By Megan Burks
Nearly 1 in 6 U.S. Households Had Trouble Getting Food Last Year
A report out by the U.S. Department of Agriculture found 14.9 percent, or 17.9 million, households had difficulty putting food on the table at least once last year because of limited resources. The figure is a slight increase over 2010, when 14.5 percent reported being food insecure, according to National Public Radio.
NPR also reported the number of people using food stamps, now called Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits, hit an all time high in June with 46.7 million recipients.
San Diego County echoes the national trend, with its food stamp participation rate growing from 40 percent of those eligible in 2008 to 79 percent now, according to the county.
San Diego CityBeat spoke with local hunger advocates to get their take on the surprising increase; San Diego has long ranked low in food stamp enrollment. It found the county still has a high rate of denying and dropping benefits in error.
Advocate Bill Oswald told CityBeat the participation rate is likely closer to 70 percent with those errors taken into account. Even that sounds too good to be true for some, according to CityBeat.
“The bottom line is, it takes an advocate to get food stamps,” Oswald told reporter Kelly Davis. “I don’t think there’s anybody who believes it’s easy to get food stamps in San Diego County. And if you can, it’s very difficult to keep them.”
Follow CityBeat’s Kelly Davis @citybeatkelly.
Cyclists to Get Racks, Discounts Under New Bike Plan
Councilman Todd Gloria and the San Diego County Bicycle Coalition unveiled a bike plan for San Diego’s business improvement districts this week. Under the plan, business corridors will encourage residents to bike by installing bike racks and offering special discounts for customers who arrive on two wheels. City News Service reported the plan also calls for “Bike Local, Shop Local” events, community rides and information on riding safely.
Some expressed disappointment on Twitter that the plan doesn’t include infrastructure upgrades and maintenance to benefit cyclists.
We recently reported on infrastructure deficiencies along El Cajon Boulevard and the benefit to business owners improvements could have. Businesses in the Bird Rock neighborhood of La Jolla saw a 24 percent increase in profits after sidewalks, bike lanes and traffic calming measures went in.
Such concerns are likely to be aired at a Sept. 19 mayoral debate hosted by WalkSanDiego. You can register to attend the debate here. WalkSanDiego is also calling for residents to submit questions on biking, walking and transit for the candidates. Submit questions to generalmailbox@walksandiego.org.
Follow Bike San Diego @BikeSD for more news cyclists can use.
CivicSD Eyes Neighborhoods Post-Redevelopment
U-T San Diego reports CivicSD, the group assembled to dismantle the redevelopment program and find new revenue, is trying out a new funding strategy. It’s applying for $65 million in federal income tax credits. If successful, it plans to use that money for projects in low-income neighborhoods, including the Ocean Discovery Institute’s living lab in City Heights.
“I’m pleased at the range and location of these projects,” CivicSD Chairman Kim Kilkenny told the U-T. “I know there was vocal suspicion that this organization would be downtown-centric and I think the first effort by Civic San Diego and the tax credits demonstrate the needs of the entire city.”
Follow U-T San Diego @utsandiego.
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