波市提議員加薪案 上看一加兩萬元

波士頓市議會議長林乃肯（Bill Linehan）十一日提案，要給市議員加薪二萬多元，加幅高達24%。

            若此案通過，波市議員的薪水，將從目前的八萬七千五百元，增為十萬八千五百元。

            林乃肯表示，波市議員已八年未調漲薪水，他提議從上次調整薪資的2007年起，每年加2%，一直加到2018年。他以其他大城市的薪資研究，工會合約的每年漲幅，做為計算模式根據，

            林乃肯稱，從1998年到2006年間，市議員曾加薪三次，以後就再沒加過薪了。市議員們覺得時間已經夠久，應該來處理這問題了，何況加幅和其他市府員工所得相比，只少不多。

            波士頓市十三名市議員的薪資，傳統以來就和市長的薪資掛鉤，約為市長的一半。目前市長的年薪為十七萬五千元。今年一月上任的波士頓市長馬丁華殊（Martin Walsh）表示，他才上任九個月，並沒想加薪，也不希望成為加薪討論的一部份。如果市議會真的提出這樣的議案，並通過了，他會等到那時候再來考慮這是。

            波士頓是並未禁止市議員同時有其他工作，但根據波市書記的財務揭露文件，幾乎沒有人在市議員之外，還有其它職業。

            不分區市議員傅賀提（Michael F. Flaherty Jr.）可能是例外。他是一個律師樓（Adler, Pollock, & Sheehan）的合夥人，在2013年時，從該公司獲得十到廿萬元酬勞。不過，2013年時，他還沒回市議會當議員。

            波市不分區市議員吳弭（Michelle Wu）也有律師牌照，但她在十一日時表示，她並未執業。波市議員查金（ Josh Zakim）也是律師，但並未掛行。

            2006年波市議會通過加薪案時，加薪對象也包括市長。林乃肯表示，他的提案只和市議會有關。

            波士頓市政研究局（Boston Municipal Research Bureau）董事長泰勒（Samuel R. Tyler）表示，市府應該更全面檢視所有高級主管的薪資，有些主管的薪資比他們管的人還低。

            波士頓市長今年稍早給波市警察局長，消防局長加薪15%，達到年薪廿萬元。

            波士頓有個報酬顧問會（Compensation Advisory Board）為波士頓是的高級主管及民選官員提供指導。該會在2013年五月時，出版了一份報告，但時任市長的萬寧路（Tom Menino）並未採取任何行動。

            該報告建議，包括市長在內的許多高級主管都應該加薪，市長應加至十九萬元。但該報告未建議市議員加薪。

            該報告分析了新英格蘭以及全美各城市的薪資報酬。波士頓市議員的＄87,500年薪，比巴爾的摩（Baltimore，$61,383），休士頓（Houston，$55,770），丹佛（Denver，$78,173），劍橋（Cambridge，$73,36），以及屋斯特（Worcester ，$29,000）等城市都高。

            比波市議員高的城市有紐約 ($112,500)，芝加哥（Chicago，$116,674），華府（Washington, D.C.，$125,583），以及舊金山（San Francisco，$105,723）。

台學聯迎新烤肉250人大會合

新英格蘭地區台灣同學會聯合會（FTSANE）日前在水城兵工廠公園（Arsenal Park)烤肉迎新，將近250名來自十幾所本地大專院校的學生，寒暄問候，熱絡交流，處處歡聲笑語，人人開懷十分。

台學聯今年的會長，是身材嬌小玲瓏，在波士頓學院修讀臨床社工的李慧真。她這天扎著馬尾，穿著紅白相間的小蓬裙，在滿場人頭湧湧的同學中穿梭，十分可愛。

她透露，今年報名參加的人太踴躍，以致門票一早售罄，有些人沒能及時買到票，學聯幹部們感到很抱歉。

去年的台學聯會長，東北大學的林俞安，更前一屆副會長，已從布蘭岱斯大學畢業，目前在鴻海集團工作的樊長鑫等人，當天也都出席燒烤會。他倆感慨學生的流動性真的很大，放眼望去，幾乎全是新人。

由於水城兵工廠公園當天太受歡迎，台學聯還和波士頓清華大學校友會共用了一部分場地，也讓李慧真，馬儀庭等一眾學聯幹部及烤肉義工，煞費腦筋的安排分頭烤肉。

有部分同學見到一桶桶地的肉，有的棕黃，有的豔紅，詫異十分，探問之後才知道，一種是醬料醃的，一種加了紅麴，帶有甜味，上架火烤之後，香飄十里，引來排隊人龍。

台學聯為了幫助新生們認識朋友，現場玩的遊戲之一是要取得當天認識新朋友的簽名。

台學聯迎新烤肉這天，經文處教育組組長黃薳玉，秘書黃瑋婷，關心學生的波士頓華僑文教中心主任郭大文，紐英崙中華專業人員協會的前後任董事會董事長王世輝，張重華也都特地出席，和同學們交流，回答有關在紐英崙地區生活概況，求學要訣等一應問題。

台學聯表示，該會主要靠臉書聯繫，歡迎同學們到臉書上找他們https://www.facebook.com/groups/ftsane。

圖片說明：

            新英格蘭地區台灣同學會聯合會（FTSANE）大合照。（菊子攝）

            台學聯會長李慧真（右二），請長輩，右一起，波士頓華僑文教中心主任郭大文，經文處教育組組長黃薳玉，紐英崙中華專業人員協會前任董事長王世輝夫婦等人合影。（菊子攝）

HHS awards more than $295 million in Affordable Care Act funds to increase access to primary care at health centers

HHS awards more than $295 million in Affordable Care Act funds to increase access to primary care at health centers Funding creates an estimated 4,750 new jobs; Helps newly insured access care

Health and Human Services Secretary Sylvia M. Burwell announced today $295 million in Affordable Care Act funding to 1,195 health centers in every U.S. State, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and the Pacific Basin to expand primary care services. Today’s awards enable  health centers to increase access to comprehensive primary health care services by hiring an estimated 4,750 new staff including new health care providers, staying open for longer hours, and expanding the care they provide to include new services such as oral health, behavioral health, pharmacy, and vision services.  These investments will help health centers reach an estimated 1.5 million new patients nationwide, including over 137,000 oral health patients and more than 38,000 mental and substance abuse patients. “Health centers are a key part of how the Affordable Care Act is working to improve access to care for millions of Americans,” said Secretary Burwell. “These funds will enable health centers to provide high-quality primary health care to more people including the newly insured, many of whom may be accessing primary care for the first time.” Health centers are helping to implement the Affordable Care Act, not only as providers of care but also by linking individuals to coverage through outreach and enrollment in the Health Insurance Marketplace.  Recent statistics show that health centers provided enrollment assistance to more than 6 million people over the last year. “Health centers provide comprehensive primary and preventive services in their communities” said HRSA Administrator Mary K. Wakefield, Ph.D., R.N. “Today’s awards will be used to expand access to care, to the people that need it most.” Today, nearly 1,300 health centers operate more than 9,200 service delivery sites that provide care to over 21.7 million patients. Since the start of this Administration, health centers have increased the number of patients served by health centers by more than 4.5 million people. To see a list of award winners, visit www.hrsa.gov/about/news/2014tables/expandedservices/. To learn more about the Affordable Care Act and Community Health Centers, visithttp://bphc.hrsa.gov/about/healthcenterfactsheet.pdf. To learn more about HRSA’s Community Health Center Program, visithttp://bphc.hrsa.gov/about/index.html. To find a health center in your area, visit http://findahealthcenter.hrsa.gov.

HHS Awards $3.2 million to Help Support Minority Enrollment in Health Insurance Coverage

Today, the Department of Health and Human Services’ (HHS), Office of Minority Health (OMH) announced $3.2 million in grant awards to 13 organizations to help support health coverage enrollment of racial and ethnic minorities.  The Partnerships to Increase Coverage in Communities (PICC) Initiative will help identify, assist and educate minority populations about the Health Insurance Marketplace (Marketplace) and coverage opportunities made possible by the Affordable Care Act.

Because of the health care law more minorities now have access to affordable, quality health care coverage.  However, gaps in health coverage continue to persist among minority populations. Data reported in 2013 by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention indicate that two out of five Latinos and one out of four African Americans are classified as uninsured.

“Racial and ethnic minorities have lower rates of health insurance coverage than the national average and stand to benefit greatly from the Affordable Care Act,” said J. Nadine Gracia, MD, MSCE, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Minority Health and Director of the Office of Minority Health.  “Grantees under the Partnerships to Increase Coverage in Communities Initiative will play a critical role in connecting eligible, underserved minorities to coverage that meets their needs and the needs of their families.”

The PICC Initiative awards will support organizations, partnerships and coalitions in developing culturally competent and linguistically appropriate services designed to reach racial and ethnic minorities and underserved communities.  Programs funded through PICC are intended to increase minority enrollment in health insurance coverage through the Marketplace, Medicaid and CHIP.  Information on financial assistance, education and translation services to support health insurance enrollment is also funded through the PICC grant awards.

The PICC Initiative awardees are listed below:
•       AltaMed Health Services Corporation, Los Angeles, CA -- $249,898
•       Benefits Data Trust, Philadelphia, PA -- $247,268
•       Bexar County Hospital District as University Health System, San Antonio, TX -- $236,394
•       Chicago Family Health Center, Inc., Chicago, IL -- $250,000
•       Gateway to Care, Houston, TX -- $250,000
•       Jessie Trice Community Health Center, Inc., Miami, FL -- $250,000
•       My Brother’s Keeper, Inc., Ridgeland, MS -- $250,000
•       National Alliance for Hispanic Health, Washington, DC -- $248,731
•       National Association of Hispanic Nurses, Little Rock, AR -- $250,000
•       Neighborcare Health, Seattle, WA -- $242,640
•       New Hampshire Voices for Health, Concord, NH -- $241,166
•       The Dannon Project, Birmingham, AL -- $250,000
•       University of Massachusetts Boston, Boston, MA -- $237,816

GROSSMAN ANNOUNCES UPCOMING $350 MILLION “GREEN BOND” SALE Bond Proceeds will Fund Environmentally Friendly Projects

GROSSMAN ANNOUNCES UPCOMING $350 MILLION “GREEN BOND” SALE

Bond Proceeds will Fund Environmentally Friendly Projects

Treasurer Steven Grossman announced today that his office will be selling $350 million of Green Bonds next week, with the proceeds being used to fund environmentally beneficial projects across the Commonwealth. The transaction follows in the footsteps of the Commonwealth’s 2013 Green Bond Sale, the first of its kind in the municipal bond market.

“Many investors really care about how their money is used, and last year’s demand for Green Bonds was overwhelming.  People like the idea of investing with an impact,” said Grossman. “Green Bonds give individual and institutional investors the ability to invest directly in projects that will improve the environment and have a tangible and beneficial impact.”

The bond sale, underwritten by Morgan Stanley, is expected to begin on Monday, September 15^th. Individual investors only will have the ability to place orders from Monday through Wednesday, and institutional investors will be allowed to purchase the bonds on Thursday.  The Commonwealth has identified four categories of projects that are expected to be funded from the sale:

·       Clean water & drinking water projects;

·       Energy efficiency and conservation projects in state buildings;

·        Land acquisition, open space protection & environmental remediation projects; and

·       River revitalization & preservation and habitat restoration projects.

"As a leading underwriter of green bonds and a strong supporter of the Green Bond Principles, Morgan Stanley is proud to partner with the Commonwealth of Massachusetts as they break new ground in the development of environmentally‑oriented capital investments," said Tom Nides, Vice Chairman at Morgan Stanley.  "Our firm is committed to helping clients pursue sustainable investing solutions that can address social, economic and environmental challenges at scale."

In addition to those four categories, one large project has been identified that will be funded with proceeds of the Green Bond sale, the New Bedford Marine Commerce Terminal project.  The New Bedford Marine Commerce Terminal will be the first facility in the nation designed to support the construction, assembly, and deployment of offshore wind projects.  As part of construction, the project is expected to include the dredging and removal of approximately 250,000 cubic yards of contaminated sediment caused by industrial waste generated during the 1930’s and 1940’s as well as the creation of environmental and habitat restoration areas.

The Green Bonds are general obligation bonds of the Commonwealth secured by the state’s full faith and credit pledge.  The bonds will be assigned the same ratings as other Massachusetts general obligation bonds. Updated ratings are expected to be released on Friday, September 12^th.

For more information on the Green Bond sale, please visit www.massbondholder.com. Please note the financing schedule is preliminary and is subject to change.

麻州、波士頓市同悼九一一

麻州州長派區克（Deval Patrick），波士頓市長馬丁華殊（Martin Walsh）昨（11）日分別舉行儀式，紀念十三年後仍銘記人心的“九一一”事件。

            十三年前的九月十一日這天，恐怖份子挟持兩架飛機，直撞位於紐約的世界貿易中心大樓，令三千多人失去生命，美國，甚至全世界的保護飛航安全做法，也從此改觀。

            派區克昨早在州政府大樓正門前的階梯長廊上，主持每年一度的九一一儀式，朗讀 210人的姓名，紀念和麻州有深厚關係的這些人，在那天失去了性命。

            昨日下午，派區克加入了麻州軍隊英雄基金在蘿斯甘迺迪綠路上舉行的“母親徒步行”活動，支持他們的“九一一服務項目”，和義工們一起組裝護理包，以送交正在服役的工作人員及士兵。其中有500個會交給在海外服役的士兵，500個要給麻州內無家可歸的退伍士兵。

            麻州軍隊英雄基金還在活動中收集捐款，用以幫助在持久自由行動（Operations Enduring Freedom），伊拉克自由（Iraqi Freedom），高尚老鷹（Noble Eagle）等軍事行動中喪生的軍人的家屬。

            昨晚，派區克還參加了在麻州政府大樓Ashburton公園舉行的第七屆麻州殞命消防員紀念會。今年，紀念的消防員又增加了29人。

            波士頓市長馬丁華殊表示，九月十一日這天對那些失去子女，配偶，兄弟姐妹或父母的人來說，都是個讓人情緒激動，感傷的日子，也提醒那些親人還在身邊的人，自己有多幸福，每一分鐘都值得珍惜。

            他說，那些普通人在面對恐懼，恐怖時的英勇行為故事，是震撼人心的。波士頓警察局持續保持警覺，大家也都知道，從那天起，波士頓和整個世界一樣，都從此改變了。如今，大家也都知道，在悲痛中，人們仍然抱有希望。

圖片說明：

            波士頓市長馬丁華殊（前左）協助擺放紀念花圈。（圖由波士頓市府提供，Isabela Leon攝）

            麻州長在州政府大樓前的階梯長廊上，舉行紀念九一一儀式。（圖由麻州政府提供）