Bay Ridge

Fariña encourages students to sign up for IDNYC cards

Chancellor gets her card at Fort Hamilton High School

September 29, 2016 By Paula Katinas Brooklyn Daily Eagle
Schools Chancellor Carmen Fariña waits her turn at the pop up IDNYC center at Fort Hamilton High School on Wednesday. Photos courtesy of Mayor’s Office of Immigrant Affairs
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Schools Chancellor Carmen Fariña came to Fort Hamilton High School on Wednesday, but she wasn’t there to talk about Common Core or other educational issues.

Fariña paid a visit to the school with Commissioner Nisha Agarwal of the Mayor’s Office of Immigrant Affairs to help the de Blasio administration push a new initiative to encourage the city’s students to obtain IDNYC cards.

The city has opened up several pop-up centers in schools as part of a “week of action” program to make it easier for students to apply for the special ID cards.

Fariña, who did not have an IDNYC card, took time out during her visit Fort Hamilton at 8301 Shore Road to apply for her card.

During the visit, the chancellor also met with Principal Kaye Houlihan and with students. One of Fariña’s top aides is Bay Ridge resident Justin Brannan, who helped arrange the visit.

“We want all New York City families to know that it is even easier for high school students to get an IDNYC,” Fariña told the Daily News. “IDNYC is a real asset for New Yorkers, and I encourage students to sign up through the pop-up enrollment sites at high schools across the city and take advantage of the range of services the ID affords.”

Students can obtain the card by presenting a Department of Education Student Verification Form signed by a parent or guardian. Students also need one other document that verifies their identity.

The pop up center at Fort Hamilton High School will be open until Oct. 7.

Another Brooklyn pop-up site will open at Edward R. Murrow High School on Oct. 13 and will operate until Oct. 28.

Introduced by the de Blasio administration last year, IDNYC is an identification card that can serve as a government-issued photo identification card.

Part of the goal of the IDNYC program is to give many people, including the homeless, the elderly, undocumented immigrants and ex-cons, who have had difficulty obtaining other government-issued ID the chance to obtain an official city-sanctioned ID card, according to officials.

The IDNYC card allows New Yorkers access to all city buildings that provide services to the public and is an accepted as a form of identification for accessing numerous city programs and services.

The card also provides other benefits, including a free one-year membership at many of the city’s museums, concert halls and places like the Brooklyn Botanical Garden.

 

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