Interactive map of unemployment in CA

Check out this map that shows the change in unemployment rates by county since last year. You can scroll your mouse over the map to see the unemployment rate in each county.

Map of unemployment in California

Recovery & reinvestment for dummies

A great article by the Center for American Progresson the recession and the recovery plan:

Recovery and Reinvestment 102

Op-Ed in The Nation proposes a good jobs strategy

An Op-Ed in the Nation from the National Employment Law Project breaks down the various strategies that should be used to ensure that low-income families benefit from the rebuilding of the American economy:

Rebuilding A Good Jobs Economy

People of color are struggling in the down economy

Staggering numbers on unemployed people of color – the stats in this article are helpful as we contextualize the need for people of color to be at the forefront of the green jobs movement

Minorities struggle in labor market

Some interesting figures:

$535: The usual median weekly earnings of Hispanic workers in the fourth quarter of 2008 (in 2008 dollars)—$207.20 less than white workers’ usual median weekly earnings during the same period.

$593: The usual median weekly earnings of African American workers in the fourth quarter of 2008 (in 2008 dollars)—$148.57 less than white workers’ usual median weekly earnings during the same period.

$748: The usual median weekly earnings of white workers in the fourth quarter of 2008 (in 2008 dollars).

More than 2M get public aid in LA County

Almost 2.2M people in LA County receive public assistance and officials believe that more will need aid as the recession continues. This figure is close to the number of people receiving assistance at the height of the 2001-03 recession. The DSS reports that this costs the government $334M/month.
20% in L.A. County get aid

LA Apollo mentioned on colorlines

LA Apollo's work to ensure green jobs are created for low-income communities is mentioned on Colorlines RaceWire blog:

LA Apollo on RaceWire

The benefits of unions

Good, brief opinion in the LA Times detailing out the benefits of unions getting people into middle class jobs. Check it out:

The power of unions