You don’t have to be an economic development expert to know that an extra $500 million in the hands of New Yorkers would be a good thing for city residents and the city at large.
That money is there to be had if only eligible low-income residents would apply for the earned income tax credit (EITC). As we report in this issue, city residents took home $1.4 billion from this one deduction but another half a billion dollars went unclaimed.
There are two nonprofits with outposts in our community, Food Change and Money Site that are trying to spread the word and help eligible residents apply for the money they are due. But they can’t do it alone. Local elected officials, community leaders and residents should help get the word out by telling their constituents and neighbors about the EITC.

