MAYOR WALSH ANNOUNCES DEPARTURE OF PUBLIC WORKS COMMISSIONER MICHAEL DENNEHY

MAYOR WALSH ANNOUNCES DEPARTURE OF PUBLIC WORKS COMMISSIONER MICHAEL DENNEHY

Dennehy Moves to New Position as the Town Administrator of Milton

BOSTON - Wednesday, November 23, 2016 - Mayor Martin J. Walsh today announced that Public Works Commissioner Michael Dennehy will be leaving the City of Boston to become the Town Administrator of Milton. Dennehy is a twenty-year member of the Public Works Department. For the last three years, he has led this critical Department, which handles all residential recycling and trash collection as well as builds, lights and maintains the City's streets, sidewalks and bridges. Dennehy's last day will be on Friday, November 25. "We owe great thanks to Michael for his incredible service to the City," said Mayor Walsh.  "He has exceptionally high standards for the services we deliver and has built a very strong team to meet those standards every day. Whether it was leading our City through our snowiest winter or ensuring that a 311 call was responded to quickly and well, Michael delivered for our residents. Milton is getting an excellent leader and a great public servant. We wish Michael the best." Michael Dennehy joined the Public Works Department in 1996, working in the City's Highway Division. He helped lead the implementation of the City's first constituent relationship management system, assisted with the development of the BOS:311 app and inspired the creation of the companion app used by City employees called City Worker. He has served as the Public Works Commissioner since 2014. "I have been truly blessed over the past two decades to work for the taxpayers of Boston. It has been my honor," said Dennehy. "I am equally thankful to have worked alongside the dedicated men and women of the Public Works Department who proudly deliver the basic city services to this world class City day in and day out." Chris Osgood, the City's Chief of Streets, Transportation & Sanitation, will serve as the Acting Public Works Commissioner. With the addition of this role, Osgood will chair the Public Improvement Commission and support the work of the Public Work's Construction, Engineering & Permitting Divisions. Deputy Commissioner Michael Brohel will lead all core city service operations for the Public Works Department. This includes the City's response to snow, as well as overseeing Central Fleet, Code Enforcement, Highway Operations, Street Lighting and Waste Reduction.

麻州長宣佈11/25是"綠色星期五"

Baker-Polito Administration Declares Friday, November 25, 2016 as “Green Friday”

Declaration Made to Recognize State’s Green and Christmas Tree Industries

BOSTON – November 23, 2016 – The Baker-Polito Administration has declared Friday, November 25, 2016 as “Green Friday” to encourage people across the Commonwealth to visit their local farms for Christmas trees, holiday plants, and various decorating needs.  To celebrate the day, Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources (MDAR) Commissioner John Lebeaux and Assistant Commissioner Jason Wentworth will participate in the annual Christmas tree cutting ceremony at Mistletoe Acres Tree Farm in East Bridgewater, which grows Christmas trees for the fresh cut market, at 10:00am.

“The Massachusetts nursery industry and Christmas tree growers are important contributors to our state’s economy and the holiday season,” said Governor Charlie Baker. “As the holiday season begins, I encourage everyone to celebrate ‘Green Friday’ by buying local festive wreaths, garland, poinsettias and Christmas trees.” 

“Today is a wonderful opportunity to express our gratitude to Massachusetts’ Christmas tree growers and nurseries for their contributions to the environment, the holiday season, and our local and state economies,” said Lieutenant Governor Karyn Polito. “It is important that we continue to support the Commonwealth’s local growers as part of ‘Green Friday’ by buying locally-grown Christmas trees and other holiday greens.”

Christmas tree season in Massachusetts provides hundreds of seasonal jobs at nearly 400 Christmas tree farms on approximately 3,000 acres of land from Cape Cod to the Berkshires. Approximately $1.4 million is added to the Commonwealth’s economy each year from the sale of Massachusetts-grown Christmas trees. Christmas tree farms, which are oftentimes sited on soils that cannot support other crops, stabilize soil which helps prevent erosion and protect water supplies. When chipped, the trees can be used as a renewable source of energy to be burned as fuel, used as mulch, or composted.

“The Baker-Polito Administration is proud to recognize our vibrant Massachusetts green industry, which is comprised of many family-operated businesses that provide not only memorable holiday traditions but contribute to sustaining the Massachusetts agricultural industry and environment,”  said Energy and Environmental Affairs (EEA) Secretary Matthew Beaton.  “Christmas tree farms provide many local jobs to Massachusetts residents, and offer several environmental benefits, including helping to reduce the state’s carbon footprint and providing a stable refuge and feeding areas for wildlife.”

“Tis the season to get a head start to your holiday decorating needs on ‘Green Friday’ by visiting a Christmas tree farm and the many Massachusetts garden and nursery centers who provide an abundance of ‘greens’ to complete your holiday season celebrations” said MDAR Commissioner John Lebeaux. “Our tree growers and nursery/garden centers are committed to growing the best products by not only caring for the land, preserving open space, but also utilizing the best management practices.”

“We are looking forward to another great cut your own tree season and there should be plenty of nice trees to choose from at your local farms,” said Daniel Pierce, President of the Massachusetts Christmas Tree Growers Association. “The weather this growing season has been a little challenging due to the drought but the damage seems to be limited to the new plantings. The trees that are ready to cut are looking great due to timely fall rains.” 

CAPAC Requests Meeting with President-elect Trump to Discuss AAPI Issues

CAPAC Requests Meeting with President-elect Trump to Discuss AAPI Issues

                                                                                                                                                                                          

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC) Chair Rep. Judy Chu (CA-27) sent a letter to President-elect Donald Trump, requesting a meeting to discuss pertinent issues that affect the Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) community. Chair Chu released the following statement:

“The Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus was established over two decades ago to address the needs and priorities of the Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) community, no matter the President or party in power. And as the fastest growing racial demographic in the nation, it is critical now more than ever that the voices of AAPIs are represented in national debates on everything from immigration and education to economic development and civil rights. That is why I’ve sent a letter to President-elect Trump requesting a meeting to discuss pressing issues important to our communities. I believe that there are common areas where we can work together for the benefit of all. And where we do disagree, open communication and a positive relationship can promote solutions and civility. It is our hope that President-elect Trump will accept our invitation to meet, and that he will continue our work to give AAPIs a seat at the decision-making table in the years to come.”

The text of the letter is below:

Dear President-elect Trump:

As Chair of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC), I would like to cordially request a meeting with you to discuss pertinent issues affecting the Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) community. 

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Asian Americans are now the fastest growing racial population in the country and account for over 19 million Americans.  In addition, more immigrants now come from the Asia-Pacific region than from anywhere else in the world.

Since 1994, CAPAC has served as the leading voice for the Asian American and Pacific Islander community at the federal level. Our caucus is currently composed of 50 Members of Congress, including Members of Asian or Pacific Islander descent, representatives from the U.S. territories, and Members who represent large AAPI constituencies.  Together, CAPAC works to establish legislation and policies that address the needs of the AAPI community and works to advance the civil and constitutional rights of all Americans. 

CAPAC has been proud to work with prior Republican and Democratic Administrations on significant accomplishments that are vital to both our community and our country, and we look forward to sitting down with you before the end of this year to discuss these priorities.

Thank you for your time and consideration, and we look forward to hearing from you soon.

Sincerely,

JUDY CHU

Member of Congress

CAPAC Chair

華經會百分百可負擔新樓今日剪綵

(Boston Orange 周菊子波士頓整理報導)華人經濟發展協會耗時多年建成，座落在華埠的"好事福平安大樓"，今(11月22)日在波士頓市長馬丁華殊(Martin Walsh)，波士頓市議會議長吳弭(Michelle Wu)，波士頓市議員林乃肯(Bill Linehan)，麻州眾議員麥家威(Aaron Michlewitz)等嘉賓出席中，剪綵。

這棟大樓佔地6萬平方呎，耗資2670萬元，共有67個單位，分套房，一睡房，二睡房等三種格局，全部為有收入限制，供低收入者租住的百分之百可負擔樓宇，由華人經濟發展協會(CEDC)，施家銘建築師樓，Consigli建築公司，東方銀行，北美乞臣集團等攜手合作，歷時近10年，才克服萬難建成的華埠內首座百分之百可負擔住宅。目前已全部出租。

波士頓市鄰里發展局表示，這一工程共創造了100個建築工作機會。

波士頓市長馬丁華殊表示，波士頓很幸運，有這些建造商，設計師等等，和華人經濟發展協會合作，為華埠建造了更多可負擔住宅。

好事福平安大樓就在中城文化區旁邊，原本是個停車場，新建後有11層高，內有48間套房(studio)，16間一睡房，3間二睡房單位。這些單位的出租對象是家庭收入在地區中位收入的30%至60%之間的貧苦人家。

2600多萬元的建造經費，分別來自波士頓鄰里發展局的”領路基金(Leading the Way Fund)”，”鄰里住宅信託基金(Neighborhood Housing Trust Fun)"，聯邦及麻州州政府的抵稅優惠，麻州住宅及社區發展署撥給的370萬元等等。

為了符合波士頓市的綠色可負擔宅計畫，這棟大樓採用了綠色大樓設計技術，或有美國綠色樓宇理事會發給的LEED住宅銀證，也符合美國環保署的能源星標準。

根據hotpads.com公佈在網上的資料，這棟大樓的420平方呎套房，月租976元，熱水及暖氣費包括在月租內。收入限制為一個人$32,500- $41,220，二個人$32,500-$47,100。

華人經濟發展協會成立於1974年，以增進波士頓市內華人社區經濟發展為宗旨的非牟利組織。該會董事長蔣宗壬對於該會為波士頓華埠又添一棟可負擔住宅大樓，很感欣慰，強調該會以服務社區為宗旨，今後將繼續勘查可發展機會。(所有圖片陳偉民提供)

Bunker Hill Community College and Phoenix Charter Academy Receive Gateway Cities Innovation Award

Bunker Hill Community College and Phoenix Charter Academy Receive Gateway Cities Innovation Award

BOSTON, November 22, 2016—The “Phoenix-Bunker Hill Partnership”—Bunker Hill Community College (BHCC) and partner Phoenix Charter Academy—was recognized with a 2016 Gateway Cities Innovation Award at the fourth annual MassINC Gateway Cities Innovation Awards. The awards ceremony was held on November 15, 2016, at the MassMutual Center in Springfield, Massachusetts.

The Phoenix-Bunker Hill Partnership was one of only three recipients of the award, which recognizes organizations engaged in workforce development transformation in the Commonwealth’s Gateway Cities. The Partnership was recognized for the learning lab they are creating in Chelsea, Massachusetts, one of the state’s Gateway Cities. The lab will be located in the College’s Bellingham Square Chelsea Campus building.

“Bunker Hill Community College has been a longstanding presence in the City of Chelsea,” said BHCC President Pam Eddinger. “We are proud to continue to serve the community’s youth in new ways through this partnership with Phoenix Charter Academy.”

Due to the popularity and subsequent expansion of the College’s Chelsea Campus course offerings, the College announced this year that the Chelsea Campus will relocate to its fourth location in Chelsea in January 2017. The historic Bellingham Square Campus will serve as the location for the Phoenix-Bunker Hill Partnership. Community education courses and programs will continue to be held there in the evenings.

The Phoenix Network operates three college preparatory alternative high schools that provide rigorous academic environments for off-track teens and young adults who want to earn high school degrees and attend college. Phoenix Academy Public Charter High School Chelsea will share space with Bunker Hill Community College in the College’s Bellingham Square campus, working closely with at-risk students to provide a high-support, high-expectation college pathway program.

“I consider myself an innovator on behalf of students,” said Phoenix Charter Academy Founder & CEO Beth Anderson. “I’m excited to partner with fellow innovator Pam Eddinger and Bunker Hill Community College to study how we can increase college persistence and completion rates with disengaged young people.”

MassINC is a public policy think tank uniting non-partisan research, civic journalism and independent polling, committed to expanding and supporting Massachusetts’ middle class. MassINC was built around the conviction that better outcomes would be achieved if policy makers and opinion leaders were armed with credible data and analysis about key issues surrounding quality of life in Massachusetts.

RESULTS OF BOSTON'S SAFEST DRIVER COMPETITION ANNOUNCED

RESULTS OF BOSTON'S SAFEST DRIVER COMPETITION ANNOUNCED

Release of scores show overall improvement in driver safety

BOSTON - Tuesday, November 22, 2016 - Mayor Martin J. Walsh, together with the Mayor's Office of New Urban Mechanics (MONUM), today announced the preliminary findings from the Boston's Safest Driver competition and encouraged Boston drivers to sign up in the Boston's Safest Driver competition. Those who sign up for the app this week will be entered to win up to $4,500 in prizes. Boston's Safest Driver app was created in partnership with the Mayor's Office of New Urban Mechanics and the Vision Zero Task Force, Cambridge Mobile Telematics (CMT) and the Arbella Insurance Foundation. The smartphone app scores drivers on five behaviors associated with safer driving. To date, 98 users have been awarded over $3,400 in prizes, including prizes for people walking, biking or taking public transportation. Currently, more than 4,000 users have signed up for the app.  For the most active users of the app (the top 25 percent of users), phone distraction scores dropped by 47 percent, hard braking scores by 37 percent and speeding scores by 35 percent. 17 percent of all drivers using the app have gone 25 days in a row or more of no phone usage. "Our top priority is creating streets that are safe for Boston's pedestrians, cyclists and drivers," said Mayor Walsh. "We know that when drivers are more attentive, we save lives, and this competition is a fun way to encourage drivers to use more caution when traveling on our streets. With Thanksgiving travel approaching, I encourage all Boston residents to commit to safer driving, and I thank Cambridge Mobile Telematics and the Arbella Insurance Foundation for their partnership in making this possible." Boston's Safest Driver competition allows participants to challenge their family and friends, see how they rank in their community and win prizes for improvement each week. Between now and December 3, participants can download the app and win one of a dozen weekly prizes, provided by the Arbella Insurance Foundation, for everything from having the top score, to being the best new driver, to taking car-free trips. Downloading the app this week will also enter drivers into the grand prize competition where four skilled drivers will win up to $4,500 in prizes. "The competition is a fun way to approach a serious issue," said Kris Carter, Co-Chair of the Mayor's Office of New Urban Mechanics. "Safe driving is one more topic to discuss around the table on Thursday and we hope people will show off their high scores to spur competition over the final two weeks." The competition will culminate on December 3, 2016, with the announcement of the safest drivers in the region to be announced shortly thereafter. A major goal of the program is to allow users to become more aware of their own driving habits, particularly distractions from mobile phones, which the app informs the user about after a drive has been completed. According to the United States Department of Transportation, 3,179 people were killed and 431,000 people were injured in motor vehicle crashes involving distracted drivers in 2014. In 2015, Mayor Walsh launched Vision Zero Boston as a commitment to focus the City's resources on eliminating fatal and serious traffic crashes in Boston by 2030. The Vision Zero initiative explicitly promises action on addressing distracted driving, reducing speeding, and the exploration of new engagement strategies - all goals that sparked the partnership between CMT and the City. To download the Boston's Safest Driver app, visit:https://www.boston.gov/transportation/bostons-safest-driver-competition To view Boston's Safest Driver video, visit: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Ws47k1lrV0

麻州政府成立數位醫療保健理事會

(Boston Orange 周菊子波士頓報導)麻州州長辦公室今(11月22)日宣佈成立由33人組成的”數位醫療保健理事會(Digital Healthcare Council)，將一年至少開會四次，並研擬出一份三年計畫，帶動麻州競爭未來10年將成長至320億元的數位醫療市場。

麻州州長查理貝克(Charlie Baker)早在今年一月就推出了”麻州數位健康計畫(Massachusetts Digital Health Initiative)，現在進一步從科技，醫療服務，保險，醫療設備，生命科學，學術，政府等公、私營機構，徵召來31名專業人士，請他們幫忙找出利用新數位科技，改善麻州內的醫療護理，增加就業機會，並減少醫療開支的辦法。

麻州州長查理貝克和這"數位醫療健康理事會"今日在麻省總醫院(MGH)的醫療歷史及創新博物館，召開了第一次會議，重點討論有助於麻州創新醫療科技發展的策略及政策，希望充分利用在數位醫療領域，麻州已經居於領先地位的生命科學，電子醫療記錄，消費者可穿載設備，護理系統，付費管理，大數據分析及遠距醫療等。

新成立的這”數位醫療保健理事會"將由麻州長住宅及經濟發展辦公室麾下的創新，科技及創業助理署長Katie Stebbins，Vertex波士頓地區主席，董事長暨執行長Jeffrey Leiden等兩人擔任共同主席。

這一理事會成立後的首要責任，將是制定一份三年成長計畫，提出有哪些方法可推廣，加速麻州數位醫療創新的建議及目標。該會也將成立訂定支援計畫，以促進這些計畫的實施，並每年提交報告。

Governor Baker Establishes Massachusetts Digital Healthcare Council 

Advisory council will guide administration policy to support Massachusetts’ digital healthcare industry

BOSTON – Today the Baker-Polito Administration announced the creation of a Digital Healthcare Council, a comprehensive public-private partnership that will advise the administration on the future of the Commonwealth’s digital healthcare industry. The council stems from the momentum of the Massachusetts Digital Health Initiative, launched in January 2016.

The council convenes leaders across the digital healthcare industry, including technology, healthcare delivery, insurance, medical devices, the life sciences, academia, and government, to advise on ways new digital technologies can improve healthcare in the Commonwealth, grow jobs, and reduce healthcare costs.

“For Massachusetts to become a national leader in digital health, we need to continue to build on the momentum our Digital Health Initiative has already produced,” said Governor Charlie Baker. “This council will collaborate to move past barriers in the healthcare industry and solve significant challenges to make advances in patient care, lower health care costs, and address public health crises, like the opioid epidemic.”

Today, Governor Baker convened the first meeting of the Digital Health Council at the Massachusetts General Hospital Museum of Medical History and Innovation. The session focused on strategies and tactics that can help Massachusetts grow innovative digital health technologies. The digital health market spans a number of technologies Massachusetts is an established leader in, including the life sciences, electronic health records, consumer wearable devices, care systems, payment management, Big Data analytics and telemedicine. The digital health market is estimated to grow to $32 billion over the next decade.

“The digital health industry presents an enormous economic development opportunity for the entire Commonwealth,” said Lieutenant Governor Karyn Polito. “The industry is poised to create jobs across the Massachusetts through its impact on patient care in community hospitals, potential for advanced manufacturing applications, and for our innovation hubs that span from Springfield to Lowell, to Worcester and New Bedford.”

The Council will be co-chaired by Katie Stebbins, Assistant Secretary of Innovation, Technology, and Entrepreneurship at the Executive Office of Housing and Economic Development, and Dr. Jeffrey Leiden, Chairman, President and CEO of Boston-based Vertex.

“The digital healthcare sector plays directly to our strengths in Massachusetts - from world-class hospitals, universities and life sciences companies, to significant concentrations of VC investment,” said Dr. Jeffrey Leiden. “We at MACP are honored to have led this outstanding public-private partnership toward accelerating the growth of the digital healthcare industry in the Commonwealth and are excited about the future growth of this segment of the innovation economy as the state takes this initiative forward to the next stage.”

In January 2016 Governor Baker launched the Massachusetts Digital Health Initiative, a public-private partnership established by Governor Baker, Massachusetts healthcare executives, legislative and municipal partners, and leaders in the business community including the Massachusetts Competitive Partnership (MACP). The Massachusetts Digital Health Council will help steer and shape that Initiative, as its initial responsibility will be to deliver a three-year growth plan to the Governor with recommendations and objectives for ways the state can promote and accelerate digital healthcare innovation across the Commonwealth. The Council will also establish and support projects that bolster the implementation of the growth plan, reporting on their progress via an annual report on the Council’s progress towards its objectives.

“EOHHS is looking forward to partnering with the Council to share ideas and advance digital health in our work,” said Marylou Sudders, Secretary of Health and Human Services. “We know health data innovation can help us improve costs, care and  health outcomes, and has already helped us in addressing  public health issues, such as  the Commonwealth’s opioid crisis.”

“Massachusetts succeeds when we play to our strengths, and we have all of the resources necessary to become a global player in this space, as we are in the life sciences sector,” said Housing and Economic Development Secretary Jay Ash. “Digital health has unlimited potential to improve healthcare outcomes, lower costs and become a significant driver of job creation across the Commonwealth.”

The Massachusetts Digital Health Council will meet at least four times per year, and will be supported by the Executive Office of Housing and Economic Development and the Massachusetts eHealth Institute at MassTech (MeHI). The full list of Council members is below:

Co-Chairs:

• Katie Stebbins, Assistant Secretary for Innovation, Technology, and Entrepreneurship, Executive Office of Housing and Economic Development
• Dr. Jeffrey Leiden, Chairman, President & CEO, Vertex

Members (alphabetical by last name):

• Jay Ash, Secretary, Executive Office of Housing and Economic Development
• Scott Bailey, Managing Director, MassChallenge
• Jeff Bussgang, General Partner, Flybridge Capital Partners
• Andrew Dreyfus, President & Chief Executive Officer, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts
• Sandra L. Fenwick, President & Chief Executive Officer, Boston Children's Hospital
• Alan M. Garber, Provost, Harvard University
• Dr. Atul Gawande, Executive Director, Ariadne Labs at Brigham and Women's Hospital, and Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health
• Louis Gutierrez, Executive Director, Massachusetts Health Connector
• Dr. John Halamka, Chief Information Officer, Beth Israel Deaconess System
• Kerry Healey, President, Babson College
• Colin Hill, Chairman, CEO, and Co-Founder, GNS Healthcare
• Keith A. Hovan, President & CEO, Southcoast Health
• Dr. Erin Jospe, Chief Medical Officer, PatientKeeper
• Stephen Kraus, Partner, Bessemer Venture Partners
• Laurie Leshin, President, Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI)
• Travis McCready, President & CEO, Massachusetts Life Sciences Center
• Alice Moore, Undersecretary, Executive Office of Health and Human Services
• Dr. Elizabeth G. Nabel, President, Brigham and Women's Health Care
• Ed Park, Executive Vice President & Chief Operating Officer, athenahealth
• Larry Renfro, CEO, Optum
• Martin Arnold Schmidt, Provost, MIT
• Peter Sherlock, Senior Vice President, Programs and Technology, Center for National Security & Director, Bedford Operations, MITRE Corporation
• Justin Steinman, Chief Marketing Officer, GE Healthcare Digital
• Dr. Steven Strongwater. President & CEO, Atrius Health
• Laurance Stuntz, Director, Massachusetts eHealth Institute at MassTech
• Marylou Sudders, Secretary, Executive Office of Health and Human Services
• Steven Tello, Senior Associate Vice Chancellor for Entrepreneurship & Economic Development, UMass Lowell
• Dr. David Torchiana, President & CEO, Partners HealthCare
• Joel Vengco, Vice President & Chief Information Officer Baystate Health
• Kate Walsh, President & CEO, Boston Medical Center
• Rick Weisblatt, Chief of Innovation and Strategy, Harvard Pilgrim HealthCare