約瑟夫甘迺迪鼓勵年輕人參政 支持吳弭連任波市議員

波士頓市首名華裔市議員吳弭（Michelle Wu）競選連任，陸續獲得各界支持，2日晚，連甘迺迪家族第三代，國會眾議員約瑟夫甘迺迪三世（Joe Kennedy III），都為她辦支持會。

波士頓市芬衛（Fenway）區麻州酒店（Hotel Commonwealth）裡的霍桑廳（Hawthorne），2日晚擠滿了年輕專業人士。

            麻州參議會裡最年輕，代表長草（Longmeadow）區的民主黨籍麻州參議員Eric Lesser，率先致詞，強調年輕人參政的重要。他說，“現在是我們這個世代停止抱怨，實際做點事的時候了”。

            約瑟夫甘迺迪三世是民主黨籍麻州第四區國會眾議員，年僅34歲。他自己身體力行了年輕人參政的呼籲，也希望和他一樣的千禧年世代都這麼做。他指著吳弭說，對於那些全心相信政府能夠，也應該為人民創造不同局面的人來說，吳弭可以啟發人們。

            談及國會得沒有效率，約瑟夫甘迺迪三世表示，對那些在州政府，聯邦政府層級的人來說，市政府是創新的希望。他說，因為有像吳弭這樣的人，他可以看著波士頓市向人說，“看，我告訴過你們”。

            吳弭致詞時，先感謝家人，朋友，同事， 再申述她在第一任波士頓市議員任內的工作成就。

            吳弭優先提出的政策，來自她的個人經驗。她剛當母親，兒子Blaise才九個月大。她推動的家長有薪假法案，不但整個市政府支持，波士頓市長馬丁華殊還簽署成為法令。

            吳弭曾經是名小企業東主。她以鄰里企業以及移民家庭為重心，推動了簡化牌照許可申請過程，使得波士頓有如一個新城市。

            吳弭稱許波士頓市各地都可見到創新之舉，同時也強調她是競選不分區市議員，整個波士頓市的議題，她都關心。 她說，她要確保在波士頓市各個社區居住的小孩，都能望著市中心的那些高樓大廈說，那也是他們的波士頓。

圖片說明：   

            國會眾議員約瑟夫甘迺迪三世（左）也支持吳弭（右）競選連任波市議員。（圖由吳弭競選陣營提供）

華埠邊上又一棟豪華住宅大廈 預定明春開工

夏利臣（Harrison）街345號發展商9月2日出席波士頓華埠居民會，匯報將建造12層樓高，有527個住宅單位大廈，提供20%可負擔住宅單位的土地發展計畫概況，預定明春開工。

            這一土地發展計畫，座落在麻州公路（Mass Pike）對面，華盛頓街（Washington），夏利臣街（Harrison），旅行者街（Traveller），以及穆林斯街（Mullins）交界處，另一名稱為灰吧（Grey Bar）。

            土地發展商UDR計畫在該一地段建造527個住宅單位。20%可負擔住宅部分，將以10%在所建造大樓內，10%以大約每戶25萬元的付款方式取代，來達成政府規定的指標。該款項將繳交近IDP基金內。

            大樓將有33,000平方呎供出租的商業零售面積，以及向公眾開放的庭院。整棟大樓約有20%的面積是面對公眾開放的。

        土地發展商表示，建築師已在這項目上花了數年時間。整棟樓將共有14層，其中12層為樓宇，樓頂將建游泳池，以及居民用戶外空間。

            商用面積部分，希望建餐廳，公共市場等。其中將包含可負擔商用面積。

            波市府批准的停車比率為0.4，不過再增加停車結構後，這一比率已提高為20%。

            土地發展商已和波士頓市府，南端居民見過面，都獲得支持。

            在問答部分，土地發展商表示，目前還不確定可負擔住宅的可負擔程度，所有單位全供出租，有套房，一及二睡房單位，以及很多的三睡房單位。房屋價格將類似附近的墨水塊（Ink Block），以及特洛伊（Troy）大樓。

            在社區福利部分，將包括25萬元建社區文化空間。由誰來建將經由招標決定。

圖片說明：

            土地發展商團隊向波士頓華埠居民說明夏利臣街345號的土地發展計畫。（圖由居民會提供）

波士頓華埠居民會改選執委 首度出現非華裔

波士頓華埠居民會（CRA）9月2日晚在大約60名居民出席投票中，順利改選新一屆不分區執委。8名候選人同額當選，其中的Arturo Gossage還成為該會首名非華裔執委。

波士頓華埠居民會9月2日晚的大會議程，包括改選執委，以及夏利臣（Harrison）街345號發展商出席報告計畫。

            在改選執委部分，波士頓華埠居民會共有17名執行委員，其中8名為不分區執委，9名為分區執委，每兩年輪流改選。9月2日是改選不分區執委，原本有10人爭取8個席位，其後有兩人退出，2日晚的選舉，因此鐵定為同額當選。居民會當晚雖然發給每名出席居民一張選票，最終卻以全體舉手方式，通過這8人當選。

            居民會上週發出的候選人介紹，每人幾行字，交代了各人所住村落名稱，但並無具體的各候選人年紀，經驗，想法等細節。

            8名候選人中有4名新人，4名競選連任者。4名新人中，並不會說中文的Arturo Gossage，在波士頓本地出生長大，從麻州大學波士頓分校畢業的黃楚瑜，在候選人顯得最與眾不同。

            一名熟悉華埠居民會運作者透露，華人前進會鼓勵他們兩人的參選，以期藉由他們兩人的流利英語，促使波士頓市政府更加重視華埠居民會。

波士頓華埠居民會公佈的候選人簡介如下：

Arturo Gossage從2007年起住在乞臣街，經常目睹販毒、賣淫事件在那條街上發生，同時他也認為租金越來越貴是個大問題。

黃楚瑜年僅廿、三十歲，住在堡壘村，長大於工薪家庭，關心移民權益，公共教育與藝術。

伍新杏住南灣東，近年來每個月都參加居民會月會，參選是為希望自己可有更多貢獻。

余佩英住乞臣街。她表示自己參選是為進一步瞭解唐人街所面對的問題，以及可能有的解決方法。

參選者中，多人是現任執委，競選連任，包括梁潤梅，劉華權，馬華，余顯生。

梁潤梅住在堡壘村，當年參與爭取雙語選票，從此踏上為居民爭取權益之路。

劉華權住在公路村，教村民打太極，深信為民服務是好事。

馬華年逾70，已退休，住君子樓，從居民會一成立就擔任執委迄今。他認為居民團結，市府才能聽到華埠民眾的聲音。

余顯生住華信屋，競選連任是為持續盡力，服務居民。

  

圖片說明：

        波士頓華埠居民會執委與顧問合影。前排右起，曹鼎榮，陳丹心，余仕昂，馬華，陳策平，後排右起，Arturo Gossage，黃楚瑜，伍新杏，李素影等人。（圖由居民會提供）

波士頓市長建議市議員加薪13.7%

波士頓市長馬丁華殊（Martin J. Walsh）正推動給市議員加薪13.7%，

            波士頓市長提的加薪辦法，將把市議員的年薪，從現今的87,500元加到99,500元。

            波市長發言人邦尼麥吉萍（Bonnie McGilpin）表示，波市議員已將近十年未加薪，市長相信他所提的折衷加薪幅度，是公平且合適的，可讓市府回歸到處理波士頓市所應優先面對的問題。

            波士頓市長所指派的一個獨立委員會建議加薪到97,000元，但帶頭發起加薪提案，今年將在無人競爭下同額當選連任的波市議會議長林乃肯（Bill Linehan）表示，市長此舉貶低了市議會的努力。他說，原本他期望市長提出的數額會高些，以解決大家在加薪幅度上的歧見。

            林乃肯上週提出的另一加薪方案是加薪到10,500元。波市議會將在本週三的市議會會議中，討論林乃肯和波市長的提案。

            傳統以來，波士頓市長的薪資是市議員的兩倍。若以該標準為依據，一旦市議員的年薪漲到99,500，波市長馬丁華殊將有權享有199,000元的年薪。不過波市長表示他會拒絕這一加薪，讓他的年薪保持在175,000元。

            林乃肯是在去年秋天時提出加薪29%，把年薪加到112,500元，因而引起爭議。不過在公眾議論紛紛後，市議會以9比4通過了加薪至107,500元的方案，然後市長否決了該一提案。

            波市長隨後設立了一個薪酬顧問委員會來研究全美民選議員的薪資問題，並提出建議。該委員會的建議是97,000元。

Boston Students Invited to Apply for the City’s Exam Schools and Advanced Work Class Program

Boston Students Invited to Apply for the City’s Exam Schools and Advanced Work Class Program

Boston Public Schools (BPS) will offer the Independent School Entrance Examination (ISEE) for entrance to the city's three examination schools on Saturday, November 7, 2015 at 8:30 a.m. at six locations across the city.  The registration deadline is Sept. 30, 2015. 

Students must currently be in grades 6, 8 and 9 to take the ISEE. Interested candidates may obtain application materials from the Principal/Headmaster of his or her present school.  Applications will also be available at the BPS Welcome Centers and all branches of the Boston Public Library starting the third week in September.

The three exam schools are the Boston Latin Academy, Boston Latin School, and John D. O'Bryant School of Mathematics & Science.  New students are admitted to grades 7 and 9 at all three exam schools.  John D. O'Bryant is the only exam school that accepts new students for grade 10.

As of June 2010, the Boston School Committee voted to approve the Superintendent's recommended change in the residency date for application to exam schools. This residency policy requires both the applicant and the parent or legal guardian to reside in the City of Boston and complete the verification process no later than Friday, November 6, 2015.
 Additionally BPS will offer the TerraNova test to students currently enrolled in grades 3, 4, and 5 at private, parochial and charter schools for possible entrance into the Advanced Work Class (AWC) Program beginning in September 2016. AWC is a full-day program located in select Boston Public Schools across the city. The AWC program includes the same subjects as the regular education program. However, each subject is studied in more depth at an accelerated pace and requires the completion of more classroom work and homework by the student.

Registration materials for the TerraNova test will be mailed to all non-public schools in Boston, and available for pick up at BPS Welcome Centers as well as branches of the Boston Public Library.  The deadline for registration is Sept. 18, 2015.

The TerraNova will be administered free of charge to Boston residents currently attending private, parochial or charter schools at the Washington Irving Middle School, 105 Cummins Highway in Roslindale on Saturday, Oct. 17, 2015.  Students who attend Boston Public Schools must take the test in their assigned school.

For further information on the ISEE, contact the Enrollment Planning & Support at 617-635-9512.  For information about the BPS TerraNova please contact the Data & Accountability Department at 617-635-9554. 

NEWS RELEASE: Mosquito Spraying Planned for Readville

BOSTON – Friday, September 4, 2015 - The Boston Public Health Commission (BPHC) would like to advise residents and community members in Readville of an upcoming spraying to help control the mosquito population in the residential neighborhood adjacent to Fowl Meadow.  The Suffolk County Mosquito Control Project is planning to spray for mosquitoes using a truck mounted aerosol sprayer in the vicinity of the Neponset Valley Parkway between Meadow Road and Prescott Street on Wednesday, September 9, 2015. If spraying is postponed on Wednesday night, it will be re-scheduled for Thursday night.  All spraying is done between dusk and 11:30 PM.

A map depicting areas to be sprayed has been posted on the Project website at http://scmcp.webs.com.

The Project uses a spray formulation containing the pesticide product Anvil to control mosquitoes. Anvil contains the pesticide, sumithrin, to control mosquitoes. Sumithrin is a pyrethroid that is classified as slightly toxic by the EPA. Mosquito control applications of sumithrin do not pose a significant risk to people or their pets due to the low toxicity of sumithrin and the small amount used to control mosquitoes. As with any pesticide, people should minimize exposure. If residents see a spray truck approaching, they are advised to go indoors for a couple of minutes while the spray dissipates. Residents are also advised to close windows facing the street. Beekeepers do not need to take any special precautions since spraying begins after dusk.

To help prevent mosquitoes from breeding, BPHC advises residents to limit places around the home where standing water can collect. People should turn over unused flower pots, buckets, wheelbarrows and garbage cans; remove leaves and other debris that can clog gutters and trap water; dispose of or cover old tires; and cover swimming pools when not in use.

To avoid mosquito bites, BPHC recommends using insect repellant when outdoors, especially from dusk to dawn when mosquitoes are most active and, when possible, wearing long-sleeved shirts and pants. Residents should also mosquito-proof their homes by making sure that their window and door screens are in good repair to prevent mosquitoes from getting inside.

If residents have any questions related to the spraying or any questions on mosquitoes, they may call the Suffolk County Mosquito Control Project at 781-899-5730.  For more information on sprayings, please visit bphc.org/mosquitocontrol.

For more information on mosquito-borne illness, call the Boston Public Health Commission at 617-534-5611 or visit www.bphc.org/mbi.

AG HEALEY SUES PROPERTY OWNER FOR DENYING HOUSING TO INDIVIDUAL RECEIVING RENTAL ASSISTANCE

AG HEALEY SUES PROPERTY OWNER FOR DENYING HOUSING TO INDIVIDUAL RECEIVING RENTAL ASSISTANCE

            BOSTON – A property owner and manager have been sued by Attorney General Maura Healey for violating state anti-discrimination and consumer protection laws when they denied an individual a rental unit on the basis of the source of his income.

            The complaint was filed in Suffolk Superior Court against Matteo Gallo, as trustee ofOcean View Nominee Trust (OVNT), and IPM Management, Inc. The AG’s Office alleges that the defendants refused to rent an apartment in Woburn to the individual based on his receipt of assistance through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher Program and the requirements of the rental assistance program. 

            “Discrimination against prospective tenants who receive public or housing assistance is against the law,” AG Healey. “These programs help low-income families obtain affordable and safe housing, and landlords cannot use the requirements of these programs as an excuse to refuse to rent.”

Gallo is the sole trustee of OVNT, which owns and manages approximately 31 housing units in three buildings located in Woburn, where the tenant was looking to rent. In addition, OVNT owns and manages several other residential properties, including properties in Boston, Everett and Reading. IPM Management, Inc. is a real estate management, marketing, and consulting company for several residential properties, including the building in Woburn. 

According to the AG’s complaint, the tenant, who sought to find housing before a major surgery he was scheduled to undergo in October 2014, applied for an apartment and was told by OVNT that his rental application was approved. He then paid a key deposit. However, rather than going through with an inspection required by the Metropolitan Boston Housing Partnership, which administers the voucher program, the defendants rented the unit to individuals who did not receive Section 8 housing assistance.

Because of the defendants’ actions, the complaint alleges, the tenant was unable to secure alternate housing before his surgery and spent his recovery living in shelters and staying with friends. He found more permanent housing four months later located in a community further from his medical appointments in Boston.

The AG’s Office seeks injunctive relief, compensatory damages, civil penalties, and attorneys’ fees and costs.

Under Massachusetts law, it is illegal to refuse to rent to a prospective tenant because the tenant is a participant in a housing subsidy program, or to avoid any of the requirements of such a program. It is also illegal to make a statement indicating a preference, limitation, or discrimination against a recipient of a Section 8 subsidy.

            The case is being handled by Assistant Attorneys General Kerry Tipper and Brittany Williams of Attorney General Maura Healey’s Civil Rights Division.