BOSTON, MA – The following statement from Josh Kraft is in response to recent reporting about a 4-year-old boy who was pricked by a discarded needle in a South Boston park. The child was playing barefoot near Columbia Road and Mercer Street when the incident occurred, requiring emergency medical care and a prolonged HIV prevention regimen. His mother has since called for urgent action from city leaders to address the growing public safety crisis tied to Mass and Cass spillover: 

“This is something that no mother, or any 4 year old child, should ever have to endure. As a result of Mayor Wu’s failures to make progress at Mass and Cass, many people have been harmed including an innocent child. She promised to fix Mass and Cass, but instead the problems have spread to other parts of the city. 

Mass and Cass is a public health emergency, and the large number of discarded needles are a part of this emergency. The city disperses hundreds of thousands of needles every year, which they are happy to promote. It is also their responsibility to pick up discarded needles promptly to keep Bostonians safe – especially our children. 

Today, I am calling upon Mayor Wu to commit to taking emergency measures to pick up all discarded needles throughout Boston. As Mayor, I will bring a new and different approach and urgency to this problem.”

###

Media contact:

Eileen O’Connor, eileen@joshforboston.com

617-806-6999