Cash is King County’s Answer to Improving Choice and Equality
May 17, 2023
America has seen many states and cities introduce cash-friendly legislation in recent years. Washington’s King County is among the latest to propose legal protection for payment choice, and Jeanne Kohl-Welles—the council member advancing the ordinance—has explained why the right to pay cash is vital to equality and freedom for all.
Writing for The Seattle Times, Kohl-Welles first addresses the importance of cash for ‘domestic abuse survivors with privacy concerns, kids with shopping lists, service workers with cash tips, unhoused people, [and] seniors on fixed incomes.’ These are just some of the people for whom cashless options are either unwise, inaccessible, or simply inconvenient.
The proliferation of cashless retailers signals a concerning trend that effectively locks out cash customers from participation in the local economy.
Many people choose cash for privacy reasons, since ‘use of credit allows banks and corporations to access buyers’ personal information, track their buying habits, and can increase the risk for identity theft and hacking.’ It is also an instant way to pay, with no waiting for an external connection to be established and confirmed, and has become popular among younger generations looking to take control of their finances.
Kohl-Welles points out that her ordinance—created earlier this year—supports choice by requiring retailers to accept cash alongside other payment options. She points to precedents such as cashless bans in New York City, Philadelphia, San Francisco, Washington D.C., Massachusetts, and New Jersey.
This is proactive legislation, not reactive. In a region where it’s becoming increasingly expensive to live, cashless businesses can make it even more challenging. The goal is to preserve access before it’s too late.
The proposal is supported by a wealth of organisations including the American Civil Liberties Union, the Low Income Housing Institute, the Northwest Immigrant Rights Project, the League of Women Voters, and the Transit Riders Union.
In the words of sociologist Matthew Desmond, ‘Poverty isn’t simply the condition of not having enough money. It’s the condition of not having enough choice and being taken advantage of because of that.