Boston Mayor Michelle Wu said homelessness in Boston is an “urgent and complex problem” but that the city has the resources to address it.
The comments come as the Boston City Council continues to debate Wu’s proposal to eliminate tent encampments in the city’s domain known as “Mass. and Cass,” which is experiencing an increase in homelessness and drug use.
“I just need to refute the feeling that there’s no hope, or that it’s too big a problem,” or that it’s been going on for many years, Wu said. He detailed the emerging housing prices and substance abuse issues faced by city dwellers. He said Boston has the capacity for those people.
“We are a resourceful city and we want to mobilize public and political will to continue to meet the challenge,” Wu said. The City Council is expected to vote next week on the mayor’s draft ordinance.
Earlier this week, Gov. Maura Healey announced that Massachusetts would end its shelter guarantee once the number of families in need reaches 7,500. The formula has been overtaken by a record number of foreign shelters, adding up to a giant wave of immigrants.
The mayor said Wednesday that the city would continue to welcome immigrants, providing them with living spaces and work permits. He said integrating immigrants into the local workforce would help ease the strain on the state’s family shelter system.
“The more we can help everyone get back on their feet, the better the formula itself will work and be able to serve as a transient safety net rather than a more permanent use that is supposed to be because bureaucracy has messed everything up. ,” she said.
During his appearance on Radio Boston, Wu also spoke about the ongoing confrontation in Israel and Gaza. He expressed hope that Boston will remain a welcoming area “for other people to share how they feel and what they do and share something with their neighbors. “”
Wu added that the city was tracking any conceivable hate crimes fueled during the conflict.
“We are working intensively with the Boston Police Department and all of our network partners,” he said. “We are in constant contact with synagogues, mosques [and] teams that constitute network members from all walks of life, just so that we can get data and then be in a position to supply it in the most logical way possible. “
Wu also spoke briefly about his initiative to introduce green space in Boston’s public schools. More than 80 schools already offer learning opportunities. The city is launching 10 new raised turf systems throughout Boston.
Wu said he hopes close encounters with nature will motivate young people to be more environmentally conscious.
“Not only can we motivate our young people to integrate their science, math and biology curricula into the outdoor gardens where they can learn,” she said. “But [also] to motivate a greater love and understanding of the issues that will also be critical to their security, their economic and long-term prospects. “
This aired on October 18, 2023.
Irina Matchavariani WBUR Newsroom MemberRina Matchavariani is an editorial member of WBUR.
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Tiziana Dearing Boston Radio Anchor Tiziana Dearing is the host of Radio Boston.
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Amanda Beland Producer/Director Amanda Beland is a producer and director of Radio Boston. He reports for the WBUR newsroom.
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