Mayor Michelle Wu says the city is “pausing” tent removals at Mass and Cass as the city awaits a judge’s ruling — but won’t “necessarily” resume them even if the city wins in court.
Wu, speaking to a big crowd of reporters on the morning of her first full day as mayor, said that the city will be “pausing” tent-removal efforts.
Responding to follow-up questions, Wu said the pause is in place as a Suffolk Superior judge weighs the ACLU’s request for a preliminary injunction against the city.
The request is part of a lawsuit that the ACLU filed on behalf of several homeless people who don’t want their tents removed. The group and some other advocates have sought to allow people to continue to live in the dirty and dangerous corner of the South End.
The suit takes aim at then-Acting Mayor Kim Janey’s executive order from last month that, among other initiatives, offers free treatment or shelter beds to the people in tents — and holds out the possibility of criminal charges if people don’t take them and stay in tents.
Wu hasn’t committed either way on whether she’s going to keep the executive order in place. And on Wednesday, asked if removal efforts will continue if the judge allows them to, Wu said, “Not necessarily.”
She reiterated that she has to meet further with her new Mass and Cass officials to work out policy.
The situation at Mass and Cass, or Methadone Mile in the Newmarket area, worsened significantly over the summer as a big tent city sprang up, with hundreds of temporary shelters and several killings.
The number of people in tents has decreased significantly over the past few weeks with the policy in place.
— Developing
Michelle Wu: Boston pausing Mass and Cass tent removal pending lawsuit, and may not resume - Boston Herald
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