Published April 14, 2025
This article is part of a series examining the sweeping and often overlooked consequences of proposed SNAP cuts. Beyond the headlines, these reductions threaten to destabilize families, shutter small businesses, and strain local governments already operating under tight budgets. In this installment, Gina Plata-Nino, JD, Deputy Director of SNAP at FRAC, interviews Joseph M. Petty, Mayor of Worcester, Massachusetts. Mayor Petty shares how SNAP cuts would hit cities hard—disrupting local economies, increasing demand on overwhelmed food pantries, and undermining the ability of municipalities to meet residents’ basic needs. Their conversation underscores the critical role of SNAP in sustaining resilient, thriving communities.
What Does the Mayor Do?
A city mayor’s fundamental duty is to provide leadership by setting the strategic vision, aligning city policies with the community’s long-term goals, and working closely with councils, department heads, and staff to improve residents’ quality of life.
How Do Limited City Budgets and Federal Funds Impact Your City?
As mayor, one of my biggest challenges is managing my city’s budget with limited resources. Cities rely on a combination of local revenue — such as taxes and fees — and federal funding to maintain essential services. However, our budgets are already stretched thin, and we cannot afford to absorb cuts to critical programs like SNAP. Federal funds play a crucial role in supporting residents and keeping local economies stable. Without them, cities would face increased demand for services with no additional resources to meet those needs.
What Are Your Concerns About the Proposed Cuts to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)?
Many of my constituents work hard to make ends meet, but the high cost of living, job loss, or the need to care for an ill family member can make it difficult to afford basic necessities like food. For those facing financial hardship, SNAP provides essential support.
Cuts to SNAP would place immense strain on my city and its people, disrupting the balance of federal, state, and local resources that support our lowest-income residents. Federal nutrition benefits not only help families but also inject millions into local economies, supporting grocery stores, small businesses, and jobs.
In our city of roughly 210,000, over 54,000 residents rely on SNAP, bringing nearly $100 million annually into the local economy. These funds support more than 190 grocery stores, many of which operate on tight margins. When emergency SNAP allotments ended in March 2023, the city lost over $5 million per month in federal funding, forcing many residents to turn to food pantries, which are now operating at capacity. Yet, for every meal provided by a food bank, SNAP benefits cover nine — meaning food banks alone cannot fill the gap left by federal cuts.
What Actions Have You Taken to Address These Concerns?
In response to the proposed SNAP cuts, I have taken proactive steps to advocate for my residents. I helped organize a letter, signed by over 30 municipal leaders across party lines and representing both urban and rural communities, to express our shared concern about these cuts. We made it clear that while our cities are committed to supporting residents, we cannot fully bridge the gap left by these reductions.
As costs for food, housing, and child care, continue to rise, any further reductions in residents’ budgets will significantly undermine their ability to meet basic needs. These reductions will not only impact families but also have a lasting negative effect on local economies and municipalities. I strongly urge federal policymakers to recognize the vital role that SNAP plays in supporting families and local economies. It is crucial that they reconsider proposed funding cuts that would leave our community and its most vulnerable residents facing even greater challenges.
