牛頓中文學校首次舉辦候選人論壇

牛頓市中文學校鑑於華人社區應該關心政治的呼聲越來越高，上週日（25日)在該校禮堂首次舉辦“候選人論壇”，共9 名市議員候選人出席，約120人到會聽政見。

            根據牛頓市府網站，今年的該市市議員選舉，8個選區，共有40人參選。從姓名看，除了從1997年當選後連任迄今的馬惠美（Amy Mah Sangiolo）之外， 沒有其他華裔或亞裔參選。

牛頓中文學校使用牛頓市的FA Day學校做校舍。由於校址座落在牛頓市第二區，該校創辦50多年以來首次舉辦的“候選人論壇”原本以第二區候選人為對象，不過多名候選人都有興趣和選民見面，結果第二選區的七名候選人中，有五人出席，在位市議員艾米莉諾頓（Emily Norton）之外，還有四名挑戰者歐布萊特（Susan Albright），奧奇克洛斯（Jake Auchinclose），樂布蘭（Lynne Leblanc）和瑪莎姜森（Macia Johnson）。自行趕來與盛的候選人包括第三區的柯德（Jim Cote），馬拉潔（Julia Malakie），第五區的彼特斯（Chris Pitts）。

            論壇由牛頓中校副校長夏銘主持。候選人分別就修補道路、開發商機、增加政府收入、改善住房、平衡增建泊車場和保持綠地間的矛盾等市民關心的熱點問題各抒己見。

            出席民眾問的問題包括牛頓市道路，停車位，綠化帶等公共設施有哪些建設，改善構想，牛頓市對多元文化的支持度，如何提高公立學校的教育質量，尤其是數學，科學等學科等等。

            四名候選人中最年輕的傑克·奧奇克洛斯（Jake Auchinclose）似乎最積極，在現場派發的宣傳資料都是中文的。他在發言時直指亞裔在美國社會中的日益重要，這場候選人論壇在中文學校舉行，更有標誌性意義。瑪莎姜森（Macia Johnson）表示，能有機會和選民晤面，誠然樂事。聚會在哪兒舉行，其實不重要。

牛頓中文學校校刊主編之一的劉玲表示，該校家長，已在勒星頓鎮（Lexington）獲選為房屋管理委員會委員的王衛東認為，這場論壇將可促使牛頓市議會注意到市內亞裔的力量，從而在未來議政時，不致於輕率忽視亞裔權益。

劍橋市議員張禮能這天也特地到會，為正在牛頓市競選憲章委員會委員的張文華助選，拜票，強調亞裔應支持更多亞裔進政府服務，才能達成為亞裔發聲的結果。

            牛頓中文學校校董會董事長鄧永奇表示，該校共有來自800 多個家庭的1200名學生，其中約35%家住牛頓市，相信在這論壇之後，會有更多人關心地方政治。

牛頓市總人口86,241，其中亞裔11,079人，佔12.8%，華裔則為6,399人，佔7.4%。

圖片說明：

            牛頓中文學校校董會董事長鄧永奇（右起），接待出席論壇的牛頓市議員候選人，第三區的Jim Cote，Julia Malakie，第二區的Lynne LeBlanc，Jake Auchinclose以及第五區Chris Pitts（左一）等人。（菊子攝）

            牛頓中文學校副校長夏銘（左一）主持辯論會。第二區候選人（右起）奧奇克洛斯（Jake Auchinclose），歐布萊特（Susan Albright），和瑪莎姜森（Macia Johnson），樂布蘭（Lynne Leblanc）。（牛頓中文學校提供，李光華攝）

    牛頓中文學校的1200 名學生，使用圖中的FA Day School做校舍。大波士頓中華文化協會的“家庭夜”晚會，近年也都在這兒舉行。（菊子攝）

牛頓中文學校支教中國獲表揚

（牛頓中文學校提供）

（牛頓中文學校提供，李光華攝）

牛頓中文學校日前趁著舉辦候選人論壇之便，邀請在位市議員，以及候選人，頒發“牛頓中文學校總統志願服務獎”給12名得獎者。

負責支教的該校校董梁楠表示，這些學生參加牛頓中文學校到中國支教活動，表現優異，為鼓勵學生們參與社區服務，校方特地頒獎表揚。

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Secretary Pollack Announces Scott Bosworth as Chief Strategy Officer for MassDOT

Secretary Pollack Announces Scott Bosworth as Chief Strategy Officer for MassDOT

BOSTON – October 28, 2015 – Massachusetts Department of Transportation Secretary and CEO Stephanie Pollack today announced that Scott Bosworth has been appointed to the newly created position of Chief Strategy Officer of MassDOT.  In this role, Scott will work with the Secretary and MassDOT senior staff, to drive institutional change and innovation, foster a customer-centric culture, and lead key strategic initiatives across the agency. 

The creation of the Chief Strategy Officer position and the appointment of Scott reflects Secretary Pollack’s priority to reform the structure and operation of MassDOT and the MBTA.

“We are delighted to have Scott join the MassDOT leadership team as CSO,” said Secretary Pollack.  “Scott’s extensive experience in and out of government will be a tremendous asset to MassDOT.  His deep roots in federal, state and local transportation policy span three decades, including critical assignments as Assistant Secretary under Governors Weld and Cellucci as well as with Congress.  Scott’s private sector experience will add depth and expertise in our efforts to reform the MBTA and reimagine how MassDOT delivers services to its constituents.  We look forward to Scott helping us to advance the Commonwealth’s transportation agenda.”

After leaving state government, Scott started a group of companies that deliver services to public and private real estate, transportation, and infrastructure entities. He has decades of experience working with many state DOTs and transit authorities.  Former New Orleans Regional Transportation Authority General Manager Bill DeVille said of Scott: “After Katrina devastated our operation and infrastructure, Scott provided leadership, direction and optimism in leading our federal recovery efforts.  He will be a strong asset on Secretary Pollack’s team.”

Scott, a daily MBTA commuter, lives in Dorchester with his family.

State Leaders Announce Working Group for Review of Criminal Justice System

State Leaders Announce Working Group for Review

of Criminal Justice System

BOSTON – State leaders today serving as the Steering Committee for an independent review of Massachusetts criminal justice system, formally announced a 25-member bipartisan Working Group to partner with the Council of State Government’s (CSG) Justice Center to explore opportunities for policy consensus and reform.

The multi-branch task force’s Steering Committee, consisting of Governor Charlie Baker, Lt. Governor Karyn Polito, Senate President Stan Rosenberg, House Speaker Robert Deleo and Supreme Judicial Court Chief Justice Ralph Gants, will provide guidance, oversight and strategic direction in the development of policy options throughout the review process.

“This group of distinguished individuals with backgrounds in criminal justice and law enforcement will serve the Commonwealth well in our endeavor with the Council of State Governments to further reform and improve the judicial process, and reduce recidivism and incarceration rates,” said Governor Charlie Baker. “Massachusetts strengths in these areas and wealth of ideas and experienced individuals, will ensure we continue to lead on criminal justice reform, public safety and reentry programming, while maintaining one of the lowest incarceration  rates in the nation.”

“The expertise and experience of the members of the justice reinvestment working group will provide valuable insight and knowledge to the Council on State Governments as they review the Massachusetts criminal justice system,” said Senate President Stan Rosenberg (D-Amherst).  “Through collaboration between the working group and CSG, we will identify policies for Massachusetts to make smart reforms to reduce recidivism rates, lower costs, and invest in re-entry programs.  We can be both tough on crime and smart on crime.”

“The working group represents diverse perspectives who will bring meaningful experience and insight to this process,” said House Speaker Robert A. DeLeo. “By using a data-driven analysis, with the input of the appointees, we will ensure that our policies help reduce recidivism and incarceration rates, are cost-effective and are structured in a way that best serves the citizens of the Commonwealth.”

"I welcome the Council of State Government's independent review of the data that will inform our collaborative efforts to reduce the rate of recidivism, promote individualized sentencing, and diminish over-incarceration," said Supreme Judicial Court Chief Justice Ralph D. Gants. "Trial Court Chief Justice Paula Carey, Probation Commissioner Ed Dolan, Superior Court Chief Justice Judith Fabricant, District Court Chief Justice Paul Dawley and Boston Municipal Court Judge John McDonald will work with our partners from other branches and agencies of government and CSG on a data-driven approach to criminal justice reform."

In an August letter to the Council of State Governments Justice Center, these leaders requested technical assistance from the Justice Reinvestment Initiative to “use a data-driven approach to continue to improve criminal justice outcomes,” while noting their desire to work with the Initiative to build on Massachusetts overall decline in incarceration dates over the last decade in order to further reduce recidivism rates, prison populations and taxpayer costs while enhancing public safety.

The Working Group members, consisting of Executive, Legislative and Judicial co-chairs, and executive, legislative, judicial, law enforcement, parole and probation and legal services representatives, will work directly with the Justice Center throughout the project on their findings.

Massachusetts Criminal Justice Review -- Steering Committee

Governor Charlie Baker

Lt. Governor Karyn Polito

Senate President Stan Rosenberg

House Speaker Robert Deleo

Chief Justice of the Supreme Judicial Court Ralph Gants

Working Group – Leadership and Members

Lon Povich, Governor’s Chief Legal Counsel

Executive Co-Chair

State Senator William Brownsberger

Legislative Co-Chair

State Representative John Fernandes

Legislative Co-Chair

Trial Court Chief Justice Paula Carey

Judiciary Co-Chair

Anthony Benedetti, Committee for Public Counsel Services Chief Counsel

Daniel Bennett, Secretary of Public Safety and Security (EOPSS)

Frank Cousins, Essex County Sheriff

Cynthia Creem, State Senator

Paul Dawley, District Court Chief Justice

Ed Dolan, Probation Commissioner

Judith Fabricant, Superior Court Chief Justice

James Hicks, Natick Chief of Police

Randy Hunt, State Representative

Peter Koutoujian, Middlesex County Sheriff

Christopher Markey, State Representative

John McDonald, East Boston Municipal Court First Justice

Joseph McDonald, Plymouth County Sheriff

Carol Mici, Assistant Deputy Commissioner of Classification, Programs and Reentry

Michael O’Keefe, Cape and Islands District Attorney

Colin Owyang, Deputy Attorney General

Debra Pinals, Associate Commissioner of Forensic Mental Health Services

Jennifer Queally, Undersecretary for Law Enforcement (EOPSS)

Daniel Racine, Fall River Chief of Police

Paul Treseler, Chairman of the Parole Board

Leslie Walker, Prisoners’ Legal Services Executive Director

The Council of State Governments (CSG) Justice Center has helped 21 states apply the Justice Reinvestment approach, in partnership with The Pew Charitable Trusts and the U.S. Department of Justice’s Bureau of Justice Assistance. Justice Reinvestment is an analysis-based process of identifying wasteful spending and ways to reduce incarceration rates, while applying those savings towards reducing recidivism and enhancing public safety.

紐英崙藝術學會12月辦“最美一年”攝影展2015

“最美一年”攝影展2015

秋去冬来，年末将至。回顾这一年，你是否忙里偷闲去记录身边的风景? 

这一年下来，总有一个场景、一个瞬间、一个画面让你按下快门，记录下最真实、最唯美、最感人的一刻。。。 

现在，是到我们分享这一刻的时候了，梅国治老师在这里邀请你一起参加"最美一年”攝影展，分享你这一年里的最美好，让我们一起用图片来给这一年划上完美的句号! 

摄影班的同学、学会摄影组会员和被邀请的摄影嘉宾们，将用展览的方式，以丰富的题材，多种的摄影技巧，高质素的摄影作品，展现我们纽英伦艺术学会和摄影这一领域里的爱好者在摄影这一范畴里的新面貌；通过图片的展览，以见证我们一年努力的成果；通过交流以提高我们的摄影水平，从而增强纽英崙艺术学会的知名度，扩大我们团体的影响力，吸引更多的摄影爱好者加入我们的团体，壮大我们的摄影团队。  

时间：11/28/2015 - 12/18/2015 （11/28，星期六，下午1PM-3PM为开幕式）

地点：纽英仑艺术学会（25 Edinboro St., 2/F, Boston 唐人街）

摄影展的要求：

1.       作品一定要是今年(2015)原创作品，黑白色彩不限，风景，人文，生态皆可。作品的装裱以16X20或 12X18的图片为标准（不一定是16X20，这个只是参考数据）。 

2.       参展作品要求如下：

·         梅老师所有的摄影班的同学们每人2-4张（装裱好的作品）；

·         学会摄影组会员每人2-4张（装裱好的作品）；

·         邀请嘉宾1-2张（装裱好的作品）；

·         无论有没有图片参加展览，请梅老师所有的摄影班的同学们，学会摄影组会员和邀请嘉宾回复e-mail告知参展与否(fenfangmei@msn.com)。凡参加展览者请回复e-mail并且明确参展的图片数量和上传展览的小图片以及图片名称，最好内附摄影参数，拍摄地点等资料；

·         所有的参展图片必须装祾好并在11月26日前（星期四）前交到学会。11月26日，11月27日图片上架。

·         展览其间，如有作品不幸损坏，皆与学会或发起人无关，并不予赔偿。

详细内容，请看附件。

MAYOR'S OFFICE OF WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT RELEASES FIRST ANNUAL REPORT

MAYOR'S OFFICE OF WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT RELEASES FIRST ANNUAL REPORT

Debuts New Website to Better Connect Partners and Participants with Resources

BOSTON - Wednesday, October 28, 2015 - The Mayor's Office of Workforce Development (OWD), formerly the Office of Jobs and Community Services, today released its first annual report, Building an Inclusive Economy.  Mayor Martin J. Walsh restructured and rebranded the office earlier this year after a thorough assessment of community resources, best practices, and efforts of workforce development programs around the country. OWD has since aligned its goals and strategies to leverage funding sources in order to address the Mayor's citywide economic opportunity agenda, focusing on tackling income inequality. "We have made it a priority to advocate for innovative policies and programs that provide career ladders for all of our residents," said Mayor Walsh. "From concerned residents and workforce development experts alike, I've often heard that existing programs could be more helpful in directly leading to good jobs. OWD's reorganization will create more opportunities for Boston's residents and employers." The new report reviews OWD's successes from July 2014 through June 2015. The office operates and funds a variety of initiatives to support upward financial mobility for individuals and families in Boston. Some of its signature offerings include the Office of Financial Empowerment, Boston's one stop career centers, employment programs for hard-to-reach youth, children's literacy programs, and the Boston Tax Help Coalition. OWD also helps manage the Neighborhood Jobs Trust, which is funded by fees associated with private development projects and provides grants to nonprofit collaboratives such as SkillWorks and English for New Bostonians. "This past fiscal year we were able to provide over $19.2 million in funding to more than 120 training programs, English for employment programs, bridge programs, youth employment programs and other educational services to help people find stable career paths," said OWD Director Trinh Nguyen. Highlights from the annual report include: SkillWorks, which received $350,000 in funding through the Neighborhood Jobs Trust, was able to leverage additional financial resources in order to serve over 1,000 limited English speakers to improve their language skills and employment opportunities. Youth Options Unlimited, an education and employment program that works with hard-to-reach youth, provided case management services to 377 young people and placed 88 youth in private employment positions. The children's literacy program ReadBoston gave away 60,000 new books to young readers across the city, and WriteBoston served 535 high school students with its deep learning through writing model. The Boston Tax Help Coalition was able to proved 12,291 residents with free tax preparation services that resulted in approximately $23 million in refunds for Boston families. The full Building an Inclusive Economy report can be found on OWD's new website, www.owd.boston.gov. The new site was designed to be more accessible to partners and program participants. It offers information about partnership opportunities, funding initiatives, and news and updates about OWD's programs. The Office is also on Twitter at @OWDBoston.

CONGRESSMAN TED LIEU STATEMENT ON HOUSE VOTE TO RE-OPEN U.S. EXPORT-IMPORT BANK

CONGRESSMAN TED LIEU STATEMENT ON HOUSE VOTE TO RE-OPEN U.S. EXPORT-IMPORT BANK

WASHINGTON - Today, Congressman Ted W. Lieu (D | Los Angeles County)  issued the following statement on the House of Representatives voting to re-open the U.S. Export-Import Bank.

“The passage of re-authorization of the U.S. Export-Import Bank by the House of Representatives is welcome news.  Yet, this good news is tempered by the fact that Congress should have acted months ago.  Due to the most cynical and needless kind of partisan politics practiced by Tea Party Republicans, the expiration of the Export-Import Bank in June has had devastating impacts on communities from coast to coast.   The House vote today to re-open the Export-Import bank doesn’t help those workers laid off by Boeing at their El Segundo facility in the heart of California’s 33^rd district.  My hope is that the Republican Conference has learned something from this sad episode.  Hardworking Americans deserve bold economic solutions that protect and expand the backbone of the American economy – the middle class.  I hope Republicans – in the coming  weeks, months and years – will join with Democrats to deliver exactly that.”

###

Congressman Ted W. Lieu serves on the House Committees on the Budget and Oversight & Government Reform. 
He is also the Democratic Freshman Class President and a Lieutenant Colonel in the Air Force Reserves.

LIEU.HOUSE.GOV

BAKER, WALSH CALL ON STATE LEGISLATURE TO PASS GOVERNOR’S OPIOID LEGISLATION

BAKER, WALSH CALL ON STATE LEGISLATURE TO PASS GOVERNOR’S OPIOID LEGISLATION

Governor, Mayor Request Actions on Bill to Enact Measures to Combat the Opioid Epidemic

BOSTON – Today, Governor Charlie Baker and Mayor Martin J. Walsh sent a joint letter to members of the Massachusetts State Legislature asking for swift action on the Baker-Polito Administration’s recently filed legislation, “An Act Relative to Substance Use Treatment, Education and Prevention." 

“The epidemic of opioid addiction sweeping through our cities and towns shows no mercy and we consider the initiatives in this bill to be significant tools in combating this unprecedented crisis.  We need bold action to bend the trend in opioid deaths,” wrote Baker and Walsh.

Both administrations have made progress to combat opioid addiction, including numerous reforms implemented by the Governor’s Opioid Working Group to allocate more than $114 million in spending for substance use prevention, education and treatment, increased bulk purchasing of Narcan in municipalities. This year, Mayor Walsh announced the Mayor’s Office of Recovery Services, the first-ever municipal-based office to focus on this issue, and he was named Chair of a new national Task Force on Substance Abuse, Prevention and Recovery Services by the U.S. Conference of Mayors. The Task Force will focus on the impact of substance abuse and addiction on cities and work on effective recovery services strategies and approaches.

“We stand with you and appreciate your dedication to fighting this epidemic.  The effort demands aggressive and carefully considered actions,” the letter continues. “While the Baker-Polito Administration and the City of Boston have dedicated significant efforts and resources to fight the opioid epidemic, the critical reforms in this legislation are needed to prevent and treat addiction.”

Filed by Governor Baker on October 15, the bill would provide medical personnel with the power to intervene with patients suffering from addiction, control the spread of addictive prescription opioids and increase education about substance use disorder for providers and in the community. 

Click here to download the letter sent by Governor Baker and Mayor Walsh to members of the Massachusetts State Legislature. 

Full Text of Letter:

October 27, 2015

To Members of the Massachusetts State Legislature:

The evidence of the deadly opioid epidemic in Massachusetts is stark.  Nearly four people lose their lives each day in Massachusetts to addiction and opioid abuse. We write today to thank you for the Legislature’s efforts to date in fighting this public health crisis and to ask that you swiftly act on “An Act Relative to Substance Use Treatment, Education and Prevention.”  The epidemic of opioid addiction sweeping through our cities and towns shows no mercy and we consider the initiatives in this bill to be significant tools in combating this unprecedented crisis.  We need bold action to bend the trend in opioid deaths.

Over these past months, both of our administrations have worked closely with medical and addiction professionals on the front lines of this public health crisis to identify strategic reforms to existing practices in dealing with the risks of opioid use and misuse.  Some of these reforms will require changes to existing law that can be made only by the Legislature.  This bill includes measures to provide medical personnel with the power to intervene with patients in imminent harm as a result of addiction, to control the extraordinary spread of addictive prescription opioids, and to increase understanding and awareness of substance use disorder in our communities and by families.

In 2014, there were 4.4 million prescriptions and 240 million schedule II and III pills dispersed in the Commonwealth – far more than many other states. Those who become addicted to these powerful drugs are 40 times more likely to use heroin.  These factors have led the Baker-Polito Administration to propose bold new guidelines to responsibly limit prescriptions of these addictive drugs, which will also reduce the number of unused pills that remain in our communities.

Given the highly addictive nature of opioids, we strongly encourage you to support limiting first-time opioid prescriptions to a 72 hour supply.  The legislation provides an important safeguard against potential overuse or misuse of these drugs while allowing doctors to exercise their discretion to exceed this limit in cases of emergency and where patients are suffering from chronic pain. Prescriptions issued for patients receiving palliative care, hospice care, and cancer care would also be exempt from the 72-hour limitation.

We believe another critical component in the fight against opioids requires increasing access to emergency treatment options through our medical system.  With your support, we can give medical professionals the ability to save lives and intervene with people who are at the highest risk by establishing a new “front door” for clinical assessment that grants medical professionals the authority to hold a patient for 72 hours of emergency treatment, as a last alternative, if not doing so would create a likelihood of serious harm. This provision would parallel current law permitting a 72-hour period of emergency assessment for persons who present an imminent risk of harm due to mental illness. The bill includes strong provisions for due process and judicial oversight.  This bill will also amend the civil commitment statute, Chapter 123, section 35, and end the practice of sending women to MCI Framingham for treatment.      

We stand with you and appreciate your dedication to fighting this epidemic.  The effort demands aggressive and carefully considered actions.  While the Baker-Polito Administration and the City of Boston have dedicated significant efforts and resources to fight the opioid epidemic, the critical reforms in this legislation are needed to prevent and treat addiction. We also recognize that taking up this legislation is one step of many more that must follow to comprehensively address this public health crisis. Individuals from the recovery community, medical professionals, law enforcement officials and policymakers must continue to work together to ensure thoughtful implementation of any policy changes and to build a more robust and adequate continuum of care for those in need across the Commonwealth. 

As this year’s legislative session moves forward, we look forward to working with the Legislature on these provisions and related efforts to demonstrate our commitment to work together on critical reforms in substance abuse prevention and treatment.  Massachusetts is home to some of the most accomplished medical professionals in the nation, and with your support we have the opportunity to build new treatment pathways and pursue public awareness and education that can begin to break the cycle of deadly addiction.

We have no doubt that every member of the Legislature has heard the same stories of deadly addiction that we have.  These stories are a clear reminder that this epidemic knows no boundaries.  We look forward to working with you on this critical venture and thank you for your commitment to this important issue.

Sincerely,

Governor Charlie Baker and Mayor Martin J. Walsh