The city could give 2,000 families $1,000 a month in what would be the largest program of its kind in the country.

If approved, a $24 million guaranteed income program in Los Angeles would be "the largest experiment of its kind in the United States" to date, writes Libby Denkmann in LAist. "Under the proposal, dubbed 'BIG: LEAP' (Basic Income Guaranteed: L.A. Economic Assistance Pilot), 2,000 Angeleno families at or below the federal poverty line would receive $1,000 a month for one year, no strings attached."
Los Angeles mayor Eric Garcetti told LAist "For families who can't think past the next bill, the next shift or the next health problem that they have, we can give them the space to not only dream of a better life, but to actualize it." The plan will likely include additional selection criteria such as "supporting a child under the age of 18 and a demonstrated medical or financial hardship connected to COVID-19."
"If successful, the Los Angeles pilot would serve as a major proof-of-concept for direct cash assistance that is divorced from the work requirements attached to many safety net programs for poor Americans, such as the Earned Income Tax Credit."
The concept of guaranteed income is nothing new. According to Michael Tubbs, former mayor of Stockton and one of the first city officials to push for a guaranteed income program in their city, "Dr. King called for guaranteed income in 1967. But the pandemic really illustrated the ways the economy isn't working for many people," paving the way for more cities across the country to consider some type of cash assistance. "It's a really important time to revisit the assumptions that have been underlying our existing welfare programs," says Nika Soon-Shiong, program director for the city of Compton's guaranteed income program, which launched this January.
FULL STORY: $1,000 A Month, No Strings Attached: Garcetti Proposes A Guaranteed Basic Income Pilot In Los Angeles

Americans May Be Stuck — But Why?
Americans are moving a lot less than they once did, and that is a problem. While Yoni Applebaum, in his highly-publicized article Stuck, gets the reasons badly wrong, it's still important to ask: why are we moving so much less than before?

Using Old Oil and Gas Wells for Green Energy Storage
Penn State researchers have found that repurposing abandoned oil and gas wells for geothermal-assisted compressed-air energy storage can boost efficiency, reduce environmental risks, and support clean energy and job transitions.

Placekeeping: Setting a New Precedent for City Planners
How a preservation-based approach to redevelopment and urban design can prevent displacement and honor legacy communities.

San Francisco’s Muni Ridership Grew in 2024
The system saw its highest ridership since before the Covid-19 pandemic, but faces a severe budget shortage in the coming year.

Colorado Lawmakers Move to Protect BRT Funding
In the face of potential federal funding cuts, CDOT leaders reasserted their commitment to planned bus rapid transit projects.

Safe Streets Funding in Jeopardy
The Trump administration is specifically targeting bike infrastructure and other road safety projects in its funding cuts.
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