Baker-Polito Administration Announces the Commonwealth’s First-Ever Cybersecurity Awareness Grant Program Awards

Baker-Polito Administration Announces the Commonwealth’s First-Ever Cybersecurity Awareness Grant Program Awards

42,000 employees from 94 municipalities and public school districts will receive cybersecurity awareness training to better detect and avoid cyber threats

WORCESTER– Today, Lt. Governor Karyn Polito and Secretary of Technology Services and Security Curt Wood joined legislative, municipal and public school officials to announce $250,000 in grants awarded to 94 municipalities and public school districts across the Commonwealth to provide critical cybersecurity awareness training for over 42,000 employees to better detect and avoid cyber threats. Lt. Governor Polito addressed the group of award recipients at Worcester City Hall to mark the end of October as Cybersecurity Awareness Month.

Employees in communities participating in the program will receive interactive online training in topics ranging from email security to USB device safety. Employees will also receive simulated phishing emails. Phishing is a growing threat in local government in which an attacker seeks to influence the employee to take an action that may be harmful to the organization, by masquerading as a trusted entity.

“Raising awareness of the challenges posed by cyber threats is an important strategy for the Commonwealth’s communities to best train and equip its employees with the tools needed to defend against cyber threats,” said Governor Charlie Baker. “We are pleased to collaborate with our partners in local government to understand how we can better protect our communities.” 

“Cybersecurity is a critical issue for Massachusetts communities and schools who face cybersecurity threats but sometimes lack the resources to prepare for and combat them,” said Lt. Governor Karyn Polito. “These first-ever cybersecurity grant funds are a crucial tool to complement the over $9 million in funding for municipal IT infrastructure projects through the Community Compact program in providing Massachusetts communities and schools the resources and tools they need to combat cyber threats.”

The grant funding was included, in part in the Fiscal Year 2019 operating budget passed by the Legislature and matched by the Executive Office of Technology Services and Security to ensure as many communities and schools could participate in the cybersecurity training as possible.

In June 2017, Governor Baker filed legislation through the Article 87 government restructuring process under the Massachusetts Constitution to establish the Executive Office of Technology Services and Security as the cabinet-level lead information technology organization in the Executive Branch.

The Executive Office of Technology Services and Security began deployment of annualized cybersecurity awareness training for Executive Branch employees to better detect and mitigate cyber threats at the state level in 2018. The training will be enhanced year-over-year to account for evolving trends in cyber threats.

In April 2019, Governor Baker filed a $1.1 billion bond bill that includes $600 million in information technology (IT) infrastructure funding. $140 million of the funds are dedicated to further enhance the cybersecurity of the Commonwealth’s digital assets including the standing up of a new Security Operations Center.

“Cyberattacks are an emerging and increasing threat to communities across the Commonwealth and the nation,” said Secretary of Technology Services and Security Curt Wood. “By strengthening our communities’ cybersecurity posture, we are preparing municipal and school employees to better detect and defend against cyber threats.”

“Failure to proactively defend against cybersecurity threats in today’s digital world puts both the city and its residents at risk,” said Worcester City Manager Ed Augustus. “This is why training city staff to follow best practices and to be vigilant in the prevention of online attacks is so critical. We are grateful that the State is taking this issue seriously and we will continue to work together to keep our community safe.”

“In the wake of growing concerns relative to data privacy, security and increased threats, we are taking action to improve the Commonwealth’s preparedness within the cyber space,” said Senator Michael O. Moore (D-Millbury), who served as Chair of the Senate Special Committee on Cyber Security Readiness.  “These efforts complement a national conversation and need for resources to support cybersecurity readiness.  I commend the Administration for taking an active role in working to better prepare our schools and municipalities for these very real threats.”

Applicant	Organization(s)	Employees to Receive Cyber Training
Abington Public Schools	School only	250
Acton-Boxborough Regional School District	School only	900
Town of Agawam	Town only	225
City of Amesbury and Amesbury Public Schools	Town and School	550
Town of Amherst	Town only	370
Town of Ashland and Ashland Public Schools	Town and School	600
Town of Auburn	Town only	150
Town of Bedford and Bedford Public Schools	Town and School	647
Belmont Public Schools	School only	450
Town of Berlin	Town only	226
Town of Boylston	Town only	292
Town of Braintree and Braintree Public Schools	Town and School	1000
Town of Brewster	Town only	160
Town of Bridgewater	Town only	175
Town of Burlington and Burlington Public Schools	Town and School	800
Town of Carlisle and Carlisle Public Schools	Town and School	25
Town of Carver and Carver Public Schools	Town and School	300
Southern Worcester County Regional School District	School only	218
City of Chelsea and Chelsea Public Schools	Town and School	1200
Town of Danvers and Danvers Public Schools	Town and School	925
Essex North Shore Agricultural & Technical School	School only	20
Dedham-Westwood Water District	Town only	15
Frontier Regional and Union 38 School Districts	School only	5
Town of Eastham	Town only	75
Town of Easton	Town only	150
Town of Edgartown	Town only	100
Framingham Public Schools	School only	1600
City of Gloucester	Town only	345
Town of Granby and Granby Public Schools	Town and School	200
Greenfield Public Schools	School only	53
Town of Halifax	Town only	100
South Shore Regional Vocational Technical School District	School only	100
Town of Holbrook and Holbrook Public Schools	Town and School	150
Town of Holden	Town only	173
Town of Holliston and Holliston Public Schools	Town and School	112
Town of Hopkinton and Hopkinton Public Schools	Town and School	120
Freetown-Lakeville Regional School District	School only	400
Town of Lancaster	Town only	94
City of Leominster and Leominster Public Schools	Town and School	1554
Town of Leverett	Town only	150
Minuteman Regional Vocational Technical School District	School only	164
Lincoln Public Schools

玉山科技協會年會申論"醫療健康產業中的人工智慧"

左起，新英格蘭玉山科協會長陳立洋，NVIDIA醫療區域業務經理
Rory Kelleher，九點醫療系統工程主任蔡宗涵，新英格蘭玉山科協
副會長蘇皓瑋，MGH臨床資料科學中心主任Mark Michalski，
Luminopia Health 數位長吳建漢。(周菊子攝)

(Boston Orange 周菊子劍橋市整理報導) 新英格蘭玉山科技協會 (MJNE)日前在麻省理工學院舉行2019年會，邀得8名醫藥、創投界專家與匯聚而來的120多名出席者，就會議主題”醫療業人工智慧 – 以數據做醫療價值驅動力 ( A.I. in healthcare – Data as the driver of healthcare value)做深入探討。

會議由玉山科協會長陳立洋，波士頓經文處科技組秘書黃冠毓為開場致詞，玉山副會長蘇皓瑋主持，從不論是實際應用，法令規章或投資策略，人工智慧正在全方位改變醫療業的角度，分三個主題，依序探討人工智慧的”如何改變目前的醫療模式”，” 相關法規”，”商業價值及創新投資”。

左起 玉山副長蘇皓瑋主持第一場座談，與談人依序為
 Rory Kelleher, , Mark Michalski, 蔡宗涵。(周菊子攝)

Vertex製藥的生物識別主任凌美秀，也是全球玉山裡事。
(周菊子攝)

麻省總醫院(MGH)臨床資料科學中心主任Mark Michalski，九點醫療(NinePoint Medical)系統工程主任蔡宗涵，NVIDIA 醫療區域業務經理 Rory Kelleher在早上分別就臨床、應用和基礎建設這三個不同層面，闡述資料是如何堆疊累積，再透過不同的人工智慧演算法，來實現預測、分類、標記等不同的功能應用，以及藉由使用人工智慧做平行運算，可以如何提升運算效率、節省能源。他們還就”人工智慧如何改變醫療的實際執行”分享各自的經驗，包括讓機器利用大數據做深度學習，藉以輔助診斷，既有更快速，精準的效率，可減少醫師及相關人員工作量，降低服務價格等優點，卻也同時有數據資訊一旦偏頗，檢驗甚至可能造成大誤失等風險。

Baker & McKenzie律師Chia-Feng Lu和Vertex製藥的生物識別主任凌美秀，下午就”醫療業人工智慧的安全性與法令規章”，分別做闡述，說明。

Chia-Feng Lu主要是介紹美國聯邦政府食品藥品管理局(FDA)如何規範醫療業內的人工智慧應用，以及個別重點州關於資料隱私、安全的規定，概念緣由。

豐川資本副總裁張邵聿(左起)主持第三場做談，與談人依序為，
吳建漢，Drew Volpe ，Ian Chiang。(周菊子攝)

凌美秀以Vertex製藥的生產過程為例，說明如何在公開透明與個人隱私之間取得平衡。她也指出，儘管醫藥業多半出於保護個人隱私等顧慮，不公開企業所擁有的資訊，但美國聯邦政府，以及世界各地的政府機構，都正在陸續推出相關法令，促使醫藥界透明化各自擁有的研究成果資訊，藉以幫助業界避免浪費，不要把有限資源，投入在已成功或失敗的相類似科學研究上。

新英格蘭玉山痾協歷任會長，左起，許翠玲，李政欣夫婦，
康麗雪，王本仁都出席了會議。(周菊子攝)

會議的最後一場座談，主題是”業界傳奇:在醫療保健業用人工智慧創造價值(Tales from the Road: Value creation using AI in healthcare)”，由新英格蘭玉山科協理事暨豐川資本 (FC capital) 副總裁張邵聿主持，與談人包括Luminopia Health 數位長吳建漢(Hank Wu)、First Star Venture創始人兼執行合夥人Drew Volpe 和Flare Capital Partners執行長Ian Chiang。他們在問答中，分享如何驗證商業模式、確定投資人出款意願，以及資料獨特性等創業者在執行層面會遭遇，需要考慮的許多議題。

波士頓台灣仁生物科技協會前後任會長，左起，朱治齊，林治中，
魏嘉英，鄭永志，魏曉英，到會支持玉山科協活動。(周菊子攝)

玉山科協副會長蘇皓瑋在閉幕致詞時表示，在醫療上應用人工智慧，潛在價值巨大，待開發領域仍廣，相信未來文字語音類別的數據資訊也將扮演重要角色，人類社會將藉由多種數據資料的互相輔助，來達到醫療業所需的精準要求。(圖片已逾10月21日發表)

新英格蘭玉山科協會長陳立洋(右)和工研院北美公司總經理王韶華。
(周菊子攝)

新英格蘭玉山科協年會，部分講者與出席者合影。前排右起，玉山科協會長陳立洋，副會長蘇皓瑋，
講者NVIDIA的Rory Kelleher，一名與繪者，MGH的Mark Michalski，吳建漢。(周菊子攝)

Baker-Polito Administration Highlights Housing Choice Bill in Quincy

Baker-Polito Administration Highlights Housing Choice Bill in Quincy

Local leaders endorse legislation that aims to support communities statewide in their goals to increase new housing production

QUINCY – Today, Governor Charlie Baker, Lieutenant Governor Karyn Polito, Secretary of Housing and Economic Development Mike Kennealy and Undersecretary of Housing and Community Development Janelle Chan joined Quincy Mayor Tom Koch, Jimmy Liang of Fuji Restaurant Group, Dolly Di Pesa of Di Pesa and Company and other local leaders to highlight An Act to Promote Housing Choices, legislation filed by Governor Baker in February that calls for targeted zoning reform to advance new housing production in Massachusetts and support the Administration’s goal to produce 135,000 new housing units by 2025.

“Our Commonwealth faces a housing shortage that threatens the future of the families and innovative companies driving our remarkable success,” said Governor Charlie Baker. “In order to build the amount of housing we need to stabilize rents and home prices, we must pass An Act to Promote Housing Choices so communities can deliver critical projects with majority support.” 

“Century-old zoning laws pose a major obstacle to building adequate, affordable housing for residents,” said Lt. Governor Karyn Polito. “Our administration will continue to work closely with local leaders to leverage every tool at our disposal to promote the production of housing across the Commonwealth, so more communities like Quincy can continue to grow and succeed.”

Today’s event in downtown Quincy celebrated the City’s efforts to promote transit-oriented housing and development, in order to ensure that Quincy continues to grow and remains affordable to residents of all income levels. According to The Boston Foundation, Quincy was one of just 15 municipalities that together obtained more than half of the Commonwealth’s building permits between 2013 and 2017, making the City a leader in tackling the statewide housing crisis, which is particularly acute in Boston and neighboring communities like Quincy. These efforts earned Quincy designation as a Housing Choice community, in recognition for the city’s success in adopting best practices and increasing the housing stock by more than 3% over the last five years.

The Housing Choice legislative proposal will enable cities and towns to adopt certain zoning best practices related to housing production by a simple majority vote, rather than the current two-thirds supermajority. While this legislation will lower the voting threshold to change zoning for all communities in the Commonwealth, it does not require cities and towns to make any of these changes. With the proposed simple majority threshold, municipalities that pursue rezoning efforts including those enabling transit-oriented or downtown-oriented new housing, would gain approval if they achieve more than 50 percent of the vote, as opposed to the current super majority of more than 66 percent. Massachusetts is currently one of only a few states to require a supermajority to change local zoning.

Zoning changes that promote best practices for housing growth that would qualify for the simple majority threshold include:

• Building mixed-use, multi-family, and starter homes, and adopting 40R “Smart Growth” zoning in town centers and near transit.
• Allowing the development of accessory dwelling units, or “in-law” apartments.
• Approving Smart Growth or Starter Homes districts that put housing near existing activity centers.
• Granting increased density through a special permit process.
• Allowing for the transfer of development rights and enacting natural resource protection zoning.
• Reducing parking requirements and dimensional requirements, such as minimum lot sizes.

This legislation also includes a provision, added by the Joint Committee on Housing last session, that would reduce the voting threshold for a special permit issued by a local permit granting authority to a simple majority vote, for certain multi-family or mixed-use projects with at least 10 percent affordable units in locations near transit or, in centers of commercial activity within a municipality.

“Despite our unprecedented economic growth, the cost of housing has continued to climb as housing production remains stagnant throughout Massachusetts, thanks to outdated zoning laws that too often thwart even projects popular with residents,” said Secretary of Housing and Economic Development Mike Kennealy. “We will continue to advocate for An Act to Promote Housing Choices so communities can produce the adequate, affordable housing necessary for businesses, their employees, and their families before they are forced to move elsewhere.”

“Our families, seniors, workforce, individuals with disabilities, and vulnerable populations have diverse housing needs, and today’s market is not meeting them. Housing that our residents can afford is a crucial resource and An Act to Promote Housing Choices will create the tools we need to promote new housing development for those across incomes,” said Undersecretary of Housing and Community Development Janelle Chan. “We are proud of the coalition we’ve built in support of this legislation and the investments we’ve made in affordable housing, community development, and public housing to benefit the many communities that contribute to our strong, inclusive Commonwealth.”

Local community and business leaders including Jimmy Liang of Fuji Restaurant Group and Dolly Di Pesa of Di Pesa and Company joined Mayor Koch in endorsing the legislation. 

“There’s no question Quincy is doing its part to solve this very real housing crisis, and Governor Baker’s Housing Choice legislation will provide the vital tools for communities across Greater Boston and the entire Commonwealth to foster the sustainable growth, affordability, and economic opportunity at the heart of our future,” said Mayor Tom Koch. “Governor Baker and Lt. Governor Polito have proven time and again that they understand the value of partnerships between the state, local governments and the private sector. We’re seeing the results of their work right here in downtown Quincy.”

Quincy has planned extensively for the future, working closely with state and local leaders to increase the housing stock and identify opportunities for growth. In 2007, the City developed the Quincy Center District Urban Revitalization and Development Plan, which first led to the demolition of decrepit Ross Garage to repurpose the area for transit-oriented development, with the support of a 2015 MassWorks grant worth $5.8 million that unlocked $600 thousand in municipal funding. A 2017 MassWorks grant worth $2 million then funded critical drainage improvements to the nearby Greenway, leveraging $40 million in District Improvement Financing to create more than 1 million square feet of retail, office, and medical space, and further stimulate investment downtown.

“JP Fuji Group employs about 200 employees just in the city of Quincy, and both of my current and hopeful employees have been facing challenges finding affordable housing in the city. If we can address the antiquated state zoning laws, we can remove barriers to produce new housing here and throughout the state,” said Jimmy Liang, Owner of JP Fuji Group. “As a Quincy resident, I am proud of the city’s leadership in building housing. However, other communities need to be able to build more too, which is why I endorse the Governor’s bill.”

“The creation of new housing in Quincy Center is the foundation of new business growth that is creating jobs and making this neighborhood once again the driving economic force of the City,” said Dolly Di Pesa, CPA and Managing Partner of Di Pesa and Company. “It’s this kind of growth – in the right places – that the Baker Administration’s Housing Choice legislation will make possible in communities throughout the state.”

“As Quincy continues to grow, it is important we work to ensure all residents can afford to live in our city,” said Senator John Keenan. “Especially as Quincy embraces new transportation initiatives and transit-oriented developments, it is vital that our zoning laws allow local officials the flexibility to prioritize appropriately located affordable housing. This legislation will help Quincy continue to prosper while providing suitable, affordable housing for all residents.”

Today’s show of support built on recent bipartisan endorsements from officials and organizations including former Secretaries of Economic Development from the Romney, Patrick, and Baker administrations. The bill was formally discussed at the May 14^th hearing of the Joint Committee on Housing.  The legislation is part of the administration’s Housing Choice Initiative, which provides incentives, technical assistance, and capital grant funding to encourage new housing production that meets the long-term needs of the Commonwealth’s growing, and aging, population.

The Baker-Polito Administration has shown a deep commitment to increasing the production of housing across income levels. Since 2015, the administration has invested more than $1 billion in affordable housing, resulting in the production and preservation of more than 17,000 housing units, including 15,000 affordable units. In 2018, Governor Baker signed the largest housing bond bill in Massachusetts history, committing more than $1.8 billion to the future of affordable housing production and preservation. The Baker-Polito Administration has also advanced the development of more than 11,000 mixed-income housing units through the successful MassWorks Infrastructure Program, reformed the Housing Development Incentive Program, and worked with communities to implement smart-growth development and planning efforts.

新北市府入選MIT REAP計畫 發展數位生醫科技 訪波士頓"取經"

新北市府與美東地區科技人座談。(阮宜馨提供)

                (Boston Orange整理報導) 中華民國台灣新北市政府副市長吳明機率團訪問波士頓，參加麻省理工學院REAP工作坊，並特地於10月24日和新英格蘭玉山科技協會(MJNE)首度合作舉辦座談會，以幫助新北市尋找未來科技產業發展方向、機會，結合台灣與海外優秀的科技、創業人才。

新北市副市長吳明機(左)和波士頓經文處處長徐佑典
(右)為座談會做開場致詞。(張劭聿提供)

包括哈佛大學布萊根婦女醫院急診醫學助理教授 Peter Hou、生物防禦及醫材顧問公司LF Liang Consulting創辦人 Li-Fang Liang博士、數位健康公司Luminopia 數位長吳建漢(Hank Wu)、行動手術室公司SurgiBox創辦人Debbie Lin Teodorescu、人工智能企業孵化器Vizuro共同創辦人魏宇峰(Yu-Feng Wei)，豐川資本(FC Capital)副總裁張劭聿(Shaoyu Chang)、Ｍach 48 Ventures的共同創辦人及合夥人Ally Chang，當天應邀出席在哈佛大學教職員俱樂部所舉行座談的人，多半是數位健康，智慧醫療領域專家，創業人士。

左起，人工智能企業孵化器Vizuro共同創辦人魏宇峰博士，行動
手術室公司SurgiBox創辦人Debbie Lin Teodorescu，數位健康公司
Luminopia 數位長吳建漢，新北副市長吳明機博士，Ｍach 48 
Ventures的共同創辦人及合夥人Ally Chang博士，生物防禦及醫材
顧問公司LF Liang Consulting創辦人 Li-Fang Liang博士，波士頓
生醫創投公司豐川資本副總裁張劭聿，以及哈佛教學醫院布萊根
婦女醫院急診醫學助理教授 Peter Hou。(數位經濟暨產業發展
協會秘書長黃玉華提供)

新北市副市長吳明機博士表示，新北市政府這次來波士頓有兩大任務，一是幫新北市找數位科技產業的未來發展方向與機會，一是鏈結海外來自台灣的優秀科技及創業人才，以為新北市孕育數位健康，智慧醫療等科技創新企業的未來生態系統。他很高興，藉由新英格蘭玉山科協的幫助，新北市訪學團有機會和前述科技人才及創業家對話。
吳明機指出，新北市希望藉由全球成功案例經驗，整合在地政府、教育、創新、企業等資源，共同建構兼具城市特色及國際競爭力之創業生態系統，更希望透過交流串接起新北的全球創新網路 (Global Innovation Network)，為新北產業注入全球視野。

馨北市副市長吳明機(中)與訪問團在哈佛大學教職員
俱樂部和波士頓數位健康及生醫科技領域人才聚會。
(數位經濟暨產業發展協會秘書長黃玉華提供)

新英格蘭玉山科協會長陳立洋，副會長蘇皓暐表示，麻州在生物醫療創新上，排名全美第一，通訊網路及人工智能等科技領域，創新創業人才豐沛，許多來自台灣人才，也都希望回饋故鄉，願意奉獻一己之力來幫助台灣的科技產業發展，新北市與波士頓持續交流，在培育未來數位健康與智慧醫療科技創新企業的創業生態系上，必將開花結果。

駐波士頓台北經濟文化辦事處處長徐佑典，駐美投資貿易服務處主任孫良輔也都表示，美東地區生物醫療及數位科技領域人才濟濟，確是新北市與國際鍊接的優良據點。

新北市這次訪問波士頓，主要是因為今年申請參加麻省理工學院的區域創業加速計畫(Regional Entrepreneurship Acceleration Program)，並成功獲選為第一個加入麻省理工學院 REAP全球創新網路(Global Innovation Network) 的台灣城市，和歐洲的丹麥，亞洲的日本福岡，中東沙烏地阿拉伯哈伊勒，以及非洲奈及利亞阿布甲等五個國際城市，成為REAP第七梯次同學。

新北市由副市長吳明機率領遠東集團麾下的亞東醫院及遠傳電信，以及先鋒材料，大瓏、奧丁丁等企業代表，和工研院，北科大等學界代表，組成團隊，10月21日至23日參加REAP項目課程。(更新版)