麻州府撥款九百萬助首次購屋者實現屋主夢想

            麻州州長派區克（Deval Patrick）昨（十三）日在多徹斯特的公民（Citizen）銀行宣佈，將以九百萬元經費，幫助首次購屋者實現“居者有其屋”夢想。

過去這一週是麻州住宅週（Commonwealth Housing Week），共有平均收入低於地區平均收入的一千多名首次購屋者，利用已推出六個月的麻州屋主協會（Mass Homeownership Compact）所提供服務，向26家銀行，機構，取得貸款，實現購屋理想。

            這九百萬元由可負擔住宅信託基金（ Affordable Housing Trust Fund），穩定住宅基金（Housing Stabilization Fund）支持，將在麻州建造一百六十個以上的可負擔及市價房屋。該基金將容許屋主以他們能夠負擔得起的價格來購買低收入或中等收入住宅。

 2013年六月時，派區克宣佈成立“麻州貸款協會（Mass Mortgage Compact）”，訂定在未來五年為一萬名首次購屋者提供貸款的目標。

本週稍早時，作為麻州住宅週活動的一部份，麻州銀行部撥款一百五十萬元，給十一個地區性的防止貸款贖回權遭取消中心，以及十個個人或首次購屋中心。

昨日獲發購屋補助款的五個機構包括亞美社區發展協會（ACDC）和新波士頓創投所發展的廿四號地段南座。

麻州最低時薪有望提高到十一元

麻州的最低時薪，終於要提高了。麻州參議會週四（十二日）晚以35比4的高票通過，到2017年時，把麻州最低時薪從八元提高到十一元。一般估計，麻州眾議會將通過此案，麻州長也已暗示他將簽字同意。

麻州餐議會議長泰瑞莎穆瑞（ Therese Murray）在投票後表示，一週工作三十，四十小時，卻每小時只賺八元的人，在麻州無法生活。

參議會通過的法案為，到2015年一月一日時，最低薪資漲至九元，之後每年增加一元，直到2017年增加至十一元。

麻州參議會原本要求把最低薪資提高到十一元，並把未來增幅和通貨膨脹連在一起，中議會的計劃則為最低時薪提高到十元五角，並不用通貨膨脹做指數。麻州參議會是在參眾兩會開會同意協商結果後投票同意了提高最低時薪案。

            由於工資停滯不前，收入差距越來越大，推動提高最低時薪，已是全美趨勢。

奧巴馬總統就支持把聯邦最低時薪提高到 $10.10 ，不過該計劃在國會內沒什麼進展。最近數個月，包括新澤西州，加州等，多州推動了自己的提高最低時薪做法。有些城市還採取了非常激進的行動。西雅圖市在本月稍早前通過了最低時薪十五元，超過任何一州訂定的最低時薪。舊金山市的李孟賢（Ed Lee）也提出了最低時薪十五元的法案。

麻州預算及政策中心會長Noah Berger表示，最低時薪提高到十一元，在麻州內將容許大約五十萬人得到加薪結果。這對那些家庭很重要，也將對麻州經濟產生重要影響。他感到失望的事，該法案只讓小費工人的最低薪資從2.63元漲至3.75元。他也擔心，在漲幅不和通貨膨脹掛鉤下，等最低工資在2017年漲到最高幅度的十一元時，薪資價值已抵不上加薪幅度了。

麻州零售商協會董事長Jon Hurst表示，這三年38%的漲幅，有點令人震驚。他預測那將導致職位減少，甚至有小企業會關門。他說，當麻州351個市鎮的主皆有很多店鋪關門再回望這天時，人們會說為什麼沒有更嚴肅對待小企業的顧慮。

波士頓環球報表示，華府的經濟政策院（Economic Policy Institute）受該報委託所做的數據統計分析顯示，幾乎有三分之二會因為最低薪資提高到十一元而受益的麻州居民，是那些家庭綜合收入在四萬元以上者。

            加州大學爾灣校區的經濟學者David Neumark稱以提高最低薪資來處理收入不平等，是一種很奇怪的辦法，既不能幫助最窮的人，也沒從最有錢的人那兒拿到什麼，但小企業東主卻將承擔漲價結果。

BOSTON BROTHERS FOUND GUILTY OF CONSPIRING TO DEFRAUD ONE FUND BOSTON OF $2 MILLION, STEAL FROM REAL VICTIMS OF BOMBING

BOSTON BROTHERS FOUND GUILTY OF CONSPIRING TO DEFRAUD ONE FUND BOSTON OF $2 MILLION, STEAL FROM REAL VICTIMS OF BOMBING

Claimed Their Long-Deceased Aunt Suffered Double Amputation Due to Boston Marathon Bombings

            BOSTON – A pair of brothers from Boston have been found guilty for attempting to defraud The One Fund Boston of $2 million by submitting a false claim on behalf of their dead aunt, Attorney General Martha Coakley announced today.

“These two defendants orchestrated a callous scheme to steal more than $2 million from the real victims of the Boston marathon bombings,” said AG Coakley. “We are pleased that a jury has now held them both accountable.”

Following a four-day trial, a Suffolk Superior Court jury today found Branden Mattier, 23, of the South End, guilty of Conspiracy to Commit Larceny over $250, Attempt to Commit Larceny over $250, and Identity Fraud. The jury also found his brother, Domunique Grice, 28, also of the South End, guilty of Conspiracy to Commit Larceny over $250 and Attempt to Commit Larceny over $250.

Mattier and Grice will be sentenced by Superior Court Judge Jeffery Locke on June 23 in Suffolk Superior Court. Both defendants were taken into custody after the verdict was returned and held without bail pending sentencing.

            In June 2013, The One Fund Boston referred the matter to the AG’s Office after it suspected that the claim submitted by Mattier and Grice on behalf of their aunt, Onevia Bradley, was false. 
           
            The AG’s investigation revealed that on May 7, 2013 Mattier and Grice attended a Town Hall meeting held by The One Fund at the Boston Public Library on behalf of their supposedly injured aunt. Afterwards, Mattier spoke with the media about the importance of their aunt being compensated immediately because the hospital bills were coming in.

Mattier followed-up on May 29, 2013 by sending an email to The One Fund asking if his aunt could make a claim as a double amputee if the amputation was expected to be performed in the future. In June, The One Fund received a claim form, put together by Mattier and Grice. It included a letter, created by Mattier, but purportedly from the chief of trauma services at the Boston Medical Center affirming their aunt as a double amputee. The letter was dated May 2, 2013, a full 27 days before Mattier’s email to The One Fund saying their aunt might lose her other leg.

            Investigation also revealed that at the end of June, the brothers attended a private ceremonial closing of a memorial erected in Copley Square and a complimentary dinner at the Seaport Hotel, both meant only for bombing victims and their families.

According to officials at the Boston Medical Center, their aunt never received treatment at the hospital in connection with the Boston Marathon bombing nor did the letter originate from the trauma center. The investigation further revealed through public records that Onevia Bradley had actually died more than 10 years earlier.

As part of the investigation, Mattier signed for a letter on July 1, 2013 informing him that his aunt had been awarded $2.195 million from The One Fund Boston. The letter informed Mattier that he would receive the check by courier the next morning, July 2, 2013. State police arrested Mattier after delivering the simulated check. 

The investigation also showed that Mattier and Grice had scheduled an appointment to test drive a new Mercedes-Benz E350 the same day the check was scheduled to be delivered. As a result of Mattier’s arrest, they did not attend that appointment.

Mattier was arrested on July 2, 2013 by Massachusetts State Police assigned to the AG’s Office. He was arraigned on July 3, 2013 in Boston Municipal Court. Mattier and Grice were indicted by a Suffolk County Grand Jury on August 29, 2013. Today, they were found guilty by a Suffolk Superior Court jury. They will be sentenced in Suffolk Superior Court on June 23.

This matter was handled by Assistant Attorney General Gina Masotta of the AG’s Public Integrity Division and Assistant Attorney General John Verner, Chief of the AG’s Criminal Bureau, with assistance from Investigator Sallyann Nelligan, Victim Advocate Lisa Solecki, State Police assigned to the AG’s Office, and the AG’s Digital Evidence Lab. One Fund Boston promptly reported the allegations, and cooperated throughout the investigation.

第 二屆波士頓台灣生物科技研討會 6/14, 15

中華民俗藝術工作坊 6/14 公演

Inaugural Certificate Program and Internship Model will Change Lives for Graduates by Creating a Pipeline to Skilled Jobs

Inaugural Certificate Program and Internship Model will Change Lives for Graduates by Creating a Pipeline to Skilled Jobs


BOSTON, June 13, 2014 – Building upon the Patrick Administration’s commitment to help strengthen the Commonwealth’s community colleges’ workforce development programs, Secretary of Administration and Finance Glen Shor recently recognized graduates of the joint certificate and internship program developed by Bunker Hill Community College and the Department of Revenue (DOR) to educate students who have chosen a career in taxation or auditing. The certificate program was launched last fall.  Students who successfully completed the prerequisite courses were then accepted into a paid internship program at DOR which included rotations in auditing and taxpayer services. 
 
“This is a great collaboration between our community college system and the Department of Revenue which will help address the need for skilled workers through college-based training,” said Secretary Shor.

Bunker Hill Community College, in partnership with DOR, began offering the new taxation certificate program in the spring of 2013.  As part of the new curriculum, students participated in presentations from DOR staff on Massachusetts state tax law. Upon completion of the class curriculum, students enrolled in the certificate program who met certain GPA requirements, also participated in a 17-week internship at DOR. In addition to the rigorous certificate program, Bunker Hill and DOR collaborated on the Business Administration Associate Degree with a Taxation Option that was added to the curriculum this spring.

“The students just finished up their internships at DOR, where they spent several months working in auditing and taxpayer services,” said DOR Commissioner Amy Pitter.  “This is an extraordinary opportunity for us to work with the students and really get to know one another.  We have openings here at DOR and this group of interns is exactly who we are hoping to attract.”

“We are so pleased with the success of this new partnership with the Department of Revenue, which has given our students not only internship opportunities but job offers. It's a win-win for our students and the program," said Pam Eddinger, President of Bunker Hill Community College.

Commissioner Pitter also noted that the program at Bunker Hill Community College has helped DOR to identify and attract students looking to change careers and acquire mid-level skills for a professional career in taxation. DOR reached out to Bunker Hill Community College to help create the program in the face of a critical shortage of workers. The department anticipates losing a considerable number of longtime, skilled employees over the next five years due to retirement or new opportunities.

In total, nine students completed the taxation certificate and internship programs.  Some of the students who successfully completed the program may be offered positions at DOR.

逾百民眾聚集柯普利廣場要求最低時薪提高到十五元

數以百計民眾響應“低薪工人行動日”，昨（十二）日下午匯聚在波士頓市科普利廣場前，舉標語牌，喊口號，要求政府把最低時薪提高到十五元。

        “低薪工人行動日”是由大波士頓廿八個組織發起的行動，主要有三點訴求，包括更好的工資，受尊重及享尊嚴，在工作場所有發言權。華人前進會是其中唯一來自華埠社區組織。

            組織者在會場派發的傳單指出，快餐店及零售業員工此起彼落的罷工，已在美國為爭取經濟正義注入了新能量。麥當勞，沃爾瑪等大企業開股東會時發生的大型示威，也清楚顯示，那些公司再沒藉口只付很低薪資。

        華人前進會派陳玉珍做翻譯，昨日在會場上協助醫療資源（Medical Resources）公司華裔員工曹玲珠站台做見證，指出華人前進會介入，協助員工們與公司商議後，他們的薪水增加了，但增加得極少。

            華人前進會工人互助中心余翠鳳表示，該會今年五月十發信給提供居家護理服務的醫療資源公司，要求代表工人與公司開會，改善工人工作環境。他們提出了六點要求，包括把最低薪資提高到生活薪資（living wage）的每小時十三點七六元，花紅按百分比計算，在公眾假期工作應發給雙倍工資，往返時間（travel time）也應獲得全部工資，發給有薪病假，有薪假期等。

            余翠鳳表示，前前後後，約有七十名醫療資源公司員工曾到前進會求助。該公司還未和前進會晤談，但已於六月六日前調整了部分員工薪資，原本時薪九元者，提高至九元五角，十元者，加了幾分錢等。

            波士頓市健康及人民服務長（Chief of Health and Human Services)小阿若約（Felix Arroyo）昨日特地趕到會場，向示威人群表示，波士頓市長也關心低薪民眾收入不足以維生的難處，將多方面研究改善方法。

            示威群眾昨日在柯普利廣場集會後，轉往有工友抱怨的數家公司，包括溫蒂快餐店（Wendy’s），醫療資源公司，以及合法海鮮（Legal Seafood）店等門前，遊行示威。

圖片說明：

             陳玉珍(前右)做翻譯，協助醫療資源（Medical Resources）公司華裔員工曹玲珠站台做見證。（菊子攝） 

          包括華人前進會榮譽主席湯建華（坐者右一），執委梁德生（立者右一）等，昨日約有廿多名華人在場，參加示威。（菊子攝）

            華人前進會向醫療資源公司提出的六點要求，昨日以大字報形式，在會場中展示。（菊子攝）

            波士頓市健康及人民服務長（Chief of Health and Human Services)小阿若約（Felix Arroyo）昨日特地趕到會場，表達波士頓市長關懷心意。（菊子攝）

華埠社區聯盟 談波市公校預算 報告綠路活動

華埠社區聯盟(TCC)昨（十二）日舉行月例會，報告健康項目執行結果，簡介波士頓公校預算編列概況，說明綠路保護會現狀，提出修建喜露街五十號構想。

            塔芙茨大學學生郝心希(譯音，Cynthia Hau)昨日報告，在塔芙茨醫療中心資助下，塔大與王氏華埠青年會合作，為亞裔耆英提供六個月免費會籍，根據亞裔的文化及語言來設計活動，鼓勵耆英定期參加，培養健康習慣，改善飲食營養。大約五十個人參加，六個月下來，無論是身體功能，認知程度，抑鬱程度，都有改善。該項目也因此獲獎，受邀於十一月到美國公共衛生協會年會做報告。

            伍綺玲卸任波士頓華埠社區中心行政主任一職後，轉往波士頓公校總部辦公室工作。她昨日報告波市公校預算編定概況，指出波市公校為彌補經費短缺，正計劃廢除為七，八年級學生提供的巴士校車服務。波市公校人事部，也因缺經費，要裁員一半。她表示，教育關乎子女，社會的未來，華埠社區也應該關心公校經費的運用。

        綠路保護會（Rose F. Kennedy Greenway Conservance）新上任的行政主任Jesse Brackenbury在會中報告，綠路和其他公園不同的地方在於，所有維護管理全由綠路自行處理，地方政府並不介入。他指出，綠路每年舉辦三百場以上的免費活動，義工服務時間不下三千小時，去年共有八十多萬人參加過綠路的活動。整條綠路從2010年底起，就已經為民眾提供免費寬頻上網（Wifi）的便利。

            昨日還有哈佛學生報告他們參加聯邦住宅貸款銀行比賽，製作的修建喜露街五十號構想。

圖片說明：

            華埠社區聯盟開會。

            塔芙茨大學學生郝心希(譯音，Cynthia Hau)昨日報告“健康習慣”計劃獲獎。

            綠路保護會（Rose F. Kennedy Greenway Conservance）新上任的行政主任Jesse Brackenbury盼華埠民眾多使用綠路公園，加入義工行列。