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New York City Identity Card Essay

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Beginning this year, New York City began its municipal identity card program, IDNYC. Anyone 14 years or older living in New York City qualifies for the card and its benefits. The initiative was announced just around a year ago by Mayor Bill de Blasio. Since its launch in January IDNYC has seen thousands of citizens sign up and use their cards. The initial rollout saw some hiccups that slowed sign ups at first. Now with issues resolved, the city boasts that it is meeting the demand of the city. The card attracts New Yorkers from all walks of life due to its diverse offerings of free one-year memberships to 33 of New York’s premiere cultural institutions that include MoMA PS1, the American Museum of Natural History and the Brooklyn Academy of …show more content…

The cultural institutions are feeling the benefits as well, with many locations noting a rise in attendance. “It’s still early, but the upsurge has been fantastic,” cultural-affairs commissioner Tom Finkelpearl told WSJ. For the individuals gaining access to new institutions for the first time, like 37 year-old Noel Hidalgo, it's all about planning. He told The Wall Street Journal in the same article, “You get the outdoor memberships during the summer,” he said. “Then as the weather gets bad, you get your memberships for the museums and the enclosed facilities.” In addition to providing New Yorkers with increased exposure to the arts, cardholders can benefit in other life improving ways. New Yorkers in need of banking now have less hurdles in setting up a bank account with IDNYC in place. A common hurdle for immigrants setting up their own accounts has been a lack of identification. With IDNYC in place, this problem will hopefully see significant declines in the coming years. Additionally, those needing prescription drug help now have access to discounts at 95 percent of pharmacies in the

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