Dear Neighbor,
This set of short takes is the second in a series about the wealth gap and its effects. ICYMI, here's the first.
LIFE EXPECTANCY
That 2016 study is here.
A more recent report by the National Council on Aging concluded that "those in the bottom 20% of wealth died on average nine years earlier than those in the top 20%."
FOOD
iHeart reports, "According to a list compiled by LoveFood, the most expensive meal in Massachusetts is served at O Ya in Boston. 20 pieces of nigiri, sashimi can run customers $295, and drinks can cost up to $160 per meal."
Meanwhile, Robert Reich reports that "According to the CEO of McDonald’s, fast food chains saw a double-digit dip in visits from lower- and middle-income customers in the first quarter of 2025.
"The reason? He says we’re becoming a two-tiered economy, and lower- and middle-income customers can no longer afford fast food." Here's Reich's report on youtube.
Over a million people in Massachusetts - 15.2% of the population - qualify for and receive SNAP benefits, which are at risk due to federal action. 74% of working-age recipients are employed, half of them full-time. The Globe found that many work for "high-profile" corporations like Amazon and Walmart. Click here for the full list.
Government safety net programs like SNAP are needed because many jobs don't pay a living wage.
MASSACHUSETTS
Here's the CBS report on the census data.
What would you like more or less of in these newsletters? I hope you're interested in the wealth gap and its consequences and potential remedies; I am.
Stay in touch,
Pat Jehlen
(Facebook post to right is here.)