In the News
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January 22, 2021
Non-Black business owners were 30 times more likely to receive funding in the first iteration of the federal Paycheck Protection Program than their Black counterparts, according to research by Felix Kabo, assistant research scientist at Institute for Social Research, and colleagues. “The fact that the Black entrepreneur and business owner is less likely to receive aid is something we should be concerned about. It’s something we can change.”
Bridge Magazine -
January 21, 2021
“The FBI with a warrant can spy on closed, non-encrypted chats, but having informants or undercover sources inside these closed virtual networks is important to understanding the nature of the threat,” said Javed Ali, the Towsley Policymaker in Residence at the Ford School of Public Policy, on the dramatic move by big technology firms to evict tens of thousands of users from their social media accounts because of concerns over violence.
The Washington Post -
January 21, 2021
“If your particular house, your largest asset, is valued 20 percent or 40 percent lower, that means your ability to No. 1, pull wealth out, or No. 2, trade up, is severely limited,” said Marc Norman, associate professor of practice in urban and regional planning, commenting on a study that shows that Black homeowners in metro Detroit face the greatest disparity in the nation when comparing the value of their homes versus other homeowners in the region.
Crain's Detroit Business -
January 21, 2021
“This is the boldest vision laid out by an American president for fighting poverty, and child poverty in particular, in at least half a century,” said H. Luke Shaefer, professor of public policy and social work and director of Poverty Solutions, on President Biden’s plan to reduce poverty among kids in the U.S. by 45 percent and even more for African American and Native American children.
The New York Times -
January 20, 2021
Research by Erin Cech, assistant professor of sociology, found that LGBTQ professionals in STEM are 30 percent more likely to experience workplace harassment compared with their non-LGBTQ peers. They’re also more likely to experience other career-related challenges, including social exclusion and professional devaluation, and to consider leaving their STEM profession entirely.
Science -
January 20, 2021
“Symbolically, it’s important that the Republican Party discovers that they cannot rely on Home Depot and other corporations,” says Jerry Davis, professor of management and organizations, on large companies pausing political contributions to former President Trump and his GOP allies. But “that’s a very old-school big business response. What’s interesting to me is that tech responds by deplatforming.”
Christian Science Monitor -
January 20, 2021
“We dodged anything that was sudden and fierce like we saw in other states. … It’s nice to see things plateauing but these numbers are so high, they would have terrified me in the fall,” said Emily Toth Martin, associate professor of epidemiology, commenting on the leveling off of COVID-19 cases in Michigan after the holidays.
MLive -
January 19, 2021
Paul Mohai, professor of environment and sustainability, says the charges against former Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder and the other officials for their role in the Flint water crisis are a step in the right direction toward environmental justice for the people of Flint. Sara Hughes, assistant professor of environment and sustainability, believes the indictments could result in tightened governmental immunity protections and prompt public officials to “circle the wagons,” but is hopeful that the case leads to politicians being held to a higher standard based on the public’s values.
Detroit Free Press -
January 19, 2021
“True to his promises of ‘America first,’ Trump withdrew the U.S. from its global leadership commitments, pared down its engagement overseas, and built a wall. He delivered exactly what his voters wanted. But his policy inevitably produced a consequence that U.S. leaders could not accept: China’s rising profile, as it stepped in to fill the leadership vacuum the U.S. left behind,” wrote Yuen Yuen Ang, associate professor of political science.
South China Morning Post -
January 19, 2021
“The issue of very, very different levels of unemployment in the different sectors of the economy is not going to go away until we allow our hotels and restaurants to go at near full capacity,” said Daniil Manaenkov, economist with the Research Seminar in Quantitative Economics, noting that industries like hospitality, which tend to be low wage and employ more Black and Latino workers, have been particularly hard hit by the pandemic.
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