費奇堡市獲四十萬元聯邦補助款辦電子護理經濟

聯邦儲備銀行波士頓分行十五日宣佈，包括費奇堡市（Fitchburg）在內的六個麻州市鎮，共可得一百八十萬元補助款，用以培養地方政府，商家，非牟利機構的長期合作關係，進而振興中等規模城市。

            這是波士頓聯邦儲備銀行第一次推出這種項目，志在尋找打造出符合理想公家領導，以及機構的做法，以俾為州內老舊，在失業率高，學生成就低，貧窮根深蒂固中掙扎的工業城市，找到長期改善辦法。

            如果這做法成功，波士頓聯邦儲備銀行人員希望把它推廣到整個紐英崙去，並為聯邦儲備銀行在全美的其他十一個分行，作為社區發展模範。

            獲得三年補助款的城市為，羅倫斯市（Lawrence）七十萬元，費奇堡市（Fitchburg）四十萬元，霍利奧克（Holyoke）廿五萬元，雀喜市（Chelsea）廿二萬五千元，尚莫維爾市(Somerville)十萬元，塞冷市（Salem)十萬元。

            費奇堡市將獲得四十萬元辦理“電子護理經濟計劃（eCarenomics Initiative）“，利用市府收集的住宅單位及犯罪記錄數據，來把主要鄰里北部，改變成一個居民願意選擇為居住，工作，投資地點的計劃。

尚莫維爾市將獲得十萬元來創辦一個新的，有針對性的，融入移動科技及社交媒體的人力發展系統，藉以減少低收青少年的失業率。

GOVERNOR PATRICK APPOINTS RACHEL KAPRIELIAN AS SECRETARY OF LABOR AND WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT

GOVERNOR PATRICK APPOINTS RACHEL KAPRIELIAN AS SECRETARY OF LABOR AND WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT

Commends Secretary Goldstein for strong leadership and results throughout her tenure

BOSTON – Friday, January 17, 2013 – Governor Deval Patrick will today appoint Rachel Kaprielian, the current Registrar of the Registry of Motor Vehicles (RMV), as Secretary of the Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development (EOLWD). Secretary Joanne F. Goldstein is departing the Administration to accept a job at Northeastern University as an Associate Vice President. The Governor will join Secretary Goldstein and Registrar Kaprielian for the announcement at noon today in Doric Hall at the Massachusetts State House.

Kaprielian brings to her new position the expertise and experience needed to serve the Commonwealth’s workers, job seekers and employers. As Registrar and State Representative, Kaprielian has advocated for smart and consumer-friendly policies, innovative job training initiatives, comprehensive pension reform, municipal and regional organizational reforms, aggressive anti-tobacco policies and Early Intervention programs for at-risk children. As Secretary, she will oversee the Commonwealth’s five labor and workforce agencies: the Departments of Unemployment Assistance, Career Services, Labor Standards, Industrial Accidents, and Labor Relations as well as the quasi-public agency Commonwealth Corporation.

“I sincerely thank Joanne for her four years of dedication and commitment to our workers, job seekers and employers through some of the Commonwealth’s most challenging economic times,” said Governor Patrick. “I am thrilled that Rachel has agreed to take on this new role, and I am confident that she is prepared to continue the difficult work of getting our residents back to work, and preparing both our workers and employers for the jobs of the 21st century economy.”

“I am grateful for this opportunity to continue to serve the public by working towards job creation and economic growth that will benefit Massachusetts residents and businesses. I share Governor Patrick’s commitment to the state’s continuing economic recovery by ensuring that the skills of the Commonwealth’s workforce meet the continuously evolving needs of our employers,” said Kaprielian.

“It has been an honor and privilege to serve the Governor and the Commonwealth for the past four years," said Secretary Goldstein. "I am proud of our successes on behalf of working families. I want to thank my staff and team for their dedication, hard work and commitment to their constituencies. I look forward to spending time with my family and then moving forward with this exciting professional opportunity. I am forever grateful to the Governor for the opportunity I had to contribute to the economic and social wellbeing of the people of Massachusetts.”

Governor Patrick commends Secretary Goldstein for her leadership in addressing the workforce needs of businesses, providing both labor protections and safe working conditions for workers, and advocating for fair wages across the Commonwealth. Goldstein was appointed as Secretary by Governor Patrick in January 2010. Secretary Goldstein served as chair of the Governor’s Joint Task Force on the Underground Economy and Employee Misclassification where she oversaw the recovery of nearly $39 million owed to the Commonwealth. She also chaired the Municipal Unemployment Insurance (UI) Task Force, which recommended changes for the Unemployment Insurance system to better serve both municipalities and public employees. Goldstein oversaw the transformation of the Workforce Training Fund, which annually distributes up to $21 million to employers so that they can upgrade their workers’ skills, grow jobs and remain regionally and nationally competitive. Over the past several months, Secretary Goldstein has also overseen the launch of UI Online, a modern, web-based system that replaces Massachusetts’ outdated and fragmented UI computer system.

Secretary Goldstein has spent her entire career as a labor attorney and dedicated public servant. She has been an advocate and voice for working families, and has successfully balanced the economic concerns of business with the interests of working people.

Governor Patrick appointed Rachel Kaprielian as Registrar of the RMV in 2008. During her tenure, Kaprielian has overseen the expansion of the Registry's online branch at www.mass.gov/rmv and implemented an innovative customer service plan to minimize the impact on customer traffic by working with sister transportation agencies, municipalities and local delegations to build new branches in rent-free public spaces. Prior to serving as Registrar, Kaprielian represented Watertown and parts of Cambridge for 14 years as a state representative.

Throughout her career, Kaprielian has been best known for her keen dedication to constituent services and a strong commitment to tackling quality of life issues for all people who reside in the Commonwealth.  Among her many legislative accomplishments, Kaprielian spearheaded reform efforts which enabled cities and towns to join the state's Group Insurance commission (GIC) to significantly ease the burden of spiraling health insurance costs for all the 351 communities in the state. Her honors and recognitions have included Legislator of the Year from the March of Dimes for her work with special education initiatives; the Legislative Leadership Award from Massachusetts Public Health Association for her tireless public health efforts; her advocacy for Home and Health Care Association of MA, leadership with The Tobacco Free Mass Coalition; her collaboration with the MA Public Health Association and her partnership with the Metropolitan Area Planning Council which named her Legislator of the Year.

Kaprielian earned her Bachelor's Degree from the College of Holy Cross. An attorney, she holds a J.D from Suffolk University Law School as well as a Master's Degree in Public Administration from the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University.

Governor Patrick created the Secretary of Labor and Workforce Development as a cabinet-level position in 2007 in order to best serve the Commonwealth’s job seekers, apprentices, union members, claimants, employers, attorneys and researchers across the Commonwealth.

Martha Coakley參選麻州長 放下身段進華埠晤選民

麻州州長候選人柯克莉（Martha Coakley)十四日晚在滂沱大雨中，來到波士頓華埠社區中心（BCNC)，低調平和地表示，自己是最好的候選人，有最豐富的解決問題經驗，承諾將會取得，審閱一份華埠總體發展計劃，以進一步確認可以怎樣幫助解華埠 。

        柯克莉是麻州現任總檢察長（AG）。十四日晚，她以麻州州長候選人身份，在包括華裔Jennifer Liu的兩名助選人員陪同下，來到華埠，出席麻州州長亞美顧問委員會的“社區論壇”。

            柯克莉在大約八分鐘的發言中，先向去年參選波士頓市第二區市議員未果的李素影致意，表示沒人比她更明白，競選是多難的事，而且競選不一定總是贏。

            柯克莉在2010年時代表民主黨，競選愛德華甘迺迪過世空出來的聯邦參議員席位，沒想到在民主黨佔大多數的麻州中，開票結果卻是柯克莉得票率47%，共和黨籍的布朗（Scott Brown)52%，讓許多人大跌眼鏡。

            這過程，不只選民記憶深刻，柯克莉顯然也累積了經驗教訓，這次競選麻州州長，身段放低很多，十四日晚在波士頓華埠社區中心，不但和出席者親切握手，有求必應的合照，還在活動結束後，逗留好一陣子，聽好些人個別陳情。

            柯克莉在介紹自己時表示，她是在靠近紐約上州的麻州西郊伯克夏爾郡（Berkshire）出生。在五十，六十年代，她都是走路上學。那是個天主教社區，周遭的環境與人，一點也不多元。直到上大學，進威廉斯學院（Williams College），波士頓大學法學院，到後來當助理檢察官，住過多徹斯特（Dorchester），她才切實感受到歡迎新來者，幫助並確保每個人獲得應有的正義，民權，個人及家庭安全，是多美好的事。

            柯克莉說，做到不歧視不同背景，族裔的人，其實還不夠，更要能夠包容，社會才能夠攜手共進。

            談及擔任州長的要務時，柯克莉坦言交通系統是其中一大重點，因為交通可以影響到人們居住，就學，工作的機會，進而影響人們改善生活，未來的可能。她直指要改善個人及社會經濟，就必須全面審視這些環環相扣的議題。

            柯克莉提醒地指出，每個人都應該要敢於發言，敢於指出政府或大企業的錯處，敦促政客，公僕，企業僱主負責任。一旦她當州長，他將和所有的社區，族裔合作，針對各社區的個別狀況，定出處理事務的優先順序，逐一解決問題。

            十四日晚天氣不佳，有三，四十人出席，劍橋市議員張禮能，Hyams基金會專員梅大衛，華人前進會名譽主席李素影，亞美專業人員協會莊沛穎，華埠居民會共同主席余仕昂，來自中國大陸的張天昱，一名來自羅爾市的女士等，問問題的人不少。

            在回答和其他候選人有何分別時，柯克莉表示，在目前的五名民主黨籍，一名共和黨籍候選人中，她有最豐富的解決問題經驗與記錄。

            在回答李素影的州政府應在可負擔住宅上扮演什麼角色這問題時，柯克莉坦言，她看到許多政府機構功能重疊，州府與市鎮之間交流，溝通不足情況，有許多官僚的繁文縟節（red tape）都該刪除。

            對於改善交通系統的經費何來，年輕人找不到工作而離開，移民等後期太長，移民也應有權投票等許多問題，柯克莉在贊成移民法應修改，申請過程應更快之外，強調許多議題其實彼此互有關連，要擬定整套辦法的全面因應。

            柯克莉也在回應張禮能時表示，她將和現任麻州州長一樣，聘任多元化，使政府面貌儘量與其所代表的人民組成相似。

            華埠居民會共同主席余仕昂當晚問了最後一個問題。他指出雙語選票已于2013年到期，待爭取成為永久法案，還說如果選票上有中文名字，他們會更容易把自己那一票投給柯克莉，引得柯克莉在表示會看看能做什麼之後笑說，選票是很好的誘因。

圖片說明：

            麻州州長候選人柯克莉（Martha Coakley)在現場回答問題。（菊子攝）

            麻州州長候選人柯克莉（Martha Coakley)（中）和麻州州長亞美顧問委員會主席陳穎玉（右二），副主席李超榮（左二），委員張禮能（左一），Quoc Tran（右一）等人合影。（菊子攝）

            麻州州長候選人柯克莉（Martha Coakley)（右二）和波士頓華埠社區中心董事會董事梅陳月嫦（右起），林秀貞，陳綽敏合影。陳綽敏也是麻州州長亞美顧問委員會委員。（菊子攝）

            梅大衛（後右二），李素影（左二）當晚都提問。（菊子攝）

            李素影問州政府在可負擔住宅上應扮演什麼角色。（菊子攝）

            麻州州長候選人柯克莉（Martha Coakley)（中）和華埠居民會共同主席余仕昂（左），梅陳月嫦（右）合影。（菊子攝）

            梅大衛提問。（菊子攝）

            華埠僑領陳毓禮（右）在離開前，特地上前和麻州州長候選人柯克莉（Martha Coakley)（左）握手致意。（菊子攝）

麻州眾議員毆女友判入獄六個月 州市首長促他辭職

劍橋市地方法院陪審團昨（15）日裁決麻州眾議員何里蓋（Carlos Henriquez）毆人有罪，法官判他入獄六個月。麻州州長，眾議會議長，波士頓市長紛紛發表聲明，呼籲何里蓋立即辭職。

劍橋市法院判定，代表波士頓多徹斯特區的民主黨麻州眾議員何里蓋兩項毆人罪成立，但免除了第三項毆人罪，另判恐嚇證人罪，一項250元以下的盜竊罪。

何里蓋毆打的是他從2012年七月起開始約會，住在阿靈頓（Arlington）的一名女子。

法官的判決一出，麻州州長派區克（Deval Patrick），麻州眾議會議長狄樂歐（Robert A. DeLeo,）， 波士頓市長馬丁華殊（ Martin J. Walsh）全都呼籲何里蓋辭職。狄樂歐說如果他不下台，就要採取開除他的步驟。

受害者 Katherine Gonzalves就2012年七月十八日發生的事件作證，並接受了何里蓋辯護律師Stephanie Soriano-Mills的嚴厲盤問。

在陪審團決定有罪後，法官 Michele Hogan向何里蓋強調，當一名女子告訴你，她不想要有性關係時，她就是不要發生關係。那天早上，當受害者 Katherine Gonzalves說沒興趣發生親密關係時，何里蓋就應該停止和Katherine Gonzalves互動。她表示，何里蓋似乎不接受要為自己行為負責的想法。她為何里蓋的無懊悔之意，感到憂慮，判何里蓋進糾正所（House of Correction）二年半，其中半年要關進監獄。

二蒙面匪徒擅闖民宅 屋主拔鎗擊斃一人

大波士頓地區治安，最近有點緊張。波士頓市多徹斯特區昨（15）早有兩名蒙面大盜入屋搶劫，其中一人遭屋主持槍擊斃。牛頓市前（14）日下午就發生三宗破門而入偷盜案。尚莫維爾市在過去的三個月中，發生三宗婦女遭攻擊案。

            波士頓警察局長伊文斯（William Evans）表示，有兩名蒙面人昨日早上闖入多徹斯特區（Esmond街85號）一棟公寓大樓，遇上持槍屋主。一人遭擊斃，一人被追出大樓外。

            警察大約在早上九點時，趕到現場，看到正在逃離的嫌犯，手裡還拿著據說早前在民宅內揮舞的槍支。警察稍後在附近逮捕了他。

            波市警察局總副局長葛羅斯（William Gross）表示，幸運的是，警方人員正好在那一帶，所有涉事者都被抓了。

            警察也羈押了民宅屋主，但未控任何刑事罪。警方還在確認他是否持有槍支牌照。

            被屋主開槍打中的那名嫌犯，逃跑時倒在大樓門前台階上，並在那兒被宣告死亡。

            警方昨日暫時封鎖了Esmond街，進行調查，還不知道事件動機，但相信涉事雙方彼此認識。警察通知鄰近的救世軍兒童學習中心，告訴他們發生了這件事。

            牛頓市警方昨日發出的一份警告指出，十四日（週二）下午，牛頓市內發生三宗民宅遭竊案。這幾戶民宅，都座落在史都華（Stuart）路上。警方籲請任何人有線索時，打617-796-2100，或撥打暱名爆料電話617-796-2121。

           

            尚莫維爾市的聯合(Union)廣場，波特（Porter）廣場一帶，在過去三個月內，發生三宗婦女被攻擊案，都發生在入夜後，天色還並不很晚時。

            警方正在儘快辨認嫌犯，也提醒居民加強採取安全預防措施。

            其中一案發生于一月十二日（週日）。一名45歲婦女在聯合廣場一帶，靠近尚莫維爾道的Hawkins街，遭人非禮。據描述，嫌犯為西語裔白人，年紀在25到30歲左右，高約五尺六吋，中等身材，眼睛棕色。他當時穿著黑色拉拉鏈的毛衣，有耳罩豆帽，黑色網球鞋，牛仔褲，揹著灰色背包。

            一宗發生在一月二日，一名28歲女性走在夏日街和高地道之間的波特街上時，遭人非禮。嫌犯為20到 30 歲之間的白人，五尺九寸到十寸高，瘦瘦的運動員體型，鬍子刮得很乾淨。他穿著腋下黑色的滑雪夾克，深色長褲。

            2013年十一月十八日時，在波特廣場一帶Elm街附近發生的一宗非禮案，嫌犯與前述者相似。警方籲請民眾像Richard Lavey警官通報線索，617-625-1600分機7237。