The Blackstone/Franklin Square Neighborhood Association's (B/FSNA) January 19 meeting agenda held a number of weighty topics including December's uptick in gun violence; Boston Health Care for the Homeless Program's (BHCHP) proposed "safe space" for drug users; and a proposed medical marijuana dispensary at the site of the former Boston Flower Market. About 40 people filled the seats in the meeting room at District 4, 650 Harrison Avenue.

B/FSNA president Eric Huang described December as "a rough time for the neighborhood" with several shootings and one homicide culminating in the December 16 public meeting on gun violence held at United South End Settlements with Mayor's office staff, Boston Police Department (BPD) commissioner Evans and other BPD officials, state representative Byron Rushing, city councilor Ayanna Pressley and leaders of South End community groups in attendance.

After the gun-violence meeting, Huang took a walk with councilor Frank Baker, visiting potential spots for security cameras. BPD community service officer Sgt. Lucas Taxter reported on the status of purchasing more cameras for the South End. "The plan to buy cameras will cost about $25,000 but unfortunately, this year City Hall allocated zero dollars for cameras. They are quite expensive, as they have to be purchased, installed and maintained. Councilor Baker is trying very hard to get funding for 7 cameras for your neighborhood, the area around Villa Victoria and for Sparrow Park. He is trying to get funds both from private sources and from the city and he hasn't gotten them yet, but he is very confident he will succeed."

Taxter said the cameras will capture real-time video and will be tied in to D-4 officers including Taxter as well as BPD's Boston Regional Intelligence Center, where analysts, detectives and Homeland Security officers can view footage, rewind and review in order to respond quickly in the event of an incident. Taxter said that Maloney Properties, managers of Villa Victoria, have 17 cameras and have been "very cooperative", consulting with D-4 when buying and placing additional security cameras. Taxter also talked about BPD's citywide bicycle unit which patrols most of the city from 4:00 PM-midnight, stating that the South End is the only area of the city with daytime bicycle patrols. The South End bike patrol concentrates mainly on the Mass. Ave. and Albany Street area, the so-called "Methadone Mile". Taxter said the bicycle patrols have the advantages of being able to go places cruisers cannot and being quieter than cruisers.

Taxter distributed South End crime statistic sheets and pointed out that in 2015 compared to 2014, the South End's crime rate decreased in almost every category of FBI-designated Part 1 crimes including murder, rape, aggravated assault and larceny. The exceptions were burglary, which rose 10 per cent in 2015, and aggravated assault, which includes cases of domestic violence.

Taxter explained that while D-4 is the most densely populated district in the city, it has the fewest officers per 10,000 persons and in the previous 7 days, D-4 responded to over 1,000 911 calls. Addressing anxiety over December's gun-related incidents, Taxter said the last shooting in the South End last year occurred on December 23 and there have been two shots-fired calls this year, although one was determined to be unfounded.

When Taxter mentioned that most of the shootings were gang-related, Worcester Square Area Neighborhood Association (WSANA) president George Stergios asked what gangs do. Taxter said they sell drugs, with marijuana and heroin most sought-after in the South End.

Turning to BHCHP's plan for a medically supervised space for drug users under the influence, Huang noted that BHCHP did not reach out to community groups and South End Forum members learned of the plan on a WBUR radio report last fall. The Forum convened a task force that reported on the safe space at its January 12 meeting. Huang said that according to BHCHP, opioid overdose is the leading cause of death among its patients and it sees two to five overdoses each week at its 780 Albany Street facility.

In effort to prevent overdoses on its premises and on surrounding streets, BHCHP wants to provide a space in its facility where 8 to 10 opioid users under the influence can be monitored by a nurse and a public health advocate and treated for overdose as needed. The task force stressed that BHCHP will not tolerate drug use on its property and the public health advocate will offer addiction treatment. The safe space is intended for local users only, as it is intended to alleviate the effects of drug activity in the South End. Huang said the safe space is still in planning, and because it appears to be an "internal solution to an internal problem" for BHCHP, the South End Forum voted not to oppose it. Huang observed, "I think the reason it became a controversial issue is because there was a lack of community engagement in the first place. It was discovered through the media first. [BHCHP] realizes they could have done a better job on this one."

In the discussion of the proposed medical marijuana dispensary at 591 Albany Street, Natural Healthcare Inc.'s (NHI) chief security officer (CSO) Randy LaMattina, a former BPD officer who worked with Capt. Paul Ivens on the Bomb Squad, opened the conversation, stating that NHI had already met with the Old Dover Neighborhood Association (ODNA) and declaring that "an informed public is the best thing in the world." LaMattina said that based on the ODNA meeting, NHI's principals felt it would be best to come to B/FSNA to offer information on NHI and medical marijuana and to solicit questions for a future B/FSNA presentation. LaMattina told the group that NHI's managing partners, including Steve Barber of Barber Foods, are "very, very good businessmen with career track records."

On security, LaMattina said that NHI plans to place security cameras in its dispensary and that he talked to Capt. Ivens about donating cameras for BPD's own use. "We believe that we can be a good partner to the community," LaMattina concluded. Next he introduced Barber, who recalled his experience in the food business and in establishing a casino in Oxford, Maine. Barber said his interest in opening a dispensary stems from the personal experiences of loved ones, his belief that medical marijuana is a better option than high-priced pharmaceuticals and a desire to create good jobs in the South End.

About safety concerns, Barber said, "Randy is going to work with the police and community groups on safety issues." LaMattina said that NHI approached the city first by contacting city councilor Bill Linehan, who was non-committal on the dispensary and urged him to contact the neighborhood organizations. He then called Capt. Ivens, who said the BPD cannot take a position on the issue.

Bob Minnocci, who led a WSANA task force on an unsuccessful 2013 bid for a dispensary at 70 Southampton Street, recounted WSANA's opposition to that proposal and to any medical marijuana dispensary within ½ mile of Boston Medical Center, adding that in the three years since that bid, drug activity in the WSANA area has increased. "If you think drug dealers who are all over the neighborhood aren't going to find a way to get their hands on that product, you're fooling yourselves,"

Minnocci told Barber. Barber's son Sam, who conducted preparatory research for NHI, replied that they are aware of that concern but feels the dispensary will be positive for the community, pointing to research supporting that claim. A local woman echoed Minnocci's concern about having yet another drug-related facility in the South End, calling the neighborhood "overwhelmed" with facilities already, while another neighbor claimed research shows that where drugs are legal, drug-related crime declines as there is no financial incentive for illegal drug sales. Responding to concern about increased traffic around the dispensary, LaMattina said that NHI anticipates more home delivery than patient visits and that many visitors will use public transit and The Ride.

When asked why they selected 591 Albany Street, Steve Barber replied, "It's a beautiful building" and the structure fit the requirements for the license. A couple pointed out its proximity to residential developments and to a playground ½ block away, and another homeowner wondered whether NHI had been in touch with the Leggat McCall group which is planning a large residential building near the dispensary site. NHI staff responded that they attended this meeting primarily to offer information and gather community response for a future presentation.

Huang asked why B/FSNA was not contacted earlier about the project. Steve Barber said it was suggested they approach ODNA first and LaMattina said, "If the neighborhood isn't in, If Old Dover says no to this, there is no point in coming back here."

The Barbers said that they were previously unaware of many of the concerns raised at the meeting and LaMattina said he did not know that a previous dispensary proposal had faced neighborhood opposition. To this, Minnocci refuted the team's claim that they had "done their homework." Board member Michael Broderick asked NHI for a dedicated e-mail to which B/FSNA members could send questions and comments.