A former grocer is joining the chorus of criticism against New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani's plan for government-run grocery stores, arguing it would harm hundreds of small businesses forced to compete with them. "And I would bet the farm there's no way these grocery stores last more than five years — they might not even last a year." EXPERTS SCORCH MAMDANI'S GROCERY PLAN AS AN 'ILLUSION' THAT WILL HAVE TAXPAYERS FOOTING THE BILLRulli said his family's small but thriving two-location business has given him an appreciation for the challenges facing small business owners in New York City, whom he argued would be harmed by competition from Mamdani's city-run stores. Mamdani discussed the agreement during a recent news conference, saying, "Once a month, our five city-run grocery stores will set prices for this core set of goods at 30% below typical retail prices." Rulli, noting that grocery stores already operate on thin profit margins, said Mamdani's government shops will likely be "operating at a loss the entire time."