Baker-Polito Administration Announces New Housing Choice Designations and Highlights Housing Choice Bill in Haverhill

Baker-Polito Administration Announces New Housing Choice Designations and Highlights Housing Choice Bill in Haverhill

10 additional Housing Choice  Communities recognized for adopting housing best practices

HAVERHILL – Today, Governor Charlie Baker joined Haverhill Mayor James J. Fiorentini, Representative Linda Dean Campbell, Representative Christina Minicucci, Representative Lenny Mirra, Representative Andres Vargas and other local leaders to highlight An Act to Promote Housing Choices, legislation filed by Governor Baker in February that calls for targeted zoning reform to advance new housing production in Massachusetts and support the administration’s goal to produce 135,000 new housing units by 2025.

Representative Campbell, Representative Minicucci, Representative Mirra, Representative Vargas, Karen Sawyer Conard, Executive Director of the Merrimack Valley Planning Commission, Dave Traggorth, President of Traggorth Companies, and Eric Chinburg, President of Chinburg Properties, joined Mayor Fiorentini in endorsing the legislation in the lead up to the May 14^th Joint Committee on Housing hearing. 

During today’s event, Governor Baker also announced the designation of Haverhill and nine other municipalities as Housing Choice Communities. These ten communities join the 69 Housing Choice Communities designated in 2018.Launched in December 2017 as part of the Baker-Polito Administration’s Housing Choice Initiative, this designation recognizes communities that adopt best practices for boosting housing production by making them eligible for competitive capital grants. The Administration has awarded $4 million to 19 communities through the Housing Choice Capital Grant Program.

“Housing Choice grants reward and encourage municipalities’ efforts to increase housing production and exemplify the support we believe is critical to empowering community development,” said Governor Charlie Baker. “We congratulate today’s designees for their commitment to delivering important housing for residents and look forward to building on this progress by working together with the Legislature to pass our Housing Choice legislation.”

“Governor Baker and I recognize that far too many families, workers and employers are limited by the lack affordable, adequate housing in their communities,” said Lt. Governor Karyn Polito. “We are proud of the $1 billion our administration has invested into affordable housing programs like the Housing Development Incentive Program to advance thousands of market-rate units, and we look forward to continuing to prioritize housing at this crucial juncture.”

Haverhill earned this designation for producing more than 800 new housing units over the last five years, successfully leveraging state resources such as the Housing Development Incentive Program to drive the conversion of former mills into transit-oriented, mixed-use developments and promote a variety of housing and commercial activity. The pending Housing Choice bill would make it easier for the city to continue pursuing such projects.

In addition to Haverhill, today’s newly designated communities include: Ayer, Burlington, Dracut, Fall River, Franklin, Hingham, Newton, Westwood, and Wrentham. Since 2014, these municipalities have collectively produced more than 5,800 new units of housing.

The legislative proposal will enable cities and towns to adopt certain zoning best practices related to housing production by a simple majority vote, rather than the current two-thirds supermajority. While this legislation will lower the voting threshold to change zoning for all communities in the Commonwealth, it does not require cities and towns to make any of these changes. With the proposed simple majority threshold, municipalities that pursue rezoning efforts including those enabling transit-oriented or downtown-oriented new housing, would gain approval if they achieve more than 50% of the vote, as opposed to the current super majority of more than 66%. Massachusetts is currently one of only a few states to require a supermajority to change local zoning.

Zoning changes that promote best practices for housing growth that would qualify for the simple majority threshold include:

• Building mixed-use, multi-family, and starter homes, and adopting 40R “Smart Growth” zoning in town centers and near transit.
• Allowing the development of accessory dwelling units, or “in-law” apartments.
• Approving Smart Growth or Starter Homes districts that put housing near existing activity centers.
• Granting increased density through a special permit process.
• Allowing for the transfer of development rights and enacting natural resource protection zoning.
• Reducing parking requirements and dimensional requirements, such as minimum lot sizes.

This legislation also includes a provision, added by the Joint Committee on Housing last session, that would reduce the voting threshold for a special permit issued by a local permit granting authority to a simple majority vote, for certain multi-family or mixed-use projects with at least 10% affordable units in locations near transit or, in centers of commercial activity within a municipality.

“Massachusetts is home to the country’s best-educated workforce, but also its most expensive housing,” said Housing and Economic Development Secretary Mike Kennealy. “Our Housing Choice legislation would empower the production necessary to reduce housing costs, delivering relief to families while helping retain talent and securing economic growth. We look forward to working with our partners in the Legislature to make sure it passes this session.”

The legislation is part of the administration’s Housing Choice Initiative, which provides incentives, technical assistance, and capital grant funding to encourage new housing production that meets the long-term needs of the Commonwealth’s growing, and aging, population.

“Our families, seniors, workforce, individuals with disabilities, and vulnerable populations have diverse housing needs, and today’s market is not meeting them. Housing that our residents can afford is a crucial resource and An Act to Promote Housing Choices will create the tools we need to promote new housing development for those across incomes,” said Acting Undersecretary of Housing and Community Development Jennifer Maddox. “We are proud of the coalition we’ve built in support of this legislation and the investments we’ve made in affordable housing, community development, and public housing to benefit the many communities which contribute to our strong, inclusive Commonwealth.”

“I’m grateful that Governor Baker is coming to Haverhill to showcase his key housing legislation, which I strongly endorse,” said Mayor of Haverhill James J. Fiorentini. “This legislation, aptly called the Housing Choice Initiative, will give our city options to control our own destiny. It fits perfectly with our ongoing Master Plan process and will help us as we decide where we want residential growth and what kind of residential growth we want. Most importantly, it will give us new tools to develop housing that middle class families can actually afford.”

"Governor Baker’s Housing Choice legislation provides a much clearer path to create dense urban housing and to preserve existing structures like the Ellis Factory Lofts. It will increase housing options and density, reduce dimensional requirements, and decreases costs, which all helps to make more affordable projects,” said Eric Chinburg, President of Chinburg Properties. “We are really pleased to have completed this renovation and to breathe new life into an iconic, historic factory building. Attracting new residents and businesses to downtown Haverhill supports a vibrant place to live, work and play. Haverhill has been very supportive during this complex project and we congratulate Mayor Fiorentini and his staff staff on their approach to encourage varied housing options in the downtown core, where residents can walk to restaurant, shops and public transportation."

“The Housing Choice Initiative legislation is an important step in the development of more affordable housing across the Commonwealth,” said Lisa B. Alberghini, President of the Planning Office for Urban Affairs. “We are in the midst of an affordable housing crisis, and we need to increase affordable housing opportunities to ensure the continued creation of strong, diverse and healthy communities. The Housing Choice Initiative is a significant tool in the effort to address this need.”

“We have been successful in Haverhill because Mayor Fiorentini has proven that housing is key to economic development, and because Governor Baker has given us the tools like the Housing Development Incentive Tax Credit and the State Historic Tax Credit to help make it happen,” said Dave Traggorth, President of Traggorth Companies. “We support the Housing Choice legislation so that we can scale up the success we've had both within Haverhill, and in other cities and towns eager to see the same incredible results.”

“As one of 13 Regional Planning Agencies in the Commonwealth, the Merrimack Valley Planning Commission is proud to support the Baker-Polito Administration’s efforts with the Housing Choice Initiative,” said Karen Sawyer Conard, Executive Director of the Merrimack Valley Planning Commission. “Home to seven Housing Choice Community Designations and three Community Grant and Small Town Grant Awards to enhance water infrastructure needs and improve open space amenities for residents, our region is taking full advantage of this innovative program.  Our communities will look to coordinate the benefits of the Housing Choice Initiative with our newly developed Regional Housing Plan to help plan for the development and preservation of housing units to meet the needs of all residents today and in the future.”

“Its designation as a Housing Choice Community is a testament to the City of Haverhill’s commitment to bolstering housing production and supporting a growing workforce that can proudly call this great city home,” said Senator Diana DiZoglio. “I am pleased to see these efforts recognized and look forward to working alongside the City of Haverhill and communities across the Merrimack Valley to ensure all working families have sufficient access to affordable housing.”

“Zoning reform is key to addressing our housing crisis and ensuring that every community does their best to meet the housing demand in Massachusetts,”said Representative Andres Vargas. “I appreciate the Governor taking the time to visit Haverhill, as we continue to make progress on housing affordability.” 

“We must continue to find innovative solutions to address the housing crisis, especially given our aging population,” said Representative Linda Dean Campbell. “Haverhill’s designation as a Housing Choice Community will give the City greater access to funding to further its innovative efforts on this issue. I look forward to working with Governor Baker and my colleagues on the state level to make it easier for our communities to adopt the housing solutions that work best for them.”

“Massachusetts has enjoyed a very robust economy with strong job growth,”said Representative Lenny Mirra. “In order to see this continue, the Commonwealth will need a large increase in housing production and the Governor's plans will go a long way in making this happen.”

The Baker-Polito Administration has shown a deep commitment to increasing the production of housing across income levels. Since 2015, the administration has invested more than $1 billion in affordable housing, resulting in the production and preservation of more than 17,000 housing units, including 15,000 affordable units. In 2018, Governor Baker signed the largest housing bond bill in Massachusetts history, committing more than $1.8 billion to the future of affordable housing production and preservation. The Baker-Polito Administration has also advanced the development of more than 11,000 mixed-income housing units through the successful MassWorks Infrastructure Program, reformed the Housing Development Incentive Program, and worked with communities to implement smart-growth development and planning efforts.

2019 Housing Choice Community Designations:

·         Town of Ayer

·         Town of Burlington

·         Town of Dracut

·         City of Fall River

·         Town of Franklin

·         City of Haverhill

·         Town of Hingham

·         City of Newton

·         Town of Westwood

·         Town of Wrentham

中華表演藝術基金會5/11音樂會

Soovin Kim及簡佩盈(Gloria Chien)。

(Boston Orange)中華表演藝術基金會訂 5月11日(週六) 晚八點，在波士頓紐英崙音樂學院喬登廳 (Jordan Hall) 舉辦音樂會。兩位著名的新英格蘭音樂學院教授，韓裔小提琴家Soovin Kim，華裔鋼琴家簡佩盈(Gloria Chien)將攜手演出。

韓裔小提琴家 Soovin Kim早在20歲時就獲得帕格尼尼國際小提琴大賽一等金獎。他後來得過的獎項包括1997年的亨利克·谢林事業成就獎，1998年的艾弗里費舍爾事業成就獎，以及2005年Borletti -Buitoni信託公司獎。

Soovin Kim以彈奏豐富及特別的曲目聞名，例如巴赫、帕加尼尼的作品，以及大型浪漫協奏曲，新創作曲等。 2006年2月他發行了24首帕格尼尼小提琴獨奏錄音碟，古典電台雜誌稱之為 “本月最佳樂器光盤”。他還有一張由Stomp / EMI製作的光盤，是韓國作曲家特別為韓國MIK鋼琴四重奏編寫由他們演出的作品。

他經常與世界上最傑出的指揮和管弦樂隊一起在各地演出，並獲得了好評。

Soovin Kim畢業於柯蒂斯音樂學院及研究所。他是尚普蘭湖Lake Champlain 室內樂音樂節藝術總監。

在台灣出生的鋼琴家簡佩盈(Gloria Chien)，在新英格蘭音樂學院修得學士，碩士和音樂博士學位。她的老師包括 Russell Sherman和Wha-Kyung Byun。 她現在的身分包括田納西州克利夫蘭李大學副教授，林肯中心室內音樂學會成員，門羅 Music@Menlo 室內音樂節主任，以及尚普蘭湖室內樂音樂節藝術副總監。

波士頓環球報曾把她選為年度最佳高級鋼琴家之一，Richard Dyer稱讚她 “ ...她似乎在所有事情上都表現出色”。“色彩豐富繽紛，混合瀟灑虛張，具有不可思議的準精度...”。波士頓音樂雜誌樂評也曾說:“這是我在波士頓聽過的最好的表演之一”。 她在16歲時就首次和波士頓交響樂團合作，之後與多位知名指揮家合作，在許多國家舉辦過獨奏會，也曾在許多國際鋼琴比賽中得過獎。自2000年以來，她一直是波士頓 Chameleon藝術團的常駐鋼琴家，該團以多功能性，重視新音樂而聞名。

            5月11日晚的音樂會曲目，將包括Ravel: Sonata No. 2 in G Major ，Webern: Four Pieces for Violin and Piano, Op. 7
Szymanowski:  Nocturne and Tarantella, Op. 28 ，Prokofiev: Five Melodies, Op. 35 ，Strauss : Violin Sonata in E-flat Major, Op. 18 。

音樂會票價 $15-$50，主辦單位提撥有一百張限學生索取的免費票（十四歲以上），並呼籲六歲以下兒童請勿入場. 查詢可洽中華表演藝術基金會譚嘉陵，foundation@ChinesePerformingArts.net 或網站購票: www.ChinesePerformingArts.net。

哈佛大學費正清中心5月8日舉辦 "天安門30年"座談會

哈佛大學費正清中心主任宋怡明
(Michael A. Szonyi)。(周菊子攝)

哈佛大學費正清中心5月8日舉辦
"天安門30年"座談會。(周菊子攝)

            (Boston Orange 周菊子劍橋市報導) 哈佛大學費正清中心5月8日下午在中心地下室講堂中舉辦座談，公開討論”天安門30年”。講者郝建強調血腥記憶必須保存，王丹聲言推動政府與社會對話，各有所重，但擠滿會場的聽眾，似乎都明白目前中美關係緊張，中國內部管制加強的現實局勢，沒人提太尖銳的問題。

             哈佛大學費正清中心主任宋明怡(Michael Szonyi)在開場致詞時也特地說明，這是關於天安門事件，難得的公開討論，講談內容將製播上網，但為照顧出席者可能有的顧慮，不要求提問者自報身分，現場影像也只拍攝講者。

                 這場座談請來的四名講者分別是北京電影學院教授郝建，墨爾本大學資深講師，也是”失憶人民共和國:重訪天安門(The People’s Republic of Amnesia: Tiananmen Revisited)”的作者林慕蓮(Louisa Lim)，”對話中國”創辦人，也是八九民運學生領袖王丹，加州爾灣大學歷史教授華志堅(Jeffrey Wasserstrom)。

             座談主持人何曉清現為普林斯頓大學研究院成員，也是”天安門流亡:為中國內的民主掙扎的聲音(Tiananmen Exiles: Voices of the Struggle for Democracy in China)”的作者。她特地感謝了一直以來支持她教”六四”這門課的前費正清中心主任，今年2月10日辭世的馬若德(Roderick Lemonde MacFarquhar)教授。

右起，郝建，宋怡明(Michael A. Szonyi)，華志堅(Jeff
Wasserstrom)，林慕連(Louisa Lim)，何曉清，王丹。
(周菊子攝)

             郝建是當天唯一使用了投影片的講者。他坦言30年來，這是他第一次可以公開談論，紀念六四。他直言，天安門事件讓他對中國的看法有了改變。

             那時候，為了找堂弟，他走遍北京30多家醫院，沿途親眼看到中槍倒地的屍體，其後也協助天安門母親查察事件中死亡者身分，在自己家中辦過紀念六四的活動。他堂弟郝致京的名字，是六年多後，才找石匠刻到墓碑上，

北京電影學院教授，哈佛大學訪問學者郝建。(周菊子攝)

             林慕蓮表示，天安門事件已然是30年前那一代人的共同記憶，但顯然在中國之內仍然是各禁忌話題，譬如在中國禁止發行的書中，就有約10%書名帶有六四或天安門等字樣。她在教課時，新生代居然有人問她，為什麼要學習有關天安門的這段歷史，學了是否反而有礙社會和諧?她感慨道，如果中國的成功是建基於人們即使只是討論這議題都不許可，付出的社會代價是否太高了些。。

郝建:這血腥的記憶，必須保存。(周菊子攝)

             王丹從哈佛畢業後，到台灣定居8年，曾在清華，東吳，中正等大學任客座助理教授，2017年返美，2018年在華府成立”對話中國”智庫。5月7日，他在紐約參加了在聖約翰大教堂舉行，由美國筆會，人到中國等機構舉辦的紀念六四30週年音樂詩歌朗誦會，5月8日來到波士頓哈佛費正清中心舉辦的”天安門30年”座談。

左起，王丹，林幕蓮，郝建。(周菊子攝)

             王丹透露，當年許多年輕人，忙著唸英語，準備出國，學習之外，打牌，學跳舞，沒人一天到晚以國家興亡為己任的去針貶時務，發生學生運動時，他們也只是要求和政府對話，那曉得他們的人生就從此不同了，1989以後，他的一舉一動都在人們注視中。他認為台灣經驗是最好的借鑑，如果中國發展也走台灣的路，一定會成為一個更好的社會。他成立”對話中國”，就是因為這些年的經歷，讓他知道政府和社會對話是多麼重要。

Weng Family Collection of Chinese Painting to be shown at MFA from Sept. 2019

Li Bai's night revel in peach and plum
 garden, 1650, Chen Hongshou

SEPTEMBER 14, 2019–MARCH 29, 2020

Weng Family Collection of Chinese Painting: Family and Friends

In 2018, the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston (MFA), received the largest and most significant gift of Chinese paintings and calligraphy in its history: the Weng Family Collection, comprising 183 objects that were acquired by and passed down through six generations of a single family. In September 2019, the MFA will open the first in a series of three exhibitions celebrating the landmark donation made by Wan-go H. C. Weng, a longtime Museum supporter and one of the most respected collectors and connoisseurs of Chinese painting in the U.S.

Featuring approximately 20 masterpieces from the gift, the first installation explores the theme of family and friends. Among the highlights are works by some of the greatest masters from the Ming (1368–1644) and Qing (1644–1911) dynasties, which demonstrate the close association of painting and calligraphy with human relationships in Chinese art. The intimate Landscape of Suzhou Sceneries (1484–1504) album describes Shen Zhou’s travels with friends around his home region, while Nine Letters to Home (after 1523), written by Wen Zhengming to his wife and sons, portray an emotionality not usually seen in the artist’s more formal works. Depicting a powerful salt merchant and art collector,Portrait of An Qi in His Garden (1698) is a collaboration between two friends, Wang Hui and Jiao Bingzhen, both celebrated court artists of the day. The most recent piece in the exhibition is a handscroll painted by Wan-go H. C. Weng himself, Elegant Gathering at the Laixiju Studio (1990). The contemporary work commemorates a momentous gathering of friends—including six of the world’s most respected historians of Chinese paintings—held at the collector’s home in 1985.

慶祝亞美傳統月 馬丁華殊稱亞裔貢獻被歷史忽略太久

昆士小學舞獅，慶祝亞美傳統月。(周菊子攝)

            (Boston Orange 周菊子波士頓報導)波士頓市政府今(7)日在市政府大樓大規模慶祝亞美傳統月。波士頓市長馬丁華殊(Marty Walsh)重點提示，今年是太平洋鐵路竣工150週年，華裔移民當年的貢獻功不可沒，波市府將於五月十日披上紅色燈光以示紀念。

             波士頓市長馬丁華殊在致詞時強調，華人、亞裔對美國的貢獻，已被忽視太久，大家必須明白，沒有移民，就沒有今日的波士頓，大家必須始終記得並表揚移民在歷史中的印記，必須向過去學習，為更好而公平的未來鋪路。他說，不管怎麼樣，波士頓市發誓要做一個歡迎人的城市。

波士頓市長馬丁華殊(Marty Walsh)華人，亞裔的貢獻在
美國歷史書中被忽略得太久了。(周菊子攝)

             亞美傳統月原本是亞美傳統周，在1977年時由聯邦眾議員，紐約州的Frank Horton，以及加州的Norman Y. Mineta提出決議案，把五月的頭十天，定為亞太傳統週。根據維基百科，該決議案的提出，是為誌記1843年5月7日美國有了第一個日本移民，以及1869年5月10日橫貫大陸鐵路(又稱太平洋鐵路)竣工，築造該鐵路的大部分工人都是華人。

波士頓市長馬丁華殊(Marty Walsh，右起)，亞裔聯絡員
徐丹晨，駐波士頓台北經文處處長徐佑典，波士頓
市議員愛達華費林(Ed Flynn)在活動中合影。(周菊子攝)

             1978年10月5日時，美國總統吉米卡特簽字，正式把”亞美傳統週”納入法案。到1990年時，老布殊(George H. W. Bush)總統再簽法案，把亞美傳統週擴大為亞美傳統月。

波士頓市政府大廳展出紀念橫貫大陸鐵路建成150週年
海報。(周菊子攝)

             波士頓市府是從韓裔尹常賢(Sam Yoon)當選為波市府有史以來首名亞裔市議員後，2007年首度慶祝亞美傳統月。吳弭於2014年上任為波市府首名亞裔女性，首名華裔市議員後，她承接了這慶祝活動的籌辦。今年，這任務落在波士頓市長通中英雙語的亞裔聯絡員徐丹晨身上。

波士頓市政府大堂另外一角展出波士頓華埠發展史。
(周菊子攝)

             在徐丹晨安排下，今年來到波士頓市府慶祝亞美傳統月的機構更加多元化，不但有昆士小學舞龍，舞獅，弦樂隊演奏，波士頓元極舞協會，紐英崙客家鄉親會表演舞蹈，還有璞石中華文化工作室展示書法，剪紙，拓印，客家鄉親會展示客家擂茶材料等等。紐英崙中華公所和紐英崙華人歷史協會攜手擺出海報，展示太平洋鐵路建築過程，以及波士頓華埠介紹。波士頓華商會，Fields Corner也都派代表出席。

             根據波士頓市府網站，市府約有18000名員工。

左起，昆士小學前任副校長陳炳鑑，華人前進會名譽
主席黃夏儀，昆士小學現任校長司徒玉瑛，前任校長
李素影，曾任波市長亞裔聯絡員的司徒玉貞，BCYF華埠
主管黃曉明。(周菊子攝)

            波士頓市長馬丁華殊在致詞時表示，市府約有800多名亞裔員工，確保市府聽得到亞裔聲音。波士頓市能有今日，居民中的亞裔移民都有功勞。亞裔移民對美國社會的貢獻，持續影響著人們生活的每一層面，從企業，藝術，文化到政府，無所不及。

紐英崙客家鄉親會和波士頓市長合影。(周菊子攝)

馬丁華殊說，美國最大，令人印象最深刻的成就，1869年5月10日時的橫貫大陸鐵路通車，也是因為有數以千計的華裔築路工人被帶進美國，才有了可能。他們忍受了許多艱辛，包括工作環境不安全，勞役不平等，以及嚴重的歧視，卻都能堅定的對抗不正義，還發起過那個年代最大的一次工人罷工。但是華人和亞裔移民的貢獻，一直以來卻在歷史書中都被忽略或遺忘了，”我們大家必須始終記得並表揚他們在歷史中的印記，以及他們對我們這城市持續會有的影響”。

轄區包括華埠的波士頓市議員愛德華費林(Ed Flynn)在致詞時也稱許亞裔對社會的貢獻，並特地說明他的辦公室，如今聘有兩名會說中文的員工。

璞石中華文化工作室和波士頓市長合影。(周菊子攝)

紐英崙中華公所行政主任朱蘇珊，紐英崙華人歷史協會主任Jessica Camhi 表示，該兩機構刻正合作推出”橫貫大陸鐵路建成150週年海報展”，當天放在市政府的相關海報將展至17日。

會場展示的擂茶材料。(周菊子攝)

璞石中華文化工作室黃明嘉在現場寫的書法。(周菊子攝)

昆士小學學生表演舞龍。(周菊子攝)

昆士小學賢樂隊演奏。(周菊子攝)

紐英崙客家鄉親會表演舞蹈。(周菊子攝)

波士頓市長馬丁華殊，市議員愛德華費林和出席居民
合影。(周菊子攝)

波士頓市長和市民與"招財進寶"合影。(周菊子攝)

U.S. Department of Commerce Issues Affirmative Preliminary Determination in the Countervailing Duty Investigation of Imports of Magnesium from Israel

U.S. Department of Commerce Issues Affirmative Preliminary Determination in the Countervailing Duty Investigation of Imports of Magnesium from Israel

WASHINGTON – Today, the U.S. Department of Commerce announced the affirmative preliminary determination in the countervailing duty (CVD) investigation of imports of magnesium from Israel, finding that exporters received countervailable subsidies of 7.48 percent.

Commerce will instruct U.S. Customs and Border Protection to collect cash deposits from importers of magnesium from Israel based on these preliminary rates.

In 2017, imports of magnesium from Israel were valued at an estimated $43.5 million.

The petitioner is US Magnesium LLC (Salt Lake City, UT).

The strict enforcement of U.S. trade law is a primary focus of the Trump Administration. Since the beginning of the current Administration, Commerce has initiated 160 new antidumping and countervailing duty investigations – this is a 220 percent increase from the comparable period in the previous administration.

Antidumping and countervailing duty laws provide American businesses and workers with an internationally accepted mechanism to seek relief from the harmful effects of the unfair pricing of imports into the United States. Commerce currently maintains 479 antidumping and countervailing duty orders which provide relief to American companies and industries impacted by unfair trade.

Commerce is currently scheduled to announce its final CVD determination on or about September 17, 2019.

If Commerce makes an affirmative final determination, the U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) will be scheduled to make its final injury determination on or about October 31, 2019. If Commerce makes an affirmative final determination in this investigation, and the ITC makes an affirmative final injury determination, Commerce will issue a CVD order. If Commerce makes a negative final determination, or the ITC makes a negative final determination of injury, the investigation will be terminated and no order will be issued.

Click HERE for a fact sheet on today’s decision.

The U.S. Department of Commerce’s Enforcement and Compliance unit within the International Trade Administration is responsible for vigorously enforcing U.S. trade law and does so through an impartial, transparent process that abides by international law and is based on factual evidence provided on the record.

Foreign companies that price their products in the U.S. market below the cost of production or below prices in their home markets are subject to antidumping duties. Companies that receive unfair subsidies from their governments, such as grants, loans, equity infusions, tax breaks, or production inputs, are subject to countervailing duties aimed at directly countering those subsidies.

AG HEALEY’S INVESTIGATION FINDS EMPLOYERS IN VIOLATION OF STATE CORI LAW

AG HEALEY’S INVESTIGATION FINDS EMPLOYERS IN VIOLATION OF STATE CORI LAW

AG’s Office Finds Massachusetts Businesses Violated State Law Forbidding Most Employers from Asking About Criminal Records on Initial Job Applications

BOSTON –Attorney General Maura Healey announced today that agreements have been reached with two Massachusetts employers, and warning letters have been sent to 17 other businesses found to be in violation of a state law barring employers from asking about criminal record information on an initial job application. 

“The pathway to economic security starts with getting a job,” said AG Healey. “Too many people who have paid their debt to society still face barriers to even landing an interview. These actions are an effort to give all job applicants a fair chance.”

Today’s announcement is the result of an investigation by the AG’s Office into whether Massachusetts employers are complying with the state’s “ban the box” law, which prohibits most employers from asking job applicants about their criminal history on an initial job employment application. The “ban the box” law was first enacted in 2010 as part of a legislative effort to reform the state’s criminal record information (CORI) system. Prior to the passage of the “ban the box” law, applicants who revealed a criminal history by checking a box on the application were often categorically excluded by employers in the initial hiring phase.

The goal of the 2010 CORI law was to address high unemployment and barriers to re-entry for people with criminal records by improving their access to employment opportunities. These barriers especially impact communities of color where residents are disproportionately affected by the criminal justice system. 

The AG’s Office found through its investigation that 19 businesses were violating state law by asking questions about applicants’ criminal histories on initial job applications. The questions included whether the applicants had ever been convicted of violating the law, whether they had ever been convicted of a felony or misdemeanor other than a minor traffic violation, and whether they had ever been convicted of a felony. The AG’s Office reached agreements with Brooks Brothers, a clothing designer with 11 locations in Massachusetts, and DesignWerkes, Inc., a product design and manufacturing company in Amesbury. Under the agreements, the employers each paid $5,000 to the state and came into compliance with the law at all Massachusetts locations.

“The Attorney General and her staff are to be applauded for these efforts because passing a good law only takes us halfway— enforcement like this is critical,” said Pauline Quirion, Director of the CORI & Re-entry Project at Greater Boston Legal Services.

“The BBA supports the Attorney General’s ‘ban the box’ enforcement efforts because we agree that people shouldn’t continue to suffer adverse employment consequences long after they have paid their debt to society,” said Michael Avitzur, Boston Bar Association Director of Government Relations and Public Affairs. “We are working with the Trial Court and other advocates to help qualified applicants pursue sealing of their criminal records.”

The AG’s Office also sent letters to 17 Massachusetts employers warning them that they were in violation of the law and needed to come into compliance. All 17 employers have confirmed compliance with the law following receipt of the letters.

State law generally prohibits most employers from asking job applicants about certain criminal records during any stage of the hiring process, including: criminal cases that did not end in a conviction; an arrest or detention that did not end in a conviction; a first conviction for drunkenness, simple assault, speeding, disturbance of the peace, affray or minor traffic violations; misdemeanor convictions that are more than three years old; sealed or expunged criminal records; and juvenile records.

In June 2018, AG Healey’s Office announced it had conducted an investigation into compliance with the “ban the box” law and found that 21 businesses were in violation. The office reached agreements like those announced today with four national employers and issued warning letters to 17 other Boston area businesses.

These enforcement actions are part of a larger ongoing effort by AG Healey and her Civil Rights Division to educate residents and businesses about the law and to ensure that a person’s CORI is not used improperly to deny access to housing or employment. In 2017, the AG’s Office published “Know Your Rights – Criminal Records: A Guide to Rights to Housing and Employment.” In July 2015, AG Healey successfully advocated for the elimination of a law that required the mandatory suspension of a person’s driver’s license after a drug conviction. The AG’s Office was also supportive of reforms to the CORI law in the criminal justice reform legislation passed last year.

The AG’s Office encourages individuals who feel they have been unfairly or unlawfully denied employment or housing because of criminal record information to contact its Civil Rights Division at (617) 963-2917.

This matter was led by Assistant Attorney General Amanda Hainsworth of AG Healey’s Civil Rights Division and Assistant Attorney General D’Andre Fernandez, of AG Healey’s Criminal Bureau.