NPR
Oakland to issue municipal IDs that double as debit cards
Day laborers can be easy targets for thieves who know they carry cash, instead of depositing wages in the bank.
“Day laborers most of the time are seen as walking ATMs because they get robbed on the street,” Gabriela Galicia says who works with day laborers at Street Level Health Project, a non-profit that serves the undocumented and uninsured.
Galicia’s group is part of a coalition that’s trying to get the word out on the city ID card. The project has been in the works for more than two years.
Oakland Mayor Jean Quan says the card can help people anytime they deal with a city agency, be it the police or the public library. And the debit feature is important for people who have no place to put their money.
Blowback
Note from Hot Air management: This section is for comments from Hot Air's community of registered readers. Please don't assume that Hot Air management agrees with or otherwise endorses any particular comment just because we let it stand. A reminder: Anyone who fails to comply with our terms of use may lose their posting privilege.
Trackbacks/Pings
Trackback URL
Comments
But who in their right mind would want to trust the city of Oakland with their money?
crosspatch on February 25, 2013 at 5:14 PM
why even bother having laws at all if no one’s going to follow them??
Sachiko on February 25, 2013 at 5:14 PM
or i should say, there are no consequences for not following them.
Sachiko on February 25, 2013 at 5:15 PM
Why do illegals and the “unbanked” (LOL) need the debit card feature? They already have taxpayer-funded EBT cards with which they buy everything.
Pork-Chop on February 25, 2013 at 5:17 PM
we must protect the thieving trespassers!
tom daschle concerned on February 25, 2013 at 5:21 PM
The law is a useful tool to give a legal framework/basis for the ruling class to punish its political enemies and reward its friends. At least part of the reason liberals are constantly pumping new taxes and other bad policies is because they think only enemy political groups such as Republicans will be affected. It’s not without reason that many liberals believe themselves partially or fully immune to the law.
This selective application of the law is a hallmark of a dictatorship.
Doomberg on February 25, 2013 at 5:21 PM
And we achieve government dependent singularity.
Will the government automatically vote for you, too (as Democrat straight ticket natch)?
Neo on February 25, 2013 at 5:24 PM
So now other people’s banking issues are my problem?
This is effectively transferring a lot of credit and fraud risk to the city and its citizens.
Typical for government – solve a narrow and private problem by transferring cost and risk to innocent 3rd party taxpayers.
Yikes! These people are clueless!
LilyBart on February 25, 2013 at 5:36 PM
Day laborers, or ILLEGAL Aliens?
I’ll bet those ILLEGALS are really thrilled at the idea of being registered … NOT!
DannoJyd on February 25, 2013 at 5:38 PM
What could go wrong?
ladyingray on February 25, 2013 at 5:49 PM
I think we know who the walking ATMs are.
NeoKong on February 25, 2013 at 6:53 PM