麻州長促民眾投票給支持移民改革法候選人

麻州州長派區克（Deval Patrick）昨（二）日下午召開族裔媒體記者會，強調移民社區必須以選票促使政府重視他們關心的事。要推動移民改革法，就得在大選時用選票把支持移民改革法的候選人送進國會。

            派區克也宣佈了麻州難民及移民辦公室的人事變動。現任主任Josiane Martinez將離任，幕僚長Marcony Almeida-Barros預定七月十八日正式接任。

        已宣佈不再競選連任，明年一月將卸任的麻州州長派區克（Deval Patrick）指出，能因“家務工人法”通過而獲益的人數，其實十分少，但草根群眾關注，推動，促成此法迅速通過。他希望提醒那些不關心政務的人，要把政府當作是他們自己的，以選票來催促，監督代表他們的議員，能做什麼，該做什麼。

            派區克簡述了他最近的政績，包括上個月才簽署提高麻州最低薪資法，使麻州最低時薪在2017年時將提高到十一元，成為全美各州最低薪資最高的一州。麻州的十年十億元計劃，已使麻州成為全美的生命科學領域樞紐，也讓麻州在甫落幕的聖地牙哥2014國際生物會議（BIO）中大放光芒。麻州的經濟改善，也從失業率降到24年以來最低點可証。他表示，這是麻州持續在教育，創新，基礎設施上投資換來的成就。

            派區克昨日在會上回答了族裔媒體的各種問題，包括沒想到那麼快就再次應邀訪問巴拿馬；春田市面對的問題與聯邦法規有關；他對社區安全法的態度並未改變，要求州警不要執行聯邦勤務，給非法移民駕照是為確保道路上所有人的安全，州內學費法目前幫助了一千人上下。派區克強調，他並不是認為違法沒關係，但違反程度輕重的幅度，值得衡量。

他認為在現代社會模式下，資金是全球性的，勞力卻是地方性的，要促進麻州的經濟繁榮，就必須想法留住人才。他因此提出“駐地企業家”計劃。

2015年度麻州預算中的“學生創業發展及經濟投資基金（Student Entrepreneurial Development and Economic Investment Fund ）“，就是為了因應聯邦政府H1-B工作簽證不敷所需，想出來的辦法。

派區克表示，律師告訴他們，如果學生們畢業後，自行創業，並以兼差工作方式，和大學保持關係，就可不受這H1-B簽證限制，而且好處是沒有名額限制。州政府因此訂出鼓勵學生創業的辦法。

圖片說明：

            麻州州長派區克（右）和麻州難民及移民辦公室主任Josiane Martinez一起主持會議。（菊子攝）

            麻州州長派區克每次出席活動，都有人要求合照。（菊子攝）

麻州家務工人2015年起有保障

麻州州長派區克（Deval Patrick）昨（二）日在麻州政府大樓舉行編號S2132的“家務工人（Domestic Work）法簽署儀式。2015年四月一日生效後，估計有六萬七千人可獲益。

麻州州長派區克六月廿六日時已正式簽署此法。昨日在州政府大樓二樓舉行儀式，是為推動此法的州市議員，社區機構，家務工人等可以一起慶祝。

派區克表示，家務工人代表麻州人力中重要的一部份，對麻州經濟也有重大貢獻。這一法案將保護家務工人們享有州內所有其他工人所享有的基本工作場所權益。

            該法案保障家務工人可以得到吃飯，休息時間，可以發出中止服務通知，獲得工作評估等。該法也釐清了家務工人的工作責任，以及相關州法，包括僱主可在食物，住宿上做多少扣減等。

            2015年四月一日此法生效後，麻州總檢察官辦公室將負責執行此法賦予家務工人的權益。

            該法也確保家務工人免於遭受歧視，性騷擾，並可在麻州反歧視局的管轄權下，把僱主訴之於法。

            麻州參議員Anthony Petruccelli，麻州眾議員Michael Moran是這一法案的發起者。他倆表示，民眾反映家務工人需要保障，催促他們想辦法，他們才於2013年一月向議會提出訂立此法的要求。在議會法案經常一拖經年中，該法案僅歷時一年半就通過，Anthony Petruccelli笑說，因為他們有“魔術棒”。

            他們倆人在推動此法時，深知要爭取議員支持，必須有更多地方支持，在波士頓市首名華裔市議員吳弭（Michelle Wu）進入市議會服務後，請她協助來促請地方關注。她進入議會後遞出的第一項決議案（resolution）就是支持麻州議員們推動的“家務工人法”。昨日她因此成為唯一獲邀參加法案簽署儀式的波士頓市議員。

            波士頓市長馬丁華殊（Martin Walsh）昨（二）日特地出席“家務工人法”簽署儀式。他表示，這法案糾正了長期以來的不公平，讓麻州家務工人也能得到基本保護。

            他透露，他母親當年從愛爾蘭移民來美時，就當過家務工人，他太清楚現有法令是如何貶低女性，移民，有色人種的工作價值。他很感謝波士頓市議員們在推動這法案上所扮演的帶頭角色。

            根據大波士頓法律服務首席律師 Monica Halas，以及麻州議會在網上公佈的議案內容，“家務工人法”保障了家務工人每工作七天，至少可以休息一天，可享有產假，可在工作三個月後，向僱主索取一份工作表現評估，此後每年可要求一份。在有可據以執行的法令後，家務工人可免於遭受歧視，性騷擾，或不合法的被扣減食物，住宿費，也不必害怕舉報僱主違反工資法而遭報復。若僱主要求住在雇主家的褓姆遷出，必須發出三十天的書面通知，並在原居住處或其他地方，提供三十天的住宿，或發給等同於兩週工資的遣散費。僱主必須製作工資及工時記錄等等。

            在麻州之外，還有紐約州，加州，夏威夷州定有家務工人保護法。麻州勞工標準局將設計多語言的外展項目來教育麻州家務工人，他們所享有的權益。

圖片說明：

            麻州州長派區克（前中）簽署“家務工人法”。波士頓市長馬丁華殊（Martin Walsh）（前左一），波士頓市議員吳弭（後左一）等人一起合影。（菊子攝）

            麻州參議員Anthony Petruccelli（右起），波士頓市議員吳弭（Michelle Wu），麻州眾議員Michael Moran等三人，都是“家務工人法”的推動功臣。（菊子攝）

Mayor Walsh’s Civic Academies to Hold First Class in South Boston 7/12

Mayor Walsh’s Civic Academies to Hold First Class in South Boston

BOSTON—Mayor Walsh announced today that his first Civic Academy class will be held on Saturday, July 12, from 11:00AM to 2:00PM at District Hall in South Boston. Mayor Walsh’s Civic Academies is a new program, focused on cultivating civic leaders throughout Boston neighborhoods.

“I want residents from every corner of Boston to share a sense of ownership and civic engagement,” said Mayor Walsh. “We’re setting up these Civic Academies in hopes of coming together to learn more about ways to interact effectively with local government.”

Main Goals of Mayor Walsh’s Civic Academies:

• Provide an outlet for all residents to collaborate with local government
• Develop a better understanding of how to serve Boston residents
• Create learning opportunities that support civic engagement and community service

The first session will be presented by social media experts Lindsay Crudele, Community and Social Technology Strategist with the City of Boston’s Department of Innovation & Technology, and Charles McEnerney, Principal at Layers Marketing. They will present best practices and helpful tips regarding ways Boston residents can be civically engaged through technology and social media platforms.

The survey to gauge public interests around Mayor Walsh’s Civic Academies is still open. For more information, visit:http://www.cityofboston.gov/news/Default.aspx?id=10659. 

紅襪隊邀球迷 7/5 試戴 Ortiz的 2013 MVP戒指

FANS INVITED TO TRY ON DAVID ORTIZ’S MVP RING

AT FENWAY PARK ON SATURDAY FROM 11 A.M. TO 5 P.M.

Three World Series Rings, World Series Trophies, and Wally Available for Photos

BOSTON, MA – The Red Sox Foundation will give fans the opportunity to try on David Ortiz’s actual 2013 MVP ring thisSaturday, July 5, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Fenway Park – the first time the slugger has allowed his MVP ring to be shown and tried on by the public. Ortiz was presented with the special 14-karat white gold ring for his 2013 postseason performance.

The ring features nine custom-cut genuine rubies depicting the hanging sox logo over a handset diamond pave surface. The words “World Series” encircle the top of the ring, and above the hanging sox is a diamond crest, forming the letters MVP.

The 2004, 2007, and 2013 World Series rings will also be available for fans to try on, and Wally the Green Monster will be on hand for photos (11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m.) along with the three World Series trophies (1-5 p.m.). The event promotes the Red Sox Foundation’s World Series Ring Raffle which is raising funds to support families throughout New England.

Those interested in attending may enter the ballpark through Gate E and are asked to purchase a raffle ticket on site to gain entry. Raffle tickets start at $10 with five chances to win.  Proceeds will benefit the Red Sox Foundation.

The foundation’s World Series ring raffle gives fans a chance to win their own set of authentic, World Series rings by purchasing tickets online at redsox.com/ringraffle and at the ballpark during games. The raffle will run until July 27 with a grand prize comprising the 2004, 2007, and 2013 World Series rings.

In addition to the first place prize of three World Series Championship rings, the second place raffle winner will receive a pair of 2013 World Series rings, and third place winner will receive a single 2013 World Series ring.

波士頓國慶煙火音樂會提前至七月三日舉行

         每年都在七月四日舉行的波士頓流行交響樂團音樂會，查理士河畔的煙火，今年因為“亞瑟（Arthur）“颱風來襲，將提前到七月三日舉行。

         麻州州警(Timothy Alben)表示，這不是個理想情況，但天氣因素必須應付。

         七月三日原本排定有綵排的音樂會，已經預計會吸引七萬五千人到蜆殼劇場（Hatch Shell），河岸去了。

         麻州州警表示，他們研究了天氣報告，和國家氣象局的專家們談了之後，決定七月三日會是比較好的舉行音樂和放煙火的日子，儘管這天大概也會下雨。

         以往的七月四日國慶煙火音樂會，總能吸引六十萬到一百萬人圍觀。警方估計，由於日子突然改動，今年人數會少些。

         波士頓交響樂團表示，音樂會將從晚上八點開始。民眾下午五點就可以進場了。

            麻州州警表示，Storrow大道將從中午開始封街，紀念道（Memorial Drive）會從下午六點開始封街，麻州大道以及朗費羅橋也會從下午六點起封閉。
            查閱音樂會相關詳情，可上網 http://bostonpopsjuly4th.org。

FOUR TOP U.S. GRADUATES JOIN B.A.A.

FOUR TOP U.S. GRADUATES JOIN B.A.A.

BOSTON – Four outstanding, female distance and middle distance runners have joined the Boston Athletic Association, the organization has announced. Elaina Balouris, Juliet Bottorff, and Emily Lipari completed their collegiate eligibility in June, and they will reside and train in Boston , representing the B.A.A.  These athletes will join Katie Matthews, another recent graduate who has been training and racing with the B.A.A. since the beginning of this year when she completed her collegiate eligibility.  All four women are part of the B.A.A.’s new high performance team and will be coached by the B.A.A.’s Terrence Mahon.

Three-time U.S. Olympian Jen Rhines (2000, Sydney , 10,000 meters; 2004, Athens , marathon; and 2008, Beijing , 5,000 meters) was the first athlete to become part of the high performance team when the B.A.A. announced the launch of the program last Autumn. She is among the most accomplished female distance runners in U.S. history.

“The objective of the B.A.A.’s high performance group of athletes is to support American runners on their way towards making international teams and to compete at the Olympic and world championship level,” said Mahon .  “Each of these talented women is capable of transitioning from a decorated U.S. collegiate career to a successful professional career, and we look forward to providing them with a complete infrastructure with which to meet this goal.”

adidas, the long-time sponsor of the Boston Athletic Association and B.A.A. events – including the Boston Marathon®, provides essential financial support and equipment for the B.A.A.’s high performance initiative.

The athletes announced will begin representing the B.A.A. immediately at races.

Newly-joined B.A.A. athletes (in alphabetical order):

Elania Balouris

College: William and Mary

Hometown: Allison Park, Penn.

Recent highlight: Fifth place at the 2014 NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championship at 10,000 meters.

Athlete Bio

Juliet Bottorff

College: Duke University

Hometown: Newark , Delaware

Highlights: 2011 NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Champion (10,000 meters); third place at 10,000 meters and 5th place at 5,000 meters at the 2014 NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships; fourth place at the 2014 USA Track & Field Outdoor Championship (10,000 meters).

Athlete Bio

Emily Lipari

College: Villanova University

Hometown: Greenvale , New York

Recent highlights: 2014 NCAA Indoor Track & Field Champion (mile); fourth place at the 2014 NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championship (1500 meters).

Athlete Bio

Katie Matthews

College: Boston University

Hometown: Rocky Hill, Conn.

Highlights: Fifth place at the 2013 NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championship at 10,000 meters; fifth place at the 2013 NCAA Indoor Track & Field Championship at 5,000 meters.

Athlete Bio

Also:

Jen Rhines

College: Villanova University

Hometown: Liverpool , New York

Highlights: (U.S. Olympian in 2000, 10,000 meters; U.S. Olympian in 2004, marathon; and U.S. Olympian in 2008, 5,000 meters);

Five-time NCAA individual champion; multiple-time USA Track & Field track and road race champion.

IAAF Bio and USATF Bio