Baker-Polito Administration Announces New Early College Programs and Awards More Than $1.3 Million in Grants

 Baker-Polito Administration Announces New Early College Programs and Awards More Than $1.3 Million in Grants 

Eight high schools received official designation to launch new programs and fourteen school districts awarded grants to boost student enrollment
 

BOSTON – The Baker-Polito Administration today announced eight new early college programs and awarded several grants totaling more than $1.3 million to high schools launching or expanding early college programs as part of a statewide effort to substantially increase the number of high school students who take college courses and earn college credits at no cost before they graduate high school.
 
Through these newly awarded designations and grants, the Executive Office of Education anticipates that approximately 8,700 students will be enrolled in early college programs by the 2024-2025 school year. Early college programs combine traditional high school courses with an opportunity to earn college credit at a college or university. Currently, there are approximately 5,400 students enrolled in early college courses at 50 high schools across the Commonwealth.
 
“Early college is an invaluable tool that supports increased college enrollment among participating students, particularly students from groups historically underrepresented in higher education, and helps them succeed once they arrive on campus,” said Governor Charlie Baker. “Today’s announcement will boost participation rates at schools that already have programs, as well as launch new and exciting programs that will create more pathways to college.”
 
Since its launch in 2017, the Baker-Polito Administration has strived to expand access to early college programs. The Governor’s FY23 budget proposal includes $7.3 million for early college funding, representing a significant increase over FY22, to bring the total annual investment to more than $18 million.
 
“The more communities that launch early college programs, particularly in our Gateway Cities, the more we can provide opportunities to students that help close achievement and workforce gaps,” said Lt. Governor Karyn Polito. “By creating and supplementing designated early college programs with our municipal partners, our administration aims to break down barriers that persist between high school and higher education.”
 
Eight high schools and their higher education partners were awarded official designation status this month by the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education and the Department of Higher Education to launch new early college programs.
 
“Successful early college programs create a coherent course of study that can change the trajectory of a student’s life,” said Education Secretary James Peyser. “By designating these early college programs, we are creating a shift in the educational experience for thousands of students.”
 
The majority of students who participate in early college programs meet MassCore college readiness curriculum requirements while also successfully completing credit-bearing college courses. Early college has also been shown to boost college completion rates for low-income, minority and first-generation college students. Early college students enroll in college at significantly higher rates than their high school peers. For example, in 2019, approximately 76 percent of early college students enrolled in college after graduation compared to 55 percent of their peers who did not participate in early college.
 
“As part of the intra-agency early college collaboration, the Board and Department of Higher Education has approached this effort, as with all our work, from an empirically-based policy analysis frame,” said Department of Higher Education Commissioner Carlos Santiago. “We are therefore pleased with early data showing that designated Massachusetts early college programs have prioritized and demonstrated progress in raising college-going rates and matriculation for students of color and low-income students, who continue to confront the highest barriers to higher education.”
 
“It’s wonderful to see additional and expanded designated early college programs everywhere from the Berkshires to the coast,” said Elementary and Secondary Education Commissioner Jeffrey C. Riley. “These programs are a great opportunity for students to see that they’re capable of college-level work and take their first steps on that path.”
 
The newly designated programs are:

• Fenway High School in partnership with Wentworth Institute of Technology
• Mt. Everett Regional High School in partnership with Bard College at Simon’s Rock
• Narragansett Regional High School in partnership with Mt. Wachusett Community College and Fitchburg State University
• New Mission High School in partnership with Wentworth Institute of Technology
• Argosy Collegiate Charter School in Fall River in partnership with Bristol Community College
• Cambridge Rindge & Latin School in Cambridge in partnership with Lesley University
• Essex North Shore Agricultural & Technical School in partnership with North Shore Community College
• New Bedford High School in partnership with Bristol Community College

In addition, five high schools and their college partners were awarded a total of $750,000 to create early college programs that are large-scale, with at least 400 students or the whole school participating. This new “immersive early college” model will provide students with an opportunity to earn a minimum of 30 college credits prior to graduating high school.
 
Each of the following schools received $150,000 in grant funding:

• Drury High School in North Adams in partnership with Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts
• Saugus High School in partnership with Northern Essex Community College
• Mt. Everett High School in Sheffield in partnership with Bard College at Simon's Rock
• Veritas Prep Springfield in partnership with Springfield Technical Community College and Westfield State University
• Claremont Academy in Worcester in partnership with Quinsigamond Community College and Worcester State University 

Additionally, nine schools were awarded expansion grants, totaling more than $650,000, to support their existing early college programs and boost the number of students enrolled, particularly those underrepresented in higher education.
 
The grantees include:

• Durfee High School in Fall River in partnership with Bristol Community College - $75,000
• Framingham High School in partnership with Framingham State and Mass Bay Community College - $75,000
• Marlborough High School in partnership with Quinsigamond Community College - $59,000
• Lawrence Public Schools in partnership with Northern Essex Community College - $75,000
• Lowell High School in partnership with Middlesex Community College - $75,000
• Salem High School in partnership with Salem State University - $75,000
• Worcester Public Schools in partnership with Quinsigamond Community College and Worcester State University - $75,000
• Haverhill High School in partnership with Northern Essex Community College - $75,000
• Holyoke High School in partnership with Holyoke Community College - $75,000

哈佛法學院中國法律協會年會 28-31日網上舉行

 

East Asian Legal Studies

************************
The China Law Association at Harvard Law School will hold its
annual conference via Zoom March 28-31. It has identified several
timely topics and enlisted an array of impressive speakers. I
have pasted in below a note from the CLA with the program and
registration links, as well as a link to the full list of
speakers. The students have put quite a lot of work into this.  

Bill Alford

The Harvard Law School China Law Association (CLA) will host its
annual China Law Symposium, “Charting a New Course through
Uncertainties,” from Monday, March 28th to Thursday, March 31st.
The Symposium brings together prominent legal scholars and
practitioners to shed light on major developments in US-China
relations. Attendees will have the opportunity to hear from and
engage with leading experts from various fields regarding some of
the cutting-edge issues pertaining to law, policy, and business
in China.

This year’s Symposium offers panels on the future of the WTO, the
Belt and Road Initiative, the Chinese and U.S. capital markets,
intellectual property and technology exchanges, and a keynote
speech featuring Mr. Stephen Orlins, President of the National
Committee on United States-China Relations.

We cordially invite you to join us as we explore ways to chart a
new course through uncertainties that loom over the Pacific. The
complete Symposium schedule, including panels, speakers, and
registration links, can be found here.

Keynote Conversation: China at the Crossroads
Time: Monday, March 28th, 2022, 12:30 – 1:30 PM ET
Registration:
https://harvard.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_NlazTdMIQ6WDnUzA5dG25
g

Panel: China and the Future of the WTO
Time: Monday, March 28th, 2022, 8:00 – 9:00 PM ET
Registration:
https://harvard.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_JF2BgOVIScW2HE9wtH0lz
Q

Panel: Belt and Road Initiative: Legal Infrastructure and Dispute
Resolution
Time: Tuesday, March 29th, 2022, 7:00 – 8:00 PM ET
Registration:
https://harvard.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_vliYKtdWS-
KxTX0C0pajNQ

Panel: Navigating Challenges in the Chinese and U.S. Capital
Markets
Time: Wednesday, March 30th, 2022, 8:00 – 9:00 PM ET
Registration:
https://harvard.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_Eb1OKsyaTsi4uttoKKJ0Q
w

Panel: Intellectual Property and Technology Exchanges Between the
U.S. and China
Time: Thursday, March 31st, 2022, 8:00 – 9:00 PM ET
Registration:
https://harvard.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_n3YKqoWgSgmqC4oev5OkG
g

吳弭市長提案擴大少數族裔及婦女所經營企業獲得政府合約機會

 MAYOR WU FILES PROPOSAL TO EXPAND ACCESS TO CITY CONTRACTS FOR MINORITY AND WOMEN-OWNED ENTERPRISES

BOSTON - Monday, March 28, 2022 - Mayor Michelle Wu today filed a home rule petition with the City Council that would expand access to City contracts for minority- and women-owned business enterprises (MWBEs). The proposal would raise the written quote contract maximum for contracts with certified MWBEs from $50,000 to the state Small Purchase threshold, which is currently $250,000. The written quote contract process allows the City to award contracts without a full Request For Proposal (RFP) process, making it significantly simpler and cheaper for businesses to apply. This change will dramatically lower barriers to access for MWBEs and allow the City to make a greater investment in these businesses.

“This proposal will allow us to use every dollar possible to build wealth in our communities, address our racial wealth gap, and make our city a place for everyone,” said Mayor Michelle Wu. “I look forward to working with the City Council and the Legislature to advance this.” 

The proposal is part of a larger initiative to direct City resources to local, diverse businesses that are vital to expanding wealth-building opportunities and supporting their capacity to compete for city contracts. 

In 2020, the City of Boston released a disparity study that showed that only 1.2% of the $2.1 billion City’s contracts for construction and professional goods and services went to Black and Latinx-owned businesses. In response to these results, the City of Boston now seeks to address these historical disparities and aid in establishing intergenerational wealth for Black and Latinx residents. Increasing access to city contracts is an important step to building wealth and closing the racial wealth gap.

"This is the type of forward-thinking, meaningful change that is needed to reduce the barriers to wealth-building opportunities for our small, local, diverse businesses," said Segun Idowu, Chief of Economic Opportunity and Inclusion. "I am proud to serve in an administration that has made equitable procurement policy a top priority."

"It is imperative that we use all tools available to make City contracting more equitable and accessible to people of color,” said City Councilor Brian Worrell, Chair of the Committee on Small Business and Professional Licensure. “The time is now to break unacceptable gaps of access and staggeringly low numbers of Black and Brown residents winning City contracts."

The proposal seeks to amend Massachusetts General Law 30B, which was passed in 1990 and establishes procedures for the acquisition of supplies or services, the disposition of surplus supplies, and real property acquisitions and dispositions by local governmental bodies. Once approved by the Boston City Council, the home rule petition must be passed by the Massachusetts Legislature and signed by the Governor in order to become law. 

This home rule petition builds on Mayor Wu’s years of commitment to require equitable City contracting and close the racial wealth gap. In 2016, then-Councilor Wu and then-Councilor Ayanna Pressley presided over the City Council hearing that examined the City’s procurement process and efforts to support local businesses. In 2017, Mayor Wu and Congresswoman Pressley co-sponsored an ordinance that required the City to collect more data on contracting. Mayor Wu passed a groundbreaking ordinance that required the City of Boston to shift its food procurement practices to meet certain standards around racial equity, fair pay for workers, environmental sustainability, and nutrition.

波士頓市長吳弭和美國交通部長，環保市長網路晤談

 

US Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg

Mayor Wu joins a League of Conservation Voters panel for a Q&A along with US Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg and Cleveland’s Mayor Bibb. 

波士頓慈濟再出發 掃街清潔華埠

波士頓慈濟志工們掃街前合影。

             (Boston Orange

波士頓僑教中心主任潘昭榮(前右二)也加入掃街行列。(周菊子攝)

周菊子波士頓報導) 波士頓華埠街道在3月26日的這週末，又再亮晶晶。20多名波士頓慈濟志工與義工分成小組，一口氣清掃了5條街。慈濟有意繼續每月掃街一次，期以鼓勵地方民眾、商家，遊客，攜手保護華埠的清潔、衛生與地方容貌。

華商會的余麗媖(右)為波士頓慈濟長金滿(左)等人提供掃帚等工具。(周菊子攝)

              波士頓慈濟上次掃街是去年12月。本來慈濟有意從那時開始就至少每月掃街一次，沒想到一次大雪，一次大雨，掃街活動一連推遲2次。3月26日這天，氣溫不高，可卻好不容易有暖陽高照，清掃工作才得以順利繼續。必珠街，乞臣街，泰勒街，夏利臣街，好事福街這五條街，於是又再亮晶晶。

              這趟掃街，華商會的余麗媖不但照舊提供掃帚，畚箕，黑色垃圾袋等清掃工具，還把紐英崙中華公所主席雷國輝，波士頓華埠獅子會理事謝如鍵都拉來當義工，加入清掃行列。波士頓僑教中心主任潘昭榮，以及張小慧，還有經文處的王麗芬也都來響應這服務社區的公益活動。

慈濟師兄陳裕逢和東北大學的李家睿一組掃街。(周菊子攝)

              慈濟基金會波士頓聯絡處負責人長金滿和波士頓服務處的兩名聯絡人，陳裕逢和李豐，身為活動主辦人，更是義不容辭的夾雜在掃街隊伍中。這次參加掃街的人，還有退休後回台灣逛了一圈，又回波士頓的慈濟師姐張桂英，以及三名年輕男生，一人刻在哈佛大學念文學博士，一人是正在修讀藥學的薛嘉瑋，一人是小學在深圳時就隨著父母當慈濟志工的東北大學學生李家睿。

波士頓慈濟師姐和年輕志工薛嘉瑋(中)等人清掃乞臣街。(周菊子攝)

              陳裕逢笑說，有了上次的經驗，這次他特地準備了好幾根鐵絲，用來刮人行道夾縫中的菸蒂，下次他打算為掃街行動自製長木夾，好讓掃街的人輕鬆些，不必三不五時的得彎腰，下蹲，才能把頑固的髒東西清掃掉。

波士頓慈濟志工分頭掃街。(周菊子攝)

              二個月沒掃的華埠街道，又是滿地紙屑，菸蒂，波士頓慈濟明白即使他們每月掃街一次，也只是象徵意義大於實際。他們希望能夠和地方民眾及商家合作，想出一個更長久的清潔地方容貌策略。最近社區內有人提出一款名叫Litterati 的應用程式，他們正在研究是否有機會採用。

              長金滿表示，慈濟波士頓聯絡處的華埠服務站，目前仍然是每週二、三、六開放，歡迎有任何需要的社區大眾，提前和慈濟聯繫，預約時間，以俾人力運用更有效率。

清掃後的泰勒街，好乾淨。(周菊子攝)

波士頓市長吳弭宣佈聘得資訊長及數位長

 MAYOR WU ANNOUNCES SANTIAGO GARCES AS NEW CHIEF INFORMATION OFFICER AND JULIA GUTIERREZ AS CHIEF DIGITAL OFFICER

New Leadership Joining the City’s Department of Innovation & Technology to Strengthen Services for Constituents and Employees

BOSTON - Monday, March 28, 2022 - Mayor Michelle Wu announced today two new senior City of Boston technology leaders.  The Mayor appointed Santiago Garces as the Chief Information Officer, overseeing the Department of Innovation and Technology (DoIT) and driving the City’s technology agenda.  The Mayor also named Julia Gutierrez as the Chief Digital Officer, leading a team within the DoIT charged with ensuring exceptional online experiences for constituents looking to engage with the City government. Garces and Gutierrez will begin working in their new roles in May and April respectively. 

“Technology is essential for delivering great city services—from closing the digital divide, to streamlining City transactions and performing data analytics to improve our operations,” said Mayor Michelle Wu. “I’m thrilled for the leadership of Santiago Garces and Julia Gutierrez to help build and drive our technology agenda and connect our city. I’m grateful to Alex Lawrence for her leadership of DoIT during this interim period and for building such a strong foundation.”

“I am so excited to be joining this administration to help move the City forward. My career has been focused on how City governments can better use technology with and for their residents,” said Santiago Garces, incoming Chief Information Officer.  “I am looking forward to taking the next steps here in Boston, where there is a great track record of tech innovation and a great opportunity to do even more.”

As Chief Information Officer, Garces will oversee DoIT and its team of approximately 150 employees.  This team provides and maintains mission-critical technologies for the City’s more than 18,000 employees and the hundreds of thousands of constituents they serve. 

Garces is currently the Executive Director of the Department of Community Investment in South Bend, Indiana, and formerly served as the CIO of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and of South Bend. Born and raised in Bogota, Colombia, Garces previously helped found enFocus, a non-profit dedicated to providing innovative solutions for government and industry.  

He is a graduate of Notre Dame with degrees in Electrical Engineering, Political Science, and a master’s degree in Technology Entrepreneurship.

Since November of 2021, Alex Lawrence has served as the Mayor’s Chief Information Officer and spearheaded the search for her successor as well as for the Chief Digital Officer.

Garces will be joined by Julia Gutierrez, who will be leading the DoIT’s Digital Services team.  This team designs and manages tech products that Boston residents most directly interact with, such as Boston.Gov and a range of mobile apps, including Boston311.

“I’m honored and excited to lead digital services for the City of Boston. I’ve been inspired by Mayor Wu’s vision for a City of Boston that represents all types of Bostonians,” said Julia Gutierrez, incoming Chief Digital Officer. “As a part of this administration, I look forward to reimagining and delivering exceptional government services that are accessible, inclusive, and equitable.”

Gutierrez was previously at Massachusetts Digital Service where she worked with partner organizations across State government to reimagine how they deliver services to constituents online. Prior to her time at Mass Digital, Gutierrez worked at Fundacion IDEA, a Mexican public policy think tank on social development and youth development policy projects. Born and raised on the Mexico-US border in South Texas, Gutierrez holds a Masters in Public Policy from the Harvard Kennedy School of Government and a B.A. in Public and International Affairs from Princeton University. 

Gutierrez lives in Jamaica Plain.

More information on the Department of Innovation and Technology (DoIT) can be found here. More on the Digital Team can be found here.

市政府中心停車場大樓坍塌 一建築工人摔死 地方交通將受影響

             (Boston Orange 綜合編譯)波士頓市政府大樓對面的停車場，週六 (26)突然坍塌，一名建築工人不幸身亡。

             麻州橘線地鐵的北車站到後灣站之間路段，以及綠線的北車站到政府中心站之間路段，因這坍塌事件，恐怕將會封閉數日，以俾工程師執行工作，確保隧道安全。麻州地鐵局表示，地鐵乘客將可從後灣(Back Bay)或Ruggles站搭乘通勤火車進南車站(South Station)。市中心的巴士服務，可能未出現延遲現象。

             波士頓消防局指出，坍塌事件發生在傍晚5點半，承包商正在拆除停車場結構。目擊者告訴調查人員，在樓層底部斷裂時，死者正在操作一輛重型車，結果人車一起摔跌九層樓。

             由於事件發生在城中區，樓宇坍塌時響聲極大，煙霧迷漫，四週的急救車輛，人員立刻從四面八方趕了過去。到週日早上時，由於職業安全與健康管理局(OSHA)調查員還在執行工作，沿著事發地點的Sudbury街仍然封閉著。

             波士頓消防局發言人Brian Alkins表示，他們正在協助聯邦機構，該局的雲梯3隊，以及建築組還在現場工作。

             波士頓市長吳弭 (Michelle Wu)的發言人，週日時請媒體洽詢消防局。隨後吳弭市長在推特上發文哀悼死者，表示市府正在調查，出事地點將暫時封閉。

             職業安全與健康管理局(OSHA)的本地辦公室，就在事發地點不遠，該辦公室代表也未立即回應外界提問。

             薩福克郡地方檢察官Kevin Hayden說，他的辦公室也會參與調查。

             波士頓緊急救援局 (EMS)的發言人表示，事件中還有和坍塌事件無直接關係的另一人送醫救治，情況不明。WBUR透露，一本地工會指出，死者為51歲的建築工人Peter Monsoni。

             拆除停車場是HYM投資集團正在進行，要重新發展，改建一棟12層樓高生命科學大樓計畫的一部分。

             周六發生坍塌事件後，該計畫的總包商John Moriarty & Associates表示，已撤出工人，並暫時關閉了該一地點。

             該公司在一份聲明中表示，結構工程師會在重啟任何工作前，確保該地點的安。

麻州將接收烏克蘭難民 人數還未確知

麻州州長Charlie Baker歡迎烏克蘭難民。(檔案照片，周菊子攝)

             (Boston Orange綜合編譯) 美國總統拜登 (Joe Biden) 允諾接收10萬名烏克蘭難民，其中一部分將來到麻州，但人數多少，仍未確定。

           在俄國、烏克蘭之戰歷經一個月，仍然持續之際，已有大約300萬居民逃離烏克蘭，落難各地，目前世界各國都在伸出援手，只是協助速度似有緩不濟急之勢。

                美國總統拜登在比利時布魯塞爾和歐洲盟國會晤時表示，美國將接收10萬難民，並為受到俄國侵略烏克蘭戰爭影響的國家，提供10億元人道援助經費。

               麻州州長查理貝克 (Charlie Baker)在白宮發佈這消息之前就已說過，麻州會伸開雙臂歡迎烏克蘭人的到來，只是到底會有多少烏克蘭人來到麻州，目前還不清楚。他相信每個人都為烏克蘭發生這可怕的事情感到很糟糕，「如果烏克蘭人找到方法來美國，我們當然會加緊找出幫忙這些人的方法」。

             查理貝克在3月3日時已經發出行政命令，指示麻州行政部門審視並終止任何與俄國國營公司的合約。他還指示麻州的難民及移民辦公室和聯邦政府的難民安置辦公室合作，支援逃離動亂的烏克蘭移民及難民。

             麻州共有6各機構和美國國務院合作安置難民。美國政府會依據各組織的能力決定安置多少難民進入各州。在塔利班接管阿富汗之後，在去年九月至今年二月間，麻州接收了2000名難民。

             根據波士頓市計畫發展局的數據，麻州現有25365名烏克蘭人，其中1682人住在波士頓。協助安置阿富汗難民，位於屋斯特(Worcester)的Ascentria 照顧聯盟(Ascentria Care Alliance)稱，大春田區約有一萬名烏克蘭人。

麻州州務卿候選人Tanisha Sullivan獲得「在這兒團結」本地第26工會支持

 UNITE HERE Local 26 Endorses Tanisha Sullivan for Secretary of State

 March 28, 2022 — Today, Tanisha Sullivan announced that her campaign for Secretary of State has received the support of UNITE HERE Local 26, which represents hospitality workers in Massachusetts and Rhode Island.  

 “Our next Secretary of State has a vital role to play in ensuring that every worker has a voice in our democracy, in protecting and expanding voting rights, and in ensuring that worker’s rights, including access to benefits and safe working conditions, are a priority,” said Sullivan. “I’m so grateful to Local 26 for their support and belief in this campaign. I look forward to continuing to work alongside labor to strengthen the rights and opportunities afforded to all workers and their families.” 

 “Tanisha Sullivan has been a leader, an advocate and a friend to Local 26 for years. She knows what we need to do to expand voting rights and she knows how to do it. We are honored to endorse her candidacy for Massachusetts Secretary of State,” said Carlos Aramayo, President, UNITE HERE Local 26.

 UNITE HERE Local 26 represents around 12,000 hospitality workers across Massachusetts and Rhode Island, including workers at hotels, restaurants, and university dining halls, as well as at the Boston Convention Centers, Fenway Park, and Logan International Airport.

Today’s announcement comes less than a week after Sullivan announced the support of several leading elected officials in Boston, including State Representative Russell Holmes, State Representative Nika Elugardo, State Representative Liz Miranda, Boston City Councilor At-Large Julia Mejia, Boston City Councilor At-Large Ruthzee Louijeune, District 5 City Councilor Ricardo Arroyo, District 6 City Councilor Kendra Lara, and District 7 City Councilor Tania Fernandes Anderson. In February, Sullivan was endorsed by national democracy advocate and former Massachusetts gubernatorial candidate Danielle Allen.

麻州州長候選人Sonia Chang Diaz陣營叫陣辯論 Maura Healey陣營不置可否

             (Boston Orange 波士頓報導) 麻州州長候選人陳翟蘇妮 (Sonia Chang-Díaz)叫陣競爭對手奚莉(Maura Healey)在6月4日前做3次電視轉播的現場辯論，未獲回應，競選陣營今(28)日發聲明質疑。

               陳翟蘇妮的競選經理Joshua Wolfsun在聲明中指奚莉閃躲辯論，既是對麻州選民來說的一件壞事，也和她早年的立場不一致。2014年4月1日，奚莉第一次競選麻州總檢察長時，她就挑戰對手在選舉投票日前，至少每月辯論一次。2018年的州長選舉初選，民主黨也在6月的民主黨大會之前舉行過至少3次，有人主持，候選人親自出席的現場辯論。陳翟蘇妮這次要求辯論，也只是依往例形式而已。

               Joshua Wolfsun稱，民主黨的州長候選人不應該懼怕站上舞台，和其他候選人辯論真正的議題。有太多事情會受牽連影響，選民們應該得到更清楚瞭解的機會。

            在聲明中，陳翟蘇妮陣營稱發出要求辯論信後，犀利陣營次日就回覆了，但通篇回應未做任何承諾。

 

BOSTON, MA - State Senator Sonia Chang-Díaz’s campaign for Governor is responding to her Democratic opponent Attorney General Maura Healey’s refusal to commit to three live, moderated debates prior to the party’s convention on June 4. 

Joshua Wolfsun, Chang-Díaz’s campaign manager, issued the following statement

“The people of Massachusetts deserve a governor who will respect the democratic process, not expect a coronation. The Attorney General’s move to dodge committing to three debates before the convention is bad for the voters of our state — and inconsistent with her past positions. On April 1, 2014, when she was first running for Attorney General, Maura Healey challenged her opponent to debate her ‘at least once a month’ until the election. Sonia’s call for debates also reflects the 2018 Democratic gubernatorial primary, where the candidates participated in at least three live, in-person moderated debates and forums before June.

“Our Democratic nominee for Governor shouldn’t be afraid to get on a stage across from other candidates and debate the real issues. Too much is at stake, and the voters deserve nothing less. We urge the Attorney General to show the same commitment she showed in her first race, and agree to three live, moderated debates sponsored by media organizations ahead of the convention.”

Chang-Díaz initially called for three debates in a letter she sent to Healey last week. Healey’s campaign team responded with a media statement later that day that avoided making any commitments in response to the letter.

Read the Chang-Díaz’s full letter to Healey online here: https://bit.ly/Sonia-3-Debates 

吳弭市長等政要向國家戰爭英雄致敬 Francis B Wai或為唯一華裔戰爭英雄

波士頓市長吳弭 (Michelle Wu，右四) 和波士頓市議會議長Ed Flynn(右二)，波士頓市不分區市議員Michael Flaherty(左二)，
以及麻州參議員Mike Rush等人在南波士頓的一場儀式中，向這些國家英雄獻上花圈致敬。(圖片取自推特)

                  (Boston Orange 周菊子整理報導) 每年的3月

25日是美國的「國家榮譽勳章日 (National Medal of Honor Day) 」。波士頓市長吳弭 (Michelle Wu) 和波士頓市議會議長Ed Flynn，波士頓市不分區市議員Michael Flaherty，以及麻州參議員Mike Rush等人在南波士頓的一場儀式中，向這些國家英雄獻上花圈致敬。

          吳弭市長在推特上發文表示，「今日我們在南波士頓紀念榮譽勳章日，向獲得我們國家最高軍事英勇獎，國會榮譽勳章的英雄們致敬。波士頓市感謝你們為國服務」。

             榮譽勳章基金會於1999年在美國國會支持下成立，既為表揚國家英雄，也為傳承美國精神，支持還在世的英雄們。

國家榮譽勳章的源始，可以追溯到1861年，但是直到1958年，美國國會和時任總統的艾森豪 (Eisenhower )才成立這組織，表揚戰爭英雄們。1963年越戰時，頒發國家榮譽勳章的標準更改為，必須在為國抗敵的英勇事蹟發生的3年內申報，5年內領取。

Francis B. Wai。

根據榮譽勳章基金會網站，從美國內戰以來，美國共發出過3511個國家榮譽勳章，迄今在世的有66人。

在麻州出生的有180人，4人仍然在世，分別是越戰英雄的1966年Robert F. Foley，1969年Thomas G. Kelley，以及反恐襲阿富汗戰爭的2008年Ryan M. Pitts，2002年Britt K. Slabinski。

這些戰爭英雄中，居然還有59人是1900年參加「中國援救遠征隊 (China Relief Expedition  (Boxer Rebellion))」，八國聯軍擊敗清軍和義和團在天津、北京戰役的人，包括在麻州出生的John M, Adams，James Burnes，William L. Carr，Francis T. Ryan，David J. Scannell，Frank E. Smith等6人。

讓人訝異，或者也不訝異的是，在這3千多名獲得國家榮譽勳章者中，有33名亞裔，從姓名看大概有一半為日裔，只有1名華裔，是在第二次世界大戰時的美國陸軍第34隊隊長Francis B. Wai，1917年在夏威夷好努魯努出生的他不但沿路把失去領導的士兵們納入麾下，帶領他們，還多次個人出擊，引誘敵方發動砲火，讓隊友查悉敵人火力所在。1944年10月20日時，他在率隊攻擊最後一個日本碉堡時陣亡。2000年6月時，由當年的柯林頓總統把獎章頒給了他哥哥。

Baker-Polito Administration Awards $1.6 Million in Community Compact Grants

 Baker-Polito Administration Awards $1.6 Million in Community Compact Grants

13 grants impacting 60 municipalities announced for regionalization and efficiency efforts

 

BUCKLAND – Lieutenant Governor Karyn Polito today announced $1.6 million in grants through the Community Compact Cabinet Efficiency and Regionalization (E&R) Grant Program. This program’s funding assists municipalities in providing services to their constituents in a more efficient and cost-effective way. Including this year’s awards, the Baker-Polito Administration has issued 86 grants through this program, providing a total of $7.1 million in funding for one-time or transition costs for municipalities, regional planning agencies, school districts and councils of government.

 

“Through the Community Compact Program, our administration has provided hundreds of communities with means to pursue important regionalization and efficiency initiatives, best practices and technology infrastructure improvements," said Governor Charlie Baker. “Continuing this partnership, we are proud to support this year’s award recipients in their efforts to implement more effective and efficient ways to serve their residents.”

 

“This year’s Efficiency and Regionalization grants will again fund a wide range of innovative projects that will have outsized benefits on the recipient constituencies,” said Lt. Governor Polito, Chair of the Community Compact Cabinet. “We appreciate the continued commitment of our local community leaders in identifying opportunities to drive maximal impact through these collaborative regional efforts.”

The Efficiency and Regionalization Grant Program was started by the Administration in Fiscal Year 2017 and provides funds that may be used toward the planning and implementation of regionalization initiatives – including shared services, intergovernmental agreements, consolidations and other collaborative efforts – and for efficiency efforts to improve the delivery of local services.

 

“Efficiency and Regionalization grants enable initiatives that improve the quality and delivery of local services in smart, cost-effective ways,” said Administration and Finance Secretary Michael Heffernan. “By leveraging regional relationships, these municipalities will be able to maximize the impact of this funding and find efficient solutions to address shared needs.”

 

Buckland, where today’s announcement was held, will receive $200,000 to support shared police services with Shelburne. Other awards include:

 

• $200,000 for regional fire training for Norwood, Bellingham, Canton, Millis, Norfolk, Sharon, Stoughton, Walpole, Westwood and Wrentham;

 

• $200,00 for regional wastewater management for Sandwich, Barnstable, Bourne, Falmouth and Mashpee;

 

• $200,000 for shared police services for Russell and Montgomery;

 

• $187,000 for shared police services for Leyden and Bernardston;

 

• $130,707 for regional animal control for Uxbridge, Blackstone, Douglas, Hopedale, Mendon and Millville;

 

• $100,000 for shared human resources for Adams, North Adams and Williamstown;

 

• $95,000 for regional economic development for the Pioneer Valley Planning Commission (PVPC), focusing on the following rural communities: Blandford, Brimfield, Chester, Chesterfield, Cummington, Goshen, Granby, Granville, Hadley, Hampden, Hatfield, Holland, Huntington, Middlefield, Montgomery, Pelham, Plainfield, Russell, Southampton, Tolland, Wales, Westhampton, Williamsburg and Worthington;

 

• $94,902 for a regional sustainability coordinator for Westford and Carlisle;

 

• $70,280 for the Berkshire Regional Planning Commission to develop a shared town administrator program, initially with Savoy;

 

• $46,852 for shared police services for Becket and Otis;

 

• $40,000 for Northfield to explore regionalization of its Emergency Medical Services (EMS);

 

• $25,000 for shared police services for Dalton and Hinsdale

 

About the Community Compact Cabinet

 

Formed in January 2015, the Community Compact Cabinet is chaired by Lt. Governor Polito and is composed of the Secretaries of Housing and Economic Development, Education, Transportation, Energy and Environmental Affairs, and Technology Services and Security, along with the Senior Deputy Commissioner of Local Services and the Assistant Secretary of Operational Services. The Community Compact Cabinet elevates the Administration’s partnerships with cities and towns and allows the Governor’s Office to work more closely with leaders from all municipalities. The Cabinet champions municipal interests across all executive secretariats and agencies, and develops, in consultation with cities and towns, mutual standards and best practices for both the state and municipalities. The creation of Community Compacts creates clear standards, expectations, and accountability for both partners. 

For a full list of awardees and projects, click here.