Melvin B. Miller
Editor & Publisher

Media blind spots

To state the matter delicately, the general media often falls short in covering matters of importance to the African American community. A recent story in The Boston Globe asserted that no Harvard student was a Rhodes scholar in 2006. Another story ignored the significance of the recent appointment of Carole Berotte Joseph as president of Massachusetts Bay Community College.

The story about Harvard was dead wrong. The university had one Rhodes scholar in 2006: Jay Butler of Bermuda. His selection was reported in the Jan. 11 edition of the Harvard Crimson and the Feb. 2 issue of the Harvard Gazette. But most importantly, it received expansive coverage in the Feb. 23 issue of the Banner.

While Butler was born in Bermuda, his mother’s family has deep Boston roots. Butler’s ancestors were part of that historically significant 19th century black community that lived on the north slope of Beacon Hill. His grandmother, Georgine Hill, was from Roxbury. His mother, a pediatrician, was a former student at Boston’s Girls Latin School.

In the Nov. 30 issue, the Banner published a front-page story on Carole Berotte Joseph, who became the first Haitian to head any American college. In fact, she became one of only 49 black women in the nation now serving as college presidents. The general media ignored the importance of her achievement, choosing instead to focus on criticisms from those who opposed her appointment.

To receive a Rhodes scholarship for post-graduate study at Oxford University is a rare academic achievement. With black women constituting only 1.4 percent of college presidents, there is an important story to be told about a Haitian woman rising to such a position. One has to wonder about the reason for the misreporting.

A project deferred

Roxbury residents were excited about the prospect of a real estate development along Columbus Avenue that would enhance the community. The 8.67-acre Parcel 3 site opposite Police Headquarters is unusually large for an urban project. One’s imagination could soar over the enhancements to be located there on the site known as P3.

However, the handling of the project by the Boston Redevelopment Authority (BRA) is creating a sense among some members of the community that political chicanery might be afoot. Major real estate projects are time-consuming, but inordinate delays can cause some planners to lose their financial support.

After extensive community involvement in the planning process, the BRA issued requests for proposals (RFPs) on Dec. 2, 2005, more than one year ago. Interested developers were supposed to file their plans by April 3. That date was later pushed back to May 22.

When the May date arrived, the BRA said that it found all present submissions deficient, primarily because developers could not satisfactorily propose attractive plans with a ground lease of $3 per square foot, an issue which has yet to be resolved. Supplemental filings in the matter were due on Nov. 17. That date has since been extended to Jan. 2, 2007.

In an Oct. 19 editorial, the Banner warned that the BRA was improperly manipulating the design of the project by adhering to an unrealistic ground lease. Although the BRA has indicated a willingness to negotiate the terms of the ground lease, it has not yet done so.

Continual delays and the BRA failure to modify the ground lease create an uneasy feeling that the community is being played. It is time for the Project Review Committee to become more assertive, to resolve their conflicts of interest, to establish open voting and to demand that the BRA resolve those matters which are causing needless delays.

If the leaders don’t act now, the community may end up with Northeastern dormitories or a soccer stadium at P3.