Roxbury city-council candidate decries Boston's 'new Combat Zone'

Blue Hill Avenue near Packy Connors has become "an open air market of crime, filled with drugs, alcohol and prostitution," and that cannot be allowed to continue, according to Carlos Henriquez, running against incumbent Councilor Chuck Turner.

In a statement, Henriquez says the recent shooting of four people outside the bar highlights how that stretch of Blue Hill Avenue has become "Boston's new Combat Zone:"

A walk to the corner grocery store, to the bus stop, or to school will quickly show you the issues that have continued to exist for years. After speaking with business owners and local residents, it’s obvious that we need help dealing with this situation.

Almost 24 hours a day, groups loiter outside of homes and residences along Blue Hill Ave and often are involved in drug dealing, drug and alcohol abuse and prostitution. We need substance abuse treatment vans and services, police walking the beat, and intervention with houses and businesses that create safe havens for illegal activities.

Complete statement:

July 28, 2009

Dear Concerned Residents & Elected Officials,

My name is Carlos "Tony" Henriquez. I have been a resident of this area for my entire life.
For more than a decade, a serious problem has persisted in our neighborhood. I’m sure you are all aware of the tragic incident that occurred where 4 people were shot by a teenager recently near "Packy’s". I believe that this incident is merely a symptom of a larger existing problem.

Over the last several years, this section of Blue Hill Avenue has been allowed to deteriorate into an open air market of crime, filled with drugs, alcohol and prostitution. It has become Boston’s new "Combat Zone".

A walk to the corner grocery store, to the bus stop, or to school will quickly show you the issues that have continued to exist for years. After speaking with business owners and local residents, it’s obvious that we need help dealing with this situation.
Almost 24 hours a day, groups loiter outside of homes and residences along Blue Hill Ave and often are involved in drug dealing, drug and alcohol abuse and prostitution. We need substance abuse treatment vans and services, police walking the beat, and intervention with houses and businesses that create safe havens for illegal activities.

I am asking that the Mayor’s office, Boston Police B2 Captain Russell & local neighborhood health centers join us in cleaning up our neighborhood. Families should not have to walk through and witness drug-dealing , drug abuse and prostitution as they travel to and from school and work. Businesses and residents are suffering, becoming the victims of violence, property theft and damage and more. Children walk this gauntlet of crime each and every day to school or during a simple trip to the corner store for candy and chips. I myself have been a victim of violence directly linked to the activities that exist on Blue Hill Ave. For far too long we have lacked the focus, energy, and leadership to end this plague. Enough is enough. We are respectfully asking you to stand up and be part of the solution.

Serving Community,
Carlos "Tony" Henriquez