Description: Deborah Wang reports that the city of Boston's minority set-aside program is facing a court challenge. This program allows minority-owned businesses to break into their industries by inviting them to participate in municipal projects. Interview with Robert McCoy pf McCoy Landscaping, who says that his business could not have survived without the program. The Consortium of Minority Business Enterprises has been formed to protect set-aside laws in Massachusetts. Interview with Walter Williams of the Contractors' Association of Boston, about the set-aside programs. The Consortium gave a hostile reception to Sen. John Kerry at a recent meeting, where he says that public opinion is not in favor of set-aside programs. Wang notes that Consortium members seem to be united in support of set-aside programs. This edition of the Ten O'Clock News also included the following item: Press conference to celebrate the positive findings of a study on the state's Healthy Start Program
1:00:08: Visual: Footage of construction workers digging holes for the construction of a new park in Roxbury. Deborah Wang reports that the new Roxbury park is a $400,000 project which has been funded by the city of Boston. Wang reports that the work is being done by McCoy Landscapers; that McCoy Landscapers may not have had an opportunity to do the job five years ago. V: Footage of Robert McCoy (McCoy Landscaping) being interviewed by Wang at the park site. McCoy says that the minority set-aside program has allowed him to build his business; that he could not have survived without the program. Wang reports that McCoy says that minority firms often have a hard time getting their bids accepted by contractors. V: Shots of construction workers digging holes at the Roxbury park site. Footage of McCoy saying that most contractors want to work with firms with which they are familiar. McCoy says that the minority set-aside program has allowed his company to break into the business. Wang reports that the minority set-aside program has been threatened by a Supreme Court decision; that Boston's set-aside program is facing a court challenge. Wang reports that minority business owners say that their businesses will be devastated if the program is shut down. V: Shot of workers digging and measuring holes at the Roxbury site. Footage of a meeting held by the Consortium of Minority Business Enterprises. Shot of a banner for the Contractors' Association of Boston, which hangs on a wall of the meeting room. Shots of the media and audience members at the meeting. Wang reports that the Consortium of Minority Business Enterprises has been formed to protect set-aside laws in Massachusetts. V: Footage of Walter Williams (Contractors' Association of Boston) being interviewed by Wang. Williams says that minority-owned businesses will be fighting with white-owned businesses for opportunities. Wang reports that members of the Consortium of Minority Business Enterprises gave a hostile reception to John Kerry (US Senator). Wang notes that Kerry has been a long-time supporter of set-aside programs. Wang reports that Kerry told the Consortium that public opinion is against them. V: Footage of Kerry at the Consortium meeting. Kerry says that Irish immigrants, Italian immigrants, and immigrants of other nationalities struggled to succeed without affirmative action programs when they arrived in the US. A Consortium member tells Kerry that he does not care if the Consortium offends other groups. Kerry tells the Consortium that he is trying to describe the feelings of other groups toward affirmative action programs; that the Consortium needs to decide whether or not to take these feelings into account. Kerry says that there will be trouble if the Consortium does not care about the feelings of other groups. Shots of Consortium members attending the meeting, including Deval Patrick (attorney). Wang reports that the Consortium needs to decide whether it will compromise; that members took a hard line at today's meeting. V: Footage of McCoy being interviewed by Wang at the Roxbury park site. saying that the Consortium will probably offend some groups with its actions; that the civil rights movement offended some people. McCoy says that the Consortium will not change its position.
Collection: Ten O'Clock News
Date Created: 05/15/1989
Description: News story about Coolidge Corner Theater Foundation's efforts to save Coolidge Corner Moviehouse from conversion into retail space after sale of property to developer. Conran's at Exeter furniture store was theater owned by same developer and converted into retail space. Reporter talks about Moviehouse's history and threats to its business including video rental stores and Loews theaters. Richard Fraiman, owner of Capitol Theatre in Arlington, argues for relevance of neighborhood theaters. Shots of Capitol Theatre renovation. shots of Coolidge Corner Theater's art deco interior design. Following edited story are b-roll shots of Conran's at Exeter exterior, Coolidge Corner Moviehouse marquee; interior detail shots of art deco design in Coolidge Corner theatre.
Collection: Ten O'Clock News
Date Created: 09/01/1989
Description: Interview with Tufts sociologist Peter Dreier on “interlocking directors.” He explains that the composition of corporate boards is limited largely to white males who do not represent those affected by their policy choices. Women, poor people and ethnic minorities are excluded and their interests are not protected. The “old boys” network makes decisions that perpetuate each other's wealth inasmuch as the same small group of men are on the boards of all the large Boston banks, utilities and big businesses. There are conflicts of interest. Nuclear power plants were endorsed and financed by such groups though they are found to be unsafe and unprofitable. Dreier calls for demographically broadening board membership and raising corporate consciousness about welfare of the community. Explains the way banks redlining creates slums. Dreier says that there should be a Freedom of Information Act for big business, like there is for the government.
Collection: Ten O'Clock News
Date Created: 10/06/1983
Description: Powderhouse Square Somerville. Shirtless young men play basketball. Line of storefronts: travel agent, Japanese restaurant, Gracious Goodness Bakers & Caterers, Winter Hill Printing Co. Inc. Reproduction Services, Goodell Drug, Broadway Broadway Hair Designs, tailor/cleaner, Kostos Family Food Stores. Davis Square construction of T below street, crane. Holland Street. Typical row of signage. Billboards atop buildings. Original Bertucci's Pizza and Steve's Ice Cream, Ruby Begonia Plants.
Collection: Ten O'Clock News
Date Created: 08/16/1982
Description: Revere Sugar processing plant in Charlestown. Loose sugar offloaded by crane from ship onto conveyor belt. Exteriors of plant with silos and chutes. Charles Bennett does several takes of reporter standup about sugar growers seeking protection from foreign competition.
Collection: Ten O'Clock News
Date Created: 07/12/1982
Description: Charles Bennett interviews man from Revere Sugar about the United States quotas on the importation of sugar and the production of sugar at the Revere plant. Discussion of sugar industry while cutaways are being shot. Exteriors and interiors of Revere Sugar processing plant in Charlestown. Very long shiny Coca-Cola tank truck. Cardboard packaging being formed by machine. Sugar pours from large spout to fill boxes. Sealed boxes pass along assembly line. Five-pound paper sacks filled.
Collection: Ten O'Clock News
Date Created: 07/12/1982
Description: Carmen Fields reports that Richard Taylor, the Massachusetts Secretary of Transportation and Construction, will preside over the Central Artery/Third Harbor Tunnel Construction Project in Boston. Taylor is one of the few African American Republicans in Massachusetts. Interview with Taylor, who talks about his reasons for being a Republican and his career in business. Taylor talks about his commitment to affirmative action and his plans to encourage participation by women and minorities in the Central Artery/Third Harbor Tunnel Project. Taylor says that he has always pushed for fair and equitable opportunities for minority businesses. Fields notes that Taylor says that his appointment signals a commitment to affirmative action on the part of Governor William Weld. Fields' report is accompanied by footage of Rev. Graylan Hagler and unemployed construction workers at a press conference at a construction site in Roxbury. This edition of the Ten O'Clock News also included the following item: Alexandra Marks interviews businessmen Derek Jeter and William Singleton on the challenges faced by minority businesses in Boston
1:00:03: Visual: Footage of Richard Taylor (Secretary of Transportation and Construction) being interviewed. Taylor says that he supports limited taxes, limited regulation, more research, and development and more private sector involvement. Carmen Fields reports that Taylor is a wealthy, well educated entrepreneur; that Taylor is a Republican; that Taylor is also African American. Fields reports that Taylor is part of a small but growing band of African American Republicans. V: Shot of Taylor in his office. Footage of Taylor being interviewed. Taylor says that some have argued that all African Americans should be Republicans; that Abraham Lincoln (former US president) was a Republican. Taylor says that he believes in limited taxation and limited government involvement. Taylor says that the Republican Party encourages people to pursue economic independence; that the Republican Party discourages people from looking to the government for sustainment. Fields reports that Taylor is the State Transportation Secretary; that he presides over the Central Artery-Third Harbor Tunnel Construction Project. V: Shot of Taylor greeting an African American man and a white man as they enter his office. Footage of Taylor at a meeting with the two men and another woman. Taylor talks about the risk of delays in the project. Fields reports that Massachusetts has a high unemployment rate; that the construction project will provide jobs. Fields notes that the Republican Party is often viewed as being anti-minority, anti-women, and anti-civil rights. V: Shots of Taylor at the meeting. Footage of Taylor being interviewed by Fields. Fields asks Taylor if he is against affirmative action. Taylor says that affirmative action is necessary. Taylor says that minority businesses should participate in the project if it strengthens their skills; that minority businesses should be paid for a job well done. Taylor says that affirmative action helps minority businesses be competitive; that affirmative action is part of the remedial process. Taylor says that some affirmative action models are troublesome. Taylor says that he does not support quotas. Taylor says that some affirmative action models do not give minority businesses enough significant responsibility. Fields asks if he will be a reluctant or an enthusiastic supporter of affirmative action. Taylor says that he is inclined to have active and strong participation by women and minorities. Taylor says that he has always pushed for fair and equitable opportunities for minority businesses. Taylor talks about his career in business before entering government.Taylor says that he will do a good job in this area. Fields reports that Roxbury residents halted construction on a new Post Office facility in Dudley Square recently. Fields notes that residents wanted more jobs for community workers on the project. V: 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 Hagler. Hagler says that he and the men will not go away with "crumbs." Shots of the construction site. Fields notes that Taylor says that he has learned from the experience in Roxbury. V: Footage of Taylor being interviewed by Fields. Taylor says that the MBTA recently began a $9 million project to renovate Dudley Station. Taylor says that he incorporated some recent provisions from the Post Office project into the MBTA project. Turner says that it is important for the major contractor to be in agreement with the provisions of the contract. Turner says that he hopes that these provisions will be used in the Central Artery Project. Fields reports that Taylor says that his appointment signals the commitment of William Weld (governor of Massachusetts) to affirmative action. Fields notes that Turner believes that there are many opportunities for qualified people of color. V: Shots of Taylor in his office. Footage of Taylor being interviewed by Fields. Taylor talks about a recent business seminar at the Boston World Trade Center. Taylor says that the seminar focused on how minority businesses could participate in the Central Artery Project. Taylor says that he will soon meet with major contractors for the Central Artery Project. Taylor says that he hopes to link minority businesses with the major contractors in order to provide work for minorities.
Collection: Ten O'Clock News
Date Created: 03/29/1991
Description: Profile of Robert Spillane, superintendent of Boston Public Schools as he prepares to leave Boston for a post in Virginia. Vaillancourt reports on Spillane's accomplishments in improving the Boston Public School System and cutting the school budget deficit. Interview with Spillane where he compliments the teaching staff in the Boston Public Schools and talks about his opinion of Arthur Garrity. He says that Garrity's stewardship of the school system was a disaster. Interview with Peter McCormick, the President of the Bank of New England, about Spillane's good relationship with the business community. Vaillancourt speculates about whether Spillane will one day pursue a career in politics.
1:00:21: Visual: Footage of Robert Spillane (Superintendent, Boston Public Schools) speaking to an audience. Spillane says that the quality of every school must be improved in order for school desegregation to be considered a success. Meg Vaillancourt reports that Spillane took over as Superintendent of the Boston Public Schools four years ago; that Boston was undergoing school desegregation. V: Shot of a young African American boy watching an anti-busing march. White protesters chant, "Here we go, Southie." Shot of a police officer pushing an angry white man against a car. Vaillancourt reports that the quality of education was very low. Vaillancourt notes that school officials admitted that more than one-third of the graduates from Boston Public Schools could not read. V: Shots of students descending an elevator at English High School. Shot of an African American male student reading at a his desk; of two white male students sitting together in a classroom; of students in a classroom. Shots of a group of students sitting together in a study hall; of a teacher in the study hall. Vaillancourt reports that there were six superintendents during the first seven years of school desegregation in Boston. Vaillancourt reports that Spillane was committed to changing the schools in Boston. V: Shot of Spillane seating himself as he prepares to speak to an audience. The audience applauds. Vaillancourt reports that Spillane instituted the first changes to the school curriculum in fifteen years; that promotion standards were established; that students' test scores began to improve. V: Shot of two elementary school students seated in front of computers. A teacher looks over the shoulder of one of the students. Vaillancourt reports that Spillane shares credit for success with his staff. V: Footage of Spillane being interviewed. Spillane says that there is an excellent teaching staff in the Boston Public Schools. Spillane says that the rising levels of student achievement reflect the dedication of the teaching staff. Spillane says that he provided help and direction. Spillane says that he challenged the teachers by publishing the test scores of each school. Shots of Spillane in his office. Vaillancourt reports that Spillane is known as the "velvet hammer." V: Shot of a hammer with a velvet grip on display in Spillane's office. Vaillancourt reports that Spillane is credited with pushing Arthur Garrity (federal judge) aside; that Spillane allowed the Boston School Department to take charge of the schools once again. Vaillancourt notes that Garrity is slowly handing over his control of the Boston Public Schools. V: Shot of Garrity at a community meeting in January of 1976. Vaillancourt reports that Spillane has few kind words for Garrity. V: Footage of Spillane being interviewed by Vaillancourt. Spillane says that Garrity was a "disaster"; that Garrity was not a good manager of the schools. Spillane says that Garrity did what was necessary to desegregate the schools; that Garrity tried to manage the schools as well. Spillane says that a federal judge has no qualifications to manage a school system. Vaillancourt reports that Spillane considers his ability to manage the school system as his strength. Vaillancourt reports that the school budget had tripled in the decade before Spillane's arrival. Vaillancourt reports that Spillane cut the school deficit from $30 million to $3 million within one year. Vaillancourt notes that Spillane got Boston businesses involved in the schools; that Boston businesses have given over $5 million in additional funds to the schools. Vaillancourt adds that the Boston Public Schools have the largest private endowment in the nation. V: Footage of a woman introducing Spillane to an audience. Spillane rises from his seat, shakes the woman's hand and prepares to address the audience. The audience applauds. Shots of audience members. Footage of Spillane receiving an award in front of an audience. Footage of Peter McCormick (President, Bank of New England) being interviewed. McCormick says that Spillane is highly respected by the business community. McCormick says that Spillane understands the problems of the business community; that Spillane has been willing to be flexible. McCormick says that the business community responded in kind to Spillane. Vaillancourt reports that Spillane is leaving Boston for Virginia; that Spillane will make an additional $30,000 per year in his new job. Vaillancourt reports that Spillane made $70,000 per year in Boston; that his salary is considered low. V: Footage of Spillane talking with a small group of people. Spillane shakes hands with an Asian American woman. Footage of Spillane being interviewed by Vaillancourt. Spillane says that superintendents are like athletes in that they have a short span of time in which to perform well and make money. Spillane says that there is a good market for superintendents. Vaillancourt reports that some are speculating that Spillane is looking for a political appointment in Washington DC. in the future. Vaillancourt notes that Spillane is a former Deputy Commissioner of Education in New York. V: Shot of Spillane socializing with a group of people at a gathering. Footage of Spillane being interviewed by Vaillancourt. Spillane says that public service is a great opportunity; that he loves public service. Spillane says that he may enter politics in the future; that he might like to be a city councillor or school committee member someday.
Collection: Ten O'Clock News
Date Created: 06/28/1985
Description: The original Steve's Ice Cream in Davis Square Somerville. Menu board. Old fashioned ice cream machine in window, churning with ice cubes, dasher scraped down with spatula. Steve Herrell, owner, peels bananas and purees them. Customer places order. Ice cream is squished with “mix-ins.” Interview with Herrell on FDA labeling regulation to list natural and artificial ingredients. Comments on using only pure ingredients and non-fat dry milk instead of casein substitute. Label on quart container.
Collection: Ten O'Clock News
Date Created: 06/01/1977
Description: Marcus Jones reports on the lack of summer jobs for urban youth. Many teenagers try to find summer jobs through the Roxbury Boys and Girls Club. Interview with director Laurence Jones, who says that many teenagers are not working this summer because there are not enough jobs. He adds that many kids may turn to drugs and crime in order to make money to supplement their families' incomes. He talks about the importance of summer jobs for teenagers, which can help teenagers break out of the cycle of poverty. Marcus Jones reports that the private sector has not provided as many summer jobs this year as in previous years. He adds that the city has increased funding, but that there are not enough jobs to go around. Laurence Jones believes that the city will see long-term benefits from providing summer jobs to teenagers. Marcus Jones' report is accompanied by footage of African American kids and teenagers participating in activities at the Roxbury Boys and Girls Club. Young people play in a gymnasium and work on computers. Marcus Jones' report also features footage of Laurence Jones speaking to teenagers in his office at the Roxbury Boys and Girls Club. Following the edited story is additional b-roll of African American youth playing in the gymnasium at the Roxbury Boys and Girls Club. Also, teens playing games on computers and closeups of the screens as they play.
0:59:58: Visual: Footage of an African American boy in the gymnasium of the Roxbury Boys and Girls Club. The boy is running part of a relay race with other kids. An older teenager supervises the kids. Shots of African American young people working on a computer at the Roxbury Boys and Girls Club. Marcus Jones reports the the Roxbury Boys and Girls Club provides access to a wide range of activities to Roxbury youth; that many teenagers try to find summer jobs through the Roxbury Boys and Girls Club. V: Shot of Laurence Jones (Director, Roxbury Boys and Girls Club) entering an office in the Club. Laurence Jones shakes hands with a young African American male teenager. Shot of the teenage boy. Marcus Jones reports that Laurence Jones says that he was only able to place a dozen teenagers in summer jobs this year; that Laurence Jones says that many more teenagers are seeking employment. V: Footage of Laurence Jones being interviewed by Marcus Jones. Laurence Jones says that there are several thousand kids in the Roxbury community; that there are only a couple of hundred jobs. Laurence Jones says that many teenagers are not working. Shot of Jones speaking to an African American teenage boy in the lobby of the Boys and Girls Club; of two African American teenage girls sitting in the lobby of the Boys and Girls Club. Shot of Laurence Jones speaking to a young African American woman in the office of the Boys and Girls Club. An African American man stands in the doorway. Marcus Jones reports that the private sector has not come through with as many jobs this year as in previous years; that federal funding has been cut; that state funds are limited. Jones notes that the city of Boston has increased funding for summer jobs by $4 million; that the increase in funding is not enough. V: Footage of Laurence Jones being interviewed by Marcus Jones. Laurence Jones says that there is a lot of gang activity in Roxbury; that some teenagers are turning to drugs and crime in order to make money. Laurence Jones says that some of these kids are supplementing their families' incomes. Marcus Jones reports that Laurence Jones believes that the city must do more to provide summer jobs for teenagers; that Laurence Jones believes that the city will suffer later on if the issue is ignored. V: Footage of Laurence Jones being interviewed by Marcus Jones. Laurence Jones says that teenagers must be given the opportunity to grow and to develop a good work ethic. Laurence Jones says that teenagers must be given work experience before the age of twenty; that teenagers must learn how to hold down a job and to manage money. Laurence Jones says that summer jobs can help teenagers break out of the cycle of poverty. Shot of Laurence Jones talking to a group of African American kids at the Roxbury Boys and Girls Club.
Collection: Ten O'Clock News
Date Created: 07/12/1990