Baker-Polito Administration Awards $2.38 Million to Support Winthrop’s Centre Business District

Baker-Polito Administration Awards $2.38 Million to Support Winthrop’s Centre Business District

MassWorks Infrastructure Funding supports local development and job growth

WINTHROP – Today the Baker-Polito Administration announced a $2.38 million MassWorks Infrastructure Program grant to the Town of Winthrop to redevelop the Centre Business District. Funding will be used for significant public infrastructure improvements, including water, sewer, roadway, sidewalk and streetscape improvements.

“We are proud to support Winthrop’s long-term planning efforts to revitalize the Centre Business District and create opportunities for new, mixed-use development,” said Governor Charlie Baker. “The MassWorks Infrastructure Program allows us to make targeted, impactful investments in the economic future and growth of our cities and towns and the job opportunities available to Massachusetts residents.”

“Winthrop has done an outstanding job of planning for future growth, and these resources enable them to complete critical infrastructure improvements to continue their momentum,” said Lieutenant Governor Karyn Polito. “We are pleased to have opportunities like this around the Commonwealth to partner with municipal leaders on advancing local and regional economic development goals.”

The MassWorks award also furthers the completion of Winthrop’s masterplan for the revitalization of the Centre Business District and reuse of a former middle school on a neighboring site. The creation of a master-plan was funded through an Urban Agenda Economic Development Planning Grant from the Baker-Polito Administration in January 2016. Winthrop also received supplementary funding from MassDevelopment and the Metropolitan Area Planning Council DLTA program.

“When we give communities access to a diverse set of resources, we can accelerate the pace of thoughtful long-term planning that supports increased economic activity and gives towns the ability to fulfill their community vision,” said Housing and Economic Development Secretary Jay Ash. “I congratulate Winthrop on their foresight and smart planning to revitalize the Centre Business District to attract new private investment to the town.”

“I am thrilled that Winthrop has received this grant and I wholeheartedly thank the Baker Administration,” said House Speaker Robert A. DeLeo. “Winthrop is a special place for many reasons including its geography and tightknit community. The small and local businesses in our town are uniquely positioned for growth because of these factors, among others. I look forward to the infrastructure improvements that will help spur economic growth in Winthrop.”

"The Centre Business District is Winthrop's economic engine," said Senator Joseph Boncore. "This MassWorks grant will provide an essential investment in the future of our town." 

“This will be a transformational investment for Winthrop Centre and for the Town of Winthrop as a whole,” said Winthrop Town Manager James McKenna

"The Winthrop Town Council and I appreciate the investment the state is making in the redevelopment of Winthrop Centre and we thank Governor Baker, Speaker DeLeo, Senator Boncore and Secretary Ash for working with us to make this a reality,” said Winthrop Town Council President Russ Sanford. “Winthrop has been working for several years on plans to redevelop and re-energize Winthrop Centre. The state's investment in our community now, shows that we are on the right track and that the future of our wonderful town is very bright. It is a very exciting time here in Winthrop and I could not be prouder of our community."

The MassWorks Infrastructure Program provides a one-stop shop for municipalities and other eligible public entities seeking public infrastructure funding to support housing production, economic development, and job creation. 

In August 2016, Governor Baker signed An Act Relative to Job Creation and Workforce Development (H.4569) to reauthorize MassWorks and support $500 million of future investment in critical infrastructure, a significant commitment by the Commonwealth. The Baker-Polito Administration has increased MassWorks funding by $35 million over the past two fiscal years. Since 2015, the Baker-Polito Administration has awarded $190 million to 89 projects in communities throughout the Commonwealth.

賴銘琪處長高度推薦渥斯特美術館之 臺灣藝術家黃世傑「再生萬物」特展

黃世傑作品在渥斯特美術館之中央大廳展出。

駐波士頓臺北經濟文化辦事處處長賴銘琪夫婦20日應邀出席麻州渥斯特美術館（Worcester Arts Museum）之臺灣藝術家黃世傑「再生萬物」（Reusable Universes）特展茶會，除欣賞黃世傑作品靜態展出外，也親睹他結合科技與藝術之「原創概念」（Organic Concept）動態視覺演出。賴處長在致詞時表示不看此展會「終身遺憾」，高度推薦所有藝術愛好者都前往參觀。

賴銘琪處長夫婦與黃世傑(中)、渥斯特美術館館長Matthias Waschek(右)、

亞洲藝術助理典藏員Dr. Vivian Li(右二)

賴處長在致詞時也推崇黃世傑是「臺灣之光」，此次渥斯特美術館展出黃世傑作品，是該館首度展出臺灣藝術家的主要展品，也是今年夏季該館最具創意的展出。

黃世傑的「再生萬物」特展自6月24日起展出至11月12日止。賴處長指出，黃世傑出生於台北，十二歲時移居美國，每年返國探視住在臺北的母親兩次，增添臺灣生活經驗。臺北除有世界級的故宮博物院之外，入夜生活更五光十色，大街上有商店、餐廳及無所不在的夜市。賴處長表示，聽聞黃世傑喜歡臺灣各地的夜市，也在夜市結交了許多好朋友，他的創作靈感更很多得自於臺灣的夜市，今晚的茶會也沾染一些臺灣夜市的fu。

為了讓現場來賓更瞭解臺灣，賴處長簡略介紹今天的臺灣是自由民主的國家、美國的長期友人，位處西太平洋邊緣日本與菲律賓之間。臺灣人口約2,350萬，土地面積14萬平方英里，約為麻州、羅德島州及康乃迪克州面積之總和。

黃世傑目前旅居紐約，從事藝術創作。此次在渥斯特美術館之展出係由該館亞洲藝術助理典藏員Vivian Li策畫，我國文化部為主要贊助單位。駐波士頓臺北經文處與駐紐約臺北文化中心也聯合贊助20日的茶會活動。

陪同賴處長夫婦出席該盛會的並有經文處陳銘俊副處長、朱永昌組長及駐紐約臺北文化中心副主任柯慧貞等人。(圖與文:波士頓經文處提供)

牛頓市長Setti率眾反對Eversource漲電價

Local Communities and Environmental Groups Join Call to Protest Proposed Eversource Rate Change, Fight for Continued Investment in Solar

Newton – Newton Mayor Setti Warren led a conference call Wednesday with local communities and environmental groups opposing the reduction in rates paid to cities and towns for municipal solar projects being proposed in the Eversource rate case currently under review by The Department of Utilities (DPU). The Eversource proposal would reduce this compensation by about 40%. 

Participants were: Newton Mayor Setti Warren; State Senator Cynthia Creem; Natick Sustainability Coordinator Jillian Wilson Martin; Chair of Sustainable Lexington Mark Sandeen; staff attorney at the Acadia Center, Mark LeBel; and outgoing Chair of the Environmental League of Massachusetts George Bachrach. 

“This group of municipalities, elected officials, and environmental non-profits has come together to say that these proposed changes would be detrimental to our communities and the Commonwealth,” said Mayor Warren. “Our cities and towns use the savings from these solar installations to invest in much needed projects that benefit our communities. In addition to the direct benefit to our residents, we are proud to invest in solar energy because it’s vital to putting us on a path towards a more sustainable future. This rate change would threaten both of those outcomes.”

“Last year, after very tough negotiations, the Legislature specifically voted to keep the net metering rate for cities and towns at 22 cents per kilowatt hour,” said Senator Creem.  “We have been working since 2008 to accomplish a 25% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2020. This Eversource request is an end-run to circumvent the State Legislature and a roll-back of the environmental commitments we have made.”

Arlington, Lexington, Natick, Newton, Wayland, Weston, and Westwood have signed a comment letter to the DPU stating that these communities stand to lose a combined $32 million over the next 20 years if the proposed rate change goes into effect. Additionally, Arlington, Lexington, Natick, Newton, and Weston have become interveners in the case, allowing them to present testimony, cross-examine Eversource’s witnesses, and submit briefs.

"A 40 percent reduction in the value of municipal solar projects hurts everyone," said Jillian Wilson Martin, Natick's Sustainability Coordinator. "It harms the viability of existing and future solar projects, places an extreme burden on local taxpayers, and reduces the likelihood of Massachusetts achieving the requirements set in the Global Warming Solutions Act."

“The Eversource proposal that impacts these municipal solar projects is part of broader rate proposals to reduce customer control over bills and lower incentives for local clean energy,” said Mark LeBel. “Eversource’s proposals would set back efforts to promote energy efficiency, electric vehicles, storage, and efficient electric heating too. The DPU should be looking for economically sensible ways to advance innovative clean energy efforts and should not roll back the progress the Commonwealth has made to date.”

When the cities and towns entered into the contracts for these projects, they relied on some amount of “rate continuity,” which is a core DPU rate-setting principle. This kind of rate instability will make it less likely that cities and towns will invest in solar projects in the future, seriously undermining the Commonwealth’s efforts to meet its greenhouse gas emissions reduction goals.

"There is an unholy alliance between our for-profit utilities and the state's DPU charged with regulating them,” said George Bachrach. “Together they pay lip-service to solar energy while quietly creating economic impediments for expanding renewable energy. This rate case is merely one example. "

The rate case is expected to be ruled upon in late November or early December.

Eversource電力公司要漲價 麻州總檢察官反對

AG HEALEY FILES BRIEF IN EVERSOURCE RATE CASE, URGES DPU TO REJECT COMPANY’S $284 MILLION RATE HIKE, ORDER RATE DECREASE

Company’s Proposal Seeks First-Year Rate Hike of $96 million for NSTAR Electric and Western Massachusetts Electric Company Customers

BOSTON – In a brief filed today, Attorney General Maura Healey urged the Department of Public Utilities (DPU) to reject Eversource’s proposal to increase the electricity rates of its 1.4 million Massachusetts customers by nearly 20 percent. Calling the proposed increase of $284 million over the next five years “unwarranted,” AG Healey’s Office also called on the DPU to order the company to decrease its rates.

“As customers and businesses across our state are looking to trim their costs, now is not the time to burden them with a 20 percent bill hike to benefit a company that is already highly profitable,” AG Healey said. “Customers in Massachusetts deserve a decrease in rates, not hundreds of millions in extra charges.”

In a January 2017 filing, Eversource asked the DPU to raise the price that customers pay to have their electricity delivered by NSTAR Electric Company (NSTAR) and Western Massachusetts Electric Company (WMECo) by nearly 20 percent over the next five years. The company proposed a five-year rate plan that would raise customers’ rates by $284 million, a $96 million increase in the first year and then an additional $188 million more over the next four years.

In the brief, the AG’s Office challenged the need for the rate increase, noting NSTAR’s and WMECo’s stable cost structure, record stock price, and outsized investor returns over the last few years.  According to the brief, in both 2015 and 2016, Eversource shareholders earned far more on their investments than others who made similar investments with similar risks. NSTAR’s reported returns for those years were 13.2 and 11.3 percent, respectively, and WMECo’s were 8.9 and 9.1, respectively. The AG’s Office also noted that Eversource has spent hundreds of millions on tangential investments, recently paying $800 million in cash for a water company and acquiring a 50 percent interest in an offshore wind partnership that could cost billions of dollars.

AG Healey and her office have been challenging Eversource’s proposed rate increase since the company announced it in early January. Prior to the company filing its request, AG Healey sent the DPU a letter urging it to launch an investigation to explain why the allowed profits for Massachusetts utility companies are higher than the allowed profits in neighboring states. Her office echoed that sentiment in the brief and challenged the DPU to consider the appropriateness of Eversource’s request to earn a 10.5 percent rate of allowed shareholder profits – or return on equity (ROE).

If approved by the DPU, Eversource’s ROE would be the highest allowed return in New England, and significantly higher than the average ROE (9.3 percent) allowed by state public utility commissions throughout the country last year.  A 10.5 percent ROE would be the highest ROE granted by the DPU in a decade.  In its brief, the AG’s Office urged the DPU to reject the requested ROE and instead approve a reduction to 8.875 percent, which will save Eversource customers $42 million, almost half of the requested first-year rate increase.

The AG’s Office is also calling on the DPU to reject Eversource’s proposed multi-year rate plan, consisting of a series of automatic rate increases. The AG’s Office argues in its brief that “the [c]ompany’s proposal creates an up-front guessing game that creates substantial risks for ratepayers that Eversource’s electric distribution companies will be over-compensated, with very little risk for [the company] that it will suffer low returns.”

While AG Healey and her office strongly support the state’s efforts to meet its statutory obligation to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and to invest in Massachusetts’ clean energy future, the office raises concerns about the company’s $400 million plan for grid modernization, electric vehicle, and storage investments.  In its brief the AG’s Office told the DPU that the company’s plan “essentially amounts to a request for a blank check, lacking in critical details and providing no guarantee that ratepayers will benefit from the proposed investment.”  Instead, AG Healey advocated for moving forward with statewide policies to advance these investments while ensuring that specific proposals benefit customers at the lowest possible cost.

Filing the brief is the latest action in AG Healey’s and her office’s months-long public opposition to the rate case, including cross-examining witnesses during the DPU’s four weeks of evidentiary hearings on the case and testifying at the ten public hearings the DPU held on the case.

In March, AG Healey herself testified before the DPU in Boston and then again in April in Pittsfield urging it to reset the balance between company profits and customers’ rates. She told the DPU, “it is time to return money to customers, not to raise their electric bills to benefit highly profitable utility companies.”

北美洲成大校友會10/13-15約在華府

今年10月13-15日北美洲成大校友們相約在華府 - 美國首都華盛頓！！
約好系上的好友了嗎？要早點訂好旅館喔！
台灣和世界校友，我們也希望看到你！

10月13-15日在Tysons Corner Marriott：
- 和蘇校長談成大的未來
- 和科技部陳部長談台灣未來科技與世界的接軌
- 和內政部前李部長談國土保育安樂民生
- 和資策會郭董事長談資訊產業的未來

- 華府地區成功企業家和你分享就業與創業
- 養生與健身專家分享如何有調養快樂人生
- 談乳癌在東西方女性的不同與個人療養
- 介紹人工智慧在未來癌症的篩檢
- 還有圍棋擂台賽！小朋友也可以參加喔！
晚宴還有精彩的表演，由華府及各地方校友會勁爆演出!  還有歌唱跳舞享受溫馨的團聚！

會後10月15日開始還有精彩的華府一日遊以及美東四日遊，記得把家人和朋友一起帶來華府，看看美國首都最新的人文和政治風貌！享受新的博物館，美食，音樂，和近在咫尺最大最新的的Tysons shopping mall!!!

報名與旅館預定都已經開始囉！
註冊網站( 8月31日截止): https://sites.google.com/a/dc.ncku.net/nckuaa12/

林雄生 Alven Lam （都計1979）
北美成大校友會聯合會理事長

羅德島華人抗議州政府通過細分亞裔法

羅德島州華人在州議會大樓門外抗議。(所有圖片黃樺提供)

(Boston Orange 整理報導)羅德島新通過一條州法，規定學區提供亞裔美籍學生的詳細族裔背景，50多名亞裔因此7月20日在州議會前聚集示威，質問州議員們”為什麼只有亞裔要細分?”

羅德島州最大的英文報紙，普域敦斯報7月20日報導了這樣一則新聞。

布朗大學教授吳知今(譯音，Zhijin Wu)向該報表示，”如果是所有學生，就應該真正是所有的學生”。”如果真要弄清楚誰才真需要幫助，請不要假裝只有亞裔人口很多元”。

羅德島州的“所有學生都算法案(The All Students Count Act)”是由民主黨籍，代表普域敦斯市的眾議員Grace Diaz所提出，有鼓吹東南亞裔學生成功的羅德島東南亞人支持教育聯盟(The Alliance of Rhode Island Southeast Asians for Education)支持，模仿聯邦層級，以及加州，華盛頓州，明尼蘇達州所提出的類似法案。

羅德島州州長雷蒙朵(Gina Raimondo)7月19日週三時，簽署通過了這一法案，規定中小學教育廳在每一個關於祖先或族裔源頭的地理人口報告上，使用分開的收集類別，並計算特定的亞裔族群。

當這法案在眾議會通過時，Grace Diaz歡呼聲稱這是為自己身分掙扎的亞裔學生的勝利。這些數據有助於地方把資源集中在特定的有需要社區。週四時，英文報章找不到Diaz來回應。

7月20日，加州，新澤西州，康州，麻州都有華人團體代表趕到羅德島州，支持抗議行動。

組織抗議的華裔美人陳建浩(譯音，Jianhao Chen)把這法案比作德國納粹的1935年紐倫堡法案，在收集數據時把猶太人挑了出來，接著的10年，就很方便的用這數據來做種族滅絕大屠殺的根據。

他在給州長的信中寫道”數據會很容易被濫用來做更進一步，以族裔為基準的操作。

羅德島州華人在州議會大樓門外抗議。(所有圖片黃樺提供)

在週四的羅德島州抗議事件中，困惑是整體情緒。彭麗英(譯音，Liying Peng)說，羅德島最近的人口統計數據顯示，全州只有3.6%的人口是亞裔。有些學校只有一，二名亞裔學生，如今卻需要做如此細微分類的數據，令人困惑。

她問到，這得額外花錢來收集這資料，為什麼? “有更多族群的問題更多，為什麼是我們?”

邱易觀(譯音，Yiguang Qiu)帶領著一群人誦吟”團結而立，分崩而落”以及”教育不是歧視”

她勸這群人向自己的親戚，朋友，同事訴說，在別州通過類似法律之前，讓更多人知道這種情況。她說，沒有其他族裔體群遭遇到這麼侵擾，分歧的調查辦法。

在Reddit網站上，有108條關於這篇報導的評論。大部分都認為，這法案看起來是想在收集數據時，把華人，韓國人，越南人這些東北亞的亞裔美國人分開來。原因可能是這些族裔的亞裔比東南亞的亞裔表現好，如果不分開來，那些需要幫助的東南亞亞裔，就會被亞裔普遍學業表現良好這形象所遮蓋，得不到所需要的幫助。

有人指出，東亞的韓國人，日本人，中國人和東南亞的柬埔寨，越南，苗族人有非常不同的教育程度，那些受過高等教育的”老虎媽”典型，都是東亞的亞裔，但東南亞的亞裔，卻是在美國中有著最低學術成就，也最貧窮的族裔之一。這些人的移民經驗也不一樣，華人早於150年前就有人在美定居了，近年移民來美的也大都是經濟條件較好的自願移民者。但苗族，柬埔寨，寮國等亞裔，卻很多是越戰進入尾聲時，為逃避兵荒馬亂才來到美國的。

也有人指出，這是很諷刺的舉動，懲罰東北亞的亞裔美人學業表現比所有其他人要好，就好像平權法懲罰德還不夠似的。

            還有人指出，相信沒人反對幫助社會經濟狀況較差的族群，但是任何以族裔為準，有所偏袒的，都是歧視政策。教育本來就應該以成績來區分，不是以族裔來做基準。

聯邦研討會 7/29 上羅爾

One-Day Seminar Session - Lowell, MA July  2017 Join us next Saturday(July 29th), in Lowell, MA   For an Intensive, One-Day Seminar Session (... Application Link, below) --------------------------  Join us in Lowell, next Saturday! ~ Click here to apply ~ We're excited to bring the Commonwealth Seminar to Lowell, MA for a special, intensive, one-day session where students will learn the "essentials" about:  - The legislative & budgetary processes, - Lobbying/advocacy - Working with the legislature, state & non-profit agencies and other governmental entities, and... - Press & media relations This special, one-day session will be held  next Saturday, July 29th from 10am-5pm at the Cambodian Mutual Assistance Association(CMAA - 465 School Street, Lowell MA) Click here to apply to our one-day Seminar (... Note: fee waivers available upon request) A number of our suburban community partners have mentioned their desire to participate in the Seminar, but noted the difficulty in commuting the required six-consecutive weeks into Boston.   It is our hope that this intensive, one-day version of our Seminar will help provide participants some of the "essentials" to help navigate & influence the decision making process at the local, state and federal levels. A huge "thank you!" to our generous community partners at the Cambodian Mutual Assistance Association for hosting us, and a huge "thank you!" to: Seminar alumnus, O. Sophia Johansson, Seminar Administrator (and alum!), Emily Torres-Cullinane, and Seminar Intern (and alum!), Lily Tang for their hard work, tireless commitment and persistence in putting this event together for the community. We hope you can join us, next Saturday, in Lowell! Exclusive Newsletter  Job Listings (... for Seminar newsletter subscribers, only) From time-to-time, we will offer exciting job opportunities EXCLUSIVELY to our newsletter subscribers. Below, please find a few exciting openings which we are making available only in our Seminar newsletter.  Additional job listings can be found in ourCommonwealth Seminar Jobs Section, on our website. ~ Center for Hope and Healing, Inc. - Lowell, MA - Position/Title: LGBQ/T Coordinator -  Responsibilities: · Identify and engage LGBQ/T people, with targeted efforts to engage youth and empower leaders · Raise awareness of the issues and rights of LGBQ/T people, including people of color and immigrants through community education, group and family events, and social activities · Provide direct services to LGBQ/T adult and youth survivors, including individual advocacy and psychoeducational groups; and linkages in the community · Serve as a trained Community Organizer to educate individuals and groups and foster relationships with key gatekeepers, including community members and institutions · Build and mobilize a cohesive, active, and supportive community of LGBQ/T people. · Develop a cadre of leaders within and on behalf of the community · Able to maintain strong professional boundaries and relationships · Adopt a linguistically and culturally appropriate approach to work with people of color and/or English Language Learners and immigrant families · Participate in various community activities and committees - To Apply: Email resume and cover letter to: jobs@chhinc.org with "LGBQ/T Community Organizer" as the title ~ Boston Public Health Commission, Office of Public Health Preparedness - Position/Title: Senior Program Manager for Public Health Planning - Description: The Office of Public Health Preparedness (OPHP) is a division of the Boston Public Health Commission (BPHC). The Senior Program Manager, Public Health Planning will be responsible for oversight of all emergency plans associated with BPHC's role as the lead public health authority for the City of Boston. S/he will coordinate closely with the Senior Program Manager, Healthcare System Preparedness, the Senior Program Manager, Response & Recovery Operations, and others to ensure continuity amongst emergency plans and operational protocols. - To apply - apply directly at:  https://recruiting.adp.com/srccar/public/RTI.home?d=ExternalCareerSite&c=1084941 ~ Massachusetts Municipal Association - Position/Title: Executive Director, Massport Community Advisory Committee - Description: The Massachusetts Port Authority Community Advisory Committee is seeking an enthusiastic, proactive and collaborative Executive Director with managerial experience and strong communication skills to serve as its first Executive Director.  The Massport CAC is a state agency comprised of representatives of the 35 communities that are impacted by Massport's operations and property holdings in Boston, Bedford, and Worcester. The Executive Director will function as the Chief Executive/Administrative Officer in managing all operations, programs and activities of the CAC in carrying out its statutory mission, and assist the Committee in its continued formation and the formalization of its operational structure and systems.  The successful candidate should possess a bachelor's degree in a field related to public policy, management, planning, or law, and have at least seven years of progressive experience. The successful candidate must possess demonstrated skills, abilities and knowledge in government, community planning and environmental regulation, and intergovernmental relations. The successful candidate must be a leader with high interpersonal and communication skills and possess a strong belief in collaboration. - To apply (July 24th deadline): Resumes, in confidence,to: Massport CAC Executive Director Search: blynch@communityparadigm.com Please click on this link to check out additional, recent listings. About the Commonwealth Seminar The Commonwealth Seminar is a privately funded, non-partisan program with the mission of "opening the doors of government to everyone".  With over 1,200 graduates since our inception in 2003, we offer an intensive training program focused on teaching diverse leaders how the Massachusetts Legislature really works to under serviced and under-represented communities.  Top state legislators, legislative staff, media members, and administration policymakers will introduce seminar participants to the Legislature and state government generally. By giving an insiders' view of the process, our goal is to encourage diverse leaders to become effective advocates and to pursue careers in public service. Who Should Apply? We are looking for leaders from communities of color and immigrant communities; and people working to directly benefit them. We place a high value on creating a seminar class that is diverse racially, ethnically, and geographically.  Successful candidates for the Commonwealth Seminar will have a basic understanding of state government and a clear desire to use the skills learned through the seminar to make positive change. Acceptance to the seminar is decided through a competitive process. Commonwealth Seminar staff and advisers will make all final decisions about the makeup of the seminar.  More Information and Application  Please be prepared to make a compelling argument in the application about how you fit into the Commonwealth Seminar's target student profile. For more information, and to download an application, please visit theCommonwealth Seminar website.  In This Issue Join us in Lowell! Exclusive Newsletter Job Listings What is the Seminar? Help Us Recruit!  Please forward this email to anyone who might be a good match for the Commonwealth Seminar!  Quick Links Website Join Our Mailing List Jobs Photos Third Sector New England Facebook