查理貝克簽署2017麻州預算 389.2億元 增幅1.3%

Governor Baker Signs Fiscal Year 2017 Budget

Second consecutive budget supporting increases to local aid, education and opioid abuse prevention services

BOSTON – Governor Charlie Baker today signed the Fiscal Year 2017 (FY17) budget into law, providing a second consecutive year of increased state support for local aid, education and opioid abuse prevention services and without raising taxes or drawing down on the stabilization fund despite lower than expected tax revenues. The Baker-Polito Administration’s fiscally responsible plan represents spending growth of 1.3% and keeps spending in line with recently adjusted revenue predictions for the upcoming fiscal year. The $38.92 billion Fiscal Year 2017 budget makes critical investments in several core state services, our communities’ infrastructure and schools. The administration also filed a $177 million net supplemental budget today to address underfunded accounts and fully fund opioid abuse prevention services for the coming year.

“I am proud of our administration’s progress over the last two years to increase investments in education, local aid and efforts to fight the opioid epidemic, all without raising taxes,” said Governor Charlie Baker. “I appreciate the Legislature’s collaboration to address the lower-than-anticipated revenue growth over the past few months and I look forward to continuing our work together to ensure state government lives within its means for the taxpayers of Massachusetts.”

The FY17 budget continues funding Chapter 70 education aid to local schools at its highest level in history, $4.6 billion, providing an increase of at least $55 per pupil across the Commonwealth. The $116 million (2.6%) increase over Fiscal Year 2016 (FY16) spending represents a total increase of $227 million over the first two years of the Baker-Polito Administration.

“This budget continues to deliver on our commitment to our cities and towns with increased support for local aid and Chapter 70 education funding,” said Lieutenant Governor Karyn Polito. “Our administration has made important progress to strengthen our relationship with municipalities and I look forward to continuing to build on that bond using the tools provided in this budget.”

Funding in FY17 will continue the Baker-Polito Administration’s commitment to serve as a reliable partner for cities and towns by providing $1.022 billion in unrestricted local aid. The 4.3% increase over last year builds on the 3.6% increase in FY16, marking an 8% ($76 million) increase to cities and towns between FY16 and FY17. Funding in FY17 will also allow the Community Compact Cabinet, chaired by Lieutenant Governor Polito, to continue working collaboratively with cities and towns and provide much needed grants for local projects.

  

"The closing months of Fiscal Year 2016 were an important reminder that when we control our spending it allows us to adjust for unexpected changes," said Kristen Lepore, Secretary of the Executive Office for Administration and Finance. "The work we have done with the Legislature to align spending with revenue during the past two years while maintaining critical support for key priorities will continue to serve us well in the coming year."

The Commonwealth supported approximately $158 million in opioid abuse prevention services in FY16 following the recommendations of the Governor’s Opioid Working Group. The Governor also signed landmark legislation into law during FY16 to address the deadly opioid and heroin epidemic plaguing Massachusetts. The Commonwealth will continue ramping up efforts to combat opioid addiction by increasing support over 8% ($13 million) to a total of $171 million in FY17. This additional funding will support 2,150 adult residential recovery opioid beds, 150 more than last year.

The Department of Children and Families will be able to hire needed additional staff with $940 million in FY17, a $16.4 million increase over last year. The new hires will be a combination of social workers, social worker techs, regional substance abuse coordinators, regional quality assurance coordinators, program managers and supervisors to maintain a 5:1 social worker to supervisor ratio.

  

Link to FY17 Budget Documents

Link to FY17 Supplemental Budget Filing

Link to FY17 Budget

華美福利會 7/13 辦嘉年華會

Their Courage to be New Gala

Boston, MA – Food will definitely be the highlight of the Asian American Civic Association's 49th anniversary gala from 6-10 p.m. on Wednesday, July 13 at the Club Royale on 279 Tremont Street. Over 30 well-established and up-and-coming restaurants from the Boston area (mostly Asian) will be serving their best dishes in unlimited platefuls including a couple which have not yet opened in Boston! Those are Gaspara (Cuban sandwiches from the creator of Chicken & Rice Guys) and the upscale Hunanese cuisine restaurant, Sumiao's Hunan Kitchen. Most of these chefs are also immigrants and we've told their stories in the program book. 

Performers for the evening include dance groups such as Chun Jou Tsai (The Dream Project) and the Japanese group, Showa Boston. AACA's Youth Council will also perform Indian dance. Two AACA graduates will be awarded for college and career advancement. They both having inspiring stories to share about the struggles and successes they've experienced as new immigrants in Boston. Mayor Marty Walsh and Governor Charlie Baker will be attending to hand out the awards. There will be a VIP reception with them starting at 6:30. WCVB's lovely anchor Antoinette Antonio will be the MC. There will also be a live and silent auction. A signed Tom Brady jersey is one of the hot items on the list!  After enjoying high caliber live cultural performances, 500 guests will dance the night away to music played by a DJ in this hip nightclub setting. 

Established as a Chinese social club in 1967, the non-profit Asian American Civic Association now provides immigrants from over 80 countries and others with ESOL, social services, and job training. For more information, visit: http://aaca-boston.org/aaca-annual-gala-2016/. Hope to see you there! Please let me know if you can cover this or if you have any questions.

探討波士頓未來會議 7/13

MAYOR MARTIN J. WALSH AND BOSTON PUBLIC LIBRARY CELEBRATE CENTRAL LIBRARY RENOVATION OPENING

MAYOR MARTIN J. WALSH AND BOSTON PUBLIC LIBRARY CELEBRATE CENTRAL LIBRARY RENOVATION OPENING

BOSTON - Saturday, July 9, 2016 - Mayor Martin J. Walsh and the Boston Public Library celebrated the grand reopening of the Central Library Renovation today with a 10:30 a.m. ribbon cutting. The grand reopening marks the completion of the second and final phase of the renovation of the Central Library in Copley Square, which has been managed by the City of Boston's Public Facilities Department. This second phase of work includes updates to the lower level, first floor, mezzanine, and the building exterior of the Johnson building, which opened in 1972. The Central Library Renovation puts the Boston Public Library on the cutting edge of library services - reshaping and redefining the patron experience at a 21st century urban public library. "The reopening of the Central Library's Johnson building represents the investments we make in the future of all Boston residents, as our libraries are critical resources where residents gather to exchange and seek knowledge and information," said Mayor Walsh. "I'm grateful to all who contributed to the success of this project, and I look forward to Boston's residents and visitors enjoying the library's enhancements."  Highlights of the second phase of the renovation include removal of the granite plinths that covered the Johnson building windows - reconnecting the building to the street; a revamped lecture hall for author talks and programming, a new innovation center, new Mac and Windows computers for the public computing area, a hi-tech community learning center, an enlarged Fiction section and new ways of book browsing, digital stacks to explore the BPL's digitized collections, a state-of-the art Welcome Center, a digital imaging suite, and major landscape components along Boylston Street, including a civic table and new trees. The enterprise retail space at the corner of Boylston and Exeter Streets will feature The Newsfeed Café, opening mid-summer and operated by The Catered Affair, and a WGBH News satellite bureau and studio. Patrons will move seamlessly between the enterprise retail space and the Library. The public can learn more about the Johnson building's new features atwww.bpl.org/bplreno and by following the BPL on Twitter (@bplboston),Facebook, and Instagram (@bplboston). "This is one of the most significant milestones in Boston Public Library history. The Central Library Renovation has greatly expanded offerings for people of all ages , and the library has been truly transformed," said Chair of the Board of the Trustees of the Boston Public Library Robert E. Gallery. "The goal of the renovation was to reinvent both our building and our library services as inviting, dynamic, and modern, to be responsive to twenty first century urban civic life and to strengthen the Central Library and its connection to the City," said David Leonard, President of the Boston Public Library. "We are proud to welcome everyone, from near and far, to celebrate a new era of library service in Copley Square." "We worked closely with the Boston Public Library and the City of Boston to develop an open kind of library space - the Big Urban Room - which connects the most active library uses to the city street.  With over 210 feet of transparent frontage along Boylston Street and multiple entry points, this new space conveys a sense of welcome that captures the Boston Public Library mantra 'FREE TO ALL,'" said architects Cliff Gayley and William Rawn, principals from William Rawn Associates, Architect, Inc.  "The Boston Public Library is a major piece of our city's distinguished history and one that continues to provide services to thousands of residents in our community every day. We're honored to have completed this beautiful renovation featuring complex engineering and design that will be enjoyed for generations to come," said Matthew Consigli, President of Consigli Construction Co., Inc. The first phase of the renovation, which opened in February 2015, included a colorful Children's Library with books and media, early literacy and story time space, a tween corner, and flexible program space; Teen Central, a distinctive and media-friendly space with books, digital lab, media lounge, a dedicated quiet zone, and homework and hangout booths; refreshed and reorganized nonfiction collections and reference services; and an adult reading area and workspace for individuals and groups. The Central Library Renovation project is funded by the City of Boston capital budget at $78 million. In addition to the City of Boston's Public Facilities Department, the project team includes  PMA Consultants as the Owner's Project Manager, Consigli Construction Co., Inc. is the contractor, and the project architect is William Rawn Associates, Architects, Inc.

北昆市小企業故事遊 7/14

Story Tour of North Quincy Small Businesses When Thursday July 14, 2016 from 9:30 AM to 12:30 PM EDT Add to Calendar Where Next to Burke's Seafood 61 Billings Rd North Quincy, MA 02171 Driving Directions Free public parking behind Burke's Seafood.  Public Transportation: Accessible by Red Line (North Quincy Stop)   For accessibility needs, contact Renato Castelo at 617-933-0706 or rcastelo@mapc.org Friends, Small businesses are essential to local economies, and behind every local entrepreneur is a story - often of adversity, growth, and innovation. Join us for the North Quincy Story Tour to hear first-hand stories of entrepreneurship; explore North Quincy's diversity of people, products and services; and meet special guest Nam Pham, Massachusetts Assistant Secretary of Business Development.  Register Now! Schedule 9:30 a.m.   Registration and light refreshments 10:00 a.m. Welcome and opening remarks from                  Quincy Mayor Thomas P. Koch 10:30 a.m. Small Business Story Tour 11:35 a.m. Lunch 12:00 p.m. Participant dialogue 12:30 p.m. Conclusion  We look forward to seeing you at the event! Sincerely, Maureen Geary Economic Development Coordinator, City of Quincy 617-376-1266 Renato Castelo Community Engagement Specialist, MAPC 617-933-0706 *The Story Tour is sponsored by the Executive Office of Housing and Economic Development, Quincy's Economic Development Department, and the Metropolitan Area Planning Council.

Governor Baker Signs Transgender Anti-Discrimination Legislation

Governor Baker Signs Transgender Anti-Discrimination Legislation

BOSTON – Governor Charlie Baker today signed compromise legislation, An Act relative to transgender anti-discrimination (S. 2407), to extend protections against discrimination for gender identity to any place of public accommodation, with the Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination (MCAD) adopting regulations or policies to enforce its provisions. The bill, passed by the House and Senate this week, further directs the Massachusetts attorney general’s office to issue regulations or guidance for referring to law enforcement any person whose assertion of a gender identity is for an improper purpose.

“No one should be discriminated against in Massachusetts because of their gender identity,” said Governor Baker.  “This compromise legislation extends additional protections to the Commonwealth’s transgender community, and includes language to address the public safety concerns expressed by some by requiring the Attorney General to issue regulations to protect against people abusing the law.”

“We thank the Legislature for sending us a compromise proposal that assures additional protections from discrimination based on gender identity to Massachusetts’ transgender community and provides for guidance from the Attorney General to address issues of public safety that have been raised by some,” said Lt. Governor Polito.

The legislation provides for the MCAD and attorney general’s office to report their recommendations, regulations or guidance by September 1^st, with full implementation of the law taking effect on October 1, 2016.

波市長發表聲明憂慮針對警察的暴力

STATEMENT FROM MAYOR MARTIN J. WALSH

BOSTON - Friday, July 8, 2016 - My thoughts are with the Dallas officers who were killed last night, and their families, and I'm praying for fast recovery for the injured. I unequivocally condemn violence against law enforcement officers. Whatever motivated this horrific attack, we should do all we can as a community and a nation to prevent it from inflaming existing tensions around police interactions. As Martin Luther King Jr. said, violence solves no problem but is "a descending spiral ending in destruction for all." We can and we must work together to end all the deadly violence afflicting our country.

Tammy Duckworth’s Statement on Dallas Police Shootings

[WASHINGTON, DC] – Following last night’s killing of five Dallas law enforcement officers and the wounding of another seven, Congresswoman Tammy Duckworth (IL-08) issued the following statement:

“Last night’s coordinated ambush on Dallas law enforcement officers is an atrocity. It will only serve to distract from and undermine the efforts of peaceful protesters seeking an end to the needless violence that took the lives of Alton Sterling and Philando Castile this week. The heartless, calculated and unjustifiable murder of five officers—the very people who put their lives on the line to protect our streets—and wounding of seven others is especially tragic given the Dallas Police Department’s leadership in improving community relations, transparency and supporting the rights of peaceful protesters.”

“Even as last night’s chaos was still unfolding, the brave officers being targeted remained in harm’s way to protect their fallen colleagues and help save protesters from bursts of gunfire. The most responsible—and best—thing we can do to honor their actions and those we lost is remain calm and not rush to judgment as we continue to learn all the facts. Let us be vigilant in our words to be sure we don’t escalate this tragic situation or inflame emotions any further. Now is the time for our nation to come together and unite against all hateful violence. My condolences go out to the families of officers killed and my prayers are with those wounded and still in surgery.”