Spending taxpayer cash to check changing an outdated cruise ship right into a restoration remedy hospital smacks of a political stunt that in all probability will simply be sunk by Boston Mayor Michelle Wu.
Victims of the opioid disaster must be in a state-of-the-art remedy heart on land – not on show on a decommissioned docked ship to be gawked at by vacationers and residents.
Yes, town is determined to unravel the Mass and Cass/Methadone Mile disaster, however this concept must be shelved by the state Legislature – like most of their dangerous concepts.
The state Senate permitted laws this week to have the Naval Construction and Marine engineering program at MIT examine the “feasibility” of changing a cruise ship right into a floating hospital for psychological well being, substance abuse and restoration companies someplace on the Boston waterfront.
“For years now, the situation at Mass & Cass and throughout our city and Commonwealth have worsened without suitable state intervention,” stated state Sen. Nick Collins, who’s spearheading the proposal. “Now is the time to pursue new, creative ideas to address a humanitarian crisis affecting thousands of people and families throughout the area. The Floating Hospital would provide our healthcare professionals with a state-of-the-art facility in which to provide care, all while addressing the pressing public health and safety needs of the city.”
Wu’s workplace put out a lukewarm assertion saying she seems ahead to the outcomes of the examine – however the actuality is she is more likely to sink the concept.
Collins must be recommended for attempting to assume creatively to handle the opioid disaster, however this concept misses the mark.
This is just not a critical proposal to unravel the Mass and Cass downside – it’s a possible boondoggle that might find yourself costing the state taxpayers tens of millions of {dollars}. Think Indy Car race on water.
We must be displaying compassion to folks with habit, not taking a look at novel concepts that may put them on show and isolate them from society.
Wu’s administration supposedly has critical considerations in regards to the public security dangers of housing lots of of sufferers with substance use dysfunction or psychological well being issues on a floating ship.
The authentic Boston Floating Hospital, constructed within the 1890’s to look after poor, sick kids and their moms, was destroyed by hearth in 1927 and that was just about the top of that concept. Tufts constructed a brand new onshore hospital for kids to take its place.
The state Senate added the Collins modification to its fiscal 2024 finances in a single voice vote together with 52 different amendments. The examine alone will value $50,000 in state cash.
But if permitted, the state can be spending tens of millions of {dollars} to a well-connected developer to renovate the outdated ship.
The House nonetheless has to approve the Collins modification in its finances, and Gov. Maura Healey has to approve.
But the concept all hinges on Wu, who is worried in regards to the floating hospital assembly constructing and security codes. Without her full endorsement, the concept received’t float.
Source: www.bostonherald.com”