The Socialist Democrats have lost their minds if they think this is freedom. ---- 
The Socialist Democrats have lost their minds if they think this is freedom. ----
There are 15 stores within 5 blocks of this boondoggle. So much for his "food desert"
https://nypost.com/2026/04/13/us-news/staggering-8-figure-sum-nyc-taxpayers-will-pay-to-fund-mamdanis-first-city-owner-grocery-revealed/
Originally posted by: tom
There are 15 stores within 5 blocks of this boondoggle. So much for his "food desert"
https://nypost.com/2026/04/13/us-news/staggering-8-figure-sum-nyc-taxpayers-will-pay-to-fund-mamdanis-first-city-owner-grocery-revealed/
The stupid comparison doesn't say what it would take WalMart to build a store IN NEW YORK CITY.
DUHHHHH!
The problem with memes like this is they rarely if ever cite any type of source or say how they came to their figures. Anybody can pull numbers out of their backside and make some meme on the Internet.
Is that the cost of one random Walmart somewhere? Is that the average cost over the last 10 new stores? 20 new stores? 100 new stores? Is it the average cost in the state of New York?
New York City probably would never allow a Walmart to come to the city.
If Walmart did come it would likely cost way more than your average location. Walmart tends to stay away from the downtown area of most big cities. Real estate is cheaper elsewhere.
All that being said I don't see much benefit or purpose in a city run grocery store. If it were proposed in my city I would be opposed.
I doubt very highly that it will be a net benefit for the taxpayers or people of New York City. But if this is what the people of New York City want then so be it. No skin off my back.
Originally posted by: LiveFreeNW
The problem with memes like this is they rarely if ever cite any type of source or say how they came to their figures. Anybody can pull numbers out of their backside and make some meme on the Internet.
Is that the cost of one random Walmart somewhere? Is that the average cost over the last 10 new stores? 20 new stores? 100 new stores? Is it the average cost in the state of New York?
New York City probably would never allow a Walmart to come to the city.
If Walmart did come it would likely cost way more than your average location. Walmart tends to stay away from the downtown area of most big cities. Real estate is cheaper elsewhere.
All that being said I don't see much benefit or purpose in a city run grocery store. If it were proposed in my city I would be opposed.
I doubt very highly that it will be a net benefit for the taxpayers or people of New York City. But if this is what the people of New York City want then so be it. No skin off my back.
You know it is true -- 
Originally posted by: LiveFreeNW
The problem with memes like this is they rarely if ever cite any type of source or say how they came to their figures. Anybody can pull numbers out of their backside and make some meme on the Internet.
Is that the cost of one random Walmart somewhere? Is that the average cost over the last 10 new stores? 20 new stores? 100 new stores? Is it the average cost in the state of New York?
New York City probably would never allow a Walmart to come to the city.
If Walmart did come it would likely cost way more than your average location. Walmart tends to stay away from the downtown area of most big cities. Real estate is cheaper elsewhere.
All that being said I don't see much benefit or purpose in a city run grocery store. If it were proposed in my city I would be opposed.
I doubt very highly that it will be a net benefit for the taxpayers or people of New York City. But if this is what the people of New York City want then so be it. No skin off my back.
Well, Miller routinely bitches and moans and gripes and whines and complains about things that don't affect and shouldn't concern him, and you're right--it's NYC's concern.
As far as "net benefit to the taxpayers" goes, well, most social welfare programs don't generate net revenue. But they do provide "intangible" benefits that may ultimately translate to real monetary gains and/or savings. What's the value of providing basic survival services to those who can't afford them? Well, ignoring the value of a human life, it's cheaper to feed or house or medically treat someone than to scrape them off the sidewalk. You also reduce things like petty crime and vandalism.
I don't know what the ultimate benefit or lack thereof might be. I just know that living in NYC can be extremely challenging if you don't have a substantial income. If the voters want to make that easier, even at a cost to the taxpayers, so be it.
NYC Costco stores are about 100,000 sq feet at a cost of about $40m.
Costco’s nationwide average for opening a store is $25–35 million opencostusa.com. In NYC, this figure would likely be well above $40 million for a standard Costco,
madmani's store cost is $30m (and when does a govt project come in under budget?). So we get 25% of the size for the same price.
There is also a Costco on 117st a short distance away from his proposed location.
Consumer Reports worked with market research firm Strategic Resource Group to find the least and most expensive grocery chains in America. Researchers collected in-store prices across the country and compared them with Walmart's prices, the nation's largest grocery retailer. The most affordable grocery store is Costco, thanks to its wholesale club system.
Originally posted by: tom
NYC Costco stores are about 100,000 sq feet at a cost of about $40m.
Costco’s nationwide average for opening a store is $25–35 million opencostusa.com. In NYC, this figure would likely be well above $40 million for a standard Costco,
madmani's store cost is $30m (and when does a govt project come in under budget?). So we get 25% of the size for the same price.
There is also a Costco on 117st a short distance away from his proposed location.
Consumer Reports worked with market research firm Strategic Resource Group to find the least and most expensive grocery chains in America. Researchers collected in-store prices across the country and compared them with Walmart's prices, the nation's largest grocery retailer. The most affordable grocery store is Costco, thanks to its wholesale club system.
So it sounds like Mamdami's budgeted figure is quite reasonable for NYC. The value and utility of a grocery store depends not just on its square footage, but also on its location and the people it serves.
Not everybody wants or can afford to pay for a CostCo membership. If you factor the ongoing cost of a CostCo membership into grocery prices, customers pay more there than they do at WalMart, unless their expenditures are over $600 a month (from a 2025:article in Consumer Reports). Furthermore, there's not much utility in a grocery store that sells pallet-loads of products in the heart of a major city. CostCo belongs in the suburbs.
But all that's irrelevant because Tom disapproves, and he has final say over everything that happens in New York City.
😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂
So it sounds like Mamdami's budgeted figure is quite reasonable for NYC.
One can only rely on kevin's lack of math skills. $30m cost divided by 25,000 sq feet = $1,200 per sq foot.
NYC Costco cost
In NYC, this figure would likely be well above $40 million for a standard Costco,
Divide $40m by 100,000 sq feet = $400 per sq foot. madmani's cost is triple.
One $600 shopping trip to Costco will save at least 10%; the price of a membership.
Costco is the cheapest large grocery chain in the nation. This price difference is consistent across various grocery items, with Costco offering average prices 21% lower than Walmart. This finding aligns with a spring 2026 survey from Consumer Reports, which compared Walmart prices to other major brands, indicating that Costco is the most cost-effective option for grocery shopping. (Moneywise)
Tom doesn't understand my statement that the utility of a grocery store for the people who live nearby doesn't depend on its square footage.
Oh well, I tried. Like trying to teach nuclear physics to a chicken.
