Gangs are re-emerging in Escondido, prompting the PD to reinstate the Gang crew. Former Assistant DA in Sacramento and former Senior Fellow at the California Justice Legal Foundation, and now Director of Criminal Justice Initiatives at the Georgia Center for Opportunity, Josh Crawford, joins Conway and Larson on iHeart Radio to discuss policing issues and effective strategies to combat gang activity.
Policymakers at the national level looking for ways to strengthen economic opportunity too often fixate solely on expanding government programs. Instead, they should embrace a simple goal: eliminating barriers faced by people striving to improve their situation. Removing work disincentives in the social safety net is the best place to start.
A clear example of this kind of disincentive is the benefits cliff: a circumstance in which a raise or a new job can trigger a disproportionately large reduction in safety net benefits, making the household worse off.
Aside from the shock to household stability, such experiences can create the impression that accepting work opportunities — such as a job offer, a raise, or working more hours — is not actually worthwhile for a family.
According to the Georgia Center for Opportunity’s benefits cliffs calculator tool, a Utah single mother of two could typically start to see these “cliffs” between $25,000 and $35,000 in annual earnings, or about $12 to $16 per hour.
To read the full article in the Washington Examiner click here.
In a compelling episode of The Voice of Reason, host Andy Hooser welcomes Josh Crawford to discuss the critical issues surrounding criminal justice reform. With his extensive expertise in public safety, Josh delves into the current state of the criminal justice system, highlighting the challenges and potential solutions for reform. He also explores the significant impact that the upcoming Presidential election could have on these reforms, providing insightful analysis and thought-provoking perspectives.
Listeners will gain a deeper understanding of the complexities involved in criminal justice reform and the importance of informed decision-making in the political sphere. Don’t miss this enlightening conversation that sheds light on one of the most pressing issues of our time.
Listen to the full interview here.
RANDY HICKS, OPINION CONTRIBUTOR
As we celebrate Father’s Day on June 16, it’s time for a renewed call to help men flourish in modern-day America. It’s well past time to begin addressing what has emerged as a deep problem in the United States: Aimless, lonely, detached men. The challenge is most deeply experienced in poor, low-income, and working-class communities.
Consider that 6 million prime-age, able-bodied men between the ages of 25 and 54 are absent from the labor force – even in today’s economy with such low unemployment rates last seen in the 1960s. Even many men who are working are underemployed or in low-skill jobs. In 2021, for example, approximately 6.6% of unrelated individuals in the labor force for 27 weeks or more – many of whom are from working-class communities – were classified as working poor, meaning their incomes fell below the official poverty level despite their work efforts.
BY JOSHUA CRAWFORD, OPINION CONTRIBUTOR
With the announcement that President Biden and former President Trump will debate in Atlanta in June, the 2024 election cycle is in full swing. Many Americans are not enthused.
Earlier this year, 67 percent of respondents told a pollster that they were “tired of seeing the same candidates in presidential elections and want someone new.” In fact, 30 percent of voters think that neither Biden nor Trump “did more to help people like them,” 29 percent think that neither will be a good president and 26 percent of Americans have a negative view of both candidates.
Josh Crawford, director of Criminal Justice Initiatives at the Georgia Center for Opportunity, joined The Bill Cunningham Show to discuss how crime is likely to influence the upcoming November election. Tune in to hear his expert analysis on this crucial issue.
