APA Justice Statement on Senate Committee Investigative Report on Abuse and Miconduct at DOC

On July 13, 2021, the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation (Senate Committee) released a 37-page investigative report, "Abuse and Misconduct at the Commerce Department."  The investigation began after whistleblowers reported a variety of improper activities dating back to the mid-2000s involving abuses of authority, mismanagement, and reprisal against Department employees. Minority Staff conducted over 100 interviews and reviewed thousands of documents supporting allegations from over two dozen whistleblowers.  The report highlighted the targeting of individuals of Asian descent, opening frivolous investigations without probable cause, blocking the release of investigative files to the judicial system and documents to the public's Freedom of Information Act requests, and likely resulting in preventable violations of civil liberties and other constitutional rights, as well as a gross abuse of taxpayer funds, among other findings. The report identified specifically Sherry Chen and Dr. Chunzai Wang who were subjected to criminal investigations by a Department of Commerce unit, without proper authority, and subsequent prosecutions by the Department of Justice.  Sherry Chen courageously testified about her experience in the Congressional Roundtable “Researching while Chinese American: Ethnic Profiling, Chinese American Scientists and a New American Brain Drain” on June 30, 2021.  The Sherry Chen Legal Defense Fund turned over a whistleblower letter to the Senate Committee as part of the investigation. ​ Sherry Chen and Dr. Chunzai Wang are not alone.  The abuse and misconduct occur at multiple levels over many years in the Department of Commerce.  The report further confirms the deep-rooted systemic discrimintion faced by Asian American employees within our own federal agencies, which was exacerbated by xenophobic and reckless profiling policies and practices such as the "China Initiative" that target Chinese American scientists and researchers in recent years.  The Senate Committee report comes on the heels of the mistrial of Professor Anming Hu where federal agents falsified information and made false accusations in the fog of searching for a spy in Knoxville, Tennessee. On July 14, 2021, APA Justice received a response from Mr. Jeremy Licht, Deputy General Counsel Strategic Initiatives, Department of Commerce, in response to the June 1, 2021 APA Justice letter to Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo.  Both Congress and the Biden-Harris Administration now have the responsibility to correct the wrongs in the Commerce Department immediately, as well as taking action to improve transparency, oversight, and accountability in federal agencies and to eliminate racial profiling and anti-Asian discrimination in the American society. Except for Native Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders, the U.S. is a nation of immigrants.  We, including Asian Americans, all belong to this nation in the pursuit of justice, fairness, and equality. Additional APA Justice comments on the Senate Committee report are posted at https://www.apajustice.org/.  They will be updated with new developments as APA Justice continues to raise awareness and mobilize the communities and the American public about the human and scientific costs of racial profiling.

第125屆波士頓馬拉松賽將有13名往屆冠軍將參賽 還要發破紀錄獎金約5萬美元

           (Boston Orange 編譯) 波士頓體育會(BAA)今(14)日宣佈，第125屆波士頓馬拉松賽將有13名歷屆冠軍參加比賽，並將歷史性的首次發給公開賽，以及輪椅組約等於5萬元的破紀錄獎金。

發給破紀錄獎一舉，將使訂10月11日(週一)舉行的這場波士頓馬拉松賽締造歷史，成為Abbott世界馬拉松大賽中第一個發這類獎金的比賽。

波士頓馬拉松賽也將成為第一個指定給上肢，下肢及視障運動員提供獎金的比賽。

今年的波士頓馬拉松賽參將有加起來共贏過30個第一名的13名波士頓馬拉松賽冠軍，以及來自世界體育馬拉松賽冠軍，殘障奧林匹克賽得獎者，Abbott世界馬拉松大賽贏家，以及奧林匹克級人馬參加約翰漢考克專業組比賽。

過去36年來，獎金由主要贊助者約翰漢考克公司提供。

                         波士頓體育會會長暨執行長Tom Grilk表示，”我們很高興能歡迎這麼多不同範圍比賽的冠軍回到波士頓來參加波士頓馬拉松賽。雖然等到10月還有一段很長時間，但那將是一場有許多世界運動冠軍參加，競爭歷史性獎額的比賽。

              在這些將要參賽的往屆波士頓馬拉松賽冠軍中，有過去5屆女子組冠軍中的4人，包括5次擠入前五名，2次參加奧林匹克賽的2018年冠軍，美國人Desiree Linden；2次世界體育馬拉松賽金牌冠軍，3次Abbott世界馬拉松大賽系列冠軍的2017年冠軍，肯亞人Edna Kiplagat；2010年曾贏得波士頓體育會半馬拉松賽的2015年冠軍，肯亞人Caroline Rotich；2010年美國銀行芝加哥馬拉松賽冠軍，2次巴黎冠軍的2016年冠軍，Atsede Baysa。

                          男子組中有三名公開賽冠軍，包括曾有過2小時7分30秒最佳紀錄的肯亞人Geoffrey Kirui。這名波士頓馬拉松賽以及世界體育馬拉松賽的2017年冠軍，將有機會贏得第2個波士頓馬拉松賽桂冠。來自艾塞俄比亞(Ethiopia)的Lemi Berhanu是2016年冠軍。贏得過30多次國際馬拉松賽冠軍，同時是日本5千公里塞紀錄保持者的Yuki Kawauchi，有可能成為來自日本，繼1987年的Toshihiko Seiko之後，第二個贏得2次波士頓馬拉松賽冠軍的參賽者。

BOSTON MARATHON OPEN CHAMPIONS

WOMEN	PERSONAL BEST	COUNTRY	BOSTON WINS
Edna Kiplagat	2:19:50 (London, 2012)	Kenya	2017
Atsede Baysa	2:22:03 (Chicago, 2012)	Ethiopia	2016
Desiree Linden	2:22:38 (Boston, 2011)	USA (MI)	2018
Caroline Rotich	2:23:22 (Chicago, 2012)	Kenya	2015
MEN	PERSONAL BEST	COUNTRY	BOSTON WINS
Lemi Berhanu	2:04:33 (Dubai, 2016)	Ethiopia	2016
Geoffrey Kirui	2:06:27 (Amsterdam, 2016)	Kenya	2017
Yuki Kawauchi	2:07:27 (Otsu, 2021)	Japan	2018

 

BOSTON MARATHON WHEELCHAIR CHAMPIONS

 

WOMEN	PERSONAL BEST	COUNTRY	BOSTON WINS
Manuela Schär	1:28:17 (Boston, 2017)	Switzerland	2017, 2019
Tatyana McFadden	1:31:30 (Grandma’s, 2019)	USA (MD)	2013-2016, 2018
MEN	PERSONAL BEST	COUNTRY	BOSTON WINS
Marcel Hug	1:18:04 (Boston, 2017)	Switzerland	2015, 2016, 2017, 2018
Ernst van Dyk	1:18:04 (Boston, 2017)	South Africa	2001-2006, 2008-2010, 2014
Josh Cassidy	1:18:25 (Boston, 2012)	Canada	2012
Daniel Romanchuk	1:21:36 (Boston, 2019)	USA (IL)	2019

 

For the 36^th year, John Hancock will serve as principal sponsor of the Boston Marathon. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the 2021 Boston Marathon was moved from its traditional date of the third Monday in April to Monday, October 11. The fall race will feature a field size of 20,000 participants, as well as a rolling start for the first time. The in-person race will be complemented by a virtual race, which will be held from Friday, October 8 through Sunday, October 10. The full international field, including the Para Athletics Divisions field, will be announced the week of August 9-16.

13 Boston Marathon Champions To Race Historic Fall 125th Boston Marathon

 13 Boston Marathon Champions To Race Historic Fall 125^th Boston Marathon

The 125^th Boston Marathon will make history as the first Abbott World Marathon Major event to offer equal $50,000 course record bonuses across open and wheelchair divisions

 

BOSTON—The Boston Athletic Association (B.A.A.) has announced that 13 Boston Marathon champions with a combined 30 first-place Boston finishes will headline the John Hancock Professional Athlete Team for the 125^th Boston Marathon. The accomplished group includes World Athletics Marathon champions, Paralympic medalists, Abbott World Marathon Majors winners, and Olympians.

 

The Monday, October 11th Boston Marathon will also feature restructured prize money awards that will recognize and celebrate world class performances in Boston, while maintaining the largest prize purse of the Abbott World Marathon Majors. Among the incentives that will debut in October are equal course record bonuses for the Open and Wheelchair Divisions and the introduction of prize money for the inaugural Para Athletics Divisions. The Boston Marathon will make history as the first Abbott World Marathon Major event to offer equal $50,000 course record bonuses across open and wheelchair divisions, and the first event to provide a designated prize purse for athletes with upper limb, lower limb, and visual impairments. For the 36^th year, the prize money awards will be provided by principal sponsor John Hancock.

 

“We are delighted to welcome so many champions from such a diverse range of competition back to Boston for the 125^th running of the Boston Marathon,” said Tom Grilk, B.A.A. President and Chief Executive Officer. “While October’s race marks a long-awaited return to racing, it will also recognize and celebrate the many world-class athletes competing for an historic prize purse across multiple divisions.”

 

“The John Hancock Professional Team continues to be a symbol of athletic excellence and accomplishment,” said Kate Ardini, Chief Marketing Officer at John Hancock. “We are proud to welcome these 13 champions back to Boston for what will be a memorable 125^th Boston Marathon in October.”

 

WOMEN’S RETURNING CHAMPIONS

 

Joining a competitive field at the Hopkinton starting line will be four of the last five women’s open champions: American Desiree Linden (2018), a five-time, top-five finisher and two-time Olympian; Kenyan Edna Kiplagat (2017), a two-time World Athletics Marathon Championships gold medalist and three-time Abbott World Marathon Majors series champion; Kenyan Caroline Rotich (2015), who also won the 2010 B.A.A. Half Marathon; and Atsede Baysa (2016), the 2010 Bank of America Chicago Marathon champion and two-time Paris champion.

 

“I can't wait to line up in this year's historic fall edition of the Boston Marathon,” said Linden. “Experience goes a long way in Boston and lining up with so many great champions, who have proven they know how to win on this course, will be an extra challenge on race day. I'm training hard and more motivated than ever to be ready to put together a memorable performance this October.”

 

In the women’s wheelchair race, two-time champion and course record holder Manuela Schär returns to defend her title. Schär, a three-time Paralympic medalist for Switzerland, won Boston in 2017 and 2019 and is the only woman ever to have clocked a sub-1:30 marathon. Also among the wheelchair contenders is five-time Boston champion and 17-time Paralympic medalist Tatyana McFadden, who will race the 400m, 800m, 1500m, 5000m, and marathon at the Tokyo Paralympic Games for Team USA.

 

“I feel very blessed to be able to witness such a huge step towards equality and recognition of our sport,” said Schär of the equal course record bonuses. “The Boston Marathon has always played a big role when it comes to ‘first times in history.’ After such a long time of not being able to race marathons, this will make it extra special to return to the streets of Boston and I can’t wait.”

 

MEN’S RETURNING CHAMPIONS

 

A trio of men’s open champions with lifetime bests under 2:07:30 return with hopes of earning a second Boston Marathon title. Kenya’s Geoffrey Kirui, the 2017 Boston winner and 2017 World Athletics Marathon champion, enters with a lifetime best of 2:06:27. From Ethiopia is Lemi Berhanu, best known for skipping across the Boylston Street finish en route to winning in 2016. Yuki Kawauchi, winner of more than 30 international marathons and the Japanese record holder in the 50K, looks to become the first man from Japan since Toshihiko Seiko in 1987 to earn two Boston Marathon titles.

 

“Last year was a tough one for everyone. Boston is, for me, the exact right motivation and light at the end of the tunnel, as it will be for all returning champions and participants,” said Kirui. “This is the marathon where I feel at home, and I have big dreams for October.”

 

Four men’s wheelchair champions with a combined 16 titles will also return on October 11. Defending champion Daniel Romanchuk of Illinois leads the charge. A 2016 and 2021 Paralympian for Team USA, Romanchuk made history by winning the 2019 race and Abbott World Marathon Majors Series XII at just 20 years old. Course record holder Marcel Hug of Switzerland returns looking for his fifth victory, having won four straight Bostons from 2015 through 2018. Ernst van Dyk of South Africa, the most decorated champion in race history with ten titles, also will compete, alongside 2012 winner and former course record holder Josh Cassidy of Canada.

 

"As a young wheelchair racer, if someone said 'marathon,' I thought 'Boston.' It has always been on the leading edge of inclusion as the first major marathon to have a wheelchair division, and it's so incredible to see it setting the example again as the first major marathon to have pay equity between the runners and wheelchair division for the course record,” said Romanchuk. “I can't wait to join everyone else racing from Hopkinton toward that finish line on Boylston Street again!"

 

BOSTON MARATHON OPEN CHAMPIONS

 

WOMEN	PERSONAL BEST	COUNTRY	BOSTON WINS
Edna Kiplagat	2:19:50 (London, 2012)	Kenya	2017
Atsede Baysa	2:22:03 (Chicago, 2012)	Ethiopia	2016
Desiree Linden	2:22:38 (Boston, 2011)	USA (MI)	2018
Caroline Rotich	2:23:22 (Chicago, 2012)	Kenya	2015
MEN	PERSONAL BEST	COUNTRY	BOSTON WINS
Lemi Berhanu	2:04:33 (Dubai, 2016)	Ethiopia	2016
Geoffrey Kirui	2:06:27 (Amsterdam, 2016)	Kenya	2017
Yuki Kawauchi	2:07:27 (Otsu, 2021)	Japan	2018

 

BOSTON MARATHON WHEELCHAIR CHAMPIONS

 

WOMEN	PERSONAL BEST	COUNTRY	BOSTON WINS
Manuela Schär	1:28:17 (Boston, 2017)	Switzerland	2017, 2019
Tatyana McFadden	1:31:30 (Grandma’s, 2019)	USA (MD)	2013-2016, 2018
MEN	PERSONAL BEST	COUNTRY	BOSTON WINS
Marcel Hug	1:18:04 (Boston, 2017)	Switzerland	2015, 2016, 2017, 2018
Ernst van Dyk	1:18:04 (Boston, 2017)	South Africa	2001-2006, 2008-2010, 2014
Josh Cassidy	1:18:25 (Boston, 2012)	Canada	2012
Daniel Romanchuk	1:21:36 (Boston, 2019)	USA (IL)	2019

 

For the 36^th year, John Hancock will serve as principal sponsor of the Boston Marathon. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the 2021 Boston Marathon was moved from its traditional date of the third Monday in April to Monday, October 11. The fall race will feature a field size of 20,000 participants, as well as a rolling start for the first time. The in-person race will be complemented by a virtual race, which will be held from Friday, October 8 through Sunday, October 10. The full international field, including the Para Athletics Divisions field, will be announced the week of August 9-16.

Baker-Polito Administration Celebrates $6.5 Million in Funding to Support New Greylock Glen Outdoor Recreation and Nature Center

Baker-Polito Administration Celebrates $6.5 Million in Funding to Support New Greylock Glen Outdoor Recreation and Nature Center

Project to Drive Tourism, Create New Opportunities for Economic Development in the Berkshires

 ADAMS – Building on efforts to boost local economic development while expanding outdoor recreational opportunities, the Baker-Polito Administration today visited the Town of Adams to celebrate $6.5 million in state bond funding released in May 2021 to support the construction of a new Greylock Glen Outdoor Recreation and Nature Center. Governor Charlie Baker and Lieutenant Governor Karyn Polito were joined by Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs (EEA) Secretary Kathleen Theoharides, Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) Commissioner Jim Montgomery and state and local officials at today’s event.   

 “The Greylock Glen Outdoor Recreation and Nature Center has enormous potential to drive tourism, increase access to the region’s natural resources, and spur regional economic growth in a way that protects this landscape for future generations to enjoy,” said Governor Charlie Baker. “Our Administration is proud to partner with the local community and advocates to support this recreation center, which serves as a great example of the types of environmental projects we are working to support through our plan to put federal COVID-19 relief funding to use in cities and towns across the Commonwealth.”

 “Providing key funding for impactful projects is an important part of our Administration’s efforts to strengthen community bonds and expand recreational opportunities,” said Lieutenant Governor Karyn Polito. “We remain committed to building valuable partnerships with municipalities, elected officials and local stakeholders to support valuable projects that deliver significant benefits to our cities and towns, which is exactly what the Greylock Glen Outdoor Recreation and Nature Center will do.”

 The 10,000 square foot building will serve as a hub for exploration within Greylock Glen and into DCR’s Mount Greylock State Reservation, an invaluable natural resource offering visitors scenic views, hiking, camping, mountain biking, cross-country skiing and snowmobiling. Once complete, the building will be the first component of the Town’s proposed Greylock Glen Resort, a recreational destination development at the foot of Mount Greylock that is meant to attract visitors to the area, which will greatly benefit the local and regional economy.

 “By committing this needed funding, the Baker-Polito Administration is marrying the protection and conservation of our natural resources with economic assets that drive tourism to Massachusetts’ rural economies,” said Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary Kathleen Theoharides. “Residents across the Commonwealth have discovered an even greater connection with the natural world during the pandemic, and by working in partnership with the Town of Adams and local stakeholders, we are leveraging this renewed interest in the outdoors in a way that builds on the potential of this region and its environmental and recreational assets.”

 The project, which is being designed by Maclay Architects with green building practices, sustainable operating plans, and native species landscaping, is likely to begin in 2021 with completion anticipated in 2022. The center will likely utilize solar technology to power the building and utilize high-efficiency building systems to ensure a clean, environmentally-friendly experience for visitors.   

 “Collaboration with municipalities to increase access to outdoor recreational opportunities is a key priority of the Baker-Polito Administration,” said Department of Conservation and Recreation Commissioner Jim Montgomery. “Importantly, the center will provide visitors with the chance to participate in a unique Mount Greylock experience while enjoying the traditional beauty of the region.”  

 Since 2006, DCR and the Town of Adams have collaborated on the design and permitting of the proposed $50 million Greylock Glen Resort. The Town is currently working to complete permitting, zoning, and the necessary MEPA approvals. Between 2013 and 2015, utility improvements for the entire proposed resort project were completed. DCR signed a 99-year lease with the Town in 2014.

 The Administration’s funding builds on earlier public investments. The MassWorks program committed $2 million for work on water and sewer systems and improvements to nearby Gould Road. Approximately $3 million has been invested in related site work. In addition, the Town of Adams has invested approximately $1 million in pursuit of the project. 

 “This investment in the Glen has been decades in the making and will contribute to jumpstarting the local economy through construction jobs, bringing long-term tourism and outdoor recreation dollars to the region, and maximize the massive asset that Mount Greylock represents,” said Senator Adam Hinds.

 “I believe that this investment by the Baker Administration will be the catalyst which will further enhance the recreational economy of Northern Berkshire and Berkshire County,” said Representative John Barrett III. “With the support of Williams College and MCLA, it will become a leading learning center for environmental studies.”

 In June 2021, the Baker-Polito Administration re-filed its plan to immediately put to use part of Commonwealth’s direct federal aid from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) to support key priorities including housing and homeownership, economic development and local downtowns, job training and workforce development, health care, and infrastructure. As part of the Administration’s proposal to jump-start the Commonwealth’s economic recovery and support residents hardest-hit by COVID-19, such as lower-wage workers and communities of color,  Governor Baker would direct $900 million to key energy and environmental initiatives, including $100 million for parks, recreation, and open spaces. These funds would support investments in public lands, as well as lands specifically conserved for public access including parks, lakes, rivers, trails, beaches, fishing piers, boat ramps, and other waterways. Funding would be dedicated to projects that expand, enhance, and modernize the Commonwealth’s park facilities to steward and conserve natural resources, and to improve the resilience of natural and working lands, plants, and wildlife in the Commonwealth.

112頁改善健康不平等建議出爐 Kim Janey宣佈組行動隊執行

波士頓市代市長Kim Janey(中)邀得昆士小學前校長李素影(左二)，華人前進會行政主任陳玉珍(右二)，以及
Whittier Street 執行長Frederica Williams，東波士頓健康中心執行長Manny Lopes出席今日中午的記者會
之後，請他們到她的市長辦公室合影。(周菊子攝)

             (Boston Orange 周菊子波士頓綜合報導) 去年成立的波士頓市”新冠病毒健康不公平工作小組”，昨(12)日公佈長112頁的建議報告。波士頓市代市長Kim Janey今(13)日宣佈成立”健康公平行動隊(Health Equity Action Team)”，負責指導執行一應建議。

             Kim Janey表示，這個行動隊將指導、輔佐”現在健康平等(Health Equity Now)”計畫的實施，在新冠病毒大流行之後，繼續和市府各部門合作，根據所有健康指標來審閱計畫，看看哪裡有進步，哪裡還需加強注意，以促使波士頓市更健康。

             這行動隊也將知會波士頓市府，美國援救計畫經費都應該投資到哪些地方，以實現更健康波士頓這理想。

”新冠病毒健康不公平工作小組”部分成員12日在Whittier Street合影。
左一為陳玉珍，左三為李素影，右二為保羅渡邊(Paul Watanabe)。
(李素影提供)

             ”新冠病毒健康不公平工作小組”是波士頓市前市長馬丁華殊(Martin Walsh)在位時，為因應新冠病毒大流行對人民健康造成的不公平影響，在2020年4月，邀得華人前進會會長李素影，行政主任陳玉珍，麻州大學波士頓分校亞美研究所所長保羅渡邊(Paul Watanabe)等26人組成，目的在藉由成員們的各自專長來辨識並拆解結構性不公平的根本原因，以消除波士頓市內的健康差距。

             ”新冠病毒健康不公平工作小組”成員們經過一年多的收集資料，開會討論後，制定了名為”現在健康平等(Health Equity Now)”，包括經濟、社會、醫療計畫的8項目標。

             這8項目標的內容為，增加擁有自置住宅比率；支持租客；宣傳鄰里穩定；消弭財富差距；增加經濟上的參與；為有色學生擴大機會；在有領導力，影響及權勢的位置上，增加代表性；增加文化驕傲；促進福祉，加強生活品質；增加防治疾病及減少慢性疾病。

             該小組的主要建議包括，承認並加強關注種族歧視及不公平，為所有人提供有意義，有生活工資的就業機會，為所有人提供有品質的住宅，重新想像公共健康及安全，消除食物不安全，提供免費或有補助的托兒服務，提供有保障的最低收入，宣傳積極生活，在青年身上投資，彌平數位分歧，提供可負擔，可靠的交通，所有層次的聘用都多元化，擴大採購平等，採用保留位置方法，主動促使社區成員參與，修訂樓宇設施預算過程，收集更多詳細數據，發展健康評等影響評估工具等等。

             Kim Janey指出，她接任市長職務以後，設立了波士頓市的第一個參與式預算辦公室，聘用了供應商多元化團隊，成立第一個策略性採購主任，要鼓勵更多婦女及有色人種競標市府合約等等。波士頓市府還正採取步驟，在警察局內創造透明，問責的新文化，並準備設立危機因應試驗計畫已重新想像波士頓市如何因應精神健康緊急狀況。

             Kim Janey在短短十幾分鐘的致詞中，還指出她設立了波士頓市的第一個兒童及青少年內閣，為0到24歲的波士頓人服務。在可負擔住宅危機上，波士頓市府已撥款1500萬元作租金紓困款，協助居民免於流離失所，另撥款240萬元進華盛頓貸款項目的一加(one plus)計畫，把提供給波士頓市首次購屋居民的補助，從最高1萬元增加到4萬元。這些行動的目的，都在致力促進公平。

             Kim Janey還透露，波士頓市府正在試驗一項計畫，容許市府主街區的許多員工免費獲得新自行車或查理卡。

               查看"現在健康平等"計畫112頁報告詳情，可上網https://www.boston.gov/sites/default/files/file/2021/07/Health%20Equity%20Now%20Plan.pdf。