A business group is preparing to sue New York City over Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s plan to create taxpayer-funded grocery stores. The Multicultural Business Coalition’s board voted to file a lawsuit after Mamdani announced the effort, the New York Post reports.
“The mayor doesn’t seem to want to sit down with us,” said MBC Chairman Frank Garcia. He added that Mamdani “won’t be able to bully these lawyers we are going to bring in.”
The group intends on raising $1 million to fight against the stores.
Radhames Rodriguez, president of the United Bodegas of America, also told the outlet, “Having items that sell for 30% less than our prices, means nobody will go to our stores.”
During a press conference earlier this week, Mamdani argued that the “five city-run grocery stores, one in each borough,” will hold a “collection of essential staples that will be predictably 30% cheaper at all of our city-run grocery stores.”
These items include “all fresh produce, meat, and seafood, along with 20 other essential items like cheese, milk and bread,” he claimed.
“Once a month, our five city-run grocery stores will set prices for this core set of goods at 30% below retail prices. No exceptions, no gimmicks,” Mamdani said. “These savings will last for the entire month.”
According to a press release on the matter, the discount will “apply to all regardless of income, with prices locked in and predictable rather than fluctuating week to week as is the case at private grocers,” and is expected to cut residents’ grocery bills by 15%.
