Mamdani positions himself as the anti-Reagan with disagreement over famous quote

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani.

At an event on Monday to announce the location of second city-run grocery store, New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani called out one of former President Ronald Reagan's most famous quotes, saying, "I disagree," and offered up a different nine-word quote that he said is "more terrifying."

Mamdani revealed that a 20,000-foot grocery store will be built in the South Bronx sometime next year and will also include affordable housing. He said it will actually be the first in the city to open, even though a grocery store slated to open in East Harlem was announced last month. The East Harlem location is expected to open in 2029. All told, Mamdani has earmarked $70 million to open a city-run grocery store in each of the city's five boroughs, but the city council must still approve that expenditure, according to The New York Times. 

“In these stores, prices will be cheaper. Workers will be paid fairly and treated with dignity,” Mamdani predicted at the event, which had the look and feel of a political rally. “Going to the grocery store will no longer cause that same anxiety for so many New Yorkers.”

Mamdani, an avowed socialist, then invoked perhaps one of the most enduring icons of American capitalism. “Standing here this morning, I cannot help but think of the words of our 40th president, Ronald Reagan,” Mamdani said. “He famously said, ‘The nine most terrifying words in the English language are, I’m from the government, and I’m here to help.’”

“It’s a good quote, but I disagree," the mayor continued. "I think nine more terrifying words are actually, 'I worked all day, and can’t feed my family,’” he added, essentially positioning himself as the anti-Ronald Reagan. “We are going to use the power of government to lower prices and make it easier for New Yorkers to put food on the table.” 

Not surprisingly, the announcement was praised by AOC, who represents the congressional district where the Bronx grocery store will be located. City-run grocery stores were one of Mamdani's core campaign promises, but the idea has long had numerous critics, according to CBS News -- everyone from bodega advocacy groups, who worry the city-run stores will put smaller bodegas out of business, to others who think the stores are a poor use of taxpayer money and are doomed to end up either with higher prices than free market stores, or to fail altogether. 

Below, watch a clip of Mamdani's remarks.