><i>Oakland’s project is significant because it is one of the largest efforts in the U.S. so far, targeting up to 600 families. And it is the first program to limit participation strictly to Black, Indigenous and people of color communities.</i><p>><i>The reason: White households in Oakland on average make about three times as much annually than black households, according to the Oakland Equity Index. It’s also a nod to the legacy of the Black Panther Party, the political movement that was founded in Oakland in the 1960s.</i><p>I guess it's good that this is privately funded, but it feels really really weird to know that there is a government program whose eligibility explicitly depends on race.
It's not UBI because it has means and racial tests. Furthermore, it might be illegal because the city is promoting something that is openly racist. This may well be shutdown by lawsuits fairly quickly, and then used as ammunition to pander for votes with "the white man won't let has have free money." I don't see how this anything but an ostensible token for cynical political purposes.
As a (white) conservative I have no problem with private foundations doling out funds based on race. But they should distribute the funds directly to the recipients because government should not engage in racial discrimination.