Baker-Polito Administration Awards $5.65 Million to Combat Gang Violence in Cities

Baker-Polito Administration Awards $5.65 Million to Combat Gang Violence in Cities

Grants impacting 27 cities and 12 partners will bolster outreach to at-risk youth, support gang task force personnel

BOSTON – Today, Governor Charlie Baker, Lt. Governor Karyn Polito and Secretary of Public Safety and Security Dan Bennett announced the release of $5.65 million in competitive grant funds to communities and local partners to bolster their efforts to combat gang violence. The awards were made to 15 sites across 27 cities and 12 research partners through the Shannon Community Safety Initiative, which targets gang violence in the Commonwealth. With today’s announcement, the Baker-Polito Administration has awarded more than $26 million through the program since taking office.

“The Shannon Initiative employs a toolkit of techniques, from education to diversion and suppression, that help enable communities to make a significant impact on youth violence and gang activity,” said Governor Baker. “The Commonwealth has formed a number of important partnerships with cities and organizations through this initiative and we look forward to continuing that work this year to positively impact the futures of many young people and make our streets safer for everyone.”

“The cities and local partners selected for these grants have demonstrated their commitment and creativity in combatting gang violence that threatens the safety of everyone in their communities,” said Lt. Governor Polito. “We value the partnership we have with the Legislature that allows us to make these bipartisan investments every year and build stronger and safer communities.”

“These funds are vital to assist us in our efforts of addressing gang violence in Boston,” said Boston Police Commissioner William Evans. “I wish to thank Governor Baker and Secretary Bennett for their continued support and ongoing commitment to this very important program.”

The grants provide funds to communities that demonstrate high levels of youth violence and gang problems, a comprehensive plan to work with multi-disciplinary partners and a commitment to coordinated prevention and intervention strategies. Funded strategies include social intervention and opportunity provision programs, as well as gang task force personnel costs and overtime.

“The communities and partners who take part in this program have given themselves the tools necessary to make a serious impact on youth violence and gang activity,”said Secretary Bennett. “The disruption of illegal activity makes these communities safer while getting young lives back on track.” 

“The Shannon Community Safety Initiative is based on a positive youth development framework to ensure that youth have the people, places and opportunities that help them thrive and lead to positive, productive and healthy lives,” said Fall River Program Youth Services Coordinator Christian McCloskey. “It is the caring adults like the mentors, case workers and outreach workers who work daily with the youth at places like schools, Boys & Girls Clubs, and YMCAs and connect them to recreational, educational and employment opportunities. This is what makes Shannon so successful.”

“The Metro Mayors Coalition is honored to continue working with law enforcement and community partners to support prevention strategies for at-risk youth in Greater Boston,” said Marc Draisen, Executive Director of the Metropolitan Area Planning Council, which staffs the Metro Mayors Coalition (MMC), a group of 14 cities and towns who collaborate in addressing common issues confronting urban core governments. MAPC manages the grant for the MMC communities of Cambridge, Chelsea, Everett, Malden, Quincy, Revere, Somerville, and Winthrop, alongside 18 local community groups. “We thank Governor Baker and the Executive Office of Public Safety and Security for their ongoing support of this critical program to help prevent youth violence and gang involvement.”

Sites chosen by the Executive Office of Public Safety and Security to receive an award demonstrated high levels of youth violence and gang problems within their locality, submitted a comprehensive plan to work with multi-disciplinary partners, and committed to providing a coordinated prevention and intervention strategy.

The municipalities and research partners awarded are as follows:

Shannon CSI Grant Sites:

Boston - $1,075,915.41

Brockton - $290,000.00

Fall River - $381,000.00

Fitchburg (incl. Gardner) - $142,709.24

Haverhill (incl. Methuen) - $130,000.00

Holyoke (incl. Chicopee) - $385,000.00

Lawrence - $214,700.00

Lowell - $528,000.00

Lynn - $189,851.22

Metro Mayors Coalition (incl. Cambridge, Chelsea, Everett, Malden, Quincy, Revere, Somerville, Winthrop) - $307,162.00

New Bedford - $330,654.00

Pittsfield - $70,697.56

Springfield - $595,000.00

Taunton (incl. Attleboro) - $74,310.57

Worcester - $490,000.00

Local Action Research Partners (LARP):

Clark University - $44.944.66

Community Resources for Justice - $ 44.989.32

Institute for Community Health - $39.999.65

Kelley Research Associates- $37.500.00

North Shore Community College - $23.573.00

Roger Williams University - $ 40.000.00

Salem State University- $30.333.34

University of Massachusetts, Amherst - $44.802.00                                       

University of Massachusetts, Boston - $ 45.000.00

University of Massachusetts, Lowell (Haverhill/Methuen Site) - $ 26.953.00

University of Massachusetts, Lowell (Lawrence Site) - $ 26,953.00

University of Massachusetts, Lowell (Lowell Site) - $ 44,952.03

波市長剪綵慶華埠重見圖書館 張可仁盼未來和昆士高中圖館合併

波士頓市長馬丁華書為華埠圖書館啟用剪綵。(鄺寶蓮提供)

波士頓市長馬丁華殊說明五年前就答應華埠要建圖書館。(周菊子攝)

(Boston Orange 周菊子波士頓報導) 與華埠睽違了50多年的華埠圖書館，2月3日在波士頓市長馬丁華殊(Martin Walsh)親自出席剪綵，數百名社區民眾圍觀慶賀的熱絡中，終於回到波士頓華埠民眾中間，暫時座落在中華貿易大樓。

波士頓市政府指出，這是個臨時圖書館，將服務三到五年。永久性的波士頓華埠圖書館，仍待研究規劃。昆士高中校長張可仁期盼，將來重建昆士高中新校舍時，能把該校圖書館和永久性的波士頓華埠圖書館合而為一，讓社區與教育結合的更緊密。昆士小學校長司徒玉英表示，學校和社區的圖書館二合為一在波士頓市已有前例，絕對可行。

2月3日的波士頓華埠圖書館開幕剪綵，不但有波士頓市長馬丁華殊親自出席剪綵，也有波士頓公共圖書館館長David Leonard親自主持，麻州眾議員麥家威(Aaron Michlewitz)，代表華埠的波市議員愛德華費林(Ed Flynn)，甫卸任波市議會議長的不分區市議員吳弭，波士頓公校總監張欽棠，華人前進會名譽主席李素影紐英崙中華公所主席陳家驊，亞美社區發展協會行政主任劉安琪，波士頓同源會會長譚雯颯，紐英崙華人歷史協會會長曾雪清等人特地出席道賀。

范王柳娥期望華埠圖書館是個不同族裔者彼此交流，學習的地方。
(周菊子攝)

當年推動組成波士頓華埠圖書館之友的范王柳娥，華人前進會前行政主任駱理德，帶領青少年呼籲政府承諾把圖書館還給華埠的梁慧文都獲安排在開幕式中感性致詞。

波士頓市長馬丁華殊憶述當初競選波士頓市長時，他和競爭對手共12人，面對著華埠青少年追問，一旦當選後，支不支持還給華埠一個圖書館。他們這些候選人全都回答”會”，他很高興今天自己初步實踐了諾言。

梁慧文敘述華埠青少年爭取圖書館努力了20年。(周菊子攝)

馬丁華殊說明，在中華貿易大樓的華埠圖書館只是個暫時措施，三到五年後，會另建永久性的華埠圖書館。在2018的會計年度內，波士頓市預計會花1400萬元在圖書館項目上，接著的2019到2022年，還會在圖書館上再繼續投資1億零200萬元。

座落在波約斯頓街2號中華貿易大樓地下的波士頓華埠圖書館，佔地約1500平方呎，從設計，建造，購置傢具，設備，波市府共投資了大約100萬元，共有收藏品2500項，膝上型電腦20部。館內將安排有5名員工，其中永久性的圖書館員將會說中文，其他的兒童部圖書館員，館務助理，兼職館務助理，兼職監理人員預計也會是會說中文者。

波士頓市公校總監張欽棠(中)和昆士高中校長張可仁(右)，昆士小學
校長司徒玉英(左)。張可仁期盼將來昆士高中新校舍的圖書館將來
和永久性的華埠圖書館合併為一。(周菊子攝)

紐英崙華人歷史協會理事暨波士頓華埠圖書館之友會創始人之一的范王柳娥在市長之後致詞。她指出，華埠圖書館不只是移民會使用，一名在波士頓出生，九十餘歲過世的老人家曾告訴她，當年從圖書館借過一本關於愛爾蘭婦女移民到波士頓的書，獲得很多啟發。她自己小時到華埠圖書館，總喜歡界童話故事書，因為那些書總有一個歡樂結局。波士頓華埠圖書館的推動，也和那些童話故事一樣，有了個快樂結局。她希望波士頓華埠圖書館將來會成為不同族裔，新移民和本地居民聚會、交流，彼此學習的地方。

華人前進會前行政主任駱理德(右)和波士頓華埠圖書館之友會長都為
華埠圖書館成真高興不已。(周菊子攝)

梁慧文是1997年，16歲，到華人前進會實習時，才在聽范王柳娥講華埠歷史時知道，早年華埠有個圖書館。她們都好奇，當年的那個華埠圖書館到哪兒去了呢，為華埠爭回一座圖書館，從此成為她們的使命。她們做問卷調查，開社區會議，呼籲人們寫請願信，遊說民意代表們。20年過去後，如今她已是有3個小孩的母親，她非常高興華埠終於有了圖書館，當年許多人告訴她們不可能，但事實證明，只要有信心，只要堅持，只要社區團結，不可能也會變為可能。

其他或安排致詞者，包括在講台前當眾唸了一首詩的華埠居民會執委陳丹心，推動華埠圖書館不遺餘力的駱理德，以及後來應邀擔任波士頓華埠圖書館之友會會長的一名塔芙茨大學教授。

波士頓市長馬丁華殊(右四)和出席剪綵嘉賓，右起，駐紐約中領館
領事馬超，王軍，波市公校總監張欽棠，華人前進會名譽主席李素影，
麻州眾議員麥家威(Aaron Michlewitz)，華埠居民會執委，波士頓市議員
愛德華費林(Ed Flynn)，華埠居民會執委馬華。(周菊子攝)

2月3日到波士頓舉辦說明會，向社區解釋假冒中領館電話詐欺事件的駐紐約中領館領事王軍也出席了剪綵儀式，並送給波士頓華埠圖書館數百本書，由波士頓市長代表接受。

紐英崙中華公所主席陳家驊(左)，梅氏公所主席梅麗梨(右)都出席致賀。
(周菊子攝)

亞美社區發展協會行政主任劉安琪。(周菊子攝)

波士頓同源會會長譚雯颯。(周菊子攝)

波士頓華埠圖書館的標誌。(周菊子攝)

波士頓華埠圖書館外左側，放有李燦輝教授製作的波士頓華埠圖冊海報。
(周菊子攝)

波士頓僑教中心揮毫迎春招瑞犬來旺

現場嘉賓即席揮毫，左起：陳文浩、林卓培、歐宏偉、Brenda Noel、

蔣宗壬、賴銘琪及雲雯蓁夫婦、伍振中、黃周麗桃。

波士頓僑教中心主任歐宏偉(前排左五)與志工、書法家及民俗文化

教師合影。

(Boston Orange) 波士頓華僑文教服務中心2月3日年味十足，200餘人揮毫迎春，學做拓印，捏麵人，帶著祈福天燈、狗年金幣，自製春聯回家，要旺旺一整年。

駐波士頓台北經濟文化辦事處處長賴銘琪，雲雯蓁夫婦，波士頓僑務委員蔣宗壬，牛頓市議員Brenda Noel，紐英崙中華公所中文書記雷國輝、財政陳文浩和波士頓中華書法會會長黃周麗桃、林卓培，以及吳紹營、伍振中、張洋等本地書法名家等人在會場聯袂即席揮毫，更是氣勢非凡。

駐波士頓經文處處長賴銘琪致詞。

賴銘琪在活動開場致詞中，稱許中華書法會每年參加，協辦農曆新春的聯合揮毫活動，讓僑胞鄉親在海外也能感受到濃濃的張燈結綵，喜氣春聯掛滿堂的熱鬧過年味道。他也說明，今年是他在本次處長任內最後一次參加揮毫迎春，要藉機會感謝各界僑胞的長期支持駐處僑務工作，關照他們夫婦。

波士頓僑教中心主任歐宏偉和波士頓中華書法會商定的今年揮毫主題訂為「瑞犬來旺．揮毫迎春」，會場不但準備有紅色宣紙，筆墨，鼓勵出席來賓隨著應邀出席的書法家吳紹營、伍振中、張洋，以及兩名書法會會長黃周麗桃，林卓培的示範，一起學寫毛筆字，體會真草隸篆楷行等各種不同書法字體，翻查傳統春聯詞句的樂趣，還特地請僑教中心志工團，把會場佈置得喜氣洋洋，年味十足。

去年，波士頓僑教中心請民俗文化教師林賢琪以年節為主題，在會場示範拓印版畫製作，反應極佳。歐宏偉主任今年特地邀她再到會場，以”狗年來旺”為主題，再來一次現場教學。

今年還有兩位藝師，鄭秀花和李睿庭專程從台灣來參加活動，在現場示範捏麵人、臺灣天燈、事事如意飾品和狗年旺旺金幣等民俗文藝展品的製作，會場氣氛也因此格外熱鬧。(文稿及圖片內容由波士頓僑教中心提供)

兩位臺灣藝師，李睿庭(右起)、鄭秀花邀駐波士頓臺北經文處處長

賴銘琪、雲雯蓁夫婦、牛頓市議員Brenda Noel和僑教中心主任

歐宏偉一起示範他們教作的祈福天燈。

左起，吳紹營、歐宏偉、Brenda Noel、蔣宗壬、賴銘琪，雲雯蓁夫婦

、伍振中、黃周麗桃等會嘉賓及書法名家聯袂揮毫。

書法家吳紹營(右)寫吉祥話，賴銘琪夫婦在旁欣賞。

中華書法會會長林卓培夫婦(中)寫了兩幅「天道酬勤」，分別送給

僑教中心主任歐宏偉(左)與紐英崙中華公所中文書記雷國輝(右)

波士頓地區民俗文化教師林賢琪(左)示範拓印版畫。

波士頓地區民俗文化教師林賢琪(左)與處長賴銘琪、雲雯蓁夫婦合影

李睿庭和鄭秀花(左起)等兩位臺灣藝師向牛頓市議員Brenda Noel、

僑教中心主任歐宏偉(右二)等人展示事事如意飾品、狗年金幣、

臺灣祈福天燈和捏麵人等民俗手工藝。

波士頓市長為華埠圖書館開幕剪綵

MAYOR WALSH, COMMUNITY MEMBERS CELEBRATE OPENING OF CHINATOWN BOSTON PUBLIC LIBRARY

BOSTON - February 3, 2018 - Mayor Martin J. Walsh and library community members today celebrated the opening of Boston Public Library Chinatown at 2 Boylston Street in the China Trade Center. The event marked the return of library services to the neighborhood for the first time in more than 50 years, and a $1 million investment in library services in Chinatown. Regular library hours will begin on Monday, February 5, at 10 a.m. "I'm so proud that today fulfills our promise to the Chinatown community, and brings library services back to this neighborhood for all to enjoy," said Mayor Walsh. "So many Chinatown residents have waited decades for this day, and the opening of this space marks our commitment to ensuring all neighborhoods have the resources and support they need. I look forward to residents benefitting from this space and services." In his 2017 State of City address, Mayor Walsh pledged to bring library services back to Chinatown. The location will operate for three to five years while plans for long-term library services in Chinatown are developed. Planning firm Miller Dyer Spears worked with the Boston Public Library (BPL), the Mayor's Office of Neighborhood Services and the community to develop long-term requirements for a library services program in the neighborhood. Their completed planning study is available here. "BPL Chinatown demonstrates our commitment to our communities and the importance of physical libraries' presence throughout our city. Chinatown is a vibrant, evolving neighborhood and Boston Public Library is eager to bring long-term services to the neighborhood," said Boston Public Library President David Leonard. The BPL Chinatown location represents an investment of almost $1 million in bringing library services to Chinatown. BPL Chinatown includes bilingual staff, books, newspapers, and periodicals in English and Mandarin, children's programming, a 2,500 item collection, DVDs in English and Mandarin, holds pick-up, immigration and citizenship information, laptops for in-library use, and WiFi. Hours are Monday - Thursday 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. Friday 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. All are welcome to utilize its services. "Residents, including youth, have worked for many years to return library service to Chinatown," said Suzanne Lee, President Emeritus of the Chinese Progressive Association. "We are happy this is finally a reality, and we will continue to work toward a permanent solution." The Boston Planning & Development Agency (BPDA) owns the Chinatown Trade Center and served as the project manager for the build-out of the temporary library services space. In order to expedite the process to open BPL Chinatown, last year the BPDA extended an existing contract with Bargmann Hendrie + Archtype Inc., the architectural firm overseeing the BPDA's overall renovation of the China Trade Center, to also include design and build- out supervision for the library services. In July of 2017, the BPDA awarded the construction contract to Northern Contracting Corporation, Inc. In addition to housing the new library services, the China Trade Center is also the home to several non-profit agencies that provide essential services to Chinatown residents, including the International Institute of New England and the Urban College of Boston. "Over the past several years, the Boston Planning & Development Agency has worked to bring providers and services to the China Trade Center that benefit the people of Chinatown," said Brian Golden, Director of the BPDA. "After many years without a library in Chinatown, we are pleased that the Chinatown Trade Center can serve as the temporary home of BPL Chinatown and look forward to working with BPL and the community to find a permanent home for library services." The opening of BPL Chinatown highlights Mayor Walsh's commitment to investing in all Boston neighborhoods, delivering exceptional city services. Nearly $14 million of library projects expenditure are planned across the city in fiscal year 2018, and Mayor Martin J. Walsh is investing $102 million in funding for library projects slated for fiscal year 2019 - fiscal year 2022. The Adams Street, Dudley, Parker Hill, Roslindale and Uphams Corner branches are currently in various stages of planning and renovation. Most major renovations or new construction projects undergo a programming, design, and construction phase, which always include significant community engagement at each step to gain input, feedback, and insight from users. More information on can be viewed online. (From Boston Mayor's office)

波士頓臺灣媽媽親子會狗年新春聯歡

【波城臺灣媽媽迎新春  旺旺春節同歡樂】

駐波士頓臺北經濟文化辦事處處長賴銘琪夫婦(左一、二)、僑教

中心主任歐宏偉(右一)和臺灣媽媽親子會會長張惠雯(右二)合影。

波士頓臺灣媽媽親子會於2月3日在海德社區中心舉辦2018旺旺年春節聯歡會，安排春聯書寫、剪紙、舞龍舞獅、象棋和吉祥話等活動暖身，讓親子共同體會農曆年的過節氣氛，計有臺灣媽媽、爸爸和小朋友約300人參加。

會長張惠雯介紹全年度各項活動，歡迎臺灣來的媽媽和家人一起參與牛頓臺灣日、雙十國慶等各項活動；此外，張惠雯今年特別邀請到舞蹈治療師胡俞伶前來表演佛朗明哥西班牙舞曲，讓臺灣媽媽和小朋友們體驗舞蹈治療及表達正向能量的身心幸福感。

波士頓經文處處長賴銘琪、雲雯蓁夫婦(右二、三)和僑教中心主任

歐宏偉(右一)送僑委會狗年小提燈給小朋友。張惠雯主持。

駐波士頓臺北經濟文化辦事處處長賴銘琪夫婦和僑教中心主任歐宏偉應邀出席，他們除了向大家問候致意及賀年之外，也分送紅包和僑委會旺臺灣狗年小提燈給小朋友，並發給每個家庭僑委會印送的月曆。

波士頓經文處處長賴銘琪、雲雯蓁夫婦(左起)和僑教中心主任歐宏偉

發紅包給小朋友。

賴銘琪表示，這是最後一次以處長的身分來參加臺灣媽媽親子會的歲末祝福活動，再過幾個月即將任滿調回臺灣外交部，很感謝大家對駐處和他們夫婦的關照與支持；大家對於賴處長即將離任，咸感依依不捨。                                                                歐宏偉表示，臺灣媽媽親子會慶祝狗年的聯歡活動，除加強聯繫臺灣家庭外，更可讓第二代進一步瞭解我國多元文化，尤其是以十二生肖排序的農曆年，更能達到文化傳承與分享的功能，可說是育教於樂，殊具意義。(圖與文:波士頓僑教中心提供)

一名以色列人在波士頓認罪 運毒250萬元還洗錢

ISRAELI NATIONAL PLEADS GUILTY TO COCAINE CONSPIRACY AND INTERNATIONAL MONEY LAUNDERING CHARGES

BOSTON – An Israeli national pleaded guilty today in federal court in Boston to conspiring to transfer $2.5 million worth of cocaine from Colombia to Israel via Boston and to money laundering charges. 

Jalal Altarabeen, a/k/a Glal El Tarbin, a/k/a Jalal Salamah, a/k/a Abu Rasheed, 34, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiring to possess with intent to distribute and to distribute more than five kilograms of cocaine and six counts of international money laundering. U.S. District Court Judge Indira Talwani deferred acceptance of the plea until sentencing, which she scheduled for April 13, 2018.  In February 2017, Altarabeen was extradited from Poland after being indicted with a co-conspirator. Altarabeen and the co-conspirator were previously charged in a federal criminal complaint in March 2016.

From October 2015 to April 20, 2016, Altarabeen and his co-conspirator conspired in Boston, Colombia, Poland, and elsewhere to distribute 50 kilograms of cocaine and to launder money internationally. They also negotiated to buy 50 kilograms of cocaine from an undercover officer posing as a drug trafficker. The undercover officer’s relationship with the co-conspirator began in 2008 and included a meeting in Nicosia, Cyprus.

Altarabeen and the co-conspirator agreed to pay the undercover officer $50,000 per kilogram to have the cocaine delivered in Israel. The undercover officer told the conspirators that the cocaine would be transported from Colombia to Boston and from Boston to Beersheba, Israel. Altarabeen agreed to make an advance payment of nearly $1 million to cover transportation costs, and he sent six wire transfers from Turkey totaling $999,972 to an undercover bank account in Boston. The undercover officer and Altarabeen agreed that Altarabeen would pay the $1.5 million balance after the receipt and sale of the 50 kilograms of cocaine.

            Over several months, the undercover officer spoke with Altarabeen and the co-conspirator by telephone, WhatsApp, video Skype and in person.  They contacted the undercover officer using telephone numbers from Cyprus, Jordan, Israel, Palestine and Colombia, and discussed the drug transaction while in Bogota, Colombia, on Oct. 14, 2015, and Feb. 9, 2016. 

The drug trafficking statute provides for a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years and up to life in prison, a minimum of five years and up to a lifetime of supervised release, and a fine of up to $10 million. The money laundering statute provides for a sentence of no greater than 20 years in prison, a minimum of three years and up to a lifetime of supervised release, and a fine of up to $500,000 or twice the value of the property involved in the offense. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based on the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. 

United States Attorney Andrew E. Lelling; Michael Ferguson, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration; Joel Garland, Special Agent in Charge of the Internal Revenue Service’s Criminal Investigations in Boston; and John Gibbons, United States Marshal for the District of Massachusetts, made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Linda M. Ricci of Lelling’s Narcotics and Money Laundering Unit is prosecuting the case.

MAYOR WALSH RELEASES REQUEST FOR INFORMATION, SEEKING CONCEPTS FOR CO-DEVELOPING CITY ASSETS WITH HOUSING AND OTHER MIXED-USES

MAYOR WALSH RELEASES REQUEST FOR INFORMATION, SEEKING CONCEPTS FOR CO-DEVELOPING CITY ASSETS WITH HOUSING AND OTHER MIXED-USES

BOSTON - Friday, February 2, 2018 - Mayor Martin J. Walsh today announced the City of Boston is seeking innovative ideas about how the City could potentially utilize its capital assets to spur the development of additional housing for Boston residents, while improving the infrastructure conditions of City buildings through redevelopment. In a Request for Information released today, Boston will measure interest in the mixed-use redevelopment of assets such as community centers, libraries and fire stations. The goal of the RFI is to determine whether this type of development is right for Boston, while identifying how it could be pursued in the future. "With the right projects and partnerships in place, we believe this model could have the potential to enhance City property by improving our infrastructure and generating new affordable housing options needed in neighborhoods throughout our city," said Mayor Walsh. "I look forward to seeing the ideas that could help us reimagine the future of our civic spaces to maximize the public benefit." Cities around the country, including Chicago, San Francisco, New York City and Washington, DC, have built affordable and market-rate housing alongside and on top of city assets such as libraries and transit stations. These cities consider this work a critical part of creating more public value with public assets. "In Washington, DC we are committed to building and preserving neighborhoods that residents can both afford and enjoy, and we're doing this through the creation of public-private partnerships that deliver housing, job opportunities, and community benefits. Recently, we cut the ribbon on a new library that is part of a development that includes a firehouse, retail, and affordable housing; for residents, this means a lot of resources in one location. We look forward to collaborating with Boston as we both work to build safer, stronger communities and put more residents on pathways to the middle class," said Washington, DC Mayor Muriel Bowser.   "As a community-based non-profit in a neighborhood where countless families have been displaced by skyrocketing housing costs, JPNDC has found City land and resources to be instrumental to our efforts to create new affordable homes," said Leslie Boss, Director of Real Estate at the Jamaica Plain Neighborhood Development Corp. "The Housing Innovation Lab's concept is intriguing, as it offers the dual benefit of supporting affordable housing development and improving facilities and services that are critical to the safety and quality of life for the entire community. We are excited to see the City continuing to explore creative new approaches."   Boston owns hundreds buildings that could be candidates for these types of development. A preliminary list of these assets is available in the Request for Information for potential respondents to review. The City's primary interest is in proposals that identify how city assets currently used for core city services, such as libraries, fire stations, police stations, and community centers can be combined with housing. "As a convener of Boston's design and development community, we are happy to see the City explore how innovative design, adaptive reuse, and co-location can help address Boston's housing needs," said Jay Wickersham, FAIA, Board Chair of the Boston Society of Architects. "We commend the Walsh Administration for taking this thoughtful step." A Request for Information is a call for input, which allows the city to explore new ideas. It does not replace or interrupt the normal community process. If the City chooses to pursue any specific development ideas, the development will undergo a full community process, engaging local residents and community members before any potential redevelopment takes place. All submissions are expected to outline how potential development will remain contextual to the city and the neighborhood. The City's nationally-recognized Housing Innovation Lab (iLAB), part of the Mayor's Office of New Urban Mechanics and the Department of Neighborhood Development, is leading this RFI. The iLAB is transforming how Boston designs, develops and funds housing, and has been creating housing solutions in collaboration with many diverse constituencies at the City, in our communities, and across industries. The Walsh Administration continues to be a leader in ambitious and innovative work to build, sustain, and promote affordable housing for its Boston residents. Housing a Changing City: Boston 2030 is the Walsh Administration's comprehensive housing plan. Under this plan, Boston will create 53,000 new units of housing at a variety of income levels throughout Boston, including 44,000 units of housing for the workforce; 5,000 units of housing for senior citizens; and 4,000 units to stabilize the market and bring rents and housing prices under control. During his second inaugural address in January, Mayor Walsh also pledged to increase Boston's targets for low-income homes, moderate-income homes, senior housing, and overall units. Since the 2014 implementation of Housing a Changing City, 13,551 new units of housing have been completed. With an additional 8,412 units currently under construction, the City has secured housing for an estimated 25,000 residents, making significant progress in meeting Boston's rapid population growth. The City remains on target to meet the production goals. To date, the Walsh Administration has committed more than $100 million in funding to the creation and preservation of affordable housing. The City will accept submissions through March 23, 2018; respondents' questions may be submitted to margo.cramer@boston.gov by February 12, 2018. An applicant conference will be held on February 15, 2018 at 26 Court Street, Boston. Responses to this Request for Information will not result in any development agreements or site-specific plans. Additional information is available on the Housing Innovation Lab Request for Information webpage. About Imagine Boston 2030 Shaped by more than 15,000 resident voices, Imagine Boston 2030 is the first citywide plan since 1965. Mayor Walsh released the plan in July of 2017. The final plan can be downloaded at https://imagine.boston.gov/ and can be found at all branches of the Boston Public Library. About the Housing Innovation Lab The Mayor's Housing Innovation Lab was facilitated by a collaboration between the Department of Neighborhood Development and the Mayor's Office of New Urban Mechanics (MONUM). The Mayor's Office of New Urban Mechanics serves as Mayor Walsh's civic innovation group. A City agency that was formed in 2010, New Urban Mechanics pilots experiments that offer the potential to improve the quality of life for Boston residents. The Housing Innovation Lab focuses their work on reducing the cost of housing. To learn more about MONUM, follow the office on Twitter or visit their website. To learn more about the Housing Innovation Lab, follow the office on Twitter or visit their website.

MAYOR WALSH ANNOUNCES 2018 CITY SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATIONS AVAILABLE TO BOSTON RESIDENTS

MAYOR WALSH ANNOUNCES 2018 CITY SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATIONS AVAILABLE TO BOSTON RESIDENTS

BOSTON - Friday, February 2, 2018 - Mayor Martin J. Walsh today announced applications are now available for the 2018 City of Boston Scholarships. The City of Boston Scholarship program is designed to support higher education, and is available to Boston residents interested in pursuing an undergraduate degree or continuing education in Massachusetts. "The City of Boston Scholarship Fund helps turn our residents' dreams of completing their post-secondary education into reality," said Mayor Walsh. "Giving our residents a helping hand in pursuing their degree is a wonderful investment in Boston's future. I look forward to receiving many applications from talented students throughout Boston's neighborhoods, and providing scholarships to our new class of Boston scholars." The City of Boston Scholarship fund is a need-based scholarship that provides up to $10,000 over four years towards tuition, and relies primarily on generous contributions from individuals, organizations and corporations to further the goal of having more Boston residents complete a post-secondary education. During the 2017-2018 academic year, the scholarship program awarded a total of $275,000 to over 100 students representing almost every neighborhood of Boston, over 25 local high schools and 30 local colleges and universities. This year, the Scholarship Committee worked to simplify and strengthen the application process. Highlights include a new recommendation form that assesses college and career readiness, three short-answer questions in place of a longer essay, an Expected Family Contribution (EFC) calculator for students not eligible for FAFSA, and a clear recognition of financial need among continuing education students. The City of Boston Scholarship program is part of Mayor Walsh's commitment to ensuring access to higher education is available for all in Boston. In 2016, Mayor Walsh launched tuition-free community college for Boston Public Schools graduates, providing a cost-effective entry point into higher education for Boston's young people. Participating colleges include Bunker Hill Community College, MassBay Community College, and Roxbury Community College. The City of Boston offers many other resources for residents pursuing higher education. On the Mayor's Education Cabinet's Higher Education Resource page, residents can now find the resources most appropriate for their educational goals in one place, including the Tuition-Free Community College program, The Boston Bridge and an inventory of local scholarships. "The cost of college tuition has increased by 45 percent in the last decade -- a price rising faster than nearly any other good or service in America," said Boston Chief of Education Turahn Dorsey. "Over the coming year, the Mayor's Education Cabinet and the City's Scholarship Committee will work with local students, educators, higher education officials, and college access experts to identify ways to to ensure that all Boston students find an affordable way to access, and complete, a postsecondary education." Candidates for City of Boston scholarships must be Boston residents who have graduated from high school or have completed G.E.D. programming by the time the awards are made. Additionally, candidates must be planning to attend, or currently attending, a two- or four-year accredited post-secondary institution in Massachusetts. Residents who meet these eligibility requirements are encouraged to apply here. The deadline to submit applications for incoming freshmen is April 13, 2018 at 5:00 p.m. For applicants who are renewing their scholarship from a previous year, please email COBscholarship@boston.gov. For more information on the City of Boston Scholarship, visit boston.gov