Boston City Council Votes to Support Safe Injection Sites

Boston, September 26, 2025

News Summary

The Boston City Council voted 8-3 in favor of supporting legislation for safe injection sites aimed at providing supervised healthcare services for individuals using pre-obtained substances. The decision faced opposition from three councilors who raised concerns about public drug use and neighborhood safety. Residents expressed worries about rising drug use, with debates intensified by recent public hearings. Proponents argue these sites can reduce overdose deaths and health risks, while opponents emphasize the need for more traditional recovery resources and services.

Boston

The majority of the Boston City Council voted 8-3 to express support for legislation allowing the establishment of safe injection sites in the city and state. The council also voted down a resolution introduced by Councilor Ed Flynn, supported by Erin Murphy and John FitzGerald, which aimed to declare opposition to pending safe injection site legislation.

Key council action and vote

The council vote was 8-3 in favor of expressing support for legislation that would permit cities to create designated locations for supervised health care services for people using pre-obtained substances. The three councilors who voted in favor of the resolution opposing safe injection sites were Councilors Flynn, Murphy, and FitzGerald. The vote took place amid heightened resident concern about rising public drug use and safety issues spreading to neighborhoods beyond previously affected areas.

Local concerns raised

The vote reflects increasing concern from Boston residents about worsening public drug use and safety issues spreading to new neighborhoods. The resolution aimed to address issues raised by residents during a heated council hearing near Mass. and Cass, attended by hundreds expressing concerns over public drug use and associated dangers. Flynn highlighted issues in local neighborhoods, including used needles, human waste, and homeless individuals trespassing in private homes. Flynn expressed concerns that safe injection sites would worsen the public health crisis and incentivize drug use, rather than facilitate recovery.

Arguments from supporters and opponents

Proponents of safe injection sites argue they can reduce overdose deaths, lower disease transmission, save cities money, and decrease litter without increasing crime. Supporters of safe injection sites, including Councilor Gabriela Coletta Zapata, referenced research showing benefits and urged reliance on public health experts rather than politics. Councilor Liz Breadon stated that creating supportive overdose prevention sites across the state could alleviate pressure on Boston by providing resources in other towns.

Opponents focused on neighborhood impacts and recovery resources. FitzGerald emphasized the need to first fill gaps in existing recovery services before considering additional measures like safe injection sites. The three councilors expressed concerns about the regional distribution of services and the concentration of addiction treatment in the South End. Councilor Sharon Durkan questioned the process of opposing legislation in council chambers rather than testifying in state meetings.

State legislation and federal context

The legislation currently being debated at the state level allows cities to create designated areas for healthcare supervision of individuals using pre-obtained substances. Efforts to create safe injection sites may face federal opposition, as President Trump signed an executive order in July against funding such programs. U.S. Attorney Leah Foley previously characterized safe injection sites as categorically illegal.

Local data and broader debate

Council data from the previous year showed a significant drop in opioid-related overdose deaths in Boston. The decline in overdose deaths was presented to inform the council debate and to weigh potential impacts of new interventions against trends in existing data. The concept of safe injection sites has been contentious in Boston, with both sides presenting various arguments and concerns regarding their implementation and impact.

What happens next

The council’s expression of support is aimed at influencing the state-level debate and encouraging passage of legislation that would permit cities to implement supervised sites. If state legislation advances, cities that choose to proceed would be able to designate locations for supervised health services for people using pre-obtained substances. Federal policy and federal prosecutors’ positions may affect implementation and funding options.

{
“@context”: “https://schema.org”,
“@type”: “FAQPage”,
“mainEntity”: [
{
“@type”: “Question”,
“name”: “What did the Boston City Council vote?”,
“acceptedAnswer”: {
“@type”: “Answer”,
“text”: “The majority of the Boston City Council voted 8-3 to express support for legislation allowing the establishment of safe injection sites in the city and state.”
}
},
{
“@type”: “Question”,
“name”: “Did the council consider a resolution opposing safe injection sites?”,
“acceptedAnswer”: {
“@type”: “Answer”,
“text”: “The council voted down a resolution introduced by Councilor Ed Flynn, supported by Erin Murphy and John FitzGerald, which aimed to declare opposition to pending safe injection site legislation.”
}
},
{
“@type”: “Question”,
“name”: “Why did residents raise concerns at council hearings?”,
“acceptedAnswer”: {
“@type”: “Answer”,
“text”: “The resolution aimed to address issues raised by residents during a heated council hearing near Mass. and Cass, attended by hundreds expressing concerns over public drug use and associated dangers.”
}
},
{
“@type”: “Question”,
“name”: “What local problems were highlighted by opponents?”,
“acceptedAnswer”: {
“@type”: “Answer”,
“text”: “Flynn highlighted issues in local neighborhoods, including used needles, human waste, and homeless individuals trespassing in private homes.”
}
},
{
“@type”: “Question”,
“name”: “What does the state legislation propose?”,
“acceptedAnswer”: {
“@type”: “Answer”,
“text”: “The legislation currently being debated at the state level allows cities to create designated areas for healthcare supervision of individuals using pre-obtained substances.”
}
},
{
“@type”: “Question”,
“name”: “Are there federal obstacles to creating safe injection sites?”,
“acceptedAnswer”: {
“@type”: “Answer”,
“text”: “Efforts to create safe injection sites may face federal opposition, as President Trump signed an executive order in July against funding such programs.”
}
},
{
“@type”: “Question”,
“name”: “What did federal authorities say?”,
“acceptedAnswer”: {
“@type”: “Answer”,
“text”: “U.S. Attorney Leah Foley previously characterized safe injection sites as categorically illegal.”
}
}
]
}

Quick reference table

Deeper Dive: News & Info About This Topic

HERE Resources

Boston Police Report 278 Incidents Over 24 Hours
Boston City Council Votes on Safe Injection Sites
Boston City Council Reviews Stricter Background Check Policies
How To Contact Boston City Council Members
Best Boston Neighborhood For Young Professionals Near Public Transit
Ed Flynn Introduces Resolution Against Safe Injection Sites in Boston
Boston’s Mass. and Cass Area Shows Signs of Change Amid Concerns
Somerville Responds to Federal Order on Homeless Encampments

Additional Resources

• Boston.com: Boston City Council Supports Safe Injection Sites
• NBC Boston: City Council Votes on Safe Injection Sites Resolution
• Boston Herald: City Council Backs Safe Injection Sites Amid Crisis
• AP News: Massachusetts Bill on Supervised Injection Sites
• Wikipedia: Safe Injection Site

Author: STAFF HERE BOSTON WRITER

BOSTON STAFF WRITER The BOSTON STAFF WRITER represents the experienced team at HEREBoston.com, your go-to source for actionable local news and information in Boston, Suffolk County, and beyond. Specializing in "news you can use," we cover essential topics like product reviews for personal and business needs, local business directories, politics, real estate trends, neighborhood insights, and state news affecting the area—with deep expertise drawn from years of dedicated reporting and strong community input, including local press releases and business updates. We deliver top reporting on high-value events such as Boston Marathon, Head of the Charles Regatta, and Boston Harborfest. Our coverage extends to key organizations like the Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce and Associated Industries of Massachusetts, plus leading businesses in finance, biotech, and insurance that power the local economy such as Fidelity Investments, Biogen, and Liberty Mutual Insurance. As part of the broader HERE network, we provide comprehensive, credible insights into Massachusetts's dynamic landscape.