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James Keivom for NY Post
The Issue: Mayor Mamdani reveals his $30 million plan for New York’s first city-run grocery store.
Mayor Mamdani is allocating $70 million in capital funds to finance government-run supermarkets? I thought we were facing a budget crisis (“$30M for a Trader Zo’s,” April 14).
Yes, food prices have gone up, but supermarkets operate on very slim margins — and consumers have the right to shop around to find lower prices. It’s called capitalism.
All this will succeed in doing is putting smaller food stores, which don’t have the advantage of free rent and taxes, out of business. I guess Mamdani can get advice from government food managers from Venezuela and Cuba.
Bill Isler
Floral Park
A $30 million city-run grocery store opening up in 2029? Why bother, it’s already a failure.
John Avelli
Brooklyn
The mayor’s plan to build a $30 million grocery store is a textbook example of government waste. This pet project smells of Bill de Blasio’s program for his wife, “ThriveNYC,” which cost taxpayers $1 billion.
Our private food-distribution system has served us well. Compare our existing system to the Soviet Union — where government store shelves were empty, and there were long lines once food arrived.
I predict this will be a failure and hurt the private supermarkets and bodegas in that neighborhood. A city in a budget crisis can’t afford this.
Mark Seitelman
Manhattan
Is anyone paying attention to Mamdani’s supposed attempt to help the “poor?”
His city-owned grocery stores will cost far more than what it takes to build a private grocery store. And we all know how projected costs in government spending go: Never on time or under budget, but usually way over.
I’d bet that it’s more than the “poor” who are benefiting from such projected gross expenditures.
Gerald DeAngelus
Latham
Here’s a mayor complaining that the city is broke, yet he has the city spending 30 million bucks to refurbish an area in East Harlem into a city-owned grocery store.
This is going to hurt the small grocery owners in the area, who have been there for years. Most will eventually have to close their doors.
Unfortunately, it will get worse before it gets better. Voters be aware of who you vote for next time around.
Rob Johann
Woodhaven
At present, SNAP benefit cards can be used to buy luxury items that most low-paid workers can’t afford, like lobster and filet mignon.
If low prices in Mamdani’s New York City grocery store will only apply to staples like bread, flour or milk, why can’t Congress pass a law restricting SNAP purchases to similar food classes?
Nick O’Dell
Phoenixville, Pa.
Babies are getting shot in the street, emotionally disturbed people are pushing people onto the subway tracks and gang members on motorbikes are robbing people roaming the city.
But in a year or two, some people will be paying less for bread and eggs. What does the future hold for this city?
Louie Scarcella
Coney Island
Mamdani is opening one of his city supermarkets geared toward having cheaper prices. These stores will undercut the prices in the area and hurt many other businesses.
He’ll have people depend on the city groceries while surrounding supermarkets suffer. Meanwhile, the project is costing taxpayers $30 million.
If I was a supermarket owner located close to a city-owned place like this, I would protest loudly and contact my local politician.
Nothing good can come from this for established businesses. This is a socialist idea at its worst.
Joseph Comperchio
Brooklyn
Never in my lifetime would I have thought I would see my city being run by a Marxist mayor. Zohran Mamdani is doing just that and he’s getting away with it. It really makes me sick to my stomach.
Even though I had to leave New York for medical reasons, I still consider it my city.
Dick Mills
Franklin Lakes, NJ
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