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By Jack Connolly
Jackconnolly422@gmail.com

If you are not aware, last Wednesday morning around 8AM (5/10/22) a lifeless body of a Davis Sq. a regular hang-out guy was found near JP Licks Ice Cream in the Davis Sq, Plaza. Fellow drinking and drugging pals lamented the loss of ‘Mike’, who was well known to all of us who live and work in or around Davis Sq. by daily sightings, as he and others huddled about, taking care of business outside of the 7-11 store.

Interesting to note that the Davis Sq Facebook Group was full of comments, mostly sad about the untimely demise, likely an overdose COD (cause of death) It wasn’t until Friday AM was there any reporting of the death, (though word on the street circulated rapidly around town) when Somerville Patch broke the story.

Neighbors, both residents and businesses were not surprised; Most everyone opined it was ‘only a matter of time’.

Because of the death likely due to a drug overdose, several folks also commented on the need for a Safe Consumption Center (aka supervised drug injection drug site) where addicts could bring their ‘previously obtained’ (aka illegal drugs) where trained staff would be present to supervise the drug injection and assist with medical attention if necessary (including use of NARCAN, which would counter the effect of the drug).

In addition, Ward Six City Councilor Lance Davis commented when someone inquired when a supervised use site was coming, he remarked ” that he had this conversation with the Mayor yesterday. Soon, but not nearly soon enough.” OK for Councilor Davis, and no doubt many other elected officials, who likely feel the same about the need for such a consumption center.

Now the big question; WHERE would this Safe Consumption Center (aka Drug injection site) be located? Shouldn’t residents and businesses have some input?

According to a report by WBUR back in March, the City of Somerville has contracted (estimated cost @$40K) with a local non-profit, Fenway Health Alliance, headed up by a former Somerville State Representative Carl Sciortino, to evaluate the possible location of such a facility in East Somerville or Davis Sq. Check out the City website : www.somervillema.gov > Somerville-supervised-consumption-site-report.

Why the big secret? What does the Somerville Board of Health have to say about this possibility? How about the Mayor, who has a large ‘Public information’ Dept., informing the Davis Sq. community? Any City Council members willing to take a stand?

Looks like this could be a further decline in the once much-desired Davis Sq., that Utne magazine once labeled as one of the coolest places in the US, “the Paris of the Nineties”.

Now Assembly Sq. and Union Sq. are the primary focus of the City, as economic and infrastructure attention to Davis Sq. has sadly diminished.

Check out the crumbling-asphalt-patched crosswalks at Highland and College Ave., Day St. to the island in front of Mike’s Restaurant, or from Dover St. to the Davis sq. Plaza: Don’t forget to watch your step walking on the Elm St. And College Ave. sidewalks, as loose bricks are either popping up or are out of place. Now the City wants to eliminate parking on both sides of College Ave from the T stop to Morrison Ave. for what else? Barrier-protected bike lanes.

Coming out of the misery of Covid, this is what the City thinks is prudent? Make it more difficult for people to come to Davis Sq., especially nights, weekends, and bad weather days and nights? Looks like something out of the Field of Dreams movie: “if you build it, they will come.”

One more problem facing Davis Sq. is the departure of The City’s Director of Office of Special Planning and Community Development George Proakis, who is taking his many talents to nearby Watertown. Proakis had earlier in the year told the Chamber of Commerce he would make Davis Sq. a priority working with the new Mayor and her team.

The question facing the City now is: How do you prevent further drug-related and economic death in Davis Sq.? Stay tuned.

Editors’ note: Jack Connolly is a native Somervillian, a Davis Sq. resident and insurance agent: He is also a former Somerville Ward Six and At Large Alderman (known now as City Councilor).