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星期五, 11月 22, 2019

羅德島州推"國際經濟大使"計畫 葉超、吳子平獲聘為首任大使

羅德島州推出"國際經濟大使"計畫,葉超(左10),吳子平(左8)獲聘為首任大使。(波士頓經文處提供)


(Boston Orange) 羅德島州副州長麥基(Daniel McKee)1119日召開記者會,宣佈推出「國際經濟大使計畫」,並在近百名出席嘉賓見證中,即席頒發首任國際經濟大使聘書給羅德島華人協會主席葉超,會長吳子平。
駐波士頓經文處處長徐佑典應邀致詞。(波士頓經文處提供)
麥基今年初才應邀訪台,並在羅德島華人協會主席葉超,會長吳子平引介,駐波士頓台北經濟文化辦事處處長徐佑典協助下,爭取到中華民國政府及民間企業捐贈6艘龍舟。
他在致詞時表示,這次出訪,他深刻感受到,在地居民本身的國際關係,可以更有效的幫助羅德島州打開國際市場,引進海外投資,創造商機,推動經濟發展,於是特地設計這一計畫,希望鼓勵更多有國際關係的羅德島州不同族裔居民,攜手合作,把羅德島州帶到世界各個角落。
"活力台灣號"龍舟。(波士頓經文處提供)
駐波士頓經文處處長徐佑典做為「國際經濟大使計畫」成功案例的關係方,當天應邀致詞。他呼應麥基的說法,強調民間草根力量在對外連結上的重要,也不忘重申台灣和羅德島州已是堅實夥伴,將繼續加強合作。
羅德島州州政府當天特地在州議會大廈廣場前,展示中華民國外交部捐贈的「活力台灣號」龍舟,藉以佐證「國際經濟大使計畫」可發揮的力量。近百名各國駐新英格蘭總領館、商會、社團、組織等的出席代表,紛紛被吸引得駐足留影。

MAYOR WALSH TO HOST ‘WE ARE BOSTON 2019: UNITED WE THRIVE,’ HIGHLIGHT CONTRIBUTIONS OF IMMIGRANTS AND REFUGEES


MAYOR WALSH TO HOST ‘WE ARE BOSTON 2019: UNITED WE THRIVE,’ HIGHLIGHT CONTRIBUTIONS OF IMMIGRANTS AND REFUGEES

Event will highlight accomplishments and vision for supporting the City’s immigrants

BOSTON –  Thursday, November 21, 2019 – Tomorrow, Mayor Martin J. Walsh and the Office for Immigrant Advancement (MOIA) will host “We Are Boston: United We Thrive” at Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts, a day-long event of interactive workshops to connect immigrant-serving nonprofit organizations with philanthropic foundations and corporate partners, followed by a reception to recognize Veronica Serrato of Project Citizenship and the Irish International Immigrant Center for their work in immigrant advancement. 

“At this time in our nation’s history, this event is a reminder of how much we have accomplished through working together and of the tangible steps we should take to make our City even more welcoming and inclusive," said Mayor Walsh. “I am thrilled that we are honoring Veronica Serrato of Project Citizenship, the City’s partner for our annual Citizenship Day in Boston, and the Irish International Immigrant Center, a leading advocate for immigrants from every corner of the world.”

Prior to the reception with Mayor Walsh at 5:30 p.m., there will be a presentation on the contributions of immigrants to Boston’s economy. The interactive workshops for attendees will include the “Welcoming Economies” workshop by Welcoming America that reviews programs and strategies that other communities have pioneered to help include immigrants in the local community and economic development efforts. The International Institute of New England will also give a demonstration with local storytellers to help attendees consider how migration and culture shape both personal identity and workplace communities.

Mayor Walsh will give remarks and recognize Veronica Serrato of Project Citizenship and the Irish International Immigrant Center for their work in immigrant advancement. Veronica Serrato joined Project Citizenship in 2014 as its first executive director. In her first year, she formed a partnership with the City of Boston to offer Citizenship Day, the largest event of its kind in New England. Over the past six years, volunteers have served over 1,900 eligible immigrants with their naturalization applications through Citizenship Day and provided screenings to thousands more. In 2019 alone, low and moderate-income applicants saved more than $166,000 in application fees through fee waiver application assistance. 

“It is a privilege to partner with the City of Boston through my role at Project Citizenship to ensure that all immigrants understand and have access to the path to citizenship,” Veronica Serrato, founding executive director of Project Citizenship. “Immigrants are the Pride of Boston, and I am deeply honored to accept this honor on their behalf.”

Along with Project Citizenship, Mayor Walsh will recognize the Irish International Immigrant Center (IIIC) for their work with immigrant and refugee families, providing a comprehensive, multi-service approach to supporting families from more than 126 countries. The Center provides the legal, wellness and educational support immigrants need to gain stability, security, and build pathways to success. The IIIC was recently recognized at the national level for its advocacy for children affected by the federal government’s sudden termination of “medical deferred action” for immigrants undergoing treatment for life-threatening medical conditions.

"It is an honor to be recognized with the City of Boston's Community Champion Award from Mayor Martin J. Walsh for our support of immigrant families from all nations,” said Ronnie Millar, executive director of the Irish International Immigrant Center. “Building a society where all are welcomed and valued requires the devoted support of government, and the City of Boston has been a tremendous leader across the country in welcoming immigrants and partnering with immigrant support agencies. Over the past 30 years we've received strong support from the City of Boston, and we are very grateful for this award." 

At the reception, Mayor Walsh will share accomplishments of the Office for Immigrant Advancement (MOIA) and highlight his vision for MOIA moving forward. Launched in 2017, the City partnered with private donors and philanthropic foundations to form the Greater Boston Immigrant Defense Fund, which strives to increase education and access to legal services to defend its many immigrant communities, refugees, and temporary status holders. Over the past two years, the Fund has raised over $1.11 million, which has allowed nonprofits to create new positions for six immigration attorneys and eight community advocates. The fund has increased the region’s capacity to serve immigrants, and as a result, 363 legal cases have been opened and nearly 54,000 people have attended 796 community education events. In its third year, the fund has raised $515,900, including $50,000 in City funds

Mayor Walsh has been outspoken in supporting federal policies that recognize immigrants as full members of our society. Most recently, he has signed onto an amicus brief to the U.S. Supreme Court in support of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA), and provided economic analyses on the harmful effects of proposed changes to the public charge rules under immigration law to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Department of Justice, and the U.S. Office of Management and Budget.

Proceeds from We are Boston last year gave 10 immigrant-led community organizations the capacity to host immigration legal screening clinics, support hurricane evacuees, and organize family preparedness workshops through a total award of $100,000. This year’s event will fund capacity building trainings in the short term, while MOIA will partner with philanthropic foundations to better support this capacity building work collectively in the long term.

For more information, please visit https://www.boston.gov/calendar/we-are-boston-2019.

星期三, 11月 20, 2019

文協喜齡會慶感恩節


波士頓僑教中心主任歐宏偉(前右三)與喜齡會成員合影。(僑教中心提供)

(Boston Orange)大波士頓區中華文化協會(GBCCA)喜齡會1119日慶祝感恩節,30餘名耆老歡聚一堂,享用佳餚,共話家常,唱歌助興,歡喜非常。
歐宏偉(後左一)與黃姆婆婆(前右一),趙鍾英(後左二),李國富(後右一)
等人合影。(僑教中心提供)
喜齡會是GBCCA為老人家服務的麾下組織,今年由李國富主辦感恩節餐會。他指出,儘管1128日星期四才是今年的感恩節正日,但為因應感恩節在美國是家庭團聚的大日子,該會特地提前在19日舉辦慶祝餐會,讓老人家們打牙祭,唱唱歌,熱鬧的多開心一次。
波士頓僑教中心主任歐宏偉這天應邀出席,欣見已認識20多年的叔伯嬸母,尤其是看到已高齡98歲的黃姆婆婆,早已年逾80的趙鍾英阿姨,更是開心非常。他說,感恩節是一個最適合道謝及感念的日子,他當然得轉達僑務委員會委員長吳新興博士,以及駐波士頓臺北經文處處長徐佑典對與會耆老的問候與祝福。
大波士頓中華文化協會現任會長劉偉珊的廚藝,在會內早已聞名,這天更是義不容辭地親自做了多樣點心,佳餚,來豐盛這場餐聚。

Drought Conditions Across Commonwealth Return to Normal


Drought Conditions Across Commonwealth Return to Normal
Monitoring of Water Resources to Continue

BOSTON – With the Commonwealth experiencing above normal rainfall over the course of the previous month, all indices across Massachusetts have fully recovered. As a result, Energy and Environmental Affairs (EEA) Secretary Kathleen Theoharides today announced that conditions have returned to normal, and updated the drought levels throughout the state:

  • Connecticut River Valley: Level 0 – Normal Condition levels (down from a Level 1 – Mild Drought in September); and,
  • Western, Central, Northeast, Southeast, Cape Cod, and Islands Regions: Level 0 – Normal Conditions levels (remains unchanged since October).

The declarations were the result of a recommendation issued from a recent meeting of the Drought Management Task Force, which is comprised of state and federal officials, and other entities. Additionally, the declaration of a Normal Condition means that the Drought Management Task Force no longer meets on a regular basis; however, state agencies will continue to closely monitor and assess conditions across the state, coordinate any needed dissemination of information to the public, and help state, federal and local agencies prepare additional responses that may be needed in the future. Moreover, even though conditions have improved since the previous month, dry conditions continue to be observed within the Deerfield River Watershed.

“Throughout the last several weeks, Massachusetts has greatly benefited from above average precipitation, enabling water systems to reach normal conditions following several months of running a deficit,” said Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary Kathleen Theoharides. “And although the state is not currently experiencing dry conditions, we should all continue to practice water conservation methods in an effort to not strain water supplies.”

Normal Condition levels, as outlined in the Massachusetts Drought Management Plan, indicates precipitation and groundwater levels that have returned to normal, and warrants routine data collection and distribution amongst government agencies. 


State officials ask the public to be mindful of the amount of water being used, reduce indoor water use, and address leaks as soon as possible. Additionally, managers of larger buildings and businesses are asked to conduct water audits to identify areas of leaks and potential water conservation opportunities. All these steps will greatly help reduce water use to ensure essential needs are being met, such as drinking water and fire protection, and habitat and environmental use.

For further information on water conservation and what residents can do, visit the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs’ drought page, the Department of Conservation and Recreation’s drought management page, and the MassDEP Water Conservation page.

黃氏婦女部慶感恩節 波士頓市議員出席同歡

黃氏婦女部慶感恩節,波士頓市議員愛德華費林到賀。(黃周麗桃提供)



波士頓僑界急難救助協會宣佈新工作團隊

波士頓僑界急難救助協會宣佈新工作團隊。前排右起,前會長王志維,僑務委員蔣宗壬,波士頓經文處處長徐佑典,現任會長歐陽露,波士頓僑教中心主任歐宏偉。

紐英崙藝術學會刻在Brookline圖書館展30幅中國書畫

林浩宗作品"不怒而威"。(紐英崙藝術學會提供)
(Boston Orange)紐英崙藝術學會布魯克(Brookline)公共圖書館邀,刻正於20191113日至202017,在該館舉辦中國書畫藝術展,並訂1130日和1221()下午,舉行兩次招待會。
王玉雙,王果春,王惠毅,林卓培,林浩宗,梁小玲,郭義芳,梅宇國,梅國治,楊雲,譚嘉陵等,按姓氏排序紐英崙藝術學會成員,共11展出國畫書法作品30幅,其中幅攝影大師梅國治的黃山詩意黑白照片。
1130日和1221的週六下午,紐英崙藝術學會將舉兩次招待會,音樂表演(下午2-3點)現場書畫示範(下午3-4點),以及茶點,與出席者交流、暢聚
1130將有林卓培,林浩宗現場示範書畫,女高音張婉哲 Emily Xiao Wang,男中音李炯濤,鋼琴施珈,二胡演奏家戰濤,長笛演奏家正山揚琴演奏家黃少堅等人唱奏音樂
1221則有楊雲,王果春,林卓培現場示範書畫鋼琴家駱奇偉,徐小培,廉翔雲等人將鋼琴獨奏和四手聯彈遠離美國土壤吉他演奏家作曲家Micah Huang 美國土壤,將於當日做世界首演。
畫展和音樂演出活動入場免費,在現場展出的大多數藝術品可供購買。布魯克公共圖書館的地址是361 Washington St. Brookline。音樂廳畫廊(Hunneman Hall Gallery) 位於二樓。圖書館地下室免費停車。圖書館開放時間為:週一至週六:上午10點至下午5點,週日下午1點至下午5點,www.brooklinelibrary.org。查詢紐英崙藝術學會詳情可上網www.cafarts.org


星期一, 11月 18, 2019

首屆哈佛台灣藝術季 開幕式逾200人觀展

首屆哈佛台灣藝術季策展人及參展藝術家,右起藍凡耘李涵霈,
劉家樑甘泓儒涂豐恩鍾宇善蕭雅云施博堯鄭乃慈。
(哈佛台灣藝術季提供)
               (Boston Orange 周菊子整理報導)由一群熱心台灣人籌辦,4人策展,5名來自台灣,目前在美的繪畫,設計,建築,文物,攝影藝術家參展的首屆哈佛台灣藝術季,1113日在哈佛大學史密斯中心開展,將展至22日。16日揭幕時,逾200人觀展,盛極一時。
藝術季總召藍凡耘向觀展者解釋展出作品。(哈佛台灣藝術季提供)
             藝術季總召藍凡耘是哈佛大學台灣學生會前任會長。他在開幕致詞時表示,自己在台灣出生,長大,刻在哈佛修讀博士,從小受益於台灣的環境與人文多元化,來美後發現哈佛和台灣有共同價值觀,也鼓勵多元化,促使他和志同道合者萌生心念,想藉由藝術,來視覺化展現台灣多元背景裏的包容,自由與民主。
             揭幕(Reveal)”為主題的這一展覽,安排有甘泓儒,施博堯,涂豐恩,劉家樑,王其萱等5人,依序展出他們的繪畫,建築,文物,攝影,繪畫等作品。
116日開幕式這天,由劍橋合唱團以快閃方式演唱台北的天空張三的歌,拉開活動序幕,現場分區佈展各藝術家作品,還安排放映了3場,由台灣電影展協會推薦,林佑學執導的垃圾山水,以及畢業於耶魯大學藝術史系的麻州藝術學院教授嚴守智出任與談人的藝術家座談
波士頓經文處處長徐佑典(右)致詞。(哈佛台灣藝術季提供)
參展藝術家中的甘泓儒,1993年出生,台灣藝術大學畢業,目前在麻州藝術設計學院研修平面藝術,主要探討東方古典和西方當代藝術共有的美學概念。他用壓克力和油畫來鋪陳霧狀形象,揉合台灣曾經被荷蘭,中國,日本統治,本世紀接受來自東,西方各種不同文化洗禮的記憶感情
劉家樑是哈佛大學公衛學院研究生,小時候被祖父交給他的一台佳能550D相機吸引後,就一頭栽進攝影世界,當過一年婚紗攝影助理,還跨進拍電影產業。在這次的展覽中,他以膠捲拍攝台北街貓和人類的互動,藉以展示數位攝影和影片拍照可以和諧共存。
駐波士頓台北經濟文化辦事處處長徐佑典(右)和劉家樑討論作品。
(哈佛台灣藝術季提供)
施博堯曾就讀淡江大學建築系,2016畢業於南加大建築系,2019取得哈佛大學建築系碩士學位,目前住在紐約布魯克林,有志於在現有城市環境中更進一步的探討把社交功能納入空間應用的設計構思,以及翻新與保存建築物。在這次的展覽中,他挑了三項建築物翻新作品來展現挑戰傳統保存建築物的做法。
波士頓僑教中心主任歐宏偉夫婦(右)聽施博堯講解她的作品。
(哈佛台灣藝術季提供)
涂豐恩於2019年取得哈佛大學東亞語言系的歷史博士學位,目前是哈佛燕京圖書館的東亞數位人文馮氏學者。他曾在台大數位人文中心任職,這次的參展作品是台灣:香水之島,藉由從燕京圖書館收藏品中挑選出來的文物,展示台灣是如何變成香水之島的,以及殖民歷史和台灣島之間的關係,台灣又是怎麼變成日本新興香水業的整合地。
王其萱20195月取得哈佛設計學院碩士學位,目前在紐約的Richard Meier & Partners建築師事務所工作。她這次的參展作品是聲明(日記型式)”,捕捉了她對台灣及其複雜特徵模糊記憶的系列。她認為台灣直白,荒誕,又兼具仁愛,精緻特色的文化氛圍,使得台灣在亞洲各國中別具一格,有如色彩盤一般,藏著令人無法預測的驚喜。這次參展的作品嘗試反映她每次回台灣時所捕捉到的印象。
麻州企業發展署助理署長范文南(左)聽施博堯講解作品。
(哈佛台灣藝術季提供)
藝術季工作人員包括總召藍凡耘,執行秘書鍾宇善,策展及展場設計施博堯,鄭乃慈等人。
包括駐波士頓台北經濟文化辦事處處長徐佑典,科技組組長謝水龍,僑教中心主任歐宏偉,波士頓本地來自台灣藝術界名人,譚嘉陵,朱蓉,謝茵,新台北奈米生醫科技執行長朱景沛,以及麻州企業發展署助理署長范文南(Nam Pham),麻州難民移民辦公室主任張瑪麗(Mary Truong)兩夫婦,這天有眾多嘉賓出席。
劍橋合唱團演唱台北的天空。(哈佛台灣藝術季提供)
活動贊助包括美南報系,駐波士頓台北經濟文化辦事處,科技部,蕭惠菁,呂宗禧,彭淑敏,劉泰國,歐陽露,以及在GoFundMe上捐款的許多人。
波士頓經文處長徐佑典和康麗雪,譚嘉陵等部分出席者自拍留影。
(康麗雪提供)





新台北奈米生醫科技執行長朱景沛(右起),哈佛大學醫學博士
賴文福,波士頓經文處長徐佑典一起看畫。(康麗雪提供)
石雕藝術家謝茵和畫家甘泓儒在會場合影。(朱蓉提供)

首屆哈佛台灣藝術季在史密斯中心展出。(哈佛台灣藝術季提供)

星期三, 11月 13, 2019

Governor Baker Announces New State Police Superintendent with Goals to Modernize Training, Increase Diversity, and Emphasize Accountability

Governor Baker Announces New State Police Superintendent with Goals to Modernize Training, Increase Diversity, and Emphasize Accountability

BOSTON – Governor Baker tapped Lieutenant Colonel Christopher S. Mason as the next colonel and superintendent of the State Police, effective Friday, November 15th. At a press conference today in the State House, Mason identified a series of proposals to focus on accountability and conduct, increasing diversity within the agency, and updating training.

In remarks today, the 26-year veteran of the Department expressed his deep pride in New England’s largest police force as well as his commitment to modernizing it, including some initial first steps:

  • Ensuring all Troop E Internal Affairs investigations are completed, and that the cases for terminated or retired troopers are referred to the State Retirement Board for pension forfeiture consideration if wrongdoing is found;
  • Implementing mandatory ethics training for all members, focusing on time and attendance issues and supervisors’ duties;
  • Directing the State Police Office of Diversity and Equal Opportunity to immediately review options for promoting women and people of color into key positions; and
  • Changing the State Police Academy curriculum to rely less on paramilitary training and more on modern policing skills such as empathy, de-escalation, identification of vulnerable populations, and the response to emerging public safety threats

“At a pivotal time for Massachusetts State Police, Chris Mason has the experience and vision to lead the Department forward with reforms and innovation that will shape its future,” said Governor Charlie Baker. “Our administration is grateful for the changes put in motion under Colonel Kerry Gilpin, and supports Colonel Mason as he completes critical reforms to finish Troop E internal affairs investigations and fully implement AVL technology and the body camera procurement. Drawing on his years of experience, we are confident Colonel Mason will lay out a vision for the Department’s future that will bring meaningful reform and restored public trust to the Commonwealth.”

“Colonel Mason’s decades-long and wide-ranging career in law enforcement has well equipped him to lead the Massachusetts State Police with integrity and dignity,” said Lt. Governor Karyn Polito. “Governor Baker and I are appreciative of the hard work and commitment demonstrated by Colonel Kerry Gilpin and we look forward to our continued collaboration with the Massachusetts State Police and the new leadership Colonel Mason will bring to the department.”  

“I look forward to a continued partnership with Colonel Mason, whose commitment to excellence has been evident in every position he’s held,” said Secretary of Public Safety and Security Thomas Turco. “He’s brought the highest levels of integrity and professionalism to the job as a trooper, an investigator, a commander, and an administrator. He understands the values of both tradition and reform, and he reflects an outstanding selection by Governor Baker.”

“I am grateful for the remarkable trust that Governor Baker and his Administration have placed in me,” said Colonel Mason. “I promise to earn that trust every day with the men and women of the Massachusetts State Police who reflect our values of honesty, integrity, and service.  These values are foremost in my mind as we move the Department and our public safety mission forward.”

Mason currently serves as a lieutenant colonel and deputy superintendent of the Department of State Police. Prior to that, he commanded the Division of Investigative Services, a position in which he oversaw all State Police detective units and forensic personnel. He has also served as deputy commander of the Division of Homeland Security and Preparedness, acting as director of the Commonwealth Fusion Center and supervising the Cyber Crimes Unit, High Risk Victims Unit, Identification Section, and Fraud Identification Unit. Mason also worked for many years as a trooper, sergeant, lieutenant, captain, and commanding officer for the Cape and Islands State Police Detective Unit, where he investigated homicides, sexual assaults, and other violent crimes.

Mason graduated from the State Police Academy in 1993 after serving as a natural resource officer in Barnstable for eight years. He is a graduate of the FBI National Academy in Quantico, Virginia, and attended the Drug Enforcement Administration’s Drug Unit Commanders Academy and the Naval Postgraduate School’s Fusion Center Leaders Program.  He holds a bachelor’s degree in environmental sciences from the University of Massachusetts and a master’s degree in criminal justice from Anna Maria College.

CITIES AND TOWNS TO BEACON HILL: WE NEED ADDITIONAL REVENUE FOR TRANSPORTATION


CITIES AND TOWNS TO BEACON HILL:
WE NEED ADDITIONAL REVENUE FOR TRANSPORTATION

Greater Boston mayors and managers support 15 cent increase to the gas tax and other funding mechanisms to advance equity, reduce greenhouse gas emissions and support transit oriented development

BOSTON – Wednesday, Nov. 13, 2019 – Today, three broad coalitions of municipal officials from throughout Eastern Massachusetts called on the Commonwealth to raise significant new revenue and dedicate it to rescuing the state’s ailing and congested transportation system. 

Boston Mayor Martin J. Walsh, Somerville Mayor Joe Curtatone and the communities of the Metropolitan Mayors Coalition, together with mayors and managers of the North Shore Coalition and leaders from the Commuter Rail Communities Coalition, are calling on the Legislature and Governor Charlie Baker to invest significant new revenue in transportation.

The Metro Mayors Coalition, an organization of 15 communities in the urban core of metropolitan Boston, announced their support for a 15-cent increase in the gas tax and other vehicle fees, which would infuse our struggling transportation system with roughly $450 million a year in new revenue.

In addition to the gas tax increase, the Metro Mayors Coalition identified several other funding mechanisms that it supports, including: expanding tolling to more highways; allowing a portion of toll revenue to support transit, which would help to reduce roadway congestion; expanding municipal revenue-raising tools heavily used in other states, such as regional ballot initiatives and value capture; collaborating with other states in the Northeast U.S. to reduce greenhouse gas emissions through the “cap and invest” system known as the Transportation Climate Initiative (TCI); and increasing surcharges for Transportation Network Companies (TNCs) like Uber and Lyft.

The funds raised from these mechanisms would be invested in ways that advance equity, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, encourage “transit-oriented development” and connect residents to the places they need to go. Investments would include:

·        enhancing safety and reducing congestion on our roads and bridges;
·        modernizing and expanding transit systems, including but not limited to the MBTA; and
·        creating world-class infrastructure for cyclists, pedestrians and people with disabilities.

“The actions we take now will define Boston and our region for the next 10 years and the next generation," said Boston Mayor Martin J. Walsh. "We need to take the essential next steps to improve mobility in our city and our state, and increasing revenue for critical infrastructure is needed to ensure our current and future residents are able to move around the region in an equitable, affordable and reliable manner.”

“I urge the Legislature and the Administration to act quickly to find reliable source of funding for transportation—such as the gas tax—and to look at new ways of funding and improving our public transportation system,” said Somerville Mayor Joseph Curtatone, chairman of the Metro Mayors Coalition. “We have to think bigger than just repairing what’s broken—we need to invest today in a transit system that will work for years to come, which we won’t be able to do with just our current funding mechanisms. Having a safe, reliable transit system is crucial to so many of our other goals and values—it's good for equity, it's good for the environment and it's good for the economy.”

The North Shore Coalition, a group of 18 cities and towns north of Boston, and the Commuter Rail Communities Coalition, which represents the many cities and towns served and impacted by the commuter rail, approved similar resolutions calling upon legislators and the Governor to prioritize transportation funding.

Early this month, Salem Mayor Kim Driscoll and the North Shore Coalition announced their vision for transportation improvements, pairing it with specific principles for how to raise the money needed to make the vision a reality. Over 100 people gathered in Salem on Nov. 1 to demonstrate their support.

Led by Lynn Mayor Thomas McGee and Bedford Town Manager Sarah Stanton, members of the Commuter Rail Communities Coalition also agreed on priority funding principles. The Coalition is an alliance of mayors and town managers/administrators that coordinates advocacy for short- and long-term improvements to the rail network.

In addition to calling on the state to raise additional funds, all three coalitions are also seeking something their colleagues in much of the country already have: tools to raise money locally for critical local and regional transportation projects. These include municipal revenue-raising tools such as value capture, local and regional ballot initiatives and transportation improvement districts, which would help cities and towns to address local needs, give residents a greater say in meeting local transportation challenges and act as a down payment for transformative transportation improvements.

“Cities and towns are asking for the state’s help in meeting our pressing transportation challenges, but they are also looking for tools that can help local government to play an active role. The federal government, the Commonwealth, localities and the private sector must all be at the table—no one can do this alone,” said Rebecca Davis, deputy director of the Metropolitan Area Planning Council.

Framingham Mayor Yvonne M. Spicer said, “To ensure that Massachusetts residents can work and live efficiently, we need to invest in a more robust transportation system. Here in MetroWest, we depend on the roads and bridges, so their upkeep in critical. But we also have a growing regional transit system, which serves people who can’t drive while helping to reduce congestion on the roads.”

The three coalitions also agree on the need for a 15-cent gas tax increase, expanded tolling, increased TNC surcharges and implementation of TCI.

“Over three dozen municipal leaders representing millions of Massachusetts residents are all calling for the same tools to fund transportation,” said Lynn Mayor Thomas McGee. “We know that making our transportation system reliable, stress-free, affordable and green is necessary if we want to support the many people who want to live and work here. These funding mechanisms are necessary to get us the transportation system we need today and help us plan for the future.”

“The Greater Boston area has the worst congestion in the nation, and suburban commuters bear the brunt of increasing traffic,” said Salem Mayor Kim Driscoll. “To alleviate congestion and the long commutes and greenhouse gas emissions that come with it, we need to invest seriously in solutions to get people out of their cars and onto public transit.”

The groups further committed to work with quasi-public and private entities to leverage all avenues available to raise revenue.

“We have to work closely with our partners at MassPort, for example, as we have conversations about transportation improvements," said Mayor Joe Sullivan of Braintree. "We need to be thinking longer term so that we can plan for the transportation system that will work for our residents for the next 20 and 30 years.”

All three coalitions committed to ensuring that low-income workers and residents can travel affordably throughout the region, with improved access to jobs, homes, schools and parks.

“We cannot continue our historic pattern of under-investing in transit, disproportionally burdening low-income communities and communities of color. These groups need affordable, efficient and reliable ways to get around,” said Chelsea City Manager Thomas Ambrosino. “We need to prioritize equity if we want to link everyone in our region to opportunities.”

“A reliable transportation system that connects the entire Commonwealth is a cornerstone of long-term economic vitality,” said Sarah Stanton, Town Manager of Bedford. “When we invest in local roads and multi-modal infrastructure, we make it safer to get around our communities. When we connect people to reliable transit, we alleviate congestion and its negative impacts. We need to have a predictable revenue stream in order to achieve our shared vision and to meet our needs today and into the future.”



星期二, 11月 12, 2019

退伍軍人節 波士頓華埠328分會參加大遊行與市長同行(圖片)

波士頓華埠退伍軍人會參加大遊行。(黃周麗桃提供)
紀念退伍軍人節,波士頓市長Marty Walsh和波士頓市議員等人領隊遊行。
(黃周麗桃提供)


波士頓市長Marty Walsh(中)和波士頓消防局局長Joseph Finn(右),
副局長黃瑞瑜(左)在退伍軍人節遊行活動中合影。(黃周麗桃提供)

波士頓榮光會是波士頓退伍軍人節遊行活動中唯一的外籍退伍軍人隊伍。
(黃周麗桃提供)
波士頓經文處處長徐佑典和波士頓榮光會一起遊行。
(TECO波士頓提供)