Dear Friend,
Yesterday was one of the first days since this crisis began that we recorded
zero new coronavirus deaths in Boston. By no means are we out of the woods, but this is another good sign that we’re moving in the right direction. Our efforts to slow the spread of the virus are working, and we need to keep it up, with a renewed sense of
urgency, every single day.
This is how we pay our respects to the 627 Bostonians and 6,640 Massachusetts
residents -- and more than 100,000 Americans -- who have lost their lives so far, and their loved ones who continue to grieve for them: by doing everything we can to prevent further loss of life and help everyone in our city recover from this crisis.
As we close out the first week of the
first phase of the State’s Reopening Plan,
I wanted to provide you with an overview of the biggest updates and announcements we made in the City of Boston.
The Boston Hope Medical Center at the BCEC stopped taking new
patients.
- As the number of new coronavirus cases have continued to decline, and capacity at local hospitals
has returned to near-normal levels, this field hospital is no longer needed.
- Boston Hope was, and is, a great Boston story. It has treated hundreds of Bostonians, including
some of our most vulnerable residents.
- It will forever be a symbol of our City’s strength and generosity, and it will stay in place
as a ready resource should it be needed again.
We created a $6 million Reopen Boston Fund.
- This is a grant program to help Boston’s small businesses put safety measures in place, including
buying personal protective equipment (PPE); installing safety partitions for customers and employees; and managing outdoor space approved for business use.
- The grants will go to brick-and-mortar businesses with fewer than 15 employees, where people
work close to each other or to customers, like salons and barber shops, retail stores and restaurants, gyms and event spaces, and more.
- Applications are open for Phase 1 of the program, and information is available in multiple
languages at boston.gov/reopen-fund.
We’re making sure Boston’s office spaces are ready to open safely.
- This coming Monday, June 1, is when office workplaces can begin to reopen, with restrictions,
in Boston.
- This week we issued guidelines so that employers and workers understand how to make sure
their workplaces are as safe as possible.
- The framework, which covers social distancing, hygiene, staffing and operations, and cleaning
and disinfection, can be found at boston.gov/reopening.
We announced the “Healthy Streets” program
- We created a plan to allow for better physical distancing in Boston’s public spaces, and
make sure everyone has safe and healthy transportation options.
- The
Healthy Streets program is a package of measures including expanding bus stops and bus lanes, building more dedicated bike lanes, and allowing more outdoor seating for restaurants.
- Details can be found at
boston.gov/healthystreets.
We announced the newest round of Boston Resiliency Fund grantees,
with more than $780,000 going out to 20 organizations.
- These grants will help bring food to seniors and homebound families, expand COVID-19 testing,
and provide support to people experiencing homelessness.
- In total, the Fund has given out over
$19 million to more than 230 organizations so far, and
continues to accept donations.
We also announced new resources for organizations that serve
immigrants.
- New funding totaling
$1.75 million went to the Boston Immigrant COVID-19 Collaborative, which helps immigrant communities access food, healthcare, and vital information relating to the COVID-19 pandemic.
- The Collaborative was launched with support from the
Boston Resiliency Fund
and partnerships with the
Brazilian Workers Center, Agencia ALPHA, and Rian Immigrant Center, and has grown to include
13 organizations that have been able to serve 20,000
families and counting.
Finally, this week we made a difficult, but necessary decision
about the Marathon. The 124th Boston Marathon will not happen as a traditional, one-day event on September 14. There is no way to hold the usual race format without bringing large numbers of people into close
contact, so the City is supporting the Boston Athletic Association in an alternative approach to the Marathon that allows runners to participate remotely. More details can be found on the
BAA’s website.
Throughout the coronavirus pandemic, the people of Boston have dealt with
the pain of foregoing our most cherished traditions, and I know this one hurts. But we know that nothing can diminish the spirit of the Marathon, and what it represents in our city’s history and in our culture. Just like we did after the bombing in 2013, and
just like we always have, Boston will overcome. We will keep working hard, with love and hope in our hearts, looking forward to the day when we can come together for this world-class event once again.
I hope you and your loved ones are able to enjoy yourselves this weekend,
and that you take time for the things that make you smile.
Thank you all for your strength, and for doing your part every single day.
Marty
| Authorized and Paid for by The Committee to Elect Martin J. Walsh |
The Committee to Elect Martin J. Walsh
100 Hallet Street
Dorchester MA 02124 United States
martywalsh.org
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