(Boston
Orange 周菊子摘要整理報導)摩頓市計畫委員會9月21日晚以6比3票，否決了華人醫務中心進駐摩頓市的計畫，亞裔社區近年在摩頓市的快速發展，擴張，摩頓市耆英中心的乒乓球衝突事件是否導火線，值得探討。
華人醫務中心進昆士市服務以來，備受好評，鑒於摩頓市近年亞裔人口增長快速，該中心和EA Fish發展公司合作，提出了在查理士街(Charles Street)11-17號，建造一棟綜合用途大樓的計畫。
這發展計畫預定為一座6層高大樓，包括華人醫務中心分部，103戶公寓住宅單位，一個開放給公眾使用的社區室，另外付給摩頓市25萬元，用在將來保存或建造可負擔住宅上。
華人醫務中心行政主任衛優俊(Eugene Welch)早前在一封公開信中指出，摩頓市內約有2500到3000人搭乘橘線地鐵到該中心位於波士頓華埠的診所，尋求在文化、語言上，可讓他們感到更自在的診所。華人醫務中心因此早就有意進摩頓市服務，只是礙於各方面因素，直到可以和EA Fish公司合作後，才向摩頓市政府提出了這一發展計畫。為順利推動計畫，他們決定不單只不向摩頓市政府申請補助，還將花500萬元把該中心服務帶進摩頓市，包括斥資100萬元來聘請全職醫生、護士，醫療助理等提供服務。
根據美國人口統計調查局資料，摩頓市總人口約6萬，亞裔14,338人，約占23.8%，其中華裔約8,759人，所佔比率也已高達14.5%。
從人口比率來看，亞裔在摩頓市應該已有舉足輕重的份量，但9月21日晚，摩頓市計劃委員會就華人醫務中心發展計畫申請特別許可一案，舉行公聽會時，卻以6比3的懸殊比例，否決了提案。
在摩頓市創辦了華林太極功夫學校的余翠梅，已取得擔任校長資格，有意開辦創意學校的蘇敬恩等人，對摩頓市計劃委員會在這公聽會有將近200人出席下，仍然做出這樣的投票決定，都感到很失望。
代表摩頓市的麻州眾議員Steve Ultrino在9月23日發出一份新聞稿，文中所提的可負擔住
宅 Monsignor Neagle，也座落在查理士街上。
代表摩頓市的麻州眾議員Steve Ultrino在9月23日發出一份新聞稿，文中所提的可負擔住
宅 Monsignor Neagle，也座落在查理士街上。
Monsignor Neagle Celebrates Two Decades of Affordable Housing for Malden Seniors
MALDEN – In 1996, an apartment building opened on Charles Street in Malden with the goal of providing low-income housing opportunities for seniors and people with disabilities.
For many affordable housing developments, twenty years is a long time, often seeing high turnover among residents and management. But for Monsignor Neagle, it is the stability and sense of community that brought more than 70 people together this week as the apartment building celebrated its twentieth anniversary.
Monsignor Neagle, which is managed by Maloney Properties, houses about 85 residents in 5 one-bedroom units. At least a dozen residents who attended the 20th anniversary celebration were original tenants of the building when it opened in August 1996.
Though the building has changed, it has remained true to its mission. Today, 100% of its units are still low-income rooms subsidized by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. All residents are age 62 and up, and the majority of them stay for years.
To recognize the building’s success, Representative Steve Ultrino (D – Malden) presented a citation from the House of Representatives to the Monsignor Neagle community in recognition of their twentieth anniversary. Representative Ultrino, who has been on the board of Monsignor Neagle Apartments since 2005, said he talks about the community’s success when discussing housing matters on Beacon Hill.
“Affordable housing is a priority for me in the Legislature, and vital to Malden residents who are getting squeezed out by rising housing costs,” said Representative Ultrino. “Being a part of Monsignor Neagle over the last eleven years has been a wonderful experience, and it’s something I bring with me to the State House. It’s one thing to talk about affordable housing as a policy matter, but it’s important to also know how to roll up your sleeves and work on making it a reality on the ground in your district.”
Property Manager Janet Schifano, who has worked at Monsignor Neagle Apartments for fifteen years, said it was a team effort that has kept the housing complex going strong. “This is the result of a group effort of the management staff and the residents all working together to make this wonderful community happen,” she said.
