03/17/00

LC000317

VAL>> ON LIFE AND TIMES TONIGHT --

WARREN>> CALIFORNIANS GAVE A BIG THUMBS UP TO EXPANDED INDIAN GAMBLING, BUT IS THERE A DOWNSIDE THAT NOBODY SAW COMING?

PHILIP BRUCE>> ROBERT CARTER WARNS THE MONOPOLY THAT INDIAN CASINOS GOT UNDER PROP 1A THREATENS TO DRIVE HIM AND MORE THAN FIFTY OTHER NON-INDIAN CARD CLUBS AROUND THE STATE OUT OF BUSINESS.

ROBERT CARTER>> I LOVE THE BUSINESS, I MAKE A GOOD LIVING, BUT I ALSO PROVIDE JOBS FOR 1,500 EMPLOYEES IN THIS TOWN AND PROVIDE OVER HALF THE CITY'S BUDGET.

VAL>> AND HAVE YOU HEARD THE LATEST ABOUT MAYOR RIORDAN AND THE DA'S RACE? MADDOX AND HEWITT HAVE IT.

MADDOX>> IS MAYOR RIORDAN GOING TO ENDORSE STEVE COOLEY IN THE HOTLY-CONTESTED DISTRICT ATTORNEY RACE?

HEWITT>> AND THE LA TIMES HAS BEEN SOLD. DOES ANYBODY REALLY CARE?

MADDOX>> ALL THAT COMING UP AND MORE LATER ON, ON MADDOX & HEWITT.

WARREN>> ISN'T THERE A JOKE ABOUT LA WAITERS AND HOLLYWOOD "WANNABES"? WE'LL TELL YOU ABOUT A WEBSITE THAT LETS WAITERS SERVE UP THEIR RESUMES AND DISH THE DIRT ON THE CUSTOMERS.

VAL>> THESE STORIES COMING UP NEXT ON LIFE AND TIMES TONIGHT FOR FRIDAY, MARCH 17, 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, LET THE GAMES BEGIN. OR SHOULD WE SAY LET THE INDIAN GAMING BEGIN. THE BALLOTS WERE BARELY COUNTED FROM PROPOSITION 1A BEFORE THE ANNOUNCEMENTS STARTED COMING ABOUT NEW OR EXPANDED CASINOS, SEVERAL OF THEM WITHIN EASY DRIVING DISTANCE OF LOS ANGELES.

VAL>> LIKE PALM SPRINGS. THE PROXIMITY TO LA AND THE BUILT-IN TOURIST TRADE MAKE A CASINO IN PALM SPRINGS ESPECIALLY ATTRACTIVE. IT'S EVEN DRAWN A PROPOSAL FROM GAMBLING AND REAL ESTATE TYCOON, DONALD TRUMP. BUT ARE THE PEOPLE OF PALM SPRINGS READY FOR THE ONSLAUGHT? PHILIP BRUCE HAS THIS REPORT.

PHILIP>> IF CALIFORNIA'S EARLY WHITE SETTLERS HAD EVER DREAMED THAT LIFE FOR THE INDIANS COULD BE LIKE THIS, THEY'D HAVE STOPPED FIGHTING THE LOCAL TRIBES AND GONE INTO BUSINESS WITH THEM. INDIAN CASINOS ARE BOOMING AND, IN PLACES LIKE PALM SPRINGS, THEY'RE GEARING UP FOR MORE. MORE GAMBLERS, BETTER GAMES AND BIGGER JACKPOTS.

IF THE SPA CASINO IN DOWNTOWN PALM SPRINGS IS THE NEXT BEST THING TO VEGAS, JUST WAIT. PRETTY SOON, YOU MAY NOT BE ABLE TO TELL THE DIFFERENCE. PROP 1A, THE MEASURE CALIFORNIA VOTERS APPROVED BY A LANDSLIDE, GIVES THE STATE'S INDIAN TRIBES THE EXCLUSIVE RIGHT TO RUN NEVADA-STYLE CARD GAMES AND SLOT MACHINES. AND IF YOU QUESTION WHAT THAT'S WORTH IN DOLLARS AND CENTS, JUST ASK THE TRIBAL LEADER WHO'S ABOUT TO POUR $80 MILLION DOLLARS INTO BUILDING A BRAND NEW CASINO. IT'S DESIGNED BY SOME OF THE SAME PEOPLE WHO BUILT THE BELLAGIO, THE MIRAGE AND THE MGM GRAND IN LAS VEGAS.

RICHARD MILANOVICH>> I WISH TO STRESS THAT WE WILL BE PAYING FOR THIS EITHER DIRECTLY OR THROUGH LOANS THAT ARE BEING ARRANGED AS WE SPEAK. WE'RE NOT USING ANY OUTSIDE MANAGEMENT TEAMS OR INVOLVEMENT OTHER THAN LOANS.

PHILIP>> WHEN RICHARD MILANOVICH TALKS ABOUT CASINOS, CONSIDER HIM AN EXPERT. THE AGUA CALIENTE INDIANS ALREADY OWN THE SPA CASINO IN DOWNTOWN PALM SPRINGS. NOW THEY'RE ABOUT TO BECOME THE FIRST TRIBE IN CALIFORNIA TO OWN TWO GAMING PALACES. THE NEW ONE IS SCHEDULED TO OPEN IN NEARBY RANCHO MIRAGE EARLY NEXT YEAR. BUT WHILE IT WILL HAVE VEGAS-STYLE SLOTS AND CARD GAMES, DON'T EXPECT THE AGUAS TO BUILD A VEGAS-STYLE MONSTROSITY. MILANOVICH SAYS THE TRIBE WILL DO THINGS THEIR WAY.

RICHARD MILANOVICH>> IT WON'T BECOME ANOTHER LAS VEGAS NOR WILL IT BECOME ANOTHER ATLANTIC CITY. THIS DOES NOT LOOK LIKE THE PYRAMID NOR DOES IT LOOK LIKE A CASTLE NOR DOES IT LOOK LIKE THE AVERAGE CASINO THAT'S BEING BUILT IN LAS VEGAS TODAY, OR IN ATLANTIC CITY IN MR. TRUMP'S CASE, SO WE'RE NOT GOING TO HAVE THAT.

PHILIP>> IT'S PRETTY CLEAR THAT RICHARD MILANOVICH DOESN'T THINK MUCH OF DONALD TRUMP OR ANY OTHER OUTSIDER WHO WANTS TO CASH IN ON THE INDIANS' GOOD FORTUNE, BUT NOT EVERY TRIBE FEELS THE SAME. WITHIN HOURS OF PROP 1A'S ELECTION VICTORY, THE DONALD HAD A SIGNED DEAL WITH ONE OF THE AGUA'S COMPETITORS, THE TWENTY-NINE PALMS BAND OF MISSION INDIANS. TRUMP HAS PROMISED TO HELP EXPAND AND MANAGE THIS CASINO NEAR INDIO.

THE TWENTY-NINE PALMS TRIBE IS SMALL. IT HAS ONLY THIRTEEN ADULT MEMBERS, BUT THEY ALL STAND TO GET A LOT RICHER AND SO DOES TRUMP. THAT IS, IF THE DEAL ACTUALLY GOES THROUGH, AND MILANOVICH IS BETTING IT WON'T.

RICHARD MILANOVICH>> I SERIOUSLY DOUBT IF HE'LL FOLLOW THROUGH WITH HIS PLAN BECAUSE HE DOESN'T VERY OFTEN, NOT IN THE PAST, FOLLOW THROUGH WITH HIS PLAN. IT'S ALMOST A CHALLENGE, ISN'T IT?

PHILIP>> WITH OR WITHOUT DONALD TRUMP, CALIFORNIA'S CASINO LANDSCAPE IS ABOUT TO UNDERGO A DRAMATIC CHANGE INSPIRED BY PROP 1A. WITH WHAT AMOUNTS TO A LEGAL MONOPOLY ON VEGAS-STYLE GAMBLING, INDIAN GAMING IS ON THE VERGE OF EXPANDING WHENEVER AND WHEREVER IT CAN. BY THE TIME IT'S DONE, ONLY NEVADA WILL HAVE MORE SLOT MACHINES THAN CALIFORNIA.

BUT WITH EVERY BOOM, THERE'S ALSO A BUST. IN PALM SPRINGS, ONE OF THE FIRST PLACES YOU'LL FIND IT IS AT CITY HALL WHERE AT LEAST ONE COUNCIL MEMBER FEELS INDIANS ARE GETTING A FREE RIDE AT TAXPAYERS' EXPENSE.

JIM JONES>> I'M A NEWLY-ELECTED MEMBER OF THE CITY COUNCIL AND I NEVER REALIZED BEFORE THAT TRIBAL MEMBERS VIRTUALLY DO NOT PAY TAXES.

PHILIP>> COUNCILMAN JIM JONES SAYS HE'S NOT AGAINST GAMBLING OR INDIANS, BUT HE IS AGAINST THE EXEMPTIONS THAT ALLOW TRIBAL CASINO OWNERS TO DO WHATEVER THEY WANT WITHOUT CONSULTING THE CITY OR PAYING LOCAL TAXES. JONES SAYS AT THE SPA CASINO, FOR EXAMPLE, THE AGUAS COLLECT THE CITY HOTEL TAX, BUT KEEP ALMOST HALF OF IT FOR THEMSELVES. THE FACT THAT THEY GIVE THE CITY ANYTHING, HE SAYS, IS ALMOST AN ACT OF CHARITY SINCE THERE'S NO WAY TO FORCE THEM.

JIM JONES>> WHEN THEY PUT UP THEIR SIGN ON THEIR PRESENT CASINO, THE CITY WAS NOT CONSULTED ON THAT WHATSOEVER. THAT JUST APPEARED ONE DAY. YOU KNOW, IT'S A MATTER -- IF THEY DON'T WANT TO CONSULT US, THEY DON'T HAVE TO CONSULT US. NO, I MEAN -- THE REALITY OF IT IS, THEY ARE A SOVEREIGN NATION. IT'S A DIFFICULT SITUATION, BUT WE'RE NEIGHBORS AND WE REALLY HAVE TO WORK TOGETHER ON THIS.

PHILIP>> BUT THE TRIBES SAY THEY'RE NOT THE ONLY ONES GETTING RICH. THEIR CASINOS HAVE HELPED REVIVE DESERT TOWNS THAT WERE ALL BUT DEAD BEFORE. AND OVER NEAR INDIO, THE CABAZON INDIANS HAVE STARTED DIVERSIFYING THE PROFITS FROM THEIR CASINO INTO OTHER BUSINESSES, LIKE THIS TIRE RECYCLING PLANT IN COACHELLA. SURE, THEY'VE GOT A GAMBLING MONOPOLY, BUT THE INDIANS SAY "SO WHAT?"

BRENDA SOULLIERE>> WELFARE, POVERTY, THINGS LIKE THAT. THERE WERE NO OPPORTUNITIES AND NOW TRIBES HAVE FOUND AN OPPORTUNITY.

PHILIP>> BUT WHAT ABOUT ALL THE POOR PEOPLE WHO AREN'T NATIVE-AMERICANS? IN THE CITY OF BELL GARDENS, SOUTHEAST OF LOS ANGELES, THERE ARE LOTS OF THEM AND THIS POOR TOWN GETS HALF OF ITS YEARLY BUDGET, ABOUT $10 MILLION DOLLARS IN TAX MONEY, FROM ANOTHER KIND OF GAMING ESTABLISHMENT, THE BICYCLE CARD CLUB, A PLACE THAT HAS NO TIES TO INDIANS AND NONE OF THE RIGHTS TO RUN THE VEGAS-STYLE GAMES INDIAN CASINOS RUN.

ROBERT CARTER>> WE'RE IN A POSITION WHERE, LUCKILY, WE PROVIDE A LOT OF SERVICES.

PHILIP>> BUT ROBERT CARTER WARNS THE MONOPOLY THAT INDIAN CASINOS GOT UNDER PROP 1A THREATENS TO DRIVE HIM AND MORE THAN FIFTY OTHER NON-INDIAN CARD CLUBS AROUND THE STATE OUT OF BUSINESS.

ROBERT CARTER>> I LOVE THE BUSINESS, I MAKE A GOOD LIVING, BUT I ALSO PROVIDE JOBS FOR 1,500 EMPLOYEES IN THIS TOWN AND PROVIDE OVER HALF THE CITY'S BUDGET. SO I AM DEFINITELY OPPOSED TO ANY LEGISLATION, ANY LAW, ANY CHANGE IN THE CONSTITUTION THAT IMPACTS THAT.

WARREN>> AND, OF COURSE, HE MIGHT WANT TO GO TO SACRAMENTO AND SEE IF THE LEGISLATURE WOULD ALLOW HIM TO HAVE SLOT MACHINES IN HIS CASINO. BUT THE INDIAN TRIBES HAVE BECOME ONE OF THE MAJOR CONTRIBUTORS TO CAMPAIGNS IN CALIFORNIA WITH AN ENORMOUS AMOUNT OF CLOUT UP THERE.

PHILIP>> AND THEY SPENT A TON OF MONEY ON PROP 1A. THE BIG COMPLAINT FROM PEOPLE LIKE ROBERT CARTER IS THEY MADE ALL THIS MONEY IN CASINOS AND NEVER HAD TO PAY TAXES LIKE HE DID. HE PAYS A LOT OF TAXES. SO YOU SEE THIS DYNAMIC SHAPING UP FOR A BIG LAWSUIT, WHETHER IT'S GOING TO BE FILED BY ROBERT CARTER AND THE CARD CLUBS OR THE TOWNS LIKE THE CITY OF BELL GARDENS THAT DEPEND ON THAT REVENUE.

VAL>> NOW THIS IS VERY INTERESTING. I DID NOT REALIZE, WHEN I VISIT PALM SPRINGS, THAT PART OF IT IS INDIAN - PART OR ALL -- RESERVATION.

PHILIP>> WELL, YOU KNOW, WHEN PEOPLE TALK ABOUT INDIAN RESERVATIONS, I THINK THEY HAVE THIS IMAGE OF THIS VAST SEPARATED SECTION OF LAND OUT THERE IN THE MIDDLE OF --

VAL>> SPRAWLING ACRES.

PHILIP>> -- THE DESERT SOMEWHERE. IT'S NOT. IN PALM SPRINGS, FOR EXAMPLE, IT'S CHECKERBOARDED. YOU KNOW, ONE BLOCK MAY BE INDIAN LAND, THE NEXT BLOCK MAY BE JUST ANOTHER PIECE OF CALIFORNIA DESERT. THAT'S THE WAY IT WAS LAID OUT YEARS AND YEARS AGO. THE AGUA CALIENTE INDIANS WHO OWN THE SPA CASINO ARE THE SINGLE LARGEST LANDHOLDER IN PALM SPRINGS. THEY HAVE LOTS OF MONEY AND THEY'RE MAKING LOTS MORE FROM THE CASINO. THE BIG COMPLAINT FROM CITY OFFICIALS IS THEY'RE MAKING ALL THIS MONEY TAX-FREE VIRTUALLY AND THEY'RE FREE TO BUY UP MORE LAND AND DO IT WHATEVER THEY WANT.

WARREN>> A LOT OF EXPLOITATION OVER THE YEARS. FOR A LONG TIME, NOBODY CARED ABOUT THESE PEOPLE AND NOW, ALL OF A SUDDEN, THEY ARE VERY IMPORTANT PLAYERS IN CALIFORNIA.

PHILIP>> THAT'S RIGHT AND, YOU KNOW, THEY POINT OUT TWENTY YEARS AGO NOBODY WANTED TO BE AN INDIAN. NOW EVERYBODY WANTS TO BE ONE BECAUSE IT'S VERY PROFITABLE. AND I THINK -- YOU LOOK AT THE VOTE AT PROP 1A AND IT SEEMS TO INDICATE THAT, REGARDLESS OF THE PITFALLS HERE, PEOPLE ARE SAYING WHATEVER THEY CAN GET, LET THEM HAVE IT --

WARREN>> THAT'S RIGHT.

PHILIP>> -- BECAUSE THEY'VE GONE THROUGH A LOT.

VAL>> CASINOS. THE NEW BUFFALO. THANK YOU, PHILIP.

UP NEXT, "THE TIMES IT IS ACHANGING", BUT NOT WITHOUT COMMENT, OF COURSE, FROM MADDOX & HEWITT.

HEWITT>> KERMAN, IN A MOMENT WE WILL TURN TO THE VERY COMPLICATED MATTER OF THE RAMPART INVESTIGATION AND CHIEF PARKS' SALVO AT GIL GARCETTI.

BUT WE MUST BE TAKING NOTE OF THE FACT THAT THE LOS ANGELES TIMES WAS SOLD THIS WEEK. MUCH WRINGING OF HANDS OVER ON SPRING STREET. MUCH "WOE IS ME" AMONG THE JOURNALISTIC CORPS. DOES ANYBODY REALLY CARE IN THE COMMUNITIES THAT YOU MOST KNOW? IT CERTAINLY DOESN'T MAKE MUCH OF AN IMPACT IN ORANGE COUNTY.

MADDOX>> WELL, I THINK PEOPLE IN LOS ANGELES GENERALLY CARE, ESPECIALLY PEOPLE IN THE CIVIC AND THE POLITICAL COMMUNITY BECAUSE THE LA TIMES HAS BEEN AN INSTITUTION IN LOS ANGELES. THEY'VE BEEN VERY INVOLVED IN A NUMBER OF CIVIC PROJECTS AND I THINK A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT EXACTLY WHAT DOES THIS MEAN TO THE CITY OF LA? THEY RAISE A LOT OF MONEY FOR A LOT OF DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS, FOR A LOT OF CHARITABLE ORGANIZATIONS, SO PEOPLE ARE CURIOUS AS TO WHAT IT ACTUALLY MEANS. I'VE TALKED TO A NUMBER OF FRIENDS OF MINE WHO WORK AT THE LA TIMES. THEY DON'T EVEN KNOW AT THIS PARTICULAR POINT WHAT IT MEANS. BUT PEOPLE ARE CONCERNED.

HEWITT>> IN THIS WEEK'S NEW TIMES, JILL STEWART HAS A COLUMN POINTING OUT THAT THE POLITICAL COVERAGE IN LOS ANGELES ON COMMERCIAL TELEVISION STATIONS AND IN THE LOS ANGELES TIMES IS WOEFULLY THIN. THEY DIDN'T COVER THE SHEILA KUEHL RACE AND THE WALLY KNOX RACE. THEY DIDN'T COVER THE SCOTT WILDMAN RACE. THEY DON'T COVER ANYTHING. SO DOES IT REALLY MATTER FOR WHAT YOU AND I LIKE MOST, WHICH IS POLITICS AND POLICY?

MADDOX>> NO. NOW ON THAT, I'M GOING TO AGREE WITH YOU BECAUSE THEIR COVERAGE ON LOCAL POLITICS AND PUBLIC POLICY AS IT RELATES TO THE CITY OF LA AND LA COUNTY HAS BEEN HORRIBLE. AS SOMEONE SUGGESTED TO ME THE OTHER DAY, THE PAPER REALLY CAN'T GET MUCH WORSE. IN THAT REGARD, I WELCOME THE NEW OWNERSHIP AND I HOPE THEY'RE MUCH MORE AGGRESSIVE IN THEIR COVERAGE OF WHAT GOES ON IN THE CITY OF LA.

HEWITT>> WELL, THEY CAN'T GET MORE LIBERAL THAN THEY ALREADY ARE, SO ANY CHANGE IS GOING TO BE WELCOME IN ORANGE COUNTY.

NOW LET'S TURN TO THE STORY OF THE WEEK. AN ASTONISHING BIT OF NEWS YESTERDAY. BERNARD -- CHIEF PARKS CALLS UP AND SAYS GIL GARCETTI MAY NOT HAVE ANY REFERRALS FROM MY OFFICE. I'M CUTTING IT OFF. TOTAL STONEWALL. HE GETS SLAMMED BY MICHAEL RAMIREZ, CARTOONIST FOR THE LOS ANGELES TIMES. HE GETS SLAMMED BY EVERY OBSERVER. YOU'RE A FRIEND OF CHIEF PARKS. HE'S WORKED SO HARD TO ESTABLISH A REPUTATION OF INTEGRITY AND OPENNESS AT THE DEPARTMENT. WHAT WENT WRONG?

MADDOX>> WELL, I GOT TO TELL YOU, THIS OBVIOUSLY WAS THE DARKEST DAY FOR THE CHIEF SINCE HE'S BEEN THE CHIEF. THIS WAS HORRIBLE. IT STARTED OFF WITH A LEAD STORY THAT WAS LEAKED BY THE DA'S OFFICE TO THE LA TIMES THAT BASICALLY SAID CHIEF PARKS IS UNWILLING TO SHARE INFORMATION WITH THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY THAT HE NEEDS TO INVESTIGATE THE CORRUPTION. NEXT THING YOU KNOW, GIL GARCETTI'S ON TV, THEN HE'S ON RADIO, THEN THE CITY ATTORNEY JIM HAHN COMES OUT AND HE'S AGAINST CHIEF PARKS. THEN A MEMBER OF THE POLICE COMMISSION COMES OUT, THEN YOU HAVE MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL.

GIL GARCETTI IS VERY SKILLFUL. WHAT HE DID IS, HE LEAKED IT AND THEN HE GOT ALL THE CRITICAL OPINION LEADERS AND PEOPLE THAT MATTER ON THE CITY COUNCIL, ON THE POLICE COMMISSION. THEN YOU HAD THE MAYOR POUNDING THE PODIUM SAYING THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY AND THE CHIEF OF POLICE ARE ACTING LIKE KIDS, THEY'VE GOT TO GROW UP. THIS LOOKS REALLY BAD FOR THE CHIEF. THERE'S NO QUESTION ABOUT THAT.

WHAT HE'S GOT TO DO AT THIS PARTICULAR POINT NOW, HE'S GOT TO CONVINCE THE POLICE COMMISSION, THE MAYOR AND EVERYBODY ELSE WHO'S INVOLVED, ESPECIALLY THE CITY COUNCIL, THAT HE'S WORKING WITH THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY, HE'S WELCOME TO AN OUTSIDE INVESTIGATION, HE'S DOING EVERYTHING HE CAN TO MAKE SURE INFORMATION IS SHARED WITH GIL GARCETTI. I'D GIVE GIL GARCETTI PAPER CLIPS, DIXIE CUPS, LEGAL PADS, WHATEVER. GIVE IT TO HIM.

HEWITT>> QUESTION NUMBER ONE. JIMMY HAHN -- JIMMY YAWN, AS HE IS KNOWN ON THIS SHOW -- ATTACKS CHIEF PARKS, THE MOST POPULAR AFRICAN-AMERICAN OFFICIAL IN THE CITY AND PERHAPS EVEN THE MOST POPULAR, ALONG WITH THE MAYOR, OFFICIAL IN THE CITY. WHAT WAS JIMMY HAHN THINKING?

MADDOX>> WELL, I THINK WHAT HAPPENED IS, IN A CASE LIKE THIS, HUGH, EVEN THE SUPPORTERS OF THE CHIEF FOUND IT VERY DIFFICULT TO COME TO HIS DEFENSE BECAUSE IT JUST LOOKED LIKE THE LAPD AND THE CHIEF WERE JUST BEING INTRANSIGENT AND NOT COOPERATING. NOW REMEMBER, BILL [KARIK] IS THE CAMPAIGN MANAGER FOR MR. GARCETTI WHO'S RUNNING FOR DA, AND HE'S THE CAMPAIGN MANAGER FOR JIMMY HAHN WHO'S RUNNING FOR MAYOR. SO I THINK THE CITY ATTORNEY SAW THAT AS AN OPPORTUNITY TO GET INVOLVED AND SAY SOMETHING, BECAUSE HE HAS BEEN SILENT ON THE RAMPART SCANDAL.

HEWITT>> QUESTION NUMBER TWO. CANDIDATE FOR GIL GARCETTI'S JOB, STEVE COOLEY, WAS ON THE AL [RANTELL] SHOW ON KABC YESTERDAY SOUNDING AN ALARM ABOUT PUBLIC INTEGRITY IN THIS CITY, HIGH AND LOW, THAT THAT'S HIS NUMBER ONE PLEDGE. DO WE LOOK FOR ANY SURPRISE ENDORSEMENTS FOR STEVE COOLEY NOW THAT THIS MESS IS OUT IN THE OPEN?

MADDOX>> WELL, THE HOTTEST RUMOR IS THAT THE MAYOR IS GOING TO ENDORSE STEVE COOLEY AT SOME POINT. NOW I'VE HAD A CHANCE TO TALK TO PEOPLE INVOLVED WITH THE COOLEY CAMPAIGN. THEY HAVE TOLD ME THERE'S BEEN NO CONVERSATION BETWEEN THEM AND THE MAYOR. THEY'RE NOT SEEKING THE MAYOR ENDORSEMENT. THEY'D OBVIOUSLY LIKE TO HAVE IT. THEY'LL TAKE IT. BUT THE RUMOR AROUND CITY HALL AND MANY OTHER PLACES IS, THE MAYOR'S GOING TO DO IT. IT MAKES SENSE. RIORDAN IS A REPUBLICAN. COOLEY IS A REPUBLICAN. RIORDAN DOES NOT HOLD GIL GARCETTI IN HIGH ESTEEM. GIL GARCETTI IS IN THE BATTLE FOR HIS LIFE. REMEMBER, COOLEY CAME IN FIRST PLACE WITH 38 PERCENT. GIL GARCETTI CAME IN SECOND PLACE WITH 37 PERCENT. THAT'S DIFFERENT FROM FOUR YEARS AGO. FOUR YEARS AGO, GIL GARCETTI CAME IN FIRST PLACE.

HEWITT>> THERE'S AN OLD SONG BY JAMES TAYLOR THAT HAS THE LINE IN IT, "AIN'T IT JUST LIKE A FRIEND OF MINE TO HIT ME FROM BEHIND." IS CHIEF PARKS LOOKING AT DICK RIORDAN AND SAYING, "WHAT ARE YOU DOING? THAT WAS A LOW BLOW. THAT WAS A CLIP FROM AN OLD FRIEND"?

MADDOX>> WELL, AGAIN, LIKE I SAID, WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE TOTALITY OF IT, IT'S VERY DIFFICULT FOR PEOPLE TO COME TO THE DEFENSE OF THE CHIEF. I MEAN, I'M A FRIEND OF THE CHIEF, BUT WHEN I READ IT AND, YOU KNOW, I TRIED TO FOLLOW THE THING. I TALKED TO HIM AND I TALKED TO HIS PEOPLE. THEY SAY THE WHOLE THING WAS WRONG. BUT THE WAY IT PLAYED OUT TO THE PUBLIC, IT APPEARED AS THOUGH THEY WERE THE BAD GUY AND THAT'S THE WAY IT CAME ACROSS.

I THINK THE MAYOR WAS IN A DIFFICULT POSITION. HE CALLED A MEETING BETWEEN THE CHIEF AND THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY AND THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY SAYS, "I'M NOT COMING." SO I THINK RIORDAN IS LOOKING FOR SOME SORT OF WAY TO SAVE FACE AND SHOW HE'S INVOLVED AND HE'S IN CONTROL AND HE'S INTERESTED IN SOME SORT OF RESOLUTION FOR RAMPART.

HEWITT>> LAST QUESTION. STEVE COOLEY'S GOING TO USE HIS CONNECTIONS TO RIORDAN AND TO PEOPLE WHO DON'T LIKE GARCETTI, ALONG WITH A [ ] OF PUBLIC INTEGRITY INVESTIGATIONS, TO RUN AGAINST GARCETTI. WHAT'S [KARIK] GOT COOKED UP FOR GARCETTI? AND WHERE, BY THE WAY, SINCE WE GAVE HIM SO MANY KUDOS TWO WEEKS AGO, HAS JOEL WACHS BEEN IN THE MIDDLE OF THIS MELTDOWN?

MADDOX>> WELL, I THINK YOU'RE GOING TO SEE JOEL WACHS. JOEL WACHS IS GOING TO INTRODUCE A MOTION NEXT WEEK BEFORE THE CITY COUNCIL TO ONCE AGAIN CALL FOR AN OUTSIDE INDEPENDENT INVESTIGATION TO GET INVOLVED IN THE INVESTIGATION OF RAMPART AND LAPD. THAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN. THIS WHOLE NOTION THAT THAT WASN'T GOING TO HAPPEN, THAT'S BACK INTO THE NEWS. I THINK GARCETTI'S GOT A TON OF MONEY. HE'S GOT A LOT OF SUPPORT OUT THERE. THE CHALLENGE FOR COOLEY IS TO RAISE MONEY TO MATCH GARCETTI DOLLAR FOR DOLLAR.

THE OTHER THING IS, I THINK COOLEY IS GOING TO TALK ABOUT DISCREPANCY IN THE WAY GIL GARCETTI USES THE THREE-STRIKES LAW. HE'S GOING TO REMIND PEOPLE ABOUT THE FAMOUS MCMORROW CASE AND THE [ROSENCRANZ] CASE. HE'S GOING TO BASICALLY TALK ABOUT A DA'S OFFICE THAT'S UP FOR SALE, SO YOU REALLY WANT TO LOOK OUT FOR THAT.

HEWITT>> GIL GARCETTI IS A FIGHTER, THOUGH. IT'S GOING TO BE ONE OF THE MORE INTERESTING UNDER-CARD RACES OF THE FALL. WE'LL COVER IT AT LEAST EVERY TWO WEEKS. THAT'S IT FOR NOW. BACK TO YOU, WARREN AND VAL.

WARREN>> GENTLEMEN, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

WE WANT TO TAKE SOME TIME NOW TO SHARE COMMENTS FROM YOU, OUR VIEWERS, ABOUT RECENT PROGRAMS.

ON WEDNESDAY, WE PROFILED DR. IRVING MOSKOWITZ, THE MAN WHO OWNS A CASINO IN HAWAIIAN GARDENS. CRITICS ACCUSED MOSKOWITZ OF USING LOCAL PROFITS TO FINANCE EXTREMISTS IN THE MIDDLE EAST. MOSHE CIRT SENDS THIS E-MAIL MESSAGE: "YOU PUT A FAR LEFT RABBI AND ONE OF THE MOST RADICAL LEFT-PERSONS IN ISRAEL ON YOUR PROGRAM, RESULTING IN A ONE-SIDED STORY. YOU SHOULD GET OPINIONS FROM A VARIETY OF PEOPLE, FROM LEFT, MIDDLE AND RIGHT, BEFORE YOU LIBEL A MAN, SAYING 'HE WANTS TO PUSH ALL ARABS OUT OF THE WEST BANK.'"

VAL>> AND ON TUESDAY, WE REPORTED ON A PROPOSAL BY THE LA UNIFIED SCHOOL CEO, HOWARD MILLER, TO RELOCATE EVANS ADULT SCHOOL STUDENTS. NOW MILLER WANTS TO MOVE THESE ADULT STUDENTS FROM THE FIGUEROA STREET SCHOOL TO A NEW SPOT ON WILSHIRE BOULEVARD. WELL, RICHARD GERRISH OF SOUTH PASADENA HAS THIS TO SAY: "DISMANTLING EVANS BREAKS UP CONTINUITY OF ONE OF LAUSD'S SUCCESS STORIES, BUT THAT SUCCESS CAME OVER THIRTY YEARS. MR. MILLER, IT'S NOT JUST FEAR OF CHANGE. YOU'RE IN REAL ESTATE. YOU KNOW ABOUT 'LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION'.

WE ARE ALWAYS INTERESTED IN YOUR THOUGHTS, COMMENTS OR OPINIONS ABOUT OUR PROGRAMS AND HERE ARE THE WAYS YOU CAN REACH US AT LIFE AND TIMES TONIGHT. WE'D LOVE TO HEAR FROM YOU.

WWW.KCET.ORG.
LIFE AND TIMES TONIGHT
4401 SUNSET BLVD.
LOS ANGELES, CA 90027
(323) 664-4159

WARREN>> WAITING TABLES CAN BE A CHALLENGING JOB, BUT A LOS ANGELES MAN IS HOPING TO CHANGE ALL THAT. HE IS THE MARKETING GENIUS BEHIND A WEBSITE THAT BASICALLY SERVES FOOD SERVERS.

VAL>> WAITERS AND WAITRESSES PUT UP WITH A LOT OF ABUSE. THEY WORK IN A BUSINESS WHERE THE CUSTOMER IS ALWAYS RIGHT AND THE TEMPORARY NATURE OF THE JOB MAKES IT HARD FOR THEM TO FEEL LIKE PART OF THE COMMUNITY. WELL, THAT'S WHERE FLYINTHESOUP.COM COMES IN, AS WE'LL SEE IN TONIGHT'S PEOPLE, PLACES & THINGS.

THE WEBSITE IS CURRENTLY AIMED AT WAITERS AND WAITRESSES IN LOS ANGELES, BUT IT EXPECTS TO EXPAND TO OTHER WEST COAST CITIES OVER THE NEXT FEW YEARS. HOWEVER, IN LA, WITH ITS MANY "WANNABE" ACTORS WHO NEED DAY JOBS, LA HAS MORE WAITERS AND WAITRESSES THAN ANY OTHER CITY IN THE UNITED STATES.

WARREN>> AND HERE IS THE MAN, THE GENERAL MANAGER OF FLYINTHESOUP.COM, MARZ RICHARDS. NICE TO HAVE YOU WITH US.

MARZ RICHARDS>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR HAVING ME, WARREN, VAL.

WARREN>> FLYINTHESOUP.COM. IS THAT THE IMAGE THAT YOU WANT TO PURVEY ABOUT THE RESTAURANT EXPERIENCE?

MARZ RICHARDS>> SOMETIMES WHEN YOU ARE WORKING IN A RESTAURANT, YOU CAN FEEL THAT YOU ARE THE ONLY PERSON WHO IS EXPERIENCING THE TRAVAILS THAT YOU GO THROUGH IN AS INTENSIVE A SERVICE INDUSTRY AS RESTAURATEURING AND WAITERING IS. WHAT WE TRY AND PUSH OUT THERE IS THAT THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO ARE EXPERIENCING EXACTLY WHAT YOU'RE EXPERIENCING. WE'RE TRYING TO BRING THEM TOGETHER AT THE SITE.

VAL>> HOWEVER, THE SITE REALLY ISN'T AIMED TO CUSTOMERS. IT'S REALLY AIMED TO SERVE AND TO HELP WAITERS AND WAITRESSES COMMUNICATE WITH EACH OTHER. WE'RE GOING TO TAKE A LOOK AT THE WEBSITE AND MAYBE YOU CAN TELL US WHAT WE'RE SEEING.

MARZ RICHARDS>> ABSOLUTELY.

VAL>> HERE IT IS.

MARZ RICHARDS>> THIS IS THE FRONT PAGE OF THE WEBSITE WITH SEARCH FLY, OUR LITTLE GRAPHIC THERE. THIS IS OUR JOB APPLICATION PAGE WHERE YOU MAY ENTER AN APPLICATION FOR FREE AND RESTAURATEURS ALL OVER THE SOUTHLAND MAY --

VAL>> SO I COULD POST MY RESUME ON THIS?

MARZ RICHARDS>> ABSOLUTELY. AND RESTAURATEURS ALL OVER THE SOUTHLAND AT THE SAUCE.COM MAY VIEW THOSE RESUMES FOR FREE.

WARREN>> AND THE SAUCE.COM? THAT'S WHERE THE MONEY COMES FROM, THEN? IT'S THOSE EMPLOYERS OR PROSPECTIVE EMPLOYERS WHO KEEP YOU GOING?

MARZ RICHARDS>> RIGHT. WHATEVER THEY MAY BUY ON THE SAUCE, WE MIGHT RECEIVE A PERCENTAGE OF THAT, WHETHER IT IS FOOD SERVICE DISTRIBUTION, YOU KNOW, BROCCOLI OR BARSTOOLS.

VAL>> OKAY. NOW ALL THOSE LITTLE JOB CATEGORIES. YOU CAN FIND OUT WHAT'S ENTAILED? CAN YOU GET INFORMATION ON JOB TRAINING AND SO FORTH IF, FOR SOME REASON, YOUR ACTING ASPIRATIONS DON'T WORK OUT?

MARZ RICHARDS>> ABSOLUTELY. BEGINNING IN APRIL, WE'RE RE-LAUNCHING A SITE WITH VERSION TWO AND THAT WILL INCLUDE ALL NEW FUNCTIONS, SUCH AS JOB POSTINGS ALL OVER THE SOUTHLAND SO YOU DON'T HAVE TO WAIT FOR THEM TO COME TO YOU. YOU CAN GO TO THEM. WE'RE ALSO TALKING TO A COUPLE OF MAJOR HOTEL AND RESTAURANT PROGRAMS AT UNIVERSITIES FOR ONLINE TRAINING. CERTIFICATION, BARTENDING, MANAGING, WHAT HAVE YOU.

WARREN>> GIVE US SOME OF THE DIRT. I KNOW THEY'RE EXCHANGING A LOT OF INFORMATION ABOUT CUSTOMERS AND ABOUT EACH OTHER AND ABOUT THE KINDS OF THINGS THAT YOU TALKED ABOUT EARLIER, EXPLAINING WHY YOU CALL THIS FLYINTHESOUP.COM.

MARZ RICHARDS>> WHEN WE STARTED BACK IN OCTOBER, WE STARTED WITH A STORIES CONTEST BECAUSE, AS YOU KNOW, BUILDING A WEBSITE TAKES A LITTLE TIME. WE WANTED TO GET SOMETHING UP RIGHT AWAY. WE FIGURED JUST HEARING THE STORIES FROM THE FOLKS WORKING IN THE RESTAURANTS WOULD BE THE EASIEST THING TO DO. SO WHAT YOU CAN DO IS GO ON THE SITE AND, IN A NUMBER OF CATEGORIES, MAY ENTER A STORY ABOUT THINGS THAT HAPPENED TO YOU, GOOD OR EVIL, OR STUFF THAT YOU PERPETRATED AGAINST A CUSTOMER WHO WAS EVIL TO YOU.

WARREN>> GIVE US AN EXAMPLE?

VAL>> TELL US YOUR FAVORITE.

MARZ RICHARDS>> MY FAVORITE IS PROBABLY THIS YOUNG WOMAN DOWN SOUTH WHO HAD A COUPLE OF GUYS WERE SAYING THINGS LIKE, YOU KNOW, "I CAN'T TASTE ENOUGH TEQUILA IN MY 'RITA", THINGS LIKE THAT AND JUST BOTHERING HER HAVING TO RUN TO AND FRO. AFTER ORDERING ABOUT $150 WORTH OF GOODS AND SERVICES, THEY SKIPPED ON THE BILL. UNFORTUNATELY, THEY LEFT THEIR CIGARETTES ON THE TABLE. SHE WAS A SMOKER, GRABBED THE PACK, WENT OUT BACK TO HAVE A SMOKE BECAUSE SHE'D JUST BEEN "BEATEN BY THE MAN", TURNED THE PACK OVER AND $200 AND THE MAN'S DRIVER'S LICENSE WERE TUCKED INSIDE THE CELLOPHANE. SO SHE WENT AND PAID THE BILL WITH THE BOSS AND TURNED OVER THE DRIVER'S LICENSE TO THE POLICE AND PICKED UP A NICE $80 TIP.

VAL>> AND THOSE TWO GUYS WILL NEVER STIFF A WAITRESS OR WAITER --

MARZ RICHARDS>> ABSOLUTELY NOT.

WARREN>> SO THERE ARE WAYS OF RETALIATING, THEN, AND THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS THEY'RE PASSING BACK AND FORTH TO ONE ANOTHER, THESE WAITERS AND WAITRESSES.

MARZ RICHARDS>> SOME OF WHICH YOU CAN'T EVEN MENTION ON THE AIR, EVEN ON THIS SHOW.

VAL>> YOU HAVE SOME VERY INNOVATIVE MARKETING TECHNIQUES. WE'RE GOING TO TAKE A LOOK AT YOU IN ACTION.

MARZ RICHARDS>> FANTASTIC.

[FILM CLIP]

WARREN>> QUICKLY, WHAT ARE YOU RECRUITING THESE PEOPLE TO DO AND DID IT WORK?

MARZ RICHARDS>> IT HAS WORKED AND WE JUST WANT TO FIND OUT WHERE THE GOOD SERVERS ARE SO WE CAN PUT THEM IN TOUCH WITH THE GOOD RESTAURANT OWNERS. SO VISIT FLYINTHESOUP.COM AND, YOU RESTAURANT OWNERS, PLEASE HIT US UP AT THE SAUCE.COM.

WARREN>> OKAY.

VAL>> NOW ARE YOU AN ASPIRING SINGER YOURSELF?

MARZ RICHARDS>> I HAVE A SMALL MUSIC LABEL, INSECT THEATER HERE IN LOS ANGELES AND A BAND OF MY OWN, RENFIELD, WHICH CAN BE FOUND AT RENFIELD.COM.

WARREN>> AND AT THE MOMENT, YOU DON'T HAVE TO WAIT ON TABLES BECAUSE YOU'RE WORKING FOR FLYINTHESOUP.COM.

MARZ RICHARDS>> THAT'S RIGHT. NICELY CAPITALIZING MY LABEL.

VAL>> YES, YOU ARE. GOOD SELF-PROMOTER TOO.

WARREN>> MARZ RICHARDS, THANKS FOR BEING HERE.

MARZ RICHARDS>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. MY PLEASURE.

VAL>> THAT'S OUR PROGRAM FOR TONIGHT.

ON MONDAY, IF THE BANK IS FORECLOSING ON YOUR APARTMENT BUILDING AND YOU'RE THREATENED WITH EVICTION, WHERE DO YOU TURN? HOW ABOUT TO YOUR FELLOW TENANTS?

>> SO IT'S ACTUALLY VERY UNUSUAL FOR A LEGAL SERVICES ATTORNEY TO CALL A BANK AND SAY, "YOU KNOW, NO ONE'S GOING AND NO, THEY DON'T REALLY WANT THE RELOCATION ASSISTANCE EITHER. THEY WANT TO STAY AND THEY ARE INTERESTED IN PURCHASING THE BUILDING."

WARREN>> THAT IS MONDAY ON LIFE AND TIMES TONIGHT.

COMING UP MONDAY ON WHICH WAY LA, THERE'LL BE A SPECIAL EDITION HOSTED BY MATT MILLER. HAS THE INTERNATIONAL MONETARY FUND LOST ITS USEFULNESS? THAT'S MONDAY.

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

VAL>> AND FOR ALL OF US HERE AT LIFE AND TIMES TONIGHT, HAVE A WONDERFUL WEEKEND. REMEMBER, IF YOU'D LIKE TO GET TRANSCRIPTS OF PAST SHOWS, VISIT US ON OUR WEBSITE AT WWW.KCET.ORG. TAKE CARE, DON'T STIFF YOUR WAITER AND HAVE A GOOD WEEKEND.

WARREN>> KEEP THE FLY OUT OF YOUR SOUP.

VAL>> THAT'S RIGHT.

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.