State Health Officials Announce Seventh Human Case
of West Nile Virus in Massachusetts Residents urged to take precautions to avoid mosquito bites “This is our first West Nile virus case this year in someone under the age of 50,” said Acting Public Health Commissioner Margret Cooke. “This is a reminder that although people over the age of 50 are at greater risk from West Nile virus, all ages can be affected. Risk from West Nile virus will continue until the first hard frost and people should remember to take steps to prevent mosquito bites anytime they are outdoors.” In 2020, there were five human cases of WNV infection
identified in Massachusetts. WNV is usually transmitted to humans through the bite of an infected mosquito. While WNV can infect people of all ages, people over the age of 50 are at higher risk for severe disease. Most people infected with WNV will have no symptoms. When present, WNV symptoms tend to include fever and flu-like illness. In rare cases, more severe illness can occur. People have an important role to play in protecting themselves and their loved ones from illnesses caused by mosquitoes. Avoid Mosquito Bites Apply Insect Repellent when Outdoors. Use a repellent with DEET (N, N-diethyl-m-toluamide), permethrin, picaridin (KBR 3023), oil of lemon eucalyptus [p-menthane 3, 8-diol (PMD)], or IR3535 according to the product label. DEET products should not be used on infants under two months of age and should be used in concentrations of 30% or less on older children. Oil of lemon eucalyptus should not be used on children under three years of age. Be Aware of Peak Mosquito Hours. The hours from dusk to dawn are peak biting times for many mosquitoes. Consider rescheduling outdoor activities that occur during evening or early morning. Clothing Can Help Reduce Mosquito Bites. Wear long-sleeves, long pants, and socks when outdoors to help keep mosquitoes away from your skin. Mosquito-Proof Your Home Drain Standing Water. Mosquitoes lay their eggs in standing water. Limit the number of places around your home for mosquitoes to breed by either draining or discarding items that hold water. Check rain gutters and drains. Empty any unused flowerpots and wading pools, and change the water in birdbaths frequently. Install or Repair Screens. Keep mosquitoes outside by having tightly fitting screens on all of your windows and doors. Protect Your Animals Animal owners should reduce potential mosquito breeding sites on their property by eliminating standing water from containers such as buckets, tires, and wading pools – especially after heavy rains. Water troughs should be flushed out to reduce mosquitoes near paddock areas. Horse owners should keep horses in indoor stalls at night to reduce their risk of exposure to mosquitoes. Owners should also speak with their veterinarian about mosquito repellents approved for use in animals and vaccinations to prevent WNV and Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE). If an animal is diagnosed with WNV or EEE, owners are required to report to the Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources’ (MDAR) Division of Animal Health by calling 617-626-1795 and to the DPH by calling 617-983-6800. More information, including all WNV and EEE positive results, can be found on the Arbovirus Surveillance Information web page at www.mass.gov/MosquitoesandTicks or by calling the DPH Epidemiology Program at 617-983-6800. |
星期四, 9月 16, 2021
麻州發現第7宗人類感染西尼羅病毒案例
MAYOR JANEY ANNOUNCES 2021 CITY OF BOSTON SCHOLARSHIP FUND AWARDEES
MAYOR JANEY ANNOUNCES 2021 CITY OF BOSTON SCHOLARSHIP FUND AWARDEES
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馬惠美打入牛頓市市長大選
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| 馬惠美在臉書上感謝支持者。(圖片取自臉書) |
根據牛頓市政府的非正式開票結果，傅樂的得票率高達54.6%，接下來這一階段的選戰，馬惠美要打贏，勢必爭取更多，更多的支持才有機會。
牛頓市的這場市長初選，共有3名候選人，總共有10,853人出席投票，
在位市長傅樂得5,926票，馬惠美得4247票，另一名參選者Albert R. Cecchinelli, Jr.得661票，得票率6.1%。
傅樂在9月14日晚上10點15分發電郵感謝支持者，說明牛頓市有8個選區，她在其中7個選區的得票數都領先，將以比對手得票率高15%的優勢邁進11月大選。
馬惠美則是晚上10點後，在臉書上公佈，正是了，我們打進大選了，感謝40%的牛頓市選民選擇了會聆聽所有選民聲音，把社區放在第一位的候選人。
11月2日不但是牛頓市民選市長的日子，選民們還將票選24名市議會議員，以及8名學校委員會委員。
根據美國人口統計局2019年資料， 牛頓市是個人口88,411的小城市，亞裔13,453人，佔總人口的15.2%，其中華人約7,474，佔總人口的8.5%。 (更正版)
吳弭33% 、Essaibi George22% 初選得票率相差11%
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| 吳弭在勞工節那天為勞工說話。(周菊子攝) |
在波士頓選務局官網上的107,592張有效票中，吳弭共得35,888票，得票率為33.36%。Annissa Essaibi-George得票24,186張，得票率22.48%。
9月14日晚，波士頓選務局的開票，從懸無進展，到開出0.39%，再到3小時後才更新為開出大約6%選票，參選人吳弭和Annissa Essaibi-George索性不理開票進展，在將近晚上11點時，相繼宣佈勝利、慶祝，接著Andrea Campbell和波士頓代市長Kim Janey也在午夜前後相繼退讓，這場初選也就塵埃落定了。
9月15日，波士頓選務局公佈非正式開票結果，也並未改變11月2日大選，將是36歲的吳弭和47歲的Annissa
Essaibi-George爭看鹿死誰手的這局面。
Annissa Essaibi-George在勞工節活動中的講話，聲勢若些。(周菊子攝)
讓人較意外的是，吳弭的得票數竟比Annissa
Essaibi-George多了1萬1702票，得票率高了將近11%。
在9月14日晚的感謝支持者發言中，吳弭強調要讓波士頓市在11月時做出對的選擇，以確保波士頓的未來是以人民為中心。Annissa Essaibi-George則在高興地讓4名兒子上台分享歡欣之後，馬上利用機會批評下半場選戰唯一對手，說波士頓市長不能讓地鐵免費，但可以整頓學校，清理麻州大道和Melnea
Cass大道那兒的吸毒者群聚問題。
在選舉的民意調查中經常排第二的波士頓代市長Kim
Janey，還有在波士頓環球報社論組表態背書支持後，選民支持度大幅上升的Andrea Campbell，得票數都超過2萬，和Annissa Essaibi-George的得票率相差不到2%，得票數相差約僅3000。這結果讓他們兩人都很失落。
Kim Janey有波士頓市前任議員Charles Yancy和現任市議員Ricardo
Arroyo支持。(周菊子攝)
Andrea
Campbell很鎮靜的在她位於洛士百利Prince Hall Grand Lodge的初選夜派對中，感謝選民，恭喜進入大選的2名對手。Kim Janey或許因為揹著波士頓代市長身分，感覺到的打擊更大些，於是並未親自出現在座落於南端夏利臣街550號的預定初選夜派對中，只以書面退讓聲明做交代。
Andrea
Campbell的得票數為21,221，得票率為19.72%。Kim Janey的得票數為20,946，得票率為19.47%。
Andrea Campbell在初選日前一晚，還在法蘭克林廣場向支持者喊話。(周菊子攝)
這次的波士頓市長選舉中，共有3名黑人候選人。在Andrea Campbell和Kim Janey之外，就是祖籍海地的John Barros。他的得票數為3,436，得票率為3.19%。
在選後的評論中，有人認為這是一場黑人又輸了的選舉，有人認為都怪黑人不團結，分散了票源，尤其是這三人的得票數相加，都投給一個人的話，就比2名擠進大選者任1人票數都多。
支持Kim Janey的媒體及傳播策略者Joyce
Ferriabough Bolling就責怪Andrea Campbell，指Kim
Janey在施政，Andrea Campbell卻不斷批評Kim
Janey的領導力。坊間也有名為”WAKANDA II”的黑人組織，呼籲黑人選民團結支持Kim
Janey。
John Barros夫妻和他們的4名子女。(周菊子攝)
前任薩福克郡治安官Andrea Cabral則認為，選舉本來就應該看誰優秀，就選誰。怎麼從來沒人認為白種男人同時參選會分散票源呢。
WBZ的政治評論家Jon Keller在談及選舉時說，他認為在黑人公職人員中，John
Barros是他見過的最優秀的一個。
評論者中也有”波士頓改變了，但改變得不夠多”的聲音。麻州公司民意調查集團董事長Steve Koczela指出，在白人居民最多的那些選區，77%的選民把票投給了吳弭或Annissa Essaibi George，而在最不白的選區，69%的選民票投給了Campbell或Janey。
在初選期間，人們的印象是Annissa Essaibi-George是保守派，吸引傳統選民，吳弭則是激進派，更受年輕人，以及想要大幅變動的人們歡迎。初選過後，她們兩人是否將調整政綱，重新出發，還有待觀察。
星期三, 9月 15, 2021
波士頓選務局公佈非正式開票結果 共10萬8千餘選民投票
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MAYOR (Vote for 1)
| BOSTON: Precincts reported: | 255 of 255 | 100.00% |
| Ballots: | 108,181 | |
| Undervotes: | 342 | |
| Overvotes: | 246 | |
| Double Votes: | 0 | |
| ANNISSA ESSAIBI GEORGE | 24,186 | 22.48% |
| RICHARD A SPAGNUOLO | 282 | 0.26% |
| ANDREA JOY CAMPBELL | 21,221 | 19.72% |
| KIM M JANEY | 20,946 | 19.47% |
| MICHELLE WU | 35,888 | 33.36% |
| JON SANTIAGO | 364 | 0.34% |
| ROBERT CAPPUCCI | 1,175 | 1.09% |
| JOHN F BARROS | 3,436 | 3.19% |
| Write-in | 94 | 0.09% |
| Total | 107,592 | 100.00% |
COUNCILLOR for DISTRICT 4 (Vote for 1)
| DISTRICT 4: Precincts reported: | 32 of 32 | 100.00% |
| Ballots: | 10,614 | |
| Undervotes: | 741 | |
| Overvotes: | 48 | |
| Double Votes: | 0 | |
| JOSETTE K WILLIAMS | 1,171 | 11.92% |
| TROY A SMITH | 423 | 4.31% |
| JOEL G RICHARDS | 1,315 | 13.38% |
| DEEQO M JIBRIL | 455 | 4.63% |
| JACOB JALEEL URENA | 183 | 1.86% |
| WILLIAM EDWARD DICKERSON III | 947 | 9.64% |
| BRIAN J WORRELL | 2,498 | 25.42% |
| EVANDRO C CARVALHO | 1,835 | 18.68% |
| LEONARD LEE SR | 974 | 9.91% |
| Write-in | 24 | 0.24% |
| Total | 9,825 | 100.00% |
COUNCILLOR for DISTRICT 6 (Vote for 1)
| DISTRICT 6: Precincts reported: | 36 of 36 | 100.00% |
| Ballots: | 21,185 | |
| Undervotes: | 2,665 | |
| Overvotes: | 36 | |
| Double Votes: | 0 | |
| KENDRA ROSALIE HICKS | 9,236 | 49.97% |
| MARY TAMER | 7,984 | 43.19% |
| WINNIE A I EKE | 1,188 | 6.43% |
| Write-in | 76 | 0.41% |
| Total | 18,484 | 100.00% |
COUNCILLOR for DISTRICT 7 (Vote for 1)
| DISTRICT 7: Precincts reported: | 27 of 27 | 100.00% |
| Ballots: | 8,522 | |
| Undervotes: | 941 | |
| Overvotes: | 30 | |
| Double Votes: | 0 | |
| ROY A OWENS SR | 1,284 | 17.00% |
| ANGELINA ANGIE CAMACHO | 1,256 | 16.63% |
| JOAO GOMES DEPINA | 407 | 5.39% |
| SANTIAGO LEON RIVERA | 568 | 7.52% |
| LORRAINE E PAYNE WHEELER | 697 | 9.23% |
| MARISA C LUSE | 550 | 7.28% |
| BRANDY M BROOKS | 741 | 9.81% |
| TANIA FERNANDES ANDERSON | 2,014 | 26.67% |
| Write-in | 34 | 0.45% |
| Total | 7,551 | 100.00% |
COUNCILLOR for DISTRICT 9 (Vote for 1)
| DISTRICT 9: Precincts reported: | 27 of 27 | 100.00% |
| Ballots: | 8,140 | |
| Undervotes: | 1,094 | |
| Overvotes: | 6 | |
| Double Votes: | 0 | |
| ERIC PORTER | 768 | 10.91% |
| LIZ A BREADON | 5,050 | 71.73% |
| MICHAEL J BIANCHI | 970 | 13.78% |
| Write-in | 252 | 3.58% |
| Total | 7,040 | 100.00% |
CITY COUNCILLOR AT LARGE (Vote for 4)
| BOSTON: Precincts reported: | 255 of 255 | 100.00% |
| Ballots: | 108,181 | |
| Undervotes: | 156,829 | |
| Overvotes: | 352 | |
| Double Votes: | 0 | |
| CARLA B MONTEIRO | 18,844 | 6.84% |
| ALTHEA GARRISON | 16,810 | 6.10% |
| BRIDGET M NEE-WALSH | 15,118 | 5.49% |
| SAID A ABDIKARIM | 7,725 | 2.80% |
| RUTHZEE LOUIJEUNE | 33,425 | 12.13% |
| KELLY F BATES | 12,735 | 4.62% |
| DAVID HALBERT | 16,921 | 6.14% |
| JULIA MEJIA | 38,765 | 14.07% |
| ROY A OWENS SR | 5,223 | 1.90% |
| NICK VANCE | 3,943 | 1.43% |
| MICHAEL F FLAHERTY | 41,299 | 14.99% |
| JON M SPILLANE | 11,155 | 4.05% |
| JAMES REGINALD COLIMON | 4,671 | 1.70% |
| ERIN J MURPHY | 22,835 | 8.29% |
| DONNIE DIONICIO PALMER JR | 6,823 | 2.48% |
| ALEXANDER J GRAY | 11,263 | 4.09% |
| DOMINGOS DAROSA | 7,139 | 2.59% |
| Write-in | 845 | 0.31% |
| Total | 275,539 | 100.00% |
NAPABA Honors President and Executive Director John C. Yang with Daniel K. Inouye Trailblazer Award
NAPABA
Honors President and Executive Director John C. Yang with Daniel K. Inouye
Trailblazer Award
Washington, D.C.—The
National Asian Pacific American Bar Association (NAPABA) announced that they
will award one of its Daniel K. Inouye Trailblazer Awards to Advancing Justice
| AAJC’s President and Executive Director John C. Yang. The award is given to
those who have demonstrated vision, courage, and tenacity that have resulted in
substantial and lasting contributions to the AAPI legal profession as well as
the broader AAPI community.
“John is more than deserving
of this distinguished award, which is NAPABA’s highest honor,” said Advancing Justice | AAJC Board Chair
Parkin Lee. “John’s long and storied career, which has seen him
in the partnership at a major law firm, as the Legal Director of the
Asia-Pacific operations of a major U.S. corporation, in a senior leadership
position within the U.S. Department of Commerce, and now as President and
Executive Director of Advancing Justice | AAJC, all while providing incredible
leadership and mentorship within the Asian American community, exemplifies the
values and achievements which NAPABA’s Trailblazer Award seeks to honor and
recognize. In his role at Advancing Justice | AAJC, John has stepped up in the
face of anti-Asian hate to educate and advocate for our community across all
sectors, from speaking up in national media and in Congress to making time to
speak to countless organizations. In addition, Advancing Justice | AAJC has
grown tremendously under his helm. Though the work has always been vital, the
dual pandemics of Covid-19 and the increased racism directed toward our
communities brought to the forefront the urgent need to provide additional
resources for those who need it most. John has truly stepped up to that
challenge and continues to fight for the most vulnerable.”
Yang is an experienced
attorney with over 25 years of policy, litigation, and corporate expertise. He
served in the Obama Administration as Senior Advisor for Trade and Strategic
Initiatives at the U.S. Department of Commerce, where he was the principal
advisor to Secretary Penny Pritzker on issues related to Asia, and worked with
the White House and other U.S. agencies on strategic and economic issues
concerning the region. He co-founded the Asian Pacific American Legal Resource
Center, a nonprofit organization dedicated to addressing the direct service
legal needs of Asian Pacific Americans in the D.C. metropolitan area, and is a
former president of NAPABA, where he continues to serve as co-chair of NAPABA’s
Judiciary and Executive Nominations and Appointments Committee.
“I am honored to receive this
award from an organization I have had the privilege to be closely involved with
over the years and have the utmost respect for,” said John C. Yang. “NAPABA
and Advancing Justice | AAJC’s work both have been instrumental in uplifting
the AAPI community, especially during these difficult times. I am grateful to
be recognized in this space and am committed to the continued work and vision
of building an equitable society for all.”
NAPABA has also recognized the
tremendous achievements and contributions of Advancing Justice | AAJC’s Board
Vice-Chair, Gina Shishima, with another of its Daniel K. Inouye Trailblazer
Awards. Gina Shishima has risen to the highest levels of management at her law
firm while remaining fully committed to supporting and advancing the Asian
American community. We are proud to have the benefit of her leadership
and her vision, and to have her honored by the Asian American legal community.
麻州府再撥款1500萬元支援地方組織為民眾提供食物
Baker-Polito Administration Announces $15 Million in Support for the Food Security Infrastructure Grant Program
Second Round of Funding Will Increase Access to Fresh Local Food, Strengthen Local Food System
BOSTON — Building on investments to address food insecurity among Massachusetts residents, the Baker-Polito Administration today announced it has made available $15 million in funding through a second round of its Food Security Infrastructure Grant Program. The funding will enable the Administration to continue to implement the recommendations of the Food Security Task Force, which was convened last year by the Massachusetts COVID-19 Command Center in response to increased demands for food assistance.
“Addressing food security issues remains a high priority of our Administration to help ensure all residents have fresh, healthy produce readily available to them,” said Governor Charlie Baker. “By working with dedicated partners, we will continue to strengthen the food distribution supply chain and address more needs throughout the Commonwealth.”
“This round of grants from the Food Security Grant program will further expand on our efforts to provide greater access to locally harvested and produced food products,” said Lieutenant Governor Karyn Polito. “With higher numbers of people experiencing food insecurity, we continue to take significant strides in ensuring fresh, locally sourced food remains widely available to the residents of Massachusetts.”
The Administration opened the funding opportunity on Wednesday, September 15, 2021 and is currently accepting applications for funding. In this round, the program is focused on addressing access to fresh food by improving and strengthening the resiliency of the Commonwealth’s food system and expanding the distribution of locally grown and sourced products to vulnerable communities. The Request for Responses for project proposals is available here, and is open until October 31, 2021.
The Administration launched the Food Security Infrastructure Grant Program last year as part of a $56 million investment to combat food insecurity for Massachusetts families and individuals. In addition to expanding access to healthy local food, the program seeks to ensure farmers, fishermen and other local food producers are better connected to a strong, resilient food system to help mitigate future food supply disruption. Last year’s program dedicated over $35.5 million to hundreds of projects to address food insecurity across the Commonwealth.
“The Baker-Polito Administration continues to dedicate critical resources to address food insecurity and ensure that residents across the Commonwealth are able to access fresh, local food,” said Energy and Environmental Affairs Kathleen Theoharides. “Building on recent investments with this additional funding will further strengthen the Commonwealth’s food distribution network, invest in local farms and fishermen and women to areas of food insecurity and build a more resilient food system.”
“The Baker-Polito Administration has been addressing increased food insecurity for families as a result of the public health emergency, building on and strengthening the infrastructure in place, and leveraging existing nutrition resources like SNAP and WIC,” said Secretary of Health and Human Services Marylou Sudders. “The $15 million in additional funds will further strengthen the food system in Massachusetts, increasing access to local, healthy food, particularly among communities hardest-hit by the COVID-19 pandemic.”
Eligible grantees include entities that are part of the Massachusetts local food system, including production, processing and distribution, the emergency food distribution network, community and food organizations, school meal programming, urban farms and community gardens, non-profits, and other organizations involved in ensuring that everyone in the Commonwealth has access to fresh, healthy foods. Applications for the second round of the Food Security Infrastructure Grant Program are due Sunday, October 31, 2021.
Eligible
proposals include, but are not limited to, projects seeking to:
- Increase the resiliency of the
overall food system in the Commonwealth;
- Increase capacity for food
storage;
- Increase capacity of local food
distribution partners;
- Increase
capacity of the emergency food network;
- Increase capacity of food
production by purchasing food processing equipment; and,
- Offer innovative solutions for urban farming.
Eligible grantees include entities that are part of the Massachusetts local food system including production, processing and distribution, the emergency food distribution network, Buy Local, community and food organizations, school meal programming, urban farms and community gardens, non-profits, and organizations that provide business planning, technical assistance and information technology services.
波士頓市府大樓亮燈慶祝西班牙傳統月
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