Tammy Duckworth’s Statement on the Passing of King Bhumibol Adulyadej of Thailand

Tammy Duckworth’s Statement on the Passing of King Bhumibol Adulyadej of Thailand

[WASHINGTON, DC] – Congresswoman Tammy Duckworth (IL-08) today issued the following statement after learning of the passing of King Bhumibol Adulyadej of Thailand, who led his country for more than 70 years and was a unifying figure for his people:

“Today, I join Thailand and the rest of the world in mourning the loss of His Majesty, King Bhumibol Adulyadej. As the world’s longest-reigning monarch and a great friend to the United States, King Bhumibol’s selfless devotion to his countrymen and women inspired great love and affection among his people, and my deepest condolences go out to Her Majesty, Queen Sirikit as well as her children and grandchildren—and all Thai people—in this difficult time.”

“I was born in Thailand and grew up in Southeast Asia, and in Congress I have consistently worked to advocate for my fellow Thai Americans and Asian American Pacific Islanders. I will continue my efforts to strengthen our relationship with America’s oldest friend in Asia, Thailand, as we reflect on the life and legacy of King Bhumibol.”

首届“松柏梅竹”波士顿校友网球公开赛

“华腾杯”首届“松柏梅竹”波士顿校友网球公开赛成功举行

报道：波士顿南开校友会 秦翠琳 王忠

松柏梅竹组织发起篇

10月8日下午，风和日丽，秋意盎然。波示顿地区北大南开清华交大校友会在波士顿西郊的维斯顿高中成功联合举办“华腾杯”首届“松柏梅竹”波士顿校友网球公开赛。

波士顿南开校友会成为主办校友会，对本次赛事作了精心策划和准备。组委会主席文立民网球教练挑选了场地并设置了赛制，副主席王涵会长设计了赛场横幅及奖杯，财务总长兼南开领队王忠安排了摄影，饮料及食物等后勤服务，秦翠琳和苏晓晔提前到达场地，书记员蔡宁熙负责了现场的运动员报名及比赛计分工作。本届“华腾杯”公开赛得到了南开校友企业家邓泽平创立的湖南华腾制药公司的独家慷慨赞助。

“松柏梅竹”的来历跟四校历史上的校长有关，台湾清华交大素有“梅竹赛”体育竞技传统，“梅”取自清华校长梅贻琦，“竹”源于交大校长凌竹铭，北大校长蔡元培以“松”骨气概著称，“柏”意指南开校长张伯苓。

波示顿地区北大南开清华交大校友会已经成功联合举办过四届松柏梅竹滑雪会，成为冬天校友们户外联谊的一大盛事。

本届网球公开赛设置了男子单打，女子单打，男子双打及混合双打四个项目，每个项目设置了冠亚军奖杯, 20多名来自北大南开清华校友会的选手参加了激烈的4个多小时的友谊争夺赛（交大校友会计划明年正式组队参赛）。其中有坚持多年的老校友，也有年方18岁的校友子女。北大校友普遍是来美国的年轻留学生或参加工作不久的职场新手，清华和南开多以工作多年的体育爱好者居多。

北大校友风采篇

北大校友参赛队员普遍年轻，到场啦啦队很给力。

竹

北大图1（左）- 段婧琳帅气发球瞬间

北大图2 - 吴劲轩/段婧琳：颜值担当混双组合，顽抗强劲对手尽显风采

北大图3- 姜光文/彭竞宇（右一）：默契搭档

清华南开对决篇

本届网球公开赛男子单打，女子单打，男子双打及混合双打四个项目的冠亚军最后在清华和南开校友之间对决。决赛堪称高手登峰对决，观众直呼好看。最后清华队田军获得男子单打冠军，赵婉馨和李劲松分别获得女子单打冠亚军，肖小强/梁博获得男子双打亚军，田军/李劲松获得混双亚军。南开队文立民获得男子单打亚军，文立民/杨志勇获得男子双打冠军，杨志勇/周津平获得混双冠军。

对决图1：男子单打

男子单打冠军田军（清华）                          男子单打亚军文立民（南开）

对决图2：女子单打

女子单打冠军赵婉馨（清华）             女子单打亚军李劲松（清华)

对决图3：男子双打

男子双打冠军文立民/杨志勇（南开）     

男子双打亚军肖小强/梁博（清华）           

对决图4： 混合双打

混双冠军杨志勇/周津平（南开）混双亚军田军/李劲松（清华）

友谊交流篇

比赛不仅是切磋球艺的好时机，也是与各领域朋友交流的机会。

Social 图1： 女单冠军赵婉馨Rose妈妈：培养孩子特长，创业经验

Social 图2： 婧琳与劲松：球已结束，但话题还长

Social图3：@Weston High School，横幅和秋色相应对景

最后，期盼“松柏梅竹”波士顿校友网球公开赛能成为各校友会的一项传统，传承下去。

劉雲平致信國務卿關切也門戰犯案

CONGRESSMAN LIEU SENDS LETTER TO SEC. KERRY ON STATE DEPT. KNOWLEDGE OF YEMEN WAR CRIMES

WASHINGTON – Congressman Ted W. Lieu (D | Los Angeles County) sent a letter to Secretary John Kerry in light of troubling news that State Department lawyers knew the U.S. could be liable for war crimes in Yemen.

Congressman Lieu’s Prior Actions:

Mr. Lieu has repeatedly raised concerns regarding this issue. Last year, he sent a letter to General Joseph F. Dunford, the incoming chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, requesting further information about civilian deaths as a result of Saudi Arabian led coalition airstrikes in Yemen. A month later, Mr. Lieu joined Representatives Dingell and Ellison to leada letter to President Obama on the Yemen airstrikes. In March 2016, Mr. Lieu sent a letter to Secretary of State John Kerry and Defense Secretary Ash Carter expressing his deep concern over the tragic civilian deaths. In August 2016, Mr. Lieu led a bipartisan group of 64 Members of Congress in sending another letter to President Obama urging him to postpone the sale of new arms to Saudi Arabia. He also introduced House Joint Resolution 90 to provide limitations on the transfer of air-to-ground munitions from the United States to Saudi Arabia. Senators Chris Murphy (CT) and Rand Paul (KY) introduced Senate Joint Resolution 32, the Senate companion to Mr. Lieu’s bill.

Excerpts from the Letter:

“I previously taught the Law of Armed Conflict when I served on active duty in the Air Force and am a graduate of Air War College. The frequency and scale of the civilian killings by the Saudi military coalition make it difficult to come to any conclusion other than that war crimes have been and are continuing to be committed in Yemen.”

“Immediately stopping the aiding and abetting of the Saudi military coalition would not only help reduce the legal risk to U.S. officials, it would send a strong message to the world that the U.S. respects the Law of War and basic human rights. As you know, the State Department has an entire office dedicated to preventing foreign entities from committing war crimes. The credibility of that office has been shredded by the U.S.-enabled airstrikes on civilians in Yemen.”

AG REPORT SHOWS COMMERCIAL HEALTH CARE SPENDING CONCENTRATED ON HIGH INCOME, HEALTHIER COMMUNITIES

AG REPORT SHOWS COMMERCIAL HEALTH CARE SPENDING CONCENTRATED ON HIGH INCOME, HEALTHIER COMMUNITIES 

AG Healey Calls for Increased Focus on Linking Health Care Spending to Health Need

BOSTON – A report examining how health care spending is distributed in the commercial insurance market in Massachusetts shows that after controlling for health status, more money is spent on patients in higher income communities, Attorney General Maura Healey announced today.

This is the seventh report the AG’s Office has issued in its ongoing work to examine health care cost trends. These reports aim to increase transparency around the forces and conditions that affect health care spending. Last week, the AG’s Office released a report with a focus on pharmaceutical spending.

“Health insurance is a commitment all of us make to share the financial burden when some of us get sick,” AG Healey said. “This report focuses on equity. It suggests we still have work to do when considering the fair allocation of health care dollars across our communities.”

The AG’s report released today examines whether Massachusetts is spending health care dollars on those who most need care. It outlines three key findings that have significant implications for the commercial health care market in Massachusetts – the market for private health insurance that does not include government-sponsored plans such as Medicaid or Medicare:

1.      Health care dollars are concentrated in higher income, healthier communities in ways unexplained by health need.

o   Across the plans studied, almost half of the most affluent communities in Massachusetts are also the communities in which the most commercial dollars are spent relative to health burden. By contrast, only four percent of the lowest income communities are ones that receive the highest levels of spending.

o   Conversely, the lowest levels of spending are found in nearly one-third of the lowest income communities but in only one percent of the highest income communities.

o   This data is adjusted for health status, so the higher spending on affluent communities is not explained by residents of these communities being sicker, older, or having greater health needs. 

2.      Many factors may be driving spending disparities – including variation in the prices of different health care providers located in different communities, and structural and socioeconomic barriers that make it more difficult for lower income residents to access health care.

3.      Under current approaches to setting health insurance premiums, everyone shares not just in the costs of caring for the sick, but also the costs of certain members’ use of higher-priced providers.

These findings have important implications for ongoing policy discussions. The AG’s Office offers the following recommendations to advance that dialogue:

·         Implement standard monitoring of the extent to which health care spending tracks health burden, versus other factors like income, demographics, or geography. A stronger and expanded focus on the collection of this data will help to track socioeconomic disparities in health spending and health outcomes, especially as Massachusetts moves to global risk arrangements that may “bake in” historic disparities in the resources allocated for the care of different communities.

·         Consider strategies to help health care function like other, more effective markets. This includes examining new ideas for health insurance products that reward consumers at the point-of-enrollment for choosing high quality, lower-cost providers. Employer engagement is critical and employers should have access to timely, easily compared information about how provider choice and other factors are impacting their health care costs so that they can consider how to support higher value choices by their employees. 

Today’s report was prepared by Assistant Attorneys General Emily Gabrault and Sandra Wolitzky and Division Chief Karen Tseng, all of AG Healey’s Health Care Division.

摩頓市新英格蘭咖啡公司慶祝100歲

New England Coffee Celebrates a Century!

Thursday, October 13, 2016

Mayor Gary Christenson joined New England Coffee as they celebrated their 100th anniversary with employees, family members and friends at recent gathering at Anthony’s of Malden. New England Coffee, a multi-generational family operated business, is New England’s largest independent coffee roaster.

In 1916, Menelaos and George Kaloyanides along with Megakis Papadopoulos opened for business in Boston where hand-roasted coffee was delivered by horse and wagon. After outgrowing several locations, New England Coffee settled into their present 100 Charles Street location in Malden in 1966. The company employs approximately 200 and serves over 5,000 foodservice customers nationally. New England Coffee has long been offering delicious flavored coffees and whole bean and exotic blends from locations such as Colombia, Brazil and Costa Rica. They have been a wonderful community partner always supporting the City when asked. Today Steve Kaloyanides, age 90, still helps out at the Malden location. Congratulations New England Coffee!

Baker-Polito Administration Announces Land Protection Project in New Braintree

Baker-Polito Administration Announces Land Protection Project in New Braintree

State Permanently Protects 100 Acres Owned by Worcester County League of Sportsmen’s Clubs

NEW BRAINTREE – October 13, 2016 – Energy and Environmental Affairs (EEA) Secretary Matthew Beaton today joined representatives of the Worcester County League of Sportsmen’s Clubs (WCLSC) to announce the Department of Fish and Game’s (DFG) acquisition of a conservation restriction that permanently protects 100 acres of forested land in New Braintree. The acquisition ensures permanent protection and public access to upland game habitat, and abuts the Division of Fisheries and Wildlife’s (MassWildlife) 535-acre Winimusset Wildlife Management Area (WMA).

“As a result of innovative public-private partnerships, this project will protect important wildlife habitat and provide recreational opportunities in the Worcester area,” said Governor Charlie Baker. “Our administration continues to be committed to conserving our natural resources and ensuring all citizens of the Commonwealth have access to the recreation that our rivers, lakes, oceans, forests and parks have to offer.”

“I am proud we were able to work with the Worcester County League of Sportsmen’s Clubs to permanently protect this valuable land for the people and the wildlife of the region,” said Lieutenant Governor Karyn Polito. “This project not only protects the wildlife and plant life of this land, but also guarantees that the public will have access to the property for hunting, hiking and wildlife viewing.”

“Hunters and anglers have always played an important role in the conservation of natural resources in Massachusetts, and we are grateful the Worcester County League of Sportsmen’s Clubs has continued that tradition by partnering with us to protect this land,” said EEA Secretary Matthew Beaton. “The conservation restriction ensures that the upland forest will never be developed and protects habitat for wild turkey, deer, bear, moose, wood frogs and forest songbirds.”

The Department of Fish and Game and MassWildlife spent $100,000 for the conservation restriction, now called the Winimusset Wildlife Conservation Easement (WCE), on 100 acres of WCLSC property. Funding for DFG’s land acquisition program comes from a combination of sources, including the state environmental bond and Wildlands Stamp funds collected from fishing, hunting and trapping license sales and donations.

“This public-private partnership with the Worcester County League of Sportsmen ensures protection and ongoing stewardship of critical upland forest wildlife habitat,” said DFG Commissioner George Peterson. “In addition, its proximity to the Winimusset Wildlife Management Area enhances its value to wildlife and the public.”

“I want to thank the Worcester County League for working with us to protect this land,” said MassWildlife Director Jack Buckley. “The League offered the easement at a generous discount that was fully funded by the Wildlands Stamp Fund and has agreed to MassWildlife retaining right-of-first-refusal to purchase the land should the League decide to sell. This is a great example of sportsmen and women’s wildlife conservation commitment that provides benefits now and into the future.”

“The sportsmen and women deeply appreciate the partnership with the Worcester County League and the work of Fisheries and Wildlife to permanently conserve this critical habitat,” said State Senator Anne Gobi (D-Spencer). “This area is well used by people of all ages who enjoy seeing various wildlife and passive recreation.”

Prior to the conservation restriction acquisition, the Worcester County League implemented a Forest Management Plan integrating sustainable forestry practices to enhance the upland habitat of the property for turkey, bear, deer, grouse, and other wildlife. The League’s sustainable forestry practices will continue in coordination with MassWildlife’s forestry staff under the conservation restriction.

“From this day forward the Babbit/Gribbons property will forever be an open space where everyone will have the opportunity to experience and pass on the heritage of an outdoor lifestyle,” said Jim Nishan, President of the Worcester County League of Sportsmen’s Clubs. “Some will come to hunt, others to watch fireflies with their kids, or just smell the flowers. All are welcome.”

The Worcester County League of Sportsmen's Clubs is a regional sporting organization representing over 60 member sportsmen’s clubs with a membership of 20,000 members in Worcester County. The League works to promote and protect the interests of sportsmen and citizens in the areas of conservation, environment, farmer, landowners and sportsmen relations, hunting, fishing and access to public waters.

The Department of Fish and Game (DFG) is responsible for promoting the conservation and enjoyment of the Commonwealth’s natural resources. DFG carries out this mission through land protection and wildlife habitat management, management of inland and marine fish and wildlife species, and ecological restoration of fresh water, salt water, and terrestrial habitats. DFG promotes enjoyment of the Massachusetts environment through outdoor skills workshops, fishing festivals and other educational programs, and by enhancing access to the Commonwealth's rivers, lakes, and coastal waters.

李素影:保護公校，反對第2條議題

(社區意見欄)

保護公校，反對第2條議題

前波士頓昆士小學校長李素影

在今年的總統大選中麻州的選票上，會有4條公投議題。而在波士頓，會有第5條議題。其中最為選民所爭論的，便是第2條公投議題。

第二條議題是有關州立特許 ( Charter School ) 學校，目的是讓這類學校，以每年新設12間的速度增加。這些學校的經營開支，主要是來自市立公校的財政預算，令市政府每年對公立學校的緊縮撥款，進一步淘空，變得百上加斤，以致在教育改革計劃上，舉步維艱。

目睹社會不公的現象，作為從事教育工作近40年，我必須挺身而出，呼籲各家長、青年學生、教育工作者、關心下一代教育的朋友、明智的選民，和納稅人，要一起在選票第2條問題上，投下反對票。

自1994開始至今，在麻州開辦的特許學校現存的有108間，由於種種原因，已關閉的也有28間之多，其中不乏經營管理不善，學生成績表現低劣，甚至胎死腹中也有，這是浪費納稅入的金錢，錯誤投放教育資源，嚴重影響市辦公立學校的大方向，令教育發展停滯不前。在今年，麻州特許學校就從各市立學校的財政預算中，總共抽取了4億元之鉅。就是這樣，波士頓公立學校每年要支付一萬七千元給市內每名入讀特許學校的學生，還要不論遠近，向特許學校的學生提供免費校巴接送。

公立學校應本著有教無類的辦學宗旨，意思是無論學生是來自不同的社會經濟階層、殘障的、非英語為母語的、新移民、行為表現有困難的，無須經過入學考試及學能評估或選篩，就有入讀的資格。可是，特許學校另有一套取錄學生的標準，透过會見學生與家長，填寫長篇累牘的註冊報名表格，甚至用傾向測驗為難學生，令家長望而卻步或知難而退，如此設下重重關卡，難怪乎特許學校變得貴族化，形同私立學校，一般家長只有望門輕嘆。

連月來，特許學校的支持者，開動了一切宣傳機器，為第2號公投議題造勢，在電視廣告的花費高達3千萬。並有意偽裝成強化公立學校為目的， 這是切頭切尾的誤導選民。在背後推動的有來自保守政黨，有一向主張行學券制及教育私營化的基金會、打擊工會的政治遊說團體、課程發展商、出版商、考核學生及評估老師的生意人等，都想在教育商業化的過程中牟取利潤。在另一方面，特許學校也想進一步挾持民意，掠奪更多的公共資源及撥款。這一切都說明了，人們享有平民化的公立教育權益，已遭到前所未來有的削減，有面臨被取代的危機。

現在，且看看特許學校的教學質量及責任承擔問題。由於特許學校免受教師工會的合約協議規定，為節省開支和增加利潤，便有意聘用資歷淺，無正規訓練及正式檢定執照的老師任教， 以致教師工作時間長，薪金偏低，士氣低落，流失率高，這已是在特許學校一般不可爭辯的事實。學校為保持在標準測驗中，有所謂高的成績表現，用盡一切方法勸服家長，讓學業成績不理想的子女退學，並協助他們轉往市辦的公立學校。波士頓公立學校是由市長委任的學校委員會規管，會議是公開而且透明的，公立學校總監及部門負責人，必須定期向學校委員報告，公立學校總監受學校委員會考評及公眾輿論的監督。反觀，麻州中小學教育署對利用公帑進行私營的特許學校的監管是粗疏的，其牟利與否亦不會向公眾問責。

目前，最多華人子女入讀的波士頓公立學校，昆士小學及哈佛根德小學均被麻州中小學教育署評為第一等級水平學校，其他波市公校也有不少學位，實在没有需要每年增加12間以公帑私營的特許學校，這有違公校辦學的宗旨。況且，一個簡單的教育議題，竟要進行全州公投决定，很容易使人懷疑是有一定的政治企圖。為避免讓教育政治化，保護我們的公立學校，因此，我們一定要在選票第2條議題投反對票

市政理財有方 P3培訓營邀馮偉傑分享經驗

羅德島州克蘭斯頓市市長馮偉傑(Allan Fung)。(周菊子攝)

(Boston Orange 周菊子波士頓報導)倡議公家機關與私營企業合作，以促使建築等社區發展項目，辦得更有效率的”P3培訓營"，昨(11)日起在伯斯利文森(Burns & Levinson)律師樓舉行一連兩日會議，研議最佳做法範例。羅德島州克蘭斯頓市市長馮偉杰應邀分享經驗。

全國公私合作理事會(The National Council for Public-Private Partnerships)是個成立於1985年的非牟利組織，以提供溝通平台，促進聯邦，州市政府等公家機構和私營企業合作，激發創新，創意為宗旨。

今年9月起，該會在鳳凰城，波士頓，芝加哥，邁阿密，傑克森等五個城市舉辦”P3培訓營"。

波士頓這場為期一天半，今(12)日一早的這場，討論內容包括辨識並籌備P3項目，融資，採購及招標過程等。應邀分享看法，心得的有麻州尚莫維爾市(Somerville)市長 Joseph Curatone，羅德島州克蘭斯頓市市長馮偉傑(Allan Fung)，以及Butler Snow律師樓和Nossaman律師樓的合夥人，依序為Stan Ladner，John Smolen。

與會者會後圍著尚莫維爾市市長 Joseph Curatone(左ㄧ)，克蘭斯頓
市市長馮偉杰(Allan Fung)(右二)等問問題。(周菊子攝)

會議主持者以某州曾經推動過，把全州各地需要修補，數以百計橋樑，變成一個大項目來研究，做長遠計畫，以節省經費並增加效率為例，請講者們分享心得。

 Joseph Curatone指出，為做更好規劃而公私合作時，常常發現法令上有很多限制。

馮偉傑則坦言，政府與私營企業合作，有利有弊。做為決策者，還得承擔起個人未來政治發展前途風險，因為選民們面對各自切身利益時，不見得認同政府決策者從更寬廣角度出發的看法，或者規劃。

馮偉傑參與討論的是地方政府如何吸引私營企業，如何評估，找到適合做P3的項目，並辨認，分佈風險。

會議參加者及講者，包括來自全美的頂尖律師，企業主管。今年的與會者包括來自麻省理工學院史隆管理學院，AIG，STantec，Loop資本金融服務，塞冷州立大學等的學者，業者。地方政府官員包括波士頓市，德州奧斯丁市等。

查詢P3培訓營詳情，可上網 http://www.p3bootcamp.org/。