選舉年爆出“扯頭髮”風波 民意一面倒支持能幹的MBTA總經理

麻州州長Maura Healey (右起) 和時任麻州交通廳廳長的Mpnica Tibbits-Nutt，
麻州地鐵總經理伍偉華一起搭綠線地鐵。 (檔案照片，周菊子攝)

       （Boston Orange綜合編譯）麻州地鐵（MBTA）總經理伍偉華（Phil Eng）遭電子媒體爆料，曾於2024年11月，在工作聚餐中不當拉扯一名直屬部下的頭髮，近日有WCVB電視台，波士頓環球報(Globe)，前鋒報（Herald）接連報導，一時引人矚目。麻州長力挺，對他有信心。

         媒體曝光的這事發生在兩年前。ＭBTA發言人澄清道，那天MBTA為建立團隊精神，舉辦了一場晚餐聚會，高階主管和配偶都出席了。席間有人聊到頭髮問題，MBTA總經理伍偉華（Philip Eng）自嘲禿頭。後來在道別時出現“扯頭髮”互動，純粹是敏感度不夠的行為，絕非職場騷擾或報復。

         WCVB為此事訪問了伍偉華。在訪問中，伍偉華坦承曾經發生“扯頭髮”事件，稱那是不該有的互動，事後看來也不夠敏感（insensitive）的非常不妥，並說明他已道歉，將從中汲取教訓，竭力維持最高標準的專業操守。

       在媒體追問時，麻州州長奚莉（Maura Healey）表示，她對伍偉華的領導能力有“絕對”信心，副州長Kim Driscoll也肯定伍偉華的有錯就認態度。

        有其他媒體事後追蹤報導，稱1年半前的“扯頭髮”事件發生後，該員工曾向人事部門，法務部門抱怨，但未申訴。伍偉華獲悉抱怨之事後，立即向該員工道歉。1年多後的2026年初，該員工以“扯頭髮”事件為離職理由，和MBTA展開離職條件與賠償談判，由於條件談不攏，於是消息走漏。

        伍偉華目前身兼2職，既是MBTA總經理，還是麻州交通廳代理廳長。儘管當代理交通廳廳長，沒有另外多領一份薪水，但是當年麻州州長奚莉為挖角，找一個真正有能力的人來治理MBTA，給出47萬多的天價年薪，另加每年3萬元留任獎金，在年度加薪1.5%後，去年他領到的總薪資高達54萬餘元，成為全美薪資最高的州政府交通部門主管之一。

        由於今年是州級選舉年，麻州正副州長正在競選連任，坊間臆測此案在這個時間點爆出來，是被有心人利用，作為打擊選舉競爭對手，或索要更高額和解賠償的工具。

       “扯頭髮”事件遭Contrarian Boston這地方媒體爆料後，在Reddit上引發鋪天蓋地討論。儘管不少人認為“扯頭髮”舉動很尷尬（cringe），但主流民意一面倒的支持伍偉華留任，認為他是MBTA歷史中極少有的，真正把事情辦好，帶領地鐵走出聯邦安全調查與脫軌陰霾的“救星”，甚至說如果伍偉華被逼退，將是波士頓通勤族的災難。

2026 波士頓體育會10Ｋ賽破紀錄 9891人參加

Summer Starts with Fast & Fun Times at 2026 B.A.A. 10K presented by Mass General Brigham Cancer Institute

Boston Marathon champions Sharon Lokedi, Daniel Romanchuk & Tatyana McFadden reign supreme in Boston again; Patrick Kiprop wins first B.A.A. 10K crown

  

BOSTON (Sunday, June 21) – The first day of summer kicked off with a picture-perfect B.A.A. 10K presented by Mass General Brigham Cancer Institute this morning, featuring nearly 10,000 athletes covering 6.2-miles through Boston and Cambridge. Sharon Lokedi retained her women’s open division title in 31:28, while Patrick Kiprop helped make it a Kenyan sweep atop the podium by winning the men’s open race in 27:55. Americans Daniel Romanchuk and Tatyana McFadden earned their third and second wheelchair division titles, respectively, with Romanchuk establishing a new event record time of 19:53.

 

Preliminary results are available here, featuring 9,883 finishers. A total of 9,891 athletes started today’s race, the largest B.A.A. 10K field in its 14-year history.  

 

After winning her second Boston Marathon presented by Bank of America title this past April, Lokedi entered with motivation to add another trophy to her mantle. Through 5K in 16:10, the women’s lead pack of eight ran close together before Lokedi made her move just past the 8K mark – ironically close to the Boston Marathon finish line on Boylston Street. Among the lead pack of five was American Rachael Rudel, making her B.A.A. 10K debut. 

 

Rounding the final bend on Charles Street, Lokedi sprinted towards the finish with Rudel hot on her heels, followed by Veronica Loleo. All three would finish within five seconds: Lokedi in 31:28, Rudel in 31:31, and Loleo in 31:33 to round out the podium.

 

“I get the support from the people on the road and I think that motivates me,” said Lokedi, who earned $12,000 for the win. She’s previously noted that Boston is a special place to race, no matter the distance. “This year, it was still hot, but it was not as bad as last year, so that was good. I just had to make sure I was hydrated. Even if it’s not drinking, I would just pour [water] on my face. I would definitely love to come back [again] for sure.”

 

On the men’s side, Andrew Alexander separated early and held a nearly-ten second lead through halfway, splitting 5K in 14:18. While Alexander kept the pace honest, Kiprop, South Africa’s Adriaan Wildschutt, and reigning Boston 5K champion Dawit Seare began to chip away at the Canadian’s lead. By 8K, Kiprop, Wildschutt, Seare, and Ethiopian Olympic medalist Hagos Gebrhiwet were even, as American Ahmed Muhumed chased just steps behind. 

 

Coming off a win at the BolderBoulder 10K last month, Kiprop was confident he had what it took to claim victory in the final miles. He’d begin to drop his challengers over the final mile, crossing the finish in 27:55, five seconds up on Wildschutt (28:00).

 

“Boston has a great atmosphere,” said Kiprop, who finished fifth at April’s Boston 5K and enjoyed racing through Back Bay. “I was here for the Boston Marathon and the atmosphere was very, very good.”

 

Top American men’s honors went to Ahmed Muhumed, fifth in 28:20, while Rachael Rudel was the top American woman in 31:31, just three seconds behind champion Lokedi.

 

“As the action started to happen, I think I thought of, like, my past races and like, any regrets I've had, and it mostly is just not going to the front, not staying with the leader,” said Rudel, reflecting on her mid-race tactics. “I'm just having fun, we see what happens, let's stay with the top ladies. Let's see what I can do.” 

 

“It was good,” said Muhumed. “I got it added in [to the pro field] late last week. It's been lot of travel in the last three weeks, and it feels good to be here." Muhumed won the U.S. national title at 4 miles on June 6 in Illinois.

 

ROMANCHUK, MCFADDEN ADD TO B.A.A. 10K WHEELCHAIR WIN TOTAL

 

A men’s wheelchair event record was established by Daniel Romanchuk as he powered through the finish line in 19:53 to earn his third B.A.A. 10K win. Romanchuk broke his previous event best by 24 seconds (20:17, set in 2019), and won the division by three minutes and 12 seconds. 

 

“It’s a beautiful morning out,” said Romanchuk. “Great day to be back in Boston. Anything in Boston is amazing. I grew up hearing stories about the Boston Marathon, and I basically took yearly trips up here. So, it brings back a lot of memories.”

 

In the women’s wheelchair division, Tatyana McFadden went wire to wire in front with a time of 23:59. By winning today, she’s claimed the top spot in the first two races of the 2026 B.A.A. Distance Medley presented by Honda, a three-race series that includes April’s Boston 5K, June’s B.A.A. 10K, and November’s Boston Half. 

 

“We had a beautiful day out. It’s really exciting,” said McFadden, also a five-time Boston Marathon presented by Bank of America champion. “I love coming to Boston. I love the Boston Athletic Association. They do a great job bringing all the athletes in, and they just do a really good job organizing, making it really fun.”

 

Records were also set across the Para Athletics Divisions, led by Mass.-native Brian Reynolds breaking his own T62 world record in a time of 37:29 (previous record 38:40). Also setting event records were Kade Lubner (T35-T38, 44:10) and Kelly Bruno (T42-44/T61-T64, 43:35). Pending national bests were run for Ghana (William Amponsah, 28:34), Costa Rica (Diana Bogantes, 33:52), and Armenia (Nina Usubyan, 35:11). Champions and top American finishers can be found below. 

 

2026 B.A.A. 10K TOP FINISHERS: 

Men’s Open – Patrick Kiprop, KEN, 27:55

Women’s Open – Sharon Lokedi, KEN, 31:28

Top American Men’s Open – Ahmed Muhumed, USA, 28:20

Top American Men’s Open – Rachael Rudel, USA, 31:31

Men’s Wheelchair – Daniel Romanchuk, USA, 19:53 (event record)

Women’s Wheelchair – Tatyana McFadden, USA, 23:59

Top American Men’s Wheelchair – Daniel Romanchuk, USA, 19:53 (event record)

Top American Women’s Wheelchair – Tatyana McFadden, USA, 23:59

Men T11/12/13 (Vision Impairment) – Aymon Langlois, USA, 39:13

Men T20 (Intellectual Impairment) – Andrew Cummings, USA, 53:48

Men T35-T38 (Coordination Impairment) – Kade Lubner, USA, 44:10 (event record)

Men T45-T47 (Upper-limb Impairment) – Atsbha Gebremeskel, ETH, 40:33

Men T42-T44/T61-T64 (Lower limb Impairment) – Brian Reynolds, USA, 37:29 (world record)

Women T11/12/13 (Vision Impairment) – Jennifer Herring, USA, 45:52

Women T35-T38 (Coordination Impairment) – Cristina Burbach, USA, 48:39

Women T45-T47 (Upper limb Impairment) – Adrienne Keane, USA, 54:59

Women T42-T44/T61-T64 (Lower limb Impairment) – Kelly Bruno, USA, 43:35 (event record)

Non-Binary – Kevin Nguyen, USA, 39:35

 

MASS GENERAL BRIGHAM CANCER INSTITUTE

Among the field of participants were more than 600 fundraising runners as part of Team Mass General Brigham Cancer Institute, supporting the B.A.A. 10K’s presenting sponsor and exclusive fundraising partner. More than $300,000 has been raised through the event to advance cancer care and make a difference for patients with cancer and their families. Learn more about Team Mass General Brigham.

 

FAST FACTS

• Citizens of 107 countries and residents of 44 U.S. states (plus Washington, D.C.) were registered for the B.A.A. 10K. The youngest entrant is 12 while the oldest entrant is 84 years old.  
• The B.A.A. 10K is the second event of the B.A.A. Distance Medley presented by Honda, a three-race series that includes April’s Boston 5K, June’s B.A.A. 10K, and November’s Boston Half. More than 3,000 athletes are taking part in the series.
• Nearly 230 young athletes participated in free youth races at the B.A.A. 10K on Boston Common. The B.A.A. is committed to a world where all people can access and benefit from running and an active lifestyle. 
   

NEXT B.A.A. EVENTS

The next community event on the B.A.A. calendar is the Boston Moves presented by Boston Children’s Hospital on Sunday, July 12 at Franklin Park’s Schoolmaster Hill Picnic Area. This free, fun event will feature a 2-mile run/walk. Pre-registration is available now at baa.org. 

 

The next two mass-participatory events on the B.A.A. racing calendar are the Shoreline 5K on Thursday, August 6 and the Boston Half presented by Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and the Jimmy Fund on Sunday, November 8. Very limited registration spots remain available for the Shoreline 5K; registration is open within Athletes’ Village. General registration for the Boston Half will open July 8 within Athletes’ Village. 

紐英倫中華網協慶30週年 名流專家暢論「融合物理與生物AI」

旗艦先鋒（Flagship Pioneering）資深合夥人Uli Stilz。（周菊子攝）

  (Boston Orange 周菊子麻州報導) 紐英倫中華資訊網路協會（NECINA）日前以「融合物理與生物AI，轉變生活品質(Converge Physical and Biological AI to Transform Quality of Life)」為主題，邀得多名業界大佬，在班特利大學的LaCAva會議中心舉行年會，逾百人濟濟一堂，探討人工智慧與人類的未來關係。

會議主持周寬博士（又）和張茜（左）送紀念品給講者，
Familiar Machines & Magic 創辦人Ira Renfrew。（周菊子攝）

1996年創立時以網路通訊業的人才，行業資訊交流為主旨的網協，這些年來隨著時代變遷，重心也陸續轉向生物科技，以至人工智慧（AI），再進展至如今探討融合物理與生物的人工智能，如何改變人類生活品質。

6月13日和哈佛大學醫學院學生學者聯合會合作的慶祝網協成立30週年會議，就以探討物理的和生物的人工智慧融合為出發點，邀請不同領域專家做論述。

會議主持周寬博士（又）和張茜（左）送紀念品給講者，
NVIDIA Ominiverse Ecosystem資深經理Brian Klobucher。（周菊子攝）

早上的主題演講，請到旗艦先鋒（Flagship Pioneering）資深合夥人Uli Stilz，分享他對 AI 如何顛覆生醫產業的清晰且務實論述。

網協工作人員送紀念品給講者，哈佛陳曾熙公衛學院計算生物學
和生物資訊系主任John Quackenbush（中）。（周菊子攝）

Uli Stilz認為，AI必須和新興生物學及新治療模式深度融合，利用AI驅動的分析技術來結合基因體學和蛋白質體學，來更快速的把研發突破帶到臨床實驗，成為療法。他經常強調「創新無法在真空中發生」，透過資本，產業鏈整合，以及創新合作模式的生態系合作，是利用AI來突破「標靶選擇」與「轉譯醫學」瓶頸，研發新藥的唯一解方。

下午的主題演講，請到的是哈佛陳曾熙公衛學院計算生物學和生物資訊系主任John Quackenbush。

賀東（右二）主持第一場座談，講者包括Architechture共同創辦人Javier Segovia
 (右三起），AIRX Inno Venture創辦人祈培，以及Ira Renfrew。（周菊子攝）

他深入淺出的解構，如何利用AI突破現金生物醫學瓶頸，還詳細介紹了他和哈佛醫學院等團隊開發出來的「生物網絡動物園（Network Zoo）」系列開源工具。

John Quackenbush指出，人類有25,000個基因，彼此的DNA相似度高達99.9%，但其中有大約250種截然不同的細胞類型，儘管DNA一模一樣，卻表現出完全不同的功能，其調控機制，迄今仍無完整解答。

主持人周小波教授（右起）和講者蔣一得，John Quackenbush，張金峰。
（周菊子攝）

周小波博士（右二起）主持第二場座談，講者包括Insilicom創辦人張金峰，
Glife顧問Jennifer Joe，Broad Institute首席研究員Shantanu Singh，
晶泰科技首席策略長蔣一得，以及John Quackenbush。（周菊子攝）

他還談到，AI訓練目前有數據飄移，規格難訂的兩大硬傷，若在醫療上擅用AI預測，給錯了藥，代價是人命，豈可輕忽。設計AI架構，必須先理解生物系統底層規律。

下午的一場爐邊座談，由曾在谷歌工作，2022年和夥伴邵錚攜手，募得880萬元，創辦Bluesky Data，今年出再被知名法律科技獨角獸企業 Ironclad 延攬出任AI副總裁的網協2017年會長洪銘勝訪談OpenAI的祈芮中台（Charles Qi）。

祈芮中台畢業於清華大學，獲有史丹佛大學博士學位。他的PointNet 3D深度學習學術論文被引用次數高達5萬次以上，曾被評為十大最具影響力論文。他本人還曾獲 AMiner 評選為「AI 2000 計算機視覺與機器學習領域最具影響力學者」。

吳錦城（右二起）主持投資與創業座談，講者包括Rockwell策略主管陶東斌，
GV20創辦人劉小樂，MIT教授暨連續創業家韓松教授。（周菊子攝）

祈芮中台曾在Waymo和Telsa等自動駕駛汽車公司工作，2025年才加入Open AI。他和洪銘勝討論了「實體AI（Physical AI）和具身智能（Physical & Embodied AI）」的前言趨勢、瓶頸和未來

網協董事之一王振榕介紹嘉賓。（周菊子攝）

Physical AI是這天會議的重點之一。（周菊子攝）

他們兩人談到傳統機器人通常是單一機器對應單一任務，而“具身智能”追求硬體與軟體‘泛化能力（generalizability）”的差異。目前實體AI有3大瓶頸，包括硬體要達到仿真人的靈巧度，仍然極具挑戰性，許多實體世界的動作及五里反饋數據，在網路上不存在，難以低成本，高效率的收集，用於培訓，此外要把模擬器完全放進真實世界來評估，仍有技術鴻溝。

目前市面上有掃地機器人，搬運機器人，甚至醫療領域的達文西手術機器人，都已做得相當不錯，但能夠包辦所有任務的通用機器人還未出現。

祈芮中台認為軟體AI能夠一夕爆發，但實體AI卻一定需要時間來轉化，中美兩國勢必是將來的主戰場，本地端的晶片運算仍是長遠趨勢所在。

網協這天還安排了2場專家講談，以及3場座談。

網協董事之一賀東主持其中一場座談。（周菊子攝）

Familiar Machines & Magic 共同創辦人，在Irobot、Amazon和Ｏutrider有10年以上機器人產業經驗的Ira Renfrew，以「具備情緒智能的機器人與 AI （Emotional Intelligent Robots and AI）」為主題，發表論述。

過去25年來經常往返中美兩國，足跡遍布北上港深的Ira Renfrew闡述機器人（Robotics）和實體AI（Physical AI）的定義，認為實體AI是機器人結合「生成式AI」與「強化學習」，具備應對複雜現實世界的彈性。

MIT教授韓松年紀輕輕已與人合夥創辦數家企業，備受矚目。（周菊子攝）

他引述輝達創辦人黃仁勛的預測，指未來實體Ai市場估值高達4.6兆美元，但創業者必須解決用戶對具身智能（Embodiment）外型要和所解決問題相匹配的期待這問題，要做到讓人信任的不會失控，要能維持人們關注力等議題。

網協前會長，募資900萬美元創辦Bluesky Data的洪銘勝。（周菊子攝）

他還以用戶會為自己的掃地機器人取名字，士兵在防爆機器人被炸毀時，常常要求維修，而不是要一台新的機器人為例，指出情感連結對人類的重要性。所以在機器人創業上，不必追求完美，能解決80%的核心痛點即可，

會場。（周菊子攝）

        他以自己所創辦的「友伴 （Familiars）」為例，指未來的人工智能走向將是具備情商，有提供人類情感連結功能。他還大膽斷言，未來的物理AI趨勢絕非人形機器人，而是能和人產生灣暖連結的隱形陪伴者。該公司5月份時剛推出首款陪伴型機器人。

         輝達（NVIDIA）高級經理Brian Klobucher的講談，主題是「物理人工智慧：下一個前沿領域(Physical AI: The Next Frontier)」。

Brian Klobucher借用輝達剛在台北國際電腦展中發表的最新技術，深入淺出的闡述。實體AI有3大支柱，包括把運算力轉化為智慧資產的AI工廠，具體執行策略的智慧體（Agents），以及在物理世界採取行動，改變狀態的載體，也就是具身智能（Embodiments）。

例如輝達剛發表的RTX Spark晶片架構筆電，可讓使用者把「AI工廠」直接帶上飛機或在桌面做本地端運行。

他也解析了一個真正能進入物理世界解決問題的AI Agent，必須具備模型，控制裝備，工具與技能，和運行時環境等4樣要素。

他指出，世界正在劇烈改變，但是無論技術如何翻新，真正重要的依然是“社群”。

3場座談中，早上的這場，主題是「物理 AI：是我們的工具，還是我們（及寵物）的替代品？（Physical AI: Tools, Companions, or Replacements?）」，由賽格威（Segway-Ninebot）業務發展副總裁賀東主持，講者包括Familiar 創辦人Ira Renfrew，AIRX Inno Venture 創辦人兼管理合夥人祈培，Architechtures 共同創辦人Javier Segovia。

下午有「生物人工智慧（Biologic AI）論壇」，由維琴尼雅大學醫學院的周小波教授主持，與談人包括Glife顧問Jennifer Joe，晶泰科技（ＸtaiPi）首席戰略官蔣一得，Insilicom創辦人兼執行長張金峰。

投資與創業論壇由網協董事長吳錦城主持，與談人包括麻省理工學院教授，創辦了OmniML，深鑑科技等公司的韓松，GV20 Therapeutics創辦人兼執行長劉曉樂，Rockwell自動化策略主管陶東斌。

吳弭市長，Healey州長慶祝六月節重申自由意義 波士頓6/18-20安排有系列活動

波士頓市長吳弭（左）和聯邦眾議員Ayanna Pressley為六月節發言。（周菊子攝）

     （Boston Orange綜合編譯）麻州議員、州長，波士頓市長及聯邦參議員等人，6月18日紛紛舉行升旗儀式，發表講話，闡述慶祝「六月節 （Juneteenth）」，黑奴解放，人民自由的重要性。

麻州州長Maura Healey抨擊川普政府試圖抹除黑人歷史貢獻。（周菊子攝）

    波士頓市長吳弭（Michelle Wu）這天(18日)還宣佈啟動全市「六月節（Juneteenth）」系列慶祝活動，將在6月18日至20日之間，於市內多處非洲裔歷史地標舉辦升旗、遊行與文化節，以結合慶祝美國建國250週年，重塑完整的美國自由論述。

波士頓市長吳弭和市議員等人一起慶祝六月節。（周菊子攝）

    吳弭市長是和聯邦眾議員Ayanna Pressley，以及薩福克郡檢察官kevin Hayden，波士頓市議員Ruthzee Louijeune，Henry Santana，Brian Worrell，Benjamin J. Weber等人在市府大樓內，紛紛發表談話，強調這一節慶的重要。

    麻州議會的黑人及拉丁裔核心小組，這天特地邀請州長奚莉（Maura Healey），副州長Kim Driscoll，參議會議長karen Spika等人，也在州政府大樓前發表談話，遙望六月節旗幟冉冉升起。

六月節旗幟（下）在州政府大樓前升起。（周菊子攝）

波士頓市長吳弭在市政府大廳舉行六月節慶祝會。（周菊子攝）

    「六月節」是個慶祝美國非裔奴隸制度廢除，黑人真正獨立自由的紀念日。Juneteenth是由六月（June）和十九日（Nineteenth）這兩個字組合而來。美國的國慶是7月4日，但對美國黑人來說，1865年6月19日，北方聯軍的Gordon Granger將軍進駐德州Galveston，正是宣讀聯邦命令，德州最後一批約25萬黑奴才知道，美國總統林肯，早在1863年就頒佈了「解放黑奴宣言」，他們其實早在2年半前就已經自由了。於是從1866年起，重獲自由的人們把6月19日這天，定為紀念日。

麻州黑人及拉丁裔核心小組在州政府大樓前慶祝六月節。（周菊子攝）

    2021年時，美國國會高票通過，把6月19日訂為「六月節國家獨立日（Juneteenth National Independence Day）」。總統拜登簽署生效後，這也成為1983年馬丁路德金紀念日以來，美國首個新增的聯邦法定假日。

麻州副州長Kim Driscoll為六月節簡短發言。（周菊子攝）

    吳弭市長在致詞時指出，過去160多年來，非洲裔美國人一直在扮演歷史教訓傳播者，而自由絕非紙上文字，真正的自由是經由社區內日復一日的組織與行動來創造和維持的。她誓言要打造一個公正、包容的社區。

    聯邦眾議員Ayanna Pressley呼籲民眾準確地講述複雜歷史。她說，「我們正站在被掠奪的土地（stolen land）上，享受著由被奴役的雙手（stolen hands）所建造的繁榮與建築」。

麻州參議會議長Karen Spika為六月節發言。（周菊子攝）

    她強調，非洲裔美國人是民主捍衛者，即使是在還未得到公民權，沒有自由的那些年代，黑人依舊是美國進步的建築師，解放者，民權捍衛者和愛國者。

    她向六月節旗幟的設計者班·希斯（Ben Haith，別名 Boston Ben）致敬，解釋該旗幟刻意採用與美國國旗相同紅、白、藍三色，寓意這面旗幟浸透了非洲裔祖先的鮮血，因為他們熱愛這個國家，才透過倡議、立法和組織來促使國家實踐其理想。

    Ayanna Pressley呼籲民眾在反思與紀念的同時，更要理直氣壯地快樂，「絕不要連你們的快樂也拱手讓人」。

請麻州詩人出列朗誦慶祝六月節詩句。（周菊子攝）

    她還分享了一則「美式愛國主義矛盾」的故事，述說在「1月6日國會暴動案」中，當白人至上主義暴徒試圖中斷和平移交政權並留下滿地狼藉後，是一群非裔清潔人員默默清理了現場。她說那些衝進國會的暴徒自稱為愛國者，但真正展現愛國行為的卻是這些清潔工。這一幕完美體現了「視美國為家」的矛盾。

    麻州州長奚莉（Maura Healey）在州政府大樓前的發言，強調六月節有雙重含義，暨慶祝非洲裔人民爭取到自由，更意味著歷史進步不會自動發生，人們必須透過組織，倡議，投票與拒絕妥協來維護，自由在每個世代都必須要被重新捍衛。

六月節旗幟解析。

    奚莉州長特別點名弗雷德里克·道格拉斯（Frederick Douglass）、索傑納·特魯斯（Sojourner Truth）及馬丁·路德·金（Dr. King）等引領自由進步的偉人。還指出州政府大樓對面的「第54步兵團紀念碑」，就誌記著麻州當年有黑人兵團，儘管他們自己還未享有完全的自由，仍挺身為國家的自由而戰。

    奚莉州長還嚴厲譴責川普政府過去18個月來試圖抹除非洲裔美國人的歷史貢獻，包括移除政府網站上的黑人退伍軍人資料，移除邦克山紀念碑（Bunker Hill Monument）上有關廢奴的引言，企圖剝奪黑人社區的投票權與發言權，試圖給「多元、平等、包容（DEI）」貼上負面標籤，忽視多元文化才是讓美國更強大的核心力量。

    奚莉州長呼籲人們拒絕操弄仇恨與分裂的政治手段，堅定重申「黑人歷史就是美國歷史，民權絕不容談判」。她很自豪，能和麻州議會、宗教界與牧師，以及支持在地發展的商業團體並肩作戰。

    她強調強調自由不僅關乎歷史，更關乎當下人民所擁有的機會、歸屬感與尊嚴；承諾將共同打造一個更強大、更公平且更具包容性的麻州。

    波士頓市的六月節系列活動以「六月節為美國自由慶典帶來平衡」為核心，涵蓋四大主題項目。活動透過公私協力模式，由波士頓市政府、社區領袖、信仰團體與非裔歷史博物館共同主辦，規劃包含傳統非洲奠祭儀式、社區和平步行、非裔地標免費開放及文創市集，藉此強化社區凝聚力。

    波士頓市長吳弭、權益與包容長索利斯·塞爾維拉（Mariangely Solis Cervera）以及種族正義高級顧問納爾遜（Lori Nelson）主導了一系列的活動策劃。

    波士頓是六月節的主要活動時間表如下：

6月18日12:00-14:00：於市廳廣場舉行六月節升旗典禮、宣讀官方公告並發表主題演講。

6月18日18:00-20:00：於多徹斯特哈蘭比公園（Harambee Park）舉辦鄰里和平「團結步行」（Unity Walk）。

6月19日10:00-15:15：於燈塔山（Beacon Hill）舉辦社區嘉年華，並免費開放非裔美國人歷史博物館、非洲裔聚會所及史密斯學校。

6月20日11:00-19:00：於富蘭克林公園（Franklin Park）舉辦年度自由日音樂與文化園遊會。

聯邦參議員Warren支持吳弭愛將Daniel Lander挑戰在位麻州參議員Brownsberger

聯邦參議員Elizabeth Warren（中）公開支持Daniel Lander （左）挑戰在位的
麻州參議員William Brownsberger。（圖片來自Daniel Lander競選網站）

     (Boston Orange編譯)聯邦參議員華倫（Elizabeth Warren）18日宣佈，支持波士頓市長吳弭    （Michelle Wu）的前幕僚藍德（Daniel Lander）和麻州參議會代議長（President pro tempore）布朗斯伯格（William Brownsberger）競爭，為今年的州級選舉挑明兩大政治陣營開戰局勢。

    這是聯邦參議員華倫從政以來第一次公開反對現任的議會領袖，也是布朗斯伯格從2011年經補選，當上麻州參議員以來，第一次在競選連任的黨派初選中，遭遇競爭對手。

    吳弭市長有意透過向企業多收房地產稅，來幫一般老百姓減免房屋稅，因而推動「商業房地產稅率調升法案」，還爭取到波士頓市議會和麻州眾議會三次通過該案，卻在麻州參議會被布朗斯伯格和Nick Collins等人聯手，強行擋下。吳弭市長為此不但出動一名政治素人Latoya Gayle挑戰Nick Collins，派出前幕僚藍德和布朗斯伯格競爭，現在還把老師，聯邦參議員華倫拉進戰局，力挺藍德，擺明了要把和她對抗的議會大佬拉下馬。

    藍德曾是華倫2020年選總統的團隊大將，這次參選，主打議題為解決住房危機與改善地鐵。在位的布朗斯伯格進議會服務已快20年，今年競選連任，已於3月時獲得麻州州長奚莉（Maura Healey）背書支持，使得今年9月的麻州參議員初選，變成「市長、聯邦參議員」對決「州長、州議會大佬」的政治陣營世紀大戰。

Senate Passes Bill to Make It Easier to See a Primary Care Doctor

 Senate Passes Bill to Make It Easier to See a Primary Care Doctor 

 Legislation requires greater investment in primary care, fairer pay for community health centers, and a larger medical workforce, with aim of driving down health care costs 

 

(BOSTON—6/18/2026) The Massachusetts Senate today overwhelmingly passed landmark legislation to invest in primary care and make it easier for Massachusetts residents to get a primary care appointment. 

 

The bill simplifies finding a primary care clinician, reduces the amount of time providers have to spend on administrative paperwork, and aims to reduce health care costs. 

 

Currently, 43 per cent of Massachusetts residents have difficulty accessing primary care. Studies show that 40 per cent of emergency room visits in Massachusetts could have been prevented if treated in a primary care setting. 

 

The legislation—S.3116, An Act relative to primary care for you—requires health care providers and insurers to invest more heavily in primary care services. Additionally, it ensures fairer compensation for community health centers, which serve as the frontline of primary care for many residents, and grows Massachusetts’ primary care workforce by unlocking matching federal funds to train and recruit more primary care doctors. 

 

“Massachusetts has always led the way on health care, and today the Senate is doing it again. Too many of our residents are struggling to find a primary care doctor, or putting off basic care because of the cost,” said Senate President Karen E. Spilka (D-Ashland). “That's not acceptable, and it's not sustainable. This legislation takes direct aim at the problem: it requires greater investment in primary care, lifts up the community health centers at the heart of so many neighborhoods, and grows the workforce our residents need. When we get primary care right, everything else in our health care system works better. I want to applaud Senator Friedman for her tireless leadership and the years of dedicated work that went into crafting these policies, Chair Rodrigues for shepherding this legislation to the floor, and every Senator and stakeholder who helped shape a bill that will make a real difference for residents across the Commonwealth.” 

 

“After an exhaustive and thorough analysis of our primary health care delivery system, the Senate today acted on a comprehensive package of provisions informed by recommendations from the Primary Care Task Force, improving access to primary care for all Massachusetts residents,” said Senator Michael J. Rodrigues (D-Westport), Chair of the Senate Committee on Ways and Means. “This sweeping legislation supports residents of the Commonwealth by incentivizing significant investments into primary care, grows our health care workforce, assists community health centers, and cuts down on administrative bureaucracy. I’m pleased that this bill complements the Senate’s recent efforts in the Fair Share supplemental budget to support the primary care workforce and ensures we continue to foster the next generation of providers and strengthen our neighborhood health centers. Thank you to Senator Friedman for her collaboration, dedication, and hard work on bring this important bill forward, and to Senate President Spilka for her unwavering leadership.” 

 

“With this nation-leading approach, the Massachusetts Senate is confronting the primary care crisis head-on with the thoughtfulness and urgency it deserves,” said Senator Cindy F. Friedman (D-Arlington), Senate Chair of the Joint Committee on Health Care Financing. “For far too long, our health care system has put too much emphasis on costly medical interventions, rather than incentivizing preventive care delivered in our primary care practices and community health centers. The legislation passed today delivers a historic increase in primary care funding in Massachusetts by reprioritizing and shifting how we spend our health care dollars to support our primary care providers, increases access to value-based care, and delivers better health outcomes for patients. I thank Senate President Spilka for her steadfast leadership in expanding access to care for all residents of the Commonwealth, Chair Rodrigues, my Senate colleagues, fellow Primary Care Task Force members, and the many stakeholders involved in this effort for their support of this transformational legislation.” 

 

This key health policy bill would create a more robust health care system in Massachusetts by requiring providers and insurers to invest a certain level of their annual spending on primary care services. 

 

In recent years, investment has surged in profitable ‘specialty care’ areas while only 6.7 per cent of total health care spending in Massachusetts has been on primary care. The resulting scarcity of available primary care doctors has left many residents searching for crucial basic, preventive care. 

 

Health care entities would now have to meet a new mandated level of primary care investment which would gradually step up to 15 per cent. The requirements would be overseen and enforced by the Health Policy Commission (HPC). 

 

The bill also lifts up one of the main settings where many Massachusetts residents access their primary care—community health centers (CHCs), which have been disadvantaged by receiving lower reimbursements than other providers. This legislation calls for fairness and sets dependable rates for CHCs by requiring commercial insurers to reimburse at least the same rates that MassHealth reimburses for the same services. 

 

The Senate’s proposal also doubles down on recent efforts to grow the size of the primary care workforce in Massachusetts. It would re-establish a Medicaid graduate medical education (GME) program, which the state can use to take advantage of matching federal funds to help cover the costs of fellowships and residency programs. When fully scaled up, the program would fund dozens of positions and help draw more primary care providers to Massachusetts in community-based settings. 

 

This builds on a Senate-led initiative that was signed into law earlier this month to address the shortage of primary care doctors by funding scholarships for UMass Chan Medical School students who pursue family medicine and pledge to practice in underserved communities in Massachusetts after they graduate. 

 

Full details of today’s legislation are included in a fact sheet in the Senate press room. 

 

Senators proposed 72 amendments to the bill. During the course of today’s public debate, the Senate adopted a significant amendment to ensure access to timely and effective treatment for people with serious mental illness. The amendment (Amendment 64) eliminates prior authorization for medication to treat serious mental illness, keeping decisions between providers and patients. 

 

People with serious mental illness often have to try multiple combinations of medications in an effort to find the right treatment. Delays due to prior authorization can impede their ability to effectively treat their disease. Feedback on that amendment was solicited last year at a public hearing by the Joint Committee on Financial Services. It was also recommended by the Joint Committee on Health Care Financing and was further reviewed by the Senate Committee on Ways and Means. 

 

The Committee on Ways and Means advanced the underlying legislation to the Senate with a 14-0 vote on June 11, 2026, as a new draft of legislation previously advanced by the Joint Committee on Health Care Financing. 

 

The Senate passed the bill today on a 35-4 roll call vote and sent it to the House of Representatives for further review. 

PLANNING ADVANCES NEW AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN ALLSTON, DORCHESTER, DOWNTOWN, AND SOUTH BOSTON

BOSTON – Thursday, June 18, 2026 – The Planning Department this month recommended approval of the final designation of a public parcel at 48 Townsend Street in Roxbury to become a community garden. In addition, staff recommended approval of five new development projects representing approximately 1,479,026 square feet (SF). All were approved. The newly approved development proposals will create 763 new homes, including 104 that are designated income-restricted, and will support approximately 1,255 construction jobs and 1,193 permanent jobs. The projects advanced today will help make Boston a more resilient, affordable, and equitable city. Real Estate Board awards final designation to the Garrison Trotter Neighborhood Association for the redevelopment of 48 Townsend Street into open space The BPDA Board of Directors awarded final designation to the Garrison Trotter Neighborhood Association for the redevelopment of 48 Townsend Street in Roxbury. The vacant land at 48 Townsend Street will be converted into a community garden. This space will provide opportunities to grow fresh food to address food insecurity in the community. The garden will serve local residents, families, seniors, and nearby students by providing opportunities to grow fresh produce, learn sustainable gardening practices, and participate in community programming. The garden will also host a variety of educational, cultural and recreational programs that reflect the diversity of the Roxbury community, including gardening workshops, healthy cooking demonstrations, cultural celebrations, music performances and community gatherings. Development Projects Flint Cleaners at 170-172 Western Avenue to be redeveloped, adding housing above and preserving the long-time community business Housing: 20 residential units, three income-restricted units Jobs: Approximately 19 construction jobs Community: Close proximity to public transportation, public realm improvements Sustainability: Mass timber construction What is currently a family-owned and operated dry cleaning business in Allston will be redeveloped to include housing above the dry cleaners, and extra commercial space on the ground floor. This new mixed-use development will be eight stories, and include 20 homes, three of which will be income-restricted. These will be a mix of one-, two-, and three-bedroom units. The ground floor will include the dry cleaners and a beauty salon. This development is consistent with the Western Avenue Corridor Study and Rezoning, which established a guide for new development to provide necessary housing and commercial space to create a vibrant Barry’s Corner. The project will also contribute to the public realm by providing updated sidewalks, landscaping, and bike lanes. In addition, the project will contribute $5,500 to the Boston Transportation Department in support of the bikeshare system.  Addition at 24 Mt. Everett Street will add ten units of housing Housing: 16 residential units, two income-restricted units Jobs: Approximately 16 construction jobs Community: Close proximity to MBTA bus and commuter rail lines Sustainability: LEED Gold, adaptive reuse of older building, open space, preservation of tree canopy An existing multi-family, six-unit building in Dorchester will be renovated and added on to with another ten units of housing. The exterior of the current building will remain the same, but they will add bike parking on the ground floor. The new units will be a mix of studios, one-, and two-bedroom units. In support of the bikeshare system, this project will contribute $4,400 to the Boston Transportation Department.  Office conversion at 11 Avenue De Lafayette to create 70 new homes Downtown Housing: 70 residential units, 11 income-restricted units  Jobs: Existing retail to remain on the ground floor, approximately 39 construction jobs Community: New residents Downtown Sustainability: All-electric building, adaptive re-use of existing building This Downtown project will convert the existing office space of a five-story building into 70 new homes, including 11 which will be income-restricted. These will be a mix of studios, one-, and two-bedroom apartments. This project is one of 26 applicants to Mayor Wu’s successful Office-to-Residential Conversion Program, which is on track to convert 31 buildings and 1.5M SF of former office space into 1,785 new homes. 662-666 East Broadway project to provide new housing in South Boston Housing: 21 residential units, four income-restricted units Jobs: Approximately 30 construction jobs Community: Existing retail tenant to remain Sustainability: LEED Gold This project will bring 21 new homes to South Boston, four of which will be income-restricted. The new four-story building will have ground floor retail space, and is consistent with the neighborhood context while providing much needed housing. As a transit-oriented project, multiple bus routes in the area provide access to the MBTA Red Line. The project will improve the public realm with new bike parking spots and better sidewalks to prioritize pedestrian safety. In support of the bikeshare system, this project will contribute $5,775 to the Boston Transportation Department. 776 Summer Street Phase Two Development Plan will reimagine former power plant as waterfront destination  Housing: Approximately 636 residential units, 16 percent income-restricted developed in compliance with the City of Boston IDP policy, $8.9 million in Linkage funding for NHT Jobs: $20 million in community and workforce investment, $1.7 million in Linkage funding for the NJT, approximately 1,151 construction jobs, approximately 1,182 permanent jobs Community: Two acres of new open space, bikeshare station, $400,000 BTD contribution for “Vision Zero” improvements, waterfront activation  Sustainability: LEED Silver, Passive House, all-electric residential buildings, EV parking, adaptive reuse of historic Thomas Edison Turbine Halls Located in South Boston, this project is Phase 2 of a larger redevelopment and reimagining of the historic Boston Edison power plant into a waterfront destination. The Phase 2 development plan includes four new buildings and the rehabilitation of and adaptive reuse of the 1898 Turbine Hall along 6.8 acres of formerly industrial land. Those four buildings will include up to 636 residential units. Sixteen percent of these units will be income-restricted, developed in compliance with the City of Boston’s IDP policy and consistent with the PDA master plan. The buildings will also include a mix of: hotel and conference space, a bank and post office, healthcare facilities, offices, restaurant and retail space, as well as research and development space. This project will provide $8.9 million in Linkage funding towards affordable housing, and $1.7 million in Linkage funding towards job training. The Phase 2 development plan will deliver improvements to East First and Summer Streets including new sidewalks, roadways, landscaping, and other improvements to the public realm. Phase 2 will also include approximately 728 long-term bike parking spaces, 143 short-term spaces, and one new bikeshare dock on site. In addition, Phase 2 will include two acres of new public open space. This project will include employment and apprenticeship opportunities by working with local organizations to promote jobs in the construction trades to local veterans, as well as local high school students. In addition, there will be various efforts to ensure South Boston residents are aware and can apply for a range of employment opportunities created by the construction and tenanting of this site. Space will also be set aside for local South Boston businesses or other City-or State-certified disadvantaged small businesses to lease either for free for a discounted rate.  In addition to these projects, the Board approved: A contract with Weston & Sampson to restore the structural integrity of the Chain Forge Building in the Charlestown Navy Yard, and a separate contract with Weston & Sampson for environmental remediation of the site, paid in part by a $4 million grant from the Environmental Protection Agency. An RFP for the Little Mystic Harborwalk Extension to close the gap in the Boston Harborwalk and provide continuous access to the waterfront, as well as safe pedestrian transit, avoiding a busy truck route that lacks sidewalks. A contract with Mackay Construction Services Inc. for the realignment of Fid Kennedy Avenue in the Raymond L. Flynn Marine Park. The Fiscal Year 2027 Operating Budget.