麻州新冠病毒死亡人數破萬 查理貝克認為學童回校上課有助學習

麻州州長查理貝克(Charlie Baker)認為學童回校上課有助學習。(周菊子攝)

          (Boston Orange 綜合編譯)麻州最近一連三天，新冠病毒單日確診人數超過2000。今(12)日不但有多達2,482人確診，累計174,953人確診，新增21人死亡，累計死亡人數更打破1萬大關。

根據聯邦疾病防治中心(CDC)截至今日中午的數據，美國今日新增143,408人新冠病毒確診，累計已有1031萬4254人確診。全美因染患新冠病毒死亡的人數，也在今日新增1,479人後，累計241,069人死亡。

              全世界的新冠病毒確診人數，11月8日才打破5000萬大關，今日就已累計有5258萬8560人確診，累計死亡人數也已達到129萬0427人。染患新冠病毒人數增加之快，令人驚詫。

目前麻州有26,201宗仍在治療中的新冠病毒個案，其中661人住院，151人住在重症病房。麻州的七日平均確診率上升到2.9%。

麻州州長查理貝克(Charlie Baker)今日特地到卡萊(Carlisle)公校巡訪，重申在學生到學校上課或以一半遠距，一半到校上課的方式學習時，並未出現群聚感染現象，反倒是家庭私人聚會，長時間的體育活動更容易造成病毒傳染。他認為讓學童回校上課，才能讓青少年得到更好的教育。

根據麻州中小學教育局的資料，在11月5日至11月11日的這個星期中，麻州學校師生共有348宗確診個案，其中191宗為學生，157宗為教職員。各學區報告了176名學生，131名教職員感染，其餘的教育設施有6名學生，4名教職員感染。特殊教育學校有9名學生，22名教職員感染。

在各學區中，屋本(Woburn)區個案數最高，有12宗。Barnstable，Leominster ，Westwood等學區則各有6名學生確診。波士頓市有7名教職員感染，Medway，昆士(Quincy )，以及Abby Kelley Foster 特許公校學區則各有5名教職員感染。

目前全麻州大約有45萬名學生及75000名教職員在病毒大流行期間回到學校的樓宇內上課。有些學區只安排遠距上課，所以學校樓宇內沒人。

波士頓市長馬丁華殊(Martin Walsh)在12日匯報疫情時表示，波士頓市新增325宗確診個案，累計23196宗。死亡人數無新增，884人。(更新版)

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MAYOR WALSH SIGNS HOUSING STABILITY NOTIFICATION ACT

 

MAYOR WALSH SIGNS HOUSING STABILITY NOTIFICATION ACT  Landlords and constables in the City of Boston must provide tenants facing eviction with their rights and resources   BOSTON - Thursday, November 12, 2020 - Mayor Martin J. Walsh today signed the Housing Stability Notification Act, an ordinance ensuring Bostonians at risk of eviction know their rights and have access to information on the resources available to them. Mayor Walsh introduced the ordinance to the City Council last month, ahead of the end of the statewide moratorium on evictions and foreclosures. With its passage, property owners and constables are required to provide a document containing information on tenant rights and resources available when issuing their tenant a Notice to Quit (the first step in the legal process of an eviction) or Nonrenewal of Lease. "Keeping families in their homes has been our top priority since the beginning of the pandemic, and we are committed to doing everything we can to prevent evictions during this difficult time," said Mayor Walsh. "The Housing Stability Notification Act is an important step the City is taking to help people at risk of eviction know their rights and the resources available to them. I want to thank the City Council and our housing advocates for their partnership in this ongoing work to prevent evictions and keep tenants in their homes during this crisis." The document that must accompany a Notice to Quit or Nonrenewal of Lease provides information about City and State rental relief funds, guidance on filing a federal declaration of need to potentially protect against eviction, and a list of services such as legal counsel and other supports. The information contained in the document is intended to prevent an eviction by providing access to financial and legal resources. When issuing these documents to tenants, landlords must also provide a copy of the Notice to Quit and Nonrenewal of Lease to the Office of Housing Stability.   "I want to thank the Mayor for signing this ordinance and look forward to the Public Health Commission's consideration of the request to make enforcing an eviction a violation of our city's health and sanitation codes," said Boston City Councilor Lydia Edwards. "We need to keep as many Boston families housed this winter as possible during the pandemic. We also need the State House to enact short term and permanent housing policies that are centered on the human right to housing and stable neighborhoods." The Housing Stability Notification Act builds on Mayor Walsh's previous efforts to ensure stable housing for the residents of Boston, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic. The City's Rental Relief Fund, launched in April, is currently accepting new applications to support residents who lost their income due to COVID-19 and are unable to pay their rent. Working in close partnership with three non-profit organizations, MetroHousing Boston, NOAH, and Project Hope, the fund has distributed almost $4 million in assistance to over 1,100 households across the city.  In addition, the City has contracted with Greater Boston Legal Services to add additional attorneys to assist tenants facing eviction. The Office of Housing Stability (OHS) has expanded the Housing Court Navigator Program that assists tenants who are in Housing Court and need financial, legal or other assistance. "The housing stability notification act is an important step in protecting tenants by helping them understand their rights," said Zoe Cronin, managing attorney of the Housing Unit at Greater Boston Legal Services. "It is another tool that we can use to help keep people stably housed and we are glad that Mayor Walsh signed it into law." As part of its response to COVID-19, the CDC moratorium, tenants are required to sign and submit a declaration to their landlord stating that they qualify for protection under the moratorium. To support residents seeking to be covered by the CDC moratorium, the City of Boston has translated this declaration into 11 languages, and posted it on the Office of Housing Stability website so eligible tenants can sign it and send it to their landlord.  This direct outreach supplements the City of Boston's work in partnering with banks and mortgage lenders. Currently, 17 banks and mortgage lenders have signed on to a pledge, issued by the Mayor, which provides homeowners with at least a three month loan deferment from lenders. Prior to the pandemic, the Mayor has consistently advocated for protections against displacement, including in 2017 when he signed the Jim Brooks Community Stabilization Act, a home rule petition that failed to pass in the state legislature. Mayor Walsh has also advocated in support of An Act to Ensure Right to Counsel in Eviction Proceedings, which would provide any low-income tenant facing eviction with a court-appointed attorney for representation. The City has also taken steps to enhance services to help homeowners, many of whom are small landlords, to meet their own financial obligations, make critical repairs, and stay in their homes. The Boston Home Center (BHC) has partnered with the City of Boston's Tax/Title division to send multi-lingual inserts in tax bills to more than 8,000 homeowners who are past due in property taxes to let them know that help is available from the City. The Boston Home Center also sent multi-lingual notices to 10,000 homeowners, in neighborhoods with traditionally high foreclosure rates, informing them of assistance available through Foreclosure Prevention and Intervention services. Tenants are able to access information here and landlords are able to access information and documents here.

MAYOR WALSH SIGNS EXECUTIVE ORDERS, WILL FILE ORDINANCE TO CREATE OFFICE OF POLICE ACCOUNTABILITY AND TRANSPARENCY TO ENACT BOSTON POLICE REFORM TASK FORCE RECOMMENDATIONS

 

MAYOR WALSH SIGNS EXECUTIVE ORDERS, WILL FILE ORDINANCE TO CREATE OFFICE OF POLICE ACCOUNTABILITY AND TRANSPARENCY TO ENACT BOSTON POLICE REFORM TASK FORCE RECOMMENDATIONS

 

BOSTON - Thursday, November 12, 2020 - In keeping with his commitment to taking swift action on police reform, Mayor Martin J. Walsh today announced he will file an ordinance with the Boston City Council to create the Office of Police Accountability and Transparency to enact the Boston Police Reform Task Force recommendations. Mayor Walsh today also signed two executive orders to create Boston's first-ever Civilian Review Board, and to create a stronger Internal Affairs Oversight Panel, both as recommended by the Task Force.    "Our goal is to achieve historic change in Boston and create a national model for breaking down systemic racism across all aspects of our city," said Mayor Walsh. "The recommendations we are enacting today represent the voices of the community advocating for change, and I thank the Task Force for their incredibly hard work in creating this report that we are bringing to life through reforms. We will continue this work as we come together to build a more equitable, just city."  The Boston Police Reform Task Force was charged with reviewing a set of current Boston Police Department's policies and procedures, and presenting recommendations for action and reform. Mayor Walsh charged the Task Force with four main areas of review: Use of Force policies; Implicit Bias Training, the Body-worn Camera Program, and the Community Ombudsman Oversight Panel (CO-OP). Mayor Walsh has accepted all of the Task Force's recommendations, and is in the process of implementing them. Mayor Walsh today signed two executive orders to further enact the recommendations of the Boston Police Reform Task Force. The first executive order creates Boston's first-ever Civilian Review Board of this kind, a 9-member board that will be made up of community members nominated by the City Council and the Mayor's Office.  The second Order reconstitutes Boston's Community Ombudsman Oversight Panel (CO-OP) and transforms it into a stronger Internal Affairs Oversight Panel (IAOP). This panel will have the power to review all completed Internal Affairs cases. Previously, the CO-OP could review 20 percent of cases. In addition to cases, it would be able to review the policies and procedures of Internal Affairs, as well as engage with the community about their impact.  The ordinance, which will be filed next week, would create the Office of Police Accountability and Transparency (OPAT), a key recommendation of the Boston Police Reform Task Force. OPAT would provide intake services, research, and administrative support to the Civilian Review Board and the Internal Affairs Oversight Panel, and the OPAT Commission would have subpoena power to investigate misconduct. This structure would create a single point of public access to a new standard in police accountability and community oversight.  The City of Boston has already begun the process of searching for an executive director to lead the Office of Accountability and Transparency (OPAT). The Executive Director will lead the Executive Administration, a branch within the OPAT structure. The City is launching a search to find an executive director who is a member of the Massachusetts bar, and is equipped to lead this pivotal new office, bring on staff members, and execute its charge. "The Boston Police Reform Task Force recommendations laid out plans for real reform at the Boston Police Department," said Boston Police Reform Task Force Chairman Wayne Budd. "These actions today will further the goals of the Task Force, and we look forward to these recommendations creating change in our city."  In addition to the City's work to create OPAT, the Civilian Review Board and Internal Affairs Oversight Panel (IAOP), Mayor Walsh and the City of Boston have already taken steps to enact the Task Force's additional recommendation. Mayor Walsh has filed a Home Rule Petition at the Boston City Council that would give Boston high school graduates a preference in police hiring, a key step to increasing diversity and having more officers drawn from the communities they are serving. Mayor Walsh also charged Chief of Equity Karilyn Crockett and other City leaders to work with the Boston Police Department on updating their policies through an equity lens, and creating a Diversity and Inclusion Unit in the Department.  This work builds on the City of Boston's commitment to equitable public safety offices. In June, Mayor Walsh signed the "Mayor's Pledge" issued by the Obama Foundation's My Brother's Keeper Alliance as one of the strategies to address racism as an emergency and public health crisis. The Mayor committed the City of Boston to review police use of force policies; engage communities by including a diverse range of input experiences and stories; report review findings to the community and seek feedback; and reform police use of force policies. The Boston Police Reform Task Force is composed of members from the community, law enforcement, advocacy organizations, and the legal profession, to ensure that these commitments are translated to actions. Over the summer, the Task Force hosted a series of community listening sessions to gather community feedback related to police reform.  "The Boston Police Department is committed to helping our communities, and continuing to serve the people of Boston," said Boston Police Commissioner William Gross. "These actions will help our department continue our goal to become a stronger, more equitable force for public safety."  On June 11, 2020, Boston Police Commissioner William Gross announced he completed a review of Boston Police's policies against the recommended use of force policies outlined in the "8 Can't Wait" effort, resulting in clarified rules and the implementation of several reforms. In addition, as part of Mayor Walsh's Fiscal Year 2021 (FY21) budget, Mayor Walsh allocated 20% or $12 million of the Boston Police Department's overtime budget to make a significant investment in equity and inclusion across the City.  These final recommendations represent the tireless work of the Boston Police Task Force members, and valuable feedback from the Boston community. Throughout its process, the Task Force held five separate public listening sessions, and received over 100 pieces of testimony from the community, over the course of two written comment periods.  The final report and full recommendations are available online.

MAYOR WALSH, GOVERNOR BAKER, BHA, AND TRINITY FINANCIAL CELEBRATE COMPLETION OF PHASE TWO OF OVERLOOK TERRACE AT ORIENT HEIGHTS

 

MAYOR WALSH, GOVERNOR BAKER, BHA, AND TRINITY FINANCIAL CELEBRATE COMPLETION OF PHASE TWO OF OVERLOOK TERRACE AT ORIENT HEIGHTS    Photo credit: Anthony Crisafulli, Trinity Financial BOSTON - Thursday, November 12, 2020 - Mayor Martin J. Walsh and Governor Charlie Baker today marked the completion of Phase Two of Overlook Terrace at Orient Heights with a virtual 'ribbon cutting' event - joining the Boston Housing Authority (BHA), the Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD), and the development team of Trinity Financial and the East Boston Community Development Corporation. Phase Two of the project involved the demolition of 87 original units in four buildings and the new construction of 88 State Public Housing rental units in a combination of apartment style and townhouse homes. The Phase Two property, which also includes new community and open spaces and play areas, achieved LEED Gold certifiability for sustainability and energy efficiency.  "The Orient Heights development is a great Boston story," said Mayor Martin J. Walsh. "We brought lots of partners together, we got creative sourcing funding, and we harnessed the economic strength of our city to create powerful opportunities for working families. I congratulate everyone involved in the financing, design and construction. I thank the tenants for their patience and input, and the BHA for working with them on relocation and return." "I'm pleased to celebrate the completion of Phase II of Overlook Terrace at Orient Heights, preserving hundreds of affordable units for Boston residents," said Governor Charlie Baker. "Thank you to Mayor Walsh, the Boston Housing Authority and all the partners that worked together with our administration to make this project possible." Originally built in 1951, the 331-unit Orient Heights state public housing community has become physically distressed over the years. For the past five years, BHA, DHCD, and the residents of Orient Heights have been working with the development team to transform the community. Phase One of the redeveloped Overlook Terrace at Orient Heights, which was completed in 2018, included the construction of 120 units of new replacement state public housing. The total development investment in Phase One was of approximately $51.2 million, including affordable housing resources from the City of Boston, and funds raised through an allocation of federal 4 percent Low-Income Housing Tax Credits; tax-exempt bonds for construction financing; state public housing capital funds from BHA and DHCD. Phase Two, being celebrated today, was made possible with $10 million from the City of Boston, including the proceeds from the sale of the Winthrop Street Garage as well as Inclusionary Development Policy funds secured from Article 80 development projects in East Boston. Financing for Phase Two was also provided by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts's DHCD, the BHA, MassWorks, MassHousing, RBC Capital Markets, and Citizens Bank.  As part of the upcoming FY22 Capital Plan, Mayor Walsh is committing another $19 million for Phase Three, which is anticipated to complete the replacement and modernization of the remaining 123 units in order to achieve a one-for-one replacement of the original 331-units, and is projected to commence in 2021.  "Orient Heights has been a vital housing resource for low-income families in East Boston for almost 70 years. With these new units we are building a future for our residents," said BHA Administrator Kate Bennett. "The work we're doing today will secure a vibrant, stable home for hundreds of families at Orient Heights for decades to come." The BHA, which has owned and managed the Orient Heights public housing development since its original construction in the 1950s, undertook a planning process in 2008 with the support of DHCD to consider redevelopment options for the community. In January 2015, with an award of funding from DHCD, the BHA selected the development team of Trinity Financial and East Boston CDC to work with both agencies and the residents of the Orient Heights community to finalize a redevelopment strategy. In partnership with the BHA and DHCD, the development team secured financing to implement the redevelopment, and will own and manage the buildings post-redevelopment. The BHA will continue to own the land and will lease the land to Trinity.   "This property is a critical part of the BHA's portfolio in meeting the City of Boston's affordable housing needs. It has been a privilege to be part of such a collaborative public-private partnership with our colleagues at the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, the City of Boston, the Boston Housing Authority, East Boston CDC, the Orient Heights residents, and our colleagues in finance and development to see this second phase through to completion." said Eva Erlich, Vice President, Development with Trinity Financial. "We're thrilled to be marking this milestone for Phase Two, and look forward to completing the full transformation with the third and final phase.  " Since January of 2015, BHA and the development team have held public meetings with residents and the neighborhood, regular meetings with the Local Tenant Organization and various meetings with City and State officials. The redevelopment effort has been supported by a local community that recognizes Orient Heights as an integral part of the neighborhood. BHA, Trinity, and the East Boston CDC will continue to meet with public housing residents and neighbors in the broader community on an on-going basis throughout the remaining stages of redevelopment. Mayor Walsh and the City of Boston have dedicated substantial resources to redevelopment efforts at BHA Public Housing sites across the city. In addition to the city's $10 million investment for Orient Heights Phase Two, Mayor Walsh has invested $6.5 million to redevelop the Whittier Public Housing Development in Roxbury, $30 million for a future redevelopment of the Bunker Hill Public Housing Development in Charlestown, $25 million to Anne Lynch Homes at Old Colony in South Boston, and $5 million this year to kickstart renovation efforts for BHA Public Housing for seniors and residents with disabilities across the city. Since the implementation of the Mayor Walsh's housing plan in 2014, 23,000 new units of housing have been completed. With an additional 9,700 units currently under construction, the City has secured housing for an estimated 45,600 residents, making significant progress in meeting Boston's rapid population growth.

紐英崙七州州長聯合聲明 暫停青少年跨州曲棍球賽

            (Boston Orange報導) 麻州、新澤西州、緬因州、羅德島州、新罕布夏州、佛蒙特州及康州等七州州長，今(12)早11點發表聯合聲明，暫停青少年跨州曲棍球賽，以遏制新冠病毒散佈。

             該聲明指出，鑒於近來爆發的新冠病毒疫情都和跨州青少年曲棍球活動有關，麻州查理貝克(Charlie Baker)、新澤西州Phil Murphy、緬因州Janet Mills、羅德島州雷萌朵(Gina Raimondo)、新罕布夏州Chris Sununu、佛蒙特州Phil Scott及康乃狄克州Ned Lamont等七名州長，都支持鄰州合作，暫停跨州比賽的區域性辦法，以限制病毒在各社區間進一步傳播。

             從11月14日起至12月31日止，這七州將暫停公私立學校之間的州際比賽，以及青少年曲棍球活動。

             該禁令不會影響州際大學，專業團隊或美國國家隊曲棍球活動，這些活動仍將受現有健康和安全規程和/或限制的約束。

             在公共健康數據持續衍變之際，各州將重新評估繼續限制州際體育活動的必要。

Joint Statement from the Offices of Governors Baker, Murphy, Mills, Raimondo, Sununu, Scott and Lamont on the Suspension of Interstate Youth Hockey

BOSTON – In response to recent coronavirus outbreaks associated with the conduct of interstate youth hockey activities, Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker, New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy, Maine Governor Janet Mills, Rhode Island Governor Gina Raimondo, New Hampshire Governor Chris Sununu, Vermont Governor Phil Scott, and Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont will support a regional approach to interstate competitions. As case numbers increase in many states across the country, it is critical that neighboring states coordinate a regional approach to limit further community spread of the virus.

The seven states will suspend interstate competitions for public and private schools and youth hockey effective this Saturday, November 14, 2020 through at minimum December 31, 2020. The prohibition will not impact interstate collegiate, professional, or U.S. national team hockey activities, which will remain subject to existing health and safety protocols and/or restrictions.

As public health data continues to evolve, the states will reassess the need for continued restrictions on interstate sports activities.

麻州、美國新冠確診人數繼續攀升 11/11依序 2495宗、134,383宗

 

白宮改朝換代在望 麻州政壇從Warren起吹風點將

             (Boston Orange編譯)美國大選投票結束，計票仍在持續，川普(Donald Trump)還未退讓，媒體宣稱拜登(Joe Biden)當選為候任美國總統之際，麻州已迫不急待的開始猜測，華倫，華殊，普斯莉，奚莉將”花落何方”。

             波士頓環球報(Boston Globe)今(11)日發文表示，訪問了16名政治圈內人，得到各種說法，包括聯邦參議員伊莉莎白華倫(Elizabeth Warren)可能當美國財政部部長，波士頓市長馬丁華殊(Marty Walsh)可能當駐愛爾蘭大使，聯邦眾議員普斯莉(Ayanna Pressley)和麻州總檢察長奚莉(Maura Healey)可能會在民主黨初選中對決，角逐聯邦參議員席位。

             民主黨的策略家說，實在很難說這政治骨牌最後會翻滾成甚麼樣子，從麻州州長查理貝克(Charlie Baker)到2022年的麻州國會議員團，都會受影響。

             前述四人是麻州民主黨人在討論拜登政府時，最多人提到的名字。還未宣佈是否在2021年競選連任波士頓市長的馬丁華殊，有人提議他當勞工部部長或大使。

             早在選前19個月就支持拜登的聯邦眾議員林奇(Stephen F. Lynch)，曾經是工會鐵工，去過伊拉克和阿富汗20多次，對勞工議題，外國事務及國家安全等議題，都有深入了解，讓他也成了民主黨觀察名單上另一個受歡迎的名字。

             至於麻州州長查理貝克，儘管接近他的人都說他對到華府沒甚麼興趣，但卻一直公開地被人認為，匯市候任總統過渡小組中的共和黨成員。

             不過，有幾個政治圈內人認為，麻州還有一些著名的民主黨人更可能被招攬進白宮，包括2013年奧巴馬就職委員會成員Steve Kerrigan，奧巴馬政府時代的前助理國務卿，曾參選麻州州長，目前在哈佛甘迺迪政府學院任教的Juliette Kayyem，以及在柯林頓總統時期在司法部工作的麻州前州長派區克(Deval Patrick)等等。

             如果伊莉莎白華倫進白宮了，她代表麻州的聯邦參議員席位，將在麻州州長指派人選頂替之後，非常可能引出聯邦眾議員普斯莉(Ayanna Pressley)和麻州總檢察長奚莉(Maura Healey)出面參選。甚至才剛在今年的聯邦參議員選舉中被競選連任的馬基(Ed Markey)打敗的約瑟夫甘迺迪三世，都有可能再次出征。

Baker-Polito Administration Advances Soldiers’ Home in Holyoke Capital Project with Release of Rapid Planning Phase Report, Selection of Vendor for Design Phase

 Baker-Polito Administration Advances Soldiers’ Home in Holyoke Capital Project with Release of Rapid Planning Phase Report, Selection of Vendor for Design Phase

 

BOSTON – Today on Veterans Day, the Baker-Polito Administration announced the next steps for the expedited capital project for the Soldiers’ Home in Holyoke. Following the conclusion of the 12-week Rapid Planning Phase of the project, the Division of Capital Asset Management and Maintenance released the needs assessment report, and announced the selection of a vendor for the next phase.

 

The Rapid Planning Phase was launched in August to identify a sustainable, public health, implementation roadmap to provide significant upgrades to the Soldiers’ Home in Holyoke. The architecture firm that led this project, Payette, wrote a report detailing its findings and recommended next steps. This report represents the culmination of research gathered by a broad group of veterans, families, veterans’ organizations, the community, and other stakeholders through focus groups, interviews, and surveys. These recommendations reflect the learnings from those engagements, and the analysis of demographic data and services in Western Massachusetts. Read the full report here.

 

Payette has been conditionally selected pending execution of a contract as the design firm to lead the design and planning phase, the next step of the expedited capital project. Payette will build on the evaluation they previously completed, and will develop a full project scope, refine the plan, and confirm the budget, timelines, and ensure conformity with the regulatory process. One of the early deliverables is the preparation of the submission for the VA State Home Construction Grant by its April 15, 2021 deadline. Following the submission of the grant application, the Design Phase will include further work to incorporate feedback from the VA on the grant submission.

 

“We are pleased to announce the advancement of this capital project for the Soldiers’ Home in Holyoke to ensure that the facility remains safe and able to support the Commonwealth’s veterans as they age,” said Governor Charlie Baker. “By updating and modernizing the facility, we will continue to provide high-quality health care to both aging veterans now and the next generation of veterans who need care.”

 

“The capital improvements this project entails will ensure longevity of services at the Soldiers’ Home in Holyoke, which provides care to aging veterans from all across the Commonwealth,” said Lt. Governor Karyn Polito. “Soldiers’ Homes are also unique as they recognize the selfless service of our veterans to the Nation and Commonwealth, not only on Veterans Day, but every day.”

 

“This expedited capital project for the Soldiers’ Home in Holyoke provides an exciting opportunity to provide a state of the art long term care facility to meet the needs of our veterans in the coming years and to ensure that they are aligned with anticipated demand,” said Health and Human Services Secretary Marylou Sudders. “It is also essential that any renovation meets the most stringent infection control standards.”

 

“Thank you to all the individuals and groups who have provided insight and recommendations for the future of the Soldiers’ Home in Holyoke, we look forward to continuing our partnership throughout this process,” said Veterans’ Secretary Cheryl Lussier Poppe. “This needs assessment and selection of a design vendor marks a significant milestone in this expedited process as we continue our commitment to our aging veterans on this Veterans Day.”

 

“We appreciate all of the hard work that went into completing the rapid planning phase report for the Soldiers’ Home in Holyoke and the many stakeholders that offered valuable input,” said Secretary of Administration and Finance Michael Heffernan. “We look forward to working with Payette to execute the design and planning phase so that we can invest in this important project to provide the very best for those who have sacrificed so much.”  

 

“The Soldiers’ Home in Holyoke is a special place,” said Division of Capital Asset Management and Maintenance Commissioner Carol Gladstone. “We have a team ready and committed to work with our partners at the Soldiers’ Home, the Department of Veterans’ Services, and Health and Human Services to implement the recommendations identified as part of this Rapid Planning Report .”

 

Payette is a well-known firm that has done scores of similar projects, including completing the Community Living Center and Campus Framework Plan for Chelsea Soldiers’ Home. 

 

While the expedited capital project will address long-term facility viability, the Executive Office of Health and Human Services (EOHHS), the Department of Veterans’ Services (DVS) and the Division of Capital Asset Management and Maintenance (DCAMM) have been addressing immediate capital needs, including a $6 million refresh of units, to significantly improve infection control for the  residents and staff. The refresh includes refinishing the living and working environment to support infection control, including the installation of air purification units.

 

Learn more about the expedited capital project for the Soldiers’ Home in Holyoke at www.mass.gov/HolyokeSHproject.