Hoy newspaper points to the skepticism the government announcement of Year 2001 as Year for the Fight against Poverty. Residents in the DR saw the year start with the domino effect of price increases of almost all items, as a result of new taxes. The newspaper points out that the civic society favors combating poverty with grass roots efforts, not from above with gifts and promotion of paternalism. The Alianza ONG, Centro de Estudios Sociales Padre Juan Montalvo, Ciudad Alternativa y Coordinadora de Organizaciones para la Defensa de los Derechos Barriales coincided that poverty should be combated with jobs and adequate policies, not with political favors.
