波士頓市長Kim Janey 疫情匯報4/6 推出希望計畫

 

MAYOR JANEY, BOSTON HEALTH OFFICIALS LAUNCH CAMPAIGN AIMED AT INCREASING COVID-19 VACCINE PARTICIPATION   BOSTON – Tuesday, April 6, 2021 – Mayor Kim Janey and Health and Human Services Chief Marty Martinez today announced the Boston Public Health Commission’s Hope campaign, a new multilingual public awareness campaign, encouraging residents to get the COVID-19 vaccine when it is their turn. “This campaign was created to speak to the heart of what has been missing in our lives and what can be better, if we get vaccinated. Every dose of the COVID-19 vaccine brings us one step closer to putting this pandemic behind us. Every dose gives us new hope for brighter days ahead,” said Mayor Janey. “I encourage every Bostonian to get vaccinated when it is your turn. Until then, stay vigilant by wearing a mask in public, washing your hands, keeping your distance and continuing to get tested regularly.” The ads feature a diverse group of people who speak a variety of languages and aim to build trust with communities of color and other populations disproportionately impacted by COVID-19. It will be localized to target specific neighborhoods and reach individuals in their own languages. “An equitable response and recovery from this pandemic means we must break down barriers so that every Bostonian not only has access to the vaccine but also has the information needed to make an informed decision about getting it,” said Marty Martinez, Chief of Health and Human Services. “This vaccine gives us hope as we continue to battle this virus and look forward to life after COVID. The best way to protect yourself, your loved ones and your community is to get the vaccine when it is available to you.” The $465,000 campaign developed by marketing consultant Archipelago Strategies Group, Inc. (ASG) launched last week and the first phase will run through June. It will be visible on a variety of platforms in several languages, including television, radio, paid social media, billboards, streaming services, and print advertising. “Ensuring that every community has the resources and information necessary to access COVID-19 vaccinations is the only way to ensure our city, state, and country will finally put this pandemic behind us,” said Josiane Martinez, CEO & Founder of Archipelago Strategies Group, Inc., a women and minority lead firm. “ASG is confident that with clear, concise, culturally relevant messages we can save more people from getting infected and prevent more untimely deaths. Equipped with knowledge and confidence more people will choose to get vaccinated to protect their health, their family’s health, and the health of our City.”     Along with building widespread public awareness of the benefits and importance of getting the vaccine, the City is focused on equitable distribution efforts. Under the State's leadership, the City is taking a four-pronged approach to vaccination:    ·    Mass Vaccination Clinics, where the goal is to vaccinate the highest number of individuals;   ·    Priority Group Clinics to vaccinate a targeted number of individuals within a specific priority group;   ·    Community-based Public Clinics to vaccinate any individual eligible to receive a vaccine at easily accessible locations throughout Boston's neighborhoods; and  ·    Mobile vaccination sites with the goal to vaccinate the hardest to reach Boston residents by bringing small-scale mobile clinics to them.   The City of Boston has set aside vaccination appointments at the mass vaccination sites in Boston for our hardest hit communities. The Offices of Health and Human Services, Age Strong Commission, Mayor’s Office of Immigrant Advancement, Commission for Persons with Disabilities, and other departments are doing extensive outreach to community organizations, coalitions and neighborhood groups to create access to the vaccine for those populations most impacted. As of March 30, 2021,119,218 individuals who are 16 years of age or older have been fully vaccinated in the City of Boston. 42 percent of fully vaccinated Bostonians are people of color. 11,649 Asian/Pacific Islander residents are fully vaccinated; 22,328 Black residents are fully vaccinated; 12,284 Latinx residents are fully vaccinated; and 175 American Indian/Alaskan Native residents are fully vaccinated. In comparison, 57,703 white residents are fully vaccinated. For more information on vaccination rates, visit here. For more information about the COVID-19 vaccine in Boston, visit here or call 3-1-1.

麻州、康州兩州長攜手致力降低處方藥價格 (聯席記者會)

Governor Charlie Baker will virtually join Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont to participate in a press conference regarding a joint effort to reduce the cost of prescription drugs for the residents of Massachusetts and Connecticut

波士頓市長Kim Janey推出"波士頓全包容"計畫

波士頓市長Kim Janey推出「波士頓應有盡有」計畫。

        (Boston Orange 編譯)波士頓市市長Kim Janey今(5)日宣佈，4月6日起將推出為期6週的「波士頓應有盡有(All Inclusive Boston)」計畫，在波士頓從新冠疫情邁向恢復途中，帶旺備受新冠病毒疫情打擊的旅遊，餐飲，酒店等休閒娛樂行業。

                 「波士頓應有盡有(All Inclusive Boston)」計畫由聯邦政府CARES法案紓困金資助，Colette Phillips傳播公司，諺語(Proverb)，大波士頓會議及遊客局(GBCVB)合作策畫，邀請約11家地方上由少數族裔或婦女，LGBTQ等各種性別所經營的小企業參與設計，以一系列平面，廣播，視頻，及社交媒體廣告，數位化內容，向大波士頓，麻州，甚至世界各地遊客，重新介紹波士頓各鄰里，藉由allinclusivebos.com,網站上的數位化內容，在已知的風景文物及節慶外，穿街過巷，見識更多元化的前所未見波士頓面貌，帶旺聘用了很大比例的有色員工，在波士頓市和麻州各行各業中，重要性位居第三的休閒旅遊業。

Colette Phillips傳播公司創辦人。

             波士頓是代理經濟發展長Midori Morikawa表示，旅遊業是波士頓市最大的雇主之一，也是新冠病毒疫情期間，失業率最不成比例的行業，波士頓市將和他們合作，為青年，移民及有色人種提供機會。

             參與「波士頓應有盡有(All Inclusive Boston)」這項計畫的小企業包括，Anto Astudillo – 攝像師 (Chilean, LGBTQ+)，Black Girl Digital – 影響行銷/社交媒體 (Minority/Woman-owned)，BlackMath – 視頻製作，Geoffery Jean Baptiste – 攝像師 (Black/Brown)，Harry Scales – 攝影 (Black/Brown)，Heart + Mind – 研究 (Black/Woman-owned)，Include Web Design – 微型網站 (Black/Woman-owned)，Kelley Chunn and Associates – 社區及多元文化媒體互動(Black/Woman-owned)，Live Wire Collaborative – 社交媒體策略 (Black/Woman-owned)，MJM 顧問服務, Mary Jo Meisner – 項目管理(Woman-owned)，Porsha Olayiwola, 波士頓是2019桂冠詩人 – 視頻、廣播的配音藝術家(Black/Brown, LGBTQ+)，UNCOVr Media – 媒體購買團隊。

             從3月22日起，進入麻州的訪客，或回麻州的居民，除非符合豁免條件，麻州政府都忠告他們，從抵達日起隔離10天。

            抵達麻州之前的72小時內，新冠病毒檢測陰性，進麻州不超過24小時，在24小時進出麻州的居民，進麻州執行重要的基礎建設功能，以及已完整接種新冠病毒疫苗者，可以不需要隔離。

MAYOR JANEY PROMOTES EQUITABLE RECOVERY FROM COVID-19 WITH ALL INCLUSIVE BOSTON CAMPAIGN Tourism campaign showcases city’s diversity and positions Boston as a welcoming and vibrant travel destination   BOSTON - Monday, April 5, 2021 - Building on her commitment to put equity at the center of the City of Boston’s recovery from COVID-19, Mayor Kim Janey today launched the All Inclusive Boston campaign. With the travel and hospitality sector devastated by the pandemic, this initiative showcases Boston’s diverse tourism assets, across all Boston neighborhoods, as part of an equitable recovery initiative. Tourism and hospitality is the third largest industry in Boston and the Commonwealth. The sector employs a large percentage of workers of color, making it critical to an inclusive economic recovery. This campaign aims to renew and reimagine how Boston is perceived locally and across the globe. Guided by public health and safety measures, the campaign will target an expanded audience, as the city safely reopens. The goal is to curate new narratives and aspirational content about Boston, enticing a broader and more diverse set of consumers to visit later this summer or fall. The local focus is a vital part of All Inclusive Boston. The vibrant small businesses, local attractions and eclectic neighborhood offerings across the city are pillars of this campaign. Ultimately, All Inclusive Boston will reposition the city to a new demographic of visitors while spotlighting its rich cultural and commercial assets, including those beyond traditional tourist sites. Mayor Janey is dedicated to supporting all of Boston’s communities throughout the recovery. The campaign was developed by the City of Boston’s selected vendors for the Visit Boston RFP: a partnership between Colette Phillips Communications and Proverb –– Team CPC-Proverb –– and the Greater Boston Convention & Visitors Bureau (GBCVB). The local tourism campaign has been designed to draw diverse tourists to take advantage of each of Boston’s unique neighborhoods and small businesses, as the City responds to the impact of COVID-19 by supporting its hardest hit industries and communities. As visitors discover the neighborhoods, they are asked to continue to follow COVID-19 public health guidance.  The full campaign launches tomorrow, April 6, as an integrated digital marketing blitz that will include print, radio, video, and social media components. The digital content and collateral associated with the All Inclusive Boston campaign will spotlight the neighborhoods, businesses, eclectic cultural offerings, and diverse communities across Boston that reveal the breadth and depth of all that the city has to offer visitors and residents alike. “The All Inclusive Boston tourism campaign is an important part of our agenda to safely and equitably reopen and renew every neighborhood in the City,'' said Mayor Kim Janey. “By promoting the City of Boston as a vibrant and welcoming place that embraces public health guidance, we will boost local visits now and influence travel plans for the future.” Mayor Janey continued, “I want to thank former Mayor Marty Walsh for commissioning this campaign. I also want to congratulate the partnership between Colette Phillips Communications and Proverb –– Team CPC-Proverb –– and the Greater Boston Convention & Visitors Bureau (GBCVB), and the many subcontractors, on all of their hard work and contributions.” The All Inclusive campaign is showing visitors that Boston has it all—by highlighting the city’s many sides, stories, shops, small businesses, festivals and flavors. It is running locally—on billboards, bus shelters, bike shares, bus wraps, radio, social media, print, and digital publications—to encourage Bostonians to try new restaurants or explore new neighborhoods. The 6-week campaign is targeting a drive market of people searching for a safe stay-cation. The preview video tells the story of those who live and work in the City of Boston, and features communities and businesses beyond traditional tourist sites. It will direct people to allinclusivebos.com, a microsite full of curated resources: restaurants, events, itineraries, hotels, neighborhoods, and experiences both known and unknown.  “Together, the tourism industry is one of Boston’s largest employers, offering opportunities for many young people, immigrants, and people of color,” said Midori Morikawa, Interim Chief of Economic Development. “Unfortunately, the tourism industry has been hit hardest by the COVID-19 pandemic, with high unemployment rates exacerbating existing disparities in our labor force. This calls for bold measures to help the industry and workers to recover, and to do so with equity and inclusivity that will make Boston proud.” Together, Colette Phillips Communications, Inc. (CPC), an award-winning marketing and communications firm, and the first minority and woman owned public relations firm in the City of Boston; Proverb, a Boston-based, minority owned, award-winning creative branding, design, and advertising agency made up of 25 talented, diverse, and strategic creatives; and the GBCVB, the city's primary marketing and visitor services organization created the campaign. It highlights Boston’s multicultural, local economy and promotes the city as a welcoming and diverse destination with rich cultural enclaves and many untold stories. The goal of the campaign is to increase awareness, and drive trips to Boston’s neighborhoods from diverse local and regional visitors, while supporting the public health guidance that is in place. The team was charged with highlighting attractions and events that speak to the experiences of people of color in Boston, and the campaign highlights many local minority-owned and run businesses and organizations. A diverse mix of small businesses worked on this project, including a significant number of Minority Business Enterprises (MBE’s), Women Business Enterprises (WBE’s), and companies with LGBTQ+ ownership. ·    Anto Astudillo - Videographer (Chilean, LGBTQ+) ·    Black Girl Digital - Influencer Marketing/Social Media (Minority/Woman-owned) ·    BlackMath - Video Production ·    Geoffery Jean Baptiste - Videographer (Black/Brown)  ·    Harry Scales - Photography (Black/Brown) ·    Heart + Mind - Research (Black/Woman-owned) ·    Include Web Design - Microsite (Black/Woman-owned) ·    Kelley Chunn and Associates - Community and Multicultural Media Engagement (Black/Woman-owned) ·    Live Wire Collaborative - Social Media Strategy (Black/Woman-owned) ·    MJM Advisory Services, Mary Jo Meisner - Project Management (Woman-owned)  ·    Porsha Olayiwola, City of Boston 2019 Poet Laureate - Voice Over Artist for Video & Radio (Black/Brown, LGBTQ+) ·    UNCOVr Media - Media Buying Team “Colette Phillips Communications is proud to have won this first of kind contract, which represents a new model for economic inclusion and procurement,” said Colette Phillips. “This campaign was always about building an equitable recovery - given that 70% of those who work in the hospitality industry come from BIPOC communities. It was also an opportunity to change the narrative about Boston and to showcase the rich diversity and all that our neighborhoods have to offer. I could not be more proud of bringing together the creative genius of Proverb and our region’s premiere tourism marketing agency, the Greater Boston Convention and Visitors Bureau.”  "Boston has so much to offer as a tourist destination, from our diverse restaurant scene to our vibrant cultural attractions and museums," said Kate Davis, Director of the Mayor's Office of Tourism, Sports, and Entertainment. "With this campaign, we welcome regional and local travelers to explore all that Boston has to offer, and invite Bostonians to explore their own backyard in a new way too." “Advertising and branding is about creating the future. And in terms of where we are as a city and as a nation, we recognize that the stakes are incredibly high,” said Founder & Managing Director of Proverb Daren Bascome. “We wanted to create something our city can grow into. So much of this campaign is about representation—you’ll see some familiar faces and places, but it’s a portrait of Boston that is often left out of the frame.” “This groundbreaking campaign will help set the stage for the recovery of Boston’s tourism sector and keep this city and its unique neighborhoods and tourism offerings top of mind for those wanting to book future travel,” said GBCVB President & CEO Martha J. Sheridan. The Commonwealth of Massachusetts has made great progress to slow the spread of COVID-19 and gradually re-open the economy, and all visitors and returning residents have a responsibility to help us keep transmission levels as low as possible. As of Monday, March 22, all visitors entering Massachusetts, including returning residents, are advised to quarantine for 10 days upon their arrival, unless they meet exemption. Travelers in the following categories are exempt from this quarantine advisory: travelers who have received a negative COVID-19 result on a test administered not more than 72 hours prior to their arrival in Massachusetts (travelers may also test out of the quarantine advisory after arrival in Massachusetts, as long as they quarantine until receiving a negative test result), anyone who is entering Massachusetts for fewer than 24 hours, anyone who is returning to Massachusetts after being out of the State for fewer than 24 hours, workers who enter Massachusetts to perform critical infrastructure functions (as specified by the Federal Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency) during required commuting to or from work and while at work, travelers who are fully vaccinated (i.e. who have received two doses of either the Moderna or Pfizer COVID-19 vaccines OR who have received a single dose of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine, 14 days or more ago) and who do not have symptoms. More information on the Commonwealth of Massachusetts COVID-19 Travel Advisory is available at www.mass.gov/info-details/covid-19-travel-advisory. All travelers are encouraged to consult and follow the CDC’s guidelines and requirements for travel. This project was funded by CARES Act Relief Funding. In accordance with the regulations, the project must provide resources or assistance to mitigate effects on health and/or provide economic support. Learn more about the All Inclusive Campaign –– and view more campaign collateral –– on allinclusivebos.com, the dedicated website for this campaign maintained by the Greater Boston Convention & Visitors Bureau. Follow along on social media with #AllInclusiveBos.

Baker-Polito Administration Announces Federal Funding Through Eviction Diversion Initiative

Baker-Polito Administration Announces Federal Funding Through Eviction Diversion Initiative

$80 million in rental assistance distributed to date; $400 million in new federal funding enables state to increase rental assistance to very-low and low-income renters, and cover utilities and other housing costs

BOSTON — Today, the Baker-Polito Administration announced that more than $400 million in new federal funding from the Consolidated Appropriations Act is now available through the Administration’s Eviction Diversion Initiative (EDI). First launched in October 2020, EDI consists of a comprehensive set of resources that serves individuals, families and landlords in crisis with financial aid, free and low-cost legal aid and community mediation to keep people in their homes. With a focus on preserving housing stability, the Baker-Polito Administration has distributed approximately $80 million in state rental assistance to more than 18,000 households since the beginning of the State of Emergency (data available via public dashboard).   

As a result of extensive coordination detailed below, these efforts have contributed to the mitigation of the anticipated crisis in evictions. Information tracked by the Massachusetts Trial Court shows a total of 626 executions issued in residential eviction cases from October 18, 2020 through March 28, 2021 for cases filed after the state moratorium. This represents a reduction of nearly 85% compared to the number of executions issued in residential eviction cases during the same span of time one year prior (3,807). 

The infusion of more than $400 million in federal resources, which is expected to be supplemented by hundreds of millions in additional dollars through the American Rescue Plan Act, allows the Commonwealth to provide longer-term relief to low-income renters and landlords in crisis, while implementing system efficiencies and processes for the future. This additional funding, and the flexibility created by federal regulations, enables the Commonwealth to expand aid to more households, provide deeper and longer-term assistance to households, and help households with utility payments. The Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) has been investing heavily in and working closely with regional administering agencies (RAAs) and the Rental Assistance Processing (RAP) Center to incorporate the new Federal Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERAP) funding into existing delivery service models for the Residential Assistance for Families in Transition (RAFT) and Emergency Rental and Mortgage Assistance (ERMA) programs. 

“The ongoing public health crisis and the economic consequences created by COVID-19 have made the importance of stable, affordable housing a clear and vital component of our strategy to keep households safe and healthy,” said Governor Charlie Baker. “This major infusion of resources enables us to extend and strengthen our Eviction Diversion Initiative, which supports both tenants and landlords in crisis to keep more families safely housed. With more than $400 million available, we are pleased this funding will enable us to respond to the immense need for support right now, and make long-term investments in our homelessness prevention programs.”  

“We are pleased to provide additional funding to the Eviction Diversion Initiative to further offset the impacts of COVID-19. The pandemic has disproportionately affected lower income communities and neighborhoods, and this new funding will provide longer term support for households as we continue to work toward recovery,” said Lt. Governor Karyn Polito. “In keeping with our goal of meeting residents where they are, these important resources will be more accessible to our affordable housing providers and families eligible for shelter, and will shield even more families from homelessness during this unprecedented crisis.” 

Funding Highlights include: 

• Income eligibility – households making up to 80% of Area Median Income (AMI) will be eligible for funding (RAFT has an eligibility threshold of 50% of AMI).   
• Longer-term assistance – households may be eligible for up to 12 months of rental arrears (plus an extra 3 months of stipends for future rent if funding allows and need is demonstrated), as well as overdue utilities arrears up to $1,500. All rent and utility arrears must have been accrued after 3/13/20. Currently, RAFT and ERMA can provide up to $10,000 per household for rental arrearages or stipends. 
• Prioritization of funds for those most at risk, including those making less than 50% AMI and those unemployed for 90 days or more. ​ 

In addition, DHCD, in partnership with MassHousing and the Massachusetts Housing Partnership (MHP), will launch a new program to allow qualified owners of income-restricted units, as well as Local Housing Authorities, to apply for help directly on behalf of all of their income-eligible residents with past-due rent. The Subsidized Housing Emergency Rental Assistance (SHERA) program will expedite relief for possibly tens of thousands of eligible tenants in need, while also allowing administering agencies to concentrate on applications from non-subsidized tenants in need of assistance. 

Federal resources will also be made available to families who are eligible for Emergency Assistance (EA) Shelter, by coupling ERAP rental assistance benefits with the existing HomeBASE benefit and housing services. This will help those who owe arrears and are at risk of becoming unhoused, and also those who are exiting EA shelter and transitioning into permanent housing. The Administration is also pursuing two pilot initiatives: the first will allow municipalities to provide targeted outreach and hands-on ERAP application support to communities with demonstrated need and hard-to-reach populations, and the second provides targeted outreach strategies to small landlords about the availability of ERAP and other state financial assistance programs. 

“Thanks to the hard work of DHCD and so many partners, we’ve transformed how we support families facing an eviction or a housing crisis during the pandemic. We’ve increased our dollar commitment, and introduced new, comprehensive services like free and low-cost legal aid and community mediation between tenants and landlords to help keep people housed,” said Housing and Economic Development Secretary Mike Kennealy. “As we enter a critical stage of our economic recovery, it is absolutely vital to ensure families have access to safe, stable housing.”  

“These additional resources, combined with process improvements and expanded eligibility, have allowed us to adjust our relief programs to match the urgency required by this public health crisis. Over the last nine months, we have worked closely with our partners to create a better application process for applicants and administering agencies,” said Housing and Community Development Undersecretary Jennifer Maddox. “Thanks to our partners in the Legislature, the Courts, and our network of advocates, we’ve never been more ready to provide assistance to families in need.”   

"The addition of the federal dollars means we can serve even more households struggling to pay their housing costs and provide deeper resources to fully bridge the gap of what's needed to stabilize tenancies," said Stefanie Coxe, Executive Director of the Regional Housing Network of Massachusetts. "This helps us further transform a homelessness prevention program into a disaster relief fund.”  

“The last year has shown how important our homes are to our health and the health of our communities. Our state and local governments have dedicated tremendous resources to help people pay their rent. However, as unemployment persists, work hours change, and kids are not fully back in school, federal funding is critical to keeping up with the need,” said Rachel Heller, CEO of Citizens’ Housing and Planning Association (CHAPA). “This new federal funding provides us with the resources we need to help people and our neighborhoods stay stable through the pandemic.” 

Over the last nine months, DHCD and partners have worked to reduce paperwork, streamline the application process, implement technology upgrades, and provide better language access. To increase capacity, DHCD and regional agencies hired more than 200 new staff and created the new Rental Assistance Processing (RAP) Center to lend added support with increased applications across the state. DHCD is also working to expand access and awareness with a public information campaign and targeted outreach to vulnerable communities. 

To address this immense increase in demand due to COVID-19, DHCD worked with administering agencies to transform the RAFT program from a narrow, homelessness prevention program into a comprehensive disaster relief program to stabilize renters and landlords. The RAFT program was more targeted in its aid, requiring a court summons or other evidence that a household was facing an unstable situation, and was limited to $4,000 to address a short-term crisis. In past years, with an annual budget of roughly $20 million, RAFT served between five and six thousand households. During this crisis, the state has already distributed about $80 million to more than 18,000 households, more than tripling its annual output. 

In February 2021 alone, the state served a record 5,463 households, spending $21.1 million through the RAFT program to keep them in their homes. By comparison, in February 2020, the month before the start of the public health emergency, the state issued $1.5 million in RAFT funds. February of 2021 represents approximately a 1,300% increase in assistance over February of 2020. During the first three weeks of March, the state distributed $23.6 million in RAFT payments to 7,445 households, putting the Commonwealth on track for another record month. Payments from those three weeks alone represent more than the entire annual RAFT budget in any fiscal year before the current fiscal year. 

In addition, DHCD continues to see fewer families enter and stay in the family shelter system compared to the previous year. Family shelter caseload in February 2021 was down approximately 20% compared to February 2020. Similar trends can be seen in the HomeBASE program, with new participants since October down between 30% and 60% each month compared to the preceding year. Moreover, while there was an initial increase in post-moratorium eviction filings in November and December, new weekly eviction filings for non-payment of rent have declined and have remained consistently below pre-pandemic levels in Calendar Year 2021. Additionally, this week, the Centers for Disease Control extended its eviction moratorium through June 30, 2021.

The EDI effort combines financial assistance with resources for renters and landlords to avoid an eviction. The COVID Eviction Legal Help Project (CELHP), a partnership with the Massachusetts Legal Assistance Corporation, Massachusetts Law Reform Institute, and the Volunteers Lawyers Project, provides free legal assistance to low-income households facing an eviction, and free or low-cost assistance for low-income homeowners who live in a home with rental units. Agencies have hired nearly 130 direct service staff to increase capacity, and more than 200 lawyers have been recruited to volunteer their time and expertise. To date, more than 1,000 cases have been opened at legal aid organizations under this partnership. Additionally, with the Massachusetts Office of Public Collaboration, professional, confidential mediation services are available across the Commonwealth for tenants and landlords to solve lease or other housing issues outside of the court process. 

中華公所主席鄭慧民應邀參觀黃官羨閱報室 籲關注反亞裔仇恨、反對大麻店

左起，中華公所主席鄭慧民，帝苑大酒樓業主黃官羨，
波士頓市議員Ed Flynn和台山鄉親聚會。(周菊子攝)

             (Boston Orange 周菊子波士頓報導)紐英崙中華公所主席鄭慧民今(2)日下午應邀參訪「黃官羨閱報室」，和黃官羨，波士頓市議員愛德華費林(Ed Flynn)，以及台山同鄉聯誼會鄉親聚會，請鄉親們關注近期各地頻傳的反亞裔仇恨暴力事件，出門要小心，並請支持反對大麻店。

             台山同鄉聯誼會會長鄺元傑，3名副會長中的黃漢湖，黃偉健，英文書記麥導迎，以及黃國麟，李照桃，黃藹霖等多名鄉親特地到場迎迓。

           鄭慧民和愛德華費林議員，以及黃官羨一一致詞。他們三人都強調，新冠病毒疫情已經使得人們生活難過，近來在各地發生針對亞裔的仇視，種族歧視，甚至暴力相向行為，令人憤慨，在請各人注意安全，互相幫助之餘，要導正社會風氣也需要眾人攜手努力，遭遇不平，就要說出來，向警察或相關單位舉報，留下記錄。

部分出席者合影。(周菊子攝)

             紐英崙中華公所上週還為在亞特蘭大發生，有6名亞裔女性在3家按摩店被槍殺事件舉行了燭光悼念會，展現各界團結一致，譴責暴力，抗議歧視亞裔的聲音。

             Royalty集團有意在史都華街(Stuart)31-39號開張「樹星(Tree Star)」休閒用大麻店，是華埠民眾面對的另一議題。

             黃官羨與鄭慧民等人攜手，3月29日已在帝苑大酒樓邀集不同團體代表，說明又有大麻店要在華埠旁開張，對華埠一帶的治安，恐有深遠影響，請各人廣告週知親朋好友，加入簽名反對行列。

             黃官羨閱報室是帝苑大酒樓業主黃官羨為照顧台山鄉親，華埠移民，2007年自掏腰包設立的鄉親進華埠時的落腳場所。台山同鄉聯誼會會長鄺元傑也在會中特地感謝黃官羨的慷慨大方，不但添購書籍，大電視，還訂閱多份報章，造福地方民眾。

台山同鄉聯誼會會長鄺元傑拿出報紙，說明黃官羨
閱報室有很多書籍報章可看。(周菊子攝)

           活動中有出席者黃藹霖發言，籲請中華公所把黃官羨閱報室納為中華公所一員。

               今日的這場參觀、晤談，還有愛德華費林議員助理盧善柔做翻譯。

聯邦政府薪資報護計畫效期延至5月31日

 注意小企業主！ 薪資保護計劃（PPP）已延長至5月31日。 利用這段額外的時間來申請這筆可寬免的貸款。

加入4月8日星期四美國東部時間下午6:00舉行的SBA，參加有關PPP最新變化的西班牙語網絡研討會。

SBA演講者將概述：

•如何申請PPP可免除貸款，什麼是第一筆和第二筆PPP？

•針對獨資經營者，獨立承包商和個體經營者的新貸款計算。

•合法的美國居民的非公民小型企業主的訪問權限

•需要申請幫助嗎？ 了解新英格蘭SBA資源合作夥伴提供的免費支持。

演講後，將進行簡短的問答環節。

日期：2021年4月8日，星期四

時間：美國東部時間6:00 pm – 7:00 pm

Attention Small Business Owners! The Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) has been extended to May 31st. Take advantage of this additional time to apply for this forgivable loan.

Join the SBA on Thursday, April 8th at 6:00pm ET for a Spanish language webinar on the recent changes to PPP.

SBA speakers will outline:

• How to apply for a PPP forgivable loan and what is a First and Second Draw PPP?
• New loan calculation for sole proprietors, independent contractors, and self-employed individuals.
• Access for non-citizen small business owners who are lawful U.S. residents
• Need application assistance? Learn about free support available from New England’s SBA Resource Partners.

After the presentation, there will be a brief Q&A session.

Date: Thursday, April 8th, 2021
Time: 6:00pm – 7:00pm ET

Michelle Wu Announces Strong Fundraising Month Fueled by 1,459 Individual Donors Across our City, State and Country

Michelle Wu Announces Strong Fundraising Month Fueled by 1,459 Individual Donors Across our City, State and Country

Boston, MA - City Councilor Michelle Wu announced yet another strong month of fundraising and organizing in which she received 1,459 individual donations and held 38 organizing events to connect with communities across Boston. This month, Wu raised $181,000 with an average donation of $106 - the lowest average donation of any candidate who has filed so far, reflecting strong grassroots support.  Since launch, Wu has received donations from 5,657 people, more than double the number of individual donors than any other candidate. She has also received thousands of donors in Boston, more than double the amount of in-Boston donors than any other candidate in the race. 

 

Throughout the campaign Wu has been consistently ahead - by far - on the metric of number of individuals who have contributed as well as number of Bostonians who have contributed, showing the strength and breadth of her support among Boston voters. She has also consistently received the lowest average contribution of any candidate in the race, showing the strength of grassroots support from people who believe in the Wu campaign’s movement.

 

Wu has raised $944,000 since her launch, the most of any candidate in the race, fueled in large part through grassroots donors from every neighborhood in Boston. The Wu campaign has 458 monthly recurring contributors, which continues to provide the resources for an  in-depth organizing program. 

 

“I’m so grateful to every single person who has supported our campaign by making phone calls, chipping in a dollar, and sharing their vision. We’re building community across every neighborhood fueled by an outpouring of grassroots support and energy. To meet this moment, we need bold, urgent leadership to build a city for everyone and tackle our longstanding challenges head-on,” said Michelle Wu