AYOR WALSH ANNOUNCES PARTNERSHIP WITH BOSTON-BASED SIMPLISAFE TO DONATE 250 SECURITY SYSTEMS TO SMALL NEIGHBORHOOD BUSINESSES

 

MAYOR WALSH ANNOUNCES PARTNERSHIP WITH BOSTON-BASED SIMPLISAFE TO DONATE 250 SECURITY SYSTEMS TO SMALL NEIGHBORHOOD BUSINESSES Donation provides security to some of Boston's most vulnerable business owners with support from the Mayor's Office of Economic Development

 

BOSTON - Thursday, October 29, 2020 - Mayor Martin J. Walsh today announced SimpliSafe®, maker of award-winning home security systems, in collaboration with the Mayor's Office of Economic Development, is donating 250 security systems and 12 months of free professional monitoring to Boston's small business community in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. The donation, which includes hardware curated for business owners' unique needs -- such as the SimpliCam HD security camera, entry sensors, and other popular components -- as well as one year of the company's most robust monitoring plan, is valued at more than $800 per business.    "Boston's small businesses are the lifeblood of our neighborhoods, and have faced incredible challenges as they serve their communities during this time," said Mayor Walsh. "The City of Boston is thrilled to partner with SimpliSafe to bring security systems to businesses who need assistance, and I thank them for their leadership during the COVID-19 pandemic, and ongoing support for Boston's small businesses."    Small businesses across sectors are grappling with the challenges COVID-19 has presented, and those owned by women and people of color are experiencing a heightened number of challenges. The partnership with the City of Boston will ensure that protection gets into the hands of businesses in need throughout the city, with a specific focus on neighborhoods that have been disproportionately affected by the Coronavirus pandemic and resulting economic challenges.    "We know that small businesses are struggling to keep their doors open and stay afloat during this time, and that is especially true of businesses in Boston," said Christian Cerda, Chief Executive Officer at SimpliSafe. "With our headquarters in Downtown Crossing, we feel compelled to help fellow Boston-based businesses in our neighborhood and beyond. While we can't alleviate all of the difficulties they're facing, we can ensure that one of their most basic needs are met -- their security. The City of Boston is an instrumental partner in distributing these systems. They have personal relationships in neighborhoods throughout the city and together, we're able to give strapped business owners one less thing to worry about."   The City of Boston Office of Economic Development's Small Business Unit is assisting in distributing the SimpliSafe Boston Small Business Package directly to businesses who have expressed a need. To facilitate the donation, the Office of Economic Development has been equipped with 250 redemption codes that recipients can use to claim these systems online at simplisafe.com/boston-smallbiz.    Any business owners interested in obtaining one of these systems must email smallbiz@boston.gov and must include business owner name, business address, and contact information. Only businesses with commercial space will qualify for this offer. Packages will be distributed evenly across Boston's Main Streets and commercial districts, with consideration for businesses deeply impacted by COVID-19. Businesses must express interest in this offer before December 31, 2020 to qualify.   To learn more about the initiative, please visit simplisafe.com/boston-smallbiz.   Today's announcement builds on the work the Walsh Administration has undertaken to support small businesses during the City's COVID-19 response and through the reopening of our economy. In total, the City of Boston has dedicated over $12.6 million in City, federal, and private funding to support small businesses impacted by COVID-19.    Through the Small Business Relief Fund, Mayor Walsh has announced that nearly $6.7 million in debt-free grants have been distributed to over 1,850 small businesses in every neighborhood across the City of Boston. The City of Boston has also created a number of useful guides and resources for small businesses impacted by COVID-19. The Reopen Boston Fund has issued more than $2.65M in grants to 1,471 businesses and is still accepting applications at boston.gov/reopen-fund. The Open Businesses in Boston and Support Boston Restaurants platforms have helped businesses to publicly share that they are open and direct residents to supporting local establishments. The above resources and more industry-specific guidance are accessible on boston.gov/covid19-businesses. For all coronavirus updates from the City of Boston, please visit boston.gov/coronavirus.   About SimpliSafe SimpliSafe fundamentally changed the alarm industry, pioneering a new way to make home the safest place on earth for everyone. Founded in 2006, SimpliSafe now protects millions of people and is committed to its founding goal: to make every home secure. SimpliSafe has been coined the number one home security pick by several highly-esteemed publications and was recently named "Best Home Security System of 2020" by U.S. News & World Report.   SimpliCam, SimpliSafe, and the SimpliSafe logo are the registered trademarks of SimpliSafe, Inc. in the US and other countries.   About the Office of Economic Development The Mayor's Office of Economic Development aims to promote a healthy environment for businesses of all types and sizes in the City of Boston. The  Office of Small Business Development is Boston's front door for small businesses, providing navigation help for permitting and licensing, technical assistance and certification for local, women, minority and veteran owned businesses. For additional information, visit boston.gov.

MAYOR WALSH ANNOUNCES COVID-19 TESTING PLEDGE

 

MAYOR WALSH ANNOUNCES COVID-19 TESTING PLEDGE "Get The Test Boston" to encourage individuals and businesses to commit to increasing testing

BOSTON - Thursday, October 29, 2020 - Mayor Martin J. Walsh today announced the City of Boston is launching "Get The Test Boston," a pledge designed to encourage residents to get a COVID-19 test. As part of this pledge, local businesses including the Boston Red Sox, Boston Main Streets, Rapid7, UNITE HERE Local 26, and Wayfair have committed to signing onto the pledge, and ensuring their employees know how and when to get tested for COVID-19. To better increase access to testing for City of Boston employees, Mayor Walsh today also announced the City of Boston will be offering benefit-eligible City employees one paid hour every 14 days to get tested during their normal work hours. Employees will receive regular compensation for their time spent testing, and will not be required to utilize their sick or personal time for one hour of testing. "Boston's COVID-19 numbers are increasing, and our public health data is clear: we need more residents to get tested," said Mayor Walsh. "We are entering a critical time in this pandemic, and everyone who does their part will save lives, and make a difference. I'd like to thank the companies who have already signed onto the testing pledge, and I encourage every resident in our city to look at the resources we have available, and seriously consider getting tested to protect themselves and their communities as we work to stop the further spread of COVID-19."  Boston and the country are facing an increase in COVID-19 rates. As of October 24, 2020, the Boston positivity rate is at 7.8 percent, compared to 6.2 percent the prior week. A key part of stopping the spread of COVID-19 is testing, which is why Boston has expanded access to testing. The City of Boston is encouraging all residents to consider getting tested for COVID-19, regardless of symptoms. Residents should get tested if they:  Are experiencing COVID-like symptoms, like fever, cough, or shortness of breath, among others Are at high risk for complications from COVID-19  Have been in contact with someone who is infected with COVID-19  Have traveled or been in large gatherings  The City of Boston offers free testing at its two mobile sites, available to all regardless of symptoms, currently in Central Square in East Boston, and Nubian Square in Roxbury. As announced by Mayor Walsh in May, these mobile sites change every few weeks to help fill any gaps in testing availability, prioritizing neighborhoods and populations that need dedicated testing efforts to create equitable access to testing. Other neighborhood testing sites have varying policies regarding the availability of testing for those showing no symptoms and insurance coverage. Because of this, residents are encouraged to call ahead via their listed contact numbers on the website to check their availability, and policies on asymptomatic testing and insurance coverage. Together, Boston now has over 30 active testing sites across the city. Residents can find them on Boston's testing map online. Residents who live near neighboring municipalities can also find a list of testing throughout the Commonwealth online.  Mayor Walsh is encouraging businesses and employers throughout Boston to join the City in increasing access to testing, by making sure their employees know when to get tested, how to get tested, and have access to the resources they need to take care of their own and their communities' collective public health. Businesses can take the pledge to #GetTheTestBoston, and provide the resources employees need to get tested, stop the spread of COVID-19, and avoid a setback in Boston's reopening process. The City also encourages individuals to take the pledge to demonstrate their commitment to stopping the spread of COVID-19 in our communities.   "Thank you to Mayor Walsh and the City of Boston for being the model in increasing testing access and encouraging more Bostonians to get tested," said UNITE HERE Local 26 President Carlos Aramayo. "We are proud to sign onto Mayor Walsh's 'Get The Test Boston' pledge to ensure our workers safety and to help keep our community safe." "We know how important it is to share crucial public health information, and we're proud to sign onto the City of Boston's testing pledge," said Rapid7 CEO Corey E. Thomas. "We are committed to sharing the COVID-19 testing resources with our employees, and will continue to do our part to make sure we keep our city, employees and communities safe." Individuals and businesses can sign onto the pledge in the following ways:  Companies:  Take the pledge Encourage all your employees to consider getting tested, even if they don't have symptoms.  Especially anyone who may be experiencing COVID-like symptoms Especially those at high risk for complications  Especially people in close contact with someone who is infected with COVID-19 Especially anyone who has traveled or been in large gatherings Share locations for COVID-19 testing (in Boston, and across the Commonwealth), and which ones are free, including for asymptomatic individuals, such as Boston's mobile testing sites.   Consider giving your employees paid time off to go get tested during work hours.  Individuals:  Take the pledge Get tested for COVID-19, even if you don't have symptoms.  Especially anyone who may be experiencing COVID-like symptoms Especially those at high risk for complications Especially people in close contact with someone who is infected with COVID-19 Especially anyone who has traveled or been in large gatherings Share locations for COVID-19 testing (in Boston, and across the Commonwealth), and which ones are free, including for asymptomatic individuals, such as Boston's mobile testing sites.   Share #GetTheTestBoston on your social media, and encourage your network to get tested.  Practice public health guidance: wear a mask or face covering, wash your hands and clean your surfaces, keep 6 feet of distance and avoid large gatherings (especially parties). Businesses including the Benjamin Franklin Institute of Technology, Boston Bruins, Boston Celtics, Boston Red Sox, Boston Main Streets, Bunker Hill Community College, Drift, Greater Boston Labor Council, MassChallenge, Nutter McClennen & Fish LLP, Rapid 7, Rise Construction Management, Roxbury Community College, Stop & Shop, Flour Bakery & Cafe, Myers & Chang, Sociedad Latina, Weber Shandwick, Soleil Restaurant, Emerson College, Boston Children's Hospital, TD Garden, The Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce, UNITE HERE Local 26, and Wayfair have already signed onto the pledge. If businesses or individuals would like more information, or to sign onto the pledge, visit boston.gov.

台灣已連續200天無本地確診個案

          (Boston Orange 綜合編譯) 麻州新冠病毒(COVID-19)確診人數在10月28日時，已一連五天超過1000人，呈現疫情回升跡象。台灣卻歡喜宣佈已連續200天無本地確診個案。

        彭博新聞(Bloomberg)稱，在美國、歐洲疫情再度告急之際，台灣不但保持了世界最好的對抗病毒紀錄，還從4月12日起，一連保持了200天的無本地確診個案。

            人口2300萬的台灣，到底做對了些什麼。迄今台灣只有553宗新冠病毒確診個案，7人死亡。專家說，關閉邊境，嚴格的旅遊規定在抗疫上發揮了很大作用。其他的因素包括嚴謹的接觸追蹤，以科技執行的隔離，還有絕大部分的人都戴口罩。此外，台灣的SARS (非典)經歷，也嚇得人們都遵守規定。

                 澳洲國家大學醫學院教授暨傳染病醫師Peter Collignon表示，「台灣是迄今唯一能夠免於新型冠狀病毒社區傳染的主要國家」。以台灣的人口及經濟規模和澳洲相似，但有那麼多人住在公寓中，彼此距離那麼近的情況來看，台灣的情況令人印象深刻，新冠數據可能是世界上最好的。

             台灣將是今年經濟有成長的少數幾個國家之一，政府在8月份預測2020年國內生產毛額將增加1.56%。

             不過，台灣也並未完全脫離疫情。週四才確認有3宗外來的確診個案，包括來自菲律賓，美國及印尼，過去2週則有20宗進口的確診個案。

波士頓華埠萬聖節邀您同遊 10/31 下午5點至8點

 

Greater Boston Chamber & Boston While Black Announce Partnership

 Greater Boston Chamber & Boston While Black Announce Partnership

The Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce announces a partnership today with Boston While Black (“BWB”), a new membership network for Black professionals, entrepreneurs, & graduate students, founded by Sheena Collier. Through a virtual platform and customized programming, BWB serves both Black Bostonians and those who have relocated here seeking access to mentors and leaders who they can relate to, providing curated social experiences, resources on how to navigate the city through a cultural lens, and a tribe of supportive friends. BWB is building a social infrastructure that will catapult the region in attracting & retaining more Black talent and redefining the brand of Boston.

The Chamber is joining BWB as a “Founding Accomplice” level partner, which includes sponsorship of BWB public and members-only events as well as annual memberships for Black entrepreneurs who are part of the Chamber’s membership. This partnership also includes designated spots for Boston While Black members in Chamber leadership initiatives, including Boston’s Future Leaders and Women’s Leadership program. The Chamber and Boston While Black will continue their successful partnership during the Fierce Urgency of Now festival for young professionals of color. The Chamber’s investment in Boston While Black’s mission will benefit the Chamber programming, leadership initiatives and the greater business community.

“We’re proud to announce the Chamber’s new investment in Boston While Black. This partnership is going to benefit both organizations, and most importantly Boston, as we work to change the perception and reality of living in Boston as a Black professional. The Boston business community needs to recognize and take action to make sure that we’re attracting and retaining Black talent for our collective future,” said James E. Rooney, President & CEO, Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce.

Boston While Black creates a supportive community in a city known to be unwelcoming to Black students, professionals, and entrepreneurs. Without networks of peers and mentors to help navigate professional and social networks, Boston cannot attract and retain Black talent in the region. The partnership with Boston While Black is part of the Chamber’s commitment to create a business community that values and elevates Black voices and contributions. While Boston is known to be an unwelcoming city to Black students and professionals, the Chamber knows that Boston While Black is the key to transforming the perception and reality of the region.

Sheena Collier, founder of Boston While Black and Chamber Board member, has extensive experience in cultivating community and powerful events. During her time as Director of Economic Opportunity at the Chamber, Sheena built the Fierce Urgency of Now annual festival dedicated to amplifying the experiences and challenges of young professionals of color in Boston. Sheena also led the early stage development of the Pacesetters, the Chamber’s program dedicated to transforming corporate procurement into an equity tool.

“When I moved to Boston to attend Harvard, I didn’t feel a sense of belonging. I’m not alone in this experience. Whether you grow up in the area or relocate for school or work, Boston presents a difficult reality for Black professionals. We’re changing that reality with Boston While Black by building a strong community, giving Black students and professionals a reason to stay and thrive. We’re looking forward to the partnership with the Chamber and its visionary leader Jim Rooney, to showcase what is possible when the business community invests in Black talent,” said Sheena Collier, Founder of Boston While Black and the CEO of The Collier Connection.

MAYOR WALSH ANNOUNCES PLANS TO PROTECT DOWNTOWN, NORTH END, AND DORCHESTER FROM CLIMATE CHANGE

 

MAYOR WALSH ANNOUNCES PLANS TO PROTECT DOWNTOWN, NORTH END, AND DORCHESTER FROM CLIMATE CHANGE City of Boston outlines strategies for a coastline built for recreation and resilience through public, private, and community collaboration

Marty Walsh says Joe Biden shared his view on climate change. (from facebook) BOSTON - Thursday, October 29, 2020- Building on his Resilient Boston Harbor plan to enhance Boston's waterfront and protect vulnerable neighborhoods from sea level rise and coastal flooding due to climate change, Mayor Martin J. Walsh today released two reports, Coastal Resilience Solutions for Downtown Boston and North End and Coastal Resilience Solutions for Dorchester. The reports are rooted in Imagine Boston 2030 and advance the work of Climate Ready Boston, the City's initiative to develop solutions to prepare Boston for the impacts of climate change. The strategies presented in each report outline a roadmap for near- and long-term solutions to protect from coastal flooding, increase access and open space along the waterfront, and enhance the public-private collaboration necessary for stakeholders in each neighborhood required for successful transformation and protection. "Now more than ever, we must protect the health and well-being of all residents and communities in Boston, and ensure our vulnerable neighborhoods are protected from the impacts of climate change," said Mayor Walsh. "These reports focus on creating an equitable, sustainable path forward, and outline transformative plans to protect our homes, neighborhoods, and businesses from sea-level rise and flooding. We will continue to protect, connect, and enhance the City and Bostonian's quality of life for years to come."  Coastal Resilience Solutions for Downtown Boston and North End build on public infrastructure investments currently underway, and present an opportunity for partnerships with private stakeholders to drive accessibility and resilient public realm enhancements. Langone Park and Puopolo Playground, located along Boston Harbor in the North End, is the first project within the Boston park system to integrate the standards set forth by the City of Boston's Climate Resilient Design Standards and Guidelines for Protection of Public Rights-of-Way. The $15.3 million project will be completed in late fall and expands recreational opportunities, raises the level of the athletic fields out of the flood zone, elevates the harborwalk by four feet, and makes the sea wall more structurally sound. Additional near- and long-term actions in these neighborhoods include:  In the coming months, the City of Boston and  Boston Planning & Development Agency (BPDA) will convene a Long Wharf Property Owner Stakeholder Group. Long Wharf is BPDA-owned property, and the collaboration will work closely with tenants to move forward with solutions to create a connected and resilient sub-district, and enhance Long Wharf as the gateway for water transportation. The redesign of Christopher Columbus Park to include elevation to protect against flooding while improving waterfront open space and connections to the Rose Kennedy Greenway. "With the support of Mayor Walsh and the Climate Resilience Boston team, Wharf District residential and business property owners, are already implementing short-term measures that reduce the vulnerability of our buildings, the Greenway and its fountains," said Susanne Lavoie, Wharf District Council. "Additionally, we have worked together on a public realm vision that would accommodate a future that included a climate resilient waterfront. Now with the completion of the climate resiliency study in the Wharf District, we are excited about moving forward with long-term waterfront protection solutions in our planning and development. " Coastal Resilience Solutions for Dorchester expands the vision for the future of the Dorchester shoreline, offering strategies to adapt to and reduce coastal flood risk, while also establishing a framework to connect the waterfront parks, beaches, and marshes in Dorchester, transforming them into one accessible, continuous waterfront. Hundreds of residents participated in the design processes through meetings, community events, open houses, focus groups, and online surveys. Residents, businesses, and organizations shared their desire for effective solutions to protect their neighborhoods from coastal flooding and enhance their communities. Near- and long-term solutions include:  The redesign of Morrissey Boulevard to stop current and future flooding, and create a more accessible waterfront. Completing the connection of the Neponset River Trail in Mattapan to the Harborwalk from Tenean Beach to Victory Park. Coordinating with the University of Massachusetts Boston to further open up the waterfront along Columbia Point for the residents of Dorchester. Working with residents on new and improved amenities for the neighborhood, including better public transit and improved roadways, pedestrian, and bike connections. "With Mayor Walsh's leadership in committing ten percent of all new capital funding to move forward resiliency efforts, we are able to implement an interconnected and comprehensive approach to protecting our most vulnerable neighborhoods," said Chris Cook, Chief of Environment, Energy, and Open Space. "In Boston we are already seeing the effects of climate change and it's critical to have leadership, both in government and in the community, who understand these efforts cannot wait." "Adapting to rising seas is a huge challenge, but it's also a huge opportunity to re-envision how we can make the most of our beautiful harbor and the Neponset River," said Ian Cooke, Executive Director of the Neponset River Watershed Association. "Climate Ready Dorchester highlights how investments in resilience will help our neighborhoods not just survive but thrive in decades to come." The long-term success of these strategies and the Resilient Boston Harbor vision will depend upon coordination with adjacent Boston neighborhoods, surrounding municipalities, and state-level agencies, as well as with recent and ongoing resilience efforts. This fall, the BPDA was awarded a $300,000 grant from the Massachusetts Office of Coastal Zone Management, which will help support flood protection and mitigation measures around Carlton Wharf and Lewis Mall in East Boston, identified as priority waterfront locations in the 2017 East Boston Coastal Resilience Solutions report. The design options will be developed through a process that engages both affected property owners and community residents. Last month, the City received a Municipal Vulnerability Preparedness Action Grant that will fund the upcoming strategic heat resilience planning study, an essential next step in preparing for the projected increases in extreme heat events over the coming decades. "State and local partnerships are essential to our ability to prepare for and mitigate the impacts of climate change, and the Baker-Polito Administration is committed to supporting cities and towns through resources like our Municipal Vulnerability Preparedness Program," said Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary Kathleen Theoharides. "Building on Massachusetts' and Boston's leadership on climate change, we are pleased to work with the City of Boston to improve climate resilience in its neighborhoods while protecting critical natural resources." Creating and maintaining a Resilient Boston Harbor requires private sector and non-profit and philanthropic stakeholders to join the City in committing to make these necessary plans and investments a reality. One such collaboration is the recently announced Stone Living Lab, a partnership of the UMass Boston School of the Environment, Boston Harbor Now, the National Parks of Boston, the Stone Foundation, and the City of Boston. The Lab is an innovative ecosystem that aims to become a global hub for testing and scaling up nature-based solutions in the high-energy environment of the Boston Harbor Islands National and State Park. As a living lab, the partnership will engage the larger community - including students, civic organizations, and advocates- to work alongside scientists to address challenges related to permitting, financing and climate justice while co-developing the solutions urgently needed. "Climate Ready Boston creates a blueprint for equitably protecting our neighborhoods while fostering a more vibrant and resilient waterfront for our city," said Kathy Abbott, President and CEO of Boston Harbor Now. "The City of Boston's partnership with the Stone Living Lab will go far in accelerating our progress toward realizing this vision." The 2016 Climate Ready Boston report assessed Boston's climate projections and vulnerabilities to climate change, and identified city-wide strategies for reducing vulnerability to sea-level rise, extreme heat, and intense precipitation. The Climate Ready Boston program that followed the report is led by the City of Boston's Environment Department and the Boston Planning and Development Agency, in collaboration with many City and community partners and the residents of Boston. The Coastal Resilience Solutions reports referenced are part of eight vulnerable areas identified in the 2016 report, and follow studies for East Boston, Charlestown, South Boston, and the Moakley Park Vision Plan to incorporate climate resiliency design to address the threat of coastal flooding and storm surge. Resilient solutions identified through Climate Ready Boston are part of and strengthen the strategies outlined in Resilient Boston Harbor to increase access and open space throughout Boston's 47-mile shoreline while better protecting the City. For all near- and long-term actions outlined in the reports to protect these neighborhoods from flooding, read the Coastal Resilience Solutions for Downtown and North End report here and the Coastal Resilience Solutions for Dorchester report here.