台山鄉親服務社區 拜訪中華頤養院獻演歌舞

台山鄉親聯誼會穿上制服到中華頤養願為老人家們獻唱。 (台山鄉親提供)

台山鄉親表演太極功夫扇舞。 (台山鄉親提供)

               (Boston Orange) 波士頓台山鄉親聯誼會4月初由副會長陳晶年率領，大隊人馬趕到昆士市，拜訪中華頤養院，表演舞蹈和歌唱，為院民帶來歡樂氣氛，聊盡做個好公民，服務社區心意。

              波士頓台山鄉親聯誼會的新任會長黃紹培在上任時表示，服務會員要「三心二意」，也就是恆心，熱心，愛心，以及一心一意，全心全意。他強調台山鄉親都很熱心，行有餘力時，都很願意為社區做事。

台山鄉親聯誼會副會長陳晶年 (右)代表該會
發紅包給院民。 (台山鄉親提供)

              台山鄉親會副會長陳晶年在該會第一次拜訪中華頤養院的活動中就說，她代表該會和會長黃紹培向中頤養院的全體院民，醫護工作人員問好，獻上祝福。台山鄉親這次到訪，表演，是在實踐該會服務社區理念，藉著探訪老人家，表達關心之情，問候之意。

              當天的表演節目包括獻唱讓人感到新春祥和、快樂的「迎春花」，「福門開，好運來」，示範剛柔並濟的「太極功夫扇」，表演蒙古五「游牧時光」，還有周敏演唱「粉紅色的回憶」。

              其中譚錫壯以薩克斯風吹奏「小城故事」，演唱「我是台山人」最是特別。「我是台山人」歌詞中的「我是勤勞的台山人，能文能武聚群英，人人和藹又可親，五邑鄉音最親近，同心同德譜新篇，無論是留洋還是居故鄉，齊為祖國建功勛，敢想，敢做，敢叫天地變新顏，全力去拼命，天天都打拼，夢想就會實現。我是勇敢的台山人，人才輩出層出不盡，大家謙虛又謹慎，各行各業出奇兵，愛國愛鄉把力量縣，不管是風吹雨打路艱辛，披荊斬棘向前奔，不怕苦，不派類，鼓起勇氣定能贏，群力鼓幹勁，功績處處見，我是台山人」，更是讓人見到台山人對自己的期許。

周敏演唱粉紅色的回憶。 (台山鄉親提供)

              這場拜訪活動，最後在副會長李樹靄代表該會及會長黃紹培發紅包給院民及院內醫護人員，每個人臉上都綻放出歡喜笑容中結束。

譚錫壯吹薩克斯風。 (台山鄉親提供)

紐英崙中華公所慶祝百年 第一砲朱紹昌主持詩詞賞析

朱紹昌主講「李清照詩詞賞析」，為中華公所百年慶祝打響第一砲。
(周菊子攝)

                (Boston Orange 周菊子波士頓報導) 紐英崙中華公所4月23日下午，在公所會議廳以一場「詩詞賞析」為中華公所的成立一百週年慶祝拉開序幕。主席雷國輝在致詞時指出，將以一系列活動，跨年慶祝這漫長歲月經歷。

              雷國輝指出，自從1882年美國通過排華法案後，直到1920年代，陸續有許多法令對華人打擊極大。華人在美國社會也一直是人數少，地位低，生活氛圍很低迷。

朱紹昌 (右) 的詩詞賞析出席者眾。 (周菊子攝)

中華公所因此於1923年在州政府立案註冊，成為新英格蘭地區的龍頭社團，發揮保護華人的作用。

事實上，中華公所在麻州已存在170多年，然而因為正式註冊是在1923年，於是2023年就成了一百週年。今年決定舉辦百年慶祝，主要是因為近年美國境內針對亞裔的歧視與暴力事件陡增，華人需要更加團結，以因應社會現實。

朱紹昌坦言他認為「李清照詩詞評註」的內容，資料最豐富。
(周菊子攝)

目前中華公所規劃的百年慶祝系列活動，從4月23日第一場由朱紹昌主講的詩詞賞析開始，陸續有4月30日由梅宇國主講的「筆落驚風雨」書法講座，5月28日有鍾倫納博士主講龍的傳人。

其他活動包括乒乓球賽，排球賽，以及書法會的後續展覽及講座，一直辦到9月。

朱紹昌不但賞析詩詞，還自己創作。 海報上的「臨江仙」就是她自己的創作。
(周菊子攝)

雷國輝表示，一百年是一段很長的時間，所以中華公所的百年慶祝，將是個跨年活動，今年之後，還會繼續籌辦，以豐富僑社，增加光彩。

朱紹昌有著波城嶺南詞客稱謂，在波士頓華埠是人盡皆知的騷人墨客。他這天特地挑了10首著名的李清照詩詞，一一分析其字句之巧妙，以及詩詞背後反映了李清照與前後2任丈夫趙明誠與張汝舟關係的故事。

紐英崙中華公所主席雷國輝致詞，概述中華公所百年慶祝內容。
(主辦單位提供)

這10首詩詞分別為「如夢令」的常記溪亭日暮，昨夜雨疏風驟，一剪梅的「紅藕香殘玉簟秋」，醉花陰的「薄霧濃雲愁永晝」，武陵春的「風住塵香花已盡」，浪淘沙的「簾外五更風」，「鳳凰台上憶吹簫，香冷金猊」，「念奴嬌，蕭條庭院」，「永遇樂，落日鎔金」，「聲聲慢，尋尋覓覓」] 。

朱紹昌指出，他個人認為研究李清照詩詞的書中，「李清照詩詞評註」內容最豐富。在李清照的詩中，「聲聲慢」的「尋尋覓覓，冷冷清清，悽悽慘慘戚戚」，這一連14個字的疊詞表達傷心，意境之佳，無出其右。

波士頓僑教中心主任潘昭榮應邀出席，致詞。 (主辦單位提供)

元代喬夢符的「天淨沙」，「莺莺燕燕春春，花花柳柳真真，事事风风韵韵，娇娇嫩嫩，停停当当人人」，隨然疊加的字數更長，但朱紹昌認為李清照所表達出來的藝術性更高。

李清照的「醉花陰，薄霧濃雲愁永晝」這首詩中的「莫道不銷魂，簾捲西風，人比黃花瘦」，更是世代流傳，讓人在簡單的幾個字中，就彷彿看見景像，感覺到慵懶，令人憐惜的味道。

中華公所百年慶祝下一場活動由梅宇國談書法。 (周菊子攝)

這場詩詞賞析還談了李清照校注的詞論，描述唐朝盛行樂府聲詩，一路衍變至詩文分平仄，歌詞分五音，又分五聲六韻，輕濁輕重等論述。

出席者都聽得十分認真。 (周菊子攝)

這場講座有波士頓安良工商會，紐英崙朱沛國堂，紐英崙藝術學會，波士頓詩詞學會，木蘭寨粵劇文化工作室等團體協辦，僑教中心主任潘昭榮，中心工作人員張小慧，北美洲舜裔篤親公所美東總理陳建立，朱沛國堂主席朱健威，至德三德公所五名主席之一的曹品慈，中華書法會會長池元山，紐英倫藝術學會會長梅宇國，台山鄉親聯誼會會長黃紹培，曾任中華公所主席的陳家驊等，有不下六，七十人參加，席間發問踴躍，場面十分難得。

波士頓司徒宗達當選第12屆世界鳳倫公所會長

世界鳳倫公所在波士頓召開第11界懇親大會。 (黃定國攝)

駐波士頓台北經濟文化辦事處處長孫儉元 (前排左一)應邀出席世界鳳倫
公所懇親大會公宴，和波士頓鳳倫主席司徒宗達(後左三起) ，世界鳳倫
永遠榮譽會長司徒家成，紐英倫中華公所主席雷國輝，第十一屆
世界鳳倫懇親大會會長司徒國雄(前右二)等人合影。 (周菊子攝)

             (Boston Orange 周菊子波士頓報導) 波士頓宗親包括司徒和薛2姓的鳳倫公所，23日迎來喜訊，甫落幕的第十一屆世界鳳倫懇親大會，推選出波士頓鳳倫主席司徒宗達接任成為世界鳳倫公所第十二屆會長，也是波士頓的第一位世界鳳倫會長。

第十一屆世界鳳倫公所懇親大會在波士頓舉行，宗親們在會所前合影。

              包括星加坡、香港、開平圖書館、溫哥華、多倫多、西雅圖、羅省、三藩市和芝加哥等地，這場世界鳳倫懇親大會，一共有35名宗親出席，從4月21日到波士頓華埠乞臣街公所會址祭祖開始，22日借中華公所會議廳一連開3場會議，報告各埠族務，當晚再在帝苑大酒樓舉行公宴，邀波士頓僑團參加，23日再接受波士頓僑社回請午宴後，在大波士頓內旅遊一日後，圓滿結束懇親活動。

            在懇親會議中，鳳倫宗親們主要討論的是修改章程，設計會徽。由於宗親們仍未達成共識，彼此同意繼續研議，並期望在未來半年內能拿出一個再次修改的會徽草圖。

駐波士頓台北經濟文化辦事處處長孫儉元 (後右一) ，波士頓僑教中心
主任潘昭榮(後左一)和鳳倫宗親及超武館醒獅隊留影。(周菊子攝)

              22日晚的公宴，在包括司徒宗親父子檔的超武館醒獅隊舞獅獻瑞後，由波士頓鳳倫最年輕的宗親，美國退伍軍人會華埠328分會會長司徒文信，以及司徒真明擔任司儀，展開晚宴。駐波士頓台北經濟文化辦事處處長孫儉元，僑教中心主任潘昭榮，紐英倫中華公所主席雷國輝都應邀出席，均全程以廣東話致詞，祝賀。麻州眾議員黃子安，陳德基也應邀到會，並送上表揚狀。

麻州眾議員黃子安(右) ，陳德基(左)送上表揚狀，波士頓鳳倫主席
司徒宗達代表接受。 (周菊子攝)

              第十屆世界鳳倫懇親大會會長司徒國雄，以及世界鳳倫永遠榮譽會長司徒家成也在致詞時送上滿滿祝福，稱許司徒宗達的另一半，關麗莎打點，招呼得很周到。

              當晚還有甄若茅率領的星樂隊，率同駐隊歌星趙寶玲，曾燕琴等人穿著華麗禮服現場表演，增添許多氣氛。

右起，陳建立，司徒國雄，司徒家成和黃官羨向司徒宗達及觀麗莎
表達祝賀，恭喜司徒宗達當選世界鳳倫公所第12屆會長。 (周菊子攝)

23日中午，在紐英倫中華公所和僑界各團體回請鳳倫公所的午宴中，中華公所主席雷國輝代為宣佈了司徒宗達當選世界鳳倫會長的喜訊。來自新加坡的第十屆世界鳳倫懇親大會會長司徒國雄，在會上代表鳳倫送給中華公所一個新加坡司徒氏教倫堂的「情系教倫」金盤，感謝中華公所借給開會場地等協助，也送給第十一屆世界鳳倫懇親大會籌備會一個「再創輝煌」的牌匾。三年後的下一屆世界鳳倫懇親大會將在溫哥華舉行。

世界鳳倫宗親在紐英崙中華公所會議廳內開會。(黃定國攝)

甄若茅(前右一)創辦的星月隊，陣容越見壯大。 (周菊子攝)

波士頓鳳倫公所最年輕成員司徒文信(左)和司徒真明搭檔當司儀。

星樂隊演奏，還有主唱，伴唱。 (周菊子攝)

甄若茅組樂隊，夫唱婦隨。 (周菊子攝)

新民主聯盟 5/2 紀念MLK

 新民主聯盟 (New Democracy Coalition)和波士頓山頂委員會 (The Boston Mountaintop Committee) 將於 2023 年 5 月 2 日(週二)下午 4 點在波士頓市政府廣場舉辦第六屆波士頓馬丁·路德·金(MLK) 公共朗讀活動。今年的主題將專注於非暴力，邀106歲，波士頓年紀最長居民，以及10歲的多徹斯特四年級學生來朗讀。

這朗讀活動緣起於2018年紀念馬丁路德金遇刺50週年。Kevin Peterson牧師說，藉由人們朗讀馬丁路德金言詞，紀念其一生與傳奇的這活動，已成為每年一度，把馬丁路德金精神融入我們心中的一個機會。

6TH ANNUAL BOSTON MARTIN LUTHER KING JR PUBLIC READING WILL FOCUS ON NON-VIOLENCE, WILL FEATURE 100+ READERS FROM ACROSS ALL BOSTON NEIGHBORHOODS BOSTON—The 6th Annual MLK Public Reading will feature a 106 year-old Boston resident (among the city’s oldest persons) and 10 year-old Dorchester fourth grader. The nationally-recognized event will be held Tuesday, May 2, 2023, 4 PM at the Boston City Hall Plaza. The event is led by the New Democracy Coalition and The Boston Mountaintop Committee. Sponsors include the Boys and Girls Clubs of Boston, The Poor People's Campaign, NESN and El Mundo, Boston. “There nothing like this MLK Public Reading in the world and we are proud that it's a Boson tradition that is growing every year,” said the Rev. Dr. Kevin Peterson, who founded the event in 2018 at the 50th anniversary of Rev. King’s assassination. This event has become an opportunity where, yearly, we create a human memorial to Reverend King’s life and legacy by reciting his words and incorporating them into our spirit.”

AG CAMPBELL HOSTS TWELFTH ANNUAL NATIONAL CYBER CRIME CONFERENCE

 AG CAMPBELL HOSTS TWELFTH ANNUAL NATIONAL CYBER CRIME CONFERENCE

Approximately 1,200 Law Enforcement Officers, Prosecutors, and Investigators from Across the Country Will Participate in Largest of Its Kind Three-Day Hybrid Conference 

 

BOSTON — This week, Attorney General Andrea Joy Campbell hosted the twelfth annual National Cyber Crime Conference, the largest conference of its kind and first under her administration. The conference is aimed at helping equip law enforcement and prosecutors with the tools and skills to effectively detect and combat cyber crime.

 

            During her opening remarks to kick off the conference on Tuesday, AG Campbell spoke about the importance of how staying up-to-date on the tools and skills required to tackle cyber crime is critical if we are to protect our young people from an industry that continues to rapidly evolve and expand. 

 

Approximately 1,200 law enforcement officers, prosecutors, and investigators have traveled from across the country to attend the three-day conference both virtually and in-person.

 

“The fact that law enforcement officials, prosecutors, investigators, and other forensic personnel come together for this conference each year demonstrates just how vital and helpful the techniques and lessons shared here are to our respective fields,” said AG Campbell. “I’m proud of the leadership and expertise in the office, and know that by learning the newest skills and trends in an ever-growing digital world, we are better able to protect the public from threats including cyber threats.”

 

Lam Nguyen, Director of the Cyber Forensics Laboratory at DC3; a DOD designated Center of Excellence and an accredited ISO: 17025 forensic laboratory, delivered the conference’s keynote address, and spoke about how digital forensics have evolved over the past twenty years and how law enforcement must adapt to an ever-changing environment. Recognized as an expert and leading figure in the field of Digital Forensics and E-Discovery, Nguyen has led large-scale international investigations in both criminal and civil cases, has testified as an expert witness on digital evidence numerous times and in multiple jurisdictions, and has previously served as an adjunct professor at both George Washington University and George Mason University.

 

The conference also featured notable speakers and presenters, and consisted of 205 sessions that included labs, lectures, presentations and certification programs. Attendees were trained on a wide range of topics including cryptocurrency tracing, geolocation evidence, conducting dark web investigations, the history of ghost guns, the importance of social media in today’s cases, and search and seizure in the digital world.

 

The conference was hosted by the AG’s Office in partnership with the National Association of Attorneys General (NAAG), the National White Collar Crime Center (NW3C), the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center (FLETC), the National Criminal Justice Training Center (NCJTC), and SEARCH, the National Consortium for Justice Information and Statistics, and our technology partner, Zoom.

 

The conference’s sponsors and exhibitors were Cellebrite, Black Rainbow, Magnet Forensics, Medex Forensics, Oxygen Forensics, ScanWriter, Teel Technologies, Berla Corporation, VSPL, Amped Software, Atola Technlogy, Cobwebs Technologies, CrimeLines, DATAPILOT, Forensic Analytics, Grayshift, iCrimeFighter, LexisNexis Risk Solutions, MOS Equipment, MSAB, NICE Public Safety, PenLink, Peregrine Technologies, SUMURI LLC, the Techno Security & Digital Forensics Conference, the University of New Haven, US DHHS-OIG Office of Investigations, and Waldorf University.

 

Attendees at this week’s event represented 46 states, as well as the United Kingdom, Canada, Puerto Rico, Singapore, Jordan, Estonia, Turks & Caicos, Norway, Guam, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and Ukraine. Law enforcement, prosecutors, and investigators attended from federal, state, and local agencies across the country to attend training taught by 135 of the world’s top experts in cyber.  

 

The AG’s Office has long made the prevention and prosecution of cyber crime a top priority and has a state-of-the-art Digital Evidence Lab in Boston, which has statewide capacity to deal with cyber crime and more efficiently process the digital evidence that is used in essentially every investigation in the AG’s Office. Since 2008, the AG’s Office has provided cyber training for more than 20,000 state and local law enforcement personnel from across the state and the nation.

Healey-Driscoll Administration Awards Grants to Improve Water Quality in the Buzzards Bay Watershed

 Healey-Driscoll Administration Awards Grants to Improve Water Quality in the Buzzards Bay Watershed 

Over $800,000 in federal funds awarded to three municipalities

 

BOSTON – The Healey-Driscoll Administration today announced $808,500 in federally funded grant awards for projects that will improve water quality in the Buzzards Bay watershed. These three grants will fund wastewater treatment plant upgrades that will reduce tens of thousands of pounds of nitrogen pollution to Buzzards Bay, a nature-based stormwater and geese management project at an urban park, and a stormwater management plan and treatment designs to address discharges to a freshwater pond with a public beach. Grants are awarded by the Buzzards Bay National Estuary Program (NEP) through the Massachusetts Office of Coastal Zone Management (CZM), with funding from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) pursuant to the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act of 2021. The grants also leverage $484,000 in local cash and in-kind services. 

 

“The Healey-Driscoll Administration is focused on providing direct support to communities to improve local economies and the quality of life for the people that live there,” said Energy & Environmental Affairs Secretary Rebecca Tepper. “These three projects improve public health and safeguard the environment and ensure our residents can enjoy the coastal waters of Buzzards Bay.”  

 

“These critical investments will help us preserve the beautiful Buzzards Bay for generations to come,” said CZM Director Lisa Berry Engler. “Through these grants, the Buzzards Bay National Estuary Program focuses funding resources on pragmatic projects that improve local water quality. We applaud the partnerships created and the on-the-ground results achieved.” 

 

The following municipalities were awarded grants: 

 

• The Town of Bourne will receive $183,500 to hire an engineering firm to address nutrient and bacteria loading to Queen Sewell Pond. The grant will fund stormwater treatment designs for a discharge near a freshwater bathing beach and develop an action plan for nine other stormwater discharges in the watershed. The pond has been impaired by harmful algal blooms and elevated bacteria levels, which have caused beach closures.  
• The Town of Dartmouth will receive $250,000 to make modifications to its wastewater treatment facility to better meet permitted discharge limits for certain pollutants and significantly reduce nitrogen discharges to Buzzards Bay. While the Town is not required to remove nitrogen from its discharge, adding aeration to certain tanks during this upgrade will cut nitrogen discharges in half, potentially removing more than 90,000 pounds of nitrogen pollution from the facility’s discharge to Buzzards Bay each year. The nitrogen removal upgrade costs are $475,000, and the Town will contribute the needed additional funds from their capital account. 
• The City of New Bedford will receive $375,000 to complete Phase II of the Buttonwood Park stormwater management project at the Buttonwood Senior Center. The project will address sediment erosion and pollutant discharges from the property and nearby neighborhoods. The site also has a large waterfowl population problem, notably Canada geese, whose wastes contribute to bacteria and nutrient pollution of the pond. The stormwater treatment system will consist of a biofilter raingarden, and the City will use habitat alteration techniques and barriers to exclude the waterfowl from the property. The Parks Department is working with the Conservation Commission to restore a vegetated buffer along the pond. The Senior Center also houses an adult with disabilities day care program, and Buttonwood Park abuts Environmental Justice populations and serves a diverse community in New Bedford and Dartmouth. New Bedford is providing $237,000 toward the cost of the project through other sources. 

 

“In my district of Southeastern Massachusetts, wastewater and stormwater runoff are major issues impacting not only the lives of those who live here but our tourism-based economy as well,” said Congressman Bill Keating. “The funding for these projects will go a long way toward improving our water quality overall.  I applaud the Healey-Driscoll Administration for directing these federal funds to address the needs of the Cape and South Coast.” 

 

“Reducing nutrient and pathogen pollution from public infrastructure is a top priority for our program,” said Buzzards Bay NEP Director, Dr. Joe Costa. “These grants will address local needs and make meaningful progress to improve water quality.” 

 

“Protecting the Buzzards Bay watershed is essential toward safeguarding public health, combatting climate change, supporting the essential commercial fishing industry, and preserving our excellent quality of life alongside one of the most beautiful waterfronts in the country,” said State Senator Mark Montigny (D-New Bedford). “Pollutant discharges, including nitrogen, have been an immense challenge for South Coast communities and these funds will provide significant assistance toward addressing the problem while minimizing the burden on local taxpayers.”  

 

“This financial assistance is huge for these communities. The Healey-Driscoll administration has rapidly responded to the needs of our area,” said State Representative Christopher Markey (D-Dartmouth). “They have listened to the boots on the ground and responded with funding for much needed wastewater infrastructure assistance.” 

 

The Office of Coastal Zone Management is the lead policy and planning agency on coastal and ocean issues within the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs. Created in 1985, the Buzzards Bay National Estuary Program provides grants and technical assistance to Buzzards Bay watershed communities to protect and restore water quality and natural resources in Buzzards Bay and its surrounding watershed and is one of 28 similar programs designated by the EPA. 

波士頓市議會議長Ed Flynn報喜訊 地2區共得850萬元社區保存經費

              (Boston Orange 編譯) 社區保存委員會上週宣佈撥款 4000 萬美元給為 56個項目。波士頓市議會議長愛德華費連 (Ed Flynn)指出，其中有7個項目在他服務的第2區，類別包括可負擔住宅，保存歷史，開放空間，公園及娛樂，共得款850萬元。

              在南波士頓，有250 萬美元撥給了把 E 街上的 McDevitt Hall 改造成可負擔耆英出租房，其中包括 35 戶可負擔住宅的對象為 62 歲及以上人士，有39萬5500元給了歷史悠久的國會街消防局，做外牆整修，提高消防局旁邊和後面的水泥。

              在華埠，有420多萬元給了位於泰勒街 (Tyler)和乞臣街 (Hudson)之間的R1地段，用於建造44戶供出售，以及66戶供出租的可負擔住宅。聖沾士教堂也獲得40萬元維修歷史性的外牆結構，磚石，以及排水系統。

              在市中心的Tremont Temple 浸信會教堂得到 75萬元的修復資金，用於砌築和修繕建築。 在 Beacon Hill，Peter Faneuil House 得到28萬元，用於修復籃球場和維修磚石。

              愛德華費連表示，感謝吳弭市長，不分區市議員Flaherty，以及社區保存委員會的領導力與社區及民間機構的努力。他很高興今年有2000萬元將用於資助全市各地的可負擔住宅，為市內中低收入居民，老人及工薪家庭提供可負擔住宅。

              查詢詳情可電洽 617-635-3203，或發電郵到 Ed.Flynn@Boston.gov 。

Council President Flynn Announces $8.5 million in Community Preservation Act Funding For District 2 

BOSTON - Last week, the Community Preservation Committee awarded a total of $40 million to 56 projects for this year’s round of Community Preservation funding. Seven projects in District 2 received funding in the categories of affordable housing, historic preservation and open space, parks and recreation, for a total of $8.5 million.

In South Boston, $2.5 million was awarded to repurpose the McDevitt Hall on E Street into affordable senior rental housing, which includes 35 units of affordable housing for neighbors ages 62 and over. In the Fort Point neighborhood, $395,500 was awarded to the historic Congress Street Fire Station for exterior restorations, which includes repair and repointing of masonry at the side and rear elevations of the Firehouse.

In Chinatown, a total of over $4.2 million was awarded to partially fund the creation of 44 units of affordable homeownership housing and 66 units of affordable rental housing at Parcel R-1 at Tyler and Hudson Street. St. James the Greater Church also received $400,000 in grants for restoration of the historic exterior structure of the Church and masonry and drainage system repairs. 

In Downtown, Tremont Temple Baptist Church received $750,000 in restoration funds for masonry and building repairs. On Beacon Hill, Peter Faneuil House received $280,000 in funds to rehabilitate the basketball court and to perform masonry repairs. 

“I would like to thank Mayor Wu, Councilor Flaherty, and the Community Preservation Committee for their steadfast leadership and the work of neighbors and civic organizations who continue to apply for this critical funding. Over the past five years, we have continued to enhance our neighborhoods and city through CPA funds,” said Council President Flynn. “I am excited that over $20 million will go towards funding affordable housing across the city this year, including over $4 million to create 110 units in Chinatown to support our immigrant neighbors and working families, and $2.5 million to create affordable housing for seniors at the McDevitt Homes in South Boston. CPA funding will continue to play a key role in helping our city to provide affordable housing for both low and middle income residents, our seniors and working families.”

For more information, please contact Council President Flynn’s office at 617-635-3203 and Ed.Flynn@Boston.gov

麥特潘車站135戶可負擔住宅 the Loop 啟用

MAYOR WU, LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR DRISCOLL, THE PRESERVATION OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING, NUESTRA COMUNIDAD AND MASSHOUSING CELEBRATE THE OPENING OF THE LOOP AT MATTAPAN STATION  A new transit-oriented 135-unit affordable mixed-use housing community in Mattapan Square

BOSTON - Tuesday, April 25, 2023 -  Mayor Michelle Wu, Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll,  the Preservation of Affordable Housing  (POAH), Nuestra Comunidad, MassHousing, and residents today celebrated the Grand Opening of the Loop at Mattapan Station. The Loop at Mattapan Station is a new transit-oriented 135-unit affordable mixed-use housing community in Mattapan Square. Mayor Wu also celebrated the opening of Daily Table in the Loop building, a community grocery store with a mission to provide nutritious, delicious food more affordably than other supermarkets. The Loop at Mattapan Station was developed on a vacant and underutilized MBTA parking lot adjacent to the Mattapan trolley line station.  “The Loop at Mattapan Station demonstrates what is possible when we work together across sectors to create more affordable housing for working families and build more connected neighborhoods,” said Mayor Michelle Wu.  “We have transformed this formerly underutilized asphalt lot into a mixed-use, mixed-income, transit-oriented development with 135 beautiful new rental homes that will connect residents to economic opportunity for many years to come.” The Loop at Mattapan Station builds on Mayor Wu’s commitment to create affordable housing and expand access to public transportation across Boston’s neighborhoods. The Loop at Mattapan Station created 135 units of housing next to an MBTA bus stop, the Mattapan Trolley stop, and a block from the Mattapan Commuter Rail Station. It is affordable to a range of incomes, with almost half of the units affordable to families making $70,100 or less. The income-restricted units and 10,000 square feet of first-floor retail space in this six-story building were built using the latest passive house energy efficiency standards. The Loop also boasts a gym, community rooms, a basketball court, a roof deck, a bike room, and an E-bike station. The development’s proximity to the Neponset River Greenway allows access to an important green space and community amenity. “We are eager to champion more projects like The Loop at Mattapan Station across Massachusetts, where public-private partnerships leverage state, federal, and local resources and produce transformative results on state-owned, underutilized sites,” said Lt. Governor Kim Driscoll. “There are opportunities in every region, and we are ready to invest. Our state has the tools with MassWorks, affordable housing tax credits, housing vouchers, planning grants, environmental remediation, and many more resources to jumpstart development. Congratulations to the MBTA, POAH, Nuestra Comunidad and the many other partners in making this project a reality.” The retail and commercial spaces complement the existing business community and will attract new merchants and patrons to the Mattapan Square neighborhood. The first tenant, Daily Table, is a nonprofit grocery chain dedicated to providing fresh, tasty, convenient and nutritious food to communities most in need at prices everyone can afford. By partnering with a network of growers, manufacturers, and other suppliers, they source high-quality food at low costs and make it available to everyone. They believe in creating livable wage jobs, with a strong preference for hiring directly from the neighborhoods they operate in.  “With food insecurity rates and inflation at or near an all-time high, access to affordable nutrition for all is more important than ever," said Doug Rauch, Daily Table Founder, and President. “We are thrilled to have opened our fourth location here in Mattapan, where we will continue to deliver on our mission to provide freshly prepared meals, a broad selection of fresh fruits, veggies, meats and seafood, and grocery staples all at prices that are truly affordable for any budget and SNAP eligible.” "I am pleased to celebrate the opening of The Loop at Mattapan Station, a remarkable transit-oriented development that exemplifies the City’s vision for more affordable and sustainable housing in Boston,” said Sheila Dillon, Chief of Housing. “The Loop's housing, located next to multiple transportation options, provides a crucial link between housing, transit, and economic opportunities. The building's passive house energy efficiency standards, along with its amenities such as a gym, community rooms, and bike room, make it a model for sustainable and healthy development." The Loop at Mattapan Station will contain six studio apartments, 38 one-bedroom apartments, 81 two-bedroom apartments, and 10 three-bedroom apartments. Eighteen apartments will be restricted to very low-income households earning at or below 30 percent of the area median income (AMI) and those units will be supported by project-based vouchers through both the federal Section 8 and the Massachusetts Rental Voucher Programs (MRVP). There will be forty-seven apartments restricted to households earning at or below 50 percent of AMI, twenty-eight apartments restricted to households earning at or below 60 percent of AMI, and forty-two apartments restricted to households earning at or below 80 percent of AMI.   “The Loop at Mattapan Station exemplifies the mission-driven work of MassHousing and all of our partners in creating affordable housing for working families and building stronger communities,” said Chrystal Kornegay, MassHousing Executive Director. “We are pleased to join POAH, the Commonwealth, and the City of Boston in celebrating the transformation of an underutilized parking lot into 135 new rental homes that will connect residents to economic opportunity for many years to come.”  “We are thrilled to welcome 135 low and moderate income households to The Loop at Mattapan Station,” said Aaron Gornstein, President and CEO of POAH.  “These residents will also benefit from energy efficient apartments, recreational opportunities, public transit, and a new grocery store.  We greatly appreciate the support of all our partners, funders, and neighborhood residents who helped make this happen.” The Loop at Mattapan Station was made possible in part by $3 million from the City of Boston’s Mayor’s Office of Housing,  $39.3 million in tax credit equity from an allocation of Low-Income Housing Tax Credits (LIHTC), allocated by the Massachusetts Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD). DHCD also provided $5.35 million in direct support for the project. The project also benefited from $1.8 million in public infrastructure funding from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and $540,000 in passive house funding from the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center. Bank of America provided construction financing and is the tax credit equity investor.   "Nuestra Comunidad is excited and proud to witness the fruits of our years-long labor and partnership with POAH,” said N. Paul TonThat, Nuestra Comunidad’s Executive Director. “Nuestra is confident that the "Loop" will significantly benefit the greater Mattapan community by providing transit oriented affordable housing opportunities and neighborhood centric retail." MassHousing also provided $36.5 million in affordable housing financing for the Loop, including $17.4 million in permanent financing, $16.1 million in tax-exempt bridge financing, and $3 million from the Agency’s Workforce Housing Initiative. In FY23, Mayor Wu invested $380 million in housing affordability through the City’s Operating budget, the Capital budget, and federal recovery funds. The $200 million Mayor Wu committed in ARPA funds to invest in housing includes $60 million for affordable homeownership development and financial assistance to first-generation homebuyers, $57M for strategic acquisitions to combat displacement and create deeply-affordable development on City-owned land, $20M for a nation-leading pilot for energy retrofits in triple-deckers and other multifamily homes while maintaining affordability, $20M to develop new permanent supportive housing with specialized services for people with substance use disorder, $16M to maintain low-threshold shelter sites in response to the Mass-Cass humanitarian crisis, and $33M for upgrades to Boston Housing Authority properties.  Mayor Wu’s initiatives to address Boston’s housing affordability issues also include filing a Home Rule Petition relative to rent stabilization, real estate transfer fees and senior property tax relief, signing an Executive Order relative to affirmatively furthering fair housing, and launching an action plan to best utilize the City-owned land called Welcome Home, Boston.