"Our administration refuses to turn our backs on New Yorkers in need, and with today's announcement, we're laying out a vision that will help get everyone the support they need. In the name of public safety, public health, and the public interest, we must rally to help those in crisis because 'anything goes' is worse than nothing at all."
U.S. Rep. Ritchie Torres emphasized that without individualized intervention, the city risks merely relocating problems rather than addressing the systemic issues causing open-air drug trafficking.
"As well-intentioned as some of the City's efforts have been, it is wholly appropriate to finally acknowledge that the City of Boston's current plan at Mass & Cass has been an abject failure by any standard."
There is a dangerous myth that drug addiction only has a single victim - the drug addict. Sadly, today's new case and new charges demonstrate there are many victims, including those who never intentionally ingest an opioid.
On the floor of a dimly lit motel room, a frantic woman begged for help as her boyfriend lay unresponsive, surrounded by the chaos of everyday life, including the innocent presence of their toddler daughter, highlighting the tragic impact of addiction.