New York City Mayor

Zohran Mamdani has issued a cease and desist notices to 42 online retailers including

Amazon, Walmart, Target, Wayfair and Temu parent PDD Holdings, over the sale of allegedly illegal high-speed e-bikes and e-scooters. Mamdani said that the crackdown was important to protect public safety. In a post shared on social media platform X (formerly known as Twitter) Mamdani stated, âToo many lives have been cut short by high-speed, illegal e-bikes and e-scooters. Thatâs why we are issuing cease-and-desist orders against 42 online retailers that have been selling these dangerous devices to New York City residents â including Target, Temu, Wayfair, Walmart, and Amazon. The safety of New Yorkers is not for sale.â The city said the targeted devices exceed legal limits for speed, weight, or other safety requirements. The action follows a recent crash involving an illegal e-bike that killed a 17-year-old.

Rising fatalities reason behind Zohran Mamdaniâs notice to Amazon, Walmart and others

According to city data, since 2017 more than 45 people have died while riding illegal e-bikes, and over 14 fatalities have been linked to crashes involving illegal stand-up scooters.

Mamdani emphasized that companies profiting from such sales are putting New Yorkers at risk. âEvery family deserves to know that when their loved ones leave home, they will make it back safely,â he said.

Elon Musk is not pleased with Zohran Mamdani's grocery stores idea

Recently, Tesla CEO Elon Musk criticised New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani over his plan to open city-backed grocery stores that promise to sell some everyday food items at prices below traditional retailers. Responding to a post on X (formerly Twitter) that questioned how the proposed stores would operate, Elon Musk dismissed the plan and accused Mamdani of misleading New Yorkers. âMamdani is a thief and a liar, plain and simple,â Musk wrote in the post. The billionaire also argued that advances in AI and robotics, rather than government-backed programmes, would eventually make goods and services much cheaper or even free.

What is Zohran Mamdani's grocery store plan

Zohran Mamdani's administration has proposed opening five city-backed grocery stores, with one planned for each of New York City's five boroughs. The city has allocated $70 million in capital funding for the programme. The first store is expected to open in Hunts Point in the Bronx by the end of 2027, followed by locations in East Harlem, Brooklyn, Queens and Staten Island.

Under the proposal, private grocery operators would handle day-to-day operations, including staffing, sourcing products and merchandising. The city would provide locations, cover major occupancy costs and set pricing and operating requirements. Mamdani's administration says shoppers could save about 30% on a core basket of groceries. It estimates that the programme could save an average New Yorker about $90 a month, or roughly $1,000 a year.