天氣太熱 波士頓市長提醒居民注意安全

MAYOR WALSH ENCOURAGES RESIDENTS TO STAY SAFE DURING HOT WEATHER; OPENS BCYF POOLS TO ALL RESIDENTS STARTING AT NOON

BOSTON - Friday, August 3, 2018 - Mayor Martin J. Walsh is reminding residents to take precautions during the very hot and humid weather that is forecasted for today, with the highest temperatures expected in the afternoon and early evening. To help residents stay cool this afternoon, Mayor Walsh has declared that, starting at noon today until close, residents can swim at one of the City's pools operated by Boston Centers for Youth & Families (BCYF) free of charge. The City of Boston's two outdoor pools, BCYF Clougherty Pool in Charlestown and BCYF Mirabella Pool in the North End and the City's "Family Friendly Beach" at BCYF Curley Community Center in South Boston are open seven days a week through Labor Day. BCYF also operates 16 indoor pools. Please check with your local BCYF center for all hours of operation.  A full list of centers including hours of operation is available here. The Mayor issued the following heat safety tips for all members of the public: Adults and children should use sunscreen containing an SPF-30 or higher and wear protective, loose fitting clothing, including long sleeve shirts and hats. Older adults young children and those with chronic medical conditions, especially respiratory conditions, are more susceptible to the effects of heat. Check in on the elderly and family or neighbors who may be at risk of heat exhaustion or heatstroke as temperatures climb. Children and pets should never be left alone in vehicles, even for short periods of times. If you become lightheaded, confused, weak or faint, stop all activity and immediately find shade or a cool area to rest. If symptoms persist, call 911 immediately. Limit outdoor activity to morning and evening hours. Rest often in shady areas and be extra cautious from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., when the sun's UV radiation is strongest. Drink plenty of fluids regardless of activity level. Avoid alcoholic beverages and liquids high in sugar or caffeine. Homeless individuals can become dehydrated rapidly due to a lack of access to water or shelter from the heat. If you observe someone who appears to be in distress, call 911 immediately. If you have a child in your home, use child window guards in addition to screens on any open window on the second story or above. Falls are the leading cause of injury for children under the age of six. Information about low-cost window guards for Boston residents can be found here. Secure all window air conditioner units according to the manufacturer's specifications. Playground Safety:   Children should always wear shoes on playgrounds because surfaces can become extremely hot and cause burns, even splash pads and spray decks. Outdoor Fires and Grilling: No outdoor fires are allowed in Boston, including fire pits, chimineas and bonfires. Charcoal grills must be on the ground and away from buildings. Keep in mind the wind and never leave unattended. When done, dispose of the ash in a metal container once completely out. Propane tank grills are only allowed on first floor porches with steps to the ground. Do not place propane tank grills near air conditioners or up against a building. Make sure all connections are tight and never carry propane tanks into a home. Grills should always be used in a well-ventilated area. Mosquitoes and Ticks: If you are in a grassy or wooded area, apply a DEET containing repellent that will protect against mosquitoes AND ticks. Always check yourself, children and pets for ticks after returning indoors and remove attached ticks immediately using tweezers. Mosquito bites can spread West Nile virus (WNV) and Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE), while attached ticks can spread Lyme disease. Wear long sleeve shirts, long pants and socks to prevent mosquito bites. Limit your time outdoors between dusk and dawn when mosquitoes are most active and apply an approved mosquito repellent. To prevent mosquitoes from breeding, residents should limit places around the home where standing water can collect.  People should turn over unused flower pots, buckets, wheelbarrows, and garbage cans; remove leaves and other debris that can clog gutters and trap water; dispose of or cover old tires; and cover swimming pools when not in use. Additional information on heat safety tips can be found online at boston.gov/heat and by following @CityofBoston on Twitter.

ENGLISH LANGUAGE INSTRUCTION COMPANY PAYS $160,000 IN RESTITUTION AND PENALTIES FOR WAGE VIOLATIONS

ENGLISH LANGUAGE INSTRUCTION COMPANY PAYS $160,000 IN RESTITUTION AND PENALTIES FOR WAGE VIOLATIONS

160 Massachusetts Instructors to Receive Nearly $80,000 in Restitution

BOSTON – EF Language Schools, Interstudy, Inc. (EF), an online English language instruction company based in Cambridge, paid $160,000 in restitution and penalties for Wage Act violations against its employees, Attorney General Maura Healey announced today.

The AG’s Office issued three citations against the company for non-payment of wages, failure to make timely payment of wages, and misclassification of employees as independent contractors.

  

The AG’s Fair Labor Division began an investigation after receiving complaints from instructors employed by EF to teach online English courses. The investigation revealed that between March 2014 and May 2017, the company did not pay instructors for trainings or orientations and unlawfully deducted wages as a penalty for tardiness and other infractions.

According to the AG’s investigation, the company misclassified instructors as independent contractors in 2015 and 2016 and failed to contribute its share of FICA and Medicare taxes for these employees. Further, teachers who sought work with the company were required to sign a consulting services agreement that restricted them from seeking employment with other online English-learning services.

           

In Massachusetts, a worker performing any service for a company is presumed to be an employee and may not be classified as an independent contractor unless the worker is free from the control and direction of the employer; performs a service outside the usual course of business of the employer; and the worker is customarily engaged in an independent trade or business. Employees, unlike independent contractors, have a right to the state minimum wage, overtime wages, and weekly or bi-weekly payments.

           

As a result of the AG’s investigation, the company has made restitution payments to 160 former and current employees, reclassified its Massachusetts-based teachers as employees, and paid a penalty to the Commonwealth. EF also agreed to revised its pay practices to comply with the law.

Workers who believe that their rights have been violated in their workplace are encouraged to file a complaint at www.mass.gov/ago/wagetheft. For information about the state’s wage and hour laws, workers may call the Office’s Fair Labor Hotline at (617) 727-3465 or go to the Attorney General’s new Workplace Rights website www.mass.gov/ago/fairlabor for materials in multiple languages.

This matter was handled Division Chief Cynthia Mark, Assistant Attorney General Karla Zarbo, and Investigator Yolanda Kruczkowski, all of AG Healey’s Fair Labor Division.

台灣搭橋青年訪波士頓 滿載而歸

搭橋計畫青年與接待家庭合影。前排左起，林瑩玉，歐陽姍，蔣宗壬，郭競儒，梅錫銳，鄭增壽夫婦。後排右起，馮文鸞，許昕媛，邱敏琳，謝如鍵，歐宏偉，吳英慈，陸羿成，劉耘，林文婷。(周菊子攝)

搭僑學生送紀念品給波士頓僑教中心主任歐宏偉(中)。左起，
許新媛，劉耘，吳英慈，林文婷，陸羿成，邱敏琳。(周菊子攝)

              (Boston Orange 周菊子牛頓市報導) 僑委會搭橋計畫挑選的6名大學生，7月24日起在波士頓參訪一週，跨越2州，拜會不下20個機構後，30日揮別做總結，指新英格蘭人文薈萃，故事好多，home爸home媽超讚，僑胞好熱情，僑務工作人員都是超人。

               僑委會為拓展台灣青年國際視野，加強海外僑胞與台灣互動的這搭僑計畫，2017年開辦，效果很好，今年擴辦，挑選了將近200名大專院校在學青年，在7月到8月間，分送到美國、加拿大、日本、菲律賓、泰國、馬來西亞、印尼、英國、德國、法國、紐西蘭及澳大利亞等國家的25個城市見習。

同為台大學生的陸羿成(左)，吳英慈(右)代表作報告。(周菊子攝)

來到波士頓的6人是台灣大學的陸羿成，吳英慈，成功大學許昕媛，雲林科技大學林文婷，嘉義大學邱敏琳，台灣科技大學劉耘。

波士頓僑教中心主任歐宏偉依照僑委會構想，為搭僑計畫青年安排了郭競儒，馮文鑾，林瑩玉，謝如鍵，鄭增壽等絕佳的住宿接待家庭，以及參訪僑團，參加僑社活動行程。6名搭橋青年7月30日中午在僑教中心做總結報告時，滿心歡喜，讚不絕口。

歐陽姍(中)應邀做嘉賓，和搭橋青年分享自己學台語經驗。(周菊子攝)

這6名搭僑計畫青年23日抵達波士頓，24日開始就馬不停蹄，先到僑教中心聽簡介，再到牛頓市府參訪，見市長，參觀市議會，市圖書館。

25日有經文處處長徐佑典陪同，他們到羅德島州，參觀州政府，黑石谷旅遊局，布朗大學，羅德島華人協會，欖城安良工商會，還透過當地僑領葉超，吳子平安排，晤見了台灣旅美棒球手，已加入紅襪隊的林子偉，還看了一場球賽。

郭競儒(中)接待兩名搭僑學生，林文婷(左)，陸羿成(右)。(周菊子攝)

26日，他們拜會波士頓市議會，晤見議長Andrea Campbell、市議員愛德華費林(Ed Flynn)，以及父母都來自台灣的市議員吳弭(Michelle Wu)，暢談波士頓市政、華裔第二代參政，以及美國民主發展等話題。當天下午再拜會駐波士頓台北經濟文化辦事處，了解外交人員在海外的工作。

27日，他們一行人參觀佛光山三佛中心，會晤覺謙法師，再轉往參觀哈佛大學懷德納圖書館，聽泰坦尼克號郵輪故事。下午轉往參觀Terason科技公司的超音波醫療器材公司，因為公司總裁史美芳是波士頓僑務委員蔣宗壬之妻，搭橋青年們得到總裁親自講解的優待。

吳英慈(左)要求home媽馮文鸞擺姿勢拍照留念。(周菊子攝)

               28日，搭橋青年們由歐宏偉主任，以及home 爸，home媽陪同，參加了在紐英崙中華公所舉辦的慶祝雙十籌備會，波士頓中華書法會正體漢字文化節等活動。下午，轉往參觀古色古香的麻州州政府大樓，走了一段波士頓歷史古蹟的自由小徑。

               29日，搭橋青年們早上在僑教中心參加紐英崙中華專業人員協會的座談，下午參訪波士頓慈濟聯絡處。

30日，他們早上在波士頓僑教中心簡報過去一週心得，下午才偷空逛一下這兒的購物商場。

Home爸鄭增壽讚搭橋青年許新媛乖巧。(周菊子攝)

在總結報告會中，這6名搭橋青年分述感想，不但開心闡述見聞，還大讚歐宏偉語言能力強，開車技術好，僑務促進委員謝如鍵請一星期假的來全程陪同接待，郭競儒每天準備豐盛早餐，連水果都有五種，鄭增壽才剛做完手術出院，還承擔接待重任，馮文鸞，林瑩玉分享見聞，經文處長徐佑典，兩名僑務委員蔣宗壬，梅錫銳，中華公所主席陳家驊，波克萊台灣商會顧問游勝雄等人輪流請他們吃大餐，凡此種種都讓他們感到溫馨無比，收穫滿滿。(圖片已於7月31日發表)

邱敏琳(左)稱讚home爸是暖男，開車技術超棒。(周菊子攝)

劉耘(左)感謝home媽林瑩玉照顧週到。(周菊子攝)

僑教中心主任歐宏偉(右)知道歐陽姍(左二)是搭橋青年林文婷(左)，
劉耘(右二)的偶像後，特地請她到總結報告會場做嘉賓。(周菊子攝)

搭橋青年做總結報告。(周菊子攝)

搭橋青年做總結報告。(周菊子攝)

AARP和中華公所、耆英會8/7 請看電影" Super Rich Asians"

                 (Boston Orange)麻州樂齡會(AARP)和紐英崙中華公所，中華耆英會合作，將於8月7日(週二)晚6點半，請社區大眾到AMC 波士頓廣場電影院，免費看電影”超富亞裔(Super Rich Asians)”。

             有意出席欣賞者，需先上網登記，還可為一名同伴註冊。由於座位有限，主辦單位強調先到先得。

             電影將在AMC Boston Common 19放映，地址為175 Tremont St., Boston, Massachusetts 02111。

             麻州樂齡會在這活動的網頁上說明，”超富亞裔”的故事是關於一名紐約客朱蕾邱陪已交往很久的男朋友楊尼克到新加坡，參加男朋友最好朋友的婚禮。她一方面為即將第一次去亞洲，感到很興奮，同時也未將和楊尼克的家人碰面而緊張。她在一點心理準備都沒的情況下知道，男友一直忽略不提，他不僅是新加坡最富裕家庭之一的繼承人，還是最多人追求的王老五。挽在尼克的手臂上，讓她成為社交名媛的妒忌對象，也成為不贊成尼克和她交往的尼克母親的對付目標。然後，很快就清楚了，錢買不到愛，卻絕對可以讓事情複雜。

             以下資訊陳建立提供:

AARP Massachusetts' Free Screening of CRAZY RICH ASIANS - Boston

This film is brought to you with support from the Greater Boston Chinese Golden Age Center and Chinese Consolidated Benevolent Association of New England.

Tuesday, August 7, 2018 -  6:30 PM - 9:30 PM
at AMC Boston Common 19
175 Tremont St.
Boston, Massachusetts 02111

The registration link for “Crazy Rich Asians” is live!  Here is the link: https://aarp.cvent.com/CRA_Boston

It is open to non-AARP members. Please register online directly.  Seats are limited and registration could be closed very soon.

You might recall I share the below news/pictures with you before including the award to AARP Massachusetts State Director Michael Festa.  Mike took the initiative to work more closely with organizations in the Chinese/Asian American communities in the Greater Boston area.

Peter

台灣六龜山地育幼院兒童合唱團 8/11 羅德島華人教會演唱

波士頓僑界訂10月6日遊行慶雙十

左起，波士頓僑務委員梅錫銳，紐英崙中華公所主席陳家驊，駐波士頓經文處處長徐佑典，紐英崙中華總會代表余麗媖，波士頓僑務委員蔣宗壬主持慶祝雙十籌備會。(周菊子攝)

(Boston Orange 周菊子波士頓報導)波士頓僑界7月28日召開慶祝雙十籌備會，底定今年活動大致為10月6日遊行，升旗，舉辦書畫攝影展，10月7日辦全僑餐會，並頒獎表揚最有特色遊行隊伍。

陳文浩(右一)提出意見。(周菊子攝)

波士頓僑界慶祝中華民國107年雙十生日的一系列活動，刻由紐英崙中華總會主辦，各僑團協辦。7月28日在紐英崙中華公所召開了籌備會。

駐波士頓台北經濟文化辦事處處長徐佑典當天以嘉賓身分出席。今年四月五日才上任，來到波士頓還不滿三個月的徐佑典表示，這將是他在波士頓第一次參加慶祝雙十活動，已從主辦方那兒聽說，遊行，升旗等活動，規模會比華府的還盛大，他非常期待，也代表中華民國衷心感謝波士頓僑胞們的長年支持。

波士頓僑教中心主任歐宏偉說明去年有最佳造型獎等獎勵。(周菊子攝)

波士頓僑界慶祝雙十籌備會由紐英崙中華公所主席陳家驊及中華總會余麗媖主持，兩名波士頓僑務委員蔣宗壬，梅錫銳也都應邀坐在主席台，並致詞來。

會上討論了遊行出發時間，表演內容安排，還鼓勵僑團設計特別裝扮，爭取最有創意獎，最具特色獎等表揚。波士頓榮光會理事長石家孝，新英格蘭台灣商會前會長許炳煌，紐英崙中華公所財政陳文浩等，紛紛表達意見，提供參考看法。

會上介紹出席的資深僑領陳毓璇。(周菊子攝)

會內最終確定，慶祝雙十遊行將於10月6日上午9點半在華埠牌樓前集合，有意參加的僑團宜於9月25日前向中華總會及僑教中心報名，10月6日下午由波士頓中華書法會和紐英崙中華公所合作，舉辦書畫攝影展。10月7日晚6點半，將在帝苑大酒樓舉辦國慶全僑餐會，每桌餐費400元。

刊登全僑聯合慶祝雙十廣告部分，將由中國國民黨波士頓分部統籌，每一團體美金60元、個人美金30元，有意參加登廣告的團體或個人，也需在9月25日前登記，繳費。

會議出席者包括已高齡91歲的李伍綺蓮，即將89歲的陳毓璇，以及楊克敬，伍輝民等許多資深僑領，年輕一輩的有劍橋合唱團團長屠澤寬，新英格蘭台灣青年商會會長歐怡君，台大校友會會長吳杏玫，成功大學校友會會長張涵捷等，彰顯著波士頓僑界進行中的傳承。

波士頓國民黨常委張韻蘭將負責刊登廣告事宜。(周菊子攝)

波士頓僑教中心主任歐宏偉在會中感謝波士頓僑胞支持中華民國政府，說明遊行時將提供可手持的中華民國國旗和刺青貼紙，也請僑胞活動後協助回收國旗，珍惜資源。

 來自台灣的6名僑委會台灣青年搭橋計畫學員，當天也由歐宏偉主任安排，在這籌備會議中列席，實地體會海外僑胞支持國家、政府的熱情。(圖片已於7月29日發表)

今年91歲的李伍綺蓮(右)，89歲的陳毓璇(左)是籌備會中最資深僑領。
(周菊子攝)

             

現任伍胥山公所主席，波士頓安良工商會共同會長的伍輝民(右)和夫人
伍鍾美貞都是波士頓資深僑領。(周菊子攝)

劍橋合唱團團長屠澤寬是年輕一輩的僑胞。(周菊子攝)

潮州同鄉會會長楊克敬長年支持波士頓經文處活動。(周菊子攝)

今年的波士頓慶祝雙十活動，由余麗媖(右)代表紐英崙中華總會統籌。
到任還未滿三個月的經文處長徐佑典(左)則是第一次參與波士頓的
籌備。(周菊子攝)

波士頓榮光會理事長石家孝(中)，池元真(左)夫婦和曾兆漢(右)。
(周菊子攝)

波克萊台灣商會顧問游勝雄(右)和新英格來台灣商會前會長許炳煌
相識數十載。(周菊子攝)

黎雯(中)代表全美亞裔婦女會麻省分會參加籌備會。左為
中華公所主席陳家驊，右為經文處處長徐佑典。(周菊子攝)

來自台灣的6名搭橋計畫學員列席慶祝雙十籌備會。(周菊子攝)

台大校友會會長吳杏玫(左二)，成功大學校友會會長張涵捷(右一)和搭橋
青年中的校友，左起陸羿成，吳英慈，許晰媛在波士頓相聚。(周菊子攝)

搭橋計畫青年和經文處官員即波士頓僑領合影。左起，波士頓僑教中
心主任歐宏偉，余麗媖，林文婷，馮文鑾，吳媖慈，郭競儒，陳家驊，
徐佑典，陸毅成，邱敏琳，許晰媛，梅錫銳，獎宗壬。(周菊子攝)

中華書法會辦正體漢字文化節 劉裕鵬闡述書法可養生

中華書法會在紐英崙中華公所會議廳舉辦"正體漢字文化節"講座。(周菊子攝)

中華書法會會長林卓培(左起)，駐波士頓經文處處長徐佑典，
書法家劉裕鵬，紐英崙中華公所主席陳家驊，中華書法會共同
會長黃周麗桃，波士頓僑教中心主任歐宏偉。(周菊子攝)

             (Boston Orange 周菊子波士頓報導)波士頓中華書法會和紐英崙中華公所合作，7月28日在中華公所會議廳舉辦”波士頓地區正體漢字文化節系列活動”，邀書法家劉裕鵬以”書法養生，寓康於樂”為主題，分享練書法可養生理論。

             去年，劉裕鵬談的是”正體字對中文發展的重要性”，今年則以養生為主題，提醒眾人，其實練字，寫書法，不但可發揚中華傳統文化，還能延年益壽。活動當天在場的波士頓著名書法家吳紹營已年逾90，有如實證。

經文處處長徐佑典謙稱自己書法不行。左為中華書法會會長黃周麗桃。
(周菊子攝)

             網路上的一個健康網也稱，從漢朝以迄，無論古今，書法家的壽命平均都有80到88歲。例如唐代的柳公權87歲，青末到民國齊白石90以上。

             當天的講座由中華書法會會長黃周麗桃主持，先請嘉賓們致詞。另一名會長林卓培擺出以毛筆寫就的”般若波羅蜜多心經”。

             駐波士頓經濟文化辦事處處長徐佑典謙稱自己舉起毛筆，就覺得吃立，很佩服那些能夠人字合一，揮灑自如寫毛筆字的人。

紐英崙中華公所主席陳家驊期盼中華文化可藉書法傳揚。(周菊子攝)

            紐英崙中華公所主席陳家驊開玩笑說，當年的毛筆字功課，都是女朋友代勞，看到活動主題為”正體字”，覺得感動，因為正即正宗，簡體字把中文簡化到讓人不知所云，實在令人唏噓，希望中華書法會能多辦這類活動，發揚中華文化傳統。

            波士頓僑教中心主任歐宏偉也強調，傳統中文應稱為正體字，只為和簡體字區別，就說繁體字，那是誤導。他也藉機感謝吳紹營等中華書法會成員的一向支持僑教中心。

             劉裕鵬指出，書法已被醫學界認定為養生的首要方法，揮寫不同字體，有不同作用。他還發給出席者每人一份圖文並茂的說明，簡述草棣楷行等四種字體，以及繪畫的劃出梅蘭竹菊松，各有什麼養生功效。

               例如楷書是工整字體，可調節人的心理狀態，舒緩焦慮，緊張，有冠心病，高血壓的人不妨多寫楷書。

波士頓僑教中心主任強調傳統中文是正體字。(周菊子攝)

               棣書筆畫沉重穩健，能穩定人的情緒，讓人氣血平和，也對高血壓，冠心病患者有好處，甚至能改善人的頭痛，失眠症狀。

               行書強調的是輕鬆自如，可帶動人的靈活性與應變能力，抒發心情          對患抑鬱症，有強烈自卑感，手腳麻痺，患腦血栓的人都有幫助。

            草書比起行書，是更放縱的字體，有風起雲捲，大起大落的氣勢，適合感到精神壓抑的人，藉以抒發。

書法家劉裕鵬表示書畫同源，都有養生功效。(周菊子攝)

             畫梅，因梅屬木，五臟屬肝，可煥發生機，調理內臟機能。畫蘭，則蘭屬火，五臟屬新，可令人心曠神怡，精神振奮。畫竹，竹屬木，五臟中屬肝，可排胸中怒氣，養肝護臟。畫菊，則菊屬金，可助年高之人滋潤肺腑。畫松，則松屬土，臟屬脾，腑屬胃，可助人得到”海納百川”的胸襟。

             演講結束後，黃氏婦女部的養生太極學員們還協助分派糕點，讓出席者，又聽講座，又享美點，心情暢快。(圖片已於29日發表)

書法家吳紹營已高齡90，仍活躍社區。(周菊子攝)

中華書法會會長黃周麗桃說明劉裕鵬是她的書法老師。(周菊子攝)

會末大合影。(周菊子攝)

會場展示林卓培的書法作品。(周菊子攝)

會場展示林卓培的書法作品。(周菊子攝)

MAYOR WALSH ANNOUNCES NEXT STEPS TOWARDS IMPLEMENTATION OF POLICE WORN BODY CAMERAS, SHARES FINAL REPORT

MAYOR WALSH ANNOUNCES NEXT STEPS TOWARDS IMPLEMENTATION OF POLICE WORN BODY CAMERAS, SHARES FINAL REPORT

BOSTON - Thursday, August 2, 2018 - Building on his commitment to prioritizing public safety and continuing to build strong police-community relations, Mayor Martin J. Walsh, together with the Boston Police Department and in partnership with Dr. Anthony Braga and Dr. Jack McDevitt of Northeastern University, has released the final report on Boston's body-worn cameras pilot program. The overall findings of the report indicate the small, but meaningful benefits that the placement of body cameras have on encounters between residents and police officers. As a next step, the City of Boston plans to expand the body-worn camera program through a phased-in approach and the City is engaging in conversations with the police unions. "Boston is a model city in our nation for having strong police-community relations, and our goal is to continue building trust and positive relationships between law enforcement officers and community members," said Mayor Walsh. "This study shows the potential value that body cameras can have as part of our overall strategy for strengthening ties between law enforcement and the residents they serve. I am proud that we will be moving forward on this, and look forward to seeing how this program will further support the transformative progress we have made in community policing." "I'm proud of our officers for taking this pilot seriously and for continuing the hard work they do every day," said Police Commissioner William B. Evans. "The results from this study show there is positive impact in the use of the body cameras. While the numbers in Boston are low, there is always room for improvement. If using technology like body cameras can help further improve the way we police, I'm happy to see the City's commitment to full implementation." "The Body Worn Camera Pilot process and study have been very important in understanding firsthand what members of the community believe will help the city move forward and how technology can play a role," said Boston Police Superintendent in Chief William Gross. "I look forward to the opportunity to lead our officers in adding this program to our community policing strategy and strengthening relationships across this city." The findings indicate that body cameras generate small but meaningful benefits to police-citizen encounters, specifically in terms of officers receiving fewer complaints (approximately one fewer complaint per month), and fewer use of force reports (slightly less than one use of force report per month). Importantly, in the years prior to the pilot program, citizen complaints and use of force reports have been decreasing. From 2013 to 2017, the number of complaints against officers decreased 46 percent, from 350 complaints in 2013 to 189 complaints in 2017. Additionally, use of force reports generated by BPD officers between 2013 and 2017 decreased by 52.3 percent, from 107 reports in 2014 to 51 use of force reports in 2017. These declining numbers can be attributed to robust training in unconscious bias and de-escalation. BPD recruit classes have been participating in fair and impartial training since 2016 and an Effective Communication training since 2017. In 2016, the BPD Academy also provided in-service training on Police Response to Mental, De-Escalation, and Use of Force Review, as well as a department-wide E-learning course on Bias Free Policing. "The findings of the randomized controlled trial suggest that the placement of body worn cameras on Boston Police officers generate small but meaningful benefits to the civility of police-citizen civilian encounters," said Dr. Anthony Braga, Northeastern University researcher. "The study finds that officers wearing cameras received fewer citizen complaints and generated fewer use of force reports relative to officers who did not wear cameras. The presence of the cameras seem to de-escalate the potential for confrontations between police and citizens." In addition to quantitative data, the report also offers a descriptive analysis that includes perceptions of the body camera program from the perspective of officers, advocacy groups and members of the public. This analysis offered insight on the many different components involved in a body camera program, including overall attitude towards cameras, quality of police community interaction, improve investigations of police misconduct, privacy, training, review of video, quality of audio and video, use of video in officer training, dealing with individuals in crisis and use of video in court. As a result of the findings, the report suggests that: A process should be developed to make the public aware of any implementation process; A review process should be established to assure that videos exist in all appropriate cases, and that documentation exists in cases where a video was not recorded; A formal process should be developed for transferal of videos from police to prosecutors, and from prosecutors to defense attorneys. "I'm grateful to BPD and Northeastern for thoroughly reviewing the pilot program, and to the Mayor for committing money to implement a permanent body camera program, a technology that not only serves our officers but also the community, and has real potential to build more trust between the two," said City Council President Andrea Campbell. Based on preliminary analysis of the pilot program, Mayor Walsh proactively included a $2 million investment in this year's budget for the adoption of police-worn body cameras, covering start-up costs and the purchase of up to 400 cameras. This builds off the initial $500,000 set aside in FY18 for the body camera pilot program. Program costs for the first three years are estimated at $8.5 million, with annual recurring costs after FY21 estimated at $3.3 million, however final costs will be dependent on several factors and are subject to change. Building on the BPD's commitment to transparency and strengthening the relationship and level of trust between officers and community members, 100 officers participated in a year-long body-worn camera pilot program that concluded this past September. As part of the one-year pilot program, BPD officers outfitted with body cameras generated roughly 38,200 videos that covered more than 4,600 hours of police work in Boston neighborhoods. Mayor Walsh, Commissioner Evans and members of the Boston Police Department have shown a way forward in police-community relations with part one crime falling by 18%, and arrests being down 23%. In addition to appointing the most diverse police leadership in Boston's history, Mayor Walsh has committed to building a diverse talent pipeline for Boston Police by reinstituting the cadet program to train and recruit candidates from all backgrounds for the police academy. As a way to further strengthen police-community relations, in June 2017, Mayor Walsh announced reforms to the Community Ombudsman Oversight Panel (CO-OP Board) and Complaint Mediation Program to provide a neutral location for the public to file complaints (Civic Engagement Cabinet). These reforms have led to an increase in the number of cases reviewed (from 10 percent to 20 percent) and automatically refer cases for immediate review that involve allegations of discrimination or use of force resulting in serious bodily injury.