波士頓市在Allston提供10天COVID-19免費檢測

(Boston Orange 編譯)波士頓市長馬丁華殊(Martin J. Walsh)今(21)日宣佈，波市府和東波士頓鄰里健康中心(East Boston Neighborhood Health Center)合作，即日起至週六的8月1日止，在奧斯頓(Allston)劍橋街500號的BCYF Jackson Mann社區中心這臨時地點，為有症狀及無症狀的居民提供免費，保密的新型冠狀病毒檢測。                         任何人都可直接走進去做檢測，市府雖然不硬性規定，但鼓勵民眾要先打電話到617-568-4500登記。 馬丁華殊說，對個人或家庭來說，做新型冠狀病毒檢測以釐清狀況，是非常基本必要的，對市府衡量重新開放的安全也很重要。 BCYF Jackson Mann社區中心開放檢測的日期和時間，依序為: 星期二，7月21日週二至7月24日週五，下午2點至7點；7月25日週六，早上10點至下午3點；7月28日週二到7月31日的下午2點至7點，8月1日週六的早上10點至下午3點。 在奧斯頓這臨時檢測站之外，新型冠狀病毒檢測在全市還有20個地方。查詢詳情可洽市長熱線617-534-5050，或上網https://www.boston.gov/departments/public-health-commission/map-covid-19-testing-sites。               波士頓市府表示，市府一直在和社區健康中心合作，尤其是COVID-19感染率高的社區，增加檢測率。截至7月13日為止，波士頓市居民共有99,279人做過COVID-19檢測，其中14.2%檢測結果陽性，比7月6日那一週的15.2%，降低了1個百分點。東波士頓，麥特潘，海德公園及多徹斯特和市內其他地區相比，陽性比率一直都比較高些。若以族裔來分，截至7月17日，17.4%為亞裔，37%為黑人，28%為西語裔或拉丁裔，25%為白人，7%為多族裔或其他類別。查詢最新的波士頓鄰里數據可上網https://bphc.org/whatwedo/infectious-diseases/Infectious-Diseases-A-to-Z/covid-19/Pages/default.aspx。              波士頓市長馬丁華殊和波士頓彈性基金執行委員會已撥發172萬元來擴大COVID-19檢測，以及給社區健康中心做文化上適當的外展及教育，包括Bowdoin Street Community Health Center, Codman Square Community Health Center, The Dimock Center, DotHouse Health, Mattapan Community Health Center, Uphams Corner Community Health Center, Whittier Street Community Health Center, Charles River Community Health, Fenway Health, Greater Roslindale Medical & Dental Center, Harbor Health, East Boston Neighborhood Health Center, Harvard Street Neighborhood Health Center,  Southern Jamaica Plain Health Center, South Boston Community Health Center, NEW Health Charlestown, South End Community Health Center, and Brookside Community Health Cente。               該基金同時支持那些社區健康中心的遠距醫療服務及設備，以及把檢測和居家安全治療的選項連接起來。查詢有關波士頓重新開放的更多資訊，可上網boston.gov/reopening。民眾有疑問可撥打311，這波士頓市民24小時熱線，或是發簡訊BOSCOVID到888-777，以按時接收有11種語言的簡訊警告。 MAYOR WALSH ANNOUNCES FREE POP-UP COVID-19 TESTING IN ALLSTON The 10-day pop-up site is in partnership with the East Boston Neighborhood Health Center

BOSTON - Tuesday, July 21, 2020 - Mayor Martin J. Walsh today announced that the City of Boston, in partnership with the East Boston Neighborhood Health Center, is offering confidential COVID-19 testing at no cost for both symptomatic and asymptomatic individuals at a pop-up location in Allston. The COVID-19 testing initiative will be available for residents starting today, Tuesday, July 21 to Saturday, August 1 at BCYF Jackson Mann Community Center located at 500 Cambridge Street in Allston. Testing is available to anyone by walk-up only. Registration is not mandatory, but residents are encouraged to register in advance by calling (617) 568-4500.  "COVID-19 testing is fundamental to individuals and families' clarity, and it's also important for guiding our gradual and safe reopening plans. As a City, we will continue to place the health and safety of our residents as our top priority so we must continue to make decisions based on public health data," said Mayor Walsh. "Thank you to the East Boston Neighborhood Health Center for your partnership in making COVID-19 testing more accessible for more residents." The dates and hours of operation at BCYF Jackson Mann Community Center are:  Tuesday, July 21 - Friday, July 24: 2:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. Saturday, July 25: 10:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. Tuesday, July 28- Friday, July 31: 2:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. Saturday, August 1: 10:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.   In addition to the pop-up site in Allston, COVID-19 testing is available at over 20 locations across the city. Mobile testing sites also continue to be available at select locations, prioritizing neighborhoods and populations that need dedicated testing efforts to create equitable access to testing. Individuals can call the Mayor's Health Line with any questions using 617-534-5050. For a complete list of all testing sites, visit here.  The City of Boston has been partnering with community health centers to increase access to testing, particularly in neighborhoods experiencing higher rates of COVID-19. As of July 13, 2020, there have been 99,279 COVID-19 tests of Boston residents of which 14.2 percent have testing positive, down from 15.2 percent reported through July 6, 2020. The incidence rate of COVID-19 has been higher for East Boston, Mattapan, Hyde Park and Dorchester compared to the rest of Boston. Of cases where race/ethnicity was known, as of July 17, 4 percent were Asian, 37 percent were Black, 28 percent were Hispanic or Latino, 25 percent were white, and 7 percent identified as multi-racial or another racial/ethnic group. The latest numbers of cases by Boston neighborhoods are available here. Mayor Walsh and the Boston Resiliency Fund Steering Committee have dedicated over $1,720,000 to expand COVID-19 testing and conduct culturally appropriate outreach and education to community health centers across City of Boston neighborhoods, including Bowdoin Street Community Health Center, Codman Square Community Health Center, The Dimock Center, DotHouse Health, Mattapan Community Health Center, Uphams Corner Community Health Center, Whittier Street Community Health Center, Charles River Community Health, Fenway Health, Greater Roslindale Medical & Dental Center, Harbor Health, East Boston Neighborhood Health Center, Harvard Street Neighborhood Health Center,  Southern Jamaica Plain Health Center, South Boston Community Health Center, NEW Health Charlestown, South End Community Health Center, and Brookside Community Health Center. The Fund has also supported telehealth services and equipment at those community health centers as well to connect testing to safe treatment options at home. Resources and information about COVID-19 are available online. Resources available on boston.gov and through City departments include support for renters and homeowners; small businesses; free meals for Boston students; free toiletries for Boston students; support for older residents; information on homeless shelters; resources for those in recovery or those who have a substance use disorder; and mental health resources. More information on Boston's reopening can be found at boston.gov/reopening. For additional questions or programs, please visit our coronavirus website or call 3-1-1, Boston's 24-hour constituent hotline. Text BOSCOVID to 888-777 to receive text alerts on a regular basis, available in 11 languages.

MAYOR WALSH ANNOUNCES PRESERVATION OF 97 AFFORDABLE UNITS IN ROXBURY

MAYOR WALSH ANNOUNCES PRESERVATION OF 97 AFFORDABLE UNITS IN ROXBURY

BOSTON - July 21, 2020 - Building on his commitment to creating and maintaining affordable housing in the City of Boston, Mayor Martin J. Walsh today announced the preservation and the start of the rehabilitation of 97 affordable rental units at the Newcastle Saranac Apartments in Roxbury. Newcastle-Saranac is an existing urban residential development comprising two four-story buildings on two city blocks.  "In Boston, we are committed to creating safe, stable housing for all Boston residents. I am proud that, together with our partners, we have been able to preserve the affordability of 97 homes in Boston," said Mayor Walsh. "We will continue to preserve and grow our affordable housing stock in Boston, and the acquisition and renovation of  this building will ensure that residents living here will not be priced out of their homes." Through the joint efforts of CEDAC, MassHousing, and the City of Boston's Department of Neighborhood Development's Housing Preservation Program, the development was acquired by Fenway CDC in early 2019. Last month, the Fenway CDC and their development partner, The Schochet Companies, successfully finalized the financing needed to rehab the development, while preserving affordability in perpetuity by utilizing additional State and City resources. "Closing on this project the midst of COVID-19 did not make this already very complex transaction any easier, but the public partners for this project truly went above and beyond to make sure it could close in time to get construction safely started. At one point I think we had someone from nearly every Department at the City working on this project - during COVID - to make sure it crossed the finish line," said Leah Camhi, Executive Director of Fenway CDC. "I want to extend my sincerest gratitude and thanks to everyone at the City of Boston, CEDAC, MassHousing, and DHCD who helped make the Newcastle-Saranac Apartments project feasible. We could not have preserved and rehabbed these units without working with our public partners." This preservation transaction was made possible with a strong community development infrastructure. The acquisition and rehab of Newcastle Saranac would not have been possible without significant support from the City of Boston's Department of Neighborhood Development Neighborhood Housing Trust, Boston Planning & Development Agency's Off-Site Inclusionary Development Policy fund, MassHousing, CEDAC and the Massachusetts Department of Housing and Community Development.  "The deep affordability of these units for nearly a hundred households, contrasted with the rents of market-rate housing in the area, made their preservation especially critical for maintaining the vibrancy and diversity of the neighborhood," said MassHousing Executive Director Chrystal Kornegay. "Thanks to a strong collaborative effort by the Commonwealth, the City of Boston, the Community Economic Development Assistance Corporation, the Fenway CDC, the Schochet Companies, and the residents of Newcastle Saranac, the community will see affordable homes preserved and substantially renovated. MassHousing is pleased to be a partner in this important transaction." The Schochet Companies provided development services for the transaction and will continue in that role through construction. Schochet also serves as the management agent. "Now, with ever more economic uncertainty coming our way we are beyond thrilled that these 97 units are preserved as affordable housing forever," said Schochet CEO Richard Henken. "These are great, beautiful properties in an outstanding location, and we are excited for the families who call them home now and will in the future."  Mayor Walsh is a leader nationally on housing with a strong commitment to increasing access to homeownership, preventing displacement and promoting fair and equitable housing access. Newcastle-Sarnac's preservation strongly aligns with the City's housing goals outlined in Housing a Changing City: Boston 2030. The City's overall housing target is the creation of 69,000 new units, including 15,000 units of affordable housing, by 2030 to meet Boston's population growth.  Since the release of the original Housing a Changing City: Boston 2030 plan in 2014, income-restricted housing stock, designed to increase affordable housing, has grown along with overall new production. Nearly 20 percent of housing units are income-restricted, and 25 percent of rental units are income-restricted.  About the Department of Neighborhood Development The Department of Neighborhood Development is responsible for housing people experiencing homelessness, developing affordable housing, and ensuring that renters and homeowners can find, maintain, and stay in their homes. As part of the ongoing COVID-19 response, the Office of Housing Stability is also conducting tenant's rights workshops to educate residents about the eviction moratorium. The Boston Home Center continues to provide down payment assistance to first-time homebuyers and home repairs for seniors and low-income residents. The Supportive Housing Division is working with various partners around the city to rapidly house individuals who are experiencing homelessness. About Fenway CDC  Fenway CDC is a 47- year-old non-profit Community Development Corporation (CDC) based in the Fenway neighborhood of Boston (MA). The CDC is devoted to enhancing the stability, sustainability, and diversity of the Fenway neighborhood by providing opportunities for all Fenway residents, particularly those of limited means, to thrive in the community. Development and maintenance of affordable housing is a primary component of Fenway CDC's mission. Fenway CDC currently owns over 400 rental apartments and about 650 residents call CDC-owned units their home. For more information about Fenway CDC please visit www.fenwaycdc.org.  About The Schochet Companies The Schochet Companies is a full-service real estate development and management company founded by Jay R. Schochet more than forty years ago. Since that time the company has developed, owned, and/or managed more than 7,000 apartments, the bulk of which are affordable, and more than 600,000 square feet of retail and commercial space throughout New England and on the West Coast. Today, Schochet Companies owns and/or manages more than 5,000 apartments and 100,000 square feet of commercial space throughout New England. Headquartered in Braintree, the company employs more than 170 people. For more information about Schochet please visit www.schochet.com.

Baker-Polito Administration Extends Moratorium on Evictions and Foreclosures to October 17

Baker-Polito Administration Extends Moratorium on Evictions and Foreclosures to October 17

BOSTON — Today, Governor Charlie Baker extended the pause on evictions and foreclosures for 60 days, until October 17, 2020, through the authority granted to the governor by Chapter 65 of the Acts of 2020, An Act providing for a moratorium on evictions and foreclosures during the COVID-19 Emergency, which was signed into law on April 20, 2020. This law’s limitations on evictions and foreclosures have allowed many tenants and homeowners impacted by COVID-19 to remain in their homes during the state of emergency, and this extension provides residents of the Commonwealth with continued housing security as businesses cautiously re-open, more people return to work, and the state collectively moves toward a “new normal.” The moratorium was set to expire on August 18, 2020.

Click here to read the extension letter.

Tenants are strongly encouraged to continue to pay rent, and homeowners to make their mortgage payments, to the extent they are able. To assist low-income households in making rent and mortgage payments, as well as support landlords needing these rent payments to pay expenses, the Baker-Polito Administration launched a new $20 million, statewide fund, the Emergency Rental and Mortgage Assistance (ERMA) program, on July 1st.

This funding complements the $18 million currently available through the Residential Assistance for Families in Transition (RAFT) homeless prevention program, which can also be used for rent or mortgage payments. In each program, landlords or mortgage lenders receive payments directly from the RAFT administering agencies. 

During this 60 day extension, the Administration will consult with the court administrators and other stakeholders regarding programs and policies to help tenants avoid eviction when proceedings resume.

The law suspends most residential and small business commercial evictions, as well as residential foreclosures. It does not relieve tenants or homeowners of their obligation to pay rent or make mortgage payments. The law also:

• Prevents landlords from sending notifications to residential tenants that threaten eviction or terminating of a lease;

• Limits court actions on non-essential evictions;

• Relieves tenants, both residents and small commercial, from late fees and negative credit reporting;

• Allows landlords to use “last month’s rent” to pay for certain expenses, though not as a replacement rent payment, and only with proper notification of tenant;

• Requires lenders to grant a forbearance for up to 180 days if a homeowner experiencing financial hardship due to COVID-19 submits such a request; and

• Allows for alternative payment agreements between lenders and borrowers regarding forbearance payments.

Since the beginning of the State of Emergency, the Administration has supported housing stability for households across the Commonwealth. The Executive Office of Housing and Economic Development (EOHED) has drafted emergency regulations to implement the notice provisions of the eviction and foreclosure moratoriums. The Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) supported our state-aided public housing and affordable housing operators with guidance, and worked with stakeholders across the state to coordinate resources. Additional resources and information can be found on DHCD’s COVID-19 Resource Page.

麻州餐館可以外賣雞尾酒了

梅沛傑(右上)等餐館東主在麻州餐館聯合會舉辦的
有色東主座談中分享看法。(攝自座談視頻)

(Boston Orange 編譯/綜合整理) 從現在起到明年2月28日止，或者在麻州取消全州緊急令之前，除了食物、啤酒，葡萄酒之外，麻州餐廳也可以外賣雞尾酒(cocktails)了。

轄區在Methuen的民主黨籍參議員Diane DiZoglio在推特上發文說，州長簽署了他提出的”雞尾酒外賣”法案。

該法案規定，凡是年滿21歲的民眾，在買外賣食物時，可以同時購買放在密封容器內，最多達64盎司的雞尾酒，但如果顧客是開車取酒，就必須把酒放在車廂裏。

包括緬因州，羅德島州，全美已有大約34州最近通過了外賣雞尾酒的法令，以幫助在COVID-19大流行期間掙扎求存的餐飲業者增加收入。

麻州餐館聯合會(Mass Restaurants United)發言人，Craigie on Main大廚兼東主Tony Maws表示，這法令有助於餐館業者流動庫存，增加營業銷售總額。

麻州餐館協會會長Bob Luz在六月份時曾告訴參議員們，因為許多非必要企業關了門，在新型冠狀病毒大流行期間又有這許多限制，可能有20%的麻州餐館永遠都不會重新開張。

共有不下500家獨立經營餐館的老闆，因應新型冠狀病毒大流行對餐館業者的打擊，已組成麻州餐館聯合會(Massachusetts Restaurants United)，彼此互助，6月30日時還舉辦了一次”麻州餐館有色東主現場座談”，出席分享經驗，意見者包括”燒酒”老闆梅沛傑。麻州餐館聯合會成員也有不少華裔東主，包括著名的張柔安(Myers & Chang)，蔡明昊(Blue Dragon)，李伯豪(Hong Kong)，梁戰士(Fuji / Shabu & Mein)，蘇宇寅(Chicken & Rice Guy)。

麻州的酒吧業原訂在本月初的第三階段重新開放，但在衛生部官員警告這些地方可能很快變成散佈COVID-19熱點，重新開放顧問委員會稍後決定把酒吧放到重新開放的第四階段。

Baker-Polito Administration Announces 6th Annual Summer Nights Initiative

Baker-Polito Administration Announces 6th Annual Summer Nights Initiative

BOSTON — The Baker-Polito Administration today announced the 2020 Summer Nights Initiative, which will provide urban youth with socially distant programming at Massachusetts state parks and other locations starting on Monday, July 20, 2020 and continuing through Friday, August 21, 2020. The program was first developed by the administration in 2015 and offers urban youth within the Cities of Boston (Dorchester, East Boston, Hyde Park, and Roxbury), Lawrence, Lowell, New Bedford, Springfield and Worcester with a wide variety of activities that are coordinated by 14 local organizations. These activities include, but are not limited to, basketball and flag football drills, dance, yoga, arts and crafts, martial arts, academic support, cooking, STEM activities, and online programming focusing on entrepreneurship and life skills.

“Our administration is proud to once again support the Summer Nights Initiative, to keep students across the Commonwealth engaged during their summer vacations," said Governor Charlie Baker. "While this year's programming looks a little different due to COVID, we look forward to offering safe educational and recreational activities for kids and students to enjoy at state parks in locations throughout the state."

“The Summer Nights Initiative, now in its sixth year, serves as a great example of our work to ensure access to the state parks system and beyond is made readily available for all,” said Lieutenant Governor Karyn Polito. “By working with great local partners we are able to offer inclusive and safe programming to urban youth across the Commonwealth.”

Participating organizations include Score4More (Roxbury); PIM (Hyde Park & Dorchester); Youth Connect (Worcester); NAACP (Remote programming serving Boston youth); Boys and Girls Club of Lawrence (Lawrence/Methuen); Boys and Girls Club of Greater Lowell (Greater Lowell); Dennison Community Center (New Bedford); Devoted Dynasty Entertainment (Roxbury); Lena Park Community Center (Dorchester); Black Ministerial Alliance (Dorchester); Level Ground Martial Arts (Dorchester); Black Men of Greater Springfield (Springfield); Youth Guidance (Remote programming serving Boston youth), and Teach 1 Basketball (East Boston, Dorchester, Roxbury).

“For six years, the Summer Nights Initiative has been providing recreational and educational activities for urban youth to participate in at no cost while school is out for the season,” said Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary Kathleen Theoharides. “This year, diverse programming has been coordinated to offer both present and online activities to engage kids from wherever they are able to participate from.”

“The Summer Nights Initiative offers excellent programming for urban youth to interact with one another in a fun, safe environment,” said Department of Conservation and Recreation Commissioner Jim Montgomery. “The Baker-Polito Administration continues to work diligently to foster strong partnerships with a variety of stakeholders, such as the Summer Nights Initiative organizations, to achieve goals that directly benefit the public.”

Additionally, this year participating organizations must follow all guidance issued for programming to aid in the prevention of spreading the COVID-19 virus. Guidance includes:

• All individuals should remain at least six feet apart at all times to the greatest extent possible;

• All individuals are required to wear face coverings;

• The managing entity must establish an on-line or on-site registration system prior to commencing program;

• The programs must separate participants into groups of no more than 12 participants, including coaches and staff; and,

• The programs should minimize equipment sharing.

In order to attend Summer Nights Initiative programming, participants must register (either through pre-registration online or on-site registration, depending on the framework developed by the organization). For a full list of programming and other information, please visit DCR’s Summer Nights Initiative webpage.

昆士市首個狗公園揭幕啟用

QUINCY DOG PARK OPEN
JULY 20, 2020 QUINCY, MA – Mayor Thomas P. Koch is proud to announce the official opening of Quincy’s first City dog park this week. The park is centrally located on Quarry St. and includes three separate areas for active dogs of all sizes, small dogs and senior dogs. It is equipped with shelter pavilions, benches and watering stations. The Stanton Foundation, an organization dedicated to promoting the welfare of dogs and strengthening the human/dog bond, granted the City of Quincy $247,500 towards the park’s design and construction costs. "The new dog park offers our community a dedicated and safe environment for dogs to exercise and for people to socialize with other pet owners and enjoy time outdoors,” said Mayor Koch. “The park is situated at the top of the hill so the area has a beautiful view and peaceful feel.” As a reminder to the community, in accordance with Governor Charlie Baker’s guidelines for the state of Massachusetts, the City of Quincy requires face masks and the practice of proper social distancing while enjoying this new space with their pets. The use of a mask does not replace important social distancing measures. Individuals must continue to maintain more than six feet of distance from other people, wash hands regularly with soap and water and stay home when sick. The 20-acre parcel will also be home to the future Quincy Animal Shelter/Quincy Police Canine Unit and Animal Control.

Red Sox Livestream Event to Benefit the Red Sox Foundation and Crew Nation

BOSTON, MA (July 20, 2020) – The Boston Red Sox and Live Nation New England announced today the Fenway Sessions, a livestream event celebrating concerts at Fenway Park. This once in a lifetime event will stream live on Fenway Park (Facebook.com/fenwaypark) and Live Nation New England (Facebook.com/livenationnewengland)’s Facebook pages on Wednesday, July 22 at 7:05 PM EDT. All proceeds generated during the livestream will benefit the Red Sox Foundation and Crew Nation.
The Fenway Sessions will feature performances, iconic footage and unique content from Fenway Park artists past, present and possibly future including special performances by Jimmy Buffett, Jefferson Starship and Will Dailey, as well as iconic footage of the Foo Fighters and New Kids On The Block performing at the historic ballpark and a special message from Bell Biv DeVoe. Boston’s own critically acclaimed artist, singer and songwriter, Will Dailey, will serve as host for the evening.
“Will Dailey has been a close friend of mine for years and when he approached us with the idea to host an event that would celebrate music and Fenway Park, all while raising funds for charity, we were completely on board,” said Red Sox President & CEO Sam Kennedy. “Of course, this event would not be possible without our partners at Live Nation who have been instrumental in securing the talented artists who have graced the stage at Fenway Park since 2003. Once again, they have helped us deliver on an exceptional program, this time virtual, that pays tribute to music and our great ballpark.”
“We are excited to partner with our friends at the Red Sox to help bring the Fenway Sessions to life,”
said Don Law, President of Live Nation New England. “Concerts at Fenway Park are an experience like
no other and we are thrilled to help celebrate a genuine New England summer tradition all while
supporting the Red Sox Foundation and Crew Nation.

AG HEALEY SUES TRUMP ADMINISTRATION OVER NEW RULE ELIMINATING ANTI-DISCRIMINATION PROTECTIONS IN HEALTH CARE

AG HEALEY SUES TRUMP ADMINISTRATION OVER NEW RULE ELIMINATING ANTI-DISCRIMINATION PROTECTIONS IN HEALTH CARE

Rule Eliminates Federal Protections Against Sex Discrimination for Vulnerable Populations, Including Transgender Individuals, Under the Affordable Care Act

  

          BOSTON – Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey today co-led 23 attorneys general in suing the Trump Administration over a rule that seriously undermines critical anti-discrimination protections at the federal level for LGBTQ people, women and other individuals seeking reproductive care, and those with limited English proficiency in health care.

            The lawsuit, co-led by AG Healey, New York Attorney General Letitia James, and California Attorney General Xavier Becerra, was filed against the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Alex Azar, and the head of HHS’s Office of Civil Rights, Roger Severino, and alleges that the new rule allows providers and insurers to discriminate against certain vulnerable and protected populations by rolling back implementation of Section 1557 of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, which prohibits discrimination based on race, color, national origin, sex, disability, or age by health programs or facilities that receive federal funds.

            “The COVID-19 pandemic is disproportionately impacting some of our most vulnerable residents, yet this White House is moving forward with a rule that puts these communities at even further risk,” AG Healey said. “We need to focus on expanding access to care – not on rolling it back. We are suing to ensure our residents don’t face unnecessary or discriminatory barriers in accessing the health care services they need.”

The new rule dramatically revises regulations implementing Section 1557 and removes protections against discrimination based on sex and gender identity. Today’s complaint points out that, in excluding gender identity from federal protections, the new rule completely ignores the Supreme Court’s decision in Bostock v. Clayton County, which held that discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation or transgender status is sex discrimination.

Despite numerous failed legislative and legal battles to repeal and dismantle the ACA, the Trump Administration’s new rule would now eliminate many of the express protections contained in the Section 1557 regulations, unlawfully exclude many health insurers from Section 1557’s scope, and would invite health care providers and health insurers to deny care and insurance coverage to particularly vulnerable communities. The new rule would also impose unreasonable barriers and impede timely access to health care for Americans, in violation of Section 1554 of the ACA.

            In August 2019, AG Healey and AG Becerra co-led comments calling on HHS to withdraw the rule. In April, the attorneys general reiterated their call for the Administration to withdraw the rule, in an effort to avoid further straining the country’s already overburdened health care system in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Data shows that the COVID-19 pandemic is already exacerbating racial and ethnic disparities in healthcare that the ACA attempted to address. Immigrants and communities of color have been disproportionately impacted. Individuals with disabilities are at greater risk of infection and long-term illness or death, and the pandemic has created new barriers for them in accessing the care they need. The public health crisis has also exacerbated gender inequities in the healthcare system.

Today’s lawsuit alleges that HHS has unlawfully ignored the harms that the rule will impose on vulnerable populations. The coalition additionally contends that HHS failed to justify why it abandoned its prior policy, which, among other things, explicitly prohibited discrimination in health care and required health care entities to provide meaningful language assistance services to individuals with limited English proficiency. The coalition specifically claims that the new rule is arbitrary, capricious, and contrary to law under the Administrative Procedure Act (APA), and that it violates the equal protection guarantee of the Fifth Amendment.

AG Healey’s Civil Rights Division enforces federal and state civil rights laws, including anti-discrimination laws in Massachusetts that continue to protect residents from discrimination in health care and insurance. The Division encourages residents who feel their civil rights have been violated to call its hotline at (617) 963-2917 or file a complaint online.

Joining AG Healey, AG Becerra and AG James in filing today’s lawsuit are the attorneys general of Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, Wisconsin, and the District of Columbia.

This case is being handled for Massachusetts by Assistant Attorneys General Amanda Hainsworth of AG Healey’s Civil Rights Division and Kimberly Parr of AG Healey’s Administrative Law Division, with assistance from Assistant Attorneys General Jon Burke and Ann Lynch, and Division Chief Abigail Taylor, all of AG Healey’s Civil Rights Division.

麻州大學宣佈四分校下學年學費凍結

            (Boston Orange編譯)麻州大學今(20)日表示，由於新型冠狀病毒疫情持續，下學年大學本科及研究所學生的州內學生學費將凍結。

             麻州大學在聲明中說，包括安赫斯特(Amherst)，波士頓(Boston)，達特茅斯(Dartmouth)，以及羅爾(Lowell)等分校，大學本科的州內學生學費平均為14,722元，研究所學生的學費幅度在14,590元到18,433元之間。該校董事會四月分時為麻州大學醫學院分別訂定了學費。

             該聲明稱，麻州大學校董們今日投票凍結學費，和往年的隨著通貨膨脹幅度帳學費的正常作法不同。那意味著該校將放棄1860萬元收入。

             麻州大學說，損失的收入將一部分藉由持續的減少行政開銷來彌平。

             麻州大學董事們還批准了從7月1日起的2021財政年度，營運預算33億元，較之前一年的支出少1億7100萬元。

             麻州大學總校長Marty Meehan表示，今年有這麼多的學生，家長面對以前從來沒有過的全國衛生進入緊急狀況，經濟低迷等所帶來的不確定壓力，凍結學費只是該做的對的事。

           根據該聲明，麻州大學的學生們在2021會計年度，將持續收10億元到聯邦，州政府以及私人和大學資助的財務援助。在過去5年間，該補助已增加了9900萬元，約38%，其中94%都撥發給了麻州居民。

BCNC聘新主任 歡迎3董事 年度籌款逾40萬元

BCNC董事長馬以正夫婦在網路年會中感謝同仁服務，支持者捐助。
(周菊子攝)

             (Boston Orange周菊子波士頓報導)波士頓華埠社區中心(BCNC)因應新型冠狀病毒疫情局勢，2020年會於7月16日傍晚以zoom在網上舉行，由董事會董事長馬以正介紹新聘行政主任Ben Hire，感謝各界支持，宣佈籌款仍有43萬餘元的佳績，報告2名董事卸任，新增3名年輕新董事。

BCNC董事長馬以正在年會中特地感謝Peter Chow的支持。
(周菊子攝)

             馬以正在BCNC精心設計，長僅20餘分鐘的網路會議中指出，雖然該中心的年度籌款活動，礙於疫情，無法以往年形式舉行，但經燈節嘉年華會共同主席鍾潔姿，周榮亞夫婦，Nancy及Christopher Oddleifson夫婦，獲表揚的Peter Chow，以及委員會各人的有力支持，仍籌得43萬餘元。

             BCNC董事會董事Marian Tse在年會中報告，今年有兩名董事卸任，一為該中心董事會任期最長，退休前在塔芙茨醫療中心任職的Mary Moy，一為協助該中心在昆士市設立分部的律師陳朝聖(Russell Chin)。

BCNC新聘行政主任Ben Hire。(周菊子攝)

             三名新增董事，悉數全為年輕女性，分別為Nancy Wang Adams，Jeannette Hsu，Sandee Simshauser。董事會共有14人。

             BCNC在李隆華離任後，歷經半年搜尋，新聘了Ben Hire接掌行政主任一職。這次年會是Ben Hire第一次正式面對該中心所有員工。他簡述了自己當年第一份工作就是青少年輔導員的經歷，以及他對服務社區，幫助青少年的熱情。

              Ben Hire也報告了BCNC今年以來繼續辦理的服務項目，本年度的駐地藝術家為田文浩。

             BCNC董事長馬以正表示，BCNC以扶持家庭圓滿發展為目標，藉由前人經驗，訂定策略，研擬服務項目，關懷社會正義與平等，致力為所有家庭打造更光明未來。

BCNC新增三名董事。(周菊子攝)

BCNC本年度邀田文浩擔任駐地藝術家。(周菊子攝)

BCNC揮別2名董事。(周菊子攝)