Description: Christopher Lydon interviews Mel King (candidate for mayor of Boston) in King's home. King talks about the benefits of growing up in a diverse neighborhood and about his own childhood in Boston. Lydon asks King about his philosophy of government. King says that the government must serve those who are most in need; he adds that the government should take an active role in issues of poverty, education, the environment, and women's issues. King talks about the interconnectedness of different issues and problems. Lydon asks whether there is an ideology behind King's politics. King says that he tries to take a realistic approach to government. King believes that love and change are the two fundamentals of life. Lydon asks how King rates himself as an administrator. King says that he is a good administrator who tries to identify problems and work together with people to find solutions. The tape includes shots of the exterior of King's home.
1:00:01: V: Shots of the exterior of the King home in the South End. 1:01:10: V: Christopher Lydon sets up an interview with Mel King (candidate for mayor of Boston) in King's home. Lydon asks King about his political formation on the streets where he grew up. King talks about growing up in the diverse "New York streets" neighborhood of Boston. King says that he grew up with an appreciation for other cultures. Lydon and the camera crew discuss the set-up of the shot. King continues to talk about his experiences growing up on Seneca Street. King says that diverse urban neighborhoods provide a model for cooperation among groups of different backgrounds. King talks about the benefits of growing up with people of different cultures and ethnicities. 1:05:41: V: Lydon asks King about his philosophy of government. King says that government must serve those who are most in need; that all of society benefits when the neediest are served. King says that government must serve society's needs in the areas of poverty, education, the environment, and women's issues. King says that government must serve the needs of all people. He uses the example of access for the disabled. King says that all of society is guaranteed access when access is granted to the disabled. King says that problems in Boston's neighborhoods cannot be ignored; that these problems must be solved before they spread to other areas. King says that problems in one neighborhood affect every resident of the city. King stresses the connections between people and problems. He gives an example of the local problems caused by the oil crisis in the 1970s. 1:11:46: V: Lydon asks if there is an ideology behind King's politics. King says that his approach to government is realistic; that there is no "pure" form of government. King says that he has tried to address the realities of his life as an African American man living in Boston; that he has tried to address the realities and needs of his community and his city. King says that there are essential needs which must be met; that he has tried to look at the forces impacting the needs of people and communities. King says that love and change are the two fundamentals of life. 1:15:35: V: Lydon asks King to rate himself as an administrator. King says that he tries to identify problems; that he gathers people together to find creative solutions; that he works with people to implement solutions; that he tries to evaluate the solution to find out if it works. King talks about using this approach as director of the Urban League of Boston. King says that he is using this approach to solve problems in his current job at MIT (Massachusetts Institute of Technology). King says that a city government must deliver services efficiently on a fixed budget. King notes that Joseph Jordan (Police Commissioner, City of Boston) has provided ineffective leadership for the Boston Police Department. King says that it is important to appoint good administrators for city programs. King notes that he has proven experience as a good administrator.
Collection: Ten O'Clock News
Date Created: 11/07/1983
Description: Meg Vaillancourt interviews Geneva Evans (working mother) and Jason Evans (son of Geneva Evans) in their home. Evans describes her experiences as a working mother. She says that she cannot support herself and her son on her salary. Evans explains that she is not allowed to work if she goes on welfare; that welfare benefits alone are not enough to live on, especially with the cost of health care. Evans says that she has not felt the effects of the economic recovery. She accuses Ronald Reagan of taking food from her son's mouth. Evans promises to vote against Reagan. She criticizes the government's policy of cutting welfare benefits for people who work part time. Geneva Evans and Jason Evans have a snack at their kitchen table. Jason tells Geneva about his day at school. Jason says that he hopes Walter Mondale will win the presidential election. Jason Evans and a girl walking outside of the Evans' apartment building.
1:00:04: Visual: Meg Vaillancourt sets up an interview with Geneva Evans (working mother) in her home. Vaillancourt asks Evans about her experiences while on welfare. Evans says that her welfare benefits were cut in 1982; that she had been working part time while on welfare; that she had been earning $113 per week. Evans says that she made do with her small salary; that she no longer needed a babysitter because her son entered school. Evans says that she received no aid to pay her rent; that her son was no longer eligible for the meal program at school. Evans says that she lost her welfare benefits, her food stamps and her medicare; that she had to switch medical clinics for her son's allergy treatments. Evans says that her son could no longer attend the South End medical clinic where he was receiving treatment; that her son was cut off from the food program at his daycare facility. Evans says that she got a part-time job, which was allowed under the welfare program; that her welfare and medicare benefits were cut off. Vaillancourt asks Evans if she is better off than she was four year's ago. Evans says that she is worse off than she was before Ronald Reagan (US President) was elected. Evans says that she is paid $188 per week before taxes; that she makes $152 per week after taxes; that she pays $210 per month in rent. 1:05:06: V: Vaillancourt asks Evans how she survives. Evans says that purchases her son's school clothes on layaway at Zayre's (local discount store). Vaillancourt asks Evans her opinion on Reagan's welfare policy. Evans says that she is capable of working; that she would like to work part-time and still receive welfare benefits; that she cannot support herself and her son on her salary. Evans says that she is not eligible for food stamps. Evans talks about the expense of buying clothes for her son. Vaillancourt asks Evans if she has considered going back on welfare. Evans says that she would make less on welfare than she makes now. Vaillancourt asks Evans to comment on Reagan's claim that the economic recovery has brought inflation and unemployment down. Evans says that she has not felt the effects of the economic recovery; that she has not seen an increase in her paycheck; that food prices have not declined. Vaillancourt asks Evans how she will vote in the elections. Evans says that she will vote for Mondale; that she wants to vote Reagan out of office. Evans says that she and her son have suffered from being cut off from food stamps and medicare; that Reagan has "taken food out of my son's mouth." Vaillancourt closes the interview. 1:09:14: V: The camera crew takes cutaway shots of Vaillancourt and Evans. Evans talks about how she survives on a small weekly paycheck. Evans talks about how she is hoping for a small raise in her salary as a "homemaker." Evans talks about the government's policy of cutting welfare benefits for people who work part time. 1:10:37: V: The camera crew sets up a shot of Evans and her son in the kitchen. Jason Evans sits at the kitchen table while Geneva Evans prepares a hot drink. Shots of Jason Evans sitting at the table. Jason Evans talks about his day at school. Geneva Evans gives her son some crackers. Geneva Evans sits down at the table across from her son. Geneva and Jason sit and talk. Shot of Geneva Evans drinking coffee; of Jason Evans eating crackers. The crew asks Geneva Evans to talk about the interview. Geneva Evans asks Jason if they are better off now than they were four years ago. Jason says that he thinks that they are better off now; that he hopes Mondale wins the election. Geneva Evans says that Jason does not fully understand the question. Jason says that Reagan got off to a good start in the campaign; that he does not know who will win. 1:16:10: V: The camera crew sets up a shot of Geneva Evans and Jason at the entrance to their apartment building. Jason and a girl exit the building. Geneva Evans tells Jason to be home in time for supper. Jason and the girl walk away from the building in the rain.
Collection: Ten O'Clock News
Date Created: 11/30/1983