AG’S OFFICE SUES THE OWNER OF THE TANNERY FOR DISCRIMINATING AGAINST CUSTOMERS BASED ON RACE AND NATIONAL ORIGIN

AG’S OFFICE SUES THE OWNER OF THE TANNERY FOR DISCRIMINATING AGAINST CUSTOMERS BASED ON RACE AND NATIONAL ORIGIN

Owner of Upscale Back Bay Clothing and Shoe Store Allegedly Prohibited an African American Man and a Woman of Middle Eastern Descent from Shopping in the Store

BOSTON – The owner and manager of an upscale shoe and clothing store in Boston’s Back Bay has been sued after allegedly discriminating against shoppers because of their race, national origin, and immigration status, Attorney General Maura Healey announced today.

The AG’s Office filed a complaint in Suffolk Superior Court today, alleging that Hicham Ali Hassan (a/k/a Sam Hassan), the owner and manager of The Tannery, violated the state’s Public Accommodations Law and Consumer Protection Act by denying service to an African American man and a Middle Eastern woman shopping in the store based on their race, national origin, and/or immigration status. The AG’s Office alleges that the experiences of the two victims are examples of a larger pattern of Hassan’s discriminatory treatment of certain customers.

“This kind of discrimination has no place in Massachusetts,” said AG Healey. “My office will take action to protect members of the public from businesses that engage in discriminatory conduct, which harms both individual victims and the entire community.”

According to the complaint, in December 2017, an African American customer attempted to enter The Tannery to shop approximately 20 minutes before the store closed. Upon entering the store, Hassan allegedly approached the victim and asked him “what’s up brother man?” and prevented him from fully entering the store.

When the victim asked Hassan why he was denied entry into The Tannery while other white patrons were allowed to enter and shop, the defendant told him that “he did not want [his] kind in [the] store.” Hassan allegedly repeatedly told the victim he was not allowed to shop in the store and implied that he did not have enough money to shop at The Tannery. Hassan then allegedly directed the victim to the door, and told him he didn’t want his money and to shop elsewhere.

Also according to the AG’s complaint, in March 2017, Hassan repeatedly asked a customer of Middle Eastern descent where she was from. Instead of helping the woman, who had been trying to ask about a pair of boots, Hassan allegedly told her, among other things, that he does not trust immigrants and “I love Trump! I am glad he is going to get rid of all the immigrants.” The victim decided she no longer wanted the boots after hearing these comments. As she was exiting the store, Hassan allegedly shouted at her to get out and that he didn’t “trust [her] people.”

The AG’s Office has reason to believe that the experiences of the two victims are part of a larger pattern of discrimination. Members of the public are encouraged to contact the AG’s Civil Rights Division at (617) 963-2917 or www.mass.gov/ago/civilrightscomplaint if they have had similar experiences of discrimination at The Tannery based on their race, national origin, immigration status, or any other protected characteristic. 

Through its lawsuit, the AG’s Office is seeking injunctive relief compelling The Tannery to comply with the law. The AG’s Office is also requesting the court to award the victims with compensatory damages and assess civil penalties.

The Massachusetts Public Accommodations Law makes it unlawful for any business that solicits or accepts the patronage of the general public to distinguish among customers on the basis of their race, color, national origin, ancestry, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, or disability. The law prohibits discrimination with respect to both admission into, and treatment within, places of public accommodation. The Consumer Protection Act prohibits unfair or deceptive conduct in trade or commerce.

This case is being handled by Special Assistant Attorney General Carolina Almonte of AG Healey’s Civil Rights Division, with assistance from Investigator Ciara Tran, of AG Healey’s Civil Investigations Division.

Tri-Caucus Chairs Oppose Republican Appropriations Proposal to Fund Border Wall and Mass Deportation Force

Tri-Caucus Chairs Oppose Republican Appropriations Proposal to Fund Border Wall and Mass Deportation Force  

Washington D.C. – Today, the U.S. House Committee on Appropriations is marking up the Homeland Security Appropriations bill for Fiscal Year 2019, which includes provisions to fund $5 billion for Donald Trump’s border wall, and also provides funding for 400 new Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers and an unprecedented number of immigration detention beds. Ahead of the mark up, the Congressional Tri-Caucus Chairs – composed of Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC) Chair Michelle Lujan Grisham (NM-01), Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC) Chair Judy Chu (CA-27), and Congressional Black Caucus (CBC) Chair Cedric Richmond (LA-02) – sent letters to House Appropriations Committee Members urging appropriators to reject the Trump administration’s mass deportation agenda.

“As you consider the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) Fiscal Year 2019 Appropriations bill, we urge you to reject the proposed increases in funding for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), in particular for immigration detention, ICE agents and the border wall that will enable President Trump to continue building a massive deportation system responsible for the separation of families,” the Members wrote.

They continued: “We ask that the Committee decrease the number of detention beds in our nation’s already overgrown, expensive and inhumane immigration detention system. These detention beds are increasingly being used to detain families, as the number of families apprehended at the border has increased in recent years. Instead of expanding funds to detain families in DHS facilities which the American Academy of Pediatrics has reported, ‘do not meet the basic standards for the care of children in residential settings,’ this Committee should instead re-institute programs like the Family Case Management Program.”

The letter closed by asking the Committee to oppose FY19 funding for the Trump administration’s costly and inhumane mass deportation agenda.

The official letter can be found here.

Massachusetts Black and Latino Legislative Caucus Celebrates Appointment of William Gross as Boston’s New Police Commissioner

Massachusetts Black and Latino Legislative Caucus Celebrates Appointment of William Gross as Boston’s New Police Commissioner

BOSTON— The Massachusetts Black and Latino Legislative Caucus (MBLLC) extends its sincerest congratulations to Chief William Gross as he ascends to the role of Commissioner for the Boston Police Department (BPD). On July 23, 2018 Boston Mayor Martin J. Walsh announced the appointment which will make Gross the first African-American to hold the post in the city. This comes after previously becoming BPD’s first African-American Superintendent in Chief. Chief Gross has steadily risen through the ranks after first joining the police department as a cadet and launching his career as a patrol officer in 1985.

“Chief Gross is a model police officer of whom I have heard nothing but praise,” said MBLLC Chair, Representative Frank Moran (D-Lawrence). He continued, “He has shown residents throughout the Commonwealth what can come from hard work, passion, and unyielding love for community.”

Exiting Commissioner William B. Evans spoke highly of Gross stressing his leadership and respect among the community. Widely revered, Chief Gross will continue to serve BPD proudly as he continues building bridges and partnerships throughout the city.

During his time serving the people of Boston, Chief Gross has remained a staunch advocate for community policing and diversity within the police force. Chief Gross reiterated his commitment to both as he addressed a crowd and spoke of the promotion’s significance. As the Boston Police Department’s top law enforcement officer Chief Gross will serve as a beacon for youth throughout the city. His appointment will show young men and women what opportunities lay ahead for them and the value of public service.

AG RECOVERS MORE THAN $170,000 IN WAGES AND PENALTIES

AG RECOVERS MORE THAN $170,000 IN WAGES AND PENALTIES FROM PAVING COMPANY FOR FAILING TO PAY OVERTIME TO WORKERS

BOSTON – A Methuen paving contractor and its president have been cited $172,554 in restitution and penalties for violating the Massachusetts overtime law for work performed on various public works projects across the state, Attorney General Maura Healey announced today.

“State prevailing wage laws ensure that companies working on public works projects do not cut corners to gain an unfair competitive edge,” said AG Healey. “This company cheated its workers out of overtime pay and with this action by my office, will now pay them what they are owed.”

The AG’s Fair Labor Division began an investigation into EJ Paving and its president, Thomas Evangelista, after receiving a complaint from an employee alleging he was not paid overtime for all hours worked in excess of 40.

The investigation revealed the company paid overtime to its employees after they had worked in excess of 45 hours during a week, though the law requires employees be paid time and a half after working more than 40 hours a week. The investigation also revealed that when employees worked on both private and public works projects during the same week, EJ Paving failed to account for the different hourly rates of pay when overtime was calculated.

The AG’s Office issued one citation for failure to pay overtime, which EJ Paving has paid in full.

AG Healey’s Fair Labor Division is responsible for enforcing state laws regulating the payment of wages, including prevailing wage, minimum wage, earned sick time and overtime laws.

Workers who believe that their rights have been violated in their workplace are encouraged to file a complaint at www.mass.gov/ago/wagetheft. For information about the state’s wage and hour laws, workers may call the Office’s Fair Labor Hotline at (617) 727-3465 or go to the Attorney General’s new Workplace Rights website www.mass.gov/ago/fairlabor for materials in multiple languages.

This matter was handled by Assistant Attorney General Barbara Dillon DeSouza and Inspector Joseph Drzyzga of AG Healey’s Fair Labor Division.

AG HEALEY ANNOUNCES SETTLEMENT AGAINST CHARITY THAT FALSELY CLAIMED TO HELP MASSACHUSETTS VETERANS

AG HEALEY ANNOUNCES SETTLEMENT AGAINST CHARITY THAT FALSELY CLAIMED TO HELP MASSACHUSETTS VETERANS

Settlement Part of National Effort to Combat Deceptive Veterans Charities

BOSTON – Attorney General Maura Healey today announced a settlement with a Connecticut-based veterans charity that violated state charitable solicitation laws and misled potential donors. The announcement is part of a joint national effort by the Federal Trade Commission and states and U.S. territories called“Operation Donate with Honor,” a new donor education campaign aimed at battlingdeceptive and unlawful charitable solicitation for charities that falsely purport to serve our veterans.

In the settlement with the AG’s Office, Focus on Veterans has agreed to comply with Massachusetts solicitation laws and pay $60,000, which the AG’s Office transferred last month to two legitimate Massachusetts veterans charities.

“Misleading veterans charities defraud donors, veterans, and military families, and hurt legitimate organizations engaged in this vital work,” said AG Healey. “We will take action to shut down charities scams and are glad to partner in national efforts to support charities for veterans.”

After receiving Superior Court approval, the AG’s Office transferred $30,000 of the settlement funds to Brighton Marine Health Center Inc. to assist veterans battling homelessness, and $30,000 to the Disabled American Veterans Department of Massachusetts Service Fund Inc., where the funds will be used for a program that helps transport veterans to VA medical appointments. The court determined that the programs at these charities were most closely aligned with the original intent of Focus on Veterans donors in Massachusetts.

The AG’s lawsuit against Focus on Veterans Inc. found that in addition to failing to properly register with the state, the charity falsely represented that its donations would be used to assist Massachusetts veterans in various ways, including providing housing and transportation assistance.

As part of Operation Donate with Honor, the coalition of participating states and territories announced more than 100 actions against fraudulent charities and individuals that take advantage of consumers by falsely promising their donations will help veterans and service members. Other law enforcement actions announced today by the FTC and states included complaints against charities that made false promises to help homeless and disabled veterans, used deceptive prize promotion solicitations, or falsely claimed that donations would be tax deductible.  

Operation Donate with Honor was developed by the FTC and the National Association of State Charity Officials (NASCO), the association of state offices charged with oversight of charitable organizations and charitable solicitations in the United States. The initiative pairs enforcement actions with an education campaign and informative videos in English and Spanish to help consumers recognize charitable solicitation fraud and identify legitimate charities. Representatives from every state, the District of Columbia, American Samoa, Guam and Puerto Rico are participating.

AG Healey’s Office encourages potential donors, regardless of where or how they choose to donate, to learn how to spot fraudulent and deceptive solicitations and make sure their contributions benefit veterans and service members. When donating to a charity, the AG’s Office advises consumers to:

• Ask for the charity’s name, website and physical location.
• Ask how much of any donation will go to the charitable program you want to support.
• Search the charity’s name online with the word “scam” or “complaint.” See what other people say about it.
• Check out the charity’s ratings at the Wise Giving Alliance, Charity Watch or Charity Navigator.
• Never pay with cash, a gift card or by wiring money.
• Consider paying by credit card, which is the safest option for security and tax purposes.

Before giving to a charity, read the AG Office’s website. Donors and business owners can also find information to help them donate wisely atFTC.gov/Charity.

波士頓學校委員會批准付給張欽棠30萬元 惹出違反公開會議法質疑

(Boston Orange) 波士頓前任公校總監張欽棠(Tommy Chang)將獲得大約30萬元，最多一年的醫療保險，以及一封正面的推薦信。波士頓環球報以一篇報導指稱，波士頓學校委員會在明顯違反了麻州公開會議法的一次會議中，通過了這些條件。

根據波士頓環球報的計算，這數額是以張欽棠的一年薪資$267,383為準，計算出來的，其中包括約等於3萬元的27天還未使用休假日，以及3天私人事務日。

張欽棠是在2015年時簽下了5年受聘合約，如果學校委員會在沒有任何理由下解決他的合約，他有權獲得一整年的薪資。

張欽棠在7月18日，週三的一個訪問中表示，波士頓市長馬丁華殊(Martin Walsh)告訴他，想要轉向另一個方向。張欽棠說雖然他想要留下來，但他最後決定離開。他曾希望有機會做完合約任期，無論波士頓市需要他做什麼，他都準備著，他會支持這個學校系統和城市。

            在推薦信中，學校委員會讚揚張欽棠在創造策略彌平成就差距，以及給不同背景學生教育機會上的工作成績。該信還稱”張博士和學校委員會的合作，也支持了獲取藝術，安全飲水，側重恢復正義的行為標準等重要政策的制定。我們感謝他的合作，以及他在領導一個複雜學校系統朝向平等，改善學業上的努力。

張欽棠的離職，已經成為學校委員會的惡夢，讓許多家長及支持者懷疑他們的可信任程度。根據州法，學校委員會應該有權聘僱，評估，辭退一名公校總監。在學校委員會的兩份張欽棠評鑑中，委員們認為他總體表現幹練，儘管他們也註記著他需要在溝通及和家庭互動上需要改善。

有些家長及支持者表示，學校委員會明顯的想要把這協議在公眾面前隱藏起來，持續的缺乏信任與透明度，讓社區受苦。

學校委員會是什麼時候批准合約，並不清楚，但這協議是由波士頓市和學校委員會在7月9日時簽署的。張欽棠則是7月6日簽署，然後7月13日再簽一份附件，放棄所有的申訴權。

在週一的會議中，學校委員會委員完全沒有向公眾宣佈，他們已經和張欽棠達成協議，也沒有在公眾面前投票來批准花這錢來執行協議。

遞出”公開資訊法”要求的麻州雜誌(Commonwealth Magazine)，是第一個把這協議帶到大眾面前的機構。

張欽棠預定在7月27日會收到這筆付款，而學校委員會的下次會期是排在9月12日。

4校學生聯袂參加羅大暑期營 歡樂收割滿行囊

4校學生聯袂參加羅大暑期營　歡樂收割滿行囊

(Boston Orange)受到國內師生推崇的「羅德島大學暑期研習營」，成果豐盈地邁入第6年。來自東海大學、國立海洋大學、國立雲林科技大學及元智大學共38位同學，在積極的準備下，踏上海外進修和人文陶冶雙管並進的學程。在將近4週的遊學之旅，廣受羅德島大學老師和助理的好評，一致認為是歷年以來學習精神和紀律最佳的團隊。

駐波士頓辦事處處長徐佑典特別於7月14日以自助餐形式接待研習營指導老師、助理及學生，並在席間代表中華民國政府致詞勉勵與會學生，對於同學們願意跳出固有學習模式，利用暑期到美國東北岸學術重鎮，接受生活挑戰和異文化的衝擊，感到欣慰和認同，並以當年到俄國遊學的經驗為例，與同學們分享既讀萬卷書，也抓住行萬里路的經驗和收穫。他希望同學們回國後，能更上層樓，以新的眼光和角度，策勵自己的學習和動力。徐處長並向同學們介紹波士頓辦事處在新英格蘭5州的角色和功能，提醒同學們日後若是到此地留學，不論是遇到求學的壓力或挫折，或要進一步地建立社群和人脈，都歡迎跟波士頓辦事處和教育組保持聯繫。

教育組組長陳幗珍也在餐會前感謝羅德島大學和東海大學教授，尤其是負責策劃的陳紹寬副院長及王志鴻教授，從中協調美、臺兩方學校的高度配合，並向同學們介紹教育部設立的留學獎學金、短期研習或實習機會，歡迎青年學子赴海外學習，提升台灣的國際競爭力。

好一段時間沒有嚐到台式食物的學生們，看到熟悉的家鄉菜，開心之情溢於言表，不時謝謝處長的關懷和勉勵。經過兩星期的研習課程，同學們表示能慢慢適應美國教學環境，課堂上也敢發言，並用英語表達。他們說，美國教師比較重視學生的回應，鼓勵學生勇於嘗試，所以他們不害怕犯錯，在學習過程中得到鼓勵與信心。也有同學表示，學校舒適的自然校園環境，有助於思考學習。

這群來自臺灣的學生，除在課堂上認識美國歷史文化，也躬奉其盛地欣賞到美國獨立紀念日煙火，以及當地著名的海岸豪宅。他們雖不大習慣美式食物，但是羅德島大學舒適的食宿供應和貼心的學生生活助理，使他們很快地融入生活，馬上進入學習課程。問到參加的動機，有同學表示要提升自我語言能力，尤其是幾位過去參加的遊學生，現在已經進入羅德島大學深造，更是激勵他們作長遠的準備。也有人想藉機訓練自己獨立或是擴大學習範疇。在家人的支持和期待下，他們能赴美修讀學分，心裡充滿感恩，深感不虛此行。

羅德島大學與東海大學、國立雲林科技大學及國立海洋大學簽有國際合作備忘錄，每年暑期的研習營，則是雙方實質合作的最佳例證。因著過去的經驗累積和不斷改進，目前該研習營已建立良好的口碑，參加暑修的學生絡繹不絶，使得羅德島大學成為國內大學校院爭取合作的最佳對象。其中還有同學連續2年參加，對全英文的上課方式，覺得有挑戰、有樂趣！

為了增加交流機會，羅德島大學安排台灣學生與該校中文領航計畫暑期班學生入住同一宿舍，增加彼此互動。由於中文暑期課程學生只能說中文，所以藉著語言交換練習的機會，兩國的學生得以認識不同的文化，開拓國際視野。盼望這樣的合作模式，能進而發展為雙向交流，吸引美籍學生赴台進修，研讀華語或學位，認識瞭解台灣社會及文化，達到雙贏的目標。(駐波士頓經文處教育組提供)

波士頓民眾聚會 紀念劉曉波辭世一週年 (圖片)