A decision to close a community center in Massachusetts and convert it into temporary housing for immigrants has sparked a backlash from the city’s residents.
Gov. Maura Healey’s office said Wednesday that the decision to move migrants to the state-run Melnea Cass Recreation Center in Roxbury, near Boston, like other facilities in the state that have served as residential shelters, was “necessary.” “I was born under pressure,” he said. WHDH reports that airports, including Logan Airport, are busy. “We just do what we have to do at this point,” she added.
But the governor’s decision doesn’t sit well with some officials and residents who have expressed dismay that the government is taking resources away from the public to care for people who recently entered the country.
“I think it’s a mess for young people because our young people don’t have enough as it stands,” one resident told WHDH.
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Gov. Maura Healey’s office announced Wednesday the decision to move the migrants to the state-run Melnea Cass Recreation Center in Boston. (Stuart Cahill/Media News Group/Boston Herald)
Boston Mayor Michelle Wu shared similar sentiments about the state’s proposal, calling it “extremely painful,” WBUR reported.
“I want to start by saying there are no good options,” Wu said Monday on WBUR’s Radio Boston.
“The first community where this is proposed would be Roxbury, a community that has faced disinvestment, redlining and disproportionate outcomes for decades. , is painfully familiar,” Wu added. “In the face of a crisis like this, it feels like a special turning point to take a beloved, well-used building offline that is dedicated to community programming.”
Wu said city officials are “working with the state to identify all options,” as reported by WBUR.
Boston Mayor Michelle Wu also expressed disappointment with the decision. (Matt Stone/MediaNews Group/Boston Herald via Getty Images)
According to the report, the Melnea Kas Recreation Center has been closed since Sunday in preparation for the arrival of migrants. Since Tuesday, crews have been seen unloading supplies to turn the facility into a shelter.
The state plans to stop holding immigrants at the facility in May and reopen the facility to the public and resume normal functioning by June.
Lt. Gen. Scott Rice, director of the Office of Emergency Relief, told Fox News Digital that the state appreciates working with the city and looks forward to contributing to its development in the long term.
“On January 31, 2024, the Cass Recreation Center will begin serving as a temporary safety net location for families in need of shelter, especially those sleeping overnight at Logan Airport,” Rice said. said. “We appreciate the cooperation of the City, Roxbury elected officials, and the community for working together to provide families with a safe and warm place to stay while minimizing the impact on the Roxbury area. , we are committed to relocating the recreation center and pool to ensure they can reopen in June, continuing to improve the center for the long-term benefit of the community and prioritizing a diverse range of local vendors.”
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Once completed, it will house up to 100 families or 400 individuals awaiting further permanent housing.
The governor said he visited other areas of the state earlier this week to accommodate immigrants currently being held at Logan Airport. According to MassLive, “about 80%” of immigrants are from Haiti.
“We’ve been all over the state,” Healy said Tuesday, WHDH reported. “We’re coming to Boston now.”
Quincy and Cambridge also have overflowing places to house immigrants.
The Melnea Kas Recreation Center has been closed since Sunday for renovations to convert it into a migrant shelter. (Melnea Cass Recreation Center/Facebook)
City Councilor Tania Fernandez Anderson, who represents the area where the Melnea Cass Center is located, said many residents felt displaced by the governor’s decision.
“Voters have been very clear in saying, ‘You’re kicking us out,'” Anderson said.
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Former Boston Mayor Marty Walsh said the decision to detain immigrants was “difficult.”
“It’s complicated,” he said. “It’s not an easy situation.”
Fox News Digital contacted the governor’s office but did not receive an immediate response.
