The mayor of Detroit along with a coalition of civic and community leaders came together Wednesday morning to announce a new city identification card.
“I have been waiting for many days to get my i.d. to be like bam… Detroit, baby,” said city councilmember Raquel Castaneda-Lopez. ‘Represent! 313!”
She is one of several city officials and community members who spear-headed the program.
"So this is really about government removing barriers to make sure we are truly serving the most marginalized people in the city of Detroit,” said Castaneda-Lopez.
According to city officials, there are a number of Detroiters who do not have any form of identification.
In a press conference Wednesday, they said this is much needed to get access to key city services and checking and savings accounts and said many residents came to city officials with their concerns.
“There are groups of individuals in our city for whom every interactions are challenging… retiring citizens who come back from prison without active drivers license, our undocumented immigrant often times don’t have the kind of valid ID they need, the homeless, young people today are not getting their driver’s license on their 16th birthday like my generation did,” said Mayor Mike Duggan.
“If you think anything, if you want to go to the library, if you want to purchase certain types of prescriptions from the pharmacy, anything you do you essentially need an id card. people applying for jobs, you may need an old form of id and if you don’t have that you may be barred from that process,” said Castaneda-Lopez.
There are perks to getting a card.
If you flash your Detroit ID card at a long list businesses in the city, you will get discounts.
And as the mayor says there’s something about carrying a card that says you are from ‘The D’ that carries an extra sense of pride.
“What it does do is say very clearly what we are… we are Detroiters,” said Mayor Duggan.
For residents over 18 but under 62, the initial card will cost $25 with a $10 bi-annual renewal fee.
For those over 62 years old, and between the age of 14 – 18 the initial purchase of he card will cost $10.
For more information on how you can get a card visit www.Detroitmi.gov
