Deval Patrick卸任州長 揮別麻州政府

麻州有史以來的首名非洲裔州長派區克（Deval Patrick），七日傍晚，依照傳統踏上“孤獨行（The lone walk）“，在禮炮煙硝瀰漫的冰冷天氣中，含笑向逾百名圍觀群眾揮別。

四年前當選連任時已表態將不競選連任的派區克，既為自己八年來的成就感到驕傲，卻同時迫不及待地要做回普通公民。

七日晚，派區克在辦公室內交給接任州長查理貝克（Charlie Baker）四樣象徵權力傳承的禮物，

象徵性地禮物後，派區克交給查理貝克（Charlie Baker）象徵權力傳承的四樣傳統禮物，曾經用來打開州長辦公室的一個白銀鑰匙，巴特勒在1884年用的聖經，用美國憲法好上白橡木做的木槌，溯自1860年，刻著卸任州長給繼任者留言的兩本麻州法。

派區克在州政府大樓內，和歡送他的政要寒暄，再慢慢的拾級而下，在軍樂隊吹奏美國國歌時，他還停在樓梯上舉手撫心致敬。走出鑲金字的州政府大門後，他趨近大門左邊，等著和他道別的助理們，擁抱一，兩人，再走到紅地毯末端，給站在那兒等他的州長夫人黛安（Diane）一個長長的擁抱。兩人向群眾揮手後，進入一輛黑色廂型車，緩緩駛離。

在州政府大樓外，有不少民眾等著向派區克道別，還有人舉標語牌表示感謝。但這些人都被攔在鐵柵外。政府爆破小組還有一人牽著警犬，在欄柵的另一邊來回巡走，擋在圍觀人群和派區克之間。

今（九）日，他將搭機飛往南美，渡一個溫暖長假。

派區克說，過去八年是很有成績的八年。他為自己的工作記錄，也為他留給下一屆政府的基礎感到驕傲。現在是他過回自己日子的時候了。

            根據薩福克大學歷史學者羅伯艾莉森（Robert J. Allison）的說法，“孤獨行”源自1884年卸任的州長班傑明巴特勒（Benjamin Butler）。他不受歡迎到卸任時是獨自一人走出州政府大樓，

            “孤獨行”後來成為現任州長卸任時的傳統。

            七日他仍執行州長職務，為麻州參眾兩會議員主持就任宣誓典禮。

            當天稍後，他決定不支持議員們的加薪案。

            麻州議員的年薪，目前約為本薪七萬三千元，另有其他職務加給。

圖片說明：

            麻州卸任州長夫人黛安（前中）站在紅地毯的另一端，等著卸任州長派區克（Deval Patrick）從十九響禮砲的瀰漫煙硝中走出州政府。（菊子攝）

            麻州卸任州長派區克（Deval Patrick）跨出這道門後，就是平民百姓了。（菊子攝）

            站在“孤獨行”樓梯上，聽著國歌響起，派區克舉手撫心致敬。（菊子攝）

            麻州卸任州長派區克（Deval Patrick）走到‘孤獨行“的盡頭，望向迎接他的前助理，以及等著他的夫人。（菊子攝）

            麻州卸任州長派區克（Deval Patrick）拾級而下，面對相機，留下當州長的最後微笑。（菊子攝）

            麻州卸任州長派區克（Deval Patrick）和妻子黛安，向群眾揮手道別後乘車離去。（菊子攝）

AG COAKLEY REACHES SETTLEMENT WITH ZAPPOS OVER DATA BREACH

AG COAKLEY REACHES SETTLEMENT WITH ZAPPOS OVER DATA BREACH Online Retailer to Pay $106,000, Strengthen Security Policies under Multistate Settlement

BOSTON – Nevada-based online retailer Zappos.com, Inc. has agreed to pay a total of $106,000 and take actions to better protect consumers’ information following a 2012 data breach that placed consumers' personal data at risk, Attorney General Martha Coakley announced today. 

The assurance of discontinuance, filed today in Suffolk Superior Court, was joined by attorneys general in eight other states, including Arizona, Connecticut, Florida, Kentucky, Maryland, North Carolina, Ohio, and Pennsylvania.

“Businesses, including online retailers, must appropriately protect their customers' information by guarding against data breaches,” AG Coakley said. “Our office will continue to hold retailers accountable for failing to follow their own policies regarding consumer data that they maintain, and make sure that all companies have reasonable data security measures in place.”

            An investigation following the unauthorized access of one of Zappos’s computer servers in January 2012 revealed that the server contained customer names, billing and shipping addresses, telephone numbers, the last four digits of credit card numbers, and login credentials of customers. There was no evidence that full credit or debit card numbers or other payment data was impacted by the breach. More than 740,000 Massachusetts residents were affected.

            Under the terms of the settlement, Massachusetts will receive more than $11,000. Zappos is also required to:

·         Maintain and comply with its information security policies and procedures; 

·         Provide the attorneys general with its current security policy regarding customer information;

·         Provide the attorneys general copies of reports demonstrating compliance with the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard for two years;

·         Have a third party conduct an audit of its security of personal information, provide the audit report to the attorneys general, and address any identified deficiencies; and

·         Provide annual training to employees regarding its security policies.

AG Coakley has led multiple investigations into potential violations of the state’s data protection laws. In December 2014, TD Bank agreed to pay $625,000 and strengthen its security practices after losing unencrypted back-up tapes containing personal information for more than 90,000 Massachusetts customers.

In January 2014, following Target Corporation’s announcement that the email information for approximately 70 million people could be affected by a data breach, AG Coakley joined the executive committee of a multi-state group to investigate the data breach.

In July 2009, AG Coakley led a $9.75 million multi-state settlement between TJX Companies and 41 states, resolving allegations stemming from a January 2007 data breach. Massachusetts received more than $950,000 to ensure personal data protection of Massachusetts residents. 

For additional information, consumers may contact the Attorney General's consumer hotline at (617) 727-8400, or view the Federal Trade Commission's identity theft resource, available at www.consumer.gov/idtheft/.

This matter was handled for Massachusetts by Assistant Attorney General Sara Cable of AG Coakley’s Consumer Protection Division.

NSTAR TO REFUND $44.7 MILLION TO CUSTOMERS OVERCHARGED FOR CAPITAL PROJECTS, PENSIONS AND ENERGY EFFICIENCY PROGRAMS

NSTAR TO REFUND $44.7 MILLION TO CUSTOMERS OVERCHARGED FOR CAPITAL PROJECTS, PENSIONS AND ENERGY EFFICIENCY PROGRAMSAG Resolves 11 Cases Pending Before the DPU in Which Ratepayers Were Overcharged

            BOSTON – NSTAR Gas & Electric Company has agreed to pay $44.7 million to refund its customers, resolving 11 previously outstanding cases before the Department of Public Utilities (DPU) that deal with the company’s capital improvements, pension expenses, and energy efficiency programs, Attorney General Martha Coakley announced today.  

NSTAR’s delivery rates include certain cost components that are updated annually outside of the base distribution rate cases. These so-called “reconciliation factors” are supposed to be reviewed and reconciled against actual costs by the DPU after investigation and hearings. In practice, the DPU permits the utilities to collect the rates immediately and rarely completes its review in a timely manner. All of the cases have been outstanding for a number of years prior to the settlement reached by the AG’s Office and NSTAR. 

“Our office has consistently called for full investigations of these charges in a timely manner to protect utility customers in the Commonwealth,” AG Coakley said. “Today’s settlement highlights the need to return to basic ratemaking principles, rather than relying on these annual rate adjustment mechanisms for utility cost recovery.”

Under the terms of the settlement, NSTAR Electric has agreed to refund more than $17.1 million to correct overcharges for project expenses that it agreed to undertake to improve reliability and safety of its electric distribution system. NSTAR had filed requests with the DPU for the recovery of revenues and costs of the projects from 2006 through 2011.  

NSTAR agreed to refund more than $23.6 million in pension benefit costs that were double-collected through both its Pension Adjustment Factor and its Energy Efficiency charges from November 2003 through December 2012. NSTAR will refund an additional $4 million to correct other components of its energy efficiency charges between 2009 and 2011.

Under the terms of the settlement, NSTAR will provide restitution to its current customers through rate reductions on their bills after the settlement is approved by the DPU. The parties have requested approval of the settlement by March 2, 2015. 

This matter is being handled by Assistant Attorney General Joseph Rogers and Analyst Timothy Newhard of AG Coakley’s Energy and Telecommunications Division.

華埠新動態 野鴨酒店想開張 愛默生學院要擴建

波士頓華埠治安委員會昨（七）日舉行本年度首次會議，除波士頓警察局A-1區警長Ken Fong報告外，有野鴨酒品店新張，愛默生學院擴建學生宿舍，五味七品樓籌備等三項陳情案。

            野鴨酒品店（Wild Duck Wine & Spirits）位於華盛頓街666號，將出售高級瓶裝酒及雪茄，預定營業時間為早上十一點至晚上十一點。為安全起見，該店計劃要求所有進店買酒者，出示附照片身分證件。該店東主之一為曾於2012年競選法院書記（Clerk of Courts）的魯梭（Bob Dello Russo）。

            愛默生（Emerson）學院副校長瑪格麗特（Margarett A. Ings）昨日出席，報告該校已著手申請修復位於波約斯頓（Boylston）街80號，名為“小樓宇（The Little Building）“這棟建於1917年古蹟大樓的外牆，以及翻修內部二到十二層樓的內部裝潢，並在高達14.4呎的欄杆後，加建第十三層樓。竣工後，將可增加294個學生宿舍床位。

            瑪格麗特指出，該校申請改建樓宇，主要是為因應波士頓市政府的各大學院校學生都應儘量住校期望。他們也希望翻修後，能在一樓增設零售店面，讓鄰近道路入夜後更加光亮。

            波士頓A-1區警長Ken Fong說明，上個月華埠一帶發生三宗搶劫案，七宗入店行竊案，並因通緝令，擅闖禁止進入地區等原因，逮捕六十四人。

        三宗搶案分別發生在十二月廿一，三十一日，以及一月三日。其中一宗是有人闖進華盛頓街與必珠街交界，新開的“華格林（Walgreen）“藥店搶藥。另一宗是在華盛頓街上，一名黑人掏出剃刀，逼受害人掏空口袋，把錢搶走後逃逸。

            十二月八日凌晨一點，聶街五號發生歹徒打破門窗，進屋偷走不少現金，珠寶，膝上型電腦等物品，警方已從監視錄影帶取得影像，並採得指紋，正在追查緝兇中。

            上個月還發生了兩宗歹徒敲破車輛窗戶，偷取車內物品案件。一宗發生在潮州城酒樓旁，一宗發生在夏利臣街和益士石街之間。泰勒街四號前發生過夜總會散場群眾鬧事案件。

            Ken Fong 表示，時序入冬，天氣漸冷，警局關心流民安危，曾於去年十二月十三，十四日逐街數人頭，獲悉約有72名人在街頭遊蕩。警方將持續關注這些流民的行動，在必要時給予援助。Ken Fong 指出，近來A-1區內有關流民的抱怨，少了很多，華埠內已幾乎不見流民。

            昨日的三宗陳情案，波士頓華埠治安委員會共同主席陳灼鋆指示其中的野鴨酒店及愛默生學院，派員到下次的治安會議中再度陳情，並要五味七品樓代表繼續向華埠社區議會匯報進展。

           

圖片說明：

            野鴨酒品店東主之一，魯梭（中）和律師出席華埠治安委員會，尋求社區支持。（菊子攝）

            野鴨酒品店昨日在會上傳閱的店面概況圖片。（菊子攝）

            愛默生（Emerson）學院副校長瑪格麗特（Margarett A. Ings）昨日出席華埠治安委員會，報告該校申請翻修“小樓宇”。（菊子攝）

            波士頓警察局A-1區社區小組長陳孔恩（左起），警長 ken Fong，會議共同主席陳灼鋆，芭芭拉魯貝（Barbara Rubel）等坐在主席台。（菊子攝）

            2015年第一次的華埠治安委員會會議，出席人數特多。（菊子攝）

腦膜炎按公司負責人銀行帳戶被扣一千八百萬元

美國司法部長（US Attorney）歐蒂姿（Carmen M. Ortiz）辦公室六日發出聲明，指聯邦政府已從傅萊明罕鎮新英格蘭複合中心兩名負責人的銀行戶口，扣押了一千八百萬元。

            該公司被指應為致人於死的腦膜炎（meningitis）擴散負責。

            美國司法部長辦公室表示，已從新英格蘭複合中心（New England Compounding Center）的首席藥師Barry J. Cadden，以及大股東Carla Conigliaro，和她的丈夫Carla Conigliaro等人的戶口中凍結了資產。

            這一產銷受污染藥品案件影響廣達廿州，有六十四人死亡，數以百計的人生病，刻正由波士頓的美國區域法院審理中，共有十四人面對刑事控訴。

            前述三人都聲稱無罪。

            代表病情爆發受害者的律師Thomas Sobol，稱許政府扣押財產的動作。

根據歐蒂姿辦公室的資料，約有一百五十萬元是從Cadden所擁有的三個戶口中扣押的。

這些錢據信和郵寄詐欺，以及洗錢有關。

歐蒂姿辦公室表示，Cadden面對廿五項二級謀殺罪，以及郵寄詐欺罪，共謀及違反食物，藥物，及化妝品法。

            另有一千六百八十萬元是從Conigliaros的戶口中扣押的。

Conigliaros兩夫婦的律師David Meier表示，有關該兩夫婦的指控，純屬虛造。因為他們兩人已自願性的提供了二千四百萬元協議款給受害者。在協議時，兩人並未脫產。

            熟悉該製藥公司東主，保險商，房東者透露，聯邦破產法庭正在處理分發約一億三千五百萬元給病情爆發受害者的協議賠款。這一部分和司法部的扣押款無關。

            新英格蘭複合中心被控高管中，有一名華人，早前也曾出庭。此案因此也有不少華人關注。