New York State Politics - Essay Example

New York Politics There will be a launch of the s new municipal identification card program, which will be launched next month because of the huge cultural benefits. The card has been dubbed IDNYC. The mayor announced that the rules and the criteria pertaining to the use of the card, which was established as Local Law 35 in July would be necessary to apply for the card. The card will ensure free membership for over 30 cultural institutions in New York (Khurshid). The card will be in use from the beginning of 2015, as the city prepares for yet another marketing campaign to announce the implementation of the sick leaves with pay and the expanded pre-kindergarten offers.

To add on to this, there has been the continuing campaign to bring the democratic National Convention to New York in 2016. There will be an opening of 12 IDNYC enrolling centers in the city, though the locations are yet to be named. This campaign has led to the commencing of community-based forums that are at Sunset Park and in Brooklyn, hosted by the Carlos Menchaca, the chair of the council immigration committee. This move will make New York the largest city with this implementation. Since the city has a very huge number of undocumented immigrants, the card will be acceptable as identification by the NYPD.

During a press conference held on December 5, the mayor added that with the implementation of this card, there would be procedures put in place to avoid fraud and protecting individual’s information using assistance from the Human Resources Administration (HRA). As De Blasio stressed, the card is not only for the undocumented and thus it should not bring about stigma, but pride for the residents of New York City. Some of the requirements required to get the card are proof of residency and identity.

Special provisions have been put in place for the homeless residents who are also required to apply for the card. There are also provisions of protection put in place especially for people such as the domestic abuse survivors. There is also a platform for appeal for those denied the card. The cardholders are also required to be above 14 years of age and be residents of New York. These rules were put in place with the assistance of the HRA and in response to the online feedback and the October public hearing.

The card comes with its benefits, which are benefits and discounts from the 33 city’s largest cultural institutions, which include the museum, art galleries and the zoos (Khurshid). These 33 institutions are on rent-free New York land enjoying energy and subsidized operations in the city. They are beneficiaries to the $479.7 million spent on Cultural Institution Group (CIG) fiscal year 2013, which there are members (NYC.Gov). These are accounted for in the annual budget at the cultural affairs department that carries about two- thirds.

The cards however are not membership cards to these institutions, as the holders are required to apply for their individual memberships in these institutions. These applied memberships are valid for a year from the day of signing up. Those who had previously applied for the membership will not be eligible although they will enjoy discounts from the institutions in which they were not members. These will help keep the revenue still flowing. It is unlikely that there are people who will sign up in all the institutions but in case there will be any, they will enjoy a total of $2100 discount.

Works Cited Khurshid, Samar. De Blasios Next Campaign: Municipal IDs. Gotham Gazette, 2014. Available at: NYC.Gov. Mayor de Blasio Announces NYC Municipal ID to Give Access to 1-Year Free Memberships at 33 of The Citys Most Acclaimed Cultural Institutions. Available at: