Healey州長簽署法案保護大眾運輸業人員 違者罰最低監禁90天

麻州長Maura Healey（右二）和代理交通廳廳長伍偉華（左一，Philip Eng）
和工會領袖們慶祝Ｈ4645法案簽署。(周菊子攝）

          (Boston Orange周菊子綜合報導)麻州州長奚莉（Maura Healey）12月3日在麻州政府大樓護士廳（Nurses Hall）正式簽署眾議院第 4645 號法案（H.4645），將讓所有大眾運輸業工作人員得到和其他公務員都享有的法律保護，襲擊和毆打他們的人，將被處以更嚴厲刑罰。

麻州長Maura Healey展示簽署的H4645法案。（周菊子攝）

預訂在90天內生效的新法，將對襲擊大眾運輸業人員的行為，處以最低90天，最多2.5年監禁，或最低500元，最高5000元的處罰。

            麻州政府代理交通廳廳長暨麻州地鐵總經理伍偉華（Philip Eng），參議會議長Karen Spika等參眾議員，以及波士頓卡門工會（Boston Carmen’s Union）主席 Jim Evers，副主席William Berardino，麻州AFL-CIO會長Chrissy Lynch等人，都十分興奮，現場擠了至少數十人。

工會領袖們在法案簽署儀式前和代理交通廳廳長伍偉華（右二，Philip Eng）合影。
（周菊子攝）

           這法案之所以會出現，緣起於2024年內，麻州地鐵就報告了不下600起事件，其中竟然有至少72起肢體毆打，33起持械襲擊等嚴重情況，還有38起向大眾運輸業工作人員吐口水或潑灑液體事件。

在工會人員積極推動後，麻州眾議員Joseph W. McGonagle, Jr. 率先提案，隨後連同司法聯合委員會主席，眾議員Michael Day 和參議員 Lydia Edwards 修訂條文內容，確保法律覆蓋範圍延伸至通勤鐵路（Commuter Rail）的承包商員工，並主導了法案在委員會的通過。參議員 Nick Collins 也是此案的主要推動者之一，他強調大眾運輸業員工是維護城市運作的關鍵，必須享有與警察及消防員同等的法律保護。

MBTA 總經理 Philip Eng 感謝州長及議員們的支持，他強調法律保障是建立一流交通系統的基礎，工作人員更安全，服務品質才會更好。對於全麻州約 12,000 名大眾運輸業工作人員——從先鋒谷（Pioneer Valley）的公車司機到波士頓地鐵列車員——來說，這法案代表麻州政府信守對他們的承諾。

代表超過 6,000 名員工的波士頓卡門工會（Boston Carmen’s Union）主席 Jim Evers 對法案簽署表示高度欣慰。他形容這是工會成員的「重大勝利」，並強調工會長期爭取的「工作安全權」終於得到法律確認，讓駕駛員與操作員在值勤時能獲得應有的尊嚴與保障。

Governor Healey Signs Bill Protecting Public Transportation Workers from Assault 

By BOSTON ORANGE STAFF – 

Today, Governor Maura Healey signed a bill that strengthens protections for public transportation workers. An act relative to assault and battery upon a transit worker (H4645)  

expands current laws on assault and battery against public employees to include public transit workers, ensuring they receive similar legal protections as other public employees. 

 

“Public transportation employees do important work every day to keep our trains and buses moving on time and ensure the safety of all passengers,” said Governor Healey. “They should never be subject to any form of assault simply for doing their jobs. This bill ensures that they have the protections they deserve and will enhance safety for all users of our public transportation system. I’m grateful to the leadership of Chairs Day and Edwards, Senator Collins, Representative McGonagle, our partners in the Legislature and the Carmen’s Union to pass this essential legislation.” 

 

“The people who operate and support our transit system should be able to show up to work each day without fear of violence,” said Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll. “This law expands critical protections for our workers and helps ensure a safer, more secure environment for everyone who relies on public transportation.” 

 

“This bill responds to growing concerns from transit agencies and labor advocates about the rising number of attacks on workers, making the passage of this legislation critical,” said House Speaker Ronald J. Mariano (D-Quincy). “The House remains committed to protecting workers and supporting those who serve the Commonwealth in essential roles. I want to thank Governor Healey for signing this bill into law, as well as Chairman Day, Chairman McGonagle and all my colleagues in the House, along with our partners in the Senate, for recognizing the importance of this legislation.” 

 

"Every region of our economy depends on the people who keep the busses and trains humming, and this new law takes a strong step forward in protecting workers who show up every day to do just that," said Senate President Karen E. Spilka (D-Ashland). "Our historic investments in transit would mean nothing if not for the people who greet customers, run our transit systems, and ensure the public is safe. I applaud Governor Healey for signing this bill, thank Senator Collins for sponsoring it in the Senate, and look forward to seeing these measures protect transit workers around the state." 

   

“All transit workers deserve to come to work feeling safe and protected,” said Interim Secretary and General Manager Phillip Eng. “These employees work tirelessly to serve the public, keeping them moving safe and reliably. Transit workers work 365 days a year to ensure that we have a robust transit system that is safe, supporting riders that depend on mass transportation and allowing everyone the option to choose transit. Know that our labor workforce is dedicated, is a part of the communities they serve, and deserve a workplace grounded in respect and security. I want to thank the Legislature and the Healey-Driscoll Administration for expanding Bill H.4645 to recognize transit professionals. The law affirms that they are entitled to the full protections necessary so they in turn can better deliver the best-in-class transit system that the public depends on and deserves.” 

“This is a significant victory for everyone who rides or operates public transit. Our MBTA bus and train operators deserve to be safe on the job and commuters deserve to know that public transportation is safe,” said Jim Evers, President of the Boston Carmen’s Union Local 589. “This law will ensure that those who assault public transit workers will be held accountable and that our valued transportation employees are protected. Our transit workers keep Massachusetts moving every day and deserve our utmost respect.” 

 

“Our transit workers keep Greater Boston moving every day and deserve our utmost respect,” said William Berardino, Vice-President of Boston Carmen’s Union Local 589. “We are thankful that our members and all public transit employees can now go to work knowing that they are respected and protected. The days of assaulting public transportation workers without fear or reprisal must come to an end — and this bill will help immensely to that goal.” 

 

 

“Every worker deserves safety on the job, yet so many jobs are inherently dangerous and every year there are workers right here in MA who are injured and/or killed on the job.  We are proud to join thousands of transportation workers across the state to celebrate this new law that will make their essential jobs safer,” said President Massachusetts AFL-CIO Chrissy Lynch. “We thank the state legislature for getting this bill to the Governor’s desk, and we thank the Governor for enthusiastically signing it. We are looking forward to building off of this to create safer working conditions for more frontline and essential workers.” 

 

Our public transit system runs because of the dedication of workers who show up every day to serve us,” said Representative Michael S. Day (D-Stoneham), House Chair of the Joint Committee on the Judiciary. “Today the Commonwealth affirms our continued commitment to protect those workers who are essential to the success of our everyday lives. I thank my colleagues in the House and Senate and the Governor for their partnership in passing this measure into law.” 

 

“Today’s signing marks a monumental step in protecting those who keep our commuters moving,” said Senator Lydia Edwards, Senate Chair of the Joint Committee on the Judiciary. “Transit workers serve on the front lines of our communities every single day, and it is essential that they feel safe, protected, and respected while simply doing their jobs. This legislation reaffirms our commitment to creating a transit system where workers can focus on serving the public without fear of harassment. I’d like to extend my gratitude to Senator Nick Collins for leading on this legislation, Senate Ways and Means for their advocacy, and Senate President Spilka for her support. I’m proud of my colleagues for standing firmly behind this priority, and I’d like to thank Governor Healey for signing these critical protections into law.” 

 

“Transit workers are among the most essential employees of our Commonwealth, carrying out the steady and often unseen work that allows tens of thousands of people to travel safely and reliably each day. Their commitment keeps our cities moving, even under challenging and unpredictable circumstances,” said Senator Nick Collins. “When the rights and safety of these workers are impinged upon, it is an affront to the invaluable service they provide and the trust the public places in them. We must remain vigilant in safeguarding their wellbeing, as they encounter nearly every facet of public life in this line of work. With the passage of this legislation, strengthening protections and expanding the definition of what constitutes an assault against a transit worker, we are sending a clear message that we do not take their hard work for granted and that we stand firmly behind those who keep our Commonwealth connected. Thank you to Senate President Karen Spilka for making this a priority as well as Governor Maura Healey and MBTA GM Phil Eng for your support for our transit workers.” 

 

“Our transit workers provide critical services all over the Commonwealth, yet are many times assaulted by the very customers they serve. I have listened to dozens of stories of these workers being stabbed, spit on and threatened and it must stop,” said Representative Joseph McGonagle. “I am so thrilled that the entire legislature has prioritized this important issue. The right to feel safe and supported on the job is just that, a right. I’m also extremely grateful to the brave men and women who came forward to share their stories. Thank you especially to House Speaker Mariano, Chair Day, my colleagues in the Senate and all those who helped get this bill passed, and a big thank you to Governor Healey and Lt. Governor Driscoll for recognizing the importance of this legislation.” 

 

Effective January 4, 2025, this bill creates a heightened penalty for perpetrators of assault and battery against public employees. It also adds public transit workers or any transit worker contracted or employed to operate public transit services to the list of public employees subject to this section. The bill also broadens the definition of assault to include the projection of bodily fluids. 

 

Since taking office, Governor Healey has prioritized improving the safety and reliability of public transportation across the state. She appointed Phil Eng as General Manager of the MBTA who has overseen a transformative period, eliminating all subway speed restrictions for the first time in over 20 years, modernizing signal systems and hiring thousands of workers. Governor Healey the Legislature have also invested record funding in the MBTA, regional transit authorities, roads and bridges across the state.  

Governor Healey Announces That Federal Heating Assistance Funding is Now Available

 Governor Healey Announces That Federal Heating Assistance Funding is Now Available 

BOSTON – Governor Maura Healey today announced that the Trump Administration has released federal funding for the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP). After more than a month’s delay, the federal funding was released yesterday, and all applications can now be processed.  

“For more than a month, President Trump has forced American families to wait in the cold,” said Governor Healey. “As we hit cold winter weather, we are relieved that funds are finally flowing now, and families can apply for help heating their homes. Our team has worked to make this funding available immediately, because our families cannot afford to wait.  I’m grateful to Secretary Augustus and the team at the Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities for taking the necessary steps to ensure we were prepared to get the program started again as soon as the federal funding was made available.” 

“Home energy assistance is one of the most important tools we have to keep people safe in the winter. For many of the households we serve each year, HEAP is the difference between a warm home and an impossible choice between heat, food and medicine,” said Housing and Livable Communities Secretary Ed Augustus. “Now that this funding has been released, our team and our local partners are moving quickly so that seniors, families with children and people with disabilities can get the help they need as the cold weather sets in.” 

LIHEAP is a federal program, referred to as the Massachusetts Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP) in Massachusetts, that typically helps more than 150,000 Massachusetts households, representing over 300,000 people, afford to heat their homes during the winter each year. This federal funding usually becomes available in early November, but it was delayed due to the federal government shutdown. Even after the government reopened on November 13, it took the Trump Administration nearly three weeks to release funding – a delay that Governor Healey criticized.  

During the pause, the Healey-Driscoll Administration utilized leftover federal funding from last year to support households with a heating emergency. The Department of Public Utilities also extended its shut-off moratorium to October 27, 2025 – April 1, 2026.  

All eligible HEAP clients are now able to apply online for heating assistance.  

高丹尼（Dan Koh)參選聯邦眾議員 國際電梯員工會第4分會表態支持

高丹尼（Dan Koh)。（圖片來自維基百科）

            (Boston Orange 編譯) 2026年的麻州選舉，將有一名本地人熟悉的亞裔，高丹尼（Dan Koh）參選第六選區國會議員席位。今（3）日他宣佈獲得有1200會員的國際電梯建造者工會第4地方分會支持。

          國會議員第六選區現任聯邦眾議員Seth Moulton在10月15日打出“世代交替”口號，宣佈將角逐聯邦參議員席位，直接挑戰2026必須競選連任的在位聯邦參議員Ed Markey。

           高丹尼動作很快的立即在10月16日發佈視頻，宣佈將角逐Seth Moulton不競選連任原職，空出來的席位。

            高丹尼的父親是曾任美國衛生及人民服務助理部長高京柱（Howard Koh）。他自己2017曾任波士頓市長馬丁華殊（Marty Walsh）的幕僚長，2017年參選麻州第三國會選區聯邦眾議員，但以不到150票飲恨，輸給Lori Trahan。

        2021年，原任波士頓市長的馬丁華殊（Marty Walsh）走馬上任美國勞工部部長後，把高丹尼找去當幕僚長。之後當過總統助理，內閣副秘書長。政治資歷頗爲亮眼，一度被視為2022年的角逐麻州州長人選之一。

        由於Seth Moulton不再競選連任，等於席位出缺。目前競爭者中。高丹尼必須先贏得民主黨的黨內初選，才能走下一步。他面對的競爭者包括曾任麻州眾議員的Jamie Belsito，現任麻州眾議員，越南裔的Tram Nguyen，以及現任眾議員 Seth Moulton 的前幕僚長Rick Jakious，其他傳出有意參選的人還有Beth Andres-Beck，John Beccia。

Dan Koh Secures Key Union Endorsement for 2026 Congressional Bid

By Boston Orange Staff

BOSTON — In the upcoming 2026 Massachusetts election, Dan Koh, a familiar figure in the local Asian-American community, is set to run for the 6th Congressional District seat. Today (December 3), Koh announced that he has received the endorsement of the International Union of Elevator Constructors Local 4, which represents 1,200 members.

The race for the 6th District was blown wide open on October 15, when incumbent Congressman Seth Moulton announced he would not seek re-election to the House. Instead, running on a platform of "generational change," Moulton declared his candidacy for the U.S. Senate to challenge incumbent Senator Ed Markey in the 2026 primary.

Moving quickly, Dan Koh released a video the very next day, October 16, announcing his campaign to fill the seat left vacant by Moulton’s departure.

Koh comes from a prominent background; his father, Howard Koh, previously served as the U.S. Assistant Secretary for Health. Dan Koh himself served as Chief of Staff to Boston Mayor Tom Menino [Note: see previous correction re: Walsh] and ran for the 3rd Congressional District seat in 2017. In that race, he suffered a heartbreaking defeat, losing to Lori Trahan by fewer than 150 votes.

In 2021, when former Boston Mayor Marty Walsh was appointed U.S. Secretary of Labor, he brought Koh on as his Chief of Staff at the Department of Labor. Koh later served as a Deputy Cabinet Secretary and Special Assistant to the President. With such a dazzling political resume, he was at one point considered a potential contender for Massachusetts Governor in 2022.

With Moulton vacating the seat, the 6th District is now an open race. Koh must first win the Democratic primary to advance. He faces a crowded field of competitors, including former State Representative Jamie Belsito, current State Representative Tram Nguyen, and Rick Jakious, Seth Moulton’s former Chief of Staff. Other rumored potential candidates include Beth Andres-Beck and John Beccia.

Healey-Driscoll Administration Launches Statewide Pilot Program to Support Students Returning to College

Healey-Driscoll Administration Launches Statewide Pilot Program to Support  
Students Returning to College 

 

Pilot includes direct outreach to students who began, but did not complete, degrees at six public colleges and universities 

 
BOSTON – The Healey-Driscoll Administration today announced a new pilot program to re-engage students who previously began, but did not complete, degrees and certificates at the state’s public colleges and universities. There are more than 766,000 Massachusetts residents in the “Some College, No Credential” (SCNC) population. The effort is designed to bring greater economic opportunities to Massachusetts residents while boosting the state’s workforce and competitiveness. 
 
The learner re-engagement initiative will include direct student outreach and coaching provided by ReUp Education during a one-year pilot. The six institutions taking part include Bunker Hill Community College, Cape Cod Community College, Greenfield Community College, MassBay Community College, Fitchburg State University, and the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth. 
 
“Higher education brings better opportunities for families and strengthens our economy, which is why we’ve invested significantly in making college more affordable,” said Governor Maura Healey. “Re-engaging students who didn’t complete their degrees is another way to support our residents and strengthen the talent and skills that make up our workforce.”  
 
“Massachusetts continues to prioritize helping residents grow their economic opportunities while meeting workforce needs,” said Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll. “We’re proud to have increased college affordability, and this new effort goes further to reach out directly to students and provide them with coaching to help lift barriers to returning to college and completing their degrees.”  
 
Prior to this pilot program being launched, some public institutions in Massachusetts had established partnerships with ReUp to re-engage learners, including Framingham State University, Salem State University, and the University of Massachusetts Boston.  
 
“For so many residents, life and finances get in the way of completing a credential,” said Secretary of Education Dr. Patrick Tutwiler. “This pilot brings residents guidance and support to return to college, grow their skills, and complete the degree they once started.”   
 
“I’m grateful to our college and university leaders for their ongoing dedication to student success, including their existing and growing efforts to re-engage adult learners,” said Commissioner of Higher Education Noe Ortega. “By bringing students back to complete a degree or earn a credential, we're not only expanding individual access and opportunity, but we’re also strengthening our Commonwealth's workforce.” 
 
This learner re-engagement pilot program advances a recommendation of the Advisory Council for the Advancement of Representation in Education (ACARE) that was highlighted in a report issued in October 2024.  
 
“There are a number of barriers to adult learners completing credentials and this dedicated effort will help residents overcome them,” said Department of Higher Education Senior Deputy Commissioner José Luis Santos. “As someone who was a ‘non-traditional’ aged college student myself, I know that added support goes a long way in making it across the finish line, and the student outreach and guidance that come with this effort will be invaluable to helping adult learners reach their goals.”   
 
ReUp is a national provider of re-enrollment and success coaching and leads re-enrollment efforts at 140 institutions across 33 states. ReUp engages students through an Education to Workforce Marketplace, which provides comprehensive support across the entire student journey—from initial outreach to graduation—helping learners navigate barriers like cost, time, and uncertainty. Connecting public institutions and learners across Massachusetts through a central platform and live coaching will provide adults returning to college with guided access to programs aligned with their career aspirations and statewide workforce needs. 
 
Statements from Participating Colleges and Universities  
 
“Bringing Massachusetts residents with some college credit but no degree back to our public colleges and universities is a smart investment. We are training a strong workforce to support our dynamic economy and delivering the promise of economic mobility. Bunker Hill's partnership with ReUp will leverage free community college to open doors to a more prosperous and competitive workforce,” said Pam Eddinger, President, Bunker Hill Community College. 

"Working with ReUp allows us to leverage data-informed outreach and personalized coaching to support adult learners who stepped away before earning a credential. This one-year pilot will help us understand how to better serve returning students and build a sustainable re-engagement strategy that aligns with our long-term enrollment and student success goals,” said Jacquelyn Thompson, Vice President of Student Services and Enrollment Management at Cape Cod Community College. 
 
“We are thrilled to partner with ReUp and their mission to support adult learners to complete their college goals. Our flexible programs and excellent wrap-around support are a great match for this program and learners who are juggling jobs, family, and life. We believe no one who’s taken the first steps toward higher education deserves to be left behind,” said Shanni Smith-Arsenault, Vice President for Enrollment Management and Student Success at Greenfield Community College.  
 
"We appreciate the partnership with Re-Up, made possible by the Department of Higher Education. It will allow us to better achieve our mission to provide high-quality education to our citizens, specifically by connecting with those whose situations didn't allow them to complete their degree in the past. We look forward to those students completing their degrees and moving forward in their lives and careers,” said MassBay Community College President, David Podell, Ph.D. 
 
"Fitchburg State is proud to join this statewide effort to welcome adult learners back to college and support them through to completion. Our region depends on a skilled, diverse workforce, and too many talented people have stepped away from higher education because life got in the way. This partnership with ReUp gives them a clear path back, with the coaching and encouragement they deserve. We look forward to helping more Massachusetts residents finish what they started and move confidently toward their goals," said Fitchburg State University President Donna Hodge.  
 
“This pilot program reflects our shared belief that public higher education should meet people where they are and support them as they work toward a better future for themselves and their families,” said UMass Dartmouth Chancellor Mark A. Fuller, PhD. “UMass Dartmouth is proud to partner with the Healey-Driscoll Administration and ReUp to open new doors for the thousands of Massachusetts residents who are looking to complete their educational ambitions.” 
 
Statement from ReUp Education  
 
“We’re proud to partner with the Massachusetts Department of Higher Education to create a statewide solution that directly supports adult learners on their path to degree completion and career advancement,” said Terah Crews, CEO of ReUp. “This initiative reinforces our commitment to helping states transform their higher education systems to drive economic growth while ensuring that colleges and universities in Massachusetts can retain and support the talent they have already invested in.” 

Governor Healey Responds to Trump Administration Threatening to Withhold SNAP Funding from Democratic States

 Governor Healey Responds to Trump Administration Threatening to Withhold SNAP Funding from Democratic States 

BOSTON – Governor Maura Healey issued the following statement after President Donald Trump’s Agriculture Secretary, Brooke Rollins, said that the United States Department of Agriculture would withhold SNAP funding for Democratic-controlled states starting next week. Massachusetts has not received notice from the federal government about withheld funds. 

“This is truly appalling and cruel,” said Governor Healey. “The Trump Administration is once again playing politics with the ability of working parents with children, seniors and people with disabilities to get food. President Trump needs to order Secretary Rollins to release SNAP funding immediately and prevent more Americans from going hungry."  

麻州希莉州長偕第一夫人喬安娜聯袂點亮州政府大樓聖誕樹 （附視頻）

麻州州長奚莉（Maura Healey)和第一夫人喬安娜（Joanna Lydgate）在現場
和2名小朋友合影，藉以彰顯聖誕節闔家歡慶氣氛。（周菊子攝）

            (Boston Orange 周菊子波士頓報導)踏入12月的第一天，麻州州長奚莉（Maura Healey）攜同第一夫人喬安娜（Joanna Lydgate），聖誕老人，小朋友，一起點亮了州政府大樓前的聖誕樹，大聲地說“感恩所有人”，為這邁向新一年的重要月份來臨祈禱。

            奚莉州長希望，不論人們各自信仰為何，在這年節假日，都能一同祝禱今年有個和平與愛的節假日。

麻州財政廳廳長Deb Goldberg(左二起）和副州長Kim Driscoll，州長奚莉（Maura healey)
，第一夫人喬安娜（Joanna Lydgate）和聖誕老人，Lynn市公校合唱團合影。（周菊子攝）

            奚莉州長說，麻州是個很棒的州，優點很多，但最棒的是人。過去這250年以來，慷慨大方又善良的人們，一直互相扶持，就像她前一陣子到麻州西部，親身參與了上百人的43英里徒步行盛事，這麼多人發揮大愛精神，不辭辛苦，長途跋涉，都是為了要幫食物銀行籌款，以期有充足資源，可以幫助有需要的人。

今年還是麻州眾議會新鮮人的麻州眾議員馬惠美（Amy Mah Sangiolo)
也來和聖誕老人合影。（周菊子攝）

            奚莉州長也趁著這節假日，向遠在他鄉異地服役，保家衛國的軍人們，護守地方的警察藉遊騎兵們，以及為民眾服務的民選官員們致敬，感謝他們讓人們生活安定。

麻州州政府大樓前的聖誕樹，12月1日點亮。（周菊子攝）

            今年在州政府大樓的慶祝聖誕，亮燈儀式，規模比第一年小了不少，包括Lynn市公校合唱團團員在內，頂多也只100多人排排站開在州政府大樓前，整個慶祝活動，象徵意義大於實質慶祝。

麻州副州長Kim Driscoll，財政廳廳長Deb Goldberg，以及麻州眾議員馬惠美(Amy Mah Sangiolo)等人，倒是都共襄盛舉來到和聖誕老人合個影。

州政府大樓二樓大堂（Great hall）內，也請來麻州的花農，菜農與漁農等擺出一張張的桌子，請人們試嚐新鮮蔬菜，薑汁茶，小紅蘿蔔（radish），來自四個不同漁家捕獲的生蠔，麻州中部Grey Log農場展示雞蛋、西西里毛茛、皇家棕櫚火雞、納瓦荷-丘羅綿羊和索艾羊肉製品等等，另一家農場展示蔓越莓，讓城市人感染了一點農家味道。

Governor Healey Lights State House Tree, Celebrating the Spirit of Giving and Community

On the first day of December, Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey, accompanied by First Lady Joanna Lydgate, Santa Claus, and local children, lit the Christmas tree in front of the State House. Exclaiming "Gratitude to all," she offered prayers for the arrival of this pivotal month leading into the new year.

Governor Healey expressed her hope that, regardless of individual faith, everyone can join together during this holiday season to pray for peace and love.

Governor Healey remarked that while Massachusetts is a great state with many virtues, its greatest asset is its people. For the past 250 years, she noted, generous and kind residents have supported one another. She highlighted a recent example from Western Massachusetts, where she joined hundreds of people on a 43-mile walk. These participants demonstrated immense love and resilience, enduring the long trek to raise funds for the Food Bank, ensuring sufficient resources to help those in need.

Taking the opportunity of the holiday season, Governor Healey also paid tribute to military personnel serving overseas to protect the country, the police and rangers guarding our local communities, and elected officials serving the public, thanking them for maintaining stability in people's lives.

This year’s Christmas celebration and lighting ceremony at the State House was notably smaller in scale compared to the first yearof the Healey-Driscoll Administration. Including members of the Lynn Public Schools choir, there were at most just over 100 people gathered in front of the State House. The event felt more symbolic than a large-scale celebration.

However, Lt. Governor Kim Driscoll, Treasurer Deb Goldberg, and State Representative Amy Mah Sangiolo were present to join the festivities and take photos with Santa Claus.

Inside the Great Hall on the second floor, the event showcased Massachusetts agriculture. Flower, vegetable, and seafood farmers set up tables inviting attendees to taste fresh vegetables, ginger tea, radishes, and oysters from four different fisheries. Central Massachusetts’s Grey Log Farm displayed eggs, Sicilian Buttercups, Royal Palm turkeys, Navajo-Churro sheep, and Soay sheep products, while another farm showcased cranberries, bringing a taste of rural life to the city.

麻州種植協會代表在現場擺攤。（周菊子攝）

麻州中部和西部4處魚農提供生蠔讓出席者試吃。（周菊子攝）

麻州政府大樓大唐這晚慶祝聖誕。（周菊子攝）

麻州州政府大樓前的聖誕樹。（周菊子攝）

羅爾高中老師Tara Goodhue獲選為2026年度老師

Healey-Driscoll Administration Announces 2026 Massachusetts Teacher of the Year

Lowell teacher Tara Goodhue receives state’s top educator award 

LOWELL —The Healey-Driscoll Administration announced today that Tara Goodhue, the science department head at Lowell High School, is the 2026 Massachusetts Teacher of the Year. Education Secretary Dr. Patrick Tutwiler and Elementary and Secondary Education Commissioner Pedro Martinez joined Superintendent Liam Skinner and Head of School Michael Fiato at the school to make the announcement during an assembly today.

“Congratulations to Dr. Goodhue and all the educators who work wonders in Massachusetts schools every day,” said Governor Maura Healey. “Educators like Dr. Goodhue bring their subjects to life for students, helping them want to learn more about the world around them.”

“As co-chair of the state’s STEM Advisory Council, I’m particularly thrilled to see this recognition go to a science teacher,” said Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll. “Dr. Goodhue’s partnerships with local organizations and her ability to show students the science in their everyday surroundings are a great example of the work happening in Massachusetts schools.”

The Massachusetts Teacher of the Year Program is the state’s top award for educators and annually recognizes excellence in teaching through the selection of a teacher who exemplifies the dedication, commitment and positive contributions of educators statewide. Over the coming year, Dr. Goodhue will have speaking opportunities within Massachusetts and will travel to California and Washington, D.C. to meet with teachers of the year from the rest of the nation.

“Tara Goodhue is a great ambassador for Massachusetts,” said Secretary Patrick Tutwiler. “Her experience in traditional and career technical schools, her commitment to connecting students to nature, and her willingness to collaborate with and mentor other teachers all speak volumes about our state’s educators.”

“Dr. Goodhue brings her students into nature and shows them how their observations can contribute to scientific understanding,” Commissioner Pedro Martinez said. "She has helped students advocate for recycling, and she has worked with them on citizen science projects that benefit the community. Some of her students have gone on to major in environmental studies. It's a pleasure to recognize her as Teacher of the Year, and it’s also a pleasure to recognize our finalists and semifinalists!”

Dr. Goodhue, who has partnered with groups such as the Lowell Parks & Conservation Trust, Mass Audubon and Harvard Forest, is the first Massachusetts Teacher of the Year to come from the Lowell Public Schools. She is the 64^th recipient of this award and automatically becomes Massachusetts’ candidate for the National Teacher of the Year award.

“Dr. Goodhue is a great representative of Lowell Public Schools, and we’re proud to see her recognized,” said Lowell Public Schools Superintendent Liam Skinner. “She is one of the many caring and effective teacher leaders who work with our students and educators every day.”

The selection process for the 2026 Massachusetts Teacher of the Year began in early 2025 with a call for nominations from administrators, teachers, students, parents and others. An initial review of each application led to the selection of eight semifinalists, who then submitted additional supporting material. Four finalists were selected and interviewed by a panel that included prior Massachusetts Teachers of the Year. That panel then recommended two names to Commissioner Martinez, who made the final decision.

“My message to both educators and the public is simple: We must work together as partners to connect students with the natural world and the people who care for it,” Dr. Goodhue said. “I’m committed to finding sustainable ways to connect community members, organizations and schools to make outdoor learning a regular and enriching part of every student’s education.”

For the second year in a row, Wellpoint, a health benefits company based in Woburn, is giving a $10,000 grant to the Teacher of the Year’s school and will give $5,000 grants to the finalists’ schools. In addition to Dr. Goodhue, the finalists for 2026 Massachusetts Teacher of the Year were:

• Sarah Costello: Mrs. Costello teaches first grade teacher at South Row Elementary, part of the Chelmsford Public Schools. She carefully tailors her instruction, incorporates social-emotional learning into her lessons, and creates a welcoming classroom.
• Thomas Simmons: Mr. Simmons teaches middle school English and history/social studies at Mario Umana Academy, a dual-language school that is part of the Boston Public Schools. Mr. Simmons is a lifelong learner who recognizes his students’ strengths and encourages his students to learn from each other.
• Beatriz Thomas: Ms. Thomas is a social studies teacher at Somerville High School. She is a proud alum who has brought her Salvadoran identity and advocacy work into the classroom and has helped implement rigorous and culturally responsive curriculum. Her biggest passion is connecting with students.

“Wellpoint is proud to support the 2026 Massachusetts Teacher of the Year award and celebrate Dr. Goodhue, Ms. Costello, Mr. Simmons, and Ms. Thomas for their remarkable dedication to our students’ education,” said David Morales, general manager of Wellpoint. “We are deeply committed to supporting teachers’ whole health—their well-being, their work in the classroom, and their mission to inspire the next generation. Congratulations to this year’s honorees for the incredible impact they make every day.”

The semifinalists for this year’s award were:

• Amy Adamski, a math teacher at Hampshire Regional High School in Westhampton;
• Michael López, a drama teacher at Lynn English High School, part of the Lynn Public Schools;  
• Anderson Manuel, a first grade teacher at General John Nixon School, part of the Sudbury Public Schools; and
• Lisa Yendriga-Norberg, a Middle school history/social studies teacher at Sumner G. Whittier School, part of the Everett Public Schools.

About Tara Goodhue
Dr. Goodhue teaches science at Lowell High School, where she is also head of the science department. She shows her students that nature is all around, even in an urban setting, and she involves them in scientific work through Harvard Forest, Mass Audubon, the National Park Service, and other entities. She is an adjunct faculty member at University of Massachusetts Lowell, a curriculum design and science communication consultant with Fort Hill Consulting in New Hampshire, and a mentor teacher with the Harvard Forest Schoolyard Ecology program. She is also a member of the Lowell “Nature Everywhere” Team with the Children and Nature Network.

Before coming to Lowell High in 2022, she worked at Greater Lowell Technical High School in Tyngsboro for 14 years. Dr. Goodhue holds a Doctor of Education in leadership in schools with a STEM concentration from UMass Lowell; a Master of Education in curriculum and instruction in secondary education, also from UMass Lowell; and a Bachelor of Arts in biology with a minor in music performance from Clark University in Worcester. In 2020, the National Association of Biology Teachers named her Environmental Educator of the Year. When she isn’t teaching science, Dr. Goodhue might be found hiking or knitting.
 
About Wellpoint
Wellpoint is a health benefits company that has served Group Insurance Commission (GIC) members, retirees, and their families for more than 30 years. Wellpoint provides health benefits exclusively to people insured through the GIC, offering a variety of plan options that provide comprehensive medical benefits. Learn more at wellpointmass.com.
 
To nominate a public school educator to be the 2027 Massachusetts Teacher of the Year, please email educatorrecognition@doe.mass.edu. 

波士頓市長吳弭的聖誕列車訂12/7下午3點開進華埠

           (Boston Orange 編譯)波士頓市長吳弭（Ｍichelle Wu）和市府旅遊、體育、娛樂局安排的第29屆聖誕列車行（Enchanted Trolley Tour）將於12月7日下午3點，開進華埠必珠街(Beach)和夏利臣街(Harrison)交界處。

今年的波士頓市聖誕列車，將於12月6日及7日開往16個地點，拜訪民眾，點亮聖誕燈。12月6日的下午5點45分將開到南端（South End）的黑石廣場（Blackstone Square），6點45分開到布萊頓（Brighton）的橡木廣場（Oak Square）。

            吳弭市長表示，她已經等不及的要在這可愛年度傳統中，和大家一起慶祝，迎接年節，感恩所有人的互相扶持，合作。

            波士頓市長的聖誕列車行將繼續節日傳統，帶著聖誕老人踏進各個社區，點亮聖誕燈。今年這活動由美國銀行，以及市景電車之旅（City View Trolley Tours）贊助，16個社區的每個站點現場，都將發送小禮物。

            美國銀行麻州董事長Miceal chamberlain表示，該行很驕傲的又一年贊助這聖誕列車行，要和吳弭市長一起深入社區，拜訪民眾。

            

Saturday, December 6

• 11:00 a.m. — Hastings Lot, West Roxbury 
• 12:00 p.m. — Wolcott Square, Readville
• 1:00 p.m. — Mattapan Square
• 2:00 p.m. — Hyde Square, Jamaica Plain 
• 3:00 p.m. — J.P. Monument, Jamaica Plain
• 3:45 p.m. — Brigham Circle, Mission Hill
• 4:30 p.m. — Bolling Building, Roxbury
• 5:45 p.m. — Blackstone Square, South End
• 6:45 p.m. — Oak Square, Brighton  

Sunday, December 7

• 12:00 p.m. — Codman Square, Dorchester
• 1:00 p.m. — Adams Corner, Dorchester
• 2:00 p.m. — M Street Park, South Boston
• 3:00 p.m. — Beach Street and Harrison Ave, Chinatown
• 4:00 p.m. — Paul Revere Mall, North End
• 5:00 p.m. — Winthrop Square (the Training Field), Charlestown
• 6:15 p.m. — Maverick Square, East Boston 

麻州眾議會通過議案要監管居家照護行業 提高品質

             （Boston Orange 編譯）麻州眾議會日前通過法案，規定從事居家服務人員，需申請執照，接受培訓，問責，三年有效，以加強對麻州內現有約1500家居家照護機構，約10萬名從業人員的監管。

            在全美50州中，僅有4州尚未訂立居家服務業監管制度，麻州就是其中之一。

            由於居家服務這行業的工作強度高，薪資卻低，每小時約僅＄17元，進入門檻又低，還沒有法令規定監管，人員品質的參差不齊，對許多使用這服務的家庭造成不小困擾。

            波士頓環球報引述了一名居家服務用戶的感嘆。這位Doug Hano先生，因為七子患有阿茲海默症，聘請了居家服務人員照顧，沒想到居家服務員或是經驗不足，或是疏忽不用心，曾讓他的妻子不只一次摔倒，受傷。

            代表約6j案名居家照護人員的工會，SEIU 1100指出，私募股權已介入居家照護行業，為追求利潤，可能近一步的犧牲品質。

            麻州眾議會為解決居家照護人員品質參差不齊問題，已通過法案，規定居家照護機構需獲得麻州HHS發放的三年許可證，HHS有權調查、暫停或撤銷許可，並對違規行為，處以每天500元的罰款。法案條文還包括要求居家照護機構的服務內容和費用透明化，擁有5%以上股權者的身份必須公開，包括刑事，、民事在內的背景資訊需送腳調查，需建立處理客戶和員工投訴的追蹤系統。

居家照護人員須接受強製性的背景調查，培訓，享有公平工資，工商，責任保險等勞工保障。

麻州眾議會通過的這一法案，還需參議會也通過，然後經由麻州州長簽署，才能正式成為法令。

CITY OF BOSTON JOINS LOCAL GOVERNMENTS AND NONPROFITS TO CHALLENGE NEW FEDERAL RESTRICTIONS FOR HOUSING FOR INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES WHO FORMERLY EXPERIENCED HOMELESSNESS

CITY OF BOSTON JOINS LOCAL GOVERNMENTS AND NONPROFITS TO CHALLENGE NEW FEDERAL RESTRICTIONS FOR HOUSING FOR INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES WHO FORMERLY EXPERIENCED HOMELESSNESS  New lawsuit challenges federal administration’s changes to the Continuum of Care grant program, which serves over 2,000 households in Boston annually

BOSTON - Monday, December 1, 2025 - Mayor Michelle Wu today announced the City of Boston joined 11 jurisdictions and nonprofit organizations in filing a lawsuit to stop the Trump administration from creating unlawful and unreasonable restrictions on funding for proven solutions to homelessness, threatening to push hundreds of thousands of families and individuals onto the street as cold winter months arrive.  For many years and through multiple administrations, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)’s Continuum of Care (CoC) Program has helped provide the necessary resources for local governments and organizations to fund permanent housing projects to support veterans, older residents, individuals with disabilities, and individuals and families experiencing homelessness. The City of Boston has applied for and received funds from this program since the early 1990s. On November 13, 2025, HUD rescinded its prior funding requirements, issuing new criteria which threaten existing services. This move could push hundreds of thousands of Americans back into homelessness.  In 2025, Boston was awarded approximately $48 million from Continuum of Care (CoC) program grants, supporting 19 nonprofit organizations and over 2,000 formerly homeless households. The federal government is proposing drastic changes that would have a harmful impact on how the City of Boston supports formerly homeless individuals and families with permanent housing and supportive services. The drastic changes this year would require Boston to eliminate $29 million in permanent supportive housing projects and replace them with new services-only and temporary housing projects –promoting strict mandatory service, forced treatment, and employment requirements over proven anti-homelessness strategies.  "Permanent supportive housing has been a key to tackling homelessness and keeping Bostonians stable and safe in our community. The Trump Administration’s harmful changes to this longstanding program could leave more than 1,100 Bostonians homeless. It’s thanks to the funding from the Continuum of Care program and our nearly 20 partner organizations that we have been able to support so many adults and children, individuals with substance use and mental health disorders, individuals with disabilities, veterans, and survivors of domestic violence to be on pathways to stability through this specialized housing with direct connections to health care, counseling, and other supportive services,” said Mayor Michelle Wu. “I’m grateful to all the jurisdictions joining us in this lawsuit to challenge these detrimental new requirements.” “Boston’s Continuum of Care funds the backbone of our work to house our homeless population," said Chief of Housing, Sheila A. Dillon. "The proposed federal changes in this year’s notice puts our residents at serious risk. Without these federal grants, people who rely on permanent supportive housing, designated to help those who live with disabling conditions, could lose the homes that have helped them rebuild their lives. The Wu administration is doing everything that it can to protect Boston’s formerly homeless residents, support our dedicated nonprofit partners, and stand up for a system that has kept vulnerable people in our City safe for decades.” “We cannot allow the federal government to punch down on our most vulnerable residents by abandoning its responsibility to fund housing and essential services for people experiencing homelessness, including veterans and those facing mental health challenges. Nineteen nonprofits in Boston rely on this funding every year, yet the Trump administration continues investing millions in programs that harm vulnerable communities while eliminating the lifelines so many depend on. Boston will keep fighting for these critical resources and protecting our residents’ basic rights,” said City Council President Ruthzee Louijeune. The Continuum of Care program supports individuals experiencing homelessness and formerly homeless Boston residents with finding stable housing connected to health care, counseling, and other supportive services. Each year, the City of Boston works with local nonprofit organizations to assist more than 2,000 households experiencing homelessness through the CoC. These services are part of Boston’s broader “housing first” strategy, which focuses on helping people move into stable housing as quickly as possible with supports to help them stay housed. The actions by the Trump Administration threaten these resources and the housing that the City and its partners are able to provide. After more than a decade of prioritizing evidence-based approaches that reduce homelessness, the new funding notice upends the stability of the program. This new funding notice makes drastic changes at every step of the process, including changing the types of projects eligible for funding, the criteria for selecting awardees, and the conditions grantees will be required to accept. Each year, the Continuum of Care program funds services in Boston such as permanent supportive housing for people with disabilities, rapid re-housing for those exiting homelessness, and transitional housing for survivors of domestic violence and others in crisis. Nineteen local nonprofit organizations receive this funding annually to do their work, including Metro Housing | Boston, Pine Street Inn, HomeStart, Massachusetts Housing and Shelter Alliance, FamilyAid, Bridge Over Troubled Waters and Casa Myrna. These groups also employ more than 125 people with these grants. “With 98% of our tenants remaining housed after a year, and a street homelessness rate of under 2.5%, we are doing something right in Boston,” said Lyndia Downie, President and Executive Director of Pine Street Inn. “With data proving the efficacy of permanent supportive housing, it would be disastrous to abandon this approach, and would set back our progress by decades,” she added. “We cannot go back to systems that were proven ineffective and often harmful to people who are struggling, most through no fault of their own.” "At FamilyAid, we provide critical housing and support to more than 100 children and parents through CoC programming—families who depend on this stability to stay together, keep their jobs, and keep their kids in school and out of foster care. These cuts don't just eliminate housing—they will push vulnerable children back onto the streets and into a child welfare system already strained beyond capacity,” said Larry Seamans, President & CEO, FamilyAid. “The Massachusetts Housing & Shelter Alliance (MHSA) is grateful for the City of Boston’s leadership in joining nonprofits and municipalities across the nation in this important lawsuit. The federal government is rolling out a massive policy change that will dramatically cut housing for people with disabilities nationwide,” said Joyce Tavon, Chief Executive Officer, Massachusetts Housing & Shelter Alliance (MHSA). “Nearly 4,000 households statewide are in danger of returning to homelessness. Thank you to Mayor Wu for standing up for what we know works: housing solutions to homelessness.” The coalition behind the new legal challenge includes the National Alliance to End Homelessness (NAEH), the National Low Income Housing Coalition (NLIHC), Crossroads Rhode Island, Youth Pride, Inc., as well as the County of Santa Clara, Calif., San Francisco, Calif., King County, Wash., Boston, Mass., Cambridge, Mass., Nashville, Tenn., and Tucson, Ariz. Democracy Forward represents the coalition of nonprofit organizations in the matter; the National Homelessness Law Center represents NAEH and NLIHC; Public Rights Project represents the cities of Boston, Cambridge, Nashville and Tucson; and Santa Clara County and San Francisco represent themselves. The Lawyers’ Committee for Rhode Island, and the ACLU Foundation of RI represents all plaintiffs. In May, the City of Boston joined a different lawsuit with cities and counties from across the United States to challenge the Trump Administration’s unlawful move to cancel $3.6 billion in Continuum of Care grants for housing and homelessness prevention unless Boston and other communities agree to the President’s unconstitutional Executive Orders. Boston joined seven other jurisdictions in filing this lawsuit in the federal Western District of Washington, including King County, WA; the City of New York, NY; the City of Columbus, OH; the City and County of San Francisco, CA and Pierce County and Snohomish County, WA. In June 2025, a federal judge in the Western District of Washington issued a preliminary injunction barring the Trump Administration from imposing these grant conditions as to Boston and the other plaintiffs. The Trump Administration’s appeal of that decision is currently pending before the Ninth Circuit.