華美福利會公佈暖氣補助細節

Asian American Civic Association started accepting new applications to the Fuel Assistance program on November 1 until April 30 2016. Would it be possible for you to place an announcement on
your newspaper from now to April 2016? Please see the text below.

暖氣補助計劃是幫助低收入家庭於冬季期間繳付暖氣費用.
申請日期: 11/1/2015 至 4/30/2016
申請資格: (1) 波士頓 (Boston), 布碌鄰 (Brookline)及牛頓市(Newton)居民. 凡合資格的申請者皆可獲得電費,
煤氣費及電話費等的折扣優惠. 歡迎有興趣申請的人士致電 (617) 426-9492 分機0號或到華美福利會預約.

家庭人數	稅前年薪        $	家庭人數	稅前年薪   $
1	33,126	5	73,897
2	43,319	6	84,089
3	53,511	7	86,000
4	63,704	8	87,912

Fuel Assistance Program is a Federally-funded program that helps
low-income households with their home heating bills in winter season.
All eligible Fuel Assistance applicants will receive discounted gas,
electric and telephone rates.

Application date: 11/1/2015 to 4/30/2016
Eligibility: (1) Residents of Boston, Brookline or Newton
To apply, please call (617)426-9492 ext: 0 or go to AACA to make an appointment.

Household Number	Gross Annual Income       $	Household Number	Gross Annual Income   $
1	33,126	5	73,897
2	43,319	6	84,089
3	53,511	7	86,000
4	63,704	8	87,912

Thanks,

Scarlett

On Mon, Nov 9, 2015 at 11:56 AM, Scarlett Wu<scarlettwu@aaca-boston.org> wrote:

Hi Chutze,

Asian American Civic Association starts accepting new applications to the Fuel Assistance program on November 1 until April 30 2016. Would it be possible for you to place an announcement on
your newspaper? Please see the text below.

暖氣補助計劃是幫助低收入家庭於冬季期間繳付暖氣費用.
申請日期: 11/1/2015 至 4/30/2016
申請資格: (1) 波士頓 (Boston), 布碌鄰 (Brookline)及牛頓市(Newton)居民. 凡合資格的申請者皆可獲得電費,
煤氣費及電話費等的折扣優惠. 歡迎有興趣申請的人士致電 (617) 426-9492 分機0號或到華美福利會預約.

家庭人數	稅前年薪        $	家庭人數	稅前年薪   $
1	33,126	5	73,897
2	43,319	6	84,089
3	53,511	7	86,000
4	63,704	8	87,912

Fuel Assistance Program is a Federally-funded program that helps
low-income households with their home heating bills in winter season.
All eligible Fuel Assistance applicants will receive discounted gas,
electric and telephone rates.

Application date: 11/1/2015 to 4/30/2016
Eligibility: (1) Residents of Boston, Brookline or Newton
To apply, please call (617)426-9492 ext: 0 or go to AACA to make an appointment.

Household Number	Gross Annual Income       $	Household Number	Gross Annual Income   $
1	33,126	5	73,897
2	43,319	6	84,089
3	53,511	7	86,000
4	63,704	8	87,912

Thanks,

Scarlett

-- 

280,000 Low-Wage Workers in Massachusetts To Get New Year’s Raise

280,000 Low-Wage Workers in Massachusetts To Get New Year’s Raise

Minimum Wage to Rise from $9 to $10; Second of Three $1 Increases

BOSTON – On January 1, 2015, 280,000 low-wage workers in Massachusetts will get their second consecutive annual raise when the state’s minimum wage rises from $9 to $10 an hour, the second of three annual $1 increases.  January 2017 will give Massachusetts the highest statewide minimum wage in the country at $11 an hour.

Raise Up Massachusetts, a coalition of more than 100 community organizations, religious groups, and labor unions, collected more than 193,000 signatures to put a minimum wage increase on the November 2014 ballot. In June 2014, the Legislature and Raise Up Massachusetts worked together to craft legislation giving Massachusetts the highest stateside minimum wage in the country and avoiding the need for a ballot campaign.

“I was proud to help shepherd our nationally-heralded minimum wage bill through the Legislature, which is now reinvigorating our work in the fight to achieve economic equality,” said House Speaker Robert A. DeLeo. “With this raise we will improve conditions for working families, provide a vehicle for economic growth and strengthen the Commonwealth’s social and economic fabric. I thank the SEIU, the many labor groups who made their voices heard and, importantly, Massachusetts’ hardworking residents for their feedback as we sculpted this bill.”

“The Senate is proud of our Commonwealth’s leadership role in allowing our hardworking residents to better provide for themselves and their families, said Senate President Stanley Rosenberg.  “We look forward to continuing efforts with the Coalition to share our prosperity widely and fairly.”

By 2017, increasing the minimum wage to $11 per hour will raise the wages of approximately 450,000 workers in Massachusetts, according to the Massachusetts Budget and Policy Center. The legislation also increases wages for tipped workers to $3.75 per hour by 2017. Current law sets wages at $2.63 for tipped workers.

“Raising the minimum wage puts more money in the hands of working families and helps strengthen our economy,” said Deb Fastino, Co-Chair of Raise Up Massachusetts and Executive Director of the Coalition for Social Justice (CSJ). “When hard-working people have extra money to spend in their neighborhoods, we’re all better off.”

“Our religious values tell us that all people deserve a just wage,” said Lew Finfer, Co-Chair of Raise Up Massachusetts and Director of the faith-based Massachusetts Communities Action Network (MCAN). “We are called by God to act to bring justice for all. In the Book of Isaiah, Chapter 65, God called on us to work for a world where `they shall not labor in vain.’ That's why we expanded a lot of blood, sweat, and tears to collect those signatures and get this passed."

“Raising the minimum wage is the best way to sustain the economic stability of low wage workers and ensure that they can support their families,” said Harris Gruman, Co-Chair of Raise Up Massachusetts and Massachusetts State Director of the Service Employees International Union (SEIU). “We were glad to work with the Legislature to pass this historic legislation, and we look forward to working with them in the future to build an economy that works for everyone.”

If employees do not receive the wage increase that is due starting January 1, they should call the Attorney General's Fair Labor Hotline at (617) 727-3465 and file a Wage Complaint Form through the Attorney General's website.

DORCHESTER STORE TO PAY MORE THAN $100,000 FOR FAILURE TO PAY PROPER WAGES, FAILURE TO KEEP ACCURATE PAYROLL RECORDS

DORCHESTER STORE TO PAY MORE THAN $100,000 FOR FAILURE TO PAY PROPER WAGES, FAILURE TO KEEP ACCURATE PAYROLL RECORDS

Company to Pay Restitution and Penalties for Failing to Comply with Massachusetts Wage and Hour Laws

            BOSTON – A Dorchester grocery store and its owner have agreed to pay more than $100,000 for failing to properly pay their employees in violation of the state’s wage and hour laws and for failure to maintain required payroll records, Attorney General Maura Healey announced today.

Truong-Thinh Market, Inc. and its president, Joseph Pham, have agreed to pay more than $84,000 in restitution to workers and more than $21,000 in penalties for failure to pay minimum and overtime wages and for failing to keep accurate payroll records.

“This business took advantage of its workers by failing to pay them the appropriate hard-earned wages they were entitled to,” AG Healey said. “We will continue to advocate on behalf of Massachusetts workers to make sure they know their rights and don’t fall victim to unfair and exploitative employment practices.”    

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         

In July 2015, the AG’s Office began its investigation of Truong-Thinh Market, following complaints from several employees.

The investigation determined that, from September 2013 to August 2015, a total of seven employees were not paid minimum wage or the proper overtime rate. Employees were working more than 40 hours per week and were paid a salary in cash that did not meet the statutory requirements for minimum wage or overtime. The state’s Overtime Law requires employers to pay qualifying employees time and one half their regular rate of pay for all hours worked over 40 in a work week. The store and Pham also failed to keep accurate payroll records.

This case serves as an example of the office’s focus on providing economic security to the residents of Massachusetts, particularly vulnerable workers. The AG’s Office enforces the laws regulating the payment of wages, including prevailing wage, minimum wage and overtime laws. Workers who believe that their rights have been violated in their workplace are encouraged to call the Office’s Fair Labor Hotline at (617) 727-3465. More information about the state's wage and hour laws is also available in multiple languages at the Attorney General's Workplace Rights website www.massworkrights.com.

This matter was handled by Assistant Attorney General Lisa Price and Investigator Christina Lopez of Attorney General Maura Healey’s Fair Labor Division.

周美桃養生舞團在聖沾士教堂聚會表演慶聖誕

圖片轉載自陳建立

Governor Baker Updates Public on RMV’s Customer Service Progress

Governor Baker Updates Public on RMV’s Customer Service Progress

Announces permanent appointment of Erin Deveney as RMV Registrar

BOSTON – Governor Charlie Baker, Lt. Governor Karyn Polito and MassDOT Secretary and CEO Stephanie Pollack today visited the Registry of Motor Vehicles (RMV) Haymarket Branch to highlight recent progress on customer service improvements across the Commonwealth and to announce the permanent appointment of Erin Deveney as Registrar.

“Restoring a customer-service centered approach at the Registry of Motor Vehicles has brought about substantial progress toward decreasing wait times and giving people back precious hours of their working day,” said Governor Charlie Baker. “With more work still to be done, I am proud to officially announce Erin’s permanent appointment as Registrar and consider her to be a true leader who has proven her commitment and ability to lead and move the Registry in the right direction.”

Over the last year, the RMV has been working to improve its ability to problem solve, using detailed analysis techniques to evaluate progress being made.  Key accomplishments over the last year included improving customer wait times, increasing the use of existing alternative service channels, and increasing RMV staff performance measured by improving staff accountability and customer treatment.

“Under the leadership of Erin Deveney, the Registry has made great progress in decreasing customer wait times, and improving outreach to customers whether through promoting MassRMV.com or our AAA locations,” said MassDOT Secretary and CEO Stephanie Pollack.  “I am thrilled that Erin will serve permanently as the Registrar and continue the great work that has started earlier of the year.”

One of the ways in which the RMV has improved customer wait times is through the use of dual line queuing.  Through this system, there is a “Ready to Go Line” or Green Line for prepared customers to immediately go into line, and the Orange Line is for customers who need more assistance and who need to perform lengthier transactions.  Since September, eleven branches have converted to using this system and there is a plan to convert the remaining branches by the end of first quarter of CY16.

The new queuing system has proven to save customers the time that they used to spend waiting in line at the RMV even with increases in customer volume. The system has eliminated the hidden wait time customers experienced waiting in line outside branches before offices opened. In November 2015, 74% of all RMV branch customers were served in under 30 minutes, which is a 15% increase in service level from the same month in 2014. The RMV’s Haymarket branch saw an increase of 1,110 additional customers in November 2015 from the same month last year and increased the number of customers served in under 30 minutes by almost  25%. Even with the increased customer flow, the Haymarket branch served 93% of its customers in November in under an hour, which was a 15% increase from service levels for November 2014.   

Other steps that the RMV has taken to improve service have been through the redesign of the MassRMV.com website.  With a focus on making the homepage more customer friendly, the RMV has improved outreach to increase online use.  Additionally, the RMV has emphasized the importance of increasing employee performance.  With the development of performance standards and streamlining the hiring process, the Registry is continuing to improve the professionalism of those who work with our customers.

Registry of Motor Vehicle (RMV) Improvements:

o   November 2014 (Statewide): 59% of customers were served in under 30 minutes

o   November 2015 (Statewide): 74% of customers were served in under 30 minutes

o   November 2014 (Haymarket Branch):

§  14,279 customers served

§  49% served in under 30 minutes

§  78% served in under 1 hour

o   November 2015 (Haymarket Branch):

§  15,442 customers served (1,110 additional customers)

§  73% served in under 30 minutes

§  93% served in under 1 hour

摩頓市71歲 Yaai Chen遇撞身亡

71歲住在摩頓市（Malden）的陳雅艾（譯音，Yaai Chen）週日在她住的老人屋附近遭遇車禍，不幸辭世，肇事駕駛撞人後逃逸。

她的鄰居表示，陳雅艾大約是傍晚七點廿分，在愉悅街（Pleasant）和維士他（Vista）街交界處被撞的，和摩頓市住宅局的殘障及老人住屋大樓只有幾步之遙。居民都說那個路口經常很危險。

開向高速公路的駕駛們在閃黃燈時，常常都不能慢駛讓路。67歲的Judy Donoghue說，很多時候你的生命就握在你手中。

摩頓警探長（Malden Police Detective Lieutenant） Marc Gatcomb表示，鄰居形容了他們所看到，撞了陳雅愛後就開走了的車輛。警察表示，他們找到一輛很像的車，正在檢查識別撞人的是否就是這輛車。

Catcomb表示，他們沒逮捕任何人，但在持續調查。

人們一時還找不到陳雅艾的親人，鄰居說她是個很甜美的人，每天都參加太極班。

鄰居表示，陳雅艾是華人，不會說英語，但會用英文說你好嗎，並在節日時祝大家聖誕快樂。

91歲的Vera Carrozza表示，儘管有語言障礙，但他儘可能地讓陳雅艾明白他說什麼，兩人因此變成好友，陳雅艾還習慣的送橘子給她。陳雅艾被撞前，她才和他一起從公寓走到大堂去。臨別前還問了句，你要出去嗎？陳雅艾點了點頭。她聽到這宗意外時，簡直不敢相信。

陳雅艾所住大樓的廳堂，還掛著一幅她參加農曆新年活動的照片。Barbara McGlinchy說，陳雅艾臉上總是帶笑，是那種人們會記得的住民。Barbara和另一名朋友表示，陳雅艾的丈夫三年前突然逝於肺癌，讓陳雅艾很受打擊。她和女兒住了一陣子之後，才回到這棟大樓，慢慢地回復開心。

鄰居們說，類似這樣的開車撞了人就跑的事，一直都是當地的一個問題，路上曾經安裝了阻速坡道，後來又拆除了。2010年時，居民和市府官員們還慶祝了安裝行人十字路口，就是為了降低當地交通速度，讓老年人過街時安全些。