The Codman Square Neighborhood Council (CSNC) added a short last-minute visit by Police Commissioner Michael Cox and a regiment of police brass, captains and local officers to its meeting agenda on Wed., April 2, to listen to them talk about an effort to get more involved in the neighborhoods and civic groups ahead of the summer.

“We’re here to meet the public and we want your direction to make sure we do things the right way,” Cox told the gathering. “Our community is so safe because we have so many dedicated people like this in the community.”

Police Supt. Nora Baston, who introduced Cox, said that Boston Police will not only be showing up at meetings routinely with community service officers, but also with other specialized units that boost education and awareness.

“We will come back every month,” she said. “We might not be on the agenda or coming 40 deep, but we’ll be here again.”

Also in attendance were C-11 Capt. Steve Sweeney, B-3 Capt. John Flynn, and C-11 Sgt. Shawn Harris and the new Community Impact Team – made up of recent academy graduates who patrol in groups as part of their training.

One question from the audience related to the increased activity of riders on scooters and motorized bikes and how they pose a threat to public safety.

BPD Supt. Pam Harris said the police are particularly attuned to the scooter issues, but it is a tough one because their protocol is not to chase them. She also noted that there are two kinds of scooter operators – those who are simply “rebels” and those who use them to get around for their jobs.

“Once you start chasing riders to enforce [the law], it brings a whole lot of danger to safety because they are not safe,” she said. “What people can do is tell us where [violators] store their vehicles. We do recognize that it’s a huge and uniquely difficult issue for us.”

Codman Square Park update

The long-awaited Codman Square Park renovation project is fully underway, and crews are working every day at the scene, which is fenced off and closed to the public. One problem that surfaced recently is that two large gas mains and other utilities buried under the location, which at one time was a street, need repairs.

The park is set to open in July, although fences will remain around the lawn areas until next year to allow for proper growth.

The artist Destiny Palmer shared that the ‘I Am Codman Square’ public art piece that will be placed at the entrance to the park facing Washington Street is being made now in Rhode Island.

From the State House

State Rep. Russell Holmes reported that there is great alarm on Beacon Hill with the new federal administration and its cuts to state funds. Despite that, he said, there is no appetite at the moment to use the Rainy Day Fund.

“While many are alarmed, it’s not raining,” he said.

Holmes noted that losses for Boston haven’t been that bad, as the city and schools have spent most of their pandemic assistance money – though other cities and towns did not and that resulted in the federal government clawing back $106 million that hadn’t yet been spent. Boston received about $256 million and might have left about $2 million on the table.

He said the canary in the coal mine will be Medicaid, a health program that accounts for $21 billion of the state’s $62 billion budget – or $1 out of every $3 spent.

“There’s a lot we’ll be able to absorb in terms of cuts,” he said, “but that’s not a problem we’ll be able to absorb. If you see something happening to Medicaid, then you should be quite concerned.”
Police Matters

On March 22 around 2 o’clock in the morning, a fight involving large numbers took place outside the Unity Sports Club on Dunbar Avenue. Officers stopped the fighting and arrested three individuals. Due to the frequent functions that take place there, and issues at closing time, police have a dedicated patrol stationed at the club. Officers have told club-goers that if they are in or around the club and see something “about to go down,” they should 9-1-1 right away.