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New York City residents facing high food costs may soon benefit from a bold new initiative if the incoming socialist mayor’s plan is implemented successfully.
Approximately 1.4 million people in NYC experience food insecurity, meaning they struggle to access affordable, nutritious meals on a regular basis. One in three residents depends on food banks to get by.
Zohran Mamdani, a Democratic Socialist, secured a remarkable victory partly by promising to establish affordable city-operated supermarkets. He commits that these stores will prioritize low prices over profit, a fresh approach for a city known more for Wall Street wealth.
The proposed supermarkets would operate rent-free and be exempt from taxes, passing savings directly to consumers. Centralized warehouses and distribution networks are intended to cut costs further. However, Mamdani’s plan involves a small-scale pilot—launching five stores on unused city land—along with free transportation and subsidized childcare, and faces some opposition.
According to Nevin Cohen, an associate professor at CUNY’s Urban Food Policy Institute, details about Mamdani’s plan are still vague, particularly regarding store locations and formats.
During a recent visit to the White House, Mamdani met with President Donald Trump, who, in an unexpectedly cordial exchange, acknowledged the importance of focusing on affordable housing and food prices. Trump mentioned that “affordability” and “groceries” are now top priorities.
NYC already has a program called FRESH, designed to attract supermarkets to underserved neighborhoods through tax incentives and planning support. For instance, in Brooklyn’s East New York, a FRESH supermarket opened in 2023 as part of an effort to improve access to fresh foods. Deputy Director Laura Smith explained that FRESH encourages new grocery stores where residents face transportation challenges, in exchange for developers providing space for supermarkets in new housing projects. Currently, 35 additional stores are planned under this initiative.
Mamdani is skeptical of FRESH, advocating instead for redirecting public funds toward a genuine “public option,” arguing that instead of subsidizing private grocers, taxpayer money should support publicly owned supermarkets. Despite this critique, FRESH remains popular locally. Ivette Bravo, a retiree shopping for the holidays, appreciates its convenience, saying, “I like it because it’s close to home and has everything I need.”
The FRESH program, initiated under Mayor Bloomberg in 2009, remains enshrined in city law and has seen modest success—helping residents avoid long journeys for groceries. Mamdani’s plan would add another avenue but likely won’t resolve the larger issue of food access, given New York’s roughly 1,000 supermarkets overall.
Ultimately, addressing food insecurity on a meaningful scale requires action at the national level, Cohen emphasizes, as local efforts alone cannot bridge the city’s vast needs.
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