no one wants to be a police officer

And a look at the state of crime across the U.S.

View this email in your browser WELLNESS CHECK This edition leans... Hey Below the Fold fam, It's been over a year since the murder of George Floyd led to nationwide protests on policing in America and even globally with Black Lives Matter. Since then, there's been conversation, debate, and local policy change as the nation tries to build a path forward. Today, we're taking a look at the state of crime, police, and the conflicting data stories. TODAY'S STORY U.S. law enforcement is struggling Mon Aug 30 Portland, Oregon is poised to break their record-high of 70 homicides set in 1970; they're at 53 already. And getting to the root of the city's enforcement issues has been a bit of a bumpy ride. First, they disbanded their 38-person gun violence unit over criticisms of racial profiling — over 50% of the unit's 2019 stops were of Black people even though they make up less than 6% of the city population. This dissolution was amidst a $15 million budget cut for Portland's police department, but then homicides began to rise. In response, a new police unit was proposed, aimed at fixing tensions with residents and combating gun violence by identifying the leaders of violence (instead of stop-and-frisk). While the overseeing board of 11 community members has its nominees named, the police unit itself is still recruiting. Problem is, nobody wants the job. Only four police officers have applied for the available 14 positions posted back in May. One officer attributes lack of interest to the latest requirement for the role: "the ability to identify and dismantle institutional and systemic racism in the bureau's responses to gun violence." And both rising homicide rates and lackluster interest in police jobs is trending nationwide. One data consultant pointed to a 13% jump in the year-to-year murder rate in 2020 — the largest in over 50 years. Police reported a jump in Chicago of more than 50%, New York City ~40%, and Los Angeles 30%. Officer resignations also increased 18% alongside a 42% increase in retirements. Many officers are reluctant to take on roles that could lead to controversy or criticism. Now, some politicians are pointing to these homicide records as proof for why we need more police, but others say the two are not correlated. Opponents to more policing point to the fact that crime overall has reduced by three percent. More specifically, robberies are down 10.4%, property crimes 7.9%, and rapes 14.2%. Some data suggests the rise in homicides is related to pandemic-driven stress as well as the temporary shutdown of courts and non-violence nonprofits. So, what should be done? Minneapolis has a unique approach that could serve as a blueprint for reimagining public safety. The city is just one vote away from replacing their police department with a Department of Public Safety, an integrated group of first responders — namely police, trained medical professionals, and social workers. Instead of falling under the mayor and police chief's domain, this department would be run by the 13-person city council. If passed by voters this November, it'd be the first major public safety shift of its kind in the country. 🎬 Take Action Whether you're for or against police reform, it's helpful to understand what the term even means and calls for. The Human Rights Watch helps give context on their roadmap for reimagining public safety. Post Tweet Share   RESOURCE CENTER Wall Street Journal: (Where we found this story) 1 week old | 9 minutes long NPR: Massive rise in homicides 7 months old | 6 minutes long The Guardian: A closer look at the rising and falling crime rates in the U.S. 2 months old | 14 minutes long Vice: Minneapolis' push for a Department of Public Safety 1 week old | 8 minutes long   ICYMI (AGAIN) Friday: The global supply shortage is here to stay Thursday: The fungi-est thing about grapes Wednesday: China banned bitcoin mining CLASSIFIEDS Having a tough time with your digital spending habits? You're not alone. Online spending has been surging during the pandemic, making it almost habitual for some. Fortunately, that's why Pause exists. The Pause browser extension literally helps you press "pause" as you shop online by blocking popular sites such as Amazon, Walmart, or Etsy for just 30 seconds. That way, you can really process if you want to or should be shopping before continuing on. Stop being tricked by big tech today, and use Pause to start spending less money on over 200 websites. Available now on Chrome, Firefox, and Safari. >> Download Pause ASCII-ING ABOUT THE NEWS , _.-"` `'-. '._ __{}_( |'--.__\ ( ^_\^ | _ | )\___/ .--'`:._] jgs / \ '-. Knock knock. Who's there? Police. Police who? Police consider joining our Department of Public Safety! Art Credit: ASCII.CO.UK Copyright © 2021 Below the Fold, All rights reserved. You are receiving this email because you opted in via our website. Our mailing address is: Below the Fold 2261 Market St # 4135 San Francisco, CA 94114-1612 Add us to your address book Want to change how you receive these emails? You can update your preferences or unsubscribe from this list.

☕️ It changed everything

Extra unemployment checks are drying up...

September 06, 2021 View Online | Sign Up TOGETHER WITH Good morning and Happy Labor Day, a holiday which, in addition to symbolizing the unofficial end of summer, celebrates the social and economic accomplishments of the American worker. If that's you, . —Neal Freyman MARKETS: YEAR-TO-DATE Nasdaq 15,363.52 +19.21% S&P 4,535.43 +20.75% Dow 35,369.09 +15.56% Bitcoin $51,700.70 +78.27% 10-Year 1.326% +40.7 bps Oil $69.03 +42.27% *Stock data as of market close, cryptocurrency data as of 5:00am ET. Here's what these numbers mean. Markets: The US stock market is closed for Labor Day. Covid: Dr. Fauci said that Moderna's vaccine may not be ready in time for the planned September 20 rollout of booster shots, but will be available at most a couple weeks later. The booster program will likely start with just those who received Pfizer-BioNTech's vaccine at least eight months earlier. LABOR On Labor Day, a New Reality for the Unemployed Francis Scialabba One of the largest—and certainly the most divisive—of all the pandemic-era relief programs ends today. Almost 3 million people will lose their extra $300/week in benefits provided by the federal government. 25 states had already wound down the program over the summer, arguing it was keeping potential workers on the sidelines and fueling a historic labor shortage. The backstory: In March 2020, as the US was shedding almost 1 million jobs per day, Congress authorized an extra $600/week in unemployment benefits on top of what states offered to keep jobless Americans afloat (the $600/week was later reduced to $300 in August 2020). Around the same time, the government also expanded the number of workers eligible for unemployment insurance (UI) by including people like gig workers and the self-employed. That program, which comprised 40% of all UI claims during the pandemic, also expires today.  In all, the US government has spent $680 billion on unemployment benefits since last March, the second-highest amount among Covid stimulus programs behind only the Paycheck Protection Program ($835 billion). It's split the US more than Laurel and Yanny Critics of letting the extra benefits expire say it's too early to rip out support for millions of Americans who are still without work because of the pandemic, especially as the Delta variant thwacks the labor market. The economy added only 235,000 jobs in August, much lower than expectations. But many Republicans and business leaders say letting the extra benefits expire is long overdue. They've argued that the additional money disincentives people to look for work and has created an impossible situation for businesses desperate to hire. While it's still early to fully analyze the effects of the enhanced benefits on the labor market, preliminary studies show that removing extra UI has a modest, if any, impact on job growth. Economists point to other factors, such as health concerns over Covid and a lack of childcare options, as more meaningful drivers of the worker shortage.  Looking ahead...the expiration of the unemployment programs could lead to $8 billion in reduced consumer spending in September and October, UMass economist Arindrajit Dube estimates.  SNAPSHOT Weekend Camera Roll Bilal Guler/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images Passengers board the first domestic flight from Kabul's airport since the Taliban's takeover of Afghanistan. Ariana Afghan Airlines has resumed some commercial flights between Kabul and regional cities, and a Taliban spokesperson said international flights will start "very soon."   John Walton/PA Images via Getty Images The Tokyo Paralympic Games closed this weekend with the US earning 37 gold medals, including in men's wheelchair basketball and women's sitting volleyball. China topped the gold medal leaderboard, followed by Great Britain and the US.   Anthony Pham/via Getty Images The legend himself, Harry Styles, opened his North American tour at the MGM Grand Garden in Las Vegas Saturday night. All attendees for his performances are required to be vaccinated or present a negative Covid test to enter.  DEFENSE For the Defense Industry, 9/11 Changed Everything US Army Leading up to the anniversary of the September 11 attacks this Saturday, we'll feature stories that explore the economic impact of 9/11, 20 years later. Up first: The WSJ described the dramatic rise of the homeland security-industrial complex that sprang up following the attacks. Did you know? Before September 11, 2001, the US had been cutting military spending. At the time of the attacks, spending on the military as a share of GDP had declined to less than one-third of what it was during the peak of the Vietnam War.  But 9/11 "changed the dynamic," retired Air Force Gen. Hawk Carlisle, now the CEO of a major defense trade group, told the WSJ. Here are a few stats that illustrate the change. Military spending doubled to $700 billion in the decade following 9/11, to about 20% of total government spending. In 2001, the Defense Department had about $181 billion in contract obligations to 46,000 companies. In 2011, it had $375 billion in obligations to 110,000+ contractors. Increased military spending by the government turned the Washington, DC, area into the country's hottest regional economy from 2001–2011. Bottom line: US military spending as a share of GDP has shrunk since peaking in 2011, but the booming homeland security industry it helped create remains a permanent fixture of the economy.  SPONSORED BY AMERICAN EXPRESS Attention Business Owners The card you're carrying should be an American Express® Business Card. Why? Because they're jam-packed with helpful features and benefits**. Benefits like:  Membership RewardsⓇ points  Flexible payment options  Employee cards  And a lot more  American Express understands that your business is unlike any other, so their Cards are designed to help you take your business further. Your business started with a big, bold idea—so your card should be able to support that BIGness and boldness.  So let's distill this all down to one simple thought: Whether you're looking to grow a small biz, make big moves, or maintain momentum, an American Express Business Card can help. Learn more about how these Cards are Built for Business. By American Express here. Benefits not available on all Cards.Terms vary by Card.** GRAB BAG Key Performance Indicators Spencer Platt/Getty Images Stat: Nearly a third of Americans live in a county or state that has been declared a disaster area by FEMA this summer, according to a Washington Post analysis. Quote: "I feel like for me, recently, when I win, I don't feel happy, I feel more like a relief. And then when I lose, I feel very sad. I don't think that's normal."  Tennis star Naomi Osaka gave a devastating press conference after losing in an early round match at the US Open. The world's highest-paid female athlete said she's going to take a break from the sport for a while.  Read: The viral social network that looks like nothing you've ever seen. (The Verge) CALENDAR The Week Ahead Gary Hershorn/Getty Images 9/11 anniversary: As we mentioned earlier, Saturday will mark 20 years since the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. El Salvador dives into crypto: On Tuesday, El Salvador will become the first country to adopt bitcoin as legal tender. More on that wild move in tomorrow's newsletter.  Earnings: Lululemon and GameStop headline a quiet week for earnings. NFL opener: The Dallas Cowboys and Tampa Bay Buccaneers kick off the NFL season Thursday night. It's the first featuring an expanded 17-game regular season schedule, which means yesterday will be the last football-less Sunday until February 20, 2022. Everything else:  Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year, begins this evening. The FDA will decide by Thursday whether Juul's devices and nicotine pods can stay on the market. Saturday, September 11, also marks 18 months since the WHO declared Covid-19 a global pandemic. WHAT ELSE IS BREWING Lyft and Uber will pay the legal fees of their drivers who get sued under Texas's new abortion law. Marvel's Shang-Chi earned an estimated $71.4 million at the domestic box office this weekend, good for the second-best pandemic opening after Black Widow. The UAE is looking for $150 billion in foreign investment as it tries to position itself as a global finance hub. Next Digital, the Hong Kong media company owned by jailed pro-democracy activist Jimmy Lai, said it was liquidating due to China's recent crackdown. BREW'S BETS Mosquitoes, be gone! With Outer's new Bug Shield lightweight blanket, you can naturally keep bugs (like mosquitoes, ticks, and ants) away all year long—making it the ultimate outdoor must-have. Say goodbye to sticky bug spray and citronella candles today.*  Give your portfolio a shot of excitement. Investing in AsomBroso Tequila will do just that; the global tequila market is projected to surpass $14.7 billion by 2028, and AsomBroso is uniquely positioned to reap the benefits. Get involved with a booming spirits sector here.* Dive back into the week: Shallow dive: Tools for better thinking Medium dive: Shrinking US cities Deep dive: The unpleasant history of Google messaging apps Cannonball: David Sedaris on grieving  *This is sponsored advertising content GAMES The Puzzle Section Kriss Kross: Grab popcorn and a large soda before solving today's puzzle. Sweet Tooth Can you identify the following candy bars from their cross-sections? Scandy Bars SHARE THE BREW We think you should share the Brew. Not only is it a smart thing to do for your friends, it's also the smartest way to get showered in free Brew swag and exclusive content. Your referral count: 0 Click to Share Or copy & paste your referral link to others: morningbrew.com/daily/r/?kid=d7b71bd7 ANSWER 1. Butterfinger 2. 100 Grand 3. Snickers 4. Baby Ruth 5. Rolo 6. Almond Joy ✤ A Note From AsomBroso Tequila You should read the Offering Circular and Risks related to this offering before investing. This Reg A+ offering is made available through StartEngine Primary, LLC, member FINRA / SIPC. This investment is speculative, illiquid, and involves a high degree of risk, including the possible loss of your entire investment. Please drink responsibly. Written by Neal Freyman Was this email forwarded to you? Sign up here. WANT MORE BREW?   Retail newsletter → Retail Brew   Tech newsletter → Emerging Tech Brew   Marketing newsletter → Marketing Brew   Recommendations newsletter → Sidekick   Business podcasts → Business Casual and Founder's Journal ADVERTISE // CAREERS // SHOP // FAQ Update your email preferences or unsubscribe here. View our privacy policy here. Copyright © 2021 Morning Brew. All rights reserved. 22 W 19th St, 8th Floor, New York, NY 10011