星期一, 8月 15, 2016

Baker-Polito Administration Announces Affordable Housing Development Awards

Baker-Polito Administration Announces Affordable Housing Development Awards
Awards represent significant investment in affordable housing and will create or preserve 1,420 housing units across the Commonwealth

 麻州州長查理貝克(Charlie Baker)和住宅及經濟發展長艾許(Jay Ash),健康及人民服務長蘇德絲(Marylou Sudders),住宅及社區發展次長康訥己(Chrystal Kornegay)今(15)日在波士頓市波約斯頓街(Boylston)48號,宣佈撥款資助全州16個社區的26項可負擔住宅建造或翻修計畫,估計可新建或保留1420個出租單位,其中包括1334個可負擔單位。
其中一項歷史性的重建計劃,由聖法蘭西斯屋及波士頓天主教市區事務計畫辦公室承辦,翻修以前的流浪漢庇護所。

住宅及社區發展部撥出3100萬元的州政府及聯邦政府抵稅優惠,估計可為這26個項目提供21800萬元資金。麻州政府另外撥出5900萬元的住宅補助金,包括聯邦政府的住家(HOME)基金,以及州政府資本金。

BOSTON – Today the Baker-Polito Administration announced awards to fund the development, renovation and preservation of affordable rental housing across the Commonwealth. This award round builds on the Administration’s commitment to expanding affordable housing options for Massachusetts families.

“These affordable housing awards reflect our administration’s commitment to a stronger, more prosperous, and more inclusive Commonwealth,” said Governor Charlie Baker. “By increasing affordable housing production, and stabilizing working families, low-income senior citizens and homeless families or those at risk, these housing awards will strengthen communities across Massachusetts.”

Governor Baker, Housing and Economic Development Secretary Jay Ash, Health and Human Services Secretary Marylou Sudders, and Undersecretary of Housing and Community Development Chrystal Kornegay made the housing funding announcement today at 48 Boylston Street in Boston, a historic rehabilitation project for formerly homeless residents sponsored by St. Francis House and the Archdiocese of Boston’s Planning Office for Urban Affairs.

“Our administration is dedicated to improving economic and social outcomes for the residents of Massachusetts,” said Lieutenant Governor Karyn Polito. “By partnering with cities and towns, and the affordable housing development community, we are making targeted, impactful awards that will improve the lives of our state’s most vulnerable residents.”

The 26 projects awarded will create or preserve 1,420 rental units, including 1,334 affordable units, across 16 Massachusetts communities. The Department of Housing and Community Development is awarding over $31 million in state and federal low-income housing tax credits, which will generate over $218 million in equity for these projects. Additionally, the administration is awarding over $59 million in housing subsidy funds, including federal HOME funds and state capital funds, across the 26 projects.

Projects will serve a wide variety of constituents, including individuals and families transitioning out of homelessness, persons with disabilities, and the elderly. Four projects are focused on senior housing, five will provide supportive services to residents and all 26 will include deeply affordable units. Reflecting the Baker-Polito Administration’s commitment to creating more housing units for homeless residents, the administration prioritized applications that included a 10 percent allotment for individuals and families who are, or are at risk of becoming, homeless.

“Affordable housing production serves as a catalyst for broad-based neighborhood revitalization efforts,” said Secretary of Housing and Economic Development Jay Ash.“By connecting working families and at-risk populations to stable, affordable housing, we will ensure that Massachusetts remains a place where people succeed, and businesses flourish.”

“St. Francis House is a perfect example of an organization committed to ending homelessness for individuals and families by providing safe and affordable housing and meeting the full needs of their tenants," said Secretary of Health and Human Services Marylou Sudders. “These awards will help support vulnerable citizens in the Commonwealth.”

“Working families need income security in order to achieve economic prosperity,”  said Undersecretary of Housing and Community Development Chrystal Kornegay.“Through these affordable housing awards, we are creating new opportunities for families to sink roots into their communities, and thrive.”

The 2016 affordable rental housing award round reflects the Baker-Polito Administration’s ongoing commitment to substantially invest in housing across the Commonwealth. In May, the Administration unveiled a 5-year capital budget plan that includes a $1.1 billion commitment to increasing housing production, an 18 percent funding increase for mixed-income housing production, and affordable housing preservation. In May, the Administration and MassHousing committed $100 million, to support the construction of 1,000 new workforce housing units. Since 2015, the Baker-Polito Administration has provided funding to create and preserve 2,856 units of affordable housing, including 874 deeply affordable units for at-risk populations.

Awardees

Christopher Heights is an assisted living project to be developed in Belchertown by the Grantham Group. Located on the former Belchertown State School site, the project will feature 83 total rental units with services for frail seniors, including 43 affordable units, with 17 units reserved for seniors earning less than 30 percent of area median income (AMI).

132 Chestnut Hill Avenue is a senior housing development in Brighton, sponsored by Jewish Community Housing for the Elderly. When completed, 132 Chestnut Hill Avenue will be home to 61 seniors, all with incomes below 60 percent of AMI, with 22 reserved for seniors with incomes below 30 percent of AMI.

48 Boylston Street is a historic rehabilitation project located in Boston’s Chinatown neighborhood. The sponsor is St. Francis House, Inc., in partnership with the Archdiocese of Boston’s Planning Office for Urban Affairs. The completed project will offer 46 single rooms and small units intended to serve homeless individuals earning less than 60 percent of AMI, with 26 units reserved for individuals earning less than 30 percent of AMI. The project sponsor will offer extensive services for the new residents.

Quincy Tower Apartments is a housing preservation project located in Boston’sChinatown neighborhood, sponsored by Beacon Communities. The project will offer 161 affordable housing units, including 16 units reserved for households earning less than 30 percent of AMI.

Harmon Apartments is a new construction project located in Dorchester, sponsored by The Boston Home in partnership with Affirmative Investments. The project will be built near the existing Boston Home facility, and will include 36 units for persons with disabilities. Of the 36 units, 30 will be reserved for households earning less than 60 percent of AMI, with 8 units reserved for households earning less than 30 percent of AMI.

Paris Village is a new construction project located in East Boston and sponsored by the East Boston Community Development Corporation. Paris Village will offer 32 units of affordable family housing, with 4 units reserved for households earning less than 30 percent of AMI.

The Residences at Fairmount Station is a new transit-oriented housing project located in Hyde Park and sponsored by the Southwest Boston Community Development Corporation. This project will offer 27 units of affordable family housing, with 6 units reserved for households earning less than 30 percent of AMI.

Walker Park Apartments is a new construction project located in Roxbury and sponsored by Urban Edge Housing Corporation. This project will offer 49 units of affordable family housing, with 8 units reserved for households earning less than 30 percent of AMI.

Wayne at Schuyler is a housing preservation project located in Boston and sponsored by Cruz Development. When completed, this project will offer 74 units of affordable family housing, with 8 units reserved for households earning less than 30 percent of AMI.

Canal Bluffs Phase III is the final phase of a new construction project located on a 17‑acre site off Route 28 in Bourne. This phase of Canal Bluffs will offer 44 units of townhouse-style affordable housing, with 7 units affordable to households earning less than 30 percent of AMI.

Chelmsford Woods II is the second phase of a new construction project located inChelmsford. The sponsors are the Chelmsford Housing Authority and Stratford Capital. Chelmsford Woods II consists of 58 units of affordable family housing for households earning less than 60 percent of AMI, with 6 units affordable to households below 30 percent of AMI.

Village at Lincoln Park Senior is the second affordable housing project to be built on the site of a former amusement park in Dartmouth. Village at Lincoln Park Senior will provide 48 units of affordable senior housing, with 10 units reserved for seniors earning less than 30 percent of AMI.

Goshen Senior Housing is a new construction project located in the town center ofGoshen, sponsored by Hilltown Community Development Corporation. The project will offer 10 affordable housing units for seniors, with 3 units reserved for seniors earning less than 30 percent of AMI.

Forest Springs is a new construction project located in Great Barrington and sponsored by Construct, Inc. This project will offer 11 affordable family rental units in three buildings, with 2 units reserved for households earning less than 30 percent of AMI.

The Kennedy Building is a mixed-income historic rehabilitation project located inHanover and sponsored by the Planning Office for Urban Affairs. This project will offer 37 units of family housing, with 27 units reserved for families earning less than 60 percent of AMI, including 4 units reserved for families earning less than 30 percent of AMI. The remaining 10 units will be workforce housing units.

Tenney Place Phase II is the second phase of a new construction project located inHaverhill and sponsored by Dakota Partners, Inc. Tenney Place II will offer 72 mixed-income housing units: 56 units will be affordable to families earning less than 60 percent of AMI, with 8 units reserved for households earning less than 30 percent of AMI.

Ivory Keys Apartments is a historic rehabilitation project located in Leominster. The project will provide 41 units of affordable housing for families, with 9 units reserved for households earning less than 30 percent of AMI.

Jeweled Crossing is a new construction and rehabilitation project located in North Attleboro. The project will offer 66 affordable units, with 8 units reserved for households earning less than 30 percent of AMI.

New Home Sewing Apartment Complex is the redevelopment of a vacant mill building in Orange. The project will offer 63 affordable family units, with 7 units reserved for households earning less than 30 percent of AMI.

Boston Street Crossing is a rehabilitation project located in Salem and sponsored by Harborlight Community Partners. The project will offer 26 affordable units for formerly homeless individuals. All units will be reserved for households earning less than 30 percent of AMI.

E. Henry Twiggs Phase II is a scattered-site preservation project located in Springfieldand sponsored by Home City Housing. The project will offer 61 units of fully rehabilitated affordable housing, with 16 units reserved for households earning less than 30 percent of AMI.

Maple Commons Apartments is a preservation project located in Springfield and sponsored by First Resource Companies. Maple Commons will offer 173 fully rehabilitated affordable housing units, with 18 units reserved for households earning less than 30 percent of AMI.

St. James Commons Apartments is a preservation project located in Springfield, and sponsored by Valley Real Estate. St. James Commons will offer 42 affordable units for families, with 9 units reserved for families earning than 30 percent of AMI.

The Blanchard School is the redevelopment of a former school in Uxbridge into 25 units of affordable housing, with 5 units reserved for households earning less than 30 percent of AMI.

Noquochoke Village is a new construction project that will provide affordable family housing in Westport. Noquochoke Village will offer 50 total rental units, including 5 market-rate units and 45 affordable units.

Union Hill Rental Housing Initiative II is a preservation project located in Worcesterand sponsored by Oak Hill Community Development Corporation. The project will offer 24 rehabilitated housing units affordable to households earning less than 60 percent of AMI, with 5 units reserved for households earning less than 30 percent of AMI.

星期日, 8月 14, 2016

APIAVote and AAJA held presidential forum and QARI did live brocast

APIAVote and AAJA (Asian American Journalists Association) for the first time, organized a presidential candidate town hall debate focusing on Asian issues in Las Vegas last Friday (8/12).
Quincy Asian resources Inc (QARI) organized a streamed broadcast for the event on 8/12 from 5:30 - 7:30 at QARI's North Quincy Office at 275 Hancock St . There were over 20 community members who showed up to view this presidential candidates forum. Thank you to Fuji Group of Quincy for sponsoring the delicious sushi for the event. State representative Tackey Chan and Councillor at Large Nina Liang was among the audience, showing support. Thank you Tackey for giving some summaries of each of the candidates backgrounds.
(Provided by David Zou)



星期六, 8月 13, 2016

台商會台語班40餘人研習

麻州牛頓元極舞健身會會長鄭玉春(前排右起)、新英格蘭大波士頓台灣商會會長許欽俊,老師何信翰,經文處副處長陳銘俊、波士頓僑教中心主任歐宏偉,舞蹈老師許秀惠等人合影。(圖片僑教中心提供)
新英格蘭大波士頓台灣商會主辦,紐英倫中華專業人員協會及麻州牛頓元極舞健身會協辦的「2016年波士頓地區台語教師研習會」,10、11兩日在波士頓華僑文教服務中心舉辦,共計40名學員參加。
僑委會今年遴派台灣母語聯盟理事長,目前在中山醫學大學台語文學系擔任副教授的何信翰老師前來主講。

他在為期兩天的課程中,從台語語法特色、台語俗諺與其省思、台語輸入法及線上資源講到台語基礎發音及各地不同腔調,不但簡報、影片和圖檔都生動有趣,還搭配了活潑的譬,深入淺出,獲得學員一致肯定與好評。(圖片由波士頓僑教中心提供)



波士頓清華校友籲關注加州細分亞裔種族法案

诸位波士顿清华校友会的校友和朋友们:

我们提请您关注加州AB-1726法案,因为该法案所建立的先例效应可能会极大影响所有美国华人华侨在子女教育方面的切身利益。

背景

加州AB-1726法案提议在以后加州人口统计时,把亚裔细分为华裔、日裔、韩裔等更小的类别;该法案对其它族裔没有类似提议。法案全文可以在网上读到: http://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billNavClient.xhtml?bill_id=201520160AB1726

影响

加州AB-1726法案可能为政客以平权法案(Affirmative Action)的名义损害华人利益创造条件。平权法案,因其在大学入学和工作就业上对亚裔抬高要求而对其他族裔降低标准,已经是一个打压亚裔的“反向歧视”法案。历来以重视并投资教育为骄傲的亚裔已经深受其害。此项AB-1726法案变本加厉,把亚裔按父母的移民前国籍细分为韩裔,日裔,华裔,菲利宾裔等小族裔,事实上为按人口比例强行限制各小族裔的入学就业以及福利资源分配创造条件。特别值得说明的是,此项法案只对亚裔区分为小族裔,而其他族裔仍将沿用传统的欧裔非裔和拉美裔的划分方法。一旦通过,此法案将进一步在入学就业以及福利上打压华裔,并将人为地在亚裔内部制造矛盾。更令人担忧的是,此法案若被其他州效仿,可能成为全美打着平等大旗的排华风潮的前奏。

观点

  • 加州AB-1726法案看似仅搜集数据,客观上可能深远地影响华人利益,尤其是教育资源分配方面的利益;
  • 加州AB-1726法案一大问题是不公,只把亚裔(Asian American)细分,却不细分西裔(Hispanic American),非裔(African American)等其它族裔;
  • 作为美国华裔最多的州,加州AB-1726一旦通过,将鼓励其他州议会通过类似法案,造成牺牲华人利益换取其他族裔选票的现象;
  • 美国亚裔,尤其是华裔,对美国税收、科技、医学、教育等各方面的贡献绝对overrepresented,组织上却屡遭排挤,值得反思。

行动

您可以通过以下方式方便地表达您的观点:


如今,AB-1726法案已经通过加州议会,正在等待州长Jerry Brown的签字或者否决,时间就在这几天。Jerry Brown曾经否决过AB-1726法案的前身AB-176法案,这次他会怎么做?您的关注和行动可能推动事态发展。

波士顿清华校友会
2016.8.13