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Tag: economy

  • Facebook: An Essential New Tool For Small Business Marketing

    The New York Times has just published an excellent article called: “How to Market Your Business With Facebook.” Some small business owners have eagerly jumped on the social media trend, while others like to keep it old school with traditional email marketing. But in this economy, entrepreneurs need to be as creative as possible about reaching new audiences while stretching marketing dollars, if you are lucky to have any. Getting to know Facebook is a great way to hop on social media’s runaway train, which shows no signs of slowing.

    Of Facebook’s growing cache as a marketing vehicle, The Times states:

    A growing number of businesses are making Facebook an indispensable part of hanging out their shingles. Small businesses are using it to find new customers, build online communities of fans and dig into gold mines of demographic information.

    “You need to be where your customers are and your prospective customers are,” said Clara Shih, author of ‘The Facebook Era’ (Pearson Education, 2009). “And with 300 million people on Facebook, and still growing, that’s increasingly where your audience is for a lot of products and services.”

    This two-page primer on Facebook marketing is a must for small business owners, even if you are already a regular visitor to Facebook.com. As social media sites make it possible for the average person to reach thousands of customers through a little online elbow grease, the time to utilize Facebook.com to the full is now.

    Do you use Facebook to market your small business? Share your success stories or cautionary tales below.

  • Jobless Claims Fall More Than Expected

    New claims for unemployment insurance fell more than expected last week, evidence the job market is slowly healing as the economy recovers.

  • Is Health Care Reform Going to Cost you More or Less Money?

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    All of us are confused about health care reform. Many of us support the idea because we support the president. Some of us support health care reform because we know that the current system is terribly flawed. Well, getting informed on the issues might be a great way to ensure that you know what you are backing.

    One of the great problems with health care reform is that most Americans can’t trust it in the first place, given that there are so many special interest groups who’ve hooked their fangs into a corrupt and dysfunctional system. Pharmaceutical companies charge incredibly high prices for drugs and work with lawmakers to keep consumers from having other alternatives. Every day, there is a senior citizen moving one inch closer to death because he/she can’t afford their medication. Most of us know that this system has to be altered.

    Dr. Elaina George is a prominent Otolaryngologist at the Peach Tree ENT Center in Atlanta Georgia. In the audio below, Dr. George breaks down the health care reform package that is being debated in Congress this week. So, while the news might be muted by the mass shootings that have recently occurred, we should not allow this distraction to keep us from the issues that are going to affect our lives.

    Click here to listen to Dr. George.

    Dr. Boyce Watkins is a Finance Professor at Syracuse University and author of the book, “Black American Money.” To have Dr. Boyce commentary delivered to your email, please click here.

     

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  • Costco Accepts Food Stamps: Trend at Wholesale Clubs, Grocery Stores

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    Leading wholesale retailer Costco has announced that it will now accept food stamps in its stores nationwide. This news comes as a shock to many, who see Costco as catering to elite shoppers. Yet, this should not be surprising as more Americans than ever are using government assistance to feed their families — 10 million people have gone on food stamps in the last two years alone. This is leaving shopping clubs like Costco and Sam’s scrambling to attract an entirely new realm of consumer, who may not be technically “poor.”

    The New York Times explains:

    Up until recently, some wholesale clubs were skeptical poor people would be willing to pay the $50-a-year membership fee or would be interested in buying food in the bulk quantities for which the stores are famous.

    But now, in this economy, stores are battling for every dollar and see a big potential market in the growing ranks of food-stamp recipients. From warehouse clubs to supermarkets and mom-and-pop groceries, stores are retraining their cashiers and hanging new signs to welcome such customers.

    ”Certainly this economy was a wake-up call,” Costco chief financial officer Richard Galanti recently told investors. ”It is not just very low-end economic strata that are using these.”

    … The U.S. Department of Agriculture said nearly 200,000 retailers nationwide now accept food stamps, 20 percent more than in 2005.

    Executives at Costco are finding that poorer families are actually eager to pay the $50 dollar membership fee to take advantage of the fact that the company now accepts food stamps. And the retailer believes that poorer families will actually save more money in the end by buying in bulk, even if the initial investment seems high.

    If you need to join the ranks of the 39 million Americans on food stamps (also known as Electronic Benefits Transfers), there is no reason to be ashamed. In fact, now is a better time than ever to seek out government assistance in buying food if you need it. The social stigma attached to food stamps is essentially gone as so many people are in need, and now more companies than ever are rising to meet the needs of this customer. You might be surprised to learn that you qualify.

    Learn how to apply for food stamps, or about the WIC program, and click below to learn about some of the thousands of retailers that accept EBT. Check your local retailers for more shopping options.

    Major Retailers That Accept Food Stamps

    Target

    The Kroger Company

    Walmart

    Safeway

    Sam’s Club

    BJ’s

    Most 7-Eleven Stores

    Most CVS Stores

    Dollar General

     

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  • Layaway Plans – 2009

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    It’s that time again when the stores will be crowded with thousands of consumers all vying for the same toy, special sweater, hottest electronic device. How do you plan to purchase it?

    The current crumbling economy has sparked interest in a form of retail purchasing that became popular in the early 1900s, that of Lay Away. How does it work? It’s simple. You, the consumer would like to buy something but don’t have the money. All you do is make installment payments on the merchandise. The merchant stocks your item away until your last payment. You receive it once your tab is paid in full. Of course this is different than a credit card purchase which allows you to take home your intended product and make payments while using it.Although stores like Walmart did away with this form of procurement years ago, Kmart stayed in the game. Stores currently offering layaway plans are:

    • Burlington Coat Factory
    • Kmart
    • Marshalls (at select locations)
    • TJ Maxx (at select locations)
    • Benny’s (New England)
    • Sears ( through December 23)
    • Cato – (offering 30-day plans)
    • Men’s Wearhouse
    • Boscov’s
    • Value City Furniture Stores
    • Footlocker (at select locations)
    • Best Buy
    • Toys-R-Us

    Plan on taking advantage of this service? Be sure to READ THE FINE PRINT.

    1. Get a copy of the store’s layaway policies
    2. Understand ALL of the policies – schedule of payments, rules regarding late fees, refund and exchange policies, markdowns on sale items, etc.
    3. Keep a good record and all receipts of payments (in case there are any disputes later).

    Until you make all the payments, the store has your merchandise AND your money. For this reason, I prefer to use cash, debit or credit cards OVER layaway, any day. Assuming I can pay off the balance in a short period of time. It’s true, credit card companies charge interest, therefore depending on the length of time it takes you to pay off the debt and the interest charged, your purchase which was originally on sale could potentially cost you much more in the end. However, I just can’t bear the thought of someone using MY money while I have nothing to show for it. Also, sad to say in these critical times retailers are closing doors for good, left and right. If you have something on layaway, on which you’ve been faithfully making payments and the store closes, you’re out your goods as well as your cash. Of course the choice is yours.

    If you know of other stores, please let us know in your comments.

     

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  • Economic Recovery Definition: Is the Economy Really Getting Better?

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    What is the definition of an economic recovery? This is the hot finance topic of the week. As the White House unrolls a PR plan to try and demonstrate that the recession is over thanks to the administration’s efforts, the question of how to exactly define economic recovery is causing confusion. Let’s look at the facts and try to determine an economic recovery definition.

    President Obama has claimed that 650,000 jobs have been created or saved through his stimulus plan. The Dow increased by 200 in response to the good news. Plus, the economy grew last quarter for the first time in a year at a rate of 3.5%. Modest, but good. There is also the increase in home sales reported in September. And even Ford posted a profit of nearly $1 billion this year, which came as a surprise to the business community. But do these positive reports illustrate that our economy is set for permanent stability?

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    Home Sales Up
    Chart shows new home sales for the past 13 months, seasonally adjusted
    AP
    AP

    Home Sales Up

      Chart shows seasonally adjusted annual rate of pending U.S. home sales

      AP

      Chart shows seasonally adjusted annual rate of pending U.S. home sales

      AP

      In this Wednesday, Oct. 21, 2009 photo a sign for a home under contract is seen in Philadelphia. The volume of signed contracts to buy previously occupied homes rose for the eighth straight month in September as buyers scrambled to take advantage of a tax credit for first-time owners that expires at the end of this month.(AP Photo/Matt Rourke)

      AP

      In this Wednesday, Oct. 21, 2009 photo a sign for a home under contract is seen in Philadelphia. The volume of signed contracts to buy previously occupied homes rose for the eighth straight month in September as buyers scrambled to take advantage of a tax credit for first-time owners that expires at the end of this month.(AP Photo/Matt Rourke)

      AP

      Chart shows new home sales for the past 13 months, seasonally adjusted

      AP

      Shea Homes townhouses are seen at the Victoria Gardens development in Rancho Cucamonga, Calif., Tuesday, Oct. 27, 2009. The number of buyers snapping up new homes dipped unexpectedly last month as the effects of a temporary tax credit for first-time owners started to wear off. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes)

      AP

      Chart shows new home sales for the past 13 months, seasonally adjusted

      AP

      In this photo made Oct. 26, 2009, a new development of townhouses is seen in Wakefield, Mass. Sales of new homes dropped unexpectedly last month as the effects of a soon-to-expire tax credit for first-time owners started to wane.(AP Photo/Lisa Poole)

      AP

      In this photo made Oct. 26, 2009, a new development of townhouses is seen in Wakefield, Mass. Sales of new homes dropped unexpectedly last month as the effects of a soon-to-expire tax credit for first-time owners started to wane.(AP Photo/Lisa Poole)

      AP

      New home models are shown in Homestead, Fla., Tuesday, Oct. 27, 2009. Sales of new homes are expected to post their sixth consecutive monthly gain as builders reap the benefits of a tax credit for first-time owners that expires at the end of next month. (AP Photo/Alan Diaz)

      AP

    Some say no. Increases in car and home sales have been spurred by federally-backed incentives like the $8,000 first time homebuyer tax credit and the cash for clunkers program. These increases don’t stand on their own as signs of consumer strength. So what can we use to define economic recovery?

    Writers at the Wall Street Journal believe the jobless rate is a much more meaningful benchmark. But right now it is too soon to tell exactly where that rate is heading based on the statistics available now. So even the jobless rate cannot help us develop a reliable economic recovery definition until we have more information.

    Let’s try looking to the president for his definition. The POTUS has declared: “The benchmark I use to measure the strength of our economy is not just whether our GDP is growing, but whether we are creating jobs, whether families are having an easier time paying their bills, whether our businesses are hiring and doing well.” (CBS News)

    As unemployment remains high and it is still difficult for people to get loans, we are clearly far from a lasting economic recovery — by the definition of the president himself. But as we have faced the worst economic decline since the Great Depression, it is silly to expect our economy to fully recover after a few months of federal intervention. Obama’s stimulus plan may not have created a full economic recovery within months, but it has helped many families survive what could have been a much worse financial scenario. It has also supported state governments that provide social services like police and teachers to all.

    This type of relief may not fit an expert’s economic recovery definition, but it has helped society overall in the short term. For that alone the president can be commended.

     

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  • Banks Offer College Saving Deals: Are These The Best Financing Plans?

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    Banks and credit unions are developing new methods of helping families finance college educations. In this economy, families have seen certain accounts set aside for financing education, such as those funded by stock portfolios, steeply decline in value. On top of that, tuition costs at top schools have increased by 62% over the past ten years, cutting sharply into education savings. To help families cope with these trends, “a growing number of financial institutions are rolling out incentives to help families save or pay for higher education,” according to USA Today.

    Two examples of these college saving offerings include:

    Citizens Bank is giving a $1,000 bonus to consumers who open a college savings account by a child’s sixth birthday. Justice Federal Credit Union – which serves Department of Justice and Homeland Security employees – is offering a discount on a loan to pay for college costs. And Grow Financial Federal Credit Union in Tampa is donating money to student scholarships based on a local university football team’s “return yards,” which is how far players run with the ball after receiving a punt or kick. (USA Today)

    A new college saving deal offered by your bank may be the right thing for your family. Yet, financial experts urge consumers to carefully evaluate any college saving incentive. The motive for lending institutions to create these deals is to build better relationships with a future generation of customers. The student of today will need loans for grown-up purchases like houses once a college education is fully financed. Thus a bank’s offering may not necessarily be in your best interest. You will still want to shop around for college savings plans that net you and your student the best deal.

    What are some additional ways of saving for and paying for college during tough economic times? State 529 plans are one important tool in a parent’s arsenal for paying for college, and should be explored fully. Please see SmartMoney.com for more great college saving advice.

     

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  • ‘Bosses Day’: Are You Celebrating National Boss Day 2009 on Friday?

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    A day for bosses? Really? Well, get ready, as it is now the eve of Boss Day 2009.

    I personally have never heard of National Boss Day, which will be celebrated this year on Friday, October 16. Even though “bosses day” (as it is called by some) was created way back in 1958 by a woman named Patricia Bays Haroski, this is definitely not your typical Hallmark occasion. Many people hate their bosses, and see no reason to give them a special day.

    But some writers are re-framing National Boss Day in 2009 as an important time to consider the immense pressures business leaders of today are facing given the economic climate.

    Between having to lay off good employees, to being expected to show results with diminishing resources, bosses in 2009 have to work harder than ever to stay positive while motivating their people. Author Bob Nelson believes that a good boss deserves praise for working well under such circumstances, citing these characteristics as those that make awesome bosses, no matter what the decade (via PRNewswire):

    1. A clear and compelling direction: Bosses need to inspire their employees to be excited about their work.
    2. Direct, open and honest communication: Frequent and effective communication is the leading way to show employees trust and respect.
    3. Employee involvement and initiative: Managers need to ask employees for their ideas.
    4. Employee autonomy, flexibility and support: Employees need a say in how they do their work.
    5. Career growth and development: Tough times provide many opportunities for employees to take on additional responsibilities.
    6. Recognition and rewards for high performance: During down times, the need for employees to feel valued for their efforts greatly increases.

    You can read more about what makes a great boss in 2009 in Nelson’s new book, ‘Keeping Up in a Down Economy: What the Best Companies Do to Get Results in Tough Times.’

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    Jobs You Can Run Away To
    Get a (New) Life
    If you have fantasies of picking up, packing up and starting a new life somewhere, then one of these jobs may be a great fit for you. Continue clicking through our gallery to learn the pros and cons about jobs that you can run away to.
    jupiterimages
    Touchstone Pictures

    Jobs You Can Run Away To

      Get a (New) Life
      If you have fantasies of picking up, packing up and starting a new life somewhere, then one of these jobs may be a great fit for you. Continue clicking through our gallery to learn the pros and cons about jobs that you can run away to.

      jupiterimages

      Cruise Ship Jobs

      On one level, cruise ship jobs seem amazingly glamorous. After all, employees receive free food, accomodations, medical care, airline tickets and uniforms. They often don’t have to pay taxes, get discounted cruise rates for family members, and can travel for free. As many cruise ship job sites point out, passengers pay thousands of dollars per week to see the same sites that employees enjoy for free.

      On the other hand, cruise ships can get claustrophobic after a while, and many jobs are far from wonderful. After all, when somebody gets seasick, a cruise ship employee has to clean it up, and chances are that the captain won’t be the one wielding the mop. Still, cruise ships offer a dizzying array of jobs, a chance to escape to exotic climes, and a steady income, most of which can be banked. Anchors aweigh!

      AFP / Getty Images

      The Military

      Although the military is reaching its enlistment quotas for the first time in years, it still offers excellent bonuses and outstanding benefits. According to Military Hub, the maximum bonus for new recruits is $40,000, while reservists can get $20,000 for five years of service. Other bonuses are available for military personnel who intend to buy a new home or start a business. For active duty soldiers who choose to re-enlist, bonuses can be as high as $90,000.

      Military members receive massively subsidized medical and dental care, subsidized education, and various housing allowances. They also have access to reduced-rate car insurance and life insurance, credit union membership, inexpensive military stores, and a host of other benefits.

      Jim MacMillan, AP

      Park Rangers

      Full-time Park Rangers earn a salary of between $24,000 and $37,000 and often receive free housing, in addition to other benefits. Unfortunately, these jobs are tenured and competition is fierce. In addition to a bachelor’s degree in park management, natural history, forestry, or a related major, applicants need extensive experience as seasonal rangers or interns.

      On the bright side, there are a variety of seasonal jobs available from the National Park Service. The education and experience required depends on the position, and interested parties can apply at USAJOBS, the US Federal government’s job site. While park ranger jobs were cut after 2006, it seems likely that these could be among the first positions to benefit from the US government’s stimulus plan.

      AP

      Nanny

      Salaries for live-in nannies vary wildly, depending upon the area, the family, and the nanny’s qualifications. In general, nannies in major cities get $18-20 per hour, while live-in childcare in less costly areas is about half that. Entry-level nannies with high school degrees can expect roughly $400 per week, while experienced, trained nannies can expect $1000 per week or more.

      While live-in nannies may not qualify for time-and-a-half overtime wages, they still are legally entitled to time off and other benefits. Many nannies get complete compensation packages, including subsidized health insurance, paid vacations, gym memberships, cell phones, and educational allowances.

      jupiterimages

      House Mother

      If you’re a woman who is over 40 years old who enjoys dealing with adolescents and has experience with running a household, hotel, or small country, this might be the job for you. Basically, a house mother is in charge of the environment of a sorority or fraternity. She deals with the house’s staff, plans meals, handles minor disasters, and generally makes sure that her charges’ lives run smoothly. Jobs usually include free rent and meals and come with a reasonable salary. Since they are attached to a university, house mother positions may allow you to take advantage of many of the cultural and educational attractions available at your school. Best of all, you get to deal with the wonderful drama of a household full of college girls!

      Corbis

      Ranch Hand

      Running away to work on a farm is one of the classic escapist American fantasies. While the dude ranches of the nineteenth century have almost disappeared, there is still a huge livestock industry and plenty of jobs for people with experience in animal husbandry. Depending on the type of ranch, workers can do a wide variety of jobs, including training horses, caring for livestock, taking care of children or young adults, performing general farm work, maintaining corrals, and cooking. While education for this work is generally vocational, some areas will train employees to do the specialized jobs that they require. Depending on the position, the area, the employer, and your level of knowledge, pay and benefits can range wildly. Ranch Work is a good starting place to get a feeling for available jobs, salary possibilities, and benefits involved.

      Corbis

      Camp Counselor

      If you sometimes find yourself obsessively watching Meatballs, then camp work might be perfect for you. While salaries vary based on position and experience, you can expect to make a couple of hundred dollars per week, in addition to room, board, and free use of recreational facilities. Positions include lifeguard, counselor, kitchen staff, administrative staff, nursing staff, and maintenance staff, and are available across the country. Added benefits include fresh air, beautiful scenery, and a 50% chance of waking up with your hand in a pot of warm water!

      AP

      Peace Corps

      In addition to offering a solid line on a resume, a stint in the Peace Corps provides a complete care package. While in the corps, volunteers are taught a foreign language, receive comprehensive medical and dental care, draw a liberal living allowance, and have two days of paid vacation per month. Students are allowed to defer or even partially cancel their student loans.

      Once volunteers return from their service, the program helps them readjust to society with a $6,000 bonus, fast-tracking into government careers, and other job placement help. Those who want to continue their education can combine their service with a graduate program or can join the Fellows/USA program, which offers scholarships or reduced tuition in return for a commitment to work in an under-served US community.

      Andres Leighton, AP

      Home Health Care Aide

      With the Baby Boomer generation’s ongoing march into old age, the home health care industry is poised to enjoy almost explosive growth. Home health care aids help elderly, ill, and mentally disabled people to do all the things necessary to live at home. This can include cooking, cleaning, planning meals, doing laundry, shopping, changing bed linens, and other household tasks. Certification for this job varies from state-to-state. In some areas, applicants simply learn on the job, while other states require extensive background checks and more formal training. Median wages are $8.54 per hour, going up to over $11. In most cases, this isn’t a live-in job.

      jupiterimages


    Do your bosses exhibit these traits? If so, consider yourself lucky and honor them this Friday on National Boss Day 2009. If business managers ever deserved a day for keeping things running, it is during this turbulent era.

    Source

     

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  • Dr. Boyce Money: Lost Your Job? Senators Might Help You

    Filed under: , ,

    The Senate has been mingling with the idea of extending jobless benefits for those who’ve lost their jobs. The problem is that the politicians can’t quite make up their minds. A bill was passed last month in the House of Representatives, but the Senate has still been fighting over the details.

    The black community is in dire need of help from legislators, as our community has been hit the hardest by recent trends in unemployment.
    While overall unemployment is at a staggering 9.8%, African American unemployment is 15.4%. Black male unemployment is as high as 30 – 40% in some urban areas. Jobs are needed and benefits are needed even more. According to the Center for American Progress, the poverty rate for African American children is over 34.7%, while only 10.6% for white children. Economically speaking, black people are usually the state of economic recession.

    Typically, unemployed workers are eligible for up to 26 weeks of benefits, but that number has been extended twice by Congress. Now, workers are eligible for as many as 79 weeks of benefits. The current compromise proposed by Senator Max Baucus would give an extra 13 weeks of benefits in states hit hardest by unemployment, while those suffering less would get an extra 4 weeks. This approach has been disputed by some members of the Senate, who feel that all Americans should get the same extensions, regardless of where they live.

    The unemployment rate is expected to rise above 10%. Additionally, more than 1/3 of all unemployed Americans have been out of work for more than six months.

    One ray of hope for an economic recovery is the stock market. Anyone with a little extra money to invest was able to earn a 50% return over the past 6 months, which is truly phenomenal. The other bright side of the market rally is that the stock market is a leading indicator of economic growth: that means that when the market improves, the economy is expected to improve. So, while recent unemployment numbers imply that a recovery is going to be slow, the truth is that all is not lost.

    Keep your hope alive. Things are going to get better.

    Dr. Boyce Watkins is a Finance Professor at Syracuse University and author of the forthcoming book, “Black American Money.” To have Dr. Boyce commentary delivered to your email, please click here.

     

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  • Yale Student Murder Symptomatic of Growing Workplace Violence

    Filed under: ,

    The murder of Yale University Lab Technician Annie Le was sad, particularly since her body was found on what was supposed to be her wedding day. The accused killer in this incident is Raymond Clark III, a 24-year old co-worker. This tragic incident is not only problematic due to the fact that a young woman lost her life. It is also a sad reminder of the dramatic rise in workplace violence throughout the United States.There has been an 18% increase in workplace violence in 2009, relative to last year. Also, according to Corporate Counseling Associates, an HR consulting firm, there has been a 28% increase in workplace suicides. A poor economy certainly plays a role in the frequency of workplace violence, as tough times lead to tough decisions by firm managers who have to slice jobs in order to keep the company afloat.

    African Americans are impacted even more by the threat of workplace violence, since our unemployment rate tends to be much higher than that of white Americans. Also, other forms of related violence, such as that which occurs in the home, are affected when the economy goes south. In other words, a tough economy leads to problems that go far beyond money.

    The case of Annie Le brings some questions to light when one thinks about violence in the workplace. These questions should be asked by employees and employers, since violence is not only a threat to employee safety, it is also a potential door to major lawsuits filed by those affected:

    1) Are there background checks being done on employees? If an employee has committed a violent crime in the past, this may unfortunately be a reason not to bring him/her into the workplace. At the very least, precautions should be taken to ensure that the other employees are protected.

    2) Are there proper channels for reporting violence when it occurs? In the student shooting rampage at Virginia Tech University, some students died allegedly because the university did not have a proper warning system.

    3) Is there a way to provide counseling to workers so they can handle layoffs or workplace stress in a more productive manner? What about dispute resolution between employees? If the workplace has become uncomfortable, employees should be able to report the discomfort to management so that problems are solved before they get out of hand.

    4) Are there ways to spot situations in which an employee is at risk of being violent in the workplace?     Clark, the tech who is accused of killing Ms. Le, was known to be a “control freak” and allegedly felt that the animal cages in the lab were his personal territory. There are many cases in which workplace violence is committed by individuals who’ve shown a propensity for aggressive behavior.

    5) Are employees informed on the company’s existing policies on workplace violence? Employees should know what lines are not acceptable to cross in the workplace. Also, according to a 2005 Survey by the US Department of Labor, 70% of all companies do not have a policy in place to prevent workplace violence.

    Annie Le’s tragic death may be an opportunity to save lives. By grabbing the lessons presented from her case, we can make workplaces across America safe for everyone. Let’s hope that Annie did not die in vain.


    Dr. Boyce Watkins is a Finance Professor at Syracuse University. To have Dr. Boyce commentary delivered to your email box, please click here.

     

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  • Four Years After Katrina: Have We Failed New Orleans?

    Posted by: www.huffingtonpost.com

    Shelia Phillips doesn’t see the New Orleans that Mayor Ray Nagin talks about, the one on its way to having just as many people and a more diverse economy than it did before Hurricane Katrina. How could she?

    From the front porch of her house in the devastated Lower 9th Ward, it’s hard to see past the vegetation slowly swallowing the property across the way. Nearby homes are boarded up or still bear the fading tattoos left by search and rescue teams nearly four years ago. The fence around a playground a few blocks down is padlocked.

    “I just want to see people again,” she said recently, swatting bugs in the muggy heat.

    CLICK ON ORIGINAL STORY TO SEE SOME SHOCKING STATISTICS….