City officials, volunteers and community members gathered to carol on a Mass and Cass corner Tuesday, optimistically heralding a brighter future for the area and its residents as the city heads into a new year.
Health advocates and some community leaders said the use of public funds for private security is unfortunate but needed for public safety. Boston police have concerns.
When the tents came down on Atkinson Street, the most visible workers on the street were wearing yellow vests. Those workers were formerly homeless or substance abusers themselves, many of whom had themselves once lived in the encampment.