The advance of technology has been halted slightly in New York. Lawmakers passed a bill to ban cashless businesses. With the seemingly relentless drive to replace cash with plastic or digital payments, New York City officials decided cash still has a part to play in our lives. Officials approved legislation that prohibits stores, restaurants and other outlets from refusing cash. They want people to be able to pay via notes and coins. This means businesses in the city will not be able to insist that customers use cashless payments in any transactions.
Businesses could face big fines of up to $1,500 for not following the law. Critics of cashless businesses say they discriminate against the poor because many people do not have bank accounts or credit cards. One city resident said: "I worry about the real-world discriminatory effect that cashless business can have on...communities of color." Another said: "It's incredibly discriminatory not to accept cash because some people can't get credit." An opponent of the bill said: "We are inserting ourselves in the business of business in a way that we don't have the right to."