BOSTON – This week, Boston City Councilor Ed Flynn re-filed legislation focused on public safety – including an order for a hearing to discuss public safety and quality of life concerns at Mass & Cass and surrounding neighborhoods with original co-sponsors Councilor John Fitzgerald and Councilor Miniard Culpepper, an order for a hearing to discuss resources for the Boston Police Crime Laboratory, and an order for a hearing order to rediscuss public safety and quality of life issues on Downtown & Boston Common.
On the Mass & Cass crisis, Councilor Flynn and Councilor FitzGerald held a hearing last September on a resolution to declare the area and impacted neighborhoods a public safety and public health emergency, and a humanitarian crisis. At that time, hundreds of residents shared public testimony. There remains an urgent need to continue to discuss the current and future strategies in addressing the public safety, quality of life, neighborhood services, and public health issues related to this crisis.
Councilor Flynn also filed an order for a hearing to discuss public safety and quality of life issues in Downtown Boston and the Boston Common. Downtown Boston and the Boston Common remain both critical economic engines, as well as home to some of the most important historic sites in our country. As a result of the 2024 hearing on this issue, as well as ongoing concerns from neighbors, the Downtown Boston Neighborhood Association hosted a meeting with Downtown elected officials, residents, business leaders, and non-profits to discuss the next steps in addressing public safety concerns in the Boston Common and Downtown Crossing area. Following the meeting, in March 2025, the “One Downtown Task Force” was formed…