Mayor Wu announce appointments to the Civilian Review Board (CRB)

MAYOR WU APPOINTS MEMBERS TO CIVILIAN REVIEW BOARD AND INTERNAL AFFAIRS OVERSIGHT PANEL, FULLY STAFFING BOTH BOARDS Both independent boards function within the Office of Police Accountability and Transparency

BOSTON - Thursday, January 27, 2022 - Mayor Michelle Wu today announced appointments to fully staff the Office of Police Accountability and Transparency’s (OPAT) Civilian Review Board (CRB) and Internal Affairs Oversight Panel (IAOP). Established through the passage of a 2020 ordinance, the Office of Police Accountability and Transparency was created to strengthen the relationship between the Boston Police Department (BPD) and Boston’s communities by increasing trust, transparency, and accountability. Mayor Wu announced the appointed members at a press conference at BPD Headquarters, where she was joined by OPAT Executive Director Stephanie L. Everett, members of the CRB and IAOP, Boston Police Superintendent Sharon Dottin, Chief, Bureau of Professional Standards, and Boston Police Deputy Superintendent Eddy Chrispin, Internal Affairs Division. “Every resident, in every corner of every neighborhood in our city deserves to feel safe in the knowledge that our Police Department will uphold its responsibility to serve and protect them. That requires building trust—trust that begins and ends with our communities,” said Mayor Michelle Wu. “With our search for a new Police Commissioner underway and our appointees to the Office of Police Accountability and Transparency boards in place, we are ready to transform the structures of public safety and health to build community in Boston.” The Office of Police Accountability and Transparency was one of the signature recommendations of the 2020 Boston Police Reform Task Force, creating a new standard in police accountability and community oversight, independent of the Boston Police Department. It is charged with investigating complaints of police misconduct, ensuring that the Boston Police Department's internal affairs review process is fair and thorough, and reviewing Boston Police Department's existing and proposed policies and procedures. The Executive Administration of the Office of Police Accountability and Transparency Commission has three Commissioners: the Executive Director, the Chair of the CRB, and the Chair of the IAOP. Mayor Wu previously reappointed Stephanie Everett as Executive Director of OPAT. “I am grateful to have the Civilian Review Board and Internal Affairs Oversight Panel fully staffed to help advance and build on our work to ensure transparency and accountability within the Boston Police Department,” said Executive Director Stephanie Everett. “I look forward to continuing our work to enhance and build community trust and confidence.” Chaired by Peter Alvarez, the Civilian Review Board is charged with reviewing and recommending action on individuals’ complaints against the Boston Police Department. The Civilian Review Board has nine members. The Mayor appoints all members of the Board. Three of her appointments were recommended to serve on the Board from the Boston City Council’s nominations, as outlined by the ordinance. The Civilian Review Board is comprised of: Peter Alvarez, a former BPS school teacher and lawyer providing pro bono education-related counsel.  Natalie Carithers, a former Chief of Staff in the Massachusetts House of Representatives, who has served in various public service and community organization positions.  Rev. Wayne S. Daley, the Director of Youth and Community Services at the Salvation Army in Boston, who has served as a Chaplain at the Suffolk County Sheriff’s Department and assisted young people returning to their communities after periods of incarceration. Joshua Dankoff, a child welfare, juvenile justice, and immigration policy advocate. Anne Hernandez, a social worker supporting immigrant students. Carrie Mays, a local organizer with the Center for Teen Empowerment involved in the arts, serving as the Board’s dedicated youth member. Amy McNamee, a criminal defense attorney who works on various violent and financial crimes cases. Tara Register, an advocate and organizer focused on creating youth wellness through comprehensive systems of family support. Chris Sumner, an advocate who has led many community organizations in Boston, including Upward Bound and The Salvation Army’s Ray & Joan Kroc Center. “I am grateful to Mayor Wu for the opportunity to serve as Chair to help facilitate an opportunity for Boston residents to seek an independent review when they feel they’ve been wronged by the Boston Police Department,” said Chair of the Civilian Review Board Peter Alvarez. “Through the work of the Civilian Review Board, I look forward to building trust within our communities to enhance safety throughout our neighborhoods.” Chaired by Judge Leslie Harris, the five-member Internal Affairs Oversight Panel is charged with reviewing completed investigations of the Boston Police Department's Internal Affairs Division. Mayor Wu’s appointments to IAOP are: Judge Leslie Harris, a retired associate justice for the Suffolk Juvenile Court who has also worked as a teacher, youth worker, Probation Officer for the Suffolk Superior Court, public defender, and Chief of the Juvenile Division of the Suffolk County DA’s office. Allison Cartwright, Attorney in Charge at the Roxbury Defender’s Office, former member of the Police Reform Task Force, and former assistant corporation counsel for the City of Boston. Christina Miller, an Assistant Clinical Professor of Law at Suffolk University who also served as Chief of District Courts and Community Prosecutions with the Suffolk County DA’s Office. Julien Mundele, an attorney specializing in government investigations, criminal defense, and health law practice, and a former Assistant District Attorney with the Suffolk County DA’s Office. Jassie-Fredcia Senwah, a victim witness advocate at the Suffolk County DA’s Office and organizer providing resources and support to students, women and children impacted by domestic violence. “To ensure every safety possibility to all of our residents, it’s important that we hold our law enforcement officers to a high standard,” said Chair of the Internal Affairs Oversight Panel Judge Leslie Harris. “I am grateful to Mayor Wu to serve as Chair of this board to have an opportunity to conduct independent investigations into completed internal affairs cases, to further provide accountability for our residents.” The purpose of the OPAT is to provide opportunity for individuals with concerns or complaints related to the Boston Police Department and its employees to be heard and responded to, and to provide the staffing and legal authority necessary to support the work of the OPAT and its related advisory boards and panels to undertake independent investigation and review of policing in Boston. OPAT’s first semi-annual report can be found here. For more information about the Office of Police Accountability and Transparency, visit Boston.gov/OPAT. Mayor Wu previously announced the formation of the five-member committee to steer the public engagement and search process for the next Boston Police Department (BPD) Commissioner, a group of deeply respected law and public safety professionals and community leaders. The Committee has hosted two community engagement sessions to learn residents’ visions for leadership within BPD. For more information, visit Boston.gov/BPD-Commissioner.

Mayor Wu announce appointments to the Civilian Review Board (CRB) and the Internal Affairs Oversight Panel (IAOP), which are part of the City’s Office of Police Accountability and Transparency (OPAT). She will be joined by the Executive Director of the Office Police Accountability and Transparency Stephanie Everett, members of the CRB and IAOP, and Superintendent Sharon Dottin and Deputy Superintendent Eddy Chrispin of the Boston Police Department Bureau of Professional Standards.

ACDC主任劉安琪獲選為HUD住房輔導顧問委員會委員

HUD APPOINTS FOUR NEW MEMBERS TO THE HOUSING COUNSELING FEDERAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE
New appointments bring Committee membership to full 12 members authorized by statute.

WASHINGTON - The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) announced on Monday the appointment of four new members to the Housing Counseling Federal Advisory Committee. These new members complement the Committee’s existing eight members, bringing membership back to the full twelve members authorized by statute. These new members represent the mortgage industry, the real estate industry, consumers, and HUD-approved housing counseling agencies.

“We welcome our newest members to the Housing Counseling Federal Advisory Committee and thank all members for their commitment to the nation’s individuals, families, and communities who rely on the nationwide housing counseling program to find and sustain safe and affordable homes,” said HUD Secretary Marcia L. Fudge. “For the first time in recent years, the Committee is at its full twelve members, as allowed under statute. The work of this Committee in advising HUD’s Housing Counseling program is not only critical to the nation’s recovery from the financial effects of COVID-19 but is a vital part of reshaping fairer and more equitable housing opportunities for communities of color.”

The following new Committee members announced today will serve three-year terms:

• Gabe Del Rio, President and Chief Executive Officer, Homeownership Council of America
• Daniel Garcia, Vice President/Senior CRA Lending Officer, First Horizon Bank
• Angie Liou, Executive Director, Asian Community Development Corporation
• Richard Verrillo, Director of Business Development, Navicore Solutions

Additional information about each of the new members can be found here. These individuals will join the following Committee members who were appointed or re-appointed in September 2021:

• Ibijoke Akinbowale, Director, National Community Reinvestment Coalition Housing Counseling Network
• Patricia Arvielo, President and Co-Founder, New American Funding
• Lawrence Batiste, President, Batiste Premier Realty
• Carol Ann Dujanovich, Vice President and Director of Operations, 1st Nations Reverse Mortgage
• Marcia Lewis, Deputy Executive Director - Change Management, Indianapolis Housing Authority
• Bill Sevilla, Director, Community Development and Asset Building, Centro Campesino
• Tony Walters, Executive Director, National American Indian Housing Council
• Paul Yorkis, President, Patriot Real Estate.

大摩頓市亞裔社區聯盟 1/27-28 免費發放新冠病毒快速檢測盒

 

The Greater Malden Asian American Community Coalition (GMAACC) is distributing COVID-19 rapid test kits to Malden residents for the Lunar New Year.You can reserve 2 boxes for each address (4 tests in total).

Pickup address: Wah Lum Kung Fu & Tai Chi Academy, 124 Ferry St, Malden, MA 02148.

MassHealth holders/uninsured: Thursday, January 27, 3pm-5:45 pm
All Others: Friday, January 28, 3pm-5:45pm.

500 rapid test kits will be given out every day. There is a limited supply

The information entered below to register must match your ID (and MassHealth card if applicable) at pickup.

 

Please register at this link: https://bit.ly/3fX0vZh 

4 organizations celebrate Lunar New Year with "Asian Women's Voices Rise" as theme

     Celebrate the Lunar New Year! Year of the Tiger! Asian Women's Voices Rise!

Description

Hear the roar. Join Get Konnected!, GBH, NAAAP, and the Commonwealth Seminars as we honor and elevate the voices of Asian women in the Year of the Tiger. As the dual pandemics of Covid-19 and racial inequity continue to flare, Asian women's resilience, courage, and intellect permeate political, social, and cultural communities at the intersection of new traditions and brilliant accomplishments. Learn what cross-cultural achievements await in the coming Lunar New Year.

Boston Mayor Michelle Wu, the first woman and the first Asian-American elected to the office, and City Council President Edward Flynn, who represents Chinatown, just announced they will join Get Konnected! Founder and CEO Colette Phillips during the GK! annual Lunar New Year free virtual celebration 5:30 to 7 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 25. The evening -- "Asian Women's Voices Roar" -- also includes live appearances by distinguished guests GBH GM Liz Cheng, Zipcar President Tracey Zhen and Boston Globe ​Columnist Shirley Leung. Plus additional city elected officials. Don't miss this incredible evening

Moderator: Shirley Leung, Columnist, Boston Globe

Panel:
Liz Cheng, GM, GBH
Tracey Zhen, President, Zipcar

Special Guests:
Mayor Michelle Wu
Ed Flynn City Council President
Chien-Mei Chang, Interim President NAAAP Boston

Time

Jan 25, 2022 05:30 PM in Eastern Time (US and Canada)

As MA House Debates VOTES Act, Danielle Allen Calls For Same-Day Voter Registration

 As MA House Debates VOTES Act, Danielle Allen Calls For Same-Day Voter Registration

Boston, MA – Today, with the VOTES Act up for debate in the Massachusetts House, national democracy leader and gubernatorial candidate Danielle Allen is highlighting the need for same-day voter registration. Included in the Senate version of the bill, but not in the House’s, this key provision will make it easier for people across Massachusetts to cast their ballot and own their voice. Allen has already committed to promoting same-day registration as part of her democracy agenda — a transformative strategy to reimagine our democracy to empower all of us.

“From the pandemic to climate to the housing crisis, solving our biggest challenges starts with strengthening our democracy,” said gubernatorial candidate Danielle Allen. “We need to get everyone to the table to knit ourselves together as One Commonwealth — and that starts with making it easier for every eligible voter to cast their ballot. Same-day voter registration has to be part of that effort.”

In 2020, Massachusetts introduced new voting provisions to make it easier and safer for people to cast their ballot during the pandemic — which resulted in the highest voter turnout in Massachusetts history. In an important step to strengthen our democracy and drive participation and empowerment, the VOTES Act would make many of those provisions permanent. However, Massachusetts’ turnout still lagged behind 13 other states in 2020, many of which used more innovative practices like same-day registration to expand ballot box access.

“Right now, our country needs a national leader to show the way towards a stronger democracy. Massachusetts has the chance to be that leader — but only if we take this seriously and use all our tools to shore up the right to vote,” said gubernatorial candidate Danielle Allen. “I’m urging the Legislature to move forward with same-day voter registration as part of the VOTES Act.”

MIT 麥高文研究院5人獲選為美國科學促進會學者 其中2華裔，Guoping Feng，Evelyn N. Wang

             (Boston Orange 編譯) 麻省理工學院麥高文研究院 (McGovern Institute) 1月26日宣佈，在入選美國科學促進會2021年橫跨24個科學領域的564名科學家，工程師及創新者中，有5人來自該院，其中2人為華裔學者。

             這5名在科學及社會上有傑出成就的學者，分別為化學系的W. M. Keck能源教授 Mircea Dincă，麥高文腦研究院副主任Guoping Feng，Kavliw天體物理和空間研究院資深研究員David Shoemaker，機械工程Hatsopoulos教授Ian Hunter，機械工程系負責人暨福特工程教授Evelyn N. Wang。

                       Guoping Feng是腦及認知科學系的James W. and Patricia T. Poitras神經科學教授，也是麥高文腦研究院副主任，以及史丹利(Stanley)心理研究中心的模型系統和神經生物學主任。他同時也是麻省理工學院和哈佛大學合辦的博德研究院 (Broad Institute)的機構成員。

他的研究致力於了解腦內突觸的發展及功能，以及突觸功能障礙對神經發育和心理疾病的影響。藉著了解這些疾病的分子，細胞，以及電路機制，Guoping Feng希望他的工作最後能為數以百萬計受這些毀滅性疾病困惱的人，帶來新的有效治療。

Evelyn N. Wang是機械工程系主管，也是福特工程教授。她的研究項目綜合了微/納米級熱能的基礎研究，以及大眾運輸過程，藉由研發創新工程結構來在熱能管理，能源及水收集系統中催生出創新的解決方案。

她在熱光伏上的工作，於2016年時被選入科技評論 (Technology Review)的清潔能源最大進步名單，在2017年時被選為該雜誌的十大突破科技之一，另外還獲得能源部前沿研究中心的十大之十獎 (Ten of Ten)。 她所做的從空氣中萃取水，已為她贏得2017年”外國政策 (Foreign Policy)”的”全球重新思考者”頭銜，2018年第八屆蘇丹王子bin Abdulaziz國際水獎。

麻州公衛協會批評州長2023預算砍500萬元"公衛優異項目補助款"

Public Health Advocates Raise Alarm on Proposed Funding Cuts  

  

BOSTON, MA – Today, the Massachusetts Public Health Association (MPHA) criticized a 33% proposed cut to local public health in Governor Baker’s fiscal year 2023 budget.  

       

“A proposed cut to local public health in the midst of a continuing global pandemic defies both logic and common sense,” said Carlene Pavlos, Executive Director of the Massachusetts Public Health Association. “It is made all the more egregious by the fact that the administration continues to place an enormous amount of responsibility on the shoulders of local boards of health.” 

   

The $5M cut proposed to the “Public Health Excellence Grant Program” at the Department of Public Health would negatively impact public health capacity and staffing in communities across the Commonwealth.   

 

“MPHA will work with our legislative allies to ensure that the House and the Senate budgets include the needed resources for our local boards of health,” continued Pavlos. “As they continue their essential work to deliver vaccines, conduct tests, and enforce public health guidance, local public health workers need and deserve the support of state policymakers.”  

 

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. ###   

 

 

Governor Baker Nominates Attorney Karin Bell as Associate Justice of the Superior Court

 Governor Baker Nominates Attorney Karin Bell as Associate Justice of the Superior Court

 

BOSTON — Today, Governor Charlie Baker nominated Attorney Karin Bell as Associate Justice of the Superior Court. Attorney Bell has 19 years of legal experience.

 

“The many years of legal experience that Attorney Bell will bring to the Superior Court make her a well-qualified candidate,” said Governor Charlie Baker. “I look forward to the Governor’s Council’s consideration of her nomination for this appointment.”

 

“I am pleased with the nomination of this distinguished attorney,” said Lt. Governor Karyn Polito. “If confirmed, I am confident that Attorney Bell’s skills and knowledge will allow her to continue to serve the public effectively in this new position.”

 

The Superior Court, the trial court of general jurisdiction for Massachusetts, is committed to delivering high quality justice in a timely and fair manner in accordance with the rule of law. The Court's 82 justices sit in 20 courthouses in all 14 counties of the Commonwealth. The Superior Court has original jurisdiction in civil actions over $25,000 and in matters where equitable relief is sought. It also has original jurisdiction in actions including labor disputes where injunctive relief is sought, exclusive authority to convene medical malpractice tribunals, appellate jurisdiction over certain administrative proceedings, and may hold sittings for naturalization in any city or town. The Superior Court also has exclusive original jurisdiction of first-degree murder cases and original jurisdiction of all other crimes.

 

For more information about the Superior Court, please visit their homepage.

 

Judicial nominations are subject to the advice and consent of the Governor’s Council. Applicants for judicial openings are reviewed by the Judicial Nominating Commission (JNC) and recommended to the governor. Governor Baker established the JNC in February 2015 pursuant to Executive Order 558, a non-partisan, non-political Commission composed of volunteers from a cross-section of the Commonwealth's diverse population to screen judicial applications. Twenty-one members were later appointed to the JNC in April 2015.

 

About Attorney Karin Bell

Attorney Karin Bell began her legal career in 2003 as a law clerk under Judges Nathaniel M. Gorton and F. Dennis Faylor of the District of Massachusetts. In 2003, Attorney Bell joined Goodwin law offices, working as a litigation associate. She then joined the Office of the US Attorney for Massachusetts. Attorney Bell started as an Assistant US Attorney and was named Chief of the Worcester Branch office in 2013. From 2018 to 2021, Attorney Bell became Deputy Chief of the Criminal Division and worked on several high-profile cases, most notably serving as a co-lead prosecutor for the Operation Varsity Blues trial. She was promoted to Chief of the Criminal Division in 2021.   In 2021, Attorney Bell became a partner with Manatt, Phelps, & Phillips, LLP. She volunteers as a judge in the Harvard Law School Moot Court Competition, teaches at the Discovering Justice program, and volunteers at Grace Chapel. Attorney Bell received her Bachelor’s degree from the University of Maryland in 1997, and her Juris Doctorate from Harvard Law School in 2002.