紐英崙中華公所董事參觀博愛樓 85戶已有2家入住

紐英崙中華公所董事們參觀博愛樓。(周菊子攝)

               (Boston Orange 周菊子波士頓報導) 從2013年動議到2025年竣工，大同村南停車場走過十餘年，搖身變成「博愛樓」。21名紐英崙中華公所董事應主席雷國輝之邀，2月20日前往參觀，讚多於評。

紐英崙中華公所董事們到博愛來參觀前，在中華公所集合。 (周菊子攝)

              紐英崙中華公所 (CCBANE)和Beacon Community (火炬社區) 合作建造，位於夏利臣 (Harisson)街288號的「博愛樓」，共有85個出租單位，家庭收入符合地區中位收入 (AMI) 的30%、50%、60%、80%等4種不同收入限制規定的人，都可申請。依前述%排列，各類別單位數量依序為17，28，18，22。

在Beacon工作，負責管理大同村及博愛樓的翁麗芳透露，共收到4600份申請表，目前有40多份申請已進入最後評審階段，已有一西一中的2戶人家入住。

博愛樓已開放入住。(周菊子攝)

                           中華公所主席雷國輝在邀請董事的電郵中說明，6層樓高的博愛樓，有5層樓用作住宅，每層樓有17個單位，其中有30個各約600平方英尺的1睡房單位，40個各約800平方英尺的2睡房單位，以及15個各約1100平方英尺的3睡房單位。

依收入限制，不同類別單位的租金數額，家庭收入為地區中位收入30%類別的1、2、3睡房租金約為813元，967元，1106元。80%類別的1至3睡房租金約為，2343元，2804元，以及3228元。

博愛樓的其中一面，可望見93號公路。(周菊子攝)

根據波士頓市政府的AMI數據，1及4口之家的平均中位年收入為114,250元和179,520元。換言之，AMI 80%30%的1及4口之家的年收入限制為91,400元和130,550元，30%的1及4口之家的年收入限制為34,300和48,950。

波士頓市府網站上，也有博愛樓一戶60%AMI，1睡房單位的租金1,836元，最低年收入55080元的描繪。

博愛樓的有蓋停車場，有37個停車位，由大同村居民使用。 (周菊子攝)

根據Apartments.com，華埠一帶的市價平均租金為，1睡房 $3,667，2睡房$4,428 ，3睡房 $5,581。這些價格和可負擔住宅價格的確差距很大。

參觀博愛樓的董事們，在翁麗芳帶領下，參加了一樓一進門右手邊，約600多平方英呎的社區室，以及左手邊的3個辦公室，有9組乾洗衣機的洗衣房，以及為維修房，自行車停放室。接著搭電梯直接上6樓，分別參觀了1至3睡房的不同格局，以及特別為殘障人士設計的單位。

博愛樓門口貼有名牌。(周菊子攝)

翁麗芳還解釋了博愛樓現有37個有蓋停車位，以每月租金100元給回了抽籤拿到車位的大同村居民。

董事們參觀這些單位時，品頭論足，有人看到大部分單位窗戶很多，還幾乎都是落地窗，光線充足，有人看到全部用電，沒有瓦斯，還有人稱許從地面到屋頂的高度，約有10尺，空間感更佳。

博愛樓其中一戶單位的內部裝潢。(圖片來自博愛樓網站)

董事們都為看到嶄新的房屋，親自見證中華公所自己蓋的樓宇，感到興奮。

中華公所和Beacon社區合作建造的博愛樓，土地來自中華公所擁有的大同村南停車場，建築經費得到波士頓市政府撥給200萬元來自社區保存法 (CPA)的補助款，來自劇院區史都華街 (Stuart) 231戶豪華公寓大樓的連鎖金2400萬元，波士頓市長辦公室房屋辦公室的額外補助，麻州發展公司 (Mass Development)撥給包括2270萬元低收入住宅抵稅優惠等共約2600萬元的免稅債券等經費支持，每戶單位的平均造價不斐。

博愛樓其中一戶單位的洗手間裝潢。(圖片來自博愛樓網站)

未能出席親自參觀的中華公所董事鄭慧民，發了電子郵件表達意見。他表示中華公所董事們曾經在董事大會中討論過，政府的AMI政策，重點放在家庭人數規模與收入，和族裔無關。中華公所為了蓋可負擔住宅，付出極大心力，如果建成之後，卻沒有多少華人家庭能夠獲益，不免讓人遺憾。他希望中華公所在處理喜露街 (Herald) 50號的土地發展案時，能夠更慎重考慮相關議題。

董事陳家驊則提出，博愛樓破土動工時，預支了中華公所200萬元地租，如果這地租可以延期20年，不知博愛樓有多少個80%AMI的單位，可以轉為50%AMI。他也提醒中華公所董事們要在喜露街50號這土地發展計畫上多花點心思，包括關注中華公所有個SCM可負擔住宅基金，還在麻州總檢察官辦公室監管中。

中華公所主席雷國輝事後表示，將等天氣較為暖和，再配合波士頓市長時間，安排博愛樓剪綵儀式。查詢博愛樓概況，可上網https://www.livepokoi.com/ ，或電洽 (617) 609-8420，

MAYOR MICHELLE WU ANNOUNCES CITY OF BOSTON’S LIFT EVERY VOICE EVENT CELEBRATING BLACK HISTORY

MAYOR MICHELLE WU ANNOUNCES CITY OF BOSTON’S LIFT EVERY VOICE EVENT CELEBRATING BLACK HISTORY Intergenerational Black History Month celebration of music, dance and spoken word, while recognizing the importance of labor in the Black experience

BOSTON - Friday, February 21, 2025 - Mayor Michelle Wu today announced that the City of Boston will host “Lift Every Voice,” a family-friendly intergenerational Black History Month celebration this Sunday, February 23 from 3:00 - 6:00 p.m. at the Strand Theatre. The event is hosted in collaboration with various city departments, alongside the Greater Boston Central Labor Council and other partners. At this event, the City and partners will create space for community members to engage with each other on a range of topics related to this year’s 2025 Black History Month theme, “African Americans and Labor.” “Boston’s Black communities are foundational to the fabric of our city, and we honor their contributions during Black History Month and throughout the year,” said Mayor Michelle Wu. “I’m grateful to announce this marquee event hosted in collaboration with various city agencies and partners, including the Greater Boston Central Labor Council. I encourage Boston residents, families and visitors to stop by our “Lift Every Voice” event at the Strand this Sunday for an afternoon of reflection and engagement.” The event will also feature a variety of music, dance and spoken word performances aimed at uplifting this year’s 2025 Black History Month theme, “African Americans and Labor.” The performances will provide community members with an opportunity to reflect and engage with each other around the pivotal role the labor of African Americans has played in shaping our local, regional and national history. Performers include the following: DJ Bruno, a local DJ who will spin classic and contemporary hits throughout the event The Floorlords, a breakdance collective Ed O.G., a Roxbury Hip-Hop artist Angelena & The Unit, Boston's premier cover band Amanda Shea, Spoken Word artist Daniel Laurent, Hip-Hop artist Additional events for the rest of Black History Month hosted by the City include

MAYOR WU SHARES BOSTON’S PREPARATIONS FOR CLIMATE EMERGENCIES

 MAYOR WU SHARES BOSTON’S PREPARATIONS FOR CLIMATE EMERGENCIES

City reinforcing emergency response processes while also implementing long-term resilience plans

BOSTON - Thursday, February 20, 2025 - Today, Mayor Michelle Wu, Emergency Preparedness Chief Adrian Jordan, Chief Climate Officer Brian Swett, Chief of Operations Dion Irish, and public safety officials shared Boston’s preparations for extreme weather events, including efforts to lower risks with long-term climate resilience plans and ongoing efforts to update the City’s emergency response. As a coastal city, Boston faces the increasing climate risk of extreme heat, rising coastal flooding, and intense stormwater. The city’s cross-departmental approach has shifted the emphasis from planning to implementation, focusing on empowering residents, supporting communities at greatest risk of flooding and other emergency events, and lowering the risk citywide through resilience efforts. 

“Climate risks require an all of government approach, and here in Boston we’ve been working on short and long term initiatives to better respond in emergency situations and protect our residents in the generations to come,” said Mayor Michelle Wu. “Emergency weather events in other parts of the country have highlighted the need for us to share our progress and remind residents to take precautions now such as signing up for AlertBoston and familiarizing themselves with our coastal flood map. I’m grateful to our City departments and external partners for all of their work behind the scenes to keep our communities safe.”

"Emergency preparedness is a shared responsibility. At the City of Boston, we are committed to providing the plans, resources, and communication necessary to keep our community safe,” said Chief of Emergency Preparedness Adrian Jordan. “However, the more our residents are informed, engaged, and prepared, the stronger our response will be in the face of any emergency. I encourage all residents to sign up for AlertBoston, consider joining our CERT program, and most importantly, create an emergency plan for themselves and their families."

"As climate risks intensify, our approach must be both proactive to our current risks and adaptive to our changing climate. Boston is not only strengthening its emergency response capabilities but also making longer term infrastructure investments to protect our neighborhoods from rising seas, extreme storms, and dangerous heat,” said Brian Swett, Chief Climate Officer. “I’m grateful for Mayor Wu’s leadership, the dedication of our city teams, and the engagement of residents and business owners in making Boston a national leader in climate resilience and emergency preparedness."

The City has been working to develop and implement climate resilience projects to address coastal flooding, stormwater management, and extreme heat. Today, Mayor Wu announced the Inspectional Services Department (ISD) brought on a Floodplain Administrator who is working to improve floodplain management practices. These efforts can increase access to lower cost flood insurance through FEMA’s Community Rating System Program, which hiring a Floodplain Administrator is a key first step towards qualifying for. Landlords and housing property managers will also see on this year’s rental registration forms the opportunity to identify if their buildings include basement units. Residents of these units are at a higher risk in the event of flooding, and the City is prioritizing knowing where they are to proactively provide support.

“Boston is taking actionable steps to prepare our City’s built environment for future climate emergencies, following through on previous planning work. Hiring the new Floodplain Administrator is an example of how we’re enacting Boston’s Natural Hazard Mitigation Plan,” shared Dion Irish, Chief of Operations. “We’re focused on making both our public safety facilities more resilient and on ensuring the buildings where our communities gather together can weather storms and continue to serve residents during and after major climate events.”

 

Mayor Wu joined city officials for today’s press briefing at the District A-7 police station in East Boston, which the Mayor opened in 2023. The new building design incorporates resiliency features, including stormwater chambers under the parking lot and stormwater planters that capture stormwater that falls on site, and a cool, white roof to help with extreme heat mitigation. 

"As a representative of one of Boston’s most vulnerable coastal communities, I know firsthand that climate change isn’t a distant threat—it’s a present reality,” said Councilor Gabriela Coletta Zapata. “Our neighborhoods are already seeing the effects of rising seas, extreme storms, and dangerous heat. I commend the administration for moving from planning to action, ensuring that residents, businesses, and infrastructure are better prepared for climate emergencies. From floodplain management to emergency response, these efforts will help protect our most at-risk communities and create a more resilient city."  

Other recent efforts to better respond to potential coastal flooding events include the Boston Fire Department’s new high water rescue vehicles, hosting the nation’s first Deployables Day training exercise last fall, and upgrading the City’s flood forecasting and tracking system. The City has also been working to lower the risk of flooding events in the long-term by implementing the Coastal Flood Resilience Overlay District (CFROD), a national-leading standard to embed coastal resilience into our Zoning code; redesigning parks and green spaces for resiliency such as McConnell Park in Dorchester and Ryan Playground in Charlestown; and allocating the highest amount of Capital funding in Boston’s history to coastal resilience projects. A new stormwater grant and credit program launched by the Boston Water and Sewer Commission and new green infrastructure standards are now in place to update the City’s aging water and sewer system and its capacity during heavy rain.

Similarly for extreme heat events, the City launched the Urban Forestry Division to bring shade to the hottest neighborhood streets. For instance, 1,912 new street trees were planted in 2024. Additionally, the City of Boston launched the Boston Tree Alliance while planting over 160 trees on private properties, and has installed the nation’s largest implementation of green roofs on bus shelters. New misting towers and tents are put in place at key sites, including nine Boston Public Library locations and three community centers, during heat emergencies to keep residents cool where they are. 

“The Healey-Driscoll Administration is fortunate to have a strong group of emergency management partners at the local and state level addressing the increasing complexity and frequency of crisis events caused by climate change,” said Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency Director Dawn Brantley. “Through collaboration, training, and planning, Boston is increasing community-level resilience and reducing long-term vulnerability, especially within disadvantaged communities that are often disproportionately impacted by disasters.”

In the wake of large-scale evacuations and severe weather emergencies around the country, residents are encouraged to educate themselves on their evacuation routes. The Office of Emergency Management is launching an update to the existing evacuation route signs around the City to better reflect current traffic flow and at-risk areas. This will also include a shift to more online education materials in addition to the physical signage.

Residents are encouraged to sign up for Alert Boston, a free service available in the City’s 11 most-spoken languages. 

吳弭等41名市長組聯盟支持申請禁制令 Andrea Campbell率總檢察官聯盟阻川普刪科研經費

吳弭市長。(檔案照片)

(Boston Orange 綜合編譯) 波士頓市長吳弭 (Michelle Wu) 和美國24州40名市長所組聯盟， 2月20日（週四）向波士頓地區聯邦法院提交書面 “法庭之友” （amicus brief），支持申請臨時禁制令，以阻止川普政府大幅削減國家衛生研究院（NIH）科研經費，避免地方城市失去工作機會。

吳弭市長為此對外發佈新聞稿，代表受影響的波士頓市內研究機構，感謝麻州總檢察長Andrea Campbell帶頭起訴川普政府刪減經費，指稱這種非法行動將造成裁員，實驗室關閉等後果，從而破壞了美國各城市的科研進展。

吳弭的市長聯盟遞交”法庭之友”是因為美國衛生院 (NIH)在2月7日宣佈，全美各地科學及醫療研究機構的非直接用於研究經費，報銷上限從原本的30%至70%，改為15%的新政策，要從2月10日起暫時生效。

市長們聲稱，這樣的刪減無疑將對全美各地科研機構造成致命性打擊，嚴重衝擊經濟，破壞地方民眾感到驕傲的樑柱。

自從川普政府公佈要刪減大學院校及科研機構的”非直接”用於研究經費的報銷率後，已出現3宗聯邦訟案，試圖推翻這一政策。

第一宗是麻州總檢察官Andrea Campbell率隊，共22州的總檢察長向位於麻州的美國聯邦地方法院遞出訟案，挑戰NIH的新政策違反了行政流程法，並申請臨時禁制令 (TRO)，阻止刪減。聯邦法院法官Angel Kelley因而發了臨時禁制令給這22州，暫時阻擋了刪減行動。

在2月21日的聽證會上，涉及此案，尋求禁制令的州，數量從22減少成16州。

第2宗是大學院校和醫院協會組成的聯盟，包括美國醫學院協會(AAMC)，美國大學協會 (AAU)，以及代表其他大學、醫學院和醫院的聯盟，在2月10日時遞案申請更廣泛的全國性臨時禁制令，聲稱NIH的經費刪減將重創全美各地的醫藥研究。

Angel Kelley後來也在2月10日這天，擴大了她早前所發臨時禁制令的涵蓋範圍。

第3宗是約翰霍普金斯大學 (John Hopkins)，加州大學系統，以及其他院校在2月11日至18日之間遞交的訟案，聲言”大幅刪減”將對約翰霍普金斯大學、加州大學系統有特定影響，例如約翰霍普金斯的600項臨床試驗等。

21日的聽證會舉行後，目前尚無進一步消息。

根據聯合醫藥研究 (United for Medical Research)這聯盟的資訊，以人均計算，麻州是NIH經費的最大收受者，去年共獲得35億美元科研經費，支持了219個組織的5000多項研究計畫，大約3萬個工作機會，促成將近80億元的經濟活動。

NIH的僅15%非直接用途經費報銷上限規定，將造成極大影響。例如哈佛大學去年的報銷率為69%。

根據教育機構高等教育政策分析師James S. Murphy的數據分析，15%上限意味著麻州各機構將一年損失5億5500萬元，其中包括麻省總醫院 (MGH)經費將減少1億450萬元，布瑞罕婦女醫院 (Brigham and Women’s)減少7750萬元，波士頓兒童醫院減少5440萬元等。

兒童醫院科學長Nancy Andrews，麻州生務協會執行長Kendalle Burlin O’Connell，聯邦眾議員Jake Auchincloss等許多人，都為NIH刪減經費作法感到憂慮。

麻州大學陳氏醫學院 (Chan Medical School)是麻州內獲得NIH經費最多的第3名，去年共獲得2億美元左右，其中有大約三分之一的6200萬元，是非直接開銷，一旦NIH實施經費刪減，該校預算將出現4000萬元至5000萬元缺失，估計會危及500多個項目。

COALITION OF MAYORS ACROSS U.S. FILE AMICUS BRIEF IN OPPOSITION TO TRUMP ADMINISTRATION’S DRASTIC CUTS TO FEDERAL RESEARCH FUNDING

Led by the City of Boston, MA, City of Cleveland, OH, the Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County, TN, the Mayor of Gainesville, FL, and the Mayor of Salt Lake City, UT, over 40 mayors, cities, and counties argue that NIH cuts will cause job losses, economic disruption, and undermine U.S. competitiveness 

BOSTON - Thursday, February 20, 2025 - Late yesterday, Mayor Michelle Wu co-led a coalition of Mayors from across the United States in writing and filing an amicus brief in federal district court in Boston to stop the Trump Administration's drastic and illegal cuts to federal research funding and immediate job losses in cities nationwide. Over 40 mayors, cities, and counties from across the country joined the brief. These cities are home to universities and hospitals that employ hundreds of thousands of Americans in cutting edge medical and scientific research, and the federally-funded research in these communities has made the United States the global leader in scientific discovery. The brief seeks a temporary restraining order against the Trump Administration, alongside the research universities, medical schools, hospitals, and 22 states that are plaintiffs in the three cases filed last week in federal district court. 

“For decades, Congress has made a clear choice to use federally-funded research to invest in cities, build a broadly-distributed infrastructure for scientific discovery, create jobs, and drive economic growth in communities across the United States,” said Mayor Michelle Wu. “We join with cities across the country – in red states, purple states, and blue states – to stop this illegal action that will cause layoffs, lab closures, and undermine scientific progress in American cities. I thank Massachusetts Attorney General Andrea Campbell for her leadership on behalf of the research institutions of Boston.”  

This amicus brief is in response to the abrupt February 7, 2025 announcement by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) of an immediate reduction in funding for scientific and medical research institutions across the country. Under the NIH’s new policy, which temporarily went into effect on Monday, February 10, payments for indirect costs reimbursed to research universities would be capped at 15%, down from 30-70%. The brief makes clear that NIH funding cuts would devastate research institutions in cities across the county, cause job losses, create severe economic disruption, and undermine a critical pillar of strength and civic pride in cities across the United States. The cuts would also undermine critical medical and scientific research that residents are counting on, including cancer, diabetes, and heart disease, and jeopardize the cities’ and country’s position of global leadership on scientific advancement. 

“The Gainesville community depends on this highly efficient, dependable investment of our tax dollars back into our city’s innovation economy,” said Harvey L. Ward, Mayor, City of Gainesville, Florida. “I’m glad to join other mayors in highlighting the vital role NIH funding plays in the lives of everyday hardworking American families.”  

“The breadth and diversity of this coalition highlights the devastating and widespread impact of these NIH funding changes, from Alzheimer’s research to cancer clinical trials,” said Jill Habig, Founder and CEO of Public Rights Project. “We’re proud to partner with mayors, cities, and counties in opposing this threat to critical federal funding and the health and vitality of our communities.” 

On Monday, February 10th, twenty two states and associations of medical schools, hospitals, and universities, filed three related cases, and secured a temporary restraining order preventing the Trump Administration from slashing the reimbursement rates. That initial order will be revisited this week in a hearing scheduled for Friday, February 21. 

The Public Rights Project served as amici counsel. The full list of mayors, cities and counties who joined the brief is below.  

Local Governments and Mayors 

• City of Boston, Massachusetts
• City of Cleveland, Ohio
• Harvey L. Ward, Mayor, City of Gainesville, Florida
• Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County, Tennessee
• Erin Mendenhall, Mayor, City of Salt Lake City, Utah
• City of Alameda, California
• City of Albuquerque, New Mexico 
• Allegheny County, Pennsylvania
• City of Baltimore, Maryland 
• Emma Mulvaney-Stanak, Mayor, City of Burlington, Vermont
• Township of Canton, Michigan
• Town of Chapel Hill, North Carolina
• City of Chicago, Illinois 
• Sandra Welch, Mayor, City of Coconut Creek, Florida
• City of Columbus, Ohio
• City of Easthampton, Massachusetts
• Daniel Biss, Mayor, City of Evanston, Illinois
• City of Fairfax, Virginia
• Harris County, Texas
• Ravinder S. Bhalla, Mayor, City of Hoboken, New Jersey
• Quinton Lucas, Mayor, Kansas City, Missouri
• Indya Kincannon, Mayor, City of Knoxville, Tennessee
• City of Madison, Wisconsin
• Jeff Silvestrini, Mayor, City of Millcreek, Utah
• Anissa Welch, Mayor, City of Milton, Wisconsin
• Montgomery County, Maryland
• City of New Haven, Connecticut
• Dontae Payne, Mayor, City of Olympia, Washington 
• Adrian O. Mapp, Mayor, City of Plainfield, New Jersey
• Sue Noack, Mayor, City of Pleasant Hill, California
• City of Pittsburgh and Ed Gainey, Mayor, City of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
• City of Providence, Rhode Island 
• John Clark, Mayor, Town of Ridgway, Colorado
• City of Rochester, New York
• City of Sacramento, California 
• City and County of San Francisco, California
• City of Santa Monica, California
• Constantine H. Kutteh, Mayor, City of Statesville, North Carolina
• Lisa Brown, Mayor, City of Spokane, Washington
• Tishaura O. Jones, Mayor, City of St. Louis, Missouri 
• City of St. Paul, Minnesota
• Dennis R. McBride, Mayor, City of Wauwatosa, Wisconsin