As Americans are crushed by affordability, growing trend of mayors pushing cash handouts as the answer, tell me about this news in (https://www.foxnews.com/media/americans-crushed-affordability-organization-claims-cash-handouts-answer)

The Fox News article reports on the growing movement among U.S. mayors and advocacy groups promoting guaranteed income programsdirect cash paymentsas a remedy for soaring living costs, healthcare expenses, and food inflation.Key points covered in the report include:

• The Push for Guaranteed Income: Advocacy groups like the Economic Security Project (ESP), which has helped launch more than 100 guaranteed income pilots nationwide, argue that direct cash transfers provide vital financial stability and economic mobility. Shafeka Hashash, ESP’s Director of Cash Initiatives, stated that the erosion of traditional safety nets and high inflation make direct cash assistance essential, particularly during major life transitions.
• Funding and Timing: Many of these local pilot programs were initially funded through federal pandemic-era relief money via the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA). Cities, such as Evanston, Illinois, have moved to expand or adapt their pilot programs as deadlines approach to spend down the remainder of those federal funds.
• Political and Legal Pushback: The expansion of these programs has triggered sharp political opposition. Critics and conservative lawmakers, such as Texas State Senator Paul Bettencourt, have criticized guaranteed income initiatives as “lottery socialism” and questioned their constitutionality, prompting legal challenges and legislative efforts in states like Texas and Iowa to restrict or ban publicly backed guaranteed income programs.