New Book on Poverty Explores “Train Deserts”
CNT’s president Scott Bernstein has contributed a chapter on poverty and transportation to Kenan Heise’s upcoming book, The Book of the Poor: Who They Are, What They Say, and How to End Their Poverty. The book is the result of fifty years Heise spent interviewing individuals who live below the poverty line, and offers a unique point of view on an oft-discussed subject.
Bernstein’s chapter calls for reducing the poor’s exposure to high costs of transportation by guaranteeing better transportation choices on a basis that the poor can afford. Just as so-called “food deserts” describe areas with no affordable grocery stores, too many of our neighborhoods are “train deserts,” where poor peoples’ modest income can’t keep pace with the combined cost of housing and transportation. Scott’s essay offers a bold yet practical set of recommendations for quickly getting on the path to improving this situation.
Along with other contributions from representatives of organizations like Witnesses to Hunger, Spotlight on Poverty, the Coalition on Human Needs, and the United Nations, the rest of the book gives voice to the often voiceless by allowing the poor to tell their own stories. They describe hunger, unemployment, their children’s needs, prison, panhandling, health care struggles, and the role of race in poverty from a perspective that many people simply don’t see. Heise also offers his advice to citizens and the country at large for dealing with the poverty question, addressing issues like raising the minimum wage, creating jobs, and the disparity between media coverage of those with money and those without.
In appreciate of Scott’s contribution in this publication, the publisher—Marion Street Press—has generously offered a 10% discount to anyone that either enters the discount code “CNT” at checkout or follows this link when ordering the book off their website. Additionally, this 10% discount will be donated to CNT, so ordering this book is a great way to support CNT and get fascinating, insightful, and occasionally troubling reading at the same time.
The book ships in September, so take advantage of this offer soon!
