Janeese Lewis George considers publicly operated grocery stores in Washington
Updated
Updated · The Washington Post · May 5
Janeese Lewis George considers publicly operated grocery stores in Washington
8 articles · Updated · The Washington Post · May 5
In a mayoral primary debate, she said the city should first try to attract private grocers east of the Anacostia River, but would pursue public ownership if needed.
The proposal targets food deserts in Wards 7 and 8, which have only three and four full-service grocery stores respectively, while rival Kenyan McDuffie backed developer incentives and cited Lidl's Skyland opening.
The idea echoes New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani's public-grocery push and comes as Washington faces a $1.1 billion budget gap, raising questions about cost and the city's capacity to run stores.
How can cities dismantle the secret real estate deals that block new groceries from opening in neighborhoods that need them most?
Can a city-run store offer low prices without the buying power of a national chain, or is it doomed to fail?
If city-run stores fail because of crime, is the problem public ownership or the failure of public safety itself?