Respect to the Internets Celebrities for this post.  This is certainly their best video to date.  It’s funny, filmed in Bushwick, and it’s incredibly relevant.

The New York City Council has just released a statement urging the “bankless” to open checking accounts, noting that 53% of New Yorkers living in public housing use check cashing services (Reuters).

According to Eric Gioa, the Council’s Oversight and Investigations Chair, ”When your primary financial institution is a check casher, you have basically no ability to get a credit card, much less a mortgage - creating a permanent financial underclass” (Reuters).

The Council’s report found, “the belief they do not have enough money, fears their English is not fluent enough and a mistrust of financial institutions” as some of the reasons for individuals not using banks (Reuters).

Additionally, Brian Lehrer just did a show on WNYC with Amalgamated Bank, which is working to put more banks in neighborhoods that traditionally been under-served.

Good job Dallas and Rafi.  Now you just need to get your asses down to the Bushwick Social Club.