MAYOR WU ANNOUNCES CITY INITIATIVES FOR A SAFE, HEALTHY SUMMER

 

MAYOR WU ANNOUNCES CITY INITIATIVES FOR A SAFE, HEALTHY SUMMER

BOSTON - Wednesday, May 25, 2022 - Mayor Michelle Wu today announced the City of Boston’s comprehensive plan for a safe and healthy summer for all Boston residents, communities, and neighborhoods. Mayor Wu announced several violence prevention and intervention initiatives, including the Community Ambassadors Program, “Adopt a Block” initiative, Operation Homefront, and new employment and job training opportunities. These programs fill critical gaps in service delivery, build new possibilities for Boston, and ensure the City fully supports our communities most directly impacted by violence with the safety, trust, and accessibility that residents deserve.  This new, intensive approach addresses public safety through a lens of public health, equity, economic opportunity, and community trust. The initiatives announced today will also organize the wide variety of preexisting programs from the Mayor’s Office, Boston Public Schools (BPS), the Boston Public Health Commission (BPHC), the Human Services Cabinet, and the Boston Police Department (BPD) into a coordinated network of services to support Boston residents this summer. “Too many people in our communities live with the fear and threat of violence. As a mom to two boys, as a neighbor, and as someone that cherishes the friends, family, and neighborhoods we have in Boston, I will move with urgency to make sure our communities are safe,” said Mayor Michelle Wu. “We have been reimagining public safety through the lens of health, equity, and community trust. We are taking a wraparound approach to create new violence intervention and prevention initiatives and expand and improve existing programs.” In an effort to better connect with residents and strengthen violence intervention efforts in Boston’s neighborhoods, the Mayor’s Office is launching a Community Ambassadors Program, a new initiative that will work to engage, inform, and support residents who are most vulnerable to gun and gang violence. This program will expand City services in supporting residents' transition from high risk activity to resourced and engaged community work that improves neighborhood conditions. The ambassadors, residents of Boston neighborhoods with close community ties and a shared commitment to anti-violence programming, will work in two-person teams (with a total of ten teams) through the summer months and into the first quarter of the school year, a pivotal time for reaching residents most impacted by violence. Teams will each be assigned to historically underserved and under-resourced areas and neighborhoods throughout Boston to ensure our most vulnerable residents are connected to the resources they need and deserve. The Community Ambassadors will report directly to Rufus Faulk, the Mayor’s Senior Policy Advisor for Public Safety, and partner with the Boston Housing Authority, Boston Public Health Commission, and the Human Services Cabinet. This program will further drive the City’s work to create more pathways and support systems for residents, currently seen with BCYF’s SOAR Boston program and BPHC Neighborhood Trauma Team Network (NTT) outreach and crisis on-site response work. “The Community Ambassadors Program will lean on the social capital, knowledge, and experience of our local community leaders to better connect our neighborhoods and families  who have been disproportionately impacted by community violence with City services and resources,” said Dr. Rufus Faulk, Senior Advisor for Public Safety. “This program will drive more place based initiatives and intentional engagement with underserved individuals, families and communities. These Community Ambassadors will have the lived experience to serve as tangible examples of success to our neighborhoods and community leaders in our pursuit of a more equitable Boston for all.” Through vetted referral groups in their assigned area or neighborhood, ambassadors will engage key populations identified as disproportionately impacted by violence. Ambassadors will connect these populations with resources and services that fit their unique needs.Those populations have been identified as follows: Individuals and families within the BHA footprint and communities who have been disproportionately impacted by gun violence (for example, Humboldt Ave corridor). Juvenile/young adult populations within BPS, DYS, and the Suffolk County DA’s Office department of juvenile diversion under the age of 21.  Gang members who are driving violence between the ages of 21-24.  Individuals aged 25+ looking to transition fully from active gang involvement. Operation Homefront In an intentional effort to address this issue within our school communities, Boston Public Schools is reinstating Operation Homefront, a nationally acclaimed collaboration with the Boston Police Department, that centers around community-building and family relationships in violence prevention and intervention. Following a referral, the Operation Homefront team – consisting of law enforcement officers, Boston Public Schools staff, service providers, and clergy members – will conduct home visits to inform parents or guardians about their child’s behavior and provide resources. This effort is key to provide wraparound services to both students and families heading into summer months. “The past two years have been incredibly challenging for our children, and they need all the support they can get, not just from Boston Public Schools but from the entire City of Boston,” said Superintendent Brenda Cassellius. “When City partners, community advocates and local businesses come together to lift them up and expand their options, anything is possible. These youth jobs and programs not only offer students valuable work experience and adult mentoring that enhances their academic endeavors, they also help keep them safe, engaged and out of harm's way during the summer.”   “Operation Homefront has been a tremendous tool for years for identifying and assisting at-risk students and getting them the services and supports they need,” said Superintendent-in--Chief Greg Long. “The Boston Police Department is thrilled that Operation Homefront is being reinstated and look forward to continuing our partnerships with clergy and the Boston Public Schools.  Undoubtedly this will lead to more young people getting the interventions they need to divert them from delinquency, gang involvement or criminal behavior.”   Adopt a Block Building on the Mayor’s commitment to address the root causes of violence, the City is also revamping the “Adopt A Block” Initiative, a partnership between the City of Boston and various faith communities to serve residents and families in neighborhoods that have historically experienced an increase in violence during the summer months. Starting on June 1, this initiative will utilize a public health, wraparound approach to identify impacted families, effectively address quality of life needs, and better connect families with crucial city services and resources. Recognizing the critical role that faith-based organizations play in delivering crucial programs and services, particularly to underserved Black and Brown communities, the “Adopt a Block'' Initiative will support faith institutions’ efforts to connect and support residents' safety and health. Additionally, the faith organizations will partner with the City to host summer community events, food distribution events, homlessness prevention services and neighborhood cleanups. This initiative will be piloted in Roxbury, Dorchester, and Mattapan. The following faith leaders and institutions will serve as partnering point of contacts with the City for the immediate areas surrounding their institution and the aforementioned neighborhoods: Roxbury: Reverend Dr. Willie Bodrick, II; Twelfth Baptist Church (160 Warren St, Roxbury, MA 02119) Dorchester (especially Codman Square/Four Corners): Reverend John Marshall -  Mt. Calvary Holy Assembly (297 Talbot Ave. Boston, MA 02124).  Mattapan: Bishop Nicolas Homicil - Voice of the Gospel Tabernacle (47 Edgewater Drive, Mattapan, MA 02126)  This initiative aims to build trust between the city and residents, strengthen relationships between the City and critical faith organizations, provide opportunities for community engagement and improve delivery of City services to families most impacted by violence.  “As a faith leader in this city, I believe that it is important to prioritize our youth and provide opportunities to ensure that we have a safe summer,” said Rev. Dr. Willie Bodrick, II, Senior Pastor, Twelfth Baptist Church. “We must engage families and provide wrap-around services and programs to ensure that they have the resources needed as we work to curtail violence. Our youth are important and I look forward to partnering with the City of Boston and other organizations to meet our City’s needs and keep our communities safe.” The BPHC offers many violence intervention and prevention programs, including the Safe and Successful Youth Initiative (SSYI). SSYI works with teens and young adults between the ages of 17 and 24 who have been impacted by community gun violence to connect them with mental health services, educational opportunities, and workforce programs. By providing more intensive support and services to those individuals more regularly impacted by or engaged in violence, this is a program designed to address entrenched issues at the root of violence. SSYI is an ongoing program that will continue throughout the summer. Youth and Summer Job Programs In addition to scaling up existing programs and launching new efforts to address the root causes of violence, Mayor Wu remains committed to creating opportunities for young people to access and pursue meaningful support networks and longer term, valuable career pathways.  The Green Jobs Initiative, led by newly appointed director Davo Jefferson, provides exciting opportunities for younger people to not only gain access to meaningful work experience, but also help make Boston a more equitable and resilient City. Inspired by the PowerCorpsPHL model, the Green Jobs Initiative connects primarily unemployed or underemployed young people and returning citizens with careers in industries addressing pressing environmental challenges. Members go through tailored training phases that provide sector-specific on-the-job training. They will also be able to get relevant credentials in a field of their choosing. The “earn and learn” model ensures that members are set up to succeed in career pathways. The Green Jobs Initiative will be supported by the Mayor’s historic $1 million investment in green jobs in the FY2022 budget. As part of Mayor Wu’s commitment to expanding opportunities for youth, the City is now accepting applications and has expanded the 2022 Boston SuccessLink Summer Youth Jobs program to include 6,000 job opportunities,which is 1,000 more jobs than last year. Boston youth ages 14 to 18 (14-year-olds must turn 15 by September 1, 2022) can now apply for a summer job. Youth will have the opportunity to get connected to thousands of summer jobs that aim to promote skill building and networking through the City of Boston’s Department of Youth Engagement and Employment’s (DYEE) SuccessLink Employment Program. The Department will grant up to $3.8 million to local nonprofits for summer 2022. Boston Centers for Youth & Families provides many summer programs and activities for youth and teens including summer day programs, girls-only activities, teen employment, sports leagues and many aquatics offerings. BCYF also makes their space available to youth and families across Boston as the host site for special events and activities organized by partnering agencies. On July 5th, BCYF community centers will begin their extended summer hours. Additionally, the BCYF centers are available to extend hours as needed for special situations to ensure that City programming can effectively engage youth and families impacted by violence. This announcement builds on Mayor Wu’s commitment to transforming the structures of public safety and health to build safe, healthy communities, including yesterday’s announcement of the City’s Warm Weather Plan to address the ongoing challenges centered at the intersection of Massachusetts Avenue and Melnea Cass Boulevard and the recent historic investment in the Office of Returning Citizens. Additionally, Mayor Wu has worked to expand programming and employment for all Boston residents, including recent expansions of Early College and Innovation Pathways programming and the Summer Youth Jobs program. In January, Mayor Wu also took steps to build up public safety infrastructure, fully staffing OPAT’s Civilian Review Board and Internal Affairs Oversight Panel.

Governor Baker Nominates Colette M. Santa as a Member of the Parole Board

 Governor Baker Nominates Colette M. Santa as a Member of the Parole Board

 

BOSTON – Today, Governor Charlie Baker nominated Colette M. Santa for a new term as a member of the Massachusetts Parole Board. Santa has served as a member of the Parole Board since 2018.

 

“Colette Santa’s experience as a Parole Board member and prior service to the Commonwealth have prepared her well for continued service on the Board,” said Governor Charlie Baker. “I am pleased to submit this nomination to the Governor’s Council for their advice and consent.”

 

“Colette Santa’s knowledge of the Parole Board and experience serving the Commonwealth will bring valuable insight to the Parole Board and those appearing before it,” said Lt. Governor Karyn Polito.

 

The Massachusetts Parole Board resides within the Executive Office of Public Safety and Security and is authorized to grant paroles and supervise parolees. The seven members of the Parole Board are appointed by the Governor with the advice and consent of the Governor’s Council. Board members serve on a full-time basis. The Governor designates one member of the Board as the Chairman, who acts as the executive and administrative head of the Board.

 

Learn more about the Parole Board.

 

About Collette M. Santa

 

Colette M. Santa has served as a member of the Massachusetts Parole Board since January 2018, after being nominated by Governor Baker in October 2017. Before she was appointed as a member of the Board, Santa served as the Chief of Transitional Services for the Parole Board, where she was responsible for Institutional Parole Officers assigned to 34 state and county facilities. In that role, she also ensured that Parole Board members were provided with accurate information for inmates’ parole hearings. She was instrumental in guiding the agency through the accreditation process by the American Correctional Association for the first time in the agency’s history.

 

Prior to her work at the Parole Board, Santa’s work included various positions with the Department of Correction, including as the Deputy Superintendent for the North Eastern Correctional Center and at the Bay State Correctional Center. She also served as Deputy for Reentry at MCI-Framingham. In Puerto Rico, Santa worked with the Department of Correction as a Regional Director and Field Inspector where her responsibilities varied from conducting quality control audits and monitoring operational processes to the direct supervision of the operations, administrative services, and construction for the West Region of the Administration of Correction (7,000 inmates and 4,000 staff). She earned her Bachelor of Arts in Political Science with a minor in Management from Seton Hill College in Pennsylvania. She earned her Juris Doctorate from the Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico School of Law and her Master’s in Public Administration from Framingham State University. She lives in Milford with her family.

波士頓以美沙酮英里為重點 推出暖天11點計畫 ( Video)

 

MAYOR WU PROVIDES UPDATES ON CITY EFFORTS TO ADDRESS UNSHELTERED HOMELESSNESS AND SUBSTANCE USE CRISES CENTERED AT MASSACHUSETTS AVENUE AND MELNEA CASS BOULEVARD Shares Warm Weather Plan; provides strategic direction for longer-term response including decentralizing recovery and treatment services and prioritizing shelter redesign

BOSTON - Tuesday, May 24, 2022 - Mayor Michelle Wu today provided updates on the City of Boston’s next steps to address the intersection of unsheltered homelessness and substance use crises, centered in the area surrounding Massachusetts Avenue and Melnea Cass Boulevard. The City of Boston has developed a comprehensive Warm Weather Plan to address immediate public safety and public health needs during the spring and summer months.  Additionally, Mayor Wu shared the long-term strategic direction that the City of Boston is advancing to improve systems of care for unsheltered individuals impacted by substance use disorder. This strategic outlook outlines initiatives to decentralize services and strengthen the continuum of care, in part through shelter redesign. Through these initiatives, Mayor Wu seeks to reimagine how the City and regional partners assist individuals, services, and community, leading with a public health approach and supported by public safety.  Mayor Wu made this announcement at Boston City Hall with Dr. Monica Bharel; Superintendent of Street Operations Mike Brohel, Department of Public Works; Commissioner John Dempsey, Boston Fire Department; Chief Sheila Dillon, Mayor’s Office of Housing; Chief James Hooley, Boston Emergency Medical Services; Lt. Peter Messina, Boston Police Department Street Outreach Unit; and Dr. Bisola Ojikutu, Executive Director of the Boston Public Health Commission. “As the weather warms, we are taking concrete steps to ensure safety and health. Boston is creating a continuum of care for individuals experiencing homelessness and substance use disorder with pathways from living on the streets to permanent housing,” said Mayor Michelle Wu. “I’m grateful to all of our partners in public health and public safety working collaboratively to lower barriers and increase access to services while ensuring safe and healthy streets.” Between November and January, Mayor Wu charged the City to conduct a public health-led emergency response to transition individuals living in the encampment in the Mass and Cass area to low-threshold transitional housing and shelter sites. This effort included working with partners to create and staff six low-threshold housing and shelter sites for over 145 individuals leading up to January 12, 2022, after which no encampments were allowed in the City. This effort transitioned individuals from the street to supportive, transitional housing. Guests at these sites are connected to behavioral health and medical care, as well as housing navigation. The Warm Weather Plan and longer term Strategic Outlook continue this work to support unsheltered residents.  Warm Weather Plan The Mass/Cass neighborhood offers many critical services to individuals facing homelessness, addiction, and mental health challenges. During warmer months, more individuals spend time outside in the area, increasing needs related to public health, public safety, and quality of life. To meet the increased need, Boston’s Coordinated Response Team developed the Warm Weather Plan  to enhance the City’s multi- departmental, collaborative strategies for supporting both individuals accessing services and the surrounding community through safe and healthy streets. The main goals of the plan are to improve public safety; enhance health and cleanliness; reduce overcrowding; and prevent encampments from forming. This will be achieved through 11 steps: Promote public safety through the Boston Police Department and Boston Public Health Commission Public Safety Increase presence of joint public health and public safety outreach teams Prevent encampments Increase street cleaning Promote safe environment for accessing services at Engagement Center Increase parking enforcement Make the neighborhood more beautiful and more walkable Increase outreach Open new day centers outside of the neighborhood Provide transportation and referrals to day centers outside of the neighborhood Strengthen supportive services at low-threshold shelter and housing sites More details about the Warm Weather Plan can be found here.   Strategic direction for longer term response   Additionally, Mayor Wu shared updates on longer term approaches to decentralizing and improving homelessness and substance use services by establishing low-threshold housing and shelter and treatment services in other parts of the city.  Enhance outreach The plan outlines strategies to expand public health outreach to be proactive, to run 24/7, and to serve the city equitably. Through both city and community-led teams, the goal is to maintain encampment response supported by intentional engagement. This will connect unsheltered individuals to available housing and recovery services, and maintain clean and safe streets. Service navigation Service navigation works to make available resources more accessible, including at shelters and day-time spaces. The City will expand access to on-site triage services for unsheltered individuals by opening more drop-in hours at locations throughout Boston to connect them with recovery and treatment resources. The City will also expand low-threshold daytime spaces throughout Boston and maintain an updated online map of resources across Boston.  Shelter redesign and low-threshold housing options Shelter redesign and low-threshold housing options lower barriers for people who have traditionally been unable to access housing and shelter options. The City will work with the State to maintain the six low-threshold housing sites that were established in January, while working to create permanent locations. Additionally, the City is working to redesign shelter space. This will make these spaces more supportive through upgrading the physical space, lowering barriers to entry, and enhancing on-site recovery and behavioral health services. Shelter redesign will allow more people experiencing homelessness to access recovery and treatment services in shelter settings. Permanent housing Unsheltered individuals impacted by substance use disorder often also face acute medical and mental health challenges. The City will work to develop new permanent supportive housing dedicated to individuals with histories of homelessness and substance use disorder. Additionally, the City will work with service, state, and municipal partners to increase the model of wraparound services and housing supports. There are 800 units of permanent supportive housing in the City’s pipeline, 300 of which are in construction. The City will continue to identify more opportunities for permanent supportive housing. Decentralized harm reduction/treatment and high opportunity sites The City is working to decentralize services, including creating a citywide network of harm reduction services by collaborating with community health centers, hospitals, and social service providers. This will increase the locations and options where individuals can access treatment and services, including at community health centers. Additionally, the City will continue to work with partners to explore expanding services through recovery campuses in other parts of Boston. Boston will continue working with partners at the State level to reimagine the Lemuel Shattuck Hospital campus with a focus on acute treatment services and low-threshold transitional housing and shelter. As reflected in our capital budget, the City will continue repairing and stabilizing the existing buildings on Long Island and review the possibilities for that site. These efforts require partnership across the state and the region as the City seeks to expand access to temporary and permanent supportive housing. Recovery services Recovery services are important for the continuum of care for individuals in recovery. The City will continue the wrap-around support on the street including the BPHC Recovery Services street team, nurses, mental health clinicians, and recovery professionals. Additionally, the City is partnering with businesses to create low-threshold job opportunities to help unsheltered individuals impacted by substance use disorder earn income and increase job readiness. Finally, the City aims to create job and life skills training for newly housed individuals. Behavioral health workforce The City of Boston recognizes the need for supporting and growing a diverse behavioral health workforce to expand access to care. The City aims to train shelter, recovery, and housing workforce in harm reduction to improve care quality and health outcomes for individuals with substance use disorder. This initiative would equip providers across the City with the tools and skills to better serve individuals navigating addiction. More details on the Long-term Strategic Outlook can be found here. In developing these strategies, the City convened over 20 stakeholder meetings, meeting with over 250 individuals, including community members with lived experience, clinical partners, neighborhood associations, community health centers, shelter and housing partners, faith-based organizations, outreach teams, Boston’s State delegation, Boston City Council, outreach teams, and justice partners. The City also engaged with best practices from cities around the country and maintained an intentional focus on neighborhoods facing disproportionate impact from substance use disorder and racial/ethnic disparities in health care access. As the City works to develop best steps to address the crisis, engagement sessions with community and stakeholder groups will continue.  More details on the City’s response can be found here.

AG HEALEY ISSUES STATEMENT IN RESPONSE TO STATE’S HIGHEST COURT REJECTING EXXON’S EFFORT TO DISMISS CLIMATE DECEPTION LAWSUIT

AG HEALEY ISSUES STATEMENT IN RESPONSE TO STATE’S HIGHEST COURT REJECTING EXXON’S EFFORT TO DISMISS CLIMATE DECEPTION LAWSUIT 

 

BOSTON — Attorney General Maura Healey today released the following statement in response to the decision of the Supreme Judicial Court (SJC) affirming a trial court order denying ExxonMobil’s “anti-SLAPP” motion to dismiss her office’s lawsuit against the company for misleading Massachusetts investors about the fossil fuel-driven climate change risks to its business and deceptively advertising its fossil fuel products to Massachusetts consumers. 

 

Today’s ruling affirms the Suffolk Superior Court’s denial of ExxonMobil’s special motion to dismiss the case under the state’s “anti-SLAPP” law. ExxonMobil had argued that AG Healey’s lawsuit improperly targeted the company’s protected petitioning activities. On appeal, as it did before the Superior Court, the AG’s Office argued that the law does not apply to state law enforcement actions, and the SJC agreed. 

 

“Once again, Exxon’s attacks on my office and our case have been rejected by the courts. Today’s ruling is a resounding victory in our work to stop Exxon from lying to investors and consumers in our state. Exxon’s repeated attempts to stonewall our lawsuit have been baseless, and this effort was no different. We look forward to proceeding with our case and having our day in court to show how Exxon is breaking the law and to put an end to the deception once and for all.” 

 

DANIELLE ALLEN ENDORSES ANDREA CAMPBELL FOR ATTORNEY GENERAL

DANIELLE ALLEN ENDORSES ANDREA CAMPBELL FOR ATTORNEY GENERAL

“Andrea is driven by empathy, thoughtful problem-solving, and a profound belief that with hard work and intention, we can transform our justice system to lift up all our communities.”

BOSTON - Today, Andrea Campbell for Attorney General received the formal endorsement of Danielle Allen, a nationally-recognized democracy advocate and nonprofit leader, and a former Massachusetts gubernatorial candidate. Allen highlighted Campbell’s people-first leadership style and distinct focus on building justice and opportunity for all, especially those who are too often left out and left behind.

“Massachusetts needs a leader who will be a true partner in creating change from the ground up — and never compromise on putting the needs of our communities first. That leader is Andrea Campbell and I’m so proud to endorse her for Attorney General,” said Allen. “Andrea is driven by empathy, thoughtful problem-solving, and a profound belief that with hard work and intention, we can transform our justice system to lift up all our communities.” 

“I’m so proud to have earned Danielle Allen’s support in this race. As Attorney General, I look forward to working in partnership with her to knit our communities together and deliver full inclusion and opportunity,” said Campbell. “From Berkshire County to Barnstable to Boston and beyond, the stories, struggles and successes of everyday people are the driving force behind my work and this campaign. Together, we’ll continue to crisscross the state to inform residents of all the ways the AG’s office can improve life outcomes of our workers, residents, and families.”

Andrea Campbell is running a people-powered campaign. Over the course of her campaign, Campbell has emerged as the clear choice for Attorney General with Massachusetts residents overwhelmingly supporting her campaign. Campbell continues to lead in the polls, with a 19 point lead over her competitors in the race, and she is ahead of the pack in grassroots fundraising with more than $775,000 raised since launch, 93 percent of which comes from Massachusetts residents. Campbell has also secured the endorsements of Senator Ed Markey, former Congressman Joe Kennedy III, Environmental League of Massachusetts Action Fund, and over 90 local and state electeds from every Massachusetts county. 

波士頓環球報亞裔傳統月邀 3 亞藝影人談"華埠"

波士頓環球報亞美傳統月系列座談

Join #GlobeDocs this month in partnership with A-Doc, the Center for Asian American Media, Boston Asian American Film Festival, and WORLD Channel for a curated series of short films featuring AAPI stories. Veronica Chao, deputy managing editor, Living Arts, and editor of The Boston Globe Magazine, moderates a panel with a few of the filmmakers on May 23 to shed light on the context and process behind each film. Sign up: https://globedocsaapi.splashthat.com/social

MY CHINATOWN, WITH ALOHA

by Kimberlee Bassford

Fourth-generation Chinese American filmmaker Kimberlee Bassford explores her family’s relationship to Honolulu Chinatown, documenting the parallels between how the COVID-19 pandemic and the 1899-1900 bubonic plague that hit Hawai‘i transformed the neighborhood then and now.

TALE OF THREE CHINATOWNS

by Lisa Mao

A TALE OF THREE CHINATOWNS explores the survival of urban ethnic neighborhoods in three American cities: Washington, D.C., Chicago, and Boston. Through the voices of residents, community activists, developers, and government officials, the film looks at the forces altering each community and the challenges that go with them, including the pressing issue of urban development and gentrification.

In Chicago, Chinatown is a story of growth where the Asian American population has increased and its borders have expanded. While in contrast, Washington, D.C.’s Chinatown has dwindled to an estimated population of 300 residents of Chinese descent. The Chinatown neighborhood in Boston finds itself somewhere in between these two extremes as different groups fight for the land on which it sits.

MY CHINATOWN, WITH ALOHA

by Kimberlee Bassford

Fourth-generation Chinese American filmmaker Kimberlee Bassford explores her family’s relationship to Honolulu Chinatown, documenting the parallels between how the COVID-19 pandemic and the 1899-1900 bubonic plague that hit Hawai‘i transformed the neighborhood then and now.

CHINATOWN RISING

by Harry Chuck and Josh Chuck

Against the backdrop of the Civil Rights Movement of the 1960s, a young San Francisco film student and Chinatown resident turned his lens onto his community. Fast forward 50 years, Harry Chuck's now archival material portrays a divided community's struggles for self-determination. Weaving together never-before-seen footage and photographs, CHINATOWN RISING spans three generations in its portrait of the historic neighborhood in transition.

From the 1960s-1980s, the once quiet streets of Chinatown were rattled by the fight for bilingual education, tenants’ rights, affordable housing, and an ethnic studies curriculum. These struggles are chronicled through current-day interviews as Chinatown’s organizers and leaders of the '60s return to the battles for social justice and equality of their youth that would shape their community and nation.

國會議員Lori Trahan支持Maura Healey競選麻州州長

 Congresswoman Lori Trahan Endorses Maura Healey for Massachusetts Governor

LOWELL – Congresswoman Lori Trahan today endorsed Maura Healey for Governor of Massachusetts. The Congresswoman announced her support at the Hamilton Canal Innovation District in Lowell. Following the announcement, the pair toured the UMass Lowell Innovation HUB. Later in the afternoon, the pair visited several Cambodian-owned businesses alongside Lowell Mayor Sokhary Chau, who also endorsed Healey.

“I’ve had the honor of working alongside Attorney General Healey for the past three years, and I’ve seen firsthand just how hard she fights to create a better Massachusetts for every single one of us,” said Congresswoman Trahan. “She knows that our Commonwealth’s future is bright, but that to get there, we must bring our vibrant, diverse gateway cities like Lowell and Lawrence with us. There’s no question we’re better off with Maura leading the way, and I wholeheartedly believe we need her as the next Governor of Massachusetts.”

“A daughter of Lowell, Congresswoman Lori Trahan has never forgotten where she comes from,” said Maura Healey. “She stands up for her community every day in Congress, and I’ve been proud to stand with her to deliver justice to those harmed by the Merrimack Valley gas explosions, improve access to maternal health care for Black women, protect our environment, and more. I’m honored to have her support and look forward to continuing to partner with her to deliver results to the people of the Third Congressional District.”  

The UMass Lowell Innovation Hub is an incubator for medical device, biotech, and technology startups. The space addresses the needs of “open innovation” startups by offering access to dedicated offices and desks, coworking spaces, meeting and event locations, a prototyping and fabrication lab, support services and much more. It also provides the startups with access to UMass Lowell's faculty and research resources, and opportunities to collaborate with mentors and sponsors.

“The UMass Lowell Innovation Hub is a prime example of the ways in which we can harness the talents, brainpower, and resources of our incredible universities to encourage innovation and economic development in Massachusetts,” said Healey. “As Governor, this is a model I’ll seek to expand, particularly in Gateway Cities. Together, we can encourage businesses to move to and grow in Massachusetts, provide more job opportunities for our workforce, and make our economy and communities stronger.”

Lowell Mayor Sokhary Chau also endorsed Healey on Monday.

“As we look ahead to the future of Lowell, we will need a partner in the Governor’s Office who will champion our city,” said Mayor Sokhary Chau. “Maura Healey will be a Governor who understands the needs of Gateway Cities and I am proud to endorse her today.”

麻州農業局籲民眾注意侵入性斑點燈籠蠅卵的孵化

 State Agricultural Officials Ask Public to be on Alert for Hatching of Invasive Spotted Lanternfly Eggs

Potential for egg masses to have been accidentally brought in on nursery stock imported from other states

 

Photo: SLF egg mass on elm; Source: MDAR staff

 

BOSTON- The Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources (MDAR) is asking the public to keep an eye out for the invasive pest known as spotted lanternfly (Lycorma delicatula) during the spring planting season due to the risk of egg masses being accidentally brought in on shipments of trees imported from other states. MDAR recently received reports that nursery stock from SLF-infested areas may have been sent to Massachusetts growers. Due to this, anyone who has recently purchased trees or shrubs or had them planted on their property, particularly maple or crabapple trees, is being asked to inspect the trunk and branches to ensure there are no SLF egg masses or any hitchhiking nymphs, and to report any finds to MDAR. Landscapers and plant nurseries are also being reminded to stay on the lookout for this pest.

 

“Spotted lanternfly is a tricky pest to deal with, because it can be so challenging to detect before it becomes established,” said MDAR Commissioner John Lebeaux. “With the potential impact of this pest on grape and hop growers, as well as pick-your-own orchards and other parts of the agritourism industry, we are asking anyone with newly planted trees to check them for signs of SLF and to report it if they find it, so that we can limit the spread of this pest in our state.”

 

In addition to the agricultural impacts it causes, spotted lanternfly has the potential to negatively impact outdoor activities due to the swarming behavior of this pest when the adults appear in the late summer. SLF egg masses are about an inch and a half long, and are flat and gray in color, making them difficult to detect, especially on tree bark. Because of this, any SLF may not be noticed until the nymphs hatch at the end of May or the start of June. The public is asked to look for small black insects marked with white dots. If grapes or tree-of-heaven are in the area, they will migrate to those plants.

 

Spotted lanternfly is a sap-feeding insect that has caused significant impacts to vineyards, orchards, and other agricultural commodities in states where it has become established. SLF not only harms grapevines, maples, hops, blueberries, and over 100 other host plants, but has been observed to impact outdoor recreation in other states where populations are high and adult lanternflies swarm in large numbers during mating season. If you see any signs of spotted lanternfly, please report it to MDAR at https://massnrc.org/pests/slf.

Photo: SLF egg mass on birch; Source: MDAR staff

Photo: Young SLF nymphs on a tree-of-heaven stem; Source: Richard Gardner, via bugwood.org