Latest news with #GuaranteedIncome
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Former vice chair of the DNC: Meet NYC mayoral candidate Michael Blake
The Brief Former Assemblymember Michael Blake is running for New York City mayor. Blake represented the Bronx's 79th District for three terms before resigning to run for the U.S. House of Representatives. He has been cross-endorsed by fellow candidate Zohran Mamdani. NEW YORK CITY - Former Assemblymember and vice chair of the Democratic National Committee Michael Blake is running for New York City mayor – here's everything you should know about him. MORE: Meet the candidates running for NYC mayor: List The backstory Michael Blake, the son of two Jamaican immigrants, was raised in the Bronx. He went on to study at Northwestern University, where he graduated with a degree in journalism. Blake joined former President Barack Obama's campaign as the Iowa Deputy Political Director and Constituency Outreach Director in 2007; following the election, he concluded as the Michigan Deputy State Director and Political Director for the general election by the end of Obama's first campaign. He went on to serve as the National Deputy Director of Operation Vote for the Obama-Biden 2012 reelection campaign – he was also the campaign manager for Reshma Saujani's campaign for New York City Public Advocate in 2013. In 2014, former Assembly Member Eric Stevenson was found guilty of taking more than $20,000 in bribes, and was forced out of his seat as a result. Blake ran to replace him, winning the general election with 92 percent of the vote. Blake ran for New York City Public Advocate in 2019, but lost to current Public Advocate Jumaane Williams. MORE: 2025 NYC primaries coverage He represented the Bronx's 79th District until 2020 – rather than seeking reelection, he ran for the U.S. House of Representatives. Blake ran to represent New York's 15th congressional district, but ultimately lost the primary election to Rep. Ritchie Torres. Blake was also the Vice Chair of the Democratic National Committee from 2017 to 2021. What we know Blake put his hat in the ring for NYC's mayor on November 24, 2024. An Emerson College Polling/PIX11/The Hill survey released on May 28 revealed that 1.5 percent of voters support Blake. He and fellow candidate Zohran Mamdani cross-endorsed each other on June 16. Regarding affordability, Blake has established that he will declare a Cost of Living Emergency within 100 days if elected as mayor – this will unlock city reserves to "provide urgent relief to families struggling with rent, groceries, childcare and transportation." This administration, if elected, would also launch a Guaranteed Income pilot program for those living below the poverty line, as well as implement universal child care. MORE: Notable endorsements for NYC mayoral candidates Blake would establish a permanent Immigrant Services Director to "ensure legal support, language access and business resources for immigrant New Yorkers." He also has a plan specifically for Black New Yorkers: "As your mayor, I will pursue a bold Black Agenda rooted in equity, justice and economic empowerment, with policies that address long-standing disparities and build toward a city where every New Yorker can thrive." The Source This article includes information from Michael Blake's mayoral campaign website, results from several elections and an Emerson College Polling/PIX11/The Hill survey.
CBC
11-06-2025
- Business
- CBC
Is Windsor-Essex ready for a guaranteed basic income? This senator says it's time
Social Sharing Windsor had the dubious distinction of having the second highest unemployment in the country last month — and that's among the reasons our community would benefit from a universal basic income, according to a Canadian senator. In late May, Sen. Kim Pate introduced Bill S-206, which calls upon the federal government to develop a financial framework for a Guaranteed Livable Basic Income. "How can we actually weave a safety net that leaves no one behind?" Pate said. "This bill is one strand in a social and economic fabric that would help us rebuild." Statistics Canada says Windsor's unemployment rate in May was 10.8 per cent. Only Peterborough had it harder with an unemployment rate of 11.7 per cent. And the situation could worsen in the near future: Pate says the growing reality of job losses due to the trade war and artificial intelligence technology means talking about a guaranteed income in Canada is more relevant than ever. "At a time like now, when we're facing the threat from the United States, when we're facing the threat of A.I., when we're facing challenges to industry — it strikes me that it's a perfect time for us to develop a plan that actually leaves nobody behind," Pate said. Lorraine Goddard, CEO of United Way/Centraide Windsor-Essex County, also believes the community would benefit from a guaranteed livable basic income — because she feels the current system isn't providing people with the support they need to improve their situations. "Social assistance programs keep people in poverty. They don't give people enough to live," Goddard said. "You're just living moment to moment in deprivation mode." "I see so many families and children really struggling... If you could help a family get that basic income, get them stabilized, let them help their children get through school successfully — then you could see, in 10 years, a transformation in this community." It's not the first time Pate has advocated for a guaranteed basic income. In 2021, she introduced a similar bill — S-233. But progress on that bill ended with the prorogation of Parliament in January 2025. "It died on the order paper," Pate admitted. Bill S-206 is entering its second reading in the Senate. It will need to survive multiple readings in the House of Commons to become law. It's still too early for Pate's idea to involve actual numbers and policy. But in 2017, the Province of Ontario experimented with a pilot project that provided a basic income to around 4,000 low-income people in Hamilton, Thunder Bay, and Lindsay. That project offered approximately $17,000 a year to single individuals, and $24,000 to couples. The amount was reduced by 50 cents for every dollar earned through work. Pate said a federal program could have a similar system — adjusted for the current economy. "Let's streamline this process," she said. "Make it universally accessible to people once they drop below a set income. Let's provide the resources the people need to rebound out (of poverty). Not just stay stuck in it." Critics like Franco Terrazzano, director of the Canadian Taxpayers Federation, believe that such a program is something the country simply can't afford. "You've got to remember: The federal government is broke. It's more than a trillion dollars in debt," Terrazzano said. A universal basic income in Canada would be "massively expensive," Terrazzano said. "Even in the best case scenario, this would cost Canadian taxpayers billions of dollars every single year... This would be big time tax increases for Canadians who are already struggling." Indeed, in the Parliamentary Budget Officer's study of Bill S-206, the gross cost of implementation is estimated at $107 billion. But Pate pointed out that the PBO's estimate is for the gross cost: The net cost could be as low as $3 billion, taking into account potential long-term savings in existing social assistance, health care, and the legal system. As an example, Pate cited the work of Canadian economist Evelyn Forget, who found that low-income people in a Manitoba community were inducing massive costs at their local emergency room — because they didn't have preventative health care and proper nutrition. "If we looked at what we actually spend now on those initiatives, the administration alone would cover a lot of costs," Pate suggested. "[The PBO] has very much said we would likely see many cost savings, particularly in health care and the criminal legal system." According to Terrazzano, the reality is that "if you pay people not to work, fewer people will end up working." Meanwhile, Pate believes the main obstacle to adopting a guaranteed livable basic income isn't finding the funding or the political will — it's adjusting attitudes. "The biggest barrier to implementing this kind of approach is the view that poor people somehow will waste the money or defraud the system," Pate said. "It's the stigma that attaches to poor people, the presumption that it's their own fault... a presumption that there are some people who deserve to be supported — and some who don't." Patrick Clark is a Windsor civil lawyer who earned his master's degree in political science from the University of Windsor with a 2021 paper titled The Answer to Poverty: A Universal Basic Income in Canada. Four years later, Clark says his views on the issue haven't changed: "That's the big key, moving forward: To put in place a system that essentially helps those who no longer can help themselves. "Right now, we have a situation where there are a lot of people who are unable to cover their basic needs — while we see the corporations at the top continue to increase prices. You'll find people falling further and further behind."
Associated Press
29-04-2025
- Business
- Associated Press
TWO DOZEN STATE LEGISLATORS JOIN NATIONAL GUARANTEED INCOME COALITION
Mayors for a Guaranteed Income announces Legislators for a Guaranteed Income WASHINGTON, April 29, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, Mayors for a Guaranteed Income (MGI) and Counties for a Guaranteed Income (CGI) announced the expansion of its network of elected officials advocating for unconditional cash aid policies. Legislators for a Guaranteed Income (LGI) is starting with 23 founding members in 17 states. They join a network of over 230 Mayors and county officials championing unconditional cash policies. So far, MGI and CGI have launched a total of 72 guaranteed income pilots, which have distributed about $335 million in direct economic relief. Currently, there are 25 bills introduced in 11 states for some form of statewide guaranteed income program. At a time when key federal aid programs are being dismantled, the abundance of guaranteed income legislation in statehouses shows the increased leadership that state leaders are taking to pick up the slack and bolster economic stability for residents. LGI members have introduced legislation including: 'We need leaders of moral courage who see the world as it is and are ready to fight for a vision of what it can be,' said Tennessee State Representative Justin J. Pearson. 'The call for guaranteed income that Dr. King put out is being answered today by hundreds of cities and counties across the nation, and I'm proud to expand the movement by joining Legislators for a Guaranteed Income.' Partnering with independent researchers, this democratic groundswell is producing the largest body of data proving guaranteed incomeworks. Independent researchers have found higher rates of employment, improved financial stability, better housing and food security, and more time spent together as families, among other benefits. 'I began championing a guaranteed income as a County Supervisor in Santa Clara County, where we launched a pilot program for foster youth aging out of the system. In the California State Senate, I'm proud to have launched the first statewide GI program for foster youth and pregnant women in 2022 and this year I introduced SB 33 to provide homeless high school students with a guaranteed income to help them transition into college and careers,' said California State Senator Dave Cortese. 'A version of this legislation has already been piloted at the county level with state funding I secured. I believe youth in poverty deserve more than just survival—they deserve a real chance to thrive. That's why I'm proud to be a founding member of Legislators for a Guaranteed Income.' As the cost of living rapidly outpaces wage growth, more and more Americans are struggling to get by, despite working multiple jobs. More than one in three are considered working poor, and 63% of working Americans don't have enough saved to cover a $500 emergency–an increasingly common scenario as prices rise on many essentials. 'With the launch of Legislators for a Guaranteed Income, we are expanding our movement from one mayor in one city to more than 250 leaders in local and state government across the nation who believe we can increase economic opportunity with better policy,' said Michael D. Tubbs, founder and Co-Chair of Mayors for a Guaranteed Income. Founding members of Legislators for a Guaranteed Income: CA State Senator Dave Cortese CA State Assemblymember Matt Haney HI State Senator Chris Lee IA State Representative Elinor Levin IL State Senator Graciela Guzman IL State Senator Ram Villivalam MA State Representative Marjorie Decker MD State Senator Cory McCray MD State Delegate Gabriel Acevero MN State Representative Athena Hollins MN State Senator Clare Oumou Verbeten NC State Senator Natalie Murdock NY State Senator Andrew Gounardes OH State Representative Dontavius Jarrells OR State Senator Wlnsvey Campos PA State Representative Malcolm Kenyatta TN State Representative Justin J. Pearson TN State Senate Minority Leader Raumesh Akbari TX State Representative Ron Reynolds VT State Representative Jubilee McGill WA State Senator T'wina Nobles WA State House Speaker Laurie Jinkins WI State Assemblymember Francesca Hong Visit to learn more. Founded in June of 2020 by former Stockton Mayor Michael Tubbs, Mayors for a Guaranteed Income is a coalition of more than 180 mayors committed to advancing a federal guaranteed income – direct, recurring cash payments to middle and low-income people. Expanding to include city and county legislators in 2023 with Counties for a Guaranteed Income, the network acts as a research and resource hub for municipal pilots around the country–over 70 and counting. An award-winning documentary film, It's Basic, which premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival in June 2023, follows recipients and illuminates the life-changing impact of guaranteed income programs on families' economic security and opportunity. View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE Mayors for a Guaranteed Income
Yahoo
14-02-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
KRQE Newsfeed: DWI lawsuit, Musk lawsuit, Stormy day, City communication, New equipment
Suspect charged with fatal stabbing on Albuquerque city bus Leaders to consider Guaranteed Income program for some ABQ families Young boy honored for donating organs following death in Santa Fe mobile home fire City of Albuquerque using goats to mitigate fire risk in the Bosque UNM, City of Albuquerque working to expand university's presence downtown What's happening around New Mexico February 14-20 [1] Victims of DWI scheme file class action lawsuit – Victims of the DWI corruption scandal involving officers from multiple law enforcement agencies are joining forces in a class action lawsuit. A group of local attorneys are calling the scheme a widespread issue of systemic corruption. Since the feds started charging key players in the scheme, more victims have come forward. [2] NMDOJ joins other states to sue Elon Musk, DOGE – New Mexico Attorney General Raul Torrez and 13 other attorney general's are taking legal action against DOGE and Elon Musk. Recently, Musk, who was granted access to sensitive government data, played a role in cutting the federal workforce and pushed to eliminate entire agencies. Torrez argued that President Trump violated the appointments clause of the U.S. Constitution by creating a new federal department without congressional approval and by granting Musk over federal agencies without the consent of the Senate. In their lawsuit, the plaintiffs are asking the courts to invalidate Musk's work and bar him from issuing any orders to anyone in the executive branch outside of DOGE. [3] Snow, rain, & wind in New Mexico on Valentine's Day – Mountain snow is moving into northwest and northern New Mexico and southwest Colorado. Some of this snow will be heavy at times, especially in southwest Colorado and in the northern mountains. Lower elevations will see a break in the precipitation before a line of rain and mountain snow moves in from the west early Friday afternoon. For Albuquerque, we will likely stay dry most of the day, with increasing rain chances by Friday evening. It will fizzle out by late Friday night, but some mountain snow showers will continue through the overnight hours. Quieter weather returns late Friday night into early Saturday morning. [4] ABQ City Council President calls for better communication with Mayor's Administration – Albuquerque's city council president calls it a major breakdown in communication between councilors and Mayor Tim Keller's administration. The conflict comes after the Keller administration told councilors they need to start emailing their questions for department heads ahead of council meetings to ensure accurate answers. Thursday, Councilor Brook Bassan released a letter saying she is now considering not putting the mayor's items on council agendas. In response to Bassan's letter, the Chief Administrative Officer says she's 'always happy to discuss whatever challenges individual councilors are having.' [5] New weather station on the Zuni Pueblo expected to save lives – A key piece of equipment that could save lives is up and running on the Zuni Pueblo. The new weather station at the Andrew Othello Airport is now the official weather station for the Zuni Pueblo area, providing real time updates to pilots and meteorologists. Community leaders says this will be a game changer for them and for the critical patient care that is needed in the area, an issue that was highlighted when hundreds of emergency calls couldn't be answered during bad weather. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
