MAYOR WALSH ANNOUNCES RFP CALLING FOR THE ENHANCEMENT OF CITY HALL PLAZA

MAYOR WALSH ANNOUNCES RFP CALLING FOR THE ENHANCEMENT OF CITY HALL PLAZA

BOSTON - Mayor Martin J. Walsh today 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. The ideal respondent will have an experienced team that is representative of the people of Boston, and a compelling vision for how to make the plaza both a civic space and attractive destination for residents and tourists. "The Plaza is the front yard for Boston's City Hall, and it has enormous potential to be an engaging and activated civic space," said Mayor Walsh. "We're looking for a partner with an innovative plan to unlock this potential and transform the plaza into a must-see destination for residents and visitors alike. Together, we want to reimagine the plaza as a thriving, healthy and innovative civic space." Working with the City, the partner will have the opportunity to add new programming elements to complement existing activities on the plaza, and add new temporary amenities over a three-year contract period. Drawing on experience spearheading similar projects, the ideal team will propose a detailed and feasible implementation plan. The RFP is deliberately open-ended in an effort to inspire creativity and diversity among respondents. The effort to improve City Hall Plaza by calling for a plaza partner is one of three interrelated proposals that the City is considering. All share the same goal of making the Plaza a more welcoming and vibrant space for residents and guests.  The Mayor's Chief of Operations will lead and coordinate each process and all proposed activities through the appropriate city departments. The chosen plaza partner will organize events and activities and will be an active partner in helping the City of Boston define in greater detail the scope needed for a campus plan, which was the subject of a separate Request for Qualifications (RFQ) to craft a master plan for City Hall, City Hall Plaza and 26 Court Street. The campus plan RFQ was issued on June 8, 2015, and the city is in the process of negotiating a contract with a vendor. The third RFP will explore the possibility of engaging a partner to operate a civic/cultural entity in City Hall, whose presence would complement the cultural and historic institutions in the area. The release date for this RFP is to be determined. The seven-acre City Hall Plaza, of which 200,000 square feet is currently programmable is located at the heart of downtown Boston. More information about the plaza partner RFP is available here. Responses will be due no later than 4:00 p.m. on October 26, 2015. ### REFERENCES Campus Plan RFQ: The City is currently in the process of selecting a designer to develop a master plan for City Hall, City Hall Plaza and 26 Court St. The result of this plan, which will be developed over the next few years, will be a vision and a roadmap for the operation and design improvements to those facilities. Plaza Partner RFP: While the campus plan is being developed, the City (through this RFP) is seeking a partner to improve City Hall Plaza over the next three years. The awardee of this RFP will not receive any benefit in a future RFP that may arise from the Campus Plan study. Civic/Cultural Partner RFP: The City is interested in partnering with an entity to operate a civic/cultural entity in City Hall whose presence could complement the cultural and historic institutions in the area and enhance the current building. This partner will be the subject of a future RFP.

MAYOR WALSH ANNOUNCES $3.2M IN FUNDING TO PROTECT CHILDREN FROM LEAD POISONING

MAYOR WALSH ANNOUNCES $3.2M IN FUNDING TO PROTECT CHILDREN FROM LEAD POISONING

Boston - Friday, September 11, 2015 - Mayor Martin J. Walsh announced today that Boston was selected to receive $3.2 million in funding from the US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) that will be used to further reduce the risk of childhood lead poisoning in Boston.   "In Boston, we are continuing our work to ensure that our youngest residents are living in safe and healthy conditions," said Mayor Walsh. "I would like to thank HUD and Secretary Castro for providing us with these resources to make significant improvements throughout our neighborhoods."  The funding comes as part of a $101 million competitive HUD funding round which will be awarded to 32 city, county and state governments.  These funds will protect families by targeting health hazards in more than 6,000 low-income homes with significant lead and/or other home health and safety hazards. As part of this funding, Boston's Lead Safe Boston program will be awarded $2,906,610 in Lead Hazard Control grant program funding and $325,000 in Healthy Homes supplemental funding.  These funds will address lead hazards in 178 housing units, providing safer homes for low- and very low-income families with children. The Lead Hazard Control grant program will also perform healthy homes assessments in 70 units. The City of Boston's lead poisoning prevention efforts are led by the Mayor's Department of Neighborhood Development and the Boston Public Health Commission, in partnership with the Mayor's Office of Fair Housing and Equity, which investigates lead paint-related housing discrimination, Suffolk County Housing Court and a range of medical, community development, code enforcement, and lead paint advocacy partners with the goal of eliminating childhood lead poisoning in Boston. Boston is a national leader in the effort to protect children from lead poisoning.  According to the Boston Public Health Commission, the percentage of screened children with elevated blood lead levels has been steadily declining since 1995. In 1995, the Boston Public Health Commission found that 13.5 percent of children screened for lead in the blood had elevated lead levels.  By 2011, however, that number had declined to 0.7 percent, demonstrating Boston's emergence as a national leader in lead prevention programs. In 2014, the Massachusetts Department of Health found that 0.4 percent of children screened positive for elevated blood lead levels. While this number has declined, almost a quarter of housing discrimination cases the Office of Fair Housing & Equity receives are related to lead paint in rental homes. The award from HUD is the 13th competitive federal funding award that the City's Lead Safe Boston program has received since 1993.  The funding, totaling more than $34 million, has enabled Boston to provide technical and financial assistance to more than 2800 homes citywide. Mayor Walsh has also partnered with State Representative Jeffrey Sanchez in filing legislation that would strengthen existing lead laws to better protect our children's health. H.2049, An Act Relative to Lead Abatement, would reduce the allowable lead exposure in homes, increase tax credits available to unit owners who wish to de-lead their properties, and increases the penalties for landlords who discriminate against renting to families with children. HUD's Office of Lead Hazard Control and Healthy Homes promotes local efforts to eliminate dangerous lead paint and other housing-related health hazards from lower income homes; stimulate private sector investment in lead hazard control; support cutting-edge research on methods for assessing and controlling housing-related health and safety hazards; and educate the public about the dangers of hazards in the home. Residents who are concerned about lead paint in their home should call the Boston Home Center at 617.635.HOME or visit www.bostonhomecenter.com.

波士頓僑學界升五星旗慶十一

波士頓僑學各界昨（13）日在波士頓市府廣場升起五星紅旗，慶祝中華人民共和國成立66週年。

昨日一大早微雨，氣溫低至華氏六十多度，但僑界慶祝中國生日的熱情不減，一大早就分頭從各地趕到波士頓市政府廣場前做準備。

其中台山同鄉最幸福，在台山同鄉聯誼會和帝苑大酒樓東主黃官羨一人出資一半的贊助下，一百多名老鄉先享用了豐盛早餐，再出席慶典。

會場裏，波士頓嚴新生命科技協會的布條招牌，中美旗幟，最是壯觀。       

            中國駐紐約總領事館副總領事程雷，領事朱家耀，王軍等人專程從紐約驅車趕來，和華人前進會名譽主席李素影，共同主席湯建華，劍橋中國文化中心董事長紀虎民，副董事長陶凱，梁忠孝堂主席梁添光，哈佛大學中國學生學者聯誼會主席孫陸等人在主席台前和出席的幾百名群眾，在司儀姜弘健，駱理德主持中，向冉冉升起的五星旗行注目禮。

            昨日出席道賀的政要有麻州眾議員麥家威（Aaron Michlewitz），波士頓市長幕僚長高丹尼（Daniel Koh）。

            根據姜弘健在會中的解釋，由於美國的紀念911，昨日的升旗，只能升到旗竿一半的位置。

        程雷指出，中國在世界的如今地位，達到可媲美歷史上任何一個高峰時期的程度。中國能走到這個地步，離不開全體人民的奮鬥，支持。期盼僑界繼續促進中美友好關係，相信約10天之後，中國總書記習近平抵美做國是訪問，必可把中美合作帶上另一高峰。

            哈佛學生主席孫陸表示，學生們在美求學之際，仍然關心在祖國發生的一切，九月三日時還特地組織的一起看閱兵大典活動，昨日也特地派代表來為祖國慶生。學生們都期盼國家昌盛，人民幸福。

            華人前進會主席湯建華表示，該會成立於1977年，致力提高移民在美的生活水平，他們身在海外，心在祖國。

            波士頓僑學各界慶祝中國國慶籌委會昨日安排的表演節目十分豐富，舞蹈，歌唱，功夫示範，樣樣俱全。參加演出的單位包括波士頓腰鼓隊，鄉土舞蹈團，牛頓中文學校，台山同鄉聯誼會，劍橋中國文化中心藝術團及夕陽紅合唱團，波士頓少林武術中心，舞悅舞蹈團，吉祥三寶，還有李嘉音獨唱京劇“夢北京”。

            慶祝活動一直進行到近一點半，最後在全體合唱“歌唱祖國”聲中落幕。

圖片說明：

            五星旗升旗典禮現場。（菊子攝）

            劍橋中國文化中心董事長紀虎民（右），副董事長陶凱（左）歡迎中國駐紐約總領事館副總領事程雷（中）。（菊子攝）

            中國駐紐約副總領事程雷（右起）致詞。高丹尼，李素影，麥家威，梁添光，紀虎民，朱家耀，道明，湯建華，李照桃等人一起站在主席台前。（菊子攝）

            台山同鄉聯誼會副會長許惠儀（前右五）率領該會合唱團獻唱。（菊子攝）

            楊曉蓓（後左三）創辦的波士頓腰鼓隊，規模越來越大。（菊子攝）

            胡倩去年才創辦的“舞悅舞蹈團”也來獻演，為慶祝中國生日出一分力。（菊子攝）

            波士頓少林功夫的小團員示範功夫。（菊子攝）

            司儀姜弘健（右起），駱理德與副總領事程雷等人。（菊子攝）

波士頓僑情座談籲深耕青年族群

波士頓華僑文教中心9月12日召開僑情座談會，盼僑界“結合僑社資源，支持國家發展”，“深耕青年族群，厚植僑社基礎”。

            約三十名與會僑團首長在會議中討論了不下12項議題，關於如何鼓勵在美華僑子弟獲美國年輕人到台灣求學，參訪，藉以促進年輕人對台灣的認識，培養感情，著墨尤多。

經文處副處長陳銘俊強調，行政院刻正推動海外攬才計畫，波士頓不但是科技重鎮，更是人文薈萃之地，希望僑胞們看到合適的人才時，踴躍推薦，並和僑教中心聯繫。

            僑委會每年一度的僑務委員會議，今年訂於10月21至24日在台北舉行。波士頓華僑文教中心表示，為容許僑胞及時表達意見，僑務委員更周全反映本地僑情，特地舉辦此會。當天會末還討論了慶祝雙十的各項籌備活動進展。

            駐波士頓台北經濟文化辦事處副處長陳銘俊，波士頓華僑文教中心主任郭大文當日主持會議，討論的議題包括，促請僑界協助台灣參加區域經濟整合(TPP/RECP)，行銷台灣產品，拓展經貿; 鼓勵華裔青年進僑社做志工，參與推拱文化，參加愛國活動，到台灣研習，升學，加強對台灣的認識與感情等; 打造具有台灣特色的僑團服務形象; 融合新舊僑團，促進經驗分享; 運用在地資源，優化僑教中心功能; 結合僑教資源推廣正體字華語文教學，推廣台灣多元文化; 和當地主流學校及社區合作; 繼續辦理廚藝巡迴講座; 改善僑生回台灣升學所面對之問題; 運用宏觀電視，宏觀網路電視等文宣管道，擴大台灣在全球的影響力，並分享經驗等。

            郭大文坦言，僑委會經費不足，還盼僑界籌謀獻策，運用在地資源，加強僑教中心可發揮的功能。

        郭大文提醒出席僑團首長，體育運動總會將在雙十期間舉辦“2015台灣孝親報恩“活動，安排青少年子女為父母洗腳。在雙十期間返台，有意參加該活動者，可和僑教中心聯繫。

            談及辦理紀念抗戰勝利暨臺灣光復七十週年活動，郭大文指出，海峽兩岸在世界各地都舉辦相關活動，希望僑胞們在出席活動，能主動闡述，對日抗戰是由國民政府主導，不要被扭曲了的說法左右。

            將於9月29日抵波士頓的“明華園”表演，郭大文強調，那不僅僅是歌仔戲，更是讓主流社會認識台灣特色的東方音樂劇。

            會中，張鳳建議僑委會與僑界善用網路社交媒體，做各項宣傳。

            談及僑生問題，余麗媖，周萬欽，蔣宗壬，李伍綺蓮，許炳煌，張偉力等人都有意見。余麗媖指出，她有不少鄰居，朋友的子女獲得獎助金，在交換項目下，前往海峽對岸進修，她認為台灣應該也做得到。周萬欽指台灣學費和美國相比來得低，若青年學子可藉交換項目到台灣進修，不但可節省金錢，取得學分，還可更深入了解台灣，應是一舉三得的做法，唯一要解決的問題是台灣和美國學校必須能夠學分互相承認。

            李伍綺蓮指出，中華廣教學校曾在僑委會協助下，到台灣巡迴表演，學校師生自付機票等費用，僑委會代為聯繫表演單位，當地食宿，所有參加活動師生，經由一行，對台灣印象大好。僑委會或可考慮多半此類活動。

            陳銘俊、郭大文都表示，僑委會，教育部等機構已經在辦理很多類似項目，但經文處和僑委會仍隨時歡迎僑界提供任何好意見。

           

圖片說明：

            僑教中心主任郭大文（立者）主持僑情座談會。右起，雷國輝，陳銘俊，蔣宗壬，石家孝。（菊子攝）

            僑教中心主任郭大文（右起），經文處副處長陳銘俊主持僑情座談會。紐英崙中華公所主席阮鴻燦列席。（菊子攝）

            麻州中部中文學校校長張偉力（左三），在12日會議的出席者中是少數年輕人之一。左起，黃周麗桃，余麗媖，劉啟祥。（菊子攝）

            僑團首長圍桌開會。（菊子攝）

蔣宗壬上任波士頓僑務委員

波士頓華僑文教中心主任郭大文（左一），經文處副處長陳銘俊（右二）代表僑委會
頒發聘書給新任波士頓僑務委員蔣宗壬（左二）。紐英崙中華公所主席
阮鴻燦（右一）見證。（周菊子攝）

(Boston Orange 周菊子麻州報導) 波士頓華僑文教中心9月12日宣佈，指派華人經濟發展協會董事長蔣宗壬為新任波士頓僑務委員，續聘李伍綺蓮，范紀琛，新聘馬滌凡為僑務諮詢委員，新聘張韻蘭為僑務促進委員。

            波士頓國民黨前任常務委員王競芳獲頒僑委會感謝狀。

波士頓華僑文教中心主任郭大文（左），經文處副處長陳銘俊（右）頒發聘書
給新任僑務諮詢委員馬滌凡（中）。（圖由僑教中心提供）

波士頓華僑文教中心主任郭大文12日在僑務工作座談中，宣佈前述任命，並說明即將來臨的雙十慶祝會，文化訪問團部分由甫卸任僑務委員一職的馬滌凡統籌，雙十遊行，餐會部分，由僑務促進委員余麗媖匯報籌備進展。

僑務委員是一任三年的榮譽職。僑委會近年修改章程，曾經持有台灣戶籍者才有機會擔任僑務委員。

今年初，前任波士頓僑務委員陳家驊卸任，龍鳳集團董事長梅錫銳接任後，僑界就開始私下揣測，馬滌凡今年八月任滿後，該職位花落誰家。

 郭大文（右），陳銘俊（左）頒發給僑務諮詢委員證書給李伍綺蓮（中）。
（圖由僑教中心提供）

            1960年代末期就已來美，獲有土木工程博士學位，退休前自營工程公司，曾任大波士頓中華文化協會（GBCCA）會長，麻州首個華人所創辦銀行 - 美洲銀行董事，如今仍任紐英崙中華專業人員協會榮譽顧問，華人經濟發展協會（CEDC）董事會董事長的蔣宗壬，以他在僑社的資歷之深，和傳統僑社首長都認識多年，有不少互動，得以脫穎而出。

            華人經濟發展協會刻正獨立發展，預定於2017年竣工的好事福平安大樓，將是波士頓華埠內最新的百分之百可負擔住宅大樓。

 郭大文（右），陳銘俊（左）頒發給僑務促進委員證書給張韻蘭（中）。
（圖由僑教中心提供）

            

郭大文（右），陳銘俊（左）頒發感謝狀給波士頓國民黨前任常委王競芳（中）。
（圖由僑教中心提供）

           

          

MAYOR WALSH ANNOUNCES $18.2M IN IMPROVEMENTS TO WEST ROXBURY EDUCATION COMPLEX

MAYOR WALSH ANNOUNCES $18.2M IN IMPROVEMENTS TO WEST ROXBURY EDUCATION COMPLEX

BOSTON - Saturday, September 12, 2015 - Mayor Martin J. Walsh today joined the West Roxbury community in commemorating the completion of the Field Improvement Project with a ribbon-cutting ceremony at the West Roxbury Education Complex Raiders Field. "We're excited to celebrate the opening of another great park in one of our neighborhoods," said Mayor Walsh. "It is a great day when we can provide a top of the line athletic facility, not only to our Public Schools, but also to the West Roxbury community and the larger Boston community. The opening of Raiders Field also marks the start of a public transportation service to Raiders Field, Millennium Park and to West Roxbury Education Complex." The project, which cost $18.2 million, covers an area of 14 acres in addition to the existing recreational amenities located at Millennium Park. The Department of Public Works completed the project in two phases. The City of Boston reconstructed the existing natural turf athletic fields located behind the West Roxbury Education Complex, replacing them with a new artificial turf complex, consisting of one football field, one baseball field, one softball field, and one multi-use field. "What was once a landfill that threatened to negatively impact the natural resources within the nearby Charles River is now a modern athletic complex that protects the environment and provides many recreational opportunities for students and the public at-large," said Commissioner Martin Suuberg of the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection. "MassDEP was happy to provide financing for the site and partner with the City of Boston and the school department on this important project." Additional improvements to the complex include a new 6-lane paved running track with spectator stands, three tennis courts, two half-court basketball courts, and a new energy-efficient lighting system.  The complex has become more accessible with new handicap accessible pathways to the fields and parking lot as well as a new bus turnaround and shelter to facilitate easy access to the park by public transportation. Integration of the route 36 bus will serve both Millennium park and West Roxbury Education Complex for both Boston citizens and BPS students. "This is another great example of Mayor Walsh's commitment to our schools, our student athletes and our neighborhoods," said Boston Public Schools Superintendent Tommy Chang. "The newly restored Raiders Field will be a tremendous benefit not just to the athletic programs at the West Roxbury Education Complex and its students who can use the beautiful new fields and courts for gym class and recreation, but to the surrounding community and local sports organizations, as well. It is such an asset to have these state-of-the-art ball fields and 400-meter track at the doorstep of our West Roxbury high schools, and we are so excited our Raiders teams return home." Additional improvements to the complex include a new 6-lane paved running track with spectator stands, three tennis courts, two half-court basketball courts, and a new energy-efficient lighting system.  The complex has become more accessible with new handicap accessible pathways to the fields and parking lot as well as a new bus turnaround and shelter to facilitate easy access to the park by public transportation. Integration of the route 36 bus will serve both Millennium park and West Roxbury Education Complex for both Boston citizens and BPS students. Jonathan Stratton, President of Parkway Pop Warner, celebrated the project completion and opening ceremonies for the new field. "The kids are excited and can hardly wait to play on the new field. We have been waiting a long time for this day to come," Stratton said.