City’s New Strategy Targets Crime and Open-Air Drug Use

Boston Mayor Michelle Wu’s administration has announced a new plan to confront the Mass and Cass drug crisis, pledging stronger enforcement and expanded treatment options to restore safety and order in one of the city’s most troubled areas.

In a detailed memo to the city council and residents, the Wu administration outlined a multi-pronged strategy to address both substance abuse and rising crime around Massachusetts Avenue and Melnea Cass Boulevard. The measures include a heavier police presence, new bike patrols, enhanced street cleaning, decentralisation of services, and tighter control over needle distribution.

The city recently swore in 100 new police officers, many of whom will be deployed directly to the Mass and Cass drug crisis zone. The administration aims to eliminate open-air drug use, a problem that has plagued the area for years.

“Residents and business owners should not have to suffer while we provide support to people,” said Boston City Councillor Erin Murphy. “If you’re breaking the law, you’re breaking the law.”

Critics Question Timing and Political Motives

Murphy questioned the timing of the announcement, suggesting the plan’s release ahead of election season might be politically motivated. She noted that officials initially did not plan to attend a scheduled community meeting this week.

“It’s probably just political games at this point,” Murphy added. “Residents have been saying for a long time that no one has been listening to them.”

Local residents remain sceptical that the new measures will lead to lasting change. South End resident Janet Markman, whose building has been broken into, described daily scenes of public disorder and unsafe conditions.

“You see needles outside your door, people sleeping on your steps, even human waste on the pavement,” Markman said. “Keeping everyone in one location clearly isn’t working. We need better solutions and more resources.”

Will the Plan Solve Boston’s Drug Problem?

Mayoral candidate Josh Kraft was even more critical, dismissing the memo as “a cheap political fix.” He accused the mayor of responding to the Boston drug problem only when public pressure mounts.

“After years of ignoring this human catastrophe, she’s flip-flopping during an election year,” Kraft said. “This is reaction, not reform.”

The Mass and Cass drug crisis remains one of Boston’s most visible public health and safety challenges. While the administration’s plan seeks to combine law enforcement with treatment expansion, the true test will be whether these measures can deliver real change for both residents and vulnerable individuals trapped in cycles of addiction.

Source: WCVB