New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani backtracked on an initiative that would require an ID for city-run grocery stores following widespread backlash and mockery.
Criticism ensued after a reporter asked Mamdani, “How are you going to keep people from taking advantage of that deal and is there going to be a limit on the number of items that someone can take that are discounted at that level from that essential basket?”
The mayor handed the response over to Economic Development Corporation interim chief Jeanny Pak, who said the plan will be similar to a “library card-esque thing.”
Following backlash, Mamdani’s spokesperson Dora Pekec wrote on X, “There is literally no ID requirement or residency requirement or income requirement to shop at City grocery stores. The only card we’ll have is a voluntary savings card like they have at any typical supermarket.”
Mamdani’s press secretary, Joe Calvello, similarly wrote, “Insane this even needs to be said, but to be absolutely clear: NYC Grocery stores will be open to everyone. There will be no system to verify identity, residency or income, and no one will be asked to show ID to shop.”
“This is the dumbest and fakest online news cycle [I] have seen,” he added.
The Italian American Civil Rights League commented on the ID debacle, calling out Mamdani’s recent history of walking back his claims.
“The Italian American Civil Rights League proved, when you hit a bully back forcefully and unapologetically, they fold,” the group wrote. “We condemned Zohran for erasing Little Italy off the map. Millions rallied behind us, and he backtracked.”
“Zohran then announced that an ‘ID Card’ would be required to access his Government run grocery stores. Millions mocked the irony of this, and he backtracked again.”
“Moral of the story: people like Zohran are merely Low IQ, pompous, theatre geeks, who ascend into power because they are useful little puppets,” they wrote. “When we fight back. We win.”
