10 O'Clock News | [Ray Flynn's housing policies]

Stephen Coyle of the Boston Redevelopment Authority

[Ray Flynn's housing policies]
Original Airdate: 7/17/1986

Length: 00:03:15
Item Type: newstape - edited story master

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Full Description

1:00:10
Visual: Shot of Ray Flynn (Mayor of Boston) campaigning on a street in Upham's Corner in Dorchester. He shakes hands with voters.

Christy George stands on a residential street. George reports that Flynn ran for mayor of Boston on housing issues; that Flynn promised to provide affordable housing and to guarantee tenants' rights. George notes that Flynn also promised to empower neighborhoods through political action. George says that Flynn faces some challenges in achieving those goals.

V: Footage of Stephen Coyle (Boston Redevelopment Authority) saying that the Flynn housing policy combines policy and programs.
Shots of residential streets in Boston; of a downtown construction site; of a sign advertising condominiums.
Shot of Royal Bolling, Sr. (state Senator) testifying in the crowded chambers of the Boston City Council.

George reports that Flynn's programs to build new housing units have been successful; that other housing policies are in trouble. George explains that Flynn's linkage policy ties neighborhood housing to downtown construction; that Flynn has proposed a policy to set limits on condominium conversion. George notes that both policies have been found flawed by the Massachusetts State Supreme Court. George notes that the Boston City Council has softened Flynn's rent control bill.

V: Footage of Mel King (community activist) being interviewed. King says that Flynn needs the support from the Boston City Council and from state legislators.
Shot of Flynn walking with a small group of city residents on a sidewalk in 1983. A "Mel King for Mayor" sign hangs on a light pole.

George notes that King ran against Flynn in the 1983 mayoral elections; that King and Flynn served together as state legislators in the 1970s. George adds that King thinks that Flynn should build more consensus around his policies.

V: Footage of King being interviewed by George. King says that Flynn should have met with the Boston City Council before making his policy proposals public.
Footage of Flynn at a press conference. Aides and supporters, including Neil Sullivan (policy advisor to Flynn), stand behind him. Flynn says that the Boston City Council and many state legislators support his policies.
Shots of the exterior of the Massachusetts State House; of brownstone buildings on a residential street; of workers at a construction site.

George reports that the city of Boston is bound by the "home rule" policy; that the city cannot levy taxes or manage city real estate without approval from the Massachusetts State Legislature. George reports that the Massachusetts Supreme Court has ruled that the state legislature must approve the city's condominium conversion controls; that the Court has called the linkage policy a "tax on development."

V: Footage of Flynn at a press conference. Flynn says that the city must seek approval from the state legislature for major policy decisions. Flynn calls the process "unfair and archaic."
Shot of the Boston waterfront and skyline; of residential homes in the city.

George reports that the city's economic boom has caused an increase in property values and in tax assessments; that home ownership may become prohibitively expensive in the future.

V: Footage of King being interviewed. King says that home owners are faced with an increase in tax payments; that Flynn may need to reduce those taxes.
Shots of Boston City Hall; of the Massachusetts State House.

George reports that a simple solution would be to change the state Constitution to allow the city of Boston to govern itself. George notes that this solution is "politically inconceivable."

V: Footage of Flynn at a press conference. He says lightheartedly that he would support a proposal to allow the city of Boston to govern itself. Flynn supporters and the media laugh at his joke. Flynn says that the State Legislature would probably not support this proposal.

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