ITSA Newsletter: Giving Tuesday

Here’s the latest Basic Income News:

‣ Canada’s Prince Edward Island says basic income is doable

‣ Boston’s city council considers doing more than another pilot

‣ Conservative groups sue to shut down basic income pilots with racial focuses

‣ Halton Regional Council votes in support of basic income in Canada

‣ Denver’s basic income pilot wins support from city for another year  

ITSA News:

It’s Giving Tuesday and thank you to all those who have donated this year to ITSA Foundation and the projects we support. For anyone looking to make a donation of an amount greater than $1,000 before the end of the year, please email [email protected].

ITSA Live, our weekly space on X (formerly Twitter) now has 12 episodes to listen to on YouTube. Be sure to check them out (and subscribe), as we’ve had some great discussions so far.

Josh also just uploaded a brand new Comingle video to watch and share that compares the way forests work to how our economy should work.

Canada’s Prince Edward Island says basic income is doable [link]

"A Proposal for a Guaranteed Basic Income Benefit in Prince Edward Island" was written by a coalition of public servants, politicians, and advocates from P.E.I. and across the country who began the project in October 2021. The report outlines how a 5-7 year demonstration might work in the province, including how much it would pay to individuals, and how it might be paid for.

"This report establishes beyond doubt that a province-wide guaranteed basic income in P.E.I. is feasible and realistic.”

65% fewer children would be living in poverty, along with 90% fewer people who live alone — and poverty could be virtually eliminated for people with disabilities.

The amount of guaranteed basic income would be 85% of Canada’s poverty line with $19,252 for single adults and $27,227 for families of two adults, with a 50% phaseout rate.

Boston’s city council considers doing more than another pilot [link]

Support for universal basic income is particularly strong in Boston with support from the mayor, Michelle Wu, and members of the city council, especially Kendra Lara, who sponsored a hearing about basic income on Monday.

The hearing was co-sponsored by seven council members. There are 13 on the council.

According to Lara’s hearing order, about one in five Boston residents are living in poverty and almost one in three children.

Conservative groups sue to shut down basic income pilots with racial focuses [link]

The Abundant Birth Project in San Francisco has been providing $1,000 a month to Black mothers during their pregnancy and first six months of their baby’s life to study the difference it makes in maternal and infant health outcomes.

The lawsuit alleges the program violates the equal protection clause of the Constitution’s 14th Amendment by granting money exclusively to Black and Pacific Islander women.

Black women in the US are 3-4x more likely than White women to die as a result of giving birth, and Black infants are 2x as likely as White infants to be born prematurely and to die before their first birthdays.

Halton Regional Council votes in support of basic income in Canada [link]

Continuing the trend of cities and regions expressing their support for basic income in Canada, the Halton Region is the latest to do so. As with other motions elsewhere, Halton calls on the PM of Canada and Premier of Ontario to examine approaches to developing a Basic Income Program that would provide sufficient income for all Canadians to meet the basic necessities of life.

“Improved financial stability would result in improved health, social and economic outcomes as well as increased opportunities for vulnerable residents to participate, contribute, and invest in their local economies and communities,” reads the motion, which was presented by Burlington Mayor Marianne Meed Ward and Milton councilor Ameera Ali.

“A Basic Income Program could complement and enhance existing social support systems, ensuring a comprehensive and inclusive approach to addressing the basic needs of Halton’s most vulnerable residents.”

Denver’s basic income pilot wins support from city for another year [link]

Denver’s basic income pilot focused on studying its effects on reducing homelessness will continue into a second year after Mayor Mike Johnson committed $2 million following pressure from groups advocating for labor, the unhoused, people with disabilities, and immigrants.

A coalition of about 20 groups advocated for the funding, including SEIU Local 105, Colorado Immigrant Rights Coalition (CIRC), Colorado Coalition for the Homeless and Center for People With Disabilities. Advocates attended weekly city council meetings for 12 weeks wearing the color green (for money) and using the public comment period to praise the program.

The DBIP does continue to seek additional funding beyond the $2 million, aiming for a total of $9 million.

Thank you for being a subscriber to the ITSA Newsletter!

Scott Santens

Founder & President, ITSA Foundation