Boston, MA
The tents are gone, but the crowds and drug use are back at Boston’s Mass and Cass
The warmer weather has drawn the crowds back to the city’s open-air drug market at Mass and Cass, which one city councilor says is alarming the community despite the mayor’s insistence that the area is much safer since last year’s tent crackdown.
City Councilor Ed Flynn said roughly 70–80 people have been gathering and openly using and selling drugs at Massachusetts Avenue and Melnea Cass Boulevard on a daily basis for at least the past month.
Flynn said he visited the area on Thursday and observed an “organized system of drug dealers on Melnea Cass” in Roxbury. He described the situation as a danger to people in the area, saying that he went on to speak with residents in South Boston, which is part of his district, who are “very concerned about the significant escalation of drug dealing and drug use in the neighborhoods.”
“I talked to several Boston police officials today and expressed my concern about the area and requested enhanced police presence in the impacted neighborhoods and to arrest drug dealers,” Flynn told the Herald Thursday. “It’s a significant issue impacting the quality of life of residents.”
The criminal activity has also spilled over into other areas, Flynn said, with more people gathering throughout neighborhoods in Roxbury and the South End, Andrew Square in South Boston, and at the South Bay mall in Dorchester.
The South Bay mall drew attention last summer for juvenile mobs committing violent crime, leading then-Councilor Frank Baker to partly blame the example set for youth by the Mass and Cass inhabitants who go through the stores there to “rob the place blind and shoot up drugs in the sidewalks,” when the matter came before the City Council for discussion last September.
Flynn said that not only are businesses at the South Bay mall concerned about the crowds returning at and around Mass and Cass, but those located in the Newmarket business district are as well.
He said people are drawn to the Mass and Cass area because public drug use and dealing has long been “tolerated” there by the city, but emphasized that should not be the case, and is calling for city officials to “revisit and redouble our efforts” that began with last fall’s crackdown on tent encampments and crime.
“I don’t believe we should allow people to use drugs openly on the streets of Boston,” Flynn said. “I believe it’s a public health crisis.”
Mayor Michelle Wu implemented a three-pronged plan to address crime and homelessness in the area last fall, following City Council approval of an anti-encampment ordinance that empowered police to remove the tents that officials said were shielding crime, sex trafficking and weapons.
On a Wednesday appearance on a “Java with Jimmy” podcast, Wu was asked about the uptick in gathering that’s been occurring at Mass and Cass, and how the city planned to address it.
The mayor spoke to the importance of the ordinance, saying that not having the tents there permanently has put the city in a “different and better, safer position than we were a year ago this time.” Last summer, more than 200 people a day were flocking to the area.
The Herald requested an interview with the mayor on Thursday afternoon, but her office declined to make Wu available nor provide a statement, saying in a Friday evening email that it deferred to her comments on “Java with Jimmy.”
Wu’s office did provide statistics shedding more light on her remarks around enhanced safety in the Mass and Cass zone.
The year-over-year data compared Jan. 1 to April 8 of 2023 to the same time period in 2024, showing that robberies were down 40%, aggravated assault was down 14%, residential burglary was down 78%, motor vehicle theft was down 38%, total crime was down 22%, and violent crimes overall were “significantly down.”
What remains to be seen, however, is data capturing the warmer months that have already resulted in larger crowds in the area.
On her podcast appearance, Wu spoke to the city’s efforts to connect longtime inhabitants of Mass and Cass with shelter, housing, drug treatment and services.
She also mentioned the city’s long-term goal of rebuilding a bridge out to a future addiction-recovery campus on Long Island, which has faced staunch opposition from the mayor on the other side of that bridge, Quincy’s Thomas Koch.
While the mayor says the situation at Mass and Cass has improved, she said this year has brought new challenges, particularly the influx of migrants straining the city’s adult shelter system.
City Councilor Henry Santana, who chairs the body’s Public Safety and Criminal Justice committee, said the new challenges there will require new solutions.
“This has always been an issue of intersecting and evolving crises — housing, opioid addiction and mental health — and now, the increasing influx of migrants,” Santana said in a Thursday statement.
“Many of the issues of a year ago have improved with actions taken by the city,” he said, “and the people and some of the issues that we’re seeing today are different, and require new solutions in partnership with the state, particularly to address the strains on the state shelter system and resources for mental health.”
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
— NWS Boston (@NWSBoston) December 20, 2024
PHOTOS: Snow blankets Boston area
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
“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.”
— 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:
- “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
- “Infuriating — covid-era patios going away.” — Juliana
- “Exciting to see orange wine by the glass.” — Emily
Boston, MA
Sticker shock: Boston drops $500K on EV Mustangs for city employees as homeowners face 10.5% tax hike
Boston homeowners bracing for a 10.5% tax increase may be shocked to learn some of their hard-earned tax dollars were spent this year on swanky new Ford Mustang Mach-E’s for city employees — at about $50K a pop.
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