Former Democratic presidential candidate Andrew Yang is once again making universal basic income a central premise of his political campaign – this time for the mayor of New York.
“It makes us stronger, healthier, safer, mentally healthier and improves our relationships,” said Yang of the concept of guaranteed income. “55% of Americans are now forever in favor of money relief and 85% in favor of money relief during this pandemic.”
Yang’s proposed income program would generate an average of $ 2,000 a year for New York City residents living in extreme poverty and cost $ 1 billion a year, according to his campaign website.
The mayoral candidate told CNBC’s “The News with Shepard Smith” Monday night that he would target property tax-exempt landlords in New York City, such as Madison Square Garden, to pay some of the bill.
MSG’s Tax Benefits [are] $ 40 million a year alone, ”said Yang. If you look at that money and get it back in the hands of the city, plus you invest some of the city’s resources, we can alleviate extreme poverty here in New York City. ”
Yang also commented on the dramatic increase in anti-Asian hate crimes in the US, calling it “a devastating time in the Asian-American community.”
According to the Center for the Study of Hate and Extremism, the number of reports of anti-Asian hate crimes in the US increased 149% in 2020 from the previous year. According to police data, New York City registered an 833% increase in anti-Asian hate crimes.
“We need to classify these incidents as hate crimes, and we need to build ties with the Asian-American community because, I hate to say this, many of these incidents are still unreported,” said Yang. “A lot of Asian Americans don’t have that kind of relationship with law enforcement and city officials, and I would like to change that.”