Most people feel that downtown Boston has become a safer place compared to a year ago, according to a survey of hundreds of residents and stakeholders conducted by the Downtown Boston Neighborhood Association.

A top Wu administration official indicated the city may be moving away from its harm reduction strategy as residents and politicians from Boston neighborhoods hurt by the Mass and Cass drug market spillover push for a long-term recovery solution.

A survey of hundreds of downtown Boston residents and stakeholders in recent weeks has found that most feel safer than they did a year ago.

A successful post-pandemic revival of Boston’s beleaguered downtown depends heavily on how safe people feel walking around the neighborhood.

Eight months after declaring downtown Boston’s public safety situation “urgent,” officials gathered again Thursday to measure progress — and confront persistent challenges.

Leaders and community members came together to talk about health and safety challenges Thursday at a public safety summit.

The Downtown Boston Neighborhood Association hosted the meeting at the Emerson Cutler Majestic Theatre. It previously held a closed-door meeting discussing the same topic in February.

Progress has been made in cleaning up the elements of crime in Downtown and the Boston Common since last year’s dramatic increase in drug abuse and drug dealing. But for the partners invested in dealing with those criminal elements, the work is far from over.

During the day, Downtown Crossing is bustling with shoppers, students, and commuters. However, people who live and work in the area say something else has crept into the busy district: growing concerns about public safety.    

The shopping district—located between the Boston Common and the Financial District—now faces visible drug use, rising safety concerns, and the ripple effects of the Mass. and Cass encampment sweeps. 

A cross-sector coalition of city and state officials, law enforcement, shelters and churches, institutional partners, business and trade associations, and civic organizations last week officially launched the One Downtown Task Force – a strategic initiative aimed at improving public safety, reducing crime and homelessness, and enhancing the overall experience and quality of life for all who live, work, visit, and do business in Downtown Boston and surrounding neighborhoods.

Public officials in Boston are launching a public safety action plan to address issues related to drug use, homelessness, and crime in the city.

The One Downtown Task Force is a 10-member operation co-chaired by Mayor Michelle Wu, Boston City Councilor Ed Flynn, State Representative Aaron Michlewitz, and Suffolk County District Attorney Kevin Hayden.

A cross-sector coalition of city and state officials, law enforcement, shelters and churches, institutional partners, business and trade associations, and civic organizations has officially launched the One Downtown Task Force, a strategic initiative aimed at improving public safety, reducing crime and homelessness, and enhancing the overall experience and quality of life for all who live, work, visit, and do business in Downtown Boston and surrounding neighborhoods.

Following last Thursday's major public safety summit, city and state officials, law enforcement leaders, and other Downtown Boston stakeholders - including civic organizations, shelters, churches, businesses, trade groups, and institutional partners - have come together to develop a comprehensive action plan to address ongoing challenges in Downtown Boston, including congregate drug use; crime, including retail theft; and homelessness.