昆士市著名慈善家Rob Hale 再登富比士億萬富翁榜 麻州共25人

2016年時的麻州州長查理貝克（Charlie Baker)和昆士市長柯奇（Tom Koch)
一起支持Rob Hale的削髮籌款義舉，（檔案照片，周菊子攝）

          (Boston Orange綜合編譯) 2026年的富比士億萬富翁榜出爐了。昆士市的Rob Hale，去年個人財富成長2億，再次上榜。

            根據該報告，Rob Hale的財富淨值從58億美元增長到60億美元。全世界共3428名億萬富翁的財富也從16兆增加到20.1兆元，整整增加了25%。

2024年Rob Hale（中）參加Pride大遊行。（檔案照片，周菊子攝）

            在麻州的25名億萬富翁中，Rob Hale排名第六，僅次於富達投資（Fidelity）創辦人Edward Johnson II的3名繼承人，以及新英格蘭愛國者隊（Patriots）東主Robert Kraft，以及新平衡（New Balance）主席Jim Davis。

            Rob Hale 今年59歲，把他的花崗岩通訊公司（ Granite Telecommunications） 和FoxRock Properties 房地產公司的總部，都設在昆士市。根據「富比士」的報道，他是全球第694大富豪，排名比去年的第585位下滑了。

            Rob Hale是麻州Northampton的本地人，在Hingham 和波士頓都有家居住處。根據「富比士」，他是在先前創辦的Network Plus公司破產，裁員數百人後，才於2002年創辦了花崗岩通訊公司。

            他的出名，倒不是因為有錢，而是捐錢。2021年4月她大手筆的捐了3000萬元給他位於康州的母校，康乃狄克學院（Connecticut College）之後，同年5月，他開始了畢業驚喜捐款，發給每名畢業生1000元，要求學生們自己留下500元，捐出500元給一個慈善機構。2021是昆士學院（Quincy College）的200多名畢業生，2022年洛士百利（Roxbury）社區學院150名畢業生，2023年麻州大學波士頓分校的2500名畢業生，2024年是麻州大學達特茅斯分校的1200名畢業生。2025年5月則是橋水州立大學的1400名學生。

            Rob Hale說發給畢業生每人1000元這事，他會繼續下去，他也每年都收到很多畢業演講邀請，但他不會提早透露將去哪個學校，以免破壞驚喜。

            Rob Hale其他的備受矚目慈善行動，還有2022年時，他和妻子Karen宣布了一項挑戰，要在一整年內，每週捐100萬元給一個小型或中型的非營利組織（NGO）。一年下來，他們也真的給52個機構各捐了100萬元，以及2024年2月捐款1億美元給波士頓兒童醫院。

            根據昆市府資料，花崗岩通訊現在是昆士市第二大雇主，有2000名員工。道富集團（State Street）則是第一大，有3774名員工。

            Rob Hale的FoxRock物業公司在昆士市開發了大型住宅大樓，例如Ashlar Park和Center and Stone，還正在城中心蓋新的醫療中心。昆士市愛國者紀事報（Patriot Ledger）指出，這醫療中心的5000萬元停車場興建費是昆士市政府付錢。

            根據FoxRock網站，這家公司從Burlington 到 Norwell擁有500多萬平方英尺的商業地產。2024年時，這家公司以600萬元收購了在6年前以4300萬元出售的皇冠殖民大道（Crown Colony Drive）1200號的辦公室大樓，

            麻州的億萬富翁榜：

Abigail Johnson, 富達投資（Fidelity Investments）執行長; $332億元

Robert Kraft, 新英格蘭愛國者隊（New England Patriots）東主; $138 億元。

Edward Johnson IV,富達投資執行長的弟弟; $136億元。 

Elizabeth Johnson, 富達投資執行長的妹妹; $116 億元。

Jim Davis, 新平衡（New Balance）的主席; $63 億元。

Robert Hale Jr., 花崗岩通訊（Granite Telecommunications）執行長; $60億元。

Patrizio Vinciarelli, Vicor 執行長, $43億元。

Amos Hostetter Jr., 飛行員嗚協會（Pilot House Associates）主席; $39億元。

Hemant Taneja, 通用催化（General Catalyst）執行長; $36億元。

John Fish, 薩福克建築（Suffolk Construction）執行長; $36億元。

Ted Alfond, Dexter 鞋公司繼承人; $35 億元。

Bill Alfond, Dexter 鞋公司繼承人; $35 億元。

Alan Trefler, Pegasystems執行長; $35 億元。

William "Bill" Chisholm, 波士頓凱爾特隊（Boston Celtics）東主; $32億元。

Phillip T. (Terry) Ragon, InterSystems創辦人; $32億元。

Herb Chambers, 新英格蘭汽車經銷商巨頭; $28 億元。

Liesel Pritzker Simmons, 凱悅酒店（Hyatt Hotel）繼承人; $21 億元。

Noubar Afeyan, 莫德納（Moderna）主席暨共同創辦人; $19 億元。

Larry Culp, GE Aerospace 主席; $18 億元。

Jeremy Allaire, Circle執行長; $16億元。 

Frank Laukien, Bruker Corp.執行長; $15 億元。

Seth Klarman, Baupost 集團執行長暨主席; $15億元。 

Paul Fireman, Reebok前主席; $15億元。 

Jim Koch, 製造Samuel Adams啤酒的波士頓啤酒公司（Boston Beer Co., ）主席; $14 億元。

Timothy Springer, 莫德納（Moderna）的創始投資人; $11 億元。

根據樂施會（Oxfam），富比士億萬富豪在全球人口中只佔極小一部分，但他們擁有的財富卻幾乎是全世界底層41億人的財富總和。

昆士市有意買下東納薩瑞學院主校園 公聽會中市民意見多元 （附市長總結視頻）

昆士市東納薩瑞學院（Eastern Nazarene College）正在出售主校園（綠色部分）。
（周菊子攝）

       （Boston Orange周菊子波士頓綜合報導）昆士市興國街(Hancock)上很新的中央中學（Central Middle School），3月18日晚湧入幾百居民，對東納薩瑞學院（Eastern Nazarene College）20英畝主校園該不該買，該用來做什麼發表意見。柯奇（Tom Koch）市長說，該學院有還債壓力，希望此事一個月內能定案。

昆市市長Tom Koch在會後回答居民提問。（周菊子攝）

            18日晚的這場徵詢意見活動，緣起於佔地20英畝，位於昆士市Wollaston區的東納薩瑞學院，已於2024年因財務等因素關閉。2025年初，校方原本要做好出售校園準備，但發展商Crain公司提出，在這塊地上蓋600個單位，讓昆士市府擔心Wollaston普遍為單家庭屋，最多2到3層樓高的地區風貌會丕變，人口變遷後的稅收，恐怕不足以負擔增加的公共設施，學校等支出。

昆士市市長柯奇（Tom Koch)和麻州參議員John Kenan聯袂出席公聽會。（周菊子攝）

            於是儘管Crain公司已於2025年4月，斥資450萬元買下了東納薩瑞學院位於Old Colony Avenue，包括幼兒園和課後托育中心的衛星物業，但校方和發展商之間的主校園交易，礙於昆士市府的相關發展規定，觸礁了。

昆市學校委員會委員梁錦輝（右）也來參加公聽會。（周菊子攝）

            昆市市長柯奇（Tom Koch）在今年2月發表的市情咨文中宣佈，昆士市府有意出面收購東納薩瑞學院校園，以期地方面貌，社區特色，居民生活品質得到保護。

            由於這筆交易可能要花數千萬元，昆士市居民意見頗爲分歧。

            坊間根據Crain花了450萬元買下東薩納瑞學院的衛星物業，估計主校園區的價格在5000到7000萬元之間。

在3月18日的會議中，居民以黃色貼紙表達了正反兩派的許多意見。

公聽會結束後，仍有許多人留在會場繼續交談。（周菊子攝）

支持方有居民John Fitzmaurice認為可針對年輕的首購族，或是處於空巢期，跨入高齡退休階段，需要較小居屋的耆英，來蓋可負擔房屋。有居民認為Cove藝術中心這類的表演藝術中心應保留，給昆士交響樂團，合唱團一個正式演出場地，有居民強調保留綠地，呼籲保留「巴布克植物園（Babcock Arboretum）」，保護水杉（Dawn Redwood），多種樹。

反對方則認為，昆士市已經揹著高達16

昆士市市議員袁自強也在現場。（周菊子攝）

億美元巨額債務，再花幾千萬元，昆士市可能無力承受。也有人質疑，市府斥巨資買地後，可能得用巨額抵稅優惠來吸引發展商承建，豈不是得不償失？

QARI執行長莊建浩。（周菊子攝）

昆市市長柯奇在會後表示，這是一場關於東納薩瑞學院（ENC）物業的公聽會。昆士市府有意購買，要徵詢校園周遭所有居民的想法，意見及建議。

出席民眾探問更多資訊。（周菊子攝）

柯奇市長說，ENC校園四周全是單家庭屋，昆市府不希望這地區有太密集的住宅，降低了這鄰里的價值，所以在這晚舉辦公聽會，將來也會在昆市府和ENC洽商購買時，繼續舉辦公聽會。

柯奇市長表示，從當晚居民們表達的意見來看，大體是支持的，而且想要對將來在那塊校地上給些意見，所以昆士市府將把這晚收集到的所有意見，都納入考量。最後在某個時候設計出一個發展計劃來，然後再回頭徵詢公眾意見，交給市議會討論。所以這事還有好些步驟，要一步一步來。

             當晚約有300多民眾出席，東納薩瑞學院也出動了將近50人在中央中學體育館擺出攤位，向民眾說明該校主校園內還有大約14棟房屋，將來可保留，翻修，出租，或是鏟平另作他用，都看居民怎麼想。出席者還包括麻州參議員John Kenan，昆士市市議員袁自強，昆士市學校委員會委員梁錦輝，昆市亞協服務中心執行長莊建浩。      

現場資訊。（周菊子攝）

東納薩瑞學院主校園內有十餘棟房屋。（周菊子攝）

東納薩瑞學院工作人員。（周菊子攝）

華林功夫太極館從摩頓、昆士到波士頓 余翠梅喜報第3家開張了

余翠梅在到賀民眾面前指揮舞獅。（周菊子攝）

            (Boston Orange 周菊子麻州綜合報導)大波士頓目前最受矚目女師傅余翠梅位於波士頓市西洛士百利（West Roxbury）的第3家華林功夫太極館，3月14日這天中午，在10頭瑞獅齊舞，鑼鼓聲喧上天的熱鬧中，開張啦！

Bob Rosen （左起），余翠梅，蘇靜恩三代師徒一起向祖師爺祭拜。（周菊子攝）

            余翠梅經營武館的歷程，有如10年磨一劍，最早 2006年在摩頓市（Malden），接著2016年在昆士市（Quincy），然後今年（2026）在波士頓市，連續開張3家武館，如今加總起來已有250多名學生。

            掛在牆上的華林功夫太極館“家族”成員則為26人，其中余翠梅、Amy Tran和如今在勒星頓學區擔任小學教育總監的蘇靜恩等3人為師父，其他的師兄姐中有不下9名洋人。

新館開張要祭祖。（周菊子攝）

            3月14日這天，余翠梅率徒弟蘇靜恩（Andrea So），邀得麻州眾議員Steven Ultrino，波士頓基金會亞美社區基金發起人李保華（Paul Lee），昆士市首名華裔學校委員會委員梁錦輝（Tom Leung）等嘉賓，為3頭瑞獅點睛，還請來財神，安排十頭瑞獅在以象徵吉祥的桔子所排出來的「發」字旁，配合鑼鼓聲的跳躍，舞動，大廳內圍滿到賀人群，煞是熱鬧。

            10歲出頭就開始追隨在波士頓華埠內開館授徒的華林派師傅Bob Rosen習武，成為武術名家陳培徒孫的余翠梅，過去這20

余翠梅（左起）請梁錦輝，李保華，Steven Ultrino等嘉賓來為瑞獅點睛。（周菊子攝）

多年來，不但自己從不懈怠的練功習武，還十分注重中華文化傳承，公益服務精神。不但武館牌位上安放有祖師肖像，還有「尊祖尊師尊教導，學仁學義學功夫」對聯，提醒學生要尊師重道，講究仁義，她自己也勤於學習，取得塔芙茨大學碩士學位，還熱心公益，舉辦過許多場自衛防身工作坊，支援地方上的節慶活動。她帥學生前往各地參加武術比賽，也得獎無數。

10頭瑞獅圍著一個發字，煞有氣勢。（周菊子攝）

            由於余翠梅的華林功夫太極館經常參與社區活動，她和摩頓市長Gary Christenson，昆市市長Tom Koch，以及轄區包括摩頓市的聯邦眾議員凱薩琳克拉克（Katherine M. Clark）也都熟稔十分。

            查詢華林功夫太極館詳情，可上網https://www.wahlumacademy.com/。

華林功夫太極館請梁錦輝，李保羅，Steven Ultrino等人拿筆，為瑞獅點睛。（周菊子攝）

武館梁柱上掛著師公陳培練武步法照片。（周菊子攝）

華林功夫太極館第3家在波士頓市的西洛士百利開張了。（周菊子攝）

武館牆壁上還掛著紐英崙武術總會第一屆委員會的照片。（周菊子攝）

掛在牆上的武館人員表。（周菊子攝）

聯邦眾議員Katherine Clark頒獎表揚余翠梅。

Immigrants’ Rights Coalition Hails Growing Momentum in Efforts to Curb ICE Abuses in Massachusetts

Immigrants’ Rights Coalition Hails Growing Momentum in Efforts to Curb ICE Abuses in Massachusetts

BOSTON — On Wednesday, over 1,200 people packed the State House for the annual Immigrants’ Day advocacy event and held over 90 legislative meetings to call for urgent, meaningful protections against ICE abuses in our commonwealth. At the same time, the Joint Committee on Public Safety and Homeland Security heard many hours of powerful testimony supporting the intent and scope of the PROTECT Act, introduced by members of the Black and Latino caucus. The following day, a press conference held by Speaker Mariano offered further legislative support for these efforts by announcing the bill’s movement out of committee with modifications. The message of the week was clear: when it comes to ICE, we must show courage over fear. Above all, Bay Staters do not want their local police to collaborate with or assist a rogue federal agency that is wreaking havoc in our communities.  

In response to these events, the Protecting Massachusetts Communities Coalition issued the following statement :

“Elected officials here in Massachusetts have heard our calls and are moving quickly to craft a significant legislative response to ICE violence. The Black and Latino Caucus, together with House and Senate leadership, have developed substantive proposals that would introduce meaningful protections for Massachusetts communities. We are grateful for their leadership and their efforts to address this crisis. As our coalition members and supporters have testified, we strongly support a ban on collaboration between local law enforcement and federal immigration agencies, and an end to 287(g) agreements that deputize local officials as ICE agents.

 

“We are eager to work with lawmakers and pass the strongest possible protections with all due haste — because the Trump administration’s violent and hateful campaign of mass deportation shows no sign of abating. Every day, our neighbors are seized from their homes, cars, workplaces, and schools, leaving devastated communities in their wake. This cannot go on. We must be equally relentless in our efforts to secure justice, safety, and dignity for those we love.”

GBCCA今年力推3課程. 父子同樂、藝術探險、有氧舞蹈

大波士頓區中華文化協會（GBCCA )活動多。（沈慶雲攝）

             (Boston Orange綜合報導)大波士頓區中華文化協會（GBCCA ) 今年在牛頓市會所推出3項新活動，每月一個週日，從上午11點起，父子同樂，藝術探險，有氧舞蹈，給人3種不同選擇，助力華裔家庭加強親子關係，培養手工藝技能，運動強身健體。

文協會長吳德惠（右）和父子同樂項目主持人李韶寧。（沈慶雲攝）

            文協會長吳德惠表示，文協很幸運，有非常多的熱心志工，也依照會員興趣，有許多不同分支，包括紐英崙青少年中文夏令營，大波士頓文協國樂團，雲鶴社，波士頓腰鼓隊，文協合唱團，華心中文學校，華心藝術學校等等，分別辦理許多活動。

岑婷安講青花瓷的故事。（沈慶雲攝）

          文協今年主推的3項活動，分別是李韶寧主持的「父子同樂：遊戲開始！（Dads and Sons: Game On!）」，岑婷安 (Crystal Chen)藉手工藝說故事，幫助小朋友認識中華文化的「藝術探險（Arts Explorers）」，以及唐士曾（Sena Hsu）以熱門歌曲做背景的「有氧舞蹈（Cardio Dance）」，各有特色。

           3月15日這天，岑婷安用青花瓷講故事，教“茶”字，5、6歲的小朋友在家長陪同中，自己動手做青花瓷，故事精彩，實作有趣，家長、小朋友都很開心。到現場探視的志工沈慶雲也聽得十分投入，直說岑婷安的「藝術探險」，是她這天最喜歡的課。

小朋友手工藝，學做青花瓷。（沈慶雲攝）

            根據文協提供的老師簡介，岑婷安從6歲起就會自己用碎布和膠水為芭比娃娃設計服裝。從康乃爾大學紡織與服裝設計系畢業後，她的設計作品曾登上《康乃爾紀事報》、Olive  Tjaden 藝術畫廊，甚至大衛·萊特曼的網站。

            岑婷安的藝術探索課，4月12日排定的主題是「小園丁（Little Gardeners）」，5月17日的主題是「龍舟和英勇傳奇（Dragon Boats & Brave Legends）」。

李韶寧（右一）帶父子同樂班。（沈慶雲攝）

有氧舞蹈班。（沈慶雲攝）

            李韶寧自己是一名為念研究所，從加州搬到波士頓的父親。他還在波士頓公校當社工，有9歲和6歲的2個小孩。他覺得在亞裔家庭中，父子關係常常不夠親密，特地設計這樣的一個項目，希望藉著每月不同主題的遊戲，例如紙牌，中國扯鈴等，讓亞裔男孩和父親能藉每月固定聚會，建立感情，加深父子認識，一也幫助小男孩建立自信心，為爸爸們擴大社交圈。

            唐士曾（Sena Hsu）是一名在波士頓出生長大的第三代華裔美人，曾經做了7年的時裝設計師，現在是小學5年級老師。她從8歲到18歲，學了10年的中國傳統舞蹈，希望藉著她自己的舞蹈基礎，配合K-Pop，嘻哈等熱門流行歌曲，讓人瞬間融入，享受可以塑形，燃脂，令人振奮的有氧舞蹈。查詳情可上網，https://gbcca.org/。（訂正版）

藝術愛默生訂4/24至5/3推出「秘密分享者」

ARTSEMERSON PRESENTS

THE SECRET SHARER

*****

A STAGE ADAPTATION OF JOSEPH CONRAD’S 1909 NOVELLA

WORLD PREMIERE PERFORMANCE BY DNAWORKS

EMERSON PARAMOUNT CENTER

JACKIE LIEBERGOTT BLACK BOX

APRIL 24 – MAY 3, 2026

[Boston, MA – Friday, March 20, 2026]– ArtsEmerson, Boston’s leading presenter of contemporary world theater and film and the professional presenting and producing organization of Emerson College, is proud to present DNAWORKS’ World Premiere performance of The Secret Sharer, a gripping stage adaptation inspired by Joseph Conrad’s celebrated short story from April 24 – May 3, 2026 at the Emerson Paramount Center’s Jackie Liebergott Black Box Theater. This haunting and intimate theatrical experience invites audiences aboard a lone ship at sea where a young captain encounters a mysterious fugitive swimmer; a stranger who may also be his mirror.

 

Set against the vast isolation of the open ocean, The Secret Sharer explores the fragile boundaries between duty and compassion, authority, and self-discovery. As the captain secretly shelters the man aboard his ship, the encounter becomes a profound meditation on identity, resilience, and the quiet moments that shape who we become.

 

Through inventive staging and immersive storytelling, the production brings Conrad’s psychological drama vividly to life, transforming a classic literary work into a compelling dance-theatre journey that examines what it means to truly recognize ourselves in another.

 

“DNAWORKS is excited to be premiering The Secret Sharer in Boston, where I grew up and the seed of the project was planted — I first read the novella in my senior year of high school,” shares DNAWORKS Co-Founder Daniel Banks. “And we are especially honored to return to ArtsEmerson after their incredible hospitality for The Real James Bond…Was Dominican and their audience’s very warm reception. ArtsEmerson has supported the mission and development of this project for years, and it would not have been possible without their visionary programming. We look forward to sharing the intimacy and gentleness of this work and holding a resilient and healing space for Queer audiences and those who love and support us.”

 

“We are thrilled to present The Secret Sharer,” says Ronee Penoi, Interim Executive Director of the Office of the Arts & Director of Artistic Programming at ArtsEmerson. “This timeless story asks us to consider the moments when our sense of responsibility collides with our humanity. At its heart, The Secret Sharer reminds us that the path to understanding ourselves often begins when we encounter someone who reflects our own fears, doubts, and courage back to us.”

 

Tickets for The Secret Sharer may be purchased 24/7 at ArtsEmerson.org, or by calling 617-824-8400 (Tue-Sat from 12:00PM ET - 6:00PM ET). The Paramount Center Box Office (559 Washington Street, Boston) is open for walk-up service Thu-Sat from Noon - 6:00 PM ET. Tickets start at $27.50. Groups of 10+ attending a performance save up to 30%.

 

Dates:

April 24 – May 3, 2026

 

Venue:

Emerson Paramount Center

Jackie Liebergott Black Box Theater

559 Washington St

Boston, MA 02111

麻州地方市鎮面對財政危機 紛採措施加稅或刪減公共服務

             （Boston Orange 綜合編譯）麻州阿特爾伯勒市（Attleboro）最近傳出無力負擔高額營運維修費，有意把具歷史意義的卡普龍動物公園（（Capron Park Zoo）轉型為自然保護區與野生動物復育中心。彰顯麻州地方市鎮普遍面對經費難題，正縮減公共設施服務現狀。

            阿特爾伯勒市長 Cathleen DeSimone 說，維持卡普龍動物公園，10年 5,700 萬美元是維持動物園運作必備的硬性支出。在全市總預算每年僅約1.6到1.8億美元之際，若依照現狀營運「卡普龍」，得花掉3%到4%的總預算，在市政府面對健保開支漲幅8.4%，能源價格飆升，「卡普龍」門票收入近10年來持續下滑之際，負擔太沈重。

            一旦「卡普龍」轉型，阿特爾伯勒市每年可節省約90萬元的員工薪資，而園內瀕臨危險品種的東北豹（Amur leopard）等動物，必須撤出。

            麻州面對類似情況的至少還有大理石頭（Marblehead）市因為700萬美元的預算缺口，有意關閉Abbot公共圖書館。石東罕（Stoneham）市在市民發起「拯救石東罕」運動，去年12月投票通過推翻原有的稅收法，這才避免了關閉公共圖書館和溜冰場。阿靈頓鎮（Arlington）也因預算缺口將影響全鎮公共服務，鎮民們將於本月投票表決一項1480萬美元的推翻原有稅收法案。馬什菲爾德（Marshfield）鎮也因為預算可能短缺500到740萬元，全鎮公共服務將受影響，市府官員可能要求市民考慮推翻原有的稅收案。

            梅爾羅斯（Melrose）就因為市民否決了770萬美元的加稅案，不得不在2026財政年度預算中削減了610萬美元的員工薪資與服務開支。

            麻州各市鎮面對財政危機的原因，包括麻州有法案規定，每年房地產稅漲幅不得超過2.5%，但電力，修路等公共服務的維護成本，以及醫療保險和養老金保費的漲幅，卻遠超該一幅度。與此同時，麻州政府撥給地方市政府的無限制補助比20年前減少了35%。

            麻州市政協會（MMA）和塔芙茨大學（Tufts）州政策分析中心合作，2025年發布的「完美風暴：城市與城鎮面臨的歷史性財政壓力（A Perfect Storm: Cities and Towns Face Historic Fiscal Pressures）」 研究報告給出來的數據是，麻州政府的無限制用途經費補助（UGGA）從2007年的在地方市政總稅收中佔比約11.5%，到2024年的5.4%，而2010年到2022年的州政府預算支出，平均每年增長2.8%，在在透露著地方市鎮面對財政收入大減，支出大增窘境。

            波士頓市其實也面對相似情況，在市中心辦公室空置率高達20%到30%，物業估值下滑9%，有些大樓在2025年的成交價和數年前相比，甚至跌了50%到70％，連波士頓政策機構（Boston Policy Institute）也警告道，未來5年，波士頓可能面對12億元到15億美元的累積稅收缺口。

            根據麻州資產納稅人協會（MTF）和麻州市政協會（MMA）的統計，在2025至2026財政年度中，麻州351個市鎮有54個市鎮提出了74項的稅收翻案（override），總金額超過1.58億美元，市1990年代以來，麻州第二大的集體請求加稅浪潮。

Boston Globe Names Supportive Housing Provider Commonwealth Land Trust Among Fastest Growing Organizations in New England

 Boston Globe Names Supportive Housing Provider Commonwealth Land Trust Among Fastest Growing Organizations in New England

BOSTON, MA - Commonwealth Land Trust (CLT), a nonprofit leader in affordable and supportive housing, has been recognized as one of New England’s fastest-growing organizations in 2026 by the Boston Globe. The Globe’s list, developed in collaboration with market insight company Statista, evaluated companies across New England based on their compound annual growth rate between 2021 and 2024. The annual ranking highlights organizations with broad impact on the region in a challenging economic climate. (Read the full Globe feature here.)

 

During this period, CLT expanded its impact, reaching over $15.8 million in revenue in 2024, and greatly expanding housing opportunities and supportive services for residents. 

 

“It is an honor and a privilege for the Boston Globe to recognize our work,” said Iva Comey, CEO of Commonwealth Land Trust. “The need for supportive housing has only increased since 2021. To be recognized for our strategy, dedication, and broad impact on supportive housing makes the work we do mean that much more.”

 

CLT’s inclusion on this list reflects its ability to adapt and grow during a time defined by economic uncertainty. As a nonprofit company operating across multiple areas of focus – real estate development, property management, and resident resources – CLT has built a model that allows for expansion while simultaneously meeting urgent community needs.

 

CLT’s approach combines providing housing with supportive services to help residents achieve long-term stability and improve overall well-being. Founded in 1984, CLT currently owns and manages more than 450 units of affordable housing across Eastern Massachusetts. 

 

“Our growing, positive impact in the communities we serve is due entirely to the dedication of our staff, partners, and stakeholders who make this work possible,” said Bruce Henderson, Chair of the CLT Board. “As we look forward, CLT remains committed to expanding access to safe and affordable housing where it is needed most.”

 

The Fastest-Growing Companies ranking is based on independently verified revenue data submitted by participating organizations and analyzed by Statista. To qualify, organizations were required to meet specific revenue goals in both 2021 and 2024, operate independently, and demonstrate organic growth over the three-year period. CLT was ranked thirty-fourth.

Senate to Vote on Firefighter, Construction Worker Safety Legislation

 Senate to Vote on Firefighter, Construction Worker Safety Legislation  

Bill to help prevent tragedies like 2014 deaths of Boston firefighters 

 

(BOSTON—3/19/2026) The Senate Committee on Ways and Means voted today to advance legislation that supports safety for firefighters and construction workers by tracking code violations around ‘hot work’ such as welding. 

 

The bill, S.1646, aims to help prevent tragedies like the 2014 nine-alarm fire in Boston’s Back Bay that resulted in the deaths of Boston Fire Lieutenant Edward Walsh and Firefighter Michael Kennedy. 

 

It would require the state to track written notices of code violations related to hot work—welding, plasma cutting, and spark-producing construction—and make the information available to the public through an online database and an automated notification system. 

 

The Senate plans to take up the bill at its next session on Monday, March 23, just days before the 12th anniversary of the tragic Back Bay fire, which was started by welding work on a nearby railing. The Senate passed identical legislation in 2024 at the 10th anniversary of the fire. 

 

Sponsored by Senator Nick Collins (D-South Boston), the bill was advanced this session by the Joint Committee on Public Safety and Homeland Security with a 6-0 vote on December 3, 2025, following a public hearing held on May 7, 2025. 

 

All committee votes are publicly posted on the Legislature’s website. Details of legislation up for consideration by the Senate are included in fact sheets available in the Senate press room. 

PLANNING DEPARTMENT ADVANCES LARGEST DOWNTOWN OFFICE-TO-RESIDENTIAL CONVERSION Mayor Wu, Chief Shen Celebrate Dr. Landsmark

PLANNING DEPARTMENT ADVANCES LARGEST DOWNTOWN OFFICE-TO-RESIDENTIAL CONVERSION

Mayor Wu, Chief Shen Celebrate Dr. Landsmark

BOSTON - March 19, 2026 - The Planning Department this month recommended approval of a new office-to-residential conversion project representing approximately 219,200 square feet (SF) to the BPDA Board. The approved project will create 255 new homes, including 52 income-restricted units, and will support approximately 203 construction jobs and 18 permanent jobs. The project is the largest office-to-residential conversion project to be approved by the Board and represents a new scale of conversion projects entering Mayor Michelle Wu’s successful office-to-residential conversion program.

Mayor Wu and Chief of Planning Kairos Shen also marked Dr. Ted Landsmark’s retirement from the BPDA Board and celebrated his tenure. Dr. Landsmark joined the Board in September 2014 and is currently the longest serving board member. During his tenure, the Board approved nearly 60,000 new housing units, including nearly 16,000 income restricted units. The Board approved projects representing $48.7 billion of investment and 138 million square feet of development around the City of Boston. 

“Ted Landsmark’s influence can be seen not only in the city’s growth and its skyline, but in the generations of planners, architects, and advocates he has mentored,” said Mayor Michelle Wu. “We are grateful to Dr. Landsmark for his years of public service and for pushing Boston to live up to its promise of being a home for everyone.”

Development Projects

Project at 280-300 Washington Street to create 255 new homes Downtown
Housing: 255 units, 52 income-restricted units
Jobs: 203 construction jobs, 18 permanent jobs
Community: New residents living Downtown
Sustainability: Adaptive re-use and preservation of existing building

Located in the heart of Downtown Crossing, this project will convert vacant office space into 255 new homes, 52 of which will be income-restricted, and will retain existing retail space on the ground floor. Due to updated zoning regulations Downtown, the project will not require zoning relief, allowing these new homes to be completed more quickly. This project is one of 24 applicants to Mayor Wu’s successful Office-to-Residential Conversion Program, which is on track to convert 29 buildings and 1.5 million square feet of empty office space into more than 1,700 new homes Downtown.  

In addition to these projects, the Board approved:

An update to a previously approved project at 69 A Street in South Boston to convert the approved office space into 24 units of housing