Martha Coakley參選麻州長 放下身段進華埠晤選民

麻州州長候選人柯克莉（Martha Coakley)十四日晚在滂沱大雨中，來到波士頓華埠社區中心（BCNC)，低調平和地表示，自己是最好的候選人，有最豐富的解決問題經驗，承諾將會取得，審閱一份華埠總體發展計劃，以進一步確認可以怎樣幫助解華埠 。

        柯克莉是麻州現任總檢察長（AG）。十四日晚，她以麻州州長候選人身份，在包括華裔Jennifer Liu的兩名助選人員陪同下，來到華埠，出席麻州州長亞美顧問委員會的“社區論壇”。

            柯克莉在大約八分鐘的發言中，先向去年參選波士頓市第二區市議員未果的李素影致意，表示沒人比她更明白，競選是多難的事，而且競選不一定總是贏。

            柯克莉在2010年時代表民主黨，競選愛德華甘迺迪過世空出來的聯邦參議員席位，沒想到在民主黨佔大多數的麻州中，開票結果卻是柯克莉得票率47%，共和黨籍的布朗（Scott Brown)52%，讓許多人大跌眼鏡。

            這過程，不只選民記憶深刻，柯克莉顯然也累積了經驗教訓，這次競選麻州州長，身段放低很多，十四日晚在波士頓華埠社區中心，不但和出席者親切握手，有求必應的合照，還在活動結束後，逗留好一陣子，聽好些人個別陳情。

            柯克莉在介紹自己時表示，她是在靠近紐約上州的麻州西郊伯克夏爾郡（Berkshire）出生。在五十，六十年代，她都是走路上學。那是個天主教社區，周遭的環境與人，一點也不多元。直到上大學，進威廉斯學院（Williams College），波士頓大學法學院，到後來當助理檢察官，住過多徹斯特（Dorchester），她才切實感受到歡迎新來者，幫助並確保每個人獲得應有的正義，民權，個人及家庭安全，是多美好的事。

            柯克莉說，做到不歧視不同背景，族裔的人，其實還不夠，更要能夠包容，社會才能夠攜手共進。

            談及擔任州長的要務時，柯克莉坦言交通系統是其中一大重點，因為交通可以影響到人們居住，就學，工作的機會，進而影響人們改善生活，未來的可能。她直指要改善個人及社會經濟，就必須全面審視這些環環相扣的議題。

            柯克莉提醒地指出，每個人都應該要敢於發言，敢於指出政府或大企業的錯處，敦促政客，公僕，企業僱主負責任。一旦她當州長，他將和所有的社區，族裔合作，針對各社區的個別狀況，定出處理事務的優先順序，逐一解決問題。

            十四日晚天氣不佳，有三，四十人出席，劍橋市議員張禮能，Hyams基金會專員梅大衛，華人前進會名譽主席李素影，亞美專業人員協會莊沛穎，華埠居民會共同主席余仕昂，來自中國大陸的張天昱，一名來自羅爾市的女士等，問問題的人不少。

            在回答和其他候選人有何分別時，柯克莉表示，在目前的五名民主黨籍，一名共和黨籍候選人中，她有最豐富的解決問題經驗與記錄。

            在回答李素影的州政府應在可負擔住宅上扮演什麼角色這問題時，柯克莉坦言，她看到許多政府機構功能重疊，州府與市鎮之間交流，溝通不足情況，有許多官僚的繁文縟節（red tape）都該刪除。

            對於改善交通系統的經費何來，年輕人找不到工作而離開，移民等後期太長，移民也應有權投票等許多問題，柯克莉在贊成移民法應修改，申請過程應更快之外，強調許多議題其實彼此互有關連，要擬定整套辦法的全面因應。

            柯克莉也在回應張禮能時表示，她將和現任麻州州長一樣，聘任多元化，使政府面貌儘量與其所代表的人民組成相似。

            華埠居民會共同主席余仕昂當晚問了最後一個問題。他指出雙語選票已于2013年到期，待爭取成為永久法案，還說如果選票上有中文名字，他們會更容易把自己那一票投給柯克莉，引得柯克莉在表示會看看能做什麼之後笑說，選票是很好的誘因。

圖片說明：

            麻州州長候選人柯克莉（Martha Coakley)在現場回答問題。（菊子攝）

            麻州州長候選人柯克莉（Martha Coakley)（中）和麻州州長亞美顧問委員會主席陳穎玉（右二），副主席李超榮（左二），委員張禮能（左一），Quoc Tran（右一）等人合影。（菊子攝）

            麻州州長候選人柯克莉（Martha Coakley)（右二）和波士頓華埠社區中心董事會董事梅陳月嫦（右起），林秀貞，陳綽敏合影。陳綽敏也是麻州州長亞美顧問委員會委員。（菊子攝）

            梅大衛（後右二），李素影（左二）當晚都提問。（菊子攝）

            李素影問州政府在可負擔住宅上應扮演什麼角色。（菊子攝）

            麻州州長候選人柯克莉（Martha Coakley)（中）和華埠居民會共同主席余仕昂（左），梅陳月嫦（右）合影。（菊子攝）

            梅大衛提問。（菊子攝）

            華埠僑領陳毓禮（右）在離開前，特地上前和麻州州長候選人柯克莉（Martha Coakley)（左）握手致意。（菊子攝）

麻州眾議員毆女友判入獄六個月 州市首長促他辭職

劍橋市地方法院陪審團昨（15）日裁決麻州眾議員何里蓋（Carlos Henriquez）毆人有罪，法官判他入獄六個月。麻州州長，眾議會議長，波士頓市長紛紛發表聲明，呼籲何里蓋立即辭職。

劍橋市法院判定，代表波士頓多徹斯特區的民主黨麻州眾議員何里蓋兩項毆人罪成立，但免除了第三項毆人罪，另判恐嚇證人罪，一項250元以下的盜竊罪。

何里蓋毆打的是他從2012年七月起開始約會，住在阿靈頓（Arlington）的一名女子。

法官的判決一出，麻州州長派區克（Deval Patrick），麻州眾議會議長狄樂歐（Robert A. DeLeo,）， 波士頓市長馬丁華殊（ Martin J. Walsh）全都呼籲何里蓋辭職。狄樂歐說如果他不下台，就要採取開除他的步驟。

受害者 Katherine Gonzalves就2012年七月十八日發生的事件作證，並接受了何里蓋辯護律師Stephanie Soriano-Mills的嚴厲盤問。

在陪審團決定有罪後，法官 Michele Hogan向何里蓋強調，當一名女子告訴你，她不想要有性關係時，她就是不要發生關係。那天早上，當受害者 Katherine Gonzalves說沒興趣發生親密關係時，何里蓋就應該停止和Katherine Gonzalves互動。她表示，何里蓋似乎不接受要為自己行為負責的想法。她為何里蓋的無懊悔之意，感到憂慮，判何里蓋進糾正所（House of Correction）二年半，其中半年要關進監獄。

二蒙面匪徒擅闖民宅 屋主拔鎗擊斃一人

大波士頓地區治安，最近有點緊張。波士頓市多徹斯特區昨（15）早有兩名蒙面大盜入屋搶劫，其中一人遭屋主持槍擊斃。牛頓市前（14）日下午就發生三宗破門而入偷盜案。尚莫維爾市在過去的三個月中，發生三宗婦女遭攻擊案。

            波士頓警察局長伊文斯（William Evans）表示，有兩名蒙面人昨日早上闖入多徹斯特區（Esmond街85號）一棟公寓大樓，遇上持槍屋主。一人遭擊斃，一人被追出大樓外。

            警察大約在早上九點時，趕到現場，看到正在逃離的嫌犯，手裡還拿著據說早前在民宅內揮舞的槍支。警察稍後在附近逮捕了他。

            波市警察局總副局長葛羅斯（William Gross）表示，幸運的是，警方人員正好在那一帶，所有涉事者都被抓了。

            警察也羈押了民宅屋主，但未控任何刑事罪。警方還在確認他是否持有槍支牌照。

            被屋主開槍打中的那名嫌犯，逃跑時倒在大樓門前台階上，並在那兒被宣告死亡。

            警方昨日暫時封鎖了Esmond街，進行調查，還不知道事件動機，但相信涉事雙方彼此認識。警察通知鄰近的救世軍兒童學習中心，告訴他們發生了這件事。

            牛頓市警方昨日發出的一份警告指出，十四日（週二）下午，牛頓市內發生三宗民宅遭竊案。這幾戶民宅，都座落在史都華（Stuart）路上。警方籲請任何人有線索時，打617-796-2100，或撥打暱名爆料電話617-796-2121。

           

            尚莫維爾市的聯合(Union)廣場，波特（Porter）廣場一帶，在過去三個月內，發生三宗婦女被攻擊案，都發生在入夜後，天色還並不很晚時。

            警方正在儘快辨認嫌犯，也提醒居民加強採取安全預防措施。

            其中一案發生于一月十二日（週日）。一名45歲婦女在聯合廣場一帶，靠近尚莫維爾道的Hawkins街，遭人非禮。據描述，嫌犯為西語裔白人，年紀在25到30歲左右，高約五尺六吋，中等身材，眼睛棕色。他當時穿著黑色拉拉鏈的毛衣，有耳罩豆帽，黑色網球鞋，牛仔褲，揹著灰色背包。

            一宗發生在一月二日，一名28歲女性走在夏日街和高地道之間的波特街上時，遭人非禮。嫌犯為20到 30 歲之間的白人，五尺九寸到十寸高，瘦瘦的運動員體型，鬍子刮得很乾淨。他穿著腋下黑色的滑雪夾克，深色長褲。

            2013年十一月十八日時，在波特廣場一帶Elm街附近發生的一宗非禮案，嫌犯與前述者相似。警方籲請民眾像Richard Lavey警官通報線索，617-625-1600分機7237。

波士頓需在2040年前增建435,000住宅單位

大都會區域計畫會（Metropolitan Area Planning Council）昨（15）日公佈一份報告，指大波士頓地區要保持經濟成長，勢須向外招徠年輕工作者，到2040年時，至少建造43萬5千戶新住宅單位。

大都會區域計畫會（MAPC)表示，到2030年時，大波士頓地區，每五名工作者中，就有二人退休了。這地區的經濟要成長，勢須從其他地區吸引年青工作者過來。為了因應這些年輕人，以及退休耆英的需求，到2040年時，至少得新建435,000個住宅單位。

            該報告指出，如果大波士頓地區的人口地理結構，住宅趨勢，照目前的形勢繼續發展，這個地區的人口在未來三十年內，會增加6.6%，而且絕對會變得更老。65歲以上的人口，可能增加82%那麼多，而工作年齡的人口，基本上保持不變。在年輕工作者人口沒有增加下，在2010到2040年間，這地區工作機會數目的成長率會少於3%。

            MAPC行政主任Marc Draisen表示，到2030年時，本地區有一百多萬名工作者會已經退休了。要填補這些工作空缺，成長經濟，大波士頓就必須改變年輕工作者離開都會波士頓的趨勢。

            如果以年輕人喜歡的住宅形式來把他們留下來，會導致一個更強壯的地區模式成功的人，這地區的人口總額可能增加12.6%。年紀在25到64歲之間的人口會增加7%，也等於為勞動力市場增加了175,000名工作者。需要的新住宅單位數目，因此也增加到435,000，

            麻州住宅及經濟發展卿畢雷基（Greg Bialecki）表示，這新報告肯定了如果麻州要吸引年青人及其家庭，成長麻州人口，就需要很多新的多家庭住宅。

TO KEEP ECONOMY ON TRACK,

METRO BOSTON WILL NEED UP TO 435,000 NEW HOUSING UNITS BY 2040

Changes in population will have dramatic effects on housing needs, workforce, and economy in Greater Boston in 2040

BOSTON — Two out of five workers in Greater Boston will be retired by the year 2030, so the region must attract younger workers from elsewhere if the economy is to keep growing. Housing those young workers, in addition to the growing senior population, will require the creation of 435,000 new housing units—mostly multifamily, and mostly in urban areas—by 2040, says a new report issued by the Metropolitan Area Planning Council (MAPC).

If current demographic and housing trends continue according to the report’s “Status Quo” scenario, the region’s population would grow 6.6% over the next three decades, and will be decidedly older. The population age 65 and older may increase 82%, but the working-age population will remain essentially unchanged. Without an influx of younger workers, the number of jobs in the region could grow by less than 1% from 2010 to 2040.

“More than a million of the region’s workers will be retired by the year 2030,” says Marc Draisen, Executive Director of MAPC. “To fill those jobs and grow the economy we need to reverse the trends that see so many young workers leaving Metro Boston.”

Indeed, attracting more young people to the region with the kinds of housing they prefer could result in a “Stronger Region” scenario with a total population increase of 12.6%. The population age 25 to 64 would increase 7%, adding 175,000 new workers to the labor force. The need for new housing will also increase, but not as rapidly: 435,000 new units needed, compared to 305,000 new units needed in the Status Quo scenario.

“This new report,” said Housing and Economic Development Secretary Greg Bialecki, “confirms the need for significant new multi-family housing if we want to attract young people and families and to grow our population,”

“Once again, MAPC is providing an incredibly valuable service to the region,” said Barry Bluestone, Professor of Political Economy, Director of the Kitty and Michael Dukakis Center for Urban and Regional Policy, and Dean in the School of Public Policy and Urban Affairs, all at Northeastern University. “Our towns and cities desperately need this information so as to be prepared for the dramatic changes in the types of housing aging Baby-Boomers and young ‘millennials’ will want and need.”

“Understanding the different levers that determine population growth—and migration in particular—is key for policymakers seeking to attract and retain young and skilled workers to the Metro Boston area,” said Alicia Sasser, Senior Economist at the New England Public Policy Center of the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston. “The MAPC has provided an invaluable service to the region[…]”

Among the report’s key findings:

·         If current trends continue, a wave of Baby Boomer retirements and a weak inflow of younger workers will result in very little growth in the labor force and be a drag on the economy. If more young people are attracted and retained, however, the region’s labor force might grow by 7%.

·         Even under a slow-growth Status Quo scenario, there will be demand for 305,000 new housing units from 2010 to 2040, an increase of 17%. The Stronger Region scenario would require production of 435,000 new units.

·         Most of the new housing demand under either scenario will be among residents now younger than age 44. Residents now over 45 will need fewer housing units in 2020 than they do today due to outmigration and mortality.

·         Multifamily housing, both for-sale and rental units, will make up at least 48% as much as 62% of demand.

·         Even in suburban municipalities, demand for multifamily units will make up between 28% and 37% of total demand.

·         More than half of housing demand will be in urban communities under either scenario—as much as 56% in the Stronger Region scenario.

·         The number of school-age children in the region and in most municipalities peaked in 2000 and is likely to decline over the coming decades. The population aged 5 to 14 is projected to fall another 8% to 9% by 2020 and is not likely to fully rebound, even under the Stronger Region scenario. 

Developed as part of MAPC’s forthcoming Regional Housing Plan for Metro Boston, these new projections will have broad utility for local housing plans and school enrollment projections, regional transportation planning efforts, and state programs focused on housing and workforce development. In 2012, the Executive Office of Housing and Economic Development adopted the Stronger Region scenario as the basis for the Commonwealth’s multifamily housing production goal of 10,000 multifamily units per year, and that office is now working to coordinate local and state policies to support the achievement of the goal.

Double Digit Growth in Remodeling Spending Expected Through Mid-Year

Double Digit Growth in Remodeling Spending Expected Through Mid-Year

CAMBRIDGE, MA –The home remodeling market should see strong growth in 2014, according to Leading Indicator of Remodeling Activity (LIRA) released today by the Remodeling Futures Program at the Joint Center for Housing Studies of Harvard University.  The double-digit gains in annual home improvement spending projected for the first half of the year should moderate some to just under 10 percent by the third quarter. “The ongoing growth that we’ve seen in home prices, housing starts, and existing home sales is also being reflected in home improvement activity,” says Eric S. Belsky, managing director of the Joint Center.  “As owners gain more confidence in the housing market, they are likely to undertake home improvements that they have deferred.” “However, the strong growth for this cycle may start to ebb a bit beginning around midyear,” says Kermit Baker, director of the Remodeling Futures Program at the Joint Center.  “By that time, we’ll be approaching the pre-recessionary levels of spending, and with borrowing costs starting to creep back up, growth rates are likely to slow some.” Press release with full size graphic available at: http://www.jchs.harvard.edu/news/press_releases The Leading Indicator of Remodeling Activity (LIRA) is designed to estimate national homeowner spending on improvements for the current quarter and subsequent three quarters. The indicator, measured as an annual rate-of-change of its components, provides a short-term outlook of homeowner remodeling activity and is intended to help identify future turning points in the business cycle of the home improvement industry. The development of the LIRA is detailed in “Developing a Leading Indicator for the Remodeling Industry” (JCHS Research Note N07-1). In July 2008, the LIRA was re-benchmarked due to changes in the underlying reference series. These changes are explained in “Addendum to Research Note N07-1: Re-Benchmarking the Leading Indicator of Remodeling Activity” (JCHS Research Note N08-1). The LIRA is released by the Remodeling Futures Program at the Joint Center for Housing Studies of Harvard University in the third week after each quarter’s closing. The next LIRA release date is April 17, 2014. The Remodeling Futures Program, initiated by the Joint Center for Housing Studies in 1995, is a comprehensive study of the factors influencing the growth and changing characteristics of housing renovation and repair activity in the United States. The Program seeks to produce a better understanding of the home improvement industry and its relationship to the broader residential construction industry. The Harvard Joint Center for Housing Studies advances understanding of housing issues and informs policy.   Through its research, education, and public outreach programs, the center helps leaders in government, business, and the civic sectors make decisions that effectively address the needs of cities and communities.  Through graduate and executive courses, as well as fellowships and internship opportunities, the Joint Center also trains and inspires the next generation of housing leaders.  For more information, please visit www.jchs.harvard.edu.