Statement from Massachusetts Democratic Party Chair Gus Bickford in Response to Today’s Announcement by Charlie Baker

 Statement from Massachusetts Democratic Party Chair Gus Bickford in Response to Today’s Announcement by Charlie Baker

“Charlie Baker made the decision to halt certain inpatient medical care but is allowing casinos to remain open.  Let that sink in.  The warning signs have been flashing for weeks and rather than act to protect the vulnerable in our state, Baker just played with the metrics in an effort to convince us we were on the right track, when we were not.  It’s clear what is happening now.  One of the nation’s most respected public health experts joined the chorus of leaders who have been highlighting the worsening data trends, saying he is “aghast at lack of action” by Baker.  The pressure finally became too much for Baker to ignore, forcing him to finally take the extremely modest steps he outlined today.  No matter the issue, Baker only acts when pressured.  It’s not leadership, it’s negligence.”

12/8新冠疫情 麻州新增確診3627 美國186, 215 全世界521,372 新增死亡麻州40 美國1532 世界逾萬

 

羅德島州新冠疫情嚴重

              (Boston Orange編譯)全美最小的州現在是全美最危險的州?羅德島州 以每10萬人平均每天有122.9人確診的比率，在全美各州中名列前茅。

              羅德島州公共衛生廳公佈的數據顯示，該州今(8)日累計確診數67,067，新增確診數982，新增死亡人數22，累計1,470。目前有444人住院，其中43人住進重症病房，25人插管。

              根據美國疾病防治局(CDC)的資料，羅德島州的每10萬人平均每日有122.9人確診，比麻州的65.6和康州的74.2高了許多。

              由於需要住院的患者人數大增，羅德島州不得不設置了2家田野醫院。

              上星期11月底時，羅德島州已經只剩下Block島和南金斯頓(Kingstown)這兩個地方的每10萬人確診數低於100人。最近這幾週以來，拉丁裔居民染患率比白人居民高3倍。中央瀑布市(Central Falls)、普塔基市(Pawtucket)以及普域敦斯市(Providence)確診數增加得最多。

              羅德島州是全美人口最密集的州之一，在四，五月時，羅德島州也是全美確診比率最高的州之一。

              羅德島醫院急診室醫師Megan Ranney在推特上列出了羅德島州確診個案大增的幾個原因，包括貧窮率高，有太多成為”超級傳播活動”的家庭聚會等。

              羅德島州目前正在州長雷萌朵(Gina Raimondo)所謂的「經濟活動暫停兩週」的第二週之中，該活動極大的限制了在餐館用餐的數量，諸如健身房，賭場等娛樂場所都關門了，

麻州第二波疫情來襲 州長宣佈13日起回歸第三階段第一步驟

    

 

麻州州長Charlie Baker直言他有朋友上餐廳用膳後確診。(周菊子攝)

         (Boston Orange 周菊子整理報導) 麻州州長查理貝克(Charlie Baker) 今(8)日宣佈回縮開放步驟，週日(13日)起調回第三階段第一步驟，而且室外聚會人數限制從100降為50，餐廳每桌最多可坐六人，飯局限時90分鐘結束等。

              查理貝克將於明日進一步說明有關疫苗的取得及分配計畫。他也表示麻州有足夠用到明年的個人防護用品(PPE)。

              查理貝克坦言受影響最大的將是室內娛樂表演業等人與人有最多接觸的行業，但第二波新冠病毒疫情爆發，感染住院人數激增，他也很無奈。

麻州副州長Karyn Polito說明限制細節。(周菊子攝)

              包括健身房，圖書館，博物館，零售商場，辦公室或教堂，電影院等場所，使用容量都將降為40%。

              一些原本指定為第二階段開放的行業，包括室內表演場所，高接觸的室內娛樂場所，將再度關閉。

              查理貝克表示，「每一個人都應該了解的重要事情是，個人決定的每天要做甚麼，要和誰再一起，對制止病毒傳播，容許人們能夠去上班，學童能夠去上學，保持醫療系統強壯，都有重大影響」。

              麻州副州長白莉朵(Karyn Polito)在疫情匯報會中仔細說明了一下新的限制，包括25人以上聚會，需要事先通知在地公共衛生局。上餐廳時，每桌最多只能坐6個人，除了吃東西的時候之外，其他時候都得戴口罩。此外最好只和家人共餐。社交會所如果供應食品，也須遵循適用於餐館的規定。

              餐廳內禁止音樂表演，購物商場的食苑須關閉。

              辦公室員工除非只有自己一個人在工作場所，否則都須戴口罩。州政府還鼓勵雇主限制員工使用或關閉休息室。

Baker-Polito Administration Announces Statewide Rollback to Phase Three, Step One, Additional Restrictions Effective December 13^th

Governor Baker Announces New Restrictions Statewide for Capacity, Mask Compliance and Distancing Due to Increased Cases, Hospitalizations 

BOSTON – Today, the Baker-Polito Administration announced that effective Sunday, December 13^th, all communities in Massachusetts will return to Step 1 of Phase 3, of the Commonwealth’s reopening plan. This will reduce indoor capacities across a broad range of sectors of the economy and tighten several other workplace restrictions. The Administration announced the roll-back to respond to an increase in new COVID-19 infections and hospitalizations since the Thanksgiving holiday that is straining the health care system in Massachusetts.

The return to Step 1 will also require the closure of certain businesses designated as Step 2 industries. These include indoor performance venues and certain high-contact indoor recreational businesses. In addition, capacity limits will be reduced to 40% statewide for most industries, and the limit on outdoor gatherings will be reduced statewide from 100 persons to 50 persons. Additional safety measures will be applied to restaurant dining as well.

These new measures are designed to prevent infection and viral spread, especially in indoor settings. They will create stronger mask compliance, more social distancing, and limits to the time spent with people outside of your immediate household. 

The Administration also announced additional guidance for certain sectors including restaurants, office spaces and gyms, to address activities where mask wearing is not possible at all times.

Phase III, Step I:

Effective December 13, all communities will roll back to Phase 3, Step 1 of Massachusetts’ re-opening plan, including the following restrictions:

• Outdoor gatherings at event venues will be limited to no more than 50 people

• Hosts of outdoor gatherings of greater than 25 people will be required to provide advance notice of the gathering their local board of health

• Indoor theaters and performance venues and higher contact indoor recreation businesses will be required to close to the public

• Outdoor theaters and performance venues will be limited to 25% capacity, and no more than 50 people

In all communities, capacity will be reduced from 50% to 40% for the following sectors:

• Arcades/Indoor and Outdoor Recreational Businesses

• Driving and Flight Schools

• Gyms/Health Clubs

• Libraries

• Museums

• Retail

• Offices

• Places of Worship

• Lodging (common areas)

• Golf facilities

• Movie Theaters (Maximum 50 people per theater)

This new capacity limit will not apply to sectors that do not currently have a percentage-based capacity limit, including restaurants, laboratories and close contact personal services.

Click here to read the revised gatherings order.

Click here to read the order rolling Massachusetts back to Phase III, Step 1.

 

Restaurants and Venues

The Administration also announced new guidelines for restaurants and other venues with seated dining, including:

• Patrons must wear masks at all times except when eating and drinking

• Restaurants must seat no more than six patrons per table

• Restaurants must impose a 90-minute time limit on tables

• Musical performances at restaurants will no longer be permitted

• Food court seating must be closed in malls

Customers are encouraged to dine only with members of the same household.

Offices and Gyms

The Administration announced new guidelines for workplaces and gyms, including:

• In offices, employees must wear masks at their place of work when not in their own workspace and alone

• Employers are encouraged to close or limit the use of break rooms

• Patrons must wear masks at all times in gyms

The Administration continues to encourage all employers to offer teleworking to their employees when possible.

12月7日新冠疫情 新增確診麻州2463 美國174,387 新增死亡麻州30 美國1508

 

CITY OF BOSTON ISSUES REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS FOR LAFAYETTE PARKING GARAGE

 

CITY OF BOSTON ISSUES REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS FOR LAFAYETTE PARKING GARAGE   Sale of Lafayette Garage will generate millions of dollars for affordable housing in Boston

BOSTON - Tuesday, December 8, 2020 - Mayor Martin J. Walsh and the City of Boston have released a Request for Proposals (RFP) for the Lafayette Parking Garage, a 159,123 square foot parking garage in the downtown neighborhood of Boston, as a means to generate millions of dollars for the creation and preservation of affordable housing in Boston. The Lafayette Parking Garage is a three-floor parking garage located at 1 Avenue de Lafayette in Downtown Boston, consisting of approximately 1,029 parking spaces for vehicles. "The sale of the Lafayette Garage will provide an unique opportunity to invest in affordable housing in the City," said Mayor Walsh. "Those investments will benefit the residents in our community who need it the most. Everyone in Boston should have a safe, stable place to live and the sale of this parking garage will allow more of our vulnerable residents to have a home."  The Lafayette Garage was first constructed in 1980, and underwent an $8 million renovation in 2015. The garage is operated under a long-term ground lease and profit sharing agreement that terminates in April of 2022. The Off-Street Parking Facilities Board voted to approve the disposition of the garage through an agreement with the Department of Neighborhood Development on February 28, 2020. The RFP asks potential buyers to offer their vision for the future of the garage while setting an expectation that the property will continue to be used as a public parking facility.  The Department of Neighborhood Development (DND), in collaboration with the Off-Street Parking Facilities Board and Boston Planning & Development Agency, will evaluate responses and select the proposal that yields the greatest benefit to the City.  Once a buyer is selected, DND will seek a City Council surplus vote for the property and Public Facilities Commission approval of the sale in accordance with City and State law.  The sale is expected to be completed in the second half of 2021. The RFP package can be downloaded by registering at https://boston.gov/dnd/rfps. Completed RFP responses must be submitted electronically by 4:00PM on March 8, 2021. A sale of the Lafayette Garage was identified as an opportunity to turn a City asset into an immediate, impactful, significant investment in affordable housing that cannot be financed through the City's capital budget. The revenue from the sale will be used primarily to renovate aging public housing, as well as to accelerate the creation and preservation of affordable housing in the City. Pursuing a sale of the Lafayette Parking Garage is part of the City's strategy to increase funding for affordable housing, as recommended in the Housing a Changing City: Boston 2030 plan.  Since 2014, funding from the City's operating and capital budget for housing programs has increased four-fold, while adjustments to the Inclusionary Development and Linkage Policies, and the adoption of the Community Preservation Act have resulted in tens of millions of dollars of additional revenue for housing. This new funding has supported the creation of affordable rental and homeownership opportunities, the development of permanent supportive housing for homeless households, and assistance for renters facing eviction.  It has also supported the conversion of hundreds of market-rate units into income-restricted affordable housing and the creation of the first City-funded rental voucher program for low income Bostonians, which is set to launch in January 2021. Since the release of the original Housing a Changing City: Boston 2030 plan in 2014, 26,124 new units of housing have been completed. With an additional 9,204 units currently under construction, the City has secured housing for an estimated 52,300 residents, making significant progress in meeting Boston's rapid population growth. Income-restricted housing stock has grown along with overall new production, with nearly 5,500 income restricted units completed and over 1,700 units under construction. Approximately 20 percent of all newly-developed housing units and 25 percent of new rental units in the City are designated as income-restricted. For more information on the City of Boston's work to create more housing, please visit Housing A Changing City: Boston 2030.

波士頓慈濟12/19失智症講座

 

Nine Greater Boston Leaders Awarded 2021 Pinnacle Awards for Outstanding Achievement in Business and Management

 Nine Greater Boston Leaders Awarded 2021 Pinnacle Awards for

Outstanding Achievement in Business and Management

The Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce (GBCC) Women’s Network is pleased to announce the 2021 Pinnacle Awards, honoring nine remarkable female professionals in Greater Boston for outstanding achievement in business and management. The Pinnacle Awards were formed 27 years ago by the Chamber’s Women’s Network to honor leading women for outstanding achievement in the workplace, demonstrated leadership that has made a difference, and a commitment to enhancing the quality of life in the region. The award is the most prestigious honor for female professionals in the region.

This year’s honorees will be recognized on Friday, January 29, 2021, 12:00pm – 1:00pm, at the annual Pinnacle Awards held virtually on the Chamber’s Women’s Network platform. Lisa Hughes News Anchor for WBZ-TV will serve as the event’s Master of Ceremonies. Past honorees include Anita F. Hill, Sandi L. Fenwick, Vicary Graham, Chief Justice Margaret Marshall, Diane Hessan, Liz Cheng, and Courtney Scrubbs. View all past honorees by achievement here.

“Our Pinnacle Awards are always extraordinary, and this year, the celebration acknowledges the tremendous leadership of the honorees as they led their companies and industries through a time of crisis,” said James E. Rooney, President & CEO of the GBCC. “As we begin the 27^th year of the Chamber’s Women’s Network, it is even more important that we amplify the voices and accomplishments of women in the business community as they lead us forward.”

 

“Now more than ever, we must celebrate and magnify the accomplishments of our leaders in the Greater Boston business community. Congratulations to the illustrious 2021 Pinnacle Award honorees, and I look forward to applauding your tremendous achievements at the virtual event,” said Micho Spring, Chair of Weber Shandwick’s Global Corporate Practice and New England President and Chair of the Chamber’s Board of Directors.

“Congratulations to the 2021 Pinnacle Award honorees. Each leader is a source of inspiration for all of us,” said Yvonne Garcia, Chair of the GBCC’s Women’s Network Advisory Board and Chief of Staff to the Chairman & CEO and Global Head of Communications at State Street. “As we reflect on the challenges this year presented, I am encouraged by the perseverance and accomplishments of these leaders and their intense commitment to our community.” 

The 2021 Pinnacle Award honorees are listed below:

Entrepreneurship	Jennifer Harrington	President, HATCH
Management - Private	Kathy Horgan	EVP, Chief Human Resources and Corporate Citizenship Officer, State Street Corporation
Management - Government	The Honorable Karen E. Spilka	Senate President, Massachusetts State Senate
Management - Nonprofit	Arlene Fortunato	Senior Vice President of Advancement,   Greater Boston Food Bank
Professions	Marianne Harrison	President and Chief Executive Officer, John Hancock
Excellence in Health Care & Life Sciences	Jessie M. Gaeta, MD	Chief Medical Officer, Boston Health Care for the Homeless Program
Excellence in Arts & Education	Pam Y. Eddinger, Ph.D.	President, Bunker Hill Community College
Emerging Executive	Nia Grace	Owner and Operator,                             Darryl’s Corner Bar and Kitchen
Lifetime Achievement	Pamela D. Everhart	Senior Vice President, Head of Regional Public Affairs and Community Relations, Fidelity Investments

Learn more about each of our 2021 honorees here.

The Pinnacle Award for Lifetime Achievement is awarded annually to an honoree who has not only demonstrated an exemplary career of outstanding leadership within her organization and industry, but who has also worked to advance women in the workplace. This year’s Lifetime Achievement Honoree is Pam Everhart, Senior Vice President, Head of Regional Public Affairs & Community Relations at Fidelity Investments. In addition to Everhart’s contributions to Fidelity, she is an integral member and voice within the broader statewide business community. Most recently, Everhart co-founded the New Commonwealth Racial Equity and Social Justice Fund to fight systemic racism and create equity. Everhart serves as the Co-Chair of the Chamber’s Public Policy & Government Relations Leadership Council, and she is a member of the Chamber’s Economic Opportunity Committee.

 

The Greater Boston Chamber’s Women’s Network was founded in 1994 to promote and expand economic opportunities throughout the Greater Boston region for all women in business through shared leadership and expertise. The Women’s Network offers programs that provide career enrichment and development opportunities for women at all professional levels, spotlight the accomplishments of women, and promote the positive influence that women have upon the Greater Boston region.

波士頓市市長參選人吳弭(Michelle Wu)發聲明反對地鐵刪減服務

 Boston City Councilor At-Large and Mayoral Candidate, Michelle Wu’s Statement on the Proposed MBTA Cuts

Boston, MA—Cutting MBTA service in the midst of a pandemic and economic crisis is short-sighted and dangerous, and yet once again, commuters and activists are rallying to save this critical public resource. The push to dismantle public transportation should be remembered as one of the biggest failures of the Baker Administration.

As we work towards an equitable recovery from COVID-19, these proposed cuts will impact the very essential workers—many from low-income communities and communities of color—who have been the heroes of this pandemic and who rely on the MBTA daily. Longer waits, loss of weekend service, and eliminated stops mean more crowding, greater risk to public health, more traffic, and deeper burdens on the very communities devastated by the pandemic. 

Today, I am joining advocates, commuters, and fellow elected leaders in calling on the MBTA’s Fiscal and Management Control Board to prioritize health and safety during this pandemic and our economic recovery afterwards—by rejecting transit service cuts that will deepen racial and economic injustices.

波士頓市長率眾機構代表申訴現在不是刪減地鐵服務的時候

波士頓市長Martin J. Walsh在市政府地鐵站前反對地鐵刪減服務。

          (Boston Orange 編譯整理)麻州地鐵(MBTA)為因應乘客量下降，營運入不敷出，提出刪減服務計畫，董事會預定今(7日)晚投票決定。波士頓市長馬丁華殊(Martin J. Walsh)今早率民代及工會等機構代表開記者會表示反對，指第一線工作人員及貧困者將大受影響。

             馬丁華殊並指這一做法將使民眾失去數以百計的工作機會，基本上就是一個錯誤作法。

             波士頓市不分區市議員暨2021波士頓市長參選人吳弭(Michelle Wu)也發表聲明，強調MBTA不應在疫情延續，人們更需要時採取刪減服務行動。

 

           馬丁華殊和數名波市議員，以及機械師工會第15區的Mike Vartabedian，社區勞工團結的Lee Matsueda，以及「更好城市」執行長Rick Dimino等人今早9點半在地鐵綠線的市政府廣場站前召開記者會，發表看法，稱MBTA的刪減服務計畫將傷害工作人員，讓更多人不願意搭地鐵，會導致復甦趨緩，將來造成更大問題。

             馬丁華殊坦言知道MBTA經費不足，鼓勵MBTA更有創意的找方法。他表示自己1997年時還是麻州眾議員，看過MBTA預算，知道曾有3次必須大幅刪減情況。這次的行動還無關增加營運收入，因為根本沒有搭乘量。所以該做的是重新調整優先順序。

             他以波士頓市的預算為例，指波士頓市今年必須刪減預算6500萬元，但波士頓市能夠檢視債務，並重新調整某些債務，做了一些刪減，以及一些凍結聘用的決定。

             他說，現在刪減地鐵服務將把麻州的復甦之路往回推。

             麻州地鐵的刪減計畫包括，在病毒大流行期間，所有通勤火車(Commuter rail)晚上9點以後停駛，渡輪無限期停航，部分巴士路線將取消，地鐵班次將減少。麻州地鐵局(MBTA)希望藉此計畫到2022年夏天時，可以節省1億4200萬元。

           如果地鐵監管委員會通過這一計畫，這些刪減服務行動將於明年春天及夏天時生效。

             自從病毒大流行開始以後，地鐵系統的搭乘量就遠低於正常運行程度。通勤火車及渡輪的搭稱量更減少了90%。地鐵及巴士的搭乘量也依序平均降低了75%，69%。

             波士頓市議議會議長Kim Janey表示，波士頓市極端仰賴的基本工作人員，搭地鐵的很多。MBTA一旦刪減服務，這些人犧牲自己，保護社區的行動將變得更為困難。而且這一服務刪減也將對波士頓市的經濟復甦增加不必要的壓力。

             她指出，低收入的有色社區經常性地得不到充足服務早已不是秘密。黑人和白人通勤者相比，再搭巴士上，每年得多花64個小時。她自己沒車，仰賴公共交通工具，她明白這許多挑戰，包括長時間的等車，車輛班次時間不規律，街道擁擠等等情況，都是可以藉由投資更多經費給地鐵來解決的，不是刪減服務。

             MBTA人員表示，他們是用數據導向方法來決定刪減哪些服務的，重點放在那些路線，班次時間乘客量比較低。他們的目標是保持整個系統中使用量高的部分服務，例如低收入及有色人種地區的巴士路線。

             MBTA計畫中的一些重要改變包括:

             巴士及地鐵服務將在每晚午夜後停止，比平常提早一個小時。

             地鐵班次頻率將減少20%，每一班次的間格時間，將增加1到2分鐘。Poftak這麼說。

             使用最頻繁的巴士路線，班次將平均減少5%。不過每條路線情況不一。最繁忙的路線可能不會有班次縮減，但沒那麼多人使用的路線就會有比較大幅度的服務縮減。

             搭乘量少，或者是鄰近有其他交通選擇的巴士路線，將整併或縮短，大約會取消25條路線，包括在Dedham， Melrose，以及Beverly等郊區的巴士路線。

             綠線E線分支的電車(Trolley)將在Brigham Circle站中止服務，不再繼續開到Heath 街。

             在波士頓市區和Hingham，Hull，以及查理士城(Charlestown)的渡輪，將從3月起停止服務。

             通勤火車將不再在週末行駛。這一提案早在數年前的預算危機時就被提出來過，但在公眾反對後迅速作廢。          

             在病毒大流行期間搭乘量特別少的6個通勤車站將會關閉，包括Plymouth 站，Walpole 內的Plimptonville站，Melrose市的 Cedar Park 站，Beverly市的 Prides Crossing站，以及Weston室內的 Silver Hill 及Hastings站。

             有關特定路線概況，可上網查詢 mbta.com/forging-ahead。

             MBTA表示，總體而言， 85%的巴士服務，70%的地鐵服務，以及65%的通勤火車服務將保持正常。即使是把乘客須要保持安全距離計算進去，在乘客量大幅下降之下，這都是合理的服務水平。

 

12月6日新冠新增確診人數 麻州4747 美國206,992

                    (Boston Orange 編譯) 12月6日麻州的新冠病毒疫情有緩和趨勢，新增確診4747人，累計247,559人，新增死亡48人，累計10,763人。

                   根據麻州公共衛生廳的數據，這天有57,304人在治療中，1416人住院，89,439人做了病毒檢測，累計897萬人次做過病毒檢測。1367人做了抗體檢測，累計做過抗體檢測的人次為280,427。

                 7天的平均確診率為5.3%。麻州公共衛生廳表示，如果不是大專院校容許無症狀者重複檢測，以快速發現新個案的做法有效，麻州的確診率會高到7.38%.。

                              病毒患者的7天平均住院人數從1264升到1312人。

第二屆波士頓台灣影展12月4-13日放映「好久不見德拉奇」、「強尼凱克」

               (Boston Orange) 第2屆波士頓台灣影展(Taiwan Film Festival in Boston)將於12月4日至13日的這一連兩個週末，在網上放映「好久不見德拉奇」、「強尼凱克」，並於12月13日晚8點，邀「強」片導演黃熙座談。

              這將是波士頓台灣影展2020年的最後一場活動。

              「好久不見德拉奇」是部串連三個部落家庭與土地、親情、小米糧的記錄片，也是導演莎韻西孟以原鄉故事、部落文化議題找回自我認同和部落連結的作品。

              「強尼凱克」以都會台北為背景，描繪著三個男女在各自人生中經歷著茫然與摸索，與神秘的『強尼』與鸚鵡『凱克』結緣，心中泛起溫暖感覺，迴轉面對人生。記錄片「阿紫」導演吳郁瑩將主持映後座談。

              這兩部影片的網上觀賞時間，都是週五至週日，全天任何時候可上網觀賞，依序為12月4 至6日的「好久不見德拉奇」，以及12月11至13日的「強尼凱克」。導演座談會時間則為13日晚間8時。

12月影展2片加導演座談，票價8元，購票鏈接為https://www.taiwanfilmfest.org/buy-tickets。

麻州疫情全美排第22位 美國今日有21萬多人新冠確診