Over the weekend, some of Boston’s most troubled neighborhoods, like Mass. and Cass and Nubian Square, looked almost abandoned. Areas typically crowded with unhoused residents and people struggling with addiction were eerily quiet, prompting questions from residents, officials, and outreach workers alike.
State Rep. John Moran was among those who’s noticed a change.
“Surprisingly, over the last five days, we’ve had a bit of a turnaround in terms of the number of people on the streets,” Moran said.
Earlier this month, Mayor Michelle Wu announced a new plan to crack down on crime and provide more addiction services in the Mass. and Cass corridor. That includes reserved beds at the Gavin Foundation and immediate transportation for those in need.
“Already, dozens of patients who needed those services have been transported,” Wu said.
A hearing was held Thursday to address the growing public health and safety issues at Mass. and Cass.
Moran believes the city’s coordinated response team may be making a difference.
“It was the first weekend in many, many months that I haven’t gotten outreach from constituents. I see that as a positive trend,” he said. “I do hope that this trend continues — but I don’t think we’re out of the woods, by any means.”
Not everyone agrees the situation has improved. Andrew Brand, a longtime resident and former co-president of the Worcester Square Area Neighborhood Association, said the underlying issues remain.
“Parents are afraid for their kids. They have to constantly movie them. Kids have been pricked by needles — it makes it really hard to live here,” Brand said.
He called it premature to judge the situation off of a few days of quiet.
Josh Kraft, who’s running for mayor of Boston, said Tuesday that Mayor Michelle Wu failed to clean up Mass. and Cass, to which Wu listed her administration’s accomplishments in clearing the area, while acknowledging there’s more work to be done. Political commentator Sue O’Connell explains what’s so difficult about clearing homeless encampments without solving the root problems.
Raul Diaz said the public’s perception doesn’t reflect the reality of life on the streets.
“We have the right to live among everybody else — not to be looked at or mocked or treated like a piece of garbage. We have feelings,” Diaz said.
On Monday, drug enforcement officials were spotted in the area of Mass. and Cass, one wearing a mask. The DEA and the FBI confirmed they were not involved in Monday’s activity. NBC10 Boston reached out to ICE, Homeland Security and Boston police for clarification, but did not immediately receive a response.
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