Baker-Polito Administration Announces Sales Tax Holiday To Take Place August 29-30

Baker-Polito Administration Announces Sales Tax Holiday To Take Place August 29-30

BOSTON – The Baker-Polito Administration today announced that the annual sales tax-free weekend will take place the weekend of August 29-30. This marks the second sales tax holiday held under the new law signed by Governor Baker in 2018 that made the weekend an annual occurrence.

“The annual sales tax holiday is an opportunity for us to support small businesses and consumers, and this year, it’s a great way to support our economy that’s been impacted by COVID-19,” said Governor Charlie Baker. “This pandemic has created enormous challenges for the Commonwealth’s small businesses, and the sales tax-free weekend is one way that we can encourage more economic activity to help Main Street businesses and local economies.”

“As the Commonwealth continues its phased reopening process, we recognize that many small businesses continue to face difficulties,” said Lt. Governor Karyn Polito. “We are proud that our Administration worked with the Legislature to enact legislation making the sales tax holiday permanent and look forward to this year’s tax free weekend and the economic activity that will come with it.”

“We are proud to continue supporting local businesses and consumers as we work with our colleagues in the Legislature to navigate the evolving COVID-19 environment while adhering to public health guidelines,” said Secretary for Administration and Finance Michael J. Heffernan. “The upcoming sales tax holiday will be an opportunity for people throughout Massachusetts to help support local companies and generate much needed economic activity.”

In 2018, Governor Baker signed legislation that makes the annual sales tax holiday permanent. The Department of Revenue today is designating August 29-30 as the sales tax holiday under M.G.L. Chapter 64H, Section 6A.

Click here for Frequently Asked Questions about this year’s annual sales tax holiday. 

Boston City Councilor At-Large Michelle Wu to Vote Against Walsh Administration Budget, Urges Additional Time for More Debate

Boston City Councilor At-Large Michelle Wu to Vote Against Walsh Administration Budget, Urges Additional Time for More Debate 

Boston, MA— Today, Boston City Councilor At-Large Michelle Wu announced she will be voting NO on the Mayor’s currently proposed City of Boston FY21 budget at tomorrow’s Boston City Council meeting:

“The Mayor’s current budget proposal includes slight changes from the pre-pandemic budget that don’t represent the type of transformative investments that so many community members, activists and residents are reaching out for.

“In the wake of national unrest about police violence and systemic racism, and after unprecedented levels of public outreach and budget advocacy to City Councilors and the Mayor, this proposal makes insufficient progress in creating accountability, appropriately funding public health, and making investments in housing stability, education equity, and economic access, particularly for communities of color. 

“By technically reducing the police overtime line item with no plan for actually reducing police overtime hours, the Administration is setting up the City to overspend and inevitably dip into contingency funding to fulfill obligations governed by existing police contracts. Our budget should represent meaningful change, not empty symbolism and budgetary sleight of hand.

“I am also deeply concerned about the plans and funding for Boston Public Schools as the district moves toward reopening during an ongoing pandemic and as students are facing major learning loss and deepening disparities through the remote learning period.

“Finally, I want to push back against false assertions that Councilors face a choice between passing an inadequate budget tomorrow or triggering mass layoffs and cuts to City services. If the current budget proposal is voted down on Wednesday, the City would move to a provisional 1/12 budget only until a new budget is passed—just as the state legislature is doing right now to allow for full information and debate.

“Boston residents deserve a budget that reflects their values and needs, and they deserve a budget process that values their advocacy. I’ve been inspired by the passion and level of engagement shown by families and organizations all across the city who are making themselves heard in this process, and I’m honored to be a partner in pushing for transformative change rooted in justice for all of our communities.”

CITY OF BOSTON TO HOST REOPENING INFORMATION SESSIONS BY INDUSTRY

CITY OF BOSTON TO HOST REOPENING INFORMATION SESSIONS BY INDUSTRY  The series will target business owners in multiple languages and industries for a conversation on reopening requirements BOSTON - Monday, June 22, 2020 - Mayor Martin J. Walsh announced today the City of Boston is hosting a series of information sessions for business owners to discuss Massachusetts's industry-specific reopening policies and guidelines for businesses. As the City implements a safe, cautious, phased-in reopening strategy that includes clear health criteria and safety guidelines for each industry, administration officials will share City resources and policy updates, and will also seek to hear directly from business owners on their concerns, questions, and challenges. Representatives from relevant municipal departments will be available on all information sessions to discuss how the Commonwealth's reopening guidelines impact Boston businesses.  "COVID-19 is still a threat to our community, and we must remain vigilant and exercise caution in our personal behaviors and in our organizations," said Mayor Walsh. "As we progress forward with a safe, phased reopening, it's imperative the City's public health and policy experts speak directly to businesses on social distancing, temporary operating policies, and resources the City has available." Step Two of Phase II of the four-phase Reopening Massachusetts plan begins today, June 22. In the past two weeks, the Mayor's Office of Economic Development has held several webinars for outdoor dining and close-contact personal care businesses, including tattoo parlors, nail salons and tanning salons, which can be found on the Economic Development Facebook page. All events will be webinar-style and hosted on Zoom, and feature a presentation of City of Boston business resources, reopening guidelines, and offer time for questions and feedback from businesses. Simultaneous translation is available in the languages included below, and materials will be translated in additional languages and made available on boston.gov/reopening. Below is the schedule for the business information sessions: Date Time Industry Simultaneous Translation Monday, June 22 1:00 p.m. Retail Spanish, Mandarin, Vietnamese Monday, June 22 2:30 p.m. Indoor Dining Spanish, Mandarin, Vietnamese Tuesday, June 23 11:00 a.m. Close-contact personal care Spanish, Vietnamese Wednesday, June 24 10:00 a.m. Hair salons and barber shops Spanish Thursday, June 25 2:00 p.m. Wellness: Spa, Massage, Acupuncture, Chiropractic Spanish Friday, June 26 11:00 a.m. Fitness (gyms, studios, personal training, etc.) Spanish The Mayor's Office of Economic Development will schedule additional webinars as the Commonwealth announces the start dates for subsequent reopening phases. The series of reopening information sessions is hosted in collaboration by the Mayor's Office of Economic Development, the Public Works Department, Boston Transportation Department, the Mayor's Office of Consumer Affairs and Licensing, the Inspectional Services Department, and the Boston Public Health Commission.  For restaurants seeking support to apply for outdoor seating opportunities, we encourage owners to reach out to our small business team for targeted technical assistance including application support and guidance.  The City of Boston has created a number of useful resources to help support small businesses impacted by COVID-19, including the Open Businesses in Boston, Support Boston Restaurants, and the Black and Brown-owned Businesses platforms have helped businesses to publicly share that they are open and direct residents into supporting local establishments. The above resources and more industry-specific guidance are accessible on boston.gov/small-business. The City of Boston has created a Reopen Boston page for additional information. For all coronavirus updates from the City of Boston, please visit boston.gov/coronavirus. ABOUT THE MAYOR'S OFFICE OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT The Economic Development Cabinet's mission is to make Boston an appealing and accessible place for working families, entrepreneurs, businesses, and investors to innovate, grow, and thrive in a way that fosters inclusion, broadens opportunity, and shares prosperity, thereby enhancing the quality of life for all Bostonians and the experience for all visitors. Learn more on their website. ###

Stacey Moy 出掌聯邦調查局華府辦公室反情報組

Stacey Moy Named Special Agent in Charge of the Counterintelligence Division of the Washington Field Office

Director Christopher Wray has named Stacey Moy as the special agent in charge of the Counterintelligence Division of the Washington Field Office. Mr. Moy most recently served as a deputy assistant director in the Counterintelligence Division at FBI Headquarters in Washington, D.C.

Mr. Moy joined the FBI as a special agent in 2004 and began investigating foreign counterintelligence and espionage cases in the Washington Field Office. He served as the case agent investigating penetrations of the U.S. Intelligence Community, media leaks, and economic espionage. He also served on the SWAT team.

Mr. Moy was promoted to supervisory special agent in the Counterintelligence Division at Headquarters in 2009, handling several major cases that involved the targeting and acquisition of U.S. trade secrets by foreign adversaries. In 2011, Mr. Moy was promoted to field supervisor of a counterproliferation squad in the Oakland Resident Agency of the San Francisco Field Office.

In 2014, he was promoted to unit chief of the Counterproliferation Center in the Counterintelligence Division at Headquarters. The center is charged with leading the FBI’s efforts to prevent the spread of weapons of mass destruction and other technologies that threaten national security. Mr. Moy was promoted to assistant section chief of the center in 2015.

He moved to the San Francisco Field Office in 2016 as the assistant special agent in charge of the criminal branch in charge of investigating complex financial crimes, public corruption, civil rights, and violent crimes against children. He was named a Counterintelligence Division section chief in 2017 and promoted to deputy assistant director in 2019.

Before joining the FBI, Mr. Moy graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy and was a commissioned officer in the U.S. Navy, serving in both the Surface Warfare and Naval Special Warfare communities. He earned a master’s degree in national security and strategic studies from the U.S. Naval War College and was a senior executive fellow at Harvard’s John F. Kennedy School of Government for Executive Education.

麻州人6/22開始可以進餐館用餐啦!

麻州州長查理貝克(Charlie Baker)強調要看2週的餐館堂食數據，再決定
第3階段開放怎麼做。

            (Boston Orange周菊子波士頓報導)下星期開始，可以進館子啦!麻州州長查理貝克(Charlie Baker)剛剛宣佈，6月22日(週一)起，餐館將可以讓客人進店用餐了。

             這是麻州重新開放進入第二階段的第二步，人們可以進餐館用餐之外，也可以回辦公室上班，只是同時間在辦公室的人數，在第二階段第一步時，是 25%，現在第二步增加到50%。近距離接觸的個人服務業，只要遵循某些限制，也可以開業。零售店的試衣間則需要事先預約。

             麻州政府仍然鼓勵企業儘量讓員工留在家工作。

麻州健康及人民服務廳(Health and Human Services)廳長Marylou Sudders
簡報麻州加強推逛檢測。

            麻州政府在5月18日公佈了重新開放的四階段策略，以公共健康數據為依據，預定每階段3星期，如果包括新個案，住院人數等等都有改善，就進入下一階段。

             為了讓企業界為重新開放做好準備，州政府也早就公佈了各項指導原則，包括給餐館業的檢查單等。州政府強調，有意恢復營業的企業都必須遵守所有的安全標準，制定新型冠狀病毒控制計畫，並完成自我認證。

             麻州州長查理貝克表示，州政府希望收集至少2週的餐館堂食數據，再研議第三階段的開放。

麻州住宅及經濟發展廳(Housing and Economic Development)廳長
Mike Kennealy簡短報告。

             麻州健康及人民服務長Marylou Sudders在會中表示，州政府更新了有關檢測的網站，不知道自己是不是應該做檢測，或是要查哪裡可做檢測的人，可以上網mass.gov/gettested，瀏覽資訊。州政府也在加強宣傳檢測，做電子燈箱及各種媒體廣告之外，也鼓勵坊間機構申請提共檢測服務。

             根據州政府公佈的6月18日數據，新增個案271，累計106,422，新增死亡人數36，累計7,700，新做抗體檢測人數1,145，累計61,085，新做分子檢測人數9,142，累計736,691。

             查理貝克表示，喬治弗洛依德事件引發的抗議遊行，在全麻州各地共有不下數百起，好在大多數都是在室外舉行，移動式的遊行，除少數幾次有逾千人之外，大多數的抗議遊行人數並不太多，也大都戴了口罩，事後，麻州新設的50個檢測站，也約有16,000人去做了檢測，所以從預防新型冠狀病毒流行這角度來看，還算讓人欣慰。

以下為麻州州長辦公室新聞稿:

Reopening Massachusetts: Baker-Polito Administration Initiates Transition to Step Two of Second Phase of Four-Phase Approach

Consistent with Public Health Data and Trends, Step Two of Phase II of Reopening Massachusetts Set to Begin on June 22

BOSTON – Today, the Baker-Polito Administration announced that Step Two of Phase II of the Commonwealth’s four-phase reopening plan, Reopening Massachusetts, will begin on Monday, June 22 to allow additional industries to resume operations under sector-specific guidelines.

Businesses and sectors set to begin operating in Step Two of Phase II are subject to compliance with all mandatory safety standards.

On May 18, the Administration released a four-phased plan to reopen the economy based on public health data, spending at least three weeks in each phase. Key public health data, such as new cases and hospitalizations, has been closely monitored and seen a significant decline allowing for Step Two of Phase II to begin on June 22.

   

The following will be eligible to reopen in Step Two of Phase II on Monday, June 22:

·  Indoor table service at restaurants;

·  Close-contact personal services, with restrictions;

·  Retail dressing rooms, by appointment only;

·  Offices, at 50 percent capacity

Full list and safety protocols available at www.mass.gov/reopening.

In order to give Step 2 businesses time to prepare, the Administration had previously released sector-specific guidance in advance of Phase II for industries including restaurants, close-contact personal services and sectors not otherwise addressed:

·  Guidance for Restaurants

·  Guidance for Close-Contact Personal Services

·  Guidance for Other Industries

·  Guidance for Sectors Not Otherwise Addressed

Before these sectors can resume operations under the guidelines, businesses must meet all safety standards, create a COVID-19 control plan, and complete a self-certification.

VIEW THE FULL REPORT

VIEW GOVERNOR BAKER’S PHASE II EXECUTIVE ORDER

Governor Baker Issues Proclamation Marking Juneteenth

Governor Baker Issues Proclamation Marking Juneteenth

BOSTON – Governor Charlie Baker today issued a proclamation declaring June 19, 2020 as “Juneteenth Independence Day” in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Celebrated each year on June 19^th, Juneteenth commemorates the end of slavery in the United States, and is an opportunity to reflect on the need to continue working toward racial justice.

Click here to read the proclamation.

“Juneteenth is a chance for us all to reflect on this country’s painful history of slavery and the systemic impact that racial injustice continues to have today,” said Governor Charlie Baker. “It is also an opportunity to recommit ourselves to the goal of creating a more equal and just society. As our country continues the national conversation around racial injustice, it is especially important that we recognize Juneteenth. I look forward to working with our legislative colleagues to recognize this important day more widely going forward.” 

“Juneteenth celebrations in Massachusetts and across the country mark an important moment in our country’s history and afford us a chance to reflect on the need to make progress toward racial equality,” said Lt. Governor Karyn Polito. “That reflection is more important now than ever, and we are glad to mark Juneteenth with today’s proclamation.”

Juneteenth is recognized each year on June 19. On that day in 1865, Major General Gordon Granger and his Union troops landed in Galveston, TX and announced that the Civil War had ended. Major General Gordon read a proclamation declaring that all enslaved people were free. The first Juneteenth was celebrated a year later in Texas and today is recognized across the country to mark this important milestone.

M.G.L. Chapter 6, Section 15BBBBB states, “The governor shall annually issue a proclamation setting apart the nineteenth of June as Juneteenth Independence Day, to be observed on the Sunday that is closest to June 19th of each year, in recognition of June 19, 1865 when Union General Gordon Granger announced freedom for all slaves in the Southwestern United States and in recognition of the end of slavery in the United States as well as the significant contributions individuals of African descent have made to the Commonwealth and to the United States and recommending that said day be observed in an appropriate manner by the people.”

Boston City Councilors Michelle Wu, Lydia Edwards, and Julia Mejia File Ordinance to Establish An Unarmed Community Safety Crisis Response System

Boston City Councilors Michelle Wu, Lydia Edwards, and Julia Mejia File Ordinance to Establish An Unarmed Community Safety Crisis Response System

Boston, MA— Today Boston City Councilors Michelle Wu, Lydia Edwards, and Julia Mejia have filed an ordinance that would establish an unarmed Community Safety crisis response system to divert nonviolent 911 calls for service away from the Boston Police Department to an alternative response from non-law enforcement agencies.  

As the deaths of George Floyd and many others have highlighted nationwide racial disparities related to public safety practices, local governments can respond by implementing a more holistic public safety infrastructure that is integrated with public health. 

The Boston Police Department routinely responds to nonviolent calls for service involving mental health, homelessness, substance use, and traffic crashes, which are matters beyond the scope of law enforcement’s function and would be better served by a public health response. 

The ordinance that Councilors Wu, Edwards and Mejia filed calls for the City of Boston to develop a systemic Community Safety crisis-response plan for nonviolent emergency calls within 90 days to directly connect people in need to City- or community-based service providers and replace law enforcement presence in nonviolent, non-criminal situations with a range of unarmed service providers, including health care professionals, mental health workers, outreach workers specializing in outreach to residents experiencing homelessness, and other unarmed professionals with specialized training.

The ordinance will appear on the agenda for discussion at the Boston City Council meeting on Wednesday, June 24th, at 12pm. The matter will be assigned to committee and scheduled for a hearing.

麻州餐飲，銷售，酒店住房稅可展延至9月再繳

                         (Boston Orange編譯)麻州州長查理貝克(Charlie Baker)，副州長白莉朵(Karyn Polito)，麻州參議會議長Karen Spilka，眾議會議長Robert DeLeo今(18)日聯袂宣佈，提供額外的行政稅項減免，幫助麻州本地受新型冠狀病毒(COVID-19)爆發影響的餐飲及娛樂業。

           在3月至8月間到期，原本已可延期繳交的銷售稅，餐飲稅，以及房間佔用稅等小企業稅項，現在可延到9月再交。所有的罰款及利息，也可豁免。

            麻州州長查理貝克表示，他們很高興能和議會同仁們一起，在疫情持續期間宣佈這展延了的額外減免。 

           截至2020年2月29日，正常銷售稅加餐飲稅，或是房間佔用稅繳付額低於15萬元的企業，就符合新頒佈的銷售及餐飲稅，或是房間佔用稅的救濟資格。

           不符合救濟資格的企業，可豁免這段期間的遲申報或遲繳罰款。

            麻州稅務局將發出緊急規定及技術資訊公告，以實施這些行政救濟辦法。

Massachusetts Announces Additional Administrative Tax Relief Measures for Businesses Across Massachusetts

BOSTON – Governor Charlie Baker, Lt. Governor Karyn Polito, Senate President Karen Spilka and House Speaker Robert DeLeo today announced additional administrative tax relief measures for local businesses that have been impacted by the ongoing COVID-19 outbreak, especially in the restaurant and hospitality sectors. 

This tax relief builds upon previous similar tax extensions and includes postponing the collection of regular sales tax, meals tax, and room occupancy taxes for small businesses that would be due from March through August, so that they will instead be due in September. Additionally, all penalties and interest that would otherwise apply will be waived.

“We are proud to join our colleagues in the Legislature to announce this additional relief for local businesses throughout Massachusetts while we all continue to navigate the COVID-19 pandemic and work to protect the health and safety of the Commonwealth’s residents,” said Governor Charlie Baker. “These administrative changes extend tax relief measures put into place earlier in March and will allow additional support for local companies including small businesses in the restaurant and hospitality industries.” 

“The Commonwealth is carrying out a historic response to the COVID-19 crisis,” said Lieutenant Governor Karyn Polito. “We continue to seek ways to provide local businesses with tools, resources, and support to help reopen the Massachusetts economy while also ensuring key public health measures are in place.”

“From the start of the COVID-19 public health crisis, the Senate has actively sought to act quickly, creatively and collaboratively to mitigate the effects of this pandemic,” said Senate President Karen E. Spilka. “This tax collection adjustment is an example of this willingness to change the way we do business during these extraordinary times, and will help ease the burden restaurants face as they restart and recover.”

“The House has been proud to provide local businesses with a toolkit of resources to help them weather the economic realities resulting from COVID,” said House Speaker Robert A. DeLeo. “In addition to the House’s multifaceted restaurant relief package, we believe that a deferral of tax collections will provide the restaurant and hospitality industry with a measure of stability and clarity.”   

Businesses that paid less than $150,000 in regular sales plus meals taxes in the year ending February 29, 2020 will be eligible for relief for sales and meals taxes, and businesses that paid less than $150,000 in room occupancy taxes in the year ending February 29, 2020 will be eligible for relief with respect to room occupancy taxes.

For businesses with meals tax and room occupancy tax obligations that do not otherwise qualify for this relief, late-file and late-pay penalties will be waived during this period. 

The Department of Revenue will issue emergency regulations and a Technical Information Release to implement these administrative relief measures.