AG CAMPBELL SECURES OVER $7.6 MILLION, INCLUDING DEBT RELIEF, FOR CONSUMERS IN TOYOTA MOTOR CREDIT CORPORATION SETTLEMENT

AG CAMPBELL SECURES OVER $7.6 MILLION, INCLUDING DEBT RELIEF, FOR CONSUMERS IN TOYOTA MOTOR CREDIT CORPORATION SETTLEMENT 

Settlement Resolves Allegations That the Company Failed to Provide Post-Repossession Information to Consumers; Eligible Borrowers May Qualify for Debt Relief and Credit Repair  

 

BOSTON– Attorney General Andrea Joy Campbell today announced a settlement reached with Toyota Motor Credit Corporation to resolve allegations of certain illegal auto loan collection practices, securing more than $7.6 million, including approximately $5.5 million in debt relief. More than 500 borrowers across the state are expected to be eligible for relief under the settlement. 

 

The assurance of discontinuance, filed on January 17^th in Suffolk Superior Court, alleges that Toyota Motor Credit failed to give certain consumers sufficient information about the calculation methods for deficiencies left on their auto loans after their cars were repossessed. The settlement also alleges that Toyota Motor Credit made excessive collection calls to certain consumers, in violation of the AG’s Debt Collection Regulations.  

 

“Consumers facing repossession and collection actions on their vehicles deserve clear and transparent information from auto lenders,” said AG Campbell. “It is our hope that the debt waiver and funds secured through this settlement will assist hundreds of residents in getting the relief they need and deserve – and build on our efforts to provide economic opportunity to families across Massachusetts.”  

 

Today’s settlement is part of the ongoing work of the AG’s Office to protect consumers, especially from unfair and predatory collection practices. The AG’s Office has previously pursued Credit Acceptance Corporation (CAC) for failing to provide similar information to auto borrowers after auto repossession – this claim was part of a much broader suit against CAC relating to unfair lending, collection and securitization issues. In August 2020, the AG’s Office sued CAC and announced a settlement in September 2021 for over $27 million in cash as well as debt forgiveness and credit repair for affected consumers. Last year, the AG’s Office entered into a $5.6 million assurance of discontinuance with Santander Consumer USA relating to its alleged failure to provide post-repossession information to borrowers.  

 

Borrowers eligible for relief under this settlement will be contacted by the AG’s Office. Anyone with questions about settlement eligibility should contact the Attorney General’s Insurance and Financial Services Division at 617-963-2220. 

 

This matter was handled by Assistant Attorney General Andrew Labadini and Mathematician Dr. Burt Feinberg, both of the AG’s Insurance and Financial Services Division. 

拜登總統1/24日發函向悼念1/21日加州蒙特公園逝者群眾致意

THE WHITE HOUSE Vice President Kamala Harris places flowers at a memorial for the victims of the mass shooting in Monterey Park, California on Jan. 25, 2023. Photo courtesy of the White House. A Message from President Joe Biden to the Monterey Park Community 拜登总统致函蒙特利公园社区 拜登總統致函蒙特利公園社區 On January 24, 2023, Erika L. Moritsugu, Deputy Assistant to the President and Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Senior Liaison, participated in a vigil at Monterey Park City Hall in California to mourn those who were killed in the mass shooting on January 21, 2023. Moritsugu shared the Biden-Harris Administration’s full support and condolences for the community and delivered the following message from President Joe Biden: 2023 年 1 月 24 日，总统副助理兼亚裔美国人、夏威夷原住民和太平洋岛民高级联络员 Erika L. Moritsugu 参加了在加利福尼亚州蒙特利公园市政厅举行的守夜活动，悼念在2023 年 1 月 21 日大规模枪击事件中丧生的受害者。 Moritsugu分享了拜登-哈里斯政府对社区的全力支持和慰问，并传达了拜登总统的以下信息： 2023 年 1 月 24 日，總統副助理兼亞裔美國人、夏威夷原住民和太平洋島民高級聯絡員 Erika L. Moritsugu 參加了在加利福尼亞州蒙特利公園市政廳舉行的守夜活動，悼念在2023 年 1 月 21 日大規模槍擊事件中喪生的受害者。 Moritsugu分享了拜登-哈里斯政府對社區的全力支持和慰問，並傳達了拜登總統的以下信息： THE WHITE HOUSE January 24, 2023 Jill and I are keeping the people of Monterey Park and the Los Angeles region close to our hearts after a deadly mass shooting pierced your community and our Nation’s soul. To the loved ones left behind, no one should ever have to experience the deep, gripping sorrow you are feeling or endure the despair of yet another senseless act of violence. I know nothing I can say will fill the void left by those who are no longer with us and that so many questions are still unanswered. But I hope you can find solace in knowing that the country is keeping you, as well as those who were injured, in our prayers. The lives taken on January 21, 2023, were grandparents, parents, siblings, uncles, aunts, friends, and neighbors. Many were immigrants who came to America in search of their dreams and to build a better future for their family. They were cherished and loved, and while they are gone, they will never be forgotten. I share the grief that is felt by the entire Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander community, especially those who made Monterey Park their home to feel safe and at peace. Now, instead of embracing the Lunar New Year with hope for a new beginning, this community and the entire Nation are shaken by this tragedy.   To everyone gathered here today, I stand with you. May your love for the victims serve as a source of your strength—strength to stand up against violence, to rise up stronger, and to find purpose in living lives worthy of those lost and all those we can save.  Let us be there for one another. And let us heal these wounds and unite as one Nation.   In this moment of darkness, anger, and despair, your light will lead us forward. May God bless you all. — President Joe Biden   ★ ★ ★   白宫官邸 2023 年 1 月 24 日 我和吉尔在深深地关切着蒙特利公园和洛杉矶地区的人们，这场致命的大规模枪击事件刺穿了你们的社区和我们国家的灵魂。 致遇难者身后的亲人们，没人应该经历你们所感受到的这深切的，揪心的悲痛， 没人应该忍受又一起毫无意义的暴力行为带来的绝望。我知道不论我说什么都也无法填补那些不再和我们在一起的人留下的空白，而且还有很多问题仍未得到解答。但我希望你们能在知道这个国家在为你们和受伤的人祈祷时，得到慰藉。 2023 年 1 月 21 日被夺去生命的有祖父母、父母、兄弟姐妹、叔伯、阿姨、朋友和邻居。许多是为了追寻梦想，并为他们的家庭建设更美好的未来而来到美国的移民。他们被珍重爱戴，即使走了，也永远不会被遗忘。 我和整个亚裔美国人、夏威夷原住民和太平洋岛民社区一样感到悲痛，尤其是那些为了安全太平而以蒙特利公园为家的人。现在，这个社区和整个国家都被这场悲剧震惊了，而不是怀着对新开始的希望来迎接农历新年。 致今天聚集在这里的每一个人，我与你们站在一起。愿你们对受害者的爱成为你们力量的源泉—抵抗暴力的力量，更加坚强地站起来的力量，和在无愧于那些失去的人和所有我们可以拯救的人的生活中找到意义的力量。让我们彼此相伴。让我们治愈这些伤口，团结成一个国家。 在这黑暗、愤怒和绝望的时刻，你们的光将指引我们前进。愿上帝保佑你们所有人。   ★ ★ ★   白宮官邸 2023 年 1 月 24 日 我和吉爾在深深地關切著蒙特利公園和洛杉磯地區的人們，這場致命的大規模槍擊事件刺穿了你們的社區和我們國家的靈魂。 致遇難者身後的親人們，沒人應該經歷你們所感受到的這深切的，揪心的悲痛， 沒人應該忍受又一起毫無意義的暴力行為帶來的絕望。我知道不論我說什麼都也無法填補那些不再和我們在一起的人留下的空白，而且還有很多問題仍未得到解答。但我希望你們能在知道這個國家在為你們和受傷的人祈禱時，得到慰藉。 2023 年 1 月 21 日被奪去生命的有祖父母、父母、兄弟姐妹、叔伯、阿姨、朋友和鄰居。許多是為了追尋夢想，並為他們的家庭建設更美好的未來而來到美國的移民。他們被珍重愛戴，即使走了，也永遠不會被遺忘。 我和整個亞裔美國人、夏威夷原住民和太平洋島民社區一樣感到悲痛，尤其是那些為了安全太平而以蒙特利公園為家的人。現在，這個社區和整個國家都被這場悲劇震驚了，而不是懷著對新開始的希望來迎接農曆新年。 致今天聚集在這裡的每一個人，我與你們站在一起。願你們對受害者的愛成為你們力量的源泉—抵抗暴力的力量，更加堅強地站起來的力量，和在無愧于那些失去的人和所有我們可以拯救的人的生活中找到意義的力量。讓我們彼此相伴。讓我們治愈這些傷口，團結成一個國家。 在這黑暗、憤怒和絕望的時刻，你們的光將指引我們前進。願上帝保佑你們所有人。 Additional White House statements and remarks: Jan. 22: Statement from President Joe Biden on the Shooting in Monterey Park, California. Read more. Jan. 22: A Proclamation on Honoring the Victims of the Tragedy in Monterey Park, California. Read more. Jan. 24: Statement from President Biden on the Shooting in Half Moon Bay, California. Read more. Jan. 25: Remarks by Vice President Harris at Memorial for Victims of the Monterey Park Shooting. Read more. Jan. 26: Remarks by President Biden and First Lady Jill Biden at Lunar New Year Celebration. Read more.

RESOURCES & SUPPORT Our hearts go out to the victims, survivors, and all those impacted by the mass shootings in California. As our communities mourn, please find a list of resources that may help during this difficult time. The U.S. Department of Justice’s Office for Victims of Crime has prepared resource guides for those affected by the tragedies in Monterey Park and Half Moon Bay, California. Read more here and here (English, 中文). View resources from the State of California: Monterey Park (English, 中文, Tiếng Việt) and Half Moon Bay (English, 中文, Tiếng Việt). After an incident of mass violence, it’s common to feel anxious, overwhelmed, isolated, or depressed. You are not alone. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration supports the Disaster Distress Helpline, a 24/7 toll-free, multilingual, and confidential crisis support service. Call or text the hotline at 1-800-985-5990. Learn more. If you or someone you know is struggling with emotional distress or in crisis, help is available. Call or text 988 or chat at 988Lifeline.org.  Parents and caregivers play an important role in helping children and adolescents recover from exposure to traumatic events. View resources from the National Child Traumatic Stress Network here. Learn how to apply for crime victim compensation and find contact information for victim assistance programs. Read more. 全国各州都从犯罪受害者办公室接收联邦资助以支持当地的受害者援助和赔偿金计划。在您的近邻地区、州和/或地区内，有各种资源为犯罪受害个体提供服务。(English, 中文) If you believe you are the victim of a hate crime or believe you witnessed a hate crime, please report it here. 紧急求助或举报仇恨犯罪 (简体中文) | 立即尋求協助或舉報仇恨犯罪 (繁體中文) ABOUT THE INITIATIVE The White House Initiative on Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders (WHIAANHPI), established by President Joe Biden through Executive Order 14031, is charged with coordinating a whole-of-government agenda to advance equity, justice, and opportunity for AA and NHPI communities. Learn more.

麻州公共衛生廳撥款10萬元給4環境正義社區組織 該善大眾健康

 Massachusetts Public Health Officials Award $100,000 to Address Environmental and Climate Justice

 

Funding supports ongoing efforts to address health equity in communities hardest hit by COVID-19

 

BOSTON (February 2, 2023) – The Massachusetts Department of Public Health (DPH) announced $100,000 in funding to four organizations working to improve public health in Environmental Justice communities. This effort furthers DPH’s commitment to promote health equity by reducing harmful levels of exposure to environmental hazards in communities disproportionately impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.

 

These funds are part of a US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) grant awarded to DPH’s Bureau of Environmental Health to build on efforts to detect, prevent, and control environmental hazards through investing in evidence-based decision-making tools, workforce training, and community outreach. DPH will pilot collaborations with four organizations that work directly in underserved Environmental Justice communities: 

 

• La Colaborativa, Chelsea – will address the environmental health impacts of poor housing conditions by expanding its “Up to Code Toolkit,” a multilingual web-based toolkit for residents to document housing code violations and hazardous living conditions.
• Everett Community Growers, Everett – will build on its “Heat, Health, and Housing – Organizing for Resident-led Strategies for Development Without Displacement” project, a series of community workshops focused on developing climate-resilient solutions that do not lead to gentrification and displacement.
• Public Health Institute of Western Massachusetts, Springfield – will expand on its “Healthy Air Network Project,” a community air quality data collection collaboration, by developing educational materials for the public about risks and ways to reduce exposure. 
• Southeast Asian Coalition of Central Massachusetts, Inc., Worcester – will increase awareness of environmental and public health issues that affect Southeast Asian and other immigrant, refugee, and asylee communities through the Environmental and Public Health Education program.

 

Each organization will receive $25,000 between January and June 2023 to implement interventions aimed at reducing environmental exposures and potential health impacts. DPH will provide technical assistance and solicit grantee feedback to inform the development of analytical tools, resources, and collaborative networks to better address environmental and climate justice issues across Massachusetts.

 

“This award underscores our ongoing efforts to prioritize and address disparities in social determinants of health, which include environmental health,” said Public Health Commissioner Margret Cooke. “These four projects will provide us with valuable insight into how community-level interventions may be leveraged to build environmental health capacity across the state.”

 

For this pilot, DPH sought proposals from organizations providing services to a select group of municipalities that have borne the disproportionate burden of both COVID-19 and exposure to environmental health hazards.

 

This funding is supported by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) as part of a larger financial assistance award totaling $500,000. The remaining funds will be used to support project management, online public health workforce training focused on specific environmental hazards in Massachusetts, and to develop guidance to provide a framework for identifying people or populations who are the most vulnerable in Environmental Justice communities and develop best practices to achieve equitable health outcomes.

麻州公共設施廳批准降低瓦斯供應費率 預計3月民眾有感

Department of Public Utilities Approves Reductions to  
Winter Gas Supply Rates  

Approval will result in lower utility bills for Massachusetts gas customers over the winter months  

BOSTON — The Massachusetts Department of Public Utilities (DPU) has approved reductions in gas supply rates for most gas customers across the Commonwealth. On average, the decreases will result in a monthly bill decrease of about 4-5% for a typical residential heating customer.   

Beginning on February 1, 2023, customers served by The Berkshire Gas Company, Liberty Utilities, Fitchburg Gas and Electric Light Company d/b/a Unitil, Boston Gas Company d/b/a National Grid, and NSTAR Gas Company d/b/a Eversource Energy can expect lower winter gas supply rates, which will be reflected in the utility bills that customers receive in March. The decreases, which are attributable to changes in the market-based price of natural gas over the course of the winter period, result in a lower gas supply rate.   

“Our administration is focused on reducing costs for Massachusetts residents and businesses,” said Governor Maura Healey. “We are exploring every possible tool to ease burdens, from reductions in energy costs, fuel assistance, nutritional support, and more. With these reduced energy prices, small businesses can grow, and more families will be able to put food on the table and roofs over their heads.”  

“Families and businesses need relief, and our administration is heartened to see a downward trend in natural gas prices,” added Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll. “Our team is working with great urgency to push out fuel assistance, improve efficiency, and identify ways to boost financial support for our residents.”  

“This reduction in energy costs comes not a moment too soon for Massachusetts residents struggling to get by,” said Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary Rebecca Tepper. “But this adjustment is also an important reminder that we need to urgently and equitably transition away from volatile fossil fuels, which continue to threaten the financial security of our communities. The Healey-Driscoll Administration is moving swiftly to build a clean energy future to save costs and support our businesses.”  

“These reductions in winter gas supply rates will offer some much-needed relief to gas ratepayers this winter,” said Department of Public Utilities Acting Chair Cecile Fraser. “We continue to direct the utilities to work with the families and businesses across the Commonwealth through energy efficiency and fuel assistance programs to help alleviate the burdens of energy costs.”  

Under federal law, natural gas is sold in a competitive market. The Massachusetts gas distribution companies are required to purchase gas on their customers’ behalf at the market price and pass that cost on to their customers without profit to the companies. The DPU requires all gas distribution companies to revise their gas supply rates, known as the cost of gas adjustment factor, or “GAF”, whenever the companies will materially over- or under-collect costs from customers. Due to declining natural gas prices in the competitive market, the companies will decrease their GAF for gas consumed between February 1, 2023, and April 30, 2023. Each gas distribution company’s gas supply rates change at least every November 1 and May 1. Customers can shop for their own electric supplier through the DPU’s Energy Switch website: www.energyswitchma.gov.

波士頓華埠居民會2月例會討論4議程 居民關心安全、噪音，垃圾及交通問題

波士頓華埠居民會2月份往上會議有將近40人出席。

             (Boston Orange 周菊子波士頓報導)波士頓華埠居民會2月1日晚在網上召開2023年度第2次月例會，由居民會主席黃國威主持，共4項議程，前後約40人出席。

               華人前進會社區組織元鄺寶蓮和華埠土地信託基金會助理主任吳晰在會中協助居民提問，表達了居民們對安全、噪音、垃圾及交通是否可能阻塞等問題的關切。

綠路主任Chris Cook報告更新照明設備工程。

               當晚的4項議程分別為蘿絲甘迺迪綠路 (Rose Kennedy Greenway Conservancy)照明設備更新工程說明，素素小食分店陳請支持更改店面用途，位於京士頓街25號的FETE餐廳陳請支持開張，以及BioMed 地產公司說明華盛頓街1000號工程下一階段進展。

               綠路主任Chris Cook當晚親自出席會議，以示尊重居民會。他還特地情商波士頓市議會議長的助理盧善柔代為翻譯。他說綠路正斥資100萬元改善沿路燈光，預定下星期一來到陳毓禮、黃杏蓉公園施工，更新照明設備，以增加燈光亮度，改善地方安全。該燈光亮度可以調節。Chris Cook說明，整個施工過程約需二個月，施工期間會圍上藩籬，但該地區的無線網路服務不受影響。

綠路照明設備工程示意圖。

               位於泰勒街70號的素素小食店，刻正籌備在泰勒街25號地下室開張分店，請居民會支持。由於該地點原本是家髮廊，波士頓市政府拒絕了他們的牌照申請，要他們先申請變更土地用途。店東李素娥這晚由羅燕玲陪同，說明預定有10個座位，主要以外賣為主，早上11點至晚上10點開門的甜品、小食分店籌備概況，估計3月份送件，今年夏天開張。

              FETE餐廳位於京士頓街25號，之前也是餐廳，並提供現場表演，但新冠病毒疫情衝擊，前店東Shahrokh Reza支撐不下去，把生意賣了出去。

素素餐廳店東李素娥(右)在羅燕玲(左)陪同中出席居民會。

接手這家餐廳的波士頓援救任務 (Boston Rescure Mission) 主管John G. Samaan當晚在會中表示，他們希望藉由這家餐廳支持波士頓援救任務的營運，將請Shahrokh Reza繼續擔任餐廳大廚。他們強調該餐廳之前已營業16年，從無事故，之後也將一樣。由於該餐廳對面，同樣提供現場表演的Good Life，也已經支撐不住地關門了，他們相信營業時間從早上11點至凌晨2點的FETE餐廳，將努力帶旺地方經濟。

素素餐廳分店座落位置。

BioMed 地產公司由資深項目經理Ashley Myslinski和余嘉言代表出席，說明該公司一年半前已完成夏利臣街321號的改善工程後，現正著手華盛頓街1000號的第二階段改善工程。他們用了十幾張簡報圖片說明概況，包括該公司是生命科學房地產界規模最大的私營供應商，也是業主和營運者，在公司內部就能處理包括物業、設施管理，租貸，開發和建築，以及法律等其他事務。

由於辦公室市場目前充滿挑站，該公司正在把華盛頓街1000號這座辦公大樓改建為只做安全度列為第一及第二級的實驗室。目前該棟大樓內仍有許多州政府的辦公室，該公司將待所有辦公室遷出後，進行改建工程，預定2025年完工。為了做個好鄰居，該公司不但會整修大樓外的人行道等設施，還將提供估計不少於250萬元的社區福利。

該項土地發展及用途變更計畫，預定2023年冬遞交給波士頓計畫發展局 (BPDA)，並待波士頓重建局指派影響諮詢小組後，於2023年春、夏開始進一步討論。

波士頓援救任務 (Boston Rescure Mission) 主管John G. Samaan。

當晚出席會議的居民及機構代表，包括鄺寶蓮、吳晰、阿圖羅，華埠主街計畫經理何陳素貞等人，對各項陳情、說明案，都提出了關於安全、噪音，垃圾，以及是否會造成交通阻塞等的問題，最終因各項議程並無爭議，居民會基本上都同意支持。

華埠主街董事何遠光及黃光也在會中提醒出席者，該機構今夏將繼續從6月至9月的每個週六中午，邀請醒獅隊進華埠表演，巡遊。 (更新版)

華人前進會社區組織員鄺寶蓮(左)和華埠居民會主席黃國威在會中提問。

BioMed 地產公司由資深項目經理Ashley Myslinski。