波士頓華埠圖書館2月3日剪綵啟用

           (Boston Orange)波士頓市長辦公室1月30日發出通知，邀請居民出席剪綵儀式，慶祝華埠圖書館在中華貿易大樓開張。

            波士頓華埠曾經有過一座市府經營的公共圖書館，但50多年前就已關閉，大約10年前，波士頓華埠熱心居民曾經在華盛頓街借用空屋，開了一家臨時圖書館，二、三個月後，因屋宇另有用途而關閉。

           波士頓市長馬丁華殊四年多前競選第一任市長時，曾允諾一旦當選，一定幫華埠把圖書館帶回來，四年過去，馬丁華殊也剛當選連任後，這一承諾終於實現。

          波士頓市府表示，市政府斥資一百萬元才辦起這圖書館，將安排有雙語員工，書籍，報紙，中英文期刊，兒童項目，2500樣收藏品，中英文的DVD，還有移民及公民入集資訊，供人在圖書館內使用的膝上型電腦等。當然還有無線網路。

         波士頓華埠圖書館的開放時間為週一到週四的早上10點至下午6點，週五的早上9點至下午5點。

MAYOR  WALSH INVITES RESIDENTS TO CELEBRATE RIBBON CUTTING, GRAND OPENING OF CHINATOWN LIBRARY ON SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 3

BOSTON - Tuesday, January 30, 2018 - This Saturday, Mayor Martin J. Walsh and community members will celebrate the opening of Boston Public Library Chinatown at 2 Boylston Street in the China Trade Center. This event marks the return of library services to the neighborhood for the first time in more than 50 years. Regular library hours begin on Monday, February 5, at 10 a.m. Building on Mayor Walsh's commitment to invest in library and community services throughout all neighborhoods in Boston, the Chinatown Library, an investment of $1 million, includes bilingual staff, books, newspapers, and periodicals in English and Mandarin, children's programming, a 2,500 item collection, DVDs in English and Mandarin, holds pick-up, immigration and citizenship information, laptops for in-library use, and WiFi. Hours will be Monday-Thursday from 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. and Friday from 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. All are welcome. WHEN:          11:00 a.m                       Saturday, February 3, 2018 WHERE:        2 Boylston St.                       China Trade Center, Lower Level, Chinatown WHO:            Mayor Martin J. Walsh                       Boston Public Library President David Leonard                       Boston Public Library Board of Trustees                       Chief of Mayor's Office of Arts and Culture Julie Burros                       City of Boston's Chief of Operations Patrick Brophy                       Boston Planning & Development Agency representatives                       Community members

中領館將派員抵波士頓籲防範歹徒冒名電話行騙

公告︱波士顿侨胞请注意

原创 2018-01-31 中国驻纽约总领馆 中国驻纽约总领馆

点击上方蓝字“中国驻纽约总领馆”即可订阅

驻纽约总领馆“新春安全·防范电信诈骗大巡讲”在波士顿活动启动。1月27日至28日，邱舰副总领事及总领馆多位领事赶赴波士顿，与大波士顿地区各社区四十余位侨领密集举办三场座谈，商议大巡讲波士顿站宣传的相关安排。

座谈中，邱舰副总领事向侨领们详细介绍电信诈骗团伙使用改号软件，冒用总领馆电话号码进行诈骗的手法、套路以及如何防范等，表示近期驻纽约总领馆领区有多位侨胞上当受骗，遭受严重财产损失，总领馆积极运用多种媒体手段广泛宣传防范，同时也需要侨社与当地政府、社区等各方面加强合作，共同大力开展宣传，避免侨胞受骗。

在波士顿期间，总领馆侨务组长朱家耀等领事还利用参加波士顿京津同乡春节联欢的机会，向现场500位侨胞进行防范电信诈骗宣传，受到广大侨胞肯定。

近期总领馆将与波士顿梁氏宗亲会、黄氏宗亲会、华人前进会和剑桥中国文化中心合作，推出“新春安全·防范电信诈骗大巡讲”波士顿站宣讲活动，欢迎广大侨胞积极参加，有关安排如下：

第一场：

时间：2月3日下午2时

地点：波士顿黄氏宗亲会

（波士顿唐人街牌坊西侧）

70 Beach St, 6/F, Boston, MA 02111

        

第二场：

时间：2月4日上午11时

地点：波士顿剑桥中国文化中心

411 Waverley Oaks Road Building #2, 

Suite 214, Waltham, MA 02452

转载请注明：

中国驻纽约总领馆

昆士市長柯奇2018市情咨文談建設籌備慶祝建市400年

昆士市長柯奇(Tom Koch)發表市情咨文。(周菊子攝)

            (Boston Orange周菊子昆士市報導)昆士市第33位市長柯奇(Tom Koch)1月29日晚在湯姆斯鶴(Thomas Crane)公共圖書館發表市情咨文，週到的感謝政客，民代，綜述昆士市的財政及經濟發展，基礎建設，即將於2025年來到的建市400週年慶，以及毒癮問題。

                      在2015年11月當選為昆士市首名一任四年市長的柯奇(Tom Koch)，27日晚在古色古香的昆市公共圖書館中發表長達8頁的市情咨文。

昆士居民在古色古香的公共圖書館大樓中聆聽市長發表市情咨文。
(周菊子攝)

在麻州副州長白莉朵(Karyn Polito)，麻州財政長高柏珂(Deb Goldberg)等嘉賓出席的隆重中，柯奇從感謝開始。他先感謝帶領宣誓的消防員Andrew Smith，接著指出過去十年來，有100名以上的退伍軍人，從戰場回家後，加入了昆士市消防局，警察局，或者擔任老師，佔了那段時期新聘人員總數的一半以上。再感謝三名離任的市議員，學校委員，包括在位16年的Joe Finn，在位8年的Margaret Laforest，在位8年的Barbara Isola。

麻州副州長白莉朵(Karyn Polito)特地出席致詞。(周菊子攝)

           他強調，昆士市所的所有成就，都是市民團結努力以致。

           他指稱麻州正副州長，查理貝克(Charlie Baker)及白莉朵(Karyn Polito)和昆士市建立了前未曾有的夥伴關係，在重大基礎建設上，經由麻州工作(MassWorks)這項目給昆士市提供了數以百萬元計的資助，讓昆士市經由海港經濟協會(Seaport Economic Council)把握住可能有的沿岸資產，還斥資逾十億元翻修紅線地鐵，讓昆士市及鄰近地區的公共交通體系趕得上21世紀的時代進步。

麻州財政長高柏珂(Deb Goldberg，左)也來支持昆市長。(周菊子攝)

           聯邦眾議員林奇(Stephen Lynch)，聯邦參議員馬基(Ed Markey)，伊莉莎白華倫(Elizabeth Warren)，麻州財政長高柏珂(Deb Goldberg)，代表昆士市的麻州參議員約翰基南(John Keenan)，麻州眾議員Bruce Ayer，陳德基，以及麻州眾議員Randy Hunt, Ronald Mariano等，一個也沒漏。

           他也歡迎了兩名新任市議員David McCarthy，Ann Mahoney，兩名新任學校委員會委員Anthony Andronico，以及曾任市議員的古楚(Doug Gutro)。

曾經兩度和柯奇(Tom Koch, 中)競爭市長職位的昆士市前市長費林
(William J. Phelan)(左)，也到會場。(周菊子攝)

           柯奇稱昆士市經濟強勁，債信評等創高峰，稅率雖未降，但徵稅率在麻州351個市鎮中，排名第254位，年度稅法僅增加7%，比過去10年來的麻州平均漲幅還低，今年的屋主稅平均漲幅也比麻州的平均漲幅少一半。

費林(左)，柯奇(中)兩名昆士前後任市長化敵為友。(周菊子攝)

           沒有減稅的原因之一在於前投資近了公共建設。昆市正在蓋第三所新學校，要維修消防局，保護史蹟樓宇，翻修公園，蓋建新公園，辦理洪水控制項目，更新自來水管，下水道，還要重鋪道路及人行道。這種種建設對昆市的未來都很重要。

           柯奇引用William Jennings Bryant的話，指”命運不關機會，在於選擇”，不需相信，要去成就。

           柯奇指出，麻州有許多城鎮需要通過否決2.5%條款來辦理甚至只是一項建設，但昆士市不需要，因為昆士市爭取到許多州及聯邦政府資助。從2008年以來，大約僅有三分之一的經費來自屋主。今年的昆士市單家庭屋稅率，漲幅全麻州最低。

麻州眾議員陳德基(Tackey Chan)。(周菊子攝)

           在柯奇的報告中，昆士市將有不少新猷，包括市政府的僱員醫療保險將從七月一日起改用藍十字藍盾公司的服務，

           興國亞當綠地(Hancock-Adams Green)發展案中規模最大的一部份，將於今年完工。那也將事昆士市中心第一個大型公民空間。

           昆士市將動工興建一棟新的，有700個車位的停車場，以及15層高的綜合用途大樓。

麻州參議員約翰基南(John Keenan)。他也市昆士市長夫人的兄弟。
(周菊子攝)

           昆士市將和Fox Rock 發展公司，以及花崗岩電信公司執行長Rob Hale合作，在曾經是羅斯停車場(Ross Parking Garage)的那一帶，建造出100萬平方呎的商用土地。這計畫估計今春就會送交市議會討論，一家大的醫療供應商將會是主要租客。

           昆士商家們也正在努力把昆士中心變成南岸的餐館首都。

           今年昆士事也要實施交通整體計畫，第一階段包括在一打以上商區，安裝卡耐基梅倫大學(CMU)研發，在匹茲堡及亞特蘭大都測試得非常成功的先進交通管理系統。

熟稔昆士市政壇的Jimmy Hui。(周菊子攝)

           柯奇提及昆士市將推出該市首個自行車共享項目，在市內特地地區增設自行車道。在Fox Rock贊助下，昆士學校系統也將推出新的課餘公開體育館項目，以及新的上癮科學課。

           在講話中，柯奇表示他將要求是億元通過一項名為"將軍橋(General Bridge)"的法案，以表揚昆士市的4名愛國者，加起來共有13顆星的美國空軍將軍Ronald Rand，陸軍將軍及幕僚長Gordon Sullivan，陸軍將軍James McConville，海軍將軍Joseph Dunford。他還會組成一個委員會來設計紀念碑，誌記曾經參戰的昆士子民。

聯邦參議員華倫摩頓市開2018首場城鎮會議

聯邦參議員伊莉莎白華倫(Elizabeth Warren)。(周菊子攝)

(Boston Orange 周菊子摩頓市整理報導) 代表麻州的聯邦參議員伊莉莎白華倫(Elizabeth Warren)1月28日選在麻州學生最多元化的摩頓市，舉辦她的2018年首場城鎮會議，為競選連任開始造勢，但她的談話內容幾乎全部針對川普。會場坐得滿滿的支持者，人數逾千，幾乎讓人覺得她準備競選總統了。

摩頓高中禮堂座無虛席。(周菊子攝)

在十分鐘多的開場講話中，華倫參議員的矛頭對準川普。她感慨指出，有人形容川普上任是美國歷史轉捩點，而川普就職時，在演說中描繪了十分黑暗陰沉，充滿破壞性的美國，但接著的那天，街頭就出現或許是世界上有史以來規模最大的遊行。

她坦言自己特地去參加了就職典禮，因為想要親眼看看川普到底是什麼樣的人。

麻州眾議員Steve Ultrino。(周菊子攝)

她說，回到麻州後，她忍不住深思，要怎麼辦。共和黨控制了參議院，眾議院，白宮，民主黨要怎麼應對。唯一機會是從外施壓，鼓勵人民提高聲音，打造一個對抗隊伍。過去這一年來，川普和共和黨想要拿走3500萬人的可負擔健保(ACA)，破壞投票制度，打擊獨立司法，踐踏法官，攻擊真相(truth)，換言之，一而再，再而三的攻擊民主基礎，以及實施民主的方法。共和黨還通過稅改法案，從大企業那兒放棄了1.5兆的稅收，讓大富翁得到永久性減稅優惠，保羅萊恩(Paul Ryan)卻要全民為這國家收入差額買單，要刪減醫療補助，基礎設施，研究，以及所有促使美國邁向更好未來的公益事項經費。

伊莉莎白華倫還指責川普不但是個說謊者，還在五個半月前打破了美國給出的承諾，讓80萬名年輕人以及他們家庭的生活，頓時天翻地覆，然後要國會去解決這問題。她說，國會一定會想辦法，讓這80萬名年輕人留在美國，這個他們從出生以來唯一熟悉的國家。

麻州參議員Kathrine Clark。(周菊子攝)

她說自己從民眾群起而出的遊行，抗議中感覺到民主的力量，強調美國是所有美國人的美國，包括波多黎各的公民。

她還特別提出，在美國聯邦政府的2018年預算中，要找出一筆錢來，讓擔任公僕的美國公民，不再需要償還學生貸款債務。她說，她特意挑預算這話題來談，因為預算不只是數字，更是人們的生活，信仰，是政府到底為誰工作的表徵。

摩頓市長葛帝生(Gary Christenson)明示伊莉莎白華倫可能
是美國未來總統。(周菊子攝)

伊莉莎白華倫在會場上回應了很多出席者的提問。會後和媒體見面時，她談到最近出現的有爭議事件，認為正在Everett建造耗資24億元賭場的發展商，也是涉及性騷擾，1月27日才辭任共和黨全國財務委員會主席Steve Wynn，應該被審查。賭博局有責任調查在麻州經營賭場者道德上是否適任。

伊莉莎白華倫對於社會經濟對人們家庭的影響之巨，感受極深。當年她還在奧克拉荷馬市(Oklahoma)時，父親得了心臟病，家庭經濟頓陷困境，母親每夜啜泣後，毅然走出家門，去西爾斯(Sears, Roebuck)公司應徵接線生工作，才保住家裡的房子。她也後來才有機會上大學。

            伊莉莎白華倫在摩頓市的這場城鎮會議，由麻州眾議員Steven Ultrino，摩頓市長葛帝生(Gary Christenson)，麻州參議員克拉克(Katherine Clark)等摩頓市民代，公僕開場。

羅祖德(右一)，雖潤恩(後右)，華林功夫太極學校創辦人余翠梅(左)
在會場前座。(周菊子攝)

葛帝生介紹摩頓市公校是全美最多元化的學校系統之一，學生們使用的語言，不下75種之多。他在介紹伊莉莎白華倫時，一句”誰知道，她可能是未來的總統”，在會場引發極其熱烈掌聲。

摩頓市的亞裔名人，華林太極功夫學校創辦人余翠梅，該校師傅蘇瑞恩，地保官羅祖德，在摩頓市經辦華夏文化協會的洪梅，新英格蘭玉山科技協會理事康麗雪等人，都出席了這會議。

多名摩頓市年輕亞裔應邀出席。(周菊子攝)

麻州議會通過法案鼓勵亞裔在BMI 23 時就做檢測

Massachusetts House and Senate Come Together to “Screen at 23”

Joint Resolution Calls on the State’s Public Health System and Providers to Use BMI 23 When Screening Asian Americans for Diabetes

Boston, MA – (January 22, 2018) – Legislators from both the Massachusetts House and Senate have voted on a Joint Resolution to urge the Massachusetts Department of Public Health and other public and private health providers to screen Asian Americans for diabetes at a Body Mass Index (BMI) of 23, which is a lower screening BMI than for the general population.

Joslin’s Asian American Diabetes Initiative (AADI), along with a coalition of other diabetes organizations, led the effort to change screening guidelines for Asian Americans on a national level through the “Screen at 23” campaign. Now states are officially adopting the change as well.

In Massachusetts, screening at 23 BMI would reveal more than 6,000 additional cases of diabetes among Asian Americans and close to 20,000 new cases of prediabetes, allowing treatment, interventions and prevention to begin before damaging associated conditions develop or worsen.

“This is a significant milestone for all of us who have worked over the years in the AADI at Joslin. Screen at 23 is the first of several  important steps to ensure Asian-American populations have proper health care for their diabetes and we are so thankful to the Legislature, the American Diabetes Association (ADA) and all of those who have advocated for the adoption of these screening guidelines,” said Dr. George L. King, Chief Scientific Officer, Joslin Diabetes Center.

Dr. LaShawn McIver, Senior Vice-President of Government Affairs and Advocacy at the American Diabetes Association (ADA) said, “The Legislature’s resolution brings attention to a critical health concern affecting the Asian American community. As more providers and patients become aware of the Screen at 23 guidelines, we are hopeful screening will become more widespread–and preventive steps can then be set in motion for those at risk of developing diabetes.”

"The science shows that when it comes to diabetes, Asian Americans are different; guidelines are now reflecting this reality, and screening practices must change to reflect these guidelines," shared Dr. Ho Luong Tran, President and CEO of the National Council of Asian Pacific Islander Physicians (NCAPIP).

The “Screen at 23” campaign is coordinated by the NCAPIP, Joslin Diabetes Center, and members of the Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Diabetes Coalition.

The Massachusetts resolution was championed by State Representative Tackey Chan (D) and State Senator Jason Lewis (D), and an event will be held on the Grand Staircase at the Massachusetts State House to announce the resolution on Thursday, January 25, 2 p.m.

Visit Joslin’s Asian American Diabetes Initiative to find out more about AADI, and Screen at 23 website for more information on the campaign.

AG HEALEY SECURES MILLIONS IN RELIEF FOR MASSACHUSETTS RESIDENTS FACED WITH UNFAIR FORECLOSURE AND LOAN SERVICING PRACTICES

AG HEALEY SECURES MILLIONS IN RELIEF FOR MASSACHUSETTS RESIDENTS FACED WITH UNFAIR FORECLOSURE AND LOAN SERVICING PRACTICES

BOSTON – Attorney General Maura Healey has secured millions of dollars in relief for hundreds of Massachusetts residents in a settlement with a national mortgage servicer over its failure to help homeowners avoid foreclosure.

Pursuant to an assurance of discontinuance, filed in Suffolk Superior Court, Nationstar Mortgage LLC (d/b/a Mr. Cooper) will provide direct payments and loan modifications to hundreds of homeowners in Massachusetts. The company will also update its practices and be subject to compliance oversight from the AG’s Office.

“In Massachusetts, mortgage servicers are required by law to help prevent unnecessary foreclosures and keep families in their homes,” said AG Healey. “Nationstar failed to stop foreclosures and this settlement gives homeowners in the hardest hit areas in Massachusetts a chance to stay in their homes. It also sends a clear message that we will hold accountable companies that are not following the law.”

The AG’s Office alleges that the company violated the MassachusettsAct to Prevent Unnecessary Foreclosure, known as “35B,” a landmark law passed in 2012 that protects certain borrowers from foreclosure. The law requires creditors to make a good faith effort to avoid foreclosure for borrowers whose mortgage loans have unfair subprime terms.  

Under the terms of the settlement, Nationstar is required to implement a loan modification program that will provide millions in borrower relief in the form of principal reductions, pay $500,000 in restitution to certain foreclosed-upon borrowers, and provide the loan modification review protections required by state law for borrowers who fall into default in the future.

At least 500-600 Massachusetts residents are eligible for loan modification review under the terms of the settlement and more than 100 foreclosed-upon borrowers will be eligible for restitution. Borrowers eligible for restitution will be contacted about how to apply for payments.

Nationstar is the largest non-bank mortgage servicer in the country. The AG’s Office began an investigation into Nationstar after receiving hundreds of complaints from Massachusetts consumers.

According to the AG’s Office, Nationstar allegedly offered unfair and deceptive short-term, interest-only loan modifications to borrowers that did not consider the borrower’s ability to repay the mortgage debt over the life of the modified loan. After one or two years, the monthly payments on those modifications ballooned to an amount higher than on which the borrower originally defaulted. The AG’s Office alleges that this loan modification program set borrowers up to fail and put them at heightened risk of foreclosure.

The AG’s Office also alleges that Nationstar failed to provide a fair opportunity for a modification review. When borrowers filled out and returned the necessary forms, Nationstar failed to log, track, and process those forms as required by the law. Instead, borrowers faced massive delays, repetitive requests for modification paperwork and were often denied loan modifications on the grounds that they had failed to submit proper documentation, which had indeed been submitted.

This case is part of the AG’s Office’s investigation of the mortgage servicing industry and its compliance with the Massachusetts Act to Prevent Unnecessary Foreclosures. The Office is committed to ensuring that all mortgage servicers respect the rights of homeowners under this important law.

The AG’s Office has been a national leader in securing restitution and other relief for borrowers from banks and servicers. The office has obtained recoveries and other relief from Morgan Stanley, Goldman Sachs, Royal Bank of Scotland, Citigroup, JPMorgan Chase, Countrywide, Fremont Investment & Loan, Option One, HSBC, Ditech, PHH and others on behalf of Massachusetts homeowners. 

Consumers with questions or concerns about deceptive or abusive foreclosure and loan servicing practices can call the Attorney General’s consumer hotline at 617-727-8400 or file a complaint with the office.

This matter was handled by Assistant Attorneys General Lisa Dyen and Michael Lecaroz, and Division Chief Max Weinstein, with assistance from Paralegals Gabrielle Crossnoe and Sneha Pandya, all of AG Healey’s Consumer Protection Division.