READ HERE - Article by Hayley Munguia

A temporary guaranteed income could be on its way for up to 150 artists in Long Beach.

A temporary guaranteed income could be on its way for up to 150 artists in Long Beach.

The City Council voted unanimously at its Tuesday, Nov. 17, meeting to direct the city manager to look into creating a fund that would provide $500 per month for a period of six months to artists and cultural workers who have been hit financially by the coronavirus to cover the cost of basic needs.

The proposal would use CARES Act Community Block Grant Funds, from the federal government, to finance the program, which the staff report said would fund “up to 150 artists who qualify across the city.”

READ HERE - Article by Rachel Loxton

More than 2.1 million people applied to be part of Germany's first long-term universal basic income project. Could it be a future model for the country? We spoke to the project manager.

It sounds like a dream come true: imagine waking up every month to €1,200 delivered into your bank account without having to work for it.

Well, that's exactly what will happen for just over 120 people in Germany from next year. They will receive the monthly cash injection from spring 2021 for three years, as part of the Pilotprojekt Grundeinkommen (Basic Income Pilot Project) study.

The aim of the project, which is being supported by the German Institute for Economic Research (DIW Berlin) as well as scientists from the Max Planck Institute and the University of Cologne, is to gain a scientific understanding on how people's behaviour and attitudes change when they receive money regularly without conditions.

READ HERE - Article by Stephen O’Brien

A study into how the arts and culture sector can recover from the “unprecedented damage” caused by Covid-19 has warned that live performances and events could be damaged by the exodus of thousands of performers and production staff into other work.

In a report expected to be presented at cabinet this week, the government’s arts and culture recovery taskforce calls for a basic income scheme for the sector.

This would be a tax-free payment to allow up to 55,000 workers and performers to meet essential living costs while allowing them to earn taxable income when performance work is available.

The recommendation is similar to a pledge in the programme for government to run a universal basic income (UBI) scheme for three years as part of…

READ HERE - Article by Stephen O’Brien

A study into how the arts and culture sector can recover from the “unprecedented damage” caused by Covid-19 has warned that live performances and events could be damaged by the exodus of thousands of performers and production staff into other work.

In a report expected to be presented at cabinet this week, the government’s arts and culture recovery taskforce calls for a basic income scheme for the sector.

This would be a tax-free payment to allow up to 55,000 workers and performers to meet essential living costs while allowing them to earn taxable income when performance work is available.

The recommendation is similar to a pledge in the programme for government to run a universal basic income (UBI) scheme for three years as part of…

READ HERE - Article by Stephen O’Brien

A study into how the arts and culture sector can recover from the “unprecedented damage” caused by Covid-19 has warned that live performances and events could be damaged by the exodus of thousands of performers and production staff into other work.

In a report expected to be presented at cabinet this week, the government’s arts and culture recovery taskforce calls for a basic income scheme for the sector.

This would be a tax-free payment to allow up to 55,000 workers and performers to meet essential living costs while allowing them to earn taxable income when performance work is available.

The recommendation is similar to a pledge in the programme for government to run a universal basic income (UBI) scheme for three years as part of…

READ HERE - Article by Rose Lock

A COUNCIL is calling on the government to launch a pilot of the Universal Basic Income in the district.

Lewes District Council passed a resolution in support of the scheme, which is a payment to cover the basic cost of living and given to all citizens, regardless of employment status, wealth or marital status.

The council will send letters to the Prime Minister, the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions and the Chancellor of the Exchequer, as well as shadow ministers, to outline reasons why a pilot scheme should be held in Lewes.and the country should “start to think more creatively about our relationship with work.”

READ HERE - Article by Helen Chapman

Islington North MP says coronavirus crisis has ‘thrown up in stark relief, the inequalities of our society’.

Jeremy Corbyn: ‘I want us to move on a bit further on our attitudes towards security and stability’

ISLINGTON North MP Jeremy Corbyn has called for some form of universal basic income (UBI) amid concerns that the most vulnerable residents are being pushed into poverty because of Covid-19.

He argued for the measure at the online AGM of Islington People’s Rights on Tuesday, telling members that the current benefits system sanctions people “willy nilly, sometimes very, very unfairly”.

He said: “I want us to move on a bit further on our attitudes towards security and stability in our society. I’ve been following this debate quite carefully.”

READ HERE - Article by Ryan Stygar

From the tech-hub of Silicon Valley to the pristine beaches of San Diego, California is a cultural and economic icon.

But all is not well in the Golden State. California has the highest poverty rate in the country, with 18.1% of Californians living at or below the federal poverty line. However, the federal census does not account for how California’s notoriously high cost of living affects families whose income exceeds the federal poverty limit. The Public Policy Institute of California reported that this “near-poverty” demographic accounts for an additional 18.5% of the state’s population. “Overall, therefore, more than 35% of Californians, perhaps 15 million human beings, are living in severe economic distress . . . .”

In sum, Californians are suffering. As the crisis persists, legislators are increasingly willing to take political risks to alleviate their constituents’ pain. One idea—once considered too radical for debate—has gained popularity in Sacramento: Universal Basic Income [UBI]. California’s AB2712, introduced in February of this year, seeks to make UBI official state policy.

READ HERE - Article by Huw Oxburgh

Lewes District Council is to write to senior political figures, expressing its interest in taking part in a trial of Universal Basic Income.

The decision was taken at a meeting of the council’s cabinet on Thursday (November 12), in response to a motion from Green Party councillor Imogen Makepeace.

While there has been no indication that such a pilot scheme is currently being considered by the government, Cllr Makepeace’s motion called on the cabinet to write to senior political figures, asking that Lewes be considered as a testing ground if it is.

Unfortunately, Cllr Makepeace’s opening comments were nearly completely inaudible due to technical difficulties with the public stream of the meeting.

READ HERE - Article by Pressenza Athens

At the end of October, the Glasgow city council voted in favor of a proposal to request from the governments of the United Kingdom and of Scotland to fund a pilot scheme for a Universal Basic Income (UBI). The proposal was put forward by the town treasurer, Ricky Bell, with the support of the Greens.

Ricky Bell stated that the creation of a universal basic income would be in parallel with the introduction of the NHS, the public health service of the United Kingdom. He added that a UBI is a modest, unconditional payment given to every citizen on a regular basis.

“I believe that a basic income would be the most effective way to reduce poverty because it is the most direct and transparent way.”

He said that there exists “a huge increase” in poverty among workers and the country should “start to think more creatively about our relationship with work.”

READ HERE - Article by Fiona Callingham

CALLS have been made to trial a state payment scheme in Portsmouth that would mean everyone - including those in employment - was entitled to a basic allowance from government.

Councillors will write to Westminster asking politicians to consider piloting universal basic income (UBI) in the city. Under the system those in work pay a certain percentage of earnings to fund the allowance for everyone – unlike benefits that are means tested.

A debate on UBI was brought to this week's virtual full council meeting where proposer Councillor Matt Winnington cited the impact of being on the ‘front line’ of Brexit as well as the Covid-19 pandemic as reasons for concern.

READ HERE - Article by CNSNews.com Staff

Rep. Ilhan Omar (D.-Minn.) wants the government to provide people in the United States with what she calls “a universal basic income” or a “guaranteed income.”

Back on April 26, Omar sent out a tweet that said: “It’s time for a universal basic income.”

On Tuesday, a week after she was reelected to the House, Omar held an online "Economic Justice Townhall" with Mayor Melvin Carter of St. Paul, Minn., and Mayor Michael Tubbs of Stockton, Calif. She posted the video of the event on Twitter.

Carter and Tubbs, as Omar noted, are both members of “Mayors for a Guaranteed Income.”

READ HERE - Article by CNSNews.com Staff

Rep. Ilhan Omar (D.-Minn.) wants the government to provide people in the United States with what she calls “a universal basic income” or a “guaranteed income.”

Back on April 26, Omar sent out a tweet that said: “It’s time for a universal basic income.”

On Tuesday, a week after she was reelected to the House, Omar held an online "Economic Justice Townhall" with Mayor Melvin Carter of St. Paul, Minn., and Mayor Michael Tubbs of Stockton, Calif. She posted the video of the event on Twitter.

Carter and Tubbs, as Omar noted, are both members of “Mayors for a Guaranteed Income.”

READ HERE - Article by Malone Mullin

NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh thinks data from a basic income pilot in Newfoundland and Labrador could help fuel a national program.

The leader of the federal NDP is backing a basic income experiment in Newfoundland and Labrador, but one local anti-poverty worker says he harbours doubt it'll happen any time soon.

Jagmeet Singh met with over a dozen local community leaders Friday in a virtual town hall, just days after the party's provincial counterpart raised a motion in the House of Assembly to explore a basic income pilot program.

That motion passed Oct. 28, but isn't binding. The House has yet to strike a research committee composed of MHAs from all parties.

READ HERE - Article by Sophia Dourou

The politicians supporting this motion included many Labour PMs, Welsh AMs, peers and councillors calling for Universal Basic Income (UBI) in their areas.

A proposal to trial a universal basic income programme in the capital was rejected by the London Assembly who ‘kicked it into the long grass’, the Green Party has claimed.

The motion was brought to the assembly by Assembly Members Sian Berry and Lib Dem Caroline Pidgeon.

Backers of a Universal Basic Income (UBI) include Labour PMs, Welsh AMs, peers and councillors across the country, with over 500 signing a letter to the Chancellor recently.

But last Thursday Labour AM Leonie Cooper rejected a motion in support and in a ‘highly unusual move’ referred the issue for consideration at at later date Assembly’s Economy Committee.

READ HERE - Article by Sally McGrane

Michael Bohmeyer’s website, “My Basic Income,” has given randomly selected people almost $1,200 a month for a year to see if it improves their lives. His answer: Yes.

BERLIN — From his Berlin start-up’s brick loft offices, Michael Bohmeyer led the way past a brewery-turned-art space to a makeshift cafe. “If we’re going to sit outside, I might even get coffee,” mused the 36-year-old tech entrepreneur and founder of the “My Basic Income” website. “After all, you have to enjoy life a little bit.”

Enjoying life is no trivial matter for the slight, serious Mr. Bohmeyer, whose experimental, grass-roots platform has thus far given more than 650 randomly-selected people 1,000 euros a month, around $1,165, for a year, no strings attached, just to test a thesis.

READ HERE - Article by Scott Santens

"Be formless, shapeless, like water. You put water into a cup, it becomes the cup. You put water into a bottle, it becomes the bottle. You put water into a teapot, it becomes the teapot. Now water can flow or it can crash. Be water, my friend.”

~ Bruce Lee

When most people hear Bruce Lee's words about the way water takes the shape of whatever volume it's contained within, they likely think of applying them to martial arts or as some kind of self-help philosophy rule-of-thumb about being flexible in life.

I think about cash.

Cash is anything we want it to be. When we get cash as a gift, it's because the giver doesn't know what we want most, but they also know that we do know. And if we don't know, we'll figure it out.

READ HERE - Article by Councillor Michael Mullaney

With the country about to go into lockdown for another month two local councillors have signed a letter to the Chancellor of the Exchequor Rishi Sunak urging him to test run Universal Basic Income pilots as a way of supporting people through the pandemic.

Hinckley Lib Dem Borough and County Councillor Michael Mullaney who signed the letter said "Many people in Hinckley and Bosworth have the agonising double worry of both worrying about their own and their families health during the Covid-19 pandemic but also worrying abouth their finances during these difficult times. With another month's lockdown and the possiblity it could be extended for longer many people are facing the risk of losing jobs if businesses cannot survive repeated lockdowns. Whilst the government has extended the furlough scheme there is no guarantee it will last longer and could leave many people in huge financial difficulites when it ends. Meanwhile many self-employed people are excluded from support schemes.

READ HERE - Article by Kim Long

THIS week, with infection rates climbing ever higher, we’re bracing ourselves for a difficult winter ahead.

After years of austerity, many Glasgow families are wondering how they can survive the brutal economic impact of covid on top of everything else.

In one of the richest countries in the world, it is an absolute scandal that any family should be living in fear. But it doesn’t have to be this way.

This week at a Full Council meeting we voted for an idea that’s been Green policy for decades but whose time has most assuredly come – Universal Basic Income.

This is the idea that everyone – everyone! – would get an unconditional payment of money on a regular basis and it would be enough to cover your basic needs like food, shelter and heating.

READ HERE - Article by Scott Santens

Utilizing fault-tolerant design in critical life support systems

I originally went to college at the Colorado School of Mines to become an engineer. I switched majors to psychology after two years, but I will always think of things from the perspective of engineering for the same reason I originally pursued it: what matters is reality and what works and doesn't work. I love math and I love science, but I really love how engineering takes math and science and applies them to make and improve real things. Being an engineer is about being a realist. It's about pragmatism over theory. It recognizes that the map is not the territory.

So here's one rule all engineers know, and it's Murphy's Law: Whatever can go wrong, will go wrong. Knowing that, failure therefore has to be a part of design. We don't want things to fail, but we know they will, because they always do, so what should be done?

READ HERE - Article by Geraldine Scott

York could be set to become Yorkshire’s fourth city to call for pilots of Universal Basic Income (UBI).

York could be set to become Yorkshire’s fourth city to call for pilots of Universal Basic Income (UBI).

Green Party councillors, who share control of City of York Council with the Liberal Democrats, submitted a motion supporting trials of basic income at the March meeting but it was never held because of the Covid crisis, which has halted full council meetings until now.

READ HERE - Article by James Lillywhite

How would you feel if you were given enough money to live off, every month, no questions asked?

This might sound like a fantasy – but it is something we could all have to think about in the future.

Universal Basic Income (UBI) is one of the most divisive economic theories of the 21st century. And since the coronavirus pandemic has tanked the global economy, it has gained more support.

But what exactly is UBI? And could it actually help?

This latest episode of Off Limits asks whether a basic income can help the global economy recover after the pandemic. Watch below.

READ HERE - Article by Matt Wade

A basic income for all adults of $18,500 a year, tapering off as work-related earnings increase, would lift tens of thousands out of poverty and dramatically reduce inequality in Australia.

As employment and earnings are hit by COVID-19 disruptions, three academic experts have evaluated the costs of a payment that would go to most people of working age regardless of their employment status.

Their proposed Australian Basic Income is comparable to a universal basic income (UBI), a policy option that has attracted growing international attention during the past decade. Rather than being paid to all adults, the Australian Basic Income would taper off as an individual’s income rises. Those with an income of more than $180,000 (the threshold at which the top marginal tax rate applies) would not receive any payment.

READ HERE - Article by Sarah Booker-Lewis

Councillors have welcomed a petition calling for a trial of universal basic income.

The petition was presented by Basic Income South East campaigner Maggie Gordon-Walker at a “virtual” meeting of Brighton and Hove City Council yesterday (Thursday 22 October).

The ruling Greens and the Labour opposition agreed to ask the government to support a trial of the proposal in Brighton and Hove.

Ms Gordon-Walker presented her petition, with 2,308 signatures, to a meeting of the full council.

READ HERE - Article by Tchiyiwe Chihana

Can a Universal Basic Income reduce poverty and the gap between the poor and rich? And what would UBI mean for black women?

The Universal Basic Income (UBI) movement has very few black women in it, with my voice often drowning from failure to speak up in rooms where black women's lived experiences are alien and unrelatable to the predominantly white, male, middle-class advocates that dominate it. With every chance that I grab to speak up, I am compelled to remind everyone that unless we look at policy changes that will include the least of us, our universality efforts are futile.

UBI is an economic programme where every citizen is guaranteed an income. Regular cash payments are made to everyone unconditionally. This payment would be made to individuals and not to households, with no stipulation of how it should be spent. The payment would not be means-tested.

READ HERE - Petition started by Maggie Gordon-Walker

We the undersigned petition Brighton & Hove Council to to support a basic income trial in the city and to write to the government to request that they look into the feasibility of a pilot in Brighton. We understand that not all councillors may have looked into this subject and so in this petition we are asking that: • The petition is presented at full council and that councillors have time to debate the issue • The council considers joining the councils in Sheffield, Liverpool and Hull in backing the idea of a basic income trial in the city and votes whether to support the proposal • The council writes to the government in support of a basic income trial in Brighton and Hove

There have been a number of local groups in the UK that have formed over the past few years all with the aim of promoting the idea of basic income such as the UBI Labs in the North of England (Sheffield, Leeds, Liverpool, Kirklees etc.). We, Basic Income South East, have recently formed to continue the movement but with a focus on the South East of England, starting with Brighton and Hove.

READ HERE - Article by Cemlyn Davies

A shorter working week and universal basic income should be piloted by the next Welsh Government, a policy influencer has said.

Wales' Future Generations Commissioner Sophie Howe has published a "manifesto" ahead of May's Senedd election setting out policies she would like the next administration to adopt.

An emphasis on green policies is also on her list of suggestions.

She called on politicians to "be brave and start making radical changes".

On 6 May, voters are due to head to the polls to vote for their representatives in the Welsh Parliament.

READ HERE - Article by Harrison Jones

A London Mayoral candidate is backing a ‘circuit-breaker’ lockdown for the capital – and wants everyone in the city to be paid an allowance if one is brought in.

Green Party leader Sian Berry says that people in the city should be given a Universal Basic Income (UBI) as she outlined her support for Mayor Sadiq Khan’s call for a short lockdown.

It comes as Mr Khan welcomed a move to put the capital under tier 2 lockdown restrictions – even as pubs and restaurants warned the move is the ‘worst of both worlds’.