City Councillors critical of state’s mishandling of vetting process at local shelter

By Barbara Taormina

REVERE – The first mention of the recent arrest of a Dominican national for possession of an automatic rifle and 10 pounds of fentanyl and cocaine at the Quality Inn emergency assistance shelter came during the public comment segment of this week’s City Council meeting. Revere Street resident Wayne Rose asked if the state needed permission to place individuals in a hotel in Revere, which Rose added jeopardizes the safety of citizens of Revere. Rose also asked if there is any way to change the Commonwealth’s status as a sanctuary state.

City Council President Marc Silvestri responded that these are state issues and not within the City Council’s purview. Governor Maura Healy has said state officials will review the right to shelter law as well as other aspects of the emergency shelter system, including time limits on shelter stays.

There were two motions filed in response to the arrest at the Quality Inn. Ward 3 Councillor Anthony Cogliandro called for the police to work with the management of Revere hotels to investigate each occupied room in the city for suspicious or illegal activity. Cogliandro, however, asked that his motion be placed on file. He said he had spoken with the mayor and the police, and everyone is working together to ensure public safety.

In a statement released on Jan. 7, 2025, by Mayor Patrick Keefe following the incident at the Quality Inn regarding 10 pounds of fentanyl and the AR-15 seizure at Quality Inn Emergency Family Shelter: “The Revere Police seizure of 10 pounds of deadly fentanyl and a high-capacity weapon at the Quality Inn Emergency Family Shelter in Revere reflects the good work of our police and law enforcement partners to keep all in our community safe. We cannot let individuals who prey on vulnerable people and who seek to do harm access our country through systems meant to help those fleeing the same violence in their home lands. We will continue to work in partnership with our state and federal leaders to uphold the laws of our commonwealth and our values of protecting children from sleeping on the street. The City of Revere has increased the police presence at this facility and will continue to hold the operator of the property responsible for any and all fees or costs associated with this additional enforcement support. We are in lockstep with our state leaders in calling for better controls at the federal level to stop those who seek to do harm from gaining entry into our communities.”

A second motion – filed by Councillor-at-Large Michelle Kelley – called for representatives from the state’s Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities to appear before the council to discuss the vetting process for people who are given rooms at emergency assistance shelters and what steps are in place to ensure individuals engaged in illegal activity are not in the shelter system in Revere.

Kelley gave a blistering critique of the state’s failure to properly vet and oversee the shelter system. “The public’s anger is justified, and I stand with them in demanding answers,” she said.

Kelley called the state’s failure to conduct background checks on people in emergency shelters “a prime example of common sense being thrown out the window.”

She said it is appalling that a state-run resource, funded by taxpayer dollars, operating under a unique right-to-shelter law is so fundamentally flawed. Kelley is also looking for answers from state officials who may be looking to place people in permanent housing within the city.

“It’s imperative we have a full discussion,” she said. “Our community deserves transparency.”

Councillor-at-Large Anthony Zambuto called the state’s right-to-shelter law a noble and well-intended mistake that was never meant to provide shelter for a wave of new migrants, but rather for citizens in need. “Sanctuary cities protect criminals and we have to wake up,” he said.

Ward 5 Councillor Angela Guarino-Sawaya said the arrest at the Quality Inn highlighted the need for thorough background checks, which should have been implemented in the beginning. “Residents deserve a community where safety and security is held at all levels,” she said.

Council President Silvestri called the issue a touchy and emotional topic. He acknowledged that there were protections and guidelines in place that were missed. But he stressed it’s a situation that has a lot of moving parts and added that it is time to rally together and make sure the problem is solved legally and morally.

The council voted 10-0 in support of Kelley’s motion with Councillor-at-Large Juan Pablo Jaramillo being recused from the vote.