Healey-Driscoll Administration Celebrates Nearly $17 Million in Grants through the Community One Stop for Growth  Underutilized Property Program and Commonwealth Places Program to Support 48 Projects Across Massachusetts

FALL RIVER, Mass. — Today, the Healey-Driscoll Administration joined state and local officials in Fall River to celebrate awards through the state’s Community One Stop for Growth, including $16,552,817 in grants through the Underutilized Properties Program and $375,000 in grants through the Commonwealth Places Grant Program.   In October, the Administration announced $164 million for 338 grant awards through the One Stop to support local economic development projects in 161 communities across the state.  “Our state’s economic competitiveness depends on whether we can move fast to increase housing, help businesses grow, and strengthen downtowns and commercial centers,” said Governor Maura Healey. “These grants will unlock economic potential in cities and towns across the state by accelerating the mixed-use redevelopment of underutilized properties and creating vibrant public spaces.”  “The Community One Stop for Growth is the state’s most important tool to help communities achieve their economic goals and spur development,” said Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll. “We are excited these grants will help developers, nonprofit partners, and municipalities advance important projects that address housing shortages, eliminate blight, and stimulate local economies.”  “Building strong local and regional economies is an essential part of our goal to create a state economy that benefits everyone,” said Secretary of Economic Development Yvonne Hao. “We are thrilled that the local partners behind these 48 projects will receive the boost needed to unlock hundreds of thousands of square feet of property and activate placemaking projects that the public can enjoy.”  “These grants are an investment not only in individual projects but in the economic future of dozens of communities across Massachusetts,” said MassDevelopment President and CEO Dan Rivera. “Breathing new life into underused buildings and public spaces creates space for much-needed housing, benefits new and existing businesses, and increases foot traffic within downtowns and commercial areas.”  The Underutilized Properties Program, which is administered by MassDevelopment, targets underutilized, abandoned, or vacant properties by supporting efforts that eliminate blight, increase housing production, support economic development projects, or increase the number of commercial buildings accessible to individuals with disabilities. This year’s awards will fund improvements to 38 properties in 27 communities. Since the program was created in 2021, it has supported 69 awards for a total investment of nearly $30 million.   Also administered by MassDevelopment, Commonwealth Places provides funding to support place-based, locally driven placemaking projects in downtowns and neighborhood commercial districts throughout Massachusetts. This year’s awards will support nine placemaking projects. Since the program was created in 2016, it has supported 132 awards for a total investment of nearly $3 million.  “I’m thrilled to see this infrastructure investment into the Fall River Downtown District,” said Senator Michael J. Rodrigues, Chair of the Senate Committee on Ways and Means. “Over $1.25 million will go towards the continuing revitalization of Fall River’s commercial office space, retail, affordable housing, and arts and cultural events. The impact of these investments will be long lasting, and substantial for one of the Commonwealth’s most prominent Gateway Cities.”   “Fall River will benefit greatly from this funding that will continue the revitalization of our city. This funding will help develop much-needed housing as the entire Commonwealth faces a housing shortage, while also investing in the arts and culture with a focus on our strong Portuguese culture,” said Representative Carole A. Fiola. “Thank you to the administration for administering these programs that help revitalize our cities.”  “These awards provide Fall River the opportunity to celebrate the redevelopment of blighted/underutilized properties here in our community to be successfully rehabbed,” said Representative Alan Silva. “They provide economic growth, creating jobs, revitalizing our Gateway city. It also stimulates neighborhoods, commercial districts, housing and the Arts. Thanks to Community One Stop for Growth.”  “These redevelopment projects are crucial to the revitalization of our beautiful historic buildings in Fall River,” said Mayor Paul Coogan. “We owe a huge thank you to MassDevelopment for helping us fund these projects and bring culture and economic growth to the city." Underutilized Properties Program Awards:  NewVue Communities, Athol – $575,000  NewVue Communities will use this grant to redevelop two vacant historic schools in Athol into 53 units of market-rate housing dubbed The Residences at the Park.   Dunrovin LLC, Barnstable – $250,000  Dunrovin LLC will use this grant to redevelop an existing circa 1920 building in Barnstable into an eight-unit housing facility consisting of four duplexes. Funds will be used for site and infrastructure improvements.  William James Holdings LLC, Barnstable – $175,000  William James Holdings LLC will use this grant to redevelop a three-story, 6,708-square-foot mixed-use building in Barnstable into two first-floor commercial units and 12 units of market-rate housing. Funds will be used for fire and life safety code compliance, building shell repair, building stabilization, HVAC improvements or renovations, and interior rehabilitation or remediation.  Belchertown Community Alliance Inc., Belchertown – $275,000  Belchertown Community Alliance, in partnership with the Town of Belchertown, will use this grant to advance the revitalization of a former dormitory on the Belchertown State School campus, now known as Carriage Grove, a MassDevelopment community. Funds will be used to reconfigure the first-floor entry way to provide ADA access to the building, construct first-floor ADA-accessible bathrooms, and add an elevator.  G{Code}, Boston – $750,000  G{Code} will use this grant to redevelop a vacant Victorian home and carriage house in Boston’s Roxbury neighborhood into a technology center with 16 units of affordable housing. Funds will be used for Phase One of the project, including permitting, contract deposit, ordering finishes and materials, project set-up, plumbing and electrical disconnect, remediation, rehabilitation staging and rehabilitation, post-rehabilitation cleaning and debris removal, and staging the site for commencement framing.  Causeway Development LLC, Brockton – $650,000  Causeway Development LLC will use this grant to redevelop a historic five-story, 40,000-square-foot building in downtown Brockton into 30 units of mixed-income housing; 15 units will be affordable, and 15 units will be market-rate. Funds will be used for building shell repair and interior rehabilitation.  NeighborWorks Housing Solutions, Brockton – $650,000  NeighborWorks Housing Solutions will use this grant to redevelop the former Grayson Hotel into 16 units of affordable housing. A ground floor retail program will include a minority-owned farmhouse cidery and market in affiliation with the adjacent Brockton Beer Company.  New Vision Enterprises LLC, Brockton – $243,842  New Vision Enterprises LLC will use this grant to transform 10,351 square feet of space within a vacant building in downtown Brockton into a collaborative workspace and café. Funds will be used to ensure ADA and building code compliance.  Sand Dollar Properties, Dennis – $450,000  Sand Dollar Properties will use this grant for the adaptive reuse of a vacant 9,980-square-foot building in Dennis into 24 units of housing; 18 units will be market rate and six units will be affordable. Funds will be used for construction of HVAC, electrical, and plumbing.  251 South Main LLC, Fall River – $200,500  251 South Main LLC will use this grant to rehabilitate and convert an abandoned blighted property in downtown Fall River into 28 units of mixed-income housing and ground-floor retail. Funds will be used to buy and install 79 exterior aluminum window frames and windows.  Durfee Trust Limited Partnership, Fall River – $400,000  Durfee Trust Limited Partnership will use this grant to redevelop a 19,400-square-foot blighted and vacant commercial building in downtown Fall River into 22 units of market-rate housing. Funds will be used for roof work and asbestos lead remediation.  The Goldman Group LLC, Fall River – $600,000  The Goldman Group LLC will use this grant to redevelop a 280,000-square-foot blighted and underutilized mill complex into 200-250 units of housing, commercial uses, and amenities such as a pool, fitness center, and tenant storage. Funds will be used for interior rehabilitation, roofing, and framing.  Royal 545 Main Street LLC, Falmouth – $379,975  Royal 545 Main Street, LLC will use this grant to redevelop a vacant 52,000-square-foot former nursing home in Falmouth into 71 units of affordable and workforce housing. Funds will be used to replace all existing mechanical systems with energy-efficient, all-electric systems with rooftop solar panels.  IVJ Group LLC, Fitchburg – $725,000  IVJ Group LLC will use this grant to convert three abandoned industrial mill buildings in Fitchburg, the Iver Mills, into 65 units of market-rate housing. Funds will be used for the repair, rebuild, and replacement of the original 150-year-old roof.  Millenium Holding Group LLC, Gardner – $500,000  Millenium Holding Group, LLC will use this grant to redevelop a vacant 13,500-square-foot former office building in downtown Gardner into 14 units of market-rate housing on upper floors and commercial spaces on the first floor. Funds will be used to support gap funding, install high-efficiency electric mini-splits, improve life safety systems, and upgrade the elevator.  215 Properties LLC, Grafton – $115,000  215 Properties LLC will use this grant to revitalize a vacant 12,856-square-foot building in Grafton into eight units of mixed-income housing; six units will be market rate and two units will be affordable. Funds will be used for building stabilization and shell repair, as well as interior rehabilitation or remediation.  Alander Group, Great Barrington – $450,000  Alander Group will use this grant to renovate and convert a historic 22,504-square-foot building in Great Barrington into two retail spaces and 13 units of mixed-income housing; 11 units will be market rate and two units will be affordable. Funds will be used for Phase Two work, which includes exterior shell and stabilization, interior core and shell fit-out, ADA compliance, interior corridor doors, interior fit-out and finishes, drywall, tile, carpet, and paint.  Franklin Community Cooperative, Greenfield – $750,000  Franklin Community Cooperative will use this grant for the development of the Green Fields Market on the first floor of the former Wilson’s Department Store in downtown Greenfield. Funds will be used for accessible restrooms, an accessible vestibule, first floor storefront replacement, a sprinkler system, fire exits, stairs, and doors.  Jacks Downeast LLC, Harwich – $200,000  Jacks Downeast, LLC will use this grant to refurbish and convert a historic, dilapidated 2,500-square-foot schoolhouse in West Harwich into seven units of market-rate housing. Funds will be used to bridge a financial gap to allow this project to move forward.  DevelopX Properties LLC, Haverhill – $650,000  DevelopX Properties LLC will use this grant to redevelop a 3,650-square-foot building in Haverhill’s Monument Square into 14 units of mixed income housing; 13 units will be market rate and one unit will be affordable. Funds will be used to stabilize the building.  Holyoke Redevelopment Authority, Holyoke – $600,000  Holyoke Redevelopment Authority will use this grant to redevelop a 70,000-square-foot abandoned, historic mill complex in downtown Holyoke, known as Farr Alpaca Mill/Appleton Mill, into 75 units of mixed-income housing; 64 units will be affordable and 11 units will be market rate. Funds will be used to rebuild the roof structure and replace the roof membrane, as well as perform the selective demolition and shoring required for access and support.  LightHouse Holyoke, Holyoke – $500,000  LightHouse Holyoke will use this grant to renovate the 19,000-square-foot former Congregation Sons of Zion Synagogue in downtown Holyoke. Funds will be used for the abatement and disposal of hazardous building materials and renovations.  Lawrence CommunityWorks, Lawrence – $600,000  Lawrence CommunityWorks will use this grant to redevelop an underutilized 35,000-square-foot building anchored by a Latinx-owned and -oriented supermarket; the Greater Lawrence Family Health Center pharmacy and clinic; and a major expansion of Lawrence CommunityWorks’ youth development program. Funds will be used for accessibility improvements, including construction of a hydraulic elevator and two publicly accessible bathrooms, as well as electrical systems.  Westmass Area Development Corporation, Ludlow – $300,500  Westmass Area Development Corporation will use this grant for the adaptive reuse of the historic warehouses at Ludlow Mills into modern, high-tech office space. Funds will be used for capital improvements and renovations that will allow the space to be converted for denser use.  WinnDevelopment, Ludlow – $500,000  WinnDevelopment will use this grant to enable the restoration of the dilapidated and non-operational iconic Ludlow Clock Tower at Mill 8 in Ludlow.  Town of Medfield, Medfield – $500,000  The Town of Medfield will use this grant to redevelop the former Medfield State Hospital into 334 units of mixed-income housing, 25% of which will be affordable. Funds will be used to remediate building #6 on the property.  Cape Verdean Association in New Bedford, New Bedford – $50,000  Cape Verdean Association in New Bedford will use this grant to transform a historic, vacant 9,000-square-foot theater in New Bedford into the Cape Verdean Cultural Center. Funds will be used for the historic restoration of the ornamental interior plasterwork.  SouthCoast LGBTQ Network Inc., New Bedford – $300,000  SouthCoast LGBTQ Network Inc. will use this grant to redevelop a vacant, historic building in New Bedford into a LGBTQ+ community center. Funds will be used for a new efficient HVAC system and all new electrical and plumbing.  Verdean Veterans Memorial Foundation, New Bedford – $300,000  Verdean Veterans Memorial Foundation will use this grant to improve the Verdean Veterans Memorial Hall in New Bedford. Funds will be used for second-floor upgrades, including HVAC updates, electrical improvements, as well as ensuring accessibility throughout the building.  Eagle Street Holdings LLC, North Adams – $250,000  Eagle Street Holdings LLC will use this grant to redevelop the vacant, historic Tower and Porter Block in North Adams into nine units of market-rate housing and two commercial units. Funds will be used for the engineering, purchase, and installation of HVAC systems throughout the entire building.  AM Management LLC, Pittsfield – $200,000  AM Management, LLC will use this grant to convert a distressed 20,000-square-foot office building in Pittsfield into 28 units of mixed-income housing; 22 units will be market-rate and eight units will be affordable. Funds will be used for building code compliance, fire/life safety code compliance, accessibility improvements, HVAC, and interior building rehabilitation.  Davenport Advisors LLC, Springfield – $600,000  Davenport Advisors LLC will use this grant to redevelop Lyman Corners, a vacant, historic 90,000-square-foot building in Springfield, into a market-rate rental housing facility. Funds will be used for a new roof, window replacements, and shoring of existing staircases and flooring.  Love Art Collective Inc., Springfield – $150,000  Love Art Collective Inc. will use this grant to activate a vacant 5,500-square-foot building in Springfield into a creative community space for artists. Funds will be used to help improve the existing building to enhance the impact of the studio’s potential for creative community services.  Mass Collision LLC, Springfield – $500,000  Mass Collision LLC will use this grant to make an underutilized 37,647-square-foot building energy efficient and ADA and building code compliant. Funds will be used to install a wheelchair ramp, repair the roof and windows, and improve the envelope.  KAVA Properties LLC, Sterling – $375,000  KAVA Properties, LLC will use this grant to renovate 12,000 square feet of the former Sterling Hotel in Sterling and convert it into 26 units of mixed-income housing; 14 units will be affordable, and 12 units will be market-rate. Funds will be used for rehabilitation and remediation, including material removal and asbestos abatement.  Northcounty Group Inc., Taunton – $188,000  Northcounty Group Inc. will use this grant to renovate a 24,948-square-foot building in Taunton into a mixed-use building featuring 36 units of market-rate housing and commercial space. Funds will be used for structural evaluation; improvements to structural elements; design repairs to the existing concrete slab; and the necessary design to the sewer system, the water system, and exterior walls.  MPZ Development LLC, Templeton – $750,000  MPZ Development LLC will use this grant to convert a former elementary school property into 54 units of housing; 49 units will be affordable, and five units will be market rate. Funds will be used for construction purposes.  New Americans Community Development Corporation, Worcester – $250,000  New Americans Community Development Corporation will use this grant to rehabilitate a blighted and vacant historic building in Worcester to create two units of affordable housing and one office space. Funds will be used to pay for hard construction costs.  The Menkiti Group, Worcester – $650,000  The Menkiti Group will use this grant to renovate and redevelop a historic building in downtown Worcester into 20 units of housing and 6,000 square feet of retail space. Funds will be used for extensive façade repairs and new mechanical, electrical, and plumbing systems.  Commonwealth Places Program Awards:  Casa Dos Acores Da Nova Inglaterra Inc., Fall River – $50,000  Casa Dos Acores Da Nova Inglaterra, Inc. (House of Azores of New England, Inc.) will use this grant for its FABRIC Arts Festival in Fall River, which will activate space for art exhibitions at several locations in the city.  Cape Verdean Association of New Bedford Inc., New Bedford – $50,000  Cape Verdean Association of New England, Inc. will use this grant to transform a blighted vacant lot into Island Park, a vibrant public greenspace focused on celebrating and educating the public about Cape Verdean and other Island immigrant cultures. Funds will be used for construction supplies and labor.  Town of Northfield, Northfield – $8,000  The Town of Northfield will use this grant to hire a consultant to lead community engagement workshops to develop a planning document and recommended projects related to improving the downtown.  Downtown Pittsfield Cultural Association Inc., Pittsfield – $50,000  Downtown Pittsfield Cultural Association, Inc. will use this grant to activate community spaces with lighting. Specifically, the organization will add a large-scale outdoor light show to Festive Frolic and 10x10 Upstreet Arts Festivals; install lighting in underutilized alleys that connect to the district’s parking garage; create permanent seating and add lighting to critical locations for night events; and illuminate three historic properties as part of the ongoing Berkshire Landscapes project.  The Neighborhood Developers Inc., Revere – $50,000  The Neighborhood Developers, Inc. will use this grant to advance the transformation of Fitzhenry Square, an underutilized open space in Revere’s Shirley Avenue neighborhood, into a shared-use space and dog park.  North Shore Community Development Coalition Inc., Salem – $50,000  North Shore Community Development Coalition, Inc. will use this grant to build a new outdoor gathering space, dubbed El Patio, in Salem. The space will be designed for residents to gather and for small businesses to utilize. Funds will be used to fit out and furnish the space.  Salisbury Beach Partnership Inc., Salisbury – $49,500  Salisbury Beach Partnership, Inc. will use this grant for its Salisbury Beach Historic Pavilion placemaking project that aims to restore Salisbury Beach as a top tourist destination on Massachusetts’s North Shore. Funds will be used to complete the new pavilion that will house the partnership’s 1909 Loof-Mangels carousel, creating a year-round space for community members and tourists to visit.   Springfield Cultural Partnership Inc., Springfield – $17,500  Springfield Cultural Partnership, Inc., in partnership with Springfield Business Improvement District, will use this grant to activate vacant storefronts within the Springfield Central Cultural District with creative placemaking and produce two pop-up outdoor art events. The partnership will develop and execute a vacant storefront pilot with a focus on recruiting local Springfield artists to infuse these spaces with arts, music, and creative activities.  City of Worcester, Worcester – $50,000  The City of Worcester, in partnership with the Worcester Cultural Coalition, will use this grant for its Allen Court Art-Let project. Funds will be used to improve and activate the blighted and underutilized Allen Court alleyway in downtown Worcester into an affordable outdoor venue for artists, performers, and creative entrepreneurs by adding a decorative lighting installation made with upcycled materials and public art.  About the Community One Stop for Growth  The Community One Stop for Growth is an annual program overseen by the Executive Office of Economic Development (EOED) that provides a streamlined process for cities and towns to apply for 13 state grant programs administered by EOED, the Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities, and the quasi-public agency MassDevelopment. Programs in the One Stop fund economic development projects related to community capacity building, planning and zoning, site preparation, building construction, infrastructure, and housing development. To learn more about the One Stop, visit www.mass.gov/guides/community-one-stop-for-growth.    About MassDevelopment  MassDevelopment, the state’s development finance agency and land bank, works with businesses, nonprofits, banks, and communities to stimulate economic growth across the Commonwealth. During FY2023, MassDevelopment financed or managed 545 projects generating investment of more than $2 billion in the Massachusetts economy. These projects are estimated to create or support 10,522 jobs and build or preserve 1,583 housing units.

波士頓紀念"白紙運動"一週年

20多人在華埠牌樓旁地上，以蠟燭擺出心型，並懸掛出
東突厥斯坦伊斯蘭共和國覽底白色星月旗，以及釋放在囚者海報
來紀念「白紙運動」。 (周菊子攝)

               (Boston Orange 周菊子波士頓報導) 在風吹落葉，氣溫頗低，人們向2023感恩節揮別的夜晚，20多人在華埠牌樓廣場的一根電燈柱旁圍成一圈，宣讀口號，吟唱歌曲，發表感言，紀念發生在中國新疆的「白紙運動」一週年。

2面藍底白色星月期 (東突厥斯坦伊斯蘭共和國國旗) 在活動現場飄揚。
(周菊子攝)

              這群人中的一名年輕女子以中文表示，以前她其實不知道什麼是「白紙運動」，後來參加了支持活動，同事們紛紛說她勇敢，她這才知道，其實有很多人關注。她也因此認為” 白紙運動” 能在美國引起人們關注，也是好的。

              為活動帶來2面藍底白色星月期 (東突厥斯坦伊斯蘭共和國國旗) 的一名維吾爾族年輕男子以英文表示，有一名在大專院校就讀的年輕女子去年12月回家探親，就被捕並判入獄3年，迄今仍然在囚，罪名只是拍攝了”白紙運動”視頻，她的一生勢必大受影響。他說他們實在難以想像這種事在如今的社會中仍然在發生，許多維吾爾族青年也下落不明。他強調在資訊不透明下，他們很難知道情況到底如何，直至今日他們也確切知道6個人的姓名而已。

             

            11月26日晚，出席紀念” 白紙運動” 一週年的20多人，拿著主辦單位發給到場者，每人一份，有3張紙的傳單，唱了” 送別”、”自由花”、”願榮光歸香港”等歌曲，誦念了至少一遍口號，包括”不要領袖要選票，不做奴才做公民……”，”烏魯木齊大火我們沒忘記……，方艙清零我們沒忘記，鐵鍊女我們沒忘記………白紙世代，這是我沒的職責"，”我們要求”言論、信仰、免於匱乏、免於恐懼等四大自由等等語句。

              包括波士頓維吾爾協會在內的活動主辦者，在這份傳單上印了中英雙語的”在四通橋發生了什麼”，”什麼是白紙運動”，”我們為什麼要紀念四通橋抗議”等解說，簡述了”白紙活動”緣起於新冠病毒疫情期間的”反清零運動”。

              那是2022年10月13日在北京市海淀區四通橋上出現兩幅白底紅字標語，寫著”不要核酸要吃飯，不要封控要自由，不要謊言要尊嚴，不要文革要改革…..」等語句，抗議者彭載舟 (真名彭立發)被逮捕，至今杳無音訊，之後南京傳媒大學等也發起反清零運動，又陸續發生四通橋抗議，烏魯木齊火災，鄭州富士康抗議，上海封城，失業率陡然高聲等等。最終白紙運動在12月7日清零政策叫停之後，暫告一段落。

              26日晚的出席者認為，許多抗議者迄今下落不明，他們必須持續紀念” 白紙運動”，以促使當局關注，讓那些仍然在囚者得到更好待遇。他們以”我是唯一的光”自我期許，爭取四大自由與基本人權。 (波士頓維吾爾協會網址為https://bostonuyghur.org/)

CITY OF BOSTON ANNOUNCES NEW COMMUNITY CHOICE ELECTRICITY RATES

CITY OF BOSTON ANNOUNCES NEW COMMUNITY CHOICE ELECTRICITY RATES The City of Boston has increased the default renewable energy content by an additional 15% beyond state requirements to support the transition to a regional clean energy grid

BOSTON - Monday, November 27, 2023 - Today, the City of Boston announced new electricity rates through Boston’s Community Choice Electricity (BCCE) program, and encouraged all customers to choose BCCE as their electricity supplier. The new rates will be in effect beginning December 2023 until December 2025 using a new contracted supplier, Direct Energy. BCCE’s default and Green100 rates offer more renewable energy and cost less than Eversource’s Basic Service Rate. Eversource’s winter rates will begin on January 1, 2024. For a period of at least seven months, all three BCCE rates will remain lower than the utility. Since the beginning of the program, the BCCE Standard rates have always been lower than Eversource Basic Rates. The average resident that uses 600 kilowatt hours of electricity a month on the BCCE Standard option is expected to save nearly $15 per month compared to the Eversource Basic Service Residential rate ($0.17251/kWh). In the first six months of 2023, Boston residents on BCCE saved nearly $60 million, with an average household savings of $340 compared to Eversource Basic Service. Residents can learn more about switching their electricity supplier here. Since the program’s inception in 2021, BCCE has helped Boston residents and business owners have access to affordable, clean energy while supporting Boston’s carbon neutrality goals.  “I’m excited to announce the new electricity rates through Boston’s Community Choice Electricity program—allowing Boston residents to further reduce utility bills as they support clean energy options,” said Mayor Michelle Wu. “This program is an important part of the City’s efforts to serve constituents through affordable, environmentally-friendly initiatives and also accelerate progress toward our carbon neutrality goals.” Mayor Wu is committed to Boston’s Green New Deal, making Boston affordable, healthy, and sustainable for all residents and business owners. The City of Boston has elected to increase the renewable energy content in BCCE’s Standard (default) product by an additional 15% beyond the State’s required renewable portfolio standard, increasing the total renewable energy content in the default product to 39%. Boston Community Choice Electricity uses the City’s collective buying power to provide more renewable electricity to Boston’s residents and businesses at a competitive rate. BCCE is the largest municipal aggregation program in Massachusetts and includes three options for electricity supply: Optional Basic, Standard (default), and Optional Green 100. These plans include between 24% and 100% local, renewable energy, and customers are able to choose which electricity rate and renewable energy portfolio is the best option for them. Eversource continues to serve as the utility delivering electricity to BCCE customers. Eversource also handles customer billing and service, grid maintenance, and power outages.

Recently, Eversource filed its proposed new Residential Basic Service rate ($0.17251/kWh) and its Small Business rate ($0.17.587/kWh) with the Massachusetts Department of Public Utilities. These rates will be effective January 1, 2024 until July 31, 2024. As the City moves into the winter months, electricity usage is expected to rise. The City of Boston cannot guarantee that the BCCE rates will remain lower than Eversource’s Basic Service rates after July 31, 2024, because the local utilities change their rates twice a year. You can find more information about basic service prices here.  Some Boston residents and businesses are enrolled in contracts with third-party suppliers, whose rates can be significantly higher than BCCE. Competitive electric suppliers often mislead and take advantage of residents, particularly seniors, people of color, and residents who speak a language other than English, promising them unreliable savings. According to a report from the Massachusetts Attorney General’s Office, third-party suppliers charged Massachusetts residents $525 million more than the general utility would have between 2015 and 2021. The Attorney General’s Office also reported that these suppliers continue to target low-income residents and communities of color, charging them higher rates for their electricity. The report found that residents in Dorchester, Roxbury, Mattapan, East Boston, Hyde Park, and Roslindale were heavily targeted, with more than 40% of low-income residents in these neighborhoods signing competitive electric supply contracts. In Roxbury, 57% of low-income residents are enrolled in third-party supply. As a part of Mayor Wu’s 2023-2024 State legislative agenda, she supported proposals to ban residential predatory competitive electric supply companies (bills H.3196 and S.2106). Boston residents and business owners can compare electricity rates here. Technical support is available from City of Boston experts by scheduling an appointment, emailing bcce@boston.gov, or calling 3-1-1.   “At a time when many Bostonians are making difficult choices about paying for food or fuel, utilities or rent, the City of Boston has a program to help residents reduce electricity costs while supporting the health of our planet,” said Reverend Mariama White-Hammond, Chief of Environment, Energy and Open Space. “I am grateful to Mayor Wu for her commitment to supporting Boston residents and small businesses through this program and to our team in the Environment Department who have been steadfast in their efforts to ensure affordable energy prices, especially to those who are being targeted by predatory energy companies.”  The Standard BCCE rate is the default option for Boston residents and business owners. Customers may choose to “opt up” to enroll in the Optional Green 100 rate, with 100% of electricity coming from local, renewable energy sources, like solar or wind. By opting up, customers can support the City of Boston in reducing carbon emissions, improving local air quality, and taking climate action within our communities. Boston Community Choice Electricity’s Optional Green 100 plan costs less than Eversource’s basic residential rate while utilizing 100% renewable electricity compared to Eversource’s 22%, the state requirement for renewable electricity. Residents and business owners can opt-up, down, or out of BCCE at any time with no penalties.

松街客棧為遊民準備2000份感恩節大餐 大波士頓食物銀行送出2萬餘隻火雞

波士頓市長吳弭 (Michelle Wu) (左三)和波士頓市議會議長
Ed Flynn (左一)等人在Pine Street Inn 為無家可歸者切火雞，
準備感恩節大餐。 (周菊子攝)

             (Boston Orange 周菊子綜合報導) 每年11月的第四個星期四，美國過感恩節，波士頓市的松街客棧 (Pine Street Inn) 會為無家可歸者準備一頓感恩節大餐。照慣例，波士頓市市長總會儀式性的應邀出席切火雞，聊表關懷心意。

波士頓房屋長 Sheila Dillon (左三)和松街客棧社區及政府關係副總裁張潔茵
 (Kate Chang, 左二) ，傳播副總裁Barbara Trevisan (右一)等人。
(周菊子攝)

              2023年的11月23日一早10點多，波士頓市長吳弭 (Michelle Wu) 再度來到松街客棧，和波士頓市議會議長愛德華費連 (Ed Flynn) 、麻州眾議員 John Moran，明年將上任的波士頓新科市議員John FitzGerald，以及波士頓棕熊隊後衛Charlie McAvoy一起，站成一排的在攝影機鏡頭前，每人各切了一整隻火雞。

              松街客棧今年準備的感恩節大餐，共用了120隻火雞，280磅蔓越橘醬汁，140磅餡料，500磅各色蔬菜，1000磅洋芋泥，50加侖肉汁，500磅水果沙拉，還有56加侖西打，來做成大約2000份美食。

              Charlie McAvoy還送了50份感恩派到現場。

波士頓市長吳弭 (Michelle Wu) 親自操刀切火雞。 (周菊子攝)

              松街客棧為無家可歸者切火雞的這儀式性活動，

往年在這活動上總會見到的聯邦眾議員Ed Markey和麻州眾議員麥家威 (Aaron Michlewitz)，今年都沒到。波士頓市房屋長Sheila Dillon出席了活動，但沒加入切火雞行列。

松街客棧執行主任Lyndia Downie坦言，他們年年準備感恩節大餐，但在許多無家可歸的外地移民湧入麻州之既，今年格外的不容易。

波士頓房屋長Sheila Dillon (右二)陪同市長吳弭(左二)
和松街客棧執行長 Lyndia Downie (右一)。 (周菊子攝)

曾任麻州聯邦眾議員卡普阿諾 (Mike Capuano)的麻州主任，最近加入松街客棧擔任社區及政府關係副總裁的張潔茵透露，這大冬天的，松街客棧抱持盡量收容態度，床位爆滿，就提供睡袋，讓無家可歸者至少有個地方可溫暖過夜。

松街客棧的前住客Julia Mitchell，這天特地回去當義工。儀容打扮得體的她說，很感謝松街客棧在她落難時給予的濟助，如今自己站穩腳步，回來當義工，聊以回饋，十分應該。

大波士頓食物銀行執行長Catherine D’Amato (右起)
邀麻州州長Maura Healey和波士頓市長吳弭 (Michelle Wu)，
波士頓紅襪隊吉祥物 Wally一起為捐贈鍊活動造勢。 (周菊子攝)

松街客棧一名發言人表示，松街客棧在麻州4個不同地點為單身的無家可歸者提供約460個床位，另在不同地點為無家可歸者提供960戶永久性的，以及支援性住房，其中有111戶位於牙買加平原，還正在施工中。

波士頓拉丁高中老師陪同3名學生出席領取Nally獎。
(周菊子攝)

大波士頓食物銀行 (Greater Boston Food Bank)則是在11月中旬，舉行了第18屆的「捐贈鍊 (Chain of Giving)」，以及第12屆的「無飢假日 (Hunger Free Holiday)」籌款活動，請得麻州州長奚莉 (Maura Healey)、財政廳廳長Deb Goldberg、波士頓市長吳弭 (Michelle Wu)等共約150人，來到位於新市場區的倉庫，排成一長條人龍，以接力方式，把將近1000隻冰凍火雞從貨車中拿出來，傳遞進儲存倉庫，為之後總共送出27,000隻火雞做準備。

大波士頓食物銀行透露，今年匱乏食物的人似乎更多，該機構合作夥伴回報，和2022年相比，他們所服務個人的數目增加了約12%。美國農業署也發現，全美面對食物不足情況的人口，也比2022年增加了30%到40%。

大波士頓食物銀行執行長Catherine D’Amato (右四起)和
麻州州長Maura Healey、財政廳廳長Deb Goldberg及得獎學生合影。
(周菊子攝)

大波士頓食物銀行所做的食物不足年度報告也發現，每3名麻州居民就有1人面對食物不足情況，兒童缺乏食物的比率驚人，食物匱乏在族裔、地理及性別上有著根深地固的差距。

大波士頓食物銀行執行長Catherine D’Amato表示，他們知道飢餓不是很緊急的事，但卻是太多麻州居民每天都要面對的困境。新冠病毒疫情可能過去了，但飢餓問題仍然存在，希望有更多善心人士加入消弭飢餓的行列。

麻州眾議員Rob Consalvo (右二)和Kevin Honan(右三)
等人一起傳遞火雞。 (周菊子攝)

大波士頓食物銀行從年僅8歲及6歲的Danny和Besty Nally於2006年為該機構發起募捐火雞活動後，每年頒發Nally獎，表揚在打擊飢餓上表現傑出的青少年。今年的得獎者為波士頓拉丁高中學生Ita Berg、 Niamh Govender、 Laura Nguyen等3人。他們3人去年烘培了「做好事餅乾 (Cookies for a Cause)」，籌得1000元。

大波士頓食物銀行為強調以眾人之力來解決飢餓問題，邀請了
100多人參加「食物鍊」活動。 (周菊子攝)