City Council Passes Procurement Reform Ordinance, Acoustic on Main, Appoints CPC Members

City Council Passes Procurement Reform Ordinance, Acoustic on Main, Appoints CPC Members

BOSTON - In the final Council meeting of the year, the Boston City Council passed two major ordinances as well as finalized the appointments of four community members to serve on the Community Preservation Committee (CPC). The first ordinance, sponsored by Council President Wu, removed the sunset clause on Boston’s Acoustic Live Entertainment Ordinance to permanently enable neighborhood small businesses to host acoustic live entertainment acts without fees or paperwork. The second, An Ordinance Promoting Equity in City of Boston Contracts, was co-sponsored by Council President Michelle Wu and Councilor Ayanna Pressley.

Acoustic Live Entertainment

In December 2016 the City Council passed the Acoustic Live Entertainment Ordinance to eliminate all permits, licenses, and fees for Boston businesses to host acoustic performances with five or fewer performers. The language included a sunset provision that the ordinance would expire at the end of 2017, in order to allow for review and reconsideration. Today, the Council voted to remove that provision and extend the program permanently.

“This ordinance empowers Boston's small business owners to enliven our business districts and showcase our arts and culture talent," said President Wu. "By eliminating red tape for acoustic performances in our small businesses, we are giving neighborhood retailers another tool to entice customers to shop local. We’ve heard very positive feedback from businesses and community members over the last year and I’m thrilled it will continue permanently as an example of innovation and collaboration in city government."

Procurement Reform

The Equity in City of Boston Contracts Ordinance codifies the City’s responsibility to create a supplier diversity program, which would conduct active outreach to women- and minority-owned business enterprises (WMBEs) regarding City needs and contracting processes. It also requires solicitation of bids from at least one women-owned business and at least one minority-owned business for contracts under $50,000. Finally it directs any and all requests for proposals (RFPs) that the City issues, as well as the evaluation process for such RFPs, to include a rating of diversity and inclusion plans as key criteria, and creates a quarterly reporting obligation.

“This ordinance aligns city spending with our vision of creating equity and opportunity across our neighborhoods” said Council President Wu. “The $700M that city government spends each year represents a tremendous opportunity to invest in local MWBEs that will build wealth in our communities.”

“This has been a long road from my first hearing in 2013, but today is a huge step towards codifying equity in the City of Boston’s procurement and purchasing systems,” said Councilor Ayanna Pressley. “In collaboration with my colleague, Council President Michelle Wu, we have crafted and passed an ordinance built to make a difference now and to create a system that pushes us to continue to set newer and bolder goals for inclusion. This policy is a step towards reducing wealth inequities in the city, and I look forward to its implementation.”

Community Preservation Committee

The Council also voted to confirm four nominees for the CPC, rounding out the 9-member board that will manage and grant the funds collected under the Community Preservation Act.

“The process for the Special Committee on the community Preservation Act to recommend four individuals was very thorough. With the partnership of my Council colleagues which allowed for an in-depth, transparent process to take place, I am confident that the four nominees that were approved by the full City Council will uphold the goals of the Community Preservation Act which will continued to move Boston forward,” said Boston City Council At-Large Michael Flaherty, Chair of the special Committee on the Community Preservation Act.

The new members are: Matthew Kiefer, Madeligne Tena, Kannan Thiruvengadam, and Ying Wang. They will join Mayor Walsh’s appointees: Chris Cook (Boston Conservation Commission), William Epperson (Parks and Recreation Commission), Felicia Jacques (Boston Landmarks Commission), Carol Downs (Boston Planning and Development Agency (BPDA) Board), and Kate Bennett (Boston Housing Authority). They will serve staggered terms such that each year at least one seat will come up for reappointment or a new appointment.

Boston Public Schools, Boston Red Sox Host Holiday Gathering For Families In Need

Boston Public Schools, Boston Red Sox Host Holiday Gathering For Families In Need

Wally the Green Monster To Help Distribute Gifts

BOSTON — Wednesday, December 13, 2017 — Tomorrow, the Boston Public Schools (BPS) Homeless Education Resource Network (HERN) and the Boston Red Sox will host a holiday gathering where about 400 students and family members who are experiencing homelessness or are low-income will receive gifts and take part in a celebration of the season. Wally the Green Monster will be on hand to help provide the gifts and have fun with the students. WHEN: Thursday, December 14, 5:30-8:00 PM WHERE: Mildred Avenue K-8 School, 5 Mildred Avenue, Mattapan WHO: BPS Students and Families BPS Superintendent Tommy Chang Mary William, Homeless Education Resource Network District Liaison Boston School Committee member Jeri Robinson Representatives from City Year, Girls Scouts of Eastern Massachusetts, Family Independence Initiative, Candy.com, MPact, Boston Medical Center, and more.

MASSACHUSETTS TO RECEIVE $2.4 MILLION FROM MEDICAL DEVICE COMPANY OVER UNLAWFUL MARKETING

MASSACHUSETTS TO RECEIVE $2.4 MILLION FROM MEDICAL DEVICE COMPANY OVER UNLAWFUL MARKETING 
Payment Part of $12 Million Settlement Resolving Multistate Investigation

BOSTON – Massachusetts will receive $2.4 million from a medical device company in a multistate settlement resolving allegations that it unlawfully promoted a device used in certain surgical procedures, Attorney General Maura Healey announced today.

In a consent judgment entered today in Suffolk Superior Court, Medtronic Sofamor Danek, Inc. and Medtronic Sofamor Danek USA, Inc. (Medtronic) have agreed to resolve claims they engaged in a deceptive marketing strategy regarding its Infuse® Bone Graft device that is used to stimulate bone growth.

“Companies cannot use deceptive practices to increase their profits, while compromising the safety and well-being of patients,” said AG Healey. “With this settlement, we are bringing more than $2 million back to Massachusetts after uncovering this unlawful conduct.”

The payment is part of a $12 million multistate settlement that concludes an investigation conducted by AG Healey and state attorneys general in Oregon, California, Illinois and Washington.

Infuse is a medical device used in certain spinal fusion procedures as an alternative to more traditional bone grafting. The AG’s complaint, filed along with the consent judgment today, alleges that Medtronic used deceptive company-sponsored scientific literature to convey false and misleading claims about Infuse’s safety, comparative efficacy, and superiority in order to expand the market for Infuse. 

Specifically, the complaint alleges that in order to promote Infuse, Medtronic collaborated with physician-authors – many of whom were paid millions in consulting fees by the company – to publish studies in peer-reviewed journals that unfairly and deceptively omitted discussion of adverse results, downplayed side-effects, overstated the comparative efficacy of Infuse, and failed to disclose consultant ties to Medtronic. The complaint alleges Medtronic knowingly disseminated these deceptive articles and benefited financially from them.  

In addition to the monetary payment, the settlement imposes requirements on Medtronic’s promotional use of clinical trial information and its dissemination of published medical journal articles relating to clinical trials of Infuse.

Medtronic is also required to make clinical trial data relating to Infuse publicly available through the government-run website ClinicalTrials.gov, and comply with other injunctive terms relating to its marketing and promotional practices for Infuse.

This matter was handled by Assistant Attorney General Lisa Gaulin of the AG’s Health Care Division, with assistance from Eric Gold, Chief of the Health Care Division, and Assistant Attorneys General Courtney Aladro and Emily Gabrault through the Health Care Division.

劍橋合唱團12/17辦25週年音樂會

記憶‧童年 劍橋合唱團 25週年春季音樂會 12月17日 晚間 7:00 MIT Morss Hall, Walker Memorial 劍橋合唱團歡慶創團紀念，今年擴大舉行一系列演出活動。12/17星期日晚上的親子音樂會【記憶.童年】將從周璇、鳳飛飛唱到一系列迪士尼經典電影歌曲，從1歲到100歲的觀眾都能唱出屬於自己的童年記憶！

Tale as Old as Time ~ Featuring CCCS 25th Anniversary December 17th, 7 PM at MIT Morss Hall, Walker Memorial  MIT Cambridge Chinese Choral Society (CCCS) is presenting its winter concert "Tale as Old as Time – featuring CCCS 25 years", bringing Disney theme songs, from classic to contemporary for all generations. Come and enjoy a sing-along night with your family.

Buy Tickets

麻州中醫學會歡迎台灣針灸名醫溫崇凱 (圖片)

美國麻州中醫學會歡迎來自台灣的溫崇凱醫師到訪。前排右起，劉京，張群豪，溫崇凱，劉皓行，李志平。(周菊子攝)

溫崇凱。

REP. LIEU INTRODUCES BIPARTISAN BILL TO CREATE ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE COMMISSION

REP. LIEU INTRODUCES BIPARTISAN BILL TO CREATE ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON - Today, Congressman Ted W. Lieu (D­ – Los Angeles County) introduced bipartisan legislation called the Fundamentally Understanding the Usability and Realistic Evolution of Artificial Intelligence (FUTURE of AI) Act with Congressmen John Delaney (D–MD) and Pete Olson (R–TX) to create a federal advisory commission to study artificial intelligence issues. Comprised of members from federal agencies, industry, academia and labor organizations, the commission would advise the government on how to regulate and prepare for advancements in AI. Reps. Lieu, Delaney and Olson are members of the Artificial Intelligence Caucus, which was created in the 115th Congress to inform policymakers of the technological, economic and social impacts of advances in AI. This is a companion to a Senate bill introduced by Senator Cantwell.

“Artificial intelligence is already reshaping the future of nearly every major industry. With thoughtful investment, American ingenuity in AI can transform our economy and help the United States remain the global standard-bearer of innovation. As a leader in this space, the U.S. is responsible for determining how to deploy these new technologies safely and wisely—especially considering the potential economic, legal and ethical implications of AI. I am proud to join my colleagues Rep. Delaney and Rep. Olson in bringing together a diverse group of experts to tackle these fundamental questions. Used correctly, AI can transform society for the better.  Used in a nefarious manner, AI can wreak havoc on society.”

填补美国区域华人近代史空白 英文版《南加州华人30年史话》出版

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填补美国区域华人近代史空白 英文版《南加州华人30年史话》出版

http://www.aacyf.org/?p=8113

南加华人文史保存基金会十二月十日下午二时，在洛杉矶举办英文版《南加州华人30年史话》出版发布会，宣告历时四年的英文翻译全部完成、并结集成书。同时分享整个翻译过程中的工作细节。这套英文版全书分四册，1600页，63万3千字，填补美国华人区域近代史的空白，被誉为全美华人近代史的里程碑。

4年前，这本书记载了南加州地区华人半世纪以来的历史，逾百万字的中文版完成并出版，曾被评为当年南加州华人社团十大新闻之一。

南加华人文史保存基金会主席林日昇表示，中英文版本，历时八年，编辑过程的八年犹如完成了一个博士学位，今天是我们的毕业典礼，同时也告诉我们，只要想做，就可以实现。这本书的完成，不仅是为我们当代做一个记录，同时，也将会将我们的历史传承给后代。他感谢所有给予支持和帮助的社会各界人士。

策划和发起编撰《南加州华人30年史话》的陈十美表示，四年前，南加华人文史保存基金会的全体董事：在当届主席林日昇的统筹又契而不舍的领导下，整个团队毅然走上更为坚辛的翻译英文版之路。再费时另一个四年之久, 将英文版奉献给社会。她特别感谢“以全然无我的精神，将生命奉献给我们后代子孙的义工团队。”

参与翻译统筹工作的前州立大学长堤分校亚州研究所所创始人李三宝敎授在发言中表示，当年的中文版出版就被视为是一个奇迹，这本书用一个最完整的轮廓、描述了南加州华人的近代史。现在用美国主流社会和我们后代所使用的语言整体的记录下来，让我们的后代珍惜所传承的文化。

编辑这本书是确定的主题是“光大传承”，这里面包含两个层面，第一是我们这一代生长在南加州的华人，还清楚和了解前辈移民的历史，我们要把他们的历史光大下去。第二是翔实记载我们这一点的历史、让后代传承下去。

翻译过艰辛之极，好多成语、名字、书名都花费了许多考证的功夫。其中多伦多大学的颜钟祐教授翻译了全书十七章中的十章，蔡梅曦博士翻译了五章，Li_mei & Gregory Baranoff以及中国文化大学的洪玉儒博士翻译了两章。劳思源博士编辑了十章，沈德彰编辑了七章。李三宝教授负责前言、序、后记、引言的翻译。

加州大学洛杉矶分校东亚语文学院图书馆馆长陈肃介绍，很荣幸能参与其中的工作，同时介绍了杨宝莉、张懿文、韦祎、王悠、胡均希、徐健轩等六位UCLA的学生，参与了部分章节的一审和二审。

华美博物馆前馆长郑舒兰丶UCLA 亚太研究中心主任周敏丶南海岸华人协会前理事长钟希寅等分别分享了自己参与部分的工作。

编辑和翻译这本史书的过程，是一次南加州华裔社会精英的一次集结号，是两岸三地华人携手的见证。而这本华人史册翻译成英文后，填补了华人在美国少数族裔史册的空白，是全美华人史的里程碑。（AACYF洛杉矶讯）