As a 55 year old black woman who grew up in NYC, I find your response to my previous post absolutely dripping with condescension, arrogance, and false assumptions. I'll try to address your comments in order. I'll start with your comment "Perhaps you should educate yourself..." As I have a PHD in Classical Studies and Masters Degrees in American History and Political Science from a private university. I really don't need someone like you to tell me to "educate myself". As for your suggestion to use Google, I'd never use any service provided by that evil and anti-American company. The reason WHY the ban on cashless businesses was passed is based on the invented concept of "disparate impact", a concept invented by radical America haters 10 or 15 years ago. Since there was no "racist intent" in Van Leeuwen's (or any other business') cashless policy, the impact is ENTIRELY IRRELEVANT! The ONLY legitimate reason for any jurisdiction to ban cashless businesses is to protect Citizens like me who CHOOSE to NOT use credit cards because they refuse to patronize credit card companies and/or refuse to use debit cards for privacy reasons (at least whenever possible). Here is an example of "racist intent"... After President Lyndon Johnson's "Great Society" multi-generational, multi-trillion dollar welfare program was passed, he said to his political aides and several congressmen, "Now we (the Democrat Party) will own the n*****s for another hundred years!" THAT IS "RACIST INTENT"! Here's one more example of "racist intent". Margaret Sanger founded Planned Parenthood in order to reduce the black population. Here are her words..."“We do not want word to go out that we want to exterminate the Negro population and the minister is the man who can straighten out that idea if it ever occurs to any of their more rebellious members.” ~ Letter from Margaret Sanger to Dr. C.J. Gamble, December 10th, 1939. Another prime example of "RACIST INTENT"! Here is an EXCELLENT article about Margaret Sanger and Planned Parenthood if you'd like to "educate yourself". https://www.hli.org/resources/the-difference-one-racist-made-margaret-sangers-world/ Regarding your comment "@Jane – to call POC “stupid” because they don’t have bank accounts or credit cards is incredibly uneducated and lacking in empathy (to put it mildly) on your part.", you COMPLETELY misconstrued what I meant. As a black woman, I am saying that YOU and anyone else who supports the cashless business ban FOR THE SPECIFIC REASON the law was passed are the racists. What you and they are saying is that black people like me are too stupid to obtain bank accounts and debit cards. NO one in my extended black family has EVER had an issue obtaining bank accounts and debit cards. The reasons people don't have bank accounts are due to things like lack of motivation, laziness, career criminality, or absolute refusal by them to do ANYTHING to improve their lives. Whatever the reasons, this phony culture of victimhood among POC must stop! Their skin color is not the issue, it's the way some of us POC (but not me!) think. As for your comment "While technically the ID NYC card that can be issued to undocumented New Yorkers enables them to open a bank account, many are not aware of this..." NO illegal aliens should be able to obtain ANY ID or Driver's License, or a bank account, debit or credit card or loan, attend a publicly -funded school, purchase insurance of any type, or register a car because they shouldn't even be here! Every breath they take in America is an offense to the law. I've enjoyed our back and forth. Perhaps we can keep it going. I really do hope you can get out of your bubble and think about things like a real American. Maybe you can even "educate yourself". Much Luv, Jane — Jane on New Kid on the Block: Van Leeuwen Ice Cream

@AndyJ @person @alee I personally use credit cards but please understand my point - there is a cashless ban in NYC (and many other cities) for a reason, as I posted above. Most people can, will, and do use credit cards. BUT - I keep reading that Van Leeuwen is constantly in violation of the ban despite racking up fines, and I don't hear about other violators, so I wonder why. https://ny.eater.com/2021/11/29/22800662/new-york-city-cashless-ban-law-violations-van-leeuwen-fines Clearly, all these issues you point out are not stopping every other business in NYC from following the law. — ConcernedLocal on New Kid on the Block: Van Leeuwen Ice Cream

@Jane who called me racist: Perhaps you should educate yourself on the LAW in NYC and why the ban was passed. Google is your friend - simply type in "cashless ban NYC" and learn about it. https://legistar.council.nyc.gov/LegislationDetail.aspx?ID=3763665&GUID=7800AFC9-D8B1-41FD-9C31-172565712686 Do some research on why cashless bans have been enacted in NYC and across the country. From the legislation that was passed in NYC: "In New York City, the majority of the nearly 12 percent of unbanked and 25 percent of underbanked residents are people of color. Close to 17 percent of black New Yorkers and 14 percent of Latinx New Yorkers are unbanked, compared to just 3 percent of white New Yorkers." @Jane - to call POC "stupid" because they don't have bank accounts or credit cards is incredibly uneducated and lacking in empathy (to put it mildly) on your part. Poor and low-income New Yorkers face numerous barriers in accessing banking. The poorest neighborhoods of New York’s five boroughs have the fewest bank branches in the city. While technically the ID NYC card that can be issued to undocumented New Yorkers enables them to open a bank account, many are not aware of this, and less than 30 percent of banks and credit unions in the city accept ID NYC as valid identification. Perhaps Jane is privileged and thinks it's very simple to open a bank account or get a credit card, and she probably doesn't know anyone who is low-income, but it would do her well to think about others who don't all live in Tribeca and don't have the same access and income as she does. I may live in Tribeca but I do know New Yorkers who do NOT have bank accounts or credit cards for the reasons listed above. — ConcernedLocal on New Kid on the Block: Van Leeuwen Ice Cream

Anyone that has run an operation that requires cash handling employees knows the challenges of running a "money room". That includes giving each employee a cash till which then needs to be reconciled at shift end, regular cash drops, and other general loss prevention challenges and expenses, including register cameras and DVRs. Robberies/break-ins did happen in my time in retail and hospitality, but more often than not, it was an insider shorting the company - usually with fairly sophisticated methods. The till was always "whole" when they settled the shift, but cash was being pocketed. — alee on New Kid on the Block: Van Leeuwen Ice Cream

It's also a much faster checkout process since you don't have to waste time exchanging money and counting change. Helps at a high turnover business with long lines like Van Leeuwen. Good for customers and for the business. — person on New Kid on the Block: Van Leeuwen Ice Cream

Does anyone remember the name of a small bar on the southeast corner of Harrison and Greenwich in the 1980's, around the corner from Puffy's? — pete k. on When Tribeca Was Small (Part Two)

You are absolutely WRONG! The only people cashless businesses discriminate against are people that detest credit card companies and/or refuse to use cards for privacy reasons. For those reasons alone, cashless businesses should be banned.To say that the policy discriminates against people based on their skin color is absolutely ridiculous! Are you really saying that people of color are too stupid to get a free bank account and free debit card? Sounds like you're the racist to me! — Jane on New Kid on the Block: Van Leeuwen Ice Cream

I wonder if de Blasio will show up at the Saturday farmers market to campaign and interact with voters- oh never mind that's too early in the morning for him. — Anyone but de Blasio on Jerry Nadler has been redistricted out of Tribeca

to ConcernedLocal- most of the time a business like this goes to cashless it's because of previous robberies- obvs not at this location because it just opened — Andy J on New Kid on the Block: Van Leeuwen Ice Cream

De Blasio destroyed our city! No one should vote for this corrupt political clown. — Native on Jerry Nadler has been redistricted out of Tribeca

Hello! How do I make a reservation for PS? Can I make a reservation for 2 on 5/26 at 8pm? Thank you! Allison — Allison on Sneak Peek: PS at Pine & Polk

I wonder why they have not posted notices in the park. This is going to come as a shock to a lot of people. Considering the fragile emotional and mental health people are experiencing due to covid, war, human rights violations, politics, not to mention inflation and stock market/401Ks, the timing of this could not be worse. This park is a refuge and life-saver for so many. I understand sea levels are rising, but I don’t understand how destroying mature healthy trees to raise a mere 3.5 acres of ground that is already considered high ground is logical. — MES on Wagner Park will close for two years starting this summer

ok. — Tribeca Citizen on Wagner Park will close for two years starting this summer

Ouuuch…a bit hurt…are we? — Franco on Seen & Heard: Taylor Swift gets a doctorate from NYU

https://bpca.ny.gov/community/river-blues-free-outdoor-concert-series-returns-to-battery-park-city-this-july/ — Melissa on Wagner Park will close for two years starting this summer

River & Blues has always been at Wagner Park!! Never at Rockefeller. I have luved since before 9/11. The redesign of Wagner had a covered stage abutting the Museum of Jewish Heritay. BPCA eliminated it but I don’t know when. — Melissa on Wagner Park will close for two years starting this summer

You all know that de Blasio isn't depending on much support from readers of Tribeca Citizen, right? — Ben on Jerry Nadler has been redistricted out of Tribeca

I am personally a huge fan of Van Leeuwen's vegan mint chip and other flavors, BUT I am ethically conflicted by their blatant disregard for NYC's ban on cashless businesses (a practice that discriminates against POC). I wish you'd ask why they persist to do this despite increasing (unpaid) fines, because I'd like to support them. Love their products, but hate their stance on this! — ConcernedLocal on New Kid on the Block: Van Leeuwen Ice Cream

very excited to have a new scoop shop in the neighborhood. still miss the ice cream counter at duane park cafe. can't wait to try our van leeuwen! weekend forecast looks perfect for ice cream — AH on New Kid on the Block: Van Leeuwen Ice Cream

NYU has officially gone to hell. She doesn't belong on the list of people who have gotten doctorates. John Lewis, Aretha Franklin, Bill Clinton and many others who were more deserving. What has she done? She described the songs she's written and if you listen to all of them, they sound like the words came from a 15 year old's diary and they all sound the same - met a guy, fell in love, he dumped me, I wrote a song. Just because you sing, doesn't make you a singer. — Sara Ross on Seen & Heard: Taylor Swift gets a doctorate from NYU

Marcus, I agree 100%. — Rick Duskiewicz on Seen & Heard: Flipping the historic stone sidewalks

Fantastic!! Now if we could get Anbar Shoes to come back to Reade St... — K on Century 21 looks like it’s coming back to Fidi

That would be the worst nightmare.. end up with de Blasio representing us.... — Richard on Jerry Nadler has been redistricted out of Tribeca

If he gets on the ballot and anyone, anyone at all, votes for him :super angry: — Cordcutter on Jerry Nadler has been redistricted out of Tribeca

You all can sweat out De Blasio's bid for "redemption" -- I'll be glad to keep voting for Jerry Nadler where I am, especially over Carolyn Maloney. — Bruce Eder on Jerry Nadler has been redistricted out of Tribeca