Members of an immigrant business group opposing Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s plan for government-owned supermarkets allege they are being targeted with fines from the city’s Sanitation Department. The Multicultural Business Coalition (MBC) claims these citations escalated approximately two weeks ago, coinciding with their efforts to rally support against the city’s supermarket strategy.
Diana Larrazabal, owner of Aroma D’ Angel, a flower and gift shop, stated that businesses, including hers, have received numerous citations for garbage that does not belong to them. Larrazabal reported being fined three times this year, with the most recent penalty amounting to $350 in May. She noted that many of her Spanish-speaking neighbors, who rely on her to navigate city regulations, are also facing substantial fines.
Frank Garcia, chairman of the MBC, echoed these concerns, stating that the fines began increasing around the time the coalition started door-to-door outreach two weeks prior. He said some business owners have been issued penalties as high as $1,000, adding that many of these owners are not fluent in English.
A spokesperson for the Sanitation Department, however, stated that the department issues cleanliness violations throughout the city, with the goal of ensuring clean streets for all New Yorkers. Since March 1, the department has issued 223 commercial summonses in Harlem.
When asked about the allegations of retaliation, a spokesperson for Mayor Mamdani referred to the mayor's public comments, in which he expressed confidence in the legality and importance of the supermarket plan.
The MBC filed a class-action complaint in New York Supreme Court on Monday, with the coalition as the lead plaintiff. The group is also vetting business owners in Hunts Point in the Bronx, where another subsidized grocery store has been announced, to join the lawsuit.
Domingo Fernandez, owner of Midtown Fish & Meat Market, expressed concern that the proposed city-owned store, planned near La Marqueta, could impact his business. He stated his store is currently sufficient to cover expenses but fears losing customers if the new supermarket opens.
Elvis Arias, owner of America Deli Mini Mart, located near the proposed supermarket site, urged the mayor to consider opening the store further north on 125th Street. He also suggested he might need a tobacco license to better compete with the city-owned grocery store.
Larrazabal recalled the impact of Costco's opening in East Harlem in 2010, which she said led to local shops closing. The MBC fears a similar outcome from the city’s supermarket initiative.