Description: Carmen Fields interviews Frank Hector (World War II veteran) and Ralph Cooper (Vietnam veteran) about their experiences in the military. Hector talks about the accomplishments of African American soldiers and war veterans. Hector says that the military is a good experience for young African Americans. Cooper talks about the disproportionate numbers of African American soldiers in the front lines and the lack of services for veterans of color. Hector and Cooper talk about their opinions of Colin Powell (Head, US Joint Chiefs of Staff). Field's report is accompanied by footage of Powell and soldiers during the Persian Gulf War. Fields reports that many African Americans join the military to escape the high unemployment rate in the African American community. Field's report is accompanied by footage of Reverend Michael Haynes leading a church service at Roxbury's Twelfth Baptist Church. Relatives of soldiers in the Persian Gulf War stand in front of the altar to pray for the soldiers. Fields interviews Haynes. Haynes says that African American soldiers must be granted equal rights and privileges when they return home from the war. Fields' report is accompanied by footage from interviews with people on the street about African American soldiers in the Persian Gulf War.
Collection: Ten O'Clock News
Date Created: 01/21/1991
Description: Marcus Jones reports that the Boston Redevelopment Authority (BRA) is considering a parcel of land in Roxbury for the new headquarters of the Massachusetts Water Resources Authority (MWRA). The development of Parcel 18 near the Ruggles MBTA station is seen as a cornerstone to the area's economic revitalization. Interview with Anthony Williams, Assistant Director of the BRA about the proposed development. Williams shows Jones maps of the area and plans for the development. Williams talks about the benefits of constructing the MWRA headquarters in Roxbury. Jones reports that the land was cleared in the 1960s and has lain vacant ever since. Interview with State Rep. Byron Rushing about the proposed project. Rushing says that the community must benefit from any development of the land. Following the edited story is additional footage of the area around Parcel 18 and footage from Jones' interviews with Williams and Rushing.
1:00:05: Visual: Shots of Parcel 18 in front of the Ruggles MBTA station in Roxury; of the entrance to the Ruggles MBTA station. Marcus Jones reports that Parcel 18 is one of six locations being considered as the site for the new headquarters of the Massachusetts Water Resources Authority (MWRA). Jones reports that developers and city officials see construction of MWRA headquarters as a cornerstone to the area's economic revitalization. V: Shots of Anthony Williams (Assistant Director, Boston Redevelopment Authority) showing Jones a map of the area. Shot of a map of proposed development in the area. Jones reports that the land has been vacant for more than twenty years. V: Shots of traffic passing by Parcel 18 and the Ruggles MBTA station. Footage of Williams being interviewed by Jones. Williams says that development takes time; that the community must be involved in the development process. Williams says that construction of the MWRA headquarters would allow development to proceed at a quicker rate. Shot through a fence of Parcel 18, Ruggles MBTA station and the Boston skyline. Jones reports that Roxbury has the highest unemployment rate of any neighborhood in Boston; that Roxbury has seen none of the benefits of development in downtown Boston. V: Shot of Jones and Williams looking at a map. Shots of the map. Footage of Williams saying that Parcel 18 is in close proximity to the downtown area. Williams says that the Roxbury neigborhood is centrally located with good access to public transportation. Williams notes that museums and universities are convenient to the site. Williams says that development will proceed quickly when people realize the potential of the site. Footage of Byron Rushing (State Representative) says that there is always risk involved in the development of a site. Rushing says that he wants the Boston Redevelopment Authority (BRA) to promise that the land will be put to beneficial use even if this development fails. Shot of Parcel 18. Jones reports that the site was cleared in the 1960s to make room for the construction of Interstate 95; that the community blocked construction of the highway. Jones reports that the community wants the development to bring jobs and affordable housing to the community. V: Footage of Rushing saying that any benefits from the development of the site must go to the local community. Shots of Parcel 18.
Collection: Ten O'Clock News
Date Created: 03/23/1989
Description: Carolyn Sawyer reports that a group of unemployed laborers are picketing the construction site of the new Post Office in Dudley Square in Roxbury. The picketers are demanding that fifty percent of the laborers on the site be residents of the Roxbury community. Press conference held by the picketers at the site. Rev. Graylan Hagler from the Church of the United Community says that the men will not go away with "crumbs." Picketers Ivan Singleton, James Gun, and Ron Nelson also speak out at the press conference. Interview with Stephen Coyle of the Boston Redevelopment Authority, who is trying to mediate the dispute. Coyle says that the community is legitimately concerned about the high rate of unemployment among residents. He adds that he expects similar protests during upcoming construction projects. Sawyer reviews the agreement concerning minority participation in the construction project.
1:00:37: Visual: Footage of Graylan Ellis-Hagler (Church of the United Community) speaking at a press conference held at the construction site of the new Post Office in Dudley Square. A group of African American men stand behind Ellis-Hagler. Ellis-Hagler says that he and the men will not go away with "crumbs." Ellis-Hagler says that if his men do not work, then nobody works. Shots of the Post Office construction site in Dudley Square. Carolyn Sawyer reports that no one has worked at the Post Office construction site since last Friday. Sawyer reports that picketers have refused to be moved. V: Footage of Ivan Singleton (unemployed laborer) speaking at the press conference. Singleton says that he lives in the community; that laborers on the construction site are coming in from outside of the community. Singleton says that he wants to work on the site. Footage of James Gun (unemployed laborer) speaking at the press conference. Gun says that unemployed laborers in the community are not working on any of the construction jobs in the community. Shot of the Post Office construction site. Sawyer reports that the workers want the fifty percent of the laborers on the site to be residents of the Roxbury community. Sawyer notes that federal law requires minority participation to be ten percent. Sawyer reports that the Post Office has agreed to hire 30% of the work force from the community. V: Shot of a Post Office building in the city. Footage of Stephen Coyle (Boston Redevelopment Authority) being interviewed in his office. Coyle says that the Post Office has satisfied the law and made an agreement with the community. Coyle says that the community is not satisfied. Coyle says that the Post Office and the community appear to be on a collision course. Sawyer reports that Coyle is charged with keeping the project on schedule; that the project is due to be completed next August. Sawyer notes that Coyle met separately today with Suffolk Construction (general contractor of the construction site), with Post Office officials and with Roxbury residents. V: Footage of Coyle being interviewed by Sawyer. Coyle says that the community has legitimate concerns; that unemployment rates are high. Sawyer reports that he expects more of these kinds of disputes in the future. V: Footage of Coyle being interviewed by Sawyer. Coyle says that there will be more tension surrounding upcoming construction projects; that there are not enough jobs and contracts for everyone. Coyle says that he hopes the public sector will engage in more capital projects in the future; that an increase in capital projects would ease the tension. Sawyer reports that government budgets are tight; that more capital projects appear unlikely. V: Shots of the Post Office construction site; of an African American man at the press conference. Footage of Ron Nelson (unemployed carpenter) at the press conference. Nelson says that laborers are coming in from outside to take food from the mouths of community residents. Nelson says that money from the construction is not circulating in the community. Nelson says that the unemployed laborers will continue to picket until they are allowed to work.
Collection: Ten O'Clock News
Date Created: 12/21/1990