Perea, Swearengin Address Poverty

from KMPH

Organizers of the Mayoral Forum on Poverty and Possibilities cite a recent study by the Brookings Institute that says the nation's highest concentration of poverty is right here in Fresno.

The group brought candidates Henry T. Perea and Ashley Swearengin together to hear their plans to help.

Both candidates say solving it won't be easy.

"There are so many issues that go hand in hand with the issue of poverty," Swearengin said.

"Were talking about the real concentrated poverty that has held this city back for a long time," Perea said.

Swearengin and Perea each have plans for lifting their Fresno neighbors out of poverty.

Highlights of Swearengin's plan include ways to: help private business to create jobs, improve city bus service to help people get to work, and more job training programs, and partner with schools and community groups to create high quality programs for kids and teens. Lastly, fight crime with after-school programs and the addition of an independent police auditor.

Perea's vision also calls for putting more people to work through public-private partnerships and job training, expanding the Conservation Corps to work with disadvantaged kids, make public transit work to re-evaluate the FAX bus system to get people more places faster, and create opportunity neighborhoods, areas of the city where services are consolidated and improved.

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