第125屆波士頓馬拉松賽將有13名往屆冠軍將參賽 還要發破紀錄獎金約5萬美元

           (Boston Orange 編譯) 波士頓體育會(BAA)今(14)日宣佈，第125屆波士頓馬拉松賽將有13名歷屆冠軍參加比賽，並將歷史性的首次發給公開賽，以及輪椅組約等於5萬元的破紀錄獎金。

發給破紀錄獎一舉，將使訂10月11日(週一)舉行的這場波士頓馬拉松賽締造歷史，成為Abbott世界馬拉松大賽中第一個發這類獎金的比賽。

波士頓馬拉松賽也將成為第一個指定給上肢，下肢及視障運動員提供獎金的比賽。

今年的波士頓馬拉松賽參將有加起來共贏過30個第一名的13名波士頓馬拉松賽冠軍，以及來自世界體育馬拉松賽冠軍，殘障奧林匹克賽得獎者，Abbott世界馬拉松大賽贏家，以及奧林匹克級人馬參加約翰漢考克專業組比賽。

過去36年來，獎金由主要贊助者約翰漢考克公司提供。

                         波士頓體育會會長暨執行長Tom Grilk表示，”我們很高興能歡迎這麼多不同範圍比賽的冠軍回到波士頓來參加波士頓馬拉松賽。雖然等到10月還有一段很長時間，但那將是一場有許多世界運動冠軍參加，競爭歷史性獎額的比賽。

              在這些將要參賽的往屆波士頓馬拉松賽冠軍中，有過去5屆女子組冠軍中的4人，包括5次擠入前五名，2次參加奧林匹克賽的2018年冠軍，美國人Desiree Linden；2次世界體育馬拉松賽金牌冠軍，3次Abbott世界馬拉松大賽系列冠軍的2017年冠軍，肯亞人Edna Kiplagat；2010年曾贏得波士頓體育會半馬拉松賽的2015年冠軍，肯亞人Caroline Rotich；2010年美國銀行芝加哥馬拉松賽冠軍，2次巴黎冠軍的2016年冠軍，Atsede Baysa。

                          男子組中有三名公開賽冠軍，包括曾有過2小時7分30秒最佳紀錄的肯亞人Geoffrey Kirui。這名波士頓馬拉松賽以及世界體育馬拉松賽的2017年冠軍，將有機會贏得第2個波士頓馬拉松賽桂冠。來自艾塞俄比亞(Ethiopia)的Lemi Berhanu是2016年冠軍。贏得過30多次國際馬拉松賽冠軍，同時是日本5千公里塞紀錄保持者的Yuki Kawauchi，有可能成為來自日本，繼1987年的Toshihiko Seiko之後，第二個贏得2次波士頓馬拉松賽冠軍的參賽者。

BOSTON MARATHON OPEN CHAMPIONS

WOMEN	PERSONAL BEST	COUNTRY	BOSTON WINS
Edna Kiplagat	2:19:50 (London, 2012)	Kenya	2017
Atsede Baysa	2:22:03 (Chicago, 2012)	Ethiopia	2016
Desiree Linden	2:22:38 (Boston, 2011)	USA (MI)	2018
Caroline Rotich	2:23:22 (Chicago, 2012)	Kenya	2015
MEN	PERSONAL BEST	COUNTRY	BOSTON WINS
Lemi Berhanu	2:04:33 (Dubai, 2016)	Ethiopia	2016
Geoffrey Kirui	2:06:27 (Amsterdam, 2016)	Kenya	2017
Yuki Kawauchi	2:07:27 (Otsu, 2021)	Japan	2018

 

BOSTON MARATHON WHEELCHAIR CHAMPIONS

 

WOMEN	PERSONAL BEST	COUNTRY	BOSTON WINS
Manuela Schär	1:28:17 (Boston, 2017)	Switzerland	2017, 2019
Tatyana McFadden	1:31:30 (Grandma’s, 2019)	USA (MD)	2013-2016, 2018
MEN	PERSONAL BEST	COUNTRY	BOSTON WINS
Marcel Hug	1:18:04 (Boston, 2017)	Switzerland	2015, 2016, 2017, 2018
Ernst van Dyk	1:18:04 (Boston, 2017)	South Africa	2001-2006, 2008-2010, 2014
Josh Cassidy	1:18:25 (Boston, 2012)	Canada	2012
Daniel Romanchuk	1:21:36 (Boston, 2019)	USA (IL)	2019

 

For the 36^th year, John Hancock will serve as principal sponsor of the Boston Marathon. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the 2021 Boston Marathon was moved from its traditional date of the third Monday in April to Monday, October 11. The fall race will feature a field size of 20,000 participants, as well as a rolling start for the first time. The in-person race will be complemented by a virtual race, which will be held from Friday, October 8 through Sunday, October 10. The full international field, including the Para Athletics Divisions field, will be announced the week of August 9-16.

13 Boston Marathon Champions To Race Historic Fall 125th Boston Marathon

 13 Boston Marathon Champions To Race Historic Fall 125^th Boston Marathon

The 125^th Boston Marathon will make history as the first Abbott World Marathon Major event to offer equal $50,000 course record bonuses across open and wheelchair divisions

 

BOSTON—The Boston Athletic Association (B.A.A.) has announced that 13 Boston Marathon champions with a combined 30 first-place Boston finishes will headline the John Hancock Professional Athlete Team for the 125^th Boston Marathon. The accomplished group includes World Athletics Marathon champions, Paralympic medalists, Abbott World Marathon Majors winners, and Olympians.

 

The Monday, October 11th Boston Marathon will also feature restructured prize money awards that will recognize and celebrate world class performances in Boston, while maintaining the largest prize purse of the Abbott World Marathon Majors. Among the incentives that will debut in October are equal course record bonuses for the Open and Wheelchair Divisions and the introduction of prize money for the inaugural Para Athletics Divisions. The Boston Marathon will make history as the first Abbott World Marathon Major event to offer equal $50,000 course record bonuses across open and wheelchair divisions, and the first event to provide a designated prize purse for athletes with upper limb, lower limb, and visual impairments. For the 36^th year, the prize money awards will be provided by principal sponsor John Hancock.

 

“We are delighted to welcome so many champions from such a diverse range of competition back to Boston for the 125^th running of the Boston Marathon,” said Tom Grilk, B.A.A. President and Chief Executive Officer. “While October’s race marks a long-awaited return to racing, it will also recognize and celebrate the many world-class athletes competing for an historic prize purse across multiple divisions.”

 

“The John Hancock Professional Team continues to be a symbol of athletic excellence and accomplishment,” said Kate Ardini, Chief Marketing Officer at John Hancock. “We are proud to welcome these 13 champions back to Boston for what will be a memorable 125^th Boston Marathon in October.”

 

WOMEN’S RETURNING CHAMPIONS

 

Joining a competitive field at the Hopkinton starting line will be four of the last five women’s open champions: American Desiree Linden (2018), a five-time, top-five finisher and two-time Olympian; Kenyan Edna Kiplagat (2017), a two-time World Athletics Marathon Championships gold medalist and three-time Abbott World Marathon Majors series champion; Kenyan Caroline Rotich (2015), who also won the 2010 B.A.A. Half Marathon; and Atsede Baysa (2016), the 2010 Bank of America Chicago Marathon champion and two-time Paris champion.

 

“I can't wait to line up in this year's historic fall edition of the Boston Marathon,” said Linden. “Experience goes a long way in Boston and lining up with so many great champions, who have proven they know how to win on this course, will be an extra challenge on race day. I'm training hard and more motivated than ever to be ready to put together a memorable performance this October.”

 

In the women’s wheelchair race, two-time champion and course record holder Manuela Schär returns to defend her title. Schär, a three-time Paralympic medalist for Switzerland, won Boston in 2017 and 2019 and is the only woman ever to have clocked a sub-1:30 marathon. Also among the wheelchair contenders is five-time Boston champion and 17-time Paralympic medalist Tatyana McFadden, who will race the 400m, 800m, 1500m, 5000m, and marathon at the Tokyo Paralympic Games for Team USA.

 

“I feel very blessed to be able to witness such a huge step towards equality and recognition of our sport,” said Schär of the equal course record bonuses. “The Boston Marathon has always played a big role when it comes to ‘first times in history.’ After such a long time of not being able to race marathons, this will make it extra special to return to the streets of Boston and I can’t wait.”

 

MEN’S RETURNING CHAMPIONS

 

A trio of men’s open champions with lifetime bests under 2:07:30 return with hopes of earning a second Boston Marathon title. Kenya’s Geoffrey Kirui, the 2017 Boston winner and 2017 World Athletics Marathon champion, enters with a lifetime best of 2:06:27. From Ethiopia is Lemi Berhanu, best known for skipping across the Boylston Street finish en route to winning in 2016. Yuki Kawauchi, winner of more than 30 international marathons and the Japanese record holder in the 50K, looks to become the first man from Japan since Toshihiko Seiko in 1987 to earn two Boston Marathon titles.

 

“Last year was a tough one for everyone. Boston is, for me, the exact right motivation and light at the end of the tunnel, as it will be for all returning champions and participants,” said Kirui. “This is the marathon where I feel at home, and I have big dreams for October.”

 

Four men’s wheelchair champions with a combined 16 titles will also return on October 11. Defending champion Daniel Romanchuk of Illinois leads the charge. A 2016 and 2021 Paralympian for Team USA, Romanchuk made history by winning the 2019 race and Abbott World Marathon Majors Series XII at just 20 years old. Course record holder Marcel Hug of Switzerland returns looking for his fifth victory, having won four straight Bostons from 2015 through 2018. Ernst van Dyk of South Africa, the most decorated champion in race history with ten titles, also will compete, alongside 2012 winner and former course record holder Josh Cassidy of Canada.

 

"As a young wheelchair racer, if someone said 'marathon,' I thought 'Boston.' It has always been on the leading edge of inclusion as the first major marathon to have a wheelchair division, and it's so incredible to see it setting the example again as the first major marathon to have pay equity between the runners and wheelchair division for the course record,” said Romanchuk. “I can't wait to join everyone else racing from Hopkinton toward that finish line on Boylston Street again!"

 

BOSTON MARATHON OPEN CHAMPIONS

 

WOMEN	PERSONAL BEST	COUNTRY	BOSTON WINS
Edna Kiplagat	2:19:50 (London, 2012)	Kenya	2017
Atsede Baysa	2:22:03 (Chicago, 2012)	Ethiopia	2016
Desiree Linden	2:22:38 (Boston, 2011)	USA (MI)	2018
Caroline Rotich	2:23:22 (Chicago, 2012)	Kenya	2015
MEN	PERSONAL BEST	COUNTRY	BOSTON WINS
Lemi Berhanu	2:04:33 (Dubai, 2016)	Ethiopia	2016
Geoffrey Kirui	2:06:27 (Amsterdam, 2016)	Kenya	2017
Yuki Kawauchi	2:07:27 (Otsu, 2021)	Japan	2018

 

BOSTON MARATHON WHEELCHAIR CHAMPIONS

 

WOMEN	PERSONAL BEST	COUNTRY	BOSTON WINS
Manuela Schär	1:28:17 (Boston, 2017)	Switzerland	2017, 2019
Tatyana McFadden	1:31:30 (Grandma’s, 2019)	USA (MD)	2013-2016, 2018
MEN	PERSONAL BEST	COUNTRY	BOSTON WINS
Marcel Hug	1:18:04 (Boston, 2017)	Switzerland	2015, 2016, 2017, 2018
Ernst van Dyk	1:18:04 (Boston, 2017)	South Africa	2001-2006, 2008-2010, 2014
Josh Cassidy	1:18:25 (Boston, 2012)	Canada	2012
Daniel Romanchuk	1:21:36 (Boston, 2019)	USA (IL)	2019

 

For the 36^th year, John Hancock will serve as principal sponsor of the Boston Marathon. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the 2021 Boston Marathon was moved from its traditional date of the third Monday in April to Monday, October 11. The fall race will feature a field size of 20,000 participants, as well as a rolling start for the first time. The in-person race will be complemented by a virtual race, which will be held from Friday, October 8 through Sunday, October 10. The full international field, including the Para Athletics Divisions field, will be announced the week of August 9-16.

Baker-Polito Administration Celebrates $6.5 Million in Funding to Support New Greylock Glen Outdoor Recreation and Nature Center

Baker-Polito Administration Celebrates $6.5 Million in Funding to Support New Greylock Glen Outdoor Recreation and Nature Center

Project to Drive Tourism, Create New Opportunities for Economic Development in the Berkshires

 ADAMS – Building on efforts to boost local economic development while expanding outdoor recreational opportunities, the Baker-Polito Administration today visited the Town of Adams to celebrate $6.5 million in state bond funding released in May 2021 to support the construction of a new Greylock Glen Outdoor Recreation and Nature Center. Governor Charlie Baker and Lieutenant Governor Karyn Polito were joined by Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs (EEA) Secretary Kathleen Theoharides, Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) Commissioner Jim Montgomery and state and local officials at today’s event.   

 “The Greylock Glen Outdoor Recreation and Nature Center has enormous potential to drive tourism, increase access to the region’s natural resources, and spur regional economic growth in a way that protects this landscape for future generations to enjoy,” said Governor Charlie Baker. “Our Administration is proud to partner with the local community and advocates to support this recreation center, which serves as a great example of the types of environmental projects we are working to support through our plan to put federal COVID-19 relief funding to use in cities and towns across the Commonwealth.”

 “Providing key funding for impactful projects is an important part of our Administration’s efforts to strengthen community bonds and expand recreational opportunities,” said Lieutenant Governor Karyn Polito. “We remain committed to building valuable partnerships with municipalities, elected officials and local stakeholders to support valuable projects that deliver significant benefits to our cities and towns, which is exactly what the Greylock Glen Outdoor Recreation and Nature Center will do.”

 The 10,000 square foot building will serve as a hub for exploration within Greylock Glen and into DCR’s Mount Greylock State Reservation, an invaluable natural resource offering visitors scenic views, hiking, camping, mountain biking, cross-country skiing and snowmobiling. Once complete, the building will be the first component of the Town’s proposed Greylock Glen Resort, a recreational destination development at the foot of Mount Greylock that is meant to attract visitors to the area, which will greatly benefit the local and regional economy.

 “By committing this needed funding, the Baker-Polito Administration is marrying the protection and conservation of our natural resources with economic assets that drive tourism to Massachusetts’ rural economies,” said Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary Kathleen Theoharides. “Residents across the Commonwealth have discovered an even greater connection with the natural world during the pandemic, and by working in partnership with the Town of Adams and local stakeholders, we are leveraging this renewed interest in the outdoors in a way that builds on the potential of this region and its environmental and recreational assets.”

 The project, which is being designed by Maclay Architects with green building practices, sustainable operating plans, and native species landscaping, is likely to begin in 2021 with completion anticipated in 2022. The center will likely utilize solar technology to power the building and utilize high-efficiency building systems to ensure a clean, environmentally-friendly experience for visitors.   

 “Collaboration with municipalities to increase access to outdoor recreational opportunities is a key priority of the Baker-Polito Administration,” said Department of Conservation and Recreation Commissioner Jim Montgomery. “Importantly, the center will provide visitors with the chance to participate in a unique Mount Greylock experience while enjoying the traditional beauty of the region.”  

 Since 2006, DCR and the Town of Adams have collaborated on the design and permitting of the proposed $50 million Greylock Glen Resort. The Town is currently working to complete permitting, zoning, and the necessary MEPA approvals. Between 2013 and 2015, utility improvements for the entire proposed resort project were completed. DCR signed a 99-year lease with the Town in 2014.

 The Administration’s funding builds on earlier public investments. The MassWorks program committed $2 million for work on water and sewer systems and improvements to nearby Gould Road. Approximately $3 million has been invested in related site work. In addition, the Town of Adams has invested approximately $1 million in pursuit of the project. 

 “This investment in the Glen has been decades in the making and will contribute to jumpstarting the local economy through construction jobs, bringing long-term tourism and outdoor recreation dollars to the region, and maximize the massive asset that Mount Greylock represents,” said Senator Adam Hinds.

 “I believe that this investment by the Baker Administration will be the catalyst which will further enhance the recreational economy of Northern Berkshire and Berkshire County,” said Representative John Barrett III. “With the support of Williams College and MCLA, it will become a leading learning center for environmental studies.”

 In June 2021, the Baker-Polito Administration re-filed its plan to immediately put to use part of Commonwealth’s direct federal aid from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) to support key priorities including housing and homeownership, economic development and local downtowns, job training and workforce development, health care, and infrastructure. As part of the Administration’s proposal to jump-start the Commonwealth’s economic recovery and support residents hardest-hit by COVID-19, such as lower-wage workers and communities of color,  Governor Baker would direct $900 million to key energy and environmental initiatives, including $100 million for parks, recreation, and open spaces. These funds would support investments in public lands, as well as lands specifically conserved for public access including parks, lakes, rivers, trails, beaches, fishing piers, boat ramps, and other waterways. Funding would be dedicated to projects that expand, enhance, and modernize the Commonwealth’s park facilities to steward and conserve natural resources, and to improve the resilience of natural and working lands, plants, and wildlife in the Commonwealth.

112頁改善健康不平等建議出爐 Kim Janey宣佈組行動隊執行

波士頓市代市長Kim Janey(中)邀得昆士小學前校長李素影(左二)，華人前進會行政主任陳玉珍(右二)，以及
Whittier Street 執行長Frederica Williams，東波士頓健康中心執行長Manny Lopes出席今日中午的記者會
之後，請他們到她的市長辦公室合影。(周菊子攝)

             (Boston Orange 周菊子波士頓綜合報導) 去年成立的波士頓市”新冠病毒健康不公平工作小組”，昨(12)日公佈長112頁的建議報告。波士頓市代市長Kim Janey今(13)日宣佈成立”健康公平行動隊(Health Equity Action Team)”，負責指導執行一應建議。

             Kim Janey表示，這個行動隊將指導、輔佐”現在健康平等(Health Equity Now)”計畫的實施，在新冠病毒大流行之後，繼續和市府各部門合作，根據所有健康指標來審閱計畫，看看哪裡有進步，哪裡還需加強注意，以促使波士頓市更健康。

             這行動隊也將知會波士頓市府，美國援救計畫經費都應該投資到哪些地方，以實現更健康波士頓這理想。

”新冠病毒健康不公平工作小組”部分成員12日在Whittier Street合影。
左一為陳玉珍，左三為李素影，右二為保羅渡邊(Paul Watanabe)。
(李素影提供)

             ”新冠病毒健康不公平工作小組”是波士頓市前市長馬丁華殊(Martin Walsh)在位時，為因應新冠病毒大流行對人民健康造成的不公平影響，在2020年4月，邀得華人前進會會長李素影，行政主任陳玉珍，麻州大學波士頓分校亞美研究所所長保羅渡邊(Paul Watanabe)等26人組成，目的在藉由成員們的各自專長來辨識並拆解結構性不公平的根本原因，以消除波士頓市內的健康差距。

             ”新冠病毒健康不公平工作小組”成員們經過一年多的收集資料，開會討論後，制定了名為”現在健康平等(Health Equity Now)”，包括經濟、社會、醫療計畫的8項目標。

             這8項目標的內容為，增加擁有自置住宅比率；支持租客；宣傳鄰里穩定；消弭財富差距；增加經濟上的參與；為有色學生擴大機會；在有領導力，影響及權勢的位置上，增加代表性；增加文化驕傲；促進福祉，加強生活品質；增加防治疾病及減少慢性疾病。

             該小組的主要建議包括，承認並加強關注種族歧視及不公平，為所有人提供有意義，有生活工資的就業機會，為所有人提供有品質的住宅，重新想像公共健康及安全，消除食物不安全，提供免費或有補助的托兒服務，提供有保障的最低收入，宣傳積極生活，在青年身上投資，彌平數位分歧，提供可負擔，可靠的交通，所有層次的聘用都多元化，擴大採購平等，採用保留位置方法，主動促使社區成員參與，修訂樓宇設施預算過程，收集更多詳細數據，發展健康評等影響評估工具等等。

             Kim Janey指出，她接任市長職務以後，設立了波士頓市的第一個參與式預算辦公室，聘用了供應商多元化團隊，成立第一個策略性採購主任，要鼓勵更多婦女及有色人種競標市府合約等等。波士頓市府還正採取步驟，在警察局內創造透明，問責的新文化，並準備設立危機因應試驗計畫已重新想像波士頓市如何因應精神健康緊急狀況。

             Kim Janey在短短十幾分鐘的致詞中，還指出她設立了波士頓市的第一個兒童及青少年內閣，為0到24歲的波士頓人服務。在可負擔住宅危機上，波士頓市府已撥款1500萬元作租金紓困款，協助居民免於流離失所，另撥款240萬元進華盛頓貸款項目的一加(one plus)計畫，把提供給波士頓市首次購屋居民的補助，從最高1萬元增加到4萬元。這些行動的目的，都在致力促進公平。

             Kim Janey還透露，波士頓市府正在試驗一項計畫，容許市府主街區的許多員工免費獲得新自行車或查理卡。

               查看"現在健康平等"計畫112頁報告詳情，可上網https://www.boston.gov/sites/default/files/file/2021/07/Health%20Equity%20Now%20Plan.pdf。

Equity Coalition calls on School Committee to pass the “100 percent” admissions policy

 Equity Coalition calls on School Committee to pass the “100 percent” admissions policy

The Boston Coalition for Education Equity calls on the School Committee to vote to approve the Exam School Task Force’s original “100 percent” admissions policy and to move forcefully to provide all BPS students an education that’s as high quality as that offered by the three exam schools.

We applaud School Committee Chair Jeri Robinson and Superintendent Brenda Cassellius for putting the 100 percent proposal back on the table after a last-minute power move by some city councilors almost knocked it down.

The councilors threatened to vote against the school budget, potentially harming all 53,000-plus Boston Public Schools students, if the Exam School Task Force did not substitute the councilors’ preferred admissions policy for the compromise that Task Force members had worked out among themselves.

The 100 percent policy assigns seats through a competition that’s fairer than in the past because students will compete against peers who are in roughly comparable socio-economic circumstances. The councilors wanted 20 percent of seats set aside for a citywide competition, which data shows favors wealthy, primarily white families that can afford extra tutoring and other kinds of advantages for their children.

“This is what systemic oppression looks like: powerful public and private forces colluding behind the scenes to override a democratic process in service of their own racial and class privilege,” said Lisa Green, representing the Equity Coalition at the School Committee’s July 7 listening session.

“The School Committee has an opportunity to break that cycle by opening the doors at the city's three academically selective schools to a more diverse group of students who look like the Boston we are now and who will lead us to the Boston we want to be.”

We’re especially enthusiastic about the inclusion of a tier for students experiencing homelessness, living in BHA housing, or in the care of DCF. The addition of this tier will be life-changing for those students in our community who are facing the greatest challenges. This innovation is a feature of the Boston system that we can all be proud of and that we hope is emulated in selective admissions schools across the country.

Strong community support has been demonstrated for the 100 percent plan, a recommendation that was the result of nearly five months of study, debate, and open public comment. The School Committee now has a choice between following the public process that it set up, or listening to the whispers of powerful political figures who refuse to show their faces.

Do the right thing.

波士頓市將斥資每年修1600條路邊坡道 以符合殘障人士法規定

波士頓代市長Kim Janey。(周菊子攝)            (Boston Orange 整理編譯) 波士頓代市長Kim Janey和波士頓公共工程局，市長的殘障人士局(Mayor’s Commission for Persons with Disabilities)在7月13日宣佈，波士頓市將以5年7500萬元的基礎建設預算，每年修補1600條路邊坡道，以使之符合殘障人士使用規定。           美國區域法庭法官Richard Stearns在7月12日批准了Muehe, et al. v. City of Boston這集體訴訟案件所達成的協議。該案要求確保波士頓市的人行道角落符合美國殘障法，以及復健法第504條。         波士頓市共有2萬3000個路邊坡道，其中不到一半符合現有的聯邦殘障法規定。           波士頓代市長Kim Janey表示，波士頓市府已致力改善這一狀況，撥款設立了波士頓市的第一個美國殘障人士法案(ADA)協調員這職位，來負責街道改善，以確保殘障人士能獨自穿梭於各社區街道之間。          人口統計數據估計，美國約有5670萬名殘障人士，也就是大約每5名美國人中就有一人為殘障人士，是美國境內最大的少數族群。                在法官批准協議後，所有參與集體訴訟者，都將收到協議通知。此協議案的最後狀況，預定在2021年10月19日由一名法官開庭聆訊後再決定。 MAYOR JANEY ANNOUNCES MAJOR MILESTONE REACHED IN MAKING BOSTON’S STREETS AND SIDEWALKS MORE ACCESSIBLE Agreement will add thousands of new and improved curb ramps annually

 

BOSTON - Tuesday, July 13, 2021 - Mayor Kim Janey and the City of Boston Public Works Department, working in conjunction with the Mayor’s Commission for Persons with Disabilities, today announced a major milestone in the City's efforts to make Boston's streets and sidewalks more accessible to people with mobility disabilities.   Yesterday, United States District Court Judge Richard Stearns granted preliminary approval of the settlement in Muehe, et al. v. City of Boston. The class action seeks to ensure that the City's sidewalk corners comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act. This settlement was reached through extensive collaborative conversation between all parties.   The City of Boston has over 23,000 curb ramps, less than half of which are currently in compliance with federal disability access requirements. In addition, many sidewalk corners are missing curb ramps altogether. These missing and noncompliant curb ramps represent a significant barrier to safe and convenient travel for all people, especially those with mobility disabilities.   “Boston is filled with vibrant commercial districts and diverse cultural attractions. One of our top priorities is to make sure that every resident and visitor to Boston can take part in and contribute to all that our city has to offer,” said Mayor Kim Janey. “The investment in our curb ramps and sidewalks is a foundational step towards achieving a more welcoming and inclusive city. We appreciate the advocates, our Disabilities Commission and our Public Works Department who all worked on this settlement to set a more equitable and just course for our city.”  This landmark settlement will take a major step forward. In accordance with the settlement's terms, the City of Boston will construct and/or upgrade approximately 1,600 curb ramps per year until every corner at a pedestrian crossing has an ADA-compliant curb ramp. The City has also agreed to survey all ramps for ADA compliance and establish a transition plan to map out how the City will ensure accessibility.   Importantly, during the course of the settlement conversations, the City already started the work. Boston funded and hired its first ADA coordinator who is focused on street capital improvements. The City also expanded investment in and oversight of sidewalk and curb ramp construction projects and has included $57 million, a $25 million increase, to meet its construction obligations under the proposed settlement in its recently-passed five-year capital plan. Additionally, the City started its survey and transition plan to ensure all ramps are brought into ADA compliance.    “Accessible curb ramps and sidewalks are necessary to achieving the integration and equal opportunity mandates of the ADA and other disability non-discrimination laws. We congratulate the City of Boston for its commitment to providing people with mobility disabilities equal access to the pedestrian right of way,” said plaintiffs’ counsel Raymond Wendell of Goldstein, Borgen, Dardarian & Ho.    “Federal and state disability access laws were enacted decades ago to provide persons with disabilities an equal opportunity to fully participate in civic life,” said Tim Fox, claimants’ counsel and Co-Executive Director of the Civil Rights Education and Enforcement Center. “Today, we stand together with the City of Boston to fulfill the promise of those laws by ensuring that people with disabilities can travel independently throughout their communities. Inaccessible curb ramps prevent persons with disabilities from being fully integrated in their communities. This settlement goes a long way toward addressing those issues in that it will result in new ramps being put in at corners where there are no ramps and it will result noncompliant ramps being brought into compliance.”  “As the Protection and Advocacy system for Massachusetts, Disability Law Center is proud to have partnered with our co-counsel to ensure greater access for all people with disabilities who live and work in Boston, and who wish to take part in each of the amazing cultural, educational, and civic opportunities that the ‘Cradle of Liberty’ has to offer,” said Thomas Murphy, a Senior Attorney at Disability Law Center who is co-counsel for the Plaintiffs. “The City of Boston should be commended for working cooperatively to finally reach this historic agreement.”  Boston resident Michael Muehe, one of the plaintiffs in the case, said, “I was thrilled to join with other fantastic disability advocates in this case in demanding action from the City of Boston to fix the widespread curb cut problems throughout my city. This comprehensive consent decree will go far in improving pedestrian access for disabled people. I congratulate the Plaintiffs and the City of Boston for reaching this historic agreement, and I look forward to its speedy implementation.”  “This settlement means a lot to me and to people with disabilities who want to live independently in our community,” said Boston resident Colleen Flanagan, another plaintiff. “I am hopeful that with this settlement, we will substantially improve the accessibility of Boston neighborhoods to people with mobility disabilities.”  Plaintiff Crystal Evans, who lives in Braintree but frequently visits Boston, praised the settlement: “In addition to thousands of new curb ramps, the City is improving how a person with a disability can request a new curb ramp or fix a broken curb ramp. We no longer have to figure out how to do this on our own or suffer the frustration of not hearing back from the City.”  People with disabilities are the largest minority group in the country – census figures estimate that 56.7 million, or 1 in 5, Americans have a disability.    With the preliminary approval granted, the members of the class will be notified of the settlement. At a subsequent hearing, a judge will rule on the final status of the settlement. This hearing is anticipated to take place on October 19, 2021.  The creation of the new and improved curb ramps builds on the City’s previous efforts to increase sidewalk accessibility for residents throughout Boston. Launched in July of 2020, the Mayor’s Commission for Persons with Disabilities started an initiative to distribute ramps to restaurants participating in outdoor dining to increase accessibility for those with mobility disabilities.

Jon Santiago宣佈退出波士頓市長選戰

Jon Santiago宣佈退出波士頓市長選戰。(推特視頻截圖)

       (Boston Orange 綜合編譯) 今天(13日)一大早，麻州眾議員Jon Santiago在推特上宣佈，退出波士頓市長選戰。他在長2分36秒的視頻中說，波士頓市民在民調中表達得很清楚，下一任市長要選一名有色女性來當。

             Jon Santiago是波士頓醫療中心急診室的一名醫師，曾任美國陸軍儲備軍官，當選眾議員後，已連任一次。他形容自己是一名有經驗的危機處理經理，作為波士頓市的首名拉丁裔市長，將很適合帶領波士頓走出大流行。

波士頓市華埠李奇舜(左)在Jon Santiago到李氏公所
拜票時合影。

             不過現年39歲的Jon Santiago在今年這場有著歷史性多元化候選人的選戰中，卻一直在掙扎著要走出他所代表的南端(South End)、洛士百利(Roxbury)。

             現在離9月14日的波士頓市長初選，還有2個月，Jon Santiago是第一個宣佈退選的市長候選人。

             Jon Santiago今日(周二)發電子郵件給支持者，感謝他們的支持，但並未說明他將扮演什麼角色，但打算支持第一個當選的有色女性來領導波士頓。

              他說，雖然他的競選市長活動今天結束，但解決諸如Mass and Cass，這麻州大道和Melnea Cass大道交界地區的系統性不公平，卻從來沒有比現在更急迫。他誓言將不倦不悔的努力。

               在六名主要的波士頓市長候選人中，每次的民意調查，Jon Santiago幾乎一直是倒數一，二名。他的籌款成績也一直趕不上其他候選人。根據競選財務報告，他今年募得72萬4000元，卻仍然比籌款能力最強的幾名候選人差了27萬5000元左右，比代理市長Kim Janey也差了大約15萬元。

               6月底，他花了大約9萬5000元，做了一個30秒的電視廣告，但在人口大約70萬的波士頓市中，接受薩福克大學調查的潛在選民中，仍有36%完全不知道他是誰。

               Jon Santiago退選後，波士頓市長一職仍有7名參選人，其中5名主要參選者有4人為波士頓市現任民代，包括2名波士頓市不分區市議員吳弭(Michelle Wu)，Annissa Essaibi George，第4區市議員Andrea Campbell，代市長Kim Janey，以及前任波士頓市經濟發展長John Barros。