Mayor Michelle Wu van Boston rejected calls from residents of South End to bring in the National Guard to tackle the ‘war zone’ that Massa and Cass crossing created in that specific neighborhood.
Wu said this week that, although it is “not acceptable” for residents to have needles and fear of their safety on and around the intersection of Massachusetts Avenue and Melnea Cass Boulevard, the outdoor, dirt and violence that has spilled in surrounding neighborhoods such as the southern end, not a reaction from the US soldier.
“I don’t believe that we need or need a military deployment in our city,” Wu told reporters after a non -related event Monday. “I know that because we are looking for the specific challenges with the Opioid crisis at national level and how that is felt in local communities every day, we do more and try something that brings more resources to the conversation.”
Wu mentioned an extra $ 200,000 in a subsidy with which the city can expand its partnership with the Gavin Foundation with the aim of helping addicts to gain immediate access to repair beds and offer them the transport to get there.
The mayor’s office said last week that the city has increased the enforcement of public safety and resources in the area “to start the size” of the challenge on and around the intersection that is known as mass and cass.
However, residents of South End who participated in a virtual community meeting last week said that there is not enough police available to tackle the violence and drug use that has been spilled at their neighborhood and called for more resources from the State Police and even the National Guard.
A resident, Brian McCarter, described the South End as a ‘war zone’.
“We would like to see the National Guard invoked,” said Andrew Brand, co-president of the Worcester Square Area Nighborhood Association, during the meeting. “Everyone says we don’t have enough people. Maybe we should ask the mayor.”
Brand supported his comments somewhat in a Tuesday interview with The Herald. He said that the Boston police had indicated in the meeting that they did not have enough resources to “respond to our needs in time”, and “what I said was, should we call in the state police or national guard to help you?”
“I think the State Police would be a better source, and I would call Mayor Wu to work with (GOV.) Maura Healeey to get those resources,” said Brand, “Whether it is the State Police or the National Guard who acts in a civil capacity, or to cause other cities to chip.”
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