House Passes “An Act for Language Opportunity for Our Kids”

House Passes “An Act for Language Opportunity for Our Kids”

Provides school districts across the Commonwealth with flexibility regarding English learner programs

(BOSTON) – The House of Representatives today passed legislation that will enable districts to implement alternative English language learner (ELL) programs. Understanding that Massachusetts’ ELL population is incredibly diverse, the proposed change will allow for more flexibility so that districts can tailor programs to better meet the specific needs of their ELL population.

English learners are the fastest growing student population in Massachusetts. While academic achievement has improved for other minority populations, significant achievement gaps persist for ELL students. This legislation seeks to remedy that discrepancy.

“Every student has unique needs, and it is our obligation to foster an environment where they are afforded an education tailored to them,” said House Speaker Robert A. DeLeo (D-Winthrop). “Massachusetts education system is the best in the nation, and I believe that this legislation will enhance our standing while ensuring that education is indeed, the great equalizer.”

“This bill, at its core, is about allowing districts to exercise the flexibility in programming necessary to best serve their English learner populations – a student group that is not only increasing in numbers but is also very dynamic with a wide range of needs,” said Representative Peisch (D-Wellesley), Chair of the Joint Committee on Education. “I am grateful to Speaker DeLeo and Chairman Dempsey for their leadership on this critical issue and applaud the House for passing this bill.”

“Every student learns differently and it is impossible for the ELL students of the Commonwealth to succeed with a one-size-fits-all approach,” said Representative Jeffrey Sánchez (D-Jamaica Plain), sponsor of the bill. “Through flexibility and accountability measures, the LOOK bill creates a system where students are equipped with the tools necessary to not only learn English, but succeed academically and positively contribute to our growing economy.”

To ensure accountability and effectiveness, the legislation establishes a 17-person commission to review the collection and dissemination of ELL data and make recommendations on improvements. It also enhances existing reporting requirements to ensure ELL students are making academic progress as a result of classroom programming. 

In addition, this legislation further supports parental involvement for ELL families, requiring the establishment of English Learner Parent Advisory Councils in districts that serve more than 100 ELL students or in which English learners comprise more than five percent of the student population (whichever is fewer). It also expands the current waiver process to allow a school, on the recommendation of a teacher or guidance counselor, to obtain the waiver for the individual student.

The bill now goes to the Senate.

昆士市出售大麻披薩

            (Boston Orange)大麻披薩?一家麻州要用大麻藥房為那些不想抽大麻，或時用大麻田品的病人，推出大麻披薩。

            這家藥房座落在昆士市，名叫Ermont Inc.，出售大麻披薩已經有3星期左右了，大受好評。

            該公司營運主管Seth Yaffe表示，它們有各種可吃的大麻製品，但他們希望做一款可以吃，又沒有很多糖的大麻製品給病人當正餐。

            6 英寸的大麻披薩38元一份。番茄醬含有125毫克的四氢大麻酚，也是大麻裏的活化精神化合物。該公司迄今已賣出200個大麻披薩。

            只有持有州政府所發要用大麻身分證者有資格買這種披薩。

MIT獲匿名無用途限制捐款一億四千萬元

           (Boston Orange周菊子整理報導) 波士頓今(7)日又傳出一所名校獲得巨額捐款消息。這次是麻省理工學院，1億4000萬元，不限制用途。麻省理工學院校長L. Rafael Reif高興非常，聲稱不限制用途的捐款，對該校蓬勃發展助益最大。

           捐款消息傳出後，許多人都好奇是誰這麼大手筆，不過麻省理工學院表示，捐款者是校友，要求匿名。

           在麻省理工學院校史中，最大筆捐款是2000年時，國際數據集團(IDG)前主席麥戈文(Patrick McGovern)夫婦捐出的3億5000萬元。

           MIT在聲明中指出，捐贈者表示，他以前得到過MIT的慷慨財務資助，才能進MIT求學，也對MIT塑造他成為今日的各方面影響，極為感激。他也深受MIT要因應全球挑戰的遠見所啟發，相信MIT會在帶領使世界成為更好地方上，採取大膽行動。

           這是自地產鉅子李德義(Samuel Tak Lee)在2015年捐給MIT1億1800萬元之後，最大的一筆捐款。以往的巨額捐款人，包括1999年捐了1億元的科技創業家Kenan Sahin，以及2007年捐了1億元的David Koch。

           麻省理工學院去年宣佈了要籌資50億元的大膽計畫。稍早MIT透露，截至6月1日，該校已籌得34億元。

MAYOR WALSH EXPANDS POLICE REVIEW BOARD, ESTABLISHES NEUTRAL LOCATION FOR PUBLIC TO FILE COMPLAINTS

MAYOR WALSH EXPANDS POLICE REVIEW BOARD, ESTABLISHES NEUTRAL LOCATION FOR PUBLIC TO FILE COMPLAINTS

Reforms Will Increase Board Access, Transparency and Effectiveness

BOSTON- Wednesday, June 7, 2017 - Mayor Martin J. Walsh announced today improvements to the Community Ombudsman Oversight Panel (CO-OP) and Complaint Mediation Program that will provide a neutral location for the public to file complaints, increase the number of cases reviewed and automatically refer cases for immediate review that involve allegations of discrimination or use of force resulting in serious bodily injury.   In 2015, Mayor Walsh reconstituted the CO-OP, appointing Professor Natashia Tidwell, J. Larry Mayes and Judge Regina Quinlan to three year terms.   "In Boston, our goal to have complete trust with the community," Mayor Walsh said. "We are strengthening the relationship between our residents and the police, we are providing community-driven training to our officers before they hit the streets, and we are seeing results. The number of complaints are going down, crime is going down and, even more importantly, the number of arrests continue to go down. Creating more public accountability and bringing greater transparency to this process are key to reaching our goals and I look forward to the continued work of the CO-OP and its members."   Acting on recommendations from the CO-OP, the public will now be able to file complaints with the Civic Engagement Cabinet, located at City Hall, to offer a more neutral location than going to a police department. The Civic Engagement Cabinet, which includes the Mayor's Office of Neighborhood Services, interacts daily with residents and neighborhood groups to hear their concerns and connect them to services.   In addition, allegations of bias in policing or discriminatory conduct will now be classified differently to increase transparency between BPD Internal Affairs Division and the community and to ensure that allegations of discrimination are properly tracked.   Any case involving allegations of discrimination or use of force resulting in serious bodily injury will automatically be referred to the CO-OP for review after Internal Affairs reaches its decision. The CO-OP is responsible for reviewing completed investigations and appealed investigations for thoroughness and fairness.   The number of cases reviewed by the CO-OP will be increased from 10 percent to 20 percent, and will continue to be chosen by random audit. In addition, all allegations of discrimination or use of force resulting in serious bodily injury will be automatically referred to the CO-OP. The CO-OP will be increased from three members to up to five members with staggered three year terms to accommodate the additional caseload.   From 2013 to 2016, total citizen complaints to Internal Affairs have declined from 361 to 199 complaints per year and total citizen complaints for excessive force have declined from 40 to 18. Further, BPD Recruit Classes are now trained in Unconscious Bias and De-escalation training prior to joining the police force.   The CO-OP was established in 2007 to serve as an outside, unbiased party provide external oversight and review of BPD internal investigations. Members have access to all investigation materials related to the case they are viewing. If a case requires clarification, the panel will send an inquiry to Internal Affairs to request additional investigation. If, after taking that step, the CO-OP disagrees with the decision of Internal Affairs, a recommendation will be made to the Police Commissioner. The panel also periodically reviews policies and procedures of the internal affairs process and its integrity, and produce an annual report to the Mayor and the Police Commissioner documenting cases reviewed and the outcome of the Panel's review for each case.   The Executive Order, signed by Mayor Walsh today, can be found here.

AG HEALEY CHALLENGES TRUMP ADMINISTRATION OVER FAILURE TO PROTECT THE PUBLIC FROM TOXIC PESTICIDE

AG HEALEY CHALLENGES TRUMP ADMINISTRATION OVER FAILURE TO PROTECT THE PUBLIC FROM TOXIC PESTICIDE

AG Coalition Charges EPA with Violating Federal Law by Allowing the Use of a Toxic Pesticide That Causes Harm to Children’s Neurological Development

BOSTON – Attorney General Maura Healey today announced that she has joined six other attorneys general in filing a challenge against the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)’s decision to abandon an important proposed ban on the use of a toxic pesticide which is widely used on food consumed by infants, young children, and pregnant women.

Joining in the filing are the attorneys general of Massachusetts, New York, California, Maine, Maryland, Washington, and Vermont. The filing says that the EPA failed to make a key safety finding needed to continue to allow levels of chlorpyrifos to remain on food.

             “This is yet another outrageous and wrongheaded decision by Administrator Pruitt that harms public health. By failing to take appropriate action to ensure that foods are not dangerously contaminated with this toxic pesticide, the EPA is putting the health of the public – particularly our most vulnerable infants, children and pregnant women – at risk,” said AG Healey. “We demand that EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt vacate this order immediately to ensure that our residents are not eating food that is tainted with this highly unsafe product.”

Chlorpyrifos is a very common insecticide in the United States and is used on numerous food crops, including apples, strawberries, bananas, pears, peaches, nectarines, and cherries. Residues of the pesticide have repeatedly been found in baby foods and juices. Chlorpyrifos acts by inhibiting an enzyme that is key to the proper development and functioning of the central nervous system and brain. Studies have shown that children born to mothers who were exposed to the toxic pesticide during their pregnancy exhibited cognitive and motor development delays in the first three years, and structural changes in the brain, lower working memory and IQ scores at age 7, and movement disorders (including arm tremors) at age 11.

EPA’s own scientists twice have been unable to identify a safe level for the pesticide on food. In November 2015 and again in November 2016, EPA issued notices of proposed rulemaking to revoke all tolerances and prohibit food from having chlorpyrifos pesticide residue food. However, EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt disregarded those proposed regulations and decades of accumulated scientific evidence and – citing “uncertainty” in chlorpyrifos’ toxicity – denied an administrative petition by the Natural Resources Defense Council and the Pesticide Action Network North America to revoke the current tolerances for chlorpyrifos on food. By its order, EPA effectively left the current tolerances in place indefinitely. 

In their challenge, the attorneys general argue that Administrator Pruitt’s order violates the federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act because it lacks the safety finding that would be required for EPA to be authorized to maintain the current tolerances. The AGs’ challenge requests that the EPA vacate its recent order and that EPA issue a final order within 60 days granting the request and establishing a final regulation revoking tolerances for chlorpyrifos on food.

MAYOR WALSH ANNOUNCES GRAND OPENING OF CITY HALL COFFEE SHOP

MAYOR WALSH ANNOUNCES GRAND OPENING OF CITY HALL COFFEE SHOP

New coffee shop, Recreo Coffee, to welcome visitors to City Hall

BOSTON - Wednesday, June 7, 2017 - As part of Boston's work to make City Hall more vibrant and welcoming to all who visit, Mayor Martin J. Walsh this week announced the grand opening of Recreo Coffee and Roasterie at Boston City Hall. Recreo Coffee is owned by Miriam and Hector Morales of West Roxbury, and sources its coffee beans directly from Miriam Morales' family farm in Nicaragua. "City Hall belongs to all Boston residents, and I'm pleased with the City's progress to make City Hall a welcoming spot for everyone," said Mayor Walsh. "Miriam and Hector are wonderful shop owners who make a great cup of coffee, and I welcome employees, residents and visitors to City Hall to visit Recreo Coffee." "We are thrilled to bring our shop to Boston City Hall to serve workers, residents and visitors who pass through each and every day," said owner Miriam Morales. "It's especially special to be able to bring my family's coffee beans from Nicaragua all the way to Boston, and we look forward to becoming part of Boston City Hall." Recreo Coffee was chosen after a vendor request for proposals (RFP) process, managed by Boston Property Management and the Mayor's Office of New Urban Mechanics. The City was impressed by Recreo Coffee's dedication to socially responsible partnerships with local organizations, including a program that promotes education and healthcare for the coffee bean farmers and their families, and their established location in the West Roxbury Main Street District. Located on the third floor mezzanine, Recreo Coffee will be open Monday through Friday from 7:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m., and will offer a full coffee menu along with baked goods and lunch options. The opening of a coffee shop in Boston City Hall is part of the City's plan to make City Hall Plaza a more activated, inclusive space for all. Additional projects include "Boston Seasons" which features a summer picnic area on City Hall Plaza for the summer and established Boston Winter, a family-friendly winter holiday market and skating rink, on City Hall Plaza last winter. The coffee shop is part of the renovations underway in the City Hall lobby, included in the master plan to reenvision public spaces in City Hall, which is scheduled to be completed this summer.

HOSPITALS PROVIDED $644 MILLION IN COMMUNITY BENEFITS FOR MASSACHUSETTS RESIDENTS IN FISCAL YEAR 2016

HOSPITALS PROVIDED $644 MILLION IN COMMUNITY BENEFITS FOR MASSACHUSETTS RESIDENTS IN FISCAL YEAR 2016

            BOSTON – Massachusetts hospitals provided $644 million in community benefits for residents of Massachusetts in Fiscal Year 2016, according to reports published today by Attorney General Maura Healey’s Office.

            A total of 59 hospitals filed community benefits reports for Fiscal Year 2016. Of those, 49 non-profit acute care hospitals reported a total of $608 million in community benefit expenditures, of which $36 million was reported for free or discounted care provided directly to patients. In addition, 10 for-profit hospitals reported more than $36 million in community benefit expenditures, $6 million of which was reported as free or discounted care for patients. 

“The hundreds of millions of dollars in community benefits provided by Massachusetts hospitals are essential in addressing the health needs of our residents,” AG Healey said. “As we update our guidelines for next year, we recognize the ongoing work of our hospitals to promote community health not only by providing medical services to the underserved, but by coordinating efforts to improve health outcomes and reduce health disparities in our neighborhoods.”  

            AG Healey’s Community Benefits Program supports a key component of the mission of hospitals and health maintenance organizations (HMOs). The office’s Community Benefits Guidelines encourage hospitals and HMOs to build upon their commitment to address unmet community health needs each year by formalizing their approach to planning for annual benefits, collaborating with community representatives in developing programs, and filing annual reports with the Attorney General’s Office on their efforts. HMO community benefits reports will be published this summer.

In an effort to streamline reporting requirements, AG Healey convened health care experts in April for the first meeting of the Advisory Task Force on Community Benefits, which is examining potential updates to the AG’s Community Benefits Program. Task force members are discussing strategies for advancing statewide health priorities and exploring recommendations to better align resources and standards across common programs to build the long-term capacity of communities to improve health outcomes and reduce disparities.

The annual reports are available at www.mass.gov/ago/communitybenefits.

The Community Benefits Program is managed by Project Manager Elana Brochin, Legal Analyst Perusi Namulwa, and Assistant Attorney General Sandra Wolitzky, under the guidance of Senior Counsel Karen Tseng, of AG Healey’s Health Care and Fair Competition Bureau.

美國華裔退伍軍人會 6/12 就職典禮

American Legion Chinatown Post 328 Installation event will be held at Hei La Moon next Monday (6/12) @ 6pm.
This event also starts our fund raising drive to have a Chinese American Veterans Memorial in Chinatown in Philip Square.

The normal ticket price is $45 per person.

Vice Commander Man Ho Chan