MAYOR JANEY ENCOURAGES BOSTON RESIDENTS TO CLAIM THEIR CHILD TAX CREDIT

MAYOR JANEY ENCOURAGES BOSTON RESIDENTS TO CLAIM THEIR CHILD TAX CREDIT

BOSTON - Thursday, July 15, 2021 - Mayor Kim Janey today announced a citywide push to ensure that all eligible families in Boston receive their Child Tax Credit (CTC), a newly expanded federal tax credit that experts believe could cut child poverty in half. While most families will receive the money automatically in monthly payments from July to December, 2021, families who do not file taxes will need to take action to claim the CTC. The Mayor’s Office of Financial Empowerment is conducting outreach to these families to ensure an estimated 5,100 Boston children do not miss out on dollars crucial to their care and well-being. 

“The Child Tax Credit is a precious opportunity for families to gain their financial footing and provide the best they can for their children,” said Mayor Janey. “This money can make a world of difference, whether it’s for essentials like food and diapers, quality child care, or savings for college. I urge all Boston residents to review their eligibility for the Credit, seek help from our Office of Financial Empowerment if they need it, and start planning now to make the most of this money for their families.” 

The expanded CTC is designed to defray the costs of child-rearing and child care, provide more child care options, and support return to work for those who have lost their jobs or income. To be eligible for the full CTC, married couples must earn no more than $150,000 and heads of household must earn no more than $112,500. Qualifying families will get the full CTC amount even if they owe taxes. 

 The full CTC provides families with:

• $3,600 per child under 6 years old

• $3,000 per child 6-17 years old 

Eligible children must have a Social Security Number. 

 Starting July 15, the first half of the CTC will be automatically deposited in monthly payments of $300 or $250 into the bank accounts of most eligible families. The second half of the CTC will be made available as a tax refund next year. Families that did not file a 2019 or 2020 tax return claiming the Child Tax Credit or did not share their information with the IRS to receive stimulus payments will need to claim the CTC using the Child Tax Credit Non-filer Sign-up Tool. 

The Mayor’s Office of Financial Empowerment is spreading awareness of the CTC through an informational website (which includes translations in 12 languages) and is providing over-the-phone assistance through its Financial Navigators program, which can be reached at the Boston Tax Help Coalition Help Line at 617-356-8229. Partnering City departments and local community organizations are also offering assistance to those who have questions about the CTC or need help claiming it. 

They include:

• Action for Boston Community Development (ABCD)

• Allston Brighton APAC

• Children’s Health Watch

• Codman Square Health Center

• Community Labor United

• Dorchester House

• Greater Boston Legal Services

• Jewish Vocational Service (JVS)

• Mayor’s Office of Food Access

• Mayor’s Office of Immigrant Advancement

• Mayor’s Office for People with Disabilities

• Mayor’s Office of Women’s Advancement

• Shah Family Foundation

• Street Cred

• United Way of Massachusetts Bay and Merrimack Valley

• Urban Edge

“The expanded Child Tax Credit will have an immediate impact on families working their way out of the vicious cycle of poverty,” said Kira Khazatsky, chief operating officer of Jewish Vocational Service (JVS). “The average increase of $2,000 annually will give these hardworking families an incredible boost that will assist them in paying for child care, transportation and education as they re-enter the job market. Without this support many parents would be left on the sidelines unable to achieve their dreams for their families.”  

"This advance payment should be a boost for low-income families with young children,” said Paul Creighton, executive director of the Allston Brighton APAC Family Service Center. “This money from Uncle Sam will assist families during the transition from COVID 2020 to post-COVID 2021.”

The Boston Tax Help Coalition, a division of the Mayor’s Office of Financial Empowerment, continues to provide free tax preparation to individuals who have yet to file their 2020 taxes. This service is available at two Boston Tax Help Coalition locations: Allston Brighton APAC and Street Cred. 

 Learn more about the Child Tax Credit:

• IRS (Internal Revenue Service) website

• IRS Non-filer Sign-up Portal

• Boston Tax Help Coalition website

The Boston Tax Help Coalition is part of the Mayor's Office of Financial Empowerment. The Office of Financial Empowerment (OFE) was created in 2014 to address racial wealth disparities and connect City residents with access to credit building programs, financial education, individualized financial coaching, and income support. Residents who seek to improve their financial stability can use these free programs to achieve economic well-being and pursue financial prosperity. OFE is also a lead partner on Boston Builds Credit, the first municipal credit building program in the United States. OFE is an affiliate of the Mayor's Office of Workforce Development and the Boston Planning & Development Agency. 

Equity Coalition calls on School Committee to approve the “100 percent” admissions policy for Boston Exam Schools advocates for All-Elected School Committee

 Equity Coalition calls on School Committee to approve the “100 percent” admissions policy for Boston Exam Schools advocates for All-Elected School Committee

The Boston Coalition for Education Equity calls on the School Committee to vote to approve the Exam School Task Force’s 100 PERCENT admissions policy WITHOUT DELAY and to move forcefully to provide all BPS students an education that’s AS  HIGH-QUALITY as that offered by the three exam schools.

We applaud School Committee Chair Robinson---for putting the 100 percent proposal back on the table after a maneuver by some city councilors almost derailed it—and applaud Superintendent Cassellius for recommending the 100% plan tonight.

The 100 percent policy assigns seats through a competition that’s fairer than in the past,  because students will compete against peers who are in roughly comparable socio-economic circumstances.

Over the past few weeks, strong community support has been demonstrated for the 100 percent plan, a recommendation that was the result of nearly five months of study, debate, and vigorous public comment. 

If successful, tonight’s vote will represent a historic step forward for equity in Boston’s Exam Schools. A step that was in large part driven by individual activists and organizations coming together over many years from across the city: citizens young and old, Black, White, LatinX, and Asian-- from every neighborhood in Boston.

The sustained, active debate over this issue proves the case for an ALL-ELECTED School Committee. Boston residents care about their schools. They want and deserve a voice in school policy. With an appointed School Committee, all we can do is “comment,” as so many of us are doing here today. We can not hold you accountable. We can only hope that you do the right thing. 

The next big reform for Boston Public Schools MUST be an elected School Committee. 

For those interested in advocating for democracy with us: visit our website at BosEdEquity.org and click JOIN US to sign up for our mailing list

蘇維思(Julie Su)將出任美國勞工部副部長

Julie Su，file photo.

 Asian Americans Advancing Justice Applauds Confirmation of Julie Su as Deputy Secretary of U.S. Department of Labor

Washington, D.C.—Asian Americans Advancing Justice (Advancing Justice) congratulates its former Los Angeles-based Litigation Director Julie Su as the next Deputy Secretary of the U.S. Department of Labor.  

Asian Americans Advancing Justice, an affiliation of five independent Asian American civil rights organizations, releases the following statement: 

“Advancing Justice celebrates the confirmed appointment of our alumnus, Julie Su. Julie is an Asian American leader and civil rights attorney who, for decades through the nonprofit and public sectors, has been dedicated to the well-being of all workers, immigrants, women, and people of color. As Deputy Director, she will bring important considerations of race and equity to policymaking decisions at the Department of Labor.   

For more than 15 years, Julie Su played a pivotal role at Asian Americans Advancing Justice – Los Angeles by leading the litigation on landmark civil and workers’ rights cases. Most notable was her work on the Thai Garment Workers Case (Bureerong v. Uvawas) where Julie led a legal team that filed a lawsuit on behalf of 102 Thai garment workers who had been exploited and enslaved by sweatshop operators. Julie’s leadership expanded workers’ rights in the state of California and nationally. The suit challenged the sweatshop operators, as well as the retailers and manufacturers that profited off their labor. This was the first federal lawsuit of its kind, not only setting the precedent in holding manufacturers and retailers accountable for the conditions in which their clothes are made, but leading to new federal laws protecting immigrants who are trafficked into the country. In May 1999, the case ended in settlements that exceeded $4 million from more than 10 manufacturers and private label retailers. 

We commend President Biden for bringing AAPI representation to this important federal agency and urge him to continue to include our community in national leadership positions. The fight against anti-Asian racism and incidents of hate remains an urgent issue. We need more voices and advocates at the highest levels of government.” 

美商務部長Raimondo 宣佈斥資1.53億元推廣製藥生產創新

 Secretary Raimondo Announces $153 Million to Promote Innovation in Biopharmaceutical Manufacturing

$83 million in funding comes from the American Rescue Plan to support research and development to prevent, prepare for and respond to coronavirus outbreaks

The U.S. Department of Commerce’s National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has made two awards totaling $153 million to the National Institute for Innovation in Manufacturing Biopharmaceuticals (NIIMBL). The awards were announced today by U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo at the NIIMBL annual meeting in Washington, D.C.

NIIMBL is a public-private partnership designed to accelerate innovation in the U.S. biopharmaceutical industry, which produces vaccines, monoclonal antibodies, gene therapies and other medical products derived from biological sources. NIIMBL is a Manufacturing USA® institute sponsored by the Department of Commerce.

“I am so pleased that NIIMBL will continue to bring together organizations of all types to help strengthen our nation through better pandemic preparedness and a more agile manufacturing industry,” said Secretary Raimondo, who was joined at the NIIMBL meeting by Senator Chris Coons of Delaware, Acting Commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration Janet Woodcock and Director of the FDA’s Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research Peter Marks. “This important investment for America, funded in part by President Biden’s American Rescue Plan, will help meet the nation’s need for lifesaving biopharmaceuticals.”

The first award renews NIST’s federal sponsorship of NIIMBL, providing $70 million over five years with an equal, non-federal cost-matching requirement. This award will allow NIIMBL to continue driving innovation in domestic biopharmaceutical manufacturing by developing flexible, agile and cost-effective manufacturing processes that can be scaled up quickly and are less reliant on foreign supply chains.

NIST will also provide $83 million to NIIMBL over three years from the American Rescue Plan to support research and development to prevent, prepare for and respond to coronavirus outbreaks.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, scientific and manufacturing innovation delivered vaccines in record time. The new funding will enable NIIMBL efforts to help transform this emergency response into a sustainable, ongoing effort to address the continuing coronavirus threat. NIIMBL will do this by developing efficient, robust processes for manufacturing vaccines and therapeutics for COVID-19 and other coronavirus strains that could emerge in the future.

As part of this effort, NIIMBL will work to increase the shelf life and reduce the amount of refrigeration required for messenger RNA vaccines, boost capabilities for rapid production of antigens used in testing and screening for new variants and develop novel technologies for detecting counterfeit vaccines, among other things.

NIIMBL works on challenges that are too big for any single organization to address. The institute brings together more than 180 members, including biopharmaceutical and biotechnology companies, raw materials suppliers, equipment and product manufacturers, academic research institutions, state governments and nonprofit organizations focused on global health initiatives and workforce development. Every $1 of federal investment in NIIMBL has been matched by $1.80 in funding from NIIMBL member organizations.

Since NIIMBL was launched in 2017, its efforts have led to better diagnostic testing and plasma donor screening, an injectable antibody therapeutic that reduces the need for intravenous administration, and improved supply chain models for meeting surging demand during COVID outbreaks.

To learn more about NIIMBL, visit the institute’s website.

The Manufacturing USA institutes and their sponsors, the U.S. Departments of Commerce, Defense and Energy, connect more than 2,000 organizations across hundreds of major projects to quickly move technology from laboratory prototypes to industrial capabilities and provide thousands of people with advanced manufacturing knowledge and skills. To learn more about Manufacturing USA, visit www.ManufacturingUSA.com.

NIST promotes U.S. innovation and industrial competitiveness by advancing measurement science, standards and technology in ways that enhance economic security and improve our quality of life. To learn more about NIST, visit NIST.gov.

鋼琴家翁來7/24音樂會"向貝多芬致敬"

             (Boston Orange)中華表演藝術基金會將於7月24日(週六)晚上8點，在波士頓伊莎貝拉美術館舉辦“向貝多芬致敬”音樂會，邀紐約音樂家協會全球音樂家甄選2019年冠軍翁來(Larry Weng)演奏。

            中華表演藝術基金會從去年11月以來，在波士頓伊莎貝拉美術館（Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum)可容300人的Calderwood大廳舉辦音樂會，迄今已辦過7場。這第8場的“向貝多芬致敬”音樂會，將由鋼琴家翁來演出舒曼、舒伯特、布拉姆斯等作曲家的經典作品。

            翁來是在南京出生的鋼琴家，五歲時隨父母來美。自小才華橫溢，紐英崙地區所有鋼琴比賽的冠軍，幾乎都被他納入囊中。他就讀Needham高中時，參加紐英崙音樂學院附校的協奏曲比賽，也屢獲首獎，曾與紐英崙音樂學院青少年管弦樂團在喬登廳及波士頓交響廳演出，極獲好評。高中畢業後他考進非常難進入的茱麗亞音樂學院及哥倫比亞大學聯校雙學位項目，獲得經濟學學士及音樂碩士。隨後再進入耶魯大學音樂系進修，獲得鋼琴博士，並兼任教授助理。

            獲紐約時報（The New York Times)稱譽為”力如鋼鐵，節奏精準”的翁來，2019年時曾獲紐約音樂家協會 (New York Concert Artists and Association) 全球音樂家甄選冠軍，2016年曾入圍國際伊麗莎白鋼琴大賽決賽。他在世界各地演出時，都佳評如湧。2021年秋季開始，他將在北卡Wake Forest 大學音樂系執教。

            由於麻州政府已取消新冠病毒疫情禁令，本次音樂會現場出席人數可增至296人，但顧及疫情仍在，主辦單位建議還未接種疫苗者，出席音樂會時仍然應戴口罩。

            本次音樂會仍然免費公開（六歲以下兒童不可入場），但接受免税捐款，並須預先登記。查詢這場音樂會的門票預約及詳情可上網http://www.chineseperformingarts.net/offers/20210724/index.html。

牛頓市一連5起入屋偷盜案受害者都是亞裔 市長訂7/15開網路會議討論

           (Boston Orange 綜合編譯)牛頓市在過去5週內發生一連5起破門入屋偷竊事件，在警察持續調查，亞裔質詢，市長發信回應，參選市長者鼓勵居民參加訂15日舉行的網路會議中，逐漸發酵。

根據牛頓市警察局記錄，第一宗入屋偷盜案發生在6月13日的Walnut街第900區塊。最新一宗，發生在數天前的7月10日，在鄉村俱樂部路上。

所有的入屋偷盜事件，都發生在週末的白天，沒人在家時，而且所有的受害者都是亞裔。匪徒是打破窗戶或側門的進入房屋，偷走了珠寶，現金，手袋等物品。

牛頓市警官Bruce Apotheker表示，除了偷盜之外，沒看到任何仇恨相關因素，但因為最近這5宗偷盜案的受害者都是亞裔，他們正在積極調查，這些偷盜案是否針對亞裔而來。他們已通知否米斗塞郡(Middlesex)地區檢察官Marian Ryan。

警察表示，他們正在每個鄰里逐戶敲門，提醒居民注意居家安全，也增派了人手巡邏。

WCVB電視台報導稱，家中遭人侵入偷盜的Scott Chin表示，他們不在家。匪徒走到屋後，敲碎玻璃門，進屋拿走了屋裡面所有的貴重東西。他父母去年才因為染患新冠病毒辭世，他們正在處理相關事務，所以家中有許多母親留下來的珠寶，現在全都被偷了。

另一名受害者表示，”我嘗試著不去想那是仇恨犯罪，或者我們是被人針對了，但那也，

你知道，那讓我想，你知道，亞裔是不是真的被人針對了?我們是不是在刻板印象下被人看作屋裡有更多東西?”。

這5宗入屋偷盜案發生的日期及區域地點如下:

6/13/21 – Walnut 街第900區。

6/19/21 – Dedham 街第600區。

6/20/21 – Helene 路

6/27/21 – Quinobequin 路第700區。

7/10/21 – 鄉村俱樂部路(Country Club Road)

根據2個偷盜發生地點監視相機捕捉到的畫面，警方已認為一人有嫌疑，正在徵求任何知道該人任何訊息者打電話給牛頓市偵探617-796-2104。在影像畫面中，該人似乎手中拿著寵物遺失的傳單。

            Apotheker表示，任何時候任何一天都可能發生破門入屋案。牛頓市在2021年內，迄今共發生45起案件，和2019年相比增加了35宗。

            牛頓市警察局局長John Carmichael和牛頓市長Ruthanne Fuller將於7月15日(週四)晚上8點舉行網上社區會議，邀請所有市民參加，討論此事。

            刻正參選牛頓市市長的馬惠美(Sangiolo Mah)，今日在臉書上發佈視頻，促請市民出席週四網上會議。

            牛頓市警察提醒居民鎖上所有門窗，出門渡假，或是出門時間較長時，避免在社交媒體上張貼訊息。警察也鼓勵鄰居彼此守望相助，注意不尋常行為，有狀況就打電話617-796-2100。

STOUGHTON FUEL COMPANY SETTLES CLAIMS IT OVERCHARGED STATE FOR SUBSTANDARD FUEL DELIVERED IN VIOLATION OF CONTRACTS

STOUGHTON FUEL COMPANY SETTLES CLAIMS IT OVERCHARGED STATE FOR SUBSTANDARD FUEL DELIVERED IN VIOLATION OF CONTRACTS

Fuel Company Also Ignored Diversity Spending Requirements 

            BOSTON – A Stoughton fuel delivery company, Diesel Direct, LLC, and its chief executive officer and senior vice president will pay $850,000 to resolve allegations that the company knowingly delivered nonconforming petroleum diesel fuel to state agencies while charging for a higher-priced and more environmentally-friendly biodiesel fuel, Attorney General Maura Healey announced today. The settlement also resolves allegations that the company failed to comply with its contractually obligated diversity spending requirements aimed at fostering growth and development for women-, minority-, and veteran-owned businesses.

            “By not delivering on the terms of its contracts, this company bilked Massachusetts out of taxpayer dollars and undermined our efforts to reduce harmful emissions,” AG Healey said. “The company further ignored an important part of its contracts designed to ensure minority-, women-, and veteran-owned businesses have an opportunity to participate in government work. Those who accept taxpayer funding to contract with the state have a duty to operate with integrity and those who don’t will be held accountable.”

            The settlement agreement resolves a 2019 qui tam complaint, brought by a whistleblower on behalf of the state, that alleged Diesel Direct violated the Massachusetts False Claims Act when its Senior Vice President of Operations, Augustine Pesaturo, directed employees to deliver nonconforming petroleum diesel fuel to state agencies, instead of the higher-priced and more environmentally-friendly biodiesel blend the agencies ordered. The AG’s Office contends that Pesaturo then directed employees to charge state agencies for the higher-priced biodiesel that it did not provide. The AG’s Office further claims that the company’s chief executive officer, William McNamara, Jr., knew about the company’s improper actions, failed to stop the conduct, and did not disclose it to the state.

            Diesel Direct’s improper conduct caused state agencies to consume fuel that emitted greater amounts of greenhouse gases and particulate matter into the atmosphere. Biodiesel is a renewable fuel made from agricultural resources, vegetable oils, or animal fats and reduces particulate matter and tailpipe emissions that contribute to global warming. Biodiesel is also nontoxic, biodegradable, and suitable for sensitive environments, making spills far less harmful and much less expensive to clean up than a petroleum diesel spill.

The AG’s Office also alleges that Diesel Direct improperly charged state agencies a federal fuel excise tax in violation of the terms of the contracts, and that it used an incorrect benchmark price to determine the per gallon price of the fuel it delivered to the state, by using the higher-priced “winter blend” fuel rate for deliveries made in the summer, resulting in an overpayment by the state.

In addition, in an effort to foster growth and development of diverse businesses, as part of its Supplier Diversity Program (SDP), the state’s Operational Services Division requires that in written bids, contractors commit to a specific percentage of sales derived from each contract to be spent with certified diverse partners. The SDP’s bid evaluation criteria then allocates a meaningful percentage of its evaluation points to each bidder’s promise on this issue. If selected as the successful bidder, the contractor must then actually spend the agreed-to percentage with a diverse partner. Here, despite Diesel Direct’s contractual obligations to spend two percent of its sales generated under the contracts with minority-, women-, and/or service-disabled veteran owned business enterprises, it failed to pay any amount to diverse partners. 

In addition to paying $850,000, Diesel Direct has agreed not to bid, submit a response to a request for proposal, or otherwise participate in any contract with the state or any state agencies for five years.

The False Claims Division was created by AG Healey to safeguard public funds and promote integrity and accountability in public contracting. AG Healey urges anyone with information about suspected fraud or abuse relating to state or municipal contracts or funds to contact the False Claims Division’s tip line at 617-963-2600.

            This matter was handled by Assistant Attorneys General Mary-Ellen Kennedy and Cassandra Arriaza, Special Assistant Attorney General Coleman Gay, and Paralegal Cara Bradley, with assistance from Division Chief Amy Crafts, all of the AG’s False Claims Division.

Renovations Underway at LaBrecque Field in Hough’s Neck

Renovations Underway at LaBrecque Field in Hough’s Neck

QUINCY, MA – July 14, 2021 Mayor Thomas Koch announced that renovations have begun at LaBrecque Field in Hough’s Neck. The City’s Department of Natural Resources will be installing a new playground and shade shelter, renovating the basketball court and softball diamond, and installing a perimeter walking path. The project is being completed as part of Mayor Koch’s Park Capital Improvement Plan approved by the City Council in 2017. The new playground is being funded through the Community Preservation Act. The playground will be moved closer to the parking lot to provide easier access for parents. There will be new trees planted in the park. Exercise equipment will be placed along the perimeter walking trail to encourage health and fitness. Councilor Dave McCarthy has been working with the local community to develop a plan that meets the local community’s needs. Work has begun at the park and will continue through September. “I want to thank Councilor McCarthy for his leadership on this important neighborhood project,” said Mayor Koch. “Through community feedback, we have developed a plan that best fits the community’s needs in Hough’s Neck. I want to thank all those residents that took the time to respond and offer their feedback.” In addition to the new equipment, the old baseball backstop will be removed. The commemorative bricks and stones installed during the prior community-built playground will be preserved and incorporated into the new design. Added Mayor Koch, “The pandemic has reinforced the importance of health and fitness. The perimeter walking path will allow neighborhood residents a chance to work out locally and enjoy the activity and scenery in the park. We received great feedback about the walking path at Kincaide Park and hope to add similar opportunities at neighborhood parks around the city.”This playground is one of 30 playground locations being improved by the Department of Natural Resources through the Community Preservation Fund. Mayor Koch applied for $5.3 million in playground improvement funds in 2017 that were approved by the Community Preservation Committee and the City Council. “We are extremely grateful for everyone’s support of this project; Mayor Koch, the CPC and the Council,” said Commissioner of Natural Resources Dave Murphy. “This is the type of success we can have when we are all working together.” The field in named in honor of Alfred N. LaBrecque, a veteran of World War I who went on to serve on the Quincy City Council. LaBrecque was a strong advocate for the people of Hough’s Neck and served as City Council President