By Colin Campbell 5/17/12 2:21pm

oh no he didn't

Food. (Photo: Wikimedia)

Cuomo Moves to Side-Step Bloomberg on Fingerprinting Food Stamp Recipients

Mayor Michael Bloomberg has staunchly defended New York City’s practice of fingerprinting low income residents as a prerequisite for receiving federal food stamp benefits, but it looks like Governor Andrew Cuomo will be implementing a new set of regulations to end the practice.

“There is never an excuse for letting any child in New York go to bed hungry,” Governor Cuomo said in a statement released this afternoon. “For too long, requiring finger imaging from those eligible for food stamp benefits has created an unnecessary barrier to participation in the program, causing a negative stigma and keeping food off the table for those in need. By removing this barrier, additional New Yorkers in need will be able to access the benefits they deserve without having to submit to this unneeded and burdensome requirement.” Read More

By Hunter Walker 1/06/12 5:42pm

Fingerprint Feud

Peter Vallone Jr. Defends Mayor Bloomberg on Food Stamp Fingerprinting

Councilman Peter Vallone Jr. defended Mayor Michael Bloomberg’s policy of requiring food stamp applicants to submit fingerprints in a Facebook post this afternoon. Governor Andrew Cuomo said he wants to stop food stamp fingerprinting in his State of the State address Wednesday arguing that it deters some people from signing up for the program. Councilman Vallone took issue with the idea people feel stigmatized by fingerprinting.

“I was fingerprinted to be a prosecutor,” wrote the Councilman, who worked for several years as an assistant district attorney. “I havent needed therapy at all to get over the stigma. Most city workers are fingerprinted.” Read More