MAYOR WALSH URGES CAUTION, PREPARATION AHEAD OF ANTICIPATED COASTAL STORM

MAYOR WALSH URGES CAUTION, PREPARATION AHEAD OF ANTICIPATED COASTAL STORM

Coastal flood warning in effect from Friday 9 a.m. until Sunday 3 a.m.

BOSTON - Thursday, March 1, 2018 - Mayor Martin J. Walsh today announced safety and flood protection tips for residents ahead of the anticipated coastal storm and flooding that is expected to begin on Friday. The coastal storm will bring heavy snowfall and sustained winds of 20 to 40 miles per hour (MPH), with gusts up to 65 MPH. Strongest winds will be Friday afternoon and evening. During Friday night, rain may switch to snow, will potential snow accumulation reaching 2-3 inches. "I encourage all residents to be mindful of the storm and encourage employers to take the weather into consideration, which will mostly impact the coastal areas of our city," said Mayor Walsh. "As we saw with the coastal flooding in the Seaport in January, there is a need to proactively plan for our changing climate, which is why we're integrating climate resilience into all aspects of city planning and moving forward, beginning with a Climate Ready project in South Boston." Below are the various watches that are in place for Friday through Saturday: Coastal Flood Warning in effect from Friday 9 p.m. until Sunday 3 a.m. Areal Flood Watch in effect from Friday 7 a.m. until Saturday 7 a.m. High Wind Warning in effect from Friday 10 a.m. until Saturday 10 a.m. All city agencies and services, including Boston Public Schools, will be operating under normal business hours tomorrow. As a precautionary matter, Mayor Walsh shared the general safety tips below, as well as information on what to do both before and after a flood event. General flood protection tips: Sign up for emergency notifications through AlertBoston. Know your zone! Know your evacuation zone and route and be prepared to evacuate if directed by public officials. Similarly, find out how vulnerable your home is to flooding by determining the elevation of your property. If your home is in a flood-prone area, contact the National Flood Insurance program to learn what mitigation measures you can take in advance. Evaluate your insurance coverage once a year to make sure your home is fully covered. Contact your local emergency management agency to learn how to construct proper protective measures around your home. If you live in a flood-prone area, keep these materials on hand: sandbags, plywood, lumber, plastic sheeting, trash bags, shovels, work boots and gloves. Put together a disaster supply kit, including a flashlight, batteries, first aid supplies, copies of critical information, and non-perishable food items. In advance of a flood event: Tie down or bring in outdoor objects (outdoor furniture, trash receptacles, etc.) that could be swept away or damaged during flooding. Secure loose rain gutters and downspouts and clear any clogged areas or debris to prevent water damage. Elevate items stored in your basement to prevent damage. If you have a sump pump, check that it is working. Consider clearing street catch basins to prevent or reduce street flooding. Consider parking your vehicle away from the harbor, streams or rivers, especially during threatening weather conditions. Follow any directives to turn off utilities. If you're advised to switch off the main power source to your home, flip each breaker and THEN turn off the main breaker. You may also need to shut off the main valve for your home's gas and water service. After a flood event: If you are evacuated, return home only when authorities have indicated it is safe. Do not go near any downed power lines, especially if there is standing water nearby. Avoid walking, bicycling or driving through flood waters, and allow for extra travel time. If your home experienced flooding, keep the power off until an electrician has inspected your system for safety. Do not touch a circuit breaker or replace a fuse with wet hands or while standing on a wet surface. Have an electrician inspect electrical appliances that have been wet and do not turn on or plug in appliances unless an electrician tells you it is safe. A trained professional may be able to recondition some devices while others will require replacement. Photograph damage to your property to assist in filing an insurance claim. Take necessary measures to prevent further damage to private property immediately following a flood event, as damage caused after a qualifying event may not be covered by insurance. Check on your neighbors, especially those that are elderly and those with disabilities. The City will continue to monitor the storm throughout its duration. In preparation for the storm, Boston is taking the following proactive steps: Boston Water & Sewer Commission (BWSC) is cleaning out low-lying areas of debris that could clog catch basins and restrict the flow of water through underground systems. Boston Police Department (BPD) is prepared to institute barriers in areas that will be most affected by flooding, and redirect traffic as needed. Public Works Department (PWD) will have loaders available to remove debris. Several city departments, including BWSC, BPD, Fire, EMS and 311 will have extra support available to assist. The Office of Emergency Management (OEM) will activate the City's Emergency Operations Center which will be staffed with City departments to coordinate response operations. The City encourages residents to be aware of the upcoming weather, and understand their risk of flooding by looking at the latest FEMA flood maps: https://msc.fema.gov/portal. The City is currently pursuing a Climate Ready project in South Boston that is analyzing the current and future flood risks to the neighborhood, with the input and feedback from residents, businesses, landowners and developers. Next week the City is hosting a community open house to share conceptual designs of flooding solutions. The event will be held on Tuesday, March 6 from 6:00 - 8:00 p.m. at the Children's Museum. About Climate Ready Boston Climate Ready Boston is the City's initiative to develop resilient solutions to prepare Boston for rising sea levels, extreme heat and increased weather events. Climate Ready Boston is aligned with Imagine Boston 2030, Go Boston 2030, Resilient Boston, and other planning initiatives to ensure that climate adaptation supports the Mayor's goals for economic growth and social equity across the city. Climate Ready Boston is led by the City of Boston in partnership with the Green Ribbon Commission and with support from the Massachusetts Office of Coastal Zone Management and the Barr Foundation. For more information about Climate Ready Boston, visit: https://www.boston.gov/climate-ready.

Governor Baker, HHS Secretary Sudders Meet with Mental Health Community to Highlight Investments in Behavioral Health Services

Governor Baker, HHS Secretary Sudders Meet with Mental Health Community to Highlight Investments in Behavioral Health Services Across Massachusetts FY19 H.2 Budget Proposes $83.8 Million Increase to Department of Mental Health

Governor Baker, Secretary Sudders and members of the mental health community.

For high-resolution, click here.

BOSTON – Today, Governor Charlie Baker and Health and Human Services Secretary Marylou Sudders met with members of the mental health community to discuss the Governor’s Fiscal Year 2019 budget which calls for a significant increase in funding as well as other investments in behavioral health.

“Our administration is pleased to have included a historic investment in our budget to strengthen behavioral health services in the Commonwealth,” said Governor Charlie Baker. “We must continue to confront the stigma that surrounds mental illness and substance abuse disorders and improve access to treatment and recovery.”

The Baker Administration’s FY 19 budget provides significant funding and supports new investments in the Commonwealth’s behavioral healthcare system. Specifically, the budget recommends $83.8 million for the Department of Mental Health to strengthen community based services for adults with mental illness. 

“Mental illness knows no social or economic boundaries,” said Secretary Marylou Sudders. “It is our responsibility to ensure that when we speak about health care, it includes treatment for mental illness, substance misuse, and co-occurring illnesses.”

The Administration’s FY19 budget supports funding for DMH’s overhauled community based service, calledAdult Community Clinical Services (ACCS), which will more effectively meet the needs of approximately 11,000 adults with long-term, serious mental illness. Key features include strong clinical integration and active engagement to meet an individual’s medical and behavioral health care needs, including co-occurring treatment interventions; a comprehensive individual plan of care to meet changing needs, with specific attention to young adults and older adults; a strong focus on achieving self-sufficiency; and  integration with Massachusetts Rehabilitation Commission (MRC) and other employment services.

“DMH has completely changed how it engages and authorizes services for adults.  In addition, we will ensure better continuity for children who transition into adulthood,” said DMH Commissioner Joan Mikula. “As part of implementing these proposed changes, we are working to both make it easier for young adults to access DMH services and for those services to better meet the particular needs of young adults.”

“The Association for Behavioral Healthcare is pleased that the Governor's budget plan makes a significant commitment to community-based mental health services, representing the largest increase in funding for DMH in 20 years,” said Vic DiGravio, President and CEO of the Association for Behavioral Healthcare. “Governor Baker has worked with behavioral health providers to identify gaps in services and address the needs of underfunded programs. At ABH, we look forward to working with the Legislature to ensure that Massachusetts continues to support a network of compassionate, thoughtful community-based services.”

“We are impressed with the significant investment the Baker Administration is proposing to the mental health care system in the Commonwealth,” said Danna Mauch, Ph.D, President & CEO, Mass Association for Mental Health. “The two-pronged result of the reform is to restore essential system infrastructure and reinvigorate evidence based treatment”

One in 5 Americans will experience mental illness in their lifetime. Half of all lifetime mental illness begins by age 14 and three quarters begins by the time an individual is 24. And, addictions, particularly the opioid crisis, often exist in tandem with an underlying mental health condition. 

In addition, the FY 19 budget supports new behavioral health investments and builds upon the investments made over the past three years.  Between FY16-FY22 MassHealth will make $1 billion in new investments in behavioral health, including over $200 million in expanded substance use disorder (SUD) treatment services and more than $400 million for behavioral health community partners as part of the MassHealth program.

The following leaders joined Governor Baker and Secretary Sudders at the meeting: Reva Stein, Executive Director, Massachusetts Clubhouse Coalition; Audrey Shelto, President, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts Foundation; Jackie K. Moore, Ph.D., Chief Executive Officer, North Suffolk Mental Health Association, Inc; Vic DiGravio, President & CEO, Association for Behavioral Healthcare; David Matteodo, Executive Director, Mass. Association of Behavioral Health Systems; Lyndia Downie, Executive Director, Pine Street Inn; Danna Mauch, Ph.D, President  & CEO, Mass Association for Mental Health; Cheri Andes, Executive Director, National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI); Deb Delman, Executive Director, The Transformation Center; Jane Martin,  President NAMI Cambridge/Middlesex; Anne Whitman, Ph.D., Board President, Cole Center, Mental Health Consumer Resource Center; Diane Gould, President & CEO; Advocates; Tom Scurfield, Board President, NAMI MA; Joe Finn, President & Executive Director, Massachusetts Housing & Shelter Alliance; Joan Mikula, Commissioner, Department of Mental Health , Dan Tsai, Assistant Secretary for MassHealth; and Toni Wolf, Commissioner, Massachusetts Rehabilitation Commission.

TREASURER DEBORAH GOLDBERG ANNOUNCES LATEST RELEASE OF UNCLAIMED PROPERTY LISTINGS

TREASURER DEBORAH GOLDBERG ANNOUNCES LATEST RELEASE OF UNCLAIMED PROPERTY LISTINGS

Over 55,000 New Properties are Owed to Individuals and Businesses

BOSTON - Massachusetts State Treasurer Deb Goldberg today announced the latest grouping of names that have been added to the state’s list of unclaimed property owners. Over 55,000 new properties worth millions of dollars are owed to individuals and businesses throughout the Commonwealth.

"Give us a call,” said Treasurer Deb Goldberg. “We currently hold over $2 billion in unclaimed property at Treasury and it could be yours. One in ten Massachusetts residents are owed money.”

Unclaimed property includes forgotten savings and checking accounts, un-cashed checks, insurance policy proceeds, stocks, dividends, and the contents of unattended safe deposit boxes. Most accounts are considered abandoned and are turned over to the state after three years of inactivity. Last year Treasury returned over $108 million in property to its rightful owners.

This newly released list includes only individuals and businesses with unclaimed property over $100. Treasurer Goldberg urged all citizens to check the comprehensive list for all amounts at www.findmassmoney.com or to call our live call center at 888-344-MASS (6277).

The full list of the new individuals and businesses added to the unclaimed property list will be published in the Boston Globe on Sunday, March 4 and in the Boston Herald on Sunday, March 11. In addition to these two papers the list of names will be published in over 30 regional and local papers.

The Treasury releases an updated list of unclaimed property assets every six months as the new accounts are turned over to the Commonwealth. There is no time limit for a person to claim this property and, in many cases, claimants will receive interest

中華頤養院健康耆英早餐會談預防跌倒

“Dan Wood, Director of Rehabilitation at South Cove Manor at Quincy Point (left), speaks to local seniors on “Fall Prevention” at South Cove’s first Healthy Aging Breakfast Seminar, while colleague Eva Zhang translates.  Seminars will be held on the 3rd Tuesday of each month at 9:30am and the series is sponsored by Jumbo Seafood and Lasalle St. Investment Advisors.”

新英格蘭華人專業人士春節聯歡暨社區論壇紀實

波城群英東西融合，點亮藍星共創輝煌
                ---新英格蘭華人專業人士春節聯歡暨社區論壇紀實
                                  By   朱俊立

             戌時火樹銀花夜、狗歲豐衣足食人。轉眼間來到戊戌正月，又是一年一度的新英格蘭地區華人品牌活動——“新英格蘭華人專業人士春節聯歡暨社區論壇”與波城的新老朋友相逢的時分了。本次活動由17個華人專業社團聯合主辦，近千名新英格蘭地區專業人士不畏嚴寒，於2月24日來到牛頓萬豪酒店參與本次盛會。
             在美中醫學交流協會會長孔學君醫生召集下，波士頓地區的臨床醫生們中午之前就陸續到達，聚集在Salon G歡聚一堂召開了別開生面的臨床常見病研討會，從心血管疾病到骨質疏鬆的臨床診治及新藥介紹，還為下午的肝炎肝硬化講座組織討論。醫生們也藉此機會互相交流臨床心得。
            下午一時，以“東西方融合”為主題的2018科技創新與醫學健康論壇準時召開。本次論壇由美中醫學交流協會主席、哈佛醫學院以色列醫院內科醫生，麻省總醫院Martinos 中心Synapse自閉症項目主任孔學君醫師主持，並且有各醫療與創新領域的頂尖專家——哈佛醫學院教授，附屬以色列醫院肝病中心主任Zezam Afdhal精彩講演慢性肝炎及其合併症肝硬化及肝性腦病，深入淺出，深受好評；哈佛醫學院麻省總院疼痛轉化醫學研究中心主任茅建人醫師從中西醫結合角度講述了疼痛治療新進展，聽眾們都感到受益匪淺，State Street的副主席兼高級量化分析師張雲鵬博士，Rethink Robotics公司產品經理潘軼超先生等與大家分享了科技、創新與醫療行業的最新動態。論壇還特別邀請了紐約中國總領事館科技參贊邢繼俊博士為大家解讀時下最熱的話題——“一帶一路”倡議，以及先前捲入FBI歧視執法事件的天普大學郗小星教授和大家分享如何在東西方融合過程中面對種族歧視問題。會議的最後，來自波士頓華人攝影協會的攝影專家陸得禮與來賓分享了協會於去年舉辦的《麻州的一天》攝影項目中的作品，讓大家在欣賞的同時體會“生活中處處皆是美”的主旨。論壇座無虛席，氣氛熱烈。
           隨後，美中醫學交流學會宣傳部長牛江河博士還主持了“有獎猜謎”活動。 120條紅紅的謎語，內容涵蓋了動物、人物、數字、文字、天文、地理等，包羅萬象。有趣的謎語和誘人的獎品吸引得大人與小孩紛紛對著謎語絞著腦汁，解出謎底和獲得獎品時的笑聲也此起彼伏。
            晚上六時許，活動進入了當天的最高潮——春節聯歡晚會。晚會的表演可謂是百花齊放，精彩紛呈：有時尚動感的嘻哈勁舞，有充滿西班牙浪漫氣息的Flamenco，有融油畫、對唱、茶道、古箏為一體的《菊花三弄》，有逗趣的脫口秀節目《幸福哪裡找》……最後活動在聯合主辦方、17位協會主席的配樂詩朗誦《使者的歌》中完美謝幕。觀眾一邊享受各式美食，一邊欣賞精彩的晚會節目，各界精英人士歡聚一堂，其樂融融。
            在傳承往屆“促進新英格蘭地區華人交流”主題的基礎上，本屆“新英格蘭華人專業人士春節聯歡暨社區論壇”的高光點在於強調了慈善、愛心和作為職業人的社會責任，回饋社會。              在紐約中國總領事館科技參贊邢繼俊博士新春致辭及哈佛教授李克強主題講演後，活動共同主席之一的孔學君醫生指出在過去的幾年裡我們一直支持美國癌症協會研究項目，而今年我們要為麻省總院自閉症研究募捐，讓我們的醫學科學家盡快攻克自閉症這一世紀之謎，造福千千萬萬自閉症患兒及他們的家庭。根據CDC統計，自閉症的發病率已經達到了1/68之高, 單美國目前就有超過二百萬的自閉症患者。自閉症已成為嚴重的公共衛生問題，對其的關注刻不容緩。本次活動為了推動對自閉症群體的關懷，呼籲社會各界一同關愛這群來自星星的兒童。
            美國參議員候選人Beth Lindstrom是中國社區的老朋友，在她的新年致辭特別用中文給大家拜年，還分享了自己養育自閉症兒子的經驗之談，她的兒子Cameron患有自閉症，如今是一名研究生，他也應邀上台給大家拜年。晚會特別邀請了波士頓數學天才王睿萌和台灣鋼琴公主劉夢緣兩位自閉症大學生表演者為觀眾獻上了精彩的演唱，王睿萌還把自己的畫帶到台上展示，晚會總指揮楊雨晴女士特別介紹了他們的成長故事，並為星星的孩子作詩，對唱，兩位自閉症兒童的母親——美國參議院議員候選人Beth Lindstrom和美中醫學交流協會會長孔學君醫生也以個人名義向麻省總醫院自閉症研究各自捐出了一千元美金的善款。我們20位小天使盛裝前往50多桌位賣花募捐。或許是被自閉症表演者們的動人歌聲打動，亦或是被小天使們的愛心和真誠所感染，在場的觀眾紛紛在小天使們手中接過玫瑰，為自閉症兒童獻上一份愛心。 “2018新英格蘭華人專業人士春節聯歡暨社區論壇”結束了，但是作為新英格蘭職業人對自閉症兒童的愛心還沒結束。如果您也想呵護這群來自星星的孩子、支持自閉症研究，請掃描下方二維碼，為自閉症兒童們獻上一份愛心。(牛江河提供)

新英格蘭華人專業人士協會新年聯歡(圖片)

右起，孔學君，楊洪芳等各協會代表致詞。(周菊子攝)

應邀出席嘉賓包括麻州企業發展署助理署長范文南(左，Nam Pham)，
麻省理工學院機械工程系系主任陳剛。(周菊子攝)

蔣華(左二)和郝小星(右二)是大學同學。(周菊子攝)

波士頓生物科技界成功人士之一李嘉強(左)和中領館科技參贊
邢繼俊(右)。(周菊子攝)

天普大學物理系主任郝小星(左)和麻省理工學院機械工程系
系主任陳剛。(周菊子攝)

各協會代表合唱，拜年。(周菊子攝)

麻州企業發展署助理署長范文南(Nam Pham)和妻子，麻州難民移民署
署長張瑪麗(Mary Troung)。(周菊子攝)

會末合影。(周菊子攝)

MAYOR WALSH BREAKS GROUND ON REDEVELOPMENT OF BOSTON HOUSING AUTHORITY'S WHITTIER STREET PUBLIC HOUSING DEVELOPMENT

MAYOR WALSH BREAKS GROUND ON REDEVELOPMENT OF BOSTON HOUSING AUTHORITY'S WHITTIER STREET PUBLIC HOUSING DEVELOPMENT

HUD Choice Neighborhood Grant to bring community investment to Lower Roxbury

BOSTON - Tuesday, February 27, 2018 - Mayor Martin J. Walsh today broke ground on phase one of a comprehensive redevelopment of the Whittier Street public housing development in Roxbury that was first built in 1953. The project will rebuild and preserve 200 existing public housing apartments by replacing them on- and off-site with an expanded program of 509 units of mixed-income rental housing and 14,225 square feet of commercial space.    "As we shape Boston's growth, we must make sure our progress benefits everyone, especially long-term residents of the City," said Mayor Walsh. "I'm incredibly proud of the dedication of our partners who have come together to create a brighter future for the residents of Whittier Street and the surrounding neighborhood."   The redevelopment is made possible by a $30 million federal Choice Neighborhoods Initiative grant to the Boston Housing Authority and City of Boston's Department of Neighborhood Development that will leverage an additional $260 million in private and public funds for commercial and residential development and public facilities in the Whittier neighborhood.   Demolition of 68 apartments will start at the back of the Whittier Street property to make way for 168 new apartments, both on-site and off-site. Phase 1A will create 92 mixed-income apartments in three new structures on site that will include a management office, a community room, and outdoor recreational space. Phase 1B will create 76 additional new mixed-income apartments on parcels nearby in Madison Park Village. The new phase one units will be completed by summer 2019. The entire Whittier redevelopment will be completed by 2021.   "This grant helps us to continue our commitment of providing healthy, safe, and accessible affordable housing to the residents that live within the Whittier corridor," said BHA Administrator Bill McGonagle. "Every family in public housing deserves access, opportunity and the chance to strive for excellence. We believe this grant allows for these things to take place." "I've lived in this development since 1964, and it is an honor that we were chosen for redevelopment," said resident, and Task Force President, Stephanie Thomas. "These changes will definitely be an adjustment, but I am looking forward to new beginnings." Residents who need to relocate temporarily may move to other BHA public housing or may opt to accept mobile Housing Choice Vouchers. All original Whittier public housing residents will be offered the opportunity to return to the transformed Whittier community when construction is complete. Madison Melnea Cass Apartments consists of a new 4-story, 16 unit building at 40 Raynor Circle and a new a 5-story, 60 unit building at Melnea Cass Boulevard and Brook Marshall Road, an addition of 53 new mixed income rental homes for low and moderate income families.   "This housing is part of the first phase of an ambitious Whittier Housing Neighborhood Transformation Plan," said Madison Park Development Corporation's Chief Executive Officer Jeanne Pinado. "It will provide new homes for a broad range of low and moderate income families and create a new edge to Melnea Cass Boulevard, making it safer and more pedestrian-friendly." The Whittier Street housing development is part of the larger neighborhood of Roxbury, with an area of roughly one square mile and 2,418 households. Built in 1953, Whittier Street is over 60 years old, and the HUD Choice Neighborhood grant will allow the property to be updated to fit with the current mixed-use neighborhood. HUD created the Choice Neighborhoods Initiative to transform neighborhoods and link housing improvements with appropriate services, schools, public assets, transportation and access to jobs. In 2011, Boston was one of just five cities nationwide to receive one of the first-ever HUD Choice Neighborhoods Initiative Implementation grants.  The Whittier Street grant marks Boston's second Choice Neighborhoods grant. The Whittier Choice partnership is led by the Boston Housing Authority, the City of Boston, the Whittier Street Tenant Task Force, Preservation of Affordable Housing, Madison Park Development Corporation, and Economic Mobility Pathways (EMPath). The grant incorporates strategies for Neighborhood, Housing and People as a way to provide a coordinated transformation for the community in and around the original housing development footprint. The Neighborhood Strategy seeks to break down barriers that isolate residents, to promote physical and social connections, and to link the neighborhood to the regional economy. There is a priority focus on improving public safety and creating safer, livelier streets, including a vibrant pedestrian corridor along Ruggles Street. The Housing Strategy aims to preserve affordability while creating a better balance of housing options in the neighborhood. This plan creates a livable site with outdoor play spaces, a mix of building types to accommodate diverse family needs, and new through-streets to re-integrate the site into the broader neighborhood. The People Strategy addresses a range of priority needs:  income and asset building, health, education and youth development.  At the center, EMPath will provide case management through its intensive Mobility Mentoring™ model. Boston Housing Authority (BHA), in partnership with EMPath and Dudley Street Neighborhood Initiative, the City's Promise Neighborhood grantee, as well as service providers, relocation counselors, property management staff, and resident leaders will connect residents to existing services and newly leveraged programs.

AG’S OFFICE JOINS SCIENTISTS, FISHING FAMILIES, AND ENVIRONMENTAL ADVOCATES IN OPPOSING ATLANTIC DRILLING PLAN

AG’S OFFICE JOINS SCIENTISTS, FISHING FAMILIES, AND ENVIRONMENTAL ADVOCATES IN OPPOSING ATLANTIC DRILLING PLAN

Following Florida Exemption, Delivers Letter Addressed to Secretary Zinke Pledging to Fight Plan to Open up Areas off the Massachusetts Coast to Oil and Gas Drilling

BOSTON — Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey’s Office today joined scientists, environmental advocates, fishing families, and elected officials from across the state in calling on the Trump Administration to end its reckless plan to open up nearly all offshore areas – including the entire Massachusetts coast – to oil and gas drilling.

A rally was held prior to a public meeting in Boston with the federal Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) on the administration’s proposed offshore oil and gas drilling expansion plan. At the rally, AG Healey’s Energy and Environment Bureau Chief Melissa Hoffer highlighted the devastation that the proposal could bring to the state’s $7.3 billion fishing industry – the third largest in the country – and its 1,500 miles of coastline that is marked by destination beaches in areas like Cape Cod, Cape Ann and Plum Island.

“This reckless and arbitrary plan threatens to destroy our multi-billion-dollar fishing and tourism industries and our vibrant marine and coastal ecosystems,” said AG Healey. “We will continue to stand with the thousands of fishing families and businesses up and down the Atlantic coast and here in Massachusetts in fighting to protect our coastline.”

AG Healey’s Office presented BOEM staff today with a letter to U.S. Department of Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke that once again states the office’s strong opposition to the agency’s effort to create a new five-year national offshore oil and gas leasing program that could open up all currently restricted offshore areas to drilling, including Atlantic waters off the Massachusetts coast.

AG Healey first announced her opposition to the plan in an August 2017 letter to BOEM with the support of the Northeast Seafood Coalition and the Massachusetts Lobstermen’s Association.

Earlier this month, AG Healey joined a coalition of 12 attorneys general in sending aletter to Secretary Zinke highlighting their united effort to stop the plan that threatens more than three million jobs across the country. AG Healey’s Office also joined with five other attorneys general in sending a letter to the Department in late January raising strong concerns with its plan to roll back regulations designed to reduce environmental and safety risks associated with offshore drilling following the 2010 Deepwater Horizon explosion and oil spill.

More than 41,000 businesses and 500,000 commercial fishing families along the Atlantic coast oppose offshore oil and gas drilling because of the harm it poses to the coastal ecosystems and economies.

Opening up any currently restricted offshore areas in the Atlantic to drilling will also harm the state’s protected endangered species, including the North Atlantic Right Whale, which feeds in the waters off of Cape Cod and Nantucket, according to the AG’s Office. There are fewer than 450 of these critically endangered whales remaining in existence.

AG Healey has also called attention to the massive and long-lasting economic harm the Deepwater Horizon oil spill caused to Gulf Coast state economies, arguing that it illustrates how an oil spill off the Massachusetts coast will devastate the state’s ocean economy.

The plan will also increase harmful greenhouse gas emissions at a time when Massachusetts’ coastal communities are already investing significant resources to adapt to rising tides and storm surges—running directly counter to state policies that have made Massachusetts a national leader in addressing climate change.

            Opponents of the Trump Administration’s plan have also raised concerns with the public review and comment process surrounding the Department of Interior’s proposal. Less than a week after its release and outside of the decision-making process required by federal law, Secretary Zinke announced on Twitter that he was “taking Florida off the table for offshore oil and gas.” AG Healey’s Office and the coalition of attorneys general opposing the proposal argue that the Florida exemption is arbitrary and inexplicable and shows utter disregard for other states and the opposing views of thousands of local businesses, families and stakeholder groups along the Atlantic coast.