Baker Administration Announces Additional Funding for Electric Vehicle Rebate Program

Baker Administration Announces Additional Funding for Electric Vehicle Rebate Program

BOSTON - April 2, 2015 – The Baker Administration today announced an additional $2 million will be allocated to theMassachusetts Offers Rebates for Electric Vehicles (MOR-EV) program. The electric vehicle rebate program, administered by the Department of Energy Resources’ (DOER), offers rebates of up to $2,500 to Massachusetts residents who buy or lease clean electric vehicles.

“The Baker-Polito Administration is committed to reducing greenhouse gas emissions and petroleum use by aiding the transition to cleaner, more efficient vehicles for Massachusetts residents,” said Secretary Matthew Beaton. “This program is valuable both economically and environmentally, saving drivers money and supporting the Commonwealth’s emissions reduction goals.”

To date, the program has provided rebates for over 700 zero and low-emission vehicles. Eligible vehicles include battery electric vehicles (BEV) plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEV), fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEV), and zero-emission motorcycles (ZEM).

Zero and low-emission vehicles will save drivers money on fuel and maintenance costs, according to the DOER’s Fuel Economy side-by-side comparison. For example, a driver purchasing a compact BEV car can save $3,750 dollars on fuel over five years, compared to the same vehicle with a gasoline engine. The BEV also emits significantly less carbon dioxide.

“Massachusetts and our partners in the region are committed to developing a more robust electric vehicle network in New England,”said DOER Acting Commissioner Dan Burgess. “MOR-EV has expedited these efforts, lowering operating costs and benefitting our families’ health and the environment at the same time.”

The MOR-EV program was initially funded with $2 million in Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) auction proceeds, which also finance the new funding. This funding aims to help reduce reliance on foreign oil and meet Massachusetts’ goals under the Global Warming Solutions Act (GWSA) to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the transportation sector 7.6 percent by 2020.

“I am pleased the administration has allocated additional funding for the MOR-EV Program,” said Representative Frank Smizik (D-Brookline), Chair, House Committee on Global Warming and Climate Change. “The electric vehicle market is growing, but like any innovative sector, it needs supportive policies in order to reach its full potential. The MOR-EV Program is one of many great opportunities our state has to support this market and reduce emissions in the transportation sector.”

“I’m delighted to see that the Baker Administration has acted to distribute another $2 million dollars to the MOR-EV rebate program,” said Representative Jonathon Hecht (D-Watertown). “This proven program makes electric vehicles affordable for more Massachusetts drivers, accelerating electric vehicle adoption, lowering greenhouse gas emissions, and helping to achieve a sustainable energy future in the Commonwealth.”

“This rebate program represents a strong partnership between consumers and the Baker Administration to make a cost-effective transition to greater energy independence and less carbon emissions,” said Senate Minority Leader Bruce Tarr (R-Gloucester).  “Because of this increase, that partnership will grow stronger and be more successful.”

“We look forward to continuing our efforts on behalf of our member dealers working with the Baker Administration on promoting the sale of ZEVs and EVs,” said Robert O’Koniewski, Executive Vice President of the Massachusetts State Automobile Dealers Association. “The MOR-EV program has been a success and our member dealers will continue to embrace their essential role in this ‘green’ initiative.”

"Electric vehicles have off-the-charts customer satisfaction ratings because they are fun to drive, and people love zooming right past the gas station," said Gina Coplon-Newfield, Director of Electric Vehicles Initiative for the Sierra Club. "We applaud this example of the Baker Administration's investment in cleaner cars, healthier air, and a safer planet."

MOR-EV has also increased business for dealers that sell electric vehicles. The Nissan Leaf, Ford Focus EV and the Chevy Volt are the most popular vehicles being purchased or leased through this program. Any Massachusetts resident is eligible for the rebate.

For details on which vehicles are eligible and how you can apply for a rebate, visit MOR-EV.org. All applications must be submitted within three months of the purchase or lease of the vehicle.

MAYOR WALSH ANNOUNCES $18M IN HOMELAND SECURITY FUNDING FOR BOSTON

MAYOR WALSH ANNOUNCES $18M IN HOMELAND SECURITY FUNDING FOR BOSTON

BOSTON - Thursday, April 2, 2015 - Mayor Martin J. Walsh today announced that the City of Boston and the Metro Boston Homeland Security Region (MBHSR) have received  $18 million in grant funding from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security through the Urban Area Security Initiative (UASI) grant program. 

"I am proud of our City's strong relationship with the Department of Homeland Security," said Mayor Walsh.  "I'm grateful for Secretary Johnson's continued support of our City, as well as for the support of our delegation -- particularly Senators Warren and Markey, and Congressmen Lynch and Capuano – during this process. The City of Boston is a strong community and this funding is critical to ensuring long term resiliency.”

The Mayor’s Office of Emergency Management (OEM) is the agency responsible for ensuring the City has plans to prevent, protect against, respond to, and recover from all types of emergencies and disasters. During emergencies OEM operates the City’s Emergency Operation Center (EOC) where City agencies coordinate response and share information critical to managing the incident. OEM is also charged with managing homeland security funding for the MBHSR.  

“Emergencies can happen anytime, anywhere, and this funding allows us to enhance the capabilities of our first responders, ensuring they are ready for any potential emergency or disaster." said Rene Fielding, OEM Director. "The program will also support our efforts to work with Boston’s many communities in preparing for emergencies.”

Past funding has supported initiatives in communications interoperability by providing the capability to allow first responders to clearly and seamlessly communicate with one another and in running Urban Shield Boston, the largest first responder exercise conducted in New England and the cornerstone of the MBHSR training and exercise program. Urban Shield Boston was last held in May 2014 and involved approximately 2,000 emergency response personnel from more than 50 local, state and federal agencies. The goal of Urban Shield is to test and evaluate specific public safety capabilities that have been developed, or enhanced, with the investment of funds received through the UASI grant program.

UASI program funding  addresses the unique multi-disciplinary planning, organization, equipment, training and exercise needs of high-threat, high-density urban areas, and assists them in building capabilities to prevent, protect against, respond to, and recover from threats or acts of terrorism. The City of Boston was designated as an UASI site in 2003. Boston is a part of the Metro Boston Homeland Security Region (MBHSR) along with eight surrounding jurisdictions: Brookline, Cambridge, Chelsea, Everett, Quincy, Revere, Somerville, and Winthrop.

To receive emergency notifications from OEM by phone, email or text sign up for an AlertBoston account atwww.cityofboston.gov/oem/alertboston.  To learn more about the Office of Emergency Management, visit www.boston.gov/oemor follow @oemboston on Twitter.

BROOKLINE MAN AND CONNECTICUT FUND MANAGER ARRESTED FOR MILLION DOLLAR INSIDER TRADING SCHEME

BROOKLINE MAN AND CONNECTICUT FUND MANAGER

ARRESTED FOR MILLION DOLLAR INSIDER TRADING SCHEME

 

BOSTON – A Brookline man and a Connecticut fund manager were arrested and charged today in U.S. District Court in Boston in connection with their role in an insider trading scheme that netted more than $1 million in illegal profits.  

 

Amit Kanodia, 47, of Greenwich, Conn., and Iftikar Ahmed, 44, of Brookline, were charged with one count of securities fraud.  Both were arrested this morning and are scheduled to appear before U.S. District Magistrate Judge Marianne B. Bowler this afternoon. 

 

As alleged in the criminal complaint, prior to April 2013, Kanodia secretly tipped off his friend Ahmed, an executive at a Connecticut-based fund, and another friend, about the contemplated acquisition of Cooper Tire & Rubber Company by India-based Apollo Tyre.  Kanodia learned about the possible acquisition from his wife who was the General Counsel of Apollo at the time.  In the months leading up to the public announcement of the acquisition, both Ahmed and the associate, purchased shares and options in Cooper Tire which trades on the New York Stock Exchange.  On the day of the announcement, Cooper Tire’s share price increased 41% and Ahmed and his associate began selling their interests in the company for a combined profit of more than $ 1 million.  It is alleged that both Ahmed and his associate paid Kanodia a portion of their illegal profits. 

 

“The defendants here are alleged to have improperly obtained confidential information from Apollo Tyre and used that information to unlawfully beat the markets and line their own pockets,” said United States Attorney Carmen M. Ortiz.  “Trading on insider information is fraud, plain and simple.”

 

“The integrity of the capital market is seriously compromised when people trade inside information for personal gain,” said Vincent B. Lisi, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation in Boston.  “The FBI will continue to go after those who violate the securities laws to make sure no one has an unfair advantage.” 

 

The charging statute provides for a sentence of no greater than 20 years in prison, five years of supervised release, a fine of $5 million.  Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties.  Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. 

 

U.S. Attorney Ortiz and SAC Lisi made the announcement today.  The U.S. Attorney’s Office received valuable assistance from the Securities & Exchange Commission, which today filed a separate civil action in federal court.  The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Sarah E. Walters, Chief of Ortiz’s Economic Crimes Unit.

 

The details contained in the complaint are allegations.  The defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

MAYOR WALSH FILES REQUEST FOR REHEARING WITH FERC IN REGARDS TO PROPOSED WEST ROXBURY PIPELINE

MAYOR WALSH FILES REQUEST FOR REHEARING WITH FERC IN REGARDS TO PROPOSED WEST ROXBURY PIPELINE

Cites public safety concerns for West Roxbury Residents 

BOSTON - Thursday, April 2, 2015 - Mayor Martin J. Walsh today joined the West Roxbury delegation to announce that the City of Boston has filed a request for a rehearing with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) in regards to the West Roxbury Lateral Gas Pipeline. The City's request comes in response to FERC’s Final Environmental Impact Statement on March 3, 2015 which would allow Algonquin Gas to construct a new High Pressure Gas Line along Washington Street and Grove Street in West Roxbury in addition to a Metering and Regulation Station across from the West Roxbury Crushed Stone. The proposed pipeline poses public safety concerns because it would be constructed directly across the street from a quarry that uses dynamite on a daily basis. 

"I have listened to the concerns of the community, and we have asked Algonquin Gas and Spectra Energy several times to find a new route for this pipeline," said Mayor Walsh. "The project as proposed poses real public safety risks for West Roxbury residents, and we must work together with the community and with our city, state and federal partners to find a solution that is in the best interests of West Roxbury residents." 

The City's rehearing has been filed on behalf of the West Roxbury Delegation: Mayor Walsh, U.S. Congressman Stephen F. Lynch, Senator Michael Rush, Representative Ed Coppinger, City Councilor O’Malley, and the Boston City Councilors at Large.

"Mayor Walsh, Senator Rush, Representative Coppinger and Councilor O'Malley have been absolutely relentless in the fight to change the route of the pipeline."  said Congressman Lynch. "I am proud to join Mayor Walsh today in filing for a rehearing from FERC. We are all together on this. We will use every avenue to protect the neighborhood. We have consulted with Attorney General Maura Healy and we'll continue fight to protect the public's safety,"

“We have heard concerns from hundreds of residents in our community on the proposed gas line project in the area,” said Senator Rush.  “It is incumbent on us to seek out answers to public safety, environmental and quality of life issues before this project moves forward.  I commend Mayor Walsh and his legal staff, as well as my colleagues on the state and federal level who have worked jointly on, and continue to pursue, methods to protect our neighborhoods.”

“Today's filing is a big step as we look to give the community a real opportunity to have their voices heard in opposition to the proposed Spectra natural gas pipeline," said Representative Coppinger. "Through a strong coalition of neighbors, West Roxbury Saves Energy and other community groups, and our dedicated elected officials, we have made it clear to FERC that residents of West Roxbury and Roslindale demand a seat at the table.”-

"I am proud to stand with Mayor Walsh, Congressman Lynch and my colleagues in government as we work together to protect the health and safety of all West Roxbury residents," said City Councilor O'Malley.  "We will exhaust all options in ensuring an open and transparent process regarding this potentially dangerous pipeline."

UNITED STATES REACHES SETTLEMENT WITH PROVIDER OF MASSIVE OPEN ONLINE COURSES TO MAKE ITS CONTENT ACCESSIBLE TO THE DISABLED

UNITED STATES REACHES SETTLEMENT WITH PROVIDER OF MASSIVE OPEN ONLINE COURSES

TO MAKE ITS CONTENT ACCESSIBLE TO THE DISABLED

 

BOSTON – Carmen M. Ortiz, U.S. Attorney for the District of Massachusetts and Acting Assistant Attorney General Vanita Gupta of the Civil Rights Division, announced today that the Department of Justice has entered into a settlement agreement with edX Inc. to remedy alleged violations of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).  The agreement resolves the Department’s allegations that edX’s website, www.edx.org, and its platform for providing massive open online courses (“MOOCs”), were not fully accessible to individuals with disabilities, including individuals who are blind or have low vision, individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing, and individuals who have physical disabilities affecting manual dexterity, in violation of Title III of the ADA.  Among other things, the settlement requires edX to provide accurate captioning for the deaf, oral navigation signals for the blind, and programing changes so those with dexterity disabilities can navigate content without struggling with a hand-operated mouse.

 

“Critical portions of education are moving online, in tandem with the rest of our social experience.  This new, educational online world readily can, and should be, built from the outset in a way that does not discriminate against those with disabilities,” said U.S. Attorney Carmen Ortiz.  “Access to high quality education is one of the essential pillars of our democracy and to the well-being of our communities.  This agreement ensures that those with disabilities will not be left behind.” 

 

“MOOCs have the potential to increase access to high-quality education for people facing income, distance, and other barriers, but only if they are truly open to everyone.  This landmark agreement is far-reaching in ensuring that individuals with disabilities will have an equal opportunity to independently and conveniently access quality higher education online” said Acting Assistant Attorney General Gupta.  “edX is to be commended for working with the Justice Department to take such steps.”  

 

edX was created by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Harvard University in 2012 as a nonprofit platform for select universities to offer MOOCs to the world.  The consortium’s 36 charter members include University of California at Berkeley, Georgetown, Dartmouth, Caltech, the Sorbonne, and Peking University, in addition to Harvard and MIT.  Today, edX has approximately 60 university and institutional members providing over 450 courses to over 3,000,000 learners.  The courses are offered largely for free in subject matters as varied as business, computer sciences, hard sciences, food and nutrition, and social sciences.

 

         Today’s agreement requires edX to make significant modifications to its website, platform, and mobile applications to conform to the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.0 AA, which are industry guidelines for making web content accessible.  Under the agreement, edX will also provide guidance and authoring tools to the entities that create and post courses on www.edx.org, many of which are independently covered by the ADA, to assist them in creating accessible course content.  Because edX makes its software code freely available, any modifications to that code under this agreement will enable other MOOC providers to enhance the accessibility of their online offerings.

 

The four-year agreement requires edX to:

 

1. make the edX website, its mobile applications, and learning management system software, through which online courses are offered, fully accessible within 18 months;
2. ensure that its content management system, called Studio, which edX makes available to entities creating online courses, permits posting of accessible content;
3. make its content management system fully accessible and equipped to create courses that are accessible to learners with disabilities within an additional 18 months;
4. provide guidance to course creators at its member universities and other institutions on best practices for making online courses fully accessible;
5. appoint a web accessibility coordinator;
6. adopt a web accessibility policy;
7. solicit feedback from learners on the accessibility of the courses;
8. conduct web accessibility training for employees responsible for the website, platform, and mobile applications; and
9. retain a consultant to evaluate conformance of the website, platform, and mobile applications.

Title III of the ADA prohibits discrimination on the basis of disability by public accommodations in the full and equal enjoyment of the goods, services, facilities, privileges, advantages, and accommodations of places of public accommodations.  Title III of the ADA also requires public accommodations to take necessary steps to ensure individuals with disabilities are not excluded, denied services, segregated, or otherwise treated differently because of the absence of auxiliary aids and services, such as accurate captioning of audible materials and labeling of visual materials.  The Justice Department has long considered Title III and its implementing regulation to apply to the online services and communications of public accommodations.

 

This case was handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephen P. Heymann of Ortiz’s Civil Rights Enforcement Unit, and Trial Attorneys Eugenia Esch, William F. Lynch, and Dov Lutzker of the Department of Justice’s Disability Rights Section of the Civil Rights Division. 

 

To find out more about federal disability rights laws, call the Justice Department’s toll-free ADA information line at 800-514-0301 or 800-514-0383 (TDD), or access its ADA website at www.ada.gov.  ADA complaints, including those involving the inaccessibility of www.edx.org, may be filed by email toada.complaint@usdoj.gov.

 

波士頓市長支持波士頓2024執行長John fish

STATEMENT OF MAYOR MARTIN J. WALSH IN RESPONSE TO BOSTON HERALD STORY 

BOSTON - Thursday, April 2, 2015 - Mayor Martin J. Walsh today issued the following statement: 

"I said on Wednesday that John Fish should be an ambassador for Boston 2024, which is a position he holds now as Chairman. I want to be very clear, I did not call for John to step down from his role. John was one of the first people to carry a vision for the Olympic bid in Boston and I strongly believe that he should continue to be involved as we move forward." 

摩頓市計畫局董事席位出缺

Planning Board Vacancy

Thursday, April 2, 2015

Mayor Gary Christenson is reaching out to Malden residents in an effort to fill a vacancy on the Planning Board. The nine-member Planning Board is the primary special permit granting authority under the City's zoning ordinance (land use regulations). The Planning Board also has two associate members, one of whom participates when there are not nine full members available for the hearing or when a member is present but has a conflict of interest. Members of the Planning Board participate and vote on all petitions, hearings, and/or matters before the Board for which they are in attendance and do not have a conflict of interest.

The Planning Board administers the subdivision control law, makes recommendations to the City Council on zoning amendments, and conducts master planning activities. The Planning Board meets the second Wednesday of every month at 7:00 PM in City Hall, 200 Pleasant Street, Council Chambers, 3rd floor, and as necessary.

Please complete the online Boards and Commissions Application in full by clicking on the link below and attach your resume to assist Mayor Christenson and/or the City Council in making their decision. For a paper copy of the Boards and Commissions Application please contact Kathleen Manning Hall, Mayor’s Office, City Hall, 200 Pleasant Street, Malden, MA 02148 by email at kmanninghall@cityofmalden.org or call 781-397-7000 Ext. 2004.

To access the online application, please log onto: www.cityofmalden.org/BCApplication.

The deadline for accepting applications is Monday, Friday, April 17th at 12:00 Noon.