Description: Harold Washington (Mayor of Chicago) and W. Wilson Goode (Mayor of Philadelphia). The city of Hartford, Connecticut has elected Carrie Perry, an African American woman, as mayor of the city. Marcus Jones notes that Hartford is the only major city in New England with an African American mayor. Jones' report includes footage of Perry at a polling station and at a press conference. Jones reports that Bruce Bolling (Boston City Council) is seen as having the best chance at becoming Boston's first African American mayor. Interview with Bolling, who says that he might run for mayor someday, but that he is concentrating on his agenda in the City Council. Jones notes that Bolling differed with Mel King (candidate for Mayor of Boston in 1983) and other African American community leaders over the issue of Roxbury's secession from Boston. Footage of Bolling, King, Andrew Young (Greater Roxbury Incorporation Project) and Charles Stith (Union United Methodist Church) on the Phil Donahue Show in 1986. Jones notes that the minority community in Boston is becoming impatient for an African American mayor. Interviews with Charles Weeks (Black Political Task Force) about the chances of Boston electing an African American mayor.
1:00:09: Visual: Shots of Harold Washington (Mayor of Chicago) celebrating his victory at the polls; of W. Wilson Goode (Mayor of Philadelphia); of an African American man official from the campaign of Carrie Perry in Hartford. Shot of Carrie Perry (Mayor of Hartford) entering a polling booth. Marcus Jones reports that Carrie Perry is the first African American to be mayor of Hartford; that Hartford is the only major city in New England with an African American mayor. V: Footage of Perry at a press conference. Footage of Bruce Bolling (President, Boston City Council) being interviewed by Jones. Bolling says that the city of Hartford deserves a lot of credit; that Hartford voters have looked beyond race in electing city officials. Jones reports that Bolling is seen as having the best chance of becoming Boston's first African American mayor. V: Footage of Bolling saying that he is not preoccupied with the thought of running for mayor. Bolling says that he is pursuing his agenda in the City Council. Jones notes that Bolling was once seen as a successor to Mel King (candidate for mayor of Boston in 1983); that King and Bolling differed publicly on the issue of Roxbury's proposed secession from Boston. V: Shot of King campaigning in Roxbury in 1983. Footage of Bolling, King, Charles Stith (Union United Methodist Church) and Andrew Jones (Greater Roxbury Incorporation Project) on the Phil Donahue show on October 30, 1986. Bolling says that African Americans and voters from other races supported King's candidacy in 1983 because they wanted a change in the city. Footage of Charles Weeks (Black Political Task Force) saying that there will be an African American mayor in Boston; that the African American mayor will need to be the mayor for all residents, not just African Americans. Jones notes that the Black Political Task Force endorsed Bolling's last bid for re-election to the City Council. V: Footage of Weeks saying that whites are becoming more accustomed to seeing African Americans in positions of authority; that an African American will eventually become mayor of Boston. Footage of Bolling saying that it is possible that he might become mayor someday. Bolling adds that an African American will become mayor of Boston in the future. Footage of African American audience members debating on the Donahue show. Marcus Jones notes that the minority community in Boston is becoming impatient for an African American mayor.
Collection: Ten O'Clock News
Date Created: 11/04/1987
Description: Meg Vaillancourt reports that the Boston City Council has delayed voting on the school reform package proposed by Mayor Ray Flynn, which includes a home rule petition that transfers decision-making power from the Boston School Committee to the superintendent of schools. Reverend Bruce Wall of the Twelfth Baptist Church delivers an invocation before a City Council meeting, presided over by President Bruce Bolling. Some councilors, including Dapper O'Neil, are opposed to the plan. O'Neil criticizes the plan because it gives too much power to the superintendent. Jim Kelly and Joseph Tierney also speak at the meeting. Critics accuse the Boston City Council of delaying their vote on the proposal in order to garner media attention. Interview with Boston School Committee member John Nucci. Vaillancourt notes that school reform is an important issue for voters. Shots of a newspaper article criticizing the City Council. Interview with City Councilor Christopher Ianella, who says that the councilors are practicing "the art of politics" and that they will eventually vote in favor of the proposal. This edition of the Ten O'Clock News also included the following item: Callie Crossley reports on a proposal to allow for AIDS testing by insurance companies
1:00:01: Visual: Footage of Reverend Bruce Wall (Twelfth Baptist Church) delivering an invocation before a meeting of the Boston City Council in the City Council Chambers. City Councillors Charles Yancey and Bruce Bolling stand behind him. Shots of the City Councillors in the Chambers. Bruce Bolling presides over the meeting. The other councillors sit behind desks. Meg Vaillancourt reports that the Boston City Council met to consider the school reform package proposed by Ray Flynn (Mayor of Boston). Vaillancourt notes that the package includes the home rule petition, which is the "cornerstone" of school reform in Boston. V: Footage of Dapper O'Neil (Boston City Council) saying that the Boston School Commitee is "crucifying the teachers"; that the School Committee is giving too much power to the superintendent. O'Neill compares Wilson's power to that of Adolph Hitler. O'Neil says that he will never vote for the school reform package. Vaillancourt reports that O'Neil was the only City Councillor to say that he would vote against the package; that consensus is never easy in an election year. V: Shot of the stenographer in the center of the Chambers. Footage of James Kelly (Boston City Council) saying that there is no rush to vote on the home rule petition; that the state legislature will not meet to approve the petition until September. Vaillancourt reports that most City Councillors agree with the petition; that the petition transfers power from the School Committee to the superintendent. V: Shots of a School Committee meeting in session. Vaillancourt reports that the School Committee has agreed to share power; that the proposal to allow Wilson to make personnel decisions has strong backing in the business community. Vaillancourt notes that Flynn's proposal includes changes suggested by councillors; that Boston newspapers called the councillors' suggested changes "absurd." V: Shots of the City Council meeting; of a newspaper editorial with a headline reading, "Games Councillors Play." Vaillancourt reports from outside of the City Council Chambers. Vaillancourt reports that the City Council delayed voting on the package; that the Council referred the school reform package to its Education Committee for review. Vaillancourt notes that the Council objected to the package last week. Vaillancourt speculates that the Council did not want to appear to back down from their objections by approving the package; that the Council did not want to open themselves up to criticism by rejecting the package. V: Footage of Bolling preciding over a vote in the Coucil Chambers. Shot of Joseph Tierney (Boston City Council) addressing the Council. Vaillancourt reports that politics may be behind the City Council's delay. Vaillancourt adds that school reform is the focus of Tierney's mayoral campaign. V: Footage of Tierney saying that he will not vote in favor of the package until he has the opportunity to make an "intelligent, informed vote." Footage of John Nucci (President, Boston School Committee) saying that the City Council is delaying on the issue in order to garner attention from the media. Vaillancourt speculates that Nucci is correct; that school reform is a major issue for voters; that most City Councillors will probably endorse the plan. V: Shot of students playing ring-around-the rosey at the Jackson Mann Elementary School. Footage of Christopher Ianella (Boston City Council) being interviewed by Vaillancourt. Ianella says that Councillors are practicing the "art of politics"; that the vote will eventually come out in favor of the package.
Collection: Ten O'Clock News
Date Created: 08/03/1987