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Boston officials are reportedly considering the concept of setting up government-owned grocery stores to support residents struggling with rising food prices.
City Council President Ruthzee Louijeune and Councilwoman Liz Breadon have requested a hearing to investigate the idea — stressing that it is not inspired by a similar proposal from Democratic Socialist New York mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani, a local news outlet reported. Boston 25 News reported.
“The role of government is to intervene when the market is failing our residents,” Louijeune told Boston 25 News. “The idea of government-sponsored, government-subsidized grocers is not a new idea.”
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Louijeune pointed to examples of similar supermarket initiatives in Madison, Wisconsin and Atlanta, Georgia, Boston 25 News reported.
Pictured here is a view of the Boston skyline. (Ron Dahlquist/Design Pics Editorial/Universal Images Group via Getty Images/Getty Images)
“There is a level of urgency because of a federal policy that is cutting SNAP benefits,” Breadon told Boston 25 News. “Those of us who are not food insecure sometimes forget the struggles that ordinary working families can have.”
An estimated 37% of Massachusetts households faced food insecurity this year — nearly double the 19% reported in 2019, according to Boston 25 News, citing a report from the Greater Boston Food Bank.
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However, a food industry expert argues that city stores could hurt existing businesses.
Peter Brennan, executive director of the New England Convenience Store and Energy Marketers Association, said using taxpayer money for city-run grocery stores would be “a job killer in our communities,” according to Boston 25 News.
FILE PHOTO: Fresh vegetables are seen in a supermarket. (iStock / iStock)
“Our mom and pop stores already operate on very slim profit margins. They continually face rising costs, increased regulations and relentless economic pressures,” Brennan told Boston 25 News. “The City of Boston should do more to support these small businesses that create jobs, support our communities and provide healthy meals, goods and services to our neighborhoods. Supporting small businesses by reducing taxes and fees and creating programs to help businesses become self-sufficient is a much better use of taxpayer dollars.”
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Several other city council members also reportedly added their names to the hearing, which was sent to the committee for consideration. According to Boston 25 News, a hearing could take place before the end of the year.
New York mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani attends a press conference on September 17, 2025 in New York City. (Spencer Platt/Getty Images/Getty Images)
Mamdani is in favor of a network of city-run supermarkets. According to Boston 25 News, his proposal would establish five publicly funded, rent-free and tax-free locations in New York City.
“You don’t lower grocery bills by having government-run stores,” Ryan Bourne, a top economist at the libertarian-leaning think tank Cato Institute, told Fox Business earlier this year. “Public companies have no market discipline; they don’t have to make a profit, compete or serve customers efficiently. That leads to high costs, empty shelves and no accountability.”
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