Skip to content
Council Discourse

NYC Council meetings, chaptered and linked by time.

Created by Uzair Qadir

Inspired by Vikram Oberoi's City Meetings

Q&A

Maloney on access for all New Yorkers and preventing hoarding

New York City Council · May 29, 2026 · starts 5:21:25 · 1 min 13 sec

Maloney asks what prevents higher-income shoppers from clearing out subsidized groceries. Peck confirms stores are open to all, with the RFP including performance benchmarks for affordability and good-paying jobs.

Virginia Maloney

And it sounds like the stores will be open to all New Yorkers.

Jeanne Peck

Yes.

Virginia Maloney

So what is to prevent a higher income shopper from clearing out all the subsidized groceries?

Jeanne Peck

Everyone is welcome to NYC groceries.

Virginia Maloney

And will, I suppose, is there a pro forma about how these grocery stores will remain profitable or

Virginia Maloney

Revenue neutral, not require additional subsidies.

Jeanne Peck

Again, we're still working all of those details out.

Jeanne Peck

And, you know, when we put out the operator RFP this summer, you'll see some of that information.

Virginia Maloney

And will the RFP include a performance benchmark for these grocery stores?

Jeanne Peck

Yeah, I mean, the key to that is that they need to make it, that they're requiring them to ensure that the food is affordable for the core basket, as well as that they have good paying jobs, and it's a pleasant, good experience.

Virginia Maloney

And will it be a requirement that they're self-sustaining?

Jeanne Peck

We're going to still work out exactly how the subsidy is going to work because we have to ensure that these are sort of long-term viable and that the subsidy is meaningful for New Yorkers.