Covid-19 USA: Stockton mayor Michael Tubbs gives $ 500 a month to vulnerable families

The coronavirus pandemic has put an end to the world. Many American workers are unemployed because many have lost their jobs. Store closings, business shutdowns, the economy is at its lowest.

Sensitive to the suffering of people, a mayor of Stockton, Michael Tubbs, gives $ 500 a month to vulnerable people in northern California. He has always been a staunch supporter of the universal basic income.

Since February 2019, he has experienced a minimum income in his city of 125 inhabitants who live in extreme poverty with less than $ 46,000 per year. For 18 months, they will be entitled to this assistance. The mayor of Stockton took care to fund his project largely by the private sector through the NGO Economic Security Project, an organization created by Facebook co-founder Chris Hughes. His initiative is timely, because since the coronavirus pandemic, American families are really in need.

«This money gave me a little peace of mind,” says Lorrine Paradela, who is raising two children alone. “Before I worked a lot and when I came home it kept spinning in my head, the bills, the rent, the fridge to fill …”

Priority to basic necessities

Two researchers, Stacia Martin-West and Amy Castro Baker observed this experiment closely. They pointed out that 40% of the minimum income is spent on food, 24% on other daily necessities, 11% on bill payments and 9% on gasoline.

 «I was told that people were going to spend this money stupidly,” recalls Michael Tubbs. “But with this program we are showing that a little boost can make the difference in a tight budget and help households get by on their own.”

Trump administration is launching a “historic” economic assistance plan for families.

Americans most affected by COVID-19 will receive aid because the US economy is in recession and millions of people have lost their jobs. A check for $ 1,200 per person as long as their annual income does not exceed $ 75,000 and a check for $ 2,400 for married couples earning up to $ 150,000. An amount of $ 500 per child will also be allocated to these people.

Michael Tubbs explained his joy to The Huffington Post regarding this help for families in need:

«I’m happy that our federal government has shown a willingness to understand… that during times of crisis, the best thing you can do is to give folks cash to navigate through.” “It has to last at least as long as the crisis..”

The mayor of California expresses that the universal income must continue during this health crisis. That it must become a permanent part of the government.

“Even before this catastrophic disruption, a lot of folks were living in economic crisis,” said Tubbs, “and our economy was not working for the vast majority of people. It behooves all of us to ensure that everyone at least has an income floor. »