Healey-Driscoll Administration Swears in Members of Fossil Fuel Workforce Commission

Healey-Driscoll Administration Swears in Members of Fossil Fuel Workforce Commission  

2024 Climate Law established special commission to develop a report on the impacts of the clean energy transition on workers employed in fossil fuel industries  

BOSTON – The Healey-Driscoll Administration today swore in members of a special commission to study the impacts on the fossil fuel workforce, which was established by the 2024 Climate Law. The Commission on Fossil Fuel Workforce will measure and monitor the impacts on fossil fuel workers and industries and examine the ways to increase access to employment, training, and workforce opportunities in clean energy industries and related fields, and submit a report to the Legislature at the end of the year.  

“People work hard every day to ensure we have a safe and reliable source of energy to heat and power our homes and businesses,” said Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary Rebecca Tepper. “We already have underway efforts to ensure the necessary skills training and job opportunities are available to workers, such as in geothermal energy. This Commission will help us develop a coordinated roadmap for this work with everyone impacted shaping the recommendations.”    

“As we work towards our climate goals, we also need to make sure that both current and future workers have access to the skill development and job training they need to fully participate in our clean energy workforce,” said Labor and Workforce Development Secretary Lauren Jones. “This Commission will allow our Administration to work collaboratively with labor, employers, training partners, and all stakeholders to ensure workers have the support they need to successfully transition to this growing industry.”    

The Fossil Fuel Worker Transition Commission will be coordinated jointly by the Office of Energy Transformation (OET) and the Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development. OET was established in 2024 to address the gas-to-electric infrastructure transition and ensure a just transition for workers and businesses.  

Appointees:  

Melissa Lavinson, co-chair 

Executive Director, Office of Energy Transformation  

Josh Cutler, co-chair 

Undersecretary of Labor and Workforce Development 

Sarah Wilkinson 

Commissioner of Division of Occupational Licensure and Office of Public Safety, Executive Office of Economic Development  

María Belén Power 

Undersecretary of Environmental Justice & Equity  

Jennifer Applebaum 

Managing Director of Workforce Development at MassCEC  

Nikki Bruno 

Vice President, Clean Technologies at Eversource Energy  

Meghan Leahy 

Regional Vice President at Cogentrix Energy, LLC  

Kristen Gowin 

Executive Manager at National Electrical Contractors Association of Greater Boston  

Abel Vargas 

President at Valley Home Insulation  

Amy McGuire 

Senior Director, Market Development at Highland Electric Fleets  

Lawrence Lessard 

Director at Achieve Renewable Energy, LLC  

Mark Melnick 

Director, Economic & Public Policy Research at UMass Donahue Institute  

John Cook 

President at Springfield Technical Community College  

Steve Finnigan 

Sub District Director at United Steelworkers (USW)  

Daniel Leary 

President of Local 369 at Utility Workers Union-America (UWUA)  

David Keating 

International Representative at International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW)  

Harry Brett 

International Representative at United Association  

Michael Vartabedian 

Assistant Directing Business Representative at International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers  

Frank Callahan 

President, Massachusetts Building Trades Unit (MBTU)  

Greandoll Oliva 

Youth Leader in Chelsea and Community Organizer with GreenRoots  

Ana Sofia 

Senior Program Director at La Colaborativa 

波士頓黃氏宗親會慶蛇年新春 麻州州長Maura Healey鋒頭最勁

波士頓黃氏宗親會三頭新獅，架式十足。(周菊子攝)

              (Boston Orange 周菊子波士頓報導) 波士頓黃氏宗親會 3月1日晚在帝苑大酒樓筵開50多席，慶祝蛇年新春。穿著一襲白色西裝的麻州州長奚莉 (Maura Healey) 揚言，全美沒有哪一州的華人社區比麻州還強，博得全場熱烈掌聲。

波士頓黃氏宗親會和嘉賓，以及教練黃雄心(前左一)率領瑞獅合影。(周菊子攝)

              黃氏宗親會今年的春節聯歡暨敬老大會，不但有三頭新瑞獅，由美東副總長黃偉健，波士頓主席黃光沐，以及前主席黃兆祥點睛，更有州長、州市議員來賀，全美元老，美西總長等外埠宗親遠道而來，氣勢極旺。

               會中還安排奉上紅包給8名90歲以上耆英，送出利市給中華廣教學校與僑立學校的鼓勵後輩向學，瑞獅拋出「人才輩出，族旺枝繁」，「恭喜發財，會務興旺」，「恭喜發財，萬事如意」等吉祥語，意頭十足。

嘉賓接受瑞獅祝賀。(周菊子攝)

麻州州長Maura Healey(中)和左起，黃官羨，黃惠聰，潘焱黃國威，
黃周麗桃、陳曲鋒，黃卓才，以及黃氏主席黃光沐(後右)。(周菊子攝)

             毫無疑問，當晚鋒頭最勁的就是麻州州長奚莉。她在邀約她出席的黃周麗桃陪伴下，一進門就停不了的握手寒暄，應邀合影。見到黃氏婦女部，更是高興得合不攏嘴的要捍衛女權。

麻州州長Maura Healey(中)和州市議員們一起奉上紅包敬老，向黃官羨，黃萬，
黃福昇，黃國亮，黃文操，黃碧洪，黃根鍊，余黃寶絲等耆老拜年。(周菊子攝)

麻州州長Maura Healey強調麻州華人最棒。(周菊子攝)

                             波士頓市長吳弭(Michelle Wu)今年競選連任，原本也預定出席黃氏公所春宴，不料當晚傍晚5點半多，後灣區發生休班警察擊斃一名持刀兇嫌案件，未克出席。

              奚莉州長說，她聽說蛇年是特別幸運的年份，而現在或許是得有些真正的好運。總之她很激動，這晚來到這兒，謝謝黃氏宗親會的邀請，以及黃氏所有成員一整年的努力。她還點名當晚出席的麻州參議員Nick Collins，麻州眾議員黃子安、陳德基，以及波士頓市議員Ed Flynn， Erin Murphy等人。

              奚莉州長知道這晚有來自洛杉磯，紐約，舊金山等地的人出席，而她想要大家知道，全美沒有哪個地方的華人社區比麻州波士頓還強，包括波士頓市長吳弭 (Michelle Wu)，麻州地鐵總經理伍偉華 (Philip Eng)，麻州經濟發展廳廳長郝伊平，都是華人。

              她還希望大家知道，她是一個重視多元化的人，因為整個麻州歷史就見證著許多化融合，使得麻州成為一個更強大的州。

              已表態將競選連任的奚莉州長也藉機會說明，她知道社區民眾關注可負擔住宅，尊敬耆老，例如座中現年已95歲的黃官羨等耆老，重視教育，希望醫療健保可負擔，交通也便利等等。她希望繼續努力，讓麻州成為一個最棒，最適宜居住的州，無論是在教育、醫療健保或創新上，都是全美第一的州。

右起，麻州眾議員陳德基、黃子安和麻州參議員(左起)Nick Collins
送上表揚狀，波士頓黃氏主席黃光沐，美東副總長黃偉健代表接受。(周菊子攝)

              駐紐約中國總領事館這晚有領僑處處長潘焱，領事陳曲鋒前來拜年。潘焱先為自己不會說廣東話致歉，接著感謝黃氏宗親會過去一年來熱心幫助僑胞，積極維護僑胞的合法權益，弘揚中國傳統文化，為中美關係發展和兩國人民的友好交往，做出重要貢獻。

波士頓市議員Ed Flynn(右一)、Erin Murphy(左二)送上表揚狀，
波士頓黃氏主席黃光沐(中)，美東副總長黃偉健(右二)，波士頓消防局
副局長黃瑞瑜代表接受。(周菊子攝)

              黃氏宗親會的全美元老黃卓才，美西總長黃惠聰，副總長黃若愚，紐約副主席黃啟超，三藩市副主席黃勁宏等，這晚有多名黃氏宗親從外地來賀。

              這晚的蛇年春宴由黃瑞瑜、黃紹培擔任司儀，黃氏婦女部演唱祖訓歌及新年歌之外，還有宗親黃兆祥 (Justin Wong)彈吉他，元老黃國威和老搭檔雷玉霞等獻唱。

             由於波士頓黃氏宗親會主席黃光沐同時也是紐英崙潮州同鄉會副會長，這晚潮州同鄉會的會長林全峰率同副會長楊光霖，宋良銘等人到會支持，宋良銘還一舉抽中當晚最大獎，現金300元。(更新版)

波士頓黃氏送上利市給中華廣教學校和僑立學校，
由雷國輝(左二)，江輝輝((中)代表領取。(周菊子攝)

黃氏婦女部獻唱組訓歌，新年歌。(周菊子攝)

黃氏婦女部和麻州州長Maura Healey合影。(周菊子攝)

黃氏宗親、嘉賓和麻州州長Maura Healey合影。右起，羅省元老黃卓才，
波士頓美東副總長黃偉健，主席黃光沐，元老黃官羨，元老黃國威，
中文秘書黃光野，財政黃開洪，美西副總長黃若愚。(周菊子攝)

黃氏主席黃光沐致詞。(周菊子攝)

中領館領僑處處長潘焱致詞。。(周菊子攝)

黃氏美西總長黃惠聰。。(周菊子攝)

黃氏紐約副主席黃啟超。。(周菊子攝)

紐英崙中華公所主席雷國輝。。(周菊子攝)

伍胥山公所美東副總長伍輝民。。(周菊子攝)

麻州州長Maura Healey(右三)和州市議員，黃周麗桃(前左四)。。(周菊子攝)

波士頓黃氏主席黃光沐把300元現金獎交給潮州同鄉會副會長
宋良銘(右)。。(周菊子攝)

波士頓黃氏主席黃光沐(左一)，美東副總長黃偉健(右二)，司儀黃紹培(右一)
把現金獎100元發給得獎者雷展灝。。(周菊子攝)

潮州同鄉會會長林全峰(右二)和副會長宋良銘(右一)、楊光霖(右三)到場支持同為
該會副會長，也是波士頓黃氏宗親會主席的黃光沐(左一)。。(周菊子攝)

潮州同鄉會這桌在抽獎時最熱情，就真的抽中最大獎。。(周菊子攝)

黃周麗桃(中右)請麻州州長Maura Healey和她的小幫手們合影。

黃氏宗親歌手黃兆祥 (Justin Wong)獻唱。。(周菊子攝)

黃氏元老黃國威和老搭檔雷玉霞合唱。(周菊子攝)

波士頓黃氏蛇年春宴席開50多桌。(周菊子攝)

波士頓黃氏宗親慶新春 麻州州長來道賀 (黃定國圖片輯)

黃氏醒獅隊展示祥龍騰躍功夫。

麻州州長Maura Healey(中)和黃氏婦女部合影。

麻州州長Maura Healey和黃氏元老、職員及嘉賓們合影。

 

紐英崙伍胥山公所訂4月27日慶祝76週年

前排左起，伍偉業、伍振中，伍煥華、伍輝民，伍鍾美貞、伍煥華夫人，
李伍碧香，伍詹淑慧等宗親在宗親們為76週年慶製作的大布幔前合影。(周菊子攝)

               (Boston Orange 周菊子波士頓報導) 紐英崙伍胥山公所將於4月27日迎接蛇年新春，慶祝成立76週年，公所幹部忙碌非常，3月1日再次在波士頓華埠泰勒街會址，分派任務，匯報籌備進展，還一起聆聽司徒福柱講解樓業保險調漲原由。

伍振中(右起)、伍偉業、伍煥華，伍輝民(左一)等伍氏宗親3月1日
在會所開會，籌備76週年慶。(周菊子攝)

              伍氏元老伍煥華指出，為了讓後輩宗親看到前輩們的努力，鼓勵下一代傳承宗族歷史，波士頓伍氏公所決定在今年慶祝成立76週年之際，印製特刊，同時表揚歷年來對公所有貢獻人士。

根據全美伍氏宗親會記錄，最早從波士頓去參加全美懇親大會的是伍福群。1965年時，他單槍匹馬，帶過去65名宗親捐給的381元懇親費。其中有27人每人捐3元，可見當年宗親的儘管過得刻苦，對家族宗親卻毫不吝嗇的心意。

那時候，波士頓伍氏公所租用了好事福街14號做會址。

              1979年，波士頓伍氏宗親才發起購買會址的募款活動，並在本地與外埠宗親們少則10元，多至5000元的慷慨解囊支持中，買下泰勒街22號一棟4層樓房，從此成為「有殼蝸牛」。

              由於黃伍一家親的歷史淵源，波士頓黃氏宗親會當年也有46人捐了9650元。

              伍煥華表示，從1978到2025年間，伍氏公所歷經19名主席悉心經營，出過伍育俊，伍伯和，伍煥華等3名全美元老，以及伍輝民這位現任美東副總長。還有曾任波士頓國民黨常委的李伍綺蓮，創辦中華耆英會的梅伍銀寬，迄今當了15年僑聲音樂社社長的李伍碧香，曾任中華廣教學校副校長的伍鍾美貞，也是全美洪門致公堂元老的伍伯和，曾任波士頓安良工商會會長的伍偉業，曾任國際獅子會波士頓會長的伍國光，以及創辦神筆基金會，全世界首個龍舟博物館的伍振忠等人，為波士頓僑社服務，伍氏公所希望藉由會刊為伍氏歷史留下點傳承記載。

羅德島州長Dan McKee宣佈 2026 競選連任

羅德島州州長Dan Mckee (左二)和羅德島州財政廳廳長Jame Diossa 在2014年時，
應邀出席葉超(左)、吳子平(右)舉辦的活動。(周菊子攝，檔案照片)

               (Boston Orange 綜合編譯) 羅德島州州長丹·麥基 （Dan McKee）今 (3月3) 日發佈視頻，正式宣佈2026年時將競選連任。2022在民主黨初選中落敗的前CVS高管Helena Foulkes，也傳將再次角逐。

              坊間還傳聞，羅德島州眾議會議長Joe Shekarchi也有意參選州長。

              麥基州長在視頻中表示，他接掌羅德島州長時，面對著新冠病毒疫情殘局，吸毒率上升，學校表現不佳等諸多不利狀況，過去這一年，又遭遇華盛頓大橋破損，羅德島州醫療保健系統受到嚴重網路攻擊等挑戰，但他和團隊積極因應，仍取得許多成就，包括讓羅德島州的基礎建設在美國內的排名上升了12位，被福布斯 (Forbes)評為第15位最適合創業州，斥資1億元修復道路，爭取到2.3億元聯邦經費重建華盛頓大橋，建造新的國家健康實驗室，開了8家心理健康支援保健中心，爭取到 1.5 億美元投資，支持羅德島大學海灣校區海洋學校的發展等。

              麥基希望選民支持他再當4年州長，以繼續許多還待完成的工作。

1951年出生的麥基州長，現年73歲，一旦當選連任，做滿4年任期，卸任時他將總共在位9年10個月又5天。

波士頓環球報稱，自從2021年，時任羅德島州州長的雷萌朵 (Gina Raimondo)被拜登總統徵招入閣，出任美國商務部部長，州長一職由時任副州長的麥基接任後，麥基就已開始推動羅德島州2030計畫，要改革教育，提高家庭收入，建造更健康的州，改善基礎設施及能源等。

麥基政府內的高層人員也因此從未懷疑過的認定他會競選連任。

目前羅德島州境內有數個民意調查差距不小。AFL-CIO上週公布的民調是麥基的支持率為29%，公民健康和機構專案 (The Civic Health and Institutions Project)一月份的民調支持率是27%，晨間諮詢(Morning Consult)在去年年底的民調結果則是44%。

波士頓環球報指陳，Helena Foulkes雖然還未正式宣布參選，但她已經募得100萬元競選經費，麥基的競選帳戶截至2024年年底，帳面上有55萬2000元。

波士頓城區週末傳命案 休班警員拔槍擊斃持刀追殺者

               (Boston Orange 綜合報導) 3月1日傍晚，大約5點半左右，不下11輛警車，2輛救護車，從南端 (South End) 的天滿街開往達特茅斯街 (Dartmouth)的柯普利廣場附近 。沿路民眾莫名所以，後來才知道，一名休班警察在制止一名持刀揮舞人士時，掏槍擊斃了肇事者。

              事件緣由是有2個人被一個揮舞著刀，要次他們的人追趕，衝進波約斯頓街500號一帶的「福來雞 (Chick-fil-A)」餐廳。店內一名休班警察見狀，表明自己身份後，勒令跟著進店的持刀者放下武器，沒想到這名持刀者拒不理會，休班警員於是開槍射他了。

              這名持刀者隨後被送往醫院，在那兒被宣告死亡。

              事件當中，無其他人受傷。

              波士頓警察局局長Michael Cox和波士頓市長吳弭 (Michelle Wu) 在事件發生後，趕到事發地點，在街上面對電視台記者稱許這名休班警員反應迅速，拯救人民生命。她們也向死者家人表達哀悼之意。

              薩福克郡地方檢察官Kevin Hayden隨後也發言表示，調查者相信，這起持刀刺，開槍射案件，還有其他人涉案，希望民眾提供線索。

              無論是波士頓警察局，或是薩福克郡地方檢察官辦公室，都未透露持刀者或休班警察是誰的訊息。

             當晚在街頭看到一連串有不下10輛警車呼嘯而來的民眾困惑質疑，波士頓警察局或薩福克郡地方檢察官辦公室為什麼不公佈涉案持刀者，或拔槍休班警察的人名，身份，又是什麼原因導致波士頓警察局要一連派出11輛警車到現場，以及照規定，休班警員在修班期間是否仍可隨身攜帶槍枝，在甚麼樣的情況下才可拔槍等因素。也有民眾好奇，事件發生時到底是什麼狀況，為什麼警察會拔槍對付一名持刀者。

                       波士頓市議會議員和波士頓市長吳弭，上週四才和波士頓城中區鄰里民眾及商家開會，討論安全問題，研究去年波士頓才宣稱自己是全美最安全大都會，為什麼城中區小型偷盜案卻飆升，70%的民眾都覺得沒以前那麼安全了。

              波士頓市市長吳弭在3月1日晚，原本預定出席波士頓黃氏宗親會的蛇年春宴，因為此事，改變了行程。

Governor Healey Signs Supplemental Budget to Reduce Cost of State’s Family Shelter System, Make it Safer for Shelter Residents and Communities

 Governor Healey Signs Supplemental Budget to Reduce Cost of State’s Family Shelter System, Make it Safer for Shelter Residents and Communities 

Releases independent report from former Boston Police Commissioner Ed Davis; Security recommendations will be implemented 
 

BOSTON – Governor Maura Healey today signed a supplemental budget that includes her proposals to reduce the taxpayer cost of the state’s Emergency Assistance family shelter system and additional changes to make it safer for shelter residents and communities.  

She also released the results of a security assessment she requested from former Boston Police Commissioner Ed Davis, president and CEO of The Edward Davis Company (EDC), with recommendations to enhance safety at shelter sites. The administration will be retaining EDC to assist with the implementation of the report’s recommendations, many of which are already underway. One of the report’s key recommendations is to limit the policy of presumptive eligibility when placing families, and the supplemental budget will enable the administration to do so with its signing today.  

The supplemental budget proposals build on the administration’s work to help families find stable housing and reduce the size of the shelter system in recent months.  

Last month, the system saw nearly 700 families exit to stable housing, the highest number seen in over a decade. As a result of this work, the system currently serves approximately 5,800 families, which represents a 22 percent reduction from peak levels seen in 2023 and 2024. More than 75 percent of families now seeking shelter are long-time Massachusetts families. The administration has already reduced the number of hotel shelters by half as they work toward their goal of closing all hotel shelters by the end of the year. 

“This supplemental budget includes critical improvements that I proposed to reduce the taxpayer costs of the family shelter system and make it safer for residents and our communities. We all know that urgent action is needed to lower the cost of the system and make sure it is a viable, safe and temporary option for Massachusetts families who have fallen on hard times,” said Governor Healey. “We’re grateful for the hard work of the Legislature for passing this important bill and to Ed Davis and his team for their review of the security of our system – and we're ready to get to work on implementation.” 

At $425 million, the Fiscal Year 2025 supplemental budget provides the necessary funding to support Emergency Assistance (EA) shelter-related services through the remainder of this fiscal year. 

The bill also includes important policy changes proposed by Governor Healey in January to ensure a more affordable, safe and sustainable EA program going forward. The administration will begin implementing many of these changes, including: 

• Continuing to require disclosure of criminal history and CORI checks on all adult (18+) applicants. 

• Ensuring review of identity, residency, lawful status, and familial relationship for all household members prior to placement. 

The administration will release regulations and enact the additional policy provisions from the supplemental budget, including an updated 6-month length of stay and changes to the presumptive eligibility process. The administration also already has plans underway to reduce caseload to 4,000, including by closing all hotel shelters by the end of 2025. 

The EDC report also makes several recommendations for enhancing safety and security at shelter sites, improving shelter staff training and support; enhancing intake and placement procedures; strengthening onsite shelter security measures; reviewing and enhancing EOHLC policies; improving data collection and tracking; and establishing consistent shelter security standards.  

Many of these recommendations have already been addressed by action Governor Healey has taken administratively or through the supplemental budget. For example, Governor Healey directed that all residents 18+ applying for or currently living in EA shelter receive a CORI check, in addition to the sex offender registry checks and warrant checks already being performed on all applicants and residents systemwide. At the time, CORI checks had not been required by law, but Governor Healey ordered them to be conducted as an added layer of public safety and security. All adult EA residents have now been CORI checked or will be terminated from the program if they do not consent.