This is an I-Heart podcast.

This is Solvable.

I'm Jacob Weisberg.

We're pledging $1 billion per year to alleviate extreme poverty in New York City.

New York's problems are a microcosm of America's economic challenges.

But how far will even a billion dollars get us in the biggest city in the country?

Across the country, millions more people are struggling with unemployment,

unpaid bills, and sometimes hunger. And for those who are poor to begin with, things may be

even worse. If a family winds up in our shelter system, we are spending $6,000 per month

on that family. And so if you spend a fraction of that keeping someone in their home and they don't wind up in our shelter system, it's actually a win.

Andrew Yang became a household name running for president on a platform of a guaranteed income for everyone.

Now he's running for mayor of New York City, and his message is similar.

He wants to get cash into the hands of people who need

it urgently. 11 U.S. cities have committed to versions of cash assistance programs are guaranteed

income, including Stockton, California, Hudson, New York, St. Paul, and Pittsburgh.

85% of Americans are for cash relief during the pandemic and 55% are for it in perpetuity.

Is this another example of something where you just have to invent a local version of it

because the more rationalized national solution isn't available to you?

Well, you said it, I didn't, Jacob.

New York is a city with over 8 million people.

If something works here, it could work anywhere.

Yang's plan could provide a powerful case study for the rest of the country.

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