Methadone Mile Inaction Forces Unenviable Decision: 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, September 16. Let's get started.

It's an impossible choice – feed those in need, or protect them – but one the Greater Boston Food Bank is facing amid heightened violence on Methadone Mile.

Catherine D'Amato, president and CEO of the food bank, told the Boston Herald its exposure is about $1 million as it beefs up security, including surveillance systems, gates and round-the-clock guards, to address the growing number of encampments, which has doubled in the last month.

That means "thousands and thousands" of people are going hungry, as the food bank has to divert funding to security measures that it would normally spend on meals, D'Amato said.

The situation at Mass and Cass, which she called a "grave safety emergency," comes amid a period of increased joblessness and food insecurity due to the pandemic.

Read more from the Boston Herald.

Top stories

Campaigning never sleeps, and neither do people waiting on election results. While Boston counted mail-in ballots well into the night, the two declared winners of Tuesday's preliminary geared up for the general election campaign for mayor. City Councilors Michelle Wu and Annissa Essaibi George wasted no time taking shots at one another, Wu painting her opponent as the status quo and Essaibi George portraying Wu's progressive ambitions as unrealistic. (Boston Globe)

A former firefighter who alleged a racist work environment reached an $11 million settlement with the town of Brookline. The agreement, which is subject to a special town meeting vote, will close a "painful 11-year saga which deeply harmed [Gerald] Alston and brought discredit to the town of Brookline," the Select Board said. (WBUR)

The Supreme Judicial Court upheld a verdict requiring cigarette company Phillip Morris to pay $21 million to the family of a Lynn man who died of lung cancer. The decision could pave the way for similar wrongful death lawsuits filed against companies by the families of smokers. But the company argues it's shielded by a 1998 settlement with multiple states, including Massachusetts, that precludes individual lawsuits. (Commonwealth Magazine)

Local voices

"Not going to her own election night gathering, leaving behind an empty lectern and the people who believed in her. That illustrates how Acting Mayor Kim Janey ran her campaign for mayor and why she lost it." - Joan Vennochi, Boston Globe

"The question that will be answered on Nov. 2 is whether Boston is ready to embrace [Michelle] Wu’s ambitious, far-left agenda." - Joe Battenfeld, Boston Herald

"Boston's next mayor will break twin barriers by being the first woman and first person of color to lead the city. But the storyline of big change comes tinged with one where Black residents again are shut out and won’t see a mayor emerge from their community." - Michael Jonas, Commonwealth Magazine

"The abysmal turnout in Tuesday’s preliminary mayoral election was a signal that, to many Boston residents, picking the next mayor and members of the city council just doesn’t seem all that important." - Boston Globe Editorial Board

Did you know?

Massachusetts has rattlesnakes. In fact, the timber rattler is native to all six New England states, but it's among the region's most endangered species and can only survive in a handful of environments.

One of those is apparently the Blue Hills Reservation. Keep an eye out next time you're hiking – these suckers typically grow up to 5 feet long, and they are venomous.

What I'm reading today: Blink-182's Tom DeLonge is a bona fide UFO expert. The guitarist's fascination with aliens was a running joke when he first quit the band, but now it's enough for the U.S. government to take him seriously: in 2019, he was cited as a UFO source by the Department of Defense. (Esquire)

Weather:

The National Weather Service says a chance of showers and thunderstorms. Patchy fog before 2pm. Otherwise, cloudy, with a high near 71. North wind 5 to 10 mph becoming east in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 40 percent. New rainfall amounts of less than a tenth of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.

A chance of showers, mainly between 10pm and 5am. Patchy fog after 8pm. Otherwise, mostly cloudy, with a low around 64. Northeast wind 5 to 7 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30 percent.

– 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.