波士頓2024公佈爭取主辦奧運細節 波市將辦九場公聽會

推動波士頓主辦2024年奧運比賽的組織，“波士頓2024“昨（廿一）日中午在波士頓會議展覽中心公佈爭取主辦權的計劃細節。

“波士頓2024“共同主席文瑞迪（David  Manfredi）表示，他們相信波士頓的奧運會是一場最便捷的走路就能到比賽。33個預定比賽場地中的28個，都在半徑六點二哩之內。

他說，他們圍繞著三個主要原則來設計如何承辦這場比賽，一是給波士頓市留下一項傳奇，二是和大學院校合作，三是給運動員，居民，以及所有來看比賽的人一個最好經驗。

整個奧運場地，將集中在兩個地區，一個稱為水前區，一個稱為大學區。

“波士頓2024“董事長歐康納（Dan O’Connell）表示，奧運會將創造七萬個工作機會，其中有許多將由低技能的打工者承擔。

            美國奧委會一月九日時宣佈，選中了波士頓代表美國，和羅馬，巴黎，以及德國，南非等其他國家城市角逐2024奧運會的主辦權，國際奧委會預定2017年時再投票決定。

            波士頓環球報昨日表示，該報經由要求公開紀錄程序，取得文件，顯示波士頓市長和美國奧委會簽署了一份正式協議，禁止市府員工以書面，或在口頭上批評波士頓市的爭取2024夏季奧運主辦權。兩機構必須合作，管理，完成，推廣波士頓市的向國際奧委會爭取主辦權。

            不過馬丁華殊政府的發言人歐潔瑞（Laura Oggeri）表示，波士頓市長馬丁華殊並無意限制市府員工，或他們做為市民的言論自由，那只是協議文件的標準文句，歷史中的所有申請城市都簽過。

            波士頓市府早前已公佈，將舉辦九場公聽會，聽取民眾意見，第一場訂於一月廿七日晚六點半，在薩福克大學法學院（Suffolk Law School, 120 Tremont St.）舉行。

            波士頓2024昨日在記者會中公佈了一些數據，包括辦比賽費用預計四十七億元，將由轉播費，贊助費及門票費等收回來。

            爭取主辦權的競標書中，還包括要花三十四億元，在麻州大學波士頓分校建體育村，在南波士頓水前區設立媒體總部，在城中區南部設立一個臨時的奧林匹克體育館等。

            儘管競標者承諾不會單純仰賴稅款來支付費用，但大波士頓地區內已在進行中，或已計畫的約五十二億元公共交通建設，規劃進了競標書，而且聯邦政府預計也會在安全維護上給予支持。

反對大波士頓主辦奧運人士，以“不要波士頓奧運（No Boston Olympic）“為名，一月十四日時在後灣區的一座教堂舉行了一場公聽會，約150人出席。史密斯學院的運動經濟學家任巴利斯特(Andrew Zimbalist)表示，主辦奧運對經濟有負面影響。一名居民已波士頓著名的“大挖（Big Dig）“工程為例，坦言他不相信承辦機構提出的五億元計畫預算。

麻州最新成立的黨派，聯合獨立黨（United Independent）黨黨主席費確克（Evan Falchuck）也發出聲明反對波士頓奧運。波士頓市議員吳弭日前也發表聲明，呼籲有意見的人儘量陳述，抱持開放態度聆聽，思考，交流，再做最後決定。

圖片說明：

            “波士頓2024“董事長歐康納（Dan O’Connell）表示，奧運會將創造七萬個工作機會。（菊子攝）

麻州財政廳長Deb Goldberg上任宣佈成立經濟賦權辦公室

麻州財政廳廳長高伯珂（Deborah B. Goldberg）昨（廿一）日中午在麻州州長查理貝克（Charlie Baker）主持下，宣誓就任為麻州第六十任財政廳長，也成為麻州首名州級層次的猶太裔女民選官員。

            高伯珂強調她要向麻州所有人民負責，推動創新性的科技行動來促進麻州人民的經濟能力。

            高伯珂在致詞時，宣佈整頓財政廳，將新設經濟賦權辦公室減輕學生的債務負擔。﷽﷽﷽﷽﷽﷽﷽﷽﷽﷽﷽﷽﷽﷽﷽﷽高中生提供﷽﷽（Office of Economic Empowerment），由副財政廳長指導，監管促進經濟穩定及安全的項目。

            昨日她揭櫫了其中三項，一為增加民眾的財務知識，二為讓大學院校更可負擔，三為薪資平等。

財政廳將推行全州性的認識財務項目，要從兒童到耆英的教會每一個人，做財務決定時需要的知識。她們也將和學校，老師及社區合作，加強基本數學指導，幫助人更了解財務問題。他們要教高中生做財務預算，追蹤個人花費的技能，幫助耆英避免危險的虛假財務詐欺等。

            高伯珂還要制定創新方法來讓大學院校更可負擔，減輕學生的債務負擔。 例如擴大雙註冊項目，容許高中生研修大學課程，增加STEM相關領域的學費及貸款償還獎學金。為最需要的小孩子們設立新的大學儲蓄計畫。

            在薪資平等上，高伯珂指出，每一塊錢薪資，麻州婦女只賺到82分，非洲裔美籍婦女61分，拉丁裔婦女50分。她認為薪資平等並不是黨派問題或婦女問題，實在是家庭問題，影響了整個州的經濟健康。 

高伯珂畢業於波士頓大學，波士頓學院法學院，哈佛大學商學院，在布魯克蘭（Brookline )長大，和丈夫 Michael Winter 育有一子Evan，一女 Meredith。

            昨日出席麻州財政廳廳長就職典禮者包括麻州眾議會議長狄樂歐（Robert A. DeLeo），麻州參議會議長羅森伯（Stan Rosenberg），以及波士頓市長馬丁華殊（Martin Walsh），費奇堡市市長黃素芬（Lisa Wong），昆士市長柯奇（Tom Koch）等人。

            麻州前任財政廳長，卡希爾（Tim Cahill），葛羅斯曼（Steve Grossman），昨日都應邀出席。高伯珂還特地說明，曾任麻州財政廳長的 Shannon O’Brien，人在海外，未克出席，但發了賀函。 

            高伯珂在發言時，感謝了家中的每一個人，強調她的家族傳統就是承諾支持身邊的每一個人都有機會。她家發跡於曾祖母在波士頓北端（North End）開了一家雜貨店，之後每一名抵達的朋友，親戚，都能有份工作，有瓦遮頭。接著她的曾祖母又和鄰居婦女開辦耆英之家。後來那雜貨店變成”停下來買（Stop & Shop）“，那耆英之家變成了”希伯來耆英生活（Hebrew Senior Life）“。高伯珂說，這全是因為經濟，安全，穩定，賦予能力。

            她父親來自羅倫斯，是家中十一個小孩裏最小的那個，1911年時從哈佛大學畢業，1914年再從哈佛法學院畢業，並成為麻州公僕。廿七歲時，還和朋友創辦了猶太大哥哥大姊姊協會（Jewish Big Brother Big Sister），也是“大哥哥大姊姊協會”的前身。

            高伯珂表示，自己當出參選麻州財政廳長，就是受這些家族前輩的啟發。 

 圖片說明：

            高伯珂（左三）在麻州州長查理貝克（左一）主持，家人陪伴中，宣誓就任為麻州財政廳廳長。（菊子攝）

            麻州新任財政廳廳長高伯珂（Deb Goldberg）是“停下來買（Stop & Shop）“連鎖超市創辦人的後代。（菊子攝）

            費奇堡市長黃素芬（Lisa Wong）昨日也出席就職禮。（菊子攝）

            前任麻州財政廳廳長葛羅斯曼（右一），波士頓市長馬丁華殊（後左二）昨日都坐在台上，出席就職禮。（菊子攝）

            曾任麻州財政廳廳長的卡希爾（Tim Cahill）昨日也在觀禮席中。（菊子攝）

財政廳廳長宣佈領導團隊有兩名亞裔

麻州財政廳廳長高伯珂（Deb Goldberg）在昨（廿一）日宣誓就任之前，公佈了新領導團隊，強調多元化與經驗，八人中有兩名亞裔。

韓裔的金莎拉（Sarah G. Kim）將出任總法律顧問（General Counsel)，黃瑞琳（譯音，Swee Lin Wong）出任人事主任。

高伯珂表示，這個新團隊將實施有創意，高效率的政策，促進麻州的經濟成長，打擊人們所面對的不平等。

在麻州財政廳的新領導班子中，畢業於達特矛斯學院，或有Villanova大學法律學位（J. D.）的金莎拉原本是麻州總檢察官辦公室的詐欺及金融犯罪組助理總檢察官，負責調查挪用公款，複雜的詐欺，逃稅等金融犯罪。在那之前，她曾在Bingham McCutchen律師樓的訴訟部門工作。

黃瑞琳將負責麻州財政廳4500多名員工的人事福利，行政，並推動人士策略。加入麻州財政廳之前，她是麻州交通長辦公室人力資源主任，也曾在麻州人力資源組的許多不同職位上工作過，包括政策主任，人力管理副主任等。她還曾任波士頓學校部人力資源經理。她獲有波士頓學院文學士，麻州大學企業管理碩士學位。

            高伯珂宣佈的其他領導團隊人員包括，立法主任Shawn Collins，財政廳長特別助理 Lizandra Gomes，資訊長 Robin Healey，政策主任 Jon Ostrowsky，傳播主任

Matthew Sheaff，付財政廳長暨經濟賦權辦公室主任 Alayna Van Tassel。

            早前，高伯珂還宣佈曾任麻州參議會議長助理的 David Falcone將出任幕僚長。

圖片說明：

            金莎拉（右）是麻州新財政廳廳長麾下的兩名亞裔大將之一。（菊子攝）

MAYOR WALSH ANNOUNCES CREATION OF EARLY COLLEGE PATHWAY AT CHARLESTOWN HIGH SCHOOL

MAYOR WALSH ANNOUNCES CREATION OF EARLY COLLEGE PATHWAY AT CHARLESTOWN HIGH SCHOOL

C-Town Tech will focus on connecting college and career at the high school level

BOSTON – JANUARY 22, 2015 - At his State of the City speech, Mayor Martin J. Walsh announced the creation of C-Town Tech, an information technology (IT) program at Charlestown High School. The program is aimed at ensuring more youth complete high school, earn a college degree, and are well prepared for career success. C-Town Tech is currently recruiting for the program that will launch at Charlestown High School in September 2015.

"I want to see all of Boston's students succeed," said Mayor Walsh. "This robust partnership is creating a blueprint in Boston for high school learning and workforce training. By creating pipelines and educational incentives that lead to higher education, we can ensure our students are on track to employment and a bright future."

Through C-Town Tech, high school students can earn up to 30 college credits, the equivalent of up to two full college semesters, toward an industry-recognized IT degree at Bunker Hill Community College. In addition they will be able to participate in work-related activities such as job shadows and internships. The program is a partnership between SAP, the market leader in enterprise application software, Jobs for the Future, Bunker Hill Community College, the Boston Public Schools, the Mayor’s Office, and the Boston Private Industry Council (PIC), an organization that places and supports high school students in Boston area internships.

“This high tech program presents a fantastic opportunity for our students at Charlestown High School to earn free college credits and gain hands-on experience in a competitive market while they are still in high school,” said Superintendent John McDonough. “This partnership underscores our commitment to ensuring our students are well prepared for success in college and career.”

Through C-Town Tech, students will start earning college credit early in their high school experience while being exposed to IT careers through coordination between SAP and the Boston PIC. Students in the program will also have access to mentors at SAP, and work-based learning activities like job shadowing, career academies, career fairs, and short-term and long-term internships at SAP and within its ecosystem. Entry level IT jobs in the Boston area come with competitive salaries; for example, IT help desk salaries start at more than $45,000 a year.

“We look forward to the implementation of this program with Charlestown High School,” said BHCC President Pam Eddinger. “We are hoping to create a model template that can be replicated with best practices for a pathway that connects high school through community college to a well-paying career.”

“The SAP partnership with Charlestown High School and Bunker Hill Community College is an important step toward realizing Mayor Walsh’s vision of college and career pathways for all Boston high school students,” said Neil Sullivan, executive director of the Boston Private Industry Council.  “The integration of academic and technical education, combined with workplace experience and career exploration, is the formula for success for so many students. It’s not just for vocational students anymore. This approach is attractive for students at all ability levels, particularly high achievers who prefer to learn in context.”

C-Town Tech is part of SAP’s efforts to scale signature education initiatives such as B-TECH, an early college high school program in New York City.  The effort in Boston is part of a wider effort SAP is driving to equip the world’s youth with tools they need to thrive in the 21st century workforce.

“Our mission at SAP is to help the world run simple and improve people’s lives,” said Dave Spencer, managing director, East Region, SAP. “Working with this fantastic group of partners in Boston allows us to simplify the access young students have to education and to a career in technology."

“The 21st century economy is providing new opportunities for good careers, but many young people have no way to prepare for them.  We applaud SAP, Bunker Hill Community College and the other partners for opening doors for Charlestown High’s young people, and Jobs for the Future’s Pathways to Prosperity Network is proud to be guiding this exciting project,” said Marlene Seltzer, President and CEO, Jobs for the Future

A recruitment campaign for enrollment at Charlestown High School began in December 2014 and will continue through February, including an information session scheduled for February 28, 2015 at Bunker Hill Community College. The campaign includes short events that focus on exposing students in the 8th grade to IT careers and professions in order for them and their parents to make an informed choice about pursuing the C-Town Tech program.

MAYOR WALSH ANNOUNCES PARTNERSHIP WITH COURBANIZE

MAYOR WALSH ANNOUNCES PARTNERSHIP WITH COURBANIZE

Department of Neighborhood Development will use online platform to increase transparency in development of City-owned land

BOSTON – January 22, 2015 - Today, Mayor Martin J. Walsh announced the Department of Neighborhood Development (DND) is partnering with coUrbanize, a local tech start up, on an online platform that will increase transparency in the development of City-owned land and City-funded housing. This launch complements Mayor Walsh’s State of the City Neighborhood Homes Initiative announcement that 300 city-owned parcels will be made available for development of housing for low-and middle-income families.

“I encourage residents to use this innovative platform to stay connected and engaged as development on City-owned land is proposed and reviewed,” said Mayor Walsh. “My administration is committed to a transparent development process and this partnership with coUrbanize will help us to deliver on that promise.”

“We are thrilled to enhance the City’s existing community engagement process by bringing it online with even more transparency and accessible ways for communities to participate in local development,” said coUrbanize CEO and Co-Founder Karin Brandt.

The coUrbanize platform, accessible on DND’s web site, will help residents and developers more easily find information about DND development projects and City-owned properties available for development. Boston residents will be able to track local projects, find meeting times, and submit online feedback through a forum hosted on DND’s website and at coUrbanize.com. In addition, the coUrbanize platform will be used to catalogue information about City-owned land and buildings available for development. This partnership delivers on a commitment the Mayor made in “Housing a Changing City: Boston 2030” to increase transparency, efficiency, and accountability in Boston land development.

Although the City currently has a robust community engagement process around the use of its land and buildings, the coUrbanize platform will give residents another way to engage in the process, ensuring that developments best meet the needs of neighborhoods in which they are located.

ABOUT coUrbanize

coUrbanize.com is a Cambridge-based startup and 2013 graduate of the prestigious accelerator, TechStars. coUrbanize works with real estate developers and municipalities to create civic engagement through an online platform that complements public meetings with online conversations.  Through the coUrbanize platform, residents can learn about local projects, find meeting information, ask questions, provide feedback on project plans, and interact with fellow residents.