麻州派11名消防員赴加拿大魁北克 支援消滅叢林野火

麻州州長Maura Healey (右一)和副州長 Kim Driscoll聯袂為11名消防員送行。
(州長辦公室提供)

             (Boston Orange 編譯) 從今年6月初起，加拿大魁北克一帶，連續發生124宗以上野火燃燒事件。麻州政府今(15) 日派送11名野火消防員前往La Touque加支援，預定逗留14天。

麻州州長奚莉 (Maura Healey)表示，最近這幾年，人們看得到世界各地的氣候危機對地方市鎮的衝擊，包括天氣極端，野火頻燒。她為麻州能夠派出11名消防員支援，感到自豪。

            這11名消防員都通過了40小時的聯邦野外消防課程和體能測試，獲得了聯邦認證。將形成”野火鎮壓模組 (“Wildfire Suppression Module)”，直接從事滅火、確保防火範圍，建防火力牆，控制火勢，保護結構等工作。

            近年來，由於氣候變化，氣溫上升，長年乾旱以及缺乏降雨和降雪等因素，世界各地火災活動越來越劇烈，火災季節更長，影響也更加嚴重。到目前為止，麻州今年已有超過820起野火燃燒事件，燃燒了1,500英畝的土地。

            魁北克的情況只是加拿大各地今年，包括不列顛哥倫比亞省、艾伯塔省，最近還有新斯科舍省等地，野火頻生中的最新案例。到目前為止，麻州今年已經有超過820起野火燃燒了1,500英畝的土地。

自從1985年以來，麻州環保局 (DCR) 的森林防火控制局一直與美國林務局和東北森林防火保護委員會合作，派遣部隊到西部和落基山脈地區，以及阿拉斯加、佛羅里達、弗吉尼亞和魁北克等地區進行消防工作。

The responding DCR firefighters are as follows:

Benjamin Jennell             West Newbury 

Robert Armstrong           Conway

George Kleczka                Plainville

James Kontoules             Salem

Eryn Donohoe                 Sagamore Beach

Charles Uchendu             Oak Bluffs

Jacob O’Donnell              Milles

Anders Anderson            Carver

Derick Valovcin               Holliston

Tyler Desautels                Milbury

Alex Desrochers              Plymouth

麻州州長Maura Healey 和副州長 Kim Driscoll (中) 聯袂為11名消防員送行。(州長辦公室提供)

Healey-Driscoll Administration Sends Wildland Firefighters to Help Battle Quebec Blazes  

CARLISLE –– Today, Governor Maura Healey, Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll, Energy and Environmntal Affairs (EEA) Secretary Rebecca Tepper, and officials from the Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) joined together to send off 11 state wildland firefighters to Quebec, Canada to help battle some of the more than 124 wildfires that have burned since the beginning of June.  

“Over the last several years we have seen the impacts of the climate crisis here at home and around the world, in the forms of extreme weather and increasingly severe wildfires that continue to ravage our forests,” said Governor Maura Healey. “We are proud of these 11 Massachusetts wildland firefighters who are heading up to assist our Canadian partners in battling these intense wildfires.”  

“We feel the effects of the climate crisis every day from the extreme heat to droughts to the smoke polluting our air,” said Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll. “We appreciate the men and women from Massachusetts that will join the team fighting wildfires in Quebec and making our environment safer for all of us.”    

“Firefighters are on the frontlines of the climate crisis, risking their lives to save others,” said Energy & Environmental Affairs Secretary Tepper. “I was grateful for the opportunity to thank them directly this morning and we will keep them in our thoughts as we forge ahead to a clean energy future. The clean energy transition is about people, and we see that today.”  

“DCR is committed to doing everything we can to protecting our natural lands for generations to come and today’s deployment of these 11 DCR firefighters to help our friends and partners in Quebec is part of that commitment,” said DCR Commissioner Brian Arrigo. “These are extremely well-trained and dedicated firefighters whose skills are much needed, and whose help, we know is enormously appreciated.”    

The officials gathered this morning to send off the firefighter crew at DCR’s Bureau of Forestry and Fire Control headquarters in Carlisle.   

The deployment is in response to a request DCR received last week from the Northeast Forest Fire Protection Commission and the Northeastern Interagency Coordination Center at the White Mountain National Forest in Campden, NH. The firefighters will travel to La Touque, where they will be assigned to one of many ongoing fire incidents throughout the province. The crew, which is also referred to as a “Wildfire Suppression Module,” will engage in direct fire suppression, working on the fire line for about 14 days – building fire breaks, securing fire perimeters, containing fires, and protecting structures.  

Rising temperatures, drier conditions due to years long droughts, and a lack of rain and snowfall, all caused by climate change, are fueling increased fire activity, making fire season last longer and its effects more severe. These conditions have made wildfires over the last few years more extreme and active than in the past. Climate change is also affecting wildlife in forested areas including an increase in insect activity which affects tree mortality and can create more fuel for fires to feed off. So far this year in Massachusetts, over 820 wildfires have burned 1,500 acres.  

The Quebec situation is just the latest in an ongoing wildfire issue across Canada this year, including British Columbia, Alberta, and most recently Nova Scotia, and has resulted in major smoke impacts across the northeastern United States. The Northeast Forest Fire Protection Commission is a compact comprised of the six New England states, New York and four eastern Canadian provinces, including Quebec. Massachusetts is one of the original members of the compact, which was formed in 1949 to provide interstate and international wildland fire mutual aid assistance.    

Since 1985, partnering with the U.S. Forest Service and the Northeast Forest Fire Protection Commission, DCR’s Bureau of Forest Fire Control has sent crews to fight fires in areas of the western and Rocky Mountain states, as well as Alaska, Florida, Virginia and Quebec.    

All firefighters are federally certified, having passed a 40-hour federal wildland firefighting class and physical fitness test.   

The responding DCR firefighters are as follows:

Benjamin Jennell             West Newbury 

Robert Armstrong           Conway

George Kleczka                Plainville

James Kontoules             Salem

Eryn Donohoe                 Sagamore Beach

Charles Uchendu             Oak Bluffs

Jacob O’Donnell              Milles

Anders Anderson            Carver

Derick Valovcin               Holliston

Tyler Desautels                Milbury

Alex Desrochers              Plymouth

波士頓黃氏慶雙親節 近百宗親齊聚打邊爐

波士頓黃氏宗親會主席黃偉健(中左起)、黃光沐
及婦女部主任黃周麗桃一起切慶祝雙親節蛋糕。 

             (Boston Orange) 波士頓黃氏宗親會6月12日傍晚，在肥牛火鍋店3樓，慶祝雙親節，近百名宗親在火鍋煙霧繚繞，各色蔬菜肉食源源送上中，大快朵頤，舉杯同歡，煞是開心。

波士頓黃氏宗親會主席黃偉健(中左起)、黃光沐
及婦女部主任黃周麗桃請宗親們一起享用蛋糕。

              2023年的母親節是5月14日，父親節是6月18日，由於黃氏宗親會幹部們忙於率團赴外地旅遊，出席在甘迺迪圖書館舉行的麻州亞美局年會，慶祝宗親後輩黃瑞瑜得獎，辦理黃氏宗親子弟獎學金頒獎典禮等諸多事宜，於是安排6月12日，雙節合一的同時慶祝。

              這天傍晚，黃氏宗親會2名主席，黃偉健、黃光沐，財政黃開洪，中文書記黃光也和議長黃國麟，婦女部主任黃周麗桃等人分工合作，趁著黃氏宗親會幹部開會之際，聯繫宗親們在開完會後的時間，聚集到黃氏宗親會大樓3樓的肥牛火鍋店，享用美食。

波士頓黃氏宗親會主席黃偉健(左起)、黃光沐、財政黃開洪
逐桌敬酒，感謝宗親出席。

              在肥牛火鍋店的自助餐式，源源不絕供應各色蔬菜，南瓜、青菜，茼蒿、菠菜，玉米，芋頭，魚丸、花枝、牛百葉，雪花肉之中，黃氏宗親們喝著酸梅湯，就著繚繞煙霧享用美食，高談闊論，好不熱鬧。

              散席前，宗親們還享用了一塊寫著「雙親節」字樣，由婦女部大廚師黃陳美瑤、黃啟圖夫婦送的大蛋糕，心頭全是甜味。 新版）

黃氏宗親會主席黃偉健 (右起)、黃光沐敬酒。

黃氏宗親們近百人同歡。

黃氏宗親們圍桌打邊爐。

黃氏議長黃國麟向宗親們敬酒。

波士頓台山同鄉聯誼會會長黃紹培(右)和宗親歡聚。

肥牛火鍋。

"一起超越脅迫"聯盟將推動立法加強保護家暴受害者

(Boston Orange) 麻州一群倖存者和組織今 (15)日推出“一起超越脅迫(TRAC)”聯盟，致力防止家庭暴力，並倡議立法，以更好的處理施虐者嚴重限制受害者安全及自主性的”威脅控制”行為模式。

麻州現行法律（第 209A 章）將家庭虐待的定義限制為身體虐待和強迫性關係，但許多受害者還遭受其他形式的持續、有害的虐待和控制，包括恐嚇、威脅、隔離、技術濫用和 濫用訴訟。 TRAC 呼籲麻州立法者支持並通過兩項重要立法：改善家庭暴力相關保護法案 (H.1547/S.1077)，該法案將把對家庭暴力受害者的保護，擴大到包括各種形式的強制控制，以及與控制和濫用訴訟相關的法案 (H.1399/S.1079)，這將為法院和倖存者提供更多工具來防止旨在控制和恐嚇的訴訟。 

麻州法律改革研究所副主任 Jamie Sabino 表示：“僅將家庭暴力視為身體暴力會限制我們集體應對和真正解決虐待根源的能力。” “強制控制——施虐者為混淆、破壞、孤立和剝奪受害者的權力而進行的高度個性化的努力——包括濫用訴訟，既普遍又危險。 例如，根據城市研究所的研究，技術濫用的受害者遭受身體虐待的可能性是其兩倍，遭受心理虐待的可能性是後者的 2.5 倍，遭受性脅迫的可能性是後者的五倍。” 

TRAC 的 Carmen Aliber 說：“今天的數字世界，加上昨天的法律，讓濫用者更容易濫用技術。” “TRAC 的目標是提高人們對這些挑戰的認識，並擴大對受害者和倖存者的法律保護。” 

“第 209A 章反映了對家庭虐待的過時理解，”Jane Doe Inc 副主任 Hema Sarang-Sieminski 說。 該州法律對虐待的原因和影響採取了更細緻、更全面的觀點，強制控制和虐待訴訟的受害者在生命受到威脅之前可以訴諸法律。 他們感謝 Natalie Higgins 眾議員、Tram Nguyen 眾議員、Natalie Blais 眾議員、Michael Moore 參議員以及共同發起這些重要法案的所有眾議員； 我們敦促他們的同事加入他們的行列，優先通過這項立法。” 

6 月 20 日，星期二，TRAC 將在州議會大廈（428 室）與法案的發起人和強制控制專家一起就這兩項法案舉行立法簡報會。 

全州指導委員會成員包括：

馬薩諸塞州法律改革研究所 (MLRI)

Jane Doe Inc. (JDI)

伍斯特社區聯繫聯盟

Shaquera 的故事 家庭暴力諮詢和輔導公司。

麻州家庭倡導聯盟 (MFAC)

簡做得很好

 

New Coalition Forms to Advance Legislation Aimed at Addressing Coercive Control and Domestic Abuse

Together Rising Above Coercion (TRAC) will advocate for legislation in Massachusetts to ensure stronger protections for victims and survivors

Boston, June 15 – Today, a group of survivors and organizations in Massachusetts committed to preventing domestic abuse launched Together Rising Above Coercion (TRAC), a coalition that will advocate for legislation to better address ‘coercive control,’ a pattern of deliberate behavior by an abuser that substantially restricts their victim’s safety and autonomy.

Current law in Massachusetts (Chapter 209A) limits the definition of domestic abuse to physical abuse and coerced sexual relations, but many victims are also subject to other forms of persistent, harmful abuse and control, including intimidation, threats, isolation, technology abuse, and abusive litigation. TRAC is calling on Massachusetts lawmakers to support and pass two important pieces of legislation: An Act to Improve Protections Relative to Domestic Violence (H.1547/S.1077), which would expand domestic abuse protections to include various forms of coercive control, and An Act Relative to Controlling and Abusive Litigation (H.1399/S.1079), which would give courts and survivors more tools to prevent litigation aimed at control and intimidation.

“Thinking about domestic abuse only as physical violence limits our collective ability to respond and truly address the root causes of abuse,” said Jamie Sabino, Deputy Director of Advocacy at Massachusetts Law Reform Institute. “Coercive control – highly individualized efforts by abusers to confuse, undermine, isolate, and disempower their victims – including abusive litigation, is both widespread and dangerous. Victims of technology abuse, for example, are twice as likely to be physically abused, 2.5 times as likely to be psychologically abused, and five times as likely to be sexually coerced, according to research from the Urban Institute.”

“Today’s digital world, with yesterday’s laws, make technology abuse that much easier for abusers,” said Carmen Aliber of TRAC. “TRAC’s goal is to bring greater awareness to these challenges and expand legal protections for victims and survivors.” 

“Chapter 209A reflects an outdated understanding of domestic abuse,” said Hema Sarang-Sieminski, Deputy Director of Jane Doe Inc. “By passing An Act to Improve Protections Relative to Domestic Violence and An Act Relative to Controlling and Abusive Litigation, policymakers can ensure that state law takes a more nuanced, comprehensive view of the causes and impact of abuse, and that victims of coercive control and abusive litigation have legal recourse before their lives are endangered. We are grateful to Representative Natalie Higgins, Representative Tram Nguyen, Representative Natalie Blais, Senator Michael Moore, and all the Representatives and Senators who have co-sponsored these important bills; we urge their colleagues to join them and prioritize passage of this legislation.” 

On Tuesday, June 20, TRAC will host a legislative briefing at the State House (Room 428) on the two bills, alongside the bills’ sponsors and experts on coercive control. 

About TRAC

Made up of individuals and organizations from across Massachusetts, TRAC seeks to expand protections for victims of domestic abuse and their children by securing additional laws and statutes in Massachusetts, including those targeting coercive control, which is the foundation for all forms of domestic abuse, and abusive litigation. We believe that laws must better protect those impacted by domestic abuse who are subjected to ongoing coercion, manipulation, intimidation, and threats. 

Serving on the statewide steering committee are: 

Massachusetts Law Reform Institute (MLRI)

Jane Doe Inc. (JDI)

Worcester Community Connections Coalition

Shaquera’s Story Domestic Violence Consulting and Coaching, Inc. 

Mass Family Advocacy Coalition (MFAC)

Jane Does Well 

波士頓市政府廣場 6/16 晚 免費 Donna Summer 迪斯可派對

波士頓 - 2023 年 6 月 15 日，星期四 - 市長吳弭和旅遊、體育和娛樂辦公室將於 6 月 16 日星期五在市政府廣場舉辦第 9 屆年度夏季慶典：唐娜夏季迪斯可派對。 這一適合家庭的活動免費向公眾開放，將於下午 5:00 至晚上 9:00 舉行。人們將能夠在充滿活力的氛圍中隨著 Donna Summer 的所有熱門歌曲起舞，這裡有熒光棒、泡泡、彩燈、迪斯科舞會，以及備受期待的滑輪也將回到市政府廣場。 出生於波士頓的迪斯科傳奇人物唐娜·薩默 (Donna Summer) 是搖滾名人堂成員，曾五次獲得格萊美獎，並在全球銷售了超過 1.4 億張唱片。 她出生在多切斯特，在 Mission Hill 長大，然後在 1970 年代成為明星。 她於 2012 年 5 月 17 日去世，享年 62 歲。這項一年一度的活動紀念她的一生，並慶祝她在波士頓的音樂和遺產。 今年的唐娜夏季迪斯科派對將有： DJ Vince 1 提供的音樂  滑輪溜冰回到市政府廣場 “你好，波士頓！ 非常感謝你以如此美麗的方式記住我們自己的家鄉女孩，”唐娜薩默的姐姐兼長期伴唱瑪麗蓋恩斯伯納德說。 “我知道唐娜在精神上與我們同在，她會為如此美麗的愛傾訴而感到高興。 所以，讓我們以真正的 Donna Summer 時尚開始這場派對吧！ 讓我們跳舞吧，如果你想跳舞，就唱歌，如果你想唱歌，祝你在波士頓度過愉快的時光！” 有關市政府舉辦的更多夏季活動，請在社交媒體@VisitBostonCity 上關注市長旅遊、體育和娛樂辦公室，並訪問 boston.gov/visiting-boston。 什麼時候： 2023 年 6 月 16 日，星期五  5:00 PM。 - 9:00 PM。 在哪裡： 波士頓市政府廣場 MAYOR WU AND CITY OF BOSTON TO HOST ANNUAL DONNA SUMMER DISCO PARTY TOMORROW This dance-filled celebration of summer will be free and open to all

BOSTON - Thursday, June 15, 2023 -  Mayor Michelle Wu and the Office of Tourism, Sports, and Entertainment will host the 9th annual Celebration of Summer: Donna Summer Disco Party on Friday, June 16 on City Hall Plaza.  This family-friendly event is free and open to the public and will take place between 5:00 p.m. and 9:00 p.m. Guests will be able to dance the night away to all of Donna Summer’s greatest hits in a groovy atmosphere complete with glow sticks, bubbles, colorful lights, a disco ball, and the highly anticipated return of roller skating on City Hall Plaza. Boston-born disco legend Donna Summer is a member of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, a five-time Grammy winner, and sold over 140 million records worldwide. She was born in Dorchester and was raised in Mission Hill before rising to stardom in the 1970s. She passed away at the age of 62 years old on May 17, 2012. This annual event honors her life and celebrates her music and legacy in Boston.  This year’s Donna Summer Disco Party will feature: Music provided by DJ Vince 1 Return of Roller Skating on City Hall Plaza “Hello, Boston! Thank you so much for remembering our own home town girl in such a beautiful way,” said Mary Gaines Bernard, Donna Summer’s sister and longtime backing vocalist. “I know Donna is here with us in spirit and would be so pleased at the outpouring of love displayed so beautifully. So, let’s get this party started in true Donna Summer fashion! Let’s dance, if you wanna dance, sing, if you wanna sing and have a Boston good time!” For more summer events hosted by the City, follow the Mayor’s Office of Tourism, Sports, and Entertainment on social media @VisitBostonCity and visit boston.gov/visiting-boston. WHEN:  Friday, June 16, 2023 5:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.  WHERE:  City Hall Plaza 1 City Hall Square

麻州推樓宇減碳首設氣候銀行 啟動款5000萬元

麻州州長Maura Healey(前右二)、副州長Kim Driscoll (前右一)邀波士頓市長吳弭 (Michelle Wu)
(前左四) 一同宣佈撥款5000萬元成立社區氣候銀行。 (周菊子攝)

麻州州長奚莉 (Maura Healey)強調團隊合作。 (周菊子攝)

               (Boston Orange 綜合報導) 麻州州長奚莉 (Maura Healey) 6月13日率同政要，宣佈麻州將在「麻州房屋 (MassHousing)」這半官方組織內，以麻州環保廳的5000萬元為種仔金，設立「麻州社區氣候銀行 (Massachusetts Community Climate Bank) 」，並以可負擔住宅為首要目標，推動樓宇去碳化。

              奚莉州長指出，這將是全美第一個從氣候角度出發，主要關注土地發展方面減碳機制的銀行。麻州成立這樣一個銀行，旨在爭取包括縮減通貨膨脹法(Inflation Reduction Act)中的全國清潔投資基金，以及來自能源部貸款部門等的聯邦經費，和麻州清潔能源中心 (MassCEC)、麻州發展 (MassDevelopment)等機構合作，從可負擔住宅先開始，找出可辦理清潔能源項目的現有或新建樓宇，提供低費用資金，執行減碳做法，包括為可負擔住宅大樓辦理重新貸款，以資助更新暖氣幫浦，樓宇外牆及窗戶等工程。。

              麻州政府指出，在麻州的溫室氣體排放中，約70%來自樓宇，而在麻州的2050年發展道路圖上，大約80%的麻州樓宇都是在在2050年以前就建成的，要如何達到2030年時，麻州住宅樓宇溫室氣體排放量減少49%，到2050年時，減少95%這目標，麻州必須更積極的有所作為。

              麻州州長奚莉在競選時，就已承諾要在因應氣候變遷上採取行動。上任後她不僅設立了住宅及宜居社區內閣辦公室，指派曾任屋斯特市經理的Ed Augustus Jr.為首任廳長，也設立麻州有史以來的第一個氣候長 (Chief of Climate)，指派Melissa Hoffer出任該職。

          不過波士頓環球報 (Boston orange) 指出，紐約及康州都有類似的綠色銀行。康州是在2011年就成立了一個和麻州類似的新銀行，以有限的州政府經費來吸引外界投資。該銀行也用於經援住宅的太陽能及暖氣項目，為電動車設立可以平衡碳排放的項目等。有獲悉奚莉政府這一銀行者認為，該效法康州做法，讓麻州的氣候銀行在放貸給土地發展商之外，也可用於其他的去碳相關活動。

 

Governor Healey Announces Creation of Massachusetts Community Climate Bank, Nation’s First Green Bank Dedicated to Affordable Housing 

$50 million in seed funding intended to leverage federal funding and private sector opportunities to accelerate affordable, decarbonized housing development 

 

BOSTON – Today, Governor Maura Healey announced the launch of the Massachusetts Community Climate Bank, the nation’s first green bank dedicated to affordable housing. This landmark initiative, seeded with $50 million in state funds from the Department of Environmental Protection, is designed to maximize investment in the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions from the building sector.  

One of the Climate Bank’s primary goals is to attract private sector capital and federal funds available under the Inflation Reduction Act to finance building retrofits aligned with the state’s long-term climate objectives and new construction of decarbonized buildings. The bank will focus on the affordable housing market, where residents bear a disproportionate burden in energy costs and climate impacts, to promote an equitable energy transition and to meet the needs of environmental justice populations. Over time, the bank will diversify investments to include other decarbonization measures that benefit communities. 

The Massachusetts Community Climate Bank is located within MassHousing, the state’s affordable housing finance and investment bank. Massachusetts is the first in the nation to locate its Climate Bank within its Housing Finance Agency and to focus its strategy on affordable housing. The Climate Bank will work in partnership with the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center (MassCEC) and MassDevelopment. This collaboration will ensure that each entity’s capabilities are leveraged to support the identification, development, financing and execution of clean energy projects, beginning with the affordable housing sector. 

“The Massachusetts Community Climate Bank will be our financial engine for moving forward on our climate goals, relieving the pressure of high housing costs, and creating good jobs and healthier communities,” said Governor Maura Healey. “This first-of-its kind initiative is going to make our state more competitive, affordable, and equitable – and it’s going to show that in Massachusetts, we can lead the world by leading with our values and leaving no community behind. We’re grateful to our partners at MassHousing, MassCEC, MassDevelopment, our Congressional delegation, the Legislature, the City of Boston and the Boston Green Ribbon Commission for their collaboration to make the Massachusetts Community Climate Bank a reality.” 

“The Massachusetts Community Climate Bank has enormous potential,” said Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll. “It can support deep energy retrofits and investments in energy efficiency technologies, eliminating emissions and cutting residents’ energy costs for years to come. It can help nonprofit developers access capital that makes net-zero development possible, serving hundreds of families. It can help the state rehab and retrofit older affordable housing that’s in need of repair by getting access to new federal climate funds. Each step of the way, it’ll power our mission to make Massachusetts the world’s climate leader by bringing all the benefits of a green and resilient economy to all the people of our state.” 

“Decarbonizing the Commonwealth’s housing stock is a critical component of our work to build cleaner, healthier communities, while meeting our ambitious climate goals,” said MassHousing Executive Director Chrystal Kornegay. “The Massachusetts Community Climate Bank will allow us to pursue this important work at scale, accelerating our progress toward a net zero future, and centering equity for low- and moderate-income households and Environmental Justice communities.” 

Low- to moderate-income residents tend to pay a disproportionate share of their income on energy costs, have less control of their residences and have fewer resources to invest in measures that will reduce their emissions and control their energy bills. The Climate Bank expects to provide low-cost capital and innovative deal structures to integrate clean energy and efficient technologies into affordable housing development and preservation and mortgage products for home improvements.  

The Climate Bank will accelerate the pace and deepen the impact of building decarbonization projects by lending directly to building owners and by attracting and de-risking lending and investment by private lenders through innovative finance products. It expects to integrate clean energy into MassHousing’s lending for affordable housing, create programs for similar affordable housing projects, and engage capital markets more broadly to invest in affordable housing decarbonization. 

The Climate Bank aims to take advantage of the periodic cycle of affordable housing refinance to finance heat pumps, building envelopes (i.e., efficiency upgrades to windows and walls), heat pump water heaters, high-efficiency appliances, and solar panels as a part of the same process as other affordable housing renovation measures. 

The Climate Bank will also position Massachusetts to compete for funding from the National Clean Investment Fund under the Inflation Reduction Act and to anchor engagement with other federal finance opportunities, such as the United States Department of Energy Loan Program Office, both key elements of the Biden Administration’s initiative to advance a just energy transition focused on equity and environmental justice.   

In Massachusetts, the building sector is responsible for over a quarter of total greenhouse gas emissions. In Massachusetts cities, where many environmental justice populations live, buildings can be responsible for as much as 70 percent of total greenhouse gas emissions. Unlike cars, buildings last for decades, making the need to retrofit existing buildings especially important to achieve statewide decarbonization goals. According to the 2050 Massachusetts Roadmap report, over 80 percent of the buildings that will exist in 2050 are already built. 

Massachusetts’ Clean Energy and Climate Plan calls for a 49% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions from residential heating by 2030, and a 95% reduction by 2050. The Massachusetts Community Climate Bank is an integral part of the strategy to achieve these emissions reductions. 

“I thank Governor Healey for her leadership to create the Massachusetts Community Climate Bank to both encourage private spending and harness federal funding to further our investment into the creation of green affordable housing – and to make our affordable housing greener,” said Boston Mayor Michelle Wu. “This work is critical and will complement our efforts in Boston to retrofit our housing stock and create opportunities for small property owners to build and renovate greener, healthier buildings for residents to thrive.” 

On the first full day of her administration, Governor Maura Healey signed an Executive Order creating an Office of Climate Innovation and Resilience within the Governor’s Office and establishing the position of Climate Chief. Governor Healey appointed Melissa Hoffer to this position, which is the first in the nation at the cabinet level. The office is charged with harnessing all of the resources and authority available to the Governor and the executive department to advance the Commonwealth’s climate innovation, mitigation, adaptation and resilience policies. The Massachusetts Community Climate Bank is a signature accomplishment of the Office of Climate Innovation and Resilience, which worked collaboratively with all partners to advance this project. 

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BOSTON PUBLIC LIBRARY ANNOUNCES $1,000,000 GIFT TO EXPAND LIBRARY'S LGBTQ+ PROGRAMMING AND COLLECTIONS

Bequest from former Dorchester resident will fund the Library’s efforts to increase the representation and visibility of LGBTQ+ voices

BOSTON, June 14, 2023 – The Boston Public Library (BPL) is proud to announce that it has received a $1,000,000 bequest from the late Howard Cooper to dramatically expand its LGBTQ+ resources, collections, and programming.   Cooper, who resided in San Francisco, CA as an adult, grew up in Dorchester and attended Boston Public Schools. He visited the Central Library in Copley Square regularly as a teenager in the 1950s. Cooper named the Boston Public Library Fund as a beneficiary in his estate plans and passed away at the age of 82 in 2022.   To recognize and celebrate Howard’s gift to the Library, family and friends will gather in the Central Library on June 23. The Library will unveil a plaque, installed in the Boylston Street Building lobby, to publicly recognize Cooper’s contribution to creating a safe and welcoming space for individuals of all identities.  “With his generous gift, Howard Cooper’s legacy reflects the essential founding principle of the Boston Public Library—free to all—and further positions the BPL as a cornerstone of democracy,” says BPL President David Leonard. "In these times of increasing challenges to books and information, this gift sends a powerful message that LGBTQ+ individuals and their stories play an essential role in our society and that the BPL will always be an inclusive space that proudly reflects and celebrates the LGBTQ+ community for generations to come.”  The bequest provides immediate-use funding for the Library to expand its current LGBTQ+ circulating collection, hire a researcher to review the Library’s historic collections for LGBTQ+ materials, and hire an intern to work specifically on LGBTQ+ community history as part of the Boston Community History Project.   Most significantly, the bequest establishes The Howard Cooper LGBTQ+ Endowment Fund to provide a long-term funding stream for initiatives and programs, including:  Annual publication of We Are Pride booklist   Interactive programming for youth Resources for teens, building upon the gender and sexual orientation resources already in place    Boston Public Library Fund Executive Director Paula Sakey added, “We are incredibly grateful to Howard for his insight, compassion, and generosity in naming the Boston Public Library Fund in his estate plans. By establishing an endowment fund, Howard’s gift will have a significant impact in safeguarding and expanding public access to the BPL’s LGBTQ+ materials and programs far into the future.”