CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) -- A Chicago alderman is planning to introduce an ordinance Wednesday that would give thousands of low-income residents guaranteed basic income.
Alderman Gilbert Villegas, 36th Ward, wants to used $30 million in federal COVID relief money to pay 5,000 Chicagoans $500 a month for a year.
Applicants would have to meet an annual income requirement of 300 percent or less of the federal poverty level; as well as be enrolled in City Colleges of Chicago themselves, have a dependent who is enrolled in City Colleges or a Chicago public school, or have a dependant who is too young to be in elementary school.
The program would essentially be an experiment, lasting one year, unless extended by the City Council.
When this idea first came up, about a month ago, there was some push back, including from Alderman Jason Ervin, chair of the Black Caucus, who said it would be a “slap in the face” to African Americans to give money away before paying reparations for slavery, which has been discussed, but has not been formally presented.
According to the Tribune, Alderman Villegas countered that many of those qualifying for his program would be Black. He said it’s time to move forward to help Chicagoans struggling during the pandemic.
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