By Anika Parr
At least 200 residents gathered in the Somerville Community Baptist Church for a meeting on public safety in the Seven Hills and Davis Square area on Wednesday. Amid rising concerns about homelessness and public drug use in these communities, Somerville Mayor Katjana Ballantyne, newly-appointed Police Chief Shumeane Benford and other city leaders tried to balance public safety concern with compassion for unhoused individuals struggling with addiction.
Ballantyne began the meeting with opening remarks.
“I know a lot of you are here or have contacted us because of related safety concerns around the city and Seven Hills Park [and] Davis Square,” she said. “We are fully focused on both these community concerns. That [means] ensuring that we’re doing our best to connect our vulnerable populations to resources … and … ensuring that our neighborhoods are safe for all youth.”
Benford and Acting Deputy Chief James Donovan then took to the floor. They provided details about recent arrests made and said that, since Aug. 22, the department has instituted 24-hour “direct control,” or increased police presence, in areas including Statue Park and Seven Hills Park, which have seen some of the highest number of encampments used by unhoused people in Somerville.