波士頓警察局長Dennis White 才上任就停職 肇因20年前家暴案

波士頓警察局局長Dennis White。(檔案照片，視頻截圖)

            (Boston Orange整理編譯)甫於2月1日宣誓就任，2月3日立遭勒令暫時休假，波士頓市歷來第2位黑人警察局局長Dennis White傳出曾於1999年家暴，波士頓市長馬丁華殊(Martin J. Walsh)將外聘人員調查。

              馬丁華殊發出聲明，指派波士頓警察局總副局長(Superintendent-in-Chief) Gregory Long擔任代理局長，稱市府將從外聘請律師做公正的全面調查。

              波士頓市歷史上的首名黑人警察局局長葛羅斯(William Gross)上週五(1月29日)突然辭職，他的幕僚長兼副局長Dennis White於2月1日宣誓就任，成為第43任波士頓市警察局局長。沒想到波士頓環球報查詢的一宗1999年家暴案，涉案人就是Dennis White。他涉嫌威脅要射殺妻子，其後法院下令要他和家人保持距離。他那時候的妻子也是一名警察。

              馬丁華殊獲悉此事時，人在華府，為他被提名為美國勞工部部長的2月4日聽證會做準備。他說，”我一聽到這嚴重指控，就馬上行動”，”這些令人不安的問題，我或者我的工作人員都不知道，但應該要事前知道”。

              上星期，在馬丁華殊宣佈要指派Dennis White出任波士頓警察局局長後，波士頓環球報就逼波士頓警察局提供White的工作歷史，其中包括三宗內部事務案。波士頓警察局提供了一些基本資料，但拒絕提供內部事務案件內容。

              馬丁華殊政府週三在波士頓環球報記者展示法庭文件，列有家暴指控後回應了。

              1999年5月5日，一名法官發出禁制令，逼White離開家，遠離妻子和孩子，還要交出他的執勤武器。波士頓環球報並未找到White被控罪的證據。在法庭文件中，他否認所有犯行。

              根據法庭文件，White的妻子指控White推她，打她。包括在遺囑認證和家事法院的檔案中，還有波士頓警探訪談這對夫妻的一名朋友後的總結。這名朋友告訴警察，在White和妻子及另一名認識的人起衝突後，White說”想要射殺她和他”。

              當年17歲的White女兒向警探重述，她父親曾經告訴她，在他睡覺的時候別驚擾他，因為”我睡覺的時候槍就放在枕頭下”。

              White的突然停職，引發馬丁華殊上週四指派White接任波士頓市內這最重要職位之一前，到底有沒有審查等的許多問題。波士頓環球報查問的3宗內部事務案中，就有一宗的時間點和這宗家暴案相同，但無法證實是否有關連。

              刑事司法專家們說，儘管波士頓市市長有權獨自決定指派誰當警察局局長，但特別是在警察與人們的關係已被磨損的關鍵時刻，城市經常會慢慢來，做全國搜尋，提名最後入圍者，還努力讓公眾參與挑選過程。

              馬丁華殊離任後，波士頓市議會議長Kim Janey將擔任代理市長。她在一份聲明中表示，她對任何這類指控都會非常的嚴肅以待。

              Kim Janey的聲明是在馬丁華殊要White停職前發出來的。她說，”在議會服務期間，我曾有機會和White局長合作，但這是我第一次聽到這件事。我非常擔心”。”公眾有清楚透明知道的權力”。

              波士頓環球報在12月發表的一篇文章中指稱，過去10年來，波士頓警察被控告時面對的司法系統，經常比平民所面對的更為寬容。控訴有時候會做內部調查，而且不和檢察官分享。

              警察局目前的家暴案政策寫著”逮捕是(警察局)偏好的回應”。

              薩福克郡(Suffolk)地方檢察官Rachael Rollins在一份聲明中表示，她的辦公室並不知道有關White的指控，無法置評。

              馬丁華殊在White的宣誓就任儀式中說，警察局致力”問責與透明”，但指派White擔任警察局局長的過程卻明顯不透明。

              根據州法，波士頓警察局局長任期5年，目前還不清楚，White可以任職5年，還是接續葛羅斯2018年就任後的任期。

              White擔任公職的歷史頗長，起初是一名消防員，然後加入警察局。警察局一度形容他為”受人尊重的街頭警察，在他長大的社區，洛士百利及多徹斯特值勤”。他畢業於Jeremiah E. Burke高中，當警察後於2005年取得Newbury學院的法律學士學位，主修刑事法。

              1999年時，White是一名警官，和也是波士頓警察的妻子已結婚將近20年。那年5月，White的妻子申請禁制令，寫著”我們經常爭吵，他總是要把我推倒，我很害怕他可能進來殺我，因為他很憤怒”。波士頓環球報稱，不點明這位女士，因為他可能是家暴案受害者。她在接電話時也拒絕表示意見。

              2000年9月，代表White妻子的律師在申請離婚的文件中寫著，這名丈夫已承認毆打妻子(一次)，而且睡覺時槍就放在枕頭下”。代表White的律師則寫著，他的客戶”堅定地否認曾打他妻子(或者)威脅要傷害她”。

              不過，White的律師還寫了，”這丈夫承認兩人之間有爭吵，有時候會吵到互相有肢體接觸”。這律師辯稱，限制令及虐待指控是試圖讓White和家庭，孩子分開，並在個人及工作上羞辱他。

              在White遞交的法律文件中，White寫著，他妻子的說法互相衝突。她在離婚申請中聲稱他打過她一次，但1999年5月4日的警察報告，關於威脅要殺她的註記卻是她告訴警察，她們”過去有爭執，但沒有身體虐待”。

              根據包括在離婚檔案中的記錄，同一天有另一份警察報告是控告White的妻子騷擾，因為據說她打電話到洛士百利警察站找White，並向接電話的警察吼叫。

              警察行政研究論壇(Police Executive Research Forum)是個協助城市搜尋新領導的機構。該機構主任Chuck Wexler說，波士頓一直都為能夠從自己的警察局內聘請警察局長而感到欣慰。

              波士頓市的兩名前局長，葛羅斯和威廉伊凡斯(William Evans)都在波士頓警察局工作了一輩子。儘管這份工作對全國性人選很有吸引力，但波士頓官員很少從外面找人。

              1985年時，當年的市長雷夫連(Raymond Flynn)在最後決定請他的朋友，已經當波士頓警察很久的Francis Roaches出任波士頓警察局局長之前，曾飛到費城及紐約，面試候選人。

              2006年，當時的波士頓市長萬寧路(Tomas M. Menino)做全國搜尋，晤談了半打以上的候選人後，也是聘請了羅爾市警察局的Edward F. Davis。

              上星期，在被指派之後，White在簡短的訪問中誓言"會確保我們很透明，好讓公眾信任我們”。

              他說，”主要的事是跨進門來，並確保船是向前直開。我想警察局以後會向很棒的方向前進”。 

波士頓迎春揮毫慶牛年 盼轉乾坤

左起：中華公所行政主任朱蘇珊、阮氏公所主席阮鴻燦、波士頓中華書法會會長黃周麗桃、經文處處長孫儉元
、中華公所主席鄭慧民、僑教中心主任潘昭榮、紐英崙藝術學會會長梅宇國、李氏公所主席李奇舜、中華公所
職員鄺坤珍等人一起向大波士頓僑胞拜年。(周菊子攝)

波士頓經文處處長孫儉元祝大波士頓僑胞牛年行大運。(周菊子攝)

             (Boston Orange周菊子波士頓報導)到2月12日就是辛丑牛年了，波士頓僑教中心和紐英崙中華公所，以及中華書法會，紐英崙藝術學會合作，日前在中華公所會議廳，小規模舉辦”波士頓地區揮毫迎新春”活動，在新冠病毒疫情期間，揮灑一些喜氣。

              2月6日，波士頓僑教中心將在牛頓市僑教中心內再舉辦一場迎春揮毫活動。只是礙於疫情，不邀僑胞出席，但會在臉書上直播，與僑胞們遙距同歡。

中華書法會會長黃周麗桃拿的是可以摺的紙燈籠。(周菊子攝)

              駐波士頓台北經濟文化辦事處處長孫儉元，波士頓僑教中心主任潘昭榮和紐英崙中華公所主席鄭慧民，藉此機會寒暄，拜年，祝僑胞們”牛年行大運”，還特地邀請中華書法會會長黃周麗桃，紐英崙藝術學會會長梅宇國即席揮毫，在紅紙上寫下”牛”，”春”，”福”等吉祥字句，留在中華公所內，供僑胞們索取，張貼。

             紐英崙中華公所英文書記暨阮氏公所主席阮鴻燦，李氏公所主席李奇舜，紐英崙中華公所行政主任朱蘇珊，職員鄺坤珍也都到場共襄其盛。

左起，黃周麗桃，鄭慧民，經文處長孫儉元，梅宇國，波士頓僑教中心主任潘昭榮。
(周菊子攝)

              由於麻州新冠病毒(COVID-19)疫情去年12月底陡升，州政府恢復開放到第三階段第一步驟的相關限制，先展延到1月24日，再展延到2月8日。波士頓僑教中心主任潘昭榮表示，今年的揮毫迎新春，也只得意思，意思的舉行。

              紐英崙中華公所主席鄭慧民表示，礙於疫情，中華公所每年新春例必舉辦的舞龍舞獅，僑團春宴，都取消了，無法在此困難時刻支持華埠商家，餐館的生意，很是遺憾，但僑胞們的健康、安全更重要。

              波士頓僑教中心表示，已為僑胞們準備了蔡英文總統親筆書寫的”牛轉乾坤”春聯，以及小朋友可自行摺疊的牛年燈籠，將分別放在紐英崙中華公所及波士頓僑教中心，供民眾索取。

波士頓市長指派ERNANI DEARAUJO擔任學校委員會委員

MAYOR WALSH APPOINTS ERNANI DEARAUJO TO THE BOSTON SCHOOL COMMITTEE   Ernani DeAraujo, Esq.  BOSTON - Wednesday, February 3, 2021 - Mayor Martin J. Walsh today announced the appointment of Ernani DeAraujo, Esq. to the Boston School Committee, the governing body of the Boston Public Schools (BPS). DeAraujo is the Vice President of Regulatory Affairs and General Counsel at the East Boston Neighborhood Health Center, where he serves as chief legal counsel to the community health center with over 1,400 staff who serve over 100,000 patients, a fully licensed Emergency Department, and an Elder Service PACE program.  "I am pleased to welcome Ernani DeAraujo to this pivotal role on the Boston School Committee at a time when our work on behalf of the students of Boston has never been more important," said Mayor Walsh. "Ernani has strong roots in his community, and over the course of his career he has worked with an intentional focus on bringing equity and access to diverse Bostonians. He joins a group of leaders on the Boston School Committee committed to best serving the students of the Boston Public Schools."  The seven-member Boston School Committee is responsible for defining the vision, mission, and goals of the Boston Public Schools; establishing and monitoring the annual operating budget; hiring, managing, and evaluating the Superintendent; and setting and reviewing district policies and practices to support student achievement. "I'm grateful to Mayor Walsh for entrusting me with this opportunity to give back to the Boston Public Schools that have so positively impacted my life," said DeAraujo. "From the Bradley Elementary in East Boston to the Boston Latin School, BPS gave me a foundation of academic, social, and emotional strength for adulthood. I want to add my efforts on the School Committee to ensure that all BPS students have the opportunities I did. I look forward to working with the Committee, Superintendent Cassellius, and the dedicated staff of BPS to bring kids and staff back to school safely through this pandemic and continue the course of rebuilding and reimagining BPS to spread excellence across all of our kids and families." "On behalf of the Boston School Committee, I am pleased to welcome Ernani as our newest colleague, and thank him for his commitment to serving on this Committee," said Alexandra Oliver-Dávila, chairperson of the Boston School Committee. "He has strong connections in the community, a demonstrated passion for helping students succeed, and great experience as a graduate of our schools. I look forward to working alongside him in service to the students, families, and educators of the Boston Public Schools and commend Mayor Walsh for this appointment and his ongoing commitment to ensure the Boston School Committee represents the diversity of our schools and our city."  DeAraujo is a lifelong resident of East Boston, where he currently resides with his family, and where he is very involved in the community through his work at the East Boston Neighborhood Health Center, and as a former neighborhood liaison for East Boston during the Administration of former Mayor Thomas Menino. He is the first person from East Boston to serve on the Boston School Committee. In addition, he is the former President of NOAH Community Development Corporation, where he oversaw the East Boston-based community development corporation and worked to create affordable housing and community building, especially through youth development and environmental justice. He co-founded a program for East Boston High School, named the Mario Umano Public Service Fellowship, that works to connect students with internship opportunities in government and summer programs and helps students apply to college.  DeAraujo attended Boston Public Schools, including Bradley Elementary, Umana Academy, and Boston Latin School (BLS), and went on to receive a B.A. from Harvard College and a J.D. from Washington and Lee University School of Law in Lexington, VA. In addition, DeAraujo is a Trustee of the BLS Association, Board Secretary for the Center for Community Health Education Research and Service, Inc, and is Vice Chairman of the John William Ward Fellowship, where he helps coordinate public service programs for BLS students.    The members of the school committee are Boston residents appointed by the Mayor of Boston to serve four-year staggered terms. Mayor Walsh made these appointments based on a list of candidates recommended by a 13-member Citizens Nominating Panel composed of parents, teachers, principals, and representatives of business and higher education. Under the legislation that established the appointed School Committee, "the Mayor shall strive to appoint individuals who reflect the racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic diversity of the city." On January 4, the Boston School Committee re-elected both Alexandra Oliver-Dávila to Chairperson and Michael O'Neill to Vice Chairperson in unanimous votes. In December 2020, the committee engaged in professional development training which was led pro bono by Dr. Ibram X. Kendi, author of How to Be an Antiracist, as part of its efforts to examine policies and  more deeply understand their impact on communities of color. The School Committee meets approximately twice per month during the school year to adopt, review and modify policies and practices that support teaching, learning and improved student achievement. With the exception of executive sessions, Committee meetings are open to the public, feature public comment periods and are broadcasted on Boston City TV.   For more information on the School Committee, please visit here.

MAYOR WALSH ANNOUNCES FREE TAX SERVICES AVAILABLE TO MAXIMIZE REFUNDS FOR BOSTON RESIDENTS

 MAYOR WALSH ANNOUNCES FREE TAX SERVICES AVAILABLE TO MAXIMIZE REFUNDS FOR BOSTON RESIDENTS 

Boston Tax Help Coalition to provide remote and community-based tax preparation services 

BOSTON - Wednesday, February 3, 2021 - Mayor Martin J. Walsh today announced that the Boston Tax Help Coalition has launched the 2021 tax season and is once again offering free tax preparation for residents who earn $57,000 per year or less. In response to COVID-19, the Boston Tax Help Coalition and community partners have modified their tax services, providing them both in the community and remotely to ensure that all qualified residents can file safely while maximizing their tax refunds and credits, including the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC). Tax preparation is available in English, Spanish, Haitian Creole, Cape Verdean Creole, Portugese, French, Vietamese, Manderin, and Cantonese. Qualified residents must call 311 or visit www.bostontaxhelp.org for an appointment. Unlike prior years, walk-in services will not be provided. 

"I urge all qualified Bostonians to take advantage of the Boston Tax Help Coalition's safe and free tax preparation," said Mayor Walsh. "The experts at the Boston Tax Help Coalition can help residents who have been financially impacted by COVID-19 maximize their refund and receive the highest EITC due."

The EITC is a refundable credit for low wage workers that lifted 5.6 million people out of poverty in 2018, including 3 million children. In 2020, the average EITC amount returned to taxpayers was $2,461. Yet, according to the IRS, 20 percent of all eligible filers do not receive the credit, with approximately $10 million dollars of EITC left unclaimed in Boston. 

Due to the pandemic and extensive job losses, many taxpayers' refunds could be negatively impacted. To protect taxpayers from losing much-needed refund dollars, Congress created a "Lookback Provision" under the most recent stimulus. Individuals may elect to use their 2019 earned income to calculate their 2020 EITC if their 2019 earned income is more than their 2020 earned income.  Residents should bring a copy of their 2019 taxes with them to the tax appointment, whether with the Boston Tax Help Coalition or any other preparer, to ensure they get the largest EITC credit possible.

"Congratulations to the Boston Tax Help Coalition on the launch of our 19^th tax season," said Doreen Treacy, Vice President for Career Services at JVS. "Today the BTHC and partners launch free tax preparation: safely in the pandemic. What an accomplishment and what a resource to the community! In its first tax season, Coalition partners served 400 taxpayers at 12 sites and returned $800,000 dollars back to the community. Since then, the work has grown dramatically. Community partners now prepare an average of 13,000 returns, bringing back approximately $24 million directly to resident pockets annually-with most of that coming back into our communities as a local economic engine.  Since its founding, the Coalition has recruited and trained over 50,000 volunteers, prepared more than 180,000 free tax returns, and generated over $300 million in combined tax credits and refunds for Bostonians."

BTHC serves approximately 13,000 taxpayers annually, training hundreds of IRS-certified volunteers whose work returns $24 million in refunds and credits directly to taxpayers. In addition to tax preparation, the Coalition provides clients with other free services to improve their financial health.The Coalition connects taxpayers to Bank On Boston, an initiative launched by Mayor Walsh that helps residents identify banking services that are safe, affordable, and non-predatory. Trained Financial Guides also offer taxpayers the Financial Check-Up, a key component of Boston Builds Credit, the City's free credit building program. A Financial Check-Up is a one-on-one session in which a taxpayer can review his or her credit score with a guide and obtain personalized credit-building strategies. 

Part of the Mayor's Office of Financial Empowerment, the Boston Tax Help Coalition works to increase accessibility to its free tax services through outreach and materials in English and eight other languages: Arabic, Cape Verdean Creole, Chinese, Haitian Creole, Portuguese, Spanish and Vietnamese. Representing the City of Boston at today's tax launch was Yusufi Vali, Director of the Mayor's Office for Immigrant Advancement, whose office is working with the Boston Tax Help Coalition to strengthen immigrant participation in wealth building opportunities. Other speakers included Don Dill, Senior Tax Analyst, IRS National Partnerships; Sharon Scott-Chandler, Executive Vice President/Chief Operating Officer, ABCD and Doreen Treacy, Vice President of Career Services, JVS Boston.

MAYOR WALSH ANNOUNCES PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN BOSTON RACIAL EQUITY FUND AND NEW COMMONWEALTH FUND; DISTRIBUTES $735,000 TO SUPPORT RACIAL EQUITY INVESTMENTS

 BOSTON - Wednesday, February 3, 2021 - Mayor Martin J. Walsh today announced the Boston Racial Equity Fund

will join efforts with the New Commonwealth Fund to advance racial equity and dismantle systemic racism in the City of Boston and Commonwealth of Massachusetts. To ensure these critical resources are swiftly invested in service of the communities most impacted by systemic racism and enduring economic and public health disparities, approximately $670,000 of the funds raised through the Boston Racial Equity Fund will be granted to the New Commonwealth Fund. An additional $65,000 will be granted to the City's Equity and Inclusion Cabinet to advance its research initiatives in collaboration with the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston.

"Our number one priority in the City of Boston is to embed equity into all of our work, and purposefully sustain the movement to achieve equity and dismantle systemic racism within longstanding practices," said Mayor Walsh. "We are glad to grant the funds raised to the New Commonwealth Fund to support communities of color and make Boston a city where everyone has opportunities to thrive. I thank all our Steering Committee members, partners and donors for their generous support, and I am confident that through the Fund and the work of our Equity and Inclusion Cabinet, our efforts will have an immediate impact" 

Mayor Walsh launched the Boston Racial Equity Fund in June 2020 and then nominated its Steering Committee members, several of whom also serve on the New Commonwealth Fund's leadership board. While fundraising for the Boston Racial Equity Fund will be momentarily paused in anticipation of the mayoral transition, all interested parties are encouraged to make a donation to the New Commonwealth Fund. By leveraging combined resources, these Funds will help manifest greater impact and drive transformative change at both the state and city level. 

"We are thankful to Mayor Walsh and the Boston Racial Equity Fund for taking these steps to help fulfill a mission we both share," said Greg Shell, Managing Director, Bain Capital Double Impact Fund, and a founder of the New Commonwealth Fund. "This generous support will help further our effort to stimulate economic growth and increase employment in the communities who need it most. We believe that this kind of cooperation gives us all the best chance to positively impact these communities, and to transform our great city".

In further support of this powerful partnership and to seed this grant, Mayor Walsh thanked AT&T for stepping up and committing a leadership donation of $500,000 to the Boston Racial Equity Fund with the understanding that it will now go to support the New Commonwealth Fund. 

"We are deeply grateful to Mayor Walsh, Jocelyn Sargent and the leaders of the New Commonwealth Fund, as well as the many civic leaders across Boston, including Chief Crockett, Pabral Chakrabarti of the Boston Federal Reserve, and Lee Pelton of Emerson College, for their commitment and leadership on the fundamental issue of racial equality," said Patricia Jacobs, AT&T Northern Region President. "At AT&T, we share their dedication to elevating diverse voices, and we're honored to play a small part in this most important endeavor."

This announcement also marks a collaboration between the City, its partners, and the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston, which will inform a data-driven action agenda to address the racial wealth gap. A portion of the Fund will be earmarked to support data collection and research that broadly builds upon the Reserve Bank's 2015 Color of Wealth in Boston report. 

"Increasing wealth for Black, Latinx, and communities of color is central to making Greater Boston more equitable, and we're pleased to be invited to participate," says Prabal Chakrabarti, Executive Vice President and Community Affairs Officer at the Boston Fed. "We're exploring a number of questions that will ultimately provide relevant analyses and inform discussions about racial equity. Through these efforts and our existing programs we hope to help the region make progress in tackling the systemic challenges faced by communities of color."

'"There is no issue before us greater than delivering equity and justice for populations who have not benefited from our city's prosperity. The New Commonwealth Fund, The Federal Reserve Bank of Boston and AT&T are powerful leadership partners to the City of Boston and our work to dismantle systemic racism and build pathways to generational wealth creation. Today we celebrate all the new opportunities our strategic collaboration will deliver for Boston residents." said Dr. Karilyn Crockett, Chief of Equity for the City of Boston, who has led the creation of this fund along with Dr. Lee Pelton, President of Emerson College and incoming President and CEO of The Boston Foundation.

麻州州長疫情匯報 2/3

 

30 pharmacies will be open next week.

波士頓市移民進步辦公室主任Yusufi Vali讚拜登的移民政策改革

波士頓移民進步辦公室主任Yusufi Vali。(檔案照片)

             (Boston Orange)美國總統拜登(Joe Biden)辦公室發出文告，列出”改革移民系統，讓家人在一起”，以處理不規則移民的根本原因，並簡化合法移民系統等等的步驟。波士頓移民進步辦公室主任Yusufi Vali特地發表聲明，讚揚該舉。

             Yusufi Vali表示，今天的這行政命令市朝向移民系統現代化的重要一步。在簡化合法移民系統並推廣移民融合上，波士頓市政府支持移民入籍，因為公民權將容許整個城市繁榮。川普政府的改變工共收費制度，使得人們更難成為永久居民，也在移民社區中製造了懼怕與不信任感。那使人們在病毒大流行期間得不到重要資源，這行政命令不僅只是從病毒大流行恢復，更是為所有人打造更好未來的一步。

           拜登總統文告內容: https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2021/02/02/fact-sheet-president-biden-outlines-steps-to-reform-our-immigration-system-by-keeping-families-together-addressing-the-root-causes-of-irregular-migration-and-streamlining-the-legal-immigration-syst/。

三名波士頓市長候選人: 吳弭、Andrea Campbell、Annissa Essaibi George

波士頓市長候選人吳弭及其家人。(圖片來自競選網站)

         (Boston Orange 編譯)波士頓市今年的市級選舉，由於現任市長馬丁華殊(Martin J. Walsh)將離任，預計很熱鬧，但新冠病毒疫情繚繞，冬天風雪又剛來襲，暫時冷冷地，還只有3名候選人。

             這3人依宣佈參選順序，分別是36歲的吳弭(Michelle Wu)，38歲的Andrea Campbell，47歲的Anissa Essaibi George。她們三人都是波士頓市議員，都是女性，都年輕，都是移民後代或少數族裔。她們中的任何一人當選，波士頓市的歷史都將添一筆新紀錄。

             吳弭是在2020年9月15日正式宣佈參選的。她在芝加哥出生，父母是來自台灣的移民。她主張波士頓需要的市長，必須能夠承擔得起波士頓所面對的挑戰規模與緊迫性，包括持續進行中的新冠病毒大流行，以及推動處理系統系的種族歧視。

             吳弭說，”早在病毒大流行以前，照常行事的作法就已經讓波士頓人失望了，而新冠病毒暴露，惡化了我們城市中深深存在的不公平。在這危機時刻，不只是可能，更需要重新想像以社區為基礎的領導，抱希望與信念的行動。

波士頓市長候選人Andrea Campbell及家人。(圖片來自競選網站)

            Andrea Campbell在吳弭宣佈的一個星期之後，也宣佈參選市長。她在波士頓出生，長大。她說她對波士頓市的不公平，有親身經歷，她會把目標放在處理低收入黑人及拉丁裔人社區和波士頓城中心經濟的巨大差異上。

             她說，在這清算我們國家，我們城市的意義深遠時刻，波士頓需要的領導人不只要了解，還必須要親身經歷過我們居民每天面對的系統性不公平。他說，她參選市長，就是為了要做為那名領袖，把城市團結起來迎面對抗不公平，最後讓波士頓市成為一個對任何人來說都行得通的城市。

波士頓市長候選人Anissa Essaibi George。(圖片來自競選網站)

         上星期，Anissa Essaibi George也宣佈參選波士頓市長了。她列舉了要把波士頓市帶出新冠病毒大流行需要做的事，還把重心放在被醫療危機彰顯出來的住宅，醫療護理等的現存不公平。

            她說，她相信波士頓會認為不公平，不正義是錯的，要迎頭痛擊。會扶持每個稱之為家的人。

             目前離11月2日的大選，甚至9月的初選，都還有一段日子，目前波士頓市議員們預計本週將投票決定，是否取消遞補選舉。

             波士頓市的健康及人民服務長Marty Martinez已表態有意參選，在萬寧路(Menino)市長時代，就曾經參選市長的波士頓市不分區市議員米高法拉提(Michael Flaherty)據說也有興趣。

             根據Politico，有意參選波士頓市長的人還包括南波士頓民主黨人，麻州參議員Nick Cillins，波士頓經濟發展長John Barros，以及波士頓民主黨麻州眾議員Jon Santiago。

             麻州眾議員麥家威(Aaron Michlewitz)，以及薩福克郡獄政官Steve Tompkins上個月都宣佈不會參選波士頓市長。

            波士頓警察局局長葛羅斯William Gross，早前宣佈有90%會參選，上週卻突然宣佈退休，而且不會參選市長。

麻州總檢察官第七屆暑期工獎助金3/5截止申請

 AG HEALEY OPENS GRANT APPLICATION PERIOD FOR SEVENTH ANNUAL SUMMER JOB PROGRAM FOR YOUNG PEOPLE

Deadline for Applications is March 5; Applicants are Required to Detail their Ability to Safely and Successfully Run a Program Amid the Ongoing COVID-19 Pandemic 

BOSTON – Attorney General Maura Healey today opened the seventh annual application period for her office’s summer jobs grant program for young people across the state. The deadline for applications is March 5 and applicants must detail their plans to run their programs successfully and safely, in light of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

This year’s Healthy Summer Youth Jobs Program will use funds secured by the AG’s Office in child labor-related settlements to provide funding to organizations to hire young people for jobs that focus on health and wellness. The program enables young people to have a direct impact in their communities by working in jobs that promote good nutrition, physical fitness, and healthy living.

“Our summer job program provides hundreds of young workers across Massachusetts with an opportunity to learn new skills, challenge themselves, and make a real difference in their communities,” AG Healey said. “We’re pleased to be continuing this program for a seventh year, and we know that our grantees will ensure that our young people stay safe and healthy while working.”           

Last year, the AG’s Office awarded nearly $300,000 in grant funding to 73 organizations across the state. The grantees adapted to the pandemic in a number of ways, including providing personal protective equipment (PPE), social distancing, and transitioning to virtual workspaces. The AG’s Community Engagement and Fair Labor Divisions held webinars on workers’ rights for all young people employed through the grant program. 

Examples of jobs that have received funding in the past include, but are not limited to:

·       Collaborating on a public health project focused on food security.

·       Assisting as a coach, team leader, or mentor with a sports or physical fitness program designed for young people.

·       Fostering a green environment by building and maintaining a community garden or urban farm.

·       Educating and mentoring young people about healthy relationships.

Since launching the program in 2015, the office has awarded nearly $1.85 million to organizations to fund more than 1,000 jobs for young people across the state

The AG’s Office will issue grants to municipalities, other government offices, quasi-public entities, and non-profits within the state. Nonprofit applicants must be in full compliance with statutory requirements for annual filings with the AG’s Non-Profit Organizations and Public Charities Division. Grantees must pay employed youth a minimum wage of $13.50 per hour. The office will prioritize applicants who are seeking to hire low-income youth workers with the grant funding.

Grant awards will fund youth employment from July 5, 2021 through Sept. 3, 2021. Interested applicants can visit the AG’s website for more information and for application instructions. Applications must be received by 5 p.m. on Friday, March 5, 2021.

吳弭競選波士頓市長: 倡議數位公平 打造市有寬頻網路

吳弭想要打造是有寬頻網路。(圖片取自吳弭競選網站)

             (Boston Orange周菊子綜合報導) 波士頓市長候選人吳弭(Michelle Wu)心中的理想波士頓市，是個人人都可上網，沒有數位落差的城市。今(2)日一早，她的競選團隊發表了一份有5項要點的”數位公平”藍圖。

             其中的重點之一是，吳弭想要探討打造一個市有寬頻網路，以為所有市民，小企業提供真正可負擔，品質又好的上網服務的可行性。

             吳弭指出，波士頓市有將近15%家庭未訂購網路服務，還有3萬2000多戶人家完全沒有上網途徑，而這些大都是黑人，拉丁裔人，以及移民家庭。在新型冠狀病毒大流行逼使整個社會數位化之際，市民間的數位落差也更加明顯。

             為彌平差距，讓波士頓市成為每一個人的城市，就要推動數位公平。她草擬了分成5個部份的”數位平等計畫”。

             這5個部分的重點為，1. 在波士頓市內打造市有寬頻網路，經由科技提供教育，經濟，2. 在市府服務中鼓勵數位正義，3. 經由科技獲取醫療平等，4. 讓交通上的流動性與連接性發揮槓桿作用，5. 讓領導層為更廣泛的改變做好準備。

             吳弭認為，要讓波士頓市成為每一個人的城市，就得在這數位世界中，讓每個人都可以取得並懂得使用這科技。所以她將要破除市政府部門之間的藩籬，打造數位資源，促進合作，並和諸如波士頓市的創新與科技局，以及地方上非牟利組織合作，優先處理在全市各鄰里持續溝通中的數位平等議題。

             她計畫全面檢視所有市府擁有的樓宇，查察其結構，做維修更新，以消除打造可負擔但可靠，又高效的市府寬頻網路服務的障礙。

             她打算在人權委員會內，成立一個由社區主導的科技道德委員會，以確保市府服務在採購及使用科技上，符合道德標準。

             在波士頓公共衛生委員會中成立醫療及數位平等辦公室，加速推動遠距醫療(telemedicine)。

             擴大人們取得精神醫療及支援的途徑，並推動成立州政府層級的工作小組，重點放在郊區的遠距醫療服務上。

             由於家庭網路服務得付費，波士頓大約有8%的家庭只用手機上網，還不斷查看用量，以確保使用量不會超過每個月的數據量限制，以免得多付費，或失去服務。吳弭為此認為在麻州灣區地鐵局(MBTA)已把無線網路擴展到通勤鐵路(commuter rail)之際，她希望能動用市府資源，沿著巴士路線，在巴士站為民眾設立免費，安全的公共無線網路，並和MBTA合作，找出聯邦政府資源，把這免費無線網路服務，擴展到MBTA地鐵站去。

             波士頓環球報稱，新英格蘭電纜及電訊協會會長(New England Cable & Telecommunications Association) Timothy Wilkerson表示，該會已經在和波士頓市政府商議，朝向為低收入家庭民眾提供免費或低廉寬頻網路的可行性。