Kim Janey針對餐館及小企業推出940萬元紓困基金

(Boston Orange編譯)波士頓代市長Kim Janey今(31)日宣佈，動用市府營運投資經費，以及聯邦美國元就計畫法案經費，推出「餐館重振基金」、「小企業紓困基金2.0」等2項，共等於940萬元的紓困基金，要幫助市內小企業因應新冠病毒疫情，順利重新開業。                   9月8日起在網上以英語，西班牙語等11種語言接受申請，boston.gov/small-business。                     波士頓市內約有4萬家小企業，因為新冠病毒疫情，不但面對著前所未有的財務困難，還為請不到員工掙扎。波士頓市經濟發展辦公室(OED)在2021年6月舉辦了一系列的圓桌會議，就市府可以如何更好的支援餐館業者，向企業主徵詢意見，另外還持續做各行各業的小企業主的意見調查，以期在更公平基礎上直接回應小企業的需要。                    餐館重振基金部分，是一項為期3個月，和市長的人力發展局(OWD)合作的試驗計畫，有3項主要內容，包括補助款，員工獎勵，市場行銷。                     餐館業者可能符合資格申請2種補助，一為5000元的營運開銷補助，可用於包括繳付租金，發薪水，備庫存等，一為作為公平薪資法(One Fair Wage initiative)的一部分，員工以小費為薪資的餐館，可申請15000元，用於把小費員工的薪資提高到每小時12.75元。                      員工獎勵部分，是900元的留任津貼，凡是在小企業內留任或新任的餐館員工，持續工作3個月。為那些在餐館持續工作2年的員工們，提供上大學或參加培訓項目的學費援助，在試驗項目進行期間，每名員工每工作一個月，可得100個B-Local點數。                      市場行銷部分，製作公告廣告，展示提供好薪資及福利的”優良”雇主。這一廣告只在為波士頓餐館業吸引員工。波士頓市經濟發展辦公室將於9月份向符合資格的市場行銷顧問發出公開招標書。市府網站的供應商門戶網站上也將有招標書可下載。                      所有的申請書都可在市政府網站上找到，boston.gov/restaurant-relief。                     小企業紓困基金2.0將重啟2020年4月推出的小企業紓困基金。2.0版本的補助款將高至2萬元。這些補助款至載幫助受打擊最種行業來支付營運開銷。波士頓市政府迄今已發出670萬元給1850家小企業。                 申請人將獲邀以一份申請書申請2種不同的補助，一為紓困補助，高達1萬元的補助款，用於幫助小企業償還欠租，該繳的貸款，貨款，薪資，或其他的固定開支。另一為成長補助，高達1萬元的支持企業成長費用，可用於工具，科技，材料，人事或其他相關開銷。                申請表可上網boston.gov/business-relief。                  位於波士頓市內，員工少於25人的小企業，都有資格申請。9月8日起，申請者就可上網，以11種語言下載申請書。                波士頓市將於9月2日(週二)早上8點，以及9月8日(週三)下午5點半，在臉書(facebook)，以及zoom(bit.ly/SBRFinfo)上舉辦說明會。有意申請者，也可參加小企業辦公室每週五早上9點到11點，以及下午2點到4點在網上舉辦的週會，bit.ly/smallbizofficehours。 MAYOR JANEY ANNOUNCES RELIEF FUNDS FOR RESTAURANTS AND SMALL BUSINESSES Totaling a $9.4 million investment, the City seeks to assist businesses in their recovery

 

BOSTON - Tuesday, August 31, 2021 - Today, Mayor Kim Janey announced that the City of Boston will launch two relief funds for small businesses in the City of Boston to aid business owners in their reopening and recovery from COVID-19. The Restaurant Revitalization Fund and the Small Business Relief Fund 2.0 represent a joint $9.4 million investment into local businesses and workers in neighborhoods across the City from new FY22 operating investments and the federal American Rescue Plan Act. The online applications will be available starting Wednesday, September 8, 2021 on boston.gov/small-business in English, Spanish, and nine additional languages. “The success of small businesses is crucial to helping working families and to maintaining the unique character of Boston’s different neighborhoods,” said Mayor Janey. “This program aims to help Boston’s economy recover by incentivizing our workers and ensuring that our business owners have all of the resources necessary for a successful reopening.”  There are approximately 40,000 small businesses in the City of Boston, which have faced unprecedented financial hardship during the pandemic and now are struggling to attract and retain workers. Led by Mayor Janey, the Office of Economic Development (OED) conducted a roundtable discussion in June 2021 with business owners to solicit ideas on how the City can better support restaurants during the reopening and recovery of our economy. In response to that feedback, as well as ongoing surveys with small business owners of all sectors, the City of Boston is responding directly to those needs to build back stronger and more equitably. “By leveraging federal funding and new city operating investments, the City of Boston is ready to support our local businesses as well as workers to ensure an equitable recovery,” said Midori Morikawa, Interim Chief of Economic Development. “Working in partnership with the Office of Workforce Development, this critical support will benefit workers through fair wages, retention bonus incentives, and continuing education opportunities as well as businesses owners’ needs, from relief to growth plans.” Restaurant Revitalization Fund  The new Restaurant Revitalization Fund (RRF), a three-month pilot program in partnership with the Mayor’s Office of Workforce Development (OWD), will provide a much needed lifeline to restaurants as they recover from COVID-19. The three key components of the RRF are:  ·    Grants: restaurant business owners may be eligible for both of these grant funds: ·    All Restaurants: a $5,000 grant for business expenses including rent, payroll, or inventory; ·    Restaurants with Tipped Employees: a $15,000 grant to increase payroll for tipped employees to $12.75 per hour as a part of the One Fair Wage initiative;  ·    Employee Incentives: a $900 retention bonus to attract and retain restaurant workers for new and existing employees that continue employment at the small business for the continuous pilot 3-month period; tuition assistance for college or training programs to those retained workers for two years while working at a restaurant; and 100 B-Local Points per employee for each month of continuous employment during the pilot program. ·    Marketing Campaign: a public awareness campaign featuring RRF restaurants as “champion” employers offering good wages and benefits. The campaign aims to attract workers across the restaurant industry in Boston. A public Request for Proposals (RFP) from qualified marketing consultants will be released by the Office of Economic Development in September 2021. The RFP will be available on the City of Boston Supplier Portal. Applications will be available at boston.gov/restaurant-relief. Small Business Relief Fund 2.0 The Small Business Relief Fund 2.0 (SBRF 2.0) will reopen the Small Business Relief Fund initially launched in April 2020. The SBRF 2.0 will issue grants up to $20,000 to small businesses. These grants would be designed to help businesses in the hardest hit industries cover all business expenses to help their recovery and growth. To date, the Small Business Fund has issued $6.7 million in grants to more than 1,850 businesses. Applicants will be invited to apply in one consolidated application for two different funding options: 1.  Relief Grant: up to $10,000 in grant funding to support outstanding debts for rent/mortgage, inventory, payroll, or fixed expenses; and/or 2.  Growth Grant: up to $10,000 in grant funding to support business growth through tools, technology, materials, personnel, or other costs associated with investing in the growth of the business. Applications will be available at boston.gov/business-relief. How to apply:  Small businesses located in the City of Boston with 25 employees or fewer may be eligible for one or both of these funding opportunities. Business owners can visit boston.gov/small-business for more information and eligibility criteria. The online applications will be available starting Wednesday, September 8, 2021 on boston.gov/small-business in English, Spanish, and nine additional languages. To learn more about these opportunities, the City of Boston will be offering virtual information sessions on Thursday, September 2 at 8:00 a.m and Wednesday, September 8 at 5:30 p.m. and streamed live on Facebook or via Zoom on ​​bit.ly/SBRFinfo. Interested applicants can also join the weekly Small Business Office Hours on Friday, September 3 from 9:00 - 11:00 a.m. or 2:00 - 4:00 p.m. at bit.ly/smallbizofficehours.

Massachusetts Observes Overdose Awareness Day

Massachusetts Observes Overdose Awareness Day

 

State bridges, transit hubs, and local buildings to be lit up in purple as part of national effort to remember lives lost to overdose

BOSTON (August 31, 2021) – Massachusetts will recognize August 31 as Overdose Awareness Day – a day held to remember the lives lost to overdoses, to dispel stigma surrounding addictions and to offer hope and recognize individuals’ recovery from substance use disorder.

In observance of the day, and in memory of individuals lost due to substance use disorder, all four state-operated bridges – the Zakim, Longfellow, and Fore River bridges in Greater Boston and the Burns Bridge in Worcester – and Boston’s South Station and Government Center transit hubs will be lit up in purple, the color associated with the awareness campaign. A number of landmark locations across the Commonwealth will be illuminated purple, including municipal buildings like Boston City Hall.

Between 1999 and 2019, the opioid overdose crisis claimed nearly 500,000 lives in the United States and each day an average of 136 Americans die from an overdose on prescription pain medication, heroin, or fentanyl.

To recognize the day, Governor Baker issued a proclamation declaring August 31 Overdose Awareness Day in Massachusetts, writing in part:

“As a national public health crisis, the opioid overdose epidemic continues to devastate our communities not only through the tremendous loss of life and associated trauma to families and loved ones, but also through a profound economic strain on individuals and families in health care costs, lost productivity, addiction treatment, and criminal justice involvement …[and]…we should be encouraged to continue in our efforts to provide our loved ones, friends, coworkers, and neighbors with the support they need to overcome addiction.”

The Fiscal Year 2022 budget signed by Governor Baker last month includes a provision codifying the practice of issuing a proclamation each year for Overdose Awareness Day.

The proclamation reinforces the Baker-Polito Administration’s commitment to combatting substance use in Massachusetts, including the most recent announcement of over $30 million in state funding for regional/statewide services to provide pathways to stability and recovery for individuals facing homelessness and substance use disorders. These include $19 million for Housing First-model low-threshold permanent housing and support services in Brockton, Holyoke, Lawrence, Lowell, Quincy, Springfield, and Worcester, $3.2 million for street outreach to people experiencing homelessness and substance use disorder, and a $10 million capital fund that will increase the amount of permanent supportive housing in the Commonwealth.

To learn about addiction treatment and recovery services, visit the Massachusetts Department of Public Health website at www.mass.gov/orgs/bureau-of-substance-addiction-services.

If you or a friend or family member is struggling with substance use, please call the Massachusetts Substance Use Helpline at 800-327-5050, or visit https://helplinema.org/.

MAYOR JANEY RECOGNIZES INTERNATIONAL OVERDOSE AWARENESS DAY & NATIONAL RECOVERY MONTH 2021

MAYOR JANEY RECOGNIZES INTERNATIONAL OVERDOSE AWARENESS DAY & NATIONAL RECOVERY MONTH 2021  The City of Boston’s commemoration will include awareness and community events, including a discussion with “Empire of Pain” author Patrick Radden Keefe.

 

BOSTON – Tuesday, August 31, 2021 – Today, Mayor Janey recognizes International Overdose Awareness Day, with the goal of raising awareness about overdoses in Boston, reducing the stigma surrounding addiction, and honoring the memory of friends and family who have lost their lives to substance use disorder. In their honor, Mayor Janey will light City Hall in purple tonight, in partnership with the Baker-Polito Administration’s illumination of Government Center, South Station, and state bridges, including Longfellow and Zakim in Boston, Fore River in Weymouth-Quincy, and Burns in Worcester. Also today, Mayor Janey will join the Office of Recovery Services, faith-based leaders and Councilor Frank Baker at a City Hall gathering recognizing International Overdose Awareness Day, ahead of September’s National Recovery Month. “So many of us in the city of Boston have a connection with substance use disorder, whether it’s a family member, friend, someone in our community, or ourselves experiencing it,” said Mayor Janey. “International Overdose Awareness Day and National Recovery Month are important times for us to come together in memory of those we’ve lost and in support of those in recovery.”  The convergence of the opioid epidemic with the COVID-19 pandemic has heightened the urgency for preventing overdoses and promoting recovery in Boston. The pandemic heightened overdose risks by disrupting public health and social services, increasing social isolation, and changing the drug supply. Opioid-related overdose deaths in Massachusetts increased by five percent in 2020 compared to 2019, marking the first increase in annual opioid-related deaths in Massachusetts in three years. To meet residents’ needs, all city-run recovery services have remained open and operational throughout the pandemic. For more information on recovery services in Boston, please visit boston.gov/recovery.  Today’s remembrance events will lead into the start of National Recovery Month tomorrow. Observed every September, National Recovery Month provides an opportunity to celebrate individuals living in recovery and to build community awareness about the services and supports available for individuals along their road to recovery.  “Each and every day our Recovery Services team gives hope and support with professionalism and compassion to the people of Boston,” said Jen Tracey, Director of the Mayor’s Office of Recovery Services (ORS). “We honor and remember those we have lost this past year and want everyone to know that we will continue to adapt to the epidemic and prioritize safe access to recovery services for all Boston residents.”  During National Recovery Month, Boston residents can join author Patrick Radden Keefe to discuss his critically acclaimed book Empire of Pain: The Secret History of the Sackler Dynasty on September 19 at 2 p.m. This event is free to the public and was made possible thanks to the collaboration between ORS, the Office of Arts and Culture and the Boston Public Library (BPL), in partnership with RIZE Massachusetts. Event details, along with a Recovery Month reading list and further resources, can be found at https://www.boston.gov/recovery-month.  The book talk is the latest collaboration that integrates art with recovery. Earlier this month, Mayor Janey announced the City commissioned three murals at the City’s Engagement Center in Newmarket Square by art collective Mz. lcar and artists Rixy and Alex Cook.  “Art can play such a powerful role in recovery, and we’re excited to be a part of this month’s programming,” said Kara Elliott-Ortega, Chief of Arts and Culture for the City of Boston. “We’ve seen how art has inspired people to make change in their communities and improve their own wellbeing, and we’re continuing to work toward making those opportunities to engage in the arts accessible to all residents.”  Residents are encouraged to participate in the many additional events and opportunities happening throughout the city in honor of National Recovery Month, including:  ·    Fitness events with the recovery community (found on the ORS Recovery Month calendar)  ·    Naloxone (Narcan) information and training opportunities    ·    Virtual Recovery Storytelling on September 13 with Meghann Perry  ·    Recovery Month Celebration Day with the Massachusetts Organization for Addiction Recovery (MOAR) on September 28      ·    International Recovery Day (happening virtually) on September 30  ·    Social media features on @ORSBoston about service partners, community organizations, and local leaders promoting recovery

Kim Janey歡迎13名急救人員畢業生

MAYOR JANEY AND BOSTON EMS CELEBRATE NEW EMT GRADUATES

 

 

BOSTON – Monday, August 30, 2021 – Today Boston Mayor Kim Janey and Boston Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Chief James Hooley celebrated the graduation of 13 Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) recruits in a small ceremony at Faneuil Hall. This graduating class will be assigned to 911 ambulances, bolstering the City of Boston's Emergency Medical Services. “Boston EMS has played a vital role throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, ensuring residents receive the care they need in every type of emergency,” said Mayor Kim Janey. “Congratulations to our newest class of EMTs. Thank you for your service on behalf of the entire City of Boston, during the pandemic and beyond." This academy class has endured and overcome the challenges of successfully completing an academy while on the frontlines of the City’s response to the COVID-19 global pandemic. Boston EMS EMTs and paramedics have provided care to over 5,300 COVID-19 positive patients. “Although our newest EMTs, the men and women recognized today are already seasoned members of the department, having responded to over 2,300 9-1-1 medical emergencies during the academy, including 186 cardiac incidents, 676 illnesses, 241 injuries, 46 overdoses and 205 behavioral health emergencies,” remarked Chief of Department, Jim Hooley.

Today's ceremony formally recognizes the 13 recruits’ successful completion of a demanding post-hire training program for EMTs. Already state-certified EMTs prior to their hire, this graduating class completed an additional six months of classroom and field training while complying with COVID-19 safety protocols. With guidance from experienced EMT field training officers, recruits are not only prepared to care for patients, regardless of the circumstances, they also now understand the level of care, clinical excellence and professionalism expected of Boston EMS EMTs. Boston EMS is one of the busiest municipal EMS providers in New England, responding to more than 120,000 emergency medical incidents per year. As a bureau of the Boston Public Health Commission (BPHC), Boston EMS is committed to serving Boston's residents through clinical excellence, emergency planning and preparedness, and community outreach.

麻州長查理貝克訪Everett高中 宣佈100個學區內有疫苗門診

麻州州長查理貝克(Charlie Baker)親訪Everett高中，
說明州府和學校合作為學生打疫苗。(周菊子攝)

              (Boston Orange) 麻州州長查理貝克8月30日到訪Everett高中，為中小學即將開學，鼓勵學生及所有州民注射疫苗，以加強安全，說明麻州政府刻正和100個學區合作，提供疫苗門診，甚至提供超市禮卡，以增加人們接種意願。

              查理貝克謝謝Everett市和劍橋醫療聯盟合作，辦理這疫苗門診服務，既為學生，家長，也為所有社區人士提供一個方便的注射疫苗服務。他很高興能告訴州民，麻州在接種疫苗比率上，全美排名第二，僅次於佛蒙特州，在新冠病毒住院比率上，排名全美倒數第二，也是佛蒙特州比率最低。到10月1日以後，各學校將可自行決定是否繼續執行，學生到校必須戴口罩的規定。

              查理貝克表示，去年以來，不少學校藉由戴口罩等措施，讓學生到校上課，沒有錯過一天該上學的日子，可見只要小心，讓學生到校是可行的，對學生的身心健康也更有益。

查理貝克和Everett市人員合影。(周菊子攝)

              州政府的規定所有州府員工及合約商都必須戴口罩，不僅是為了每個人的安全，更希望向所有州民傳遞訊息，請大家注意防範新冠病毒，戴口罩，保持安全社交距離。

              在回答現場提問時，查理貝克透露，已有2000多所學校參加州政府的檢測或注射疫苗項目。雖然每個疫苗門診目前只能做到每天為幾百人施打，但州政府的終極目標是每個州民都能接種疫苗，以確保所有人的健康安全。

Everett公校總監Priya Tahiliani說明，該學區內已接種疫苗的學生，16到19歲有74%，12到15歲的也有61%。她們依照麻州中小學教育廳的規定，將等接種率達到80%時，再可慮是否繼續必須戴口罩的規定。

Everett市長Carlo DeMaria今年競選連任，有亞裔
為他舉牌。他笑說要亞裔支持勝利者。(周菊子攝)

            Everett是個人口約僅4萬9075的小城市，亞裔人口約3754人，佔總人口的8.14%。該市市長Carlo DeMaria從2007年當選以來，連任迄今，但今年遇上2名強勁進對手角逐市長大位，一人為Gerly Adrien，一人為 Fred Capone。

Gerly Adrien在5月份時已籌得競選經費約8萬元，不過她花得也多，截至8月5日，她的帳戶只剩下12,873元。Fred Capone則是後來居上，7月份籌得1萬7000餘元，現在帳戶內還有3萬餘元。在位市長Carlo DeMaria到底已在位12年，根基厚實，7月份籌款10萬餘元，現在帳戶內現金已有20萬8000餘元。

波士頓市的9人排球賽，日前就在Everett市舉行，由阮鴻燦、阮浩鑾等人與Everett市協商，在Carlo DeMaria支持下，爭取到非常好的比賽場地。

波士頓選務局公佈選舉相關細節 郵寄投票須在9/8前寄達

(Boston Orange 編譯)波士頓選務局今(30)日公佈為2021年市級選舉所做的準備，包括9月14日的初選，以及11月2日的大選，都可以郵寄投票或提早投票。波士頓市也在全市各地設置了20個選票箱，讓民眾投遞已經填妥的郵寄選票。         郵寄選票的申請書已寄發給波士頓市內每一位登記了的選民。選民需要填妥申請表，簽名，並在9月8日下午5點前送達波士頓選務局，才能符合郵寄投票資格。         郵寄選票必須用預付費的明信片，由美國郵政局，或親自交給位於波士頓市政府大樓241室的波士頓選務局。         如果已登記的波士頓選民未收到或丟失了申請表，可以在波士頓市府的郵寄投票網站上填表，索取新的選票申請。該申請表可以親自，郵寄或以電子郵件，傳真等方式送交波士頓選務局。         波士頓選務局的地址為:          Boston City Hall           City Hall Square, Room 241           Boston, MA 02201           傳真: 617-635-4483, Tel: 617-635-VOTE (8683)          電郵: absenteevoter@boston.gov  THE BOSTON ELECTION DEPARTMENT ANNOUNCES PREPARATIONS AHEAD OF THE 2021 MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS Early voting, ballot drop boxes both available

 

BOSTON - Monday, August 30, 2021 - The City of Boston’s Election Department today announced its preparations ahead of the 2021 Municipal Elections, including the availability of vote by mail and early voting for both the Tuesday, September 14, 2021 Preliminary Municipal Election and the Tuesday, November 2, 2021 Municipal Election. The City of Boston has also installed 20 ballot drop boxes across the city for voters to drop off completed vote by mail ballots.  Applications for vote by mail ballots have been mailed out to every registered voter in Boston. Voters are asked to fill out the application, including their signature, as applications received without a signature will not be accepted. To be eligible to vote by mail in the Preliminary Municipal Election, applications must be returned to the Boston Election Department by Wednesday, September 8, at 5 p.m. Vote by mail applications can be returned by U.S. mail with the prepaid postcard or in-person at the Boston Election Department, City Hall, Room 241. If a registered Boston voter did not receive or lost their application, they can request a new ballot application by completing the form available on the City’s vote-by-mail website. The form can be sent to the City of Boston's Election Department, via mail, email, fax, or in-person. The Boston Election Department is located at  Boston City Hall  City Hall Square, Room 241  Boston, MA 02201  Fax: 617-635-4483, Tel: 617-635-VOTE (8683) Email: absenteevoter@boston.gov  Vote By Mail The Election Department will send out vote by mail ballots as soon as the application requests are processed. Once a voter receives their ballot package, they should follow the enclosed instructions. It is important to sign the yellow ballot affidavit envelope. Unsigned ballot affidavit envelopes will cause a ballot to be rejected. To return ballots by U.S. mail, make sure to apply sufficient postage. While ballot package weight can vary, two First Class stamps is generally sufficient. To be counted, ballots must be received by the Boston Election Department or in a ballot drop box by the close of polls on Election Day, Tuesday, September 14, 2021 at 8 p.m. Tracking Your Ballot Boston voters can track their ballot request through the state's website. We will continue to mail ballots as applications arrive, until the application deadline of 5 p.m. Wednesday, September 8, 2021.  Ballot Drop Boxes The Boston Election Department has placed 20 ballot drop boxes around the City, including at both the first and third floor entrances of Boston City Hall. All drop boxes are monitored under 24 hour video surveillance. Drop boxes will also be available at each early voting location during the scheduled voting hours. To find a location of a ballot drop box, visit here. In- Person Early Voting Voters registered in Boston can vote during the early voting period from Saturday, September 4 through Friday, September 10, 2021, at any of the early voting sites. Hours and locations for early voting can be found here. All early voting sites are equipped with electronic poll books for voter check in. Early voting locations are well staffed with poll workers and language interpreters, and fully accessible to voters with disabilities.  Voting on Election Day Polling locations for the Boston Preliminary Municipal Election will be open from 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. on Tuesday, September 14, 2021. Ballots will be available in English, Spanish, Chinese and Vietnamese. Language assistance will be available on Election Day by translators at polling locations or by contacting the Election Department’s translation phone bank. Those interested in volunteering can apply to be a poll worker here.  On the Ballot The September 14, 2021 Preliminary Municipal Election includes eight candidates for the Office of Mayor, 17 candidates for Office of City Councilor at-Large and the following City Council Districts: District 4, District 6, District 7, District 9. The remaining districts are not required to have a preliminary election as there are already only one or two candidates running.  For more information on how to participate in this year's elections, please visit boston.gov/election.