USDA Designates Massachusetts Counties as Primary Natural Disaster Areas

USDA Designates Massachusetts Counties as Primary Natural Disaster Areas

Farms in Designated Counties Now Eligible for Financial Assistance

BOSTON – September 20, 2016 – Under a recent declaration made by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), 11 Massachusetts counties have been designated as primary natural disaster areas and three counties as contiguous natural disaster area counties due to crop losses, particularly of tree fruits like peaches, caused by frost and freeze occurring between February and May. The counties with primary disaster designation are Barnstable, Berkshire, Bristol, Essex, Franklin, Hampden, Hampshire, Middlesex, Norfolk, Plymouth and Worcester.  The counties named as contiguous disaster counties are Dukes, Nantucket and Suffolk. This disaster designation makes farms in designated counties eligible for assistance from the Farm Service Agency (FSA), including emergency loans.

“Massachusetts’ diverse agricultural industry has long been a vital part of the Commonwealth’s economy, creating good jobs and providing healthy, local food for residents,” said Governor Charlie Baker. “We appreciate the United States Department of Agriculture taking steps to assist farms across the Commonwealth. I encourage farmers adversely impacted by this year’s extreme weather conditions to explore the USDA programs and the state’s Emergency Drought Loan Fund.”

“This year’s weather has been a great challenge to Massachusetts farmers; first with the winter freeze and now with a severe drought,” said Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary Matthew Beaton.“Despite that, our farmers have done a remarkable job at getting high-quality, nutritious food to market, and I urge Massachusetts residents to buy local to support our hardworking farmers.”

In addition to the designation as primary and contiguous natural disaster areas, the same 11 counties became eligible for the USDA’s Livestock Forage Disaster Program (LFP) as the result of the ongoing drought.  The LFP program provides compensation to eligible livestock producers who have suffered grazing losses on pasture land.

“Our livestock and dairy industry is a significant contributor to the state’s economy, contributing over $70 million dollars annually.  We appreciate USDA implementing a program to address this specific sector,”said Department of Agricultural Resources Commissioner John Lebeaux. “In addition to seasonal harvests, consumers have year-round access to top-quality, Massachusetts-produced dairy and meat products.”

Farmers in the designated counties are urged to contact their local FSA county offices for more information on the available programs.

Earlier this month, the Baker-Polito Administration announced the launch of the Massachusetts Drought Emergency Loan Fund, which has the capacity to provide up to $1 million in micro-loans to family farms and other small businesses affected by widespread drought conditions in Massachusetts.

WESTPORT USED AUTO DEALERSHIP AND OWNER ORDERED TO STOP SELLING UNSAFE VEHICLES TO CONSUMERS

WESTPORT USED AUTO DEALERSHIP AND OWNER ORDERED TO STOP SELLING UNSAFE VEHICLES TO CONSUMERS

Order Comes After AG’s Office Sued Company After Receiving More Than 100 Consumer Complaints

NEW BEDFORD – A Westport used auto dealership and its owner have been ordered to stop selling unsafe and unreliable vehicles to consumers in an enforcement action filed by Attorney General Maura Healey.

A request for emergency injunctive relief was granted in New Bedford Superior Court against F&R Auto Sales, Inc. (F&R Auto) in Westport and owner Francis Correiro of Assonet.

The AG’s Office sued the dealership and Correiro on Sept. 13 after receiving more than 100 consumer complaints since 2012 about their alleged unfair and deceptive practices, including the routine sale of defective vehicles and the failure to provide proper transactional documents to consumers. 

“These defendants not only took advantage of consumers, they also put the safety of the public at risk by knowingly allowing unsafe vehicles onto the roads,” said AG Healey. “We will not allow companies to use abusive practices to reap illegal profits from vulnerable Massachusetts consumers, including those who have been stuck with defective cars and debt because of this company.”

The injunction, effective immediately, prohibits the defendants from selling unsafe and defective vehicles and refusing to repair them and also requires them to supply consumers with the statutorily required transactional documentation.

According to the AG’s complaint, F&R Auto and Correiro violated the state consumer protection laws by using unfair and deceptive acts in the sale of used motor vehicles in Massachusetts.

The AG’s Office conducted an investigation into the dealership in cooperation with the Westport Police Department and the Westport Board of Selectmen. During a series of inspections of the dealership in 2015 and 2016, Westport Police found vehicles in decrepit conditions and evidence of shoddy repair work being performed. They also found piles of documents containing sensitive personal consumer information, including Social Security and financial account numbers in an open dumpster on the site.

Based on complaints against F&R Auto, the AG’s lawsuit alleges that the defendants frequently misrepresented to buyers that vehicles were safe and reliable in order to make sales. The AG’s Office examined inspection reports of recently purchased vehicles that revealed significant safety issues, including defects in suspension, emissions, airbags, directional lights, and brakes.

The AG’s investigation also found that consumers would often drive away from the dealership and the check engine light would come on or the car would fail a safety and emissions test after they purchased it. When consumers discovered issues with their cars, the dealership would allegedly frequently dismiss them or refuse to make repairs. In one case, a consumer was quoted nearly $16,000 in repairs needed on a car he got from the dealership – a price that far exceeded what he paid for the car.

The dealership and Correiro also failed to provide consumers with statutorily mandated purchase transactional documents, including Motor Vehicle Purchase Contracts (MVPC), Retail Installment Sales Contracts (RISC), odometer statements and title documents, thereby interfering with consumers’ ability to fully exercise their legal rights. 

The lawsuit further alleges that F&R Auto and Correiro illegally disclaimed warranties on the vehicles and failed to properly execute assignment and warranty of title on vehicles they sold.

AG Healey’s complaint against the defendants seeks injunctive relief and restitution for consumers, as well as penalties, costs, and attorneys’ fees. Consumers who believe they have been harmed by F&R’s sales practices should call AG’s the dedicated hotline at (508) 742-4514. For other tips or questions about the auto industry, consumers may call the Attorney General’s consumer hotline at 617-727-8400 or file a complaint with the office.

The matter is being handled by Assistant Attorney General Lizabeth Lagarto Marshall and Consumer Advocate Diane Lopes Flaherty of Attorney General Healey’s Southeastern Massachusetts Regional Office, with assistance from Deputy Chief Shennan Kavanagh and Assistant Attorney General Samantha Shusterman of the AG’s Consumer Protection Division, Stephen Marshalek, Chief of the AG’s Southeastern Massachusetts Regional Office, and Investigator Colleen Frost.

麻州東南華人協會會長張華揪團慶中秋

麻州東南華人協會郊遊、賞月輕成立。

麻州東南華人協會會長張華（左）和UMD CSSA主席师雨露。

貝爾蒙特華人協會慶中秋

圖片由貝爾蒙特華人協會提供。

貝爾蒙特華人協會（Belmont Chinese American Association，簡稱BCAA）經過半年多的籌備，已於今年七月正式在麻州政府註冊，取得501(C)3免稅資格的成為非牟利組織，並從年初起，已陸續舉辦過幾次大型活動，包括春節晚會，高中畢業生講座，獨立日Natickerson State 公園露營，小鐵人比賽及慶功會，勞動節白山遊等。

日前，該會趁中秋佳節，發函祝賀全體成員中秋快樂，總結匯報成立以來概況。

成立华协的想法由来已久，在组织今年年初春晚的过程中十几个一直以来积极参与社区活动的人终于走到了一起。几次“抛妻（夫）弃子（女）”的马拉松会议都开到了后半夜，总算在组织宗旨，结构，人员组成，活动安排上达成了共识。咱们贝尔蒙特华人终于有自己的组织啦！

华协宗旨：说白了就是费劲巴拉成立这么个组织究竟为嘛？答案呢很简单，就以下几点。

(1) 把本塘华人团结起来。（麻绳理论应该就不用再费劲解释了：D）;

(a) 通过各种活动让大家互相了解，说白了就是在吃喝玩乐中把不认识的变成认识的，把本来就认识的变成知己闺蜜酒肉朋友。：P 俗话说远亲不如近邻。

(b) 建立一个信息交流的平台，互相借鉴一下育儿经，修房经，投资经，种菜经。

(2) 提高本塘华人的社会地位。我们希望能够改变华人各家自扫门前雪，闷声发大财的传统形象。

(a) 鼓励大家走出去，发出自己的声音。粗略估算本塘华人占全塘10%左右，作为这么可观的一股力量我们却很少能在社区政治中听到自己的声音。我们希望通过华协的努力能够让大家更加积极的参与到包括选举，学校事务，社区规划等等各方面的社区政治中。我们不能再继续在这条taxation without representation的悲催道路上大踏步地走下去了!

(b) 走出去之余我们也希望请进来，让外界更多的了解我们华人社区，把我们的文化伴着我们的影响力一起传播出去。作为一个相对高收入群体，我们也希望鼓励大家担负起我们的那份社会责任，积极地回馈社会改善华人形象。

贝尔蒙特华人协会(Belmont Chinese American Association，簡稱BCAA）幹部包括：會長趙剛，王瑾，副會長謝眺，書記王健，財政彭健等五人組成的執行委員會，另分教育，活動，宣傳，外展，總務等小組，各組負責人為，教育:Chair -- 郭晓燕;Deputy Chair-- 蔡靓;活動：Co-chairs 叶迎春&王星晨;Chief Media Director -陈大鹏;宣傳：Chair-- 周霞;外展：Chair-- 许方敏；Deputy Chairs-- 孙文泱 & 谷牧青；總務：Chair--赵勇。

該會交流平台包括微信及網站，微信群：BELMONT居民实名群，网站：http://bcaa-ma.org/，通訊電郵為: belmont.chinese.association@gmail.com。

CITY OF BOSTON LAUNCHES EARLY VOTING WEBSITE AND ANNOUNCES SCHEDULE

CITY OF BOSTON LAUNCHES EARLY VOTING WEBSITE AND ANNOUNCES SCHEDULE

'Vote Early Boston' website will help voters find early voting locations

BOSTON - Monday, September 19, 2016 - Boston election officials today launched the "Vote Early Boston" website (boston.gov/early-voting) which provides voters with important information about the City of Boston's new early voting initiative. "Vote Early Boston" begins Monday, October 24 and runs through Friday, November 4. During that time, registered voters will be able to cast their ballots for the November 8 Election. "Ensuring all Boston voters are able to vote conveniently, and on their own schedule, is paramount to ensuring voter turnout," said Boston Mayor Martin J. Walsh. "Voting is core to our democracy, and I encourage Boston voters to take advantage of all the resources the City provides during this election season." "We expect that the 'Vote Early Boston' website will serve as an important resource for all voters interested in casting their ballots during the early voting period," said Boston Elections Chairman Dion Irish. "Early voting polling locations will be open at City Hall and throughout the nine city council districts allowing voters to vote at the most convenient location and times." Voters may also request an early voting ballot by mail, and may return them in person at City Hall or by mail. Unlike Absentee Voting, an explanation is no longer needed to vote early. Any Boston voter who wishes to vote early may. During the early voting period, City Hall will be Boston's main early voting site, with voting daily during normal business hours (9 a.m. to 5 p.m.). City Hall will also be open on five evenings for early voting. Polling locations will also be available throughout the city on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, during the early voting period. Those locations will be open from 2 p.m. until 8 p.m. On Saturday October 29, there will be nine early voting locations open simultaneously in each city council district from 12 p.m. until 6 p.m. For a full schedule, voters are encouraged to visit boston.gov/early-voting.

羅德島大學孔子學院辦中國民俗舞蹈週

羅德島大學孔子學院9月19日起舉辦“中國民俗舞蹈週”，邀請來自廣西藝術學院的孫健老師，做示範教學，包括一場講座，以及9月20日到23日的4場工作坊。

19日下午，孫健以“中國民族舞動作分析”為主題，先示範中國蒙古舞，新疆舞的一個個手勢變化，再介紹中國各民族的服飾，地域，以及中國舞的發展及功能。

在講解過程中，孫健還展示了扇子舞等其他經典舞蹈的動作，已讓人更直接感受到中國舞蹈的特別魅力。

在接下來的一週內，孫健將每天下午在羅德島大學校內主持中國少數民族和漢族舞蹈教學工作坊。 （圖由羅德島大學孔子學院提供）

AG HEALEY KICKS OFF HER OFFICE’S ADVISORY COUNCIL ON NEW AMERICANS

AG HEALEY KICKS OFF HER OFFICE’S ADVISORY COUNCIL ON NEW AMERICANS

26-Member Council Will Strengthen the Office’s Connections to Immigrant Communities and Communities of Color

BOSTON — Building on her commitment to ensure that the Attorney General’s Office is a resource for those who need it the most, Attorney General Maura Healey today kicked off the new Advisory Council on New Americans. The 26-member council will work with AG Healey and her staff on how the office can best address the needs of the state’s immigrant and refugee communities.

The Attorney General’s Advisory Council on New Americans, a new initiative under AG Healey’s Community Engagement Division, will form a consistent dialogue between immigrant and refugee leaders across the state and the AG’s Office to advise on issues affecting immigrant communities including civil and consumer rights issues, health care, workers’ rights and housing.

“I am excited to launch the Advisory Council for New Americans to strengthen our work on behalf of immigrant and refugee communities,” said AG Healey at the council’s kickoff meeting in her Boston office. “Building strong partnerships with community organizations will help ensure that all of our residents are treated fairly in Massachusetts.”

Massachusetts is home to more than one million residents who were born outside of the United States. In Boston alone, the foreign-born population now accounts for approximately 27 percent of all residents. The advisory council is made up of community and immigrant leaders and advocates from across the state.

“Immigration is vital to the success and vibrancy of this state. Our organization works day in and day out to improve the lives of immigrant and refugee communities in this state and we are so grateful to the Attorney General’s Office for sharing this priority,” said Eva Millona, Executive Director of the MIRA Coalition. “This new advisory council will be the start of a strong partnership between the Attorney General’s Office and immigrants and refugees that will better integrate them linguistically, economically and socially to the fabric of our great Commonwealth.”

“Our immigrants make vital contributions to our Commonwealth and this country,” said Joanna Dos Santos, Executive Director of Cleghorn Neighborhood Center and Cleghorn Youth Center. “We are so grateful that Attorney General Healey and her staff are committed to ensuring that they are engaging directly with the diverse immigrant and refugee communities across the state. We are honored to be a part of this partnership that will ensure a better life for all our refugees and immigrants.”

“I am excited about the launch of the AG’s Advisory Council on New Americans and feel honored to be included in this important group which will hopefully work to engage and empower new Americans in our state to be part of building a stronger and more inclusive commonwealth,” said Paulo Pinto, Executive Director of the Massachusetts Alliance of Portuguese Speakers.

The advisory council will aim to meet regularly throughout the year. Today’s kickoff meeting provided an opportunity for members to share and discuss issues they are seeing in their communities with staff from the AG’s Office and develop a plan for the council going forward.

Launched in May 2015, the Attorney General’s Community Engagement Division works to bring the resources of the Attorney General’s Office directly into communities at times that are convenient for working people and their families. This year, the division has held over 160 trainings and events across the state and has engaged with over 8,635 residents.

For a link to the names and bios of all the advisory council members click here.

舒安居律師教留學生如何因應租屋、交通，刑事法律問題

奢安居律師。（周菊子攝）

駐波士頓台北經濟文化辦事處教育組日前舉辦新英格蘭地區各大學院校中華民國同學會會長聯席會議，請舒安居律師，從憲法保障的角度，探討學生在租屋，交通，刑事糾紛等方面應該注意的留學法律問題 

舒安居律師十分博學，不但在台灣外交特考及格，也在美國芝加哥大學唸MBA，修畢醫學預科，進過布蘭岱斯大學軟體工程碩士班。他還取得聯邦專利律師資格，持有伊利諾州律師執照，目前連麻州的律師執照也在檢覈中。

笑言讀書從來不是興趣，只是因為工作需要的舒安居律師指出，留學生出門在外，最重要的就是注意安全，懂得如何保護自己。

一般來說，留學生在生活上最常碰到的問題有三大類問題，分別是租屋，交通，刑事糾紛。

在租屋方面，首先該瞭解簽約注意事項。

美國為防止詐欺，規定某些交易必須有白紙黑字證明，地產買賣，一年以上契約，都屬於這一範疇。短期租屋就無明文規定，但為保障租戶、房東權益，舒安居建議還是要簽訂書面契約。

麻州法律規定，簽租約時，房東可以收舉第一個月，租約到期時的最後一個月房租，以及最多達一個月租金額度的押金，加上更換鎖及鑰匙的費用。

房東收了押金後，在租約到期後的三十天內，需把押金連同利息一起還給租客。由於波士頓很多房東並不按規矩收租，麻州政府的法律輔助網站建議，租戶可在搬進所租房屋後，再以書面通知房東，扣回多繳的金額。不過大多數律師建議留學生不要租這種有麻煩的房子。

其次是退租時的注意事項。

留學生退租，往往是準備遷往他地，或是返鄉，有時間壓力。房東如果在這時候以房屋遭破壞為由，要求剋扣押金，以彌補損失，留學生往往無暇和房東往返爭執。為避免發生這種情況，舒安居律師建議留學生們在搬進所租住房屋前，拍照存證，然後在退租時，不管房東是否陪同在側，也都再次拍照存證。這樣一來，如果房東存心訛詐，留學生就可以檢附照片，向居住地的房東及租戶委員會（landlord and tenant commission）檢舉。如果房東是不動產公司，也可以寫信更好企業局（better business bureau ，俗稱「BBB」）檢舉。這些單位在租屋衍生的問題（或者是企業信譽問題）上，可以給租客相當程度的保護，而且不收費用。

再來是分租注意事項。

不少留學生在承租房屋後，會另外分租出去。但要這麼做之前，一定要看清楚合約怎麼寫的。如果寫明不准分租，還擅自分租，房東就有理由解約。如果房東准許分租，但分租者不繳租，做為二房東的留學生，就得承擔起賴帳房客的欠租了。

在交通方面，首先要注意蒐證。

舒安居律師強調，在美國有保險最重要，一旦發生車禍，不必爭執誰對誰錯，先拍照取證再說。如果警察來了，要求警察確認對方有沒“聲稱”受傷。舒安居指出，有些人明知理虧，在現場要求你高抬貴手，事後卻聲稱自己在車輛意外事件中受傷，要求你的保險公司付醫療費。為預防起見，一旦發生這類意外，在拍照存證車輛損傷情況之外，應該要求對方當場確認身體沒有損傷，以防事後被反咬一口。

其次，在處理糾紛，甚至拍照存證時，都千萬不要忽略自身安全。

再來是保險最重要，不要為了省錢而不買保險。

在刑事糾紛上，首先要了解美國的刑法制度。

舒安居律師指出，美國法律分聯邦法，州法。除非是國會事先放棄了管轄權（preempt）的法令，否則同一犯行可能同時觸犯聯邦法及州法，例如兒童色情罪。

其次，要知道自己的權益。

美國憲法權利法案（bill of rights）保障被告在法律程序中享有一定權益，例如不需要自證無罪，在一定情況下，由陪審團參與審判等。但是不像電影裡被抓的人有權至少打一通電話，實際情況是法律只規定被告可以要求審訊時有辯護人，警察在被告要求打電話時，經常百般推託，甚至在電話明明在被告眼前時，讓被告因為身邊沒銅板而乾瞪眼。

            再來是沈默是金。

            舒安居提醒留學生們，為了保護各人自己，面對警察時，一定要保持尊敬、謙卑態度，警察要求做的事，儘量配合，但警察問的問題，除非是個人基本資料，例如生日，性別等，否則都可以要求在有律師陪同時才回答。總之，話說得越少越好，免得說了些不洽當的話，被人拿來作為不利於自己的證據。

            舒安居律師在講談時，引述了不少他個人處理案件的切實經驗，不少出席同學聽得一愣一愣，驚覺在他鄉異域要保護自己，還真得有不少準備，手邊最好有至少一名律師的聯絡方式。