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Boston council hearing explores municipal grocery stores, support for nonprofit grocers amid SNAP changes
Summary
Boston councilors and city staff heard evidence and community testimony on Nov. 20 about municipal grocery models and other steps to address food insecurity, with officials urging further study, coordinated planning and sustained funding for nonprofits and neighborhood solutions.
Boston City Councilors convened a committee hearing Nov. 20 (docket 1791) to examine whether publicly owned grocery stores could help address food insecurity and how the city can support nonprofit and community‑led food outlets. Chair Enrique Pepin opened the session and sponsors Councilor Liz Braden and others framed the discussion around recent federal SNAP changes and long‑running local needs.
The Office of Food Justice presented data tracking the affordability crisis: grocery prices nationally are “25% higher … than they were in 2021 and more than 35% higher now than they were in 2019,” Director Aliza Wasserman told the committee, and noted that recent analysis found roughly half…
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