麻州府撥款920萬元激勵微電子產業

 Healey-Driscoll Administration Announces $9.2 Million to Boost Microelectronics During U.S. Department of Defense Visit  

Includes $7.7 Million for New Technology at MIT and $1.5 Million to Boost Workforce Development, Education, & Student Engagement across Northeast Region 

 Grants paired with Private-Sector Investment from Applied Materials, a Global Leader in Semiconductor Equipment    

Governor Maura Healey, Lt. Governor Kim Driscoll and Secretary of Economic
Development Yvonne Hao join Massachusetts Technology Collaborative Executive
Director Carolyn Kirk and other officials to announce $9.2 million in new technology
and workforce development grants aimed at spurring the microelectronics and
semiconductor industry across the Northeast Region during a visit from officials and
members from the U.S. Department of Defense at the NEXUS Center in Lincoln
on Jan. 30, 2024. (Joshua Qualls/Governor’s Press Office)

LINCOLN– During a visit from officials and members from the U.S. Department of Defense and the National Security Technology Accelerator (NSTXL) hosted by the NEXUS Center, the Healey-Driscoll administration today announced $9.2 million in new technology and workforce development grants aimed at spurring the microelectronics and semiconductor industry across the Northeast Region. The new awards are the first investments made by the Northeast Microelectronics Coalition (NEMC) Hub, the division of the Massachusetts Technology Collaborative that is overseeing investments made by the federal CHIPS and Science Act following the formal establishment of the Hub in September 2023.    

Chancellor of UMass Lowell Julie Chen greets Governor Healey.
(Joshua Qualls/Governor’s Press Office)

The largest of the new grants will provide $7.7 million in funding to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) that will support a project with global semiconductor and display equipment manufacturer Applied Materials to establish new advanced nano-fabrication capabilities within the MIT.Nano research hub. The new equipment will be installed at MIT over the coming year and will include a suite of state-of-the-art 200mm semiconductor wafer fabrication tools, to support research and development at industry-compatible scale, using the same equipment found in high-volume production facilities. The grant from the NEMC Hub, and the agreement between Applied Materials and MIT, together represent an estimated $40 million in new public and private investment. The tools from Applied Materials, which should be online in early 2025, enable the ‘lab-to-fab’ transition of technologies by early-stage startups and boost research critical to defense-focused industries and other vital technology sectors. According to the global trade association SEMI, these fabrication facilities are critical to the development of semiconductors used in a broad range of markets, including consumer electronics, automotive, industrial automation, clean energy, and more.   

Today’s announcement also spotlighted four new awards totaling approximately $1.5 million that will boost education and workforce development programs in the region, helping companies and research labs to develop trained workers that can help domestic companies power the reshoring of microelectronics fabrication and hardware development.   

"Today’s grants are an important milestone for our state, the northeast region, and the nation as a whole,” said Governor Maura Healey. “The investment in this R&D infrastructure will open doors to students, innovators, and entrepreneurs across the region, helping take new discoveries from the drawing board and into the real world. These grants will also open doors to the workforce of the future, providing students and our Veterans a pathway to high-paying, critically important jobs that exist in this sector. This is exactly why Massachusetts competed so hard to win the Northeast Microelectronics Coalition Hub.”    

“These grants focused on expanding our workforce will teach more students that you do not need a four-year degree to excel in this sector, helping open more doors to students as they graduate high school,” said Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll, the co-chair of the Massachusetts STEM Council. “The investment made by Applied Materials in MIT.Nano, and the recent investment from the DoD in the Northeast Microelectronics Coalition Hub highlights the importance this region has to developing next-generation technologies and the required workforce, that is unparalleled anywhere in the world.”     

“The Institute launched MIT.nano in 2018 to drive discovery and innovation on campus, creating a new center of community and collaboration,” said MIT President Sally Kornbluth. “With this new investment by NEMC and Applied Materials, we have an incredible opportunity to supercharge MIT.nano, provide the capabilities most needed in the region and help revitalize US leadership in microelectronics and semiconductor manufacturing.”   

“Applied Materials’ collaboration with MIT, supported by the grant from the NEMC Hub, will help accelerate innovation in a wide range of specialty chip technologies, including silicon and compound semiconductors, that are essential to the products people use every day,” said Dr. Om Nalamasu, Senior Vice President and CTO of Applied Materials. “The new capabilities we are creating at MIT.nano can establish faster pathways for bringing early-stage ideas to commercialization and strengthen the semiconductor industry’s talent pipeline in the United States.”   

“The growth of the NEMC Hub since its launch, shows the strong alignment we have between government and the private sector when it comes to semiconductors and microelectronics,” said Economic Development Secretary Yvonne Hao.“We’re honored to have our partners from the DoD here today, as well as the membership of the NEMC Hub, who are all key partners on these critical investments. Today’s grants are designed to get equipment installed quickly, expedite new training programs, revolutionize our workforce across the state, and bolster our global competitiveness in alignment with the CHIPS Act.”    

The four workforce programs will aim to expand engagement to students across the northeast region, including direct outreach to underrepresented groups and key audiences such as Veterans, and driving new workers for U.S.-based microelectronics companies:  

• MITRE, Bedford, Mass. - An award of $750,000 to expand the Embedded Capture-the-Flag (eCTF) competition, which aims to attract students and develop their skills in secure microelectronics. The program leverages gamification to bridge the educational gap in embedded systems security and microelectronics, to prepare students to work in this critical field. The eCTF program is designed as a hands-on, project-based learning experience that caters to participants of various skill levels. The program will be aimed at high school, community college, undergraduate, and graduate students, with a focus on underrepresented groups within the industry.  

• Headlamp, Boston, Mass. - An award of $250,000 to a ‘Veteran transition accelerator’ that will support the Headlamp SkillBridge Fellowships program, which will provide a structured pathway to provide Veterans with general education about the microelectronics industry and employer-specific training, concluding with a fellowship at a member company within the NEMC Hub. The program will support 25 veterans with education and fellowships, helping drive net migration into the northeast region’s workforce.   

• MIT, Cambridge, Mass. - An award of $75,000 to expand the existing Northeast Microelectronics Summer Internship Program (NMIP) which provides more first- and second-year undergraduate students with internships at microelectronics companies in the northeast. MIT, in partnership with the NEMC Hub, matches students with paid internships at microelectronics companies, plus organizes bi-weekly field trips that educate the students on the local microelectronics ecosystem, the opportunities that exist, and potential mentorship opportunities. By engaging with students with hands-on learning opportunities early in their academic careers, participants will be better equipped to choose a career path that focuses on microelectronics hardware.   

• 
  

• Makers of a Better Future - An award of $400,000 will be leveraged to expand the existing 10-hour awareness curriculum developed by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and the Center for Advanced Manufacturing at the MassTech Collaborative. The funding will help scale the program to reach more high schools across the northeast region, expanding from the current curriculum, which is currently deployed in 50 Massachusetts high schools reaching 1,500 students. The current curriculum is focused on education about advanced manufacturing careers, including focus modules on robotics, additive manufacturing, and photonics, with a new module developed focused on semiconductors, including how they are used to solve technical challenges and the wide range of careers within the sector.    

“As our nation works to address critical STEM workforce shortages and grow tech talent, MITRE is proud to be part of the solution,” said Laurie Giandomenico, Ph.D., senior vice president and chief acceleration officer, MITRE. “The United States is making historic investments to secure global leadership in microelectronics and semiconductors, and scalable programs like MITRE’s Embedded Capture the Flag competition can help attract and train a diverse workforce essential to the development of secure microelectronics systems and supply chains. Participating students develop practical skills for securing critical embedded systems, such as unmanned aerial vehicles, smart grids, and medical devices, while gaining exposure to an ecosystem of hardware design and security career opportunities alongside potential employers.”   

“Veterans are an underutilized source of talent, and they stand ready to help rebuild the backbone of infrastructure critical to our national security. Some 150,000 veterans leave the service every year -- we hope many of them will consider bringing their leadership and technical acumen into the Northeast and the microelectronics industry,” said Steve Chang, CEO and founder of Headlamp. “This grant shows that the Northeast is ready to lead the way for transitioning veterans. We are honored to help match the right veteran for the right roles and help illuminate the unique value each individual can bring to the microelectronics value chain.”  

In September 2023, the MassTech Collaborative received a one-year federal award totaling $19.7 million through the Microelectronics Commons program, executed through the Strategic & Spectrum Missions Advanced Resilient Trusted Systems (S2MARTS) other transaction agreement managed by Naval Surface Warfare Center, Crane Division and the NSTXL. Today’s announcement kicked off a one-day visit by officials from the U.S. Department of Defense and NSTXL to engage with members of the Northeast Microelectronic Coalition Hub, including a membership meeting hosted by the NEXUS Center in Lincoln and a site visit to MIT.Nano later in the day.    

“The Microelectronics Commons has already enabled conversations, relationships, and offerings to take place that would not normally have taken place,” said Stephanie Lin, Director of icroelectronics Commons at NSTXL, the National Security Technology Accelerator. “Because of this, many innovative partnerships have been forming, not just as a result of investments made, but also those anticipated. We are highly encouraged to see that this level of collaboration continues to reverberate through the regional levels.”   

Since the initial funding announcement in September, the NEMC Hub has grown from 90 to 160 members, comprising leading companies, universities, and research-focused organizations across eight northeast states and beyond. In addition to review and support for the new grant awards, NEMC Hub members have also been activated to respond to the recent $280 million ‘call for projects’ launched by NSTXL on December 18, 2023.    

"We're excited by the opportunity the CHIPS and Science Act holds for this region and how today's awards will shape the microelectronics sector for decades to come," said Director of Federal Funds and Infrastructure Quentin Palfrey. "Our thanks to President Biden, the Massachusetts congressional delegation and our partners at the DoD and NSTXL for making these investments in the innovation and workers of this region. Today's visit shows how Massachusetts can leverage both a whole-of-government strategy and a regional approach that puts federal dollars to work boosting our defense capabilities while furthering workforce development and economic competitiveness in our communities."   

"The NEMC Hub investments, programs, and project pursuits by our members is the U.S. CHIPS and Science Act in action. The amazing member growth and activity we have seen within our Hub since the federal announcement in September increases the opportunity for unique partnerships to emerge and for us to deliver on the Microelectronics Commons mission for the Department of Defense,” said Ben Linville-Engler, Deputy Director at the MassTech Collaborative and the interim director of the NEMC Hub. “That cohesive collaboration, across industry, academia, and state boarders, will help our region’s competitiveness within the global tech sector, but also as we compete for more federal funding opportunities and leverage the NEMC Hub as an economic development engine for the region.”    

“I am thrilled to see this $9.2 million investment in our microelectronics and semiconductor education and workforce development. I voted for the CHIPS and Science Act because I knew we would be investing in cutting-edge technologies that would not only advance research and innovation, but also boost economic development and create thousands of good-paying jobs here in Massachusetts and across our country,” said Congresswoman Lori Trahan.   

“The Chips and Science Act, passed by Congress in 2022, marked the beginning of a once-in-a-generation investment in our future national security,” said Congressman Seth Moulton. “Today, I’m thrilled to see a transformative initiative like the NEMC Hub take flight because of that legislation. The Microelectronic Commons will help reduce our reliance on foreign nations to manufacture chips, and importantly, it will limit opportunities for technology theft. Even better, these NEMC Hub investments will create high-quality, well-paying jobs and offer valuable upskilling opportunities to our workforce. This is exactly how we need to approach national security moving forward: cutting-edge innovation created right here on American soil.” 

Healey 等22名州長聯名請最高法院在安全墮胎藥上尊重FDA

 Governor Healey, 21 Other Governors Urge Supreme Court to Respect Longstanding FDA Authority & Access to Safe Abortion Medication   

BOSTON – Today, Massachusetts Governor Maura T. Healey and 21 Governors who make up the Reproductive Freedom Alliance filed an amicus curiae brief with the Supreme Court in the case of Food and Drug Administration, et al., v. Alliance for Hippocratic Medicine. The Governors argue that, if the Court allows a recent Fifth Circuit decision to stand, it could undermine their ability to provide adequate health care services in their states and would have far-reaching implications beyond reproductive health care.   

“Mifepristone has been used safely for more than two decades and is the gold standard in medication abortion,” said Governor Healey. “We have taken steps to ensure it remains safe, legal and available in Massachusetts, but it is essential that the Supreme Court rejects this attack on women's health and freedom."   

Mifepristone is a safe, highly effective, and widely used medication prescribed for medication abortions and miscarriage management – used in well over half of all abortions. This medication is a critical component of the reproductive healthcare system in states where abortion remains legal. Any rollback on access to mifepristone would cause major disruptions to state healthcare systems, further strain providers,and pose serious health risks to millions of women. Ideological extremists shouldn’t be allowed to overrule medical experts and decades of scientific evidence by curtailing access to safe, effective medication.   

Furthermore, this lawsuit threatens to upend the federal FDA review process – a time-tested gold standard for rigor and risk mitigation – that Governors rely on to protect the health and well-being of their constituents. If the Court allows this decision to stand, there will be severe consequences for patient access to a wide range of safe and effective medications.   

The brief argues:   

“...[Governors] rely on the expertise of FDA to determine the safety and effectiveness of drugs and medical devices, including particular indications and conditions for use…Nothing about this framework contemplates a single out-of-state litigant who morally disapproves of a particular drug using out-of-state federal courts to invalidate FDA’s expert judgment nationwide…This strategy, if successful, would have an enormously disruptive impact on state governance and hamstring Governors’ ability to fulfill their mandate of protecting public health and safety—in the reproductive healthcare context and beyond.”  

A link to the full amicus brief can be found here. 

Last year, in response to the Fifth Circuit decision, Governor Healey took immediate action to protect access to mifepristone in Massachusetts. At her request, the University of Massachusetts and health

care providers took action to stockpile doses of mifepristone, and she issued an Executive Order confirming protections for medication abortion under existing state law. 

The Reproductive Freedom Alliance is a non-partisan coalition of 22 Governors committed to protecting and expanding reproductive freedom in our states. Members include: Arizona Governor Katie Hobbs, California Governor Gavin Newsom, Colorado Governor Jared Polis, Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont, Delaware Governor John Carney, Guam Governor Leon Guerrero, Hawai'i Governor Josh Green, Illinois Governor JB Pritzker, Maine Governor Janet Mills, Maryland Governor Wes Moore, Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey, Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy, New Mexico Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham, New York Governor Kathy Hochul, North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper, Oregon Governor Tina Kotek, Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro, Rhode Island Governor Daniel McKee, Washington Governor Jay Inslee, and Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers.  

吳弭市長指派 Tania Del Rio 出任 ISD 局長

MAYOR MICHELLE WU APPOINTS TANIA DEL RIO COMMISSIONER OF THE INSPECTIONAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT Current Commissioner Sean Lydon will remain with the City as Senior Advisor For Construction; Brian Foran and Michaela Nee of the Coordinated Response Team will be named Acting Co-Directors

BOSTON - Tuesday, January 30, 2024 - Mayor Michelle Wu today appointed Tania Del Rio as Commissioner of the Inspectional Services Department (ISD) starting February 26, 2024. ISD administers and enforces building, housing, health, sanitation and safety regulations mandated by city and state governments. Inspectional Services is made up of five regulatory divisions charged with serving the public by protecting the health, safety, and environmental stability of Boston's business and residential communities. Del Rio currently serves as the Director of the Coordinated Response Team for the City of Boston, leading the cross-departmental effort to address the intersecting crises of homelessness and substance use disorder. Del Rio will be the first woman to be ISD’s Commissioner.  “I am so grateful to Tania for her effective and compassionate leadership coordinating our efforts to address the urgent needs of the crises of homelessness and substance use disorder,” said Mayor Michelle Wu. “With her ability to strategically lead multiple teams and deliver continuous improvement for our residents and City workers, I am excited to see her lead the agencies that deliver essential services impacting so many residents, businesses, and workers. I am grateful for Sean Lydon’s service leading the department to ensure our residential buildings and businesses are healthy and safe places for our communities.” As the head of the Coordinated Response Team, she brought together over a dozen City departments and partner agencies to transform how the City cares for unsheltered constituents impacted by substance use disorder, homelessness, and untreated mental illness, with a focus on the ‘Mass and Cass’ / Newmarket neighborhood. In 2023, she coordinated the work that helped over 100 unsheltered people transition from a large encampment into safe and supportive settings.  Mayor Wu also announced that Brian Foran and Michaela Nee of the Coordinated Response Team will be named Acting Co-Directors. Both have extensive experience managing the City’s work on unsheltered homelessness and working with City Departments and external partners. Foran and Nee helped lead the recent phase change that ended the permanent encampment on Atkinson Street under Del Rio’s leadership.  “The responsibility of the Inspectional Services Department is to deliver core, essential City services to our residents, guaranteeing that the places they eat, shop, and stay are healthy and safe,” said Tania Del Rio, incoming Commissioner of the Inspectional Services Department. “I am so thrilled for this opportunity, and grateful for the honor of having worked with the many selfless teams serving our residents in need of substance use, mental health, and housing support. Together, they have helped countless residents embark on a path to stability and recovery. I have great confidence that Michaela and Brian can continue to move this work forward and I’m excited to get to work at ISD.” Del Rio will be responsible for carrying out several of the Mayor’s priorities including expanding the Additional Dwelling Unit (ADU) program, executing the conversion of commercial buildings to residential buildings, streamlining and fast tracking permitting for small businesses and homeowners, and improving quality of life for residents by enhancing basic City services. She has a B.A. from New York University and a Master in Public Policy from the Harvard Kennedy School. Del Rio is a BPS mother, a Latina immigrant, and a proven leader.  As the former Executive Director of Boston’s Office of Women’s Advancement and YWCA Cambridge, she has a track record of providing transformative leadership by fostering innovation, promoting strong organizational culture, responsible financial stewardship, and sharp strategic planning. Her work includes launching Boston’s Childcare Entrepreneur Fund, which continues to provide crucial support to the city’s childcare workers.  Del Rio is a proud resident of East Boston and an involved community leader. She enjoys spending time with her family, especially her two children, and staying active by surfing, swimming, and running. Sean Lydon will remain with the City as Senior Advisor For Construction. In this role, he will assist in managing high priority projects under construction, including White Stadium, the stabilization of the buildings a part of the Long Island recovery campus, coastal resilience, and emergency projects. He will also provide guidance on permitting, particularly assisting with navigating the permit process for high priority projects under construction. This includes pre-construction, construction, and construction close out phases, with guidance on permitting strategy and execution to ensure timely delivery and cost effectiveness. “I am so grateful to both Tania and Sean for their leadership in taking on these new roles to carry out Mayor Wu’s vision for a Boston with exceptional basic city services that residents can rely on,” said Chief of Operations Dion Irish. “With Tania’s experience effectively coordinating a cross-departmental team, I am confident in her ability to lead ISD, enhancing the core services our residents’ need and deserve. And I am so thankful to Sean for continuing to serve our residents in this new role, ensuring we deliver on major projects efficiently and thoroughly across our city.” The mission of the Inspectional Services Department is to serve the public by protecting the health and safety of Boston’s businesses and residential communities. The Department consistently aims to fairly administer public health, safety, land use and environmental regulations throughout the City of Boston. The Department will continue to utilize resources to promote the quality of life in Boston through education, enforcement and providing emergency services.

何瑞恩: 台灣總統大選結果見證民主制度成熟 選民盼黨派制衡維持現狀

講座主持人傅仕卓(右)和講者何瑞恩(左)。(周菊子攝)

                (Boston Orange 周菊子波士頓報導)台灣的民喊話，形容得像生死存亡選擇，布魯金斯 (Brookings) 研究院的何瑞恩 (Ryan Hass) 卻分析，台灣人就只把它當場選舉，中美台都傾向維持台灣穩定。

波士頓經文處處長廖朝宏(左二)、教育組組長黃薳玉右一)，外交部
陳艾芸副領事(左一)和講座主持人傅仕卓(右二)和講者何瑞恩(中)。(周菊子攝)

               在波士頓大學亞洲研究中心於1月25日舉辦，以「台灣2024選舉: 何瑞恩的選後分析 (Taiwan Elections 2024: A Post-Elections Analysis with Ryan Hass)」為主題，由波士頓大學Pardee全球研究學院國際關係教授傅仕卓 (Joe Fewsmith)主持的台灣論壇講座中，布魯金斯ˇ研究院約翰桑頓 (John L. Thomton) 中國研究中心主任何瑞恩畫龍點睛地闡述了他的看法，包括1月13日的台灣選舉都發生了甚麼，以及這場選舉告訴大家的未來方向。

講座主持人傅仕卓(左)和講者何瑞恩(左)談起歷史中的蒙古問題。
(周菊子攝)

               何瑞恩先說明在台灣的選舉制度中，選民們今年有3票，總統，政黨及立委，各一票。他指出，這很重要，因為這制度從立法院的113席中，保留34席給政黨。選舉結果是國民黨得52席，民進黨51席，民眾黨8席，沒有任何一黨有57席的過半數。何瑞恩認為這告訴了人們，台灣選民多務實，確保了國家的黨派分立，3黨必須協商，才能做成任何決定。當選總統的賴清德在選後也承認三黨分立的現實，承諾將聆聽其他黨派的聲音。

                                   何瑞恩認為，台灣選舉結果是健康的民主範例，呈現了人民意志，若放大到中美台三方關係來看，未來一年會動盪不安，但可管控，三方領導人都有很強的意識要避免發生任何戲劇性情況，基本上都希望維持現狀 。

何瑞恩指賴清德也知道自己只拿到40%選票。(周菊子攝)

                            何瑞恩認為，台灣選舉結果是健康的民主範例，呈現了人民意志，若放大到中美台三方關係來看，未來一年會動盪不安，但可管控，三方領導人都有很強的意識要避免發生任何戲劇性情況，基本上都希望維持現狀。

波士頓經文處處長廖朝宏問台灣海峽如何維持穩定。(周菊子攝)

            在何瑞恩看來，蔡英文冷靜，聰慧，賴清德活力充沛，積極參與，2人儘管風格不同，在營運政府上面對的限制卻相似，由於賴清德在立法院沒有多數席位的支持，要做事必須妥協，也就逼使他得向中間靠攏，妥協的認可台灣人民維持台灣現狀的意願。

波士頓大學亞洲中心主任Robert Hefner感謝教育部與該校簽署了
又一個五年合作合約。(周菊子攝)

               未來一年，習近平當然還是會繼續以武力威脅台灣，以心理壓力來磨耗台灣人民意志，但也會同時積極維繫美國關係；賴清德則會很忙碌，要爭取信任，向各界證實，他能夠勝認維持台灣穩定這任務；美國總統拜登目前最關切的則是如何打敗川普，贏得2024年大選。換言之，中美台都希望維持台灣現狀。

               在分析台灣的選舉結果時，何瑞恩說，這次選舉顯示台灣的民主制度運作得有多好。井然有序地進行、落幕，彰顯台灣選民成熟，根本不把這次選舉當成是轉捩點，或歷史時刻，也沒人把這次的選舉真當成是在戰爭與和平，或民主與獨裁之間做選擇。投票站出口的統計調查也顯示，選民們在很多重要事情上，基本想法很一致，想要維持現狀，。想要領導為他們爭取迎來不易的自由，希望政府為青少年提供更多機會。

               在何瑞恩看來，3名總統參選人都很清楚選民的想法，還都強調自己能維持現狀，會做得比另一個參選人更好，而且雖然這3人各有不同之處，但都同意要加強經濟實力、多元化台灣的經濟關係，辦好教育，擴大醫療健保等。34%的選民認為經濟是下一屆總統該處理的最重要問題，其次是兩岸關係約18%，然後是教育，排第3。

               這次選舉和前兩次政黨輪替時的不一樣之處是，前兩次都是因為在位者失去民心。2008年時，人民覺得陳水扁太過激進，想要中庸，所以迎來馬英九，2016年時，人民認為馬英九和中國太親近，想要恢復中立，於是票投蔡英文。但是2024的選舉，卻不是關於蔡英文一個人，於是容許了賴清德贏得40%選票。

               賴清德知道自己只得了40%的選票，是歷來最低的得票率。雖然有60%的選民沒支持賴清德當總統，但是那60%分別給了另外兩黨，因此讓賴清德僅以40%的得票率就贏得了選舉，但另一個原因是蔡英文的全力支持。民進黨在投票前推出的「上路了」宣傳片，蔡英文在片中把車鑰匙交給賴清德，很象徵性地說了，以後這就是你的了。

               在講座討論環節，主持人傅仕卓提出，他記得歷史記載中有1945年，蔣介石要和蘇聯簽署中蘇協議，蒙古交給蘇聯，時任外交部長的宋子文因而辭職，拒絕簽署割讓中國領土的協議。他認為中國大陸或習近平對台灣的態度，也一樣如此嚴肅。

               傅仕卓也問到柯文哲現象。何瑞恩指出，一來柯文哲的言行和一般政治人物都不一樣，二來現年25歲以下的年輕人，可以說是在民進黨執政的環境中長大的，希望有所變革，所以選擇了柯文哲。在這次選舉中的另一不可忽視人物是馬英九，在選舉前數日他接受媒體採訪時直白的說，台灣一定打不過中國大陸，大家應該要相信習近平，導致選前的最後催票，沒人邀請他站台。何瑞恩表示，這基本上等於台灣人民告訴習近平，不接受一國兩制。

               波士頓經文處長廖朝宏在座中也問了一個問題。他指出，這問題何瑞恩也曾撰文談及，就是兩岸關係該如何維持穩定，和平。何瑞恩坦言，這是個很難回答的問題，可以從3方面談，一是中國大陸希望把中台問題縮為內部議題，不要國際關注，但是台灣問題世界都灌注，尤其是台灣的經濟，以及某些產業在世界上已經有著舉足輕重地位。二是台灣必須儘量忍氣吞聲，同時非常有選擇性的動用資源，創新思考，充分利用先進科技，包括無人機等等，遏止北京進犯意圖，讓北京計算後為動武可能造成的後果而忌憚，最後是不要挑釁的讓中國領導人覺得別無選擇。

               波士頓大學亞洲中心主任Robert Hefner表示，該中心將於3月28日舉辦下一場講座，題目為「台灣海峽戰略與環境」。

麻州地擬推低收入票價 即日起接受公眾置評

Making Transit More Affordable: MBTA Proposes Low-Income Fare Program to Benefit Riders in 170+ Communities, Public Comment Now Open

  

Proposed fare changes would also make the $10 Weekend Commuter Rail Pass permanently expanded to include holidays and eliminate change tickets.  

 

Learn more at mbta.com/2024FareChanges.  

  

BOSTON – The MBTA today announced several fare change proposals that aim to improve equity, increase ridership, and simplify fare rules, including the introduction of a reduced fare program for riders with low income, which would provide discounted fares to make public transportation affordable for those who need it most. Building upon the Healey-Driscoll Administration’s FY24 budget that includes $5 million for the MBTA to develop a low-income fares program, the new program would provide riders who are aged 26-64, non-disabled, and have low income with reduced fares of approximately 50% off on all MBTA modes. Program participants will demonstrate eligibility via existing enrollment in programs with a cutoff of 200% of the federal poverty line (or lower). This exciting new program would apply on the Commuter Rail, unlocking affordability for residents along those corridors and in the Gateway Cities, and would apply to the MBTA paratransit customers on the RIDE, cutting the price for ADA trips in half for eligible riders.

 

“We are incredibly excited about this program, which will make a difference in the lives of residents across the state and provide greater affordability, opportunity, and access to all MBTA service for residents as they travel throughout the week,” said Massachusetts Transportation Secretary and CEO Monica Tibbits-Nutt. “This underscores the bold vision and commitment of the Healey-Driscoll Administration to deliver equitable, reliable, and resilient transportation in a big way.”

 

“I’m thankful for the Governor and Legislature for the funding that allowed us to develop this proposed new reduced fare eligibility for riders with low income. As we rebuild and restore MBTA service, we are also focused on making fares more affordable, improving quality of life, boosting economic mobility across the entire MBTA service area, and encouraging more riders to return to the system following the pandemic,” said MBTA General Manager and CEO Phillip Eng. “As we offer these proposed fare changes for consideration, ensuring robust public engagement is imperative, and I hope riders will join the T at any of the eight upcoming public meetings to share their thoughts on these proposals. We welcome the public’s feedback.”

 

If approved by the MBTA Board of Directors, these fare changes would go into effect in spring and summer 2024.

 

The MBTA estimates the cost of the program to be approximately $52-62 million (including administrative costs, operating costs to meet induced demand, and fare revenue loss). According to prior research, riders with low income would be expected to take 30% more trips with a reduced fare, significantly increasing mobility while saving on transportation costs. More than 60,000 riders are expected to qualify for and enroll in the program, which is expected to result in 7 million more trips per year.

 

The MBTA welcomes public comment on these proposals at eight public meetings to be held in January and February 2024. More information on each public meeting is available at mbta.com/events. The public is also welcome to submit comments online through Thursday, February 29, 2024, or by email to publicengagement@mbta.com. 

 

The proposed program for riders with low income is a multi-secretariat effort with the Commonwealth’s Executive Office of Health and Human Services (EOHHS) and Registry of Motor Vehicles (RMV). Existing MBTA reduced fare programs already provide support to students, seniors, riders with disabilities, and young people aged 18-25 with low income. These programs provide half-priced fares and passes on all modes (excluding the RIDE). 

 

To make the program further accessible throughout Massachusetts communities, the MBTA will partner with third-party Community-Based Partners to manage in-person customer service and eligibility verification. These efforts include providing physical in-person locations where people can receive support with their applications and offering additional support whenever automatic systems are unable to successfully process applications. A Request for Proposals to select one or more Community-Based Partners was released yesterday, January 24.  

 

Two additional proposed fare changes include: 

  

·       Replacing “Change Tickets” with CharlieCards: The issuance of paper CharlieTickets with stored value as change (a “Change Ticket”) will be phased out. This is due to limitations in the fare collection technology. Riders are encouraged to load stored value on plastic CharlieCards. 

·       Permanently expanding the $10 Weekend Commuter Rail Pass to include federal holidays: The $10 Weekend Commuter Rail Pass would include federal holidays. This pass allows for unlimited Commuter Rail trips on all three days of federal holiday weekends. For federal holidays that are observed mid-week, passengers can purchase a $10 Holiday Pass for that day. 

The Title VI analysis, which assesses whether a proposed transportation project or service will have a disparate impact on minority populations or a disproportionate burden on low-income populations, will be shared with the MBTA Board of Directors and posted to mbta.com prior to the scheduled March 2024 Board meeting. This analysis is required by the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) for all projects that receive federal funding. 

波士頓市公衛局設立 25萬元「支援用藥過量家庭基金」

MAYOR WU AND THE BOSTON PUBLIC HEALTH COMMISSION ANNOUNCE THE ‘FAMILY OVERDOSE SUPPORT FUND’ TO ASSIST FAMILIES WHO LOST LOVED ONES TO OVERDOSE  The fund is supported by City distributions from national settlements with opioid manufacturers and distributors, informed by a community engagement process

BOSTON - Friday, January 26, 2024 - Mayor Michelle Wu and the Boston Public Health Commission (BPHC) today announced the creation of the “Family Overdose Support Fund,” a new fund that will provide financial support to Boston families who have lost a loved one to opioid overdose. The fund is the first use of the City’s payments from multistate settlements with opioid manufacturers and distributors, and was  established after an extensive community engagement process that invited residents to inform how the money should be spent.     “The grief and trauma of losing a loved one to overdose has a lasting impact on our communities,” said Mayor Michelle Wu. “This fund will help support our families and our communities by easing the financial burdens that undermine a healthy grieving process. I want to thank everyone who participated in our public engagement process and our many state and city colleagues who worked for years to secure these funds and bring a measure of justice to families in Boston and across the country.”  “The opioid epidemic has taken the lives of many loved ones throughout Boston’s communities. Children have lost parents. Parents have lost sons and daughters. Families have suffered an enormous emotional toll and are also shouldering a significant financial burden,” said Dr. Bisola Ojikutu, Commissioner of Public Health and Executive Director of the Boston Public Health Commission. “The Family Overdose Support Fund will alleviate some of that burden by providing direct financial assistance to support childcare, funeral expenses, and other services to those who have been impacted by this ongoing tragedy.”       The Family Overdose Support Fund will launch later this year with $250,000 to distribute to Boston families who have experienced the loss of a family member due to opioid overdose. Families can use the funds to cover funeral expenses, therapy, legal services, childcare, and other financial burdens.     This will be one of several investments from Boston’s share of the State’s opioid settlements. Boston will incrementally receive at least $22 million through 2038. This announcement marks a new chapter in years of litigation, including a suit brought by the City of Boston against drug makers and opioid distributors for fueling the opioid epidemic. From July 2021 through December 2022, then-Attorney General Maura Healey announced four settlements that will provide almost a billion dollars to Massachusetts over 18 years. A portion of those funds gets distributed across the Commonwealth to cities and towns for prevention, harm reduction, treatment, and recovery.  In Boston, BPHC conducted an extensive and equitable community engagement process, asking those impacted by overdose to inform how the funds should be spent. Throughout the summer of 2023, more than 600 people participated through community and provider listening sessions, surveys, and long-form responses. A majority of respondents wanted to prioritize the needs of grieving families by providing direct financial support. Respondents also expressed strong interest in housing support and low threshold housing for people with substance use disorder, community-based equity initiatives to address substance use, overdose prevention and prevention centers, and youth prevention. The full report is now released and can be found here.   BPHC is hiring an opioid settlement project director to implement and oversee the Family Overdose Support Fund and other settlement investments. Additional investments will include low threshold housing and community grants, and ongoing community engagement will continue to inform the funding process over the settlement period.      For more information on the city’s opioid remediation settlement funds, visit boston.gov/opioid-settlements.