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星期三, 1月 15, 2025
拜登總統訂今晚8點發表告別演說
拜登總統宣佈加薩停火
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在白宮公共參與辦公室發出的「總統宣佈停火」聲明中，拜登總統表示，這是美國、埃及和卡達經過長達數月的密集外交努力後達成的停火協議。以色列和哈馬斯將停止在加薩的戰鬥，並向巴勒斯坦平民提供急需的人道主義援助，讓被關押15個多月的人質與家人團聚。
拜登總統表示，2024年5月31日，他提出停戰計畫的具體輪廓，贏得聯合國安理會無異議贊成。他說，這不僅是哈馬斯承受巨大壓力，黎巴嫩停火和伊朗勢力減弱後地區局勢變化的結果，也是美國堅持不懈、努力、艱苦的做外交的結果。
拜登表示，在欣喜歡迎停火消息時，大家也緬懷在10月7日哈馬斯襲擊事件中有親人喪生的所有家庭，在隨後的戰爭中喪生的眾多無辜人民。戰爭早就該結束了，和平與安全建設的工作也該開始了。
此刻，美國還有3名人質滯留在加沙，4人的遺骸害待回歸。美國決心藉由停戰協議把他們全都帶回家。
麻州提高托兒照顧服務商的報銷費率
Massachusetts Increases Reimbursement Rates for Child Care Providers
New rates continue state’s progress on better covering the true cost of providing care, including for infants and toddlers
BOSTON — Today the Board of Early Education and
Care unanimously approved the Healey-Driscoll Administration’s proposed changes to
the reimbursement rates for early education and care providers who accept state
child care financial assistance, known as rates. Child care providers across
Massachusetts will start to receive the increase to their daily per child
reimbursement rate as soon as possible, as well as a one-time retroactive
payment to account for the increased rates back to July 1, 2024.
The approved new rates continue the state’s progress on moving toward a rate structure
and payment levels informed by the cost of providing care, with a particular focus on
adjusting rates farthest from the true cost of care. This includes infant and
toddler rates for center-based programs. The approved rates also address
increased operational costs for all providers.
“Our administration, in partnership with the Legislature and
Board, have increased rates by $90 million over the last two years for our
hard-working child care providers. That has allowed them to invest in their
educators and programming and reduce costs for families,” said Governor
Maura Healey. “I look forward to seeing the ongoing impact of these
significant increases over time. Team Massachusetts is continuing to prioritize
making child care more affordable and accessible for all families.”
“Governor Healey and I had heard from child care providers
that rates in certain parts of the state were disproportionately low and that
infant and toddler rates had been too low for too long. Last year, with support from the Legislature and
Board, we made transformational changes to rectify that. Today’s approved rates continue that progress,” said Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll.
EEC reimburses providers of center-based and family child
care and out-of-school time programs that serve families receiving child care
financial assistance with a daily per-child reimbursement rate. These rates
provide direct needs-based financial assistance to increase families’
purchasing power in the market and help pay for the cost of care.
Under this administration, child care financial assistance
rates have increased by almost $90 million and in 2024, Massachusetts became the sixth state in the country federally
approved to move forward with a cost-based alternative methodology
when setting rates for child care financial assistance. This has allowed the
state to use the cost of care when setting rates for the last two fiscal years
and bring all rates closer to the true cost of providing care while addressing long-standing inequities by geographic region and
age group of children served. In Western and Southern Massachusetts, rates for
center-based infant care have increased by 45% and over 20% for center-based
toddler care.
“When the administration started, we declared that we didn’t
just want to get ‘back’ to how things were before the pandemic. We were focused
on transforming our early education and care system forward, towards access and
equity for all families. I want to thank the Board, Legislature, and
Commissioner Kershaw and her team – together, we have made remarkable progress
over the last two years,” said Education
Secretary Dr. Patrick Tutwiler. “I know the sector will feel the
impact of these transformational improvements for years to come.”
“We have been focused on making our child care financial
assistance programs family
focused, accessible, dignified and equitable,” said Early Education and Care
Commissioner Amy Kershaw. “These increases will continue our progress to have our rates
better reflect the cost of care, with an intentional focus on equity by
targeting increases towards closing the biggest gaps between our rates and the
cost of care.”
"The board remains committed to advancing the
Commonwealth's rate structure to reflect the true cost of care for providers.
Today, we deepen that commitment with gratitude to the Governor and Legislature
for their partnership in securing the necessary resources for this critical
work. Moving forward, we will continue refining our approach to prioritize the
needs of children and providers at the heart of our decision-making," said Paul
Belsito, Chair of the Board of Early Education and Care.
“I am pleased to support this increase in the reimbursement
rate for FY25. We know that investing in early childhood care and education
helps to set children up for success in school and strengthens our economy by
ensuring parents can work. For too long, reimbursement rates have not fully
covered the cost of caring for children in all child care settings. This FY25
rate takes into account the true cost of caring for and educating young
children, no matter their address or age. This
targeted rate increase will continue leveling the playing field to ensure that
all child care providers receive enough funding to cover their costs,”
said Maria Moeller, Vice Chair of the Board of Early Education and Care
and Chief Executive Officer of The Community Group in Lawrence.
“Child care reimbursements make early education and care
attainable for families who need it most and give our children the leg up that
they deserve," said Senate President Karen E. Spilka (D-Ashland). "I’m
proud of the Senate’s steadfast commitment to early education and care, and
applaud the administration for increasing the reimbursement rate, which will
help working families and kids around the Commonwealth.”
"The House has long championed child care rate
increases that reflect the true cost of care, and I’m proud of the work we've
done with the Healey-Driscoll Administration to ensure EEC programming in
Massachusetts can thrive," said House Speaker Ronald J. Mariano
(D-Quincy). "I applaud Commissioner Kershaw and her team for their
efforts, which align with the House's commitment to supporting the EEC
workforce and providing more affordable and equitable access to high-quality
early education and care.”
Examples of rate increases by region and age group of
children served in center-based settings over the last two fiscal years:
|
|
Infant |
Toddler |
||
|
Per
Day/ Per Child |
FY2023
Rate |
New
Rate |
FY2023
Rate |
New
Rate |
|
Western |
$72.37 |
$105.00 (45%
increase) |
$66.36 |
$82.50 (24%
increase) |
|
Central |
$75.95 |
$105.00 (38%
increase) |
$68.36 |
$82.50 (21%
increase) |
|
Northeast |
$89.51 |
$110.25 (23%
increase) |
$78.12 |
$85.97 (10%
increase) |
|
Metro |
$110.24 |
$121.31 (10%
increase) |
$100.04 |
$110.09 (10%
increase) |
|
Southeast |
$72.37 |
$105.00 (45%
increase) |
$67.89 |
$82.50 (22%
increase) |
|
Metro
Boston |
$105.25 |
$121.31 (15%
increase) |
$93.20 |
$110.09 (18%
increase) |
波士頓市長吳弭上任3年新聘301人 1/3 年薪逾10萬元
(Boston Orange 編譯) 波士頓市長吳弭 (Michelle Wu) 在再次爭取立法為屋主減稅，同時提出刪減預算作為替代方案之際，透露她在第一個市長任期的四年內，增設了301個波士頓市政府工作職位，其中三分之一薪資超過10萬元
在1月14日發給波士頓市議會的一封信中，吳弭表示，那些在她從2021年末就任的3年多來所新設職位，平均薪資為8萬4781元。
波士頓前鋒報
(Boston Herald)指出，這些人的薪資總額達到2760萬元，在波士頓市的46億元年度預算中佔0.6%。該年度預算和前一個會計年度相比，增長了8%。
吳弭在信中表示，那些職位代表市府的重要投資，是經市府制定預算流程，小心分析過的，而且為市民所仰賴的核心關鍵營運及服務上，帶來關鍵改善。她還補充說，尤其是2022和2023年中，市府行政和市議會為從新冠病毒疫情恢復，在必要的
人員配備上積極投資。
這些數據是波士頓市長吳弭在回應波士頓市議員Erin
Murphy所提出的”17F 要求”時提供的。
”17F 要求” 是市議員擁有的一種工具，一旦市議會通過，市長必須在一週之後提供市議員所要求的資訊。
Erin Murphy是在10月23日，大約85天之前，第一提出資訊要求，在市議員愛德華費林 (Ed
Flynn)威脅道，市議會將要求週三中午的例行會議延遲召開，直到吳市長堤共文件給議員們為止，以及謠傳Erin
Murphy打算本周落實該威脅之中，1月14日，吳弭市長提供了資訊。
在這301個新職位中，有112個和135個是在吳弭就任市長後，依序於2022年和2023年設立的。其餘的54個質為是在2024年1月至11月新增的。
這些新職位不包括波士頓公校、波士頓水務和下水道局 (Boston
Water and Sewer Commission) 等半官方組織的職位。吳弭表示，那些機構有分開的預算，由另外的人事管理系統負責。
根據吳弭辦公室所整理的資料，這些新職位中有97個是以超過10萬元年薪聘用的市府員工職位。其中最高薪的是人民營運長 (office
of people operations chief) 的19萬4300元。
波士頓市議員Erun
Murphy還把矛頭指向，吳弭政府新增職位大都為”令人困擾”的高薪，高階及中階管理職位，起薪超過8萬元，許多超過10萬元。
Erin Murphy說，增加管理階層可能造成官僚體系擁腫，卻未帶給市民切實利益的危險。在居民面對更高稅賦，上漲的生活開銷之際，大家必須優先考慮勒緊腰帶，確保花的每一塊錢都直接服務社區。
吳弭說，波士頓市的薪水冊在2022年和2023年，依序上漲了1.4$%
和1.7%，大部分的員工增長，都在基本的市府服務上，有67人，社區中心及圖書館等人民服務部分，40個，以及公，39個，另外還在警察局和消防局之外，增加了接聽311和911電話的職位。
許多新職位是由市議會設計，特別要求，經由預算修訂，或條例而設立的，還經過預算過程，由市議員們通過了的。
吳弭指出，例如語言和通訊辦公室，黑人男子進步辦公室，就是經由條例設立的，有著年薪8萬到10萬的薪資。
吳弭還指出，給11歲以上市民控制一部分預算流向的參與預算辦公室也是。那是經由選票倡議所設立的辦公室，友好幾個年薪6位數的職位。
波士頓精神號遊艇2月14、15日辦情人晚餐遊
「波士頓精神號」郵輪從麻州港 ( Commonwealth Pier)出發，向左開往世貿中心，搭乘者可在晚上6點起，帶上情人、閨密登船，整整3小時的沿途欣賞海景，以及美國憲法號，Zakim橋等令人屏息的美麗海景，在現場音樂伴奏中悠閒享用名廚準備的大餐，翩翩起舞，玩遊戲的度過甜蜜一晚。
查詢細節可上網:
www.cityexperiences.com/Boston.
DPU Creates Division of Clean Energy and Resilience Engineering
DPU Creates Division of Clean Energy and Resilience Engineering
The new division will enhance the DPU’s role in ensuring
a safe and reliable clean energy transition
BOSTON — The Department of Public Utilities (DPU) today announced a
new division to coordinate integrated energy planning. This is a crucial
component of the state’s clean energy transition that directs energy to areas
where they are needed the most. The Clean Energy and Resilience Engineering (CERE) Division will
focus on Massachusetts’ shift away from natural gas to electric alternatives
and evaluate plans for grid resilience, reinforcing the state’s decarbonization
goals.
Massachusetts joins several states that have established a
specific division dedicated to ensuring grid resilience and reliability while
also promoting affordable clean energy resources as alternatives to fossil fuel
infrastructure.
The CERE Division will be led by its new director, Brian
Ritzinger, who has over 26 years of experience. He previously served as Lead
Engineer in the Electric Power Division and technical advisor to the
Distributed Generation and Clean Energy Ombudsperson Office at the DPU.
Ritzinger brings extensive knowledge of the dynamics of the current electrical
system, having served as the key lead in preparing and responding to emergency
events, major service disruptions, and maintaining grid cybersecurity. Ritzinger
also comes to the position with expertise in the opportunities and challenges
of the rapidly evolving energy sector and will lead a team of engineers focused
on energy resilience planning, grid modernization, and the integration of clean
energy resources on the grid.
“The energy sector in Massachusetts is evolving,” said
Chair James Van Nostrand. “Our new CERE Division guarantees we can
successfully execute both the day-to-day work for system reliability and the
important policy planning to prepare for the transformation of our electric
grid.”
“Engineering expertise is critical to plan our transition
away from fossil fuels,” said Commissioner Cecile Fraser. “The
CERE Division will play a key role in the Commonwealth’s clean energy
transition while ensuring the grid is operating safely and reliably while
maintaining a cost-effective approach.”
“We’re focused on increasing resiliency while maintaining an
equitable clean energy transition,” said Commissioner Staci Rubin. “The
CERE Division will guide the joint efforts between the electric and gas
utilities as we work towards the commitment of utilizing clean energy
options.”
The energy landscape in Massachusetts is shifting away from
fossil fuels under the DPU’s direction. In the winter of 2023, the DPU issued a
groundbreaking order in the Future of Gas docket (#20-80) that set a
new regulatory strategy guiding the evolution of the natural gas distribution
industry to clean energy. Two key components of this strategy will be handled
by the CERE Division: the evaluation of non-gas pipeline alternatives and
integrated energy planning. Gas companies operating in Massachusetts must
consider viable alternatives to installing new natural gas infrastructure in
the state, which includes an array of electrification options. Integrated
energy planning involves coordination between the state’s electric and gas
utilities to evaluate opportunities for communities that rely on natural gas to
be converted to electric options, such as replacing gas boilers and furnaces
with heat pumps or converting to networked geothermal technology. As required
by the order in docket 20-80, the state’s six gas utilities must propose at
least one project in their service area that will replace natural gas heating
with targeted electrification. The gas utilities must file these
decommissioning plans by March 2026.
Additionally, the CERE Division will also oversee the
planning and approval of electric grid investments that improve resilience. The
Electric Sector Modernization Plans (ESMPs) require the state’s electric
utilities—Eversource, National Grid, and Unitil— to plan investments that
improve grid resilience and prepare for future climate-driven impacts on their
systems. The DPU approved the ESMPs last summer as strategic roadmaps
to accelerate the state’s ability to decarbonize safely, equitably, and
efficiently while maintaining lowest possible costs to consumers. The new
Division will be involved in evaluating these resiliency investments as the
electric utilities develop their plans further and engage in discussions with
regional and federal officials to maintain a safe, reliable and affordable
electric grid.
星期二, 1月 14, 2025
波士頓房東會和小業主協會共商團結力量大 下場講座邀億萬富翁出馬
 |
| 波士頓房東協會創辦人潘樹仁(左二)主持會議。(房東會提供) |
Alison
Drescher和Amir
Shahsavari兩人闡述了SPOA在過去一年中成功打倒了一次租金限制倡議，提出稅賦轉移建議等成就，但房東們仍面對著許多挑戰，包括麻州政策一向對房客友善，很難驅逐房客，房東們無力有效篩檢房客，以及這些政策造成的經濟後果，政府給房東的支持相對很少，物業稅、保險費高漲，財務負擔越來越重等。
他們說，政府的許多政策都影響了房屋市場，嚇阻了建房屋計畫的投資等。
他們也談到波士頓市內的交通問題，包括自行車專用道政策對社區的影響等。
他們倆人強調，房東們必須更加團結，加入組織，擴大SOPA等會員人數，才能讓政府也聽到房東的聲音。他們還希望推動政府制定更為激進的法案，包括反佔屋法案
(anti-squatting bill)，讓房東取得律師辯護的權力，以及「租戶購買機會法案
(TOPA)」以自願形式實施等。他們強調必須平衡房東和房客關係，以及物業主參與立法流程的重要性。
波士頓房東會創辦人潘樹仁當天簡報了該會過去一年來，除了2月份辦的是農曆新年慶祝活動之外，每月辦的講座，講題包括「購買投資房地產」，「麻州驅逐流程」，「如何處理出租押金」，「房地產委員會訴訟案可望撼動房地產市場」，「根據分區和使用規定創建額外的利潤中心並最大限度地利用您的財產的想法」，「麻州房地產委員會2024年新規定」，「節稅退出策略：房東和房地產經紀人需要了解的內容」，「在麻州出租公寓時房東不能忽視的重要問題」，「房地產創新-每個人都該知道的新興科技」，「鏟雪和房東責任」，「南車站塔樓-
新發展」，
當晚的與會者包括律師張宣業，麻州亞裔餐飲協會會長鄺炎彬等人。
波士頓房東會創辦人潘樹仁在會末透露，億萬富豪Anwar Faisal已同意將在今年出席該會，擔任講座主講人。 (更新版)
AAJC Joins Civil Rights Groups to Express Concerns with Changes to Meta’s Hateful Content Policy
Asian Americans Advancing Justice | AAJC Joins Civil Rights Groups to Express Concerns with Changes to Meta’s Hateful Content Policy
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Asian Americans Advancing Justice | AAJC (Advancing Justice – AAJC) today announced that it has joined fellow civil rights groups to share a letter outlining their concerns with Meta’s recently announced content moderation changes. Changes include ending their fact-checking program, the introduction of community notes and the weakening of its hate speech policy.
Although the signed civil rights organizations have been convened by Meta for years to advise on how the company’s policies impact marginalized communities, they were not consulted by Meta ahead of the policy revisions. The letter details how these new policies open Meta’s platforms up to an increase of anti-immigrant, racist, anti-LGBTQ+ and ableist content. They also allow for the perpetuation of stigma and prejudice against marginalized groups, opening them up to even more targeting, dehumanization and offline violence.
The letter also expresses concern with Meta’s move to replace fact-checking with a community notes system as a means to circumvent censorship. The signed groups emphasize that fact-checking is not censorship, and the contextual labeling of posts serves to foster, not hinder, speech and debate. Under the new rules, and without built-in guidelines for ensuring reliability and accuracy, Meta’s platforms are at risk of perpetuating misinformation to the very users they serve.
Advancing Justice – AAJC and the signed groups offer Meta their continued expertise to better reaffirm true free speech without making our communities more vulnerable to targeted harm. The full letter can be read here.
吳弭市長今慶40歲 昨日誕下一女Mira
 |
| 吳弭市長帶著新生女兒Mira回家。 (吳弭在Instagram上分享的照片) |
這名女嬰，取名Mira
Wu Pewarski，算是為她的吳姓家族留下傳承。
波士頓市長辦公室在今早 (1月14日) 7點多發出的一份聲明中表示，”市長向護士、醫生及醫護人員表達最深的感謝，是他們讓她家的這事成為可能，也是他們每天工作支持了全市的許多家庭”。
 |
| 吳弭的丈夫Conor Pewarski 在Instagram上分享的女兒Mira照片。 |
波士頓環球報稱，儘管吳弭在市政府任職期間，曾成功地為波士頓市府員工爭取到育嬰假及家事假，卻曾在去年表示自己有意競選連任，不打算請育嬰假。
吳弭是波士頓市當選市長的第一位女性，有色人種及母親，親身經歷著如何兼顧繁忙公務與養兒育女的辛勞。她是在擔任波士頓市議員期間誕下2個兒子，她還從自己20歲出頭時就開始照顧母親及年幼弟妹，而且由於她母親的精神病狀態，成為最小妹妹的監護人。
吳弭的親身經歷，促使她推動許多公共政策，包括擴大托兒照顧，制定育嬰假，處理波士頓公校長期面對的挑戰，並且為打工家長及家庭提供更多支持。 (更新版)
|
Please see below a statement attributable to a City
spokesperson: |
|
BOSTON - Tuesday, January 14, 2025 - The following statement is attributable to a City spokesperson: "Yesterday at 2pm, Mayor Wu and her husband Conor welcomed Baby Mira Wu Pewarski—arriving at 8lbs, 4oz and 20 inches—to their family and to Boston. Mom and baby are in good health, and the Mayor is in touch with her senior staff. "Mayor Wu
wishes to express her deepest gratitude to the nurses, doctors, and
healthcare staff who made this possible for her family and who work everyday
to support so many families across the city." |
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