波士頓市長吳弭也呼籲州政府通過MBTA低收入票價法案

波士頓市長吳弭 (Michelle Wu) 和2個聯盟成員一起呼籲州政府通過低收入票價法案。
(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) 今 (25) 日加入” 交通是基本的 (Transit is Essential Coalition)” ，” 公共交通公益聯盟 (Public Transit Public Good Coalitions)” 行列，在麻州政府大樓前呼籲州政府通過” 低收入票價 (Low Income Fare)” 法案。

             華人前進會在行政主任陳玉珍，以及鄺寶蓮率領下，也有10幾人出席支持。

             

“宜居街道聯盟 (LivableStreets Alliance) 」主任Stacy Thompson指出，辦理低收入票價，估計
每年需款不到一億元。(周菊子攝)

吳弭為活動致詞時說，「要讓波士頓成為每一個人的波士頓，每個人必須能夠去到他們得去的地方 (Everyone got to be able to get to where they need to go)”，而且所有的機會必須公開給每一個人。換言之，公共交通是一種公共物品」。對公共交通的任何一筆投資，都是對麻州所有居民共有未來的投資。任何的投資，都有如為將來付出的頭期款，會讓人們生活得更容易一點。

             吳弭說，要讓波士頓從新冠病毒疫情中走出來，其實也很容易，首先是增加住宅，要讓波士頓成為人們可以負擔，住得起的城市，其次是讓人們有流動自由，例如可以免費搭乘的28號巴士，現在是搭乘量最高的巴士。她說，”把公共交通當作一種公共物品，是對未來，對社區的投資，也是對這全美最古老城市波士頓傳承的見證與提醒”。

聯盟耆英對波士頓市長吳弭支持他們的要求，感到非常開心。(周菊子攝)

             麻州議會在去年的交通債券法中已提出並通過了試行”低收入票價”法案，但是麻州州長查理貝克 (Charlie Baker)以他的否決權，在最後定案的交通債券法中省略了這一部分的條文。

             今年東波士頓麻州眾議員Adrian C. Madaro再提H.3526法案，把” 低收入票價” 單獨列案，要求麻州地鐵局 (MBTA)及州政府區域交通局為符合資格居民提供免費或折扣票價。據說麻州議會的交通委員會已表態支持該案，現正交由麻州眾議會財政委員會考慮。

華人前進會成員特地趕到活動現場，支援呼籲低收入票價，並和波士頓市長吳弭合影。
(華人前進會提供)

             根據麻省理工學院研究員的2019年研究，折價票會鼓勵低收入乘客更常搭乘公車或地鐵。在一項實驗中，拿到半價查理卡的民眾，每週搭乘公車及地鐵的次數，比付全票的民眾高30%。

             麻州地鐵局的前一任監管委員會，也是財政及管理控制委員會 (Fiscal and Management Control Board)曾指示地鐵行政單位在2022年底之前，設計一個為期9個月的試驗計畫，為低收入乘客提供折價票。該會並在2021年6月的最後一次會議中無異議通過了這一決議。但是繼任的監管委員會卻似乎沒有興趣繼續這麼做。

波士頓市長吳弭和華人前進會成員親切晤談。(鄺寶蓮堤供)

             “宜居街道聯盟 (LivableStreets Alliance) 」主任Stacy Thompson在回答現場提問時表示，「低收入票價」的經費可以來自”美國援救計畫紓困款(ARPA)，以及其他來源，至於資格認定，可以比照麻州人民服務廳等機構現有的標準。他們相信辦理試驗計畫只需不到1000萬元，之後每年需要的費用應不超過一億元。

             麻州地鐵總經理Steve Poftak早前也表示，在整個地鐵系統執行這樣的計畫，至少得花5000萬元，甚至很可能超過一億元。他在麻州議會的財政委員會聽證會中也說，許多其他城市的地鐵及公共交通系統，也有一些某種類型的低收入票價，但經費都不是來自交通局，例入紐約的都會交通局，經費就來自紐約市政府。

             波士頓市以50萬元辦理28號巴士免費搭乘6個月的試驗計畫後，搭乘量增加了22%，但僅只三分之一搭乘者省了錢，因為其他搭乘者在轉搭其他公交車時，還是得付錢。

             波士頓市早前動用聯邦經費，斥資800萬元，讓28、23，以及29號三條巴士線，免費搭乘2年，期以更實在的檢驗公共交通工具免費為民眾及社區帶來的益處。

New COVID Impact Data Outlines Ongoing Financial Hardships Across Cultural Sector

New COVID Impact Data Outlines Ongoing Financial Hardships Across Cultural Sector

 

Mass Cultural Council’s sixth survey since March 2020 details continued economic losses; 1,084 cultural organizations report $781M+ in lost revenue, while 3,048 creative individuals cite $31.9M+ in lost personal income

 

BOSTON – In March 2021, one year into the pandemic, Mass Cultural Council shared data defining a cultural sector in economic crisis. Today, more than two years after COVID-19 first affected every facet of life in the Commonwealth, Mass Cultural Council releases new economic impact data collected from Massachusetts artists, cultural sector workers, and cultural organizations.   This is the sixth COVID economic impact survey of the cultural sector hosted by Mass Cultural Council since the pandemic forced gathering limits, closures, and cancellations across Massachusetts in March 2020. The data reported today represents a cumulative total for every respondent of each prior survey since March 2020: 1,084 cultural organizations and 3,048 artists and cultural sector workers.   “Mass Cultural Council’s charge is to bolster the Commonwealth’s cultural sector,” said Michael J. Bobbitt, Executive Director, Mass Cultural Council. “Massachusetts’ artists, sector employees, creative individuals, and organizations have been doing their best to hang on, and we are hopeful that this spring and summer the public will enthusiastically and safely reengage with them. This survey reports devastating losses – but there is hope. In the coming fiscal year, Mass Cultural Council anticipates administering a historic level of state funding in grants supporting arts and culture in every community. Together, our creativity, passion, and perseverance will help the cultural sector to vibrantly thrive once again.”    Economic Impacts Reported by Cultural Organizations  A total of 281 cultural organizations located across Massachusetts responded to the sixth impact survey, which sought information on the period between March 1, 2021, to February 28, 2022. These organizations reported $192,691,951 in lost revenue during that period. Significantly, ninety (90) percent -- $172,550,608 -- of these losses stem from earned revenue that never materialized.   “It’s clear that while cultural organizations have reopened, audiences have yet to return in large enough numbers for the hosts to rely upon earned revenue to support their work or achieve revenue goals,” said Bobbitt. “Mass Cultural Council’s grant programs and services offer relief and assistance, but the need is always greater than our available resources.”       These organizations also identified almost $20 million ($19,299,389) in costs experienced over the past year that were necessary to reopen, remain open, or attract patrons. These costs, which include capital expenses like HVAC improvements, air purifiers, and seating changes, and non-capital expenses, such as cleaning and sanitation, signage, supplies, and staff training, are ongoing items organizations must now budget for.   Fifty-one (51) percent of survey respondents with employees reported that they laid off, furloughed, or reduced the hours and/or wages of their employees in the past year – impacting 3,504 cultural sector employees.   Cumulatively, throughout Mass Cultural Council’s six COVID economic impact surveys issued between March 2020 and March 2022, 1,084 cultural organizations reported a total of $781,026,030 in lost revenue and 33,513 impacted jobs.

 

 

Economic Impacts Reported by Artists, Cultural Sector Workers and Creative Individuals  A total of 131 individuals (artists, teaching artists, humanists/scientists, and cultural sector workers) living and working in Massachusetts responded to the sixth COVID economic impact survey for individuals, which sought data for the period of March 1, 2021, to February 28, 2022.   These creative individuals report a total of 6,166 lost or cancelled gigs/jobs over the past year, resulting in a loss of $1,534,384 in personal income.   Cumulatively, throughout Mass Cultural Council’s six COVID economic impact surveys, issued between March 2020 and March 2022, 3,048 creative individuals reported 74,152 lost or cancelled gigs/jobs and almost $32 million ($31,938,000) in lost personal income. This represents an average loss of twenty-four gigs/jobs and $10,478 per person in the past two years.

 

 

“While Mass Cultural Council is proud to have doubled its grantmaking budget for artists this year, clearly there is need for additional investment,” said Bobbitt. “My goal is to provide even more grants to artists and cultural sector workers in the next fiscal year, and I hope our available funding will support this endeavor.”   Public Investment in the Cultural Sector  As a state agency, Mass Cultural Council is primarily funded through a line-item (0640-0300) in the annual state operating budget. While state law has established stand-alone grant programs funded by other means, such as the Cultural Facilities Fund and the Gaming Mitigation Program, it is the annual state budget that provides the Commonwealth’s main financial support for the cultural sector each year.   In the current fiscal year (FY22), Mass Cultural Council received $21,375,000 in state funding, the largest state appropriation since the 1980s. The Agency invested eighty-four (84) percent of this funding -- $18 million -- into more than 1,500 grant awards made in every city and town in the Commonwealth.   The Massachusetts cultural sector may receive a record level of state funding in FY23, which begins on July 1.   The Governor’s FY23 budget recommended funding Mass Cultural Council at $20.4M – significant, as this is the highest funding proposed by a Baker-Polito Administration budget; while the House Committee on Ways & Means proposed funding the Agency with $22.5M.   Legislators on Beacon Hill are now working to draft the FY23 budget, and the state House of Representatives will convene in budget debate this week. One item for consideration is Amendment #1081, filed by State Representative Dylan Fernandes (D- Falmouth) and co-sponsored by a bipartisan group of 70 House Members, 44.9% of the Chamber, seeking to increase Mass Cultural Council’s appropriation to $27.4 million, a record-high funding level last seen 34 years ago, in 1988.    Mass Cultural Council is also charged with granting $60.1 million in one-time state pandemic recovery funds to artists and cultural organizations. Draft program guidelines are expected to go to the Agency’s governing Council for approval in May; applications will launch soon thereafter.   “Mass Cultural Council is deeply appreciative of our partners on Beacon Hill for their continued investments supporting the cultural sector’s ongoing COVID recovery,” said Bobbitt. “We know when the cultural sector is thriving, the Commonwealth’s people, communities, and economy benefit as well.”

National ACE "Hear Our Voices" is live now on facebook

 Hear Our Voices is a three-part conversation that started in March, as part of the commemoration of the Atlanta Spa Shootings due to anti-Asian violence. On a broader scale, it featured AAPI women who are leading organizations to support their communities. They also talked about their own self-care and how they are managing through these complex times.

Part 2 of this conversation will feature a collective voice from the perspectives of Corporate, Community, Small Business, and Non-Profit… and how these leaders are addressing violence and xenophobia in our communities and business. We will explore what it takes to make systemic changes and what ways everyone is contributing.

Thank you AARP and Walmart for supporting us to create this needed space for our community.

Asian/Pacific Islander American Chamber of Commerce & Entrepreneurship | Facebook

*NEW GRANT ALERT* The application opens the afternoon of Monday, 4/25 and will remain open through end of June. Courses and events taken since January 1 will be counted towards eligibility requirements.

Sign up & take the courses here: https://vz.to/2ZT0IYL

#grants #NextStreet

440億元 馬斯克買下推特

            (Boston Orange 編譯)  推特(Twitter)宣佈，同意以每股54.2元，共440億元，把這家在政治及社交媒體上有著巨大影響力的公司，賣給世界上目前最富有的人馬斯克 (Elon Musk)。

            才不過是2星期以前，馬斯克發信給推特董事會及管理層，表示要以”惡意併購”方式，拿下該公司。然後推特馬上以容許股東以較低價格購買股票的方式，一邊默默反併購，一邊忙著了解馬斯克的真正意圖，以及其開價是否合理。

推特說將在交易完成後，該公司將變成私人持有的公司。

            推特執行長Parag Agrawal在一條推特貼文上說，推特有著影響整個世界，以及其相關性的目的，他深為其團隊感到自豪，並深受這前所未有的重要工作所啟發。

            世界上現在最富有的人馬斯克說，他想買推特是因為推特作為”言論自由”平台，未發揮應有潛能。推特應該轉型成為私營公司，以贏得使用者的信任，並在他稱之為言論自由之社會要求上，更好的服務大眾。

            馬斯克是一位特立獨行的企業家，也是推特的非常活躍用戶兼批評者，在推特上有8300萬粉絲，經常貼文，宣傳他的特斯拉漢SpaceX2等公司，還常和批評者爭吵。他說言論自由是民主運作基石，而推特是人們討論對人類未來至關重要事務的數字城市廣場。 

波士頓市今年增加1000個青少年暑期工作機會 (視頻)

Mayor Michelle Wu hosts a press conference at the Hyde Square Task Force to discuss summer job opportunities for Boston’s youth. This year, the 2022 Boston SuccessLink Summer Youth Jobs program has been expanded to include 6,000 job opportunities. She will be joined by Celinda E. Miranda, Executive Director of the Hyde Square Task Force, and Rashad Cope, Director of the Department of Youth Engagement & Employment.

AG HEALEY SECURES WORKERS’ COMPENSATION INSURANCE RATE DECREASE, SAVING MASSACHUSETTS BUSINESSES $80 MILLION

AG HEALEY SECURES WORKERS’ COMPENSATION INSURANCE RATE DECREASE, SAVING MASSACHUSETTS BUSINESSES $80 MILLION 

New Rates Go into Effect in July; Decrease Creates Significant Savings for Small Businesses and Other Policyholders Across the State 

 BOSTON — Massachusetts businesses will save approximately $80 million under a settlement Attorney General Maura Healey reached with the State Rating Bureau (SRB) and the Workers’ Compensation Rating and Inspection Bureau (WCRIB). The settlement, which follows an intervention by the AG’s Office in an administrative rate hearing at the Division of Insurance, results in an average rollback of about 3.5 percent on workers’ compensation insurance rates. 

The new rates are set to go into effect on July 1, 2022.  

 “This settlement will save millions of dollars for Massachusetts businesses – many of whom are still struggling to recover from the pandemic,” said AG Healey. “Not only does lowering workers’ compensation insurance rates help small businesses, allowing them to invest in higher wages and growth, but it also helps protect workers.”  

 Workers’ compensation insurance rates are set periodically in administrative rate hearings before the Division of Insurance. The state’s insurance companies generally work together to prepare a single joint filing and submit that for approval to the Commissioner. The AG’s Office can intervene in these proceedings and litigate against the proposal to protect the public interest. Massachusetts businesses are required to purchase workers’ compensation insurance to provide coverage for workers injured on the job including medical costs and a portion of their lost wages.  

 In December 2021, the industry sought an overall statewide average rate increase of 2.7 percent and the AG’s Office intervened in the rate proceeding seeking a rate rollback for Massachusetts ratepayers. The industry agreed not only to abandon its request to increase rates, but also to apply an average rate rollback of 3.5 percent for policyholders starting in July.    

The AG’s Office has also previously been successful in achieving workers’ compensation rate reductions. After AG Healey intervened in the rate hearings in 2020, insurers agreed to roll back rates by an average of 6.8 percent, saving Massachusetts customers about $80 million.

In 2018, the AG’s Office successfully secured a 12.9 percent average rate rollback on workers’ compensation insurance in the state, saving approximately $150 million for businesses. Over the past 10 years, the AG’s Office has saved employers and small businesses hundreds of millions of dollars by intervening in workers’ compensation insurance administrative rate cases. These savings translate into more jobs for workers in the state.  

The AG’s Insurance and Financial Services Division represents the public interest and litigates administrative rate cases to ensure that rates are fair for Massachusetts policyholders. The AG’s Office has worked collaboratively with the State Rating Bureau to achieve the rate reduction in the present workers’ compensation insurance rate case.  

This matter was handled by staff of AG Healey’s Insurance and Financial Services Division, including Peter Leight, Dr. Burt Feinberg, Madonna Cournoyer, Lilia Dubois, Mike Sugar, Bridget Menkis, Gia Kim, and Glenn Kaplan. 

Baker-Polito Administration Highlights Success of Early College at B.M.C Durfee High School in Fall River

 

Baker-Polito Administration Highlights Success of Early College at B.M.C Durfee High School in Fall River

FALL RIVER – Today, Governor Charlie Baker, and Lt. Governor Karyn Polito joined Education Secretary James Peyser to visit with high school students and teachers at B.M.C. Durfee High School and participate in a roundtable discussion to highlight the success of its Early College program. 

The Baker-Polito Administration has undertaken a statewide effort to substantially increase the number of high school students who take college courses and earn college credits at no cost before they graduate high school. Last month, the administration designated eight new Early College programs and awarded several grants totaling more than $1.3 million to high schools launching or expanding Early College programs. 

“Early College programs help boost college enrollment for students who may not have been on a path to college, and help them succeed after graduation,” said Governor Charlie Baker. “These unique programs give students, many times first-generation students, confidence – and an advantage – on college campuses.” 

“This program opens doors and creates opportunities for so many students which might not have otherwise existed for them,” said Lt. Governor Karyn Polito. “Our administration remains committed to providing students from every corner of the Commonwealth the skills and education necessary to succeed in the classroom, workforce and beyond.”

Since its launch in 2017, the Baker-Polito Administration has strived to expand access to Early College. The Governor’s FY23 budget proposal includes $7.3 million increase for Early College funding, representing a significant increase over FY22, to bring the total annual investment to more than $18 million. 

Currently, there are approximately 5,400 students enrolled in Early College courses at 50 high schools across the Commonwealth. The Executive Office of Education anticipates that approximately 8,700 students will be enrolled in Early College programs by the 2024-2025 school year. 

About half of the Commonwealth’s Gateway Cities have Early College programs at their high schools, and nearly 60 percent of students enrolled in Early College come from economically disadvantaged backgrounds.

Students who participate in Early College programs enroll in college at significantly higher rates than their high school peers. For example, in 2019, approximately 76 percent of Early College students enrolled in college after graduation compared to 55 percent of their peers who did not participate in Early College. Early College has also been shown to boost college completion rates for low-income, minority and first-generation college students.

“Early College has created a shift in the educational experience for thousands of high school students and has shown to improve their level of engagement in their other high school courses. The majority of Early College students meet MassCore college readiness curriculum requirements while also successfully completing credit-bearing college courses,” said Education Secretary James Peyser.  

B.M.C. Durfee High School received state designation for its Early College program in June 2020. Currently there are 135 students in the program, with 270 students anticipated to enroll for the 2022-2023 school year. This fall, UMass Dartmouth will become Durfee High School’s third higher education partner, along with Bridgewater State University and Bristol Community College. B.M.C. Durfee currently offers Early College pathways in Business, Health Science/Medical, Public Policy and Social Service, and Education. Next year, it will expand to offer pathways in STEM and the arts.

“Early college has proven to be a game changer for our Durfee students.  It provides our students not only with access to college at no cost, but also has become the stepping-stone to opportunities for future success beyond high school.  This administration's continued investment in Early College equals an investment in the future of our students and our community,” said Fall River Public Schools Superintendent Maria Pontes.

慶祝地球日 波士頓市長吳弭宣佈系列降溫計畫

波士頓市長吳弭 (Michelle Wu)進波士頓慶祝地球日。(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) 在4月22日和波士頓市議會議長愛德華費林 (Ed Flynn) 聯袂來到華埠「陳毓禮叔叔、黃杏蓉阿姨」公園，慶祝地球日，宣佈一系列降溫方案，並以華埠等5個溫度最高的社區為優先服務對象。

致詞結束，吳弭市長還回答了很多問題。(周菊子攝)

          有一份2021年研究報告稱波士頓市在全美最熱城市中排名第六，在2010年到2020年間，波士頓天熱的日子，比過去50年來的任何一個10年都多。波士頓市在2019年的一份調查報告則發現，華埠是全市最熱的地方，比其他鄰里社區高了華氏10度左右。

          根據波士頓市的調查報告，在熱浪來襲時，波士頓最熱的地方在白天會比其他地方更熱華氏7.5度，晚上則更熱華氏3.6度。

吳弭市長在活動現場被小朋友問，市長是什麼。(周菊子攝)

          在綠路保護會主任Chris Cook主持的致詞儀式中，吳弭市長說明，波士頓市府將於今夏派發包括軟管，噴霧器，帳篷等的30份彈出式冷卻組給社區組織辦活動用；環保局將推出冷卻屋頂補助項目，教育並協助屋主安裝涼爽屋頂；交通局將於今秋推出”涼爽巴士站”設計挑戰，邀請民眾為SL4及SL5這兩條銀線巴士路線的新巴士站做抗熱設計。

          吳弭說，波士頓市府在考慮每一項議題時，會把居民們曾經面對的所有挑戰都連在一起去思考。

吳弭市長用粉筆在地上寫出自己的中文名字，看旁邊的小朋友會不會寫。(周菊子攝)

          波士頓市府要推出的一系列” 波士頓解決熱度彈性方案 (Heat Resilience Solutions for Boston)”，共有26個方案，包括種樹，提供樹蔭，在校園內安裝加水站，投資綠化屋頂等冷卻設施，教育建築經理如何讓戶外工作人員在熱天中保持安全，以及安裝溫度感應器等，並以華埠(Chinatown)、多徹斯特(Dorchester)、東波士頓 (East Boston)、麥特潘 (Mattapan)及洛士百利 (Roxbury)等5個社區為優先服務對象。

波士頓市議會議長Ed Flynn以手勢加強無樹蔭遮陽。(周菊子攝)

          波士頓市府還將推出「極端溫度回應工作小組 (Extreme Temperature Response Taskforce)」來跨部會的執行這一方案，因應高溫天氣。

            在波士頓華埠，波士頓市政府已經和綠路保護會合作，修飾了司徒麗英公園，在牌樓公園那兒安裝了飲水器，以及噴霧灑水器。波士頓市政府還將根據民眾的意見來重新設計空間。

華人前進會主任陳玉珍用廣東話說很高興華埠有機會討論環境文提。(周菊子攝)

            在慶祝地球日的儀式中，波士頓市府還邀請波士頓市議會議長愛德華費林，華人前進會主任陳玉珍，以及波士頓市府的環境、能源及開放空間長Mariama White-Hammond出席講話。

           愛德華費林市議長強調，波士頓市內華埠的染患哮喘率最高，公園及綠化空間很少，樹也不多，但波士頓市府想要確保華埠內的小孩和其他地區的小孩一樣，也享有那麼多的公園與開放空間。他說謝謝華埠和市府合作，一起努力把波士頓變得更好。

波士頓市長吳弭(Michelle Wu，左二)進華埠慶祝地球日，慈濟波士頓聯絡處的陳裕逢，
負責人長金滿，以及吳明真校長也來響應環保愛地球，順道為陳裕逢慶生。(周菊子攝)

            陳玉珍既是華人前進會主任，也是波士頓市政府「熱計畫」的顧問委員會委員。她用廣東話和英文感謝吳弭市長進華埠來談環境問題，因為社區內面對的挑戰太多，一直沒多少機會談環境對社區的影響這話題。她指出，華埠染患哮喘率最高是因為車流量太多污染了空氣，影響了居民的身體健康。考慮華埠未來，就不能不談環境。

波士頓市府的環境、能源及開放空間長Mariama White-Hammond指出，吳弭政府「熱計畫」列出來的重要行動，都已包括在吳弭政府提出來的第一個預算計畫中，包括撥250萬元給新的適應氣候街道項目，2000萬元給三層屋及多家庭屋做能源改造，從美國援救計畫紓困款(ARPA)拿250萬元來重或保護市區樹篷，250萬元來電動化校巴，動用600萬元美元國就計畫紓困款來擴大青少年綠色工作機會，1億3700萬元的資本來開闢並保護公園。

波士頓市府和綠路保護會合作，在華埠公園旁安裝了飲水器。(周菊子攝)

華埠公園內安裝了噴水器，一按就會噴出水霧，讓人清涼一下。(周菊子攝)

噴水器是從細細的鐵架上的高處橫桿噴出水霧。(周菊子攝)

慶祝地球日活動現場送給民眾的環保袋。