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FYI if you're looking for the @ElMundoBoston interview with @MassGovernor: https://www.facebook.com/elmundoboston/videos/1298743007143075/?__tn__=kC-R&eid=ARCZxfDeiZiIR00bMtPkdPBnzMs-yITRuxmu0b0NOdILXnDP1t6scFjQtIPvnpsHbKPyyNEbw2cqd0oH&hc_ref=ARSOfNdO49tLaSDeZOANYSpisB9y55QZKFq3IpKVEzs0Qnhx9BLPdjWGAvJQ-5eQf3M&__xts__[0]=68.ARAbjI1eJJkJV1qCLsaDVeM7XpscSDFLhmUIjpxIAvI9GMoqmGsrv9vMe-_7dq6LWfOZ9jpFQM8vTk5Iy_oxUl_qs_Qjk9PqoUWiKaeVQYC1psbdu_cOmkmOKFs-vZ5lFV88DA0vl4kTsTnvcy9CqlwtHhPCqlg11QVUHmMclhQNgSWZS0XhZiyFeBY4xohkAGnJi39dyWLB-UjDtohCMS2rqjdZSBy0FId1ezysCYtPxgCowvw57OmNGLXsFVzChZpdtfNxzwe1zmRY02nBVBgAESLOaOOway8hqNgN6JoXLOpFO5kkoRIRYTLp7Vs1u8vda4KAIyYgU2Y
Per Alberto Vasallo III Baker's on his way, so it'll be a few minutes
Baker's on. Vasallo says he wants to address issues that aren't addressed much during his news conference
Not sure why Vasallo is apologizing...?
Q: Chelsea leaders sent a letter signed by city officials, so Vasallo asked if the governor will give special attention to hot spots where there are a lot of essential workers, such as Chelsea?
Baker: He says he's had a lot of conversations with city officials there. "We're going to try to come up with some strategies that can work for them."
FYI @BostonGlobe had a good story about this: https://www.bostonglobe.com/2020/04/07/opinion/chelsea-city-working-latino-immigrant-emerges-covid-19-hotspot/
FYI @BostonGlobe had a good story about this: https://www.bostonglobe.com/2020/04/07/opinion/chelsea-city-working-latino-immigrant-emerges-covid-19-hotspot/
Baker said to expect a couple of "particular initiatives" based on conversations he's had with city officials. I'm wondering if @ElMundoBoston can ask Baker about what those particular initiatives are.
Vasallo says there are people outside Boston who are feeling intimidated or bullied by their landlords because they don't speak English or know the legal process. Can people be kicked out? Are you considering a moratorium where people can't be evicted?
Worth noting that the House passed a housing bill to address some of these concerns: https://www.masslive.com/coronavirus/2020/04/coronavirus-massachusetts-house-passes-rent-moratorium-bill-to-address-economic-impact-of-covid-19.html
Baker says it's "outrageous" that people are being bullied. He also said he would share with El Mundo Boston housing advocacy/assistance organizations
Baker notes that the constituent services office has people who speak Spanish (617-725-4005).
Baker says he legally can't issue an EO requiring an eviction moratorium, but says he hopes the Legislature will soon send a bill that covers that to his desk.
Baker says he legally can't issue an EO requiring an eviction moratorium, but says he hopes the Legislature will soon send a bill that covers that to his desk.
Anyone know if constituent services has people who speak languages other than English or Spanish?
"You can't just bully somebody out," Baker said again, referring to landlords dealing with tenants.
Q: A large percentage of our community are undocumented workers. They are not essential workers and do not qualify for UI. How do we handle this?
Baker said one of the reasons for the COVID-19 Relief Fund spearheaded by First Lady Lauren Baker was because they knew some people wouldn't qualify for UI.
Baker said so far the fund has raised $15 million https://www.masslive.com/coronavirus/2020/04/coronavirus-gov-charlie-baker-announces-covid-19-relief-fund-for-massachusetts-residents.html
Baker said so far the fund has raised $15 million https://www.masslive.com/coronavirus/2020/04/coronavirus-gov-charlie-baker-announces-covid-19-relief-fund-for-massachusetts-residents.html
The fund will issue funds to local nonprofits that will offer assistance to communities across Massachusetts, including undocumented immigrants.
Meanwhile, Jobs with Justice and several immigrant workers centers launched a fund, called the “Undocufund for COVID-19 Relief in Massachusetts,” to raise money for undocumented workers and their families. https://www.massundocufund.org/
As the Baker said when the COVID-19 Relief Fund was first introduced, how the funds are spend/what resources are available to undocumented residents in need will depend on the nonprofits who receive the money.
Vasallo asked about doctors who were trained abroad but who can't work in medicine in the U.S. because they're not trained. Baker said they can apply to join the U.S. workforce during the COVID-19 pandemic by going to the Board of Registration of Medicine website. But...
If you read the actual EO that's not the case. The EO only allows foreign-trained medical workers who were already in the middle of training in the U.S. Unless things have changed, a doctor in Colombia who hasn't yet enrolled in a U.S. residency/training can't get licensed here
Eva Millona, executive director of @MIRACoalition, said the EO was great news for those who are well Into their residencies. “Sadly, many foreign-trained doctors, nurses and other medical professionals in Massachusetts don’t fit that profile."
Hoping @ElMundoBoston can ask Baker to set the record straight there.
Baker and Vasallo just discussed a new Spanish-language, mobile-friendly UI application. http://mass.gov/desempleo
Worth noting this has been a concern that lawmakers and advocates have been raising for weeks since the pandemic began: https://www.masslive.com/coronavirus/2020/03/coronavirus-surge-in-unemployment-claims-exposes-language-barriers-for-foreign-born-workers-who-lost-their-jobs.html
Worth noting this has been a concern that lawmakers and advocates have been raising for weeks since the pandemic began: https://www.masslive.com/coronavirus/2020/03/coronavirus-surge-in-unemployment-claims-exposes-language-barriers-for-foreign-born-workers-who-lost-their-jobs.html
Now the state's UI application will be available in English and Spanish. Not sure if there are any plans to make it available in other languages, such as Russian, Mandarin, Cantonese, Vietnamese and other languages spoken by residents across Massachusetts.
