But the gap I am writing about today, is one of the critical reasons why I am running for a seat on Cambridge City Council. It is a gap of a different color.

While walking along Mass Ave in Central Square, I neared The Tavern and observed two gentlemen having a conversation. Each was dressed in slacks and a sport coat, and the one with the tweed jacket also wore a vest. His companion offered him a sip from a small bottle still in the brown paper bag provided by the package store.

Shaking his head no, no, no the gent with the vest pulled his companion into a doorway. Out came the bottle, the first man took a sip, and offered the exposed bottle to his companion. At that moment a Police Officer approached.

The Officer spoke briefly with the two gents and then told the man with the bottle, “Put that bottle down right here.” Then he told him to leave. Pointing to the sidewalk, where the bottle had been placed, he told the second gent, “Pick that up.” When he stood upright again, holding the bottle, the Officer said, “I am placing you under arrest.” “Why?” protested the gent in the vest. “Because it is illegal to drink on the sidewalk,” advised the cop. I paused while he wagged his head sadly back and forth. His friend shuffled his feet a brief distance away.

Then I interjected, “But officer, it is not illegal to drink on the sidewalk.” Both gents and the officer turned to look at me. They hadn’t noticed me before. “See all those people?” I gestured toward the folks sitting in the fenced area on the sidewalk at The Tavern. They were enjoying their beer, wine, and even cocktails, as they lounged comfortably surrounded by flowers, with menus in hand. The man and the Police officer looked at the patrons of The Tavern even as one lifted a flagon to his lips.

An expression of shocked realization spread over the face of the Officer, then it was quickly replaced by anger. “Get out of here before I arrest you too,” he exclaimed.

Here is what the Gap looks like. It’s not just words that tug heartstrings or toggle guilt feelings. It’s that the Gap isn’t the actual number of feet separating the man in the vest and the patrons sitting at the Tavern. It is the whole experience of being unable to afford to participate is society in a meaningful way.

And it is not just not being able to drink on the sidewalk unless one can afford to sit at the table and order from the menu, nor does it affect only street people.

At thirty-some-thousand dollars a year, that police officer cannot afford to live in the community he works in. Hunger is growing among seniors. Housing and hunger are only two of the challenges facing residents in the city today, but they strike at the base of human dignity.

The Gap between those who can afford to shop in supermarkets and those standing in line at the food pantry is growing. The Gap between those who can afford housing at market rate and those who cannot is widening. What is the solution to this?

Certainly, the food stamp program has reduced hunger for families with children. It provides the same shopping experience with a food stamp card as with a credit card. But we need to make sure the food stamp program covers seniors more easily.

For example, did you know that the cost of a warm sweater, or throw, that a senior needs to keep warm is not considered a “qualified” expense when applying for food stamps?

Food stamps allow people to shop where they want. Section 8 vouchers allow folks to choose where they live and this is preferable to attaching and trapping low income folks in a given building or location. Section 8 allows the selection of housing near work, and cuts down on transportation time and expense.

But the loss of “affordable” housing since rent control ended has revealed another aspect to the housing crunch. Since Cambridge is a much-desired location, housing continues to be competitive. Folks with funds can buy or rent in Cambridge, but our dedicated police officer cannot. I believe we need to expand Section 8, and revise Section 811. We need to devise programs to help seniors age in place, to help close the housing Gap, and to stabilize our neighborhoods.

We need to move beyond recognizing the Gap, and our attendant desire to close the Gap, and commit to implementing plans that are effective. Expanding food stamps to better serve seniors is one step. Expansion of Section 8 and 811 is a necessary step to ensure the housing Gap does not widen further.

Then we need to work together to identify sustainable programs that would narrow the Gap.