DEPUTY MAYOR RICHARD BUERY AND COMMISSIONER NISHA AGARWAL ANNOUNCE NEW BENEFITS FOR THE IDNYC PROGRAM

New benefits focus on fitness and entertainment, and are a boon for New Yorkers of all ages and backgrounds

Announcement is part of a Week of Action to encourage and help all New Yorkers enroll for IDNYC

By IDNYC’s second anniversary, de Blasio Administration aims to have one million New Yorkers become unique cardholders.

   Deputy Mayor for Strategic Policy Initiatives Richard Buery and Commissioner Nisha Agarwal of the Mayor’s Office of Immigrant Affairs announced that the IDNYC program, the largest municipal ID program in the country, will now offer new fitness and entertainment benefits.

“I am proud to announce that IDNYC is expanding the benefits that make it such an important resource for all New Yorkers,” said Mayor Bill de Blasio. “IDNYC’s goal to reach one million cardholders marks a major milestone in ensuring that every New Yorker has the right and access to municipal ID.”

IDNYC cardholders will now have access to:

·         Up to 25 percent off on tickets to select Barclays Center events, including world championship boxing, family shows and college basketball, as well as Brooklyn Nets and New York Islanders games. A list of events will be released on Monday, Sept. 26 at www.nyc.gov/IDNYC.

·         At New York City Modell’s Sporting Goods locations, IDNYC cardholders can get a 10 percent discount on in-store purchases. 

·         And now, cardholders can receive a complimentary first-year membership to New York Road Runners.

Cardholders can learn more about eligibility and how to access all of IDNYC’s benefits at www.nyc.gov/IDNYC.

Deputy Mayor Richard Buery announced these new benefits at the Chelsea Recreation Center, a community center and athletic facility operated by the New York City Department of Parks and Recreation. He was joined by Commissioner Nisha Agarwal of the Mayor’s Office of Immigrant Affairs, Parks Commissioner Mitchell J. Silver, Operations Director Mindy Tarlow, and Chief Service Officer Paula Gavin. Flanked by the community-based groups and the City agencies that were integral to IDNYC’s success, Deputy Mayor Buery announced on behalf of Mayor Bill de Blasio that IDNYC’s Week of Action is the start of a historical effort. By IDNYC’s second anniversary, on January 12, 2017, the de Blasio Administration aims to have one million New Yorkers become unique cardholders. Currently there are more than 900,000 unique cardholders enrolled in IDNYC.

  

“I'm really excited about IDNYC’s newest benefits, and I think all IDNYC’s cardholders will be too” said Deputy Mayor for Strategic Policy Initiatives Richard Buery. “Our commitment to grow both the number of IDNYC cardholders, and benefits they receive, reflects IDNYC’s mission, which is to give all New Yorkers – of whatever background, whatever language, whatever color – access to all of the resources that make New York City the best city in the world – for everyone!” 

These benefits enhance current sports and fitness benefits, which include eligibility for a ten percent discount off both annual and six-month NYC Parks Recreation Center memberships located in every single borough and IDNYC cardholders get $3 off individual tickets for select seats at New York City Football Club home games at Yankee Stadium. IDNYC’s benefits expansion will also support the program’s growing youth enrollment initiatives. New Yorkers who are fourteen years or older have been able to enroll for IDNYC since the inception of the program and now it’s even easier for them to do so using the Department of Education’s Student Verification Form to verify identity and residency. Learn how to enroll for IDNYC at http://www1.nyc.gov/site/idnyc/card/how-to-apply.page.