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Flynn, Affordable housing, Mandela, Mass.

Description: Mayor Ray Flynn holds a press conference in Roxbury to unveil plans for a new housing and commercial development to be built on a vacant lot in Douglass Square. The Boston Redevelopment Authority (BRA) cleared the land in the 1960s and never rebuilt on the lot. The owners and developers of the new project are African American. Flynn and City Councilor Bruce Bolling talk about the new development. Flynn says that all neighborhoods and all residents must share in the growth of the city. Bolling says that the proposal for the creation of Mandela, Massachusetts is a no longer an issue. Bolling and other Mandela opponents believe that the new development signifies a renewed commitment to the Roxbury neighborhood by the city of Boston.
1:00:10: Visual: Footage of Ray Flynn (Mayor of Boston) at an outdoor gathering in Roxbury. Flynn stands under a tent, addressing a crowd. Flynn talks about the vote against the proposal for the creation of Mandela, Massachusetts. Flynn says that the vote shows that the racial polarization of the city is in the past. Shot of the gathering from the back of the tent; of an architectural model. David Boeri reports that Flynn is advocating affordable housing and economic opportunity in every neighborhood. Boeri notes that Flynn unveiled a plan for a project in Douglass Square; that the Boston Redevelopment Authority (BRA) cleared a two-acre plot of land in Douglass Square in the 1960s; that the lot has been abandoned since then. V: Shot of a mural on the wall of a building in Douglass Square in Roxbury; of buildings in Douglass Square; of a vacant lot in Douglass Square; of architectural plans and an architectural model. Boeri reports that a housing and commercial complex is slated to be built on the vacant lot; that one-quarter of the units will be set aside for low-income housing. V: Footage of Bruce Bolling (Boston City Council) saying that the project addresses the need for economic re-investment in Roxbury. Boeri reports that the developers and owners of the project will be African American; that Bolling noted that Roxbury is becoming a full and equal partner in the city of Boston. V: Shots of African American crowd members; of an African American man standing beside an architectural drawing of the project. Footage of Bolling saying that the incorporation of minority neighborhoods into a new city is a dead issue. Boeri reports that Flynn had a unity breakfast with Roxbury leaders this morning; that Flynn pledged to make the city of opportunity for all. V: Shots of the crowd at the gathering. Footage of Flynn saying that all residents need to share in the city's growth and prosperity; that development of the downtown must be accompanied by development of the neighborhoods. Boeri stands in the vacant lot in Douglass Square. Boeri says that the lot has represented an empty promise by the city of Boston to the people of Roxbury. Boeri says that Bolling and other leaders fought the idea of secession from the city. Boeri adds that these leaders say that the plans for the new project are a signal that "their time has come."
Collection: Ten O'Clock News
Date Created: 11/05/1986

Mandela, Massachusetts

Description: Marcus Jones reports that the Greater Roxbury Incorporation Project (GRIP) has put forth a plan to create a new city from Boston's minority neighborhoods. Jones notes that the new municipality would be named Mandela, in honor of jailed South African leader Nelson Mandela. Jones reports that African American community leaders are divided in their support for the referendum question on Mandela, Massachusetts. Jones adds that the referendum question will be on the ballot in the fall. Jones' report includes footage from a press conference in front of the Massachusetts State House with Andrew Jones (GRIP), Byron Rushing (State Representative) and Royal Bolling, Jr. (Mandela supporter). Rushing and Jones speak out in favor of Mandela. Jones report also includes footage of Royal Bolling, Sr. (state senator) speaking out against Mandela. Jones reports that Ray Flynn (Mayor of Boston) is opposed to the creation of Mandela. Jones speculates about the probable boundaries of the proposed city. Jones interviews people on the street about their support of Mandela. Jones' report includes footage of the elevated train tracks along Washington Street in Roxbury. A rap song about Mandela, Massachusetts accompanies parts of the story.
1:00:35: Visual: Shots of a group of African-American residents standing at the side of a street; of an orange line train passing on the elevated tracks along Washington Street. Audio of a rap song promoting Mandela, Massachusetts. Marcus Jones reports that leaders of Boston's African American and Latino communities are promoting the idea of Mandela, Massachusetts; that community leaders hope the referendum question on Mandela, Massachusetts will win votes on the ballot in the fall. V: Shot of Andrew Jones (Greater Roxbury Incorporation Project) Byron Rushing (State Representative) and Royal Bolling, Jr. (Mandela supporter) at a press conference outside of the Massachusetts State House. Shot of a cameraman at the press conference. Footage of Young speaking at the press conference. Young says that the referendum question will allow voters in certain ward and precincts to consider the formation of an independent city. Jones reports that the plan has been put forth by the Greater Roxbury Incorporation Project (GRIP); that the plan would carve a new municipality out of the neighborhoods of Roxbury, Dorchester, Mattapan, Jamaica Plain, the South End, and Columbia Point. Jones reports that the new city would be named in honor of jailed South African leader Nelson Mandela. Jones notes that many developers consider these neighborhoods to be the next frontier of development in Boston. V: Shots of neighborhoods within the limits of the proposed city. Shot of a newspaper article with a headline reading, "Black effort to secede from Boston." Jones stands on the median strip of Massachusetts Avenue in Boston. The Boston skyline is visible behind him. Jones reports that no formal boundary lines have yet been drawn. Jones speculates that one of the bridges on Massachusetts Avenue is a likely boundary line. Jones notes that Boston is on one side, along with the Massachusetts General Hospital, the Prudential building and the Boston Public Library. Jones notes that Mandela would lie on the other side of the bridge; that Mandela would include Boston City Hospital, the Orange Line and Franklin Park. V: Shots of Massachusetts Avenue in both directions. Shot of Washington Street in Roxbury. The elevated train tracks are visible. Shot of Boston City Hall. Audio of a rap song promoting Mandela, Massachusetts. Jones reports that Ray Flynn (Mayor of Boston) is opposed to the plan. Jones notes that some African American community leaders are opposed to the plan because they think that minorities are on the verge of gaining some political clout in the city of Boston. V: Shot of Flynn. Footage of Royal Bolling, Sr. (State Senator) being interviewed. Bolling says that people of color should not settle for a piece of the pie when the whole pie is within reach. Footage of Byron Rushing (State Representative) at the press conference in front of the State House. Rushing says that there are a few African Americans who lie to blame everything on city hall; that those people are in fact blaming their problems on white people. Rushing says that those people will not be able to continue blaming white people in Mandela. Shot of a political cartoon about Mandela. Audio of the rap song plays in the background. Footage of an African American man being interviewed on the street. The man says that the neighborhoods are interwoven into the fabric of the city of Boston; that the secession movement could be counterproductive. Footage of another African American man being interviewed while in his car. The man says that Mandela is a terrible idea. Footage of an African American woman being interviewed. The woman says that she would vote in favor of Mandela. Jones reports that the referendum question is still only a possiblility. Jones notes that petition signatures must be approved; that voting boundaries need to be established. V: Shot of an orange line train riding along the elevated tracks on Washington Street. Shot of a map of the districts within Mandela. Shots of a group of African Americans standing on a street corner. Audio of the rap song promoting Mandela, Massachusetts plays in the background.
Collection: Ten O'Clock News
Date Created: 07/03/1986