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星期三, 8月 27, 2014

PATRICK ADMINISTRATION ANNOUNCES LAUNCH OF COLLABORATIVE WORKSPACE PROGRAM IN GATEWAY CITIES

PATRICK ADMINISTRATION ANNOUNCES LAUNCH OF COLLABORATIVE WORKSPACE PROGRAM IN GATEWAY CITIESApplication Process Now Underway for $2 Million in Transformative Development Funds from Economic Development Bill Signed by Governor Patrick
BOSTON – Wednesday, August 27, 2014 – Housing and Economic Development Secretary Greg Bialecki today announced the start of the application process for collaborative workspace grants from the Transformative Development Fund, which was created through the Economic Development Legislation signed into law by Governor Deval Patrick on August 13. Entrepreneurs in Gateway Cities can now apply for up to $2 million in matching grants to for-profit and nonprofit entities that will own, sponsor, or operate collaborative workspaces – shared communities that promote innovation, creativity, and interaction between and among tenants.

“Collaborative workspaces inspire communities of innovation,” said Housing and Economic Development Secretary Greg Bialecki. “These shared environments are hubs of economic activity, and are a very important part of our overall growth strategy.”

“An Act To Promote Economic Growth in the Commonwealth,” signed by Governor Patrick, provided for the creation of a Gateway Cities Transformative Development Fund. With more than $16 million, the Fund will bring growth and opportunity to Gateway Cities by enabling equity investments and technical assistance to support transformative development in these communities. MassDevelopment will manage the various components of the $16,050,000 Fund as part of the new Transformative Development Initiative (TDI). 

“The sharing economy has driven demand for flexible, dynamic workspaces, especially in Gateway Cities,” said MassDevelopment President and CEO Marty Jones. “We look forward to seeing the spaces that will spring from this first phase of the Transformative Development Initiative, and appreciate the trust in the agency that Governor Patrick and the Legislature have shown in choosing MassDevelopment to launch this program.” 

Interested applicants can access the Request for Proposals for the grants by clicking here. Grants will apply to construction, improvements, or equipment for new spaces or for existing facility expansions. Collaborative workspaces often feature open floor plans, community meeting spaces, and other features to encourage connections between tenants. Some have become headquarters for small and innovative businesses and created focal points for economic clusters, as MassDevelopment found in a 2013 report the Agency commissioned on makerspaces.

MassDevelopment, the state’s finance and development agency, works with businesses, nonprofits, financial institutions, and communities to stimulate economic growth across the Commonwealth. During FY2013, MassDevelopment financed or managed 350 projects generating investment of more than $2.4 billion in the Massachusetts economy. These projects are projected to create more than 7,000 jobs and build or rehabilitate 800 residential units.

星期二, 8月 26, 2014

BPS 8/27 發校車181 輛載送 3954 學生

Tuesday evening update on Boston school bus service
Statement from Interim Superintendent John McDonough

We were able to cover all bus routes this afternoon thanks to a combination of regular bus drivers and supervisors.

As you know, the number of buses required on the road increases every day this week. Tomorrow morning we will need 181 buses, compared to 155 this afternoon, to serve approximately 3,954 students.

As of 8pm tonight Veolia and the drivers’ union have let us know they still need 15 more drivers to confirm their attendance in order to guarantee full on-time service.

Therefore, we cannot guarantee on-time service for all students tomorrow. Veolia has assured us that all routes will run – but that routes that do not yet have a driver may experience significant delays.

Unfortunately we must alert parents again to prepare alternate arrangements to bring their students to and from school on Wednesday if necessary.

Just as we did today, we will work closely with Veolia to post specific information about routes as soon as we receive it in the morning. This will be posted at bostonpublicschools.org and will also be communicated to school leaders. Parents can call the BPS Transportation Hotline at (617) 635-9520 in the morning to check their status or locate their child’s school bus in real-time at http://schoolbus.bostonpublicschools.org.

We are working with the MBTA to offer free service for students on Wednesday if this is necessary.

Our hope is that by sharing information as we receive it, parents can plan ahead. Although we saw some progress today toward full service, it is unfortunately still clear that our drivers and Veolia have not yet reached the point where service can be guaranteed every day. We share in your frustration and appreciate your patience.
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Tuesday afternoon update on Boston school bus service
Statement from Interim Superintendent John McDonough

We are focused on ensuring students and parents can rely on school bus service today and tomorrow. Here is where things stand:

This afternoon there are 155 bus routes to serve approximately 3,500 students. So far, 148 drivers have confirmed that they will drive. Veolia is prepared to assign 7 supervisors to pick up additional trips.

This means that there are enough drivers to complete all routes this afternoon on normal schedules.

We are still assessing the situation for tomorrow and will provide an update later today. We appreciate everyone’s patience and understanding.
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Monday evening update on Boston school bus service
Statement from Interim Superintendent John McDonough

We were able to cover all bus routes this afternoon thanks to a combination of regular bus drivers, supervisors and backup providers.

However, the number of buses required on the road increases every day this week. Tomorrow morning we will need 175 buses, compared to about 120 today. So far, only about 110 drivers have agreed to work tomorrow.

Veolia has indicated it is working with the union to encourage the drivers to report tomorrow. Veolia is continuing to assign drivers to routes. However, we cannot guarantee service tomorrow morning.

The MBTA will be free on Tuesday for students.

Families should prepare alternate arrangements to bring students to and from school Tuesday if necessary.

This ongoing uncertainty is unacceptable to us and is unacceptable to our students and families, who count on having a reliable ride to school.

Families can check the status of their school bus online at http://schoolbus.bostonpublicschools.org or by calling our Transportation Hotline at (617) 635-9520.

We know this is frustrating for families and schools. We join you in that frustration. We will continue to share information as it becomes available. 

There are 32 schools open in Boston on Tuesday: two BPS in-district charter schools, one Level 5 school, 15 Commonwealth Charter schools and 14 special education programs.

Update on Boston school bus service
Statement from Interim Superintendent John McDonough

The school bus drivers’ union gave us assurances for several days, including early this morning, that they would provide full service to all students today. This is despite the fact that it did not permit drivers to bid last week to prepare in advance for routes that began this morning.

Based on the reality on the ground this morning, it has become clear that the Union has not delivered on its promise. Thirteen of about 120 scheduled routes did not run. This is unacceptable to us and is unacceptable to our students and families, who count on having a reliable ride to school.

As a result we are taking the following steps:

1. We are dispatching supplemental service providers to cover some of the routes that are at risk this afternoon
2. Veolia is dispatching route supervisors to drive buses
3. The MBTA is free for students today
4. Veolia is continuing to allow drivers to bid on afternoon routes, just as they did this morning, in the hope that additional drivers decide to come to work.

Even within the last hour, the drivers’ union has said that all drivers will report to work this afternoon. We do not have confidence that this will be the case. With these additional resources we will have the capacity to run all routes this afternoon, although some may be significantly delayed. We want to let families know that they should prepare alternate arrangements to pick up students from school today if necessary. Families can check the status of their school bus at http://schoolbus.bostonpublicschools.org or by calling our Transportation Hotline at (617) 635-9520. We will post updates at bostonpublicschools.org.

We know this is frustrating for families and schools. We are as frustrated as anyone else with the ongoing uncertainty that has been created by our bus drivers union and want to apologize to the families who are affected. We will try to share as much information as we can. 
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Statement from Mayor Martin J. Walsh on School Buses and Student Safety

Statement from Mayor Martin J. Walsh on School Buses and Student Safety 


"I'm being updated regularly on this situation, and have been informed that Veolia and the bus drivers union continue to negotiate a new contract in good faith. I expect that they will reach a resolution that will provide certainty for all families every day. This is what students and parents deserve.

"The current situation, however, does not appear to be about a new contract. It is unfortunate that a small group of drivers have refused to participate. 

"I'm incredibly frustrated, and I know that parents, students, and school administrators and staff share this frustration. This is unacceptable, and I will continue to do everything in my power to ensure that students get to and from school safely."

MassHousing Loan Closings of $16.6 Million Will Preserve Affordability for Senior Citizens Living at the 135-Unit Beacon House on Beacon Hill

MassHousing Loan Closings of $16.6 Million Will Preserve Affordability for Senior Citizens Living at the 135-Unit Beacon House on Beacon Hill
Acquisition of the property by Rogerson Communities and covenants with the city of Boston will extend affordability in perpetuity

BOSTON – August 26, 2014 – Affordability for senior citizens living at the 135-unit Beacon House on Beacon Hill has been extended in perpetuity by the new ownership as a result of $16.6 million in MassHousing financing.

An affiliate of Rogerson Communities used the MassHousing loans to acquire Beacon House and in agreement with the city of Boston extend the affordability for the residents there for the life of the property. Without the MassHousing transaction and Rogerson Communities creating a new general partner entity the affordability at Beacon House was at risk.

"Beacon House is an important source of affordable housing for senior citizens living on Beacon Hill and now that affordability will be extended in perpetuity," said MassHousing Executive Director Thomas R. Gleason. "The property is in very good condition and Rogerson Communities has made a major commitment to providing quality affordable housing to the elderly residents who live there by working with the city of Boston to ensure the affordability there for the life of the property."

MassHousing provided a $14 million permanent loan and a $2.6 million subordinate loan. The property was originally financed by MassHousing in 1983 and the loan matured in October 2013. The owner has also renewed the 20-year Section 8 Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) contract for 85 apartments occupied by low-income seniors and 32 apartments are regulated by the Boston Redevelopment Authority and rented to individuals with low and moderate incomes. The remaining 18 apartments are subject to a long-term lease with Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) for use by out-of-town patients and visitors.

The property is located at 19 Myrtle St. and is comprised of 126 studio apartments and 9 one-bedroom apartments in two semi-attached, eight-story brick and stone buildings. The property has five ground-floor commercial spaces and common facilities include an atrium, roof deck, community room, library and computer lab with professional classes for residents. The owner provides free office space to Beacon Hill Village, a service provider that assists seniors with living independently. MGH operates a community-based health promotion program and Kit Clark Senior Services runs a meals program out of the property for the Beacon Hill Community.

"Beacon House is a unique and critical source of affordable housing for senior citizens living on Beacon Hill. The neighborhood and city shared our vision and urgency of preserving in perpetuity this magnificent resource for the residents living there now and for the residents who will live there many years into the future," said Rogerson Communites Principal James F. Seagle, Jr.

About Rogerson Communities
Rogerson Communities is a non-profit organization that has been providing housing and health care for the elderly and low-income individuals since it was founded in 1860. The organization serves more than 1,500 Greater Boston families through 25 facilities and programs. Services include housing and real estate development, health and fitness and Alzheimer's and memory loss programs.

About MassHousing
MassHousing (The Massachusetts Housing Finance Agency) is an independent, quasi-public agency created in 1966 and charged with providing financing for affordable housing in Massachusetts. The Agency raises capital by selling bonds and lends the proceeds to low- and moderate-income homebuyers and homeowners, and to developers who build or preserve affordable and/or mixed-income rental housing. MassHousing does not use taxpayer dollars to sustain its operations, although it administers some publicly funded programs on behalf of the Commonwealth. Since its inception, MassHousing has provided more than $17 billion for affordable housing. For more information, visit the MassHousing website at www.masshousing.com, follow us on Twitter @MassHousing, subscribe to our blog and Like us on Facebook.

廣教學校暑期班"蒸“得有特色

中華廣教學校上週五(22日)以文娛表演,海報展示,慶祝本年度暑期班圓滿落幕。校長曾秀芬笑指“蒸(STEAM)“過了的學生們,視野更廣,學習力更強,
            廣教學校今年的暑期班,借用學校系統強調科學,科技,工程,數學而流行起來的STEM這個詞,加上藝術後,擴展成為“STEAM“項目,聘請了在西蒙斯大學就讀的曾祖兒,在萊斯利(Lesley)大學就讀的司徒嘉穎,在東北大學就讀的伍嘉輝,在布萊頓(Brighton)高中當物理老師的雷展涵等人,為就讀暑期班的學生,設計了很有特色的課程內容,包括教學生們認識水這物質在世界中怎麼循環存在,海洋中的水,怎樣蒸發升空,凝聚成雲,再分解成為濕氣,降落到地面,海裏,進而把教學內容從科學延伸到環境保護等。
            該校老師表示,今年的暑期班共分兩期,從六月三十日到七月廿五日,以及七月廿八日到八月廿二日,不但有英文,數學,中文,還有校外實地考察活動(field trip),選修項目。所有課程都針對“如何來到這個地步(How did we get here)”,“如何往後發展(How do we go forward)”來設計,還儘量配合公立學校九月開學後的教學內容,注重手腦併用。
            在上課之外,所有的學生每天都參加學校安排的表演藝術,繪畫,運動及思考等四種類型活動,包括唱歌劇,拉小提琴,彈揚琴、彈古箏,畫素描或水彩,水墨國畫,寫書法,創作音樂,設計機器人,打橋牌,打兵乓球,扯鈴,有很多選擇。
            在校外實地考察部分,廣教學校今年的安排更是多姿多彩,不但去圖書館,逛兒童博物館,還長途跋涉到塞冷鎮的碧波地(Peabody)館,普利茅斯種植園,茶博物館,自由徑博物館,波士頓美術博物館,麻省理工學院博物館,Drumlin農場,新英格蘭水族館,因盧梭而出名的瓦爾登湖(Walden Pond)等。
            曾秀芬今年還開辦考前輔導班,幫助要升讀重點高中或升大學的學生做準備。

圖片說明:


            廣教學校教打鼓的老師郭榮臻(右起)幫曾祖兒,司徒嘉穎,伍嘉輝,雷展涵等老師準備展覽海報。(菊子攝)

太陽花衍生多個社運團體 島國前進要先修公投法

        台灣的“太陽花”運動還在發酵,大波士頓僑民,學子心緒仍受牽動。林飛帆,陳為廷等五名太陽花學生廿四日抵達波士頓舉行的兩場晤談會,再度形成熱潮,吸引將近三百人出席,探討可以為台灣的未來做什麼。
        從“反媒體壟斷聯盟”過渡到“太陽花運動”,如今和黃昌國,陳為廷等人組成“島國前進”的林飛帆,廿四日在哈佛大學燕京圖書館,從下午四點半一直進行到將近八點的“撒種迎旭日---太陽花的蓄勢與動靜”晤談會中指出,“島國前進”目前的重點活動是“修訂公投法”。
            他在回應出席者提問時,坦言“換國旗,改國號”都不是當務之急。“島國前進”希望明年春天時能拿到十萬份連署書,再回到立法院施壓,要求修改憲法,廢除公投法第三十條所規定的“百分之五十投票率“,以及提案修憲需要十萬人連署等門檻,期以補充代議政治的不足,改變很多議題難以提交公投,付諸民意表决的現狀。
            林飛帆坦言,萬一”修訂公投法“的呼籲失敗了,未來會怎麼做,他也沒答案。
林飛帆、陳為廷、周馥儀、賴品妤和賴郁棻等五名學生,都是從今年三月十八日“太陽花運動”中的代表人物,在太陽花事件後,分別與其他同伴組成了「島國前進」,自我定位為左獨的「黑色島國青年陣線」等社會運動組織。此行是應北美洲台灣然教授協會(NAPTA)之邀,為該會年會發表演講後,再應台灣人公共事務會(FAPA)之邀,到舊金山、密西根、華府、波士頓、紐約等地巡迴演講,預計廿九日回台灣
其中的林飛帆因跳入社會運動,臺大政治碩士念了四年,迄今還未能完成畢業論文。周馥儀在修臺大歷史博士,陳為廷是清華大學人文社會系本科生,賴品妤是臺北大學進修部法律系一年級學生,賴郁棻是清華中文系一年級學生。
台灣人公共事務會麻州分會的前任會長鍾佳君,現任會長張皓博透露,為因應本地台灣鄉親,本地學子的交通需求,前述五人在廿四日這天,分別到勒星頓鎮和哈佛大學燕京圖書館舉行了兩場晤談會。
據悉,由於老一輩和年輕一輩的成長背景,對台灣的社會環境認知頗不相同,兩場晤談會的討論重點有不小差異。
在勒星頓的那場晤談,許多出席者期許年輕人承擔起改革台灣重任。在哈佛這場,許多人希望聽進一步的解釋,問從體制內改革,可以做什麼,在海外的人能怎麼出力等。
在哈佛的這場晤談會中,林飛帆承認社會中有人批評他們反對很多議題,卻沒拿出對策,也沒有明確政治議程,但“太陽花運動”能造成他們始料未及的這種聲勢,讓他們認為那是一個個議題累積出來的能量,他們希望繼續為這股能量提供助力,請熱心的經濟學家,產業結構專家,來提出改革做法。
他們目前的困境是面對許多問題,拿不出答案,譬如他自己的理想是台灣應走向成為社會福利國家,但他本人還沒有做世界各國福利制度的充分相關研究,無法提出更實在的主張。他只能說明確反對台灣成為中國大陸那樣的國家。
會議主持之一的杜荷洲在會中指出,海外有不少人很想聽聽他們對“追求民主”和“追求獨立”是否可以劃上等號,和中國統一有什麼不好的想法。陳為廷認為,民主必須本土化,台灣在實質上是一個主權國家,其實也不必公投建國,但應該防止中國侵略,應設法參加國際組織,打開國際空間。
針對他們此行訪美,很多人問到的“在海外的台灣人能做些什麼”,林飛帆等人表示,可做五件事,包括成立組織,以壯大力量;參與當地政治活動,介紹台灣文化民俗;關注在海外和在台灣發生的議題,有何異同,把海外的好方法帶回台灣去;搜集關於自由貿易,國際關係,經濟發展,憲政改革等各方面的理論資源;參加“修訂公投法”的連署。
            部分出席者稱許這些學生在台灣,海外激發的關心台灣時勢,政情,社會心情,卻也對學生批評多於建議,訴求議題不斷增加,失去明確焦點,略表失望。一名年長出席者以幽默敘述強調,看人看事都要看長期,他將持續關注林飛帆等人的將來行動。         

圖片說明:

            台灣人公共事務會現任會長張皓博(左二起),前任會長鍾佳君,周馥儀、陳為廷,林飛帆,賴品妤,杜荷洲,賴郁棻等講者,主辦者會後合影。(菊子攝)

            部分出席者和林飛帆等講者合影。(菊子攝)

            台灣人公共事務會現任會長張皓博(左),以及杜荷洲是哈佛大學這場座談的主持人。(菊子攝)

            台灣人在大波士頓辦的活動,平時難得見到這麼多人出席。(菊子攝)

            撒種迎旭日”的太陽花座談,因燕京圖書館門還沒開,在草坪上先開始。(菊子攝)

            兩名主持人介紹五名講者。(菊子攝)

            杜荷洲身上穿的T恤,別的太陽花胸針,都是大波士頓在三月份支持太陽花運動時做的。(菊子攝)


            賴品妤做自我介紹。(菊子攝)