吳弭市長上任第一天向市議會要800萬元好讓23、28、29號巴士免費2年

Mayor Michelle Wu Takes Steps to Expand Fare-Free Bus Service  On first full day in office, Mayor Wu files an appropriations request for $8 million to make the 23, 28 and 29 bus lines free for two-years, expanding groundbreaking pilot

 

Boston, MA - Wednesday, November 17, 2021 - Mayor Michelle Wu today filed an appropriation order with the City Council for $8 million in federal funds to eliminate fares on the 23, 28 and 29 bus routes for a two-year period. Mayor Wu will seek to implement this program in close collaboration with the City Council and MBTA beginning early next year. This program builds on the 4-month fare-free 28 bus pilot program helmed by Mayor Janey. While overall bus and subway ridership is at 53 percent of pre-pandemic weekday ridership, the free 28 bus saw ridership surge to 92% of pre-pandemic levels, making it the most popular in the system. The 23 Bus line (Ashmont to Dorchester Center, Grove Hall & Ruggles) the 28 Bus line (Mattapan Square, up Blue Hill Ave, to Nubian Square & Ruggles) and the 29 Bus line (Mattapan Square, up Blue Hill Ave, to Jackson Square) each serves a diverse ridership, and each intersects with Blue Hill Ave, which has been identified by Livable Streets Alliance as one of the corridors that should be prioritized for improvements to increase reliability and boost ridership. The two-year investment will allow the City of Boston and transit partners to measure the benefits of fare-free bus service, such as increased ridership, faster buses, less traffic, and business development along the route; ensure that word spreads across neighborhoods, and provide the opportunity for riders to integrate fare-free lines into their daily routines. The program also sets the foundation for Mayor Wu to build regional and state-level momentum for fare-free public transit, starting with buses. “I am excited to take this key step towards a brighter transit future. Building on the fare-free 28 bus pilot created by Mayor Janey, we will expand access to transit across our neighborhoods, connecting more people to their schools, places of worship, small businesses, and community centers––and easing congestion on our bus riders and drivers alike. With stronger ties between our communities, we’ll reshape the boundaries of what’s possible in our city,” said Mayor Michelle Wu. "This expansion of fare-free bus service is an important example of how municipal leadership can not only immediately improve the lives of Bostonians, but also set us on a path to a more just transit system for future generations. Fare-free bus service is an essential step in turning the page on a transit system that's been overly dependent on fares, building momentum for treating public transit as a public good and recognizing the MBTA as the economic engine of our entire region,” said former Massachusetts Secretary of Transportation Jim Aloisi. “The answer to the question of how free transportation will work is: step by step, with an implementation that allows for fully examining the process. By adding two more routes to Mayor Janey’s initial pilot project of Route 28, Mayor Wu is addressing the issues of equity along with analyzing how more productive routes can be with both dedicated lanes and free bus service. With free service, we'll grow ridership and make our city more fair for everyone!" said Tim Lasker, President of OPEIU Local 453. “The fare-free bus pilot on these specific routes is a win-win-win for our community! Riders on these three bus routes will have one less thing to worry about: the fare. Lower transportation costs will put money back into the pockets of riders while leading to many other intangible benefits, like improved air quality––particularly important in these communities, which have higher than average asthma rates. We are hoping that public transit will be free for all in the near future,” said Mela Bush Miles, Director of Transit Oriented Development at Alternatives for Community and Environment (ACE). “As someone who has been riding the T for 30 years, this news is phenomenal! The 23 and 29 have been key, lifeline routes for over a century. The neighborhoods they serve shall benefit tremendously. Students, shoppers, and seniors, among others, will no longer need to second-guess their mobility,” said Stuart Spina, transit advocate and member of the T Riders Union. “We are thrilled to hear about the expansion and extension of the free buses pilot in Boston--and we are proud that Boston has become a national leader in the free transit movement. What the City of Boston is demonstrating is that we don’t need dozens of studies and public meetings to advance free transit. The best method is to simply move forward with pilots, measure their success and then continue to expand the effort. The real winners of free transit are the thousands of riders who use the 28, 29 and -- especially 23 who’s riders will also experience faster and more reliable bus service on the newly launched center running bus lane on Columbus Ave. We hope that other municipalities in the region will join Boston to advance additional free bus pilots across the region - and that the MBTA will continue to be a strong collaborator in this effort,” said Stacy Thompson, Executive Director of Livable Streets Alliance.

吳弭就職波士頓市長 從隱形到掌權 籲全民協力把市府帶到每個角落

吳弭宣誓就任波士頓市市長。(周菊子攝)

                  (Boston Orange 周菊子波士頓報導) 在數百民眾，聯邦及州市政要的注目、歡呼中，吳弭 (Michelle Wu)，一名年僅36歲的華裔移民第二代，11月16日這天，在波士頓市議會議事廳接掌了波士頓市的最權威位置，市長。

             吳弭政府從11月16日的11點半多，吳弭在市府大冊上簽下大名後，正式開始運作。

             吳弭的就職典禮有波士頓公校高中生Eliana Rivas帶領宣誓效忠美國，黑人牧師Arlene O. Hall博士祝禱，代市長Kim Janey致卸任詞，韓裔法官Myong J. Joun主持宣誓。吳弭的丈夫Connor Pewaski，和她的2個兒子Blaise， Cass為她捧持1782年出版，被稱為「革命聖經」的Aitken聖經，讓她按著宣誓就任。

左起，麻州州長Charlie Baker，聯邦參議員Ed Markey，Elizabeth Warren，Kim Janey，
吳弭，她的2個兒子，丈夫 Connor Pewaski等人在就職典禮中坐在第一排。
(周菊子攝)

             在長約8分鐘的就職演說中，吳弭呼籲每一個人都加入服務社區行列，為更大改變奠定基礎。她說，她們會從把小事做對，把市政府帶出市政府大樓，一區一區，一條街一條街的帶進鄰里社區開始，來處理波士頓市面對的最大挑戰。

             吳弭點名感謝聯邦參議員Elizabeth Warren，Ed Markey，聯邦眾議員Ayanna Pressley，麻州州長查理貝克(Charlie Baker)，波士頓卸任代市長Kim Janey，以及多名州市議員出席，恭喜5名新科市議員Ruthzee Louijeune、Erin Murphy、Brian Worrell、Kendra Hicks、Tania Fernandes Anderson當選，笑說她簡直等不及要到一月份的就職典禮才來慶祝。

吳弭交接團隊的共同主席，左起，Charlotte Golar Richie，Jay Gonzalez也當然在做。
(周菊子攝)

             在會場中的華人，屈指可數，除了吳弭的2個妹妹之外，有李保華，李超榮，Jeffrey Why，李素影，陳仕維，以及西洛士百利，Braintree市的2名支持者。

             吳弭在致詞時強調，「當我們讓市政府大樓更容易接近，我們就都提升了」，「當我們以許多語言溝通，我們就都了解得更多」，「當我們把市政府的權利和鄰里及社區的力量連起來，我們就會看到我們的城市有多少可能性」。

亞美社區發展協會(ACDC)董事長李保華，陳貽每夫婦坐在貴賓席。(周菊子攝)

             吳弭說，波士頓市奠基於革命性的承諾，事情不必像它們一直以來的那樣。「我們」現在可以在根基於正義與機會的情況下，為家庭、世代畫出一條新道路。

           吳弭以一名住在麥特潘(Mattapan)的洛士百利學院(Roxbury)學生發現，波士頓市長讓28號巴士免費，他從此不必為了向母親要2塊錢搭車而頭痛為例，直指那是打開正義及機會之門，改變了該學生的生命。

             市政府就需要為人們的未來而戰，為會場中的Burke高中生，為諸如她兒子Blaise、Cass，以及Ellie、Addie等的未來世代努力。

吳弭競選市長時，在幕後掌管財務的麻州論壇執行長李超榮，也和兒子一起坐在貴賓席。
(周菊子攝)

             吳弭坦言，當年她第一次踏進波士頓市政府大樓時，感覺自己有如隱形了，被那有如迷宮的水泥長廊，令人恐懼的檢查站，給人壓迫感的櫃台吞噬了，也想起她的移民家庭試圖遠離像這樣的地方。

           可是，也正是她的家庭掙扎把她帶到了波士頓前市長萬寧路(Tom Menino)，以及其幕僚長Mitch Weiss那兒去實習，然後在過去這10年間有了這麼一個令人意想不到的循環之旅。

麻州眾議會財政委員會共同主席麥家威( Aaron Michlewitz)夫婦也在座。(周菊子攝)

             如今的她，對波士頓市政府大樓的通道，樓梯之熟悉，有如她自己的家。就是在波士頓市議會議事廳這兒，她學會了市政府事務，拿過議事木槌，哺乳她的兒子，爭取到有薪育兒假，就語言，食物正義，住宅保護，氣候等議題推動改善。

             吳弭說，「波士頓，我們的任務很明確，這大大小小的工作，我們需要每一個人加入行列，把市政府帶出市政府大樓，擁抱我們這城市所有的可能性」，讓波士頓成為每一個人的城市。 (更新版)

麻州眾議員 Maria Robinson。周菊子攝)

華人前進會主席李素影(中)應邀出席。(周菊子攝)

全美安良工商會總理陳仕維應邀出席波士頓市長吳米的就職典禮。(周菊子攝)

牧師Arlene O. Hall博士為吳弭就職祝禱。周菊子攝)

甘泓儒首次個展出師告捷 「回憶的本質」畫作已有買家購藏

甘泓儒和這次畫展的策展人David Guerra。(周菊子攝)

            (Boston Orange 周菊子牛頓市報導) 首次個展的展期才剛過一半，4套主要畫作已售出2套。來自台灣青年畫家甘泓儒的「回憶的本質」畫展，有著畫壇新人中十分難得的成績。

              在台灣台南出生，長大，畢業於台灣藝術大學，來美深造前，曾參加在國父紀念館所舉行聯展的甘泓儒，剛從麻省設計學院取得繪畫碩士學位時，就有經紀人在畢業展上看到他的作品，就決定和他簽約，把他從麻州帶到了紐約定居，在那兒為國際發展打基礎。

              甘泓儒坦言很幸運，也很珍惜自己得到的機會，到底藝術家要發展，就需要有人賞識，有人給機會，而一般來說，剛畢業的國際學生、新人，有他這樣際遇，有人主動找上門來要簽約合作的，更屬難得。

甘泓儒(中)回答參觀者的提問。(周菊子攝)

              他這趟回波士頓舉辦在美國的首次個人展覽，是波士頓 AREA gallery 策展人David Guerra和麻州牛頓市「附近藝廊 (Nearby Gallery) 」邀他以有點莫內的那種光影，色彩風格，為「回憶的本質（The Nature of Remembrance）」這畫展，創作了一系列畫作。

              從嫩綠的紐約春天，暈紅的波士頓夕陽，到那藏匿在憂鬱藍和燦白，深黑中的掙扎，甘泓儒把畫當作了日記，藉由顏色、光影，以及那一層又一層，揉合了西方繪畫技巧與中國書法所流轉出來的韻味，就好像他曾經歷過，留在記憶中的那些他當年在台灣時，第一個房間的壁紙顏色，他祖母的外衣布料，他家那些以花朵圖案裝飾的物品，還有過去這3年來他在美國東北部的紐約、波士頓居住，親身經歷的那些季節變化，人事變遷。

家長帶著小朋友欣賞這幅以春為主題的連畫。

              從3月敲定主題，到11月佈展，甘泓儒為這個展花了大半年的時間來創作，同時還要兼顧他紐約經紀的要求。他透露，幸好早前曾在台灣的國際藝術家吳季璁那兒實習，擔任吳季璁的6名助手之一，學到了很多藝術學校並沒有教的東西，包括對創作的態度，藝術工作者會面對的現實問題等等。

              11月6日畫展開幕這天，曾特地邀甘泓儒在哈佛藝展「Reveal (揭曉)」中展出的當年哈佛大學台灣同學會會長藍凡耘，前任會長許祐湉，波士頓台灣人生物科技協會的前會長林致中，朱志齊，波士頓台灣同鄉會會長蔡幸君，勒星頓中文學校校長康麗雪，波士頓科技組組長謝水龍，曾任哈佛大學中國中心主任的

回憶的本質將展至11月30日。 (周菊子攝)

Jeffrey Williams，都特地出席致賀。

              根據Area藝廊的網站，甘泓儒這次的畫展，主要作品8幅，其中至少1幅，售價高達4200元。目前象徵夕陽，以及掙扎的3幅畫作已售出，畫展將在牛頓市的「附近藝廊 (Nearby Gallery) 」繼續展至11月30日。

              「附近藝廊 (Nearby Gallery) 」地址為101 Union St, Newton Centre, MA 02459，畫展將從11月6日展至30日。查詢詳情可上網，https://www.area.gallery。

Michelle Wu Sworn In as Mayor of Boston

Michelle Wu Sworn In as Mayor of Boston (Video by Chutze Chou)

 

Michelle Wu swearing in as Boston Mayor on Nov. 16th, 2021.  Photo by Chutze Chou Boston, MA - Tuesday, November 16, 2021 -- Michelle Wu was officially sworn in today as the next Mayor of the City of Boston.  After signing her name on the book, Michelle Wu is now formally Mayor of Boston. (Provided by City of Boston) Mayor Wu, the first woman and first person of color to be elected Mayor of Boston, took the oath of office in the Boston City Council Chamber, just two weeks after her history-making election.  The program began with the Pledge of Allegiance, led by Boston Public Schools student Eliana Rivas, and Rev. Dr. Arlene O. Hall, Lead Pastor of Deliverance Temple Worship Center, delivered the invocation. Following remarks from outgoing Mayor Kim Janey, Judge Myong J. Joun administered the Oath of Office to Mayor Wu; the Mayor’s husband and two sons held the Bible used for the swearing in.  Michelle Wu and politicians Mayor Wu was sworn in on the Aitken Bible, the earliest complete English-language Bible printed in America. Often known as the “Bible of the Revolution,” it was published by Robert Aitken in 1782 and it was endorsed by the Congress as a symbol of American ingenuity. This Bible is owned by the City of Boston and is one of the treasures of the Boston Public Library’s collections. Mayor Wu offered the following as-prepared remarks after her swearing-in:  Good afternoon Wu Train family, we’re back together so soon! I’ve missed you over the last two weeks. Michelle Wu, her husband and politicians. Thank you Mayor Janey for your beautiful remarks and your trailblazing leadership, and thank you Senator Warren, Senator Markey, Congresswoman Pressley, Governor Baker, and all our colleagues in state, county, and local government for sharing this moment. Thank you especially to the Boston City Council for hosting us here. President Pro Temp O’Malley, sitting members, and incoming new Councilors-elect:  Ruthzee Louijeune, Erin Murphy, Brian Worrell, Kendra Hicks, and Tania Fernandes Anderson — Congratulations, and I can’t wait to celebrate your Inauguration in January! Thank you, Boston.  I am honored to stand here, in this Chamber that has meant so much to me, as your next Mayor… The first time I set foot in Boston City Hall, I felt invisible— swallowed up by the maze of echoing concrete hallways, intimidated by the checkpoints and looming counters, reminded that my immigrant family tried to stay away from spaces like these.  But our family’s struggles brought me to an internship with Mayor Menino and his Chief of Staff Mitch Weiss, and an unexpected full-circle journey over the last decade. Today I know City Hall’s passageways and stairwells like my own home. And this space is most special. I learned the ropes of city government and politics on this floor, held the gavel on this floor,  nursed babies on this floor, delivered paid parental leave on this floor, language access, food justice, housing protections, climate progress, and have reveled in the growing representation and power of our communities that our Boston City Council continues to embody. But since we’re here today, I must share that the Council floor wasn’t always this way. When I joined the Council, this space wasn’t fully accessible to everyone. The floor that some are sitting on right now, was much lower, designed as a pit three steps down — a striking feature part of what many or I would call the beautiful architecture of City Hall.  Three steps prevented Bostonians in wheelchairs and with mobility challenges from coming down directly to testify on this floor and advocate for change. Those three steps were a barrier between our government and the people we are here to serve.  So we changed what this space could be, reshaped it to be accessible for everyone, and brought the floor level up three steps.  When we make City Hall more accessible, we are all raised up. When we communicate in many languages, we all understand more. Most of all, when we connect the power of city government to the force of our neighborhoods and communities, we see how much is possible for our city.  City government is special. We are the level closest to the people, so we must do the big and the small. Every streetlight, every pothole, every park and classroom, lays the foundation for greater change. Not only is it possible for Boston to deliver basic city services and generational change ​​— it is absolutely necessary in this moment.  We’ll tackle our biggest challenges by getting the small things right, and by getting City Hall out of City Hall and into our neighborhoods, block by block, street by street. After all, Boston was founded on a revolutionary promise: that things don’t have to be as they always have been. That we can chart a new path for families now, and for generations to come, grounded in justice and opportunity. And we can take steps to raise us all up to that promise, together.  Several weeks ago, at Roxbury Community College, I met a young leader and student in our community. Brandon lives in Mattapan and takes the 28 Bus to class. He found out one day from a local business on Blue Hill Ave that the Mayor of Boston had worked to make the 28 Bus free, and it changed his life. What used to be a frequent headache of asking mom for $2 to get to class, opened up into justice and opportunity. For Brandon and for our communities: Our charge is to see every person and listen. To meet people where they are. To give hope. And deliver on it. To find joy, in the words of the amazing Kim Janey, and spread it. Let history note not just who she was in this office, but all she got done, and all she will continue to do for our city. Our charge is to fight urgently for our future, for the young people at the Burke High School who are here with us today, for Blaise, Cass, Ellie and Addie, for all our kids, and their kids to come. The first time I set foot in Boston City Hall, I felt invisible. Today I see what’s possible in this building, and I see all the public servants raising us up — frontline workers, first responders, teachers and bus drivers, building inspectors, city workers. I am deeply honored to work alongside you and I ask everyone to join me in expressing our gratitude for your service. And I ask everyone to join us in service of our communities. Boston, our charge is clear. We need everyone to join us in the work of doing the big and the small, getting City Hall out of City Hall, and embracing the possibility of our city. The reason to make a Boston for everyone is because we need everyone for Boston, right now. We have so much work to do, and it will take all of us to get it done. So let’s get to work. (Provided by Mayor's office)

AG HEALEY’S OFFICE AWARDED MORE THAN $3.8 MILLION TO EXPAND REGIONAL DRUG ENFORCEMENT WORK

AG HEALEY’S OFFICE AWARDED MORE THAN $3.8 MILLION TO EXPAND REGIONAL DRUG ENFORCEMENT WORK

Federal Grant Funding to be Used by AG’s Office and Massachusetts State Police to Further Work of New England Fentanyl Strike Force 

            BOSTON – Attorney General Maura Healey announced today that her office is the recipient of a $3.8 million federal grant that will be used as part of the AG’s New England Fentanyl Strike Force to expand efforts to combat the opioid epidemic and disrupt and dismantle drug and fentanyl trafficking throughout New England.

            The grant was awarded by the Department of Justice’s Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) Anti-Heroin Task Force grant program. The grant program seeks to help combat illegal drug trafficking and address substance disorder by improving investigations and establishing and enhancing multijurisdictional task forces. The AG’s Office applied for the grant funding with the Massachusetts State Police to continue collaborative enforcement work.

            “For five years, the New England Fentanyl Strike Force has done significant work disrupting and dismantling illicit trafficking operations and taking heroin and fentanyl off of our streets,” said AG Healey. “We are grateful to receive this federal grant to enhance collaboration among law enforcement in combating this growing crisis.”

            “The task force model of combating narcotics trafficking, and the street violence and fatal overdoses that it brings with it, has proven successful time and again.” said Colonel Christopher Mason, Superintendent of the Massachusetts State Police. “This grant will further our multi-jurisdictional partnerships to interdict traffickers, stem the associated violence, and reduce supply of the drugs to those who battle addiction.”

            The AG’s Office has prioritized combatting the opioid crisis and has been working closely with federal, state and local partners to fight illegal drug trafficking throughout New England. The New England Fentanyl Strike Force was created in 2016 using a $1 million COPS Anti-Heroin Task Force grant, and has been reinforced since then with a $3 million grant in 2018 and a $2.6 million grant in 2019, which have expanded ongoing multistate and cross-jurisdictional investigations.

            Since its launch, the New England Fentanyl Strike Force has seized more than 400 kilograms of heroin and fentanyl, nearly 50,000 opioid pills, 125 firearms, millions of dollars in cash, and has arrested 532 suspects, primarily for trafficking heroin, fentanyl, and opioid pills. Task force partners have grown to include the Massachusetts State Police, U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Homeland Security Investigations, the United States Postal Service, U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Districts of Massachusetts and New Hampshire, the New Hampshire and Rhode Island Attorneys’ General Offices, District Attorneys’ Offices from the following counties: Berkshire, Bristol, Cape & Islands, Hampden, and Plymouth, and approximately 55 other local, county, and state police departments and units.

Advancing Justice – AAJC Honors Journalist Weijia Jiang, Hollaback!, and Bank of America During its American Courage Awards Event

 Advancing Justice – AAJC Honors Journalist Weijia Jiang, Hollaback!, and Bank of America During its American Courage Awards Event

The Group Recognizes Power Players in the Fight Against Anti-Asian Hate as it Celebrates 30 Years in Advocating for Civil and Human Rights

 

Washington, D.C. — Asian Americans Advancing Justice – AAJC (Advancing Justice – AAJC) will recognize CBS News White House Correspondent Weijia Jiang with the American Courage Award, the Changemaker Award to Hollaback!, and the Bridge Builder Award to Bank of America during its annual American Courage Awards event.

The event will take place virtually at americancourageawards.org on November 18. The event will also recognize the 30^th anniversary of Advancing Justice – AAJC, who has been advocating for the civil and human rights for Asian Americans as it strives to build and promote a fair and equitable society for all.

“The recipients of the American Courage, Bridge Builder, and Changemaker Awards have been on the front lines of reporting or stood shoulder-to-shoulder with Advancing Justice – AAJC in the fight against anti-Asian hate and racial justice,” said Asian Americans Advancing Justice – AAJC’s President and Executive Director, John C. Yang. “In the work we do there are so many champions for justice. It gives me great pleasure to recognize three outstanding individuals and organizations who help advance the civil and human rights for Asian Americans and all Americans.”

Each year Advancing Justice – AAJC bestows its American Courage Award honor to an individual, company, or organization that has shown extraordinary courage or commitment to the cause of civil rights. Advancing Justice – AAJC applauds Weijia Jiang's ability to confront anti-Asian hate rhetoric head on as the CBS Senior White House Correspondent calling out xenophobia and derogatory terms at practically every White House briefing of the last administration.

Advancing Justice – AAJC is honoring Hollaback! with The Changemaker Award as well. Soon after the anti-Asian attacks started as the COVID-19 pandemic spread in 2020, Hollaback! and Advancing Justice – AAJC began working together on bystander intervention training sessions that has resulted in the pair training more than 120,000 people and been replicated by other groups who have seen the success of their partnership. For their work, Hollaback! is receiving the award because they exemplify an organization that is a catalyst for change.

The final honor of the night will go to Bank of America for The Bridge Builder Award, which recognizes the corporation as an innovator and company dedicated to community empowerment within the Asian American community, as well as allied communities of color. As a longtime supporter of Advancing Justice - AAJC, Bank of America has taken the lead on advancing social justice and equity in the banking and finance industry — committing more than $1.2 billion to racial justice, including a focus on the Asian American community, significant funding for organizations who work on naturalization and allowing for citizenship workshops to take place at their banks

Kim Janey 揮別波士頓市長辦公室 連發2文感謝波士頓人

Kim Janey wave goodbye to fellow Bostonians. (From Mayor's office)

Dear neighbors,

It has been my honor to serve you as the 55th Mayor of Boston.

Over the course of this year, I have seen our city for all of its richness and beauty -- from the Citgo sign in the Fenway to the Simco’s sign in Mattapan, from Jamaica Pond to the Frog Pond, from Copley Square to Nubian Square.

What stands out most in Boston, and what I love most about our city, are you, her people. Our small business owners and our seniors. Our veterans and our teachers. Our artists and our activists. You are making Boston better every day.

Together, we have worked throughout this global pandemic to help keep families in their homes and help local businesses stay open. We’ve worked with friends and neighbors to become one of the most vaccinated cities in America. We’ve reopened our schools and our libraries. We’ve taken steps to build a government that is more just and a city that is more joyful.

The work of building a great city, however, is never finished. 

Today, we will welcome a new administration into the Mayor’s Office. I am proud to pass the baton to Michelle Wu and thrilled to call her Madam Mayor. I know that she will work with all of you to build that even better Boston. And, I know that she will value all of the energy and creativity that you bring to our city, just as I did.

While I will be leaving this role today, I look forward to continuing to work with you to help strengthen the city that gave me everything.

With love and gratitude,

Kim Janey
Mayor of Boston

Acting Mayor Kim Janey and her team. (From Mayor's office)

“The First but Not the Last”

By Mayor Kim Janey

When I arrived at the Mayor’s Office eight months ago, I hung two prints on my wall. The first is an iconic Boston Magazine cover, with a heart-shaped collection of running shoes memorializing the strength and resilience of our city after the 2013 Boston Marathon bombing. The headline reads, “We will finish this race.” The second depicts a silhouette of Kamala Harris, the first woman and the first person of color to be Vice President of the United States, alongside the shadow of a young Ruby Bridges, the first Black student to integrate New Orleans Public Schools just 61 years ago. Below the two iconic figures, an inscription reads: “The First But Not the Last.” 

These two prints offered daily reminders of my two-part mission to provide comfort and stability for a city in crisis and to make equity the urgent work of our city government

I took office during a time of uncertainty when Boston was facing serious questions about the future. A year of the global pandemic had exhausted our City’s public health infrastructure, depressed our economy, and shut down our schools. Additionally, COVID-19 laid bare the structural inequities that have characterized the challenges facing Boston residents since long before the pandemic. Disparities in wealth and health outcomes came to the fore, along with an urgent need to reimagine public safety in light of a national reckoning on race and policing. As a city, we encountered obstacle after obstacle, but through it all, Boston stayed strong. 

Now, as I leave office, I am proud that our strength and unity in these times of great uncertainty have yielded results. Since March, we have witnessed the reopening of our city, the lowest crime levels in five years, and the return of in-person learning with the highest student attendance record. Most significantly, we came together and equitably distributed vaccines to over 75 percent of our total population, giving us one of the highest vaccination rates in the country among big cities.

Our progress was not limited to vaccines. We were able to address the everyday aspects of Boston residents’ lives that the pandemic had impacted. We made leaps in the housing sector by expanding protection for homeowners, creating the Emergency Foreclosure Prevention Fund, and increasing first-time homebuyer assistance. We supported small businesses struggling through the pandemic with investments in grant-making initiatives. We distributed cash assistance to frontline workers who were denied federal benefits. And, through a new green jobs pipeline targeting a new generation of workers, we created sustainable employment opportunities for a stable, green future. 

On a personal level, I felt it was important to use my role to promote joy and encourage our city to seek out and experience collective joy after what has been an arduous and painful period. For this reason, I created the Joy Agenda, the purpose of which is to stimulate our public spaces with healing, justice, and peacemaking activities. We found joy through the observance of Juneteenth as a holiday and the declaration of Indigenous Peoples Day in Boston. We found joy in every neighborhood across the city, painting murals in Jamaica Plain, reopening community gardens in East Boston, and hosting concerts at City Hall Plaza.

I have loved this city my whole life. As a little girl from Roxbury cheering on the runners at Boylston Street on Marathon Monday, I could have never imagined that one day I would be crowning the champions of the 125th edition of our city’s trademark race. Boston has always been home to me - my home by birth, but also my home by choice. And nothing helps you see your city and its people for all their richness and beauty like being Mayor. 

To the incredible teachers, police officers, firefighters, EMS workers, frontline workers, custodial staff, and all of those providing services that keep our city running -- thank you for being the backbone of our city. I have sought to emulate your dedication and commitment to our community during my time as Mayor. My staff has also worked extremely hard over the past eight months to keep Boston moving forward, demonstrating what we can do when we work together. And to the residents of the great City of Boston, thank you for supporting me and helping me lead this city - it has been my greatest honor serving as Boston’s 55th Mayor. And now, like every woman before me that has broken barriers, I am honored to pass the baton. I congratulate Michelle Wu on becoming the first woman and person of color elected mayor of Boston. I know Mayor Wu will continue to lift up those who have been left out of power and work to make our city more equitable, just, and resilient. The framed words in the mayor’s office became reality. “The first, but not the last.”

I will always cherish the time I spent as your Mayor and encourage you to continue to find joy in every corner of this great city.

Boston, thank you.

吳弭公佈7人事任命 競選經理Mary Lou Akai-Ferguson任幕僚長

吳弭(中)的臨時幕僚長Mary Lou Akai-Ferguson(左)是吳弭的競選經理。(市政府提供)

             (Boston Orange 周菊子波士頓報導) 吳弭(Michelle Wu)今(16)日中午以後就是波士頓市長了。今早宣佈新政府主要人事，以期宣誓後立即投入工作，開始改革行動。首波名單7人，包括最重要的幕僚長，政策及策略計劃長，4名顧問，以及Mariel Novas博士將持續統籌過渡交接。

             這波人事任命，明顯強調吳政府仍在過渡中，除了曾任麻州總檢察長奚莉 (Maura Healey)幕僚長，現為保護工人權益聯盟主任的Mike Firestone，將出任政策及策略計劃長(Chief of Policy and Strategic Planning)，是這波人事任命中唯一真除的閣員首長級職位之外，其餘的幕僚長是臨時的，3名資深顧問是吳弭不分區市議員辦公室員工，1人是吳弭競選市長團隊中，西語裔的選民主任。

          曾被  波士頓環球報稱為在吳弭打破歷史紀錄之際，也打破了選舉模式的吳弭競選經理，日裔的Mary Lou Akai-Ferguson   將出任吳弭的臨時幕僚長(Interim Chief of Staff)。

            從麻州衛斯理學院畢業，曾任高中教師的  Mary Lou Akai-Ferguson 在過去數年間，輾轉為不同人士競選，聯邦參議員Elizabeth Warren參選總統時，她也曾在該競選團隊工作。

             曾任波士頓市前任市長馬丁華殊 (Martin Walsh)幕僚長的Kathryn R. Burton在今日的波士頓環球報上，向吳弭的幕僚長發出公開信，規勸她，人們對政府的批評之一是，做了承諾，但沒人看見結果。請顯示結果，以每個人都能懂的方式來解釋，別把完美變成好事的敵人。

在吳弭政府這波人事任命中，原本在她市議員辦公室工作的員工，幾乎各個水漲船高，都隨著吳弭當上市長，成了市長辦公室內的顧問級人馬。

原本是吳弭市議員辦公室幕僚長的Dave Vittorini，公民參與主任Brianna Millor，政策主任Tali Robbins，都升任為市長的資深顧問。在吳弭競選市長時，應聘擔任選民主任的西語裔前學校老師Mariangely Solis Cervera，也獲指派為市長的資深顧問。

吳弭政府在公佈的這份人事任命中，特地說明目前擔任吳弭交接主任的Mariel Novas 將在吳弭政府執政初期繼續領導交接事務。(更新版)