Readers oppose publicly-owned grocery stores in Boston. Here's why.

""There is no way that city government could efficiently run a grocery store at the kind of scale that's being discussed," reader TF in Boston wrote. "The grocery business is incredibly difficult - the money would be better spent in partnership with an existing grocery operator.""

""The city has no idea how to run a store.""

""Now is the time to have these conversations," Council President Ruthzee Louijeune said at the meeting. "This is a timely conversation to explore our fragile food network.""

Boston City Council members are considering opening publicly-owned grocery stores to address rising food insecurity. A hearing order on the idea drew majority council support and prompted a public poll of more than 200 readers in which 79% opposed city-owned grocery stores, 16% supported them, 2% said it depends, and 3% were undecided. Critics argued city government lacks capacity to run grocery operations and funds would be better used partnering with existing operators. Local food insecurity is increasing: tighter SNAP work requirements could affect some 40,000 Greater Boston recipients and the Greater Boston Food Bank reports 37% of Massachusetts households faced food insecurity this year, up from 19% in 2019. Council President Ruthzee Louijeune urged exploring ways the city can support nonprofit grocers and the fragile food network.

Read at Boston.com