FORMER STATE TROOPER CHARGED IN CONNECTION WITH KICKING A HANDCUFFED SUSPECT IN THE HEAD DURING ARREST

FORMER STATE TROOPER CHARGED IN CONNECTION WITH KICKING A HANDCUFFED SUSPECT IN THE HEAD DURING ARREST

 

BOSTON – A former Massachusetts State Police trooper has been indicted in connection with kicking a handcuffed suspect in the head during a motor vehicle stop on Route 93 South in Boston, Attorney General Maura Healey announced today.

Paul Conneely, 51, of Boston, was indicted today by a Suffolk County Grand Jury on one count of Assault and Battery by Means of a Dangerous Weapon (shod foot). He will be arraigned on the charge in Suffolk Superior Court on Oct. 29.

The AG’s Office began an investigation after the matter was referred by the Massachusetts State Police. The AG’s Office alleges that on Feb. 22, 2019, then Trooper Conneely was on duty on Route 93 when he was involved in a motor vehicle stop of an alleged stolen car. Trooper Conneely was assigned to the State Police Barracks in Brighton and was working an emergency response post at the time of the incident.

During the course of the stop, Trooper Conneely’s car and the alleged stolen vehicle crashed into one another. Conneely and the other responding officers removed four individuals from the alleged stolen vehicle and Conneely assisted in handcuffing the driver.

The AG’s Office alleges that video surveillance from the incident shows that the driver exited the vehicle with his hands raised, laid down on the ground, and put his hands behind his back. According to the video, after the driver was handcuffed and lying unmoving, face down on the ground, Conneely raised his right foot and kicked the driver in the back of the head while wearing his Massachusetts State Police issued boots.

This charge is an allegation, and the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty. 

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant Attorney General Gretchen Brodigan of AG Healey’s White Collar and Public Integrity Division, with assistance from the Massachusetts State Police.

MAYOR JANEY APPOINTS OFFICE OF POLICE ACCOUNTABILITY AND TRANSPARENCY CIVILIAN REVIEW BOARD MEMBERS

MAYOR JANEY APPOINTS OFFICE OF POLICE ACCOUNTABILITY AND TRANSPARENCY CIVILIAN REVIEW BOARD MEMBERS OPAT Commission announces first public meeting

 

BOSTON - Thursday, September 30, 2021 - Mayor Kim Janey today announced four mayoral appointments to the Civilian Review Board (CRB) for the Office of Police Accountability and Transparency (OPAT), including one youth representative. The OPAT Commission also announced its first community meeting will be held on Monday Oct. 4, 2021 at 5:30 p.m. virtually. The signature recommendation of the Boston Police Reform Task Force, OPAT creates a single point of public access to a new standard in police accountability and community oversight. The Civilian Review Board is charged with reviewing and recommending action on complaints against the Boston Police Department. The Internal Affairs Oversight Panel (IAOP) is also housed within OPAT.  “As we make progress on our commitment to provide safety, healing and justice for all Boston residents, it’s vital that we continue building the Office of Police Accountability and Transparency,” said Mayor Janey. “I am proud to appoint these qualified individuals to the OPAT Civilian Review Board. Their work will help foster accountability and trust between the Boston Police Department and Boston residents.” The Civilian Review Board is comprised of nine members. In total, the Mayor will appoint six members independently. The Mayor will also appoint three members from nine individuals recommended to serve on the Board from the Boston City Council, expected later this year. Once all nine seats are filled by the Mayor, a chair of the Board will be chosen. “I am grateful to have these individuals serve on the Civilian Review Board to help advance our work ensuring transparency and accountability within the Boston Police Department,” said Director Everett. “I look forward to continuing our work to bring about necessary reforms to enhance and build public trust and confidence.” Mayor Janey appointed the following individuals to serve on the Civilian Review Board: ·    Danny Y. Rivera, Jr., Mattapan Youth Representative on the Civilian Review Board ·    E. Peter Alvarez, West Roxbury ·    Dexter G. Miller, Dorchester ·    Joshua Dankoff, Jamaica Plain Today’s appointees will work to implement Mayor Janey’s goals to ensure safety, healing, and justice for every Boston resident across all neighborhoods. The Civilian Review Board will work with the Chair of the OPAT Commission. Earlier this year, Mayor Janey announced attorney Stephanie Everett to lead the Office of Police Accountability and Transparency as the Executive Director.

波士頓市府廣場今日升五星旗一波三折

波士頓市政府廣場今日近午時分景象。(謝中之提供)

             (Boston Orange)波士頓市政府廣場今早(9月30日) 升起五星旗，藉以慶祝10月1日的中華人民共和國第72週年國慶。但今年的升旗似乎一波三折，先是五星旗只升到旗桿的一半就升不上去了，接著下午2點以後，旗幟被換下來了。

              出於風勢，或不知名原因，旗幟可能受損，未升至旗桿頂端。

              華人前進會榮譽會長李素影表示，受新冠病毒疫情仍未完全消解的影響，國慶升旗典禮籌備會早就決定，今年在波士頓市政府廣場的升旗典禮，不安排表演節目。由於波士頓市政府的工作人員一大早已經把旗幟升上旗桿，籌備會成員們到場時，旗幟已然掛在旗桿上了。

              李素影表示，在慶祝中國國慶之日，要認識到中美兩國人們持續建立友誼，仍然非常重要。中美兩國之間的和平，互相尊重關係對世界的和平及繁榮是必要的。

              來自香港、越南、新疆、西藏、台灣等地的個人或團體， 據悉雖然知道是9月30日升旗，但不確定幾點，因此一大早7點之前，就有越南及香港團體抵達波士頓市府廣場，為抗議做準備。

波士頓市府廣場上的旗幟，今日下午2點後就換成一面藍色旗了。
(鐘佳君提供)

              抗議團體人士透露，來自越南及香港人員抵達波士頓市政府廣場後，大約7點半時，有一名市政府人員出來，把五星旗升上旗桿，但不知何故，升到旗桿一半的高度時，就升不上去了。

大約9點15分，市政府有工作人員在升旗台前擺出大約20張摺疊椅。

抗議團體人士表示，陸續抵達的抗議人士，共約40人。他們見到現場有椅子，紛紛坐下來，幾乎佔了所有椅子。現場雖有警察，並未出面干預。這場活動的主辦單位(中國國慶升旗典禮籌備會)成員約15人，只是站在旁邊，未進行任何儀式就離開了。

抗議人士透露，今日下午2到4點，多個團體聚集在波士頓市府廣場，抗議波士頓市政府升五星紅旗，不過市政府回應表示，今日沒有升旗典禮。

抗議團體在波士頓市政府廣場升旗台前舉牌抗議。(謝中之提供)

掛在旗桿上的五星旗，升不上去，也展不開來。(周菊子攝)

五星旗只升到一半，就升不上去了。(周菊子攝)

波士頓市政府下午2點多把升旗台的旗幟換成藍色的了。(鍾佳君提供)

MAYOR JANEY AND THE OFFICE OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES ANNOUNCE 2021 COVID RECOVERY VIOLENCE INTERVENTION GRANT AWARDEES

MAYOR JANEY AND THE OFFICE OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES ANNOUNCE 2021 COVID RECOVERY VIOLENCE INTERVENTION GRANT AWARDEES

 

BOSTON – Thursday, September 30, 2021 – Mayor Kim Janey, the Office of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the Office of Public Safety (OPS) today announced the six awardees for the COVID Recovery Violence Intervention Grant. This grant is a one-time funding opportunity that will be awarded to community-based violence intervention programs for the highest risk youth and young adults in Boston, in low-income neighborhoods with high rates of community violence. The COVID Recovery Violence Intervention Grant’s goal is to address the health disparities in the communities hardest hit by the pandemic, through funding community violence intervention programs in areas that experience disproportionate levels of violence. In total, the COVID Recovery Violence Intervention Grant will distribute $600,000 to the six Boston nonprofits that best detailed their goals of expanding opportunities for police or gang involved youth, ages 13 to 24, that reside in neighborhoods where violence has persisted or escalated during the pandemic. This funding will be used to complement an additional $400,000 in supporting Street Outreach, Advocacy and Response (SOAR) Boston and the Safe and Successful Youth Initiative (SSYI), key programs in Boston's evidence-based approach to reduce recidivism, intervene in violent activity, and create pathways for active, gang-involved youth and young adults in the city. This funding is available ‌through‌ ‌the‌ ‌American‌ ‌Rescue‌ ‌Plan‌ ‌Act.‌ ‌ “It’s the duty of every one of us to ensure a bright future for our children - and that starts with promoting safety, justice, and healing on our streets today,” said Mayor Janey. “I applaud these awardees for the work they’ve already done to protect youth in our communities and to address inequities in healthcare. I know this funding will strengthen the efforts to help our City’s vulnerable children and teens.” The COVID Recovery Violence Intervention Grant has prioritized applicants with staff capacity, organizational history, and violence intervention strategies that will successfully deliver the desired outcomes of this grant. By prioritizing high-need communities, the City can ensure an equitable recovery for all Boston residents. The awardees are as follows:  ·    Inner City Weightlifting   ·    ICW's mission is to amplify the voice and agency of people who have been most impacted by systemic racism and mass incarceration. They partner with program participants through case management and careers in and beyond personal training. It’s a culture and community in which power dynamics are flipped, social capital is bridged, and new leaders emerge in the fight to combat long-standing inequities.  ·    ROCA Boston ·    Roca’s mission is to be a relentless force in disrupting incarceration, poverty, and racism by engaging the young adults, police, and systems at the center of urban violence in relationships to address trauma, find hope, and drive change. ·    Boston Uncornered ·    Boston Uncornered redirects the entrepreneurial, networking and leadership skills of gang involved youth from violence and incarceration to obtain a college credential and family-sustaining wage—driving positive change in our neighborhoods. ·    Youth Options Unlimited ·    YOU empowers young people from court-involved or at risk backgrounds to succeed in the workforce, in the community, and in their lives. ·    Youth Connect  ·    Youth Connect is an innovative and unique program of Boys & Girls Clubs of Boston (BGCB) that provides violence prevention, intervention, advocacy and mental health services to young people who are involved in the criminal justice system and their families. ·    BMC’s Violence Intervention Advocacy Program (VIAP) ·    Helps guide victims of community violence through recovery from physical and emotional trauma. Using a trauma informed model of care, VIAP empowers clients and families, facilitates recovery by providing services and opportunities.  “This funding is critical in mitigating the effects of COVID-19 on the violence intervention programs helping our communities,” said Chief of Boston’s Health and Human Services, Marty Martinez. “This grant will help build up and expand the services for our youth to thrive financially, emotionally and physically.” “As we continue working towards an equitable recovery from COVID-19, the safety and well being of our youth is of the utmost importance,” said Director of Public Safety Dr. Rufus Faulk. “This funding is crucial in the strengthening of youth serving Boston non-profits that are both working to keep our young people safe and building towards a brighter and more equitable future.”   For more information about the COVID Recovery Violence Intervention Grant, please visit here.

FORMER HEAD OF HOMELESS SHELTER INDICTED FOR STEALING NEARLY $1.5 MILLION FROM THE NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION

 

FORMER HEAD OF HOMELESS SHELTER INDICTED FOR STEALING NEARLY $1.5 MILLION FROM THE NON-PROFIT ORGANizATION

Defendant Also Allegedly Lied Under Oath to Conceal His Self-Dealing

 

            BOSTON – The former executive director of Casa Nueva Vida (CNV), a publicly funded non-profit homeless shelter with locations in Boston and Lawrence, has been indicted in connection with stealing nearly $1.5 million from the organization and lying under oath to conceal his self-dealing, Attorney General Maura Healey announced today.

 

Manuel Duran, age 69, of West Roxbury, the former executive director and board president of CNV, was indicted on Monday by a Suffolk County Grand Jury on charges of Perjury (4 counts), Larceny over $1,200 (3 counts), and Making False Entries in Corporate Books (2 counts). He will be arraigned in Suffolk Superior Court on Oct. 20.

 

An investigation was initiated by the Massachusetts Office of the Inspector General (OIG) in response to an anonymous tip. These criminal charges are a result of a joint investigation conducted by the AG’s Office and the OIG, with assistance from Massachusetts State Police assigned to the AG’s Office.

 

CNV, headquartered in Jamaica Plain, houses over 150 families at 14 locations in Boston and Lawrence. As CNV’s Executive Director, Duran essentially had complete control of CNV’s $7 million budget, directed procurement and site selections, and managed facility maintenance and staffing across all locations.

 

The investigation revealed that Duran allegedly used this power to lease four of his privately owned properties and one owned by a relative to CNV as shelter locations, hiding his interests in the transactions through use of limited liability companies. On behalf of CNV, Duran allegedly signed four annual disclosure forms under oath, attesting falsely that the organization, among other things, was not a party to any transaction in which any of its officers, directors, or trustees had a material financial interest. The forms were submitted to the AG’s Non-Profit and Public Charities Division.

 

The investigation further revealed three different fraudulent financial schemes that Duran allegedly used to steal from CNV.

 

From 2014 to 2021, the AG’s Office alleges that Duran skimmed rent money paid by CNV for a shelter site in Lawrence by using a shell company he set up as a middleman. Authorities allege that Duran made inflated rent payments from CNV through the shell company to the owners of the property and siphoned off more than $1.1 million for his personal use.

 

The AG’s investigation also revealed that between 2012 and 2020, Duran allegedly created fraudulent invoices and contracts to obtain checks made out to three different vendors for work they never performed. The named vendors would cash the checks with Duran present, and provide the cash directly to him. Duran allegedly stole $242,012 from CNV in these fraudulent vendor payments for purported services including renovations, lead abatement, and asbestos abatement.

 

The AG’s Office further alleges that between 2014 and 2019, Duran stole approximately $140,831 from CNV by depositing directly into his own business bank account paychecks issued to a seasonal maintenance employee for CNV who was in Puerto Rico when the paychecks were issued.

These charges are allegations, and the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty. CNV fully cooperated and assisted with the AG’s investigation.

            This criminal matter is being prosecuted by Assistant Attorney General Mindy Klenoff and Chief Trial Counsel James O’Brien, both of AG Healey’s White Collar and Public Integrity Division, and Victim Witness Advocate Lia Panetta, with assistance from Massachusetts State Police assigned to the AG’s Office, and Senior Investigators Jack Meyers and Will Bradford from OIG.

波士頓台灣影展-「人生百味」10月2日揭幕

              (波士頓僑教中心訊)波士頓台灣影展10月2日起將在戲院與線上平台播映9部電影與紀錄片，以「人生百味」為主題，期盼觀眾從劇中人物的苦樂人生找到共鳴，一起欣賞台灣電影的獨特味道。

駐紐約台北經文處表示，多元影音串流平台盛行之際，舉辦別具特色的台灣影展更顯不易。波士頓台灣影展協會是由當地台灣僑胞與留學生組成的非營利組織，希望透過一年一度的台灣電影放映活動加深在地觀眾對台灣電影的興趣，創造台美之間的對話與連結。

波士頓台灣影展邁入第3屆，10月2日開幕日將在波士頓AMC Boston Common 19電影院挑戰12小時連演6場電影的馬拉松。

打頭陣的是新加坡導演黃程瀚拍攝的紀錄片「初心」。本片以名廚江振誠為主角，記錄他毅然結束新加坡米其林二星餐廳、回歸台灣家鄉傳承經驗的過程。

當天還將放映第57屆金馬獎最大贏家「消失的情人節」、揉合同志與家庭題材的「親愛的房客」、深度刻劃社會階級差異的「大佛普拉斯」、榮獲2020年新北市紀錄片獎優選影片的「修片林小姐」及「魚路」。

線上影展從10月3日至5日，放映導演賀照緹拍攝7年、以兩名花蓮少女為主角的成長紀錄片「未來無恙」；透過胖女孩減肥辛酸史省思何謂身體認同的「大餓」；記錄一段發生在雲林縣、橫跨半世紀的台美合作故事「再會啦白宮」。

為讓觀眾更深刻認識電影背後的故事，波士頓台灣影展協會10月5日至8日將線上直播映後座談，邀請黃程瀚、賀照緹、「大餓」導演謝沛如、「親愛的房客」導演鄭有傑分享拍攝心得與幕後花絮。

Lydia Edwards endorsed by Massachusetts Nurses Association

Lydia Edwards endorsed by Massachusetts Nurses Association

 

BOSTON – Lydia Edwards has been endorsed by the Massachusetts Nurses Association (MNA) in the special election to State Senate. Primary Election Day is December 14, 2021. General Election Day is January 11, 2022.

 

"Lydia Edwards has been a strong ally of the Mass Nurses Association and our members as we stand up to corporate executives and fight for better working conditions for our members and safer care for our patients,” said MNA President Katie Murphy. “Long before serving in office, Lydia was a champion for exploited workers, securing a Domestic Workers Bill of Rights and standing up for them court to protect their rights.  We are proud to endorse Lydia Edwards for Senate and we know she will deliver for the people of Boston, Revere, Winthrop and Cambridge.”

 

The MNA is the largest union and professional association of registered nurses and health professionals in the state, and the third largest in the nation, representing more than 23,000 members working in 85 health care facilities, including 51 acute care hospitals, as well as a growing number of nurses and health professionals working in schools, visiting nurse associations, public health departments and state agencies.

 

In 2014, Lydia led the successful efforts to win statewide labor protections for domestic workers, nannies and house cleaners cut out of the New Deal. Lydia has since fought to eliminate sub-minimum tipped wages for restaurant workers and to provide financial resources to restaurants who change their business model to a single, equal wage. Her advocacy resulted in the creation of a Restaurant Revitalization Fund to improve conditions for both restaurants and workers.

 

At Suffolk Downs, Lydia stood by labor to win a Project Labor Agreement at the largest private development project in Boston’s history, creating good union jobs for a whole generation of workers. She fought for commitments to language justice and won an unprecedented investment in ESL for job training. 

 

Lydia Edwards has stood with workers in the hospitality industry, service workers at Logan Airport, student workers in our higher education system, teachers, Brazilian immigrant workers and many others.

 

Lydia Edwards is a candidate for State Senate representing the First Suffolk and Middlesex District, following the departure of Senator Joseph A. Boncore. To date, Edwards has been endorsed by: OPEIU Local 453, Teamsters Local 25, Revere activist Juan Jaramillo, State Representative Nika Elugardo. For a full and up-to-date list of endorsements, visit: LydiaEdwards.org/endorsements.

 

Councilor Lydia Edwards is a career advocate, activist, and voice on behalf of society's most vulnerable. She is currently the Chair of the Committee on Government Operations and the Committee on Housing and Community Development in the Boston City Council. Learn more at LydiaEdwards.org/meet-lydia.

Representative Jay Livingstone, Laborers’ Local Endorses Michelle Wu for Mayor

 Representative Jay Livingstone Endorses Michelle Wu for Mayor 

Boston, MA— Today, Representative Jay Livingstone (8th Suffolk District, including Back Bay, Beacon Hill, and parts of Fenway and the West End) endorsed Michelle Wu for Mayor, growing her statehouse support and coalition. Representative Livingstone cited her commitment to the issues that matter most and record of getting things done. 

"I am proud to endorse our next Mayor, Michelle Wu. She has a proven record of working across all levels of government to get things done and fighting on the issues that matter. On climate justice, transit and affordable housing, we will continue to partner to make a difference for our communities,” said Representative Jay Livingstone. 

“I’m grateful for Representative Jay Livingstone’s endorsement and partnership. He’s been a strong voice for progressive leadership at the State House, and I look forward to continuing to work together on behalf of all of our neighborhoods,” said Michelle Wu.

Representative Livingstone was elected to the Massachusetts State Legislature in 2013 and has been in the State House since then advocating for the people of the 8th Suffolk District. He was born and raised in North Attleboro, where he was educated in public schools and worked as a cashier at the town pharmacy through high school. He was a union factory worker while attending University of Connecticut for his undergraduate degree, where he majored in political science and history, and graduated with honors. He put himself through George Washington School of Law, where he graduated with high honors, while working at a union cardboard box factory.

Representative Livingstone’s endorsement adds to an enthusiastic multigenerational, multicultural coalition of grassroots supporters, including leaders Senator Elizabeth Warren, Sheriff Steve Tompkins, Boston City Councilor Lydia Edwards, Boston City Councilor Liz Breadon, State Senator and Assistant Majority Leader Sal DiDomenico, State Representative and Assistant Majority Leader Mike Moran, State Representative and Ways and Means Chair Aaron Michlewitz, State Senator Julian Cyr, Representatives Liz Miranda, Tram Nguyen, Tommy Vitolo, Natalie Higgins, Vanna Howard, Maria Robinson, Andy Vargas, and Sean Garballey; former State Representative and Assistant Majority Leader Byron Rushing; labor unions Teamsters Local 25, New England Joint Board of UNITE HERE!, UAW Region 9A, Alliance of Unions at the MBTA, MBTA Inspectors Union Local 600, OPEIU Local 453; climate organizations Sunrise Boston, Sierra Club, the Environmental League of Massachusetts, 350 Mass Action; Progressive West Roxbury/Roslindale; Boston’s Ward 1, Ward 4 and Ward 5 Democratic Committees; The Boston Guardian; and fellow municipal elected officials from across Greater Boston and the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. For all of Michelle for Boston’s endorsements, visit michelleforboston.com/endorsements. 

Laborers’ Local 22 Endorses Michelle Wu For Mayor

Boston, MA— Today, Laborers’ Local 22 endorsed Michelle Wu for Mayor, an important endorsement from a union representing thousands of workers in the construction in the city and across the state. Calling her a courageous leader, Local 22 said that Wu is the best candidate to lead Boston as the city recovers and champion issues of importance for its members and their families.

“Boston is at a crossroads, faces many tough issues, and needs a smart, tough, determined, and visionary leader,” said Business Manager Louis A. Mandarini Jr. “Michelle has what it takes and for Local 22’s working families she’s the only choice.”

“Laborers’ Local 22 builds the schools, roads, bridges, buildings and tunnels that keep Boston’s neighborhoods connected and thriving. I am honored to receive their endorsement and stand alongside Local 22 in the fight for strong wages, great benefits, and protections for every worker.” said Michelle Wu.

Local 22 represents more than 2,500 workers who proudly build in Boston and across Eastern Massachusetts. Since their founding, Local 22 has worked to ensure that their members can collectively bargain for better labor standards and promote quality work throughout our industry. Together, Local 22 works to ensure that all of their members have safe working conditions, good wages, and industry-leading benefits.

Local 22’s endorsement adds to an enthusiastic multigenerational, multicultural coalition of grassroots supporters, including leaders Senator Elizabeth Warren, Sheriff Steve Tompkins, Boston City Councilor Lydia Edwards, Boston City Councilor Liz Breadon, State Senator and Assistant Majority Leader Sal DiDomenico, State Representative and Assistant Majority Leader Mike Moran, State Representative and Ways and Means Chair Aaron Michlewitz, State Senator Julian Cyr, Representatives Jay Livingstone, Liz Miranda, Tram Nguyen, Tommy Vitolo, Natalie Higgins, Vanna Howard, Maria Robinson, Andy Vargas, and Sean Garballey; former State Representative and Assistant Majority Leader Byron Rushing; labor unions Teamsters Local 25, New England Joint Board of UNITE HERE!, UAW Region 9A, Alliance of Unions at the MBTA, MBTA Inspectors Union Local 600, OPEIU Local 453; climate organizations Sunrise Boston, Sierra Club, the Environmental League of Massachusetts, 350 Mass Action; Progressive West Roxbury/Roslindale; Boston’s Ward 1, Ward 4 and Ward 5 Democratic Committees; The Boston Guardian; and fellow municipal elected officials from across Greater Boston and the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. For all of Michelle for Boston’s endorsements, visit michelleforboston.com/endorsements.