One of the numerous socialist policy proposals put forth by NYC Democratic mayoral nominee Zohran Mamdani is the establishment of government-funded grocery stores.
While the Democratic Party is increasingly embracing socialist and Marxist-leaning policies, such as the confiscation of private property, the concept of government-funded grocery stores seems to be disconnected from both basic economic principles and historical examples.
This is particularly evident in East Kansas City, where a nonprofit organization operates a grocery store on government-owned land that has turned into a symbol of failure, plagued by the stench of decay and shelves devoid of goods.
A local media outlet, KSHB 41 Kansas City, conducted a tour of Sun Fresh Market at 3110 Wabash Ave (31st & Prospect) on the Eastside of the city. The store was opened in 2018 as part of a multimillion-dollar public-private initiative to revitalize the Linwood Shopping Center. Managed by Community Builders of Kansas City, a nonprofit organization focused on urban development, the store has now become a stark reminder that while socialism may seem promising in theory, in practice, it can lead to utter chaos.
Alyssa Jackson from KSHB 41 reported that their team was informed by a viewer about empty shelves in the dairy section, meat department, bakery aisle, and deli counter.
“There was a time when this store was barely surviving,” remarked Pat Clarke, a community advocate, stating, “I can say with certainty that today it’s almost lifeless.”
Jackson mentioned that upon entering the grocery store, she was immediately greeted by a putrid odor.
In a separate investigative report, FOX Business Network’s Kelly Saberi interviewed a customer who lamented, “There’s no meat. There’s no vegetables. There’s nothing. Will you take care of the community surrounding you? If not, sell the store to someone who can be more responsible.”
Mamdani’s fixation on socialism and Marxism is perplexing given his lack of substantial work experience, failed attempts at a rap career, and deep involvement with the Democratic Party’s shadowy, money-backed non-governmental organizations.
History has repeatedly shown that these government-operated grocery stores inevitably falter.
This is Cuba.
Individuals are required to present their food ration coupon book to purchase goods in state-controlled grocery stores. https://t.co/CldJ30RyqL pic.twitter.com/cw4hdcqshe
— Songpinganq (@songpinganq) August 19, 2024
Jason Curtis Anderson from One City Rising shares his thoughts on this:
This proposal from Zohran Mamdani is not only frivolous—it epitomizes how today’s activist-socialists reside in an entirely distorted reality.
Government-managed grocery stores have been attempted before, from Birmingham, Alabama, to Baltimore, and they have all ended in spectacular failure. They transformed into political favoritism machines, drained taxpayer funds, and ultimately, they left communities with reduced access to food. What’s even worse is that Mamdani’s suggestion doesn’t even attempt to tackle the actual reasons why private grocers steer clear of certain areas: crime, regulatory obstacles, and the exorbitant costs of operating in New York. Instead, it assumes that if we simply hand over control to the state, all these issues will magically vanish.
However, this is the recurring pattern with young, edgy socialists who believe they have all the answers.
They reject everything in history that has proven effective for humanity—capitalism, upholding laws, safeguarding property rights—and assert that these foundations of modern civilization have never succeeded. In their worldview, markets don’t provide sustenance, laws don’t ensure neighborhood safety, and private ownership is a historical error. So they pivot to ‘innovative ideas’ like defunding law enforcement, abolishing private possession, and now, city-operated supermarkets.
Democrats should remember the fate of the Berlin Wall…