波市府解雇健康及人民服務長小阿若約

(Boston Oange)  波士頓環球報報導，經過4星期有關性騷擾女性下屬的詢問、調查後，波士頓市政府宣佈，小阿若約(Felix G. Arroyo)的人民服務健康長職務，立即終止。

               波市長傳播長Laura Oggeri表示，波市府做了詳盡的內部調查，才做此決定，將立刻展開尋覓新人補位工作。

現年38歲的小阿若約，原本是工會組織者，市議員助理，然後做了兩任市議員，2013年參選波士頓市長，和現任市長馬丁華殊(Martin Walsh)競爭，還在初選時贏得9%選票，儼然政壇新星。

               他的一名女性下屬上週向麻州反歧視委員會(Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination)申訴，指他從2015年開始就不斷性騷擾她，常拍打她的臀部，還在知道她要去市府有關當局提告時，從背後緊抓她的頸部。小阿若約事後透過發言人否認這些指控。市府當局後來把她調到另一個部門，讓她覺得自己被降職了。

               這名女子的指控引發市府正式調查，從7月28日起就勒令小阿若約放有薪假。這星期，連警察也介入調查了。

波市長週四(24日)表示，市府也請從外界請人加入調查。小阿若約案在市府並不是泛泛可見的問題。他不認為市府員工會害怕舉報諸如性騷擾等地任何不當問題。他也表示市府對性騷擾訂有嚴格政策規定，所有部門主管及內閣閣員最近都接受過行為準則訓練。

               小阿若約透過發言人Colette Phillips發了一份聲明，指該名女子的指控是報復性行為，完全沒有根據。他對市府的決定感到失望。他會全力和MCAD合作，努力澄清他的名譽。

               該名女子送交MCAD的申訴，一一點名了波士頓市長馬丁華殊，小阿若約，以及小阿若約的幕僚長Ilyitch Nahiely Tabora，聲稱她受到性騷擾，源自年齡及性別的報復，以及受敵視的工作環境。

               根據這份文件，這名女子是2015年10月時受聘，進入市長的健康及人民服務辦公室工作，直屬上司是小阿若約。

               在文件中她聲稱，從受聘開始，小阿若約就性騷擾她。如果她不講話，小阿若約就每天都騷擾她。如果她要求小阿若約停止碰觸她，講不洽當的話，大約有3個月的時間，小阿若約停止了那些行為，同時也不大和她溝通了。

            7月24號時，小阿若約又開始了那些不洽當的行為，她決定不再忍受，並和市府人事部約談，結果一名人事部人員把這約談放到了她的日程表上，但小阿若約和幕僚長都能看到這日程表。

               小阿若約看到這約談後，把她叫進辦公室，說了諸如”你不會想要傷害我，因為你不會想要我傷害你，對不對?”的話。

               這名女子7月25日和市府人事部晤談，次日和市長幕僚長高丹尼談，7月27日，她發了一封電郵，複述了高丹尼要她在小阿若約再威脅她，或覺得工作場所不安全時，立即告訴他以及人事部。7月28日小阿若約就被暫停職務了。

MAYOR WALSH, OFFICE FOR IMMIGRANT ADVANCEMENT UNVEIL EAST BOSTON "TO IMMIGRANTS WITH LOVE" MURAL

MAYOR WALSH, OFFICE FOR IMMIGRANT ADVANCEMENT UNVEIL EAST BOSTON "TO IMMIGRANTS WITH LOVE" MURAL Subjects featured in the East Boston mural recognized for contributions made to the community

BOSTON -

波士頓新增2榮譽僑務職人員 歐陽路、蘇鴻昌

經文處長賴銘琪。

                                (Boston Orange)駐波士頓臺北經濟文化辦事處處長賴銘琪於8月23日宴請今年6月30日任期屆滿的僑務榮譽職人員，並代表僑務委員會頒發續聘及新聘僑務榮譽職人員聘書，包括續敦請黃氏宗親會元老黃官羨先生擔任僑務諮詢委員，許炳煌及余麗媖等2人續聘為僑務顧問，周萬欽、陳裕逢、陳式儀、溫陳美月、張鳳、馮文鸞、薛劍童、黎雯、陳永茂及鄭玉春等人續聘為僑務促進委員；至於新聘的僑務促進委員則包括新英格蘭大波士頓臺灣商會會長歐陽露，以及波克萊臺灣商會會長蘇鴻昌等2人，任期均自106年7月1日起至108年6月30日止。

                             賴銘琪表示，這次續聘的僑務榮譽職人員都是長期服務僑社，堅定支持政府的僑領，並涵蓋僑學產業各領域，在僑社都具聲望及影響力，期許未來與政府共同面對各種挑戰，協助推展僑務工作，一起為中華民國臺灣打拼；而新聘的僑務促進委員則是大家所熟悉的兩位臺灣商會會長，他們在今年也配合僑務委員會及駐外館處共同舉辦臺灣美食廚藝講座，以及接待臺灣選手參加波士頓馬拉松賽、臺灣青年海外搭僑計畫等活動，都是僑社優秀人才。(波士頓僑教中心提供)

波士頓經文處處長賴銘琪(前中)，僑教中心主任歐宏偉(後右)和續聘的
榮譽橋務職人員。前排右起，鄭玉春，溫陳美月，許炳煌，黎雯。
後排左起，陳式儀，薛劍童，馮文鑾，蘇鴻昌，陳裕逢，陳永茂。
(僑教中心提供)

波士頓僑教中心主任歐宏偉則轉達僑務委員會委員長吳新興博士對僑胞鄉親的問候與祝福，並鼓勵僑務榮譽職人員及僑社各界人士踴躍組團返國參加今年的十月慶典活動，也可順道安排自費參與「安心健檢計畫」的行程，體驗臺灣優質醫療服務。

STATEMENT FROM ATTORNEY GENERAL MAURA HEALEY ON STATES’ AGREEMENT TO FURTHER REDUCE REGIONAL GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS

STATEMENT FROM ATTORNEY GENERAL MAURA HEALEY ON STATES’ AGREEMENT TO FURTHER REDUCE REGIONAL GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS

BOSTON – Attorney General Maura Healey issued the following statement in response to a proposed update to the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) announced yesterday:

“The new RGGI agreement is just the latest way that Massachusetts and the other participating states are stepping up to lead the country in cutting carbon pollution and expanding renewable energy. Now, more than ever, state and local governments need to take charge. I am confident that we can use this agreement to attract new states to our regional program and expand our impact at this critical time.”

Massachusetts is one of nine states participating in the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative, the nation’s first market-based regulatory program to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Yesterday, the RGGI states announced their agreement to reduce the RGGI emissions cap by 30 percent from 2020 to 2030. Under the agreement, the 2030 regional cap will be more than 65 percent lower than RGGI’s 2009 starting cap. The agreement also allows states to withhold allowances from auctions if emission reduction costs are lower than projected.

The Northeast and Mid-Atlantic states participating in RGGI are Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York, Rhode Island and Vermont.

波士頓公校和教師工會達成協議 簽兩年合約

Boston Public Schools and Boston Teachers Union Reach Agreement on Two-Year Contract

Collaborative Effort Leads to Improvements in Wages, Parental Leave, Hiring Flexibility, and More

BOSTON — Thursday, August 24, 2017 — Today, the Boston School Committee and the Boston Teachers Union (BTU) have mutually announced an agreement on a two-year Boston Public Schools (BPS) teachers contract that brings improvements that will benefit students, families, and our schools. The agreement includes improvements in wages, parental leave policies, hiring processes, school nurse staffing, and restorative justice practices. The two-year agreement, retroactive to fiscal 2017, will introduce policy updates for the start of the 2017-18 school year as BPS and the BTU continue to collaborate on shared priorities of fostering safe, healthy, and welcoming schools. “We are all pleased to announce an agreement on a fair and reasonable contract as we begin the 2017-18 school year,” said Mayor Martin J. Walsh. “This agreement provides reforms that will make it easier for schools to hire effective teachers, reasonable wage increases, more access to parental leave, and increased supports for our most vulnerable students.” “The Boston Teachers Union and the Boston Public Schools share the common priority of having safe and healthy schools that provide enriching educational experiences and opportunities for our students,” said Jessica Tang, president of the Boston Teachers Union. “The BTU advocates not just for the interests of educators, but for students, parents, and the school district we serve. This agreement will have a positive impact on our schools, and it represents just one piece of the work involved in our partnership with the Boston Public Schools.” After 18 months of contract negotiations, this agreement supports wage increases of 2% in fiscal 2017 and 3% in fiscal 2018 for teachers and paraprofessionals. It also allows for school leaders to more easily facilitate the process of hiring teachers and paraprofessionals earlier in the school year, which has shown to result in more effective teachers in classrooms. The contract, which covers the 2016-17 and 2017-18 school years, also ensures properly trained paraprofessionals are supporting students with autism and emotional impairment. In addition, it increases the numbers of nurses in schools, extends access to the parental leave policy to second- and third-year teachers and paraprofessionals — bringing them in line with the City’s parental leave policy — and grows the promising Restorative Practice initiative to help foster social-emotional learning in a way that is aligned with the BPS Code of Conduct. “This agreement is a prudent step forward, and a representation of a reasonable meeting of the minds for all parties involved,” said Boston School Committee Chairperson Michael O’Neill. “It provides reasonable financial support for our teachers, paraprofessionals, and other members of the BTU while also allowing for reasonable steps forward in the autonomy of hiring and supports for our most vulnerable students. As the school year begins, it is critical that our focus is on teaching and learning, and this agreement makes that possible. I look forward to the full Boston School Committee considering this tentative agreement during our September meetings.” The Boston School Committee is expected to discuss the contract on September 6 and vote whether to approve or deny the contract on September 13. BPS Superintendent Tommy Chang said the contract agreement strengthens the ongoing collaboration with the BTU in a variety of areas, such as the first-ever BPS-BTU Teacher Summer Institute training workshop, which was held at Boston University this week. “This agreement represents a renewed focus on collaboration between the Boston Public Schools and the Boston Teachers Union as we work toward shared common goals around creating safe, healthy, and sustaining learning environments for all students,” said BPS Superintendent Tommy Chang. “This collaboration will only help us as we continue to work together with the BTU on resolving future matters of mutual interest.” Parties from BPS and the BTU have agreed to resume contract negotiations soon for the period beginning September 1, 2018.

Mayor Fung Receives Prestigious U.S. Sen. George F. Hoar Award

Mayor Fung Receives Prestigious U.S. Sen. George F. Hoar Award

Mayor Allan Fung (in the middle)receiving U. S. Sen. George F. Hoar Award.
(Photo By Chutze Chou)

BOSTON, MA—Cranston Mayor Allan W. Fung was honored for his years of inspiring public service and acting as a positive role model for the Chinese-American community at the Chinese American Citizen Alliance Boston Lodge’s annual gala in Boston on Saturday, Aug. 19.

Mayor Fung was one of three individual recipients of the U.S. Sen. George Frisbie Hoar Award at the gala, joining Connecticut State Rep. William Tong and former Fitchburg, Mass. Mayor Lisa Wong in receipt of the tremendous honor.

The award is named after former Massachusetts Sen. George F. Hoar, who served in the Senate from 1879 to 1904 and was the only U.S. Senator to vote against the 1902 Scott Act, which was an extension of the Chinese Exclusion Act. Hoar was an outspoken critic of anti-immigration policies and American imperialism in the late 19th and early 20th century. Also a founder of the Worcester County Free Institute of Industrial Science, now the Worcester Polytechnic Institute, Hoar was a U.S. Congressman before his election to the Senate and served as President of both the American Historical Association and the American Antiquarian Society.

“It is a great honor to receive this recognition from the Chinese American Citizen Alliance,” commented Mayor Fung. “As the Mayor of Cranston, it’s my job to work on behalf of all residents, regardless of their backgrounds, but I am mindful that my heritage has had a positive influence on my fellow Chinese-American citizens. I’m very proud to receive this award from an organization that promotes ethics, morals, public service and the core American values of freedom, liberty and equal justice for all.”

Earlier on Saturday, Mayor Fung was a guest panelist during a special Town Hall Meeting hosted by CACA at Tufts University. The topic was “Challenges, Opportunities and Expectations on Public Service.” Joining Mayor Fung were California State Treasurer John Chiang, Utah State Representative Karen Kwan, CACA National President Edmond Gor and Committee of 100 Co-Founder Henry Tang.

波士頓北一女、建中校友延續兩校傳統 聯誼野餐

波士頓北一女，建中校友夏日郊遊樂。(圖片來源:北一女校友會臉書)

               (Boston Orange 周菊子報導)波士頓地區北一女、建中校友會，8月19日在艾克頓鎮(Acton)Nara公園野餐，80多人歡聚，舞動，欣見年輕學弟妹出現，欣聞校友之子王凱傑正過關斬將，有望成為福斯(Fox)電視台”廚藝大師”，捧回25萬元獎金。

建中，北一女校友會會長，左起，王子仁，吳國志歡迎駐波士頓
台北經濟文化辦事處處長賴銘琪，雲雯蓁夫婦，波士頓僑教中心主任
歐宏偉。(周菊子攝)

                      波士頓地區北一女校友會在      2015年12月正式成立。首任會長趙小怡2016年底卸任，轉為顧問，吳國志接棒，每年必辦三大活動，分別為慶祝母親節，夏日野餐，以及年底的慶祝母校生日暨年會，目前登記在冊校友約165人。

成立已五年多的建中校友會，相比之下鬆散些，還未製作校友名冊，現任會長為王子仁。校友劉泰國19日代表建中致詞時打趣，請北一女校友代為製作，管理校友名牌，以示兩校友誼深厚。

北一女校友會會長吳國志(左)，建中校友代表劉泰國(右)。(周菊子攝)

駐波士頓台北經濟文化辦事處處長賴銘琪，波士頓僑教中心主任歐宏偉，這天都應邀出席同樂。賴銘琪笑說處長夫人雲雯蓁是北一女校友，要出席校友會活動，找不到人開車，所以他是以配偶身分出席，當司機來的。他還開玩笑的建議建中校友，只要以北一女校友馬首是瞻，就絕對不會行差踏錯。

北一女校友會副會長江佩蓉主持節目。(周菊子攝)

北一女校友會副會長江佩蓉這天做主持人，安排了校友陳秀惠帶跳尼雅(Nia)舞，王志雲，秦慧清兩夫婦介紹他們在南牛頓高中教音樂的寶貝兒子王凱傑，如何在福斯電視台第八季的”廚藝大師(Master Chef)”節目中，先從逾千報名者中被挑為40名參賽者之一，然後在每一集節目要淘汰3人的激烈競爭中一路過關斬將，晉升為前20名，前11名。

他們倆夫婦請校友們幫忙，每周三晚上8點，收看福斯電視台的這”廚藝大師”節目，投票支持王凱傑，上臉書facebook.com/jasonjangywang查看王凱傑的參賽詳情，自撰食譜。

秦慧清介紹兒子王凱傑參加"廚藝大師"賽的經過。(周菊子攝)

這次的北一女，建中校友會在校友們的積極宣傳下，吸引來不少年輕校友，其中郭瑋庭，劉柏廷，林致中等3名建中校友都是生物醫藥領域的博士後或研究員，因為參加波士頓台灣人生物科技協會(BTBA)的活動而認識，知道了彼此都是建中人，相約而來，遇到同輩的3名北一女校友，順理成章的在現場另闢年輕世代交流區，彷如延續北一女，建中相約郊遊的歷史傳統。

年輕世代校友傳承北一女，建中郊遊、約會傳統。左起，謝伊妮，劉柏
廷，林致中，郭瑋庭，黃歆婷，殷郁雅另闢一區交流。(周菊子攝)

波士頓北一女校友會會長吳國志表示，該會新一屆幹部包括副會長江佩蓉，幹事郭明，許聰玲，龍熙平，吳杏玫，嚴安莉，徐宗玲，李建，李欣等人，在熱心校友協助下，已設立臉書專頁BEINUBoston，發佈校友會消息。這次的夏日野餐有即將成為北一女高一新生的小學妹Anthea拍了很多照片，留下美好記錄。

林致中(左)，吳杏玫(右)不約而同的把建中，北一女的書包帶到會場
懷舊。(周菊子攝)

會場食物豐盛非常。(周菊子攝)

建中校友致詞。(周菊子攝)

輔大校友來插花。右起，陳秀惠，楊哲修，歐宏偉，吳萍萍。(周菊子攝)

王志雲介紹王凱傑參加廚藝大師概況。(周菊子攝)

陳秀慧教跳尼雅舞。(周菊子攝)

校友們一起跳舞，鬆動筋骨。(周菊子攝)

左起，蕭蔚，王子仁，黃紹光，趙小怡，徐世薰等人。