03/13/00

LC000313

VAL>> ON LIFE AND TIMES TONIGHT --

WARREN>> AS YOU MAY HAVE HEARD, THE LA TIMES IS BEING TAKEN OVER BY OUT-OF-TOWNERS, AND HERE'S THE QUESTION ON THE MINDS OF A LOT OF PEOPLE.

>> WILL THE LA TIMES BE AS PASSIONATE ABOUT LOS ANGELES WHEN IT'S OWNED BY THE TRIBUNE COMPANY? WE DON'T KNOW THAT.

VAL>> IN TONIGHT'S THINKERS, SHAKERS & NEWSMAKERS, THE STORY BEHIND AN ENVIRONMENTAL VICTORY IN MEXICO. HOW A PRISTINE COASTAL LAGOON WAS SAVED FOR THE GRAY WHALE.

WARREN>> AND PATT MORRISON IS ON A CAMPAIGN FOR SOME COMMON SENSE IN THE INITIATIVE PROCESS.

PATT>> THE TOP OF THE PROPS FOR NEXT NOVEMBER AND THE BOTTOM FEEDERS OF THE MARCH PRIMARY, ON TONIGHT'S INFINITELY MORRISON.

VAL>> AND THEY'RE AS MUCH A PART OF THE STRIP AS THOSE ONE-ARMED BANDITS, BUT HOW DO THESE IMAGES OF SHOWGIRLS RELATE TO THE REAL WOMEN IN LAS VEGAS?

WARREN>> THESE STORIES COMING UP NEXT ON LIFE AND TIMES TONIGHT FOR MONDAY, MARCH 13, 2000.

LIFE AND TIMES TONIGHT IS MADE POSSIBLE BY THE FOLLOWING CORPORATIONS AND FOUNDATIONS:

THE JAMES IRVINE FOUNDATION
WHICH IS DEDICATED TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF AN INFORMED CALIFORNIA CITIZENRY.

GTE
A COMPANY COMMITTED TO TELECOMMUNICATIONS EXCELLENCE AND AN OPEN DIALOGUE AMONG ALL PEOPLE.

AND THE L.K. WHITTIER FOUNDATION
DEDICATED TO IMPROVING THE QUALITY OF LIFE BY SUPPORTING INNOVATIVE ENDEAVORS IN THE FIELDS OF MEDICINE, HEALTH, SCIENCE AND EDUCATION.

WARREN>> GOOD EVENING, I'M WARREN OLNEY.

VAL>> AND I'M VAL ZAVALA.

WARREN>> OUR TOP STORY TONIGHT, THE END OF A DYNASTY. THE PUBLISHERS OF THE LOS ANGELES TIMES HAVE AGREED TO MERGE WITH THE CHICAGO TRIBUNE MEDIA EMPIRE. THE DEAL TAKES CONTROL OF THE TIMES AWAY FROM THE LOCAL CHANDLER FAMILY THAT HAS RUN IT FOR MORE THAN A CENTURY AND MOVES IT TO A CORPORATE OFFICE TWO THOUSAND MILES AWAY.

VAL>> THE AGREEMENT WAS REACHED LATE SUNDAY. IT IS THE LATEST IN A SERIES OF MEGA MERGERS THAT HAVE CONCENTRATED MEDIA OWNERSHIP IN THE HANDS OF A FEW LARGE CORPORATIONS. SO HOW ARE TIMES READERS TAKING THE NEWS? NOAH NELSON HAS THIS REPORT.

NOAH>> THE LA TIMES MADE ITS OWN BIG HEADLINES TODAY WITH NEWS OF THE MERGER WITH THE TRIBUNE COMPANY, OWNER OF THE CHICAGO TRIBUNE PLUS ELEVEN OTHER PAPERS AND TWENTY-SIX BROADCAST FACILITIES THAT INCLUDE KTLA IN LOS ANGELES.

WITH THE $8 BILLION DOLLAR TRANSACTION, THE TIMES MIRROR COMPANY WILL BECOME PART OF THE TRIBUNE MEDIA CONGLOMERATE. NEWS OF THE TAKEOVER DISTURBED MANY LA TIMES READERS WHO FEAR THAT THEIR NEWSPAPER COULD LOSE ITS EDITORIAL INDEPENDENCE AND LOCAL EMPHASIS.

CHRISTY WHITE>> I THINK IT'S VERY CRITICAL WITHIN A COMMUNITY TO HAVE TWO OR THREE VOICES, ESPECIALLY IN NEWSPAPERS, AS IN TELEVISION STATIONS OR ANYTHING. AS SOON AS YOU GET ONE SOURCE FOR YOUR NEWS, IT HAS A TENDENCY LIKE ONE GOVERNMENT, WHETHER LIKE A DICTATORSHIP OR A MONOPOLY, THAT YOU DON'T GET THE HONEST. YOU GET THE NEWS PRINTED WITH A SLANT, DEPENDING ON WHO OWNS THE NEWSPAPER AND WHAT THEIR POLITICAL REFERENDUM IS.

NOAH>> THE MERGER WOULD CREATE THE COUNTRY'S THIRD LARGEST NEWSPAPER COMPANY, BUT IT WOULD ALSO MAKE LOS ANGELES THE LARGEST CITY IN THE COUNTRY WITHOUT A LOCALLY-OWNED METROPOLITAN DAILY. ACCORDING TO ROBERT GOTTLIEB, AUTHOR OF A BOOK ON THE HISTORY OF THE LA TIMES, BIGGER IS NOT BETTER.

ROBERT GOTTLIEB>> THE PROBLEM WITH THE CONCENTRATION OF OWNERSHIP THAT TAKES PLACE AND THE SYNERGY BETWEEN BROADCAST AND NEWSPAPER AND ENTERTAINMENT INDUSTRY AND THE SORT OF BLURRING OF THOSE LINES IS THAT ONE OF THE CASUALTIES IS THAT DISCONNECT FROM THE PLACE ITSELF. THAT'S ONE OF THE GREAT DANGERS IN THIS CONCENTRATION OF OWNERSHIP AND IT'S REALLY A PHENOMENA TO THINK THAT THE LOS ANGELES TIMES IS NOW ONE OF THOSE CASUALTIES.

NOAH>> THE PROSPECTIVE NEW OWNERS OF THE TIMES SAY IT WILL BECOME BETTER BY BECOMING PART OF A MEDIA POWERHOUSE.

ROBERT MADIGAN>> IT'S GOING TO CREATE A COMPANY THAT'S REALLY UNPRECEDENTED. IT TAKES A GROUP OF LOCAL PROPERTIES AND, WHEN YOU PUT THEM TOGETHER INTO ONE COMPANY, YOU END UP WITH PROBABLY THE PREMIER COMPANY IN TERMS OF HAVING LOCAL MEDIA PROPERTIES WITH A NATIONAL FOOTPRINT. IT CREATES REALLY A POWERHOUSE, A COMPANY WITH PRESENCE IN THE TOP THREE MARKETS IN BOTH TELEVISION AND NEWSPAPERS.

NOAH>> THE MERGER WOULD END MORE THAN ONE HUNDRED YEARS OF LOCAL OWNERSHIP OF THE TIMES BY THE OTIS AND CHANDLER FAMILIES. SINCE THE 1880'S, THE TIMES HAS BEEN A FAMILY-CONTROLLED ENTITY. LAWRENCE DIETZ, WHO IS PREPARING A BOOK ON THE CHANDLER FAMILY'S INFLUENCE ON LOS ANGELES, SAYS THE CITY LOSES NATIONAL CLOUT WITHOUT LOCAL OWNERSHIP OF ITS MAJOR NEWSPAPER, BUT THE PAPER ITSELF MAY NOT CHANGE ALL THAT MUCH.

LAWRENCE DIETZ>> WELL, I THINK THE AVERAGE READER IS NOT GOING TO NOTICE MUCH AT ALL. IF THE AVERAGE READER IS HAPPY WITH THE LOS ANGELES TIMES AS IT IS TODAY, HE OR SHE WILL BE HAPPY WITH IT IN THE FORESEEABLE FUTURE. IF THE AVERAGE READER IS SAYING, GEE, YOU KNOW, I WISH THIS PAPER WERE MORE COMMITTED TO, AND THEN NAME YOUR ISSUE OR NAME YOUR COVERAGE, AND SEES SOMETHING THAT THEY WISH WERE THERE, THEN THAT ISSUE MIGHT CONTINUE BECAUSE SOME OF THOSE CHOICES THAT THE NEWSPAPER MAKES ARE PROFIT-DRIVEN, OR REVENUE-DRIVEN, SOME OF THEM ARE IDEOLOGICALLY DRIVEN. THOSE ISSUES WILL CONTINUE TO MANIFEST THEMSELVES.

NOAH>> JILL STEWART WAS A TIMES REPORTER FOR SEVEN YEARS. SHE BELIEVES THE MERGER WILL PUT ULTIMATE DISTANCE BETWEEN THE TIMES AND THE COMMUNITY IT SERVES.

JILL STEWART>> YOU'VE GOT A WHOLE ISSUE OF HOW MUCH THE LA TIMES UNDERSTANDS ABOUT LOS ANGELES. THEY HAVE A LOT OF PROBLEMS IN THEIR COVERAGE, BUT IF THE CHICAGO TRIBUNE COMES IN AND PUTS IN EDITORS OF THEIR OWN CHOOSING FROM ELSEWHERE IN THE COUNTRY, YOU COULD SEE EVEN WORSE COVERAGE OF LOCAL ISSUES THAN WE HAVE RIGHT NOW. IT'S POSSIBLE.

NOAH>> NEWS OF THE MERGER HAS CAUSED TIMES MIRROR STOCK TO SKYROCKET, MAKING IT A GOOD DEAL FOR THOSE WITH A VESTED INTEREST IN THE NEWSPAPER, A BAD ONE FOR THOSE AFRAID THAT THEIR DAILY NEWSPAPER IS ABOUT TO CHANGE FOR THE WORST.

BETSY FELDMAN>> IT'S NOTHING TO DO WITH THE COMMUNITY OR FOR PEOPLES' WELFARE. I THINK IT HAS TO DO WITH MONEY, MONEY, MONEY, AND THAT'S IT.

WARREN>> CHICAGO TRIBUNE PEOPLE ARE SAYING THAT THERE'S GOING TO BE A SEPARATE BOARD TO RUN THE TIMES AND THEY'RE GOING TO GIVE IT INDEPENDENCE?

NOAH>> THAT'S TRUE. THAT THERE WON'T BE ANY OVERLAP AND THAT THINGS WILL BE AS USUAL. NO PROBLEM.

VAL>> AND THAT THE CHANDLER FAMILY IS GOING TO HOLD SEVERAL SEATS ON THAT BOARD, BOTH ON THE TRIBUNE BOARD AS WELL AS THE LOS ANGELES TIMES BOARD?

NOAH>> THAT'S TRUE, AND THAT THEY'LL HAVE SOME INPUT ON THE PICKING OF THE PUBLISHER AND THAT KIND OF THING.

WARREN>> OF COURSE, THERE ARE OTHER PEOPLE WHO SAY THAT BRANCH OF THE CHANDLER FAMILY IS WHAT'S WRONG WITH THE PAPER RIGHT NOW.

NOAH>> WELL, IT'S A BIG IDEOLOGICAL SPLIT THAT HAPPENED FORTY YEARS OR SO AGO IN THAT FAMILY ABOUT HOW CONSERVATIVE, HOW POSITIVE, THAT PAPER WAS GOING TO BE, HOW INVESTIGATORY IT WAS GOING TO BE IN TERMS OF WHAT IT LOOKED INTO, SO IT'S STILL THERE.

WARREN>> WE'LL SEE WHAT HAPPENS.

VAL>> IS THERE ANY ISSUE, THOUGH, WITH THE TRIBUNE OWNING KTLA, A TV STATION HERE IN TOWN?

NOAH>> NONE WHATSOEVER.

VAL>> NOT A PROBLEM ANYMORE. USED TO BE, BUT ALLOWED NOW. NOAH, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

TIME NOW FOR TONIGHT'S THINKERS, SHAKERS & NEWSMAKERS.

TONIGHT WE BRING YOU THE DECISIVE END TO A STORY WE FIRST REPORTED ON EIGHTEEN MONTHS AGO. IT CONCERNS A CONTROVERSIAL PLAN TO BUILD A SALT PLANT IN A SENSITIVE ENVIRONMENTAL AREA IN MEXICO. THE AREA IS CALLED LAGUNA SAN IGNACIO. IT'S ABOUT 700 MILES SOUTH OF LOS ANGELES ALONG THE BAJA COAST.

NOW THE LAGOON IS AN IMPORTANT BREEDING GROUND FOR CALIFORNIA GRAY WHALES AND IT'S THE VERY SPOT WHERE MITSUBISHI CORPORATION AND THE MEXICAN GOVERNMENT HAD PLANNED TO BUILD THE WORLD'S LARGEST SALT WORKS.

WARREN>> MEXICAN PRESIDENT, ERNESTO ZEDILLO, ANNOUNCED JUST THIS MONTH THAT THOSE PLANS HAVE BEEN CANCELLED. THAT IS AT LEAST PARTLY DUE TO A HIGHLY ORGANIZED INTERNATIONAL PROTEST. JOINING US WITH MORE ON THIS NOW ARE JOEL REYNOLDS, WHO IS SENIOR ATTORNEY WITH THE NATURAL RESOURCES DEFENSE COUNCIL, AND TEDDY JIMBO, A BROADCAST JOURNALIST FROM JAPAN, WHO'S COVERING THE STORY. GOOD TO HAVE YOU BOTH WITH US.

JOEL, THIS IS A GLORIOUS VICTORY FOR THE ENVIRONMENTAL MOVEMENT, FROM YOUR STANDPOINT?

JOEL REYNOLDS>> IT'S A REMARKABLE TURN OF EVENTS, ACTUALLY. IT'S A TREMENDOUS TRIUMPH OF CITIZEN ACTION AGAINST THE WORLD'S LARGEST MULTI-NATIONAL CORPORATION. WE WENT TOE TO TOE WITH THIS CORPORATION FOR FIVE YEARS OVER THE PROPOSED SALT WORKS AT LAGUNA SAN IGNACIO AND MITSUBISHI BLINKED.

WARREN>> TEDDY, YOU'RE NODDING. THIS IS THE WAY YOU SEE IT AS WELL?

TEDDY JIMBO>> WELL, I'VE SEEN MANY CASES IN WHICH JAPANESE CITIZENS GROUPS WENT, YOU KNOW, AGAINST MITSUBISHI AND DEFEATED SO MANY TIMES. SO I AGREE THAT IT IS A VERY SIGNIFICANT VICTORY.

VAL>> YOU'RE SAYING THAT IT'S NOT UNCOMMON FOR MITSUBISHI TO LOSE THIS KIND OF FIGHT?

TEDDY JIMBO>> WELL, THEY USUALLY DON'T BACK DOWN, ESPECIALLY WHEN THERE'S A PRESSURE FROM THE CITIZENS GROUP. THIS TIME, IT IS ACTUALLY QUESTIONABLE WHETHER MITSUBISHI BACKED DOWN OR THE MEXICAN GOVERNMENT MADE A DECISION AND MITSUBISHI HAD TO GO ALONG WITH IT. WE NEED A LITTLE FURTHER INVESTIGATION FOR THAT.

VAL>> IS THIS SEEN IN JAPAN -- BECAUSE YOU REPORT FOR JAPANESE TELEVISION -- IS IT SEEN AS A LOSS, A DEFEAT, FOR MITSUBISHI?

TEDDY JIMBO>> WELL, SURPRISINGLY PROBABLY TO MANY VIEWERS HERE, THIS ISSUE IS HARDLY REPORTED IN JAPAN, PARTLY BECAUSE MITSUBISHI, A LARGE CORPORATION SPONSORING MANY COMMERCIAL NETWORKS, IS INVOLVED DEEPLY. BUT ALSO, I THINK THERE IS SORT OF A SENTIMENT IN JAPAN THAT WHEN THERE'S SORT OF A DISPUTE BETWEEN CITIZENS GROUPS AND CORPORATIONS, THE MEDIA USUALLY TENDS TO STAY ASIDE AND WATCH FROM THE SIDELINES UNTIL SOMETHING OFFICIAL IS DECIDED. THEN THEY REPORT. TO MANY JAPANESE IN MEDIA'S EYES, IT WAS STILL ONGOING DISCUSSIONS.

WARREN>> JOEL, HOW DO YOU READ THIS? THE MEXICAN GOVERNMENT IN DESPERATE NEED OF DEVELOPMENT IN A POVERTY-STRICKEN AREA REALLY HAD A LOT COMMITTED TO THIS PROJECT. WE HAVE THIS ENORMOUS EXTRAORDINARILY POWERFUL COMPANY. WHY DO YOU THINK THAT THEY BACKED DOWN, PARTICULARLY AFTER SPENDING A LOT OF MONEY ALREADY?

JOEL REYNOLDS>> I THINK THAT THE INTERNATIONAL POLITICAL PRESSURE WAS SIMPLY TOO MUCH. OVER THE LAST FIVE YEARS, WE HAD GENERATED OVER A MILLION LETTERS TO MITSUBISHI AND HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF LETTERS TO THE PRESIDENT OF MEXICO. WE HAD ENLISTED THE MOST HIGHLY-HONORED AND BEST-KNOWN SCIENTISTS IN THE WORLD TO OPPOSE THIS. WE HAD ENLISTED SOME FIFTY CITIES AND COUNTIES IN CALIFORNIA, INCLUDING THE COASTAL COMMISSION, TO OPPOSE THIS. 

WE HAD ENLISTED MUTUAL FUND MANAGERS TO SAY THAT THEY WOULD NEVER INVEST IN MITSUBISHI. LABOR UNIONS, STATE OFFICIALS, CITY OFFICIALS. IN MEXICO ITSELF, WE HAD AN UNPRECEDENTED COALITION OF OVER FIFTY GROUPS. IT WAS CONTINUING TO BUILD AND I THINK THE MEXICAN GOVERNMENT AND MITSUBISHI FINALLY CONCLUDED THAT THERE WAS NO END IN SIGHT. IT WAS ONLY GOING TO GET WORSE.

WARREN>> HOW MUCH HAS MITSUBISHI LOST, NOT JUST IN TERMS OF MONEY, BUT ALSO PRESTIGE?

TEDDY JIMBO>> AS A RESULT OF THIS RESULT? WELL, WE DON'T KNOW YET. I REALLY HAVE TO LOOK INTO IT CAREFULLY. I DON'T KNOW EXACTLY HOW MUCH THEY'VE SPENT FOR THE PUBLIC RELATIONS BILLS, HIRING LAWYERS IN NEW YORK. THEY MAY NOT DISCLOSE THAT, BUT AT THIS POINT I CAN'T REALLY TELL HOW MUCH.

WARREN>> AND HOW ABOUT THE LOSS OF THE SALT WORKS? WHAT WERE THEY PLANNING TO DO AND HOW MUCH MONEY WOULD THEY HAVE GAINED FROM IT?

TEDDY JIMBO>> WELL, THE SALT WORKS PROJECT -- THE WHOLE IDEA IS THE CONSTRUCTION WILL GO ON FOR ANOTHER TEN YEARS OR SO EVEN IF PROJECT IS TO BE APPROVED RIGHT AWAY. AT THIS POINT, THERE'S NO MARKET FOR ADDITIONAL -- WHAT IS IT, SEVEN MILLION TONS? --

JOEL REYNOLDS>> YES.

TEDDY JIMBO>> -- OF SALT. AT THIS POINT, I DON'T THINK IT'S GOING TO AFFECT ANYTHING.

VAL>> BUT ARE THEY PLANNING TO BUILD A SALT WORKS PLANT ANYWHERE, ONLY NOW AT A DIFFERENT LOCATION? OR IS THE SALT WORKS COMPLETELY DEAD, THE WHOLE PROJECT?

JOEL REYNOLDS>> NOBODY REALLY KNOWS THAT. THE FACT IS, THERE'S A DEFINITIVE DECISION THAT, IF A SALT WORKS IS BUILT, IT WON'T BE AT THIS LOCATION. MITSUBISHI ALREADY HAS AN EXISTING SALT WORKS ABOUT A HUNDRED KILOMETERS NORTH THAT'S BEEN POISONING THE ADJACENT LAGOON NOW FOR ABOUT FORTY YEARS. SO OUR VIEW OF IT IS THAT THEY HAVE ENOUGH SIMPLY TO CLEAN UP THE EXISTING ONE AND THAT'S WHAT THEY OUGHT TO FOCUS ON.

VAL>> I SEE.

WARREN>> ABOUT HOW MANY JOBS WOULD HAVE BEEN INVOLVED FOR THE PEOPLE IN MEXICO?

JOEL REYNOLDS>> THE HIGHEST ESTIMATE WAS ABOUT TWO HUNDRED JOBS, BUT I THINK OUR CONCERN WAS THAT, ONCE THEY BUILT A NEW AND MORE EFFICIENT SALT WORKS, THEY WOULD EVENTUALLY CLOSE DOWN THE EXISTING SALT WORKS, WHICH WOULD ESSENTIALLY COST THEM MORE TO OPERATE. SO THERE WOULD HAVE BEEN A NET LOSS OF EIGHT HUNDRED JOBS AND NO GAIN IN JOBS AT ALL.

WHAT'S NECESSARY DOWN THERE IS WHAT HAS SUSTAINED THE FISHERMEN, THE COMMUNITIES THERE, FOR YEARS AND THAT IS LOBSTER FISHERIES, ABALONE FISHERIES. WE NEED TO WORK WITH THE COMMUNITIES AND THE NATURAL RESOURCES DEFENSE COUNCIL IS COMMITTED TO WORK WITH THOSE COMMUNITIES OVER THE NEXT SEVERAL YEARS TO DEVELOP A SUSTAINABLE ENVIRONMENTALLY HARMONIOUS ECONOMY.

VAL>> DO YOU THINK THERE'S ANY POSSIBILITY THAT MITSUBISHI MIGHT BE ABLE TO ACTUALLY TURN THIS AROUND IN TERMS OF PUBLIC RELATIONS AND MAKE THEMSELVES OUT TO BE THIS WONDERFUL ENVIRONMENTALLY SENSITIVE --

WARREN>> DEFENDERS OF THE ENVIRONMENT.

VAL>> -- OR IS IT TOO LATE FOR THAT?

TEDDY JIMBO>> I THINK THEY'RE TRYING VERY HARD TO DO THAT. THEY ARE TRYING TO PUBLICIZE NOW THAT THE EXISTING PLANT IS ECONOMICALLY SOUND, BUT I THINK THEY'RE ALSO BEGINNING TO REALIZE HOW MUCH DAMAGE WAS REALLY DONE TO THEIR REPUTATION.

JOEL REYNOLDS>> BUT I'D HAVE TO SAY THAT WE WOULD ACTUALLY ENCOURAGE THAT. I MEAN, I CARE LESS ABOUT WHAT THE REASON IS THAT MITSUBISHI BACKED DOWN THAN I DO ABOUT THE FACT THAT THEY MADE THE RIGHT CHOICE ULTIMATELY. THAT'S WHAT WE NEED TO EXPECT OF MAJOR CORPORATIONS IN THIS ERA OF GLOBALIZATION. WE HAVE TO BEGIN TO MAKE THE RIGHT DECISIONS. MEXICO DID SO HERE. MITSUBISHI DID SO HERE. I THINK WE CAN ALL BE GRATEFUL FOR THAT.

WARREN>> YOU ARE FIGHTING THESE KINDS OF BATTLES ALL THE TIME AGAINST MAJOR CORPORATIONS. HOW IMPORTANT IS THIS IN THE HISTORY OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL MOVEMENT WHEN WHAT APPEARS TO BE A GRASS ROOTS EFFORT HAS THIS KIND OF RESULT?

JOEL REYNOLDS>> I THINK IT'S TREMENDOUS. THIS WAS ONE OF THE MOST HIGHLY PUBLICIZED ENVIRONMENTAL CONTROVERSIES OF OUR GENERATION.

VAL>> WAS IT HIGHLY PUBLICIZED BECAUSE IT WAS SUCH A SENSITIVE CRUCIAL AREA? WAS IT, IN OTHER WORDS, A BIGGER ISSUE, A BIGGER PROBLEM COMPARED TO ALL THE OTHER THINGS YOU'RE FIGHTING?

JOEL REYNOLDS>> YEAH, I THINK THERE ARE A NUMBER OF REASONS. IT'S A WORLD HERITAGE SITE, IT'S A BIOSPHERE RESERVE, IT'S THE LAST PLACE ON EARTH WHERE GRAY WHALES CAN BREED AND CALVE UNDISTURBED BY ANY KIND OF HUMAN INTRUSION.

BUT I THINK WE ALSO HAVE TO CREDIT THE TECHNOLOGY THAT'S NOW AVAILABLE. WE USED THE INTERNET IN A WAY THAT IT'S NEVER BEEN USED BEFORE IN ONE OF THESE BATTLES. WE WERE ABLE TO USE INSTANTANEOUS COMMUNICATION AND COORDINATE ACTION, BUT WE ALSO SPENT AN ENORMOUS AMOUNT OF MONEY ON THIS CAMPAIGN AND THAT HAD AN AFFECT.

WARREN>> WE'RE OUT OF TIME. THANK YOU BOTH VERY MUCH FOR BEING WITH US.

JOEL REYNOLDS>> MY PLEASURE.

WARREN>> YOU'RE TRYING TO KEEP THE WATER CLEAR. PATT MORRISON NOW WANTS TO CLEAR THE AIR ABOUT CALIFORNIA'S ELECTION PROCESS, IN TONIGHT'S INFINITELY MORRISON.

PATT>> IF CALIFORNIANS THINK THAT HOLDING THE PRIMARY IN MARCH INSTEAD OF JUNE NOW GIVES THEM THREE MONTHS GRACE, NINETY DAYS FREE FROM POLITICS, WELL, I HOPE THEY DIDN'T PUT ANY MONEY ON IT. HARDLY HAD THE MARCH VOTES BEEN TALLIED WHEN THE LOBBYING BEGAN FOR THE HEARTS AND MINDS OF NOVEMBER'S VOTERS.

ALREADY ONE INITIATIVE HAS QUALIFIED FOR THE NOVEMBER ELECTION. THE ATTORNEY GENERAL'S OFFICE IS WRITING ANOTHER SIX AND FORTY MORE ARE IN CIRCULATION TO GET ENOUGH SIGNATURES TO APPEAR ON THE BALLOT. FORTY. ONE OF THESE WOULD MAKE ADULTERY A CIVIL OFFENSE. OTHERS WOULD ABOLISH THE DEATH PENALTY, REVERSE PROP 22 AND PERMIT SAME SEX MARRIAGES AND CUT EACH CALIFORNIA K THROUGH 12 STUDENT AN ANNUAL $4,000 VOUCHER CHECK FOR PRIVATE SCHOOLING. SOME WOULD REQUIRE THE LABELING OF GENETICALLY ALTERED FOODS, ALLOW US TO VOTE VIA THE INTERNET AND EXPAND THE CONSTITUTIONAL DEFINITION OF A PERSON TO BEGIN AT THE MOMENT OF CONCEPTION. TWO MEASURES WOULD RESTRICT THREE-STRIKES TO VIOLENT AND SERIOUS FELONIES. OTHERS WOULD ADD THE SECOND AMENDMENT OF THE U.S. CONSTITUTION TO THE CALIFORNIA CONSTITUTION, ALLOW SILENT PRAYER IN PUBLIC SCHOOL AND CUT LEGISLATORS' SALARIES.

IT'S QUITE A SHOPPING LIST, BUT FOR MACHIAVELLIAN AUDACITY AND SHEER CYNICAL SCOPE, IT HAS NOTHING TO MATCH PROPOSITIONS 30 AND 31 ON THE BALLOT JUST PASSED. THE CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE, THE PEOPLE WE OTHER PEOPLE SEND TO SACRAMENTO, LAST YEAR VOTED TO GIVE INJURED CAR ACCIDENT VICTIMS THE RIGHT TO SUE THE AT-FAULT DRIVER'S INSURANCE COMPANY IF IT DIDN'T SETTLE EXPEDITIOUSLY AND SATISFACTORILY. THE INSURANCE INDUSTRY HAD LOBBIED LEGISLATORS AGAINST THEM, BUT JUST BECAUSE THEY LOST IN THE LEGISLATURE DIDN'T DAUNT THEM. OH, NO. THEY SPENT $30 MILLION DOLLARS PUTTING PROPS 30 AND 31 ON THE BALLOT AND ANOTHER $20 MILLION CAMPAIGNING AGAINST THEM. THAT'S THE CYNICAL PART.

PROPS 30 AND 31 WERE VIRTUALLY IDENTICAL TO THE LAWS THAT THE LEGISLATURE HAD PASSED. BY PUTTING THEM ON THE BALLOT AND THEN LOBBYING VOTERS AT GREAT EXPENSE TO VOTE NO, THE INSURANCE INDUSTRY SUCCEEDED IN OVERTURNING LAWS AT THE VOTING BOOTH THEY COULD NOT STOP BY LOBBYING THE LEGISLATURE. THIS IS A NEW AND OMINOUS TREND IN THE INITIATIVE PROCESS AND ALREADY IMITATORS ARE SPRINGING UP. IT'S NO WONDER VOTERS FEEL LIKE THEY'VE STEPPED INTO ALICE'S LOOKING GLASS WORLD WHERE YES IS NO AND NO IS YES AND THE ONLY VOTES THAT COUNT ARE THE ONES SPELLED WITH A DOLLAR SIGN.

VAL>> THANK YOU, PATT.

WELL, LA AND LAS VEGAS SHARE A FEW THINGS. GLITZ AND GLAMOUR, LIFE IN THE FAST LANE AND A LARGER THAN LIFE IMAGE OF WOMEN. BUT WHILE THE FILM INDUSTRY CONSTANTLY REWRITES THE ROLE OF LA WOMEN, WOMEN IN VEGAS ARE TYPECAST AS SHOWGIRLS, STRIPPERS AND COCKTAIL WAITRESSES.

WARREN>> TWO LA FILMMAKERS SET OUT TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT THAT, TO DISCOVER THE REAL WOMEN IN LAS VEGAS, THE ONES WHO KEEP THE CITY RUNNING. LIKE THE HOTEL HOUSEKEEPER, AND THE UNION ORGANIZER, AND THE CONSTRUCTION WORKER. HERE'S A SAMPLE OF THEIR WORK IN TONIGHT'S PEOPLE, PLACES & THINGS.

>> I GUESS I FEEL LIKE I'M A PART OF LAS VEGAS. I'VE BUILT A LOT OF THESE BUILDINGS FROM THE GROUND UP, WATCHED THE GRAND OPENING, I THINK I HAVE A PRETTY NEAT STORY TO TELL.

VAL>> JOINING US NOW IS THE PRODUCER OF THE FILM "STRIPPED AND TEASED", JODIE EVANS. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US ON LIFE AND TIMES TONIGHT.

JODIE EVANS>> THANK YOU.

VAL>> WHAT WAS THE GENESIS OF THIS PROJECT? HOW DID IT ALL BEGIN?

JODIE EVANS>> I WAS TURNING FORTY AND REALIZED I'D HAD AN AMAZING LIFE AND LOOKED BACK AT WHERE I WAS BORN AND RAISED, LAS VEGAS, TO SEE --

VAL>> YOU'RE A LAS VEGAS NATIVE?

JODIE EVANS>> I AM. -- TO SEE HOW THAT CONTRIBUTED. I WANTED TO GO BACK AND TELL THE STORY BECAUSE SHOWGIRLS, CASINO AND LEAVING LAS VEGAS WERE COMING OUT AT THE SAME TIME. WHEN YOU SAY YOU'RE FROM VEGAS, THEY KIND OF LOOK AT YOU AND GO, SHOWGIRL? PROSTITUTE?--

VAL>> LIKE ONLY THREE JOB CATEGORIES FOR WOMEN IN LAS VEGAS.

JODIE EVANS>> WELL, I WANTED TO TELL THE STORY OF THE REAL LAS VEGAS WOMEN. MY GRANDMOTHER STILL LIVED THERE. THEY'RE BEAUTIFUL. IT'S THE WILD, WILD WEST.

WARREN>> YOU'RE FROM LAS VEGAS, BUT YOU HAVE BEEN A VERY ACTIVE PERSON POLITICALLY HERE IN LOS ANGELES AND AROUND THE COUNTRY. IS THIS A POLITICAL FILM?

JODIE EVANS>> IN THE SENSE THAT IT TELLS THE STORY FOR PEOPLE WHO DON'T GET THEIR STORY TOLD, YES. THAT'S WHAT MY POLITICS HAVE BEEN.

VAL>> YOU'VE PROFILED NINE WOMEN. WE'RE GOING TO TAKE A LOOK AT A CLIP OF ONE OF THEM. SHE IS AN EXOTIC DANCER. HERE IT IS.

>> I FELT TRAPPED. YOU KNOW, I FELT I DIDN'T HAVE ENOUGH MONEY TO PAY FOR EVERYTHING. MY CAR WAS BROKE, YOU KNOW. I HAD BILLS. I HAD A BOYFRIEND. WE NEVER WENT OUT OR ANYTHING. I JUST NEEDED A WAY OUT. WHEN I'M DANCING, A LOT OF TIMES HE SEES THAT I'M LIKE NOT IN MY BODY OR I'M NOT THERE. IT'S LIKE I LEAVE MY BODY OR I'M ANOTHER PERSONALITY OR SOMETHING WHEN I DANCE. A LOT OF PEOPLE, WHEN I DANCE, TELL ME THAT I DANCE WITH MY EYES CLOSED AND I THINK THAT'S WHAT IT IS. I BLOCK IT OUT. I DON'T LOOK AT THEM. YOU KNOW, I TRY TO PRETEND I'M NOT THERE.

WARREN>> WHAT WAS THE IMPACT ON HER OF DOING THAT INTERVIEW AND HAVING TO REFLECT ON HER JOB?

JODIE EVANS>> AT THE TIME, NOT MUCH. WE FILMED FOR OVER TWO YEARS. WHEN WE ARRIVED, SHE WAS EIGHTEEN YEARS OLD. SHE'D BEEN DOING IT FOR A WEEK. SHE'D SLEPT WITH ONE GUY, HER BOYFRIEND, AND THIS WAS HER ONLY WAY TO MAKE MONEY. OTHERWISE, IT WAS A $5 AN HOUR JOB, HER CAR WAS BROKE -- WHEN SHE SAW THE FILM FOR THE FIRST TIME IN LAS VEGAS AND SAW HOW SHE HAD CHANGED OVER THOSE TWO YEARS, SHE QUIT STRIPPING.

VAL>> REALLY.

WARREN>> WOW. HOW HAD SHE CHANGED?

JODIE EVANS>> WELL, YOU SEE IN THE CLIP HOW BEAUTIFUL SHE IS. SHE'D SLOWLY GOTTEN HARDER. SHE DYED HER HAIR. IT WAS INTERESTING TO WATCH THE PROGRESSION OF WHAT TWO YEARS IN THAT HAD DONE. A LITTLE BIT, I THINK, BECAUSE SHE WAS ONLY EIGHTEEN WHEN SHE ENTERED AND HOW LITTLE LIFE-EXPERIENCED. IT ATE HER UP.

VAL>> ANY IDEA WHAT SHE'S GOING TO DO NOW THAT SHE KNOWS SHE'S GOING TO QUIT?

JODIE EVANS>> SHE'S IN NEW ORLEANS AND SHE'S GOING TO SCHOOL AND SHE HAS A BOYFRIEND. HER LIFE CHANGED DRAMATICALLY. IT WAS QUITE REWARDING. MY DIRECTOR, BECAUSE I'M AN ACTIVIST, HAD TO KEEP ME IN CHECK FROM GETTING INVOLVED IN PEOPLES' LIVES.

WARREN>> YOU'VE GOT SOMEBODY ELSE, THOUGH, THAT WE NEED TO TAKE A LOOK AT HERE. THIS WOMAN IS A PROFESSIONAL POKER PLAYER. SHE IS A VERY DIFFERENT KETTLE OF FISH HERE.

>> EVERY THREE MINUTES, IT'S A MICROCOSM OF LIFE. YOU SET UP, YOU'VE GOT SOME TOOLS TO LIVE YOUR LIFE WITH, YOU MAKE A DECISION WHAT TO DO WITH THESE TOOLS AND THEN YOU HAVE TO READ EVERYBODY ELSE TO SEE IF THEY HAVE BETTER TOOLS THAN YOU, AND IF YOU'RE USING YOURS BETTER THAN THEY ARE. YOU KNOW, IT'S VERY EXCITING. WHEN I DO WIN, I WIN AT LEAST FORTY PERCENT MORE THAN I SHOULD BECAUSE MEN GET VERY, VERY MACHO. THAT'S WHY I THINK IT'S A FEMINIST GAME. YOU CAN REALLY USE EVERYTHING AGAINST MEN WHO HAVE NO AWARENESS OF WHAT YOU'RE DOING BECAUSE THEY'RE SO INVOLVED WITH THEMSELVES.

WARREN>> THERE'S A LOT OF GUYS WATCHING THIS, YOU KNOW, WHO MIGHT THINK TWICE ABOUT -- WHAT DO YOU MEAN, IT'S A FEMINIST GAME?

JODIE EVANS>> WELL, YOU KNOW, SHE PROVED IT FOR US. KELLY, THE STRIPPER THAT YOU SAW, WHEN SHE TURNED TWENTY-ONE, WE DECIDED TO TAKE CAROL AND KELLY OUT FOR A PARTY. CAROL TAUGHT KELLY HOW TO GAMBLE AND IT WAS EVEN MORE. I MEAN, SHE WON EVERY HAND. SHE MADE MORE THAT NIGHT GAMBLING THAN SHE DID STRIPPING. DIDN'T HAPPEN AGAIN. CAROL HAD TO KIND OF BE THERE COACHING HER, BUT LITERALLY THE GUYS GET REALLY FLUSTERED. THEY DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO AND SHE WAS WINNING EVERY HAND.

WARREN>> WHAT ABOUT SOME OF THE OTHER WOMEN THAT ARE IN YOUR DOCUMENTARY? WOMEN WHO HAVE DIFFERENT KINDS OF JOBS? LIKE THE CONSTRUCTION WORKER THAT WE SAW AT THE VERY BEGINNING?

JODIE EVANS>> TINA BUILT MOST OF THE BIG HOTELS IN VEGAS BECAUSE THEY'VE ALL BEEN BUILT IN THE LAST TWENTY YEARS. SHE'S SINCE RETIRED WITH A PENSION AT AGE FORTY-FIVE. THERE'S A CAB DRIVER. FOR EIGHTEEN YEARS, SHE DROVE A CAB ON THE NIGHT SHIFT AND HAS WONDERFUL STORIES TO TELL OF WHAT THAT'S LIKE TO, YOU KNOW, BRING PEOPLE IN AND WHAT THEY SEE IN VEGAS.

THERE'S A WOMAN THAT WAS HARD TO FIND. WHAT I WANTED TO FIND WAS AN EXECUTIVE AT ONE OF THE HOTELS AND THERE AREN'T A LOT. SO WE DID FIND ONE, AND WE FOLLOWED SHELLY BERKELEY'S STORY FROM THE SANDS, THE SANDS BLOWING UP, HER BOSS NOT WANTING TO OPEN UNION, HER GETTING FIRED FOR FIGHTING, AND THEN BECOMING A CONGRESSWOMAN.

WARREN>> VERY QUICKLY, DO THEY -- CONGRESSWOMAN?

JODIE EVANS>> UM-HUM. SHE RAN.

WARREN>> DO THEY THINK, THEN, THAT LAS VEGAS IS OR IS NOT MORE SEXIST THAN OTHER PARTS OF THE COUNTRY?

JODIE EVANS>> I DON'T THINK IT'S ABOUT SEXISM. I THINK IT'S MORE ABOUT WHAT'S AVAILABLE. THEY THINK IN A WAY IT MAKES THEM STRONGER BECAUSE WHAT'S MAYBE BEHIND THE SCENES OR HIDDEN IN OTHER CITIES IS RIGHT OUT FRONT AND YOU GET TO CONFRONT IT AND YOU GET TO CHOOSE WHAT TO DO WITH IT.

WARREN>> VERY INTERESTING. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR TELLING US ABOUT IT.

VAL>> THANK YOU, JODIE.

JODIE EVANS>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME ON.

WARREN>> JODIE EVANS, WE'RE GLAD TO HAVE YOU WITH US. THERE IS A SCREENING OF "STRIPPED AND TEASED". IT'S GOING TO BE TOMORROW NIGHT IN SANTA MONICA. YOU CAN CALL THE NUMBER ON YOUR SCREEN RIGHT NOW FOR MORE INFORMATION.

(310) 264-4678

VAL>> THAT IS OUR PROGRAM FOR TONIGHT.

TOMORROW, PLANS TO DISPLACE A SCHOOL FOR ADULTS HAVE INCITED OUTRAGE AMONG ITS DEDICATED STUDENTS.

>> OUR COMMUNITY COUNTS ON HEAVEN AND WE'RE NOT GOING TO GO NOWHERE. WE DON'T AGREE WITH THAT DECISION.

WARREN>> AND THAT WILL BE COMING UP TOMORROW RIGHT HERE ON LIFE AND TIMES TONIGHT.

TOMORROW ON WHICH WAY LA, PUBLIC HEARINGS ON THE LAPD CORRUPTION SCANDAL. AS THE FEDERAL JUSTICE DEPARTMENT GETS ON THE CASE, AS LOCAL OFFICIALS TRY TO FEND OFF AN OUTSIDE INVESTIGATION, WHAT'S IT ALL GOING TO COST? THAT'S TOMORROW.

KCRW 89.9 FM, WHICH WAY LA
WEEKDAYS FROM 1-2 P.M.
REBROADCAST AT 7:00 P.M.

VAL>> FOR ALL OF US HERE AT LIFE AND TIMES TONIGHT, DON'T FORGET YOU CAN DOWNLOAD FREE TRANSCRIPTS FROM PAST PROGRAMS. JUST GO TO OUR WEBSITE AT WWW.KCET.ORG. HAVE A GREAT EVENING. WE'LL SEE YOU TOMORROW.

WARREN>> ALWAYS A SALESMAN.

VAL>> ALWAYS.

LIFE AND TIMES TONIGHT WAS MADE POSSIBLE BY THE FOLLOWING CORPORATIONS AND FOUNDATIONS:

THE JAMES IRVINE FOUNDATION
WHICH IS DEDICATED TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF AN INFORMED CALIFORNIA CITIZENRY.

GTE
A COMPANY COMMITTED TO TELECOMMUNICATIONS EXCELLENCE AND AN OPEN DIALOGUE AMONG ALL PEOPLE.

AND THE L.K. WHITTIER FOUNDATION
DEDICATED TO IMPROVING THE QUALITY OF LIFE BY SUPPORTING INNOVATIVE ENDEAVORS IN THE FIELDS OF MEDICINE, HEALTH, SCIENCE AND EDUCATION.

TO REACH US AT LIFE AND TIMES TONIGHT, CALL 323-644-4159. SEND US AN E-MAIL TO LIFE AND TIMES@KCET.ORG OR LOG ONTO OUR WEBSITE AT WWW.KCET.ORG TO SEND MESSAGES OR DOWNLOAD TRANSCRIPTS OF TONIGHT'S PROGRAM.