Category: Economy

Aging boomers will heighten demand for eldercare, and poor pay and job conditions are prompting unions to organize home care and nursing home workers.

Proposals aimed at tying funding to students who fast track their way through California's community colleges could deny access to those in need.

The reality of Palo Alto, California, as a minimum wage earner sees it.

2012 could be a decisive year for the future of anti-immigration state laws, from the Supreme Court to the White House.

For the first time this past year, more Latino students than white students applied for admission to California State University’s 23 campuses. These numbers not only reflect the growing Latino population, but the impact of early education programs.

California ethnic media weigh in on the meaning and impact of the Occupy movement on their communities. Some say the protests have caused civic chaos and economic hardships for immigrant small business owners, while others feel the movement has done much to spur greater dialogue on issues of class and poverty.

As participants of the Occupy movement protested in front of Wells Fargo, with the back drop of Christmas in the Park, De-Bug asked protesters what their resolutions were for the Occupy movement in 2012.

One shopper's account of a Black Friday store hopping adventure.

The Great Recession has led many young adults to move back in with their parents. But for actress-comedian Kat Ahn, it was her parents who moved in with her. And that was just the beginning.

Protest Wall Street — but don't forget about that tech bastion of inequality to the south: the high-tech firms of Silicon Valley.

Fernando J Pérez produced this video for the Poverty Forum held on November 3rd at the Martin Luther King Jr. Library in downtown San Jose. He profiles the experiences of four young Bill Wilson Drop-In clients.

Altagracia Hernandez is raising two children with her husband on less than $2,000 a month. Access to affordable, healthy food is a challenge in East Palo Alto, Calif. and both kids are struggling with obesity.

As Saturday's "Bank Transfer Day" registered with widespread participation, more and more fed up people are choosing to divest money from their banks.

An India Currents contributor and legal observer, shares her experience at the Oakland occupation that has attracted national attention.

California is set to shut down its 330 adult day care centers for 38,000 elders and people with disabilities, at huge cost to the state — and families.

After spending a night in the tents, author Marco Reyes comments on the significance of the Occupy Wall Street movement locally in San Jose, and what the movement means in the backdrop of history.

A new California law gives agencies on aging a more realistic measure of elders’ needs than the U.S. poverty line.

Ever since youth counselor David Madrid lost his job as the City of San Jose slashed youth programs, he has worried most of all of the young people he knew who no longer have support systems, and the future they face without them.

As the county and country struggles with bringing our economy back to life, a teacher of financial literacy says the answer might be in investing in our youth.

When "Edward" needs cash fast he relies on the one thing he has complete control over: his body.

Young videographers discuss what it's like to grow up poor in California, where one in four children is now living in poverty.

Green job-training initiatives implemented during Obama's presidency have fallen far short of the hype.

This summer, De-Bug and the San Jose Downtown Association teamed up to provide activities for youth at the weekly concerts. The collaboration was a tremendous success, but still the historic event may be coming to a close.

While California’s economic environment has hit summer programs hard, school districts came up with ways to offer summer classes for struggling students.

California had the second highest number of metropolitan areas with rates of food hardship in households with children, according to a new report.

California's budget woes are causing local governments to put the squeeze on school districts, and students are paying the price in more ways than one.

On August 15th the California Senate Appropriations Committee will decide whether California has the funds to pass the Domestic Workers Bill of Rights, AB889, giving the estimated 200,000 nannies, housekeepers, and caregivers worker protections. Local members of the California Domestic Workers Coalition met with the office of Sen. Alquist to urge her to support the bill.

An attorney with Equal Rights Advocates argues that passage of the federal DREAM Act would have a direct impact on immigrant women.

After foreclosure, homeowners pick up the pieces and re-imagine the California dream of homeownership.

U.S. schools lost 20,000 students this year to the fields — many of them child workers who suffer injury or death.

For the first time in San Jose history, the San Jose Police Department just laid-off over 100 officers due to the strained city budget. India Currents writers debate the notion of cutting police budgets to balance budgets.

A new report shows that if GOP cuts become law, California would lose 28,000 jobs and millions in related business spending.

Martha Gutierrez calls Meals on Wheels her “guardian angels” for their help in providing food for her 90-year-old father. The program is struggling to survive as the City of San Jose is cutting funding.

Jeysson Minota, a permanent legal resident, faced deportation, stemming from a vandalism charge due to graffiti. After four years of being in and out of detention, he was able to beat the deportation order, and stay with his family in the US.

In the absence of government support, homeowners facing foreclosure are taking things into their own hands.

Two bills introduced by Republicans last week would repeal a provision of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) and could hurt millions.

Fired Mi Pueblo workers, with the assistance of UFCW Local 5 and supporting communities, held a hunger strike to challenge the workplace standards of one of the largest ethnic markets in the Bay Area.

Illegal betting circuits are thriving in India and the amount of money at stake often grosses many millions of dollars.

As states across the country look to enact their own immigration laws, the immigration debate has shifted to state capitols.

A longtime Caltrian rider reports on how budget cuts is threatening the services from San Jose to San Francisco.

High school student body presidents in the Bay Area say budget cutbacks are damaging their shot at a college education.

Walmart has teamed up with Jackson Hewitt, the tax preparation company, to offer "refund anticipation loans"—a scam that may target low-income minority communities.

Writer Diane Solomon, a San Jose State graduate, profiles a current student and reflects on how their different economic landscapes impacted their educational pursuits.

Jean Melesaine interviews Aquene Aquetzalli Olmeka -- a medicine woman, smoke carrier and drummer who is an organizer for the Azteca Mexica New Year event held every March at the National Hispanic University. It is the largest celebration of its kind in the nation.

Susana Ruiz, artist/video game designer and co-founder of Take Action Games, presented her work at the Euphrat Museum of Art in Cupertino, California. Her games take on social justice issues such as criminal justice and gender violence.

Two authors argue opposing views about where Indian Americans should donate their money.

Author Jean Melesaine reflects on how preconceived notions of size and physicality impact her two younger brothers and a generation of Polynesian young men.

San Jose Vice Mayor Madison Nguyen talks to David Madrid on Block to Block Radio about Operation Prom Dress, her program to help high school girls. Learn more and hear how you can contribute.

Filipino-American caregivers are grateful that California legislators are recognizing their rights as workers. Last month, the Domestic Workers Bill of Rights was introduced and if passed it will ensure domestic workers protections under the law.

David Madrid of De-Bug’s Block to Block Radio interviews Ali Rahnoma, a San Jose temporary worker and labor organizer, who says Wisconsin’s union issues are relevant to Silicon Valley and the next generation of American workers.

March is International Women's Month, and De-Bug will be highlighting women leaders in the Bay Area as a month long series. The first installment features the Malia Movement Company — a collective of female artists, dancers, and creators committed to being "fabulous."

AD Avila was selected as one of a handful of community leaders from around the country by the Knight Commission to present a digital story of his immigrant experience. Through his artwork and advocacy he breaks down the fear of the American immigrant.

T-shirt designers, jewelry-makers, and an assortment of other creative vendors created their own pop-up market in downtown San Jose – giving the community a chance to come together and shop local.

The Obama administration has focused on pushing green technology development. At the Center for Employment Training (CET), students learn practical skills needed in today's job market, while learning how to work on hybrid cars and how to install solar panels.

The early months of 2011 have already registered 11 homicides in East San Jose. Young men of color have been both victims and perpetrators of the attacks. De-Bug gathered young men from the Eastside to talk about what they are seeing on the streets, and what can be done to stop the violence.

San Jose has already registered seven homicides in 2011, nearly matching half of the total killings from the previous year. The victims are often young and brown. Marcos Reyes, who lives in the same neighborhoods where sidewalk memorials are springing up, describes what it feels like to be a part of a community in peril.

If California voters don't OK a tax extension to fund public education, state Treasurer Bill Lockyer warns, the K-12 school year could be slashed by six weeks.

Does the austerity budget proposed by Jerry Brown means the end of California Dreamin'? And Obama's Yes We Can shows up in signs in Tunisia.

A recent summit on entrepreneurship and small business growth in Silicon Valley, organized by the White House Initiative on AAPIs aimed to provide information on federal aid and programs to help them succeed.

With young people desperate for jobs, many have fallen victim to job scams – seemingly great employment opportunities that turn out to be hustles. De-Bug writers share experiences of getting jobs that were, in fact, too good to be true.

De-Bug's Block2Block Radio host David Madrid talks with Adam King of the New Skin Adult Tattoo Removal program, a new non-profit in the South Bay that provides job search assistance along with removing visible gang related tattoos at an affordable price.

In Northern California, being a truck driver is a common profession of choice for many South Asians. Current changes to state regulations is putting a squeeze on their ability to make a living.

With the county in a recession, it is those who are often heard the least from — youth and elders — who are baring the brunt of a deep economic crisis. The moment of dwindling resources though may by an opportunity for a now veteran youth movement to lead, not just for other youth, but for all generations.

An undocumented immigrant writes, "The way I look at it , I don’t need the DREAM Act for me to live my American dream. I will always be a dreamer, no matter what."

Senate candidate Carly Fiorina often cites her experience as the former CEO of HP to promote her platform of economic growth and job creation. But one former HP temp worker recalls his experience of low wages, no benefits, or job security under Fiorina's leadership — to challenge Fiorina's definition of a "quality job."

When California Governor candidate Meg Whitman was found to have employed an undocumented immigrant, many of the public expressed shock. Commentator Gil Villigran says what was exposed in the Whitman home speaks to a legacy of how immigrants are treated in this country.

In the tech world, the older you are, the less likely you'll be hired as an engineer. Silicon Valley companies don't care about your experience; they care about their pocketbooks, according to commentator Vivek Wadhwa, and hiring younger, inexperienced engineers saves them money.

With employment prospects looking grim, some have turned to alternative means to earn income. One young commentator writes about the craft of "scrapping" which allows her to pull in a great income — that is if she doesn't get caught.

When one new educator started volunteering at a homework center at Willow Glen library, she saw students grow in confidence and skills in the classroom. This year's budget cuts has eliminated after-school programs like hers, and she writes, the damage may cost more than we can account for.

A new piece of California legislation may offer support for families to care for loved ones. If passed, the bill could mean American-Indian families staying together, rather then sending youth into foster care, writes commentator Jessica LePak.

Not all addictions get the same amount of attention, yet can still cause equally devastating impacts on families. One young author writes about how gambling addiction wreaked havoc on her family, and how she noticed similar struggles in other Vietnamese households.

The India Community Center organized a forum to discuss the phenomenon of Indian Americans returning to their country of origin.

A multi-ethnic coalition has launched "Immigrant Vote!," a statewide effort to help immigrant communities be heard on the November 2nd ballot. They will be campaigning for Proposition 24 and 25, as well as Santa Clara County's Measure A.

With youth unemployment reaching an astounding high, one commentator talks about the feeling of being reborn through finally finding the ever elusive job.

Arizona's anti-immigrant laws have brought the border debate to campuses across the country. At Stanford University, students are connecting with workers who maintain the campus to talk through a just vision for immigration reform.

Oscar Liendo, a 27-year-old clown from Texas, says that being a clown is an art form. He performs with the Ringling Bros., who recently toured the Bay Area.

The Mexican Consulate is recognizing Labor Rights Week from August 30 to September 6. Together with key city agencies, officials and the Department of Labor, the consulate is offering panel discussions, labor workshops and assistance to the community all week.

Eight years ago, the Tropicana Center, comprised of immigrant small business owners, faced being destroyed by City redevelopment plans. But the store owners and the community united, fought back, and are now doing better than ever.

As Silicon Valley families struggle with foreclosures, experts in the field offered a free forum in Santa Clara on how to navigate a difficult housing market.

Indian American seniors immigrating to the United States face the challenge of acculturation while dealing with issues of aging.

On July 22, 2010, Hyatt Santa Clara workers and community supporters rallied to push for a contract with the hotel as part of a nationwide series of actions. Nearly a dozen workers and community members were arrested in an act of civil disobedience at the rally.

Global business guru C.K. Prahalad had long argued that profit and social development should not be seen as oil and water. Today, “social entrepreneurship” has become an important development to help some of the poorest groups in the world like the rickshaw pullers in India.

A draining budget crisis has meant that 16 of California's 30 largest school district are slashing the number of days in the academic year.

On July 18, 2010 over 2,000 people will gather at Sunnyvale's Baylands Park to walk or run for a range of non-profits that provide needed services for communities across the world. Event organizers ask: who will you walk for?

Local advocacy group People Acting in Community Together, joined by local faith organizations and city council candidates, rallied community members to divest from Bank of America.

When the California unemployment rate reached 10.5 percent last year, the rate for black males was 16.3 percent. Writer La Mar Williams talks about the struggles of being young, black and homeless in San Jose.

After sending out resumes and looking for work with no success, a 21-year-old Somali American living in San Jose, Calif. decided to become a rickshaw driver.

When 27-year-old Joshua Moley returned from the war in Iraq, he never anticipated that it would be so difficult to find steady income. Unemployment for his age group is high, but the number only increases for young veterans such as Moley.