星期三, 12月 03, 2014

Mayor Walsh appoints new Licensing Board members

波士頓市長馬丁華殊(Martin J. Walsh)昨(三)日指派三名新人進波市府 牌照局。一任六年,任期從今年十二月一日開始。
這三人分別為 Christine A. Pulgini,Lisa S. Maki,以及Keeana Serene Saxon。
波士頓牌照局規範波士頓市內的烈酒,食物,旅館或客棧,兄弟會或宿舍,檯球/台球桌,保齡球,算命者等經營牌照。
            波士頓市長指派三名牌照局新董事,是精簡,改善牌照申請過程的一系列活動之一。
        波士頓市長近月來採取的一系列措施包括舉辦了波市有史以來第一次的hubhack證照許可挑戰,以重新創造波士頓市的網上申請證照體驗;針對一至二家庭屋或小企業業者設立的區域規劃上訴委員會(ZBA)業主自住住宅申請簡化過程;藉由展延公聽時間,電視轉播ZBA會議等加倍公聽會的容量,在市政府和民眾聯繫,分佈在市府不同單位內的機構,安裝數位亭等。
        波士頓市長馬丁華殊在2014年的麻州議會議期內,成功推動了在麻州各地推管經濟成長法。該法容許波士頓自行指派自己的烈酒牌照局。這是1906年以來的第一次。在那以前,波士頓的牌照局董事指派,由州長監管。此外,波士頓還獲准連續三年,每年額外獲發25張酒牌,總共75張酒牌。一年有15張所有烈酒牌照,總共45張,還有5張麥及酒類牌照,總共15張,只限主街區,以及多徹斯特,東波士頓,海德公園,牙買加平原,麥特潘,任務丘,以及洛士百利等地申請,都不可轉讓。

Mayor Walsh appoints new Licensing Board members


BOSTON -- Today, Mayor Martin J. Walsh announced the appointments of three new members to the City of Boston’s Licensing Board: Christine A. Pulgini, Lisa S. Maki, and Keeana Serene Saxon. The Licensing Board regulates alcohol, food, hotels/inns, lodging houses, fraternities/dormitories, billiards/pool tables/sippio, bowling alleys, and fortune teller licenses within the City of Boston, pursuant to Massachusetts General Laws Chapters 138 and 140, and the Rules of the Board.

This newly-constituted Licensing Board is the most recent in a series of efforts that the Walsh Administration has made to streamline and improve licensing and permitting operations across City government, to ensure that business owners and entrepreneurs are able to successfully start and grow businesses in Boston. In recent months, Mayor Walsh:

“The changes we’ve made to the City’s Licensing Board and our approach to licensing across the City presents a fresh opportunity to support economic development across our neighborhoods,” said Mayor Walsh. “I’m grateful that Christine, Lisa and Keeana have agreed to serve the residents of Boston in this capacity, and I look forward to seeing their work begin.”

Christine A. Pulgini currently serves as a partner with the Law Offices of Joseph J. Pulgini, P.C., a firm specializing in workers compensation, accidental disability retirement, social security disability, and civil litigation. She is a member of the Massachusetts Bar Association and the Massachusetts Academy of Trial Attorneys. She received her J.D. from New England School of Law, and her B.A. in Communications from Curry College. She currently resides in Hyde Park.

Lisa S. Maki has been an attorney with the City of Boston's Law Department since 2010, representing Boston on legal issues related to employment law, public education, civil rights matters, police misconduct, environmental law, open meeting and public records, state ethics, and labor. Maki previously served as Judicial Law Clerk to the Honorable Chief Justice Frank J. Williams of the Rhode Island Supreme Court. She currently serves as an adjunct professor at Suffolk University Law School, where she received her law degree. She is resident of South Boston.

Keeana Serene Saxon has served as Deputy General Counsel to the Executive Office of Housing & Economic Development since 2012. She previously served as Counsel to the Department of Housing & Community Development, and as the Director of the Joint Committee on State Administration and Regulatory Oversight. Saxon is a member and previous Chair of the U.S. Advisory Board for the Rwanda Youth Healing Center, and previously as the Chair of Board of Trustees for Boston Renaissance Charter School. She received her J.D. from Western New England School of Law, and has been admitted to the Bar of the Supreme Judicial Court for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Saxon is a Roxbury resident.

In the 2014 legislative session, Mayor Walsh successfully advocated for the passage of An Act Promoting Economic Growth Across the Commonwealth (Chapter 287 of the Acts of 2014). In part, this bill gave Boston the ability to appoint its own liquor licensing board for the first time since 1906 – a provision already afforded to every other municipality in the Commonwealth. Previously, Boston’s liquor licensing board appointments were overseen by the Governor. In addition, the City of Boston was also granted 25 additional liquor licenses per year for 3 years, for a total of 75 new liquor licenses. These include: 
  • Five all-alcohol licenses a year (total of 15) that are not geographically restricted within the City and can be transferred by the owner. 
  • Fifteen all-alcohol licenses a year (total of 45) and 5 malt and wine licenses a year (total of 15) that are restricted to Main Street Districts and the neighborhoods of Dorchester, East Boston, Hyde Park, Jamaica Plain, Mattapan, Mission Hill, and Roxbury. These are non-transferable.
The members of the new board will begin their 6-year terms effective December 1, 2014.

Mayor Walsh Announces Boston Selected for Prestigious Rockefeller Foundation Grant

Mayor Walsh Announces Boston Selected for Prestigious Rockefeller Foundation Grant

Will support Chief Resilience Officer position to expand Boston’s dialogue around equity

BOSTON -- Today Mayor Martin J. Walsh announced that Boston has been selected as one of 35 cities from around the world to be invited to join the 100 Resilient Cities Network, a project of the Rockefeller Foundation. 100RC supplies its member cities with tools, funding, technical expertise, and other resources to build resilience to the challenges of the 21st century. As part of the scope of the award, Boston will bring on a Chief Resilience Officer (CRO), tapped to create a dialogue around Boston’s segregated past, the impacts that linger today, and finding ways for the City to become more equitable. 

“The long-term impacts of the busing era are still felt in Boston today, and we know that we still see segregation in our neighborhoods and gaps in social outcomes for people of color in areas such as education, public health, and economic security, ,” said Mayor Walsh. “We saw an opportunity here, to take an alternative approach to what resilience means - it’s not just environmental, it can also be social. I want to thank the Rockefeller Foundation and the judges for selecting Boston to join the Resilient Cities Network.”

“Boston’s application stood out to our judges for its sophisticated sense of resilience,” said Ryan Whalen, Director for Initiatives and Strategy at the Rockefeller Foundation. “The selection committee was struck by the range of challenges that the city continues to face, and how city government here understands the ways in which these challenges all feed into one another. I’m pleased to announce that Boston will be joining the 100 Resilient Cities network.”

The CRO will report directly to the Mayor and will support policy discussion, and planning efforts in the City through this social resilience lens. The CRO will also work with external stakeholders towards a shared vision on economic development, transportation, housing, climate change, and the arts. The position will continue to be shaped following today’s announcement. Upon appointment the CRO will serve a 2-year term.

Boston is now part of a global community of cities working together to become more resilient. In addition to grant funding for the CRO position, Boston will receive technical support to develop a resilience strategy that reflects the city’s distinct needs, and the support and services the City needs to work towards implementing that strategy. As part of the network, Boston will obtain access to a variety of platform partners in the private, public, and nonprofit sectors. These partners will offer tools in areas such as innovative finance, technology, infrastructure, land use, and community and social resilience. Finally, Boston will be linked together in a global network to learn from other participating cities’ challenges and successes.

Momentum from last year’s inaugural 100RC challenge made this year highly competitive, spanning over 90 countries across six continents. Boston was chosen from more than 330 applicants on the basis of willingness, ability, and need to become resilient in the face of future challenges. Other cities announced today by the Rockefeller Foundation to join the 100RC are:
  • Accra (Ghana)
  • Amman (Jordan)
  • Arusha (Tanzania)
  • Athens (Greece)
  • Barcelona (Spain)
  • Belgrade (Serbia)
  • Bengaluru (India)
  • Boston (USA)
  • Cali (Colombia)
  • Chennai (India)
  • Chicago (USA)
  • Dallas (USA)
  • Deyang (China)
  • Enugu (Nigeria)
  • Huangshi (China)
  • Juárez (Mexico)
  • Kigali (Rwanda)
  • Lisbon (Portugal)
  • London (United Kingdom)
  • Milan (Italy)
  • Montreal (Canada)
  • Paris (France)
  • Phnom Penh (Cambodia)
  • Pittsburgh (USA)
  • San Juan (USA)
  • Santa Fe (Argentina)
  • Santiago de los Caballeros (Dominican Republic)
  • Santiago (Chile)
  • Singapore (Singapore)
  • St. Louis (USA)
  • Sydney (Australia)
  • Thessaloniki (Greece)
  • Toyama (Japan)
  • Tulsa (USA)
  • Wellington (New Zealand)
Member cities were selected upon the recommendation of distinguished judges from around the world, including former president José María Figueres Olsen of Costa Rica, the President of the African Development Bank, Dr. Donald Kaberuka, Chairperson for the Board of Governors on the Indian Council for Research on International Economic Relations, Dr. Isher Ahluwalia, and the President and CEO of the Asia Society, Josette Sheeran.

MASSACHUSETTS CLEAN WATER TRUST ANNOUNCES AAA RATING


MASSACHUSETTS CLEAN WATER TRUST ANNOUNCES AAA RATING
Moody’s, Fitch and Standard & Poor’s Reaffirm Trust’s “AAA” Strength

The Massachusetts Clean Water Trust (Trust) today announced that the Series 18 “Green Bonds” to be issued next week have been assigned an “AAA” rating by Moody’s, Fitch and Standard & Poor’s.  These bonds are being issued to fund $231 million of water infrastructure projects throughout Massachusetts.  
  
“The confirmation of our AAA rating for our upcoming bond sale is testament to the financial professionalism demonstrated at every level of government here in the Commonwealth,” said Sue Perez, Executive Director of the Trust. “We received this rating because our department, the Commonwealth and our borrowers, local cities and towns, each demonstrate strong financial management that supports the repayment of these bonds.”

During the week of December 8, the Trust is expected to sell $231,095,000 in “Green Bonds.”  On December 9th, individual retail investors from Massachusetts will have the first opportunity to purchase these bonds that benefit Massachusetts communities. For further information on the “Green Bonds,” please visit www.buyMAcleanwatertrustbonds.com.
  
The Clean Water Trust provides subsidized loans to cities and towns for clean water and drinking water infrastructure development.  Since its establishment in 1989, the Clean Water Trust has loaned over $6 billion to improve and maintain the quality of water in the Commonwealth.  An estimated 97 percent of Massachusetts’ citizens have benefited from the Clean Water Trust’s financial assistance.
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台灣論壇談九合一選舉 學者意見與民意相仿

台灣九合一選舉十一月廿九日落幕,國民黨如眾所預期的落敗。四名學者一日下午在波士頓大學舉行的第一場“台灣論壇”中表示,國民黨落敗原因很多,並不奇怪,但得票差距幅度之大,的確讓不少人意外。
            談及國民黨落敗時,學者們提出的原因,和坊間已有的諸多論述,差別不大,包括國民黨表現太差,台灣近年經濟衰退,年輕人想法不同,地方和中央有距離等。
            台灣的教育部和波士頓臺經濟文化處,波士學合作,分別在12/112/2,一連2天,舉辦座談會,討論臺灣地方選舉關係臺灣東亞角色等。
            十二月一日下午在波士頓大學堡壘(the Castle)舉辦的座談,由波士頓大學傅士卓(Joseph Fewsmith )主持,主題為“十一月廿九日的選舉”,邀得四名學者發言,分別為南加大的謝復生(John Hsieh),政大的童振源,布朗(Brown)大學的Shelley Rigger,以及曾任台灣國防部長,目前回到中山大學任教的楊念祖等教授。
        謝復生的講題做了調整,從“誰贏“改為”政黨調整(party realignment)“。他舉出了許多數據,比較各個黨派在這次選舉中贏得的席次,包括市長一職,國民黨六席,民進黨十三席,其他黨三席。縣市議員,國民黨386席,民進黨291席,其他黨派230席,鄉鎮長,國民黨80席,民進黨54席,其他黨派70席。
            他在總結時表示,這次的台灣地方選舉結果,對馬英九總統和國民黨來說,都是大災難。非傳統性的候選人在台北市冒出頭來,和世代之間的想法,態度差異,以及社交媒體的應用,有很大關係。
            謝復生認為,這次選舉會出現這樣的結果,儘管原因很多,但馬團隊的表現有差錯,包括教育改革,退休金改革讓許多人不滿,是其中很重要的因素之一,許多國民黨支持者,不是沒去投票,就是索性把票投給了綠黨。
            不過他認為這選舉結果對2016年的總統大選會有什麼影響,還難說得很。
BU學者 Grant Rhode 和波士頓經文處長賴銘琪晤談。
            Shelley Rigger的講題是“台灣政治趨勢:時代在改變中”。她以提問式的“台灣的民主陷入困境了嗎?”,以及美國參議員,台灣海外組織,以及孔傑榮(Jeromy Cohen)在2009年左右認為台灣民主出問題了的評論做開頭,回應表示,台灣的民主沒問題,只是出現搖擺情況,從北部偏藍,變成北部也綠。
Shelley Rigger認為,台灣出現的許多對政府不信任,不滿意等情況,和世界各地的示威,遊行,沒有什麼不同,只是程度差異而已。台灣的政治乏力有許多原因,包括陳水扁政府時期的醜聞,政府表現不佳,在處理貪腐案時司法機關有偏見,試圖鎮壓公眾抗議,和中國大陸和解,媒體獨立性已被腐蝕,經濟不景導致人們對政府缺乏信心等。
她又以2006年的紅衫軍,2008年的野草莓,2012年的反媒體巨獸壟斷,2013年的大埔華光拆遷案,徵募兵權益,2014年的太陽花運動等,指出台灣每一次的社會運動,都代表著一個新的政治議題,和傳統的藍綠,黨派之爭,並沒直接關係,反而和世界各地的許多運動,不信任政府,重新分配了政治及經濟資源的趨勢很像。
她認為台灣是在面對經濟全球化的趨勢中,以極不尋常的方式表達了人民對政府效率不佳,整體發展不均,貧富懸殊加劇,中國威脅更大的不滿。她認為陳為廷在太陽花運動中描述得很好,自由貿易對美歐日等地大資本家有益,但他們希望政府要對這些資本利益在台灣之內能做些什麼,有規範限制。
至於這次九合一選舉,有沒出現新議題?她認為大部份的國民黨落敗,人們已有預期,但某些席位的落敗,還是讓人意外,再者民進黨的勝利幅度,也是前所未有的出人意表。投票後的調查顯示,經濟問題是其中一大決定因素。
童振源也指國民黨落敗,源於政府表現不佳,連候選人都要和馬總統保持距離。國民黨候選人代表權勢,卻無經驗,桃園候選人吳志揚,又在選前爆出涉嫌貪污新聞等,都是原因。他相信,在這新局面下,馬英九和習近平會面晤談的可能不會出現。國民黨必須思考如何和民進黨合作。
楊念祖表示,這次的選舉結果,讓人很難談。他個人覺得這次的選舉結果恐怕讓台灣,大陸和美國一樣感到震驚。對馬英九來說,未來三十天將非常難過,既要決定是否辭去國民黨黨主席,還要思考2015年時,如何發表國情咨文。他也必須嘗試重新整合國民黨,為下一次選舉做準備。
一名出席論台的中國大陸派駐紐約官員雖不願多做評論,卻也坦言選舉結果的確讓他們感到驚訝。
            昨(二)日的第二場座談,在哈佛大學費正清中心舉行,由史密斯學院的戈迪溫(Steven M. Goldstein)主持,主題為“從國際觀點看台灣”,邀有臺協會駐華府處長薄瑞光(Raymond Burghardt),布魯金斯學院(Brookings)東亞政策研究中心主任卜睿哲(Richard Bush)Stimson中心傑出學者容安瀾(Alan D. Romberg),曾任美國在台協會主任的楊甦棣(Steven Young)等人發言。

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            經文處教育組長黃薳玉(左起)與主持人傅士卓,以及講者Shelley Rigger,楊念祖,童振源等在座談後合影。(菊子攝)

            南加大的謝復生講完後就匆匆趕去搭機了。(菊子攝)


            薩福克大學羅森伯格東亞研究所所長薛龍(右)和經文處處長賴銘琪(左)聽完演講後私下交流。(菊子攝)

童振源是國立政治大學特聘教授,國家發展研究所所長,兩岸政策協會理事長

波士頓市設立辦公室推動多元化 不見亞裔聲音

波士頓市長馬丁華殊(Martin J. Walsh)昨(二)日宣佈設立波士頓有史以來的第一個多元包容團隊(Diversity and Inclusion Team),以協助他推動波士頓市府的多元化。
馬丁華殊將指派IMB發展公司的盡職調查(Due Diligence)主任,負責招攬少數族裔者就業的Shaun Blugh擔任多元長(chief diversity officer ),以及1998年進波士頓市府工作,2011年起擔任市長辦公室行政及財務經理的 Freda Brasfield 擔任副多元長。
馬丁華殊辦公室昨早十點半,和大波士頓拉丁裔網絡(Greater Boston Latino Network)聯袂舉行記者會,公佈該組織的一份調查報告,記錄著儘管拉丁裔人口快速成長,市府內掌有權力的職位卻不見拉丁裔人。
馬丁華殊在公佈指派任命的聲明中表示,從他宣誓上任市長起,他就做了幾個很有野心,也很認真的承諾,包括全面增加波士頓市政府人力的多元化,以確保市府反映了它所代表的人民。他為市府已採取的行動,感到驕傲。
市長的多元文化團隊,將評估市府現行及新制定的局會董事聘任體系,並就之對有色社區的有效程度做一決定;訂定清楚,實在的評估指標;為市府及局會的各個職位,來從多元社區中辨識人才;針對部會及內閣首長之外的重要職位,找出可供有色人種將來晉升的職位;和地方上的大專院校合作,設計課程項目,來培訓有色人種進公共服務領域工作。

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波士頓市府新任多元文化長Shaun Blugh(右二)在波士頓市長馬丁華殊(右一)宣佈任命後致詞。(圖由波士頓市府提供,Isabel Leon攝)
在波士頓市長馬丁華殊(左一)介紹波市府的新任多元長 Shaun Blugh (前右三),副多元長Freda Brasfield(右一)。(圖由波士頓市府提供,Isabel Leon攝)

摩頓市辦乒乓球賽 市長到賀

摩頓市市長葛帝生(Gary Christenson)上週末應邀到摩頓市青年會,主持華夏文化協會感恩節乒乓球賽開幕式。
當天共有來自大波士頓地區,包括摩頓市耆英中心,摩頓乒乓及羽毛球運動中心的各市鎮耆英組織,共十四組球員參賽。
葛帝生表示,很高興和參賽者晤面,很高興這活動選在摩頓市舉行,終於讓他有機會學打乒乓球了。
華夏文化協會主任洪梅表示,這次比賽是個開始。該會計畫舉辦一系列的這類活動,給亞裔耆英們增加交流,聚會,以及運動身體的機會,培養一下健康生活習慣。查詢可洽781-321-6316,或info@chinesecultureconnection.or

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            摩頓市長葛帝生(Gary Christenson)和參賽者合影。(圖由摩頓市府提供)