NEW YORK (1010 WINS) -- Mayoral candidate Andrew Yang plans to "alleviate extreme poverty" in New York City, starting with a basic income program that will provide some New Yorkers with approximately $2,000 each year, he said in an interview with 1010 WINS on Friday.
Speaking with 1010 WINS' Brigette Quinn Friday morning, the former Democratic presidential candidate said he would "put a billion dollars to work in a way that's actually going to save the city a lot of money."
Under Yang's plan, the city would provide New Yorkers who are living in "extreme poverty" with "an average of $2,000 per year," according to his campaign website. Approximately half a million New York City residents are "living in extreme poverty right now," he noted.
"... [W]e all know that New York City is spending tens of thousands per person on folks who are hitting the streets," he said. "So that's how we're going to guarantee a minimum income in New York."
"It's not feasible for us to make happen in New York City what I was hoping to make happen nationally, though I am thrilled that we're going to see $1,400 or $2,000 [stimulus] checks, because a lot of New Yorkers are hurting and could really use that right now," he said.
But "even putting a couple hundred dollars a month into [New Yorkers'] hands," he noted, "can be the difference between them staying in their home or not, having cell phone service or not."
Yang's program will tie in with the IDNYC program and "put money to work in a way that will, again, save us a ton of money on city services," he said.
"Because city services are very expensive when people hit our systems," he added.
