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Revere health director warns of federal CDC cuts, outlines farmers markets, SNAP match and recovery events
Summary
Lauren Buck, Revere director of public health, reported an expected $100 million state-level loss from recent federal CDC grant cuts and outlined local public-health programming, including pop-up markets, SNAP matches, a summer farmers market and the Lifesavers League emergency-preparedness program.
Lauren Buck, director of public health for the city of Revere, told the Board of Health in April 2025 that Massachusetts is expected to lose about $100 million in public-health grant funding because of recent federal cuts to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Buck also said the state Department of Mental Health faces reductions tied to federal Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) grant changes; she said it is unclear what effects, if any, will reach Revere.
Buck summarized upcoming and ongoing city programs. She said the city ran a spring pop-up market in collaboration with HYM and Suffolk Downs on Saturday, April 19, and has two remaining spring pop-ups scheduled for May 17 and June 21 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Beechmont Square, near the Revere Beach MBTA stop. The city will run a limited SNAP/EBT match at the remaining two spring markets.
Buck said the summer farmers market will return to Waterfront Square on Revere Beach starting Friday, July 11; it will run Fridays from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. through the summer except for July 25. Buck said produce vendors at the markets will accept SNAP, HIP, senior vouchers and WIC vouchers.
Other initiatives Buck described include an overdose memorial and awareness vigil in August; a “Stomp Out the Stigma” summer barbecue and speaker series during Recovery Month in September; community gardens that open May 1 (the city continues to operate a waitlist and is collecting contract fees through May 31); a second-annual resource day for social-service organizations in September; and the Lifesavers League, a community-based emergency-preparedness program that began its first session on April 3.
Buck said the Lifesavers League will be offered quarterly in multiple languages, include childcare at sessions, and vary topics seasonally; the next session is planned for late June. She also said the department will run heat-awareness communications and related programming ahead of summer.
Buck opened her report by noting the city’s communicable-disease burden for April 2025 was “very low comparatively,” and then moved to the state and national funding updates.
Ending: Buck said she will update the board if state or federal funding changes materially affect local programs.
