#new New Yorkers are angry over Zohran Mamdani’s plan to spend $30 million to build a city-run grocery store that won’t have to pay rent, taxes or utilities – saying the socialist m*slim is using taxpayer money to k*ll private businesses and jobs.
A group of minority owned businesses have been trying to meet with the Mayor, but he has not accepted their requests.
Meanwhile Mamdani is demanding taxpayers pay at least $70 million for five government grocery stores, one per borough. Experts say that price tag is expected to double, and may even triple when all is said and done.
The East Harlem site alone at La Marqueta has a $30 million construction bill.
These stores get full exemptions from property taxes, rent on city land, and utility costs, letting them undercut private grocers who pay every penny while competing against their own tax dollars.
One local owner who said he has been trying to speak with the mayor said,
“No way. There’s no way we can be open if I lose 30 percent, I’m in trouble. I won’t be able to pay the rent. I won’t be able to pay the workers, and I don’t want to lose the whole thing.”
“Whatever it’s cost me 45 years working all my life to lose it because I’m going to be fighting against someone who is spending our own money.” And the mayor is asking for a lot of money.”
Mamdani says government grocery stores will work, claiming the proof that they will work….. public libraries.
However, critics point out that libraries don’t sell books, source perishable food items, compete on price against other stores or survive on a 2% margin
