A key paragraph in context:
The city of Minneapolis would pay about 200 low-income families $500 a month for two years as part of a guaranteed income program that Mayor Jacob Frey wants to fund with American Rescue Plan dollars.
[...]
A growing cohort of local governments across the country have launched modest programs of guaranteed income in the past few years in attempts to make a case for statewide or federal policies.
"The whole concept is that people know what they need — whether that's food or housing or fixing your car or assistance at day care. People are best equipped to determine how to use resources that are made available to them," Frey said in an interview Friday.
Low-income families that live in Minneapolis and are referred to the city by its nonprofit partners would be eligible for the program.
Frey proposed spending $3 million to cover the monthly payments and associated administrative costs.
"Non-profit partners" surely sounds as if politically connected poor people, those knowing the ward healer community, get five hundred bucks a month. Equivalent needy folks suck eggs. Great idea, if implemented greatly. Sick pork to friends of friends, if not.
Deets matter.
And "families" ignores "individuals" in need but alone not familied. Their lives matter. The narrowness of focus is another deet worth contemplation.
And - pet project advocacy suggests politics rules uber alles - Strib local content, again. If people are not skeptical, officials can do mischief unabated by intense "sunlight" scrutiny.
At least Strib reporting waves a flag of notice. However, local politics will need the attention of public interest watchdogs who are not "nonprofit partners" with spending agendas and friends elected or on staff, but are instead independent, curious, listened to, and effective.
Good luck! Expect little. Hope to be surprised. Favorably.