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Part of the stimulus package would bring about $155 million to the city to cover food stamps through September 2010.

But so far, Mayor Michael Bloomberg hasn't signed a waiver to extend those benefits to single adults who don't have dependents.

City officials and hunger advocates want Governor David Paterson to override the mayor and accept the waiver statewide.

But the mayor says the city will not give any handouts.

"The mayor of the City of New York has decided that in New York City, single individuals - single men and women - who will lose their jobs shouldn't be allowed to eat," said City Comptroller Bill Thompson at a press conference held by Public Advocate Betsy Gotbaum. "That's as simple as it gets. He decided they shouldn't be allowed to put food on the table."

"People with dependents have to work, there's no reason why people without dependents shouldn't," said Bloomberg. "And we want to make sure they can get trained and get the dignity of a job. And we, even in this market, are able to place an awful lot of them. You know, if you want help, you got to help yourself first and there's nothing wrong with that."

The waiver would allow all single people to continue receiving food stamps while they look for a job.

The city is one of the hardest-hit places in the state for unemployment.