February 21, 2025 | Vol. 54, Issue 4

The only bilingual Chinese-English Newspaper in New England

Metro

Asian Americans Respond to the Data Equity Bill

In most data and major statistics, heterogeneous minority populations are often represented as monoliths, single groups all falling under a single racial umbrella. College acceptance, employment, income, and wealth statistics all confine the diverse groups of Asian or Latin ethnic origin to blanket categories such as “AAPI” or “LatinX.” More than just losing cultural individuality,  real disparities surface within Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Vietnamese, or Filipino Americans (among other Asian groups) when it comes to education and health outcomes, median income, […]

Healey Declares State of Emergency to Take Care of 20,000 Refugees in Mass.

On the second floor of an orange building on Allston’s Harvard Avenue, the muted conversations of parents and the loud chatter of young children can be heard, among suitcases and toys. In this pocket of the city that is the Brazilian Worker Center, Haitian families seek temporary refuge before continuing their long journeys to hotels or medical centers and pursuing the place where they hope to reside: a safer and more permanent home. They compose some of the 20,000 individuals, […]

Converting Used Office Buildings Into Affordable Housing: Who are the Real Stakeholders

There is no doubt that the city of Boston is currently in the midst of a housing crisis. In the Boston Foundation’s annual report, the Greater Boston area received a failing grade in the year of 2022. The report cites confounding factors of economic growth and rising housing prices with the bottom line that middle and lower-income families will be struggling in the coming years to find affordable housing options if new policies are not adopted. The current issues will […]

Ruling on Admissions Invites Mixed Emotions From Sampan Readers

Editor’s Note: Sampan asked a cross-section of Massachusetts residents about the recent court ruling regarding Affirmative Action. We spoke with retired Executives, academics, students, parents, and teenagers. What follows are their emailed responses, edited for clarity and space. I am personally conflicted with how I feel about the overturning of affirmative action for college admissions. On one hand I can see the usefulness of affirmative action and how it creates a more diverse student body which is very important. As […]

Supreme Court: Harvard and UNC’s Use of Race in Admissions Process Is Unconstitutional

The Supreme Court ruled Friday, June 30th that Harvard’s and University of North Carolina’s use of race in the admissions process was unconstitutional, changing the impact of affirmative action in higher education. The 6-2 decision for Harvard and 6-3 decision for UNC ruled that both school’s admissions processes discriminate against Asian Americans and violate the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which bans institutions that receive federal funds from discriminating “on the grounds of race, color or national origin.” The decisions […]

All Immigrants Now Eligible for Standard Driver’s License in Massachusetts

Work and Family Mobility Act will allow residents to obtain license regardless of status. Starting July 1, eligible Massachusetts residents will be able to apply for a learner’s permit and road test to obtain a driver’s license, according to the Registry of Motor Vehicles. Newly translated materials are also being prepared under the Work and Family Mobility Act. Under the new law, residents can apply to obtain a standard (class D or M) driver’s license, regardless of immigration status. “The […]

Sumner Tunnel to Be Closed Through August 31, 2023

Editor’s note: In an effort to better serve and inform our readers, Sampan will be publishing regular updates throughout the course of this closing in all print issues (starting with this one) through the end of August. Updates will also be posted online. Our focus will be on the purpose of the Sumner Tunnel Restoration Project and progress of the repair. In this issue, we are posting the current alternative means of travel options that will be available during the […]

American Legion Chinatown Post Installation Ceremony

On Saturday, June 17, the American Legion Chinatown Post 328 held its 74th Installation of Officers at the Asian American Civic Association (AACA). The 78th annual ceremony in the Chinatown community was a chance to bring young and old members together. The installation re-elected the officers from the 2022-2023 year. The re-elected officers are Commander Matthew Seto, Senior Vice Commander Edward Woodruff, Junior Vice Commander Kensley Lin, Adjutant David Ching, Treasurer Danny Ong, Sgt-At-Arms Warren Yee, Chaplains Genie Boland and […]

Fears Deepened as Smoke Enveloped US from Canadian Wildfires: How to Protect Ourselves

It was a dark day in New England on May 19, 1780. Sunrise in Vermont was obscured by a thick fog, and the darkness spread to Massachusetts by the late morning. The sunlight disappeared entirely. The sky over the former colonies was soon the color of midnight. Many New Englanders believed the world was ending. Was God punishing the inhabitants of the cradle of the Revolution for their violent disobedience? Was some more general biblical prophecy being fulfilled? The answer […]

Cambridge Expands Direct-Payment Program for Low-Income Residents

In 2021, the city of Cambridge spent $1.5 million on a guaranteed-income program for low-income residents. 130 eligible households received $500 a month for 18 months, with no requirements for what the money could be spent on. In May 2023, Cambridge announced the program would be expanded. Using $22 million in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds, the city is starting the Rise Up Cambridge program, which will allow hundreds more eligible, low-income households to receive direct cash payments. This […]

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