BOSTON, MA – This morning, Josh Kraft and community leaders, advocates and other stakeholders gathered in the Worcester Square area of the South End to call out Mayor Wu’s management failures regarding the continued humanitarian crisis and pervasive public disorder unfolding at Mass & Cass and spreading into other neighborhoods across the city, including the South End. Click here for Josh’s remarks. 

Two months ago, Josh announced his plan to address the crisis at Mass & Cass, which represents both a human tragedy of addiction, homelessness, and mental health issues, and pervasive public disorder marked by open drug dealing, human trafficking, and rampant property crime.

Last week, Boston’s Public Health Commissioner admitted that “I think we have failed in terms of the drug use epidemic.” [Link to Video]

At today’s press conference, Josh called upon Mayor Wu to start listening and take action on Mass & Cass, which has seen a surge in public disorder in recent weeks, as well as more needles on city streets and sidewalks, aggressive public behavior, open-air drug dealing, public nudity and accounts of stolen personal property. “For Sale” signs are also appearing in front of many homes, indicating residents are fed up and moving out.

Kraft said, “In what’s been par-for-the-course in this race, after I released my plan the mayor doubled down on her approach, claiming her plan was working great and refusing to acknowledge the overwhelming evidence to the contrary.” 

“And last week, the mayor’s own public health commissioner agreed – not with Mayor Wu, but with me. On a Zoom call, she said ‘I think we have failed in terms of the drug use epidemic.’ Not only that, but when asked about my proposal for mandatory drug treatment and the creation of a Recover Boston campus, she said she is a proponent of Recover Boston.”

“It’s time for the Mayor to act now to provide the public safety and recovery services we need to address this crisis head on,” said Josh. “These aren’t simply the claims of a political opponent. This is what I am hearing every day from residents – and now, from the Mayor’s own top advisors. Sadly, the only one who seems to be ignoring the truth is a mayor who keeps trying to convince us that Boston is “the safest city in America.”

Today, Josh reiterated his plan to end this human tragedy and public safety risk with the following actions, among others:

• Instead of directing police to stand down or look the other way, enforce the law to make it clear that public drug use, indefinite street living and property crimes are no longer an option 
• Create a Recover Boston campus – something proposed years ago by the Newmarket Business Improvement District and supported by community and business groups – which the mayor’s own Public Health Commissioner supports. Josh believes we need to take action now. Nearly two years ago, the Mayor announced plans to begin construction of the Long Island bridge by spring of 2024 with the goal of opening the bridge within four years. Nothing has happened.  
• Reinstate the Community Syringe Redemption Program that recovered 765,000 used needles and in many cases introduced people to recovery options. Discarded needles have surged by 50% since Mayor Wu ended the program last summer. 
• Restart proven partnerships and programs. On the same Zoom call with the Public Health Commissioner, attendees heard about dysfunction between the city and state over Mass & Cass. One of Mayor Wu’s first acts in office was to dismantle the city/community leader task force on Mass & Cass issues with the state HHS Secretary.  

As Mayor, Josh would not only revive this partnership with state leaders, but will build a coalition of stakeholders in the state, neighboring municipalities and impacted communities to jointly fund it. Because Bostonians shouldn’t bear the brunt of the challenge – and the full cost of fixing it.

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Media contact:

Eileen O’Connor

eileen@joshforboston.com

617-806-6999