Mayor Walsh, Director Golden release “Building the New Boston Redevelopment Authority”

Mayor Walsh, Director Golden release “Building the New Boston Redevelopment Authority” 

2014 year in review report highlights reforms to improve transparency and accountability at agency

BOSTON – Mayor Martin J. Walsh and Boston Redevelopment Authority (BRA) Director Brian Golden released a 20-page report today that offers an in-depth look at how Boston’s planning and economic development agency sought to improve its transparency, accountability, and operations in the past year through a series of policy reforms, personnel changes, and investments in technology. The year in review report, entitled “Building the New Boston Redevelopment Authority,” is divided into four sections: 1) Improving Policies and Protocols; 2) Modernizing Systems and Organizational Structure; 3) Maximizing BRA/EDIC (Economic Development and Industrial Corporation) Assets and Enhancing Fiscal Accountability; and 4) Nurturing Opportunity and Financial Empowerment among Residents. 

“The fact that we were able to make so many important reforms at the BRA while supporting four billion in new construction that broke ground last year speaks volumes about the new leadership of the organization and the talented staff they have around them,” said Mayor Walsh. “This report highlights all of the progress we have made so far, but our work is not over. We will continue to make adjustments so that we keep building trust and confidence in the BRA.”

“This document is a roadmap of the improvements underway at the BRA and the ones to come in the months ahead,” said Director Golden. “Our charge is to reinvent the way we do business in order to create an agency that reflects the world-class city it has helped to build. We don’t seek to erase past blemishes or hide our faults. We seek to learn from them. ”

Mayor Walsh and Director Golden helped to usher in a new wave of leadership at the BRA last year. Newly appointed senior positions include the Chief of Staff, Director of Development Review and Policy, General Counsel, Director of Communications, Director of the Office of Jobs and Community Services, Controller, and Compliance Program Manager.

Under the leadership of Director Golden and the BRA’s Director of Development Review and Policy, the agency has implemented several new policies and is in the process of creating others to improve transparency and accountability. Funding to support affordable housing creation through the Inclusionary Development Policy is now being managed more effectively through a partnership with the City’s Department of Neighborhood Development. The BRA’s Board of Directors passed policies to enhance transparency related to the disclosure of beneficial interests by development proponents, the review and approval of overlay zoning district proposals known as Planned Development Areas, and land takings and transfers involving the BRA. A standard application for funds associated with community benefits, which are negotiated when large projects are approved, is also being developed, as the process for disbursing discretionary funds was cumbersome and unpredictable in the past. The BRA expects to begin using the application this coming spring.

Modernizing systems and investing in technology to support the agency’s operations was a top priority in 2014. The information technology division introduced a new work order management system for IT service and research requests. Developers must now file information about proposed projects using a web-based portal that makes it easier to track key data. The BRA’s website now also allows for electronic tracking of procurement documents for work that is publicly bid. Other technology improvements made last year include a new zoning viewer tool, live streaming video of monthly BRA/EDIC board meetings, and a digital asset management system that allows staff to easily access photographs, renderings, and other images.

KPMG’s performance review of the BRA/EDIC, which was completed last July, found several troubling deficiencies with respect to compliance and asset management practices. The redevelopment authority’s Finance Department, which oversees compliance, is overhauling protocols to improve accountability and has already made significant headway in addressing the concerns. A new Compliance Program Manager will produce a manual to train staff and other stakeholders on the BRA’s compliance responsibilities, and there will be regular reviews to ensure policies and procedures are followed appropriately. The agency will also upgrade software in order to better track developer commitments, community mitigation funds, and housing agreements.

New lease management software was implemented late last year, and all BRA/EDIC leases are expected to be digitized by the end of February. KPMG’s report pointed to over $5 million in overdue receivables, a significant amount of which stemmed from overdue rent from tenants in BRA/EDIC owned properties, as of last spring. The Finance Department has aggressively collected overdue payments and reduced the  BRA/EDIC’s receivables balance to less than $1 million, as of the end of November. The department also updated its accounting practices so that intercompany payments that were once categorized as loans, which inflated the receivables balance, are now categorized as grants.

An asset management team is working on a comprehensive strategy to redevelop several underutilized parcels in the Marine Industrial Park, which is owned by the BRA, so that they begin generating revenue for the agency. The BRA has contracted with Utile, Inc. to update the master plan for the industrial park in order to help inform long-term planning for the area’s growth.

The BRA’s year in review report concludes by highlighting Mayor Walsh’s Office of Financial Empowerment, which launched last October and is being managed by the Office of Jobs and Community Services, an affiliate of the BRA. The initiative is a collaborative effort with outside organizations to address poverty and income inequality in Boston, with the goal of creating effective wealth-building strategies for residents.

Reforms at the BRA/EDIC will continue this year, as the agency has hired McKinsey & Company to undertake a review of the Planning Division. The team of consultants will ultimately make recommendations to improve workflow, predictability, and transparency in the City’s planning process. McKinsey’s report is due to be released this coming spring.

麻州長宣佈預算赤字七億六千五百萬元

麻州州長查理貝克（Charlie Baker）昨（廿）日與副州長白莉朵（Karyn Polito），行政及財務長黎普瑞（Kristen Lepore）聯袂宣布，州政府2015會計年度預算，估計有赤字七億六千五百萬元，主要是花錢不當造成的問題。

查理貝克表示，麻州政府預算有赤字，是支出，不是收入有問題，他們在努力縮減赤字時，將維持他保護地方補助，避免加稅的承諾。

            過去十天來，他們花了不少時間逐項檢視預算，和各部門首長，行政財務長，州議員討論，希望了解2015會計年度的財政預算赤字，到底規模如何。他們最後決定，大概是七億六千五百萬元，其中有許多會變動部分，但大部份的財政收入符合預定標準，比2014會計年度增加了4.5%，總共約240億元。但支出部分，在州長根據去年情況做了刪減後，仍然會增加7.3%，遠比收入增加幅度大得多，也因此有這七億六千五百萬元赤字的問題。

            查理貝克說明，其中最大的問題來源是管理州政府的醫療聯繫者（Health Connector)，大約有二億三千萬元的赤字來自這一部分。為州府員工，退休者及市鎮員工買保險的團體保險局（Group Insurance Commission）是另一個赤字來源，約一億五千五百萬元。部門的收入是其中一個有趣項目，比預算基準少了一億八千萬元左右。

            長話短說，赤字大概有七億六千五百萬元，花費似乎是主要問題。稅賦收入和大家想的差不多，州政府顯然得敏感，小心地做些判斷與決定。

            不過，他們以前說過許多次，不會以刪減地方補助來解決這個問題，而是會和州議會合作，來找辦法，並為在二月底前遞交出一份2016會計年度預算好好的做準備。

            波士頓環球報昨日在報章上稱查理貝克政府面對的赤字，有薩摩雅（Samoa） 這國家的全國毛收入這麼大，和麻州納稅人基金會（Massachusetts Taxpayers Foundation）上個月估計得差不多。

            根據麻州行政辦公室的說法，導致預算赤字的最大原因是州政府和聯邦政府合作，為貧窮及殘障人士提供的醫療補助（Medicaid），包括為原本暫時，如今新加入醫療補助的人支付醫療保險費。約有三十萬不是經由雇主買保險的人，因州政府的醫療保險網站未能決定這些人是否符合補助條件，被放入臨時醫療補助項目中。

圖片說明：

            麻州州長查理貝克（中）十七日出席“351計劃（Project 351）“的結業式，向來自麻州351個市鎮的約四百名高中生說，馬丁路德金日最重要的意義之一是教人要記得歷史教訓。他還要求出席高中生們跟著他重複朗誦“我記得”這幾個字。（菊子攝）

            麻州州長查理貝克（中）十七日出席“351計劃（Project 351）“的結業式。 （菊子攝）

Robert Kraft允諾捐獎學金給 Project 351

新英格蘭愛國者球隊東主卡夫特（Robert Kraft）（左）十七日當著麻州州長查理貝克（右）的面，向將近四百名“351計劃“的社區服務大使宣佈，如果愛國者球隊十八日贏球，他就一年捐五千元，連續捐四年，給351計劃做獎學金，鼓勵學生服務社區。

                        他表示自己家在麻州，鄉梓情濃，三年前太太過世，讓他移情社區，希望能照顧更多青少年。

            卡夫特 在1994年以一億七千五百萬元買下新英格蘭愛國者隊。富比士雜誌（Forbes）估計，去年七月時，該球隊已成為全世界最有價值的八個球隊之一，估值廿六億元。

十八日的球賽結果為，新英格蘭愛國者隊以45:7，大勝印第安納波利斯（Indianpolis）的Colts隊。（圖與文：菊子）

李氏公所探訪耆英宗親

紐英崙李氏公所兩名主席，源沛（前右一）和炳輝（第三排右一），日前率同公所主要領導前往史東罕（Stoneham）市，拜會資深永久會員錫炎宗長，帶了他喜歡吃的中式食品，還送上賀年紅包，親切晤談公所失落在時間中的往年趣事，笑說起如今香火鼎盛，人丁興旺情景，幾個人越談越開心，渾然忘卻時間。

李氏主席源沛，炳輝等人表示，許多前輩宗親早年慷慨解囊，才讓公所得擁自置物業，他們作為晚輩，逢年過節問候，既是理所當然的禮數，也是代表公所向耆英宗親聊表支持的謝意。今後他們將更加勤於探望宗親，聯絡會員，加強宗親情誼。

（圖由李氏公所李奇舜提供）

BWH醫院傳槍響 心臟醫生中槍辭世 男嫌犯自戕

波士頓市布里吉罕婦女醫院（Brigham and Women’s）昨（廿）日驚傳槍響，一名心臟科醫師受重傷後死亡，行兇者自戕。

波士頓警察局長伊凡斯（William Evans）表示，昨日早上十一點左右，嫌犯抵達哈佛大學這教學醫院，上到二樓，指名要找戴維森（Michael J. Davidson）醫師。當戴維森踏進檢驗室時，嫌犯立即開了兩槍。十二小時後，育有三名子女，妻子是一名整形外科醫師的戴維森過世。

警方調查組副局長Robert Merner表示，初步調查顯示，開槍殺人的Stephen Pasceri，55歲，住在Millbury，因為他母親之前在該醫院接受的治療而和戴維森有些過節 。

Marguerite E. Pasceri十一月五日過世了。

警方在簡述事件時表示，Stephen Pasceri用 .40口徑手槍，像戴維森醫師開了兩槍。在槍響之前，檢驗室內傳出很大的響聲。

警方在Stephen Pasceri的身體旁邊發現一把手槍。

醫院院長Elizabeth Nabel博士週二晚深夜發信給院內同仁，指戴維森是一名傑出的醫師，行醫救人一向不遺餘力，他的生命竟在這樣可怕的方式中被奪走，實在令人震動。

戴維森四十四歲，住在衛斯理（Wellesley），2006年起在布里吉罕婦女醫院任心臟外科醫生，在哈佛大學醫學院當助理教授。1996年時，他從耶魯大學醫學院畢業，並在杜克大學醫學中心，以及布里吉罕醫院接受訓練。

布里吉罕醫院院長在寫給同仁的信中還透露，戴維森四十歲時，曾以跑馬拉松慶祝生日。他也是參與全美最先進心臟瓣膜手術的十二人團隊成員之一。

開槍的Stephen Pasceri和太太泰瑞莎住在Millbury的一棟兩層樓，殖民地風格的房子裡，在Milford是專長製造實驗室設備的華特斯公司（Waters Corp. )工作。

警方昨日在搜索進行時，封鎖了幾條街道，暫時關閉了布里吉圈（Brigham Circle）和健康街（Heath）之間的綠線地鐵。

Statement of Mayor Martin J. Walsh

BOSTON - Mayor Martin J. Walsh issued the following statement after learning of the death of Dr. Michael J. Davidson.

"I am deeply saddened to hear of the passing of Dr. Michael Davidson," Mayor Walsh said. "This tragedy is the result of a senseless act of violence that has no place in our City. My thoughts and prayers are with his family and his colleagues at Brigham and Women's Hospital during this difficult time."