New Yorkers Get New ID to Get Past the Velvet Rope
Clubs are synonymous with New York, and in order to get past the velvet rope, what do you need? Identification. It always helps to know somebody and have a lot of money, but I will curb the comparison of immigrating to the US with getting into Studio 54, lest someone think you can “bribe the doorman.”
New York has just launched the IDNYC card. In an age where you need to be able to identify yourself to access a building, get on a plane or train, make a purchase, open a bank account, get housing, or respond to a police inquiry, a person with no identification, in particular the undocumented, are often made more vulnerable from not being able to prove who they are.
This does not only related to the undocumented. During election time, producing identification was a problem for some elderly citizens.
“IDNYC is the new, free identification card for all New York City residents, which gives all of us the opportunity to show who we are—New Yorkers. As a government-issued photo identification card, IDNYC secures the peace of mind and access to City services that come from having recognized identification. IDNYC benefits every city resident, including the most vulnerable communities—the homeless, youth, the elderly, undocumented immigrants, the formerly incarcerated and others who may have difficulty obtaining other government-issued ID.
IDNYC cardholders can access services and programs offered by the City as well as by businesses. IDNYC helps enhance public safety, by serving as a recognized ID for interacting with NYPD. It also helps New Yorkers gain access to all City buildings that provide services to the public and is accepted as a form of identification for accessing numerous City programs and services. IDNYC also provides a dynamic series of benefits to cardholders, including a free one-year membership at many of the City’s leading museums, zoos, concert halls, and botanical gardens.”
It is imperative that we all, as in, all New Yorkers, obtain these IDs. Otherwise, it will be all too easy to be able to identify undocumented individuals by this new ID as the only type of identification available to them. This is one more great innovation by the city to make it more open and welcoming to the vulnerable and to help try to solve the great disconnect between Federal inaction and positive local action. While we wait for reform beyond the President’s Executive action, small steps like these help to make the city more inclusive for a population which already exists. The city is finding a way to work together rather than a hostile attitude of deportations at all costs. Most often, this culture of deportations and “no” costs Americans just as much, since these undocumented individuals provide a very real service, are part of the fabric of our society and they add to the economy.
Instead of hostility, we need to find a way to welcome these individuals. Giving them identification is certainly a great step in the right direction.
Everybody, welcome to the club!
Written by Neena Dutta, Chair, AILA NYC Chapter