BOSTON FOOD TRUCK LIVE LOTTERY IS TODAY

BOSTON FOOD TRUCK LIVE LOTTERY IS TODAY

Food Trucks to Select Vending Sites for Schedule Starting April 1

BOSTON - January 20, 2015 - Today, the City of Boston’s Office of Food Initiatives will host the annual Live Lottery for food trucks vending on the public way. The Lottery will allow food truck owners to select sites for the upcoming vending year, which will start April 1, 2015. The Lottery will begin at 4:00 PM and is expected to conclude around 7:00 PM. It will include personnel from the City of Boston ,including Mobile Food Truck Committee members and staff from the Office of Food Initiatives, and all current and new food truck vendors.

“Boston’s food truck industry continues to grow with more than 80 trucks expected in 2015,” says Mayor Walsh. “Boston is a great home for small-business entrepreneurs, as is evident from the continued growth of the food truck industry. We are thrilled to be able to continue helping this industry grow.”

The names of trucks participating in the lottery will be drawn, at random, out of one of three hats, determined by the standing of the truck after the annual evaluation process. With more than 500 shifts available on the public way, the process of site selection is expected to take nearly three hours.

By the end of the evening, food truck customers will have a good sense of where they can expect to see their favorite trucks starting April 1st.

MAYOR WALSH APPOINTS ROSANNE FOLEY EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE BOSTON LANDMARKS COMMISSION

MAYOR WALSH APPOINTS ROSANNE FOLEY EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE BOSTON LANDMARKS COMMISSION

Will manage the City of Boston’s historic preservation program

BOSTON -  JANUARY 20, 2015 - Today Mayor Martin J. Walsh announced the appointment of Rosanne Foley as the Executive Director of the Boston Landmarks Commission. A longtime resident of Dorchester, Foley will manage the historic preservation program for the City of Boston, including the Boston Landmarks Commission and nine Historic Districts Commissions. Her position is in the Environment, Energy, and Open Space Cabinet, under the guidance of Chief Austin Blackmon.

“Rosanne is a community connector, who has been deeply involved in supporting and advocating for Boston’s neighborhoods and Main Streets,” said Mayor Walsh. “Rosanne has vast experience in building community partnerships, and I’m pleased to welcome her in this important leadership role.”

"I am grateful for the opportunity to be part of Mayor Walsh’s Environment, Energy and Open Space team,” said Foley. “I look forward to making use of my background and relationships to honor the unique cultural resources that exist in all Boston neighborhoods.” 

In her role, Foley will supervise and direct activities of staff members engaged in preservation surveying and planning and regulatory review. She will represent the City of Boston and the Landmarks Commission in the local, state, and national preservation communities, and interact with local, regional, and federal preservation, development, and environmental agencies.

Most recently, Foley was the Executive Director at Fields Corner Main Street where she helped build stronger relationships between area residents, merchants, and institutions. Previously, Foley was cultural events and marketing consultant for Upham’s Corner Main Street and for other Boston area arts and culture non-profit organizations. She has also worked with Go Local MetroBoston, a social enterprise start up, and Codman Square Health Center. Foley held the position of Director at GreenDorchester, a grassroots environmental action collaborative for 8 years, helping to launch Boston’s first local bike advocacy group, two farmers’ markets, and a food co-op.

Foley has provided leadership in advisory positions for the City, state, and area non-profits, including the Ashmont MBTA Station Citizens Advisory Committee, the Codman Square Main Street Design Committee, the Dorchester Arts Collaborative, the Dorchester Historical Society, and the Metropolitan Beaches Commission.

Foley is a graduate of Northeastern University with a degree in History and Art History.

There are more than 8,000 properties located in the City’s nine local Historic Districts or designated as individual Boston Landmarks. This includes buildings, structures, sites, and areas that have shaped the City from its beginning to the present day. The Boston Landmarks Commission, along with the local historic district commissions, provides information and assistance concerning the regulatory process, historic preservation planning and protection, archaeology, sources for historical information, and technical assistance.

SOUTH SHORE PHYSICIAN HOSPITAL ORGANIZATION TO PAY $1.77 MILLION OVER ALLEGED KICKBACKS FOR PATIENT REFERRALS

SOUTH SHORE PHYSICIAN HOSPITAL ORGANIZATION TO PAY $1.77 MILLION OVER ALLEGED KICKBACKS FOR PATIENT REFERRALSState-Federal Agreement Alleges Defendants Operated Unlawful Grant Program; Massachusetts to Receive $620,000

            BOSTON – The South Shore Physician Hospital Organization in South Weymouth has agreed to pay a total of $1.77 million to settle allegations of operating a recruitment grant program through which it paid kickbacks to its physician members in exchange for patient referrals, Attorney General Martha Coakley announced today. Massachusetts will receive a total of $620,000. 

In a consent judgment, and related settlement agreement, entered today against South Shore Physician Hospital Organization, Inc. (SSPHO) and its member organizations, South Shore Hospital, Inc. and Physicians Organization of the South Shore, Inc. (POSS), AG Coakley alleges that SSPHO paid kickbacks in the form of cash grants via a recruitment grant program. Over the course of the program, from 2001 to 2010, SSPHO allegedly approved 103 separate grants to 33 different physician groups.

“Instead of giving patients lower cost options and flexibility in health care services, we allege these defendants looked to increase their referrals through an unlawful kickback operation,” AG Coakley said. “We are pleased to have worked with our partners in federal law enforcement to ensure that improper incentives do not undermine the integrity of our healthcare system.”

According to the settlement, the defendants voluntarily disclosed the operation of the recruitment grant program in 2012 to the AG’s Office, the United States Department of Justice and the Office of Inspector General for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The defendants cooperated fully with the investigation.

As part of the recruitment grant program, SSPHO allegedly sent letters to grant recipients with specific terms, including requirements to refer patients to participating providers, which include the South Shore Hospital. Over time, SSPHO emphasized the importance of ensuring a continued increase in patient referrals.

As a result of this conduct, SSPHO and its member organizations allegedly caused participating providers who received referrals from grant recipients to submit false claims for payment to the Medicare Program and the Massachusetts Medicaid program (MassHealth), because those claims were made in violation of the Anti-Kickback statute, and violated the Massachusetts Consumer Protection Act.  

Under the terms of the settlement, SSPHO will pay a total of $1.775 million, including more than $620,000 to the Commonwealth, $310,625 of which will go directly to MassHealth.  The remainder will be paid to the federal government.

This matter was investigated by the Attorney General’s Office, along with the United States Department of Justice and the Office of Inspector General for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, and was handled by Assistant Attorneys General Courtney Aladro and Eric Gold of the Health Care Division and Angela Neal of the Medicaid Fraud Division.

麻州紀念馬丁路德金 強調邁向族裔平等人民仍需努力

六名麻州政要昨（十九）日一大早趕到波士頓會議展覽中心，出席第四十五屆馬丁路德金（Martin Luther King Jr.）紀念早餐會，向近千名出席者發表感言。

            馬丁路德金在1968年四月被刺殺身亡時，年僅三十九歲。

            麻州州長查理貝克（Charlie Baker）在發言結束時引用馬丁路德金的話，“我有個夢…，這個國家終有一日會….所有人都生而平等”。

這場馬丁路德金早餐會的嘉賓，約有一半為神職人員，政要包括麻州州長查理貝克（Charlie Baker），波士頓市長馬丁華殊（Martin Walsh），代表麻州的聯邦參議員馬基（Edward Markey），麻州總檢察官奚莉（Maura Healey），麻州參議員陳翟蘇妮（Sonia Chang Diaz）。另一名代表麻州的聯邦參議員伊莉莎白沃倫（Elisabeth Warren）未克出席，但以錄影帶致詞。

            查理貝克昨日的發言不長。他認為在馬丁路德短暫一生中，最感人的是他在伯明罕監獄寫的信。他還引用馬丁的名言“任何地方有不正義，都會對每一個地方的正義形成威脅（Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere）”，藉以強調要維護馬丁的理念，人們還有很多工作要做。

            查理貝克還表示，這天應該同時紀念另一位民權鬥士，甫於今年一月三日過世，曾任麻州聯邦參議員，直至2014年時仍是非洲裔人士中全美唯一曾任聯邦參議員的Edward Brook。

            波士頓市長馬丁華殊直指這天是波士頓最重要的傳統之一。五十年前，馬丁路德金在波士頓公園向二萬二千多名波士頓人喊話，呼籲人權平等，引起了全世界關注，也促成聯邦政府通過了投票權法案。上週他發表第一次市情咨文時，也引用馬丁路德金的話，強調平等是波士頓社區發展的基礎，他呼籲大波士頓人團結一致，讓馬丁路德金的夢想境界在波士頓實現。

            麻州聯邦參議員伊莉莎白沃倫以錄影帶發言，指人們每年這天聚在一起，都是為了紀念馬丁路德金的呼籲人們採取行動，爭取平等，人權。她指出，要防止那些倒轉歷史進展的行動，人們還有許多工作要做。

            麻州聯邦參議員馬基昨日的發言，不但聲音激昂，也不斷博得掌聲。他表示，如果當年沒有馬丁路德金，今日的奧巴馬就不可能當選美國總統。在弗古森，紐約或波士頓等地的事件中，人們都忘了馬丁路德金給人的指導，馬丁路德金所提出的理想美國夢似乎也離一般人越來越遠。他強調，人們需要的不只是人權平等，還要經濟平等，從馬丁路德金的時代到今天，社會中百分之一最有錢人的收入倍增了，佔全美收入一半以上，但社會中卻有四千九百萬人生活在貧窮中。儘管美國的失業率改善了，非洲裔人的失業率卻仍高達11%，要達到馬丁路德金的理想，人們還有許多工作要做。

            昨日這場早餐會，主辦單位還邀請了1960年代著名民權人士，如今是建築師，媒體顧問，電影製作人，強調必須消除種族歧視的Topper Carew做主講人。司儀是美聯社本地市場企業發展主任Ebony Reed。

         早餐會的收入將捐作學生獎學金，或辦理社區活動的費用。

            昨日，大波士頓地區活躍份子還響應全美其他城市的大遊行活動，有數以千計的人從舊州政府大樓出發，匯聚到畢肯街上的非洲人議會廳（African Meeting House），抗議警察暴力，呼籲執法改革。

圖片說明：

            麻州州長查理貝克（Charlie Baker）展示他給馬丁路德金日的表揚狀，指馬丁路德金強調的人人生而平等影響深遠。（菊子攝）

            波士頓市長馬丁華殊（Martin Walsh）指馬丁路德金紀念早餐會是波士頓最重要的傳統之一。（菊子攝）

            麻州聯邦參議員伊莉莎白沃倫藉錄影帶參加波士頓的馬丁路德金日活動。（菊子攝）

            麻州聯邦參議員馬基在馬丁路德金紀念早餐會中的發言，聲調激昂，例舉數據，博得掌聲。（菊子）

            麻州長查理貝克（左二），波市長馬丁華殊（左三），麻州總檢察官奚莉（左六），麻州聯邦參議員馬基（右四），麻州參議員陳翟蘇妮（右一）等人在出席早餐會前先合影。（菊子攝）

            麻州長查理貝克（左二），波市長馬丁華殊（左三），麻州總檢察官奚莉（左六），麻州聯邦參議員馬基（右四），麻州參議員陳翟蘇妮（右一）等人在出席早餐會前先合影。（波市府提供，Don Harney攝）

麻州總檢察官 Healey 將推出社區參與計劃

麻州總檢察官奚莉（Maura Healey）昨（十九）日在馬丁路德金紀念早餐會上宣佈，將推出“社區參與計畫(Community Engagement Initiatives)，致力消弭貧富不均（disparity）。

1971年二月八日出生，現年僅四十三歲的奚莉，是過去以來，唯一一名在馬丁路德金過世後才出生的麻州總檢察官。她揚言要讓麻州總檢察辦公室成為人們的律師樓（people’s law firm）。

她指出，當貧富差距越來越大時，人們之間的溝通，信任也開始越來越少。

一月廿一日（週三）她宣誓就任後，將推出“社區參與計畫“，專責進入社區，聆聽人們有什麼問題或憂慮，並確保員工都受過適當的多元文化訓練，以重塑人民與政府間的互信。她的辦公室要致力消滅不平等，無論是住宅，就業或教育上的歧視等等，在案件起訴或是服務上，他們都將從平等角度出發，努力實現馬定路德金的遠見。

圖片說明：

            麻州總檢察官奚莉誓言消滅不平等。（菊子攝）

僑委會2015英語服務營二月底前接受報名

波士頓華僑文教中心十七日下午辦說明會，為有意參加2015年海外華裔青年英語服務營者釋疑解惑，並提醒社區大眾，二月一日至廿八日接受報名，三月底公佈錄取結果。

僑務委員會和教育部主辦的「2015年海外華裔青年英語服務營」，訂7 月5日至8月1日舉行，為期4 週，預計招募包括70名客籍青年志工在內的華裔青年420 人。

波士頓華僑文教中心為幫助有意參加活動的學生，家長了解這活動的詳細內容，十七日特地邀請去年到雲林縣/崙背國中服務，目前在麻州大學就讀的許彥竹來分享經驗，還放映了一段僑委會拍攝的活動介紹錄影片。

住在麻州南郊的李承娥，當天陪著兒子梅銳（Meday High）出席。她透露，早就想送兒子參加這活動，但那時兒子才十二歲，好不容易等了五年，終於符合年齡要求了，趕快來進一步暸解。

今年將從蔚藍高中畢業的陳均豪，當天自己趕來。他透露自己一邊唸書，一邊在餐館當侍應生，在牛頓中文學校教扯鈴，自己開班教中文的做三份工作，已存了一筆錢，打算今夏去台灣，特地來瞭解一下這英語營，考慮是否申請，好一舉兩得。

當天出席的家長，學生，問了不少問題，包括得準備多少零用錢，派往服務的學校是不是很偏遠，被蚊子咬得機會多大，教室有沒冷氣，一天要教課幾小時等等。

僑教中心主任郭大文和承辦英語營業務的陳美樺指出，英語營志工老師在台灣食宿費用，都由僑委會負責。許彥竹表示，他自己為了買書，買紀念品，大概準備了二千多元台幣的零用錢。

許彥竹在回答其他問題時表示，台灣的確有蚊子，但他遇到的情況還好。他服務的那所學校，教室沒冷氣，但老師備課的房間有。參加英語營服務的最大好處是學會紀律，培養了領導力，還更深切體會到中美文化的不同。

郭大文指出，僑委會舉辦這一活動，既給青少年不同的生活體驗，增廣見聞，也為培養青少年對台灣的認同感，希望他們能把在台期間見到的台灣之美，帶回美國，廣告週知。李承娥同意的表示，這是傳承，連結，認同。

郭大文還在回應出席者提問時表示，波士頓華僑文教中心過去幾年來，大約每年收到廿多份申請書，僑委會一般錄取七名左右。

            有意報名英語營者，可上僑務委員會網站( www.ocac.gov.tw ) / 國內研習資訊專區，做線上報名。查詢詳情可洽波士頓華僑文教中心，(617) 965-8801，或上臉書https://zh-tw.facebook.com/bostonocac。

圖片說明：

            波士頓華僑文教中心主任郭大文（右一），講者許彥竹（左四）和出席說明會的一部分人，會後合影。右起，李承娥，陳均豪，梅銳，江彥龍， 張銘珊，譚宇廷（左一）。

            許彥竹（左一）和出席者一起欣賞僑委會的錄影帶。（菊子攝）

Boston Disability Commission Advisory Board Accepting Applications for New Members

Boston Disability Commission Advisory Board

Accepting Applications for New Members

BOSTON -  JANUARY 20, 2015 - Mayor Martin J. Walsh announced that the City of Boston is currently accepting applications from residents to serve as members on the Disability Commission Advisory Board in City Hall.

The Disability Commission Advisory Board is made up of nine members who inform and advise the City Administration on policies and procedures that impact persons with disabilities. Their goal is to help improve access and inclusion of persons with disabilities who live, work, visit, and commute to Boston.

Members are appointed by the Mayor to serve in a volunteer capacity for a term of three years. All applicants must be residents of the City of Boston, have a disability or family member who is disabled, and commit to attending monthly meetings. Applications are now being accepted from individuals who reflect the diversity of Boston’s neighborhoods, cultures, and abilities.

Letters of interest are due by March 1, 2015, and should include a resume if possible. Please send all information by email to the attention of: Kristen McCosh, Commissioner for Persons with Disabilities, kristen.mccosh@boston.gov or by mail to: Mayor’s Commission for Persons with Disabilities, One City Hall Square, Room 967, Boston, MA 02201.

Any questions can be directed to Kristen McCosh as well at kristen.mccosh@boston.gov or by phone at 617-635-3682. For more information on membership, please visit our website at: www.cityofboston.gov/disability/commission.asp.