Mayor Adams unveils 'Money in Your Pocket' initiative to empower New Yorkers

In a bold step to alleviate financial burdens for residents, Mayor Eric Adams introduced the “Money in Your Pocket” initiative, which will reach over 20 neighborhoods citywide.

This program is designed to connect working-class and low-income New Yorkers with essential benefits.

Camille Joseph Varlack, Chief of Staff to the Mayor, said, “Our administration is laser-focused on making our city safer and creating a more affordable and livable city for working-class New Yorkers… Together, we’re not just creating opportunities, we’re building a more inclusive city where every single resident can thrive.”

While speaking about the initiative, Mayor Eric Adams stated, “Thanks so much. This was probably one of the hidden jewels of this administration… We send back billions of dollars to the federal government… Everyday working-class people and low-income New Yorkers had a wealth of resources available, but we were not getting it to them… Thirty billion dollars we have placed and made a way to get back into the pockets of everyday New Yorkers… We want all New Yorkers to know about the benefits that are available today, so we are launching our new Money in Your Pocket initiative… Programs like Fair Fares are helping make our city more affordable, especially for students like me who are balancing school, work, and daily expenses.”

Also speaking, Adrienne Lever, Executive Director, Mayor’s Public Engagement Unit, said, “Our team at the Public Engagement Unit leverages community organizing principles and grassroots outreach strategies to help connect New Yorkers to critical resources every day… We know that a strong government is not built by waiting for those who are in need to ask for help.”

Cross Elizardo, Hunter College Student, “I realized that I qualified for this benefit, so I signed up and within about a month I received my MetroCard… The savings add up quickly and it makes a real difference… Every dollar counts.”

Mayor Adams on Community Feedback stressed, “First of all, that’s a very interesting analysis… You see who’s behind us… One person using profanity as a symbol of New York, that’s sad… We are going to move forward, straight ahead, and we’re going to get these benefits in the pockets of people.”