Politics

Boston City Council At-Large Race: Althea Garrison

"That's why they need me on the city council, because the left is really kind of dangerous, almost. I don't support decreasing the police budget."

Althea Garrison Josh Reynolds for The Boston Globe

By Mia McCarthy

3 minutes to read

Althea Garrison is an independent candidate who previously served as an at-large city councilor in 2019, according to her Boston city profile. She also served in the Massachusetts House of Representatives from 1992 to 1995.

Garrison earned an associate;s degree from Newbury Junior College, a B.S. in Business Administration from Suffolk University, and an M.S. in Business Management at Lesley University. She lives in Dorchester.

While Althea Garrison did not respond to our initial survey in September, she did participate in this round for the general election. Here are her responses.

What are your thoughts on Mass and Cass and what solutions would you suggest to the problems that have arisen in the area?

I think they should remove all those people in tents and drugs that’s in that area. It’s horrible, I think. I don’t think it should have been left alone to get like it is today. It should have been addressed … but I’m for cleaning, I’m for removing all those peoples in that area and cleaning it up and place them somewhere else, but not in that area. I have friends that live in that area and they have been miserable for the last three years. What they need is housing for all those homeless, and if they have housing and maybe an administrator that could oversee all the drug addicts in those houses, maybe it would be better for them.

How can housing in Boston be more affordable and inclusive of all communities while mitigating gentrification?

I don’t have a problem with gentrification because if people have the money and they can afford to rent, they should be able to live wherever they want to. The only problem I have with development — maybe they should implement some kind of rent control. Sixteen apartments or more should be under rent control, and that will control the rents. So I’m a big supporter of putting a lot of housing under rent control. Maybe work with the landlords and developers in the government because they get a lot of tax subsidy. I don’t think we can deal our way out of this situation; we’re going to have to implement some kind of rent controls. They’ve been building housing forever, and they still don’t have enough housing for the homeless.

How would you, if at all, adjust the Boston Police Department budget?

I’m not in favor of it. As a matter of fact, I’m in favor of increasing the police department budget. They didn’t support me this year by the way, but I’m a strong supporter of public safety and I think they’re doing an excellent job, the best that they can do, given the circumstance with the left. The left want to destroy them. That’s why they need me on the city council, because the left is really kind of dangerous, almost. I don’t support decreasing the police budget. I support increasing it and I also support a walking beat police force. Use that money to implement city-wide walking beats and hire new police, because my understanding is they’re short of police.

What are your top priorities for Boston Public Schools right now?

The first thing, I think they should maybe have a hybrid school committee. So many appointed and so many elected … but in the meantime, hold them accountable from the schools. I’m not in favor of reducing the scores over at the Latin school either. They’re changing that, but I’m not in favor of that, I’m in favor of quality education. And you don’t get quality education if you’re going to reduce the qualifications to get into the school.

What are two of your top priorities that you would like to address?

The housing situation. I would like to address that and, of course, senior citizens and veterans – I classify them together because they both need a lot of help. Upgrading their programs, making them available for homeless veterans and senior citizens that need help.

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Note: Responses may have been edited for length and clarity.

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