Kim Janey 臨別新政 Bolling市政大樓2022起購餐限方圓半里內

MAYOR JANEY ANNOUNCES LOCAL FOOD PURCHASING POLICY TO HELP SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS The new procurement requirement applies to municipal departments based out of the City’s Bolling Municipal Building, the headquarters for Boston Public Schools

 

BOSTON - Monday, November 15, 2021 - Mayor Kim Janey, in partnership with the Equity and Inclusion Cabinet, Economic Development Cabinet, and Boston Public Schools (BPS), announced a new food vendor purchasing policy meant to boost business for local entrepreneurs. Starting on January 1, 2022, municipal departments and divisions based out of the City of Boston’s Bruce M. Bolling Municipal Building will be required to procure food for events, lunches, and office functions from businesses located within a half-mile radius of the Roxbury building or within the neighborhood boundary of the site of the event. “This vendor policy marks an important opportunity to keep City dollars in our neighborhoods,” said Mayor Janey. “This will improve equitable economic growth for our small businesses, while also better connecting our City employees to the communities they serve.”  This policy memo is targeted to help the City of Boston leverage its purchasing power to the benefit of the communities in which it operates. The policy will assist in providing local food businesses with the opportunity to obtain pay-per-purchase orders and smaller contracts for food procurement for city events and lunches.  The Bolling Municipal Building, named for Boston's first African American President of the Boston City Council, is the headquarters for the offices of Boston Public Schools. The City will assist in this implementation by providing City departments with a preferred list of local vendors by address and neighborhood. "In order to grow a community, you must grow the businesses in that area,” said Cheryl Straughter, owner and chef of Soleil in Roxbury’s Nubian Square. “This policy is a great segue for that to happen. No community can survive without thriving businesses. One goes hand in hand with the other.” “Supporting small businesses, including local food entrepreneurs, is an important part of Boston’s economic recovery and growth,” said Midori Morikawa, Chief of Economic Development. “This purchasing program advances our efforts to expand access to economic opportunity in city neighborhoods.” This pilot presents an opportunity to direct more than $150,000 a year to local businesses, for BPS catering opportunities alone, based on budget estimates. This local food purchasing policy will be studied for expansion to other City of Boston departments. “Boston Public Schools is proud to support local businesses that represent the heart and soul of our neighborhoods,” said BPS Superintendent Dr. Brenda Cassellius. “As our staff works every day to nurture the future leaders of Boston, we can also support the local economies in the communities where they live.” This procurement policy builds on the City’s work to include diverse, small businesses in the City’s economic growth. In October, Mayor Janey announced LGBTQ+-owned businesses are being included in the City’s Supplier Diversity program.  This initiative also supports some of the objectives of the Good Food Purchasing Standards passed in 2019 which requires the City of Boston to source food procurement contracts with locally-owned small to midsize food processing operations. “Catering and smaller procurements provide a low barrier to entry for City contracting to businesses that are the backbone of our neighborhoods and commercial districts,” said Celina Barrios-Millner, Chief of Equity and Inclusion. “Through this new policy, the City of Boston will continue to build working relationships with local and diverse businesses and ensure that we are supporting our vital local economies.”

Higher Heights for America PAC Endorses Danielle Allen

Higher Heights for America PAC Endorses Danielle Allen

Boston, MA -- Higher Heights for America — the only PAC exclusively dedicated to electing progressive Black women at the federal and statewide level — endorsed Danielle Allen for Governor of Massachusetts last Thursday. 

“I’m honored to be endorsed by Higher Heights for America and proud to be part of the team building the road to executive leadership by black women,” said Democratic Gubernatorial Candidate Danielle Allen. “I’m excited to embark on this partnership with Higher Heights as our campaign drives transformation in our democracy by proving it can deliver for all of us.”

昆士、Braintree兩市數百高中生走出校門 抗議校內種族歧視

NBC10記者在推特上貼出學生們擠到Braintree鎮政府大樓前抗議情景。

               (Boston Orange 綜合報導) 上星期五的11月12日，昆士市有數百名昆士高中學生集體離校，抗議校方對校內種族仇視氣氛處理不當，今日(11月15) 另一所昆士學校也有學生要走出學校傳聞，然後南岸的腦樹市 (Braintree) 真有近300名高中學生走上街頭。

             一名參加腦樹市遊行的高中生表示，看到學校內的行政人員及教職員對校內發生的數起種族歧視事件，包括使用N自，嘲笑黑人老師的口音，以及針對有色人種的輕微攻擊，言語詆毀等地遲緩反應後，覺得他們有採取行動的必要。

             他說，「他們知道這情況，但他們就是不做任何事」。

             這些學生走出校門，走上街頭，主要目的是促使成人世界、學校領導重視校園內存在著種族歧視氣氛與行為。

             星期五那天，昆士高中的學生們，一邊吟唱著「沒正義，無和平 (No Justice， no peace)」，一邊從學校走向警察局，市政府，以及北昆士高中，繞著學校樓宇轉了幾圈，才散去。

             在學生們走出校園事件的2天前，許多昆士高中學生都收到一段約25秒長手機視頻，顯示著一名白人高中生，用了帶族裔意味詞語，表達他恨黑人。這段視頻還是有人加了一段話，點出名字的說「別讓我在街上抓到你」，再傳出去的。

             Point Webster 中學校方人員在週五那天，也發現有一段3名8年級學生針對該校同學使用種族歧視語言的視頻，在外流傳，校內並有些學生打算週一(今日)離校抗議。

             該校校長Christine Barrett在週日寫信給學生家長，表示大家都為這事很感困擾，但為學生安全，將不准學生離開學校，希望家長向學生們強調這一點。

             昆士市公校總監Kevin Mulvey在週日(14日)也發信，通知兩校家長及學生，說明將不准許學生們再次從學校走出去。昆士高中將採取紀律行動，拍攝該視頻的學生將面對長期的嚴重後果。

            他說，學校系統知道學生抗議的重要性，尤其這是學生們出於對學校社區內發生種族歧視有嚴肅顧慮的行動，但他們不能繼續容許學生離校，錯失寶貴的接受教育時間。他強調，沒有家長或監護人的同意，學生將不准離校。

             昆士市似乎近來發生多宗種族歧視事件，包括昆士高中和北昆士高中的體育運動學生，在體育競爭的遮蓋下，分享含有性騷擾及仇恨語言的視頻、音頻。Kevin Mulvey在11月5日發給學校社區的信中表示，這些不當行為讓受到針對的成人、學生，以及整個昆士公校，社區都感到非常不安。

             中央中學校長Rick DeCristofaro, Jr.也在10月6日寫信給家長，稱校內廁所發現帶仇恨、種族歧視的塗鴉，學校將不容許這樣的事情發生，涉及不當行為的學生將需負責，受紀律處分。

             9月28日時，西南中學也有一個廁所出現種族歧視塗鴉。校長Derek C. Lakey也說，這樣的行為不會被容忍。

             上學年的3月，也有一段被人放到社交媒體上的視頻顯示，一名昆士高中學生遭遇同學有針對性的性騷擾及仇恨語言，令人不安。

Baker-Polito Administration Announces Grants to Support Habitat Management Across the Commonwealth

Baker-Polito Administration Announces Grants to Support Habitat Management Across the Commonwealth

BOSTON – Seeking to complement ongoing habitat management efforts on state lands and promote opportunities for outdoor recreation, the Baker-Polito Administration today announced it has awarded  $184,400 in state grant funds to eight organizations and municipalities to improve wildlife habitat on 276 acres of land within the Commonwealth. Now in its seventh year, the Department of Fish and Game’s (DFG) MassWildlife Habitat Management Grant Program has provided financial assistance to private and municipal landowners of conserved lands to improve and manage habitat for wildlife deemed in greatest conservation need and for certain game species.

“The Commonwealth’s investment in wildlife habitat enhancement projects greatly benefit our native wildlife while simultaneously improving recreational opportunities for people who enjoy outdoor activities, such as fishing, hunting, and wildlife observation,” said Governor Charlie Baker. “Improving habitat through active restoration and management also creates a more climate-resilient habitat, an important adaptation strategy as we confront climate change.”

“The Habitat Management Grant Program provides municipalities and conservation organizations with vital funding that is important to properly manage wildlife habitat to the benefit of both wildlife and people,” said Lieutenant Governor Karyn Polito. “These groups do not have all the funds necessary to conduct critical habitat management activities, and our Administration is proud to partner with them to help fill that gap.”

While the DFG’s Division of Fisheries and Wildlife (MassWildlife) and other conservation organizations have made unprecedented investments in land acquisition in Massachusetts, land protection alone is not enough to guarantee the persistence of the Commonwealth’s diverse wildlife. Investment in habitat restoration and management is needed on public and private lands across the state. To address this need, the Administration has substantially increased investment in habitat management on state wildlife lands and are committed to working with partners to promote these efforts on other conserved lands across the state. The MHMGP program encourages landowners to engage in active habitat management on their properties to benefit wildlife.

“The Department of Fish and Game’s active habitat management program enhances wildlife restoration and outdoor recreational opportunities on more than 225,000 acres of wildlife management area lands overseen by MassWildlife,” said Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary Kathleen Theoharides. “These projects receiving funding complement that work, which is important for common and rare wildlife and plants, and necessary for ecological resiliency and diversity.”

“Most forests and other wildlife habitats in Massachusetts are not state-owned, and we rely on conservation organizations, cities and towns, private landowners, and other partners to help us manage habitat to benefit all wildlife,” said Department of Fish and Game Commissioner Ron Amidon. “This program provides us with the opportunity to expand our habitat management footprint, directly benefiting wildlife, sportsmen and women, and other people who enjoy outdoor recreation.”

“MassWildlife’s Habitat Management Program focuses on habitat conservation for less common birds, mammals, reptiles, and amphibians, because the kinds of habitats they need are less common,” said Mark Tisa, MassWildlife Director. “As the agency responsible for the conservation of all wildlife and their habitats for the benefit and enjoyment of all Massachusetts’ residents and visitors, this program helps the Baker-Polito Administration both partner with others to conserve rare and common wildlife and enhance everyone’s connection to the state’s wildlife and wild places.”

The following eight projects will receive MassWildlife Habitat Management Grants:

• Dunstable – Zoo New England, in conjunction with the Town of Dunstable, has been awarded $11,289 to conduct scrub-shrub habitat improvement work to benefit rare species at the Pierce Town Forest.
• Falmouth – The Town of Falmouth will receive $20,587 to improve sandplain grasslands at Coonamessett Reservation.
• Fitchburg – Mass Audubon has been awarded $50,000 to improve pitch pine forest at the Flat Rock Reservation.
• Groton – The Town of Groton will receive $29,050 to create and improve open field and shrub habitat at Priest Hill.
• Lenox – The Town of Lenox, in conjunction with the Berkshire Natural Resources Council, has been awarded $26,810 to control the hardy kiwi vine at Kennedy Park and adjacent properties.
• Nantucket – The Nantucket Conservation Foundation has been awarded $13,024 to manage sandplain barrens and heathlands on the Middle Moors property.
• Sheffield – The Sheffield Land Trust will receive $16,040 to conduct brush hogging and invasive species control at Ashley Falls Woods.
• South Lee – South Lee Associates, in conjunction with the Berkshire Natural Resources Council, will receive $17,400 to control invasive species and improve floodplain forest habitats on multiple Housatonic River properties.

“Congratulations to the towns of Dunstable and Groton for receiving grant awards from the MassWildlife Habitat Management program,” said Senator Edward Kennedy (D-Lowell). “The funding provided for habitat improvement will dually benefit the citizens of these towns and the local fauna that call these habitats home. I want to extend my congratulations to all those involved in the grant application process, your hard work and dedication brought these projects to fruition.”

“Western Mass is home to some of the most precious, and vital natural lands that provide essential ecosystems and clean air,” said Senator Adam Hinds (D-Pittsfield). “Protecting these lands from invasive species must continue to be a top priority.”

“The funds from the MassWildlife Habitat management grant will be instrumental for both Kennedy Park and areas along the Housatonic River,” said Rep. Smitty Pignatelli (D-Lenox). “The Berkshires are known for our natural landscapes, and the improvements made possible by this grant will allow our residents to continue to access and enjoy these beautiful natural landscapes for generations to come.”

AG HEALEY CO-LEADS MULTISTATE COALITION IN SUPPORT OF FEDERAL EFFORT TO PRIORITIZE WORKPLACE RIGHTS AND SAFETY IN IMMIGRATION ENFORCEMENT

 AG HEALEY CO-LEADS MULTISTATE COALITION IN SUPPORT OF FEDERAL EFFORT TO PRIORITIZE WORKPLACE RIGHTS AND SAFETY IN IMMIGRATION ENFORCEMENT

BOSTON – Attorney General Maura Healey today co-led a coalition of 11 attorneys general — as well as eight local prosecutors and labor enforcement agencies across the country — in a letter in support of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) plan to change its worksite enforcement practices to support enforcement of wage protections, workplace safety, labor rights, and other employment laws and standards. In the letter, the coalition highlights several key recommendations to ensure that DHS’ immigration enforcement policies and practices facilitate the ability of state and local labor enforcement officials to advance fair labor standards.

“Ensuring safe conditions and fair treatment for our workers, regardless of immigration status, remains a top priority for my office and we are encouraged by DHS’ efforts to prioritize these protections,” said AG Healey. “I am proud to lead this effort with my colleagues across the country in making sure that our nation’s workplaces follow the rules and protect the rights and dignity of all workers.”

State and local labor enforcement agencies investigate, prosecute, and adjudicate thousands of work-related claims against employers who illegally suppress labor standards and intimidate workers from exercising their rights. The key role played by state and local entities in labor enforcement makes them indispensable partners in any effort to develop immigration enforcement protocols that prioritize the need to protect the rights of workers. Further, immigrants make up a significant proportion of the workforce in the coalition’s respective states and cities. Many vital industries depend on immigrant workers to meet their labor demands and provide critical services and goods to our communities. At the same time, immigrant workers, especially those who are unauthorized to work in the United States, are particularly susceptible to abusive and unlawful labor conditions, and are especially vulnerable when bringing these violations to light. As a result, workers can be reluctant or even decline to pursue a case or testify in a legal proceeding out of fear that their employer would respond by reporting them or their family members to immigration authorities.

In the letter, the coalition — in an effort to advance the mutual goals of ensuring workplaces across the nation comply with labor laws, protecting working conditions, and standing up for the rights and dignity of workers — urges DHS to consider a number of recommendations in its new effort, including to:

• Create a clear process for prosecutorial discretion, including deferred action, to proactively support workers cooperating with labor law enforcement agencies;
• Make it explicit that state and local agencies that enforce workplace laws can certify S, T, and U Visas;
• Limit enforcement based on potentially retaliatory tips from employers and inform the public that DHS’ hotline should not be used for such purposes;
• Establish clear points of contact for state and local labor enforcement agencies to quickly address concerns and support effective communication with DHS;
• Take steps to ensure immigrant workers and communities have access to information about their rights and protections;
• Support private actions to facilitate the enforcement of labor laws, extending protection to immigrant victims of and witnesses to labor violations;
• Bar immigration enforcement activities at courthouses or state or local labor departments; and
• Provide state and local labor enforcement agencies with access to witnesses held in civil immigration detention.

The letter, co-led by AG Healey and the attorneys general of California, Illinois, New York as well as the Seattle Offices of Labor Standards and Immigrant and Refugee Affairs, and the City of New York Department of Consumer and Worker Protection, is also joined by the attorneys general of Delaware, New Jersey, Michigan, Minnesota, New Jersey, New Mexico, Washington, and the District of Columbia; the Washington State Department of Labor and Industries, Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office (MA), Washtenaw County Prosecutor’s Office (MI), Chicago Office of Labor Standards, and City of Philadelphia.

A copy of the letter is available here. 

塔芙茨醫療中心接受第三劑新冠疫苗接種預約

波士頓市黑人傳奇人物獲表揚 Mel King 廣場揭牌

Mel King (前中)現已高齡92，波士頓代市長Kim Janey在告別市長職位前，向這位波士頓市傳奇人物獻上以他命名的廣場。(周菊子攝)

 

(Boston Orange 周菊子波士頓綜合報導)11月12日早上11點，波士頓南端哥倫布街和Yamouth街交界處，擠滿了人，都來恭喜現年92歲的波士頓傳奇人物Mel King，有了個以他名字命名的廣場牌匾。

波士頓南端 Mel King 廣場牌13日揭牌。(周菊子攝)

                    曾任波士頓市長，也是波士頓市現任第二區市議員愛德華費林(Ed Flynn)父親的Ray Flynn，和即將於16日把她正代理中的波士頓市長職位交出去的Kim Janey，以及許許多多熟知Mel King的近百名社區人士，圍繞著這個角落，歡呼，以注目禮慶祝 “Mel King 廣場“牌匾的揭曉儀式。

聯邦參議員Ayanna Pressley，麻州眾議員Jon Santiago，Liz Miranda，波士頓市不分區市議員中現任的Julia Mejia，候任的Ruthzee Louijeune，以及傳聞中正在爭取擔任下屆市議會議長的市議員Ricardo Arroyo，Kenzie Bok等政要，也都夾雜在人群中。

波士頓代市長Kim Janey說，人們稱Mel King 是開路先鋒，現世傳奇，國家瑰寶，但最重要的是他留傳給人們的愛心。1983她還是名青少年時，就曾為Mel King的競選市長當義工。她宣佈，這天是 “Mel Kim日”。

Mel Kim在波士頓市一直被人當作民間傳奇來彼此傳頌，不只因為他曾經當選麻州眾議員，曾於1979和1983，二度參選波士頓市市長，分別名列第三，第二名，更重要的是他熱心為社區服務，曾為抗議波士頓市政府要在南端一塊土地上建停車場，不但成功發動人們到現為波士頓市計畫發展局(BPDA)的辦公室靜坐，次日還帶動400多人到預定建停車場，房屋被夷為平地的Dartmouth和哥倫布街(Clumbus)交界處，佔領了那個空間，搭起帳棚，蓋起木製棚屋，還放出歡迎圍觀者進”帳篷城”的巨大招牌。

在曾任波士頓市長的Ray Flynn (後中)親自出席道賀中，波士頓代市長 Kim Janey(前右)送上
「Mel King 日」的表揚狀給Mel Kim (前中)。(周菊子攝)

1988年4月30日，在這塊土地上建成的一棟住宅大樓，就被命名為「帳篷城」，以誌記當年的抗議。

Mel King是1928年在南端 (South End)出生的波士頓人，畢業於John D. O’Bryant數理學校，1950年獲南加大數學學士，接著再獲波士頓州立學院碩士學位後，回了母校當數學老師。

1953，Mel King擔任南端安置房「林肯屋」的男孩工作主任，也和聯合南端安置地 (United South End Settlements) 合作，為街頭幫派提供資源。然後他創立「聯合南端社區大會 (Community Assembly for a United South End)」，協助地方居民發聲。

波士頓代市長Kim Janey宣佈11月13日是Mel King日。(周菊子攝)

1967年，Mel King成為大波士頓城市聯盟 (Urban League of Greater Boston) 主任，為進門的人提供教育，就業，以及其他服務。他也成為地方上的活躍份子。

1973年，Mel King當選為代表波士頓市的麻州眾議員，並服務至1982年。次年當時在位的波士頓市長懷特因爭執退選，Mel King成為了波士頓市第一位打進大選的黑人市長候選人。最後是Raymond Flynn當選了，但Mel King成為了黑人族群的模範，鼓勵了後代許多黑人活躍份子追隨她們的夢想。

華人前進會主席李素影，麻州首名華裔律師譚道源 (Harry M. Dow) 之子譚國民，曾任塔芙茨大學公民服務學院主任的麥小瓊等人，這天也都出席活動，向Mel King致意。李素影表示，當年她們為波士頓華埠民眾爭取權益時，Mel King等黑人團體曾大方協助，波士頓地區亞裔和黑人社區的情誼其實奠基深遠。(更新版)

聯邦參議員Ayanna Pressley(右)也出席了揭牌儀式。(周菊子攝)

近百人圍在南端街頭，出席Mel King廣場牌匾揭牌儀式。(周菊子攝)

華人前進會主席李素影(左)和Mel King夫人已是多年舊識。(周菊子攝)

聯邦參議員Warren參觀技校 討論環境正義工作機會

聯邦參議員Elizabeth Warren(右三)、波士頓代市長Kim Janey(右二)等人參觀
傑明法蘭克林科技學校 (Benjamin Franklin Institute of Technology)熱泵技師課程。(周菊子攝)

ˊ             (Boston Orange 周菊子綜合報導) 麻州聯邦參議員Elizabeth Warren和白宮國家氣候顧問Gina McCarthy，波士頓代市長Kim Janey等人，12日近午時分，參觀班傑明法蘭克林科技學校 (Benjamin Franklin Institute of Technology) ，討論不分黨派的基礎建設法 (infrastructure bill)通過後，麻州可能收到90億元，該怎麼充分利用。

             美國總統拜登 (Joe Biden)預定15日，下週一時會簽署通過這總額計1兆元的基礎建設法，麻州估計將從這筆錢中得到90億元，並指定用在修橋補路，改善公共交通，發展電動車充電站網路，擴張網際網路，對抗氣候變遷，改良機場的基礎設施，更換鉛管等等。

             Elizabeth Warren和Gina McCarthy，Kim Janey，還有麻州環境能源長Rebecca L Tepper，麻州參議員陳翟蘇妮(Sonia Chang Diaz)，麻州眾議員Jon Santiago，以及今年7月才上任的班傑明法蘭克林科技學校校長Aisha Francis博士等將近10人，12日中午特地到班傑明法蘭克林科技學校，參觀"供暖、通風、空調和製冷 (HVAC &R)證書課程的上課情形，討論麻州未來的綠色能源工作機會。

             由於”基礎建設法案”有40%是指定要撥給邊緣化社區，以作為環境正義的投資，聯邦參議員Elizabeth Warren和Gina McCarthy特地進班傑明法蘭克林科技學院舉行圓桌討論會，並為拜登總統計畫推動，預定下週交由聯邦眾議院討論的”更好的重建 (Build Back Better)”法案，爭取支持。

             該課程老師John Terasconi和學生示範使用地熱能源，或使用太陽能板在音樂會中使用，就不需要化石燃料來溫暖房間的熱泵。他說這種熱泵和其他清潔能源的使用，讓受過訓練技師的市場需求更為強勁。去年該項目的學生人數就增加了一倍。

             參加圓桌討論會的人和熱泵安裝，操作學員簡短會面。

             麻州為達到減碳目的，原本希望在2030年之前，安裝100萬台這類設備，但迄今距離目標還很遠。