WEBVTT 1 00:00:00.520 --> 00:00:06.200 It's Night Side with Dan Ray. I'm WBS Costin's video. 2 00:00:06.679 --> 00:00:09.279 All right, welcome back everybody, our number two. Thanks to 3 00:00:09.320 --> 00:00:11.720 all my guests during the last hour. They were all 4 00:00:11.839 --> 00:00:15.359 very interesting on different subjects. So I hope you enjoyed 5 00:00:15.400 --> 00:00:17.079 the hour as much as I did. I learned a 6 00:00:17.079 --> 00:00:19.000 lot last last hour. I tend to learn a lot 7 00:00:19.039 --> 00:00:20.600 in the eight o'clock hours. I learned a lot in 8 00:00:20.640 --> 00:00:25.079 all the hours. We are about to talk about Brockton. 9 00:00:25.879 --> 00:00:30.079 Brockton is the seventh largest city in Massachusetts, has over 10 00:00:30.160 --> 00:00:34.520 one hundred thousand people, and they have a problem with 11 00:00:34.719 --> 00:00:38.000 homeless encampments. And there's a story both in the Globe 12 00:00:38.000 --> 00:00:41.240 and the Herald today that the Boston that the Brockton 13 00:00:41.320 --> 00:00:45.520 City Council has voted to ban homeless encampments. We are 14 00:00:45.520 --> 00:00:49.399 delighted to be joined tonight by a member of the 15 00:00:49.439 --> 00:00:55.079 Brockton City Council. Council is Shirley Asak, Council Asak. Welcome 16 00:00:55.079 --> 00:00:57.200 to Nightside. Thanks for joining us tonight. How are you. 17 00:00:58.359 --> 00:01:01.079 I'm good. Thank you for having me on, Dan, I 18 00:01:01.119 --> 00:01:02.119 really appreciate it. 19 00:01:02.759 --> 00:01:04.599 Well, thanks for coming on now. I know that this 20 00:01:04.760 --> 00:01:09.319 is not a fun story for anyone, and I know, 21 00:01:09.680 --> 00:01:13.719 having spoken with you earlier tonight briefly that that you're 22 00:01:13.719 --> 00:01:19.359 a very sympathetic person. But there's a problem in your 23 00:01:19.400 --> 00:01:22.439 city right now. Uh, and it's got to the point 24 00:01:22.439 --> 00:01:25.959 where the city council has decided they needed to do something. 25 00:01:26.519 --> 00:01:29.680 Let's first of all, explain the problem to me. I 26 00:01:29.680 --> 00:01:33.439 mean Brockden like any older New England city, like New Bedford, 27 00:01:33.519 --> 00:01:38.680 like Fall River, Lawrence, New you know, Roll, Worcester, Springfield. 28 00:01:39.040 --> 00:01:42.599 You know, they're a magnet. They attract a lot of 29 00:01:42.640 --> 00:01:47.400 people and they support a lot of people. But there's 30 00:01:47.480 --> 00:01:51.599 homelessness in most cities in Massachusetts and it got has 31 00:01:51.599 --> 00:01:54.359 got to a point in Brocklyn, brock in Brocken where 32 00:01:54.439 --> 00:01:58.920 the problem is a sufficient dimension that I guess you 33 00:01:59.040 --> 00:02:01.400 folks on the count also felt something had to be done. 34 00:02:01.400 --> 00:02:03.680 Tell us why, and tell us what you've decided to do. 35 00:02:04.959 --> 00:02:10.280 Sure, so, as you stated, it's become a huge problem. 36 00:02:10.319 --> 00:02:13.800 This is it's nothing new. It's been going on for 37 00:02:13.879 --> 00:02:16.199 a number of years. I'm going into my twelve year 38 00:02:16.240 --> 00:02:21.240 on the council and we've been trying to work with 39 00:02:21.439 --> 00:02:22.960 something to get find. 40 00:02:22.680 --> 00:02:24.520 A solution for many years. 41 00:02:24.719 --> 00:02:27.879 So this isn't something new. It's nothing that's popped up overnight. 42 00:02:29.759 --> 00:02:35.199 So this ordinance was proposed because it's it's gotten a 43 00:02:35.199 --> 00:02:38.560 bit out of hand. This is beyond just an unhoused 44 00:02:38.639 --> 00:02:44.319 population issue. It's become a public safety matter and a 45 00:02:44.360 --> 00:02:47.960 lot of these encampments, which there was. This ordinance had 46 00:02:47.960 --> 00:02:51.639 two parts. The first part was the encampment that we're 47 00:02:51.680 --> 00:02:56.120 trying to address. And we have encampments that are just 48 00:02:56.439 --> 00:03:02.560 popping up everywhere on public you know, public uh areas, 49 00:03:02.680 --> 00:03:07.919 and our police have been enforcing this all along. They 50 00:03:08.080 --> 00:03:11.680 you know, our police are Parks Department dp W. They 51 00:03:11.719 --> 00:03:14.680 will go in, we'll ask you know, they'll they'll move 52 00:03:14.840 --> 00:03:19.199 the people who have been camped. They'll tell them, you know, 53 00:03:19.319 --> 00:03:21.680 to to leave the area. But it just seems to 54 00:03:21.680 --> 00:03:24.639 go from one place to the next. So what we 55 00:03:24.680 --> 00:03:29.680 needed to do is really strengthen our ordnance and you know, 56 00:03:29.719 --> 00:03:31.960 give it a little more teeth. And that's when this 57 00:03:32.400 --> 00:03:38.479 was proposed, with this ordnance, uh you know, to band 58 00:03:38.680 --> 00:03:43.560 encampments in the city. So, yes, it is controversial. It's 59 00:03:43.560 --> 00:03:49.639 a very uh difficult situation to be in because you know, 60 00:03:49.680 --> 00:03:53.520 we're all homemost This is a is a very serious matter. 61 00:03:53.639 --> 00:03:55.479 It could be any one of us at any point. 62 00:03:55.520 --> 00:03:58.800 It involves a lot of different you know, whether it's 63 00:03:59.280 --> 00:04:04.199 mental health, both the drug alcohol abuse, or it could 64 00:04:04.240 --> 00:04:07.159 be loss of a job, family. It's really it's a 65 00:04:07.319 --> 00:04:08.759 very touch you know. 66 00:04:08.919 --> 00:04:11.680 So let me let me ask you this. How large 67 00:04:11.680 --> 00:04:14.560 a homeless population are you dealing with? I mean, obviously 68 00:04:14.560 --> 00:04:17.199 it's tough to quantify, but how many people on a 69 00:04:17.240 --> 00:04:22.000 regular basis are living outdoors in whatever form of fashion 70 00:04:22.160 --> 00:04:24.319 in Brockden? What are we talking about? One hundred people 71 00:04:24.319 --> 00:04:25.839 to what's the number? 72 00:04:26.800 --> 00:04:30.000 So there's as far as house population that are using 73 00:04:30.040 --> 00:04:33.600 our services, using you know, the shelter, the agencies, the 74 00:04:33.680 --> 00:04:39.639 Broughton serve hundreds of homeless individuals. But the individuals that 75 00:04:39.680 --> 00:04:43.240 are not going to using these resources, that choose to 76 00:04:44.680 --> 00:04:47.519 you know, build these encampments. We're talking about fifty to 77 00:04:47.639 --> 00:04:51.680 sixty people. That's what that number came from our how 78 00:04:51.759 --> 00:04:53.160 the Human Service. 79 00:04:53.160 --> 00:04:58.720 Okay, so there are places in Brockton for these folks 80 00:04:59.199 --> 00:05:04.079 to to go into. You have homeless shelters, correct. 81 00:05:04.480 --> 00:05:05.079 Yes, we do. 82 00:05:05.079 --> 00:05:08.120 We have a homeless shelter that's been a place for 83 00:05:08.160 --> 00:05:12.639 many years, Father Bills. We also have you know, different 84 00:05:12.639 --> 00:05:18.000 agencies that help. We also have our Human our director 85 00:05:18.040 --> 00:05:22.800 of Human Services who's out in the streets getting you know, 86 00:05:23.199 --> 00:05:27.639 talking to people and trying to help them find find 87 00:05:27.680 --> 00:05:30.720 resources that will help get them off the streets. So 88 00:05:30.279 --> 00:05:32.279 the problem. 89 00:05:31.879 --> 00:05:35.000 Is the problem, it seems to me, is you have 90 00:05:35.079 --> 00:05:39.560 a relatively small group. Are these folks who just don't 91 00:05:39.600 --> 00:05:43.240 want to spend time inside a shelter at night? Are 92 00:05:43.279 --> 00:05:46.399 they prepared to stay out even in the when winter 93 00:05:46.560 --> 00:05:49.040 finally arrives, and it will finally arrive, I mean, are 94 00:05:49.079 --> 00:05:52.079 you in effect you're trying to help these people, is 95 00:05:52.120 --> 00:05:53.920 what you're trying to do to keep them out of 96 00:05:53.920 --> 00:05:57.079 the cold. Why do they not want to go into shelters? 97 00:05:57.240 --> 00:06:00.519 Is there a commonality here? Why they would? If I 98 00:06:00.639 --> 00:06:03.399 was homeless and there was a shelter, I would go 99 00:06:03.480 --> 00:06:05.879 to the shelter. I would think most people would. 100 00:06:06.680 --> 00:06:10.160 Correct and I would be in this you know, I 101 00:06:10.199 --> 00:06:14.399 would do the same, go into a shelter, take you know, 102 00:06:14.439 --> 00:06:17.720 whatever help I could get to. But the people that 103 00:06:17.759 --> 00:06:20.959 are choosing not to go to the shelter, the shelter 104 00:06:21.040 --> 00:06:24.759 has rules that they need to follow otherwise they cannot 105 00:06:24.800 --> 00:06:28.000 stay in the shelter rules. Is time you know that 106 00:06:28.079 --> 00:06:31.639 you can access go into the shelter, you need to 107 00:06:31.680 --> 00:06:35.319 go in early. I don't know the exact time that 108 00:06:35.360 --> 00:06:38.920 you need to get into the shelter. You also cannot 109 00:06:39.000 --> 00:06:42.439 do a drugs, alcohol, or any kind of lude behavior 110 00:06:42.560 --> 00:06:45.519 otherwise you will be asked to leave. So a lot 111 00:06:45.560 --> 00:06:52.079 of times from my understanding and hearing from people in 112 00:06:52.120 --> 00:06:55.959 our community that deal directly with people who have been 113 00:06:56.040 --> 00:06:59.600 in these encampments, is that they don't want to They 114 00:06:59.600 --> 00:07:02.240 don't want going to the shelter for those reasons. 115 00:07:02.759 --> 00:07:05.199 Yeah, I mean, they they want to live a life 116 00:07:05.199 --> 00:07:10.920 of absolute independence. And again, clearly there are you know, 117 00:07:11.199 --> 00:07:15.480 there are issues, substance abuse issues that are involved here. 118 00:07:15.560 --> 00:07:19.040 And I know that there have been some some incidents 119 00:07:19.040 --> 00:07:22.160 of you know, people they need to relieve themselves if 120 00:07:22.199 --> 00:07:25.600 they're not indoors, and they relieve themselves where they find 121 00:07:25.680 --> 00:07:28.199 it to be convenient. And obviously the character of the 122 00:07:28.279 --> 00:07:30.639 city has it been it's been a big problem I 123 00:07:30.680 --> 00:07:33.360 assume for for you downtown area is this where most 124 00:07:33.360 --> 00:07:35.800 of the folks have gathered in the downtown. 125 00:07:38.240 --> 00:07:41.560 It has it's become a huge problem for downtown. But 126 00:07:41.639 --> 00:07:44.680 it's last night. At last night's meeting, it was really 127 00:07:44.720 --> 00:07:50.000 focused towards downtown. But it's happening and all over the city. 128 00:07:50.120 --> 00:07:56.439 I represent the area that's towards Westgate Mall DW Fields 129 00:07:56.480 --> 00:07:59.439 Park and I've been dealing with it for years now 130 00:07:59.519 --> 00:08:02.680 with ampments in d W Fields Park where you know, 131 00:08:03.319 --> 00:08:07.000 kids and families can't don't feel safe to go walking 132 00:08:07.160 --> 00:08:12.120 riding their bike, you know, because there's these encampments and 133 00:08:12.240 --> 00:08:13.680 we don't know what he's doing. 134 00:08:13.959 --> 00:08:16.319 Right, it's a huge quality of life issue. It's a 135 00:08:16.399 --> 00:08:20.639 quality of life issue. And is there have you folks 136 00:08:20.680 --> 00:08:25.399 found evidence of uh intravenous drug use meaning needles and 137 00:08:25.519 --> 00:08:27.759 parks and things like that, which is not uncommon. 138 00:08:28.839 --> 00:08:31.519 So we have, you know, we have, we have. This 139 00:08:31.639 --> 00:08:35.320 city is amazing. Broxton is an amazing city with a 140 00:08:35.399 --> 00:08:40.159 huge heart and the residents. We have residents that volunteer 141 00:08:40.240 --> 00:08:44.000 their time to clean up our streets, our parks, you know, 142 00:08:44.080 --> 00:08:49.720 volunteer to whether pack or deliver food to different shelters. 143 00:08:50.240 --> 00:08:54.000 So they volunteer and they we have a clean up 144 00:08:54.080 --> 00:08:57.039 day every year keep brox And beautiful. And the biggest 145 00:08:57.039 --> 00:09:00.440 part of what's being picked up is our needles and 146 00:09:00.799 --> 00:09:04.840 obviously all kinds of things that you don't want your 147 00:09:04.919 --> 00:09:08.000 kids picking up. So we do have a program that 148 00:09:08.759 --> 00:09:12.879 you know, the what the ambulanced company can we'll go 149 00:09:13.080 --> 00:09:16.120 and or even I there's boxes where they can deposit 150 00:09:16.200 --> 00:09:18.519 these needles, but we don't want people picking up needles. 151 00:09:18.559 --> 00:09:22.480 But our GPW does our police fire, they go out, 152 00:09:23.279 --> 00:09:26.399 you know, when something happens to somebody that's I'm housed, 153 00:09:26.440 --> 00:09:30.279 our resources, you know, they call O. The police goes out, 154 00:09:30.360 --> 00:09:35.519 fire go out, and it's it's draining, it's draining our resources. 155 00:09:35.600 --> 00:09:39.639 So but yes, as far as drug paraphernalia, human waste, 156 00:09:40.000 --> 00:09:42.600 I mean in front of our churches. My church is 157 00:09:42.639 --> 00:09:45.240 on downtown North Main Street. We have a new priest. 158 00:09:45.519 --> 00:09:48.279 I mean he he wasn't used to it and he 159 00:09:48.440 --> 00:09:51.360 was appalled these I mean they're spending a huge amount 160 00:09:51.360 --> 00:09:55.919 of money to fencing the entrance because they're cleaning up 161 00:09:56.120 --> 00:10:01.120 human waste, vomit, you know, drug paraphernalia, things that I 162 00:10:01.279 --> 00:10:02.960 just don't want to repeat. 163 00:10:02.960 --> 00:10:06.159 But well, you look, the council had to draw a line. 164 00:10:06.200 --> 00:10:08.799 My understanding is now up to the mayor to sign 165 00:10:09.120 --> 00:10:13.279 this ordinance. He has up until ten days and he 166 00:10:13.320 --> 00:10:17.639 doesn't sign it, it goes into law. I think you 167 00:10:17.679 --> 00:10:19.879 told me earlier that if he chooses to veto it, 168 00:10:19.919 --> 00:10:22.559 there'll be an effort to override the veto. I think 169 00:10:22.559 --> 00:10:24.759 you're doing the right thing, Counselor, and I'm going to 170 00:10:26.399 --> 00:10:28.399 thank you for the time tonight, and I'm going to 171 00:10:28.440 --> 00:10:32.000 ask people to join us, join me and talk about 172 00:10:32.679 --> 00:10:35.679 what you're doing here. I think it has to be done. 173 00:10:35.919 --> 00:10:40.360 I think we have long passed the time of focusing 174 00:10:40.399 --> 00:10:45.759 more on our compassion for these folks who have somehow 175 00:10:46.159 --> 00:10:48.759 lost their way. We have to help them, but they 176 00:10:48.759 --> 00:10:51.240 have to be willing to accept some help, and they 177 00:10:51.279 --> 00:10:53.600 can't do what they've been doing in Brockton and in 178 00:10:53.639 --> 00:10:56.200 other cities. And I think that as a result of 179 00:10:56.240 --> 00:11:00.399 that Supreme Court decision of earlier this summer, so called 180 00:11:00.440 --> 00:11:04.559 Grant's Past decision, you now have the right to do 181 00:11:04.639 --> 00:11:07.279 what you've done legally, and I hope that your lawyers 182 00:11:07.840 --> 00:11:09.960 will support you if there's any sort of a challenge 183 00:11:09.960 --> 00:11:12.120 to it. But thank you for doing this, and thanks 184 00:11:12.200 --> 00:11:16.480 for taking the time tonight and keep us posted here. 185 00:11:16.440 --> 00:11:18.559 I'd love to know exactly how this works out. I 186 00:11:18.600 --> 00:11:20.759 hope the mayor signs it or it allows to become 187 00:11:20.799 --> 00:11:24.759 law without his signature, and I hope that for everyone's sake, kids, 188 00:11:24.960 --> 00:11:28.039 community members and the homeless, that this improves the situation 189 00:11:28.159 --> 00:11:29.279 in Brockton going forward. 190 00:11:29.559 --> 00:11:33.039 Thank you so much, definitely, thank you, no, thank you. 191 00:11:33.240 --> 00:11:37.639 I couldn't have said it better exactly, and that I hope, 192 00:11:37.799 --> 00:11:40.360 I hope it goes. You know that there isn't any 193 00:11:40.480 --> 00:11:42.919 kind of further opposition with us. 194 00:11:43.039 --> 00:11:45.799 So well, well we're going to talk about it. We'll 195 00:11:45.840 --> 00:11:49.200 see what people have to say. Doctor Rother, doc doctor 196 00:11:49.240 --> 00:11:53.279 almost promoted you city councilor, Shirley Asak, thank you so 197 00:11:53.360 --> 00:11:55.080 much for your time tonight. I appreciate it. 198 00:11:55.919 --> 00:11:57.440 Thank you, You're welcome. 199 00:11:57.600 --> 00:11:59.279 Okay, we get back. I want to hear from you 200 00:12:00.320 --> 00:12:02.960 if you live in Brockton, love to hear what you 201 00:12:03.000 --> 00:12:07.679 think about this. I think it's long overdue. We've heard 202 00:12:07.720 --> 00:12:10.559 stories about Look, any major city, it's just not Brockton, 203 00:12:10.600 --> 00:12:15.039 it's any major city becomes a magnet for people who 204 00:12:15.320 --> 00:12:19.000 are adrift. However you want to go on, whether it's 205 00:12:19.000 --> 00:12:21.159 a drift because of alcohol, whether it's because of drugs, 206 00:12:21.240 --> 00:12:24.240 whether it's because of you know, circumstances over which they 207 00:12:24.240 --> 00:12:28.000 had no control, mental illness, et cetera. Everyone is sympathetic. 208 00:12:28.360 --> 00:12:33.039 Everyone is sympathetic, but we cannot allow people to destroy communities. 209 00:12:33.679 --> 00:12:37.279 We cannot allow them to engage and behavior the same 210 00:12:37.320 --> 00:12:40.840 sort of behavior that animals in the woods would engage in. 211 00:12:41.080 --> 00:12:43.080 The animals in the woods at least are not shooting 212 00:12:43.120 --> 00:12:46.639 drugs six one, seven, two, five, four, ten thirty six 213 00:12:46.759 --> 00:12:49.320 one seven, nine three one ten thirty. The US Supreme 214 00:12:49.360 --> 00:12:55.120 Court last session, it was late last June, they issued 215 00:12:55.159 --> 00:12:59.440 a decision was called City of Grant's pass Oregone versus Johnson, 216 00:13:00.240 --> 00:13:03.840 and it basically said that penalizing people for this sort 217 00:13:03.879 --> 00:13:10.360 of behavior is not a cruel unusual punishment. This Court 218 00:13:10.399 --> 00:13:17.080 decision allowed cities and communities to nationwide to find, ticket 219 00:13:17.120 --> 00:13:19.919 or arrest people living unsheltered even when there is no 220 00:13:19.960 --> 00:13:25.720 adequate shelter. Now there is adequate shelter. Ironically, in Brockton, 221 00:13:26.120 --> 00:13:29.879 there was a prior decision that had come down I 222 00:13:29.919 --> 00:13:32.320 believe it was from the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals 223 00:13:32.679 --> 00:13:37.039 that found that this was cruel and unusual punishment, and 224 00:13:37.120 --> 00:13:39.559 the Supreme Court had to overrule the Ninth Circuit and 225 00:13:39.600 --> 00:13:42.200 basically said that it is not cruel and unusual punishment 226 00:13:43.000 --> 00:13:47.240 under the Eighth Amendment when a city enforces criminal punishments 227 00:13:47.279 --> 00:13:50.639 against people who are homeless for camping outside in the city. 228 00:13:50.759 --> 00:13:54.600 So that's the issue. It was an Oregon case which 229 00:13:54.600 --> 00:13:57.039 allows Brockton to go ahead and do this. It should 230 00:13:57.039 --> 00:14:01.559 be done in more cities. Again, our compassion reaches a point, 231 00:14:01.799 --> 00:14:04.600 and my point has been reached a long time ago. 232 00:14:04.679 --> 00:14:06.960 I'd love to know if your point is reached. If 233 00:14:07.000 --> 00:14:10.679 you disagree with this, and you think that people, human 234 00:14:10.720 --> 00:14:13.799 beings should be allowed to live outdoors here in all 235 00:14:13.879 --> 00:14:17.559 year round, uh and do what human beings sometimes have 236 00:14:17.639 --> 00:14:20.120 to do in the privacy of their own home now 237 00:14:20.559 --> 00:14:23.960 in or shoot drugs and leave needles kicking around. If 238 00:14:23.960 --> 00:14:26.840 that's the sort of city you want to live in, Well, 239 00:14:26.879 --> 00:14:29.679 Massachusetts is in bigger trouble than even I think it's 240 00:14:29.720 --> 00:14:33.120 in six seven, five, four ten thirty one line open 241 00:14:33.159 --> 00:14:35.639 at six one seven nine three one ten thirty. Let's 242 00:14:35.679 --> 00:14:38.799 talk about it right after this break on Nightside. 243 00:14:40.080 --> 00:14:43.080 Now back to Dan ray Line from the Window World 244 00:14:43.200 --> 00:14:46.320 night Side Studios on WBZ News Radio. 245 00:14:46.840 --> 00:14:49.360 Kay, want to see what people have to say about this. 246 00:14:49.840 --> 00:14:52.720 It'll be interesting. Again, this isn't just a Brockton problem. 247 00:14:52.759 --> 00:14:58.200 It's a problem of most American cities, and frankly it 248 00:14:58.279 --> 00:15:00.879 has to be addressed. It is I think it is 249 00:15:00.960 --> 00:15:04.600 cruel and unusual to leave these individuals, to leave these 250 00:15:04.639 --> 00:15:07.919 people to fend for themselves, some of whom are addicted 251 00:15:08.360 --> 00:15:15.080 to alcoholic drugs, some of whom have serious mental incapacities. 252 00:15:15.600 --> 00:15:17.639 I think we have an obligation to take care of 253 00:15:17.679 --> 00:15:20.080 them and not to just turn a blind out, blind 254 00:15:20.120 --> 00:15:22.240 eye and allow them to live in a set of 255 00:15:22.279 --> 00:15:27.080 circumstances which will ultimately end in an untimely death. Maureene 256 00:15:27.279 --> 00:15:30.120 is in Brockton. Maureene, I would love to know what 257 00:15:30.240 --> 00:15:33.440 you happen to think of this situation in your hometown 258 00:15:33.559 --> 00:15:36.240 of Brockton, Massachusetts. And Rob, why don't you bring Marene 259 00:15:36.320 --> 00:15:38.200 up for me? There we go, Hey, Maureene, welcome, how 260 00:15:38.200 --> 00:15:38.440 are you? 261 00:15:39.559 --> 00:15:39.639 Hi? 262 00:15:39.840 --> 00:15:40.080 Great? 263 00:15:40.120 --> 00:15:42.519 Thank you, and I hope you are well too. I 264 00:15:42.559 --> 00:15:46.320 really appreciate I really appreciate you and the counsel of 265 00:15:46.360 --> 00:15:49.440 being able to take some time and actually, you know 266 00:15:49.519 --> 00:15:52.279 a little bit of a spotlight when I was on 267 00:15:52.399 --> 00:15:54.799 hold the last well not the last time I spoke 268 00:15:54.840 --> 00:15:58.320 with you, but there was an incident about a year 269 00:15:58.399 --> 00:16:01.919 or so ago, and it were regarding a Broughton teacher 270 00:16:02.159 --> 00:16:05.320 who was doing his own thing and got attacked. And 271 00:16:06.159 --> 00:16:09.720 you hear Brockton is this and that it just it 272 00:16:09.759 --> 00:16:12.279 was nice to hear the counselor, and I feel the 273 00:16:12.279 --> 00:16:14.080 same way about being proud to live here. 274 00:16:15.360 --> 00:16:19.879 Yeah, it's a beautiful city. It's conveniently located. I mean, 275 00:16:19.919 --> 00:16:23.639 you're on Route twenty four, Route twenty seven, all of that. 276 00:16:23.720 --> 00:16:28.360 But again, if the leaders of the city don't step 277 00:16:28.480 --> 00:16:32.039 up and say, look, this cannot it's just going to 278 00:16:32.159 --> 00:16:34.759 expand it's not going to get better on its own. 279 00:16:34.799 --> 00:16:37.360 Something has to be done. That's that's I think where 280 00:16:37.360 --> 00:16:39.879 I'm coming from. And I command a counselor and the 281 00:16:39.919 --> 00:16:42.960 other the other six members who passed this ordinance. I 282 00:16:42.960 --> 00:16:45.200 hope the mayor does the right thing and sign it. 283 00:16:45.440 --> 00:16:49.320 We tried to get Mayor Robert Sullivan to come on 284 00:16:49.519 --> 00:16:54.919 the program, but I think he told my producer Marita 285 00:16:55.639 --> 00:16:58.440 that he hasn't decided what he wants to do yet 286 00:16:58.600 --> 00:17:01.960 and he decides. I hope he'll come on and tell 287 00:17:02.039 --> 00:17:03.080 us what his decision is. 288 00:17:04.079 --> 00:17:06.559 I hope so, because I mean, you said, and I 289 00:17:06.759 --> 00:17:09.759 mentioned this to Marita this afternoon. He told me many 290 00:17:09.799 --> 00:17:13.519 times that elections have consequences, and I never got an 291 00:17:13.519 --> 00:17:15.960 answer back when I reached out to the mayor, and 292 00:17:16.720 --> 00:17:20.319 I'd be very disappointed, but again, I will make sure 293 00:17:20.440 --> 00:17:22.799 that he or his office will know that I'm not 294 00:17:23.279 --> 00:17:27.039 a happy resident of Broughton, but I'm so glad that 295 00:17:27.079 --> 00:17:30.599 this is being brought to light. And you're right, I mean, 296 00:17:30.599 --> 00:17:33.880 it's you know, it's going to happen. It's not. It's 297 00:17:33.960 --> 00:17:37.960 under one hundred people, you know approximately. But again, I 298 00:17:37.960 --> 00:17:40.680 mean that can spread like wildfire, you know, as. 299 00:17:40.519 --> 00:17:42.759 We say so it can spread. It It also can 300 00:17:42.839 --> 00:17:45.559 be revolving cast of characters. And I got to tell you, 301 00:17:45.599 --> 00:17:49.160 when the word spreads within the homeless or the addicted, 302 00:17:49.559 --> 00:17:55.759 or the community that is impacted here, others will others 303 00:17:55.759 --> 00:17:58.160 will join them. I mean they will go to the 304 00:17:58.200 --> 00:18:02.799 place where they are most welcomed. And in this situation, 305 00:18:03.039 --> 00:18:08.440 sadly ignoring the problem, they interpret it as being welcomed. 306 00:18:08.839 --> 00:18:12.119 And it's it's just when the problem is ignored. Thank goodness, 307 00:18:12.160 --> 00:18:15.720 there's a counselor's like counsel Asak who have the courage 308 00:18:15.960 --> 00:18:19.119 to stand up. And now with the US Supreme Court 309 00:18:19.680 --> 00:18:22.680 as a as a guideline, this is very legal what 310 00:18:22.720 --> 00:18:25.480 they have done. And these folks now would face a fine, 311 00:18:25.839 --> 00:18:28.519 they'd be summoned in the court and if they don't 312 00:18:28.519 --> 00:18:31.079 pay the fine, they may have to spend some time 313 00:18:31.599 --> 00:18:34.720 in a jail cell. It's it's not treating them badly, 314 00:18:34.839 --> 00:18:38.359 but we all have to live here. What have you seen, 315 00:18:38.640 --> 00:18:42.359 Maureen in your travels in Brockden? How evident is this 316 00:18:42.559 --> 00:18:44.920 problem or is it in the just in the shadows? 317 00:18:46.480 --> 00:18:49.079 Well, I think where I live compared to where the 318 00:18:49.079 --> 00:18:53.440 counselor is, I'm probably about five miles approximately away from 319 00:18:53.480 --> 00:18:57.079 the from the mall, et cetera. I don't really generally 320 00:18:57.119 --> 00:19:01.359 see it in my immediate neighborhood. But but it's not that. 321 00:19:01.640 --> 00:19:06.039 I mean, you know, if I see somebody, I'm not 322 00:19:06.039 --> 00:19:08.599 gonna I'm gonna I'm going to give you a few 323 00:19:08.640 --> 00:19:12.359 dollars because i'd rather you take the money, you know, 324 00:19:12.480 --> 00:19:15.799 get yourself some food and just I'm not going to 325 00:19:15.920 --> 00:19:18.119 judge you here on here's five dollars. I know you're 326 00:19:18.119 --> 00:19:21.319 going to spend it, but you know, but again, but yeah, 327 00:19:21.480 --> 00:19:23.160 I grew up in Brighton, so same thing. You know, 328 00:19:23.240 --> 00:19:26.359 I saw that in Brighton. You know, so it's I 329 00:19:26.359 --> 00:19:29.519 guess it's not just but I appreciate you spotlighting this. 330 00:19:29.640 --> 00:19:32.000 I appreciate the counsel's time. I'm going to let you 331 00:19:32.000 --> 00:19:33.720 go because I know you've got other folks, But thank 332 00:19:33.759 --> 00:19:34.839 you so much for taking Mikeroll. 333 00:19:34.839 --> 00:19:37.759 I appreciate talking with Thanks Mareen, thanks for calling in. 334 00:19:38.200 --> 00:19:42.119 Let's keep it going here. Thanks Mary, appreciate it. Let 335 00:19:42.119 --> 00:19:44.640 me drop Maureen. Fine, and we're going to take a 336 00:19:44.680 --> 00:19:48.839 quick break. We are now passed the nine thirty newsbreak, 337 00:19:48.880 --> 00:19:52.000 so we'll take the news break. I got Dan checking in, 338 00:19:52.240 --> 00:19:54.960 Mike and Michelle. I got two lines open, one at 339 00:19:55.000 --> 00:19:57.599 six one seven two five four ten thirty and one 340 00:19:57.599 --> 00:20:01.240 at six one seven ninety and just filled six one 341 00:20:01.279 --> 00:20:03.960 seven two five four ten thirty. Again, it's not just 342 00:20:03.960 --> 00:20:06.359 a Brockton problem, folks. It's got to be dealt with. 343 00:20:06.880 --> 00:20:11.079 And I suspect that the change of administrations in Washington 344 00:20:11.519 --> 00:20:15.839 that might embolden some of our cities and towns to 345 00:20:15.839 --> 00:20:17.799 look at this as a problem and treat it as 346 00:20:17.839 --> 00:20:20.599 a problem that needs to be addressed. Back on Nightside 347 00:20:20.640 --> 00:20:21.000 after this. 348 00:20:22.200 --> 00:20:26.480 You're on night Side with Dan Ray on WBZ, Boston's 349 00:20:26.519 --> 00:20:27.160 news radio. 350 00:20:27.759 --> 00:20:30.720 Back to the phone, let's go to Michelle, also checking 351 00:20:30.759 --> 00:20:34.079 in tonight from Brockton. Michelle, you were next on Nightside, going. 352 00:20:33.880 --> 00:20:36.799 Ahead, Hey, how are you? I just want to say 353 00:20:36.839 --> 00:20:38.720 I listen to your show all the time, and I 354 00:20:38.759 --> 00:20:39.160 love it. 355 00:20:39.680 --> 00:20:42.160 Well, thank you. I love the fact that you love it. 356 00:20:42.200 --> 00:20:43.880 And I'm so glad that you've called in. And I'm 357 00:20:43.920 --> 00:20:46.039 so glad you were listening when we talked tonight with 358 00:20:46.160 --> 00:20:49.200 the city council as Shirley Asak, what's your thoughts? Are 359 00:20:49.200 --> 00:20:51.359 you happy with what the city council is trying to do? 360 00:20:53.000 --> 00:20:57.039 I'm fifty fifty on it because I think they should 361 00:20:57.119 --> 00:21:01.480 have more resources. So the whole homeless people, a lot 362 00:21:01.519 --> 00:21:04.400 of them have mental health problems. In the shelter in 363 00:21:04.480 --> 00:21:09.160 Brockton's all they turn people away. It's all the migrants 364 00:21:09.559 --> 00:21:11.920 and there's not even no help. They need to get 365 00:21:11.920 --> 00:21:15.319 more help from mental health and drug addiction in Brockton, 366 00:21:15.960 --> 00:21:19.319 and I think that will clear up the homelessness problem. 367 00:21:19.839 --> 00:21:23.400 Giving them fines and putting them in jail isn't gonna help. 368 00:21:23.839 --> 00:21:25.880 So let me ask you. So you're saying that the 369 00:21:26.200 --> 00:21:32.319 homeless shelters right now are accommodating migrants, and. 370 00:21:32.799 --> 00:21:38.359 The homeless shelters, yep, it's all migrants. You can see. 371 00:21:38.640 --> 00:21:40.880 To be a favorite, Michelle, you're doing a great job. 372 00:21:41.039 --> 00:21:43.680 Who's ever coaching in the background is only confusing you 373 00:21:43.799 --> 00:21:45.640 and me? So why don't you tell the person in 374 00:21:45.680 --> 00:21:48.240 the background to walk in the other room. Okay, you 375 00:21:48.240 --> 00:21:53.240 have my permission. Yeah, you said it better than I did, so, 376 00:21:53.240 --> 00:21:55.599 so it is. It's a it's a migrant problem, which 377 00:21:55.680 --> 00:21:58.960 now is compounding the amount of resources that can be 378 00:21:59.000 --> 00:22:00.920 available to the homeless. That's interesting. 379 00:22:01.799 --> 00:22:04.759 Yes, that's that's the biggest problem right now in Broxton. 380 00:22:05.319 --> 00:22:07.359 There's no room. 381 00:22:07.359 --> 00:22:11.920 For Broxton residents in the shelter because it's full of migrants, 382 00:22:12.119 --> 00:22:17.799 solid Haitian migrants, and there's no mental health, there's no 383 00:22:17.960 --> 00:22:22.160 drug addiction programs in Broxton. They need to put more 384 00:22:22.200 --> 00:22:25.960 resources and not throw people in jail because jail isn't 385 00:22:26.000 --> 00:22:29.440 going to help them. They need they need like medical help. 386 00:22:30.400 --> 00:22:34.599 Well they do. And of course that now on Brockton 387 00:22:34.720 --> 00:22:38.119 now is becoming a magnet because once people realize that 388 00:22:38.200 --> 00:22:42.680 there's a homeless quote unquote community, then other people in 389 00:22:42.880 --> 00:22:46.680 other you know, surrounding towns are going to be drawn 390 00:22:46.720 --> 00:22:50.519 to that community because everybody feels that in strength, there's 391 00:22:50.559 --> 00:22:53.279 some in unity, there's some strength, I should say, and 392 00:22:53.319 --> 00:22:55.960 that they're with people if they do have a drug problem, 393 00:22:55.960 --> 00:22:59.039 they're dealing with other people have drug problem. It compounds 394 00:22:59.039 --> 00:23:02.000 the problem yell. I appreciate your calling. Thanks for having 395 00:23:02.039 --> 00:23:04.200 the coverage to call and tell your friend there that 396 00:23:04.279 --> 00:23:06.680 if he wants to call the program some night six one, 397 00:23:06.759 --> 00:23:08.559 seven thirty and he. 398 00:23:08.480 --> 00:23:10.839 Can talk to me night. 399 00:23:11.160 --> 00:23:14.880 All right, Thanks Michelle, we'll talk so all right, all right, 400 00:23:15.000 --> 00:23:18.920 thank you very much, both of you. Okay, we are 401 00:23:18.960 --> 00:23:21.759