波士頓推出共同抗疫程式 方便民眾出示接種疫苗證明

MAYOR WU LAUNCHES B TOGETHER, REQUIRING COVID-19 VACCINATION AT CERTAIN INDOOR SPACES

From right, Mayor Michelle Wu, Whittier Street Health Center CEO Frederica M. Williams,  City Council President Ed Flynn. (Photo by Chutze Chou) BOSTON - Saturday, January 15, 2022 - Today Mayor Michelle Wu launched B Together, a requirement to show proof of COVID-19 vaccination to enter certain indoor spaces in Boston, including indoor dining, fitness, and entertainment venues. Starting today, patrons and staff of covered businesses must provide proof they have received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. The goal of B Together is to close the gaps in vaccination rates, and to create safer indoor spaces for patrons and small business staff.  “The best tool we have to end the ongoing COVID surge, reduce hospitalization rates, and save lives is for everyone to get vaccinated,” said Mayor Michelle Wu. “We are putting this measure in place to help safeguard our residents, our businesses, and our community. I thank our Main Streets organizations and community groups for sharing information and supporting our local vaccination clinics across the city.” Mayor Wu kicked off B Together Saturday at Whittier Street Health Center’s vaccine clinic in Roxbury, which has been working to serve populations with lower vaccination rates. Established through a public health order issued by the Boston Public Health Commission, the new guidance seeks to increase vaccination rates among residents and slow the spread of COVID-19 and the new Omicron variant. The Mayor originally announced this latest effort to combat COVID-19 last month.  “The B Together initiative is an integral part of our multilayered plan to keep the people of Boston safe and healthy," said Dr. Bisola Ojikutu, Executive Director of the Boston Public Health Commission. "Vaccines and boosters are our most important tools for slowing the spread of COVID-19 and preventing severe cases that result in hospitalization. It is imperative that we do everything we can to increase vaccine and booster uptake among Boston residents." “The coronavirus disease continues to spread in uncertain ways,” said Frederica M. Williams, President & CEO of Whittier Street Health Center. “We fully support Mayor Wu’s B Together initiative and applaud her leadership. Vaccinations, boosters and compliance with the CDC COVID-19 Infection Prevention and Control guidelines are the best strategies to return life to normalcy, prevent illnesses and save lives.”  B Together applies to patrons and staff of indoor restaurants, bars, nightclubs, gyms, and entertainment facilities (those picking up takeout orders and other quick visits are exempt). A full list of businesses that fall under the B Together policy can be found here.  The City is making providing proof of vaccination as easy and accessible as possible. To enter one of the establishments included in the policy, individuals can show a CDC vaccination card, a photo of the card, the newly launched B Together app, or any other COVID-19 vaccine verification app, including the new Massachusetts digital vaccine card. The free B Together app is available through both the Apple Store and Google Play. The City has been working with businesses on implementation practices since B Together was announced. On Tuesday, Mayor Wu visited businesses across Allston to answer questions about the policy and to discuss how the City can continue to help businesses recover financially from the pandemic. Leading up to today’s launch, the City hosted four B Together webinars focused on answering questions from small business owners. Roughly 150 - 200 people joined each session, and more than 800 registered for the webinars overall. “B Together serves as a necessary measure to mitigate the surge of COVID-19 infections and keep our residents and workforce safe and healthy,” said Segun Idowu, Chief of Economic Opportunity and Inclusion. “By implementing this vaccine mandate at our businesses where staff and patrons are the most prone to infection, we can ensure that our economy will recover from the pandemic as quickly and effectively as possible.” "The B Together initiative is a key response to ensure the safety of our communities, especially those most impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic," said Chief of Community Engagement Brianna Millor. "To ensure the equitable implementation of the policy, the Office of Neighborhood Services employed a robust outreach strategy to notify all Boston residents and businesses and address any questions and concerns, and will continue to do so, in partnership with the Office of Economic Opportunity and Inclusion and City's Main Streets organizations." Businesses included in B Together will also be required to post a notice at the entrance. As of today, the city has distributed flyers to approximately 1,000 businesses. “TD Garden is in full support of Mayor Wu’s ‘B Together’ vaccination mandate, with the purpose to protect public health and put this pandemic behind us,” said Amy Latimer, President of TD Garden. “We started the season with all new policies and guidelines to keep our guests and associates as safe as possible, and we are hopeful, as we continue to work together through these new requirements, that we are making continued progress in the fight against COVID-19.”    "The Tres Gatos and Casa Verde restaurant teams are proud to implement and support Mayor Wu’s ‘B Together’ program requiring proof of COVID-19 vaccination for restaurants and other indoor venues,” said David Doyle, the founder of Tres Gatos and Casa Verde. “We believe this is an important and effective way to maximize vaccination in our city, to instill confidence and a sense of security among the dining public, and to protect our staff and our guests. The restaurant community, which has faced many difficult hurdles during this pandemic, and is vital to our city’s economy, greatly appreciates Mayor Wu’s ongoing support." Throughout the pandemic, the City of Boston has closely watched COVID-19 metrics to guide policy decisions.  As of Monday, January 10, the COVID-19 positivity rate in Boston was almost 32 percent. Boston is averaging 2,519 new positive cases per day, which is a 16 percent increase from a week ago. More than 81 percent of Boston’s population have received at least one dose, as of January 11, while almost 70 percent are fully vaccinated.  The newly implemented policy is being phased in as follows:

The City of Boston and the Boston Public Health Commission continue to support easily accessible walk-in vaccination clinics across the city, including at many community centers, schools, and community health centers. A full list of vaccination sites, including walk-in facilities, can be found here.

麻州政府有意發行50億元政府債券支持核心建設

Baker-Polito Administration Files $5 Billion General Government Bond Bill

Proposal seeks critical authorization for investments in cybersecurity, public safety, workforce skills

BOSTON — The Baker-Polito Administration today filed legislation seeking $4.991 billion in capital funds to support core improvements that will enable the Commonwealth to continue delivering critical state services to the people of Massachusetts.   

The proposal, titled An Act Financing the General Governmental Infrastructure of the Commonwealth, includes $4.15 billion to maintain, repair, and modernize assets that serve those most in need across the Commonwealth, help educate the future workforce, deliver on key environmental objectives, and keep the Commonwealth’s communities and workers safe. It also includes $841 million to continue existing, successful grant programs that support Massachusetts communities, to improve cybersecurity and other technology infrastructure, and to acquire critical public safety equipment.

“This bill supports essential capital investments that will deliver long-lasting benefits to Massachusetts residents for years to come, with a focus on safety, resiliency and opportunity,” said Governor Charlie Baker. “We look forward to working with our colleagues in the Legislature to make these important investments, which will pave the way for the continued efficient delivery of government services and economic growth.”

“The proposed investments in this bill continue our Administration’s work to improve a wide range of critical infrastructure and foster growth and development across Massachusetts,” said Lieutenant Governor Karyn Polito. “These funds will ensure the continuity of proven programs and enable impactful future economic, health and safety
initiatives that will benefit the Commonwealth’s communities, businesses and residents.” 

The bill filed today makes authorization available through Fiscal Year 2028 that would support $2.4 billion in existing maintenance and resiliency projects through the Division of Capital Asset Management and Maintenance (DCAMM). DCAMM maintains nearly 1,700 major buildings covering 60.8 million gross square feet of property across the Commonwealth, including higher education buildings, health and human services facilities, public safety facilities, and trial courts. It also leads decarbonization and resiliency efforts in accordance with Executive Order 594, Leading by Example: Decarbonizing and Minimizing Environmental Impacts of State Government, which was issued by Governor Baker in April of 2021 and directs efforts to reduce gas emissions in Massachusetts facilities. The bond bill proposes $400 million in energy efficiency initiatives at facilities statewide. 

An additional $1.8 million in DCAMM authorization is proposed to meet new facilities’ needs and mitigate future risks. This includes an increased focus on incorporating lessons from the COVID-19 pandemic related to the physical space and layout of facilities.

The bill also proposes $185 million in authorization for the Executive Office of Technology Services and Services (EOTSS) to support a variety of cybersecurity, IT infrastructure, and application modernizations initiatives. This includes projects that would modernize the Unemployment Insurance (UI) Online system and build out an integrated eligibility and enrollment system to streamline the benefits application process across multiple state agencies. $50 million is proposed to improve virtual and physical security infrastructure at the Trial Courts facilities, including intrusion detection and video monitoring. Further public safety investments include $60 million for equipment for fire services, corrections, and communications towers, and $100 million for the replacement of approximately 300 Massachusetts State Police vehicles per year, half of which will be hybrid vehicles. 

“This $5 billion bond bill reflects the Baker-Polito Administration’s dual commitment to supporting the Commonwealth’s assets and making sustainable, fiscally responsible capital investments,” said Secretary of Administration and Finance Michael J. Heffernan. “The projects proposed are key to maintaining core government operations and will keep the state moving forward, and we are looking forward to working with the Legislature to pass this bill into law.”

The bill seeks to support Massachusetts’ communities by authorizing $496 million for established and successful grant and community programs that have a track record of providing valuable resources for workforce development, economic development, housing, and more to communities across the state. This includes the Workforce Skills Capital Grants Program, the Community Compact IT Grants Program, the Cultural Facilities Fund, the Clean Water and Drinking Water State Revolving Fund, the Housing Stabilization Fund and the Housing Choice Capital Grants Program.  

In June 2021, the Baker-Polito Administration finalized its Capital Investment Plan for Fiscal Years 2022-2026, and the authorizations in this bond bill would support investments and initiatives in the upcoming annual update to the Capital Investment Plan, which will include capital spending for Fiscal Years 2023-2027.

Highlights of the bond bill include:

• $185 million for various cybersecurity and IT infrastructure initiatives, including:
• $100 million for cybersecurity investments and to support existing large business applications modernization projects
• $50 million for virtual and physical security infrastructure at the Trial Courts facilities, such as intrusion detection, duress, physical screening, access control, video monitoring, and communications
• $35 million to upgrade Lottery gaming systems, decommission end-of-life equipment, and address cybersecurity vulnerabilities
• $160 million for public safety investments, including:
• $100 million for the replacement of approximately 300+ vehicles per year, half of which will be hybrid
• $60 million for public safety equipment for fire services, corrections, state police & parole vehicles, and communications towers
• $100 million to continue support for the Workforce Skills capital grants program, which provides grants to high schools, community colleges, training programs, and non-profit organizations to purchase equipment that will help expand access to career technical education programs 
• $100 million for municipal grants to support a broad range of local infrastructure improvements and projects
• $64 million to support the Massachusetts State Revolving Fund (SRF) – specifically, for the Commonwealth’s matching funds required to secure federal dollars for the Fund, which helps cities and towns in improve water supply infrastructure and drinking water safety 
• $60 million for the Housing Stabilization Fund, which provides funding for municipalities, non-profit, for-profit developers and local housing authorities in support of affordable rental housing production and rehabilitation
• $51 million for the continuation of the Food Security program, which improves food security for the people of the Commonwealth through grants aimed at enhancing access to and production of local food for the next two years at current funding level
• $50 million for the Cultural Facilities Fund to continue providing grants for planning, acquisition, rehabilitation and construction of cultural facilities administered through Massachusetts Cultural Council and MassDevelopment 
• $30 million for the Community Compact IT competitive grant program aimed at driving innovation at the local level and available to any municipality that is part of Community Compact Cabinet Initiative 
• $25 million for Housing Choice grants to municipalities that receive a Housing Choice designation through high housing production and/or demonstration of best practices
• $16 million for MassVentures START grants, which help businesses commercialize ideas that have been backed with federal Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) funding

波士頓市長吳弭宣佈週六天氣太冷 開放 BCYF 供人取暖

MAYOR WU DECLARES COLD EMERGENCY FOR THIS SATURDAY AND SHARES SAFETY TIPS AS BRUTALLY COLD WEATHER ARRIVES THIS WEEKEND BCYF Saturday locations activated as warming centers.

BOSTON - Friday, January 14, 2022 - Mayor Michelle Wu has declared a cold emergency in the City of Boston for Saturday, January 15, due to the extreme cold weather that is forecasted for this time period. As the cold weather continues into Sunday, Mayor Wu also urges residents to follow cold weather safety tips throughout the weekend. Boston is forecasted to experience wind chills below zero on Friday, January 14 through Sunday, January 16. BCYF Saturday locations will be activated as warming centers.   “We’re working quickly to make sure all of our residents and families are protected during this weekend’s extremely cold weather,” said Mayor Michelle Wu. “I urge all Boston residents to stay warm and safe, and check on your neighbors during this cold emergency.” Wind chill values will begin dropping Friday night. On Friday, the wind chill is predicted to be as low as -4 degrees Fahrenheit, with the cold air staying through Sunday. On Saturday, the wind chill is predicted to be -18 degrees Fahrenheit, the lowest temperature this weekend. Due to the low temperatures and strong wind gusts, there is an increased risk for hypothermia and frostbite in vulnerable populations, such as those experiencing homelessness, the elderly, and young children. Cold weather may also exacerbate health issues in high-risk populations. The current City of Boston cold emergency threshold is 1 day or more of -10°F or below observed wind chill. Additionally, the current City of Boston cold advisory threshold is 1 day or more of 0°F or below observed wind chill. Mayor Wu is advising residents to take precautions, reminding them to check in on older adults, people with disabilities and people experiencing homelessness. If you see homeless and vulnerable individuals out in the cold who appear immobile, disoriented or underdressed for the cold, please call 911. If residents are aware of anyone staying in a vehicle or a place not intended for living during these extreme cold temperatures, they are encouraged to call 911 as well.  To help residents stay warm, warming centers will open tomorrow at Boston Centers for Youth & Families’ (BCYF) community centers that normally operate from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturdays. They are also open for pre-registered regular programming. Due to COVID-19 public health regulations, all people entering BCYF community centers must wear a face covering (covering both the nose and mouth) and must sign in and include contact information. Locations can be found at Boston.gov/BCYF.  Boston Public Library - Central Library will be open on Saturday from 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. for people in need of a spot to stay warm from and closed Sunday. Other Boston Public Library locations will not be open over the weekend. Visitors to all BPL locations are also required to wear face coverings fully covering nose and mouth.  Tufts Medical Center and the West End House will be open for COVID-19 testing and accepting walk-ins. Upham's Corner Health Center and Whittier Street Health Center will be open and appointment only. A full list of City testing sites and updated hours can be found here. The Southampton Street Shelter and Woods Mullen Shelter will remain open 24/7. Amnesty is in effect and anyone with a non-violent restriction may come in. Pine Street Inn’s mobile outreach vehicles will also be out on the street. The Boston Police Department (BPD) is making announcements on every shift for officers and all personnel to be on the lookout for vulnerable people on the streets. BPD will conduct wellness checks or assist with transportation to available shelters and coordinate with emergency medical personnel for unsheltered homeless persons in distress.The BPD Street Outreach Unit will be available as a resource to assist the districts, outreach providers and 911 dispatch as needed.   KEY SAFETY TIPS INCLUDE: Dress for the weather: Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, residents are required to wear face coverings in all indoor public places. Wear several layers of loose-fitting, lightweight, warm clothing rather than one layer of heavy clothing. Outer garments should be tightly woven and water repellent. Wear mittens over gloves; layering works for your hands as well. Always wear a hat and cover your mouth with a scarf to protect your lungs.   Dress children warmly and set reasonable time limits on outdoor play. Restrict infants' outdoor exposure when it is colder than 40 degrees Fahrenheit. Watch for signs of frostbite: Signs of frostbite include loss of feeling and white or pale appearance in extremities such as fingers, toes, ear lobes, and the tip of the nose. If symptoms are detected, get medical help immediately. Watch for signs of hypothermia: These include uncontrollable shivering, memory loss, disorientation, incoherence, slurred speech, drowsiness and apparent exhaustion. If you or someone you know shows any of these symptoms, contact a healthcare provider immediately. If symptoms are severe, call 911. Heating guidelines for property owners and tenants: In accordance with the Massachusetts State Sanitary Code, the heating season officially begins on September 15 and runs through June 15. Property owners must heat habitable spaces at a minimum temperature of 68 degrees between 7 a.m. and 11:00 p.m. and 64 degrees between 11:01 p.m. and 6:59 a.m. In case of emergency, property owners are encouraged to keep a list of licensed contractors (electrician, plumber and general contractor) on file. Tenants experiencing problems with their heating system should check the thermostat, ensure the dial is turned on, and report insufficient or no heat problems to the property owner or manager immediately. If your landlord or property manager is unresponsive, call 311 to file a complaint. Heating safety: Never try to heat your home using a charcoal or gas grill, a kitchen stove, or other product not specifically designed as a heater. These can cause a fire or produce dangerous levels of carbon monoxide very quickly.  Have your heating system cleaned and checked annually. Install and maintain smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors on every level of your home. Carbon monoxide is an invisible gas produced whenever any fuel is burned. Common sources include oil or gas furnaces, water heaters, fireplaces, stoves, and some space heaters. It has no smell, taste, or color. It is poisonous and can be deadly. Keep space heaters at least 3 feet from anything that can burn, including people. Space heaters should be turned off and unplugged when you leave the room, or go to bed. Tips to keep water flowing and pipes unfrozen during extreme cold: The Boston Water and Sewer Commission recommends homeowners locate a home's main water shut off valve, and learn how to use it. Should a frozen pipe burst, shutting the main valve quickly will minimize flooding and property damage. Homeowners should insulate pipes in unheated areas like basements, garages and crawl spaces. Use inexpensive hardware store materials to prevent pipes from freezing and to keep warm water flowing. Circulate warm air around pipes by keeping cabinet doors open. Circulate a trickle of tap water through pipes during extreme cold to help prevent them freezing up. Locate your water meter, protect it from drafts, and make sure basement doors and windows are shut tight. If pipes do freeze, slowly thaw them with a hair dryer, if possible. Never use an open flame to thaw pipes. If water is lost in all taps, call BWSC 24-hour Emergency Assistance Line at 617-989-7000.   Emergency home repair resources:  Income-eligible homeowners and Boston's residents over age 60 can receive assistance with winter emergencies and repairs, such as fixing storm damage, leaking roofs, furnaces and leaking/frozen pipes. For assistance, residents should call the Mayor's hotline at 311 or the Boston Home Center at 617-635-HOME (4663).    In addition, the Mayor's Seniors Save program helps income eligible Bostonians over the age of 60 replace old, inefficient heating systems with a brand new heating system, even before a failure occurs during the cold winter months. Older adults can also call 311 or the Boston Home Center at 617-635-HOME (4663) to be connected with a City staffer to provide additional details.    For alerts, including cold-weather alerts, residents are encouraged to sign up for Alert Boston. For more information, please visit the Winter in Boston guide and follow @CityofBoston on Twitter.

Baker-Polito Administration Announces Additional Measures to Protect Acute Care Hospital Capacity

 Baker-Polito Administration Announces Additional Measures to Protect Acute Care Hospital Capacity

 

BOSTON (January 14, 2022) — Today, in response to continuing staffing shortages across the healthcare industry, the Baker-Polito Administration announced several measures intended to ensure acute hospitals can serve those in need of acute care. The Commonwealth’s healthcare system has been facing a critical staffing shortage which has contributed to the loss of approximately 700 medical/surgical and ICU hospital beds since the beginning of 2021. Hospitals are also seeing many more patients than usual, the majority due to non-COVID-19-related reasons.

To assist hospitals amid the staff shortage, the Department of Public Health (DPH) issued orders to: 

• Curtail unnecessary Emergency Department visits for non-emergency services
• Allow qualified physician assistants to practice independently
• Provide greater staffing flexibility for dialysis units
• Allow foreign-trained physicians to qualify for licensure more easily

"Our healthcare system continues to experience significant workforce and capacity constraints due to longer than average hospital stays, separate and apart from the challenges brought on by COVID,” said Secretary of Health and Human Services Marylou Sudders. “Working closely with our hospital leaders, these additional actions by DPH will allow for flexibility to preserve our hospital capacity in the coming weeks.”

DPH has previously updated public health orders and issued advisories to hospitals and other healthcare facilities to alleviate staffing shortages and enhance the capacity of the health care system. These new actions include:

Advisory Curtailing Unnecessary Emergency Department Visits

Emergency Departments across the Commonwealth, like all other healthcare systems, are experiencing significant staff shortages and long wait times for care. In order to ensure critical resources are available for those who are having a medical emergency, individuals should not seek ED care for routine healthcare needs, COVID-19 testing or COVID-19 vaccination. For non-urgent, routine healthcare needs, individuals should contact their primary care providers.

Physician Assistants

Physician Assistants (PA) may practice independently without physician supervision, provided they are employed within a provider setting where PAs work together with physicians to provide patient care and the PA is qualified and practicing within their scope of practice, experience, and training.

 

Moonlighting for resident flexibility

 

Resident physicians can engage in “internal moonlighting,” which will allow flexibility to provide patient care outside of their specialized training program so that they may be redeployed to parts of the health care system with the highest staffing demands.

 

Credentialing: interfacility staff transfer flexibilities

 

Requires DPH-licensed facilities to expedite credentialing and to facilitate staff transfers across and between hospitals and provider systems to best meet patient care and capacity needs.

 

Out-of-hospital dialysis center staffing flexibilities

 

Enables out-of-hospital dialysis providers, including hospitals with outpatient dialysis centers, to relax staffing requirement levels while maintaining safe patient care by following DPH guidance that otherwise ensures that sufficient direct care staff, who are trained in dialysis care, will be available to meet the needs of patients undergoing dialysis.

 

Foreign-trained physician order

 

Enables an expedited licensure of foreign-trained physicians by allowing those with at least 2 years of post-graduate training, but who do not have a Massachusetts limited license, to qualify for licensure. 

 

These actions align with or expand upon emergency public health orders issued since March 2020 to preserve the healthcare system while still providing quality care.

Residents can help these efforts by getting a vaccine and booster, which remains the best way to protect against serious illness or hospitalization from COVID-19.

 

These actions are in addition to the deployment of additional Massachusetts National Guard staff posted at acute care hospitals. All updated orders can be viewed here.

波士頓僑教中心 1/15起 進門前須戴口罩秀疫苗證明

               (Boston Orange) 波士頓僑教中心公佈，1月15日起，將比照波士頓市政府關於新冠病毒 (COVID-19)疫情的新規定，進門前須配戴口罩，並出示已接種新冠疫苗證明。

              個別人士到波士頓僑教中心，須戴口罩，出事已打新冠疫苗證明，租用波士頓僑教中心場地的團體，由團體負責人提供「已注射新冠疫苗」聲明。

MAYOR WU ANNOUNCES 2022 CELEBRATION OF THE LIVES AND LEGACIES OF MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. AND CORETTA SCOTT KING

 

MAYOR WU ANNOUNCES 2022 CELEBRATION OF THE LIVES AND LEGACIES OF MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. AND CORETTA SCOTT KING The City of Boston, Boston University, and the New England Conservatory will continue the tradition of paying tribute to the lives and legacies of Dr. King and Coretta Scott King with a live streamed event.

BOSTON - Friday, January 14, 2021 - Mayor Michelle Wu today announced that, in partnership with Boston University and the New England Conservatory, the City of Boston will present "A Celebration of the Lives and Legacies of Martin Luther King, Jr. and Coretta Scott King" on Monday, January 17, 2022 at 2:00 p.m. The event will be live streamed on both boston.gov and bu.edu/dos/kingday2022, as well as on the City of Boston’s cable network (Xfinity: channel 24, RCN: channel 13, and Fios: channel 962.)  "Dr. King, Coretta Scott King, and so many other activists dedicated their lives to fighting poverty, systemic racism, and oppression. Their legacy and impact endures,” said Mayor Michelle Wu. “Thank you to Boston University and the New England Conservatory for your partnership in celebrating their lives and for adapting our annual event to allow all Bostonians to safely mark this important day.” This year’s program will include remarks from Mayor Michelle Wu, President of Boston University Robert A. Brown, and President of the New England Conservatory Andrea Kalyn. The program also features: Brianna Bourne, Boston University Arts & Sciences ’24, Boston Latin Academy ‘20 Saida Grundy, Assistant Professor of Sociology, African American Studies, and Women's and Gender Studies at Boston University Katherine Kennedy, Director, Boston University Howard Thurman Center for Common Ground Jean Morrison, Provost and Chief Academic Officer, Boston University Jean-Luc Pierite, Tunica-Biloxi Tribe of Louisiana, President of the Board of The North American Indian Center of Boston Kelsey Russell, Boston University Arts & Sciences ‘22 Tanisha Sullivan, President of the NAACP Boston Branch Andrea Taylor, Senior Diversity Officer, Boston University The program will also include musical selections performed by student ensembles and choirs from the New England Conservatory and the Boston University the Inner Strength Gospel Choir “We are pleased to partner with the City of Boston and New England Conservatory to celebrate the life and legacy of Martin Luther King and the enduring work of Coretta Scott King,” said Boston University President Robert A. Brown. “We pause in our busy lives to reflect on Dr. King’s achievement and sacrifice so that we can renew our commitment to do all we can to make our society, our world, just and equitable.” "We are so pleased to join Boston University and the City of Boston in celebrating the work and contributions of Dr. and Mrs. King, and for the opportunity to reflect together on how their leadership inspires and informs our own responsibility to advance equity, justice, and community,” said New England Conservatory President Andrea Kalyn.   In previous years, leaders such as U.S. Representative Ayanna Pressley, Beverly Morgan-Welch, Sonia Sanchez, Dr. Alvin Poussaint, Ernest Green of the Little Rock Nine, Judy Richardson of Eyes on the Prize, and civil rights activist and filmmaker Topper Carew served as keynote speakers. Governor Deval Patrick, Chief Justice Roderick Ireland, Boston Poet Laureates Sam Cornish and Danielle Legros Georges, former Orthopaedic Surgeon-in-Chief at Beth Israel Hospital Dr. Augustus White, and WGBH Radio host Eric Jackson are among those who have served as readers in previous years.

麻州2023年財政預估 369.15億元

 Heffernan, Rodrigues, Michlewitz, Announce Consensus Revenue Forecast of $36.915 Billion for Fiscal Year 2023

Projected state tax revenue growth set at 2.7%

BOSTON — Secretary of Administration and Finance Michael J. Heffernan, Senate Ways and Means Chair Michael J. Rodrigues, and House Ways and Means Chair Aaron Michlewitz today announced a consensus revenue forecast for Fiscal Year 2023 (FY23) of $36.915 billion, representing 2.7% growth in state tax revenue over adjusted Fiscal Year 2022 (FY22) projected revenue of $35.948 billion.

The adjusted FY22 revenue collections estimate incorporates a $1.548 billion upgrade of projected state tax revenues announced by Secretary Heffernan today, which is based upon current year-to-date revenues and economic data.

The consensus revenue forecast is the basis on which the Baker-Polito Administration, the House, and the Senate will build their respective FY23 budget recommendations.

Pursuant to Section 5B of Chapter 29 of the General Laws, the three officials above convene every year to establish a joint revenue forecast by January 15th. In addition to conferring with each other, the Secretary and Chairs held a public hearing on December 21, 2021 to receive testimony from the Department of Revenue, the State Treasurer’s Office, and independent, local economists from area foundations and universities on tax revenue.

“The Fiscal Year 2023 consensus revenue forecast aligns with expert testimony delivered in December and acknowledges improved revenue trends in the current fiscal year,” said Secretary of Administration and Finance Michael J. Heffernan. “We thank our colleagues in the House and Senate Ways and Means Offices for their continued partnership as we begin to develop a budget that will maintain fiscal discipline while providing necessary funding to protect essential government services and support key priorities throughout the Commonwealth.”

“The consensus revenue agreement for Fiscal Year 2023 reflects our continued commitment to prioritizing the long-term fiscal health of our Commonwealth as we continue down the road of recovery from this COVID-19 pandemic,” said Senate Committee on Ways and Means Chair Michael J. Rodrigues (D-Westport). “Thanks to a steady trend of strong tax revenue growth to date, a robust and health rainy day fund, the availability of over $2 billion in American Rescue Plan State Fiscal Recovery funds and continued collaboration with our partners in the Administration and the House, we are well positioned to continue building an equitable recovery. To that end, this agreement lays down the foundation for an impactful Fiscal Year 2023 budget that values the needs of our communities and our most vulnerable populations hardest hit by the pandemic, while ensuring our state remains in sound fiscal health.”

“After some tumultuous budget cycles over the last several years, this consensus revenue agreement for Fiscal Year 2023 is a reasonable and appropriate forecast that will allow the Commonwealth to continue to provide the services our constituents deserve, while at the same time preserving our fiscal health. Despite the pandemic, our revenue intake continues to be better than anticipated, proving the continued resiliency of the Commonwealth’s economy,” said House Committee on Ways and Means Chair Representative Aaron Michlewitz (D-Boston). “I want to thank Chair Rodrigues and Secretary Heffernan for their continued partnership in these challenging times.”

Additional details:

• Of the forecasted $36.915 billion in FY23 state tax revenues, an estimated $2.277 billion is projected to be capital gains tax revenue, of which, per statute, $873 million will be transferred to the Stabilization Fund and other long term liability funds for pension and retiree health insurance costs
• The agreement also includes the following statutorily required off-budget transfers that are mandated by current law:
• $3.744 billion transferred to the pension fund, a $329 million increase over the FY22 contribution, which keeps the Commonwealth on schedule to fully fund its pension liability by 2036
• $1.325 billion for the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA)
• $1.165 billion for the Massachusetts School Building Authority (MSBA)
• $25 million for the Workforce Training Fund

After $7.132 billion in off-budget transfers, the Secretary and Committee Chairs agree that $29.783 billion will be the maximum amount of tax revenue available for the budget in FY23, absent statutory changes.

M.G.L. Chapter 29 Section 7H ½ requires the Secretary and the House and Senate Committees on Ways and Means to jointly develop a potential gross state product (PGSP) growth benchmark for the ensuing calendar year. The PGSP growth benchmark is used by the Health Policy Commission to establish the Commonwealth’s health care cost growth benchmark. The three bodies have reached an agreement that the PGSP figure for calendar year 2022 will remain 3.6%. PGSP is a measure of the “full employment” output of the Commonwealth’s economy and reflects long-term trends in the economy rather than fluctuations due to the business cycle and, as a result, is meant to be fairly stable from year to year.

Navient 付18.5億元和38州和解 麻州有1500多人免還學生貸款

            (Boston Orange 編譯)涉及38州的 18.5億元和解案，估計麻州有1500名學生貸款申辦者可豁免還款。

                   麻州總檢察官奚莉 (Maura Healey)宣佈，經過38州總檢察官辦公室的努力，被控以不公平，欺騙，掠奪性方式提供學生貸款的Navient同意以18.5億元和解。該公司將支付9500萬元來賠償35萬名聯邦貸款申辦者。這些人選擇以小額月付方式償還貸款，卻因此陷入長年揹債，甚至因而難以購屋、買車，或存退休金的窘境。

Navient還同意在2002年到2014年間申辦，並在2021年6月20日前已遲繳6個月以上的次級貸款，以及其他貸款，可免還款，總額共約17億元。

在這宗和解案中，麻州約可獲得600萬元，其中220萬元賠償8300名聯邦貸款申辦人，另有1523名貸款人可獲得共約410萬元的私人貸款債務減免。

            Navient是一家成立於2014年，總部設在德拉瓦州，主打學生貸款的公司，提供了大約3000億元的學生貸款給1200萬名私人及聯邦貸款者。

            Navient發出一份聲明，申訴自己並未做錯任何事，但為免於法律訴訟的耗資費時，才同意和解。