(GoRealNewsNow.com) – The City That Never Sleeps turns into The City That Never Stops Bringing In Immigrants as NYC is rolling out a $53 million pilot program aimed at providing migrant families shelter in hotels with pre-paid credit cards for essentials.
The New York Post reported that the program targets 500 families initially allowing them to spend on necessities at local bodegas, grocery stores, and convenience stores while mandating they swear to use the funds solely for food and baby supplies.
Even if the initiative is well-intentioned it still raises eyebrows, especially considering the current immigrant crisis the country is in now.
Right now, this program is replacing the old meal program for migrants. Now, the new program will give money to families money according to their size, putting as example a family of four will receive around $1,000 per month, which means around $35 per day.
The program, managed by Mobility Capital Finance (MoCaFi), introduces the Immediate Response Card, similar to the state’s SNAP food stamp program but specifically made for those often excluded from banking systems.
MoCaFi CEO Wole Coaxum is enthusiastic about the idea of helping immigrants, but at the end of the day, this puts into question how the NYC authorities handle the needs of their own people versus the needs of people who don’t even have US citizenship to begin with.
Mayor Eric Adams, once a vocal advocate for New York City as a sanctuary for immigrants, now grapples with the financial and societal ramifications of his policies.
His administration’s projection of saving over $600,000 a month through this program, while ambitious, doesn’t silence concerns about the long-term sustainability of New York’s open-arms approach in the face of a burgeoning migrant crisis.
Mayor Adams’ recent warnings signal a big shift in how he talks about New York City’s open-door policy for migrants.
Before, he was all about welcoming everyone with open arms, saying New York City was a place for people fleeing trouble. Now, he’s sounding the alarm, saying the city could be in real trouble because of the huge number of migrants coming in.
This change from a warm welcome to a word of caution shows he’s starting to see just how tough it can be to keep the city running smoothly and affordably while trying to help everyone who arrives.