Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey, a Democrat, has decided that a sports center in Boston will be used to house migrants for up to four months, depriving a majority-Black community of a place for indoor recreation in the winter.
The Harvard graduate was accused of mistreating the Roxbury neighborhood after she locked residents out of the Melnea A. Cass Recreational Complex with less than two days notice, the Boston Globe reported.
State Sen. Liz Miranda, D-Roxbury, said she and others have been requesting repairs and updates to the center's restrooms, floors, and security, which she estimated could cost $500,000. It is unclear how much the state will spend on the facility, according to the Globe.
"The outrage you're seeing is valid. Roxbury has never gotten its fair share out of the city and the state," Miranda said. But, she added, she also can't watch women and children sleep in an airport and outside, and understands the difficulty Healey faces in navigating a crisis that demands not just more federal help but assistance from other communities.
The Globe reported that officials estimate the facility could house 125 families.
The complex has long been a home to community sports groups providing a much-needed outlet for at-risk youngsters.
"It's the long-term effect that we're concerned about," said Domingos DaRosa, president of the Boston Bengals youth athletic organization. "Reengaging these kids might not be as easy as 1-2-3."
Hassan Ahmed of Boston United Track and Cross Country said the decision had left his program instantly homeless.
The migrants are expected to start moving in on Wednesday as the Roxbury site becomes the state's fourth safety-net site for those waiting for a place in Massachusetts' emergency shelter system.