7/13/00

LC000713

WARREN>> ON LIFE AND TIMES TONIGHT --

SOME LOS ANGELES NEIGHBORHOODS ARE PLAGUED WITH A SPATE OF VIOLENCE THAT HAS MANY PEOPLE FEELING THEY'RE UNDER SIEGE.

GAY YEE>> AS DUSK FELL THREE WEEKS AGO IN THIS SEEMINGLY PEACEFUL PARK IN LA COUNTY, GUNFIRE ERUPTED. IN ALL, EIGHT PEOPLE WERE SHOT IN A DRIVE-BY. ONE OF THEM DIED.

>> IT'S DANGEROUS BECAUSE EVERY TIME YOU COME OUTSIDE, YOU GOT TO LOOK OUT FOR YOURSELF BECAUSE YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT'LL HAPPEN.

WARREN>> IN TONIGHT'S THINKERS, SHAKERS & NEWSMAKERS, GUNFIRE AND VIOLENCE ARE BREAKING OUT IN MANY PLACES IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA, INCLUDING THE STREET WHERE ONE LONG-TIME CIVIL RIGHTS LEADER LIVES.

ALSO, PATT MORRISON WONDERS WHO ORDERED A FACELIFT FOR OUR FOUNDING FATHERS.

PATT>> TAKE A LOOK AT THE NEW FACE OF AMERICAN CURRENCY, AND I DO MEAN NEW, ON TONIGHT'S INFINITELY MORRISON.

WARREN>> ALSO TONIGHT, THEY CAN'T GO TO THE RAIN FOREST, SO THE RAIN FOREST HAS COME TO THEM. WE'LL GO INSIDE THE NEW RED APE EXHIBIT AT THE LOS ANGELES ZOO.

THESE STORIES COMING UP NEXT ON LIFE AND TIMES TONIGHT FOR THURSDAY, JULY 13, 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.

WARREN>> GOOD EVENING, I'M WARREN OLNEY. VAL ZAVALA HAS THE WEEK OFF.

OUR TOP STORY TONIGHT, A SEARCH FOR REASONS. THE CITY OF LOS ANGELES IS SEEING AN INCREASE OF VIOLENCE AS DEADLY AS ANY SINCE THE EARLY 1990'S. LOCAL NEWS IS FILLED WITH STORIES OF DRIVE-BY SHOOTINGS AND GANG-RELATED KILLINGS. NOBODY KNOWS IF IT'S A TEMPORARY TREND OR THE START OF A CRIME WAVE AND NOBODY KNOWS WHY IT'S HAPPENING. GAY YEE HAS THIS REPORT.

GAY>> POPEYE'S ON LA BREA WAS WHERE LA POLICE CHIEF BERNARD PARKS' GRANDDAUGHTER WAS SHOT TO DEATH IN MAY. THE CRIME SHOCKED THE COMMUNITY. SUDDENLY NO ONE COULD IGNORE WHAT APPEARS TO BE AN ALARMING INCREASE IN VIOLENT CRIME. THE STORIES DON'T STOP.

AS DUSK FELL THREE WEEKS AGO IN THIS SEEMINGLY PEACEFUL PARK IN LA COUNTY, GUNFIRE ERUPTED. IN ALL, EIGHT PEOPLE WERE SHOT IN A DRIVE-BY. ONE OF THEM DIED. LAST EVENING, AS WE WERE ON OUR WAY TO MEET WITH A GANG COUNSELOR NOT FAR FROM THE LOCATION OF THE POPEYE'S MURDER, WE CAME UPON THIS SCENE. IN BROAD DAYLIGHT, AT FIVE IN THE AFTERNOON, A 24-YEAR-OLD MAN WAS SHOT AND KILLED.

DON RICHARDS>> HE LIVES IN THE AREA AND APPARENTLY HE WAS GOING OUT TO HIS CAR TO RETRIEVE SOMETHING. THIS IS WHEN THIS INDIVIDUAL CAME UP ON HIM AND, UNPROVOKED, SHOT HIM MULTIPLE TIMES WITH A GUN AND THEN LEFT.

GAY>> POLICE ON THE SCENE HADN'T DETERMINED A MOTIVE FOR THE SHOOTING AND MANY WHO GATHERED TO WATCH THE AFTERMATH SEEMED ALMOST CASUAL. THIS 14-YEAR-OLD YOUTH LIVES NEARBY.

>> IT'S DANGEROUS BECAUSE EVERY TIME YOU COME OUTSIDE YOU GOT TO LOOK OUT FOR YOURSELF BECAUSE YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT'LL HAPPEN.

GAY>> THE STATISTICS ARE DISTURBING. LAPD FIGURES FOR THE YEAR TO DATE, COMPARED WITH THE SAME PERIOD LAST YEAR, SHOW A 7.7 PERCENT INCREASE IN VIOLENT CRIME AND A 30 PERCENT INCREASE IN HOMICIDES. GANG COUNSELOR, PHILL MORRIS, GREW UP HERE AND WORKS IN AN AREA NOT FAR FROM LAST NIGHT'S HOMICIDE.

PHILL MORRIS>> WITHIN THE LAST MONTH, I WOULD SAY MAYBE TWO OR THREE SHOOTINGS THAT I, YOU KNOW, HEARD ABOUT. BUT I BELIEVE IT'S LIKE ANY GANG-RELATED AREA. LIKE I SAID, THERE'S SHOOTINGS COMING FROM GANGS, THERE'S SHOOTINGS COMING FROM FAMILY DISPUTES, THINGS LIKE THAT. IT'S NOT ALWAYS GANG-RELATED, YOU KNOW. SOMETIMES THE NEWS DOESN'T ALWAYS CATCH IT AS NOT GANG-RELATED.

GAY>> WHATEVER THE CAUSE OF THE INCREASE IN VIOLENCE, POLITICIANS ARE NOW WORRIED. THERE HAVE BEEN MEETINGS AND PRESS CONFERENCES. WE TOOK A SAMPLING OF WHAT GRASSROOTS COMMUNITY WORKERS SEE. AS THE LA HEAD OF "MAD DADS", A NATIONAL GROUP THAT TRIES TO HELP TROUBLED KIDS, KENNETH RILEY SPENDS A LOT OF TIME ON THE STREETS.

KENNETH RILEY>> ME MYSELF, I DON'T KNOW NOTHING ABOUT ALL THE STATISTICS. TO ME, THE VIOLENCE HAS BEEN LIKE THIS. YOU KNOW, THIS IS NOTHING NEW. LAST YEAR, PEOPLE WERE DYING. THIS YEAR, PEOPLE ARE DYING. I THINK THEY'RE PUTTING A LOT OF EMPHASIS ON WHAT'S HAPPENING TODAY AND THIS TIME IT'S BECAUSE OF THE DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL CONVENTION THAT'S COMING.

GAY>> BUT KHALID SHAW, WHO'S HEAD OF THE "STOP THE VIOLENCE, INCREASE THE PEACE" FOUNDATION BASED IN INGLEWOOD, DESCRIBES THE STREETS AS ESPECIALLY CRAZY RIGHT NOW.

KHALID SHAW>> THERE ARE INNER RIVAL GANG WARS GOING ON WITH A WHOLE NEW GENERATION OF YOUNG GANG MEMBERS. THERE ARE SOME RETALIATORY FIGHTS GOING ON BETWEEN TRADITIONAL GANG MEMBERS, BLOODS, CRIPS AND OTHER FOLKS. YOU KNOW, THERE'S A NEW CONFLICT THAT'S STARTING A SPARK BETWEEN AFRICAN-AMERICAN AND LATINO GANGS COMING OUT OF THE PRISONS.

GAY>> FOR TAMMY BROWN, WHO WORKS AS A COMMUNITY ORGANIZER AND COUNSELOR FOR A GROUP CALLED "SAY YES", IT'S A QUESTION OF DRUGS. SHE SAYS PCP IS BACK AND IN A BIG WAY.

TAMMY BROWN>> WITHIN THE ACTUAL GROUP, YOU HAVE A LOT OF YOUNGER MEMBERS USING DIFFERENT TYPES OF DRUGS AND ONE OF THESE DRUGS IS A PCP-TYPE OF DRUG. SO WITH THAT, AND ALREADY WITH THEIR DEMEANOR, IT'S ESCALATING EVERY SITUATION AND EVERY SCENARIO AND IT'S MAKING THEM MORE WILLING TO GO OUT THERE AND JUST DO RADICAL TYPE OF THINGS THAN THINK OF THE CONSEQUENCES AND SO ON AND SO FORTH.

GAY>> RILEY SAYS THAT THE FACT THE ECONOMY IS GOOD IN MANY AREAS DOESN'T MEAN MUCH FOR PEOPLE IN HIS AREA.

KENNETH RILEY>> JUST BECAUSE SOMETHING IS GOOD IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD DON'T MAKE IT BE GOOD IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD. THE MAJORITY OF IT IS DESPERATE THROUGH HERE ABOUT EVERY WEEK OR DOWN HERE IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD, SOUTH CENTRAL LA.

GAY>> SHAW SAYS THERE IS A SERIOUS LACK OF RESOURCES.

KHALID SHAW>> A LOT OF FOLKS ARE FRUSTRATED BECAUSE THE ECONOMY IS DOING SO GOOD. THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA HAS A SURPLUS, BUT STILL WE'RE AT A SITUATION WHERE YOUNG PEOPLE -- HERE IN THE COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES RIGHT NOW, THE SUMMER YOUTH JOB PROGRAM HAS BEEN CUT OUT. THIS IS THE FIRST TIME THERE'S BEEN NO SUMMER JOBS FOR THESE KIDS.

GAY>> RILEY SAYS THE PROGRAMS THAT DO EXIST TO HELP KIDS DON'T GET ENOUGH SUPPORT.

KENNETH RILEY>> A LOT OF THESE ORGANIZATIONS HAVE BEEN AROUND FOR A WHILE. THESE ARE GRASSROOTS ORGANIZATIONS THAT'S DEFINITELY IN THE TRENCHES OF WORKING WITH THESE YOUNG PEOPLE WHO ARE NOT GETTING THE TYPE OF BACKING THAT THEY NEED TO DO SUCCESSFUL WORK. BUT ONLY BY THE GRACE OF GOD ARE THEY OUT HERE STILL FUNCTIONING.

KHALID SHAW>> BUT THE BOTTOM LINE IS, YOU GOT A LOT OF INNOCENT PEOPLE, MAN, INNOCENT CHILDREN DYING BECAUSE YOU GOT FOLKS OUT HERE SHOOTING THAT DON'T KNOW HOW TO SHOOT, SHOULDN'T EVEN HAVE A GUN. OUT THERE DOING CRAZY STUFF, MAN, YOU KNOW? AND THAT'S WHAT'S CRAZY. THAT'S WHY YOU GUYS GOT TO REALLY PAY ATTENTION TO WHAT'S GOING ON RIGHT NOW. YOU DON'T EVEN KNOW ABOUT THESE LAWS THAT ARE SET UP FOR YOU.

GAY>> SHAW SAYS IT'S TIME TO GET REAL.

KHALID SHAW>> WE HAVE SOME SOLUTIONS THAT HAVE WORKED, BUT WE DON'T NEED TO REINVENT THE WHEEL. WE DO NEED TO HAVE ENOUGH FORESIGHT TO CONTINUE IN OUR STRUGGLE TO MAKE THINGS BETTER, BUT I THINK THAT WE NEED TO CONTINUE TO SUPPORT THOSE EFFORTS THAT HAVE WORKED AND NOT TO ABANDON THOSE EFFORTS.

GAY>> SO FAR, NO ONE CAN SAY WITH CERTAINTY WHETHER THE JUMP IN VIOLENT CRIME IS SHORT-TERM AND SOME, LIKE PHILL MORRIS, THINK THIS MAY STILL BE A GOOD SUMMER.

PHILL MORRIS>> WHO KNOWS HOW IT'S GOING TO BE THIS YEAR? NO ONE DOES. I HOPE IT'LL BE A REAL NICE SUMMER FOR EVERYBODY SO WE ALL CAN HAVE FUN, LOW-RIDE, DO WHATEVER IT IS YOU'RE GOING TO DO AND HAVE FUN AND LIVE TO TELL ABOUT IT NEXT YEAR.

WARREN>> IT REALLY BRINGS THIS HOME WHEN YOU SEE A 14-YEAR-OLD BOY NEAR THE SITE OF A MURDER WHO SAYS HE DOESN'T KNOW WHEN HE CAN GO OUT OF THE HOUSE.

GAY>> HERE IS A SEASONED VETERAN OF HIS NEIGHBORHOOD AND THAT HE HAS TO BE CAUTIOUS ABOUT THE LIFE AROUND HIM. THE INCREASE IS ALARMING TO A LOT OF PEOPLE, BUT YOU HAVE TO PUT INTO PERSPECTIVE THAT, OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS, THINGS HAVE BEEN DECLINING. AND WHEN YOU COMPARE IT TO 1992 WHEN THE MURDER RATE WAS 1,092 AND WE'RE LOOKING AT PERHAPS HALF THAT MUCH, IT KIND OF GIVES YOU AN IDEA OF WHAT'S GOING ON. SO THE QUESTION IS, IS THIS A BLIP OR IS IT A TREND? THAT'S WHAT WE'RE WORRIED ABOUT.

WARREN>> ROUGHLY, HOW MUCH DO THE POLICE THINK THEY CAN ATTRIBUTE TO GANG INVOLVEMENT?

GAY>> THEY BELIEVE ABOUT 40 PERCENT, BUT THE CONCERN IS, THIS STILL IS A BIG CHUNK, 40 PERCENT, AND ALSO THE TYPE OF CRIME. IT'S NOT A DOMESTIC DISPUTE WHERE A HUSBAND HAS SHOT HIS WIFE. IT'S DRIVE-BY SHOOTINGS WHERE INNOCENT PEOPLE WHO HAPPEN TO BE IN THE VICINITY ALSO GET HURT.

WARREN>> SO THERE'S A RANDOM NATURE, SOMETIMES, TO THIS.

GAY>> THAT'S RIGHT, THAT'S RIGHT.

WARREN>> THANK YOU, GAY.

OUR TOP STORY TOMORROW TELLS US ABOUT A PART OF OUR CULTURE THAT SOME PEOPLE DON'T WANT TO LET GO.

>> WE HAVE ENOUGH SHOPPING CENTERS. WE GOT A SHOPPING CENTER OVER THERE, A SHOPPING CENTER OVER THERE, A SHOPPING CENTER OVER THERE. WE NEED A BOWLING ALLEY. IT'S OUR BOWLING ALLEY. IT'S NOT JUST A BOWLING ALLEY. IT'S OURS, YOU KNOW? IT BECOMES A PERSONAL POSSESSION.

WARREN>> THAT'S TOMORROW ON LIFE AND TIMES TONIGHT AT 7:00 P.M.

THE INCREASE IN VIOLENT CRIME MAY BE MOST PRONOUNCED IN THE SOUTH AND SOUTH CENTRAL PARTS OF LOS ANGELES, BUT IS BY NO MEANS CONFINED TO THOSE PARTS OF THE CITY. ALL BUT THREE OF THE LAPD'S EIGHTEEN REPORTING AREAS DID SEE A SPIKE IN HOMICIDE, ROBBERY AND AGGRAVATED ASSAULT IN THE PAST THREE MONTHS. WE HEAR FROM ONE COMMUNITY LEADER NOW WHO FOUND THAT NO AREA IS SAFE FROM VIOLENCE. THAT'S IN TONIGHT'S THINKERS, SHAKERS & NEWSMAKERS.

JOINING US NOW IS JOHN MACK, PRESIDENT OF THE LOS ANGELES URBAN LEAGUE, A VETERAN OF MANY YEARS HERE IN LOS ANGELES AND WE'RE GLAD TO HAVE YOU ON OUR PROGRAM. IT'S GOOD TO SEE YOU, BUT NOT FOR THIS REASON.

JOHN MACK>> THANK YOU, WARREN. THANKS FOR HAVING ME ON THE SHOW.

WARREN>> YOU HAVE HAD YOUR OWN EXPERIENCE IN YOUR OWN NEIGHBORHOOD. TELL US ABOUT IT.

JOHN MACK>> YEAH. IT'S KIND OF INTERESTING HOW AT ONE LEVEL I'VE BEEN CONCERNED ABOUT THIS FROM AN OVERALL COMMUNITY POINT OF VIEW, BUT WITHIN THE PAST MONTH, THERE WAS AN INCIDENT THAT TOOK PLACE WITHIN FIFTY FEET OR LESS FROM MY HOME.

WARREN>> WHERE'S YOUR HOME?

JOHN MACK>> MY HOME IS IN THE LAFAYETTE SQUARE AREA, GENERALLY SPEAKING, A LITTLE NORTH OF THE SANTA MONICA FREEWAY, CRENSHAW WILSHIRE DISTRICT. AS I DISCOVERED LATER, I MEAN, THIS TOOK PLACE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT. MY WIFE AND I WERE SOUND ASLEEP. ACCORDING TO THE POLICE, IT WAS AROUND 3:00 OR SO. YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU'RE ASLEEP, YOU AREN'T SURE IF YOU'RE DREAMING. I HEARD FIRST SOME VOICES, THEN LATER ON SOME TA-TA-TA, THE SHOTS, BUT IT STILL DIDN'T REALLY REGISTER UNTIL THE NEXT MORNING THE DETECTIVES AND POLICE WERE ALL OVER THE NEIGHBORHOOD TALKING WITH PEOPLE.

I DISCOVERED THAT APPARENTLY IT BEGAN WITH AN ARGUMENT INVOLVING SEVERAL PEOPLE AT SOME PARTY OR SOME EVENT ON CRENSHAW BOULEVARD. THE PEOPLE LEFT, TWO MEN AND A WOMAN, AND THEY WERE STILL ARGUING AND CAME ON AROUND VERY CLOSE TO MY HOME. AS A RESULT, ONE OF THE MEN SHOT THE OTHER MAN TO DEATH. IT WAS REPORTED LATER THE WOMAN, WHO WITNESSED THE THING, BEGAN PLEADING FOR HER LIFE AND SHE RAN DOWN THE STREET A FEW BLOCKS AND SHE TOO WAS BLOWN AWAY.

WARREN>> WOW. SO HERE YOU ARE IN A NICE NEIGHBORHOOD. IS THERE ANY THOUGHT THAT THIS HAS ANYTHING TO DO WITH GANGS OR DRUGS OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT?

JOHN MACK>> NO. THIS WOULD BE IN THE CATEGORY, AS I LISTENED TO THE EARLIER PIECE -- AS FAR AS I KNOW, THIS WAS NOT GANG-RELATED. I THINK THIS WAS REALLY TYPICAL OF -- FRANKLY, IT'S A COMPLICATED PROBLEM AND IT'S A TENDENCY TOO OFTEN TO COME UP WITH SIMPLISTIC SOLUTIONS. PART OF IT, I THINK, IS A VALUE THING. QUITE FRANKLY, I THINK WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH RESPECT FOR HUMAN LIFE ACROSS THE BOARD IN TERMS OF HOW WE DEAL WITH EACH OTHER.

ONCE UPON A TIME, WHEN PEOPLE HAD A DISAGREEMENT, THEY'D HAVE A GOOD OLD-FASHIONED FISTFIGHT, BUT NOW, YOU KNOW, -- THAT I THINK TIES INTO JUST THE ABUNDANCE OF GUNS. IT'S TOO EASY FOR -- WHETHER IT'S A DOMESTIC SITUATION OR WHETHER IT'S A GANG SITUATION OR SOME OTHER, GUNS ARE TOO PREVALENT. I THINK THAT WE NEED TO HAVE TIGHTER GUN CONTROL. AND THEN, AS SOME OF THE PEOPLE WHO WERE INTERVIEWED EARLIER, WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT OUR YOUNG PEOPLE, ESPECIALLY THOSE WHO MAY BE LIMITED IN TERMS OF THEIR CHOICES, IT'S ONE THING TO TELL THEM TO BE GOOD MODEL CITIZENS, BUT THEY NEED HOPE. THEY NEED OPPORTUNITY. THEY NEED JOBS. THEY NEED TRAINING. THEY NEED TO SEE SOME FUTURE.

WARREN>> THERE IS A LOT OF TALK NOW ABOUT GETTING NEW RESOURCES, FUNDING PROGRAMS. WE HAVEN'T HEARD THIS KIND OF THING, REALLY, AS MUCH AS WE HAVE LATELY SINCE 1992 AFTER THE RIOTS, CIVIL DISTURBANCE, UPRISING, WHATEVER YOU CHOOSE TO CALL IT. WILL THAT HELP?

JOHN MACK>> IT ABSOLUTELY COULD BECAUSE ONE ELEMENT CLEARLY IS A RESOURCE ELEMENT. THE FACT OF THE MATTER IS THAT WE HAVE JOB TRAINING PROGRAMS, JOB PROGRAMS, BUT AS ONE OF THE PEOPLE SAID WHO WAS INTERVIEWED, SOME OF IT'S UNTHINKABLE AND UNCONSCIONABLE THAT THERE WOULD BE NO SUMMER JOBS FOR YOUTH. THIS WAS AN ACT OF CONGRESS, YOU KNOW, SO WE NEED TO HAVE RESOURCES. IT TAKES MONEY TO PROVIDE THE TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES, THE JOB OPPORTUNITIES. WE NEED TO HAVE BUSINESSES WILLING TO EMPLOY YOUNG PEOPLE, MAYBE EMPLOY SOME PEOPLE WHO HAVE RECORDS, QUITE FRANKLY.

WE NEED ALL OF THOSE THINGS AND I WOULD HOPE THAT THIS NOT JUST GOING TO BE A TEMPORARY KNEE-JERK RESPONSE, WHICH IS WHAT UNFORTUNATELY WE HAVE TOO OFTEN, AS WAS THE CASE IN 1992, MOMENTARILY, WHEN THE MEDIA SPOTLIGHT IS ON A SERIES OF INCIDENTS. AND I THINK A PART OF WHAT IS DRIVING THIS TOO, FRANKLY, HAS BEEN, YOU KNOW, THE HIGH PROFILE MURDERS. THE TRAGIC MURDER OF CHIEF BERNARD PARKS' GRANDDAUGHTER, AL PATTON AND HIS WIFE, AND SEVERAL OTHERS HAS NOW REFOCUSED ATTENTION. BUT WHILE THIS ATTENTION IS REFOCUSED, I THINK WE NEED TO HAVE A REAL COMMITMENT FROM THE ELECTED OFFICIALS, FROM DECISION-MAKERS, THOSE WHO ARE IN A POSITION TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE, TO REALLY, REALLY NOW FOLLOW THROUGH.

WARREN>> THE INCIDENT IN YOUR OWN NEIGHBORHOOD DIDN'T INVOLVE GANGS, DIDN'T INVOLVE VERY YOUNG PEOPLE. APPARENTLY, IT'S A DIFFERENT KIND OF THING ALTOGETHER. HOW DOES IT MAKE YOU FEEL ABOUT THE PLACE WHERE YOU LIVE?

JOHN MACK>> WELL, THAT'S THE THING ABOUT IT. IT'S VERY UNSETTLING. AS I SAY, THAT'S VERY PERSONAL WHEN IT HAPPENS THAT CLOSE TO YOUR HOME. IT'S ONE THING WHEN IT HAPPENS ACROSS TOWN, WHILE YOU DON'T WANT TO SEE IT HAPPEN TO ANYONE ANYPLACE, BUT FRANKLY THAT'S VERY UNNERVING, YOU KNOW. YOU WORRY ABOUT THE SAFETY OF YOUR FAMILY AND YOUR NEIGHBORS AS WELL AS YOUR OWN PERSONAL SAFETY. AGAIN, IT SAYS TO ME THAT AMERICA IS STILL IN TOO MUCH OF A COWBOY MENTALITY AND THAT EVERY TIME THERE'S BEEN AN ATTEMPT TO TRY TO BRING ABOUT STRONG GUN CONTROL LEGISLATION, THE NRA PUTS THE HEAT ON CONGRESS --

WARREN>> -- BUT THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO WOULD SAY TO YOU, COME ON, MAN, IT'S TIME FOR YOU TO GET A GUN IF YOU LIVE IN A PLACE WHERE THAT KIND OF --

JOHN MACK>> -- I KNOW. MAYBE I'M JUST AN OLD DYED-IN-THE-WOOL NON-VIOLENT PERSON, BUT I DON'T BELIEVE IN WEAPONS. I DON'T BELIEVE THAT THEY SHOULD BE AS EASILY AVAILABLE. I REALLY THINK WHAT WE NEED TO DO IS TO REACH THE POINT THAT WE DO RESPECT HUMAN LIFE BETTER THAN WE DO. ONE COMMENT ABOUT THE YOUTH AND THE GANG ACTIVITY, A THEME THAT WAS TALKED ABOUT: RESPECT. RESPECT FOR ONE ANOTHER, AND THEY TALKED ABOUT HOW THEY NEED TO HAVE THE POLICE TO RESPECT THEM AS THEY ARE MOVING ON THE STREETS --

WARREN>> -- AND I THINK YOU'RE REFERRING TO THE BIG MEETING THAT TOOK PLACE RECENTLY AT THE FIRST A.M.E. CHURCH WHICH YOU ATTENDED?

JOHN MACK>> RIGHT. YES.

WARREN>> SO OFFICIAL LA IS TRYING TO ADDRESS THIS PROBLEM AT LEAST FOR THE MOMENT?

JOHN MACK>> THAT IS. THAT'S THE ENCOURAGING THING. I CERTAINLY COMMEND SUPERVISOR, YVONNE BURKE, ANTONIO VILLARAIGOSA AND OTHERS WHO SPONSORED THE MEETING, CITY COUNCILMAN, MARK RIDLEY-THOMAS. LET'S JUST HOPE THAT IT'S NOT A TEMPORARY ONE-NIGHT STAND.

WARREN>> JOHN MACK OF THE URBAN LEAGUE, THANKS SO MUCH, AS ALWAYS, FOR JOINING US.

JOHN MACK>> THANK YOU. GOOD TO BE WITH YOU.

WARREN>> WHO DO YOU THINK IS TO BLAME FOR THE RISE IN VIOLENCE? IS IT GANGS? IS IT THE ECONOMY? IS IT DRUGS? WE WOULD LIKE VERY MUCH TO HEAR YOUR THOUGHTS ON THIS OR ANY OF THE STORIES THAT WE COVER ON LIFE AND TIMES TONIGHT. 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

WARREN>> TIME FOR A CHANGE OF PACE IN TONIGHT'S INFINITELY MORRISON. PATT DOESN'T GIVE MUCH CURRENCY TO A CERTAIN YOUTH MOVEMENT.

PATT>> TAKE A GOOD LOOK AT THIS. WHAT DO YOU SEE? YOU SEE REVISIONIST HISTORY. YOU SEE BEFORE YOU THE NEW MONEY, AMERICAN CURRENCY THAT LOOKS TO SOME EYES LIKE PLAY MONEY. EVEN THE RUSSIANS, WHO FOR YEARS HAVE STUFFED THEIR MATTRESSES WITH DOLLARS AS A HEDGE AGAINST THE AMAZING SHRINKING RUBLE, ARE AS WARY OF THE NEW CURRENCY AS IF IT WERE THE PROVERBIAL THREE-DOLLAR BILL.

THE BILLS SEEM TO LACK THE GRAVITAS OF THE OLD DOLLAR OR THE FRANC OR THE POUND, CURRENCY THAT LOOKS LIKE IT HAS BIG COUNTRIES WITH BIG GOLD RESERVES BEHIND THEM. BUT MY OBJECTION LIES ELSEWHERE. I LOOK AT THESE LARGER PORTRAITS OF PRESIDENTS AND STATESMEN AND I WONDER WHO ISSUED THESE. THE BANK OF BEVERLY HILLS? DID THE TREASURY DEPARTMENT FIRE ITS ENGRAVERS AND HIRE PLASTIC SURGEONS INSTEAD?

PULL OUT YOUR WALLET AND LOOK AT THE TWENTY DOLLAR BILL. ANDREW JACKSON, OLD HICKORY, AS ROUGH-HEWN A MAN AS EVER OCCUPIED THE WHITE HOUSE. ON THE OLD BILL, HE LOOKED THAT WAY. ON THE NEW ONE, HE HAS A FOREHEAD LIKE ZEUS'S AND A HEAD OF HAIR LIKE HUGH GRANT. AND ABE LINCOLN, ANOTHER MAN OF THE PEOPLE. IF I'M NOT MISTAKEN, ON THE NEW FIVE, HONEST ABE'S MOLEHILLS ARE SLIGHTLY LESS MOUNTAINOUS AND HIS WORRY LINES MUST HAVE BEEN SMOOTHED OUT WITH BOTOX INJECTIONS. AND BACK TO ALEXANDER HAMILTON, THE DEFINITIVE TREASURY SECRETARY, AND NOW HE LOOKS LIKE ONE OF PEOPLE MAGAZINE'S SEXIEST MEN. I'M GOING TO CARRY HIS PICTURE IN MY WALLET. WAIT, I ALREADY DO CARRY HIS PICTURE IN MY WALLET.

THIS IS OUR MONEY, OUR HISTORY. THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO BE THE FOUNDING FATHERS, NOT THE FOUNDING BABES. WHERE WILL THIS GO FROM HERE? WILL WASHINGTON GET DENTAL IMPLANTS TO REPLACE HIS FALSE TEETH ON THE DOLLAR BILL? WILL ULYSSES S. GRANT BE CLEAN-SHAVEN TO MAKE HIM MORE SPENDING-FRIENDLY TO GEN-XR'S? I HAVEN'T YET SEEN ONE OF THOSE NEW SACAJAWEA DOLLAR COINS AND I'M A LITTLE AFRAID TO. IS SHE GOING TO LOOK LIKE A 19TH CENTURY SHOSHONE WOMAN OF COURAGE AND FORTITUDE OR LIKE A BEACH BUNNY EXTRA ON "BAYWATCH"?

WARREN>> THANK YOU, PATT.

THIS IS MOVING DAY FOR SOME STAR ATTRACTIONS, I SHOULD SAY, HOUSEWARMING DAY FOR SOME STAR ATTRACTIONS AT THE LOS ANGELES ZOO. ELOISE, BRUNO, ROSIE AND KALEM ARE ORANGUTANS, RED APES, AND THEY NOW OCCUPY A STATE OF THE ART HABITAT KNOWN AS THE RED APE RAIN FOREST, AS WE SEE IN TONIGHT'S PEOPLE, PLACES & THINGS.

ORANGUTANS ARE NATIVE TO THE ISLANDS OF BORNEO AND SUMATRA IN SOUTHEAST ASIA. IN THE WILD, THEY ARE THE MOST SOLITARY OF THE GREAT APES, BUT IN ZOOS, THEY ARE OFTEN QUITE SOCIAL. HERE WITH MORE IS MANUEL MOLLINEDO. HE IS DIRECTOR OF THE LOS ANGELES ZOO. REALLY GOOD TO HAVE YOU HERE TODAY.

MANUEL A. MOLLINEDO>> GREAT TO BE HERE.

WARREN>> THIS IS A UNIQUE HABITAT ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD.

MANUEL A. MOLLINEDO>> THIS IS A REAL PACE-SETTING HABITAT. IT'S THE ONLY ONE OF ITS KIND IN THE UNITED STATES AND ACTUALLY THE WORLD AT THE PRESENT TIME.

WARREN>> SO WHAT'S UNIQUE ABOUT IT? WHAT'S DIFFERENT?

MANUEL A. MOLLINEDO>> IT'S A TOTAL IMMERSION HABITAT. WHEN YOU WALK INTO THIS EXHIBIT, YOU'RE ONE WITH THE ANIMALS. YOU REALLY SEE THEM AS CLOSELY AS YOU CAN OUTSIDE OF BORNEO, OUTSIDE OF THE RAIN FOREST. IT'S HEAVILY LANDSCAPED. WHEN THE LANDSCAPING BECOMES FULLY MATURE, IT'S GOING TO GIVE YOU A FEELING AS IF YOU'RE IN THE RAIN FOREST AND YOU CAN SEE THE ANIMALS UP IN THE HIGHER REACHES OF THE EXHIBIT.

WARREN>> LET'S TAKE A LOOK AT IT. WE'VE GOT SOME VIDEOTAPE. THERE WE ARE. OKAY, WHO'S THIS, DO YOU KNOW?

MANUEL A. MOLLINEDO>> THIS IS ONE OF OUR FEMALE ORANGUTANS. ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE'VE NOTICED, ESPECIALLY RECENTLY, THEY'VE BEEN IN THE EXHIBIT ABOUT TWO WEEKS. YOU CAN SEE WHERE THE ORANGUTAN IS CLIMBING RIGHT THERE. WHEN THEY FIRST GOT IN THERE, THEY WERE DOING A LOT OF CLIMBING, GOING UP FORTY FEET INTO THE EXHIBIT, USING THAT METAL NETTING AS A STEPLADDER TO GET TO THE TOP. THE LAST COUPLE OF DAYS, THEY'VE SLOWED DOWN AND THEY'RE DOING A LOT MORE -- THEY'RE MUCH MORE SEDENTARY.

WARREN>> YOU WERE SAYING EARLIER, THOUGH, THAT THIS IS -- THEY GOT HIGHER THAN THEY'VE EVER BEEN BEFORE IN THEIR LIVES WHEN THEY CLIMB THIS FENCE. EXPLAIN THAT.

MANUEL A. MOLLINEDO>> WELL, THE OLD EXHIBIT WAS A TERRESTRIAL EXHIBIT. THEY WERE CONFINED TO THE GROUND. THIS EXHIBIT AFFORDS THEM THE OPPORTUNITY TO DO A LOT OF CLIMBING. ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE'VE NOW NOTICED, BECAUSE OF ALL THE CLIMBING THEY'VE BEEN DOING, THEY'VE BEEN SLOWING DOWN AND I THINK A LOT OF THEIR UPPER BODY MUSCLES ARE VERY SORE BY THIS TIME. IT'S ACTUALLY TAKING THEM A WHILE TO BECOME ACCLIMATED TO BECOMING REAL ORANGUTANS.

WARREN>> THEY NEED TO WORK OUT.

MANUEL A. MOLLINEDO>> THAT'S RIGHT. AND HOPEFULLY THEY'RE ALSO GOING TO BE LOSING SOME WEIGHT. THEY'RE A LITTLE PUDGY RIGHT NOW.

WARREN>> WOW. SO WE'RE SEEING THEM NOW, YOU WOULD SAY, AS THEY'RE HANGING AROUND OUTSIDE THE GYM AFTER A WORKOUT AND LOOKING A LITTLE FATIGUED. WHAT DO YOU MEAN BY IMMERSION? THERE ARE THESE NETS. THEY'RE CLEARLY NOT AMONG ORANGUTANS IN THE REAL SENSE OF THAT, SO WHY IMMERSION? WHY DO YOU USE THAT TERM?

MANUEL A. MOLLINEDO>> BECAUSE YOU'RE GOING TO BE WALKING IN -- YOU HAVE TO ACTUALLY WALK INTO THE EXHIBIT AND, ONCE YOU WALK INTO THE EXHIBIT, YOU'RE GOING TO BE ISOLATED FROM THE REST OF THE POPULATIONS VISITING THE ZOO. SO YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO REALLY SEE THE ORANGUTANS AS IF THEY WERE IN THE WILD IN A MUCH MORE SINGULAR FASHION.

WE ALSO HAVE A GLASS SEPARATION RIGHT THERE WHERE YOU CAN JUST GET FACE TO FACE WITH THE ANIMALS. CHILDREN, FOR SOME REASON OR ANOTHER, HAVE REALLY BEEN VERY ATTRACTIVE TO THE ORANGUTANS. USUALLY WHEN A CHILD'S THERE, THE ORANGUTANS WILL COME UP TO THE KIDS. WE'VE ALSO PUT IN SOME VERY EXTENSIVE ZOO GRAPHICS THAT EXPLAIN WHAT THE ORANGUTAN HABITAT'S ALL ABOUT. YOU CAN SEE HOW THE --

WARREN>> IT'S A MATTER OF WHO'S WATCHING WHO THERE.

MANUEL A. MOLLINEDO>> WELL, WE ALSO HAVE A HANGING BAR AND WE'VE HAD SITUATIONS WHERE THE ORANGUTANS HAVE ACTUALLY BEEN HANGING FROM UP THERE JUST LOOKING THROUGH THE GLASS AND GIVING PEOPLE AN OPPORTUNITY TO SEE AN ORANGUTAN JUST INCHES AWAY.

WARREN>> ARE THESE AN ENDANGERED ANIMAL?

MANUEL A. MOLLINEDO>> YES, THEY ARE. ONE OF THE BENEFITS WITH THIS NICE EXHIBIT IS THE SSP HAS GIVEN US AUTHORIZATION TO START BREEDING THEM. WE WEREN'T ALLOWED TO BREED THEM UP UNTIL THIS NEW EXHIBIT WAS BUILT.

WARREN>> WHAT'S THE SSP?

MANUEL A. MOLLINEDO>> SPECIES SURVIVAL PLAN. IT'S A DECISION THAT'S MADE COLLECTIVELY THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY AND WE ARE NOW GOING TO START BREEDING ORANGUTANS IN THE COMING YEAR.

WARREN>> AND THESE PARTICULAR ORANGUTANS, THERE ARE FOUR AT THE ZOO --

MANUEL A. MOLLINEDO>> YES.

WARREN>> -- THEY ARE NOT YOUNG ANIMALS?

MANUEL A. MOLLINEDO>> MOST OF THEM ARE MIDDLE-AGED. THEY'RE AVERAGING ABOUT THIRTY YEARS OLD.

WARREN>> AND THAT'S MIDDLE-AGED FOR AN ORANGUTAN BECAUSE THEY LIVE ALMOST AS LONG AS A HUMAN BEING?

MANUEL A. MOLLINEDO>> ABOUT FIFTY YEARS OLD. IT'S ABOUT TWO TO ONE, TWO AND A HALF TO ONE HUMAN YEARS.

WARREN>> HOW MANY OF THEM ARE THERE, DO YOU KNOW, LEFT IN THE WORLD?

MANUEL A. MOLLINEDO>> I WOULD SAY PROBABLY MAYBE ABOUT 2,000. THERE AREN'T THAT MANY. THE FOREST FIRES IN INDONESIA THE PAST COUPLE OF YEARS HAS JUST BEEN DEVASTATING THE POPULATION. THAT'S ONE OF THE REASONS WHY WE'RE BEING ENCOURAGED TO PROPAGATE THEM AT THE LOS ANGELES ZOO.

WARREN>> OKAY. WE HAVE A UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY NOW HERE IN THE LOS ANGELES ZOO. WHAT DID IT TAKE TO PUT ALL THAT TOGETHER?

MANUEL A. MOLLINEDO>> $6.5 MILLION DOLLARS, A LOT OF INPUT FROM A LOT OF ORANGUTAN EXPERTS, OUR STAFF IN BRINGING IN A VERY CREATIVE ARCHITECT THAT COULD REALLY PUT ALL OF THESE IDEAS TOGETHER IN A VERY CREATIVE PLAN.

WARREN>> AND YOU SAID BREEDING NOW MAY OCCUR. WHEN DO YOU EXPECT A HAPPY EVENT, OR --

MANUEL A. MOLLINEDO>> -- WELL, YOU KNOW, I'M REALLY HOPING THAT MAYBE WITHIN THE NEXT YEAR OR TWO, WE'LL PROBABLY START SEEING SOME BABY ORANGUTANS, WHICH I THINK WILL BE VERY INTERESTING FOR THE RESIDENTS OF LOS ANGELES TO COME AND VISIT.

WARREN>> CAN YOU TELL US OTHER THINGS THAT ARE GOING ON AT THE ZOO? OTHER DEVELOPMENTS THAT YOU WOULD LIKE PEOPLE TO KNOW ABOUT?

MANUEL A. MOLLINEDO>> WELL, YOU KNOW, THIS PAST SPRING, WE OPENED UP A NEW SNOW LEOPARD EXHIBIT. IT'S VERY INTERESTING TO SEE THESE BEAUTIFUL CATS. TWO YEARS AGO, WE COMPLETED AND OPENED A NEW CHIMPANZEE EXHIBIT. JANE GOODALL CAME OUT AND ACTUALLY HELPED US DEDICATE THAT FACILITY AND MADE THE STATEMENT ON TELEVISION THAT IT WAS THE BEST CHIMPANZEE EXHIBIT IN THE COUNTRY. WE'RE DOING A LOT OF VERY CREATIVE THINGS. WE'RE ALSO WORKING ON HAVING THE ZOO DESIGNATED AS A BOTANICAL GARDEN. A LOT OF PEOPLE DON'T REALIZE THAT THE LOS ANGELES ZOO HAS A VERY RICH AND EXOTIC BOTANICAL COLLECTION.

WARREN>> OKAY. AND I TAKE IT, YOU SAID THAT THIS EXHIBIT WITH THE ORANGUTANS WILL SEE MORE VEGETATION GROWING, SO IT'S PART OF WHAT --

MANUEL A. MOLLINEDO>> -- BY THIS TIME NEXT YEAR, IT'S GOING TO LOOK LIKE A RAIN FOREST, A VERDANT JUNGLE.

WARREN>> WELL, CONGRATULATIONS, AND THANKS FOR COMING AND TELLING US ABOUT IT.

MANUEL A. MOLLINEDO>> WELL, THANK YOU VERY MUCH. HOPE TO SEE YOU OUT THERE.

WARREN>> GOOD TO HAVE YOU.

CHECK THE NUMBER AND THE WEB SITE ON YOUR SCREEN IF YOU WANT MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE RED APE RAIN FOREST AT THE LOS ANGELES ZOO. AN EXTRAORDINARY FEATURE, AS WE HAVE JUST HEARD, AND YOU TOO CAN LOOK THROUGH THE WINDOW AND SOMEBODY'S GOING TO BE LOOKING BACK.

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