Leaders and community members came together to talk about health and safety challenges Thursday at a public safety summit.
The Downtown Boston Neighborhood Association hosted the meeting at the Emerson Cutler Majestic Theatre. It previously held a closed-door meeting discussing the same topic in February.
“Over the last nine months, I’ve seen a significant difference in the downtown area. It’s safer,” said Ryan Pavo, who works downtown and attended Thursday’s meeting. “Boston police and the neighbor association has made a big difference.”
Elected officials, law enforcement and social services organizations gathered to discuss safety solutions.
Overall, violent crime numbers in Boston are at their lowest numbers in decades. But in some of the most visible parts of the city, like Downtown Crossing and the Boston Common, it’s a different story.
“Last year, we had 246 unique individuals engaged with clinical social workers that are experts in addiction to put people on a path to recovery,” said Karen LaFrazia, CEO of St. Francis House.
“I think that it’s also important to hold individuals that are suffering with addiction accountable. And we recognize that detainment can be a critical moment when you can segue someone into a pathway to recovery,” said Kellie Young of Boston’s Coordinated Response Team.
“From the standpoint of public health, we believe that one needle on the ground is one needle too many,” Boston Public Health Commissioner Bisola Ojikutu said. “But in these last six or seven months, there’s actually been a 65% decrease in syringe-related 311 calls. So there has been progress.”
Local and state leaders met Thursday to discuss the public’s concern about crime in some of Boston’s most popular areas.
Part of that progress has been made as the Boston Police Department prioritizes placing officers where congregate drug use occurs, officials said.
While residents have seen improvements, there remains unease.
“People who are on scooters and running through red lights and that kind of thing, or even bicycles — it just feels like that’s a huge issue that I’m not hearing this addressed this evening,” said resident Laura LaPointe.
Some councilors expressed disappointment that the mayor’s office and Boston Police Department did not appear at Thursday’s meeting.
“The last six times I’ve been in CVS, I’ve seen theft happening,” added resident Kathryn Jacob. “I don’t know the answer — it seems like nobody here tonight knows the answer — but I’d like to see that addressed.”
“It was about an hour and a half of sitting and sort of listening to the people on the stage, and I would definitely have liked to see more participation from the people who came out,” LaPointe said.
Most of those in attendance who live or work downtown and spoke with NBC10 Boston said they feel a lot safer than they did a year ago, but that there’s much work left to be done.
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