Philly Council eyes city-backed supermarkets to help populate food deserts | Local News | phillytrib.com – The Philadelphia Tribune

Philly Council eyes city-backed supermarkets to help populate food deserts | Local News | phillytrib.com  The Philadelphia Tribune

A two-and-a-half-hour City Council session on Thursday brought Philadelphia’s affordability-related problems straight to the Council chamber, with residents saying they were tired of paying more and Council President Kenyatta Johnson Philadelphia City Council President Kenyatta Johnson introduced legislation Thursday that would create a permanent city office focused on food insecurity and improving access to affordable, nutritious food. —TRIBUNE PHOTO/KAYLA BROWN Philadelphia City Council advanced measures addressing affordability, food insecurity and public safety, including proposals to expand grocery access, create a permanent food security office and finance a new police forensics lab. — TRIBUNE PHOTO/KAYLA BROWN A two-and-a-half-hour City Council session on Thursday brought Philadelphia’s affordability-related problems straight to the Council chamber, with residents saying they were tired of paying more and Council President Kenyatta Johnson introducing legislation to create a permanent city office to address food insecurity.

“Families across Philadelphia are feeling the squeeze from the rising cost of living, and putting food on the table should never be an impossible choice,” Johnson said in announcing his Philly Food Affordability Act. Council approved two resolutions authorizing hearings on city-supported grocery stores and supermarket pricing technology. Legislation establishing an Office of Food and Nutrition Security and an advisory commission were introduced and referred to committee. The grocery store proposal would allow lawmakers to assess whether Philadelphia could use public funds, private