Governor Baker Nominates John P. Pappas as Associate Justice of the Superior Court, Raquel D. Ruano as Associate Justice of the District Court and Teresa F. Lamarre as Circuit Justice of the District Court

 Governor Baker Nominates John P. Pappas as Associate Justice of the Superior Court, Raquel D. Ruano as Associate Justice of the District Court and Teresa F. Lamarre as Circuit Justice of the District Court

 

BOSTON — Today, Governor Charlie Baker nominated John P. Pappas as Associate Justice of the Superior Court, Raquel D. Ruano as Associate Justice of the District Court and Teresa F. Lamarre as Circuit Justice of the District Court.

 

"Attorneys Pappas, Ruano and Lamarre have many years of experience that will serve them well in their respective appointments,​" said Governor Charlie Baker. "I am pleased to submit these qualified candidates to the Governor's Council for their advice and consent."

 

"Each of these qualified attorneys has meaningful experience in serving the Commonwealth,” said Lt. Governor Karyn Polito. “If approved, I am confident that they will be fair and thoughtful members of the judiciary.”

 

The Superior Court, the trial court of general jurisdiction for Massachusetts, is committed to delivering high quality justice in a timely and fair manner in accordance with the rule of law. The Court's 82 justices sit in 20 courthouses in all 14 counties of the Commonwealth. The Superior Court has original jurisdiction in civil actions over $25,000 and in matters where equitable relief is sought. It also has original jurisdiction in actions including labor disputes where injunctive relief is sought, exclusive authority to convene medical malpractice tribunals, appellate jurisdiction over certain administrative proceedings, and may hold sittings for naturalization in any city or town. The Superior Court also has exclusive original jurisdiction of first-degree murder cases and original jurisdiction of all other crimes.

 

For more information about the Superior Court, please visit their homepage.

 

The District Court hears a wide range of criminal, civil, housing, juvenile, mental health, and other types of cases. District Court criminal jurisdiction extends to all felonies punishable by a sentence up to five years, and many other specific felonies with greater potential penalties; all misdemeanors; and all violations of city and town ordinances and by-laws. The District Court is located in 62 courts across the Commonwealth.

 

For more information about the District Court, visit their homepage.

 

Judicial nominations are subject to the advice and consent of the Governor’s Council. Applicants for judicial openings are reviewed by the Judicial Nominating Commission (JNC) and recommended to the governor. Governor Baker established the JNC in February 2015 pursuant to Executive Order 558, a non-partisan, non-political Commission composed of volunteers from a cross-section of the Commonwealth's diverse population to screen judicial applications. Twenty-one members were later appointed to the JNC in April 2015.

 

About John P. Pappas

 

John P. Pappas began his law career in 1994 as an Assistant District Attorney in the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office, where he has worked his entire career. He has held roles in a variety of units, including the Homicide Unit, the Senior Trial Unit and the Gang Unit. Attorney Pappas was then named the Chief Trial Counsel in 2011, where he provided guidance to prosecutors appearing before the Superior Court in addition to his own cases, which focused on homicide investigations and police involved shootings. Following Suffolk County District Attorney Daniel Conley’s resignation in 2018, Attorney Pappas was appointed to serve as the Interim District Attorney to finish his term. Currently, Attorney Pappas is serving as the Senior Trial Counsel. Outside of the law, he volunteers with the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Reading Program at Lee Elementary School and has previously volunteered as a coach with Parkway Youth Sports in both football and baseball. In 2003 Attorney Pappas won the Newman A Flanagan Award for outstanding Superior Court Prosecutor. And in 2016 he was named the William C. O’Malley Prosecutor of the Year, awarded annually by the Massachusetts District Attorneys Association Attorney Pappas received his bachelor’s degree from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst in 1982 and his Juris Doctorate from the New England School of Law in 1993.

 

About Raquel D. Ruano

 

Raquel D. Ruano began her legal career in 2004 as an Assistant District Attorney with the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office. She served in several different roles, including in the Major Felony Unit and as the Supervisor of the Assistant District Attorneys. In 2007, Attorney Ruano became an Assistant Corporation Counsel for the City of Boston, where she represented the city in civil litigation. From 2012 until 2019, she owned and operated Ruano Law Office, which handled many different areas of law including criminal defense, family law and civil rights cases. While managing her private practice, Attorney Ruano also served as the First Assistant City Attorney for the City of Lawrence. In 2019 she was promoted to the position of City Attorney and served solely in that capacity since. Outside of the law, she volunteers with the College of the Holy Cross Mentor Program and previously served with the Massachusetts Association of Hispanic Attorneys and the Essex County Bar Advocate Program. Attorney Ruano received her bachelor’s degree from the College of the Holy Cross in 2000, and her Juris Doctorate from Boston College Law School in 2003.

 

About Teresa F. Lamarre

 

Teresa F. Lamarre began her legal career in 1991 as the Chief Prosecutor of the Springfield District Court for the Hampden County District Attorney’s Office. Attorney Lamarre then joined the Bristol County District Attorney’s Office as an Assistant District Attorney attached the to the Grand Jury Unit, and later became the Supervisor of the Fall River District Court, overseeing the Court’s assistant district attorneys and its support staff until 2006. In 2007, she joined the Criminal Justice Department at Bristol Community College as an adjunct professor. From 2009 until 2012, Attorney Lamarre served as an Assistant Attorney General in the Fair Labor Division of the Massachusetts Attorney General’s Office, where she prosecuted violations of Massachusetts wage and hour statutes. She then became a Student Services Advocate with the New Bedford Public Schools until 2013, where she consulted on disciplinary hearings involving students with disabilities and advocated for programs to reduce the system’s dropout rates. Attorney Lamarre was a solo practitioner from 2015 to 2017 specializing in criminal defense and child welfare, and until 2021 served as an Assistant District Attorney with the Plymouth County District Attorney’s Office and Supervisor of the Wareham District Court. Currently, Attorney Lamarre is the Assistant Clerk Magistrate of the Massachusetts Trial Court. Outside of the law, she currently is a board member of the Stoneledge Beach Association, and previously was a member of the Bishop Stang High School PTO. Attorney Lamarre received her bachelor’s degree from Wheaton College in 1987 and her Juris Doctorate from the Western New England School of Law in 1991

波士頓市長吳弭社區咖啡時間18場 華埠訂在6月2日

           (Boston Orange) 波士頓市長吳弭 (Michelle Wu) 和波士頓市公園及娛樂局將從5月4日起至6月30日的早上9點半至10點，一連舉辦18場咖啡時間活動，踏進鄰里社區和市民面對面晤談。

         波士頓市府還將在每個晤談地點設置一個建議箱，以直接了解市民對地方公園，公共空間，市府服務等有何改進意見。

         吳弭市長表示，他們希望把市政府大樓帶進鄰里社區，在市民居住的地方和民眾見面，和每一個社區直接聯繫。

         參加咖啡時間的民眾將有機會享用鄧肯 (Dunkin) 甜甜圈店的冰咖啡，迷你甜甜圈，以及星市場 (Star Market) 的新鮮水果。每一家庭還有機會從公園局那兒領到免費的花種。每場咖啡時間都有鄧肯甜甜圈店提供商品及咖啡等抽獎品。

         吳弭市長預定的華埠及灣村 (Bay Village) 咖啡時間為6月2日，地點為往年市長咖啡時間所在地的伊利奧諾頓 (Elliot Norton) 公園 (295 Tremont St., )。

MAYOR WU ANNOUNCES 2022 NEIGHBORHOOD COFFEE HOUR SERIES

BOSTON - Wednesday, April 6, 2022 - Mayor Michelle Wu and the Boston Parks and Recreation Department will host the 2022 Neighborhood Coffee Hour Series in partnership with Dunkin’ in neighborhood parks citywide from May 4 to June 30. Mayor Wu’s Neighborhood Coffee Hours are a unique opportunity to speak directly with the Mayor and staff from City departments about open space and their neighborhoods. Through these conversations, and a suggestion box at each site, Mayor Wu looks forward to hearing how the City of Boston can improve upon local parks, public areas, and City services. “Our administration hopes to get City Hall out of City Hall into our neighborhoods—meeting residents where they are and connecting every community to civic activism,” said Mayor Michelle Wu. “I look forward to spending time with our residents in parks across our city.” Participants will enjoy Dunkin' Iced Coffee and assorted Dunkin' MUNCHKINS® donut hole treats along with fresh fruit from Star Market. Additional support is provided by City Express courier service. Each family in attendance will receive a free flowering plant from the Parks Department, while supplies last. Residents at each event will also be eligible to win a raffle prize from Dunkin’ including Dunkin’ merchandise and ground coffee.  All coffee hours will be held from 9:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m., weather permitting. The full schedule of Mayor Wu’s 2022 Neighborhood Coffee Hours is as follows: Wednesday, May 4 East Boston Memorial Park Porter and Orleans Streets, East Boston   Friday, May 6 McLaughlin Playground 239 Parker Hill Avenue, Mission Hill   Monday, May 9 Doherty Playground 349 Bunker Hill Street, Charlestown   Friday, May 13 Mozart Street Playground 10 Mozart Street, Jamaica Plain   Wednesday, May 18 Ramler Park 130 Peterborough Street, Fenway/Kenmore   Friday, May 20 Billings Field 369 LaGrange Street, West Roxbury   Wednesday, May 25 Commonwealth Avenue Mall (Arlington Street entrance)  15 Commonwealth Avenue, Back Bay   Friday, May 27 Garvey Playground 995 Morrissey Boulevard, Dorchester   Thursday, June 2 Elliot Norton Park  295 Tremont Street, Bay Village/Chinatown    Wednesday, June 8 Smith Playground 235 Western Avenue, Allston-Brighton   Thursday, June 9 Fallon Field 910 South Street, Roslindale   Friday, June 10 Peters Park 230 Shawmut Avenue, South End   Monday, June 13 Horatio Harris Park Walnut Avenue and Monroe Street, Roxbury   Wednesday, June 15 Langone Park 529 Commercial Street, North End   Wednesday, June 22 Ronan Park Mount Ida Road and Marie Street, Dorchester    Friday, June 24 Iacono Playground 150 Readville Street, Hyde Park   Wednesday, June 29 Medal of Honor Park East 3rd and M Streets, South Boston   Thursday, June 30 Walker Playground 550 Norfolk Street, Mattapan For more information and updates on possible weather cancellations, please contact the Boston Parks and Recreation Department at (617) 635-4505, on their social channels @bostonparksdept on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram, or by visiting boston.gov/parks.

今年的波士頓馬拉松賽拒絕俄國及白俄羅斯選手

              (Boston Orange) 波士頓體育會今 (6)日宣佈，在公開報名過程中，已報名並獲准參加2022波士頓馬拉松賽公開賽，或者5K賽，但目前仍居住在俄國及白俄羅斯的體育選手，將不再獲准參加這一比賽。

             不是這2國居民，但是俄國及白俄羅斯公民，已在公開報名過程中獲准參賽者，將仍可參賽，但這些選手將不准在2國的旗幟下跑步上路。

             波士頓體育會會長及執行長 Tom Grilk表示，”就像世界各地的許多人一樣，我們為我們所看到的和知道的關於烏克蘭的報導，感到可怕、憤怒。我們相信跑步是一種全球運動，因此我們必須盡可能展示我們對烏克蘭人民的支持”。

             波士頓體育會，其所辦理比賽及活動將不承認俄國及白俄羅斯這2個國家，以及其旗幟。

             波士頓體育會將在聯邦政府及國際制裁限制下，合理的試圖退款給來自俄國及白俄羅斯，不能參賽的選手。 

               波士頓體育會將為已報名參加第126屆波士頓馬拉松賽或5k賽，但不能參賽的烏克蘭人，提供退款，或是延期到以後參賽的選擇。波士頓體育會將在今春稍後直接和這些選手聯繫。

 B.A.A. Policy on Russian and Belarusian Athletes

 

BOSTON — The Boston Athletic Association (B.A.A.) announced today that Russians and Belarusians, who were accepted into the 2022 Boston Marathon or 2022 B.A.A. 5K as part of the open registration process and are currently residing in either country, will no longer be allowed to compete in either event.

 

Russian and Belarusian citizens, who were accepted into the 2022 Boston Marathon or 2022 B.A.A. 5K as part of the open registration process but are not residents of either country, will be able to compete. These athletes, however, will not be able to run under the flag of either country.

 

“Like so many around the world, we are horrified and outraged by what we have seen and learned from the reporting in Ukraine,” said President & CEO of the B.A.A. Tom Grilk. “We believe that running is a global sport, and as such, we must do what we can to show our support to the people of Ukraine.”

 

The B.A.A., its races, and events will not recognize the country affiliation or flag of Russia or Belarus until further notice. The 2022 Boston Marathon, B.A.A. 5K, and B.A.A. Invitational Mile do not include any professional or invited athletes from Russia or Belarus.

 

The B.A.A. will make reasonable attempts to refund the athletes from Russia or Belarus who will no longer be able to participate, within the constraints as imposed by federal and international sanctions.

 

The B.A.A. will provide all Ukrainians who are registered in the 126th Boston Marathon or the 2022 B.A.A. 5K and are unable to compete with a refund or option to defer to a future year. The B.A.A. will reach out to these athletes directly later this spring.

 

波士頓市校巴邁向電動化 先買20輛下學年啟用

波士頓市長吳弭闡述推動校巴電動化的目標。(周菊子攝)

            (Boston Orange 周菊子波士頓綜合報導) 波士頓市學校巴士電動化開跑。市政府將斥資700萬元購置20輛電動校巴，下學年啟用，預定2030年全面電動化。

             波士頓市長吳弭4月6日到波士頓市唯一的職業高中，位於洛士百利的麥迪遜公園職業高中 (Madison Park Technical Vocational High School)，宣佈這一動態。

 一輛普通大校巴約需十幾萬元，但一輛全電動大校巴，需款35萬元。吳弭市長坦言這麼做要花一筆不小的錢，但這是為將來投資，長期來說會省錢。波士頓市學校部門人員表示，買電動車的錢已經編列進學校部門的營運預算，而且會用到聯邦紓困款。

 吳弭市長辦公室表示，波士頓市公校共有739輛校巴，約佔市府碳排放量的11%，市府一直在努力把校巴轉為使用清潔能源的車輛。若全部更換為電動巴士，約需款2億5860萬元。

 波士頓市公校助理總監Kevin McCaskill表示，麥迪遜公園職業高中將開課教學生如何維修電動巴士。該校還有開放給成人上的普通汽車維修班。

 波士頓市長吳弭表示，把麥迪遜公園高中這電動汽車維修課程開放給所有市內所有高中生選修的作法，值得考慮，但師資及車輛配置等相關議題，得先有個妥善解決辦法。

MAYOR WU ANNOUNCES PROGRESS TOWARD ELECTRIFYING CITY VEHICLE FLEET   BPS to purchase twenty electric school buses in pilot program to launch fleet electrification; Central Fleet Management to train BPS students and City fleet managers in electric vehicle maintenance

 

BOSTON - Wednesday, April 6, 2022 - Mayor Michelle Wu today announced major strides toward electrifying the City’s vehicle fleet as part of a Green New Deal for Boston. The Mayor shared that Boston Public Schools (BPS) will be launching an electric school bus pilot program, deploying 20 buses during the 2022-2023 school year. These electric buses will replace existing diesel buses. This initial procurement is the first step toward full electrification of the school bus fleet by 2030. Mayor Wu also recommitted to growing Boston’s green jobs workforce by launching the electric vehicle (EV) “train the trainer” program, a partnership between the Public Works Department and Madison Park Technical Vocational High School. This program will enable the City’s Central Fleet Management team to train students and City fleet managers in electric vehicle maintenance through Madison Park’s Automotive Technology Program. These announcements build off the Wu administration’s commitment to building a Green New Deal City and previous announcements to reduce vehicle emissions in Boston.  “Climate justice is racial and economic justice. And this moment requires an urgent, all hands on deck approach from every level of government to reduce emissions and boost the health, safety, and opportunity of our communities,” said Mayor Michelle Wu. “Not only are we working to electrify our school buses and municipal fleet for cleaner air throughout our neighborhoods, but these workforce development pipelines connected to electric vehicles will help support career pathways into the green economy.”  Boston Public Schools and the City of Boston’s Environment Department are working to reduce vehicle emissions by electrifying the City’s yellow school bus fleet, converting diesel school buses to electric vehicles, with the goal of full electrification by 2030. As a first step, BPS will launch an electric school bus pilot program with an initial procurement of 20 buses, using BPS’s operating budget and funds from the American Rescue Plan Act, with the goal of deploying within the next 8 to 10 months. Longer term, BPS will work to replace additional big buses each year, and then move to replacing smaller buses until the entire fleet is electrified.    Later this month, BPS will also launch a request for information (RFI), seeking input from a wide range of stakeholders on electrification strategies, existing initiatives in other cities, and exploring potential solutions to local challenges to electrification. This RFI will provide the City with information on what local private businesses, supply chain experts, and electric school bus and charging providers may have an interest in partnering.  BPS currently has 739 buses, which constitute 11 percent of the City’s municipal emissions. Since 2016, BPS has been working to replace diesel buses with buses that run on liquid propane, an interim solution to reduce emissions and costs. Propane bus technology offers lower air pollution than diesel buses, and transitioning from diesel to propane has provided opportunities to navigate fleet management for vehicles that have limited re-fueling points, priming BPS's ability to work with electric school buses that may have range limitations that affect route assignments. Electrification will eliminate tailpipe emissions, address air quality and noise concerns around school pick-up and drop-off, offer a healthier work environment for bus drivers and monitors, and potentially offer cost savings over the entire bus life cycle. As the City expands its electric vehicle fleet, the administration is also working with BPS to train the next generation of green economy workers through a new “train the trainer” electric vehicle maintenance program at Madison Park Technical Vocational High School. Beginning this May, the Public Works Department’s Central Fleet Maintenance (CFM) Division will begin the first-ever “train the trainer” class for fleet mechanics from Public Works, Boston Police and Boston Public Schools on how to safely service and repair EVs, adding new EV educational capacity to Madison Park’s Automotive Technology program. Graduates of the program will be certified to teach the proper and safest way to repair and maintain EVs to students. The program will be offered to City fleet mechanics, seniors in the automotive program at Madison Park, Benjamin Franklin Institute of Technology students, and adult learners through the Career Technical Institute program at Madison Park. “I am excited to see this policy come to life and am grateful for the partnership with the City to take these critical steps to upgrading our school bus fleet,” said Boston Public Schools Superintendent. Dr. Brenda Cassellius. “I am even more excited that our students at Madison Park are so integral to this new initiative and will have the opportunity to learn skills and make connections that will support them as they pursue careers. Thank you Mayor Wu and the entire team at Benjamin Franklin Institute of Technology for this wonderful opportunity to electrify our school buses and create pathways for our students.” “The Public Works Department has always placed a strong emphasis on continuing education and training for our fleet mechanics and interns enrolled in the Madison Park Automotive program,” stated Director of Fleet Maintenance, Bill Coughlin. “We know that electric vehicles are here to stay, and by training future generations how to repair and service EV’s, we’re equipping them with a skill-set to acquire good paying jobs in the automotive marketplace.” Beginning in the fall, electric vehicle maintenance will be added as part of the core curriculum for students participating in the Madison Park Automotive Technology program. Madison Park and the Public Works Department have had a longstanding partnership that goes back almost a decade, with CFM providing co-op opportunities for students and professional development opportunities to staff and serving on the Automotive Technology program advisory board. Many alumni of the Madison Park Automotive program have gone on to careers as mechanics with the Public Works Department. The City has been making progress on its commitment to installing EV charging stations throughout Boston’s neighborhoods for both municipal use and for residents. The City currently has 66 active EV charging plugs. In December 2021, Mayor Wu announced that more than 15 additional charging plugs are planned for installation in 2022 and early 2023.  This builds on the City’s efforts to reduce vehicle emissions as outlined in the Fleet Utilization Policy and through Recharge Boston. In February, Mayor Wu appointed the Executive Director to lead Boston’s Youth Green Jobs program.

麻州總檢察長與多名市長同慶獲5億餘元處理鴉片上癮問題

AG HEALEY, STATE AND LOCAL LEADERS CELEBRATE $525 MILLION IN FUNDING TO ABATE OPIOID CRISIS IN MASSACHUSETTS

AG Joins Mayors, Health Care Leaders, and Families to Announce Incoming Resources for Prevention, Harm Reduction, Treatment, and Recovery Services; Funding a Result of AG’s Nationwide Settlement with Opioid Distributors and Johnson & Johnson 

AG Maura Healey and mayors celebrate $525M funding received to address opioid crisis.
(Photo by Chutze Chou)

            BOSTON – Following her office’s announcement of a $26 billion resolution with the nation’s largest drug distributors, Cardinal, McKesson, and AmerisourceBergen, and Johnson & Johnson, which manufactured and marketed opioids, Attorney General Maura Healey today joined with mayors, municipal and health care leaders from across the state, and families harmed by the opioid epidemic to celebrate $525 million in funds that have been secured for prevention, harm reduction, treatment, and recovery programs throughout Massachusetts.

AG Maura Healey announces $525M funding received to abate opioid crisis.
(Photo by Chutze Chou)

            As part of the resolution, first announced in July 2021

Boston Mayor Michelle Wu talks about Mass & Cass. (Photoh by Chutze Chou)

, municipalities across the country were eligible to sign-on to receive settlement funds to abate the crisis in their communities. Today, AG Healey announced that, because of widespread support from cities and towns, Massachusetts will receive the maximum amount under the settlements. In addition, as the result of an agreement secured by the AG’s Office, all of funds will go toward abatement resources for communities and families to address the devastating impact of the opioid crisis throughout the state.

Boston Mayor Michelle Wu reached out to Quincy Mayor Tom Koch. (Photo by Chutze Chou)

“Massachusetts led the nation in taking on the opioid industry, and we will lead the nation in delivering prevention, harm reduction, treatment, and recovery,” said AG Healey. “Cities and towns across our state worked together to secure more than half a billion dollars, and we are committed to using every dollar to provide the services that families need.”

Under the terms of the settlements, more than $525 million will be coming into Massachusetts over the next 18 years starting this spring. Of that, more than $210 million will be distributed directly to Massachusetts municipalities, and more than $310 million will go into the statewide Opioid Recovery and Remediation Fund to ensure that funds are spent on harm reduction, treatment, and prevention.

These settlements are the result of an investigation that found that three major opioid distributors shipped thousands of suspicious orders without regard for their legitimacy, and that Johnson & Johnson misled patients and doctors about their addictive nature.

The first two annual payments due under the settlements are expected to flow into the state this spring and summer. From 2023 through 2038, the payments are expected annually, in July.

For more information on the statewide opioid settlements, visit the AG’s FAQ here. This matter was handled by Senior Enforcement Counsel Gillian Feiner, Assistant Attorney General Sandy Alexander, Assistant Attorney General Matthew Lashof-Sullivan, Paralegal Philipp Nowak and Assistant Attorney General Mary Freeley, Deputy Chief of the AG’s Health Care and Fair Competition Bureau.

#######

Statements of support

State Senator John F. Keenan:

“I want to thank the Attorney General for her commitment to holding accountable those responsible for pushing strong, addictive painkillers into our communities. No amount of money will ever bring back the lives we have lost or fully ease the suffering so many have endured, but today we recognize an opportunity to heal and to help those across our Commonwealth still struggling with addiction. We are now in a position to better aid them along their paths to recovery, and to help prevent our family members, friends, and neighbors from having to deal with substance use disorder.”

Amesbury Mayor Kassandra Gove:

“Amesbury is no stranger to the opioid crisis, with nearly a dozen deaths in the last year due to opioid drugs. It has impacted our families and our neighborhoods, from how people care for their physical and mental health to how our teachers support and provide for our students in classrooms. I’m grateful for the work of Attorney General Healey and her team to reach this settlement deal and ensure that funding makes its way into our communities. It will allow us to directly support and positively impact residents who need it and create proactive programming to ease the opioid crisis.”

Boston Mayor Michelle Wu:

“Our administration will be working closely with public health experts and the recovery community to ensure every dollar of this funding delivers impact. As we continue to make progress on the intertwined issues of homelessness, mental health, and the opiate crisis, these resources will help broaden our reach.”

Fitchburg Mayor Stephen L. DiNatale:

“The City of Fitchburg has felt the impact of the nationwide opioid crisis, as many communities have throughout the country. We thank the Massachusetts Attorney General’s Office for their efforts in helping to boost our goal aimed at reversing this crisis.”

Gardner Mayor Michael Nicholson:

“The opioid epidemic has ravaged our Commonwealth and has impacted so many in our communities from all demographics, regions, and age groups. I want to thank Attorney General Healey and her team for holding those who got us to this point accountable and for their continued efforts to assist those struggling with the disease of addiction.”

Medford Mayor Breanna Lungo-Koehn:

“The opioid crisis has caused immense financial and emotional pain for countless families throughout the Commonwealth. The funds that Attorney General Healey was able to secure will have a tremendous impact on all those affected by the opioid epidemic and provide critical resources and tools to help aid in their recovery.”

Melrose Mayor Paul Brodeur:
“I’m beyond grateful to Attorney General Healey for her steadfast leadership in combatting the opioid epidemic. From the very beginning of the investigation, it has been an honor to work with her office and my fellow Mayors in our effort to further substance abuse prevention in the state of Massachusetts. I look forward to the future progress we will be able to make with this funding.”

Salem Mayor Kim Driscoll:

“Working in collaboration with our colleagues in other cities and towns, as well partners at the state level like Attorney General Healey, we will hold these corporations accountable for the harm they have caused to our families and our community. Salem will leverage this settlement to expand and strengthen our existing public health efforts targeting the opioid epidemic. These resources will enable us to invest more in overdose prevention and treatment, public education, and other initiatives aimed at reducing addiction to opioids and caring for those who are suffering from this crisis. We will continue working to hold accountable those companies responsible for profiting off of and furthering the opioids crisis in the community.”

Cheryl Juaire, Founder of Team Sharing:

“Team Sharing, which is a nation-wide non-profit organization that provides support for families who have lost loved ones to opioid abuse, is very pleased that opioid defendants like the distributors and Johnson & Johnson are starting to pay for their inappropriate behavior. While no amount of money will ever be enough to clean up what has happened, and there is no dollar figure that will make up for the loss of a loved one, we appreciate the diligent and tireless efforts of Attorney General Maura Healey and her office to hold wrongdoers accountable by providing substantial funds to compensate personal injury victims and abate the opioid crisis. It is our sincere hope that a significant amount of the money received by our state will be distributed to on-the-ground services, such as harm reduction centers and recovery support organizations. We stand today with Attorney General Healey in our continuing efforts to do whatever we can against the worst man-made epidemic of our lifetime.”

Maryanne Frangules, Executive Director of MOAR:

“We know that no amount of money can take away the pain of suffering the unnecessary loss of a loved one to this tragedy. ‘Medicine’ is supposed to help, not be the cause of death. We wholeheartedly honor Attorney General Maura Healey and her team for persistence of justice for all who have suffered.”

Dr. Charles Anderson, President and CEO of the Dimock Center

“At the Dimock Center we operate a full continuum of care from detox to residential recovery and outpatient assisted treatment for those battling Opioid Use Disorder. The funding of recovery services from this settlement is a critical part of the scaffolding required to restore hope for the many families whose lives have been destroyed by this epidemic.”

麻州政府撥款65萬元資助法蘭克林科技學院遷址洛士百利

Baker-Polito Administration Awards $650,000 for Benjamin Franklin Cummings Institute of Technology’s New Campus in Nubian Square Brownfields Redevelopment Fund Award from MassDevelopment Helps School Assess, Remediate & Demolish Vacant Warehouse, Clearing Way for New 68,000-Square-Foot Campus MA Governor Chalie Baker (Photo by Chutze Chou) ROXBURY – Tuesday, April 5, 2022 – Today, the Baker-Polito Administration announced $650,000 from the Brownfields Redevelopment Fund to the Benjamin Franklin Cummings Institute of Technology (BFIT) to prepare a 1.26-acre site at 1003-1013 Harrison Ave. in Nubian Square in Boston’s Roxbury neighborhood that will serve as the school’s new campus. BFIT, a technical college currently located in Boston’s South End neighborhood, will use proceeds to assess and remediate environmental contamination at the site and demolish a vacant warehouse building, actions that will clear the way for the school to build its new three-story, 68,000-square-foot academic headquarters in the neighborhood. The new campus will feature 23 technical education labs for hands-on learning ­­– including a rooftop learning lab for solar panels and HVAC instruction ­­– eight general classrooms, meeting and study rooms, a central student lounge, a student success center, as well as administration space. With a flexible and sustainable design, the new campus will enable Benjamin Franklin Cummings Institute of Technology to increase its in-person learning capacity from 600 students to 800 students with many able to be served through distance learning. This expanded capacity comes at a time of increased demand for students who are prepared for high-quality tech and trade careers.   Governor Charlie Baker, Housing and Economic Development Secretary Mike Kennealy, and MassDevelopment President and CEO Dan Rivera joined Benjamin Franklin Cummings Institute of Technology President and CEO Dr. Aisha Francis in Nubian Square today to announce the award.   "Today’s announcement highlights the importance of the Commonwealth’s Brownfields Redevelopment Fund, a program that is designed to help reinvigorate blighted sites with new life and purpose,” said Governor Charlie Baker. “Benjamin Franklin Cummings Institute of Technology’s new campus in Nubian Square will revitalize a vacant property into a hub of education, innovation and opportunity that we are proud to support.”   “This new campus will provide Roxbury residents with direct access to the technical college and all of the job training and economic development it will bring,” said Lieutenant Governor Karyn Polito. “We are pleased that the Brownfields Redevelopment Fund award will support important predevelopment work on an environmentally challenging parcel that, once complete, will pave the way for a dynamic and modern campus.”   1003-1013 Harrison Ave. currently houses a 32,516-square-foot warehouse formerly operated by the Harrison Supply Company that has sat vacant for more than a decade. Prior environmental assessments of the site showed soil contaminants such as polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and lead, as well as contaminants in the building including asbestos and lead. BFIT expects to bring new life to the site by assessing, remediating, and demolishing the warehouse. Further plans include beginning construction of the new campus by fall 2022 in anticipation of moving into the new campus in 2024.   “The mission of the Commonwealth’s Brownfields Redevelopment Fund is to breathe life into properties complicated by environmental contamination,” said Housing and Economic Development Secretary Mike Kennealy, who serves as chair of MassDevelopment’s Board of Directors. “Investing in Benjamin Franklin Cummings Institute of Technology’s move to Nubian Square in Roxbury helps meet that mission and more by converting a vacant warehouse into a new state-of-the-art campus and creating space where young people of all backgrounds can be empowered with the educational opportunities necessary to pursue meaningful and successful career paths.”   “The demolition of this blighted property and the building of the Benjamin Franklin Cummings Institute of Technology campus marks an important step in the rebirth of Dudley Square into Nubian Square, adding energy and foot traffic in a dynamic corner of Roxbury,” said MassDevelopment President and CEO Dan Rivera. “MassDevelopment is thrilled to help the school make this transformative investment into a first-rate campus for its students and for Boston.”   MassDevelopment oversees the Brownfields Redevelopment Fund, which helps to transform vacant, abandoned, or underused industrial or commercial properties by financing the environmental assessment and remediation of brownfield sites in “Economically Distressed Areas” of the Commonwealth. From the Fund’s inception in 1998 through FY21, it has supported 765 awards for a total investment of more than $112 million. Additionally, in October 2021 the Baker-Polito Administration announced $1.2 million in FY22 Brownfields funding for eight projects across Massachusetts.    "Benjamin Franklin Institute of Technology is a terrific partner to the City of Boston, supporting a strong job training pipeline for our residents through programs like the Mayor's Tuition Free Community College Program and more," said Midori Morikawa, the City of Boston’s Deputy Chief of Economic Opportunity and Inclusion. "BFIT's new Nubian Square campus will provide expanded opportunities for Boston's low-income residents to gain skills necessary for good jobs in today's economy. We are thankful to MassDevelopment for the funding to help make this project a reality." “It is fantastic to have funding partners like MassDevelopment recognize the economic development opportunity inherent in moving Benjamin Franklin Cummings Institute of Technology to the Harrison Avenue site,” said Dr. Aisha Francis, President and CEO of BFIT. “With their partnership, and through the Brownfields Redevelopment Fund, we are beginning the public-facing process of creating a 21st century, state-of-the-art campus to serve our students and offer more robust education options to the surrounding community.”   Founded in 1908, Benjamin Franklin Cummings Institute of Technology is an affordable, urban, private, nonprofit college serving the Boston region and committed to student success and career readiness in technology fields. Through personalized support, hands-on learning, and industry-informed curricula, BFIT prepares graduates for work, life-long learning, and citizenship. BFIT has a 10-to-one student-to-faculty ratio. Seventy-four percent (74%) of students identify as students of color and 57% are first-generation college students.  In December 2021, Benjamin Franklin Cummings Institute of Technology announced a partnership with another MassDevelopment client, Ginkgo Bioworks, to develop an associate degree in biotechnology manufacturing to be housed at the Nubian Square Life Science Training Center, which will neighbor BFIT’s new campus. MassDevelopment provided a $1 million loan from its Emerging Technology Fund in 2015 to help Ginkgo Bioworks finance an expansion and equipment for a foundry at its headquarters in Boston’s Seaport.   MassDevelopment, the state’s development finance agency and land bank, works with businesses, nonprofits, banks, and communities to stimulate economic growth across the Commonwealth. During FY2021, MassDevelopment financed or managed 416 projects generating investment of more than $1.86 billion in the Massachusetts economy. These projects are estimated to create or support 6,578 jobs and build or preserve 1,909 housing units

麻州政府撥款60萬資助高中創新路徑

 Baker-Polito Administration Awards $600,000 in Grants to High Schools to Support Innovation Pathways

These early career programs help students connect learning
to in-demand industry sectors 

BOSTON – The Baker-Polito Administration awarded more than $600,000 to 22 school districts to help support Innovation Pathway programs, which provide high school students with opportunities to learn and gain experience in a particular industry through career exploration, technical courses and internships. 

Students are also able to enroll in post-secondary courses, at no cost to them, to help them make progress toward industry-recognized credentials. Most Innovation Pathways are in STEM-related fields, including advanced manufacturing, information technology, environmental and life sciences, health care and social assistance, and business and finance.

“These programs provide students with hands-on skills learning and access to opportunities for future success in high-demand fields,” said Governor Charlie Baker. “The expansion of Innovation Pathways will allow more students to gain knowledge and work experiences that prepare them for successful careers before they graduate high school.” 

“We remain committed to closing opportunity and workforce gaps for students in communities across the Commonwealth, and Innovation Pathways are another tool we can use to do so,” said Lt. Governor Karyn Polito. “These early career programs and rigorous learning opportunities offer chances for achievement both inside and outside the classroom.” 

The Baker-Polito Administration launched these early career programs in 2017 to help students develop knowledge and skills related to a chosen field of study before they graduate high school. To date, 49 high schools across the Commonwealth have designated Innovation Pathways, totaling 121 different programs. Innovation Pathways differ from its sister program – Early College – in that students focus on a specific industry sector, with greater emphasis on career exploration, technical courses, work-based learning experiences and industry-recognized credentials, rather than college credit courses and college planning.

The 22 schools awarded grants today received designation from 2018 through 2020 and will use funding from the state to support work-based learning, industry recognized credential attainment, and dual-enrollment opportunities with partnering colleges and universities. 

“When students have a sense of purpose, they become more interested and engaged in their studies, able to easily see how it all fits into their future,” said Secretary of Education James Peyser. “As more students gain skills and knowledge in a particular industry sector, they will have a better sense of what they want to do after they graduate and what additional post-secondary courses and training they will need to ensure their success.” 

“Through participation in Innovation Pathways, students are empowered to explore firsthand and take steps toward possible future careers in promising sectors,” said Elementary and Secondary Education Commissioner Jeffrey C. Riley.

The following school districts received awards: 

• Atlantis Charter School - $41,250 
• Barnstable Public Schools - $26,576
• Berkshire Hills Regional School District - $41,250 
• Boston Public Schools, Dearborn STEM Academy - $52,250 
• Burlington Public Schools - $26,575
• Dudley Charlton Regional School District - $30,000
• Everett Public Schools - $30,000 
• Gardner Public Schools - $30,000
• Hadley Public Schools - $3,000 
• Haverhill Public Schools - $15,000
• Lawrence Public Schools - $15,000 
• Mashpee Public Schools - $15,000 
• Nantucket Public Schools - $30,000
• Northampton Public Schools - $26,575 
• Norwood Public Schools - $26,575 
• Somerset Berkley Regional School District - $30,000
• Tewksbury Public Schools - $15,000
• Uxbridge Public Schools - $15,000
• West Springfield Public Schools - $30,000
• Westfield Public Schools - $15,000
• Woburn Public Schools - $41,250 
• Worcester Public Schools - $29,449 

Schools that apply for designation for an Innovation Pathways are required to follow five design principles:

• Equitable access for all students
• Guided academic pathway, which, in the case of Innovation Pathways, must relate to one of five specified broad industry sectors
• Enhanced student supports
• Relevant connections to career
• Deep partnerships between high schools and employers or workforce development boards

麻州政府撥款400萬給80個組織 促進旅遊業復甦

Baker-Polito Administration Announces $4 Million in Travel & Tourism Recovery Grants to 80 Organizations

New travel and tourism extension grant program to promote the off-season in Massachusetts now open for applications

BOSTON – Tuesday, April 5, 2022 – Today, the Baker-Polito Administration, along with the Executive Office of Housing and Economic Development and the Massachusetts Office of Travel & Tourism (MOTT), announced $4 million in awards to 80 tourism organizations, chambers of commerce, and municipalities as part of the Travel and Tourism Recovery (TTR) Grant Program.    Funds from the TTR Grant Pilot Program are dedicated to marketing projects that support the My Local MA campaign, enhance tourism recovery, and have the potential to increase non-resident visitation.  The program’s goal is to strengthen the Massachusetts economy through the development and enhancement of the state’s tourism industry.     Examples of projects aligned with the program’s goals include Yarmouth Chamber of Commerce for creating new website landing pages for 14 Cape Cod chambers; Greater Northampton Chamber of Commerce, for an integrated marketing campaign to promote summer festivals and local attractions; and The House of Seven Gables Settlement Association, by promoting culturally oriented visitor experiences in Salem. "The tourism and hospitality industries are key contributors to the Commonwealth's vibrancy and economic well-being," said Governor Charlie Baker.  "With the impact of the pandemic these industries have felt over the past two years, we are pleased to continue our support for their recovery through this important grant program."    “Our Administration is committed to providing the resources necessary to continue supporting the momentum the tourism and hospitality industries have built toward their recovery,” said Lt. Governor Karyn Polito.  “Through these grants and thanks to the partnerships with our tourism councils, municipal leaders, and regional and local chambers of commerce, together we can continue to make progress as we approach the peak season for travel and the economic impacts that follow.”   In addition, the Administration also announced a new offering, the Travel and Tourism Season Extension (TTSE) Grant Program, a $6 million program funded through the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Economic Development Agency, that focuses on promoting the visitor off-season, November through April, in Massachusetts.   “We want to ensure the Commonwealth’s economic recovery is both equitable and statewide, and this grant program is key to making progress toward both those goals,” said Housing and Economic Development Secretary Mike Kennealy.  “By design, this program allows us to make targeted investments in travel and tourism, while empowering the grant recipients to leverage their own expertise to develop plans to attract visitors and the economic activity that follows.”    “By enabling regional tourism groups, destination marketing organizations and municipalities to market their specific strengths and visitor assets, the TTR grant program enhances the overall brand of Massachusetts,” said MOTT Executive Director Keiko Matsudo Orrall. “This approach also shines a spotlight on family-owned businesses, Main Street retailers and seasonal enterprises that rely on tourism dollars.”   Funded through the Tourism Trust Fund, the TTR Grant Program was open to any public, nonprofit agency, 501(c)3, or 501(c)6 that has been in operation in Massachusetts for at least two consecutive years since January 2019, and is in good standing with taxes and licenses/registrations in the Commonwealth.   The TTR and TTSE programs are in alignment with the Baker-Polito Administration’s Partnerships for Recovery Plan to help stabilize and grow the Massachusetts economy. The plan focuses on getting people back to work, supporting small businesses, fostering innovation, revitalizing downtowns, and ensuring housing stability. Through Partnerships for Recovery, the Administration has awarded more than $705 million to small businesses, and has opened new grant programs to revitalize downtowns, create winter community spaces, support cultural institutions and foundations, and fund regional economic development organizations.