Dozens of US cities can introduce guaranteed income: list

In Martin Luther King Jr.'s 1967 book Where Do We Go From Here: Chaos or Community? civil rights leader discussed how best to combat poverty in the United States, writes CNBC.

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“I am convinced that the simplest approach will be the most effective—the solution to poverty is to eradicate it entirely through a much-debated measure: a guaranteed income,” he wrote.

King was not the first to offer guaranteed income. Political philosophers from Montesquieu to Thomas Paine have also spoken out in support of what is often called "universal basic income." And the idea was recently re-popularized by former Democratic presidential candidate and current New York mayoral candidate Andrew Young.

Nonetheless, King's writings are considered the most prominent in influencing American city mayors' efforts to provide income security. A coalition of 35 mayors from Texas to Minnesota has been formed to support direct, regular cash payments to citizens and run their own guaranteed income programs. The organization uses King's words extensively on its website to describe its mission as “rooted” in the legacy of a civil rights leader.

The Mayors for a Guaranteed Income Coalition, sometimes called MGI, was founded by Michael Tubbs, then-mayor of Stockton, California, in June 2020 after his city launched and then expanded a basic income program that provided 125 residents with monthly assistance. $500 in funding from the Economic Security Project, a nonprofit that supports other guaranteed income experiments.

On the subject: Unconditional income: a city in California will distribute money to residents, including illegal immigrants

Impact of the pandemic

This philosophy of making direct cash payments the most respectful and efficient way to provide citizens with the funds they need has gained significant momentum during the coronavirus pandemic, including among bipartisan lawmakers who have opted to distribute billions of dollars in economic aid through direct sending of funds rather than alternative approaches. such as tax write-offs.

While the distribution of the checks was far from smooth, they proved to be the key to keeping the US economy afloat. Perhaps the most common complaint about financial aid was that it was not significant and regular.

Finally, the pandemic also demonstrated how much support Americans need.

You may be interested in: top New York news, stories of our immigrants and helpful tips about life in the Big Apple - read it all on ForumDaily New York

“Millions of households have lost some or all of their work income over the past year due to the economic crisis as a result of COVID. It is critical that the Biden administration and the new Congress prioritize a stimulus package that closes the income gaps people face locally. Data shows that the most effective way to achieve this is through periodic payments, says Stacey Rutland, president and founder of the Income Movement, a nonprofit that aims to promote universal basic income. “Ten months into COVID, it is clear that multiple payments or temporary income security will be needed to shorten the economic recovery.”

Here are 35 cities whose mayors already joined to the program:

1. Stockton, California
2. Chelsea, Massachusetts
3. Newark, New Jersey
4. Columbia, North Carolina
5. Atlanta, Georgia
6. Compton, California
7. New Orleans, LA
8. St. Paul, MN
9. Seattle, Washington
10. Providence, Rhode Island
11. Los Angeles, CA
12. Long Beach, California
13. Hudson, New York
14. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
15. Jackson, Mississippi
16. Holyoke, Massachusetts
17. Ithaca, New York
18. San Antonio, TX
19. Mount Vernon, New York
20. Pittsburgh, PA
21. Shreveport, LA
22. Gainesville, Florida
23. Gary, Indiana
24. Madison, WI
25. Waso, Wisconsin
26. Paterson, New Jersey
27. Oakland, California
28. Durham, NC
29. Cambridge, Massachusetts
30. Richmond, VA
31. Jamestown, New York
32. Houston, Texas
33. Santa Fe, New Mexico
34. College Park, Maryland
35. Tacoma, Washington

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