Leng Power: Poverty greater threat than Ebola

Re “Economic inequality is a great concern, Yellen says” (Page A6, Oct. 18): After reading about the Olam plant reduction of over 150 workers and the relocation of American Medical Response from Salida to potentially overseas, I was relieved to find The Associated Press article in which Federal Reserve Chair Janet Yellen voiced concerns over income inequality in the United States. Here in the Valley, where the poverty rate far exceeds that of the state average at 23 percent, the reality of competitive job creation and middle class sustainability is increasingly elusive. Access to upward mobility for this entire generation is being denied. The gap nationwide has steadily worsened over the last 30 years and shows no signs of reversing unless we, as a society, identify that income inequality is as great a threat – or perhaps greater – than Ebola or dog maulings. What is at risk is the well-being of our communities, the livelihood of our state, the prosperity of everyone in our nation.

This story was originally published October 28, 2014 at 1:59 PM with the headline "Leng Power: Poverty greater threat than Ebola."