It’s not a new idea, but more and more cities and jurisdictions are giving it a try: Universal Basic Income, or UBI.
The concept is that everyone is guaranteed a minimum amount of money, typically perhaps $500 a month, to help them meet their basic needs. In some places, only those below a designated economic threshold get the money.
It was famously pioneered in Stockton in 2019, and one of the latest to give it a trial run was Oakland, where philanthropic organizations teamed up to give 600 families $500 a month for a year and a half. That pilot project is over now, and the results of how it worked are in.
For more, KCBS Political reporter Doug Sovern spoke with Jesus Gerena, CEO of UpTogether, an organization founded in Oakland that partnered with Oakland Thrives to create and fund this program.
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