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first of all, I’d love to know a single instance where social workers have successfully made even the slightest improvement in such a “public health crisis”. Many social workers push bullshit “harm reduction” tactics that involve providing addicts with needles in the hopes that somehow that will make them choose to go to rehab. That doesn’t really inspire confidence in their methods.

second of all, if other people are being threatened by the behavior of those hanging around central square, it is no longer just a “public health crisis”. I have been followed and threatened at central. So have many other people I know. Last time I checked, these are issues that should be handled by police.

This isn’t a defense of the Cambridge police, BTW— I’m not anti police, but I think they are either lazy or corrupt or some combination of the two. I called them when I was being followed and threatened at central and they did nothing. They seem to respond to noise complaints and speeding but nothing else.

Welp I moved here around 2019 so that’s why I didn’t notice. Still, I can think of a lot shadier places where there is still a Starbucks.

I've lived here a long time. It has picked up since 2019.

Sure, there has always been a group of people who hang out in front of Cambridge Savings, but now there are people actively doing drugs, passing out in the parks adjacent to the square.

I mean I didn’t think things there were particularly worse than the last few years, but perhaps I’m missing something.

There's a Cambridge Police satellite office across the street but when you are asking police officers to respond to a public health crisis and act as de facto social workers for people without access to healthcare this is what you get

I'm not a fan of Starbucks. The space will undoubtedly be turned into another bank. It's more about the message of what's happening in Central Square. Is the CPD doing anything to help this situation?

I live outside of Central and walked through there this morning on the way to work. Trash and needles on the street. People yelling at each other and acting belligerent. It looks bad.

Bingo. Thank you.

Howard Schultz getting out ahead of another unionized store I see

Have there been a bunch of incidents there? I haven't heard of anything like that...

Saw it on Cambridgeday. Closes Nov. 13th.

https://www.cambridgeday.com/2022/10/14/crime-is-costing-central-square-its-starbucks/

User error. If everyone went the speed limit, they would have enough time to slow down to avoid these accidents. But dinguses trying to shave seconds off their hour long commute kill and maim pedestrians while simultaneously destroying property.

There should be a license plate reader to identify people who drive over the speed limit so we can drive to their suburban shit space and drive over the speed limit and generally terrorize them in their backwater town.

This other person seems to think people both need parking and increasing the population of Cambridge doesn't require more infrastructure. Which is it, do people need parking or not? Minimum parking requirements mean new development can accommodate parking. If you think people people don't want parking, then how am I "shutting the door behind me"? Especially since I'm the one who wants parking for them?

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I've narrowly avoided a few accidents there and it's really hard to see oncoming traffic from the right thanks to that fence.

The stop sign is that far back because of the crosswalk, and with so many pedestrians drivers feel like they have to take whatever opportunity they get to squeeze through.

Stop sign, that’s cute. When was the last time you saw anyone stop for a stop sign? It’s a god damn free for all out there

Dealerships have all types of buyers but housing doesn’t? I don’t think you grasped my analogy at all—the literal point was that car dealerships aren’t in the same situation because we DON’T heavily regulate the manufacture and sale of cars. The margins for luxury condo sales are so high BECAUSE new development of ANY kind is so restricted. I’m not spamming, it’s what any person with a basic knowledge of business or economics would tell you.

Edit: Also, if your concern is too many cars in cities, isn’t the logical solution to BAN MORE CARS (rather than ban more housing, which at best indirectly affects the number of new cars in the city)?

Yeah, that's a good question. I think it's probably a combination of things -- the stop sign on the right is set pretty far back on Franklin St, so cars who don't know the intersection stop without a line of sight to Brookline then proceed before checking for oncoming traffic. The big purple fence certainly blocks the view. But also cars fly way too fast down Brookline Street. I've seen the aftermath of so many accidents here lately.

Do you think there is something about this intersection that makes it especially hazardous? (Or is there just something about the drivers on Brookline that makes them hazardous?)

What data is that? Can you cite some references please?

This is so dumb. There are greater margins for luxury condo sales. If more housing could be constructed in an indemand market such as this, you'll have more overpriced luxury condos-- unless it's gov mandated. Car dealers aren't even close to the situation Cambridge is in. Dealerships have allllll types of buyers. Your analogy isn't even remotely close. Quit spamming.

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There are many large apartment buildings in this city that are over 100 years old. What the fuck is this post even supposed to mean.

“Only the rich or geriatrics who purchased 40 years ago can live in Cambridge!”

I live in Cambridge for reasons, and at present automobile carriages are required for my work.

There are many, many disabled people who are unable to drive. Extremely presumptive and borderline offensive to make an argument that all disabled people benefit from car infrastructure.

Also, where in this thread does it say “No cars allowed” ?