AG HEALEY LAUNCHES NEW EDUCATION CAMPAIGN FOR CUSTOMERS SEEKING HELP WITH THIS SUMMER’S RECORD HIGH ELECTRICITY RATES

 AG HEALEY LAUNCHES NEW EDUCATION CAMPAIGN FOR CUSTOMERS SEEKING HELP WITH THIS SUMMER’S RECORD HIGH ELECTRICITY RATES

Monthly Bills Expected to Increase Significantly over Last Year; AG’s Office Working with Organizations to Raise Awareness About Available Assistance

 

              BOSTON – With electricity rates set to soar to record high prices this summer, Attorney General Maura Healey today launched a campaign to educate customers across the state about the programs available to help them reduce their energy usage and lower their bills.

 

            Inflation, the ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine, and other factors are driving up fossil fuel prices and in turn energy rates for customers across the country this summer. Starting July 1, Eversource basic service rates in the company’s eastern division will rise to 17.871 cents/kWh – a more than 30 percent increase on a monthly bill in comparison to last summer’s rates of 10.753 cents/kWh. With this new rate residential Eversource basic service electric customers with average usage will see their monthly bill jump to $212.15 from $160.29 last summer. Customers with Eversource’s western division or other utilities should also expect to see a smaller but still significant increase to their bills over last summer. As part of this new education campaign, the AG’s Office is working with service organizations and municipalities across the state to educate customers on the new rates and the available financial assistance programs. The campaign will include multilingual radio PSAs, multilingual flyers, an updated website, as well as trainings and webinars.

 

            “As temperatures rise this summer, so will your monthly bills. We want families who are worried about paying their monthly bills to know that help is available to manage these record high energy rates,” said AG Healey. “My office will continue to be a resource for customers looking for guidance on lowering energy usage and ways to cut down on costs in the coming months.”    

Lower your energy usage

The AG’s Office recommends that customers consider contacting Mass Save for an energy efficiency audit to see how they can reduce their overall energy use, which should result in lower monthly utility bills over time. Customers can also lower their bill by adjusting their air conditioner setting, either manually or by installing a programmable thermostat – for every degree higher, the unit will use 1 to 3 percent less electricity. Closing window coverings on hot sunny days can reduce indoor temperatures by up to 20 degrees. Customers who are interested in reducing energy usage through solar panels or community solar programs should first visit the AG’s Office FAQ with consumer tips at www.mass.gov/ago/solar.

 

            Enroll in a payment plan with your utility

 

Massachusetts utility companies offer several financial assistance programs for customers, including flexible payment plans – regardless of income. The AG’s Office encourages customers who are experiencing difficulty paying their monthly bills to contact their utility as soon as possible to learn about the options available to them and other ways to reduce energy use and lower bills.

Customers who enroll in and follow a payment plan with their utility company are protected from having their service shut off for the duration of the plan. Most utility companies are providing payment plans for up to 12 months. Customers should also consider enrolling in budget billing with their utility, which will establish more predictable payments and can thus help customers better manage utility costs that often fluctuate depending on the season, the price of energy, and customer usage.

 

Look into income-eligible assistance programs

 

The AG’s Office encourages customers who are struggling financially to consult with their utility company to see if they qualify for an income-eligible rate, which provides a discount on the customer’s entire bill. Customers could be eligible for low-income assistance, even if they have not been eligible in the past, as eligibility is based on the last four weeks of gross household income. Customers may also qualify for a balance forgiveness or arrearage management programs (AMP). The AMP provides for an individualized payment plan that, if followed, allows all or a portion of a customer’s outstanding unpaid balance to be forgiven.

 

Customers who have a household income that is between 60 to 80 percent of the state median income may be able to seek help from the Good Neighbor Energy Fund.

            Beware of competitive suppliers

 

The AG’s Office urges customers to beware of deceptive competitive electric suppliers who may try to take advantage of this summer’s high rates and lure customers in with a promise of cheaper electricity. A report released by the AG’s Office in April 2021 showed that Massachusetts customers who received their electricity from competitive suppliers were charged $426 million more on their bills than if they would have stayed with their utility. The AG’s report also found that these suppliers charge low-income residents and residents in communities of color higher rates for their electricity.

 

            As the ratepayer advocate for Massachusetts, AG Healey’s Energy and Telecommunications Division works to ensure reasonable prices, access to clean energy for all customers, and to educate them on the available programs that will help them keep the lights on and stay cool.

 

For more information on electric prices and the available assistance programs view the AG’s new resource flyer and webpage, which includes contact information for the state’s utility companies. The resource flyer – which is available in Spanish and Portuguese and will be available in Haitian Creole, Mandarin, and Vietnamese – will be provided to community organizations including consumer advocates, municipal associations, nonprofit service organizations, and food pantries. Customers who have concerns about their utility rights should contact the AG’s consumer assistance hotline at 617-727-8400 or file a complaint online. 

紐英崙至孝篤親公所賀宗親陳孔恩榮升波士頓警察局社區參與總監

至孝篤親公所核心成員和嘉賓，洪青體育會醒獅隊合影。左起，陳鐵堅、陳建立、波士頓經文處處長孫儉元，陳孔恩的父親陳榮佐，妻子Phuong Chan，陳孔恩，波士頓市長吳弭，麻州眾議員麥家威 (Aaron Michlewitz)，篤親元老陳仕維，篤親主席陳文珊，紐英崙中華公所主席雷國輝，及波士頓僑教中心主任潘昭榮。(周菊子攝)

麻州眾議員麥家威 (Aaron Michlewitz)(右)頒發表揚狀給陳孔恩。左為至孝篤親公所
主席陳文珊。(周菊子攝)

                      (Boston Orange 周菊子波士頓報導) 紐英崙至孝篤親公所6月26日晚在帝苑大酒樓席開20餘桌，慶祝宗親陳孔恩榮升波士頓市警察局社區參與總監。波士頓市長吳弭 (Michelle Wu) ，麻州眾議員麥家威 (Aaron Michlewitz) ，波士頓市議會議長愛德華費連 (Ed Flynn) 都專程出席，慶祝晚宴更顯隆重。

波士頓市長吳弭 (Michelle Wu)恭喜陳孔恩夫婦 (左)和其父陳榮佐。 (周菊子攝)

駐波士頓台北經濟文化辦事處處長孫儉元，僑教中心主任潘昭榮這晚也應邀出席。至孝篤親公所自己的宗親，麻州老人事務署署長陳倩 (Elizabeth Chen)也現身了。

            近年鮮少在公開場合露面，但仍然在波士頓市華人社區中舉足輕重，備受敬重的紐英崙至孝篤親公所元老陳毓禮，這晚更是高興的在兒子陳孟君陪同中出席，為他提攜的宗親後輩事業更上層樓，表達祝賀心意。

陳孔恩夫婦和家人合影。 

中華頤養院共同創辦人陳秀英，阮陳金鳳，梅伍銀寬這些大波士頓僑界的資深耆英，這天也都為宗親，僑社有子弟光宗耀祖，感到高興，那怕出趟門不容易，也要來祝賀。

陳孔恩那年已89歲，1956年從廣東台山來到波士頓，在「好世界」餐廳當大廚，一輩子都在為子女打拼的父親陳榮佐說，為人父母，最開心就是看到子女有成的這時刻。除了陳孔恩的大哥住在加州外，他們家這天都來為至親慶賀。

至孝篤親公所主席陳文珊、鄺劍峰夫婦邀波士頓經文處處長孫儉元、僑教中心主任潘昭榮
出席同賀。(周菊子攝)

根據維基百科，在1635到1828年間，波士頓市沒有正式的警察局組織。1703年時，晚上巡邏的人，薪水才一個月35先令。1838年議會通過法案，准許市鎮指派警官後，才為警察局的於1854年正式成立鋪了路。

波士頓市長吳弭特地抱著小兒子Case來和難得出現在公眾場合中的僑領陳毓禮(前右)
打招呼。 (周菊子攝)

根據波士頓警察局網站資訊，警察局最高職位是局長，其次為各局處總監 (Superintendent-in-Chief) ，警察局內共分9個局處，警察局長辦公室，總監辦公室，田野服務局，調查服務局，專業標準局，專業發展局，情報及分析局，行政及科技局，社區參與局。

波士頓市長吳弭特地抱著小兒子Case來和難得出現在公眾場合中的僑領陳毓禮(前右)打招呼。

2021年時，波士頓市大約有警察3100餘人。過去這20年來，華裔警察人數增加不少，但仍僅約50人，做到總監層級的，之前僅有現已退休的梅志強 (Kenneth   Fong) ，現在則是陳孔恩。

波士頓市議會議長Ed Flynn(左一)也特地趕來祝賀。 (周菊子攝)

陳孔恩在今年 (2022)4月底升任波士頓警察局社區參與局總監，至孝篤親公所好不容易才敲定6月26日慶賀，還邀到波士頓市長吳弭等嘉賓出席。

陳孔恩感謝宗親設宴慶賀時說，當年父母從廣東台山一個小村鎮，飄洋過海來美國，就為給子女更好的生活環境，然後又遇到宗親陳毓禮提攜，家族親人互相扶持，現在又有本身就是個劈荊斬棘先驅的波士頓現任市長吳弭給他機會晉級。他要感謝的人，實在很多

波士頓警察局社區參與總監陳孔恩(左)和波士頓消防局副局長黃瑞瑜在波士頓市政府之內，
是波士頓市長吳弭，以及幕僚長朱為婷之外，層級最高的華裔。梅志強(右)也曾任
波士頓警察局總監，現已退休，刻正代理Bedford市警察局局長。 (周菊子攝)

代表華埠，在位剛滿10年的麻州眾議員麥家威 (Aaron Michlewit)笑說，自己還年輕時就認識陳孔恩了。陳孔恩在服務上對社區的貢獻，大家有目共睹。他代表州議會，以及有事先離席的波士頓市議會議長Ed Flynn頒給陳孔恩2份表揚狀。

波士頓經文處處長孫儉元表示，他到埠上任約2年，已和陳孔恩建立非常良好的工作關係，感謝陳孔恩這些年來給經文處的幫助，伸出的友誼之手，希望經文處有機會聊以回報。

波士頓市長吳弭表示，很高興有機會當著大眾的面，恭喜陳孔恩職位升遷。她說陳孔恩的經歷，是個勤奮有所成的範例。在波士頓出生，如今為波士頓市民服務，陳孔恩也是個飲水思源不忘本的例子。她滿臉掬笑的強調，是陳永恩自己的表現很好，讓他得到升職機會。今天的這慶祝會，既是慶祝波士頓市的進步，也是陳孔恩作為社區一分子所代表的成功，以及他的家人為支持他所做的犧牲。

致詞時吳弭還特地稱許陳毓禮這些年來在社區展現的領導力，以及關愛，為許多人開啟了大門。她笑說自己現在仍然會接到陳毓禮打來的電話，告訴她該幫助那些人。

慶祝會司儀陳黃美蘭在主持節目時打趣指出，這晚的宴會非常安全，不但有很多波士頓警察在場，有另一個城市 (Bedford)的警察 (代理警察局局長梅志強 ，Ken Fong)在，還有波士頓市消防局副局長黃瑞瑜，都是座上嘉賓。

紐英崙至孝篤親公所主席陳文珊的丈夫也是波士頓警察，這晚她代表公所送給陳孔恩夫婦一座關公雕像，有如期許陳孔恩將來在社區中主持正義。 (來源: 僑務電子報，請查閱https://ocacnews.net/article/313653 )

MAYOR WU JOINS FEDERAL, STATE, AND LOCAL PARTNERS TO ANNOUNCE FEDERAL FUNDING RECEIVED FOR MOAKLEY PARK COASTAL RESILIENCE

MAYOR WU JOINS FEDERAL, STATE, AND LOCAL PARTNERS TO ANNOUNCE FEDERAL FUNDING RECEIVED FOR MOAKLEY PARK COASTAL RESILIENCE Federal funds will support the protection of Moakley Park and surrounding areas from coastal flooding due to climate change

June 28th, 2022 - Mayor Michelle Wu, joined by Congressman Stephen Lynch, Senator Ed Markey, Senator Elizabeth Warren and State and Local officials, held a press conference at Moakley Park in South Boston to announce a $2.2 Million climate resilience project at Moakley Park. (Mayor's Office Photo by Jeremiah Robinson) BOSTON - Tuesday, June 28, 2022- Today, Mayor Michelle Wu joined Congressman Stephen Lynch, Senator Elizabeth Warren, Senator Ed Markey, Boston City Council President, Councilor Ed Flynn, Sarah White, Director of Resilience, MA Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR), and Fred Lasky, Executive Director of the Massachusetts Water Resources Authority (MWRA) to announce a $2.2 million federal pre-disaster mitigation (PDM) earmark grant to protect critical infrastructure and residents in South Boston and Dorchester from the impacts of climate change. This earmark will be used to complete all planning, design, and permitting for key climate resilience projects on City- and State-owned lands located on either side of Moakley Park, building upon the City’s on-going work within Moakley Park focused on climate resilience. This funding was secured in the House of Representatives by Congressman Lynch and by Senator Warren and Senator Markey in the Senate.  June 28th, 2022 - Mayor Michelle Wu, joined by Congressman Stephen Lynch, Senator Ed Markey, Senator Elizabeth Warren  and State and Local officials, held a press conference at Moakley Park in South Boston to announce a $2.2 Million climate resilience project at Moakley Park. (Mayor's Office Photo by Jeremiah Robinson) This $2.2 million climate resilience project received through support from Boston's Congressional delegation helps deliver on Mayor Wu’s vision of a Green New Deal. It also represents a unique and critical partnership between all levels of government to move forward on climate resilience infrastructure investments in an environmental justice community. The project builds on years of community engagement with residents around related efforts led by the City and will help prepare additional areas of Boston for the effects of climate change.  “For decades, Moakley Park has connected Dorchester and South Boston, bringing together residents from across our city and state,” said Mayor Michelle Wu. “I’m grateful to Congressman Lynch, Senator Warren and Senate Markey for this incredible victory and important step forward at Moakley Park for our city, our climate and communities.” “By proactively addressing the damaging potential of sea level rise at Moakley Park, South Boston is setting a shining example for coastal communities throughout our Nation and building on the legacy of my predecessor, Congressman Joe Moakley, who grew up in the nearby Mary Ellen McCormack Apartments and worked tirelessly to preserve Boston’s coastline,” Congressman Stephen F. Lynch said.  “I am proud to have secured a $1.65 million earmark for Moakley Park in the House version of the 2022 Homeland Security Appropriations Bill, which will be used to strengthen climate resilience and protect the 1,700 low-income families who live in the Mary Ellen McCormack Apartments and the Anne M. Lynch Homes at Old Colony.  Along with Senator Warren, Senator Markey, and Mayor Wu, I am grateful for the support of the Mary Ellen McCormack Tenant Task Force and our local partners in state and local government—State Senator Nick Collins, State Representative David Biele, City Council President Ed Flynn, and City Councilors Michael Flaherty and Frank Baker—whose strong advocacy for the Moakley Park project was essential to securing this funding.” “Moakley Park floods too regularly - and climate change is making flooding more frequent and severe. I'm glad to join Senator Markey, Congressman Lynch and Mayor Wu in celebrating the federal funds secured for this critical project. I'll keep fighting for federal funds to invest in climate resilience efforts in Massachusetts,” said Senator Warren. “The families of South Boston deserve public parks and lands that are made more resilient to extreme weather and a changing climate so that public workers and visitors alike can continue to enjoy these spaces for years to come,” said Senator Ed Markey. “I am proud to have worked alongside my colleagues to secure federal funding that will pave the way for these climate resilience projects and bring this great city one step closer to realizing its Climate Ready Boston agenda.” As a coastal city, Boston continues to prepare for the impacts of climate change, including rising seas and more intense storms through our Climate Ready Boston initiative. Boston prepares for major coastal storms under future conditions of around forty inches of sea level rise, which is expected by the 2070’s, given current greenhouse gas emissions. The area of Boston at and adjacent to Moakley Park is a flood entry point, which is an area of the city that would become the front line of water entering deep into Boston all the way to Roxbury, if flood protection is not built.  This year, the City of Boston submitted a $34 million proposal to the Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency (MEMA) and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to design and construct flood protection within Moakley Park. This submission builds on work led by the City’s Parks and Recreation Department to outline and deliver on a $250 million vision for a complete redesign of the park. Additionally, the City submitted a $2.2 million proposal to MEMA and FEMA for the earmark being celebrated today to plan and design additional flood protection adjacent and connected to flood protection within Moakley Park to extend the area of protection across more of the neighborhood in the long term.  This earmark focuses on protection of the broader community of residents in South Boston and Dorchester, as well as critical regional infrastructure, including the Columbus Park Headworks owned by the Massachusetts Water Resources Authority. Columbus Park Headworks handles a large portion of the City’s wastewater, as well as the Massachusetts State Police Station South Boston located on land managed by the Massachusetts Department of Recreation and Conservation.  “MWRA is proud to be a part of this great initiative. Everybody talks about climate change, but it’s great to be a part of a team that is actively working on solutions,” said Fred Laskey, MWRA’s Executive Director. “The beaches in South Boston are regarded as the cleanest urban beaches in the country. The Columbus Park Headworks project will protect the facilities that keep these beaches clean for all to enjoy.” “The Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) created the Office of Climate Resilience to address climate change, but we cannot tackle these issues alone which is why we are so pleased to be part of the mitigation efforts at Moakley Park,” said DCR Commissioner Doug Rice. “We applaud Mayor Wu and the City of Boston for taking the lead on this, and are proud to partner with all the agencies involved to preserve this popular beach and the community that surrounds it.” Building on a City action within Moakley Park, this earmark will extend the area protected, while delivering partnership between the City, State, and federal government to protect residents, safeguard critical infrastructure, and improve safety and quality of life in Boston. The City of Boston is committed to preparing for the impacts of climate change such as flooding, sea level rise and extreme heat. Climate Ready Boston and the Boston Parks Department have developed coastal resilience solutions for Moakley Park, South Boston, and Dorchester, the areas most impacted by this funding, as well as Downtown and the North End, East Boston, and Charlestown. Mayor Wu also announced the City of Boston’s first ever Heat Plan to better prepare Boston for hotter summers and more intense heat events. Recently, Mayor Wu shared her administration’s first proposed budget which includes groundbreaking investments in climate action to create a more resilient and just city. These investments include $2.5 million for a new Climate Ready Streets program within Climate Ready Boston to deliver on heat resilience, stormwater management, and air quality on key transportation corridors, $20 million for a nation-leading pilot for energy retrofits in triple deckers and other multi-family homes while maintaining affordability, $2.5 million of ARPA funds to grow and preserve our urban tree canopy, and $137 million in capital funding, plus operating investments, to create and protect parks, the tree canopy, and open spaces in the city.

廣教學校歡送九名學生畢業 感謝黃官羨捐款一萬元

廣教學校校長黃品榕 (右一)頒發證書給畢業生們。 (周菊子攝)

               (Boston Orange 周菊子波士頓報導) 建校已106年的中華廣教學校，6月25日在波士頓華埠泰勒街87號校址舉行畢業典禮，歡送9名學生畢業，恭喜7名學生獲考試學校錄取，頒發堅持不懈等8個獎項，表揚學生們的各方面成就，感謝善長黃官羨捐款一萬元。

                   畢業典禮的儀式簡單，隆重，在廣教學校於2021年10月起自己組成的青年醒獅隊表演「祥獅獻瑞」中拉開序幕。

廣教學校校長黃品榕 (右起)與學校董事及嘉賓們，董事蔡麗梨，新英格蘭中文學校協會
理事馮文鸞，波士頓國民黨常委江文玲，波士頓經文處處長孫儉元，董事陳家驊，華經會
董事長蔣宗壬，善長黃官羨，黃納斯，董事黃瑞瑜，台山同鄉聯誼會副會長黃漢湖及會長
鄺元傑，黃氏宗親會主席黃國健，僑教中心主任潘昭榮，董事阮愛玲，廣教副校長余紹強。
(周菊子攝)

               司儀陳婉馨、黃健晉請9名畢業生進場，陳婉馨、陳綺琪，戚其毅，馬守諾，馬守言，歐卓佳，孫蓉蓉，黃健晉，張宏紳等魚貫而行，穿過彩色氣球拱門的走進禮堂入座後，典禮正式開始。

                 中華廣教學校的年輕新校長黃品榕以國語致詞，在畢業紀念冊上藉CARE所代表的四個教育工作者準則，寄語學生畢業後要不怕犯錯，理解包容，鼓勵他人，自我反省，在學習的路上繼續成長。

                  在中華廣教學校擔任老師多年，現已升任副校長的余紹強以英文致

廣教學校校長黃品榕 (右起)和董事黃瑞瑜、陳家驊接受黃官羨 (左二)捐贈的一萬元，
代表學校送紀念品感謝黃官羨。 (周菊子攝)

詞，鼓勵畢業生們分享所學，幫助社區，繼續為學弟妹們做模範。他在畢業紀念冊中說明，廣教學校近年積極投入青年發展項目，為青少年提供社區服務機會，讓學生們做助教，位學生提供撰寫履歷、模擬面試，領導力培訓，大專院校及就業探索等等活動。該校還在2021-2022學年，經由亞美文化中心和南派醒獅團協助，成立了自己的舞獅隊，還成立了古箏揚琴隊，龍舟隊等等。

波士頓經文處處長孫儉元應邀頒發獎項。 (周菊子攝)

              廣教學校畢業班老師生世軍，畢業班學生代表馬守諾也在典禮中一一致詞。

              在畢業典禮上，廣教學校還邀請駐波士頓台北經濟文化辦事處處長孫儉元，波士頓僑教中心主任潘昭榮，波士頓市議會議長愛德華費連 (Ed Flynn) ，以及該校董事暨波士頓消防局副局長黃瑞瑜等人致詞並為學生頒獎。

廣教懂事黃瑞瑜頒獎。(周菊子攝)

             礙於新冠病毒疫情仍未完全消散，廣教學校本身的學生人數也因疫情影響，人數減至300左右，畢業典禮當天出席的師生、家長及佳賓人數沒有往年多。不少僑團一如往年的捐贈了獎學金，但並未派代表出席頒發。

            廣教學校在新校長，新團隊的新作風下，今年頒發的獎項也很與眾不同，包括最佳進步，樂於助人，最佳才藝，心靈手巧，堅持不懈，品行優異，成績優異，品學兼優等許多獎項。

波士頓僑教中心主任潘昭榮(右)應邀頒獎。

獎學金部分，往年波士頓內的所有姓氏公所及僑團，幾乎都會捐款，發獎學金給學生，今年捐獎學金的，除了僑團有紐英崙至孝篤親公所、中國國民黨波士頓分部、波士頓洪門致公堂、波士頓華埠獅子會、波士頓黃氏宗親會、波士頓黃氏宗親會婦女部之外，還有嘉嘉海鮮菜館、溫莎餅屋等2個商戶也來捐獎學金。這些僑團、商戶共捐了2500多元獎學金。

波士頓國民黨常委江文玲(後右一)頒發獎學金。 (周菊子攝)

             根據廣教學校的畢業紀念冊，廣教學校在去年舉辦的募款晚會共籌得約10萬元，今年的畢業年鑑及典禮等贊助共約5萬元，緬懷陳毓璇善款共約3萬元，捐助舞獅隊5500元，龍舟隊3600元，捐助該校設備3300元。

              紀念冊也緬懷了今年辭世，曾捐贈10萬元給廣教學校的蘇李慧敏女士。

波士頓黃氏公所主席黃偉健(右)頒發獎學金。 (周菊子攝)

             廣教學校也在紀念冊上恭喜7名獲考試學校錄取的學生。其中的戴永皓、鄺茵嵐，翁浩文，趙伯福等4人將進入波士頓拉丁學校就讀，陳俊文，Erwin Mei將進入John D. O’Bryant數學及科學學校，麥澤源將進入波士頓拉丁學院 (Boston Latin Academy) 。

             廣教學校這學期結束後，暑期班訂7月5日開課，課餘班9月8日開課。

             中華廣教學校的現任董事會有成員16人，分別為董事長梁爾尊醫師，副董事長雷國輝，司庫陳德慈，書記黃琳妲，董事陳家驊、陳遇均、陳毓禮，陳鐵堅，蔡麗梨、李壽泮，阮愛玲、Linda See，鍾曼怡，黃瑞瑜、黃綺，Michael Zonghetti。(更新版)

董事陳家驊頒獎。

黃國麟頒獎學金。

司徒福柱(左)頒發獎學金。

馮文鸞(中)頒發獎學金。

Dempsey Announces Worcester County Endorsements

Dempsey Announces Worcester County Endorsements

WORCESTER, Mass., - Today candidate for State Auditor Chris Dempsey along with State Rep. Mary Keefe and other elected and community leaders met with commuters to discuss recent MBTA issues and to announce a slate of Worcester County endorsers for Chris Dempsey for State Auditor.

Link to pictures Chris Dempsey along with:  State Rep. Mary Keefe, Former State Rep. Roberta Goldman, Worcester Democratic City Committee Chair Mary Anne Dube, Democratic State Committee Member Carlos A. Garcia, John P. Brissette, Democratic State Committee Member, Shrewsbury Finance Committee Vice-Chair Vikramjit S. Chhabra, Millbury Democratic Town Committee Chair Kevin Johnson, Worcester Registrar of Deeds Katie Toomey, and Community Leaders Maxwell Agyemfra, Jack Murray, and Guillermo Creamer Jr met with Worcester commuters today at Union Station to discuss the ongoing MBTA issues and what changes need to be made.  The Candidate also announced the following endorsements from Worcester County elected officials and community leaders: Natalie Higgins, State Representative (4th Worcester) Mary Keefe, State Representative (15th Worcester) John Mahoney, State Representative (13th Worcester) Roberta Goldman, Former State Representative (Shrewsbury) Paul DePalo, Governor's Councilor (District 7) Katie Toomey, Registrar of Deeds (Worcester) Etel Haxhiaj, Worcester City Councilor (District 5) Tristan LaLiberte, Auburn Select Board Vice-Chair Sue Coghlin Mailman, Worcester School Committee Member Jermoh Kamara, Worcester School Committee Member Jason Palitsch, Shrewsbury School Committee Member  Erin Hughes Canzano, Former Shrewsbury School Committee Member Vikram Chhabra, Shrewsbury Finance Committee Vice-Chair Suzanne Remington, Shrewsbury Town Meeting Member James Bedard, Democratic State Committee Member (Worcester) John P. Brissette, Democratic State Committee Member (Worcester) Mary Anne Dube, Worcester City Committee Chair Carlos Garcia, Democratic State Committee Member (Shrewsbury) Beth Shea Bryant, Shrewsbury Democratic Town Committee Co Vice-Chair Lisa Talbot, Shrewsbury Democratic Town Committee Co Vice-Chair Shannon E. Wall, Shrewsbury Democratic Town Committee Treasurer Maxwell Agyemfra, Community Leader (Worcester) Guillermo Creamer Jr., Community Leader (Worcester) Donna M. Gordon, Community Leader (Southborough) Jack Murray, Community Leader (Worcester)

AG HEALEY SUPPORTS PROPOSED FEDERAL RULE AIMED AT EMPOWERING WORKERS AND EXPANDING WORKPLACE PROTECTIONS

AG HEALEY SUPPORTS PROPOSED FEDERAL RULE AIMED AT EMPOWERING WORKERS AND EXPANDING WORKPLACE PROTECTIONS 

BOSTON – Attorney General Maura Healey today joined a coalition of 16 attorneys general in supporting a proposed federal rule that would empower workers and expand public awareness of on-the-job dangers.  

 

The proposed rule would require many employers to report more detailed information about workplace injuries and illnesses to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), and it would make that information publicly available. In a letter today to U.S. Labor Secretary Martin J. Walsh, the coalition expressed support for the proposed rule, describing it as “a significant improvement” on current reporting requirements.  

 

“This new rule will improve the health and safety of workers by requiring employers to be more transparent about their workplace conditions,” said AG Healey. “We thank our state and federal partners for the collaborative work to ensure that the physical and mental well-being of workers is taken seriously and that their rights are protected.”  

 

The rule would update current reporting regulations with important new amendments that call for more extensive reporting to OSHA by some employers.   

 

Among other things, the proposed rule would require certain employers with more than 100 employees in high-risk industries to annually submit three forms to OSHA electronically – a Log of Work-Related Injuries and Illnesses (OSHA Form 300), an Injury and Illness Report (OSHA Form 301), and the summary information (OSHA Form 300A). The proposed rule would also largely maintain the current requirement that employers with 20 or more employees in certain industries submit information from the summary form on an annual basis. The required submissions to OSHA would exclude any employee-identifying information and, critically, would be made available to the public electronically.  

 

The new rule will also empower workers, encourage the improvement of working conditions, and provide for added transparency, the attorneys general note. Such transparency will help state regulators more effectively enforce state labor and safety laws and address workplace hazards, while at the same time increasing understanding of occupational dangers among job seekers, researchers, the general public, and others. 

 

The coalition also stresses the limitations of the current reporting process where employers are required to submit only the annual summary information reported on OSHA Form 300A. Far more can be learned from requiring the additional OSHA Form 300 and the OSHA Form 301 that certain employers with more than 100 employees in high-risk industries will be required to submit annually under the proposed OSHA rule. These two forms collect detailed, narrative information about each injury or illness, for instance, what an employee was doing before the accident, how the injury occurred, what the specific injury or illness was, and which part or parts of the employee’s body were affected. The forms also include information regarding where on the premises the injury happened, the job title of the affected employee, and what object or substance directly harmed the employee. 

 

The coalition suggests that OSHA consider requiring designated industries to post information about the availability of the data, conduct outreach programs in collaboration with state departments of labor and health, and create partnerships with non-profit and non-governmental industries to provide training and outreach. 

 

The letter also praises the steps OSHA takes in the proposed rule to ensure that workers’ privacy and identifying information is safeguarded.  

 

AG Healey has long-been an advocate for the rights and protections of workers, and her Fair Labor Division works diligently to combat all forms of worker exploitation, and to maintain safety in the workplace. Earlier this month, the AG’s Office joined a multistate coalition defending states’ authority to protect workers from retaliation whenever they speak up about unsafe working conditions, and other workplace violations. In 2020, AG Healey issued enhanced resources for workers to make it easier to report workplace safety concerns during the COVID-19 pandemic, including a new online complaint form.  

 

Today’s letter, led by New Jersey Acting Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin was joined by the attorneys general of: California, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Hawaii, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Rhode Island, and Vermont.