星期六, 2月 23, 2019

MAYOR WALSH RELEASES 2019 ANNUAL CENSUS, INCLUDING STUDY ON CHILDCARE

MAYOR WALSH RELEASES 2019 ANNUAL CENSUS,
INCLUDING STUDY ON CHILDCARE
2019 Boston census aims to count all Boston residents; ensure City services reach all
BOSTON - Saturday, February 23, 2019 - Mayor Martin J. Walsh and the City of Boston Election Department today launched the City of Boston's Annual Resident Census to record individuals age 17 and older who live in the City, with mailers going out to households across Boston. The City of Boston's census helps Boston distribute resources evenly, helps voters keep an active voter status, allows residents to have access to a fair jury, and maintain an accurate voter list.

"Boston's annual census is an important to tool to make sure we are reaching everyone across our city, and ensuring we continue to provide the resources our residents need," said Mayor Walsh. "I encourage all residents to participate -- and I encourage residents to consider taking part in our survey on childcare needs, language preference and disability status as we learn more about what our residents need, and how city programs can work for them."

Included in this year's census mailing is an optional survey related to childcare, language, and disability. This optional survey is a collaboration between the Mayor's Civic Engagement Cabinet and the Mayor's Office of Women's Advancement, and aims to better understand how individuals and households across Boston neighborhoods relate to language and disability access and the best ways to support parents and young children. Responses to the survey will be anonymous and unconnected to any identifying information. This optional survey asks individuals about their primary language used at home, English proficiency, disability status, and possible barriers that parents/guardians face in accessing affordable quality childcare.

"Access to affordable quality childcare is tremendously important for Boston's working parents, especially women," said Tania Del Rio, Executive Director of the Mayor's Office of Women's Advancement. "Boston will be the first city in the country to document local childcare needs and preferences through the census. As a result, the City will identify and learn how we can best address the most critical challenges for families as part of a strategy that also intends to support early educators, without whom our economy would not function."

There are 4 ways for residents to respond if they live in the City of Boston:
  1. Complete and Return the form mailed to your residence from the Election Department
  2. Respond Online at Boston.gov/Annual-Census
  3. Call the Election Department 617-635-VOTE(8683)
  4. In Person (9am-4:30pm) at: Room 241 City Hall, 1 City Hall Square, Boston, MA 02201

New residents in the City are also able to  register to vote, with more information atBoston.gov/elections. Those who have moved within the City of Boston are encouraged to  update their voter registration in addition to responding to the Annual Resident Census.

For more information, contact the Boston Election Department online atBoston.gov/elections.

波士頓華埠鳳凰髮廊遭逼遷案 暫時和解

陳炎熾(左)感謝華人前進會及社區的支持。
(華人前進會提供)

             (Boston Orange整理報導)波士頓華埠泰勒街(Tyler)鳳凰髮廊遭逼遷案,由於聆訊前夕,髮廊經營者和業主達成協議,請法官寬容30天,以商量解決問題辦法,暫時告一段落。
              華人前進會主任陳玉珍表示,該會和華埠穩定運動(Chinatown Stabilization Campaign)成員感謝所有支持鳳凰髮廊經營者陳炎熾做法律辯護的人。他們也感謝波士頓市長馬丁華殊,住宅局局長席拉狄倫(Sheila Dillon),波士頓市議員愛德華費林(Ed Flynn),以及許多盟友組織的支持。
華人前進會發動民住舉牌示威,支持鳳凰髮廊。
(華人前進會提供)
              陳炎熾在泰勒街106號,這四層高排屋的地面一樓經營髮廊,以廉宜收費為工薪顧客服務。他那長達10年的租約,現正處於第7年。2017年時,住在衛斯頓(Weston)季海英(譯音,Haiying Ji)和朱新生(譯音,Xinsheng Zhu)以遠高於市場的價格,買下樓宇,成為新業主,並以短期出租方式經營。
鳳凰髮廊爭取留在原地繼續經營。(華人前進會提供)
              201812月,陳炎熾收到逼遷通知,要求他馬上搬走,並付清剩下三年租期的租金68,312元。儘管房東宣稱陳炎熾未能依照要求,拿出保險證明,但陳炎熾一直買有保險。起初因語言障礙,陳炎熾提供的證件不對,但是很快就拿出了正確文件,但房東還是把他告上法庭。現在房東同意,如果陳炎熾照需要繼續買保險,並提供保險證明,就撤訴。
              華人前進會呼籲各界持續關注這宗逼遷案的協議進展,也希望各界支持保護華埠排屋可負擔性,穩定社區等行動。

愛國者隊東主Kraft捲入人口走私賣淫案


(Boston Orange整理報導)大波士頓人,足球迷222日都大感震驚,新英格蘭愛國者隊東主羅伯卡夫特(Robert Kraft)竟然涉嫌嫖妓,捲入人口走私案,可能面對入獄一年,罰款,或做社區服務的懲罰。
事件源起於佛羅里達州警察為調查西棕梠灘一帶,馬丁郡及橘郡,涉及好幾個水療店的人口走私及賣淫案,監視邱比特(Jupiter)市的亞洲日蘭花水療店(Orchids of Asia Day Spa)已好幾個月,本週稍早才逮捕了兩名女子,40歲的王雷(譯音,Lei Wang)59歲的張華(Hua Zhang),罪名是經營妓院,提供賣淫等。
警察為了調查,在目標店鋪中秘密安裝錄像頭,記錄男子和女員工之間的互動。
邱比特警察長Daniel Kerr222日早上的記者會中表示,他們和所有其他人一樣震驚。警方在118日和22日之間,錄到2次羅伯卡夫特嫖妓。
因亞洲日蘭花水療店將面對控罪的,約有25人,羅伯卡夫特還不是其中名氣最大的人。整個人口走私調查,將有約200人被控告。彭博新聞指其中包括華森市的私人產權公司J. W. Child的創辦人John Childs
根據警方說法,該店的服務費為每小時59元至79元。
            足球聯盟並未就此消息立即回應外界詢問,但聯盟一項有球員,東主,教練,以及其他職員會因行為影響了足球聯盟公信力時,會受懲罰的政策。
            現年77歲的羅伯卡夫特,擁有愛國者隊已25年,期間贏得6次超級杯冠軍,最近一次是上個月在亞特蘭大。羅伯卡夫特還是卡夫特集團執行長,麾下擁有足球大聯盟新英格蘭革命隊,國際森林產品。
            羅伯卡夫特的涉案,不論是否罪證確鑿,他的形象都將受到極大影響。他原本預定6月要到以色列,從總理本雅明內塔尼亞胡(Benjamin Netanyahu)那兒領取以色列的最高榮譽"創世紀獎
            他有四個兒子。妻子Myra2011年辭世。從2012年起,他一直和39歲的女演員Ricki Noel在一起。

波士頓紀念 228 同鄉會放映2/23"悲情城市"

[波士頓台灣同鄉會特別活動-
紀念 228 電影播放與專題座談]

228 特別活動- 播放經典電影 「悲情城市」與專題座談

[波士頓台灣同鄉會特別活動- 紀念 228 電影播放與專題座談]

可曾想像你今天在臉書上寫了幾句感言. 或是參與了某個娛樂活動照片上有你,然後就被警察帶走審判甚至是與家人永隔?可曾想像你很高興買了機票想回台灣,卻發現護照被註銷被列為黑名單,至此數十年無法回台灣?

二次世界大戰後國民黨政府接手日本統治下的台灣,實行高壓統治並鎮壓搜捕異議人士,造成數以千計的家庭流離失所,也就是我們俗稱的 228 事件。雖說已過了 70 年,許多的痛仍舊難以撫平,我們除了要紀念 228 . 莫忘歷史外,並以電影及專題講座的方式帶大家了解在那個時代到底發生了什麼事。

[悲情城市] 是侯孝賢的一部經典電影,由梁朝偉. 陳松勇. 李天祿等人主演,在那個還是戒嚴時代挑戰當時尚未完全民主化的台灣社會的禁忌話題,並成為首部在世界級三大影展內榮獲首獎的台灣電影。電影藉由一個家庭的故事反映出時代變遷及政權輪替過程中,所造成不可抹滅的衝突,並探討台灣人的處境及身份認同的問題。

光看電影卻沒有相關人士為我們剖析與呈現當初真實的時代背景是不夠的,我們很榮幸邀請到 Tufts 大學杜武亮教授來帶著大家剖析並分享當時的時空背景與故事,杜教授是杜聰明的孫子,也是 228 受難者的家屬。

[Free Event]
Date: 02/23/2019 (Saturday)
Venue: Harvard University, Boylston Hall 110-Fong Auditorium
Time: 1-5 pm

Agenda (section 1: movie; section 2: talk/QA):
12:45 - 1:00 check-in
1:00 - 3:40 Movie
3:40 - 4:00 Coffee Break
4:00 - 4:20 Short presentation by Prof. Tu.
4:20 - 5:00 Discussion and Q/A.

如果有興趣參加的麻煩填一下問卷以便我們準備中間休息的點心數量。
https://goo.gl/forms/ya2BSF1KWm0XM9Jk2


我們特別感謝候孝賢電影公司免費讓我們播放此電影,也非常感謝哈佛同學會及 MIT 同學會在場地上的協助。

星期五, 2月 22, 2019

新英格蘭台灣商會請魏則楷談2019報稅注意事項

右起,張耀熙, 林才民(後),張秀梅,宋玉珍,會計師魏則楷,賴怡音,李苡惠,胡美惠,許炳煌(左一)等人會後合影。(周菊子攝)
                        


(Boston Orange 周菊子牛頓市報導)2019年報稅,得注意稅法變動。會計師魏楷則應新英格蘭台灣商會和青商會之邀, 216日在僑教中心說明,普遍來說稅率降低了,標準扣減額加倍,但不是每個人的繳稅額都會減少。
會計師魏則楷。(周菊子攝)
          魏則楷也強調,麻州稅法和聯邦稅法雖然相似,並不一樣,申報時需留心。
           在大波士頓已執業廿多年的魏楷則,這天在台商會會長李苡惠安排的講座中,發給出席者多達14頁的減稅及就業法簡報,一一解說,並回答問題。來自新英格蘭台灣商會、青商會,紐英崙客家鄉親會,以及社區各界的聽眾,不下五,六十人。
             魏則楷指出,這次的稅改是1986年以來,變動最大的稅法改革,絕大部分納稅人都會受影響,不過大部分改變都是臨時性的,到2025年就失效,此外政府還在不斷做技術性修正。
年輕的出席者提問。(周菊子攝)
             對個別報稅人來說,這次稅改的主要內容有稅率變動,兒童稅修訂,廢除奧巴馬醫保個別規定(Individual mandate),最低替代稅(AMT)的改變,各項扣減額改變,房地產及禮物稅,擴大應用529帳戶,災難性損失等。
           以個人所得稅率的改變來說,2018年收入在9,525元以下者,稅率仍為10%,年收入在38,700元以下者,其收入總額中的9,525元,只需繳稅10%38,700元減9,525元部分,則需繳稅12%。和2017年度稅率相比,減少了3%
            各收入段的減稅幅度在0%4%之間,年收入在82,500157,500元之間的單身或已婚人士,減幅最高,4%
報稅講座出席踴躍。(周菊子攝)
            但年收入在400,000元到417,000元之間,聯合報稅的已婚夫婦,以及年收入在200,000元到417,000元之間的單身人士,反而要多繳稅,多繳額可高至2%
            繳稅時的標準扣減額提高了。  單身人士從6,350元提高到12,000元,已婚聯合報稅人士從12,700元提高到24,000元。魏楷則指出,在這情況下,絕大部分人士將寧可採用標準扣減額,不會再選擇在新稅法中限制最高申報10,000元的分項扣減(Itemized deduction)
             來自逝者的房地產及禮物,可豁免繳稅額度也提高一倍,單身達1120萬元,已婚夫婦2240萬元。年度禮物免稅額也提高到15,000元。
             符合資格的災民,可以從退休計畫中提領最高10萬元,豁免10%的提早領取稅。
             在問答環節中,不少人問到在外國有存款,房產,該怎麼辦的問題,狀況包括父母或祖父母為子女,孫子女在外國開立了帳戶,沒告訴子女,他們不知道,當然沒申報,該怎麼辦等。魏楷則指出,有些狀況最好諮詢律師,例如在場的胡美惠,會能更妥善回答。(圖片已於19日發表)
胡美惠律師回答問題。(周菊子攝)

Statement of Suffolk County District Attorney Rachael Rollins On the Feb. 22, 2019, Fatal Police-Involved Shooting on Gerard Street in Roxbury

Statement of Suffolk County District Attorney Rachael Rollins
On the Feb. 22, 2019, Fatal Police-Involved Shooting on Gerard Street in Roxbury

BOSTON, Feb. 22, 2019—Suffolk County District Attorney Rachael Rollins today made the following statement to the community on this morning’s fatal shooting involving a Boston Police officer:

“Any loss of life is tragic and this morning’s events on Gerard Street are no exception.  I want to express my relief that the injured officer is expected to survive.  I hope for his full recovery, and my thoughts are with his family at home and his brothers and sisters in law enforcement.  I also want to express my deep sadness and sympathies for the family and loved ones of the man whose life was lost.  They, too, are undoubtedly in shock at circumstances beyond their control.
“I want to assure the people of Boston and Suffolk County that I will be conducting an independent investigation into this incident and it will be full, fair, thorough, and impartial.  If anyone in the community has information on this incident they haven’t yet disclosed, they can feel safe bringing it to my attention.
“In these early stages, I have assigned First Assistant District Attorney Daniel Mulhern to handle this investigation and report directly to me.  As my direct representative, ADA Mulhern responded to the scene last night and has updated me regularly throughout the early morning hours, as has Commissioner Gross.  I spoke with the Commissioner immediately after the shooting and we have communicated several times since then.
“By statute, this investigation and all decisions stemming from it rest exclusively with me, the District Attorney, independent of any other agency or individual.  I pledge to base any decision I make exclusively on the facts, the evidence, and the law, and again I offer my prayers and condolences to both families impacted by this shooting.” 

U.S. ATTORNEY’S OFFICE COLLECTS MORE THAN $5 BILLION IN FISCAL YEAR 2018

U.S. ATTORNEY’S OFFICE COLLECTS
MORE THAN $5 BILLION IN FISCAL YEAR 2018
Massachusetts collections account for more than one third of the nation’s total recoveries

BOSTON - U.S. Attorney Andrew E. Lelling announced today that the District of Massachusetts collected more than $5.213 billion in criminal and civil actions in Fiscal Year 2018. Of this amount, more than $4.9 billion was collected by the District alone - $25,028,095 in criminal actions, and $4,906,284,211 in civil actions

The District of Massachusetts also worked with other U.S. Attorney’s Offices and components of the Department of Justice to collect an additional $282,208,233 in cases pursued jointly. As a whole, the Justice Department collected nearly $15 billion in civil and criminal actions in the fiscal year ending Sept. 30, 2018. The $14,839,821,650 in collections in FY 2018 represents nearly seven times the appropriated $2.13 billion budget for the 94 U.S. Attorneys’ Offices.

In addition to these civil and criminal collections, the District of Massachusetts was also responsible for the forfeiture of $20,788,659 in criminal proceeds, or other property involved in crimes, in Fiscal Year 2018.

“I’m proud of the work the prosecutors in my office have done to secure more than $5 billion in civil and criminal collections, and asset forfeitures, in 2018 alone,” said U.S. Attorney Andrew E. Lelling. “The District of Massachusetts has long been a leader in financial recoveries in the areas of health care fraud, securities fraud and civil settlements, and we will continue to aggressively pursue collections that return money to victims of crime and U.S. taxpayers, and that deprive criminals of their ill-gotten gains.”

“The men and women of the U.S. Attorneys’ offices across the country work diligently, day in and day out, to see that the citizens of our nation receive justice. The money that we are able to recover for victims and this country as a whole is a direct result of their hard work,” Director James A. Crowell, IV, Executive Office for U.S. Attorneys.

In August 2018, the District of Massachusetts announced a $4.9 billion settlement with the Royal Bank of Scotland Group, which was the largest penalty ever imposed on a single entity by the Justice Department for financial crisis-era misconduct.

               U.S. Attorneys’ Offices, along with the Department’s litigating divisions, are responsible for enforcing and collecting civil and criminal debts owed to the U.S. and criminal debts owed to federal crime victims. The law requires defendants to pay restitution to victims of certain federal crimes who have suffered a physical injury or financial loss. While restitution is paid to the victim, criminal fines and felony assessments are paid to the Department’s Crime Victims Fund, which distributes the funds collected to federal and state victim compensation and victim assistance programs.

                The largest civil collections were from affirmative civil enforcement cases, in which the United States recovered government money lost to fraud or other misconduct or collected fines imposed on individuals and/or corporations for violations of federal health, safety, civil rights or environmental laws, or fines for other fraudulent conduct.  In addition, civil debts were collected on behalf of several federal agencies, including the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, the Department of Health and Human Services, the Internal Revenue Service, the Small Business Administration and the Department of Education.

MAYOR WALSH ANNOUNCES TRADE MISSION TO BOSTON'S SISTER CITY PRAIA, CABO VERDE

MAYOR WALSH ANNOUNCES TRADE MISSION TO BOSTON'S SISTER CITY PRAIA, CABO VERDE
BOSTON - Friday, February 22, 2019 - Mayor Martin J. Walsh today announced he will lead a coalition comprised of City of Boston and Commonwealth of Massachusetts officials, and business and nonprofit leaders, and community stakeholders on a Boston-Cabo Verde Trade Mission to strengthen the City's partnership and sister-city agreement with Cabo Verde. The delegation will focus on ways to expand economic opportunities between Boston and Cabo Verde, while reinforcing the fundamental goals set in the sister-city agreement signed in 2015 between the City of Boston and City of Praia, the capital city of Cabo Verde, that calls for collaboration on education, health, arts and culture, business and trade, and public safety.

"This mission to Cabo Verde offers us an incredible opportunity to strengthen ties with the country where many Bostonians have their family roots, while showcasing the best of all Boston has to offer and unlocking new doors of opportunity," said Mayor Walsh. "It's important that as we continue to grow as a city, we look beyond our borders as part of our strategy for creating and sustaining equitable economic growth in the City of Boston."

From February 22 to February 28, 2019, the trade mission delegation will make stops on the islands of Fogo, Brava and Santiago, where Mayor Walsh and delegation participants will visit local schools, the main hospital, speak with various business organizations, and meet with top business and government leaders. These visits and meetings will focus on fostering economic and cultural development, expanding commercial and business activities, boosting the number of small and mid-sized enterprises, growing trade and jobs, improving health outcomes, and increasing educational opportunities.

"As the proud son of Cape Verdean immigrants and Boston's Cape Verdean community, I know first hand that having a strong working partnership with the City of Praia and Cabo Verde is beneficial to both of our Cities' residents, culture, economy, and quality of life," said John F. Barros, Chief of Economic Development. "Through our Sister City program we have exchanged best practices, fostered business relationships, and shared cultural experiences with cities around the world that help to strengthen Boston's diversity and economy."  

A portion of the trip will also include a learning journey organized by the Hyams Foundation and in consultation with Aminah Pilgrim, Professor of Africana Studies at the University of Massachusetts Boston. On Monday, February 25, delegation members will travel to Cidade Velha, Historic Centre of Ribeira Grande and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, which was the first European colonial town to be built in the tropics, a center in the routes for international maritime trade, included in the routes between Africa and the Cape, Brazil and the Caribbean, and a strategic location for the Atlantic trade of enslaved persons of modern times.

"I am grateful to Mayor Walsh for this collaboration and learning opportunity. Boston has a rich and diverse community, and exploring our cultural ties in Africa and Cabo Verde will help us inform and continue the progress made through our race dialogues in order to ensure a more inclusive City," said Hyams Foundation Executive Director Dr. Jocelyn V. Sargent.

Greater Boston is proud to be the home of over 40,000 Cape Verdean residents. According to the American Community Survey from 2014, one of every five Cape Verdeans in the United States lives in Boston. Overall, Cape Verdeans in Boston constitute 4.4 percent of the city's total foreign-born residents, and Cape Verdean Creole is in the top five languages other than English spoken in Boston.

Recognizing the significance of this population in Boston, the City of Boston signed a Sister City Agreement with Praia, Cabo Verde in 2015 to foster economic, social and cultural exchange between these two cities. One of the goals of the Sister City Agreement is to develop strategies to expand commercial activities between Praia, Cabo Verde and Boston with an aim to increase the number of small and mid-sized enterprises, grow the volume of imports and exports, and create jobs to boost the economies in the City of Praia and the City of Boston.

Key delegation participants include:
  • Mayor Martin J. Walsh
  • John Barros, Chief of Economic Development, City of Boston
  • Danielson Tavares, Chief of Diversity, City of Boston
  • Joe Finn, Commissioner, Boston Fire Department
  • Alvaro Lima, Director of Research, Boston Planning & Development Agency
  • State Senator Vinny DeMacedo, Commonwealth of Massachusetts
  • State Representative Liz Miranda, Commonwealth of Massachusetts
  • Nam Pham, Assistant Secretary of Business Development and International Trade, Commonwealth of Massachusetts
  • Representatives from Berklee College of Music
  • Jocelyn Sargent, Hyams Foundation
  • John Cruz, Cruz Construction
  • Dr. Jean-Jacques Alves, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center