Union City to start new program giving out municipal ID’s

UNION CITY — The Union City Board of Commissioners officially adopted an ordinance for a municipal identification program at its Feb. 21 meeting.
The cards will be free to residents ages 14 and up. They will allow residents to access local services such as libraries, pools, and parks, regardless of immigration status. The city is also trying to get local businesses and banks to use the card as well, according to Erin Knoedler, the city’s director of operations.
“This is an important ordinance for all residents,” Mayor Brian Stack said at the meeting. “Whether they’re documented, undocumented, doesn’t really matter. We want to help everyone who wants an identification card to receive them.”
The program comes weeks after the city passed a resolution officially declaring itself a “sanctuary city.” That means that it will not assist in directing police to locate and arrest any undocumented immigrants in the area, provided they have not committed or are suspected of serious crimes. Donald Trump signed an executive order last month cutting federal funding to such cities.
The city will begin holding applications for the cards at Town Hall—3715 Palisade Ave.–March 1 at 4 p.m. The building will also hold extended hours to allow as many people as possible to apply. These will be Tuesdays and Wednesdays from 4 to 7 p.m.
For more information on the program, keep checking hudsonreporter.com, and the upcoming edition of the Union City Reporter.