Calls To 'Step Up' After String Of Violence: The HUB

The HUB is a daily newsletter designed for what you want — to be caught up on the most interesting, important news in 5 minutes or less. It's a little bit of this, a little bit of that, but if there's something you want more or less of, email me at alex.newman@patch.com.

Today is Tuesday, August 10. Let's get started.

A woman was killed, and five other people were injured in a shooting in Mattapan early Monday morning. It was the city's third violent death since Friday.

Authorities are investigating whether the shooting was tied to a large gathering, where alcohol may have been sold illegally.

City Councilor and mayoral candidate Andrea Campbell said the city "really needs to step up" in addressing such events before they potentially turn to violence. Campbell proposed investing $50 million from the police department's budget into specialized units that are "walking the neighborhoods, getting to know residents, and responding to incidents in real time."

A woman was also shot and killed on West Concord Street Friday night, and a man was fatally stabbed near the intersection of Pierson Street and Massachusetts Avenue in Roxbury.

Homicides in Boston are down overall this year – Monday's was the 23rd, compared with 40 at this point last year – but pockets of gun violence have prompted increased police patrols in some parts of the city this summer.

Acting Mayor Kim Janey said she is "encouraged" by the trend, but "obviously any shooting is one too many."

Top stories

As communities such as Belmont and Salem move to mandate masks indoors, officials elsewhere aren't quite there yet. In Boston, the health metrics "remain below threshold levels which would lead to mandates and restrictions." The city, along with communities like Somerville and Cambridge, is recommending, but not requiring, masks while indoors. (Boston Globe)

A proposed fee on short-term rentals could make hotels in Boston and Cambridge up to $10.5 million in its first year. The fees are the hospitality industry's answer to a lack of tourism funding. Boston allocates about $7.4 million toward tourism, while comparable cities like Atlanta, Miami and Nashville have budgets of over $30 million. (Commonwealth Magazine)

Starbucks is permanently shutting down four Boston locations, while more remain temporarily closed, in business districts where sales rely heavily on employees coming into work. It's unlikely to make a blip in the coffee giant's Boston presence – Starbucks has 45 locations in the city and plans to open the area's first pickup-only location in Cambridge this fall. (Boston Globe)

If you have a minute

From Quincy Walters, WBUR

On the shores of Lake Lashaway in central Massachusetts this summer, you're likely to find kids frolicking in the sun, making pottery, fishing or talking to friends.

It sounds like it could be any summer camp. But this is the Camp Atwater, founded 100 years ago as one of the first — if not the first — summer camps in America specifically for Black kids.

The camp was created at a time when other summer camps were closed to Black children. But many campers and organizers say Atwater is still needed today, a century later.

A lighter touch

A bunny eating pizza in Belmont. That's it. That's the story.

Via WGBH:

What I'm reading today: As a 90s baby, The Ringer's history of Nickelodeon hits the nostalgia sweet spot. Bonus: with the network's 30th(!) anniversary around the corner, cast your vote for the best Nickelodeon character.

Weather:

The National Weather Service says scattered showers, mainly before 7am. Patchy fog before 11am. Otherwise, cloudy, then gradually becoming mostly sunny, with a high near 79. Light and variable wind becoming east around 6 mph in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 30 percent. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch possible.

A slight chance of showers and thunderstorms after 2am. Partly cloudy, with a low around 70. South wind around 6 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20 percent.