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星期五, 10月 22, 2021
City of Boston now accepts application for mental health crisis response
El Planeta Newspaper Endorses Michelle Wu for Mayor
El Planeta Newspaper Endorses Michelle Wu for Mayor
Boston, MA— The Editorial Board of El Planeta
Newspaper has decided for the second time in its 17 years history to endorse a
political candidate for office. Citing her longtime commitment to advancing racial
fairness, health and education services, El Planeta said they
are endorsing Wu because Boston is ready for new leadership.
“Our values of freedom, democracy and tolerance are at stake in
our city and in our country, so we have decided to act. We support and
endorse Michelle Wu as the best choice for Mayor of Boston because we know she
will work and fight for those values,” wrote the editorial board of El Planeta,
the largest Hispanic paper in Massachusetts.
This endorsement comes on the heels of the release of Michelle’s
new Spanish-language TV ad “Boston Para Todos” and two
new Spanish radio ads, including a jingle in the traditional Plena style of
Puerto Rican music “El Gran Cambio”. (attached)
“This election is about the future
of our city. As the daughter of immigrants and mom to two boys in our public
schools, I’ll fight to make Boston a city for everyone. We’re building a
multiracial, multilingual, multigenerational coalition to last long after
Election Day—and bring all of us together to deliver change in office.” said Michelle
Wu.
麻州春田市10/30舉行首屆台灣日
麻州春田市將於１０月３０日(星期六)
被捕非牟利領導和2名市長候選人都有牽連
(Boston Orange 編譯) 美國檢察官辦公室21日證實，在逮捕「波士頓的暴力 (Violence In Boston) 」這非牟利組織創辦人的一名領導後，刻正繼續調查其犯行與涉及的關係。
「波士頓的暴力」創辦人Monica
Cannon-Grant的丈夫Clark Grant在19日被逮捕，罪名是在新冠病毒大流型期間，填具虛假的失業援助申請，並整合進他們位於Taunton住家的貸款申請，詐騙聯邦政府的失業福利及貸款。
Monica Cannon-Grant並未被起訴，搜索另也仍封存。美國檢察官辦公室20日表示，該案仍在調查中。
波士頓前鋒報(Boston
Herald)指稱，「波士頓的暴力」，以及曾被波士頓環球報(Boston Globe)宣佈為「年度波士頓人」的Monica Cannon-Grant，在波士頓政界關係深遠，和兩名波士頓市長候選人都有關係。
Monica Cannon-Grant已表態支持吳弭(Michelle
Wu)，並且在「波士頓的暴力」的臉書網頁上張貼出她對吳弭的支持。
吳弭在回應Monica
Cannon-Grant的丈夫被捕一事時表示，那是很不幸的情況。每當有這樣的行動發生時，我會跟蹤調查進展，但我知道這機構在社區內曾經做過好事。
不過，「波士頓的暴力」的臉書網頁也列有市長候選人Annissa
Essaibi-George是數次不同活動的捐款人，大都是提供食物。
Essaibi-George的競選陣營拒絕回應。
Monica Cannon-Grant列出的捐款人還包括當年的波士頓市長馬丁華殊(Martin
Walsh)，麻州眾議員Liz Miranda、Chynah
Tyler ，以及波士頓市議員Julia Mejia。在馬丁華殊的幫助下，「波士頓的暴力」甚至在海德公園設立了辦公室。
Monica Cannon-Grant的這組織起初很小，推廣反暴力，並發送食物給有需要的人。但在2020年因族裔議題的抗議後，她的聲勢迅速上升，甚至在法蘭克林公園組織了一場有2萬人參加的抗議，並在那兒向一群鼓舞的群眾大喊「F
– 警察」。
不過這並不是第一次Monica
Cannon-Grant和政客的關係引人疑問。去年夏天，她為一名黑人共和黨人的跨種族關係大肆咆哮，引來包括地區檢察官Rachael
Rollins等許多人的批評。
那時候，Monica
Cannon-Grant在支持聯邦眾議員普莉斯來 (Ayanna Pressley)競選，以及支持約瑟夫甘迺迪三世競選參議員。
今年Cannon-Grant推廣一個未經證實的說法，稱Hopkinton的一名黑人青少年被私刑處決，但米斗塞郡地區檢察官說沒證據。
明年州長選舉 共和黨可能提名Geoff Diehl
(Boston Orange編譯)2022年的麻州州長選舉，共和黨會提名誰? Politico稱” 麻州公司民調集團 (MassINC Polling Group) “上星期做的民調顯示，會是Geoff Diehl。
麻州現任州長查理貝克雖然也是共和黨，但在2022年州級選舉的共和黨初選中，他和Geoff Diehl的支持率，卻是29%比50%，差距高達20%。這同一批受訪者中，有54%不喜歡查理貝克。
Geoff Diehl說，這民調證實了他們決定參選時已經知道的情況，現任州長似乎和麻州人民所需有點脫節了，而且為了某些理由，也不能或不願意支持他自己同黨派，想要給人民提供更大經濟自由和在醫療護理，教育選擇上給家庭更多控制的成員們。
查理貝克一直很高的支持率，在上星期的民調中，跌到56%。
這星期，當42000名在麻州行政部門工作的人，必須開始遵守新冠病毒規定時，批評查理貝克的人也多了。他處理新冠病毒疫情做法的支持率也從4月份時的將近80%，跌到60%多。
星期四, 10月 21, 2021
Annissa Essaibi George 向黑人社區領袖重申一億元公平、正義、包容計畫
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| Annissa Essaibi George在多徹斯特波士頓房屋局辦公室前重申公平、 正義、包容計畫。(周菊子攝) |
(Boston Orange綜合報導)
波士頓市長候選人Annissa Essaibi George在多徹斯特的波士頓房屋局辦公室前，晤見一小群黑人社區代表，重申她有更為「公平、正義、包容」的計畫，在撥款一億元改變黑棕社區所面對現況之餘，還將增撥5000萬元為小企業提供貸款及週轉資金。
Annissa Essaibi George強調，有計畫，沒經費，就是空話，所以她要在提出的計畫上增加經費數字，以及行動議程，以說到做到的真正落實。
Annissa Essaibi George說自己把對話得來的資訊，轉成承諾，以及繼之而有的行動計畫。她要彌平族裔財富，擁有住宅，就業培訓，教育及成就，就業等差距，把波士頓市打造成為更公平、正義、包容的城市。
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| Annissa Essaibi George和黑人社區活躍份子Shirley Shilingford(右)。 (周菊子攝) |
其中細項包括針對增加黑人，拉丁裔及亞裔擁有住宅率的特定目標，為首次，以及第一代購屋者提供更進一步的頭期款援助。
在之前說的一億元之外，她還要另撥5000萬元來和銀行及微型貸款機構合作，為有色社區小企業提供週轉資金，要辨識出受新冠病毒衝擊的黑人，拉丁裔及亞裔所擁有企業，利用市府現有的技術援助項目來為這些企業家們提供一系列援助，支持他們重建信用，甚至重新開業。
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| Annissa Essaibi George上WBUR接受訪問。 |
藉由和波士頓市內的小企業主，勞工工會及培訓項目合作，在諸如建築業、技術援助，聯合健康，網站建造和發展，社交媒體營運，美容、廚藝經驗等方面，為麥迪遜公園的學生們創造發展機會。
和波士頓市的雇主們合作，每個月都為學生們舉行就業展，並為波士頓市的年輕人建立實習，學徒及就業的管道。
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| 華人社區中的Annissa Essaibi George支持者，預定本週六到華埠牌樓 舉牌、造勢。(褚真威提供) |
在黑人社區活躍份子Shirley
Shilingford 和Terrence Williams等人的站台支持中，Annissa
Essaibi George強調，波士頓市的下一任市長需要作出特別承諾，以根除系統中的種族主義，族裔財富差距，以及從住宅，教育到人力培訓，交通等所有方面的不平等。
在發言時，Annissa
Essaibi George直言，她有「公平、正義、包容」的計畫，她的對手吳弭有氣候改變計畫，但沒有致力公平、正義的計畫。
在任務丘(Mission
Hill)長大，現在住在多徹斯特的Terrence Williams認為，Annissa
Essaibi George是唯一給出經費數目的候選人，相信Annissa會把他的聲音帶進波士頓市政府。
Annissa Essaibi George(右三)在聆聽及學習之旅中，到波士頓華埠的
C180麵包店(員皇冠麵包店)拜會，和出席的華人，右起Betty Kim，
何遠光，黃鷹立，陳姓老闆夫婦，黃光野等人寒暄。(周菊子攝)
Annissa Essaibi George在晤談現場的發言簡短，她的競選陣營事後發出新聞稿，重新列舉她早前提出的「公平、包容及正義議程」，要斥資一億元在波士頓市的黑人，拉丁裔，以及亞裔社區中實行該計畫。她將組成包括社區成員，宗教領袖，以及居民等的工作小組，針對社區所述說的各自需求，來帶領一個透明、公開的經費分配過程。
該計畫將經由投資於住宅，小企業及人力培訓和就業做作法，來彌平族裔財富差距。
Annissa Essaibi George在21日聽到有人問及她對吳弭民調領先30%的看法時，嗤之以鼻的表示，那不真實；聽到如果當選，是否考慮成立亞美顧問會這問題時，表示當然，並補充的說她希望能照顧到所有族裔居民。
支持Annissa Essaibi George的華人，預定於10月23日到華埠牌樓前舉牌。(更新版)
BLACK COMMUNITY LEADERS BACK ESSAIBI GEORGE CITING COMMITMENT TO EQUITY, INCLUSION AND JUSTICE IN BOSTON
Boston, MA—Today At-Large City Councilor Annissa Essaibi George highlighted her plan to close the racial wealth gap through homeownership pathways, workforce training, and jobs, as outlined in her Equity, Inclusion and Justice Agenda. Essaibi George was joined this afternoon by members of the Black community and community activists Ms. Shirley Shillingford and Terrence Williams.
“To close the racial wealth gap, Boston needs to root out racism
within our systems and tackle inequities in everything from housing and
education to workforce training and transportation. For the next Mayor to do
that she needs specific commitments, not just talking points,” said Essaibi
George. “I’ve released an equity plan with specific action points on how we
further equity, inclusion and justice in everything we do.”
“I have known Annissa for a very long time, and she has shown up
in our communities, at the food pantry or at the Caribbean Festival, time and
time again—not just during an election,” said Ms. Shirley Shillingford, a
longtime community advocate. “Annissa is the one who has laid out specific
commitments and dollar amounts to support the Black community. That’s
leadership, and that’s why she has my vote.”
“From education to housing to closing the racial wealth gap,
Annissa has offered specifics to make Boston a more equitable place for
everyone, especially our communities of color,” said Terrence Williams, who
grew up in Mission Hill and now resides in Dorchester. “I’m proud to
support Annissa in this race because I trust she’ll bring my voice to City
Hall.”
Essaibi George released her Equity,
Inclusion and Justice Agenda earlier this month, and announced
a $100 million investment towards implementing the plan in Boston’s Black
community as well as Latinx, AAPI, and other marginalized communities. She will
form a task force of community members, faith-based leaders, advocates and
residents to lead a transparent and open allocation process that is driven by
our communities and neighborhoods and speaks to their needs.
The plan includes specific action items to close the racial wealth
gap through investments in housing, small businesses, workforce training, and
jobs:
- Further
investments in down payment assistance for first time and first generation
homebuyers, with a specific goal of increasing the rates of Black, Latinx
and AAPI homeownership.
- Lay
the groundwork for a $1 million investment in the Massachusetts Affordable
Housing Alliance’s STASH program.
- Leverage
community partnerships in schools, workforce development programs,
community and religious centers to conduct outreach about homeownership
technical assistance programs and opportunities.
- Create
a $50 million fund that can be deployed directly to support Black, Latinx
and AAPI entrepreneurs, and partner with local banks and micro lending
institutions to continuously refresh the fund.
- Identify
Black, Latinx, AAPI owned businesses that have been impacted by COVID-19
and triage support to them using existing city technical assistance
programs.
- Connect
with Black, Latinx, AAPI entrepreneurs who lost their businesses as a
result of the COVID-19 pandemic and develop an array of technical
assistance programs that will support them in rebuilding their credit and
potentially opening a business again.
- Increase
investments in the City’s workforce development programs by no less than
$10 million, prioritize Madison Pak and vocational education programs in BPS, and
increase the number of school to
career pipelines for individuals living, studying, and working in the
city.
- Create
development opportunities for Madison Park students to build skills in
areas such
as building trades, technical assistance,
allied health, website building and development, social media operations, cosmetology, and culinary
experience by partnering with Boston-based
small business owners, labor unions, and training programs.
- Partner with employers across Boston to
hold monthly job fairs for students and build pathways to internships,
apprenticeships, and jobs for Boston’s youth.
- Reform
the City’s procurement process by filing a Home Rule Petition granting the
City of Boston authorization to directly manage our
procurement process, allowing the city to create smaller contracts that are more accessible to smaller businesses.
- Help
Black, Latinx,
AAPI Owned businesses win city contracts by
offering specific technical
assistance programming to help entrepreneurs prepare bids and ensure their
business is ready.
專家說鱈魚角暑假逾千人感染未釀重災 疫苗接種率高是主因
(Boston Orange編譯)今年7月，普羅溫斯頓(Provincetown)新冠病毒疫情爆發，1千多人感染，人們這才知道Delta變種病毒已先後侵襲這城市不下40次。那1千人中的83%，是從其中1人或一小群人那感染來的。
這場疫情爆發，和2020年2月百奧健(Biogen)會議在波士頓發生的那場超級傳播活動相似，只是結果相當快的就消散了，只有一小撮人病到需要進醫院。
洛克斐勒基金會流行病預防研究院的病原體監測執行主任Samuel Scarpino說，沒有大幅度散播傳染的原因是社區及公共衛生人員果斷因應，並充分利用了我們已知有效的工具:
遮蔽的檢疫，做檢測來控制情況。
哈佛及MIT的博德(Broad)研究院科學家們領導的研究小組總結認為，鱈魚角的高接種疫苗率，以及麻州的快速公共衛生辦法很可能是防止了疫情爆發的原因。
他們追蹤到40個來自外州的病原。但無法確認是一個人或一小群人。
百奧健會議是新冠病毒大流行的主要原因，由於許多高管暴露於這疾病之後，回了遠方的家，在全世界和30萬宗新冠病毒感染有關，
博德團隊也追蹤了普羅溫斯頓疫情爆發在美國的更廣泛影響，藉著7月10日至9月13日收集來的全國監測數據做追蹤搜尋，他們在18到37州中發現傳播跡象，包括紐約，家州及喬治亞州，但這些個案在全美同時期收集的Delta基因相比，僅佔
耶魯大學傑克遜全球事務研究院講師Shan Soe-Lin表示，她對研究發現感到很安慰。她形容那是非常小心，徹底，而且基因超級酷”。她說該研究強調了疫苗在保護人們免於重病上的確有效。
AG HEALEY CALLS ON FDA TO PROTECT CHILDREN FROM TOXIC METALS IN BABY FOOD
AG HEALEY CALLS ON FDA TO PROTECT CHILDREN
FROM TOXIC METALS IN BABY FOOD
Petition Follows Congressional Report that
Found Commercial Baby Food Manufacturers are Selling Food Contaminated with
High Levels of Toxic Metals
BOSTON — Massachusetts
Attorney General Maura Healey today joined a coalition of 20 attorneys general
in petitioning the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to protect the
health and well-being of babies across the country by accelerating actions to
remove toxic heavy metals from infant and toddler foods.
Today’s petition responds to rising alarm about the health hazards posed by
dangerous heavy metals in these foods, and the failure of baby food brands and
their suppliers to aggressively reduce these hazards. In February, the U.S. House Committee on Oversight and Reform
published a report
that found that four of the country’s largest commercial baby food
manufacturers are selling food contaminated with high levels of toxic heavy
metals including arsenic, lead, cadmium, and mercury. Last month, the committee
issued a follow up report
urging the FDA to move quickly and efficiently to set limits for the toxic
metals in baby food.
“Each year, thousands of babies are born
in Massachusetts and we need to do everything we can to keep them healthy and
safe,” AG Healey said. “We’re calling on the FDA to protect children from the
serious developmental risks associated with these dangerous metals by taking
immediate steps to remove them from baby food.”
The
FDA does set limits on toxic metals in other consumable products — like bottled
water, juice, and candy — but the agency has failed to adequately regulate baby
food, and has, so far, only established one action
level for one type of heavy metal (inorganic arsenic) in one type of baby food
product (infant rice cereal). The FDA itself has concluded that babies’
and young children’s smaller body sizes and metabolisms make them more vulnerable
to the toxic impacts these heavy metals can have on the developing brain.
The
coalition’s petition seeks to strengthen protections for young children by
urging the FDA to issue interim action levels for limiting heavy
metal contamination in baby food more swiftly than the timelines announced
by the FDA in their “Closer to Zero plan,” announced this past
April. Under the current plan, the FDA would propose: guidance on
limiting lead in baby food by the middle of 2022, guidance for
limiting inorganic arsenic by April 2024, and guidance for limiting cadmium and
mercury sometime after April 2024. The members of the “Baby Food
Council” — a group created in 2019 by four of the largest baby food
brands — have not publicly committed to meeting any particular
voluntary targets for reducing the levels of heavy metals in their
products, pending FDA action.
The
petition specifically calls on the FDA to:
- Propose limits for inorganic arsenic, lead, cadmium, and
mercury in relevant categories of infant and toddler foods;
- Propose
a lower limit for inorganic arsenic in infant rice cereal than those that
are currently set forth in FDA guidance; and
- Instruct
all baby food manufacturers to test their finished products for toxic
heavy metals.
The coalition
of attorneys general urge the FDA to take these actions no later than
April 2022, the shortest timeframe for requesting FDA action on a petition
under the agency’s regulations.
Joining
AG Healey in sending today’s petition are the attorneys general of New York,
California,
Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Michigan,
Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Vermont,
Washington and Wisconsin.
Handing this
matter for Massachusetts are Assistant Attorney Brian Clappier and Deputy
Division Chief Turner Smith of AG Healey’s Environmental Protection Division
and Assistant Attorney General Abby Eshghi of AG Healey’s Children’s Justice
Unit, with assistance from paralegal Carly Pusateri, also of AG Healey’s
Environmental Protection Division.
Working Families Party Endorses Michelle Wu for Mayor of Boston
Working Families Party
Endorses Michelle Wu for Mayor of Boston
"This is what putting progressive values into action looks
like," said Georgia Hollister Isman, New England Regional Director of
the Working Families Party. "From leading the charge for paid family
leave, affordable housing and climate solutions that meet the moment,
Michelle’s bold vision has improved the lives of thousands of working families.
She’s a changemaker who doesn’t shrink away from transformative solutions, and
she’s ready to lead on the most pressing issues facing Boston families. WFP is
proud to have her back in this race.”
“From fighting for a livable wage and safe working conditions, to organizing powerful campaigns throughout the nation, the Working Families Party has led the way in reshaping what’s possible,” said Michelle Wu. “I’m grateful to be endorsed by the Working Families Party in fighting to make Boston a city for everyone.”
The WFP is a national independent political organization that
recruits, trains and elects grassroots progressives to office. In 2020, the
Working Families Party led a $2.5 million voter mobilization effort in
Georgia to elect Raphael Warnock and Jon Ossoff to the Senate, helped elect WFP
champions Jamaal Bowman and Mondaire Jones in heavily contested Congressional
races, drove a wave of victories for
progressives in Rhode Island, shook up the New Mexico Democratic
establishment with progressive victories under the banner of "No
Corporate Dems,” elected a diverse slate of
progressives in Delaware, and helped create the most progressive NY state
legislature in decades by winning thirty-three state
legislative primaries.
The WFP will be mobilizing its 16,000 members in the state and
lending the support of its national texting team to help elect Michelle Wu for
mayor.
The Working Families Party’s endorsements add to an enthusiastic multigenerational, multicultural coalition of grassroots supporters, including leaders Senator Elizabeth Warren, Senator Ed Markey, Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley, Mayor Kim Janey, Sheriff Steve Tompkins, Suffolk County Register of Probate Felix Arroyo Sr., Boston City Councilors Ricardo Arroyo, Liz Breadon and Lydia Edwards; State Senators Assistant Majority Leader Sal DiDomenico, Sonia Chang Diaz and Julian Cyr; State Representatives Assistant Majority Leader Mike Moran, Ways and Means Chair Aaron Michlewitz, Jay Livingstone, Adrian Madaro, Vanna Howard, Natalie Higgins, Liz Miranda, Tram Nguyen, Maria Robinson, Andy Vargas, and Tommy Vitolo; former State Representative and Assistant Majority Leader Byron Rushing; former State Transportation Secretaries Fred Salvucci and Jim Aloisi; former MBTA FMCB Chairman Joseph Aiello; former Boston City Councilor Tito Jackson; former State Representative Charlotte Golar Richie; labor unions 1199 SEIU, 32BJ SEIU, North Atlantic States Regional Council of Carpenters, Teamsters Local 25, New England Joint Board of UNITE HERE!, UAW Region 9A, Laborers Local 22, 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.
MAYOR JANEY ENCOURAGES RESIDENTS TO HAVE A FUN AND SAFE HALLOWEEN
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麻州第86屆168新州警畢業 3州警因打疫苗規定辭職
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| 麻州州長查理貝克為州警畢業典禮致詞。 |
麻州州警發言人Dave
Procopio表示，這一屆的州警學員共有216人，經過22週訓練後，有186名學員畢業，其中73人來自地方市鎮警察，43人曾經在軍隊服務，包括23名女警，共有37%為女性或有色人種。
22日開始，這些新州警將從22日起隨同有經驗州警出勤，巡邏12週，試用期一年。
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| 麻州副州長Karen Polito致詞。 |
查理貝克也嘉勉這些新警員，稱他們能夠從警察學校畢業，一定是非常特別的人，歷經考驗，接受訓練後，要從事極為光榮、困難，卻能為社區、人民帶來極為正面改變的工作。
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| 麻州總檢察長Maura Healey致詞。 |
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| 麻州州警警司 (Superintendent) Christopher Mason致詞。 |