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Local officials, residents convene for closed-door meeting on downtown safety
“I know this area very well, and I also agree it's worse now than anytime I've ever experienced," said City Councilor Ed Flynn.
Boston officials gathered on Thursday for a closed-door meeting to discuss ongoing public safety issues in downtown Boston.
The meeting, held on Washington Street in Boston’s downtown neighborhood, was called to address the “significant challenges” of crime in the area and the “impact on quality of life” for residents, City Councilor Ed Flynn told Boston.com.
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“Almost everyone there talked about how deteriorating conditions are,” Flynn, who represents the neighborhood, said. “I know this area very well, and I also agree it’s worse now than anytime I’ve ever experienced.”
Suffolk County District Attorney Kevin Hayden and Mayor Michelle Wu were among those present at the meeting.
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“The meeting provided an excellent forum for agencies and stakeholders to identify the issues in the Downtown Crossing and Boston Common area and to share thoughts on addressing those issues,” a spokesman for Hayden told Boston.com.
Neighborhood residents, members of the Downtown Boston Neighborhood Association, and Boston City councilors were also invited, according to Flynn.
Boston Police data shows that crime has gone up in the area over the past several years, Boston.com previously reported. Local business owners have also voiced concerns about safety issues in the neighborhood, which they say are negatively affecting their businesses.
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“I think a big part of what came out of the meeting was acknowledging the significant public safety concerns residents have,” Flynn said. “From that, we also are moving forward with my recommendations that open drug use and drug dealing can no longer be ignored.”
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