Opinion: Cities Should Share the Responsibility When it Comes to Social Issues

Me (circa 1982): Dad, they want to build low-income housing in our town.

Dad: Terrible idea.

Me: Well, where should they build it?

Dad: How about Downtown Chelsea?

That was my father’s “go-to” answer whenever we discussed issues of the day. Of course, this was a common sentiment at the time. In the 1970s and early 1980s, cities were often thought of as only for the poor people, the sick, the homeless and the mentally-ill. Cities were dumping grounds for anyone on the outskirts of society - basically, anyone who couldn't get out.

Today, 30 years later, U.S. cities are vibrant and exciting places to live. Yet, many people, especially those in the suburbs, still think of a city as a sort of “option of last resort”, the place where anything and everything goes. Want to build a public housing project? Put it in the city. A homeless shelter? Sure! A methadone clinic? Why not?

Of course, cities are logical places for these types of facilities. By definition, cities are where lots of people live, right? So, naturally, that’s where you would put the services that lots of people need.

But cities are surely different than they were a couple decades ago. Cities are growing. (Boston has grown from 589,141 to 617,594 residents in the past decade.) The makeup of cities is different, too. Middle-class and wealthy people are moving (back) into cities and expecting - demanding - a higher quality of life. (There were 1,048 Bostonians who earned more than $1 million in 2009, according to the Boston Business Journal.) They want safe neighborhoods, clean sidewalks, and plowed streets, and they’re not always happy about having to “put up with” the grimier parts of city living.

Neighbors say "Enough"

At a District 2 City Council debate last week, I listened to residents of South Boston talking about problems they’re encountering due to two addiction support facilities located in Andrew Square. Now, a third one is on its way. These residents are frustrated.

Another example: the new 18-person, low-income housing development in the South End, which last week. For months, many of the residents on Upton Street and the Union Park Neighborhood Association voiced strong opposition to the project.

Their question was: “Why should we have to deal with it?” “Why is it our responsibility to solve the housing, homeless, and addiction problems of our community?” Fair question: Is it the neighborhood’s responsibility? Is it the city’s? The state’s … the world’s?

The addicted, the homeless, and the poor have naturally congregated in cities across America. To those who complain about it, you can say, “If you don’t like it, move,” and, “You live in the city, you have to accept this sort of thing,” but how does that help keep a city healthy and moving forward? And can you imagine the catastrophe that would befall a city if all of them did move?

After I heard that my South End neighbors had complained about the Upton Street project, I told South End News that, “I honestly wish a flood of water would pour down Upton Street and wash them out of our neighborhood forever.” An extemporaneous response, and a clever one, but it didn’t do much of anything to solve the problem.

My neighbors’ opinions should have been taken seriously - of course they should have a say in what goes on in their very own neighborhood. They were wrong to oppose this specific project, but their voices deserved to be heard. (In their defense, one of their complaints was that the South End was already doing its part - and they were correct. The South End has more Boston Housing Authority units than any other part of Boston. It has so many, the neighborhood has its own map on the BHA’s website!)

Share the load

Morally, we all want to help the sick and the poor. My fear is, there’s a tipping point, a level at which, when reached, a city can’t absorb any more of these problems.

There seems to be a general misconception in America that “What Happens in a City, Stays in a City” - that issues such as homelessness, addiction, and mental illness are “city” issues and that if/when you can move to the suburbs, you’re finished dealing with it.

Not so. Public education and public safety - yes, those are individual city issues.

But, just like public transportation, public health and welfare is everyone's responsibility.

The people outside of Boston have to realize, we all live in Chelsea.