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BHA tenant settlement

Description: Christy George interviews Maria LeBron about her experiences as a tenant in Boston's public housing, specifically in the Mission Hill Housing Project. George notes that LeBron is one of 370 tenants who have been compensated for the discriminatory policies of the Boston Housing Authority (BHA). The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and a federal court found the BHA policies to be discriminatory. The Lawyers Committee for Civil Rights filed a lawsuit on behalf on tenants. LeBron talks about how she was placed on a waiting list for an apartment even though there were empty apartments in housing projects in South Boston and Charlestown. She talks about the discriminatory policies of the BHA. LeBron says that it is very difficult to be homeless. She adds that people of color should not be afraid to challenge government agencies. George reports that nearly 1,000 people are eligible for settlement money from the BHA.
1:00:11: Visual: Footage of Maria LeBron (public housing tenant) calling to her children in the courtyard of the Mission Hill Housing Project. LeBron takes one of her children by the hand. She walks with along with them toward one of the buildings in the development. Christy George reports that the Boston Housing Authority (BHA) placed LeBron in the Mission Hill Public Housing Project three years ago. George notes that LeBron is Puerto Rican; that LeBron's neighbors are Puerto Rican and African American. George reports that the BHA used to assign tenants by race; that LeBron was forced to wait for a long time to be placed in an apartment. George adds that LeBron signed up for public housing after the city condemned the building in which she was living; that LeBron was six months pregnant. V: Footage of LeBron sitting in her apartment with her two sons. LeBron says that she wondered why the BHA took so long to place her in an apartment. LeBron says that she knew that there were empty apartments. LeBron says that she waited three months before being placed in an apartment. Shots of LeBron working in the kitchen of her apartment. George reports that LeBron spent three months shuttling between a homeless shelter and the Milner Hotel. George notes that BHA apartments in Charlestown and South Boston sat empty while LeBron waited for an apartment. V: Shot of one of LeBron's sons sitting on the floor of the apartment. A toy car is in the foreground of the shot. George reports that LeBron was assigned to an apartment in Mission Hill two weeks before her baby was born. V: Shot of LeBron's two sons in the kitchen with her while she works. Footage of LeBron being interviewed by George. LeBron says that she noticed that there were no white families in the housing project where she was placed. LeBron says that a neighbor told her that the BHA only places white families in Charlestown and South Boston; that there are no white people outside of those two areas. LeBron says that she thinks that is wrong. Shots of LeBron in the kitchen with her sons. LeBron gets some chocolate milk for one of her sons. Shot of the boy drinking from a small bottle of chocolate milk. George reports that the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and a federal court ruled that the BHA housing policies were discriminatory. George reports that the Lawyers Committee for Civil Rights filed suit on behalf of the NAACP and tenants. V: Shots of Lebron giving her other son a cup of milk. Shot of an $500 invoice made out to LeBron from the BHA. George reports that LeBron received $500 from the BHA yesterday; that LeBron will receive a total of three checks as compensation for the discriminatory practices of the BHA. George notes that she will receive two more checks for $250. V: Shot of LeBron and her two sons on the couch. Footage of LeBron being interviewed by George. LeBron says that the BHA learned an expensive lesson. LeBron says that there are many people who do not have homes. LeBron says that it is hard to be homeless; that homeless people do not know where they will go for their next meal or for shelter. LeBron says that she wanted a home. Shot of the housing development from a window in LeBron's apartment. George reports that LeBron is one of 370 people who have been compensated for the BHA's discriminatory policies. George notes that nearly 1,000 more people are eligible for settlement money. George notes that these people will be hard to find; that some do not speak English; that others may be afraid to collect. V: Shot of three people standing at the entrance to one of the development buildings. Footage of LeBron being interviewed by George. LeBron says that many people of color are intimidated by large government bureaucracies like the BHA. LeBron says that people should not be intimidated, especially if they are in the right. Shot of LeBron handing each of her sons a coin. LeBron stands near a bureau. George reports that LeBron will use her first check to bring her sons to Puerto Rico for a visit to their grandparents. George notes that LeBron would like to attend college in the future to study law. George adds that LeBron has already won her first case. V: Shot of LeBron following her sons out of a room in the apartment.
Collection: Ten O'Clock News
Date Created: 08/02/1990

Banks and low-income neighborhoods

Description: Christy George reports that poor Boston neighborhoods lack access to banking services. Banking leaders met with community leaders today to announce an agreement that will provide better banking services to poor neighborhoods. George reviews the details of the agreement, which will provide bank branches, loans, and increased investment to poor neighborhoods. At the meeting Richard Pollard (Massachusetts Bankers Association) says that redlining did not take place in the 1980s. Charles Stith (Organization for a New Equality), Bruce Bolling (Boston City Council), Willie Jones (Community Investment Coalition), John Hamill (Shawmut Bank),Ronald Homer (Boston Bank of Commerce), and Michael Dukakis all speak out in favor of the proposal. This edition of the Ten O'Clock News also included the following items: Julian Bond at Harvard University and Christopher Lydon interviews Sarah Small
1:00:06: Visual: Aerial shot of Somerville. Shot of residents walking on a street in Roxbury. Shots of street signs for Blue Hill Avenue and Dudley Street; of a Western Union office in Roxbury; of signs in the window of the Western Union office. Shot of a man walking into the Western Union office. Christy George reports that poor communities lack access to banking services. George reports that Boston banks have few branches in poor communities. V: Footage of Michael Dukakis (Governor of Massachusetts) at a gathering of Massachusetts bankers. Dukakis shakes hands with meeting attendees. George reports that Dukakis outlawed the practice of redlining in the 1970s; that bankers and business leaders were upset about the law. George says that poor communities still lack banking services in spite of the law. George reports that Dukakis has supported a program to get banks to give better service to poor communities. V: Footage of Dukakis standing with banking leaders and community leaders at the meeting. Footage of Richard Pollard (Massachusetts Bankers Association) saying that he will not admit that redlining has been taking place in the 1980s; that redlining is illegal. Shots of banking leaders and community leaders socializing. George says that banking leaders met with community leaders today. George reports that banking leaders have agreed to open 10 to 15 new branches of downtown banks in poor neighborhoods over the next five years; that banking leaders have agreed to open 20 to 35 new ATM machines in poor communities. George reports that banking leaders have agreed to restructure mortgage programs; that the new program will grant mortgages to families earning as little as $27,000 per year. George reports that the banks will participate in a $100 million affordable housing pool to finance renovation and construction of affordable housing. George reports that bank leaders will support a $10 million corporation which will direct investments to minority-owned businesses. V: On-screen text details the specifics of the agreement between bank leaders and community leaders. Footage of Charles Stith (Organization for a New Equality) at the meeting. Stith encourages the leaders to join hands and raise them in the air. The leaders raise their hands and say "Amen." Stith stands next to Bruce Bolling (Boston City Council). Shots of Dukakis and other leaders. Shots of the media; of Stith. George reports that the leaders need to decide how to monitor progress; that both sides were optimistic about the plan. V: Footage of Stith speaking at the meeting. Stith says that it has taken a long time to reach an agreement. Footage of Bolling speaking at the meeting. Bolling says that the agreement is like "a Catholic marriage"; that there is no divorce. Footage of John Hamill (Shawmut Bank) speaking at the meeting. Hamill says that the agreement is not like a new marriage; that the agreement is "a renewal of vows." Footage of Ronald Homer (Boston Bank of Commerce) speaking at the meeting. Homer says that "the only way to say 'I love you' in business is with money. Footage of Dukakis saying that the agreement is "fantastic." George says that the agreement was reached when communication between the two sides improved. V: Footage of Pollard speaking at the meeting. Pollard says that the community used to have the feeling that the banks had unlimited funds with which to provide mortgages. Pollard says that the banks needed to explain their business model to the community. Footage of Willie Jones (Community Investment Coalition) speaking at the meeting. Jones says that the banks have realized that poor communities are looking for basic services instead of "bells and whistles." George stands in a residential neighborhood. George reports that banking rules have made it difficult for poor people to qualify for loans and mortgages. George reports that banks have restructured their rules to allow access for poor people. George notes that the banks will make money in poor communities; that they will not make as much money as in wealthy communities.
Collection: Ten O'Clock News
Date Created: 01/15/1990

Rev. Eugene Rivers

Description: Marcus Jones interviews Eugene Rivers of the African Peoples Pentecostal Church about his community work in the greater Roxbury neighborhood. Jones notes that Rivers is an outspoken critic of the religious establishment. He adds that Rivers spends a lot of time counseling troubled youth and acting as a legal advocate for them. Rivers talks about his work with neighborhood youth. Rivers says that many troubled teenagers come from disadvantaged socioeconomic backgrounds. Rivers talks about the need for churches to do more to reach out to young people. Rivers says that churches must provide alternatives for young people. Rivers talks about violence in the community and about his commitment to young people in the neighborhood. Jones notes that violence is a problem in the neighborhood. He adds that Rivers is committed to fighting the problem. Jones' report is accompanied by footage of Rivers talking to young people on the street and footage of Rivers' church van, damaged from gunfire.
1:00:06: Visual: Footage of Eugene Rivers (Pastor, African Peoples Pentecostal Church) talking to two young African American men in front of a courthouse. Marcus Jones reports that Rivers is not a social worker; that Rivers spends a lot of time counseling troubled youth. Jones reports that Rivers is the pastor of the African Peoples Pentecostal Church; that Rivers' church holds its meetings at the Freedom House in Roxbury. V: Footage of Rivers being interviewed by Jones. Jones asks how much of Rivers' time is taken up by troubled youth. Rivers says that his wife thinks that he spends too much time. Jones asks Rivers how often he is in the courthouse. Rivers says that he is in the courthouse three or four days per week. Rivers says that a large number of teenagers end up getting into trouble for legitimate reasons; that many these teenagers get into trouble stemming from their socio-economic backgrounds. Rivers says that he tries to make himself available to help these people. Shot of Rivers walking on a sidewalk with a young African American man. Jones reports that Rivers is an outspoken critic of the religious establishment. Jones reports that Rivers believes that religious leaders have failed the young people of Roxbury, Dorchester, and Mattapan. Jones notes that Rivers believes that religious organizations need to provide alternatives to drugs, gangs, and violence. V: Shot of a group of African American teenage boys standing in front of a house. Another group of African American teenage boys rides by on bicycles. Footage of Rivers being interviewed by Jones. Rivers says that churches are the premier institutions in the African American community. Rivers says that churches, including his own, are not doing enough to reach out to young people. Rivers says that the absence of the churches on the street is more conspicuous than the presence of drugs. Shot of Rivers walking on the street with another African American man. Rivers stops an African American teenage boy. Rivers starts talking to the boy. Footage of Rivers being interviewed by Jones. Rivers says that many young men are involved in illegal activities because no other form of activity was available to them. Rivers says that many young drug dealers never had adult role models; that many young drug dealers never had access to any kind of significant alternative. Shot of Rivers walking down the courthouse steps with another man. Jones reports that Rivers speaks from experience when he talks about role models. Jones reports that Rivers was a gang member and drug dealer in Philadelphia before he enrolled at Harvard University. Jones notes that Rivers is trying to make a difference on the streets of a neighborhood where gang violence is commonplace. V: Shot of bullet holes in the windshield of Rivers's van. Footage of Rivers counting the bullet holes on his van. Rivers points out the damage done to his van. Close-up shot of a bullet hole on the side of the van. Jones reports that gang members fired dozens of bullets into the home of Rivers's next-door nieghbor last month. Jones reports that many of the bullets hit Rivers's church van; that two bullets pierced the wall of his home. V: Shot of Rivers and Jones outside of Rivers's home. Shot of a bullet hole in the window of a home. Shots of the broken windows of the church van; of broken glass inside of the van. Shot of a bullet hole in the wall of Rivers's home. Footage of Rivers being interviewed by Jones outside of his home. Jones comments that Rivers's neighbors have moved out of their home. Rivers says that he feels a commitment toward the community; that he wants to make something happen here. Shot of Rivers and Jones framed by the broken window of the van. Jones reports that Rivers, his family and his congregation want to make the African American community aware of its responsibility to change things. Jones reports that Rivers wants the community to work at making improvements instead of blaming outsiders. V: Footage of Rivers being interviewed by Jones. Rivers says that kids will participate in legitimate acitivities if those activities are provided. Jones asks who will provide the activities. Rivers says that African American churches need to come up with alternatives for youth; that the churches should close shop if they fail to provide alternatives. Rivers says that African American churches should become employers, educators, advocates; that the churches should be in the courts and in the jails. Rivers says that the churches have failed to understand the meaning of the gospel if they fail to take up this challenge.
Collection: Ten O'Clock News
Date Created: 08/15/1990