波士頓市訂 9月23、24兩日舉辦第二屆「全國城市鼠患防治高峰會」

     （Boston Orange編譯)波士頓市長吳弭（Michelle Wu）7月30日宣佈，今年9月23至24日將主辦第二屆「全國城市鼠患防治峰會（National Urban Rat Summit）」，將整合20多個市府部門與外部夥伴，透過跨部們合作，應用新科技、強化稽查與衛生管理等措施，系統性地應對鼠患問題。。

        這是在2024年推出「波士頓齧齒動物防治行動計畫（BRAP）」後，波士頓再次展現在城市鼠類防治領域的領導地位，將匯集全美及國際專家，交流以實證為基礎的創新防治策略，提升居民生活品質。

        峰會為期兩天，聚焦於創新、協作，並以數據為導向的分享城市鼠患管理的實務經驗。波士頓將在會中展示BRAP計畫的階段性成果，例如水務局和住宅單位合作測試下水道與地面陷阱等。整合20多個市府部門與外部夥伴來應付鼠患問題。

        包括波士頓檢查服務局（ISD）局長塔尼亞·德爾里奧（Tania Del Rio）及助理局長約翰·烏爾里希（John Ulrich）、營運長迪昂·艾里什（Dion Irish）等多名市府高層均強調，城市分享經驗，合作，有助於防治鼠患。波士頓住宅管理局局長白凱欣（Kenzie Bok）與公園局局長黛安娜·費爾南德斯·比博（Diana Fernandez Bibeau）也分別指出，已透過專責團隊與改善廢棄物管理等方式，在公共空間及住宅區有效減少鼠類活動。

        BRAP計畫自推動以來，除召開跨部門季度協調會議與試行創新捕捉技術外，亦擴大實施綜合害蟲管理（IPM），減少對傳統滅鼠劑的依賴，並加強數據分析以優先排序干預熱區。波士頓水務與下水道委員會營運長蔡斯·伯克利（Chase Berkeley）表示，透過下水道監測技術的測試，有助於更精確掌握鼠類動向，此一數據導向的合作模式是保護公共衛生與基礎設施的關鍵。

        多位鼠患防治權威學者，包括城市齧齒動物學家博比·科里根（Bobby Corrigan）博士、寄生蟲學家理查德·波拉克（Richard Pollack）博士及康乃爾大學教授馬修·弗萊（Matthew Frye）博士都指出，近年來城市在鼠患防治上已有顯著進展，峰會將是匯集全球頂尖智慧、分享新技術與實證策略的重要平台，有助於各城市攜手應對此項長久以來的都市挑戰。

MAYOR MICHELLE WU ANNOUNCES CITY OF BOSTON TO HOST SECOND-EVER NATIONAL URBAN RAT SUMMIT

City will convene leading researchers, public health professionals, and municipal experts from across the country to share best practices around innovative urban rodent mitigation strategies

BOSTON – Thursday, July 30, 2026 – Mayor Michelle Wu today announced that the City of Boston will host the second-ever National Urban Rat Summit this fall, from September 23 to 24, 2026. The two-day summit will bring together leading experts, academics, researchers, public health professionals, and municipal officials from across the country and the world to advance urban rodent mitigation solutions.

“Boston is a home for everyone—except rats. We’re proud to host the second-ever National Urban Rat Summit this September, where we will share our progress, hear directly from residents, and learn from other cities,” said Mayor Michelle Wu. “Since we launched the Boston Rodent Action Plan (BRAP) in 2024, our rodent control team has been deploying new technologies to target rodent activity, better coordination of City services based on data and analytics, and tailored strategies to eliminate rodent populations in different areas. We look forward to bringing cities together to burrow under barriers, gnaw through nagging issues, and scurry toward solutions for the highest quality of life for our human residents.” 

The summit will focus on practical, evidence-based approaches to one of the most persistent challenges facing cities: managing and reducing rodent populations. Guided by the annual theme of innovation, collaboration, and data-driven action, the event will help cities exchange best practices and continue developing strategies that improve resident’s quality of life. 

"The upcoming Rat Summit is an important opportunity to bring together experts, municipal leaders, researchers to exchange ideas and strengthen our collective approach to rodent management," said John Ulrich, Assistant Commissioner of Environmental Services, Inspectional Services Department (ISD). “Rodent activity is a challenge that extends beyond city boundaries, making collaboration and the sharing of proven strategies essential. By learning from one another and building on successful practices, we can continue developing innovative, coordinated solutions that improve public health, enhance neighborhoods, and improve the quality of life for residents in Boston and communities across the region."

“Under Mayor Wu's leadership, Boston launched the Boston Rodent Action Plan in 2024 to  manage and reduce our rat population through improved coordination, data collection, community engagement and innovation," said Dion Irish, Chief of Operations.  This initiative has made significant progress by piloting innovative tools and technologies, improving systems that influence rodent populations, and collaborating with many city departments to help tackle this challenge. We're excited to host the second National Rodent Summit to continue to learn new strategies and share our progress.”

"Boston is proud to host the second National Rat Summit, bringing together experts to share strategies and advance the science of urban rodent control,” said Tania Del Rio, Commissioner of the Inspectional Services Department. “Boston has emerged as a leader in developing practical, evidence based strategies to reduce rodent populations in dense urban neighborhoods. The Summit reflects our commitment to learning from others while sharing what's working in Boston." 

Boston hosting the second National Urban Rat Summit reflects the City's emergence as a national leader in urban rodent mitigation through the Boston Rodent Action Plan (BRAP). Launched by Mayor Michelle Wu, BRAP is a coordinated, cross-departmental initiative that brings together more than 20 City departments, agencies, and external partners to address one of Boston's most persistent urban challenges.

The summit will also showcase the Boston Rodent Action Plan (BRAP), which has transformed how Boston manages rodent activity. Since its launch, BRAP has:

Quarterly meetings with City departments and partner agencies to coordinate on rodent mitigation and build a City wide integrated pest management system

Piloted innovative technologies, including sewer and surface traps in partnership with the Boston Water and Sewer Commission and Boston Housing Authority

Expanded integrated pest management practices while reducing reliance on traditional rodenticides.

Improved inspection, enforcement, sanitation, and construction coordination to address the root causes of rodent activity.

Installed rodent-resistant trash receptacles and advanced public education on proper waste storage and disposal.

Used data, mapping, and analytics to prioritize interventions and measure outcomes across neighborhoods.

Strengthened partnerships with residents, businesses, institutions, and community organizations to support long-term rodent prevention.

“Through the Boston Rodent Action Plan (BRAP), we are focused on improving quality of life for all residents by reducing rodent activity and addressing the factors that contribute to it, including how we manage waste, keep public spaces clean, and limit access to food sources,” said Mike Brohel, Superintendent of Basic City Services. “The 2026 National Rodent Summit builds on this work by creating a space for cities and partners to exchange ideas, share best practices, and strengthen collaborative approaches.” 

“The Boston Housing Authority is proud to be a part of the multiagency effort to reduce rodent activity and improve public health and quality of life citywide,” said Kenzie Bok, Administrator of the Boston Housing Authority. “In our work under the Boston Rodent Action Plan, the Boston Housing Authority has transformed our rodent control protocols and technologies, creating dedicated teams that have reduced rat burrows and colonies at a rapid pace. The Boston Rodent Action Plan has brought together experts across our city, and we’re excited to share what works in Boston with partners nationwide.”

"Boston's parks are where residents gather to play, build community, connect with nature, and keeping them clean and welcoming requires thoughtful stewardship and innovative solutions," said Diana Fernandez Bibeau, Commissioner of the Boston Parks and Recreation Department and Deputy Chief of Open Space. "From proactive maintenance and landscape management to installing new rodent-resistant trash receptacles, the Parks and Recreation Department is helping reduce rodent activity in our public spaces. We encourage residents to join us in caring for our parks by properly disposing of trash and cleaning up after their pets. Through the Boston Rodent Action Plan, we're proud to work alongside our City partners to share what's working in Boston while learning new strategies to create cleaner, healthier parks and neighborhoods." 

“We’re excited to welcome leaders from across the country and around the world to address one of the biggest challenges facing cities today,” said Dennis Roache, Superintendent of the Waste Reduction Division. “Tackling rodent challenges requires collaboration, sharing what we’ve learned, and developing solutions that make a real difference for residents. This summit is an opportunity to learn from one another and advance strategies that help create cleaner, healthier communities.” 

"Boston Water and Sewer Commission is proud to partner with the City of Boston and other stakeholders on an innovative pilot program to address rodent activity through improvements to our sewer infrastructure. By testing new sewer trap and monitoring technologies, we are taking a proactive, data-driven approach to better understand and reduce rodent movement within the sewer system,” said Chase Berkeley, Chief of Operations at Boston Water and Sewer Commission. “This collaborative effort reflects our commitment to protecting public health, enhancing the reliability of our infrastructure, and supporting cleaner, healthier neighborhoods for Boston residents and businesses."

As cities across the country look for more effective and sustainable approaches to rodent mitigation, Boston is proud to host the National Urban Rat Summit as a forum to share lessons learned, evaluate emerging research, compare innovative technologies, and strengthen partnerships that will help cities reduce rodent populations and improve quality of life for residents.

"Significant advances have been made in both the science and the practice of controlling rats in modern cities over the past several years. The 2nd National Urban Rat Summit of 2026 hosted by the City of Boston brings together the essential collaborations of rodent scientists, municipality specialists and local governments involved in urban rat management programs," said Bobby Corrigan, Ph.D. Urban Rodentologist. 2026 National Urban Rat Summit Planning Committee Member. "The goal of the summit is to bring the  perspectives of  national and international minds to share collective findings, new technologies, and innovations in city operations that promises collaborative cutting-edge updates towards the centuries-old challenge of controlling urban rats."

“Rats have increasingly become a plague on cities nearly everywhere,” said Dr. Richard Pollack, Ph.D Parasitology and 2026 National Urban Rat Summit Planning Committee Member. “Rat-centric municipal planners, regulators, practitioners, and academics will assemble in Boston for the second ever National Rat Summit to share experiences, scrutinize new research findings, and compare strategies aimed to protect the health of the public and the integrity of buildings and infrastructure.”

“The National Urban Rat Summit is a unique opportunity to convene the relatively small group of rodent experts that deal with rats at the municipal level,” said Dr. Matthew Frye, Professor at Cornell University. “The second of its kind, the Boston Summit will showcase innovative, practical strategies that city leaders and practitioners can take home and put into action immediately. Over two days, academics, industry leaders, and government professionals will exchange ideas, share lessons learned, and explore emerging approaches to rat mitigation, while building the relationships and partnerships that strengthen our collective ability to create healthier, more resilient cities.”

麻州長Maura Healey 譴責電力公司牟取暴利 陳述降低民眾能源賬單辦法

麻州州長Maura Healey（中）率副州長Kim Driscoll (左），以及能源廳廳長
Rebecca Tepper (右）日開記者會，聲言要為人民降低能源賬單。（周菊子攝）

         (Boston Orange周菊子波士頓綜合報導) 麻州州長奚莉（Maura Healey）7月31日召開記者會，呼籲降低能源費率，公開譴責國家電網（National Grid）、永源（Eversource）等要求調漲費率最高達55%、發放數十億美元股東分紅，甚至上訴阻撓把大約15億美元的超額利潤退還給用戶。

        奚莉州長強烈要求麻州議會的協商委員會儘速通過能源負擔法案，賦予州政府砍除帳單附加費、強制審計業者財務、改革購電模式等權力，以終結「業者暴利、民眾買單」的現狀。

        希莉州長指出，聯邦能源管理委員會（FERC）已裁定能源業者多年來超收費用，應退還約15億美元，但業者不僅上訴，更在近期股東會議中表態將繼續對抗退費。她說，「在麻州民眾為支付能源賬單而苦苦掙扎之際，公用事業公司的支出、利潤及向股東支付的款項卻在急劇飆升，這簡直令人憤慨」。她直接喊話道，「立刻撤銷上訴，把錢還給麻州居民」。

        國家電網（National Grid），永源（Eversource），伯克夏爾天然氣（Berkshire Gas）和自由天然氣（Liberty Gas）都要求漲價，其中有公司甚至以基礎設施開銷巨大為由，要求漲價55%。

        奚莉州長還批評聯邦政府的對伊朗政策推升了全球石油及天然氣價格，卻又阻撓麻州的太陽能與風電開發，使麻州處境更加艱困。

        奚莉州長在2025年5月13日向麻州議會提交的「能源負擔、獨立與創新法案（Energy Affordability, Independence & Innovation Act）」，在參眾議會中都已通過，目前在協商委員會中協調參眾兩議會之間的條文差異。

        該法案的核心改革包括：廢除每年約2,000萬美元，因能源公司參與新英格蘭電網而發給的「輸電獎勵（transmission incentives）」、取消清潔能源合約的各種附加收費、禁止將管理層差旅與遊說費用轉嫁用戶，限制業者在非必要的基礎設施上花費，並要求公用事業改變現行購電模式，必須在電價低點購電以降低成本，授權公用事業局（DPU）主動審計業者財務與成本。

        奚莉州長已暫停新資料中心（data center）稅務優惠，要求業者將來必須自行以清潔能源發電，不得大量消耗電網資源，否則不准興建。

        州長辦公室估計，「能源負擔、獨立與創新法案」在未來十年，可為用戶節省超過100億美元。

        希莉州長強調，她已反對每一件送交辦公室的漲價案，並呼籲議會切勿向業者妥協，應儘快通過法案，「人民和企業不能再等」。

Governor Healey Lays Out Energy Affordability Priorities 

As utility companies seek rate hikes and higher profits, Governor Healey calls for change and swift passage of energy affordability legislation

BOSTON – Governor Maura Healey today called for swift action and passage of her energy affordability legislation to lower energy bills and rein in utility spending. In a letter to members of the conference committee negotiating the final bill, the Governor demanded the utilities stop fighting customer refunds and urged lawmakers to move quickly after their initial meeting to deliver relief for Massachusetts households and businesses by changing how utilities do business, getting charges off bills, and building more local sources of energy. 

“It is absolutely outrageous that, at a time when the people of Massachusetts are struggling to pay their energy bills, utility spending, profits and shareholder payouts are skyrocketing,” said Governor Healey. “Enough is enough. Massachusetts ratepayers shouldn’t be footing the bill for unnecessary utility spending or excessive profits. And they shouldn’t be locked into paying high energy costs driven by President Trump’s Iran war. Passing my energy affordability legislation will ensure ratepayers are getting the best deal for energy, eliminate unnecessary charges from people’s bills, rein in utility spending and profits, and lower costs. Utilities also need to drop their legal challenges to our efforts to return money to consumers and stop seeking rate hikes that people simply can’t afford.”

“Our energy affordability legislation meets the moment we are in. We need to act as Trump’s war drives up energy prices worldwide and utility infrastructure spending raises ratepayer bills,” said Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary Rebecca Tepper. “Our administration is ready to act to implement this critical legislation. We’re ready to strike charges, procure more energy, and increase oversight over utility spending.”

Since Governor Healey filed her energy affordability legislation in May 2025, Massachusetts gas and electric utilities have continued seeking higher profits, increasing shareholder payouts, opposing efforts to rein in spending, and pursuing additional rate increases. 

As profits have risen, National Grid, Eversource, Berkshire Gas and Liberty Gas have all sought rate increases in the past year, some as high as 55 percent, driven in part by significant infrastructure spending that also increases utility profits. Governor Healey has opposed those increases, and her administration has consistently argued before the Department of Public Utilities for stronger oversight and lower utility profit levels.

The utilities, which also earn profits from other arms of their businesses like transmission investments, have fought efforts to return exorbitant profit back to ratepayers. Earlier this year, FERC ordered the New England transmission owners to return approximately $1.5 billion in profits collected over the past decade after advocacy by then-AG Healey and current AG Campbell. FERC also cut the allowed return on equity going forward. The transmission owners appealed this ruling, called for a slower rollout of the refund, and doubled down on increasing transmission profits going forward. Governor Healey and AG Campbell opposed this proposal and rallied all New England Governors to oppose the proposal. 

Meanwhile, shareholder payouts keep going up. Last year, Eversource and National Grid shareholders received billions in direct payouts.

Governor Healey’s energy affordability legislation gives the state new tools to lower energy bills by bringing more affordable energy online, reducing unnecessary costs for customers, and holding utilities accountable for excessive spending and profits. In her letter to the conference committee, she highlights key provisions that should remain in the bill to reduce costs, strengthen oversight and help deliver more affordable, reliable energy across Massachusetts. This includes changing how energy is purchased to get the best deals, eliminating fees and profit adders paid to utilities, getting charges off bills, avoiding unnecessary utility spending, bringing more energy into Massachusetts faster and more affordably and allowing the DPU to initiate audits of the utilities.  Governor Healey also urged the committee to include protections for ratepayers, communities and the environment from higher costs and other negative impacts driven by data centers, in keeping with her recently released framework

美食網站Tasting Table 評選 Rubato 為麻州最佳中餐館

雷朗然

     （Boston Orange綜合編譯）美食網站「品嚐桌Tasting Table」日前公佈全美各州最佳中餐館名單，麻州昆士市（Quincy），以港式家常菜與創意炸雞料理獲評審青睞的Rubato HK Café，贏得麻州最佳中餐館評價。

        Rubato HK Café主打港式與粵式舒適美食，包括叉燒包、粥品，以及招牌脆皮炸雞三明治（以菠蘿包製成，稱作「bolo」）和包有鹹蛋黃奶皇餡的港式法式吐司。「品嚐桌（Tasting Table）」指出，該店展現了中餐文化的深度與多樣性。

        Rubato老闆兼主廚雷朗然（Laurence Louie）為華裔美籍廚師，曾參加實境節目「頂級大廚（Top Chef）」、「切（Chopped）」，並於2024年入圍詹姆斯比爾德獎（James Beard Award）半決賽。他在第23季「頂級大廚」比賽於6月28日舉辦的決賽中，以4道菜套餐贏得亞軍。

        贏得亞軍後，Rubato聲譽暴漲，7月份安排了在昆士市（Quincy）Le Madeline，在Allston的Foxglove Terrace，以及布魯克蘭鎮（Brookline）的Merai等餐廳舉辦的一系列「頂級大廚賽後巡演（Top Chef Finale Tour）」，由雷朗然親自掌廚，讓人有機會品嚐他贏得「頂級大廚」亞軍的4套菜套餐。

        由於7月份每場都很受歡迎，他最近在Allston 的The Atlas Hotel內，店名Ama為尼泊爾與母親意思的這家餐廳，又增加了8月10和11日共2場的「頂級大廚賽後巡演」。

        Rubato原本是雷朗然的母親陳秀華和曹勇經營了22年的麵包店「新節奏（Contempo）」。陳秀華退休後，雷朗然接手店舖，並轉型成為現在的Rubato。

        谷歌（Google）把Rubato的炸雞三明治形容為「完美—酥脆、多汁且風味十足」。Rubato位於昆士市興國街（Hancock）412號，營業時間為週三至週日，週一、週二公休。