[1] The stated purpose of the photo ID card is "to streamline access to City programs and connect residents to local businesses.
Supervisor Tom Ammiano said the card is a public safety measure, because it will make residents living on the social margins more likely to seek the help of police, as well as giving them more access to banking and other services.
The Latin American Alliance for Immigrant Rights, ALIADI, a Bay Area-based grassroots organization, founded by Miguel Robles and conformed by local leaders, like Ramon Cardona, Attorney Daniel Luna, Miguel Perez, Julio Garcia, among others, organized a press conference at the San Francisco City Hall, in which they request, that in order to materialize the Sanctuary Status of the city and county of San Francisco, city officials must issue a resident identification card, to improve the interaction between community members (regardless their migratory status), and police officers, as well to allow all San Francisco residents, to access city services and open bank accounts.
ALIADI gathered over 40 grassroots organizations and non profits, which saw in the City ID Card a tool to improve the life of their clients and members.
After the concept was adopted in San Francisco, ALIADI organized on February 16, 2008, at the Women's Building the first of 3 conferences called "Cities for All; Integrating our communities", this 1st event was attended by over 100 organizers, and was the spark to launch campaigns in support of a city identification cards in Richmond, Santa Clara County, Oakland, Los Angeles, Detroit, Chicago, Minneapolis, among others, where ALIADI has been invited to present their experiences.