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星期三, 3月 08, 2017
Vision of Boston 2030 released
CAPAC Chair Judy Chu Condemns Hate Crimes Targeting Minority Communities
CAPAC Chair Judy Chu Condemns Hate Crimes Targeting Minority Communities
WASHINGTON, D.C. – In light of recent attacks and hate crimes targeting South Asian, Muslim, Sikh, Middle Eastern, and Jewish communities – including the recent shooting of two South Asian men in Olathe, Kansas and the shooting of a Sikh man in Kent, Washington – Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC) Chair Rep. Judy Chu (CA-27) issued the following statement:
“The alarming number of attacks facing the South Asian, Muslim, Sikh, Middle Eastern, and Jewish communities is appalling and must end. The recent shooting of Deep Rai, a Sikh American, outside of his home in Washington follows the murder of Srinivas Kuchibotla and attempted murder of Alok Madasani in Kansas. The stark parallels in these cases are undeniable. In both attacks, the assailants told the victims to go back to their country before opening fire on them.
“While both shootings are now being investigated as hate crimes, this is not enough to stymie the increase in xenophobic attacks targeting communities of color and religious minorities that we have seen since the presidential election. In fact, just last week, we learned of the fatal shooting of another Indian man, Harnish Patel, who was murdered outside of his home in Lancaster, South Carolina. While the facts of this particular case are still being investigated, it is clear that we must do more to address the surging tide of hate and the emboldened anti-Muslim and anti-immigrant rhetoric plaguing our national discourse.
“This begins with President Trump and our nation’s leaders not only condemning these incidents of hate, but also moving away from the dangerous rhetoric that has enabled this violence to flourish. We must also take proactive steps to investigate and prevent future hate crimes impacting our communities. These hateful actions run contrary to our values as a nation and have no place in our society. No community should have to live in a constant state of fear in their own country.”
CAPAC Denounces Republican Bill to Repeal the Affordable Care Act
CAPAC Denounces Republican Bill to Repeal the Affordable Care Act
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Yesterday, Congressional Republicans released their proposal to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act. Members of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC) released the following statements in response to the proposal:
Congresswoman Judy Chu (CA-27), CAPAC Chair:
“The Republican proposal will make healthcare more expensive, ration care for seniors and working families, and penalize those most in need, including millions of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders. This bill also makes drastic cuts to our safety net by raiding the Medicare trust fund and forcing states to ration Medicaid. It is shameful that Republicans have chosen to give millions in tax breaks to insurance companies at the expense of the American people, and I will continue to push back against these partisan efforts that will have dangerous consequences for our communities.”
Congressman Ami Bera (CA-07), CAPAC Healthcare Task Force Co-Chair:
“As a doctor, putting patients first must be at the center of any health care reform. This is a bill that will take coverage away from millions of people and increase the cost of health care for those who need it most, leaving older, vulnerable people behind.
“It would penalize unemployed workers, block funding for Planned Parenthood and make big cuts to our safety net by turning Medicaid into a voucher program. I am disappointed that after seven years, all we have is a partisan proposal that does not lower the cost of care or improve access.”
Congresswoman Barbara Lee (CA-13), CAPAC Healthcare Task Force Co-Chair:
“The Affordable Care Act expanded access to healthcare for millions of Americans, especially members of the AAPI community. If Republicans follow through with their cold-hearted proposal the health and well-being of the AAPI community will be devastated. During the writing of the ACA, I worked tirelessly to ensure that communities of color were given access to the basic human right of healthcare. I am determined now more than ever to defend that right.
“One thing is certain: repealing the Affordable Care Act will inflict chaos on our communities and have deadly consequences for the most vulnerable in our society. We simply cannot allow Republicans line the pockets of the wealthy at the expense of our constituents.”
星期二, 3月 07, 2017
NATIONAL CONSUMER PROTECTION WEEK: AG HEALEY’S OFFICE PROVIDES GUIDANCE FOR CONSUMERS, HOSTS OUTREACH EVENTS ACROSS THE STATE
NATIONAL CONSUMER PROTECTION WEEK: AG HEALEY’S OFFICE PROVIDES GUIDANCE FOR CONSUMERS, HOSTS OUTREACH EVENTS ACROSS THE STATENew Resources to Help Individuals Manage Their Consumer Identities
BOSTON – During the 19th annual National Consumer Protection Week, Attorney General Maura Healey is offering tips and resources to consumers to help protect themselves from fraud. The AG’s Office will also be participating in consumer education and outreach events across the state.
“Identity thieves continue to find more sophisticated ways to target personal and financial information, so for consumers, identity management can no longer be a spectator sport,” said AG Healey. “An educated consumer is better equipped to identify and steer clear of fraud, which is why we are making more resources available to empower individuals to understand and better manage their consumer identities.”
The AG’s Office fields thousands of consumer complaints annually and has helped many consumers resolve their complaint or get relief. For example, in 2016, divisions in the AG’s Office including CARD, the Consumer Protection Division, the Insurance and Financial Services Division, as well as the Student Loan Assistance Unit, provided help in:
· Assisting a disabled combat veteran and his family in getting $54,000 in homeowners insurance claim proceeds released by their mortgage servicer;
· Reversing an insurance company’s denial of an auto insurance claim filed by an 81-year-old driver, generating a recovery of $2,185 for the family;
· Recovering more than $12,000 in fees paid to an assisted living facility for a consumer who could not move in because of an injury and hospitalization;
· Obtaining a repair to a consumer’s vehicle through the replacement of its transmission per the warranty agreement, with $6,350 in savings for the consumer;
· Assisting a consumer in recovering $22,720 in premiums based on a misleading life insurance sale;
· Helping a student loan borrower in reversing a $37,000 interest capitalization that resulted from a flawed income-driven repayment renewal;
· Assisting a homeowner in obtaining a discharge of an improper second mortgage worth about $30,000;
· Stopping collections on more than $6,000 in disputed debt that a consumer said had been paid off more than 10 years ago;
· Securing a $11,000 refund for a consumer whose boiler system cracked during maintenance and caused a leak.
The AG’s Office is dedicated to stopping fraud and prosecuting those who operate scams or engage in unfair business practices that harm consumers and also has a significant role in educating consumers about their rights.
Recent trends show that identity theft incidents nationwide went up again in 2016. Online commerce makes financial and personal information more vulnerable to cyberattacks, but even brick and mortar retailers have had their state-of-the-art information systems compromised by criminals who are skilled at finding and exploiting weaknesses in a company’s information security measures.
The AG’s Office – building upon the work of other agencies, including the Federal Trade Commission and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau – has developed tools and strategies for individuals to take control of their consumer identity; to obtain, correct, or restrict disclosure of information about them which is controlled by credit and specialty consumer reporting agencies.
The AG’s Office advises consumers that under the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA), consumers have the right to request a free copy of their report from more than 30 specialty consumer reporting agencies that focus on assembling and evaluating select consumer information like histories of employment, rental housing, medical and other insurance policies and claims. Information in these reports can impact decisions business make about the products and services they offer consumers, so it’s important that consumers take advantage of their right to know what is in them.
Much like checking a credit report, consumers can use these tools in advance of a job search or application for an apartment to know if there is any inaccurate information held in their consumer report that could negatively impact their employment or housing prospects and take steps to correct it.
For more information, please see the AG’s Consumer Identity Management section of the website located here.
Last year during National Consumer Protection Week, AG Healey announced the formation of a new specialized consumer division within the office – CARD, the Consumer Advocacy & Response Division. This new division has helped to deliver an enhanced consumer approach and has specialized teams that focus on the most prominent consumer problems, including auto transactions, debt collection, data privacy and identity theft, home improvement, housing, retail sales, and utility bills.
Throughout this week and beyond, CARD and the AG’s Community Engagement Division will offer consumer education events across the state on topics such as identity theft, how to protect yourself from scams, retail rights, and financial literacy.
Consumers who have questions, problems, or complaints against businesses are encouraged to contact the AG’s Consumer Advocacy & Response Division’s consumer specialists at 617-727-8400, or file a complaint on the AG’s website. The AG’s Office has made consumer complaint data available to the public online.
Speaker DeLeo Invokes Spirit of Partnership; Outlines Measures to Bolster Massachusetts’ Economy
Speaker DeLeo Invokes Spirit of Partnership;
Outlines Measures to Bolster Massachusetts’ Economy
Calls
for pregnant worker protections, new substance addiction fund and investments
in behavioral health; announces UMass cost-sharing program to benefit local
companies
(BOSTON) – Speaking today before the
Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce (GBCC), House Speaker Robert A. DeLeo (D –
Winthrop) backed a plan to ensure significant protections for pregnant women, announced
a cost-sharing program at UMass research facilities, and proposed increased
investments in children’s mental health services.
Throughout his remarks, Speaker DeLeo
referenced Massachusetts’ enduring spirit of collaboration between the government,
non-profit, business, and higher education sectors – a tradition that has
propelled the state’s economic and social standing. DeLeo also highlighted the
House’s philosophy “as arbiters of compromise.”
In announcing that the House will soon take up
the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act, Speaker DeLeo said “we will advance our
legacy of translating worthy ideas into workable legislation.” The Pregnant
Workers Fairness Act provides essential guarantees and safety measures for
pregnant employees including food, water and restroom breaks, and accommodations
for nursing needs. It also requires businesses to engage in a collaborative
process with their employees to determine effective and reasonable
accommodations.
Last month, Speaker DeLeo’s Early
Education and Care (EEC) Business Advisory Group released its findings and
emphasized the importance of supporting the EEC workforce. To maximize the full
potential of the EEC investments planned by the House, Speaker DeLeo highlighted
the need to address behavioral health issues early on. He proposed doubling funding for Early Childhood Mental Health Grants to help
children at a vulnerable stage when a gap in diagnosis and treatment often exists.
At Speaker DeLeo’s 2016
address to the Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce he launched the Bay State
Business Link (BSBL), a joint initiative with GBCC that encourages B2B collaboration across all regions of the Commonwealth and seeks
to expand the circle of prosperity beyond Greater Boston. Spurred by a
discussion at the December BSBL forum, the House will fund a $2 million
cost-sharing partnership to subsidize the cost for local businesses to use
UMass labs and equipment. The program aims to support organizations as they
seek to get off the ground, grow, or modernize, while at the same time
connecting faculty and students with local companies.
In implementing the new
marijuana law - a potential $1.1 billion industry - the House, through the
Marijuana Committee, will engage in a thorough process examining the proper
revenue and governance options for the industry. Speaker DeLeo reviewed
numerous facets of implementation and unveiled a plan to use marijuana revenue
to combat substance addiction.
“We have a rare opportunity
to deploy a new tactic to fight what has become the fastest growing killer of
young adults,” he said. “Aided by the state proceeds of marijuana, we will
create the Substance Addiction Fund dedicated to addiction and recovery
efforts.”
Faced with unprecedented
uncertainty and fear in the wake of the Trump Presidency, Speaker DeLeo said
the House would protect state residents and help blunt the impact of “Twitter
Trumpisms” and executive excesses.
“To help the House assemble an accurate snapshot of how the Administration’s flurry of activity is impacting our state, we will create a House inter-committee working group. The group will engage with House members, delve into data, and help determine what legislative solutions are necessary and feasible.”
Even amidst the new federal
climate, Massachusetts will flourish.
“We in Massachusetts have
never waited for the world. We act and wait for the world to catch up to us.”
MAYOR WALSH RELEASES GO BOSTON 2030 VISION AND ACTION PLAN TO GUIDE CITY'S TRANSPORTATION FUTURE
| MAYOR WALSH RELEASES GO BOSTON 2030 VISION AND ACTION PLAN TO GUIDE CITY'S TRANSPORTATION FUTURE |
Plan is comprised of 58 projects and policies to direct the City of Boston's transportation agenda for the next decade and beyond
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BOSTON - Tuesday, March 7, 2017- Mayor Martin J. Walsh today released the Go Boston 2030 Vision and Action Plan that will direct the City of Boston's transportation agenda for the next decade and beyond. The plan is comprised of 58 transportation projects and policies that are designed to expand access to a variety of connected transportation options, improve traffic-related safety on Boston's streets, and ensure reliability of service for the City's residents, commuters and visitors. The Plan highlights projects already underway and presents a blueprint for the City to direct its capital plan funding.
"Go Boston 2030 addresses the transportation challenges that we face as a city and a region, and lays the foundation for how we can create a safer, more equitable transportation future," said Mayor Walsh. "Shaped by the feedback from thousands of residents, the action plan includes both short and long-term projects that will create greater transportation access that is reliable and safe for all users of our city's streets. Altogether, the initiatives in this plan will connect people to the region's fastest growing job centers, tackle transportation inequality, prepare our transportation networks for climate change and increase economic mobility for the people of Boston."
The "Top Policies and Projects" of the Go Boston 2030 Vision and Action Plan include:
Top Policies
"Boston is booming, with new housing and new businesses opening up and even more on the way," said City of Boston Chief of Streets Chris Osgood. "With the Go Boston 2030 Vision and Action Plan,we now have a framework to provide connections between Boston's neighborhoods and to new job centers, allowing people to access them using transportation options that are affordable, efficient and enjoyable. "
"In 2015, Mayor Walsh directed BTD to develop a plan to make transportation improvements that would benefit all of Boston's diverse communities in all of the City's neighborhoods, in both the short and the long-term," said Boston Transportation Commissioner Gina N. Fiandaca. "An unprecedented public engagement process was undertaken that led to thousands of ideas and comments being submitted by residents and stakeholders. This Plan, and the aspirational goals and targets that are established and prioritized in it, is the direct result of that collaborative process."
Five thousand ideas were submitted to the City during the first round of the public engagement process, helping to set the project's goals and metrics. Moving forward from goals to specific projects, the public submitted another 3,500 policy and project ideas. After analyzing these ideas, nearly 4,000 Boston residents and others helped to prioritize them by voting for their top choices of projects.
Several Go Boston 2030 projects are already underway and are having a positive impact on the City's streets, including:
Information on all of these programs can be found at www.boston.gov/transportation.
"The Vision and Action Plan represents a milestone for every resident in the city because it the first time that a plan made by residents, for residents, will lead to better travel choices for neighborhoods by creating more equitable distribution of investment in transportation infrastructure," said Representative Russell E. Holmes (D-Mattapan) and co-chair of Go Boston 2030. "It is gratifying that Go Boston listened when people stepped forward to say that our transportation must foster opportunity across neighborhoods by connecting the workforce with key job centers. This bold plan will serve as a blueprint for communities moving forward and will keep Boston a leader among world-class cities."
The Go Boston 2030 Vision and Action Plan provides a blueprint for the City of Boston to direct its capital plan spending and to work with state transportation agencies to begin implementation.
"The Go Boston 2030 Vision and Action Plan is a tremendous effort that brings together, for the first time, ideas from residents, stakeholders and the business community, delivering a result that is ambitious, bold and truly exciting," said Richard A. Dimino, President & CEO of A Better City and co-chair of Go Boston 2030. "From the perspective of the business community, the plan will move the city forward because it is squarely focused on improving mobility, including by protecting infrastructure that is vulnerable to sea level rise and extreme weather events. The future success of Boston depends in large part upon its ability to support employer and worker populations that demand a built environment with a fully connected network of walking, cycling, ride-sharing and transit riding choices."
Go Boston 2030 reflects a partnership between several public agencies and, in particular, complements the Imagine Boston 2030 and Climate Ready Boston initiatives.
The Go Boston 2030 public process will continue through the execution of individual projects, with policies and projects receiving a more in-depth planning process at the local level, including through further collaboration with residents and other stakeholders.
For more information on Go Boston 2030, please visit here.
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STATEMENT OF ATTORNEY GENERAL MAURA HEALEY ONHOUSE REPUBLICAN HEALTH CARE BILL
STATEMENT OF ATTORNEY GENERAL MAURA HEALEY ONHOUSE REPUBLICAN HEALTH CARE BILL
BOSTON – Today, Attorney General Maura Healey issued the following statement on health care legislation proposed by House Republicans that would supplant the Affordable Care Act:
“The House Republican bill would jeopardize health care coverage for millions of Massachusetts residents. Without any estimate of the bill’s costs or impacts, it proposes to raise premiums on the elderly, dismantle assistance for the vulnerable, defund Planned Parenthood, and cut funding for Massachusetts health care programs by hundreds of millions of dollars. Congress should reject this bill.”
BPS Named "Great District for Great Teachers" By The National Council On Teacher Quality After Extensive Evaluation
BPS Named "Great District for Great Teachers" By The National Council On Teacher Quality After Extensive Evaluation
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The District is One of Just Eight Winners Nationwide Chosen For Its Policies and Practices that Support and Encourage Great Teachers
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BOSTON - Tuesday, March 7, 2017 - The Boston Public Schools (BPS) is proud to announce today that the National Council on Teacher Quality (NCTQ), a national leader on teacher issues, has named the district a winner in the first-ever "Great Districts for Great Teachers" initiative. NCTQ chose BPS after a rigorous 18-month evaluation proved that BPS is a national leader in developing and caring for great teachers so they, in turn, can deliver great instruction to their students.
"We are honored that the NCTQ has named Boston Public Schools a 'Great District for Great Teachers,'" said Mayor Martin J. Walsh "This award recognizes the tremendous work the district has done to create a culture that develops and supports our teachers, and is a tribute to the dedication and passion of our many excellent teachers themselves."
"Great Districts for Great Teachers is a celebration of great teaching," said Kate Walsh, President of NCTQ, which selected winning districts after an extensive review of school systems' data and policies, teacher input and responses to 100 questions. "We celebrate the hard, often challenging efforts by a special group of school districts who have managed to put together policies and practices that make them great places for great teachers to work."
The 57,000 students who attend Boston Public Schools reflect a vibrant blend of cultures, representing 135 countries, from Afghanistan to Zimbabwe, and speaking 84 other languages. Approximately 86 percent of the district's students are black, Latino or Asian.
"The Boston School Committee believes that all of our students deserve an exceptional education-and access to great teachers who come from as many different cultures and heritages as they do," said Boston School Committee Chairperson Michael O'Neill, noting that BPS has one of the most diverse teaching staffs in the country. "Boston Public Schools, the nation's first public school system, is committed to ensuring that every child has access to a high-quality education."
"We greatly value our teachers and recognize the tremendous impact they have on improving students' lives. They make a difference, each and every day," said Boston Public Schools Superintendent Tommy Chang. "We are also committed to building a teaching force that is not only the most talented in the nation, but also celebrates and reflects the rich diversity of our students. We've worked hard to attract promising teachers who are culturally, racially and linguistically diverse by kicking off our hiring process early and hiring the best and most diverse candidates possible through a process of mutual consent."
In addition to Boston Public Schools, other winners include: Broward County School District (Florida), Denver Public Schools, District of Columbia Public Schools, Gwinnett County Public Schools (Georgia), New York City Public Schools, Pinellas County School District (Florida), and Pittsburgh Public Schools.
NCTQ developed the criteria for this honor based on its experience stretching over a decade analyzing district human capital policies and practices, as well as input from teachers and other education leaders. The eight winners excelled in five criteria that research suggests connect to effective teaching: compensation, professional support, effective management and operations, career and leadership opportunities, and support services for students.
Some of the criteria included:
● Salaries provide a good standard of living and the district finds ways to reward excellence.
● Professional development and coaching are tailored to teachers' needs and include plenty of collaborative planning time.
● Schools are run efficiently, with evidence that the district allows its schools to make the decisions that are in their best interest.
● There's plenty of opportunity for teachers to take on leadership roles.
● Teachers get lots of support from the district when it comes to meeting the needs of students.
In choosing the winners, researchers carefully evaluated data from the teachers' contract, examined documents and data submitted by the district, surveyed teachers, and interviewed teachers. NCTQ staff verified the selected finalists through focus groups with teachers and interviews with district leaders in each district.
NCTQ organized the "Great Districts for Great Teachers" initiative because it believes supporting and aiding great teachers is the best way to shape a better future for all students. Great teachers not only provide an excellent education for their own students, they also become inspiring role models and leaders for the entire teaching profession.
"We've worked hard to make Boston a great place to teach," said Emily Kalejs Qazilbash, assistant superintendent of human capital for Boston Public Schools. "It's exciting to be recognized by the 'Great Districts for Great Teachers' initiative for the work we've done to attract, hire and retain excellent educators."
This is the first year the National Council on Teacher Quality has named "Great Districts for Great Teachers." More details about the program can be found at: http://www.greatdistricts.org .
"Great teachers transform the lives of their students," said Arne Duncan, U.S. Secretary of Education from 2009-2016. "Great districts understand their most important job is to get great teachers into every single one of their classrooms, and support them in the complex, critically important work they do every day."
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TREASURER GOLDBERG ASKS ATTORNEY GENERAL SESSIONS TO CLARIFY JUSTICE DEPARTMENT’S POSITION ON MARIJUANA ENFORCEMENT
TREASURER GOLDBERG ASKS ATTORNEY GENERAL SESSIONS TO CLARIFY JUSTICE DEPARTMENT’S POSITION ON MARIJUANA ENFORCEMENT
Highlights Desire to Implement Law Properly by Most Effectively Advancing Public Safety and Public Health
BOSTON – Massachusetts State Treasurer Deborah B. Goldberg, who is charged with implementing a new state law legalizing recreational marijuana, wrote a letter today to U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions asking the Department of Justice to clarify its position and future plans regarding enforcement of federal marijuana law. Goldberg wrote the letter after various comments from Attorney General Sessions and the White House in recent weeks.
The full text of Goldberg’s letter is attached and also available online HERE.
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