Page 25 - ARUBA TODAY

BUSINESS Friday 24 January 2020
A25

New York City Council votes

to ban cashless businesses

By KAREN MATTHEWS Backers of the cashless preferred method of pay-
Associated Press model say the benefits in- ment," City Councilman
NEW YORK (AP) — New clude greater efficiency Ritchie Torres, the Bronx
York City lawmakers voted and eliminating the risk of Democrat who sponsored
Thursday to require stores theft, but opponents say the legislation, said before
and restaurants to accept millions of Americans still the council's 43-3 vote in
cash for payment, saying rely on cash. favor of the bill.
businesses that accept In adopting the ban on Councilman Kalman Yeger,
only credit and debit cards cashless businesses, New a Brooklyn Democrat, said
are discriminating against York City joins a growing that businesses should ac-
New Yorkers who lack bank backlash against the digi- cept cash but that the lo-
accounts and credit cards. tal-only economy. cal government shouldn't
"This practice punishes the Philadelphia became the force them to.
underbanked," City Coun- first U.S. city to ban cashless "We're inserting ourselves
cil Speaker Corey Johnson stores last year, despite op- into the business of business
said before the council's position by retail giant Am- in a way that we don't have
43-3 vote in favor of the bill. azon. San Francisco and a right to do in my opinion,"
Under the bill, businesses New Jersey passed similar he said in explaining his "no"
that refuse cash will be measures soon after. Only vote. A restaurant sign alerts customers that it's now "cashless," Thurs-
fined $1,000 for the first one jurisdiction required But some businesses that day Jan. 23, 2020, in New York.
violation and $1,500 after businesses to accept cash will be affected by the no- Associated Press
that. The measure, which is before 2019: Massachu- cash ban said they will fol-
expected to go into effect setts, which passed a law low the law when it is en- said six of New York City's thing, to make it go faster,"
by the end of the year, also nearly 40 years ago. acted. 18 Chopt locations and all LeSage said. "I've seen this
prohibits stores from charg- Backers of the New York "We are proud to do busi- of its 17 Dos Toros locations line go all the way around
ing higher prices for paying City bill said that hundreds ness in NYC and will of are currently cashless. there. But on the other
in cash. of thousands of city resi- course comply with all NYC Mary LeSage, waiting hand, I do think it's wrong
Democratic Mayor Bill de dents don't have bank ac- laws and statutes," Nick to buy lunch at a Chopt to bar people from food
Blasio is expected to sign counts or credit cards and Marsh, CEO of Founders counter in Manhattan ear- because they don't have
the legislation. A spokes- that others simply prefer to Table, parent company of lier Thursday, said the cash- the necessary resources. If
woman for the mayor said use cash. the Chopt Creative Salad less policy is efficient but it takes me five minutes lon-
that he supports the intent "Whatever your reasons, Co. and Dos Toros Taqueria she agrees that it might be ger to get lunch, that's fine
of the bill but that his ad- consumers should have chains, said in a statement. discriminatory. if it means everyone can
ministration will review it. the power to choose their A company spokeswoman "It's an ease of use sort of get food."q