MAYOR WU ANNOUNCES AGREEMENT WITH BOSTON TEACHERS UNION ON KEY COVID-19 POLICIES

MAYOR WU ANNOUNCES AGREEMENT WITH BOSTON TEACHERS UNION ON KEY COVID-19 POLICIES

BOSTON - Thursday, February 10, 2022 - Mayor Michelle Wu announced today that the City had reached an agreement yesterday with the Boston Teachers Union, the City’s largest union, on key COVID-19 policies. The union ratified the agreement with 84% of members voting in favor of the agreement. The agreement is subject to the approval of the Boston School Committee. “I’m grateful for the vast majority of our teachers who have already gotten vaccinated,” said Mayor Michelle Wu. “This overwhelming ratification vote of a policy that has already boosted vaccination rates across our workforce and will ensure that all new hires must be vaccinated will help us prioritize a safe and healthy environment for students and staff.” The signed MOA allows unvaccinated members to submit proof of two negative COVID-19 screening tests per week during periods of lower virus transmission, the specifics of which are outlined in the agreement. During periods of higher virus transmission, unvaccinated members will not be allowed in school buildings, but may use some accrued time as an alternative to being placed on unpaid administrative leave. The union issued the following statement regarding the agreement:   “We are glad to have reached an agreement with the district that will uplift the health and safety of our educators, students, and communities, while still being able to retain our educators who have chosen to remain unvaccinated. The agreement takes important steps to promote public health and to mitigate classroom staffing disruptions.”

波士頓市朝向人民預算邁步 2月份將分區舉辦4場聆聽會

MAYOR WU ANNOUNCES BUDGET LISTENING TOUR Mayor, Budget Office seek community feedback on how Boston's annual budget resources are allocated Boston Mayor Michelle Wu BOSTON - Thursday, February 10, 2022 - Mayor Michelle Wu and the Office of Budget Management (OBM) today announced a series of listening sessions in partnership with the Boston City Council to both educate residents and solicit public feedback on the FY2023 Operating Budget and FY23-27 Capital Plan, ahead of the Mayor submitting each to the City Council. At the sessions, OBM will outline the budget process and highlight changes made through the recent ballot initiative Boston City Council President Ed Flynn  vote. Through its passage, it alters the City Council’s role in approving the budget and calls for the creation of a participatory budgeting model. The City will solicit public feedback to inform the annual budget, federal recovery funding from the American Rescue Plan, and the new participatory budgeting model.   Boston City Councilor Erin Murphy (left)。 “This came about after the leadership of community partners, along with City Councilors, to assure the City Council would have a larger partnership in ensuring our City’s dollars are equitably allocated according to the needs, interests and visions of our residents,” said Mayor Michelle Wu. “The community listening sessions represent an opening up of the process to residents from the very beginning.”    Boston City Councilor Tania Fernandes Anderson, Chair of the Council’s Committee on Ways and Means  “It is critical that we develop a budget for the City of Boston that addresses our long-standing needs, such as housing affordability and stability, public health, public and pedestrian safety, climate resiliency and sustainability, and equitable access to city services,” said Boston City Council President Ed Flynn. “Thank you to Mayor Wu and her team for working with the City Council and providing this opportunity for neighbors to offer feedback on the best use of taxpayer dollars that will continue to help move us forward in Boston’s economic recovery.”  “With great enthusiasm, I look forward to the commencement of the Budget Listening Sessions on the horizon,” said Boston City Councilor Tania Fernandes Anderson, Chair of the Council’s Committee on Ways and Means . “These sessions offer our city an opportunity to help inform, through the power of the purse, what policies we want to pursue and community enterprises we want to platform. I look forward, as Ways and Means Chair, in playing an integral role in the decision making processes that will distribute our city's resources in an equitable and progressive manner.”  The budget is the most direct way the City of Boston invests in its residents' quality of life. Community engagement ensures that the City is spending its resources equitably and that the process is accessible for residents. Each listening session will be dedicated to collecting the public’s input, including through a survey. Budget Director Jim Williamson.  “It is crucial that we educate constituents about the City of Boston's budget and the process in which these resources are allocated,” said Chief of Community Engagement Brianna Millor. “Engaging our constituents empowers them to vocalize their needs and ensure that their City is working to address them.”  “OBM looks forward to sharing information on the annual budget process and welcomes collaboration with the Boston City Council and the residents of Boston to establish budget priorities for the next fiscal year,” said Budget Director Jim Williamson.  Residents are encouraged to share feedback at one of four virtual listening sessions, organized by City Council district: ·       Tuesday, February 15, 2022, 6 - 7pm | Districts 5, 6, 8 ·       Saturday, February 19, 2022, 1 - 2pm | Districts 1, 3, 4 ·       Wednesday, February 23, 2022, 6 - 7pm | Districts 2, 7, 9 ·       Friday, February 25, 2022,10 - 11am | Councilors-At-Large  The Mayor will submit the recommended budget to the City Council on April 13. A series of Council hearings will follow in May-June. The Council will vote to adopt, reject, amend, or reduce the Operating Budget by June 8, and the budget will be resubmitted by June 15. The new Fiscal Year starts July 1.   Interpretation services can be requested for the Zoom listening sessions upon registration. CART will be provided on February 15, 19, and 23. Feedback can be submitted in any language through the survey at bit.ly/3myT0LG, at the listening sessions, or by calling 311. For more information on how to participate, visit boston.gov/budget.

波士頓市撥340萬元資助192個藝術文化組織 華埠社區有5機構入選

(Boston Orange 編譯) 波士頓市長吳弭 (Michelle Wu) 和市長的藝術文化辦公室，以及波士頓文化協會 (BCC) 在2月9日宣佈，撥發342萬2千元給192個藝術及文化組織，支持這些組織的營運，紓緩他們遭受的新冠病毒打擊。                波士頓市和波士頓文化協會合作，每年都撥發大約200萬元支持藝術文化組織的營運。今年波士頓文化協會共發了64萬3677元，其中26萬6千元來自麻州文化協會，37萬7千元來自波士頓市府。               這是連續第3年，波士頓文化協會的補助款額度是由預算規模決定的。今年波士頓文化協會決定把資助結構轉移為預算較最低的組織可得到最高補助款的模式，期以支持新興的，一般沒有籌款計畫的中型組織。               波士頓文化協會主席Jenniger Falk表示，在持續倡議公眾投資支持藝術下，人們可以打造出社區需要，創意人可以成長的藝術景觀。               今年撥發的補助款中，有278萬元來自美國援救計畫法案 (ARPA)一次性的重啟創意波士頓 (Reopen Creative Boston)經費。                    2021年3月十，麻州非牟利及市鎮文化組織報稱，從新冠病毒大流行發生以來，損失了5億8800萬元營收。      根據波士頓市府公佈的名單，華埠社區有亞美社區發展協會 (ACDC)、亞裔文化資源中心 (AARW) ，波士頓華埠社區中心 (BCNC) ，廣教中文學校，以及由華裔曲悅鳴和Qianru Wang創辦，以愛默生(Emerson)學院為基地的創劇社 (CHUANG Stage)等至少5個機構爭取到舉辦文化藝術活動的經費補助。              查詢完整獲得經費的組織名單，可上網https://airtable.com/shrV1m4bE72mO4DOc/tblZr8X9or2oqtrWZ。 MAYOR WU ANNOUNCES MORE THAN $3.4 MILLION IN GRANTS AWARDED TO LOCAL  ARTS AND CULTURAL ORGANIZATIONS 192 arts and cultural organizations received grants totaling $3,422,000 as part of the City’s Boston Cultural Council grants and Reopen Creative Boston ARPA funding.

BOSTON - Wednesday, February 9, 2022 - Mayor Michelle Wu and the Mayor’s Office of Arts and Culture, in collaboration with the Boston Cultural Council (BCC), today announced 192 arts and cultural organizations have been awarded grants as part of this year’s Boston Cultural Council/Reopen Creative Boston funding. The City awarded a total of $3,422,000 in grants for general operating support and COVID-19 relief.  “This year’s group of grantees are a wonderful reflection of the diversity and vibrancy of Boston’s arts community,” said Mayor Michelle Wu. “From small dance groups, to organizations that focus on engaging communities through film, to some of Boston’s most beloved cultural institutions, each one of these groups plays a vital role shaping our city.” Every year, the City works with the Boston Cultural Council (BCC) to distribute grants for general operating support to organizations with budgets under $2 million that offer some type of arts or cultural programming in Boston. This year, the BCC awarded a total of $643,677, which consisted of $266,000 from Mass Cultural Council and $377,000 from City funds. For the third year in a row, BCC grant amounts were determined by budget size. The BCC made the decision this year to shift the funding structure so that organizations with the lowest budgets received the highest grant amounts. This funding strategy aims to better support emerging to medium-sized organizations who typically do not have scaled fundraising initiatives to support their programming. “In response to the funding disparities illuminated by the pandemic, the BCC made the decision this year to commit the highest grant amounts to those organizations with the smallest budgets, which are also often the most marginalized”, said Jennifer Falk, Chair, Boston Cultural Council. “With sustained advocacy for public investment in the arts, we together can build the arts landscape that communities need and that our creative stakeholders can grow in.” An additional $2.78 million was awarded this year through Reopen Creative Boston funding. This one-time funding, allocated through the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), aims to support the recovery of arts and culture organizations from the economic impact of COVID-19 and reopen their programming to the public. In March 2021, Massachusetts nonprofit and municipal cultural organizations reported more than $588 million in lost revenue since the start of the pandemic. Organizations of all budget sizes were eligible to receive ARPA COVID-19 relief funding to cover costs related to reopening and restarting programs, including payroll, new technology, and consulting services.  “Urbanity Dance is deeply grateful to the Mayor's Office and the City of Boston for their support through the Reopen Creative Boston funding opportunity,” said Stacy Handler, Managing Director of Urbanity Dance. “This is the largest grant Urbanity has ever received, and these funds will meaningfully impact our ability to keep our doors open; retain our hardworking staff, faculty, and dancers; and continue to engage our community through our dance and movement-based programming. The ripple effects of this support will be far reaching, impacting the lives of thousands of Bostonians.” “Arts, culture, and creative industries have been devastated by the pandemic,” said Kara Elliott-Ortega, Chief of Arts and Culture. “This year's grantees have faced significant hurdles, but they also shared with us the exciting and innovative ways that they are making new work, staying connected to their communities, and helping our cultural scene come back to life.” The complete list of grantee organizations can be found here.  About the Mayor’s Office of Arts and Culture The Mayor’s Office of Arts and Culture is a City agency that enhances the quality of life, the economy, and the design of the City through the arts. The role of the arts in all aspects of life in Boston is reinforced through equitable access to arts and culture in every community, its public institutions, and public places. Key areas of work include support to the cultural sector through grants and programs, support of cultural facilities and artist workspace, as well as the commissioning, review, and care of art in public places. Learn more at boston.gov/arts.  About the Boston Cultural Council The Boston Cultural Council (BCC), under the umbrella of the Mayor's Office of Arts and Culture, consists of a diverse, volunteer body of Boston residents with lived experience in a variety of artistic disciplines. It annually distributes funds allocated by the City of Boston and the Mass Cultural Council, a state agency, to support innovative arts, humanities and interpretive sciences programming that enhances the quality of life in our city. For more information, please visit here.

麻州長查理貝克宣佈2月28日起取消 K-12 學校戴口罩規定

           (Boston Orange 編譯) 麻州州長查理貝克 (Charlie Baker) 和中小學教育廳 (DESE)廳長Jeffrey C. Riley今 (9) 日宣佈，全州幼稚園到12年級(k-12) 學校的戴口罩規定，2月28日起取消。

         麻州中小學教育廳及麻州公共衛生廳( DPH)仍建議學生及教職員在某些場合遵循教育廳的新冠病毒規定。學生搭乘校巴時，則須遵循聯邦政府規定，依舊得戴口罩。

          Jeffrey C. Riley表示，該廳從2021年10月發出戴口罩規定後，已3次展延該規定實施日期，現在是諮詢過傳染病醫生，麻州公共衛生廳，以及其他醫療專家後，做此決定。

          接種疫苗仍是防止染患新冠病毒的最佳保護，在全美各州中，麻州年輕人的新冠疫苗接種率是最高之一。麻州已完整接種新冠疫苗的人中，也已有52%注射了加強劑，比全美的42%為高。

         在學校檢測上，麻州在全美也名列前茅，最近還為學生及教育者推出了居家檢測項目。這些檢測選擇將保留不變。

        麻州州長查理貝克表示，小孩子的感染機率不高，即使染患，病情也多半很輕，再加上麻州小孩子接種疫苗率是全美最高之一，麻州又有很蓬勃的檢測項目，現在是取消在學校內得戴口罩規定的時候，讓學生及老師經歷2年挑戰後，恢復正常。他也相信在麻州新冠病毒的治理進入下一階段之際，已有更多工具可以保持學校安全。

          在取消戴口罩規定後，80%師生已接種新冠疫苗的各學區，將不再需要向教育廳申請豁免在學校樓宇內戴口罩的規定。不論接種率多寡，戴不戴口罩，將成為麻州各學區自己的選擇。

           截至目前，麻州已有68所學校師生接種率超過80%，遞交了豁免戴口罩申請。DESE也已批准了42宗申請案，並正在審查其他21宗申請案。

麻州有2000所公私立學校參加了麻州政府的新冠病毒檢測計畫，從麻州教育廳和公共衛生廳已取得相當多學校的 ”檢測並留校” 新冠病毒數據來看，截至1月，他們已做過950萬又3000多人次檢測，約99%結果是陰性，所以學校是很安全的教學環境。新冠病毒措施對學生們的影響，反而是心理健康，情緒好壞，以及學習效果。

 Statewide School Mask Requirement Will Be Lifted February 28

MALDEN – Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) Commissioner Jeffrey C. Riley announced today the statewide mask requirement for K-12 schools will be lifted on February 28. At that time, DESE and the Department of Public Health recommend students and faculty wear masks in certain scenarios consistent with DESE’s COVID protocols.
 
The decision was made in consultation with infectious disease physicians, the Massachusetts Department of Public Health, and other medical experts. Vaccinations are the best protection against COVID-19, and Massachusetts has among the highest vaccination rates of young people and is a national leader in overall vaccination. In Massachusetts, 52 percent of all individuals who are fully vaccinated have received a booster dose, compared to 42 percent of the national population.
 
Massachusetts also has nation-leading school testing programs, including a newly launched at-home testing program for students and educators. These testing options will remain in place.
 
“With Massachusetts a national leader in vaccinating kids, combined with our robust testing programs, it is time to lift the mask mandate in schools and give students and staff a sense of normalcy after dealing with enormous challenges over the past two years,” said Governor Charlie Baker. “We have all the tools to keep schools safe as we move into dealing with the next phase of managing COVID.”
 
“Schools are safe environments, most children now have had access to vaccinations that greatly reduce the risk for severe disease for several months, and thousands of families across the Commonwealth have taken this opportunity to protect their children,” said Lt. Governor Karyn Polito. “This is the right time to lift the mask mandate, and we will continue to encourage vaccination and host clinics at any school that wants to hold one to further protect their students from COVID.”
 
The Department of Early Education and Care will also lift the mask requirements currently in place for all licensed child care providers effective February 28, and allow programs to develop policies specific to the children they serve. The Department of Early Education and Care will release additional guidance for programs next week. 
 
With the lifting of the statewide mask requirement, school districts no longer need to request a waiver from DESE to remove masks in school buildings where 80 percent of staff and students are vaccinated. Masking will be a community choice in schools across the Commonwealth, regardless of vaccination rates within a school; however, a school district could establish a local requirement. Many schools across the Commonwealth have already reached the vaccination benchmark and requested permission to remove masks. To date, DESE has received 68 requests from schools that submitted attestations that 80 percent of their students and staff are vaccinated. The Department has approved 42 requests and is in the process of reviewing another 21 requests before the statewide requirement ends.
 
“In a state with one of the highest vaccine acceptance rates in the country, and the state with the second highest vaccination rates among 5- to 11-year-olds, we must navigate the careful transition into opening up our society while simultaneously employing public health mitigation strategies. We are moving from mask requirement to mask optional, and we want school districts to move along with the state by making it optional, while still creating supportive environments for students and staff who choose to wear a mask,” said Education Secretary James Peyser.
 
Several other states, including Connecticut, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Delaware, have rescinded their school mask requirements in recent days.
 
The state’s nation-leading, robust school testing programs will remain in place. Last month, DESE and DPH launched updated school COVID-19 testing options, including providing participating teachers and staff with at-home rapid tests weekly, to optimize in-person learning. The two departments also released updated data on the pooled testing and Test and Stay programs, showing very few positive cases and low transmission rates.
 
With more than 2,000 public and private schools in the Commonwealth participating in COVID-19 testing, DESE and DPH have gathered robust data about the prevalence of COVID-19 in schools that clearly illustrates schools are safe environments for teaching and learning. Schools are one of the few types of settings in the state where individuals are tested on a regular basis.

Data collected over the past few months from the Test and Stay program is compelling around what it reveals about school safety. Students and staff individually identified as asymptomatic close contacts and repeatedly tested in school through Test and Stay test negative more than 90 percent of the time. As of January 9, 503,312 Test and Stay tests had been conducted; 496,440 of them were negative (almost 99 percent).
 
“During the past two years, the impact of COVID-19 on children has caused a strain on their mental health, emotional well-being and academic success. We are relieved to now be in a place where we can provide young people additional relief from COVID-19 restrictions so they can continue to return to normalcy in the classroom,” said Commissioner Riley.
 
Masking continues to be required on all school buses, per federal order.
 
In August, the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education gave the commissioner the authority to require masks for public school staff and students (ages 5 and above) in all grades through at least October 1, 2021. The commissioner used his authority to extend the requirement three times.   

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23，28，29號等3 巴士線 3月1日起 2年免費

             (Boston Orange 編譯) 波士頓市長吳弭 (Michelle Wu) 今 (9) 日一早在藍丘大道 (Bluehill Ave.) 的Grove Hall宣佈，波士頓市的23，28，29號等3條巴士線，在800萬元經費支持下，從3月1日起，民眾將可免費搭乘2年。

                   吳弭和波士頓市街道長Jascha Franklin-Hodge，MBTA總經理Steve Poftak，以及數名地方商家，非牟利組織代表一起，在記者面前宣佈這一喜訊後，還在當地巡訪商家，廣告週知這喜訊。

               吳弭感謝聯邦參議員Ed Markey，聯邦眾議員Ayanna Pressley等聯邦及州、市議員，以及MBTA的協助，爭取經費，使得波士頓市可以像剛辦完2年的免費搭乘巴士試驗，正延長這做法的Lawrence市一樣，也把免費搭乘巴士的試驗作法延長2年。她希望這只是個開頭，在證明免費搭乘巴士做法可行後，將來可提供更多免費公共交通工具，真正的服務民眾，促進地方經濟。

              社區及環境替代方案(ACE)的交通導向的發展主任Mela Bush Miles表示，”二月是交通公平月。過去的7年多以來，作為交通支持者，他們一直在研議免費交通的願景” ，” 現在是願景實現的時候。3條巴士線免費只是個開始，但卻讓人十分興奮。公共交通工具應該要免費讓所有人使用，而且也應該經由和其他公共服務一樣的方式獲得資金。更綠化，清潔，快速並可負擔的巴士服務，對不論是否搭乘公共交通工具的人來說，都是好事。讓T (交通)免費” 。

          23號巴士線 (從Ashmont 到 多徹斯特中心，Grove Hall及Ruggles)，28號巴士線 (麥特潘廣場，上藍丘大道到Nubian廣場及Ruggles)，還有29號巴士線 (麥特潘廣場，上藍丘大道到Jackson 廣場)的這3條巴士線，都經過藍丘大道，乘客都非常多元，是連接在現有交通網路中獲得服務不足乘客的重要迴廊。宜居街道聯盟 (Livable Streets Alliance)也把藍丘大道這區域列為應該優先改善，增加服務可信賴度，提高搭乘率的地區。波士頓市政府為因應這情況，正著手制定藍丘大道重新設計計畫。

           這3條巴士線有著全波士頓市最高的搭乘率。繞經麥迪遜公園科技職業高中，波士頓公共圖書館Grove Hall分館，以及許多個崇拜地點的23號巴士線的每月搭車人次超過10萬人。這條巴士線還和哥倫布大道，這新英格蘭第一條巴士線在路中央的道路交界，展現了結合免費交通和現代交通基礎結構，以減少地方空氣汙染，紓緩擁塞，加快服務速度的潛力。

          28號巴士線從2021年8月開始可免費搭乘後，搭乘量提高到每天有1萬2000多人次，比新冠病毒大流行之前的90%還多，也使這條巴士線成為地鐵交通系統中最受歡迎路線。

             3條巴士線可以免費搭乘後，民眾可從所有的車門上下車，將紓緩巴士的擁擠程度，並加快服務速度。乘客轉車時，搭乘其他的MBTA路線車輛時，仍需付車費。

           為推出這免費巴士服務，波士頓市政府和MBTA一直在定期開會，研討細節。波士頓市政府表示，800萬元經費將來自美國援救法案 (ARPA)的撥款。麻州及美國各地，已有許多地方推出免車費服務，有些城市繼波士頓之後，也在研議如何為居民提供免費服務。

                查詢詳情，可上網，www.boston.gov/free-bus 。

 

MAYOR WU ANNOUNCES LAUNCH OF TWO-YEAR, FARE-FREE PROGRAM FOR MBTA BUS ROUTES 23, 28 AND 29 ON MARCH 1, 2022

 

BOSTON - Wednesday, February 9, 2022 - Mayor Michelle Wu today announced that the City of Boston is launching the two-year fare-free program on MBTA bus Routes 23, 28, and 29 on March 1, 2022. This program extends the highly successful fare-free Route 28 pilot program and eliminates fares on two other crucial bus routes. Fare-free buses enable all-door boarding, which eases congestion and speeds up bus service. Riders will still have to pay for transfers to other MBTA routes and services. The Mayor made the announcement at Grove Hall and visited neighborhood businesses to share information about the new program with Chief of Streets Jascha Franklin-Hodge and MBTA General Manager Steve Poftak. “Expanding fare-free transit to Routes 23, 28, 29 will better connect our communities, increase ridership, and ease congestion for all our residents,” said Mayor Michelle Wu. “As we work to ensure every resident knows about the program, we hope this is just the beginning of access to fare-free public transit in Boston. I'm thrilled to partner with the MBTA to expand this successful ongoing program and look forward to working with our partners across the Commonwealth to build a sustainable, reliable, accessible, and affordable transportation system that truly serves our residents and our local economy.”   "Today's announcement is really exciting,” said Chief of Streets Jascha Franklin-Hodge. “We plan to use these two years to learn how making transit free can affect peoples’ travel decisions, improve the performance of the bus itself, and bring additional benefits to riders and the communities along these routes.” “We were pleased to collaborate with the City on the Route 28 pilot and now to expand the program to include these additional routes for the next two years,” said MBTA General Manager Steve Poftak. “The benefits experienced by customers on the 28 are being expanded to a broader group of riders, and we appreciate the City of Boston’s willingness to make this happen by providing funding.” "February is Transit Equity Month in Boston.  For the past 7+ years, we as transit advocates have been developing a vision of fare free transit,” said Mela Bush Miles, Director of Transit Oriented Development at Alternatives for Community and Environment (ACE). “This is a vision whose time has come. Three free bus routes is just the beginning, we are so excited about this pilot. Public transportation needs to be free for all and should be funded in the same way as other public services. Greener, cleaner, faster and affordable buses is a win for everybody whether they use public transit or not. Free the T!"  "Fare-free bus service has been successful across the Commonwealth and in the City of Boston, helping to ease financial burdens, increase bus ridership, and speed up bus service,” said Stacy Thompson, Executive Director of LivableStreets Alliance. “This expansion will create further momentum toward our shared goal of providing fare-free bus service across the MBTA.” The 23 Bus route (Ashmont to Dorchester Center, Grove Hall & Ruggles), the 28 Bus route (Mattapan Square, up Blue Hill Ave. to Nubian Square & Ruggles) and the 29 Bus route (Mattapan Square, up Blue Hill Ave. to Jackson Square) each serve a diverse ridership, and all three travel through and along Blue Hill Avenue, an important corridor connecting riders who are underserved by the existing transit network. Blue Hill Avenue has been identified by Livable Streets Alliance as one of the corridors that should be prioritized for improvements to increase reliability and boost ridership, which the City is working to address through the Blue Hill Ave Redesign Plan. These three routes are some of the routes with the highest ridership throughout the City of Boston. Route 23 serves over 100,000 monthly riders, runs past Madison Park Technical Vocational High School, the Grove Hall Branch of the Boston Public Library and various places of worship. The route also intersects with Columbus Avenue, home to the first center-running bus lane in New England, demonstrating the potential to combine fare-free transit with modern transit infrastructure to reduce local air pollution, ease congestion and speed up service. After fares were eliminated in August 2021, Route 28 saw ridership increase to over 90 percent of pre-pandemic levels with over 12,000 riders every day, making it the most popular route in the system. Route 29 intersects with Route 28 and runs past Egleston Square Branch of the Boston Public Library, and several Boston Housing Authority developments, including the Franklin Field Apartments and the Doris Bunté Apartments.  “The fare-free 28 bus has been a blessing to myself and my community,” said Peggy James, MBTA 28 bus rider and Boston resident. “All of my daily activities, including going grocery shopping, heading to the laundry, and picking up my medicine, have been made easier due to this program. Since the fare-free program was implemented, my commutes have been a lot more enjoyable, with less hiccups and stalling at bus stops along the route.” “It’s a huge convenience to know that I don’t have to worry about some of the financial burden that this pandemic has brought,” said Brittany Appleberry, MBTA 28 bus rider and Boston resident. “It feels good to know that I am able to ride for free and continue to get the same service. I would like to thank Mayor Wu and everyone who had a part in this pilot.” The Boston Transportation Department has been working with the MBTA to manage the 28 bus pilot program that was first launched in August last year, including partnering on a comprehensive evaluation of the Route 28 bus pilot. The evaluation includes analysis of ridership and service reliability data as well as interviews with bus riders to get their views on the benefits of the pilot. The analysis suggests that by enabling all-door boarding, fare-free service reduced dwell time – the amount of time the bus stopped to allow passengers to board – decreased by more than 20 percent. A full evaluation of the Route 28 Bus pilot program will be available later this month at boston.gov The City of Boston and MBTA have been meeting regularly and partnering to work out specifics of the program and deliver the benefits of fare-free service to riders. The program will be funded through the $8 million ARPA allocation. Cities across the Commonwealth and the United States are already delivering the benefits of fare-free service to riders and some cities are following Boston’s lead and working out how to deliver the benefits of fare-free service to their residents. The expansion of this program will provide the City of Boston, MBTA and other transit partners the opportunity to measure the benefits of fare-free bus service, such as increased ridership, faster buses, less traffic, and business development, over a longer period of time. The duration of the program will also allow the City to make sure every resident knows about the fare-free service and provides an opportunity for residents to integrate riding the bus into their day-to-day routines. The two-year expanded fare free program for the 23, 28, and 29 MBTA bus routes builds on Mayor Wu's work to make public transit a public good, starting with bus service. In December, the Boston City Council voted to approve Mayor Wu’s appropriation order for $8 million in federal funds to eliminate fares on the 23, 28 and 29 MBTA bus routes for a two-year period. The City of Boston, in partnership with the MBTA, extended the free Route 28 bus through January and February using the funds from the $8 million allocation from ARPA. For more information on the fare-free bus program, visit www.boston.gov/free-bus

"麻州講座"系列慶20週年 邀民眾今晚起免費試課

 As the Commonwealth Seminar approaches our milestone 20th Anniversary, I'm often asked: "How does the Seminar 'Open the doors of government to everyone'?" Or "What do your students learn?" Or "Why should *I* take the Seminar?"

Rather than keep explaining (I'm getting lazier as I get older), I figured I'd just invite you to join us for a class or two during our current Winter 2022 session (FOR FREE!).

You'll experience and learn first-hand why 99.9 percent (... there's always one) of our 1,500+ alumni have responded that they'd recommend the Seminar to others or take it again. You'll also meet our diverse, thoughtful and generous Winter 2022 cohort who will inspire you with their energy and passion to create positive change in their communities.

Please check out our course schedule below, and see if anything piques your interest. If you'd like to join us for any of the classes listed below, please email us at: Info@CommonwealthSeminar.org, and we'd be happy to send you the Zoom link to join us.

Thanks, and hope you'll take me up on our offer!

- Leverett

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Please check out our schedule and our presenters/experts for this Session:

TODAY - Wednesday, Feb 9th (5:45-8:15pm)

* Demystifying the Legislative Process - Joel Barrera: Seminar founder; Former Deputy Chief of Staff for MA Governor Charlie Baker, Current Director of Strategic and Business Planning for the Massachusetts Port Authority

* The Budget: "People, Process and Priorities" - Phineas Baxandall, Ph.D – Senior Analyst & Advocacy Director and Reginauld Williams, Communications Director, Massachusetts Budget and Policy Center

Wednesday, Feb 16th (5:45-8:15pm)

The Art, Science and Psychology of Lobbying: Charles Glick - Principal & Founder, Charles Group Consulting

The MBTA’s Rosa Parks Tribute: A Legislative Odyssey: Natalie Ornell - Legislative author & champion of Rosa Parks MBTA Tribute (watch video highlight/snippet HERE - 30 seconds)

Wednesday, Feb 23rd (5:45-8:15pm)

Working with the Press & Media: Strategies, Tips and Perspectives:

- Leverett Wing - Commonwealth Seminar President & CEO; multi-time campaign manager; political fundraiser & strategist; community mobilizer

- Jacquetta Van Zandt - V.P. of Engagement, The Partnership; Host and Co-Founder “Politics and Prosecco” Zoom/Podcast; longtime political strategist, mobilizer and message crafter

Wednesday, March 2nd (5:45-8:30pm)

Task Force Breakout Rooms - Topics & mentors/strategists TBD

Wednesday, March 9th (5:45-7:30pm)

Graduation - Speakers & Presenters TBA

Jennifer Daloisio Named CEO of the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center

Jennifer Daloisio Named CEO of the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center 

BOSTON – Energy and Environmental Affairs (EEA) Secretary Kathleen Theoharides today announced Jennifer Daloisio has been named CEO and Executive Director of the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center (MassCEC). MassCEC is dedicated to accelerating the clean energy and climate solution innovation that is critical to meeting the Commonwealth’s climate goals while building a nation-leading clean energy economy in Massachusetts.

“The Baker-Polito Administration continues to make significant strides in achieving Massachusetts’ net zero emission goal by 2050, and MassCEC will play a critical role in our ongoing efforts to develop clean energy technologies, build local companies, and expand the state’s clean energy workforce,” said Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary Kathleen Theoharides. “Jennifer has proven time and again to be an effective leader, and I believe under her guidance MassCEC will help to lead the clean energy transition by driving climate change solutions and working to grow a diverse, equitable and inclusive workforce.”

“I am honored to lead MassCEC at this pivotal time as we work to meet the Commonwealth’s ambitious climate goals,” said MassCEC CEO Jennifer Daloisio. “Under the Baker-Polito Administration’s leadership, MassCEC’s efforts have led to a thriving clean energy industry in Massachusetts. Driven by entrepreneurship and innovation, this industry is delivering clean, resilient, and cost-effective energy solutions. I look forward to continuing the critical work on our climate challenges while ensuring our communities and residents are able to experience the benefits of the clean energy transition.”

Jennifer Daloisio, CEO and Executive Director, Massachusetts Clean Energy Center

Jennifer Daloisio first joined MassCEC as Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer in November 2014 and began serving as Interim Chief Executive Officer in September 2021. Prior to joining MassCEC, Daloisio practiced public accounting in Boston for 18 years, most recently as a Director at Deloitte. During her time in public accounting, she served clients in a variety of industries, including energy, retail, and manufacturing. Daloisio, a Southborough resident, is a Certified Public Accountant and holds a bachelor's degree in Business Administration from the University of New Hampshire. She also serves as a director on the board of the Northeast Clean Energy Council Institute