New York State Assemblymember Zohran Mamdani, who represents parts of Queens and has openly identified as a democratic socialist and self-described communist, is gaining attention for a key proposal in his mayoral campaign: city-owned grocery stores.
According to Mamdani, the goal is to make food more affordable for New Yorkers by removing profit motives and introducing publicly run grocery options. The idea, while not new globally, has become a focal point in debates over public investment, urban food deserts, and economic equity.
NEW YORK NEW YORK
GOOD LUCK!
Some of the things Islamic socialist NYC mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani has previously called for:
– Abolishing NYPD
– Abolishing prisons
– Abolishing medical bills
– Abolishing private health insurance
– Banning all guns
– Legalizing sex work
-… pic.twitter.com/m3s7cX3s3m— General Mike Flynn (@GenFlynn) June 25, 2025
The plan centers on redirecting what Mamdani describes as existing city subsidies from private supermarkets into a city-run system. In a campaign video, he claimed the city spends $140 million on subsidizing corporate grocery stores. Based on that figure, Mamdani has proposed using half of that amount—approximately $70 million—to build and operate five city-owned grocery stores, with an initial estimated cost of $60 million.
However, closer inspection of the numbers reveals a potential issue in the foundation of his proposal. The $140 million figure cited by Mamdani appears to come from an infographic related to the city’s FRESH program—Food Retail Expansion to Support Health—which offers tax incentives and zoning benefits to encourage supermarkets to open in underserved neighborhoods. The program was created in 2009 to address food insecurity by supporting grocery access in lower-income communities.
While the infographic Mamdani referenced stated that $140 million had been “invested into NYC’s economy through FRESH,” a breakdown of that figure shows that most of the investment comes not from city coffers, but from private sector sources. Businesses receive tax breaks and regulatory support as incentives, but the city itself contributes a relatively modest amount—approximately $3.3 million annually in tax relief.
If that rate of spending continues, it would take over four decades for the city’s share to reach the $140 million total referenced. This detail has led to criticism that Mamdani misunderstood the nature of the investment data, mistaking private investment facilitated by tax incentives for direct government spending.
🚨 BREAKING: Governor Ron DeSantis says he thinks he could pay off the rest of Florida’s STATE DEBT if Zohran Mamdani wins the New York City mayoral race by charging the fleeing New Yorkers an “entry tax”
How many Floridians are on board with this idea?
🤣☀️ pic.twitter.com/6c2HdJfciM
— Eric Daugherty (@EricLDaugh) June 30, 2025
As of now, Mamdani has not publicly revised his funding plan or addressed this distinction. Supporters of the Assemblymember argue that his broader point about rethinking food distribution remains valid, especially in a city where many neighborhoods still lack affordable fresh food options.
Opponents, including fiscal conservatives and urban policy analysts, see the funding gap as a major flaw in the plan’s viability and an example of the challenges facing ideologically driven governance proposals. Despite the numbers dispute, Mamdani’s campaign continues to draw interest, particularly among progressive voters and organizations that support expanded public services.
His supporters emphasize structural change, arguing that essential goods like food should be less subject to market pressures. Critics argue that the city’s historical record with managing large-scale business operations is mixed at best, and that relying on incorrect assumptions could have real consequences for public spending and economic outcomes.
Muslim Zohran Mamdani, born in Uganda, only became a United States citizen in 2018, won the Democrat primary for Mayor of New York City. Radicals like him are winning local elections all over America. This is the biggest threat to America!
People forgot to “Never Forget” 911. pic.twitter.com/de5fmVTZyf
— Mike Engleman🇺🇲 (@RealHickory) June 26, 2025
