As the Melnea A. Cass Recreational Complex has become a shelter for migrants, a Roxbury group group says the governor and mayor ought to look into assembly one of many neighborhood’s largest wants: accessible well being care.
The Black Community Information Center, which describes itself on social media as an “organization dedicated to independent media,” is looking for a gathering with Gov. Maura Healey and Mayor Michelle Wu to debate what it might take to create a well being clinic in Nubian Square.
Sadiki Kambon, the middle’s director, says the necessity for accessible well being care is very urgent after Walgreens closed its retailer and pharmacy on Warren Street this week, leaving the realm in a so-called well being care desert.
A plan of motion, which might be offered to Healey and Wu, appears to be like to ascertain a “health plaza,” with one facility in Nubian Square and one other situated close to Warren and Quincy streets. The assembly could be centered round “obtaining the required monetary support needed” to get the clinic up and operating.
The clinic would come with a “pharmacy resource as an important component,” in response to a letter Kambon despatched to the governor on Thursday.
Kambon spoke to reporters in entrance of the Cass on Friday, to focus on how he and fellow Black residents are “tired of being dictated in terms of ‘Well, this is what we’re going to do. Take it or leave it.” He stated he’s not trying to “criticize the situation in regards to the plight of the immigrants.”
“We’re saying ‘End the disrespect. We need health facilities in our community. We understand what is happening here is not acceptable. Let’s meet and talk about what you can do that moves in another direction that’s positive, starting with these health clinics.’”
With Walgreens shutting down its Warren Street location after closing one other within the neighborhood in late 2022 and others in Mattapan and Hyde Park, Roxbury residents plan on submitting a lawsuit towards the pharmacy chain, in response to GBH.
Kambon stated Healey’s plan to show the Cass into an overflow shelter for migrants who had been sleeping in a single day at Logan Airport “caught the Roxbury community totally off guard.” He stated he’s skeptical whether or not the governor will make good on her promise that the shelter will likely be solely momentary via the tip of May earlier than the state converts it again for leisure use.
Roughly 200 migrants will likely be taking over residence on the Cass this weekend, with extra coming within the days forward. The facility has a capability of 400.
“That dynamic that at the end of May they’re going to say ‘OK, folks, you’ve gotta go.’ It doesn’t work that way. I think we’re just being misled,” Kambon stated. “When you have that many people it’d be pretty much impossible to set a deadline as to how long they’re going to be here.”
Brandon Ransom lives up the road from the Cass, a facility the place his 6- and 8-year-old sons would go to a number of occasions every week to run with the Boston Lions monitor membership. Now, they’re operating outside within the chilly wintry climate, the daddy instructed reporters.
Ransom agreed with Kambon that the group has been “blindsided,” including his assist for the well being clinic.
“I’m 100% behind brother Sadiki with where it’s like OK, now that we have these things coming to our community, we have other community needs like the Nubian Health Clinic which I think could be a huge asset within the community,” he stated. “But we haven’t necessarily gotten the support behind it.”
As of Friday, the state Department of Conservation and Recreation has secured places for 5 of the ten organizations that had present permits a the Cass to proceed their programming, an company spokeswoman instructed the Herald.
The remaining 5 have all been provided various websites, and DCR is working with the organizations to see whether or not the proposed places will meet their wants, the spokeswoman stated.
Confirmed New Locations:
BASE Baseball Program: Shelburne Community Center till Feb. 24 then Holland Community Center
24hr Fitness: Reggie Lewis Center
Boston Unity Soccer: Curtis Hall, Jamaica Plain
CPR: Roxbury Heritage
Boston City Youth Tennis: Boston University and the YMCA Menino Center
The youth track-and-field membership, Boston United, will likely be holding apply on the Reggie at 7:30 a.m. Saturday, a membership official instructed the Herald
Source: www.bostonherald.com”