Durham among shortlist of cities to pilot guaranteed basic income

Durham was selected among 30 cities to participate in a pilot experience funded by Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey. He’s investing $15 million total for mayors in selected cities to test it out.

To show proof that a basic income is possible, they’re working with other cities and researchers to hammer out the details.

Especially as many struggle to make end's meet during the pandemic, the impact of financial burden has become center stage. Even essential workers, risking their health and lives, sometimes make less money than they need to survive.

“Poverty robs us of our dignity and ability to live full robust lives," said Pierce Freelon, who sits on Durham's city council. “As a basic human right, you deserve to be able to live, to survive, to thrive."

"We would be having cash disbursements to selected folk probably on a monthly basis. Who those folks are, how we’re going to select them, the amount and the duration of the experiment is literally being worked out now," said Mark-Anthony Middleton, who sits on the city council.

Middleton and Freelon are in charge of designing the concept for Durham.

Middleton, who proposed this idea last year, is eager to get to work.

“There’s an opportunity for us to literally put somebody else’s money where our mouth is," he said.

Durham mayor Steve Schewel is a member of Mayors for Guaranteed Income, which has the objective of getting federal legislation for universal basic income.

"We’re trying to set a precedent. Really, the state and federal governments, they are the ones with the budgets that can really make this happen in a big way. What we’re trying to do in Durham is show a proof of concept," said Freelon.

Freelon pointed out that the initiative could address not only economic issues, but also be part of a multi-faceted strategy to address crime.

City council has until March to figure it all out, when beneficiaries will need to approve the concept to begin distributing funds.

The information collected among all selected cities during the program could provide data for national leaders who want to craft a federal program.