Once upon a time in New York City, Mayor Eric Adams aimed to become a central figure on the global stage, blending theatrics and bold claims. What started as an online confrontation spiraled into an NBA-level spectacle, where basketball star Kyle Kuzma dubbed Adams a wannabe dictator. Kuzma, wielding his whopping 1.3 million followers, called out Adams for cosplaying as a presidential figure on the mission to arrest international leaders. But of course, foreign policy for mayors isn’t exactly in the handbook, is it?

While laughing at the curious case of Adams’s endeavors might come naturally, his recent announcement turned giggles into gasps. Introducing a plan for government-run grocery stores, our daring mayor decided on setting prices 30% below typical retail, all funded by New York’s ever-generous taxpayers. Kuzma’s spotlight on Adams’s antics apparently pushed him into overdrive, tantamount to gearing up for an economical showdown straight out of Venezuela’s playbook.

As word of these subsidized aisles spread, the expected concerns around economics sprouted quicker than New York’s local veggies. Private grocery store owners had their brows furrowed, worried about the competition from these new marvels. Affordably priced goods sound delightful, but at what cost? Basic arithmetic tells us that a gap in pricing has to be accounted for, and surely it’s the taxpayers who’ll be tightening their belts elsewhere to balance the books. Haven’t we all heard tales of cities investing millions into ventures, only to watch them crumble faster than stale bread?

Over in Kansas City, a recent closure of a city-owned store serves as a neon warning sign. The struggling store bled money, drained by theft and mismanagement, no amount of taxpayer-supplied TLC could save it. As it closed its doors, the echoes of concern in New York grew louder, painting an eerie picture of potential empty shelves, higher inflation, and unavoidable rationing. Are we witnessing a sneak peek into New York’s grocery future, where the bodega culture we hold dear might soon become a nostalgic tale?

In an amusing yet serious undertone, this whole saga draws a parallel to scenes from Havana’s grocery theater: long lines, mad dashes, and a distinct lack of diversity on the shelves. While socialism might sound like an ideal dream, reality often presents a rather stark and unimaginative affair. With the Mayor’s new pet project, one can’t help but imagine a “COMING SOON” sign above New York City, with a fresh preview of socialist failure in tow.

So there we have it, Adams’s dream seems like a chapter out of an economic fairytale gone wrong. Before NYC steps into this glamorous new grocery era, perhaps a page from the book of basic economics should be revisited. Celebrities, economists, and probably even your local bodega owner would agree—playing president is one thing, but playing economist rarely ends with a happy ending.