NEW YORK (BLOOMBERG) -- Mayor Zohran Mamdani said he reached a deal with President Donald Trump that will give small retailers nationwide, including about 10,000 city bodegas, more time to comply with new federal food stamp requirements.
The agreement will defer for three months so-called stocking standards for the retailers, according to a statement from the mayor’s office. Those standards require stores to expand the types of food they stock in order to qualify as a retailer that accepts SNAP, the federal food-assistance program often called food stamps.
“When I ran for this office, I promised New Yorkers that I would work with anyone and everyone to lower costs in our city and to improve New Yorkers’ lives,” Mamdani said Friday. “I want to thank New Yorkers for their trust and President Trump for working with us to do exactly that.”
Trump and Mamdani have often set aside ideological differences. While the two have clashed over immigration, taxes and the role of government, both have shown a willingness to work together on housing, affordability and federal support for New York City, their shared hometown. Trump visited Gracie Mansion in September, capping the meeting with a largely frictionless public appearance in which he said he wanted Mamdani to “be a great mayor.”
Mamdani said the store owners hadn’t been given the resources or time to comply with the rule. It applies to all retailers with exceptions for some retailers such as specialty food stores and farmers markets, according to the US Department of Agriculture. Enforcement was set to take effect this month.
About 12% of US residents and roughly one-fifth of New York City residents use food stamps. The mayor’s office said that bodegas estimate that roughly 15% to 20% of sales are from SNAP purchases.
More stories like this are available on bloomberg.com.
