The Los Angeles City Council is studying a plan that would provide direct income assistance to people who are infected by the coronavirus.
On Wednesday, council member David Ryu introduced the plan which would set aside $25 million for a “wage replacement program” that would incentivize those who are sick with the virus to shelter in place and recover without fear of losing income.
“The only way out of this crisis is through increased testing and staying home if you’re sick,” Ryu said. “If we want to bend the curve, we need to make it possible for everyone to stay home when they’re sick — no matter their income or immigration status.”
To be eligible for the program, residents will have to submit their information to Los Angeles County contact tracers.
Council President Nury Martinez also introduced her “Right to Recover” plan, which will assist low-income communities of color who she noted are “dying at twice the rate of white Angelenos.”
“Many of the safeguards meant to assist, including federal relief, are not reaching poor, immigrant Latinos, and others, who often work as essential workers or simply do not have medical insurance or paid leave and cannot afford to stay home,” Martinez said.
The council is calling for the programs based on data that they say show minorities are more susceptible to catching the highly contagious disease and suffering economic consequences from not being able to work.
