English transcript

We're on Mamdani moving ahead with his plan to open government-run grocery stores, announcing

the first of five sites will be up and running next year.

Fox Business correspondent Madison Allworth reports live from our New York City newsroom.

A lot of people are saying it takes a year to open a grocery store.

And a lot of money, too, John.

This first store is going to cost $30 million.

That's nearly half of the $70 million budget that Mayor Mamdani has proposed for all five

city-run grocery stores.

He announced this first one last night at his 101st day celebration.

The store is going to be located in East Harlem in La Marqueta.

And the plan is for it to be open next year.

We are building a brand new store on city-owned land currently sitting empty in East Harlem.

A neighborhood where nearly 40% of households received public assistance or SNAP in the

past year.

Because it's on city-owned land, they will not have to pay rent on the property.

Mamdani pointed out that grocery prices in the city have increased since the pandemic.

But he failed to point out how city-run grocers in other cities have failed to actually help

residents.

Similar efforts in places like Kansas City have struggled to stay afloat despite millions

in taxpayer dollars.

SunFresh Market permanently closed this August after suffering from high crime, empty shelves

and unsustainable losses.

So despite over $17 million in taxpayer investments since 2016, the project failed to provide

a stable food source.

But it's full steam ahead for city-owned grocery stores here in the Big Apple.

Mamdani promised on the campaign trail the grocery stores will be available in each borough.

He says that will be accomplished by the end of his term.

John?

Well, at a year to open every one of them, and he wants to open that many, I'm not quite

sure if he can do that.

But we'll see.