City-owned groceries under fire: critics flag a flawed, costly plan

Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s plan to open five city-owned, privately operated groceries funded by public money and subsidized “Core Basket” items is drawing fire from insiders who say the 44-page EDC RFP reveals a flawed, costly model: bidders would price unknown stores in unknown neighborhoods, the plan envisions limited product diversity with various dietary options, stores would ship pre-made deli items, and there’s no means-testing—meaning taxpayers could subsidize groceries for nearby affluent shoppers while others go without.