Long lines for free money in New York City

No, this is not a bread line. These people in New York City are waiting in line to get free money.

Economic crisis? In the 30’s we had bread lines that actually gave bread among other groceries for the suffering American families during the Great Depression. But in the new millennium we give money instead. Free, no strings attached moola. A total of 200 bucks in cash per student in New York City.

The catch? That you spend it all in school-related items such as supplies and uniforms. But, with that kind of money sitting around until school season arrives, it will be hard to hold back the temptations to use it to complete the payment for that flat screen TV, or even to pay for that overdue cable bill.

That’s precisely the argument of those that criticize the program that makes this free money give away possible, funded by both you and one single man: billionaire and philanthropist George Soros.

Soros gave $35 million dollars from his own wealth to the already 140-million-dollar program that was created from the Federal stimulus package that the State of New York already received.

Though the money is meant for low income families (which represents two thirds of the recipients), there is no oversight on how the money will be spent, raising eyebrows left and right on the reliability of the policy.

Many have said that the program should’ve had more control and worked out a plan to dispense the money through special gift cards or prepaid credit cards. Or even had the schools to administer the funds more wisely.

But, this wasn’t the case and many are worried that the money will end up paying for luxuries that only New York City low income families enjoy: cable, expensive clothes and shoes, excessive phone bills, jewelry, among others.

Others, however, argue that if the parents use the money to pay for essentials to keep the family afloat, such as food for example, that the switch of priorities should be respected.

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*Photo courtesy of Miguelina Camejo, administrator of RinconAnimal.com.

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