In the News: Walmart, Stop & Shop’s ‘Scorched-Earth’ Deed Restrictions Result in Food Deserts in Woonsocket and Elsewhere

Published on Thursday, April 23, 2026

WOONSOCKET, RI — EcoRI News today published a feature on the effects of "scorched-earth" restrictive covenants, which block the development of new grocery stores, on communities like Woonsocket. An excerpt is below:

"Lt. Gov. Sabina Matos said her staff has found seven restrictive covenants in Rhode Island — from Woonsocket to Westerly — with restrictions up to 75 years. 

Matos said no city has been more affected by the covenants than Woonsocket, which is home to one of the state’s largest food deserts.

'A monopoly has been created right in front of our eyes without us realizing,” Matos said. “We have to stop this practice of adding restrictive covenants.'"

The full article by Jonmaesha Beltran is available to read here: https://ecori.org/walmart-stop-shops-scorched-earth-deed-restrictions-result-in-food-deserts-in-woonsocket-and-elsewhere/