(AlterNet) — Often these days, Republicans in the federal government are credited with doing the most harm to America’s poor. Pushing for deep cuts to Medicaid exemplifies their disregard for those who are old, sick and have limited resources. But we should not forget to look closer to home to see the often shocking moves made by city and state governments that exacerbate problems in poor communities.
Here are six examples of these injustices that are still in practice today.
1. Punishing loiterers with fines.
Honolulu and many other American cities have made it illegal to sit or lie on the sidewalk in recent years. The National Law Center on Homelessness and Poverty reports that local laws criminalizing homelessness have risen since 2011 by 43%. These laws aren’t focused on any one location; other cities that issue tickets to homeless people simply for sitting on the sidewalk include Orlando, FL; Santa Cruz, CA; and Manchester, NH.
