NYC Could Become 'Like Havana under Castro' If Progressive Candidate Wins: Grocery CEO Warns

Gristedes Supermarkets CEO John Catsimatidis warned that New York City could become "like Havana under Castro" if progressive candidate Zohran Mamdani wins the mayoral election. Catsimatidis criticized Mamdani's proposal for government-owned grocery stores, stating that the city government will "end up going broke" and accusing Mamdani of knowing "nothing about business." Catsimatidis argued that private grocery stores would lower prices if given incentives and dismissed Mamdani's accusations of price-gouging.

New York City's mayoral race has taken a contentious turn with Gristedes Supermarkets CEO John Catsimatidis warning that the city could become "like Havana under Castro" if progressive candidate Zohran Mamdani wins the election. Catsimatidis, who appeared on "America Reports," criticized Mamdani's proposal for government-owned grocery stores, arguing that the city government would "end up going broke" if the proposal were implemented [1].

Mamdani has proposed setting up government-owned grocery stores in New York City as part of a broader platform focused on keeping prices low and reducing food insecurity in underserved areas. The proposal includes buying and selling at wholesale prices, centralizing warehousing and distribution, and pursuing local product sourcing [2].

However, Catsimatidis dismissed Mamdani's plan, stating that the city government "will end up going broke" and that Mamdani "doesn’t know what the heck he’s talking about" and "knows nothing about business." He argued that private grocery stores would lower prices if given incentives, such as reduced taxes and lower energy costs [1].

Catsimatidis also pushed back on Mamdani's accusations of price-gouging by private grocery stores, stating that private businesses would lower prices if given the right incentives. He cited the high cost of living in New York City, including high energy and transportation costs, as factors that contribute to high grocery prices [1].

The warning from Catsimatidis comes as Mamdani has gained significant support from various unions, including DC37, the city's largest municipal labor union. Mamdani has run on a platform that includes economic policies aligned with left-wing progressives and socialists, such as a $30 minimum wage, tax hikes on businesses and the rich, and other policies like imposing a rent freeze for stabilized tenants [2].

The general election for New York City’s mayor is about 3½ months away, with several other candidates also running, including Eric Adams, Andrew Cuomo, and Curtis Sliwa. The race is shaping up to be one of the most contentious and closely watched in recent years, with both candidates and their supporters making bold claims and accusations [3].

References:
[1] https://www.foxbusiness.com/politics/grocery-ceo-warns-nyc-could-become-like-havana-under-castro-progressive-candidate-wins
[2] https://abc7ny.com/post/nyc-mayoral-race-zohran-mamdani-scores-endorsement-dc37-largest-union-city-workers/17136075/
[3] https://www.aol.com/socialist-mamdanis-supermarket-plan-bullet-140043967.html