New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s plan to open five city-owned grocery stores is being misrepresented online in posts that claim identification will be required to shop there. The claims are juxtaposed against Democratic resistance to nationwide voter ID requirements.Republican officials and other major public figures, as well as conservative social media influencers, were among those who made the claim.Misinformation began spreading in response to a comment made at a press conference last week by Jeanny Pak, the interim president and CEO of New York City’s Economic Development Corporation. Asked how the city will stop people from taking advantage of lower prices at the stores, Pak mentioned the possibility of a “library-card-esque” system.But city officials say there will be no ID requirement for shoppers.Here’s a closer look at the facts.
CLAIM: ID will be required to shop at city-owned grocery stores in New York City.THE FACTS: This is false. No one will be asked to show ID to shop at stores owned by the city, according to officials. 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, but the program would be voluntary and would not require ID to access.Mamdani laughed off the claim during an appearance on The Joy Reid Show on Monday night, saying: “When we’re talking about a city-run grocery store, one in each borough, which by the way, you do not need an ID to shop at, no matter what you’ve just heard in the news of today, we’re talking about actually addressing the question of skyrocketing grocery prices.”
