Some Somerville candidates invited to address homelessness in Davis Square by residents

Kenda Mutongi, an MIT history professor and Somerville resident, organized a gathering in Seven Hills Park to bring together City Council and mayoral candidates to address the issue of homelessness in Davis Square. The event, attended by fewer than 80 people, was intended to focus on new candidates rather than current officials, as Mutongi noted that existing leaders had had over a year to make progress.

Mutongi initiated the meeting after witnessing a city Public Works employee being harassed by a group of people near Davis Square KinderCare, following an appeal to clean up litter. The event expanded to include several council candidates, including Jonathan Link, Holly Simione, Ben Wheeler, and Jack Perenick, though Kristen Strezo was unable to attend.

A follow-up meeting with Mayor Katjana Ballantyne, Police Chief Shumeane Benford, and other city staff is scheduled for October 6 at the Somerville Community Baptist Church. The discussion will focus on public safety and homelessness in the Davis Square/Seven Hills area, with opportunities for public input.

Councilors were asked a single question posed by Mutongi: “How do you plan to help local voters and taxpayers feel safe again so that we can enjoy Davis Square and our public parks?” Jake Wilson, a councilor and mayoral candidate, responded by emphasizing the need for a positive narrative in Davis Square, ensuring that unhoused individuals are treated with dignity while also being held to a standard.

Wilson attributed the current situation to the closure of Boston’s Long Island facility in 2014, which housed 800 unhoused individuals before they moved to Cambridge and eventually to Somerville. He highlighted the contrast between Cambridge’s “zero tolerance” policy and its higher per-capita number of emergency shelter beds, noting that Cambridge’s vice mayor, Marc McGovern, has stated the city has no such policy.

Wilson stressed collaboration with regional partners, including Cambridge’s government and the Somerville Homeless Coalition, to address the challenges. This approach was echoed by other speakers, reflecting a shared recognition of the need for coordinated efforts to tackle homelessness and ensure public safety.

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