2022麻州州長選舉提前開打 前麻州參議員Ben Downing宣佈參選

 

Ben Downing宣佈參選麻州州長。(圖片取自網路)

             (Boston Orange編譯)波士頓人正忙著看還有誰會出來參選波士頓市長之際，今(8)日卻有人放長線，宣佈2022年參選州長了。

曾任麻州參議員，現年39歲的Ben Downing說，他要打造一個更公平，更強壯的麻州。

              2021年是市級選舉年，州長選舉是明年，2022年的事。不過這年代，似乎凡事都得搶先，參選公職也講究年紀要輕(總統除外)。Ben Downing 在2016年1月25日宣佈不再競選第六度連任，離開政壇。現在2021年2月8日，打算重返政壇，正式宣佈參選州長，成為了下屆州長選舉的第一位候選人。

              原籍Pittsfield的Ben Downing，之前在麻州參議員席位上任職10年，卸任後，他擔任波士頓再生能源公司Nexamp的副總裁，和太太Micaelah Morrill，以及2名年紀還小的兒子住在東波士頓。

              雖然Downing是第一個正式宣布參選州長的人，但他卻並不是民主黨中第一個表示對此職位有興趣的人。去年12月，哈佛大學政治學教授兼作家Danielle Allen就說，她在探查參選州長的可能性。如果她宣佈參選，她將是麻州大黨歷史中第一個出來參選州長的黑人女性。

              如果全美最受歡迎州長之一的查理貝克(Charlie Baker)決定不競選第三度連任，民主黨的初選一定會吸引出更多候選人。民主黨幹部早就認為麻州總檢察官奚莉(Maura Healey)會是名很有力的候選人，而且很可能這次會參選。

              雖然Downing有當選，並在議會服務逾十年的經驗，但他仍將面對挑戰。他必須籌募數以百萬元計的款項，到全州各地向選民介紹他自己，尤其是波士頓都會區等那些西部麻州以外的地區。更不要說，新冠病毒疫情還未消散。

              Downing在2013年時曾經考慮過參選聯邦參議員，但最後沒有行動，但他說自己現在準備好了，不論還有誰會跳入選戰，他都要參選州長，而且要贏。

              他打算舉行一個又一個的Zoom會議，然後逐戶拍門，拜訪一個又一個的市鎮民主黨委員會，一家又一家咖啡廳的組織活動，贏取選民。

              Downing表示他計畫把自己形容為激進，獨立的領導者，將優先解決諸如經濟，族裔正義，氣候變化，托兒服務，以及可負擔的高等教育，交通方面的投資等問題。

              他也打算在初選時，然後在大選時直接挑戰查理貝克的工作記錄。他說查理貝克沒有運用他可觀的政治資本來使麻州更有彈性，或者幫助那些力量更弱的居民。

              Downing是家中長子。他那已辭世的父親是Berkshire地區檢察官Gerard Downing。2003年時，他從普域敦斯(Providence)學院畢業，2008年在獲得塔芙茨(Tufts)大學的市區及環境政策和計畫碩士，之後未署名麻州國會議員工作。

              Downing表示，促使他參選州長的原因是他在畢肯丘(Beacon Hill)上觀察到，在處理麻州家庭所面對挑戰上的那種缺乏急迫感。

              他指出，他也看到畢肯丘對新冠病讀暴露出經濟及族裔正義，平等等議題，不夠關注。

              Downing 的競選團隊，已經有不少人才，包括Wilnelia Rivera和她的公司將主管競選的策略與營運。2018年，在Ayanna Pressley打敗長年在位的卡普阿諾(Michael Capuano)的那場選戰中，Rivera就是普利斯萊的競選總策畫。

波士頓僑教中心牛年揮毫迎新春

 

波士頓經文處處長孫儉元致詞。

       (波士頓僑教中心)波士頓華僑文教服務中心於2月6日舉辦「揮毫迎新春」活動，邀請波士頓中華書法會會長黃周麗桃及林浩中等書法行家現場書寫春聯；民俗文化種子教師林賢琪也特地以牛年為主題製作拓印版畫，展示農曆年節習俗及傳統文化之美。僑教中心將提供蔡英文總統及賴清德副總統聯名落款的「牛轉乾坤」春聯，以及本次活動成品予僑胞免費索取，分享年節歡愉氣氛。

           本次活動由駐波士頓臺北經濟文化辦事處處長孫儉元主持，孫處長開場致詞時表示，農曆新年兼具團圓及迎新送舊的雙重意涵，大家在鼠年飽受疫情所擾，希望透過送鼠迎牛，能將陰霾一掃而空。此外，僑胞長居海外，受到文化及生活作息的限制，過年的氛圍不如在國內，所以希望透過本次活動，協助大家重溫過年的溫馨愉快。

波士頓經文處處長孫儉元(右)和波士頓僑務委員蔣宗壬揮毫。

               受到新冠肺炎疫情影響，今年的活動取消了讓小朋友體驗書寫春聯的安排；另為遵守牛頓市政府室內群聚人數的限制，僅邀請若干僑領及貴賓出席，並在僑教中心官方臉書全程直播。參加的孫儉元夫婦、波士頓僑教中心主任潘昭榮，牛頓高地社區發展協會主任

John Rice、僑務委員梅錫銳、蔣宗壬及紐英崙中華公所主席鄭慧民都分別揮毫，以向僑胞賀歲。(圖與文:波士頓僑教中心提供)

John Rice 致詞。

麻州州長疫情匯報 2/8 (Video)

 

波士頓市要幫助第一代購屋者 最高撥款5000元

MAYOR WALSH ANNOUNCES NEW FUNDING TO SUPPORT FIRST-GENERATION HOMEBUYERS

 Now Providing up to $5,000 through a 2:1 Matching Program

BOSTON - Monday, February 8, 2021 - Mayor Martin J. Walsh today announced the City of Boston is providing new homebuyers up to $5,000 through a partnership with Massachusetts Affordable Housing Alliance's (MAHA) First-Generation Homebuyer Program. The program assists income-eligible first-generation homebuyers in purchasing a home in Boston for the first time with a 2:1 matching program.

"Now more than ever, in Boston, we must take steps to create equitable opportunities and access to resources for all Bostonians. Improving pathways to homeownership can help address disparities in wealth, making this a vital part of our equity work," said Mayor Walsh. "I'm proud to increase the grant funding available through a strategic partnership with MAHA's First-Generation Homebuyer Program to assist more families in purchasing their first homes in our city."

Funding for this program has been redirected from the Boston Police Department's overtime budget to the Department of Neighborhood Development (DND), which was announced by Mayor Walsh last June in an effort to make a significant investment in equity and inclusion across the City. The DND dedicated $250,000 of the police overtime budget in addition to $75,000, making $325,000 in funding available to help increase homeownership rates in the city among first-generation buyers, immigrants, and buyers of color.

"First-generation buyers often don't have enough savings, or family members with the financial resources to tap, when trying to buy a home, said Symone Crawford, Director of Homeownership Education at the Dorchester-based MAHA. "This investment is critical in helping to level the playing field for those residents to become homeowners."

To be eligible for the $5,000 grant in the City of Boston, first-generation homebuyers must earn below 100 percent of the Area Median Income (AMI) and contribute $2,500 of their own money. The funds can be used toward down payment assistance and/or closing costs.

The City of Boston Home Center has added funds to the existing First-Generation Program developed by MAHA with support from the MIDAS Collaborative as well as funding from Boston Children's Hospital and the Wells Fargo Foundation.

"When purchasing a home, the financial questions are the most intimidating," said Dafany Pressat, a MAHA First Generation program graduate and Mattapan homebuyer. "The First Gen program gives first-generation homebuyers something to look forward to while attending home buying classes where the end goal is purchasing a home. I felt a lot more secure knowing that if we do our part by saving the $2,500, we will get rewarded for it with the money from this program. Enhancing the funding for this program for others like me to benefit from is truly great news."

Homebuyers who are the first generation in their families to buy a home often have a difficult time accruing the down payment and closing costs necessary to purchase a home, according to a study by the Urban Institute. Funds are not available from families for financial assistance often because the buyer's parents don't own a home and therefore cannot leverage the home's equity to provide financial aid to their children.

"We know first-generation homebuyers are less likely to become homeowners than those in similarly situated households who grew up with parents who are homeowners," said Sheila Dillon, Chief of Housing and Director of Neighborhood Development. "These funds will help make homeownership possible to those who will benefit for generations to come and help us close the gap on homeownership in Boston."

"We launched our first-generation homebuyer matched-savings program last year and already residents have saved over $187,000 for their first home," said Symone Crawford, Director of Homeownership Education at MAHA. "We are thrilled to be partnering with Mayor Walsh and his housing team to close the racial homeownership gap."

One hundred and fifty homebuyers are currently enrolled in the program, and fourteen have purchased homes so far. Of the 150 participants, 73 percent are Black and 18 percent are Latinx. Forty percent of participants are households headed by a woman, and one-third are households that identify as immigrants.

One of the City's goals, identified in Mayor Walsh's Housing A Changing City: Boston 2030 plan, is to increase homeownership rates for people of color, low- and moderate-income buyers, immigrants, and first-generation buyers. In 2017, only five percent of home purchase mortgage applicants were Black residents. Overall, homeownership rates for Black and Latino residents were 30 percent and 16 percent lower, respectively, compared to white residents according to American Community Survey data. The First-Generation Program aims to further the goal of increasing homeownership among communities of color and immigrants.

MAHA today also issued a 12-point challenge to close the racial homeownership gap through its' Homeownership Justice Vision. The challenge includes tripling lending in the state's most affordable mortgage program, a $100 million investment for first-generation homebuyers as well as new affordable homeownership opportunities throughout the state.

To find out more about the First Generation Homebuyer Program, go to https://mahahome.org/STASH.

CITIBANK TO PAY NEARLY $900,000 TO THOUSANDS OF MASSACHUSETTS CONSUMERS FOR CREDIT CARD OVERCHARGES

 CITIBANK TO PAY NEARLY $900,000 TO THOUSANDS OF MASSACHUSETTS CONSUMERS FOR CREDIT CARD OVERCHARGES

AG Healey Joins $4.2 Million Multistate Settlement with Company

BOSTON – Citibank will refund $895,000 to approximately 5,474 Citibank credit card holders in Massachusetts to resolve allegations that it overcharged them for credit card interest, Attorney General Maura Healey announced.

The funds are part of a $4.2 million multistate settlement achieved in partnership with the attorneys general of Iowa, New Jersey, North Carolina, and Pennsylvania. Approximately 25,000 current and former Citibank customers are receiving refund checks as a result of the settlement. The Massachusetts assurance of discontinuance was filed in Suffolk Superior Court today.

“Citibank charged consumers excessive interest on their credit cards and violated the law,” said AG Healey. “With this settlement, Citibank is required to compensate thousands of consumers in Massachusetts for years of overcharges.”

The investigation arose from Citibank’s failure, from 2011 to August 2017, to properly reevaluate and reduce the annual percentage rate (APR) for certain consumer credit card accounts consistent with the requirements of the Credit Card Accountability Responsibility and Disclosure Act of 2009 (CARD Act). For more than six years, Citibank failed to properly lower credit card interest rates for certain consumers who were entitled to reductions in their APR. AG Healey’s Office alleges that Citibank’s failure to reevaluate credit card interest rates further violated the Massachusetts Consumer Protection Act.

The attorneys general will be distributing the settlement to eligible consumers through Epiq Class Action & Claims Solutions, Inc., a settlement administrator. Consumers do not need to take any action to receive their funds, which will be sent as checks to eligible consumers in the middle of 2021. Only those Citibank credit card customers who meet certain criteria set by the settling states will receive a refund check. Consumers who have questions can call Epiq, the settlement administrator, at 855-914-4657.

As detailed in a 2018 consent order between Citibank and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), the CARD Act requires credit card issuing banks to perform a “look back” at least every six months to review whether, for accounts where the bank has increased the APR due to credit risk or other factors, the factors that prompted the increase have changed. When indicated by the look back review, the CARD Act requires the bank to reduce the account’s APR. The CFPB’s Consent Order alleges that Citibank failed to properly implement the CARD Act’s look back requirements from 2011 to 2017.

This matter was handled by Assistant Attorney General Peter Downing, of AG Healey’s Consumer Protection Division.

2020年麻州車禍死亡334人 只比2019少3人

             (Boston Orange) 2020年新冠病毒(COVID-19)橫行，人們出門頻率大降，車禍死亡人數334人，竟然只比2019年的337人少3人。這是什麼道理?

             根據麻州的數據庫，因車禍死亡的行人數目減少了，開車，騎自行車死亡的人數卻增加了。

             這死亡人數讓人吃驚的另一個原因是，在2020年內，麻州的車禍案件其實減少了4萬宗，意味著發生了更多更嚴重的車禍。交通專家的理論是，因為路上車少了，開車的人就開得更快，於是也更危險，更有致命性。

               麻州的路邊傷亡率包括185名駕駛人，33名乘客。還有51名騎摩托車的人死亡，2019年卻只有10人。行人死亡的50人，比2019年的76人，倒是減少了。

            在違規案件中，車輛超速，超過100英里的比2019年增加了40%。

麻州這場雪Sharon12吋 週二、週五還要下

鏟雪車一下子就把路邊積雪堆得半人高。(周菊子攝)

             (Boston Orange編譯)麻州今冬的第2場雪，從7日中午飄到深夜，鵝毛般的雪片，覆蓋了整個大地，許多地區積雪逾10吋，沙朗鎮(Sharon)最高，12吋。

             7日晚8點半，波士頓羅根機場也積雪5吋了。

             郊區的Barnstable和Dukes郡等地方，雪一直下到8日凌晨一點才停，但大波士頓的大多數地區，雪幾乎都停了。

     根據地方上警察局和消防局的資料，下雪使得路況濕滑，造成幾宗車禍。大約3點半時，Upton的Hopinton路上，有一輛車失控，撞上迎面而來的反向車。兩名駕駛都受傷送醫院，但無生命危險。

鏟雪車出動。(周菊子攝)

         在Tewksbury，下午1點左右，在安多幅街(Andover)1411號附近，5車追撞，無人受傷。

             根據麻州緊急管理局資訊，大約晚上10點半時，大部分在Cape和波士頓的5500戶人家停電了。

             Keolis通勤火車服務和地鐵人員週日晚宣佈，週一將依冬季時刻照常營運。

             麻州交通局表示，大約下午6點時，該局已派出2766輛鏟雪車清掃道路。該局也把麻州公路(Turnpike)的速限降低到每小時40英里。

             接下來的這週，估計還會下更多雪。

市區路樹瞬間換裝。(周菊子攝)

        週一天氣應涼爽，大部分時間陽光普照，氣溫約華氏28度，週二會有另一場雪，估計累積1到3吋，然後週五可能也會下雪。

"我不是病毒"座談 2/8

 

麻州財政廳廳長Deb Goldberg新冠確診

(臉書截圖)

      (Boston Orange 編譯) 麻州財政廳廳長高伯珂(Deborah B. Goldberg)辦公室今(7)日宣佈，廳長新冠病毒(COVID-19)確診了。

                   財政廳廳長高伯珂(Deborah B. Goldberg)現在是麻州政府確診者中職位最高者。7 日中午，她也在推特上公佈了自己確診。

                    財政廳發言人在聲明中表示，”她最近獲悉自己可能暴露在新冠病毒下，所以去做了檢測”，”現正觀察自己的症狀，並遵循聯邦疾病防治中心設立的指導原則，在家隔離”，”她將繼續在家中遠距工作”。

                麻州公共衛生廳廳長Monica Bharel博士去年三月也確診過。去年也另有麻州議員確診的消息。

人走茶涼? 波士頓族裔平等基金停止募款 67萬元轉交新麻州基金

波士頓市長馬丁華殊(Martin Walsh)將赴華府，出任美國勞工部部長。
(檔案照片，視頻截圖)

             (Boston Orange 整理編譯)波士頓市的”族裔平等基金(The Racial Equity Fund)將停止募款，並把已籌得款項中的大約67萬元轉交給”新麻州族裔平等及社會正義基金(The New Commonwealth Racial Equity and Social Justice Fund )”。

            個也是面向大眾募款的”族裔平等基金”，將使和市府打交道的企業、民眾感到需要表態，有壓力，有歪曲政府功能之嫌的文章，也再度引人注目。

            波士頓市”族裔平等基金”要交給”新麻州基金”的67萬元中，包括AT&T捐的50萬元。另有6萬5000元將撥給市府和波士頓聯邦儲備銀行一起執行，以該行2015年”波士頓財富顏色(Color of Wealth in Boston)"報告為基礎的與平等相關研究計畫。

吳弭(Michelle Wu)競選波士頓市長，強調問責、透明。
(檔案照片，視頻截圖)

             這兩個基金都在2020年6月前後推出。新麻州基金由19名非洲裔人，拉丁裔人高管組成，籌款目標一億美元，已募得2500萬元左右，並已於2020年底，撥款100萬元給20個非牟利組織。波士頓市府由新聘平等長(Chief of Equity)Karilyn Crockett掌管的”族裔平等基金”，共約籌得67萬元，還未辦理撥款資助行動。

             波士頓市政府因波士頓市長馬丁華殊即將出任美國勞工部部長，市長一職將交接，2月3日發新聞稿，做聲明。一旦馬丁華殊卸任，波士頓市議會議長Kim Janey將成為代理市長。

             馬丁華殊在新聞稿表示，「”很高興能把市府籌到的錢轉贈給”新麻州基金”，用以支持有色社區，讓波士頓成為一個每個人都有機會蓬勃發展的地方」。他還補充道，他有信心經由”新麻州基金”，以及市府的”平等包容內閣(Equity and Inclusion Cabinet)”合作的努力，會有立即影響。

MIT講師karilyn crockett博士，2020年6月才上任波士頓市平等長
(Chief of Equity)。(檔案照片，視頻截圖)

           “新麻州基金”採行的是全州性策略，市府基金重心放在波士頓。

             市府在轉移資金後發出的聲明中稱，”族裔平等基金”預期市長即將交接，將立即停止籌款。市府鼓勵有興趣捐款改該基金者轉捐給”新麻州基金”。

             波士頓市”族裔平等基金”的執行委員會主席為即將出任波士頓基金會執行長的愛默生學院校長Lee Pelton博士，該會委員和”新麻州基金”的19名創辦者，有部分重疊，包括通用電子的Mo Cowan，薩福克(Suffolk)工程的Linda Dorcena Forry，穫多利(Fidelity)投資的Pamela Everhart等。儘管兩機構的籌款對象都是麻州內的私營企業和民眾，但當時都表示讓兩機構同時存在的空間很寬廣。

   

波士頓族裔平等基金執委會委員。(圖片來自市府網站)

         波士頓市政府在去年中為因應新冠病毒設立的基金包括，共募得3410萬餘元的”波士頓彈性機機(Boston Resiliency Fund)，以及小企業紓困金( Small Business Relief Fund)，租金救助基金(Rental Relief Fund)，重新開放波士頓基金(Reopen Boston Fund)，藝術家紓困基金( Artist Relief Fund)，以及新冠病毒藝術、文化基金( Arts & Culture COVID-19 fund)。

波士頓市府在網站上公佈，截至2021年1月，"波士頓彈性基金"共籌款3410萬元。(波士頓市府網站)

全美亞裔總商會調研: 更多亞太裔企業面對關門及裁員危機

全美亞裔總商會調研發佈會，主講者包括國會議員孟昭文(第一排左起)，Andy Kim，全美亞裔總商會會長董繼玲等人。

 全美亞裔總商會調研

更多亞太裔企業面對關門及裁員危機 

亞太裔企業需要拜登政府及州政府的立即關注和支援

華盛頓特區 – 今日，全國亞裔總商會(National ACE)和”全美策略聯盟(PPS)”合作，公佈亞太裔企業在新冠病毒大流行期間經驗的新調查數據。其中重點包括，84%亞太裔企業受到新冠病毒大流行的負面影響，44%已減少雇用員工人數等調查結果的一部分。這調查反映了亞太裔企業要從這人生難得一遇的病毒大流行中恢復，面對著巨大挑戰。

全國亞裔總商會會長暨執行長董繼玲表示，”對小企業來說，要能撐過這場病毒大流行，國會需要確保在因應新冠病毒危機上有健全的長期對策”。”這個困境無法在短期內解決。事實上，我們需要國會和各州政府承諾，要能夠在未來歲月中確保小企業的生存，繁榮。

這調查是從9月28日至11月30日在網上完成的，不僅收集了900家亞太裔企業的數據，也收集非洲裔及西班牙裔企業的數據，以和我們的美國非洲商會，美國西班牙裔商會夥伴分享資訊。這調查共收到8,328份回應，因此成為在新冠病毒大流行影響上，關於亞太裔，非洲裔及西班牙裔企業的最大規模田野調查。

接受調查的亞太裔有壓倒性的大多數人說，他們的企業至今還被新冠病毒大流行打擊得非常嚴重，使得他們不但收入減少，還得裁員。許多亞太裔企業主聲稱，如果沒有財務援助，他們的情況會更糟。

這些調查發現包括:

●    67%亞太裔企業表示，獲得財務援助，或者額外資金是他們未來6個月的第一優先任務。

●    17%亞太裔企業的手頭現金，不足以支撐他們的企業繼續經營一個月

●    23%亞太裔企業預期會在未來6個月中永遠關門。

●    61%亞太裔企業錯過了重要補助，因為他們不認為自己符合申請資格

●    49%亞太裔企業預期會至少裁員1人

●    80%亞太裔企業明說，他們需要贈款形式的援助，而不是經由貸款舉債更多。

亞裔麥當勞經營者協會主席暨全國亞裔總商會政策委員會的現任主席Jimmy Ferguson說，亞太裔，尤其是亞太裔婦女所擁有的企業，在這次危機中受到的打擊很大。國會必須確保這重要的社區獲得生存所需援助，撐過這場病毒大流行，更為強壯”。”人們錯誤的認為，亞太裔在這場病毒大流行中掙扎程度較小，那是不正確的。 

關於全國亞裔總商會

全國亞裔總商會的使命是做為亞太裔企業利益的強力支持者，就加強，促進亞太裔企業，創業者，以及企業領袖的目標及抱負等的所有議題，推動積極改變。全國亞裔總商會致力經由支持，宣導影響亞太裔社區的議題，改善亞太裔社區的經濟發展及經濟影響，促進結盟及加強社區建造，培養下一代亞太裔創業家及主管，來達成這使命。全國亞裔總商會在全國為亞太裔的企業利益發出統一聲音。

SURVEY: Largest Survey focused on AAPIs Business Owners Shows More Businesses

Face Closures and Employee Layoffs

 

AAPI business owners and their employees need immediate and long-term help from the Biden Administration and State Governments

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, the National Asian/Pacific Islander American Chamber of Commerce and Entrepreneurship (National ACE) and Reimagine Main Street, an initiative of Public Private Strategies (PPS), released new survey data on the experience of AAPI business owners during the Covid-19 pandemic. Among its key findings, 84% of Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) businesses have been negatively impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic and 44% have decreased the number of people they employ. This survey reflects the immense challenges that AAPI businesses face in recovering from a once in a lifetime pandemic. Congresswoman Grace Meng (NY-06) and Congressman Andy Kim (NJ-03) joined the briefing to provide comments on the importance of AAPI business owners to the country’s economic recovery.

“For small businesses to make it to the other side of this pandemic, Congress needs to ensure there is a robust, long-term response to the Covid-19 crisis,” said Chiling Tong, President and CEO of National ACE. “In addition to our findings, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics shows that Asian American women who are jobless have been hit harder than any other group, with 44% having been out of work six months or more. This dilemma cannot be solved with a short-term perspective. In fact, we need Congress and States to commit to ensuring that small businesses survive and thrive in the months and years ahead.”

The survey, conducted online from September 28 to November 30, collected data on nearly 900 AAPI business owners – and also Black and Hispanic business owners in order to share information with our partners at the U.S. Black Chambers, Inc. and the United States Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. The survey resulted in 8,328 respondents, making it the largest survey of AAPI, Black, and Hispanic business owners fielded on the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic. 

An overwhelming majority of surveyed AAPIs said that their businesses have been hit hard by the pandemic to date, causing lower revenues and job cuts. Many AAPI business owners have stated that their situation will worsen without financial assistance. Among the findings:

·        67 percent of AAPI businesses cite obtaining financial assistance or additional capital is their number one priority in the next six months.

·        17 percent of AAPIs have less than one month of cash on hand to keep their businesses up and running.

·        23 percent of AAPIs expect to close permanently in the next six months.

·        61 percent of AAPIs missed out on critical aid because they did not believe they were eligible.

·        49 percent of AAPI business owners expect to lay off at least one employee.

·        80 percent of AAPIs specified that they want that assistance in the form of grants, as opposed to taking on more debt through loans. 

 “Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) owned businesses have suffered greatly from this crisis, particularly AAPI women. Congress must ensure that this important community receives the assistance it needs to survive and come out of the other side of the pandemic stronger” said Jimmy Ferguson, Chair of the Asian McDonald's Operators Association and current Policy Committee Chairman for National ACE. “It is wrongly assumed that AAPI’s are struggling less through the pandemic, which is simply not true.”

“I applaud National ACE for their work on a national survey to underscore the challenges AAPI small business owners face,” said Congresswoman Grace Meng (NY-06). “The survey data paints a bleak picture and underscores why additional support will be needed. These businesses were hit doubly because of the pandemic’s economic impact and the vicious anti-Asian hate and discrimination. Even before the first cases hit my home state of New York, our AAPI small businesses were victims of racism; they were the canary in the coal mine as the pandemic ravaged communities across the nation. Small businesses are the lifeblood of a community, and they need all the help during the Covid-19 relief and recovery. I will continue to fight for relief for AAPI small business owners.”  

“Every small business owner should know that Congress has their back as we work to recover from the pandemic. That should be especially true of our AAPI brothers and sisters, and other communities of color, who have been disproportionately hard hit by this crisis and often lack ready access to the resources necessary to rebuild. This survey shows us the depth of the crisis; it’s now up to us in Congress to act with the level of urgency and scale needed,” said Congressman Andy Kim (NJ-03). 

 

# # #

About National ACE

 

National ACE’s mission is to serve as a strong advocate of AAPI business interests and effect positive change on all issues that enhance and advance the goals and aspirations of AAPI business owners, entrepreneurs, and corporate leaders. National ACE strives to do this through supporting and promoting issues that impact the AAPI business community, improving the economic development and economic impact of the AAPI community, advancing coalitions and enhancing community building, and fostering the next generation of AAPI entrepreneurs and executives. National ACE provides a unified voice for the business interests of AAPIs nationally.