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星期五, 7月 31, 2020

White House Initiative on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders hosted Young Leaders Summit




White House Initiative on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders (WHIAAPI) hosted the AAPI Young Leaders Summit 2020 & the President’s Advisory Commission led an AAPI Young Leaders Roundtable Discussion
WASHINGTON, D.C. – On July 20th, the White House Initiative on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders hosted their first virtual AAPI Young Leaders Summit. The Summit took place over four days, July 20th – July 23rd, and brought together influential speakers from the AAPI community to address mentorship, community outreach, public service, and entrepreneurship. The Honorable Elaine L. Chao, U.S. Secretary of Transportation, provided special remarks to commence the four-day Summit in which she encouraged young AAPIs to “learn, observe, and listen.”
“We Asian Americans have a wonderful cultural heritage and values. Most of us have wonderful families behind us, supporting us. We have so much to share with mainstream America. Our country is increasingly diverse, so people with diverse backgrounds increasingly have an advantage,” Secretary Chao said as she encouraged college students and interns to “keep learning and remember to always help others along the way.”
“Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders are vital not only to American culture, but to our economic prosperity and growth as a Nation” said Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross, Co-Chair of the White House Initiative on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders. “It is essential that young leaders within the AAPI community work to integrate their cultural perspectives and values into their current work and future careers. America is a nation that celebrates diversity of thought and experience, therefore we must continue to encourage young AAPI leaders to succeed.”
Secretary Chao was joined by Commissioner Chiling Tong (Maryland) of the President’s Advisory Commission on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders (PAC-AAPI), who moderated a
WHITE HOUSE INITIATIVE ON ASIAN AMERICANS AND PACIFIC ISLANDERS 1401 Constitution Avenue NW Washington, DC 20230 www.commerce.gov/whiaapi
lively panel discussion with AAPI leaders in business, civics, and law to provide advice on mentorship and how to grow one’s network, even during a time of social distancing. This was followed by a professional development segment on how to maximize working from home and utilizing social media platforms to find a job.
The following day was co-hosted by both the U.S. Department of Justice’s Community Relations Service (DOJ-CRS) and PAC-AAPI, with the Chair of the Commission, Dr. Paul Hsu of Florida, joining and presiding over a Roundtable Discussion with young AAPIs. Commissioners Herman Martir of Texas, Grace Lee of Michigan, and Doris Flores Brooks of Guam were also in attendance and expressed their support for the presentation by DOJ-CRS on the topic of growing anti-AAPI sentiment due to the current health pandemic. This was followed by a panel discussion amongst federal partners, including the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of California and the U.S. Department of Education to address concerns of anti-AAPI bias and hate in the workplace, classroom, and community. Immediately following the panel, the Commissioners provided an opportunity for young AAPIs to voice their concerns to the PAC-AAPI as their input is critical for Commissioners to advise the President and the Secretaries of Commerce and Transportation on issues that affect the AAPI community.
WHIAAPI also provided an opportunity for participants to hear directly from AAPI appointees from the Trump Administration. Each provided encouragement and advice as young AAPIs consider going into public service. Included in the “Speaker Spotlight Series” was Derek Kan, Acting Deputy Director of the White House Office of Management and Budget as well as Victorino G. Mercado, Assistant Secretary of Defense for Strategy, Plans, and Capabilities, US Department of Defense, and Keiko Matsudo Orrall, who is also a Commissioner on PAC-AAPI. Attendees also had the privilege of hearing from Joseph Lai, former Special Assistant to the President for Legislative Affairs in the White House; Maya M. Noronha, Principal Policy Advisor to the Commissioner, Administration on Children, Youth, and Families, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services; and Joyce Yoon, Deputy White House Liaison, U.S. Department of Transportation. The event ended with a presentation by Ali Ahmad, Associate Director of Communications at the U.S. Census Bureau, on how Census 2020 has been strategically reaching out to AAPIs across the country.
The Summit concluded with a day on Entrepreneurship hosted by the U.S Small Business Administration (SBA) and WHIAAPI featuring two panels, one on “Starting Your Own Business” and another on “Doing Business with the Government.”. Director of the Los Angeles District SBA office, Ben Raju, who is also WHIAAPI’s Regional Network (RN) Co-lead, was joined by Van Tran, Deputy Associate Administrator for the SBA’s Office of Business Development and Tony Yang of Asian, Inc., which is the operator of Minority Business Centers on behalf of the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA).
The AAPI Young Leaders Summit focused on the next generation and addressed the importance of building the pipeline of future public servants, entrepreneurs, and community leaders. It was a tremendous opportunity to engage young AAPIs with federal government leaders as well as
successful AAPIs in both the private and public sectors. Along with federal partners, WHIAAPI will continue to work across the federal government and with the AAPI community to advance the economic empowerment and workforce development of AAPIs.

兩大發展計畫上路 紐英崙中華公所將成華埠大地主

(Boston Orange周菊子波士頓報導) 紐英崙中華公所728日晚一口氣通過30項提案,包括將展延至2021年開工的大同村南停車場蓋樓項目;以6個月為期,將和Pennrose協商發展計畫的喜露街50號,中華公所名下未來將有至少四處物業,營運專業化已成迫在眉睫的需求。
在三分之一董事出席,三分之二網上參加的這次特殊形式會議中,中華公所追認或將推動的議案,竟有30個之多。大同村南停車場,喜露街50號,都將在未來510年成為中華公所旗下物業,管理,營運都將更形複雜,董事中也傳出中華公所需要聘用更多專業人士聲音。
中華公所行政主任朱蘇珊以英文做長達9頁的報告,財政余陳寶愛做報告,幾乎全程用英文,也透露著中華公所正在轉型的趨勢。
當晚會議由中華公所主席鄭慧民點名,確認出席人數後,並介紹新董事,代表青年會(YMCA)Patricia Barnwell後召開。鄭慧民也簡潔報告了,二月份時,他應波士頓僑教中心主任之邀,到加州參加全美中華會館大會,還在那兒遇到也從波士頓去的美國安良工商會總理陳仕維,紐英崙中華總會代表余麗媖。在疫情期間,中華公所籌款,另比照撥款,共動用5萬餘元購買口罩,捐贈給第一線醫療人員。
根據行政主任朱蘇珊的報告,華人經濟發展協會(CEDC)原本和紐英崙中華公所洽商,借款300萬元,以完成購買泰勒街78號施工的計畫,但中華公所為此事聘請的Mintz律師樓發信給華經會,卻一直未獲回覆,然後據悉華經會已於4月完成這筆交易。華經會董事長蔣宗壬當晚遠程與會。他証實該會已從其他管道取得所需資金,不需要再向中華公所借了。
中華公所其他物業或發展計畫的概況分別為:
喜露街(Herald)50號已由中華公所物業小組建議和Pennrose以六個月為期,協商合作發展條件。2016年成立的喜露街顧問委員會也有變動,亞美社區發展協會(ACDC),華經會的代表,黃瑞瑜和建築師鄭繼良為原有的等4名成員。但鄭繼良因參與大同村南停車場發展計畫退出。再另增加代表中華耆英會的梅伍銀寬,華埠土地信託會的駱理德,以及華埠居民會的Arturo Gossage
華福樓有3家金融機構洽請中華公所辦理重新貸款,需要修理外牆,消防警報系統,請董事大會授權5名職員和物業,財政小組,以及行政主任處理相關事宜。
大同村有Accurate會計,Vogo沙龍,Tang’s花店,雷醫師診所,以及華埠餐廳等商戶須更新租約,請董事大會確認條件。另批准優惠從大同村建成開始,租用至今的雷醫師診所。
大同村南停車場發展計畫做小幅度修改,已於513日獲波士頓市政府區域規劃局批准。礙於疫情,現預計2021年中開工。
為發展大同村南停車場,追認成立中華公所夏利臣地出租人責任有限公司(CCBA Harrison Ground Lessor LLC)CCBA貸方公司(CCBA Harrison Lender LLC)CCBA會員公司(CCBA Harrison Member LLC)。同時批准中華公所和這些機構達成營運協議等等。另外授權中華公所主席代表中華公所及中華公所大同村管理公司把南停車場地塊分割出來,地契交給CCBA夏利臣地出租人責任有限公司,同時代表這家公司和波士頓市政府協商。
關於中華公所及泰勒街90號的營運,朱蘇珊在報告中說明,由於麻州州長在318日下達的緊急令,直到8月中,人們都難以隨意進出,建議所有租戶租金免收。今年的中秋節聯歡會也取消。在麻州全面重新開放前,中華公所會議將在網上舉行,現場出席人數限14人以下。
在通過上次會議記錄環節,代表安良工商會的陳仕維指出,錯別字等可忽略,但若要通過會議記錄,需更正主席及行政主任必須同時簽名。已經簽了的文件,可以追認,但往後必須有兩個人的簽名。
代表華人商會的梁添光表示,他不同意會議記錄中有關世界廣東同鄉會的描述,反對通過該一會議記錄。
在報告環節中,代表港澳之友社的謝中之質問,早年中華公所曾發給參與華埠治安巡邏人員每日50元酬勞,為何現在編列的經費只有每月300元。財政余陳寶愛及主席鄭慧民都表示,該費用額度是根據收到的糕餅店帳單評估的,將來可視實際情況調整。
關於中華公所英文書記阮鴻燦兼任華埠治安巡邏隊隊長可能有利益衝突一節,經阮鴻燦向其任職單位查詢,已確認沒有衝突,可繼續出任這一職務。
代表黃氏宗親會的黃國威輕聲提問,指中華公所有財政,與開設銀行戶口,簽發支票有關的動議第1718項,應由中華公所主席及財政來執行,而非中華公所雇員的行政主任。
代表協勝工會,曾任中華公所財政的余麗媖在提出中華公所財務應由財政處理之外,另要求行政主任與物業小組就華福樓重新貸款的利弊與利率做分析,比較,再列表向董事大會提出建議。代表至德三德公所的翁宇才表示,只要利率差距3%以上,就可以做重貸。朱蘇珊說明,八年前中華公所的華福樓貸款利率是8%,後來重新貸款,把利率降到5%,現在有3家金融機構和中華公所接洽,想要提供3%利率的貸款,但是中華公所以前簽署的貸款合約有提前還款須賠償的條款,所以得先計算清楚,是否划算,將和物業小組商討後,再回報董事大會。
根據余陳寶愛的財政報告,中華公所在五,六這兩個月,收入112,919.73元,支出47,092.55元。六月底時,營運戶口節餘266.087.75元。中華公所申請得到43,320元的聯邦薪資保護計畫(PPP)款項。迄今收到的各項補助、捐款共計336,889.02元。
會中另通過了阮謝少珍加入公所核數張青梅所率領的稽核小組。

Baker-Polito Administration Launches #MaskUpMA, Reminding Residents To Wear Face-Coverings To Stop COVID-19 Spread

Baker-Polito Administration Launches #MaskUpMA, Reminding Residents To Wear Face-Coverings To Stop COVID-19 Spread


BOSTON – The Baker-Polito Administration today launched #MaskUpMA, an effort to continue to remind residents to wear masks and face-coverings in public to stop the spread of COVID-19. The effort will underscore the importance of wearing masks across multiple channels including video testimonials on social media, a new PSA, and a website, Mass.Gov/MaskUp.

Governor Baker and Lt. Governor Polito helped launch #MaskUpMA with video testimonials where they urge residents to wear masks to protect themselves and others. Red Sox mascot Wally the Green Monster also joined the effort today, and in the coming weeks, additional local public figures will remind everyone in Massachusetts to “mask up.”

In addition, the Department of Public Health today also launched an updated public service announcement video, which is available here. Residents can also visit Mass.Gov/MaskUp to learn more about wearing face-coverings, including best practices and multilingual resources.

In May, Governor Baker issued an order requiring residents to wear face-coverings in public where social distancing is not possible. This applies to both indoor and outdoor spaces. Exceptions include children under the age of 2 and those unable to wear a mask or face covering due to a medical condition. Read the full DPH Guidance and find more detailed information in Frequently Asked Questions - Face Covering.

https://twitter.com/i/status/1289197966725722112

https://twitter.com/Wally97/status/1289209526227353600


有關面罩和布口罩的公告

公告
您可以採取很多措施保護自己和他人不會感染新型冠狀病毒(COVID-19)。無疾病症狀的人可能仍然會傳播COVID-19。口罩可能有助於防止您將COVID-19傳染給他人。
面罩可以是蓋住鼻子和嘴巴的任何東西,包括防塵口罩、圍巾和頭巾。
請勿使用醫護人員口罩,例如N95口罩,這些口罩應當留給醫護人員使用。
在難以與他人保持六英尺社交距離的情況下,請務必戴這些面罩或口罩。例如,在藥房或食品店內。
當您戴布口罩時,口罩應當:
舒適地貼在臉部兩側;
用繫繩或耳環固定;
包括多層織物;
可呼吸,不會限制呼吸;並且
能夠清洗和烘乾,但不會損壞或變形。
戴上和脫下口罩時,請勿觸摸口罩的正面,僅握住繫繩或耳環,並一定要定期清洗布口罩。觸摸口罩後應洗手或使用消毒洗手液。
不應當讓有呼吸困難、失去知覺、無行為能力或在無人協助時無法取下口罩的任何兩歲以下幼兒戴口罩。
美國疾病預防與控制中心(CDC)的網站上有關於如何自己製作布口罩的說明。
除戴布口罩外,您還應當繼續採用行之有效的方法保護自己。
當您必須出門採購生活必需品時,請與他人保持六英尺的距離,始終遵守保持社交距離的命令。
如果您生病,呆在家中,避免與他人密切接觸。
經常用肥皂和水洗手,至少洗20秒;如果沒有肥皂和水,可使用至少含60% 酒精的洗手液清潔雙手。
•避免用手摸眼睛、鼻子和嘴巴。•用家用清潔噴霧劑或抹布清潔經常觸摸的物體(例如門把手和檯面)。•咳嗽或打噴嚏時蓋住嘴巴。使用紙巾或內肘蓋住,不要用手。
其他資源

第二屆波士頓台灣電影展訂8月8日揭幕

台灣電影展海報。(主辦單位提供)
(波士頓訊) 第二屆波士頓台灣電影展 ( TFF ),將從8月至年底,以失物招領(Lost & Found)” 為主題,每月播放一部電影,邀各界細細品味、探看台灣的電影,特色與議題。
                        由於新冠疫情,本屆影展改在線上舉行。每部電影放映後都會舉辦線上座談。
88日父親節,影展開幕片為《 前世情人的情人 》,以及《 三八新娘憨女婿 》。 導演 梁秀紅將於當日的美東時間晚上8點,台灣時間的89日早上8 點出席座談會,在網上和來自世界各地的觀眾對談電影。
根據公共電視,國家電影中心,金馬電影學院合作的《4X相識》系列短片說明,《 前世情人的情人 》是取材台語片《 三八新娘憨女婿 》自由戀愛橋段,揉合台灣今年通過同婚法,由導演梁秀拍攝,對比不同年代愛情觀的影片。
台灣電影展(TFF)是由一群有夢想,熱愛台灣的年輕人籌辦出來的活動。2019年第一屆放映了《 疾風魅影:黑貓中隊 》,《 我們的青春在台灣 》等9部電影,售出逾千張門票,各方反應極佳。
《 前世情人的情人 》劇照。(主辦單位提供)
影展現由許祐湉,康麗雪,藍凡耘,Andrew Lin,林致中,蔡函庭,以及多位志工們合作,分頭進行接洽影片,談公播費,聯絡導演,邀約贊助,安排翻譯等細節。
目前已有駐波士頓台北經濟文化辦事處,科技部等機構支持,還在敦請熱心者捐助,並以出售門票,影展紀念品口罩等方式,繼續募資。
波士頓台灣電影展每部影片的觀賞門票為8元,購票或買紀念品可上官方網站:https://www.taiwanfilmfest.org/buy-tickets, 捐款: Venmo @TFFBoston,查詢/企業贊助,請洽: taiwanfilmfestival.boston@gmail.com





Boston Resiliency Fund gives $740,000 to 21 organizations


MAYOR WALSH AND STEERING COMMITTEE ANNOUNCE OVER $740,000 IN BOSTON RESILIENCY FUND GRANTS TO 21 ORGANIZATIONS


Funding will increase access to food, support families, youth and older adults, and assist individuals experiencing homelessness


Mayor of Boston Marty Walsh. (By Chutze Chou)
BOSTON - Friday, July 31, 2020 - Mayor Martin J. Walsh and the Boston Resiliency Fund Steering Committee today announced over $740,000 in new Boston Resiliency Fund grants to 21 organizations and nonprofits. Since launching in March to help Boston residents most affected by COVID-19, the Boston Resiliency Fund has distributed over $24.4 million to 328 nonprofit and local organizations. Building on Mayor Walsh's commitment to equity, 71 percent of organizations awarded grants today are led by a person of color and 57 percent of organizations are led by a woman.
At top: Yusufi Vali, Director of Immigrant
Advancement and at bottom: Brenda
 Cassellius, Superintendent of Boston 
Public School. (By Chutze Chou)
"The Boston Resiliency Fund was created at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic because we wanted to support vulnerable populations as we addressed the ongoing public health crisis," said Mayor Walsh. "Grantees' work with individuals hardest hit by the pandemic continues to prove the importance of partnerships with local organizations that are directly helping neighborhoods and communities in need. I want to thank every donor who has pitched in to this Fund and every organization who has assisted in providing vital supports to our residents."

Since the beginning of the Boston Resiliency Fund, in total, 53 percent of grantee organizations are led by a person of color and 56 percent of grantee organizations are led by a woman. A map and a list of every organization that has received funding from the Boston Resiliency Fund can be found here

"Rounding The Bases, Inc. is really excited to receive a Resiliency Fund grant in the amount of $5,000," said Carl Baty, Executive Director of Rounding the Bases. "This will allow us to increase the amount of fresh produce we deliver to seniors and families weekly from an average of 25 households, to 275 households, a 1,000% increase. Thank you for helping us find a new way to help those in need."

"The youth and families of Friends of the Children-Boston are among the Bostonians hardest hit by the COVID-19 pandemic. From weekly meals and grocery deliveries to daily educational and social emotional support we have been and continue to work on the front line filling critical gaps so those we serve don't have to face their struggles on their own," said Yi-Chin Chen, Executive Director of Friends of the Children-Boston. "The support from the Boston Resiliency Fund will ensure that we can continue to be proactive in our support and double down our efforts to show up in ways that are the most helpful to our youth and their families throughout the summer and beyond. We are proud to partner with our city leaders and partners in this collective effort to help Bostonians facing the hardest challenges."

This round of funding will help organizations that are working to increase food access, support direct services for families, youth and older adults, assist individuals experiencing homelessness, and fund local organizations directly providing supports to the community. This round of funding will provide grants ranging in size to the following organizations:

Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Inc. / Bowdoin Street Health Center: Bowdoin Street Health Center will use the BRF grant to expand services to neighborhood residents. The BRF grant will expand the number of produce boxes, coupons to be used at local grocery stores, and increase SNAP application assistance.

Breaktime Cafe, Inc.: Breaktime will use BRF funding to hire 10 young adults experiencing homelessness and five returning citizens full time to produce 5,000 meals per week for Bostonians in need, in support of Cape Verdean Association of Boston, St. Ambrose Family Shelter & Nazareth Family Shelter, Sojourner House, Project Hope, and more. A video highlighting Breaktime can be watched here

Caribbean Youth ClubCentro Presente, & Brazilian Workers Center: Through the Summer Dreamers Fellowship Project, a pilot program for "Dreamers" (immigrants who came to the U.S. as children) in partnership with the City of Boston, the BRF grant will allow to offer youth a $300 weekly participation stipend, 135 hour of mentoring, 45 hours of leadership training, 90 hours of work readiness preparation. The program teaches youth leadership training on social justice issues, civic activity planning, team building, community outreach and partnership development. In addition, youth will learn workplace values and behaviors, discover new career paths, assess their  strengths, review short-term job choices and/or long-term career plans, and build skills such as writing resumes, interviewing, effective communication, task management.

Common Cathedral: Common Cathedral will use BRF funds to continue expanded service hours at their emergency day shelter at the Emmanuel Church.

Community Coming Together: Community Coming Together will use the BRF grant to continue to purchase PPE and other supplies (masks, gloves and hand sanitizer) for those with the highest need, free of charge. 

Elevate BostonElevate Boston will use this BRF grant to sustain their efforts to provide hot meals, non-perishables, groceries, toiletries, sanitizer, soap and gift cards to students, elders and families in need.

Foundation for Boston Centers for Youth & FamiliesThis BRF grant will support BCYF in conducting their youth summer programming this summer. Funding will be used to purchase webcams so staff can conduct virtual youth summer programming, and it will allow BCYF to purchase 400 tablets for program participants.

Friends of the Children-Boston: Friends of the Children-Boston will use the BRF grant to deliver weekly kits of groceries, meal kits, cleaning supplies, PPE, and family support kits, support technology and access issues to enable distance learning for children, and create learning opportunities.

Gilbert Albert Community Center: Gilbert Albert Community Center will use this Boston Resiliency Fund grant to continue its partnership with a local restaurant to provide six healthy, culturally-appropriate meals a week to 60 clients for four weeks. 

Haitian Americans United: Haitian Americans United will use this Boston Resiliency Fund grant to continue serving homebound, immigrant elders who cannot cook for themselves, in partnership with two local Haitian cuisine caterers.

Health Care Without Walls: The BRF grant will be used to continue conducting health screenings at Rosie's Place and for other in-person meetings with HCWW clients. In addition, HCWW will use the BRF grant to provide gift cards to their most vulnerable homeless elderly and pregnant/postpartum clients in need of food, diapers, over-the-counter medicine, cleaning supplies, masks, and other essential items.

Hope & Comfort, Inc.Hope & Comfort will use the BRF grant to continue their work supporting the needs of youth and families experiencing hygiene insecurity during the coronavirus pandemic. Hope and Comfort is currently distributing at nearly three times their usual rate.

Horizons for Homeless Children, Inc.Through this funding request, Horizons for Homeless Children will use the BRF grant to give families an average of $350 in gift cards to purchase food.

Madison Park Development Corporation: MPDC will utilize the Boston Resiliency Fund grant to expand its existing weekly food distribution efforts to 380 additional households within its affordable housing portfolio. MPDC will engage a local minority-owned catering business, Ethnica Catering, to provide hot prepared meals once a week to 200 older adults and adults with disabilities, while also engaging local meal kit company EatWell to provide 100 meal kits per week for family households with children. Finally, MPDC will provide supplementary food assistance to those who will be best served by financial assistance in the form of grocery store gift cards.

Massachusetts Down Syndrome CongressThe MA Down Syndrome Congress will use the BRF grant to provide $100 Market Basket gift cards and provide care packages customized for children and families that are in need. 

Rounding The Bases, Inc.The BRF grant will allow Rounding the Bases to expand their program delivering fresh fruits and vegetables to families and family child care providers in partnership with Fair Food.

Tech Goes HomeTech Goes Home will use the Boston Resiliency Fund grant to bring Boston families a computer, internet connection, and specially-designed digital skills training that covers ordering groceries and other essentials online, accessing school lunch pick-up locations, researching city support services, applying for SNAP benefits, and more.  

The Family VanThe Family Van will utilize the BRF grants to support their work in providing grocery store gift cards and counseling on purchasing healthy foods to families in need.

The People's AcademyThe People's Academy will use the BRF grant to partner with three churches in providing fruit and vegetables and household items like tissues, lysol wipes and other cleaning supplies to 200-300 families.

Transitional Remedies SolutionsTRS would use the BRF grant to support their "Hope Line," which they use to receive calls and make check-in calls to the community, in order to help them process their concerns, fears, and anxieties. The grant would also be used to provide support for people in the form of gift cards for food, miscellaneous items, school items for youth, and resources.

Youth Vybz Inc.: Youth Vybz will use the BRF grant to provide gift cards to be used to purchase food and hygiene supplies for students and families in need.

"We are grateful for this award from the Boston Resiliency Fund, which will allow MPDC to significantly bolster food access efforts. We know that the most effective solutions for addressing the socioeconomic needs exacerbated by the COVID-19 crisis involve meaningful collaboration," said Leslie Reid, CEO of Madison Park Development Corporation. "MPDC is grateful for the opportunity to partner with both the Orchard Gardens Resident Association and the City of Boston on this important effort."

"The Orchard Gardens Resident Association, in partnership with Madison Park Development Corporation, is very pleased to receive assistance from the City of Boston's Resiliency Fund," said Valerie Shelley, President, Orchard Gardens Resident Association. "This support will help our resident association continue to provide meals to our most vulnerable neighbors in need during this COVID-19 crisis." 

波市府辦彈性、種族平等基金 立意雖佳 坊間有異聲

波市府網頁圖表。

(Boston Orange 周菊子綜合報導)波士頓市府為因應新型冠狀病毒(COVID-19)大流行,及黑人的命重要(Black Life Matters),分別成立了兩個基金,立意雖好,並已有實績,但也引出批評聲音,質疑這做法偏離應走的方向,還有破壞,扭曲政治生態的危險。
這兩個基金,一個是317日成立,迄今已籌得3240萬元的波士頓彈性基金(The Boston Resilency Fund)”,一個是625日才宣佈,目前網站上並無資金數據的種族平等基金(Boston Racial Equity Fund)”
波士頓市長馬丁華殊(Marty Walsh)每次提及波士頓彈性基金,都表示自己為波士頓人那麼團結感到非常驕傲。他強調成立這基金,主要是把食物放到人們的桌上,擴展醫療服務,幫助人們因應病毒大流行造成的經濟及健康困境,已有6000個企業或個人捐增款項。這基金是人們在為難時刻團結互助的最好例子。
面對外界出現的批評聲音,馬丁華殊曾強調波士頓彈性基金的運作會透明,公開。在波士頓市舉行的多次記者會中,市府相關人員也都引用網頁,稱所有的捐款,收受捐贈機構,都列在網上。
在波士頓市政府專屬網頁上列出的數據,包括波士頓彈性基金已發放出2370萬元給306個非牟利機構,幫助了225,700個家庭,其中經由大波士頓食物銀行,以及”Loving Spoonfuls”20多個地方上少數族裔所擁有的餐廳合作,發放了140萬份餐食,聘用了55名失業人士。收受捐款的機構,有52%是由有色人種,56%由婦女領導。這筆錢還為波士頓公校學生買了8000Chromebook,為第一線工作人員提供了960個托兒服務位置,在18個社區健康中心設立了COVID-19檢測站,幫助21個機構增設遠程醫療服務,為1000個以上家庭提共了一個月份量的尿片及奶粉。
收到捐贈的有不少是波士頓內著名的大組織,包括波士頓醫療中心,東波士頓鄰里健康中心,流浪漢醫療護理(Health Care for the Homeless),大波士頓食物銀行(200萬元)等。
不過上網查看,目前只可看到一份試算表列出254個收受捐贈組織,其中多個組織接受過2次或以上捐款,因而有同一組織列名23次,結算下來,網頁上列出來的收受捐贈組織數目,大概會減少一半,和總結表所稱的共發給了306個組織,有不小差距。
各組織收到多少捐款,也並未詳細名列。在每週收受捐贈名單上,偶而會有某組織的收受金額,例如在716日這週,有大波士頓拉丁網路(GBLN)收到275000元,東波士頓鄰里健康中心收到7萬元,Whittier街健康中心75000元,516日有110萬元由市政府用於在15個社區設立病毒檢測站等等。黑人經濟正義院(The Black Economic Justice Institute)收到2萬元。
波士頓的華人社區組織,有華美福利會,亞裔反家庭暴力小組,亞裔青年會(YES),華人前進會,中華耆英會等收到這基金撥給的款項。
網頁上也並無捐贈者名單。但波士頓環球報稱,該報從波士頓市政府那兒取得一份捐贈者名單,包括Vertex製藥公司的Vertex基金捐了100萬,波士頓馬拉松賽的贊助者約翰漢考克保險公司,在波士頓市聘有4,600名員工的自由互惠公司(Liberty Mutual),也都各捐了100萬元。通用電氣(General Electric),馬丁華殊自己的競選委員會,建築巨頭薩福克建築公司各捐了50萬元,紅襪隊及波士頓環球報的老闆John W. Henry的基金捐了25萬元等等。
批評聲音之一,來自坊間傳聞甚囂,可能是波士頓市長馬丁華殊競選連任時對手的波士頓市不分區市議員吳弭(Michelle Wu)
吳弭認為,成立一個基金,然後說這個組織和市長一起向私營企業或私人募款,並決定資金流向,既扭曲了政治流程,也製造出一個非常有破壞性且危險的動態。她呼籲市政府做結構性改變。她說利用市政府平台來指導外界以這樣的方式募款,在令人困擾的缺乏監管下產生了利益衝突。
麻州做民意調查的長期政治分析家Lou DiNatale說吳弭的意見是合理的批評,而她和馬丁華殊的分別,反映了民主黨內分裂的舊世界/新世界
他說,馬丁華殊解決問題的方法,是一向以來的方法,由市內有政治勢力者找企業界有實力者。但這卻造成儘管那些局內人是在做好事,流程卻把受影響的人排除在外的情況,是以慈善形式出現,反而不是讓每一個人可以生活得下去的工資,得到醫療保險。
波士頓族裔平等基金(Boston Racial Equity Fund)則是為了推動族裔平等,希望能籌得數百萬,千萬元的經費,用於解決結構性種族歧視的基金。這基金的短期目標為籌款1000萬元,長期目標是5000萬元。愛默生學院非洲裔校長Lee Pelton等人出任執行委員會委員。波士頓市長馬丁華殊隨後還成立了"平等及包容內閣(Equity and Inclusion Cabinet)",並指派麻省理工學院城市歷史、公共政策及計畫助理教授,也是非洲裔的 Karilyn Crockett 出掌這一內閣。
波士頓環球報,WBUR, WGBH等媒體在同一時段報導,包括東方銀行董事長Quincy Miller在內的19名黑人及拉丁裔企業首長,為改善黑人,拉丁裔人處境,也推出了籌資目標10億元的"族裔平等及社會正義基金(Racial Equity and Social Justice Fund)",並且在6月28日時已經籌集2000萬元種子基金。