星期一, 3月 10, 2025

華人前進會慶蛇年 葉威接任共同主席 表揚費城亞裔聯合會、旅館工人工會,網約車司機

華人前進會慶蛇年,嘉賓和華林太極功夫學校瑞獅合影。(周菊子攝)
波士頓市長吳弭(Michelle Wu)和華人前進會工作人員及嘉賓合影。(周菊子攝)

(Boston Orange 周菊子波士頓報導) 華人前進會38日晚慶祝蛇年新春,有波士頓市長吳弭,10餘名州市議員及官員出席,頒發社會正義獎,工人正義獎,無名英雄獎,宣佈葉威接替黃夏儀出任共同主席,籲請各界支持網約車司機組工會,捐款幫助前進會努力。

頒獎時,出席眾人一次又一次的跟著台上高喊「我爭,我贏 (We fight, We won)」,「團結,我們贏 (Together, we win)」情緒、氣氛十分高昂。

社會正義獎得主是費城的亞裔聯合會 (AAU)和拯救唐人街聯盟,由波士頓市議員愛德華費連  (Ed Flynn)和麻州參議員Nick Collins的幕僚長Haley Walsh,連同波士頓市議會議長Ruthzee LouijeuneJulie MejiaSharon DurkanLiz Breadon等人頒發。

波士頓市長吳弭(右)感謝華人前進會為社區所做貢獻。(周菊子攝)
                         華人前進會主任陳玉珍指出,費城這2個組織為保留華埠,努力,讓人深受感動,在全美各地華埠都面對侵占,消彌的危機之際,費城組織的動員成績,非常具有啟發性。

華人前進會共同主席黃夏儀(右)交棒給葉威(中),另一名共同主席湯建華(左)同喜。
(周菊子攝)
                      過去10年,費城華埠曾面對費城人隊建棒球場、Foxwoods建賭場、以及現在費城76人隊要建籃球場等至少3次,費城華埠可能因此而消失於無形的威脅。亞裔聯合會 (AAU)和拯救唐人街聯盟等陸續發起過多次集會,包括1000多人走上街頭表達反對意見,成功推翻了這些發展計畫。

幕後英雄獎得主是Uber/Lyft網約車司機,由麻州眾議會財政委員會主席麥家威 (Aaron Michlewitz) 頒發。

「在這兒團結26號工會 (Unite Here Local 26)」獲頒工人正毅獎。(周菊子攝)
                          網約車司機和優步(Uber)/來福 (Lyft)2大網約車公司之間應否存在雇主,契約關係,網約車公司和網約車司機之間的報酬給付做法,近年在全美各地引發不小爭議。共有大約7萬名網約車司機的麻州,去年11月有過半數選民贊成選票問題3,支持網約車司機組織工會,爭取權益。

華人前進會主任陳玉珍在會中籲請座中眾人,下次搭乘網約車時,給他們一張印有二維碼的小卡片,鼓勵他們加入網約車司機協會,籌組工會。

網約車司機獲頒幕後英雄獎。(周菊子攝)
                      工人正義獎得主是「在這兒團結26號工會 (Unite Here Local 26)」,由波士頓市長吳弭 (Michelle Wu)頒發。

35日才去華府出席眾議院監察委員會聽證會,為波士頓市支持「庇護城市」辯解6個半小時的吳弭市長進場時,受到英雄式歡迎。

華人前進會介紹吳弭市長時也稱她是為社區挺身而出的領袖,支持移民,確保波士頓的每個人都受到保護,有歸屬感,是美國最安全的城市。

麻州眾議員Aaron Michlewitz(右二)頒發幕後英雄獎給
網約車司機。李素影(左三)協助翻譯。(周菊子攝)
                      吳弭市長則說,她來出席這頒獎活動,主要是為了謝謝華人前進會和會場中的每一個人,總是為了波士頓應該有的最好模樣挺身而出,讓每一個人的聲音都被人聽到,每一個人的身份都得到認可。還都得到力量來令到事務有所不同。

波士頓市議員Ed Flynn (右一)和麻州參議員Nick Collin 幕僚長Haley Walsh(左)
聯袂頒發社會正義獎給費城亞裔聯合會。(周菊子攝)

26號工會代表說明,有12家旅館 (Hotel)的工人,罷工了幾乎3個月後,在吳弭市長和華人前進會等的支持下,成功了。未來4年,每小時工資增加$10,到4年合約結束時,一名客房服務員 (roomkeeper)可以賺到年薪8萬元。

根據波士頓環球報的報導,在有26號工會代表的36家旅館中,有28家旅館簽了新合約,在未來4年內,已加入工會旅館內的非小費員工,每小時薪資增加10元,收小費的員工,增加5元。旅館還將付出額外金錢來改善退休金等福利。

華人前進會主任陳玉珍(右一)陪同費城亞裔聯合會代表領獎。左起為波士頓
市議員Ruthzee LouijeuneJulie MejiaSharon DurkanLiz Breadon。(周菊子攝)
                       華人前進會的這場蛇年春宴,也如同組織年會,在頒獎之外,還有共同主席湯建華、黃夏儀,行政主任陳玉珍的致詞與報告,以及創辦人李素影的講話。

湯建華強調該會士社區基層團體,致力為華人爭取平等全力,協助華人移民認識和餐與社區,實踐公民權利,兼及批評川普 (Donald Trump)和非民選官員的馬斯克 (Elon Musk) 大裁聯邦員工,凍結撥款,勢必影響低層人民生活。

出席政要和社會正義獎得主合影。前排左起,葉威,Haley Walsh,
麻州眾議員馬惠美,前進會主任陳玉珍,共同主席黃夏儀、湯建華、
創辦人李素影等。(周菊子攝)
                    黃夏儀先指出,向婦女致敬,提前慶祝38 的國際婦女節,接著讚許前進會的職員與執委們,敬業又熱心,還充滿同情心,竭盡所能地為社區服務,讓民眾的聲音能被人聽到,並受到重視。

黃夏儀接著宣佈,她本人已擔任共同主席多年,為培養未來的領導人才,她將交棒給年輕一代,目前擔任波士頓市第9區市議員Liz Breadon政策主任,年甫三十的葉威。

余翠梅創辦的華林太極功夫學校瑞獅展示精湛功力。(周菊子攝)
                       陳玉珍匯報了前進會過去一年來的工作成就,包括成功促成麻州地鐵 (MBTA) 推出低收入票價,爭取到大多數選民通過支持網約車司機組織工會的第3號選票問題,處理過3200多次面對面等服務,幫助社區民眾辦理入籍,登記選民、申請帶薪家事假、失業及醫療健保等社會福利。

陳玉珍表示,前進會將繼續以耐心、智慧,以人文為本,從下至上的方法,迎接2025年的挑戰。

曾任昆士小學校長的李素影(前左三)邀來到會場的老師們
和麻州教師工會會長唐佳宇(後左六)合影。(周菊子攝)
                      李素影慨言,華人前進會成立於1977年。這47年來,她和大家一起爭取權益。這個組織成立的主要目的是希望華人可以學會怎樣站出來,提出自己的要求,爭取自己的權益。47年來,該會從一個很小的,全是義工的組織,成長到現在有全職員工一起做事,也在麻州各地爭取到一點成績。 如今聯邦政府吹起縮減經費風,民眾的權益勢必受影響,人們更加需要團結一致,希望熱心人士能夠捐款支持前進會的工作。 

麻州總檢察官辦公室公眾保護及倡議局 ( Public Protection and Advocacy Bureau) 
局長麥小瓊 (Cynthia Mark),早年曾在前進會工作。(周菊子攝)
               華人前進會這晚的政要嘉賓人數極多,除前述各人外,還有麻州參議員Lydia Edwards,眾議員馬惠美 (Amy Mah Sangiolog)Kevin Honan,摩頓市議員Stephen Winslow,波士頓市房屋長Sheila Dillon,波士頓房屋管理局局長白凱恩 (Kenzie Bok),麻州教師工會會長唐佳宇 (Jessica Tang),麻州總檢察官辦公室公眾保護及倡議局 ( Public Protection and Advocacy Bureau) 局長麥小瓊 (Cynthia Mark),以及中國駐紐約總領事館領事李德,陳曲鋒。
華人前進會創辦人李素影呼籲大眾捐款支持該會經營。(周菊子攝)
波士頓房屋長Sheila Dillon 和華人前進會關係深遠。(周菊子攝)
接掌華人前進會共同主席的葉威(右)是波士頓市議員Liz Breadon的政策主任。(周菊子攝)
華人前進會主任陳玉珍(右)正在協助聯邦政府員工梅哲淇(左)、Corey Sung
 (中)籌組工會,以因應聯邦政府最近的裁員潮。(周菊子攝)
紐約中領館領事李德致詞。(周菊子攝)
網約車司機中也有不少華人。(周菊子攝)
前進會會員表演「茉莉花」。(周菊子攝)
華人前進會共同主席湯建華率會員齊唱「團結就是力量」。

星期六, 3月 08, 2025

麻州政府祝賀婦女節訂3月為婦女歷史月




It’s time to celebrate the incredible women shaping the future of science!

From ground-breaking discoveries to life-saving innovations, on the International Day of Women and Girls in Science, let’s highlight some of the remarkable women around Europe who have made history with their contributions:

- 1911: Marie Skłodowska-Curie (Poland/France) received the Nobel Prize in Chemistry for her pioneering work in radioactivity that led to the discovery of radium and polonium.
- 1938: Lise Meitner (Austria/Sweden) co-discovered nuclear fission, explaining the process by which atomic nuclei split ̵ a fundamental discovery in nuclear physics.
- 2008: Françoise Barré-Sinoussi (France) received the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for her key role in the discovery of HIV as the cause of AIDS.
- 2012: Fabiola Gianotti (Italy) led the discovery of the Higgs boson at CERN, the European Organisation for Nuclear Research. In 2016, she became the first female Director-General of the organisation.
- 2020: Emmanuelle Charpentier (France) received the Nobel Prize in Chemistry, along with American biochemist Jennifer Doudna, for the development of a method for genome editing known as CRISPR-Cas9.

While in 2023, women made up 52% of of the 78.3 million people employed in science and technology in the EU, only 41% of scientists and engineers are female. Denmark has the highest representation of female scientists and engineers with 50.8%, while Hungary has the lowest at 30.7%.

Emphasising the importance of promoting gender equality, in March 2023, Parliament called for increased support and initiatives to empower women and girls in science, technology, engineering and mathematics, recognising that their involvement is essential for sustainable development and innovation.

Read more about Parliament’s work to improve gender equality: https://europa.eu/!t99RFK

Who else should be on this list? Know a woman making an impact in science? Share their names and achievements in the comments!

華盛頓街399號5層高大樓以8年前五分之一價格售出

            (Boston Orange 編譯) 波士頓市中心一座空置的5層高大樓,最近以1300萬美元價格賣給總部設在波士頓的赫德遜集團 (Hudson Group) ,以及2名合夥人,售價僅約等於2017年的五分之一。

這棟位於華盛頓接399號的大樓,自從Barnes & Noble在大約20年前關閉了在那兒的一家書店後,就一直空著。

塞爾特人隊球星杰倫·布朗 Jaylen Brown)去年底差點就把它買了下來,用來安置他的「黑人華爾街」想法,但是他和業主,銀行業巨頭的富國銀行的談判破裂了。

總部位於波士頓的 Hudson Group 和兩個合作夥伴以 1300 萬美元現金購買了一棟空置的五層 Downtown Crossing 大樓,這幾乎是 2017 年售價的五分之一。

              這棟樓佔地 76,000 平方英尺,上一次出售是8年前。 L3 Capital LaSalle Investment Management 6300 萬美元買下,再花數百萬美元修繕,包括安裝新電梯和新的冷暖氣空調系統 (HVAC),但在新冠病毒 (Covid-19) 來襲之前沒都還沒有租戶。根據房產記錄,在買家喪失抵押品贖回權之後,貸款給他們的富國銀行 2023 年接管了這棟樓。

根據Hudson Group 合夥人 Noam Ron 的說法,新業主可能會把一、二樓保留為零售區,上面三層作為辦公室。這物業作為零售點的歷史可以追溯到一個多世紀前。

Hudson Group 的投資組合包括市中心內和郊區的住宅,以及辦公室到住房的轉換。但新業主也在賭商業租戶將被最近的物業升級和他們可以收取的租金較低所吸引,因為和許多競爭對手相比,他們為這座建築付的費用太低了。Ron 說,四樓已經有一個規格套房,或隨時可以入住的辦公空間。

Hudson Group Ron 的姻親 Evan Papanastasiou 所經營的一家房地產投資公司,以及總部位於紐約的時代股票公司 (Time Equities Inc.) 合作,買下這棟樓。據 Ron 稱,這是 Time Equities 在波士頓的第一筆交易。

波士頓市最新的市中心區域規劃提案將允許在這地點蓋一座高層塔樓。去年,Hudson Group 開始談判購買該大樓時,情況還不是這樣。波士頓官員 1 月公佈了新的區域規劃提案,不過那引發了市中心居民的強烈反對,並且尚未最終確定。

Ron 說,我們當然會考慮更大的重新發展,但我認為在今天的市場上,我們的理論是讓這個零售區恢復生機,出租這些辦公空間,然後其他一切都會很棒,”Ron 說。未來的區域規劃升級很棒,但這不是我們今天要做的。

買家把這棟樓命名為 401 Washington

星期五, 3月 07, 2025

麻州政府提供資源給遭川普政府解雇的聯邦員工


Healey-Driscoll Administration Launches Resources for Federal Workers Laid off by Trump and Musk
 

Massachusetts is ready to help federal workers with employment in private and public sectors and provide job training resources 

BOSTON — The Healey-Driscoll Administration today launched a new website — mass.gov/fedup — that provides employment and job training resources for federal workers, including individuals who have been laid off by President Donald Trump and Elon Musk. The website features job search tools for careers in state and local government, the state’s MassTalent platform to promote careers in high-growth industries, and services and job training resources available at MassHire career centers statewide.  
 
“Donald Trump and Elon Musk have been recklessly firing essential public servants who care for our veterans, support our fishing industry, protect consumers, maintain our parks and more. The good news is that Massachusetts is home to world class talent and employers who are eager to hire, and we know members of our federal workforce have the skills to make a difference here,” saidGovernor Maura Healey. “To all of our federal workers – if you’re fed up with the damaging tactics of Trump and Musk, we want you to consider continuing your career here in Massachusetts, whether that’s in state or local government or in one of our many thriving industries.” 
 
“This website will help serve as a crucial front door for impacted federal employees who are looking to navigate employment opportunities across the state,” saidLieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll. “By bringing together resources from across the public and private sectors, we are making it easier for skilled workers to get the information they need to connect with employers and join Team Massachusetts.” 

The website acts as a single entry point for federal employees to navigate resources, including connecting with state and local government job opportunities through the state’s MassCareers portal, the Massachusetts Municipal Association’s job board, or the state’s MassTalent platform that connect employers and jobseekers for career opportunities in advanced manufacturing, clean energy, health and human services, life sciences, and technology plus services and job training resources available through MassHire career centers in regions across the state. 

“Massachusetts wants to keep amazing talent here and is ready to bridge connections for federal workers for new opportunities and we want those opportunities to be in our Commonwealth,” saidSecretary of Labor and Workforce Development Lauren Jones. “Launching this website is one way we are demonstrating Massachusetts values the skilled talent here and we stand ready to hopefully make it easier to navigate resources building connections for our talent.”  

The website also includes veteran-specific employment resources to support those who have served and are now facing uncertainty due to federal workforce cuts.Veterans make up nearly 30 percent of the entire federal workforce, and the recent VA layoffs disproportionately impact these workers, jeopardizing veteran care and services nationwide. 

“Veterans are essential to the federal workforce, and these layoffs threaten both their livelihoods and the critical services they provide,” said Veterans Services Secretary Jon Santiago. “Massachusetts is stepping up to ensure they have opportunities to continue their mission. We encourage every affected worker to explore opportunities in Massachusetts, where their dedication and expertise are valued.” 

Massachusetts has more than 46,000 residents who work for the federal government in various sectors, including public administration, education, transportation and warehousing, and for the postal service. The resources highlighted on the new website include more than 160,000 job postings in the private and public sector.  

“The Trump/Musk Administration has taken a wrecking ball to our federal government - weaponizing massive cuts and mass unemployment that is creating real pain for thousands of working-class people in Massachusetts,” said Chrissy Lynch, President of the Massachusetts AFL-CIO. “We appreciate the Healey Administration has created resources to help federal workers navigate how to keep themselves and their families afloat duringunemployment, and to help match them with new job opportunities that allow them to utilize the skills and passion that led them to public service.” 
 
For more information, please visit the website atwww.mass.gov/fedupor find a local MassHire career center.  

波士頓房東會3/8辦講座談AI助攻房屋買賣

波士頓房東會 (BLA)2月份慶祝新春時,在潘樹仁(前右一) 家聚會。(周菊子攝)

             (Boston Orange) 波士頓房東協會繼2月份聚會迎新春後,38日的月例會將討論「如何用人工智慧來幫助買賣房地產 (How to use AI to help buying and selling real estate)」。

              波士頓房東協會由中城地產潘樹仁和美洲銀行原始股東之一的劉伯岳等人一起創辦,為房東提供同樂交流,互助合作機會的平台,自創辦以來,幾無間斷的每個月舉辦講座或聚會。

              2月份的聚會中,部分出席者感嘆年紀漸長,子女各有所忙,有意賣屋,另覓居地,佛羅里達州,拉斯維加斯等都是選項。也有人談起儘管新罕布夏州物業稅全美第三高,但個人所得免稅,反正退休,大房子換小房子之後,值得考慮。

              3月份的講座,訂38日晚在網上舉行,潘樹仁將主講一場「如何用人工智慧來幫助買賣房地產 」,和出席者分享他的實際經驗與心得。

              38日當天下午2點半起,先是房東交流時間,晚上7點至8點,才開始網上講座。晚上8點到12點,另有實體交流,有意參加者需事先報名。查詢詳情可洽潘樹仁617-834-4071,劉伯岳603-439-1239

              報名鏈接: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZMtd-GhrzksGtK7-bePnWpU8_rXekvCvBG7Pass Code: 148206