波士頓試行用手機付路邊停車費

波士頓市長馬丁華殊十三日晚在發表他的首次市情咨文時，做了多項宣佈，其中搏得全場熱烈掌聲的是即起實施用手機付路邊停車費。

波士頓市府昨（十四）日再進一步公佈細節，說明這用手機付路邊停車費的軟體應用程式名叫“波士頓停車（ParkBoston）“，由“停車護照（Passport Parking）公司”提供，昨日起在後灣區，波士頓公園附近的八條街試行運作，一切順利的話，再逐步推廣到全市的八千個路邊計時收費錶。

這八條街在波約斯頓街（Boylston）南邊，畢肯街（Beacon）北邊，達特茅斯街（Dartmouth）西邊，以及查理士街（Charles）東邊。

民眾把軟體下載到蘋果或安卓系統的手機後，一旦停在貼有“波士頓停車”標記的位置，就可以進到應用程式裏，輸入錶上的貼紙號碼，以及車牌號碼，希望停洎的時間長度，信用卡號等資訊。停車者仍須遵守大部份計時收費錶最多只容許人停車兩小時至四小時的規定，每次使用還需多付十五分錢的手續費。

“停車護照“公司的總部設在北卡州的夏洛蒂（Charlotte），在波士頓之前，還為芝加哥，內布拉斯加州的歐馬哈（Omaha, Neb.），亞利桑納州（Ariz）的圖森（Tucson），英屬哥倫比亞的維多莉亞（Victoria,）等地提供類似服務。

波士頓環球報科技版指出，波士頓並不是麻州第一個使用這類手機付停車費的城市。尚莫維爾市（Somerville）去年推出了由另一家公司提供的服務，軟體名稱叫做“移動停車（ParkMobile），容許使用手機的停車者在市內每一個計時收費停車錶龐遙距付費。該公司在波士頓，底特律都設有辦公室，為市鎮及停車場提供有需要才用，或預付的停車收費服務。該公司目前在聖路易（St. Louis)，康州的新海港（New Haven），新罕布夏州的Keene，以及賓州的州立大學（ State College）等六百多個地點營運。

民眾可上網查閱更多詳情，park.boston.gov，或查看錄影帶bit.ly/parkboston。

圖片說明：

            波市府所提供地圖，顯示目前可用手機付路邊停車費的幾條街。（圖由波市府提供）

波士頓首名華裔市議員三十歲了

波士頓市首名華裔市議員吳弭（Michelle Wu）昨（十四）日過三十歲生日。

            身為波士頓市最年輕市議員之一，吳弭一個月前才誕下麟兒，昨日中午已回市議會出席會議了。

吳弭辦公室透露，她爸爸為外孫取了個中文名字鮑凌樞。

            昨日吳弭辦公室發出通訊，向關心她的選民說，一年匆匆過去，展望未來，她期待繼續為民眾服務，把波士頓打造成更好的城市，讓市內每個鄰里社區內的家庭，都能生活得更好，

            去年她過生日時，要求選民及支持者，支持她個人最喜愛的非牟利組織“生日願望（Birthday Wishes ）”，今年她要保持這一傳統。

            吳弭說明，生日願望這組織鼓勵草根志工為住在庇護所，流動旅店，或是過渡屋的流浪家庭辦生日會。在2014年內，該機構為32000名以上的流浪兒童辦了慶生會。每個月還在六十個以上的庇護所或機構，為一千名以上兒童服務。

        吳弭的父母當年從台灣移民來美時，買不起大生日禮物，但卻一定和家人，朋友為他們小孩子辦個小型聚會，讓他們感受到溫暖，安全。她希望支持她的民眾，也能愛屋及鳥，讓更多小朋友獲得溫暖。

圖片說明：

            波士頓市長馬丁華殊（Martin Walsh）十三日發表完市情咨文後，走到台下，和波市議員們打招呼。見到吳弭，熱情擁抱。（菊子攝）

        波士頓市議員吳弭（右起）和波士頓警察局Ａ-1區警長Ken Fong，波市議員米高法拉提（Michael Flaherty）在波市長市情咨文發表會場相逢。（菊子攝）

李氏公所新屆幹部就職

紐英崙李氏公所2015年新屆職員日前就職，儀式簡單隆重。就職後，職員們合影。前排左起，振業，錦堂，天生，主席源沛，副主席炳輝，元老壽泮，榮新，壽康，發新。後排左起，奇舜，炎穩，炎權，環照，國旗，德源，慕屏，俏欣，錦堂夫人，巧華，翠屏，明慧，壽泮夫人，實卿夫人，天柔，楚周。（圖由李氏公所提供）

Statement of Mayor Walsh on Agreement to Extend the School Day​

Statement of Mayor Walsh on Agreement to Extend the School Day​

"I commend the Boston Teachers Union and Boston Public Schools on reaching an agreement. This is an example of successful collaboration efforts, and our young people will now have more time to learn. 

"The partnership between the Boston Teachers Union and the Boston Public Schools has been integral to helping us reach this milestone. Anything is possible after tonight’s vote. Our education system will be stronger than ever before, as we take one step closer to bridging the achievement gap. 

"Boston is full of promising young people, and this change in our system will give them what they deserve most: the opportunity to succeed.”

Statement of Mayor Walsh on Parental Leave Legislation

Statement of Mayor Walsh on Parental Leave Legislation

BOSTON - Mayor Martin J. Walsh commends the Massachusetts Legislature for passing legislation to extend parental leave to parents of both genders, which protects a minimum of eight weeks parental leave for employees and clarifies the law to protect businesses from litigation. 

Signed into law on January 7th, Mayor Walsh filed this bill as a State Representative in 2013. "This is about supporting the well-being of working families and allowing parents to establish their families without worrying about job security," Mayor Walsh said. "This effort is a top priority of mine and I am very pleased that it passed the Legislature before the end of session. Our families are the future and this is a big step forward in strengthening our public policy."

Additional statements of support:

"The Commonwealth took a great step toward fairness with the passage of An Act Relative to Parental Leave," Massachusetts AFL-CIO President Steven A. Tolman said. "This law recognizes the important role that both parents play just after the birth of a child, allowing them to spend this needed time with their family without risking their job. These protections strengthen our families and communities."

“This law represents what is possible when groups engage in respectful debate about public policy that impacts Massachusetts employers and residents," Associated Industries of Massachusetts President and CEO Richard Lord said. "AIM sought clarity on parental leave for employers and we believe the legislation achieves that goal. The association commends Mayor Marty Walsh, Senator Patricia Jehlen, the Massachusetts AFL-CIO and the Greater Boston Legal Services for their work on this legislation.”

麻州州長查理貝克今日請病假

Charlie Baker called in sick today

AARP報告顯示亞太裔長者無健保人數偏高

AARP報告顯示亞太裔長者無健保人數偏高

AARP報告顯示亞太裔長者無健保人數偏高 AARP Report Reveals Older Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders Uninsured at High Rates Click to download: AARP Report: The Health and Healthcare of Asian American and Pacific Islanders Age 50+ (PDF) Executive Summary: English (PDF) | 中文版 (PDF) Infographic: English (JPG) | 中文版 (JPG) 【華盛頓2015年1月14日訊】AARP公佈的一份最新報告顯示，亞太裔50+長者與同齡的美國人相比，更缺乏健康保險和較難獲得優質、可負擔的醫療服務。  “由於亞太裔各個族群的文化和社會經濟背景極其多元化，了解每個社區的獨特需求是確保滿足他們健康需要的第一步，” AARP多元文化市場和參與部（亞太裔）副總裁郭為婉說。 “亞太裔社區獲得的服務仍然不足，我們的目標是填補相關知識的空白，從而幫助縮短各個族群之間的健康差距。”  “AARP報告：美國亞太裔的健康和醫療保健”（The Health and Healthcare of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders: An AARP Report）是AARP針對與亞太裔50歲及以上民眾相關的主要倡導領域，所進行的三個報告之最後一份。該報告可於網站www.AARP.org/AAPI免費下載。該報告顯示：　 14%的50歲以上亞太裔長者沒有醫療保險，但全美國同齡人口僅有9% 20%的50-64歲亞太裔長者沒有醫療保險，但全美國同齡人口僅有15% 6%的65歲以上亞太裔長者沒有醫療保險，但全美國同齡人口僅有1% 33%的65歲以上亞太裔長者擁有私營保險，但全美國同齡人口高達52% 沒有保險的最主要原是價格。社會上的大部份民眾主要透過僱主和僱員工會獲得醫療保險。但因為很多亞太裔是自僱人士或經營小商業，因此更難於獲得保險，而成本也令他們卻步。而且年齡65歲及以上的亞太裔人群有更大比例沒有聯邦醫療保險（Medicare），因為一些人的移民身份仍然不符合資格申請Medicare。 有關AARP可如何幫助亞太裔家庭獲得更美好生活，請瀏覽網站www.facebook.com/AARPAAPICommunity 和www.twitter.com/AARPAAPI。

AARP Report Reveals Older Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders Uninsured at High Rates

WASHINGTON, D.C., January 14, 2015 – AARP released a new report today revealing that Asian American and Pacific Islanders (AAPIs) age 50 and older lack health insurance and access to quality, affordable health care compared to other Americans the same age.

“Given the cultural and socioeconomic diversity among AAPI groups, understanding the unique needs of each community is the first step in ensuring their health needs are met,” said Daphne Kwok, AARP Vice President of Multicultural Markets and Engagement for the Asian American and Pacific Islander Audience. “Our goal is to help reduce ethnic health disparities by closing the gaps in knowledge about this underserved community.”

“The Health and Healthcare of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders: An AARP Report” is the last of a three-part series of reports by AARP about key advocacy areas that impact AAPIs age 50 and older. The report, available for free download at www.AARP.org/AAPI, reveals that:

• 14% of AAPIs age 50 and older do not have health insurance (compared with 9% of the total U.S. population of the same age)
• 20% of AAPIs age 50-64 are uninsured (compared with 15% of the total U.S. population of the same age)
• 6% of AAPIs age 65 and older are uninsured (compared with 1% of total U.S. population of the same age)
• 33% of AAPIs age 65 and older have private health insurance (compared with 52% of U.S. population of the same age)

The main reason for non-coverage among AAPIs is cost. Employers and employee unions are the primary vehicles for health insurance coverage in the U.S. Because many AAPIs are self-employed or run small businesses, access and cost makes health insurance out of reach. Among those age 65 and older, a greater proportion of AAPIs do not have Medicare coverage, to some extent because of ineligibility for Medicare among some immigrants.

For more information about how AARP helps Asian American and Pacific Islander families get more out of life, visit www.facebook.com/AARPAAPICommunity and www.twitter.com/AARPAAPI.

AAPI White House Summit is scheduled on May 12th, 2015

The White House Initiative on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders (AAPIs), will have the White House Summit on AAPIs on Tuesday, May 12, 2015, in Washington, DC. 

The Summit will feature engaging panels, workshops, and armchair dialogues with senior Administration officials, AAPI celebrities, and well-known community leaders, plus performances by distinguished AAPI artists.  The Summit will inspire participants to continue to build upon the legacy, strength, and influence of the AAPI community, especially in the final years of the Obama Administration.

The Summit is part of a series of events on May 11-15 during AAPI Heritage Month in Washington, DC, and provides a unique forum to actively engage with hundreds of AAPI leaders from across the nation.  Previous AAPI Heritage Month speakers have included President Obama at the 2013 White House Celebration and Vice President Biden at the 2014 Opening Ceremony.   

Stay tuned for details on the program in the coming months, but please visit our Summit webpage and subscribe to our weekly newsletter to receive updates.  For questions, please email whitehouseaapi@ed.gov.   

We look forward to seeing you this May!

White House Initiative on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders
whitehouse.gov/aapi | Subscribe

Mayor Walsh Announces ParkBoston

Mayor Walsh Announces ParkBoston 

Mobile phone app allows Boston drivers to pay for on-street parking, get alerts before meters expire, and extend meter time remotely

BOSTON, MA – January 14, 2015 – During his State of the City speech, Mayor Martin J. Walsh announced the City of Boston is implementing a new technology that will allow drivers to pay for parking without the hassle of feeding meters.  Using the new ParkBoston app, drivers in Boston can easily pay for parking, receive reminders before their time expires, and extend their time without having to hurry back to the meter.

“The ParkBoston app is one more way that we are using technology to make transportation easier and more convenient for people in Boston,” said Mayor Walsh.  “Nobody likes digging around for quarters or getting a ticket for an expired meter.  This innovation eases the frustration involved with parking and allows for future enhancements to the city’s parking system.”

Parking meters in an area of the Back Bay, bordered by Beacon Street to the north, Charles Street to the east, Boylston Street to the south and Dartmouth street to the west, will be the first to be programmed to accept payments by phone. The attached map outlines the pilot area. The remainder of the City of Boston’s 8,000-metered parking spaces will be phased in over the coming months following this week’s launch. 

New ParkBoston signs and parking meter decals are being applied to meters to make drivers aware of where the new service is in effect. Once a parking space is located, a driver can access the ParkBoston app or mobile website, enter in the zone number on the ParkBoston decal on the nearby meter, and input their license plate number and the desired length of time they wish to stay. Users are still subject to the maximum amount of time the meter allows, and parking at most city meters is for a maximum of two hours, with some meters allowing for a maximum of four hours. ParkBoston users will receive a notification before their parking session expires and have the option to extend their time remotely. 

When using the app the meter will not change to reflect a driver’s paid time, however, Boston’s Parking Enforcement Officers will see the payment on their handheld computers. To determine whether a driver paid using ParkBoston, the Parking Enforcement Officers will enter the license plate number into their handheld devices.  It is still the driver’s responsibility to check for posted signage regarding parking restrictions that could result in a parking ticket.  This includes when parking meters are not in effect for the purpose of street cleaning, overnight resident parking, commercial vehicle loading, valet zone, construction, or special events.

The fee for metered parking in Boston is $1.25 per hour.  A $0.15 cent convenience fee will be applied for each mobile phone pay parking transaction.  Customers will be clearly informed of the convenience fee before confirming payment.

The Boston Transportation Department and the Mayor’s Office of New Urban Mechanics developed ParkBoston in collaboration with Charlotte, NC-based PassportParking, Inc.  Passport is an industry leader in building customized parking and transit platforms for municipalities, including Chicago, IL and Victoria, British Columbia.

Smart phone users can create an account by downloading the app for free from the iPhone App Store and the Google Play Store or by visiting park.boston.gov.

To learn more, visit park.boston.gov or view the how-to video at bit.ly/parkboston

Press release available online here: http://www.cityofboston.gov/news/Default.aspx?id=18939