MAYOR WALSH ANNOUNCES CHARGING STATIONS AVAILABLE ON CITY HALL PLAZA

MAYOR WALSH ANNOUNCES CHARGING STATIONS AVAILABLE ON CITY HALL PLAZA THROUGH PARTNERSHIP WITH WRIGHTGRID AND BABSON COLLEGE

BOSTON - Wednesday, October 28, 2015 - Mayor Martin J. Walsh today announced that WrightGrid, the leading provider of solar-powered charging stations for mobile devices, has installed two WrightGrid Model Z charging stations at City Hall Plaza, providing Boston's residents and visitors with free, secure, and sustainable charging.  The announcement builds on the Mayor's commitment to establishing City Hall Plaza as a more welcoming and vibrant space.  This 60-day pilot is made possible through a partnership with Babson College, and aligns with the City of Boston's sustainability goal to support grassroots, community-driven climate action efforts, especially through smart solutions. "We are thrilled to partner with WrightGrid and Babson to bring Boston's residents and visitors solar powered mobile charging stations at City Hall Plaza," said Mayor Walsh. "These innovative stations further our goals to activate and enhance City Hall Plaza as a welcoming destination." "We are excited to be part of this free, innovative, sustainable offering that will be of great service to those who live in, work in, and visit the City of Boston," said Kerry Healey, President of Babson College. "As a school committed to social and environmental responsibility, it is always rewarding to see a Babson graduate - especially an award-winning entrepreneur - taking action to solve a problem and bring a new solution that creates both social and economic value." "We are extremely excited to be launching our second pilot this fall in the City of Boston, through the sponsorship of Babson College," said Ryan Wright, CEO & founder of WrightGrid and Babson MBA alumnus. "The pilot is a perfect opportunity to demonstrate exactly how our Model Z charging stations can be a valuable component of today's smart city infrastructure by providing free sustainable charging solutions to the public. We are so grateful to have such forward-thinking partners in Babson College as well as the City of Boston." Mayor Walsh earlier this fall announced the release of a Request for Proposals (RFP) calling for a partner to work with the City of Boston to enhance City Hall Plaza to create a compelling vision for how to make the plaza both a civic space and attractive destination for residents and tourists.

非法移民將可領取補助升讀公立大學的亞當斯獎學金

麻州高等教育局（The state Board of Higher Education）昨（27）日投票決定，身份仍有限制的移民學生，將首次獲准領取公立大專院校獎學金。

教育局內民主黨員，以及共和黨籍教育局長James Peyser支持的這一行動，源起於四名在高中時表現優異，成績極佳的學生，因為身份上的各種法律問題，無法領取亞當斯（John and Abigail Adams）獎學金，提起訴訟。

            有關人員表示，有多少學生可因此政策獲益，還難以知道。由於獎學金是資助學費，而公立學校的學費遠比食宿費低，總開支不會多。麻州大學旗艦分校安赫斯特（Amherst）的學費，一學期只要857元而已。

            不過高等教育局在秋河市投票做出的決定，對移民學生，以及共和黨籍的麻州州長查理貝克（Charlie Baker）來說，卻是非常重要的具象徵性一步。尤其是共和黨籍總統候選人川普（Donald Trump)在競選時大肆攻擊非法移民。

            亞當斯獎學金是在2004年，朗尼（Mitt Romney）擔任麻州州長時設立的，資助學生上公立大學免學費，最多可達8學期。

            學生必須在麻州最高級別的英語，數學及科學等3科高中測驗之一，取得最高分，另外兩科的成績也必須達到流利或更好的成績。他們的分數也必須落在整個學區三科測驗平均分的前25%。

麻州法律改革會（ Massachusetts Law Reform Institute）的資深律師Iris Gomez表示，這是公不公平的問題。該會估計，自從奧巴馬於2012年下令，移民學生有資格享有州民學費後，約有1到2萬名學生受益。

牛頓中文學校首次舉辦候選人論壇

牛頓市中文學校鑑於華人社區應該關心政治的呼聲越來越高，上週日（25日)在該校禮堂首次舉辦“候選人論壇”，共9 名市議員候選人出席，約120人到會聽政見。

            根據牛頓市府網站，今年的該市市議員選舉，8個選區，共有40人參選。從姓名看，除了從1997年當選後連任迄今的馬惠美（Amy Mah Sangiolo）之外， 沒有其他華裔或亞裔參選。

牛頓中文學校使用牛頓市的FA Day學校做校舍。由於校址座落在牛頓市第二區，該校創辦50多年以來首次舉辦的“候選人論壇”原本以第二區候選人為對象，不過多名候選人都有興趣和選民見面，結果第二選區的七名候選人中，有五人出席，在位市議員艾米莉諾頓（Emily Norton）之外，還有四名挑戰者歐布萊特（Susan Albright），奧奇克洛斯（Jake Auchinclose），樂布蘭（Lynne Leblanc）和瑪莎姜森（Macia Johnson）。自行趕來與盛的候選人包括第三區的柯德（Jim Cote），馬拉潔（Julia Malakie），第五區的彼特斯（Chris Pitts）。

            論壇由牛頓中校副校長夏銘主持。候選人分別就修補道路、開發商機、增加政府收入、改善住房、平衡增建泊車場和保持綠地間的矛盾等市民關心的熱點問題各抒己見。

            出席民眾問的問題包括牛頓市道路，停車位，綠化帶等公共設施有哪些建設，改善構想，牛頓市對多元文化的支持度，如何提高公立學校的教育質量，尤其是數學，科學等學科等等。

            四名候選人中最年輕的傑克·奧奇克洛斯（Jake Auchinclose）似乎最積極，在現場派發的宣傳資料都是中文的。他在發言時直指亞裔在美國社會中的日益重要，這場候選人論壇在中文學校舉行，更有標誌性意義。瑪莎姜森（Macia Johnson）表示，能有機會和選民晤面，誠然樂事。聚會在哪兒舉行，其實不重要。

牛頓中文學校校刊主編之一的劉玲表示，該校家長，已在勒星頓鎮（Lexington）獲選為房屋管理委員會委員的王衛東認為，這場論壇將可促使牛頓市議會注意到市內亞裔的力量，從而在未來議政時，不致於輕率忽視亞裔權益。

劍橋市議員張禮能這天也特地到會，為正在牛頓市競選憲章委員會委員的張文華助選，拜票，強調亞裔應支持更多亞裔進政府服務，才能達成為亞裔發聲的結果。

            牛頓中文學校校董會董事長鄧永奇表示，該校共有來自800 多個家庭的1200名學生，其中約35%家住牛頓市，相信在這論壇之後，會有更多人關心地方政治。

牛頓市總人口86,241，其中亞裔11,079人，佔12.8%，華裔則為6,399人，佔7.4%。

圖片說明：

            牛頓中文學校校董會董事長鄧永奇（右起），接待出席論壇的牛頓市議員候選人，第三區的Jim Cote，Julia Malakie，第二區的Lynne LeBlanc，Jake Auchinclose以及第五區Chris Pitts（左一）等人。（菊子攝）

            牛頓中文學校副校長夏銘（左一）主持辯論會。第二區候選人（右起）奧奇克洛斯（Jake Auchinclose），歐布萊特（Susan Albright），和瑪莎姜森（Macia Johnson），樂布蘭（Lynne Leblanc）。（牛頓中文學校提供，李光華攝）

    牛頓中文學校的1200 名學生，使用圖中的FA Day School做校舍。大波士頓中華文化協會的“家庭夜”晚會，近年也都在這兒舉行。（菊子攝）

牛頓中文學校支教中國獲表揚

（牛頓中文學校提供）

（牛頓中文學校提供，李光華攝）

牛頓中文學校日前趁著舉辦候選人論壇之便，邀請在位市議員，以及候選人，頒發“牛頓中文學校總統志願服務獎”給12名得獎者。

負責支教的該校校董梁楠表示，這些學生參加牛頓中文學校到中國支教活動，表現優異，為鼓勵學生們參與社區服務，校方特地頒獎表揚。

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Secretary Pollack Announces Scott Bosworth as Chief Strategy Officer for MassDOT

Secretary Pollack Announces Scott Bosworth as Chief Strategy Officer for MassDOT

BOSTON – October 28, 2015 – Massachusetts Department of Transportation Secretary and CEO Stephanie Pollack today announced that Scott Bosworth has been appointed to the newly created position of Chief Strategy Officer of MassDOT.  In this role, Scott will work with the Secretary and MassDOT senior staff, to drive institutional change and innovation, foster a customer-centric culture, and lead key strategic initiatives across the agency. 

The creation of the Chief Strategy Officer position and the appointment of Scott reflects Secretary Pollack’s priority to reform the structure and operation of MassDOT and the MBTA.

“We are delighted to have Scott join the MassDOT leadership team as CSO,” said Secretary Pollack.  “Scott’s extensive experience in and out of government will be a tremendous asset to MassDOT.  His deep roots in federal, state and local transportation policy span three decades, including critical assignments as Assistant Secretary under Governors Weld and Cellucci as well as with Congress.  Scott’s private sector experience will add depth and expertise in our efforts to reform the MBTA and reimagine how MassDOT delivers services to its constituents.  We look forward to Scott helping us to advance the Commonwealth’s transportation agenda.”

After leaving state government, Scott started a group of companies that deliver services to public and private real estate, transportation, and infrastructure entities. He has decades of experience working with many state DOTs and transit authorities.  Former New Orleans Regional Transportation Authority General Manager Bill DeVille said of Scott: “After Katrina devastated our operation and infrastructure, Scott provided leadership, direction and optimism in leading our federal recovery efforts.  He will be a strong asset on Secretary Pollack’s team.”

Scott, a daily MBTA commuter, lives in Dorchester with his family.