波士頓市鼓勵居民填寫市府人口統計名單

MAYOR WALSH ENCOURAGES RESIDENTS TO COMPLETE 2021 BOSTON ANNUAL RESIDENT LISTING Initiative aims to count all Boston residents and ensure equitable distribution of city services First-in-the-nation childcare survey will continue to be conducted alongside annual census BOSTON - Wednesday, February 17, 2021 - Mayor Martin J. Walsh and the Election Department announced the start of the City of Boston's Annual Resident Census, which is kicking off today with the first batch of mailings being sent to households. The 2021 Boston Annual Resident Listing, as the initiative is officially known, attempts to count all individuals who live in the City of Boston, and Boston residents age 17 and older are asked to complete the census for their household. An accurate count of residents helps the City ensure that municipal resources are distributed equitably to all, and the census plays an important role in helping officials maintain an up to date roll of active voters as well as a log of residents who are eligible for jury duty. The latter is crucial to ensuring that everyone has access to a fair jury trial. For the second year, the optional City of Boston Childcare Survey will be conducted alongside the Annual Resident Listing. Created by the Mayor's Office of Women's Advancement in 2019, this first-in-the-nation approach to understanding childcare in Boston gives parents and guardians an opportunity to share direct feedback with the City about their early education and care needs. The survey's purpose is to better understand how families access and experience care for their children, ages five and under. This year's survey findings will offer especially important feedback on how families adjusted to the challenges posed by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Residents with young children are encouraged to complete the Boston Childcare Survey and return it along with their completed Boston Annual Resident Listing form. "The annual resident census and the optional childcare survey are among the easiest and most important ways for people to stay civically engaged," said Mayor Walsh. "The feedback we get directly from residents helps us shape how we deliver critical city services so that we can continue to improve the lives of everyone living in Boston. It's quick and easy to participate, and I encourage everyone to do their part by completing the surveys." The Boston Childcare Survey asks parents and guardians about their preferences and any barriers that may affect a parent or guardian's ability to choose their preferred method of childcare. Accessibility, affordability, and quality of care tend to be barriers that people identify, and City officials are able to use survey responses to tailor solutions to specific challenges.  Completed responses to both the mandatory Boston Annual Resident Listing and the optional Boston Childcare Survey can be returned free of charge using the prepaid envelope that is provided with the mailing. All households in Boston can expect to receive their mailing within the next two weeks, and the Election Department requests that residents complete and return the forms within seven days of receipt. In addition to returning the completed forms to the Election Department using the prepaid envelope that is provided to all households as part of the mailing, residents have three other options for participating. Respond online: Visit Boston.gov/census to respond to the Boston Annual Resident Listing. Translations are available online in Spanish, Chinese, and Vietnamese. The website includes a link to the optional Childcare Survey. Printable mail-in version: If for any reason one's household did not receive the Boston Annual Resident Listing or if the mailing was misplaced, a printable version is available online. For more details, visit Boston.gov/census or call (617) 635-8683 (VOTE). Call the Election Department: Residents can call (617) 635-8683 (VOTE), Monday through Friday between 9 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., to speak to a representative about completing the census. Residents that do not respond to the 2021 Boston Annual Resident Listing will become inactive on the voter registration roll. People can check their voting status here. However, completing the Annual Resident Listing does not register one to vote. Residents can register to vote online, in-person at the Election Department, or by calling (617) 635-8683 (VOTE) to have a form mailed to them. For more information, contact the Boston Election Department online at Boston.gov/elections.

麻州州長: 2/18起，65歲以上可預約接種新冠疫苗

麻州州長查理貝克(Charlie Baker)強調麻州在施打疫苗速度上，
現在已排名全美前十。(視頻截圖)

          (Boston Orange 綜合編譯)麻州州長查理貝克(Charlie Baker) 今(17)日宣佈，明(2月18)日起，65歲以上，以及有2種以上病症者，包括哮喘病等，都可預約接種新冠病毒(COVID-19)疫苗。

              預約可上網www.mass.gov/covidvaccine，或是https://vaxfinder.mass.gov 。無法上網預約者，可撥打211熱線。

             2月18日將有大約7萬個空位，可供人們預約接種疫苗。查理貝克表示，除非聯邦政府分發給麻州的疫苗數量大幅度增加，每天7萬人左右的施打疫苗速度，大概不會改變。

             麻州政府表示，這意味著又有100萬人有資格接種新冠疫苗了。而且，除非聯邦政府大幅度增加疫苗分發數量，估計需要一個多月，所有這些符合資格者才能全部都接種了疫苗。麻州迄今每週施打疫苗的數量為11萬劑。

 

2月17日的麻州新冠疫苗分發，施打進度。

           麻州健康及人民服務長Marylou Sudders表示，麻州正在簡化疫苗分發，施打作業，將分發更多疫苗到6個大型疫苗注射站，以及接受來自全州各地居民的13個區域疫苗合作站。3月1日起，大約65個市鎮診所將只接受住在當地的民眾前往注射第一劑疫苗。注射第二劑的就無居住地區限制。

             麻州目前有170個施打疫苗地點，95%的麻州居民在距離住處的30分鐘到45分鐘路程內，都可找到一個施打疫苗地點。

            4個大型施打疫苗站分別為春田市的Eastfield 購物商場，Danvers市的雙樹酒店，波士頓市的芬衛球場(Fenway Park)，以及Foxboro市的吉列體育館(Gillette Stadium)。近期內將再增加2個大型疫苗注射站。

             麻州政府今日通知了個地方市鎮的公共衛生局，說明州政府的簡化疫苗分發計畫，並優先分發給受新冠病毒影響最大的20個市鎮，包括Boston; Brockton; Chelsea; Everett; Fall River; Fitchburg; Framingham; Haverhill; Holyoke; Lawrence; Leominster; Lowell; Lynn; Malden; Methuen; New Bedford; Randolph; Revere; Springfield; and Worcester。

             前述限當地居民接種疫苗的規定，不適用於這20個市鎮。

             患有以下病症者，符合這第2階段的接種疫苗規定，包括哮喘（中度至重度），癌症，慢性腎病，COPD（慢性阻塞性肺疾病），唐氏綜合症，心臟疾病，例如心力衰竭，冠狀動脈疾病或心肌病，實體器官移植產生的免疫受損狀態（免疫系統減弱），肥胖和嚴重肥胖（體重指數[BMI]為30 kg / m2或更高），懷孕，鐮狀細胞性貧血症，抽煙導致的病症，第2型糖尿病等。

             麻州州長查理貝克在疫情匯報中表示，從12月麻州收到疫苗開始，第一優先是放在醫護人員身上，接著是長照機構的居民及工作人員，州政府的目標是保護人們的生命，維持麻州的醫療體系。2月1日開始，75歲以上耆英也有資格接種疫苗了。過去2週，進展很快，上星期麻州共施打了28萬5000劑疫苗，超過了麻州每週從聯邦政府那兒收到的疫苗數量。現在已經有25萬1000名75歲以上耆英接種了新冠疫苗。那是麻州該一人口群的大約一半了。比全美國該一人口群的疫苗接種平均率。

             查理貝克表示，麻州在第一劑疫苗施打率上，排名全國第九，若以施打疫苗的人均總數來計算，在人口超過500萬的24州中，麻州排名第一。

Baker-Polito Administration Announces Vaccine Appointment Booking for Individuals Ages 65+, Individuals with 2+ Certain Medical Conditions to Begin on February 18^th

BOSTON – Today, the Baker-Polito Administration announced individuals ages 65 and over and those with 2+ certain medical conditions, including Asthma, can visit www.mass.gov/covidvaccine to start booking an appointment for vaccine beginning tomorrow, February 18^th. 

With this announcement, almost 1 million individuals are newly eligible for vaccine.

Due to extremely high demand for appointments and limited vaccine supply, it could take more than a month for all eligible individuals to secure an available appointment, unless federal supply significantly increases. Recently, Massachusetts has been receiving approximately 110,000 first doses per week from the federal government. Residents are encouraged to keep checking the website as appointments are added on a rolling basis.  

Individuals 65 and over:

Individuals 65 and over, including residents and staff of low income and affordable public and private senior housing are eligible to receive vaccine effective tomorrow, February 18^th.

Residents and staff of low income and affordable public and private senior housing can learn more about vaccination options here.

Individuals with 2+ Certain Medical Conditions:

Individuals 16 and older with two or more of certain medical conditions (defined below) are eligible for vaccine, effective tomorrow.

In concert with CDC guidelines, the Commonwealth has adopted the list of conditions that cause individuals to be at an increased risk of severe illness from COVID-19. Massachusetts has also identified moderate to severe asthma as an eligible medical condition.

Phase 2 eligible conditions: 

• Asthma (moderate-to-severe)
• Cancer
• Chronic kidney disease
• COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease)
• Down Syndrome
• Heart conditions, such as heart failure, coronary artery disease, or cardiomyopathies
• Immunocompromised state (weakened immune system) from solid organ transplant
• Obesity and severe obesity (body mass index [BMI] of 30 kg/m2 or higher)
• Pregnancy
• Sickle cell disease
• Smoking
• Type 2 diabetes mellitus

Learn more from CDC: COVID-19: People with Certain Medical Conditions

Mass Vaccination Appointments:

Tomorrow morning, over 70,000 appointments are scheduled to be posted at mass vaccination sites (Eastfield Mall in Springfield, Double Tree Hotel in Danvers, Fenway Park in Boston and Gillette Stadium in Foxboro).

Details for booking can be found via the COVID-19 Vaccine Finder, which enables residents to search for a vaccination location and view appointment availability before scheduling. The tool can be accessed via the state’s vaccination website at www.mass.gov/COVIDvaccine or directly at https://vaxfinder.mass.gov.

Individuals that are unable to access appointments via the internet can call 211 and follow the prompts for vaccine appointments.

There are currently over 170 vaccination locations across the Commonwealth. Currently, almost 95% of our population lives within a 45-minute drive of a mass vaccination site or within 30 minutes of a regional (high volume site) - not counting the pharmacies, provider and community health center vaccination sites.

Local Boards of Health:

Today, Local Boards of Health were informed of the Commonwealth’s streamlined vaccination distribution plan that prioritizes equity and high-capacity throughput vaccination, particularly as vaccine supply from the federal government remains extremely constrained.

This streamlined distribution plan will increase vaccine access at high throughput vaccination locations such as mass vaccination sites or regional sites and at pharmacy sites. In addition to increasing efficiency in administering the vaccine, the Commonwealth will ensure that the program is equitable and meets the needs of communities that have been the most disproportionately impacted by COVID-19. 

Utilizing the social vulnerability index as a starting point, the Department of Public Health has identified 20 municipalities that have had the greatest COVID burden and have the greatest per centage of non- white residents. These municipalities are: Boston; Brockton; Chelsea; Everett; Fall River; Fitchburg; Framingham; Haverhill; Holyoke; Lawrence; Leominster; Lowell; Lynn; Malden; Methuen; New Bedford; Randolph; Revere; Springfield; and Worcester. 

These municipalities will continue to distribute vaccine at the local level, are prioritized for the retail pharmacy program, and are served by community health centers and other health care providers administering vaccine. 

Local Boards of Health will continue to play a crucial role in our collective plan to curb COVID-19. The Administration is asking Local Boards of Health to support these critical objectives:

• Planning to vaccinate homebound individuals in their community and older adults in private and public low income and affordable housing.
• Encourage residents to get vaccinated at mass vaccination sites, retail pharmacies and other locations that are open to all residents.

Increase vaccine awareness of safety and efficacy so that when the Commonwealth does have more incoming vaccine from the Federal Government, and as more groups become eligible, communities are ready and willing to accept vaccine

麻州長簽署160億元交通債券法

  

            (Boston Orange 編譯)麻州州長查理貝克(Charlie Baker)，副州長白莉朵(Karyn Polito)，代理麻州交通廳廳長(MassDOT Secretary of Transportation) Jamey Tesler和州市議員聯袂出席160億元交通債券法的簽署儀式。

             這一法案早於1月15日已簽署，並授權撥款資助各項交通工程項目，今日的網上簽署純為儀式性活動。

             查理貝克表示，這交通債券法是為打造21世紀的流動架構，以期麻州得以充分利用交通科技上的新興變化。麻州交通廳和麻州灣區交通局(MBTA)將持續現代化改善。  

             該法案包括51億元用於現代化麻州地鐵，1億元改善麻州編號的地方市鎮道路，5000萬元用於確保市鎮有所需資源繼續建造完整街道基礎設施，以鼓勵民眾出門時多走路或騎自行車。

             該法案還包括7000萬元市鎮小橋梁項目，並經由兩項新的補助款項目，優先擴大使用指定巴士路線，以及交通信號燈。此外該法案還授權麻州地鐵使用已有很完善架構的採購辦法，例如小項目的工程合約發包。

             今年新任參議會交通委員會主席，轄區包括波士頓華埠的麻州參議員Joe Boncore也出席了儀式。

Governor Baker Signs $16 Billion Transportation Bond Bill

 BOSTON

麻州交通廳代理廳長Jamey Tesler。

– Today, Governor Charlie Baker, Lieutenant Governor Karyn Polito, and Acting MassDOT Secretary of Transportation Jamey Tesler joined legislators, municipal leaders, and other stakeholders in a virtual ceremonial signing of the $16 billion Transportation Bond Bill legislation. This legislation was signed into law on January 15, 2021, and authorizes funding across all modes of transportation to support and facilitate the ongoing continual efforts of MassDOT and the MBTA to invest in and modernize the Commonwealth’s transportation system. 

 

麻州參議員Joe Boncore今年是交通委員會主席。

“The Transportation Bond Bill builds upon our Administration’s ongoing commitment to create a 21st-century mobility infrastructure that will prepare the Commonwealth to capitalize on emerging changes in transportation technology and behavior,” said Governor Charlie Baker. “MassDOT and the MBTA have continued to implement widespread improvements throughout the transportation system and this new bond authorization will further support capital investment planning to rebuild, modernize, and expand the capacity of the Commonwealth’s transportation infrastructure.”

“Our Administration continues to work closely with our statewide municipal partners to help identify ways in which they can make further improvements to their transportation infrastructure,” said Lieutenant Governor Karyn Polito. “This bill includes authorization for municipally-focused programs, such as the new Municipal Pavement program, which will support the continual efforts of municipalities to provide connectivity and healthy and safe transportation options for community members.”   

The legislation includes nearly $5.1 billion to continue modernizing the MBTA, $100 million to improve the pavement condition on state numbered municipal roads, $50 million to ensure municipalities have resources needed to continue efforts to build ‘Complete Streets’ infrastructure to encourage the public to travel more on foot and by bicycle. The bill also includes $70 million for the Municipal Small Bridge Program and expands the use of designated bus lanes and transit signal priority through two new grant programs. Additionally, the bill authorizes the MBTA to use well-established procurement methods such as Job Order contracting for smaller projects.

“The Transportation Bond Bill supports our efforts to rebuild, modernize, and expand the capacity of the Commonwealth’s transportation system,” said Acting Secretary of Transportation and CEO Jamey Tesler. “We are grateful to the members of the Legislature and the advocates who worked so hard to get this bill approved.” 

The bill also responds to the needs of municipal partners by reauthorizing or creating five funding partnerships to supplement and complement the Chapter 90 program, and reauthorizes the popular Municipal Small Bridge Program and Complete Streets Program. In addition to local bottleneck reduction program already mentioned, a third municipal funding initiative would improve the condition of roadways by authorizing $100 million for a municipal pavement partnership program to help cities and towns care for state-numbered routes that are locally owned.

Highlights of the Transportation Bond Bill are as follows:

 

• $4.4 billion for use as funding for Highway federal aid projects
• $3 billion for Transit System Modernization Investments (MBTA)
• $1.25 billion in Non-Federal Aid for use as funding in Highways projects that are not eligible for federal funding
• $1.25 billion for the new Next Generation Bridge program
• $70 million for the popular Municipal Small Bridge Program
• $50 million for the popular Complete Streets program
• $20 million for ‘public realm’ COVID-related Shared Streets and Spaces program
• $100 million for a new Municipal Pavement program for pavement projects on locally owned but state numbered roads
• $100 million in four new programs to provide financial assistance for municipalities seeking to improve infrastructure, such as bus lanes or bus signal prioritization projects, and connectivity
• $350 million for the Cape Cod Bridges approaches project
• $825 million for South Coast Rail
• $595 million for Green Line Extension 
• $89 million for Aeronautics Division
• $760 million to support the Regional Transit Authorities and Rail & Transit’s Mobility Assistance Program and Rail improvements
• Construction Zone Speed Limits that allows posting of speed limits in construction zones and doubling of speeding fines for violations

Governor Baker Signs Executive Order to Support Military Families Transferring to Massachusetts

 Governor Baker Signs Executive Order to Support Military Families Transferring to Massachusetts

 

BOSTON – Governor Charlie Baker renewed the Baker-Polito Administration’s commitment to support military families transferring to Massachusetts military installations. The Executive Order signed by Governor Baker directs the Division of Professional Licensure (DPL) to improve license portability for military personnel and their spouses so that they can continue their civilian careers and provide for their families without interruption. 

 

“Through this Executive Order, our goal is to make the process of transferring professional licenses simpler and more expedient for military personnel and their spouses arriving in Massachusetts,” said Governor Baker. “I want to thank the Department of Defense and the Air Force for their leadership on this important issue and I look forward to finding new ways to help the members of the Armed Forces across all branches and their families as they start the next chapter of their lives in the Commonwealth.”

 

“This Order helps us support arriving military families and allows them to more easily immerse themselves in their new communities at our military installations across the Commonwealth,” said Lt. Governor Karyn Polito. “In recognition of the sacrifices that members of our Armed Forces and their family members already make, reducing or eliminating barriers that could hinder gainful employment and household stability is one important way we can help make moving to a new state a little easier for them.”

 

The Executive Order directs DPL to investigate opportunities to participate in one or more interstate compacts, a preferred vehicle for simplifying and improving licensing for professionals moving between states, while also ensuring the public continues to be served by highly qualified practitioners. DPL will also ensure that each covered board has procedures to expedite and afford priority to the licensing of military personnel and spouses. Each board will be encouraged to process applications within 30 days, and track data on how long that process takes for military personnel and families.

 

DPL will focus on the occupations, and their related boards, identified as priorities by the United States Air Force in a recent assessment: 

• Physical Therapists
• Accountants 
• Engineers 
• Psychologists 
• Barbers and Cosmetologists

 

DPL will consult with the Military Asset and Security Strategy Task Force (MASS-TF), Housing and Economic Development Secretary Mike Kennealy, Veterans’ Affairs Secretary Cheryl Lussier Poppe, and liaisons representing the branches of the United States military and the Massachusetts National Guard. DPL will report on the implementation of this Executive Order, and present recommendations, by July 1, 2021.
 
The Administration has previously undertaken efforts to improve license portability for military families who hold out-of-state licenses in Teaching and Nursing professions, including participation in an interstate agreement and filing legislation to participate in an interstate compact.
 
“Thank you to Governor Baker and the Commonwealth of Massachusetts for improving the ability of military spouses to find employment in their career field,” said General Charles Q. Brown, Jr., Chief of Staff, United States Air Force. “Licensure portability ranks as a top issue for military families due to the barriers to employment that often arise with different licensing requirements between states. This is critical for all the military services to be able to recruit and retain Service members and we greatly appreciate Massachusetts’ partnership in that effort.”  
 
“The soldiers and airmen of the Massachusetts National Guard, as well as myself as the Adjutant General, are grateful to the Baker-Polito Administration for their continued demonstration of support in securing long-term relevant missions and force structure for both the Massachusetts National Guard, and our active duty and reserve counterparts here in the Commonwealth," said Gary W. Keefe, Major General, United States Air Force, Massachusetts National Guard, Adjutant General. "Innovative actions like facilitating Licensure Reciprocity for military spouses, along with the commitment of significant capital investments, like the recent $9.2 million for a new Taxiway and Entry Gate at Barnes Air National Guard Base, maintain the Commonwealth’s position as a great home for continued and future military missions for all branches of our Armed Forces.”
 
The Massachusetts Legislature has previously enacted laws [Valor Act I (2012) and Valor Act II (2014)] intended to help military families returning from active duty, or relocating to Massachusetts from another state, including provisions that deal specifically with professional and occupational licensing. 
 
Massachusetts is home to six military installations with more than $13.2 billion in total economic activity and support for more than 57,600 jobs, including Barnes Air National Guard Base, Fort Devens, Hanscom Air Force Base, Joint Base Cape Cod, the U.S. Army's Natick Soldier Systems Center, and Westover Air Reserve Base. The MASS-TF, as a nation leading defense community support entity, has leveraged the strength of its federal, state, and local leadership to commit over $46 million to these military installations and defense communities, including over $32 million under the 2014 Military Bond Bill authorization.

聯邦眾議院助理議長克拉克發聯名信 要求查理貝克改善施打疫苗作業

聯邦眾議院助理議長凱薩琳克拉克(Katherine Clark)。(檔案照片，
周菊子攝)

            (Boston Orange 綜合編譯)聯邦眾議院助理議長凱薩琳克拉克(Katherine Clark)和包括她自己在內的8名麻州聯邦眾議員，以及2名聯邦參議員聯名發信，要求麻州州長查理貝克(Charlie Baker)設立中央化接種新冠病毒(COVID-19_疫苗預約系統，改善麻州疫苗施打作業。

             凱薩琳克拉克在聯邦眾議院民主黨中的位階排名第四，主要代表麻州摩頓市、劍橋市。她的官網今(16)日公佈了一封2月12日發給麻州州長查理貝克的聯名信。

             該信主要內容是關切麻州沒有中央化的施打新冠疫苗預先登記系統，懇請查理貝克盡快推出麻州所有居民都可預先登記的系統，提早確認資格等細節，再在方便州民接種疫苗的地點可以安排預約時，通知州民。

             該信稱新冠病毒大流行發生以來，對有色及移民社區有著不成比例的重大影響，全麻州也已有累計50萬人確診，15,000人死亡，但從第一劑輝瑞疫苗抵達麻州迄今約二個月，有著豐富醫療、創新資源的麻州，卻在全美各州施打疫苗進度上排在末段班。這10名聯邦議員因此懇請麻州州長查理貝克盡快改善。

             查理貝克在2月12日的疫情匯報中，正好也宣佈，為方便75歲以上民眾，推出新的接種疫苗登記工具，211熱線電話，同時更新了的接種疫苗資訊網站vaxfinder.mass.gov，隨後還准許陪同75歲以上者的年輕人，也同時接種疫苗。

             簽署聯名信的聯邦議員包括，2名參議員，馬基(Edward Markey)，伊莉莎白沃倫(Elizabeth Warren)，8名聯邦眾議員，凱薩琳克拉克(Katherine Clark, MA-5)，James P. McGovern (MA-2),  Lori Trahan (MA-3), Jake Auchincloss (MA-4), Seth Moulton (MA-6), Ayanna Pressley (MA-7), Stephen F. Lynch (MA-8), and William Keating (MA-9)。

             麻州有9名聯邦眾議員，未參加連署的是2019年升任為聯邦眾議員財政委員會(Ways and Means Committee)主席的Richard Neal。

              由於麻州民主黨黨主席日前才連續發聲明，批評查理貝克的抗疫措施，疫苗分配、施打作業，近日又陸續出現有民主黨人有意參選麻州州長，政治敏感人士紛紛猜測，這些批評疫苗作業的相關行動，既是民主黨與共和黨之爭，也是民主黨有意為爭取下屆麻州州長席位鋪路的訊號。

              根據麻州公共衛生廳網站，截至2月16日，麻州總共收到115萬8050劑疫苗，其中聯邦政府直接送到藥店的有369,100劑，所以麻州總共得到152萬7150劑疫苗。總共施打出去了116萬6516劑，其中已經施打出去的第一劑有861,859劑，第二劑有304,657。施打率為76.4%。

非牟利組織:仇視攻擊亞裔案去年2808宗

               (Boston Orange 綜合報導)新冠病毒大流行期間，美國亞裔人身安全問題備受威脅，從2020年2月迄今，已累計案件2,808宗。近日1名91歲亞裔老人無端被人推倒在地，視頻瘋傳，亞裔社區繼架設網站鼓勵舉報後，現再推出，”老人家，我們護送您”行動。

              根據”停止仇恨亞太裔(Stop AAPI Hate)”這全國性組織2月9日公佈的數據，從2020年3月19日至12月31日，全美47州至少發生2,808宗反亞裔仇恨事件，其中8.7%涉及人身攻擊，6.4%涉及向亞裔咳嗽，吐痰。麻州也有67宗。

人們舉報的這些亞裔遭受歧視，攻擊案件，有70.9%是口語騷擾，但至少8%足以構成侵犯民權罪。許多案件受害人是年紀大的長者。在人身攻擊的案件中，較為人知的是有一名84歲泰裔老人Vicha Ratanapakdee在舊金山被人重擊推倒，上個月辭世。1月31日，有1名91歲華裔老人在加州奧克蘭(Oakland)華埠被人推倒在地。

加州華埠商會會長Carl Chan說，截至1月31日，他收到至少20宗小企業遭遇搶劫，店東或顧客被攻擊的報告。麻州夏利臣街上也有一家餐館東主表示，他的店鋪發生過窗戶被打破，客人點的外賣餐被搶走，報警索取記錄，被指使到不同地點，耗時費事還得不到結果。

這些亞裔在新冠病毒期間面對歧視，仇恨事件的暴增，促使國會議員孟昭文在眾議員提案，並於去年9月17日通過H-908，譴責反亞裔種族歧視行為議案。

但是美國社會中不時出現的歧視，仇恨亞裔氛圍，並未因為國會通過這法案而縮減。日前發生的91歲華裔老人被推倒事件，看到視頻的人都氣憤填膺。已赴香港發展的演員吳彥祖和電視影集Lost and Hawaii Five-0的Daniel Dae Kim更出面懸賞2萬5000元，追查推人嫌犯，也吸引了比以往稍多的報章，電視媒體追蹤報導。

美國總統拜登(Joe Biden)在2月12日的向亞裔拜年視頻中特地說明，1月26日時，他已簽署備忘錄(Memorandum)，譴責、打擊種族歧視，仇恨，以及不容忍美國亞太裔的行為。

麻州亞美局(AAC)新任主席，韓裔的Sam Hyun表示，遭遇歧視、仇恨對待在亞裔社區並不是新鮮事，去年美國各地頻頻出現亞裔遭遇歧視，攻擊事件時，大多數的媒體，掌握權力的高官，都很沉默。

該局去年在州政府大樓前舉辦過反歧視、仇恨亞裔記者會，出席的政府官員，議員多半為市鎮層級。

有時自謔為啞裔的亞裔社區，本身有著內部族群多元，意見並不一致的困擾，以至於一方面埋怨主流媒體鮮少關於亞裔遭遇歧視，或攻擊的報導，一方面自己在社交媒體中，勤快轉傳亞裔及亞裔所經營店鋪被砸，被搶消息，提醒彼此注意、小心，遇事卻多半不願意報案，採取行動的更不多見。

CNN在2月15日報導的加州奧克蘭有300多名年輕人站了出來，以”奧克蘭惻隱之心(Compassion in Oakland)”為名，提供護送耆英服務。創辦人也不是亞裔，而是26歲的拉丁裔年輕人Jacob Azevedo。

AG HEALEY SECURES NEARLY $1 MILLION FOR HOMEOWNERS FROM COMPANY THAT MISHANDLED LOAN MODIFICATIONS

AG HEALEY SECURES NEARLY $1 MILLION FOR HOMEOWNERS FROM COMPANY THAT MISHANDLED LOAN MODIFICATIONS 

BOSTON — A national mortgage servicing company will provide nearly $1 million in relief for Massachusetts residents to settle allegations that it impeded homeowners attempting to obtain loan modifications to avoid foreclosure, Attorney General Maura Healey announced today.

In the assurance of discontinuance filed in Suffolk Superior Court, Kyanite Services, Inc., the former corporate parent of third-party mortgage servicer Seterus, Inc., will provide $975,000 in relief to approximately 180 Massachusetts borrowers for giving them inaccurate and untimely information regarding their loan modification applications. Seterus is no longer in business.

“When families struggling to pay their mortgage asked for a loan modification, this company gave them the run around,” said AG Healey. “This settlement provides relief for borrowers who were harmed and ensures the company answers for its abusive conduct.”

The AG’s Office alleges that Seterus violated the Massachusetts Act Preventing Unlawful and Unnecessary Foreclosures – known as “35B” – a landmark law passed in 2012 that requires creditors to take reasonable steps and make a good faith effort to avoid foreclosing on certain mortgage loans. The AG’s Office also alleges that Seterus violated the Massachusetts Consumer Protection Act by providing borrowers with false and deceptive information about the status of their loan modification applications.

The AG’s Office began an investigation into Seterus after receiving complaints from Massachusetts consumers indicating they experienced significant problems applying for loan modifications.

The investigation found that Seterus routinely sent borrowers notices that their loan modification applications were complete only to later notify them that additional documents were needed. This cycle often repeated multiple times, causing the application process to take years instead of months, if completed at all. Even though it sometimes took Seterus close to a month to identify missing documents, Seterus then gave the borrowers only eight days to submit the additional items before denying the borrowers’ requests as incomplete. In some cases, Seterus notified borrowers they had more time but then denied those borrowers before the expiration of the deadline listed in Seterus’ written notice. 

The AG’s investigation also found that during these periods when the borrowers’ applications were complete or only missing certain items, Seterus mailed borrowers notices advising borrowers to submit entirely new applications or to apply for a short sale or deed-in-lieu of foreclosure. These solicitations falsely blamed the borrowers for not working with Seterus, when Seterus’s own practices were causing significant delays and frustration in the loan modification review process. 

            The investigation also revealed that some borrowers returned the Mortgage Modification Options (MMO) asking for a modification and experienced the same delays and denials. In addition, Seterus didn’t provide borrowers with the written assessment as required by law. The requirement of a written assessment is critical to provide the borrower with Seterus’s calculation of the borrower’s income, debts and obligations and the net present value analysis of foreclosure versus modification.

            In 2019, Kyanite sold Seterus to Nationstar Mortgage, (d/b/a as Mr. Cooper). In a settlement with the AG’s Office, Nationstar previously agreed to implement its own 35B compliant loan modification program.

The Seterus case is part of the AG’s Office’s investigation of the mortgage servicing industry and its compliance with the Act Preventing Unlawful and Unnecessary Foreclosures. AG Healey is committed to ensuring that all mortgage servicers respect the rights of homeowners under this important state law.

The AG’s Office has been a national leader in securing restitution and other relief for borrowers from banks and servicers. The office has obtained recoveries and other relief from Morgan Stanley, Goldman Sachs, Royal Bank of Scotland, Citigroup, JPMorgan Chase, Countrywide, Fremont Investment & Loan, Option One, HSBC, Ditech, Shellpoint Mortgage Servicing, Caliber Home Loans, PHH and others on behalf of Massachusetts homeowners.

Consumers with questions or concerns about deceptive or abusive foreclosure and loan servicing practices can call the Attorney General’s consumer hotline at 617-727-8400 or file a complaint with the office.

This matter was handled by Assistant Attorney General Michael Lecaroz, of the AG Healey’s Consumer Protection Division, with assistance from Assistant Attorney General Andrew Haile, currently of the AG’s Administrative Law Division.

麻州州長簽署H4921法案 促請關注公用水域的水汙染

 

BOSTON – Today, Governor Charlie Baker and Lt. Governor Karyn Polito will virtually join Secretary of Energy and Environmental Affairs Kathleen Theoharides, Department of Environmental Protection Commissioner Marty Suuberg, legislators and local officials to participate in a ceremonial signing of H4921, An Act promoting awareness of sewage pollution in public waters. A live stream will be available here.

MBTA更改路線，服務公聽會 2/17, 2/24

 

慶牛年新春 美國總統拜登、波士頓市長，昆士市長，吳弭來拜年

 

美國總統拜登夫婦以視頻講話向亞裔拜年。

昆士市長柯奇(Tom Koch)向亞裔拜年。

波士頓市製作賀卡向亞裔拜年。

波士頓市府12日晚亮紅燈，展示新年喜氣。

波士頓華埠除夕夜洪青醒獅依慣例，到波士頓洪門致公堂門前拜年，
鑼鼓、鞭炮齊鳴，熱鬧非凡。

哈佛大學費正清中心拜年圖案。

(以上全為截圖)