Boston City Councilors faced a packed hotel meeting room Thursday evening as frustration built over the open drug use and crime that have riddled the notorious Mass and Cass intersection. A crowd gathered outside the Hampton Inn hotel, chanting ‘Come outside’ as councilors heard from fed-up residents inside.”I want folks to understand we are not solving the issue tonight right, but I want to hear from you all and understand what is currently happening,” Boston City Councilor John Fitzgerald said. Fitzgerald held the off-site council meeting to push forward a resolution to declare a public health emergency and humanitarian crisis at the intersection. Drug use has spilled into nearby neighborhoods, including the South End and Roxbury.”I’m going to go out of business, obviously I’m going to go out of business,” said one resident, who owns a business near Mass and Cass. Tensions are running high just days away from the preliminary mayoral election.Boston Mayor Michelle Wu vowed Wednesday to clean up Mass and Cass by deploying more officers, bike patrols, expanding treatment access, and decentralizing services from the area.Wu’s contender, Josh Kraft, called her plan a affordable political fix and touted a different plan.”Recovery first, emphasize recovery first, work proactively with the police,” Kraft said. Meanwhile, businesses and residents are losing faith that change will come.”I lost a nephew four years ago to substance abuse. Why? Because of Mass and Cass,” Randi Grohe Lathrop said.
Boston City Councilors faced a packed hotel meeting room Thursday evening as frustration built over the open drug use and crime that have riddled the notorious Mass and Cass intersection.
A crowd gathered outside the Hampton Inn hotel, chanting ‘Come outside’ as councilors heard from fed-up residents inside.
“I want folks to understand we are not solving the issue tonight right, but I want to hear from you all and understand what is currently happening,” Boston City Councilor John Fitzgerald said.
Fitzgerald held the off-site council meeting to push forward a resolution to declare a public health emergency and humanitarian crisis at the intersection. Drug use has spilled into nearby neighborhoods, including the South End and Roxbury.
“I’m going to go out of business, obviously I’m going to go out of business,” said one resident, who owns a business near Mass and Cass.
Tensions are running high just days away from the preliminary mayoral election.
Boston Mayor Michelle Wu vowed Wednesday to clean up Mass and Cass by deploying more officers, bike patrols, expanding treatment access, and decentralizing services from the area.
Wu’s contender, Josh Kraft, called her plan a affordable political fix and touted a different plan.
“Recovery first, emphasize recovery first, work proactively with the police,” Kraft said.
Meanwhile, businesses and residents are losing faith that change will come.
“I lost a nephew four years ago to substance abuse. Why? Because of Mass and Cass,” Randi Grohe Lathrop said.
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