LA County approves pilot for guaranteed basic income

LOS ANGELES (CNS) — The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors voted 4-1 Tuesday to approve proposals for a pilot guaranteed income program, one of which calls for $1,000 per month to be paid to 1,000 residents for at least three years.

Supervisor Kathryn Barger was the dissenting vote, expressing concerns about lack of research into the plans and the potential for fraud.

Supervisors Holly Mitchell and Sheila Kuehl co-authored a motion declaring that poverty and economic opportunity are public health issues and calling for a broad strategic plan to address a growing wealth gap.

"As we endeavor to create a more resilient economy ... we must explore guaranteed income and other measures of poverty alleviation as permanent county policy, not just as an emergency measure," the motion read in part. "The coronavirus crisis has heightened and made more vivid what was already clear to many: The inequities in our economy have been a matter of life and death for many of our most vulnerable county residents."

Read more: https://spectrumnews1.com/ca/orange-county/politics/2021/05/18/la-county-approves-pilot-for-guaranteed-basic-income