Mayor Eric Adams is ending his administration's controversial program that gives immigrants in city shelters prepaid debit cards to pay for groceries.
Under the pilot program, asylum seekers sheltered in hotels will be given preloaded Mastercards, and a family of four will receive about $350 a week to cover the cost of groceries and baby supplies. Ta.
The city hired Mobility Capital Finance, a New Jersey-based tech startup, on a $53 million, one-year “emergency” contract, but faced backlash because the city didn't go through its normal bidding process before selecting the company. I invited you.
However, with the one-year mark approaching, the Adams administration decided not to renew the contract. ABC7 reported.
“As we move toward more competitive contracts for the asylum seeker program, we will not renew the emergency contract for this pilot program after the one-year period,” Adams' office said in a statement to the agency. I chose to do so.”
The city began the program in late March after signing the contract two months ago. Since then, the city has distributed $3.2 million in prepaid debit cards for food to about 2,600 immigrant families, according to ABC7.
The program was intended to reduce costs and reduce food waste associated with the city's lunch delivery service program. City officials said much of the food in the boxed lunches was thrown away to reduce waste while allowing migrants to choose what they wanted.
The Adams administration said the emergency no-bid contract was awarded to avoid delays in rolling out cost-cutting programs.
City Auditor Brad Lander subsequently revoked the city's authority to award such deals regarding immigration services.
The Adams administration did not provide a reason Thursday for cutting the program.
A spokesperson for the mayor did not respond to a request for comment.
