Kim Janey大放利多 波市首次購屋者有望獲得最高4萬元補助

波士頓代市長Kim Janey宣佈新政             (Boston Orange 編譯)今年下半年以後的波士頓市首次購屋者，有望獲得高達4萬元的補助。波士頓代市長Kim Janey另發佈行政命令，7月1日起，市府勞工合約薪資將比照州府標準。 波士頓代市長Kim Janey今(10)日宣佈兩項方案，期以促進經濟發展機會。其一為在2022會計年度中撥款240萬元，支持”波士頓家庭中心(Boston Home Center)”的購屋者計畫，收入符合資格的首次購屋者，最高可得4萬元補助，比波士頓市往年撥發的平均金額高了3倍。 購屋者將在購買過程中，從波士頓市鄰里發展局(DND)的波士頓家庭中心那兒獲悉他們有資格獲得的補助金額。 首次購屋者援助項目將視乎住宅種類，為首次購屋者提供3到4萬元的首期款及過戶手續費補助。不論是購買公寓或是一，二，三家庭屋的物業都有資格申請。根據波士頓市府的歷史資料，70%首次購屋者為有色人種，平均可獲一萬元左右補助款。 Kim Janey今日還在記者會中，站著簽署了一份行政命令，規定波士頓市府從7月1日起，所有的清潔，守衛等地服務合約，將比照州政府較優惠的薪資費率簽署。目前的麻州政府薪資費率為每小時14.85元至20元，另加6.26元到6.7元的醫療及退休金福利。                     Kim Janey表示，這一行政命令旨在認可薪資及福利必須能夠支持家庭的重要性。波士頓市府希望藉此為其他雇主樹立榜樣。                       波士頓市府是波士頓市最大的雇主，聘有18,000名員工。波市府稱，雖然行政命令的對象是合約工，波士頓代市長Kim Janey有意經由協作議價過程，讓相關位置的市府員工都享有州政府標準的薪資。             波士頓市府在新聞稿中指出，Kim Janey上任以來，陸續宣佈了多項確保市民從新冠病毒疫情中平等恢復正常生活的措施，包括四月份由社區保存委員會(CPC)撥500萬元給波士頓家庭中心的One+Boston首次購屋者計畫，三月份撥5000萬元的租金紓困款以支持租住房屋的波士頓居民有穩定住所。Kim Janey最近還提議，從美國援救計畫經費撥5000萬元辦緊急紓困計畫，以支持波士頓居民、工人及小企業的平等恢復，重新開放。 Mayor Kim Janey Announces Measures to Boost Homeownership, Wages and Economic Equity in Boston  First time homebuyers will receive up to $40,000 and City service contractors will be guaranteed State prevailing wage rates.      BOSTON — Thursday, June 10, 2021 — Mayor Kim Janey today announced a pair of measures to promote economic opportunity in the City as part of her agenda for Boston’s equitable recovery, reopening, and renewal. With $2.4 million committed to this program in the Mayor’s FY22 budget proposal, the Boston Home Center's first-time Homebuyer Program has been expanded to provide up to $40,000 in assistance to income-eligible, first-time homebuyers who seek to purchase a home in Boston. This change more than triples the average amount of assistance previously offered by the City. These homebuyers will also be informed earlier in the buying process about the amount of financing they are eligible to receive from the Department of Neighborhood Development (DND) Boston Home Center. The Mayor has also issued an executive order today, guaranteeing the prevailing wage set by the Massachusetts Department of Labor Standards for workers on key City of Boston service contracts, starting July 1, 2021.  “Homeownership provides economic stability and a chance for working families to build wealth that can be passed from generation to generation,” said Mayor Janey. “Increasing opportunities for Boston families to buy their own homes is essential to closing the racial wealth gap in our city. I am proud of the work of the Boston Home Center to make the dream of owning a home a reality for more Boston residents through the Homebuyer Assistance Program.”  The First Time Homebuyer Assistance Program will offer $30,000 to $40,000 in down payment and closing cost assistance, depending on home type. Condominiums, one-, two-, and three-family properties are eligible. Historically, the average financial assistance awarded to a first-time homebuyer had been about $10,000 and over 70% of program participants were households of color. The expanded program will also now provide eligible homebuyers with pre-qualification letters, to ease the homebuying process. For more information about the Boston Home Center Homebuying programs, please visit here. “The work that the Department of Neighborhood Development does is not only about homeownership, it’s also about planting seeds for the next generation,” said Shimika Callender, a resident of Dorchester who was recently able to buy a home in her own neighborhood. “My 13-year-old son has witnessed his mom buy a home, and now he is interested in real estate himself. For every family that DND is able to help, there is likely a child bearing witness to the process and dreaming big. The work that DND does contributes to giving families and children the vision to turn their dreams into reality.” In a separate measure, Mayor Janey signed an executive order that adopts the prevailing wage rate set by the Massachusetts Department of Labor Standards for all city contracts for cleaning and security services going out to bid after July 1, 2021. The current State prevailing wage rate is $14.85 to $20 per hour, with an additional $6.26 to $6.70 in health and pension benefits.   “This executive order recognizes the importance of family-sustaining wages and benefits as well as maintaining high quality services in our public buildings,” said Mayor Janey. “The City of Boston is setting a standard for other employers to follow that supports the wellbeing of Boston’s working families and promotes a more equitable recovery for our economy.” The City of Boston is the city’s largest employer, with more than 18,000 public workers across a wide range of roles. While the executive order targets city contractors, Mayor Janey intends to work with city unions through the collective bargaining process to extend prevailing wages to city employees in related positions. This executive order provides an equitable platform for wage progression, helping to achieve family sustaining wages for low-wage workers, and seeks to promote economic mobility. The City will lead by example and encourage other private employers in and around Boston to join in the effort.  "I commend Mayor Janey for this important and needed executive order, as so many of these essential workers have supported our City so well, especially during this stressful time of the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Natalicia Tracy, PhD, of the Brazilian Worker Center. “This executive order will level the playing field somewhat so that these hard-working people can provide for their own families, as they continue to maintain our buildings to ensure they are safe, clean, and secure for the City as a whole."  Today's announcements are the latest in a series of measures that the City is taking to ensure the equitable recovery for our residents from the COVID-19 pandemic. In April, Mayor Kim Janey announced that the City of Boston’s Community Preservation Committee (CPC) awarded $5 million to the Boston Home Center’s ONE+Boston First-Time Homebuyer Program. In March, Mayor Janey announced $50 million in new rental relief funding to support housing stability for thousands of Boston renters. Additionally, Mayor Janey recently proposed a $50 million emergency relief plan, funded through the American Rescue Plan, to support an equitable recovery and reopening for Boston residents, workers and small businesses.

BIO Takes on Health Equity in Clinical Trials

BIO Takes on Health Equity in Clinical Trials

 

First-ever BIO Clinical Trial Diversity Summit will engage stakeholders to build a sustainable and equitable clinical development ecosystem

 

Washington, D.C. (June 10, 2021) – When clinical trials were the center of attention this past year, another issue came to the forefront: the need for greater health equity in clinical trials. The Biotechnology Innovation Organization (BIO) today announced the featured speakers at its first-ever BIO Clinical Trial Diversity Summit June 24-25, 2021.

 

The virtual summit will bring together stakeholders from across the clinical development spectrum to address inequities, learn from patient experts and help companies improve trials. The summit will culminate in the creation of a comprehensive vision for an equitable drug development ecosystem and transforming that vision into an actionable strategy to execute real change.

 

“More diverse clinical trials not only improve outcomes, but they also benefit the entire health care industry,” stated Ted W. Love, M.D., president and CEO of Global Blood Therapeutics (GBT) and Chair of the Emerging Companies Section of the BIO Board of Directors, who will moderate the “Social and Business Imperative of Increasing Clinical Trial Diversity” session at the summit. “The BIO Clinical Trial Diversity summit brings together industry, community and clinical research leaders and patient advocates to help move this from conversation to action.”

 

Speakers include industry leaders, academics and health equity experts from across the field including:

·        Silas Buchanan, Co-founder and CEO, Institute for eHealth Equity

·        Dr. Cartier Esham, PhD, Chief Scientific Officer, BIO

·        Dr. Julie Gerberding, MD, Chief Patient Officer, Executive VP of Population Health, Global Policy, Merck

·        David Coman, MBA, President and CEO of Science 37

·        Dr. Michelle McMurry-Heath, MD, PhD, President and CEO of BIO

·        Dr. Merdad Parsey, MD, PhD, Chief Medical Officer, Gilead

·        Dr. Elena V. Rios, MD, President and CEO, National Hispanic Medical Association, National Hispanic Health Foundation

·        Dr. Darryl Sleep, MD, Chief Medical Officer, Amgen

 

Also speaking at the conference is Debra Fraser-Howze, founder of Choose Healthy Life, and principal with D. Fraser Associates. “It takes partnership and collaboration to solve the historical problem of racism and health inequities in health care,” she said. “I look forward to the opportunity to speak on community and patient engagement at the BIO Clinical Trial Diversity Summit. We have to build support with patients and advocates to have meaningful change.”

 

To counteract the systemic inequality, injustice and unfair treatment of underserved communities, BIO launched its BIOEquality Agenda in 2020. Enhancing clinical trials is at the heart of the agenda’s three pillars for change – Promote Health Equity, Invest in the Current and Next Generation of Scientists, and Expand Opportunity for Women and Other Underrepresented Populations.

 

Registration for the BIO Clinical Trial Diversity Summit is free and open to all participants.

昆士市國旗日70週年 6/12將遊行放煙火

              (Boston Orange)昆士市每年一度的國旗日(Flag Day)，今年慶祝70週年，訂6月12日(週六)晚上7點起遊行，和往年不同的是，今年將取消升旗儀式，煙火施放，也改於9點在華樂斯頓(Wollaston)海灘舉行。

               昆士市長柯奇(Tom Koch)表示，雖然今年的國旗日可能無法像往年般盛大，但他仍期盼有場像樣的遊行。把施放煙火的地點搬到華樂斯頓海灘，也是為了讓更多人能欣賞到那燦爛美景。他說，去年的第69屆國旗日，礙於新冠病毒疫情，被迫取消，實在很可惜，但也給了他們時間去製作一幅30呎乘50呎的大國旗。

               這面巨幅國旗現正由昆市消防局的兩架雲梯掛起，放在靠近退伍軍人紀念體育館附近的Merrymount公園路。民眾將開著裝飾的各種車輛，從下面經過。

               柯奇市長鼓勵今年到場參加遊行的人，如果無法保持安全社交距離，最好戴口罩。遊行路線長1.2英里，從Coddington和Hancock街交界處出發，遊行到Merrymount Parkway，並在Pageant Field解散。

               柯奇表示，這像是場宣佈夏天來臨了的活動。

               昆士市府表示，這是全美延續時間最長的國旗日遊行，在麻州州長於5月29日宣布疫情禁令解除後，這一活動讓人備加期待。

               昆士市的國旗日始於1952年，由現任市長柯奇的父親，Richard Koch倡議推出。他率領了一群Koch俱樂部的年輕人，從諾福克下城(Norfolk Downs)一路遊行到Cavanagh體育館舉行升旗儀式。70年後，成就一段父子傳承佳話。

BCYF TEEN SUMMER PROGRAM 325 slots

MAYOR JANEY ANNOUNCES REGISTRATION OPEN FOR BCYF TEEN SUMMER PROGRAMMING  In total, 325 slots across all programming

BOSTON - Thursday, June 10, 2021 - Mayor Kim Janey and Boston Centers for Youth & Families (BCYF) today announced that registration has opened for a variety of summer teen programs. The programs are expected to run from Monday, July 12 through Friday, August 20. Interested youth can apply here. "Summer programming is a great way to engage teenagers throughout the City while empowering and inspiring them to learn. As our city recovers from the COVID-19 pandemic, I am thrilled that we are able to bring back these popular summer programs and provide Boston’s teenagers with such unique opportunities,” said Mayor Janey. “These programs foster important skills, such as creativity and leadership that allow for positive growth and success in the future. I would like to thank the BCYF for all they do and for making these programs possible.” Boston teens can register now for BCYF Snap Shot teen photography program, BCYF SuperTeens pre-employment program for young teens, and BCYF Girls Leadership Corps and Jr Leadership Corps. More information can be found here. BCYF Snap Shot Teen Photography program is a unique summer job program for youth ages 16 to 18, in partnership with the John Hancock MLK Summer Scholars Program. Youth receive a paycheck while participating in the program. This hybrid program will introduce participants to all aspects of photography. Led by a professional photographer, the program includes opportunities to conduct “photo shoots,” visits to museums and art galleries, digital photo editing lessons, online personal development workshops led by John Hancock, and opportunities to serve as a “staff photographer” for BCYF. BCYF SuperTeens program teaches teens ages 13 and 14 life readiness and resiliency to help prepare them for their upcoming academic year and future employment. For summer 2021, SuperTeens will be back and in person at our centers. The program will focus on opportunities to enhance communication, collaboration, teamwork and problem solving. The SuperTeens will be mentored by BCYF staff throughout the summer, and they will participate in both online workshops and in person job shadowing activities that will highlight employment skills. The SuperTeens will also participate in weekly social and recreational activities, including a new Learn to Crew program on the Charles River, neighborhood beautification projects throughout the city through the painting of murals, as well as visits to some of Boston’s museums and historical sites.  Participants will have the opportunity to earn their first paycheck in the form of a stipend, and they will also be provided with opportunities that encourage civic engagement and physical health and wellness. The SuperTeens program is sponsored by Comcast and The Foundation for BCYF, and is generously supported by MassHousing, MCCA, NBT II Foundation and Children’s Hospital. BCYF Girls Leadership Corps (GLC) provides the girls with gender-specific workshops and activities. Special pop-up guests will be invited to speak with the girls. Workshop topics will include self-defense with Girls LEAP, leadership skills, empowerment with the YW F.R.Y.E. program, Media Girls, Girl Scouts and more. The GLC girls are currently planning activities that Boston girls are invited to register for including Girls Day Out on Tuesdays and Thursdays, featuring Zumba and walking in Hemingway Park, Girls Nights on Mondays, and Girls Self-Expressions weekly on Wednesdays, promoting self-love through writing, poetry, and song, while allowing girls to explore their feelings and emotions.  BCYF Girls Leadership Corps Junior will take place on Wednesdays and Fridays for girls ages 8-11. This summer, the program participants will have the opportunity to participate in a series of workshops and activities that tie into outdoor adventures while promoting teamwork, and building self-esteem and leadership skills.  “We are looking forward to providing our teens with engaging and fun summer programming,” said William Morales, Commissioner of Boston Centers for Youth & Families. “We have a diverse menu of virtual options planned and look forward to seeing our youth again.  About Boston Centers for Youth & Families Boston Centers for Youth & Families (BCYF) is the City of Boston’s largest youth and human service agency. BCYF operates 36 community centers in Boston that offer a variety of engaging and enriching programs for people of all ages created through community input and need. BCYF also oversees citywide programs including the nationally-recognized violence intervention and prevention SOAR Program( formerly Streetworker Program), the GIRLS Initiative, Camp Joy special needs program and many aquatic offerings.

波士頓慈濟人文學校歡送畢業生 校長叮囑感恩、尊重、愛

波士頓慈濟人文學校校長彭淑敏(左一)，副校長齊君明(後右一)，駐波士頓經文處處長孫儉元(後右五)，
僑教中心主任潘昭榮(後左二)和畢業生及家長合影。(周菊子攝)

慈濟基金會波士頓聯絡處負責人長金滿(左二)，慈濟人文學校校長
彭淑敏(右二)邀請波士頓經文處處長孫儉元，僑教中心主任潘昭榮
(左一)出席畢業典禮。(周菊子攝)

         (Boston)波士頓慈濟人文學校6月6日在會址草坪舉行畢業典禮，歡送6名畢業生，頒發第47、48屆美東中文學校協會獎狀，表揚10名教職員及多名學生。一名畢業生致詞時表示將回校服務，引得慈濟老師們興奮歡呼。

                   校長彭淑敏送給畢業同學們5個字，「感恩，尊重，愛」，期盼畢業學生們秉持慈濟扶貧濟困精神，善用所學，未來開闢一條自己的路。

                 典禮結束前，慈濟老師們突然群湧上台，向校長彭淑敏獻花，司儀謝宜芳代唸賀卡，道出老師們感謝彭叔敏在新冠病毒疫情期間，勇敢堅定的承擔責任，帶著他們因應挑戰，許願一起胼手胝足迎向未來，場面十分溫馨。

波士頓交文處處長孫儉元(右)頒發優良教師獎。

                 彭淑敏謙虛的說自己受之有愧，懇切表示學校是所有人一起耕耘的地方，屬於每一位學生，老師及校務人員，學校辦得好，是所有人一起努力的功勞，也是駐波士頓台北經濟文化辦事處處長孫儉元，僑教中心主任潘昭榮等嘉賓、貴人支持的結果。

                  波士頓慈濟人文學校今年有黃慧勤，廖子杰，賴冠豪，黃安歷，劉昌銓，呂文騫等6名畢業生。

代表畢業生致詞的廖子杰在慈濟學了10年中文。他坦言全靠父母不辭辛苦接送，他才有機會學中文那麼多年；黃安歷則是小學六年級後才轉學來到慈濟。他說為報師恩，畢業後打算回校當助教，搏得台下就一片掌聲、歡欣笑聲。

畢業生與得獎在校同學合影。

波士頓慈濟當天還藉著畢業典禮的機會，敦請駐波士頓台北經濟文化辦事處處長孫儉元，僑教中心主任潘昭榮頒發美東中文學校協會第四十七屆及四十八屆各項奬項，表揚各得獎人，包括資深行政人員馮美霞、翁艾迪、張秀玲、齊君明；資深教師徐禎禧，高鄭傑，楊靜如，盧惠芳，范潤萃，賴俐均；優良教師高鄭傑，盧惠芳，郭靜如，范潤萃，以及獲得榮譽學生獎的廖子傑，賴冠豪，黃彥霖。獲得優秀學生獎的黃慧勤，陶天樺。中年級組高蕙湲參加演講，也獲奬勵。

僑教中心主任潘昭榮頒發榮譽學生獎。

波士頓慈濟人文學校當天還由副校長齊君明頒發了校內演講比賽，靜思語繪畫比賽獎項，以及各班的成績優良獎，成績進步獎及勤學獎。

校長彭淑敏另外安排了一個環節，感謝已工作三年，即將卸任的教務主任王月娥。    

波士頓慈濟人文學校將於6月13日舉辦新學年招生說明會，查詢詳情可上網http://www.tzuchiacademyboston.org ，或發電郵tcaboston@gmail.com。

司儀謝宜芳(左三)請副校長齊君明頒獎。

波士頓慈濟人文學校老師們向校長彭淑敏獻花，感謝她在疫情間仍堅定
帶領主導學校營運。

第42屆波士頓龍舟節訂6/13網上舉行

波士頓龍舟節海報

(Boston Orange)今年跨入第42屆的波士頓龍舟節，礙於新冠病毒疫情，將於6月13日中午12點，在官網上以視頻形式舉行。

波士頓龍舟節在2020年因為新冠疫情，同時取消了比賽及文化節慶表演。今年雖然仍然無法舉行比賽，但將在網上推出表演節目，並有政要嘉賓致詞。

表演節目將包括中國國家藝術基金會推送的傳統及現代表演，香港中樂團演奏”龍船”，波士頓地區亞洲藝術團體的印度，韓國，日本，菲律賓文藝表演，美國各地中國文化團體提供的文藝演出，龍舟隊及往年龍舟賽的回顧照片及視頻。

這場網上香港龍舟節將由2019年全美傑出女青年冠軍Dora Guo，中國語言大學國際關係碩士生Dylan Walker主持。

查詢可上網www.bostondragonboat.org ，國粵英語電話(617) 259-0286，電郵info@bostondragonboat.org。

MAYOR JANEY ANNOUNCES THE SUCCESSFUL EXPANSION OF CONSERVATION LAND AND AFFORDABLE HOUSING OPPORTUNITIES IN ROSLINDALE

MAYOR JANEY ANNOUNCES THE SUCCESSFUL EXPANSION OF CONSERVATION LAND AND AFFORDABLE HOUSING OPPORTUNITIES IN ROSLINDALE   BOSTON - Wednesday, June 9, 2021 - In a cross-departmental effort to support both Boston’s climate-ready resiliency and the creation of new affordable home ownership units, Mayor Kim Janey today announced that the property at 108 Walter Street in Roslindale was transferred to the Boston Conservation Commission and will be added to the Roslindale Wetlands Urban Wild, providing close to an acre of buffer at the edge of the Roslindale Wetlands, as well as a more accessible point of entry to the existing urban wild. In 2020, the Boston Planning & Development Agency (BPDA) acquired 104-108 Walter Street in Roslindale to expand the Roslindale Wetlands Urban Wild and create affordable housing. The parcel at 104 Walter Street has been designated for affordable homeownership units.  “The procurement of these parcels offers the City of Boston a unique opportunity to protect our wetlands and build needed affordable housing units in Roslindale," said Mayor Janey. “I’m grateful to the community advocates who worked alongside City agencies to simultaneously expand open space and housing opportunities.” The BPDA used its Urban Renewal tools to acquire the private 104-108 Walter Street parcel for $1.4 million to support affordable housing and protect wetland resources. In April, the BPDA issued an RFP for four affordable homeownership units at 104 Walter Street, and the responses are currently under review. The Walter Street acquisition makes progress on several strategies included in Boston’s Climate Action Plan, such as expanding green infrastructure, growing the urban tree canopy, and accelerating neighborhood stormwater management actions. A 35,000 square foot parcel has been added to the existing 9.5-acre Roslindale Wetlands Urban Wild, offering habitat protection and trail connections in the property, which is in the top five of Boston’s land acquisition priority sites and was the largest unprotected property in the Roslindale Wetlands Urban Wild. To pay for this acquisition on behalf of the Conservation Commission, the Boston Parks and Recreation Department received a state Landscape Acquisition for Natural Diversity (LAND) grant and used a FY21 Capital Budget initiative, called the Climate Resilience Reserve.  "Wetlands like the Roslindale Wetlands Urban Wild are vital to Boston's natural environment, water quality, and our resilience as we face the impacts of heat, stormwater flooding, and pollution," said Reverend Mariama White-Hammond, the Chief of Environment, Energy, and Open Space. "The Walter Street acquisition shows that equity, affordable housing development, and climate resilience can and should go hand-in-hand. We look forward to more opportunities like this to create a greener, healthier, and more equitable city for our residents." The Roslindale Wetlands Urban Wild is regionally significant as one of the few remaining protected natural areas with sizable wetlands in urbanized Boston. Conservation of 108 Walter Street will provide prominent public access, connection to the Emerald Necklace, and secure a trail connection and habitat protection for the Roslindale Wetlands Urban Wild. The Boston Parks and Recreation Department’s Urban Wilds Program is investing $500,000 in capital improvements elsewhere in the Roslindale Wetlands Urban Wild, which includes wetlands crossings, trail upgrades with footbridges for ADA accessibility for walking and birdwatching, removing piles of dumped construction debris, and other ecological restoration work. This site also provides habitat for pollinators and the local ecosystem that contributes to the health of nearby gardens and Lawrence Farm, Boston’s only farm. Construction work for the improvements in the Roslindale Wetlands begins this month.  “It is exciting to see the City’s new Local Wetlands Ordinance be used so quickly to add to and further protect such important wetlands resource areas,” said Michael Parker, Chair of the Boston Conservation Commission. “To be able to do so while creating much needed affordable housing adjacent to protected open space fulfills the City’s vision of equitable access to, and enjoyment of, quality open space. The Roslindale Wetlands Urban Wild is a treasure and will be kept that way for future generations to enjoy as much as we do now.” Building on the partnerships formed around the design and passage of Boston’s Local Wetlands Ordinance in December 2019, the City worked collaboratively with neighborhood stakeholders and local advocates to protect natural climate-resilient resources and affordable housing assets in the densely built up neighborhood of Roslindale. To strengthen the City’s efforts to maintain accessible open space, neighborhood volunteers are in the early stages of planning strategies to widen access and are exploring the creation of audio tours and maps. “We are thrilled that the City of Boston is acquiring 104-108 Walter Street for climate resiliency and four units of affordable home ownership, addressing a critical neighborhood need. LANA is heartened by the City’s response to conserve this unique habitat as part of the Roslindale Wetlands Urban Wild and advance equity with the creation of affordable homeownership. We want to thank our neighbors and partners for their help and support in making the acquisition happen. We’re looking forward to working with the City on the next steps for developing affordable home ownership at 104 Walter and providing better access to the Roslindale Wetlands Urban Wild," said Kathy McCabe, President, Longfellow Area Neighborhood Association. “For nearly twenty years the Roslindale community and the Roslindale Wetlands Task Force have advocated for such an outcome through community outreach and awareness, sustained advocacy, and constructive engagement with past and present elected officials and agencies committed to protecting these resources. Today’s announcement by Mayor Janey captures why this is such a great victory not only for Roslindale but for the entire city,” said Jim Taff, Roslindale Wetlands Task Force. In December 2019, the City of Boston signed the Local Wetland Ordinance, an ordinance unanimously approved by the Boston City Council, with the goal of taking another step to protect Boston against the impacts of climate change and promote climate resiliency throughout the City. The Local Wetlands Ordinance gives the City greater authority to protect its wetlands, which are crucial to controlling flooding and protecting Boston's neighborhoods and green space. The ordinance directs the Boston Conservation Commission to consider future climate impacts like rising sea levels in applications for new developments, construction, or special events. It was informed by Boston’s Climate Ready Boston report, which shows when and where different climate impacts will affect our City.

AG HEALEY URGES BUSINESSES AND GOVERNMENT AGENCIES TO TAKE IMMEDIATE STEPS TO PROTECT OPERATIONS FROM RANSOMWARE ATTACKS

 AG HEALEY URGES BUSINESSES AND GOVERNMENT AGENCIES TO TAKE IMMEDIATE STEPS TO PROTECT OPERATIONS FROM RANSOMWARE ATTACKS

Following Hacking Incident at Steamship Authority, AG’s Office Stresses Importance of Precautions to Protect Data Security

 BOSTON – In response to an alarming increase in the frequency and impact of ransomware attacks across public and private sectors, Attorney General Maura Healey is urging members of the business community and government entities, including law enforcement agencies, in Massachusetts to immediately assess their existing data security practices and take appropriate steps to upgrade security measures to protect their operations and consumer information.

 AG Healey’s advisory follows a memo from the Biden Administration discussing the urgent threat ransomware poses to American businesses and government entities with suggestions to mitigate its impact.

 “Leaders from the public and private sectors have an important and critical responsibility to public safety and welfare to protect against these threats,” AG Healey said. “We strongly encourage all Massachusetts businesses and government organizations to take the appropriate steps to strengthen data security and ensure its computer networks are secure as required by law. Our office will work with federal law enforcement partners to identify and hold the criminals responsible for these ransomware attacks accountable.”

 Ransomware is a form of computer malware that encrypts files on a computer or network, rendering the systems that rely on them unusable. Malicious actors then demand a ransom in exchange for decryption. Ransomware actors often target and threaten to sell or leak exfiltrated data or authentication information if the ransom is not paid.

 Ransomware attacks are constantly evolving and on the rise. Just last week at the Steamship Authority in Massachusetts, ransomware caused massive disruption to its ticketing and reservation systems. And an attack on JPS SA, a Brazilian company known as the world’s largest meat processing company, led to production shutdowns and lost profits and wages. Last month, a criminal group employed ransomware to lock the systems of Colonial Pipeline, a pipeline operator for the East Coast, causing a multi-day operational shutdown and leading to a spike in gas prices, panic buying, and localized fuel shortages in the southeast. 

 On June 2, Anne Neuberger, Deputy Assistant to the President and Deputy National Security Advisor for Cyber and Emerging Technology, issued a memo titled “What We Urge You To Do To Protect Against The Threat of Ransomware,” with the following recommendations:

 Implement the five best practices from the President’s Executive Order: President Biden’s Improving the Nation’s Cybersecurity Executive Order outlines five, high-impact, best practices to safeguard networks: multifactor authentication (because passwords alone are routinely compromised), endpoint detection & response (to hunt for malicious activity on a network and block it), encryption (so if data is stolen, it is unusable) and a skilled, empowered security team (to patch rapidly, and share and incorporate threat information in your defenses). These practices will significantly reduce the risk of a successful cyber-attack.

• Backup your data, system images, and configurations, regularly test them, and keep the backups offline: Ensure that backups are regularly tested and that they are not connected to the business network, as many ransomware variants try to find and encrypt or delete accessible backups. Maintaining current backups offline is critical because if your network data is encrypted with ransomware, your organization can restore systems.
• Update and patch systems promptly: This includes maintaining the security of operating systems, applications, and firmware, in a timely manner. Consider using a centralized patch management system; use a risk-based assessment strategy to drive your patch management program.
• Test your incident response plan: There’s nothing that shows the gaps in plans more than testing them. Run through some core questions and use those to build an incident response plan: Are you able to sustain business operations without access to certain systems? For how long? Would you turn off your manufacturing operations if business systems such as billing were offline?
• Check Your Security Team’s Work: Use a third party tester to test the security of your systems and your ability to defend against a sophisticated attack. Many ransomware criminals are aggressive and sophisticated and will find the equivalent of unlocked doors.
• Segment your networks: There’s been a recent shift in ransomware attacks – from stealing data to disrupting operations. It’s critically important that your corporate business functions and manufacturing/production operations are separated and that you carefully filter and limit internet access to operational networks, identify links between these networks and develop workarounds or manual controls to ensure industrial control system (ICS) networks can be isolated and continue operating if your corporate network is compromised. Regularly test contingency plans such as manual controls so that safety critical functions can be maintained during a cyber incident.

 The Massachusetts Data Security Regulations, which the AG’s Office regularly enforces, also requires entities to employ many of the above safeguards with respect to personal information about Massachusetts residents that an entity maintains, stores, transmits, or processes electronically.

 All organizations, regardless of sector, size, or location, must recognize that no company is safe from being targeted by ransomware. Detailed guidance and resources from the U.S. Cybersecurity & Infrastructure Security Agency on how to guard your entity against ransomware attacks can be found here.  

 The National Institute of Standards and Technology also provide guidelines and practices for organizations to better manage and reduce cybersecurity risk. More information can be found here.   

波士頓學校委員會主席辭職 Kim Janey支持、尊重

Statement from Mayor Kim Janey on the Boston Public School Committee   Please note, the statements from Alexandra Oliver-Davila and Dr. Lorna Rivera have been updated with additional background information. Please visit here to access.  I respect and support the decisions of Alexandra Oliver-Davila and Dr. Lorna Rivera to resign as members of the Boston School Committee. Ms. Oliver-Davila and Dr. Rivera have been dedicated stewards of the committee and passionate advocates for Boston families. Their private remarks, which were recently made public, were unfortunate and unfairly disparaged members of the Boston Public Schools community. As women of color who advocate for racial equity in our schools, I also understand their comments were made in the wake of death threats and unacceptable racist attacks that were frightening, offensive, and painful. As their time on the school committee ends, their work to lift up equity in Boston Public Schools must continue.  I thank Ms. Oliver-Davila and Dr. Rivera for their years of service to our city and their dedication to improving Boston Public Schools for every family. They leave an important legacy of temporary and permanent policies adopted by the School Committee that create more equitable approaches to advanced work courses, attendance, grading, graduation, student information sharing, grade promotion, and exam school admissions.  As a Black woman, I know that racism hurts. The rocks and racial slurs thrown at me as a child left a lasting impression. I believe we can only heal the wounds of bigotry when we find the courage to call it out and commit to the shared work of dismantling structural racism. The shared experience of Ms. Oliver-Davila and Dr. Rivera, and their decision to step down, amplifies the need for meaningful dialog and important work we must do as a city to address racism. Sadly, their departure also leaves a void in Latina leadership on our school committee that I am determined to address.  Equity in Boston Public Schools cannot wait. As Mayor, I am committed to advancing the equity agenda that is now underway. That includes proceeding with a vote on exam school admissions this summer. I am also committed to preserving Latinx representation on our school committee. I am working to immediately begin the application process for new school committee members to lead the next chapter of equity and opportunity in our schools. ‌ ‌

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