PARKING LOT MANAGEMENT CONTRACTOR TO PAY $5.6 MILLION FOR ALLEGEDLY FAILING TO REMIT MILLIONS IN PARKING REVENUES TO MBTA

PARKING LOT MANAGEMENT CONTRACTOR TO PAY $5.6 MILLION FOR ALLEGEDLY FAILING TO REMIT MILLIONS IN PARKING REVENUES TO MBTA

LAZ Parking to Pay $1.1 Million to the State and $4.5 Million to the MBTA

            BOSTON – A firm hired by the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) to operate and manage parking lots in Greater Boston will pay $5.6 million to settle allegations that it failed to detect and deter theft of millions of dollars of cash revenue belonging to the MBTA, Attorney General Maura Healey announced today.

            According to the Assurance of Discontinuance, filed today in Suffolk Superior Court, LAZ Parking Limited, LLC has agreed to pay $1.1 million to the Commonwealth to resolve allegations by the AG’s Office that its failure to implement contractually-required revenue controls and auditing tools at 13 MBTA parking lots resulted in the submission of false claims and records and caused significant revenue losses in violation of the Massachusetts False Claims Act and Consumer Protection Act. LAZ has also agreed to pay the MBTA an additional $4.5 million to settle a May 2017 lawsuit filed by the MBTA claiming LAZ breached its contract. 

“LAZ employees skimmed millions of dollars in cash from MBTA parking facilities, robbing the public of funds we need to invest in transportation,” said AG Healey. “Through this settlement, we’re recovering millions of dollars for the state and forcing the company to change its bidding practices.”

“The MBTA is pleased to have reached a resolution that makes the MBTA whole for the losses it sustained,” said MassDOT/MBTA General Counsel John Englander. “The MBTA is appreciative of the Attorney General working with us in our efforts to ensure that our private partners are held to their contractual obligations.”

            The AG’s Office alleges that LAZ submitted false daily revenue reports and monthly audits and falsely certified monthly invoices to the MBTA due to its failure to properly track or audit revenue collection and usage at the 13 attended lots.

LAZ’s contract with the MBTA was terminated on March 31, 2017 and a new vendor took over.

Today’s settlement also requires LAZ to conduct pre-bid analyses of the feasibility and cost of compliance with key bid requirements, including revenue and auditing requirements, and to affirmatively correct any statements made in connection with a public bid or contract which it learns are untrue.

The MBTA fully cooperated with the AG’s investigation into LAZ Parking.

This matter was handled by Assistant Attorneys General Cassandra Arriaza, Jeffrey Walker and Division Chief Gillian Feiner with assistance from Paralegal Megan Lima, all of AG Healey’s False Claims Division and Kevin McCarthy, Chief of AG Healey’s Civil Investigations Division.

Jimmy Gomez on Los Angeles reaching deal to host the 2028 Olympics

Statement by Congressman Jimmy Gomez (D – Los Angeles) on Los Angeles reaching deal to host the 2028 Olympics

Los Angeles, CA - “I’d like to congratulate Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti and the 2024 LA Olympics Committee on their successful effort to bring back the Summer Games to the City of Angels. Mayor Garcetti’s vision of a modern games in a modern city has captivated the residents of not only Los Angeles, but the entire region. Growing up in nearby Riverside, I still remember the thrill of the competition and the athletes who inspired us in 1984, and I look forward to seeing what this excitement will do for our city as we prepare for 2028. Los Angeles is truly an international city. From Little Armenia to Koreatown, Chinatown to Little Ethiopia, the spirit of diversity is woven into the very fabric of L.A. Welcoming people from every corner of the world with open arms is who we are as Angelenos, and we are proud to continue doing so when we host this historic event once again.”

加州税务委员会主席马世云鼓励华裔青少年勇于推销自己

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加州税务委员会主席马世云鼓励华裔青少年勇于推销自己

http://www.aacyf.org/?p=7508

正在竞逐2018年加州财务长的马世云（Fiona Ma），应美国华人领袖孵化器（Future Chinese Leaders of America）邀请，2017年7月29日在加州尔湾与南加州华裔青少年分享从政经历，鼓励华人尤其是女性参政议政。

马世云首先谈起自己的成长过程，“学过钢琴的举手？参加过运动队的举手？哈哈，我的童年和你们中的大多数一样！”一下子拉近了与同学们的距离。出生于纽约的马世云，祖父曾任民国时期云南省昆明市的首任市长，四个学位在身的父亲则是不折不扣的学霸。笃信学业上的出类拔萃是子女成功的保障，父亲深以自己女儿的数学头脑为傲，并亲自为她选定了一条稳妥的职业发展道路-会计专业。

 

拿到硕士学位后，马世云如愿加入安永会计师事务所，之后辞职开办了自己的会计师事务所。然而，顺风顺水的职业发展，并不能满足马世云的心愿，她的梦想是从事公共服务领域的工作，帮助周围生活的人们，并为社会带来改变。

36岁的时候，马世云义无反顾地了开启了自己的政治生涯，从旧金山市监理会委员，到连续三届当选加州众议员，到加州民主党党鞭，到加州众议院执行议长，到当选现任加州税务委员会主席，现又投入参选加州财务长。

这位致力于推动男女平等、儿童保护、税务公平、小企业发展、公立教育和医疗保健提高等方方面面工作，曾经的州众议院多数党领袖，担任此职务的首位亚裔女性，像平易近人的朋友一样，详细地给青年朋友们一一介绍她的每一项职责，与前后两位州长--施瓦辛格和布朗州长一起工作的轶事，说到兴奋处手舞足蹈，极富感染力。“爱女心切的父亲曾极力反对我投身公职，但他为我选定的会计专业，让我在加州税务委员会如鱼得水，为我竞选加州财长做好了准备，瞧，父母的话还是一定要听滴”。

马世云坦言，民选官员的生活并不是大家看到的那么光鲜：付出的时间精力是超负荷的，收入却远不及私营部门；个人生活是得不到保障的，选战激烈时有如生活在鱼缸中；严格要求自己是必须的，一言一行都要经得起考验；恶言恶语是要坦然面对的，看看川普你就知道了；生活是要保低调简朴的，绝不适合想要开法拉利炫富的人。

聚少离多的生活，甚至让她付出了婚姻破裂的代价。因此她忠告有志于从政的青年学子，与各种人打交道乐此不疲的性格，帮助别人的巨大热情，家人的支持和理解，是在这条路上能够走远的基本条件。不仅如此，亚裔特别是女性，还有更多的实际困难甚至是心理障碍需要克服，为什么这么说呢？因为亚裔习惯于埋头努力工作，水到渠成后自然获得提升，但从政是一个不同的过程，推销自己，告诉陌生人你是最优秀的，才能来得到大家的认可，这需要亚裔走出自己的舒适区。对于女性候选人来说，有必要提前把家庭安排妥当，其次不能优柔寡断，机会窗口转瞬即逝，犹豫中竞选对手可能已经得到背书或在筹款中占得先机。但Fiona鼓励华人女性参政议政，因为帮助别人，让社区变得更好，得到的心理满足是任何其他行业不可比拟的。

去年当选的尔湾市议员Melissa Fox，也参加了美国华人领袖孵化器的这次活动。她现身说法力证马世云所言不虚：儿子过生日时，Melissa问他喜欢去哪里，今天可以满足他的要求，儿子却说只想吃妈妈在家里做的饭。 原本喜欢烹饪的女律师，担任公职后工作忙碌，对家庭亏欠良多，所幸有家人的理解和支持，可以让她全心全意地为尔湾社区服务。

精彩的演讲结束后，很多青少年留下来与马世云和Melissa Fox继续交流，原本一个小时的活动，足足进行了两个小时。

全美中华青年联合会 www.aacyf.org

AG HEALEY JOINS COALITION OPPOSING ELIMINATION OF LOW-INCOME ENERGY ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS

AG HEALEY JOINS COALITION OPPOSING ELIMINATION OF LOW-INCOME ENERGY ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS

35 Attorneys General and State Consumer Advocates Urge Congress to Expand Funding for Millions of Vulnerable Residents

BOSTON –  Attorney General Maura Healey today joined a coalition of 35 attorneys general and state consumer advocate agencies in urging members of Congress to preserve and expand funding for critical low-income energy assistance programs for residents in Massachusetts and across the country.

In a letter sent to Congress today, the attorneys general and advocates conveyed the importance of the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) and Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP) to their states and expressed opposition to the proposed elimination or reduction of their funding within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Service’s Office of Community Services budget.  

“Each year, tens of thousands of Massachusetts families struggle to make ends meet and come up with the money to pay their energy bills,” said AG Healey. “We simply cannot allow Congress to slash funding for these critical programs that allow some of our most vulnerable residents to stay warm in the cold winter months.”

                                                   

During the 2015–2016 winter, nearly 165,000 customers in Massachusetts received approximately $150 million in LIHEAP benefits. Annual distributions of LIHEAP funds specifically prioritize seniors and families with small children. Seventy percent of recipient households have at least one member who is elderly or disabled, or have a child under the age of six. The attorneys general and advocates argue that without this vital assistance, many of these families would be faced with the impossible choice of opting between heating and cooling their homes, and paying for other necessities, such as food and medications.

“Since 1981, LIHEAP has helped millions of vulnerable residents retain essential utility service, thereby protecting public health and safety, reducing homelessness and ensuring the stability of utility revenues. In Fiscal Year 2017 alone, it is expected that about 6.1 million households nationwide will receive heating and cooling assistance through LIHEAP,” the letter states.

Likewise, WAP has served 7 million households over its 40-year lifespan. The U.S. Department of Energy estimates that WAP has helped low-income households reduce their total energy expenditures by 23 percent per year, allowing participating households to allocate scarce resources for other necessities. WAP has helped develop an energy efficiency industry for low-income housing that includes workers and companies that assist low-income families increase their energy efficiency through low-cost measures. According to the state’s Executive Office of Housing and Economic Development, an average of $4,500 in allowable energy efficiency measures is available for eligible Massachusetts households.

In their letter, the attorneys general and advocates note that anticipated funding for Fiscal Year 2017 does not come close to meeting the extraordinary need for either of these funds. According to the National Energy Assistance Directors’ Association, only 19 percent of eligible households are expected to be served. Since 2010, congressional funding for LIHEAP has fallen by more than a third. This decrease in funding has resulted in more than one million fewer eligible households receiving critical energy assistance. The attorneys general urge Congress to restore and increase LIHEAP funding, so that fewer families are “left out in the cold.” 

The coalition who sent today’s letter was led by Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan and consisted of attorneys general and consumer advocate agencies from Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, the District of Columbia, Florida, Hawaii, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Maine, Maryland, Minnesota, Mississippi, Montana, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Utah, Vermont, Washington, West Virginia and Wyoming.

TREASURER DEBORAH GOLDBERG ANNOUNCES 5 APPOINTEES TO CANNABIS ADVISORY BOARD

TREASURER DEBORAH GOLDBERG ANNOUNCES 5 APPOINTEES TO CANNABIS ADVISORY BOARD New Advisory Board Will Study and Make Recommendations on the Regulation of Marijuana Within Massachusetts

BOSTON – Treasurer Goldberg today announced 5 appointments to the Cannabis Advisory Board. The Board, which will consist of 25 members, is tasked with studying and making recommendations on regulating marijuana within Massachusetts.

“I am pleased to announce my five candidates to the Cannabis Advisory Board,” said Treasurer Goldberg. “I am confident that they will make a meaningful impact on the formation of this new industry in Massachusetts.”

The new marijuana law, signed by the Governor today, requires the Governor, Treasurer and Attorney General to appoint 5 members to a new Cannabis Advisory Board. Those members appointed by the Treasurer are required to have expertise in marijuana cultivation, marijuana retailing, marijuana product manufacturing, laboratory sciences and toxicology, and providing legal services to marijuana businesses. 

Treasurer Goldberg’s Appointees to the Cannabis Advisory Board are as follows:

Norton Arbeláez

Norton Arbeláez is a first-generation American whose family instilled early on the value of education and the importance of community involvement. In 2009, Mr. Arbeláez founded RiverRock Medical Marijuana Center in Denver after a family member’s palliative use of cannabis convinced him of its enormous medical potential. He currently serves as that company’s Chief Legal Officer. He served on the Colorado Department of Revenue’s Medical Marijuana Advisory Board, the City of Denver’s Medical Marijuana Workgroup, and Colorado Governor John Hickenlooper’s Amendment 64 regulatory task force. In 2010, he founded Colorado’s Medical Marijuana Industry Group. This non-profit lobbying and policy group promotes responsible cannabis regulatory frameworks, serves as a resource and partner for policymakers and protects the rights of medical marijuana patients. He currently serves on the group’s board of directors. At the University of Oklahoma, Mr. Arbeláez received a Bachelor of Arts and Sciences in International Studies summa cum laude and, in 2006, Mr. Arbeláez graduated from Tulane University Law School.

Dr. Alan Balsam

Dr. Alan Balsam currently serves as an Adjunct Associate Professor at Tufts Medical School and Boston University (BU) School of Public Health.  He was Director of Public Health and Human Services in Brookline for 21 years, where he led their innovative and nationally recognized Department of Public Health.  Dr. Balsam was instrumental in overseeing the creation of a medical cannabis dispensary in Brookline, including regulatory oversight.  Prior to that, he created and led the Division of Elder Health at the Massachusetts Department of Public Health for seven years.  Dr. Balsam earned a PhD in Nutrition from Tufts University, an MPH from BU, an MS in Foods and Nutrition from Framingham State University, and a BS in Sociology from Brandeis University.  Over the past 25 years, Dr. Balsam has taught graduate level courses in Food Safety, Food and Nutrition, and Local/ Municipal Public Health at BU.

Michael Dundas

Michael Dundas is President and CEO of Sage Naturals, Inc., a Massachusetts Registered Marijuana Dispensary (RMD) with licenses to operate in Cambridge, Somerville and Needham. He has advised numerous cannabis industry participants and is an expert in cannabis cultivation, products manufacturing, retailing, and regulatory compliance. Before being named CEO in November 2014, Mr. Dundas served as Sage’s Chief Compliance Officer. He was responsible for drafting the organization’s successful application for state licensure and for shepherding the company through the regulatory process. Mr. Dundas played an instrumental role in founding the Commonwealth Dispensary Association, a trade organization that represents Massachusetts RMDs. He currently serves in his second term as the Association’s Board Secretary. Mr. Dundas holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science from the University of California at Berkeley, a Juris Doctor from the University of San Francisco School of Law, and is admitted to practice law in California, Massachusetts, and New York.

Jaime Lewis

Jaime Lewis has over a decade of experience leading medical marijuana dispensary operations and managing the production of medical marijuana-infused products. Prior to joining Mayflower Medicinals, Ms. Lewis was the Chief Operating Officer of a large Colorado medical dispensary operation, where she was responsible for operations, strategic planning, business development, governmental affairs and community relations. She is the founder of Mountain Medicine, an infused cannabis product manufacturer and distributor to Colorado dispensaries. Ms. Lewis is a founding member and former chair of the Cannabis Business Alliance, an influential trade organization that functions as the Colorado industry’s chamber of commerce, and a current board member and chair of the National Cannabis Industry Association (NCIA), where she serves as a national spokesperson for the regulated cannabis industry. As an NCIA board member and a founder of the Cannabis Business Alliance, Ms. Lewis has effectively supported business involvement and trade group engagement. Ms. Lewis recently launched NCIA’s infused Products Council, and was instrumental in facilitating a collaboration with the Council on Responsible Cannabis Regulation on a new Packaging and Labeling Standards Committee. She has provided testimony and guidance to legislators and regulators across the United States, supporting the creation of responsible regulations.

Shanel Lindsay

Shanel Lindsay is an attorney, inventor, and cannabis advocate. Ms. Lindsay graduated from the University of Pennsylvania and Northeastern University School of Law and began her career as a judicial law clerk for the Massachusetts Superior Court. She then joined the Boston law firm of Sugarman, Rogers, Barshak and Cohen, serving as a civil litigator for Fortune 500 companies in the areas of business, insurance, and employment law before becoming Employment Counsel and Director of Human Resources for the Massachusetts State Lottery Commission. Ms. Lindsay is an active member of the National Bar Association, previously serving as Deputy Regional Director from 2009-2013 and currently as a regional board member. With over a decade of experience processing cannabis for medicinal use, Ms. Lindsay leveraged her knowledge and skill set to develop the Nova and Ardent's suite of products that allow patients to expertly make accurate therapeutics using any strain or form of the plant. A founding member and co-chair of the Northeast Cannabis Coalition, board member of the Massachusetts Patients Advocacy Alliance, and ardent advocate for cannabis legalization on the east coast, Ms. Lindsay is dedicated to improving public understanding of cannabis’ medicinal benefits. 

Governor Baker Signs an Act to Ensure Safe Access to Marijuana

Governor Baker Signs an Act to Ensure Safe Access to Marijuana

BOSTON – Governor Charlie Baker today signed bipartisan legislation to update state laws governing the cultivation, sale, and adult use of marijuana following a voter-approved ballot question in 2016. Governor Baker and Lt. Governor Polito were joined by several legislators at a signing ceremony at the State House to enact H. 3818, An Act to Ensure Safe Access to Marijuana.

“We appreciate the careful consideration the legislature took to balance input from lawmakers, educators, public safety officials and public health professionals, while honoring the will of the voters regarding the adult use of marijuana,” said Governor Baker.  “We look forward to appointing members of the Cannabis Control Commission and the Cannabis Advisory Board to join us in working with Treasurer Goldberg, Attorney General Healey, local officials, law enforcement and all other stakeholders involved to implement the enhanced law safely and responsibly throughout the Commonwealth.”

Highlights from H. 3818:

·       This law outlines the ability of cities and towns to exercise local control to ban or limit the development of marijuana establishments to address municipal concerns.

·       Sets the special excise tax on adult use marijuana sales to 10.75% to support the costs of regulating the industry and to fund initiatives in public health, public safety, police training, restorative justice and workforce development. 

o   There is a local option for cities and towns to add a 3% tax on top of the combined 17% between sales and the marijuana specific excise tax.

o   Medical marijuana will remain untaxed.

·       Establishes a 5 member Cannabis Control Commission to regulate both the adult use and medical marijuana industries consisting of one appointee each from the Governor, Treasurer and Attorney General. The remaining two members will be agreed upon by the majority of those 3 constitutional officers.

·       Establishes a 25 member Cannabis Advisory Board with 5 appointees each from the Governor, Treasurer and Attorney General. The remaining 10 appointees are ex officio appointees with expertise and knowledge relevant to the Board’s mission.

·       Establishes requirement that the Cannabis Control Commission set potency limits for edible marijuana products and that it adopt packaging requirements that conform to a detailed list of health and safety protections.

Click here to read the bill.

CAPAC Members Recognize World Hepatitis Day

CAPAC Members Recognize World Hepatitis Day

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today is World Hepatitis Day, an opportunity to learn more about viral hepatitis. One in ten Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders live with chronic hepatitis B and two-thirds of those who are infected are not aware of their status. Members of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus released the following statements:

Congresswoman Judy Chu (CA-27), CAPAC Chair:

“Even though Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders (AAPIs) account for approximately 6 percent of the total U.S. population, we account for over 50 percent of those living with the hepatitis B virus (HBV). If left untreated, it can lead to cirrhosis, liver cancer, and even death. In fact, HBV is one of the leading causes of cancer deaths for AAPIs. The tragic thing is that this virus is both preventable and treatable. We must continue to emphasize the importance of getting tested, and ensure that individuals living with viral hepatitis have access to life-saving care and treatment. As we commemorate World Hepatitis Day, I remain committed to raising public awareness and working to eliminate this silent killer.”

Senator Mazie K. Hirono:

“Millions of Americans live with viral hepatitis, including nearly ten percent of all Asian American and Pacific Islanders who live with hepatitis B virus (HBV) and account for more than half of all HBV cases in the United States. Through increasing access to prevention and treatment resources, we can continue momentum toward eliminating this debilitating disease and end the battle against viral hepatitis.”

Congressman Ami Bera (CA-07), CAPAC Healthcare Task Force Co-Chair:

“As a doctor, viral hepatitis is a disease that affects millions of people across the globe, killing nearly 1.34 million people in 2015 – and those numbers are climbing. On World Hepatitis Day, I join my fellow CAPAC colleagues to highlight that this disease disproportionately impacts the Asian American and Pacific Islander community. The challenge with hepatitis is that so many with the disease don’t know they are infected. World Hepatitis Day is a great opportunity to raise awareness, increase testing and diagnosis, and ensure that patients have access to the treatment they need. The United States plays a critical role in fighting global diseases and we must continue building momentum to eliminate viral hepatitis worldwide.”

Congresswoman Barbara Lee (CA-13), CAPAC Healthcare Task Force Co-Chair:

“Over 400 million people around the world live with hepatitis, and 25% of those living with hepatitis are co-infected with HIV. As co-chair of CAPAC’s Health Care Task Force, I am working with my colleagues to ensure that all Americans are aware of their status and how to stay healthy. Today, on World Hepatitis Day, we must step up and protect the health of ourselves, our families, and our communities from this silent killer.”

Congresswoman Grace Meng (NY-06), Co-Chair of the Congressional Hepatitis Caucus:

“AAPIs are disproportionately affected by the hepatitis B virus (HBV), which can lead to cirrhosis, liver failure, or liver cancer if left untreated. AAPIs account for more than 50% of HBV cases in the United States, though we make up only 6% of our total population, and we are 8-13 times more likely to develop liver cancer from the virus than other groups. We must continue to educate the AAPI community on the risks associated with the virus, as well as the importance of getting tested. I am proud to have introduced a resolution in Congress expressing support for World Hepatitis Day, and to have requested in appropriations legislation that the National Institute of Health intensify its current effort to find a cure for HBV. We won’t stop until we find a cure.” 

Congresswoman Lucille Roybal-Allard (CA-40):

“As a CAPAC associate member and a co-chair of the Public Health Caucus, I know the debilitating and even deadly impact that hepatitis has on Americans, especially AAPIs and other minorities.  That is why, on this World Hepatitis Day, I recommit to doing all I can to raise awareness of hepatitis, and to prevent, treat, and eradicate this terrible disease.”

Congressman Adam Smith (WA-09):

“I join my CAPAC colleagues in observing World Hepatitis Day. This global ‘silent killer’ is responsible for causing liver disease, cancer, as well as an increasing number of deaths in virtually every community. As the Representative for an incredibly diverse district, I am especially concerned with how hepatitis impacts communities of color. Viral hepatitis affects Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders (AAPIs) at a disproportionate rate; AAPIs comprise over half of the documented chronic hepatitis B infections. When such an adverse disease continues to pervade our communities, it is of utmost importance to prioritize our health in the form of spreading awareness, scheduling a screening, and educating ourselves on its harmful dangers in the fight to eradicate viral hepatitis.”