Posted on: April 15, 2026 07:17 PM

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Heart of food insecurity is Jackson Heights

Hola to Jackson Heights. After the NYC Mayor announced a single government owned grocery store in La Marqueta in East Harlem, each borough location was announced. The cost per location is estimated to be $70 million proposed but $30 million is the actual cost initially. Instead of buying a grocery store, this is a new construction.

For Queens, it's the boss of bosses, Alexandria Ocasio Cortez's district covering part of Long Island City to Jackson Heights for now where food is very demanding despite the two largest voter bases are Long Island City and South Jamaica which is now fading away.

The grocery stores will only sell food and no lotto or liquors to remain in-line with other competition. The plan is in the early stage and expected to launch Harlem by 2027 and then to the rest of the boroughs which will cost taxpayers easily over $250 million. If the Mayor wins the re-election then the grocery stores continue in business. If not, time will tell but it's only $250 million wasted away.

That's $3,300 per square feet. There will be no public accountability where your money goes.

The real money will be allocated to non profits to work on social causes.

According to a staffer at the Governor's office, this will not be a full time grocery but pre-rationing with five or six items from break, milk to essentials controlled by the state. Any other items will need to be purchased from local grocery stores. An identification will be issued with items each time going to the grocery.

Despite 428 food pantries and 79 soup kitchens (511 total emergency food sites as of 2024 data) serving millions of meals yearly, it's not enough to feed all in NYC on food insecurity.