New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani and Deputy Mayor Julie Su have responded to questions about how the city plans to prevent fraud in its new government-subsidized grocery stores.

During a recent inquiry, a reporter asked Mamdani how the city would stop people from exploiting the program by reselling discounted items. Mamdani emphasized that the program is designed to help New Yorkers put food on the table, not to enable quick profits through reselling.

He stated, “So our RFP makes very clear that this is a program for New Yorkers to be able put food on the table not a program for people to make a quick buck through reselling.” Mamdani then deferred to Julie Su, New York City's deputy mayor for Economic Justice, who elaborated on the measures planned to target eligible participants.

Su explained, “We are looking to make sure that we target New Yorkers, whether that’s through a library-card-esque [situation] and also we manage who’s buying and it’s focused on every day New Yorkers. So we are mindful of that and so we are going to make sure we have all the things in place so that does not happen.”

The discussion comes amid comparisons to past policies such as vaccine passports, which required identification to access certain services. The new grocery program aims to sell essential items at approximately 30% below market rate, raising concerns that without controls, individuals might buy in bulk to resell at higher prices.

The city’s approach to requiring ID verification is intended to ensure that benefits reach the intended population and prevent misuse.

Sources