Currituck Weekly Podcast

No Guarantees: Tariffs Could Cost Currituck Families $2,600 a Year

When asked if he could guarantee American families won't pay more under his planned tariffs, President-elect Trump's response was stark: "I can't guarantee anything. [https://www.tiktok.com/@nowthisimpact/video/7446471540272631083] I can't guarantee tomorrow." While Trump won't guarantee stable prices, one thing is guaranteed: working families will feel the squeeze first. For Currituck families, that's no small matter — it's meals, medicine, and monthly bills. When costs rise, working families face real choices: Which bill gets delayed? Which repair waits? Which activity do the kids skip? Subscribe to our weekly alert about new resources and opportunities to help What’s at stake: By sticking to his campaign pledges, Trump would all but assure a fresh spike in inflation, which was a deciding factor in the election [https://www.axios.com/2024/11/07/inflation-democrats-election-losses]. * Trump plans to impose 25% tariffs on goods from Canada and Mexico, and additional tariffs on China * These three countries are America's largest trading partners, accounting for over 40% of U.S. trade — food, lumber, and consumer products. * The National Retail Federation estimates tariffs could cost middle-income households up to $2,600 annually [https://www.piie.com/research/piie-charts/2024/trumps-bigger-tariff-proposals-would-cost-typical-american-household-over] Local impact: Currituck’s economy is closely tied to nearby Hampton Roads, where trade-dependent industries employ many of our residents. If these tariffs take effect, it won’t just raise prices at big retailers — it could put jobs at risk. Here's another guarantee — while corporate profits will be protected, working families will bear the burden. Stores like Walmart have already warned they may raise prices [https://www.axios.com/2024/11/20/trump-tariffs-retailers-raise-prices-products-walmart] if the tariffs take effect. Where are our representatives? When Currituck Weekly reached out to our representatives about protecting local jobs and businesses, we got more uncertainty. Rep. Don Davis's staff couldn't specify his position on the tariffs. Meanwhile, Rep. Goodwin's office dismissed concerns, telling us "They're just threats. We can't do anything about it until we see it." That's cold comfort for families who need to plan their budgets now. While our representatives wait and see, working families can't wait to figure out how to absorb extra costs. Immigration: Trump frames the tariffs as leverage to address immigration and drug trafficking. However, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum points out that migrant encounters at the border have already dropped 75% [https://www.tiktok.com/@heavytero/video/7433957310420028677] since December 2023. The remaining arrivals are largely people with legal appointments through the U.S. government's own system. Looking back: Trumps claim first-term tariffs didn't impact consumer prices, telling NBC's "Meet the Press": "We had no inflation." However, Federal Reserve data shows prices rose consistently during his presidency. Research from that period found: * American consumers and businesses, not foreign countries, bore most tariff costs — a “net loss to the US economy of $16 billion annually [https://taxfoundation.org/blog/who-really-pays-tariffs/].” * Farmers required billions in government aid to offset retaliatory tariffs [https://www.npr.org/2018/07/24/631953880/trump-administration-to-provide-farmers-12-billion-to-offset-tariffs] * Manufacturing jobs [https://www.forbes.com/sites/christianweller/2019/09/05/trumps-trade-war-inflicts-pain-on-manufacturing-states/] actually declined in states hit hardest by trade disputes We can't guarantee what Washington will do, but we can guarantee this: Currituck families look out for each other. Building community power: The tariffs won't take effect January 20, but we can start building stronger networks of mutual support now. Here's how Currituck families can look out for each other: * Share what we have: Start local sharing networks for everything from home repairs to digital skills, tools, and carpools — whether through apps or just talking to our neighbors. * Pool our resources: Form buying clubs for bulk purchases, share wholesale memberships, connect with local farmers and fishers for direct purchases, and create emergency funds so neighbors can help neighbors through tough times. * Build care networks: Connect with neighbors who might need extra support, share information about assistance programs, and help each other navigate everything from childcare to bureaucratic systems. Know a neighbor already doing this work? Tell us by emailing currituck@substack.com. We'll feature their story and help expand their impact. Follow: Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/currituckweekly] | BlueSky [https://bsky.app/profile/currituckweekly.bsky.social] Subscribe to our weekly alert about new resources and opportunities to help This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit currituck.substack.com [https://currituck.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1]

The Real Cost of Being NC's 'Least Distressed' County: Why Currituck Workers Can't Work Here

North Carolina just ranked Currituck as its least economically distressed county [https://www.commerce.nc.gov/report-county-tiers-ranking-memo-current-year/download?attachment] (again). This label could block state funding for economic development - but the numbers tell a different story [https://analytics.nccommerce.com/Area-Profiles/] about working families here. The daily reality: Our neighbors don't commute to Hampton Roads because they want to. They do it because local jobs don't pay enough to live here. Just 1,948 people both live and work in Currituck - that's just 6% of our population. Meanwhile, 7,754 residents make the 45+ minute drive to Virginia each morning. The numbers behind the ranking: * Local jobs pay $830/week ($43,160/year) - barely half what's needed for housing * Property values, inflated by Corolla beach houses, average $317,894 * Population keeps growing (10.47%) as Virginia workers seek affordable housing here The state's formula misses: * The stark divide between beach wealth and mainland living * How many families can't afford to work where they live * The gap between local wages and Virginia paychecks * What commuter dependence means for our future "I've been searching for work here in Moyock, but all I find are food service jobs that barely cover expenses - even as a student," shares one young resident. "Any real career opportunities are across the border in Hampton Roads. If you want professional experience and a living wage, you have to leave the county."A local tech worker agrees: "My job doesn't even exist here. I'd have to switch careers completely and take a 70% pay cut if I wanted to work close to home." What we still need to know: * Do commuter wages flow back into local businesses? * How would mainland numbers look without the beach's influence? * What happens when state funding formulas miss local struggles? The bottom line: Strong statistics mask a harder truth - most working families here can't afford to both live AND work in their community. The real question isn't whether we're prosperous on paper. It's what it would take to build an economy where Currituck residents can actually earn a living close to home. Share your perspective below. Tell us how Currituck's commuter economy affects your family. We'll collect your stories and bring them to the Board of Commissioners to ask: What's the plan to create jobs here at home? This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit currituck.substack.com [https://currituck.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1]