Do groceries and government go together? Zohran Mamdani, the New York City mayoral candidate, thinks so. He wants to open five publicly owned groceries across the city to provide low-cost food to underserved New Yorkers. Critics say the proposal smacks of "Soviet bread lines."

CUNY professor of law Jeffrey Lax discusses his concerns over Zohran Mamdani's policies and more on 'The Will Cain Show.'

Zohran Mamdani, the favorite to become New York City’s next mayor after winning the Democratic primary, has a contentious plan to create a network of city-owned grocery stores to offer lower prices to customers.

This is not government overreach. It's a response to market failure. This is not about replacing the private sector."

The legislation is a clear nod at New York City Mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani's plan to enact more city-funded grocery stores in NYC if he is elected.

New York City’s government does not have a secret stash of large, empty, retail-ready ground-floor spaces conveniently located along major pedestrian and transit corridors. Indeed, the city regularly rents real estate, including retail-style space, from private owners.

Free buses, rent freezes and city-run grocery stores won over Democratic voters as investor class pushes back.

Can the city of New York sell groceries more cheaply than the private sector? The mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani thinks so. He wants to start five city-owned stores that will be “focused on keeping prices low” rather than making a profit—what he calls a “public option” for groceries.