Boston Mayor Michelle Wu will give an update Thursday on how the city plans to remove tents and tarps from the crime-ridden encampment that has become a permanent fixture in a troubled area of the city known as “Mass and Cass,” and secure shelters for those living in the area. The Boston City Council approved an ordinance Wednesday that gives the Boston Police Department the authority to remove the tents and tarps at the encampment around the intersection of Massachusetts Avenue and Melnea Cass Boulevard.The ordinance was approved with amendments put forth by Councilor Ricardo Arroyo, which eliminates a $25 fine, makes public officials aware if a shelter is not available and notifies those in the encampments of tent removal in multiple languages. It gives additional authority for police to enforce the removal of encampments and make arrests for anyone not in compliance. “We really are on a pretty tight timeline in order to accomplish everything that the departments have been planning for housing and treatment and all the services and public safety to get going before the weather gets cold,” Wu said. It will only apply to individuals who have been offered adequate housing, shelter and transportation and who have been given the opportunity to store their personal belongings, Wu said.Some of those living in the area — and the services that drew them there — will be offered temporary housing at 727 Massachusetts Avenue, where 30 transitional beds will be available. “We are grateful to the council for their partnership in approving this ordinance to help address the public safety of patients, workers and residents in the area so our teams can continue outreach to individuals in need. City staff and provider partners have been working for weeks to prepare for our plans to reopen Atkinson Street to standard roadway operations and expand citywide outreach for shelter, services and treatment,” a city spokesperson said. Boston Police Commissioner Michael Cox said mobile police units would be in locations across the city so those dispersing from Mass & Cass do not erect tents in other communities. In recent months, Wu said, police officers and others have been attacked at the current area of the encampment. City data shows Boston EMS responses to the area have doubled from a year ago. The ordinance will take effect seven days after it is signed. Video below: Details of city’s plan to address Mass & Cass crisis
Boston Mayor Michelle Wu will give an update Thursday on how the city plans to remove tents and tarps from the crime-ridden encampment that has become a permanent fixture in a troubled area of the city known as “Mass and Cass,” and secure shelters for those living in the area.
The Boston City Council approved an ordinance Wednesday that gives the Boston Police Department the authority to remove the tents and tarps at the encampment around the intersection of Massachusetts Avenue and Melnea Cass Boulevard.
The ordinance was approved with amendments put forth by Councilor Ricardo Arroyo, which eliminates a $25 fine, makes public officials aware if a shelter is not available and notifies those in the encampments of tent removal in multiple languages.
It gives additional authority for police to enforce the removal of encampments and make arrests for anyone not in compliance.
“We really are on a pretty tight timeline in order to accomplish everything that the departments have been planning for housing and treatment and all the services and public safety to get going before the weather gets cold,” Wu said.
It will only apply to individuals who have been offered adequate housing, shelter and transportation and who have been given the opportunity to store their personal belongings, Wu said.
Some of those living in the area — and the services that drew them there — will be offered temporary housing at 727 Massachusetts Avenue, where 30 transitional beds will be available.
“We are grateful to the council for their partnership in approving this ordinance to help address the public safety of patients, workers and residents in the area so our teams can continue outreach to individuals in need. City staff and provider partners have been working for weeks to prepare for our plans to reopen Atkinson Street to standard roadway operations and expand citywide outreach for shelter, services and treatment,” a city spokesperson said.
Boston Police Commissioner Michael Cox said mobile police units would be in locations across the city so those dispersing from Mass & Cass do not erect tents in other communities.
In recent months, Wu said, police officers and others have been attacked at the current area of the encampment. City data shows Boston EMS responses to the area have doubled from a year ago.
The ordinance will take effect seven days after it is signed.
Video below: Details of city’s plan to address Mass & Cass crisis
