By Bianca Hoops
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE) – For the first time ever, Albuquerque could be offering cash to low-income families. To start, the initiative would benefit those in the international district and southwest Albuquerque. The city could be following other cities across the country in providing “guaranteed income” to low-income families and the funding would come from cannabis tax revenue.
“The cannabis tax has some legislation associated with it that indicates those fines need to be used to support populations that were impacted by the criminalization of marijuana and so since that was the purpose for the funds, this aligns really well,” said Sonya Lara, Director of Equity and Inclusion. The guaranteed income program would be run by the City’s Office of Equity and Inclusion partnering with Albuquerque Public Schools.
They would focus on children and their families at Whittier Elementary School in the International District and Carlos Rey Elementary School in the southwest area. Director Sonya Lara said those Title One schools were selected because they have the lowest academic outcomes and high absenteeism, and the goal is to boost student performance.
“This is about the average person getting what they need. This is not a handout, this a hand up and that is the difference here. There’s research upon research about this working,” said Nichole Rogers, Albuquerque city councilor.
If city council passes the resolution allowing the cannabis tax to fund this program, it would support around 140 households for three years providing them with $750 a month. The Office of Equity and Inclusion said they are also ironing out the details of also offering the program to kids in the foster care system transitioning into adulthood. The funding proposal is expected to be heard in council in a couple of weeks.
