MAYOR WU ANNOUNCES CRITICAL ACTIONS TO MITIGATE EXTREME HEAT IN ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE COMMUNITIES

MAYOR WU ANNOUNCES CRITICAL ACTIONS TO MITIGATE EXTREME HEAT IN ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE COMMUNITIES The City to launch an Extreme Temperatures Response Task Force and expand cooling strategies including a new Cool Roof Grant Program, pop-up cooling support for 30 community organizations, and a community design challenge for a ‘cool bus stop’

BOSTON - Friday, April 22, 2022 - Today, Mayor Michelle Wu hosted an Earth Day celebration at Auntie Kay & Uncle Frank Chin Park on the Rose Kennedy Greenway in Chinatown and announced Heat Resilience Solutions for Boston, a citywide framework to prepare Boston for hotter summers and more intense heat events. The Heat Plan presents 26 strategies that will help build a more just, equitable, and resilient Boston. In addition to citywide strategies, the Heat Plan focuses on five environmental justice communities that are hotspots in Boston and experience greater burdens as temperatures increase: Chinatown, Dorchester, East Boston, Mattapan, and Roxbury.  "Extreme heat in Boston is more than an inconvenience or discomfort—it’s an urgent risk for our health, our neighborhoods, and our infrastructure," said Mayor Michelle Wu. "Our Heat Resilience Solutions report presents Boston's roadmap for navigating extreme heat, particularly for our environmental justice communities. This study centers people and reinforces our commitment to a Boston Green New Deal."  The Heat Plan is a critical component of Climate Ready Boston, the City’s initiative to prepare for the near- and long-term effects of climate change, like sea level rise, coastal storms, extreme precipitation, and extreme heat. The report builds on heat preparedness work to date and outlines infrastructure and programmatic strategies that will help address the growing risks of hotter summers and extreme heat in Boston. The strategies identified in the Heat Plan will work together with the Urban Forest Plan to improve tree protection, stewardship, and new plantings for nature-based cooling solutions. The consultant team supporting the project included Sasaki, Klimaat, All Aces, and WSP.  "Chinatown has long experienced the heat island effect, and many of our Chinatown residents have to endure high temperatures during the summer with no access to air conditioning or shades from tree canopies,” said Council President Ed Flynn. “As we continue to experience high temperatures and extreme weather due to climate change, we need to work together to address extreme heat in our communities. I want to thank Mayor Wu and her team for implementing strategies that will help keep our residents healthy during high temperatures, and help our neighborhoods prepare for extreme heat events. I look forward to continue working together with the Wu Administration, our residents, and community leaders on making sure that residents in Chinatown and other communities can live safely and comfortably during days with high temperatures." "As we grapple with the impact of climate change on our most vulnerable communities, the Heat Resilience Solutions for Boston report offers the type of creative interventions necessary to ensure we are a climate-resilient city,” said City Councilor Kendra Lara. “I'm excited to join Mayor Wu and Chief White-Hammond in stewarding this plan." Boston is already experiencing the effects of climate change. Over the last decade, Boston experienced more hot days and nights than any decade in the previous 50 years. The Heat Resilience Solutions report focuses on community-driven solutions to prepare and protect our neighborhoods for the effects of extreme heat. Climate Ready Boston completed a redlining analysis to explore neighborhood histories and systemic inequalities in Boston that resulted in certain communities facing greater burdens from climate change. The analysis showed that redlined areas are 7.5°F hotter in the day, 3.6°F hotter at night, and have 20% less parkland and 40% less tree canopy than areas designated as “A: Best”. By taking a people-centered approach to heat resilience, the City of Boston can prepare our residents and communities for extreme heat in a way that addresses systemic inequities to support a thriving, Green New Deal city.  “As the climate changes, Boston will experience increasingly higher average temperatures over time and heat waves will become more common, last longer, and be hotter,” said Reverend Mariama White-Hammond, Chief of Environment, Energy and Open Space. “Past decisions made by the public and private sector have led to increased heat risk in our environmental justice communities. This report is about doing the work to protect the entire city beginning with those communities that are bearing the biggest heat burdens.”  The three-phase plan consists of an analysis of extreme heat, a comprehensive series of strategies, followed by an implementation roadmap for delivering on the strategies. To support the implementation of the Heat Plan, the City will launch the Boston Extreme Temperatures Response Task Force, which will help deliver a unified, all-of-government response to address chronic high temperature conditions and prepare the city in advance of extreme heat events. The Task Force’s work will be supported by the Environment Department, the Office of Emergency Management, and the Boston Public Health Commission’s Office of Public Health Preparedness with the goal of collaboratively protecting and promoting the health and wellbeing of Boston residents facing increasing temperatures and other climate risks.  In addition to transformational climate resilience investments proposed in Mayor Wu’s first budget, the City is taking critical immediate action to provide heat relief. Moving forward, the City is taking short-term, actionable steps toward relief during heat waves, including City operations and communications, cooling opportunities, and public education. To expand upon the recommendations proposed in the report, the City of Boston will be engaging in a variety of catalytic projects to support extreme heat mitigation, advance economic opportunity, reduce carbon emissions, and improve health for residents and the environment. These pilots include: The distribution of 30 pop-up cooling kits, including a hose, misters, and a tent, to community organizations that have public events this summer. The Environment Department will support a Cool Roof Grant program to educate property owners on the benefits of cool roofs and facilitate the installation of cool roofs to support resilience, increase energy efficiency, and protect resident health and safety. The Boston Transportation Department will facilitate a community wide design challenge for a ‘cool bus stop’ this fall. The design that best meets the site specific criteria and integrates heat resilient design elements will inform the implementation of a new bus shelter on the SL4 and SL5 routes of the Silver Line. "Chinatown residents disproportionately experience environmental stressors like air pollution, rising sea levels, and extreme heat," said Karen Chen of the Chinese Progressive Association. "I am grateful to Mayor Wu for sharing the Heat Plan and taking action to protect our communities from the impacts of climate change."  “All of the neighborhoods surrounding The Greenway will be impacted by the continued effects of climate change, but no neighborhood is impacted by the effects of increased heat more than Boston’s Chinatown,” said Chris Cook, Greenway Conservancy Executive Director. “We are honored to partner with Mayor Wu and her administration on actionable first steps to address these circumstances for the residents of Chinatown.” The critical actions laid out through the Heat Plan reinforce the Wu administration’s commitment to supporting a healthy, local ecosystem, and a thriving green economy. Last week, Mayor Wu shared her administration’s first proposed budget which includes groundbreaking investments in climate action to create a Green New Deal city. These investments, which further key strategies identified in the Heat Plan, include $2.5 million for a new Climate Ready Streets program within Climate Ready Boston to deliver on heat resilience, stormwater management, and air quality on key transportation corridors, $20 million for a nation-leading pilot for energy retrofits in triple deckers and other multi-family homes while maintaining affordability, $2.5 million of ARPA funds to grow and preserve our urban tree canopy, including an innovative pilot program on private land, $2.5 million in electrifying school bus infrastructure, a $6 million ARPA investment to scale Youth Green Jobs, and $137 million in capital funding, plus operating investments, to create and protect parks, the tree canopy, and open spaces in the city.

6教育機構得款25萬元為學生提供STEM機會

 Six Educational Organizations Awarded $250,000 in Grants to Create STEM Design Challenges for Students Across the Commonwealth

Design Challenges Will Take Place During 5th Annual STEM Week in October

BOSTON – The Baker-Polito Administration today awarded more than $250,000 total in Design Challenge grants to six educational organizations gearing up to provide STEM opportunities to students during the 5th annual statewide STEM Week to be held October 17 – 21, 2022.

“For the past several years, our administration, through the leadership of Lt. Governor Polito and the STEM Advisory Council, has worked hard to provide students across the Commonwealth with opportunities to gain valuable experience in STEM,” said Governor Charlie Baker. “We are proud to offer students a platform that delivers compelling learning experiences, and one that may encourage students to pursue careers in STEM.” 

“We remain committed to creating additional access and awareness about STEM careers for all Massachusetts students and bolstering the Commonwealth’s talent pipeline,” said Lt. Governor Karyn Polito, Co-Chair of the STEM Advisory Council. “STEM Week, and the Design Challenges offered by our partner organizations, help students gain more exposure and experience in STEM subjects in an engaging and hands-on manner.”

“The STEM Design Challenges provide engaging and meaningful opportunities for students in all grades to gain knowledge in science, technology, engineering and math by solving real-world problems that communities face,” said Secretary of Education James Peyser. “Our Design Challenge partners are a crucial part of making STEM Week meaningful and fun for our students.”

STEM Week is a collaborative effort between the Executive Office of Education, the STEM Advisory Council – which works to generate interest and support from the business community for STEM activities – and the Commonwealth’s nine Regional STEM Networks, which plan and coordinate activities with local schools, community leaders and business partners. The STEM Advisory Council is co-chaired by Lt. Governor Polito, Congressman Jake Auchincloss and Vertex Pharmaceuticals Executive Chairman Jeffrey Leiden. 

Since taking office in 2015, strengthening STEM education in the Commonwealth’s K-12 schools has been a priority of the Baker-Polito Administration. The first STEM Week was held in October 2018 to boost interest in STEM subjects among students, particularly young women and students of color, and highlight the abundance of STEM career opportunities in the Commonwealth. The STEM Week theme “See Yourself in STEM” encourages young people to think about studying science, technology, engineering and math to pursue STEM careers.

The following organizations received grants to develop STEM Design Challenges for students during this year’s STEM Week:

PBLWorks - $41,830: In partnership with Mass STEM Hub, a project of the One8 Foundation, students in grades 6-12 will use labor market data and other research to explore and present on STEM Careers through the lens of “How can we prepare and inspire people in Massachusetts to pursue STEM careers that have the greatest potential for impact?” Students will collaborate with and seek feedback from local employers and peers on their presentations to build connections as they begin college and career planning. PBLWorks aims to reach 100+ schools with this applied learning experience.

The Wade Institute - $39,965: This Design Challenge, “Extreme Zoom Makeover: A STEM Approach to Habitat Design,” will engage students in grades 5-8 in a unique experience that integrates science and engineering concepts in a series of inquiry-based investigations that lead up to a student-driven challenge. Partnering with the Lloyd Center for Environment and Buttonwood Park Zoo, this design challenge aims to reach 100 classrooms. 

Kids in Tech - $48,700: This Design Challenge, “Everyday Engineering: Using the Ordinary to Create the Extraordinary,” will deepen 5 – 8 grade students’ understanding of the different branches of engineering. The challenge will cover the five pillars of engineering and include a series of webinars to simulate the activities. Kids in Tech plans to reach 8,500 students with this design challenge. 

The STEM Center at WPI - $41,596: The STEM Center will expand the “I Am STEM” library to include four lessons for each grade level, pre-K – 5, as well as create four additional lessons for Grade 6. This will increase the total lessons in the library from 14 to 28 over the course of two years. The STEM Center anticipates reaching 5,000 students. 

United Way and Boston PIC - $30,000: This design challenge focuses on social justice for civics by using STEM as the lever for change. Approximately 150 Boston Public School teachers and their classes will participate in this STEM Week design challenge. 

Museum of Science - $49,578: The Museum of Science is launching a biotechnology challenge for students in grades 6-8 to raise awareness about the use of plastics. Students will be challenged to engineer biodegradable plastic and think about the benefits of making plastic more environmentally friendly. The challenge will reach 1,500 students. 

STEM Challenge Partners

The following organizations were also announced as STEM Challenge Partners. The organizations have collaborated with the STEM Advisory Council over the last five years to provide opportunities for students across the Commonwealth.

i2 Learning - i2 Learning has been proud to partner with the Commonwealth since the inaugural Massachusetts STEM Week in 2018. Building on the success of i2's courses during STEM Week, i2 has developed additional project-based programs to be run in schools throughout the year, including Day of AI, i2 Full Year, and i2 Summer. For more information about bringing project-based STEM learning to your school or district outside of STEM Week, please visit www.i2learning.org.

FIRST Robotics, WPI - New England FIRST invites students and educators across the Commonwealth to engage with robotics teams during STEM Week and learn more about how to get hands-on with robotics.  FIRST programs enable students from kindergarten through high school to understand the basics of STEM and apply their skills in an exciting challenge while building habits of learning, confidence, and teamwork skills along the way. To learn more visit https://nefirst.org/ or first@wpi.edu.

About the STEM Advisory Council
The grants were awarded through the Massachusetts STEM Advisory Council, whose members are appointed by the Governor and include education and business leaders in STEM industries that work to promote STEM education, partnerships among industries and schools, and internships for students. The STEM Advisory Council serves as a coordinating entity between the public and private sectors and has three main priorities for STEM Education in Massachusetts:

• Develop foundational skills in STEM subjects for all students
• Create and sustain high-quality, integrated STEM pathways 
• Deepen employer partnerships and create on-ramps to careers for traditional and adult learners

波士頓公共衛生局重新建議民眾公共場合室內戴口罩

            (Boston Orange 綜合報導) 波士頓公共衛生局 (BPHC)今 (21) 日發出新建議，鼓勵民眾在室內的公眾場合戴口罩，稱過去2週來新冠確診率增加了65%，還是小心為上。

波士頓公共衛生局也鼓勵民眾如果感覺生病了，就要做檢測，留在家裡。

波士頓市上個月的社區確診率低到2.2%，最近卻跳升到6.9%，地方上的廢水樣本的新冠病毒分子，也在2週內增加了109%，種種跡象都顯示未來數週，確診率可能又再上升。

整個波士頓市，大約有73%的居民已完整接種新冠疫苗，約53%還打了加強劑。波士頓市政府鼓勵至少5個月以前就已打了主要疫苗的每一名12歲以上人士接種加強劑。全市各地都有免費的疫苗及加強劑接種地點，其中有許多不須預約。查詢可上網，boston.gov/covid19-testing。

Sonia Chang Diaz宣佈麻州環保領袖支持她競選州長

Top Massachusetts climate leaders endorse Sonia Chang-Díaz for Governor

BOSTON, MA - Seven of Massachusetts’ top climate policy makers, experts, and advocates are personally endorsing State Senator Sonia Chang-Díaz in her campaign for Governor of Massachusetts. 

The new endorsers include former candidate for Governor and climate leader Bob Massie, former chair of the Department of Public Utilities under Gov. Deval Patrick Ann Berwick, Executive Director of Renew US Dálida Rocha, former President of the Conservation Law Fund Philip Warburg, Executive Director of Alternatives for Community and Environment Dwaign Tyndal, Executive Director of Livable Streets Stacy Thompson, and Founder and Co-Coordinator of the Mass Power Forward Coalition Claire Miller.

“I’m honored to receive the endorsement of these champions for climate action and environmental justice,” said Chang-Díaz. “We have the natural resources and technology to win the fight against climate change and create tens of thousands of new, good-paying jobs. We just need the political courage and leadership to pass a Green New Deal that meets this moment across our sectors, including expanding public transportation, eliminating building emissions, ending new fossil fuel infrastructure, and putting communities of color and low-income communities at the front of the line for the benefits of these new industries.”

"Sonia is a courageous leader who will move Massachusetts decisively forward in the fight against climate change,” said Bob Massie, a longtime climate leader. “We need a governor like Sonia to shift us to clean electricity, break free from the stranglehold of fossil fuels, catch up on renewable energies, and build an equitable economy. Sonia has excellent plans, laid out paragraph by paragraph, and the experience to deliver them."

“Sonia is not afraid to take on enormous challenges, and that is what we need in the face of a dramatically changing climate and the imperative of transforming our energy regime,” said Ann Berwick, former Chair of the Department of Public Utilities under Gov. Deval Patrick. “This is not just about energy, but also about our children's health and creating a modern, green economy. Sonia is exactly the Governor we need.”

"It's time to move from just imagining a Massachusetts we know is possible to actually creating it,” said Dálida Rocha, Executive Director of Renew US. “We must be bold in our approach to climate change-which means we must prioritize those who have been disproportionately impacted by it. Indigenous Tribes, Black and Brown communities and immigrants are experts when it comes to bold solutions because they know far too well the devastating impacts of climate change. Sonia Chang-Díaz has a track record of bringing the voices of the unheard to the forefront and I know when it comes to addressing climate change it will be the same. I proudly endorse Sonia Chang-Díaz for Governor of Massachusetts.”

"Sonia is the Climate Governor that Massachusetts needs,” said Philip Warburg, former president of the Conservation Law Fund. “Transitioning our economy to renewable energy will not be a simple or easy undertaking, and Sonia has the experience and track record to guide our state at this critical juncture. She will ensure that the benefits of healthy buildings, clean energy jobs, and affordable public transit reach all segments of our population."

“Tackling our climate crisis will require bold leadership and honesty about environmental racism and what true climate justice looks like,” said Dwaign Tyndal, Executive Director of Alternatives for Community & Environment. “Sonia has been a steadfast champion for transformational change and has delivered it over and over again in the Legislature. It’s clear she’s the leader we need in Massachusetts to meet this moment, and I’m proud to endorse her for Governor.”

“Sonia’s vision will transform our commutes, our economy, and our health,” said Stacy Thompson, Executive Director of Livable Streets. “Her Green New Deal is the plan we need — from electrifying our public transit system to advancing state-wide transit equity and investing in tens of thousands of green jobs.”

“We need leaders who won’t be afraid to take on fossil fuel interests and who will prioritize environmental justice not just in word, but in action,” said Claire Miller, founder and co-coordinator of the Mass Power Forward coalition. “Sonia has a long record of taking on and winning tough fights even when they’re not politically convenient. She’s exactly who we need in the corner office, and I’m proud to endorse her candidacy for Governor.”

All of the climate leaders backed Sonia in their personal capacity, not as representatives of their organizations. 

Chang-Díaz released her platform for a Green New Deal for Massachusetts in December, which includes a sweeping and rapid approach to combating the climate crisis at the state level. The plan includes benchmarks to meet all of Massachusetts’ electricity needs with 100% renewable, carbon-free energy by 2030; eliminate all carbon emissions from new buildings by 2030 and transition existing buildings to become zero-carbon by 2045; and expand, electrify, and make fare-free public transit systems across the state, including establishing East-West rail and robust regional transit networks. 

The plan also details that the Chang-Díaz Administration will immediately remove fares on all MBTA and RTA buses in its first budget, halt the purchase of any new fossil fuel-powered buses, and produce and execute plans for full MBTA bus fleet electrification by 2030 and full electrification of the RTA system and Commuter Rail by 2040, with three Commuter Rail lines electrified within the first three years of her administration.

百人會歡迎八名新成員

 Committee of 100 Welcomes Eight New Members

New York, NY (April 21, 2022) – At Committee of 100’s forthcoming 2022 Conference & Gala, the organization will formally welcome eight new members into Committee of 100.

Committee of 100 is a non-profit U.S. leadership organization of prominent Chinese Americans in business, government, academia, healthcare, and the arts, focused on public policy, civic engagement, philanthropy, arts, and culture. For over 30 years, Committee of 100 has served as the preeminent organization committed to the dual missions of promoting the full participation of Chinese Americans in all aspects of American life and advancing constructive relations between the U.S. and Greater China.

“Committee of 100 has a long-standing reputation as one of the most prestigious non-profit organizations in the country dedicated to the welfare of the Chinese American and broader AAPI communities,” said Gary Locke, Committee of 100 Chair, Former U.S. Ambassador to China, and current President of Bellevue College in Washington. “These new members reflect our continued dedication to naming diverse and impactful leaders to advance the critical work of our organization's dual missions. We warmly welcome these new members to Committee of 100, and look forward to their expertise, energy, and camaraderie in the years to come.”

Committee of 100’s members are American citizens who are proud of their contributions to the U.S. and their Chinese heritage. Members of the organizations are united by the belief in the fundamental American principles of equality and opportunity for all people, regardless of race, religion, national origin, gender, or creed. Committee of 100 and its members support the full inclusion and advancement of the more than five million Chinese Americans in the U.S. and believe that America is stronger because of its diverse citizenry. 

“We are excited to expand our membership with eight new members who will bring diverse expertise and insight to our dual missions,” said Zhengyu Huang, President of Committee of 100. “We look forward to collaborating with them all as we continue to advance the causes of Chinese Americans through institutionalized access, research, data, and thought leadership.”

American citizens of Chinese heritage are invited to Committee of 100 membership based on their extraordinary achievements. Members are pioneers in their respective fields across the arts, science, technology, business, and finance. Currently, Committee of 100 has over 130 members.

波士頓市長吳弭釋出80萬元支持小企業爭取市府合約

MAYOR WU RELAUNCHES FUND TO SUPPORT EQUITY IN CITY CONTRACTING

BOSTON - Thursday, April 21, 2022 - Mayor Michelle Wu today relaunched the City of Boston’s Contracting Opportunity Fund with an additional $800,000 available to assist small, local businesses in building their capacity to bid on City contracts. The Boston Contracting Opportunity Fund was launched in April 2021 to support diverse, local businesses working in construction building and design, professional and support services, and goods and supplies. The goal of the Fund is to increase the quantity and availability of Certified Businesses by granting monetary assistance to help entities better access City-contracted projects. The Contracting Opportunity Fund application is now available here. “We must use every tool possible to ensure equity in City contracting and build wealth in our communities,” said Mayor Michelle Wu. “As Boston continues to grow and recover from this pandemic, the reopening of the Contracting Opportunity Fund will help support and expand opportunity for our minority-owned and women-owned small businesses participating in the bidding process.” “Reopening the Contracting Opportunity Fund is an important step in the City’s effort to eliminate the existing barriers that our minority-owned and women-owned businesses face when contracting with the city,” said Segun Idowu, Chief of Economic Opportunity and Inclusion. “By prioritizing equity, this program will bridge the gap and assist our small business community in the bidding process.”  Applicants must show how funding will increase their capacity to bid on City contracts and commit to providing supporting documentation for grant expenditures. Applicants must be a Certified MBE (minority-owned business enterprise), WBE (woman-business enterprise), VOSB (veteran-owned small business enterprise), and/or SLBE (small local business enterprise) with the City of Boston’s Supplier Diversity Program, or must be eligible and apply for Certification before the Fund closes on May 20, 2022. Applicants must also be in good standing with the City of Boston. To learn more about business certifications visit here. In spring 2021, the City’s Supplier Diversity Program provided grants of up to $15,000 for certified MBE, WBE, VOSBE, and SLBE Boston-based businesses to support capacity building activities. A total of $820,000 was awarded to 56 businesses, of which 71% were certified minority-owned businesses and 20% were women-owned businesses. As a result of the fund application process, a total of 39 businesses applied for certification as minority-owned (MBE) or woman-owned (WBE) businesses. In March, Mayor Wu filed a home rule petition with the City Council that would expand access to City contracts for minority- and women-owned business enterprises (MWBEs). The proposal would raise the written quote contract maximum for contracts with certified MWBEs from $50,000 to the state Small Purchase threshold, which is currently $250,000. The written quote contract process allows the City to award contracts without a full Request For Proposal (RFP) process, making it significantly simpler and cheaper for businesses to apply. This change will dramatically lower barriers to access for MWBEs and allow the City to make a greater investment in these businesses. Once approved by the Boston City Council, the home rule petition must be passed by the Massachusetts Legislature and signed by the Governor in order to become law.  The renewal of this Fund builds on significant investments made by the City of Boston in supplier diversity and equitable procurement initiatives since February of 2021, when it established annual city spending goals of 25% to women and minority-owned businesses. Through key investments in staffing and programmatic needs, the City of Boston is implementing new initiatives that seek to address the past and present effects of discrimination, disparities, obstacles and barriers in its procurement process that impact minority-owned and women-owned businesses. To learn more visit here.

查理貝克政府提案斥資35議員修橋補路改善地方經濟

Baker-Polito Administration Files $3.5 Billion Economic Development Legislation

The FORWARD bill will make investments in all 351 cities and towns in Massachusetts

 

LYNN - Today, Governor Charlie Baker filed legislation to make $3.5 billion in investments to support Massachusetts’s path forward as the Commonwealth transitions into a post-pandemic world, including projects to strengthen state infrastructure, create jobs and invest in all 351 cities and towns in the Commonwealth.

 

The legislation, An Act Investing in Future Opportunities for Resiliency, Workforce, and Revitalized Downtowns (FORWARD) includes $2.3 billion in funding from the federal American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) and over $1.256 billion in capital bond authorizations.

 

The announcement was made today in Lynn at Breakwater North Harbor, a 331-unit apartment community that broke ground in 2019 and was built in part as a result of a $1.2 million MassWorks grant to fund roadway and water infrastructure improvements, and a $1 million Seaport Economic Council grant to ensure long-term integrity of the adjacent shoreline along North Harbor.

 

The legislation filed today would direct approximately $27 million to Lynn including $13 million for improvements to the Lynn Heritage State Park, $10 million for the South Harbor waterfront redevelopment site on the Lynnway, and millions more for traffic and safety improvements at the intersection of Broad and Washington Streets, as well as for local economic recovery in the city.

 

“The Commonwealth has an opportunity to make significant investments now to help our communities and local economies emerge stronger in a post-pandemic world,” said Governor Charlie Baker. “The FORWARD legislation will make investments in every municipality in Massachusetts, strengthening downtowns, improving the resiliency of infrastructure and giving workers the tools they need to succeed in today’s economy. We look forward to working with the Legislature to take action on this bill quickly to ensure cities and towns receive much-needed recovery funding.”

 

“This bill will support hundreds of local projects, whether through funding to improve green spaces or grants to support economic development,” said Lt. Governor Karyn Polito. “Making these local investments will help cities and towns fortify their infrastructure and redevelop their downtowns.”

 

The FORWARD bill includes $1.2 billion in ARPA funds for climate resiliency and preservation efforts. This includes a $750 million investment in the Commonwealth’s clean energy industry, building on Governor Baker’s October 2021 proposal. The $750 million will be utilized for a variety of areas within the sector, such as electric vehicle rapid charging stations at Logan International Airport, the expansion of the MassCEC Wind Technology Training Center in Charlestown, over $70 million in investments related to the New Bedford Marine Terminal, and a greater focus on higher education and workforce training in an effort to support the burgeoning clean energy industry. The bill also proposes $413 million to support over 100 projects across state parks and trails, water and sewer, and environmental infrastructure grant programs.

 

The FORWARD legislation proposes nearly $970 million for investments to support revitalizing the Commonwealth’s downtowns and communities, including $318 million in ARPA funding and $650 million in bond authorization. This includes $550 million for the MassWorks program, including $400 million in reauthorization and $147 million in ARPA funds to support 94 local projects. Nearly 250 municipalities will receive downtown recovery grants totaling $108 million. The Baker-Polito Administration commissioned a Future of Work report last year that found that downtowns will look fundamentally different coming out of the COVID-19 pandemic, as many people have changed how and where they work. This funding will help municipalities adapt to this new reality.

 

The legislation also includes $325 million in ARPA funding for workforce efforts, including $300 million for the Unemployment Trust Fund to address unemployment overpayments. The HireNow program, which provides grants to employers to train and hire new workers, would receive $25 million.

 

The FORWARD bill includes $270 million in authorization to support housing production across the Commonwealth, including affordable rental housing production and rehabilitation, public housing, climate resilient housing, and transit-oriented development. The bill also makes several policy proposals to increase housing production, including an increase of the cap on the Housing Development Incentive Program from $10 million to $30 million.

 

The bill proposes significant funding to support the Commonwealth’s innovation economy including $50 million for a new competitive and secure future innovation program to make strategic investments in purpose-driven research, technology development, and innovation, and in emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence and machine learning (AI/ML), robotics, quantum information science, cybersecurity, communications, and digital health.

 

This legislation would allow the Massachusetts Convention Center Authority to sell the Hynes Convention Center, with proceeds from the sale going to affordable housing development and the Back Bay area. Occupancy levels at the Hynes fluctuated around 60% before the pandemic, and numbers have still not recovered.

 

"The FORWARD legislation brings together critical capital spending authorizations and key investments backed by remaining ARPA dollars to propose a transformative economic development and environmental spending package that benefits every city and town in the Commonwealth," said Secretary of Administration and Finance Michael J. Heffernan. "The hundreds of projects supported will invigorate local economies and infrastructure at a crucial point in time, and we look forward to working with the Legislature to pass this bill."

 

“Throughout the pandemic, the partnerships we’ve been able to build with individual communities, the business community, academia, and across state government became more important than ever, and this legislation reflects that spirit of collaboration by targeting funding toward key priorities in all cities and towns across the Commonwealth,” said Housing and Economic Development Secretary Mike Kennealy.  “In addition, this bill lays out a thoughtful strategy that will accelerate our transition to a post-pandemic world by making the kinds of investments that support our downtowns, our workforce, core infrastructure, and the state’s housing needs with the urgency this situation calls for.”

 

“Through the Baker-Polito Administration’s continued efforts, Massachusetts leads the nation in taking action on climate change, including the advancement of climate resiliency investments at the state and local level and developing and deploying clean energy solutions at scale,” said Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary Kathleen Theoharides. “With the filing of the FORWARD Act, we will expand on these efforts by investing $750 million to further support the clean energy industry by fostering innovation and technology advancements, continuing the growth of a homegrown clean energy and climate workforce, and beginning construction of important resilient infrastructure improvements.”

 

ARPA funds must be committed by states by the end of 2024 and spent by the end of 2026. This legislation prioritizes investing ARPA funding into projects that are already sufficiently defined and narrow in scope so they can be completed by 2026.

 

FORWARD Highlights:

 

Climate Resiliency and Preservation Efforts (ARPA funding):

• $750 million in clean energy investments including:
• $300 million for the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center (MassCEC) for programs, including grants and incentives to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from the building sector consistent
• $167 million at MassCEC for clean energy technologies and innovations that result in greenhouse gas emission reductions
• $72 million at MassCEC for port facilities to bring inactive and under-utilized site into productive use for the offshore wind industry
• $42 million for programs which support clean transportation or result in greenhouse gas emissions reductions from the transportation sector
• $232 million to support 67 projects for parks, trails, and campground expansion and rehabilitation
• $97 million for 55 coastal infrastructure projects
• $64 in for 12 clean water projects, including COSs
• $7 million for fishing and boating access projects
• $6.4 million for resiliency and habitat projects
• $4 million for open space acquisition
• $1.4 million for culvert projects

 

Revitalized Downtowns & Communities (ARPA and bond authorization):

• Almost $550 million for MassWorks grants for local infrastructure projects, including $147 million in ARPA funds to support 100 local projects and $400 million in capital reauthorization
• $108 million for downtown recovery grants for 246 municipalities
• $32 million for the Community OneStop for Growth competitive grant program
• $10 million for site readiness evaluation projects
• $7 million for brownfields redevelopment projects
• $8 million for underutilized property program projects
• $3.5 million for rural redevelopment grants
• $1.2 million for community planning grants
• $104 million in authorization for Clean Water Trust Fund grants
• $50 million in authorization for the Revitalizing Underutilized Properties Program
• $50 million in authorization for broadband matching funds in anticipation of competitive programs at the federal level
• $12 million in authorization for “middle mile” broadband grants
• $10 million in authorization for Seaport Economic Council grants
• $10 million in authorization for the Rural and Small Town Development Fund
• $5 million in authorization for Community Planning Grants

 

COVID-19 Response (ARPA funding):

• $250 million for fiscally distressed hospitals
• $100 million for future COVID-19 response needs, including testing
• $30 million for ongoing efforts to adapt state government services to a post-pandemic world
• $25 million for compliance and oversight costs associated with optimizing federal COVID funds
• $20 million for local workforce training grants to recruit and train municipal employees that deliver important public services across the Commonwealth

 

Workforce (ARPA funding):

• $300 million transfer to the Unemployment Insurance Trust Fund to address unemployment overpayments
• $25 million for HireNow

 

Housing (bond authorization):

• $243 million in reauthorizations for existing programs to increase affordable rental housing production and rehabilitation, public housing, climate resiliency and transit-oriented development
• $26 million in authorization to expand a public housing demonstration program and smart growth housing

 

Innovation (bond authorization):

• $50 million for a new Competitive and Secure Future Innovation Program
• $30 million for the Mass. Manufacturing Innovation Initiative
• $24 million for R&D grants
• $23 million for the Massachusetts Manufacturing Accelerate Program
• $10 million for tourism destination development grants
• $200 million for matching funds for anticipated federal grant opportunities in the technology and innovation industry

 

Education (ARPA funding):

• $35 million for planning grants to higher education institutions

林昭亮等3名國際音樂大師5月7日晚 Jordan 廳演出

 

(中華表演基金會提供)

            (Boston Orange) 中華表演藝術基金會將於5月7日(週六)晚8點，邀小提琴家林昭亮、大提琴家Clive Greensmith、鋼琴家Juho Pohjonen等三名國際樂壇大師，在紐英崙音樂學院喬頓廳 (Jordan Hall) 同台演出巴赫、舒曼、拉威爾，以及勃拉姆斯的作品。

            小提琴家林昭亮和大提琴家馬友友及指揮小澤征爾 (Seiji Ozawa) 在國際樂壇並列多年，都是最活躍、最有名望的亞裔音樂家。

林昭亮不但是獲得英國「留聲機年度唱片獎」(Gramophone’s Record of the year) 的第一位華人演奏家，二次獲得葛萊美(Grammy)獎提名，還被「音樂美國」Musical America 雜誌選為2000年的年度器樂演奏家 (Instrumentalist of the year)，名列”企鵝指南得獎名人錄( Penguin Guide Rosettes) ”。

在台灣出生的林昭亮，12歲時遠赴澳洲雪梨，後來到美國追隨大師 Dorothy Delay學習，19歲在林肯中心「莫札特主題音樂節」(Mostly Mozart Festival)首演，20歲和紐約愛樂 (New York Philharmonic Orchestra) 及指揮Zubin Mehta 演出後備受樂壇重視。如今他已與全球最主要的樂團及名指揮合作演出過無數次，享譽全球。1991年，他回母校茱莉亞 Juilliard音樂學院任教，2006年受聘加盟德州萊斯 (Rice)大學。他在加州 La Jolla、香港、及台灣都成功舉辦過國際大師音樂節，為青年音樂家提供向大師們學習並同台演出的珍貴機會。

大提琴家 Clive Greensmith 是著名的東京四重奏 (Tokyo String Quartet)(1999-2013)成員，從最開始到最後一季，每年演出百餘場，14年來足跡遍布全球各地的最著名音樂廳，也贏得全世界的尊敬及讚賞。他還每年在各地的音樂節演出、教學，和倫敦交響樂團等大樂團合作擔任獨奏，也和林肯中心室內樂團 (Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center)一齊到各地演出。在他輝煌燦爛的簡歷上，與他合作演出及錄音的，都是當今樂壇上最頂尖大師級人物。他現任加州 Colburn 音樂學院的大提琴及室內樂教授。他的學生中已有多人考上著名樂團，並在國際大賽中獲獎。

芬蘭鋼琴家 Juho Pohjonen 曾獲無數芬蘭及國際鋼琴大賽大獎，是當今樂壇公認最傑出的鋼琴家之一。紐約時報  (The New York Times) 稱讚他「珍珠般的觸感，如詩歌般的聲音和敏感度，Pohjonen 在整個節目中展示了他的音樂才華」。他在個人獨奏會，與著名樂團合作，製作錄音專輯之外，還經常和林肯中心室內樂團合作，在全球各地巡迴演出。

5月7日晚的預訂演奏曲目如下:
巴赫：G大調第六小提琴與鋼琴奏鳴曲 BWV 1019
舒曼：《F-A-E》奏鳴曲中的間奏曲
勃拉姆斯：《F-A-E》奏鳴曲中的諧謔曲
拉威爾：小提琴與大提琴奏鳴曲
勃拉姆斯：C大調鋼琴三重奏 Op. 87

這場演出共90分鐘，沒有中場休息。雖然不強制觀眾戴口罩，但為慎重安心起見，還是建議戴上口罩。需出示打過疫苗，或測試陰性證明才可入場。票價為$15 (7至13歲)、$30、及$50三種。提供學生免費票 (14歲以上)及非學生贈送券。需事前預訂。臨時到場者需付10元現款，沒有免費優待。6歲以下兒童請勿入場。詳情請查官網:http://www.chineseperformingarts.net/contents/season/20220507/index.html