Zohran Pushes New Poll Boosting City-Owned Grocery Stores

Mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani highlighted a new poll indicating significant public support for establishing city-owned grocery stores in New York City. The poll, conducted by the Climate & Community Project, surveyed New Yorkers about the potential for municipal supermarkets.

Mamdani, who has consistently advocated for this approach, seized on the findings. In a statement, he positioned himself as "the only candidate in the race with a plan to reduce food prices and has proposed doing so through a network of city-owned grocery stores."

The poll revealed that two-thirds (66%) of New Yorkers surveyed are in favor of creating government-run grocery stores.

This support crosses political affiliations, including majorities of Democrats (72%), Independents (64%), and Republicans (54%).

Critics argue that government-run stores could suffer from inefficiency, potentially offering a worse experience than existing private supermarket chains. Some also characterize the idea as bordering on socialism.

Furthermore, opponents contend that the typically low profit margins in the grocery industry mean that corporate profits are not the main cause of high food costs.

They point to historical examples, like state-controlled stores in the former Soviet Union, and more recent cases, such as a reportedly failed government-run store in Erie, Kansas (source), as evidence that such models are often unsustainable.