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NYC leader seeks ban on cashless restaurants

November 28, 2018

A New York City council member is proposing a crackdown on cashless restaurants, arguing that the increasingly popular business model locks low-income consumers out of the mix, according to a GrubStreet.com report.

Council member Ritchie Torres, who represents the 15th council district in the central Bronx, said he will propose legislation to fine any restaurant that doesn’t accept cash, according to the report. He argues that a payment system that locks out customers who don’t have smartphones loaded with Apple Pay, or some other digital payment, or who don’t have access to credit cards is inherently racist and classist.