City Councilman Ed Neilson has introduced a resolution calling for the creation of a special City Council committee on income equality.
Income equality refers to how income is unevenly distributed across a regional or national economy and highlights the gap between the households earning a higher proportion of the nation’s income and those earning the least.
“The president said in his State of the Union Address that income inequality needs to be addressed at all government levels. It’s time for Philadelphia to step up and be a leader with income inequality,” Neilson said.
Census data indicate that 26.5 percent of Philadelphians live below the poverty level and struggle to afford basic needs such as housing, nutritious foods, childcare and transportation. Income inequality is increasing in Philadelphia while Pennsylvania was one of 15 states in which the gap between rich and poor continued to widen through 2013.
Income inequality impacts numerous economic and social policy considerations, including tax revenues, economic growth, job creation, affordable housing, educational opportunity and poverty levels.
This special committee on income inequality would consist of at least five Council members who are appointed by the Council president. The special committee would submit a full report to the council and the mayor and make its findings and recommendations available to the public.
“As we better understand the core issue of income inequality, we will be better prepared to address issues such as affordable housing and minimum wage,” Neilson said. ••
