Posted on 09/06/2025 7:59:48 PM PDT by SeekAndFind
New York City mayoral candidate and Democratic Socialist Assemblyman Zohran Mamdani is doubling down on his push for government-run grocery stores — even as real-world examples suggest the idea doesn’t work.
In an appearance on CNN NewsNight Friday, Mamdani defended his plan to spend $60 million of taxpayer money to open five city-run grocery stores, one in each borough. He insisted the program would deliver “cheaper groceries,” not free food, and claimed that food has become a luxury New Yorkers are being “priced out of.”
CNN host Abby Phillip pressed Mamdani on why the government — which routinely struggles to run basic services — is the solution to food deserts, rather than partnering with the private sector.
“Why is the government a better solution... than just working with the private sector to do what they know how to do, which is run grocery stores?” she asked.
Mamdani responded by pointing to the “promise” of a public option and said urban studies support his case. But when challenged with the failure of a government-run grocery store in Kansas City — now on the brink of shutting down due to high crime and mismanagement — Mamdani dismissed the criticism.
“We have to prove not only the efficacy, but the excellence of this idea,” he said, arguing that for every failure, there's another city "considering" such a program.
In other words, Mamdani wants to gamble taxpayer dollars on a model that has already shown itself to be ineffective, hoping this time it will be different.
He also attempted to justify the $60 million price tag by comparing it to what the city already spends subsidizing corporate supermarkets — a classic bait-and-switch that ignores the inefficiencies and bureaucratic waste inherent in government-run operations.
Mamdani’s idea is less about solving food access issues and more about imposing ideology on public policy. His approach assumes private businesses are the problem, not rising crime, stifling regulations, or economic mismanagement that have driven stores out of lower-income areas.
The reality is that New Yorkers don’t need government-run grocery chains. They need safe neighborhoods, fewer taxes, and a city government that stops penalizing business owners at every turn. Mamdani’s plan is a costly experiment in socialist wish-casting — and struggling families shouldn’t have to pay the price.
$60 million is nothing compared to the $850 million given to then Mayor Bill De Blasio's wife, Chirlane McCray for a program called, ThriveNYC, which was billed as a “mental health roadmap” aiming to destigmatize mental illness and expand access to care across New York City.
We don't really know where the money went. Independent audits showed conflicting numbers. One report cited $594 million spent, while another showed $816 million, with no clear line-item breakdown. The program has since been dissolved.
I bet Mamdani's City groceries eventually meets the same fate .... but like every other government program, will continue to bleed tax payer money.
But $60 million is really small potatoes compared to the money wasted on ThriveNYC, however, I bet they will be asking for MORE MONEY after a few months of operation...
Hey they worked great in Soviet Union right?
The old, “They didn’t do it like we will ‘cause we’re smarter!” argument
Total grift.
The Muzzie, Commie is insane.
Confront him with facts and demand answers at every press conference.
Sure it’s a bad idea, but they’re collectivists; they don’t let a little thing like Reality stop them.
How well did government run food stores work out for the Soviet Union?
The is more truth to this cartoon than anyone knows.
GUM.
1) Wait in line to find out the price of the item.
2) Wait in line to pay for the item.
3) Wait in line to receive the item.
There was a US retailer that tried aping that model, and I actually endured that a couple of times back in the 80’s.
They went out of business and I can’t recall the name.
Ja vell.
Some deserve to be “memory forgotten”!
The grocers in the US are really extremally efficient and operating on tiny profits.
Mamdani five stores government minichain cannot compete with large corporate chains!
The problem with NY high grocery prices are mostly caused by high priced real estate, high salaries, regulations, shoplifting, taxes.
But Mamdani City groceries will have the same headwinds.
Plus the famous government efficiency.
There is just no chance they can succeed without massive subsidies.
Free bread? Until they run out?
They used to have them in the Soviet Union.
A food desert are the direct consequence of a shoplifting oasis.
It doesn’t matter how many times socialism has failed. Socialism is a cult religion. We’re talking about people’s most-deeply held beliefs.
BTTT
“Oh,nobody has done it right yet. We’ll do it right this time.”
“Mamdani five stores government minichain cannot compete with large corporate chains!”
mini chain indeed ... and bound to be small stores with limited product selection: only $12 million per store startup costs ... actually, MUCH less for the actual stores because of the need for a distribution center with expensive freezers and refrigerators, administrative costs, and on and on and on ... wonder how many years it’ll take to get this turkey off the ground? ... maybe never if they overload it from the start with DEI and other government mandated bullshit ... remember the seven chargers biden built for $7 billion dollars? ....
The insanely stupid don’t understand socialism.
Spending 60 million + to make groceries cheaper is not making groceries cheaper because someone has to eventually pay taxes to fund the $60m.
If it’s even remotely successful, then it’s a wealth redistribution scheme. Most of the redistribution will go into the pockets of Mamdani supporters.
Just follow the money. NY citizens need to implement a “DOGE” system of oversight to really see how hard they have been getting frigged for decades.
Turn wild hogs loose in a grocery store, the same thing will happen, same result.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.