Tom Ammiano: Why ID card will make the city safer and stronger

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Tom Ammiano: Why ID card will make the city safer and stronger

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/c/a/2007/09/30/IN8OSEK41.DTL
By Tom Ammiano
9/30/2007

'As a sanctuary city, San Francisco has a responsibility to address the issues facing our community when federal legislators fail to do so. While grandstanding and speeches filled with fear and hate dominate congressional debate, here on the local level we have to address the fallout from continued inaction.

I introduced legislation Sept. 18 to create a municipal identification card for San Francisco residents, regardless of immigration status. This has created a local buzz and national controversy. The ID card is useful for many San Franciscans such as the homeless, the elderly, youths, transgender people and others who encounter barriers to accessing government-issued IDs. However, detractors have focused solely on immigrants as the recipients'.