Brighton 芬紐花園重新發展案贏得州政府1900萬美元資助 第一期間翻修新建114戶

麻州副州長Kim Driscoll(前右三），波士頓市長吳弭（第二排右二），
波士頓市代表Brighton的市議員Liz Breadon(前右二）等多名政要出席
芬紐花園公屋村翻修新建工程第一期即將展開。（周菊子攝）

（Boston Orange綜合報導）麻州政府今（10 月 10）日宣佈，將撥款19,695,134美元，資助波士頓房屋管理局（BHA）和社區建造者（The Community Builders）合作的布萊頓（Brighton）芬紐花園(Faneuil Garden)重新發展案第一期工程。

“芬紐花園”共有258戶波士頓市公屋住宅單位。重新發展案的第一期工程將先把其中81戶更新翻修成現代化住宅，另新增33戶可負擔住宅，共114戶，估計3年後可竣工。接著再分4期工程，一旦竣工，原有的258戶公屋住宅單位將全數翻新，另外再新增445戶住宅，187戶可負擔住宅，並建造新的綠地和休閒空間。

麻州副州長Kim Driscoll，麻州住宅及移居社區廳廳長Ed Augustus，波士頓市長吳弭（Michelle Wu），波士頓房屋管理局局長白凱欣（kenzie Bok），波士頓市議員Liz Breadon，不分區市議員Henry Santana等多名政要都出席了慶祝儀式。

麻州州長奚莉（

出席政要合影。（周菊子攝）

Maura Healey）在一份聲明中表示，這筆投資不僅為社區提供了更現代化，無障礙的住宅，還解決了社區居民的居住問題。副州長Kim Driscoll則說，這重新發展案的設計，以居民為優先考量，還為更多家庭提供了更多綠化空間，值得稱許。

吳弭市長也說，這一發展案有助實現波士頓市的“居者有其屋”理想。

白凱欣也很興奮，直言地方居民談論翻新，修繕這公屋村落，已不下數十年。如今在各方努力下，終於即將實現，讓人非常期待。

社區建造者董事長兼執行長Bart Mitchell表示，“芬紐花園”是75年前蓋的3層高樓房，年久失修，每戶住宅內的設備都很老舊，大樓又沒有電梯，對耆英來說，很不方便，所以他們才做了一個多年期的總體發展計劃，很高興第一期工程先後獲得了波士頓市政府及麻州政府的支持，後續的各期工程進度，還得看將來得到的支持而定。

Healey-Driscoll Administration Announces Nearly $20 million to redevelop Faneuil Gardens Public Housing Community 

State investment launches a five-phase plan to modernize and expand housing in Brighton 

BOSTON — The Healey-Driscoll Administration today announced a $19,695,134 Public Housing Innovations Program grant award to the Boston Housing Authority for Phase 1 of the Faneuil Gardens redevelopment in Brighton. The Boston Housing Authority, in partnership with The Community Builders, will lead a multi-phase public/private effort to modernize the state-aided Faneuil Gardens public housing community. 

Phase 1 will replace all 81 apartments in the community with modernized units and add an additional 33 affordable apartments, for a total of 114 homes. The project consists of five phases, which, when completed will replace 258 public housing units with 445 total homes — adding 187 new affordable homes for households, modernizing existing units and creating new green and recreational spaces.   

“Faneuil Gardens shows what it means to invest in public housing the right way — creating new, modern and accessible homes for hundreds of members of our community and helping to lower costs for everyone,” said Governor Maura Healey. “With this Public Housing Innovations award, we’re delivering results for Boston residents today and building momentum for the larger redevelopment to come.” 

“This project pairs more homes with more open space. That’s a community-first design that strengthens the neighborhood and supports residents at every stage of life,” said Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll. “We’re proud to partner with BHA, The Community Builders and the city of Boston to move Phase 1 across the finish line.” 

“Public housing gives thousands of individuals and families in Massachusetts a place they can truly call home,” said Secretary of Housing and Livable Communities Ed Augustus,. “For far too long, many of those homes became outdated due to underinvestment. Through key upgrades and complete redevelopments like Faneuil Gardens, the Healey-Driscoll Administration is improving our public housing communities so residents can live with pride and dignity.”  

“The renovation and addition of new state public housing units to our Brighton community builds on our work to make Boston a home for everyone,” said Mayor Michelle Wu. “I’m proud to celebrate this major milestone for our Boston Housing Authority residents and grateful to the Healey-Driscoll administration, Majority Leader Mike Moran, and City Councilor Liz Breadon, whose partnership and commitment to affordable housing has made this project a reality.” 

“75 years ago, the commonwealth made an investment at Faneuil Gardens and laid the foundation for generations of families to live and thrive in the Brighton community,” said BHA Administrator Kenzie Bok. “Today, Massachusetts is once again investing in this community’s future. This funding will help to ensure that our residents enjoy the kind of safe, sustainable and healthy affordable housing that they deserve, while also bringing desperately needed additional new housing to this neighborhood. We are so grateful to the Healey-Driscoll Administration and Secretary Augustus for supporting this transformative project.” 

“Faneuil Gardens is home to families who have built deep connections and fostered a thriving community,” said Bart Mitchell, president and CEO of The Community Builders. “We are grateful to Governor Healey and Mayor Wu for leading administrations that are investing in the future of the Brighton neighborhood. With this funding, we will begin to transform Faneuil Gardens into modern, beautiful, affordable homes that preserve the fabric of the community. TCB is honored to work with residents, the Boston Housing Authority, and our partners as we build a stronger, brighter future together.” 

The grant is funded through the Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities’ Public Housing Innovations Program. The Public Housing Innovations program partners with local housing authorities to modernize state-aided public housing through mixed-income and mixed-finance redevelopment, shifting state-run public housing to federal control where appropriate and strategically using tax credits to add new affordable homes.  

Following decades of underfunding, the Healey-Driscoll Administration has increased resources to update and modernize the state’s public housing system, which includes more than 43,000 state-supported public housing units. In 2024, Governor Healey signed the $5 billion Affordable Homes Act, including $2 billion in authorizations for capital improvements to state-aided public housing. The administration budgeted $157 million in fiscal 2025 for capital improvements to public housing — a 29 percent increase over the previous year. 

That commitment is already showing results across Massachusetts. Last week, the administration joined the Worcester Housing Authority to break ground on Phase 2 of the Curtis Apartments redevelopment and tour the nearly complete Phase 1. Over four phases, the current 1950s-era brick public housing buildings will be demolished and replaced with 527 units in new, modern, energy efficient buildings that better meet the current needs and living standards of families today. Phase 2 will also add a Worcester Public Library branch on site.  

City of Boston Kicks Off Free Fall Fitness Series This Week

City of Boston Kicks Off Free Fall Fitness Series This Week

BOSTON — October 10, 2025 —The Boston Parks and Recreation Department and Boston Public Health Commission (BPHC) are pleased to announce the 2025 Boston Parks Fall Fitness Series, sponsored by Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts. The series will offer free weekly classes in City of Boston parks from October 5 through November 15, 2025.

This fall, Bostonians can enjoy a variety of healthy activities, including Walking Group, Barre Fusion, HIIT, Kick-It, Tai Chi, ZUMBA® Gold, and more. Classes are designed for all skill levels and ages, with options that are family-friendly, age-friendly, and welcoming to those who may be new to fitness.

"Our parks are more than just green spaces, they’re vibrant places where Bostonians of all ages can move, connect, and thrive," said Cathy Baker-Eclipse, Interim Commissioner of the Boston Parks and Recreation Department. "We’re grateful for our partnership with the Boston Public Health Commission and Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts, which help bring free, accessible fitness programming and community connection directly into our neighborhoods this fall season."

“The Fall Fitness Series is a wonderful opportunity for residents of all ages to enjoy Boston’s beautiful parks, while participating in free and accessible activities that can improve health and well-being,” said Dr. Bisola Ojikutu, Commissioner of Public Health for the City of Boston. “Resources like these free classes help reduce the risk of chronic disease, which is one of the goals of Live Long and Well, our citywide population health equity agenda. By improving access to safe spaces where everyone can engage in physical activity, we are ensuring that Boston is a city where all residents can thrive.” 

For more information and to pre-register for classes please visit Boston.gov/fitness. 

Through this citywide initiative, the Parks Department and BPHC aim to reduce barriers to active living and provide more opportunities for Boston residents to stay healthy and active throughout the fall. Continuing on the success of the 2025 Parks Summer Fitness Series, the fall series offers the opportunity for residents to stay active during shorter daylight hours while enjoying safe, accessible outdoor options. All classes are free and open to the public.

 

For up to date information, including weather-related cancellations for outdoor fitness classes, visit boston.gov/fitness. 

紐英崙全僑慶祝中華民國114年雙十國慶

 

紐英崙全僑慶祝中華民國114年雙十國慶

New Mass. Municipal Association Report: Mass. Cities and Towns Reaching a Fiscal Breaking Point

 New Mass. Municipal Association Report: Mass. Cities and Towns Reaching a Fiscal Breaking Point

“Perfect storm” of inflation, Prop 2 ½ constraints, inadequate state aid leading to local cuts, erosion of services

 

BOSTON, October 9, 2025 -- A new report released today by the Massachusetts Municipal Association (MMA) documents the convergence of severe factors that are now creating a fiscal crisis in cities and towns across the Commonwealth that increasingly threatens the essential services residents rely on every day. 

 

A Perfect Storm: Cities and Towns Face Historic Fiscal Pressures, developed in partnership with the Center for State Policy Analysis, identifies the key factors shaping municipal budgets and the trends that have led to this point:

 

• While average annual state government spending appropriately has increased by 2.8 percent since 2010 to meet critical needs, constraints on local revenue sources, including Proposition 2 ½, have held Massachusetts city and town spending growth to just 0.6 percent.  

• Massachusetts municipal governments’ spending growth also lags far behind the U.S. average for cities and towns, 1.0 percent. 

• When adjusted for inflation, funding for Unrestricted General Government Aid (UGGA) – the Commonwealth’s primary source of local aid to municipalities – is 25 percent lower than in 2002.

 

As a result of all these factors and more, municipalities have been keeping budgets balanced by cutting or reducing essential services, which impacts schools, libraries, roads, public safety, and an overall shrinking of community vibrancy.

 

As state leaders are currently assessing the economic impacts of federal policy actions on state revenues, the new MMA report details the conditions under which municipalities have been operating for years and the critical financial crunch being felt in cities and towns.  

 

“Municipalities have been frugal, and any cuts they’re forced to make are now cutting bone,” said MMA Executive Director Adam Chapdelaine. “Even with the most valiant efforts to operate efficiently, city and town leaders simply can’t overcome the larger trends that are forcing them to make drastic reductions, felt by local residents and local businesses.” 

 

Municipalities have few options to fill fiscal gaps: 

• Municipalities are barred by state law from collecting local income or sales taxes (outside of lodging and meals taxes), leaving property taxes as their dominant source of revenue.  

• Proposition 2 ½ limits property tax revenue that a city or town can raise to no more than 2.5 percent over the previous year – irrespective of inflation. 

• Nearly 3 out of 4 Massachusetts municipalities are at 95 to 99 percent of their “levy limit,” the amount of property taxes they can generate before needing to resort to a costly Proposition 2 ½ override campaign. 

 

Proposition 2 ½ overrides are, overwhelmingly, not a viable solution for most of the Commonwealth's 351 cities and towns, the report shows. From rural communities to Gateway Cities, many lack the property values, household income levels, or both to make an override feasible for voters. Thus, even as a vast majority of cities and towns bump up to their levy limit, only 44 percent have attempted an override campaign since 2010. 

 

Mayors and city managers remain on the front lines of engaging with constituents to understand their priorities as municipalities face tough choices. 

 

“Cities and towns across the Commonwealth are in such a difficult position today. The cost of health care, energy, paving, construction and schools are contributing to cost increases that are outpacing revenue growth,” said Newton Mayor Ruthanne Fuller. “We have to change tracks and find new paths to invest sufficiently in the places we love and call home.” 

 

“The success of the Commonwealth is tied directly to the success of its cities and towns. Massachusetts cannot thrive if municipalities are struggling to provide the fundamental services that residents need every single day,” said Amesbury Mayor Kassandra Gove. “I hope this report promotes a better understanding of the challenges faced by communities and serious consideration of solutions.”

 

“When you talk about what makes a city or town a ‘community,’ it’s libraries and senior centers and the staff you can rely on to respond to a 911 call or fix a pothole,” said Adams Select Board Member Christine Hoyt. “The big things and the little things all matter. We need to rally in support of the investments our residents deserve.”

“This ‘Perfect Storm’ report is so valuable because it’s data-based and provides a solid analysis of how we got here,” said Amherst Town Manager Paul Bockelman. “Our residents rely on us for their most cherished and essential government services, but the fiscal health of cities and towns is at risk. We clearly need to have serious conversations about how we can adequately support municipal services.”

In the coming weeks, the MMA will be discussing the report’s findings in detail with its members and other civic partners. Later this fall, the MMA plans to release a set of policy recommendations to put cities and towns back on the path toward long-term financial sustainability. 

波士頓教育組慶教師節辦華語教學分享會 洪嘉馡、張于忻闡述應用AI教學

波士頓經文處教育組華語分享會現場。（周菊子攝）

                   （Boston Orange 周菊子波士頓報導）波士頓經文處教育組主辦，新英格蘭中文教師協會（NECTA）協辦的新英格蘭地區教師節餐會暨華語教學分享會，8日晚在波士頓市的麻州大學俱樂部舉行，聚焦人工智慧（AI）的討論，四、五十名出席老師感慨，教學工具的日新月異，對老師、學生都是一大挑戰。

教育組組長黃薳玉和各校中文老師合影。（周菊子攝）

                  經文處教育組組長黃薳玉表示，慶祝教師節餐會本應在9月辦理，由於2名教授將來波士頓參加訂10月10日至11日舉行的第六屆哈佛中文國際教學研討會，特地把餐會延期，同時舉辦華語分享會，二合為一的讓教師們有更豐富收穫。

波士頓經文處處長廖朝宏向老師們致意。（周菊子攝）

                  黃薳玉組長也說明，教育組，僑委會，以及經文處都有各種計劃，支援海外老師，當天發放的資料，其中有一份列出了「台灣華語教育資源中心」的各種培訓計劃，包括為專程到台灣參加為期2週以上專業培訓的海外中文老師團，提供每人每天台幣2000元補助，為從海外組團到台灣研習中文學生，提供每人每週台幣6000元補助等，希望老師們充分利用。

                  波士頓經文處處長廖朝宏應邀出席致意，直言在海外推廣、教授外語（中文），的確很辛苦，尤其是近幾年來的新科技，以及人工智慧的發展，更為老師們增加不少挑戰，不過他相信老師們的認真，努力，任何挑戰都能迎刃而解。

黃薳玉組長送感謝狀給洪嘉馡副院長。（周菊子攝）

                  這晚的研習會部分，由國立臺灣師範大學 國際與社會科學學院學院副院長暨華語文教學系系主任洪嘉馡主講，談「課程設計多元化– 融合AI數位科技的華語教學體現」，臺北市立大學 東協僑務研究中心主任暨華語文教學碩士學位學程助理教授張于忻，談AI融入教學之教學示例。

黃薳玉組長送感謝狀張于忻，更謝他從台灣把送給老師們的禮物扛過來。（周菊子攝）

                  洪嘉馡指出，語言有經濟，文化，教育，外交，醫療等不同層面，而華語文教育的目標是以理論知識來奠定學習基礎，以科技教學做實務應用，再建立品牌的推向世界。但是老師們教學都面對著工具在哪兒，如何備課，如何掌握學生學習狀況，如何引起學生興趣，怎麼教最好的挑戰。尤其華語還需要面對聲母，韻母的發音，以及聲調問題。在科技日新月異的發展下，使用數位科技來輔助華語教學，成為很自然的發展。各種語言教學平台，也如雨後春筍般出現，有教詞句的，專注口說的，智能聽說的，適性閱讀的，智慧寫作的等等。當然還因應學習者的程度分級，分階段。

 洪嘉馡講談融入AI數位科技的華語教學。（周菊子攝）

                  最理想的華語教學平台，當然是要兼顧增加學習效果，提升教學效率，以及採用人工智慧的適性科技。例如兼顧從字詞，句型，評量到課是活動，兼顧暖身，課文，教師指派教材等流程的Empower，這全方位中文字詞句教學平台，以及矯正中文發音，增強聽力的中文智能聽說拼音系統。她請老師們鼓勵學生們參加免費的全球閱讀力大賽。

                  洪嘉馡還分享了她的教學設計思考，包括分別從教學者和學習者的角度來想目標和內容，衡量遊戲和語言本體的比重。

張于忻介紹最強的100種AI教學工具。（周菊子攝）

                  張于忻表示，人工智慧(AI)素養在教育領域，已經是21世紀的重要能力，AI融入教學已是不可避免趨勢，例如Canva，Teachable Machine等，而且目前全球已有11個國家把AI納入了基礎教育課程，用AI來增加教學能力，管理資源，評量，還擬定用AI教學的有效策略。他所在的研究機構，還研究，分析了全球前100強的AI工具，並挑出其中幾種，供人參考，例如Diffit，Claude.ai，Monica AI等。他表示，善用AI，老師們備課，可以不必從零開始。他還把這些資料整理再PDF上，請有興趣的老師們找黃薳玉組長索取。

餐會場地窗外風景非常美麗。（周菊子攝）

昆士小學學生本學年每人可免費領10本書

昆士小學校長司徒玉英（Cynthia SooHoo，右起）介紹嘉賓，
麻州副州長Kim Driscoll，麻州眾議員Aaron Michlewitz。（周菊子攝）

            (Boston Orange 周菊子波士頓報導)麻州副州長Kim Driscoll，麻州眾議員麥家威（Aaron Michlewitz）10月6日聯袂拜訪昆士小學，和校長司徒玉英（Cynthia Soo Hoo）慶祝該校今年成為麻州第一所獲得「美國讀者（The United States of Readers）」計畫獎助款的學校，全校學生每人可免費得到10本書。

麻州眾議員Aaron Michlewitz說明，Impact Reading這閱讀計劃辦得很成功，
麻州今年加碼撥款100萬元支持。（周菊子攝）

            司徒玉英校長稱，該校願景是要把學生們培養成為對全球有貢獻的公民，因此閱讀非常重要。他們很高興該校能成為「美國讀者」計畫一員。她還特地請該校小朋友演唱「我們是龍」歌。

            麻州財政委員會主席Aaron Michlewitz說，昆士小學是麻州第一所學校，獲選加入「美國讀者」計畫，為學生們提供彌平差距，閱讀，學習，並完整成長的機會。他表示，去年麻州撥款75萬元支持「美國讀者」計畫，由於辦理成績極佳，今年加碼到100萬元。該辦公室透露，在今年的閱讀計劃撥款中，有15萬元指定發給昆士小學。

麻州副州長Kim Driscoll提醒學童，會閱讀是成為領導的基本條件。（周菊子攝）

            麻州副州長Kim Driscoll表示，「讀者是領導者」，麻州有全美第一所公立學校，全美第一個公共圖書館，所以麻州也想要確保自己是在持續培養偉大領袖。她和希莉州長（Maura Healey）每天都在想著如何幫助學校和學生，不止只學習，還要會閱讀，並真正的享受閱讀。

            昆士小學為慶祝該校成為今年獲得「美國讀者」計畫贊助的第一所麻州學校，特地請來大波士頓本地作家Jerry Pallotta，幽默風趣的介紹了他寫的一系列書籍，包括動物對比的「誰會贏（Who Would Win?

作家Jerry Pallotta回答學生提問。（周菊子攝）

）」系列，幫助小學生記憶字彙的字母書系列等。

            「美國讀者（The United States of Readers）」是一個旨在幫助學前班至八年級學生，藉由挑選並免費獲得自己喜愛的書，來培養學生的讀寫能力，取得日後在社會中成功發展所需的認知技能。

            麻州從2021年起試辦這計畫，2022-23 學年擴大至 127 所學校，然後在2024 年 10 月正式加入這計畫。每所獲選學校學生可在學年內，挑選10 本Scholastic出版社所出版的書籍，免費帶回家。

昆士小學的學生們出席活動，和作家互動。（周菊子攝）

麻州眾議員Aaron Michlewitz在現場發放書籍給學生們。（周菊子攝）

作家Jerry Pallotta以小朋友為對象，寫了一系列有趣的介紹字母，大自然生物的書籍。

Healey-Driscoll Administration Announces Public Hearings to Review Statewide K-12 School Finance Formula

Healey-Driscoll Administration Announces Public Hearings to Review Statewide K-12 School Finance Formula   Five listening sessions will take place across Massachusetts in October and November   EVERETT — The Healey-Driscoll Administration today announced a series of public listening sessions to solicit feedback on the Chapter 70 school finance formula, the primary funding program that establishes how Massachusetts distributes education aid to cities and towns. The listening sessions are part of a Chapter 70 Local Contribution Study included in the state’s Fiscal Year 2026 budget and conducted by the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) and Department of Revenue’s Division of Local Services (DLS).    “Chapter 70 is the foundation for how we fund our schools. This is an opportunity for the public to help shape the future of a system that affects every student in Massachusetts,” said Education Secretary Dr. Patrick Tutwiler. “We strongly encourage our educators, families, community leaders and stakeholders to attend these sessions and let us know what is working and where we need to make changes.”    “Chapter 70 is a significant contributor to the amount of total funding spent on K-12 public education, and we invite the public to contribute to this important review of the local contribution part of the formula,” said DESE Commissioner Pedro Martinez. “We want everyone to have an opportunity to give their feedback—whether you are an educator, a parent or a community member.”     “The Division of Local Services looks forward to working with DESE to undertake this mandated analysis,” said Sean Cronin, senior deputy commissioner for local services at the Department of Revenue.    These listening sessions will inform the final Chapter 70 Local Contribution Study that examines the methods used to determine each municipality’s target local contribution and required local contribution toward school funding. The study will also consider the impact of factors such as income and property wealth, the effect on municipal services, and the unique challenges of rural and regional school districts. The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education and DLS expect to release the final report in the summer.    Listening session schedule:     Thursday, October 23, 2025   4:30 p.m.–6:30 p.m.  Masconomet Regional High School, 20 Endicott Road, Boxford    Thursday, October 30, 2025  4:30 p.m.–6:30 p.m.  Doherty Memorial High School, 299 Highland St., Worcester    Thursday, November 6, 2025  4:30 p.m.–6:30 p.m.  Greenfield High School, 21 Barr Ave., Greenfield    Tuesday, November 18, 2025  4:00 p.m.–7:00 p.m.  Virtual public comment hearing  Register online   Wednesday, November 19, 2025  4:30 p.m.–6:30 p.m.  Apponequet Regional High School, 100 Howland Road, Lakeville    The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education and DLS encourage the submission of written comments, which can be emailed to C70PublicComment@mass.gov. More information on the public comment sessions, Chapter 70 and local contributions is available on DESE’s website.

Trump Administration Once Again Delays Critical Lead Pipe Replacement Funds for Massachusetts

Trump Administration Once Again Delays Critical Lead Pipe Replacement Funds for Massachusetts 

Massachusetts lead service line replacement program forced to pause 

 

BOSTON – The Trump Administration has delayed announcement of any new Lead Service Line Replacement (LSLR) grants and there is no timeline for when funding might be released. Since 2022, Massachusetts has provided over $102 million to approximately 160 communities and public water systems to identify and replace lead service lines. As a result of this delay, Massachusetts is forced to pause the Lead Service Line Identification and Replacement Planning Grant Program. 

“Massachusetts has some of the oldest housing stock and water infrastructure in the nation, and lead service lines remain a threat to public health, particularly for young children,” said Governor Maura Healey. “The Trump Administration fails to understand the importance of supporting local projects to get lead out of our drinking water. This funding stimulates the economy with construction jobs, replaces outdated infrastructure, and most importantly ensures that residents are drinking safe, clean water. The delay and uncertainty with announcing the new allotments has forced us to pause our Lead Service Line Replacement Program and pause these much-needed projects.” 

“Once again, the Trump administration is delaying urgently needed funds and putting the health and safety of our children and their families at risk,” said State Treasurer Deborah B. Goldberg, Chair of the Massachusetts Clean Water Trust. “These resources are essential to addressing a serious public health crisis. I strongly urge the EPA to release this critical funding to protect the wellbeing of people throughout every one of our communities.” 

Municipalities and water systems are working toward complying with recent federal requirements to identify lead service lines that remain in use.  70 inventories were recently completed using grant funding, and another 84 are nearly complete. Those communities with identified lead service lines are expected to submit applications for replacement construction projects in the near future. The Trump Administration’s funding pause will unnecessarily delay this critical work to detect and remove lead from drinking water systems.  

The Massachusetts Clean Water Trust and the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection offer 0% interest construction loans for lead service line replacement and planning grants for assisting public water suppliers with completing planning projects for lead service line inventories and replacement programs. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) allocates funding to the Trust’s Drinking Water State Revolving Fund and MassDEP and the Massachusetts Clean Water Trust implements the program by selecting priority projects and partnering with municipalities and other recipients to ensure these critical infrastructure projects are completed as planned.  

In March 2025, Governor Healey, Attorney General Campbell and Treasurer Goldberg condemned the Trump Administration for delaying the 2024 Lead Grant allocation amount of $50.1 million to fund these critical projects

Civil Rights Groups Denounce Trump’s Planned Refugee Cuts as Discriminatory and Un-American

 Civil Rights Groups Denounce Trump’s Planned Refugee Cuts as Discriminatory and Un-American  

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Recent reporting indicates that the Trump Administration plans to set the FY 2026 refugee ceiling at 7,500, which would be the lowest level in history. This would represent a more than 100,000-person cut in refugee admissions and would exclude many individuals who are at risk of death and persecution. This would heavily affect Asian immigrants: more than half of the refugee ceiling from FY 2025 were allocated for East Asia, the Middle East, and South Asia. 

 

Reports suggest that South African Afrikaners, whose refugee status has been contested, would be given priority for resettlement. Meanwhile, tens of thousands of United Nations-recognized refugees who were already vetted and were prevented from resettling in the U.S. when the Trump Administration halted refugee admissions in 2025 would not receive the same attention. 

 

Asian Americans Advancing Justice, a network of four independent Asian American civil rights organizations, issues the following statement:  

 

“President Trump’s reported plans to drastically cut refugee admissions at a time when the number of refugees is at historic highs is a clear example of his administration’s anti-immigrant and racist agenda. The decades-old refugee admission system reflects a bipartisan agreement about the ideals of America – that we welcome and help those fleeing persecution.  

 

“These proposed levels would affect hundreds of thousands of refugees and their families, including many from Asia. In FY 2025, more than half of the refugee ceiling (set at 125,000 by the Biden Administration in FY 2024) was allocated for those from East Asia, the Middle East, and South Asia. By contrast, the Trump administration’s new plan would prioritize settling white Afrikaners who have not been recognized by the United Nations as refugees. 

 

“The cuts to this life-saving program are blatantly discriminatory and harmful. Tens of thousands of refugees from across the world are currently in limbo given the Trump Administration’s refusal to admit them. We call on the Trump Administration to uphold American ideals by expeditiously processing the applications of those most at risk, instead of playing politics to appeal to its base.”  

MAYOR MICHELLE WU, SUPERINTENDENT MARY SKIPPER CUT RIBBON ON SARAH ROBERTS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

 

MAYOR MICHELLE WU, SUPERINTENDENT MARY SKIPPER CUT RIBBON ON SARAH ROBERTS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL  New school building opened for 2025-2026 school year, following $90.9 million investment

BOSTON - Wednesday, October 8, 2025 - Today, Mayor Michelle Wu joined Boston Public Schools Superintendent Mary Skipper, the City's Public Facilities Department, the descendants of Sarah Roberts, and community members at the official ribbon cutting of the new Sarah Roberts Elementary School in Roslindale. The Sarah Roberts Elementary School is a new PreK-6 school created through the merger of the former Philbrick and Sumner school communities. The school welcomed close to 700 students for the 2025–2026 school year inside the fully renovated Irving building and officially launched two strands of the Spanish Dual Language Program in Kindergarten. The former Washington Irving Middle School closed in 2022 as part of the district’s phasing-out of stand-alone middle schools. “Today we’re celebrating the intertwining of so many legacies. The Sumner and Philbrick communities, the Washington Irving, and of course Sarah Roberts and her father Benjamin and all of the barriers that have been knocked down because of Sarah’s legacy,” said Mayor Michelle Wu. “The Sarah Roberts School makes our district and community stronger. This is one more example of the baseline — the standard that all of our young people deserve — that we will continue fighting to deliver all throughout the district and the city.” “I am proud to see the new Sarah Roberts School in Roslindale officially open today! This opening shows that Boston Public Schools is evolving, and with that comes an exciting opportunity for students, parents, and educators to thrive together,” said District 5 City Councilor Enrique Pepén. “Let’s continue to advocate for what’s best for our children and build a future they all deserve.” This $90.9 million investment included in the City’s five-year Capital Plan has transformed the historic 1935 building into a modern, energy-efficient, student-centered facility. Spanning 109,000 square feet, the renovated school offers bright, updated classrooms and new kindergarten spaces; specialized STEM, art and music rooms; a refurbished auditorium; and a rebuilt cafeteria with a welcoming dining area. A newly constructed addition houses administrative offices, a nurse’s suite, and a media center, while the restored historic auditorium now features modern lighting, sound, and full accessibility. Outside, the campus has been enhanced with a new entry plaza, safer parking areas, an expanded playground with an outdoor classroom, and refreshed landscaping. Throughout the building, updated finishes and systems ensure a safe, accessible, and inspiring learning environment for every student. The Sarah Roberts Elementary School project builds on Mayor Wu’s work to ensure that Boston is a home for everyone. “At Sarah Roberts Elementary School, our students will have access to innovative and high-quality learning spaces along with a comprehensive Spanish dual-language program that will encourage curiosity and exploration to reach their fullest potential,” said Superintendent Mary Skipper. “This state-of-the-art facility offers modern classrooms and robust learning spaces that ensure students receive the 21st-century education they deserve. Boston Public Schools, in collaboration with our City partners and the Philbrick and Sumner school communities, came together to reimagine this historic building as a dynamic space that continues to serve our community and reflects our shared commitment to providing an equitable and high-quality education to every student.” “Our students deserve a beautiful building such as this, one that reflects their worth, their brilliance, and their potential,” said Danladi Bobbitt and Meghan Welch, Co-Principals of the Sarah Roberts Elementary School. “At Sarah Roberts Elementary, we are inspired by Sarah Roberts’ courage and her legacy of fighting for educational equity. This school stands as a reminder that every child in Boston deserves access to an excellent education in a space that honors their dignity and joy. What a great day for Boston!” “The Sarah Roberts Elementary School embodies the Public Facilities Department’s dedication to creating welcoming, high-quality spaces for Boston residents,” said Executive Director of the Public Facilities Department, Carleton Jones. “By blending restoration with new construction, we’ve built a school that will support student learning and strengthen the community for generations to come.” In 1847, Sarah C. Roberts was just five years old when her family challenged Boston’s racially segregated school system after she was barred from attending a nearby white school. Represented by abolitionist Charles Sumner and Robert Morris, the first Black lawyer to win a jury trial, her case, though unsuccessful in court, ignited a movement led by Black activists that pushed Massachusetts to become the first state in the nation to abolish school segregation in 1855 and pioneered the legal concept of “equality before the law.” Her story stands as an early and powerful example of how one child’s experience, supported by courageous advocates, helped pave the way for equal education and future civil rights victories. "We, as a family, are incredibly excited and honored to have the school named after our beloved Sarah,” said Claire Galloway-Jones, descendant of Sarah Roberts. “As an educator, I firmly believe that education and social justice are not merely about the transfer of knowledge; they're about systemic transformation. That is what my 3rd great-grandfather Benjamin Roberts was fighting for: systemic change, educational equity, and equal access to the American Dream for his family." At a community meeting on December 17, 2024, students, staff, parents, and neighbors presented their name suggestions to the Joint School Site Council and School Leaders. Seven names were selected to move forward. The City invited all Philbrick and Sumner community members to vote on their top three name suggestions from then until late January 2025. After widespread feedback to choose a school name for the merger, the final three suggested names were presented to the Joint School Leader and School Site Council at a Public Hearing on Tuesday, February 11, 2025. The Philbrick and Sumner School Site Councils officially voted on the Sarah Roberts Elementary School as the final name, which was brought to the Boston School Committee on Wednesday, February 26, 2025 and was approved unanimously on Thursday March 20, 2025. Following a feasibility study in 2022, the renovation was designed by Mount Vernon Group Architects. J&J Contractors, Inc. served as the construction manager. Boston Public Schools Capital Planning Department and City of Boston Public Facilities Department helped lead the project to completion.