Boston, October 9, 2025
News Summary
In response to rising food insecurity in Boston, the City Council is investigating the feasibility of publicly-owned grocery stores. Council members have expressed support for a hearing order, which has been referred to committee. Discussions will focus on the increasing food prices and stricter work requirements affecting SNAP recipients, along with the need for better access to food for low-income residents. Advocates argue that municipal grocery stores could prioritize community needs and help lower food costs.
Boston
The Boston City Council is set to explore the feasibility of establishing publicly-owned grocery stores in response to increasing food insecurity in the city. A majority of council members supported a hearing order on the topic, and the measure has been referred to committee for further consideration with a potential hearing expected by the end of the year. The discussion responds to rising food costs, growing numbers of households reporting food insecurity, and concern about changes to federal benefit rules.
Top-line developments
A majority of city council members showed support for a hearing order regarding the topic. The Boston City Council has referred the hearing order to committee for further consideration, with a potential hearing expected by the end of the year. Councilor Liz Breadon introduced the hearing order, citing the plight of residents experiencing hunger despite an abundance of food waste.
Why the council is acting now
Advocates for the hearing point to multiple economic and programmatic pressures. USDA data indicates food prices increased by more than 3% in August 2025 compared to August 2024, with future increases expected in 2026. At the same time, approximately 40,000 SNAP recipients in Greater Boston may face stricter work requirements due to the recently enacted One Big Beautiful Bill Act. Local and state indicators also show growing hardship: food insecurity in Massachusetts has surged, with 37% of households reporting food insecurity in 2025, up from 19% in 2019.
Who supports and who is raising concerns
Support for the hearing order came from a mix of council members. Council President Ruthzee Louijeune co-sponsored the hearing order, urging exploration of examples from other cities like Atlanta, Wisconsin, and Illinois. Louijeune also called for broader discussions about nonprofit grocers after closures this year, noting specific local impacts. Louijeune emphasized the need for broader discussions on supporting nonprofit grocers amid closures like that of Daily Table earlier in the year.
Other council members backing the hearing included voices highlighting food access as a basic necessity. Councilor Gabriela Coletta Zapata emphasized food access as a basic human right, comparable to housing. Other councilors, including Julia Mejia, Enrique Pepén, Henry Santana, Ben Weber, and Brian Worrell, also expressed support for the hearing order.
Proponents argue municipal ownership could change how a store operates by prioritizing community needs and lowering prices for low-income shoppers. Proponents argue that publicly-owned grocery stores could prioritize community benefits and reduce food costs for lower-income residents.
Opponents include industry experts and some local business advocates who caution that a publicly-owned grocery could pose competitive risks to existing small grocers and independent retailers. Opponents, including industry experts, express concerns that such stores might harm existing small businesses by creating unfair competition.
Context and precedents
The idea of municipal grocery stores has appeared in other political conversations; it was included in a recent mayoral platform elsewhere. This initiative gained attention following Zohran Mamdani’s platform in the New York City mayoral race, advocating for municipal grocery stores. Council leaders also pointed to experiments and models in other states and cities as material to review when the committee convenes. Councilor Liz Breadon introduced the hearing order, citing the plight of residents experiencing hunger despite an abundance of food waste.
Next steps
The council referral sends the matter to the appropriate committee, which can call experts, city staff, community groups, and grocers to testify. The committee may review examples from other places, financial models, and potential community benefits before deciding whether to advance any formal proposal. The Boston City Council is set to explore the feasibility of establishing publicly-owned grocery stores in response to increasing food insecurity in the city.
What the council has said it will examine
- Examples from other cities and states, including Atlanta, Wisconsin, and Illinois.
- Financial and operational models for publicly-owned grocery stores.
- Effects on nonprofit grocers and small independent retailers.
- Local food-price trends and federal benefit changes affecting residents.
FAQ
What is the Boston City Council considering?
The Boston City Council is set to explore the feasibility of establishing publicly-owned grocery stores in response to increasing food insecurity in the city.
Did the council support a hearing?
A majority of city council members showed support for a hearing order regarding the topic.
Who introduced the hearing order?
Councilor Liz Breadon introduced the hearing order, citing the plight of residents experiencing hunger despite an abundance of food waste.
What do food-price data say?
USDA data indicates food prices increased by more than 3% in August 2025 compared to August 2024, with future increases expected in 2026.
How might SNAP recipients be affected?
Approximately 40,000 SNAP recipients in Greater Boston may face stricter work requirements due to the recently enacted One Big Beautiful Bill Act.
What is the recent trend in local food insecurity?
Food insecurity in Massachusetts has surged, with 37% of households reporting food insecurity in 2025, up from 19% in 2019.
Who co-sponsored the hearing order?
Council President Ruthzee Louijeune co-sponsored the hearing order, urging exploration of examples from other cities like Atlanta, Wisconsin, and Illinois.
Has the council taken the next step?
The Boston City Council has referred the hearing order to committee for further consideration, with a potential hearing expected by the end of the year.
Key facts at a glance
| Topic | Detail |
|---|---|
| Council action | The Boston City Council is set to explore the feasibility of establishing publicly-owned grocery stores in response to increasing food insecurity in the city. |
| Council support | A majority of city council members showed support for a hearing order regarding the topic. |
| Hearing status | The Boston City Council has referred the hearing order to committee for further consideration, with a potential hearing expected by the end of the year. |
| Food price trend | USDA data indicates food prices increased by more than 3% in August 2025 compared to August 2024, with future increases expected in 2026. |
| SNAP impact | Approximately 40,000 SNAP recipients in Greater Boston may face stricter work requirements due to the recently enacted One Big Beautiful Bill Act. |
| State food insecurity | Food insecurity in Massachusetts has surged, with 37% of households reporting food insecurity in 2025, up from 19% in 2019. |
| Notable supporters | Council President Ruthzee Louijeune co-sponsored the hearing order, urging exploration of examples from other cities like Atlanta, Wisconsin, and Illinois; other supporters include Julia Mejia, Enrique Pepén, Henry Santana, Ben Weber, Brian Worrell, and Gabriela Coletta Zapata. |
| Local nonprofit concerns | Louijeune emphasized the need for broader discussions on supporting nonprofit grocers amid closures like that of Daily Table earlier in the year. |
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Additional Resources
- CBS News: Government-Owned Grocery Stores Proposal
- Boston Globe: Boston City-Owned Grocery Stores
- Boston.com: Boston City Council to Explore Publicly Owned Grocery Stores
- Universal Hub: City-Owned Grocery Stores in Boston
- Patch: Government-Owned Grocery Stores in Boston
- Wikipedia: Food Insecurity
- Google Search: Boston Grocery Stores
- Google Scholar: Publicly-Owned Grocery Stores
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Grocery
- Google News: Boston Food Insecurity
Author: STAFF HERE BOSTON WRITER
BOSTON STAFF WRITER The BOSTON STAFF WRITER represents the experienced team at HEREBoston.com, your go-to source for actionable local news and information in Boston, Suffolk County, and beyond. Specializing in "news you can use," we cover essential topics like product reviews for personal and business needs, local business directories, politics, real estate trends, neighborhood insights, and state news affecting the area—with deep expertise drawn from years of dedicated reporting and strong community input, including local press releases and business updates. We deliver top reporting on high-value events such as Boston Marathon, Head of the Charles Regatta, and Boston Harborfest. Our coverage extends to key organizations like the Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce and Associated Industries of Massachusetts, plus leading businesses in finance, biotech, and insurance that power the local economy such as Fidelity Investments, Biogen, and Liberty Mutual Insurance. As part of the broader HERE network, we provide comprehensive, credible insights into Massachusetts's dynamic landscape.
