Thread by @stocktondemo, Today is our last disbursement — we’ve been giving 125 residents, $500/month, [...]

Today is our last disbursement — we’ve been giving 125 residents, $500/month, for 24 months. To celebrate the end of our demonstration, we’re sharing some of our favorite moments & stories here

@MichaelDTubbs announced his vision for SEED in Oct 2017, with our partners @EconomicSecProj. We were ready to disrupt the status quo and realize Dr. King’s dream. https://www.vox.com/policy-and-politics/2017/10/18/16479796/stockton-california-basic-income-economic-security-experiment

3 years ago, Stockton, California, was bankrupt. Now it's trying out a basic income.

A city on the outskirts of Silicon Valley is using Facebook money to fund a basic income trial.

https://www.vox.com/policy-and-politics/2017/10/18/16479796/stockton-california-basic-income-economic-security-experiment

When we launched, guaranteed income was a “crazy” idea, and SEED was the first mayor-led demonstration in the nation’s history. https://www.nytimes.com/2018/05/30/business/stockton-basic-income.html

Free Cash to Fight Income Inequality? California City Is First in U.S. to Try (Published 2018)

Long plagued by poverty and desperation, Stockton, Calif., is testing universal basic income as a means of improving the lives of its residents.

https://www.nytimes.com/2018/05/30/business/stockton-basic-income.html

Disbursements began in Feb 2019, and the impact was almost immediate. Our recipients could breathe and sleep better and experienced less stress and anxiety. https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2019/05/stockton-california-giving-people-money/590191/

The City That’s Giving People Money

Randomly selected Stockton residents are receiving $500 a month. The experiment might prove that guaranteed income works.

https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2019/05/stockton-california-giving-people-money/590191/

In October 2019, our researchers @smartinwest & @acastrobaker released spending data. Because our recipients are folks like you & me, they spend the money like you & I do — on the basics. https://apnews.com/article/6cc17177f6bc409883185c33f9025863

$500 a month for free: Data shows how people spent the money

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — The first data from an experiment in a California city where needy people get $500 a month from the government shows they spend most of it on things such as food,...

https://apnews.com/article/6cc17177f6bc409883185c33f9025863

Everyone deserves an income floor, especially during a pandemic. In May 2020, we announced that SEED would be extended for 6 months. https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-06-02/stockton-extends-its-universal-basic-income-pilot

Stockton Extends its Universal Basic Income Pilot

A pioneering universal basic income pilot in the low-income California city was scheduled to expire soon. But the coronavirus crisis made the case to extend it.

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-06-02/stockton-extends-its-universal-basic-income-pilot

Along the way, people followed in Stockton’s footsteps. Building on SEED’s success, @MichaelDTubbs launched @mayorsforagi in June 2020. https://time.com/5860407/guaranteed-income-mlk-jr-mayors/

We Are Mayors of 11 U.S. Cities Advocating for Guaranteed Income

We are calling on legislators to wake up to MLK's economic dream

https://time.com/5860407/guaranteed-income-mlk-jr-mayors/

Thanks for following our journey! Stay tuned for our first-year data release in March 2021.

You can follow @stocktondemo.

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