iTaiwan 窗口解說疫情期間領務相關工作

經文處洪麗玲副組長為iTaiwan窗口主講。(周菊子攝)

           (Boston Orange 周菊子波士頓報導)「新冠病毒疫情期間，回台灣該注意什麼?」，駐波士頓台北經文處，華僑文教中心，波士頓急難救助協會等8個組織合作，28日晚舉辦「iTaiwan窗口」講座，提醒人預做準備。

                主講人，波士頓經文處領務組副組長洪麗玲指出，新冠病毒(COVID-19)的確讓不少人感到慌亂，臨時決定回台灣，也有些大波士頓僑民遭遇了狀況，幸好有波士頓急難救助協會，慈濟功德會波士頓聯絡處，新英格蘭台灣心理諮商小組，以及多名熱心人士出面幫忙，都化險為夷。

講座主持林思妤*左上)介紹駐波士頓經文處處長孫儉元(右下)等人。(周菊子攝)

             「iTaiwan窗口」講座由駐波士頓台北經濟文化辦事處處長孫儉元開場，經文處副組長洪麗玲主講，新英格蘭台灣心理諮商小組林思妤主持，共約80人參加。

波士頓華僑文教中心主任潘昭榮(中右)，分享經驗的胡俞伶(中左)與部分出席者合影。
(周菊子攝)

                孫儉元處長致詞時先感謝8個僑團合作舉辦這一線上講座，再表示希望藉此平台和本地僑胞交流互動。在28日晚的領務說明之後，將有科技組長謝水龍介紹中華民國的科技政策及發展方向等講座。

               孫處長強調波士頓經文處重視僑民服務，疫情期間鼓勵僑民以郵寄方式辦理領務事項，惟因申請件數大增，處理時間可能稍長，希望出席講座者代向親友說明，並體諒。

             講座內容主要為說明疫情期間赴台注意事項，人在海外如何申請中華民國護照，如何申請在台設籍定居，海外文件之驗證，以及辦理赴台簽證等。

洪麗玲指出，由於新冠病毒疫情持續，波士頓經文處雖已恢復辦公，但大樓仍有管制，需事先預約才能進入，鼓勵大家以郵寄方式辦理各項事務，並藉由不須經過總機轉接的領務專線電話，857-202-2114來打電話或發簡訊，以及用電郵，bostonvisa@mofa.gov.tw，來加速溝通。

新版中華民國護照外觀。(周菊子攝)

 波士頓經文處了領務受理時間為每週一至週五的早上9點至下午4點半。

在疫情間到台灣，有14天居家檢疫的規定，赴台登機前須完成線上申報手續，申辦護照，探親簽證，或申請到台灣定居，都須出示相關證明文件，包括結婚、離婚、出生、畢業等許多文件，都必須由各地經文處驗證過後，才能在台灣使用。

洪麗玲還展示了即將從110年1月起發行的新版中華民國護照。她指出，中華民國護照非常好用，可以在170個國家享有免簽證，落地簽，或電子簽優惠。新版護照放大「Taiwan」這英文字，主要是讓持有者到其他國家時不必再擔心遭遇國籍誤會。

在講座中，台灣媽媽親子會的胡俞伶仔細分享了她3月去台灣，8月回美的經驗。她強調，去台灣前，最好先預訂檢疫旅館，買一個台灣的手機號碼，然後隨時充電，24小時開機，以免警察或防疫人員找不到人。帶小孩子回台灣的話，也要和孩子說清楚，不可隨便出門，而且那個門是指居處大門，不是大樓或社區入口的大門，如果不小心違反規定，一百萬元就不見了。

林思妤一個月前也回了台灣一趟。她分享經驗的指出，台灣的防疫工作真的做得非常好。在機場的防疫計程車消毒非常徹底，從桃園機場到新台北市車資1000元台幣，防疫旅館近來需求過旺，一房難求，最好出發前就辦妥預訂。她回美抵達麻州後，選擇到醫院做篩檢，結果陰性，就不需要隔離14天。她補充說明，各州防疫規定不同。

駐波士頓經文處處長孫儉元，波士頓僑教中心主任潘昭榮，在講座開始前都應邀致詞。潘昭榮提醒出席者，僑教中心和新英格蘭台灣青商會合作，29日晚6點半另辦一場講座，邀Motorsport 執行長Ray Chang分享創業經驗，僑教中心也將說明僑委會委員長童振源的施政理念。(更新版)

MSBA批准撥款5200萬 助昆士中學遷址建校

 

昆士中學現址。(圖片來自網路)

         (Boston Orange 周菊子波士頓報導)波士頓市的昆士中學改建，遷校，終於又有進展了。M麻州學校樓宇局(Massachusetts School Building Authority，簡稱MSBA)主席，也是麻州財政廳廳長高柏珂(Deb Goldberg)今(28)日宣佈，撥款5200萬元，協助推動計畫。

             麻州學校樓宇局執行長John K. McCarthy指出，接下來的步驟包括波士頓市學區得和該局簽訂「計畫資助協議(Project Funding Agreement)」，詳細列出這個將有178,024 平方呎面積新學校的計畫規模，預算，以及波士頓市學區獲得這筆補助款的條件。

 

波士頓市長Marty Walsh，昆士中學校長張可仁都出席了麻州財政廳廳長Deb Glodberg主持的
麻州學校樓宇局會議。(圖片來自財政廳長臉書)

             波士頓市長馬丁華殊(Martin Walsh)表示，很高興現在要推動這從2011年就開始的昆士中學遷校計畫了。他感謝MSBA和波士頓市合作，達成解決方案。

             他說，這個結果是為6到12年級，預計650名學生的中學和高中，建一座6層樓高校舍，強調靈活性，容許師生合作，將是個前衛的21世紀學習空間。最重要的是，這麼做將把昆士中學及高中繼續留在波士頓華埠之內。

             馬丁華殊說，華埠是波士頓很特別的一個部分，是最有歷史，文化生動，又多元化的鄰里。「我們希望打造一個能保留其特色與社區的未來」。而那樣的未來，包括最先進的學校。

昆士中學位於灣村(Bay Village)的馬津尼路(Marginal)和阿靈頓街(Arlington)125號交界處，在華盛頓街900號那兒，還有另一個附屬校區。由於主校舍老舊，學校又分處兩地，早從10年前就動議遷址建新校。2016年間還出現波士頓市政府要斥資2億4400萬元，把昆士中學和波士頓藝術學校放在第25地段上，建成新校舍，讓兩校共用部分設施的提案。

去年中，波士頓市政府斥資950萬元，買下波士頓華人浸信會(BCEC)所有的A地段，這才為昆士中學的建校舍又帶來新希望。

波士頓市長在MBSA會議的致詞中還感謝該局協助，讓波士頓市得以完成洛士百利(Roxbury)的Dearborn STEM學校，批准波士頓藝術學校(Boston Arts Academy)建新校，Carter學校的設計，以及另外27個加速維修項目。(更新版)

Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce Announces First-of-its-Kind Amicus Advisory Board

 

Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce Announces First-of-its-Kind Amicus Advisory Board

 

The Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce announced that it created an Amicus Advisory Board today, the first advisory board of its kind among business associations in the region. The newly formed Board will identify and evaluate opportunities for the Chamber to submit or join amicus curiae (“friend of the court”) briefs to appellate courts, guide the Chamber’s arguments, and manage the drafting and approval of briefs. The group will focus on cases for which decisions would have significant or far-reaching impact on the state’s economy, the business community, the conduct of commerce, and the Chamber’s key policy priorities. An amicus brief submission by this Advisory Board may not be in support of an individual company, but instead indicates the Chamber’s advocacy, policy positions, and broad effect on commerce and the business community.

“The formation of the Amicus Advisory Board is one of the ways that we’re ensuring that the collective voice of the business community meets the judicial process, helping the courts recognize the priorities and needs of the people and businesses in the region,” said James E. Rooney, President & CEO, Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce.

Court cases, including those from the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court (S.J.C), have a meaningful, long-standing impact on business. This Advisory Board, with its focus on the judicial branch, will allow the Chamber to elevate its existing public policy efforts and ensure its members’ voices are heard at all stages of the policymaking process. This effort will build off of recent amicus brief submissions, including

·        Defense of Marriage Act, amici argued that overturning DOMA and affirming that all couples share in the right to marry;

·        Calixto, et. al. v. Coughlin, et. al, highlighting the reach and scope of the Massachusetts Wage Act; and

·        Bostock v. Clayton County, GA, holding that employees fired for being gay or transgender violates Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.

Composed of 14 distinguished appellate and in-house attorneys from Chamber members, the Advisory Board is co-chaired by Ian Roffman, Chair of the Securities Enforcement and Litigation practice at Nutter McClennen & Fish LLP, and Ed Kenealy, Executive Vice President and Chief Public Affairs Officer at Liberty Mutual. Carolyn Ryan, Senior Vice President, Policy and Research, will staff the Board for the Chamber. The Amicus Advisory Board convened virtually for the first time in October 2020.

The board’s mission is to:

·        evaluate amicus opportunities (either self-generated or requests from litigants) to assess whether submitting an amicus brief in a particular case would have broad impact on the business community and commerce as well as be consistent with the Chamber’s mission;

·        make a recommendation to the appropriate Chamber person or committee as to whether to submit a brief;

·        identify a drafter; and

·        supervise the drafting and approval of the final brief to make sure the arguments are sound and consistent with the Chamber’s mission and values. 

 

Members of the Amicus Advisory Board are:

·        Edmund C. Kenealy, Liberty Mutual Insurance, Advisory Board Co-Chair

·        Ian Roffman, Nutter McClennen & Fish LLP, Advisory Board Co-Chair

·        Felicia H. Ellsworth, Partner, Wilmer Cutler Pickering Hale and Dorr LLP

·        Jason Frank, Partner, Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP

·        Angela Gomes, Partner, Sullivan & Worcester LLP

·        Kurt Hemr, Partner, Litigation, Skadden Arps Slate Meagher & Flom LLP

·        Victoria Reggie Kennedy, Senior Counsel, Greenberg Traurig, LLP

·        Jodi Luster, Vice President and Senior Counsel, State Street

·        R. Daniel O'Connor, Partner, Ropes & Gray LLP

·        Allison O'Neil, Partner, Locke Lord LLP

·        Paige Scott Reed, Partner, Prince Lobel Tye LLP

·        George Skelly, Partner, Nixon Peabody LLP

·        Madeleine Timin, Senior Vice President, Regional General Counsel, Boston Properties

·        Megan F.S. Tipper, Assistant General Counsel, National Grid

波市府發10萬元給20個服務移民組織 亞裔青年服務會(YES)、Viet-Aid忝列其中

 MAYOR WALSH AND IMMIGRANT ADVANCEMENT

AWARD 20 IMMIGRANT-SERVING ORGANIZATIONS

MINI-GRANTS FOR WE ARE BOSTON 2020

$100,000 to go to nonprofits that support immigrant communities

BOSTON - On this year’s National Immigrants Day, Boston Mayor Martin J. Walsh

and the Mayor’s Office for Immigrant Advancement (MOIA) are celebrating Boston’s

rich cultural diversity by awarding $100,000 in mini-grants to 20

immigrant-serving organizations. The mini-grants are funded through corporate

sponsorships for We Are Boston , an annual end-of-the year reception that honors

the contributions immigrants have made to our City. This year’s We Are Boston

2020: From Resilience to Equity is on November 19 from 5-6 pm.

“The coronavirus pandemic shined a bright light on the disparities in our

community,” said Mayor Walsh. “Immigrants have been on the frontlines from the

beginning and they have also been the most impacted. This year especially, we need

to celebrate immigrant contributions to our community and recover from this

pandemic in a more equitable state than we entered it.”

“We picked this year’s theme because ‘resilience’ means the ability to recover

quickly from difficulties, and that is exactly what our immigrant communities are

doing during this pandemic. And this resiliency, this strength, is what gets us to

equity,” said Yusufi Vali, Director of the Mayor’s Office for Immigrant Advancement.

The 20 diverse nonprofits will each receive mini-grants for $5,000 for services

including COVID-19 relief, mental health support, legal services, youth development

and career services.

The following organizations are selected for this year’s mini-grants:

Agencia ALPHA : The mini-grant will prepare 110 permanent residents to pass their

citizenship exam and foster civic engagement on campaigns that impact the

immigrant community.

African Bridge Network (ABN) : ABN will host workshops for 100+ skilled

immigrants and provide individual career advising services to assist with career

development and job search.

Boston Asian Youth Essential Service : Funding will support creative and artistic

development activities for Chinese and Vietnamese youth from low-income families

in Boston.

Boston Center for Refugee Health and Human Rights at Boston Medical Center :

The Center will provide a winter-preparedness packet and face masks for asylum

seekers, refugees, survivors of torture and their families.

Brazilian Women’s Group (BWG) : BWG will support Brazilian immigrant women by

offering stipends for classes for professional development and by offering mental

health support.

Cape Verdean Association of Boston : The mini-grant will support the Cabo

Verdean Immigrant Resource Center that connects recent immigrants with

resources such as ESOL classes, citizenship classes and application assistance and

BPS Parent Engagement.

Caribbean Integration Community Development (CICD) : Funding supports CICD’s

work of helping Caribbean residents in Boston process Metro Housing’s Residential

Assistance for Families in Transition (RAFT) applications to make mortgage and rent

payments.

Center to Support Immigrant Organizing (CSIO): CSIO’s program will engage more

than 500 immigrant youth suffering from social isolation and other challenges

during COVID-19 and build their capacity to be leaders in social change.

Chica Project : The grant will support young women of color during COVID-19 by

empowering them with the skills, confidence and networks to thrive and close the

opportunity divide.

Dominican Development Center (DDC) : Funding will support the Latino Workers

Leadership Empowerment Program to develop leadership skills among Latina

immigrant workers confronting worker rights violations during and after the

pandemic.

Dudley Street Neighborhood Initiative (DSNI) : DSNI will provide food and financial

support to residents.

East Boston Social Centers, Inc. : The mini-grant will be used to purchase and

deliver groceries, formula, diapers, cleaning supplies, masks, gloves and any other

basic needs that East Boston families cannot afford at this time.

Found in Translation : Funding will support the Language Access Fellowship

Medical Interpreter Training and Job Placement Program that provides a pathway

out of poverty for bilingual, low-income and homeless women by training them as

medical interpreters and connecting them to jobs.

ICNA Relief - New England : The organization will implement a voucher project to

increase food access to specific halal markets for marginalized communities.

Massachusetts Immigrants Support Group (MISG) : The mini-grant will support

immigrants in need of legal assistance, including victims seeking a divorce from

abusive partners.

Project Hope : Funding supports classes for women and families in Dorchester and

Roxbury to move up and out of poverty and closes the digital divide that hinders

low-income communities of color from keeping up with employment trends.

Somali Parents Advocacy Center for Education (SPACE) : SPACE will expand the

Healthy Lives project that provides services to Somali families who have children

with disabilities and have also been exposed to or infected with a virus.

True Alliance Center (TAC) : The mini-grant will be used to translate COVID-19

prevention materials and resources into Haitian Creole, create PSAs to educate the

Haitian community about key issues and to conduct webinars targeting those at

higher risk of COVID-19.

VietAID : VietAID will provide mental health support during COVID-19 for

immigrant youth in Dorchester through weekly workshops and culturally-specific

individual support plans.

Vietnamese American Thang Long Limited : Funding will help launch a business

support initiative for small business owners in Fields Corner and provide classes for

employees.

These mini-grants are made possible through the generous contributions from We

Are Boston 2019 sponsors including State Street Corporation, Arbella Insurance

Foundation, Eastern Bank and Verizon; and this year’s corporate sponsors include

Arbella Insurance Foundation, Eastern Bank and Harvard Pilgrim Health Care.

For this year’s We Are Boston 2020: From Resilience to Equity on November 19,

Mayor Walsh will recognize the successes of the past year and name this year’s

honorees. The evening will culminate with the City’s new Cabinet Chief of Equity,

Dr. Karilyn Crockett, speaking on the convergence and divergence of African

American and immigrant struggles and how the corporate and philanthropic

sectors can support the fight for equity for all. Any media who wish to attend can

email paien.yu@boston.gov .

About the Mayor’s Office for Immigrant Advancement

The Mayor’s Office for Immigrant Advancement (MOIA) strives to strengthen the

ability of immigrants to fully and equitably participate in economic, civic, social, and

cultural life in Boston. MOIA also promotes the recognition and public

understanding of the contributions of immigrants to the City. To learn more, visit

boston.gov/immigrants.

波士頓馬拉松賽2021年可能在秋季

             (Boston Orange 編譯)波士頓體育會(BAA)今(28)日宣佈，第125屆波士頓馬拉松賽將至少延期到2021年秋季，才可能舉行。

                                            波士頓馬拉松賽傳統上都在4月份第三個星期一，麻州的愛國者日(Patriot’s Day)舉行。波士頓體育會一直都在定期和新冠病毒(CVID-19)醫療及活動營運顧問團開會，以決定什麼時候，怎麼樣才能再辦波士頓馬拉松賽，現在將開始和地方，市府及州府官員，贊助者，組織委員會成員，以及其他相關人士合作，再決定2021年秋天是否可行的日期。

波士頓體育會執行長Tom Grilk表示，鑒於從現在到明年的愛國者日只剩下不到6個月的時間，而路賽是直到麻州重新開放計畫進入第4期以前都禁止的事，該會因此無法在明年4月舉辦這場比賽。

目前並無確定的2021年比賽日期。波士頓體育會將和相關人員研討，希望能在今年年底訂出一個日期，以及其他的什麼時候報名，安排什麼活動，地方上會有甚麼規定等等。

其他的2021波士頓體育會活動，包括5000公尺，10,000公尺，半馬拉松等，都將於稍後的日期公佈。

2020年的波士頓馬拉松比賽原定今年4月20日舉行，礙於新冠病毒疫情取消後，改為10日的虛擬體驗活動。

2021 Boston Marathon Will Not Take Place in April
B.A.A. to Seek Rescheduled Date in Fall 2021

 

BOSTON—The Boston Athletic Association (B.A.A.) has announced that the 125th Boston Marathon, traditionally held on the third Monday in April—Patriots’ Day in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts—will be postponed until at least the fall of 2021. The B.A.A., which has been meeting regularly with its COVID-19 Medical & Event Operations Advisory Group to determine when and how the Boston Marathon can be held again, will begin working with local, city, and state officials, sponsors, organizing committee members, and other stakeholders to determine if a fall 2021 date is feasible.

 

“With fewer than six months until Patriots’ Day and with road races prohibited until Phase 4 of the Massachusetts reopening plan, we are unable to host the Boston Marathon this coming April,” said Tom Grilk, C.E.O. of the B.A.A. “By shifting our focus to a fall date, we can continue to work with stakeholders to adjust the in-person experience for runners and supporters alike. Prioritizing the safety of participants, volunteers, spectators, and community members, we continue to assess all elements of the race including a potential reduced field size or weekend date.”

 

No 2021 date has been selected, however, the B.A.A. will work with local, city, and state officials and members of its COVID-19 Medical & Event Operations Advisory Group to establish under what conditions the next live, in-person Boston Marathon can occur. Before the end of the year, the B.A.A. seeks to announce a new date. Other details such as when registration may open and the field size, pending local regulations and the event plan, will also be forthcoming. Information regarding other 2021 B.A.A. events, including the B.A.A. 5K, B.A.A. 10K, and B.A.A. Half Marathon, will be announced at a later date.

 

“We are optimistic that the Boston Marathon will continue its tradition of celebrating the spirit of community and athletic excellence next fall. We know there will be many questions and we will look to address them in the coming months ahead,” Grilk said.

 

The 2020 Boston Marathon, originally scheduled for April 20, was held as a ten-day Virtual Experience after being canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

 

ABOUT THE BOSTON ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION (B.A.A.) 

Established in 1887, the Boston Athletic Association is a non-profit organization with a mission of promoting a healthy lifestyle through sports, especially running. The B.A.A. manages the Boston Marathon, and also supports comprehensive charity, youth, and year-round programming. The Boston Marathon is part of the Abbott World Marathon Majors, along with international marathons in Tokyo, London, Berlin, Chicago, and New York City. Since 1986, the principal sponsor of the Boston Marathon has been John Hancock. For more information on the B.A.A., please visit www.baa.org. 

 

Kimberly S. Budd獲提名 有望成為麻州首名女性黑人首席大法官

麻州州長Charlie Baker提名Kimberly S. Budd出任最高法院首席大法官。(周菊子攝)

             (Boston Orange 周菊子綜合報導)麻州州長查理貝克(Charlie Baker)今(28)日宣佈提名Kimberly S. Budd出任最高法院首席法官。一旦確認，Kimberly S. Budd將成麻州最高法院328年歷史以來的首名黑人女首席大法官。同時也是最年輕的一位。

           麻州州長這一提名，依法還有待州長顧問委員會確認，才可落實。

             Kimberly S. Budd在2009年時由麻州前州長派區克(Deval Patrick)任命為法官，2016年再由現任州長查理貝克任命為最高法院副法官。一旦麻州州長顧問委員會確認這一任命，她將繼承上個月因心臟病辭世的麻州首席大法官Ralph D. Gants所留遺缺。

             由7名法官組成的麻州最高法院，手名黑人首席大法官是Roderick L. Ireland (2010-2014)。Kimberly S. Budd 將是擔任此職位的第二個黑人。

             麻州最高法院也曾有Margaret H. Marshall (1999-2010)擔任首席大法官，所以Kimberly S. Budd將是麻州最高法院歷史中的第二位女性首席大法官。

          現年僅54歲的Kimberly S. Budd是前任美國檢察官Wayne A. Budd的女兒，畢業於喬治城大學，1991年又進了哈佛大學法學院，和美國前任總統奧巴馬(Obama)同屆。之前她曾擔任哈佛大學律師，以及美國檢察官辦公室的檢控官。

             一旦這一任命落實，麻州州長查理貝克將需要再任命2名法官，一人填補Kimberly S. Budd的副法官席位，一人接替Barbara A. Lenk今年12月退休後所留遺缺。

             當這些任命完成後，麻州整個高等法院的法官都將是由查理貝克所任命。

             根據波士頓學院歷史教授Alan Rogers的說法，在麻州歷史中，此前只有John Hancock曾經任命了 麻州最高法院的所有7名法官。

             在宣佈這一提名的記者會中，Kimberly S. Budd坦言，獲得提名，有甜中帶苦(Bittersweet)的感覺。

             查理貝克則在面對記者提問時，坦言他並不見得認同Kimberly S. Budd的所有看法，但他和副州長白莉朵(Karyn Polito)，以及相關人士討論後，認為Kimberly S. Budd是最好的人選。