The ongoing crisis at Mass and Cass, the intersection of Massachusetts Avenue and Melnea Cass Boulevard, has drawn widespread attention following a disturbing incident involving a young boy who was pricked by a discarded needle.
The incident occurred on July 11, when the boy was playing barefoot near Columbia Road and Mercer Street. He subsequently required emergency medical attention and was prescribed a prolonged regimen for HIV prevention, as detailed in a statement from Kraft, who responded to a Boston Herald article on the situation.
Kraft’s statement expressed deep concern over what he described as a public health emergency stemming from the reckless proliferation of discarded needles throughout the city. He urged Mayor Wu to take immediate action to remove the hazardous waste from city streets, parks, and other public spaces.
“This is something that no mother, or any 4-year-old child, should ever have to endure,” Kraft said. “As a result of Mayor Wu’s failures to make progress at Mass and Cass, many people have been harmed, including an innocent child. She promised to fix Mass and Cass, but instead, the problems have spread to other parts of the city.”
In remarks made at an unrelated event earlier in the day, Mayor Wu also condemned the incident involving the young boy. “It’s just not OK,” she said, according to a recording shared by her office. “If you have a young child, there’s enough that’s on your mind.”
Wu reiterated the city’s commitment to ending outdoor congregate substance use and emphasized efforts to ramp up treatment and resources. She asserted that the city is also focused on ensuring enforcement is conducted in the appropriate locations.
“We’re picking these needles up almost immediately,” Wu stated, addressing the public’s concerns about the presence of discarded needles in parks and other areas.
Kraft criticized the city’s needle exchange program, linking it to the overwhelming number of discarded needles. “Mass and Cass is a public health emergency, and the large number of discarded needles are a part of this emergency,” he stated. “The city disperses hundreds of thousands of needles every year, which they are happy to promote. It is also their responsibility to pick up discarded needles promptly to keep Bostonians safe — especially our children.”
In his statement, Kraft called on Mayor Wu to commit to emergency actions for the removal of all discarded needles across Boston.
“As Mayor, I will bring a new and different approach and urgency to this problem,” Kraft pledged.
The boy’s mother has not been accessible for comment; however, she has publicly called for urgent action from city leaders in light of the incident. State Senator Nick Collins, who represents South Boston, expressed his remorse over what he termed a “tragic” event, highlighting the collateral damage caused by the ongoing drug and human trafficking crisis at Mass and Cass.
“My thoughts are with the young victim and their family,” Collins stated, stressing that no one should have to endure such experiences.
In a statement, a spokesperson for the city insisted that efforts are in place to address the issue. The city operates a Mobile Sharps Team that conducts daily sweeps in public spaces to quickly remove any needles reported through the 311 system.
Moreover, the city has entered into a partnership with the Gavin Foundation to enhance transport and direct access to recovery beds for individuals in the Mass and Cass area.
As the situation continues to evolve, many residents remain hopeful for swift action to improve safety in Boston’s public spaces.
image source from：bostonglobe
