Paltry pay

2 Dallas neighbors clock in among worst U.S. cities for minimum-wage earners, says study

At a wage of $7.25 an hour, it would take most of the work week to cover rent.

SimplifyYourMoney.com

On the heels of Plano and Arlington topping some impressive lists, they now appear on an utterly undesirable one — the country’s worst places for minimum-wage workers.

A new study published July 28 puts Plano at No. 2 and Arlington at No. 6 among the worst cities for people who earn the minimum wage, which is $7.25 an hour in both cities.

Austin (also with a $7.25-an-hour minimum wage) has the dubious distinction of ranking No. 1. High-cost large cities like San Francisco (No. 4), New York City (No. 7), and San Jose, California (No. 9), rank better than Austin does, in large part because the minimum wage in those places is at least $15 an hour.

At a wage of $7.25 an hour, it would require 37 hours of work each week for someone to pay the average $1,117-a-month rent for a one-bedroom apartment in Plano and 33 hours of work each week for the average $1,024 rent in Arlington. That's according to Move.org, which published the list. In all, Move.org crunched data for the 75 largest cities in the U.S.

"Plano is known for its strong economy and thriving job market, thanks in part to city officials who work hard to attract corporations to set up shop there," the website says. "However, like Austin, the city’s minimum wage is set at the federal limit, and the cost of living requires minimum-wage earners to clock a lot of hours."

Likewise, it says of Arlington, "Arlington’s minimum wage is set right at the federal limit. The good news is that the city lies right between Fort Worth and Dallas, two of Texas’s biggest cities, so residents have plenty of job prospects."

For those looking to buy a home in DFW, Arlington and Plano are still good options. A recent study by PropertyShark said Arlington was the local city where buyers can get the most space for $250,000 — 2,240 square feet; in Plano, that number was 1,657. And in a SmartAsset report of the best 25 big cities in the United States to buy an affordable family home, Arlington ranked sixth in the country and No. 1 in DFW; Plano ranked seventh locally.

In Dallas-Fort Worth, the living wage for an adult is $12.19 an hour, according to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) calculator.

According to Austin Interfaith, an alliance representing faith-based organizations, schools, nonprofits, and labor organizations, says a living wage is a wage that’s sufficient for a worker to support themselves and their family. For years, the group has pushed for establishment of a living wage ($21) in Texas' capital city.

In 2019, the U.S. House passed legislation that would raise the federal minimum wage to $15 an hour, but the U.S. Senate hasn’t taken up the proposal yet. President Trump has wavered on his support of a $15-an-hour minimum wage. Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden favors a $15-an-hour minimum wage.

According to a Pew Research Center survey conducted in 2019, 67 percent of Americans back the idea.

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Nick and Nora news

Dallas takes steps to protect White Rock Lake eaglets as they learn to fly

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Visitors to White Rock Lake may notice new restrictions and barricades near a bald eagle nesting area, as three eaglets begin learning to fly.

According to a release from the City of Dallas, Dallas Park and Recreation is monitoring the eagle couple, affectionately nicknamed "Nick and Nora" by local residents, closely because they now have three young eaglets ready to take flight. (While their exact location is widely known, down to the very tree, this CultureMap story is not going to disclose it out of an abundance of caution for the fragile family.)

The city is asking area visitors to keep noise levels low and dogs on leashes near the nest.

The release says water-filled barricades are in place along East Lawther Drive between the playground and the Dreyfuss split, temporarily affecting vehicle access in the area. Drivers should expect short delays, and cyclists are being asked to slow down nearby. The playground near the nesting zone is also temporarily closed.

Officials say the Dreyfuss area, White Rock Trail, and Lake Highlands Drive will remain open for walking and biking.

The three eaglets are in a developmental phase known as “branching,” when young bald eagles begin leaving the nest and learning to fly. During this period, the eaglets may be seen on the ground or perched in lower tree branches.

Texas Parks and Wildlife officials say this is a particularly sensitive stage because the young birds can appear injured or distressed as they develop their flying skills. Adult eagles may also become more protective during this time.

"Keeping a safe distance helps prevent problems for both the eagle family and park visitors," park officials say.

Dallas Park and Recreation is coordinating with Texas Parks and Wildlife Department and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to protect the eagle family, the release says.

Bald eagles have been spotted near the lake since at least 2019, and have returned in subsequent years to make a nest in the area.

After nearly disappearing decades ago from most of the United States, the bald eagle population is now flourishing across the nation.

Bald eagles are protected under federal law. Disruption of their natural activities is prohibited and a violation of the federal Migratory Bird Treaty Act (MBTA) and the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act. A violation can result in a fine of $100,000, imprisonment for one year, or both.

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