Oakland Mayor Libby Schaaf announced Tuesday a privately funded universal basic income program, to provide 600 Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) families with low-incomes an unconditional $500 per month for at least 18 months.
But there is a hitch – the program excludes poor white families. Mayor Schaaf says the program is only for “Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) (i.e. groups with the greatest wealth disparities per the Oakland Equity Index) with low incomes and at least 1 child under 18, regardless of documentation status. The term ‘family’ is defined broadly to recognize that families come in all shapes and sizes,” according to the Mayor’s office.
The Oakland Equity Index reports, “The median income for White households was 2.93 times the median income of African American households, while African Americans were most likely to be living at or below the federal poverty level (26.1%), compared to 21.9% of Latinos, 15.0% of Asians, and 8.4% of Whites.”
“The median income for White households was highest ($110,000) and the median income for African American households was lowest ($37,500). The median income for Asian households ($76,000) was similar to the citywide median income ($73,200), while Latino households fell below the citywide median with a median income of $65,000.”
But can Universal Basic Income of $500 per month help close that gap? It takes the lowest annual median income from $37,500 to $43,500. Perhaps encouraging new employers to the region with tax incentives, fee and permit waivers, and loosened regulations, would.
“In partnership with Family Independent Initiative and Mayors for a Guaranteed Income, Oakland Resilient Families will be among the nation’s largest efforts to determine the effectiveness of monthly unconditional payments to residents to help overcome economic instability,” the Mayor’s office reported. “Oakland Resilient Families is a collaboration between the Oakland-based community organization Family Independence Initiative and the national Mayors for a Guaranteed Income. The project will support 600 Oakland families while building momentum for strategies to eliminate racial disparities in economic stability, mobility, and assets through a guaranteed income.”
Former Stockton Mayor Michael D. Tubbs founded Mayors for a Guaranteed Income, was one of the early mayors to offer guaranteed income to low income residents. “Mayor Libby Schaaf joined Mayors for a Guaranteed Income as a founding mayor in 2020. Mayors for a Guaranteed Income (MGI) grew out of the groundbreaking Stockton Economic Empowerment Demonstration (SEED) led by former Mayor Michael Tubbs,” Schaaf’s office reported.
The jury is still out if the program “helps overcome economic instability.”
The seemingly noble goal behind universal basic income is to help to alleviate poverty. However, economists have long warned that UBI creates a disincentive to work.
The other issue with UBI is that it subsidizes non-productive activities, according to the Mises Institute. Rather than being encouraged to look for a job that pays enough to live on, too often people are lulled into using UBI to help fund flailing (or failing) careers as artists, actors or musicians – all very tough industries in which to make a living.
The Oakland Resilient Families website outlines its “Guiding Principles:”
According to Mayor Schaaf’s office, “Oakland Resilient Families is 100% funded through philanthropic donations anchored by an investment from Blue Meridian Partners’ Place Matters portfolio, which aims to improve economic and social mobility in communities across the US through investments both in place-based partnerships and in supports to catalyze their success. These investments go towards transformative upstream initiatives like the guaranteed income pilot, cradle-to-career education supports through the Oakland Promise, and systems change work across the city, county, and school district through Oakland Thrives.”
There may be more effective ways to help lift Oakland’s low income community out of poverty, and focusing on reducing the historic horrific crime rate in the city is one place to start, rather than ways to defund the police.
Violent and property crimes in Oakland are the highest in the state and increased 38% in 2020, according to Oakland Police. While the Oakland City Council unanimously voted in July 2020 cut the police department budget by 50% over the next two years, crime was escalating. The East Bay Times reported that the Oakland City council “created the Reimagining Public Safety Task Force to overhaul public safety in Oakland with the goal of increasing community safety through alternatives to 911 calls, and reallocating police funds into programs having to do with housing, health services, jobs and homelessness.”
The Mises Institute outlined basic ways to help alleviate poverty and unemployment, noting, “the best steps to take are in the directions of reducing the cost of living and creating conditions favorable to plentiful employment.”
- It must be easy to start a business.
- It must be easy to operate the new business.
- It must be easy to make a profit so the business can survive the first few years and,
- It must be easy to hire employees.
And in Oakland, it must first be safe enough do all of this.
View Comments (31)
Imagine being this racist.
Imagine the writer of this article pointing out the racist aspect almost in passing, but failing to disavow it in any way.
Hmm, preference based on race? That does not seem racist at all. I did not know that poverty skips white people.
I am sorry folks but this should be challenged in court, it seems it would break the Civil Rights Act of 1964. It is a public program and seems to be discriminatory toward one race.
I hope there's a lawsuit in the works. In addition to being blatantly racist, her program is unconstitutional.
The Oakland Equity Index reports, “The median income for White households was 2.93 times the median income of African American households, while African Americans were most likely to be living at or below the federal poverty level (26.1%), compared to 21.9% of Latinos, 15.0% of Asians, and 8.4% of Whites.” Given the figures above, where is the racism of the program. It seems that Whites complain about Blacks being poor, yet whenever an effort is made to lift them up ever so slightly, Whites get jealous and want what Blacks get. As Ann example, Affirmative Action was designed to help Blacks but, suddenly White females were a “minority” and the gains that should have gone to Blacks went to Whites. Also strange that there is SILENCE regarding SBA, HOLC, VA, FHA programs that benefitted Whites but not Blacks. It seems Whites are not content to have the cake, they want the crumbs that fell on the floor too.
Just because there is more rich white people the poor ones are still poor. Wtf does a poor white person living in Oakland have to do with a rich white people? Absolutely nothing other than they’re both white. Also all of the programs that you have mentioned do not only help white people, it’s a pathetic lie from you. Get some help or seek Jesus cause that hate and racism will cause you cancer.
Your comment indicates a lack of understanding that not all whites are financially secure, not all blacks are poor. Would you deny a poor family benefits benefits because of their race...regardless of their needs?
This doesn't help the rich white people just like it doesn't help the rich black people. You're a racist piece of shit.
White hating racist
Your logic is flawed. Jews are the wealthiest most elite group in the USA ( if you look at the stats) but if the government said that they were giving away money to needy people, but just not Jews. The world would be screaming "Antisemitism, racism, " and all the other shit they use to divide us.
It's RACIST to say you're going to exclude a certain race based on their race......this is the definition of racism!!
There has been a huge increase in Europhobia and Europhobic attitudes in the last 5 years. It's absolutely disgusting!
This seems to be trending ways to deny white people services, jobs, and finance.
This come straight from Democrats in upper echelon using race as a way to "convince" they are the good people, whilst they implement a tyrannical government.
Its the Ministry of Plenty
Like magicians they are making people look at the other hand while they do the tricks with the other
Meet the new KKK, same as the old KKK.
Hmmm, are they saying a higher median income group does not have any homeless or poor folks??? This is very racist and should be challenged in the courts! Can you imagine African Americans were excluded from this program?
Why are democrats not being called out as racists?? These programs are ridiculous and discriminatory.
This basic income should only be given to people that are below a certain level of income and that are pink on the inside
Be Color blind when considering skin color
Being in light matter or dark matter shouldn’t matter
Mayor Libby Schaaf you are indeed a racist, hateful and regressive person or an abject politician just pandering to the lowest common denominator to assure your political career. Either way, Mayor Libby Schaaf you are a divisive. Any person in poverty should be eligible for assistance.