Experts scorch Mamdani's grocery plan as an 'illusion' that will have taxpayers footing the bill

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani is promising New Yorkers a 30% discount on a core basket of groceries at city-backed stores, a pledge that now faces scrutiny over whether the numbers add up. The announcement raises a straightforward economic question: How? The city's own numbers illustrate the challenge. If grocery prices have climbed 33% nationwide since 2019, how can city-backed stores offer a cart of groceries at prices 30% below private competitors? That's the question economists say the