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March 11, 2023 0

Anti-Asian Racism: The Significant Toll on US Economy and DEI Commitment

Since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, Asians and people of Asian descent have been targets of slandering language in media articles, political rhetoric, and social media alike. Negative attitudes were exacerbated by former President Donald Trump, who blamed the outbreak on China and referred to it as the “kung flu” or the “Chinese virus.” AAPI Data and Momentive, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Center for Public Integrity reported anti-Asian violence and racism dramatically spiked in the past […]

March 10, 2023 0

WHO Monitors Bird Flu as Human Cases Reported

by Jeff Millman

According to the CDC on March 1, 2023, H5N1 Bird Flu has been detected across the United States: 6,284 wild birds detected, 50 States affected and 968 counties affected. Epidemics can happen anywhere. From the Americas to Africa to Asia, every continent – even Antarctica – has featured an outbreak of infectious disease at some point in history. A more connected world makes it easier for these epidemics to become pandemics, as we have witnessed over the past century. No doubt the […]

March 10, 2023 0

Chinatown’s Shops, Eateries Show Resiliency Amid COVID, Says Key Business Leader

by DongDong Yang

Despite the obstacles faced over the COVID-19 pandemic, Chinatown’s businesses remained strong, enduring the toughest months of the outbreak. That was a key takeaway from an interview with Chinatown Business Association President Teresa Tsoi. The Sampan recently sat down with Tsoi to discuss the livelihood of the neighborhood’s shops and restaurants. Following is a lightly edited transcript: No one was prepared for the pandemic. In the Chinatown Business Association, about 98 % of the members are businesses in the Chinatown, […]

February 25, 2023 0

Massachusetts Makes GED and HiSET Free for All

by Sonia Cavazos

“It felt impossible! I had quit school and I really want to get my life back on track. I took HiSET prep classes with one of those online schools that advertise on the Orange line. It seemed easy, and cheap, but the charges for classes and taking the test were ridiculous. I wasn’t able to finish because I didn’t have the time or money. Not having my high school diploma has held me back from a lot for the past […]

February 25, 2023 0

The Interpreters Who Pushed for Higher Pay – and Won

by Clare Ong

When her daily pay rate finally increased after 17 years, Gema Schaff bought a new pair of shoes. The 75-year-old Spanish language court interpreter originally from Havana was able to upgrade her wardrobe with new flats for work. It was part of her goal to replace “some really worn out” warm weather shoes. “The [other shoes] look really old, and the first thing I thought was: I can get new shoes,’’ Schaff, who currently lives in Cambridge, said. The new shoes […]

February 25, 2023 0

Cannabis Shop Plans Fire Up Some in Chinatown

by Aili Liu

“I’m a recovering substance abuser,” William told Sampan. “My friends know this, my family knows this. I am all too aware of the problems that come when an addict’s drug of choice, like tobacco and alcohol, is legal and easily available. I’m also aware of the regulations in place for sale and distribution and the resources available for treatment to prevent addiction.” He is 67 yrs old, and has owned a Cannabis Shop in Lowell for over 6 years. He […]

February 25, 2023 0

The Missing School Children: Massive Learning Setbacks from the Pandemic

by Jeff Millman

The latest signs of the end of the pandemic are upon us. The Biden administration plans to let coronavirus public health emergency provisions expire in May, and individual states are ending various COVID mandates as well. New York is dropping hospital mask mandates and vaccine mandates for city workers, while California has decided against enacting vaccine mandates for schoolchildren and is ending its own state of emergency on February 28. For most Americans, COVID is no longer a top concern. […]

February 25, 2023 0

Formerly Incarcerated Persons Need to Work: Getting Beyond Society’s Barriers

by Bolin Shen

If you receive a felony, it’s like a life sentence that hangs with you for the rest of your life, making re-employment difficult, if not impossible. This disparity is even greater for immigrants, who often face language barriers and discrimination in the job market, where the hurdles to finding work are even higher. Statistics show that criminal aliens – illegal immigrants who engage in other criminal acts – account for more than one in five federal prison inmates, even though […]

February 24, 2023 0

Mayor Wu’s Rent Stabilization Effort Draws Praise, Criticism

by Kristen Si

In a city synonymous with high housing costs, residents of Boston have long dealt with the soaring cost of rent. In fact, for the past several years, Zillow has listed Boston as one of the top 5 most expensive rental markets in the nation. A recent 2022 report by the Greater Boston Association of Realtors’ showed that between 2019 and 2022, is the same time for the median cost of a single-family home rose by 26%. In the face of […]

February 24, 2023 0

Political Leaders, Activists Seek to Strengthen White House Asian American Initiative

by Sonia Cavazos

As the threat of the Covid-19 has receded, the threat of anti-Asian bias still remains in the U.S. But many activists and politicians are working to finding ways to stand up against the discrimination. And some are pointing to an executive order dating back decades. In 1999, President Bill Clinton signed an executive order, effectively creating The White House Initiative on Asian Americans, Native Americans, and Pacific Islanders (WHIAANAPI). President Biden has now recently worked to expand upon the initiative. […]

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