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星期二, 8月 30, 2022

波士頓市長吳弭呼籲美國交通部長插手 協助恢復麻州地鐵服務

(Boston Orange編譯) 波士頓市長吳弭 (Michelle Wu) 829日和波士頓市街道長Jascha Franklin-Hodge,移居街道聯盟 (LivableStreets Alliance) 、更好城市 (A Better City) ,以及交通有關係 (Transit Matters)等機構聯合發表聲明,呼籲聯邦、州、市政府合作,恢復麻州地鐵 (MBTA)服務。

麻州地鐵在824日發出通告,聲稱從828日起,紅藍橘線地鐵的夏季刪減服務模式,將展延進秋季。綠線地鐵服務也將縮減,巴士服務也將縮減。

這意味著正當學校開學之際,地鐵乘客將面對地鐵、巴士班次更少狀況。

在聯邦交通管理局 (FTA)發現麻州地鐵的操作控制中心人員嚴重不足後,麻州地鐵從620日起,把夏季的平日 (週一至週五) 服務量減少20%以來,麻州地鐵的紅藍橘線地鐵班次,已經更少了。

預定從919日起恢復營運的麻州地鐵橘線,今秋將增加週六的服務,但減少週日的服務。

麻州地鐵的巴士服務在12月時,因為駕駛人員不足,減少了大約3%824日這天,麻州地鐵宣佈,入秋後,將刪減更多服務,有43條巴士路線將更少發車,9條巴士路線有變動,30條巴士路線的發車時間有變動。有2條巴士路線會增加服務。

麻州地鐵人員表示,根據疫情期間的搭乘量,該機構暫停了一些乘客量少的路線,把服務調至更仰賴巴士的社區。該機構今秋將持續監看使用狀況,適時調整。

麻州地鐵網站表示,紅線地鐵將在平日 (週一至週五) 期間,停駛Davis站,從1030日起,週末停駛公園街站 (Park Street),已配合Alewife車站的軌道工作。

麻州地鐵在上個月時說,該機構現有17明調派員,想要再增聘15名。新增的調派員必須先接受10週培訓,才能上任,而麻州地鐵在同一時段只能培訓6明調派員。麻州地鐵在招聘調派員上,一直面對困難,最近甚至推出了簽約就有獎金1萬元的鼓勵策略。

波士頓市長吳弭的聲明稱麻州地鐵在824日宣佈,麻州地鐵系統及巴士網路將維持並進一步縮減服務,將危害本地區的未來交通。這些服務刪減將和前所未有的橘線及綠線停駛同時發生,勢將逼使本地區乘客面對更大挑戰,也讓人更加擔憂平等、移動力、環境及經濟等議題。這些情況也放大了長年來對基礎建設的投資不足,這些服務刪減更彰顯了麻州地鐵的無力解決嚴重的員工問題。

該聲明稱,為了重建民眾對交通系統的信心,他們呼籲美國交通部部長Buttigieg,以及代表麻州的國會議員們和麻州地鐵、以及聯邦交通管理局合作,為波士頓及這個地區恢復安全,可靠的服務。

該聲明稱,我們必須:

找到加速解決鐵路調派員短缺問題的辦法,以儘快恢復尖峰時段的服務。

立刻解決巴士操作員嚴重短缺問題。

支持改善麻州地鐵和乘客的溝通。

定期向公眾提交進展報告。

在波士頓都匯區人們的生活品質、移動能力受到直接影響之外,麻州地鐵的無法提供完整服務,也將使全美最糟糕的擠塞地點大為增加,未來出行模式也將使得減碳目標更難達成。在安全是麻州地鐵首要考量之際,麻州地鐵必須支持每一層級政府,僅及執行解決安全問題的計畫,為人民提供安全可靠,平等的交通選擇,以支持地方上的通勤和流動性。

我們隨時準備和麻州地鐵合作,加速恢復社區應享有的安全可靠服務。    

       MBTA Fall Service Cuts are Yet Another Hit to Mobility in Greater Boston and the Region 

Today Mayor Michelle Wu, Chief of Streets Jascha Franklin-Hodge, LivableStreets Alliance, A Better City, and Transit Matters issued the following joint statement: 

 MBTA Fall Service Cuts are Yet Another Hit to Mobility in Greater Boston and the Region 

Coordinated action needed by Federal, State, and local agencies to restore service

 

Wednesday’s announcement by the MBTA that it would sustain and deepen service cuts on the rapid transit system and bus network puts the region’s transportation future in jeopardy. Federal, state, and local officials must work together to restore critical services as quickly as possible. These service cuts will overlap with the unprecedented Orange and Green Line shutdowns, compounding significant challenges for riders and the region, and raising serious equity, mobility, environmental, and economic concerns. Magnifying the impact of chronic underinvestment in infrastructure, these cuts underscore the MBTA’s continued inability to address critical systemic staffing issues. 

Transit is essential to Boston and the consequences of diminished service are felt every day by riders. These cuts will ripple across our region this fall as students return to school, more workers return to the office, and the Orange Line resumes service with the expectation of major improvements. To rebuild trust in transit, we call on Secretary Buttigieg and members of the Massachusetts Congressional delegation to work with the MBTA and the FTA to restore safe, reliable service to Boston and the region. We must:

 

·       Find accelerated solutions to the rail dispatcher shortage that has resulted in substantial reduction in rail service since June. As additional dispatchers enter service, the MBTA, with support from the FTA, must prioritize restoration of peak period service levels as quickly as possible. 

·       Immediately address the critical shortage of bus operators which has led to dwindling service for the most loyal and transit-dependent riders. The Department of Transportation and Department of Labor must work with the MBTA, state officials, and labor unions to understand and remove the barriers to attracting this essential workforce, financial or contractual.

·       Support improved MBTA communication with riders in advance of any significant future service disruptions that may be necessary to address safety deficiencies identified by the FTA. 

·       Provide regular progress reports to the public on staffing levels and targets, headways, and ridership impacts in order to maintain transparency and rebuild trust. 

In addition to the direct impact on mobility and quality of life for the people of Metro Boston, the MBTA’s inability to provide full service will increase some of the nation’s worst congestion, further lock in unsustainable travel patterns, and make our decarbonization goals more difficult to reach. While safety must be the MBTA’s number one priority, the MBTA needs the support of every level of government to urgently implement a plan to address safety and provide robust, reliable, and equitable transit options to support commuting and mobility within the region. We stand ready and eager to partner on these needs and accelerate the return of safe, reliable service that our communities deserve.

星期一, 8月 29, 2022

AG HEALEY CO-LEADS BIPARTISAN EFFORT IN SUPPORT OF CHANGES TO 90/10 RULE, CALLS FOR STRONGER BORROWER PROTECTIONS

 AG HEALEY CO-LEADS BIPARTISAN EFFORT IN SUPPORT OF CHANGES TO 90/10 RULE, CALLS FOR STRONGER BORROWER PROTECTIONS

  Letter to U.S. Department of Education Stresses Importance of Preventing Abuse and Exploitation by Predatory For-Profit Schools  

BOSTON – Following a monthslong negotiated rulemaking process by the U.S. Department of Education aimed at reaching new regulatory proposals, Attorney General Maura Healey is co-leading a bipartisan group of states in providing comments commending the Department’s proposed improvements to the 90/10 Rule, which prohibits for-profit schools from receiving more than 90 percent of their revenue from federal student aid. The comments also call on the Department to adopt stronger regulations to protect borrowers from the perils of improper conversions by for-profit schools to nonprofit status.  

 

The letter applauds the Department for proposing regulations that would protect borrowers from dangerous loopholes that have plagued the 90/10 Rule, eliminating financial incentives for schools to aggressively target members of the military. The proposed 90/10 regulations were approved by consensus during the negotiated rulemaking in which representatives from the Massachusetts Attorney General’s Office and Minnesota Attorney General’s Office served on behalf of all state attorneys general.  

 

“We are proud to have worked with the Department to reach a consensus on these important regulatory changes that help clarify the 90/10 Rule process, prevent borrower abuse, and protect our veterans and servicemembers from predatory practices,” said AG Healey. “We look forward to continuing our mutual work to support students and taxpayers.”  

 

The 90/10 Rule was originally directed by Congress in 1992 as a response to findings of fraud, waste, and abuse in the for-profit higher education sector, including issues like tuition increases tied to maximum financial aid, disbursements of financial aid without concern for whether students could repay their debt, and other problems with program integrity. According to the letter, Congress created the 90/10 Rule as a “bright-line quality-control measure” for schools. 

 

Bad actors, however, soon found ways to exploit gaps in the 90/10 framework, specifically the exclusion of benefits disbursed from Veterans Affairs (VA) from the calculation of federal aid revenues. Because the Post 9/11 GI Bill made billions of dollars in new educational revenue available for veterans and their families, a market of potential paying students emerged for schools looking to exploit and maximize financial aid. While these new benefits administered by the VA were funded by taxpayers, none of these dollars counted towards schools’ 90 percent cap on federal funding. According to the letter, the “90/10 loophole” not only undermined the purpose of the Rule, but it created perverse incentives for abusive and low-quality programs to target recruitment at servicemembers and veterans. 

 

The Department’s proposed updates to the 90/10 Rule effectuate Congress’s recent action to close the loophole related to financial aid administered by the VA and improve the Rule’s application.  

 

In addition to supporting the Department’s proposed 90/10 regulations, the comments also address the Department’s proposed regulations regarding changes in institutional ownership. While the coalition applauds the Department for addressing the risks associated with for-profit to nonprofit conversions, it urges the adoption of additional measures to ensure that the Department is not “inadvertently creating loopholes that are subject to abuse by institutions with problematic financial incentives.” A report published in 2020 found that 75 percent of institutions converting from for-profit to nonprofit status between January 2011 and August 2020 were sold to entities that have never before operated education institutions. One third of these transactions involved some level of “insider involvement,” raising the risk of continued financial entanglements with previous owners.  

 

The letter also includes recommendations to strengthen protections against improper revenue-sharing between converted nonprofit institutions and former owners or affiliated entities, and to reconsider regulations that would reduce the threshold for what automatically constitutes a change of ownership requiring Departmental review. 

 

Today’s bipartisan letter, led by AG Healey and Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison, is also joined by the attorneys general of Alabama, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Maryland, Michigan, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Washington, and Wisconsin.  

波士頓市議員Arroyo年輕時涉嫌性騷擾 市議長Ed Flynn撤支持拔其副議長職位

波士頓市議會議長Ed Flynn 剝除Ricardo Arroyo的市議會副議長職位。 (檔案照片,周菊子攝)

                   (Boston Orange 周菊子綜合編譯報導)波士頓市議員Ricardo Arroyo,上週爆出年輕時曾因2宗性騷擾案被調查,但未被控罪的消息後,波士頓市議會議長Ed Flynn已公開撤銷他給Arroyo的背書支持,今 (29)日,Ed Flynn再進一步表態,剝除Arroyo的市議會副議長職位,以及2個委員會主席職務。

                   Ricardo Arroyo刻正參選薩福克郡地方檢察官職位,和麻州州長查理貝克 (Charlie Baker)指派出任該職位,今年參選以期續任的Kevin Hayden競爭。

                  Ricardo Arroyo宣佈參選後,迅速獲得包括波士頓市市長吳弭 (Michelle Wu),波士頓華人協選會,代表麻州的聯邦參議員Elizabeth Warren,最近率團訪問台灣的聯邦參議員Ed Markey,已宣佈退選麻州州長的麻州參議員陳翟蘇妮 (Sonia Chang Diaz),麻州眾議員Jon Santiago,曾代理波士頓市市長一職的Kim Janey,以及多名波士頓市議員等的支持。

Ricardo Arroyo (檔案照片,周菊子攝)
                  年輕時曾涉及性騷擾的消息曝光後,前述眾人很沉默,波士頓市長吳弭回應外界詢問時表示,將等此事的完整情況揭露後,再評估作法。

                   聯邦參議員Elizabeth Warren,波士頓市長吳弭,前波士頓市代理市長Kim Janey 27日到波士頓公共圖書館總館前,為刻正競選麻州總檢察長 (AG) 職位的Shannon Liss-Riordan站台、拉票時,面對記者們關於Arroyo事件的詢問,霎時全體靜默無聲,最後是波士頓市長吳弭忍不住,抓起話筒說,這天的活動重心是支持Shannon Liss-Riordan,請回歸活動主題。

                 這天也應邀出席支持Shannon Liss-Riordan的波士頓市議員Kendra Lara,倒是不怕發聲,27日沒機會說話,但28日就以行動表現繼續支持Arroyo,還在推特上貼出她參加了Arroyo的競選活動。

                   已宣佈撤除支持Arroyo的有波士頓市議會議長Ed Flynn,前任聯邦眾議員Joe Kennedy III,以及鐵工本地7工會。

                  827日,波士頓市議員Frank Baker,以保護市議會的整體正直為由,藉17F法令,大膽要求波士頓市長吳弭在保護受害者隱私權的情況下,交出有關Arroyo案件的波士頓警察局所有調查記錄。

              波士頓市議會議長Ed Flynn今天 (29)發信給波士頓市書記辦公室,要剝除Ricardo Arroyo的市議會副議長職位60天,同時拔除他的政府運作委員會,區域重劃委員會的主席職務。Arroyo被拔除的職務中,還包括審核給市府高層員工加薪的委員會。

                 Arroyo 也立即發表聲明,稱Ed Flynn無故剝奪他的副議長及委員會主席職務,是不民主的行為。

             波市頓環球報揭露的Arroyo所涉性騷擾事件,發生在Arroyo年僅1819歲時。涉案者一人為他的高中同學,一人為當年僅16歲的未成年少女。Arroyo的高中同學在2005年向警察舉報,Arroyo曾在長達6個月期間,強迫她為Arroyo口交。另一名少女則是參加派對喝醉,醒後認為Arroyo可能強暴了她。這2宗案件雖然在波士頓警察局留下了報案紀錄,但Arroyo都未被控罪。

             Arroyo的父親,Felix D. Arroyo在政界人脈深厚,1984年創辦麻州首個拉丁裔政治組織,在John Kerry擔任美國國務卿時,曾任John Kerry的拉丁美洲事務主任。2003年他首度當選為波士頓市不分區市議員,並連任至2007年。2014年他成功當選為薩福克郡的遺囑認證官。

             Arroyo的哥哥,Felix G. Arroyo曾任波士頓市不分區市議員,和馬丁華殊 (Martin Walsh)競爭波士頓市長一職失利後,表態支持,並在馬丁華殊上任市長後,出任波士頓市人民健康長,2017年因涉及性騷擾案被革職。2020年時他遞案控告波士頓市政府,以及波士頓市長馬丁華殊違約,疏忽及毀謗。

             Ricardo Arroyo的案件中,雖然有2宗,而且都不是大案,但是Arroyo在申請律師牌照時,曾聲稱自己從未涉及任何案件,若他明知自己曾涉案,但隱忍未做說明,就違反了律師的職業道德要求,他的律師牌照可能因此受影響。

             Arroyo在回應案件時聲稱,在波士頓環球報刊文報導前,他從不知道自己涉案。但波士頓環球報在後續報導中稱,Arroyo當年曾聘請律師為他處理此案,在波士頓環球報訪問他的高中同學5小時之後,他聯繫上該名高中同學,要求談話,接著該名高中同學在臉書上告訴波士頓環球報記者,當年的事情沒發生過。

             在麻州選舉的初選日96日距今不到10天之際,Arroyo案件的實情到底如何,估計不可能水落石出,此案對選情會有多大衝擊,實難預料。 (更新版)

60 performing Arts organizations will convene on Greenway for Arts Expo

 

WITH HOPE FOR A ROBUST RETURN TO THE ARTS THIS FALL, GREATER BOSTON ARTS EXPO OFFERS THE CITY’S LARGEST-EVER LIVE SEASON PREVIEW SEPTEMBER 19

BOSTON – August 29, 2022 – Nearly 60 performing arts organizations from across the region will convene on the Rose Kennedy Greenway (Atlantic Avenue between Milk Street and High Street) next month for the Greater Boston Arts Expo (GBAX, BostonArtsExpo.com), an audience-focused celebration of the 2022-’23 performing arts season that comprises the city’s largest-ever live season preview. GBAX will feature a variety of free public performances, ticket and season discount offers, and a chance to meet artists and the people behind shows and events coming up this year. 


The Greater Boston Arts Expo takes place September 19 from 4-8 pm and is produced by arts service organizations ArtsBoston and StageSource, with support from the City of Boston, the Downtown Boston Business Improvement District, the Greater Boston Convention and Visitors Bureau, Lexus Broadway in Boston, and the Cultural Equity Incubator. The Boston Globe is lead media sponsor for the event.


The paths and sidewalks of the Greenway between Rings Fountain and Rowes Wharf Plaza will be lined with tents and tables staffed by regional artists and arts leaders. During the family-friendly event local celebrity emcees will welcome performances ranging from dance and rap to opera and Shakespeare, from drag to flamenco and classical music to musical theatre – all on a main stage provided by Boston Dance Alliance and The Wandering Stage. Pop-up performances, family activities including a “selfie station” with props from StageSource’s Props Co-Op, and arts-centered interactive games that encourage arts exploration will happen throughout the event. 

Although free, attendees are encouraged to register for the event for updates and to request special accessibility needs. GBAX will have ASL interpretation, audio description and accessibility assistance.

Trillium Brewing Company’s Garden on the Greenway will open for the evening. Food trucks (including Revelry, the winner of Boston magazine’s 2022 Best Food Truck) will offer meal options to GBAX attendees. Onsite discounts and dozens of hourly opportunities to win free tickets will be available.

Among the organizations that will be part of GBAX (in alphabetical order):

 

Actors’ Shakespeare Project

American Repertory Theater

Arts Connect International

ArtsBoston

ArtsEmerson

Back Bay Ringers

Ballroom in Boston

Beheard.world

Blue Man Group Boston

Boch Center for the Performing Arts

Boston Center for the Arts

Boston Dance Alliance

Boston Lyric Opera

Boston Philharmonic Orchestra

Boston Playwrights' Theatre

Broadway In Boston

Cappella Clausura Inc.

Celebrity Series of Boston

Central Square Theater

City Ballet of Boston

Commonwealth Shakespeare Company

Company One

Coro Allegro

Cultural Equity Incubator

Eastern Massachusetts Association of Community Theatres

Emerson Colonial Theatre

Emmanuel Music

Footlight Club

Fresh Ink Theatre Company

Global Arts Live

Greater Boston Stage Company

Guerilla Opera

Handel and Haydn Society

Hub Theatre Company of Boston

The Huntington

Jewish Arts Collaborative

Liars & Believers

Longy School of Music of Bard College

Lurenzone Theatrics

Lyric Stage Company of Boston

Moonbox Productions

Mosesian Center for the Arts

Museum of Fine Arts Boston

New Repertory Theatre

OnStage Dance Company

Puppet Showplace Theater

Reagle Music Theatre of Greater Boston

Regent Theatre

Revels, Inc.

Sarasa Chamber Music Ensemble

Sh*tfaced Shakespeare

Slate Casting

SpeakEasy Stage Company

StageSource Props Co-Op

Suffolk University Theatre Department

The Theater Offensive

Titanic Theatre Company

Wheelock Family Theatre


ArtsBoston Executive Director Catherine Peterson (she/her) says GBAX will connect Boston’s revitalized performing and visual arts sector with city residents, visitors and workers itching to get back to performances and events. “We know audience members are eager to come back to the arts; they started dipping their toes back in last season,” Peterson says. “With most arts groups back in full force this fall, and so much to see and do, we want to produce a celebratory event where arts lovers of all kinds can learn about the theater, dance, music, and visual arts coming up. At GBAX, people will be able to plan their arts calendars for the season.”


StageSource Interim Executive Director Jen Lewis (she/her) says she’s excited about the great stories and performances that will be on city stages this year. “GBAX is a rare opportunity for audiences to experience and directly interact with a wide variety of artists and organizations doing incredible creative work around the region,” Lewis says. “Performers on the GBAX stage and organizations bringing resources to the event are a cross-section of what’s happening culturally in Boston. Our emphasis is to help smaller and BIPOC-led organizations become better known among audiences this season. GBAX will be a truly inclusive and diverse event in every way – and a lot of fun!”


"Bringing audiences to the arts in Boston means supporting the shops and restaurants here, which means a real and reliable boost to the downtown economy," says Downtown Boston BID Interim Co-Director Anita Lauricella. "It's in the city's best interest that the arts thrive here and we're proud to support this effort to make that happen."


"The Greater Boston CVB is thrilled to sponsor this inaugural festival,” says Greater Boston Convention and Visitors Bureau President and CEO Martha Sheridan. “The arts and cultural tourism sector must fully recover for the visitor economy as a whole to thrive.  Cultural organizations were particularly hard hit by the pandemic and we are excited to participate in events such as the Greater Boston Arts Expo that aim to reengage and reinvigorate arts audiences."

麻州橘線地鐵維修已完工37% 麻州長查理貝克巡視

 

麻州地鐵城中區站到州街站的進展報告。 (周菊子攝)
麻州地鐵當局為前往巡視的麻州州長Charlie Baker做了一張簡報圖。 (周菊子攝)
麻州州長Charlie Baker巡市地鐵維修進度。 周菊子攝))
          (Boston Orange 周菊子波士頓綜合報導) 橘線地鐵全面停駛10天後,麻州州長查理貝克 (Charlie Baker) 率同麻州地鐵 (MBTA) 總經理Steve Poftak等人28日下午到州街站 (State Street) 巡視維修進展,稱一切順利,已完成37%

           麻州州長查理貝克表示,全面停駛容許麻州地鐵以將近一天24小時的速度,把原本預定五年才能做完的維修工程,在很短時間內完成,很感謝大家的體恤。相信竣工後,麻州地鐵將會有新車軌,新車廂,服務效率及品質一定更好。

           麻州地鐵 (MBTA) 總經理Steve Poftak強調,維修工程正在照進度實施,相信會如預期的順利在30天內完成。

          這次的維修工程中,在州街和城中區 (Downtown Crossing)站之間,約900英尺的軌道,得以更換。這也是地鐵必須減緩行駛速度的6個區域之一。

          在巡視中,查理貝克詢問了不少細節,顯得他對麻州地鐵頗有點認識。

          近年來,麻州地鐵發生一連串事故,包括綠線地鐵撞車,27人受傷,紅線地鐵把一名乘客拖行致死,橘線地鐵著火,聯邦交通管理局介入調查,導致了橘線地鐵的全面停駛,也讓州長查理貝克在他對地鐵的管理上遭受不少批評。

          波士頓環球報稱查理貝克這天巡視時,似乎想要讓地鐵乘客們感受2015年他親自出馬處理雪災,把事情辦得很妥當的氛圍。

麻州州長查理貝克親自巡視麻州地鐵車軌更換狀況。 (周菊子攝)
          查理貝克也強調,早從2015年,麻州政府就簽署合約,要更換地鐵的信號燈誌了,維修一直都在進行中。

          麻州地鐵在查理貝克州長巡視途中,放有一張圖表,說明麻州地鐵預定更換3500英尺的軌道,要更換14000英尺的鐵路,也已經完成37%,摩頓市和橡樹林(Oak Grove)那兒的信號燈誌更新,也已完成28%

          被稱為「古龍蛋 (Cologne Eggs)」的更換減少震動的鐵路軌道緊固器,則只完成了14%,更換特殊軌道則完成了65%

          10天以來,大部分的橘線地鐵乘客,似乎已經開始習慣搭巴士轉車了,在這期間,波士頓市府的藍自行車 (Bluebike)使用率也增加了40%,總體來說,乘客們無可奈何的適應良好,但也都期待著這工程早日結束。