AG HEALEY CALLS ON CONGRESS TO PASS THE FEDERAL NO HATE ACT

 AG HEALEY CALLS ON CONGRESS TO PASS THE FEDERAL NO HATE ACT

Legislation Will Provide Federal Grants to Improve Hate Crimes Reporting by Offering Training on Identifying, Classifying, and Reporting Hate Crimes in the FBI Database

BOSTON – Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey today joined a bipartisan coalition of 35 attorneys general in calling on Congress to pass the Jabara-Heyer NO HATE Act, which would provide state and local governments and law enforcement agencies with the tools and resources to understand, identify, and report hate crimes to help prevent them.

The legislation specifically aims to help rectify inaccurate and incomplete data by providing federal grants to improve hate crimes reporting. The grants would be used to provide training on identifying, classifying, and reporting hate crimes in the FBI’s national database; assist with states’ development of programs to prevent hate crimes; increase community education around hate crimes; and create state-run hate crime hotlines.

“From racist harassment, violence by white supremacists, and attacks against in most vulnerable communities, what we are seeing across the country and in our own neighborhoods is unacceptable,” AG Healey said. “This bill will help ensure that when victims come forward, information about hate crimes is collected and entered consistently and uniformly into the national system. We’re calling on Congress to urgently pass this legislation so states have the data, training and information needed to implement enhanced policies and practices to prevent and address hate crimes.”

            According to today’s letter, in 2019, most law enforcement agencies did not participate in voluntarily reporting hate crime incidents to the FBI or reported zero incidents. “Exacerbating this gap, less than 25% of law enforcement agencies are using the FBI’s current reporting system, which took effect this year,” the attorneys general wrote in today’s letter. “This lack of data creates critical gaps that inhibit our understanding of the hate problem. As the chief legal officers of our respective jurisdictions and states, improving hate crimes reporting is a priority. Without reliable statistics, the government cannot properly understand, investigate, and prosecute hate crimes or provide necessary resources to survivors.”

AG Healey has been a vocal advocate for the NO HATE Act and active in efforts to prevent and address hate crimes. In June, she joined then Boston Mayor Marty Walsh and social justice, civil rights, business and advocacy organizations to call for passage of the bill. At the state level, AG Healey has filed legislation to reform and strengthen the state’s existing hate crime statutes.

            Today’s letter was co-led by District of Columbia Attorney General Karl Racine and Kansas Attorney General Derek Schmidt and in addition to AG Healey the letter was joined by the attorneys general of Alaska, American Samoa, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Guam, Hawaii, Illinois, Iowa, Maine, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, N. Mariana Islands, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Puerto Rico, Rhode Island, Utah, Vermont, Virgin Islands, Virginia, Washington, and Wisconsin.

波士頓市長公安記者會 4/13 宣佈波士頓跨入透明新紀元

 

Stephanie Everett is appointed as ED of Police Accountability and Transparency Office

MAYOR JANEY NAMES SEASONED LAWYER AND ADVOCATE STEPHANIE EVERETT EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE OFFICE OF POLICE ACCOUNTABILITY AND TRANSPARENCY OPAT will provide independent oversight and advise on policing policy and reforms     Stephanie Everett   BOSTON - Tuesday, April 13, 2021 - Mayor Kim Janey announced at a press conference this afternoon that Stephanie Everett will serve as the Executive Director of the newly created Office of Police Accountability and Transparency (OPAT). Everett, an attorney who currently runs her own private practice specializing in criminal, care and protection, residential real estate, and business formation matters, will lead the office charged with implementing an ambitious set of community-driven reforms to policing in Boston. OPAT, the signature recommendation of the Boston Police Reform Task Force, creates a single point of public access to a new standard in police accountability and community oversight. Everett’s office will house and support the newly created Civilian Review Board and the Internal Affairs Oversight Panel, which strengthens the existing Community Ombudsman Oversight Panel. OPAT collectively holds subpoena power for the review board and oversight panel. Everett will begin her role as Executive Director of OPAT on April 27. “As Mayor, I’m committed to safety, healing and justice, in every Boston neighborhood,” said Mayor Janey. “That starts with trust. Transparency and accountability are foundational values when it comes to fostering trust. This is especially true for law enforcement. That’s why my administration is doubling down on our work to stand up the Boston Office of Police Accountability and Transparency. And today, I’m proud to announce its first leader, attorney Stephanie Everett, as Executive Director of the Office of Police Accountability and Transparency.” Joined at the event by Superintendent-in-Chief Greg Long of the Boston Police Department, Mayor Janey highlighted that her budget proposal for the coming fiscal year, which will be presented to the Boston City Council at an event tomorrow morning, includes a $1 million investment to establish OPAT. Everett, who will report directly to Mayor Janey in her new role, will be responsible for hiring and managing a nine-member staff to help carry out the work of the Civilian Review Board and Internal Affairs Oversight Panel. In addition to staffing, the proposed funding in the fiscal year 2022 budget will be used for technology support to create public safety dashboards and to address other technical needs of OPAT. “I have spent my entire career fighting to give voice to those who are underrepresented, and that’s exactly how I’ll approach my work as the Executive Director of OPAT,” said Everett. “I have tremendous respect for our police officers who carry out their duties with integrity, compassion and empathy for the people they serve. Ensuring that those values are the standard across the entire force and that any misconduct is brought to light and handled appropriately is OPAT’s charge. I look forward to working with Mayor Janey, the Boston Police and the community to bring about necessary reforms and enhance public trust and confidence.” One of OPAT’s first tasks will be to conduct a review of disgraced former Boston Police Officer Patrick Rose’s internal affairs files from 1995. Despite criminal charges being dropped at the time, a BPD internal affairs investigation found credible evidence that Rose had sexually assaulted a 12-year-old child. However, it is unclear whether Rose faced any discipline as a result of the internal findings, and he was allowed to remain on the force for over two decades, eventually becoming the president of the Boston Police Patrolmen’s Association. OPAT’s review of the matter is intended to uncover and remedy shortcomings in BPD’s internal affairs process so that such egregious errors are prevented in the future. “I was heartbroken and angry to learn there was no effort to keep Rose from coming into contact with minors after serious charges were found credible by BPD’s own internal affairs probe in 1995,” said Mayor Janey. “The likes of Patrick Rose will not be protected on my watch, and those who are complicit in abuses of power will be held to account.” Everett enters her new role with broad experience as a lawyer and community advocate. Prior to practicing law, Everett devoted her professional career to public service and ensuring equal access to state and local resources, especially for underserved communities. Her past roles include serving as chief of staff at the Massachusetts Department of Transitional Assistance, deputy chief of staff to State Senator Sonia Chang-Diaz, and manager for public safety at the Metropolitan Area Planning Council. Everett has been recognized by Super Lawyers as a rising star and by Lawyers Weekly as a Top Woman of Law. She resides in Mattapan with her husband and children. Mayor Janey emphasized that policing reforms are at the heart of Boston’s path to safety, healing and justice. The Mayor’s fiscal year 2022 budget will dramatically reduce overtime spending by an estimated $21 million, a 33 percent reduction compared to the current fiscal year spending level, through a three-pronged strategy. The first step is to expand the police force with 30 additional officers. Two, 125-member recruit classes are budgeted to help compensate for retiring officers. Secondly, the number of cadet recruits will be increased by 50 percent, from 40 to 60, in an effort to further enhance the diversity of the force. Finally, the budget increases funding for BPD’s Medical Triage Unit and clinicians who will help get inactive officers back to work or off the payroll. The Janey administration is committed to reimagining policing with new ideas and fresh approaches. Mayor Janey announced a new effort to amplify the role of mental health clinicians in responding to mental health calls that police officers often handle. The Mayor also underscored the value of safe and stable housing as a source of justice for victims of violence. Boston’s Chief of Housing, Sheila Dillon, will be charged with developing supports to safely relocate families that have been impacted by homicide.

4/20起 波士頓市交通停車相關規定恢復正常

 

MAYOR JANEY ANNOUNCES TOWING FOR STREET CLEANING TO RESUME CITYWIDE; TICKET AMNESTY PROGRAM TO EXPIRE; OTHER PARKING ENFORCEMENT UPDATES

 

BOSTON - Tuesday, April 13, 2021 - Mayor Janey today announced that the Boston Transportation Department (BTD) has updated parking enforcement regulations in the City of Boston. Starting Tuesday, April 20, parking enforcement will return citywide, including towing during posted street sweeping and for parking in spaces without an appropriate resident sticker. Also, BTD will not be ticketing residents with an expired inspection sticker until May 31.  Additionally, on April 20, the Boston Transportation Department’s ticket amnesty for healthcare workers will expire. At the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, BTD announced that healthcare workers could have non-public safety violations dismissed upon appeal if the ticket was received while working. The intent of the program was to assist local healthcare workers as they dealt with the public health emergency. The City of Boston and its municipal partners in Brookline, Cambridge, Everett, and Somerville will continue to offer all essential workers in metro Boston a free 90-day pass for the public bike share system, Bluebikes. More information is available at boston.gov/bike-share. “As we continue to plan our recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic, I am grateful to all of our residents for their cooperation in following our parking enforcement,” said Mayor Janey. “As warmer weather comes, it’s important that we take the necessary steps to keep our streets clean.” “We are grateful that the City of Boston was able to provide extra support to residents and healthcare workers during this unprecedented time,” said Commissioner Greg Rooney. “Residents should be advised that we are beginning to return to normal operations and they should follow all posted parking regulations.”  The following parking regulations remain in effect in the City of Boston: RESIDENT PARKING AT METERS Boston residents with resident parking permits will continue to be allowed to park at meters within their neighborhood without having to abide by the time limits or pay the meter. DISABILITY PLACARDS BTD will resume ticketing for expired disability placards/plates starting on May 31. The Registry of Motor Vehicles is only processing requests for disability placards/plates by mail.  To view a complete list of parking codes and fines in the City of Boston, residents can visit here or call 311. The Boston Transportation Department will continue to evaluate additional parking enforcement changes throughout the phased reopening. For more information, please visit boston.gov/transportation.

Boston Chamber Announces Addition of Greylock Federal to Pacesetters

 Boston Chamber Announces Addition of Greylock Federal to Pacesetters

Introduced by Massachusetts Business Roundtable, Greylock Commits to Using Its Purchasing Power to Help Close the Racial Wealth Gap

 

Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce, Massachusetts Business Roundtable (MBR), and Greylock Federal Credit Union are proud to announce Greylock Federal Credit Union as a Signatory in the Chamber’s Pacesetters program. Pacesetters, a signature program in the Chamber’s Economic Opportunity portfolio, utilizes procurement as an equity tool to advance systemic and economic opportunity across the Commonwealth of MA by focusing on access to contracts for Massachusetts-based minority-owned enterprises.

 

By increasing spend with businesses of color across the state, Pacesetter companies and anchor institutions use their procurement purchasing power to collectively close the racial wealth gap. A strategic partner in the work to create systemic opportunity, MBR joined Pacesetters during the program’s statewide expansion in Fall 2020 along with an array of business partners. MBR’s robust conversation with their member base helped to elevate the visibility of the Pacesetters program and explain the powerful impact that is possible when businesses commit to equity as a collective front. Through their MBR membership, Greylock Federal Credit Union enthusiastically joined Pacesetters to use their procurement power to partner with minority business enterprises in their local region and across the state.

 

“Pacesetters is a stronger program with the addition of Greylock Federal Credit Union joining the pool of buyers. During our statewide expansion, envisioning a new business economy that prioritizes inclusivity and champions economic opportunity meant reaching out to our business partners to strategize on a larger scale. I’m grateful to JD Chesloff and the Massachusetts Business Roundtable for their partnership in this important work. MBR introduced Greylock to Pacesetters, acting as a true partner in closing the state’s racial wealth gap,” said James E. Rooney, President and CEO of the Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce.

 

By joining the Pacesetters program, Greylock Federal Credit Union commits to increasing spend with local and state businesses of color year over year for five years.

“This initiative falls squarely within our long-term commitment to what Greylock calls IDEA: inclusion, diversity, equity and accessibility,” said Greylock CEO and President, John L. Bissell. “Improving the inclusiveness of our purchasing practices is one of many ways we can help close the racial wealth gap and promote real change in the way our economy distributes resources and power.”

 

“The disparity in awarding contracts to businesses of color is a statewide issue but also a statewide opportunity,” said JD Chesloff, President and CEO of the Massachusetts Business Roundtable. “By engaging with employers and expanding Pacesetters’ reach to all regions across the Commonwealth, like Greylock Federal in the Berkshires, we are raising awareness and increasing connections that we hope will create greater access for minority-owned business enterprises to secure contracts with major employers in Massachusetts. We thank the Greater Boston Chamber for their leadership of the Pacesetters program, and John Bissell and Greylock Federal for their steadfast commitment to racial equity.”

 

The Pacesetters program is supported by Presenting Sponsors Eastern Bank and John Hancock.

 

Participating Pacesetters

• Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce
• Berkshire Bank
• Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts
• Boston Children’s Hospital
• Boston Red Sox
• Burns & Levinson, LLP
• Citizens Bank
• Comcast
• DentaQuest
• Eastern Bank
• Emerson College
• Encore Boston Harbor
• Federal Reserve Bank of Boston
• Fidelity
• Gilbane
• IPG DXTRA brands including Weber Shandwick and Jack Morton
• John Hancock
• Liberty Mutual Insurance
• Mass General Brigham
• National Grid
• Northeastern University
• Nutter McClennen & Fish
• P&G Gillette
• State Street Corp.
• Tufts Health Plan
• University of Massachusetts
• Verizon
• Vertex Pharmaceuticals

Participating Pacesetter Signatories

• Greylock Federal Credit Union
• MassDevelopment
• McKinsey & Co. (Boston Office)

Participating Business Associations

• Alliance for Business Leadership
• Massachusetts Biotechnology Council (MassBio)
• Massachusetts Business Roundtable (MBR)
• Massachusetts Competitive Partnership
• NAIOP Massachusetts, The Commercial Real Estate Development Association
• Western Mass Economic Development Council

Worcester Regional Chamber of Commerce

市長候選人群起圍攻 Kim Janey回應將公佈警察內部檔案以示透明

波士頓是代市長Kim Janey。(檔案照片) (Boston Orange 編譯)波士頓代市長Kim Janey今(12)日下午6點發出聲明，強調她要讓市政府的每個角落都透明，負責，已指示市府法律部門，立即檢視前警察Patrick Rose的內部事務檔案，做必要修改，以保護受害者資訊，然後盡快公開檔案。 她表示，任何可能洩漏性攻擊或家庭暴力案件受害者身分的資訊，都必須重新撰寫，以符合法律規定。不過市府也同樣有義務要確保透明的面對公眾，因為扣押資訊只會破壞公眾信任。 她說，「我已經要求儘快檢視，重寫事件發生經過，以便檔案可向大眾公開」。 Kim Janey表示，波士頓警察局自己的內部調查都認為1995年的嚴重指控是可信，卻竟然沒人阻止Rose和其他青少年接觸，而且Rose還能獲准在警局繼續任職超過20年，甚至最後領導巡警組，讓人覺得很莫名其妙，深感不安。 波士頓環球報稱，Kim Janey是在一群波士頓市議員，市長候選人，以及麻州國會議員都強烈施壓，要求獨立調查，並說明波士頓警察局是如何處理這宗陳年舊案後，才決定公開檔案。 波士頓環球報在週六晚刊發報導，稱波士頓警察局在1995年以性虐待的刑事罪，控告Rose。但該控訴後來撤銷了，檢控官現在說，Rose逼使一名12歲男孩撤銷控訴。另外的一宗波士頓警察局行政調查，後來決定Rose很可能犯了罪。 在波士頓環球報這故事上網一日後，波士頓市議員們星期日發表了一份聯合聲明，要求對波士頓警察局如何處理這宗1995年案件，徹底問責，並誓言要使用包括市議員的能力的每一樣可用工具，來逼使市府公佈紀錄，以確保這是件的透明度，並建立安全保護，避免類似事情發生的任何可能。 波士頓市長候選人Andrea Campbell說，持續的缺乏透明度與問責制是不可接受的。每延遲一分鐘，就是進一步破壞公眾信任，否決了受害者應享有的正義。 同樣在競選市長的吳弭(Michelle Wu)稱這情形是”可怕的破壞公眾信任，而且持續到今天，還有(Kim Janey)政府拒絕公開內部事務記錄。 另一名波士頓市長候選人Annissa Essaibi George在社交媒體上說，”這掩蓋文化必須為過去”。 麻州國會議員也支持要求獨立調查的呼籲。普莉斯萊說，這是侵犯公眾信任的警鐘。社區都稱波士頓警察局的內部事務，經常都不追究，沒後果，沒責任。 麻州參議員伊莉莎白沃倫(Elizabeth Warren)表示，人們需要透明及問責來從系統中根除不正義。 去年夏天Rose被逮捕，目前因性虐待6名7歲到16歲男孩的33宗控罪，羈押在囚。其中一名男童告訴警察，Rose在1995年虐待他。波士頓警察局拒絕說Rose是否受到紀律懲罰，但波士頓環球報的調查發現，該部門在那控訴之後，幾乎沒採取任何措施來限制Rose和其他孩童的接觸。 Rose擔任巡警20多年，2014年時當選波士頓市最有力量的巡警工會會長，並連任至2018年初退休。             Kim Janey表示，她的政府正在加倍努力進行警察改革，並成立在有必要時有權發傳票要求公開記錄之外，有權檢視所有內部事務檔案的警察問責及透明辦公室(OPAT)。             波士頓市府為聘請OPAT執行主任，正在完成聘僱條款，市府的2022會計年度預算，將包括支持這辦公室成立的一大筆款項。她將在未來數日宣佈誰是OPAT主任，並會訂出成立OPAT辦公室的資金及資源計畫大綱，在週三時和2022會計年度預算一併公佈。 Statement from Mayor Kim Janey on Former Boston Police Officer Patrick Rose

 

As I have stated previously, my administration has pledged to bring a new era of transparency and accountability to all corners of city government. I have instructed the City’s Law Department, as counsel for the Boston Police Department, to immediately review former police officer Patrick Rose’s internal affairs file. In keeping with the law, any information that could compromise the identities of victims of sexual assault and domestic violence must be redacted. However, we have an equally compelling obligation to ensure transparency with the public because withholding information only serves to erode the public’s trust. I have asked that the review and redaction happen as quickly as possible so that the file can be released to the public. It is baffling that officer Rose was allowed to remain on the force for over two decades and ultimately led the patrolmen’s union. I was deeply disturbed to learn that there was no effort to prevent Rose from coming into contact with other minors after such serious charges were found to be credible by BPD’s own internal affairs probe of the original allegations in 1995. Transparency and accountability are foundational values when it comes to fostering public trust, and this is especially true for law enforcement. That is exactly why my administration is doubling down on our work to implement police reform and to stand up Boston’s Office of Police Accountability and Transparency (OPAT). OPAT will have the authority to review all internal affairs cases, in addition to holding subpoena power to compel the release of records and enhance accountability when necessary. We are in the process of finalizing an offer to hire an executive director to lead the critical work of OPAT, and our upcoming budget proposal for Fiscal Year 2022 includes significant funding to successfully launch this office. I look forward to announcing the executive director of OPAT in the coming days, and we will outline our plan for funding and resources to support the establishment of OPAT when we release our FY22 budget proposal on Wednesday.

新冠病毒確診人數 麻州排全美第15名

 

麻州州長疫情匯報 4/12 本週內200萬人完成疫苗接種

麻州州長查理貝克(Charlie Baker)感嘆無法確定能拿到多少強生疫苗。

(Boston Orange 綜合編譯)本週內，麻州將有200萬人完成疫苗接種，到4月19日時，州內所有16歲以上居民都有資格接種新冠疫苗，到5月31日國殤日時，相信麻州內的絕大多數人都已接種了新冠疫苗。

              由於巴爾的摩(Baltimore)疫苗生產廠上週發生汙染狀況，強生(J&J)疫苗的供應量將下跌85%。聯邦疾病防治局公佈的資料顯示，麻州本週會收到的強生疫苗數量，將從上週的103,800劑，驟降至12,300劑。

麻州州長查理貝克(Charlie Baker)，副州長白莉朵(Karyn Polito)和健康及人民服務長蘇德思Marylou Sudders今(12)日參訪屋斯特家庭健康中心(Family Health Center of Worcester)，匯報新冠病毒疫情概況，口頭慶祝醫療健保法通過15週年，醫療聯繫者(Healthcare Connector)得以設立，幫助了數以萬計的麻州居民。

麻州副州長白莉朵(Karyn Polito)感謝屋斯特的醫療相關機構。

查理貝克簡報4月11日的疫情數據時，強調在全美人口500萬以上的大州中，麻州仍是防疫及施打疫苗成績最佳的州之一。整個防疫工程的關鍵在於聯邦政府的防疫指導原則，麻州能夠拿到多少疫苗，並多迅速的為民眾施打疫苗，然後是觀察變種病毒的擴散狀況。

他個人希望麻州能拿到更多只須施打一劑的強生疫苗，因為和必須施打兩劑的輝瑞(Pfizer)和莫德納(Moderna)相比，不但施打疫苗流程少了一半，而且完成疫苗施打的時間，可從6星期降至2星期，還有疫苗的儲存或運送，不須做超低溫安排，省事很多。

麻州健康及人民服務長Marylou Sudders表示今天還是實施接觸追蹤
一週年紀念。該做法為59萬人提供了隔離檢疫服務。

查理貝克強調，麻州有能力更快速的為更多民眾施打疫苗，關鍵是供應量不足也不穩定，讓麻州難以辦理更有效率的施打疫苗計畫。

聯邦疾病防治中心目前的做法，更偏好直接分發疫苗給地方零售藥店，所以民眾可能會直接從他們的家庭醫師或醫護人員那而得到去CVS等藥店，或是地方上的社區醫療中心等地接種疫苗的通知。查理貝克表示，他對聯邦政府怎麼做並無意見，重要的是麻州居民都能接種疫苗。

查理貝克並指出，今日是麻州醫療聯繫者(Massachusetts Health Connector)法案通過的15週年，該法使得麻州成為全美居民醫療保險享有率最高的州，大約97%。

麻州醫療聯繫者主任Louis Gutierrez呼籲需要醫療保險者，上該機構
網站查找資料。

麻州醫療聯繫者主任Louis Gutierrez表示，由於聯邦政府通過了聯邦援救法(federal rescue act)，現在是登記參加醫療保險的最好時候，有意獲得醫療保險者可在7月24日前上該機構網站www.healthcareconnector.org。凡是在今年內失業的人，7月份起，可獲得免費醫療保險。

屋斯特家庭醫療中心執行長Louis Brady 。

昆士市政要出面呼籲停止仇恨亞裔 (圖片)

 

波士頓市長候選人吳弭拜會華埠商家 聆聽傾訴 (圖片)