Key facts
- Claims that identification will be required to shop at New York City's city-owned grocery stores are false.
- City officials state no one will be asked to show ID to shop at these stores.
Online claims that identification will be required to shop at New York City's upcoming city-owned grocery stores are false, according to city officials. A voluntary customer card system is being considered to manage demand, but it will not require ID.
The spread of misinformation regarding identification requirements for city services can erode public trust and be used to fuel political narratives, particularly concerning voting rights and access to essential services.
Online posts falsely claiming that identification will be required to shop at New York City's upcoming city-owned grocery stores have been circulating, drawing comparisons to voter ID laws. City officials, including Mayor Zohran Mamdani and his spokespeople, have vehemently denied these claims.
Jeanny Pak, interim president and CEO of New York City’s Economic Development Corporation, mentioned a "library-card-esque" system at a press conference as a potential way to manage supply and prevent customers from reselling discounted items in bulk. However, city officials clarified that this system would be voluntary, akin to a loyalty card, and would not require any form of identification, residency, or income verification to access.
Mayor Mamdani himself laughed off the misinformation, emphasizing that the city-run grocery stores will be open to everyone without an ID requirement. Spokespeople Joe Calvello and Dora Pekec also took to X (formerly Twitter) to refute the claims, with Calvello calling the online news cycle "dumbest and fakest." Cassio Mendoza, another spokesperson, further explained that the proposed customer card would be free to access and would not be required for physical entry into the stores.
The Mayor's Office stated that the operator selected through the city's procurement process will determine the specific design of the card system, and it will not involve applications through City Hall or any government agency. The office also noted that comparisons to voter ID laws, such as President Donald Trump's SAVE America Act, are inapplicable, as the grocery store system is not designed to verify identity, residency, or income.