3/09/01

LC010309

VAL>> GOOD EVENING. I'M VAL ZAVALA, LIFE AND TIMES TONIGHT ANCHOR AND VICE PRESIDENT OF KCET NEWS AND PUBLIC AFFAIRS. TONIGHT KCET IS PRESENTING A SPECIAL EDITION OF LIFE AND TIMES TONIGHT. DURING THE COURSE OF OUR AWARD-WINNING EIGHT YEARS ON THE AIR, THIS SERIES HAS FEATURED SO MANY STORIES THAT HAVE LEFT A LASTING IMPRESSION ON YOU, OUR VIEWERS, SO THIS WEEK WE'RE CELEBRATING BY THANKING OUR FOUNDATION FRIENDS AND YOU, OUR VIEWERS, FOR YOUR SUPPORT. SO ENJOY A SAMPLING OF CLASSIC STORIES THAT HAVE BEEN GATHERED FROM THE BEST OF LIFE AND TIMES TONIGHT.

AND WE'RE PROUD OF THE CONSISTENT QUALITY OF LIFE AND TIMES TONIGHT AND ITS SUCCESS IS LARGELY DUE TO YOU AND YOUR ONGOING FINANCIAL SUPPORT. EACH AND EVERY CONTRIBUTION HELPS KCET IN PROVIDING ENRICHED EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMMING LIKE THIS, SO THANK YOU FOR MAKING THAT HAPPEN.

AND STAY TUNED FOR A SPECIAL LIFE AND TIMES TONIGHT AS WE GO ON THE ROAD TO PALM SPRINGS. WE'LL SHOW YOU HOW THREE UNLIKELY GROUPS HAVE COME TOGETHER TO GIVE PALM SPRINGS A SECOND LIFE. THAT'S COMING UP NEXT.

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.

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.

AND THE CALIFORNIA COMMUNITY FOUNDATION
UNDERWRITING THE SPANISH LANGUAGE TRANSLATION OF LIFE AND TIMES TONIGHT.

VAL>> GOOD EVENING, I'M VAL ZAVALA.

JESS>> AND I'M JESS MARLOW. WELCOME TO THE BEST OF LIFE AND TIMES TONIGHT. TONIGHT WE REPRISE ONE OF OUR MOST POPULAR PROGRAMS, A SPECIAL HALF-HOUR ON PALM SPRINGS. AFTER DECADES OF DECLINE, PALM SPRINGS IS "IN" AGAIN. EVEN THE LOCALS ADMIT THE DESERT RESORT IS IN ITS SECOND LIFE.

VAL>> HOW DID IT HAPPEN? WELL, THREE UNLIKELY ALLIES, GAYS, NATIVE AMERICANS AND SENIOR CITIZENS, HAVE ALL WORKED TO RE-INVENT THE CITY. WE BEGIN WITH A LOOK AT THE GAY COMMUNITY. AS PHILIP BRUCE TELLS US, A FIRST OF ITS KIND RETIREMENT VILLAGE IS INDICATIVE OF THE PALM SPRINGS VITALITY.

PHILIP>> THEY'RE THE CLASSIC, UPWARDLY MOBILE COUPLE. EDUCATED, DRIVEN AND PROSPEROUS ENOUGH TO OWN A WARM, INVITING HOME IN THE HEART OF PALM SPRINGS.

>> IT WON'T KEEP ME UP, RIGHT?

>> NO, IT'S DECAF.

PHILIP>> THE FACT THAT DENISE GOOLSBY AND HER PARTNER, JOANNE GARCIA-CARSON, ARE OPENLY GAY IS NEVER AN ISSUE HERE. IF ANYTHING, THEY'RE PART OF A GROWING MOVEMENT THAT'S HELPED PUT THIS TOWN BACK ON THE MAP.

>> IF I CAN'T HAVE COFFEE AND CAFFEINE, I GOT TO HAVE SUGAR.


JOANNE GARCIA-CARSON>> I HEARD SOMEBODY THE OTHER DAY -- A REAL ESTATE AGENT TOLD ME THAT OVER 50 PERCENT OF ALL THE RECENT HOME ACQUISITIONS HERE IN THE DESERT WERE BY GAY COUPLES. NOW I DON'T KNOW IF THAT'S ACCURATE OR NOT, BUT IF IT IS, THAT'S A SIGNIFICANT INFLUX OF GAY PEOPLE TO OUR COMMUNITY, EVEN IF IT'S JUST ON A SECOND-HOME BASIS. IT JUST GIVES OUR COMMUNITY A BOOST IN OUR PRESENCE. I CERTAINLY KNOW A LOT OF THE NEW BUSINESSES ARE BEING OPENED BY A LOT OF GAY PEOPLE.

PHILIP>> DENISE IS PART OF THAT TREND. SHE OWNS AND OPERATES A SMALL HOTEL. JOANNE IS A LAWYER WHO HELPS RUN A LEGAL TRAINING CLINIC FOR FAMED DEFENSE ATTORNEY, GERALD SPENCE. TOGETHER, THEY'RE PART OF THE NEW FACE OF THE PALM SPRINGS WHERE IT'S NOW JUST AS "IN" TO BE GAY AS GRAY.

JOANNE GARCIA-CARSON>> I THINK WHAT HAPPENS IS, YEARS AGO, THE GAY PEOPLE CAME INTO PALM SPRINGS WHEN IT WASN'T AS ATTRACTIVE AS IT IS NOW, IN THE 70'S AND 80'S, AND THEY BOUGHT HOMES. YOU KNOW, THEY PUT THEIR ROOTS DOWN AND THEY GOT THEIR FRIENDS TO COME OUT. WE HAVE A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT ARE RETIRING OUT HERE NOW. THE BABY BOOMERS ARE JUST TURNING ABOUT 55.

[FILM CLIP]


PHILIP>> WHAT'S THE APPEAL? THE SAME THING THAT ATTRACTS STRAIGHT RETIREES LIKE THESE GRANDMOTHERS WHO GATHER EVERY SO OFTEN AT A LOCAL SENIOR CENTER TO PRACTICE THEIR LINE DANCING. IT'S A PLACE WHERE OLDER PEOPLE CAN FIND PLENTY OF FRIENDS AND LOTS OF THINGS TO DO, ALL IN A WARM CLIMATE WHERE MOST REAL ESTATE IS STILL A BARGAIN BY CALIFORNIA STANDARDS. BUT LIKE THESE STRAIGHT SENIORS, AGING GAYS AND LESBIANS FACE THE SAME CHALLENGES IN THEIR LATER YEARS.

LYNNE KNEIFEL>> THEIR NEEDS ARE JUST LIKE EVERYBODY ELSE'S. WHEN THEY HAVE PARTNERS THAT PASS AWAY, THEY GRIEVE, THEY NEED COUNSELING. THEY COME INTO THE CENTER IF THEY NEED FOOD. THEY'RE NO DIFFERENT FROM ANYONE ELSE.

PHILIP>> THE GAY MIGRATION TO THE DESERT IS NOW SO GREAT IT'S INSPIRED A GRAND PLAN FOR THIS STRETCH OF DIRT HERE IN THE MIDDLE OF CATHEDRAL CITY, PALM SPRINGS' NEXT DOOR NEIGHBOR. THEY'RE CALLING IT THE ARBOURS AND, ON PAPER, IT PROMISES TO BE ONE OF THE MOST UPSCALE RETIREMENT RESORTS IN THE COUNTRY. BUT WHAT REALLY SETS THIS PROJECT APART IS ITS TARGET AUDIENCE, GAY AND LESBIAN SENIORS. THE ARBOURS IS BEING DESIGNED AS A PLACE WHERE AGING GAY AND LESBIAN COUPLES CAN LIVE AND ULTIMATELY DIE TOGETHER WITHOUT THE FEAR OF BEING ISOLATED OR CAST ASIDE IN THE STRAIGHT WORLD.

ROBERT GOMER>> AND HOPEFULLY AT SOME POINT IN THE FUTURE, AS THINGS DEVELOP IN CATHEDRAL CITY, WE'LL BE ABLE TO STAND ON THIS SITE AND LOOK AT A BEAUTIFUL RETIREMENT CENTER THAT WILL CATER TO GAYS AND LESBIANS, BUT OPEN TO EVERYBODY IN THE COMMUNITY.

PHILIP>> UP UNTIL LAST MONTH, ROBERT GOMER WAS ONE OF TWO OPENLY GAY COUNCILMEN IN CATHEDRAL CITY. NOW HE'S AN ADVISER TO THE FLORIDA DEVELOPERS BEHIND THE ARBOURS PROJECT. HE SAYS AS GAY MEN GROW OLDER, THEY'RE STARTING TO WORRY IF THEY CAN REMAIN OPEN ABOUT THEIR HOMOSEXUALITY SHOULD THEY BE FORCED TO MOVE INTO A NURSING HOME THAT'S MOSTLY STRAIGHT.

ROBERT GOMER>> I THINK MOST OF US HAVE HAD EXPERIENCES WITHIN OUR FAMILIES WHERE WE'VE WENT TO VISIT, YOU KNOW, WHETHER IT'S A MOTHER OR FATHER OR AN AUNT OR UNCLE OR GRANDPARENTS WHO WERE IN RETIREMENT HOMES, AND FELT HOW THAT ENVIRONMENT, YOU KNOW, HOW UNFRIENDLY THAT ENVIRONMENT COULD POTENTIALLY BE.

PHILIP>> THE WHOLE CONCEPT FOR THE ARBOURS RESORT COMES FROM TWO GAY MEN IN FT. LAUDERDALE, FLORIDA, BIG-TIME DEVELOPERS WHO ARE INCHING TOWARD RETIREMENT THEMSELVES. JOHN DELEO AND JEFFREY DILLON SAY, AFTER SPENDING THEIR LIVES OUT OF THE CLOSET, THEY CAN'T IMAGINE BEING FORCED BACK IN IN THEIR OLD AGE. TOGETHER, DELEO AND DILLON HAVE STRUCK A DEAL TO BUILD NOT ONLY ASSISTED LIVING APARTMENTS FOR GAY SENIORS, BUT A THEATER AND A RETAIL COMPLEX AS WELL. IN ALL, IT'S A PROJECT TOTALING OVER $120 MILLION DOLLARS. GAY OR STRAIGHT, CATHEDRAL CITY IS GLAD TO HAVE WHAT THIS PAIR CAN OFFER, A CHANCE TO RENOVATE A DOWNTOWN AREA ONCE COMPRISED OF TACKY, BOARDED-UP SHOPS AND TRAILER PARKS.

GREG PETTIS>> PEOPLE HERE SAID, HEY, YOU NEED TO COME DOWN AND TAKE A LOOK AT CATHEDRAL CITY. THEY SAW IT, THEY FELL IN LOVE WITH OUR TOWN, WE FELL IN LOVE WITH THEM.

PHILIP>> COUNCILMAN GREG PETTIS SAYS CATHEDRAL CITY IS ONE OF THE MOST GAY-FRIENDLY TOWNS IN THE DESERT AND HE SHOULD KNOW. THAT'S ONE OF THE REASONS HE MOVED HERE BACK IN 1975. TODAY, BY SOME ESTIMATES, 30 PERCENT OF THE TOWN IS GAY OR LESBIAN AND THAT'S REFLECTED IN THE POWER STRUCTURE AT CITY HALL.

BUT EVEN HERE, THE STRAIGHT POPULATION IS SOMETIMES WARY OF WHAT IT SEES AS TOO MUCH GAY INFLUENCE. FOR EXAMPLE, THE NEW LAMPPOST AND NEW STREET SIGNS AT THE NEW CIVIC CENTER. THE COUNCIL DECIDED TO PAINT THEM PURPLE. IS THAT SOME SORT OF GAY SYMBOL? AND THEN THERE'S THE NEW BELL TOWER THAT RISES UP FROM THE DESERT. YOU CAN GUESS WHAT SUSPICIOUS TYPES THOUGHT THAT MIGHT REPRESENT.

GREG PETTIS>> BECAUSE WE WERE A LITTLE BIT MORE BOLD, PROBABLY IN OUR COLOR CHOICES AND EVERYTHING AND THE FACT THAT THERE WERE TWO GAY COUNCIL MEMBERS OUT OF FIVE, I THINK THEY PROBABLY SAID, OH, WHAT'S GOING ON? WHAT'S GOING ON?

PHILIP>> THESE DAYS AS THEY TALK ABOUT BUILDING A GAY RETIREMENT RESORT, MOST TOWNSPEOPLE HAVE PUT ASIDE ANY PREJUDICES THEY MAY HAVE AND HAVE FOCUSED INSTEAD ON THE POTENTIAL FINANCIAL WINDFALL. BUT THE ARBOURS PROJECT ISN'T WITHOUT CRITICS. SOME SAY THE PRICE TAG FOR ONE OF THESE RETIREMENT CONDOS, STARTING AT $250,000 WITH A $2,000 A MONTH SERVICE FEE, IS OUT OF LINE. AND OTHERS QUESTION WHETHER GAY SENIORS TRULY NEED OR WANT THE FACILITY. BUT FOR DENISE AND JOANNE, PART OF THE FIRST TRULY OPEN GAY GENERATION, IT'S AN OPTION THAT MAY EASE SOME OF THE WORRIES OF GROWING OLDER.

JOANNE GARCIA-CARSON>> WOULD I BE CONCERNED ABOUT US AS A COUPLE GOING INTO A CONVENTIONAL HOME? YEAH, I PROBABLY WOULD A LITTLE BIT. I PROBABLY WOULD. IT WOULD DEPEND ON WHERE IN THE COUNTRY WE ARE AT THAT TIME. IF WE'RE HERE, I'D BE A LITTLE LESS CONCERNED BECAUSE OF THE COMMUNITY, BUT I'D STILL FEEL MORE COMFORTABLE IF WE COULD BE WITH PEOPLE LIKE US WHO HAVE SIMILAR INTERESTS, SIMILAR THINGS TO TALK ABOUT, SIMILAR LIFE EXPERIENCES TO SHARE.

PHILIP>> IN THE MEANTIME, THE DESERT IS BRIMMING WITH ECONOMIC LIFE. NEW BUILDINGS ARE SPRINGING UP EVERYWHERE YOU LOOK, THE WAY DESERT FLOWERS MIGHT AFTER A SPRING RAIN. AFTER LOTS OF DRY YEARS HERE, THAT'S A WELCOME CHANGE FOR ALL CONCERNED, REGARDLESS OF THEIR SEXUAL ORIENTATION. IN CATHEDRAL CITY, I'M PHILIP BRUCE FOR LIFE AND TIMES TONIGHT.

VAL>> IF ALL GOES ACCORDING TO SCHEDULE, THE DEVELOPER SAYS THE DEAL SHOULD BE SIGNED TODAY.

NOW BESIDES THE GAYS AND THE GRAYS, AS THEY CALL THEM, THERE IS ANOTHER POWER PLAYER WHO HAS CONTRIBUTED TO THE REVIVAL OF PALM SPRINGS. THEY ARE THE AGUA CALIENTE BAND OF CAHUILLA INDIANS. A GOVERNMENT GRANT IN THE 1800'S MADE THE TRIBE THE BIGGEST LAND OWNER IN PALM SPRINGS. EVERY OTHER FOOT OF CITY LAND BELONGS TO THE AGUA CALIENTE BAND OF CAHUILLA INDIANS. THE CHOICE SPOT IS RIGHT DOWNTOWN, JUST OFF THE PALM TREE-LINED MAIN SHOPPING AREA, ON THE SITE OF THE MINERAL SPRINGS THAT GAVE THE AREA ITS NAME. IT IS THE SPA RESORT HOTEL AND CASINO AND IT HAS A $19 MILLION DOLLAR A YEAR IMPACT ON THE LOCAL ECONOMY.

WE ARE JOINED BY THE MAN WHO GUIDES THE AGUA CALIENTE BAND OF CAHUILLA INDIANS, TRIBAL CHAIRMAN RICHARD MILANOVICH. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR JOINING US.

RICHARD MILANOVICH>> I APPRECIATE THE INVITATION TO PARTICIPATE.

VAL>> SO GIVE US, IN A NUTSHELL, YOUR TRIBE'S EXPERIENCE BEFORE AND AFTER GAMBLING REVENUES.

RICHARD MILANOVICH>> WE DID A SOCIAL NEED SURVEY IN 1993, THE TRIBAL COUNCIL DID, THE TRIBAL GOVERNMENT, AND IT SHOWED THAT, OF THE 340 MEMBERS WE HAD AT THAT TIME, 50 PERCENT OR BETTER -- 50 PERCENT OR SO LIVED AT OR BELOW THE POVERTY LEVEL. WE HAD MULTIPLE FAMILIES LIVING IN SINGLE RUN-DOWN HOUSING.

VAL>> HERE IN PALM SPRINGS?

RICHARD MILANOVICH>> HERE IN PALM SPRINGS. YOU KNOW, IT AMAZES PEOPLE TO THINK THAT HERE IN PALM SPRINGS, AGUA CALIENTE, THE INDIAN PEOPLE, WERE LIVING IN HOVELS, LIVING IN SEEDY HOUSING, LIVING AT THE POVERTY LEVEL, GETTING GOVERNMENT COMMODITIES TO EAT. TODAY THAT'S NO LONGER THE CASE. TODAY WE HAVE A HOUSING PROGRAM WHERE WE WILL HELP THEM GET A HOME. WE'LL GIVE THEM UP TO $15,000 FOR A GRANT FOR A HOUSE, DOWN PAYMENT ON A HOME. WE HAVE HEALTH CARE. WE HAVE DENTAL CARE. WE HAVE VISION CARE. WE HAVE A RETIREMENT PLAN.

VAL>> SO YOU WERE VERY HESITANT TO GET INTO GAMBLING. WHY IS THAT?

RICHARD MILANOVICH>> PERSONALLY, I WAS HESITANT BECAUSE OF THE DIFFICULTIES THAT WERE TAKING PLACE WITH DIFFERENT TRIBES AT OPEN GAMING FACILITIES, THE GRAFT AND THE UNSCRUPULOUS CONSULTANTS THAT ASSOCIATED THEMSELVES WITH TRIBES OPENING FACILITIES. THERE WERE A LOT OF HORROR STORIES, INCLUDING TRIBAL PEOPLE THAT WERE TAKEN BY THE SUDDEN RUSH OF REVENUE AND DID THINGS THEY WOULDN'T NORMALLY OTHERWISE HAVE DONE.

VAL>> NOW MANY PEOPLE COMING TO PALM SPRINGS MAY NOT REALIZE THAT THE AGUA CALIENTE BAND OF INDIANS IS THE BIGGEST LAND OWNER IN PALM SPRINGS.

RICHARD MILANOVICH>> WELL, PALM SPRINGS IS RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF OUR RESERVATION (LAUGHTER).

VAL>> MUCH BETTER WAY OF PUTTING IT (LAUGHTER).

RICHARD MILANOVICH>> THANK YOU -- AS WELL AS CATHEDRAL CITY AND A PORTION OF RANCHO MIRAGE AND OF THE DEVELOPABLE LAND IN PALM SPRINGS ITSELF. WE OWN PROBABLY 65 PERCENT OF THAT.

VAL>> WHAT KIND OF RELATIONSHIP DOES YOUR TRIBE HAVE WITH PALM SPRINGS AS A CITY?

RICHARD MILANOVICH>> WE AGREED, BEFORE WE EVEN OPENED THE FACILITY, TO GIVE THE CITY A CERTAIN DOLLAR AMOUNT TO TRY AND OFFSET SOME OF THE PROJECTED COST TO THE PUBLIC SAFETY UNITS, THE POLICE AND FIRE DEPARTMENT. THAT HAS NEVER BEEN PUT INTO PLACE, THE ACTUAL AGREEMENT, BUT WE HAVE AGREED TO DO THAT.

VAL>> SO THIS IS NOT SOMETHING YOU HAVE TO DO, SO WHY ARE YOU DOING IT?

RICHARD MILANOVICH>> BECAUSE WE ARE A MEMBER OF THIS COMMUNITY AND WE FEEL A VERY INTEGRAL PART OF THIS COMMUNITY. WHAT WE DO HERE WILL HAVE SOME IMPACT. MOST OF THE TIME, IT'S POSITIVE IMPACT, BUT THERE IS GOING TO BE SOME NEGATIVE IMPACT. I MEAN, IRRESPECTIVE OF NOT WHAT THE NAYSAYERS ARE SAYING, INCREASED CRIME, INCREASED UNDESIRABLES INTO THE AREA AND WHATNOT, BUT THERE WILL BE AN IMPACT. IF WE CAN HELP MITIGATE SOME OF THAT IMPACT, WE'RE ALL BETTER OFF BECAUSE WE STILL LIVE HERE. I MEAN, I WENT TO SCHOOL HERE, MY KIDS WENT TO SCHOOL HERE AND, MEMBERS THAT STILL LIVE HERE, THEIR KIDS STILL GO TO SCHOOL HERE. SO WE WANT TO MAKE THIS A COMMUNITY WHICH THEY ARE COMFORTABLE HAVING OUR BUSINESS IN.

VAL>> SO THIS PLACE WILL EVENTUALLY BE RENOVATED, BUT FIRST YOU'RE PLANNING A MAJOR CASINO ABOUT SEVEN MILES AWAY FROM HERE IN RANCHO MIRAGE.

RICHARD MILANOVICH>> IT'S AN $80 MILLION DOLLAR FACILITY, COST-WISE, 135,000 SQUARE FEET THEREABOUTS. IT'LL HAVE FOUR RESTAURANTS, IT'LL HAVE A MULTI-PURPOSE ROOM --

VAL>> -- BUT CRITICS THERE, NEIGHBORS, SAY THEY'VE COME THERE FOR PEACE AND QUIET AND NOW THIS CASINO'S GOING TO BE RUNNING 24 HOURS A DAY, IT'S GOING TO IMPACT THE QUALITY OF LIFE THERE.

RICHARD MILANOVICH>> THERE'S TWO OFF-RAMPS GOING INTO RANCHO MIRAGE. ONE OF THEM IS AT THE BOB HOPE INTERSECTION AND THE OTHER IS MONTEREY. AT THE INTERSECTION OF MONTEREY, YOU HAVE A COSTCO, YOU HAVE A HOME DEPOT (LAUGHTER) ETC., ETC., PETCO. AT THE OTHER OFF-RAMP, YOU'LL HAVE AN $80 MILLION DOLLAR STATE OF THE ART, FIRST-CLASS GAMING FACILITY. WE MET WITH THE CITY OF RANCHO MIRAGE. WE SHOWED THEM THE PLANS AND SAID THIS IS WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO. DO YOU HAVE ANY CONCERNS? IF YOU HAVE ANY CONCERNS, PLEASE LET US KNOW. AT THE TIME, MARILYN GLASSMAN, WHO WAS THE MAYOR, SAID, RICHARD, DO IT FIRST-CLASS. I TOLD HER, MADAM MAYOR, WE ARE DOING IT FIRST-CLASS. YOU WILL BE VERY PROUD OF THIS FACILITY.

VAL>> NOT JUST YOUR TRIBE, BUT ALL GAMING TRIBES IN CALIFORNIA HAVE EXPERIENCED A MAJOR TRANSFORMATION IN POLITICAL POWER. THEY HAVE ENORMOUS POLITICAL POWER IN SACRAMENTO AND IN WASHINGTON. IS THAT SOMETHING GOOD?

RICHARD MILANOVICH>> I HAVEN'T NOTICED ANY (LAUGHTER). IT'S NICE TO GET THE PHONE CALLS.

VAL>> PHONE CALLS RETURNED.

RICHARD MILANOVICH>> DEFINITELY, AND FROM THE INDIVIDUALS THEMSELVES, THE LAWMAKERS THEMSELVES, RATHER THAN THE STAFF. I THINK WHAT IT'S ALLOWED US TO DO IS TO HAVE THE ACCESS WHICH WE DIDN'T HAVE BEFORE. I MEAN, BEFORE WE HAD THE RESOURCES, THEY WERE BUSY WITH OTHER INDIVIDUALS, OTHER CORPORATE BODIES, OTHER BODIES, AGENCIES, ETC., TRYING TO ADDRESS THEIR CONSTITUENT'S CONCERNS. WE HAD THE SAME CONCERNS, BUT WE'D NEVER HAD THE ABILITY TO GET IN. NOW WE HAVE THE ABILITY TO GET IN WHEN WE CALL THE FIRST TIME.

VAL>> SO WHAT IMPACT DO YOU THINK A BUSH PRESIDENCY WILL HAVE ON NATIVE-AMERICAN INTERESTS?

RICHARD MILANOVICH>> THERE IS A CONCERN ON TRIBAL GOVERNMENT'S PART THAT, DURING THE CAMPAIGN, WE TRIED TO GET AN AUDIENCE WITH GOVERNOR BUSH. WE WERE NOT SUCCESSFUL. WE GOT FEEDBACK FROM HIS CAMPAIGN SAYING THE GOVERNOR UNDERSTANDS YOUR POSITIONS, PLEASE REST ASSURED THAT WE WILL DO OUR UTMOST TO MAINTAIN YOUR SOVEREIGN STATUS. BUT THEN WE'D REFER BACK TO A SPEECH THAT HE HAD MADE, I THINK IT WAS NOVEMBER '96 OR '98, SAYING THAT STATE'S RIGHTS SHOULD HAVE OVERALL A SENSE OF -- YOU KNOW, TAKE PRECEDENCE OVER ANYTHING ELSE, AND THAT HAS US CONCERNED.

VAL>> WHAT DO YOU THINK, IN THE LONG RUN, THE EFFECT OF GAMBLING AND ALL THESE CASINOS WILL HAVE ON THE CHARACTER OF THE AGUA CALIENTE BAND?

RICHARD MILANOVICH>> YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU GROW UP NOT HAVING ANYTHING AND THEN WHEN YOU SUDDENLY HAVE SOMETHING, MORE THAN WHAT WAS THERE BEFORE, IT'S HUMAN NATURE TO JUST WANT MORE, BUT NOBODY'S ON THE PUBLIC ROLL NOW, NOBODY'S RECEIVING PUBLIC SERVICES. THEY THEMSELVES ARE HAPPY ABOUT THAT BECAUSE, WHEN YOU CAN DO IT ON YOUR OWN OR WHEN YOU CAN HELP YOUR OWN, YOU HAVE A HIGHER SENSE OF SELF-ESTEEM AND SELF-WORTH. YOU BECOME A DIFFERENT PERSON. YOU KNOW, WE NO LONGER HAVE THE COMMODITY TRUCKS RUNNING THROUGH DOWNTOWN PALM SPRINGS WHERE YOU GO GET YOUR FIVE POUNDS OF CHEESE AND YOUR NUMBER TEN CANS OF STEW, GOVERNMENT COMMODITIES.

VAL>> RICHARD MILANOVICH, TRIBAL CHAIRMAN OF THE AGUA CALIENTE BAND OF INDIANS, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.

RICHARD MILANOVICH>> THANK YOU FOR INVITING ME TO PARTICIPATE. I TRULY HAD A GREAT TIME.

VAL>> OUR NEXT STOP IS THE PALM SPRINGS AERIAL TRAMWAY. IT'S THE AREA'S OLDEST ATTRACTION AND IT REOPENED THIS FALL WITH NEW ROTATING CARS. THE 12-MINUTE RIDE TO THE TOP OF THE SAN JACINTO MOUNTAINS TAKES YOU 8,500 FEET ABOVE SEA LEVEL. NOW THIS MAY BE THE OLDEST, BUT IT'S HARDLY THE ONLY ATTRACTION IN PALM SPRINGS, SO WE ASKED A LOCAL, MARK GRAVES, TO GIVE US A TOUR OF HIS FAVORITE OLD AND NEW SITES. MARK IS WITH THE PALM SPRINGS DESERT RESORT CONVENTION AND TOURIST AUTHORITY.

[FILM CLIP]

MARK GRAVES>> PALM SPRINGS IS EXPERIENCING A REBIRTH OF ITS PAST RIGHT NOW. PEOPLE ARE DISCOVERING WHAT IT ONCE HAD AND WHAT IT ONCE HELD AS A PLAYGROUND FOR THE HOLLYWOOD TYPES, BUT YET IT STILL HAS A GREAT HISTORIC QUALITY TO IT, A VERY SPIRITUAL QUALITY TO IT, AND MORE PEOPLE ARE FINDING THAT OUT.

[FILM CLIP]

WE'RE ON PALM CANYON DRIVE. A WOMAN NAMED RUTH HARDY, WHO WAS INSTRUMENTAL IN THE GROWTH OF PALM SPRINGS, INSISTED THAT THEY PLANT PALM TREES ALL THE WAY DOWN PALM CANYON DRIVE.

OVER ON THE LEFT HERE IS ONE OF FRANK SINATRA'S FAVORITE RESTAURANTS FROM MANY YEARS AGO, SORRENTINO'S.

THIS IS MOVING INTO THE HEART OF PALM SPRINGS MORE HERE. THIS IS A MAJOR INTERSECTION HERE AT TAHQUITZ CANYON WAY AND SOUTH PALM CANYON. ON THE LEFT UP HERE IS THE HISTORIC PALM CANYON THEATER WHERE THE FABULOUS PALM SPRINGS FOLLIES ARE STAGED.

[FILM CLIP]

I'M HERE WITH TOM CAPRA, WHO IS THE OWNER OF CAPRA'S. IT'S A WONDERFUL ITALIAN RISTORANTE. TOM IS THE SON OF LEGENDARY FILMMAKER, FRANK CAPRA. I UNDERSTAND YOU SPENT MANY YEARS IN THE TELEVISION BUSINESS AT ABC, CBS AND NBC, BUT YOU EVENTUALLY RETURNED TO PALM SPRINGS. WHAT WAS THE REASON FOR DOING THAT?

TOM CAPRA>> OH, JUST TO GET OUT OF THE RAT RACE, MORE THAN ANYTHING ELSE. YOU KNOW, WE HAD A LOT OF MEMORABILIA AND WE THOUGHT WE COULD PUT IT TO GOOD USE IN THE RESTAURANT.

MARK GRAVES>> AND AS I UNDERSTAND IT, TOM, YOU ACTUALLY USED TO STAY HERE IN PALM SPRINGS AT A HOTEL RIGHT ACROSS THE STREET WHEN YOU WERE YOUNGER.

TOM CAPRA>> RIGHT ACROSS THE STREET. THAT'S RIGHT.

MARK GRAVES>> WHAT WAS THAT LIKE?

TOM CAPRA>> THE OLD DESERT INN. WELL, THIS WAS A GREAT TOWN IN THOSE DAYS. A GREAT TOWN FOR A KID BECAUSE THERE WAS A MOVIE HOUSE RIGHT OVER THERE AND MY PARENTS WENT TO THE CHI CHI CLUB WHICH WAS DOWN THE STREET. THIS IS A VERY WONDERFUL -- IT'S JUST A GREAT PLACE. I MEAN, THERE'S SOMETHING SPIRITUAL ABOUT THIS WHOLE VALLEY THAT IT'S JUST A GREAT CALMING INFLUENCE ON EVERYBODY. I THINK THAT'S WHY ALL PEOPLE COME HERE.

MARK GRAVES>> THERE'S AN OLD STORY THAT THE ACTOR, ALAN LADD -- THIS IS HOW THE STORY GOES. ALAN LADD NEEDED SOME HARDWARE EQUIPMENT WHEN HE LIVED HERE ONCE AND, WHEN HE CALLED UP AND FOUND OUT THEY DIDN'T DELIVER IT, HE HUNG UP THE PHONE AND DECIDED, OKAY, I'M GOING TO OPEN MY OWN HARDWARE STORE. HE OPENED HIS OWN PLACE CALLED ALAN LADD'S WHICH SOLD HARDWARE, AMONG OTHER THINGS, AND, TO THIS DAY, ALAN LADD'S STANDS HERE ON THE CORNER OF RAMON AND PALM CANYON. IT'S RIGHT HERE.

CHARLIE FERRELL AND RALPH BELLAMY COULDN'T FIND A PLACE TO PLAY TENNIS BECAUSE MARLENE DIETRICH KICKED THEM OFF THE COURTS, SO THEY WENT AND THEY BUILT THE RACQUET CLUB. SO THEY HAD THEIR VERY OWN PLACE TO PLAY TENNIS, AND THEN EVERYONE ELSE STARTED COMING OUT HERE AND STAYING AT THE RACQUET CLUB.

WE'RE COMING UP ON CASA DE LIBERACE, A HOME THAT WAS OWNED BY THE FAMOUS PIANIST, LIBERACE. VERY UNIQUE HOME. THE LIGHT OUTSIDE IS ACTUALLY A GIANT CANDELABRA. THIS WALL HERE WHICH IS AROUND CASA DE LIBERACE WASN'T ALWAYS HERE. IT WAS BUILT AT THE REQUEST OF THE CHURCH WHICH SITS KITTY-CORNER TO THE CASA DE LIBERACE. THERE WERE A LOT OF ENTHUSIASTIC PARTIES AND LIVING GOING ON HERE AND THE CHURCH REQUESTED THAT IT BE BUILT AND SO IT WAS.

THE WILLOWS HISTORIC PALM SPRINGS INN WAS ORIGINALLY A PRIVATE RESIDENCE AND LATER A PERMANENT RESIDENCE OF MARION DAVIES, WHO WAS THE LIFELONG MISTRESS OF WILLIAM RANDOLPH HEARST. THE WILLOWS WAS ALSO VISITED BY MANY CELEBRITIES OVER THE YEARS, MOST NOTABLY GABLE AND LOMBARD, WHO HONEYMOONED HERE, AND ALBERT EINSTEIN.

THIS POINT HERE IS ACTUALLY A SPACE ON THE SIDE OF A MOUNTAIN THAT'S BETWEEN THE O'DONNELL HOUSE WHICH WAS BUILT IN 1925 AND DOWN BELOW IS THE WILLOWS HISTORIC PALM SPRINGS INN WHICH WAS BUILT IN 1927. THIS BENCH AREA OUT HERE IS ACTUALLY WHERE ALBERT EINSTEIN, WHO WAS OFTEN A GUEST AT THE WILLOWS, WOULD COME UP AND SIT AND CONTEMPLATE AND LOOK OUT AND JUST ENJOY THE BEAUTIFUL VIEWS OF THE DESERT.

THIS IS ONE OF THE OLDEST PROPERTIES IN PALM SPRINGS. IT WAS BUILT IN 1937 AS THE SAN JACINTO HOTEL AND WAS A FAVORITE OF THE CELEBRITY SCENE. IT'S BEEN OPENED RECENTLY. ACTUALLY, TODAY IS THE DAY IT REOPENED. TODAY IT'S BALLENTINE'S MOVIE COLONY AND IT WAS DESIGNED AND REFURBISHED BY SARAH ROBARTS AND HER HUSBAND, FRAZIER ROBERTSON, WHO IS HERE TODAY. SARAH, WHAT WAS IT THAT MADE YOU ALL WANT TO DO THIS?

SARAH ROBARTS>> WELL, WE LOVE THE MID-CENTURY MODERN ARCHITECTURE. THIS IS AN ALBERT FREY-DESIGNED HOTEL, SO WE WERE REALLY INSPIRED BY THE ARCHITECTURE AND WE WANTED TO HAVE SOMETHING THAT WAS FABULOUS 50'S, KITSCHY, THAT CAPTURED REALLY THE FUN OF PALM SPRINGS' HEYDAY.

[FILM CLIP]

MARK GRAVES>> PEOPLE ARE DISCOVERING THAT PALM SPRINGS IS A WONDERFUL PLACE TO COME TO AND YOU'RE NEVER THAT FAR FROM THE DESERT OR THAT FAR FROM BEING AT PEACE OR BEING AWAY FROM IT ALL, SO IT HAS SO MANY THINGS THAT IT CAN OFFER. IT HAS A LOT OF HISTORY TO IT AND I THINK THAT'S WHAT PEOPLE ARE COMING BACK TO. THEY'RE COMING BACK TO A TIME THAT WAS AND THEY CAN STILL HAVE THAT. THEY CAN STILL HAVE WHAT WAS IN PALM SPRINGS AND HAVE WHAT IS NEW AS WELL.

JESS>> THANKS FOR JOINING US FOR THIS EDITION OF THE BEST OF LIFE AND TIMES TONIGHT.

VAL>> TIL NEXT TIME, HAVE A GREAT EVENING.

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

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

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.

AND THE CALIFORNIA COMMUNITY FOUNDATION
UNDERWRITING THE SPANISH LANGUAGE TRANSLATION OF LIFE AND TIMES TONIGHT.

TO REACH US AT LIFE AND TIMES TONIGHT, CALL 323-953-5555. SEND US AN E-MAIL TO LIFEANDTIMES@KCET.ORG OR LOG ONTO OUR WEB SITE AT WWW.KCET.ORG TO SEND MESSAGES OR DOWNLOAD TRANSCRIPTS OF TONIGHT'S PROGRAM.