Poverty in New York City, 1969-99: The Influence of Demographic Change, Income Growth, and Income Inequality

The four-year rise in the U.S. poverty rate that began withthe recession of 2001 and the images of devastation fromNew Orleans after Hurricane Katrina has led to a renewedinterest in poverty among researchers and policymakers.Mayors of large cities have been prominent in the reneweddiscussion. In 2006, New York City Mayor Michael Bloombergconvened the Commission on Economic Opportunity, whichoffered recommendations for reducing poverty in the city andled to the formation of the City of New York’s Center forEconomic Opportunity.1 In early 2007, the U.S. Conference ofMayors’ Task Force on Poverty, Work, and Opportunity issueda report detailing an agenda for poverty reduction in America.