麻州政府和84個組織合作今夏在125個地點為青少年辦免費活動

Governor Healey Kicks Off 2023 Summer Nights Program 

DCR Expands Youth Engagement Program to 84 Organizations Hosting Free 
Sports, Arts, and Nature Exploration Activities in Cities Around Massachusetts 

 MA Summer Night Program announcement. (Photo by Chutze Chou)

Governor Maura Healey said the health of youth is the
major goal of the "Summer Night" program. (Photo by Chutze Chou)

              (Boston Orange 綜合報導) 麻州的「夏夜活動 (Summer Nights Program) 」7月11日在麻州州長奚莉 (Maura Healey) ，波士頓市長吳弭 (Michelle Wu) 等政要雲集中， 以一場籃球賽在海德公園的法蘭西斯馬汀尼紀念公園 (F【rancis D. Martini Memorial Shell Park) 正式上場。

Boston Mayor Michelle Wu says as a mom of two young kids,
she knows how important it is to have summer program. (Photo by Chutze Chou)

              在7、8月的晚上，為市區內13至21歲青少年提供娛樂及教育機會的麻州「夏夜活動」，今年跨入第9年。麻州州長奚莉、副州長Kim Driscoll決定擴大辦理，和84個組織合作，在125個地點，提供免費的體育、藝術、音樂及輔導生活技能講座等活動。

YES is one of the 84 partner organizations received funding from
 Summer Night program.

              今年的”夏夜活動”將在波士頓市的Allston, Dorchester, East Boston, Hyde Park, Jamaica Plain, Mattapan, Roslindale, Roxbury, South Boston等地區，以及麻州的Brockton、劍橋市(Cambridge)、 Chelsea、費奇堡市(Fitchburg) Haverhill, Holyoke, Lawrence, 羅爾市(Lowell), Lynn, Methuen, Milton, New Bedford,春田市( Springfield), Stoughton, Taunton 和屋斯特(Worcester)市等地方舉行。

              費奇堡市市今年擴展辦理的新地點。

             

大合照。 (周菊子攝)

奚莉市長強調，青少年身心健康意味著麻州會有更好未來，因此可以為青少年提供免費又安全的娛樂學習機會的「夏夜活動」，非常重要。

              麻州政府表示，自從2015年和4個合作夥伴推出「夏夜活動」以來，共服務了全州各地大約2萬名青少年。今年經費共約300萬元，其中260萬元直接撥給合作夥伴，其餘則用於警察值勤，場地設備以及市場行銷，人事費用等。

DCR在啟動式擺出動物皮毛，教青少年認識不同動物。 (周菊子攝)

              麻州能源及環境事務廳廳長Rebecca Tepper，原本是瑞維爾市(Revere)市長，今年4月或聘為保存及娛樂局(Department of Conservation & Recreation)新任局長的Brian Arrigo，麻州眾議員Liz Miranda，麻州眾議員Rob Consalvo等人也都出席了啟動式。

              「夏夜活動」將持續至8月20日，活動項目包括籃球、排球、瑜伽、舞蹈、武術、腰旗橄欖球、玉米洞、釣魚、乒乓球、有氧拳擊、游泳、露營、划船、皮划艇、烹飪等活動 、繪畫、尊巴舞、躲避球、網球和自然探索。 課程還包括領導技能培養、健康和保健、詩歌、學術輔導、講故事、動畫、音樂、媒體製作以及職業和大學準備課程。

              有3個活動供應商將提劇場，游泳，以及划艇等活動。

              「夏夜活動」將提供免費的渡輪套票，以方便參加活動者及其家人在波士頓海港島嶼間來回。

              查詢完整的DCR部門夏夜活動項目，可上網https://www.mass.gov/info-details/dcr-summer-nights-program。

BOSTON – As part of its commitment to promoting the safety and health of Massachusetts’ young people, the Healey-Driscoll Administration today announced the expansion of the Department of Conservation’s successful Summer Nights Program. Governor Maura Healey, Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll, Energy and Environmental Affairs (EEA) Secretary Rebecca Tepper, and Department of Conservation and Recreation Commissioner (DCR) Brian Arrigo kicked off the department’s annual Summer Nights Program this morning with a game of basketball with teens and young adults at the Francis D. Martini Memorial Shell Park in Hyde Park.                                  
The Summer Nights Program, in its ninth year, provides recreational and educational opportunities for young people, ages 13 to 21, in urban areas around the state during evening hours throughout July and August. This year, the Healey-Driscoll Administration has expanded the program to its largest reach yet, partnering with 84 organizations that will provide free activities including sports, arts and crafts, music, and mentoring and life skills workshops at   approximately 125 locations.                                                                                                     This year’s Summer Nights communities are: Boston (Allston, Dorchester, East Boston, Hyde Park, Jamaica Plain, Mattapan, Roslindale, Roxbury, South Boston), Brockton, Cambridge, Chelsea, Fitchburg, Haverhill, Holyoke, Lawrence, Lowell, Lynn, Methuen, Milton, New Bedford, Springfield, Stoughton, Taunton and Worcester. The expansion into Fitchburg is a new component of this year’s program.              

 "We are thrilled to be expanding the successful Summer Nights Program into more communities across Massachusetts, providing more teens and young adults with free and safe opportunities to learn, grow, and even play some basketball,” said Governor Maura Healey. “Programs like Summer Nights give young people opportunities to build healthy relationships, while also serving as a critical tool for violence prevention during the hot summer months. Summer Nights is also free, making fun recreational activities available to every family who wants to participate.” 

"What makes this program work so well is our direct collaboration with state, local, and community-based organizations and dedicated municipalities all focused on creating impactful opportunities for our young people,” said Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll. “Our administration will always look for ways to strengthen smart programs like Summer Nights. This year, we’ll reach thousands of young people. And, of course, we’ll take any chance to get out and play basketball.” 

The program is a continuation of the administration’s commitment to bringing people together, as it’s organized around partnerships with municipalities, community-focused organizations, and public safety agencies. The program launched in 2015 with four partners and has now grown to hosting programming for roughly 20,000 young people in urban areas around the state. Funding for this year’s program is $3 million, with $2.6 million going directly to partners and the remaining funds for police details, equipment, marketing, and staffing costs. 

"DCR’s Summer Nights Program gives thousands of kids and young adults in our cities the opportunity to spend their evenings taking part in safe, fun activities in their communities like playing kickball or fishing,” said Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary Rebecca Tepper. “Making summer recreation available to city residents is a matter of equity, and that is a central focus of many of our agencies going forward.” 

“Summer Nights is one of the most rewarding and exciting programs that DCR offers because we can see the direct impact it has on kids across the state,” said DCR Commissioner Brian Arrigo. “We believe easy access to our outdoor spaces and natural resources is critical for creating healthy communities and should be available to all children and families regardless of financial ability. This is how we grow the next generation of athletes, community leaders, and stewards of our parks.” 

“We’re grateful to Governor Healey, her administration, and the more than 30 community organizations in Boston who are creating opportunities for our young people and their families to have safe, fun, and healthy ways to spend time together outside this summer,” said Boston Mayor Michelle Wu. “As we work to be the best place in the country for families, we’re focused on having the most active, fun summer yet across our neighborhoods.” 

The Summer Nights Program will run through August 20 and offers activities such as basketball, volleyball, yoga, dance, martial arts, flag football, corn-hole, fishing, ping-pong, cardio boxing, swimming, camping, rowing, kayaking, cooking, painting, Zumba, dodgeball, tennis, and nature exploration. Programming also includes sessions on leadership skill-building, health and wellness, poetry, academic tutoring, storytelling, animation, music, media production, and career and college readiness programs. Additionally, three providers will provide accessible and adaptive programs, including theater, swimming, and kayaking. The program also offers free ferry passes for Summer Nights participants and their families to the Boston Harbor Islands through Boston Harbor Now. For a full list of programming, please visit DCR’s Summer Nights Program webpage.   
 

Each summer, DCR prioritizes providing safe, fun, and low-cost recreational programming for young people and families across the state. DCR will also offer the popular Movies in the Parks Series as part of the Summer Nights Program with showings of family-friendly movies at the agency’s Hatch Memorial Shell in Boston, Fall River Heritage State Park, Red Rock Park at Lynn Shores Reservation, Middlesex Fells Reservation in Stoneham, Breakheart Reservation in Saugus and Wompatuck State Park. This year’s featured movies will include Minions: Rise of Gru, Ferris Bueller's Day Off, Puss in Boots: Last Wish, The Goonies, Back to the Future, Super Mario Bros., and Thor: Love and Thunder.  

波士頓市撥款735萬元資助11機構辦文化活動 包氏文藝中心名列其一

MAYOR WU ANNOUNCES $7.35 MILLION IN CULTURAL INVESTMENT GRANTS AWARDED TO 11 GRANTEE PARTNERS  This multi-year transformative investment funded by the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) supports arts and cultural organizations in reimagining a more creative and equitable City

BOSTON - Tuesday, July 11, 2023 - Mayor Michelle Wu and the Mayor’s Office of Arts & Culture, in collaboration with the Equity and Inclusion Cabinet and the Mayor’s Office of Economic Opportunity and Inclusion, today announced that 11 arts and cultural grantees are receiving funding totaling $7,350,000 as part of the City’s new Cultural Investment Grant program. This program, supported by the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds, represents the largest ever municipal investment into Boston’s cultural community, and will help support these organizations with a clear vision for a creative, equitable and more just City in scaling and strengthening their programing across the City.  “Supporting these organizations through the Cultural Investment Grant program not only allows us to expand accessibility and equity in the arts sector, but also helps us make progress on so many other important needs—equity and wealth-building, housing stability and community-building, and supporting health and well-being in our neighborhoods,” said Mayor Michelle Wu.  The funding will build capacity for arts and cultural organizations working in partnership with communities in Boston, uplift Boston’s cultural sector, and reinforce equitable access to arts and culture by supporting communities of color in Boston who have been most impacted by long standing systemic inequities and disproportionately impacted by the pandemic. “The City of Boston is honored to partner with these organizations to make transformative investments across the city, and imagine a better future for all Bostonians through the arts and creativity,” said Chief of Arts & Culture Kara Elliott-Ortega. “This process has also made the most of our federal American Rescue Plan Act dollars, allowing us to explore new, innovative methods of grantmaking that will inform how we can best support Boston’s arts community.” The eleven grantee partners are: Beat The Odds, a multidisciplinary arts organization based in Grove Hall that is dedicated to working with and alongside young people to develop the skills necessary to build a career in the creative world while caring for their mental health so that they can navigate the complexities of today’ society. BTO’s Creative Youth Development Program aims to provide a safe space where young people have access to the creative tools necessary to inspire self-awareness, mental health, and healing. Dorchester Art Project and Boston Little Saigon Cultural District, a collaboration between two organizations that are working to develop a mixed-use community, cultural, and arts services hub that is trauma-informed, BIPOC-centered, and dedicated to conserving and promoting the arts, cultures, and identities within the Dorchester community. BAMS Fest, a cultural movement led by Greater Boston Black and Brown artists, culture makers and creative entrepreneurs who are on the front lines of racial equity, spatial justice, and economic empowerment. Their mission is to break down racial and social barriers to arts, music, and culture across Greater Boston through education and entertainment, including its annual Boston Art & Music Soul Festival. Design Studio for Social Intervention (ds4si), a creativity lab situated at the intersections of design thinking and practice, social justice and activism, public art and social practice, and civic engagement that designs and tests social interventions in and with communities for the improvement of civil society and everyday life. DS4SI’s new Design Gym engages BIPOC communities in world-building at the scale of the neighborhood, city, and beyond. The Theater Offensive, a social change organization using theater and the performing arts as cultural organizing tools. Building on a three-decade history of nationally recognized programming, TTO serves Boston’s queer and trans people of color (QTPOC) community and their allies, families, and friends with groundbreaking theater, arts education, and civic engagement offerings. Veronica Robles Cultural Center, a community-based organization in East Boston that aims to promote Latino arts and culture as an engine for stronger communities and economic growth. VROCC’s arts and culture programming is multipurpose, multidisciplinary, culturally affirming, and bilingual.  Boston Chinatown Neighborhood Center (Pao Arts Center), an arts and cultural center in Chinatown that utilizes the arts, cultural programming and creativity to support the health and well-being of individuals, families, and communities. Through its innovative approach, Pao Arts Center empowers creativity, connection, learning, and support across communities and generations. Cultural Equity Incubator, a creative home for Boston’s small and mid-sized organizations and collectives led by, and for, Queer, Trans, 2-Spirit, Disabled, Black, Indigenous, and people of color (QT2SDBIPOC) arts communities that works to equitably share space, governance, networks, and resources to support one another in actualizing their creative efforts to shape cultural landscape while centering justice and joy. That Child Got Talent, Secret Society of Black Creatives, and Next Leadership Development Corporation, a collaboration that collectively provides filmmaking-focused arts and cultural experiences to Boston residents and a workforce pipeline to the growing film and advertising industries in Massachusetts for young Black creatives. The collective's focus is on connecting Black people and other People of Color to unique storytelling and career opportunities.  Jean Appolon Expressions, a contemporary dance company deeply rooted in Haitian-folkloric culture that celebrates, nurtures, and empowers a global community through professional performances, teaching, and fostering healing and the joy of movement in people of all ages, abilities, and backgrounds to contribute to a socially just world. Hyde Square Task Force, an organization that amplifies the power, creativity, and voices of youth, connecting them to Afro-Latin culture and heritage so they can create a diverse, vibrant Latin Quarter and build a just, equitable Boston. As part of this grant process, the Mayor’s Office of Arts & Culture piloted a Cultural Advisory Team, which was a cohort of diverse stakeholders who played an integral role in the application and decision-making process, including conducting applicant interviews, supporting organizations with the completion of their applications and organizational profiles, and contributing to final funding decisions. “The Cultural Investment Grant is a pivotal opportunity and a new beginning for the City of Boston, its residents, working artists and organizations to unapologetically stand together, collaborate, connect, and amplify our talents, values, narratives and possibilities for the entire Arts & Culture ecosystem,” said Catherine T. Morris, Founder and Artistic Director of BAMS Fest. “For BAMS Fest to be considered and granted this award, among the other organizations, signals a widening of doors for opportunity, job creation, spatial justice, economic empowerment and holistic convening on city and statewide levels. We no longer have to fear, cry or contemplate whether Arts & Culture should be a practiced norm. We now have the chance to mobilize, organize and hold ourselves and others accountable to ensure that our neighborhoods, cultural spaces, ideas and values are truly upheld and supported.”  “This Cultural Investment Grant will mean significant investment in our work to elevate Afro-Latin arts and culture in the Latin Quarter,” said Celina Miranda, Executive Director of Hyde Square Task Force. “We are thrilled to be partnering with the City of Boston and honored to be among the fantastic group of organizations receiving support.” “MASSCreative, arts advocates, and members applaud Mayor Wu and the Boston City Council for this historic investment into the infrastructure of Boston's creative economy," said Emily Ruddock, Executive Director of MASSCreative. "We know that arts, culture and creativity are an economic driver for Boston and this funding will ensure that these communal benefits are guaranteed for every resident in every neighborhood. This is the result of leaders in City Hall collaborating with residents and cultural advocates in Boston to build a stronger and more inclusive creative sector.” Distributed over three and a half years, the grants will provide investments in the cultural sector that will give these organizations a path to thrive and sustain in Boston, create long term opportunities for all of Boston’s communities to have access to the arts, and strengthen the local arts ecosystem with new and unprecedented investments. The City of Boston also awarded $10,000 each to Company One Theatre, Boston Children’s Chorus, and The Guild for making it to the final round of the review process. To learn more about the Cultural Investment Grant and the grantee partners, visit https://boston.gov/culturalinvestmentgrant.

薩福克郡遺囑認證及家事法庭註冊官 麻州長屬意Stephanie L. Everett出任

 Governor Healey Recommends Appointment of Stephanie L. Everett, Esq. as Suffolk Register of Probate and Family Court 

BOSTON – Governor Maura T. Healey today announced that she is recommending Stephanie L. Everett, Esq. for appointment as Suffolk Register of Probate and Family Court. Everett is currently the Executive Director of the Office of Police Accountability and Transparency for the City of Boston and, through her legal career, has represented families with cases before the Probate and Family Court. She would be the first Black person to serve as Suffolk Register of Probate and Family Court. 

 

The Probate and Family Court Department handles court matters that involve families and children, such as adoption, divorce, child support, and wills. In the case of a vacancy, the Governor has the authority to appoint the Register of Probate and Family Court with the advice and counsel of the Governor’s Council to serve out the remainder of the term, which currently goes through the end of the 2024. 

 

“The Register of Probate and Family Court has a critical role to play in supporting families and children, particularly during the most challenging moments of their lives,” said Governor Maura Healey. “Stephanie Everett is uniquely qualified to step into this position as she has interacted with the court as both a young mother and an attorney, and she has built an incredible career advocating for justice and equity for her community of Boston. I’m proud to recommend her for Suffolk Register of Probate and Family Court and believe she has the experience, professionalism, determination and empathy needed to serve the families, lawyers and staff that rely on the Court.” 

 

“Stephanie Everett has dedicated her career to serving the people of Boston, and the Governor and I are excited for her to take her service to the next level,” said Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll. “Her voice, perspective and leadership will be invaluable in shaping the future of the Probate and Family Court. We look forward to working closely with our colleagues on the Governor’s Council to advance this appointment.” 

 

"The Probate and Family Court is largely unknown to many Massachusetts residents – until they need it. That often comes at the most painful moments of their lives, when a marriage dissolves or they have a child at a young age or they experience the death of a loved one,” said Stephanie Everett. “As someone who has experienced the Court from both sides, as a young mother and as an attorney, I’m intimately familiar with the impact it can have on people’s lives, as well as the fear, frustration and confusion that families face far too often when interacting with the Court. I’d be honored to have the opportunity to serve as Suffolk Register of Probate and Family Court and to use my experience to guide other families through the system and leverage every resource at our disposal to better ensure the future success of every person who interacts with the Court.” 

 

In 2021, Everett was appointed the City of Boston’s first Executive Director of the newly created Office of Police Accountability and Transparency, which is responsible for investigating complaints of police misconduct and ensuring that the Boston Police Department’s internal affairs review process is fair and thorough. In this role, she oversaw a budget of $1.4 million and a staff of 11 full-time employees. As a member of Mayor Michelle Wu’s cabinet, she advised the mayor on public safety matters. Everett also successfully advocated for funding to create a yearlong internship program and youth advisory council to bridge the gap of youth access to government and strengthen relationships with law enforcement. 

 

“Stephanie Everett is a brilliant and effective attorney and public servant who has devoted her career to serving others, particularly our most vulnerable residents,” said Boston Mayor Michelle Wu. “In our years working closely together, I’ve seen firsthand Stephanie’s deep commitment to transparent and accessible government, and I know she will bring her values and her many talents to this important role. I applaud Governor Healey and her team for this nomination and urge Attorney Everett’s swift confirmation. We will miss her in our administration, but are grateful that the families of Suffolk County will be well served under her leadership.” 

 

Prior to her work with the city, Everett was a solo law practitioner for eight years. She served as the lead counsel on jury and bench trials before Criminal and Juvenile Sessions and as a member of the Norfolk County Bar Advocate Program, accepting indigent clients facing criminal charges and families involved with the Department of Children and Families. She also served as a legal expert for various panel groups seeking to inform underserved and underrepresented communities with information about their rights and changes in law.  

 

Everett has also served as the Chief of Staff of the Massachusetts Department of Transitional Assistance, Deputy Chief of Staff in the Office of State Senator Sonia Chang-Diaz, and Manager of Public Safety for the Metropolitan Area Planning Council. She is a graduate of Northeastern University and Suffolk University Law School and a member of the Massachusetts Black Lawyers Association.

麻州政府撥款259萬元助14機構培訓再生人重入職場

                (Boston Orange 摘譯) 麻州政府今 (10) 日宣佈，撥發259萬餘元重新進入就業市場培訓補助款，資助14個組織，培訓287名曾入獄者重回工作崗位，進入清潔能源、休閒娛樂及製造等行業。

              麻州勞工及人力發展辦公室的麻州公司 (Comm Corp.)承辦這項目，最近公佈了2023會計年度立法報告，重點陳述了重新進入就市場的人力培訓補助計畫發揮的影響力。

              獲得補助款的組織包括波士頓市的”社區工作服務 (Community Work Services)”獲得20萬元，將和薩福克郡治安官辦公室合作，提供清潔能源、太陽能科技，廚藝，以及娛樂休閒業等的人力培訓。波士頓市的新英格蘭廚藝訓練學校德20萬元，和薩福克郡懲教署合作，提供食品服務及休閒娛樂業培訓。多徹斯特灣經濟發展公司得20萬元，和薩福克郡懲教署合作，提供製造業人力培訓，畢業生將進入Cycling 1854，以及Chop Value等公司當生產助理。

              獲補助機構詳細名單可上網查詢。

波士頓推減稅優惠 鼓勵業主把辦公大樓改建成住宅

     (Boston Orange 摘譯) 波士頓市今 (10) 日公佈計畫，以為期29年，高達75%的減稅優惠，鼓勵發展商與業主合作，把城中區的辦公室改建為住宅，一石二鳥的解決房屋不足，辦公室空置率在新冠病毒疫情後，高達20%的窘境。

            波士頓市的計畫發展局 (BPDA) 將和波士頓市長的住宅辦公室 (MOH)，以及波士頓財務內閣合作，承辦此案，預定今秋開始受理申請，2024年6月截止，符合市府包容性區域規劃標準，以及新的能源效率標準等資格者須在2025年10月前施工。未能依照協定完成改建者，需繳還之前減收的稅款。

            包容性區域規劃中的可負擔出租住宅規定為，17%的單位須保留給低收入，收入有限制的租戶，3%保留給持有住宅券者。

            波士頓市為彌補辦理這計畫損失的稅收，要求這些改建務業將來出售石，繳付2%的費用。

            波士頓計畫發展局局長Arthur Jemison表示，“波士頓市要通過這個計劃，激勵貸款人、物業所有人、市區利益相關者和州及市政府合作，增加市中心的住宅數量”。

            波士頓市去年10月公佈的”重振城中區報告 (Downtown Revitalization Report)顯示，新冠病毒疫情後，城中區商業空間的空置率大約有20%，城中區鄰里計畫者已經和發展商開過幾次會，收集資訊，了解發展商們改建住宅的意願，以及有哪些可行方法在城中區多蓋住宅。波士頓計畫發展局也聘請了HR&A顧問公司製作了一份在波士頓城中區和金融區把辦公室改建成住宅的可行性報告，預計2023年8月公佈。

            這一辦法將經由波士頓市的「代稅付款 (payment in lieu of taxes，簡稱PILOT)」公私雙方協議，在波士頓市的「城中區計畫 (PLAN Downtown)」實施。

MAYOR WU ANNOUNCES RESIDENTIAL CONVERSION PROGRAM FOR DOWNTOWN OFFICES

 

BOSTON - Monday, July 10, 2023 - Mayor Michelle Wu today announced the City will launch a new “Downtown Office to Residential Conversion Pilot Program,” a public-private partnership program to incentivize the conversion of underutilized office buildings to residential use in Downtown this fall.   The program, which is anticipated to begin accepting applications this fall, will be administered jointly by the Boston Planning & Development Agency (BPDA), Mayor's Office of Housing (MOH), and the City of Boston Finance Cabinet to help meet City goals of creating housing units Downtown and having more consistent foot traffic throughout the week to support Downtown businesses. This program may be modified to acknowledge and respond to changing market conditions.   “We must take every possible action to create more housing and more affordability so that Boston’s growth meets the needs of current and future residents,” said Mayor Michelle Wu. “This program will help us take advantage of the opportunity we have to rethink Downtown as a space where people from all over come together to collaborate, create, live, and play.”  “Through this conversion program, we seek to incentivize lenders, property owners, downtown stakeholders, and the State to partner with the City to increase the production of much needed housing in our downtown core,” said Chief of Planning Arthur Jemison. “This public private partnership opportunity is the right tool to unlock new housing and shape a new, mixed-use neighborhood Downtown.”  “By converting office space into residential homes, we can fulfill the housing needs of our thriving City, while revitalizing and stabilizing our downtown neighborhood," said Chief of Housing Sheila Dillon. “New residents will enjoy the advantages of living in a neighborhood with many amenities, including shopping options, recreational spaces and multiple transportation hubs. This initiative aligns with this administration’s dedication to creating accessible and equitable housing in every neighborhood, strengthening our small businesses and commercial centers.”  The program would offer owners of commercial office buildings Downtown reduced property tax rates in return for immediately converting their buildings to residential uses. Based on studies prepared for the City as part of PLAN: Downtown, a rate reduction by up to 75% of the standard tax rate for residential for up to 29 years could provide a strong incentive to encourage conversion. This would be implemented through a public-private partnership that will enable the BPDA, the City, and the proponent to enter into a payment in lieu of taxes (PILOT) agreement. These terms were developed with the assistance of outside experts in order to make residential construction economically possible in the short term given the high cost of such conversions. These projects will also receive the support of the new Ombudsperson’s office at the BPDA to help with streamlining the approvals process from other City departments following BPDA Board approval. Final program parameters will be defined when applications are made available this fall.  The program is planned to be time-limited and will only accept applications through June of 2024. To be eligible, projects must comply with the proposed Inclusionary Zoning standards when approved; and the new Stretch Code’s energy efficiency standards. Applicants will be encouraged to maintain ground floor retail or other public uses. Projects will be required to start construction by October 2025, and will be subject to paying any forgone taxes if these commitments are not met. In order to recoup the forgone tax revenue over time, the City will also require a 2% payment on future sales of the property.  Following the release of a Downtown Revitalization Report released in October of 2022 that showed post-pandemic commercial office space vacancy rates are approximately 20 percent, Downtown neighborhood planners facilitated several conversations with developers to gather information on interest in residential conversions and possible pathways to achieve more housing Downtown. The BPDA also contracted HR&A Advisors Inc. to produce a report on the feasibility of office conversion in Downtown Boston and the Financial District. This research all suggested that partnership from the City was the only financially feasible path forward for private development to complete residential conversions. The study was conducted alongside PLAN: Downtown, the BPDA’s ongoing Downtown planning initiative, a draft of which will be released in August 2023. This program furthers the Plan’s goals to increase residential growth downtown and revitalize the area through a greater mix of uses while also preserving the historic urban fabric that makes Boston’s Downtown so unique.  The program is part of Mayor Wu’s ambitious growth agenda for Boston, which is focused on advancing the City’s resilience, affordability, and equity goals in order to make Boston the best city in the country to raise a family. The agenda also includes the creation of a City Planning and Design Department operating under the direction of Chief of Planning Arthur Jemison, and the appointment of Katharine Lusk to lead the newly created Planning Advisory Council which was created to coordinate planning processes across City departments. The Mayor also committed to update Boston’s zoning code to create thousands of additional housing units in Boston’s squares and corridors and reform the Article 80 process to increase speed and predictability for development.

2023波士頓半馬賽11月12日舉行 即起接受報名

(Boston Orange編譯) 波士頓體育會 (BAA)今 (10) 日宣佈，達娜法伯癌症研究所 (Dana-Farber Cancer Institute) 和吉米基金 (Jimmy Fund) 贊助的2023年波士頓半程馬拉松賽，限9000人參加，將於11月12日(週日)上午8點舉行，起點和終點都在富蘭克林公園。

所有參賽者將可獲得一件adidas B.A.A.半程馬拉松比賽T恤，和一個獨角獸完賽獎牌，比賽當天使用便利設施，並可獲得1976年波士頓馬拉松賽冠軍Jack Fultz的培訓。

首300名參加達納法伯癌症研究所慈善隊，承諾募款至少500元者，該機構將為跑者支付95元的報名費。

波士頓半程馬拉松賽全長13.1英里，賽道沿著風景如畫的翡翠項鏈公園，經過著名地標，如阿諾德植物園 (Arnold Arboretum )、牙買加池塘和富蘭克林公園動物園，最後在富蘭克林公園的懷特 (White)體育場結束。

比賽當天在富蘭克林公園內提供免費的青少年活動。

達納法伯癌症研究所從2003年起就和波士頓體育會合作，成為這半程馬拉賽的贊助商和獨家慈善隊伍，迄今共募得800多萬元支持該機構的研究工作。有興趣為達納法伯癌症研究所籌款的跑者，可上網登記，加入該隊https://danafarber.jimmyfund.org/site/SPageServer/?pagename=rundf_baahalfmarathon_cancer。

波士頓體育會設有適合各年齡層的跑步俱樂部，每週。大波士頓地區舉行訓練跑（和社交聚會）。第128屆波士頓馬拉松由美國銀行贊助，定於2024年4月15日星期一舉行。查詢更多資訊可上網www.baa.org。