New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s plan to open five city-owned grocery stores has been misrepresented online, with claims that identification will be required to shop there. However, city officials say there will be no ID requirement for shoppers.
Facts About the Grocery Stores
A customer card, akin to a loyalty savings card at a traditional supermarket, is being discussed as a way to manage supply and stop people from reselling large amounts of discounted items. The program would be voluntary and would not require ID to access.
Mayor Mamdani laughed off the claim during an appearance on The Joy Reid Show, saying that the city-run grocery stores will be open to everyone, with no system to verify identity, residency, or income. Spokespeople for Mamdani also refuted the claims, stating that the stores will be open to everyone and that there will be no ID requirement.
The false claim spreading online is being used to criticize opponents of voter ID laws, many of whom are Democrats. However, city officials say that comparisons to voter ID laws or the SAVE Act simply do not apply, as this is not an identification system, nor is it a mechanism to verify who someone is, where they live, or how much they earn.
Original reporting: Texarkana Gazette — read the source article.
