Attorney General Healey to Canvass for Hillary Clinton in New Hampshire This Weekend

Attorney General Healey to Canvass for Hillary Clinton in New Hampshire This Weekend

BOSTON – Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey will lead a group of energetic volunteers to this Saturday in Exeter and Londonderry, New Hampshire this Saturday to canvass for Hillary Clinton. With the New Hampshire primary election this Tuesday, February 9, volunteers will knock on doors and talk to voters about why Hillary is the best choice for President

Attorney General Healey, who grew up in Hampton Falls, has already led six trips to New Hampshire to volunteer in Exeter, Manchester, and Portsmouth. In addition, members of Team Healey have been working on reaching New Hampshire voters through weekly phonebank sessions. On Tuesday, Healey hosted a rally with Hillary Clinton at her hometown high school. 

“With so much at stake for families in 2016, Hillary for New Hampshire is committed to delivering a grassroots community organizing campaign that connects supporters and builds relationships through one-on-one discussions and online engagement,” said Harrell Kirstein, the Clinton campaign’s communications director for New Hampshire. “We are thrilled to see momentum building out of Massachusetts for Hillary Clinton, and are excited about the great work all of her Bay State supporters are doing for her in the Granite State. From day one, Hillary Clinton made this campaign about the people she will make a difference for as President, and empowering them to take part in the elections is one of our top priorities.”

In December, the Clinton campaign announced the formation of our Massachusetts Leadership Council, a group of more than 190 elected officials, community, student, coalition, and grassroots leaders who will help build a grassroots-driven volunteer team that will help Hillary to win the New Hampshire primary, as well as the Massachusetts primary on March 1.

A conversation with the women of the Boston City Council on 2/23

$470 MILLION STATE-FEDERAL SETTLEMENT REACHED WITH HSBC OVER UNLAWFUL FORECLOSURES, LOAN SERVICING

$470 MILLION STATE-FEDERAL SETTLEMENT REACHED WITH HSBC OVER UNLAWFUL FORECLOSURES, LOAN SERVICINGAG’s Office Reaches Separate Agreement with HSBC that Provides Direct Relief to Massachusetts Borrowers

BOSTON – A $470 million joint state-federal settlement has been reached with nationalmortgage lender and servicer HSBC to address mortgage origination, servicing, and foreclosure abuses, Attorney General Maura Healey today announced.

AG Healey joins 49 other states, the District of Columbia, U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) in the consent judgment, filed today in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia.

The settlement will provide direct payments to hundreds of borrowers in Massachusetts, along with rigorous mortgage servicing standards and compliance oversight from an independent monitor.

            The AG’s Office has also reached a separate assurance of discontinuance, filed today in Suffolk Superior Court, which addresses allegations that HBSC offered teaser interest rate reductions to Massachusetts borrowers that ultimately increased the likelihood that they would lose their homes, violating HSBC's obligation to make a good faith effort to avoid foreclosure. Under the terms of the agreement, HSBC will pay an additional $750,000 and provide relief to Massachusetts homeowners for violation of the state’s foreclosure law.

“Today’s settlements hold HSBC accountable for its unlawful practices and provide immediate relief to struggling Massachusetts borrowers who lost their homes or face foreclosure,” AG Healey said. “With strict servicing standards in place, HSBC will be required to ensure fairness and take critical steps to prevent past foreclosure abuses.”

State-Federal Settlement

The mortgage servicing terms under today’s multistate settlement largely mirror the2012 historic national settlement involving the nation’s five largest mortgage servicers, which addressed unlawful foreclosures and unfair loan servicing practices.

Of the $470 million, HSBC will pay $40.5 million to the federal agencies, and close to $60 million will be paid to the states to be distributed to HSBC borrowers who lost their homes to foreclosure from Jan. 1, 2008 through Dec. 31, 2012. The settlement also includes $370 million in consumer relief by HSBC nationwide, including items such as principal reduction and refinancing for underwater mortgages.

It is estimated that nearly 1,000 Massachusetts borrowers who lost their homes to foreclosure will be eligible for monetary payments. Borrowers will be contacted about how to apply for payments.

The settlement also includes new consumer protections that require HSBC to substantially change how it services mortgage loans and handles foreclosures. The terms will prevent past abuses, such as robo-signing, improper documentation and lost paperwork. An independent monitor will ensure mortgage servicer compliance.

Massachusetts Settlement

In a separate assurance of discontinuance reached with HSBC, the AG’s Office alleges that HSBC violated a Massachusetts foreclosure law, Section 35B of G.L. Chapter 244. This landmark law, passed in 2012, requires creditors to make a good faith effort to avoid foreclosure for mortgage loans that were made with abusive subprime terms.  

According to the AG’s Office, HSBC violated this law by offering borrowers facing foreclosure temporary modifications that did not consider the borrower’s ability to repay the mortgage debt over the life of the loan. Borrowers often defaulted after the temporary modification expired.

The settlement also resolves claims that HSBC unlawfully foreclosed on properties when they did not own the mortgages. The AG’s Office alleges that HSBC’s unlawful conduct resulted in numerous void foreclosures affecting the marketability and insurability of the titles.

Under the terms of the settlement, HSBC will pay a total of $750,000 to the Commonwealth, provide permanent loan modification relief as required by state law to eligible borrowers, and facilitate cures of title issues resulting from unlawful foreclosures.

Consumers who need assistance or have questions can call the AG’s HomeCorps Division at (617) 573-5333 or visit www.mass.gov/ago/homecorps. 

Today’s settlement with the AG’s Office was handled by ​Assistant Attorneys General Lisa Dyen and Justin Lowe of the Consumer Protection Division, and Claire Masinton of the Insurance and Financial Services Division, with assistance from Assistant Attorney General Michael Lecaroz and Legal Analyst Maja Kazmierczak of AG Healey’s HomeCorps Division.

波士頓市 2/5停課但不禁停車

MAYOR WALSH ANNOUNCES BOSTON PUBLIC SCHOOLS CLOSED FRIDAY, PREPARATIONS FOR UPCOMING WINTER STORM

BOSTON - Thursday, February 4, 2016 - Mayor Martin J. Walsh today announced that due to weather forecasts, with expected accumulations of up to eight inches, Boston Public Schools will be closed Friday, February 5. The Public Works Department (PWD) will have 500 trucks pre-treating roads in Boston by 6:00 a.m. and two city-owned truck-mounted snow blowers to prepare for this storm, with 40,000 tons of salt available. Information on the storm will continue to be updated on boston.gov/snow. To register for Alert Boston, please visit:http://www.cityofboston.gov/oem/alertboston.asp. "With expected accumulations of four to eight inches over the next 22 hours, we are acting out of an abundance of caution for the safety of our residents, especially our children," said Mayor Walsh. "Our Office of Emergency Management will continue to monitor the storm throughout its duration. I'm asking residents to remain vigilant during this snow event and keep an eye out for our neighbors, especially our seniors during this time." The National Weather Service has issued a Winter Weather Storm in effect from Friday at 1 a.m. until Friday at 3 p.m. Snow accumulation has shifted to 4-8 inches of snow in Boston and maximum wind gusts have increased to 30-35 mph. "The snow levels are expected to increase throughout the school day and we believe it is in the best interests of our students' safety to close schools on Friday," said Boston Public Schools Superintendent Tommy Chang. "I encourage families to have their children attend a BYCF Center if childcare is needed." Schools Due to the forecast, the Mayor and the Superintendent together have called for all Boston Public Schools to be closed on Friday, February 5. Administrative offices, including the BPS Welcome Centers and Newcomers Assessment and Counseling Center, will also be open. All after-school activities on Friday are cancelled. Digital educational resources and materials are always available online at the Boston Public Schools website:http://www.bostonpublicschools.org/. Boston Centers for Youth and Families (BCYF) will have all facilities open from 7:30 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. All are welcome, and children ages 7 and older can be dropped off upon completion of a short intake form. Visit the BCYF website for center locations: http://www.cityofboston.gov/BCYF/. Parking/Space Savers Since a snow emergency has not been declared, there should be no space savers on our streets. To find out more information about the city's policy on parking during a snowstorm, please visit:http://www.cityofboston.gov/snow/parking/. Safety Tips Please help your neighbors and do your part to assist during this snow event by clearing sidewalks and shoveling out hydrants. Have a contractor check the roof to see if snow needs to be removed. If roof snow can be removed from the ground with the use of a snow rake, do so with caution. Avoid working from ladders and be mindful of slippery surfaces. Shoveling snow requires significant exertion, please be cautious and pay attention to symptoms. Stop if you feel chest pain, shortness of breath, lightheaded, nauseous/vomiting. Call 911 if those symptoms do not resolve quickly when you stop exertion. Carbon Monoxide poisoning is a concern during winter weather, especially with the use of generators. Residents should be sure to use their home heating systems wisely and safety, and have a working carbon monoxide detector on each floor of your home. Call 911 immediately if you suspect Carbon Monoxide poisoning. Sitting in a car while idling can be deadly if the tailpipe is blocked. Do not let children sit in an idling car while shoveling.  Clear any household exhaust pipes of snow. For example, gas exhaust from heating system or dryer. Remember to keep catch basins and fire hydrants clear. Snow piles can make navigating intersections dangerous for walkers and drivers, please take extra care when turning corners with snow piles that might limit visibility. If you see a person in need of shelter, of it there is an emergency, please call 911. Please check on neighbors, especially the elderly and disabled. For those with questions or concerns, help is available through several channels. 311 will be running with extra staff around the clock for the next two days and the City's social media and mobile technology strategy will be in full effect throughout the storm. Residents can tweet @bos311 with a question or concern, and use the Citizens Connect app to report issues. Public Works The Public Works Department (PWD) will have 500 trucks salting streets by 6:00 a.m. across the City, with 40,000 tons of salt on hand. The City's two truck-mounted snow blowers will be available for snow removal to clear main roadways. Trash and Recycling Trash pick-up for neighborhoods with Friday trash pick-up will start at 6:00 a.m. Public Libraries All Boston Public Libraries will be open during normal business hours. Helping the Homeless Boston Public Health Commission (BPHC) will continue to coordinate their city-wide network of emergency shelters, outreach providers, city agencies and first responders to assist the homeless during this impending storm. Shelters are kept open during the day for the safety and well being of our clients. All individuals seeking shelter should go to Central Intake, located at Woods Mullen Shelter - 794 Massachusetts Avenue in the South End at the corner of Melnea Cass Boulevard and Massachusetts Avenue. Residents are encouraged to sign-up for AlertBoston to receive emergency alerts and to call 311, download the BOS:311 app, or tweet at @BOS311 with questions or concerns. Follow @CityofBoston and boston.gov/snow for the latest updates.

麻州摩頓市午夜12點起已實施風雪停車禁令

因天氣預報一大早起，2/5一整天都有暴風雪，摩頓市政府已從午夜12點起宣布進入暴風雪緊急狀況，風雪天的停車禁令適用。
摩頓市已開放市內的Beebee小學，Linden學校，Salemwood學校，Forestdale學校，Ferryway學校，以及早期學習中心等地點，供民眾停車。
Due to the forecast for heavy snow starting in the early morning through the day Friday, the City of Malden will be declaring a snow emergency as of 12:00 Midnight. For those affected by the resulting parking ban, you must seek off street parking to avoid being towed. If you do not have access to off-street parking, we have opened the following locations for public parking during the snow emergency. Those locations are: Beebe School, Linden School, Salemwood School, Forestdale School, Ferryway School and The Early Learning Center. You may enter these lots immediately. Regarding City services; all municipal buildings will be open Friday but public schools will be closed. Trash and recycling will be picked up as normal. For more information or to follow up-to-the-minute updates, follow us on Facebook and Twitter.

昆士市 2/5 早上七點起實施風雪停車禁令

Snow Emergency Parking Rules Begin 7 a.m. Friday, 2/5

麻州昆士市2月5日早上7點至晚上7點，實施風雪停車禁令。居民可把車輛停在非緊急幹道的奇數街道邊。但是如果有辦法的話，應儘量停在各人自家車道上。需要援助者，可上網http://www.quincyma.gov/Utilities/alert.cfm?alert_id=785 ，或致電617-376-1927。

Snow Parking Rules Extended Through Tonight

Friday, February 05, 2016

With snowfall anticipated to into the evening, snow emergency parking rules will remain in effect until tomorrow morning. 

Residents may park on the ODD numbered side of non-emergency neighborhood streets, but should always park in driveways if available.

Parking is prohibited on all designated emergency arteries. Click here for a complete list of emergency arteries.

Residents on side-streets posted permanently as one-side parking should park on the side always allowed.

For assistance, residents can use the City’s snow request application athttp://www.quincyma.gov/Utilities/alert.cfm?alert_id=785 or call the DPW's snow operation hotline at 617-376-1927.

Emergency parking rules do not relate to the status of the Quincy Public Schools. Any weather-related notices will come from the School Department.

For updates and emergency notices, please tune to Quincy Access Television; follow the City of Quincy’s Facebook page or via Twitter @CityofQuincy.

Residents are encouraged to sign-up for e-mail and text alerts via CityLink on the City’s website, www.quincyma.gov.

Snow emergency parking rules will be in place from 7 a.m. on Friday,February 5, 2016 until 7 p.m.  

Residents may park on the ODD numbered side of non-emergency neighborhood streets, but should always park in driveways if available.

Parking is prohibited on all designated emergency arteries. Click here for a complete list of emergency arteries.

Residents on side-streets posted permanently as one-side parking should park on the side always allowed.

For assistance, residents can use the City’s snow request application at http://www.quincyma.gov/Utilities/alert.cfm?alert_id=785 or call the DPW's snow operation hotline at 617-376-1927.

Emergency parking rules do not relate to the status of the Quincy Public Schools. Any weather-related notices will come from the School Department.

For updates and emergency notices, please tune to Quincy Access Television; follow the City of Quincy’s Facebook page or via Twitter @CityofQuincy.

Residents are encouraged to sign-up for e-mail and text alerts via CityLink on the City’s website, www.quincyma.gov.

北京中文學校2/6慶新春