Shoppers will need to show a form of identification to purchase groceries in New York City’s subsidized stores, a city official has confirmed, sparking a massive backlash online.
Read more Study Finds Daily Marijuana Use Surpasses Daily Alcohol Consumption Among US Adults
Mayor Zohran Mamdani is pushing for one city-owned store per borough, starting with Hunts Point in the Bronx by late 2027, to cut grocery costs throughout the city. Shoppers will be required to show ID to receive the 30 percent subsidized prices.
Mamdani’s administration confirmed last week that a “library card-esque” ID system will be implemented to ensure that only NYC residents are able to access the discount.
“How are you going to prevent people from taking advantage of that deal?” a reporter asked Mamdani during a press conference.
The mayor replied that the program was meant for people to “put food on the table” and not for reselling before turning the question over to Jeanny Pak, president of the New York City Economic Development Corporation.
“We are looking to make sure that we target New Yorkers whether it be sort of a ‘library card-esque’ and also we manage who’s buying and that is focused on every day New Yorkers,” Pak told reporters.
Social media exploded Monday with a tsunami of criticism against Mamdani, as the mayor has been a staunch opponent of voter ID requirements, arguing they disenfranchise low-income residents, seniors, and immigrants.
“Racist Commie Mamdani is going to make you show ID in his markets,” wrote former Los Angeles mayoral candidate Spencer Pratt on X. “You want your government-subsidized arugula? Show your papers! Ask for ID to vote? BIGOT!!!” the California Republican quipped. “Are you starting to realize what disingenuous lying buffoons these commies are?”
Billionaire Elon Musk piled on asking, “Are they seriously checking ID?”
In a follow-up post, he wrote: “Oh, the irony is too much … ”
Responding to Musk, Senator Rick Scott (R-Fla.) commented, “it’s not just ironic, it’s hypocritical! @NYCMayor Mamdani’s going to require an ID check for his grocery stores, but thinks it’s racist to require one for federal elections?!? We HAVE to pass the SAVE America Act to end this corruption!”
In another post slamming the mayor’s hypocrisy, Senator Mike Lee (R-Utah) wrote: “ID to vote: Jim Crow! ID to buy groceries: Democratic Socialism!”
Barstool Sports President Dave Portnoy also weighed in on Mamdani’s blatant hypocrisy.
“So you need a valid ID to shop at Mandami’s government grocery stores to make sure the system isn’t taken advantage of But the same people who love this idea will also scream racism if you say you need a valid ID to vote so the system doesn’t get taken advantage of,” Portnoy wrote. “Hypocrites man…Either you should be for no ID for both or ID for both. But if you are split than you are prob a fraud.”
Former White House AI and Crypto Czar David Sacks also highlighted the mayor’s hypocrisy during an episode of the All-In Podcast.
“It is ironic that they’re going to be checking ID to make sure people aren’t coming over from Jersey but if you want to come over illegally from any country in the world, that’s just fine,” Sacks said.
This is not the first time Mamdani has been accused of hypocrisy regarding the use of IDs.
The communist mayor faced faced significant backlash back in February for requiring five distinct forms of documentation for residents to register as paid “Emergency Snow Shovelers.”
The requirements included two original forms of ID plus copies, a Social Security card, and two small passport-style photos. As Sen. Lee did on Monday, critics mocked the policy as “Jim Snow 2.0” to lampoon his outrageous hypocrisy.
Read more Rubio: Cuba Has Built an ‘Espionage Superpower’ Inside US Institutions
