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星期三, 3月 14, 2018
2018 哈佛中國論壇訂 4/ 6-8 舉行
Students Walkout to Demand Action on Gun Violence and School Funding
Students Walkout to Demand Action on Gun Violence and School Funding
Boston, Massachusetts — March 14, 2018
Students and youth walked out of school and marched on the Massachusetts State House to send a powerful message to politicians here and across the country that enough is enough, and we will not stand by as young people are killed in schools and on the streets of Boston. We will be back even louder, with even more of our friends, to keep demanding the future we deserve. A future when all young people in our Commonwealth have the right to a good education and safe neighborhood no matter where they live.
“We will continue fighting until the issue is nonexistent,” said Michael Martinez, a student organizer and METCO student from Roxbury attending Weston High School. “We will persist in our advocacy until the sounds of gunshots in urban communities are replaced by the sounds of children playing, parents laughing, and people living.”
While school was called off in much of the area today, groups of young people still started gathering this morning, with some walking to their closed schools to protest. At 10:00AM, students marked 17 minutes of silence for the 17 lives lost at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School one month ago today.
“Massachusetts can’t simply worry about Massachusetts… most of the guns are coming from the states around us with much laxer gun laws,” said Vikiana Petit-Homme, a junior at Boston Latin Academy and student organizer. “Massachusetts lawmakers must work with surrounding officials to stop the iron pipeline that bring these illegal guns to our neighborhoods.”
In downtown Boston, over 500 students marched into Gardner Auditorium and delivered testimony to a packed room and at least 25 state lawmakers. Students demanded that lawmakers commit to passing two bills: the first would create “red flag” extreme risk protection orders that allow police to take away guns from people who are a risk to themselves or others. The second bill would fix the state foundation budget for schools, which has left school districts across the state lacking the resources they need for students.
“The prison-like atmospheres that many of us face in school are not aiding in our learning or our states of mind,” said J.D. O’Bryant Technical High School student Evelyn Reyes. “We need counselors and not cops in our schools.”
“Students are this movement,” said Charlotte Lowell, Andover High School senior and student organizer. “And we won’t stop until we feel safe in our streets and in our schools.”
The order of student speakers at the State House: (1) Vikiana Petit-Homme, (2) Michael Martinez, (3) Evelyn Reyes, and (4) Charlotte Lowell.
波士頓風雪停車禁令今日下午5點撤銷
MAYOR WALSH TO LIFT PARKING BAN AND SNOW EMERGENCY AT 5 P.M.,
REMINDS RESIDENTS TO SHOVEL SIDEWALKS AND PEDESTRIAN RAMPS
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BOSTON - Wednesday, March 14, 2018 - Mayor Martin J. Walsh announced today that the snow emergency and parking ban will be lifted at 5 p.m., giving residents parked in a discounted parking lot or garage until 7 p.m. to move their cars before regular rates start to apply. The Public Works Department (PWD) will continue with snow removal operations throughout the city today. For live updates on PWD's snow removal operations, please visit Mayor Walsh's Twitter account.
"I'd like to thank residents for great compliance with the snow emergency and parking ban," said Mayor Walsh. "It allows our hardworking crews to effectively and efficiently remove snow, making our streets safer for all. I ask everyone to keep up the good work and make sure they take another pass of shoveling of the sidewalks and pedestrian ramps in front of their properties to ensure accessibility for everyone."
Sidewalks are required to be shoveled within three hours of sunrise if snow stops falling overnight. At this point, properties may be ticketed for unshoveled sidewalks.
While the blizzard has ended, there is still a fair amount of snow in Boston and there may be additional light snowfall around the evening commute. Residents are reminded to be cautious on the road and mindful of pedestrians and other drivers.
Residents are able to look up towed cars on the City of Boston's online database, call the Boston Transportation Department (BTD) at (617) 635-3900 or call the Boston Police Department at (617) 343-4629 to find out which tow company was used if it was not towed by BTD.
Residents are encouraged to sign up for emergency notifications through AlertBoston and utilize the 311 call center for non-emergency related issues. Please follow @CityofBoston and visit boston.gov/snow for the latest updates
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MAYOR WALSH ANNOUNCES SNOW ROUTE FOR ST. PATRICK'S DAY PARADE
MAYOR WALSH ANNOUNCES SNOW ROUTE FOR ST. PATRICK'S DAY PARADE
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| BOSTON - Wednesday, March 14, 2018 - Mayor Martin J. Walsh announced today that due to the significant amount of snow that fell in Boston during yesterday's blizzard, the St. Patrick's Day Parade route will be modified to follow the established snow route to ensure the safety of participants and spectators. The snow route starts at Broadway Station and ends at Farragut Road.
"Our number one priority will always be to keep our residents safe at all times," said Mayor Walsh. "The snow route has allowed for a safe and enjoyable celebration in other years when there has been heavy snow before the parade, and I commend the Public Works Department for working diligently to ensure that Broadway will be safe and accessible by Sunday."
"The Boston Police Department manages numerous special events throughout the year, including parades, and reviews all aspects of public safety," said Boston Police Commissioner William B. Evans. "Yesterday's snowfall makes it more difficult to manage this weekend's parade in South Boston and it has created a situation where we do not feel that it is safe enough for children and families to watch the parade, especially on side streets, which are already difficult to navigate after a storm. It is important not to add more congestion to the roads in the neighborhood. Utilizing the snow route that has been successful in years past and will be safer for all of us."
With the parking ban in place through 5 p.m. today, Boston Public Works Department (PWD) removed 1,800 cubic yards of snow overnight from Broadway. Over the next several nights, PWD will focus on continued snow removal and opening the sidewalks on Broadway to ensure safety and accessibility on the designated snow route.
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Governor Baker discuss storm recovery and thank first responders
Governor Baker Visits Barnstable County Multi-Agency Coordination Center
Discusses storm recovery and thanks first responders
Governor Baker participates in a roundtable discussion with local officials at the Barnstable County Multi-Agency Coordination Center to thank first responders and address recovery efforts in the wake of the most recent nor’easter.
For high resolution photo, click here.
BOSTON – Today, Governor Charlie Baker joined Senator Vinny deMacedo, Senator Julian Cyr, Representative Sarah Peake, Representative Will Crocker, Representative Randy Hunt, Representative Tim Whelan, utility representatives and municipal officials from Barnstable County to discuss the impact of the most recent nor’easter at the Barnstable County Multi-Agency Coordination Center and to thank first responders for their efforts throughout the storm.
The most recent nor’easter has left hundreds of thousands of homes without power, dropped over two feet of snow in parts of the Commonwealth and knocked down trees and wires in several communities. Southeastern MA, especially Plymouth County, Southern Bristol County, the Cape and Islands, continue to experience significant power outages due following heavy wet snowfall and damaging winds.
Residents in need are encouraged to call 2-1-1 to identify their nearest shelter or warming center.
EOCs are actively working to clean up communities throughout the Commonwealth. Resource requests and storm related questions should be directed to MEMA’s Regional EOCs, or to the SEOC through MEMA’s 24/7 Communications Center at (508) 820-2000.
Baker-Polito Administration Files Legislation to Enhance Department of Early Education and Care Background Check Process
Baker-Polito Administration Files Legislation to Enhance Department of Early Education and Care Background Check Process
Bill complies with new federal mandates for crucial funding and provides additional measures for protecting children in state licensed and funded child care programs
BOSTON – The Baker-Polito Administration today filed An Act to Enhance the Background Record Check Procedures of the Department of Early Education and Careto comply with new federal regulations governing Child Care Development Block Grant (“CCDBG”) funding, and to provide increased protections for children in Department of Early Education and Care licensed programs.
“Allowing the department to access important information and conduct expanded background checks will provide additional safeguards to protect our kids,” said Governor Charlie Baker. “Our administration looks forward to working with the Legislature to enact this bill to strengthen our ability to deliver safe and exceptional educational opportunities across the Commonwealth.”
“This legislation provides important measures to continue protecting children in the Commonwealth’s licensed child care programs,” said Lt. Governor Karyn Polito. “In satisfying new federal mandates tied to critical funding we remain committed to providing the best possible care to children across Massachusetts.”
To remain eligible for CCDBG funding, Massachusetts must update its background record check process relied upon by child care providers by September 30, 2018. To ensure consistent practices relating to the safety of the Commonwealth’s children, this bill also exceeds federal requirements by extending safeguards beyond child care programs to EEC-licensed residential programs and adoption and foster agencies by September 30, 2020.
An Act to Enhance the Background Record Check Procedures of the Department of Early Education and Care will also:
· Require additional programs and individuals to complete a background record check through the Department of Early Education (EEC).
· Require all individuals in all EEC-licensed, funded, or approved programs to complete a background check record check.
· Give EEC the authority to subject these programs to additional background record checks as part of its licensing and program funding process.
Under the new CCDBG requirements, all individuals will first have to pass a fingerprint-based check of national and state criminal history databases before working provisionally in a supervised capacity in an EEC-licensed or CCDBG-funded program. This bill goes beyond federal requirements to require that applicants complete a Sex Offender Registry Information (SORI) check before working provisionally in a program. The legislation will also provide EEC with access to information on registered Level 1 sex offenders in Massachusetts. Currently EEC receives only Level 2 and Level 3 sex offender record information.
“An important element of this legislation is that all individuals in programs that are licensed by EEC or receive CCDBG funding will need to first pass the fingerprint check and Massachusetts SORI check before they are permitted to work provisionally in a supervised capacity,” Education Secretary James Peyser said.
A new background record check technology system to streamline business processes and to support the required changes to the review process is near completion. Applicants seeking to apply for or renew a child care program license, or seeking new funding through CCDBG, and any new individuals in an existing EEC-licensed child care or CCDBG-funded program, will complete their background record check through the new system.
Applicants in programs subject to CCDBG requirements will be subject to a new check of the National Sex Offender Registry (NSOR), in addition to the four currently required checks of the state’s CORI, SORI, the Department of Children and Families (DCF) Registry of Alleged Perpetrators, and a fingerprint-based check of the state and national criminal history databases. All five checks will be run concurrently.
“The safety of Massachusetts’ children is paramount, and ‘An Act to Enhance the Background Record Check Procedures of the Department of Early Education and Care’ will provide critical measures for protecting the Commonwealth’s children and staff in our state licensed and funded child care programs,” said Commissioner Tom Weber. “These additional measures will strengthen our system and demonstrate the Department’s commitment to continuous improvement and enhance our ability to meet our mission of providing children and families with safe, high-quality early education and care.”
CCDBG funding provides more than $277 million annually to the Department of Early Education and Care to subsidize high-quality child care for low-income children and families. In order to remain eligible for this funding, Massachusetts must update its background record check processes for all EEC-licensed child care programs and all programs that receive CCDBG funds, and to all individuals working and present in these programs, regardless of whether they have unsupervised access to children, by September 30, 2018.
EEC will phase in the additional background record check requirements for all individuals in all EEC-licensed residential programs and adoption and foster placement agencies by September 2020.
"Raise Up" to voice on paid leave and $15 minimum wage and legislators listen
Greater Boston Legislators to Hear from Hundreds of Voters at Boston Community Briefing on Paid Leave, $15 Minimum Wage
Raise Up Massachusetts’ Statewide Community Briefing Tour Comes to Boston As Grassroots Coalition Pushes for Passage of Paid Family and Medical Leave, $15 Minimum Wage Bills
BOSTON – On Tuesday, March 20 at 6:00 p.m. at the Cathedral Church of St. Paul in Boston, hundreds of local voters from the Raise Up Massachusetts coalition will be joined by Boston-area legislators for a community briefing on the coalition’s two legislative priorities: a paid family and medical leave program for Massachusetts workers, and an increase in the state’s minimum wage to $15 an hour by 2022.
At the briefing, members of local community organizations, faith groups, and labor unions will speak with Boston-area legislators about the urgent need for a higher minimum wage and the creation of a paid family and medical leave program for all Massachusetts workers. Members of the public are welcome and encouraged to RSVP at bit.ly/raiseupboston.
The briefing is part of a statewide tour pushing for passage of paid leave and a $15 minimum wage this spring, with events occurring in the South Coast, Springfield, Lawrence, Worcester, Boston, the North Shore, and Brockton throughout March and early April.
WHAT: Legislative Briefing on Paid Leave, $15 Minimum Wage
WHO: Hundreds of local voters from the Raise Up Massachusetts coalition of community organizations, religious groups, and labor unions; Greater Boston legislators
WHEN: Tuesday, March 20, 6:00 p.m.
WHERE: Cathedral Church of St. Paul, 138 Tremont Street, Boston
Last fall, the Raise Up Massachusetts coalition of community organizations, religious groups, and labor unions collected a total of 274,652 signatures to qualify paid leave and $15 minimum wage questions for the ballot, all without using paid signature gathering companies. The coalition collected 139,055 signatures for a $15 minimum wage and 135,597 for paid family and medical leave, well beyond the required 64,750 signatures for each petition.
Now that signatures are collected, members of the coalition are asking the Legislature to pass the bills before the June 2018 deadline to act. At that point, ballot question proponents must collect another 10,792 signatures to place the questions on the November 2018 ballot.
The Raise Up Massachusetts coalition is also behind the Fair Share Amendment, which would create an additional tax of four percentage points on the portion of a person’s annual income that is above $1 million. The Amendment would dedicate the new revenue generated by the tax, approximately $1.9 billion in 2019 dollars, to investments in transportation and public education. The Fair Share Amendment is already fully qualified for the 2018 ballot, because it is a constitutional amendment which followed a lengthier path to the ballot.
Background: Paid Family and Medical Leave
Raise Up Massachusetts’ paid leave legislation (H.2172/S.1048) would create a Paid Family and Medical Leave Insurance Program for Massachusetts workers, providing up to either 12 or 16 weeks of job-protected paid leave to care for a seriously ill or injured family member, to care for a new child, or to meet family needs arising from a family member’s active duty military service (family leave); and up to 26 weeks of job-protected paid leave to recover from a worker’s own serious illness or injury (medical leave), or to care for a seriously ill or injured service member.
The question prohibits employer retaliation against workers who take time off under these conditions, and workers taking paid leave would receive partial wage replacement equal to a percentage of their average weekly wages, with a maximum weekly benefit of either $650 or $1,000. Benefits would be funded through employer contributions to the new Family and Medical Leave Trust Fund, and employers could require employees to contribute up to 50% of the trust fund contributions.
While the United States is the only developed nation that does not offer paid time off after the birth of a child, California, New York, Rhode Island, and New Jersey all have paid family and medical leave, and both workers and businesses report positive effects. Because employees on leave receive their benefits from a state trust fund, businesses can afford to hire temporary replacement workers with the money they would otherwise use to pay the employee taking leave. Six years after California’s law was implemented, 89 to 99 percent of employers reportedthat paid family and medical leave had either a “positive effect” or “no noticeable effect” on productivity, profitability/performance, turnover, and employee morale.
Background: $15 Minimum Wage
Raise Up Massachusetts’ $15 minimum wage legislation (H.2365/S.1004) would raise the Massachusetts minimum wage, currently $11 an hour, by $1 each year over four years until it is $15 an hour in 2022. The minimum wage would then be adjusted each year to rise at the same rate as the cost of living.
Increasing the minimum wage to $15 by 2022 would raise the wages of roughly 943,000 workers, or 29 percent of the state’s workforce, according to a report by the Massachusetts Budget and Policy Center. 90 percent of workers who would be affected are over 20 years old or older, 56 percent are women, and 55 percent work full-time. Workers who are paid low wages include highly skilled professions, like nursing assistants, childcare providers, paramedics, and educators.
For employers, higher wages mean more efficient workers and less employee turnover, making it easier to recruit and retain workers and helping their bottom line. Business for a Fair Minimum Wage, a network of business owners and executives who believe a fair minimum wage makes good business sense, has released a statement signed by more than 250 Massachusetts business owners and executives who support gradually raising the minimum wage to $15 an hour by 2022. Raise Up Massachusetts has also released a statement signed by 90 Massachusetts economists in support of the minimum wage increase.
Today, Massachusetts has the largest gap of any state between the general minimum wage ($11/hour) and the sub-minimum wage for tipped workers ($3.75). This sub-minimum wage for tipped workers leaves them facing financial uncertainty, and makes them vulnerable to harassment, discrimination, and wage theft. Raise Up Massachusetts’ legislation would also increase the sub-minimum wage for tipped workers over 8 years until it is equal to the regular minimum wage. That would bring Massachusetts in line with eight other states, from California to Maine, that have eliminated the sub-minimum wage for tipped workers, without seeing any harm to restaurants or a reduction in tipping.
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