Description: Marcus Jones reports that a shrinking school budget may force teacher layoffs in the Boston Public School System, and a final federal court order may require layoffs to be based on affirmative action quotas instead of union seniority. White teachers with seniority are at odds with newer minority teachers. Members of the Boston Teachers Union picketing outside of the Boston School Department. The president of Concerned Black Teachers of Boston, Robert Marshall, speaks at a press conference. Marshall says that seniority is a biased and discriminatory criterion for determining layoffs. Interview with Boston Teachers Union President Edward Doherty, who says that more minority teachers must be hired. He adds that affirmative action quotas should not force white teachers out of their jobs. At a Boston School Committee meeting Antonieta Gimeno, a parent, tells the School Committee that Haitian, Asian, Cape Verdean, and African students find no reflection of their heritages in the school curriculum or in the school faculty. The federal court withdrew from supervision over the Boston Public schools last month, but deep-seated racial problems still plague the system.
1:00:10: Visual: Footage of teachers picketing in front of the headquarters of the Boston School Department at 26 Court Street. Teachers hold signs reading, "No layoffs." Shots of individual teachers in the picket lines. Marcus Jones reports that the federal court no longer oversees the operation of the Boston Public School System; that the teachers have a new contract which includes a salary increase and more input into decisions affecting the schools. Jones notes that Dr. Laval Wilson (former Superintendent, Boston Public Schools) has left the school system. Jones reports that the Boston Public School System is still underfunded and racially divided. V: Shot of Joseph McDonough (Interim Superintendent, Boston Public Schools) walking to his seat at the front of the Boston School Committee chambers. Footage of Edward Doherty (President, Boston Teachers Union) standing in front of the School Department headquarters. Doherty says that next year will be difficult unless teacher lay-offs can be avoided. Shots of teachers picketing the School Department headquarters. Jones reports that more than 150 teachers may be laid off this summer; that the city of Boston has refused to grant McDonough's $409 million budget request. Jones notes that Ray Flynn (Mayor of Boston) has said that the schools must make do with a budget request of $400 million. Jones reports that the final federal court orders require lay-offs to be based on affirmative action quotas instead of union seniority. Jones notes that white teachers with seniority are at odds with newer minority teachers. V: Shot of Robert Marshall (President, Concerned Black Teachers of Boston) holding a press conference. Supporters stand behind him. Shot of teachers unfurling a union banner in front of the School Department headquarters. Footage of Marshall speaking at the press conference. Marshall says that minority teachers and progressive white teachers have urged the Boston Teachers Union not to appeal the federal court orders. Marshall accuses the Boston Teachers Union of racism. Marshall says that the Boston Teachers Union continues to defend seniority; that seniority has been ruled to be a biased and discriminatory criterion. Footage of Doherty being interviewed by Jones outside of the School Department headquarters. Doherty says that more minority teachers must be hired; that white teachers should not be forced out of their jobs by affirmative action quotas. Doherty says that minority teachers should look at the unfairness of the situation. Footage of Antonieta Gimeno (parent) standing with other parents at the front of the Boston School Committee chambers. Members of the Boston School Committee are seated in their seats at the front of the chambers. Gimeno says that the parents have come to protest the School Committee meeting. Gimeno holds up a sign reading, "We demand excellence for all children." The audience applauds Gimeno. Gimeno says that School Committee meetings are a "mockery" and an "insult" to the intelligence of community members. Shots of one of the parents at the front of the chambers with Gimeno. Jones reports that disgruntled parents aired their grievances before today's School Committee meeting. V: Footage of Gimeno saying that Haitian, Asian, Cape Verdean, and African students find no reflection of their heritages in the school curriculum or in the school faculty. Jones stands outside the chambers of the Boston School Committee. Jones reports that the federal court closed the books on school desegregation in Boston last month; that there remain deep-seated racial problems in the system. Jones reports that there may be a court battle concerning faculty desegregation in Boston Public Schools.
Collection: Ten O'Clock News
Date Created: 06/19/1990
Description: Christopher Lydon interviews in-studio guests Howie Carr (columnist, The Boston Herald) and Byron Rushing (State Representative) about the murder of Carol Stuart in Mission Hill. Carr talks about criticism received by the Boston Herald for running a brutal photograph of the murder. Rushing and Carr talk about how to solve the problem of violence on the streets. Rushing accuses city officials of making policy "based on frustration." He adds that the government must focus on the root of the problem. Rushing and Carr talk about class and race issues surrounding media response to the murder. Rushing says that education and community development will help to stop violence on the streets.
Collection: Ten O'Clock News
Date Created: 10/25/1989
Description: Hope Kelly reports that Democratic candidates for governor Evelyn Murphy and Francis Bellotti talked about civil rights issues at the Boston Globe Forum on Civil Rights. While the candidates agreed on most of the issues, they disagreed about the death penalty. Murphy and Bellotti talk about minority set-asides, development in minority communities, and the civil rights bill in the state legislature. They also discuss their positions on death penalty. Bellotti talks about his participation in the civil rights movement in the 1960s. Reporters look bored, some reporters read the newspaper while the candidates talk. Kelly reports that many voters are not familiar with the civil rights records of either candidate. Interviews with people on the street, none of whom believe that either candidate has shown strong leadership in the area of civil rights.
1:00:10: Visual: Footage of Evelyn Murphy (Democratic candidate for governor of Massachusetts) and Francis Bellotti (Democratic candidate for governor of Massachusetts) at the Boston Globe Forum on Civil Rights. A moderator introduces the forum. Murphy and Bellotti sit together at a table. Panelists sit at tables adjacent to the candidates. Members of the media are at the back of the room. Hope Kelly reports that there was no debate at the Boston Globe Forum on Civil Rights this morning; that the candidates agree on the issues. V: Footage of Murpy speaking at the Forum. Murphy says that she believes in minority set-aside rules; that she would like to see the program expanded. Shots of members of the media sitting on a couch to one side of the room. Kelly says that the forum's atmosphere was low-key. V: Shots of Bellotti; of two reporters reading the newspaper as Murphy speaks. Shots of two men conferring as Murphy speaks; of another reporter reading the newspaper. Shot of a man playing with his pen; of another man looking up at the ceiling. Shot of the moderator with his chin cupped in his hand. Audio of Murphy talking about minority businesses. Kelly notes that both candidates got equal time at the forum. V: Footage of Bellotti talking about development in minority communities. Kelly reports that both candidates say that they support the same agenda; that both candidates support the civil rights bill before the US Congress; that both candidates support the gay rights bill in the state legislature. V: Shot of Murphy speaking at the forum. Kelly reports that both candidates support minority set-aside programs; that both candidates will try to improve access for all. V: Shots of panelists at the forum. Kelly reports that Murphy brought up the only difference between the two candidates; that the difference was highlighted in the days following the murder of Carol Stuart (resident of Reading, Massachusetts). V: Footage of Murphy speaking at the forum. Murphy says that her opponents talked about their support of the death penalty in the days following the Stuart murder. Murphy says that she has always been an opponent of the death penalty; that Bellotti had threatened to "pull the switch." Footage of Bellotti speaking at the forum. Bellotti says that he was not statesmanlike when he talked about pulling "the switch." Bellotti says that he has always been honest about his position on the death penalty. Bellotti says that he would never lobby for the death penalty. Kelly reports that the candidates talked about their past records; that the candidates talked about how they would govern the state. V: Footage of Bellotti speaking at the forum. Bellotti says that he marched with Martin Luther King Jr. (civil rights leader) in 1965; that people threw rocks at the marchers. Shots of Bellotti and Murphy at the forum. Kelly reports that both candidates boasted of their records on civil rights. Kelly notes that many voters are not familiar with the civil rights records of either candidate. V: Footage of an African American man being interviewed by Kelly outside of a post office. Kelly asks if the man is familiar with the civil rights records of Murphy or Bellotti. The man says that he cannot think of anything that either candidate has done in the area of civil rights. Footage of a white man being interviewed by Kelly. Kelly asks the man to name some local civil rights leaders. The man responds that she has posed a tough question. Footage of an African American man being interviewed by Kelly. The man cannot come up with an answer to Kelly's question about local civil rights leaders. Footage of a white man being interviewed by Kelly. The man says that he would not consider Bellotti to be a leader in the area of civil rights. Footage of an African American woman being interviewed by Kelly. Kelly asks the woman if she knew that Bellotti grew up in Roxbury. The woman says that she never knew that fact. Shot of the candidates and panelists rising at the end of the forum.
Collection: Ten O'Clock News
Date Created: 08/07/1990
Description: Marcus Jones reports that the DiMaiti family has created the Carol DiMaiti Stuart Foundation to memorialize Carol Stuart, who was murdered. The foundation will fund scholarships for residents of the Mission Hill neighborhood and activities to bolster race relations in the city of Boston. DiMaiti family members hold a press conference. Carol's father Giusto DiMaiti talks about his daughter. Interview with Carol's brother Carl DiMaiti, who is the president of the foundation. He talks about his sister and the activities of the foundation, saying that the foundation would like to grant scholarships to students who have achieved academically or who have contributed to their schools. DiMaiti says that the foundation and its advisory board will try to fund innovative programs to improve race relations in the city. DiMaiti says that more must be done to improve race relations. This tape also includes footage from WCVB news coverage of the Stuart murder case. Editor's note: The b-roll following this edited story on the tape was entire comprised of third party footage, and so has been edited out.
1:00:04: Visual: Footage of Giusto DiMaiti (father of Carol Stuart) at a press conference on January 25, 1990. DiMaiti says that Carol Stuart was a loving, caring person. Marcus Jones reports that the DiMaiti family has created a foundation to memorialize Carol Stuart; that they hope to fund scholarships for residents of the Mission Hill neighborhood; that they hope to fund activities to bolster race relations in the city of Boston. V: Shots of the members of the DiMaiti family at a press conference; of the media at the press conference. Shot of a color photo of Stuart wearing a bridal veil. Jones reports that the foundation has received over $260,000 worth of donations. Jones reports that Carl DiMaiti is the president of the foundation; that Carl DiMaiti hopes to begin granting scholarships in the fall. V: Footage of Carl DiMaiti being interviewed by Jones. Jones asks what kind of people will receive the scholarships. Carl DiMaiti says that the foundation would like to grant scholarships to hard-working students who have achieved academically or who have contributed to their school. Carl DiMaiti says that the foundation would like to grant scholarships to students who want to give something back to society. Carl DiMaiti says that Carol Stuart was a tax attorney; that Stuart volunteered her time at a Latino community center in Somerville; that Stuart helped people with their taxes during tax season. Jones asks about the foundation's goal of funding activities to improve race relations. Carl DiMaiti says that the foundation would like to fund innovative programs that bring together people from different backgrounds. Carl DiMaiti talks about an city-wide basketball league or an exchange between suburban and inner-city schools. Carl DiMaiti says that the foundation will look to its advisory board for guidance. Carl DiMaiti says that more can be done to improve race relations in Boston. Jones asks Carl DiMaiti for his opinion on race relations in Boston. Carl DiMaiti says that race relations can be improved; that the Carol DiMaiti Stuart Foundation cannot improve race relations by itself. Carl DiMaiti says that some people have been surprised that the family started the foundation. Carl DiMaiti says that the family has derived many benefits from creating the foundation. Carl DiMaiti says that the family has begun to see how many good people live in the city of Boston.
Collection: Ten O'Clock News
Date Created: 02/26/1990
Description: Portrait of Boston's Charles Street neighborhood through Jeff Dunn's B+W photographs intercut with comments from subjects of the photos.
Collection: Ten O'Clock News
Date Created: 09/20/1987
Description: Charles Stuart's body is pulled from Mystic River, lending a new perspective to the murder of his wife. Press conferences with Newman Flanagan and Ray Flynn. Unusual views of Tobin Bridge. Footage of wrongly accused suspect, Willie Bennett. Interviews with black Mission Hill residents.
Collection: Ten O'Clock News
Date Created: 01/04/1990
Description: City councilor Dapper O'Neil addresses City Council about the seven photos he thinks should be removed from Mapplethorpe exhibit. City councilor David Scondras defends freedom of expression. Boston City Council votes against censoring the exhibition. City councilor James Kelly compares his idea of art with his idea of pornography. Kelly proposed a rent hike on city leases, such as for Institute of Contemporary Art building.
Collection: Ten O'Clock News
Date Created: 08/08/1990
Description: David Boeri reports that Ray Flynn (Mayor of Boston) and the Boston City Council will work together to create a public housing policy that ensures equal access while providing some element of choice. Boeri notes that the city must comply with the policy of the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) if they wish to continue receiving federal funds. Boeri's report includes footage of Flynn, Charles Yancey (Boston City Council), and Bruce Bolling (Boston City Council) at a press conference about fair housing policy. Boeri's report also features footage from an interview with James Kelly (Boston City Council). Kelly says that free choice is more important than racial diversity. Boeri reviews the current housing policy and the policy requirements of HUD. Boeri's report also includes footage of white and African American tenants of public housing and by footage of Dapper O'Neil (Boston City Council). This edition of the Ten O'Clock News also included the following item: Sonia Sanchez
1:00:10: Visual: Footage of Ray Flynn (Mayor of Boston) speaking to the press. Charles Yancey (Boston City Council) stands beside him. Flynn says that Boston's housing policy will guarantee equal access to housing for all. David Boeri reports that Flynn met with the Boston City Council about public housing issues; that Yancey said that the meeting was productive. Boeri reports that Flynn and the Council agreed that equal access to public housing must be guaranteed. V: Footage of Bruce Bolling (Boston City Council) saying that no families will be displaced from public housing in order to achieve integration. Boeri reports that Flynn and the Council agreed to work together constructively on the issue. Boeri notes that Dapper O'Neil (Boston City Council) was not present at the meeting; that James Kelly (Boston City Council) did not join Flynn and the other councillors for the press conference after the meeting. V: Shot of O'Neil at a meeting in the City Council chambers. Footage of Kelly in his office. Kelly says that people should be able to choose where they want to live; that the new policy will create "forced housing" instead of "fair housing." Boeri notes that the current housing selection process allows each applicant to select choose three public housing projects where he or she would like to live. Boeri reports that South Boston residents usually list the three housing projects in South Boston; that the three housing projects are all white. V: Shots of Flynn and the councillors speaking to the press; of a white woman looking out of a window of an apartment in a project building; of a white woman and white children in front of a project building; of a sign for the Old Colony Housing Project in South Boston. Shot of a housing project in South Boston. Shots from a moving vehicle of a housing project in Mission Hill. Shot of an African American boy near a dumpster outside of a public housing project. Boeri notes that the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has called Boston's housing policy discriminatory; that the three-choice system has been rejected in other cities. Boeri reports that HUD has recommended a city-wide list, where applicants take the first available apartment. V: Shots of white residents outside of a public housing project in South Boston. Footage of Kelly saying that there is nothing wrong with giving tenants a choice about where they want to live. Kelly says that free choice may result in housing developments which are not racially diverse; that free choice is more important than racial diversity. Shot of Bolling. Boeri reports that Bolling would also like to protect the three-choice system. Boeri notes that HUD provides 70% of Boston's public housing funds; that Boston stands to lose $75 million if they do not comply with HUD policy. V: Shot from a moving vehicle of a manicured lawn in front of a public housing development; of a public housing project on Fidelis Way. Footage of Bolling saying that the city will try to negotiate with HUD to develop an application process with some degree of choice for tenants. Boeri notes that the HUD policy will make tenants choose between living in public housing and living in the neighborhood of choice. Boeri notes that there are 14,500 families on the waiting list for public housing in Boston. V: Shots of public housing projects in Boston; of a racially diverse group of children playing outside of a project building.
Collection: Ten O'Clock News
Date Created: 01/14/1988
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
Description: Meg Vaillancourt reports that members of the Citywide Parents Council have criticized the Boston School Committee's decision to release superintendent Laval Wilson from his contract. Press conference with Council members Jackie van Leeuwen and Glenola Mitchell. Van Leeuwen says that School Committee members acted unethically and unfairly in firing Wilson. Mitchell says that she believes that race played a role in Wilson's firing. School Committee members were critical of Wilson's communication skills, but rated him as fair or better in all other categories. School Committee members deny that race played a role in the firing. Parents are demanding a voice in the selection of Wilson's successor. Vaillancourt adds that the School Committee has been forced to cut back on spending and that money will be tight for the next year. Vaillancourt's report is accompanied by footage of a Boston School Committee meeting and footage of Wilson speaking to the media.
1:00:06: Visual: Footage of Dr. Laval Wilson (Superintendent, Boston Public Schools) speaking to the media on February 14, 1990. Wilson says that he is Boston's first African American superintendent of schools; that he has been a successful superintendent who has worked hard for all groups. Meg Vaillancourt reports that the Boston School Committee voted to replace Wilson last week. Wilson notes that Wilson has had problems in the past with the Citywide Parents Council; that the organization spoke out in support of Wilson today. V: Footage of Jackie van Leeuwen (Citywide Parents Council) at a press conference. Van Leeuwen says that members of the Boston School Committee acted unethically and unfairly in firing Wilson; that Wilson should have been provided an opportunity to discuss his evaluation. Vaillancourt reports that the School Committee evaluation rated Wilson as fair or better in all categories; that members were critical of his communication skills. V: Shot of John O'Bryant (Boston School Committee) speaking to members of the School Committee during a break in a meeting in February of 1989. Wilson looks on. Vaillancourt reports that Wilson's supporters believe that his professionalism is more important than his personality; that Wilson's supporters question the professionalism of the School Committee. V: Shots of a white female teacher teaching students in a classroom. Shots of individual white and African American students. Footage of Glenola Mitchell (Citywide Parents Council) at the press conference. Mitchell questions how the School Committee found the money to buy out Wilson's contract. Mitchell says that the School Committee could not find any money for crucial programs or teacher contracts. Footage of Von Leeuwen saying that the School Committee is supposed to represent the interests of parents and schoolchildren. Von Leeuwen says that the School Committee has shown no regard for the opinions of parents and students. Shot of members of the media in the audience. Vaillancourt asks Mitchell if race played a role in the School Committee's vote against Wilson. Mitchell says that the pattern of the vote shows that race did play a role for some members. Footage from a School Committee meeting in February of 1989. Shots of the members of the School Committee seated at the front of the School Committee chambers; of audience members crowded into the School Committee chambers. Shot of Wilson standing alone as he drinks from a cup. Shots of School Committee members Daniel Burke, Peggy Davis-Mullen, Kitty Bowman, and Robert Cappucci conferring during a break in the meeting. Vaillancourt reports that white members of the School Committee deny that race played a part in the decision; that Wilson declined comment on camera today. Vaillancourt reports that Wilson is being considered for superintendent's post in Florida. V: Shot of the audience at the press conference of the members of the Citywide Parents Council. Vaillancourt notes that the Miami Herald has quoted Davis-Mullen as saying that Wilson is a "rigid, inflexible centralist." Vaillancourt notes that the Miami Herald quoted Davis-Mullen as saying that Wilson is unable to take criticism or move with the flow. V: Shot of Davis-Mullen speaking at a School Committee meeting. The quote by Davis-Mullen appears written in text on-screen. Vaillancourt reports that parents have demanded to meet with the School Committee; that parents want a voice in the selection of Wilson's replacement. V: Shots of attendees at the Citywide Parents Council press conference. Shot of Julio Henriquez (aide to School Committee member Daniel Burke) standing at the rear of the room. Footage of Mitchell saying that she is concerned about the members who do not have children in the school system; that those members are not users of the system. Vaillancourt reports that the School Committee's decison to fire Wilson comes at a bad time; that the state budget crunch has forced the School Committee to cut back on spending. Vaillancourt notes that the Boston City Council has not come up with funding for next year's teacher contracts; that a new student-assignment plan was scheduled to go into effect in the fall. Vaillancourt adds that Wilson will have to meet those challenges as "a lame-duck superintendent."
Collection: Ten O'Clock News
Date Created: 02/20/1990