Governor Baker Announces Commutation of Ramadan Shabazz, Pardons of Six Individuals

 Governor Baker Announces Commutation of Ramadan Shabazz, Pardons of Six Individuals

 

BOSTON – Today, Governor Charlie Baker announced the commutation of the first-degree murder sentence of Ramadan Shabazz to second degree murder, making him immediately eligible for parole. The Parole Board, serving in its function as the Advisory Board of Pardons, recently recommended Mr. Shabazz's commutation.

 

The Massachusetts Constitution grants the Governor the power to commute, or remit, a portion of a criminal sentence and the power to issue a pardon.  Governor Baker issued updated Executive Clemency Guidelines in February 2020. Petitions for commutation and pardon are reviewed by the Advisory Board of Pardons. The Board evaluates the petition, weighing the factors laid out in the Executive Guidelines, and makes a recommendation to the Governor.

 

“The ability to grant pardons and commutations is one of the most solemn responsibilities given to me as Governor, and I have considered each and every request that has been placed before me with careful deliberation,” said Governor Charlie Baker. “Mr. Shabazz’s crime was horrific, but he has not only taken full responsibility for his actions but has also dedicated his life in prison to bettering himself and serving as a mentor to others in prison. Commutation serves as a strong motivation for an incarcerated individual to improve themselves, and Mr. Shabazz serves as a remarkable example of self-development for other incarcerated individuals.”

 

Ramadan Shabazz is a 72-year-old man who has served fifty years in prison for the murders of Harry Jeffreys and Calvin Thorn. On August 14, 1971, Mr. Shabazz, along with co-defendant Raymond White, shot Mr. Jeffreys and Mr. Thorn, who were working at the Freedom Foods grocery store in Dorchester. After fatally wounding both men, Mr. Shabazz and his co-defendant stole upwards of $19,000 from Mr. Thorn’s car. On March 21, 1972, a Suffolk County jury found Mr. Shabazz guilty, and he was sentenced to the death penalty for the two murders. In 1976, after the Supreme Judicial Court ruled the death penalty unconstitutional, Mr. Shabazz’s sentences were reduced to life imprisonment. While incarcerated, Mr. Shabazz has participated in over 50 rehabilitative programs, including addiction treatment, anger management and restorative justice classes. He has worked as a GED tutor and a drug counselor, specifically mentoring incarcerated young men, and has participated in the Companion Program at Bridgewater State Hospital. He obtained both his Bachelor’s and Master’s Degree through Boston University’s prison education program. He successfully completed 48 furloughs before the program was terminated. He has been employed consistently during his time incarcerated, working jobs from kitchen services to law library clerk.        

 

The Governor also announced the pardons of six individuals: Gerald Amirault, Cheryl Amirault Lefave, Brian Morin, Camille Joseph Chaisson, Michael Biagini and Robert Busa.

 

“The investigations and prosecutions of the Amiraults in the 1980s took place without the benefit of scientific studies that have in the intervening years led to widespread adoption of investigative protocols designed to protect objectivity and reliability in the investigation of child sex abuse cases,” said Governor Baker. “Given the absence of these protections in these cases, and like many others who have reviewed the record of these convictions over the years, including legal experts, social scientists and even several judges charged with reviewing the cases, I am left with grave doubt regarding the evidentiary strength of these convictions. As measured by the standard we require of our system of justice, Gerald Amirault and Cheryl Amirault Lefave ought to be pardoned.

 

“For the other four individuals that I have nominated for pardons, the charges in their cases also relate to decades-old offenses. Each individual has had clean records since these older charges and receiving a pardon will allow them to move forward in their lives. I urge the Governor’s Council to consider each of these cases carefully.”

 

“While I stand behind the decisions made at the time by the prosecutors, judge and jury, I believe the Governor’s decision is a fitting end to a very troubled case,” said former Attorney General Tom Reilly, about the Amirault pardons.

 

For more on Brian Morin, click here.

 

For more on Camille Joseph Chaisson, click here.

 

For more on Michael Biagini, click here.

 

For more on Robert Busa, click here.

麻州Healey新政府交接團隊有6委員會15共同主席 余慕潔忝列其一

Maura Healey11月8日高票當選下屆麻州州長。 (檔案照片，Boston Orange)

               (Boston Orange 綜合編譯) 麻州候任州長奚莉 (譯音，Maura Healey) 18日宣佈交接團隊，分6委員會，共15名共同主席。其中唯一來自華人社區的共同主席為就業組的邦克丘 (Bunker Hill) 社區學院校長余慕潔 (Pam Eddinger) 。

               余慕潔在麻州有史以來首名黑人州長Deval Patrick當選時，也是他的交接團隊成員之一。

邦克丘 (Bunker Hill) 社區學院校長余慕潔 (Pam Eddinger) 。

               奚莉在11月8日時已宣佈，候任副州長Kim Driscoll將擔任交接團隊主席，並架設了網站，徵求有意加入 Healey-Driscoll政府工作者遞交申請表，也就新政府應先側重哪些議題徵詢民眾意見。

               奚莉的發言人Karissa Hand表示，已有550人遞交申請表，要加入新政府工作。

               交接團隊將由曾任羅德島州前州長，現任美國商務部部長Gina Raimondo助理的Danielle Cerny領導。Danielle Cerny目前是哈佛大學甘迺迪政府學院訪問學者，研究重心為新當選市長及州長的交接。

               根據Danielle Cerny的領英帳號，波士頓市長吳弭就任時，她曾舊交接計畫提供意見。

               Kim Driscoll在一份聲明中表示，交接團隊的目標是打造一個有才幹的團隊，以從第一天開始就為人民做事。候任州長和我都為正在朝這方向打造交接團隊而興奮。在交接團隊之外，未來幾週他們將把努力把相關工作做好。

               奚莉的競選團隊還為訂1月5日舉行的就職典禮，組成了一個籌款委員會。

               新政府交接團隊的6個委員會分別為，交通、房屋、氣候、就業、青年及成人，健康。

               以「我們如何出行 (How we get around)」為主旨的交通委員會，由曾任麻州地鐵 (MBTA)總經理，麻州港務局執行長，現為哈佛甘迺迪學院講師的Thomas Glynn，以及曾任麻州交通廳董事會董事，128商會 (128 Business Council )，以及在2015到2021年間監管麻州地鐵的財政及管理控制董事會副主席Monica G. Tibbits-Nutt。

               要確保所有居民，不論住在哪兒，都能享有可負擔住宅的”房屋委員會”，將由鱈魚角 (Cape Cod)住屋援助企業董事長兼執行長Alisa Magnotta，和位於春田市的Way Finders公司董事長兼執行長Keith Fairey，Davis 公司共同董事長Stephen Davis等人擔任共同主席。

               氣候準備、韌性及適應委員會 (Climate readiness, resiliency and adaptation)由曾任美國白宮全國氣候顧問，環保署長的Gina McCarthy，以及大都會區域計畫會 (MAPC)公共事務副執行主任Lizzi Weyant擔任共同主席。
               就業及全民經濟繁榮委員會由邦克丘社區學院校長余慕潔博士，柏克夏爾黑人經濟協會董事長暨執行主任A.J. Enchill，麻州企業圓桌會董事長暨執行長JD Chesloff，麻州AFLCIO工會幕僚長Chrissy Lynch等人擔任共同主席。

               青少年及青年蓬勃發展委員會由拉丁裔教育會執行長暨創辦人Amanda Fernandez，以及屋斯特(Worcester)公校總監Rachel H. Monárrez博士擔任共同主席。

               全齡安全健康社區委員會由麻州社區健康中心聯盟董事長暨執行長Michael A. Curry, Esq.,，以及Related Beal副董事長，曾是波士頓前任市長馬丁華殊 (Martin J. Walsh)議會助理及內閣成員的Aisha E. Miller博士擔任共同主席。 (更新版)

City of Boston Funding update

 

The Funding Update

Click Here to Subscribe FEDERAL GRANTS Veterans Affairs, 12/30/2022 Legal Services for Veterans: up to $150,000 National Endowment for the Arts + Mid-America Arts Alliance, 1/19/2023 Creative Forces Community Engagement: $10,000 - $50,000 AmeriCorps, 2/1/202 Seniors Workforce Development: a total of $5M is available Federal funding opportunities are continuously updated on grants.gov STATE GRANTS EOPSS, 11/30/22 Project Safe Neighborhoods: a total of $198,248 is available MBTA, 12/6/2022 Workforce Assessment Consultant: Fee for Service Department of Agricultural Resources, 12/14/2022 Local Food Policy Councils: up to $20,000 MA STEM TECH Academy, 12/31/2022 Exploration Grant: up to $1.25M Massachusetts Gaming Commission, 2/1/2023 Community Mitigation Fund: $20,000 - $5M (municipal entities only) Scroll down to "Important Links" on CommBUYS to see Newly Posted Bids. CITY OF BOSTON GRANTS Office of Workforce Development/Neighborhood Jobs Trust, 12/5/2022 A Request for Proposals is issued for 1- Occupational Skills Training Programs; awards will range from $90,000-$150,000. 2- Supportive Partnerships; awards will range from $200,000-$250,000. Bids are updated continuously on the City of Boston Supplier Portal. FOUNDATION GRANTS Haymarket People’s Fund, 11/30/2022 Sustaining grants: up to $15,000 American Association of University Women, 12/1/2022 Community Action: $3,000 to $10,000 - education and equity for women and girls.  Teagle Foundation, 12/1/2022 Education for American Civic Life: $100,000 - $300,000 NFL Foundation, 12/1/2022 Social Justice: $5,000 matched by eligible players   Venturous Theater, 12/1/2022 Venturous Capital: up to $30,000 South Arts, 12/1/2022 Jazz Road Tours: up to $15,000 Nora Roberts Foundation, 12/1/2022 Literacy, children’s programs, arts, and humanitarian efforts: up to $7,500 Resist, 12/2/2022 Social Justice: up to $4,000 Paralyzed Veterans of America Education Foundation, 12/2/2022 Consumer, Caregiver, and Community Education; Professional Development and Education; Research Utilization and Dissemination; Assistive Technology; and Conferences and Symposia. $10,000 to $50,000. Clipper Ship Foundation 12/5/2022 Concept papers requested Mosaic, 12/9/2022 Movement Infrastructure: $50,000 - $300,000. WITH Foundation, 12/9/2022 Healthcare for adults with developmental disabilities: $30,000 - $50,000 TD Bank + Arbor Day Foundation, 12/9/2022 Green Space: $20,000 RPM Foundation, 12/9/2022 Educational programs: $10,000 Saucony Run For Good Foundation, 12/15/2022 Running programs: up to $10,000 Air & Space Forces Association, 12/15/2022 Educator Grants: up to $500 Robert Schalkenbach Foundation, 12/16/2022 Economic and social justice: up to $10,000 New England Foundation for the Arts, 12/19/2022 Public Art Learning Fund: $500 - $2,000 Cambridge Savings Charitable Foundation, 12/31/2022 Human Services, Affordable Housing, Community Development: $1,000 - $5,000 JAMS Foundation/ACR Initiative, 1/9/2023 Conflict Resolution Education: $20,000 - $40,000 Bob Woodruff Foundation, 1/12/2023 Veterans’ health and well-being: unspecified award amounts National Endowment for the Arts + Arts Midwest, 1/18/2023 The NEA Big Read: $5,000 - $20,000 Boston College, 1/31/2023 Dissertation Fellowship: $28,000 Bob Barker Foundation, Open Reducing Recidivism: up to $25,000 Henry E. Niles Foundation, Open Self=Help: up to $100,000 Check the Funding Update Archives for back issues with open deadlines. THE RESOURCE TABLE The Human Services Cabinet of the City of Boston is sponsoring an application to the Massachusetts Gaming Commission for a grant from its Community Mitigation Fund to address the impact of Problem Gambling in Boston communities. The City of Boston seeks to partner with a community-based organization or organizations to deliver harm reduction services that are specific to problem gambling. Contact igr[at]boston[dot] gov to receive the Request for Qualifications.   Daily Updates from the City of Boston News, Resources, Applications, Permits, Jobs, Events and more! The Funding Update will return on December 2, 2022. Happy Thanksgiving!

波士頓市長吳弭將動用6000萬元資助建造可負擔住宅 150塊市有土地可供發展

MAYOR WU ANNOUNCES HISTORIC INVESTMENTS IN PROGRAMS FOR LOW- AND MIDDLE-INCOME HOMEBUYERS IN BOSTON The initiative includes making 150 city-owned parcels available for income-restricted homeownership development

BOSTON - Friday, November 18, 2022 - Building on her commitment to creating affordable housing in Boston, Mayor Michelle Wu today announced a significant investment in creating homeownership opportunities. The Mayor has directed $60 million of American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding to be allocated to the development of income-restricted housing for eligible Boston residents and financial assistance programs to help residents in buying homes. The City will make 150 parcels of land available to developers to build income-restricted homeownership opportunities and will be providing grants that will deliver lower mortgage interest rates and up to $50,000 in direct assistance, including down payment and closing cost assistance, to income-eligible first-time homebuyers. Funding will also be used to launch a homeownership program for qualified Boston Housing Authority residents. The proposed investments in homeownership are part of the Mayor’s commitment to address housing affordability and stability through the operating budget, the Capital budget, and federal recovery funds to build and acquire new affordable units, upgrade public housing, expand housing stability services, and expand a voucher program. “Housing is the foundation of a healthy, thriving City,” said Mayor Michelle Wu. “In Boston this is an urgent issue that impacts every neighborhood, every generation, every demographic. We are moving as fast as possible with every single lever that the City has, making land available in partnership with community developers and making the financing possible with increased down payment assistance to ensure every resident has access to affordable homeownership opportunities.” "Today's announcement is a big win for creating homeownership opportunities in our communities while simultaneously improving neighborhoods through the activation of vacant lots,” said Councilor Brian Worrell. “This initiative is an important investment in addressing our housing shortage and allowing families to realize the dream of homeownership." “Investments that both create new affordable homes and provide meaningful financial assistance will allow more families to buy in Boston,” said Sheila Dillon, Chief of Housing. “In the upcoming months, we will be working hard with our partners to make sure that Boston residents learn of, and act on, these important opportunities.” In June, the Boston Planning and Development Agency (BPDA) announced the completion of the Public Land for Public Good: Citywide Land Audit of all city-owned property. This report was the culmination of an effort to comprehensively inventory all City-owned properties, identify vacant and underutilized properties, and set in motion accelerated efforts to best utilize these properties to serve Boston’s communities, particularly through the development of affordable housing. Of those parcels, 150 were designated as suitable for the development of housing. In early 2023, the City will issue a Request for Proposals (RFP) to developers for the first 70 parcels to create homes for residents to own. A portion of the ARPA funds will be used to subsidize the construction of the housing units, making the new homes affordable to moderate-income households. "The BPDA is working diligently to expand affordable homeownership opportunities for all Bostonians, as a way to bolster equity and inclusion in our housing market," said Chief of Planning Arthur Jemison. "The results of the land audit, in combination with the Mayor's directive to streamline the BPDA’s approval process for affordable housing, will get us there." In addition to building new homes, the Mayor’s Office of Housing will fund three financial assistance programs that will aid households looking to purchase a home in Boston. The Boston Home Center (BHC) First Time Homebuyer program, the Saving Toward Affordable Sustainable Homeownership (STASH) program, and the ONE+Boston program. Income-qualified buyers will be eligible for downpayment and closing cost assistance of up to 5% of the purchase price, not to exceed $50,000 through the BHC first-time homebuyer assistance program. The City’s down-payment assistance can be matched with the State’s 5% down-payment program, allowing homeowners to receive a grant of up to 10% of the purchase price of a home.  Down-payment assistance can be used with the ONE+Boston program which provides discounts on interest rates for first-time homebuyers.  With the ONE+Boston program, qualified Boston residents who earn between 81% and 100% AMI will receive a half percent (0.5%) discount rate off the reduced interest rate offered through the ONE Mortgage product (currently about 6.625%). Boston residents who earn below 80% AMI will receive up to one percent (1%) off of the current ONE Mortgage rate. The downpayment assistance combined with the discounted mortgage rates through the ONE+Boston program will greatly increase the buying options for qualified residents.  This targeted funding will also enhance the STASH program. The STASH program is the first-in-the-nation matched-savings program for first-generation homebuyers who are earning below the area median income and are buying in the City of Boston. The program, designed and managed by the Massachusetts Affordable Housing Alliance (MAHA)  provides first-generation homebuyers with education and counseling on purchasing a home. In addition, first-generation buyers that complete the program and save $2,000 towards a home purchase are eligible to receive a 10-1 match if they buy a home in Boston.   “The additional funding for the STASH program and the ONE+Boston program will be necessary in allowing many first-time and first-generation homebuyers to continue their plans of buying in Boston, even as the market becomes increasingly difficult,” said Symone Crawford, Executive Director, Massachusetts Affordable Housing Alliance, MAHA. “During this time of historically high-interest rates and low inventory, our graduates have had to postpone their home-buying search or look farther away from the city. Mayor Wu’s investment is critical in keeping our homebuyers in Boston.” To assist Boston’s public housing residents and voucher participants in purchasing their first homes, the Boston Housing Authority (BHA) has created a new program in partnership with the City of Boston. BHA’s First Home Program is providing eligible BHA residents with enhanced down payment assistance of up to $75,000 for a home purchased within the City of Boston. This program is available to all qualifying BHA public housing and Section 8 residents who purchase a home within the City of Boston. BHA has a goal to reach 100 households through this program. Section 8 voucher participants can use their housing subsidy towards their mortgage payments through the Section 8 (HCV) to Homeownership Program, a program the BHA is expanding through this initiative. BHA applicants will receive home buying counseling support from the new BHA Homeownership advisor. BHA residents can learn more about the program at bostonhousing.org/firsthome. “We have families that really want to purchase their own home, and can support a mortgage, but need to get over the hurdle of upfront down-payment costs,” said Kate Bennett, Administrator and CEO at the BHA.  “Providing homeownership opportunities to BHA public housing and Section 8 residents is a huge win—it means long term stability and opportunity for families here in Boston.” Boston has an overall homeownership rate of 35 percent, considerably less than the statewide homeownership rate of 62 percent. Homeownership rates differ significantly by race and ethnicity, as 44 percent of Boston’s white households are homeowners, compared to 31 percent of Black or African American households, 30 percent of Asian or Pacific Islander households, and 17 percent of Hispanic or Latinx households. These investments in homeownership build on Mayor Wu’s initiatives to address Boston’s housing affordability, including filing a Home Rule Petition relative to real estate transfer fees and senior property tax relief, signing an Executive Order relative to affirmatively furthering fair housing, convening a Rent Stabilization Advisory Committee to inform future legislative proposals and signing an Executive Order to streamline the approval process for affordable housing.

麻州總檢察長加入不分黨派行列 再呼籲為用藥失調者提供遠距看診

AG HEALEY JOINS BIPARTISAN EFFORT CALLING FOR CONTINUATION OF TELEHEALTH VISITS FOR OPIOID USE DISORDER TREATMENT 

 

           BOSTON – Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey joined a bipartisan coalition of 45 attorneys general in calling on the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) to permanently permit doctors to prescribe buprenorphine, one of three drugs approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to treat opioid use disorder, during telehealth visits. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the FDA has allowed doctors to use telehealth visits to prescribe buprenorphine, but the rule allowing it to be prescribed virtually is set to expire when the federal public health emergency ends. 

 

In a letter sent to DEA and SAMHSA, the attorneys general say it’s critical for the federal government to continue to leverage telemedicine to support those in recovery and end the opioid crisis. Last year, more than 100,000 Americans died from fatal overdoses, a figure that includes 2,290 people in Massachusetts – the highest rate ever recorded in the state.  

 

“As our nation faces record-high overdose death rates, we need to remove barriers to care and expand access to treatment for those struggling with this crisis,” AG Healey said. “Allowing for continued access to these telehealth services will provide the support and flexibility that individuals with substance use disorder need.”  

 

As a condition of the COVID-19 public health emergency, in March 2020 the DEA allowed audio-visual telemedicine services to prescribe all Schedule II-V controlled substances, including buprenorphine. Without the proposed permanent extension, the expiration of the public health emergency could cut off an estimated 2.5 million U.S. adults who utilize the opioid use disorder treatment.  

 

The current allowance for telehealth services also expands access to buprenorphine to patients who may have previously struggled to receive the medication. “An estimated 28 million Americans live more than 10 miles and about 3 million live over 30 miles from a buprenorphine provider. Today, the delivery of care for buprenorphine treatment has shifted significantly to telehealth, making it more accessible than ever for individuals to access the treatment they need,” the attorneys general wrote. 

 

In the letter, the attorneys general highlight that they are joining a chorus of advocates, addiction treatment providers, medical practitioners, recovery groups, public health experts, and members of the House of Representative’s Bipartisan Addiction and Mental Health Task Force in urging the administration to permanently extend these telehealth flexibilities for buprenorphine. 

 

During her eight years in office, AG Healey has prioritized combatting the opioid crisis from all angles. Her office is bringing hundreds of millions of dollars to Massachusetts communities through settlements with opioid distributors, manufacturers, and consultants for their role in fueling the epidemic. The AG’s Office has also worked to disrupt drug trafficking networks through the AG’s New England Fentanyl Strike Force, which has seized nearly 439 kilograms of heroin and fentanyl including tens of thousands of opioid pills and arrested more than 580 suspects. The AG’s Office has also provided grant funding to promote equity in substance use disorder treatment. 

 

The attorneys general of the following states and territories signed on to the letter led by Florida and North Carolina: Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Georgia, Guam, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Puerto Rico, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and Wyoming.