Should the verb used bed was or were

The surreal poverty and depression suffered by the city’s people was palpable the instant I arrived

[MikeNewYork]

Originally Posted by Unregistered

The surreal poverty and depression suffered by the city’s people was palpable the instant I arrived

I would use "were" because the subject contains two elements. It is possible, however, for someone to see the two elements as so interrelated that they are actually one thing. Such a person might use a singualr verb. Nevertheless, the plural verb is the safest choice.