7/07/00

LC000707

VAL>> ON LIFE AND TIMES TONIGHT --

THERE'S A SMALL TOWN IN THE SAN GABRIEL VALLEY THAT SOME SAY IS PICTURE PERFECT, BUT ONE NOT SO SMALL THING IS PITTING NEIGHBOR AGAINST NEIGHBOR.

PHILIP BRUCE>> IF HOLLYWOOD BUILT A SMALL TOWN FOR A MOVIE, IT MIGHT END UP LOOKING A LOT LIKE MONROVIA, BUT THIS TOWN'S BIGGEST ASSET MAY BE ITS FOOTHILLS AND NOW SOME LOCAL RESIDENTS HAVE LAUNCHED AN ELECTION CAMPAIGN TO SAVE THEM.

LLOYD FUJIWARA>> IT'S KIND OF LIKE A DOUBLE-EDGED SWORD, YOU KNOW? THEY DON'T WANT ANY MORE HILLSIDE DEVELOPMENT, BUT THEY ALSO LIVE IN THE HILLSIDES ALSO.

PHILIP>> THEY'VE GOT THEIRS.

LLOYD FUJIWARA>> OH, YEAH, THEY'VE GOT THEIRS.

VAL>> MADDOX & HEWITT ARE HERE FOR THEIR REGULAR FRIDAY NIGHT POLITICAL JOUST.

MADDOX>> THE LA CITY COUNCIL DECIDES TO RETHINK ITS POSITION TO DESIGNATE PERSHING SQUARE AS A PROTEST CENTER FOR THE UPCOMING CONVENTION.

HEWITT>> THEY DIDN'T LIKE THAT FIRST DECISION MUCH. PLUS GOVERNOR ROY ROMER DISCUSSES WHETHER OR NOT HE WILL REOPEN THE BELMONT HIGH SCHOOL CONTROVERSY.

MADDOX>> ALL THAT COMING UP ON MADDOX & HEWITT.

VAL>> AND IT USED TO BE THOUGHT OF AS GARISH AND A LITTLE TACKY, BUT IT IS NOW RECOGNIZED AS AN ART FORM. WE'LL LOOK AT THE ELEGANCE AND BEAUTY OF NEON.

THESE STORIES COMING UP NEXT ON LIFE AND TIMES TONIGHT FOR FRIDAY, JULY 7, 2000.

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

THE JAMES IRVINE FOUNDATION

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

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.

VAL>> GOOD EVENING, I'M VAL ZAVALA. WARREN OLNEY HAS THE NIGHT OFF. HE'LL BE BACK ON MONDAY.

OUR TOP STORY TONIGHT, THE GREEN WAVE. CALIFORNIA IS EXPERIENCING A GROUND SWELL OF ENVIRONMENTALISM AFTER DECADES OF UNCHECKED GROWTH. CASE IN POINT? VOTERS IN THE SAN GABRIEL VALLEY TOWN OF MONROVIA GO TO THE POLLS ON TUESDAY IN A KEY ELECTION, AN ELECTION THAT COULD SET THE TONE FOR OTHER ENVIRONMENTAL BATTLES ACROSS THE STATE. THEY'RE DECIDING WHETHER TO RAISE THEIR OWN LOCAL PROPERTY TAXES TO KEEP PRIVATE LAND OUT OF THE HANDS OF DEVELOPERS. PHILIP BRUCE HAS THIS REPORT.

PHILIP>> IF HOLLYWOOD BUILT A SMALL TOWN FOR A MOVIE, IT MIGHT END UP LOOKING A LOT LIKE MONROVIA. EVERY DOWN HOME DETAIL IS ALREADY IN PLACE, INCLUDING THE FRIDAY STREET FESTIVAL WHERE LOCALS GET THEIR PICK OF THE FRESHEST CROPS FROM THE FIELD. UP AND DOWN MYRTLE AVENUE, THE MAIN STREET THAT RUNS THROUGH DOWNTOWN, YOU’LL FIND LOADS OF SMALL-TOWN CHARM AND, IN MANY STOREFRONTS, YOU’LL FIND THESE SIGNS URGING VOTERS TO SAVE THE PART OF THE LOCAL LANDSCAPE THAT’S MOST ENDANGERED, THE FOOTHILLS.

STEVE MILLER>> WELL, MONROVIA IS KNOWN AS THE GEM CITY OF THE FOOTHILLS. THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY REALLY APPRECIATES THIS BEAUTIFUL SCENIC BACKDROP TO THE CITY.

PHILIP>> STEVE MILLER IS ONE OF THE PEOPLE WHO’S URGING TAXPAYERS TO OPEN THEIR WALLETS AND BUY THESE HILLS BEFORE DEVELOPERS START TURNING THE LAND INTO LUXURY SUBDIVISIONS.

STEVE MILLER>> MOST FOOTHILL AREAS IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA HAVE ALREADY BEEN LOST, WHICH IS ONE OF THE MOST UNIQUE THINGS ABOUT THIS RICH AREA. WE HAVE A CHANCE TO SAVE IT AS IS.

PHILIP>> THESE ARE MONROVIA’S FINAL DAYS OF SOUL-SEARCHING OVER THAT VERY OPPORTUNITY, A CHANCE TO PURCHASE 1,000 HILLSIDE ACRES AND SET THEM ASIDE FOREVER AS A NATURAL PLACE. BUT TO DO THAT, THE CITY NEEDS TO RAISE SOME BIG MONEY AND THAT’S THE WHOLE IDEA BEHIND TWO MEASURES THE TOWN WILL VOTE ON NEXT TUESDAY, MEASURES A AND B. IF THEY PASS, MONROVIA PROPERTY OWNERS ARE AGREEING TO PAY HIGHER TAXES TO PRESERVE THE SCENERY FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS.

MONROVIA IS ONE OF THE LAST FOOTHILL COMMUNITIES IN THE SAN GABRIEL VALLEY THAT STILL HAS ANY NATURAL FOOTHILLS LEFT AND IT’S THE FIRST TOWN IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA THAT’S LAUNCHED THIS KIND OF PREEMPTIVE STRIKE TO TRY TO SAVE THOSE HILLS BEFORE SOME DEVELOPER SHOWS UP WITH A BULLDOZER. PART OF THE PITCH IN THE CAMPAIGN BROCHURES HAS INCLUDED A NOT SO SUBTLE LOOK AT SOME OF MONROVIA’S NEIGHBORS, GLENDALE, FOR ONE, WHERE HOMES INVADED THE FOOTHILLS LONG AGO AND WHERE THE BATTLE TO KEEP OUT MORE DEVELOPMENT CONTINUES.

DENISE HARVEY>> LOOK AT GLENDALE, LOOK AT DUARTE, PASADENA, WHAT THEIR HILLSIDES LOOK LIKE, AND LOOK WHAT WE HAVE. YOU CAN’T FIND IN THE FOOTHILL CORRIDOR ANY PLACE LIKE MONROVIA. I THINK WE’RE THE LAST FRONTIER HERE, THE LAST OPEN SPACE, AND WE WANT TO BE UNIQUE.

PHILIP>> DENISE HARVEY OWNS AND OPERATES A LOCAL TRAVEL AGENCY. SHE’S A FIFTH GENERATION MONROVIAN. HER ANCESTORS WERE SOME OF THE TOWN’S ORIGINAL SETTLERS. PROGRESS IS FINE, SHE SAYS, BUT THESE FOOTHILLS SHOULDN’T BE PAVED OVER.

DENISE HARVEY>> I BELIEVE THE PROPERTY OWNERS SHOULD GET A FAIR PRICE FOR THEIR LAND. WE’RE NOT TRYING TO STOP THAT. WE JUST DON’T WANT OUR HILLSIDES TO BE DECIMATED AND TO BECOME JUST OVERRUN WITH DEVELOPMENT BECAUSE IT WILL LOSE THE SPECIAL FEELING THAT WE HAVE HERE IN MONROVIA.

PHILIP>> THE PRICE TAG FOR PRESERVING THE HILLS IS ABOUT $10 MILLION DOLLARS. RAISING IT IS THE WHOLE POINT OF THE TWO BALLOT MEASURES THE TOWN DECIDES ON NEXT WEEK. SUPPORTERS OF THE HILLSIDE CAMPAIGN SAY A YES VOTE ON BOTH WILL COST EACH PROPERTY OWNER AN EXTRA $44 A YEAR FOR THE NEXT THIRTY YEARS. BUT IT’S NOT THE MONEY SOME MONROVIANS ARE OPPOSED TO, IT’S THE PRINCIPLE.

LLOYD FUJIWARA>> THE LAND THAT THEY’RE TALKING ABOUT IS PRIVATELY OWNED PROPERTY. IT’S NOT ACTUALLY WILDERNESS PROPERTY. PEOPLE HAVE BEEN HIKING ON IT, BUT, YOU KNOW, THEY’RE HIKING ON SOMEONE ELSE’S PROPERTY. SO MY CONCERN IS, AS A LAND OWNER, I THINK YOU HAVE A RIGHT TO DEVELOP IT WITHIN WHAT THE RULES ARE.

PHILIP>> LLOYD FUJIWARA LIVES IN THE FOOTHILLS HIMSELF. PLENTY OF PEOPLE DO IN NEIGHBORHOODS THAT WERE BUILT OUT YEARS AGO. FUJIWARA SAYS THAT’S WHAT BOTHERS HIM. MANY OF HIS FOOTHILL NEIGHBORS ARE NOW LEADING THE FIGHT TO STOP ANY MORE BUILDING HERE.

LLOYD FUJIWARA>> IT’S KIND OF LIKE A DOUBLE-EDGED SWORD, YOU KNOW? THEY DON’T WANT ANY MORE HILLSIDE DEVELOPMENT, BUT THEY ALSO LIVE IN THE HILLSIDES ALSO.

PHILIP>> THEY’VE GOT THEIRS?

LLOYD FUJIWARA>> OH, YEAH, THEY’VE GOT THEIRS. SO, YOU KNOW, LIKE I SAID, IT’S HARD FOR ME -- YOU KNOW, THE RULES ARE SET UP. THEY HAVE CERTAIN GUIDELINES WHERE THEY COULD BE DEVELOPED AND, AS THEY GO ALONG, THEY KEEP MAKING CHANGES IN THEM, SO THAT KIND OF BOTHERS ME.

PHILIP>> THE ONE THING ALL SIDES AGREE ON IS THAT, ONCE THIS NATURAL LAND IS DEVELOPED, THERE’S NO WAY TO TURN BACK THE CLOCK. LAURIE BEYER JUST BOUGHT A HOME ON THE EDGE OF THE FOOTHILLS AND VIEWS THIS SPOT AS A PARADISE. SHE’S CAMPAIGNING FOR THE ELECTION MEASURES AND BELIEVES MOST OF THE TOWN SUPPORTS IT.

LAURIE BEYER>> I WORK THE PHONES. I SIT AT THE BOOTH AT THE FAMILY FESTIVAL. MY EXPERIENCE HAS BEEN 90-SOMETHING PERCENT OF THE PEOPLE ARE VERY MUCH IN SUPPORT OF IT. THE OTHER PEOPLE ARE JUST MAYBE NOT THAT INTERESTED, BUT THE OVERWHELMING VIEW IS YES, THEY WANT TO SAVE THOSE. THAT’S WHY WE’RE HERE.

PHILIP>> THIS TOWN THAT LOOKS LIKE A MOVIE SET IS NOW THE TOPIC OF A REAL LIFE FILM. STEPHANIE MEYER, A PART-TIME FILMMAKER WHO GREW UP IN MONROVIA, MADE A DOCUMENTARY ABOUT THE FOOTHILLS THAT’S NOW RUNNING ON LOCAL CABLE CHANNELS.

[FILM CLIP - STEPHANIE MEYER]>> RESIDENTS NEVER QUITE KNOW WHO MIGHT BE STOPPING BY FOR AN AFTERNOON SNACK OR AN EVENING DIP IN THE POOL. IN MONROVIA, APPRECIATION FOR NATURE HAS ALWAYS GONE HAND IN HAND WITH THE PRACTICAL NEED FOR ECONOMIC GROWTH....

PHILIP>> MEYER IS HOPEFUL HER HOMETOWN WILL PRESERVE WHAT SHE BELIEVES IS ITS MOST VALUABLE ASSET NOT JUST FOR THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE THERE, BUT FOR EVERYBODY IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA.

STEPHANIE MEYER>> BECAUSE OF THIS UPCOMING ELECTION, WE WANTED TO INFORM PEOPLE, YOU KNOW, WHAT THE ISSUES WERE AND PICTURES SPEAK LOUDER THAN WORDS. WE ALSO WANTED TO DOCUMENT, YOU KNOW, SHOW WHAT DOES THIS LAND LOOK LIKE AND WHAT IS IT THAT WE’RE GOING TO BE LOSING.

PHILIP>> ALL SIGNS POINT TO VICTORY FOR THE HILLSIDE PRESERVATIONISTS, BUT IN SMALL-TOWN POLITICS, IT'S BEST TO REMEMBER AN OLD DOWN-HOME SAYING: DON’T COUNT YOUR CHICKENS BEFORE THEY HATCH.

LLOYD FUJIWARA>> WELL, I SEE A LOT OF SIGNS AROUND, BUT THAT’S ALL RELATIVE. I MEAN, I MIGHT SEE A LOT OF SIGNS, BUT IT MIGHT BE ONLY ABOUT MAYBE FIVE OR TEN PERCENT OF THE HOUSES, SO I STILL DON’T GET A SENSE OF HOW PEOPLE REALLY FEEL ABOUT IT.

VAL>> BOY, THAT’S AN INTERESTING TACTIC. DO YOU THINK THIS REALLY COULD CATCH ON STATEWIDE OR OTHER COMMUNITIES COULD LEARN FROM THEM?

PHILIP>> WELL, I THINK WHAT YOU’RE SEEING STATEWIDE NOW, VAL, IS A REAL AWARENESS AMONG A LOT OF TOWNSHIPS AROUND THE STATE THAT THIS IS PROBABLY THE BEST WAY TO GO AT IT. WHETHER OR NOT IT GOES UP OR DOWN, IT’S TO HEAD OFF SOME LENGTHY LEGAL BATTLE AFTER A DEVELOPMENT IS ALREADY IN PLACE OR IS GETTING READY TO GET IN PLACE, IS TO BUY THE LAND AND THEN TRY TO HEAD IT OFF AT THE PASS. MONROVIA REALLY IS LEADING THE WAY IN THAT. NOW IT REMAINS TO BE SEEN HOW THIS FIGHT WILL GO.

BUT, YOU KNOW, YOU LOOK AT SEVERAL DIFFERENT ISSUES ACROSS CALIFORNIA RIGHT NOW. THE $2 BILLION DOLLAR PARKS AND RECREATION BOND ISSUE THAT WAS PASSED STATEWIDE EARLIER THIS YEAR. THERE CLEARLY IS A GREATER AWARENESS ACROSS THE STATE ABOUT DIMINISHING OPEN SPACE AND THAT PLAYS IN FAVOR OF THE PEOPLE IN MONROVIA HERE TRYING TO MAKE THIS HAPPEN. NOW THE FLIP SIDE OF THAT IS, PEOPLE ARE SAYING THIS IS PRIVATE LAND. THE DEVELOPERS HAVE OWNED IT A LONG TIME AND THEY HAVE A RIGHT TO DO WHAT THEY WANT TO.

VAL>> AND YOU MENTIONED A PRICE OF $10 MILLION DOLLARS. THAT SEEMS REALLY INEXPENSIVE, ACTUALLY, FOR 1,000 ACRES OF THAT QUALITY.

PHILIP>> WELL, THAT’S THE CITY’S PART OF THE MONEY AND THEY WOULD PROBABLY HAVE TO GO ELSEWHERE TO TRY TO FIND SOME MATCHING FUNDS. THEY BELIEVE THEY CAN DO THAT. ANOTHER BIG QUESTION IS, WHAT HAPPENS ONCE THEY GET THE LAND? HOW IS IT MANAGED?

VAL>> I SEE. WELL, IT WILL BE INTERESTING TO SEE WHAT HAPPENS. SO THE ELECTION IS...

PHILIP>> TUESDAY.

VAL>> GREAT. THANK YOU SO MUCH.

WELL, TOMORROW ON LIFE AND TIMES WEEKEND, MADDOX & HEWITT TAKE OVER WITH A SPECIAL HALF HOUR ON POLITICS. ONE OF THEIR GUESTS WILL BE LA UNIFIED’S NEW CHIEF, ROY ROMER, WHO HAD THIS TO SAY ABOUT SCHOOL VOUCHERS.

ROY ROMER>> I’M AGAINST VOUCHERS BECAUSE I REALLY FEEL THEY WILL UNDERMINE PUBLIC EDUCATION FINALLY. I CAME FROM A TOWN OF 800. I HAD A HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATING CLASS OF SEVENTEEN. IF WE’D HAD VOUCHERS, YOU KNOW, THE BAPTISTS MIGHT HAVE HAD THEIR SCHOOLS, YOU KNOW, THE CATHOLICS THEIRS, AND IT WOULD BALKANIZE MY COMMUNITY. IN PARTICULAR, I THINK THAT THE PUBLIC SCHOOL AS AN INSTITUTION DOES MORE THAN EDUCATE US. IT BRINGS US TOGETHER IN A PLURALISTIC SOCIETY.

VAL>> THAT’S COMING UP TOMORROW AT 2:00 P.M. ON LIFE AND TIMES WEEKEND EDITION.

AND TO WHET YOUR APPETITE FOR MORE, HERE ARE MADDOX & HEWITT WITH THEIR REGULAR FRIDAY NIGHT POLITICAL ROUNDUP.

HEWITT>> KERMAN, YOU HAVE A LOT OF EXPLAINING TO DO TODAY. GOVERNOR ROY ROMER, THE NEWLY-APPOINTED LOS ANGELES UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT SUPERINTENDENT, WANTS TO REOPEN THE BELMONT CONTROVERSY, AND I DON’T HAVE A CLUE WHAT THE LA CITY COUNCIL IS DOING ABOUT MONEY FOR THE DEMOCRATS, AND THE PROTESTORS IN PERSHING SQUARE. YOU EXPLAIN IT ALL FOR US. LET’S START WITH THE DEMOCRATIC CONVENTION WHICH THREATENS TO BE A MELTDOWN BEFORE DAY ONE.

MADDOX>> WELL, IT LOOKS LIKE IT’S GOING TO BE TROUBLE FOR THE CITY OF LA. LET ME SEE IF I CAN SET THIS UP. LAST WEEK, THE LA CITY COUNCIL DECIDED TO VOTE TO GIVE THE DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL CONVENTION $4 MILLION DOLLARS BECAUSE THERE WAS A CASH SHORTFALL TO HELP BAIL THEM OUT SO THEY CAN MEET THEIR FINANCIAL NEEDS. ONE OF THE BIG CONDITIONS, HUGH, OF GETTING THAT $4 MILLION DOLLARS, WHICH WAS PUBLIC MONEY, WAS THAT PERSHING SQUARE, WHICH IS A PARK IN DOWNTOWN LA, BE DESIGNATED AS A PROTEST CENTER, WHICH MEANS 40,000 TO 50,000 PEOPLE WOULD DESCEND ON THE CITY OF LA AND THEY WOULD GO TO PERSHING SQUARE AND THEY’D HAVE RALLIES AND MARCHES AND PROTESTS AND THINGS LIKE THIS.

THE PROBLEM WAS, THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY GOT UPSET. THE JEWELRY MART, WHICH IS RIGHT BEHIND PERSHING SQUARE, GOT UPSET. A LOT OF THE DIGNITARIES AND DELEGATES AND OTHER PEOPLE WHO WERE GOING TO STAY AT THE BILTMORE HOTEL, WHICH IS IN FRONT OF PERSHING SQUARE, GOT UPSET. IN FACT, IT WAS RUMORED THAT VICE PRESIDENT AL GORE, WHO ORIGINALLY WAS GOING TO STAY AT THE BILTMORE HOTEL, HAS DECIDED TO CHANGE HIS MIND. HE’S GOING TO STAY SOMEWHERE ELSE. THAT CREATED A FIRESTORM OF CONTROVERSY, SO WHAT HAPPENED IS A COMMITTEE OF THE CITY COUNCIL VOTED JUST THE OTHER DAY TO RESCIND THE POSITION AND BASICALLY SAY LET’S NOT DESIGNATE PERSHING SQUARE AS A PROTEST CENTER AND LET’S ONLY GIVE THEM $2 MILLION RATHER THAN $4 MILLION. WE’LL GIVE THEM THE OTHER $2 MILLION IF THERE IS A DEFICIT AS A RESULT OF THE CONVENTION.

HEWITT>> NOW, KERMAN, YOU GOT TO EXPLAIN A FEW THINGS. FIRST OF ALL, LA HAS HAD A HISTORY OF OVER-REACTING TO BIG EVENTS. WE GOT ALL WHACKED OUT ABOUT THE LA OLYMPICS IN 1984. THERE WAS GREAT CONCERN OVER WHETHER OR NOT THERE WOULD BE SECURITY ISSUES AND IT ALL WENT VERY SMOOTHLY. ARE PEOPLE WORRYING TOO MUCH OR IS THIS GOING TO BE THE CONTINUATION OF THE SEATTLE WTO PROTEST AND THE WASHINGTON, D.C. WTO PROTEST THAT LED TO A LOT OF VIOLENCE, A LOT OF DAMAGE? WHAT'S THE REALITY OVER AT THE FRIENDS OF THE POLICE DEPARTMENT? WHAT’S THE REAL SCOOP ON THE LEVEL OF ALARM?

MADDOX>> WELL, I THINK YOU RAISED A GOOD QUESTION. THERE WAS A LOT OF ALARM BACK IN 1984. YOU REMEMBER THAT RAN REAL SMOOTHLY. WE HAD NO PROBLEMS. A LOT OF THREATS OF TERRORISTS, BUT I THINK WHAT HAPPENS IS, BASED ON WHAT HAPPENED WITH THE WTO IN SEATTLE AND WHAT HAPPENED RECENTLY IN WASHINGTON, D.C., A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE ALARMED. LAPD IS REAL CONCERNED. THEY ARGUE, HUGH, WE DON’T HAVE ENOUGH POLICE ON THE FORCE TO POLICE THE CITY UNDER NORMAL CIRCUMSTANCES. IF 50,000 PEOPLE DESCEND ON DOWNTOWN LA, WE CAN’T POLICE THE CITY.

THEY’RE ALSO CONCERNED ABOUT THE JEWELRY DISTRICT. THERE ARE A LOT OF RUMORS THAT, YOU KNOW, THIS IS A PERFECT OPPORTUNITY TO COMMIT A NUMBER OF CRIMES IN A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT PLACES. IN FACT, I’VE BEEN TOLD BY PEOPLE THAT POLICE OFFICERS AND OTHERS HAVE TOLD PEOPLE IN THE JEWELRY DISTRICT TO CLOSE UP FOR A WEEK. NOW, OF COURSE, IF YOU’RE IN THE JEWELRY BUSINESS, THE ARGUMENT YOU MAKE IS I THOUGHT I WAS GOING TO MAKE A WHOLE LOT OF MONEY FROM ALL THESE PEOPLE WHO ARE COMING. SO I THINK THE CONCERNS, HUGH, ARE REALLY LEGITIMATE NOT ONLY WITH THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY, BUT WITH THE PEOPLE WHO ARE ORGANIZING THE CONVENTION AND, OF COURSE, PEOPLE AT LAPD.

HEWITT>> THERE’S ALSO A LOT OF BUZZ IN THE RESTAURANT INDUSTRY AS TO WHETHER OR NOT IT’S GOING TO BE SAFE FOR PEOPLE TO BE OUT AND ABOUT DOING NOT ONLY DOWNTOWN DINING, BUT, SAY, CENTRAL DINING, LIKE WEST HOLLYWOOD OR BEVERLY HILLS OR THOSE SORTS OF AREAS. WHERE DO THEY EXPECT 40,000 TO 50,000 PROTESTORS TO DECAMP? WHERE ARE THEY SUPPOSED TO STAY?

MADDOX>> WELL, I THINK WHAT HAPPENS IS PEOPLE ARE LOOKING AT A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT LOCATIONS THROUGHOUT SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA TO STAY AND I DON’T THINK THAT’S A BIG CONCERN. LET ME SAY, I THINK PEOPLE WHO HAVE LEGITIMATE ISSUES OUGHT TO HAVE A RIGHT TO PROTEST. I THINK MOST PEOPLE ARE CONCERNED ABOUT THE PEOPLE WHO ARE GOING TO SHOW UP, HUGH, JUST TO BE DISRUPTIVE, TO BREAK THINGS, TO GET ARRESTED WITHOUT ANY CAUSE, JUST TO CREATE HAVOC AND THINGS LIKE THAT. BUT PEOPLE WHO ARE HERE TO PROTEST ABOUT ISSUES LIKE POLICE BRUTALITY AND THE GAP BETWEEN RICH AND POOR, I THINK EVERYBODY THINKS THEY HAVE A FORUM. BUT PEOPLE WHO ARE JUST GOING TO PROTEST FOR THE SAKE OF PROTESTING, THEY’RE ALARMING A LOT --

HEWITT>> -- KERMAN, THE WTO PROTESTS ARE A LOT AT MULTI-NATIONAL CORPORATIONS. IT HAS NOT INCLUDED A LOT OF PEOPLE OF COLOR. THERE IS A VERY EXPLICIT APPEAL TO AFRICAN-AMERICANS TO JOIN IN THE PROTEST THIS TIME. WITHIN YOUR COMMUNITY, HAS THAT GOT ANY TRACTION?

MADDOX>> NOT AT THIS POINT. IN FACT, WHEN YOU TALK TO PEOPLE, PEOPLE TALK ABOUT, YOU KNOW, THE REGULAR ISSUES THAT AFFECT THEM ON A DAILY BASIS. YOU DON’T HEAR PEOPLE TALKING ABOUT THE UPCOMING DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL CONVENTION AND YOU DON’T HEAR PEOPLE TALKING ABOUT ALL THESE ORGANIZATIONS THAT NORMALLY GET TOGETHER AND PROTEST AND MARCH AND DEMONSTRATE. AND YOU’RE RIGHT. THE CRITICISM OF THE PEOPLE WHO ARE INVOLVED IN PROTEST AGAINST GLOBAL ISSUES IS IT’S PREDOMINANTLY A WHITE MIDDLE-CLASS MOVEMENT, SO TO SPEAK. IT HAS NOT BEEN A MOVEMENT THAT’S INCLUDED LATINOS, ASIANS, AFRICAN-AMERICANS. I DON’T THINK THAT’S GAINED ANY TRACTION, BUT ONE OF THEIR GOALS IN LA IS TO SEE IF THAT MOVEMENT CAN BE DIVERSE IN LA. THAT’S WHY THEY’RE TRYING TO FOCUS ON A LOT OF LOCAL ISSUES RATHER THAN INTERNATIONAL AND GLOBAL ISSUES.

HEWITT>> LAST QUESTION ON THIS ISSUE. LEVEL OF ALARM, ZERO BEING JUST ANOTHER DAY AT THE PARK, TEN BEING LA’S RIOTS IN 1992. WHERE IS THE POLICE DEPARTMENT RIGHT NOW?

MADDOX>> I THINK THE POLICE DEPARTMENT WOULD PUT THIS ON A LEVEL EIGHT. THEY ARE LEGITIMATELY CONCERNED. THEIR GREATEST NIGHTMARE IS THAT WE WILL HAVE IN LA WHAT HAPPENED IN SEATTLE. THEY’RE NOT TOO MUCH CONCERNED ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED IN D.C., BECAUSE I THINK MOST PEOPLE THINK THEY DID A GOOD JOB. BUT THEY’RE TERRIBLY AFRAID THAT DOWNTOWN LA AND, OF COURSE, LA CAN BE A DISASTER. BUT YOU GOT TO REMEMBER. THIS IS OUR FIRST OPPORTUNITY TO BE ON THE NATIONAL STAGE FOR A LONG TIME. THE LAST TIME LARGE NUMBERS OF PEOPLE PAID ATTENTION, THE LAKERS WON THE CHAMPIONSHIP AND PEOPLE STARTED BURNING CARS.

HEWITT>> PART THREE. OKAY, LET’S TURN TO THE LEVEL EIGHT ALARM COMING FROM THE COMMON SENSE DISTRICT AT THE LAUSD. GOVERNOR ROY ROMER ARRIVES AND I UNDERSTAND -- I’VE BEEN ON VACATION -- THAT HE HAS SUGGESTED THAT MAYBE BELMONT HIGH SCHOOL ISN’T AS DEAD AS WE ALL THOUGHT IT OUGHT TO BE?

MADDOX>> WELL, I GOT TO TELL YOU, I’M PRETTY SURPRISED. I’VE TALKED TO SOME PEOPLE WITHIN THE LAUSD BUREAUCRACY. I HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT THE NEW SUPERINTENDENT, ROY ROMER, WOULD LIKE TO REVISIT THE ISSUE OF REOPENING THE BELMONT LEARNING CENTER, WHICH IS THAT VERY CONTROVERSIAL HIGH SCHOOL THAT WASN’T BUILT BECAUSE, YOU’LL REMEMBER, IT WAS BUILT ON A FORMER OIL FACILITY. SOME PEOPLE CALL IT A TOXIC DUMP. OF COURSE, MY ADVICE TO HIM WOULD BE STAY AWAY, LEAVE IT ALONE, IT IS A DISASTER.

HEWITT>> ON SATURDAY, WE’RE GOING TO HAVE GOVERNOR ROMER HERE AS PART OF A SPECIAL LIFE AND TIMES POLITICAL EDITION MADDOX & HEWITT, ALONG WITH CHAIRMAN OF THE POWERFUL HOUSE RULES COMMITTEE, DAVID DRYER, AND FORMER SPEAKER OF THE ASSEMBLY, ANTONIO VILLARAIGOSA. WE WILL MAKE SURE WE ASK HIM THIS, BUT I CAN’T IMAGINE THAT GENETHIA HAYES OR ANY OF THE NEW MAJORITY OF THE LAUSD SCHOOL BOARD WANTS TO GO THROUGH THIS AGAIN. IT WAS POLITICALLY VERY PAINFUL. VERY DIFFICULT ON PEOPLE LIKE VILLARAIGOSA AND OTHERS WHO HAVE TRIED TO MAKE AMENDS WITHIN THE COMMUNITIES IN LA. WHY WOULD ANYONE WANT TO REOPEN A WOUND THAT HAS JUST ONLY RECENTLY BEEN STITCHED TOGETHER?

MADDOX>> HERE’S THE ARGUMENT, HUGH. THE ARGUMENT IS AN ENVIRONMENTAL STUDY WAS NEVER COMPLETED ON THE BELMONT LEARNING CENTER. I THINK GOVERNOR ROMER AND OTHER PEOPLE ARE SAYING AT LEAST LET’S COMPLETE THE ENVIRONMENTAL STUDY SO WE HAVE ALL THE INFORMATION AT OUR DISPOSAL SO WE CAN MAKE AN INTELLIGENT DECISION. BOARD PRESIDENT, GENETHIA HAYES, AND EVERYBODY ELSE ON THE BOARD HAS SAID WE’VE SEEN ENOUGH STUDIES, WE ARE AWARE OF WHAT THE DANGERS ARE, THIS IS DEAD ON ARRIVAL. YOU NEED TO FOCUS ON ANOTHER ISSUE. I DON’T THINK THERE’S ANYBODY ON THIS NEW BOARD THAT WILL SUPPORT THE REOPENING OF BELMONT LEARNING CENTER.

HEWITT>> YOU’D HOPE HE GETS THAT SIGNAL EARLY. YOU’D HATE TO SEE HIM USE A LOT OF VERY PRECIOUS CAPITAL, VERY HARD CAPITAL TO HOLD ONTO IN THE EXPENDITURE OF THIS. SO, AGAIN, THAT’S SATURDAY. YOU CAN WATCH ROY ROMER ON A SPECIAL MADDOX & HEWITT.

ALSO GOT TO DO A LITTLE PROMOTION HERE, KERMAN. BEGINNING 6:00 A.M. ON MONDAY --

MADDOX>> -- THAT’S RIGHT.

HEWITT>> -- ON KIEV 87.0, THREE HOURS OF ME IN THE MORNING, MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY. I’M SURE YOU’RE GOING TO BE LISTENING ALL THREE HOURS. I HOPE YOU’LL BE A GUEST OCCASIONALLY.

MADDOX>> WELL, YOU’RE MY BUDDY. I NORMALLY DON’T LISTEN, BUT SINCE YOU’RE GOING TO BE THERE, I’M GOING TO BE LISTENING, HUGH.

HEWITT>> 6:00 A.M. TO 9:00 ON KIEV. NOW IT’S BACK TO YOU, VAL.

VAL>> GOOD FOR YOU, HUGH. THANK YOU SO MUCH, GENTLEMEN.

IT’S TIME NOW TO HEAR WHAT YOU, OUR VIEWERS, HAVE TO SAY ABOUT OUR SHOWS.

ON WEDNESDAY, WE REPORTED ON A PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT IN SAN BERNARDINO. IT CALLS FOR A NETWORK OF LAKES AND STREAMS LINED WITH UPSCALE HOMES AND BUSINESSES. BUT IT WOULD MEAN DISPLACING HUNDREDS OF LONG-TERM RESIDENTS. WELL, RUSSELL MAYES SENT THIS RESPONSE BY E-MAIL:

"I GET SO MAD AT PEOPLE AND SMALL-TOWN THINKING AND GOVERNMENT IDIOTS THAT CAN DO WHAT THEY WANT. I HAVE ONE QUESTION: WHY NOT PUT IT IN THEIR BACKYARDS?"

VAL>> AND ALSO ON WEDNESDAY, WE TALKED ABOUT MEXICAN PRESIDENT-ELECT, VICENTE FOX, AND HIS PLAN TO ELIMINATE GOVERNMENT CORRUPTION. WE GOT THIS E-MAIL FROM A VIEWER WHO IDENTIFIES HIMSELF OR HERSELF AS DAP:

"THE PROBLEM IS NOT SOLUBLE AS LONG AS THE WAR ON DRUGS IN THIS COUNTRY REMAINS INEFFECTIVE. WE NEED TO MOVE THE FOCUS FROM ZERO TOLERANCE TO 100% TREATMENT. THEN FOX AND WE MAY HAVE A CHANCE."

VAL>> AND LIZ MCDANNEL TOOK US TO TASK OVER A SEGMENT ON REALITY TO TV, SHOWS LIKE "SURVIVOR" AND "BIG BROTHER". SHE WRITES:

"I SUPPOSE YOU’LL TAKE THE POSITION THAT YOU COMMENT ON POPULAR CULTURE. HOWEVER, TO DO THIS THE SAME NIGHT AS THE PREMIER OF "BIG BROTHER" IS ENTIRELY SUSPECT. I’M REALLY APPALLED THAT YOU HAVE ACTED AS A SHILL FOR THE COMMERCIAL TELEVISION FIELD."

VAL>> WELL, WE DIDN’T REALLY THINK ANYBODY WHO WATCHES US WOULD WATCH "BIG BROTHER". BUT ANYWAY, WE LOVE TO HEAR WHAT YOU THINK ABOUT THE STORIES WE COVER HERE ON LIFE AND TIMES TONIGHT AND HERE ARE THE WAYS YOU CAN REACH US:

LIFEANDTIMES@KCET.ORG

WWW.KCET.ORG.

LIFE AND TIMES TONIGHT

4401 SUNSET BLVD.

LOS ANGELES, CA 90027

(323) 953-5555

VAL>> WELL THE GLOWING MIXTURE OF GASES IN A TUBE KNOWN AS NEON HAD A METAMORPHOSIS IN THE 20^TH CENTURY. IT STARTED OUT AS AN ADVERTISING NOVELTY, BUT BY THE YEAR 2000, IT HAD BECOME AN ART FORM. IN A PIECE WE FIRST SHOWED YOU IN FEBRUARY, SAUL GONZALEZ EXPLORES THE HISTORY AND THE ARTISTRY OF LA’S NEON SIGNS, IN TONIGHT’S PEOPLE, PLACES & THINGS.

SAUL>> AS NIGHT FALLS ON THE CITY OF ANGELS, A NEW WORLD EMERGES, A GEOGRAPHY OF LIGHT. AND IN THIS DREAMLAND OF LUMINESCENCE, NO LIGHT BURNS AS SEDUCTIVELY AS NEON.

JENNIFER BRANDT>> IT'S A VERY ROMANTIC NIGHTLIFE CITY EXCITEMENT KIND OF THING.

KIM COGA>> THERE'S A MYSTERY ABOUT IT. PEOPLE AREN'T QUITE SURE WHAT IT IS, EVEN THOUGH IT SURROUNDS US.

MICHAEL FLECHTNER>> YOU'RE DEALING WITH PLASMA. WHAT YOU'RE SEEING IN A NEON DISCHARGE TUBE IS THIS PLASMA.

SAUL>> AFTER DARK, YOU CAN THINK OF LA AS ONE VAST NEON NIGHT GALLERY. THE LIGHTS GLOW, LURING PASSERSBY TO AMUSEMENT, SHELTER AND SIN.

JENNIFER BRANDT>> IT'S A MARRIAGE. NEON IS A MARRIAGE OF ART AND COMMERCE, REALLY. THERE'S ART INVOLVED IN MAKING THE SIGNS AND MANY OF THE SIGNS THEMSELVES ARE THERE TO SELL SOMETHING.

SAUL>> EACH SIGN IS A ONE-OF-A-KIND HANDCRAFTED SCULPTURE IN LIGHT.

JENNIFER BRANDT>> FOR ONE THING, NEON HAS A MUCH WARMER GLOW THAN THE VACUUM-SEALED PLASTIC SIGNS THAT WE SEE NOW. ALSO, YOU MUST REMEMBER ABOUT NEON THAT SOME ARTIST MADE EVERY NEON SIGN YOU SEE. THOSE GLASS TUBES ARE HEATED AND BENT AND FILLED AND IT'S ACTUALLY A COMBINATION OF GASES WHICH MAKES DIFFERENT COLORS. SO THERE'S AN INTERACTION OF HUMANS IN THOSE SIGNS THAT REALLY ISN'T IN THE PLASTIC SIGNS. THEY'RE MASS-PRODUCED. NEON IS PRODUCED BY INDIVIDUAL ARTISTS. IT'S AN ART FORM AND THERE ARE NOT VERY MANY PEOPLE LEFT WHO CAN DO IT.

SAUL>> THERE IS ONE PLACE IN LA THAT HONORS NEON AS HIGH ART, THE LOS ANGELES MUSEUM OF NEON, OR MONA.

KIM COGA>> THE MUSEUM OF NEON ART IS AN ORGANIZATION THAT DOCUMENTS, PRESERVES AND EXHIBITS ELECTRIC ARTS, PRIMARILY NEON AND KINETIC ART AND VINTAGE SIGNAGE.

MICHAEL FLECHTNER>> MY FASCINATION WITH NEON COMES FROM MY FASCINATION WITH TECHNOLOGY. IT'S A TECHNOLOGY THAT I CAN GET MY HANDS ON AND WORK WITH. A NEON LIGHT IS BASICALLY A TUBE WITH AN ELECTRODE ON EACH END. THE TUBE HAS BEEN EVACUATED, OR ALL THE AIR HAS BEEN TAKEN OUT OF IT. ALL THAT AIR HAS BEEN REPLACED WITH A RARE GAS, EITHER NEON GAS, OR ARGON GAS, KRYPTON GAS, HELIUM GAS OR ARGON GAS, AND THEN THAT TUBE'S SEALED OFF UNDER A VACUUM. THEN HIGH VOLTAGE, ANYWHERE BETWEEN 2,000 AND 15,000 VOLTS, IS PUT THROUGH IT AND THAT CAUSES THE GAS TO DISCHARGE AND TO GLOW. BASICALLY, YOU HAVE GAS COLOR, GLASS COLOR AND PHOSPHOR COLOR. BY COMBINING AND RECOMBINING THOSE THINGS, YOU HAVE A WORKING PALETTE OF EASILY OVER 300 COLORS.

SAUL>> FIRST INVENTED IN FRANCE, NEON WAS INTRODUCED TO LOS ANGELES IN THE 1920'S. IT WAS BROUGHT HERE BY AN AUTOMOBILE DEALER WHO SAW THE POTENTIAL OF MARKETING IN LIGHT.

JENNIFER BRANDT>> LOS ANGELES WAS ACTUALLY THE FIRST PLACE WHERE NEON EVER EXISTED. THE FIRST NEON SIGN IN AMERICA WAS AT SEVENTH AND FLOWER AND IT STOPPED TRAFFIC. THERE WAS FOOT TRAFFIC THAT STOPPED. THERE WERE ALL KINDS OF TRAFFIC THAT STOPPED. PEOPLE HAD NEVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE IT.

SAUL>> THE CITY FELL IN LOVE WITH THIS LIGHT FANTASTIC AND SOON LA STREETS, ESPECIALLY WILSHIRE CORRIDOR, WERE BATHED IN A NEON GLOW.

JENNIFER BRANDT>> WILSHIRE WAS THE HEART OF LOS ANGELES FOR YEARS AND YEARS. IT WAS THE TOURIST DRAW TO HAVE ALL THESE SIGNS UP IN THE SKY. IT JUST LET PEOPLE KNOW THAT THIS WAS AN EXCITING CITY, THAT THIS WAS THE NEW METROPOLIS, THAT THINGS WERE HAPPENING HERE. IT WAS THE CENTER OF HOLLYWOOD, BIG EXCITEMENT.

SAUL>> IN A MARRIAGE OF NEON AND NOIR, THE MARQUEES OF THAT ERA CONJURE UP AN LA OF SAXOPHONE RIFFS, FEMME FATALES AND, OF COURSE, RAYMOND CHANDLER, WHO ONCE WROTE: "I SMELLED LOS ANGELES BEFORE I GOT TO IT. IT SMELLED STALE AND OLD LIKE A LIVING ROOM THAT HAD BEEN CLOSED TOO LONG. BUT THE COLORED LIGHTS WERE HERE. THE LIGHTS WERE WONDERFUL. THERE OUGHT TO BE A MONUMENT TO THE MAN WHO INVENTED NEON LIGHTS."

SAUL>> YET, IN THE EARLY 1940'S, LA'S NEON STARTED GOING OUT. THE REASON WASN'T NEW TECHNOLOGIES OR CHANGING TASTES. IT WAS WAR.

JENNIFER BRANDT>> WORLD WAR II, BELIEVE IT OR NOT, AND THE MAYOR OF LOS ANGELES HAD ALL THE SIGNS TURNED OFF. THEY WERE CONCERNED ABOUT LOS ANGELES BEING BOMBED. IT WAS NOT BLACK-OUT FRIENDLY IF THERE WERE NEON SIGNS UP IN THE SKY.

SAUL>> AFTER THE WAR ENDED, LA'S NEON SIGNS CONTINUED TO SUFFER FROM NEGLECT AND DISREPAIR. LIGHT AFTER LIGHT SPUTTERED OUT OVER THE DECADES UNTIL THE 1990'S WHEN A NEW CITY PROGRAM CALLED LUMENS STARTED RESTORING AND RE-LIGHTING LA'S CLASSIC NEON SIGNS. WITH CARE AND ATTENTION, THESE LIGHTS FROM THE GOLDEN AGE OF LA NEON COULD SHINE WELL INTO THE 21^ST CENTURY.

KIM COGA>> WELL, IF IT'S DONE RIGHT, IT SHOULD LIVE, SAY, FORTY YEARS. BUT TRANSFORMERS WOULD PROBABLY HAVE TO BE REPLACED AND, BEING THAT IT'S GLASS, IT IS FRAGILE. BUT IF EVERYTHING'S DONE RIGHT, IT SHOULD LAST A GOOD FORTY YEARS AND THEN IT CAN BE RE-PUMPED AND LIVE ANOTHER FORTY YEARS.

SAUL>> THE NEON LIGHTS THAT ILLUMINATED RAYMOND CHANDLER'S CITY OF ANGELS COULD STILL ADD MYSTERY AND ROMANCE TO TENS OF THOUSANDS OF LA NIGHTS TO COME.

VAL>> THAT’S OUR PROGRAM FOR TONIGHT. THANKS FOR WATCHING. HAVE A GREAT EVENING.

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