DeKalb GA News

New York City mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani has proposed the idea of government-owned grocery stores for the city, suggesting a more affordable alternative to traditional commercial supermarkets. This concept, according to Mamdani, has precedent within the US military where publicly owned grocery stores are already operational.

Supporting Mamdani's proposal, data cited by the candidate indicates that "two-thirds of NYC voters support creating municipal grocery stores to bring down prices." This underscores public interest in alternative solutions to reduce cost burdens on consumers.

Mayor Brandon Johnson of Chicago previously floated a similar proposal to open city-owned grocery stores. His campaign materials suggested these stores would focus on "keeping prices low, not making a profit," lowering overhead costs by negating rent and property taxes, and centralizing supply chain logistics to benefit shoppers. Johnson's initiative in 2023 followed a study—yet to be public—that surveyed the viability of this model. Meanwhile, the state of Illinois has launched a "Grocery Initiative," offering municipalities up to $2.4 million to start such stores. Chicago, however, has not pursued these funds.

Despite the survey's indication of support, public opinions remain divided. Critics have raised concerns about the potential pitfalls of government-run stores, questioning how factors like a $30 minimum wage might affect pricing. Parallels have been drawn to historic examples of state-run retail failures, such as empty shelves in the former Soviet Union and shortages in Venezuela.

The discussion continues as Mamdani advocates for a pilot program launching one store per borough, using insights from the feasibility study in Chicago as a preliminary guide.