PEABODY STORE CITED MORE THAN $43,000 FOR FAILING TO PAY MINIMUM AND OVERTIME WAGES TO EMPLOYEE, INACCURATE RECORDKEEPING

PEABODY STORE CITED MORE THAN $43,000 FOR FAILING TO PAY MINIMUM AND OVERTIME WAGES TO EMPLOYEE, INACCURATE RECORDKEEPING

            BOSTON – A Peabody convenience store and its owner have been cited more than $43,000 for failing to properly pay an employee in violation of the state’s wage and hour laws and for failing to keep accurate payroll records, Attorney General Maura Healey announced today. 

Ad Market Inc., d/b/a Peabody Market, and its president, Azhar Ali, have been cited more than $32,000 in restitution for failure to pay minimum wage and failure to pay proper overtime to an employee. They were also cited $6,400 in penalties, along with an additional $5,000 penalty for failure to keep accurate payroll records.  

“This business repeatedly took advantage of an employee by failing to pay him the hard-earned money he was owed in exchange for providing temporary living accommodations in a broken walk-in cooler,” AG Healey said. “Our office will continue to fight on behalf of our most vulnerable workers to make sure that they do not fall victim to unfair and exploitative employment practices.”    

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         

In May 2014, the AG’s Office began its investigation of Peabody Market, following a complaint from a former employee. The office determined that, from August 2012 to March 2014, the complainant worked as a clerk handling various duties at the store. In place of the legally required minimum wage, the market provided temporary accommodations for the employee to reside inside a broken walk-in cooler at the store for the majority of time he worked there.

The investigation revealed that he frequently worked in excess of 100 hours a week, but was only sporadically compensated for this work. The AG’s investigation found that Peabody Market also failed to keep true and accurate payroll records. 

This case serves as an example of the office’s focus on providing economic security to the residents of Massachusetts, particularly vulnerable workers. The AG’s Office enforces the laws regulating the payment of wages, including prevailing wage, minimum wage and overtime laws. Workers who believe that their rights have been violated in their workplace are encouraged to call the Office’s Fair Labor Hotline at (617) 727-3465. More information about the state’s wage and hour laws is also available in multiple languages at the Attorney General's Workplace Rights websitewww.massworkrights.com.

This matter is being handled by Assistant Attorney General Jennifer Cotter of Attorney General Maura Healey’s Fair Labor Division, with assistance from Fair Labor Investigator Ryan Murphy and victim witness advocate Megan Murphy.

梁秀婷締造歷史 當選昆市首名華裔市議員

麻州昆士市11月3日締造歷史，選出有史以來的首名亞裔，也是首名華裔市議員梁秀婷（Nina Liang）。

“我們做到了”。年僅27歲的梁秀婷，11月3日晚在尖叫聲中，由支持她參選最力的JP富士集團（Fuji）負責人梁戰士，以及梁戰成陪同，踏進該集團旗下9間餐廳之一，位於昆士市興國街1546號的“富士1546”，眼含喜悅淚水的和父親梁禮湛擁抱，促請舅父梁孟超，舅母梁曹新霞，以及弟弟等親人上台，和她分享締造昆市歷史的榮耀。

梁秀婷滿懷欣喜的感謝社區所有支持者，強調沒有大家對她的信心，不可能獲得這成績。

包括鄒毅等一百多名社區支持者，當晚陸陸續續趕到“富士1546”，邊聊邊緊張地看大螢幕實況轉播開票結果。大約八點半多，就大勢底定，梁秀婷的得票數，不是第二，就是第三。

梁秀婷來自一個大家族。她的母親梁小蘭是梁戰士父親梁孟超的妹妹。住在昆士市的親戚，加起來就不下四，五十人。有了表哥梁戰士曾數度參選的經驗，梁氏家族這次全家總動員，不但父親梁禮湛親自陪她沿路敲門，向選民拜票，梁戰成總責的義工團隊，也龐大到超過百人。

梁戰士當晚尤其感到欣慰，坦言這和他自己當選當然不是同一回事，但梁秀婷的當選，是昆士居民的選擇，大家一起締造了歷史，也將攜手打造更好昆市。

            和梁秀婷一起當選的有在位議員，現年59歲的方安（Joseph Finn），以及現年40歲，在昆市經營“羅斯狄邦納及兒子景觀公司（Russ DiBona and Son Landscaping）”，現任昆市學校委員會委員的新人狄邦納（Noel DiBona）。

            昆市愛國者報也指出，梁秀婷的當選，意義重大，因為她是昆市首名華裔美人市議員。

            根據2010年美國人口統計調查結果，昆市居民24%是亞裔，其中65%為華裔，約1%為泰裔。

JP富士集團負責人梁戰士為昆市支持表妹梁秀婷當選豎大拇指。
（菊子攝）

        參選前，梁秀婷在表哥梁戰士（Jimmy Liang）經營的JP富士集團當辦公室經理。她說，其實不論人們各自背景為何，基本需求都一樣。她將努力做華人社區和昆市政府之間的橋樑，要促使昆市行政更透明，和民眾互動更良好。

            昆士市今年的選舉，還選出首名非洲裔市議員，在第三選區當選的Ian Cain。

昆士市共有9名市議員，3席不分區市議員，6席分區市議員。市議員一任兩年，年薪 $22,673。

圖片說明：

            梁秀婷（中）在家人簇擁中感謝社區大眾支持。（菊子攝）

梁秀婷的爸爸梁禮湛（右二），叔叔梁禮然（左二）和表哥梁戰士的
父母梁孟超（左一），梁曹新霞（右一），全都高興非常。（菊子攝）

            梁秀婷（右起）發表當選感言，她父親梁禮湛，表哥梁戰士陪同站台。（菊子攝）

            梁秀婷（前右）在家人簇擁中感謝社區大眾支持。（菊子攝）

            梁戰成（右）在選舉日這天，一早六點不到就開始聯絡義工，一直忙到開票結束。（菊子攝）

            梁戰士豎大拇指，表示梁秀婷的當選是全昆市人的勝利。（菊子攝）

吳弭、張禮能、馬惠美順利連任 張文華期待來年

 波士頓市議會議長林乃肯（Bill Linehan）（左二）和他的幕僚長陳偉民（左一），
一起恭喜吳弭（Michelle Wu）（中）連任。吳弭的辦公室現有兩名華裔員工，
負責聯絡社區的王芳菲（右起），聯絡學校與社區的秦夢伊。（周菊子攝）

11月3日的大選，麻州昆士市華人狂喜，牛頓市華人期待來年，波士頓市，劍橋市結果意料之中。緬因州，還得等12月8日看分曉。

            昆士市：

        麻州昆士市在2015年11月3日締造了歷史。華裔第3度參選後，終於由年方27歲的梁秀婷，摘下昆士市有史以來首名華裔市議員頭銜，也證明亞裔在昆士市終於開始發揮力量。

梁秀婷的得票數為9487，在五名候選人中排第3，與狄邦納（Noel DiBona）的第2高票，9493票，僅差6票，和在位議員方安（Joe Finn）的最高票，9851票相比，也不過相差364票。

邱潔芳（前左）和翁渭漢（Al Young）（前右），陳寶萍（後中）等亞裔，
一起恭喜昆士市長柯奇成功連任。（周菊子攝）

昆士市在位議員麥法蘭（Michael Farland）以8611票，以876票的距離，鞠躬下台。

梁秀婷和狄邦納這兩名年紀都輕的新人，非白人當選，說明昆市整體大環境正在改變。

昆士市華裔人口聚居的第6選區，由在位市議員麥南米（Brian F. McNamee）以59%得票率的2243票當選連任。

昆士市長柯奇（左）成功連任，高興地稱讚邱潔芳（右）。（周菊子攝）

昆士市的市長選舉，由於今年選出來的市長將是昆市首屆一任四年市長，選戰打得格外激烈。但初選結果是曾經對壘兩次的昆市前後任市長再度競爭時，在麻州州長查理貝克（Charlie Baker）也為在位市長，現年52歲的柯奇（Tom Koch）站台，昆士市長亞裔顧問委員會在邱潔芳等人發動亞裔全力助選等聲勢下，已有不少人預期柯奇將連任。11月3日晚，柯奇以12,425票，56%的得票率當選，輕鬆打敗費林的9,615票，44%得票率。

當晚在花崗岩鏈接高爾夫球俱樂部慶功時，柯奇也稱讚邱潔芳等人。

牛頓市：

劍橋市議員張禮能關注多元文化，順利連任。（周菊子攝）

牛頓市的市級選舉，儘管曾有過馬惠美（Amy Mah Sangiolo），談繼欣雙雙當選為牛頓市市議員的盛況，但牛頓市市議員人數實在太多了，再者馬惠美是混血兒，談繼欣是ABC（在美國出生長大華裔)，和移民來美的華人圈，都有點距離，關注的人並不多。從1997年當選迄今的馬惠美，今年雖然繼續競選連任，但她並無競爭對手，牛頓市的市級選舉，因此也一直沒人注意。

直到在中國出生長大，從賓州大學沃頓商學院畢業的張文華出面參選憲章委員會委員，牛頓中文學校裏的熱心人士積極助選，牛頓市華人圈第一代移民的參政熱情，也被挑了起來。沈安平，鄧永奇，蔣紅，魏毅，澤養，劉玲，艾克頓市的孔凡，勒星頓鎮的陸衛東全都分頭奔走，幫忙舉牌，催票。

開票結果，張文華獲得2003票，在22名參選者中高居第14位。可惜，憲章委員會只有9個席位。加入助選陣容的華人，事後在微信群中都感謝張文華的勇於出面參選，在牛頓市華人並不多的局面中，能贏得2000多票，殊為不易，還討論起總結經驗教訓，以後要更有組織的協助其他華人參選。

波士頓市：

波士頓市今年的選情並不激烈，波士頓市的首名華裔市議員吳弭（Michelle Wu）也以第二高票， 得票率22.02%的28891票，順利連任。如果不是波士頓市內有一批華人強調支持普斯莉（Ayanna Pressley），助她取得31,768票，得票率34.21%，吳弭的得票率可能更高。

轄區包括華埠的第二區市議員林乃肯（Bill Linehan），由於沒有競爭對手，順利同額當選。

昨（4）日，現為波士頓市議會議長的林乃肯主持例行議會後，也到吳弭的辦公室恭喜她連任，還開玩笑說，自己投了吳弭一票，但吳弭沒投票給他。原來是吳弭已從南端（South End）搬到羅森岱爾（Roslindale），搬出了第二選區。

波士頓市的選舉結果是有兩名資深議員落選。1997年起當選不分區市議員莫菲（Steven Murphy）得票率14.89%，輸給新人Annissa E. George的17.86%，23,439票。第四區市議員楊西（Charles Yancy）敗給從長春藤大學畢業，獲得4,309票，得票率61.3%的康貝爾（Andrea Joy Campbell）

劍橋市：

根據劍橋市公佈的非正式選舉結果，劍橋市首名華裔市議員張禮能（Leland Cheung）順利連任。

劍橋市有9名市議員席位，共23人參選。投票結果，張禮能等人在選前連成陣線的7人小組，有6人順利連任，二年前首度當選為市議員，並獲選為副市長的Dennis Benzan，被參選新人Jan Devereux擠了下去。

劍橋市府表示，待人手計算了填寫名字投票，以及來自海外等的缺席投票等票數後，再做最後確認。

張禮能3日晚在劍橋市的“工作吧（Work Bar）“開慶祝派對。

緬因州會否出現首名華裔市長 12/8 見分曉

緬因州路易斯頓市（Lewiston）的市長選舉，由於兩名最高票候選人的得票率都沒超過50%，該市預定於12月8日為這兩人再辦一次選舉，一決勝負。緬因州是否將締造選出首名華裔市長的歷史，還得等等看。

路易斯頓市共有5人參選市長。有一半華裔血統的陳樂（Ben Chin）爭取到最高票，3,763票，得票率44%。

路易斯頓在位市長，爭取第三度連任的麥當納（Bob Macdonald）得3,106票，得票率37%。

其他3名參選人為Steve Morgan，Charles Soule，以及Luke Jensen。

陳樂向支持者表示，這場選舉已變成路易斯頓市，甚至是緬因州的靈魂之戰，他期待著即將舉辦的第二次選舉。

麥當納則表示，他對自己有信心，反正他要是就贏，要不就輸。

外界觀察家指出，這場選戰分裂了路易斯頓市。該是一向是民主黨堅強陣地，但近年選民態度轉趨保守，選出了麥當納當市長，還在2014年以絕大多數票選出共和黨籍的路易斯頓市居民樂佩吉（Paul LePage)當州長。

這場選戰也吸引了非常多的選民出席投票。非正式選舉結果顯示，超過8,300人投了票，佔已登記選民的三分之一有多。但這類選舉一般只有不到20%的選民投票。

因為兩大事件，緬因州路易斯頓市這場選戰，甚至上了全國版頭條。先是9月份時，麥當納要求製作一個領取政府援助者的網上名冊，陳樂批評這一做法，接著10月份時，當地房東鄧喬（Joe Dunne ）插出一個寫著「別投票給“何志陳（Ho Chi Chin）”」字句的標語牌。

鄧喬說，他放這個標語牌是因為陳樂的社會主義政策。但是，陳樂是一名華裔美人，包括共和黨員，民主黨員在內的許多人都批評這做法涉嫌種族歧視。

陳樂工作的緬因人民聯盟（Maine People’s Alliance）曾公佈一份報告，指該市71筆由鄧喬等3名房東所擁有土地，營運方式令人憂慮。

截至10月20日止，陳樂的競選陣營已籌得63,000元，麥當納卻只籌得1600元。

HARMACEUTICAL COMPANIES TO PAY $1.87 MILLION TO MASSHEALTH OVER DRUG PRICING ALLEGATIONS

HARMACEUTICAL COMPANIES TO PAY $1.87 MILLION TO MASSHEALTH OVER DRUG PRICING ALLEGATIONS

BOSTON – Two pharmaceutical companies will pay a total of $1.87 million to resolve claims that they underpaid drug rebates owed to MassHealth, Attorney General Healey announced today.

The AG’s Office joined with other states and the federal government in resolving allegations that AstraZeneca LP and Cephalon, Inc. violated state and federal False Claims Acts by manipulating price reporting to decrease rebates that they owed to state Medicaid programs. 

“These pharmaceutical companies were alleged to have manipulated reporting requirements in order to underpay rebates for their drugs,” AG Healey said. “This settlement brings critical funds back to our MassHealth program. We will continue to work to hold drug manufacturers accountable for their conduct and ensure that they comply with federal and state laws.”

Under a federal law known as the Medicaid Drug Rebate Program, drug manufacturers must periodically return a portion of the amount paid by state Medicaid programs for the manufacturers’ drugs. The rebate program is designed to ensure that states pay competitive prices for drugs. The rebate is calculated based on a percentage of the average price drug wholesalers pay for the manufacturer’s drugs. This average price, which the manufacturer reports to the federal government, is known as the Average Manufacturer’s Price (AMP). The greater the AMP reported by the manufacturer, the greater the rebate the manufacturer must pay. 

The settlements resulted from a qui tam action pursued by a whistleblower in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania under the federal False Claims Act and various state false claims statutes. The complaint alleged that AstraZeneca and Cephalon falsely treated certain fees paid to wholesalers as “discounts,” and that the effect of this accounting practice was to improperly decrease the AMPs AstraZeneca and Cephalon reported to the federal government, enabling them to underpay rebates owed to the states.

Under the terms of its settlement, AstraZeneca will pay the United States and participating states a total of $46.5 million. Of that amount, AstraZeneca will pay roughly $1.75 million to MassHealth. In a separate parallel settlement, Cephalon will pay the United States and participating states a total of $7.5 million, including approximately $129,000 for MassHealth.

            Assistant Attorney General Joshua Orr of AG Healey’s Medicaid Fraud Division served as principal negotiator on behalf of the states.  He was assisted by Assistant Attorney General Robert Patten, also of AG Healey’s Medicaid Fraud Division, and by Assistant Attorneys General and data analysts from Colorado, New York, Nevada, South Carolina, and Texas.  

CHILDREN’S AUTHOR AND NATIONAL BOOK AWARD WINNER JACQUELINE WOODSON TO VISIT CODMAN SQUARE, GROVE HALL, AND DUDLEY BRANCHES

CHILDREN’S AUTHOR AND NATIONAL BOOK AWARD WINNER JACQUELINE WOODSON TO VISIT CODMAN SQUARE, GROVE HALL, AND DUDLEY BRANCHES

Part of the Boston Public Library’s Brown Girl Dreaming Initiative

BOSTON – November 4, 2015 – Today, the Boston Public Library announced that celebrated children’s and young adult author, Jacqueline Woodson, winner of the National Book Award, the Coretta Scott King Award, and a Newbery Honor Medal, will visit three Boston Public Library branches in November. Woodson’s visits are part of the BPL’s Brown Girl Dreaming initiative hosted at the Codman Square, Grove Hall, and Dudley branches this fall, and inspired by the author’s book of the same title.

“Jacqueline Woodson’s story is powerful, and important for young people to hear,” said David Leonard, Interim President of the Boston Public Library. “Through the Brown Girl Dreaming initiative, young people are learning that the powerful stories found in books, can inspire them to dream and grow.”

Launched in September, the Brown Girl Dreaming initiative is aimed at connecting Boston children and teens in grades 5-12 through Woodson’s powerful memoir-in-verse, and encouraging them to dream about their futures and possibilities.  The initiative includes discussion groups about Woodson’s book and poetry workshops, culminating with Woodson’s branch visits onThursday, November 19, where she will talk about Brown Girl Dreaming, take questions, and sign books.

With the generous support of Bank of America, 500 young Bostonians have received a copy of Woodson’s celebrated book, published in 2014, which details the author’s experience “grow[ing] up as an African American in the 1960s and 1970s, living with the remnants of Jim Crow and my growing awareness of the Civil Rights movement.”

“Bank of America is pleased to support this thoughtful learning initiative that can make a deep impression on a young life,” said Miceal Chamberlain, Massachusetts President for Bank of America. “We’re proud to invest in Boston’s neighborhoods and support learning across the city.”

Woodson will visit three branches on Thursday, November 19, 2015:

Codman Square Branch, 690 Washington Street, Dorchester at 10:00 a.m. (limited seating)

Grove Hall Branch, 41 Geneva Avenue, Dorchester at 12:15 p.m. (limited seating)

Dudley Branch, 65 Warren Street, Roxbury at 7:00 p.m.

All of Woodson’s branch visits are free and open to the public, however, seating will be limited at the Codman Square Branch and Dudley Branch events, due to the planned attendance of students from Boston Public Schools. The public is encouraged to attend the evening Dudley Branch program to ensure seating, and books will be available for purchase at that time.

AALDEF 2016 Justice in Action Award Recipients Announced

Heidi Chen of Zoetis, Eric H. Holder, Jr. of Covington & Burling LLP, and
Phil Yu of AngryAsianMan.com to receive AALDEF 2016 Justice in Action Awards

The Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund (AALDEF) has announced the recipients of its 2016 Justice in Action Awards:  Heidi Chen, Executive Vice President and General Counsel of Zoetis; Eric H. Holder, Jr., partner at Covington & Burling LLP and former U.S. Attorney General; and Phil Yu, founder and editor of AngryAsianMan.com. They will receive the awards at AALDEF's Annual Lunar New Year Gala on Tuesday, February 16, 2016 at PIER SIXTY, Chelsea Piers, in New York City.

The AALDEF Justice in Action Awards recognize exceptional individuals for their outstanding achievements and efforts in advancing social justice. Past recipients include Congressman John Lewis, David Henry Hwang, Sandra Leung, Fareed Zakaria, Jose Antonio Vargas, BD Wong, Don H. Liu, Mira Nair, Deval Patrick, George Takei, Katrina vanden Heuvel, Harry Belafonte, Seymour Hersh, Larry Tu, Ivan Fong, John G. Chou, Margaret Cho, Neal Katyal, and Yoko Ono.

Over 700 leaders of the civil rights, legal, business, and arts communities across the country are expected to attend AALDEF’s 2016 Lunar New Year Gala. The evening begins with a 6 p.m. cocktail reception and silent auction, followed by the Justice in Action Awards ceremony and a banquet dinner. Tables of ten, available at $50,000, $20,000, $15,000, and $10,000, include a VIP reception. Individual tickets start at $500. To reserve tickets, please contact Lillian Ling at 212.966.5932 ex. 202 or lling@aaldef.org.

Since 1974, AALDEF has been protecting and promoting the civil rights of Asian Americans across the nation through litigation, advocacy, organizing, and community education. All proceeds from the Lunar New Year Gala will go directly towards supporting AALDEF's legal and educational programs in immigrant rights, economic justice for workers, voting rights and civic participation, educational equity, and the elimination of hate violence, police misconduct, and human trafficking

Governor Baker Raises Concerns Over Federal Government’s Potential Marine National Monument Designations

Governor Baker Raises Concerns Over Federal Government’s Potential Marine National Monument Designations

Letter to President Questions Process and Potential Impacts to Commonwealth’s Fishing Industry

BOSTON – Today, Governor Charlie Baker sent a letter to President Barack Obama raising concerns with the potential designation of one or more National Marine Monuments in the Northwest Atlantic – offshore of New England. The letter, which cites the ongoing work of Massachusetts as part of two regional ocean management governances processes, characterizes the proposal by President Obama as detrimental to the state’s recreational and commercial fishing industry and ongoing work towards the protection of ecological areas.

“While the protection of critical marine habitats is a goal shared by many—including my Administration—significant questions and concerns have been raised regarding this possible designation,” said the letter from Governor Baker to President Obama, “I wish to convey my Administration’s apprehension as to both the process being implemented and the effects of such a unilateral declaration.”

In his letter, Governor Baker raises objections over the lack of public and stakeholder engagement leading to the proposal for deep-sea canyons and seamounts, including Cashes Ledge, to be included in the federal National Marine Monument declaration. “My Administration has been unable to determine how these areas were identified and selected. NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association) held a single public meeting in Providence, Rhode Island, and I believe that this falls far short of any meaningful stakeholder process,” the letter states.

Citing the ongoing work of regional and federally-established ocean planning collaboration, Governor Baker reiterates the Commonwealth’s proactive work towards oceanic and ecological protection. “The Commonwealth is a full and active participant in two regional ocean management governance processes that include important components of marine habitat characterization and the protection of important ecological areas. The recent work of the New England Fisheries Management Council and the first-ever regional ocean planning initiative under your Administration’s National Ocean Policy both serve as vital forums for the collective management of our region’s oceans.” The Governor goes on to characterizes the working groups as “stakeholder-based, informed by rigorous science, and provide for robust public input.”

Further, Governor Baker highlights the negative impacts the National Monument designation will have on state’s recreation and commercial fishing industry, saying, “I am very concerned that the proposed marine protected area designation will undermine the ongoing New England Fishery Management Council and Northeast Regional Planning Body. Their work, plans, and processes are underway, and will jeopardize already strained relationships with important stakeholders, including commercial and recreational fishermen. The proposed National Marine Monument designation is inconsistent with and contrary to the process and principles of the ongoing regional ocean planning initiative.”

View the letter here: http://www.mass.gov/governor/docs/news/noaa-letter-11-4-15.pdf