Baker-Polito Administration Awards $3 Million in Food Security Grants

Baker-Polito Administration Awards $3 Million in Food Security Grants

Also Announces Selection of 39 New Healthy Incentives Program (HIP) Vendors

LYNN – Today, the Baker-Polito Administration announced nearly $3 million in grants to address urgent food insecurity for Massachusetts residents as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic and make the Commonwealth’s food system more resilient. This funding is being awarded as part of the first round of the new $36 million Food Security Infrastructure Grant Program, created following recommendations from the Administration’s COVID-19 Command Center’s Food Security Task Force, which promotes ongoing efforts to ensure that individuals and families throughout the Commonwealth have access to healthy, local food.

The Administration also announced the first round of new vendors for the Healthy Incentives Program (HIP), funded through $5 million in additional funds recommended by the Food Security Task Force. Thirty-nine new vendors were selected based on their ability to respond to the needs of populations and communities most significantly impacted by the pandemic including communities of color and older adults, serve areas designated as food deserts or low-access areas, and reach SNAP client populations disproportionally impacted by COVID-19.

“During this pandemic, Massachusetts’ food supply chain has faced significant challenges and there is an urgent need for food security to support our most vulnerable residents,” said Governor Charlie Baker. “This new funding is a $3 million investment in the infrastructure we need to continue to respond to the impacts of the pandemic, while creating a system that provides more equitable access to nutritious, local food in the Commonwealth.”

“Increasing food security and the resiliency of our food system is essential to protecting public health and local jobs,” said Lieutenant Governor Karyn Polito. “Our Administration’s new grant program will help ensure the Commonwealth’s farmers, fishermen, food banks, and other food businesses can continue contributing to our economy and connect fresh, local food with Massachusetts residents.”

The Food Insecurity Infrastructure Grant Program was announced in May 2020 as part of a $56 million investment by the Baker-Polito Administration to combat urgent food insecurity for Massachusetts families and individuals as a result of COVID-19. The Administration also announced $12 million for the provision of 25,000 family food boxes per week through a regional food supply system, and $3 million in funding as an immediate relief valve to food banks.

“The Command Center’s Food Security Task Force has been pursuing strategic investments to bolster the food system and provide emergency supplies to meet residents’ immediate needs,” said COVID-19 Command Center Director and Health and Human Services Secretary Marylou Sudders. “These investments are targeted to support organizations across the Commonwealth in producing and supplying food to communities in need, and will help strengthen the system that has been strained by the COVID-19 pandemic, and beyond.”

“This ongoing crisis has highlighted the importance of ensuring that the food grown and produced here in Massachusetts reaches all our residents, especially vulnerable populations and those struggling with food insecurity,” said Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary Kathleen Theoharides. “This grant program provides a great opportunity to strengthen our diverse food system, allow for greater access to local food in a way that supports customer and worker safety, and address systemic inequities around access to fresh, local food.”

“The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the strengths and weaknesses of the food system,” said Department of Agricultural Resources Commissioner John Lebeaux. “These Food Security Infrastructure Grants will help to strengthen the resiliency of Massachusetts’ farmers and fishers, and better connect locally grown and produced food products with the Commonwealth residents most underserved by healthy, fresh food options.”

The Administration today also launched a food assistance decision tree, to help residents in need determine which programs they might be eligible for. This tool can be accessed at mass.gov/findfoodhelp.  

Food Security Infrastructure Grant Program

The goal of the Food Security Infrastructure Grant Program is to ensure that individuals and families throughout the Commonwealth have access to food, with a focus on food that is produced locally and equitable access to food. The program also seeks to ensure that farmers, fisherman and other local food producers are better connected to a strong, resilient food system to help mitigate future food supply and distribution disruption.

The first round of the grant program includes 26 awards totaling $2,941,838 to fund investments in technology, equipment, increased capacity, and other assistance to help producers distribute food, especially to food insecure communities. When evaluating the applications, considerations included equity, economic impact and need, sustainability and scalability of efforts, and ability to support producer readiness to accept SNAP and HIP benefits.

Applications will continue to be evaluated on a rolling basis through September 15, 2020. Eligible grantees include entities that are part of the Massachusetts local food system including production, processing and distribution, the emergency food distribution network, Buy Local, community and food organizations, school meal programming, urban farms and community gardens, non-profits, and organizations that provide business planning, technical assistance and information technology services. The Request for Responses for project proposals is available here.

The awardees for the first round of the Food Security Infrastructure Grant Program include:

Grant Recipient	Project Description	Grant Amount
Franklin Public Schools	Franklin Public School's Food Service Program will expand outreach to the community by implementing a remote ordering system that can allow families to place meal orders online.	$5,304
Red Apple Farm	This grant will fund infrastructure changes needed at the farm that include increased refrigerated storage, purchase of a refrigerated delivery van, and a computerized inventory and delivery account system.	$88,109
Adams Farm Slaughterhouse LLC	Adams Farm Slaughterhouse will purchase a walk-in freezer, air conditioning for the processing and packaging area, expansion of the processing and packaging area, and a new merchandising case.	$304,963
Chestnut Lot Farm	Chestnut Lot Farm will purchase welded stainless pans to increase production.	$6,485
Boys & Girls Club of Greater Haverhill, Inc.	This grant will fund additional equipment to store, prepare, and distribute meals for their grab-n-go dinner program.	$9,358
Pioneer Valley Growers Association	The Pioneer Valley Growers Association (PVGA) will build a new cold storage facility, install a new inventory tracking computer software system, and provide technical assistance to PVGA staff and members.	$439,707
Mexirico	Mexirico will buy a delivery truck or van to deliver food to people who are SNAP recipients in need.	$40,000
Walpole Public Schools	Walpole Public Schools will purchase mobile food stations and accompanying signage. The mobile food stations will allow their school nutrition department to safely and efficiently serve students.	$327,964
Food 4 Kids/Church of the Holy Spirit	This grant will fund coolers to transport meals safely to distribution sites.	$2,500
Map Academy Charter School	The school will purchase three vans to allow for the delivery of meals throughout the summer and beyond. The vans will be used to provide daily food deliveries to students and their families.	$122,664
Clarkdale Fruit Farms Inc.	This grant will fund the purchase of a refrigerated delivery vehicle to facilitate safer deliveries of produce and allow for expansion of markets and wider distribution.	$44,327
Franklin Public Schools	Franklin Public Schools will purchase insulated food carriers to expand its food delivery capability both onsite and offsite to help deliver more food to those in need.	$6,328
Colchester Farm	Colchester Farm partners with Farm & Community Collaborative, Inc., a local nonprofit organization that improves access to local farm fresh produce for underserved populations within the Gateway cities of Brockton, Fall River, New Bedford, and Taunton. The farm will purchase additional equipment to bring 10 more acres into production.	$58,000
Farm and Community Collaborative, Inc.	This grant will fund the purchase of a refrigerated distribution vehicle with sufficient capacity to accommodate the farm’s increase in produce distributions.	$74,873
Springfield Public Schools	Springfield Public Schools aims to provide 100% prepackaged meals to 25,000 students both in school and provide meals for students to take home when they are e-learning for the 2020-21 school year. This grant will fund the cost of packaging machinery, a refrigerated truck, and additional insulated bags for classroom meal delivery.	$485,248
Rockland Public Schools	This grant will fund the purchase of two new vehicles with coolers built in to meet the need of serving breakfast and lunches to children every day.	$69,292
Harvest Farm Produce LLC	Harvest Farm will install an efficient vacuum cooler and a portable engine driven irrigation pump. These investments in production and processing infrastructure at Harvest Farm will leverage the farm's existing specialization in wholesale production to scale up and meet the increased demand for locally grown food during the COVID-19 pandemic.	$308,133
North of Boston Farm	This grant will expand the farm’s home delivery model and expand to those with language and cultural barriers. This grant will fund the purchase of a refrigerated/heated van, mobile farm stand trailer, cooler/heater unit and insulation for existing box truck, Khmer translation services, and English/Khmer farmers market pandemic safety signs and barriers.	$90,000
Pembroke Ps	This grant will fund a cooler for each elementary classroom so students can receive pre-ordered breakfast and lunch meals in a safe manner.	$4,560
Dedham Public Schools	This grant will fund a refrigerated food truck to expand Dedham Public School’s meal distribution program to reach more students/residents in need.	$60,000
The Salem Pantry	This grant will fund the development of a new food storage and distribution warehouse. This warehouse space will expand Salem Pantry's storage capabilities for fresh produce, frozen meats, dairy and eggs. This grant will also fund the purchase of a new van to support expanded food distribution to food insecure residents as well as new office equipment for inventory management.	$128,000
Ward Aquafarms, LLC	Ward Aquafarms will build a walk-in cooler installation so they can begin direct sales on shellfish.	$31,371
Stone Soup LLC dba Langwater Farm	This grant will fund the purchase of farm production equipment, a tractor, and a delivery van to produce 40% more certified organic and transitional organic fruits and vegetables.	$195,157
Acushnet Public Schools	This grant will fund additional equipment and supplies for Acushnet Public Schools to prepare, store, and serve individual meals in the classroom and to send home to students who are learning remotely. This will include food sealing machines, additional refrigeration and heated storage units and insulated containers to transport the meals to classrooms.	$31,190

  

Healthy Incentives Program New Vendors

The Healthy Incentives Program (HIP) provides matching benefits for SNAP households who purchase locally grown produce from participating Massachusetts vendors. HIP vendors include farm stands, farmers markets, mobile markets, and CSA farm share programs. Learn more at mass.gov/HIP.

The majority of the newly selected HIP vendors are local, small-scale farmers who live in or have close ties to the communities and populations they intend to serve, while other selected applicants are local agricultural vendors with demonstrated capacity to serve high-need communities through delivery, mobile markets, and targeted outreach. Sixty-six percent of the selected vendors will serve families in a Gateway City, 49% of the selected vendors will serve multiple communities, and 23% will expand access to towns with no HIP vendors in 2019. The Department of Transitional Assistance received 90 applications in response to a Notice of Opportunity announced on June 11.

New Vendors:

Vendor Name	Primary Locations To Be Served
2 Cents Homegrown	Springfield
40 Acres Farms	Springfield
All Farmers	West Springfield, Springfield
Back Azimuth Farm	Wareham, Boston, Brockton
Barnabas Forndia	Worcester, Auburn, Webster, Holden
Black Seed Farmers Market	Milford, Worcester
Checkerberry Farm	Orleans
Chris Farm Stand	Bradford
Coastal Foodshed	New Bedford, Fall River, Wareham
Dick’s Market Garden	Quincy, South Boston, and additional locations
Effloresce Culture & Design	Mattapan, Dorchester, Roxbury, Marlborough, Chelsea
Everett Community Growers	Everett
Fabiola Nizigiyimana	Worcester
Full Well Farm	Adams, North Adams, Cheshire
Great Falls Farmers Market	Turner's Falls
Growing Places Garden Project Inc	Athol, Ashburnham, Clinton, Fitchburg, Gardner, Lancaster, Leominster, Westminster, Winchendon
Hilltown Mobile Market	Cummington, Huntington, Worthington
Holyoke Farmers Market	Holyoke
Many Hands Farm Corps/Amherst Mobile Market	Amherst
Marie Romaje	Roslindale
Mycoterra Farm	Quincy, Lynn, Billerica, Bedford, and delivery throughout Berkshire, Franklin, Hampshire, Hampden, Worcester, Middlesex, Essex, Suffolk, and Norfolk counties
New Entry Sustainable Farming Project	Gloucester
Orange Farmers Market	Orange
Oriental Farm	East Boston
Regional Environmental Council, Inc.	Worcester, Webster, Southbridge
Riquezas del Campo Cooperative Farm	Springfield, Northampton, Greenfield
Roots Rising	Pittsfield
Round the Bend Farm	New Bedford
Sibling Organic Crops, LLC	Brockton, Dorchester, Waltham
Small Farm	Stow, Hudson, Maynard
Sunderland Farm Collaborative	Delivery to Sunderland, Whately, Deerfield, Hadley, Hatfield, Montague, Amherst, Northampton, Florence, Easthampton, Greenfield, Holyoke and Springfield
Sustainable CAPE	Truro, Provincetown
The Common Good Project	Dorchester
URGE (Urban Resources & Garden Economics)	Springfield
Valley Opportunity Council/Chicopee Farmers Market	Chicopee
We Grow Microgreens	Hyde Park and additional locations
World Farmers	Worcester, Boston, Springfield, Lancaster, Somerville
Yellow Stonehouse	North Westfield
Yia Li	Brookline, Ashland

CNN: 休士頓中領館72小時內得關館

               (Boston Orange編譯)在7月22日早上6點16分，發自香港的CNN消息稱，中國外交部說，美國政府突然命令德州休士頓的中國領事館”停止所有運作及活動”，在華府近期所採取的行動中，這是”前所未有的升級”。

               美國國務院發言人Morgan Ortagus表示，指示該領館關閉，是”為了保護美國智慧財產權和美國的私有資訊”。

               當地時間週二傍晚，休士頓警察說，位於該市中城區山玫大道(Montrose Boulevard)的領事館，外面庭院突然起火，他們趕了過去。根據當地媒體分享的視頻，那似乎是館內人員在院落內燒文件。

               中國外交部在其官方社交媒體上刊出的聲明表示，關閉領事館的命令是”由美國單方面發起的政治挑釁”，嚴重的違反了國際法，國際關係的基本常態，以及中美兩國的雙邊領事協議。

               該聲明稱“中國強烈譴責這蠻橫，不合理，會破壞中美關係的行動”，”我們力勸美國立即撤回這錯誤決定，否則中國將做合法的必要回應”。

               該聲明還稱美國一直藉著”汙名化，攻擊中國的社會制度”來歸咎中國，還騷擾美國境內的中國外交及領事人員，恐嚇和拷問中國學生，扣押他們的私人電子設備，甚至沒有理由就拘留他們。

               該聲明補充道，”中國致力於不干預原則，滲透和干預從來都不在中國外交政策的基因和傳統中”。

               中美關係在過去一年中，因持續的貿易戰，新型冠狀病毒大流行，以及美國批評中國在香港及新疆侵犯人權而直線下滑。

               週二時，美國檢察官指控兩名中國駭客，針對新型冠狀病毒治療及疫苗研究，在中國政府支持下”席捲全球的入侵電腦”。

               該起訴書也第一次彰顯了美國控訴駭客是為中國政府工作。

               美國國務卿龐貝奧(Mike Pompeo)目前在歐洲，游說歐洲大陸領袖對北京採取強硬路線，並和放逐的異議份子見面。

               美國政府發言人Morgan Ortagus 在一份聲明中說，“美國不會容忍中國侵犯我們的領土，威脅我們的人民，就像我們不會容忍中國的不公平貿易做法，偷盜美國人的工作，以及其他的過份行為。川普總統在中美關係中堅持公平、互惠”。

               政府支持，和中國共產黨關係牢固的小報”環球時報”編輯胡錫進在推特上說，美國只給北京72個小時關閉領事館，這是很瘋狂的舉動。

               根據該報網站上的一份聲明，休士頓領事館管理美國南部八州，包括德州，佛羅里達州，以及波多黎各。1979年時，儘管在華府已經有一個在營運中的聯絡辦公室，該館是中美建交後第一個設立的外館。

Marty Walsh: 波士頓不歡迎聯邦警力進駐

波士頓市長馬丁華殊加入要求川普撤退聯邦警力呼籲。(周菊子攝)

             (Boston Orange 綜合整理編譯)波士頓市長馬丁華殊(Martin J. Walsh)在7月21日批評川普政府派聯邦人員去奧勒岡州波特蘭平息抗議，聲稱如果川普也派這樣的”幫助”到波士頓，絕對不受歡迎。

             馬丁華殊說明，21日他在波特蘭市長Ted Wheeler，芝加哥市長Lori Lightfoot等人聯名的信上簽了名，要求司法部和國土安全局立即撤出聯邦特工，並終止這樣的策略。他們也發信給國會，要求召開公聽會，調查此事，在預算法中增列條文，制止把納稅人的錢花在這種用途上。

馬丁華殊稱這樣的聯邦行動”違反基本憲法保護和聯邦制宗旨”。

             有些學術界人士已經警告，聯邦人員在波特蘭的行動，沒有當地政府的同意下，和抗議者衝突，已讓人隱約見到潛在的憲法危機。

             奧勒岡總檢察官Ellen Rosenblum在法庭文件中表示，戴口罩的聯邦人員在街上逮捕人民，沒有可能的原因，沒有授權，沒警告，沒解釋，也不提供判斷誰在指導這活動決定的任何方式”，還把他們趕進未標明的車輛。

             Ellen Rosenblum表示，他正在尋求暫時的禁制令來”立即制止聯邦當局非法逮捕奧勒岡人”。

             憲法專家說，在川普政府擴張聯邦警力之際，聯邦人員在激進城市的行動，在這可能成為國家權力案例中，是一面”紅旗”，

             同時間，一名官員告訴美聯社，國土安全局計畫要派150特工到芝加哥。

             馬丁華殊也在疫情簡報中談及上週末發生的槍擊案，分別為16歲及17歲的2名青少年因此喪命。另一名18歲青年，因為另一宗案件，生命垂危。警察局要求民眾協助調查這些案件。

             馬丁華殊強調，社區內有任何這樣的暴力行為，都是不可接受的。尤其是青少年是受害者時，更讓人感到傷痛。市府將和多個社區組織合作，接觸瀕臨危險的青少年，為他們提供通向安全的途徑與機會。他希望這些青少年的父母，祖父母或監護人知道，如果他們擔心身邊的青少年生命有危險，有地方可以求助。

             波士頓市政府提供了以下文字，強調馬丁華殊政府重視族裔平等，

與人民建立互信。

            In Boston, we support the movement for racial justice. We’ve built trust and solidarity with those who are demonstrating. Boston’s demonstrations, with very few exceptions, have been peaceful. The people out marching are calling for the most fundamental rights our country was founded on. And the Boston Police Department has preserved public safety while protecting the rights of free speech and freedom of movement. Unfortunately, this seems to be another situation where it is the president who doesn’t understand or believe in those rights. That’s an unfortunate situation in the United States of America. But we will continue to live by our values of inclusion and respect here in Boston. And I will stand with my colleagues around the country.

波士頓市在Allston提供10天COVID-19免費檢測

(Boston Orange 編譯)波士頓市長馬丁華殊(Martin J. Walsh)今(21)日宣佈，波市府和東波士頓鄰里健康中心(East Boston Neighborhood Health Center)合作，即日起至週六的8月1日止，在奧斯頓(Allston)劍橋街500號的BCYF Jackson Mann社區中心這臨時地點，為有症狀及無症狀的居民提供免費，保密的新型冠狀病毒檢測。                         任何人都可直接走進去做檢測，市府雖然不硬性規定，但鼓勵民眾要先打電話到617-568-4500登記。 馬丁華殊說，對個人或家庭來說，做新型冠狀病毒檢測以釐清狀況，是非常基本必要的，對市府衡量重新開放的安全也很重要。 BCYF Jackson Mann社區中心開放檢測的日期和時間，依序為: 星期二，7月21日週二至7月24日週五，下午2點至7點；7月25日週六，早上10點至下午3點；7月28日週二到7月31日的下午2點至7點，8月1日週六的早上10點至下午3點。 在奧斯頓這臨時檢測站之外，新型冠狀病毒檢測在全市還有20個地方。查詢詳情可洽市長熱線617-534-5050，或上網https://www.boston.gov/departments/public-health-commission/map-covid-19-testing-sites。               波士頓市府表示，市府一直在和社區健康中心合作，尤其是COVID-19感染率高的社區，增加檢測率。截至7月13日為止，波士頓市居民共有99,279人做過COVID-19檢測，其中14.2%檢測結果陽性，比7月6日那一週的15.2%，降低了1個百分點。東波士頓，麥特潘，海德公園及多徹斯特和市內其他地區相比，陽性比率一直都比較高些。若以族裔來分，截至7月17日，17.4%為亞裔，37%為黑人，28%為西語裔或拉丁裔，25%為白人，7%為多族裔或其他類別。查詢最新的波士頓鄰里數據可上網https://bphc.org/whatwedo/infectious-diseases/Infectious-Diseases-A-to-Z/covid-19/Pages/default.aspx。              波士頓市長馬丁華殊和波士頓彈性基金執行委員會已撥發172萬元來擴大COVID-19檢測，以及給社區健康中心做文化上適當的外展及教育，包括Bowdoin Street Community Health Center, Codman Square Community Health Center, The Dimock Center, DotHouse Health, Mattapan Community Health Center, Uphams Corner Community Health Center, Whittier Street Community Health Center, Charles River Community Health, Fenway Health, Greater Roslindale Medical & Dental Center, Harbor Health, East Boston Neighborhood Health Center, Harvard Street Neighborhood Health Center,  Southern Jamaica Plain Health Center, South Boston Community Health Center, NEW Health Charlestown, South End Community Health Center, and Brookside Community Health Cente。               該基金同時支持那些社區健康中心的遠距醫療服務及設備，以及把檢測和居家安全治療的選項連接起來。查詢有關波士頓重新開放的更多資訊，可上網boston.gov/reopening。民眾有疑問可撥打311，這波士頓市民24小時熱線，或是發簡訊BOSCOVID到888-777，以按時接收有11種語言的簡訊警告。 MAYOR WALSH ANNOUNCES FREE POP-UP COVID-19 TESTING IN ALLSTON The 10-day pop-up site is in partnership with the East Boston Neighborhood Health Center

BOSTON - Tuesday, July 21, 2020 - Mayor Martin J. Walsh today announced that the City of Boston, in partnership with the East Boston Neighborhood Health Center, is offering confidential COVID-19 testing at no cost for both symptomatic and asymptomatic individuals at a pop-up location in Allston. The COVID-19 testing initiative will be available for residents starting today, Tuesday, July 21 to Saturday, August 1 at BCYF Jackson Mann Community Center located at 500 Cambridge Street in Allston. Testing is available to anyone by walk-up only. Registration is not mandatory, but residents are encouraged to register in advance by calling (617) 568-4500.  "COVID-19 testing is fundamental to individuals and families' clarity, and it's also important for guiding our gradual and safe reopening plans. As a City, we will continue to place the health and safety of our residents as our top priority so we must continue to make decisions based on public health data," said Mayor Walsh. "Thank you to the East Boston Neighborhood Health Center for your partnership in making COVID-19 testing more accessible for more residents." The dates and hours of operation at BCYF Jackson Mann Community Center are:  Tuesday, July 21 - Friday, July 24: 2:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. Saturday, July 25: 10:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. Tuesday, July 28- Friday, July 31: 2:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. Saturday, August 1: 10:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.   In addition to the pop-up site in Allston, COVID-19 testing is available at over 20 locations across the city. Mobile testing sites also continue to be available at select locations, prioritizing neighborhoods and populations that need dedicated testing efforts to create equitable access to testing. Individuals can call the Mayor's Health Line with any questions using 617-534-5050. For a complete list of all testing sites, visit here.  The City of Boston has been partnering with community health centers to increase access to testing, particularly in neighborhoods experiencing higher rates of COVID-19. As of July 13, 2020, there have been 99,279 COVID-19 tests of Boston residents of which 14.2 percent have testing positive, down from 15.2 percent reported through July 6, 2020. The incidence rate of COVID-19 has been higher for East Boston, Mattapan, Hyde Park and Dorchester compared to the rest of Boston. Of cases where race/ethnicity was known, as of July 17, 4 percent were Asian, 37 percent were Black, 28 percent were Hispanic or Latino, 25 percent were white, and 7 percent identified as multi-racial or another racial/ethnic group. The latest numbers of cases by Boston neighborhoods are available here. Mayor Walsh and the Boston Resiliency Fund Steering Committee have dedicated over $1,720,000 to expand COVID-19 testing and conduct culturally appropriate outreach and education to community health centers across City of Boston neighborhoods, including Bowdoin Street Community Health Center, Codman Square Community Health Center, The Dimock Center, DotHouse Health, Mattapan Community Health Center, Uphams Corner Community Health Center, Whittier Street Community Health Center, Charles River Community Health, Fenway Health, Greater Roslindale Medical & Dental Center, Harbor Health, East Boston Neighborhood Health Center, Harvard Street Neighborhood Health Center,  Southern Jamaica Plain Health Center, South Boston Community Health Center, NEW Health Charlestown, South End Community Health Center, and Brookside Community Health Center. The Fund has also supported telehealth services and equipment at those community health centers as well to connect testing to safe treatment options at home. Resources and information about COVID-19 are available online. Resources available on boston.gov and through City departments include support for renters and homeowners; small businesses; free meals for Boston students; free toiletries for Boston students; support for older residents; information on homeless shelters; resources for those in recovery or those who have a substance use disorder; and mental health resources. More information on Boston's reopening can be found at boston.gov/reopening. For additional questions or programs, please visit our coronavirus website or call 3-1-1, Boston's 24-hour constituent hotline. Text BOSCOVID to 888-777 to receive text alerts on a regular basis, available in 11 languages.

MAYOR WALSH ANNOUNCES PRESERVATION OF 97 AFFORDABLE UNITS IN ROXBURY

MAYOR WALSH ANNOUNCES PRESERVATION OF 97 AFFORDABLE UNITS IN ROXBURY

BOSTON - July 21, 2020 - Building on his commitment to creating and maintaining affordable housing in the City of Boston, Mayor Martin J. Walsh today announced the preservation and the start of the rehabilitation of 97 affordable rental units at the Newcastle Saranac Apartments in Roxbury. Newcastle-Saranac is an existing urban residential development comprising two four-story buildings on two city blocks.  "In Boston, we are committed to creating safe, stable housing for all Boston residents. I am proud that, together with our partners, we have been able to preserve the affordability of 97 homes in Boston," said Mayor Walsh. "We will continue to preserve and grow our affordable housing stock in Boston, and the acquisition and renovation of  this building will ensure that residents living here will not be priced out of their homes." Through the joint efforts of CEDAC, MassHousing, and the City of Boston's Department of Neighborhood Development's Housing Preservation Program, the development was acquired by Fenway CDC in early 2019. Last month, the Fenway CDC and their development partner, The Schochet Companies, successfully finalized the financing needed to rehab the development, while preserving affordability in perpetuity by utilizing additional State and City resources. "Closing on this project the midst of COVID-19 did not make this already very complex transaction any easier, but the public partners for this project truly went above and beyond to make sure it could close in time to get construction safely started. At one point I think we had someone from nearly every Department at the City working on this project - during COVID - to make sure it crossed the finish line," said Leah Camhi, Executive Director of Fenway CDC. "I want to extend my sincerest gratitude and thanks to everyone at the City of Boston, CEDAC, MassHousing, and DHCD who helped make the Newcastle-Saranac Apartments project feasible. We could not have preserved and rehabbed these units without working with our public partners." This preservation transaction was made possible with a strong community development infrastructure. The acquisition and rehab of Newcastle Saranac would not have been possible without significant support from the City of Boston's Department of Neighborhood Development Neighborhood Housing Trust, Boston Planning & Development Agency's Off-Site Inclusionary Development Policy fund, MassHousing, CEDAC and the Massachusetts Department of Housing and Community Development.  "The deep affordability of these units for nearly a hundred households, contrasted with the rents of market-rate housing in the area, made their preservation especially critical for maintaining the vibrancy and diversity of the neighborhood," said MassHousing Executive Director Chrystal Kornegay. "Thanks to a strong collaborative effort by the Commonwealth, the City of Boston, the Community Economic Development Assistance Corporation, the Fenway CDC, the Schochet Companies, and the residents of Newcastle Saranac, the community will see affordable homes preserved and substantially renovated. MassHousing is pleased to be a partner in this important transaction." The Schochet Companies provided development services for the transaction and will continue in that role through construction. Schochet also serves as the management agent. "Now, with ever more economic uncertainty coming our way we are beyond thrilled that these 97 units are preserved as affordable housing forever," said Schochet CEO Richard Henken. "These are great, beautiful properties in an outstanding location, and we are excited for the families who call them home now and will in the future."  Mayor Walsh is a leader nationally on housing with a strong commitment to increasing access to homeownership, preventing displacement and promoting fair and equitable housing access. Newcastle-Sarnac's preservation strongly aligns with the City's housing goals outlined in Housing a Changing City: Boston 2030. The City's overall housing target is the creation of 69,000 new units, including 15,000 units of affordable housing, by 2030 to meet Boston's population growth.  Since the release of the original Housing a Changing City: Boston 2030 plan in 2014, income-restricted housing stock, designed to increase affordable housing, has grown along with overall new production. Nearly 20 percent of housing units are income-restricted, and 25 percent of rental units are income-restricted.  About the Department of Neighborhood Development The Department of Neighborhood Development is responsible for housing people experiencing homelessness, developing affordable housing, and ensuring that renters and homeowners can find, maintain, and stay in their homes. As part of the ongoing COVID-19 response, the Office of Housing Stability is also conducting tenant's rights workshops to educate residents about the eviction moratorium. The Boston Home Center continues to provide down payment assistance to first-time homebuyers and home repairs for seniors and low-income residents. The Supportive Housing Division is working with various partners around the city to rapidly house individuals who are experiencing homelessness. About Fenway CDC  Fenway CDC is a 47- year-old non-profit Community Development Corporation (CDC) based in the Fenway neighborhood of Boston (MA). The CDC is devoted to enhancing the stability, sustainability, and diversity of the Fenway neighborhood by providing opportunities for all Fenway residents, particularly those of limited means, to thrive in the community. Development and maintenance of affordable housing is a primary component of Fenway CDC's mission. Fenway CDC currently owns over 400 rental apartments and about 650 residents call CDC-owned units their home. For more information about Fenway CDC please visit www.fenwaycdc.org.  About The Schochet Companies The Schochet Companies is a full-service real estate development and management company founded by Jay R. Schochet more than forty years ago. Since that time the company has developed, owned, and/or managed more than 7,000 apartments, the bulk of which are affordable, and more than 600,000 square feet of retail and commercial space throughout New England and on the West Coast. Today, Schochet Companies owns and/or manages more than 5,000 apartments and 100,000 square feet of commercial space throughout New England. Headquartered in Braintree, the company employs more than 170 people. For more information about Schochet please visit www.schochet.com.

Baker-Polito Administration Extends Moratorium on Evictions and Foreclosures to October 17

Baker-Polito Administration Extends Moratorium on Evictions and Foreclosures to October 17

BOSTON — Today, Governor Charlie Baker extended the pause on evictions and foreclosures for 60 days, until October 17, 2020, through the authority granted to the governor by Chapter 65 of the Acts of 2020, An Act providing for a moratorium on evictions and foreclosures during the COVID-19 Emergency, which was signed into law on April 20, 2020. This law’s limitations on evictions and foreclosures have allowed many tenants and homeowners impacted by COVID-19 to remain in their homes during the state of emergency, and this extension provides residents of the Commonwealth with continued housing security as businesses cautiously re-open, more people return to work, and the state collectively moves toward a “new normal.” The moratorium was set to expire on August 18, 2020.

Click here to read the extension letter.

Tenants are strongly encouraged to continue to pay rent, and homeowners to make their mortgage payments, to the extent they are able. To assist low-income households in making rent and mortgage payments, as well as support landlords needing these rent payments to pay expenses, the Baker-Polito Administration launched a new $20 million, statewide fund, the Emergency Rental and Mortgage Assistance (ERMA) program, on July 1st.

This funding complements the $18 million currently available through the Residential Assistance for Families in Transition (RAFT) homeless prevention program, which can also be used for rent or mortgage payments. In each program, landlords or mortgage lenders receive payments directly from the RAFT administering agencies. 

During this 60 day extension, the Administration will consult with the court administrators and other stakeholders regarding programs and policies to help tenants avoid eviction when proceedings resume.

The law suspends most residential and small business commercial evictions, as well as residential foreclosures. It does not relieve tenants or homeowners of their obligation to pay rent or make mortgage payments. The law also:

• Prevents landlords from sending notifications to residential tenants that threaten eviction or terminating of a lease;

• Limits court actions on non-essential evictions;

• Relieves tenants, both residents and small commercial, from late fees and negative credit reporting;

• Allows landlords to use “last month’s rent” to pay for certain expenses, though not as a replacement rent payment, and only with proper notification of tenant;

• Requires lenders to grant a forbearance for up to 180 days if a homeowner experiencing financial hardship due to COVID-19 submits such a request; and

• Allows for alternative payment agreements between lenders and borrowers regarding forbearance payments.

Since the beginning of the State of Emergency, the Administration has supported housing stability for households across the Commonwealth. The Executive Office of Housing and Economic Development (EOHED) has drafted emergency regulations to implement the notice provisions of the eviction and foreclosure moratoriums. The Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) supported our state-aided public housing and affordable housing operators with guidance, and worked with stakeholders across the state to coordinate resources. Additional resources and information can be found on DHCD’s COVID-19 Resource Page.

麻州餐館可以外賣雞尾酒了

梅沛傑(右上)等餐館東主在麻州餐館聯合會舉辦的
有色東主座談中分享看法。(攝自座談視頻)

(Boston Orange 編譯/綜合整理) 從現在起到明年2月28日止，或者在麻州取消全州緊急令之前，除了食物、啤酒，葡萄酒之外，麻州餐廳也可以外賣雞尾酒(cocktails)了。

轄區在Methuen的民主黨籍參議員Diane DiZoglio在推特上發文說，州長簽署了他提出的”雞尾酒外賣”法案。

該法案規定，凡是年滿21歲的民眾，在買外賣食物時，可以同時購買放在密封容器內，最多達64盎司的雞尾酒，但如果顧客是開車取酒，就必須把酒放在車廂裏。

包括緬因州，羅德島州，全美已有大約34州最近通過了外賣雞尾酒的法令，以幫助在COVID-19大流行期間掙扎求存的餐飲業者增加收入。

麻州餐館聯合會(Mass Restaurants United)發言人，Craigie on Main大廚兼東主Tony Maws表示，這法令有助於餐館業者流動庫存，增加營業銷售總額。

麻州餐館協會會長Bob Luz在六月份時曾告訴參議員們，因為許多非必要企業關了門，在新型冠狀病毒大流行期間又有這許多限制，可能有20%的麻州餐館永遠都不會重新開張。

共有不下500家獨立經營餐館的老闆，因應新型冠狀病毒大流行對餐館業者的打擊，已組成麻州餐館聯合會(Massachusetts Restaurants United)，彼此互助，6月30日時還舉辦了一次”麻州餐館有色東主現場座談”，出席分享經驗，意見者包括”燒酒”老闆梅沛傑。麻州餐館聯合會成員也有不少華裔東主，包括著名的張柔安(Myers & Chang)，蔡明昊(Blue Dragon)，李伯豪(Hong Kong)，梁戰士(Fuji / Shabu & Mein)，蘇宇寅(Chicken & Rice Guy)。

麻州的酒吧業原訂在本月初的第三階段重新開放，但在衛生部官員警告這些地方可能很快變成散佈COVID-19熱點，重新開放顧問委員會稍後決定把酒吧放到重新開放的第四階段。

Baker-Polito Administration Announces 6th Annual Summer Nights Initiative

Baker-Polito Administration Announces 6th Annual Summer Nights Initiative

BOSTON — The Baker-Polito Administration today announced the 2020 Summer Nights Initiative, which will provide urban youth with socially distant programming at Massachusetts state parks and other locations starting on Monday, July 20, 2020 and continuing through Friday, August 21, 2020. The program was first developed by the administration in 2015 and offers urban youth within the Cities of Boston (Dorchester, East Boston, Hyde Park, and Roxbury), Lawrence, Lowell, New Bedford, Springfield and Worcester with a wide variety of activities that are coordinated by 14 local organizations. These activities include, but are not limited to, basketball and flag football drills, dance, yoga, arts and crafts, martial arts, academic support, cooking, STEM activities, and online programming focusing on entrepreneurship and life skills.

“Our administration is proud to once again support the Summer Nights Initiative, to keep students across the Commonwealth engaged during their summer vacations," said Governor Charlie Baker. "While this year's programming looks a little different due to COVID, we look forward to offering safe educational and recreational activities for kids and students to enjoy at state parks in locations throughout the state."

“The Summer Nights Initiative, now in its sixth year, serves as a great example of our work to ensure access to the state parks system and beyond is made readily available for all,” said Lieutenant Governor Karyn Polito. “By working with great local partners we are able to offer inclusive and safe programming to urban youth across the Commonwealth.”

Participating organizations include Score4More (Roxbury); PIM (Hyde Park & Dorchester); Youth Connect (Worcester); NAACP (Remote programming serving Boston youth); Boys and Girls Club of Lawrence (Lawrence/Methuen); Boys and Girls Club of Greater Lowell (Greater Lowell); Dennison Community Center (New Bedford); Devoted Dynasty Entertainment (Roxbury); Lena Park Community Center (Dorchester); Black Ministerial Alliance (Dorchester); Level Ground Martial Arts (Dorchester); Black Men of Greater Springfield (Springfield); Youth Guidance (Remote programming serving Boston youth), and Teach 1 Basketball (East Boston, Dorchester, Roxbury).

“For six years, the Summer Nights Initiative has been providing recreational and educational activities for urban youth to participate in at no cost while school is out for the season,” said Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary Kathleen Theoharides. “This year, diverse programming has been coordinated to offer both present and online activities to engage kids from wherever they are able to participate from.”

“The Summer Nights Initiative offers excellent programming for urban youth to interact with one another in a fun, safe environment,” said Department of Conservation and Recreation Commissioner Jim Montgomery. “The Baker-Polito Administration continues to work diligently to foster strong partnerships with a variety of stakeholders, such as the Summer Nights Initiative organizations, to achieve goals that directly benefit the public.”

Additionally, this year participating organizations must follow all guidance issued for programming to aid in the prevention of spreading the COVID-19 virus. Guidance includes:

• All individuals should remain at least six feet apart at all times to the greatest extent possible;

• All individuals are required to wear face coverings;

• The managing entity must establish an on-line or on-site registration system prior to commencing program;

• The programs must separate participants into groups of no more than 12 participants, including coaches and staff; and,

• The programs should minimize equipment sharing.

In order to attend Summer Nights Initiative programming, participants must register (either through pre-registration online or on-site registration, depending on the framework developed by the organization). For a full list of programming and other information, please visit DCR’s Summer Nights Initiative webpage.