Last week, my neighborhood and our state lost another victim to domestic violence (“Newton man charged, wife dead after alleged assault,” 07/16/2023). Three more children will grow up without a mother.

While the media reports on homicides and candlelight vigils, Beacon Hill lawmakers have before them legislation to curb this violent trend that begins with coercive control and too often ends in murder.

Coercive control in its many forms — emotional, psychological, physical, sexual, technological, financial, and legal — is the foundation of domestic abuse. Simply put, it restricts one’s safety and autonomy using isolation, fear, manipulation, and threats.

What happens behind closed doors spills into our neighborhoods, schools, and workplaces, impacting generations to come. One abuser can have many victims because outdated laws protect abusers.

Those who ignore the coercive tactics used by abusers, and those who profit by defending abusers and silencing victims, are equally guilty of perpetuating abuse. As a domestic abuse survivor, I will continue to speak out and advocate for all who have been silenced.

Massachusetts lawmakers have a collective choice ahead: do nothing or enact H.1547 and S.1077: An Act to Improve Protections Relative to Domestic Violence. Let’s not wait until another life is lost.

Carmen Aliber

Newton

You asked for new ideas to deal with the chaos of the Mass & Cass homeless, (“Tackle Mass & Cass today,” July 18).  My solution is not new; some may say it is out of fashion, even cold and heartless, but it could be worth a try.  Notify everyone on the street, by handouts, taped notices on the tents, or personally that they have 24 hours to vacate.  Then send in the bulldozers to demolish everything in its path, load up the trucks, and take everything to the dump.

If anyone is still around, arrest them for Trespassing, Disorderly Conduct, Obstruction of a Public Way, Vagrancy, Public Nuisance, Littering, Possession of CS, etc., whatever the police can think of and take them to court.  I would imagine that maybe half of that crowd already have outstanding warrants for their arrest.  Have the court give them a choice: Bail, Jail, or Detox.  Sure, maybe many will be released on Personal Recognizance, but with the condition not to return to the area of Mass & Cass during the pendency of their case.  If they return, they are arrested and can be held for up to 60 days for a violation of a court order.  Certainly, they are entitled to all the Due Process allowed by law.  Do you know how long it takes for even a simple case to wind its way through the court process?

In the meantime, do not let it reappear.  Every tent erected is instantly taken down.  Maybe station one patrol car to scare away anyone who attempts it.

Do not let Boston turn into San Francisco or Seattle.  We are better than that.

P.A. Morris

Brookline