DCs cashless business ban could be back in effect Jan. 1 NBC4 Washington [Video]

Businesses in Washington, D.C., will be required to accept cash beginning Jan. 1 unless the D.C. Council takes action.

D.C. first started requiring businesses to accept cash in 2021, but because of the pandemic and lack of funding, the law was only briefly enforced. Recent crime legislation halted the enforcement again earlier this year, but that is set to expire on the first of the new year.

D.C. Council Chairman Phil Mendelson defended the ban on cashless businesses last year, pointing to the thousands of D.C. residents who don’t have access to banks, credit or debit cards.

“So, this is really about equity,” he said.

Anna Valero, who owns four entertainment venues, said she understands those concerns.

“You know, we are in an industry where we’re a lot of people’s first jobs,” she said. “We are the ones that are often explaining to them about what does it mean to be bankable, how do you open a checking …