Boston clears 'Methadone Mile,' but residents say disorderly conduct is spreading to other areas

Democratic Boston Mayor Michelle Wu recently issued an ordinance to permanently clean up Massachusetts' "Methadone Mile," a tent city known for rampant illegal drug use and violence.

On November 1, authorities were instructed to clear out the longtime encampment located at the intersection of Massachusetts Avenue and Melnea Cass Boulevard.

In an effort to put an end to the open-air drug market and prevent crime, the mayor's ordinance prohibits camping and the placement of tents and tarps around the intersection.

Homeless individuals residing at Mass and Cass were offered shelter through the city's housing services as well as addiction recovery and medical services. Their belongings were moved into storage facilities managed by the Newmarket Business Association. City officials reported that more than 100 individuals were removed from the area.

Sue Sullivan, the executive director for the Newmarket Business Association, told WCVB, "Sex trafficking, drug dealing, just everything you can imagine going on. I wouldn't wish it on my worst enemy."

Wu said the cleanup effort was "a long time in the planning."

"There were learnings and insights that we had developed over many months of working to place people in low-threshold housing and understand what kinds of supports were necessary to help folks get their stability and move on in recovery and then be able to live on their own and free up those spots for the next person who needed help," the mayor stated.

Some residents and business owners have reported that the disorderly conduct from Mass and Cass has spilled into other areas of the city.

Resident Makeda Payton told WCVB, "I still sometimes come outside with my daughter and find people shooting up on my front stairs or smoking crack, and, of course, the defecating all over the place."

Sullivan advised locals to report any illegal activity to authorities. She noted that the increase in disorderly conduct is a growing pain of permanently fixing the problem.

"Call it in every single time. Make sure that everyone is aware that you're seeing this, because then they will increase the outreach workers or police patrols," Sullivan explained.

Police Commissioner Michael Cox stated that the police department will maintain a "heavy" presence at the intersection to ensure the tent city does not return.

Cox said, "We want to make it clear to the people who come to the city with a different intent, whether it's to sell drugs or criminality, or to victimize the people that are in these areas, we're not going to allow that."

Data released Thursday revealed that Massachusetts' emergency shelter system has reached capacity due to the nation's ongoing migrant crisis, the Boston Herald reported. Unhoused families seeking shelter may be placed on a wait list until additional shelter spaces become available.

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