San Francisco Bans Going Cashless

The Hill reports that the San Francisco Board of Supervisors voted to ban cashless businesses in the California city on Tuesday, making it the second major U.S. city to approve such measures. A second and final vote on the legislation will occur next week.

“The purpose of this [law] is to ensure that all City residents—including those who lack access to other forms of payment—are able to participate in the City’s economic life by paying cash for goods and many services," the San Francisco bill states, according to The Hill.

The conversation around prohibiting no-cash policies is getting louder at every level, from states to cities to individual brands. As a refresher, New Jersey passed a similar law in March, while salad chain Sweetgreen walked back its two-year cashless policy last month.

The Hill notes that several businesses in San Francisco’s more upscale neighborhoods currently have cashless policies which would require reversal. The article adds that the bill would exempt temporary pop-up stores, rideshare companies, online businesses, and food trucks that claim to not have the capacity to accept cash.

Emily Clouse is a staff writer for 1851 Franchise. Her work has been featured with publications such as The Onion, Reductress, and Chicago Magazine. She graduated from The Ohio State University before running away to join the Peace Corps. In her free time, she enjoys drawing and walking to Jewel-Osco.