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| 圖片來自維基百科 |
這一新職位的全稱為住宅及宜居社區 (Housing and Livable Communities) 廳廳長。
Edward M.
Augustus當年在任時，曾為屋斯特市蓋了數以千計，供不同收入層次民眾居住的住宅單位。奚莉州長稱他嫻熟地方政府市務，知道如何和市鎮合作，達成州政府的住宅目標，是麻州此刻需要的領袖。副州長Kim
Driscoll則說，專為住宅設立一個廳長級職位，將大幅度影響麻州處理住宅危機的能力。
Edward M.
Augustus 在2014至2022年間，擔任人口20多萬，作為麻州門戶城市之一的屋斯特市市經理。他在位期間監管並分配2530萬元的社區發展集團(Community
Development Block Group)，住家投資合夥項目
(HOME Investment Partnerships Program) ，以及屋斯特減鉛健康家庭計畫
(Worcester Lead Abatement and Healthy Homes Program) 經費，為麻州有補助住宅數量第三多的屋斯特市，在全市發展並保存2000個以上可負擔住宅單位。Edward
M. Augustus還把來自聯邦政府的美國援救法
(ARPA)的3000萬元，用於為屋斯特市蓋住宅，包括1500萬元撥給了可負擔住宅信託基金。
在屋斯特市經理一職上，Edward
M. Augustus管理7億5000萬元預算，以及9000萬元的” 重振城市20年計畫”。他率先支持撥款2億4000萬元來重新發展屋斯特市運河區地標，包括從帶領波士頓紅襪隊AAA附隊 (WooSox)
遷移到屋斯特市，道建造多用途極地公園體育館，酒店，以及住宅大樓，以及Kelley廣場交界處的重新設計等。
在加入伍斯特市之前，Edward M. Augustus曾擔任聖十字學院政府與社區關係主任、伍斯特第二選區麻州參議員、國會議員吉姆麥戈文
(Jim McGovern) 的幕僚長，以及柯林頓
(Clinton) 政府教育部政府間及機構間事務助理部長。 他最近擔任院長學院
(Dean College)的校長。
麻州州長在3月1日時向麻州議會遞交第87號法案，要設立州長辦公室的住宅及宜居社區廳，把麻州政府目前的住宅及經濟發展辦公室從原本的經濟發展廳獨立出來，成為一個新的廳長級職位，並把其工作範圍，擴大至包括建造房屋。
Governor
Healey and Lieutenant Governor Driscoll Name Edward M. Augustus
as Housing Secretary
Former Worcester City Manager with record of
creating thousands of housing units will
lead administration’s new Executive Office of Housing and Livable
Communities
BOSTON – Governor
Maura Healey and Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll today announced that they are
naming former Worcester City Manager Edward (Ed) M. Augustus to serve as
the state’s first Housing Secretary in more than 30 years.
Augustus, who helped to create thousands of new housing units at all
income levels during his tenure in Worcester, will lead Governor
Healey’s new Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities beginning June
1.
“Ed
Augustus is the leader Massachusetts needs to take the helm of our new
Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities and drive an ambitious,
collaborative strategy to increase housing production and lower costs across
the state,” said Governor Maura Healey. “He left Worcester a
stronger city than it was a decade ago, with booming economic development in
the downtown and thousands of new housing units. Importantly, he is
intimately familiar with local government and knows what it takes to
collaborate with municipalities to move our state forward on our housing
goals.”
“The
establishment of a cabinet-level secretariat dedicated solely to housing will
have a major impact on Massachusetts’ ability to address this crisis and lower
costs across the state. Ed Augustus has the right experience, vision and drive
to lead this important work,” said Lieutenant Governor Driscoll. “His
motto is ‘How do we get to yes?’ which is an approach our entire administration
is embracing. We’re committed to partnering with cities and towns to
ensure they have the resources and support they need to give a hearty “Yes!” to
housing development in their communities.”
“I’m
honored that Governor Healey and Lieutenant Governor Driscoll have placed their
faith in me to lead the new Executive Office of Housing and Livable
Communities. Massachusetts' housing crisis impacts every single community in
our state, but we know what the solution is – build more housing,” said Augustus. “This
administration recognizes that there is no one-size-fits-all strategy to
achieving this and that we must work closely with communities
to deploy a diverse toolbox of options to meet their unique
needs. That’s what this new secretariat will be committed to
doing.”
Augustus
served as City Manager of Worcester, functioning as the Chief
Administrative and Executive Officer of the Gateway City of more than
200,000 people, from 2014-2022. During his tenure, he oversaw the
commitment or distribution of $25.3 million in Community Development
Block Group, HOME Investment Partnerships Program, and Worcester Lead Abatement
and Healthy Homes Program funds to develop or preserve more
than 2,000 affordable housing units throughout
the City. Worcester is the city with the third largest subsidized
housing inventory in the state. Augustus
also dedicated $30
million of the ARPA funds coming into the city to housing,
including $15 million for the Affordable Housing Trust Fund.
As City
Manager, Augustus managed a $750 million budget, as well
as the $90 million, 20-year Urban Revitalization Plan. Notably, he
spearheaded the $240 million landmark redevelopment of Worcester’s Canal
District, including leading the complex negotiation to
relocate the Boston Red Sox AAA-affiliate (now
the WooSox) to the city and construction
of the multi-use Polar Park stadium,
hotel, and housing development, as well as the Kelley
Square intersection redesign.
Prior to
joining the City of Worcester, Augustus served as Director of
Government & Community Relations for the College of Holy Cross, State
Senator for the 2nd Worcester District, Chief of Staff for Congressman Jim
McGovern, and Chief of Staff to the Assistant Secretary for Intergovernmental
and Interagency Affairs at the U.S. Department of Education under
President Clinton’s Administration. He most recently served as
Chancellor of Dean College.
Governor
Healey filed Article 87 legislation to create the Executive Office of Housing
and Livable Communities on March 1. The legislation moves the Department of
Housing and Community Development out of the current Executive Office
of Housing and Economic Development into the new secretariat and broadens its
scope of work to also include housing production.
This new
cabinet-level secretariat will be solely dedicated to
housing and driving solutions to create more homes and lower costs.
It will focus on the urgent need to build places to live that are affordable
and closer to public transit – giving residents access to jobs, medical care,
groceries, and other essential services. The Housing Secretary
will work collaboratively with stakeholders – public housing
authorities, cities and towns, the federal government, non-profits, developers,
landlords, renters and advocates – to develop a comprehensive housing
development and stabilization strategy. The secretariat will also
administer financial assistance and programs focused on housing production,
rehabilitation, preservation, affordability, stability and security, while
centering fairness and equity with every opportunity.
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