HARVARD ERC DISTRICT AND GREENWAY PLAN

Plan provides framework for future ERC phases

BOSTON - April 16, 2026 - The Planning Department today successfully advanced the Harvard ERC District and Greenway Plan for approval and adoption by the BPDA Board. The plan provides a framework for the ongoing development of Harvard’s 30 acre Enterprise Research Campus (ERC) in Allston, allowing this area to grow as an interconnected part of the neighborhood, rather than a separate, stand-alone campus. The plan envisions this area as a vibrant, mixed-use neighborhood and employment center that supports working, living, learning, and recreation.

Staff completed this planning initiative in direct response to community feedback, and as mitigation, following the approval of Phase A of the Harvard ERC in 2022. The plan will guide future development of the remaining site as it continues to be built out in future phases. The main priorities of this plan, developed in collaboration with the community, include: housing, open space, transportation connectivity, green infrastructure, and support for local businesses.

“This plan will allow the Harvard ERC to evolve as a fully connected community, complete with accessible green space, affordable housing, and innovation space,” said Chief of Planning Kairos Shen. “I look forward to working with the community as this vision is brought to life through subsequent development of the ERC.”

The final Plan recommends continuing to transform the area into an innovative research district that is seamlessly integrated with the existing neighborhood fabric. Key recommendations include: a Mobility and Access Framework that prioritizes improved multimodal connections within the district and to surrounding neighborhoods; a design strategy for the ERC Greenway that supports year-round use through lighting, landscaping, and safety improvements; a mix of housing types along the edges of the planning area to create a compatible transition to adjacent neighborhoods; and phased development guidelines that ensure the site continues to function cohesively while minimizing disruption for vehicles and pedestrians as new phases are delivered.

“We are grateful for our continued collaboration with the City and the Allston-Brighton community as we work to further develop Harvard's Enterprise Research Campus into a vibrant, mixed-used, commercial innovation district that compliments the existing neighborhood,” said Interim CEO of Harvard Allston Land Company Jennifer Cohen.

“As stated in the Draft Plan, I appreciate that Harvard University has committed that 20 percent of the ERC’s total developable land area will be publicly accessible open space,” said District 9 City Councilor Liz Breadon. “The future continuous east-west greenway will be a fantastic amenity that will serve to better connect the Allston neighborhood to the Charles River.”

“I look forward to the full build out along Western Ave and completion of the Greenway from the Allston Honan Library to the Charles River,” said Harvard ERC District and Greenway Plan Advisory Group member Barbara Parmenter. “I was glad to see a commitment to temporary improvements as the community waits for full completion.”

Planning efforts happening in parallel in this neighborhood include the Beacon Park Yard Regional Framework Plan (BPY), and the Allston-Brighton Community Plan (ABCP). BPY, which is adjacent to the Harvard ERC District and Greenway Plan area, will develop a community vision to explore and refine opportunities unlocked by the Allston Multimodal Project. The ABCP will develop a shared vision for the future of the neighborhood in collaboration with the Allston-Brighton community, focused on housing, transportation, and open space

波士頓消防局長換人 Paul Burke4月底卸任 Rodney Marshall接任第45屆局長

波士頓市長吳弭（Ｍichelle Wu，左二)歡送Paul Burke(左一），歡迎
Rodney Marshall （右二）出任波士頓消防局局長。（周菊子攝）

           (Boston Orange編譯)波士頓市長吳弭（Michelle Wu）今（16）日在藍山（Blue Hill）男女童軍俱樂部宣佈，有30多年資歷的Rodney Marshall ，將在Paul Burke本月底退休後，接替其職，成為第 45 任波士頓消防局局長。

Rodney Marshall接任波士頓消防局局長。
（波士頓市政府提供）

            吳弭市長表示，Rodney Marshall在波士頓土生土長，1991 年加入波士頓消防局，最初在第 56 消防車隊（Engine 56）服役，之後一路晉升，包括1998 年晉升為消防小隊長（Fire Lieutenant），還因爲從六級大火中拯救多名居民，獲頒「局長部隊嘉許獎。2005 年晉升為消防分隊長（Fire Captain），2013 年 因爲參家營救困在嚴重損毀巴士中的民眾，二度獲頒「局長部隊嘉許獎」，2014 年： 晉升為大隊長（District Fire Chief），2022 年 晉升為副局長（Deputy Fire Chief），並擔任支援服務行動總長至今。總共已在波士頓消防局服務了35年有多。

            Rodney Marshall在多切斯特（Dorchester）的 Grove Hall，從波士頓學院畢業，取得學士學位。他在任內最引以為傲的成就之一是設計、監督並啟動「學員計畫（Cadet Program）」，為城市青年開闢成為消防員的職業路徑。

             Marshall 表示，他當初加入消防局，就是為了回饋社區，將來繼續致力支持、守護波士頓鄰里，以及消防員及工作同仁。

到賀嘉賓。（周菊子攝）

MAYOR MICHELLE WU APPOINTS RODNEY MARSHALL AS 45TH COMMISSIONER OF THE BOSTON FIRE DEPARTMENT

BOSTON – Thursday, April 16, 2026 – Today, Mayor Michelle Wu announced the appointment of Rodney Marshall as the 45th Commissioner/Chief of Department of the Boston Fire Department (BFD).

 

Marshall, who joined the BFD in 1991 and currently serves as Chief of Operations - Support Services, brings more than three decades of experience in the Department to the position. He will begin serving in his new role when he is sworn in later this month. 

 

“As a distinguished and deeply respected 35-year veteran of the Boston Fire Department, Deputy Chief Rodney Marshall is exceptionally qualified to lead the brave men and women of Boston Fire who put their lives on the line to keep our communities safe,” said Mayor Michelle Wu. “As a lifelong Bostonian, he knows our communities, has demonstrated his leadership on the job, and has devoted his career to serving and protecting our residents. It’s my honor to appoint him as our next Fire Commissioner. I am deeply grateful for Commissioner Paul Burke’s strong and steady leadership over the past nearly four years, and know that his legacy in the Department and the City will continue to have an impact on our neighborhoods.” 

 

“I want to thank Mayor Wu for the privilege of leading the Department that has shaped my life and career,” said Rodney Marshall, incoming Boston Fire Department Commissioner. “As a proud son of Dorchester, I joined the Boston Fire Department because I wanted to give back to the communities where I grew up, and I’m committed to supporting the firefighters and staff who work every day to keep Boston’s neighborhoods safe.” 

 

“Deputy Chief Rodney Marshall and I have worked together side-by-side in the Commissioner’s office for four years,” said Paul Burke, current Boston Fire Department Commissioner. “He is a good choice by the Mayor—and he will be a great commissioner.” 

 

Marshall was first appointed to the Boston Fire Department in 1991, initially serving at Engine 56. He rose through the ranks to become a Fire Lieutenant in 1998, and that same year was awarded the Commissioner’s Unit Citation for saving the lives of multiple residents during a six-alarm fire. He was promoted to Fire Captain in 2005 and in 2013, he received a second Commissioner’s Unit Citation for his role in rescuing several individuals trapped in a bus with severe roof damage. His promotion to District Fire Chief came in 2014. Since his promotion to Deputy Fire Chief in 2022, he has served as Chief of Operations - Support Services. 

 

One of Marshall’s proudest accomplishments was designing and overseeing the launch of the Department’s Cadet Program, helping to create new pathways for young inner city residents to pursue a career as a firefighter. 

 

Marshall was born and raised in Grove Hall in Dorchester, where his parents were well- respected entrepreneurs within the community. He is a graduate of Boston College, where he earned a bachelor’s degree

MBTA 宣佈 2026 年波士頓馬拉松賽事交通安排 4月20日多條路線調整

MBTA 宣布 2026 年波士頓馬拉松賽事交通安排 4月20日多條路線調整

（Boston Orange編譯） 麻州地鐵（MBTA）今（16）日宣佈，2026 年 4 月 20 日（週一）第130屆波士頓馬拉松賽舉行當天，將增加服務班次並採取特殊交通管制。柯普利（Coply)廣場車站將全天關閉，鄰近終點線的部分車站，也將關閉，以確保公眾安全。

4 月 20 日這天，地鐵全線禁止攜帶自行車（含折疊式）。Framingham/Worcester 線則自 4 月 19 日（週日）下午 5 時起禁止攜帶自行車與滑板車至賽事結束。賽事期間嚴禁攜帶背包、冷藏箱（Coolers）、罐裝物、瓶裝物及大型物品。

綠線（Green Line）位於地面的部分車站，包括 South Street、Kent Street 及 St. Mary’s Street，將於當日上午 10 時至下午 6 時關閉。MBTA將視比賽現場狀況，可能臨時調整或關閉鄰近終點線的其他車站。

4月20日這天，各類交通工具的服務調整細節包括：

• 地鐵（Green, Red, Orange, Blue, Silver Lines）： 維持正常平日班表。

• 公車： 多數路線按週六班表行駛。其中 16 條路線將實施繞道或縮短行程（含 8, 9, 10, 39, 43 等）；47, 59, 66 號路線將因賽道切斷採分段行駛；55 與 65 號路線全天停駛。1, 7, 354, 501, 504 號路線將加開班次。

• 通勤鐵路（Commuter Rail）： 維持平日班表，惟 Framingham/Worcester 線將採用特別賽事班表，增加進出城班次及車廂數量。

• 渡輪與 RIDE 無障礙服務： 維持平日班表，但 RIDE 可能受賽事影響繞道。

MBTA 建議乘客購買售價 10 美元的「假日週末套票（Holiday Weekend Pass）」，可在 4 月 18 日至 20 日間無限次搭乘通勤鐵路。地鐵與公車乘客可直接使用感應式支付（Tap to Ride），或確保 CharlieCard 內至少有 5 美元餘額以供來回搭乘。

麻州政府頒發指南 規定學校迅速調查AI合成裸照事件並嚴肅處理

（Boston Orange編譯）麻州政府4月15日正式頒佈全州性指南，要求各級學校迅速調查以「深偽（Deepfake）」人工智慧技術合成未成年裸照事件，強調製作、持有或分享這類影像或視頻，犯刑事犯，校方有責任依法追究，以保護學生的身心健康與安全。

麻州州長奚莉（Maura Healey）2024年簽署了「防止非經同意散布露骨影像法」，規定凡是 18 歲以下個人之裸露影像，不論是真實拍攝或由 AI 演算生成，均屬違法，麻州中小學教育局（DESE）公佈的指南，要求學校及學區領導者在處理通報時，必須確保調查程序符合州政府反霸凌法、反歧視法，以及聯邦《教育法修正案第九條》（Title IX）之規範。

麻州州長奚莉強調，在校園中，學生不應害怕有人會惡意合成自己的影像。教育廳長施瑞克（Steve Zrike）則指出，學校不但要迅速制止侵害，還應該結合健康教育與數位素養架構，教導學生關於「徵得同意」的正確觀念。

該指南還重申了校方在涉及虐待或剝削案件時的「強制通報」義務，要求各學校和法律顧問，以及社區夥伴緊密協作，確保應對措施符合法律要求。

Governor Healey Provides Guidance to Schools to Investigate Deepfake Images and Videos to Protect Students 

New guidance reinforces state law, outlines responsibilities for schools to respond to AI-generated harm 

 

BOSTON – The Healey-Driscoll Administration today announced new statewide guidance reminding schools that creating a “deepfake” AI-generated nude image of a minor is a criminal offense that must be promptly investigated. Deepfakes are an increasing problem in schools and causing serious harm to students across the state and the country. The guidance, issued by the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE), provides clear direction to school leaders on how to respond to incidents, support students, and uphold state law. 

 

“It’s both terrible and totally unacceptable that young people today are living with the fear that their classmates might create and distribute AI-generated nude images of them. They and their parents deserve to know that, if that happens, their school and community officials will take it seriously and that it would be investigated with perpetrators held accountable, just like any other crime,” said Governor Maura Healey. “We are making sure that schools know they have an obligation to do that. It’s also a call for parents and young people to have conversations about this so the clear message is sent about why this is wrong, illegal and harmful. This is about keeping our students safe and protecting their mental health and wellbeing.” 

 

Under legislation signed by Governor Healey in 2024, it a crime to create, possess or share these materials involving individuals under 18, regardless of whether the image is real or AI-generated. 

 

The guidance outlines a whole-community approach, emphasizing the role of students, educators, families, and community members in preventing harm and promoting digital literacy.  It also reinforces that schools must act promptly when they become aware of incidents involving deepfake content. School and district leaders are expected to investigate reports consistent with their obligations under state anti-bullying and anti-discrimination laws, as well as federal Title IX requirements. It also encourages districts to work closely with legal counsel and community partners to ensure that responses reflect both school policies and potential legal implications. 

 

“School communities have an obligation to create and promote safe and supportive learning environments that are free of bullying and harassment. Today’s guidance reiterates that deepfake incidents must be taken seriously – schools are required to take steps to stop the conduct, protect affected students and staff, and educate students on the harm and impact this abuse of technology can have,” said Secretary of Education Steve Zrike. 

 "This collection of resources is designed to help schools address and prevent the use of deepfakes, particularly when they target students," said Elementary and Secondary Education Commissioner Pedro Martinez. "Law enforcement, school leaders, teachers, and students all have important pieces of this work." 

 

The guidance includes resources on: 

·       Cyberbullying and harassment prevention 

·       Legal consequences of sharing explicit images, including AI-generated content 

·       Digital literacy and responsible technology use 

·       School obligations to investigate and respond to incidents 

·       Mandated reporting requirements in cases involving abuse or exploitation. 

 

The state is also encouraging schools to use existing health education and digital literacy frameworks to teach students about consent, online behavior, and the risks associated with sharing images.  

 

This effort builds on Governor Healey’s broader commitment to protect young people online and ensure technology is used safely and responsibly. Earlier this week, Governor Healey filed legislation to strengthen protections for minors on social media platforms, including measures to reduce harmful content, increase transparency, and give families more tools to safeguard their children’s online experiences. Together, these efforts reflect a comprehensive approach to keeping students safe both in and out of the classroom while preparing them to succeed in a rapidly evolving digital world. 

波士頓獻花圈勸行善 沒忘記13年前馬拉松爆炸案教訓

波士頓市長吳弭（Michelle Wu）和麻州州長奚莉（Maura Healey）
在波士頓公共圖書館前悼念波士頓馬拉松賽爆炸案逝者。（周菊子攝）

          （Boston Orange周菊子波士頓綜合報導）波士頓市長吳弭（Michelle Wu）和麻州州長奚莉（Maura Healey）等人，4月15日一早到波約斯頓街（Boylston）獻花，向13年前的波士頓馬拉松賽爆炸案受害者，倖存者，以及救援人員，表達悼念，關懷與致敬心意，安靜強調「波士頓團結（One Boston）」。

麻州州長奚莉（Maura Healey，左起）和波士頓市長吳弭（Michelle Wu）等人，
走到第二個爆炸點。（周菊子攝）

在風笛手引領下，奚莉州長、吳弭市長和部分受害者家屬，從波士頓公共圖書館走出來，陸續到波約斯頓街上的2個當年爆炸地點，靜立、默哀，獻上花圈，向2013年在波士頓馬拉松賽的終點線前失去生命的3人，8 歲馬丁·理查德（Martin Richard）、29 歲克莉絲托·坎貝爾（Krystle Campbell）與 23 歲呂令子（Lingzi Lu）致意。

當年的爆炸案，共有5人遇難，200多人受傷，數難以計的民眾震驚，慌亂心情久久難以平復。

波士頓市長吳弭（Michelle Wu）和麻州州長奚莉（Maura Healey）向花圈行注目禮。
（周菊子攝）

波士頓馬拉松賽爆炸案在前述3人現場殞命之外，還有麻省理工學院（MIT）警員蕭恩·柯里爾（Sean Collier），以及波士頓警員丹尼斯·西蒙斯（Dennis Simmonds）在後續追捕行動，槍戰中喪生。

波士頓緊急救護長胡利（Jim Hooley）當年人在現場，爆炸聲響後，親眼見到地面血肉模糊，滿是殘肢斷臂。他直言，儘管許多倖存者，身體傷勢已經恢復，心理創傷卻迄今猶存。他自己也是一想到當年那情景，就忍不住難過。

呂令子的阿姨趙金燕（左一）今年也出席了悼念儀式。（周菊子攝）

15日這天，波士頓警察協會（BPPA）在社交媒體上發文，強調儘管事隔 13 年，波士頓市將永遠信守「不遺忘」的承諾。波士頓市也在當年爆炸案發生的下午 2 時 49 分，敲響老南教堂（Old South Church）鐘聲致哀。

波士頓公共圖書館對面的爆炸案地點，放著花圈。（周菊子攝）

吳弭市長表示，把4月15日訂定為「波士頓團結日（One Boston Day）」，是為表彰波士頓人民當年化悲痛為力量，展現出來的韌性與慷慨，呼籲市民藉由行善與志願服務來延續這種團結力量。波士頓體育協會（BAA）和波士頓市政府這天辦了「止血訓練」（Stop the Bleed Training）及社區清潔志工活動。

波士頓爆炸案的受害者家屬比爾·理查德（Bill Richard）和呂令子的阿姨趙金燕（譯音，Jinyan Zhao）都出席了這天的悼念儀式。

波士頓馬拉松賽終點線前的拍照強悍兩旁看台，都已搭建起來。（周菊子攝）

綠路保護會餐車計畫跨入第17年 新增7家供應商

杜威廣場上的餐車。（綠路保護會提供）

            (Boston Orange編譯)綠路保護會（Rose Kennedy Greenway Conservancy）15日宣佈，跨入第 17 年的餐車計畫， 2026 年迎來 7 家新進供應商，更多不同甜點，還有新型態的現場烹飪服務，更排定了多樣化系列活訂。

綠路保護會的餐車項目，旨在波士頓市中心為居民、上班族與遊客提供多元且受全球啟發的餐飲選擇，藉由食物促進社區連結。

今年由 M&T 銀行贊助的餐車計畫，迎來 7 家新進供應商，在甜點方面，除原有的 Cookie Monstah 外，新增 Crepe Shop、Daddy’s Fried Dough 與 Noonan Concessions，提供多樣化甜食。另外新添主打海地料理的 Lordya Gourmet，為 6 月 13 日「海地對蘇格蘭」FIFA 賽事助陣。 Si Cara Pizzabar 將於每週四、五，把披薩烤爐直接搬至杜威廣場（Dewey Square Plaza），提供全新的現場烹飪體驗。

綠路保護會指出，餐車計畫得以成功舉辦17年，全靠在地小企業的長期支持與合作，其中至少4家，已合作10年有多，包括2012 年起加入的 Cookie Monstah、Chicken & Rice Guys，2014 年起加入的 Moyzilla，2015 年起加入的Sweet Bubble，和 2016 年起加入的Gogi On The Block。

本年度贊助商M&T 銀行的麻州區域總裁 Jeff Carpenter 表示，該行很榮幸支持此計畫，在協助小企業發展的同時，也為市中心注入社區歸屬感。

今年綠路保護會餐車計畫已排定的活動有，5 月 30 日的 綠道餐車節與綠道健身節，8 月 7 日的卡車與拖拉機日，以及6 月亞洲美食節、7 月爵士樂與唐人街夏季節慶， 9 月的 Let’s Dance Boston 等波士頓在地美食節與文化節慶。

保護協會計畫經理 Ruby Maute 與計畫與外展總監 Eileen Ong 均表示，為提升民眾及遊客體驗，杜威廣場與堡點海峽（Fort Point Channel）區域完成了多項優化，包括與麻州交通廳（MassDOT）合作更新了照明與路面、普利茅斯岩保險基金會資助了園藝改善，商業改進區（BID）資助新增了座椅家具等。

Governor Healey Nominates Vincent DeMore to Parole Board and Thomas Trilla as Clerk Magistrate for Northeast Housing Court

Governor Healey Nominates Vincent DeMore to Parole Board and Thomas Trilla as Clerk Magistrate for Northeast Housing Court 

 

BOSTON – Governor Maura Healey today nominated Vince DeMore to serve on the Massachusetts Parole Board. If confirmed by the Governor’s Council, DeMore will fill the vacancy created when Tonomey Coleman was confirmed as an Associate Justice on the District Court. Governor Healey also nominated Thomas Trilla to serve as Clerk Magistrate for the Northeast Housing Court. 

“My administration is committed to a parole system that prioritizes public safety and delivers fair and just decisions,” said Governor Maura Healey. “Vince brings a deep understanding of the justice system from multiple perspectives, including as a prosecutor, defense attorney and a Special Victim’s Counsel in the JAG Corps. He understands the responsibility of these decisions and will help ensure they are balanced, fair and grounded in evidence. I am also proud to nominate Thomas Trilla to serve as Clerk Magistrate of the Northeast Housing Court, where his experience and commitment to fairness will help ensure that residents and property owners alike have confidence in a just and accessible Housing Court.” 

“Vince and Tom’s backgrounds and commitment to justice will be an asset to the criminal justice system and to all those who appear in the Housing Court,” said Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll. “I look forward to working with the Governor’s Council as they evaluate these highly qualified candidates.” 

The Massachusetts Parole Board promotes public safety through the supervised, conditional release of incarcerated individuals and supports successful reentry into the community.  Board members conduct parole release hearings, provide notice and assistance to victims, supervise individuals on parole, and coordinate reentry services to those leaving custody without post-release supervision.  

Governor Healey has previously nominated Angelo Gomez Jr., Rafael Ortiz, Edee Alexander, Sarah Coughlin, and Dr. Charlene Bonner to the Parole Board. 

The Housing Court Department handles all matters involving residential housing such as eviction cases, small claims cases, and civil actions involving personal injury, property damage, breach of contract, discrimination, as well as code enforcement actions and appeals of local zoning board decisions that affect residential housing. The Housing Court’s mission is to adjudicate all matters presented by litigants within its jurisdiction regarding housing in a fair, efficient and timely manner according to the rule of law and the facts presented. Led by Chief Justice Diana H. Horan, the Housing Court has 15 justices and they sit in six divisions: the Central, Eastern, Metro South, Northeastern, Southeastern, and Western divisions.  

 

For more information about the Housing Court, visit its homepage.  

 

Governor Healey has previously nominated Ann Dawley, Bill Larkin, Lori Leavitt Wheeler, Robert Palumbo, John P. Riordan, Dana Rutherford, Padraic Rafferty, Scott Rathbun and John Stocks to serve as Clerk Magistrates. 

 

About the Nominees: 

 

Vincent DeMore is a Principal and Founding Member of Henning Strategies LLC, where he provides legal counsel, crisis management, and strategic communications services. He has served as lead defense counsel in a wide range of criminal and civil matters in state and federal court and has conducted internal investigations for clients in multiple industry sectors including finance, healthcare, and education. He is also a Captain in the United States Army Reserve, where he currently serves as Special Victim’s Counsel to victims of crimes including sexual assault, child abuse, and domestic violence. 

 

From 2007 to 2019, Attorney DeMore served as an Assistant District Attorney in the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office, where he investigated and prosecuted cases in the District and Superior Courts, and handled appellate matters in the Appeals Court and the Supreme Judicial Court. From 2018 to 2019 he served as the Chief of District Courts and Community Prosecutions, where he supervised a team of 70 attorneys and 35 support staff across nine district courts in Suffolk County. He also led the Suffolk County District Office’s teams responsible for litigating issues associated with the Office of Alcohol Testing discovery violations and the Supreme Judicial Court’s working group tasked with identifying and notifying defendants whose cases were affected by a former state chemist’s misconduct. From 2012 to 2018 he held leadership positions in the Office, first as the Deputy Chief of the Narcotics and Case Integrity Unit, and later as the Chief of the Chelsea District Court. 

 

He holds a Bachelor of Art from Dickinson College and a Juris Doctor from the Boston University School of Law.  

 

Thomas F. Trilla has worked for the Housing Court since 2014 and currently serves in the Northeast Housing Court’s Clerk’s Office as the Acting Clerk-Magistrate. In this role, he is responsible for managing the daily operations of the office, overseeing criminal and civil sessions, and helping ensure the efficient administration of court proceedings. Previously, Attorney Trilla served as First Assistant Clerk in the Northeast Housing Court, Assistant Clerk in the Northeast Housing Court, Assistant Clerk in the Eastern Housing Court, and as a Session Clerk in the Eastern Housing Court. In all of his Clerk’s Office roles, he has ran both civil and criminal sessions and assisted judges in conducting hearings and trials. Prior to joining the Clerk’s Office, he served an Associate at a private law firm in Boston where practiced landlord and tenant law in courts throughout the Commonwealth. He holds a Bachelor of Arts from Tufts University and Juris Doctor from Suffolk Law School. 

 

西班牙第一副總理arlos Cuerpo拜會麻州長Healey 將設西班牙麻州貿易辦公室 成立2億元基金

麻州州長奚莉（Maura Healey）接待西班牙第一副總理庫埃爾波（Carlos Cuerpo）。
（周菊子攝）

            (Boston Orange周菊子波士頓綜合報導) 麻州州長奚莉（Maura Healey）今（15）日在州長辦公室歡迎西班牙第一副總理庫埃爾波（Carlos Cuerpo）到訪，慶祝西班牙政府14日宣佈，要在麻州設立貿易辦事處，將籌募2億美元，成立風險投資基金，扶持生物科技公司。

奚莉州長（中）和西班牙第一副總理庫埃爾波（Carlos Cuerpo，左）和
西班牙駐美大使Angeles Moreno （右）。（周菊子攝）

            西班牙政府的對外貿易發展局和駐美大使館商務處，以及里奇（Richi）基金會、Ｍ＆Ｔ銀行，波士頓市政府合作，針對生物科技和金融科技，4月14日和15日在波士頓市聯邦街（Federal）的Winthrop中心舉辦「美西商務峰會（Spain US Business Summit）」。

西班牙政府代表團和麻州州長Maura Healey合影。（周菊子攝）

            西班牙政府雖然從1995年起，就在美西兩國的不同城市間每年舉辦美西商業論壇，這次在波士頓舉辦的峰會，卻創下多個「第一次」紀錄，包括首度在波士頓設立正式的經貿辦公室，首次由西班牙政府動用約5700萬美元，作為種子資金，要成立一個總金額2億美元的風險投資基金，專注於協助西班牙的生命科學公司融入波士頓這世界生物科技樞紐，進而擴大規模，創造就業機會，並促進創新與長期的經濟發展。

波士頓市長吳弭（左一）在美西商業峰會中宣佈「波士頓無與倫比」招商計劃。
（波士頓市政府照片，Isabel Leon攝）

            目標2億美元的這基金，將由橫跨西班牙和波士頓的里奇基金會（Richi Foundation），以及專注於生命科學和生物技術領域的專業投資管理公司Dreavent 來共同負責管理。里奇基金會主席加西亞（Ricardo Garcia）和聖瑪麗信用合作社（St. Mary’s Credit Union）總裁暨執行長李（Grace Lee）在這基金的成立過程中發揮了關鍵作用。

            在14日的峰會中，波士頓市市長吳弭（Michelle Wu）還宣佈，M&T 銀行、M&T 慈善基金會、波士頓市府及波士頓基金會將攜手合作，啟動「波士頓無與倫比（You Can't Beat Boston）」計畫，致力吸引企業留在波士頓發展。

            麻州州長奚莉（Maura Healey）在14日的峰會中表示，政府的角色是為商業成功營造基礎環境，並透過持續打造公私合作關係，讓經濟得以蓬勃發展。15日再在州長辦公室親自接待了14日時以虛擬方式參加峰會的西班牙第一副總理庫埃爾波。

            隨同庫埃爾波到州長辦公室拜會的還有西班牙駐美大使Angeles Moreno，總領事Ana Durán de la Colina,，前任西班牙駐美大使Alan Solomont等人。

、            西班牙第一副總理庫埃爾波（Carlos Cuerpo）表示，這次的波士頓之行，對西班牙政府非常重要，要加強西班牙和美國，尤其是麻州之間的經貿與投資關係。儘管目前西班牙和麻州的雙邊年度貿易額約為8億美元，他們計劃以生物科技產業為目標，推動進一步的增長，將來更會把合作領域拓展至能源與金融科技(Fintech)。

            庫埃爾波（Carlos Cuerpo）在拜會麻州州長之後，隨即前往麻省理工學院，會見會見諾貝爾獎得主阿杰姆奧盧（Daron Acemoglu），之後的行程是要到華府參加國際貨幣基金組織（IMF）與世界銀行（World Bank）的春季會議。