波士頓代市長Kim Janey撥款100萬資助未領紓困金家庭

 珍妮市長為不符合聯邦新冠病毒直接救濟資格的家庭

撥款一百萬美元 

家庭可申請高達1000美元的現金援助

波士頓代市長Kim Janey。(檔案照片)

(波士頓市政府中文新聞稿) 波士頓 —— 市長金·珍妮、波士頓市公平與包容內閣（Equity and Inclusion Cabinet），以及市長移民發展服務辦公室（Mayor’s Office for Immigrant Advancement）授予麻省移民合作組織（MIC）一百萬美元的資金，用於支援之前沒有資格獲得聯邦新冠病毒紓困金的波士頓居民。MIC會以現金援助的方式將此資金分發給有需要的家庭，不論移民身份。

「對移民社區的公平與包容是本政府的核心價值觀。在新冠病毒疫情期間，本市一些最弱勢的居民，其中不乏許多必要行業員工，沒有能夠從聯邦政府那裡獲得他們需要的幫助，」市長金·珍妮聲稱。「此項財務支援 將公平幫助所有居民恢復經濟 。」

此波士頓市款項自於聯邦政府《美國救援計劃法案》(ARPA)為恢復因新冠病毒影響的經濟而提供.。符合資格的波士頓家庭可申請高達1000美元的現金援助，直至聯邦資金用盡為止。大約1200 戶有需要的家庭可獲益於此紓困金。

「因為疫情，很多家庭難以支付房租、購買雜貨或是回去上班。在我們努力實現平等經濟復甦的過程中，通過幫助家庭獲得他們需要的東西，”確保不會進一步擴大貧富差距，」公平與包容內閣負責人Celina Barrios-Millner聲稱。

「自疫情開始以來，麻省移民合作組織一直透過緊急現金援助、食物及服務直接幫助移民家庭。我們的員工親眼目睹了移民家庭面臨的挑戰以及他們表現出的勇氣。對於珍妮市長及波士頓市在此關鍵時刻為幫助家庭而提供的資源，我們表示衷心的感謝，」MIC指導委員會成員 Patricia Sobalvarro、Natalicia Tracy及Ronnie Millar聲稱。

MIC將根據波士頓居民身份、家庭收入、直接獲得聯邦COVID-19救濟福利的機會，以及財務需求來評估申請資格。現金援助將根據申請人的經濟狀況按比例給出。若想索取一份申請表，請致電(617) 804-0887 或電郵msmith@riancenter.org聯絡Mia Smith。

MAYOR JANEY GRANTS $1 MILLION FOR FAMILIES NOT ELIGIBLE FOR DIRECT FEDERAL COVID-19 RELIEF   Families can apply for up to $1,000 in cash aid

 

BOSTON - Tuesday, September 21, 2021 - Mayor Kim Janey, the City of Boston Equity and Inclusion Cabinet, and the Mayor’s Office for Immigrant Advancement are awarding $1 million dollars to the Massachusetts Immigrant Collaborative (MIC) to support Boston residents who were not eligible for federal COVID-19 relief benefits. MIC will distribute the funds as cash assistance to families in need, regardless of immigration status.    “Equity and inclusion for our immigrant neighbors is a core value of my administration. During the COVID-19 pandemic, some of our City’s most vulnerable residents, many of them essential workers, have not been able to receive the help they needed from the federal government,” said Mayor Kim Janey. “This financial support helps us work toward an equitable recovery for all.”   The funds come from federal dollars granted to the City of Boston in the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) for coronavirus recovery efforts. Eligible Boston households can apply for up to $1,000 in cash aid until funding is exhausted. Approximately 1,200 households in need will benefit from this pandemic relief grant.   “Because of the pandemic some households are struggling to pay rent, buy groceries, and get back to work. As we work towards an equitable recovery, we need to make sure economic disparities do not widen by helping families get what they need,” said Equity and Inclusion Chief Celina Barrios-Millner.   “The Massachusetts Immigrant Collaborative has been directly helping immigrant families since the start of this pandemic with emergency cash, food and services. Our staff see firsthand the challenges and courage of immigrant families. We are deeply grateful to Mayor Janey and the City of Boston for these resources to help families during this critical time,” said MIC Steering Committee members Patricia Sobalvarro, Natalicia Tracy and Ronnie Millar.   MIC will evaluate applications based on Boston residency, household income, access to direct federal COVID-19 relief benefits, and financial need. Cash aid will be given in proportion to the applicant’s economic situation. To request an application, call (617) 804-0887 or email Mia Smith at msmith@riancenter.org.   Read this press release in 中文 (Chinese), Kreyòl ayisyen (Haitian Creole), Português (Portuguese), Español (Spanish), and Tiếng Việt (Vietnamese).   About the Equity and Inclusion Cabinet   The Equity and Inclusion Cabinet actively works to align the City’s plans and policies through a unified equity lens by dismantling systemic policy and process barriers to advancement. The Cabinet plans to put in place institutional change, both inside and outside of City Hall, through local and national partnerships.   About the Mayor’s Office for Immigrant Advancement   The Mayor’s Office for Immigrant Advancement (MOIA) strives to strengthen the ability of immigrants to fully and equitably participate in economic, civic, social, and cultural life in Boston. MOIA also promotes the recognition and public understanding of the contributions of immigrants to the City. To learn more, visit boston.gov/immigrants.   About the Massachusetts Immigrant Collaborative   Formed in response to the pandemic, the Massachusetts Immigrant Collaborative (MIC) is a diverse group of 15 immigrant support organizations that provide emergency relief to Massachusetts’s most vulnerable immigrant families. Partner organizations in Boston include: Agencia ALPHA, Boston Chinatown Neighborhood Center (BCNC), Boston International Newcomers Academy (BINcA), Brazilian Worker Center, Caribbean Youth Club, Centro Presente, Dudley Street Neighborhood Initiative, ICNA Relief, Immigrant Family Services Institute (IFSI), Rian Immigrant Center, and Sociedad Latina.   ###

Coalition Urges Infusion of Federal Funding to Transform Massachusetts’ Broken Local Public Health System

 Coalition Urges Infusion of Federal Funding to  

Transform Massachusetts’ Broken Local Public Health System 

BOSTON, MA – Today, a coalition of public health, municipal, regional, state and academic leaders held a press conference on the State House steps, calling for an infusion of federal funding to transform Massachusetts’ dangerously inadequate local public health system. The group is calling on the Legislature to invest 5% of the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds coming to Massachusetts from the federal government – roughly $251 million over 5 years – towards building a local public health system that is equitable, efficient and effective. The funding would be used to:  

• Establish integrated, 21^st century data systems 
• Invest in workforce development to ensure that every community benefits from the expertise of trained professionals, and 
• Eliminate the significant inequities in public health services and capacity between municipalities. 

Following the press conference, members of the coalition testified at the virtual hearing held by the Legislature’s Joint Committee on Ways and Means and the House Committee on Federal Stimulus and Census Oversight, which was focused on possible uses of the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Funding in the areas of Health Care, Mental Health, Public Health and Human Services.  

“Our local public health system is broken. It leaves people in small, rural communities and low-income urban communities without critical protections,” said State Senator Jo Comerford. “The Legislature must seize this once-in-a-generation opportunity to create an equitable 21st century local public health system that Massachusetts can be proud of.”  

“There are more than 6 million people in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, and public health touches the lives of every single one of them,” said State Representative Denise Garlick. “There is no more important work, no more valuable work, and no work that has more of a profound impact on the health and wellness of our residents. We must invest in this system, so that it can provide the protections we need.” 

“Whether it’s inspecting restaurants, protecting residents from substandard housing, or responding to cases of communicable disease, our local public health system is essential to keep Massachusetts residents safe,” said State Representative Hannah Kane. “It’s time to invest the resources needed to create an effective system that efficiently delivers services in every community. If not now, in the aftermath of a pandemic, then when?”  

“At its best, local public health is a vital public service that can reduce healthcare costs, improve the health of Massachusetts residents, and make our communities safer. As the pandemic exposed, our current local public health system is not functioning optimally or uniformly across the municipalities of our state,” said Eileen McAnneny, President of the Massachusetts Taxpayers Foundation. “Recognizing these shortfalls, the Legislature should allocate some of the federal funds from the American Rescue Plan Act to bridge the gap between the current system and what our residents expect and deserve.”  

“The COVID-19 pandemic has shown us that the tragic inequities of our local public health system are a matter of life-and-death,” said Craig Andrade, Assoc. Dean for Practice at the BU School of Public Health and a member of the Brockton Board of Health. “When a community is overwhelmed with cases, and staff are not able to quickly implement contact tracing, provide education and recommend isolation and quarantine, more people get sick and more people die. And because we currently fund local public health entirely at the municipal level, more of those avoidable illnesses and deaths occur in low-income communities, often communities of color. That is unacceptable, and it must change.” 

“Organizing local public health services at the municipal level is inherently inefficient, especially for small towns,” said Phoebe Walker, Director of Community Services for the Franklin Regional Council of Governments. “Our regional model demonstrates that rural communities can come together effectively to ensure they all receive essential public health services, no matter how small or under resourced their town is.” 

“Our health and safety should not depend on the color of our skin, the amount of money we make, or the zip code we live in,” said Carlene Pavlos, Executive Director of the Massachusetts Public Health Association. “The American Rescue Plan Act is the result of a public health crisis.  It is a moral imperative that a portion of these resources be used to address the broken system in Massachusetts and to create an equitable, 21^st century public health system.”  

In addition to those quoted above, the following public health experts and community leaders also testified: 

• Maddie Ribble, Director of Public Policy, MA Public Health Association 
• Cheryl Sbarra, Executive Director, MA Association of Health Boards  
• Mayor Brian Arrigo, City of Revere    
• Tess Curran, Director of Health and Human Services, City of Fall River  
• Damon Chaplin, Director, City of New Bedford Health Department  
• Tierney Flaherty, Director of Intergovernmental Relations, Boston Public Health Commission  
• Soloe Dennis, Assistant Health Commissioner, City of Springfield 
• Barry Keppard, Director of Public Health, Metropolitan Area Planning Council  
• Barbara L’Italien, Partners in Health  

The Massachusetts Public Health Association (MPHA) is a nonprofit organization that promotes a healthy Massachusetts through advocacy, community organizing, and coalition building. We are leaders in the movement to create health equity by addressing the root causes of health and wellness. We promote policies that impact the major drivers of health outcomes, such as access to healthy food, safe affordable housing, and transportation. We also advocate for equitable public health services throughout the Commonwealth. To learn more, visit www.mapublichealth.org. ###

1199SEIU Healthcare Workers Endorse Michelle Wu for Mayor of Boston

 1199SEIU Healthcare Workers Endorse 

Michelle Wu for Mayor of Boston

Wu to visit healthcare workers at Grove Hall PPE Distribution on September 23

Boston, MA – 1199SEIU United Healthcare workers proudly announced today their endorsement of Michelle Wu for Mayor of Boston.

1199SEIU represents nearly 10,000 union members in Boston and intends to put significant financial and grassroots support behind Wu’s bid to be Boston’s first woman of color to be elected mayor. 

“The healthcare workers of 1199SEIU are proud to endorse and stand with Michelle Wu for Mayor of Boston,” said Tim Foley, Executive Vice President of 1199SEIU. “Never before have the issues of healthcare, childcare and pay and benefits for essential workers been more important. We are at a crossroads and we need a Mayor who will center the lives of caregivers in our recovery. We believe  Michelle Wu is the candidate who will not only recognize our work and sacrifice as caregivers,  but will help bring meaningful change to the City of Boston for everyone.” 

“1199SEIU and our campaign share a core principle: we strive for social, racial, and environmental justice in every community across Boston,” said Michelle Wu. “I’m proud of the work we have done together over many years to provide good jobs, quality care and economic opportunity for all Bostonians and look forward to our continued partnership. Knowing that the healthcare workers of 1199SEIU have our back means everything—and we’ve got theirs.”

Wu has worked tirelessly as a City Councilor to seek better healthcare, childcare, higher pay and better working conditions for workers who need that help now more than ever – and have been ignored for far too long. Her promise to create a better Boston for all who live and work here resonates with 1199SEIU members, who are largely women of color working in hospitals, health centers, nursing homes and in private homes across the city. 

“Michelle Wu’s vision for Boston recognizes the essential role of the care economy. Wu shares our values and priorities and will be a fighter for caregivers and those we care for,” said Jeanie Oliver, 1199SEIU executive board member and patient financial counselor at Boston Medical Center.

1199SEIU’s Political Action Committee currently holds $3 million in funding for candidate support. Funding will be directed and allocated toward efforts to inform and raise awareness among healthcare workers and the community about the races – and choices.

The pandemic has hit frontline healthcare workers particularly hard and underscored the need for reforms not only in healthcare and worker pay and benefits, but in the unmet needs for quality childcare and public education, public transportation and affordable housing – all areas where we believe a Wu administration will make a difference.  

Wu will join homecare workers on Thursday, September 23, at a personal protective equipment (PPE) drive at Grove Hall, to lift up the priorities experiences of a workforce who have largely been invisible as they provide care in private homes. In the last 15 months, 1199SEIU has hosted nearly a hundred PPE events across Massachusetts, distributing hundreds of thousands of masks and gloves.

Wu’s stop at Grove Hall will coincide with the launch of 1199SEIU’s extensive advocacy campaign to engage and educate voters with billboards, digital advertising, direct mail, and grassroots campaign efforts.  1199Votes.com supports the campaign’s efforts, as well as supports the organization of a robust volunteer program to get out the vote. 

麻州州長查理貝克設全美第一個清潔熱委員會

(file photo by Chutze Chou)

              (Boston Orange 整理編譯) 麻州州長查理貝克 (Charlie Baker) 在9月20日宣佈成立全美第一個「清潔熱能委員會 (The Commission on Clean Heat) 」，從樓宇該如何暖起來著手，邁向碳零排放這目標，預定2022年11月30日提出建議方案。

              「清潔熱能委員會」將針對樓宇在氣候暖化上所扮演的角色，設定加熱燃料排放上限，同時決定有助於轉進清潔能源的金融機制。

              麻州州長查理貝克在一份聲明中說，「藉由敦請不同領域領袖貢獻所長，包括可負擔住宅社區，麻州可以確保所追求的減少加熱燃油排放策略及政策，會很創新，可負擔，而且公平」。

              麻州的溫室瓦斯排放有將近三分之一來自樓宇，找出如何解決排放的方法，但又不會對屋主及企業主造成負擔，同時還能因應麻州對天然瓦斯作為加熱燃料的依賴，是非常棘手的挑戰。

              在清潔能源倡議組織Acadia中心領導樓宇計畫的Matt Rusteika表示，到2030年時，麻州的天然瓦斯排放在所有住宅排放中所佔比率，將佔65%。

              今年稍早前，查理貝克政府簽署法令，要求到2030年時，溫室瓦斯排放能夠減少到1990年代的50%以下，到2050年時能達到零排放這目標。該法案也要求成立將由能源及環境事務卿Kathleen Theoharides擔任主席的這委員會。

              Kathleen Theoharides在一份聲明中表示，直接和有關人士合作，求取不同觀點，麻州在研發創新政策，並以具有成本效益的解決方案來減少住宅及樓宇加熱所產生的碳排放，就會處於更好位置。

              「清潔熱能委員會」在Kathleen Theoharides之外，將由22名有多元背景的人士組成，包括可負擔住宅，樓宇能源效率設計，加熱燃油分銷，房地產等等。他們將由能源及環境事務卿提名，州長指派，然後在2022年11月30日之前提出減少使用加熱燃油，刪減樓宇排放的制定政策建議。

              全美各地僅有少數幾州在以不同方法因應樓宇去碳化的挑戰。例如紐約州，正在做碳中和樓宇地圖，預定年底定案，並為樓宇行業制定短期及長期的減少排放目標。在緬因州，州政府正在目標導向之下，要在2025年之前安裝10萬個依賴電力來加熱或冷卻住宅的熱泵。

              Matt Rusteika表示，他希望麻州也能真正的承諾電力化是唯一能真正永久去除來自樓宇排放的方法。

              麻州將經由委員會，議員等各階層來迎面應對這挑戰。在波士頓，市議員Matt O’Malley已提出議案要強迫市內最大的排放者在未來30年內達到碳中和地步。在本週稍後可能會被否決的該法案，其目的是呼應州政府要求大型樓宇減少排放的”更好樓宇法(A Better Buildings Act)。

              倡議清潔能源的專家們表示，從今夏氣候導致的災難，以及聯合國就氣候危機最近發佈的一份報告來看，情況已經很明顯，沒有時間可以浪費了，各方面同步努力很重要。

Governor Baker Signs Executive Order Establishing First-in-the-Nation Commission on Clean Heat

Commission will advise on policies and strategies to reduce emissions from heating fuels

 BOSTON — Building on the Baker-Polito Administration’s national leadership on climate change and its commitment to achieving Net Zero Greenhouse Gas Emissions by 2050, Governor Charlie Baker today signed an Executive Order which establishes a Commission on Clean Heat to advise the Administration on strategies and policies to achieve deep emissions reductions from the use of heating fuels in the Commonwealth. The Commission, the first-of-its-kind in the United States, will establish a framework for a long-term decline in emissions from heating fuels, consistent with the findings from the Administration’s 2050 Decarbonization Roadmap, and help the Commonwealth meet the ambitious emissions reduction targets signed into law by Governor Baker in March 2021. The Executive Order was signed as the Administration celebrates Climate Week in Massachusetts.

“Recognizing the urgent challenge presented by climate change and the need to reduce emissions, our Administration is convening this first-of-its-kind commission to help the Commonwealth meet our emissions reduction goals,” said Governor Charlie Baker. “By soliciting the expertise of leaders with a variety of perspectives, including the affordable housing community, we can ensure that the strategies and policies we pursue to reduce emissions from heating fuels will be innovative, affordable, and equitable.”

“Massachusetts has ambitious climate goals, and we will need to pursue innovative solutions to reduce emissions from our heating fuels, keep costs low, and deliver lasting benefits to our communities,” said Lieutenant Governor Karyn Polito. “The Commission on Clean Heat will reflect a diversity of expertise that will be crucial in developing the forward-thinking policies we need to achieve our nation-leading emissions reduction targets.”

The Commission will be chaired by Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary Kathleen Theoharides, or a designee appointed by the Secretary, and shall include up to 22 additional members recommended by the Secretary and appointed by the Governor. The Commission will reflect a diversity of perspectives and backgrounds from outside stakeholders, including representatives from the fields of affordable housing, energy efficient building design and construction, healthcare, heating system design and technology, real estate, and heating fuel distribution.

Once appointed, the Commission will meet regularly, advise the Governor on a framework for long-term greenhouse gas emission reductions from heating fuels, and provide policy recommendations to help the Commonwealth meet the requirements of the Global Warming Solutions Act. In March 2021, Governor Baker signed nation-leading climate legislation that commits the Commonwealth to reducing emissions below 1990 levels by 50% by 2030, 75% by 2040, and to achieve Net Zero emissions by 2050. 

“By working directly with stakeholders and soliciting a variety of perspectives, Massachusetts will be in a stronger position to develop innovative policies and solutions to cost-effectively reduce emissions from heating homes and buildings,” said Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary Kathleen Theoharides. “The Executive Order signed by Governor Baker today once again puts Massachusetts on the leading edge of climate action in the U.S. by taking a deliberate, collaborative and thoughtful approach to decarbonizing our buildings sector.”

“Transitioning our buildings sector to a clean, resilient, and affordable future will require an unprecedented level of ambition, planning, and ultimately energy efficiency and clean energy deployment. Massachusetts has led the nation in bold and innovative energy policy and today’s Executive Order signed by Governor Baker embarks our state in another chapter of our climate leadership with a singular focus on clean building policies,” said Department of Energy Resources Commissioner Patrick Woodcock. “In order to achieve our long-term climate goals, we will need to make significant investments to lower emissions from our buildings sector through energy efficiency and clean energy and this new Commission starts the process with collaboration, deliberation, and analysis that will set that foundation.”

Aligned with the Administration’s 2050 Roadmap report, the Commission will develop policy recommendations to accelerate the deployment of energy efficiency programs and clean heating systems in new and existing buildings and transition existing distribution systems to clean energy.  The Commission’s focus will include financing mechanisms, incentives, and other regulatory options including a framework for a cap on greenhouse gas emissions from heating fuels.  As it develops its suite of recommendations, the Commission will also consider the various benefits of any policy proposal as well as affordability, equity, costs, and how it works within specific regional circumstances.

“As we continue to tackle the dual challenges of economic recovery and the housing crisis, I am pleased that we will have a Commission comprised of leaders with varied perspectives to deliberate on this important topic,” said Housing and Economic Development Secretary Mike Kennealy. “We look forward to the conversations and strategies that will come out of this collaborative effort.”

The Commission will provide Governor Baker with a set of policy recommendations by November 30, 2022 that will sustainably reduce the use of heating fuels and minimize emissions from the building sector while ensuring costs and opportunities arising from such reductions are distributed equitably. 

The Executive Order also establishes an Interagency Building Decarbonization Task Force to support the work of the Commission. The Task Force will consist of subject-matter experts from across the Executive Branch, including the Department of Energy Resources and the Executive Office of Housing and Economic Development.

The Executive Order advances the Baker-Polito Administration’s commitment to take aggressive action on climate change and achieve Net Zero emissions in 2050. On December 30, 2020, the Administration released two reports – the Massachusetts 2050 Decarbonization Roadmap Report and an interim 2030 Clean Energy and Climate Plan (CECP) – that detail policies and strategies to equitably and cost-effectively reduce emissions and combat climate change. The Commission on Clean Heat was identified by the Administration as a critical tool in the effort to reduce emissions from heating fuels. The heating of buildings currently accounts for nearly one third of statewide greenhouse gas emissions in Massachusetts.

During this year’s Climate Week in Massachusetts, the Baker-Polito Administration is highlighting its commitment to reducing emissions, mitigating the impacts of climate change, and building a more resilient Commonwealth. Throughout Climate Week, the Administration is holding events to spotlight important initiatives including offshore wind, land protection and conservation, the Greening the Gateway Cities program, and the expansion of clean energy in the Commonwealth. The Administration is also highlighting the urgent demand for funding to support climate resiliency in Massachusetts, and Governor Baker’s plan to immediately put to use part of Commonwealth’s direct federal aid from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) to support critical priorities in cities and towns. The Administration’s plan would commit $900 million to key energy and environmental initiatives, including $400 million to modernize critical water infrastructure and $300 million to support local climate resilience projects.

Annissa Essaibi George獲IBEW工會背書 許諾成立經濟正義及工人權益局

 

圖片來自Annissa Essaibi George的推特。

            (Boston Orange編譯) 國際電工兄弟會 (IBEW)本地103分會今(20)日在該會位於多徹斯特(Dorchester)自由港街(Freeport)的辦公室，宣佈支持Annissa Essaibi George參選波士頓市長。

                                         IBEW是個在波士頓地區有1萬多名技術電工及技師會員的組織。

                                            IBEW本地103公會企業經理Lou Antonellis表示，該會為能站在Essaibi George身邊，支持她參選波士頓市長而感到驕傲。Essaibi George自己曾是工會會員，對他們的價值觀有第一手的了解。作為他們的市長，她會每一天都支持他們，為他們爭取，治理城市時也會顧及辛勤工作的居民及家庭。

Annissa Essaibi George在20日時出席
King Boston捐款儀式。(周菊子攝)

                 Essaibi George在國際電工兄弟會發出的新聞稿中表示，感謝該會支持，做為市長，她將和工會成員攜手爭取公平薪資，增加福利，為所有人維持安全的工作條件。在制定政策的討論桌上，勞工將永遠有一席位。

                  Essaibi George的經濟正義及工人權益政策計畫包括了設立波士頓市有史以來的第一個｢經濟正義及工人權益局」，由直接向市長報告的內閣級首長領導，而且在制定政策討論桌上有一席位，以評估政策及計畫提案對波士頓工人家庭可能有的影響。

             IBEW指稱，Essaibi George 一直是改善麥迪遜公園技術職業高中，以及波士頓公校中職業項目，以為學生畢業後做好就業準備的倡議者。

ASIAN AMERICAN AND PACIFIC ISLANDER GROUPS FILE AMICUS BRIEF IN U.S. SUPREME COURT IN SUPPORT OF ROE V. WADE

ASIAN AMERICAN AND PACIFIC ISLANDER GROUPS FILE AMICUS BRIEF IN U.S. SUPREME COURT IN SUPPORT OF ROE V. WADE

 

 

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, the National Asian Pacific American Women’s Forum (NAPAWF) and Asian Americans Advancing Justice – AAJC (Advancing Justice – AAJC), with Duane Morris LLP, filed an amicus brief urging the nation’s highest court to reject a call by the state of Mississippi to overturn Roe v. Wade and allow individual states to ban or end the legal right to abortion.

 

The amicus, or the “friend of the court” brief, represents 29 community and civil rights organizations, as well as bar associations, representing the interests of Asian American and Pacific Islander women in the case of Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization. The Dobbs case is a challenge, brought by the independent and sole abortion care in Mississippi, represented by the Center for Reproductive Rights, to the state’s 2018 ban on abortions after 15 weeks of pregnancy.

 

“Our brief focuses solely on the experiences of Asian American and Pacific Islander women in the United States,” said Sung Yeon Choimorrow, Executive Director, National Asian Pacific American Women's Forum (NAPAWF).

 

“We know that abortion access is already difficult for AAPI women. The cultural stigma and shame that comes with talking about abortion, let alone getting one, is compounded with significant language and economic barriers that can make accessing abortion care a harrowing and terrifying experience,” said Choimorrow. “This is especially true for AAPI women who are over-represented in low-paying, service jobs and are more likely to not have health care coverage to begin with.”

 

In 2020, AAPI women experienced the highest rates of long-term unemployment among minority women since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.

 

“Given that AAPIs are among the fastest-growing populations nationwide with nearly two-thirds of the population being foreign-born, we have grave concerns about the impact of this case on our community,” said Niyati Shah, Advancing Justice – AAJC's Director of Litigation. “The anti-immigrant sentiment will only further stoke the fear of AAPI women that they will face adverse consequences regardless of their immigration status.”

 

Overturning Roe v. Wade will effectively end legal abortion in at least 22 states, of which several are home to large and growing AAPI communities. For instance, the AAPI population in Georgia, Texas, and North Carolina, has grown 138%, 128%, and 154%, respectively, since 2000. The rolling back of reproductive rights by banning access to abortion care will jeopardize the well-being and financial stability for millions of AAPI women and families.

 

“This amicus brief emphasizes the unconstitutionality imposed by pre-viability abortion bans and the need to protect the constitutional right for continued access to abortion care for millions of AAPI women, especially in those states with a rapidly growing AAPI population that face pre-existing abortion barriers,” said Cyndie M. Chang, Managing Partner of the Duane Morris Los Angeles office. “Duane Morris’ participation in this amicus brief reflects our firm’s commitment to assisting the under-represented, which are often those who are in dire need of support and services. In this case, the barriers to safe reproductive care will become even more profound if Mississippi’s pre-viability abortion ban is upheld due to laws that unfairly target pregnant AAPI women for criminal prosecution.  Reproductive justice and the Fifth Circuit ruling should be upheld.”

 

A full copy of the amicus brief is available here.

Lydia Edwards宣佈角逐麻州參議員 轄區包括華埠

波士頓市第1區市議員Lydia Edwards宣佈參選麻州參議員。(周菊子攝)

             (Boston Orange 周菊子綜合報導) 儘管麻州州務卿辦公室官網還未公佈補選資訊，但轄區包括波士頓華埠的麻州參議員薩福克郡 (Suffolk) 和米斗塞郡 (Middlesex) 第1選區席位的選戰已經開打。波士頓市議員Lydia Edwards在9月18，19日的這週末，巡迴4個城市，正式展開競選活動。

                      麻州州務卿辦公室回覆本刊查詢時表示，待提名表格等文件準備妥當後，官網會公佈補選的確定日程，目前暫定在12月14日初選，2022年1月11日大選。

Lydia Edwards宣佈參選麻州參議員，與支持者合影。(周菊子攝)

           麻州政府需要辦理特別選舉，是因為代表薩福克郡和米斗塞郡第1選區，在2016年的補選中當選，連任迄今的39歲麻州參議員賓加利 (Joe Boncore) ，9月下旬轉任麻州生物科技協會 (MassBio) 執行長，席位因而出缺。知情人士指稱，那是一個年薪約50萬元的工作，而麻州參議員的年薪只有7萬零536元，比波士頓市議員的10萬零3500元還少。

             麻州參議會共有40名參議員，任期二年，目前是第192屆參議會，甫於2020年11月3日完成選舉，下一屆的改選日期為2022年11月8日。

瑞維爾(Revere海灘。(周菊子攝)

             賓加利傳出將離任消息後，至少有4人表示有意參選，其中轄區包括東波士頓的麻州眾議員Adrrin Madaro以初為人父，兒子才4個月大，得多花些時間和家人相處為由，已於9月13日正式宣佈決定不參選了。

             另外的3名有意參選者，分別為波士頓市第1區市議員Lydia Edwards，瑞維爾(Revere)市學校委員會委員Anthony D’Ambrosio，不分區市議員Steven Morabito。民主黨麻州委員會委員Juan Pablo Jaramillo據說也有意參選。

瑞維爾市在海灘旁豎了一塊招牌，說明這是全美第一個公共海灘。
(周菊子攝)

           Lydia Edwards於9月19日   在號稱全美第一個公眾海灘的瑞維爾市(Revere)海灘，做她正式參選麻州參議員第一次巡迴之旅的最後一站。為她做開場介紹的是羅倫斯市市長幕僚長的Juan Pablo。

           在波士頓市長選舉中一直公開支持吳弭(Michelle Wu)的  Lydia Edwards指出，2016年她和賓加利競爭麻州參議員席位時，認識了當時為賓加利助選的Juan Pablo。這場選舉雖然她輸了，但她卻和賓加利及Juan Pablo成了好朋友，後來她競選波士頓市議員，Juan Pablo也來幫忙。

             現年40歲的Lydia Edwards介紹自己時說，她住在東波士頓，是專業的倡導者(advocates)，成長時跟隨軍職母親調任，遍住世界各地，很早就懂得欣賞社區可發揮的作用，也因此她要參選麻州參議員，以為更多人服務。她透露當年母親從軍職退伍後，必須做2份時薪不過5元多的工作，再加上週末兼差，才勉強維持生活。年紀稍長後，她和妹妹，母親還要把3人的工資湊起來付房租。

             她強調自己要確保有色人種，移民，弱勢人群的權益。當選市議員以前，Lydia Edwards是大波士頓法律事務援助處公益律師，曾多次和華人前進會合作，2018年就任以來是最有政績的市議員，為選民做到的事情最多，例如當年薩福克下城(Suffolk Down)的發展計畫推動時，她要求確保公平，為選民們爭取到80多萬元的租金紓困款，每戶人家都得到1000元支票。她說政府必須主動確保每個人都得到適當的代表，每個人的聲音都被聽到，每個人繳的稅都物有所值，而不論是在住宅，交通上，她都有可以示人的成績。

             Lydia Edwards在今年的波士頓市議員選舉中，並無競爭對手，今年11月將順利連任。如果這場麻州參議員補選，她也順利當選，波士頓市將須為東波士頓選區辦理一場市議員補選。

AG HEALEY URGES U.S. SUPREME COURT TO OVERTURN MISSISSIPPI’S UNCONSTITUTIONAL ABORTION BAN

AG HEALEY URGES U.S. SUPREME COURT TO OVERTURN MISSISSIPPI’S UNCONSTITUTIONAL ABORTION BAN

Mississippi Ban is Part of a Nationwide Campaign to End Abortion Access; Brief Follows AG Healey’s Multistate Leadership in Support of DOJ’s Challenge to Texas’ Six-Week Abortion Ban

 

            BOSTON – Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey today joined 24 attorneys general in urging the U.S. Supreme Court to uphold well-established precedent protecting a woman’s right to decide whether to carry a pregnancy to term, and to overturn Mississippi’s illegal 15-week abortion ban.

 

            In a brief filed today, the coalition describes how the Court’s landmark ruling in Roe v. Wade recognized almost 50 years ago that the Constitution does not permit states to prohibit a woman from deciding whether to carry her pregnancy, a holding the Court has repeatedly reaffirmed, including in the landmark ruling in Planned Parenthood v. Casey almost 30 years ago. The coalition argues that Mississippi’s ban is unconstitutional under settled law, and that as such, the Court should continue to uphold this well-established Constitutional right and precedent.

 

            “Illegal abortion bans like Mississippi’s are dangerous, rob people of their constitutionally protected rights, and put the lives of millions of Americans at risk,” AG Healey said. “With our colleagues across the country, we are committed to protecting the health and safety of our residents and ensuring that people can access the care they need.”

 

            In March 2018, the governor of Mississippi signed into law what was then the strictest abortion ban in the country. Since then, 16 states have enacted pre-viability abortion bans, with 10 doing so just this year. Mississippi’s law prohibits abortion at 15 weeks, with few exceptions, even in cases of rape or incest. A federal district court judge struck down the law, stating that Mississippi “chose to pass a law it knew was unconstitutional...to ask the Supreme Court to overturn Roe v. Wade.” The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit affirmed the district court’s ruling, and Mississippi then sought review in the Supreme Court.

  

Mississippi’s attempt to undo decades of Supreme Court precedent comes amidst years of attempts by other states to end abortion access in this country, including Texas’ six-week abortion ban – which went into effect earlier this month and is the most extreme ban to date. Last week, AG Healey led a coalition of 24 attorneys general in filing an amicus brief in support of the United States Department of Justice’s challenge to Texas’ illegal law.

 

AG Healey is committed to defending the constitutionally protected right of Massachusetts residents to access reproductive health care, whether they are in Massachusetts, or working, travelling, or attending school in other states. She has been at the forefront of this issue and will continue to stand with residents, health care workers and advocates in protecting access to this essential care.

 

Joining AG Healey in filing today’s brief with the Supreme Court are the attorneys general of California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, and Wisconsin, as well as the District of Columbia.