星期五, 6月 09, 2017
AG HEALEY PROMISES LEGAL FIGHT AGAINST THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION OVER ROLLBACK OF VEHICLE EMISSIONS STANDARDS
AG HEALEY PROMISES LEGAL FIGHT AGAINST THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION OVER ROLLBACK OF VEHICLE EMISSIONS STANDARDS
Joins Coalition of 13 Attorneys General in Letter to the EPA Pledging to Defend Standards for Greenhouse Gas Emissions from Cars and Light-Duty Trucks
BOSTON – Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey today joined a coalition of 13 attorneys general in sending a letter to Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Scott Pruitt threatening legal action if the Trump administration rolls back critical federal limits on greenhouse gas emissions from cars and light-duty trucks.
“The American people want cleaner, more fuel-efficient cars on the road, and the auto industry has made it possible,” said AG Healey. “We cannot let President Trump and Administrator Pruitt stall our progress, and we will take legal action to stop them.”
In the letter, the attorneys general refute Administrator Pruitt’s assertion in a May 2 letter to California Gov. Jerry Brown that EPA’s evaluation process for the federal standards was legally flawed. The attorneys general argue that the federal standards for greenhouse gas emissions together with the standards that California has adopted are readily achievable and will successfully reduce the pollution emitted by cars and light-duty trucks – which is harmful to the environment and public health.
“If EPA acts to weaken or delay the current standards for model years 2022-25, like California, we intend to vigorously pursue appropriate legal remedies to block such action,” the letter states.
Joining AG Healey in today’s letter are the attorneys general of New York, Connecticut, the District of Columbia, Delaware, Iowa, Maine, Maryland, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Washington, as well as the Secretary of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania’s Department of Environmental Protection.
In March 2017, AG Healey joined with other attorneys general in issuing a joint statement condemning President Trump’s action directing federal agencies to reconsider the current federal vehicle emission standards.
Since cars and trucks emit a large amount of air pollutants that are harmful to human health and the environment, Section 202 of the Clean Air Act requires EPA to establish national emission standards for new motor vehicles. Section 209 of the Act authorizes the State of California to adopt emission standards that are generally more stringent than the federal standards, and Section 177 of the Act authorizes other states to adopt those same standards for new motor vehicles sold within their states.
In 2009, the EPA, the California Air Resources Board and the Department of Transportation’s Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) partnered with the auto industry and other stakeholders to determine how best to reduce greenhouse gas emissions using technology that is already readily available and affordable. This cooperation between the EPA and the other partners resulted in the EPA adopting emission standards limiting greenhouse gas emissions from new passenger cars and light-duty trucks for model years 2017-25 and beyond. California has adopted parallel vehicle emission standards limiting greenhouse gas emissions for those same model years, which Massachusetts and several other states have adopted as state law.
The 2022-25 standards alone would slash carbon emissions by the equivalent of removing 422 million cars from the road (dramatically cutting greenhouse gas emissions by 540 million metric tons), as well as improve vehicles’ fuel economy – resulting in net benefits of nearly $100 billion total, including a net savings of $1,650 for each consumer over the lifetime of a new vehicle.
In January 2017, EPA determined, in its “midterm evaluation,” that 2022-25 standards are readily achievable by the auto industry. After an extensive technical review, based in significant part on information from industry, advocates, and other interested parties, EPA found that “automakers are well positioned to meet the standards at lower costs than previous estimated.” The agency concluded that, while the record supported making the standards even more stringent, it decided “to retain the current standards to provide regulatory certainty for the auto industry.” In March 2017, California completed its own midterm review and reaffirmed its current, parallel standards after participating in the federal process and conducting its own analysis of the feasibility of the standards. However, the Trump administration announced in March that it would “revisit” EPA’s midterm evaluation decision. Earlier this month Administrator Pruitt declared that the midterm evaluation was legally and procedurally flawed.
Together with other attorneys general, AG Healey has already successfully taken on the Trump administration’s environmental agenda, resulting in the administration reversing course on energy efficiency standards last month. Attorney General Healey is also a leader in the coalition of state and localities defending the Clean Power Plan; has taken action to oppose President Trump’s efforts to dismantle the Clean Water Rule,allow the toxic pesticide chlorpyrifos to remain in food, and roll back clean air standards for smog.
Earlier this week, AG Healey and 18 other Attorneys General have joined forces with governors, mayors, business leaders and universities across the country pledging to maintain their commitment to fighting climate change and abiding by the principles of the global Paris Climate Agreement.
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Governor Baker Releases Statement on the Safe Communities Act
Governor Baker Releases Statement on the Safe Communities Act
BOSTON – Governor Baker today released a statement on the “Safe Communities Act” (S 1305/H 3269), currently before the Committee on Public Safety and Homeland Security:
“The safety and security of our communities is a top priority for our administration, and I oppose this bill that would prohibit law enforcement from enforcing bipartisan policies that have been in place for 10 years and prevented violent and dangerous convicted criminals from being released back onto our streets. This legislation would also prevent the Massachusetts State Police from upholding our policy to detain individuals for federal authorities that have been convicted of heinous crimes, like murder and rape, and weakens current public safety measures that are designed to keep us safer. Our administration does not support making the Commonwealth a sanctuary state and urges the Legislature to hold this bill in committee and reconsider ways to ensure Massachusetts remains a welcoming place while maintaining public safety."
星期四, 6月 08, 2017
摩頓市又添一裔經營店鋪 8D遊戲 7日剪綵
(Boston Orange 摩頓市報導)摩頓市6月7日再添一家華裔企業，市長葛帝生(Gary
Christenson)與摩頓市商會會長Patty Kelly，業主梁茂(譯音，Mo Liang)，股東江偉(譯音，Wei Jiang)等人為”八維遊戲(8 D Gaming)”聯袂剪綵。
”八維遊戲(8 D Gaming)”座落在摩頓市交換街(Exchange)63號，已於6月1日開張，7日才剪綵，是一家採用高科技的密室脫逃遊戲場所，老少咸宜，共有3種挑戰玩家的脫逃主題，讓玩的人感受團隊合作趣味。
店主已投資了50餘萬元，裝修一應設備，聘用了4名全職，4名兼職員工。該店預計每個月都會增加一種遊戲，玩家也可要求該店增加遊戲款項。將來該店還將舉辦比賽，推出特別活動。
該店的第一個特別活動”神秘謀殺夜”，將在短期內上載到該店網址及臉書。他們希望”八維遊戲”能成為人們結伴流連，和家人消磨時間的地方，還能讓人藉著合作比賽等遊戲，結識新朋友。
8D Gaming Opens in Malden
Wednesday, June 7, 2017
8D Gaming located at 63 Exchange Street recently held a
ribbon-cutting ceremony to celebrate the grand opening of their new high-tech
room escape themed gaming facility. The family friendly establishment offers
three challenging escape and storytelling themes for cooperative team building
fun. Business owners have invested more than $500,000 in the location and have
employed four full-time and four part-time employees. Each month, 8D will
expand its board game collection and walk-in players may add board games to the
8D wish list. 8D looks forward to hosting tournaments and special events in the
future. Their first special event will be a “Murder Mystery Night” to be
announced in the near future on their website and Facebook page. 8D’s goal is
to become a destination where friends hang out, spend time with family and meet
new people through competitive and cooperative game play. For more information,
including hours of operation, please visit www.8droomescape.com.
8D employees and family with (from left) Chamber of Commerce
Director Jenna Coccimiglio, Chamber President Patty Kelly (third from left),
Building Landlord Alan Dana (holding ribbon), MRA Director Deborah Burke (next
to Alan), Business Owner/Manager Derrick Zhao (holding scissors, left of
Mayor), Mayor Gary Christenson, Business Owner/Manager Mo Liang (holding
scissors, right of Mayor), Ward 4 City Councillor Ryan O’Malley, Chloe Li,
(second from right) and Investor/Shareholder Wei Jiang (far right)
昆士小學 6/14 辦音樂會
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紀錄片"圍棋" 6/28 波士頓首映
(Boston Orange)費時4年，在中國，韓國，日本及美國拍製，關於”圍棋”的第一部紀錄片，”圍棋(The Surrounding Game)”，藉由即將成年的美國圍棋天才參賽，並成為美國第一位專業圍棋手的故事，展現神秘的圍棋世界。
“圍棋"一片目前在世界各地的電影節，會議中巡迴放映。預定6月28日晚6點半，在布魯克蘭鎮的庫里吉角(Coolidge
Corner)戲院做波士頓首映。該片導演將隨片出席，與觀眾互動。
有意在其他戲院和社區活動中放映該片者，可和製作單位洽談。
THE SURROUNDING GAME, the first feature documentary about
the game of Go. Shot over 4 years in China, Korea, Japan, and the United
States, THE SURROUNDING GAME reveals the mysterious world of Go through the coming-of-age
story of America's top Go prodigies as they compete to become the first
American Go Professionals.
海外帶來美國的佣人也享最低工資權 華裔夫婦觸法罰35,000
COUPLE TO PAY MORE THAN $35,000 FOR FAILING TO PAY THEIR LIVE-IN DOMESTIC WORKER
BOSTON – A married couple has agreed to pay more than $35,000 to resolve allegations they violated the state’s wage and hour and domestic worker laws in a case involving their live-in domestic worker who cared for their children, Attorney General Maura Healey announced today.
Shiou Voon Kayse Foo and Kay Jinn Wong have paid more than $35,000 in restitution and penalties to resolve allegations that they failed to pay minimum wage, overtime, and vacation pay, and failed to comply with the state’s Domestic Workers Law in connection with their former live-in employee.
“These individuals exploited their live-in employee by forcing her to work without proper pay,” said AG Healey. “Massachusetts has strong laws to protect all workers and ensure they are treated fairly. This should send a message that this conduct is not acceptable and we will go after those who do not pay their workers properly.”
The AG’s Office began an investigation into Foo and Wong based on a referral from Boston University Law School’s Human Trafficking Clinic in March 2017. The couple, originally from Malaysia, were living in Cambridge and brought their domestic worker with them, whom they had previously employed, to help care for their children and to provide other domestic services.
The AG’s investigation revealed that once in Cambridge, Foo and Wong made only sporadic payments and failed to pay their employee for weeks at a time. Foo and Wong have denied any wrongdoing.
Under Massachusetts law, “forced services” are services performed or provided by someone that are obtained or maintained by physical restraint or abuse of the law or by causing financial harm to any person.
The AG’s Office enforces the laws regulating the payment of wages, minimum wage, and overtime – as well as the Domestic Workers Law, which regulates working and rest time, charges for food and lodging, and circumstances of termination. The law also requires employers to make and keep records of the hours worked by any domestic worker and provides guidelines for work evaluations and written employment agreements. The protections established by the Domestic Workers Law apply regardless of immigration status.
In May 2016, a couple from Qatar paid $3,000 to resolve allegations by the AG’s Office that they failed to properly pay a live-in employee for childcare services in violation of the state’s wage and hour and domestic worker laws.
Workers who believe that their rights have been violated are encouraged to call the AG’s Fair Labor Hotline at (617) 727-3465. More information about Labor Trafficking can be found at here and more on the Domestic Workers Law can be found at www.mass.gov/ago/dw. More information relating to the state’s wage and hour laws is also available in multiple languages at the Attorney General’s Workplace Rights websitewww.mass.gov/ago/fairlabor.
This matter was handled by Assistant Attorney General Karla Zarbo and Investigator Jennifer Pak with AG Healey’s Fair Labor Division, with assistance from the AG’s Human Trafficking Division, the State Police Detective Unit, and the Cambridge Police.
鋼鐵俠說獵鷹號預定4個月後上月球
(Boston
Orange 周菊子波士頓整理報導)伊隆馬斯克(Elon Musk)今天在推特上透露，獵鷹號(Falcon
Heavy)大約會在四個月後發射，將載送第一批遊客，而且可能把人類帶到前所未達之遠的太空。
未來(Futurism)網站今日發表了這麼一則消息。
該消息指人們戲稱鋼鐵俠的馬斯克，這星期顯然過得很順，之前在特斯拉的股東年會上有絕佳表現，今天又有特斯拉(Telsa)股價以上漲的消息。該公司還有史以來第一次擠進財富500大名單。
馬斯克的太空公司，SpaceX，已經計劃在未來數個月要達成幾個里程碑。今天有人在推特上問馬克斯，獵鷹號到底什麼時候發射，馬斯克在下午2點51分還真回答了，說是所有核心部件在二，三個月內會抵達Cape，所以發射應該是在那的一個月之後。
馬斯克的回答，立即迎來41萬多個點讚，將近15萬次轉發。
獵鷹號會是世界上最有威力的火箭，能夠把54公噸重(約119,000磅)的貨物及隊員發射進太空。這火箭也預計在2018年時把第一批太空旅客送上月球。整個太空旅程預計持續六到七天。
據悉，獵鷹號也會參與人們高度期待，SpaceX公司預定2025年發射的赴火星載人火箭任務。
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