Baker-Polito Administration Announces Plan to Invest $2.8 Billion in Federal COVID-19 Funding to Support Economic Recovery, Communities Hit Hardest by Pandemic

Baker-Polito Administration Announces Plan to Invest $2.8 Billion in Federal COVID-19 Funding to Support Economic Recovery, Communities Hit Hardest by Pandemic

 

HAVERHILL – The Baker-Polito Administration today announced a plan to immediately put to use approximately $2.815 billion of the Commonwealth’s direct federal aid to support key priorities including housing and homeownership, economic development and local downtowns, job training and workforce development, health care, and infrastructure. The Administration’s plan aims to jump-start the Commonwealth’s economic recovery by investing in urgent priorities, with a particular focus on supporting populations hardest-hit by COVID-19, such as lower-wage workers and communities of color.

 

The plan is being filed as an amendment to “An Act Relative to Transferring Federal Funds to the Federal COVID-19 Response Fund,” which was on the Governor’s desk and is being returned to the Legislature.

 

“Our proposal will immediately invest $2.8 billion toward key priorities that will help jump-start our economic recovery, with a particular focus on those hit hardest by COVID-19, such as communities of color,” said Governor Charlie Baker. “With over four million people fully vaccinated, Massachusetts is getting back to normal and back to work, but it is critical that we act now to make these critical investments to keep our recovery moving. Our Administration appreciates the collaboration of the Legislature and local government in responding to the pandemic, and we all must work together to distribute funding quickly and efficiently to ensure those hard-hit by the virus receive relief as quickly as possible.” 

 

“It is critically important that this $2.8 billion be put to use immediately to address issues caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and protect the competitive advantages which have allowed Massachusetts to grow and thrive,” said Lieutenant Governor Karyn Polito. “Supporting priorities such as housing, economic development, job training, and infrastructure will help power the Commonwealth into the post-COVID world and ensure Massachusetts remains a great place to live, work, and raise family.”

 

The plan was announced today at an event held at the Mount Washington Homes in Haverhill, a project supported by MassHousing’s CommonWealth Builder program, a program that promotes homeownership in low- and moderate-income communities, particularly communities of color. The Administration’s plan includes $200 million for CommonWealth Builder and similar programs that aim to close the wealth gap faced by communities of color by connecting first-time homebuyers with homeownership opportunities.

 

In total, the plan devotes $1 billion to funding homeownership and housing priorities, a significant investment to help increase housing production and reduce barriers to owning a home as part of the ongoing COVID-19 recovery effort. These new housing resources build upon over $1.6 billion in separate federal funding that has already been allocated to entities throughout the Commonwealth for housing purposes since the start of the pandemic.

 

The $2.815 billion is part of a total of approximately $5.3 billion in direct aid to the Commonwealth from the federal American Rescue Plan Act. These discretionary funds are intended to support urgent COVID-19 response efforts, replace lost revenue, support immediate economic stabilization for households and businesses, and address unequal public health and economic challenges in Massachusetts cities and towns throughout the pandemic. ARPA is also providing a total of $3.4 billion in direct aid for municipalities throughout Massachusetts, as well as substantial funding for key priorities including a total of $1.1 billion for transit. With a focus on increasing capacity for child care and supporting parents as they return to work, the Administration is also proposing to distribute approximately $760 million in additional federal funding to child care providers in Massachusetts over the coming years, and looks forward to working with key stakeholders on the usages of these funds.

 

The remaining $2.3 billion in direct federal aid would stay in the Federal COVID-19 Response Fund, and the Administration looks forward to working closely with the Legislature to allocate these resources in a fiscally responsible and compliant manner.

 

“These substantial resources build upon the separate federal resources the Commonwealth has received throughout the course of the pandemic and strengthen our efforts to promote economic growth and vitality, aid disproportionately impacted communities, and get people back to work,” said Secretary of Administration and Finance Michael J. Heffernan. “We look forward to working with the Massachusetts Legislature to ensure this federal funding is effectively used in fiscally responsible ways to support Massachusetts communities, while complying with all relevant federal guidance.”

 

In addition to this discretionary funding, an additional $35.2 billion in other ARPA funding has been directed to the Commonwealth to support additional areas of recovery including direct aid to municipalities, transportation, and child care. This includes approximately $3.4 billion in direct aid to cities, towns, and counties throughout Massachusetts. The plan therefore includes language allowing a local match for numerous programs to better leverage municipal support, optimize the usage of all available revenue, and maximize the impact of this one-time federal funding.

 

Highlights of the plan include:

 

Housing

• $300 million to support expanded homeownership opportunities, focused on first-time homebuyers who are residents of disproportionately impacted municipalities;
• $200 million to support housing production through MassHousing’s CommonWealth Builder Program and similar efforts, which aim to help communities of color build wealth by promoting home ownership among residents of disproportionately impacted municipalities;
• $200 million to fund rental housing production and provide increased housing options to workers and residents of disproportionately impacted municipalities;
• $300 million to finance the statewide production of senior and veteran housing. These new housing options would contain a supportive services component, and would be combined with other resources including Low-Income Housing Tax Credits, rental payments, and, in the case of veteran housing, VA health care.

 

Economic Development

• $100 million for Downtown Development to concentrate economic growth activities, resources, and investments within local neighborhood areas in municipalities disproportionally impacted by COVID;
• $250 million to support investments and regional collaboration aimed at invigorating downtowns throughout Massachusetts. These resources would provide grant funds to municipalities and other eligible public entities for a range of projects;
• $100 million to support cultural facilities and tourism assets throughout Massachusetts;

 

Workforce Development

• $240 million to fund a suite of job training programs and address skills gaps, to better position residents who want to be hired into jobs that businesses need filled. Areas of investment include:
  • $150 million for workforce credentials for entry and mid-level wages;
  • $35 million to fund English for Speakers of Other Languages programs and Adult Basic Education;
  • $25 million for work readiness and essential skills programs.

 

Health Care

• $50 million for fiscally stressed hospitals in disproportionately impacted municipalities as these hospitals have supported their communities significantly during the pandemic despite interruptions to their revenue streams;
• $175 million for addiction treatment and related behavioral health services.

 

Infrastructure Investment

• $400 million to fund grants for water and sewer infrastructure;
• $300 million to improve culverts, dams, and other environmental infrastructure;
• $100 million to enhance and modernize state park facilities;
• $100 million to close the digital divide and increase broadband internet access, helping to promote workforce development and economic growth
• 
  

馬惠美宣佈參選牛頓市市長 - 2021

馬惠美宣佈參選牛頓市市長。(檔案照片，周菊子攝)

                (Boston Orange 周菊子麻州綜合報導) 麻州今年終於出現一點華裔參選熱度，繼吳弭(Michelle Wu)宣佈參選波士頓市長之後，社區中許多人都熟悉，曾任牛頓市議員多年的馬惠美(Amy Mah Sangiolo)，6月16日晚宣佈，將參選牛頓市(Newton)市長。

                馬惠美將挑戰牛頓市現任市長Ruthanne Fuller，一旦當選，將是牛頓市有史以來的首名亞裔、華裔市長。

               民主黨籍的馬惠美是一名律師，積極的環保份子，目前在麻州總檢察官辦公室擔消費者專員。

                   在馬惠美發出的聲明中，她說，牛頓市需要一名能把透明，問責帶進地方政府，團結帶領牛頓市向前的領導人。她誓言重建學校對市政府的信心，改善學校系統。

馬惠美認為牛頓市需要以真正的社區參與，居民認可的方式來處理區域規劃問題，而且要以對市府財政負責任的態度，來制定、實施策略，創造更多可負擔住宅，以因應社區需求。牛頓市府也需要加強和學校員工的關係，為市內兒童打造更綠化未來，同時照顧耆英。

馬惠美的宣佈參選，使得牛頓市今年的市長選舉更加熱鬧。目前牛頓市現任市長Ruthanne Fuller已宣佈將競選連任，還有也是律師的Albert Cecchinelli。

這三人在2017年時，也都是牛頓市市長候選人。

馬惠美住在牛頓市第四選區，曾連任10屆不分區市議員，2017年在時任市長的Setti Warren宣佈不再競選連任後，加入市長一職的選戰，和其他6人激烈競爭，不幸得票數位居第三，未能擠進大選。

根據麻州競選財務辦公室資料，牛頓市現任市長Fuller手中的競選經費，高逾18萬5000元。馬惠美在2017年參選後，還剩下3300元。Cecchinelli的競選帳戶中，目前只有約500元。

馬惠美表示，她已從牛頓市政府書記處取得提名表。牛頓市的收取提名表截止日期為7月27日。

Fuller已宣佈競選連任，也已交回足夠的經認證支持簽名，確定可列名在選票上。

根據馬惠美的競選資料，她在新澤西州長大，畢業於Barnard學院及羅格斯(Rutgers)法學院，還上過茱麗亞(Juilliard)音樂學院。

從法學院畢業後，她搬到了華府，在幾個非牟利環保機構工作，包括全國野生動物聯盟，參與了時任聯邦參議員John Kerry的改革全國食物保險項目。

馬惠美是麻州亞裔民主黨委員會創辦人，曾任WGBH，麻州大學波士頓分校亞美研究院，以及數個地方組織的董事會董事。她也曾經擔任牛頓市民主黨委員會的副主席。

馬惠美和丈夫John Sangiolo遇有3名子女，都畢業於牛頓市公立學校。

牛頓市總人口88,593，其中亞裔14.8%，華裔約7,526人，佔總人口的8.5%。目前在位的華裔民選代表有學校委員會委員沈安平。

相關文章: https://www.bostonorange.com/2017/04/blog-post_32.html

Baker-Polito Administration Announces $30 Million in Additional Support for Massachusetts Small Businesses

Baker-Polito Administration Announces $30 Million in Additional Support for Massachusetts Small Businesses

Grants will help recovering businesses by increasing lending capacity and expanding non-profit technical assistance network across the Commonwealth

Administration also announces availability of $11.3 million across two new programs to support brick-and-mortar expansion and enhanced digital capabilities

SPRINGFIELD – Today, the Baker-Polito Administration announced $30 million in state funding across four grant programs administered by the Massachusetts Growth Capital Corporation (MGCC) to help small businesses recover, grow, and thrive.

 Among these investments, the Administration announced the award of $4 million to 45 non-profit technical assistance providers to continue working with small businesses and entrepreneurs from traditionally underserved communities to grow and expand their businesses.  In addition, the Administration announced $14.7 million in awards to 15 organizations under MGCC’s Community Development Financial Institution and Community Development Corporation’s (CDFI and CDC) Match Grant Program, which funds both lending and mini-grant programs for small businesses. 

 Complementing these investments, the Administration announced the launch of two new programs with $11.3 million available to support small businesses as they recover from the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Biz-M-Power program and Empower Digital’s Development of Digital Capabilities grant program.

 Today’s announcement was made at White Lion Brewing Company, a black-owned business that has benefited from support from Common Capital, Inc, a regional Community Development Financial Institution receiving two grants today, and that has also participated in the COVID-19 Small Business Relief Program.

 “To address the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on the Commonwealth’s small businesses and main streets, our Administration put forward the largest relief program in the nation as part of our comprehensive plan for economic recovery,” said Governor Charlie Baker.  “With this new round of funding for technical assistance, access to capital, and digital tools, we are strengthening our support for small businesses and taking another major step toward a return to normal.”
 
“The combination of technical assistance and access to capital is critical to supporting businesses along their path to growth and is also a key part of our strategy for economic recovery,” said Lt. Governor Karyn Polito.  “We are grateful to MGCC for their work to provide vital assistance to small businesses throughout the pandemic.”
 
“These new tools and resources, combined with our Small Business Technical Assistance program, continues our support for small businesses that serve traditionally disadvantaged communities and also suffered disproportionately during the pandemic, and provide them with a path to short-term recovery and long-term success,” said Housing and Economic Development Secretary Mike Kennealy. “By increasing access to essential technical assistance, business education, skills training, and capital, we can help make certain the Commonwealth’s diverse small businesses are a part of the return to normal for our downtowns, main streets and our entire economy.”

 “MGCC is moving into the next phase of supporting the Commonwealth’s economic recovery and I am so excited for MGCC to release these two innovative programs. Biz-M-Power and Empower Digital share an objective of increasing access for entrepreneurs to the tools their businesses need to grow and reach their goals,” said MGCC President and CEO Larry Andrews. “I want to thank my team at Mass Growth Capital, as well as our technical assistance providers, who are our network of partner organizations that help raise awareness of these important efforts. We are grateful to the continued support of the Baker-Polito Administration and the Legislature that enables us to do our important work.”

 This round of Small Business Technical Assistance Grant program awards represents a $4 million commitment to qualifying non-profits that help businesses – many of which are women-, minority-, or veteran-owned enterprises – build operational capacity and strengthen ongoing business development activities, such as one-on-one guidance around applying for loans, building a business plan, and budgeting.  Historically, MGCC’s Small Business Technical Assistance Program has focused on businesses serving low- and moderate-income neighborhoods, underserved communities, and Gateway Cities across the Commonwealth. This low-cost, high-impact program was established to increase the flow of capital into the Commonwealth’s small businesses to assist with recovery, sustainability, resiliency, and growth.

 Through the CDFI and CDC Match Grant Program, MGCC will continue to support lending and mini-grant programs that lower the barriers that small businesses face in accessing essential start-up capital. These $14.7 million in matching funds are being allocated to 15 non-profits that will administer these loan and mini-grant programs to reach small businesses in their communities.

 Through a partnership with the online crowdfunding platform Patronicity, $7.5 million in funding will be available to Biz-M-Power to assist low- and moderate-income entrepreneurs with their acquisition, expansion, improvement or lease of a facility, purchase or lease of equipment, or with meeting other capital needs of their business through matching grants. With the goal of obtaining capital through the earned support of local residents, neighborhoods, community members, and other stakeholders, applicants must be sponsored by a SBTA provider before being accepted into the program. Upon application approval, the business will utilize the crowdfunding platform to leverage community support and raise funding to match the amount requested in their grant application.

 The $3.8 million provided to Empower Digital’s Grant Program for the Development of Digital Capabilities program provides funding for the needs of small businesses seeking tools and services to develop their digital capabilities. Funds may be used to seek professional services such as website developers, copywriters, social media strategists, and graphic designers and strategic hardware/software purchases. Applicants must be sponsored by a SBTA Provider who will help them maximize the impact of the grant through their understanding of the small business landscape, familiarity with the digital needs of small businesses, and their extensive network of collaborators.

 “As we crafted last year’s budget during a global pandemic, we sought to center Massachusetts’ recovery on support for small businesses,” said Senate President Karen E. Spilka. “I’m proud to say that, as a Commonwealth, we’re doing just that. The Massachusetts Growth Capital Corporation is an ideal vehicle to distribute new investments in small businesses as well as to aid organizations which support new entrepreneurs. By ensuring that traditionally underserved communities are included, we’re taking one more step towards an inclusive and equitable recovery.”

 “The Massachusetts House is focused on restoring the economic loss caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and setting the Commonwealth on a path toward recovery,” said Speaker of the House Ronald J. Mariano. “The grants being awarded today, along with other protective and relief measures we have provided, will help our small businesses grow as they contribute to our local economies. The House was proud to support these programs through last year’s budget and remains committed to doing so as this legislative session continues.”

 “Governor Charlie Baker and Lt. Governor Karyn Polito have been great partners in assisting me in leveraging monetary and technical assets to help not only stabilize our businesses, but just as important, help them to thrive as we move to defeat this COVID-19,” said Springfield Mayor Domenic J. Sarno.

 “The state’s support for CDFIs and CDCs that lend money to underserved small businesses is an investment in the entrepreneurs and job creators that drive our economy,” said Raymond Lanza-Weil, President of Common Capital. “We are grateful for the State’s funding of our small business loan and technical assistance programs.”

 "White Lion Brewing Company continues to be a beneficiary of a strong business development and sustainability eco-system; it is encouraging to witness cooperating quasi-public, public, non-profit and private institutions working collectively for the greater good to see small businesses thrive in the Commonwealth,” said Raymond Berry, Jr., Founder of White Lion Brewing Company. “We were very fortunate to be one of 15,000 small businesses that Mass. Growth Capital provided financial relief to during a period where many businesses would have shuttered otherwise.  Our brewery is standing today due to those resources in turn affording us an opportunity to create and retain jobs."

A total of $11.3 million in funds have been appropriated for the two new programs in the Fiscal Year 2021 (FY21) Operating Budget passed by the Legislature and signed by Governor Baker.  Biz-M-Power will make a total of $7.5 million available to program participants through matching grants of up to $20,000. A match of up to $5,000 is being offered through the Empower Digital’s Digital Capabilities program, with a total of $3.8 million available. The Small Business Technical Assistance Program and the CDFI and CDC Match Grant Program were also funded through the FY21 Operating Budget.
 
As part of the Administration’s Partnerships for Recovery initiative to stabilize and grow the Massachusetts economy, these programs follow the success of the largest state-sponsored business relief program in the nation that distributed $705 million to 15,428 businesses in relief grants and loan forgiveness. MGCC loan recipients were given the opportunity to apply for forgiveness for their pandemic loans by demonstrating a significant adverse financial effect from COVID-19. Over the duration of the program, 43 percent of MGCC grants were awarded to minority-owned businesses, and 46 percent of grants went to women-owned businesses. Recovery efforts have also included MGCC Small Business Technical Assistance grants and matching grants for Community Development Financial Institutions and Community Development Corporations; the $1.6 million Travel and Tourism Recovery Grant Pilot Program to promote recovery in the tourism industry; a “Let’s Go Out” restaurant promotion campaign; and a $9.5 million effort underway to help 125 communities pursue locally-driven, actionable strategies to support downtown and commercial districts through the Local Rapid Recovery Planning program.

Michelle Wu Releases Housing Agenda, Calling for Bold Action to Make it Affordable to Live in Boston

Michelle Wu Releases Housing Agenda, Calling for Bold Action to Make it Affordable to Live in Boston 

Boston, MA— Michelle Wu today announced a Housing Justice Agenda to expand access to stable, affordable housing for every Bostonian. Her policies would expand rental and homeownership opportunities, increase housing stock and improve housing stability for low and middle-income Bostonians, residents of color and seniors.

Boston is now the second-most expensive city in the country to own a home, and the fifth-most expensive city to rent. Half of Boston renters are cost-burdened as the price of homeownership rises. 

Because of Boston’s unaffordable cost of housing, our city has continued to lose working families, shown by the fact that our school-aged population is about half what it was in 1970. Disparities in homeownership are a main driver of Boston’s vast racial wealth gap. Evictions have also been on the rise since state protections lapsed and rental markets rebounded. 

Wu’s Housing Justice Agenda emphasizes the key points she will take on as Mayor, including:

• Committing at least $200 of $500 in federal relief dollars directly to housing;
• Rent stabilization and at least $10 million in rental subsidies;
• Property tax relief for senior citizens and others on fixed income;
• Zoning reforms to streamline and accelerate the construction of affordable housing, including eliminating parking requirements and most review for 100% affordable projects and public housing, and increasing density near transit corridors;
• Expanding access to homeownership through mortgage support, matched savings programs, municipal homeownership vouchers and other nontraditional financing mechanisms;
• Leveraging the City’s capital budget and historically  low interest rates to directly build new affordable housing and grow our social housing sector;
• Building affordable and supportive housing on city assets like schools and libraries; and
• Ensuring housing is resilient, energy-efficient and able to withstand the effects of climate change. 

‘The top concern I hear from families as I’m knocking on doors, at events and speaking with neighbors is the need for housing affordability and the stress of spending more and more to try to stay in Boston. The next mayor needs to take on our housing crisis with the scale and urgency Bostonians deserve. Affording a home of one's own should not be a distant, far-off dream in Boston, accessible only to some. Being able to make rent should not be a monthly struggle. If we want to keep families here and attract people from all over the world, we need to tackle our housing crisis head-on,” said Michelle Wu. 

Michelle Wu has also released bold proposals to create a Cabinet-level Chief of Worker Empowerment, close the childcare gap, transform our public schools, reform the Boston Police Department through contract negotiations, enact a Boston Green New Deal and Just Recovery Plan, Food Justice Agenda, Digital Equity Agenda and more. 

 

昆士中學新校址破土動工啦 預定2024年落成啟用

 

昆士中學新校址象徵性的破土動工。(周菊子攝)

昆士中學校長張可仁(左一)，波士頓代市長Kim Janey(左二)，以及
右起，波士頓士億元Ed Flynn，麻州參議員Joe Boncore，麻州學校
樓宇局主任Jack McCarthy等嘉賓。

            (Boston Orange 周菊子波士頓報導)波士頓華埠”翹首以待”已逾10年，將耗資1億9300萬元，有6層樓高，可供650名學生使用的昆士中學新校址，今(15）日終於破土動工了，預定2024學年落成啟用。

              昆士中學是在1999年時，由時任波士頓公校副總監的黃伯勳博士和一群熱心的昆士小學家長合力推動，以實驗(Pilot)形式成立的學校，與昆士小學銜接，給學生們從幼稚園一路升讀至12年級的”一條龍”式學習機會。

              當其時，波士頓市政府指定了華盛頓街900號的21A地段，作為昆士中學的暫定校地，並以兩層樓的水泥預建模型屋，為該校提供臨時校舍。次年學生人數增加，校舍不敷使用，波士頓市府又再把座落於阿靈頓(Arlington)街125號，1912年建成的林肯學校(Abraham Lincoln)校址，撥給昆士中學暫用。

右起，黃伯勳，李素影，司徒玉瑛等歷任昆士小學校長，以及
昆士中學校長張可仁，都為昆士中學新校址將於3年後落成高興。

              昆士中學以分處兩地的校舍營運，原本是一臨時措施，但從前前市長萬寧路(Tom Menino)，到前市長馬丁華殊(Martin Walsh)，再到現任代市長Kim Janey，這臨時狀態竟然一直維持了20年。

              就連校長，也從黃伯勳退休，張可仁接任，卸任，再接任，歷經數度變遷。昆士中學還從黃伯勳時期創辦國際文憑課程(IB)，到現在成為全波士頓市公校中唯一所有年級都提供國際文憑課程的中學。

波士頓代市長Kim Janey致詞時提及亞裔遭遇的歧視，不公平對待。

              起初昆士中學無法蓋新校，波士頓市政府給的理由是沒有經費，然後是找不到適當地點，在馬丁華殊市長時期，一度提議波士頓藝術學校和昆士中學在25號地段上合蓋校舍，後來卻因為各種原因告吹。直到2019年，波士頓市政府斥資950萬元，買下波士頓華人佈道會的教堂會址，徵得華人前進會等地方機構同意，A地段不建可負擔住宅，改為學校用地，這才終於一槌敲定了昆士中學就留在波士頓華埠內。

昆士中學畢業生趙穎妍即將升讀耶魯大學。(周菊子攝)

              6月15日，昆士中學校長張可仁一邊開心的招呼出席嘉賓，包括波士頓代理市長Kim Janey，波士頓公校總監Brenda Cassellius，麻州學校樓宇局主任Jack McCarthy，麻州參議員賓加利(Joe Boncore)，波士頓市議員愛德華費林(Ed Flynn)等人，感謝華埠土地信託會主任駱理德，亞美社區發展協會主任劉安琪，昆士小學前校長李素影，現任校長司徒玉瑛等人在促成昆士中學新校址上的協助，以及湯美華等等昆士中學的創建者，一邊細數華埠曾經遭遇政府建高速公路，被拆掉了一大塊；週邊就是紅燈區，讓他在哈佛念書期間，面對同學們提起華埠，就說成紅燈區的尷尬；華埠迄今仍是低收入移民聚居之地，在樓宇豪華化的壓力中，有著消亡危機等種種狀況，強調未來的昆士中學，可以成為華埠社區穩定力量。

           張可仁特地安排將升讀耶魯大學的畢業致詞生趙穎妍也為這場盛會致詞，藉以彰顯該校畢業生現在已有很多人升讀著名大學，恭喜在現場的昆士小學學生們，將來有機會跨過一條馬路，走進嶄新昆士中學校舍繼續學業。

左起，張可仁，黃伯勳，司徒玉瑛，李素影都為華埠作育人才無數。(周菊子攝)

Danielle Allen 參選州長 聲言麻州改變腳步應更快

Danielle Allen宣佈競選麻州州長。(周菊子攝)

             (Boston Orange 周菊子綜合報導)哈佛教授Danielle Allen今(15）早在麻州政府的金頂大樓前，打出「重新想像麻州（ReiMAgine）」這口號，正式宣佈參選麻州州長。

              在十幾名穿著紫色Ｔ恤支持者的簇擁中，穿著白色外套，頂著一頭捲貼短髮的Danielle Allen，站在麻州政府的金頂大樓，以及紀念美國內戰中第一個全由黑人組成的第54步兵團及羅伯蕭(Robert Gould Shaw)紀念碑前強調，麻州應該加快改變步調。

Danielle Allen要改變麻州。(周菊子攝)

             今年49歲，2015年才定居麻州，現為哈佛大學Edmond J. Safra道德中心主任，並獲有哈佛最高榮譽的＂大學教授（University Professor）”頭銜的Danielle Allen，年紀雖輕，卻在學界成就顯著，2001年時獲選為麥克阿瑟基金會學者，還曾任普立茲獎、Mellon基金會等機構的委員會主席，Amherst學院及普林斯頓大學校董。

             在正式宣佈參選後，Danielle Allen成為麻州首名參選州長的黑人女性。如果當選，她將和麻州第一位黑人州長的前州長Deval Patrick一樣，都是素人參政，此前全無參選公職經驗。

             她說，「想想看，麻州成為這樣一個州，有權力者認知他們爭取更大利益的責任，感覺無力者能夠和為共同行動代表他們的機構重新連繫。那才是民主的意義」。

             她說麻州的政策制訂者放棄了太多先賢理想，而這些趨勢所造成的社會，經濟痛苦，在新冠病毒疫情中，全被放大，彰顯了出來。她參選，就是希望提升那些被邊緣化了的人們。

Danielle Allen和波士頓市長參選人吳弭(Michelle Wu)，
不謀而合，競選都挑紫色調。(周菊子攝)

             作為在新冠病毒疫情期間，為拜登／哈里斯（Biden/Harris）政府研究因應計畫這聯盟的主席，Danielle Allen批評麻州現任州長查理貝克（Charlie Baker）未充分利用麻州人的才幹。

             劍橋市市長Sumbul Siddiqui，＂強大項目（The Mighty Project）創辦人 Tammy Darling，今日都出席站台，闡述Danielle Allen的能力，領導力。

             Danielle Allen在發言時表示，她的政策重點放在可負擔住宅，環境綠化，交通效率，以及支持學校健康營運等，她也將重新檢視刑事系統的角色。

             Danielle Allen是第二個公開宣佈，將參選2022年州長職位的候選人。第一個正式宣佈參選的人是曾任麻州參議員的Ben Downing。

             其他表態有意參選，但還未正式宣佈的有麻州參議員陳翟蘇妮(Sonia Chang Diaz)，麻州總檢察長Maura Healey。

　　　麻州現任州長，共和黨籍的查理貝克，也還未明確表示是否競選連任。

麻州鼓勵居民打疫苗辦抽獎 5人有機會成百萬富翁

 

麻州州長Charlie Baker宣傳"打疫苗，贏百萬"計畫。

             (Boston Orange 周菊子綜合編譯) 打新冠疫苗，就有機會當5名百萬富翁之一!麻州為鼓勵民眾注射新冠病毒疫苗，今(15)日宣佈推出”百萬疫苗(VaxMillions)”彩票，凡是18歲以上，打滿2劑輝瑞或莫德納，或者1劑嬌生(J&J)疫苗的人，都可參加。

麻州長查理貝克(Charlie Baker)和麻州財政廳廳長高伯珂(Deb Goldberg)，麻州健康及人民服務長Marylou Sudders等人，今日早上在州政府大樓內說明，”百萬疫苗(VaxMillions)”彩票自7月1日起接受登記，7月26日起每週一次，持續至8月27日，連續5週抽獎，每週都有1人可得百萬元大獎。

              麻州今(15)日正式結束緊急狀態，百業恢復正常營運，民眾出門也不再需要戴口罩。麻州的疫苗施打率也高達58%，約有400多萬人已完整注射，在全美50州中排名第一。

由於越多人已完整注射疫苗，疫情再度升高的機會就更小，麻州政府特地推出這”疫苗百萬”彩券計畫，廣告週知麻州民眾，凡是18歲以上，打滿2劑輝瑞(Pfizer)或莫德納(Moderna)，或者1劑嬌生(J&J)疫苗的人，都可以到麻州政府官網，登記參加抽獎，有機會贏得5個百萬元大獎之一。

12到17歲的已完整注射疫苗居民，則有機會贏得30萬元獎學金，獎額5個。這部分的獎額，將由”麻州教育金融局(Massachusetts Educational Financing Authority)”所管理的”529大學儲蓄計畫(529 College Savings Plan)”辦理。

麻州彩券局主任Michael Sweeney表示，這一抽獎活動，將藉由麻州政府彩券部門已有的機制辦理。

              查理貝克表示，麻州並不是第一個使用彩券來鼓勵民眾注射新冠疫苗的州。例如俄亥俄州就辦得很成功。他和俄州州長Mike DeWine長談過，聽說這做法的確發揮了作用。

              整個麻州共有900個疫苗注射站，查詢詳情可上網mass.gov/COVIDVaccine。查詢”疫苗百萬”彩券，也可上網mass.gov/VaxMillions。