{"id":1860,"date":"2020-01-27T19:49:05","date_gmt":"2020-01-27T19:49:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/council.nyc.gov\/press\/?p=1860"},"modified":"2020-01-27T19:49:05","modified_gmt":"2020-01-27T19:49:05","slug":"speaker-johnson-and-de-blasio-administration-celebrate-expansion-of-fair-fares-enrollment","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/council.nyc.gov\/press\/2020\/01\/27\/1860\/","title":{"rendered":"Speaker Johnson and De Blasio Administration Celebrate Expansion of Fair Fares Enrollment"},"content":{"rendered":"

Starting today, more eligible New Yorkers can apply for reduced-fare MetroCards<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

NEW YORK<\/strong> \u2013 City Council Speaker Johnson and the de Blasio Administration today announced open enrollment for the City\u2019s Fair Fares program. Starting today, all New Yorkers living at or below the federal poverty line can apply for reduced-fare MetroCards. For more information, New Yorkers should visit www.nyc.gov\/fairfares<\/a>. <\/p>\n

\u201cNew Yorkers living in poverty make difficult choices daily about how to spend money, sometimes sacrificing basic necessities like warm boots to pay for transportation costs. Today, we are attempting to ease their burden by making half-priced MetroCards available to all residents who meet the federal poverty threshold. Already, more than 100,000 New Yorkers have enrolled in Fair Fares but we know so many more people can benefit from this program. I urge anyone who is eligible to sign up. The City Council is proud to partner with Mayor de Blasio and Commissioner Banks to expand this program, and I want to especially thank Community Service Society and Riders Alliance for pushing us to make Fair Fares a reality,\u201d said Council Speaker Corey Johnson<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

\u201cAccess to public transportation is a basic right\u2014not a luxury for the wealthy. With Fair Fares, we are making our city fairer for low-income New Yorkers whose lives depend on mass transportation,\u201d said Mayor Bill de Blasio.<\/strong><\/p>\n

The game-changing Fair Fares program began in early 2019, connecting low-income New Yorkers to vital transportation assistance, beginning with certain New Yorkers receiving Cash Assistance and Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits. In Fall 2019, the program was expanded to select City University of New York (CUNY) students, student veterans, and New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA) residents who met the program\u2019s eligibility criteria. Altogether, in its first year, more than 107,000 New Yorkers have enrolled in the program. \u00a0<\/p>\n

Last month, the City launched a comprehensive multi-million-dollar advertising campaign to spread the word about open enrollment for the program, including targeted advertisements in ZIP Codes where many eligible New Yorkers live and work. The campaign\u2014in 11 different languages\u2014includes advertisements on subways and buses, in bus shelters, and online, as well as in local businesses, and community and ethnic media news publications. In close collaboration with the Council, the Administration has also worked with advocates and local community-based organizations to raise awareness through in-person and on-the-ground outreach. <\/p>\n

\u201cFair Fares ensures that all New Yorkers, no matter their income, can access health and social services where and when they need them. The de Blasio administration is proud to work in partnership with the City Council to expand Fair Fares and empower more New Yorkers to reach their destinations and dreams. We urge all eligible New Yorkers to sign up today,\u201d said Deputy Mayor for Health and Human Services Dr. Raul Perea-Henze<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

\u201cWith more than 100,000 New Yorkers already utilizing reduced-fare MetroCards through our Fair Fares program, we are proud of the positive impact the initiative has had on so many and we\u2019re excited to take this progress even further with our new open enrollment process. New Yorkers in need should not have to choose between getting food for their families or getting where they need to go. By expanding enrollment, we\u2019re reaching even more New Yorkers with this vital resource, empowering more individuals and families to access opportunity, and continuing to make our City the fairest in the nation,\u201d said Department of Social Services Commissioner Steven Banks<\/strong>. \u00a0\u00a0 <\/p>\n

\u201cFor New Yorkers living paycheck to paycheck or managing a tight budget, our Fair Fares program has been a game-changer with an immediate positive impact. Today\u2019s expansion will help even more New Yorkers get to school, get to work, get to doctors\u2019 appointments, and go about their daily lives with dignity\u2014and without having to worry about affording transportation fare or foregoing that essential trip. As we fight income inequality and address poverty with every tool at our disposal, HRA is proud to be on the forefront of this innovative initiative,\u201d said HRA Administrator Grace Bonilla<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

\u201cIn most other cities, a car is a basic necessity.\u00a0 But here in New York, it\u2019s a MetroCard.\u00a0 That\u2019s your ticket to work, to college classes, to medical care, to coming home on time to your kids. Today, with this far-reaching expansion of Fair Fares to all New Yorkers below poverty, the city will help hundreds of thousands more get on board and get ahead.\u00a0 We thank Council Speaker Corey Johnson, the City Council and Mayor Bill de Blasio for making affordable transit a new reality,\u201d said Nancy Rankin, Vice President for Policy Research and Advocacy for the Community Service Society (CSS).<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cToday, over 800k people will have the opportunity to apply for 50% reduced fare. We must ensure that the New York City Transit is affordable, accessible, and reliable to all. We must continue expanding the Fair Fares programs reach, ensuring that it covers every working-class family in New York City. I will continue working alongside Speaker Johnson, Transit advocates and New Yorkers to ensure that we make our transit system affordable to all New Yorkers,\u201d said Council Member Ydanis Rodriguez, Chair of the Council\u2019s Transportation Committee<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

\u201cAs a mother raising a young child in New York City, I am thrilled at the expansion of the Fair Fares program, which will empower so many of our New Yorkers get to and from work, school, child care, medical appointments, and so much more. With half-priced MetroCards now available citywide to eligible New Yorkers, this program will help our city\u2019s most vulnerable populations- seniors, immigrants, veterans, students, families and care takers, among others. Thank you to Riders\u2019 Alliance, Speaker Johnson, and Council colleagues for helping keep New Yorkers on the go,\u201d said Council Majority Leader Laurie Cumbo<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

\u201cNow Fair Fares will reach an even greater number of New Yorkers in need. Fair Fares already makes bus and subway rides affordable for thousands of low income commuters.\u00a0 Because of this expansion, the program will be available to thousands of additional New Yorkers who rely upon mass transit each day. Fair Fares is a top priority for Speaker Johnson and the NYC Council, for the de Blasio administration and for transportation advocates across the city. Together we are taking this vitally important effort to new heights,\u201d said Council Member Daniel Dromm, Chair of the Council\u2019s Finance Committee<\/strong>. <\/p>\n

\u201cI am very proud to join Speaker Johnson and Commissioner Banks in announcing the expansion of Fair Fares. Fair Fares is among the most impactful programs the City has established in recent years. Everyone deserves to have an affordable subway ride to connect to work, family, medical appointments, and the myriad of obligations we have as New Yorkers. Fair Fares brings that affordability to thousands of New Yorkers,\u201d said Council Member Stephen Levin, Chair of the Council\u2019s General Welfare Committee<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

\u201cThank you to Mayor de Blasio and Speaker Johnson for delivering Fair Fares. On a weekly basis, I have to think about which transit trips are absolutely necessary, because at times I simply can\u2019t afford the fare. In the past, I may have skipped lunch to get to a doctor\u2019s appointment. But being able to apply for Fair Fares today will make tough decisions like that one so much easier now,\u201d said Riders Alliance member and New Yorker Rhonda Jackson<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

\u201cFair Fares is the best thing ever created. It makes it easier for me to pay my other bills, which is tough considering that I work part-time. New Yorkers should apply as soon as possible because this will have a significant impact on their lives,\u201d said Fair Fares participant and New Yorker Gisillet Peralta<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

\u201cEnrolling in Fair Fares has been great because it leaves me extra money for other pressing bills. For people having a hard time paying for transportation, cutting subway fare in half saves a lot of money,\u201d said Fair Fares participant and New Yorker Resident Leanna Raymond<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

###<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Starting today, more eligible New Yorkers can apply for reduced-fare MetroCards<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

NEW YORK<\/strong> \u2013 City Council Speaker Johnson and the de Blasio Administration today announced open enrollment for the City\u2019s Fair Fares program. Starting today, all New Yorkers living at or below the federal poverty line can apply for reduced-fare MetroCards. For more information, New Yorkers should visit www.nyc.gov\/fairfares<\/a>.<\/p>\n

…<\/p>\n

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