New York business group sues Mamdani over city-owned grocery stores plan

Multicultural Business Coalition sues New York City mayor, alleging plan for city-run stores will harm smaller grocers A New York City business group sued mayor Zohran Mamdani on Monday over his plan to create five municipally owned grocery stores. The Multicultural Business Coalition, which says it represents hundreds of small supermarkets, filed two lawsuits in New York county supreme court on Monday, arguing that the plan violates the civil rights of smaller, immigrant- and minority-owned businesses. The group argues that smaller stores would be unable to match the discounts offered by the city grocery stores and “therefore, will be put out of business,” according to the lawsuits. During his campaign, which focused heavily on the issue of affordability, Mamdani proposed introducing city-owned, subsidized grocery stores, which he said would help combat rising food costs. The city plans to open five stores by 2029, with one in each borough. Mamdani has said that plans call for the stores to offer some produce, meat and seafood pantry staples, dairy and other refrigerated goods at prices 30% below typical retail prices – and he has said that the program is projected to cut New York