Ryan Dominguez is appointed to the Cannabis Social Equity Advisory Board

 Governor Healey, Attorney General Campbell and Treasurer Goldberg Appoint Ryan Dominguez to the Cannabis Social Equity Advisory Board 

 

BOSTON – Today, Governor Maura Healey, Attorney General Andrea Joy Campbell and State Treasurer Deborah B. Goldberg jointly appointed Ryan Dominguez to the Cannabis Social Equity Advisory Board. Dominguez is the founder and executive director of the Massachusetts Cannabis Coalition and Mass CultivatED, and in this role, will help advise efforts regarding the development of regulations, administration and reporting of the Massachusetts Cannabis Social Equity Trust Fund. 

  

“The Cannabis Social Equity Advisory Board plays a critical role in ensuring that communities in Massachusetts that have historically been harmed by marijuana regulations have an equal opportunity to be involved in the cannabis economy,” said Governor Healey. “Attorney General Campbell, Treasurer Goldberg and I are excited to appoint Ryan Dominguez to the Board, as he has dedicated his career to advocating for equity and success in the cannabis industry." 

 

“We are excited to appoint Ryan Dominguez to the Cannabis Social Equity Advisory Board,” said Lieutenant Governor Driscoll. “His experience advocating for better cannabis policies and regulations, and for those who have been negatively impacted by harmful policies, will aid him significantly in this new role.” 

 

“Ryan Dominguez’s commitment to empowering disenfranchised communities and pushing for equity in the cannabis industry deeply aligns with the mission and goals of this Advisory Board,” said Attorney General Andrea Joy Campbell. “We know Ryan will continue his leadership in this space and help the Commonwealth foster a more equitable economy.”  

 

“Ryan Dominguez’s experience and expertise will positively benefit the Cannabis Social Equity Advisory Board,” said State Treasurer Deborah B. Goldberg. “His advocacy efforts for all licensees make him uniquely qualified for this role, and I know he will support a more sustainable and inclusive cannabis industry in our state.” 

 

The Cannabis Social Equity Advisory Board was established by the Massachusetts Legislature in 2022 to advise the Executive Office of Economic Development (EOED) as it administers the Cannabis Social Equity Trust Fund. The Fund encourages the full participation in the state’s regulated marijuana industry of entrepreneurs from communities that have been disproportionately harmed by marijuana prohibition and enforcement.   

 

“I’m honored to be appointed to the Cannabis Social Equity Advisory Board,” said Ryan Dominguez. "I have spent my career advocating for disenfranchised communities. This role will allow me to promote entrepreneurship in the cannabis industry and ensure equitable access. I look forward to working with the rest of the Board and the entire Healey-Driscoll Administration to serve the people of Massachusetts.” 

 

As founder and executive director of the Massachusetts Cannabis Coalition, Dominguez has been working to bring together cannabis businesses of all license types as well, as ancillary businesses,  to create a better social, economic, and regulatory landscape for the cannabis industry across the state. He is also the founder and executive director of Mass CultivatED, a non-profit organization that seeks to undo the effects of the War on Drugs. Together with stakeholders from the state legislature, cannabis companies, community colleges, legal aid organizations, and community-based non-profits, he designed a holistic workforce program with comprehensive social services. Dominguez also worked for State Representative Chynah Tyler as a legislative aid. Dominguez has a B.S. in Philosophy from Northeastern University and a Master’s of Public Policy Degree from Harvard Kennedy School.  

Gorzkowicz, Rodrigues, Michlewitz Announce Consensus Revenue Forecast of $40.202 Billion for Fiscal Year 2025

 Gorzkowicz, Rodrigues, Michlewitz Announce Consensus Revenue Forecast of $40.202 Billion for Fiscal Year 2025

 

Baseline state tax revenue growth essentially flat from FY24 to FY25

 

BOSTON – Secretary of Administration and Finance Matthew J. Gorzkowicz, Senate Ways and Means Chair Michael J. Rodrigues and House Ways and Means Chair Aaron Michlewitz today agreed on a consensus revenue forecast for Fiscal Year 2025 (FY25) of $40.202 billion.

 

Secretary Gorzkowicz also announced a decrease of $1 billion to the FY24 state tax revenue estimate to $39.410 billion, based on current year-to-date revenues and economic data. The new FY25 consensus revenue estimate of $40.202 billion represents $208 million less in available revenue than what was used to build the FY24 budget, and a 2 percent increase above revised FY24 estimates, excluding surtax.

 

The agreement also estimates that sufficient revenue will be available in FY25 from the voter-approved 4 percent surtax to support $1.3 billion in additional spending on education and transportation initiatives, an increase of $300 million in available funds over the FY24 budget.

 

“This Fiscal Year 2025 consensus revenue forecast responsibly considers the many external pressures that have led to a slowdown in revenue growth over past months and put significant pressure on state spending. While acknowledging the challenges ahead, we are confident this agreement will allow us to construct a budget for FY25 that continues to invest in key priorities and supports our residents and communities. The increase in available resources from the surtax will also enable us to build on the blueprint for surtax spending we established last year with our partners in the Legislature to make meaningful progress in education and transportation to keep Massachusetts competitive, affordable, and equitable,” said Administration and Finance Secretary Matthew J. Gorzkowicz. “I want to thank Chair Rodrigues, Chair Michlewitz, and the Ways and Means teams for their collaboration as we developed this revenue forecast and look forward to continued partnership through the FY25 budgeting process.”

 

“Remaining clear-eyed about our current fiscal environment, this Fiscal Year 2025 consensus revenue agreement provides a roadmap to develop a balanced FY 2025 budget plan built on sound fiscal discipline, while responsibly adjusting for the pressures and impacts caused by the slowdown in FY 2024 tax revenue growth to date,” said Senator Michael J. Rodrigues (D-Westport), Chair of the Senate Committee on Ways and Means. “I want to thank Chair Michlewitz and Secretary Gorzkowicz for their ongoing collaboration and partnership in reaching this agreement. Thanks to our work together in prioritizing fiscal responsibility and growing reserves, I am confident with this agreement that we are well positioned to address our collective challenges head on and support our Commonwealth’s long-term fiscal health.” 

 

“This Fiscal Year 2025 consensus revenue figure will allow the Legislature and the Healey-Driscoll administration to collectively construct a reasonable and appropriate budget for the upcoming fiscal year. By being ever watchful of the Commonwealth's finances and basing the budget on a judicious consensus revenue figure, we will be able to make fiscally sound decisions over the next few months as we work to make the necessary investments that our constituents deserve,” said House Committee on Ways and Means Chair Representative Aaron Michlewitz (D Boston). “I want to thank Chair Rodrigues and Secretary Gorzkowicz for their partnership in working to reach this agreement. I look forward to continuing to work closely with both of them as we work towards a final budget for fiscal year 2025.”

 

The consensus revenue forecast is the basis on which the Healey-Driscoll Administration, the House, and the Senate will build their respective FY25 budget recommendations. Pursuant to Section 5B of Chapter 29 of the General Laws, the Executive and Legislative branches convene every year to establish a joint revenue forecast. This process was informed by testimony given by the Department of Revenue, the State Treasurer’s Office, and independent, local economists from area foundations and universities during a public hearing held by the Secretary and Chairs on December 4, 2023.

 

Of the forecasted $40.202 billion in FY25 state tax revenues, an estimated $2.077 billion is projected to be capital gains tax revenue, of which, per statute, $528 million will be transferred to the Stabilization Fund and other long term liability funds for pension and retiree health insurance costs.

 

The agreement also includes several off-budget transfers that are mandated by current law, including:

 

• $4.5 billion to be transferred to the pension fund, a $395 million increase over the    FY24 contribution that keeps the Commonwealth on schedule to fully fund its pension liability by 2036
• $1.465 billion to support the operations of the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA), an increase of $2 million over the FY24 budgeted contribution
• $1.305 billion for the Massachusetts School Building Authority (MSBA), an increase of $2 million over the FY24 budgeted contribution, which will support school construction projects across the Commonwealth
• $27 million for the Workforce Training Fund to support the Commonwealth’s workforce and business productivity and competitiveness

 

The Secretary and the House and Senate Committees on Ways and Means also determined the potential gross state product (PGSP) growth benchmark for calendar year 2024, as required by M.G.L. Chapter 29 Section 7H ½. The PGSP growth benchmark informs the Commonwealth’s health care cost growth benchmark, established by the Health Policy Commission each year. The three bodies have reached agreement that the PGSP figure for calendar year 2024 will remain 3.6%. PGSP is a measure of the “full employment” output of the Commonwealth’s economy and reflects long-term trends in the economy rather than fluctuations due to the business cycle and, as a result, is meant to be fairly stable from year to year.

波士頓元旦升旗 盼台灣選出維護三民主義的新總統

波士頓僑界元但在牛頓市的波士頓僑教中心舉行升旗典禮。
(周菊子攝)

                     (Boston Orange 周菊子波士頓報導) 波士頓經文處的2024元旦升旗典禮簡單隆重。200多僑胞齊聚波士頓僑教中心會址，升旗、舞獅、賀歲、致詞，拍照，致送感謝狀，期盼龍年，波士頓僑社興旺，台灣穩定，選出來的新總統，繼續為民主、自由打拼。

大波士頓的2024元旦，在展旗，升旗，唱國歌人選都有變動，舞獅賀歲從中華民俗藝術工作坊換成了中華廣教學校，出席僑胞有不少新面孔中，透露著時間推移，變化正在形成中的訊息。

波士頓經文處頒發表揚狀，感謝僑團、個人對辦事處的支持。
(周菊子攝)

波士頓經文處處長廖朝宏，去年8月3日才到任，這還是他的第一個元旦升旗典禮。在短短的3分半鐘中，他歷數台灣過去一 年來的成就，包括台灣是全世界的第16大經濟體，第21大貿易國家，在2023年洛桑管理學院最新公佈的全球國家競爭力排行中排名第6，在剛公佈的全人類自由指標調查報告中，也名列全世界第6，全亞洲第一名。

波士頓經文處處長廖朝宏、張明瑾夫婦(左四、三)邀
左起，紐英倫中華公所主席雷國輝、全美洪門致公堂總理余麗媖，
波士頓僑務委員陳仕維夫婦，僑務諮詢委員蔣宗壬夫婦參加元旦升旗典禮。
(周菊子攝)

廖朝宏指出，去年夏威夷火災，土耳其地震，以及許多國際災難場合，總能看到台灣人民，民間組織和政府，在第一時間提供非常緊急的人道援助。台灣作為國際社會的良善力量，已經獲得世界上許多國家的肯定及讚揚。

他也直言，即將到來的台灣總統大選，僑胞們都十分關心，但是不管選舉結果如何，誰勝誰敗，都是再一次深化，證明台灣的民主與價值，也是台灣人民與台灣民主的勝利。           

波士頓經文處處長廖朝宏、張明瑾夫婦(後中)
在元旦升旗典禮這天，特地留到最後，和僑教中心主任潘昭榮一起，
與志工們合影，以示感謝。(周菊子攝)

            今年的升旗典禮，由分別代表波士頓榮光會的池元山，代表波士頓國民黨的陳台榮展旗，波士頓台灣龍舟隊副隊長鄭智仁，招生組負責人趙家立升旗。僑胞們圍聚在海德社區中心的戶外廣場升旗台前，聽著You & Me樂隊歌手朱冠蓉演唱美國和中華民國國歌，向冉冉升起的兩國國旗，星條旗和青天白日滿地紅旗行注目禮。

            夾在人群中的港澳之友社骨幹謝中之，在國旗升至旗桿頂後，突然高喊「中華民國萬歲」，贏得好幾人呼應，一同再喊了好幾聲。

今年的醒獅賀歲由中華廣教學校擔綱。 (周菊子攝)

升完旗，在廖朝宏處長致詞後，波士頓僑務委員陳仕維，紐英崙中華公所主席雷國輝，僑務諮詢委員蔣宗壬，牛頓高地社區發展協會主任John Rice，接著依序以廣東話、英文、國語、英文一一發言、拜年。

波士頓僑務委員陳仕維表示，中華民國國旗在海外華僑心中，代表的不只是中華民國，更是民主、自由的象徵。僑胞們知道總統選舉將屆，衷心希望選出新的總統能夠繼續維護國父的三民主義努力，繼續為我們的民主自由，繼續打拼。

僑胞們在戶外廣場升旗後，再回體育館。
(周菊子攝)

紐英崙中華公所主席雷國 則說，除了元旦升旗，紐英崙華人每年10月都在波士頓市政府廣場升國旗，藉以表達對中華民國的支持。去年有近千人參加，希望民國113年，會有更多人參加10月的升旗典禮。

波士頓經文處教育組組長黃薳玉，科技組組長蔡孟勳，這天也都出席了升旗典禮，和僑胞聯誼。

元旦升旗典禮也是波士頓經文處每年一度頒發感謝狀，感謝僑團、僑胞一年來支持政府的辛勞，包括紐英崙

波士頓經文處處長廖朝宏、張明瑾夫婦(左四、三)，波士頓僑教
中心主任潘昭榮(左一)和美國退伍軍人會波士頓華埠328分會合影。(周菊子攝)

中華總會、紐英崙中華公所、中華民俗藝術工作坊、波士頓國民黨、波士頓榮光會、紐英崙廣東同鄉總會、紐英崙至孝篤親公所、紐英崙李氏公所、波士頓安良工商會、紐英崙婦女新運會、波士頓洪門致公堂、港澳之友社、紐英崙余風采堂、紐英崙阮氏公所、波士頓藝聯慈善社、美國退伍軍人會華埠328分會、紐英崙朱沛國堂、紐英崙溯源公所、波士頓台灣影展協會、華僑協會波士頓分會，波士頓黃氏宗親會、紐英崙伍胥山公所、波士頓中華書法會、大波士頓You & Me音樂樂團等。

波士頓政大校友會現任會長林遊嵐(左一)、前任會長林麗珠(右三)
和同為政大校友的波士頓經文處處長廖朝宏、張明瑾夫婦相見歡。(周菊子攝)

獲得感謝狀的個人有陳仕維，梅錫銳，陳家驊，余麗媖，張昆，余立昌，余寶愛，雷國輝，阮鴻燦，謝中之，李耀培，關美玲，雷陳秀珍，李奇舜，李源沛，李德源，鄺坤珍，陳台榮，張青梅，李曹秀萍，鄭增壽，黃周麗桃，陳鐵堅，陳文珊，謝如鍵，譚達兒，鄺國彬，朱健威，張韻蘭，黃瑞瑜，許揚威，劉樹榮，梅宇國，黃崇校，司徒文信，江文玲，陳亦如，邱偉哲，朱冠蓉，郭競儒。

波士頓僑務委員陳仕維期盼台灣選出的新總統繼續維護三民主義，自由、民主。
(周菊子攝)

紐英崙中華公所主席雷國輝希望今年有更多人參加雙十升旗。
(周菊子攝)

波士頓僑務諮詢委員蔣宗壬代表郊區僑胞說新年快樂。(周菊子攝)

波士頓經文處處長廖朝宏指國際社會認可、讚揚台灣。
(周菊子攝))

僑胞們再海德社區中心出席元旦升旗典禮。 (周菊子攝)

許翠玲(右)、李以蕙(左)向波士頓僑教中心主任潘昭榮拜年。
(周菊子攝)

波士頓經文處處長廖朝宏(中)逐一頒發感謝狀。左為黃國麟，右為張韻蘭。
(周菊子攝)

波士頓國民黨開年團拜 籲黨員同祈世界和樂安詳

國民黨波士頓分部開年團拜合影。(周菊子攝)

           (Boston Orange周菊子波士頓報導) 國民黨波士頓分部2024年1月1日下午在華埠乞臣街會址開年團拜，六十多人共聚一堂。分部常委張韻蘭祝願道，不論各人信仰為何，懇請大家為自己所愛的祖國，所居住的國家，以及整個世界，祈求新的一年，安詳，如意、平安、喜樂。

張韻蘭常委在致詞中感嘆2023世界不平靜，天災人禍頻起，哈瑪斯和以色列，烏克蘭和蘇俄之間的戰爭，都慘烈得讓人傷感。即將辦理總統選舉的中華民國，也讓她感慨，不明白為什麼把中華民國憲法形容為災難的人，還能參選國家總統。

國民黨波士頓常委張韻蘭 (中)邀請2位嘉賓，經文處副處長施維鈞(右)，
僑教中心主任潘昭榮(左)和黨員們同聚慶祝新年。(周菊子攝)

這天出席團拜的嘉賓有去年

9月升任波士頓經文處副處長的施維鈞，波士頓僑教中心主任潘昭榮，國民黨前任波士頓分部常委，已高齡90的李伍綺蓮，本身也是國民黨波士頓分布黨員的全美洪門致公堂元老余麗媖。

出席黨員面孔有新有舊。(周菊子攝)

施維鈞儘管到任波士頓將近6年，這還是第一次踏進波士頓國民黨黨部。他期許國民黨員們同舟共濟，維護國家尊嚴，創造中華民國更輝煌歷史，繼續支持政府。

潘昭榮則指出，民國113年是選舉年，不管結果如何，都是民主自由的深化，希望選舉結束後，不論出爐結果如何，大家都能遵循民主規則與精神，繼續支持中華民國政府。接著，他代表僑委會委員長徐佳青，僑委會，波士頓僑教中心同仁拜年。

國民黨波士頓份部執委蔣碧如呼籲精神還好，不太需要
為生活奔波的黨員加入服務行列。(周菊子攝)

波士頓國民黨今年團拜時，前排有不少空座位。執委之一的蔣碧如率直指出，有多位黨員年事已高，今年元旦團拜都不刻出席，就連分部常委張韻蘭，其實也是儘管身體欠佳，仍撐著主持大局。她語切心重，呼籲精神還好，不太需要為生活奔波的黨員，挺身而出，年底參加幹部選舉，為黨部服務，以期黨部有所傳承。

會末司儀金杏濱提醒道，波士頓國民黨分部已經設立了Line群組，但目前組內僅有20人，希望黨員們踴躍加入，方便交流，需要技術協助者，可洽金杏濱、鄭增壽等人。

波士頓榮光會理事長，也是國民黨黨員的鄭增壽(右)和
金杏濱都將協助黨員加入Line群組。(周菊子攝

                  常委張韻蘭請出席黨員們每人說幾句話，也給了新舊黨員們機會，進一步彼此認識。她還特地點名大陳同鄉會會長梁娜玲，稱讚她為會員服務的熱誠，也期許她在國民黨波士頓分部內更加活躍一些。當天有不少資深會員出席，包括黃福昇，梁匯川，周仙梅，張明燦夫婦等人。

團拜結束後，國民黨波士頓移步新月宮，開年聚餐。 (僑務電子報:     https://ocacnews.net/article/359030) (更新版)

國民黨波士頓常委張韻蘭致詞。(周菊子攝)

紐英崙婦女新運會迎新春換屆 李曹秀萍交棒給李盧蓮馨、張青梅

李曹秀萍卸任會長，交棒給張青梅、李盧蓮馨接任紐英崙婦女新運會會長。
(周菊子攝)

             (Boston Orange 周菊子波士頓報導) 紐英崙婦女新運會1月2日晚，在波士頓華埠的肥牛火鍋店開春團聚，迎接龍年。邀得3名政要出席，在60多名會員、嘉賓見證中，李曹秀萍交棒，李盧蓮馨接任，將和連任的張青梅攜手當會長，為會員、社區服務。

波士頓市第二區市議員愛德華費連 (Ed Flynn，中)送上表揚狀，
張青梅(左)、李盧蓮馨(右_代表接受。(周菊子攝)

              紐英崙婦女新運會是大波士頓地區第一個純女性社團，為響應蔣宋美齡的婦女新生活運動而成立，倡議反菸、反賭、婦女平權，在抗日戰爭期間，曾十分活躍的遊行、籌款，為保護祖國盡心盡力，還曾經接待過到波士頓籌款的蔣宋美齡。戰爭結束後，婦女會的會員們轉而積極從事社區服務，開辦過英語班，組織探訪耆英等許多活動。

              從1940年代迄今，紐英崙婦女新運會走過許多年頭，當年創會的老會員們，日漸凋零，曾經擔任過會長的李慧芳，也在二年前辭世。             

紐英崙婦女新運會會長的會長們，李盧蓮馨(後右一)，張青梅(前右一起)，
李曹秀萍，余麗媖，以及駐波士頓經文處處長廖朝宏，中華公所主席雷國輝，
波士頓市第二區市議員愛德華費連 (Ed Flynn。(周菊子攝)

                           目前的紐英崙婦女新運會，成員新舊參半，不少資深會員依然身體健朗，夫婿是曾任中華公所主席李實卿，擔任過多屆國民黨波士頓分部常委的李伍綺蓮，夫婿是曾任中華公所主席梅國康，創辦了中華耆英會，獲有塔芙茨大學榮譽博士學位的梅伍銀寬，抱持著心中對婦女會的長久感情，這天都特地撥冗參加聚會，和新知舊雨暢聚。

紐英崙婦女新運會會長的會長們，張青梅(前左一起)、李盧蓮馨，
李曹秀萍 (右一)和資深會員李伍綺蓮(左三)，梅伍銀寬(右二)，以及
國民黨波士頓常委張韻蘭。(周菊子攝)

已高壽逾百，獲有波士頓學院榮譽博士學位的阮陳金鳳，往年也總會參加這年度聚會，今年因為住在外地的子女，正好都回波士頓探親，這才作罷。

             2日晚的聚會由張瀠今主持。會長張青梅介紹當晚有波士頓市第二區市議員愛德華費連 (Ed Flynn) 、駐波士頓台北經濟文化辦事處處長廖朝宏，波士頓僑教中心主任潘昭榮，紐英崙中華公所主席雷國輝，全美洪門致公堂總理余麗媖等嘉賓出席。

婦女會會長張青梅歡迎大家到會。(周菊子攝)

                          張青梅指出，卸任會長李曹秀萍當了4年會長，每次都身先士卒，有需要就”我搞定”。有她在，做事容易許多。張青梅也點名感謝協助該會訂餐廳，爭取折扣的黃國威，以及送出鮮雞一只做抽獎品的明記鮮雞東家譚達兒。

                     李曹秀萍位卸任致詞時，感慨過去這幾年間的大環境變化，新冠病毒疫情的衝擊等，感恩許多人的扶持，感謝婦女會會員們總能發揮姊妹情，順利辦妥所有事物。

波士頓經文處廖朝宏處長致詞。(周菊子攝)

接任會長，在僑聲音樂劇社也是幹部的李盧蓮馨表示，未來一年將舉辦更多健康、醫療知識類講座，希望大家身體健康，龍年行好運。

                         紐英崙婦女新運會這晚的新春聚會，準備了許多抽獎禮物。卸任會長李曹秀萍送出的2份50元現金大獎，其中一張由龍岡親義公所主席關麗莎，另一張由出席者抽中，並捐回給婦女會做香油。中華公所財政余寶愛抽到明記鮮雞一隻。當晚一大半出席者都抽到獎品，為新春迎來好兆頭。 (僑務電子報:     https://ocacnews.net/article/359150) (更新版)

中華公所的中文書記翁宇才(右二起)、財政余寶愛，僑教中心
主任潘昭榮，中華耆英會白禮頓樓主任梅麗梨(左一)等人都是嘉賓。(周菊子攝)

僑聲音樂社的梁永基(左起)、李伍碧香、前中華公所主席鄭慧民、
黃國威，銘記鮮雞老闆譚達兒，波士頓市議員Ed Flynn等人都是嘉賓。(周菊子攝)

全美洪門致公堂總理余麗媖 (左一)也是紐英崙婦女新運會的會員，和婦女會成員們
合影留念歐(周菊子攝)