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Interesting, the NYC ones are supposedly going to have 30% discounts on produce, meat/seafood, pantry, dairy, "refrigerated goods"--more than 20 categories in all. I think it's a legit question whether such steep discounts on such a wide range of goods will displace existing businesses

The NYC grocery stores are supposedly going to sell staple foods for 30% cheaper. Is the food at Azalea Market significantly discounted too, or do the prices seem pretty standard? Because that makes a big difference.

That's an interesting response. It suggests you also have questions about the consequences of this policy, but you support it anyway, because you trust the mayor to have done his due diligence. That's totally normal, I also usually just trust my mayor. Point is, questions are also totally normal

The "Greedy Profit-Driven Developer" theory of housing prices:

I worry that many leftists operate too heavily on vibes. It's good to use critical thinking, not just declare that naysayers hate helping people and want the poor to starve. We make each other sharper. Also, I disagree with the 30% discount part. I like the plan overall.

Which also happens if rents get too high, right? If I want to live in your apartment because of how desirable the neighborhood is, and your landlord knows I'm willing to pay even if he jacks up the rent....

If the goal is eliminating food insecurity, why not address the concerns you have with soup kitchens? Longer hours, more locations, better food, you name it? Plus, soup kitchens are free; that's more affordable than a 30% discount. For the record, I support city-owned stores

That doesn't explain why your solution wouldn't cause more gentrification. Oh no, now we have a Whole Foods AND a store where groceries are always 30% off! Somehow, the neighborhood just got *even more desirable*!

Wouldn't they? For 30% off? The mayor projects it'd save the average person $1000 per year www.nyc.gov/mayors-offic... Maybe I'd still shop locally for fresh produce, but meat/seafood for the freezer? Pantry staples? Heck, can I just get all my groceries delivered, do I still come out ahead?

It feels like you're motivated more by "How best to screw over my enemies" than "What's the best policy that will help the most people" For the record, I support city-owned grocery stores

Food banks and soup kitchens and stuff like that already exist. Is it important that it's a grocery store? And couldn't this lead to gentrification? I mean, who wouldn't want to live near a grocery store where meat and produce is always 30% off? Talk about a great location!

If food deserts are the main issue, why not offer a tax break, favorable loans, and/or grants to stores who set up in a food desert zone? Those other stores already have experience managing these kinds of operations. No need to re-invent the wheel, right?

At a 30% discount, people will prefer to shop at city stores. No normal store can compete with that kind of affordability. Those are unbeatable discounts. Some normal stores may lose customers, scaling back operations or shutting down entirely. Could this backfire and make more food deserts?

That doesn't explain what city-owned grocery stores (which I support, for the record) actually do. Why not a NYC version of SNAP? Support food banks? Support expansion of worker/consumer grocery co-ops? Heck, why not just give people cash?

There are many ways to achieve that. Why create a brand new brick-and-mortar grocery store? Why not create a NYC version of SNAP? Or support food banks? Or support the expansion of worker/consumer co-ops? Heck, for that matter, why not just give people cash?

Grocery store profit margins are very thin, only about 1-3%. There isn't much room to lower prices, so commissaries are heavily subsidized vantainsights.com/insights/gro...

Personally, the huge discount is what gets me. I'm a socialist, so I want city-owned grocery stores to be successful. Is this really the right place to do charity? Here's a small change: let the city-owned stores be profitable, and then the city can use its profit to help fund welfare programs.

The reality is, you'll need to justify repairing and expanding a money pit. We can't have a mayor like Mamdani forever. I support city-owned stores. Why do you? Why not spend that money on a NYC version of SNAP? Or to support food banks? Or support worker/consumer grocery co-ops?

To begin, I support city-owned stores You're not answering the fundamental question: is it really the best use of money to create brand new brick-and-mortar grocery stores? Why not, for example, a local NYC version of SNAP? Support food banks? Support expanding worker/consumer grocery co-ops?