Bklyn Pols Support City’s New ID Cards
Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams and a bevy of the borough’s elected officials gave a hearty thumbs up to the IDNYC card, the City’s first municipal ID card, inside the Brooklyn Municipal Building yesterday.
The program, which provides numerous civic benefits including greater access to many of our city’s cultural, financial and public health institutions, is open to all City residents age 14 and above, regardless of their immigration status.
New York City has opened its welcoming arms to thousands of residents who have been sequestered to the shadows of our society,” said Adams. “IDNYC is a key card that will unlock civic personhood for every New Yorker that enrolls. Where the federal government has been unable to act, our municipal government has taken bold and necessary action to make the five boroughs both safer and more vibrant.
Fort Greene City Councilmember Laurie Cumbo noted the new ID card will enable survivors of domestic violence to safely access our city’s programs and services. “Through the omission of his or her address on the new photo identification card, men and women will no longer have to choose between their safety and receiving assistance,” she said. “Among its many other benefits, IDNYC is a resource that will allow New Yorkers to discover or rediscover our city’s cultural institutions including the Brooklyn Academy of Music, Brooklyn Botanic Garden, and the Brooklyn Museum, which are within the borough’s cultural district that I proudly represent, at no additional cost.”
“As the preeminent city of immigrants within a nation of immigrants, New York City has for centuries been a symbol of hope for generations of people around the world, where women and men come to achieve their aspirations for themselves and their families,” said Representative Yvette D. Clarke. “With the introduction of municipal identification cards, the City of New York has extended its arms to the hundreds of thousands of people living here who have been wrongfully denied the opportunity to become legal permanent residents and, ultimately, citizens.”
“New York City is a world city, and the IDNYC is an important step towards truly inclusive and representative government,” said State Senator Velmanette Montgomery.
“IDNYC is a great step in the right direction,” said Assembly Member Joseph Lentol. “It will provide access for many in our community who struggle to obtain other forms of government-issued identification. IDNYC will not only make lives easier for many New Yorkers, it will also improve our criminal justice system. Many times individuals are arrested for not having identification because of the difficulty in obtaining a government issued card – this will directly help these individuals. I look forward to obtaining an IDNYC myself in the coming weeks.”
“This is the perfect time to roll out the municipal ID card program,” said Assembly Member Felix W. Ortiz. “On the heels of President Obama’s recent immigration statement giving security to those living in fear of deportation, this new government-issued photo identification card will give peace of mind to thousands and myriad benefits to all New Yorkers. I am confident that the new card will have the added benefit of addressing some of the recent tensions between law enforcement and city residents.”
The City will protect the confidentiality of all IDNYC card applications and will not ask applicants about their immigration status. New Yorkers can get more information on eligibility criteria, benefits, enrollment centers and more, as well as make an appointment at the closest enrollment center, by going online tohttp://www.nyc.gov/IDNYC or by calling 311.
Williams Schools Albany On Affordable Housing
“It is my hope that Governor Cuomo, State Senate President Skelos, Assembly Speaker Silver and all state legislatures work with city elected officials to develop a plan that not only complements the Mayor’s Plan, but gives immediate relief to our poor and working class citizens who need it most.”
Golden Offers Tax Help
Bay Ridge State Senator Marty Golden announced that he will again host the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Program, offering free tax preparation services to residents making less than $30,000 annually.
Appointments will be available at his district office located at 7408 5th Avenue, on Sundays and Mondays, from February 15 through April 13. Sunday appointments will be scheduled from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. and Monday appointments will be scheduled in the evenings from 6-9 p.m.
“I once again look forward to helping hundreds of my constituents complete their tax returns at no charge,” said Golden. “For 17 years, my office has hosted the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Program, an invaluable service to those who qualify, saving constituents hundreds of dollars they would otherwise spend in tax preparation services. I urge all those who qualify to call now to make an appointment.”
Services will be provided by appointment only and can be scheduled by calling Golden’s district office at (718) 238-6044.
