星期四, 7月 12, 2018
Baker-Polito Administration Announces 4th Annual Summer Nights Initiative
Baker-Polito Administration Announces 4th Annual Summer Nights Initiative
Program Expands Recreational Opportunities for Youth within Urban Communities
BOSTON – Today, Governor Charlie Baker joined Energy and Environmental Affairs (EEA) Secretary Matthew Beaton and Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) Commissioner Leo Roy to announce the fourth annual Summer Nights Initiative, which increases programming and extends the hours of operations at select pools and athletic complexes in several cities across the state. The Baker-Polito Administration first implemented the Summer Nights Initiative in 2015, and this year the DCR has partnered with nine organizations serving youth at 13 locations within the Cities of Boston, Brockton, Lawrence, Lowell, New Bedford, Springfield and Worcester to provide increased programming for area youth. Additionally, eight state pools and two spray decks managed by the DCR will have extended hours on Thursdays in the Cities of Boston, Chicopee, Everett, Lawrence, Malden and Worcester.
“With the summer season in full swing, we are proud to provide opportunities for youth across the Commonwealth to get outside, stay active, and interact with one another in a safe and fun environment during school vacation months,” said Governor Charlie Baker. “Importantly, the Summer Nights Initiative offers recreational resources and additional programming to young people and their families within the state parks system and local facilities, ensuring increased opportunities they will truly benefit from.”
“The Summer Nights Initiative impacts youth within urban communities by offering activities that are both engaging and entertaining,” said Lieutenant Governor Karyn Polito. “We are pleased to partner with numerous stakeholders to enable area youth to get outside and explore some of the state’s most popular facilities while promoting healthy and active lifestyles.”
Furthermore, the DCR recently began its popular Free Family Flicks movie series. Movies will be shown at Fall River Heritage State Park in Fall River, the Martini Memorial Shell in Hyde Park, Sylvester Baxter State Park in Somerville, the Charles River Esplanade’s Hatch Memorial Shell in the Back Bay, Mary O’Malley Park in Chelsea, and Pope John Paul II Park in Dorchester. Featured movies include Despicable Me 3, the Emoji Movie, Cars 3, Elf, Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle, Coco, Beauty and the Beast, and Thor: Ragnarok. The Free Family Flicks program provides family fun and entertainment at no charge (parking fees may apply depending on location).
“Situated throughout the Commonwealth are wonderful parks offering excellent access to the natural world for children and their families to explore,” said Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary Matthew Beaton. “The Summer Nights Initiative ensures that select facilities, such as parks, pools and spray decks stay open longer to provide additional recreational opportunities for today’s youth to enjoy.”
“The Baker-Polito Administration continues to support and grow important programs such as the Summer Nights Initiative by not only extending the hours of operations at select facilities, but also fostering strong community partnerships to provide quality programming to area children and their families,” said Department of Conservation and Recreation Commissioner Leo Roy. “Contained within the state parks system is over 450,000 acres of public land, providing excellent locations for kids to be kids in safe and inclusive environments. We are grateful to the Governor for his strong support of our state parks.”
The Summer Nights Initiative to extend summer operating hours at select locations will continue through August 17, 2018. Below is a full list of extended hours and programming for additional youth access.
The following 10 water/swimming facilities will have extended hours of operations on Thursdays in July until 7:45 PM and in August until 7:30 PM:
· Allied Veterans Memorial Pool (65 Elm St, Everett, MA)
· Holland Memorial Pool (108 Mountain Ave, Malden, MA)
· Olsen Pool (95 Turtle Pond Pkwy, Hyde Park, Boston, MA)
· Sara Jane Sherman Memorial Pool (750 Meadow St, Chicopee, MA)
· Southwest Corridor Park Spraydecks (Jamaica Plain, Boston, MA)
· Bennett Field (Veterans Memorial) Pool (1260 Main St, Worcester, MA)
· Lt. Colonel Edward J. Higgins Pool (180 Crawford St, Lawrence, MA)
· Ryan Wading Pool (350 River St, Mattapan, Boston, MA)
· Melnea Cass Pool (120 Martin Luther King Blvd, Roxbury, Boston, MA)
DCR is working in conjunction with nine community partners to provide an exciting schedule of recreational, educational, cultural, and arts programs for kids, teens, and young adults to learn new skills and socialize with one another. Programs such as basketball, flag-football, floor hockey, kickball, dodgeball, volleyball, and ping pong, as well as, dancing, fitness, talent shows, fishing, and arts and crafts will be featured. The DCR’s program partners are Score4More, PIM, Elevate Boston Foundation, Urban League of Springfield, Lawrence Boys and Girls Club, Greater Lowell Boys and Girls Club, Dennison Community Center in New Bedford, Brockton Boys and Girls Club, and Boys and Girls Club Family Center in Springfield. Special programming through the summer months includes:
Mondays:
Moynihan Recreational Complex (1015 Truman Parkway, Hyde Park), 6:00 PM-9:00 PM, the PIM Project will be hosting organized sports and games including basketball, flag-football, and food.
Mary Hannon Park (Dudley Street, Dorchester), 5:00 PM-8:00 PM, Score4More in collaboration with One Love Sports Academy will host a basketball league and other health and wellness activities (this is a City of Boston park).
Brockton Boys and Girls Club (233 Warren Street, Brockton) 6:00 PM-10:00 PM, activities include basketball, floor hockey, soccer, dodgeball, volleyball, tournaments, dances, talent shows, and more. Contact (508) 584-5209 or visit www.bgcbrockton.org for more information.
Boys and Girls Club Family Center (100 Acorn Street, Springfield), 5:30 PM-8:30 PM, activities include basketball, art, archery, and games. For more information and to register please call (413) 739-4743.
Tuesdays:
Lorber Playground (Centre Street at Columbus Avenue, Jamaica Plain), 6:00 PM-9:00 PM, Score4More will offer basketball games, fitness, dance, children’s youth and arts activities, and food.
Marcella Park (Marcella Street, Roxbury), 5:00pm-8:00 PM, Score4More in collaboration with Hawthorne Youth and Community Center will offer basketball skills and drills and health and wellness activities (this is a City of Boston park).
Lawrence Boys and Girls Club, (136 Water Street, Lawrence) 6:00 PM-9:00 PM, activities include basketball games and competitions, dance instruction, fitness training and recreational games including pool, ping-pong and carpet ball. No membership is required, and open to all youth ages 13-18.
Greater Lowell Boys and Girls Club (657 Middlesex Street, Lowell), 6:00 PM-8:00 PM, youth will have access to the gymnasium, fitness room, teen room, career and college readiness room, teen robotics room, makerspace, and music clubhouse.
Urban League’s Camp Atwater Campsite (Lake Lashaway, North Brookfield), 5:00 PM-9:00 PM, Urban League of Springfield will be hosting organized activities including basketball, kickball, dodgeball, fishing, music, fencing, pottery, arts & crafts, tennis instruction, and food. The program is free of charge and open to greater Springfield and Worcester area youth ages 13-18. Call (413) 739-7211 ext. 103 to learn more and register. Transportation is provided from Springfield.
Melnea Cass Recreational Complex (120 MLK Jr. Boulevard, Roxbury) and Malcolm X Park (a City of Boston park), 6:00 PM-10:00 PM, Elevate Boston will offer basketball, swimming, soccer, track, flag football, tennis, double-dutch, kickball, painting, arts and crafts, visual storytelling, and more. Open to all youth ages 13-21.
Brockton Boys and Girls Club (233 Warren Street, Brockton), 6:00 PM-10:00 PM, activities include basketball, floor hockey, soccer, dodgeball, volleyball, tournaments, dances, talent shows and more. Contact (508) 584-5209 or visit www.bgcbrockton.org for more information.
Boys and Girls Club Family Center (100 Acorn Street, Springfield), 5:30 PM-8:30 PM, activities include basketball, art, archery and games. For more information and to register please call (413) 739-4743.
Wednesdays:
Roberts Park (Dunbar Ave at Washington Street, Dorchester), 6:00 PM-9:00 PM, the PIM Project will be hosting organized sports including basketball, flag-football and football (this is a City of Boston park).
Brockton Boys and Girls Club (233 Warren Street, Brockton), 6:00 PM-10:00 PM, activities include basketball, floor hockey, soccer, dodgeball, volleyball, tournaments, dances, talent shows and more. Contact (508) 584-5209 or visit www.bgcbrockton.org for more information.
Greater Lowell Boys and Girls Club (657 Middlesex St., Lowell), 6:00 PM-8:00 PM, activities include access to the gymnasium, fitness room, teen room, career and college readiness room, teen robotics room, makerspace, and music clubhouse.
Boys and Girls Club Family Center (100 Acorn Street, Springfield), 5:30 PM-8:30 PM, activities include basketball, art, archery and games. For more information and to register please call (413) 739-4743.
Thursdays:
Lorber Playground (Centre Street at Columbus Ave, Jamaica Plain), 6:00 PM-9:00 PM, Score4More will offer basketball games, fitness, dance, children’s youth and arts activities, and food.
Marcella Park (Highland Street at Marcella Street in Roxbury), 5:00 PM-8:00 PM, Score4More in collaboration with Hawthorne Youth and Community Center will offer a basketball league (this is a City of Boston park).
Lawrence Boys and Girls Club (136 Water Street, Lawrence), 6:00 PM-9:00 PM, activities include basketball games and competitions, dance instruction, fitness training and recreational games including pool, ping-pong, and carpet ball. No membership required, and open to all youth ages 13-18.
Greater Lowell Boys and Girls Club (657 Middlesex Street, Lowell), 6:00 PM-8:00 PM, activities include access to the gymnasium, fitness room, teen room, career and college readiness room, teen robotics room, makerspace, and music clubhouse.
Urban League’s Camp Atwater Campsite (Lake Lashaway, North Brookfield), 5:00 PM-9:00 PM, Urban League of Springfield will be hosting organized activities including basketball, kickball, dodgeball, fishing, music, fencing, pottery, arts & crafts, tennis instruction, and food. The program is free of charge, and open to greater Springfield and Worcester area youth ages 13-18. Call (413) 739-7211 ext. 103 to learn more and register. Transportation is provided from Springfield.
Melnea Cass Recreational Complex (120 MLK Jr. Boulevard, Roxbury) and Malcolm X Park (this is a City of Boston park), 6:00pm-10:00pm, Elevate Boston will offer basketball, swimming, soccer, track, flag football, tennis, double-dutch, kickball, painting, arts and crafts, visual storytelling and more. Open to all youth ages 13-21.
Brockton Boys and Girls Club (233 Warren Street, Brockton), 6:00 PM-10:00 PM, activities include basketball, floor hockey, soccer, dodgeball, volleyball, tournaments, dances, talent shows and more. Contact (508) 584-5209 or visit www.bgcbrockton.org for more information.
Boys and Girls Club Family Center (100 Acorn Street, Springfield), 5:30 PM-8:30 PM, activities include basketball, art, archery and games. For more information and to register please call (413) 739-4743.
Fridays:
Brockton Boys and Girls Club (233 Warren Street, Brockton), 6:00 PM-10:00 PM, activities include basketball, floor hockey, soccer, dodgeball, volleyball, tournaments, dances, talent shows and more. Contact (508) 584-5209 or visit www.bgcbrockton.org for more information.
Boys and Girls Club Family Center (100 Acorn Street, Springfield), 5:30 PM-8:30 PM, activities include basketball, art, archery and games. For more information and to register please call (413) 739-4743.
Additionally, the Dennison Memorial Community Center in New Bedford will be hosting free summer programs for youth aged 5-16, Monday - Friday, 9:00 AM-4:30 PM. Programming includes field trips, tournaments and educational programs.
The extended hours of operations will compliment other programs currently offered by the DCR for families at the hundreds of state parks, forests, reservations, beaches and other facilities across the state year round. To read more about the expansion of hours at select pools and parks, and for additional programs by DCR, please visit the agency’s webpage.
MASSACHUSETTS MEDICAL SOCIETY OPPOSES NURSE STAFFING BALLOT QUESTION
MASSACHUSETTS MEDICAL SOCIETY OPPOSES NURSE STAFFING BALLOT QUESTION
The organization includes more than 25,000 physicians and medical students
BOSTON, MA – July 11, 2018 – The Coalition to Protect Patient Safety today announced that the Massachusetts Medical Society (MMS) has joined the Coalition in opposing the nurse staffing ballot question, slated to be Question 1 on the ballot this November. It joins a growing contingent of healthcare leaders to oppose the proposed law.
The ballot question would require that hospitals across the state, no matter their size or specific needs of their patients, adhere to the same rigid nurse staffing ratios within all patient care areas. The petition does not make allowances for rural or small community hospitals, holding them to the same staffing ratios as major Boston teaching hospitals.
“Massachusetts’ world-class healthcare has everything to do with the team approach to patient care,” said Alain Chaoui, MD, President of the Massachusetts Medical Society. “As a family physician, I know the value of team-based care that is focused on the needs of the patient. This law would fundamentally erode that team dynamic and replace it with a rigid system that relies on arbitrary numbers, which would put patient care at risk.”
An independent cost analysis found that the proposed ballot question would cost the state more than a billion dollars each year, and those costs will be felt across the healthcare system. The initiative would override the judgment of healthcare professionals and prevent hospitals from admitting patients if the number of nurses on duty does not comply with the rigid government mandate.
“There are no scientific studies or reports that demonstrate the effectiveness of government mandated, one-size-fits-all nurse staffing ratio for improving quality of care, patient outcomes or professional nursing practice.” said Donna Glynn, President of the American Nurses Association and a Nurse Scientist for the VA Boston Healthcare System. “In fact, no studies evaluating nurse staffing ratios reported a magic number as the single factor to affect patient outcomes or job satisfaction. This ballot question is ignoring scientific fact around what is best for nursing practice, decision making and quality patient care.”
The MMS, which is the statewide organization for more than 25,000 physicians and medical students in the Commonwealth, is the latest leading healthcare organization to oppose the ballot measure. It joins the American Nurses Association Massachusetts, the Organization of Nurse Leaders, the Massachusetts Association of Colleges of Nursing, the Infusion Nurse Society’s New England Chapter, Home Care Alliance, and VNA Care in protecting the state’s healthcare system and its patients from the consequences of this rigid, costly mandate that will be placed before voters in the November 2018 election.
Learn more about the Coalition to Protect Patient Safety at www.ProtectPatientSafety.com,www.Facebook.com/ProtectPatientSafety and www.Twitter.com/MAPatientSafety.
星期三, 7月 11, 2018
Governor Baker Ceremonially Swears In Five Associate Justices to Newly Created Seats on the Massachusetts Housing Court
Governor Baker Ceremonially Swears In Five Associate Justices to Newly Created Seats on the Massachusetts Housing Court
For more, high-resolution photos, click here.
BOSTON – Today, Governor Charlie Baker ceremonially swore in five new Associate Justices to the Massachusetts Housing Court as part of the Administration’s expansion of the Court:
· Gustavo A. del Puerto of Salem nominated to the Northeastern Division;
· Donna T. Salvidio of Worcester nominated as a Circuit Justice;
· Neil K. Sherring of Westwood nominated as a Circuit Justice;
· Joseph L. Michaud of Dartmouth nominated to the Metro South Division;
· Irene Bagdoian of Westborough nominated to the Metro South Division.
“Our administration was proud to expand the Housing Court’s services to the entire Commonwealth with the addition of these five highly qualified and experienced Justices,” said Governor Charlie Baker.“These justices have each spent upwards of twenty years practicing law in Massachusetts and their experience will be instrumental during this phase of the Court’s evolution.”
“These five Justices will continue to play a vital role in shaping their respective communities ,” said Lt. Governor Karyn Polito. “Each of these remarkable individuals has demonstrated a commitment to service in Massachusetts, and it is this selfless energy and legal prowess that will make a difference to the Commonwealth’s citizens in our state’s housing sector. Governor Baker and I are thrilled to welcome these justices to their new positions.”
In the 2018 Fiscal Year budget, the Baker-Polito Administration proposed this expansion and created five new positions to establish statewide jurisdiction for the court. While parts of Eastern, Central and Western Massachusetts are currently served by the Court, this expansion brings another two million people under the Court’s jurisdiction in southern Middlesex County, Norfolk County and the Cape and Islands. The Housing Court oversees civil and criminal actions that involve the health, safety, or welfare of homeowners or those who live in residential housing and has the resources and expertise to resolve the complicated issues affecting both landlords and tenants.
The Housing Court oversees civil and criminal actions that involve the health, safety, or welfare of homeowners or those who live in residential housing. The courts hear eviction cases, small claims cases, civil action suits, and other cases related to residential housing. Led by Chief Justice Timothy F. Sullivan, the Housing Court now has 15 confirmed judges. It has 5 divisions: Central, Eastern, Northeast, Southeast, and Western.
For more information about the Housing Court, please visit their homepage.
Judicial nominations are subject to the advice and consent of the Governor’s Council. Applicants for judicial openings are reviewed by the Judicial Nominating Commission (JNC) and recommended to the governor. Governor Baker established the JNC in February, 2015 pursuant to Executive Order 558, a non-partisan, non-political Commission composed of volunteers from a cross-section of the Commonwealth's diverse population to screen judicial applications. Twenty-one members were later appointed to the JNC in April, 2015.
About Gustavo del Puerto
Attorney del Puerto has nearly 25 years practicing law in Massachusetts. He currently serves as Assistant Clerk Magistrate in the Housing Court Department of the Northeast Division of the Commonwealth’s Trial Court. Prior to that appointment, he practiced as a Senior Associate at Sassoon & Cymrot in Boston where he focused on commercial litigation, including the resolution of contract, business, and construction disputes, tort matters and the protection of creditors’ rights. He also served as an Associate at Gargill, Sassoon & Rudolph, where he concentrated on commercial litigation, business, corporate and immigration matters. Attorney del Puerto served as Counsel for the Chelsea Commission on Hispanic Affairs, Inc., where he also provided pro-bono work for immigration law. He is also a member of the North Shore Rugby Football Club. Attorney del Puerto earned his Bachelor of Arts from the College of the Holy Cross, and his Juris Doctorate from Northeastern University’s School of Law. He currently resides in Salem, MA.
About Donna Salvidio
Attorney Salvidio currently leads the Condominium Law Practice Group within the Real Estate department at Fletcher Tilton PC. Her work covers a full spectrum of real estate related matters, with particular emphasis on residential housing law, condominium law, property management, commercial leasing and transactional work. She has over 27 years of experience in residential housing law including landlord-tenant law and the development of affordable housing. Attorney Salvidio also routinely counsels condominium associations and their managers on a wide range of matters affecting condominium communities. She also specializes in commercial and residential leasing where she negotiates, drafts and advises on residential, retail, office and industrial lease transactions and related landlord-tenant disputes. Attorney Salvidio served as Board President of Worcester Community Housing Resources, Inc., a non-profit which creates and preserves affordable housing opportunities for low to moderate income households, and is currently a member of its Property Development and Management Committee. She also served on the Housing Court Committee of the Worcester County Bar Association and was a Commissioner of the Worcester Civic Center Commission for 10 years. Attorney Salvidio received her Bachelor’s Degree cum laude in Psychology from the University of Vermont and her Juris Doctor cum laude from Suffolk University Law School where she served as an editor of the Suffolk University Law Review. She currently resides in Worcester, Massachusetts.
About Neil Sherring
Attorney Sherring has 25 years of experience practicing law. Since 2001, he has been a partner in his own law firm Dakoyannis & Sherring, LLC, where he concentrates on landlord tenant and real estate related cases, personal injury claims, insurance disputes, and employment discrimination claims. Previously, he was a trial attorney at Mintz, Levin, Cohn, Ferris, Glovsky & Popeo. Attorney Sherring also has a wealth of experience representing the Commonwealth as an Assistant Attorney General, Assistant District Attorney for the Northwestern District of Massachusetts, Massachusetts Superior Court Law Clerk and Hearing Officer for the Division of Insurance. In addition to his legal experience, he has been the Chair of the Massachusetts Continuing Legal Education Program, “Trying Your First (or next) Civil Case in the Superior Court,” and Co-Chair of the “Deposition Skills Workshop.” He serves as an ex-officio for the Massachusetts Bar Association and was formerly the Co-Chair of the Massachusetts Bar Association General Practice, Solo & Small Firm Committee. Attorney Sherring is also an Advisory Board Member of the South Asian Bar Association. He has served as the Deputy Commissioner of the State Athletic Commission and has been a frequent lecturer at Suffolk University and Curry College. Within his community, he is a current Board Member of the Westwood Community Chest, where he has also served as President and Vice President. He earned his Bachelor’s Degree from Curry College and his Juris Doctorate from Suffolk University Law School. He resides in Westwood with his family.
About Joseph Michaud
Attorney Michaud has been practicing law for 25 years. He is currently an attorney partner at his own practice, the Law Offices of Joseph L. Michaud, where he specializes in residential and commercial real estate transactions and landlord-tenant matters. Previously, he practiced at Sykes & Michaud, Saunders & Michaud and Ponichtera & DeNardis, where he gained exposure to both civil and criminal litigation. Attorney Michaud is also a decorated member of the United States Army, having served on active duty intermittently for the last 30 years as a Lieutenant Colonel in the Judge Advocates General Corps. He first enlisted as a Tanker in 1986, and went on to serve in both Desert Storm and Operation Noble Eagle. Attorney Michaud has earned 3 Meritorious Service Medals, 6 Army Commendations, a Joint Service Achievement Medal, a National Defense Medal, a Global War on Terrorism Medal, and an Outstanding Volunteer Medal. He also taught at various institutions over the last 20 years including Sam Houston State University, the United States Military Academy, Bristol Community College and, most recently, the Defense Institute of International Studies. Attorney Michaud continues to serve his local community as Chair of the South Coast Chamber of Commerce in New Bedford and as a Board Member of the Veterans' Transition House. He graduated with his Bachelor’s Degree from University of Massachusetts in Amherst and received a Master’s of Arts from Sam Houston State University. He earned his Juris Doctorate from the Franklin Pierce Law Center at the University of New Hampshire. Attorney Michaud is a lifelong resident of Dartmouth, MA. In his spare time, you can find him playing bass guitar in a local band.
About Irene Bagdoian
Attorney Bagdoian has practiced law in the Commonwealth for nearly thirty years. During the last decade, she has been a solo legal practitioner at her own law firm in Brockton, representing individuals and businesses in civil litigation matters related to housing, foreclosure, real estate, and consumer protection. She was one of the founders of the Brockton Housing Court Lawyer for the Day Program, which provides advice to unrepresented landlords and tenants, and has organized educational programming for volunteer lawyer programs in collaboration with the Southeastern Housing Court for the past nine years. Attorney Bagdoian is a member of the Steering Committee for the Tenancy Preservation Program and a Board Member of the Justice Center of Southeast MA. She frequently lectures on landlord and tenant matters for Pro-Home in Taunton. Attorney Bagdoian is a panelist for several MCLE programs in Boston about Housing Court practice and a panelist for Housing Court training for the BBA. Prior to Attorney Bagdoian’s current self-employment she was a litigator at Richardson and Tyler, an Assistant Attorney General in the Trial Division of the Massachusetts Attorney General’s Office, an Associate Attorney with Ardiff & Morse in Danvers, an Associate Attorney with Choate, Hall & Stewart in Boston and a solo practitioner in Middleton. She graduated with her Bachelor’s Degree from Wheaton College in Norton, MA and received her Juris Doctorate from Boston University School of Law. She resides in Westborough with her husband, Paul Sangree.
CITY OF BOSTON TO HOST CITY HALL PLAZA SUMMER KICK OFF, FREE SUMMER LUNCHES FOR STUDENTS
CITY OF BOSTON TO HOST CITY HALL PLAZA SUMMER KICK OFF, FREE SUMMER LUNCHES FOR STUDENTS
"Plaza Palooza" to celebrate summer at City Hall
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BOSTON - Wednesday, July 11, 2018 - On Friday, Mayor Martin J. Walsh will host Boston's second annual summer kick off on the City Hall Plaza front lawn. Plaza Palooza will welcome summer to City Hall, and include lawn games, music provided by 103.3 AMP Radio, food for purchase, the Boston Water and Sewer Commission water truck, the Boston Police Department "Operation Hoodsie" ice cream truck and the Boston's mobile City Hall To Go truck.
In addition to welcoming residents and visitors to City Hall Plaza to enjoy summer, the City's Summer Eats program will provide free lunches to students in Boston. Interim Boston Public Schools Superintendent Laura Perille will be on hand at 12:45 p.m. to distribute lunches to students. The program, which has over 100 locations throughout Boston, provides nutritious lunches to young people under the age of 18. More information is available here.
Friday's celebration, hosted in coordination with the city's Property Management Department, will welcome Boston residents and visitors to City Hall Plaza for the remainder of the outdoor season. The event is free and open to all.
WHEN: Friday, July 13, 2018
12:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m
WHERE: Boston City Hall plaza
1 City Hall Square
For attendees, City Hall Plaza is accessible by MBTA via Haymarket (Orange and Green), State Street (Orange and Blue) or Government Center (Blue and Green).
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AG HEALEY ANNOUNCES INITIATIVE TO RAISE AWARENESS ABOUT LABOR TRAFFICKING
AG HEALEY ANNOUNCES INITIATIVE TO RAISE AWARENESS ABOUT LABOR TRAFFICKING AG’s Office Invites Municipal Leaders to Share Information and Help Identify Signs of Labor Trafficking in Their Communities
BOSTON – As part of her ongoing effort to combat human trafficking in Massachusetts, Attorney General Maura Healey announced an initiative this week to raise awareness among local officials about forced labor in communities across the state.
AG Healey’s Fair Labor and Human Trafficking Divisions coordinated a mailing from the AG’s Office to all 351 Massachusetts cities and towns asking that municipal government leaders share information about forced labor with their employees who may come into contact with victims. Municipal employees, such as code inspectors, compliance officers, law enforcement and school personnel, may be uniquely positioned to observe a forced labor situation as they go about their daily responsibilities serving their communities. The AG’s Office asks these potential first-line observers to learn the signs of labor trafficking and how they can report the crime.
“This initiative will bring more local resources to our efforts to identify and stop labor trafficking in Massachusetts,” said AG Healey. “With more eyes and ears, we can shed light on this exploitation and hold perpetrators accountable.”
AG Healey’s initiative builds on recommendations in a report from the Massachusetts Interagency Human Trafficking Policy Task Force’s Subcommittee on Labor Trafficking, which recommended increasing labor trafficking awareness and response training for professionals who may interact with victims. Labor trafficking can be difficult to recognize, and local officials are key to identifying victims. The AG’s letter provides some suggestions for how municipalities can actively engage on the issue:
- Learn the signs of labor trafficking. The AG’s Office has compiled a reference sheet that provides some of the potential indicators of labor trafficking, such as workers who live with employers or appear to lack control of their own finances or their identification documents.
- Train employees about labor trafficking. The AG’s Office’s labor trafficking website has important information about what government, businesses, and consumers can do to recognize the warning signs, reduce demand, and use their buying power to thwart human trafficking. The AG’s Office will also host a webinar on July 25 to help municipal officials identify and combat labor trafficking.
- Ensure vendors are not a part of a labor trafficking supply chain. The AG’s Office suggests that municipalities can require vendors to certify their compliance with all state and federal laws and regulations related to sex trafficking and forced labor. In 2016, the AG’s Office made this commitment along with a zero-tolerance policy for all personnel. The labor trafficking website provides sample language that municipalities can use—the same standard contract term the AG’s Office uses in its own vendor contracts.
AG Healey’s Fair Labor Division is responsible for enforcing state laws regulating the payment of wages, including prevailing wage, minimum wage, earned sick time and overtime laws. The Human Trafficking Division is a multidisciplinary team dedicated to prosecuting and preventing human trafficking through law enforcement efforts and policy development. Staff members also conduct outreach and training for law enforcement and other community members statewide. Investigators in both divisions have received specialized labor trafficking training.
Anyone who is a victim of forced services or has observed potential signs of trafficking should report a tip to the National Human Trafficking Hotline by calling 1-888-373-7888 or texting 233733. Reports can also be emailed tohelp@humantraffickinghotline.org and submitted online at https://humatraffickinghotline.org/report-trafficking. Non-payment of wage complaints can be filed at www.mass./gov/ago/wagetheft. The AG’s Fair Labor Division staffs a hotline for questions related to the Massachusetts Wage and Hour Laws, including questions about labor trafficking, Monday-Friday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at 617-727-3465.
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