate has dropped, the homeless rate has sky rocketed. Nagourney wants his audience to be aware that the many are homeless because they can’t afford a place to sleep based on their income. Nagourney states “some business leaders and neighborhood groups dispute the idea that gentrification and rising housing costs are the main causes of the increase in the homeless population.” Nagourney blames biggest factor of the rise of homelessness is the gap between housing costs and income. Nagourney’s article effectively conveys this issue by using photographs and credible sources.