Robert Doar, former commissioner of the New York City Human Resources Administration, administered welfare programs to New York’s neediest during the height of the Great Recession.

He made controversial moves that helped New York slash the number of people on welfare from more than 1 million to fewer than 350,000.

In a paper for the American Enterprise Institute, Doar outlines some of the difficult lessons he learned about how to tackle welfare, and what the nation as a whole could learn from his experience reforming New York’s welfare programs.

The biggest lesson, he says, is that people need to take responsibility for their own future. That means social workers need to resist the urge to take credit for their clients’ success, and it means welfare recipients need to get a job.

get a job!! brilliant solution!!

why didn’t i think of that…

In his chapter in AEI’s “Poverty in America,” Doar writes, “Given Mayor Bill DeBlasio’s support for policies such as paid sick leave and a higher minimum wage - both of which make workers more expensive for businesses to employ - I am doubtful that job growth will remain as strong as it has been. As a result of these changes, the number of people classified as poor may grow in New York City.”

and just why was this corporatist reaganite in charge of nyc welfare??