Maxing Out Partner's Credit Card Is Domestic Abuse, New Bill Says

NEW YORK CITY — Racking up debt on a girlfriend's credit card will be considered domestic violence under a new City Council bill.

A proposed expansion to the city's Human Rights Law, which would include economic oppression as a form of domestic abuse, was introduced in City Council Thursay, officials said.

Brooklyn City Council members Farah Louis, Justin Brannan and Manhattan representative Diana Ayala proposed INT.1975 to fight a form of abuse they say occurs in 99 percent of domestic violence cases.

“Economic and financial manipulation are common tools in the abuser’s arsenal,” said Louis, the Democrat recently elected to represent Flatbush's District 45. “It’s simply another method of control."

The bill defines economic oppression as the coercion of one partner to take on debt or finance deals against their will.

Louis argued financial abuse traps people in violent relationships by stripping them of the means to regain independence.

"They render survivors just as helpless as any other form of abuse," Louis said. "Without funds to support themselves, survivors remain trapped in situations that often endanger their lives."

Under the law, the city would provide recourse to financial abuse survivors denied jobs or housing because of the ramifications of financial abuse, such as a poor credit score or bankruptcy.

Sanctuary for Families — a New York-based service provider domestic violence survivors — threw its support behind the bill, as Executive Director Judy Kluger noted many of the group's clients struggled to recover from economic abuse.

“This insidious form of power and control often leaves gender violence survivors powerless, trapping them in the abusive relationship with no means to get out," Kluger said. "Without a doubt, economic abuse is one of the biggest hurdles our clients face as they strive to achieve economic self-sufficiency and support their families in a safe environment."