ACTON HOME IMPROVEMENT CONTRACTOR BANNED FROM BUSINESS IN MASSACHUSETTS UNDER SETTLEMENT WITH AG’S OFFICE

 ACTON HOME IMPROVEMENT CONTRACTOR BANNED FROM BUSINESS IN MASSACHUSETTS UNDER SETTLEMENT WITH AG’S OFFICE

Richard Capachione to Pay $150,000 in Restitution for Home Improvement Scam Impacting Dozens of Consumers

 

BOSTON – An Acton home improvement contractor has been banned from owning or managing a construction company and will pay $150,000 in restitution following allegations that he scammed dozens of homeowners in Massachusetts, Attorney General Maura Healey announced today.

 

The consent judgment, entered in Suffolk Superior Court, requires the dissolution of three companies – New England Hardscapes, Inc., Aqua Outdoor Environments, and R and R Consulting, LLC – owned by the defendant, Richard Capachione. The AG’s Office alleges that for years, Capachione, through his three companies, collected hundreds of thousands of dollars in consumer deposits and periodic payments for home improvement projects across the state that were either never started or abandoned mid-way through, leaving several properties damaged and in dangerous and unsanitary conditions. By continuing to take money while leaving projects unfinished, the AG’s Office alleged that Capachione violated state consumer protection laws, and the Home Improvement Contractor Act.

 

“Remodeling a home can be a massive, expensive effort, and it is devastating when properties are left in worse condition than they started, with money spent on unfinished work,” said AG Healey. “This settlement returns thousands of dollars to Massachusetts homeowners who were taken advantage of by this contractor’s deceptive practices.”  

 

Since 2013, Capachione and his businesses have been providing construction services in Massachusetts – specifically, the installation and construction of swimming pools and pool decks, and the construction of outdoor living spaces and retaining walls. 

 

  The AG’s Office began investigating Capachione and his businesses in 2019, after receiving complaints from consumers alleging that they were paying for home improvement projects, only for those projects to remain unfinished. The AG’s Consumer Protection Division filed a civil complaint in 2019, alleging that Capachione and his companies induced homeowners to enter into agreements and make payments when Capachione lacked the ability to perform the projects and failed to refund consumers for labor and materials. Capachione ultimately filed for bankruptcy, leaving these consumers in the lurch. 

 

The AG’s Office alleges that after accepting large initial deposits and progress payments from homeowners, Capachione would then engage in a pattern of delays and excuses, ultimately failing to perform the renovations or deliver the materials he was paid to produce or procure.  Despite Capachione and his businesses being financially unstable, he continued to solicit new business, enter into new agreements, and accept new deposits from consumers.

 

According to the AG’s Office, Capachione entered into written agreements with new customers that lacked key disclosures required by the law, including the contractor’s registration number, a detailed description of the work to be done, the date when the project was scheduled to begin and substantially completed, and notice that the contractor was required to be registered with the state’s Office of Consumer and Business Affairs (OCABR).

 

Under the terms of the AG’s settlement, Capachione is required to pay $150,000 in restitution, which will be put into a fund for harmed consumers. The distribution of the fund will be overseen by a designated trustee, to be determined by the AG’s Office. Consumers can expect to receive letters in the mail from the AG’s Office and/or the trustee regarding the settlement agreement and the steps they must take in order to file a claim for restitution.

 

Capachione is also prohibited from owning, managing, or actively participating in the decision-making of any organization that provides construction services to Massachusetts consumers and from soliciting business from Massachusetts consumers with respect to any home improvement construction.  

The AG’s Office offers the following guidance to those who are considering hiring a home improvement contractor:

• Shop wisely and do research. Ask your friends and neighbors for recommendations about contractors they have used and trust and always ask contractors for references. Check to make sure your contractor is registered with the Office of Consumer Affairs and Business Regulation, which will allow you to check any complaint history.
• Solicitations. Be extra cautious if a contractor solicits business by the phone or by knocking on the door.
• Get it in writing. Make sure you obtain a written contract or price estimate that details the job that will be done. For more complex projects, ask for an itemized estimate.
• Permits. Your registered home improvement contractor should get any building permits required by your city or town.  If you pull the permits yourself, you hurt your ability to recover if something goes wrong.
• Upfront fees. Be wary of contractors who demand the full price of the work up front. For most home improvement projects that exceed $1,000, consumers cannot be required to make a deposit of more than one-third of the project price in advance, except for orders of custom-made materials.
• Contact the AG’s Office’s consumer assistance hotline with questions 617-727-8400 or file a complaint online here.

 

This case was handled by Assistant Attorney General Carlos Wilder and Paralegals Andrew Turnbull and Marina Bueno of the AG’s Consumer Protection Division, with assistance from Senior Financial Investigator Colleen Frost of the AG’s Civil Investigations Division.

Baker-Polito Administration Announces Plan to Begin Distributing Payments to Low-Income Workers

 Baker-Polito Administration Announces Plan to Begin Distributing Payments to Low-Income Workers

$500 payments will be delivered to 500,000 people in March

 

BOSTON – The Baker-Polito Administration today announced plans to begin distribution of $500 payments to 500,000 low-income workers as part of the COVID-19 Essential Employee Premium Pay program. These payments represent the first round of funds to be distributed as part of the $460 million program, which was enacted in December when Governor Baker signed a $4 billion spending plan for American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds. These payments, worth $250 million, will be mailed to 500,000 people by the end of March.

“I was pleased to sign the COVID-19 Essential Employee Premium Pay program into law in December, and our Administration has worked quickly to design the parameters for the program with plans to efficiently begin distribution of these payments by the end of March,” said Governor Charlie Baker. “This program will support those workers who served our communities, especially early in the pandemic.”

“This first round of payments to low-income workers will provide meaningful support for individuals who continued to work despite the global pandemic,” said Lt. Governor Karyn Polito. “We are pleased that our Administration has been able to quickly design this program to get funds out the door to those workers who the program is intended to support.”

Click here to learn more about the program: www.mass.gov/premiumpay

The law provided for the Administration to design the program and develop eligibility parameters that will ensure this critical support is provided quickly to deserving workers across the Commonwealth. Based on filed 2020 Massachusetts tax returns, individuals will be eligible for payments if their income from employment was at least $12,750 and their total income put them below 300% of the federal poverty level.

The lower bound of this range equates to working 20 hours a week for 50 weeks at minimum wage as of 2020 ($12.75). The federal poverty level is set by the federal government and increases with household or family size. For example, the maximum total income for a single filer with no dependents will be $38,280; a resident who files with a spouse and two dependents, or with no spouse and three dependents, could be eligible with a household income up to $78,600. Married filers can each be eligible, provided each independently qualifies. Based on these parameters, the below chart indicates eligibility for these payments by household size:

Household / Family Size	2020 Total Income @ 300% of FPL
1	$38,280
2	$51,720
3	$65,160
4	$78,600
5	$92,040
6	$105,480
7	$118,920
8	$132,360

 

Individuals who received unemployment compensation in 2020 will not be eligible for the first round of payments, nor will Commonwealth executive branch employees who received or will receive a one-time payment from the state as their employer.

The legislation creating the Premium Pay program included $500 million for low-income essential workers; this $460 million program comprises the majority of those funds, and $40 million was allocated to fund previous agreements with state employee unions. Additional information on plans to disburse subsequent rounds of funds after March will be released in the future. 

MAYOR WU ANNOUNCES UPDATE TO B TOGETHER POLICY

MAYOR WU ANNOUNCES UPDATE TO B TOGETHER POLICY

BOSTON - Tuesday, February 8, 2022 - With the city and the region experiencing significant reductions in COVID-19 hospitalizations, expanded ICU capacity, and a decreased community positivity rate since the height of the Omicron surge, Mayor Michelle Wu today announced metrics that the Boston Public Health Commission and City of Boston will use to determine when to lift the City’s B Together vaccination requirement, which requires patrons and staff of certain indoor spaces to show proof of vaccination against COVID-19. “The data makes clear that Boston’s policies to boost vaccination and public health have been working, and we are coming down from the recent Omicron-driven surge,” said Mayor Michelle Wu. “I’m encouraged by the current trends and grateful to the Boston Public Health Commission and all our partners for strong leadership to keep us heading in the right direction. The fastest way to help ensure we are relieving pressure on hospital capacity and driving down community positivity is to keep closing gaps with vaccination and boosters.” Since early in the pandemic, the Boston Public Health Commission has continuously tracked many different metrics to guide the city’s response. Today, Mayor Wu announced that the current proof of vaccination requirement would be lifted when the following conditions are met: Fewer than 95% of ICU beds are occupied Fewer than 200 COVID-19 hospitalizations per day A community positivity rate below 5%, as defined by the Boston Public Health Commission’s 7-day moving average The Boston Public Health Commission will have the ability to restore the vaccination requirement in the event of future surges, guided by its ongoing review of COVID-19 metrics and other emerging public health information. “The B Together initiative is helping us slow the spread of COVID-19 and protect Bostonians during this surge. We have matched this proactive public health policy with equitable access to vaccines, and because of this multilayered approach, I am optimistic about where our city is headed during this pandemic,” said Dr. Bisola Ojikutu, Commissioner of Public Health and Executive Director of the Boston Public Health Commission. “The City of Boston’s COVID-19 response has always been driven by science and data, and we will remain ready to adjust our strategy, guidance, and requirements as needed to keep everyone safe.” B Together currently applies to patrons and staff of indoor restaurants, bars, nightclubs, gyms, and entertainment facilities (those picking up takeout orders and other quick visits are exempt). A full list of businesses that fall under the B Together policy can be found here.  The City has made providing proof of vaccination as easy and accessible as possible. To enter one of the establishments included in the policy, individuals can show a CDC vaccination card, a photo of the card, the B Together app, or any other COVID-19 vaccine verification app, including the Massachusetts digital vaccine card. The free B Together app is available through both the Apple Store and Google Play. The City has been working with businesses on implementation practices since B Together was announced. Before the launch of the policy, the City hosted four B Together webinars focused on answering questions from small business owners. Roughly 150 - 200 people joined each session, and more than 800 registered for the webinars overall. “We appreciate our small businesses for their resilience and for continuing to stay engaged with our office as we rolled out the B Together mandate,” said Segun Idowu, Chief of Economic Opportunity and Inclusion. “As we monitor the public health metrics and see the numbers improve, it is our priority to lift the mandate in the safest and most effective manner possible.”  The City of Boston and the Boston Public Health Commission continue to support easily accessible walk-in vaccination clinics across the city, including at many community centers, schools, and community health centers. A full list of vaccination sites, including walk-in facilities, can be found here.

Committee of 100 Connects with Over 150 Groups, Universities and Organizations on Landmark Study of Chinese American Contributions

 Committee of 100 Connects with Over 150 Groups, Universities and Organizations on Landmark Study of Chinese American Contributions

 New York, NY (February 8, 2022) — On February 8, 2021, Committee of 100 published a landmark study on the historic contributions of Chinese Americans to the fabric of American society. The study “From Foundations to Frontiers: Chinese American Contributions to the Fabric of America,” was commissioned by Committee of 100, produced by The Economist Intelligence Unit, and sponsored in part by Citi Private Bank. The 140-plus page study, along with seven vertical reports, examines the enduring contribution of Chinese Americans to America’s economic and cultural successes across nearly two centuries.

Committee of 100 is a non-profit leadership organization of Chinese Americans in business, government, academia, healthcare, and the arts. At a time of heightened xenophobia, hate and violence directed at the Asian American and Pacific Islander community, “From Foundations to Frontiers” serves to shed light on and celebrate the longstanding importance of Chinese Americans to America.

Since launching the landmark study one year ago, Committee of 100 has conducted guest lectures to more than 150 different groups, organizations and universities. These virtual talks are free to any individual  interested in learning more about and discussing the history, challenges, and contributions of Chinese Americans.

“For centuries, Chinese Americans have made tremendous contributions to the growth and prosperity of the United States but have been excluded from the narrative –  always seen as perpetual foreigners. It is more critical than ever to highlight the role Chinese Americans have played in the American story. From Foundations to Frontiers illuminates, through data and storytelling, how Chinese Americans have had a significant impact on American life as we know it,” said Zhengyu Huang, President of Committee of 100. “Along with other communities of color, Chinese Americans continue to face barriers to full inclusion in the form of systemic biases and entrenched stereotypes. America will reach its full potential only when all its citizens can access the same opportunity and representation.”

The website where the Foundations to Frontiers content is housed has had more than 17,890 total visits and 26,735 total page views, and was visited at least once by people from 85 different countries over the past year.

The full landmark study and any of the seven industry reports can be downloaded for free at https://fromfoundationstofrontiers.committee100.org/. 

Committee of 100 will be conducting virtual talks throughout 2022. Please visit https://www.committee100.org/projects/committee-of-100-guest-lecture/ to review what other organizations, universities and groups have said about From Foundations to Frontiers and sign up for your own free guest lecture. 

Feedback from groups, organizations, and universities over the past few months:

“The ‘From Foundations to Frontiers” study by Committee of 100 is a quintessential account of the Chinese American community’s history and trajectory. It demonstrates the remarkable struggles and triumphs of our forebearers. It is a rich tapestry of American culture, art, innovation, entrepreneurship, perseverance and integrity. Meanwhile, we are reminded that, 140 years after the Chinese Exclusion Act, Chinese Americans continue to face prejudice and suspicion. I hope Committee of 100, together with other Chinese American leaders, will continue to advocate for the rights of our community, and empower more young Chinese Americans to join our country’s journey towards “a more perfect union.” – Ge Yu, Executive Director, China General Chamber of Commerce-Washington DC

“The Chinese Historical Society of America welcomed this type of deeply researched and valuable data from Committee of 100. In a time of disinformation and a divided society, it is imperative that we, as a community of Chinese Americans within the larger community of Asian Americans, do all we can to continue to identify, document and celebrate the enduring contributions of our people to this great nation. ‘From Foundations to Frontiers’ provides needed information, and stories about how we can continue to shift the narrative about the role of people of color in refining and advancing the American dream.” – Justin Hoover, Executive Director, Chinese Historical Society of America

“As an American born Chinese, I have always felt that the little that was taught in schools about China or the Chinese in America was over simplified and often misunderstood and certainly too brief.  From Foundations to Frontiers and the conversation hosted by Committee of 100 was so enlightening and inspiring. This history and the vital contributions by Americans of Chinese descent were all important to us as Americans and as Chinese. It helps to have the birds eye view with world history as the backdrop and get perspective of our experience as Chinese Americans. It helped to see how we fit into the big picture. It is my dream that this information will find its way into American textbooks.” – Greer Tan Swiston, 2021 Chairman of the Board, Greater Boston Chinese Cultural Association

“The Committee of 100’s excellent ‘From Foundations to Frontiers’ presentation at Penn sparked a lively discussion on how members of the university can help to ensure that we benefit from the contributions of Chinese immigrants in the future as much as we have in the past. To do so we must all join together to push back against anti-Asian hate and against racial profiling in investigations of collaborations with researchers at Chinese institutions.” – Andrea J. Liu, Hepburn Professor of Physics, University of Pennsylvania

Connect with China General Chamber of Commerce at https://www.cgccusa.org/en/ or on Facebook, Twitter, Linkedin, or Youtube.

Connect with Chinese Historical Society of America at https://chsa.org/ or on Facebook, Twitter, Youtube, or Instagram.

Connect with Greater Boston Chinese Cultural Association at https://gbcca.org/ or on Facebook, or Twitter. 

Connect with the Center for Soft and Living Matter at the University of Pennsylvania at  https://web.sas.upenn.edu/slm/ or on Twitter.

白宮亞裔會慶農曆新年 蘇維思、徐若冰，盧沛寧、戴琦等華裔高官齊拜年

盧沛寧，美國駐聯合國大使

蘇維思，美國勞工部副部長

美國貿易代表戴琦

   徐若冰 (Heidi Shyu)，美國國防部研究及工程副部長。

 

TODAY at 4pm ET:
Virtual Lunar New Year Celebration

Join the White House Initiative on Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders (WHIAANHPI) and the White House Office of Public Engagement (OPE) for a virtual 2022 Lunar New Year Celebration today, February 8, 2022, at 4pm ET.

 

2022 Lunar New Year Celebration

Tuesday, February 8, 2022, at 4pm ET

Register here.

The celebration will feature cooking demonstrations with renowned chefs; cultural performances; and appearances by trailblazers in government, entertainment, fashion, advocacy, and more. Register here.

 

WHIAANHPI Summer 2022 Internship Program

Calling all undergraduate and graduate students! Applications for the WHIAANHPI Summer 2022 Internship Program are now open. Apply by February 17, 2022.

Learn more about the internship and how to apply here.