AG HEALEY SECURES NEARLY $1 MILLION FOR HOMEOWNERS FROM COMPANY THAT MISHANDLED LOAN MODIFICATIONS

AG HEALEY SECURES NEARLY $1 MILLION FOR HOMEOWNERS FROM COMPANY THAT MISHANDLED LOAN MODIFICATIONS 

BOSTON — A national mortgage servicing company will provide nearly $1 million in relief for Massachusetts residents to settle allegations that it impeded homeowners attempting to obtain loan modifications to avoid foreclosure, Attorney General Maura Healey announced today.

In the assurance of discontinuance filed in Suffolk Superior Court, Kyanite Services, Inc., the former corporate parent of third-party mortgage servicer Seterus, Inc., will provide $975,000 in relief to approximately 180 Massachusetts borrowers for giving them inaccurate and untimely information regarding their loan modification applications. Seterus is no longer in business.

“When families struggling to pay their mortgage asked for a loan modification, this company gave them the run around,” said AG Healey. “This settlement provides relief for borrowers who were harmed and ensures the company answers for its abusive conduct.”

The AG’s Office alleges that Seterus violated the Massachusetts Act Preventing Unlawful and Unnecessary Foreclosures – known as “35B” – a landmark law passed in 2012 that requires creditors to take reasonable steps and make a good faith effort to avoid foreclosing on certain mortgage loans. The AG’s Office also alleges that Seterus violated the Massachusetts Consumer Protection Act by providing borrowers with false and deceptive information about the status of their loan modification applications.

The AG’s Office began an investigation into Seterus after receiving complaints from Massachusetts consumers indicating they experienced significant problems applying for loan modifications.

The investigation found that Seterus routinely sent borrowers notices that their loan modification applications were complete only to later notify them that additional documents were needed. This cycle often repeated multiple times, causing the application process to take years instead of months, if completed at all. Even though it sometimes took Seterus close to a month to identify missing documents, Seterus then gave the borrowers only eight days to submit the additional items before denying the borrowers’ requests as incomplete. In some cases, Seterus notified borrowers they had more time but then denied those borrowers before the expiration of the deadline listed in Seterus’ written notice. 

The AG’s investigation also found that during these periods when the borrowers’ applications were complete or only missing certain items, Seterus mailed borrowers notices advising borrowers to submit entirely new applications or to apply for a short sale or deed-in-lieu of foreclosure. These solicitations falsely blamed the borrowers for not working with Seterus, when Seterus’s own practices were causing significant delays and frustration in the loan modification review process. 

            The investigation also revealed that some borrowers returned the Mortgage Modification Options (MMO) asking for a modification and experienced the same delays and denials. In addition, Seterus didn’t provide borrowers with the written assessment as required by law. The requirement of a written assessment is critical to provide the borrower with Seterus’s calculation of the borrower’s income, debts and obligations and the net present value analysis of foreclosure versus modification.

            In 2019, Kyanite sold Seterus to Nationstar Mortgage, (d/b/a as Mr. Cooper). In a settlement with the AG’s Office, Nationstar previously agreed to implement its own 35B compliant loan modification program.

The Seterus case is part of the AG’s Office’s investigation of the mortgage servicing industry and its compliance with the Act Preventing Unlawful and Unnecessary Foreclosures. AG Healey is committed to ensuring that all mortgage servicers respect the rights of homeowners under this important state 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, Shellpoint Mortgage Servicing, Caliber Home Loans, 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 Attorney General Michael Lecaroz, of the AG Healey’s Consumer Protection Division, with assistance from Assistant Attorney General Andrew Haile, currently of the AG’s Administrative Law Division.

麻州州長簽署H4921法案 促請關注公用水域的水汙染

 

BOSTON – Today, Governor Charlie Baker and Lt. Governor Karyn Polito will virtually join Secretary of Energy and Environmental Affairs Kathleen Theoharides, Department of Environmental Protection Commissioner Marty Suuberg, legislators and local officials to participate in a ceremonial signing of H4921, An Act promoting awareness of sewage pollution in public waters. A live stream will be available here.

MBTA更改路線，服務公聽會 2/17, 2/24

 

慶牛年新春 美國總統拜登、波士頓市長，昆士市長，吳弭來拜年

 

美國總統拜登夫婦以視頻講話向亞裔拜年。

昆士市長柯奇(Tom Koch)向亞裔拜年。

波士頓市製作賀卡向亞裔拜年。

波士頓市府12日晚亮紅燈，展示新年喜氣。

波士頓華埠除夕夜洪青醒獅依慣例，到波士頓洪門致公堂門前拜年，
鑼鼓、鞭炮齊鳴，熱鬧非凡。

哈佛大學費正清中心拜年圖案。

(以上全為截圖)

MAYOR WALSH ANNOUNCES FIRMS SELECTED TO DEVELOP BOSTON'S FIRST URBAN FOREST PLAN

MAYOR WALSH ANNOUNCES FIRMS SELECTED TO DEVELOP BOSTON'S FIRST URBAN FOREST PLAN  Guided by interdepartmental collaboration and community engagement, the plan's goal is to develop strategies to grow and protect Boston's trees BOSTON - Friday, February 12, 2021 - Mayor Martin J. Walsh and Boston Parks and Recreation Commissioner Ryan Woods today announced the consultants selected to develop Boston's Urban Forest Plan. Boston landscape architecture firm Stoss Landscape Urbanism and forestry consultant Urban Canopy Works have been selected to co-lead the effort to develop the City of Boston's first Urban Forest Plan. Stoss was awarded the contract with Urban Canopy Works as a subconsultant. The 20-year plan will set citywide goals for canopy protection, be responsive to climate change and development, and enhance the quality of life for all Bostonians. The Urban Forest Plan will be a collaborative effort that includes a community advisory group, interdepartmental working group and community outreach. Recognizing that environmental injustice exists in Boston, the planning process will embed support for communities that have been disproportionately impacted by environmental stressors. Planning will touch upon a wide variety of topics, such as ecology, design, policy, practices and funding.   "Trees are an important part of making Boston's communities resilient. This plan is the first of its kind in Boston, and it will expand and protect one of our most precious natural resources, while prioritizing the needs of our residents," said Mayor Walsh. "Developing an urban forest plan is important to ensure our tree canopy in Boston is equitable, responsive to climate change and ensures quality of life for all Bostonians. This collaborative project with Stoss Landscape Urbanism and Urban Canopy Works will prioritize community input to ensure that residents in our neighborhoods have a central voice in this process." "It's no coincidence that many of the communities disproportionately impacted by poor air quality and the urban 'heat island' effect, also have inadequate tree cover," said Commissioner Woods. "We're excited to collaborate with these partners to find opportunities for growing tree canopy in the places that need it most." The project team will also work closely with a community advisory group and an interdepartmental working group with input from residents, community organizations, businesses, and institutions. Kicking off in spring of 2021, the planning process will take approximately one year to complete. The community advisory group will be formed in late spring of this year. The public will have an opportunity to weigh in on the plan in early fall, after the assessment and scoping phases.  One of the project tasks, along with scoping the project and assessing the existing state of the canopy, will be to develop a plan for engaging the community. The outreach plan will prioritize populations that have been disproportionately exposed to environmental stressors; be sensitive to differences in cultures, economic realities, and built environments across Boston; incorporate City of Boston Language and Communications Access guidelines; consider equity and accessibility in both in-person and online engagement strategies; and retain flexibility to adapt engagement strategies in response to changing public health recommendations.  Joining Stoss Landscape Urbanism and Urban Canopy Works, the plan will be developed with contributions from American Forests, Nitsch Engineering, PlanITGeo, local experts, and the public. Dr. Neenah-Estrella Luna of Northeastern University will support the effort to make environmental justice the foundation of the project.  "Our job is to fuel the project's success by coordinating efforts between all the partners who each bring their own unique expertise," said Stoss' Amy Whitesides and her team. "The ultimate goal is to maximize the health of Bostonians and their environment. We're proud to work with the City of Boston on this shared commitment to Boston's Urban Forest Plan." "Trees are a vital component of livable communities," said Rachel Comte of Urban Canopy Works. "And we know that communities can make visionary changes when everyone is at the table. We are pleased to work with the City of Boston to develop a community-driven urban forest plan." The final plan document will highlight policy tools to control canopy loss on private property, as well as guidelines for protecting and expanding canopy on public property, like streets and parks. Over the past five years, tree removals on residential, private, and institutional property have been the main contributors to canopy loss. The finalized plan will provide recommendations for canopy protection and expansion through proposed changes to the development review process, as well as new policies and ordinances, including draft language and methods of enforcement aimed at protecting and expanding the tree canopy. The Urban Forest Plan is a critical piece of the vision for the City's tree canopy goals laid out in Imagine Boston 2030 and Climate Ready Boston. The City launched Climate Ready Boston in 2016 to develop resilient solutions to prepare for the effects of climate change: flooding due to sea-level rise, increased storms, and extreme heat. Urban Forest planning is closely aligned with Climate Ready Boston, as trees provide cooling shade, reduce the risk of heat illness, and are key to making Boston's communities resilient to climate change. Targeted investments in green infrastructure will be important, as heat island exposure is greater in neighborhoods with limited green space. The City of Boston Environment Department will be launching a heat resilience planning study this spring. In addition to the $500,000 budgeted for the Urban Forest Plan, historic investments in Boston's tree canopy this year will also support the hiring of a new arborist and the added capacity for up to 1,000 additional tree plants, doubling the total capacity to 2,000 trees planted per year. The Tree Canopy Assessment, released in September, supports efforts to increase access to trees and their benefits in "under-treed" neighborhoods, as a part of the City's commitment to environmental justice. Information provided in the report is foundational to the Urban Forest Plan, as well as future policy and planning efforts.  For more information about Boston's Urban Forest Plan, please email parks@boston.gov.

MAYOR WALSH ANNOUNCES NEW SCHOLARSHIPS TO HELP ADD DIVERSE PARAMEDICS TO BOSTON EMS

Scholarships to build diversity in Boston EMS' promotional ranks

 BOSTON - Friday, February 12, 2021 - Building on a commitment to promote diversity and inclusion among the ranks of Boston Emergency Medical Services (EMS), Mayor Martin J. Walsh and Boston EMS Chief James Hooley today announced new paramedic certification scholarships for current EMS members. Coordinated through the United Coalition of EMS Providers (UCEP), a Boston EMS affinity group dedicated to advancing equity, inclusion and diversity at all ranks, and in partnership with both the Mayor's Office of Workforce Development (OWD) and Bunker Hill Community College (BHCC), 16 emergency medical technicians are now beginning their coursework at Bunker Hill Community College to become certified paramedics. This program is designed to expand the diversity of Boston EMS members holding a paramedic certification. 

"Boston is a diverse city, and it's crucial that our public safety services in Boston, including our paramedics, reflect our neighborhoods, and our values," said Mayor Walsh. "I'm proud that with this scholarship, we will continue to support diversity at Boston EMS, and care for all those who call Boston home."

Boston EMS paramedics staff five frontline ambulances, providing advanced life-saving care during medical emergencies across the city. Paramedics are state-certified EMTs who hold an additional certification, expanding their scope of practice to include complex procedures, such as intubations and starting an IV. Boston EMS members promoted to the rank of paramedic earn approximately 36 percent more than an EMT.  

"I am very proud of what UCEP was able to accomplish in just five short months, securing Mayoral support and funding, as well as coordinating directly with Bunker Hill Community College; increasing the diversity of our paramedics will result in a direct benefit inpatient care," said Boston EMS Chief of Department, Jim Hooley.     

The professional development and advancement of Boston EMS members have been ongoing department priorities. Boston EMS has worked with multiple paramedic training programs and colleges to reduce barriers for all interested personnel to advance their education.  

Boston EMS has maintained a longstanding commitment to hiring candidates that reflect the racial, ethnic and linguistic diversity of Boston's neighborhoods. While 40 percent of personnel hired in the last three years are women and 36 percent identify as Asian, Black or African American, Latinx or more than two races, personnel holding the rank of paramedic just are 6 percent persons of color and 19 percent women. The paramedic certification, which can cost over $10,000 to secure, can be cost-prohibitive for members, making it difficult to build diversity at this rank. 

"The Boston EMS members selected for the paramedic UCEP scholarship are 75 percent women (12 of 16), 37 percent bilingual (6), and 94 percent (15) people of color. Eligibility for selection included UCEP membership, open to all members of Boston EMS, and a commitment to promoting equity and inclusion," said Deputy Lee Alexander, who leads Diversity, Recruitment and Engagement for the department and is a board member of United Coalition of EMS Providers.  

In the wake of George Floyd's murder and the events of 2020, members of Boston EMS hosted a listening session for personnel to talk about their own experiences with racial discrimination in the spring of 2020. 

"United Coalition of EMS Providers was formed from these listening sessions, dedicated to promoting diversity and inclusion within the City of Boston's municipal ambulance service," said EMT Roger Hamlet, President and Founder of United Coalition of EMS Providers. 

Under Mayor Walsh's leadership, the Office of Workforce Development (OWD) worked closely with UCEP and successfully secured grant funding through Neighborhood Jobs Trust for financially eligible personnel. UCEP secured an additional $20,000 contribution from SkillWorks, a nationally recognized workforce development funders' collaborative co-lead by the Boston Foundation and the City of Boston's Office of Workforce Development. 

"This is exactly the kind of workforce equity project SkillWorks exists to support. Not only will the Paramedics benefit from a good job at a good wage, the entire community benefits from a Paramedic team that understands the true diversity of cultures here in Boston," said Andre Green, Executive Director of SkillWorks.  

This work with OWD is an expansion of their ongoing partnership with Boston EMS to help city residents secure necessary training to meet the EMT hiring prerequisites through their EMT City Academy program. 

"We are fully committed to the equitable access of education and training for all Boston residents," said Trinh Nguyen, Director of OWD. "It's not only a priority value of this city, but it is an amazing investment for our business and economy."   

ABOUT BOSTON EMS 

Boston EMS is the primary provider of emergency medical services for the City of Boston and is a nationally recognized leader in the field of pre-hospital emergency medicine. The department leverages the latest advances in both medicine and technology to bring high-quality, compassionate care to the people of Boston. Boston EMS also plays a key role in the City's emergency preparedness efforts and provides community programming designed to educate the public about important health and safety topics.

Statement from Massachusetts Democratic Party Chair Gus Bickford on Governor Charlie Baker's Failing Pandemic Response and Delays in Unemployment Benefits

 Statement from Massachusetts Democratic Party Chair Gus Bickford on Governor Charlie Baker's Failing Pandemic Response and Delays in Unemployment Benefits

"What exactly are Charlie Baker and Karyn Polito doing? The failures of the Baker-Polito Administration are growing in number and severity every day. The level of ineptitude and indifference being displayed by Baker and Polito as they continue to totally bungle the vaccine rollout is putting people's lives at risk. Now we're learning more about yet another area where their technical incompetence is having profound impacts: delivering unemployment benefits to people struggling to get by. Under Baker's watch, people are having to wait weeks or even months to receive unemployment benefits that they are eligible for. Baker's blunders have real consequences. People are going hungry, they are falling behind on rent, they go another day without the vaccine, but Charlie Baker and Karyn Polito seem to spend their time making excuses rather than solving the problems they helped create."

Baker Polito Administration Files $400 Million Bond Bill for Capital Project to Rebuild Soldiers’ Home in Holyoke

 Baker Polito Administration Files $400 Million Bond Bill for Capital Project to Rebuild Soldiers’ Home in Holyoke

$400 Million Bond Bill Needed to Advance Expedited Capital Project to Meet April Deadline

 

BOSTON – Today, the Baker-Polito Administration filed “An Act Financing the Reconstruction of the Soldiers’ Home in Holyoke,” which would provide $400 million in capital authorization for a major project to reconstruct the long-term care facility at the Holyoke Soldiers’ Home. This bill provides the capital authorization that would allow the Division of Capital Asset Management and Maintenance (DCAMM) to construct a new long-term care facility on the site of the current Holyoke Soldiers’ Home that would meet the needs of the veterans of Western Massachusetts and their families.

 

The capital project is on an expedited timeline, necessitated by the April 15 deadline for the VA State Home Construction Grant Program, which would provide 65% matching federal funds. To meet that deadline, DCAMM must have this authorization available by April 1, 2021, which requires this bond bill to be enacted by mid-March, with a terms bill filed and enacted soon afterwards. The design development phase must be completed by August 1, 2021 to be eligible for this cycle of the grant program.

 

“Building a new, state-of-the-art long-term care facility at the Soldiers’ Home in Holyoke will ensure we can continue providing quality care for current veterans residing at the Home, as well as future residents,” said Governor Charlie Baker. “I look forward to working with our partners in the Legislature to pass this bill so that we can transform the future of the Home, meet the next major deadline in the capital project, and continue to secure funding from our federal partners at the Veterans’ Administration.”

 

“The Soldiers’ Home in Holyoke is a unique and special place in the community, and the Baker-Polito Administration is working diligently in partnership with our colleagues in the Legislature to ensure its future ability to serve the next generation of veterans,” said Lt. Governor Karyn Polito. “This expedited capital project for the Soldiers’ Home in Holyoke provides an exciting opportunity to provide a state-of-the-art long-term care facility to meet the needs of our veterans in the coming years and to ensure that they are aligned with anticipated demand.”

 

“The current Soldiers’ Home in Holyoke was constructed before modern design standards for medical facilities, and the Administration has taken immediate steps to address urgent capital and infection control needs, but it is clear that a major reconstruction of the campus is necessary for the safety, health and comfort of future generations of veterans and staff,” said Health and Human Services Secretary Marylou Sudders. “We are pleased that the planning process involved significant opportunity for community and stakeholder input into the plan’s development to date.”

 

“The Baker-Polito Administration continues to work collaboratively with stakeholders throughout the Commonwealth to make meaningful investments that help ensure the health, safety, and quality of life for Massachusetts veterans,” said Administration and Finance Secretary Michael J. Heffernan. “This bond bill will provide critical authorization to reconstruct the long-term care facility at the Holyoke Soldiers’ Home and we look forward to working closely with our colleagues in the Legislature to quickly pass this bill.”

 

“The filing of this bond bill to secure funding is one more step in the construction of a new state-of-the-art Soldiers’ Home in Holyoke and a sign of hope and progress as we move forward to care for our aging veterans with dignity, honor and respect in Western Massachusetts,” said Veterans’ Services Secretary Cheryl Lussier Poppe. “We look forward to continuing our expeditious efforts with DCAMM, Payette, EOHHS, the Soldiers’ Home in Holyoke, and community partners including the Board of Trustees, to complete this process.”

 

“We are continuing to work closely with our local, state, and federal partners and a wide range of community stakeholders as we move forward with the project to reconstruct the Soldiers’ Home in Holyoke,” said Division of Capital Asset Management and Maintenance Commissioner Carol Gladstone. “Having this bond authorization available by April 1 is a critical step in the process to submit a grant application to receive federal funding, and we appreciate the prompt consideration of this legislation.”

 

“I have been pleased by the rapid planning process and the Baker-Polito Administration’s commitment to hearing and responding to the views and concerns of the veteran residents, families and staff on a wide range of priorities including bed capacity,” said Massachusetts National Guard Major General Gary W. Keefe, chairperson of the Board of Trustees for the Soldiers’ Home in Holyoke. “This is a great example of how we can achieve positive outcomes for our Western Massachusetts veterans, and we look forward to serving them in this beautiful new facility.”

 

Beginning with the Rapid Planning Process in September of 2020, the Commonwealth has engaged a wide range of stakeholders to assess current needs and to gather input on the planning process. The Commonwealth remains committed to a transparent process and to providing stakeholders and the community with progress reports as they become available.

 

The Rapid Planning Phase was launched in August to identify a sustainable, public health, implementation roadmap to provide significant upgrades to the Soldiers’ Home in Holyoke. The architecture firm that led this project, Payette, wrote a report detailing its findings and recommended next steps. This report represents the culmination of research gathered by a broad group of veterans, families, veterans’ organizations, the community, and other stakeholders through focus groups, interviews, and surveys. These recommendations reflect the learnings from those engagements, and the analysis of demographic data and services in Western Massachusetts. Read the full report here.

 

While the expedited capital project will address long-term facility viability, the Executive Office of Health and Human Services (EOHHS), the Department of Veterans’ Services (DVS) and the Division of Capital Asset Management and Maintenance (DCAMM) have been addressing immediate capital needs, including a $6 million refresh of units, to significantly improve infection control for the residents and staff. The refresh includes refinishing the living and working environment to support infection control, including the installation of air purification units.