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Supervisor requests more outreach; committee continues cashless-business repeal proposal
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Summary
Sponsors asked to continue an ordinance that would repeal San Francisco's cash-acceptance requirement for brick-and-mortar stores to allow more community engagement. Public commenters were split: some urged retaining the cash rule for privacy and access; business representatives cited operational and safety burdens. The committee voted to continue the item.
An ordinance to repeal Police Code Article 55'the city's rule requiring brick-and-mortar businesses to accept cash'was continued at the sponsor's request, after brief comment from residents and business groups.
Melanie Mathewson, presenting on behalf of Board President Mandelmann, asked the committee to continue the item so the sponsor could "have additional time for engagement with community members, as well as President Mandelmann's colleagues on the board." The chair granted the request and members agreed to calendar the item for a later date.
Public comment split along privacy and operational lines. Scott Feeney, a San Francisco resident, said he "pays with cash whenever possible" to avoid digital tracking and urged the board to preserve the earlier ordinance that protected the right to pay anonymously. Representatives of small-business technical assistance organizations told the committee they support preserving cash acceptance options for owners who rely on cash customers, while an unidentified venue and restaurant representative said cash accounted for "less than 3% of our total sales" and cited safety, reconciliation, and bank-access burdens.
At the request of the author, Chair Dorsey moved to continue the item to the call of the chair. The committee approved the motion by roll call (Member Wong: I; Vice Chair Mahmood: I; Chair Dorsey: I). The motion passed.
