Yang: NYC should implement universal basic income

Former presidential candidate Andrew Yang said Thursday that he thinks New York City should implement a universal basic income. 

The entrepreneur was asked in his “exit interview” in The New York Times whether he thought enacting the central policy from his campaign in the city would be a good idea.  

“I think New York City should do a large-scale universal basic income. To me, that seems obvious,” he said. 

The Times interviewed Yang following the suspension of his campaign shortly after the New Hampshire primary results were revealed. The previously unknown candidate excited his base, or the “Yang gang,” with the idea of providing universal basic income of $1,000 per month to everyone. 

The former presidential candidate has said he would endorse any candidate who supported universal basic income but also added he will support the Democratic nominee, saying “I don’t have any plans to endorse right now.”

The former candidate also did not rule out a possible run for mayor of New York City. When asked about the prospect, Yang said, “Certainly people have been reaching out with various questions about the future, which is invigorating. We’re looking at different ways forward.”

Yang did not receive any delegates in New Hampshire or Iowa, the first two nominating contests of the season.

Former South Bend, Ind., Mayor Pete Buttigieg came out on top in Iowa, with Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) following close behind. In New Hampshire, Sanders came in first, followed by Buttigieg and Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.).

Heading into the Nevada caucuses, eight candidates remain in the Democratic race: Sanders, Buttigieg, Klobuchar, former Vice President Joe Biden, Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, Rep. Tulsi Gabbard (D-Hawaii) and philanthropist Tom Steyer. Bloomberg will skip the Nevada caucus.