麻州政府宣佈將撥2440萬元稅務優惠資助43家企業擴展 Moderna得330萬元

麻州州長Maura Healey  (中右) 和 Moderna 執行長Stéphane Bancel (中左)在
Moderna的Norwood新廠宣佈稅務優惠計畫。 (周菊子攝)

                (Boston Orange 周菊子麻州綜合報導) 麻州州長奚莉 (Maura Healey) 和經濟發展廳廳長郝伊平 (Yvonne Hao) 專程到莫德納 (Moderna) 位於Norwood的臨床製造工廠，宣佈Healey-Driscoll政府和麻州生命科學中心 (MLSC) 發出2440 萬美元的稅務優惠給43 家生命科學公司，預計將為麻州創造 1,584 個新的生命科學行業工作崗位。

麻州經濟發展廳廳長郝伊平 (Yvonne Hao) 強調麻州團隊
合作無間，致力協助生命科學企業。 (周菊子攝)

              在獲得稅務優惠的這 43 家公司中，有 26 家公司（佔新工作崗位的 69%）正在波士頓和劍橋以外的地區擴展。 自 2018 年 MLSC 重新授權以來，通過 MLSC 的稅務優惠計劃承諾的工作中有 78% 是在波士頓和劍橋以外。 MLSC稱，自該中心成立以來，經由稅務優惠計畫，在麻州擴展的生命科學公司已承諾創造超過 11,000 個工作崗位。

              其中的莫德納 (Moderna)獲得310萬元稅務優惠，承諾將創造200個就業機會。武田製藥獲得190萬元，將在勒星頓鎮增加125個工作崗位。Bristol Meyers Squibb 獲得120萬元，將在波士頓和Devens增加77個工作機會。Charles River 實驗室將獲得150萬元，在Wilmington增加98個工作機會。Nova生物醫藥公司獲得110萬元，將在其公司總部Waltham增加75個工作崗位。

              雖然麻州政府希望鼓勵生命科學公司到波士頓和劍橋市以外的市鎮擴展，不過還是有些設址於這2個城市的公司獲得高額獎勵，包括Intellia療法公司獲得130位元，將在劍橋市的總部增設85個職位，Sarepta療法公司將獲得150萬元在劍橋市增設100個工作崗位。Tessera療法公司則將在Someville 增設75個工作崗位。

              經濟發展廳廳長郝伊平強調，在州長Maura Healey、副州長Kim Driscoll的全力支持下，麻州政府現在有個最棒的團隊，竭力協助生命科學企業在麻州擴大發展，延續麻州在這領域的世界領先地位。

波士頓市議會議長Ed Flynn和市議員Michael Flaherty訂6月8日為社區保護法開公聽會

 Council President Flynn and Councilor Flaherty to Host Community Preservation Act Information Session on June 8th at the South Boston Public Library

BOSTON - Council President Flynn and Councilor At-Large Flaherty, in partnership with the Community Preservation Team, will be hosting an in-person FY24 Community Preservation Act (CPA) Information Session next Thursday, June 8th at 6pm at the South Boston Branch of the Boston Public Library (646 East Broadway, South Boston, MA 02127).  

The session will be an opportunity to explore how residents can utilize the City of Boston’s CPA funds and learn how to preserve or create impactful projects in their communities, including in the areas of historic preservation, affordable housing, and open space and recreation. 

This year’s community preservation funding awarded a total of $40 million to 56 projects citywide, including seven projects in District 2 which received a total of $8.5 million in funding. The funded projects include affordable housing for seniors at the McDevitt Hall on E Street in South Boston, affordable homeownership in Chinatown, and various historic restoration projects in Fort Point, Chinatown, Downtown and Beacon Hill. 

“The CPA is one of the best programs we have in the City that works with neighborhood groups to support affordable housing, historic preservation and open space and recreation projects,” said Council President Flynn. “Since the passage of the CPA five years ago, I have supported and seen many historic and worthwhile projects come to fruition. The $8.5 million in funds that District 2 received in the last round will continue to improve our neighborhoods and better the quality of life of all residents. I encourage residents to take advantage of the upcoming information session to learn more about the program.”

“Some of the most exciting and creative projects in our ever-changing City – innovative affordable housing projects, parks, and historic preservation projects – are the result of resident and community driven CPA proposals,” said Councilor Flaherty, Chair of the Council's Community Preservation Committee.  “Community feedback and involvement are critical to these projects and I look forward to this important discussion with my neighbors.”  

For more information, please contact Council President Flynn’s office at 617-635-3203, Councilor Flaherty at 617-635-4205 and Ed.Flynn@Boston.gov or Michael.Flaherty@boston.gov. 

西部都會青年會頒社區冠軍獎表揚波士頓體育會

 B.A.A. Awarded Community Champion Award by MetroWest YMCA

from left to right: Ron Foisy, Former YMCA Board Chair; Nicole Juri, B.A.A. 
Director of Development; Scott Stover, B.A.A. Chief Marketing Officer;
Jack Fleming, B.A.A. President & CEO; and Rick MacPherson,
President & CEO of the MetroWest YMCA.

BOSTON -- As part of the MetroWest YMCA Annual Meeting in Ashland on May 24, the Boston Athletic Association (B.A.A.) were awarded the Community Champion Award. This is an annual MetroWest YMCA recognition of an organization that helps build strong kids, strong families and strong communities by supporting their shared commitment to tackle the ever-changing needs of the community. The B.A.A. was chosen having worked with the YMCA through the Boston Marathon Official Charity program for the last eight years. 

Rick MacPherson, President and CEO of MetroWest YMCA said, “We truly value our relationship and respect and appreciate all that you and the B.A.A. do to make Boston and its surrounding communities strong.” 

There to collect the award was B.A.A. President and CEO Jack Fleming who said, “The B.A.A. is extremely proud and honored to receive the Community Champion Award. The mission of the B.A.A. is to promote a healthy lifestyle through sports, especially running. In many ways our work mirrors that of the MetroWest YMCA with the shared focus on youth development, healthy living and giving back to our local communities. We greatly value the partnership and look forward to the continued work we can do together in the years to come.” 

 

Community is at the front and center of many B.A.A. initiatives including the Official Charity Program (which announced earlier this week a record $40 million was raised surrounding the 127^th Boston Marathon), the new B.A.A. Grant Program, the Neighborhood Fitness Series presented by Boston Children’s Hospital and the Boston Running Collaborative. Find out more at www.baa.org. 

僑委會委員長徐佳青旋風式訪問波士頓 宣講服務、問候僑民

僑委會委員長徐佳青 (前中) 到訪波士頓，聆聽僑民意見。  (周菊子攝)

徐佳青升任委員長後，首次抵波士頓訪問。 (周菊子攝)

               (Boston Orange 周菊子麻州報導) 僑委會委員長徐佳青5月27日旋風式訪問波士頓，逗留時間不足24小時，早上在僑教中心藉「僑務座談」和僑領見面，宣達政府政策，聆聽僑胞意見，中午趕往在Westborough舉行的美東中文學校聯合會50週年年會，下午4點又立即趕往紐約出席活動，行程十分緊密。

徐佳青委員長在波士頓舉辦僑務座談會議。右起，僑教中心
主任潘昭榮，波士頓僑務委員郭競儒，僑委會委員長徐佳青，
波士頓經文處處長孫儉元，波士頓僑務委員陳仕維，紐英崙
中華公所主席雷國輝。 (周菊子攝)

              徐佳青委員長這次出訪為期6週，第一站就來波士頓，最後一站會是南非，中間要拜訪紐約、華府、亞特蘭大，然後到阿根廷，巴拉圭，還要到紐西蘭。

              波士頓經文處處長孫儉元指出，這是徐佳青委員長第2次來波士頓。上一次是去年8月來參加全美舜裔篤親公所懇親大會，那時徐佳青還是副委員長，這一次是她升任委員長之後第一次到訪，選擇從波士頓展開她的巡迴探望僑胞之旅，可見她多重視波士頓僑胞的意見。

徐佳青委員長(左)和助在春田市的僑務促進委員
劉宗聖(前右起)交換名片。旁為波克萊台灣商會理事
暨僑務促進委員陳玉瑛，波士頓僑教中心主任潘昭榮。
(周菊子攝)

徐佳青委員長稱僑教中心是僑胞的家，所以這趟來是回家，探望家人，看看僑胞們有什麼訊息，可以帶回去給政府參考。她笑說丈夫曾就讀塔芙茨大學，所以其實她很熟悉波士頓，但很高興加入僑委會後，第二次再來波士頓，見到不少老朋友，新朋友，甚至見到2名，以前她擔任台北市市議員時，大安、文山區選民的子女。

              在語速很快的侃侃而言中，徐佳青委員長談及僑委會希望在波士頓市中心一帶置產，讓僑教中心有個永久的家；擴大和第二、第三代台僑建立聯繫；推動設立華語文教學中心，以及在Taiwan Can Help

徐佳青委員長(右)和波士頓台灣同鄉會會長黃冠勳以台語交談。
(周菊子攝)

的前提下，加強和海外的交換合作；期許僑胞和主流社會互動，加強彼此的認識。

              她提及在美國的台灣僑胞，近年人數微增，約108到109萬人，主要是因為台積電等上市大公司來美投資，帶動了一些產業到美國設立據點，派駐人員，僑委會也將為這些新移民提供相應服務。

徐佳青委員長(右)告訴波士頓榮光會榮譽理事長石家孝、
池元真夫婦，退輔會委員長特地請她轉達問候。 (周菊子攝)

華語文教學中心則是僑委會目前力推的與海外合作交流計畫，紐約地區已設有7個中心，新英格蘭地區也有2家，歐洲地區更為積極，已設12個華語文教學中心。這計畫初期以已有師資及場地的僑校為主要對象，但歡迎任何有意願的僑團辦理。

在華語文教學中心之外，僑委會還設有每年26萬元新台幣的”頂尖”，以及每年10萬台幣的”傑出”僑生獎學金，鼓勵海外優秀人才充分利用台灣品質優異的高等及技職教育，充實個人能力。

徐佳青委員長和北美洲客家鄉親會總會總會長宋玉琴，
曾任紐英崙客家鄉親會會長的曾秀梅，新英格蘭大波士頓
台灣傷會前會長徐炳煌的人一一打招呼。 (周菊子攝)

              在照顧海外僑民上，僑委會也和世界各地僑胞合作，成立有108個急難救助中心。

              由於台灣即將辦理總統及立委選舉，徐佳青提醒僑胞民，台灣的選舉有全國性與區域性之分，全國性的總統選舉採登記制，僑胞們即使戶籍已被移除，也不影響投票資格，只要在明年1月13日總統選舉日之前40天，也就是12月3日，辦理登記即可。參加立委等區域性選舉，則因為必須確認戶籍所在地，得在投票日前4個月回台，帶護照、身分證到戶政事務所辦理恢復戶籍。

徐佳青委員長(左)和曾任大陳同鄉會會長的周仙梅，
互相報說大臣同鄉會中名人。 (周菊子攝)

              這天出席座談會的嘉賓，還包括波士頓僑務委員郭競儒，陳仕維，紐英崙中華公所主席雷國輝。徐佳青委員長指出，2名僑務委員預定8月返台出席僑務委員會議，僑胞們有任何建言，都可請2名委員轉達。

波士頓慈濟人文學校校長彭淑敏 (右起)，紐英崙中華專業人員
協會董事長周萬欽一一提問。 紐英崙至孝篤親公所主席陳文珊也出席在做。
(周菊子攝)

              波士頓慈濟人文學校校長彭淑敏，紐英崙中華專業人員協會董事長周萬欽，波克萊台灣商會理事陳玉瑛，北美洲客家鄉親聯合總會總會長宋玉琴等人在會中分別提問。住在春田市的僑務促進委員劉宗聖則盛讚經文處和僑教中心落力促成「春田市台灣日」，邀得市長與當地州議員參加升旗典禮，讓春田市民都開始知道了台灣，讓僑胞們備感驕傲。波士頓龍舟隊隊長李鴻宇，公關陳奕如，新隊長邱偉哲等人也在會中向徐佳青委員長簡報該隊將於7月到佛羅里達州參加全美龍舟賽，爭取2024世界錦標賽的參賽權，期盼努力有成，為台灣爭光。

徐佳青委員長(中)勉勵波士頓龍舟隊隊長李鴻宇(右二起)，
公關陳奕如，營運長邱偉哲，以及中華民俗藝術工作坊副團長
吳宇懷(右一)。 (周菊子攝)

「司機要求正義聯盟」拜會20多名議員 呼籲通過「共乘司機正義法案」

華人前進會工人權益中心組織員余翠鳳 (前右)和司機們拜訪麻州眾議員
Erika Uyterhoeven (第一排中)。 (華人前進會提供)

             (Boston Orange 周菊子整理編譯) 華人前進會 (CPA) 和國際機械師協會 (International Association of Machinists) 、服務員工國際聯合會32BJ分會 (SEIU 32BJ) 組成的「司機要求正義聯盟 (Drivers Demand Justice Coalition) 」5月23日發動40多名司機，走進州政府，向20多名議員陳情，促請通過「共乘司機正義法案 (Rideshare Driver Justice Bill) 」。 

「司機要求正義聯盟 (Drivers Demand Justice Coalition) 」
拜訪議員。  (華人前進會提供)

                 「司機要求正義聯盟 (Drivers Demand Justice Coalition) 」推動「共乘司機正義 (Rideshare Driver Justice) 法案，旨在使麻州這以應用程式為基礎，嚴重剝削人的交通行業中，成為工人權益領袖。不像全國內的其他提案，這「共乘司機正義法案」還將為司機成立工會的訂出直接途徑，也將第一次的，司機們可以聯合商議更好的工資，福利及工作條件，同時保障他們能有最低工資，認證他們獲得國家批准的保護，包括失業保險，歧視保護，有薪病假，工傷賠償，以及有薪家事假等。 

「司機要求正義聯盟 (Drivers Demand Justice Coalition) 」40多人
拜訪麻州議員。  (華人前進會提供)

            在「立法日」活動中，來自全州各地的共乘 (Rideshare)司機趕到州政府，述說他們的個人故事，開「優步 (Uber)」或「來福 (Lyft)」車，一天工作70到80個小時，賺到的薪資僅堪餬口，工作環境還不安全，應用程式企業更是隨手就不恰當的中止了他們的工作。在他們一整天的向各議員陳情中，司機們仔細陳述了這行業的嚴厲懲罰使他們得到的薪資比麻州的最低薪資還低，他們也解釋了為什麼他們相信，組成司機工會是他們改變他們所從事行業的唯一機會。           

            做「優步 (Uber)」駕駛已有5年的華人前進會會員高先生是其中一名陳情人。他向議員們傾訴自己的親身經歷，說發現自己陷入既工作過度，又工資嚴重過低的循環境地，2022年他的帳號還被「優步」停止了。從那以後，他開始做「來福車 (Lyft)」司機。他說，”我經常因為工作時間過長而疲累，我被逼著花時間開車，只是要賺足夠的錢來吃住，我沒有時間可以給自己，給家人，或照顧我的健康。看到大程式應用公司產生了利潤，我們卻掙扎著維持生存讓人很沮喪。通過這法令不只是公平，是攸關生存。 

            華人前進會稱共乘司機正義法 (S666/H1099) 是歷史性的法案，會影響數以千計麻州共乘司機，也將有史以來第一次的給共乘司機們組織工會的自由，並給他們為他們工作方式所設計的保護，包括有薪病假，失業保險，以及有保障的底薪。 

              駕駛「優步」8年的華人前進會會員魏鐵建說，”我們任憑零工經濟擺佈已經太久了，沒有議價能力或是資源來挑戰我們每天所面對的情況。通過這法令，我們就有機會平衡這局面，為我們自己，以及我們的家人，獲得比較光明的未來。現在是時候讓議員們認識到我們處境的緊急性，並站在我們這邊支持這種要的法令。攜手一起，我們能創造一個重視及尊重辛苦工作的共乘司機，並准許我們賺取有尊嚴生活的系統”。 

              華人前進會指出，「優步」公佈的2022年最後3個月的營業額高達86億元，比之前一年增加了49%。在2022年的更早之前，6月之前的3個月，「優步」營業額達到81億元。在該公司營收季報中，「優步」稱使用其平台的消費者及司機人數創歷來最高紀錄。「優步」記錄到每個月有1億2200萬人使用其平台，比2021年增加了21%。

波士頓市2名麻州眾議員離任 5/30 辦特別選舉

(Boston Orange 編譯) 波士頓市選務局提醒市民，5月30日 (週二) 將舉辦特別選舉，為薩福克郡第 9 和第 10區麻州眾議員席位，選出遞補者。            麻州薩福克郡第 9區眾議員 Jon Santiago 經麻州州長奚莉 (Maura Healey) 指派，已上任為麻州首名退伍軍人事務廳廳長，地10區眾議員Edward F. Coppinger獲邀出任麻州生物科技協會 (MassBio) 的政府事務主管，他們2人的眾議員席位因而出缺，依法必須補選。          在波士頓市的275個投票站中，只有第9、第10選區的共39個投票站選區需要辦理這次的特別選舉。波士頓選務局提醒這2區的選民記得到時候出席投票，投票站一樣是早上7點開門，晚上8點關門。完整的投票站資訊，可在波士頓市政府網站上查詢，Votlocat1 (boston.gov)。  CITY OF BOSTON ISSUES REMINDERS AHEAD OF SPECIAL STATE ELECTIONS

BOSTON - Thursday, May 25, 2023 -The City of Boston’s Election Department is reminding voters in the 9th and 10th Suffolk State Representative Districts that the upcoming Special State Elections to fill the vacancies following the resignations of Representatives Edward F. Coppinger and Jon Santiago will take place on Tuesday, May 30, 2023. Polling locations open at 7:00 a.m. and close at 8:00 p.m. Only 39 of Boston’s 275 precincts will participate in this election. A full list of polling locations can be found here.   Vote-by-mail  Voters who requested a vote by mail ballot are encouraged to return their ballots early to ensure that they are counted.   Ballots may be returned using one of eight drop-box locations in the City; in-person at the Boston Election Department located at City Hall Room 241; or via U.S. Mail. All drop boxes will remain open until 8:00 p.m. on Election Day. Voters are asked to please use the postage paid return envelope included with the ballot package. Ballots must reach the Boston Election Department or a ballot drop box by 8:00 p.m. on Tuesday, May,30th to be counted.  Ballots cannot be delivered to a polling location on Election Day.  Voters can track the status of requests for vote-by-mail ballots here. If there is no movement indicated in the “Track My Ballot” system, voters should plan to vote in-person on Election Day.  Voting on Election Day   As a reminder, voters should check their registration status via the Secretary of the Commonwealth’s website. Boston’s ballots are available in English and Spanish across all precincts within the 9th and 10th State Representative districts and in Chinese and Vietnamese if required. All voting locations are ADA accessible and are equipped with AutoMark Voting Terminals for voters with visual or hearing impairment.  Polling Location Change  Voters in Ward 20 Precincts 6, 7 and 19 will return to their previous voting location at Holy Name Parish Hall, 535 West Roxbury Parkway. The voter entrance is located off Centre Street and Greaton Road and voting will take place in the gymnasium.  Voters in Ward 20 Precinct 20 will continue to vote at the BCYF Roche Community Center gymnasium, 1716 Centre St.   Unofficial Results  After polls close at 8:00 p.m., the Election Department will receive and upload unofficial results of ballots counted at polling places as they are returned from each precinct.  Media Guidelines  Where to Stand  Members of the press must remain behind the guardrail. While many polling places are not equipped with a physical guardrail, the area within the “guardrail” encompasses the check-in table, the voting booths, and the ballot box. Only poll workers and voters should be within this area.  Interacting with Voters and Poll Workers  Members of the press, like all other observers in the polling place, may not interact with voters while they are in the polling place. Further, observers who have questions about where they should stand and what they are allowed to do while observing should ask to speak to the warden. The warden may provide members of the press with information regarding their rights as observers.  Photography  Photography of the voting process in the polling place is permitted, though marked ballots may not be photographed. Photographers are allowed inside the polling place to photograph the area from outside the guardrail. The warden may instruct the photographer not to take photos of any marked ballots.  Video & Audio Recording  As with photography of the polling place, video recording of the polling place is allowed. Audio recording of the polling place is not permitted under state law. Anyone recording in the polling place must have the ability to record without capturing audio and should be instructed to do so by the warden. Those who are using electronic equipment may not use the electricity in the polling place to power their equipment.  Exit Polling  Exit polling and interviews of voters are permitted outside the polling place, even within 150 feet of the entrance to the polling place, but only those voters who are leaving the polling place should be stopped. Voter access to the polling place should not be impeded in any way.