波士頓歷史最悠久中餐館九龍餐廳共同創辦人黃陳美蘭辭世

黃陳美蘭。(九龍餐廳臉書截圖)

           (Boston Orange 綜合報導) 波士頓市規模最大，歷史最悠久中餐廳，九龍餐廳的聯合創辦人黃陳美蘭 (Madeline Wong)11月7日辭世，享年95歲。

                       黃家人9日對外公佈了這訊息。

                       黃陳美蘭和2011年辭世的丈夫黃偉炎當年攜手創辦九龍餐廳，成功的把1號公路上，原本是冰淇淋店的一家小小店面，經營成北岸的傳奇景點。波士頓環球報雜誌上個月才刊登了一篇文章，形容著九龍餐廳不但室內有噴泉，棕梠樹，還有1200個座位。

黃陳美蘭和6名子女在九龍餐廳。左一為麻州眾議員黃子安，右一起為麻州亞裔餐飲協會
會長黃子章，黃彩蓮，黃子興，黃彩鳳，黃子良。(九龍餐廳臉書截圖)

                     在九龍餐廳的臉書網頁上，黃陳美蘭是1號公路上標誌性餐廳的女族長。她廢寢忘食的工作，經營餐廳，還能夠找出時間，成為John Hancock壽險公司的最佳銷售經紀，同時養大了6個小孩。

                   黃陳美蘭現年67歲的兒子，麻州亞裔餐飲協會會長黃子章 (Bob Wong)  說，黃家是在1958年時從黃陳美蘭的廣東移民父母那兒，買下這家「華屋 (Mandarin   House) 」，和現在已經擴展成廚藝及文化地標的「九龍餐廳 (Kowloon Restaurant) 」相比，那差異可是天壤地別。

黃陳美蘭和紅襪隊吉祥物合影。(九龍餐廳臉書截圖)

                   和其他5名兄弟姐妹共同擁有九龍餐廳的Bob Wong說，「華屋」最初只有2名員工，他爸爸是廚師，母親負責前台，接外賣訂單，做侍應生。他們的工作時間很長，從開門做到關門，就只是為了在不需要人幫忙下，把生意做起來。

                他說，他母親辛勤工作，把這家不起眼的中餐館，做成了「美國人的成功故事」。他還記得他們幾兄弟姊妹第一次到這餐廳時，看到房間正中有噴泉，他還以為自己是在一個像是迪士尼樂園的地方。他仰頭望向父母問到，「這是誰的地方」?父母說，「哦，我們的」。我簡直不敢相信。

                 黃陳美蘭的兒子說，儘管一天工作16小時，一週7天都工作，黃陳美蘭卻似乎總是精力充沛，今年8月22日，她才慶祝了95歲生日。她就像電池兔寶寶，不斷前進。從早上醒來開始，她就一直忙碌的同時做好幾件事，來來回回的接訂單，送餐，好像永遠不會累似的。

            黃陳美蘭的兒子們說，儘管她總是在工作，我們卻從來沒覺得自己被忽略了。當父母在身邊時，那感覺也總是很溫暖。

                 黃陳美蘭身後遺有6

黃陳美蘭(前左)甜蜜的和丈夫黃偉炎(前右)分享紐英崙華人歷史協會頒發的「遊子獎」。
他倆的子女，(後左起)黃子章、黃彩鳳、黃子安、黃彩蓮、黃子良等人，這天全都到會
祝賀母親得獎。(檔案照片，周菊子攝)

名子女，包括麻州眾議員黃子安，以及黃子章，黃彩鳳、黃子安、黃彩蓮、黃子良，還有15名孫子女，23名曾孫子女。 (本刊2010時曾報導黃陳美蘭獲得紐英崙華人歷史協會遊子獎，https://www.bostonorange.com/2010/10/blog-post_02.html)

麻州州長查理貝克簽署37.6億元經濟發展法案

 Governor Baker Signs $3.76 Billion Economic Development Bill

 

BOSTON – Governor Charlie Baker today signed a $3.76 billion spending plan that promotes economic development, strengthens health and human services, advances clean energy and resiliency, expands affordable housing production and invests in Massachusetts communities, businesses and workers. The legislation signed today includes funding for several proposals introduced by the Baker-Polito Administration in the FORWARD economic development bill filed in April and in multiple supplemental budget proposals, including the most recent proposal from August to close out Fiscal Year 2022 (FY22).

 

“This legislation will make strategic investments in economic development, increase affordable housing production and support our health care system,” said Governor Charlie Baker. “We appreciate the Legislature’s efforts to pass this bill which is necessary to invest the Commonwealth’s significant state surplus and time-sensitive federal relief dollars. While I am disappointed that the bill does not include permanent tax relief that is affordable and was supported by our administration and the Legislature, I am pleased that the Commonwealth’s strong financial position allows us to make these critical investments on behalf of our communities.”

 

“This bill addresses a wide range of needs across Massachusetts, from investing in long-term housing affordability to enabling transformational projects in hundreds of cities and towns,” said Lieutenant Governor Karyn Polito. "This funding will play a crucial role in the continued growth of local economies, businesses and families and we look forward to seeing it put to work."

 

The bill is funded by a combination of state resources, including FY22 surplus revenue, and federal funds from the American Rescue Plan Act Fiscal Recovery Fund (ARPA-FRF). Notably, the Governor vetoed an outside section that would cap the use of ARPA-FRF funding to $510 million (of the $2.3 billion that remains available in ARPA-FRF funds). Federal law requires that the entirety of these federal funds be committed by the end of 2024 and spent by the end of 2026. Vetoing this section will allow the Commonwealth to prioritize the use of the time-limited federal dollars.

 

“This legislation will build upon our efforts over the last several years to strategically deploy billions in federal and state funding to bolster the Commonwealth's economy through the pandemic and accelerate recovery,” said Administration and Finance Secretary Michael J. Heffernan. “We appreciate the collaboration of our colleagues in the Legislature on this important bill, which will further support key areas of need, make long-lasting improvements to Massachusetts infrastructure, and invest in local communities across the state.”   

 

Highlights of the bill include:

 

Health and human services

• $850 million in near-term relief for fiscally strained hospitals, human service providers, nursing facilities, rest homes and community health centers
• $200 million to support the Commonwealth’s continued response to and management of COVID-19
• $25 million for low-threshold housing for individuals experiencing homelessness
• $20 million to address the varied needs of immigrants and refugees
• $20 million to combat gun violence
• $20 million for the Victim and Witness Assistance Board
• $17.5 million to support access to reproductive care and family planning services

Education

• $150 million to stabilize early education and care providers
• An additional $315 million transfer to the High-Quality Early Education & Care Affordability Fund via an outside section amending the FY23 budget
• $50 million to support scholarships for Massachusetts students enrolled in higher education nursing programs

Housing production and affordability

• $100 million for workforce housing production
• $100 million for homeownership expansion through the Commonwealth Builder program
• $100 million to support the creation of affordable housing through the Affordable Housing Trust
• $57 million for the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program
• $50 million for the Equitable Developers’ financing program

Economic development

• $153 million to support a variety of businesses in need across the state, including $75 million for hotels, $45 million for businesses reaching underserved markets, and $40 million for small businesses
• $75 million to support broadband infrastructure and internet access
• Hundreds of local community and economic development projects

Clean energy and environmental infrastructure

• $175 million for investments in publicly-owned green space and environmental infrastructure, including $75 million in environmental justice communities
• $150 million for clean energy initiatives, including transfers to the Clean Energy Investment Fund, Electric Vehicle Adoption Incentive Trust, and Charging Infrastructure Deployment Fund
• $115 million for water quality improvement projects through the Massachusetts Clean Water Trust
• $100 million for improvements to port infrastructure
• $25 million to support food security infrastructure

 

Transportation

• $112 million to support key needs at the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA), including for implementation of Federal Transit Authority (FTA) directives

 

The Governor signed the large majority of the 271 outside sections included in the bill, including sections that make corrections that will allow for the successful implementation of new tax credits related to offshore wind and the hiring of National Guard members. The Governor also approved policy sections that will improve the operation and effectiveness of the Brownfields Redevelopment Fund and smart growth zoning through an improved Starter Home Zoning chapter of the General Laws. Additional sections will change the Department of Public Health’s (DPH) standing order authority related to COVID-19 testing and treatment and will establish effective and efficient administrative processes through which DPH will manage the licensure and oversight of Registered Sanitarians and Certified Health Officers.

 

Governor Baker returned two outside sections to the Legislature with proposed amendments and vetoed a total of 24 sections.

 

To read the Governor’s signing letter, click here.

 

To read the veto parchment, click here.

 

Attachments:

• Attachment A – Inside Section Vetoes
• Attachment B – Outside Section Vetoes
• Attachment C – Amendment #1
• Attachment D – Amendment #2

麻州民眾通過百萬富翁稅 保住無證移民辦駕照法案

             (Boston Orange 綜合編譯) 2022年的麻州大選，有4個選票問題，11月8日的投票結果，和人們預期的差不多，其中最受矚目的1號富人稅，4號無證件移民駕照，和2號的牙科保險問題都通過了，3號的酒牌問題則被人們否決了。

            麻州州務卿威廉蓋文在選前曾說，今年的麻州選舉，人們主要是為選票問題才出席投票的。

            選前正反雙方斥巨資爭取民眾支持，人們暱稱為”百萬富翁稅”的1號選票問題，以52%比48%的差距通過了。

            換言之，從下個年度開始，年收入超過100萬元的麻州居民，得為超過100萬元的那些收入，多申報4%的麻州所得稅。

            麻州目前預算有盈餘，導致麻州政府必須把每一名納稅人所繳2021年稅款的13%，還給納稅人。不過支持這選票問題的人認為，此法通過後估計可籌得15億元，用於改善教育及交通。

            這提案是由勞工工會，社區組織及宗教團體組成的聯盟，「提升麻州 (Raise Up Massachusetts)」推動。企業團體和其他一些人則認為” 附加稅” 將用於教育和交通的形容，完全是誤導用詞。不過麻州最高法院判決該用詞合法，並准許這用詞於11大選中出現在選民面前。

            「麻州公平份額 (Fair Share for Massachusetts)」活動經理Jeron Mariani在一份聲明中表示，「我們做到了有些人認為不可能的事，通過了公平份額修訂案，設立了永久性的公平稅制，為麻州的公立學校，大專院校，道路、橋梁，以及交通系統新增數以億計的新財源。

            2號問題是由齒科矯正醫師Mouhab Rizkallah領頭，花了100萬美元以上推動的牙科保險開支政策，規定牙科保險商須把來自保費營業收入的至少83%，花在病人身上，或是提供退款。在牙科保險領域中，這是前所未有的規定，其他州在這方面也沒有法律規定。這議題的反對者主要是位於波士頓的非牟利組織Delta 牙科保險商(insurer Delta Dental)。開票結果大約為71%對29%。

            3號問題是要從2023年起，把任何人可持有或控制的”全酒牌”數量，從9張減為7張，而包括”全酒牌”和”淡酒及啤酒牌”的混合上限，到2031年時逐漸增加至18張。開票結果是55%對45%，沒有通過。

            包括許多麻州包裝廠協會(Massachusetts Package Store Association)成員的「21世紀酒品零售改革委員會 (The 21st Century Alcohol Retail Reform Committee)」推廣支持這一提案。

           在擴大酒牌數量限制之外，這問題還會禁止人們在自行結帳站點買酒，並允許銷售商藉外州身分識別證，作為針對指控賣酒給青少年”合理辯護”的一部分。

            4號問題是關於准許發給無證件移民駕照的新法令應該保留或廢除。開票結果54%對46%的通過了。從2023年7月1日起，無證件移民只要能像汽車監理處出示外國護照，加上另一州或地區的駕照，出生證明，外國身分證，外國駕照，或來自美國任何一州及區域的結婚、離婚證，就可以申請麻州駕照。

            雖然麻州州長查理貝克否決，但這法案今年依舊通過了，只是仍然一直有爭議。查理貝克在否決書中表示，該新法將增加非公民登記投票的風險。支持者認為該說法誇大其辭，因為用駕照登記來投票，可能面對遣返結果，而通過該法可增加道路安全，並確保駕駛已通過駕駛測驗，有保險和執照。

            杜卡吉斯政府的交通廳廳長，麻州大都市警察長協會，以及米斗簺郡治安官Peter Koutoujian是由說選民留住此法的公眾人物之一。反對此法的活動，大都由麻州共和黨推動。

73 AAPI-Owned Small Businesses Win National ACE Grants of Up to $100,000

Announcing Grant Recipients of AAPISTRONG Restaurant Fund: 73 AAPI-Owned Small Businesses Win Grants of Up to $100,000     Grants supported by the Grubhub Community Fund and distributed by National ACE have been awarded to entrepreneurs across the country to boost AAPI small business recovery     CHICAGO and WASHINGTON, DC – Grubhub, a leading food-delivery marketplace, and the National Asian/Pacific Islander American Chamber of Commerce and Entrepreneurship (National ACE) announced that 73 Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI)-owned  restaurants have been awarded grants of $25,000, made possible with a grant from the Grubhub Community Fund. In addition, three finalists were awarded $100,000 grants each live on-stage at the AAPISTRONG Annual Conference in September. The AAPISTRONG Restaurant Fund is intended to provide relief to AAPI small business owners in the restaurant industry, amidst an extended period of unforeseeable and unprecedented economic and social volatility. In 2022, the restaurant industry has been hit hard with staffing difficulties, supply chain delays, and inventory shortages. Krizzia Yanga, owner of the restaurant Bonifacio said, "From factory shutdowns to a scarcity of commercial truck drivers, COVID has affected not only the prices and supply of domestic products, it also made imported products nearly impossible to acquire. As an AAPI restaurant with ingredients that are imported from the Philippines and other Asian countries, the travel restrictions, staff shortages in the logistics industry, and rising cost of transportations have made it difficult for us to maintain fair prices and stay true to cooking authentic Filipino flavors." Above: Krizzia Yang, Owner, Bonifacio, Columbus, Ohio Bonifacio was one of the AAPISTRONG Restaurant Fund finalists, and received $100,000 from the fund. "We are the first full-service and longest standing Filipino restaurant in Columbus and while we have made a name for ourselves and introduced many in our community to Filipino food, it continues to to be a challenge to compete with the larger restaurant groups and chains that Columbus is inundated with, especially in a time of increased xenophobia and anti-Asian sentiment." Christy Lang, the owner of Smoove Ice Cream based in New York City said, "We started our business during the pandemic, so unfortunately, we didn’t qualify for any government assistant programs since our operating date was after January 2020.  Tourism has been a big part of the Chinatown small businesses, and with travel restrictions, our business has been hit dramatically in 2020 and 2021. Some big challenges that we are facing currently are inflation, supply chain disruption, and labor shortage." The AAPISTRONG Restaurant Fund is here to help restaurants respond to ongoing challenges such as paying employees' wages, expanding operations, or repairing damage to the restaurant caused by discrimination or bias. Another finalist from Hawaii, Robynne Maii, is doing everything she can to combat food insecurity on her island. "We are concerned about food security in Hawaii. If the boats stopped coming to our islands, the state would have about a two week food supply. This is scary and concerning. When we opened Fête, it was important for us to source as many products as we could, locally. 90% of our produce, eggs, meat, poultry, and seafood is sourced locally. By honoring how we source, we send a clear message to our community of where we stand. We support other local businesses to help sustain the economic flow," said Maii. Above: Chef Robynne Maii, Fête, Honolulu, Hawaii These grants are designed to help AAPI-small business owners, their employees, and the communities they serve as they face continued challenges after emerging from the pandemic including inflation, decreased revenue, economic volatility, and labor shortages. They also provide an opportunity for small business owners to give back to and uplift their communities. Roongkant Preechathammarach, a $25,000 grant recipient, shared: "I ended up donating about 500 meals to healthcare workers to various hospitals in Manhattan. I always offer 5 to 7 different opinions out of excitement to share and satisfy all these health care heroes working so hard! This month, we catered a Meals-On-Wheels event held in Tribeca serving 800 people. Above: Roongkant Preechathammarach, owner, Lil Chef Mama, New York, New York A national survey released by National ACE and Reimagine Main Street in May 2022 found that about 40 percent of AAPI respondents lacked confidence to fund an unplanned $5,000 business expense, and over half lacked confidence they could fund the initiatives that would propel their small business to the next level, such as a marketing campaign, increasing payroll, or purchasing property or equipment. "Our AAPI-owned restaurants have experienced severe losses throughout the pandemic and even worse, are victims of hate, discrimination, and bias at their place of business," said Chiling Tong, President and CEO of National ACE. "Grubhub's ongoing commitment to AAPI-owned restaurants is demonstrated by the support they provide annually to National ACE. The contributions from Grubhub and its diners will provide hope for AAPI restaurant owners that have not been listened to or provided for." "Restaurants play a vital role in their communities, and Grubhub is committed to helping them have a positive impact on the people they serve," said Dave Tovar, Grubhub’s senior vice president of Communications & Government Relations. "This grant program, which is made possible through our Grubhub Community Fund, helps alleviate some of the financial strain restaurants have experienced over the last several years – allowing them to market and grow their business and invest in new technologies. We are proud of how our partnership with National ACE for the last two years has helped AAPI-owned restaurants thrive." ### About National ACE National ACE’s mission is to serve as a strong advocate of AAPI business interests and effect positive change on all issues that enhance and advance the goals and aspirations of AAPI business owners, entrepreneurs, and corporate leaders. With over 70 affiliate chambers of commerce and minority business organization partners throughout the country, National ACE strives to support and promote issues that impact the AAPI business community by improving economic development and impact, advancing coalitions and enhancing community building, and fostering the next generation of AAPI entrepreneurs and executives. National ACE provides a unified voice for the business interests of AAPIs nationally. Learn more at: www.nationalace.org About Grubhub Grubhub is part of Just Eat Takeaway.com (LSE: JET, AMS: TKWY, NASDAQ: GRUB), a leading global online food delivery marketplace. Dedicated to connecting diners with the food they love from their favorite local restaurants, Grubhub elevates food ordering through innovative restaurant technology, easy-to-use platforms and an improved delivery experience. Grubhub features more than 320,000 restaurant partners in over 4,000 U.S. cities.

波士頓市府推出"尋找食物儲藏室"新計畫協助民眾年節溫飽

MAYOR WU ANNOUNCES RESOURCES FOR RESIDENTS FACING FOOD INSECURITY DURING HOLIDAY SEASON The City is launching the Find Your Food Pantry campaign and increasing access to SNAP benefits

 

BOSTON - Thursday, November 10, 2022 - Today Mayor Michelle Wu announced resources that will support residents facing food insecurity during the holiday season and year-round. The City is launching the Find Your Food Pantry campaign led by the Community Engagement Cabinet in partnership with the Mayor’s Office of Food Justice (OFJ). Additionally, beginning on Tuesday, November 15, residents will be able to apply and learn more about SNAP benefits using a kiosk located within Boston City Hall.  “To prioritize food justice in our City, we’re making it easier to connect residents to services they need and ways to make a difference,” said Mayor Michelle Wu. “We’re launching a campaign aimed to introduce residents to organizations that do great work in our communities not just during the holidays, but all year. Together with the new kiosk at City Hall, we’re working holistically as a city to fight food insecurity in Boston.” Through the Find Your Food Pantry campaign, residents are encouraged to reach out to their local food pantries and other community partners this holiday season and to establish connections with local food pantries and organizations to strengthen Boston’s communities year-round. Residents can find a list of local pantries via the Greater Boston Food Bank on the Office of Food Justice’s website. In FY 2022, the Greater Boston Food Bank distributed a total of 24.6 million pounds of food through their network of over 100 food distribution partners in Boston. This is a 27 percent increase compared to pre-pandemic distribution in 2019. Much of the food pantry system relies on volunteers. Contributions are critical to help food pantries provide additional food like fresh produce from Massachusetts farmers and staples that are culturally relevant to each community.  “Boston works best when we work together for our shared values, so this year we’re launching a campaign that goes beyond the holiday season,” said Chief of Community Engagement Brianna Millor. “I encourage residents to reach out to their neighborhood organizations and give back - whether that be by donating or spending time volunteering.” Residents interested in helping support food pantries can connect with their local food pantry directly to identify ways to contribute or volunteer. Needs and hours of operation will vary by organization. Office of Neighborhood Services (ONS) liaisons will be visiting community partners in their respective neighborhoods during their “Field Fridays” in the months of November and December. The Office of Civic Organizing is helping organize sign ups for residents who would like assistance being connected to volunteer opportunities. Residents can sign up on the website.  Additionally, through a partnership with the state’s Department of Transitional Assistance (DTA), residents will have a new access point downtown to apply for public benefits. A new City Hall kiosk allows residents to apply for SNAP and cash assistance programs, check their eligibility, check their balances, and update their information while doing other business with the City. The kiosk will be located on the mezzanine between the second and third floor at City Hall and will be open from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. starting on Tuesday, November 15th.  “Closing the SNAP gap and providing resources for residents ineligible for SNAP help us ensure that Boston residents can access nutritious and culturally relevant food during chronic and acute periods of food insecurity,” said Aliza Wasserman, Director of the Mayor’s Office of Food Justice. “Food pantries are a critical component of the emergency food system. They and other community partners have kept so many families from feeling the dire consequences of food insecurity through their tireless efforts throughout the pandemic.” “Too many families in Boston continue to struggle to provide for their basic needs because of the lingering economic impact of the COVID-19 crisis coupled with the worst inflation we have seen in over 40 years,” said Catherine D’Amato, president and CEO of Greater Boston Food Bank. “With critical programs like SNAP, school meals and over 100 food distribution partners served by GBFB in the City, nobody should have to go hungry this holiday season, let alone throughout the year. The partnership with Mayor Wu, her Office of Food Justice and their intentionality in working across City Hall departments, particularly with the Community Engagement Cabinet, is the ingenuity and creativity we need to ensure we are driving awareness across every neighborhood and connecting each resident in need to the food resources available to them.” As food prices increase, SNAP and the emergency food system play pivotal roles in bridging the gap between household income and basic needs. The DTA kiosk and Find Your Food Pantry campaign are part of a multi-pronged approach to reduce barriers to accessing public benefits and food resources in a dignified and easy manner. There are three additional public DTA kiosks in the City, including 1010 Massachusetts Ave. and the Southampton Street Shelter. To find a DTA kiosk near you, click here. DTA kiosks are one approach to reducing barriers for residents to sign up for SNAP.   In 2021, OFJ provided 21 organizations with over $1 million in funding to focus on outreach around safety net resources. Through its community food access programming like Boston Double Up Food Bucks, the Farmers Market Coupon Program, and community grants, the Office of Food Justice works directly with community organizations and businesses, to build stronger community networks for food justice and access to healthy, culturally-relevant food. More on the Find Your Food Pantry campaign, including a list of food pantries and informational video from Mayor Wu can be found at www.boston.gov/find-pantries. Residents looking to apply for SNAP can do so on the Commonwealth’s website.

波士頓市政府廣場訂11月18日重新開放

MAYOR WU ANNOUNCES REOPENING OF CITY HALL PLAZA

BOSTON - Thursday, November 10, 2022 - Mayor Michelle Wu announced the reopening of City Hall Plaza will take place on Friday, November 18 with a family-friendly event from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. featuring tours of the newly renovated plaza, live entertainment, and a ribbon cutting. The City’s Arts and Culture Cabinet will also host an event that same day from 5 to 8 p.m. with music by DJ WhySham, a lineup of local poets emceed by Porsha Olayiwola, and a digital projection and lighting installation by Jeff Grantz/ILLUMINUS Boston featuring images by Artists for Humanity that will light up the building. The event will create public art installations that contribute to place-making and establish new opportunities for art in the public realm. The program will highlight the transformation of City Hall Plaza and usher in an opportunity to interact with the building in new ways.  The recently completed renovation transformed the Plaza into a civic space for all residents, with universal accessibility, new communal spaces, increased environmental sustainability, and critical infrastructure improvements that will ensure the plaza is safe and accessible for generations to come. "City Hall Plaza is a space to bring people together and build community," said Mayor Michelle Wu. “I’m grateful for the work of all our City workers and partners to transform the plaza into a welcoming, resilient, and accessible space for residents and visitors to enjoy.” The plaza design and implementation was led by global design firm Sasaki, based in Watertown, Mass. Shawmut Design and Construction was the construction manager for the project. The project was managed through the City's Operations Cabinet by the Public Facilities Department in partnership with the Property Management Department and was assisted by owners project manager Skanska USA.  “City Hall plaza is the people’s plaza, and it is now a civic front yard that ALL can access and take pleasure in,” said Chief of Operations Dion Irish. “I’m excited to see our community enjoy our playground, event spaces, our new pavilion and the reopened north entrance to City Hall. The Public Facilities Department, project partners, and numerous City agencies did an amazing job working together, with community input, to create a signature civic space that aligns with our goals and values.” “We are proud of the bold vision the City embraced to make Boston City Hall Plaza an inviting and accessible outdoor public space,” said Fiske Crowell, Sasaki principal and architect. “A robust community engagement process helped us transform the Plaza from a harsh outdoor environment into a new green space where all are welcome. We are excited to celebrate the reopening of both the plaza and the expanded north entry to the building.” “To be tasked with the transformation of one of Boston’s most beloved and historic spaces has been a tremendous honor,” said Kevin Sullivan, executive vice president of Shawmut Design and Construction’s New England region. “Through this extensive renewal with our partners from the City of Boston and Sasaki, we’ve reinvigorated City Hall Plaza to create a more accessible, sustainable, and connected public destination at Boston's civic heart that will serve as a forward-thinking attraction for generations to come.” City Hall Plaza's redesign includes a focus on: A Welcoming Front Yard for Civic Life With Boston's renovated City Hall Plaza, this community space will become universally accessible for residents of all abilities. Opening up the Plaza for all includes re-opening the second floor of City Hall Plaza to the public, allowing easier access to the building.  "I am thrilled that City Hall Plaza is now welcoming and accessible to people with disabilities,” said Kristen McCosh, Boston’s Disability Commissioner. “City officials really listened to input from the disability community, and they made access the top priority. Before this renovation, it was extremely difficult for disabled people to navigate the expansive brick Plaza, which provides a vital connection between Congress Street and Cambridge Street. But the uneven brick and numerous stairways have been replaced with smooth unit pavers and gently sloped walkways. Now when people with disabilities ask where the accessible route across City Hall Plaza is, I can say, 'You don't understand - the whole plaza is accessible now, not just one route!'"   The renovation also includes 3,000 new welcoming spaces for residents to sit,12,000 square feet of playscapes for children and families, and 11,000 square feet of terraces for pop-up play and interactive public art. Public Art In February, the City of Boston released a Call to Artists for public art to complement the renovation of City Hall Plaza. There were two separate opportunities outlined in the call. The first was a short-term artwork for the north entrance to the building. The second was for a graphics display for the exterior of City Hall. These commissions are envisioned as the first of a series of artworks for this site that will recognize and celebrate the stories of Boston and City Hall Plaza. The City selected Rhea Vedro to create the short-term artwork, which will be a sculptural installation on the planting bed at the north entrance that will be installed for one year. Yuke Li was commissioned to create 2D graphics for the new display system on the west exterior wall of City Hall and the wall panels near the new civic pavilion, which will also be installed for one year. The graphics have been installed, and the sculpture is expected to be installed in spring 2023. “Through activating City Hall Plaza with public art and cultural events, we're cultivating a more inviting space that celebrates the communities that make up the city,” said Kara Elliott-Ortega, Chief of Arts and Culture. “We’re excited to be able to showcase Boston’s creative community while also transforming a historic civic space.” Flexible and Accommodating Event Venues The renovation of Boston City Hall Plaza expanded one of Boston's largest event spaces, and created civic event spaces that can be used by all Boston residents. The renovation included creating seven new "plug and play" locations for community groups to utilize, with space for 10,000 to 12,0000 visitors on the main plaza and room for a 20,000 to 25,000 person gathering on the entire plaza. The new design includes three smaller event and gathering places, and a new civic building on Congress Street equipped with a bathroom and other facilities to support public gatherings. A Model of Sustainability and Resilience Creating a sustainable City Hall Plaza that meets the City's environmental goals was one of the key parts of the plaza renovation, and this renovation will make City Hall Plaza one of Boston's signature civic spaces environmentally sustainable, meeting Boston's resilience standards. The renovation includes an increase in green infrastructure through an increased use of permeable surfaces that will soak up stormwater. The design also includes 100 new trees, improving the shade, scale and air quality of the plaza. Fifty lights were replaced with efficient LED technology, and 22,500 feet of granite and brick paving were reused or recycled. The Phase 1 City Hall Plaza project's main goal was to make the plaza more accessible for all while delivering updated programming capabilities, adding infrastructure and making the plaza more sustainable. This $70 million investment will connect Congress and Cambridge Streets with an accessible sloped Hanover Promenade activated by 21st century civic amenities like shady seating and gathering areas, a destination play space, public art space, and an iconic water feature. The main plaza will accommodate events of up to 12,000 people in a wide variety of potential configurations. The project also includes: Opening the North building entry Accessibility improvements to the plaza entry Enhanced speakers corner Stormwater retention improvements Flexible platform for various sized performances For additional information, visit boston.gov/cityhallplaza.