Additional photo

Nips

This park is basically a dumping ground at this point. Local residents cleaned the park last weekend - but it is full of nips and cigarette butts and glass. I am afraid that needles might be mingling with the crappy old mulch. This playground needs some city support and police need to sweep the overnight crowd out to prevent broken bottles and nips being left all over.

The city doesn't want to do anything with the Vagrants... But see what the do. Move them out of down town, and these issues will go. NO they do not have a right to loiter or be vagrants. They only have a right to free speech IF they are begging. They never beg. move them along.

Petition to and a means to put all comments in one place linked from http://www.goFramingham.com

Sign petition and tell your story. Either how this affects you, your actions, property values, family, etc.

hey jay, tell them how you have the support of members of city council and the news will pick this up starting today. Tell the, that their game of fixing all north of waverly, while ignoring everything south is over.

Current petition at http://goframingham.com/petition/

Yes, Community conversation has been scheduled. You will not find this event on ANY city calendar. It is not promoted at all. It is for those residents who feel enough is enough. Time to make your voices heard. More info on event here: https://www.facebook.com/events/2181123795435786/

ONCE AGAIN, THE MAYOR DOES NOT WANT YOU TO GO. SHE HAS SCHEDULED THIS COMMUNITY CONVERSATION SO IT HITS AGAINST THE LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS MEETING AND THE MCCARTY SCHOOL OPEN HOUSE.

TELL YOUR FRIENDS... TELL EVERYONE... BE THERE! https://www.facebook.com/events/2181123795435786/

So where do you put vagrants? send them to another town? Make them someone else's problem? Substance abuse & addiction, and mental illness are the source of nearly 100% of adult male homelessness. This isn't a simple fix that the mayor can wave a wand at. And if you factor race into it, how do you address "vagrants" vs just racially profiling brown people standing on a sidewalk. What would you have police do?

Well the mayor has no plan whatsoever. She has found a way to push the mass into one area... but now those businesses and residents in that are are suffering.

"how do you address "vagrants" vs just racially profiling brown people standing on a sidewalk. What would you have police do?"
You are obviously not from here. Our Vagrants are anything but brown.

It is a difficult issue, but not addressing it doesn’t fix anything. Additionally, letting homeless people hang out in neighborhood playgrounds is also not acceptable. Deluca Brownstone is correct, the problems in Framingham is not “brown people” (as you say anonymous neighbor). The problem is that downtown has become an open drinking and drug use area of town. People of all races and genders are involved. I drive my daughter to other towns to play instead of walking 2 minutes to my local playground. That is a Framingham problem.

It is a difficult issue, but not addressing it doesn’t fix anything. Additionally, letting homeless people hang out in neighborhood playgrounds is also not acceptable. Deluca Brownstone is correct, the problems in Framingham is not “brown people” (as you say anonymous neighbor). The problem is that downtown has become an open drinking and drug use area of town. People of all races and genders are involved. I drive my daughter to other towns to play instead of walking 2 minutes to my local playground. That is a Framingham problem.

Born and raised in the area, lived in Framingham for 10 years though. I don't mean to be snarky, or suggest that there shouldn't be a plan, but it is difficult to tell adult people where they can and can't exist.

Open alcohol or drug use is, and how it impacts the safety and cleanliness of the community is obviously the issue, and should be a law enforcement priority.

What does "Content blocked by rejections" mean?

You said something not nice. But not surprised you would be blocked.

I swear I didn't!

I was actually walking back my snarkiness. It is complex and we do need a plan. But aside from demanding that law enforcement actually enforce the laws (drinking, using drugs, sleeping in parks) it's tough to apply policy. I support the need for a plan.

and apparantly it is nobody's priority.

We at the petition are not subject matter experts. I know that when i walk that area i worry. The city has NO plan, we are asking for the experts to formulate a plan and roll it out in a manner where results can be judged. How is it this month vs last month when it was rolled out. The mayor and police have no plan.

My property value is far below what it is assessed at. Across the city % assessment increases happened. But to the north the assessment is fair. Here. I'm being ripped out.

Overall - this is just a part of the overall Downtown/Burkis Square issues with alcohol and drug use and homelessness. There is a lot of focus on this issue and I hope the city addresses the entire area and not just around the luxury apartments that are popping up.