Thu, 15 Jan 2009 12:55E-mail | PrintSF: CITY LAUNCHES MUNICIPAL ID PROGRAM

SAN FRANCISCO (BCN)

San Francisco began offering photo identification cards today for all city residents, including undocumented immigrants, a program trumpeted by city officials and immigrant rights advocates.

State Assemblyman Tom Ammiano, who as a city supervisor introduced legislation for the municipal ID program, returned to City Hall today where he praised the program as "iconic."

"It shows the spirit of San Francisco, our openness ... it shows the heart of San Francisco ... and it also shows we can be very smart about policy," he declared.

Ammiano was honored with the first photo ID, but not without a brief delay. "I had a problem because I didn't have a utility bill," he said.

The program offers IDs to anyone who can provide proof of identity, such as a passport or green card, and proof of residence, such as a recent utility bill or employment pay stub.

It allows access to doctors, libraries and some city government programs. The cards can also be used as identification to open checking accounts at local banks, or for resident discounts at museums and the zoo.

Supporters say the program will aid undocumented immigrants, as well as homeless residents, transgender individuals, seniors, students and children who often lack government-issued identification.

The ID cards also do not specify gender, a feature applauded by transgender advocates.

In addition, the program is expected to inject more money into the local economy as undocumented residents are allowed to more easily open bank accounts in San Francisco, officials said.

City Treasurer Jose Cisneros said eight local banks had already agreed to accept San Francisco's municipal ID card as identification to open checking accounts.

Ammiano and several current supervisors, including David Campos, David Chiu, Ross Mirkarimi, John Avalos and Eric Mar, praised the cards as a model for other communities.

"Let's face it, our state and federal governments should be doing something like this," said Campos.

"At the end of the day, this is about recognizing the humanity of every individual," he said.
Campos added that the legislation was also crafted to address privacy concerns, taking every effort to ensure that personal information from applicants is not turned over to other agencies, including federal immigration authorities.

"This program is not going to be used to identify people and to get to people for purposes of deportation," Campos said.

He said he hoped the municipal ID cards would encourage members of the immigrant community who witness crimes to more readily come forward to police.

"We have taken every step to ensure that nothing happens to them if they come forward," he said.

Businesses have also been invited to participate in the program by voluntarily providing discounts and benefits to ID card holders, in exchange for a business listing on the city's Web site.

The cards will be available at the County Clerk's Office at City Hall. They cost $15 for adults and $5 for children 13 and under, seniors and low-income individuals.

More information is available on the County Clerk's Web site at www.sfgov.org/countyclerk.
http://cbs5.com/localwire/22.0.html?typ ... -IDS-bagm-