BOS:311

Subject: Safety Concerns Outside Cooper Community Center I am a parent of a child who attends Cooper Community Center. Every day I walk with my child between the South End and the school along Washington Street. I am writing to request improvements to the safety conditions directly outside the school entrance. As a parent, I do not feel that the area is safe during school drop-off and pick-up times. The main concerns are: During arrival and dismissal times, people are frequently gathered directly in front of the school gate. I have witnessed individuals apparently using drugs, engaging in suspected drug transactions, and fighting. These groups do not remain only at the bus stop or along the edge of the sidewalk. They often stand in the middle of the sidewalk, making it difficult for families with young children to pass safely. I frequently see used syringes, used condoms, and large amounts of discarded food and trash on the sidewalk near the school. Although I occasionally see police patrols in the area, any improvement is only temporary, and the situation quickly returns to the way it was before. Before summer break, I kept a record of what I observed outside the school gate. I hope this information will be helpful. The attached map shows the area where these observations were recorded. Please note that I only counted people directly in front of the school entrance. There were often additional people gathered on both sides of the school and in the adjacent park who were not included in these counts. Observations (people engaged in the activities described above): June 5, 2:58 PM – 14 people June 7, 3:00 PM – 6 people June 9, 2:57 PM – 7 people June 11, 2:29 PM – 6 people June 12, 2:55 PM – 5 people June 15, 3:01 PM – 13 people June 16, 2:58 PM – 14 people June 17, 2:59 PM – 7 people June 18, 3:15 PM – 15 people June 22, 2:56 PM – 5 people (1 police vehicle present, rainy) June 23, 2:55 PM – 0 people (rainy) June 24, 2:57 PM – 3 people I appreciate the work that the City of Boston has already done in this neighborhood. However, I respectfully ask the City to consider additional measures to improve safety around the entrance to Cooper Community Center, especially during school arrival and dismissal times, so that children and families can travel to and from school safely. Thank you for your time and consideration.

Syringes on schoolyard. Phoned in already but wanted to share pic of location

Illegal parking