波士頓市議會修訂包容性發展政策 可負擔房屋比率將由13%提高至17%

           (Boston Orange 編譯) 波士頓市議會27日通過修訂市府包容發展政策，發展商將來蓋新的出租樓宇，得撥出17%做收入有限制的可負擔住宅，其中3%要留給帝八類房屋券持有者。

          波士頓市長在一份聲明中表示，「波士頓市持續採取每一種行動來緊急的解決導致家庭流離失所，威脅到波士頓市社區未來與經濟的房屋危機」。她說通過新的包容發展政策是波士頓成長，維持可負擔性，讓未來世代可以稱波士頓為家所必須採取的重要步驟。

          房地產團體，以及大波士頓商會都極力反對這一改變，認為那將會讓原本就已很難融資的發展項目，費用更高，進一步的壓抑住宅建造量。

          大波士頓商會執行長Jim Rooney寫了一封信給市議會，稱增加住宅共應量才是解決地區性房屋短缺至關重要的做法，即使是包容性發展政策的最微小改變，都會對項目可行性有負面影響。標準越高，要造更多房屋就更難。

          根據美國人口統計局數據，在今年的前8個月中，波士頓市發出1534份樓宇施工許可，給私有房屋業主，和去年同期相比，少了47%，也是自2016年以來數量最低的一年。

          在26號的公聽會上，市議員Frank Baker拿出一份數據，展示近幾年來打擊房地產發展業的昂貴改變，包括材料價格及建築費用高漲，還有利率的急遽上升，以及商業樓宇的連鎖金費用也增加了。Frank Baker質疑現在是否是時候來改變包容性發展政策。

          波士頓計畫發展局 (BPDA)局長Arthur Jemison表示，有一名該局分析師指出，近來發展商提議新的住宅項目，平均有17%的包容性發展政策單位。在26日的會議中，Jemison和波士頓房屋長Sheila Dillon強調，RKG公司所完成的可行性調查，顯示了發展商在財務上能夠應付包容性房屋政策額度的增加。

          該研究檢視了劍橋市 (Cambridge) 和尚莫維爾市 (Somerville)的做法。這2個城市在過去幾年中把該市的包容性區域規劃要求，提高到20%。自從改變後，兩個城市的總體房屋生產量都降低了，儘管有一部分原因是因為新冠病毒疫情。

Arthur Jemison提到，吳弭市長在大波士頓商會的演講中也宣佈了，她積極考慮有實現的稅務優惠計畫，以促使那些已經批准，拿到許可，但還未興建的房屋計畫開始施工。

Jemison於26日在市議會備詢時還說，”我們對已經批准的發展計畫，也有類似關切，那也是為什麼現在考慮優惠計畫。

現在這新的包容發展政策將送交市府的區域規畫委員會，做最後批准。

紐英崙中華公所百年慶象棋大賽 孟鍵奪冠

嘉賓與部分參賽者合影。(周菊子攝)

紐英崙中華公所主席雷國輝(右一)和華商會董事余麗媖(左二)、
波士頓僑教中心主任潘昭榮左一)，以及波士頓象棋會會長陳景賢(左四)
等人頒獎給本次比賽的冠亞季殿軍，孟鍵 (左五)、彭鉑(右三)，
以及曹智聰(左三)、陳華(右二)。 (周菊子攝)

         (Boston Orange 周菊子波士頓報導) 紐英崙中華公所慶祝立案100年系列活動之一的象棋大賽，9月24日由波士頓象棋會主辦，來自紐約、加拿大、波士頓三地的24名選手在中華公所會激戰一日後，由來自紐約的孟鍵贏得冠軍，抱走獎金1000元。

              獲得亞、季、殿軍者依序為，紐約的彭鉑，波士頓的曹智聰及陳華，各得獎金500元，300元，100元。

            

紐英崙中華公所主席雷國輝(右一)和華商會董事余麗媖(左二)，
以及波士頓象棋會會長陳景賢(左一)等人頒獎給本次比賽的冠軍孟鍵。(周菊子攝)

這場比賽由紐英崙中華公所、波士頓華商會和安良工商會聯合舉辦，中華公所主席雷國輝，波士頓華商會董事余麗媖，波士頓僑教中心主任潘昭榮這天和波士頓象棋會會長，波士頓象棋比賽的上屆冠軍陳景賢一起頒發獎金，期許社區內熱愛象棋的人，將來繼續參與，發揚中華傳統文化。

波士頓僑教中心主任潘昭榮(左)頒獎給殿軍陳華。(周菊子攝)

              安良工商會全美元老陳仕維原本預定出席頒獎，不巧紐英崙至孝篤親公所慶祝該公所百年的籌備會議，剛好也在這天舉行。因而不克分身。

              這次的「紐英崙中華公所世紀象棋賽」不巧遇上颱風尾，屋內熱戰，屋外風雨飄搖，但一眾象棋熱愛者，在會場內捉對廝殺，一連比賽5、6個回合，輪到比賽的人坐在棋盤兩側對弈，下了場的人就遊走圍觀賽況，看得都非常投入。

出席者圍觀棋賽。(周菊子攝)

              這次的比賽，紐約來了7人，其中的孟鍵、彭鉑在北美棋壇都是名列前茅的高手，9月24日這天分奪冠亞軍，倒也毫不令人意外。加拿大也有潘劍明、余超勁2人遠道而來參賽。

              會場中最令人矚目的年僅10歲的戴子軒，曾跟隨上海象棋大師孫勇征學習，今年遠從麻州Brocton趕來參賽。

出席者圍觀棋賽。(周菊子攝)

              波士頓有不少愛好象棋人士，包括游風標、黃靄霖、陳華、雷軍，從紐約來的溫凱良等人，長期活躍，這次比賽也都到場參賽或觀賽，有些人則因遷居他地而淡出，例如甄穗毅，以及曾任會長的秦繼華，驟病辭世的則有工程師鍾瑜，以及甫於8月底因血管爆裂，搶救不及的小企業主吳烷森。由於吳烷森在世時，出錢出力，卻從不爭功，總是在一旁默默支持，波士頓象棋會在這次比賽的開幕式中，特地舉行了默哀儀式，聊表哀思與惦念心意。 (僑務電子報:    https://ocacnews.net/article/351298?cid=2 )

最年輕的參賽者戴子軒(前右) 才10歲。(周菊子攝)

出席者圍觀棋賽。(周菊子攝)

紐英崙中華公所會址。(周菊子攝)

紐英崙伍氏宗親祭祖歡宴 慶祝伍煥華、伍輝民依序榮升元老、美東副總長

紐英崙伍胥山公所主席伍偉業(左起)和2名全美伍氏元老伍煥華、
伍伯和，以及新當選為全美伍氏美東副總長的伍輝民，
9月24日這天祭祖，稟告族務近況。(周菊子攝)

         (Boston Orange 周菊子波士頓報導) 紐英崙伍胥山公所9月24日晚設宴，恭喜伍煥華，伍輝民，依序榮升全美伍氏元老，美東副總長，感謝僑委會委員長徐佳青親自到賀，波士頓經文處支持。席間伍煥華妙語如珠敘述，讓人爆笑又讚嘆伍氏宗親通力合作，效率絕佳。

紐英崙伍胥山公所祭祖後合影。 (伍氏宗親提供)

              9月24日這天中午，伍氏照慣例，先在泰勒街會所以金豬祭祖，向先人轉達喜訊，晚上再到乞臣街上的唐朝餐廳，席開9

桌的邀黃伍一家親的兩家宗親聚餐，感謝籌辦全美懇親大會的各工作小組成員。

              波士頓僑教中心主任潘昭榮也藉這機會，代表僑委會向伍煥華及伍輝民送上賀狀。

伍黃2家宗親的婦女組和伍煥華及伍輝民夫人合影。 (伍氏宗親提供)

              伍煥華這晚興奮非常，週到的一一點名，描述各人輔佐功績，包括黃氏宗親會的黃周麗桃、黃國麟夫婦，早從去年起就和伍氏宗親開了多次會議，詳細討論各項細節，懇親大會期間，黃氏宗親會還大方設宴，席開20多桌的宴請伍氏宗親。

              伍煥華也指出，波士頓經文處和僑教中心多方協助外，僑委會委員長徐佳青還特地遠道而來，從遊行到晚宴的全程出席一整天，讓他們十分感動。

左起，黃氏宗親會主席黃偉健，伍氏宗親會主席伍偉業，
伍氏美東總長伍輝民，伍氏元老伍伯和、伍煥華，黃氏宗親會主席
黃光沐和宗親們獻金豬祭祖。(伍氏宗親提供)

              但是等了26年才輪到波士頓舉辦的全美伍氏懇親大會，能夠辦得這麼成功，真的是全靠伍氏宗親分成接待組，佈置組，交通組、攝影組，籌款組，以及向政府申請遊行證照，填表，協調舞獅，訂製大會揹袋，絲巾等等各項事務。

波士頓僑教中心主任潘昭榮(右)代表僑委會，送上賀狀給伍輝民。(周菊子攝)

              在伍氏公所人才濟濟之中，不但有創辦了神筆基金會的伍振中以其書法、繪畫專長，為懇親大會撰寫了所有的請柬、各埠告示牌，配合伍少武提議的無人機航拍，在華埠牌樓前繪製巨型「伍」字，由宗親們真人上陣，排出伍字，為全美伍氏懇親大會締造出一項創舉。

              伍煥華指出，這次的全美伍氏懇親大會能夠辦得這麼成功，全靠所有宗親在平凡的崗位上做不平凡的事，包括主席伍偉業全程支持，他的2名女兒支援攝影組，李伍碧香的會場布置等各項工作，還有交通組出動了11輛私家車來接送外地抵埠宗親，讓他們完全不需要訂巴士。送機時有一位102歲的宗親希望交通組送機人員能夠陪同進機場，這天得上班的該名送機女宗親就特地請假2

波士頓僑教中心主任潘昭榮(右)代表僑委會，送上賀狀給伍煥華。(周菊子攝

小時，完成任務。還有宗親班機延誤，要求利用時間到哈佛大學「朝聖」，送機宗親也二話不說地當起導遊。

              伍氏宗親們這晚情緒都很高昂，為他們成功舉辦全美伍氏懇親大會，佐證了團結就是力量，感到欣慰非常。  (僑務電子報:   https://ocacnews.net/article/351302?cid=2)

伍氏元老伍煥華(後右一)、主席伍偉業(後右二)和交通組合影。(周菊子攝)

曾任伍氏主席的伍紹仁 (右三)、伍樂仁(左二)和李伍碧香(左三)、梅伍銀寬(前左一)，
李伍綺蓮(前左二)等資深伍氏宗親同桌聚餐。(周菊子攝)

波士頓僑教中心主任潘昭榮(右立者)和伍氏元老、總長等人。(周菊子攝)

伍氏宗親中午祭祖後聚餐。(周菊子攝)

伍氏元老伍煥華送紀念品給黃周麗桃。(周菊子攝)

伍氏元老伍伯和 (左) 送紀念品給黃鷹立 (右)。 (周菊子攝)

伍氏元老伍伯和(左)代表伍氏送上捐款給中華耆英會，
由創辦人梅伍銀寬(右) 代表接受。 (周菊子攝)

波士頓市長吳弭徵項目管理公司監管長島橋重建工程

MAYOR MICHELLE WU SEEKS PROJECT MANAGEMENT FIRM TO OVERSEE LONG ISLAND BRIDGE RECONSTRUCTION Contracted construction management team will ensure work can start immediately after City secures final approvals

BOSTON - Thursday, September 28, 2023 - Mayor Michelle Wu announced that the City’s Public Works Department is moving to the next stage in the effort to rebuild the Long Island Bridge by seeking firms to provide construction oversight and contract assistance services for the bridge superstructure replacement project. The City aims to have an Outside Project Manager (OPM) in place by the time the City secures its final bridge replacement approvals so that construction work can begin immediately to restore access to the Long Island public health campus. Applications are due October 20, and the City will review and select a team before the end of the year. “Families around the city and region deserve access to a comprehensive network of care as so many experience substance use and mental health challenges,” said Mayor Michelle Wu. “I’m excited to bring on a project management team to begin taking action in rebuilding a public health campus and coordinate with provider partners to bring these critical services online as quickly as possible.” “I want to thank Mayor Wu for prioritizing the needs of our communities and moving this project forward,” said Dr. Bisola Ojikutu, Executive Director of the Boston Public Health Commission. “In the past there was a lot of innovative work happening on the Long Island campus. This new campus will be a hub for further innovation and create a supportive and stable environment for long-term recovery for generations of people.” The outside project manager will be crucial for supporting the City of Boston to rebuild the bridge. The City is awaiting its final two reviews required for the Long Island Bridge project: a federal consistency review by the Massachusetts Office of Coastal Zone Management (CZM) and a bridge permit from the United States Coast Guard. The Coast Guard has previously issued favorable preliminary determinations on the navigational and historic preservation elements of the City’s bridge design.  “The reconstruction of the Long Island Bridge is a top priority for the City of Boston,” said Julia Campbell, Deputy Chief of Infrastructure & Design for the City’s Streets Cabinet. “We are seeking and expecting thoughtful and innovative responses from firms looking to help lead this signature construction project. This is a rare opportunity to help build a single structure that will provide direct access to care that will improve many people’s lives.”   The City of Boston recently led a tour of the Long Island recovery campus with a group of healthcare providers. The purpose of the visit was to underscore the possibility of partnering with a variety of service providers to ensure a comprehensive continuum of care that best meets the needs of individuals facing substance use disorder and co-occurring mental health challenges. As the City continues to plan for rebuilding the bridge and stabilizing the buildings on the island, the City of Boston will engage the many organizations already a part of the care spectrum.  “BHCHP is heartened to see this next step in Mayor Wu’s plan to rebuild the bridge and reimagine and restore the critical health services on Long Island---services that will be transformational for individuals suffering from substance use disorder and other health issues. We look forward to working once again with the city of Boston to provide the much-needed, separate health care spaces for these medically vulnerable individuals, to promote healing for these individuals and for our Boston community at large,” said Stephanie Sullivan, CEO of Boston Health Care for the Homeless Program. “BHCHP is committed to the care of our patients, wherever they are, geographically or in their recovery journey, and continue to advocate for those who are impacted by the opioid crisis or homelessness.” Mayor Michelle Wu recently announced that the City of Boston secured its Chapter 91 License from the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP) to reconstruct the Long Island Bridge. With this long-awaited license in hand, the City announced its intent to move forward with pre-construction to rebuild the bridge and restore access to the 35-acre public health campus on Long Island. With $81 million already available in the FY24 capital budget for the bridge, the City is accelerating progress on construction immediately and set a goal that in four years the bridge would be rebuilt to a campus with a first phase of buildings ready to reopen for programming.

Healey 州長派傅來明罕市長Charles Sisitsky出任MBTA董事

 Governor Healey Appoints Framingham Mayor Charles Sisitsky to the MBTA Board of Directors 

 

BOSTON – Governor Maura Healey today appointed Framingham Mayor Charles (Charlie) Sisitsky to the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) Board of Directors. Mayor Sisitsky will fill the seat created by the Fiscal Year 2024 budget signed by Governor Healey that is designated to be filled by a municipal official representing a city or town in the MBTA service area. Mayor Sisitsky has served as Mayor of Framingham since January 2022 and has over forty years of public administration leadership experience.  

  

“Mayor Sisitsky has been a strong leader in his community for decades, and we’re excited about the perspective he will bring to the MBTA Board of Directors,” said Governor Healey. “I was proud to sign a budget that created this seat and a designated seat for Boston to better ensure that the communities served by the MBTA have a seat at the table. Together with Acting Transportation Secretary Tibbits-Nutt, General Manager Eng, we have confidence that the team we’ve put in place will deliver a more reliable, safe and accessible MBTA for all.”  

 

“The MBTA Board of Directors consists of leaders in a range of industries that believe in our mission of ensuring safe, reliable and accessible public transportation for Massachusetts,” said Lieutenant Governor Driscoll. “Mayor Sisitsky is a valued member of his community, and we look forward to seeing his leadership at the MBTA.” 

 

“It is an honor to be appointed to the MBTA Board of Directors by Governor Healey,” said Mayor Sisitsky. “I know what it’s like to live in a community that relies on the MBTA, and I hope to use that perspective to better support the future of Massachusetts’ public transportation. I look forward to working with the rest of the Board and the Healey-Driscoll Administration to make the MBTA more accessible and reliable.” 

 

In April, Governor Healey appointed three new members of the MBTA Board – Chair Thomas P. Glynn, Thomas M. McGee, and Eric L. Goodwine. Additional board members include Acting Transportation Secretary Monica Tibbits-Nutt, Chanda Smart, Robert Butler, Quincy Mayor Thomas Koch, and Mayor Wu’s recent appointment Mary Skelton Roberts. 

 

About Mayor Charles Sistsky 

 

Charlie Sisitsky, sworn in as Mayor of the City of Framingham on January 1, 2022, is a seasoned and accomplished municipal executive with forty years of public administration leadership experience. A Framingham resident and homeowner since 1971, Charlie has an extensive record of public service in our community.  
 

While raising four children, all graduates of Framingham public schools, Charlie served on the Potter Road PTO, as a youth basketball coach, on the Town’s Finance Committee, and as a Town Meeting member from Precinct Two. From 1998 to 2018, Charlie was an elected member of the Framingham Board of Selectmen, where he served multiple terms as Chairman and also led the Utility Abatement Committee, and the Traffic and Roadway Safety Committee, where he established and helped author the town-wide policy for traffic calming. After Framingham’s adoption of its City Charter, Charlie was elected City Councilor from District One, and served as Chairman of the Planning & Zoning subcommittee of the City Council. 

 

Mayor Sisitsky has a B.S. in Civil Engineering from WPI and a master’s degree in Community Planning and Area Development from the University of Rhode Island. After completing his studies, he became the youngest City Planner in Massachusetts, serving as the Planning Director for Medford for ten years. He then took over as the Planning Director for the Town of Natick, where he eventually also became the Town’s Director of Public Works – a position he held for over twenty years. His tenure in Natick included numerous major accomplishments, such as the redevelopment of Downtown Natick, the planning and construction of “Flutie Pass” (the connector road between Natick and Framingham’s major shopping areas to alleviate traffic on Route 9), and the implementation of an innovative town-wide curbside recycling program. 

麻州地鐵紅線 Ashmont 到 Mattapan段將停駛16天 期間民眾可免費搭乘通勤火車

(Boston Orange 編譯) 麻州地鐵紅線 (Red Line) 從Ashmont站到 Mattapan站， 將於10 月 14 日至 29 日關閉16天，麻州地鐵局將提供巴士，替代地鐵服務，同時在這期間，民眾可免費搭乘通勤火車。

         麻州地鐵早前已宣佈，正在Ashmont 和Mattapan車站間執行大型軌道改善工程，民眾只要在登上費爾蒙線(farimount) 通勤火車後，向車長展示查理卡 (CharlieCard)即可。

         麻州地鐵正在製作內容包括代替選擇，以及其他事物的乘客指南，民眾可上網查看。

         麻州地鐵總經理伍偉華 (Philip Eng)表示，經由提供替代班車服務，以及在地鐵關閉期間，接受查理卡刷卡在費爾蒙線通勤火車上使用，是希望乘客們知道，麻州地鐵希望乘客們在施工期間，繼續使用公共交通工具，而且麻州地鐵重視、了解民眾。

         麻州地鐵還將在9月27日、30日這2天舉辦公聽會，繼續聽取民意。

 Fairmount Commuter Rail Line to Be Free during 16-Day Red Line Ashmont Branch and Mattapan Closure 

Reminder: MBTA to host upcoming virtual and in-person public meetings. 

BOSTON – Today the MBTA announced that travel on the Fairmount Commuter Rail Line will be free during the upcoming 16-day closure of the Red Line’s Ashmont Branch and Mattapan Line from October 14-29 in which train service will be replaced by shuttle buses. As previously announced, the MBTA is performing major track improvements across the Ashmont Branch and the Mattapan Line. Riders can simply show their CharlieCard to the Commuter Rail conductor while onboard the Fairmount Line. Fairmount Line fall/winter schedules are available at mbta.com. The MBTA is also in the process of developing a tailored Riders’ Guide that includes alternate travel options and more, which will be available online soon. 

“The upcoming work on the Ashmont Branch and Mattapan Line is critical to addressing and improving safety and reliability along this stretch of the Red Line, and the complete closure of these lines allows us to accomplish vital work in 16 days. While this service change will be challenging for our riders, they have let me know that they appreciate that we are committed to improving their travels,” said MBTA General Manager and CEO Phillip Eng. “By offering alternative shuttle bus service and now by accepting CharlieCards ‘being flashed’ on the Fairmount Commuter Rail Line during the closure, we want our riders to know that we want them to continue to use mass transportation while we perform this work, and that we value and understand how they rely on the MBTA and the services we provide.”

DATE:                        Wednesday, September 27, 2023 

TIME:                        6 PM – 8 PM 

LOCATION:             Virtual via Zoom

                                    Register here.

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INFORMATION:       https://www.mbta.com/events/2023-09-27/public-meeting-ashmont-branch-and-mattapan-line-track-upgrades-virtual

             DATE:                        Saturday, September 30, 2023 

TIME:                        1 PM – 3 PM 

LOCATION:             Codman Square Health Center Great Hall

637 Washington St, Boston, MA

Map: https://goo.gl/maps/M2wMMAt2ZKEmk1NH7