REVERE (CBS) – It’s a tragic scene: Boston’s drug-infested homeless encampment on the intersection of Melnea Cass Boulevard and Massachusetts Avenue. It has earned nicknames like “Methadone Mile” and “Mass & Cass.”
“We don’t have the capability or the sources to cope with the Mass and Cass problem by ourselves,” mentioned Revere Mayor Brian Arrigo. He says Boston officers by no means contacted him about plans to relocate a few of the homeless from their metropolis to the High quality Inn on Route 1 in Revere.
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Neighbors who dwell across the resort at the moment are braced for issues. One man who lives behind the resort puzzled what complications would include the transfer. “If it’s already a headache on the mile over there, what’s it going do over right here?” he requested.
Boston’s homeless encampment on the intersection of Melnea Cass Boulevard and Massachusetts Avenue. (WBZ-TV)
There’s motive to be involved. “After the pandemic, it’s getting uncontrolled,” mentioned Janet Colombo, who owns New Market Pizza & Grill. She mentioned the desperation outdoors her store has introduced crime and vandalism. “They broke my home windows like six occasions already. I modified the window yesterday.”
Again in Revere, Mayor Arrigo despatched a scathing letter to the Boston Public Well being Fee. “It’s with immense frustration that I write to you at present,” the letter learn. “…the extent of disorganization from BPHC concerning this effort is appalling.”
Mass and Cass has change into a flashpoint in Boston’s mayoral race. The 2 candidates say most of these staying there will not be even from Boston.
“That is nonetheless a dialog with our regional companions. We must be on the identical web page with proactive complete methods,” mentioned Metropolis Councilor Michelle Wu on Wednesday.
Her opponent, Metropolis Councilor Annissa Essaibi-George spoke in regards to the problem earlier than Wednesday’s Council assembly. “Different communities, different cities and cities, need to step up and assist,” she mentioned.
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A Boston spokesperson mentioned town will probably be renting 30 rooms on the High quality Inn, saying “the Metropolis should not shoulder this burden alone.”
Mayor Kim Janey launched an announcement, which mentioned, partly:
“We all know that properly over 60% of the individuals we serve come from outdoors of Boston. To assist present providers nearer to the locations that folks name dwelling, we’d like different cities and cities to step up.
This contains Revere.
The Boston Public Well being Fee has constructed a considerate plan with Eliot Neighborhood Human Companies, an skilled public well being supplier, to supply wanted housing for 30 people who’ve been homeless. For the final three weeks, workers from the Boston Public Well being Fee and Eliot Neighborhood Human Companies have met with Mayor Arrigo and his staff. They’ve reviewed plans and adopted up on requests.”
Arrigo responded to Janey with a ready assertion, which mentioned, partly, “I’m not certain which planning conversations Appearing Mayor Janey referred to in her assertion as a result of merely put, they didn’t occur. The primary time we spoke was at present, and in that dialog, she was unable to determine a single further regional companion they’re working with to assist handle this downside.”
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Revere’s mayor says he’s keen to assist, however he must be included within the dialog. “Shifting individuals from Mass and Cass to Route 1 to a resort that’s remoted to public transportation … shouldn’t be an actual answer,” he mentioned.
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