Jail's No Place To Treat Addiction, Docs Say: 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 Thursday, October 28. Let's get started.

Doctors and political leaders panned a makeshift courtroom and treatment facility in the works at the Suffolk County jail.

Sheriff Steve Tompkins says he can help treat the mental health and substance abuse issues affecting many of the people living in nearby encampments. But critics say jail is no place to treat addiction.

"Addiction, homelessness, mental illness, poverty, structural barriers, including racism, have resulted in the humanitarian crisis we are seeing today," one addiction specialist told WBUR. "Thankfully, effective interventions for these issues exist, but they do not include displacing community members without meaningful and safer places to voluntarily go, and they don't include compulsory detention and jail based facilities."

Activists on Thursday protested the removal of tents at Mass. and Cass, which began this week following an executive order from Acting Mayor Kim Janey. Under the order, the city is required to offer those living in tents alternate housing and treatment options before removing them from the area.

Tompkins defended his plan to the Boston Herald, citing the approaching winter.

"I refuse to stand by and watch people lose their lives. This is Boston, and it's going to get very, very cold," Tompkins said.

Top stories

Special interest groups are making an 11th-hour push for their candidate in the race for Boston mayor. In the past two weeks, they've pumped more than $1 million into television and radio ads, mailers and voter outreach. (Boston Globe)

Boston's largest police union says a lag in the city's vaccine verification system is costing some officers who are fully vaccinated. But the city isn't buying that, saying it takes a day or less to verify vaccination records and negative COVID-19 tests, and employees were repeatedly told when enforcement would go into effect. (Boston Herald)

Restaurants are gearing up for a second pandemic winter, this time with higher vaccination rates and lower case counts. But even if customers are more comfortable dining inside, restaurateurs say they'll have to weather staffing and supply chain issues. (GBH)

Local voices

"There is — or was — a case to be made for Essaibi George. She would be a hands-on mayor with a practical, attainable agenda for Boston. She has the kind of basic connection to everyday Bostonians that comes from working as a high school teacher and small business owner." - Joan Vennochi, Boston Globe

"Bob Neumeier made his name in Boston, but his epic ‘Brawl at the Mall’ call will live forever in Harford Whalers folklore." - Dom Amore, Boston Herald

If you have a minute

Opposition to the Melrose superintendent's decision to no longer revolve fall celebrations around Halloween – which turned into accusations that she was "canceling" the holiday – has gotten out of hand, parents say.

And it's not just those in favor of the decision denouncing the over-the-top criticism of Superintendent Julie Kukenberger.

"There's been so much attacking that people were losing exactly what the petition was about," Cal Finocchiaro, who created the petition to "keep Halloween for our kids" that has 2,500 signatures, said. (Melrose Patch)

In case you missed it

Winthrop Police Chief Terence Delehanty supports the work of Communities for Restorative Justice, but says hiring a convicted cop killer as a fellow is a bridge too far.

Bobby Iacoviello fatally shot Revere police officer Dan Talbot in 2007, claiming he thought Talbot was a rival gang member who taunted his friend. Talbot was part of a group of off-duty police officers drinking behind Revere High School.

Delehanty says the wound is still fresh in Winthrop, where police saw firsthand how Talbot's death affected his family and fellow officers:

"Bobby couldn't work here."

(WCVB)

A lighter touch

Salem's historic Ropes Mansion, which doubled as Allison's house in "Hocus Pocus," will be decorated as it was in the movie through Halloween.

What I'm reading today: Tom Vitale, who started out notating film for "A Cook's Tour" and went on to direct and produce nearly 100 episodes of "No Reservations" and "Parts Unknown," shares what it was like to work with Anthony Bourdain. (Huckberry)

Weather: Mostly cloudy, with a high near 54. North wind 11 to 14 mph.

At night, mostly cloudy again, with a low around 42. North wind 6 to 8 mph.

– Alex Newman

About me: Alex is a Jersey transplant covering Arlington, Malden, Medford, Reading and Somerville for Patch. A graduate of Northeastern University, Alex has lived in the Boston area since college (though he still hasn't been able to bring himself to root for the Sox). He is an avid football and baseball fan, amateur woodworker and film geek. Alex lives in Chelsea with his fiancée, their dog and a revolving door of foster puppies.