Mayor Michael Bloomberg is determined to reduce poverty in New York, but first he needs to know how many poor people there are.

Federal standards are little help since they don't take into account the value of housing vouchers, food stamps, subsidized child care, and cash from the earned income tax credit. On the other hand, the way in which cost of living is calculated is likely too low. New York's new formula would set the poverty threshold at 80 percent of the median amount spent by Americans on essentials, such as food, rent, clothing, utilities and a little extra, with costs adjusted to New York prices.

Bloomberg has 31 antipoverty programs up and running, and he has invested significant personal funds in measuring their effects.

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