波士頓市長吳弭指派10人組賠償工作小組 研究奴隸制對波士頓的持續影響

MAYOR WU ANNOUNCES MEMBERS OF REPARATIONS TASK FORCE

BOSTON - Tuesday, February 7, 2023 - Mayor Michelle Wu today announced the ten individuals that will serve on the newly formed Reparations Task Force, created to study the . The formation of this task force follows Mayor Wu signing a 2022 City ordinance, sponsored and led by Councilor Julia Mejia and co-sponsored by Councilors Tania Fernandes Anderson and Brian Worrell, to study the impact of slavery in Boston. Mayor Wu joined members of the City Council, Reparations Task Force, and Equity and Inclusion Cabinet at the African Meeting House to announce the establishment of the task force. "For four hundred years, the brutal practice of enslavement and recent policies like redlining, the busing crisis, and exclusion from City contracting have denied Black Americans pathways to build generational wealth, secure stable housing, and live freely," said Mayor Michelle Wu. "Our administration remains committed to tackling long standing racial inequities and this task force is the next step in our commitment as a city to advance racial justice and build a Boston for everyone. I'm grateful to the City Council, advocates and task force members for their critical work to  strengthen our communities and ensure that Boston documents and addresses the historical harms of slavery and its continued impact on our Black residents."  “As the lead sponsor of this ordinance, I want to thank Tanisha Sullivan of the NAACP for inviting our office to lead this effort and to Dr. Kamara and Yvette Modestin for their leadership in drafting the ordinance,” said Councilor Julia Mejia. “We are extremely proud of the work we did alongside the community and look forward to monitoring the processes moving forward” “The forming of this reparations task force is an important step in the ongoing process of bringing justice to the Black community of Boston,” said Councilor Tania Fernandes Anderson. “This is so both for the historical legacies of anti-Black racism going back to the enslavement of kidnapped Africans, to the current manifestations of structural and systemic white supremacy that are embedded and entrenched within the political and economic status quo.” “This is a major step forward for the City of Boston,” said Councilor Brian Worrell. “I would like to thank the Mayor and my City Council colleagues for helping bring this important conversation to the top of the agenda. Since the late Senator Bill Owens began this journey, we are proud to now have a diverse group of people working towards a solution that will address past injustices in this City. As the representative of one of the most diverse districts in Boston, I look forward to bringing new opportunities to the district and fixing previous disenfranchising to build up what makes Boston diverse.” The members of the task force are community leaders in law, academia, community organizing, and education and represent diversity in age, gender, and discipline to fully encompass the Black experience in Boston. The task force’s duties will include leading research on the historical impact of slavery in Boston and exploring ways the City can provide reparative justice for Black residents. Over the next 18 months, the task force members will convene and work on proposing recommendations to Mayor Wu for reparative solutions for the descendants of enslaved persons.  The individuals appointed to the task force include: Chair Joseph D. Feaster, Jr., Esq., Attorney, former President of the Boston branch of the NAACP, current member of City’s Black Men & Boys Commission Denilson Fanfan, 11th grader at Jeremiah E. Burke High School L’Merchie Frazier, Public historian, visual activist, and Executive Director of Creative and Strategic Partnerships for SPOKE Arts George “Chip” Greenidge, Jr., Founder and Director of Greatest MINDS Dr. Kerri Greenidge, Assistant Professor of Studies in Race, Colonialism, and Diaspora at Tufts University Dr. David Harris, Past Managing Director of the Charles Hamilton Houston Institute for Race and Justice Dorothea Jones, Longtime civic organizer and member of the Roxbury Strategic Master Plan Oversight Committee Carrie Mays, UMass Boston student and youth leader with Teen Empowerment  Na’tisha Mills, Program Manager for Embrace Boston  Damani Williams, 11th grader at Jeremiah E. Burke High School “I am honored to be asked by Mayor Wu to chair this Reparation Task Force and serve with such distinguished people,” said Joseph D. Feaster, Jr., Chair of Reparations Task Force. “We are looking forward to determining recommendations for how we reckon with Boston’s past while charting a path forward for Black people whose ancestors labored without compensation and who were promised the 40 acres and a mule they never received.”  The task force will be housed within the City of Boston’s Equity & Inclusion Cabinet and work closely with Lori Nelson, the City’s Senior Advisor on Racial Justice. In the coming weeks, the City and task force will launch a request for proposal (RFP) to select a research partner to study the legacy of slavery in Boston and produce a report on its impact. The results of the report will inform recommendations brought forth by the task force. For more information about the task force, visit boston.gov/reparations. “This is a historic moment for Boston, for this nation,” said Mariangely Solis Cervera, Chief of Equity and Inclusion. “We are creating an opportunity to intentionally address harms of the past and embed racial equity into the fabric of our city. I am thankful for the leadership, expertise, and lived experience this task force brings to the table and I look forward to working beside them.” “This important initiative will center the truth, acknowledgment, and reconciliation that history once ignored," said Lori Nelson, Senior Advisor on Racial Justice. "The task force will give us the chance to fully engage and challenge policies that have harmed and marginalized Black people in Boston for generations. I am eager to collaborate with the task force with the goal of repairing and restoring injustice to move our city forward.” Today’s action builds on Mayor Wu's work to acknowledge historic harms and build an equitable Boston for all. Last year, Mayor Wu established the Office of Black Male Advancement and the Commission of Black Men and Boys to create initiatives to improve outcomes for Black men and boys. The Office of Economic Opportunity and Inclusion has made strides to increase supplier diversity to include more businesses of color in City contracting and to close the racial wealth gap across the city.

波士頓市重新設計社區象徵圖案 徵藝術家設計

MAYOR WU ANNOUNCES CALL FOR ARTISTS TO REDESIGN BOSTON'S NEIGHBORHOOD SIGNS

BOSTON - Tuesday, February 7, 2023 - Mayor Michelle Wu today announced the launch of the Neighborhood Sign Redesign program in partnership with the Office of Arts & Culture, the Department of Property Management, and the Department of Innovation and Technology. Across Boston, neighborhood signs welcome residents and visitors to the diverse communities that make up the City. The City of Boston is seeking artists to redesign these signs. Artists are invited to submit up to three conceptual designs based upon a template provided by the City.    “Our neighborhood signs are often the first thing residents and visitors see when they cross into different areas throughout Boston,” said Mayor Michelle Wu. “I’m excited for this program to empower our residents to create welcoming, creative signs to reflect the unique, vibrant neighborhoods and communities they live and work in.”  "This is an exciting, new opportunity to recognize that Boston's arts community is embedded in every neighborhood of Boston," said Kara Elliott-Ortega, Chief of Arts and Culture. "Whether someone is a longtime resident of a neighborhood or a visitor seeing a neighborhood for the first time, they'll be greeted by vibrant, inspiring artwork that reflects the talent and creativity of our city. We look forward to supporting local artists in this new initiative and creating new opportunities to celebrate their work!"  "Boston is home to many talented artists. This is such a great opportunity to continue to financially invest in artists' practices while beautifying our neighborhoods," said Brianna Millor, Chief of Community Engagement. “Boston is a city of amazing neighborhoods rich in culture, creativity, and filled with diversity. We are proud to take every opportunity to promote our artists, including engaging them in developing our neighborhood welcome signs. I’m very much looking forward to seeing their talents displayed across our city,” said Dion Irish, Chief of Operations. Artists must be at least 18 years old and must live or work in the City of Boston to participate. Preference will be given to artists who live or work in the neighborhood where each sign is located. Selected artists will receive a $1,000 stipend for their artwork. This program is funded in part by an investment from the federal American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) to aid in Boston’s local recovery and will support local artists.  Submitted artwork should align with the City of Boston’s Curatorial Vision. The Curatorial Vision for the City of Boston is to foster the creation and collection of artworks that reflect the people, ideas, histories, and futures of Boston, the traditional homeland of the Massachusett people and the home of the neighboring Wampanoag and Nipmuc peoples. The City aims to commission and approve artworks that engage communities and directly respond to, enrich, and enliven the urban environment. The City seeks public art that is driven by an artistically strong vision, enhances the diversity and equity of the existing collection, and possesses durability appropriate to the lifespan of the work. The deadline for artists to submit designs is March 3, 2023. The City will select artists by mid-March and will work collaboratively with them to refine final designs.  Interested artists can apply and learn more at boston.gov/sign-redesign.

昆士市第35屆農曆新年慶祝會 老天回暖再現往年熱鬧

昆士市第35屆農曆新年慶祝會在北昆士高中體育館舉行。(周菊子攝)

昆市市長Tom Koch感謝所有人的努力，已使得農曆新年慶祝變成昆士市的一大活動了。
(周菊子攝)

             (Boston Orange 周菊子昆士市報導) 亞協服務中心 (QARI) 2月5日在昆士市北昆士高中體育館舉行第35屆農曆新年慶祝會，迎接兔年。週五，週六才剛被零下溫度凍僵了的人們，這天趁氣溫回暖，興高采烈的來逛攤位，看表演，拿贈品，摩肩擦踵的享受熱鬧。

            這場兔年慶祝會，形式和往年差不多，先由超武館醒獅賀新歲，再由美國第42童軍及昆士女童軍團領導升旗禮，宣誓效忠美國。

麻州眾議員陳德基代表多名政要致詞。 (周菊子攝)

               在亞協服務中心行政總裁莊建浩 (Philip Chong)的主禮中，昆士市長柯奇 (Tom   Koch) 、轄區包括昆士市的麻州眾議員陳德基，亞協服務中心副董事長暨金門超市總經理胡運炤，贊助機構代表華人醫務中心新任執行長 Eric Tiberi等人一一致詞。昆士市第六區市議員Bill Harris和昆士市議會議長Noel T. DiBona還為美國郵政局發行的兔年郵票，象徵式揭幕。

            麻州參議員John Keenan，麻州眾議員Bruce J. Ayers，諾福克郡地方檢察官Michael W. Morrissey，昆士市學校委員會委員Douglas S. Gutro等政要，這天也都到會同慶。         

亞協服務中心行政總裁莊建浩主持開幕式。 (周菊子攝)

             表演節目豐富是昆士市農曆新年慶祝會的一大特色。在舞台總監鄒毅、羅芝華統籌，司儀蔣家卉報幕中，在主舞台那兒，共有不下15場表演輪番上場，除了每年都有的樂舞族，新星社區藝術學校，大波士頓中華文化協會，廣州聯誼會這些社團的表演之外，還有波士頓韓國舞團，王氏青年會舞團，夕陽紅舞團跳廣場舞，1名8歲小孩表演印度舞等等。可慶恩的以京胡演奏「夜深沉」更是再次博得人們讚嘆。

昆士市第6區市議員Bill Harris   (左起) 和昆士市議會議長Noel T. DiBona 一起為兔年郵票揭幕
後，還秀出去年的虎年郵票。 (周菊子攝)

            副舞台設在北昆士高中禮堂，定名為金聲愛心文藝社演唱會，由李芹芳擔任司儀，安排有18項演出，包括新世界歌劇公司的Julianna Feng演唱電影花木蘭插曲「Reflection」，Aaron Feng演唱「A million dreams」，以及「爺爺奶奶闔家歡」的喜慶舞蹈，「相聚」藏族舞蹈，「心之尋」蒙古舞蹈，柳葉的琵琶演奏，甄巧兒、何鳳兒、文潔蓉、陳桂枝等人演唱粵曲，黃曉玲及黃啟華獨唱，全體合唱「早安隆回」等。

華人醫務中心新任執行長 Eric Tiberi致詞。    (周菊子攝)

             印在節目冊上的表演節目則有日本太鼓的擊鼓表演，以及夢舞團，廣州聯誼會，茉莉花舞蹈團，NaFFAA麻州舞團， Westwood中文學校舞團等的現代舞，旗袍舞，菲律賓竹舞，民族舞蹈等各種舞蹈表演。最後由鄒毅扮財神，派利是，為農曆新年慶祝會拉下帷幕。

           亞協服務中心行政總裁莊建浩坦言，新冠病毒疫情對昆士市的打擊也不小，但昆士居民士氣極佳，這天的慶祝會，攤位仍然擺滿會場，有逾百名志工穿梭會場為民眾服務，新的一年，充滿希望。

金門超市總經理胡運炤致詞。

大波士頓中國文化協會的揚琴表演，小朋友上場。

北昆士高中禮堂的節目以粵曲、演唱、舞蹈為主。

畫臉是節慶活動中小朋友的最愛之一。

美國第42童軍及昆士女童軍團。

划龍舟隊伍Wolfpack到場展示。

在台灣非常流行的夾娃娃機，今年也現身在昆士市農曆新年慶祝會上。

到場民眾都很喜歡拿起這說明35週年慶的框框拍照留念。

波士頓消防局多徹斯特新消防站破土動工

MAYOR WU AND FIRE COMMISSIONER BURKE BREAK GROUND ON ENGINE 17  New firehouse prioritizes firefighter workplace safety; design will complement neighborhood

BOSTON - Monday, February 6, 2023 - Today Mayor Michelle Wu, Boston Fire Commissioner Paul Burke, Public Facilities Department officials, firefighters, and community members broke ground on the future East Street site of Engine 17 in Dorchester. The new Engine 17 firehouse, located on historic Meeting House Hill, will be more energy efficient and better protect firefighters from workplace health hazards. The existing Engine 17, located next to the new site, originally opened in 1928. The City has allocated about $30 million toward the design and construction of the new fire station and public art to be displayed in the new building. “This groundbreaking reaffirms our commitment to investing in our City workers and residents by ensuring they have the infrastructure and tools to help their communities,” said Mayor Michelle Wu. “The current firehouse opened almost a century ago, and no longer fully serves the needs of firefighters. I look forward to seeing this project through as a safer place to work and a more energy efficient and welcoming space for the neighborhood.” The future Engine 17 firehouse will be located at 37 East Street, which is currently a parking lot. The existing firehouse will remain in operation during the course of construction. The new firehouse is expected to open in spring of 2024.  “I would like to thank Mayor Wu not only for her support of our Fire Department, but also for projects like this,” said Boston Fire Commissioner Paul Burke. “I applaud the attention to constructing state of the art municipal facilities under her leadership and this firehouse will set a national standard for sustainable government buildings. These green buildings will serve the neighborhoods of Boston for many years to come, protecting the health of firefighters as well as the environment. Thank you, Mayor Wu.”     The new firehouse’s design employs the Boston Fire Department’s nationally recognized health and safety standards, which create red, neutral, and green hazard zones to protect firefighters from health hazards. The new building will run on energy efficient boilers, and features two apparatus bays facing Winter Street and one chief’s bay on Parish Street. Second floor spaces include an open concept kitchen and dayroom, fitness area, lockers, and sleeping and office spaces for the staff. Large windows will introduce daylight into program spaces and create a welcoming entrance to the building. The design uses brick and stone to complement the surrounding area. “We are proud and excited to break ground on this new firehouse that is designed with the health and safety of our firefighters at the forefront, while also promoting public art and improving energy efficiency,” said Dion Irish, Chief of Operations.   The original Engine 17 / Ladder 7 firehouse was built on the site of two old firehouses that dated back to the annexation of the Town of Dorchester to the City of Boston. Engine 17 responds to incidents primarily in the Dorchester and Roxbury areas, and to parts of South Boston. “I am so glad to be at this much anticipated groundbreaking,” said City Councilor Frank Baker. “Along with most other fire houses, the men and women who serve our city out of Meetinghouse Hill deserve clean and safe fire houses, as they take calls day and night in one of the busiest houses in our City. I look forward to the completion of this state of the art firehouse in the coming years.” “First responders keep our communities safe and save lives each and every day. As a City, it is critical that we continue to invest in them — their training, their equipment, and our public safety infrastructure so they can continue this critical work,” said State Representative Chris Worrell. “I am so excited to have this fire station — one of the busiest in Boston — get the investment that matches the caliber of our brave men and women.” To complement the construction of the new fire station, the City is commissioning an artist to create a long-term public artwork for the entrance tower of the building. The primary theme for this commission is fire fighting and the neighborhood’s relationship with the fire station. The project is currently in the artist selection phase, and it is expected to be installed next year. This announcement builds off of Mayor Wu’s commitment to invest in City workers and infrastructure to ensure all residents and City workers can take advantage of state of the art facilities. Last month, Mayor Wu opened the new District A-7 police station in East Boston, the first complete new district station in more than a decade. Mayor Wu recently announced $25 million for a new BCYF community center in the North End and announced the first standalone BCYF community center in Dorchester to be built in Grove Hall. Last year, Mayor Wu announced a Green New Deal for Boston Public Schools, a $2 billion plan to overhaul BPS facilities, including new construction and renovation projects, as well as district-wide upgrades.

波士頓市努力零排放 歡迎20輛電動學校巴士

波士頓市長吳弭 (Michelle Wu) 稱20輛電動校巴只是起步， (周菊子攝)         (Boston Orange 周菊子波士頓綜合報導) 20輛電動校巴交車了。波士頓市長吳弭 (Michelle Wu)和波士頓公校總監 Mary Skipper等人，2月6日早上在海德公園 (Hyde Park)的Readville 巴士站，歡迎這些電動校巴加入共700 波士頓公校總監 Mary Skipper。 (周菊子攝) 多輛的公校校巴車隊。              波士頓市政府表示，待二月份的學校假期結束，試駛順利後，由藍鳥公司組裝，每輛造價約40萬美元的電動校巴，還會增加18輛車上路。              對一年多前競選時不斷強調環保、綠化的波士頓市長吳弭來說，這是她實踐諾言的一大步。去年4 波士頓市新綠政策主任Oliver Sellers-Garcia (左)稱許波士頓市長吳弭有遠見，創全美先例， 設立新綠政策。 (周菊子攝) 月，吳弭市長就已經說了，波士頓市將動用來自聯邦政府「美國援救計劃法 (American Rescue Plan Act) 」的經費，在2022-2023學年內讓20輛電動校巴上路。2月6日這天，她和波士頓市新綠政策主任Oliver Sellers-Garcia，波士頓公校總監 Mary Skipper 公校交通代理主任Dan Rosengard。 (周菊子攝) ，公校交通代理主任Dan Rosengard，一起宣佈這喜訊，還和出席記者會的媒體，一起搭乘十幾分鐘，由培訓中司機駕駛的電動校巴，體驗一番。 麻州眾議員   Robert Consalvo    為電動校巴從他所在轄區出發，感到高興。 (周菊子攝)              吳弭強調，這是實現把波士頓變為新綠政策城市的步驟之一，感謝很多人的努力。波士頓市將持續朝向2030年校巴全面電動化的目標邁進。 波士頓市長吳弭和公校總監等人試搭電動校巴。               Mary Skipper說，這些電動車上路後，會比原本用柴油燃料的巴士更安靜、零排氣，對城市環境及學生健康都有好處。她感謝麥迪遜職業高中( Madison Park Technical Vocational High School) 把電動車維修列入了學校課程。              波士頓市政府指出，去年春天，經由公共工程局(PWD)和波士頓公校的合作，公共工程中心車隊維修組在麥迪遜技職高中推出有史以來的首個培訓訓練員課程，迄今已有8 名來自波士頓公共工程局，2名來自波士頓公校的機械師，完成了該課程。              新綠政策主任Oliver Sellers-Garcia指出，電動校巴只是城市綠化一部分，2023年內，波士頓市還會陸續推動多項計畫。              波士頓公校交通代理主任Dan Rosengard表示，這些電動校巴將為出車111趟，為42所學校的2,561名學生服務，車輛的行駛路線，還待最後確認，將優先安排服務空氣污染較嚴重地區。永源 (Eversource)電力公司刻正和波士頓公校系統合作，為這些電動校巴安裝充電站。每輛巴士估計只要3到4小時，電力就可以充滿。目前波士頓公校每天大約有650輛校巴在市內穿梭。              波士頓市府表示，波士頓市目前在14個市有停車場安裝有66個LV II EV充電樁，計畫今年再增加18個，另加4個高速的LV III DC快速充電樁。 MAYOR MICHELLE WU, SUPERINTENDENT MARY SKIPPER, GREEN NEW DEAL DIRECTOR OLIVER SELLERS-GARCIA CELEBRATE START OF SCHOOL BUS FLEET ELECTRIFICATION  First phase will jumpstart transition of Boston Public Schools fleet to electric school buses, supporting Boston’s commitment to the Green New Deal

 

 

BOSTON - Monday, February 6, 2023 - Today, Mayor Michelle Wu celebrated the arrival of the first two electric school buses to the Boston Public Schools (BPS) school bus fleet. An additional 18 buses will arrive in the coming weeks and are expected to be in use following the February school vacation. This is a major milestone in creating a Green New Deal for the City of Boston, leading to immediate health and quality-of-life improvements for Boston students, workers, and residents, while advancing climate action. Mayor Wu joined BPS Superintendent Mary Skipper, Green New Deal Director Oliver Sellers-Garcia, BPS Director of Transportation Dan Rosengard, bus driver trainers, and community members at the Readville bus yard in Hyde Park to see how these electric buses are being integrated into the fleet.  “I’m grateful to the many people who have been instrumental in getting Boston to this point and helping us demonstrate the many overlapping benefits of moving to a green economy and ensuring that our kids and our workforce are at the center of that transition,” said Mayor Michelle Wu. “Today is one of many steps we are taking to make Boston a Green New Deal city and to move with the urgency that our communities and residents deserve. From cutting down on emissions from every part of our education infrastructure – where our students learn and how they get to class – to preparing our next generation of workers to build and sustain cleaner, greener infrastructure for all of us, we’re so excited about where this will lead Boston.”   “Our children deserve to learn, grow up, and play while enjoying clean air and experiencing a healthy environment free of air pollution,” said Boston Public Schools Superintendent Mary Skipper. “When these buses hit the road, they will operate with zero emissions and significantly lower noise levels than their diesel-fuel counterparts. So when you see the buses with the green bird with a plug logo on each side, be sure to wave and smile as they and the children inside represent our great city's future.”  “As a City, we know we must prioritize the development of electric vehicle infrastructure to support the future of green mobility in Boston to advance our Green New Deal for all of our residents,” said Green New Deal Director Oliver Sellers-Garcia. “I’m grateful to Boston Public Schools for their leadership in making critical climate investments while supporting the health of our communities and growing our green workforce trained with these skills.”  The BPS Department of Transportation carefully selected the first routes – 111 trips, across 42 schools –  to run electric school buses based on a variety of factors, including distance from the dispatch yard charging station, total length of route, and the expected traffic patterns along the route, with a preference for stop-and-go traffic rather than highway driving. Additionally, the cold weather deployment was factored into route selection to ensure power supply for battery conditioning and bus heating. Routes travel through nearly all of Boston’s neighborhoods.   BPS is finalizing installation of 20 charging stations at the Readville bus yard, utilizing increased charging capacity that was added with support from Eversource. Each electric bus will have a dedicated charger and be charged every day. The total time to charge each bus is about three to four hours. The learnings from this first phase of electric school bus deployment will support the City in designing and implementing future electric school bus fleet expansion.    Prior to integrating the 20 buses into the fleet, BPS is training driver trainers, drivers, mechanics, operations staff, and emergency responders to ensure familiarity with the bus design and operation. During the upcoming February vacation, drivers will test routes to ensure they are comfortable driving the new buses in advance of students boarding later this month. An estimated 2,561 students across 42 schools will be riding the 20 buses each school day. BPS currently has 620 buses on the road each day.  Boston’s Green New Deal works to address climate change with positive co-benefits including creating good jobs, enhancing public health, and transforming structures to promote racial and economic justice. School bus electrification will protect children from diesel particulate matter, eliminate tailpipe emissions, address air quality and noise concerns around school pick-up and drop-off, and offer a healthier work environment for bus drivers and monitors. The City of Boston is fostering the Green New Deal by leveraging funding to invest in solutions that improve the lives of Bostonians and catalyze the transition to a just, green City.  In April 2022, Mayor Wu first announced that up to 20 electric school buses would be deployed during the 2022-23 school year. These electric buses will replace existing diesel buses. These buses were funded through the BPS operating budget and the federal American Rescue Plan Act. Mayor Wu previously shared the goal that BPS will work to replace additional big buses each year, and then move to replacing smaller buses until the entire fleet is electrified by 2030.  Additionally last spring, the Public Works Central Fleet Maintenance Division introduced the first ever train-the-trainer class for fleet mechanics from the Public Works Department (PWD) and BPS on how to safely service and repair electric vehicles at Madison Park Technical Vocational High School. To date, eight mechanics from the PWD and two from BPS have completed the course and continue to take online classes to keep pace with the ever-changing technology. Beginning in the fall of this year, electric vehicle maintenance will be added as part of the core curriculum for seniors participating in Madison Park’s automotive program.    Today’s celebration will lay the foundation for the future of the Boston Public Schools bus fleet. The City intends to use federal funding from the Environmental Protection Agency and Inflation Reduction Act to further expand the number of electric buses in the fleet and enhance training for staff.   The City has been making progress on its commitment to installing electric vehicle (EV) charging stations throughout Boston’s neighborhoods for both municipal use and residents. The City currently operates 66 LV II EV charging plugs across 14 municipal parking lots. There are plans to add an additional 18 LV II EV charging plugs, and four high-speed LV III DC fast chargers this year. This investment in public charging, along with the City’s EV readiness policy for new development and right-to-charge rules for condominium residents provide a foundation for the rapid, equitable electrification of transportation in Boston. The City also continues to electrify its vehicle fleet, adding charging plugs where City vehicles are garaged, prioritizing EVs in its replacement cycle, and adding its first all-electric street sweeper last year.

麻州州長奚莉也不支持 屋本市教師與市長達成協議結束罷工

            (Boston Orange 編譯) 全美50州有37個不准教師罷工，麻州是其中之一。麻州州長奚莉 (Maura Healey)上週日 (2月5日)在WBZ的廣播節目中也再次表達她反對教師罷工的意見。

           奚莉說，當她看到小孩子因為罷工沒學上時，就趕到心碎，因為就失學來說，小孩子已經歷得太多了。

                不過，這卻是支持奚莉當州長的麻州教師工會想要改變的事情之一。

                 麻州教師工會計畫在這個月內遞出法案，要求批准教師，以及其他公家機構員工享有罷工的權力。奚莉表示，她認為那是個壞主意。

                   奚莉說她很同情教師們，也想確保教師得到應有的較好待遇，但是讓孩子們上學仍然是最重要的。

            麻州屋本市 (Woburn)教師為爭取更好待遇已罷工一週，但在米斗塞郡 (Middlesex)高等法院法官裁決，教師沒有權力罷工，教師們後來和屋本市市長Scott Galvin在上週五 (2月4日) 早上10點，談到週六(2月5日)下午1點後，也終於就教師及輔助專業人士的合約，達成協議。不過市長Scott說，至於教師們回去工作的協議，條件還在談。

              根據屋本市市長的說法，屋本市教師們不會因為罷工，面對來自市政府的任何紀錄處分行動。屋本市教師協會需支付屋本市因罷工花了27萬中的22萬5000元。教師協會還會捐2萬元給地方慈善機構。

           支持教師們罷工的人說，教師們有權罷工，才有能力和學區談判合約及工作條件。

           波士頓教師協會會長唐佳宇 (Jessica Tang)表示，罷工當然應該是最後才用到的手段，但如果已經試過所有其他方法來為學生爭取學生所需要的，有時候必須這麼做。

麻州長 Maura Healey 巡視地鐵營運中心 強調重視地鐵的安全、可靠及可負擔程度

麻州州長奚莉 (Maura Healey)誓言要讓麻州地鐵營運透明，可靠，安全，還可負擔。右起為麻州副州長 Kim Driscoll，交通廳副廳長
Monica Tibbits-Nutt，交通廳廳長Gina Fiandaca巡視麻州地鐵營運控制中心後，發表說法。(周菊子攝)

麻州州長奚莉 (Maura Healey) (中)和副州長 Kim Driscoll (左)，以及麻州地鐵
代理總經理Jeff Gonneville從南車站走到地鐵營運控制中心去巡視。 (周菊子攝)

          (Boston Orange 周菊子麻州報導) 麻州州長奚莉 (Maura Healey) 、交通廳廳長Gina Fiandaca等人，2月2日和麻州地鐵代理總經理Jeff Gonneville等人，一同搭乘紅線地鐵，巡視麻州地鐵的營運控制中心，強調她的政府和麻州地鐵致力為民眾提供安全、可靠的公共交通工具。

麻州地鐵代理總經理Jeff Gonneville (左二)像麻州州長奚莉 (Maira Healey)等人匯報地鐵
營運概況。 (周菊子攝)

             奚莉州長說，親身體驗民眾搭乘地鐵的感受很重要，所以她和副州長Kim Driscoll，交通廳廳長Gina Fiandaca，副交通廳長Monica Tibbits-Nutt等人，這天一起從麻州地鐵公園街站，搭到南車站這一站，在地鐵上和乘客聊，再走到高街 (High Street) 45號的麻州地鐵營運中心去，巡視麻州地鐵營運控制中心，了解一下地鐵如何監控地鐵及巴士的行駛狀況。

          在巴士上，一名乘客告訴他們，從麻州法蘭克林鎮到波士頓，開車來回要2小時，搭地鐵卻只要58分鐘。奚莉州長說，這種服務，就是他們想要為民眾提供的。他們也希望人們多利用公共交通工具，更少開車，以追趕達到縮減對氣候影響的目標。

麻州地鐵營運控制中心的調派員得隨時盯著監控螢幕，查看各條路線地鐵及巴士的
營運狀況。(周菊子攝)

             奚莉說，她們希望州民了解，政府知道人民在上班，上課或去醫院時，遭遇公共交通工具延誤，停駛等等狀況時的沮喪感，也在致力改善，更何況麻州的經濟也得靠良好交通來支撐。她 同時希望地鐵工作人員了解，她和副州長及交通廳廳長等人很感激他們的辛勤工作。知道地鐵人手不足，大家都很不容易，但是很清楚的，要改善目前狀況，她們有很多工作要做。他們這天搭乘的地鐵是1986年建的，已經十分老舊，所以如何促使紅線及橘線的新地鐵車廂早日完工也很重要。

             奚莉指出，州政府知道位於春田市的中車公司在製造紅線及橘線地鐵車廂上，工程延誤嚴重，州政府已派人員駐守，了解狀況。麻州地鐵也將組織一個專家團隊，從管理、施工，零件，營運，以及合約內容等各種角度去找出問題，加以改善。州政府將要求麻州地鐵深入了解，並辨識優先順序的來加速解決造成製作車廂延誤所面對的挑戰。

             她說，州政府也知道受過訓練的人手是問題，她已承諾將在即將遞出去的第一份麻州政府預算案中，編列經費，增聘1000名員工來協助麻州地鐵營運。未來數週，她將和民眾分享預算內容，州政府還將和社區學院，公立學校，以及技職學校合作來培養人手，並從精簡招聘入職過程開始，給予充分升遷機會，使之成為很有發展潛力的職業，來吸引更多人才。奚莉表示，這將是交通廳廳長和麻州地鐵總經理的共同目標。

             至於麻州地鐵營運的透明性，無論是延誤、停止服務，發生事故，奚莉表示，他們明白這些都還有待改善、加強，需要更快速的提供資訊，以重新建立人們對麻州地鐵的信任。

             奚莉表示，麻州地鐵正在建立更詳細的減速行駛區域報告，以更快速的向民眾提供資訊，麻州地鐵如何回應聯邦運輸局 (FTA)調查報告的資訊，也將更透明的在麻州地鐵網站上公開，供乘客查閱。麻州地鐵預定在未來一、二個月內將向FTA提交報告，說明在改善營運安全上都採取了那些措施，做了些什麼維修工程，在營運上有些甚麼調整等等

奚莉強調，她不會去美化麻州地鐵的營運，一切都會很透明，她知道及時提供資訊對人們決定採用哪種交通工具出門很重要，她也知道麻州地鐵所面對車廂老齡化，以及人手不足等挑戰，麻州政府和麻州地鐵將攜手改善交通服務。

交通廳廳長Gina Fiandaca表示，她在擔任波士頓市交通局局長時，每天都搭藍線地鐵，對地鐵行駛準時的重要性深有感受。奚莉政府的目標是致力協助人民在安全、可負擔的情況下，及時去到自己需要去的地方。她引用奚莉曾說的，如果沒有一個營運正常的麻州地鐵，麻州不可能有效運作，經濟也不可能發展。