The mayor of New York, Zohran Mamdani, defended his pathetic municipal supermarket project on Tuesday, an initiative that seeks to reduce the price of basic foods in the city but which has generated strong criticism for its cost, its limited reach and its long-term viability.
During a presentation at the historic “La Marqueta” market in Harlem, Mamdani explained that stores managed by the city will offer a “basic basket” of products with guaranteed prices below the market. This set of goods will include essential items such as bread, milk and eggs, although the mayor acknowledged that the definitive list has not yet been established. Beyond these products, the rest of the offer will also try to keep prices low, although without permanent discount guarantees
.The project is part of a larger proposal to open municipal supermarkets in the five districts of the city. The first establishment is scheduled for the end of 2027, while the most emblematic one, located in La Marqueta, will not open
until 2029.The latter will be built from scratch on empty land and will have about 9,000 square feet (~2800 meters) square, with an estimated cost of 30 million dollars. In total, the initiative could reach 70 million dollars in public investment, pending approval by the City Council
.
The plan has sparked immediate skepticism among retail experts and business leaders, who question both its cost and its efficiency. Supermarket executives pointed out that the estimated price of the Harlem project is disproportionate compared to the usual cost of building similar private supermarkets, which tend to cost less than 10 million dollars, even with a larger
surface area.It has also been criticized that there are nearby commercial properties for sale for significantly lower prices, which has fueled great doubts about the financial planning of the project.
