Opposing Cashless Businesses in Evanston

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My name is Lesley Williams from the Community Alliance for Better Government, and I am speaking in support of Ordinance 2-O-23, the proposed ban on cashless businesses in Evanston. Although there are not many in Evanston, this is a growing trend with serious implications for low income, disabled and unbanked citizens. Requiring that all businesses serve customers who use cash is clearly an equity issue.

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Cashless businesses have been banned in  Philadelphia, San Francisco, New York City and the states of Massachusetts, New Jersey, and Rhode Island. They are opposed as discriminatory  by both the ACLU and the NAACP.

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The sponsor of the New York ordinance stated that “a cashless business model is an expression of institutionalized racism insofar as it disproportionately excludes people of color,” who tend to have less access to credit and debit and therefore have a diminished ability to purchase goods and services in an increasingly cashless marketplace. A cashless business model, however well-intentioned, could have a discriminatory effect on the underbanked and unbanked, on immigrants who have no documentation, on homeless people who have no permanent address, and on communities of color that live in poverty.”

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While I appreciate the challenges faced by small businesses, and concerns about theft, there is little evidence that allowing cash transactions will significantly increase security risks. On the other hand, requiring patrons to use electronic payments exposes users to security risks which they should not be forced to accept.

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Given Evanston’s stated goals of eliminating institutional racism and promoting racial and social equity, CABG  enthusiastically supports this proposal.