Student OMNY Card

Dear Chancellor Banks and Chair Lieber: 

We are writing to you today on behalf of Manhattan public school families regarding the new  Student OMNY card program. We commend the Department of Education and the Metropolitan  Transit Authority for expanding the reach of this program to include nights, weekends, and a full  year of access including the summertime. This was a multi-year effort that began in 2019, when  the half-fare MetroCard was eliminated and replaced by full-fare MetroCards for students living  1-1.5 miles from their schools. There is no doubt that this will make a tremendous impact on  students and lift a significant financial burden from their families. 

After hearing from concerned parents and community members, we are writing to request that  you lift the restriction on these cards for students who live within one half mile of their school,  many of whom live and attend school in Manhattan, and those who take the school bus,  including thousands of special education students. Since the OMNY student card can be used  beyond trips to and from school, it means these students are missing out on a benefit that those  who have student OMNY cards are receiving.  

By expanding access to 7 days a week and 365 days a year, the new OMNY student cards will  give students the freedom to go to extracurricular activities, educational opportunities, volunteer  roles, summer jobs, and more without having to worry about cost. A student who might live in 

Harlem, go to high school in Midtown, and have dance practice in Flatiron won’t have to worry  about using their student card during the school day and paying separately on nights and  weekends. This is a huge win for students, and it should be applied equally to all our young  people.  

We sincerely appreciate your efforts to expand access to public transportation to New York  families. All students should have access to the wonderful benefits of this program and we hope  that you will consider lifting these restrictions that leave some families behind.  

Thank you for your consideration of this request and your work on behalf of all New Yorkers.  We look forward to hearing your response on this matter.  

Sincerely, 

Keith Powers, New York City Council,  District 4 

Mark Levine  Manhattan Borough President 

Adriano Espaillat United States House of Representatives, District 10

 Kristen Gonzalez  New York State Senate,  District 59

Jerrold Nadler United States House of Representatives, District 11

Chris Marte New York City Council, District 1 

Harvey Epstein New York State Assembly, District 74 

Brian Kavanagh New York State Senate, District 27 

Carlina Rivera New York City Council, District 2 

Erik Bottcher New York City Council, District 3 

Julie Menin New York City Council, District 5 

Gale Brewer New York City Council, District 6 

Shaun Abreu  New York City Council, District 7 

Charles Fall New York State Assembly, District 61 

Manny de los Santos New York State Assembly, District 72 

Rebecca A. Seawright New York State Assembly, District 76 

Deputy Speaker Diana Ayala  New York City Council, District 8 

Grace Lee New York State Assembly, District 65 

Alex Bores New York State Assembly, District 73 

Micah Lasher Nominee for New York State Assembly, District 69 

Carmen de la Rosa New York City Council, District 10 

Deborah Glick New York State Assembly, District 66 

Tony Simone New York State Assembly, District 75 

Jordan Wright Nominee for New York State Assembly, District 70