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Joe Dwinell: Massachusetts Senate reloads funding to combat Boston crime

Boston Herald - 5/29/2021

May 29—Lawmakers are jumping in with added funding to brace for summer violence, with state Sen. Nick Collins saying "we can't ignore" that police need resources.

The Senate late this week backed a series of funding line items to buck up troopers and the Boston Police Department as Acting Mayor Kim Janey and law enforcement officials zero in on gangs in the city.

"We have to be holistic in how we approach crime, but we can't ignore it," said Collins, whose 1st Suffolk Senate district stretches from Southie through Dorchester and Mattapan and into Hyde Park.

"We need to make sure we have the resources to do that," he added. "We can't turn a blind eye. We need to be prepared."

The Senate amendment, that needs approval from the House, calls for:

* $50,000 for State Police Troop H dedicated to patrols at state parks and beaches in Dorchester, Mattapan and Hyde Park.

* $100,000 to the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority police force for dedicated patrols at Red Line stations south of South Station.

* $300,000 to BPD for gun violence prevention by the Youth Violence Strike Force, to work with nonprofit, community-based and faith-based organizations.

* That includes patrolling parks and Mass and Cass — the "Methadone Mile" — that has become a top concern in the mayor's race.

* Bumping up funding for Shannon Grants, to reduce gun, gang and youth violence, from $11 million to 12.3 million.

He said the city-Beacon Hill link shows when Boston is "at our best" teaming up to "drive down crime — and particularly violent crime."

Janey, Suffolk District Attorney Rachael Rollins and Boston Police Acting Commissioner Greg Long spoke this week about needing to roll out a summer safety program that includes helping cops as a defund the police movement still looms.

Long said Thursday the "majority of the violence you'll see is gang-related violence." He said anti-gang activity happens all year round, but during the summer, "there is a heightened concern about that — rivals, there are more opportunities to run into each other."

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