San Mateo County Democratic PartyCandidate for County Central Committee, Supervisorial District 1

Income inequality is more than a soundbyte for political  discourse. Thanks to the information age we all have heard it,  know about it,  or experienced it. Income inequality is , put simply,  poverty expressed within the confines  of economic analysis and data. Analyses and statistical reports about the latest employment statistics , housing needs and demographic trends and displacement and gaps in  affordable health care services are important. However, if we want as Democrats especially to talk and act  about a fair and equitable society we  need to urge a more holistic view of  income inequality, accessible housing and health care . We need to accept that poverty is more than an abstraction often  contained within data rich statistics and reports. Its' potency, as one of the driving challenges of our times is that it has a human dynamic. This dynamic reflects the day to day interaction  between  wage level differentiation,  competing housing demands and proper health care.   In spite of all of the attacks upon Government we need to accept  Government  as our partner. We should remind our policy makers to see that there is more in common between these areas and they  should not be seen as competing interests. Here in California we have taken the step of providing care for nearly 13 million children, seniors and working families the Medi-Cal Funding and Acountability Act. A great step forward.
For example.. let's look at the link between affordable and accessible  housing and affordable health care.  Policymakers need to recognize that affordable housing needs be to  examined with more sensitivity regarding aging populations, the disabled and their health care expenses , younger persons saddled with student debt or working at a barely livable wage. It is time to take a closer local look at the effects wage gaps between women and men younger or older workers have upon planning decisions.   Local governments need to look at their  housing decisions from a qualitative viewpoint.  Yes, the metrics about how many new units we need is a very important discussion. However, a closer examination about the impact of this need  upon the  more vulnerable is vital. It would be remiss to imply that local agencies do not realize this. What I am saying is that there needs to be a clearer recognition of these interrelationships in their decisionmaking. What would be an example of  example of this approach? The House Committee on Ways and Means  recently   scheduled a hearing  on 'Moving America's Families Forward: Setting Priorities for Reducing Poverty and Expanding Opportunity"  "Each year people with disabilities initiate over half of the reported complaints of housing discrimination."  A recent attack on Fair Housing was recently opposed by the Senate in response. Altho at the federal level ,  we can see concern for the  less vulnerable as an example of human oriented policy making.  In somewhat the same way that the interrelationship between climate change and the global economy is portrayed  the connection between income inequality, accssible housing and healthcare warrant more support  at the state and local levels.   Without that perspective the web of poverty poses serious concern for the future.