[kidyankee764]

Originally Posted by Beeker2211

A few select parts namely East Side/East End and the Gardens.

There are far more blue-collar and wealthy residents and areas of Bridgeport than there are destitute. But those poor people are in extreme dire straights as is.

Statistics don’t show there are as many wealthy in Bridgeport as poor, but you are right - the poor are VERY poor. You can’t look at cars in a city and draw a conclusion.

[jjbradleynyc]

Originally Posted by CTartist

20% is not ideal but it is far from one of the poorest cities in the country.

Here is a list of the top 100 poorest cities in the US and Bridgeport isn't even on there.

Hartford and New Haven makes the list of the poorest cities while Bridgeport does not. I will tell you what Bridgeport does have is a corruption and PERCEPTION of being one of the poorest cities in the US........... while New Haven DOES NOT have that perception even though they make the list.
https://static1.squarespace.com/stat...ies+in+USA.pdf

Even Stamford the richest city in CT and one of the richest in the country has a poverty rate of 9.3%. I bet you would never guess that.

BTW, let's see what happens to the poverty levels in Bridgeport and other cities when the $15 hourly wage comes to pass. Let's keep an eye on this. it will be interesting. The raising of the minimum wage should really help the income disparity.

"Connecticut’s governor on Tuesday signed a bill into law that will increase the state’s minimum wage to $15 an hour by 2023."
https://www.cnbc.com/2019/05/28/conn...age-to-15.html

In 2023 the income disparity and poverty rates should be much better. I also think that the Bridgeport Household Income comes close to the US average by 2023.

To visit the east side of the city of Bridgeport, and leave there with the notion that the city is not in a deep state of poverty and struggling with crime & drugs, is to not be realistic.

Bridgeport has some bright spots here and there, but overall is a very poor city.

I'd like to see that change, but it's got a long road ahead.

[BobNJ1960]

Originally Posted by jjbradleynyc

To visit the east side of the city of Bridgeport, and leave there with the notion that the city is not in a deep state of poverty and struggling with crime & drugs, is to not be realistic.

Bridgeport has some bright spots here and there, but overall is a very poor city.

I'd like to see that change, but it's got a long road ahead.

Sad, but very true. Its been decades since it was in decent shape.

[BobNJ1960]

https://www.courant.com/news/connect...z5q-story.html

[BobNJ1960]

violates WARN Act potentially

[WouldLoveTo]

Originally Posted by CTartist

I am not saying that the minimum wage should be $15 across the entire state but it does need to probably be $15 in Fairfield County. Or maybe $15 in the state with manufacturing zones and farming lower.

I am not among the wealthy of Fairfield County (but the struggling middle class) and I think the minimum wage needs to be higher. So are we to have permanent low wage ghetto in Bridgeport because the wealthy don't want to pay a few more pesos for a cup of coffee or meal.

People* complain on here about the income inequality but when it comes to try to make things fair it is a big NIMBY.

*I am not saying you are necessarily complaining about income inequality but it is often pointed out on this board. The flip side we also have the push back against the minimum wage. Why don't we see what happens instead of keeping these poor CT cities in a permanent state of poverty.


"You know how companies cut hours so they didn't have to pay benefits? Well now they'll cut people to make up for being forced to pay a higher wage."

Or maybe the companies will just have a little less profit and instead of being billionaires they have to maybe have a billion less (boo hoo hoo). The only states that have worse income inequality is NY and ironically FL (see below). So the poor in CT need a desperate raise.
Attachment 213857

I agree there is income inequality, but I don't think raising the minimum wage will solve it.

I also agree with your last statement, but sadly, that won't happen either. I mean, they can't be expected to skip on the private jet or 10,000 sq ft house and all the staff, can they?

[BobNJ1960]

Originally Posted by WouldLoveTo

I agree there is income inequality, but I don't think raising the minimum wage will solve it.

I also agree with your last statement, but sadly, that won't happen either. I mean, they can't be expected to skip on the private jet or 10,000 sq ft house and all the staff, can they?

Connecticut does not differ in root cause from other states. Until there is far less effort inequality, there will be massive income inequality.

[CTartist]

Originally Posted by BobNJ1960

Connecticut does not differ in root cause from other states. Until there is far less effort inequality, there will be massive income inequality.

"effort inequality"

I have never heard of this but did look it up. What do you mean by this in regards to CT?

[BobNJ1960]

Originally Posted by CTartist

"effort inequality"

I have never heard of this but did look it up. What do you mean by this in regards to CT?

We have our share of slackers, and they are disproportionately affecting income inequality everywhere.

I include amongst them, those doing the same entry level jobs in their prime earning years , that most of us did as teens, before obtaining the education and training needed for adult jobs.

I know many people working in retirement in retail around here, and almost without exception, all see many instances of people fighting to work even fewer part-time hours, who are decades younger. Slackers.

[GeoffD]

Originally Posted by CTartist

"effort inequality"

I have never heard of this but did look it up. What do you mean by this in regards to CT?

Most low income people work hard for their money. The gap is in the 21st century job and life skills. That includes pretty basic things like speaking American business English, writing coherent and grammatically correct paragraphs, and making all those good life decisions that get you the 21st century job skills like A's in school, managing money, etc. If you have the misfortune of having poor parents, the deck is stacked against you.