Obama vows ‘action’ on poverty, unveils plans for ‘promise zones’

The Washington Times ^ | Thursday, January 9, 2014 | Dave Boyer

[Red Steel]

Summoning his inner community organizer, President Obama said Thursday he intends to “mobilize the country” this year around a national mission of giving poor Americans a shot at economic success.

“This is going to be a year of action,” Mr. Obama said at the White House. “This is not just a job for government. This is a job for everybody.”

The president announced the selection of five new “promise zones” — distressed communities that will qualify for tax breaks and expedited grants to combat poverty. The administration chose Philadelphia, Los Angeles, San Antonio, an eight-county region in southeastern Kentucky and the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma for the additional help.

But the administration’s promise to cut through red tape for the communities is off to an uncertain start. Mr. Obama announced the initiative at his State of the Union address one year ago; it has taken an entire year for the government to receive applications from cities and to select the first five of what Mr. Obama said will be 20 “promise zones.”

[Rummyfan]

What an effing joke.

[castlegreyskull]

I suspect my neighborhood is not going to be in a promise zone.