Boston needs bilingual (Chinese and Vietnamese) Poll Workers

Dear Community Members:

The Boston Election Department is still looking for bilingual (Chinese and Vietnamese) Poll Workers to work at various Boston precincts (voting locations) on November 3rd (Tuesday) for the upcoming Municipal Election. Some of the areas that still need bilingual Poll Workers include: the McKinley School in the South End, the Morville House in Fenway, and the precincts in Allston-Brighton (Chinese) and Dorchester (Vietnamese). 

The Poll Workers’ job responsibilities include, but are not limited, to the following: assist with preparing the voting location for opening; hang signs in accordance with legal requirements; count ballots; check in voters; maintain a record of the Election Day’s activities; check handicap access; provide language assistance; assist in removing signage; pack up election materials; and help check counts at the end of the day. 

There are stipends ranging from $135-$175 for Poll Workers. While it is encouraged that all Poll Workers be available from 6:00am to the closing of the polls (9:00pm), those workers serving as Inspectors or Interpreters may opt for a half-day shift: 6AM to 2PM or 1PM to 9PM (prorated pay rate of $9/hour). All prospective Poll Workers will be required to attend a mandatory 2-hour training session prior to the Election.  

Poll Workers must be registered voters in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts; however, the guidelines for Interpreters are more flexible (i.e., voter status not required). All Poll Workers must exhibit a professional and helpful demeanor, and must be respectful and mindful of the ethnic and cultural diversity of Boston’s voters.

To download the Poll Worker application, please visit the Boston Election Department’s website: http://www.cityofboston.gov/elections/pollworkers.asp

I have also attached a copy of the application, and would greatly appreciate it if you could help forward this information to your networks. Thank you in advance for helping the Boston Election Department to ensure that there is language assistance at the polls for the voters with limited English proficiency.

Please let me know if you have any questions, or need more information. 

Best regards,

Helen 

 

Helen Y. Wong 黃曉明, Administrative Coordinator 

BCYF Quincy Community Center885 Washington Street (Chinatown); Boston, MA 02111
Office (617) 635-5129, ext. 1086
Fax (617) 635-5132
"Every Neighborhood, One Mission"
Helen.Wong@boston.gov

www.cityofboston.gov/BCYF | www.facebook.com/BCYFBoston | https://twitter.com/BCYFcenters

MAYOR WALSH APPOINTS NEW BUDGET DIRECTOR

MAYOR WALSH APPOINTS NEW BUDGET DIRECTOR

BOSTON - Tuesday, October 6, 2015 - Mayor Martin J. Walsh today announced the appointment of Katie Hammer as the City of Boston's Budget Director, serving in the Office of Budget Management. Hammer brings over seven years of experience in government finance, administration and communications to her new role. "Katie brings a tremendous amount of experience and a strong record of fiscal management to her new role as budget director," said Mayor Walsh. "I am excited to bring her knowledge and integrity to our office, and I look forward to working with her as we build upon the city's record of balanced budgets and invest in the resources most important to our residents." As Budget Director, Hammer will provide strategic leadership in shaping the annual city budget and the five year capital plan, supervise the Office of Budget Management, coordinate executive policy decisions and annual funding plans and represent the administration on budgetary matters. Prior to accepting the role of Budget Director, Hammer served as the Director of Workforce Management and Finance for the Massachusetts Convention Center Authority (MCCA), where she directed the human resources department, developed the salary and benefits budget and implemented a talent development program. "I am excited to work with Mayor Walsh and the budget team to build thoughtful operating and capital budgets that continue the City's record of fiscal responsibility, promote efficient operations and invest in a thriving, healthy and innovative city," said Hammer. Before joining MCCA, Hammer was the Assistant Secretary for Administration and Chief of Staff for the Commonwealth's Executive Office of Administration and Finance (A&F), which is responsible for managing the state's finances. In that role, she exercised oversight and coordination of core state government operations, including state facilities, information technology, human resources and procurement divisions within the Secretariat. Hammer previously served as the Assistant Budget Director for Capital Planning at A&F, where she led the development of the Commonwealth's Fiscal Year 2013-2017 Capital Investment Plan and the introduction of multi-year bonds to support significant investments in transportation, housing, information technology, and other infrastructure and assets in the Commonwealth. Hammer holds a master's degree in public affairs from Princeton University's Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs, and a bachelor's degree in political science and economics from Washington University in St. Louis. During graduate school, Hammer worked as a fellow in the City of Boston's New Urban Mechanics summer fellowship program, where she assisted the Boston Redevelopment Authority in launching an urban agriculture zoning process and helped identify land suitable for urban farming. She currently lives in West Roxbury with her husband, Michael.

MAYOR WALSH ANNOUNCES $3 MILLION IN CAPITAL UPGRADES TO ELDERLY AND DISABLED PUBLIC HOUSING

MAYOR WALSH ANNOUNCES $3 MILLION IN CAPITAL UPGRADES TO ELDERLY AND DISABLED PUBLIC HOUSING

Boston Housing Authority to Improve Common Areas at 22 Elderly and Disabled Developments Throughout City

BOSTON - Tuesday, October 6, 2015 - Mayor Martin J. Walsh today announced $3 million in capital upgrades to 22 elderly and disabled public housing developments throughout the City of Boston. The Boston Housing Authority (BHA) is providing the upgrades to common areas of the developments to create a warmer and more welcoming environment, and an improved quality of life for residents. "All of our residents deserve to live in a clean, welcoming environment," said Mayor Walsh. "I am proud to announce these improvements which will improve the quality of life for so many of our elderly and disabled residents." The upgrades to the developments will include newly painted common areas and hallways, new common area flooring, new ceilings and updated furniture for community rooms and spaces. Residents will have the opportunity to provide input in choosing the color scheme for their development. "Our elderly and disabled residents, sometimes by necessity, spend a considerable portion in the community spaces of their buildings," said BHAAdministrator Bill McGonagle.  "We're pleased to be able to provide an updated and more enjoyable environment for our elderly and disabled residents." Work has begun at the Peabody/Englewood and Foley sites and a schedule will be developed for the remaining sites in the coming months. The developments that will receive the upgrades are: Groveland in Mattapan Amory Street in Jamaica Plain Rockland Towers in West Roxbury Codman Apartments in Dorchester Spring Street in West Roxbury Roslyn Apartments in Roslindale Annapolis Apartments in Dorchester Ashmont Street in Dorchester Foley Apartments in South Boston West Ninth Street in South Boston Torre Unidad in the South End St. Botolph in the Back Bay Bellflower Street in Dorchester JJ Meade Apartments in Dorchester MLK Towers in Roxbury Frederick Douglass in Roxbury Pasciucco Apartments in Dorchester Hassan Apartments in Mattapan Peabody/Englewood in Dorchester Hampton House in Roxbury Washington Manor in Roxbury Washington Street in Brighton

MAYOR WALSH ANNOUNCES EXPANSION OF HUBWAY BIKE SHARE PROGRAM

MAYOR WALSH ANNOUNCES EXPANSION OF HUBWAY BIKE SHARE PROGRAM

Expansion Includes First Bike Stations in Brighton and Significant Expansion in Charlestown, Dorchester and Roxbury

BOSTON - Tuesday, October 6, 2015 - Mayor Martin J. Walsh along with the Boston Transportation Department/Boston Bikes today announced that work is underway to expand the Hubway Bike Share System to 15 additional station locations throughout the City.  The expansion will include the first Hubway locations in Brighton, and significant expansion into new parts of Dorchester, Roxbury and Charlestown.  "Hubway is a healthy, affordable option for Boston residents to get to school or work, and I am thrilled we are able to expand it to even more neighborhoods," said Mayor Walsh. "We will continue to work with our community partners so that all of our residents have access to a diverse range of transportation options."  "We are thrilled to be able to expand Hubway to provide even more residents, commuters and visitors with the opportunity to take advantage of bikeshare," said Boston Transportation Commissioner Gina Fiandaca.  "Whether your mission is to visit family or local businesses, get to work, or just enjoy a ride, Hubway is a convenient and economical option for traveling around the City.  I encourage anyone who isn't already using the service to give it a try." The New Balance Hubway Bikeshare System launched in Boston in 2011 with 60 stations and 600 bicycles. With this expansion, the total number of stations in Boston will be 108 with approximately 1,100 bicycles. During the inaugural season, a total of 142,300 trips were recorded.  Since that time, the program has expanded to include the neighboring municipalities of Brookline, Cambridge and Somerville, and the number of trips taken to date is approaching four million. New station installations are beginning this week at the following locations: Brighton Center Brock Street and Washington Street, Brighton Main Street at Eden Street, Charlestown Bunker Hill Community College, Charlestown Dorchester Avenue and Harbor View Street, Dorchester Wentworth Institute of Technology, Fenway Nashua Street at Martha Road, North Station Franklin Park at Seaver Street, Roxbury Franklin Park Zoo Roxbury The Lawn on D, South Boston Waterfront West Broadway at D Street, South Boston The following station locations are pending final permitting approvals: Savin Hill, Dorchester Heath Street and South Huntington Avenue, Jamaica Plain Congress Street and Northern Avenue, South Boston Waterfront Troy Boston, South End The City of Boston partnered with MassDOT, the MBTA, MassPort, Bunker Hill Community College, St. Elizabeth's Hospital and Zoo New England to offer these convenient station locations with direct access to public transportation, parks and bike routes. This year's expansion was funded in part by generous sponsorships from Gerding Edlen, Skanska and the Wentworth Institute of Technology.  Revenues from memberships and advertising fund the system's operation. The City of Boston has the longest-running subsidized bike-share membership program in the country offering Hubway memberships to low-income residents for just $5 per year. For more information about subsidized memberships please visit www.bostonbikes.org or call 617-635-4756.  More information about the New Balance Hubway system may be found at www.thehubway.com.

華埠機構支持“正當理由驅逐”條款

十數個機構日前（10月3日)舉辦“有權留在波士頓大會（Right to Remain in Boston Assembly）”，呼籲，見證“正當理由驅逐條款（Just Cause Eviction law）”，結束逼遷狀況。

         由“對波士頓市有權（Right to the City Boston）”，以及波士頓租戶聯盟（Boston Tenant Coalition）合作舉辦的前述活動，邀集了包括華人前進會等廿個組織，為保護民眾，讓他們在波士頓市快速貴族化之際，有權留在波士頓而站出來說話。

         波士頓市議員米高法拉提（Michael Flaherty），史帝夫墨菲（Stephen Murphy），查理楊西（Charles Yancey），提多傑克遜（Tito Jackson）等人都支持這一活動。

         主辦單位表示，這次集會的主要目標是推動“正當理由驅逐法“正式成為條例，爭取一個社區內應有多種不同用途房屋，呼籲以集體力量加強對波士頓市2015年大選的影響力，與全美各地城市攜手，鼓吹“居住正義”等。

     他們指出，在2006年至2012年間，波士頓市內有不下4500個家庭住宅貸款贖回權被取消（foreclosed），其中許多家庭因此流離失所。但波士頓居民中，有67%的人貸屋而居，這些人的年收入平均才34,400元，促使政府採取行動，為民眾提供可負擔，無障礙住宅，因此變得格外重要。

         主辦單位等機構，迄今已徵得2708個簽名，將繼續推動，呼籲政府保護社區內住宅的可負擔性。

圖片說明

            華埠居民支持被逼遷家庭。（圖由前進會提供）

            華人前進會共同主席湯建華（前中），華埠居民會共同主席余仕昂

等人也親自出席會議。（圖由前進會提供）

            民眾舉標語支持“正當理由驅逐條款”。（圖由前進會提供）

耆英會新康樂樓剪綵 74單位啟用

)(本報記者菊子波士頓綜合報導)大波士頓華埠最新的一棟老人屋，擴建成74戶的康樂樓，昨（5）日邀得波士頓市長馬丁華殊（Martin J. Walsh），波士頓市議會議長林乃肯（Bill Linehan），經文處處長賴銘琪等嘉賓剪綵，將逐步完善內部設施，全面使用。

            新康樂樓是由中華耆英會（GBCGAC) 和羅傑森社區（Rogerson Communities ）的合作成果，斥資逾3700萬元，分33戶，再42戶的二期工程，先蓋新樓，再拆舊樓，蓋新樓，才擴建成共有74戶單位新樓，符合綠色樓宇規定的工程。

            這一擴建，改善了波士頓市內低收入耆英住宅，保留了屋頂花園，公共活動空間。中華耆英會提供的成人日間護理項目，也將由該會工作人員在該樓宇內為耆英繼續服務。

            波士頓市長馬丁華殊表示，市府很高興康樂樓擴建完成，因為市府知道維持，並在市區內增加可負擔住宅的重要性。他感謝羅傑森社區，中華耆英會，以及聯邦房屋及市區發展局（HUD），麻州住宅及社區發展局等機構的通力合作。

今（6）天早上，他還和波士頓房屋局主管到多徹斯特的碧波地英格伍（Peabody Englewood ）公寓，宣佈一項耆英，殘障人士可負擔住宅的重大發展計畫。

            中華耆英會是個座落於華埠之內，每天為不下1200名低收入耆英提供服務的機構。波士頓重建局為此發展計畫，貢獻了逾1100萬元。

            舊康樂樓是一棟只有28戶根據聯邦房住局202章節標準建造，簽有住宅援助付款合約（HAP）的住宅大樓。在擴建工程中，舊樓部分除了保留具歷史意義的外牆，其餘全都拆掉了新建。

        這棟大樓的所有單位，都是以家庭收入低於中位收入（AMI）百分之五十者為對象的可負擔住宅。大樓內共有38戶套房，37戶一睡房，其中一戶是保留給管理經理的單位。

        大樓內有8 戶是撥給年收入低於平均中位收入30%的無家可歸者。所有的單位都適合耆英居住，其中有4戶有完整的適合殘障人士設備。

            新康樂樓座落於波士頓華埠內的自由樹歷史區，由建築師施家銘設計，華殊兄弟做總承包商。大樓內有可每日供32人參加的成人日間護理項目，比原本的可服務20人，大有增加。樓內還有隔間供醫療服務用。樓頂花園及太極區，坐輪椅的人都可搭電梯上樓使用。

            新康樂樓的總造價為 $37,168,937。波士頓市政府及波士頓重建局投資了 $11,213,494 ，麻州政府資助了 $5,714,861 。其餘的建樓所需款項 $20,240,582 ，來自麻州發展公司發行的4%低收入住宅抵稅優惠，以及聯邦政府的更換保留款，私人捐助，基金會撥款等。

圖片說明：

            經文處處長賴銘琪（左二），塔芙茨醫療中心董事長萬格納，波士頓市議會議長林乃肯，波士頓市長馬丁華殊（左六），中華耆英會行政主任梅伍銀寬（左六前起），梅炳鈿，李壽泮，陳建立（右三），黃瑞瑜（右二）等人為剪綵合影。（圖由林乃肯辦公室提供）

CC100515B-2

經文處處長賴銘琪（左起），塔芙茨醫療中心董事長萬格納，波士頓市議會議長林乃肯，中華耆英會行政主任梅伍銀寬，波士頓市長馬丁華殊，梅炳鈿等人為康樂樓啟用剪綵。（圖由林乃肯辦公室提供）

六機構辦慶雙十書畫攝影展

書畫展主辦人合影，前左起，莊著學，周文熙，程嶺，黃鏡明，
陳銘俊，阮鴻燦，池元山，吳紹營，以及阮伯疇（右一），後排
左起，黃定國，黃周麗桃，郭大文，林卓培，陳綺怡，梁小玲
等人。（劉羽晨攝）

（實習記者劉羽晨波士頓報導）波士頓中華書法會、僑教中心、紐英崙藝術學會、紐英崙中華公所、中華表演藝術基金會、北美藝術家協會等六機構，10月4日在紐英崙中華公所會議室，攜手舉辦「雙十國慶書畫攝影展」，掛出“瀚墨書盛世，詩畫送神州”的祝福，有近百人出席，盛極一時。

書畫展開幕儀式。（劉羽晨攝）

            開幕式由書法會前會長周麗桃擔任司儀，紐英崙中華公所主席阮鴻燦、波士頓中華書法會會長陳綺怡與池元山、北美藝術家協會會長程嶺、僑教中心主任郭大文、駐波士頓台北經濟文化辦事處副處長陳銘俊博士等人，一一為開幕致詞。

            慶祝民國104年生日的這書畫展，共展出２３名作家的８２件作品，其中書法２７件、水墨３２件、攝影７件、素描８件及篆刻８件。參展作品包括阮伯疇的蝦畫，莊著學的書法，以及紐英崙藝術協會前會長林卓培的素描等等。

波士頓蝦王阮伯疇與其蝦畫作品合影。（劉羽晨攝）

            中華書法會會長池元山表示，雖然他們以藝術慶祝雙十，但藝術其實應超越任何政治與黨派，不受之左右。他指出，慶祝雙十書畫展一年一年辦下來，人們看到的趨勢是，來自中國大陸的朋友越來越多，來自台灣的人越來越少，不過正如北美藝術家協會前會長程嶺說的，在漢字文化的共有歷史發展脈絡中，政治實在很渺小。

莊著學與其書法作品合影。（劉羽晨攝）

            參展者之一是有「波士頓蝦王」美譽的阮伯疇。他投身繪畫２０多年，師承齊白石兒子齊良遲，能畫出正宗齊派蝦子，筆調有齊白石之風，而備受歡迎。

            「雙十國慶書畫攝影展」將在中華公所會議廳從即日起持續展至10月10日。

大波士頓僑界將於10月10日在波士頓市府廣場舉行青天白日滿地紅升旗典禮，預定上午十點開始，有花車參與遊行。大波士頓僑胞將從中國城華埠牌樓出發，走到波士頓市府廣場升旗。

中華書法會會長池元山與紐英崙中華公所阮鴻燦主席合影。
（劉羽晨攝）