The Focus Turns To Mass. And Cass: The HUB

The HUB is an effort to get you caught up on whatever you need to know each weekday in Boston and around Massachusetts.

Today is Friday, June 18. Let's get started.

4 Things To Know Today

‘We have failed everyone down here’: Mass. and Cass becomes a campaign issue

For years, city officials have been fighting — and largely losing — the battle against the opioid epidemic at the intersection of Massachusetts Avenue and Melnea Cass Boulevard, known as Mass. and Cass. They have poured in money and resources but the complex problems in the neighborhood persist.

Now it has emerged as a central issue in the mayoral race, with multiple major candidates releasing plans that would dedicate still more resources — along with other tactics — to resolving the opioid and homelessness crises that have only intensified during the pandemic. (Danny McDonald, Boston Globe)

Boston’s Stormwater Problems Are Older Than The City Itself

Boston’s stormwater problems are older than the city itself. As European colonists began settling in the area during the 1630s, they quickly found that the clay-rich soil didn’t absorb water very well. City archeologist Joe Bagley says that when it rained, parts of the city could turn into a muddy “Slip-N-Slide.”

To remedy the problem, residents started digging up the cobblestone roads outside their homes and creating underground channels for runoff to flow to the harbor. These rudimentary “pipes” were constructed with brick and usually had slate bottoms and tops. (Miriam Wasser, WBUR)

Boston Scraps Plan To Open Virtual School This Fall

Boston officials have changed course, saying they will not open a virtual school in the fall, a choice that was popular among some Black and Latino families.

"It's too late in the year to start up a full K-12 school," Superintendent Brenda Cassellius told the Boston School Committee Wednesday. "We will not have our own BPS virtual school next year."

Cassellius said she thought the district could have opened the school if it had gotten the "green light" in June, but the state Department of Elementary and Secondary Education had questions about its plan and asked for revisions, "which put us into mid-July." (Meg Woolhouse, GBH)

‘Zero tolerance’: Local officials cracking down on bringing booze to Boston beaches

Under the direction of a local lawmaker, Boston police are cracking down on boozy beach days.

City Councilor Ed Flynn said there have been numerous complaints of people ordering liquor deliveries to addresses near M Street or Carson Beach and then bringing the alcohol onto the sand.

“I asked the Boston police to be very aggressive in any company that delivers alcohol to the beaches of South Boston,” he said. (Eric Kane, 7News)

'A More Humane Way'

You might not agree with it — and I'm not saying it's the most effective/efficient solution — but I'm giving kudos to Chelsea for trying it. A program that gave 2,000 families as much as $400 a month during the pandemic is coming to an end. Say what you will, but sign me up for empathy and helping people, even if it's an imperfect system. Bruce Mohl at CommonWealth asks if Chelsea Eats is nearing an end ... or a beginning.

What I'm reading today: Jemar Tisby, author and deputy director of narrative and advocacy at the Center for Antiracist Research at Boston University, has an interesting piece at the Globe titled "The unintended consequences of making Juneteenth a national holiday."

And, what the heck, let's throw this fun story in from Spencer Buell at Boston Magazine about "The Unlikely Rise, and Uncommonly Wide Appeal, of Boston’s 'Be a Man' Guy."

Weather

The National Weather Service says: During the day — Increasing clouds, with a high near 84. Southwest wind 5 to 11 mph. At night — Mostly cloudy, with a low around 64. Southwest wind around 10 mph.

Have a swell weekend.

You can email me at mike.carraggi@patch.com and follow me @PatchCarraggi.