Shannon Liss-Riordan Calling for Spending Cap in Senate Primary

Statement from Shannon Liss-Riordan Calling for Spending Cap in Senate Primary

BOSTON, November 25, 2019-  "Too often, elections are decided by who can spend the most money.  That is why I am proposing a spending cap in this race. Voters deserve a race run on the issues, not one where the candidate who raises the most money from lobbyists and special interests is able to walk away with a U.S. Senate seat.  

Further, I have heard the argument from many in the political establishment that this race will take away resources from campaigns in other states where Democrats have the opportunity to flip a seat.  While I don't necessarily subscribe to that thinking, my proposal is a solution to that concern. Let's set the spending limit at $6 million dollars, a number that both Senator Markey and Congressman Kennedy are very close to having in the bank - if they don't already.  This would mean they would not need to continue to aggressively court wealthy donors, who can then direct their resources to Maine, New Hampshire and elsewhere.  

Senator Markey and Congressman Kennedy, I'm asking you to join me in setting an example for the rest of the nation.  We can talk about money in politics, or we can actually do something about it. Let's do something about it."

MAYOR WALSH AWARDS $4.7 MILLION TO CREATE 157 HOUSING OPPORTUNITIES FOR HOMELESS YOUTH AND YOUNG ADULTS IN BOSTON AS FIRST ACTION ITEM SUPPORTING NEWLY-RELEASED PLAN

MAYOR WALSH AWARDS $4.7 MILLION TO CREATE 157 HOUSING OPPORTUNITIES FOR HOMELESS YOUTH AND YOUNG ADULTS IN BOSTON AS FIRST ACTION ITEM SUPPORTING NEWLY-RELEASED PLAN BOSTON - Thursday, November 21, 2019 - Building on his commitment to ending homelessness in Boston, Mayor Martin J. Walsh today joined members of the City's Youth Action Board, the United Way of Massachusetts Bay and Merrimack Valley and community partners at Bridge Over Troubled Waters to release a new action plan, Rising to the Challenge, to prevent and end youth and young adult homelessness in Boston. The plan is the collective result of input from the Youth Action Board, the City's advisory group of youth and young adults, who have experienced homelessness or housing instability, together with 240 community members representing more than 110 public and private organizations across Boston. As an immediate action item towards implementing the plan, Mayor Walsh awarded $4.7 million in grant funds to create 157 new housing opportunities dedicated to serving homeless youth and young adults.  "In Boston, it's imperative that we make sure that every young person has a safe stable place to call home," said Mayor Walsh. "I am proud that together we are Rising to the Challenge by putting forth a plan that will guide us as we take critical next steps towards ending youth and young adult homelessness in Boston. I want to thank the Youth Action Board members and all of the partners for contributing to the creation of this plan, and I look forward to our important work ahead." The new Rising to the Challenge plan focuses on gathering data on homeless youth, understanding the current system's capacity, identifying unmet needs of youth and young adults, and designing a plan to address gaps in the emergency assistance system. Youth and young adults are defined as a person age 24 years and younger. In some cases, youth and young adults may be under the care and custody of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.  To prevent and end youth homelessness, the plan prioritizes ensuring that every youth individual at-risk of or experiencing homelessness is identified and immediately linked to the resources that will address their needs; and offering safe and stable housing that supports their needs; focusing on each individual's health and well-being; providing resources to meet their educational and employment goals; and making permanent connections so that each individual is able to build a support network that improves their ability to thrive, while providing a social safety net to prevent future homelessness.  To achieve these goals, the plan will implement four key strategies to make homelessness among youth and young adults rare, brief, and non-repeating. Strategies include: Develop a collaborative system that reorganizes the way that the City and various agencies work together and make decisions, with the goal of forming a clear, comprehensive and youth-specific system to end youth and young adult homelessness. Using national and local best practices, Boston has transformed its homelessness services into a coordinated and integrated system based on Housing First principles. Building on this success, the City and its partners are now turning their focus to tackling the prevalence of homelessness among unaccompanied youth and young adults.   Improve early identification and outreach to connect with youth who are at-risk of becoming homeless, or who are currently homeless. Current gaps in identification create a challenge in connecting individuals with housing and other needed services, such as employment, education, recovery and more.   Increase access to and effectiveness of existing resources by streamlining cross sector referrals and strengthening training for youth-serving agencies and homelessness services providers to better serve youth and young adults experiencing homelessness.   Invest in new housing and services resources in order to house all ages 18-24 unaccompanied youth who are experiencing homelessness. The report shows that within the next three years, the City will need to add 285 new housing opportunities dedicated to this population.  The $4.7 million grant awarded by the U.S. Office of Housing and Urban Development will support the creation of 157 housing opportunities provided through Boston's non-profit partners that will meet the needs of the youth and young adults experiencing homelessness by offering services tailored to each individuals needs. "We are excited to be a part of this effort with the Youth Action Board and the City of Boston, which will create 157 new units of housing for homeless youth with this much-needed funding," said The Executive Director of Bridge Over Troubled Waters Elizabeth Jackson. "With a roof over their heads, youth will be able to work on getting jobs, furthering their education, and creating the stability they need to move forward on their path to a self-sufficient future."   As Boston continues to look for ways to address its housing needs, the City has identified an opportunity to utilize funds generated through Boston's Room Occupancy Local Excise Tax to enhance housing and homelessness efforts. Of the $5 million that will be generated, $1 million of that revenue will be used to provide supportive services for youth, including professional development opportunities and permanent connections, building on the City's action plan to support young Bostonians experiencing homelessness.  In addition, immediate steps laid out in the plan include making existing emergency shelter and housing programs more accessible, supportive, and effective for youth and young adults, as well as training nonprofits in the areas of housing, workforce development, and education on youth-centered care approaches, such as trauma informed care and  positive youth development. To oversee the implementation of this plan, the City is bringing on two new positions, a Housing Officer for the Initiative to End Youth and Young Adult Homelessness at the Department of Neighborhood Development and Youth, and Young Adult Homelessness Director at the Health and Human Services Cabinet. These two City positions, in partnership with a third position at United Way of Massachusetts Bay and Merrimack Valley, will convene community partners, drive the alignment of programs addressing the housing, supportive services, education, and employment needs of young people, and monitor performance.  "This plan understands that the streets are not safe for young people at night. It means a lot to us know that we are a priority, and that the City of Boston is making a long-term commitment to build a better future for us and our peers. It makes us feel hopeful, and we know that lives will be saved," according to a statement from the Boston Youth Action Board. Boston's 2019 annual homeless census shows that on a given night, 325 youth and young adults are either sleeping in Boston's shelters or on the street. The City's data also shows that the average stay for young adults in Boston's shelters is approximately two months. The City's focus on ending homelessness among youth and young adults is part of our comprehensive approach to ending all homelessness in Boston through Boston's Way Home. Through the efforts of Boston's Way Home, Mayor Walsh's initiative to end veteran and chronic homelessness, Boston has made significant progress in preventing and ending homelessness among single adults, including ending chronic veteran homelessness. Through this initiative, over 880 chronically individuals have been housed, representing more than 5,400 cumulative years of homelessness ended. As a result, chronic homelessness has been reduced by 19 percent during a time that there have been increases in chronic homelessness nationally. Furthermore, the City's partners housed over 1,170 homeless Veterans and reduced homelessness among Veterans by 36 percent. "We all have an obligation to do more to help young people in our region who are homeless and isolated from their families," said Michael K. Durkin, President and Chief Executive Officer at United Way of Massachusetts Bay and Merrimack Valley. "By bringing the right people and partners together, we can do this in Boston. Mayor Walsh and his administration have worked with young people who have experienced homelessness, as well as nonprofit and business leaders, to develop a comprehensive plan to help young people thrive. United Way looks forward to rising to the challenge to ensure all youth and young adults at risk of, or experiencing homelessness, are on a path toward stability and economic mobility."   "We have long supported local organizations that are doing the hard work to address the issue of youth homelessness," said Liberty Mutual Foundation President Melissa MacDonnell. "Our goal is to help give young people at risk a sense of stability and support, because we know they are full of potential, passion and purpose. We are honored to have been a part of the City's plan to help prevent and end youth homelessness, and thank Mayor Walsh for his leadership on this hidden epidemic. And, we are looking forward to announcing even more support in the new year." For more information on the City's efforts to assist youth and young adults experiencing homelessness, please visit boston.gov/youth-homelessness.

羅德島州推"國際經濟大使"計畫 葉超、吳子平獲聘為首任大使

羅德島州推出"國際經濟大使"計畫，葉超(左10)，吳子平(左8)獲聘為首任大使。(波士頓經文處提供)

(Boston Orange) 羅德島州副州長麥基(Daniel McKee)於11月19日召開記者會，宣佈推出「國際經濟大使計畫」，並在近百名出席嘉賓見證中，即席頒發首任國際經濟大使聘書給羅德島華人協會主席葉超，會長吳子平。

駐波士頓經文處處長徐佑典應邀致詞。(波士頓經文處提供)

麥基今年初才應邀訪台，並在羅德島華人協會主席葉超，會長吳子平引介，駐波士頓台北經濟文化辦事處處長徐佑典協助下，爭取到中華民國政府及民間企業捐贈6艘龍舟。

他在致詞時表示，這次出訪，他深刻感受到，在地居民本身的國際關係，可以更有效的幫助羅德島州打開國際市場，引進海外投資，創造商機，推動經濟發展，於是特地設計這一計畫，希望鼓勵更多有國際關係的羅德島州不同族裔居民，攜手合作，把羅德島州帶到世界各個角落。

"活力台灣號"龍舟。(波士頓經文處提供)

駐波士頓經文處處長徐佑典做為「國際經濟大使計畫」成功案例的關係方，當天應邀致詞。他呼應麥基的說法，強調民間草根力量在對外連結上的重要，也不忘重申台灣和羅德島州已是堅實夥伴，將繼續加強合作。

羅德島州州政府當天特地在州議會大廈廣場前，展示中華民國外交部捐贈的「活力台灣號」龍舟，藉以佐證「國際經濟大使計畫」可發揮的力量。近百名各國駐新英格蘭總領館、商會、社團、組織等的出席代表，紛紛被吸引得駐足留影。

MAYOR WALSH TO HOST ‘WE ARE BOSTON 2019: UNITED WE THRIVE,’ HIGHLIGHT CONTRIBUTIONS OF IMMIGRANTS AND REFUGEES

MAYOR WALSH TO HOST ‘WE ARE BOSTON 2019: UNITED WE THRIVE,’ HIGHLIGHT CONTRIBUTIONS OF IMMIGRANTS AND REFUGEES

Event will highlight accomplishments and vision for supporting the City’s immigrants

BOSTON –  Thursday, November 21, 2019 – Tomorrow, Mayor Martin J. Walsh and the Office for Immigrant Advancement (MOIA) will host “We Are Boston: United We Thrive” at Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts, a day-long event of interactive workshops to connect immigrant-serving nonprofit organizations with philanthropic foundations and corporate partners, followed by a reception to recognize Veronica Serrato of Project Citizenship and the Irish International Immigrant Center for their work in immigrant advancement. 

“At this time in our nation’s history, this event is a reminder of how much we have accomplished through working together and of the tangible steps we should take to make our City even more welcoming and inclusive," said Mayor Walsh. “I am thrilled that we are honoring Veronica Serrato of Project Citizenship, the City’s partner for our annual Citizenship Day in Boston, and the Irish International Immigrant Center, a leading advocate for immigrants from every corner of the world.”

Prior to the reception with Mayor Walsh at 5:30 p.m., there will be a presentation on the contributions of immigrants to Boston’s economy. The interactive workshops for attendees will include the “Welcoming Economies” workshop by Welcoming America that reviews programs and strategies that other communities have pioneered to help include immigrants in the local community and economic development efforts. The International Institute of New England will also give a demonstration with local storytellers to help attendees consider how migration and culture shape both personal identity and workplace communities.

Mayor Walsh will give remarks and recognize Veronica Serrato of Project Citizenship and the Irish International Immigrant Center for their work in immigrant advancement. Veronica Serrato joined Project Citizenship in 2014 as its first executive director. In her first year, she formed a partnership with the City of Boston to offer Citizenship Day, the largest event of its kind in New England. Over the past six years, volunteers have served over 1,900 eligible immigrants with their naturalization applications through Citizenship Day and provided screenings to thousands more. In 2019 alone, low and moderate-income applicants saved more than $166,000 in application fees through fee waiver application assistance. 

“It is a privilege to partner with the City of Boston through my role at Project Citizenship to ensure that all immigrants understand and have access to the path to citizenship,” Veronica Serrato, founding executive director of Project Citizenship. “Immigrants are the Pride of Boston, and I am deeply honored to accept this honor on their behalf.”

Along with Project Citizenship, Mayor Walsh will recognize the Irish International Immigrant Center (IIIC) for their work with immigrant and refugee families, providing a comprehensive, multi-service approach to supporting families from more than 126 countries. The Center provides the legal, wellness and educational support immigrants need to gain stability, security, and build pathways to success. The IIIC was recently recognized at the national level for its advocacy for children affected by the federal government’s sudden termination of “medical deferred action” for immigrants undergoing treatment for life-threatening medical conditions.

"It is an honor to be recognized with the City of Boston's Community Champion Award from Mayor Martin J. Walsh for our support of immigrant families from all nations,” said Ronnie Millar, executive director of the Irish International Immigrant Center. “Building a society where all are welcomed and valued requires the devoted support of government, and the City of Boston has been a tremendous leader across the country in welcoming immigrants and partnering with immigrant support agencies. Over the past 30 years we've received strong support from the City of Boston, and we are very grateful for this award." 

At the reception, Mayor Walsh will share accomplishments of the Office for Immigrant Advancement (MOIA) and highlight his vision for MOIA moving forward. Launched in 2017, the City partnered with private donors and philanthropic foundations to form the Greater Boston Immigrant Defense Fund, which strives to increase education and access to legal services to defend its many immigrant communities, refugees, and temporary status holders. Over the past two years, the Fund has raised over $1.11 million, which has allowed nonprofits to create new positions for six immigration attorneys and eight community advocates. The fund has increased the region’s capacity to serve immigrants, and as a result, 363 legal cases have been opened and nearly 54,000 people have attended 796 community education events. In its third year, the fund has raised $515,900, including $50,000 in City funds. 

Mayor Walsh has been outspoken in supporting federal policies that recognize immigrants as full members of our society. Most recently, he has signed onto an amicus brief to the U.S. Supreme Court in support of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA), and provided economic analyses on the harmful effects of proposed changes to the public charge rules under immigration law to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Department of Justice, and the U.S. Office of Management and Budget.

Proceeds from We are Boston last year gave 10 immigrant-led community organizations the capacity to host immigration legal screening clinics, support hurricane evacuees, and organize family preparedness workshops through a total award of $100,000. This year’s event will fund capacity building trainings in the short term, while MOIA will partner with philanthropic foundations to better support this capacity building work collectively in the long term.

For more information, please visit https://www.boston.gov/calendar/we-are-boston-2019.

文協喜齡會慶感恩節

波士頓僑教中心主任歐宏偉(前右三)與喜齡會成員合影。(僑教中心提供)

(Boston Orange)大波士頓區中華文化協會(GBCCA)喜齡會11月19日慶祝感恩節，30餘名耆老歡聚一堂，享用佳餚，共話家常，唱歌助興，歡喜非常。

歐宏偉(後左一)與黃姆婆婆(前右一)，趙鍾英(後左二)，李國富(後右一)
等人合影。(僑教中心提供)

喜齡會是GBCCA為老人家服務的麾下組織，今年由李國富主辦感恩節餐會。他指出，儘管11月28日星期四才是今年的感恩節正日，但為因應感恩節在美國是家庭團聚的大日子，該會特地提前在19日舉辦慶祝餐會，讓老人家們打牙祭，唱唱歌，熱鬧的多開心一次。

波士頓僑教中心主任歐宏偉這天應邀出席，欣見已認識20多年的叔伯嬸母，尤其是看到已高齡98歲的黃姆婆婆，早已年逾80的趙鍾英阿姨，更是開心非常。他說，感恩節是一個最適合道謝及感念的日子，他當然得轉達僑務委員會委員長吳新興博士，以及駐波士頓臺北經文處處長徐佑典對與會耆老的問候與祝福。

大波士頓中華文化協會現任會長劉偉珊的廚藝，在會內早已聞名，這天更是義不容辭地親自做了多樣點心，佳餚，來豐盛這場餐聚。

Drought Conditions Across Commonwealth Return to Normal

Drought Conditions Across Commonwealth Return to Normal
Monitoring of Water Resources to Continue

BOSTON – With the Commonwealth experiencing above normal rainfall over the course of the previous month, all indices across Massachusetts have fully recovered. As a result, Energy and Environmental Affairs (EEA) Secretary Kathleen Theoharides today announced that conditions have returned to normal, and updated the drought levels throughout the state:

• Connecticut River Valley: Level 0 – Normal Condition levels (down from a Level 1 – Mild Drought in September); and,
• Western, Central, Northeast, Southeast, Cape Cod, and Islands Regions: Level 0 – Normal Conditions levels (remains unchanged since October).

The declarations were the result of a recommendation issued from a recent meeting of the Drought Management Task Force, which is comprised of state and federal officials, and other entities. Additionally, the declaration of a Normal Condition means that the Drought Management Task Force no longer meets on a regular basis; however, state agencies will continue to closely monitor and assess conditions across the state, coordinate any needed dissemination of information to the public, and help state, federal and local agencies prepare additional responses that may be needed in the future. Moreover, even though conditions have improved since the previous month, dry conditions continue to be observed within the Deerfield River Watershed.

“Throughout the last several weeks, Massachusetts has greatly benefited from above average precipitation, enabling water systems to reach normal conditions following several months of running a deficit,” said Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary Kathleen Theoharides. “And although the state is not currently experiencing dry conditions, we should all continue to practice water conservation methods in an effort to not strain water supplies.”

Normal Condition levels, as outlined in the Massachusetts Drought Management Plan, indicates precipitation and groundwater levels that have returned to normal, and warrants routine data collection and distribution amongst government agencies. 

State officials ask the public to be mindful of the amount of water being used, reduce indoor water use, and address leaks as soon as possible. Additionally, managers of larger buildings and businesses are asked to conduct water audits to identify areas of leaks and potential water conservation opportunities. All these steps will greatly help reduce water use to ensure essential needs are being met, such as drinking water and fire protection, and habitat and environmental use.

For further information on water conservation and what residents can do, visit the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs’ drought page, the Department of Conservation and Recreation’s drought management page, and the MassDEP Water Conservation page.

黃氏婦女部慶感恩節 波士頓市議員出席同歡

黃氏婦女部慶感恩節，波士頓市議員愛德華費林到賀。(黃周麗桃提供)

波士頓僑界急難救助協會宣佈新工作團隊

波士頓僑界急難救助協會宣佈新工作團隊。前排右起，前會長王志維，僑務委員蔣宗壬，波士頓經文處處長徐佑典，現任會長歐陽露，波士頓僑教中心主任歐宏偉。