The Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday unanimously approved a guaranteed income pilot program aiding 178 people over 18 months. Contra Costa Thrives will provide unconditional cash payments to help participants’ ability to meet basic needs. In October, the board allocated $3.25 million in county funds and another $1 million in state funds for the program to be developed and administered by the county’s Employment and Human Services Department. The funds will target four specific populations: youth transitioning out of foster care, families with young children experiencing financial hardship, low-income seniors, and people on probation returning to the community after incarceration. Participants will need to already be enrolled in county-sponsored programs to be eligible, such as CalWORKs or Welfare-to-Work or others (or be on probation). It’s a point with which at least a dozen public speakers — many from community assistance groups — took issue at Tuesday’s board meeting. Supervisor John Gioia pointed out counties like Sonoma, San Francisco, Santa Clara, Los Angeles, and Sacramento with GI programs don’t require prior enrollment in county aid programs to include people in GI programs. Marla Stuart, the director of the county’s Employment and Human Services Department, said staff looked at those examples and decided to focus on people already in the system. “I think you can provide the most, the largest percent of the budget, to the benefits themselves if you don’t have to invest in administrative overhead, advertising, applications, determining eligibility and then managing the case throughout the period,” Stuart said. Some speakers said local community groups were left out of the decision-making process, something Stuart denied. They also wondered why the county was excluding people who may be less fortunate than those enrolled in county programs. County caseworkers will identify eligible candidates, who a manager will invite to mandatory orientation. There will also be a control group of 356 candidates who won’t receive GI but will be compensated for their time. The county will work with University of California, Davis on a five-year follow-up study with participants to evaluate how well it worked. Stuart said staff will try being equitable in how many participants are chosen across all five county supervisorial districts. After preparation is done, the first GI payment will arrive Jan. 15. Participants will have three options as to how much money to receive and when, with most of the options involving monthly payments of $1,250.
ALTERNATE HEADLINES TO THIS STORY:
- Contra Costa Supervisors to Criminals: ‘Thanks for the Felonies — Here’s Your Bonus Check’
- Contra Costa Supervisors Approve Inmate Income Initiative – Let That Sink In While You Work Two Jobs
- Contra Costa Supervisors Give Criminals a Raise, Give You the Finger
if #1,2,3 and 4 didnt agree with everything #5 wants they would all be called racist and dismissed from thier positions.This is how the left operates.End of story.
What a horrible idea. What a waste of our tax dollars.
The entire board should resign in shame.
But they won’t.
They’ll sit around and congratulate themselves and then give themselves a raise.
They are the most despicable people I have ever encountered.
Vote Red people!
I guess it’s true that crime does pay!
Using County funds to randomly pay “people on probation returning to the community after incarceration” is a really sick idea. Let’s just pay them ahead of time to commit the crime?
The other populations identified for dispersment of the funds (youth transitioning out of foster care, families with young children experiencing financial hardship, and low-income seniors) are populations that didn’t make a desicsion to be in need in the first place (or more importantly – they didn’t make the decision to break the law).
What’s even worse, these funds are guaranteed income that provide unconditional cash payments. So does that apply to the parolee that breaks parole? Can they use the funds for illegal activities (e.g. drugs)?
In the rest of the real world (US), you couldn’t even make this up to sell it as a farce to any production company for a movie (maybe Mark Wahlberg would take a stab at it). But…It’s now a reality in Contra Costa County. We’re paying our tax dollars to people to break the law (just enough to make parole). Doesn’t anyone else get angry about this crap?
I, for one, really wish that my tax dollars were spent a little more wisely (actually I wish more that I had much better, and more intelligent, representation at the County Supervisors level – but that’s been almost a 40-year unfullfilled wish).
Send in the clowns…….No wait, they’re already here.
You’re kidding right?! This has got to make major national media – this is the most Gxx dxxx slap in the face to taxpayers of the century! Unfnnbeleivable!
I find it utterly unbelievable that I work my *ss off trying to stay ahead of the constantly rising fees, taxes, and endless regulations in this state, county and city and they decide to use my money to give to anyone they seem fit. I did not vote for this. When will the population wake from the dead and stop the madness???
They’ll claim we must think outside the box. Ever notice whenever they think outside the box they start from inside taxpayer wallets?
take it out of their pockets and their pockets alone. Bet that program would end immediately. So easy to spend everyone else’s money. Nothing more than thieves, pickpockets.
Another misuse of our tax dollars!!!
What ever happened to “No taxation without representation”? These idiots sure are generous with other peoples money!
Alcohol, drugs, smokes, lotto tickets, prostitution, bailing out your homies, etc. Unbelievable.
Spend the money on low-income seniors. Everyone else will abuse the free money, especially the criminals.
A monthly payment of only $1250 almost guarantees that these people will return to a life of crime. Instead of giving money, why not give them jobs that pay a living wage.
Is it April 1????????
It’s those that vote for and put the soulless politicians into office who are responsible. They either are in favor of enabling criminals and promoting crime, or they are just plain too dumb to know what they vote for.
Meanwhile no consideration for law abiding seniors and veterans that are struggling to make ends meet. Instead reward the criminals.
You guys are a hoot. First, you support giving huge tax cuts to the wealthy (you do because you voted for every Republican who had anything to do with the bill that was passed on July 3) which BTW will be funded with cuts to Medicaid (known as Medi-Cal in California). You’re good with that. But to heck with giving a little financial aid to low-income families, youth transitioning from foster care, and families with previously incarcerated people. $1,000/month will go to a mere 178 low-income participants over 18 months. Think about that. You just served up $1 trillion dollars in tax cuts on a silver platter to the top 1% (that’s 1.3 million households who are making $591,550 or more annually) but somehow you’re outraged by a puny grand a month to 178 families who might otherwise be homeless? You’re on board with making the rich even richer, but giving help to a few poverty-level families, nah, that doesn’t make sense. Don’t you think you have this backwards?
Darcy
Please read the bill, not from the Democrat sources, but outside sources and you might find you are wrong on many of the lies your Democratic leaders are feeding you. Please read the bill and become an educated member of society.
There are aspects of that bill that will benefit my family (no tax on tips upwares of 12K a year and the limits on taxes for social security. It is not just the rich who are getting tax cuts. And taking away health benefits from criminals, people who entered this country illegally … what else can we take away from them to show them that they are NOT welcome here. Quit rolling out the welcome mat for criminals!
Yes, I have an issue with providing funds to criminals. If they want to give money away there should be rules and priorities. First, the money is not just free – GET TO WORK. Show us why you need the money and show that you are working to get out of your position. Second, veterans BEFORE criminals. I will always support someone who was willing to put on a uniform and lay down their life for this country (me!) over some punk who decided to steal, loot, rape, murder etc ..
I would say the commenters above you do not have it backwards. The tax rates have been in effect for several years; the current bill signed makes them permanent while including actual tax cuts to income from tips earned by those millionaire waitresses, etc. The bill is about the government taking less money from the pockets of earners/producers, allowing them to keep the fruits of their labors. The “rich will get richer” because they will continue to put forth extra effort knowing they will get to keep the results of that effort. The CCC supes are taking the fruits of our labor, right from our pockets, so they can feel good about themselves. Doesn’t hurt them any, causes no sacrifice from them to spend other people’s money for a cause they think it worthy (whether the cause is worthy or not).
Seems to me the focus of this story is on the criminals receiving money.
I don’t see any comments from anyone who has a problem with helping the low income families in need or youth transitioning out of foster care.
Darcy just included them to make her naive case along with the phony tax claims.
Personally I believe providing an incentive for people to be criminals is idiotic and a perfect example of the type of solutions I’ve come to expect from the Democrat brain trust.
And still you applied for this program.Nice save.
PS this is no different than giving cash to homeless people.All necessities can be had for free thru charity.so any free cash is never spent wisely.Its either partied away or used as a reason to not work..they just got free money.
Darcy,
Thank you for the example of a gullible misinformed voter/ propaganda news media follower.
Darcy, there is a big difference between taking less (tax cuts) from contributing members of societ and giving those tax dollars to those that haven’t earned it. That’s not to say we should or shouldn’t do this program but paying less tax is not a give away.
My oh my how CoCoCounty has changed over the last 50 years…
Goal is to “help participants’ ability to meet basic needs. “. So about $1,250 does that, per those we voted into office. How about a program that creates jobs for the population mentioned. The county has many jobs, start filling them with these able people so they can meet there basic needs with some dignity.
County is corrupt. They hire friends and family. There are a lot of lazy government workers. You can check everyone’s pay online who works for the county.
The coddling of the criminals continues on a grand scale. I see some recall attempts in the future for our illustrious supervisors after this nimrodic decision. Ten out of ten on the clown scale.
“The dumbest people in power”
Since when did DeSaulnier join the CoCo Supervisor’s Board?
The Professor,
.
Congressman Mark DeSaulnier was on the Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors from January 29, 1994 – December 04, 2006.
Time to DRAIN THE SWAMP – AGAIN!
Useless f***ing politicians!
Experimenting on people. the ultimate game.
When program ends and monthly income reverts to former level, what then ?
I’m not really a Donald Trump fan but this is why he was voted into office. The average American citizen was getting tired of the criminals and illegals have more rights than the citizens of this country.
From their Bios:
John Goia;
1st elected to the Board of Supervisors in 1998 and has been re-elected six times He previously served for 10 years on the East Bay Municipal Utility District Board (EBMUD) Board, He served as Governor Jerry Brown’s appointee to the California Air Resources Board from 2013 to 2020 and has been on the Bay Area Air Quality Management District Board since 2006, President of the California State Association of Counties (CSAC) and currently serves on its Executive Committee. He serves on many regional boards including the San Francisco Bay Conservation and Development Commission (BCDC) and is Chair of the East Bay Wildfire Coalition of Governments. John is also Chair of the San Francisco Bay Restoration Authority. John grew up in Richmond, graduated from El Cerrito High School and the University of California, Berkeley with a B.A. in Political Science and earned his law degree at U.C. Berkeley. John practiced law until his election to the Board of Supervisors. In other words he never had a Real job he’s just been sucking on the Government Teat.
Candace Anderson:
1st elected to the Board of Supervisors in June 2012. Previously, Candace was on the Danville Town Council from 2003 through June 2012. Candace also served on the Morgan Hill City Council in the early 1990’s.Candace received both her B.A. in Public Policy (1982) and Juris Doctorate (1985) from Brigham Young University. Her husband, is retired attorney Philip M. Andersen. Another political Grifter.
Diane Burgis 1st elected to office in 2016 , she serves on over 30 Board of Supervisor and regional committees. Prior to being elected to the Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors, Diane served as a trustee on the East Bay Regional Parks District Board, a member of the Oakley City Council, and as the Executive Director of Friends of the Marsh Creek Watershed.
Diane has called Contra Costa County home for most of her life. She raised her three sons in Oakley, and is a proud grandmother of two.
No mention of Education, another Grifter.
Ken Carlson:
1st elected to the Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors in 2022. His grandfather, former Contra Costa County Supervisor James Moriarty, to pursue a life of public service. He earned a B.A. in Communications from BYU. Ken began his career in public safety after graduating from the Los Medanos College Law Enforcement Academy in 1988. He served the City of Concord as a police officer for 29 years, holding various roles, including patrol officer, crisis negotiator, and investigator. Before joining the Board of Supervisors, Ken served on the Pleasant Hill City Council from 2012 to 2022,
At least he had a Real Job!
Shanelle Scales-Preston:
Was elected to the Pittsburg City Council in 2018. She grew up in a union family, with her father being a member of UA Local 342 and her mother employed at a nearby glass factory. She currently serves as Chair of the Board for MCE. Her career includes decades of service in federal government agencies, where she developed expertise in advocating for residents and coordinating solutions to bureaucratic challenges. Throughout Contra Costa County, Shanelle has fostered strong working relationships with community members and stakeholders.
Shanelle earned her degree from California State University East Bay.
Unelected? Appointed? Union tool? Never had a real job! Unqualified! Another political Grifter.
I don’t care what their Party Affiliation is, They are all worthless! Carlson is the only one to have a real job, but they are all guilty of sucking on the Government Teat!
If you haven’t emailed your extreme dissatisfaction to your respective Supervisor yet please do so soon. Here’s a link to a map to find out which Supervisor is over your area.
https://www.contracosta.ca.gov/5715/Find-My-Supervisor
This is $17 more than I get after paying into my Social Security Insurance fund while working more than 50 years.
Hell won’t be hot enough for these fools. Pray they meet Karma’s big brother, FAFO, real soon!
Brilliant! It fits the state’s mantra perfectly. Support illegal aliens and criminals. As long as Californians continue to vote for idiots, our country will continue down the rabbit hole. We will help you as long as you do things wrong! We continue to support criminals!
So It pays to be unemployed, lazy or a person who makes bad choices in their life. No rewards for the working man.