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Resident asks Moulton to press to remove ‘no loitering’ gazebo sign; congressman empathizes and links to broader immigration discussion
Summary
A Peabody resident asked Congressman Moulton to have a ‘no loitering’ sign removed from Beverly Commons’ gazebo, saying the rule criminalizes homelessness; Moulton said he sympathizes and connected the concern to broader debates about immigration and caring for the vulnerable.
A constituent asked Congressman Seth Moulton to intervene to have a “no loitering” sign removed from a gazebo in Beverly Commons, arguing the rule criminalizes people experiencing homelessness.
The resident said the sign — which the city of Beverly put up, he said — feels discriminatory and could expose people to criminal penalties for simple acts such as standing at the gazebo to look around. He characterized the penalty as severe, saying it can carry prison time and substantial fines.
Moulton responded by expressing empathy and noting the broader debate about how communities care for people who are poor or displaced. “There are a lot of people in the community who feel, as you do, about the need to take care of homeless,” he said, and added that the community must find the right balance between public order and compassion.
He also tied the concern into wider immigration and municipal budget issues discussed that evening and said his office would listen to constituent concerns and suggested remedies.
