大波士頓支持烏克蘭 3/6人民再上街頭遊行祈願和平

遊行群眾高舉象徵烏克蘭的黃菊花。(圖片來自推特)

  

右起，波士頓市長吳弭 (Michelle Wu)，聯邦眾議員Ayanna Pressley，
波士頓市議會議長Ed Flynn都到場支持烏克蘭人民。(圖片來自推特)

波士頓烏克蘭青年協會也組團參加遊行。(圖片來自推特)

  (Boston Orange 整理編譯) 俄國入侵烏克蘭，是一場看不到贏家的戰爭，從2月24日開打至3月7日，路透社估計至少已有9100人死亡，1800人受傷，170萬人流離失所，1700棟樓宇毀損。

             波士頓烏克蘭人 (Ukrainian Boston) 和新英格蘭烏克蘭人文化中心 (Ukrainian Cultural Center for New England)，以及三一教堂 (Trinity Church) 3月6日攜手舉辦支持烏克蘭活動，吸引了數以千計民眾支持，到三一教堂祈禱，從柯普利廣場遊行到波士頓廣場，聚集在那兒的柏克曼演奏台 (Parkman Bandstand)前，揮舞旗幟、標語牌。

             麻州聯邦眾議員Ayanna Pressley，波士頓市長吳弭 (Michelle Wu)，波士頓市議會議長愛德華費林 ( Ed Flynn)都出席致詞，表達從千里之外聲援烏克蘭人民心意。

             麻州州長查理貝克 (Charlie Baker) 更是採取行動，在3月3日時簽署了一份行政命令，指示州政府各行政機關和俄國的國營公司中止合約。

             聯邦參議員馬基 (Ed Markey)也在3月5日時呼籲把禁止進口俄國石油，列入禁制名單。

             這是大波士頓一連2個週日舉行支持烏克蘭大遊行了。

             這場幾乎令所有人意外的戰爭，已經打了快2星期，世界各地呼籲停戰的聲音從未停過，俄國和烏克蘭也三度和談，法國總統馬克隆也嘗試居間協調，但雙方各有堅持，各有擁護者，總人口加起來幾乎超過世界一半的中國和印度，竟然都未譴責。

波士頓市長吳弭 (上) 5日特地和波士頓市移民進步辦公室主任 Yusufi Vali
在Instagram上討論如何協助烏克蘭移民。(圖片來自推特)

             5日前，聯合國的譴責俄國侵略烏克蘭議案，193個會員國有141國支持，35國棄權，5國反對，12國索性不投票。和俄國一起反對此案的國家，分別為白俄羅斯 (Belarus)，北韓，厄立特里亞 (Eritrea) 和敘利亞。 中國，印度，伊朗，伊拉克，巴基斯坦，剛果，莫三鼻克，古巴，寮國，蒙古，南非，蘇丹，越南，烏干達，斯里蘭卡，坦尚尼亞，津巴布韋都棄權。

本身是億萬富翁的風險基金管理人William Albert Ackman在3月7日早上9點多，發表「像似第三次世界大戰已經開打」的論調。他說美國可以停止從俄國買石油，然後資助戰爭的荒謬，然後一旦春季天然瓦斯的需求下降時，歐洲可以照著做。

             烏克蘭總統Volodymyr Zelenskyy3月6日才呼籲國際各界杯葛俄國石油，同時否決了俄國容許平民經6條入俄路線撤離烏克蘭的提案。俄國繼續提出，如果烏克蘭同意「停止軍事行動，改憲中立，承認克里米亞 (Crimea) 是俄國的一部分，承認頓巴斯 (包括 Donetsk和 Luhansk) 為獨立國家」，就會停火。

             3月7日金價、銀價大漲，Brent原油也大漲到13年來新高點，每桶122元，道瓊指數則一度下挫400點。

             在俄國堅持要打，烏克蘭屢屢不和的這場戰爭中，平民百姓是最大輸家，在烏克蘭的許多人被迫放棄所有家當，逃離家園。住在其他國家，原籍俄國的人，成了代罪羔羊。波士頓環球報3月7日的一篇報導就點出，麻州俄國裔人士聚居地之一的牛頓市，就有多家店鋪遭遇不滿戰爭人士的粗言惡語對待，甚至有人要求他們更改企業名稱，去掉俄國 (Russia) 這個字。

            當然，把精力放在援助烏克蘭人民的也大有人在，不少來自台灣的年輕人，一連2星期的自發參加了支持烏克蘭人的大遊行，還捐贈物資，慈濟基金會波士頓聯絡處也在響應台灣總部的支援行動。

波士頓市長吳弭轉發推特，表達支持烏克蘭心意。

             

波士頓市長吳弭上傳照片到推特，展現現場支持烏克蘭的群眾人數之多。

大波士頓商會頒發巔峰獎 表揚李愛雄 (Irene Li)等10名女性 (圖片)

大波士頓商會執行長James Rooney (左)和董事會主席Micho Spring (右)頒發巔峰獎給
美美餐飲集團董事長李愛雄 (Irene Li) (中)。(周菊子攝)

波士頓市長吳弭 (Michelle Wu)應大波士頓商會之邀致詞。

美美餐飲集團董事長李愛雄 (Irene Li)致詞。（周菊子攝）

１０名獲巔峰獎女性。（圖片來自大波士頓商會網站）

 

Governor Baker Nominates District Court Justices Robert A. Brennan and Andrew M. D’Angelo as Associate Justices of the Appeals Court

 Governor Baker Nominates District Court Justices Robert A. Brennan and Andrew M. D’Angelo as Associate Justices of the Appeals Court

 

BOSTON — This week, Governor Charlie Baker nominated District Court Justices Robert A. Brennan and Andrew M. D’Angelo as Associate Justices of the Appeals Court. Justices Brennan and D’Angelo have more than 50 years combined of legal experience.

 

“Justices Brennan and D’Angelo possess decades of experience previously as skilled litigators and now as respected jurists that have prepared them well to serve as Associate Justices of the Appeals Court,” said Governor Charlie Baker. "I am pleased to submit these candidates to the Governor's Council for their advice and consent."

 

"Justices Brennan and D’Angelo have demonstrated their fairness and deep knowledge of and commitment to the law over the course of many years,” said Lt. Governor Karyn Polito. “If confirmed by the Governor’s Council, these two Justices will make excellent additions to the Appeals Court.”

 

The Appeals Court is the Commonwealth's intermediate appellate court. The Appeals Court is a court of general appellate jurisdiction, which means that the justices review decisions that the trial judges from the several Departments of the Trial Court have already made in many different kinds of cases. The Appeals Court also has jurisdiction over appeals from final decisions of three State agencies: the Appellate Tax Board, the Industrial Accident Board and the Commonwealth Employment Relations Board. It consists of a chief justice and twenty-four associate justices. For more information about the District Court, visit their homepage.

 

Judicial nominations are subject to the advice and consent of the Governor’s Council. Applicants for judicial openings are reviewed by the Judicial Nominating Commission (JNC) and recommended to the governor. Governor Baker established the JNC in February 2015 pursuant to Executive Order 558, a non-partisan, non-political Commission composed of volunteers from a cross-section of the Commonwealth's diverse population to screen judicial applications. Twenty-one members were later appointed to the JNC in April 2015.

 

About Justice Robert A. Brennan

 

Justice Robert A. Brennan began his legal career in 1990 as an Assistant District Attorney with the Middlesex County District Attorney’s Office, focusing on both domestic violence and gang-related crimes. He then joined the firm Gilman, McLaughlin & Hanrahan, LLC in 1994 as a Litigation Associate. From 1995 to 2002, Justice Brennan joined the Essex County District Attorney’s Office as an Assistant District Attorney where he was named Deputy Chief of the Sexual Assault Unit. Since 2002, Justice Brennan has served as an Associate Justice of the District Court, presiding over cases in various districts and divisions. He currently serves as a Regional Administrative Justice of the District Court, as well as First Justice in the Salem District Court. In 2012 Justice Brennan started as the lead district court judge in the High-Risk Opportunity Probation with Enforcement – Massachusetts Offender Recidivism Reduction (HOPE-MORR), a pilot program where probationers at high risk of reoffending can go under more intense supervision in exchange for lesser penalties for probation violations. He has continued to be an integral part of this program, overseeing its expansion in 2014 to Chelsea District Court, in 2016 to Worcester District Court and in the fall of 2018 to all District Courts within Essex County.   Outside of the law, Justice Brennan coached softball and basketball from 2006 to 2018 and taught Constitutional Interpretations of Criminal Procedure at North Shore Community College from 1996 to 2005. He received his bachelor’s degree from the University of Pennsylvania in 1986 and his Juris Doctorate from Boston University Law School in 1990.

 

About Justice Andrew M. D’Angelo

 

Justice Andrew M. D’Angelo began his legal career as a legal assistant in the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office in 1988. After graduating law school in 1993, he joined Carney & Bassil, PC as a criminal defense attorney in 1993 where represented clients in district, superior and federal courts, and eventually became managing partner. Justice D’Angelo was nominated to the District Court in 2006 and has been active in many committees within the Trial Court. He serves as Chairperson of the District Court Technology Committee and the Trial Court Electronic Warrant Committee, as well as Co-Chairperson of the Trial Court Virtual Evidence Committee. Outside of the law, Justice D’Angelo was president of Norfolk-Medfield-Milis Pop Warner program for nearly ten years and is a coach with Massachusetts Elite Football. He received his bachelor’s degree from the College of the Holy Cross in 1990, and his Juris Doctorate from Suffolk University Law School in 1993.

AG HEALEY JOINS A MULTISTATE COALITION IN SUPPORT OF TRANSPORTATION WORKERS’ RIGHTS

 AG HEALEY JOINS A MULTISTATE COALITION IN SUPPORT OF TRANSPORTATION WORKERS’ RIGHTS 

Coalition Argues that Workers Should Have Meaningful Access to Justice and the Courts 

 BOSTON– Attorney General Maura Healey joined a coalition of 18 attorneys general in filing an amicus brief urging the U.S. Supreme Court to affirm a lower court’s decision that transportation workers who load and unload interstate cargo are exempt from the Federal Arbitration Act (FAA).  

In the brief, filed in Southwest Airlines Co. v. Saxon, the coalition supports Latrice Saxon, a ramp agent supervisor at Midway Airport, in her claim that she and other cargo workers fall within the FAA’s exemption for transportation workers. The attorneys general assert that those workers should be afforded the right to raise claims against their employer in court, instead of being forced into private arbitration.

The FAA requires workers to raise claims against their employer in private arbitration proceedings when they have signed an arbitration agreement; however, there is an exemption within the FAA for transportation workers “engaged in ... interstate commerce.” The coalition argues that cargo workers like Saxon are engaged in interstate commerce and therefore that the FAA does not apply to them. 

“Transportation workers, including cargo workers, perform important and necessary services for our communities and for the local and national economies, and we need to make sure employers are not using arbitration agreements to unfairly reduce access to the justice and the court system,” said AG Healey. “I am joining my colleagues in urging the Supreme Court to affirm the lower court’s decision and empower transportation workers to bring their legal claims in court, where there is transparency and accountability for employers who take advantage of their workers.” 

 The coalition argues that the transportation sector plays a critical role in state economies and infrastructure, and a disruption in transportation or shipping operations caused by labor conflicts has the potential to impact nearly every aspect of commerce within a state. It is because of this, the coalition asserts, that states have an interest in ensuring that disputes involving transportation workers are resolved in public and transparent proceedings that allow the states to monitor such disputes and respond as necessary, as opposed to private and confidential arbitration proceedings favored by employers.  

Additionally, the coalition argues that states are better able to perform their investigatory and enforcement duties when these disputes are resolved in public forums. When workers are subject to arbitration agreements, which typically are drafted by employers and include confidentiality provisions and other protectionist terms, it is more difficult for states to gather information about the pervasiveness of unlawful practices.  

The coalition also argues that requiring transportation workers to arbitrate their claims would affect the amount of publicly available information related to the working conditions of these employees and hinder their ability to protect workers from unsafe and unlawful working conditions.  

The amicus brief is led by Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul. Joining AGs Healey and Raoul in the brief are the attorneys general of California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Maine, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Washington. 

三月是麻州楓樹月

 Baker-Polito Administration Declares March “Massachusetts Maple Month”

State Officials Tour a Sugaring House in Central Massachusetts, Encourage Residents to Buy Local Maple Products

 

Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources (MDAR) Commissioner John Lebeaux, Energy and Environmental Affairs (EEA) Undersecretary Beth Card, and state and local officials visited Grand Maple Farms in New Braintree, MA to celebrate March as Massachusetts Maple Month.

 

NEW BRAINTREE – Governor Charlie Baker has declared March as Massachusetts Maple Month in the Commonwealth, and in celebration of this declaration, Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources (MDAR) Commissioner John Lebeaux, state and local officials, and representatives from the Massachusetts Maple Producers Association today visited Grand Maple Farms in New Braintree, MA to raise awareness of the state’s many maple producers and to encourage residents to purchase locally-produced maple products. Today’s visit to Grand Maple Farms included a tour of their facility along with a ceremonial tapping of a maple tree to commemorate the start of the sugaring season. Owners Justin and Paul Schur began their business with 23 taps in 2011, which has now grown to over 900 taps including sugar maple and red maple trees.

 

“Our Administration is happy to continue the tradition of recognizing our maple sugar producers who have long been a unique and important part of the Massachusetts agricultural industry, contributing over $12 million to the local economy and employing more than 1,000 workers,” said Governor Charlie Baker. “We are proud to support them and hope everyone will do the same by purchasing locally produced maple products this season.”

 

“The start of maple season is always an exciting time, ushering in a new growing season here in the Commonwealth,” said Lieutenant Governor Karyn Polito. “With snow still on the ground, visiting a Massachusetts sugarhouse offers a picturesque New England experience while supporting our local economy by providing a boost that not only benefits our maple producers but also provides other surrounding tourist destinations, such as restaurants and bed and breakfasts, with additional revenue opportunities.”

 

In the past six years, the Baker-Polito Administration, through MDAR, has awarded $341,785 in Agricultural Energy grants to maple producers throughout the state. These grants have been used to offset the costs of installing updated, environmentally friendly equipment, including high efficiency evaporators, heat recovery and reverse osmosis equipment.

 

“Maple syrup is a delicious local product that is part of our agricultural heritage in Massachusetts and maple sugar producers are true stewards of our land, protecting over 15,000 acres of woodland,” said Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary Kathleen Theoharides. “The Commonwealth’s maple sugar producers have also been pioneers and innovators, adopting cutting-edge energy efficient and environmentally-friendly technologies for harvesting and managing their maple groves.”

 

“As we shake off another winter season and as residents are eager to venture out, I can’t think of a better way to usher in a new growing season than to bring the family out to a local sugarhouse this month for a pancake breakfast complete with some freshly produced local Massachusetts maple syrup,” said MDAR Commissioner John Lebeaux. “Like with so many other aspects of our culture, the history of Massachusetts is tied to the history of maple, and when you buy Commonwealth produced products, you are not only supporting local farmers but you are honoring the history and legacy of our agricultural past.”

 

According to the United States Department of Agriculture’s 2017 Census of Agriculture, Massachusetts is home to approximately 300 maple syrup producers who produce over 70,000 gallons of syrup each year. Producers help to maintain thousands of acres of open working landscapes across the Commonwealth. Maple sugaring profits allow many farms to stay in business year-round by serving as a secondary crop and supplemental source of income. As one of the region’s unique agricultural foods, visitors come from all over the world to buy products during the sugaring season. Farms, restaurants, bed and breakfasts, country inns, and other tourist businesses share in this income, which primarily flows into small towns and farm communities, helping the local economy. Massachusetts ranks among the top 10 maple producing states in the U.S.

 

“Agricultural tourism attracts visitors and residents alike to our farms and rural areas, and the maple syrup season is particularly popular this time of year,” said Massachusetts Office of Travel and Tourism Executive Director Keiko Matsudo Orrall. “These delicious Made in MA maple products align with our My Local MA campaign to support small businesses right here in Massachusetts.”

 

“The basics of sugarmaking haven’t changed in hundreds of years,” said Massachusetts Maple Producers Association Coordinator Winton Pitcoff. “Take one ingredient – pure maple sap – and boil it down until it’s the perfect density for maple syrup. Sugarmakers have adopted modern techniques though, and use sustainable management and production practices to make the highest quality products efficiently and safely. And consumers have learned about what a versatile product maple syrup is, using it as a sweetener in their coffee, as an ingredient in baked goods, marinades, dressings, and of course, on pancakes!”

 

Maple syrup has been produced and consumed for centuries in North America and its initial availability during the tail end of the winter season signals the start of the agricultural awakening in Massachusetts and a sure sign that spring is around the corner. Tree tapping in Massachusetts can start as early as late January and continue through April, though March is officially Maple Month. Most importantly, the temperatures must be below freezing at night and above freezing during the days for the tree sap to flow. Furthermore, weather, soil, and genetics of the tree can affect maple syrup flavor. Please visit Massachusetts Maple Producers Association (MMPA) to learn more about the maple sugaring process. For a complete listing of maple sugar houses in the Commonwealth, go to the MassGrown website and click on maple.

波士頓市長吳弭簽署房屋轉手費家規法 200萬元起徵 州長不支持

 Boston Mayor Michelle Wu signed the Transfer Fee ordinance. (photo by Chutze Chou)

             (Boston Orange 周菊子波士頓報導) 波士頓市長吳弭 (Michelle Wu) 3月4日在數十名支持者圍觀中，簽署了「房地產交易轉讓費 (Transfer Fee) 」的波士頓家規法條例。這條例必須經由州議會投票通過，以及麻州州長簽署，才能正式實施。

 Boston Mayor Michelle Wu

             麻州州長查理貝克已在非正式場合中表態不支持這做法。

             吳弭提出的這家規法，要向交易價200萬元以上的房屋徵收2%的轉手費，並且只對200萬元以後的數額徵收規費，由賣家支付，所得費用將存入鄰里住宅信託。波士頓市府估計，這麼做可為波士頓市帶來數以億元計的額外收入，可用於擴大資助建造可負擔住宅經費。

              根據波士頓市2021年的房屋銷售紀錄，2%的規費，將可為波士頓市帶來9970萬元。波士頓市房屋長Sheila A. Dillion透露，在2021年時，波士頓市內約有704戶住宅價格在200萬元以上。受此法案影響的人數因此相當有限。

 Boston Mayor Michelle Wu with elected officials. (Photo by Chutze Chou)

             波士頓市並不是第一次推動這法案，二年前馬丁華殊(Martin Walsh)還是市長時，也曾提交過類似法案，當時提議向售價100萬元以上的房屋徵收轉手費。

State Senator Lydia Edwards with ACDC ED Angie Liu, CPA ED Karen Chan. (Photo by 
Chutze Chou)

             4日在簽署法令現場的亞美社區發展協會主任劉安琪，華人前進會主任陳玉珍都支持這一法令，希望波士頓市能因此有更多錢可以濟助地方建造可負擔住宅。陳玉珍並說明，吳弭市長的「房地產交易轉讓費」修訂版，不但把起徵金額提高的200萬元以上，而且訂有適用於耆英等的豁免條款。

             通常對還在進行中法令提案不多表態的麻州州長查理貝克 (Charlie Baker)，日前卻公開表示不贊同波士頓市長吳弭的這一行動。他甚至質疑吳弭提出這法令的時機，聲稱聯邦政府在這一、二年間才撥發出數以億元計款項，地方政府手中應該有很多錢可以用。他也呼籲麻州議會資助經費不足的各項房屋計畫，包括支援首次購屋者等等。

         4日早上有7名州市議員到位於麥特潘的老人屋，支持吳弭市長簽署這法令。包括剛當選麻州參議員，現在仍同時擔任波士頓市議員的Lydai Edwards，以及麻州眾議員Brandy Fluker Oakley，Rob Consalvo，波士頓市議員Ricardo Arroyo，Kendra Lara等人。

           波士頓市提出的家規法，還要求讓低收入耆英經由修訂的41C項目條款，擴大物業稅減免額。

               41C項目為65歲以上自住耆英提供稅費援助，提案則要求把免稅額從1000元提高到1500元，總減免額可因此從2000元提高到3000元。另外再把原本的固定收入限制改成已地區中為收入的50%，然後把資產限制額度增加加倍。

               一旦州政府通過波士頓市申請的這家規法，相關條例將從2023會計年度開始實施，該年的收入限額將從單身人士24,911元調升至47,000元，負負從37,367元調升為53,700元。資產限額將從單身人士的4萬元增至8萬元，夫婦從5萬5千元增至11萬元。

               波士頓市政府表示。波士頓市內現有大約4,600名擁有住宅的耆英，符合41C項目的繳稅減免資格。

MAYOR WU SIGNS TRANSFER FEE HOME RULE PETITION TO FUND AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND PROVIDE TAX RELIEF FOR SENIORS Fees On Property Sales Over $2 Million Will Provide Substantial Funding For Affordable Housing Including Property Tax Relief for Low-Income Seniors

BOSTON - Friday, March 4, 2022 - Today, Mayor Michelle Wu joined State Representative Brandy Fluker Oakley, local elected officials, and residents to sign a home rule petition to implement a transfer fee of up to two percent on real estate sales of $2 million or more in the City of Boston. If passed by the Massachusetts Legislature and signed by the governor, the fee will generate nearly a hundred million dollars annually to create and preserve affordable housing in Boston and reduce property taxes for qualified low-income senior homeowners. The legislation is sponsored by State Representative Fluker Oakley. The Home Rule Petition passed the Boston City Council Wednesday. “Boston’s most pressing challenge is our housing crisis, which has been pushing families out of our city and deepened even more with the pandemic. As we see the transformational impact of federal funding for our recovery, it’s clear that Boston needs a reliable funding source to focus on housing affordability and keep families and seniors in their homes,” said Mayor Michelle Wu. “I’m grateful to Council colleagues for partnering on this urgent issue and many colleagues who have shepherded this issue in previous sessions. I look forward to working closely with our state partners on next steps.” Through the legislation, the first $2 million of the sales price on a home in Boston would be exempt from the fee. For real estate sales over $2 million, the fee collected will be paid by the seller. The funds generated will be allocated to the Neighborhood Housing Trust. The Neighborhood Housing Trust creates new affordable housing and preserves existing affordable housing. Based on 2021 sales in Boston, a two percent fee would have raised an estimated $99.7 million, and would have only affected approximately 700 transactions. Similar proposals were filed in 2019 and 2021.  “I am so excited to see Mayor Wu and the Boston City Council taking action to make housing in Boston more affordable for seniors,” said State Rep. Brandy Fluker Oakley. “I have met with and testified before the City Council about the need for large developers of luxury apartments to pay their fair share, which would allow us to expand property tax exemptions for seniors on a fixed income and make housing in Boston more affordable.” Some transfers between family members are exempt from the fee, and the City of Boston may adopt additional exemptions for economically vulnerable populations, affordable housing developments, deed-restricted housing, owner-occupant homeowners, beneficiaries of a city-approved homebuyer program, or others. “This bill is about housing stability,” said State Senator and City Councilor Lydia Edwards. “This is a great opportunity for our city. It balances raising revenue with granting relief for our seniors.” "Today Boston is taking a major step to ensure we have adequate funds to create and preserve affordable housing, and to provide much needed tax relief to our seniors who have dedicated their lives to our great City,” said City Councilor Kendra Lara. “As we combat the housing crisis and recover from the pandemic, we must protect our seniors who have been bearing the brunt of the impacts of both displacement and COVID-19. I look forward to working with our colleagues at the state house to get this passed." The home rule petition also seeks to expand property tax relief for low-income seniors by modifying the eligibility criteria for the 41C program and increasing the exemption. These changes will modernize the criteria and provide much-needed financial assistance to a vulnerable population.    The 41C program provides tax assistance to residents 65 years or older who are owner-occupants. Specifically, this legislation would:   Increase the minimum exemption from $1,000 to $1,500, and the total possible exemption from $2,000 to $3,000; and Broaden eligibility by replacing the fixed income limits with the 50% Area Median Income figure and doubling the asset limit levels.   These changes would take effect for the Fiscal Year 2023, and the income limits for that year would increase from the current $24,911 to $47,000 for single individuals and $37,367 to $53,700 for a couple. The asset limits would increase from $40,000 to $80,000 for single individuals, and from $55,000 to $110,000 (the asset limits exclude the value of the applicant’s home). Currently, approximately 4,600 Boston senior homeowners are income-eligible for the 41C tax exemption. The legislation will expand eligibility to approximately 8,700 senior homeowners. Nearly half of those senior homeowners are severely housing cost-burdened, paying more than 50 percent of their income to housing costs. Ultimately, the City of Boston will have the ability to determine the final rate for the fee, collection method, and any exemptions that may exist.

Stone's Throw大麻店到華埠居民會月會陳情

 

亞馬遜關閉所有實體書店、4星店 有3家在麻州

            (Boston Orange 編譯) 亞馬遜 (Amazon)重整營運藍圖，將關閉所有實體書店，以及4星店鋪和臨時店面。其中有3家在麻州。

這3家麻州亞馬遜實體店，分別位於Natick，Lynnfield和Dedham。

總部位於西雅圖的亞馬遜於3月2日時表示，在美國及英國，共有66家店受這決定影響，此後該公司可把精力放在亞馬遜新鮮(Amazon Fresh)、完整食物超市 (Whole Foods Market)，以及他們稱為「亞馬遜走 (Amazon Go)」的便利店模式店鋪，還有今年稍後將在南加州推出，銷售時裝及配飾的亞馬遜風格店(Amazon Style stores).

亞馬遜經營網路書店20年，促使多家實體書店關門後，2015年開了第一家實體書店，亞馬遜4星店是2018年開張的，出售亞馬遜網路上最暢銷產品的限量版，包括設備，消費電子產品，玩具及遊戲。

亞馬遜是在總體營業額成長趨緩下，找新方法來重振銷售。

全球零售數據 (GlobalData Retail)經理 Neil Saunders說，亞馬遜的這一策略，令人意外。他相信這是亞馬遜承認書店並未帶來亞馬遜所期望的營收。他認為亞馬遜非食品店的主要問題是儘管那些商品都擺飾得很好，但缺乏真正的目的。設計得讓人們進店逛，卻不是為了要買東西而去，因而不能驅動消費者流量，尤其是在這人們已經比較少逛店的年代。

麻州長簽行政命令 要中止與俄國國營公司合約

 Governor Baker Signs Executive Order Directing Executive Branch Agencies to Review Contracts, Agreements with Russia

 

BOSTON – Today, Governor Charlie Baker signed Executive Order 597, which directs all executive branch agencies to review and terminate any contracts with any Russian state-owned company. The executive order also directs agencies to review any partnership, affiliation, or exchange with any Russian state-owned company, Russian government controlled entity, or Russian governmental body. 

 

“With this order, we hope to build on the sanctions the federal government has already placed on Russia for their unjustified attack on Ukraine,” said Governor Charlie Baker. “The Commonwealth of Massachusetts condemns the actions of Russia and stands firmly with the free and democratic nation of Ukraine.”

 

“The Commonwealth will continue to offer its support Ukraine and stand with them in the face of Russian aggression,” said Lt. Governor Karyn Polito. “My thoughts are with all the Ukrainian people during this horrific time.”

 

The Governor’s executive order encourages independent agencies and authorities, public education institutions, and other constitutional offices to adopt similar policies.

 

The order also directs the Office for Refugees and Immigrants to work with the Federal Office of Refugee Resettlement and other stakeholder agencies to support Ukrainian immigrants and refugees fleeing the conflict.

 

To read the full executive order, click here.

Baker-Polito Administration Announces New License Plate to Boost Striped Bass Conservation

 Baker-Polito Administration Announces New License Plate to Boost Striped Bass Conservation

 

BOSTON – The Baker-Polito Administration today announced Massachusetts is now offering a new specialty license plate available through the Registry of Motor Vehicles to promote conservation of striped bass, which are an important and iconic fish synonymous with the Massachusetts coastline. The plate was custom designed by Cape Cod artist, Janet Biondi, and depicts a striped bass in pursuit of alewives, one of its favorite forage species. The striped bass license plate is now available to all motorists who are registering a vehicle in the Commonwealth. For motorists who already have a vehicle registered and want this new plate, they can visit Mass.Gov/myRMV to order one.

 

“Striped bass is the premier game fish in Massachusetts marine waters and an important component of our commercial fishery,” said Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary Kathleen Theoharides. “The purchase of these specialty license plates will enhance efforts to conserve and restore striped bass, river herring, and other marine fisheries that are vital to the Commonwealth’s coastal ecology, economy, and culture.”

 

After a campaign by the Massachusetts Environmental Trust (MET) and Department of Fish and Game’s (DFG) Division of Marine Fisheries (DMF) to gather support for the plate through pre-registrations, the plates are now being issued to approximately 900 pre-registrants. Like all specialty plates, the cost to the motorist is $40 every two years, in addition to the cost of a standard passenger plate every two years. This is the fourth specialty plate in Massachusetts that is offered by the MET including the right whale plate, the brook trout plate, and the Blackstone Valley plate.

 

“I want to thank the Registry of Motor Vehicles, the Massachusetts Environmental Trust, the Division of Marine Fisheries, and the many members of the public who supported this initiative from the beginning,” said DFG Commissioner Ron Amidon. “We look forward to the visibility the license plate will provide for striped bass and river herring, and the enhanced programming for marine fisheries conservation.”

 

“The RMV is pleased to add this new plate type to the Commonwealth’s inventory of special plates,” said Registrar Colleen Ogilvie. “We have made it easy to get the striped bass license plate as it can be ordered online and then will be mailed to the customer.”

 

The disbursement of the funds for the striped bass plate will be overseen by a review panel that includes striped bass experts from DMF, academia, a conservation organization, and recreational and commercial fishermen. Additionally, funds will be used for new grants and programming that supports studies and conservation initiatives, including studies of striped bass populations, stock structure, movements, and local ecology; habitat improvements to enhance passage of diadromous fish (e.g., river herring, eels), thereby enhancing forage for striped bass; studies of angler practices to improve hook-and-release survival; and angler education to improve the conservation of marine fisheries resources.