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星期一, 6月 07, 2021

代市長同意選票問題 波士頓市預算邁向全民參與

波士頓代市長Kim Janey(前坐者)在市議員Lydia Edwards (左二),華人
前進會主任陳玉珍(左三)等人見證中,簽字同意預算全民參與。
(華人前進會提供)

             (Boston Orange周菊子綜合報導)波士頓市府預算,有望在今年以後,波士頓市議員也有話語權,全民都將有機會參與決定。

            波士頓代市長Kim Janey(7)早在一眾市議員及民間支持者列席見證中,簽字同意把修訂波士頓市預算制定方法,擴大容許市民及市議員參與的這一提案,列為今年11月大選時的選票問題,同時宣佈將在波士頓市2022年會計年度預算中,增撥100萬元,專門用於成立波士頓市有史以來的第一個「參與預算辦公室(Office of Participatory Budgeting)」。

            Kim Janey簽字後,這一提案將送交麻州總檢察官辦公室,若條文內容沒有不妥當的地方,這一問題將印在11月大選的選票上,由選民決定,在制定市府預算上,是否容許波士頓市議員和市長享有類似權力。

波士頓市議員Lydia Edwards(前中)和一眾市議員及民間支持團體,
連袂宣佈喜訊。(周菊子攝)
             Kim Janey表示自己還在市議會議長任內時,就已支持這修訂市府章程的提案,上任市長一職後,也誓言要把新的人民聲音帶進市府,而這修改章程,將使得波士頓市的預算制定過程更民主,包容,透明。

             這一修改案在五月份時,獲得市議會議員全員同意的支持,依但在11月大選時通過,波士頓市議員和波士頓市長將都有權利全面或部分的修訂波士頓市預算。目前只有市長有權制定預算。

華人前進會行政主任陳玉珍(右)感謝Lydia Edwards(前左)和一眾市議員,
波士頓代市長Kim Janey通過這一提案,將讓民眾有機會就市府預算
該怎麼分配,也有發言權。(周菊子攝)
                     華人前進會行政主任陳玉珍,社區及環技替代方案Dwaign Tyndal,洛士百利活躍份子Armani White等人都稱許Kim Janey簽字同意這一提案交付公投。

            波士頓市府在發佈的新聞稿中說明,Kim Janey最近提出了有前瞻性的2022年會計年度營運預算37.5億元,另建議在2022-2026會計年度的預算中,撥備32億元做基礎建設。

提出此案的波士頓市議員Lydia EdwardsKim Janey簽署儀式過後,和一眾波士頓市議員們聚集在波士頓市府廣場前,舉行記者會,歡喜宣佈這一成果,說明只等麻州總檢察官辦公室確認這一修改市府憲章行動,以及相關文字,條款符合法律規定後,將於11月大選時,在選票問題上,請選民做決定。

                華人前進會行政主任陳玉珍表示,其實全民,以及波士頓市議員參與製定預算這事,早在將近20年前,就由時任波士頓市議員的Chuck Turner提出來了,只是當年未能爭取到大多數市議員同意,這一構想也就從未走到提交市長簽署這步,現在波士頓市長Kim Janey也已簽字,就等麻州總檢察官審閱了,進展很讓人興奮。  (二次更新版)
 

MAYOR JANEY EXPANDS PUBLIC INVOLVEMENT IN BUILDING BOSTON’S BUDGET, CREATING CITY’S FIRST PARTICIPATORY BUDGETING OFFICE AND SENDING AN UPDATE OF THE CITY’S CHARTER TO THE BALLOT

 

BOSTON - Monday, June 7, 2021 - Building on her commitment to equity and her focus on engaging all of Boston in the City’s governance, Mayor Kim Janey today took two key steps to democratize Boston’s budget building process. The first step was signing off on a ballot question to amend the City of Boston Charter that will strike a more equal balance of budgetary powers between the Mayor and the City Council. The amendment will now be sent to the Attorney General’s office for placement on Boston’s municipal ballot this November. The second step was to allocate an additional $1 million in the City’s proposed FY ‘22 Budget, dedicated to the immediate creation of the City’s first Office of Participatory Budgeting.

“On my first day as Mayor, I promised to bring new voices to the table and include those who felt shut out by City Hall,” said Mayor Janey. “Signing this charter amendment delivers on that promise and creates a path forward for city budgeting that is more democratic, inclusive, and transparent. I want to thank the advocates and the Boston City Council for their partnership on this important issue.”

The proposed charter amendment, which Mayor Janey championed as City Council President, received unanimous approval from the City Council in May. If the charter amendment passes this November, both the City Council and the Mayor will have the authority to amend the City’s budget in whole or in part, a power currently only held by the Mayor. 

Independent of the ballot measure, the amendment also establishes the Office of Participatory Budgeting, which will lead the Administration's efforts around expanding opportunities for community involvement in the City’s annual budgeting process. Guided by a community-based Participatory Budgeting Committee, the Office will be tasked with determining resident priorities when it comes to the City’s investments.   

“CPA works to ensure more voices are heard in government and policy making,” said Karen Chen of the Chinese Progressive Association. “We want to commend Mayor Janey for signing the Charter Reform amendment moving Boston towards greater democracy and equity, where all Bostonian voices are represented in Boston’s city budget.” 

“ACE as a member of Rights to the City of Boston appreciates Mayor Janey's leadership on charter reform as the President of the City Council and now as the serving Mayor of Boston. Charter reform will continue the process of making Boston a more transparent and democratic city,” said Dwaign Tyndal of Alternatives for Community and Environment. 

“We are so grateful for Mayor Janey’s support of this charter amendment. Participatory budgeting will allow for residents across Boston to have direct decision making in our tax dollars, and strengthens our city’s democracy, transparency, and civic participation,” said Roxbury-based activist Armani White.

Mayor Janey recently proposed a forward-looking budget that recommended a $3.75 billion Fiscal Year 2022 (FY22) operating budget and $3.2 billion Fiscal Year 2022-2026 (FY22-FY26) Capital Plan. The aim of the budget is to provide the resources for the city’s continued robust public health response to COVID-19, making strategic investments in Boston’s neighborhoods and residents, and setting the stage for Boston’s equitable reopening, recovery and long-term renewal. For more information on Mayor Janey’s proposed budget, visit budget.boston.gov. 

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