波士頓市長馬丁華殊召開社區會議討論族裔歧視

波士頓市長馬丁華殊(Martin J. Walsh)19日召開社區會議，討論市內的族裔歧視問題，，公佈”波士頓彈性策略原則及架構藍圖預覽("The Blueprint: A Preview of the Principles & Framework for Boston's Resilience Strategy")，2017年起再進全市各社區進一步討論。

這場討論會有600多人參加。馬丁華殊強調，在這歷史時刻，波士頓市要表明立場，要把市內每一個人的安全，權利，平等放在最重要位置。他說，如果波士頓市要做為一個強而有勢的城市，市民們必須能夠彼此互相信靠，依賴，瞭解。

這場討論會的支持夥伴包括洛克斐勒基金會創辦的”100個彈性城市”，大波士頓商會，以及愛默生學院。

MAYOR WALSH HOSTS COMMUNITY DISCUSSION ABOUT RACISM IN BOSTON

Watch the video from today's discussion.

BOSTON - Saturday, November 19, 2016 - Mayor Martin J. Walsh today hosted a public discussion to discuss racism in Boston and how we acknowledge our past as we look to our future in order to become a more socially cohesive and resilient city. The discussion was attended by over 600 residents, and served as the kick-off to a citywide conversation about racism. Additional conversations will take place in neighborhoods across the city in early 2017. "At this moment in history, Boston will take a stand. We'll answer the call to put the safety, the rights, and the equity of everyone in our city at the top of our agenda, every day," said Mayor Walsh. "If we want to be a strong city, we have to be able to depend on each other, trust each other and understand each other. I want to thank each and every person who took the time to attend, and those who have been having this conversation for years. Together we will grow the conversation, one person at a time, and build bridges of understanding that can become bonds of healing." The discussion was supported by partners including 100 Resilient Cities - pioneered by The Rockefeller Foundation, the Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce and Emerson College. As part of the dialogue, Mayor Walsh in partnership with 100 Resilient Cities, released "The Blueprint: A Preview of the Principles & Framework for Boston's Resilience Strategy" which helps set the foundation for the release of Boston's Resilience Strategy in early 2017. The Blueprint for Boston's Resilience Strategy provides a shared framework to remove the barriers of racism that hinder Bostonians from having access to opportunity and support to thrive from childhood to retirement. The Blueprint identifies recommended visions and goals, built upon the racial equity framework, to achieve a more resilient Boston. They include: Reflective city, stronger people: A Boston that reflects upon its history and confronts present realities of racism in daily life and during emergencies, to learn from and reduce the impact of trauma on individual and community health and well-being. Collaborative, proactive government: An inclusive and collaborative City government culture that offers residents a meaningful role in decision-making processes and facilitates cross-departmental partnership. Equitable economic opportunity: Access to economic and social pathways that support closing the wealth gap to ensure our economic security is not determined by our race or ethnicity. Connected, adaptive city: Increased connectivity for communities of color while improving critical infrastructure for all Bostonians. "A truly resilient city is one that works to achieve equity: ensuring that important services reach all residents, including the most vulnerable; providing access to opportunity for all and actively fostering cohesive communities," said Otis Rolley, 100 Resilient Cities Regional Director for Africa and North America. "Boston is offering its residents, and its nation, a glimpse into what's possible when challenges are acknowledged openly and honestly." Earlier this year, Mayor Walsh and 100 Resilient Cities convened the first-ever Transatlantic Policy Lab (TAPL) to assess inequality in the city. The meeting ofcity and nonprofit officials helped address the ways inequalities in income and opportunity affect Boston's shared resilience-building efforts. In August 2015, Mayor Walsh announced Dr. Atyia Martin as the City of Boston's first Chief Resilience Officer (CRO), a position created to lead citywide resilience efforts to help Boston prepare for, withstand and bounce back from the 'shocks' - catastrophic events like floods, infrastructure failure and acts of terrorism - and 'stresses' - slow-moving disasters like persistent racial and economic inequality, lack of affordable housing and unemployment - which are increasingly part of 21st century life. A member of the 100RC network since 2014, Boston's resilience-building efforts place a unique focus on social resilience in a city affected by historic and persistent divisions of race and class. About the Mayor's Office of Resilience and Racial Equity The Mayor's Office of Resilience and Racial Equity leads efforts to help Boston plan for and deal with catastrophes and slow-moving disasters - like persistent racial and economic inequality - that have become part of 21st century life. For more information about the office, please visit our website. About 100 Resilient Cities-Pioneered by The Rockefeller Foundation 100 Resilient Cities - Pioneered by The Rockefeller Foundation (100RC) helps cities around the world become more resilient to social, economic, and physical challenges that are a growing part of the 21st century. 100RC provides this assistance through: funding for a Chief Resilience Officer in each of our cities who will lead the resilience efforts; resources for drafting a Resilience Strategy; access to private sector, public sector, academic, and NGO resilience tools; and membership in a global network of peer cities to share best practices and challenges. For more information, visit:www.100ResilientCities.org.

布朗大學「薈聚臺灣」談台灣在太平洋地位、原住民文化

(左至右)布朗大學Robert Lee教授、Emory大學Tonio Andrade教授、

布朗大學Chas Freeman大使、Rutgers大學Matt Matsuda教授及布朗

大學胡其瑜(Evelyn Hu-Dehart)教授。

(Boston Orange)布朗大學與中華民國(臺灣)教育部合作的「薈聚臺灣」研究計畫，11月14日舉辦「跨太平洋臺灣研討會(Transpacific Taiwan Symposium)」，探討臺灣在跨太平洋研究的角色及臺灣原住民文化。

這場研討會，有兩場座談，共10名來自美國及台灣的學者出席，分別討論「臺灣與太平洋(Taiwan and the Pacific)」及「全球原住民文化(Global Indigeneity)」。

（左至右）駐波士頓教育組秘書黃瑋婷、布朗大學Rebecca 

Nedostup教授、布朗大學博士生、國立臺灣大學童元昭教授、

國立臺灣師範大學梁一萍教授、布朗大學Caroline Frank教授

、Rutgers大學Matt Matsuda教授、布朗大學Marielena

 Huambachaono教授、布朗大學Robert Lee教授、麻省理工學院

Emma Teng教授及駐波士頓教育組組長黃薳玉。

「臺灣與太平洋」的這場討論在上午舉行，講者有Rutgers大學歷史系教授Matt Matsuda，Emory大學歷史系教授Tonio Andrade。布朗大學美國研究系教授胡其瑜(Evelyn Hu-Dehart)擔任引言人。

Matsuda教授以「太平洋包括臺灣嗎?(Does the Pacific include Taiwan?)」為題，從臺灣對太平洋地區國家的教育交流等計畫說起，闡述臺灣的國際參與。他指出，學者從系譜學(genealogy)角度，研究諸如紐西蘭等地的南太平洋玻里尼西亞地區(Polynesia)原住民時，發現其根源可溯及臺灣原住民，他們彼此的文化及語言互相關聯，彰顯了臺灣在太平洋地區的角色。

Tonio Andrade教授談「一個島嶼與五個帝國(An Island and Five Empires)」 ，指出臺灣從17世紀起，歷經荷蘭、西班牙、明鄭、清朝及日本等5個帝國的殖民或統治，分別發揮著作為拓展和中國大陸貿易的跳板，反清復明據點，轄地，殖民地等功用，是研究歷史者窺看世界的重要地點。

布朗大學國際與公共事務研究所(Watson Institute for International and Public Affairs)的Chas Freeman大使及美國研究系Robert Lee教授，接著以評論人身分發言，從臺灣的國際關係，跨太平洋地區文化，以及人口變動等角度，與聽眾及講者進一步討論。

「全球原住民文化」這場講座在下午舉行，來自臺灣的兩名學者，國立臺灣師範大學英語系教授梁一萍，以及國立臺灣大學人類學系教授童元昭，介紹臺灣原住民文化方面的研究。

梁一萍教授的講題是「島嶼相會：臺灣與美國原住民文化比較(Island Encounters: A Comparison of Global Indigeneities between Taiwan and the Americas)」。她從1867年羅發號事件(Rover Incident)，美籍船員因故遭臺灣南部原住民殺害事件談起，指美國駐廈門領事李仙得(Charles William Le Gendre)和臺灣排灣族族長Tauketok為此談判，簽訂「南岬條約」(Southern Cape Treaty)，以確保美國及歐洲船舶航行至臺灣的安全，接著把美國和印地安人簽訂的和平協議(Medicine Lodge Treaty)拿來做比較。她也從「李仙得南台灣踏查手記(Note of Travel in Taiwan)」研究李仙得所觀察到的臺灣原住民文化，以及臺灣和美國的接觸。該場講座評論人，麻省理工學院Emma Teng教授建議梁一萍也參考19世紀江蘇人兩度拜訪臺灣的紀錄，增加19世紀臺灣的居民生活文化情形。

童元昭教授是長期關心臺灣原住民文化的學者。她這次以「歸返／再連結根源：臺灣博物館再定位(Returning to/Reconnecting with the Source: The re-orientation of Museums in Taiwan)」為題，分享國立臺灣博物館、國立臺灣大學人類學博物館和臺灣地方原住民鄉鎮合作，舉辦原住民文化展覽，在促進大眾認識原住民文化上的努力。

布朗大學為這場講座請來麻省理工學院教授Emma Teng，以及該校研究紐西蘭原住民毛利文化的Marielena Huambachano教授做評論人。他們兩人提出了許多建議。

Over 530 residential units approved at November BPDA board meeting

Approvals included housing for chronically or formerly homeless individuals over age 55 and affordable senior housing in Dorchester

BOSTON – The Boston Planning & Development Agency’s (BPDA) board of directors approved 11 development projects at last night’s meeting. In total, the projects represent a combined investment of $295 million and will generate over 650 construction jobs.

In addition to the approval of these 11 development projects, the BPDA board also voted to adopt and implement an executive order of Mayor Martin J. Walsh which promotes equity in public procurement. With an understanding of racial and economic disparities in Boston, the executive order sets spending goals for minority- and women-owned businesses competing for contracts in construction, architecture, engineering, and professional services. In addition, the executive order ensures training and assistance to minority- and women-owned enterprises to encourage successful bidding and performance on City contracting.

Below are summaries of the newly approved projects. The full board agenda and archived video stream can be found here.

Affordable senior housing moves forward with 16 Ronald Street project approval

Total Project Cost: $17,600,000

Total SF: 45,646

Construction Jobs: 34

Located in Dorchester, the proposed 16 Ronald Street project will include the development of a four-story residential rental building with 54 total housing units. Of the 54 units, 52 will be affordable one-bedroom senior housing units, the other two will be affordable studio units. The project will also have two units designated as both affordable and accessible.

The 16 Ronald Street project will also include a multipurpose room on the first floor of the building for resident dining and recreational activities, however the space may also be available to neighborhood residents for meetings and social events. The site plan also includes recreation areas for residents, their families and friends, to encourage social interaction between residents of the building and members of the Four Corners community.

Housing for chronically or formerly homeless individuals over age 55 greenlighted

Total Project Cost: $8,500,000

Total SF: 28,546

Construction Jobs: 21

Trinity Green Investments, LLC has proposed and received approval to construct a three-story, residential building at 123 Hamilton Street. The building will have 52 studio rental units, 1,319 square feet of ground floor common space, a 400 square foot administrative suite and eight off-street parking spaces located in the building’s at-grade garage.

What is most distinct about this project, however, is that Trinity plans to enter into a 100% master lease with the Pine Street Inn to create housing for chronically or formerly homeless individuals over the age of 55 years. As proposed, this project strongly aligns with Mayor Walsh’s charge to end veteran and chronic homelessness in Boston. Construction is expected to begin in early 2017.

Marine Wharf hotel approved for Raymond L. Flynn Marine Park

Total Project Cost: $160,000,000

Total SF: 320,000

Construction Jobs: 257

The proposed hotel will be located at 660 Summer Street on 1.17 acres in the Raymond L Flynn Marine Park. The hotel, managed by Hampton Inn and Homewood Suites by Hilton, will be a maximum of 320,000 square feet with 411 rooms, a mix of 245 select-service hotel rooms and 166 extended-stay hotel rooms, as well as ground floor restaurant, retail, and service uses.

This project will also generate a number of public benefits, including a $1,626,300 contribution to the Neighborhood Housing Trust and a $325,650 contribution to the Neighborhood Jobs Trust by the developer, as based on current project plans.

Dorchester’s 202 Southampton Street project given board approval

Total Project Cost: $4,500,000

Total SF: 22,400

Construction Jobs: 12

This approval will bring a car dealership and service facility to Dorchester. As proposed, the project requires the remodeling of the existing building to provide space for the new showroom. The remodeled building will be one-story and will include a showroom, customer support areas, business areas, and a full service garage with approximately 21 service bays. Aside from the building, the project will also include new paving, new landscaping, new site lighting, and 44 parking spaces for customers, employees, inventory vehicles, and vehicles in the process of repair.

16 Boardman Street approved for Orient Heights neighborhood

Total Project Cost: $6,200,000

Total SF: 23,400

Construction Jobs: 17

This East Boston project proposes the construction a three-story, approximately 23,400 square foot residential building with 19 homeownership units, including two income restricted units, and approximately 27 off-street vehicle parking spaces. As currently proposed, the 19 residential units will be made up of two one-bedroom units, 16 two-bedroom units, and one three-bedroom unit.

Updated development and master plans approved for 480 Rutherford Avenue

Total Project Cost: $45,000,000

Total SF: 168,000

Construction Jobs: 124

The 480 Rutherford project proposes an approximately 168,000 square foot building with 177 residential units, of which 23 units will be designated as affordable. The project will also include amenity spaces, retail space, and 90 structured parking spaces, along with landscaping and restriping of parking areas on the project site.

New four-story residential building approved for Jamaica Plain’s 76 Stonley Road

Total Project Cost: $9,500,000

Total SF: 40,940

Construction Jobs: 31

The 76 Stonley Road project site is located in the Stonybrook section of Jamaica Plain at 58-76 Stonley Road. The project will include the development of a new four-story, 30,720 gross square foot, 28 unit rental residential structure with 23 parking spaces.

In order to align the project with the proposals set forth in the PLAN: JP/ROX draft plan, the developer has exceeded the affordability requirement for the project, designating five units as IDP rental units. In addition, the developer will contribute $21,000 to the City of Boston Slow Street program.

New Mikvah building, replacement on-site synagogue, residences approved in Brighton

Total Project Cost: $13,575,000

Total SF: 99,645

Construction Jobs: 75

Located in Brighton, the 101-105 Washington Street project will include the construction of a seven-story residential development, along with a new replacement on-site synagogue for the Congregation Kadimah-Toras Moshe and a new Mikvah building for the Daughters of Israel Mikvah.

The collective redevelopment program will consist of approximately 99,645 gross square feet of new floor area in the three separate but related projects. The proposed multi-family residences will have a mixture of unit types and sizes that will accommodate Brighton’s diverse and growing population, including 30 one-bedroom units, 39 two-bedroom units, and 4 three-bedroom units. Of the 73 units, nine will be designated as affordable.  

Board approves 64 residential units for 301-303 Border Street in East Boston

Total Project Cost: $21,610,000

Total SF: 75,167

Construction Jobs: 50

The proposed 301-303 Border Street is located on five parcels of land located at 301-323 Border Street in the East Boston neighborhood, directly across the street from the Mario Umana Middle School Academy.

City Realty, LLC has proposed the construction of a six-story, approximately 75,167 square foot mixed-use building with 64 homeownership units, including eight units made affordable. The project will also include ground floor commercial space, 42 off-street parking spaces, and 64 bicycle storage spaces. As currently proposed, the 64 residential units will consist of two studio units, 21 one-bedroom units, 31 two-bedroom units, and 10 three-bedroom units.  

Proposed renovation for 771 Harrison Avenue approved by board

Total Project Cost: $9,000,000

Total SF: 117,000

Construction Jobs: 39

Located in the South End, the 771 Harrison Avenue project, known as The Cosmopolitan, will include the renovation and conversion of the existing church and attached Link Building into 63 rental units with six income restricted units. The church was originally constructed for Boston College in 1859 and designed by renowned architect Patrick C. Keely, whose work also included the Holy Cross Cathedral. The Link Building was built around 1960 and was part of the Jesuit Urban Center, the last occupant of the buildings.

The renovation of the buildings will keep the exterior substantially intact with the exception of changes to include roof terraces and skylights, remove and replace windows, add a canopy at the entrance of the Link Building, and remove all exterior religious icons from the building. Once complete, The Cosmopolitan will be seven stories inside the church structure, two stories inside the Link Building, and include 63 rental units made up of four studios, 28 one-bedroom units, 23 two-bedroom units, and eight three-bedroom units.

Board approves updates to 64 Allandale St. project by way of Notice of Project Change (NPC)

The new building components of the 64 Allandale project have reduced the project’s scope from 20 townhouses to 18 townhouses. The project’s site plan has been modified, however, to ensure that all new buildings will be located outside of any wetlands buffer zones projected by nearby land, the revised layout will further provide a minimum 10 foot clearance from the edge of such zones for all buildings within the site. All of the new construction townhouses will be designed to a Net Zero performance standard, yielding the city’s first Net Zero neighborhood.

TRI-CAUCUS LEADERSHIP CONDEMNS SELECTION OF SENATOR JEFF SESSIONS FOR ATTORNEY GENERAL

TRI-CAUCUS LEADERSHIP CONDEMNS SELECTION OF SENATOR JEFF SESSIONS FOR ATTORNEY GENERAL

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, the Congressional Tri-Caucus – which is comprised of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC), Congressional Black Caucus (CBC), and the Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC) – released the following joint statement regarding the selection of Alabama Senator Jeff Sessions for Attorney General:

“As Chair of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus, I am alarmed by President-elect Trump’s choice of Alabama Senator Jeff Sessions to be our next Attorney General,” said CAPAC Chairwoman Judy Chu. “As the chief law enforcement officer of the United States, the Attorney General plays a critical role in overseeing our criminal justice system and protecting the civil rights of all Americans. Yet Senator Sessions has a troubling record of opposing everything from even legal immigration reform to undermining efforts to protect voting rights. President-elect Trump promised unity, but his nominations so far tell a very different story, one of xenophobia and division. Senator Sessions’s racist, divisive rhetoric is not a suitable fit for this position, and CAPAC urges President-elect Trump to reconsider this nomination.”

“The Congressional Black Caucus is deeply concerned over President-elect Trump’s selection of Alabama junior Senator Jeff Sessions as Attorney General and his confirmation would be a travesty to equality and race relations in America,” said CBC Chairman G. K. Butterfield. “Senator Sessions has been denied a nomination by members of the U.S. Senate once before over concerns about his treatment of African Americans, and the CBC is ready to fight his confirmation once again in the interest of protecting civil rights for the most vulnerable individuals and communities among us.”

"The naming of Alabama Sen. Jeff Sessions as Attorney General-Designate is troubling to all who believe in the rule of law,” said CHC Chairwoman Linda Sánchez. “Our nation's core value has been 'equal justice under the law', since the end of the Jim Crow era. The Republican controlled United States Senate has the responsibility to do the same due diligence as it did in 1986 when it uncovered blatantly racist comments made by Sen. Sessions when he was a judicial nominee. If the same measure of decency is applied, I am confident that Sen. Sessions will remain in the United States Senate."

Governor Baker Nominates Kevin R. Connelly to Massachusetts Probate Court

Governor Baker Nominates Kevin R. Connelly to Massachusetts Probate Court

BOSTON – Governor Baker has nominated The Honorable Kevin R. Connelly, a Probate and Family Court Judge assigned to the Middlesex Division of the Probate and Family Court, to the Plymouth County Division of that court, which was vacated by Judge Catherine P. Sabaitis’ retirement earlier this year. Judge Sabaitis served that community, where she was born and raised, extremely well for twenty six years.

“Judge Connelly’s dedication to serving Massachusetts families during trying and complicated domestic legal proceedings is admirable,” said Governor Charlie Baker. “I have the utmost confidence that the Court will be strengthened by his continued commitment to justice.”

“Judge Connelly brings distinguished experience to the Plymouth County Probate and Family Court and I am pleased that Judge Connelly will continue to serve the citizens of the Commonwealth with fairness and equality in these difficult matters,” said Lt. Governor Karyn Polito. 

Judicial nominations are subject to the advice and consent of the Governor’s Council. Applicants for judicial openings are reviewed by the Judicial Nominating Commission (JNC) and recommended to the governor. Governor Baker established the JNC in February, 2015 pursuant to Executive Order 558, a non-partisan, non-political Commission composed of volunteers from a cross-section of the Commonwealth's diverse population to screen judicial applications. Twenty-one members were later appointed to the JNC in April, 2015.

About The Honorable Kevin R. Connelly:

Kevin R. Connelly of Kingston, Massachusetts began his legal career working as an associate at White, Inker, Aronson, P.C. in Boston, and was named a partner in 2000. In 2004 Judge Connelly joined the firm of Sally & Fitch LLP where he helped to nurture and develop their growing family law practice.  In 2013 Judge Connelly was appointed to a Middlesex seat on the Probate & Family Court. He serves on the Committee for Civility & Professionalism as well as the Child Support Guidelines Task Force. Judge Connelly graduated from Boston College in 1989 earning a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science before graduating from New England School of Law in 1993. 

GRANBY MAN CHARGED WITH POSSESSING CHILD PORNOGRAPHY

GRANBY MAN CHARGED WITH POSSESSING CHILD PORNOGRAPHY

NORTHAMPTON– A Granby man has been indicted in connection with possessing child pornography, Attorney General Maura Healey announced today.

Sean W. Scully, age 45, was indicted Wednesday by a Hampshire County Grand Jury on the charge of Possession of Child Pornography (one count). He will be arraigned in Hampshire Superior Court on December 20.

Scully was arrested on July 26 by Massachusetts State Police assigned to the AG’s Office and Granby Police.  Following the arrest, Scully was arraigned in Eastern Hampshire District Court and released on $2,500 cash bail with various conditions including that he be monitored via GPS, surrender his passport, have no access to the Internet except for work-related purposed and have no unsupervised contact with any child under the age of 18.

State police assigned to the AG’s Office began an investigation in April, after receiving information from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NMEC) about pornographic images of children that were uploaded to a device using a cellphone linked to Scully.

State Police obtained and executed a search warrant on July 26, authorizing the search of all computers, phones, tablets and storage devices found in Scully’s Granby residence.  Subsequent investigation of the devices seized revealed alleged images of child pornography.

The charge is an allegation and the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant Attorney General Elizabeth Vasiliades, of AG Healey’s Western Mass. Regional Office. It was investigated by Massachusetts State Police assigned to the Attorney General’s Office, investigators from the AG’s Digital Evidence Lab, with assistance from Granby police.