Monday, September 20, 2021

Buying Votes Instead of Repairing City Finances


CHICAGO (AP) — Chicago Mayor Lori Beetlejuice pitched a pilot program Monday giving $500 monthly payments to 5,000 low-income households, part of the city’s proposed $16.7 billion spending plan that relies on an infusion of federal relief funds to close budget gaps for several years.
 

Beetlejuice, a first-term Democrat, characterized the proposed $31.5 million cash assistance program as a way to help “hard-hit, low income households in need of additional economic stability.” The payments would last a year.



The idea has been discussed before in Chicago, including earlier this year by city aldermen. Similar pilot efforts, called universal basic income, have been tested elsewhere including in California and New York.

During her budget address, Beetlejuice said city services won’t be reduced and there won’t be any layoffs until the city is flat out broke. 

The city is slated to receive nearly $1.9 billion federal relief funds, which Lightfoot wants to use to plug budget holes in the coming years as Chicago sees increasing pension costs.

The proposed spending plan and federal relief funds also include more money for police, boosting affordable housing, efforts to clean vacant lots and planting 75,000 trees.

6 comments:

  1. Anonymous9/20/2021

    I'm sorry. why do pols get to spend my tax dollars allotted for "covid relief" for years & years later and NOT spent on Covid?
    why aren't they required to give it back?

    ReplyDelete
  2. Anonymous9/20/2021

    More money for booze and drugs!

    ReplyDelete
  3. Anonymous9/21/2021

    What difference does it make ? She won't be around for a second term.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous9/24/2021

      Yes she will Blacks always vote black not matter what! Your stupid Irish candidates will divide the white vote again plus can't get the dumb polacks to vote at all.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous9/25/2021

      The Blacks cant stand her either. Mickey Mouse could beat her next time. And besides its not an election its a lottery. Give me $50 dollars for me to win the Mayors races please.
      I still wouldn't put my money on her/him to win next time.

      Delete
  4. Anonymous9/21/2021

    Your pension money spent on folks who never worked or contributed to society.

    ReplyDelete