It’s a good thing the Boston City Council doesn’t work ER triage.
The Mass and Cass crisis is ongoing, and growing. Earlier this month Mayor Michelle Wu declared conditions around Melnea Cass Boulevard and Massachusetts Avenue had reached “a new level of public safety alarm.”
The Boston City Council heard the alarm, and hit the snooze button.
On the heels of Wu filing an ordinance giving police the authority to clear out homeless encampments at Mass and Cass, urging the council to “take swift and urgent action” to approve it this week, the council swiftly and urgently put it on the back burner in its Wednesday meeting.
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Councilor Ricardo Arroyo, who chairs the government operations committee, said he’s targeting the last week of September or first week of October for a hearing, which typically occurs before the Council votes on a policy matter.
“One of the things that could happen is at the hearing there could be issues about legality that are identified, or ways in which we can strengthen or loosen certain aspects of the ordinance,” Arroyo said. “A hearing is making the case for it or against.”
Doesn’t the nightmare that is Mass and Cass warrant expedition?
The council has presumably seen the coverage of the humanitarian crisis along the Methadone Mile, the garbage, the needles, the crime, the degradation of addiction playing out daily. Some of them have walked through the area.
“I don’t know about anyone in this room, but I’ve seen enough of the tents,” Councilor Michael Flaherty said at the meeting. “I think it’s time to take them down.”
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City Council President Ed Flynn has also seen Mass and Cass up close in a recent visit.
“It was worse than I expected,” Flynn said, pointing out the “squalor” and “rampant drug abuse in public” he saw.
That was early August, on Wednesday Flynn’s take was: “The time for question and debate is at a public hearing.”
In late September or October.
The measure would allow police to take down tents and tarps, provided that individuals are offered shelter and transportation to services, and eliminates the need for police to give a 48-hour heads up before removing tents. Police Commissioner Michael Cox has said that requirement is “not realistic,” given that the tents are being used to support the open-air drug market in the area.
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Late last week, Boston police arrested a woman on drug trafficking charges during an investigation on Atkinson and Bradston Streets. According to the BPD, officers saw a suspect exit a tent, and a search of the tent uncovered crystal meth, fentanyl and crack cocaine.
The tents are not just for sleeping.
“We are creating a new law with new criminal penalties, and so with something like that, I don’t think you rush into it,” Arroyo said.
And the dealers and addicts have at least another month to use the tents as transaction stations, while neighboring residents and businesses suffer from the problems incurred by proximity to the Mile.
A solution to the problem could be on the way – as long as no one’s in a hurry.
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Editorial cartoon by Chip Bok (Creators Syndicate)
SMU Mustangs (9-2, 1-0 ACC) at Boston College Eagles (7-4, 0-1 ACC)
Boston; Saturday, 12 p.m. EST
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BETMGM SPORTSBOOK LINE: Mustangs -7.5; over/under is 147.5
BOTTOM LINE: SMU aims to keep its five-game win streak alive when the Mustangs take on Boston College.
The Eagles have gone 4-2 at home. Boston College scores 70.2 points and has outscored opponents by 1.2 points per game.
The Mustangs have gone 1-0 against ACC opponents. SMU leads the ACC with 16.5 assists. Kevin Miller leads the Mustangs with 5.7.
Boston College scores 70.2 points per game, 1.0 more point than the 69.2 SMU allows. SMU averages 15.7 more points per game (84.7) than Boston College allows to opponents (69.0).
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The Eagles and Mustangs match up Saturday for the first time in ACC play this season.
TOP PERFORMERS: Donald Hand Jr. is averaging 13.5 points and 7.5 rebounds for the Eagles.
Chuck Harris averages 1.9 made 3-pointers per game for the Mustangs, scoring 12.1 points while shooting 45.7% from beyond the arc.
LAST 10 GAMES: Eagles: 6-4, averaging 70.3 points, 33.2 rebounds, 11.8 assists, 4.8 steals and 4.3 blocks per game while shooting 42.7% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 69.9 points per game.
Mustangs: 8-2, averaging 83.6 points, 38.5 rebounds, 16.1 assists, 7.6 steals and 4.2 blocks per game while shooting 46.7% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 69.9 points.
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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
With snow still falling in the Boston area Friday evening, early reports of the snowfall totals show that several inches have fallen in the city.
The winter storm hitting Boston Friday into Saturday was expected to bring up to six inches of snow, and some places have already seen nearly that much, including Needham and Boston’s Beacon Hill neighborhood, according to the National Weather Service.
The agency said that there were reports of 4-5 inches of snow in Dedham and Norwood as well.
[Winter Weather Advisory Update] We continue to see snow totals increase across eastern MA this evening with some reports of 4-5 inches between Dedham and Noorwood. Here is the latest storm total snow forecast update that includes snow that has already fallen this afternoon. pic.twitter.com/XnvdNmVIDy
We want to see your pictures of the snow in Boston! Send them to shareit@nbcboston.com.
For context, five inches of snow is already half the amount that fell in Boston all of last winter.
Here’s how much snow fell by late afternoon Friday, the most recent snowfall totals shared by the National Weather Service. Explore the Boston-area snowfall total map here.
City/town
Snowfall amount(in inches)
Needham, MA
5
Cambridge, MA
4.9
Beacon Hill, MA
4.8
Dedham, MA
4.5
Westwood, MA
4.5
Norwood, MA
4.5
Walpole, MA
4.5
Newton, MA
4.5
Boston, MA (not Logan airport)
4.4
Brighton, MA
4
Norfolk, MA
4
Allston, MA
3.3
Brookline, MA
3.2
Chelsea, MA
3.2
Rehoboth, MA
3.2
Harrisville, RI
3
Blackstone, MA
3
Somerville, MA
3
Millis, MA
2.9
Vernon, CT
2.8
Weston, MA
2.6
Lexington, MA
2.6
Lexington, MA
2.6
Warwick, RI
2.5
Tolland, CT
2.4
Mansfield, MA
2.3
Grafton, MA
2.3
Cumberland, RI
2.3
Chelsea, MA
2.2
Dedham, MA
2.1
Mansfield, MA
2
Richmond, RI
2
Milford, MA
2
West Warwick, RI
2
North Attleborough, MA
2
North Attleboro, MA
2
Franklin, MA
1.9
Holliston, MA
1.9
Westborough, MA
1.9
Sandwich, MA
1.9
Cumberland, RI
1.7
Lexington, MA
1.7
Providence, RI
1.6
Arlington, MA
1.6
Sturbridge, MA
1.6
Auburn, MA
1.5
North Kingstown, RI
1.5
Narragansett, RI
1.5
Cumberland, RI
1.5
Oxford, MA
1.5
Grafton, MA
1.5
North Reading, MA
1.5
Shrewsbury, MA
1.5
Barrington, RI
1.4
Reading, MA
1.1
Coventry, RI
1.1
Charlton, MA
1
South Kingstown, RI
1
Worcester Airport, MA
1
Snow continues to fall as a storm moves through, and with cold temperatures ahead Saturday, look out for icy conditions. Here’s your First Alert forecast.
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To wrap up the year, Eater Boston polled both local journalists and readers of this site to get their thoughts on the past year in dining: the good, the bad, and the most exciting things to come in 2025. The results have been collected in the following series of posts. (Check out the full archive here.)
Below, we ask: What was Boston’s most exciting — or most infuriating — local restaurant trend of 2024?
“Restaurants keep getting louder and louder, which I really don’t understand. Sure, if you go to a bar or nightclub, you expect them to be noisy, but if I’m out with friends, loved ones, co-workers, etc. to catch up on things while having a burger or a plate of pasta and can’t even hear what they say, what’s the point of even going out?”
— Marc Hurwitz, founder of Boston’s Hidden Restaurants and Boston Restaurant Talk, food/travel writer for NBC Boston/NECN
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“A few years ago, I didn’t think Boston was a particularly good bakery town. We had our standouts, but there wasn’t a strong bakery culture. So it’s exciting to me that now bakeries just keep opening and expanding. I was thrilled to see La Saison will open in Charlestown, and to visit the new Sofra in Allston. And I love that so many specialists are arriving on the scene: Flake Bakery with its pastéis de nata. Valientes Bakery, serving Argentine specialties. French-Asian Niveaux Patisserie. Gluten-free Verveine. Bakey with its babka. And so on. I also think it’s really fun that Flour will open in the Boston Common Concession Pavilion. No knock on Earl of Sandwich, the former tenant, but this feels like a much better representation of this city.”
— Devra First, restaurant critic for the Boston Globe
“I was really excited to see local restauranteurs expanding. I’m thinking about Jamie Bissonette’s two new spots and the recently opened Kaia from Brendan Pelley, plus Baleia from The Coda Group I love seeing local chefs and restaurant groups doing so well.”
— Brian Samuels, Boston food photographer
“I’ll answer both. This has been happening for a couple of years, but for me the most infuriating thing is that almost every restaurant now has to have an Instagrammable “wow” moment. Maybe it’s a dish or a drink with an ornate presentation, or an over-the-top area of the restaurant. I totally get that these things drive diners into restaurants because they build excitement online, but I can’t help but think how annoying the showmanship might be for the staff (especially during a busy service) and designers and whoever else. For the most exciting, I really love that restaurants are embracing non-alcoholic drink programs. Especially with so many non-alcoholic beers and spirits, it’s great to see infusions and cool cocktails that aren’t just sodas.”
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— Nathan Tavares, freelance writer and Eater Boston contributor
“Loved: The amount of one-night-only pop-ups, wine or cocktail events, and chef collaboration dinners that restaurants and bars around town hosted this year. It feels special and fun and is a great way to shake things up creatively every once in a while.
Hated: Neon signs in the dining room with souvenir-shop phrases like ‘It’s 5 o’clock somewhere’ or whatever. Is some vendor giving them out for free? I saw them at way too many restaurants this year.”
— Erika Adams, Eater Boston editor
Reader responses
Over 50 people took part in Eater Boston’s dining survey this year (thank you, all!). Below, find readers’ favorite — and least favorite — Boston restaurant trends in 2024:
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“I still don’t like the “forced tipping” that has become the norm from COVID times. While I understand the theory behind it, I hate feeling like a scumbag choosing the 0% when they flip the Square machine (or terminal) around in places that you never tipped at prior to COVID. While COVID may not be dead completely, the closures and overall hardships endured during that time are — so can we stop shaming patrons into tipping please?” — Greg
“More special events — wine dinners, cocktail tastings, etc., etc. Yes, they’re sometimes more expensive, but they flex the skills of great restaurants, and they add some spice to a weeknight or weekend dining experience. I hope they help out restaurants. Love ‘em.” — Todd
“Boston TikTok restaurant influencing. Really cool and niche spots that have been doing good business for years are being flooded with hoards of patrons who are seeking a viral experience, rather than a cool or good one.” — Annie
“Infuriating — every new restaurant seems designed for Instagram pics of the aesthetic, sometimes at the expense of the quality of the food!” — Jesse
“Glad to see QR codes are on the way out, something about flipping through a paper menu or drink list that just adds to the experience.” — Wes
“Needlessly putting sea urchin on things. It’s not sourced ethically and the population has been decimated in Maine.” — Suzanne
“I’m absolutely OVER speakeasies, they’re overplayed. Bring back swanky lounges with good music.” — Nicole
“‘Everyone wants low-ABV spirits and $14 mocktails!’ No, we don’t. Who are you talking to?” — Rob
“Can we please stop putting fake truffle flavor in every single menu?” — Jake
“Love that more restaurants are offering special prix fixe menus!” — Leanne
“Combined coffee/wine bar concepts! What’s not to love?” — Rupal
“Can’t make reservations or have to plan too far ahead.” — Thom
“Everything is run by massive hospitality groups now.” — Liz
“[Love] upscale versions of Portuguese and Vietnamese food.” — Donna
“Tepid bottles of water sitting on the table.” — Marjorie
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