Mayor Walsh appoints Ted Landsmark to BRA/EDIC Board of Directors

Mayor Walsh appoints Ted Landsmark to BRA/EDIC Board of Directors

Brings a wealth of experience in architecture, urban design, civic leadership, and architectural and construction law

 

BOSTON – Today Mayor Martin J. Walsh announced the appointment of Dr. Theodore Landsmark, who has served as President and CEO of Boston Architectural College, to the Boston Redevelopment Authority (BRA) and Economic Development and Industrial Corporation (EDIC) Board of Directors. Dr. Landsmark, who holds degrees in environmental design and law, is Mayor Walsh’s first appointment to the BRA/EDIC board, which will fill a currently vacant position. The five-member board meets monthly and is responsible for voting on all final determinations and agreements at the agency, including planning studies, rezoning initiatives, and project permitting.

 

“Ted has proven to be an insightful leader who possesses a great sense for what goes into building successful cities,” said Mayor Walsh. “His dedication to public service has inspired countless others, and I’m excited by the fresh perspective and ideas he will bring to the board.”

 

“After coming through the harsh economic realities of the Great Recession, Boston is well-poised to draw upon the talents of innovators and long-time residents to work together to make this a truly global city,” Dr. Landsmark said. “I share Mayor Walsh’s priorities for making the BRA more open and accountable, and I am honored by the opportunity to help guide the agency into a new era. I look forward to applying my knowledge of architecture, design, and sound fiscal management in shaping the future of development in our city.”

 

At the helm of Boston Architectural College for 17 years, Dr. Landsmark, who attended Yale University and earned a Ph.D. from Boston University, has established himself as an innovative leader with a passion for public service. He has facilitated city planning sessions of the Washington, D.C.-based Mayor’s Institute on City Design, involving mayors’ think tanks in New York, Los Angeles, Philadelphia, Santa Fe, and Charleston. He has also served as president of the National Architectural Accrediting Board.

 

Under Dr. Landsmark’s leadership, the Boston Architectural College has been accredited for programs in architecture, landscape and interior architecture, and design studies, and created new programs that focus on global historic preservation, sustainable design, and health and well-being. During his tenure, development revenues quadrupled, enrollment doubled, the operating budget rose substantially, governance was restructured, international students began to be recruited, and community service became a part of the curriculum for all students.

 

Throughout his life and professional career, Dr. Landsmark has been highly engaged in public policy, social justice, and the arts. During the 1980s and 1990s, he held several roles within Boston’s city government, where he directed community partnerships, oversaw workforce training and employment programs, and created initiatives to prevent violence and improve youth opportunities. More recently, Dr. Landsmark has contributed to local civic life by serving on Boston’s Climate Action Leadership Committee and the Green Ribbon Commission.

 

Dr. Landsmark currently serves as a trustee of the American Architectural Foundation, a fellow of the Design Futures Council, and a board member at Historic New England, Historic Boston, the Fund for the Arts, the New England Foundation for the Arts, and the Trustees of Reservations. He is Trustee Emeritus of the Boston Museum of Fine Arts.

 

He will join Chairman Timothy Burke, Vice Chairman Paul Foster, Treasurer Consuelo Gonzales-Thornell, and Michael Monahan on the BRA/EDIC board. Board members serve staggered five-year terms. The Mayor of Boston appoints four of the five members, and the Governor appoints the remaining member. Dr. Landsmark’s appointment must be confirmed by the City Council.

 

The BRA’s next board meeting is scheduled for Thursday, August 14 at 5:30 p.m. in Room 900 at Boston City Hall. More information about the meetings, including agendas, minutes, and video coverage of past meetings, is available on the BRA’s website: www.bostonredevelopmentauthority.org. All meetings are open to the public, and community members are encouraged to attend.

屋斯特商會與波士頓經文處談麻州台灣合作教育商務

麻州屋斯特（Worcester)商會和駐波士頓臺北經濟文化辦事處（TECO）合作，昨（廿八）日在屋斯特大學學生中心舉辦會議，探討麻州和台灣在教育，經濟上進一步合作可能。

            同晚，中華成棒隊和屋斯特勇心隊（Braveheart）舉行友誼賽，邀經文處處長洪慧珠為這屋斯特世界棒球系列的第一場球賽開球。

            中華成棒培訓隊來大波士頓移地訓練，麻州的前任副州長，目前擔任屋斯特商會會長的穆瑞（Timothy P. Murray）安排他們住進屋斯特大學宿舍，邀未來大學棒球聯盟聯繫七場友誼賽，是促成這場麻州台灣教育、經貿會議的主因。

            穆瑞表示，推動創新，發展經濟要靠人才，培訓人才要靠教育，有人口十八萬餘，忝列為紐英崙第二大城市的屋斯特市，很高興有這機會在教育，經濟上，探討與台灣進一步合作的可能。

            穆瑞表示，他接掌屋斯特商會後，一直強調要留住人才，振興地方，孵化企業，接待中華成棒來為屋斯特市開打世界棒球系列，舉辦這會議，將是起步。

            昨日的會議，共分兩個部分，早上談教育，下午談商務。

        駐波士頓臺北經濟文化辦事處教育組組長黃薳玉，屋斯特大學校長馬隆尼（Barry Maloney）等人在“探討台灣的教育機會”講座部分，各自闡述了台灣及屋斯特市的教育狀況。

        馬隆尼指出，屋斯特市一帶有十三所大專院校，三萬五千多名學生，各種科系兼備。自從穆瑞接掌約有二千四百名會員的屋斯特商會後，推動實習計劃，使得該地區學生更能兼顧理論與實用。他坦言該校華裔學生不到1%，在國際化，引進更多華裔學生上，還有很大發展空間。黃薳玉組長提及的全麻州來自台灣學生約僅一千人，足可佐證這發展機會。

昨日下午的經濟發展座談，有駐波士頓臺北經濟文化辦事處處長洪慧珠，麻州參議員錢朵樂（Harriette Chandler）致詞。經文處經濟組長石大玲和麻州出口中心中部主任Julia Dvorko，麻州國際貿易及投資處商務發展經理Hunter M. Richard等人分別發言。

            麻州參議員錢朵樂（Harriette Chandler）曾應邀訪問台灣，昨日特地出席。她認為台灣和麻州有很多相似處，人口密集，經濟活躍，文化昌明，有很多可以合作的地方。她還特地藉著自己曾到台灣一遊指出，旅遊可以帶動很多其他發展。

            洪慧珠簡介了台灣狀況，台灣與麻州經貿來往概況，以及台灣在政治，經濟上的包容性，有不下一百四十個國家給予免簽證或落地簽證優惠等成就，也說明台灣希望加入泛太平洋合作夥伴（TPP）協議，一旦成為會員，對台美及國際貿易都有好處。

圖片說明：

        波士頓經文處和屋斯特商會合辦會議，左起，商務組長石大玲，麻州外貿中心主任Julia Dvorko，屋斯特商會會長Tim Murray，經文處長洪慧珠，屋斯特大學校長馬隆尼（Barry Maloney），ＭOITI經理Hunter M. Richard等人發言。（菊子攝）

            經文處長洪慧珠闡述台灣經貿外交概況。（菊子攝）

            麻州參議員錢朵樂（Harriette Chandler）曾帶隊赴台灣。（菊子攝）

            包括華美銀行資深副總裁李康美，Donna Barry，副總裁林志超，昨日有不少人出席。（菊子攝）

石大玲詳述台灣麻州經貿關係

麻州屋斯特（Worcester)商會和駐波士頓臺北經濟文化辦事處（TECO）合作，昨（廿八）日在屋斯特大學學生中心舉辦會議。麻州出口中心主任Julia Dvorko報告出驚人數據，麻州龍蝦出口到台灣的數量，增長了近八千倍。

昨日的這經貿座談，有經濟組長石大玲和麻州出口中心中部主任Julia Dvorko，麻州國際貿易及投資處商務發展經理Hunter M. Richard等人中分別發言。

麻州國際貿易及投資處商務發展經理Hunter M. Richard表示，他個人曾經訪問台灣兩次，目前是該辦公室負責亞洲事物。他指出，該辦公室同時負責處理州長的貿易代表團，現任麻州州長迄今已率貿易訪問團出國十四次，但其中還未包括台灣。

石大玲的發言最長。他以“台灣和麻州的貿易及投資”為主題，用了三十頁幻燈片，頗為詳盡地就台灣基本概況，目前的雙邊貿易及投資狀況，台灣外貿及經濟驅動力的最近發展，人們和台灣做生意可以獲得的支援和工具等五方面做闡述。

他指出，台灣的經濟表現在過去十五年間有起有伏，GDP成長最高時達到10.76%，最低時曾出現過負成長，今年上半年的數據為3/14%，和全世界的GDP成長度持平。以世貿組織今年四月的排名來看，台灣的2013年商品貿易出口在全世界排名第廿，進口第十八。服務貿易出口第廿六，進口第三十。在BERI的投資環境危險度評估上，台灣的獲利機會在全世界排名第三。競爭力排名第十二。整體商業環境排名第十六。

石大玲指出，台灣的人均個人生產總值（Per capita GDP），在2013年時為美金20958元，但購買力卻等於美金39854元，在全世界排名第七，可証台灣雖小，實力仍不可小覷。截至今年五月，台灣的失業率為3.85%。

石大玲在闡述台灣與美國的進出口貿易關係，說明台灣是美國第十二大貿易夥伴，第十六大出口夥伴等概況後，也說明台灣和麻州的貿易關係，包括台灣是麻州的第十一大出口夥伴，第十三大進口夥伴。麻州出口到台灣的最大宗類別是機械零件，總額約為五億元，佔對台總出口額的59.87%，其次為光電，醫療或手術用品等。麻州從台灣進口的最大宗物品是用于電視，音響系統等的電子機械設備，總額約一億五千八百萬元，佔26.63%。

石大玲提醒出席者，台灣商務環境的最近變化，包括2010年六月，台灣和中國大陸簽署了ECFA（海峽兩岸經濟合作架構協議），2013年又和紐西蘭，新加坡簽署了FTA（自由貿易協定），目前正在推動加入TPP (泛太平洋和左夥伴)，以及RCEP(東南亞區域全面經濟夥伴協定)。中華經濟研究院最近的一份研就顯示，台灣加入成為TPP會員，美國的社會福利可增加154億元，GDP成長也至少可以增加0.1%。

在問答時間中，美國小企業行政局（SBA）專員伍少武問台灣做了什麼，能讓失業率這麼低。石大玲表示，台灣的失業率從未高過2.5%，3.85%已經非常高了。目前政府在積極鼓勵發展新事業，生物，醫療器材，服務業，以及青少年創業。估計，經濟要轉型，仍需五到十年。目前的失業率不算好。

圖片說明：

            經濟組長石大玲的報告，從台灣在哪裡說起。（菊子攝）

            經濟座談有三人發言，屋斯特商會會長穆瑞（右二）主持。（菊子攝）

摩頓市長進功夫茶館 駐店晤民眾

摩頓市市長葛帝生（Gary Christenson）（右）每月出巡，在市內各地舉行“市長的咖啡時間”，方便民眾向他直接反應關心哪些事物。

日前，葛帝生特地到市政府大

樓附近，愉悅街（Pleasant）旁新開張的“功夫茶”店，和市內民眾親切晤談。摩頓市警察局長Kevin Molis都偷空來打了個轉，和市長一起晤見民眾。

在他駐店的一個半小時中，民眾找他申訴的事情包括到地鐵站的停車問題，市政府搬遷計劃進展，市府有些什麼新動態等等。葛帝生透露，在過往的“咖啡時間”中，甚至有民眾把停車罰單和支票一起帶了來，請他們代繳罰款。他抱著為民服務之心，也來者不拒。

葛帝生表示，他很高興能在他最喜歡的茶店內和民眾見面，他也很感謝店經理David Tang容許他把茶店權充辦公室。

他透露，由於功夫茶店就在市府大樓附近，店面寬敞明亮，他和市府要員們，幾乎每個月都到那舉行非正式的簡報會議。

眼見市長那麼喜歡他的茶店，經理David Tang笑說，或許要研發出一款“市長茶”，聊以致意。

圖片說明：

            功夫茶店經理David Tang（中）歡迎摩頓市警察局局長Kevin Molis（左）， 摩頓市長葛帝生（Gary Christenson）（右）光臨該店。（菊子攝）

            摩頓市警察局局長Kevin Molis（左二）， 摩頓市長葛帝生（Gary Christenson）（右三）和功夫茶店經理David Tang（左三）及其員工合影。

新英格蘭成大校友會 8/16 烤肉野餐

新英格蘭成大校友會將於八月十六日舉辦本年度夏令活動- 在牛頓市的Auburndale Cove 公園烤肉野餐，時間是上午11:30 到下午3:00。公園位於查理士河上游邊，綠林蔭中，可步行、打球；野餐區旁，有滑梯，鞦韆等，供兒童遊戲、耍玩。歡迎校友們帶著家裡的小朋友們和最愉快的心情，來同享夏日戶外活動，與大家共歡聚。報名請電郵 nckuinboston@gmail.com, 或電話 會長柯曼雯617-335-3131。
圖為幾位校友在文協烤肉當天，參加活動，以實地觀摩，並籌劃三個星期後的校友會夏令活動。左起陳志芬，林意棟，柯曼雯，任中立，王子仁，和副會長黃俊義。

open letter: The Rules for Hong Kong Electoral Reform

op-ed by Carrie Lam, Chief Secretary for Administration Hong Kong The piece, titled "The Rules for Hong Kong Electoral Reform," can also be found at http://online.wsj.com/articles/carrie-lam-the-rules-for-hong-kong-electoral-reform-1406473207

The Rules for Hong Kong Electoral Reform The central government has lived up to its commitments to the territory's people The Wall Street Journal Asia July 28, 2014 By Carrie Lam Hong Kong this month took the first step in the procedure for constitutional reform. On July 15, Chief Executive C.Y. Leung submitted a report to the National People's Congress Standing Committee (NPCSC), saying that there is a need to amend the electoral method for the 2017 chief executive election with a view to attaining universal suffrage. This took into account the report of a five-month public consultation conducted by the Task Force on Constitutional Development that I chair. Within a month or two, the NPCSC will inform the chief executive of its decision as to whether the Basic Law can be amended to implement universal suffrage in selecting the Chief Executive in 2017. We expect the NPCSC to give us the green light. On this basis, we plan to launch another public consultation on more specific suggestions with a view to forging a consensus for enabling legislation to be drafted and eventually put to legislators for a vote. Looking ahead, I offer a few observations. First, it is worth noting that universal suffrage for the selection of the chief executive was not part of the Sino-British Joint Declaration signed in 1984. The declaration refers to the selection of the chief executive by election or through consultations held locally. It was only during the drafting of the Basic Law, promulgated in 1990, that the ultimate aim of selecting the chief executive by universal suffrage was included. In 1990, with Hong Kong still under British administration, there was not a single directly elected seat in the Hong Kong legislature. Since Hong Kong's return to China in 1997, almost every election of the chief executive and Legislative Council has been more democratic. In 2007, the NPCSC decided that the fifth-term chief executive in 2017 could be selected by universal suffrage and that after this milestone was reached, universal suffrage for legislative elections was also possible. It is clear by its actions that the central authorities in Beijing have lived up to its commitments in the Basic Law (which is a national law of China) and are sincerely committed to greater democracy in Hong Kong. Second, the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region was established under the Constitution of the People's Republic of China. Article 12 of the Basic Law states that the Hong Kong shall be a local administrative region of the People's Republic with a high degree of autonomy and directly under the Central People's Government. As such, the central authorities retain the constitutional powers and responsibilities to determine Hong Kong's political system and its pace of development. The design of our political system, including universal suffrage, relates to the exercise of sovereignty by the state over Hong Kong as well as full implementation of the "One Country, Two Systems" framework. Amendments to the electoral method for selecting the chief executive must be passed by a two-thirds majority of the Legislative Council, receive the chief executive's consent and be approved by the NPCSC. Universal suffrage for the selection of the chief executive is not an internal matter for Hong Kong to decide on its own. It is a matter that relates closely to the relationship between the state and a local administration. Third, in handling democratic development matters, we must strictly follow the law. This is a core value of Hong Kong. Article 45 of the Basic Law states that "The method for selecting the Chief Executive shall be specified in light of the actual situation in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region and in accordance with the principle of gradual and orderly progress. The ultimate aim is the selection of the chief executive by universal suffrage upon nomination by a broadly representative nominating committee in accordance with democratic procedures." Legal experts, locally and in the mainland, have confirmed that the power of the nominating committee is substantive. It cannot be undermined, circumvented or "watered down" by other forms of nomination. Accordingly, the just-concluded public consultation solicited views on the size and composition of the nominating committee, the method for its formation, the procedures for its nomination of chief executive candidates, etc. Fourth, any amendments to our electoral methods require a two-thirds majority in the Legislative Council. At the moment, no single party or affiliation of parties can deliver the 47 votes required in our 70-seat legislature. Therefore, some form of cross-party support will be necessary, and compromise will be an essential element of this. If our upcoming political package fails to muster the required votes in the legislature, then Hong Kong's democratic development will come to a standstill, as it did in 2005 when we missed an opportunity to change the electoral methods for the 2007 chief executive and 2008 Legislative Council elections. Such an outcome will seriously disappoint Hong Kong people and adversely affect government operations. We hope that our legislative councilors will display political courage and pragmatism to bring about change and provide our five million eligible voters with the opportunity to select the chief executive by one-person, one-vote in 2017. If change does not happen, then we have to retain the current system of selecting the chief executive through a 1,200-person Election Committee. In this regard the choice is very clear. Fifth, let's cast an eye on the future. Many skeptics say or believe that the 2017 electoral arrangements are final. They have therefore adopted a "now or never" or "all or nothing" approach. In line with the stated Basic Law principles of gradual and orderly progress, as well as taking stock of the actual situation in Hong Kong, it should be possible to further amend electoral arrangements in the future-for example, by improving broad representativeness of the nominating committee or the "democratic procedures" to nominate chief executive candidates for selection by universal suffrage. At this critical juncture in Hong Kong's history, cool heads, pragmatism and the spirit of compromise must prevail. Otherwise we won't be able to take the bold first step of universal suffrage that will advance Hong Kong's democratic development. I remain wholeheartedly committed to working with our legislature and the community to devise a system for the 2017 chief executive election that is legally sound, stands a reasonable chance of gaining public and Legislative Council support, and is practical, practicable and easy to understand. Mrs. Lam is the chief secretary for administration of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.

Regards, Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office, New York Website: http://www.hketony.gov.hk/ny/whatsnew.htm