Submitted By
Danielle Walker, Chief Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Officer
Reviewed By
A.M. Zayyad, Deputy Village Manager
Agenda Item Title
Title
Update on Motion Regarding Cashless Businesses
End
Overview
Overview
Cashless businesses have been an increasing topic of discussion for many municipalities as it relates to concerns around equity. Staff will discuss the diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) impact of cashless businesses and provide a recommendation.
End
Recommendation
Recommendation
Continue robust engagement with the business community and local residents.
Background
Former Trustee Jim Taglia brought forth a motion that was seconded by Trustee Robinson to ban cashless businesses in Oak Park due to concerns around equity. Staff immediately began to investigate and engage with the business community to understand the landscape of the cashless community in Oak Park. Going cashless for many businesses has become a rising trend in most areas, including Oak Park. Since this upward trajectory of businesses moving towards cashless transactions, there has been a myriad of opinions both for and against going cashless. One of the rising concerns is how does cashless impact marginalized communities.
Fiscal Impact
N/A
DEI Impact
More than 5% (about 7.1 million) of American households do not have access to any checking or credit accounts. Looking at the demographics of this finding, this includes about 14% of Black households and 12% of Hispanic/Latinx ones in comparison to their white American counterparts, which is under 3%.
Data gathered from previous years shows that these households tend to rely on cash. When many people believed that cash could carry the COVID 19 virus, during the early part of the pandemic, this created a problem for unbanked Americans. The same issues are a concern for these populations if there is a continuous movement towards a cashless society.
It is understood that those who may be impacted the most in a cashle...
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