Editorial: Tackle Mass & Cass today

When kids can’t play football it’s time to say enough! We’ve reached the point when this state needs to come together to fix all that’s wrong with Mass and Cass.

As the Herald reported, needles, human feces and other trash that litter the 8-acre Clifford Park are the driving factor behind the increasing lack of interest from players and parents to participate in a city Pop Warner program. The park is just blocks away from Mass & Cass.

Philanthropist hero Ernie Boch Jr., as we first reported, is kicking in $15,000 to rescue the upcoming season for the kids. “The situation – it’s just so difficult,” Boch said, in part. He’s one of Greater Boston’s unsung heroes who make living here a privilege.

There is no easy solution to the opioid epidemic. It’s not going to help to point fingers, but when kids suffer it’s time to step up the brainstorming. Mayor Michelle Wu has an opportunity here to jump in and be a leader, but she can’t do it alone. Gov. Maura Healey must help.

Instead of heading off on another junket, the governor should devote her time to finding solutions to the Methadone Mile. It may be unpopular to call out her recent travel habits, but it’s the governor’s job to be pragmatic about the problems this state faces.

Fixing Mass and Cass must be a priority. Both the mayor and governor should hold weekly meetings where they co-chair a city-state task force.

What about the idea of a floating hospital pitched by state Sen. Nick Collins? Why not dig into that idea.

What about speeding up the construction of a new Long Island Bridge?

Until it opens, what about a dedicated ferry service?

The micro housing idea, never a popular option, was just a start and still seems impractical since Mass and Cass is still the go-to hangout spot.

The mayor’s long-term plan is also a good start.

But, frankly, it’s not moving fast enough. Boston can’t go the way of San Francisco with a downtown lost to the addicts. We need everyone pitching in — yesterday.

The city’s syringe return database states that as of the last weekly report, June 25, 22,282 syringes were given out and 56,792 were taken in. That’s a return rate of 2.55, the city portal reads.

Sobering statistics, for sure. But it illustrates just how dire this situation has become.

The Long Island Bridge project is now progressing through the tedious permitting process, as the city states in an online landing page.

Are we missing an opportunity here to fast-track this project?

The last entry from June 15 states: “United States Coast Guard issues its Preliminary Navigation Clearance Determination, finding that the project will not unreasonably obstruct the free navigation of the waters over which the superstructure will be constructed. This finding is a prerequisite to the issuance of a final Federal Bridge Permit.”

Hit the throttle, then.

The police and EMS personnel along with other city health and sanitation workers need this issue to be pushed to the front of the line. The Pop Warner kids deserve all adults — this paper included — to focus on stopping the misery infecting the Mile from spreading out.

If you have an idea, send it to [email protected] and we will print them all. Ernie Boch Jr. sure took the time to think about this. We all can, too.