波士頓華埠居民遊行 呼籲支持"租戶優先購買權"

波士頓市議會議長愛德華費連 (Ed Flynn) 和居民們一起拉布條。 (周菊子攝) 

      (Boston Orange 周菊子波士頓報導) 數十名華埠居民在華人前進會 (CPA) 等組織的協助、組織下，在11月13日這天下午聚集在華埠夏利臣街上的菲立普廣場 (Philip Square) 聚集、遊行， 誓言 “我們不會被逼遷離華埠” 。

                         華人前進會副主任陳穎琪，社區組織者鄺寶蓮等人在聚會中促請麻州州議會加速通過"TOPA (Tenant Opportunity to"法案Purchase Act，租戶購買機會法)”，以更詳細、更具保護性，包括規定某些街道建築高度必須較低等的區域規劃法來保護華埠地區居民。

波士頓市議會議長愛德華費連 (Ed Flynn) 發言支持居民。(周菊子攝)

             波士頓市議會議長愛德華費連 (Ed Flynn) 這天特地趕到現場，向居民們表示，他將努力確保華埠繼續存在，耆英、移民，以及工新家庭都能有尊嚴地繼續在華埠居住、生活。

華人前進會鄺寶蓮(左一) 說明集會目的。 (周菊子攝)

             在華人前進會的安排中，居民們扯開寫有“我們不會被逼遷離華埠”字樣的布條，以及”讓我們留在家園，穩定我們的社區”，”租戶優先購買權”，”讓唐人街成為防止流離失所趨”，”我們支持租戶有購買權”等字樣的海報，從菲立普廣場開始遊行，並駐足必珠街(Beach)15號、夏利臣街 (Harrison) 86號A，好事福街 (Oxford) 等3個地點，發表簡短講話。

             包括姓趙、盧、李、邱、周、張、陳的華埠租戶，在前述3個地點分別發言，述說他們的房東近來不斷向潛在買家展示房屋，他們擔心自己所租住的房屋一旦出售，新業主就會收回房屋，改建，再以更高價格出租或出售，他們也將被迫失去原有的租住處。他們在發信給房東，要求給予租戶優先購買權之際，也呼籲麻州議會的房屋聯席委員會通過”租戶購買機會法 (TOPA)”，以加快此法在州議會中通過的進展。

華人前進會鄺寶蓮(左一)帶隊遊行。 (周菊子攝)

             華人前進會表示，儘管低收入居民在目前的市場價格中無力購買其所租住的屋宇，但是他們可以和有經驗，有意願把房屋保留作長期可負擔住宅的非牟利發展商們合作。

             前述居民們在發言時表示，像他們這樣的家庭，必須住在華埠，才能比較容易獲得他們需要的醫療護理及雙語服務，採買符合他們生活習慣的生鮮雜貨，上班通勤也才能更便利些。他們無法想像一旦被逼遷，日子要怎麼過下去。

華埠居民述說擔心被逼遷的憂慮。 (周菊子攝)

             包括華埠土地信託會 (CCLT)，亞裔資源中心 (AARW)，雀喜市 (Chelsea) 的”紮根社區 (Comunidades Enraizadas)”等，這天有多個社區團體出席支援居民的呼籲。”紮根社區”的Ana Vanegas表示，她的社區也面對同樣問題，所以大家必須呼籲通過”租戶購買機會法 (TOPA)”。 (更新版)

華埠居民遊行經過屋主有意出售的街道。(周菊子攝)

夏利臣街上也有屋主有意出售房屋。(周菊子攝)

華埠居民遊行到Oxford街，呼籲業主支持"租戶優先購買權"。 (周菊子攝)

麻州長Healey指派Monica Tibbits-Nutt接任交通廳廳長 大波士頓商會祝賀

 Governor Healey Appoints Monica Tibbits-Nutt as Secretary of Transportation  

BOSTON – Governor Maura T. Healey today announced that she is appointing Monica Tibbits-Nutt as Secretary of the Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) effective today. Tibbits-Nutt has been serving as Acting Secretary since mid-September and was previously Undersecretary for Transportation.  

 

“Monica Tibbits-Nutt is a proven leader who has done important work at MassDOT over the past year as we’ve worked to make Massachusetts’ transportation system more reliable, safe and accessible,” said Governor Healey. “As Acting Secretary, she hit the ground running by working with the MBTA to prepare a first-of-its kind plan to fix the tracks by the end of next year, taking important steps to integrate climate planning across MassDOT, securing federal funding  to support infrastructure needs, and stepping up for communities that were devastated by extreme weather. She prioritizes community engagement and equity at every turn. Lieutenant Governor Driscoll and I are confident that Secretary Tibbits-Nutt is the right person to lead the hardworking team at MassDOT and serve the people of Massachusetts.” 

 

“Secretary Tibbits-Nutt has been a deeply valued member of our team from day one, and our entire administration is thrilled to see her step into this well-deserved role,” said Lieutenant Governor Driscoll. “She has earned the respect of her colleagues and community partners, and I know that our transportation system is in good hands under her leadership.” 

 

“I am grateful to Governor Healey and Lieutenant Governor Driscoll for the opportunity to lead MassDOT as Secretary,” said Secretary Tibbits-Nutt. “Over the past year, I have had the privilege to serve alongside and get to know the incredible team at MassDOT. We all share a deep commitment to delivering the safe, reliable, resilient and equitable transportation system that the people of Massachusetts deserve. I am honored by the opportunity to lead the Department in this critical moment and build on the progress that the Healey-Driscoll Administration has made together.” 
 

About Monica Tibbits-Nutt 

 

Monica G. Tibbits-Nutt, AICP, LEED AP BD+C was sworn in as Acting Secretary for Transportation on September 11, 2023. She was previously appointed Undersecretary of Transportation by Governor Healey in January 2023. She also completed her tenure on the MassDOT Board of Directors and as the Vice-Chair of the Fiscal Management and Control Board (FMCB) that oversaw the MBTA from 2015-2021.  

  

For the past two months as Acting Secretary, she has: 

 

• Facilitated emergency construction and relief in the wake of the catastrophic flash flooding and property damage caused by the October 11 rainstorm. 

• Received more than $108 million in funding from the Federal Railroad Administration's (FRA) Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvements (CRISI) grant program, which will lay the groundwork for construction of West-East Rail. 

• Submitted federal funding applications for the Cape Cod Bridges, the Allston Multimodal Project, the Vernon Hill project in Worcester, and the Schell Bridge. 

• Released $4.7m in Community Transit Grant awards directly to municipalities. 

• Received more than $4.57 million for infrastructure projects to improve road safety in Brockton, Haverhill, Lowell, and Somerville through a U.S. Department of Transportation Program. 

• Completed the Squires Bridge Project in Somerville in 25 days, on time and with minimal disruption to the 2023 Fluff Festival. The original projected timeline was 42 days. 

• Worked with the MBTA to prepare a first-of-its kind Track Improvement Plan and extended all MBTA ferry service into the late fall. 

• Moved forward in the process of standing up the first-ever Office of Transportation and Climate Planning and Policy as a shared service responsible for setting operational standards for both MassDOT and MBTA. 

As Undersecretary of MassDOT, she directed oversight over the Rail & Transit Division, Aeronautics Division, and the Office of Transportation Planning. 

  

Prior to accepting her current role, Secretary Tibbits-Nutt served as the Executive Director of 128 Business Council, a unique transportation management association and regional service provider that builds privately-funded, cooperative public transportation routes throughout the Route 128 West Corridor.  

  

Secretary Tibbits-Nutt's areas of specialty are regional and transportation planning, urban design, and transit equity. In both her work and research, she is particularly interested in capitalizing upon every opportunity to better educate transportation stakeholders and the public about all aspects of the planning process. As part of this focus on education, she serves as the Vice President of the non-profit Youth Engagement Planning (YEP!), which brings urban planning and community advocacy into K-12 environments.  

  

Secretary Tibbits-Nutt also commits a significant portion of her time to mentorship through her roles as a member of the Board of Advisors to The Rappaport Institute for Greater Boston, and, less officially, by making herself available to the students and young professionals she has met through guest lecturing and her membership in the American Planning Association, the Transportation Research Board, and other professional associations. Secretary Tibbits-Nutt serves on the Board of Directors of WTS International and the WTS Foundation, which seeks to create a more inclusive and equitable transportation industry and provides scholarships to female-identifying professionals and students, respectively; and on the Board of Trustees of TransitCenter, which works to support, inform, connect and fund civic and public leaders working to truly make transit better. 

 

Secretary Tibbits-Nutt is an active member of the American Institute of Certified Planners and a LEED Accredited Professional in Building Design & Construction with the U.S. Green Building Council. Originally hailing from the rural Midwest, she is a first-generation college graduate. 

Statement from James E. Rooney regarding 

Appointment of Monica Tibbits-Nutt to Secretary of Transportation

"I commend Governor Healey and Lieutenant Governor Driscoll's decision to entrust the future of MassDOT to Secretary Monica Tibbits-Nutt. Over the years, I have seen Secretary Tibbits-Nutt lead impactful organizations and teams, and her immense expertise will strengthen MassDOT and the Commonwealth's transportation system. I look forward to continuing to work with the Secretary to move forward strategic solutions to difficult challenges that our communities and businesses urgently need," said James E. Rooney, President & CEO of the Greater Boston Chamber of Comme

麻州長 Healey 拜訪木匠學徒中心誌記國際學徒週

 Healey-Driscoll Administration Kicks Off Massachusetts Apprenticeship Week 

Week of Events Will Highlight the Value of Registered Apprenticeship in Building Massachusetts’ Skilled Workforce  

 

BOSTON — Today, the Healey-Driscoll Administration kicked off Massachusetts Apprenticeship Week, in conjunction with the 9th anniversary of National Apprenticeship Week. The administration is hosting a weeklong series of events across the state to highlight the Registered Apprenticeship Program as a key resource for employers to address workforce shortages and encourage residents to pursue apprenticeship pathways in sectors like

 construction and building trades, life sciences, health and human services, early education, advanced manufacturing, and other industries.   
 
 “The Registered Apprenticeship Program is instrumental to providing residents with the hands-on training and hard skills that lead to a long-lasting, family sustaining careers, while meeting the workforce needs of our state’s employers,” said Governor Maura Healey. “Our investments in Registered Apprenticeships will make

 the program more accessible to populations that have been underrepresented in the workforce and provides employers with tax credits to expand Registered Apprenticeships in all industries across the state.”  

 

“Earn while you learn – that’s what Registered Apprenticeships are all about,” said Lt. Governor Kim Driscoll. “The Healey-Driscoll Administration is committed to creating more rewarding and equitable career pathways for all of our residents, while solving our greatest workforce challenges." 

  
Governor Healey and Secretary Jones were joined at the Massachusetts Apprenticeship Kickoff Event by Housing and Livable Communities Secretary Ed Augustus, state and local officials, and members and leaders of the North Atlantic States Regional Council of Carpenters, who hosted the event. Currently, 88 percent of apprentices are in the building and construction industry. At the kickoff, Governor Healey signed the proclamation officially declaring November 12th through 18th Massachusetts Apprenticeship Week in the Commonwealth.  

 
“Registered Apprenticeship is a vital tool in the state’s toolbox to help solve the workforce shortages in industries like construction and the building trades, healthcare, advanced manufacturing, cybersecurity, finance, and more,” said Secretary of Labor and Workforce Development Lauren Jones. “To maintain Massachusetts’ competitive edge, we need to invest in our people—both existing workers and untapped talent—and Registered Apprenticeship is a proven, effective model to build the skilled talent that employers need. I look forward to highlighting this essential program with many partners throughout the week.” 

 

“Apprenticeships are vital to building up the pipeline of skilled, trained carpenters and trades workers of all kinds,” said Secretary of Housing and Livable Communities Ed Augustus. “We’re on a mission to build more housing in Massachusetts through the Affordable Homes Act and that means thousands of good jobs. We are going to need more skilled labor now and in the years to come. And the work our skilled laborers are doing will ensure more workforce housing so that the tradespeople who build our homes can afford to live in them.” 

  

“Our apprenticeship programs open doors to long-term, challenging careers that provide a real pathway to a higher standard of living. The partnership brings together the union and employers, as well as local schools and pre-apprenticeship programs to provide comprehensive craft skills development,” said Joe Byrne, Executive Secretary-Treasurer of the North Atlantic States Regional Council of Carpenters. “For many years the apprenticeship model has proven to be incredibly successful in meeting the needs of the construction industry. As development projects expand in new and different directions--from repurposing office space to housing; green energy; and high-tech manufacturing--our apprentices will be trained and prepared to efficiently produce the quality work necessary.”  

  
Registered Apprenticeship is a proven workforce development model that provides individuals with paid work experience, classroom instruction, and on-the-job training to gain nationally recognized credentials while offering progressive wage increases, supporting economic mobility, and driving greater affordability, equity, and competitiveness. The Healey-Driscoll Administration is committed to expanding apprentice into other emerging industries. The Administration’s FY24 budget delivers $4 million to enhance diversity, equity, and inclusion for the construction and building trades in Massachusetts and expand registered apprenticeship. The Healey-Driscoll Administration anticipates this funding will lead to more than 1,000 new apprentices employed in expansion industries as well as pre-apprenticeships in construction and other sectors to ensure that Massachusetts is creating more equitable pathways to work for all residents. Already in FY24, the Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development has invested $3.5 million overall to connect 740 individuals to registered apprenticeship. 
 

Additionally, in the recently signed tax cuts package, the Healey-Driscoll Administration furthered their commitment to Registered Apprenticeship by expanding the Registered Apprenticeship Tax Credit to enable employers in more industries to access the credit, including in-demand occupations essential to a region’s economic success. 
 
Massachusetts Apprenticeship Week, in conjunction with National Apprenticeship Week, takes place during the second week of November each year and is organized by the Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development and the Division of Apprentice Standards. Across the Commonwealth, leaders from industry, labor and workforce development, education, not-for-profit, and government come together to showcase the value and success of Registered Apprenticeship in Massachusetts. For more information about Massachusetts Apprenticeship Week, visit www. Mass.gov/Apprenticeship.  

「昆市好聲音」 Fiona Yang奪冠 林淑明觀眾最喜愛

「昆市好聲音」決賽打入決賽者合影。 (周菊子攝)

            (Boston Orange 周菊子麻州報導) 新節奏樂隊樂隊成立30年後再度舉辦歌唱比賽，11月12日晚在昆士市新星藝術學校決賽，11名入圍決賽者在近百名觀眾面前輪番獻唱後，Fiona Yang以一曲海闊天空，贏得冠軍及獎金800元。

                  這場「昆市好聲音」決賽，贏得亞軍及季軍的分別是在州街銀行工作的陳雅莉 (Jennifer Chin)，12年前從香港移民過來的楊燕如 (Red Yeo)。

「昆市好聲音」決賽新在林勁經營的星藝術學校舉行。 (周菊子攝)

               當晚贏得最佳台風獎的是麥若蘭 (Helen Mach)，贏得”我最喜愛的歌手”獎的是父母都、丈夫都出席助陣了的林淑明 (Ada Lam)。

「昆市好聲音」決賽裁判(前排)和決賽選手，樂隊合影。(周菊子攝)

              這場比賽由麥澤衡、李小宏擔任司儀，有廣州聯誼會舞蹈團表演，打入決賽的11名選手，Kelvin Tam， Helen Mach，Jing Mei，Andy Fung，Fiona Yang，Christine Diep，Meikit Ma，Wendy Eng，Ada Lam，Jennifer Chin, Red Yeo等3男8女的共11人，各唱一曲後，由裁判選出3人，再各唱一曲的競爭冠亞季軍。

                 當晚的裁判有曾和溫拿樂隊合作的Billy Chen，曾在波士頓地區歌唱比賽中贏得冠軍的Anna Tam，以及Wendy Chin，馬仕威樂隊共同創辦人梅錫銳，新節奏樂隊創始團員之一，現任昆士市市長助理的邱潔芳等人。

Fiona Yang贏得冠軍。(周菊子攝)

                 新節奏樂隊靈魂人物Joyce Chan雙喜臨門，與鼓手曹勇等人組成的樂隊規模越來越大，兒子Laurence Louie一家於2022年8月開設的Rubato HK Cafe，贏得Bon Appetiti的2023最佳新餐廳獎。

               主辦單位在比賽結束前還特地感謝Rubato HK Café，Ellen Chan，MK婚禮娛樂，Viva Karaoke，種籽音樂教育中心，Boston A.J. K.等個人及機構的贊助。

                  這場音樂比賽彰顯了昆士市在亞裔人口爆增至佔全市總人口30%之後，亞裔商戶及活動精采紛陳。

Fiona Yang。 (周菊子攝)

Jennifer Chin贏得亞軍。  (周菊子攝)

Jennifer Chin。 (周菊子攝)

Red Yeo贏得季軍。 (周菊子攝)

Red Yeo。 (周菊子攝)

Helen Mach (左二)贏得最佳台風獎。 (周菊子攝)

Helen Mach。 (周菊子攝)

林淑明 (中) 贏得"我最喜愛的歌手"獎。 (周菊子攝)

林淑明。 (周菊子攝)

廣州聯誼會舞蹈團表演。 (周菊子攝)

裁判們為選手們打分。 (周菊子攝)