Boston

April 26, 2024 0

‘We Who Produce Pearls’ Fills in What the History Books Left Out Sampan Talks With Author, Artist About Asian Americans’ Shared Story, Resistance and Healing

The quality of a picture book depends on the compatibility of two major elements: the words and the images. How well do the images communicate with the text? Are the images competing with the text, or is there an ideal symbiotic relationship between the two? In “We Who Produce Pearls: An Anthem for Asian America,” the written reflections of Joanna Ho find a perfect balance with the vivid and colorful wall-mural style men, women, children, and beasts from Amanda Phingbodhipakkiya’s […]

April 26, 2024 0

Don’t Throw Away That Yogurt Yet: Sampan Interviews Expert on Confusing Sell-by, Use-by Dates

by Derek He

Say you’re grabbing a bottle of milk from the fridge, and see its expiration day passed three days ago. It smells fine, but is it safe? The answer isn’t always clear. In many parts of the world, expiration dates are a familiar sight on a variety of foods, particularly those that are perishable such as meat, poultry, eggs, and dairy. The dates play a crucial role in influencing consumer behavior and managing store inventory. But the dates are not always […]

April 26, 2024 0

Advocates Welcome, Criticize Census Category Revisions Some Say Changes Could Reduce Responses From Those Who Feel Un-Represented

by Yizhen Zhang

Written in bland and unassuming language, newly released policy changes to how the U.S. government and Census categorizes some racial and ethnic groups could have an immeasurable impact on Americans of Middle Eastern and North African descent, and other minority groups, say immigrant advocates. The U.S. Office of Management and Budget published on March 28 a set of revisions to “Statistical Policy Directive No. 15: Standards for Maintaining, Collecting, and Presenting Federal Data on Race and Ethnicity.” This revision added […]

April 26, 2024 0

2024 Boston Marathon Shows ‘One Boston’ Spirit

by Harmandeep Singh

The city of Boston on April 15 held its 128th Marathon, bringing tens of thousands of runners from all over the world to the city in a show of grit and athleticism. Since its first race, the status of the Marathon has gained high esteem from the worldwide competitive running community, something that is apparent in the increase of participants throughout the decades. The first Boston Marathon, held in 1897, had a participant-list that included only 18 people; in 2022, […]

April 26, 2024 0

Increased Demand for Air Travel Means Emissions are Taking Off

by Zoe Liu

As the airline industry faces growing challenges from shifts in consumer demand and sky-high jet fuel prices, one major problem persists: massive emissions created by air travel. Flying is one of the most carbon-intensive activities on the planet, and despite an overall surge in travel, some have even jumped on the bandwagon of the Swedish movement of “Flygskam”, which translates to “flight shame,” a term attributed to Swedish singer Staffan Lingberg, who gave up flying in 2017. Several airlines, however, […]

April 13, 2024 0

Forecast: Boston’s Sea Level Rise to Double in 15 Years

by Derek He

Since 1950, Boston has witnessed an 8-inch increase in sea level, a trend that has gained momentum over the past decade. The current rate of rise stands at approximately 1 inch every 8 years, a measurement derived from the meticulous data which is gathered every 6 minutes using advanced technologies, including satellites, floating buoys, and tidal gauges. These tools enable scientists to monitor local sea level changes with precision, capturing the accelerating pace of rise. Over the last ten years, […]

March 16, 2024 0

Lot Used by Church, Community Groups Denied Parking Permit Amid Push for Cleaner Air

by Sampan Editor

The Boston Air Pollution Control Commission voted at a December 2023 meeting to reject an application to keep in use 30 exempt, longtime parking spaces on a strip of land along Harvard and Hudson Street near the future site of affordable housing. The land currently is part of a lot used by Tufts Shared Services, the non-profit corporation that handles infrastructure needs for both Tufts University and Tufts Medical Center. The lot has been, for about 20 years, used as […]

March 15, 2024 0

Hope is On the Rise For the Boston Housing Crisis

by Zoe Liu

On February 28, 2024, MassHousing and the Massachusetts Housing Investment Corporation (MHIC) announced their partnership in launching and growing a new $50 million Equitable Developers Fund. This fund aims to diversify and accelerate Massachusetts’ housing delivery system by providing enterprise-level financing to active but underrepresented developers from socially and economically disadvantaged backgrounds. This fund marks a huge moment as it is the largest publicly led financing program in the country. In Massachusetts, the median price for a single-family home was […]

March 1, 2024 0

Boston Water and Sewer Commission Meeting Provides a Platform for Residents’ Infrastructure Concerns in Chinatown and Downtown Neighborhoods

by Derek He

“My tap water is reaching temperatures of nearly 100 degrees.” described Robert Qua, a South St Leather District resident, at a recent meeting called by the Boston Water and Sewer Commission to Announce Capital Improvements and StormWater Remediation Installation. He spoke about the adverse effects of high groundwater levels on civil infrastructure. By highlighting the impact of groundwater on infrastructure integrity, he underscored the urgency of implementing measures to mitigate potential risks and safeguard critical infrastructure assets. His insights served […]

February 17, 2024 0

Governor Healey’s FY25 Budget Proposal Tightens Belts and Adjusts Priorities

by Tony Le

Analyzing the viability of a state budget will always fall into partisan zones. What’s good for one group will invariably be criticized by another. Writing in a January 26th 2024 posting on Masslive.com, John L. Micek put it succinctly while reflecting on the sometimes desperate measures we all take to adjust our priorities based on available funds: “They’re all short-term fixes that get you where you need to be. And they solve the immediate problem. But it’s not exactly the […]

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