New York City Council Approves Plan For Municipal ID Cards
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork/AP) -- Lawmakers have agreed to create New York City identification cards residents could get regardless of their immigration statuses. The measure would add the nation's biggest city to a growing roster of cities that have them.
The City Council voted Thursday to create municipal ID cards. The idea was among Mayor Bill de Blasio's campaign promises.
The cards would be available to all city residents, but they're aimed largely at helping the estimated 500,000 immigrants living illegally in the city. With the cards, they'd have government ID for opening bank accounts, signing leases or other tasks.
Critics say the cards would permit benefits to people who shouldn't be in the country.
The ID will include the cardholder's photo, name, date of birth, address, expiration date. Applicants will be able to elect to include his or her self-designated gender, City Council Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito said.
"It's particularly important for undocumented individuals living in our city, seniors and displaced youth who may not have access to the documents needed to obtain state ID," Mark-Viverito told reporters, including WCBS 880's Rich Lamb.
The card likely would cost around $10, waived for people who couldn't afford it.
Mark-Viverito said the NYPD supports the move and that producing the cards will cost the city about $8 million.
Cities including Los Angeles, San Francisco and New Haven, Connecticut, already offer such cards.
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