MAYOR WALSH EXPANDS POLICE REVIEW BOARD, ESTABLISHES NEUTRAL LOCATION FOR PUBLIC TO FILE COMPLAINTS

MAYOR WALSH EXPANDS POLICE REVIEW BOARD, ESTABLISHES NEUTRAL LOCATION FOR PUBLIC TO FILE COMPLAINTS

Reforms Will Increase Board Access, Transparency and Effectiveness

BOSTON- Wednesday, June 7, 2017 - Mayor Martin J. Walsh announced today improvements to the Community Ombudsman Oversight Panel (CO-OP) and Complaint Mediation Program that will provide a neutral location for the public to file complaints, increase the number of cases reviewed and automatically refer cases for immediate review that involve allegations of discrimination or use of force resulting in serious bodily injury.   In 2015, Mayor Walsh reconstituted the CO-OP, appointing Professor Natashia Tidwell, J. Larry Mayes and Judge Regina Quinlan to three year terms.   "In Boston, our goal to have complete trust with the community," Mayor Walsh said. "We are strengthening the relationship between our residents and the police, we are providing community-driven training to our officers before they hit the streets, and we are seeing results. The number of complaints are going down, crime is going down and, even more importantly, the number of arrests continue to go down. Creating more public accountability and bringing greater transparency to this process are key to reaching our goals and I look forward to the continued work of the CO-OP and its members."   Acting on recommendations from the CO-OP, the public will now be able to file complaints with the Civic Engagement Cabinet, located at City Hall, to offer a more neutral location than going to a police department. The Civic Engagement Cabinet, which includes the Mayor's Office of Neighborhood Services, interacts daily with residents and neighborhood groups to hear their concerns and connect them to services.   In addition, allegations of bias in policing or discriminatory conduct will now be classified differently to increase transparency between BPD Internal Affairs Division and the community and to ensure that allegations of discrimination are properly tracked.   Any case involving allegations of discrimination or use of force resulting in serious bodily injury will automatically be referred to the CO-OP for review after Internal Affairs reaches its decision. The CO-OP is responsible for reviewing completed investigations and appealed investigations for thoroughness and fairness.   The number of cases reviewed by the CO-OP will be increased from 10 percent to 20 percent, and will continue to be chosen by random audit. In addition, all allegations of discrimination or use of force resulting in serious bodily injury will be automatically referred to the CO-OP. The CO-OP will be increased from three members to up to five members with staggered three year terms to accommodate the additional caseload.   From 2013 to 2016, total citizen complaints to Internal Affairs have declined from 361 to 199 complaints per year and total citizen complaints for excessive force have declined from 40 to 18. Further, BPD Recruit Classes are now trained in Unconscious Bias and De-escalation training prior to joining the police force.   The CO-OP was established in 2007 to serve as an outside, unbiased party provide external oversight and review of BPD internal investigations. Members have access to all investigation materials related to the case they are viewing. If a case requires clarification, the panel will send an inquiry to Internal Affairs to request additional investigation. If, after taking that step, the CO-OP disagrees with the decision of Internal Affairs, a recommendation will be made to the Police Commissioner. The panel also periodically reviews policies and procedures of the internal affairs process and its integrity, and produce an annual report to the Mayor and the Police Commissioner documenting cases reviewed and the outcome of the Panel's review for each case.   The Executive Order, signed by Mayor Walsh today, can be found here.

AG HEALEY CHALLENGES TRUMP ADMINISTRATION OVER FAILURE TO PROTECT THE PUBLIC FROM TOXIC PESTICIDE

AG HEALEY CHALLENGES TRUMP ADMINISTRATION OVER FAILURE TO PROTECT THE PUBLIC FROM TOXIC PESTICIDE

AG Coalition Charges EPA with Violating Federal Law by Allowing the Use of a Toxic Pesticide That Causes Harm to Children’s Neurological Development

BOSTON – Attorney General Maura Healey today announced that she has joined six other attorneys general in filing a challenge against the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)’s decision to abandon an important proposed ban on the use of a toxic pesticide which is widely used on food consumed by infants, young children, and pregnant women.

Joining in the filing are the attorneys general of Massachusetts, New York, California, Maine, Maryland, Washington, and Vermont. The filing says that the EPA failed to make a key safety finding needed to continue to allow levels of chlorpyrifos to remain on food.

             “This is yet another outrageous and wrongheaded decision by Administrator Pruitt that harms public health. By failing to take appropriate action to ensure that foods are not dangerously contaminated with this toxic pesticide, the EPA is putting the health of the public – particularly our most vulnerable infants, children and pregnant women – at risk,” said AG Healey. “We demand that EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt vacate this order immediately to ensure that our residents are not eating food that is tainted with this highly unsafe product.”

Chlorpyrifos is a very common insecticide in the United States and is used on numerous food crops, including apples, strawberries, bananas, pears, peaches, nectarines, and cherries. Residues of the pesticide have repeatedly been found in baby foods and juices. Chlorpyrifos acts by inhibiting an enzyme that is key to the proper development and functioning of the central nervous system and brain. Studies have shown that children born to mothers who were exposed to the toxic pesticide during their pregnancy exhibited cognitive and motor development delays in the first three years, and structural changes in the brain, lower working memory and IQ scores at age 7, and movement disorders (including arm tremors) at age 11.

EPA’s own scientists twice have been unable to identify a safe level for the pesticide on food. In November 2015 and again in November 2016, EPA issued notices of proposed rulemaking to revoke all tolerances and prohibit food from having chlorpyrifos pesticide residue food. However, EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt disregarded those proposed regulations and decades of accumulated scientific evidence and – citing “uncertainty” in chlorpyrifos’ toxicity – denied an administrative petition by the Natural Resources Defense Council and the Pesticide Action Network North America to revoke the current tolerances for chlorpyrifos on food. By its order, EPA effectively left the current tolerances in place indefinitely. 

In their challenge, the attorneys general argue that Administrator Pruitt’s order violates the federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act because it lacks the safety finding that would be required for EPA to be authorized to maintain the current tolerances. The AGs’ challenge requests that the EPA vacate its recent order and that EPA issue a final order within 60 days granting the request and establishing a final regulation revoking tolerances for chlorpyrifos on food.

MAYOR WALSH ANNOUNCES GRAND OPENING OF CITY HALL COFFEE SHOP

MAYOR WALSH ANNOUNCES GRAND OPENING OF CITY HALL COFFEE SHOP

New coffee shop, Recreo Coffee, to welcome visitors to City Hall

BOSTON - Wednesday, June 7, 2017 - As part of Boston's work to make City Hall more vibrant and welcoming to all who visit, Mayor Martin J. Walsh this week announced the grand opening of Recreo Coffee and Roasterie at Boston City Hall. Recreo Coffee is owned by Miriam and Hector Morales of West Roxbury, and sources its coffee beans directly from Miriam Morales' family farm in Nicaragua. "City Hall belongs to all Boston residents, and I'm pleased with the City's progress to make City Hall a welcoming spot for everyone," said Mayor Walsh. "Miriam and Hector are wonderful shop owners who make a great cup of coffee, and I welcome employees, residents and visitors to City Hall to visit Recreo Coffee." "We are thrilled to bring our shop to Boston City Hall to serve workers, residents and visitors who pass through each and every day," said owner Miriam Morales. "It's especially special to be able to bring my family's coffee beans from Nicaragua all the way to Boston, and we look forward to becoming part of Boston City Hall." Recreo Coffee was chosen after a vendor request for proposals (RFP) process, managed by Boston Property Management and the Mayor's Office of New Urban Mechanics. The City was impressed by Recreo Coffee's dedication to socially responsible partnerships with local organizations, including a program that promotes education and healthcare for the coffee bean farmers and their families, and their established location in the West Roxbury Main Street District. Located on the third floor mezzanine, Recreo Coffee will be open Monday through Friday from 7:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m., and will offer a full coffee menu along with baked goods and lunch options. The opening of a coffee shop in Boston City Hall is part of the City's plan to make City Hall Plaza a more activated, inclusive space for all. Additional projects include "Boston Seasons" which features a summer picnic area on City Hall Plaza for the summer and established Boston Winter, a family-friendly winter holiday market and skating rink, on City Hall Plaza last winter. The coffee shop is part of the renovations underway in the City Hall lobby, included in the master plan to reenvision public spaces in City Hall, which is scheduled to be completed this summer.

HOSPITALS PROVIDED $644 MILLION IN COMMUNITY BENEFITS FOR MASSACHUSETTS RESIDENTS IN FISCAL YEAR 2016

HOSPITALS PROVIDED $644 MILLION IN COMMUNITY BENEFITS FOR MASSACHUSETTS RESIDENTS IN FISCAL YEAR 2016

            BOSTON – Massachusetts hospitals provided $644 million in community benefits for residents of Massachusetts in Fiscal Year 2016, according to reports published today by Attorney General Maura Healey’s Office.

            A total of 59 hospitals filed community benefits reports for Fiscal Year 2016. Of those, 49 non-profit acute care hospitals reported a total of $608 million in community benefit expenditures, of which $36 million was reported for free or discounted care provided directly to patients. In addition, 10 for-profit hospitals reported more than $36 million in community benefit expenditures, $6 million of which was reported as free or discounted care for patients. 

“The hundreds of millions of dollars in community benefits provided by Massachusetts hospitals are essential in addressing the health needs of our residents,” AG Healey said. “As we update our guidelines for next year, we recognize the ongoing work of our hospitals to promote community health not only by providing medical services to the underserved, but by coordinating efforts to improve health outcomes and reduce health disparities in our neighborhoods.”  

            AG Healey’s Community Benefits Program supports a key component of the mission of hospitals and health maintenance organizations (HMOs). The office’s Community Benefits Guidelines encourage hospitals and HMOs to build upon their commitment to address unmet community health needs each year by formalizing their approach to planning for annual benefits, collaborating with community representatives in developing programs, and filing annual reports with the Attorney General’s Office on their efforts. HMO community benefits reports will be published this summer.

In an effort to streamline reporting requirements, AG Healey convened health care experts in April for the first meeting of the Advisory Task Force on Community Benefits, which is examining potential updates to the AG’s Community Benefits Program. Task force members are discussing strategies for advancing statewide health priorities and exploring recommendations to better align resources and standards across common programs to build the long-term capacity of communities to improve health outcomes and reduce disparities.

The annual reports are available at www.mass.gov/ago/communitybenefits.

The Community Benefits Program is managed by Project Manager Elana Brochin, Legal Analyst Perusi Namulwa, and Assistant Attorney General Sandra Wolitzky, under the guidance of Senior Counsel Karen Tseng, of AG Healey’s Health Care and Fair Competition Bureau.

美國華裔退伍軍人會 6/12 就職典禮

American Legion Chinatown Post 328 Installation event will be held at Hei La Moon next Monday (6/12) @ 6pm.
This event also starts our fund raising drive to have a Chinese American Veterans Memorial in Chinatown in Philip Square.

The normal ticket price is $45 per person.

Vice Commander Man Ho Chan

Governor Baker, House Speaker DeLeo and Senate President Rosenberg Declare June as LGBT Pride Month

Governor Baker, House Speaker DeLeo and Senate President Rosenberg Declare June as LGBT Pride Month

BOSTON – Today, Governor Charlie Baker, House Speaker Robert DeLeo and Senate President Stan Rosenberg declared June as LGBT Pride Month in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. LGBT Pride Month celebrates the impact and contributions that lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender individuals and their allies have had on Massachusetts’ rich and diverse history and culture.

“Massachusetts is proud to be a welcoming state and a champion for supporting equal rights of all of our citizens across the Commonwealth,” said Governor Baker.“Along with our administration and our colleagues in the legislature, we are pleased to declare June as Pride Month to celebrate the LGBT community and its allies.”

“By commemorating June as LGBT Pride Month, Massachusetts is proud to celebrate the LGBT community who have fought for justice and equality,” said Lt. Governor Polito. “This proclamation represents a statement of unity from our administration and the Legislature as the Commonwealth reflects on the progress made on diversity and civil rights.”

“Pride Month is an invaluable opportunity to recognize the gains we’ve made in ensuring civil rights and to celebrate LGBTQ culture, while reflecting on the work ahead of us,” said House Speaker Robert A. DeLeo (D-Winthrop).  “I thank all involved in Massachusetts Pride Month for their tireless work in the pursuit of justice and solidarity.”

“As a member of the LGBT community I am grateful and proud to live in a state that recognizes and celebrates the diversity of the human family,” said Senate President Stan Rosenberg (D-Amherst). “Nothing is more precious than to live freely and without fear in an accepting community. Thank you to the people of Massachusetts for making that possible for me and countless others.

"From its earliest days as a courageous act of resistance to the revelry that will fill the streets this weekend, Pride honors how very far we've come -- while marking the work left undone,” said Senator Julian Cyr (D – Truro). “Too many LGBTQ people still face fear, isolation, and hardship. Yet many more LGBTQ people are affirmed and thrive thanks to the legacy of 'out' pioneers and allies, like those who led the way right here in Massachusetts. Let Pride Month remind all of us -- LGBTQ or otherwise -- to celebrate resilience, creativity, disruption, freedom, and love."

“It is important that we recognize the great strides we have made in the name of equality for all our citizens, especially among our LGBTQ community,” said Senator Richard Ross (R-Wrentham).

“Pride Month represents an opportunity to both recognize and celebrate the hard-fought rights achieved by LGBT individuals, as well as to remind us there is still more progress to be made in ensuring full equality,” said Representative Kate Hogan (D-Stow). “As our President wavers on recognizing this important tradition, I couldn’t be prouder that Massachusetts has been - and continues to be - a leader nationwide in welcoming and supporting our community.”

“I wish to thank Governor Baker and Lieutenant Governor Polito for this Proclamation declaring June as Pride Month,” said Representative Sarah K. Peake (D-Provincetown). “This reinforces what we know to be true, that Massachusetts celebrates diversity and is made stronger because of it. Now more than ever, this statement is an important affirmation of our shared values. As a member of the LGBT Community, I am personally grateful to the administration for speaking out in support of our community and for using this strong statement as we celebrate Pride Month in Massachusetts.”

"I am proud to join the Baker-Polito Administration and my colleagues in the legislature in declaring June as Pride Month to celebrate the LGBT community. Here in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, we respect and appreciate diversity and the civil rights of all our citizens," said Representative Susannah Whipps (R-Athol).

“We recognize Pride month as both a celebration of resiliency and a call to action, rooted in the legacy of the Stonewall riots and more,” said Massachusetts Commission on LGBTQ Youth Chair Michel Anteby. “As the Commission honors the long history of LGBTQ youth movements in Massachusetts, we are determined to push forward with the unfinished work of building a Commonwealth where all LGBTQ youth thrive.”

In 2004, Massachusetts became the first state in the nation to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples. Last year, Governor Charlie Baker signed into law, An Act relative to transgender anti-discrimination, to extend protections against discrimination for gender identity to any place of public accommodation, with the Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination (MCAD) adopting regulations or policies to enforce its provisions.

Governor Baker Nominates Attorney Diane Freniere and First Assistant District Attorney Sharon Donatelle to Superior Court

Governor Baker Nominates Attorney Diane Freniere and First Assistant District Attorney Sharon Donatelle to Superior Court

BOSTON – Governor Charlie Baker has nominated Diane C. Freniere and Sharon E. Donatelle to serve as Associate Justices of the Massachusetts Superior Court. Attorney Freniere has 26 years of experience and concentrates her practice in white collar criminal defense, regulatory compliance and complex civil litigation; Attorney Donatelle has served as the Plymouth County District Attorney’s Office since 1992, where she currently serves as First Assistant.

“Attorneys Freniere and Donatelle have earned respected reputations in the Superior Court for their legal skills, commitment to serving the public and implementing justice,” said Governor Charlie Baker. “I am pleased to nominate them for the Governor’s Council’s advice and consent. If confirmed, the Superior Court will benefit greatly from their wisdom, judgment and common sense.”

“I am confident these talented women will use their experience and abilities to provide additional leadership to the Superior Court, if confirmed by the Governor’s Council,” said Lt. Governor Karyn Polito. “Their dedication and impressive careers of increasing levels or responsibility render them well-suited to continue their public service as judges in the Commonwealth.”

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.

The Superior Court is a statewide court of general jurisdiction - handling both criminal and civil actions.  The court’s 82 justices sit in 20 courthouses in all 14 counties of the Commonwealth.  The Superior Court has original jurisdiction in civil actions over $25,000, and in matters where equitable relief is sought.  It also has original jurisdiction in actions including labor disputes where injunctive relief is sought, has exclusive authority to convene medical malpractice tribunals, has appellate jurisdiction over certain administrative proceedings, and may hold sittings for naturalization in any city or town.  The court has exclusive original jurisdiction of first degree murder cases and original jurisdiction of all other crimes.

For more information about the Massachusetts Superior Court, visithttp://www.mass.gov/courts/court-info/trial-court/sc/

About Diane C. Freniere

Diane Freniere currently serves as Of Counsel for Markun Zusman Freniere Compton, LLP. Freniere began her legal career as an intellectual property and litigation associate at Hale and Dorr, LLP from 1991 until 1994. She then went on to serve in the public sector for more than 19 years as an Assistant United States Attorney for the United States Attorney’s Office (USAO), District of Massachusetts. While at the USAO, Freniere served as a line prosecutor in the Economic Crime, Health Care Fraud and Public Corruption units.  Additionally, she served in management at the USAO, supervising all of the white collar crime units and serving as the Executive Assistant United States Attorney. Attorney Freniere graduated cum laude from Boston College Law School in 1991 and received her Bachelor of Science in Manufacturing Engineering with honors from Boston University’s College of Engineering in 1985. Prior to her legal career, Freniere served as both an active duty and reserve officer in the United States Air Force. Attorney Freniere lives with her family in Wellesley.

About Sharon E. Donatelle

Sharon Donatelle currently serves as the First Assistant District Attorney for the Plymouth County District Attorney’s Office; she is responsible for daily operations of the office and maintains the Superior Court caseload of first degree murders while reviewing all indictment decisions. She started her career in the Plymouth County DA’s Office in 1992; as a District Court Prosecutor, Donatelle tried bench and jury of six cases involving misdemeanors and five-year felonies. She has also served as the Chief of the Family Protection Unit for the Plymouth County DA’s Office, a unit designed to investigate and prosecute all child and elder abuse cases and cases against the disabled. She is an adjunct instructor at Boston University School of Medicine, Division of Graduate Medical Sciences, serves as a Board of Bar of Overseers hearing committee member and serves as a member of the DPH S.A.N.E. Adolescent Task Force.  Donatelle earned her Juris Doctor from Suffolk University Law School in 1991 and her Bachelor of Arts in American Studies from Saint Michael’s College in 1982. She resides with her family in Sharon.