Metro

February 12, 2023 0

Massachusetts Asian Restaurant Association Leader Reflects: How COVID Changed Us

February 1, 2023 marks three years since the first confirmed COVID-19 case in Massachusetts. In the past three years, the COVID-19 pandemic has had a profound impact on businesses in Massachusetts, with many forced to temporarily or permanently close their doors or significantly reduce operations due to government-mandated lockdowns and restrictions. Businesses in Massachusetts, struggled to stay afloat in the face of lockdowns and saw severe supply chain disruptions. While the risk of COVID-19 has lessened as vaccines and boosters […]

February 11, 2023 0

Groups Gather to Mourn the Recent Acts of Violence in California Asian Communities

by Sampan Staff

On Jan. 21, 11 people were killed and nine wounded in a massacre during Lunar New Year celebrations in Monterey Park, California. The mass shooting is now the worst in Los Angeles County’s history. Two days later, four people were killed and one other was seriously wounded in a shooting at the Mountain Mushroom Farm in Half Moon Bay. The gunman in that shooting then drove to a different farm that was nearby and killed another three people. Multiple Asian […]

February 10, 2023 0

Lunar New Year Celebrations Across Massachusetts

by Sampan Staff

Colorful Lion dancers, fireworks, and joyful noises were in abundance at Boston’s Chinatown Lunar New Year Celebration on January 29, with city and community speakers addressing the assembled crowd and a procession making its way through the streets. The celebratory sounds of drums, gongs, and cymbals followed troupes of lion dancers as they went door-to-door offering blessings to the neighborhood’s businesses and restaurants. Similar celebrations were held in Malden, Quincy, and (for the first time in its history) Lowell. Custom […]

January 21, 2023 0

Women Holding the Keys to Power in Massachusetts State Government

by DongDong Yang

For the first time in our state’s history, Massachusetts will boast an all-female executive team, including Boston Mayor Michelle Wu, (first woman and first person of color to be elected as Boston’s mayor), State Governor Maura Healey, (first woman and first openly gay elected governor), Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll, Attorney General-elect Andrea J. Campbell, (first black woman to hold this constitutional office), State Auditor Diana DiZoglio (only the second woman ever to hold this position) and Treasurer of Massachusetts Deborah […]

January 21, 2023 0

New “MA Climate Change Assessment” Reveals Need for Action and Adaptation

by Bolin Shen

Amidst rising concerns for unprecedented heat waves and extreme cold alike throughout the last year, the Massachusetts Baker-Polito Administration released at the end of 2022 the “MA Climate Change Assessment.” It is the first data-driven state-wide projection report of the effects climate change will have on the region’s communities, environments, and industries through the end of the 21st century. “The Assessment draws on the best available climate and impact assessment science, active stakeholder engagement, and broad state agency perspectives and […]

December 25, 2022 0

Tufts Medical Center Awards More Than $1.2 Million in Grants to Support Community Initiatives

by Jeff Millman

Tufts Medical Center announced on December 16th that it has awarded more than $1.2 million in grants to 20 local nonprofit organizations to address unmet needs highlighted in their 2022 Community Health Needs Assessment. Six of those organizations will form cross-sector collaborations to reach more people and amplify impact and results. The funding focuses on three core areas to improve the physical, socio-emotional and financial health of Boston residents: providing culturally competent behavioral health and substance abuse services; encouraging financial […]

December 24, 2022 0

Air Monitoring in Chinatown: Next Steps from MassDEP

by Jeff Millman

Should you go for a run today? If you live in Chinatown, you may want to stick to the treadmill. The neighborhood is strangled by major highways and roads, and every day thousands of automobiles pump harmful pollutants into the air. Over the years, studies from Tufts University School of Medicine have measured high levels of ultrafine particles in Chinatown. In 2019 the area received the dubious distinction of having the worst air quality in the state. Low air quality […]

December 23, 2022 0

Violent Crimes in Quincy Raise Bias Concerns Among Some Activists, Academics

by Sonia Cavazos

North Quincy resident Brian Kenney stood before the court on December 14 and received his sentence for assaulting, robbing, and hospitalizing Vietnam War veteran Liem Tran over a year ago. Kenney, 35, pleaded guilty to the crime earlier this year and was initially charged along with his wife, Angelina Kenney, 39, in March of last year. He was sentenced to three to five years in prison, along with three years of probation thereafter. During that probationary period Kenney will have […]

December 23, 2022 0

Malden Celebrates Passage of Transliteration Law

by DongDong Yang

Officials, voters, and community groups celebrated passage of Malden transliteration law on December 15, 2022. It marked a significant step towards ensuring full access to the ballot box for Chinese-speaking voters with low English proficiency. According to a 2021 American Community Survey, 22% of Malden households speak an Asian or Pacific Island language at home. About 40% of these households are considered to have limited-English speaking proficiency. Officials included Malden Mayor Gary Christenson, Massachusetts Senator Jason Lewis, Massachusetts State Representative […]

December 12, 2022 0

New Developments in Chinatown

by Sonia Cavazos

Chinatown and downtown Boston will be going through massive changes as the Boston Planning and Development Agency (BPDA) moves forward with preparing for construction in and around the area. Some plans are currently under review and others have been approved and are slated to be underway, with the overall project set to end in the summer of 2023. Assistant Director of Communications for BPDA Brittany Comak, along with the Interim Director of Planning Kennan Rhyne, met with this reporter to […]

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