Boston Orange 波士頓菊子

星期六, 9月 26, 2020

MAYOR WALSH DOUBLES FUNDING AVAILABLE FOR SENIORS TO REPLACE HEATING SYSTEMS THROUGH SENIORS SAVE PROGRAM

MAYOR WALSH DOUBLES FUNDING AVAILABLE FOR SENIORS TO REPLACE HEATING SYSTEMS THROUGH SENIORS SAVE PROGRAM

Aids older Bostonians in replacing faulty heating systems prepare for cold weather

Mayor Walsh visits with Mr. Joseph Cappuccio, a longtime Roslindale resident, who had his heating systems replaced through the Seniors Save program. Photo credit: Isabel Leon, photographed in 2016

BOSTON - Saturday, September 26, 2020 - Mayor Martin J. Walsh today announced that the City of Boston has more than doubled the amount of funding available to residents through the Seniors Save program which serves income-eligible seniors who need their heating systems replaced. The Senior Saves program will now make up to $8,000 in grant funding available to income-eligible seniors who are over the age of 60, up from $3,5000 available previously. This increase in funding will better reflect the costs associated with replacing a faulty heating system.

"With cold weather approaching, we want to make sure older Bostonians can stay warm and safe this winter," said Mayor Walsh. "Our older residents living on fixed incomes may not always be able to afford important improvements to their homes or new heating systems. I'm proud that the City of Boston's Home Center is able to provide additional resources to older Bostonians, and I encourage all eligible residents to take advantage of this program before the cold weather hits."

The new energy-efficient systems will significantly lower residents' risk of heating emergencies during cold weather and will also reduce their energy bills, enabling them to expand their budgets for other necessities.

"Seniors Save is the best program in the City of Boston and I want to thank Mayor Walsh's Home Center. The workers did an excellent job. I've told other seniors about this great program so they can also get a new heating system like me!" said Roslindale resident

Mr. Joseph Cappucio, Roslindale.

Eligible homeowners will receive up to $8,000 towards upgrades to their heating systems. Any additional funding is available in the form of a zero percent interest, deferred loan, which will only be payable on the sale of the property, a refinance, or transfer of the title. Once an older resident applies, BHC Construction Specialists will work with the homeowner on the scope of the project and will help select a contractor from the BHC's pre-approved, licensed, and insured contractor list. A BHC Construction Specialist will then oversee the work from start to finish, and will follow all COVID-19 public health guidelines when conducting work inside a residents' home.

"We are excited that the program will be even more accessible for older residents of Boston and allow them to heat their homes efficiently," said Age Strong Commissioner Emily Shea. "We are spending more time than ever at home, and this is a great benefit that will help older adults stay comfortable and save money this winter."

To qualify, residents must be 60 years of age or older and must be the occupants of residential one-to-four family property or condominium in the City of Boston. The program is open to those residents over 60 years old whose income does not exceed 80 percent of area median income, as determined by the US Department of Housing and Urban Development.

Applications for the Seniors Save program are currently available through the Boston Home Center (BHC), by visiting the Department of Neighborhood Development's website, or by contacting one of the BHC's partner senior agencies. To learn more about Seniors Save and to apply for the program residents are also invited to contact (617) 635-HOME.

ABOUT THE DEPARTMENT OF NEIGHBORHOOD DEVELOPMENT (DND)

The Department of Neighborhood Development is responsible for housing the homeless, developing affordable housing, and ensuring that renters and homeowners can find, maintain, and stay in their homes. As part of the ongoing coronavirus response, the Office of Housing Stability is also conducting tenant's rights workshops to educate residents about the eviction moratorium and their rights. The Boston Home Center continues to provide down payment assistance to first-time home buyers and home repairs for seniors and low-income residents. The Supportive Housing Division is working with various partners around the city to rapidly house individuals who are experiencing homelessness. For more information, please visit the DND website.

星期五, 9月 25, 2020

MAYOR WALSH, BOSTON FIRE COMMISSIONER DEMPSEY CELEBRATE BEAM RAISING ON NEW FIREHOUSE

MAYOR WALSH, BOSTON FIRE COMMISSIONER DEMPSEY CELEBRATE BEAM RAISING ON NEW FIREHOUSE

As the first firehouse built in 30 years, the City of Boston is investing $23.5 million into the new Engine 42, Rescue 2, District 9 building

BOSTON - Friday, September 25, 2020 - Mayor Martin J. Walsh, Boston Fire Commissioner John Dempsey and Boston Fire Department firefighters today celebrated the final beam raising on the first new firehouse built in the City of Boston in over 30 years. The construction of Engine 42, Rescue 2, District 9 Firehouse is a $23.5 million investment in the City of Boston's community and emergency services. The City of Boston Public Facilities Department (PFD), in collaboration with the Boston Fire Department (BFD), is working closely with Dore & Whittier Architects and Boston Building and Bridge on design and construction. The design focuses on both emergency response for the neighborhood and the health and wellness of firefighters.

"An investment in emergency services and first responders is an investment in the community and Boston's safety. Designing and building a firehouse that prioritizes the health, safety and wellbeing is exactly how we should give back to first responders who sacrifice their health and safety for us," said Mayor Walsh. "I want to thank Commissioner Dempsey and all the firefighters for their commitment to our city and residents."

This beam raising marks the completion of the structural steel installation, which started in October 2019, and the next step in the construction process. Now, construction will phase into installing masonry, which will enclose the building exterior, along with the roof and windows, making it watertight. Due to COVID-19, construction was paused for two months.

The priority for the new firehouse is the health and safety of Boston Fire Department firefighters. As part of the design and construction, the building minimizes particulate contaminants from traveling to the living quarters of the building. The new building will be broken into three zones (hot, warm and cold) to keep carcinogens from circulating throughout the house.

"It's been a long time since we've had a Mayor willing to invest in the safety, health, and wellness of our firefighters," said Fire Commissioner Dempsey. "This allows for optimal performance in our service to the residents of Boston. This new firehouse will keep our firefighters healthy for years to come."

The completed Engine 42, Rescue 2, District 9 firehouse will include:

Three extended apparatus bays, allowing more BFD tactical rescue equipment to be housed at the location
25 seat training room, allowing BFD to keep tactical rescue companies up to date on latest training, and keeping them closer to their houses, instead of training on Moon Island
Training deck on the roof, confined space training prop, and training stair tower to allow for simulated training exercises onsite
Fitness room to promote wellness
14 bunk rooms to house two companies
Energy efficient building designed to LEED Silver requirements
White roof that will be solar ready
High efficiency mechanical systems, LED lighting

Additionally, the City of Boston is commissioning an artist to create a long-term public artwork to complement the construction of the Engine 42 fire station. This project has a budget of $300,000, and is funded by the City's Percent for Art program, which commissions one percent of the City's capital borrowing for the creation of public art. $15.0 million has been allocated to this program over the next five years. The artwork at Engine 42 will be a site-specific, impactful, focal design feature that aims to enrich the connection between the Boston Fire Department and the surrounding Egleston and Roxbury communities.

Mayor Walsh's FY21-25 Capital Plan includes other health and safety improvements to firehouse projects as a result of recent programming. Starting in FY16, the Fire Department, in conjunction with the Public Facilities Department, studied best practices for firehouse design. Key design changes include defined zones within the firehouse to prevent contamination of living areas, along with improved personal and gear cleaning facilities. The results of this planning are reflected in the projects to replace firehouses for Engine 42 in Roxbury and Engine 17 in Dorchester, at a total investment of $48 million. The firehouses for Engine 3 in the South End and Engine 37 on Huntington Avenue are also scheduled to be replaced.

The 2.5 story building is 23,000 square feet, replacing the previous single story, 6,400 square foot firehouse, which opened in 1952. As the firehouse is still under construction, operations have been reallocated to 121 Armory Street, which is 0.2 miles from the existing fire station.

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星期四, 9月 24, 2020

吳弭參選波士頓市長造勢 2天籌款10萬元

李超榮(左)在大同村介紹吳弭。(周菊子攝)

(Boston Orange 周菊子波士頓報導)僅只2天，2300人捐10萬美元，支持吳弭參選波士頓市長，推動改變的力量，匯聚，累積得頗有聲勢。

這聲勢，原本可以更大，但是波士頓市長馬丁華殊(Martin Walsh)在9月7日搶先向外界透露，吳弭已親口告訴他，將參選波士頓市長；波士頓市的媒體，市民認為吳弭會參選波士頓市長的揣測，也早就在坊間流傳超過1、2年，於是吳弭的參選，並沒有掀起波浪。

吳弭是2013年首度當選波士頓市不分區市議員，連任迄今已在位快7年。她當選時，打破歷史紀錄，成為波士頓市首名台裔，亞裔市議員。2016到2017年，她當上波士頓市議會議長，再成為波士頓市自1630年建市以來的首名女性有色人種市議長。

吳弭(右)和支持者張麗儀，何厚臻夫婦在大同村合影。(周菊子攝)

1985年出生，今年35歲的吳弭，在伊利諾州的芝加哥長大，從小就是學霸，Barrington高中畢業時，代表畢業生致詞，還榮獲美國總統學者獎，擔任全國青少年古典聯盟會長。她和波士頓市結緣是來哈佛念大學，後來又拿了個哈佛法律博士學位(J. D.)

9月15日吳弭宣佈參選後，安排了一連五日的競選活動。在她的第一場支持者家庭聚會中，她說自己小時候從來沒想過要從政，但是上大學時，突然接到母親精神出狀況的電話，趕回芝加哥後，她就成了一家之主，照顧生病的母親，安排弟妹上學，家裡大大小小所有事，全落在她肩上。就是這時候，她從自己和政府打交道的過程中深切體會到，政府政策的一點小改變，對人民的生活，可以有那麼大的影響。

在波士頓市議員的這7年任期內，做為不分區市議員，她深入各個社區，和各種背景的人打交道，也抱著要讓所有人都能在波士頓市內生活得更好這理想，默默努力。

吳弭宣佈參選的視頻有英文，西班牙文，中文三種版本。她想要讓所有人都有參與感，想要推動，鼓勵每一個社區裏的居民自己組織起來，關心自己身邊的事物，提出意見，攜手設想改善辦法。

從9月15日宣佈參選起，吳弭競選團隊安排了一連五天的競選活動。從洛士百利(Roxbury)的Nubian車站到奧斯頓/布萊頓(Allston/Brighton)，從海德公園(Hyde Park)到波士頓華埠，從東波士頓的社區花園到Maverick車站，從森林丘(Forest Hills)車站到牙買加平原，再分別和有色千禧年代晤談，邀社區支持者同騎自行車，到遊樂場和小家庭聚會。

9月16日到波士頓華埠拜會時，吳弭在麻州論壇(Massachusetts Seminar)主任李超榮，大同藥房老闆周樹昂陪同下，到大同村晤見居民，拜會溫莎麵包，華埠餐廳等小企業，關切商家在新冠病毒大流行期間營業狀況。華裔支持者郭慧民，張麗儀，何厚臻等人，也都特地趕到現場。

9月22日，吳弭競選團隊正式亮相。曾為聯邦參議員沃倫(Elizabeth Warren)參選美國總統打選戰的Mary Lou Akai Ferguson出任競選經理，Anthony Davis Jr.擔任組織主任，原本在吳弭辦公室工作的Jessicah Pierre負責新聞，Vicki Dzindzichashvili負責總務，Anshi Moreno負責草根籌款。

吳弭的競選網站，已經列出可負擔住宅，教育平等，彌平族裔財富落差，計畫及發展，小企業，公共衛生，公共安全，經濟正義及工人權益，氣候正義等十大政見。

吳弭強調，她參選波士頓市長是要透過建造社區，攜手合作，帶出大膽的，系統性的改變，解決人們面對的最深層挑戰，把波士頓市變成一個真正的每一個人的城市。

波士頓市公佈11月3日大選籌備概況

CITY OF BOSTON ANNOUNCES PREPARATIONS AHEAD OF

NOVEMBER 3 STATE ELECTION

Voting options include in-person early voting at 21 locations around the City of Boston, including Fenway Park; 17 dropboxes to return vote-by-mail ballots; in-person voting on

BOSTON - Thursday, September 24, 2020 - Boston's Board of Election Commissioners today certified the City of Boston's plan for early voting sites and ballot dropbox locations for the November 3, 2020 State Election. The election includes races for: Senator in Congress, Representative in Congress, Governor's Councillors, Senator in General Court, Representative in General Court, Register of Probate, and Office of the President of the United States.

In addition to the races, there are two ballot questions: Law Proposed by Initiative Petition Motor Vehicle Mechanical Data & Law Proposed by Initiative Petition Ranked-Choice Voting, and two public policy questions in State Representative Districts 11, 15, 17 and 18.

The Election Department is reminding residents that Saturday, October 24 is the last day to register to vote and Wednesday, October 28 is the last day to request a vote-by-mail ballot.

Registering to vote

Individuals can register to vote in person, by mail, online or through the Registry of Motor Vehicles by Saturday, October 24, 2020 to vote in the November 3 State Election. To be eligible to vote, an individual must be at least 18 years of age and a U.S. citizen.

If planning to register to vote in person, residents are advised the Boston Election Department is open to the public by appointment on Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. at City Hall, Room 241.

Voting early

Any registered Boston voter can vote at any early voting location from Saturday, October 17, 2020 through Friday, October 30, 2020. No excuse is required to vote early. Hours and locations for early voting can be found below.

Due to COVID-19, the Election Department is implementing health and safety protocols for in-person voting during the early voting period and on Election Day. All poll workers will receive face shields, face masks, gloves, disinfectant wipes, disinfectant spray and hand sanitizer. Cleaning will take place at each site every two to three hours. Voters waiting in line will be instructed to stand six feet away from others and wear a face covering. More information about COVID-19 safety at the polls can be found here.

Location

Address

Dates and times

BCYF Paris Street (Gymnasium)

112 Paris Street,

East Boston, MA 02128