Governor Baker Raises Concerns Over Federal Government’s Potential Marine National Monument Designations

Governor Baker Raises Concerns Over Federal Government’s Potential Marine National Monument Designations

Letter to President Questions Process and Potential Impacts to Commonwealth’s Fishing Industry

BOSTON – Today, Governor Charlie Baker sent a letter to President Barack Obama raising concerns with the potential designation of one or more National Marine Monuments in the Northwest Atlantic – offshore of New England. The letter, which cites the ongoing work of Massachusetts as part of two regional ocean management governances processes, characterizes the proposal by President Obama as detrimental to the state’s recreational and commercial fishing industry and ongoing work towards the protection of ecological areas.

“While the protection of critical marine habitats is a goal shared by many—including my Administration—significant questions and concerns have been raised regarding this possible designation,” said the letter from Governor Baker to President Obama, “I wish to convey my Administration’s apprehension as to both the process being implemented and the effects of such a unilateral declaration.”

In his letter, Governor Baker raises objections over the lack of public and stakeholder engagement leading to the proposal for deep-sea canyons and seamounts, including Cashes Ledge, to be included in the federal National Marine Monument declaration. “My Administration has been unable to determine how these areas were identified and selected. NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association) held a single public meeting in Providence, Rhode Island, and I believe that this falls far short of any meaningful stakeholder process,” the letter states.

Citing the ongoing work of regional and federally-established ocean planning collaboration, Governor Baker reiterates the Commonwealth’s proactive work towards oceanic and ecological protection. “The Commonwealth is a full and active participant in two regional ocean management governance processes that include important components of marine habitat characterization and the protection of important ecological areas. The recent work of the New England Fisheries Management Council and the first-ever regional ocean planning initiative under your Administration’s National Ocean Policy both serve as vital forums for the collective management of our region’s oceans.” The Governor goes on to characterizes the working groups as “stakeholder-based, informed by rigorous science, and provide for robust public input.”

Further, Governor Baker highlights the negative impacts the National Monument designation will have on state’s recreation and commercial fishing industry, saying, “I am very concerned that the proposed marine protected area designation will undermine the ongoing New England Fishery Management Council and Northeast Regional Planning Body. Their work, plans, and processes are underway, and will jeopardize already strained relationships with important stakeholders, including commercial and recreational fishermen. The proposed National Marine Monument designation is inconsistent with and contrary to the process and principles of the ongoing regional ocean planning initiative.”

View the letter here: http://www.mass.gov/governor/docs/news/noaa-letter-11-4-15.pdf 

STEP Grant Application is Now Available MOITI, in collaboration with the Massachusetts Small Business Development Center Network and the Massachusetts Export Center, is pleased to announce the Massachusetts State Trade and Export Promotion (STEP) Grant Program. Under the STEP Program, grants will be available to eligible Massachusetts small businesses for the purpose of increasing export sales of their goods and services. This grant is funded in part by the U.S. Small Business Administration. Full details are now available atwww.mass.gov/export/step. Upcoming Events   An Export Forum with Congresswoman Niki Tsongas for companies interested in learning more about export resources, opportunities and ideas on how to succeed in overseas markets will be held on November 16th in Marlborough. Successful exporters will share their experiences and answer questions from the audience. A second panel includes speakers from U.S. and state trade agencies including MOITI. To register, contact Russell Pandres in Rep. Tsongas's Lowell office at Russell.pandres@mail.house.gov or call 978-459-0101. STEP Grant Webinars will be hosted by the Massachusetts Export Center and MOITI to assist small businesses in preparing a successful STEP Grant Application on November 20th and December 17th. To register, visitwww.mass.gov/export/step/register. A Quebec Medtech Showcase will be hosted by the Quebec Government Office in Boston and MassMedic and will feature the Premier of Quebec Mr. Philippe Couillard, 8 medtech companies from Quebec, and a night of networking on Nov. 12th in Boston. For more information and to register, visit the Quebec Government's eventbrite page. Recent MOITI Activities

Brittany and Hunter of MOITI joined the UNAGB UN Day Luncheon with Ambassador Matthew Rycroft. Governor Charlie Baker joined leaders from Hokkaido to celebrate25 years of sister state relationsbetween MA and the prefecture of Hokkaido in Japan MOITI and the ChileMass Alliance hosted a successful panel discussionon start-up collaboration between MA and Chile. Asst. Secretary Nam Pham addressed the New England Chinese Networking Association (NECINA) annual conference. Asst. Secretary Mike Kennealy and Hunter of MOITI welcomed adelegation of business and government leaders from India to Massachusetts.

Mass Pavilions at 2016 Trade Shows MOITI is planning to organize Massachusetts pavilions at select trade shows in 2016 similar to those organized in years past. MOITI has identified Arab Health (Jan. 2016),Mobile World Congress (Feb 2016), and Hannover Fair - Energy Pavilion (Apr 2016) as target shows and will soon begin recruiting Massachusetts companies to join these shows. If you are interested in learning more, please contact Brittany McDonough.

MAYOR WALSH CALLS FOR VOLUNTEERS TO HELP THANK BOSTON'S VETERANS

MAYOR WALSH CALLS FOR VOLUNTEERS TO HELP THANK BOSTON'S VETERANS

BOSTON - Thursday, November 5, 2015 - Leading up to Veterans Day, the Mayor's Office along with the Veterans' Services Department and Office of Neighborhood Services are calling for volunteers to sign-up for "Operation Thank A Vet," a citywide effort to honor Boston's veterans.  Over the weekend of Saturday, November 7 and Sunday, November 8, hundreds of volunteers will be going door-to-door throughout the City of Boston to personally thank the men and women who have served in the U.S. Military and provide them with the resources available to them as veterans living in Boston.  "I am proud of Boston's strong tradition of honoring our veterans, and appreciate all of the volunteers who have already come forward to donate their time," said Mayor Walsh. "There is no better way to celebrate Veterans Day than to personally thank the veterans in our city who have served our country."  Volunteers will be provided with specific addresses of veterans and packages to hand deliver. Volunteers can sign-up at boston.gov/veterans.  The City of Boston is committed to connecting Boston's military families with the resources and assistance they are entitled to. Earlier this year, Mayor Walsh released "An Action Plan to End Veteran and Chronic Homelessness In Boston: 2015 - 2018," which outlines the City's strategies to transform Boston's homeless response system in order to end veterans homelessness by 2015 and chronic homelessness by 2018. On Wednesday, the City, along with 11 partner agencies, hosted the first ever "housing surge" for veterans at the Pine Street Inn. Sixty homeless veterans met with representatives to better understand the housing resources available to them.

CITY OF BOSTON HOLDS FIRST-EVER "HOUSING SURGE" FOR HOMELESS VETERANS

CITY OF BOSTON HOLDS FIRST-EVER "HOUSING SURGE" FOR HOMELESS VETERANS

One-stop Event Helped 60 Vets Receive Counseling, Benefits, and Housing Help

BOSTON - Wednesday, November 4, 2015 - Mayor Martin J. Walsh announced today that as part of Boston's "Homes for the Brave" initiative, the City this morning hosted its first-ever housing surge for veterans at Pine Street Inn.  Representatives from 11 partner agencies gathered for the first time in one place to efficiently assist veterans in connecting with housing and housing resources. "One of the biggest barriers for a returning veteran is finding safe, affordable housing," said Mayor Walsh. "We must do all that we can to honor the men and women who have served our country, and I thank all of the partners who stepped forward to make this event a success. No veteran should be homeless - and in Boston, we are working to make that a reality." To learn more, please visit:

AG HEALEY JOINS COALITION OF STATE AGS, LOCAL GOVERNMENTS IN DEFENSE OF EPA’S CLEAN POWER PLAN

AG HEALEY JOINS COALITION OF STATE AGS, LOCAL GOVERNMENTS IN DEFENSE OF EPA’S CLEAN POWER PLAN

            Coalition Cites Critical Need for Rules in Order to Protect the Public, Environment, and Grow Economies

            BOSTON— Attorney General Maura Healey announced today that she has joined a coalition of 18 states and several local governments in supporting the United States Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Clean Power Plan rules against legal challenges by several states and industry groups. The rules are the culmination of a decade-long effort by Massachusetts and other states and partners to advocate for regulations reducing climate change-causing emissions from power plants.

The AG’s Office joined with the coalition in filing a motion to intervene in support of the Clean Power Plan in the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit.

“We are proud today to join 17 state attorneys general and several local governments, in moving to intervene in support of EPA’s Clean Power Plan,” AG Healey said. “The AG’s Office has long advocated for regulation of greenhouse gases under the Clean Air Act, and it was our office that won the landmark Supreme Court victory inMassachusetts v. EPA, which held that greenhouse gases are air pollutants under the Clean Air Act. The Clean Power Plan is a pivotal step that will allow us to curb carbon emissions from existing power plants, and do it in a way that allows the states maximum flexibility.

 Here in Massachusetts, we’ve been national leaders in clean energy —from the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative, to energy efficiency programs, and a standard to promote greater reliance on renewable energy. Those programs have been good for Massachusetts residents and good for our regional economy. There is no time to waste.  Securing these emissions reductions from power plants—the largest source of carbon dioxide emissions in the United States—is critical to putting us on a path to avoid dangerous levels of warming, and toward building a sustainable energy future.”

The coalition includes attorneys general of California, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Iowa, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Hampshire, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, the District of Columbia, the cities of New York, Philadelphia, Chicago, Boulder, South Miami, and Broward County in Florida.

The EPA released the Clean Power Plan under Sections 111 (d) of the Clean Air Act in August 2015. The Clean Power Plan establishes a national goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions from existing power plants by 32 percent from 2005 by 2030. The rule for existing power plants is expected to eliminate as much climate change pollution as is emitted by more than 160 million cars a year.

Also today, AG Healey joined a coalition of states and local governments in filing a motion to intervene in separate cases pending in the D.C. Circuit to defend EPA’s rules establishing carbon emission standards for new and modified power plants under Section 111(b) of the Clean Air Act.

On Aug. 3 2015, AG Healey sent EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy a letter co-signed by a coalition of state attorneys general and local governments, expressing strong support for the final rules and pledging to help EPA defend the rules from legal challenges. The coalition’s letter emphasized that the EPA’s power plant rules are “firmly grounded in the law.”

Earlier this year, AG Healey successfully helped defend the proposed rule for reducing carbon emissions from existing power plants against premature legal challenges brought by the coal industry and several coal-producing states. Several states, including Massachusetts have taken cost-effective measures to reduce carbon emissions from the power sector, including establishing renewable portfolio standards to encourage greater reliance on clean energy, implementing energy efficiency programs, and participating in market-based programs, such as the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative. 

This matter is being handled by Melissa A. Hoffer, Chief of AG Healey’s Energy and Environment Bureau, Christophe Courchesne, Chief of the Environmental Protection Division, Assistant Attorney General Tracy Triplett and Legal Analyst Jillian Riley.

AG’S OFFICE SEEKING APPLICATIONS FROM DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND SEXUAL ASSAULT PROVIDERS FOR GAME CHANGE PARTNERSHIP WITH NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS

AG’S OFFICE SEEKING APPLICATIONS FROM DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND SEXUAL ASSAULT PROVIDERS FOR GAME CHANGE PARTNERSHIP WITH 
NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS

Application Period Opens For Grant Program For New Anti-Violence Initiative in High Schools

BOSTON — As part of her office’s new anti-violence partnership with the New England Patriots, Attorney General Maura Healey opened the application period for a grant program to fund training by local domestic violence and sexual assault (DV/SA) prevention organizations in high schools across Massachusetts.

This grant program is one component of  “Game Change: The Patriots Anti-Violence Partnership,” announced in September by AG Healey and New England Patriots Chairman and CEO Robert Kraft. The AG’s Office is awarding six grants of up to $45,000 each to six domestic violence and sexual assault advocacy organizations statewide for the 2016-2017 school year. The selected organizations will partner with and provide support services to schools.

“The Game Change program will help prevent violence by reaching students at an early age and teaching them about healthy relationships,” said AG Healey. “We are looking to partner with organizations that will lend their expertise and support to students, parents and school administrators as we work to prevent domestic violence.”

The first phase of the Game Change program will train 180 personnel from 90 high schools across the state through a series of training institutes conducted by the nation-leading Mentors in Violence Prevention (MVP) program, run by The Center for the Study of Sport in Society at Northeastern University. The AG’s Office is currently acceptingapplications from schools for participation in the Game Change program. Schools will be selected this winter and trainings will begin this spring.

In the second phase of the program, the AG’s Office will select 30 high schools – five in each of the six regions of the state – to receive more in-depth training for school staff, students, parents and administrators. Each of these 30 high schools will be paired with a local DV/SA provider for ongoing support.

Applicants for the DV/SA Provider grants must:

·         Have experience in providing domestic violence and sexual assault prevention educational programming in high schools.

·         Be committed to viewing its organization’s involvement in the program as a way to help schools sustain violence prevention programming beyond the life cycle of the grant.

·         Be willing to attend the three-day initial training institute for their region, which the AG’s Office anticipates will be held in the winter of 2016.

·         Develop an ongoing relationship with the schools, including helping to provide classroom programing, training other school staff, educating parents, working with the administration on anti-violence policies and offering services for parents and families dealing with violence and abuse.

Interested applicants can visit the Attorney General’s website,www.mass.gov/ago/gamechange for additional information about the application process and to submit an application. The deadline to apply for the grant is 4 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 3, 2015.

昆士市長柯奇（Koch）順利連任

昆市首屆一任四年市長，由第五度連任的在位市長柯奇(Tom Koch)以12,416票當選，競爭對手費林（William Phelan）得9615票。

陳樂距當選為緬因州首名華裔市長更近一步 ---更正

緬因州路易斯頓市（Lewiston）昨（3）日的選舉結果，陳樂（Ben Chin）與Robert E. Macdonald的得票數都未超過50%，將於12月8日再次競逐。
該市共有25,009名登記選民，33.5%出席投了票。在五名參選者中，陳樂得票數最高，3,673票，比第二高票參選人多500多票。
由於陳樂和獲得次高票的Robert E. Macdonald，得票數都未超過50%，路易斯頓市很可能12月時得再辦一次只有兩名候選人的選舉。

Ben Chin is getting closer to be Mayor of Lewiston, Maine.  Ben Chin and Robert E. Macdonald are the highest vote getter in this Mayor race, yet neither of them received more than 50% of the vote, and a runoff election is now scheduled on December 8th.
There are 25,009 registered voters in Lewiston, about 33.5% voted. Ben Chin received 3673 vote, and Robert E. Macdonald received 3107 vote.