Part 5/7:
As Walgreens shutters its stores, the fallout is felt most acutely by low-income residents who may need to travel significantly farther to obtain medications and essential goods. The closures underscore the broader reality that policies intended to promote equity are, in reality, exacerbating disparities. Profoundly, while legislation seeks to help low-income communities, the concomitant rise in crime alongside regulatory pressures is forcing these essential services to retreat, leaving vulnerable populations without accessible resources.