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