Stockton mayor combats poverty with innovative and controversial program

[Boiler 46,072]

In 2012, Stockton, California, filed for bankruptcy, and was one of Forbes' "Most Miserable Cities in America."  Stockton is now ranked the second most fiscally-healthy city in the state. But nearly one in four people live below the poverty line.

In 2016, Michael Tubbs was elected mayor at the age of 26. The Stanford graduate is the youngest mayor of a city with more than 100,000 people, and is Stockton's first African-American mayor.

Mayor Tubbs is addressing his town's poverty with an innovative and controversial program to give some Stockton residents $500 a month to fight economic hardship.

 

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/stockton-mayor-promotes-combating-poverty-with-universal-basic-income/

[yuna628 9,712]

I like the idea that it is paid for by a philanthropic fund at least. Wouldn't it be nice if there were more philanthropists willing to do something to assist the very poor in the US without relying on taxes? I do think that some strings should be attached to it though, at least if a city decides to something like that. It mentions a little bit about a higher education and trade school fund, which is also good - but are there any statistics to find out if ultimately both things are helping people get better paying jobs?

 

The article doesn't really talk a whole lot how the program works, but at least in 2017 this article made it sound like it would only benefit a couple hundred residents, and that later on there could be additional consequences. https://www.vox.com/policy-and-politics/2017/10/18/16479796/stockton-california-basic-income-economic-security-experiment

[Voice of Reason 10,298]

Ever been to a state park?  See those signs telling you not to feed the wildlife, that they would become dependent on the handouts and stop functioning normally, being able to hunt for themselves?

 

There’s a reason behind those warning signs.

 

I agree with Yuna that it’s great that it’s being funded by rich people vs taxes, but after 1-3 years of getting this $6K handed to them... don’t you think they will just come to expect it to continue?

 

Fast forward 20 years, and EVERYONE wants said $6K annually.  What then?  Why do YOU get it, and I don’t?

 

 

[Boiler 46,072]

Certainly be interesting to see what happens, maybe a lot of new residents from San Fran and LA?

[The Nature Boy 7,659]

I would love to see a program that tied Assistance programs to if a kid stays in school, stays out of trouble and graduates

 

I bet those parent of throw away, get me a check kids would take an interest  then

 

 

[Cyberfx1024 7,980]

3 hours ago, Boiler said:

Certainly be interesting to see what happens, maybe a lot of new residents from San Fran and LA?

Alot of the homeless have been frequenting LA, OC, and San Fran because of the subsidies  and lack of rules they make them enforce. So I will want to see what the result of this program will be

[eieio 1,594]

3 hours ago, cyberfx1024 said:

Alot of the homeless have been frequenting LA, OC, and San Fran because of the subsidies  and lack of rules they make them enforce. So I will want to see what the result of this program will be

It is just a waste of money if you are looking for long term solutions. In the short term, some will be able to quit there job and maintain the same lifestyle , others will get an even bigger tv, some will be able to get more and better drugs and a very small percentage will use this opportunity to better their life in the long run. Maybe 2%. The rest will just scream that they are going to die when the money is threatened to be cut off.  They will turn their anger at the people who gave them the money in the first place.  The vast majority of poor people will always be poor after a short time, no matter how much money you give them. 

[Dashinka 24,778]

16 hours ago, IDWAF said:

Ever been to a state park?  See those signs telling you not to feed the wildlife, that they would become dependent on the handouts and stop functioning normally, being able to hunt for themselves?

 

There’s a reason behind those warning signs.

 

I agree with Yuna that it’s great that it’s being funded by rich people vs taxes, but after 1-3 years of getting this $6K handed to them... don’t you think they will just come to expect it to continue?

 

Fast forward 20 years, and EVERYONE wants said $6K annually.  What then?  Why do YOU get it, and I don’t?

 

 

I think you are forgetting the adjustments for inflation after 20 years.

16 hours ago, Boiler said:

Certainly be interesting to see what happens, maybe a lot of new residents from San Fran and LA?

It might be a magnet to attract more residents.