波士頓 Clougherty 游泳池重新開放

MAYOR MICHELLE WU CELEBRATES THE REOPENING OF THE BCYF CLOUGHERTY POOL

BOSTON - Thursday, July 25, 2024 - Mayor Michelle Wu today joined Boston Centers for Youth & Families (BCYF), the Human Services Cabinet, the Public Facilities Department, elected officials, and Charlestown residents to officially reopen the BCYF Clougherty Pool following a two year renovation. The outdoor lap pool and family pool are now open for the summer 2024 season, and the bathhouse and roof terrace will be completed for summer 2025. The Clougherty was originally built in the 1940s, and the new upgrades modernize the facility and make it more accessible. The total project budget is a $35.5 million investment. This is a part of Mayor Wu’s Connect, Learn, & Explore initiative, a commitment to making Boston the best city in the country to raise a family, by ensuring all of Boston’s children learn how to ride a bike, swim, and connect with their communities through sports, gardening, and the arts.  The Clougherty Pool reopening marks the latest in a number of recent pool renovations and investments by the City, and aligns with Mayor Wu’s commitment to making Boston the best city for families. Because of a collaboration between Boston Public Schools, Boston Centers for Youth & Families, the Public Facilities Department, and the Property Management Department, investments of City funding, and improved facilities assessment, the City has more pools open this year than in previous summers. The City is acting with urgency to renovate several city-owned pools, many of which were built in the 1970s. This fiscal year, Mayor Wu allocated $54.5 million in the FY25-FY29 capital plan for repairing and renovating the city's pools. “The Clougherty Pool is a treasured community hub that has helped create so many lifetime memories in Charlestown, and we couldn’t be more excited for our residents to be back in the water this summer,” said Mayor Michelle Wu. “Thank you to BCYF, the Public Facilities Department, and everyone who has dedicated the past two years to revitalizing this beloved community space.” The renovations at the Clougherty include the reconstruction of two new outdoor pools, pool deck, and filtration room. Highlights include a new six lane lap pool that meets USA Swimming competition certification standards with removable starting blocks and an accessible ramp, a new 2,970 square foot family pool, and spray equipment features. The two new pools both have fully accessible access points, a zero entry feature in the family pool allowing swimmers to enter from the deck right into the pool without steps, as well as an accessible ramp in the lap pool. The concrete bleachers along the east side of the pool deck, which formerly had no accessible entry point, now feature an accessible ramp that leads to a viewing platform built into the existing bleachers.  The bathhouse, which will be fully renovated for summer 2025, will include new locker rooms and a community room. The City of Boston’s Public Facilities Department managed the construction project working with Fennick McCredie Architecture and J&J Contractors, Inc. general contractors. “This state-of-the-art pool is a testament to the Mayor’s commitment to making Boston a home for everyone,” said Jose F. Massó, Chief of Human Services. “This will be a gathering place for generations to come and I’m so glad we were able to open it this summer.” “Once again, Mayor Wu has demonstrated her unprecedented commitment to pool programming across the City,” said Carleton W. Jones, Executive Director of the Public Facilities Department (PFD).  “I am very thankful to her, Chief of Operations Dion Irish and the dedicated PFD staff who, with countless others, worked so very hard on this amazing project.” “I want to thank everyone who worked so hard to get this pool to the point where we are able to open it this summer and thank you to the Charlestown community for working with us over the past two summers,” said Marta E. Rivera, Commissioner of Boston Centers for Youth & Families. “All those community meetings on cold winter evenings led us to this day where we can celebrate this beautiful new pool.” The pool renovation project included a robust community engagement process that included three public meetings to garner input throughout the design process. Additionally there was a publicly posted online community survey, which displayed different pool design options, bathhouse features, programming questions, and furniture. That survey received 624 responses over the course of one month. There were also engagements with elected officials and the Friends of the Clougherty Pool throughout the project. “For more than 70 summers, the Clougherty Pool has been a fixture in the Charlestown community and ensuring it would be available for future generations has been our singular focus,” said The Friends of the Clougherty Pool. “Rebuilding the pool required major investment from the City of Boston and a commitment by neighbors, designers, builders, and administrators to come together and see a very ambitious and transformational project through. We are deeply grateful to Mayor Wu and her administration, the City Council, and our state legislators for coming to the table time and time again, and we are so pleased to stand with them to celebrate the reopening of this community treasure.”  The pool is open Tuesdays through Sundays from 11:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. Pre-registration for recreational swim will be required on Saturdays and Sundays. Lap swim will be available from 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. on Tuesdays through Fridays and will require pre-registration. There is currently no charge for membership or programming at BCYF facilities, but visitors need to create a membership at Boston.gov/BCYF-Registration. Registration for swim sessions can be found on the pool’s website at Boston.gov/BCYF-Clougherty.

麻州地鐵董事會通過5400萬元合約 Keolis訂2028推出電池驅動火車

麻州地鐵Fairmount線通勤火車將改用電池驅動的
電動火車。(圖片來自維基百科)

              (Boston Orange 摘譯) 麻州地鐵 (MBTA) 董事會7月25日通過，和Keolis通勤服務公司簽署5400萬元合約，以期2028年初可以推出由電池驅動的電動火車，並提供更多班次服務。

              採用電動火車可加速通勤火車系統跟上美國以及世界各地通勤火車系統的電動化腳步，不但速度可以更快，也比柴油火車更安靜、乾淨。

              麻州通勤鐵路系統共有13條路線，遠至北部的Haverhill，Newburryport，西至Worcester，以及Wanchuseet，南至羅德島州交界的Wickford。Fairmount 線是其中最短的一條，共有9個車站，平均每天有3200名乘客。使用電池電動火車，和柴油火車相比，估計可省下160萬加侖汽油，每年減少1萬7700噸二氧化碳。

              麻州地鐵總經理伍偉華 (Philip Eng) 表示，能找出辦法，實踐承諾，達成大家的冀望，讓人欣慰非常，相信麻州地鐵可以做成這事。

              在麻州地鐵的5400萬元經費資助下，Keolis公司將負責為Fairmount線租用新的電池電動火車，在Readville建一棟新的輕型維修廠。麻州地鐵估計稍後會為這項計畫的相關工程再花7000萬元。

              麻州地鐵的通勤火車主任Mike Muller估計，包括火車租約，麻州地鐵從2028年開始採用電池電動火車營運後，每年要花3000多萬元。麻州地鐵計畫把Fairmount線的柴油火車，搬到其他路線使用。

              Keolis提交給麻州地鐵的計畫是，到2027年時可以平日20分鐘，週末30分鐘的發車頻率來提供Fairmount線的電池電動火車服務。這將可把候車時間平日縮短到30分鐘以下，週末縮短到30至60分鐘。

              Fairmount線通勤火車路段，從南車站到Readville，完全在波士頓市內，乘客大都是黑人及拉丁裔人。

              伍偉華表示，電池電動化科技在今日的歐洲鐵路系統運用得很成功，所以他知道依定行得通，而且採用電池電動化火車，而不用由高架電纜來提供電力，將可降低基礎設施成本。

              Muller表示，麻州地鐵還想在Providence線，以及Newburyport/ Rockport線，試用電池電動火車。

MBTA Board Approves Keolis Plan to Introduce Battery Electric Trains on Fairmount Commuter Rail Line

The $54 million agreement will advance the acquisition of Battery Electric trains.

BOSTON – The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) Board of Directors today approved a $54 million plan to bring battery-electric train service to the Fairmount Commuter Rail Line, which will ultimately result in more frequent service and lower emissions in surrounding communities. Keolis Commuter Services, the operating partner for the MBTA Commuter Rail, submitted an innovation proposal to the MBTA in December 2023 with a plan to introduce battery electric multiple unit trains (BEMUs) onto the Fairmount Commuter Rail Line.       "This plan is a major win for Fairmount Line riders and our entire state. By electrifying the Fairmount Line, we'll deliver more frequent, reliable service while also moving Massachusetts forward on our climate goals," said Governor Maura Healey. "I'm grateful to Secretary Tibbits-Nutt, General Manager Eng, and Keolis for their visionary, innovative work to finalize this plan that will have long-term benefits on our transportation system, environment, economy, and overall quality of life."     "All aboard the Fairmount Line! This is an exciting milestone for the MBTA and the communities served by the Fairmount Line, many of which are environmental justice communities," said Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll. "I know the team is ready to get to work to deliver these battery electric trains and continue moving our transportation system forward."    These types of trains will provide faster, quieter, more reliable service with notably less air pollution in the environmental justice corridor served by the Fairmount Line. With approval from the MBTA Board of Directors, the MBTA and Keolis can now finalize the details of the contract, including a timeline for service to begin. It is anticipated that trains would run every 20 minutes on weekdays. Subject to the procurement process, the first train is expected to enter service on the Fairmount Line in early 2028.    "I am grateful to the leadership team for their work on this agreement. This is a significant step toward decarbonizing the entire network and positioning the state as a leader in clean energy and climate change,” said Transportation Secretary and CEO Monica Tibbits-Nutt. “These new trains will add to our residents' overall health, especially those living in environmental justice communities. They will ensure that our residents have improved service they deserve now and in the future."    “There have been discussions about electrifying our rail network for many years. This agreement is a gamechanger that will benefit generations of passengers, beginning first on the Fairmount Line,” said MBTA General Manager and CEO Phillip Eng. “By embracing new technologies, we will be able to electrify the Fairmount Line sooner within our existing available funding. Understanding the billions of dollars needed to fully electrify our entire system, this is the first step that I believe will pave the way to a profound transformation that can bring the future of our rail network that much closer. I thank Keolis, the MBTA’s Rail Modernization and Railroad Operations team, and all of our support groups as we focus on delivering improved service that is environmentally friendly for future generations to come.”    BEMU trains use hybrid power with an onboard battery that charges when overhead catenary wires are available, such as at South Station. The trains can then run on battery power. Because they are electric, these trains emit less air pollution and reduce energy consumption. BEMU trains also provide passengers with smoother rides, more space, and a modernized commuting experience. Additionally, BEMUs operate a quieter service, significantly reducing noise and vibration for passengers and residents adjacent to the route, yards, and maintenance facility.    “We’re thrilled that our proposal has been approved and that we are able to partner with the MBTA to introduce decarbonized service to the Fairmount line community,” said Abdellah Chajai, GM and CEO of Keolis Commuter Services. “Battery-electric trains will transform the Fairmount Line, allowing for more frequent trips, more reliable service, and reduced carbon emissions.”    Today’s agreement follows a due diligence posting in March 2024 after the MBTA received Keolis’s proposal. With this agreement in place, Keolis will act as a Project Delivery Partner (“PDP”) to manage the new decarbonized fleet, additional power and charging infrastructure, and a new light maintenance facility. The PDP approach is split into two phases, beginning first with the preparation phase to design and develop procurement documents and following with the delivery phase to project manage and integrate the BEMU fleet.    The Fairmount Commuter Rail Line is the shortest of the Commuter Rail Lines with nine stations (including South Station and Readville). As of April 2024, the line carries approximately 3,200 passengers per day. Battery-electric service will save 1.6 million gallons of fuel and mitigate 17,700 tons of carbon dioxide per year compared to diesel.    For more information, please visit mbta.com or connect with the T on X (the site formerly known as Twitter) @MBTA, Facebook /TheMBTA, Instagram @theMBTA, Threads @thembta, or TikTok @thembta.

Healey州長簽署槍枝安全法 加強防範暴力

Governor Healey Signs Gun Safety Legislation Cracking Down on Ghost Guns, Strengthening Violence Prevention 

BOSTON – Governor Maura T. Healey today signed into law An Act Modernizing Firearms Laws (H.4885), the state’s most significant gun safety legislation in a decade. The bill was passed by the Legislature as a result of the Supreme Court’s decision in New York State Rifle & Pistol Association v. Bruen, which sought to weaken states’ ability to protect their residents through gun safety laws.  

The bill signed today modernizes Massachusetts’ existing firearms laws to address issues such as untraceable “ghost guns” and 3-D printed guns, enhance the “Red Flag Law,” further protect safety in public spaces and increase violence prevention programming in the state. As Attorney General, Governor Healey was a strong advocate for stricter regulation of ghost guns and 3-D guns. 

“Massachusetts is proud of our strong gun laws, but there is always more work to be done to keep our communities safe from violence. This legislation updates our firearms laws in response to the Supreme Court’s misguided Bruen decision,” said Governor Healey. “It cracks down on ghost guns and 3-D printed weapons, which I have long advocated for, enhances our ability to prevent guns from falling into dangerous hands, and invests in our communities to address the root causes of violence. This law will save lives, and I’m grateful to the Legislature and gun safety advocates for their hard work to see this through.” 

“Gun technology and trends are constantly evolving, and it’s important that our laws evolve along with them,” said Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll. “This law will make our communities safer by preventing violence in the first place and improving law enforcement’s ability to respond to gun crimes.”  

“As a former prosecutor, I have experienced firsthand the devastating impacts of gun violence on victims, families, and communities. Untraceable firearms like ghost guns and 3-D printed weapons pose a tremendous risk to public safety, and our laws must evolve to stop the proliferation of these dangerous weapons,” said Public Safety and Security Secretary Terrence Reidy. “This new legislation strengthens our ability to combat gun violence, hold violent offenders accountable, and enhance community safety. The law also advances Massachusetts’ position as a national leader in strong and effective gun laws.”  

The legislation cracks down on ghost guns, which are homemade weapons that do not have a serial number and thus are untraceable, and 3-D guns, which are made with a 3-D printer. The legislation enhances the firearms statute to combat ghost guns by requiring the Department of Criminal Justice Information Services (DCJIS) to develop and maintain a real time electronic firearms registration system and requiring that all firearms manufactured or assembled in Massachusetts be registered. It also requires all firearms to be serialized and registered and prohibits unlicensed individuals from using 3-D printers to manufacture firearms. The legislation also adds new language criminalizing the creation, sale or transfer of untraceable firearms and imposes a sentence of 1 – 1.5 years. 

The legislation also strengthens the state’s “Extreme Risk Protective Order” (ERPO) statute, or “Red Flag Law,” and takes additional steps to prevent guns from falling into the wrong hands. It clarifies that, under the Red Flag Law, a person who has had their firearm license revoked cannot obtain any new firearm licenses or identification cards while the ERPO is still in place.  It also expands who can seek an ERPO to include licensing authorities, law enforcement agencies, and health care providers, in addition to a family or household member. 

To better protect Massachusetts communities from dangerous weapons, the legislation updates the state’s assault weapons ban by expanding the definition of “assault weapons” to include known assault weapons and other weapons that function like them with respect to certain features. It also prohibits possession, transfer, or sale of “assault-style” firearms or a large capacity feeding devices. Additionally, the legislation prohibits the issuance of a license to carry a machine gun except for firearms instructors and bona fide collectors and criminalizes the possession of parts that are intended to make weapons more lethal by adding them to the machine gun statute. This includes automatic parts, bump stocks, rapid-fire trigger activators, and trigger modifiers. The legislation also seeks to further enhance safety in public spaces by criminalizing possession of a firearm in government buildings, courts, and election/polling areas.    

Understanding that early intervention and community programming can be effective in stopping gun violence before it happens, the legislation creates a Violence Prevention Federal Reinvestment Trust Fund operated by the Executive Office of Health and Human Services that will fund violence prevention and intervention services.   

The legislation also takes significant action to update the state’s firearm registration, licensing and possession laws, as well as enhancing firearm data collection, analysis and publication. 

Governor Healey plans to hold a ceremonial signing of the bill next week. 

波士頓城中區州有大樓 Hurley 擬改做綜合用途住宅大樓

 Healey-Driscoll Administration Announces New Redevelopment Vision for Hurley, Lindemann Buildings

State Will Seek Private Developer to Build Housing and Drive Economic Development in Downtown Boston 

BOSTON, MA – Today, the Healey-Driscoll Administration announced that the Division of Capital Asset Management and Maintenance (DCAMM) will initiate a new process for a residential mixed-use redevelopment of the downtown Boston superblock comprised of the Charles F. Hurley and Erich Lindemann buildings.  

The Administration’s redevelopment of this state-owned site will address Massachusetts’s urgent need for housing while prioritizing historic preservation and driving commercial vitality. As part of this redevelopment, the Administration plans to deliver upgraded, modern space for the residential mental health services currently provided by the Department of Mental Health in the Lindemann building.  

“Given the Hurley - Lindemann site’s proximity to major hubs of Massachusetts industries, educational institutions, and government, it holds enormous redevelopment potential,” said Secretary of Administration and Finance Matthew J. Gorzkowicz. “Our approach will deliver urgently needed housing and economic opportunities in the heart of our capital city.”   

“This proposal underscores the Administration’s commitment to creating new housing opportunities every way we can,” said Secretary of Housing and Livable Communities Ed Augustus. “Congratulations to DCAMM for this thoughtful approach to redeveloping state properties. Stable housing can make all the difference in someone’s life, and that is especially true when we talk about the impact it has on mental health. This project will create a vibrant livable community and provide housing and services to those who need it most.” 

“Recasting the vision for the Hurley/Lindemann site reflects the Healey-Driscoll Administration's commitment to supporting economic vitality both by addressing the pressing need for increased housing production and by reinforcing our commitment to remaining an anchor tenant in the downtown Boston commercial real estate market,” said DCAMM Commissioner Adam Baacke. “DCAMM looks forward to partnering with the City of Boston, community members, and our colleagues across state government as we revitalize this site in a manner that respects and preserves its significant architectural heritage.”  

“We welcome the opportunity to be part of the process of providing a more modern and accessible residential infrastructure to support our mental health clients,” said Department of Mental Health Commissioner Brooke Doyle. “DMH clients who receive critical residential services in the Lindemann Mental Health Center also benefit from its proximity to medical providers and from the sense of community they find in this neighborhood.” 

The Hurley - Lindemann site was planned—and the Lindemann Building was designed—by architect Paul Rudolph; construction was completed in 1971. The site remains architecturally significant due to its unique mid-century design, and the Administration will prioritize historic preservation in the renewed redevelopment process. 

 The Administration’s updated plan represents a departure from a prior Request For Proposals (RFP) process, in which the Commonwealth selected Leggat McCall Properties (LMP) in 2022 to redevelop the Hurley building—not including the Lindemann—into state office space and life sciences laboratory facilities. The updated approach further advances the Administration’s goals for housing production and allows the Commonwealth to utilize the cost-effective and flexible approach of leasing downtown Boston office space for state employees.  

The Administration will engage with local and regional stakeholders and community members to shape and advance its vision for the Hurley - Lindemann prior to issuing an RFP. More information about the redevelopment process will be provided as soon as it is available.

2024麻州大選確定有5個選票問題

               (Boston Orange 編譯) 麻州今年的11月大選，已確定有5個選票問題。這是自2000年有8個以來，最多的一次。

              選票問題的號碼一般是由麻州州務卿辦公室決定的。麻州州務卿威廉蓋文表示，學票問題的號碼是依據選票問題概要長度，依選票版面做最佳的可能安排。

              一號選票問題為: 麻州稽核長( Auditor)稽查麻州議會的權力。

這提案將給予麻州稽核長Diana DiZoglio稽查議會的權利。麻州議員們強烈反對這提案，認為那違反憲法的分權精神，而且Diana DiZoglio明顯的有偏見。

              二號問題是: 取消通過麻州標準考試才能高中畢業的規定

              麻州教師協會 (MTA) 推動這辦法，但麻州議會及麻州州長Maura Healey都反對。

              三號問題是: 網約車司機組工會

              這一倡議將允許共乘車輛司機可以組織工會，並一起和優步 (Uber)、來福 (Lyft)，以及其他所謂的交通網路公司談判。

              四號問題是: 某些天然迷幻物質有限度的合法化和監管

              這辦法將使得持有，並在監督下使用天然迷幻物質 (包括裸蓋菇素蘑菇，psilocybin mushroom)合法化。

              五號問題是: 小費工人的最低時薪

              這一提案將在5年內，到2029年時，把小費工人的最低時薪逐步提升到現在的二倍。麻州餐館協會 (MRA) 反對這辦法。

Vice President Harris Delivers the Keynote Speech at the American Federation of Teachers Convention

 

Vice President Harris Delivers the Keynote Speech at the American Federation of Teachers Convention

Today, Vice President Harris will deliver the keynote speech at the American Federation of Teachers' 88th national convention in Houston, TX. Vice President Harris Delivers the Keynote Speech at the American Federation of Teachers Convention

波士頓亞美電影節8/1 放映「弟弟」 邀導演王湘聖座談

            

(Boston Orange) 波士頓亞美電影節 (BAAFF)和波士頓國際電影節 (IFFBoston)合作，將於8月1日(週四) 晚7點，及7點45分在Coolidge Corner戲院放映2場「弟弟」一片。該片導演王湘聖 (Sean Wang) 將出席映後問答座談。

7點這場的映後座談由波士頓亞美電影節電影節總監甄翠嬿 (Susan Chinsen)主持，7點45芬這場的映後問答座談由波士頓亞美電影節聯合節目經理 Nate Shu 主持。

              「弟弟」一片是一部2024年1月19日在日舞影展做全球首映，贏得觀眾票選獎，美國劇情片獎，以及美國劇情片評審團特別獎的影片，全長91分鐘，演員包括曾和尊龍合作的好萊塢名演員陳沖。

              影片主要內容是描述一名13歲台裔美國男孩的青春期歲月，學習滑冰，調情，和母親相處的成長經歷。

王湘聖本人是ABC，在美國加州出生，南加大電影專業，曾在谷歌創意實驗室工作。他執導的短片「奶奶和外婆 (NAI NAI AND WAI PO)」，2023年贏得奧斯卡獎最佳紀錄短片獎提名，也贏得波士頓亞美電影節的最受觀眾歡迎獎。「弟弟」一片是他的導演處女作。

              Coolidge Corner戲院位於 290 Harvard Street, Brookline, MA，電影票價分學生、成人、耆英及兒童四種，價格在14.25元至18.25元之間 (包括網上購票手續費)，若加入成為戲院會員，或填寫優惠碼DIDI24CCT，可享有3元折扣。查詢詳情可上網Dìdi with filmmaker Sean Wang | Coolidge Corner Theater。

麻州參議會通過補充預算案支援人民服務、營養、托兒及醫院等項目

 Senate Acts on Supplemental Budget Directing Funds to Human Services, Nutrition, Childcare, and Hospitals

Legislation directs $432 million in appropriations to fill gaps in essential services

(BOSTON—7/24/2024) Today the Massachusetts Senate passed a supplemental budget directing funding to childcare assistance, community services, and workforce initiatives vital to the wellbeing of Massachusetts residents. The legislation directs funding to deficiencies outlined by the Healey-Driscoll Administration and makes numerous clarifications to state policies to cut red tape and create efficiencies in state government. 

“Today the Senate allocated funding to community services and healthcare providers that serve as vital support systems for our most vulnerable residents,” said Senate President Karen E. Spilka (D-Ashland). “An equitable Commonwealth is one that supports each of our residents, and this supplemental budget delivers the immediate support needed as we move closer to closing Fiscal Year 2024.” 

“I’m pleased that the Senate has swiftly passed this supplemental budget, providing much needed relief for fiscally strained hospitals and community health centers,” said Senator Michael J. Rodrigues (D-Westport), Chair of the Senate Committee on Ways and Means. “The $432 million spending plan directs $70 million in badly needed healthcare assistance, which we all know is critical to keeping these facilities operating. We also wisely spend down $228 million in ARPA funds to provide enhanced federal funding for Medicaid home and community-based services (HCBS). These investments will develop and expand HCBS workforce and make essential investments in technology and infrastructure. I would like to thank Senator Friedman for her amendment promoting equitable access to health care by ensuring proper reimbursements to community health centers, distressed pharmacies, and urgent care providers.” 

The legislation appropriates $432 million in funding from Fiscal Year 2024 appropriations that would be made available through Fiscal Year 2025. It directs $228 million in funding for the American Rescue Plan Act Home and Community Based Services (ARPA HCBS) Reserve to promote innovative services that enhance the quality of life and independence of people in their home and community, an investment that comes at no net cost to the state. 

It includes $61 million for a critical health and human services and workforce reserve to cover projected deficiencies in Fiscal Year 2024 related to the continued need for direct care staffing to respond to health needs in nursing homes, group care settings, state hospitals, and veterans’ homes, as well as other patient health and safety supports. It also includes $45 million in financial assistance for fiscally strained hospitals and $25 million in assistance to fiscally strained community centers, supporting the state’s most stressed providers serving high-need areas. 

Additional investments include: 

• $29.7 million in early education and care subsidies to ensure that providers are able to maintain access for all income-eligible families in need of child care.
• $20.0 million for services to victims of crime, known as the ‘VOCA bridge.’
• $5.6 million for tax abatements for veterans, widows, blind persons and the elderly.
• $5.1 million to support increased demand for the Healthy Incentives Program (HIP), which provides fresh, healthy food options and supports our local growers.
• $2.8 million for the Elections Division of the Secretary of the Commonwealth.
• $2.1 million to be used for Women, Infants and Children (WIC) nutrition services to fully support the current caseload of recipients 

The legislation includes changes and clarifications to policy, including: 

• Permitting the Operational Services Division (OSD) to procure both electric vehicles and charging equipment on one contract, an efficiency that will help the state reach its climate goals.
• Increasing the amount that the Division of Capital Asset Management and Maintenance (DCAMM) is able to contract with utility vendors for energy conservation projects from $300,000 to $500,000, enhancing the division’s ability to support the state in reaching its climate goals.
• Adding tribes as eligible entities to receive funding through the broadband municipal grant program.
• Providing flexibility on the use of ARPA funds for local boards of health.
• Allowing the Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) to enter into new long-term leases of up to 30 years for the operations of ice rinks.

 The legislation passed the Senate by a vote of 38-1.

A previous version of this bill having passed the House of Representatives, the two branches will now reconcile the differences between the bills before sending a compromise bill to the Governor’s desk.

麻州議會通過薪資公平、透明法

MASSACHUSETTS LEGISLATURE PASSES WAGE EQUITY LEGISLATION

Bill boosts salary transparency, tackles unfair compensation for women and people of color

(BOSTON—7/24/2024) Today the Massachusetts Legislature took a strong step towards closing the gender and racial wage gap in the Commonwealth by passing An Act relative to salary range transparency. The legislation requires employers with 25 or more employees to disclose a salary range when posting a position and protects an employee’s right to ask their employer for the salary range for their position when applying for a job or seeking a promotion. 

When signed into law H.4890 would make Massachusetts the eleventh state to mandate pay transparency by requiring employers to disclose salary ranges, according to the National Women’s Law Center. H.4890 builds on the Legislature’s 2016 passage of the Massachusetts Equal Pay Act, which prohibited wage discrimination based on gender and brought long-sought fairness and equality to workplaces in the state. 

"With the passage of this legislation, Massachusetts is now one step closer to ensuring equal pay for equal work,” said House Speaker Ronald J. Mariano (D-Quincy). “Pay transparency will not only make our workplaces more equitable, it will also make Massachusetts more competitive with other states. I’d like to thank Leader Gregoire and the members of the conference committee, as well as all my colleagues in the House, Senate President Spilka and our partners in the Senate, for their important work on this legislation.” 

“This is simple: everyone deserves equal pay for equal work, regardless of your gender, race, ethnicity, or background,” said Senate President Karen E. Spilka (D-Ashland). “It is far too common for women and people of color to be paid less than their coworkers nationwide, and Massachusetts is not immune. By passing this bill, the Legislature stands united behind every worker—and with every business—in our steadfast commitment to the fundamental principle that every person has the right to be treated and compensated fairly in the workplace. I’m thankful to Senator Jehlen for her work on the conference committee, each of the conferees, Speaker Mariano, and our partners in the House for their work on this critical legislation.” 

“With the passage of this conference report we are doubling down on our commitment to wage equity in the Commonwealth, ensuring a level playing field and competitive salaries for employees,” said Representative Danielle W. Gregoire (D-Marlborough), First Division Chair and House Chair of the Conference Committee. “As a late addition to this conference committee due to the result of the departure of Chairman Cutler, I am grateful to my House and Senate colleagues who have worked tirelessly to ensure that this bill reaches the Governor’s desk prior to the end of the legislative session.” 

“The 2016 Equal Pay Act was a huge step forward in closing pay gaps and it worked. One study from 2020 showed salary history bans alone increased pay by as much as 5% increase for all job changers, an 8% increase for women and a 13% increase for Black workers,” said Senator Patricia D. Jehlen (D-Somerville), Senate Chair of the Conference Committee. “This bill takes the next steps in providing more information for job seekers and ensuring that women and people of color enter wage negotiations with more information at their fingertips to secure better offers. With the data collected we’ll learn about inequities that persist and be able to identify ways to solve them. I’m grateful this was a priority of both the House and the Senate and for the work of my colleagues and look forward to this bill being signed by Governor Healey.”  

The bill requires employers with more than 100 employees to share their federal wage and workforce data reports with the Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development (EOLWD), which would then be responsible for compiling and publishing aggregated wage and workforce date to help identify gender and racial wage gaps by industry. The bill makes a necessary update, following the Equal Pay Act of 2016, to prevent earned wage adjustments from triggering the anti-spiking provision. 

In Greater Boston, the 2023 gender wage gap was 21 cents, according to the Boston Women’s Workforce Council. This gap becomes more pronounced when comparing white men and women of color, where Black/African American women face a 54-cent wage gap, Hispanic/Latina women face a 52-cent wage gap, and Asian women face a 19-cent wage gap. 

“True progress towards justice and equality demands that we not only acknowledge the critical importance of wage equity, particularly for women and people of color, but actively strive to achieve it,” said Representative Brandy Fluker Oakley (D-Mattapan), House Conferee and sponsor of the bill. “By achieving wage equity, we empower individuals and strengthen our communities, fostering an environment where everyone can thrive and contribute to a more equitable future.” 

“I am proud of this Conference Committee for working collaboratively, productively, and diligently to reach a final agreement on the historic and nation-leading wage equity legislation we enacted today,” said Senator Paul R. Feeney (D-Foxborough), Senate Conferee and sponsor of wage transparency legislation that was folded into the underlying bill. “Wage and income inequality continues to exacerbate an uneven economy for working people, especially women and people of color. By instituting salary range transparency in job descriptions and collecting aggregate demographic data to track wages across industries, we can empower workers and begin to close the gender and racial wage gap that persists across our economy and erodes the integrity of work. I thank the coalition of labor, community, and business leaders, under the guidance and unwavering persistence of former Lt. Governor Evelyn Murphy, for working together to refine this legislation and ensure that Massachusetts will continue to attract and retain the skilled and diverse workforce that keeps our economy humming and our Commonwealth thriving.”

 “This legislation is an important step to eliminate gender and racial wage gaps,” said Representative Hannah Kane (R-Shrewsbury), a House Conferee. “Providing information on the salary range for a position will help women and people of color negotiate for better pay, and as the House Chair of the Massachusetts Caucus of Women Legislators, I am excited that one of the Caucus' priority bills is closer to becoming law. I thank House and Senate leadership, and my fellow conferees, for their work to advance this legislation.” 

“I am supportive, as always, of legislation which promotes equity and fairness within our Commonwealth. This Act provides the language which entitles the Massachusetts workforce to access imperative information regarding salary ranges, fostering a job market which is not only more transparent, but more inclusive” said Senator Patrick M. O’Connor (R-Weymouth), a Senate Conferee. “In requiring employers to disclose pay ranges, alongside making aggregate wage data information public, this is an important step forward in closing the wage gap. I am looking forward to continuing to work to advance important reforms in pay equity. Ensuring equal opportunity for all Massachusetts workers is beneficial not just to those employees of the state, but to our overall economy.” 

Having passed both chambers, the bill now goes to the Governor’s desk for her signature.