The city of Somerville hosted a meeting on Oct. 6 to discuss public safety and homelessness in the Davis Square and Seven Hills area. Residents continued to express concerns and frustrations despite city officials outlining steps they have taken to address the issue.
Mayor Katjana Ballantyne provided an update on the city’s efforts, with representatives from the mayor’s office, the Police Department and Health and Human Services Department responding to frequently asked questions. Residents then had the opportunity to address officials directly.
Ballantyne distinguished criminalizing homelessness — which she called “inhumane” — and maintaining a zero-tolerance policy for crime and violence. She said the city relies on evidence-based, data-tested strategies for addressing homelessness and public safety in order to connect unhoused individuals with housing and essential services.
“Everything we do is designed to help people out of the cycle of homelessness and to serve our full community,” Ballantyne said. “We operate with the core of compassion for all our residents, but not for harmful behavior.”
Ballantyne noted that addressing homelessness has become increasingly difficult amid rising unhoused populations both nationally and in Massachusetts. She added that federal funding cuts have worsened the situation.
The closing of a Cambridge overnight homeless shelter due to a lack of federal funding led to an influx of homeless individuals in Somerville, according to Ballantyne.
A pending lawsuit filed by Somerville residents against the expansion of a federally funded, 10-bed shelter on Chapel Street, run by the Somerville Homelessness Coalition, has further complicated city efforts.
“I note that that’s close to the number we tend to see sleeping overnight in Davis Square lately,” Ballantyne said.
She said the city had expanded efforts in Davis Square, including supporting the nonprofit Somerville Homeless Coalition and deploying community health outreach workers.
Karin Carroll, Somerville health and human services director, described the department’s “housing first” approach, which connects individuals to housing and supportive services, and emphasized its partnership with the Somerville Homelessness Coalition.
James Donovan, deputy chief of police, said that the Somerville Police Department has increased its presence and outreach in Davis Square, including a 100% increase in direct patrols and a 325% increase in park walk-and-talks.
Steve Craig, director of constituent services, noted that Somerville is “the first city in the nation to roll out a dual sharp disposal container” for needles, syringes and sharps.
Nikki Spencer, Ballantyne’s chief of staff, affirmed the city’s policy against sweeps of homeless encampments, calling them harmful and ineffective. “Counterintuitively … [sweeps] can prolong homelessness,” she said.
Donovan reiterated the department’s strict no-tolerance policy for drug dealing but acknowledged that arresting individuals for drug possession is not always effective.
“When we do make arrests for drug possession, it’s been our experience that the courthouse doesn’t have a lot of tolerance,” Donavan said. “Most times, by the time the officer is done with their report, the person is released.”
Many residents claimed they have not seen tangible impacts of the city’s efforts.
“What you’re talking about doing here is not generating the results that you say it is,” one resident said. “I think the tone of this meeting has been completely tone-deaf and self-congratulatory.” His statement was followed by applause.
Several residents raised concerns about a lack of enforcement, saying police officers have told them the mayor “ties their hands” when it comes to enforcing drug possession laws in Davis Square.
“I understand that being homeless is not a crime, but … how many people have been arrested for drug possession in the city?” one resident asked.
Donovan said that the law is being enforced, noting that 14 arrests have been made since June, including two on the evening of the meeting.
“I’ve never been told by any administration — again, 25 years in the police department — not to enforce any criminal laws,” Donavan added.
Ballantyne pushed back on some residents, saying they were sharing opinions rather than facts.
“The opinion and your ideas are your own,” Ballantyne said. “You will have a new mayor, they’re both here, and you can ask them what their new plans are for next year.”
She asked the two mayoral candidates who defeated her in the September preliminary election, Councilors Jake Wilson and Willie Burnley Jr., to comment. Wilson said he preferred not to turn the meeting into a campaign event, while Burnley Jr. briefly mentioned plans to use a new law and the Municipal and Industrial Financing Authority to help address the issue.
