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| NY City Hall Press Office Photo |
NEW YORK—The de Blasio Administration recently celebrated the fifth anniversary of its hallmark IDNYC program with the announcement of adding braille embossing, a new partnership with Costco, new local benefits, and a new regional partnership with Sullivan Catskills Visitors Association.
The program recently launched its #RenewYourIDNYC campaign with the first set of cards expiring this month. New Yorkers whose IDNYC is expiring in less than 60 days, or whose card has been expired for less than 6 months, are able to apply to renew their IDNYC through an online portal or in person at an Enrollment Center.
“While the Trump administration targets our neighbors at every turn, we will continue to make New York City a place for all,” said Mayor Bill de Blasio. “IDNYC makes our city more accessible for everyone, no matter immigration status, gender identity, and now no matter whether you are blind or low vision.”
“We want every person who calls New York home to have access to the resources, benefits, and services the city has to offer,” said First Lady Chirlane McCray. “IDNYC has made the material aid and support our city has to offer more accessible to over one million New Yorkers. We are thrilled to celebrate year five with new benefits that will ensure even more people take advantage of this card.”
BRAILLE EMBOSSING
To further expand accessibility, “IDNYC” will be embossed in braille on the front of all new IDNYC cards to help cardholders who are blind or have low vision distinguish and utilize the card. IDNYC is the largest and most successful municipal ID program in the country with over 1.3 million cardholders, and is now the first locally-issued ID in the nation to include braille. NYC will continue to work with the blind and low vision community to increase accessibility for the cards.
COSTCO PARTNERSHIP
Through IDNYC’s new partnership with Costco, each IDNYC cardholder who signs up for a new membership with Costco by purchasing a Membership Activation Certificate, will receive a set of exclusive Costco coupons valued at over $60 plus additional free items.
NEW AND RETURNING LOCAL BENEFITS
IDNYC cardholders can now also redeem one year of free membership at The Juilliard School, Atlantic Theater Company, Signature Theatre, and South Street Seaport Museum, IDNYC’s newest cultural benefit partners. In addition, every Wednesday cardholders can show their IDNYC at Queens Botanical Garden for free all day admission.
EXPANDING OUTSIDE NYC
Additionally, the IDNYC program announced its first regional partnership outside of the five boroughs with Sullivan Catskills Visitors Association located in the Catskill Mountains. Through the partnership, cardholders can receive discounts at select businesses in Sullivan County including Kartrite Resort & Indoor Waterpark and The Sullivan Catskills Event Center.
The full list of 2020 IDNYC benefit partners can be viewed here.
Since its launch in January 2015, IDNYC has offered New Yorkers increased access to City services, discounts on recreation and entertainment, free or reduced admission to cultural institutions, and other benefits. As of January 2020, cardholders have accrued through IDNYC savings of over $57 million on memberships and other fees or discounts.
Among these savings, cardholders have redeemed over 680,000 free one-year memberships from participating cultural benefit partners. Over 50 arts venues have offered free memberships, and many more have offered discounts and other benefits since the program began.
In 2017, IDNYC introduced an online application portal that allowed first time enrollers to start their applications through IDNYC’s website. Additionally that year, cardholders were able to check their immunization records online with My Vaccine Record for the first time.
In 2018, IDNYC reduced the age of enrollment eligibility from 14 to 10 years old, allowing younger New Yorkers to access the benefits of IDNYC.
In January 2019, Mayor de Blasio and First Lady McCray announced the addition of a third gender designation to the card. The IDNYC program had previously allowed cardholders to self-designate their gender or choose to not declare a gender. The addition of the third designation, denoted as “X”, expanded the options by allowing transgender, non-binary, and gender non-conforming New Yorkers to affirmatively select a gender marker on their IDNYC that more closely reflects how they identify or express their gender.
In October 2019, the de Blasio administration announced the launch of IDNYC’s first renewal campaign, the IDNYC Middle School Card, a new card design, and new and returning benefit partners. In partnership with the NYC Department of Education, the IDNYC Middle School Card allows middle school students, ages 10 and up, who attend select public schools to enroll in IDNYC without a parent or guardian present. Through pop-up enrollment sites at these schools, IDNYC accepts the middle school’s verification of the student’s identity and residency, along with a form signed by a parent or guardian, as sufficient proof to meet the eligibility requirements for the card. IDNYC also began allowing non-students residing in college/university housing to use their university housing agreements to establish residency.
IDNYC is a card for all New Yorkers, from all backgrounds, and from all five boroughs. The City remains committed to protecting the confidentiality of all IDNYC cardholders’ information and never asks applicants about their immigration status. All City residents, ages 10 and up, are eligible to get a municipal ID card, and enrollment remains free at Enrollment Centers throughout the five boroughs. For more information on benefits, eligibility criteria, and how to renew or enroll visit nyc.gov/idnyc or call 311 and say “IDNYC.” Deaf New Yorkers can also learn more about IDNYC in ASL by contacting the DSS ASL Direct Video Phone at 718-262-3608.
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