Thanks to Sitara.
Mayors for a Guaranteed Income
(https://www.mayorsforagi.org/)
“I am now convinced that the simplest approach will prove to be the most effective — the solution to poverty is to abolish it directly by a now widely discussed measure: the guaranteed income.”
— Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
Mayors for a Guaranteed Income is a network of mayors advocating for a guaranteed income to ensure that all Americans have an income floor.
A guaranteed income is a monthly, cash payment given directly to individuals. It is unconditional, with no strings attached and no work requirements. A guaranteed income is meant to supplement, rather than replace, the existing social safety net and can be a tool for racial and gender equity. Learn more here.
What is a guaranteed income?
A guaranteed income is a monthly, cash payment given directly to individuals. It is unconditional, with no strings attached and no work requirements. A guaranteed income is meant to supplement, rather than replace, the existing social safety net and can be a tool for racial and gender equity.
Why is guaranteed income the right solution?
Cash is the simplest yet most powerful way to do the most good for the most people in these uncertain times. It is powerful for three reasons. First, it moves quickly. Even with Treasury problems, 80 million American households have already received a check the government just mandated a couple weeks ago. Second, it allows for flexibility. No two American households are identical in their needs. While one will need funds for rent, others will need it for childcare, and yet others will need it for a laptop so their child can engage in distance learning. And of course, most families need something different every month. Third, many people are only partially covered by or completely left out of existing social safety net programs. Cash can help fill these gaps and ensure everybody who needs help gets it.
How would we pay for a guaranteed income?
Budgets are moral documents, and it’s time for the U.S. government to prioritize everyday Americans and their economic dignity. There’s a number of ways to pay for guaranteed income, from a sovereign wealth fund in which citizens benefit from shared national resources like the Alaska Permanent Fund, to bringing tax rates on the wealthiest Americans to their 20th century historical averages.
Are there places where guaranteed income is already happening?
There’s a number of guaranteed income pilots happening all across the country. In Stockton, Mayor Michael D. Tubbs has been giving 125 residents $500 per month, since February 2019. In Jackson, Mississippi, Springboard to Opportunities & the Magnolia Mothers Trust are giving $1000 per month to Black mothers. In addition, Chicago, Newark, and Atlanta have formed task forces exploring the feasibility of guaranteed income pilots, and Milwaukee’s city council has directed the creation of a pilot.
Are there places where guaranteed income is already happening?
There’s a number of guaranteed income pilots happening all across the country. In Stockton, Mayor Michael D. Tubbs has been giving 125 residents $500 per month, since February 2019. In Jackson, Mississippi, Springboard to Opportunities & the Magnolia Mothers Trust are giving $1000 per month to Black mothers. In addition, Chicago, Newark, and Atlanta have formed task forces exploring the feasibility of guaranteed income pilots, and Milwaukee’s city council has directed the creation of a pilot.
(Read more: https://www.mayorsforagi.org/.)