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NYC begins a Municipal ID program - Page 4 — Brooklynian

NYC begins a Municipal ID program

124

Comments

  • whynot_31
    whynot_31
    edited June 2015
    Above, I discussed how requiring nonprofits to require IDs would reduce the amount of -um- exaggeration re: the number of people served.

    I wonder how many more places are going to start requiring ID for services as time goes on.

    Will a parent have to show a NYC ID to enroll their 4 year old in UPK?
  • emilyb
    emilyb
    At many city museums (the ones occupying city owned land, funded by the city, etc.), the admission fees are suggested prices. You can give as little as a penny if that's what you want to give.

    The DMV's non-driver ID is perfect: it's cheap, good for many  years, and they don't track where you're going when you use it... 

    By the way, as someone who's had an EBT card for a while, I have no idea why it takes so long for them to get the municipal ID out to people. Periodically, I've had to get my EBT card replaced because the strip on the back wears out after a while. Because HRA has your signature and photo on file, you can get a replacement within 10 - 15 minutes of arriving at the place that issues them. Really. And it becomes active within 20-30 minutes. Why can't they apply the same technology to the municipal ID? I had my first EBT card within about half an hour, tops.

    I guess I probably sound a little paranoid about not wanting the city to have another way to track what I'm doing. It just sucks enough to have to be broke enough to need food stamps and have to recertify for that, why add to the misery...
  • pheightsresident
    pheightsresident
    I agree. 

    To your larger point, though: is the city actually tracking you? The only thing I could imagine is the city asking for a tally of how many IDNYC members are actually taking advantage of the memberships. And, even then I don't see things being too intrusive (and I hope that users who have the card and have utilized the benefits linked to the card will shed some light onto this) as I doubt you'd be scanning/swiping your card into the establishments. 

    As far as the suggested prices go, I agree there, though I'll add that many people are not comfortable doing so/are shamed out of doing so by attendants at these museums; I'm not one of those people, but I know that it happens. Still, the ID also gets you into places where admission is not suggested (i.e. the NY Botanical Garden and Bronx Zoo). 
  • whynot_31
    whynot_31
    I do hope that the tracking shows that NYC ID users are using the museums and whatnot.

    I hope they have a way to parse out the users into "low income people" and "non low income people".

    Otherwise, I fear that the program will claim credit for causing increased attendance by low income people, when it merely gave middle class folks a free ride.
  • Brooklyneya
    Brooklyneya
    Museum attendants often make guests feel uncomfortable, and sometimes are a bit misleading too. At the Met, I've experienced the attendants ringing me up for $20 with the $20 appearing on the screen as soon as I walk up, not saying anything about it being a suggested admission. I can see tourists who may be confused or those less confident just feeling shamed into paying it. At the Brooklyn Museum, which I visit frequently, it varies by attendant. I had one give me a spiel the second I walked up explaining that they had suggested admission and they suggest adults pay $16. When I gave her the $5 I had already planned to pay she wasn't very happy and it annoyed me. I had stopped by for just an hour to catch a friend there and was just at the museum a couple weeks prior.

    I'll happily take that free membership, if only to avoid those awkward/irritating moments.
  • pheightsresident
    pheightsresident
    That's definitely a plus of getting the free membership. Still, I'm going to go to the Brooklyn Museum before I get my card, just so I can pay $0.50 and irritate an attendant. Especially since the IDNYC went into effect, I believe that any attendant at a "suggested admission" establishment covered by the ID has a lot of nerve to try to guilt people into paying more than $1. 
  • Brooklyneya
    Brooklyneya
    I get that it takes a lot of money to run a museum and I love the Bk museum and would like to support it. I think it's fair that they HOPE people who are able to pay closer to the suggested amount, but they shouldn't be judgemental when people don't, especially not knowing their circumstances. They don't know how frequently one visits or the persons financial status, regardless of how they look. I also feel if you are a tourist going to spend the day at the site it would make sense to pay more than someone from the neighborhood who stops by every month to check out new exhibits, meets friends, or takes visitors.

    In many countries, locals have a much lower rate for admissions tickets to sites than foreigners. I think that's fair. I find it sad that my low-income students from Brooklyn and their families don't experience a lot of NYC sights because of costs or lack of knowledge about the suggested donations. Maybe this ID will help a bit.
  • crownheightster
    crownheightster
    Mr. Crownheightster received his NYC I'd yesterday, eight days after he went for his appointment. He used a NY drivers license to apply. Yay!
  • whynot_31
    whynot_31
    edited June 2015
    I used my NYS drivers lic to apply for mine last week, so mine might come this week then.

    I wonder how they are measuring whether they are reaching the intended population. Are they going to count the total number of IDs issued and claim that all represent the target groups?

    Are they honest enough to parse out the people with the weakest amount of prior ID, and state that only the city only gained something substantial from giving THEM solid ID?
  • pheightsresident
    pheightsresident
    Good question. I guess they may try to pinpoint demographics roughly by using zip codes. Otherwise, and especially considering privacy laws, I don't know how they'd determine whether they are reaching their target groups based on how the application was worded. That is, unless I didn't read some of the fine print that gave them permission to conduct intensive background checks. 
  • whynot_31
    whynot_31
    edited June 2015
    I suppose they could check NYPD records and see if the number of people being arrested/stopped that have ID increases, and how many NYC IDs are among the mix.

    Were they able to just give them a ticket as a result?

    ...as opposed to holding them until their identity could be verified.
  • pheightsresident
    pheightsresident
    Received my card today, so I waited 10-11 days. Not too bad. Only bummer is that you apparently have to go to each cultural institution to receive your membership. Looks like I'll be making a trip to the Brooklyn Museum and BBG today! 
  • crownheightster
    crownheightster
    Yes, you have to go and apply in person. We went to the Bronx Zoo yesterday and now we have free access to the Bronx Zoo, the Central Park Zoo, the Prospect Park Zoo, and the Aquarium in Coney Island!
  • whynot_31
    whynot_31
    edited June 2015
    Mine arrived today.


    image
  • MOD
    MOD
    Whynot, so does the membership benefits start at the time to go to the institution with your new card and sign up, or do the memberships expire at the end of 2015 regardless of when you get the card? (I'm wondering if your paperwork says?)
  • whynot_31
    whynot_31
    edited June 2015
    It sounds like as long as I get myself there by 12/31/2015, I get a membership that is good for that date plus the next 365 days.

    image
  • whynot_31
    whynot_31
    Here's what it does not do:

    image
  • crownheightster
    crownheightster
    Yes, you get the year long membership which starts the day you sign up for the membership.
  • pheightsresident
    pheightsresident
    That is great to know! The Brooklyn Museum and BBG were closed today, so I'll officially begin my membership sign-ups tomorrow. Though I may put it off until mid-July so that I'll have that I'll have mid-summer covered for 2016 as well. 
  • pheightsresident
    pheightsresident
    Recently received my WCS institution (Bronx Zoo, the Central Park Zoo, the Prospect Park Zoo, and the Aquarium) memberships. I also applied for the Brooklyn Museum membership, only to be told that the processing time takes 2-3 weeks! Well, I guess beggars can't be choosers, but if they think they are getting full entry payment from me in the meanwhile (still paying $0.50!), they are mistaken :)
  • mugofmead111
    mugofmead111
    In NYC, lots of people are denied the ability to open a bank account or are held by police until their identity can be verified, because they lack an identification card.  
    Earlier this month I went to Chase for a transaction. When I tried to show the NYC ID as proof of identification, I was told Chase wouldn't accept it. I was able to fulfill Chase's ID requirement in other ways, but that was a disappointment. 
  • whynot_31
    whynot_31
    So far, only these banks and credit unions have agreed to accept NYC ID:
    http://www1.nyc.gov/site/idnyc/benefits/banks-and-credit-unions.page
  • pheightsresident
    pheightsresident
    In NYC, lots of people are denied the ability to open a bank account or are held by police until their identity can be verified, because they lack an identification card.  
    Earlier this month I went to Chase for a transaction. When I tried to show the NYC ID as proof of identification, I was told Chase wouldn't accept it. I was able to fulfill Chase's ID requirement in other ways, but that was a disappointment. 
    I'm finding that chain establishments (such as Dallas BBQ) aren't even accepting the card as proof of age for drinks. I've had no such problems with supermarkets, though. 
  • whynot_31
    whynot_31
    edited July 2015
    Places selling alcohol have not been told to accept it:

    "The IDNYC card does not authorize cardholders to drive or provide proof of identity to obtain a driver's license. The card also does not authorize cardholders to purchase alcohol or tobacco products, receive public assistance benefits, or travel on an airplane. The IDNYC does not confer immigration status or provide work authorization."

    See #26:
    http://www1.nyc.gov/site/idnyc/frequently-asked-questions/frequently-asked-questions.page

    Remember, the goal is to help NYC save $.

    ...this goal is likely inversely correlated to making it easier for people to buy alcohol. :)
  • pheightsresident
    pheightsresident
    Makes sense, though increased alcohol consumption means increased tax revenues (sure, excessive drinking can also mean more alcohol -related incidents that the city could be on the hook for). I'm shocked that more establishments aren't fighting to have the cards available for that purpose as it would likely mean more business for them. Clearly not all establishments (or at least a certain supermarket on Washington Avenue that will go unnamed :)) haven't gotten the message. 
  • whynot_31
    whynot_31
    edited July 2015
    I don't know that stores are prohibited from accepting NYC ID for alcohol age verification.

    Instead, I suspect NYC is attempting to keep high school students from trying to get fake IDs via NYC ID.

    "We are giving you an ID so the NYPD doesn't have to detain you, not so you can use your older brothers info to get an ID under your name and get drunk"

    ....it tries to keep that group away from day one.


  • joshb
    joshb
    Because we previously had a Brooklyn Museum membership, they wouldn't let us get a free one. It had to expire in 2011 or 2012. Many, many strings attached. 
  • ehgee
    ehgee
    I have used my NYC ID to get into bars several times, mostly for my own amusement because it looks like a super cheesy fake ID.
  • pheightsresident
    pheightsresident
    Because we previously had a Brooklyn Museum membership, they wouldn't let us get a free one. It had to expire in 2011 or 2012. Many, many strings attached. 
    What silliness from the Museum. If I was denied an IDNYC membership for that reason, I certainly would be less likely to pay for another membership in the future and would continue to pay my $0.50 for entry into the museum :)
  • whynot_31
    whynot_31
    Museums don't want to lose potential revenue, and are not the driving force behind NYC ID.

    ....the cultural institutions were "encouraged" to participate by one of their largest donors: NYC government.

    It may be helpful for readers to think of NYC ID as having a similar a objective to this event:

    image
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