MAYOR MICHELLE WU ANNOUNCES $50 MILLION FUNDING COMMITMENT FOR MILDRED C. HAILEY APARTMENTS, SIGNS EXECUTIVE ORDER ON FAIR HOUSING

MAYOR MICHELLE WU ANNOUNCES $50 MILLION FUNDING COMMITMENT FOR MILDRED C. HAILEY APARTMENTS, SIGNS EXECUTIVE ORDER ON FAIR HOUSING New investments will bring critical upgrades to more than 500 residents in Jamaica Plain, with new commitment to embedding fair housing and civil rights throughout City government

BOSTON - Thursday, January 20, 2022 - Mayor Michelle Wu at a press conference today announced a commitment of $50 million in funding for capital improvements at the Boston Housing Authority’s Mildred C. Hailey Apartments in Jamaica Plain. She was joined by President of the Mildred C. Hailey Tenant Task Force Yolanda Torres, Greater Boston Interfaith Organization leader Beverly Williams, Chair of the Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing Community Advisory Committee Lincoln Larmond, City Councilors Kendra Lara and Kenzie Bok, State Representative Nika Elugardo and city officials including Chief of Housing Sheila Dillon, Executive Director of the Office of Fair Housing Will Onuoha, and Administrator of the Boston Housing Authority Kate Bennett, members of the Mildred C. Hailey community, and many other advocates. With the new investment, the Boston Housing Authority is planning to address plumbing, ventilation, windows, and kitchen and bathroom improvements in 526 public housing units. These investments will improve air quality, prevent environmental health hazards like mold and mildew, and increase energy efficiency, advancing Mayor Wu’s commitment to climate action through a Green New Deal agenda. The Boston Housing Authority aims to begin work within the year. This new funding for renovations, along with the planned redevelopment, will ensure that the entire site is sustainable. Mayor Wu also today signed An Executive Order Relative to Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing and the Implementation of the City of Boston’s Assessment of Fair Housing, intended to instill the practice of fair housing and racial equity throughout all levels of City government. The Executive Order builds on the advocacy of the Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing Community Advisory Committee, which spearheaded a multi-year community engagement process to identify fair housing challenges and priorities and action steps to advance a fair housing agenda in Boston. With this step, Mayor Wu builds on Boston’s legacy as a leader in fair housing and civil rights, after Boston became the first major city to embed fair housing in its zoning code in 2021.  “Today was an exciting recognition of the legacy of activism and leadership at Mildred Hailey and the legacy and activism of housing and tenants rights activists across the city and beyond,” said Mayor Michelle Wu. “We plan to make affordable housing a top priority when it comes to putting federal recovery money to use. That means preserving and improving affordable housing that already exists, as well as adding more affordable housing options for residents across the city. This is an investment that builds on generations of work that advocates and tenant leaders have done to improve quality of life for our residents.” The federal public housing program has been underfunded for decades, especially with regard to capital needs. This underfunding has forced public housing authorities nationwide to defer necessary capital improvements, as conditions in the aging buildings slowly deteriorate. Mildred Hailey, which was built mid century, has significant capital needs that impact residents’ quality of life. This new $50 million funding commitment will be met through a combination of federal funding and the City’s capital plan.  “This funding will significantly improve the lives of hundreds of families in a community that truly needs the help,” BHA Administrator Kate Bennett said. “This is what leadership looks like, and I am grateful to Mayor Wu for acting decisively to address this critical need.” “I cannot overstate how important this investment is for residents here at Mildred C. Hailey Apartments,” said Yolanda Torres, President of the Mildred C. Hailey Tenant Taskforce. “I want to thank the Mayor for making an investment that will make life better for hundreds of residents in my community.” “Thank you to Mayor Wu and the Boston Housing Authority for this much-needed $50 million investment in the Mildred Hailey apartments,” said Greater Boston Interfaith Organization leader, Beverly Williams. “This is a true testament to what happens when elected officials, the community, agencies, and advocates collaborate together.” "An investment in public housing is an investment in the people of our city. For years the tenants at Mildred C. Hailey have fought tirelessly for healthy, safe, and accessible homes,” said City Councilor Kendra Lara. “I want to thank them for remaining steadfast in their advocacy and Mayor Wu for leading with urgency and prioritizing the needs of working-class people in district six and across the city." "Mayor Wu's signing of the executive order today represents a step towards making Boston a more equitable, inclusive and accessible city for all," said Chief of Housing Sheila Dillon. "Thanks to the partnership with the Community Advisory Committee, we continue to create solutions and remove barriers to housing opportunity in Boston. We look forward to making further strides towards equity under Mayor Wu's leadership." "The signing of the Executive Order adopting the City of Boston Assessment of Fair Housing (AFH) is a testament to Mayor Wu’s leadership, commitment, and vision for the City of Boston as a place where justice, civil rights, and equity do not only happen at the margins but reign supreme,” said Lincoln Larmond, Chair of the Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing Community Advisory Committee. “The AFH is the fulfillment of years of hard work, dedication, commitment, and perseverance of the Community Advisory Committee for Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing (CAC) and our City of Boston partners. Most importantly, however, it is a testament to and affirmation of the residents of Boston who shared their many stories and whose voices and lived experiences expertly informed the policies and goals of the AFH. This is indeed a great victory for the City of Boston and the CAC is proud to stand with Mayor Wu on behalf of countless civic leaders and community members who have labored so long for this day."  A plan is underway for the redevelopment of 253 of the 779 public housing units currently at Mildred C. Hailey Apartments, with construction expected to begin later this year. In addition to restoring 253 public housing units, this plan will create hundreds of additional units affordable to low and moderate income residents. Centre Street Partners, a collaboration of the JPNDC, The Community Builders and Urban Edge, will carry out the redevelopment project. In the past year, BHA has brought in a dedicated maintenance crew, a Director of Quality Control, and additional staff to address maintenance issues at Mildred Hailey. The BHA has also allocated $13 million to make additional capital repairs over the next several years.

麻州總檢察長 Maura Healey 宣佈參選麻州州長

      (Boston Orange 周菊子波士頓報導) 麻州總檢察長Maura Healey今(20)日一早9點，在東波士頓的Maverick廣場地鐵站，正式宣佈參選麻州州長。

今日一大早6點，Maura Healey也在推特上發文說，"I'm all in!"，同時推出了一段長約2分鐘的參選短片。

以下為她的競選陣營發佈的聲明:

Among the issues that Healey highlights include: Getting our economy back on track, making child care more affordable, modernizing our schools so every child learns in a safe and sustainable environment, and addressing the climate crisis.

“And because too many have waited too long, together we’ll bring justice and equality to everyone,” Healey says. 

Healey ran as a first-time candidate in 2014, and was elected the first openly gay Attorney General in the country. As AG, Healey has focused on safeguarding civil rights, holding bad actors accountable, and building community. She created the office’s first-ever Community Engagement Division and established her office as the first statewide office to implement paid family leave. Healey led groundbreaking lawsuits against Purdue Pharma, the Sackler family, and other opioid companies, securing hundreds of millions of dollars for treatment and recovery. Her office has also prioritized holding accountable predatory student loan servicers, taking on harmful polluters, and protecting the health and wellbeing of children.

麻州總檢察官奚莉 (Maura Healey)將參選麻州州長，這次消息好像很真確。 (檔案照片，
周菊子攝)

Prior to her time as Attorney General, Healey was a civil rights attorney in the office, where she challenged the Defense of Marriage Act and big banks. She grew up in Hampton Falls, N.H. and waitressed at the Hampton Beach Casino through high school and college. Healey attended Harvard College, where she captained the basketball team, and went on to play professional basketball in Austria, before earning her law degree from Northeastern University. She lives in Boston.

           (Boston Orange 周菊子波士頓綜合報導) 麻州人一直懸念的麻州總檢察官奚莉 (Maura Healey)  到底會不會參選麻州州長，終於有消息了，民主黨領導層有人透露她要參選，只是正式宣佈，最快也要明天 (1月20日)。

                    中國古書中 ，吳敬梓所撰儒林外史中的詩句，“有人辭官歸故里，有人漏夜趕科場”，用來形容今年的麻州州長選舉，似乎頗為恰當。在麻州現任州長查理貝克(Charlie Baker)，副州長白莉朵 (Karen Polito)去年11月宣佈，確定不競選第三度連任，原本已宣佈參選，曾任麻州參議員的Ben Downing也於日前宣布退選之後，麻州總檢察官奚莉的參選，將使今年的州長選舉競爭更為激烈。

                    現年僅50歲的奚莉一旦參選，將是參選者中唯一的在位州政府高官，也肯定是最有希望贏得大位的人之一。她不但有全國性知名度，全國性的籌款網，而且她的競選財庫已累積有370萬元，比其他3名主要競爭對手已募經費加起來的總和還多。

                  這3人分別是在位的麻州參議員陳翟蘇妮 (Sonia Chang-Diaz)，哈佛教授Danielle Allen，以及共和黨籍的前麻州眾議員Geoff Diehl。

                   奚莉是在2014年當選麻州總檢察長，成為全美首位公開同性戀身分的州政府總檢察官。如果她參選，還當選了，她將是麻州首名同性戀州長。

                全美僅有2名公開的同性戀者曾經當選為州長，科羅拉多州 (Colorado)的Jared Polis，以及奧勒岡州 (Oregon) 雙性戀的Kate Brown。

             由於共和黨籍的查理貝克和副州長白莉朵 (Karen Polito)都已確定將不參選，麻州的民主黨人對於奪回州長寶座，都抱著極大信心。

             在位2任中，奚莉和其他州的民主黨籍總檢察官攜手，針對川普政府提出了十幾項訴訟。她還在環保規章，保護學生貸款人，反對遣返所謂「夢想者」等議題上，非常投入，控告過ExxonMobil， Purdue製藥等巨型企業。

             身高只有5尺4吋，奚莉卻曾經是學校籃球隊隊長，還在歐洲的專業球隊打過2年球。她經常說打球的日子教會她如何對付挑戰，這技能，她也帶進政壇。

她在新罕布夏州的Hampton小鎮長大，是家裏5個小孩中的長姊。從哈佛大學本科，東北大學法律系畢業後，她在麻州總檢察官辦公室工作了7年，曾領導公共保護及企業和勞工局，擔任民權組負責人，還率領麻州反對聯邦把婚姻定義為一男一女之結合的婚姻保護法。

奚莉也曾經擔任麻州聯邦法官的書記，在Wilmer Hale律師事務所當過初級合夥人。

雖然以往曾任總檢察長的人競選州長時，總會遭遇阻礙，例如Martha Coakley在2014年輸給查理貝克，Scott Harshbarger、Frank Bellotti、Tom Reilly這幾人也都試過，但沒成功。

之前成功競選的是1940年代的Paul Dever。

不過奚莉有她自己的優點。2018奚莉支持Ayanna Pressley和當時在位的卡普阿諾 (Michael E. Capuano) 競爭聯邦眾議員席位，結果Ayanna Pressley當選時，奚莉就站在她旁邊。

她自己2014年競選時，黨派初選時的對手Warren Tolman，不但以曾任麻州議員的身分，在黨代表大會中爭取到民主黨支持，還有當時的波士頓市長Martin Walsh，麻州州長Deval Patrick背書，但奚莉卻以24個百分點贏了這黨派初選。

一旦她參選麻州州長，戰力勢必仍然很強。

Senator-Elect Lydia Edwards to be Inaugurated Today, January 20th

 Senator-Elect Lydia Edwards to be Inaugurated Thursday, January 20th

Senator-elect Lydia Edwards. (File photo, by Chutze Chou)

 (Boston / 1st Suffolk and Middlesex District) Senator-Elect Lydia Edwards will be sworn in to the Massachusetts Senate on Thursday, January 20th at 12:00 pm. Members of the Edwards family will join the Senator-Elect in person. Due to COVID-19 protocols, the event will have extremely limited in-person attendance. 

In compliance with the City of Boston’s COVID-19 policies and vaccine passport requirements effective January 15th, supporters of the Senator-Elect will host a watch party at Democracy Brewing, 35 Temple Pl, Boston, MA 02111 from 12 - 3 p.m. Attendees can show a CDC vaccination card, digital image of a CDC card, an image of any official immunization record, or their vaccine verification application.

“I committed to residents to hit the ground running in fighting for affordable housing, sustainable transportation and strong communities,” said Senator-Elect Lydia Edwards. “I am humbled by the opportunity to join the Massachusetts Senate and am already at work to advocate for our district.”

In the immediate future, Senator-Elect Edwards will establish constituent advisory groups for residents of the 1st Suffolk and Middlesex District to share their opinions and expertise on critical issues, including housing and recovery, facing the district and to guide her advocacy with regards to the one-in-a-generation American Rescue Plan funding. 

On her election day and in between deliveries to poll workers, Senator-Elect Edwards testified in support of legislation to authorize rent stabilization in the Commonwealth. Today, Senator-Elect Edwards met with Revere officials and community leaders to discuss collaboration on issues of housing & recovery, and participated in meetings with members of the State Senate.

Upon being inaugurated, Senator-Elect Edwards intends to take immediate action to 

advocate for legislation she authored to seal eviction records and to cosponsor bills by colleagues concerning housing stability, energy siting reforms and a moratorium on prison construction. The Senator-Elect also supports immediate enactment of comprehensive voting legislation.

Civil Rights Advocate and Attorney Tanisha Sullivan Launches Campaign for Massachusetts Secretary of State

Civil Rights Advocate and Attorney Tanisha Sullivan Launches Campaign for Massachusetts Secretary of State 

January 18, 2022 - Today, Tanisha Sullivan, an attorney and President of the Boston Branch of the NAACP, announced her candidacy for Secretary of State for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. 

In her campaign launch video, Sullivan emphasized the urgency of the moment. She highlighted the need for Massachusetts to be a leader in the fight to protect and expand fundamental voting rights, and pointed to the critical role the Secretary of State must play in creating more opportunities for residents to meaningfully engage in our democracy. Beyond voting rights, she said the next Secretary must do more to use the powers of the office to ensure transparency, accountability, and expand economic opportunity for everyone in the Commonwealth. 

“We are at an inflection point in our democracy, and the challenges before us demand urgent, collective action,” said Sullivan. “In light of obstructionism that continues to stand in the way of federal action on voting rights, it falls to state leaders to protect and expand the right of every Massachusetts resident to participate in our government, and to show what a truly inclusive, representative democracy looks like. Especially now, we cannot accept incrementalism. This moment deserves more. Our communities deserve more. And, together, we’ll deliver more. 

“I’m ready to officially begin this campaign, and look forward to connecting with residents across Massachusetts to talk about how the Secretary of State can help make our government more accessible, work to expand economic opportunity, and what we can do together to build a stronger, more vibrant, and more expansive democracy,” said Sullivan.

Raised in Brockton and with deep family roots in Boston, Sullivan credits her parents’ example with instilling in her the deep commitment to public service that has continued throughout her career as an attorney, her tenure as the head of the NAACP Boston Branch, and that led to her decision to run. Her father spent his career working in the Boston Public Schools, retiring in 2014 as the school leader at the John D. O’Bryant School. Her mother worked in media before opening her own small business - a home daycare - and helping connect and amplify Black-owned businesses across New England as publisher of the Black Pages of New England. 

Sullivan graduated from the University of Virginia before receiving graduate degrees in both law and business from Boston College. She has spent the majority of her legal career representing life sciences companies and has focused her volunteer service and pro bono work on expanding opportunity and improving the wellbeing of workers, small business owners, and communities across Massachusetts. While working full time as an attorney, in 2017 Sullivan took on the volunteer role of President of the Boston Branch of the NAACP, the first chartered branch of the NAACP in the country. During her tenure, the NAACP Boston Branch has been deeply involved in critical efforts to advance racial, economic, and social justice in Boston and across the Commonwealth.

Those interested in learning more about Tanisha and her campaign can visit www.TanishaSullivan.com and follow her @Tanisha4MA on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. 

Asian Americans Advancing Justice: Congress, No More Delays in Protecting the Right to Vote

Asian Americans Advancing Justice: Congress, No More Delays in Protecting
the Right to Vote 

WASHINGTON, DC — January 19, 2022 ― The Senate concluded its debate on the Freedom to Vote: John Lewis Act, moved to a vote, and failed to get the number of votes to pass this essential legislation or to change rules long enough to break the impasse that would lead to swift passage of the legislation.

The Asian Americans Advancing Justice affiliation, a group of five independent Asian American civil rights organizations, issues the following statement on the importance of protecting the right to vote:

"We deserve a Congress willing to protect all Americans' right to vote. Asian American and Pacific Islanders (AAPI) are the fastest growing population in the U.S. with the number of eligible voters projected to be over 12 million by 2040. In many states, AAPI voters make up more than 5% of their electorates. 

Each day that passes with a bipartisan Senate failing to do its job–to pass the Freedom to Vote: John Lewis Act–harmful anti-voter state laws are being passed to restrict our freedom to vote.

A fair and effective democracy is at stake for all of us. It is time to call out and hold accountable the politicians who are blocking this important voting rights legislation while they actively encourage restrictive laws with the hope of gaining an unfair advantage in the next elections.

We are at a turning point in our nation on the issue of voting rights and we cannot let this measure fail. The Senate must find a way to pass this legislation to protect our freedom to vote and prevent state laws and partisan politicians from sabotaging our right to access to the ballot box.

From our work on the ground in states across the country to the halls of Congress, Asian Americans Advancing Justice continues to protect this cornerstone of our democracy and build our communities’ political power. This is not over."

麻州長參選人Danielle Allen 談 Maura Healey 稱人民需要新鮮視角

 Danielle Allen’s Statement On AG Healey’s Decision To Join The Governor’s Race

The Pandemic Long Ago Made Clear that Status Quo is Not an Option and That We Need a Fresh Perspective

Boston, MA — Gubernatorial candidate Danielle Allen issued the following statement on AG Maura Healey’s decision to join the governor’s race:

“This election is about the urgent challenges we’re facing — from the pandemic, to the climate crisis, to racial injustice, to the strains on our democracy. Every single day, in every community in Massachusetts, people are struggling with the impacts of these challenges. So status quo is not an option. We need a fresh perspective that can see beyond the politics and start bringing us together to build solutions.

“I’m in this race — and I’ve been in it for a year — to make sure Massachusetts has a real choice. A choice between a perspective ready to meet the moment and business as usual. And a choice between the narrow solutions our politics have been offering us, or a chance to reimagine the possible, and bring everyone to the table to find a path forward that empowers all of us.

“As a longtime democracy advocate, an early voice on pandemic response, and a nonprofit leader with 20 years of public service under my belt, I stepped forward a year ago with the tools and skills to meet the moment. The need was clear then; it’s clear now. It’s been a tough, painful two years for people across our Commonwealth, and what we need now is the courage to fight for transformation — and the committed, collective work to deliver it. That’s the work to build common purpose and public commitment for change that I’ve been doing over an entire career — whether as an advocate fighting mass incarceration and the war on drugs, at the helm of major nonprofits harnessing civil society firepower for change, or laying the groundwork for a stronger democracy through civic education and democracy reform.

“This is what we need now — to  knit our diverse communities together into One Commonwealth, to reimagine the possible, and to deliver the green and healthy next-generation democracy we all deserve. After more than a year on the campaign trail, visiting communities across the state, I know how hard people are working to deliver that change — and I’m more committed than ever to working alongside them.”

麻州長查理貝克宣佈 1/31起，分發免費檢測給托兒機構

Testing for Child Care Providers to Keep Children in Care

Child Care Providers will have three testing options for staff and children in care

BOSTON

Governor Charlie Baker announcing testing program for childcare agencies.
 (Photo by Chutze Chou)

 — The Baker-Polito Administration announced today that child care programs will be able to receive rapid antigen COVID-19 tests by the week of January 31 as part of new testing programs to keep children in child care and early education programs open in the Commonwealth.
 
Testing for Child Care is a first-in-the-nation statewide testing initiative that will allow staff and children 2 years and older, who are close contacts of a COVID positive individual, to test daily for five consecutive days with  rapid antigen tests and remain in the child care setting as long as the test is negative. Additionally, staff and children 2 years and older who develop symptoms while attending or providing care will be eligible to participate in a symptomatic program. Testing for Child Care will provide all child care programs affiliated with the Department of Early Education and Care (EEC) access to sign up for free COVID-19 tests, resources, and training to implement these new protocols. 
 

CEO of Ellis early learning Lauren B. Cook (at right). 

“This comprehensive testing program is designed to ensure children can safely continue learning and receiving quality care while parents are working,” said Governor Charlie Baker. “Child care is a key piece of the infrastructure supporting the Commonwealth’s economy, and this testing program will help to eliminate one of the challenges parents and employers face every day.”
 
“Child care programs have continued to operate despite challenging circumstances throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, and working parents of young children have oftentimes been struggling to get back to work consistently,” said Lt. Governor Karyn Polito. “Our goal is to provide child care programs with the resources they need to operate on a continuous basis and for our families to have access to tests and the information they need to remain in care.”
 
EEC’s new Testing for Child Care  provides three options for COVID-19 testing to meet programs’ specific needs. Providers can opt into any or all three: 
 

• Rapid Cohort Testing:  Testing staff and children over 2 years old in a group (cohort) where there was direct exposure to an individual who is positive for COVID-19. This option tests cohorts of direct contacts (e.g., single classroom or stable family child care attendance), rather than requiring individuals to quarantine.
• Symptomatic Rapid Antigen Testing:  Testing for staff and children over 2 years old who show symptoms related to COVID-19. This allows child care centers to quickly identify and isolate positive cases or confirm negative cases and keep children in care. 
• Weekly Pooled Testing:  Weekly PCR testing for all consenting staff and children over 3 years old.

 

 
To implement these testing options, EEC is working with Neighborhood Villages, a non-profit organization that began partnering with the Department last year to provide weekly pooled testing for child care EEC will deliver free rapid tests  directly to child care programs that sign up with Neighborhood Villages. In addition to enrolling programs, Neighborhood Villages will coordinate the distribution of rapid tests and training for test usage with child care providers. Signing up with Neighborhood Villages is free for programs.
 
Distribution of free rapid antigen tests to programs enrolled with Neighborhood Villages is expected to begin the week of January 31, 2022.  EEC-licensed and approved programs can enroll on a rolling basis; however, programs must enroll with Neighborhood Villages prior to January 24, 2022 to begin testing the week of January 31st.
 
The Baker-Polito Administration announced last week it ordered 26 million at-home rapid antigen tests from iHealth that will be delivered over the next three months, and K-12 schools and child care centers will be prioritized for those tests. More than 7,700 EEC affiliated child care providers are eligible to participate in Testing for Child Care.
 
“It is critical that we provide child care programs with the necessary tests and supports to remain operational throughout this time,” said Education Secretary James Peyser. “We know even our earliest learners get enormous benefits from being in person with their peers and teachers. This testing strategy, layered on top of the other mitigation strategies that EEC has already put in place, will help to continue to make that possible for young children across the Commonwealth.”
 
“This program is part of EEC’s multi-faceted plan for addressing the impact the COVID-19 pandemic has had on child care providers and the parents that depend on safe, reliable care for their children so they can return to work,” said EEC Commissioner Samantha Aigner-Treworgy. “Expanding our testing options for the early education sector is one way we can keep experienced educators safe, healthy, and providing quality care for families.” 
 
“We are excited about these enhancements to the testing program. They will offer child care providers across the state multi-pronged testing strategies and additional support,” said Neighborhood Villages Co-Founder and Chief Innovation Officer Sarah Siegel Muncey. “Testing in early childhood is one of the fastest, most effective investments we can make right now to keep child care centers open and our educators, children, and families safe - while also allowing our parents to continue to work. I want to thank Governor Baker and his Administration for their ongoing partnership and commitment to this important issue.”
 
As part of the testing program, child care providers must adhere to EEC’s COVID-19 Mitigation Protocols & Guidelines. These protocols align with the best practices, guidance, and recommendations of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Massachusetts Department of Public Health, and the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education. EEC-licensed child care providers that choose to implement their own testing regimens without utilizing the Testing for Child Care program are expected to abide by EEC’s testing protocols.
 
School-age children served in EEC-affiliated Out-of-School-Time (OST) programs may already participate in one of DESE’s testing programs during the school day. For those school-age children who already participate in a DESE-approved testing program, no additional testing is recommended at the EEC -licensed program. 
 
Additional COVID-19 Resources Available to Child Care Providers:  
No-Cost, Drive-through COVID-19 Testing 
EEC continues offering no-cost COVID-19 drive-through testing for the child care community at eight locations across Massachusetts. Information on EEC’s mobile testing sites can be accessed here.
 
Statewide Contract Support for Anitgen Test Kit Purchasing
Programs that want to purchase their own antigen tests now have access to the Statewide Contract set up by the Baker-Polito Administration to provide antigen tests at state-negotiated rates for eligible entitles. 

Supplemental Personal Protection Equipment (PPE) for Child Care 
Open and operating EEC-licensed providers continue to be able to order supplemental PPE supplies and have them delivered directly to the program at no cost to them. 
 
Mobile Vaccination Clinics 
The Baker-Polito Administration offers mobile pop-up vaccination clinics that take place in a community-based setting, including schools and child care centers. The clinics are organized to bring vaccines to a community setting and are available to employers, schools and school districts, community organizations, and other groups. 

Sonia Chang-Diaz 歡迎麻州總檢察長 Maura Healey 加入麻州州長選戰

 Sen. Chang-Díaz statement on news that Maura Healey is joining Democratic Primary

BOSTON, MA - Massachusetts State Senator and candidate for Governor Sonia Chang-Díaz released the following statement in response to news that Attorney General Maura Healey is launching a campaign for Governor:

“I welcome the attorney general to the race. In this time of crisis, we need a robust conversation about how our government serves working families and meets our biggest challenges. Maura and I have differing records when it comes to priorities and governing, and I look forward to her joining the ongoing conversation we’re having with voters across Massachusetts. 

“Our Commonwealth needs a leader who will prioritize true racial justice in our public safety systems, take urgent action on climate change, and close the wealth divide to build an economy that works for everyone. The only way we’re going to make that happen is if we build a grassroots movement and elect a governor with a proven track record of taking on and winning tough fights for change, even when it’s not politically convenient. I’m that person, but I welcome the attorney general to make her case to Bay Staters as well.”

AG HEALEY EXPANDS GRANT PROGRAM TO ADDRESS AFFORDABLE HOUSING CRISIS IN MASSACHUSETTS

 AG HEALEY EXPANDS GRANT PROGRAM TO ADDRESS AFFORDABLE HOUSING CRISIS IN MASSACHUSETTS  

Grant Program Offers $100,000 Loans to Convert Abandoned Properties into Affordable Residential Units 

 

BOSTON – As part of ongoing efforts to address the state’s housing crisis, Attorney General Maura Healey today announced the expansion of her office’s Abandoned Housing Initiative Receivership Fund (AHIR) grant program to facilitate and incentivize the conversion of blighted properties into affordable housing units across Massachusetts through receivership. 

 

Under the expansion, providing a total of $1.5 million in grant funds, AHIR grantees will be able to offer loans up to $100,000 per property to court-appointed receivers if the abandoned property they are repairing is intended to produce an affordable residential unit. The AG’s Office defines an “affordable residential unit” as one with a long-term deed restriction that would require the owner to meet the Income Eligible Household requirements as defined by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and the Massachusetts Department of Housing and Community Development. 

 

“Our lack of affordable housing has reached a crisis point and has only been made worse by the pandemic,” AG Healey said. “By expanding this already successful grant program, our office will be able to help provide families with more opportunities for safe and affordable housing.” 

 

“Since May of 1999, Chelsea Restoration Corporation has been working with the dedication of the Attorney General’s Office to upgrade deplorable abandoned housing into safe homes for Chelsea families,” said Chelsea Restoration Corporation’s Executive Director, Helen Zucco. “With housing court approval, we have been able to repair all of the code violations, update housing taxes and eliminate water liens with the assistance of the funding from the Attorney General’s Office.” 

 

“The expansion of this grant will help amplify our work in securing affordable residential units for families through the restoration of abandoned homes in our communities.” said Fall River Community Development Agency’s Executive Director, Mike Dion. “We look forward to our continued partnership with the Attorney General’s Office and will work together to address the affordable housing crisis in Massachusetts.” 

 

Launched in 2013, the AHIR grant program has played a critical role in assisting local communities in mitigating the impacts of the foreclosure crisis. The program utilizes funds from the 2012 National Mortgage Fraud Settlement involving unlawful foreclosures to provide financial assistance to receivership projects on abandoned residential properties in Massachusetts. From 2013 to 2017, the AHIR program helped fund $78 million in property rehabilitation efforts, including repairing 88 blighted properties and bringing 181 housing units back into use. The second phase of the program, launched in 2019, provided more than $850,000 in loans to receivers across nine separate projects, altogether rehabilitating approximately 17 housing units. 

 

For the newest phase of the program, receivers who work to create affordable housing units can now borrow up to $100,000 with loan forgiveness of up to 30 percent. Receivers who do not create affordable housing units will continue to be able to borrow up to $75,000 and have up to 20 percent of their loans forgiven. 

 

Funds for receivership projects are being distributed for use through two grantees - the Chelsea Restoration Corp. (CRC) and the Fall River Community Development Agency.  

 

For additional information on the AHIR grant, interested applicants can contact the Chelsea Restoration Corp. at (617) 889-2277, Fall River Community Development Agency at (508) 679-0131, or AG Healey’s Neighborhood Renewal Division at NeighborhoodRenewal@mass.gov. Grants are being funded on a rolling basis through March 2023. 

MAYOR WU ANNOUNCES JOB POSTINGS FOR KEY CABINET-LEVEL POSITIONS

 

MAYOR WU ANNOUNCES JOB POSTINGS FOR KEY CABINET-LEVEL POSITIONS City announces search for a Green New Deal Senior Advisor, Chief of Planning, Chief of Human Services, and Chief Information Officer

BOSTON - Wednesday, January 19, 2022 - Mayor Michelle Wu today announced the City is seeking to hire several key Cabinet positions that will help deliver on the Mayor’s vision for a more equitable and resilient Boston. The openings include two newly created Cabinet-level positions, a Green New Deal Senior Advisor, and a Chief of Planning. Additionally, the City is filling the critical roles of Chief Information Officer (CIO) and Chief of Human Services.  “We’re building a team to reshape what’s possible for Boston through the power of City government,” said Mayor Michelle Wu. “I’m so excited to work alongside leaders ready to tackle our challenges and connect our communities through bold, urgent action.” The open roles are as follows: Senior Advisor, Boston Green New Deal The Senior Advisor will help shape an cross-departmental approach to climate and equity-led governance and help make Boston a groundbreaking model of city leadership. The Senior Advisor, working in close partnership with the Mayor, the Chief of Environment, Energy, and Open Space (EEO), the Chief of Operations, Chief of Streets, Chief of Planning, School Superintendent, and other senior City officials will have primary responsibility for driving the initiatives of the Boston Green New Deal and Just Recovery Plan laid out by Mayor Wu.  The Senior Advisor will provide leadership on building climate resilient infrastructure and affordable housing, shape zoning and planning, transit, and environmental justice initiatives, and collaborate with other City departments to build and renovate schools and other public facilities to meet net-zero standards and advance the Mayor’s climate agenda.  As a member of the Mayor’s Cabinet, this individual will co-chair a Green New Deal Cabinet with Chief of Environment, Energy, and Open Space, Reverend Mariama White-Hammond, and work closely with community members and stakeholders, and City, State, and federal leaders to ensure citywide climate resiliency and the execution of the City’s carbon neutrality plans. The City will be partnering with a search firm to support the hiring process for the Green New Deal Senior Advisor.  Chief of Planning The Chief of Planning’s job is to build a Boston with and for everyone. This role will have primary responsibility for driving the Mayor’s vision for planning that advances the goals of a more equitable, resilient, transit-oriented, and affordable City. The Chief of Planning will have an unprecedented opportunity to be at the forefront of making this vision a reality. The creation of a Cabinet-level Chief of Planning is the first step in Mayor Wu’s efforts to reform the City’s processes for planning and development. The Chief of Planning will serve as the Mayor’s point person to coordinate and direct all City plans, land use directives, and all related development policies and procedures. The Chief will play a central role in considering structural reforms to the Boston Planning & Development Agency (BPDA) while assuming a top leadership role in ongoing planning, zoning and development. From that position, the Chief will work with the BPDA Board, Director, and staff to advance reforms that ensure a planning-led approach to development review.  The Chief of Planning will also assume responsibility for advancing the City’s plans for zoning code reforms, spearhead public engagement initiatives to involve residents and community groups in planning, and coordinate with development review staff to ensure predictability and alignment between development and the City’s planning goals. Chief of Human Services The City is hiring a Chief of Human Services, who will help work toward a more equitable City, by ensuring that city services and opportunities for Boston residents are accessible and responsive to the needs of all.  The Chief of Human Services will lead the implementation of the Mayor’s human services agenda for Boston, overseeing key departments that provide services to City residents, and working in partnership with social service organizations and service providers across the City.   The departments within the Cabinet focus, in particular, on services for youth, seniors, veterans and persons with disabilities.  Those departments deliver direct services, provide regulatory oversight, and build partnerships to help these constituents and all Boston’s residents thrive.   Chief Information Officer The Chief Information Officer (CIO) is the City’s most senior IT leader, serving on the Mayor’s Cabinet and leading the Department of Innovation and Technology (DoIT). That Department helps connect the City’s more than 18,000 employees with the hundreds of thousands of constituents they serve.  The City is hiring for a CIO who will improve government operations and positively impact quality of life for Boston residents by expanding and leading the City's digital services, analytics capabilities, cybersecurity practices, broadband access, and internal and external facing technology tools, platforms, and infrastructure.  More details on the minimum requirements and core responsibilities, as well as a link to apply, are available on the City’s website for the Senior Advisor, Chief of Planning, Chief of Human Services, and Chief Information Officer.