NEW ROCHELLE, NY (April 22, 2025) — Mayor Yadira Ramos has joined Mayors for a Guaranteed Income (MGI), a national coalition advocating for direct cash payments to ensure economic security, she announced on April 18.
Ramos, the Mayor of New Rochelle which has a diverse population of 80,828, expressed enthusiasm for the initiative.
“I am excited to join Mayors for a Guaranteed Income and advance smart, effective policy to boost financial security and strengthen our working class communities,” she said in a statement posted by MGI. “Guaranteed income programs have demonstrated positive impact in cities and towns across New York and the nation, and it’s time for New Rochelle to benefit as well.”
MGI, founded in June 2020 by former Stockton, California, Mayor Michael D. Tubbs, promotes guaranteed income policies providing unconditional cash payments to individuals. The coalition, now over 100 mayors strong, includes leaders from cities like Atlanta, Los Angeles, Newark, NJ, and Chicago. Its website, www.mayorsforagi.org, calls for “an income floor through a guaranteed income,” inviting public support via a signup form.
The organization’s efforts stem from successful pilots like Stockton’s Stockton Economic Empowerment Demonstration (SEED), which gave 125 residents $500 monthly for two years, reducing stress and improving job prospects. MGI has secured funding from sources like a $15 million donation from former Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey in 2020, alongside contributions from the Economic Security Project and local philanthropy. Cities such as Providence, RI, and Santa Fe, NM, have also tapped American Rescue Plan Act funds for their programs.
New Rochelle’s inclusion follows other New York locales like Mount Vernon. MGI’s broader network spans cities including Oakland, CA, Pittsburgh, PA, and Richmond, VA, with pilots targeting groups from single parents to formerly incarcerated individuals.
The coalition collaborates with the University of Pennsylvania’s Center for Guaranteed Income Research to advocate for federal policy, proposing funding through measures like a sovereign wealth fund or higher taxes on the wealthy.
Ramos’s move signals a focus on economic equity in New Rochelle, though specific plans for local implementation remain unclear. MGI continues to push for guaranteed income as a tool to address poverty and stimulate local economies, citing data showing recipients spend on essentials like food and childcare.