Democrats to hold caucus in Ward 18

Democrats to hold caucus in Ward 18

Registered Democrats in Ward 18 will hold a caucus at the Hyde Park Police Station, located at 1249 Hyde Park Avenue in Hyde Park’s Cleary Square, on Saturday, Jan. 31, 2009. At the caucus, 43 delegates and six alternates will be elected to the 2009 Massachusetts Democratic Convention. Delegates will be divided equally between men and women.

Ample parking is available in the city municipal lot across the street from the police station. The caucus will be held in the community room in the basement level of the station, which should be accessed via the door at the rear of the building.

The 2009 Massachusetts Democratic Convention will be held on Saturday, June 6, 2009, at the MassMutual Center in Springfield. At that time, Democrats from across the state will gather to adopt a party platform.

The caucus is open to all registered Democrats in Ward 18. All ballots will be written and secret. Those not elected as delegate or alternate who meet the qualifications may apply to be “add-on” delegates in the following categories: youth, minority and disabled.

Discrimination on the basis of race, sex, age, color, creed, national origin, religion, ethnic identity, sexual orientation or economic status in the conduct of the caucus is strictly prohibited. Challenges to the delegate selection process can be filed with the Massachusetts Democratic Party, 56 Roland Street, Suite 203, Boston, MA 02129, no later than 10 days after the caucus date.

For more caucus information, please contact chair Jim Gillooly at 617-361-2594.

City launches Hopeline to help youth find summer jobs

Mayor Thomas M. Menino and the Boston Youth Fund (BYF) earlier this month announced the 2009 launch of the Hopeline. For more than 20 years, the BYF summer jobs program has employed Boston youths in a variety of positions across the city.

The Hopeline is the only application for the city summer jobs program, and is only open for a limited amount of time. Potential employees must be registered on the Hopeline in order to work for the BYF. However, registration with the Hopeline does not guarantee a summer job.

In order to register, one must be a resident of the City of Boston; must turn 15 years old on or before July 5, 2009; and cannot turn 18 years old on or before Aug. 14, 2009.

From 10 a.m. on Feb. 17, 2009, through 11:59 p.m. on March 16, 2009, applicants will be able to register online 24 hours a day, seven days a week, at www.bostonyouthzone.com by clicking on the “Summer Jobs” link. Registration can also be completed by telephone by calling 617-635-HOPE (4673).

For more information, call the BYF at 617-635-4202.

Democrats to hold caucus in Ward 13

Registered Democrats in Boston’s Ward 13 will be holding a caucus in the third floor community room at the Paul McLaughlin Youth Center, located at 1135 Dorchester Avenue, on Feb. 4, 2009, at 6:30 p.m. to elect 13 delegates and three alternates to the 2009 Massachusetts Democratic Convention. Delegates will be divided equally between men and women.

The convention will be held on Saturday, June 6, 2009, at the MassMutual Center in Springfield. At that time, Democrats from across the state will gather to adopt a party platform.

The caucus is open to all registered Democrats in Ward 13. All ballots will be written and secret. Those not elected as delegate and/or alternate who meet the qualifications may apply to be add-on delegates in the following categories: youth, minority and disabled.

Discrimination on the basis of race, sex, age, color, creed, national origin, religion, ethnic identity, sexual orientation or economic status in the conduct of the caucus is strictly prohibited. Challenges to the delegate selection process can be filed with the Massachusetts Democratic Party, 56 Roland Street, Suite 203, Boston, MA 02129, no later than 10 days after the caucus date.

For information, contact the caucus chair, state Rep. Martin J. Walsh at 617-825-4916.

Mass. residents warned to beware refund anticipation loans

The state Office of Consumer Affairs and Business Regulation and the Department of Revenue advised taxpayers last Thursday to avoid refund anticipation loans (RALs), calling the advance payments “a risky proposition.”

The problem, the officials said in their statement, is that RALs — which allow individuals to get an up-front payment when they file their taxes, intended to be repaid by the refund the filer receives from the state or federal government — “must be repaid even if the taxpayer’s refund is denied, less than expected or frozen.” They must also be repaid at very high interest rates, due to the loans’ short terms.

“No one should have to pay interest on their tax refund,” said Navjeet K. Bal, commissioner of the state Department of Revenue.

Dan Crane, the undersecretary of the consumer affairs office, advised taxpayers to consider alternatives to RALs, such as electronically filing returns and having refunds deposited directly into their bank accounts.