Baker-Polito Administration Announces $2.1 Million in Awards through the Regional Economic Development Organization Grant Program

Awards support 38 projects focused on regional business growth, small businesses, and economic recovery in downtowns and main streets

BOSTON – Wednesday, May 18, 2022 – Today, the Baker-Polito Administration announced a total of approximately $2.1 million in awards to nine eligible entities across the Commonwealth to fund 38 projects that seek to strengthen the state’s economy on a regional basis through support for existing small businesses, business growth, and efforts to increase economic activity in local downtowns and main streets.   The Regional Economic Development Organization grant program was established in partnership with the Legislature and is administered by the Massachusetts Office of Business Development.  The program provides competitive grants that are awarded to applicants based on the ability to successfully support businesses through proposals that account for the varying regional needs of the Commonwealth’s economy.  This round builds on a prior round of REDO awards which resulted in an additional $3 million to 11 regional economic development organizations to sustain ongoing efforts to foster economic activity at regional levels, and to support 29 additional projects in support of economic development priorities.   “With the REDO program, our Administration can continue supporting efforts that help drive economic growth based on the needs of each, individual region of the Commonwealth,” said Governor Charlie Baker.  “By strengthening the businesses we have now, and by working to attract new businesses to our downtowns and main streets, we can ensure that each region benefits from the increase in economic activity created through the support of this program.”    “By helping regional economic organizations execute on solutions that best address the individual needs and challenges of each of the state’s regions, we can accelerate our progress toward economic recovery,” said Lt. Governor Karyn Polito.  “I want to congratulate the recipients in this round of REDO awards and I look forward to their efforts to help leverage the unique assets that exist in all corners of Massachusetts to help our business community continue to grow and thrive.”   REDO grant recipients’ efforts will focus on a range of initiatives including: an assessment of competitive strengths, weaknesses and opportunities; representing the regional business community in long-range workforce planning efforts to ensure robust skills and talent pipelines that meet regional needs; representing the regional business community in collaborative, long-range workforce skills, transportation and land use planning; promoting regionally significant industry clusters; promoting connections across sectors of the regional economy; maintaining an inventory of key development parcels; marketing their respective regions; and providing assistance to businesses and industrial prospects which may locate in the region.   “The REDO program has been critical to our recovery by providing necessary resources to allow economic development entities to create regionally-tailored economic development initiatives that meet their respective needs,” said Housing and Economic Development Secretary Mike Kennealy.  “In addition, REDO’s flexibility allows us to take a targeted approach to supporting our small businesses, which helps ensure our economic recovery is evenly distributed and statewide.”   Examples of eligible grants include non-construction façade improvement and investments in signage and aesthetic improvements, continuation of pop-up businesses, projects similar to the Shared Street and Spaces Program that support enhanced foot traffic and local commerce, and main street recovery projects with high local impact for small businesses. The full list of grant recipients can be found here.

麻州長查理貝克遞出17億元補充預算 重點扶助能源項目

Baker-Polito Administration Files $1.7 Billion Fiscal Year 2022 Supplemental Budget

 

SALEM – The Baker-Polito Administration today will file a Fiscal Year 2022 (FY22) supplemental budget that proposes investments in transportation, housing, environmental infrastructure, economic development, child care and education initiatives.

 

The legislation includes approximately $1.7 billion in spending, supported by state tax revenues that exceed FY22 benchmarks through April by $4.23 billion (14%). The current surplus also prompted the Administration to formally upgrade the FY22 tax benchmarks today, increasing the total fiscal year projection to $37.666 billion.

 

Governor Charlie Baker made this announcement today in Salem at the site of what will be Massachusetts’ second offshore wind port. The supplemental budget would direct $100 million to ports in Salem, New Bedford and Somerset. These funds will support infrastructure to ensure Massachusetts becomes a global leader and a hub in the offshore wind industry.

 

“Unprecedented Fiscal Year 2022 revenues afford us this opportunity to make targeted investments in some of the Commonwealth’s most pressing areas of need,” said Governor Charlie Baker. “With rising prices due to inflation, ongoing supply chain issues, and other pandemic-related delays impacting both the time and cost it takes to complete projects, it is critically important that we act quickly to ensure that we are able to maximize the impact of these surplus tax dollars for the citizens of Massachusetts and expedite our response to critical needs.”

 

“This spending plan proposes initiatives that will benefit residents and communities across the state, with a focus on expanding opportunities for disadvantaged populations,” said Lieutenant Governor Karyn Polito. “The bill would increase the availability and quality of housing, build business opportunities in underserved communities, support transportation and environmental projects, and strengthen education and child care systems.”

 

The legislation includes funding to support a variety of transportation and environmental infrastructure projects, including $235 million for transportation projects, $200 million for Cape Cod water and sewer initiatives, and $100 million for ports in Salem, New Bedford, and Somerset. It also builds in funds necessary for the implementation of more than $9.5 billion provided through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) over the next five years, as well as funding that will allow Massachusetts to access additional federal funding through matching grants. These funds complement investments proposed in the pending MassTRAC infrastructure bond bill and recently announced in the FY23-27 Capital Investment Plan.

 

Continuing the Administration’s focus on addressing housing availability and building on the recently filed economic development legislation, An Act Investing in Future Opportunities for Resiliency, Workforce, and Revitalized Downtowns (FORWARD), this bill would provide $310 million for housing development. It proposes $200 million for workforce housing, $100 million for public housing redevelopment in Boston, Cambridge, Salem, and Worcester, and $10 million to increase permanent supportive housing for individuals and families experiencing chronic homelessness.

 

A further $180 million is allocated to targeted economic development initiatives, including $80 million to support efforts to improve small businesses’ options for purchasing commercial real estate, $50 million to provide financial assistance to socially and economically disadvantaged developers, particularly those owned by women and people of color, who are seeking to undertake large housing construction projects and $50 million to de-risk lending to small business owners in underserved markets where access to capital is otherwise limited.

 

“The unprecedented nature of Fiscal Year 2022 revenues will allow the Commonwealth to continue building our stabilization fund balance while making the critical investments proposed in this supplemental budget to fund infrastructure and spur economic development,” said Secretary of Administration and Finance Michael J. Heffernan. “We look forward to working with the Legislature to deliver on the important investments laid out in this responsible and thoughtful bill.”

 

“The Baker-Polito Administration continues to take a forward thinking approach to achieve the Commonwealth’s clean energy and environmental goals,” said Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary Beth Card. “The filing of this FY22 Supplement Budget will deliver important funds to several ports, which serve critical roles in advancing and supporting the Commonwealth’s offshore wind projects.”

 

A number of other initiatives are supported in the supplemental budget proposal, including:

• $150 million for higher education campus physical infrastructure primarily at Mass College of Art and UMass Dartmouth;
• $55 million for child care, including $45 million for a new family child care home ownership and improvement program, which seeks to increase child care capacity while establishing financial security for family child care providers, and $10 million for innovative and flexible models of child care delivery;
• $55 million for nursing pathways programs;
• $30 million for schools and colleges to modernize science and biotechnology labs; and
• $28 million for other costs, including $5 million for the USS Constitution park, $10 million for miscellaneous legal settlements and judgments, and $13 million for collective bargaining agreements authorized in an outside section.

 

The legislation also includes several policy proposals, including

 

• A re-filed outside section that would update chapter 70, the school finance law, to establish early college and innovation pathways as an enrollment category in the Foundation Budget, to provide sustainable and predictable support for the growth of these pathways, which are demonstrating success in expanding access to college and careers for underrepresented students;

• A section that would temporarily allow school districts to reserve some of their state chapter 70 funding for future years without facing state financial penalties, thereby helping them to spend time-limited federal funds;
• A section that would permit youth to voluntarily access a broader range of department of youth services (DYS) supports beyond the current timeframe of 90 days after discharge from a DYS facility; and
• A section that would continue a department of public health standing order that facilitates insurance coverage for over-the-counter COVID tests and treatments beyond the COVID-19 public health state of emergency.  

第一位美國華裔民權人士王清福 應列入亞美歷史教材

李徐慕連開場，羅元旭主持，Scott D. Seligman主講。 (視頻截圖)

               (Boston Orange 周菊子波士頓報導) 來到美國的第一個華人，應該不是他，但是在美國公開爭取民權，進國會作證，辦華文報章，使用「華美」一詞的第一個華人，應無疑義就是王清福。5月16日晚，波士頓同源會和紐英崙華人歷史學會合作，請已就此出書的Scott D. Seligman來做綜述。

中英文版本的"王清福"一書封面。

              5月是亞美傳統月，波士頓同源會會長李徐慕連表示，該會與多個不同機構，舉辦了一系列網上講座。5月16日晚這場，由紐英崙華人歷史學會理事羅元旭主持，邀「第一個美國人: 王清福的精彩一生 (The First Chinese American: The Remarkable Life of Wong Chin Foo) 」的作者，在大學時主修美國歷史，獲有哈佛碩士學位，共出版過9本書的Scott D. Seligman，來談說王清福這位華人社會直到最近幾年才比較多人知道的華裔民權先驅。

              Scott D. Seligman寫王清福的這本書，在2013年3月已出版，厚396頁，亞馬遜網站目前仍然在售。這本書的中文版，也已經在中國出版發行。網路上關於王清福的資料，已有不下100萬筆之多。

華裔美人著名人物名單，絕大多數都是現代人。

              在網路講座中，Scott D. Seligman從爭取民權的代表人物中，黑人代表是馬丁路德金，華人代表是誰，卻沒人知道說起。他說，主要原因是知道美國曾經有個王清福，在政府通過排華法案後，進國會作過證的人，實在不很多，知道王清福早於1883年就創辦「美華新報」，並成為美國歷史上第一個使用” 華美 (Chinese American)” 一詞的人更少。

美國是在1882年5月頒佈排華法案的，王清福於1883年在紐約出版「華美新報」時，故意用”華美”一詞來強調華裔的美國人身分。

王清福創辦的美華新報是手寫板。

在紐約的「華美新報」因財力不足，不到一年就關門大吉，不過跟隨收養他的傳教士夫婦來美的王清福，英文很好，他開始為美國的英文報章寫稿，介紹在美華人生活境況，試圖改變美國民眾對華人的印象。1893年，他又在芝加哥創辦了當地的第一份中文報紙「華洋新報」。

王清福的特別處，不只在於他是第一個在美國爭取民權的華人，他還大概是移民來美的第一個非廣東人華裔。

Scott D. Seligman (中)找到王清福的曾孫輩王凡(左)。。

Scott D. Seligman等人的調查研究認為，王清福是山東青島人 (當年稱為即墨)，原本出身富裕人家，後家道中落，一對傳教士夫婦Holmes收留了他父親和他。這對夫婦在1861年時收養王清福，讓他洗禮，加入浸信會，並於1867年把他帶到美國，念預科後，進過位於華府的當年哥倫比亞大學。1870年，他回到中國上海當海關翻譯，娶妻劉雨山，自己也改名王彥平，還提倡政治改革，改善社會經濟狀況，鼓勵人們戒鴉片，甚至揚言要推翻腐敗的清政府，於是1873年逃到日本，再逃回美國，並於1874年在密西根州入籍美國公民。

由於王清福回到美國時，遇上美國”白人至上”風潮，他持續在中英文報章上撰稿，反駁這些言論，他還呼籲美國人信仰孔子教。

波士頓美日環球報 (Boston Daily Globe)在1874年9月28日就曾列出，「一名華人講道，在派克紀念大樓講孔子教」。

1892年他還向美國法院提出「華人平權法」上訴案。1893年1月代表該法案，在美國國會的外交事務委員會面前中作證，要求廢除排華法案，聲稱他代表15萬名已定居在美的華裔美人。

王清福甚至和孫中山有過交集。1896-97年間在芝加哥成立了華人軍政府總部。

Scott D. Seligman在搜尋王清福資料時，還認識了 王清福的後輩王凡。

Scott D. Seligman的這本書，現在已有中譯本，書名為「走出帝國:王清福的故事」，但目前還只在中國銷售。

Airbnb創辦人捐一億元給奧巴馬基金 資助大學生旅遊長見識

Brian Chesky 和美國前總統奧巴馬。  (奧巴馬基金網站截圖)

                      (Boston Orange 編譯) 「愛彼迎 (Airbnb)」創辦人暨執行長Brian Chesky 承諾5年內捐一億元給奧巴馬基金，辦理 「航行者獎學金 (Voyager   Scholarship) 」，資助有意從事公共服務的大三，大四學生看世界，長見識。

Brian Chesky (來自維基百科)

             富比世 (Forbes)的一篇報導指出，奧巴馬基金於5月16日公佈了這訊息。

             這將是為期2年的項目，給大三、大四學生最高一年   2萬5千元的財務補助，另加1萬元及免費的「愛彼迎」住宿，讓學生自行設計工作加旅遊計畫，踏上「夏日航行」之旅，認識新社區。在學生畢業後的長達10年期間，還會每年給2000元的「愛彼迎」住宿，讓他們經由公共服務工作，去任何他們想去的地方，建立新關係。

             第一梯次的獎學金，將頒發給100名學生。

             美國前總統奧巴馬在宣佈這筆捐款的錄影視頻中說，”如果我們想要下一代領袖去做他們必須做的事，他們就必須彼此會晤，了解對方，認識彼此的社區”。

             Brian Chesky則說，設立這獎學金的目的是為通常阮囊羞澀，無法旅行的青年領袖們打開世界大門。全美各地有許多年輕人有志於公共服務，但卻因為學生貸款債務，無法追求這理想，” 我們想要幫他們減輕這負擔”。

             富比世估計Brian Chesky身價90億美元。

             Brian Chesky還在推特上說，設立這個獎學金，對他來說很有個人感觸。他父母是社工，如果不是有財務援助，當年他不可能唸完羅德島設計學院。

             根據奧巴馬基金網站，捐款給奧巴馬基金的富豪，在Brian Chesky之外，還大有人在。亞馬遜創辦人貝佐斯 (Jeff Bezos) 去年11月承諾捐款1億元，擴辦奧巴馬基金的領袖項目，還繼民權領袖，聯邦眾議員John Lewis之後，取得奧巴馬總統圖書館廣場的冠名權。

             目前仍在興建中的奧巴馬中心，位於芝加哥南邊，將包括博物館，花園，以及一座公共圖書館。

             奧巴馬基金會網站上透露的其他捐款富豪包括「銷售力 (Salesforce)」執行長 Marc Benioff，風險資本家 John Doerr， 比爾蓋茲及米琳達蓋茲，對沖基金巨頭Ken Griffin。

                在奧巴馬基金網站上，這獎學金的另一名稱為   「Chesky-Obama Scholarship for   Public Service」，訂6月14日截止申請，The Voyager Scholarship (obama.org)。

麻州撥款400萬振興旅遊款給80個機構

Baker-Polito Administration Celebrates $4 Million in Travel & Tourism Recovery Grants to 80 Organizations

PLYMOUTH – Tuesday, May 17, 2022 – Today, Housing and Economic Development Secretary Mike Kennealy and Massachusetts Office of Travel and Tourism Executive Director Keiko Matsudo Orrall were joined by Senator Susan Moran, Representatives Matt Muratore and Kathleen LaNatra, and other state and local officials to celebrate a total of $4 million in awards to 80 tourism organizations, chambers of commerce, and municipalities as part of the Travel and Tourism Recovery (TTR) Grant Program.    The awards, which were first announced in April, were funded from the TTR Grant Pilot Program and are dedicated to marketing projects that support the My Local MA campaign, enhance tourism recovery, and have the potential to increase non-resident visitation.  The program’s goal is to strengthen the Massachusetts economy through the development and enhancement of the state’s tourism industry.  Today’s event took place at the Plymouth Center for the Arts, which received a $55,000 award to promote increased tourism to Plymouth this spring.  "Our tourism and hospitality industries are key drivers of economic activity in the Commonwealth and this program provides targeted support for initiatives that accelerate these industries’ progress toward recovery,” said Governor Charlie Baker.  "Recognizing the pandemic’s impact on these industries, we are excited to continue our support through this important grant program."    “Through this series of awards, our Administration continues to uphold our commitment to supporting the tourism and hospitality industries as they continue to bounce back from the effects of COVID-19,” said Lt. Governor Karyn Polito.  “Thanks to the strong partnerships with our tourism councils, municipal leaders, and regional and local chambers of commerce, and with the help from this grant program, we can capitalize on these opportunities as we enter the peak travel season.” “We want to ensure the Commonwealth’s economic recovery is both equitable and statewide, and this grant program directs resources to two key sectors that were hit especially hard by the pandemic,” said Housing and Economic Development Secretary Mike Kennealy.  “I want to thank the team at MOTT for ensuring these critical dollars are providing direct support for our downtowns and town centers. These funds, in addition to the Main Streets investments proposed in the FORWARD bill, will foster the resurgence of tourism and local economic activity across the Commonwealth.”   “By enabling regional tourism groups, destination marketing organizations and municipalities to market their specific strengths and visitor assets, the TTR grant program enhances the overall brand of Massachusetts,” said MOTT Executive Director Keiko Matsudo Orrall. “This approach also shines a spotlight on family-owned businesses, Main Street retailers and seasonal enterprises that rely on tourism dollars.”   Funded through the Tourism Trust Fund, the TTR Grant Program was open to any public, nonprofit agency, 501(c)3, or 501(c)6 that has been in operation in Massachusetts for at least two consecutive years since January 2019, and is in good standing with taxes and licenses/registrations in the Commonwealth.   The TTR programs are in alignment with the Baker-Polito Administration's Partnerships for Recovery Plan to help stabilize and grow the Massachusetts economy. The plan focuses on getting people back to work, supporting small businesses, fostering innovation, revitalizing downtowns, and ensuring housing stability.   “Tourism is an integral part of my district’s ability to grow, both economically and culturally,” said Senator Susan Moran. “This program intentionally gives grantees the autonomy to identify where funding should be targeted in a manner that best aligns with their own travel and tourism goals, as well as the region’s broader community development landscape.” "I am thrilled to see our community receive so much funding to promote and invest in our tourism industry,” said Representative Kathy LaNatra. “Plymouth and the surrounding areas have so much to offer to visitors from around the world. I want to thank the Baker-Polito Administration for their crucial and worthwhile investments in this area's tourism industry." “I’m grateful to Massachusetts Office of Travel and Tourism Director Orrall and Secretary Kennealy for recognizing that investments in targeted marketing efforts lead to increased consumer spending, support our businesses, and help entice more visitors to accelerate tourism recovery efforts,” said Representative Matt Muratore. “Tourism is Plymouth’s number 1 industry, with something for everyone here and these grants for See Plymouth, Plymouth Center for the Arts, Plimoth Patuxet Museums, and Plymouth Regional Economic Development Foundation will assist in drawing visitors interested in a variety of different attractions to Plymouth and Southeastern Massachusetts.”  The full list of grant recipients can be found here.

波士頓市老人局宣佈16 機構得款36萬元減少社交隔離感

MAYOR WU AND AGE STRONG COMMISSION ANNOUNCE RECIPIENTS OF NEW “CREATING COMMUNITY & REDUCING SOCIAL ISOLATION” GRANT Sixteen community nonprofits will receive $360,000 in total to strengthen social connections and community for Boston’s older adults.

BOSTON – Tuesday, May 17, 2022 – Mayor Michelle Wu and the Age Strong Commission today announced the recipients of its Creating Community and Reducing Social Isolation grant, a new City program designed to provide funding to nonprofit community organizations to create new or expand current programs inviting older adults to engage more for better physical and mental health. The City is awarding $360,000 in funding to 16 nonprofit community organizations.  “Connecting our older residents with more opportunities to build community is crucial to our City’s recovery,” said Mayor Michelle Wu. “It's clear that the ongoing pandemic has only exacerbated the challenges that our older adults face as they try to stay engaged and connected. These investments will help build community for older adults and support our local organizations as they work to expand and build opportunities for our older adults to engage.” Strong social connections and networks can boost a person’s lifespan by 50 percent, according to an article in Scientific American magazine. Socially-connected communities are more likely to thrive because a virtuous cycle is created when social connections are strengthened: civic engagement and a sense of belonging increases, which further deepens social networks. “We’re thrilled to have received so many applications,” said Emily K. Shea, Commissioner of Boston’s Age Strong Commission. “Through the pandemic, we had to stop our in-person programs that once got folks out of the house and engaged with each other. Sure, we pivoted to offering programs online, which is something, but nothing like the benefits of in-person human connection–which is valuable to all people, not just older adults.”  The Creating Community and Reducing Social Isolation grants announced today range in size from $12,000 to $27,000 and will be awarded to the following organizations (alphabetical order): Boston Project Ministries Boston Public Housing Corporation Central Boston Elder Services Dorchester Bay Economic Development Corporation Little Brothers Friends of the Elderly/Boston Madison Park Development Corporation Maverick Landing Community Services Nigerian-American Multi-Service Association Operation P.E.A.C.E. Northeast Orchard Park Tenants Association/Saida’s Community Garden Somali Development Center The Urban Farming Institute of Boston Tzu Chi Foundation  Urban Edge Housing Corporation Voice of the Tabernacle Multi Service Center Whittier Street Health Center Committee The grantee cohort includes organizations specializing in aging, community development, housing, the faith community, and immigrant advancement. Proposed programs include Dorchester Bay Economic Development Corporation’s on-site, in-person wellness series educating residents about health risks and prevention;  the Tzu Chi Foundation’s Home Buddy Project for homebound, Chinese-speaking elders; the Nigerian American Multi-Service Association’s “eating together is healing together” community meal series; and Urban Edge’s digital literacy program teaching older adults to use computers and the internet. Age Strong convened a diverse group to review the grants from various sectors including the Mayor’s Office of Immigrant Advancement, Mayor’s Commission on Disabilities, Mayor’s Office of Veterans’ Services, Mayor’s Office of New Urban Mechanics, higher education, long-term care providers, and Boston’s older adult residents. In order to evaluate the impact of the grants, Age Strong has partnered with UMass Boston’s Gerontology Institute to facilitate all grantee data collection and program metrics.

Vertex 製藥今日啟用第二棟大樓 波士頓海港區成麻州第二大生醫重鎮

Vertex董事會主席Jeff Leiden (右)和現任執行長Reshma Kewalramani。 (周菊子攝)

          (Boston Orange 編譯) 製藥業鉅子之一Vertex，今 (17)日慶祝位於Ray Flynn工業園，在Tide接6號的4層樓高，佔地26萬7千平方呎新辦公大樓開張。

這個新辦公大樓和Vertex座落在扇碼頭 (Fan Pier)的總部距離，僅約一里之遙。

麻州州長Charlie Baker身體有恙，副州長白莉朵 (Karen Polito) 代表出席致賀。(周菊子攝)

Vertex還宣佈計畫，要在對街的Drydock大道22號上，佔用7層樓高，34萬4千平方呎的大樓，並且命名為Jeff Leiden細胞及基因療法中心。Vertex公司內部，把由Related Beal 和Kavanagh顧問集團所發展的這2棟樓稱為Leiden 1，以及Leiden 2。

Vertex也宣佈了將在未來5年內投資5000萬元，致力促進醫療平等，包括改善一型糖尿病臨床試驗的多元化，加強麻州總醫院 (MGH)的鐮狀細胞性貧血症 (sickle-cell disease)治療，擴大該公司與非牟利機構Year Up的人力培訓，以幫助年輕人為踏進生命科學界工作做準備。這些經費將來自於Vertex於2017年設立的5億元慈善基金。

愛國者球隊老闆，麻州的億萬富豪Robert Kenneth Kraft (左)也來恭喜 Jeff Leiden。 
(周菊子攝)

這是Vertex當年執行長，現任董事會主席的Jeff Leiden八年前野心勃勃，為將來擴張做的準備。如今Vertex的前沿細胞及基因療法距離商業化銷售不遠，還打算擴大生產及研究園區，這些發展都和Jeff Leiden當年的野心相符。

一旦安置完備後，Vertex會有大約400人在第一座大樓內工作，另外500人在第二棟大樓工作。Leiden表示，其中有700個是波士頓的新工作崗位。Vertex目前在扇碼頭那兒的員工共約2600人，包括90人在工業園的工廠裏，還有75人在劍橋市。

Leiden說，Vertex可以去其他地方，但他們決定在海港區擴張。他也說該公司沒有向政府尋求稅務或結構上的優惠。

這是Vertex的新大樓，剛命名為Jeff Leiden細胞及基因療法中心。(周菊子攝)

Leiden希望第二座樓在2025年時能夠啟用。不過那時候他可能已經離開Vertex了。當Reshma Kewalramani於2020年接任執行長一職時，Leiden原本預定劉認為執行主席知道2023年，現在他同意繼續留任至2024年春，在投資者關係和政府事務上協助Kewalramani處理波士頓新園區。

Vertex現有4個CF治療方案，去年共為該公司創造了76億元營收。

約有一、二百人出席了命名儀式。 (周菊子攝)

麻州州長查理貝克   (Charlie Baker)原定出席這宣佈大樓新名稱儀式，但臨時身體有恙，由副州長代表出席。

在儀式中，Jeff Leiden感謝麻州長查理貝克，副州長白莉朵，前任波士頓市長馬丁華殊，現任市長吳弭，以及波士頓市不分區市議員Michael Flaherty等人這些年來給予的協助。 (更新版)

波士頓公校總監一直有37人申請

             (Boston Orange 編譯) 波士頓市公校系統計畫在6月底現任總監離職時，聘得繼任者，目前已知有31人申請。

             波士頓市府週一透露了這資訊，並說明申請人數雖然比前兩次搜尋波士頓公校總監人選時少，但這次搜尋的時間也比較緊迫些。

             熟悉波士頓公校總監搜尋歷史的人指出，波士頓市在覓得卡蘿強森 (Carol Johnson)，張欽棠 (Tommy Chang)出任公校總監時，都花了大約2年時間，2019年聘用現任公校總監Brenda Cassellius，也花了大約10個月。

             波士頓市長吳弭和學校委員會主席Jeri Robinson今年2月時突然宣佈Brenda Cassellius 將於6月底離職，以至於波士頓公校要在五個月內找一名新總監接任，搜尋時間的確短了些。

             波士頓公校總監搜尋委員會的共同主席，也是邦克丘社區學院校長余慕潔 (Pam Eddinger)表示，她對有這麼多人申請感到滿意，她相信他們會找到一名可以確保波士頓學校學生學業優異的新總監。

             波士頓市府雖然公佈了有多少人申請，但未公佈關於申請人的細節。關心此事者都好奇這些候選人都有什麼樣的資歷。

             有學生4萬9千人的波士頓公校是麻州內最大的公校系統，近來不斷出現狀況，有些學校老師和家長甚至揣測，在波士頓公校學生考試成績不佳，校長及校區行政人員流動率高，特殊教育營運長期不佳，也未能遵循聯邦政府法令為英語不流利學生提供適當項目，麻州教育局局長Jeffrey Riley是否是會試圖接管波士頓公校系統。

             波士頓公校總監搜尋委員會為此制定了一份長達7頁的職務說明，希望能找到一名熟悉波士頓市或麻州，曾經當過學校總監，能說多種語言，有為不同背景學生彌平機會及成就差距記錄等資歷的人來出任新總監。

             當年波士頓市在搜尋新任公校總監時，Cassellius那一屆有39人申請，其中一半為黑人、拉丁裔及亞裔，有三分之一當過學校總監。2015年挑選了張欽棠出任公校總監時，有75人申請該職位。不過那次的搜選很特別，因為時任波士頓市長的馬丁華殊 (Martin Walsh)原本打算2014年初就聘用新總監，但是那一年，因為只有26人申請，而且其中只有5名申請者是有色人種，申請搜尋委員會在顧問忠告下，暫停了搜尋動作。