In NYC, Markets Already Fixing 'Food Deserts'

The socialist candidate for mayor in New York City, Zohran Mamdani, has made headlines for proposing government stores as a remedy for the "food deserts" -- areas not close to supermarkets -- in various parts of the city.

In a mixed article, New York Post notes that (a) the idea has already been tried and failed in a major American city, and (b) the market is already solving the problem in some parts of New York City.

Regarding the failure, that is so bad that another far-left mayor has backed off from his own promise to try something like that:

Kansas City has sunk millions into a failing city-owned supermarket that can't keep its shelves stocked, The Washington Post reported this week, and uber-left-wing Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson has backed away from a promise similar to Mamdani's. [link removed]

Meanwhile, a solution has arrived for some from a few companies whose names might ring a bell:

Low-income New Yorkers lack many resources, but they do have home computers and smartphones -- and they're using them to order groceries online.

In the Jackson Houses and across the city, Amazon Prime, Fresh Direct and BJ's Wholesale Club have proven willing and able to deliver directly to public-housing residents, sometimes right to their apartment doors.

"I see them," says [resident association president Danny] Barber, "coming with fresh mangoes" -- a modern marvel in a poor neighborhood where access to produce has been limited.

The piece goes further to indicate that city economic policies favored by Mamdani are largely to blame for the food deserts and are likely hampering companies like the above from doing even more.

In addition, there are things Mamdani could do that, while not exactly capitalist, could help, like lifting a ban on businesses operating in the city-owned apartment blocs that used to host stores:

In an ideal world, New York City Housing Authority properties -- which typically include large open street-facing spaces -- would build low-cost chain groceries right on their campuses to solve residents' food-access woes.

But NYCHA has actually barred commercial businesses from its properties for the last 80 years -- even going so far as to demolish the 599 stores that once stood on its sites. [bold added]

The above is true, except that in an ideal world, the city would do those things en route to getting itself out of the housing business altogether.

The above is my main gripe with the article, although in today's intellectual climate, it would indeed be a surprise to see a completely consistent, pro-capitalist article calling not just for a containment of central planning, but for its dismantling.

That said, the suggestions would help a lot, as even partial increases in economic freedom have time and time again resulted in great improvements in the standard of living.

-- CAV