Economic Inequality:Tale of Two Counties Tale of Two Cities

www.causenow.org

Founded in 2001, CAUSE’s VISION is that together, we can create a global community where we all contribute to, & benefit from, a sustainable economy

the is just, prosperous and environmentally healthy.

CAUSE’s MISSION is to build grassroots power for social, economic and environmental justice for the people of the central coast region through policy

research, leadership development, organizing and advocacy.

Image sources: Fairview Gardens [via flickr], Mixteco/Indigena Community Organizing Project [http://www.mixteco.org/Mixtecs_in_Ventura_County.html], & Jennifer Tran

• High Median Income + Low Poverty

Poverty POC

Moorpark $96,007 4 % 43%Thousand Oaks $95,281 5 % 30%Simi Valley $88,675 6 % 37%Camarillo $81,518 5 % 38%Ojai $61,990 6 % 23%Ventura $65,782 9 % 40%

Countywide $71,246 9 % 52%

Data sources include US Census American Community Survey or CA Employment Development Department

• Low Median Income + High Poverty

Poverty POC*

Oxnard $61,316 15.1% 85%Fillmore $58,076 11.4% 77%Santa Paula $51,621 18.1% 82%Port Hueneme $51,555 15.6% 66%

Countywide1/5 Latinos compared to 1/10 Whites are at or

below poverty level

For full-time work, women earn ~ 20% less than men

67% of those in poverty are Children & Youth

*POC = People of Color

Tale of Two Counties

The Gini Economic IndexUsed worldwide as a measure of income inequality Numeric range from 0 – 1 with “1” being total inequality (i.e. 1 person has 100% income)For comparison, Gini Index worldwide examples: .23 Sweden vs. .70 Namibia

2007 2010 Income Inequality Increase California .469 .471 .002 United States .467 .469 .002

1. Ojai .4572. Thousand Oaks .439 .4483. Santa Paula .444Ventura County .432 .4414. Ventura .418 .432 .0145. Camarillo .410 6. Oxnard .406 .4067. Fillmore .3958. Port Hueneme .3879. Simi Valley .366 .385 .01910. Moorpark .380El Rio .350

Tale of Two Cities

Income QuintilesCounty Oxnard Ventura Simi Valley Thousand Oaks2007 2010 2007 2010 2007 2010 2007 2010 2007 2010

Lowest: 4.1 3.7 4.6 4.1 4.2 3.9 5.1 4.8 4.2 3.3Second: 9.6 9.3 9.9 10.3 9.8 9.5 11.8 11.1 9.8 9.1Third: 15.8 15.5 16 16.7 16.5 15.8 17.1 16.8 15.2 15.8Fourth: 23.3 23.6 24.7 24.3 24 23.5 24.2 23.8 22.5 23.6Highest: 47.2 47.9 44.8 44.7 45.6 47.2 41.8 43.5 48.4 48.2

Countywide, a 30% increase in the number of people living in poverty; an additional 20,000 people. In Simi Valley, an increase of 44% and Thousand Oaks, an increase of 47%.

Over the past decade, middle-class jobs have been lost while low-wage jobs increased:Construction: - 28% Farming: + 30%Manufacturing: - 26% Leisure & Hospitality: + 24%

Economic equity is tied to the availability, accessibility & quality of local jobs.

Jobs cut across city and sub-region boundaries, one integrated countywide public transportation system is needed.

Affordable housing is needed within every city.

Tale of Two Cities

Economic prosperity is inextricably linked to public education….

Age 25 or older Oxnard Ventura Simi Valley Thousand OaksLess than HS & Poverty 14.3% 22.6% 8.6% 19.2% 5.7% 21.1% 4.2% 25.5%

Some College & Poverty 19.6% 8.5% 28.7% 6.2% 27.7% 4.3% 20% 4.4%

Bachelor’s + & Poverty 10.4% 1.1% 19.2% 2.5% 22.3% 1.6% 30% 2.1%

Equity is the superior growth model (www.policylink.org)

1. Choose policy strategies that promote socio-economic class, race/ethnic and gender equity

2. Target programs and investments to the people and places most left behind.

3. Assess equity impacts at every stage of the policy process

4. Ensure meaningful diverse community participation and leadership.

Tale of Two Cities

Maricela@causenow.orgwww.causenow.org

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