麻州AG辦公室等機構12/8將合辦會議討論學校體育中的仇恨議題

            (Boston Orange) 麻州總檢察官 (AG)辦公室和麻州中小學教育局，麻州校監協會，麻州校際體育協會，麻州學校行政人員行政局等單位將和東北大學的社會中的體育研究中心，以及新英格蘭反毀謗等社區夥伴合作，將於12月8日在波士頓TD Garden舉辦「處理學校體育中的仇恨」會議。

           麻州總檢察官辦公室稱，體育可以是幫助有共同興趣或目標的人團結起來的強大力量，在公平及包容上展現領導力，並為青少年的發展成長提供健康環境。這項目是設計來賦予體育及教育領導者能力，來防止並處理仇恨事件，建立正面的團隊文化。這會議是為學校行政人員、體育主任及職員、教練和裁判舉辦的。

                        參加免費，可報名可上網https://www.mass.gov/forms/addressing-hate-in-school-sports-conference-registration。

波士頓查理士城鄰里聯絡員聘新人Sean Breen

MAYOR MICHELLE WU ANNOUNCES SEAN BREEN AS NEW NEIGHBORHOOD LIAISON FOR CHARLESTOWN

Sean Breen

BOSTON - Monday, November 7, 2022 - Mayor Michelle Wu today announced the appointment of Sean Breen as the neighborhood liaison for Charlestown in the Office of Neighborhood Services (ONS). He will serve as the primary contact for constituents and businesses looking to connect with the Mayor's Office, and will facilitate the delivery of services in collaboration with City departments.  “I’m so proud that Sean has joined our team to help serve the community he loves,” said Mayor Michelle Wu. “His Charlestown knowledge, roots, and relationships will help us strengthen the connection between City services and residents.” “We are beyond excited to welcome Sean to the ONS team,” said Director of Neighborhood Services Enrique Pepen. “His understanding and dedication to the neighborhood will provide the residents of Charlestown with a platform to have a voice at City Hall. I encourage all residents to reach out to Sean and stop and welcome him when you see him in the neighborhood.”  Sean Breen was born and raised in Charlestown. He attended the Harvard Kent School and Boys and Girls Club summer camp in Charlestown. He previously worked for the United States Postal Service as a mail carrier where he gained experience connecting with members of the community through providing an essential service. Breen brings a passion for public service and community engagement to his new role.  The Office of Neighborhood Services liaisons play an integral role in connecting residents to City services and resources by facilitating citizen input in all aspects of local government through service requests, attending neighborhood meetings, and emergency responses. “I am extremely excited and honored to have the opportunity to serve the community that I grew up in,” said Sean Breen. “I look forward to connecting with Charlestown’s residents and businesses as their neighborhood liaison and assisting them in accessing City services and resources.” In his free time, Sean enjoys playing fantasy football, reading, spending time with family, and re-watching The Sopranos. ABOUT THE MAYOR’S OFFICE OF NEIGHBORHOOD SERVICES The Mayor's Office of Neighborhood Services (ONS) encourages, facilitates and maximizes citizen input and participation through service requests, neighborhood meetings, mailings, and emergency responses. To report non-emergency issues to the City, residents are encouraged to connect with BOS:311 by dialing 3-1-1 or by downloading the free BOS:311 app on iOS or Android platforms.

麻州今年大選出席投票率可能創新低

                  (Boston Orange 編譯) 麻州州務卿威廉蓋文 (William F. Galvin) 估計，今年的中期選舉，大概會有220萬選民出席投票，可能會是至少70年以來的最低出席投票率。

他說，儘管這次的選舉，很可能締造歷史，可是民眾的態度似乎有點不再興奮。根據州政府數據，截至星期一，11月7日，已經有96萬4千多人，或者是郵寄，或者是丟進選票箱，或者是在提早親自投票期間中投了票。

這次的選舉，肯定會選出新的州長，總檢察長及稽核長，但是在許多選舉中，民主黨籍候選人在民調中都大幅領先，尤其是州長選舉，民主黨提名的

            大多數選民更關心的是4個全州性選票問題。正反兩方支持者在徵收百萬富翁稅這個問題上，總共已經花了3200萬元，其他3個問題也花了幾百萬元。

            民主黨籍，住在布萊頓的威廉蓋文打趣說，這次的選舉更像中期考試，而不是中期選擇。

            2014年的州級選舉，麻州州長查理貝克 (Charlie Baker) 當選第一個任期時，有219萬多人投票了，2006年派區克(Deval Patrick)第一任當選時，有224萬人投票，2002年密朗尼 (Mitt Romney)當選時，約220萬人出席投票。         

            不過那些時候，登記選民的人口數和現在的490萬相比，少得多，意味著今年的選舉，出席投票的人會更少。

            如果有220萬人投票，就等於大約45%的登記選民出席投票了，也代表了至少從州務卿辦公室在網上公佈數據，年代最早的1948年以來，出席投票率最低的一次。

威廉蓋文說，這次大選，選民索取了共110萬張選票，其中77萬6738人交回了選票。另外18萬7874人在提早投票期間親自出席投了票。

他還說，除了全州性的競選之外，其他比較不重要職位的選舉也沒幾個競爭激烈。一個追蹤選舉網站把麻州的議會選舉列為全美競爭最不激烈的選舉。

今年麻州的9席聯邦眾議員席位都要改選，但9名民主黨在位者中，只有1人面對挑戰。威廉蓋文說，似乎沒有哪一場選舉是很緊張的。

11月8日早上7點到晚上8點，全州各地投票站將迎接選民入內投票，選民們可以上網查看自己的投票地點。

麻州選務人員將計算在美國境內寄出，印有選舉日之前郵戳，並且由地方市鎮書記辦公室在星期六下午5點前收到的選票。威廉蓋文鼓勵那些已經收到選票，還沒寄出去的人，把選票拿到地方上的投票箱去投票，免得錯過投票截止時間。

根據麻州政府數據，所有的麻州已登記選民，有60%以上未登記任何黨派，另外的29.5%為民主黨，9%為共和黨。

慶退伍軍人節 波士頓市長吳弭率隊與Post 328、波士頓榮光會遊行 (圖片)

波士頓市長吳弭 (右二)與波士頓市議會議長Ed Flynn (左起)，市議員
Kenzi Bok，波士頓市退伍軍人局主管率隊遊行。Boston Orange圖片

Boston Orange圖片

Boston Orange圖片

波士頓華埠退伍軍人會 Post 328遊行。Boston Orange圖片

駐波士頓台北經濟文化辦事處處長孫儉元(中)，波士頓僑教中心主任
潘昭榮(中左)和波士頓華埠退伍軍人會會長司徒文信(右一)等會員
在出發前合影。(黃周麗桃提供)

波士頓國民黨常委江文玲也是榮光會會員。(黃周麗桃提供)

波士頓榮光會理事長袁建業(前)率隊遊行。(黃周麗桃提供)

樂隊。(黃周麗桃提供)

波士頓慶祝退伍軍人節的遊行有很多隊伍參加。(黃周麗桃提供)

波士頓同源會也派人參加遊行。 (Boston Orange圖片)

美國副總統賀錦麗說麻州可得3億元協助民眾今冬付煤氣電費

 

美國副總統賀錦麗來訪波士頓。 (Boston Orange圖片)

            (Boston Orange 綜合編譯報導) 美國副總統賀錦麗 (Kamala Harris) 這次到波士頓，既為民主黨候選人站台，也宣導拜登政府130億元的能源新德政，要幫助人民減少今冬的能源開支。

            賀錦麗在多徹斯特 (Dorchester) 的鈑金工人本地工會 (Sheet Metal Workers Union ) 17分會宣佈，拜登-賀錦麗政府將在全美各地投資130億元來進一步幫助中低收入家庭減少能源支出，並從傳統的冷暖系統轉為使用更清潔，更有效力的設備。

            其中3億元給了麻州。

            白宮在11月2日表示，有45億元將用在旨在幫助低收入住家能源援助項目 (LIHEAP)。去年這項目在全美各地幫助了530萬戶家庭支付冷暖氣費，提供因應天氣的服務。LIHEAP經費可用於支付水電費，維修有效益的居家能源設備。查詢相關詳情可上網 www.energyhelp.us. 。

            聯邦政府也宣佈，今夏國會針對家庭，通過了為能源使用更有效率而設計的”減少通貨膨脹法 (Inflation Reduction Act)”。其中有將近90億元預定要經由退款計畫，分配給麻州及原住民，估計可在全美支撐160萬戶家庭，也夠安裝50萬個熱泵，絕緣設備，以及電器線路。

如果加上擴大辦理了的氣候畫援助節目，到2030年時估計可增加1200萬熱泵。每戶退800多元的退款計畫，將可幫助家庭購買電爐等新設備，每戶最高1600元的退款幫助人們安裝新絕緣設備，以及每戶最高可得8000元的更換煤氣爐。

賀錦麗說，熱泵可以幫助家庭一年少付500元能源費，同時支持就業機會，為全美家庭提供更清潔的空氣。

賀錦麗說的能源法案內容，對麻州居民來說，似乎來得正是時候。麻州公共設施廳在10月31日才通過瓦斯和電力的新費率，視乎民眾使用哪一家公司的服務，以及個人住家座落何處，瓦斯費可能增加11%到27%。國家電網用戶的電費，則會比去年增加65%。

            永源 (Eversource Energy)董事長兼執行長 Joseph R. Nolan, Jr. 上週才發信給白宮，力請拜登政府動用緊急全力，以確保麻州居民今冬不至於面對停電，燃油短缺情況。如果這地區在未來數月間將面對時間更長的極端寒冷，能源供應可能匱乏到危險境地。

美國副總統賀錦麗到麻州為民主黨候選人站台 籲選民踴躍出席投票

美國副總統賀錦麗 (Kamala Harris)來麻州站台助選。 (Boston Orange 圖片)

               (Boston Orange 綜合報導) 11月8日是大選投票日，美國副總統賀錦麗 (Kamala Harris) 11月2日特地來波士頓為民主黨籍候選人助陣，和一眾候選人在洛士百利社區學院台上一字排開，讓人無法不看到麻州2023將締造多項歷史，從州長，總檢察長到市長，女性全面掌權。

麻州州長候選人Maura Healey。 (Boston Orange 圖片)

               今年的麻州大選，名列選票上的重量級職位候選人，包括參選州長的奚莉 (Maura Healey)，參選副州長的Kim Driscoll，參選麻州總檢察長 (AG) 的Andrea Campbell，參選稽核長 (Auditor) 的Diana DiZoglio，以及競選連任的國會參議員Ayanna Pressley，全是女性。

               這天和她們聯袂來到洛士百利 (Roxbury)社區學院瑞吉路易斯田徑體育中心(Reggie Lewis Track and Athletic Center)，站台助選的美國副總統賀錦麗，波士頓市市長吳弭 (Michelle Wu) 也都是女性，都締造了歷史紀錄。

麻州副州長候選人Kim Driscoll。 (Boston Orange 圖片)

               賀錦麗是美國首名黑人兼亞裔女性副總統，吳弭是波士頓市首名女性暨亞裔市長。

               依目前選情來說，前述幾名幾乎都已篤定當選的候選人，一旦正式當選，也都將締造歷史。奚莉 (Maura Healey) 將成為麻州有史以來的首名女性州長，也是首名公開的同性戀州長，Andrea Campbell將成為麻州有史以來的首名黑人女性總檢察長。

麻州國會議員Ayanna Pressley。 (Boston Orange 圖片)

               賀錦麗這趟來麻州，有2各主要任務，一是宣導聯邦政府剛推出的協助民眾節能減碳新計畫，一是為民主黨候選人站台。在波士頓的這場造勢活動中，她在洛士百利社區學院 (RCC)和一眾候選人和支持者小規模聚會，喊話今後美國是否民主，就看選民手中的這張選票了。

               賀錦麗稱許奚莉 (Maura Healey)是名鬥士，努力爭取正義、公平，而Andrea Campbell一旦當選，將成為全美各州第3

波士頓市長吳弭 (Michelle Wu)。 (Boston Orange 圖片)

位黑人女性總檢察長。她們大家在這兒，是要為每一個人爭取投票自由，因為所有人的聲音都該被聽見，選舉很重要。

               她說，2020年就是因為選民們出來投票了，拜登總統和她才能入主白宮，他們才能擴大兒童抵稅優惠，把兒童貧窮率減少了40%；才能通過基礎設施法，撥發數以億計款項修橋補路，羅根機場工程就獲得6200萬元。未來10年，美國還將淘汰境內鉛管和服務線。這些全是因為選民投票，表達了心聲。

麻州總檢察長候選人Andrea Campbell。 (Boston Orange 圖片)

麻州稽核長候選人Diana DiZogli。 (Boston Orange 圖片)

               不過，他們還有許多工作要做，包括處方藥太貴了，而黑人有60%，拉丁裔有70%的更高可能性染患糖尿病。許多老人也因為處方藥太貴，必須在能救命的藥物和付租金，買食物之間做選擇。但是因為選民投票選出的結果，她們通過法案把胰島素的價格上限訂為每月35元；醫療護理 (Medicare)能夠代表6000萬美國人去協商藥價；還有一名黑人女性成為美國，最高法院法官。所以選舉投票很重要。

              她說這場選舉關係重大，因為人們的生育權，婚姻權，都會受影響。共和黨領導還在討論，一旦他們贏得選舉，將把手伸進社會安全及醫療護理體系，還要全美禁止墮胎。她說，民主能有多堅強，端看選民如何捍衛。

              已篤定將成為下屆麻州州長的奚莉 (Maura Healey)說，在麻州，大家有這機會締造歷史，讓5名女性選上全州級職位，她們這天站在台上，是要向年輕女孩們轉達一個訊息，”你能夠成為任何你想要成為的人”，她們也希望大眾能清楚看到，她們帶給麻州的願景、希望與樂觀。他們要為民眾做事，而不是分化人民。她們將堅定地和人民站在一起，保護人民的生育自由，解決住宅、教育、托兒照顧，培訓、職業培訓，以及環保正義，增加綠化工作等。

               出席聯合造勢大會的其他候選人或民選官員，這天也都分別發言。

美國副總統賀錦麗(中) 和麻州州長候選人Maura Healey (右)，麻州總檢察長候選人
Andrea ampbell (左)等人在洛士百利社區學院主台上和支持者打招呼。
 (Boston Orange 圖片)

波士頓市長吳弭提醒選民，這次的選舉不只是選人，還有選票問題。她鼓勵人們催促家人、朋友、鄰居都去投票，選出支持星球、經濟，以及族裔正義，有實質、愛心的領導人，而大家都已看到Ayanna Pressley當國會議員，Maura Healey當總檢察長，Andrea Campbell當波士頓市議員時的做為。

               Diana DiZoglio簡述自己是17歲單親母親的女兒，當侍應生來支撐自己就讀社區學院，是家中第一個上大專院校的人，知道自己必須鬥志昂揚，才能維持生計。她強調人們應該有個能夠發揮作用的麻州地鐵 (MBTA)，精神健康和成癮服務部門需要有足夠經費。

               Ayanna Pressley稱許賀錦麗打破玻璃及水泥天花板，提醒選民投票給誰，決定了誰當選，而誰當選決定了政策，而這些政策決定了誰是自由的，決定了誰生，誰死，誰生存，誰繁榮。麻州居民有機會選出未被充分代表的領袖們，因為代表性和領導力都很重要，人們必須要在議事桌上給自己一個席位。

               Kim Driscoll已經當了16年的塞冷市(Salem) 市長。她說，大家都知道團隊的力量，她直言自己一直是在市政府中把事情做成的成員之一，現在她要成為在州政府中把事做成的成員之一。儘管每個市鎮各有不同特色，但在麻州所面對的挑戰卻經常一樣，要讓人們桌上有食物，頭上有瓦片，能夠來往於工作、生活、上學的路上，到底人民才是麻州的中心。

               在洛士百利出生、長大的Andrea Campbell透露，當年她懷孕7個月，還搭飛機到俄亥俄州去支持賀錦麗競選，因為當年賀錦麗參選總統是歷史性的行動。她簡述自己與家人成對比的家庭背景，包括父親經常入獄，孿生弟弟才

29歲，就在獄中監押待審時死亡，而她卻輾轉就讀了5所波士頓學校後，成為她家中第一個上大學，還進了法學院的人。她現在參選麻州總檢察長是因為這辦公室給人獲得基本機會，以及高品質教育的途徑，保護人們的精神健康，有著能夠讓下一代更好的工具。她呼籲人們不要把任何人或任何事視為理所當然，鼓勵大家積極投票。

               這場造勢活動出席的人並不太多，但每一位候選人及站台支持者，都訴之以理，群眾雖不激動，卻也紛紛拿出手機搶留歷史鏡頭。

CITY OF BOSTON ISSUES REMINDERS AHEAD OF 2022 STATE ELECTION

 

CITY OF BOSTON ISSUES REMINDERS AHEAD OF 2022 STATE ELECTION

BOSTON - Friday, November 4, 2022 - The City of Boston’s Election Department is reminding voters that the upcoming State Election will take place on Tuesday, November 8, 2022. Polling locations across the City open at 7:00 a.m. and close at 8:00 p.m.  The City previously announced the addition of 20 new voting precincts, following the Boston Election Precinct Adjustment Plan completed in October 2021, which aimed to increase voting accessibility by distributing voters equitably across precincts. The number of voting precincts has now increased from 255 to 275. As a result, the City of Boston is advising voters that they may experience a change in their precinct and polling location. Voters can find their polling location here.   The Elections Department has been conducting outreach to ensure that residents are aware of any change to their polling location ahead of the election. Voters can also check their registration status via the Secretary of the Commonwealth’s website to find their election day polling location.   General Information Unofficial Results After polls close at 8 p.m., the Election Department will receive and upload unofficial results of ballots counted at polling places as they are returned from each precinct. The initial results reported on the website on election night will include: Ballots cast in person on election day; Early voting and mail-in ballots, including those from precincts being centrally tabulated at the City Hall central tabulation facility. More information about central tabulation can be found here.  The unofficial results uploaded to www.boston.gov/election on election night will not include the following groups of ballots: Mail and absentee ballots that arrive on time on election day, but are received too late to be sent to polling locations to be counted; Ballots retrieved from the drop boxes at 8:00 p.m. on Election Night; Ballots postmarked by November 8, 2022 and that arrive at City Hall by November 12, 2022 at 5:00 p.m. for domestic mail; Ballots postmarked by November 8, 2022 and that arrive at City Hall by November 18, 2022 at 5:00 p.m. for international mail. Mail or absentee ballots that arrive on time at the Election Department, but are received too late to be sent to polling locations, will be counted at City Hall on a date to be determined by the Board of Election Commissioners at an open meeting that will be publicly noticed after November 18, 2022 and will be completed prior to November 23, 2022 when election results need to be certified. For this election, residents will see a new mobile-friendly and more interactive unofficial elections results page.  Ballot Drop Boxes   Voters who requested a vote by mail or absentee ballot are encouraged to return their ballots early to ensure that they are counted. Voters are able to drop their mail-in ballot at any of the 21 ballot drop boxes the Elections Department has placed around the City, including at both the first and third floor entrances of Boston City Hall. All drop boxes are monitored under 24 hour video surveillance. To find a ballot drop box location, visit here. Voters can track their ballot through the state's website.  Ballots can not be delivered to a polling location on election day.   Voters may drop their ballots into a drop box until 8 p.m. on November 8, 2022. Ballots that are returned by U.S. mail and are postmarked by November 8, 2022 must be received by the Election Department by November 12, 2022. On the Ballot The November 8, 2022 State Election will include candidates for the following offices in addition to four statewide ballot questions: Representative in Congress, Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Attorney General, Secretary of the Commonwealth, State Treasurer, State Auditor, Governor's Council, State Senator, State Representative, District Attorney, and Sheriff.   Voting on Election Day  Polling locations for the State Election will be open from 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. on Tuesday, November 8, 2022. Ballots will be available in English, Spanish, Chinese, and Vietnamese. Language assistance will be available on Election Day by interpreters at polling locations or by contacting the Election Department’s interpreters phone bank. Those interested in volunteering can apply to be a poll worker here.   For more information on how to participate in this year's elections, please visit boston.gov/election. Media Guidelines Where to Stand Like all observers, members of the press must remain behind the guardrail. While many polling places are not equipped with a physical guardrail, the area within the “guardrail” encompasses the check-in table, the voting booths, and the ballot box. Only poll workers and voters should be within this area.  Interacting with Voters and Poll Workers Members of the press, like all other observers in the polling place, may not interact with voters while they are in the polling place. Observers who have questions about where they should stand and what they are allowed to do while observing should ask to speak to the polling location’s warden. The warden will provide members of the press with information regarding their rights as observers. Photography Photography of the voting process in the polling place is permitted, though marked ballots may not be photographed. Photographers are allowed inside the polling place to photograph the area from outside the guardrail. Video & Audio Recording Video recording of the polling place is allowed. Audio recording of the polling place is not permitted under state law. Anyone recording in the polling place must have the ability to record without capturing audio. Those who are using electronic equipment may not use the electricity in the polling place to power their equipment.

HOME HEALTH CARE COMPANY TO PAY $425,000 FOLLOWING DATA BREACH IMPACTING THOUSANDS OF MASSACHUSETTS RESIDENTS

 HOME HEALTH CARE COMPANY TO PAY $425,000 FOLLOWING DATA BREACH IMPACTING THOUSANDS OF MASSACHUSETTS RESIDENTS

Georgia-Based Company Failed to Implement Proper Security Measures Necessary to Prevent Series of Phishing Attacks that Affected More than 4,000 Massachusetts Residents in 2019

 

            BOSTON – A Georgia-based home health and hospice care company will pay $425,000 after it failed to implement proper security measures to protect the personal information of patients and employees, Attorney General Maura Healey announced today.

 

The complaint and consent judgment against Aveanna Healthcare, LLC, entered today in Suffolk Superior Court, follows a series of phishing attacks that impacted more than 4,000 Massachusetts residents. Aveanna is a national provider of pediatric and adult home health care, operating in 33 states with Massachusetts offices located in Brockton, Plymouth, Shrewsbury, Springfield, Waltham, West Springfield, and Worcester. The AG’s Office alleges that in July 2019, Aveanna employees began receiving fraudulent “phishing” emails designed to cause the recipient to provide credentials, money, or sensitive information.

 

“Companies have an obligation to put the right security measures and systems in place to prevent hackers from accessing sensitive information,” said AG Healey. “As a result of this resolution, Aveanna will ensure compliance with our strong data security laws and the take steps necessary to protect its employees and the private data of Massachusetts residents moving forward.”

 

The private information, which may have included social security numbers, driver’s license numbers, financial account numbers, and health information such as diagnoses, medications, and treatment records, of more than 4,000 Massachusetts residents, including patients and employees, was potentially accessed by the hackers.

 

In one instance, a phishing email was sent to employees that appeared to come from Aveanna’s president. The attacks continued into August 2019, by which point more than 600 phishing emails were sent to employees. Employees’ responses to these emails resulted in hackers obtaining access to portions of Aveanna’s computer network. The hackers also tried to defraud employees by logging into Aveanna’s human resources system and altering individual employees’ direct deposit information. In response to the incident, Aveanna provided affected Massachusetts residents with two years of free credit monitoring.

 

            The AG’s Office alleges that Aveanna was aware that its cybersecurity required improvement but had not implemented new changes to improve it by the time the phishing attacks occurred. Among the problems Aveanna identified were a lack of sufficient tools and employee training to stop phishing attacks, and a lack of the use of multi-factor authentication, which can also help to stop phishing attacks. Additionally, the AG’s Office alleges that Aveanna’s security program failed to meet the minimum required safeguards to protect personal information under the Massachusetts Data Security Regulations. The complaint also alleges that Aveanna failed to meet the standards for security of protected health information that are required by Federal HIPAA regulations.

 

            Under the terms of the consent judgment, Aveanna will pay $425,000 to the AG’s Office. Additionally, the company will be required to develop, implement, and maintain a security program that includes phishing protection technology, multi-factor authentication, and other systems designed to detect and address intrusions. 

 

Aveanna must also continue to train its employees on data security, keep them up to date on security threats, and do an annual independent assessment of its compliance with the consent judgment and the Massachusetts Data Security Regulations for a period of four years.

 

            If you believe that you have been the victim of a data breach, you may need to take steps to protect yourself from identity theft. For additional information, consumers may visit the AG’s website. Guidance for businesses on data breaches can be found here.

 

This case was handled by Division Chief Jared Rinehimer, of the AG’s Data Privacy and Security Division.