Baker-Polito Administration Awards $610 Million in Loans to Fund Wastewater and Drinking Water Infrastructure Projects

Baker-Polito Administration Awards $610 Million in Loans to Fund Wastewater and Drinking Water Infrastructure Projects

BILLERICA – The Baker-Polito Administration today announced that 86 projects, impacting communities across the Commonwealth, are eligible to receive $610.5 million in 2% interest-rate loans to fund construction and planning projects designed to improve water quality, upgrade or replace aging drinking water and wastewater infrastructure and cut treatment plant energy use and costs. The State Revolving Fund (SRF) awards were announced today by Lieutenant Governor Karyn Polito and State Treasurer Deb Goldberg during an event in Billerica, which was awarded nearly $44 million in financing for four local water projects.

“Water infrastructure projects supported through this fund help Massachusetts’ municipalities increase the availability of clean, reliable drinking water and modernize essential water infrastructure,” said Governor Charlie Baker. “Our administration is committed to working with cities and towns across the Commonwealth to fortify water quality programs that protect our waters and public health.”

“State Revolving Fund financing is vital part of our efforts to help local officials comply with federal and state water quality requirements and update their aging wastewater and drinking water facilities,” said Lieutenant Governor Karyn Polito. “Our administration is pleased to use the SRF to provide the subsidized capital needed to build new treatment plants, replace water mains and install renewable energy components.”

“The State Revolving Fund, administered by the Massachusetts Clean Water Trust, provides local cities and towns the funds they need to finance water infrastructure projects,” said Treasurer Goldberg, Chair of the Clean Water Trust. “This is another example of the excellent work the Trust does saving our local communities money and protecting the health of the citizens and the environment.”

SRF financing is administered by the Massachusetts Clean Water Trust (MCWT) and funds projects implemented by cities and towns, regional water supply and wastewater treatment districts and the Massachusetts Water Resources Authority (MWRA). The projects include 58 clean water initiatives (see Table 1) totaling more than $483.8 million and 28 drinking water projects (see Table 1) totaling more than $126.4 million. Communities offered SRF funding in this round must decide to move forward with the project by June 30, 2018 and secure local funding authority.

“Through the State Revolving Fund loan program, the Commonwealth partners with communities and water utilities across Massachusetts to protect water quality, while investing in energy efficiency and renewable energy to make delivery of these essential local services sustainable and more affordable,” said Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary Matthew Beaton.

Fifteen of the projects receiving funding are for renewable energy, energy efficiency or green infrastructure initiatives. These projects involve energy efficiency upgrades to treatment plants and the on-site installation of renewable energy technologies, such as solar cells and wind turbines. Energy use at wastewater and drinking water treatment facilities is a major contributor to overall energy consumption for many cities and towns, with communities statewide spending approximately $150 million per year on electricity to treat 662 billion gallons of wastewater and drinking water. About 30 percent of municipal energy use derives from water treatment.

This year, 45 of the new projects are eligible to receive principal forgiveness. Principal forgiveness is awarded to renewable energy projects and for projects in communities that meet the affordability criteria established by the MCWT. The affordability criteria factors in per capita income, unemployment rate and population trends.

“These projects upgrade technology for important facilities in our communities,” said Commissioner Martin Suuberg of the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP). “When we upgrade treatment plant equipment and processes or install renewable technologies, these facilities become more energy efficient, reduce air emissions, save ratepayers money and protect our natural resources.”

The SRF is composed of two programs that have provided more than $7 billion to Massachusetts projects: the Clean Water Fund, first capitalized in 1989; and the Drinking Water Fund, which began operation in 1999. More information on the two SRF programs can be found here.

This year, the Clean Water SRF provides more than $484 million in financing for clean water projects across the Commonwealth. Approximately $442 million will fund 39 new construction projects, $21 million will be allocated towards funding five previously approved multi-year projects, $3 million has been allocated to the emergency set-aside account, $5 million will be directed to the Community Septic Management Program to remediate failed septic systems in participating communities, and $12 million will fund 13 proposed planning projects.

The Drinking Water SRF provides more than $126.4 million in financing for drinking water projects across the Commonwealth. Approximately $93 million will fund 22 new construction projects, $29.9 million will be allocated towards funding five previously approved multi-year projects, $3 million will fund an emergency set-aside account, and $250,000 is allocated for a single planning project.

“I appreciate that the Baker-Polito Administration has continued the SRF program,”said State Senator Anne Gobi (D-Spencer), House Chair of the Joint Committee on the Environment, Natural Resources and Agriculture. “It is critical to the mission of our communities ensuring clean water, a clean environment, and providing opportunities for development.”

“This SRF funding is vital for the improvement and upkeep of our water infrastructure, as well as the well-being of our environment and local economy,” said State Senator Cindy F. Friedman (D-Arlington). “These funds will allow Billerica to modernize its sewers, treatment plants and pump stations to increase the availability of clean drinking water in the town, while at the same time increasing job opportunities for our workforce.”

“I am grateful to the Baker-Polito Administration for $44 million in funding. This administration cares about the projects our community brings forward to the Commonwealth and I truly appreciate their partnership with Billerica,” said State Representative Marc T. Lombardo (R-Billerica).

“With the SRF awards, Fall River will be able to make investments in the city’s infrastructure and water quality, while also promoting economic growth,” said State Senator Michael J. Rodrigues (D-Westport). “The importance of protecting public health in our communities cannot be overstated, and I thank the Baker-Polito Administration for their efforts.”

“The SRF Programs have enabled the Town of Billerica to sustain an aggressive 20-year capital plan with over $70 million of water and wastewater projects during the past eight years,” said Billerica Town Manager John Curran.

Massachusetts awards infrastructure financing under the SRF, which is administered by the MCWT – a joint effort of MassDEP, the Executive Office of Administration and Finance and the State Treasurer’s Office.

To be eligible for Clean Water or Drinking Water SRF loans, municipalities, wastewater districts and water suppliers filed applications with MassDEP last year demonstrating that proposed projects offer significant public health or water quality benefit, have local funding authorization and that there is a commitment on the borrower’s part to file a timely loan application. The projects on the 2018 SRF list must now file loan applications and receive MassDEP approval to obtain funding.

Continuing its commitment to protect the waters of the Commonwealth, in March 2017 the Baker-Polito Administration filed legislation to allow MassDEP to join forty-six other states in administering the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) for federal water quality protection, which would allow the Commonwealth greater oversight of water quality monitoring, assessment, and water quality standards programs and empower the state to work even more cooperatively with Massachusetts’ cities and towns to preserve and protect our water resources.

MassDEP is responsible for ensuring clean air and water, safe management and recycling of solid and hazardous wastes, timely cleanup of hazardous waste sites and spills and the preservation of wetlands and coastal resources.

Stop Handgun Violence Response to Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School Mass Shooting

Stop Handgun Violence Response to Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School Mass Shooting;

Boston, MA – Yesterday, on a day that is supposed to celebrate love, seventeen high school students and educators were murdered and 12 more wounded with an AR 15 assault weapon at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School.  Parkland makes the eighteenth school shooting in the first 44 days of 2018 and the 291st school shooting since the Sandy Hook Massacre.

In Florida, no criminal background check is required for private gun sales which account for approximately 50 percent of guns sold each year including for assault weapons and high capacity ammunition magazines.  In addition, there is no limit on the number of firearms that can be purchased at one time and their “stand your ground” laws allow citizens to shoot first, ask questions later.

“While the details of yet another horrific and potentially preventable mass shooting continue to emerge, it’s brutally clear that there are deadly consequences due to unlimited access to military assault weapons without background checks or detection in Florida and 32 other states”, said John Rosenthal, founder and chairman of Stop Handgun Violence. “There are more mass shootings, gun injuries and gun deaths in the US than all 26 developed nations combined.  Congress has chosen gun industry blood money campaign contributions over common sense national gun laws and public safety. The time for action is now. When a civilian shooter can legally outgun the local police force the results are abhorrent. The gun lobby and Congress’s unconscionable priority of unrestricted access to guns over lives has disastrous consequences. Over 90 Americans die each day due to gun violence and the unrestricted access to firearms in this country is a dangerous policy with dangerous results.”

AALAM CONDEMNS WEEI HOST CHRISTIAN FAURIA’S RACIST BEHAVIOR

ASIAN AMERICAN LAWYERS ASSOCIATION OF MASSACHUSETTS (AALAM) AND

TEN OTHER BAR ASSOCIATIONS AND COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS

CONDEMN WEEI HOST CHRISTIAN FAURIA’S RACIST BEHAVIOR

The Asian American Lawyers Association of Massachusetts (AALAM), and ten other bar associations and community organizations (see full list below), strongly condemn the recent offensive, racist, and insensitive conduct of WEEI sports-talk radio host Christian Fauria on his last Friday’s program (2/9/18) wherein he mocked sports agent Don Yee, the agent for NFL players Tom Brady and Jimmy Garappolo, by imitating him using a racially stereotyped, over-the-top Asian accent.

Such behavior was not only hateful, ill-conceived and repugnant, but also perpetuates ignorant, inaccurate stereotypes about Asian Americans.  This was not only an insult to Don Yee (who is U.S.-born and speaks English without an accent), but it also belittles all Asian Americans and minorities despite their accomplishments.

While AALAM appreciates that Fauria has personally apologized to Don Yee for his conduct, and that WEEI timely responded to criticism by issuing a 5-day suspension to Fauria and mandated sensitivity training for its employees, this is not the first time WEEI hosts have used disparaging and derogatory language during their radio shows.  We call upon management and the larger community to take more proactive steps to ensure that WEEI and its employees reflect the values of inclusion, acceptance and mutual respect of their diverse audience.

To that end, AALAM applauds the recent actions of City of Boston Credit Union, Comcast Corp., Citizens Bank, the MA State Lottery Commission, and the MA Health Connector in suspending their advertising on WEEI following the Fauria incident.

As an affinity bar association, we stand firmly against divisive, racist and discriminatory behavior in all its forms.  We urge WEEI and the sports and media community to stand tall with us to make clear that there is no place for racism in our community.

Other bar associations and community organizations signing-on to this statement include:

-       Massachusetts Bar Association

-       Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights and Economic Justice

-       Massachusetts LGBTQ Bar Association

-       South Asian Bar Association of Greater Boston

-       Massachusetts Black Lawyers Association

-       Massachusetts Black Women Attorneys

-       Massachusetts Association of Hispanic Attorneys

-       Asian American Civic Association

-       Asian American Community Development Corporation

-       Women’s Bar Association

The Asian American Lawyers Association of Massachusetts (AALAM) is a non-profit state-wide association of over 250 Asian Pacific American attorneys, judges, law professors, and law students. Its members include solo practitioners, large firm lawyers, corporate counsel, legal services and non-profit attorneys, and lawyers serving at all levels of government.

To learn more about AALAM, visit www.aalam.org, like us on Facebook, and follow us on Twitter (@aalamlaw).

衛斯理中文學校慶新春 400人同歡

衛斯理中文學校校長丁建梅(左)，副校長房穎元(右)準備鮮花感謝老師們。(周菊子攝)

   (Boston Orange 周菊子衛斯理鎮報導)2010年創立的衛斯理中文學校(WCLS)和2016年創立的衛斯理華人協會(WCAN)合作，2月10日晚在衛斯里高中舉辦春節聯歡會，以26項表演節目為四百多名師生，居民帶來熱鬧，溫馨的新年喜氣。

聯歡會郵兒童合唱”恭喜恭喜你”揭開序幕。衛斯理中文學校校長丁建梅和衛斯理華人協會會長李勝利接著為開幕致詞。

衛斯理嬤嬤舞蹈團和老師曾燕琴(中左)，以及房穎元(中右)。(房穎元提供)

丁建梅簡述該校過去一年概況，指出在2018-2019學年，該校持續優化教學模式與課程，挑選優秀教師，以每班學生少於12人的小班制辦學，還安排有太極班，議論文寫作班(Critical writing)，新加坡數學等特別課程，竭力為學生提供最好的教學內容與環境。

衛斯理中文學校副校長房穎元在聯歡會中場時主持頒獎環節，表揚曾燕琴，陳笑儀等優秀教師，傑出助教Kylin Peng，Ritz Zhang，頒發寫作等比賽優勝獎，感謝義工。她指出，辦學需要群策群力，該校有幸，所有參與教學及行政工作的人，都很熱心，負責。

衛斯理華人協會會長李勝利。(周菊子攝)

李勝利說明，衛斯理華協甫於2016成立，旨在聯繫華人，彼此扶助，並在必要時發揮團結力量，參政，議政，為華人發聲。

當天的晚會有26項表演，安排了至少4對學生司儀，充分利用機會來培訓學生們面對大場合的應對能力。

房穎元(前)主持頒獎表揚教師及助教環節。(周菊子攝)

節目種類十分多元化，包括舞蹈，歌唱，短劇，三句半，朗誦，武術示範，演奏爵士樂，不但衛斯理中文學校的各年級學生都上場表演了，還有舞悅舞蹈團演出”草原月亮”，衛斯理媽媽舞蹈團表演旗袍舞”知音”，衛斯理家長合唱團演唱”今夜無眠”，ADA成人舞團表演”今夜聚會”。大波士頓的四川絕技”變臉”藝術家楊書旺也應邀獻藝。

衛斯理中文學校主要行政人員有校長丁建梅，副校長房穎元，財務丁伊，校務長冀兆鵬。衛斯理華人協會的主要成員友會長李勝利，財務金伊，理事周朝輝，蔡凌希，房穎元，段志強，苗華全。

衛斯理家長合唱團。(周菊子攝)

ADA舞蹈團表演京劇娃娃情。(周菊子攝)

中文班學生表演朗誦，"長大後我就成了你"。(周菊子攝)

兒童表演。(周菊子攝)

僑委會委員長吳新興視頻向僑胞拜年

僑委會委員長吳新興

敬祝 僑胞鄉親

新年快樂 吉祥如意

敬請點擊觀賞:

https://youtu.be/DvOdKLUSv5k

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波士頓僑教中心主任歐宏偉拜年

AG HEALEY’S OFFICE LAUNCHES CAMPAIGN ABOUT PERVASIVE ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION LAW PRACTICES

AG HEALEY’S OFFICE LAUNCHES CAMPAIGN ABOUT PERVASIVE ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION LAW PRACTICESCampaign Uses Social Media, Multilingual PSAs, and a Website to Educate Residents About “Notario Fraud”

BOSTON – Attorney General Maura Healey today launched an education campaign to protect residents from falling victim to the unauthorized practice of immigration law, a widespread scam also known as “notario fraud.”

            The educational multilingual campaign, which is being run by the AG’s Community Engagement and Civil Rights Divisions, aims to provide people with the tools they need to protect themselves

“Far too often, residents seeking legal assistance are being cheated by individuals who aren’t authorized to practice law, and being charged hundreds or thousands of dollars for services that are worthless,” said AG Healey. “This practice is illegal and my office is working to educate residents across the state about how to recognize and avoid these scam artists.”

As part of its education campaign, the AG’s Office will be reaching out directly to immigrant communities using social media, multilingual PSAs, a targeted website – created by the AG’s Office in English, Portuguese and Spanish – and posters (in English,Portuguese, Spanish, Haitian Creole, and Russian) with helpful tips. The AG’s Office will also be working in partnership with the AG’s Advisory Council on New Americans to hold community presentations on how individuals can avoid falling victim to these illegal practices. 

The AG’s Office is urging residents to take the following precautionary steps to avoid notario fraud:

·         Make sure your lawyer is licensed. Only a licensed attorney – or someone specially authorized by the federal government can:

o   Represent you in court or before an administrative judge.

o   Advise you as to whether or not you should apply for benefits or protections.

o   Explain your legal options and give you legal advice.

·         Never pay for any immigration forms. They are available for free.

·         Never leave your lawyer’s office without receipts for all payments.

·         Never sign a blank form.

·         Keep all your original personal documents.

·         Get copies of everything.

The AG’s Office has taken previous action against individuals for the unauthorized practice of immigration law.

In September 2016, Gerson Barahona, a Waltham man was ordered by a judge to pay more than $155,000 in restitution to victims, civil penalties and attorney’s fees after he falsely held himself out as an attorney specializing in immigration law and unlawfully charged individuals hundreds or thousands of dollars for legal advice and services. The AG’s Office sought and obtained a preliminary injunction in December 2014 that ordered Barahona to stop providing any services related to immigration matters.

The launch of this campaign is part of an ongoing effort by AG Healey to ensure that her office is a resource and advocate for the immigrant community.

Last week, the AG’s Office issued a guide to help parents in the event of sudden detention or deportation by federal immigration officials. The AG’s guide, available in Spanish, Portuguese, Haitian Creole and English, provides information to parents who are concerned about their immigration status, understand different options for care and custody of a child who remains in the US following parental detention or deportation.

Last year, the AG’s Office sent an advisory to local public school districts reminding them of their obligation under state and federal law to provide all students with equal access to primary and secondary education. The AG’s Office also issued guidance to health care providers and local public school districts on immigration enforcement, and an advisory to public and private colleges and universities on issues that may affect immigrant students.

To learn more about the AG’s campaign visit www.mass.gov/guides/avoiding-immigration-scams

To report notario fraud, call the AG’s Civil Rights Division at (617) 963-2917.

To view this press release in Spanish click here. To view this release in Portugueseclick here.

MAYOR WALSH ANNOUNCES SELECTION OF CONSULTANT TASKED WITH CREATING ACTION PLAN TO END YOUTH HOMELESSNESS

MAYOR WALSH ANNOUNCES SELECTION OF CONSULTANT TASKED WITH CREATING ACTION PLAN TO END YOUTH HOMELESSNESS

BOSTON - Wednesday, February 14, 2018 - Mayor Martin J. Walsh announced today that the City of Boston has selected Matthew Aronson and his team of consultants to build on the city's work to end youth homelessness in Boston by researching and creating an action plan to support young individuals experiencing homelessness and put them on a pathways towards stable housing. Mr. Aronson and his team are charged with assisting the City in gathering data on youth and young adults experiencing homeless, understanding the current system's capacity, identifying the unmet needs of youth and young adults, and designing a plan to address gaps in Boston's emergency assistance system that will end youth homelessness. "I'm very proud of our efforts to redesign the way we deliver services and housing to people in Boston who are experiencing homelessness," Mayor Walsh said. "We have taken significant steps forward, but we need to take that experience and success and build a new approach -- one that will make sure that every one of our young people has a stable home that allows them to work towards a better life." Through the efforts of Boston's Way Home, Mayor Walsh's initiative to end veteran and chronic homelessness, Boston has made progress in preventing and ending homelessness among single adults, including ending chronic veteran homelessness and housing more than 450 chronically homeless individuals. Using national and local best practices, Boston has transformed its homelessness services into a coordinated and integrated system based on Housing First principles. The City is currently seeking proposals to further support people experiencing homelessness in existing shelter as quickly as possible, while ensuring they are connected with proper resources. Building on this success, the City and its partners are now turning their focus to tackling the prevalence of homelessness among unaccompanied youth and young adults. "We envision a future where Boston effectively ends homelessness and housing instability among youth and young adults," Mr. Aronson said. "We are thrilled to have been chosen for this work, and we believe that we will be able to develop a plan that ensures every youth or young adult facing homelessness is safe, supported, and able to fully utilize their strengths. We believe in a future where every young person has access to effective and coordinated housing, education, employment, and health-related resources." Mr. Aronson and his team have worked with communities at the national, state, and local levels on issues of ending youth and young adult homelessness. Mr. Aronson served for seven years as a subject matter expert on youth and young adult homelessness for the US Department of Housing and Urban Development. In that role, he wrote Federal policy, designed pilot projects, collaborated with national leaders in both the public and private sectors, and worked directly with communities including New York City, Cincinnati, and Santa Cruz to develop coordinated community plans to end homelessness among local youth and young adults. His colleagues include Dr. Alice Colegrove, Ayala Livny, Jamila Bradley and Lauren Leonardis. Several members of the team are currently co-authoring Massachusetts' state plan to end youth homelessness, while Dr. Colegrove, Ms. Livny, and Ms. Bradley are founding board members of the Y2Y shelter in Harvard Square. Ms.Leonardis, Ms. Bradley, and Ms. Livny are the founding co-facilitators of the Boston Youth Action Board. The team has combined decades of experience running and providing consulting services to myriad programs working with youth and young adults experiencing homelessness.  The Walsh Administration has laid the groundwork to tackle youth homelessness: in October 2016, Boston formed a Youth Homelessness Leadership Team, which will be reconvened to serve as the steering committee to support the creation of a coordinated youth homelessness response system. This team has also identified gaps in the system and will create a Youth Homelessness Resource Map to catalogue the local organizations that provide housing and services to homeless youth. In addition, the City has convened a Youth Action Board, which assisted in the creation of a system map and will help the Leadership Team to prioritize services needed in Boston. "In order to reach a resolution you have to hear not just one voice but all of them," said Dustin Pardy, Boston Youth Action Board member.  "You need to ask those who have been affected by homelessness. When my opinions are valued by people from the City it means a whole lot to me. My voice is being heard through the Youth Action Board." To support this work, the City will also receive technical assistance from HUD in the development and implementation of this plan. "As an agency which has provided comprehensive wraparound services for homeless youth and young adults in Boston for 47 years, Bridge Over Troubled Waters is grateful to Mayor Walsh and the City for their commitment to providing homeless youth with opportunities that will set them on a path to successful futures and prevent homelessness in the long term," said Elisabeth Jackson, Executive Director of Bridge Over Troubled Waters. "Despite their vulnerability, homeless youth have many strengths and talents and the desire to move forward in their lives. We are excited to continue our partnership with the City and work with the new consulting team in this important effort to create the coordinated, age-appropriate system of housing and support that will reach every homeless young person in Boston and ensure that they all can achieve and sustain a place to call home." While a number of City and State agencies and community organizations work with youth and young adults who are at-risk or experiencing homelessness in Boston, these services, interventions and resources are often not designed for the unique developmental needs of youth and young adults. Agencies offer programs that do not yet function as a coordinated system, and while Boston has begun to see promising new partnerships, there is a clear need to create a coordinated system that led to the City's success with adult individual homelessness. Creation of a coordinated plan is critical to preventing and ending homelessness among youth and young adults. At the end of the engagement, Boston will have an action plan to prevent and end youth homelessness, which will: Be owned by the stakeholders it affects; Be created in full partnership with youth and young adults; Openly and intentionally address issues of marginalization and disparity; Utilize both qualitative and quantitative data to inform decisions; Be created iteratively and will be regularly adapted to improve the process as new information and practices become available.