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CITY HALL OFFICE
250 BROADWAY, ROOM 1781NEW YORK, NY 10007(212) 788-6853
FAX:
(212) 788-1656apalma@council.nyc.com
 
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OUNCIL
 
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ANNABEL PALMA
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D
ISTRICT, BRONX
CHAIR 
OF GENERAL WELFARE
 
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DISTRICT OFFICE
1041 CASTLE HILL AVENUEBRONX, NY 10472(718) 792-1140FAX: (718) 931-0235
 
December 14, 2010Robert Doar Commissioner Human Resources Administration180 Water Street New York, NY 10038Dear Commissioner Doar,We were disturbed to read yesterday that three current and former HRA employees have been charged with stealing $8 million in food stamp benefits. This is clearly the act of individuals intent on defrauding the program for personal gain, and they should be prosecuted to the full extent of the law. However, it also raises serious concerns aboutthe ways in which HRA monitors for fraud in the food stamp system.You are quoted in yesterday’s New York Post as saying, “we are reevaluating our  processes to be sure this unacceptable offense is prevented in the future.” We hope thatthis reevaluation includes a substantial policy shift away from the use of finger imaging.The finger imaging of food stamp applicants is currently the primary method used byHRA to prevent fraud. This method is only useful in detecting one kind of fraud – namely, a single applicant receiving multiple benefit cases.That kind of potential fraud pales in comparison to incidents of government employeesfalsifying cases or stores illegally giving cash in exchange for benefits. Historically, thelargest cases of fraud have involved food stamp recipients selling their benefits for alower cash value, to store and restaurant owners who then turn them in for reimbursement. Because these kinds of cases – such as a $60 million scheme in 1998 – involve lawful food stamp recipients, they are undetectable through the use of finger imaging.In fact, in the full history of food stamp finger imaging in New York City, there is not asingle instance in which it has been used to prosecute suspected fraud. On the contrary, itis a harmful, destructive, and discriminatory practice that does nothing to prevent thekind of fraud we see being prosecuted today.
 
 
2To make matters worse, finger imaging needlessly stigmatizes a critical safety net for hungry New Yorkers, deterring nearly 30,000 eligible New Yorkers from signing up.This in turn costs our city over $54 million a year in foregone benefits that could be spentat local stores, supporting our economy in a time of great financial insecurity. And itquite literally takes food out of the mouths of hungry New Yorkers.We, along with a number of our Council colleagues, have urged you on numerousoccasions to end the practice of finger imaging food stamp applicants in New York City – one of only four localities in the country that maintain this archaic requirement. It leadsto unnecessary attention and resources focused on benefit recipients who are tryingdesperately to feed their families. As was made quite apparent by recent news, our attention and resources would be much better devoted to combating genuine instances of large-scale fraud.The time has come for New York City to decriminalize hunger; we look forward tomeeting with you to discuss this matter further. Please have your office contact my Chief of Staff, Meghan K. Lynch, at 212-788-6853 or MLynch@council.nyc.govto setsomething up at your earliest convenience.Sincerely,Annabel Palma Albert VannCouncil Member Council Member District18, Bronx District 36, BrooklynJimmy Van Bramer Melissa Mark-ViveritoCouncil Member Council Member District 26, Queens District 8, ManhattanBrad Lander Deborah RoseCouncil Member Council Member District 39, Brooklyn District 49, Staten Island
 
 
3 Vincent J. Gentile Daniel DrommCouncil Member Council Member District 43, Brooklyn District 25, QueensFernando Cabrera Helen Diane Foster Council Member Council Member District 14, Bronx District 16, BronxLetitia James Elizabeth CrowleyCouncil Member Council Member District 35, Brooklyn District 30, QueensInez Dickens Charles BarronCouncil Member Council Member District 9, Manhattan District 42, BrooklynRosie Mendez Gale Brewer Council Member Council Member District 2, Manhattan District 6, Manhattan
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