3/22/01

LC010322

VAL>> ON LIFE AND TIMES TONIGHT --

JESS>> THINK BACK, MAYBE WAY BACK FOR SOME OF US, TO WHEN YOU WERE IN SCHOOL. WOULD YOU BE WILLING TO TATTLE ON YOUR FRIENDS?

JIM HILL>> IT'S ENOUGH TO MAKE EVEN THE MOST OUTGOING TEENAGER FEEL ALONE IN THE CROWD, TO BE ON THE LOOKOUT FOR ANY THREATS OF SCHOOL VIOLENCE OR BULLYING AND THEN INFORM ON THE THREAT-MAKER.

MARCUS VANDENBERG>> IF IT WAS A CLOSE FRIEND OF MINE, THEN I HIGHLY DOUBT THAT I WOULD SAY ANYTHING JUST BECAUSE LOYALTY TO MY FRIENDS -- I MEAN, MY FRIENDS ARE PROBABLY THE MOST IMPORTANT THING TO ME.

VAL>> AND IS OUR ENERGY CRISIS WORSE THAN WE'VE BEEN LED TO BELIEVE? WE'LL GO LIVE TO SACRAMENTO AND TALK WITH SOMEONE WHO SAYS, "YES, IT IS", IN TONIGHT'S THINKERS, SHAKERS & NEWSMAKERS.

JESS>> ALSO, PATT MORRISON QUESTIONS THE USE OF POLITICS FOR MEDICINAL PURPOSES.

PATT>> A BETTER PILL OR A BITTER PILL? A SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA COUNTY TRIES TO REMAKE NATIONAL FAMILY PLANNING POLICY, ON TONIGHT'S INFINITELY MORRISON.

VAL>> AND CALIFORNIA MAY NOT HAVE A GOVERNOR'S MANSION, BUT DID YOU KNOW THAT LOS ANGELES HAS AN OFFICIAL MAYOR'S RESIDENCE? IT IS THE HISTORIC GETTY HOUSE IN HANCOCK PARK. IT IS NOW RESTORED TO ITS FORMER GLORY AND, FOR A SHORT TIME, YOU CAN SEE IT FOR YOURSELF. WE TALK WITH L.A.'S FIRST LADY, NANCY DALY RIORDAN, ABOUT THE HISTORY AND RENOVATION OF THE GETTY HOUSE.

JESS>> THESE STORIES COMING UP NEXT ON LIFE AND TIMES TONIGHT.

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. OUR TOP STORY TONIGHT LOOKS AT THREATS OF SCHOOL VIOLENCE. EVEN AS WE BROADCAST THIS PROGRAM, POLICE ARE INVESTIGATING ANOTHER SCHOOL SHOOTING IN EL CAJON NEAR SAN DIEGO.

VAL>> EDUCATORS ACROSS THE NATION ARE ON THE LOOKOUT FOR ANY THREATS OF CAMPUS VIOLENCE AND STUDENTS ARE FEELING PRESSURE TO REPORT ANYTHING THAT MIGHT HINT OF DANGER. JIM HILL TALKED WITH A NUMBER OF LOS ANGELES TEENAGERS ABOUT THE NEW CLIMATE OF ANXIETY AND WHETHER THEY COULD REALLY TURN IN A FRIEND.

JIM>> IT'S ENOUGH TO MAKE EVEN THE MOST OUTGOING TEENAGER FEEL ALONE IN THE CROWD, TO BE ON THE LOOKOUT FOR ANY THREATS OF SCHOOL VIOLENCE OR BULLYING AND THEN INFORM ON THE THREAT-MAKER. EASIER SAID THAN DONE, AS ONE STUDENT LEARNED THE HARD WAY.

SHENGU BAJRAMI>> SO WE WERE WALKING BY AND I SEE THIS GIRL SWING AND SHE HITS ME IN MY EYE AND I GET KNOCKED OUT FOR A WHILE. I DON'T HEAR ANYTHING AND MY FRIEND WALKS ME TO THE NURSE AND MY EYE IS BLEEDING. BUT IT TURNED OUT LATER THAT FIVE PEOPLE SAW IT, BUT THEY WERE SCARED TO SAY ANYTHING.

JIM>> THERE WAS A HAPPIER ENDING FOR MARY GRACE HERNANDEZ, ONE OF THE STUDENTS WHO TALKED WITH US AT MARSHALL HIGH SCHOOL IN THE ETHNICALLY AND ECONOMICALLY DIVERSE COMMUNITY OF SILVER LAKE. SHE ONCE MADE THE LONELY DECISION TO INFORM ON A SUICIDAL FRIEND AND MAY WELL HAVE SAVED HER FRIEND'S LIFE.

MARY GRACE HERNANDEZ>> I THINK IT'S NOT SO MUCH ABOUT BEING LOYAL TO YOUR FRIENDS THAT, LIKE, YOU KNOW, YOU'RE NOT GOING TO TELL ON HER BECAUSE, IF YOU REALLY CARE ABOUT THAT FRIEND, YOU WOULD DO WHAT'S BEST AND LOGICALLY TELLING SOMEONE WOULD BE THE BEST THING TO DO.

[FILM CLIP]

JIM>> IN THE WAKE OF THE SCHOOL SHOOTING IN SANTEE, STUDENTS ARE BEING ASKED TO DO THE SAME. TURN IN THREAT-MAKERS OR BULLIES, EVEN THOSE WHO MAY BE JOKING, EVEN IF IT'S YOUR BEST FRIEND. MARCUS VANDENBERG AND HIS STUDENT COLLEAGUES ON THE NEWSPAPER, "L.A. YOUTH", AGREED IT WOULD BE A TOUGH CALL.

MARCUS VANDENBERG>> IF IT WAS A CLOSE FRIEND OF MINE, THEN I HIGHLY DOUBT THAT I WOULD SAY ANYTHING JUST BECAUSE LOYALTY TO MY FRIENDS -- I MEAN, MY FRIENDS ARE PROBABLY THE MOST IMPORTANT THING TO ME.

JIM>> SO YOU WOULDN'T AUTOMATICALLY INFORM ON YOUR BEST FRIEND?

SCOTT BRANCH>> NO.

JIM>> MAKE YOUR OWN JUDGMENT?

SCOTT BRANCH>> YEAH.

JIM>> WHY IS THAT?

SCOTT BRANCH>> YOU'RE GOING TO KNOW YOUR BEST FRIEND. LIKE, YOU'LL KNOW IF HE'S SERIOUS OR NOT, WHAT HE'S THINKING ABOUT, WHAT HE'S GOING THROUGH IN HIS LIFE RIGHT NOW. LIKE, YOU REALLY THINK HE WOULD DO THAT?

JIM>> A STUDY BY THE U.S. SECRET SERVICE HAS SHOWN THAT, IN VIRTUALLY ALL SCHOOL SHOOTINGS, THE KILLERS SPOKE OF THEIR PLANS AHEAD OF TIME. THEY TOLD SOMEONE. BUT IN TOO MANY CASES, LIKE SANTEE, THEY SIMPLY WEREN'T TAKEN SERIOUSLY.

DIANA PEREZ>> IF THEY'RE LAUGHING AND JUST PLAYING AROUND AND STUFF, I WOULD TAKE IT AS A JOKE, BUT I WOULD HAVE IT IN THE BACK OF MY MIND AND I WOULD JUST WATCH THEM CLOSER.

JIM>> BUT YOU WOULDN'T AUTOMATICALLY INFORM?

DIANA PEREZ>> I WOULDN'T AUTOMATICALLY INFORM.

JIM>> WHILE YOUNG CHILDREN READILY CONFIDE IN ADULTS, PSYCHOLOGISTS LIKE TAWNYA PERRY OF THE LOS ANGELES UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT SAY THE TEENAGE YEARS ARE THE OPPOSITE. KIDS FORM TIGHT SOCIAL GROUPS, CLIQUES, WHERE LOYALTY AND BONDS OF FRIENDSHIP CAN BE STRONGER THAN AT ANY OTHER TIME IN A PERSON'S LIFE.

TAWNYA PERRY>> BY THE TIME THEY GET TO HIGH SCHOOL, YOUR AVERAGE STUDENT, THAT IS REALLY SOLIDIFIED, THAT WHO THEY ARE IS CONNECTED A LOT WITH THE PEOPLE THAT THEY ASSOCIATE WITH, PEOPLE WHO ARE THE SAME AGE AS THEM, BECAUSE THEY'RE THE ONLY ONES THAT CAN TRULY FEEL WHAT THEY ARE FEELING. SO THEY KIND OF DISCONNECT FROM THE ADULTS IN THEIR LIVES. THEY'RE REALLY FEELING LIKE IT IS US AGAINST THEM IN A WAY.

JIM>> NOT ONLY DO THE KIDS HAVE TO STRUGGLE WITH THE DEVELOPING SENSE OF LOYALTY, BUT THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE ITSELF PAINTS A PRETTY NEGATIVE PICTURE OF ONE PERSON INFORMING ON ANOTHER. RAT, FOR EXAMPLE, IS DEFINED AS ONE WHO BETRAYS OR DESERTS FRIENDS OR ASSOCIATES. FINK, ONE WHO IS HELD IN CONTEMPT, AN INFORMER. AND SYNONYMS FOR AN INFORMER INCLUDE BETRAYER, CANARY, FINK, SNITCH, SQUEALER AND STOOL PIGEON. STUDENTS ALSO KNOW THAT INFORMING NOW HAS SERIOUS CONSEQUENCES. AT LEAST A DOZEN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA STUDENTS HAVE BEEN ARRESTED FOR ALLEGED THREATS IN RECENT WEEKS AFTER OTHERS INFORMED ON THEM.

SCOTT BRANCH>> I THINK THEY KNOW IN A WAY THAT, LIKE, YOU'RE NOT GOING TO RAT YOUR BEST FRIEND OUT, YOU KNOW? YOU'RE GOING TO SEE WHAT'S GOING ON YOURSELF.

MARCUS VANDENBERG>> IF IT WAS FOUND OUT THAT HE WAS JOKING AND I GOT INVOLVED IN HIS BUSINESS, THEN I WOULD BE LOOKED DOWN ON AS, YOU KNOW, A TATTLETALE OR A RAT AND I WOULDN'T WANT TO BE KNOWN AS THAT.

JIM>> FOR EDUCATORS, THE TASK MAY BE NOTHING LESS THAN TRYING TO REDEFINE JUST WHAT IT MEANS TO BE LOYAL TO YOUR FRIENDS.

TAWNYA PERRY>> SO WHAT WE'RE REALLY ASKING IS THAT STUDENTS TAKE A STAND AND NOT BE AFRAID TO SORT OF STEP OUTSIDE OF THE GROUP MENTALITY AND, REALLY, TO STEP OUTSIDE THE GROUP MENTALITY FOR THE GOOD OF THE GROUP.

JESS>> THANK YOU, JIM HILL. WE WELCOME YOU TO LIFE AND TIMES TONIGHT. WE LOOK FORWARD TO FUTURE REPORTS FROM YOU AS WELL. NOW, WILL THIS CHANGE AT ALL BECAUSE WE TODAY HAVE ANOTHER SHOOTING THIS TIME IN EL CAJON?

JIM>> IT WILL PROBABLY JUST INTENSIFY. YOU'RE RIGHT. A SHOOTING IN EL CAJON IRONICALLY JUST A FEW MILES FROM SANTEE. EIGHTEEN-YEAR-OLD SUSPECT OPENS FIRE, FIVE PEOPLE WOUNDED BY GUNFIRE INCLUDING THE SUSPECT. LUCKILY, NOBODY WITH A LIFE-THREATENING INJURY, SO THAT'S THE ONLY BRIGHT SPOT IN YET ANOTHER SCHOOL SHOOTING.

VAL>> NOW ARE THERE OFFICIAL POLICIES THAT STUDENTS HAVE TO INFORM ON OTHER STUDENTS OR IS IT SOMETHING JUST INFORMAL, SOMETHING THAT KIDS ARE ENCOURAGED TO DO?

JIM>> WELL, SO FAR, IT DEPENDS ON THE SCHOOL DISTRICT. IT VARIES A GREAT DEAL. BUT I THINK THE COMMON DENOMINATOR HERE IS THAT, WHETHER IT'S BY OFFICIAL POLICY FROM PARENTS, FROM TEACHERS, KIDS ARE ALL FEELING THE PRESSURE. THEY KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON. THEY KNOW THEY'RE BEING EXPECTED NOW TO ESSENTIALLY READ THE MINDS ALMOST OF THEIR FRIENDS AND TO THROW OUT LOYALTY AT THE VERY TIME IN LIFE WHEN THEY ARE FORMING THE STRONGEST BONDS OF LOYALTY. THIS IS NORMAL. THIS IS WHAT TEENAGERS DO. THEY'RE ALMOST BEING ROBBED OF THEIR CHILDHOOD IN THIS REGARD BY BEING TOLD, LOOK, YOU CAN'T BE LIKE THAT ANYMORE. YOU ALMOST HAVE TO SUSPECT EVERYBODY AROUND YOU, INCLUDING YOUR FRIENDS.

JESS>> DOES LOS ANGELES UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT HAVE A FORMAL POLICY?

JIM>> YES, SOME OF THEM DO. AS A MATTER OF FACT, COSTA MESA NOW HAS A POLICY ON BULLYING IN WHICH STUDENTS WHO ARE FOUND TO HAVE BULLIED OTHERS COULD FACE EXPULSION OR COULD BE SENT TO OTHER SCHOOLS, TAKEN AWAY FROM THEIR OWN ENVIRONMENT.

VAL>> JIM HILL, NICE TO SEE YOU HERE. THANK YOU SO MUCH.

OUR TOP STORY TOMORROW, TODAY'S ENERGY CRISIS ISN'T THE FIRST TIME WE'VE BEEN COMPELLED TO TAKE A LOOK AT DIFFERENT WAYS OF GENERATING POWER.

GAY YEE>> IT TOOK AN ENERGY CRISIS IN THE 70'S TO INTRODUCE THE IDEA OF ALTERNATIVE ENERGY TO MANY PEOPLE. CONSERVATIONISTS SAY MAYBE THE CURRENT CRISIS WILL MOVE THE IDEA FORWARD.

>> ALL THESE THINGS ARE NOT SORT OF A SEXY THING TO DO FOR THE MOMENT. THESE ARE THINGS THAT HAVE TO BE PART OF OUR LIFE FOREVER.

VAL>> THE MINOR LEAGUERS OF POWER GENERATION GET CALLED UP TO THE MAJORS. THAT'S TOMORROW ON LIFE AND TIMES TONIGHT AT 7:00 P.M.

JESS>> IN TONIGHT'S THINKERS, SHAKERS & NEWSMAKERS, A TASTE OF THINGS TO COME. IF YOU THOUGHT THINGS WERE TOUGH THIS WEEK AND WHEN IT GOT A LITTLE WARM AND THE LIGHTS WENT OUT, YOU AIN'T, AS THEY SAY, SEEN NOTHIN' YET.

VAL>> GOVERNOR DAVIS CONTINUES TO PUT A POSITIVE SPIN ON THE ENERGY SUPPLY, BUT ONE STATE SENATOR SAYS BLUNTLY, "WE OWE THE PEOPLE THE TRUTH ABOUT HOW DIFFICULT THIS SUMMER IS GOING TO BE. WE DON'T HAVE A POWER FAIRY." STATE SENATOR, DEBRA BOWEN, YOU CHAIR THE ENERGY COMMITTEE. IS IT GOING TO BE THAT BAD?

DEBRA BOWEN>> I'M AFRAID IT COULD BE THAT BAD. THERE ARE A LOT OF THINGS THAT ARE NOT WITHIN OUR CONTROL. MUCH OF THIS DEPENDS ON WHAT THE WEATHER DOES, BUT WE KNOW THAT THIS IS THE FOURTH DRIEST WINTER IN THE HISTORY OF THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST AND WE NORMALLY GET 20 PERCENT OF OUR ENERGY IN THE SUMMER FROM HYDROELECTRIC POWER. WHEN IT'S DRY, THERE'S NO WATER, AND WHEN THERE'S NO WATER, YOU CAN'T GENERATE POWER.

JESS>> SENATOR BOWEN, WE'VE BEEN TOLD THE STATE COULD BE FORCED TO BUY MOST OF ITS POWER FOR THE COMING SUMMER FROM THE COSTLY SPOT MARKET. DOESN'T THAT GUARANTEE A PROBLEM?

DEBRA BOWEN>> WELL, THAT GUARANTEES THAT WE WILL BE PAYING PHENOMENAL AMOUNTS OF MONEY UNLESS SOMETHING RADICAL HAPPENS. THE PHYSICAL SUPPLY CONSTRAINTS, THE DROUGHT IN THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST, IS A DIFFERENT ISSUE THAN HOW MUCH IT WILL COST US, BOTH CAUSE ME TO BE VERY CONCERNED ABOUT WHAT THE STATE'S FACING IN THE COMING SUMMER.

VAL>> AND, MS. BOWEN, ANOTHER ISSUE IS THAT THE GOVERNOR KEEPS SAYING THAT HE'S GOING TO REVEAL TO CALIFORNIANS ALL THE LONG-TERM CONTRACTS THAT HE'S SUPPOSEDLY BEEN SIGNING AND NOW THERE'S A REPORT OUT THAT SAYS THERE'S A LOT FEWER OF THOSE CONTRACTS THAN EXPECTED. IS THAT RIGHT?

DEBRA BOWEN>> THE CONCERN IS ABOUT THE AMOUNT OF POWER THAT THE STATE WAS ABLE TO SECURE IN THE NEXT SIX TO EIGHT MONTHS AND IT'S NOT DIFFERENT THAN WHAT I'VE BEEN LED TO EXPECT FROM THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE. WE KNEW THAT MUCH OF THE POWER PRODUCED IN FACILITIES IN CALIFORNIA HAD ALREADY BEEN SOLD TO OTHER PARTIES FOR THIS SUMMER AND YOU KNOW THAT MEANS THAT THEY WILL BE ATTEMPTING TO SELL THAT POWER BACK TO US AT PHENOMENAL PRICES DURING PERIODS OF SHORTFALL.

JESS>> DOES THIS DENY OR REJECT THE REPORT THAT THE STATE HAD SIGNED CONTRACTS FOR LESS THAN 2,500 MEGAWATTS WHEN EARLIER IT HAD BEEN CLAIMED THAT THEY HAD SIGNED CONTRACTS FOR 6,000 TO 7,000 MEGAWATTS?

DEBRA BOWEN>> I THINK BOTH ARE TRUE. THEY DID SIGN CONTRACTS FOR A GREAT DEAL OF POWER, BUT MUCH OF THE SUPPLY DOES NOT BEGIN TO BE AVAILABLE UNTIL THIS FALL OR NEXT YEAR, AND THE CONCERN THAT I HAVE RIGHT NOW IS HOW WE GET THROUGH THIS SUMMER.

VAL>> THAT IS THE KEY QUESTION. HOW WILL WE GET THROUGH? ARE WE JUST GOING TO HAVE TO FACE THE FACT THAT -- PREPARE OURSELVES FOR BLACKOUTS? GET MICRO-TURBINES AND PUT THEM IN OUR BACK YARD? WHAT'S YOUR RECOMMENDATION?

DEBRA BOWEN>> WELL, WE ARE GOING TO HAVE TO PUT AS MUCH SOLAR POWER ONLINE AS WE CAN BEFORE THE SUMMER BEGINS. WE WILL HAVE SOME ADDITIONAL MICRO-TURBINES, ALTHOUGH MOST OF THE PHYSICAL PLANT THAT WOULD BE AVAILABLE HAS ALREADY BEEN SOLD TOO. THE ORDERS TAKE SOME TIME IN ADVANCE AND THE CONSTRUCTION AND PUTTING NEW POWER SUPPLIES ONLINE TAKES ANYWHERE FROM THREE MONTHS TO TWO YEARS IN THE CASE OF A BIG POWER PLANT. AND EVEN IF THINGS GO VERY WELL, I THINK WE WILL STILL HAVE PERIODS WHEN WE HAVE BLACKOUTS BECAUSE THERE SIMPLY IS NOT GOING TO BE ENOUGH POWER IN THE WESTERN UNITED STATES. IT WILL BE A REGIONAL ISSUE. IT'S NOT GOING TO BE A CALIFORNIA-ONLY PROBLEM.

JESS>> IT MAY NOT BE A CALIFORNIA-ONLY PROBLEM, BUT MANY PEOPLE BLAME CALIFORNIA FOR THAT, INCLUDING PEOPLE WHO RESIDE IN WASHINGTON, SOME EVEN IN THE WHITE HOUSE. IS WASHINGTON NOT WILLING TO HELP US AT ALL?

DEBRA BOWEN>> WELL, THE FEDERAL ENERGY REGULATORY COMMISSION IS THE POLICE OFFICER FOR THE WHOLESALE ELECTRICITY MARKET.

JESS>> BUT THEY'VE REFUSED TO PUT A PRICE CAP ON POWER.

DEBRA BOWEN>> I THINK AT THIS POINT THAT THE WESTERN STATES NEED TO GO TOGETHER TO THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AND ASK NOT FOR A PERMANENT PRICE CAP, BUT FOR SOME KIND OF TEMPORARY MARKET STABILIZATION MECHANISMS TO GET US THROUGH THE SUMMER. WE HAVE DONE EVERYTHING THAT THE FERC HAD ASKED THE STATE TO DO IN THE ORDER THAT IT MADE. WE HAVE SECURED POWER TO THE EXTENT IT WAS AVAILABLE IN LONG-TERM CONTRACTS. WE ARE AGGRESSIVELY PROMOTING CONSERVATION. WE'VE MADE AGGRESSIVE MOVES TO PUT MORE SUPPLY ONLINE. THE STATE SIMPLY CAN'T BUY POWER THAT'S NOT FOR SALE. AND, AGAIN, I BELIEVE THAT THIS HAS THE POTENTIAL TO HAVE ENORMOUS RIPPLE EFFECTS THROUGHOUT THE ECONOMY NOT JUST OF THE WESTERN UNITED STATES, BUT OF THE WHOLE COUNTRY BECAUSE CALIFORNIA'S ECONOMY HAS SUCH AN IMPACT ON WHAT HAPPENS EVERYWHERE ELSE.

VAL>> MS. BOWEN, I'M GOING TO SWITCH TOPICS A BIT. THERE WERE BIG HEADLINES IN THE L.A. TIMES THIS MORNING, AND NO DOUBT ELSEWHERE, SAYING THAT A NEW REPORT SHOWS THAT POWER GENERATORS, THE WHOLESALERS, HAVE OVERCHARGED CALIFORNIANS BY THE TUNE OF $5.5 BILLION DOLLARS FOR ENERGY. THIS JUST IS ASTOUNDING TO ME. WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN?

DEBRA BOWEN>> WELL, AGAIN, THE STATE HAS ASKED FOR THE FEDERAL ENERGY REGULATORY COMMISSION, WHICH IS THE ONLY ENTITY THAT COULD ORDER AN INVESTIGATION AND REFUND OF THAT MONEY. WE'VE BEEN ASKING SINCE LAST AUGUST WHEN THINGS WENT CRAZY IN SAN DIEGO FOR THE FERC TO DO ITS JOB. NOW AS WE HAVE A GREATER HISTORY, WE'VE SEEN THAT, WHILE THE DEMAND IN CALIFORNIA WENT UP FOUR PERCENT LAST YEAR OVER 1999, PRICES SKYROCKETED AND GENERATOR PROFITS WENT UP 500, 600, AS MUCH AS 1,000 PERCENT, SO THERE IS AN ENORMOUS AMOUNT OF PROFIT BEING MADE.

THE FEDERAL ENERGY REGULATORY COMMISSION HAS FOUND THAT WHOLESALE RATES ARE NOT JUST AND REASONABLE. THEY HAVE BEEN UNWILLING OR UNABLE TO FASHION A REMEDY AND WE HAVE TO PRESS THEM TO FIND A REMEDY. WE ALSO NEED TO PURSUE OUR REMEDIES IN COURT AND THE CONCERN I HAVE IS THAT IT TAKES TIME TO DO THAT. IN THE MEANWHILE, OUR BUSINESSES ARE BLEEDING, OUR UTILITIES ARE NEARLY INSOLVENT AND THE STATE IS SPENDING TAXPAYER DOLLARS TO PURCHASE ENERGY HAND OVER FIST.

VAL>> STATE SENATOR, DEBRA BOWEN, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US. OUR TIME IS INDEED RUNNING OUT FOR US AS WELL.

SO TELL US, WHAT DO YOU THINK? DO YOU THINK IT'S GOING TO BE BLACKOUT TIME THIS SUMMER? WE'D LOVE TO HEAR FROM YOU. 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

JESS>> PATT MORRISON CASTS HER GAZE ON SOME GOINGS-ON IN THE INLAND EMPIRE AND OFFERS THIS PERSPECTIVE, IN TONIGHT'S INFINITELY MORRISON.

PATT>> THE COUNTY OF SAN BERNARDINO HAS SOME OF CALIFORNIA'S MOST DISTINCTIVE LANDSCAPES, SOME OF ITS MOST AFFORDABLE HOUSING, SOME OF ITS LONGEST COMMUTES AND SOME OF ITS MOST INTERESTING POLITICAL THINKERS. THAT COUNTY'S BOARD OF SUPERVISORS HAS VOTED TO BAR ITS HEALTH CLINICS FROM GIVING OUT MORNING AFTER PILLS. THE COUNTY GETS NEARLY A HALF MILLION DOLLARS IN FEDERAL FAMILY PLANNING MONEY, BUT IT WANTS A FEDERAL WAIVER TO STOP DISTRIBUTING THE CONTRACEPTIVE PILL. THE BOARD'S CONSERVATIVE MAJORITY SAYS IT'S OUT OF CONCERN FOR YOUNG GIRLS WHO OUGHT TO BE GETTING THEIR FAMILIES INVOLVED IN SUCH DECISIONS.

SEVERAL THINGS ARE OFF-KILTER HERE. FIRST, STATE LAW REQUIRES THAT GIRLS AS YOUNG AS 12 HAVE ACCESS TO FAMILY PLANNING SERVICES WITHOUT HAVING TO TELL THEIR PARENTS. SECOND, IF A GIRL GETS PREGNANT, PARENTAL CONSENT OR THE LACK OF IT WON'T STOP THE LABOR PAINS NINE MONTHS DOWN THE ROAD. AND THIRD, WHO'S BEING HELPED HERE? LAST YEAR, SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY CLINICS HANDED OUT 643 MORNING AFTER PILLS, SOME NO DOUBT TO THE VICTIMS OF RAPE AND INCEST. NEARLY 500 WENT TO POOR ADULT WOMEN. FOUR OF THE 643 PILLS WENT TO 14-YEAR-OLDS. ONLY ONE PATIENT WAS 13 AND NONE WAS 12 YEARS OLD.

IN PRACTICING ITS OWN UNORTHODOX MEDICINE, THE BOARD SEEMS TO HAVE OVERLOOKED JUST WHAT THE MORNING AFTER PILL DOES. IT IS NOT THE SO-CALLED ABORTION PILL. TAKEN WITHIN 72 HOURS AFTER INTERCOURSE, IT CAN PREVENT THE SINGLE-CELL FERTILIZED EGG FROM TAKING HOLD IN THE UTERUS, BUT MORE OFTEN, IT STOPS OVULATION IN ITS TRACKS, KEEPING AN EGG FROM GETTING ANYWHERE NEAR A SPERM IN THE FIRST PLACE.

THE IRONIC CONSEQUENCE OF THIS LAW MAY SEND MORE WOMEN TO GET ABORTIONS LATER IN THEIR PREGNANCIES. THE SUPERVISORS HOPE THE BUSH ADMINISTRATION, WHICH HAS ALREADY REVERSED MANY LONGSTANDING FEDERAL FAMILY PLANNING POLICIES, WILL BE SYMPATHETIC. THE VOTERS OF SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY MAY BE LESS SYMPATHETIC, WONDERING WHY THEIR GOOD TAX MONEY MUST BE SPENT FIGHTING THE INEVITABLE LAWSUITS OVER A PROBLEM THAT IS SOLELY OF THEIR POLITICIANS' MAKING.

VAL>> IN TONIGHT'S PEOPLE, PLACES & THINGS, THE GETTY HOUSE. IT'S L.A.'S OFFICIAL MAYOR'S MANSION EVEN THOUGH MAYOR RIORDAN HAS NEVER LIVED THERE.

JESS>> THE LAST MAYOR IN RESIDENCE WAS TOM BRADLEY, WHO LIVED IN THE GETTY HOUSE FOR 16 YEARS. AND WHEN HE LEFT OFFICE IN 1993, IT BECAME VACANT AND THUS AVAILABLE FOR SOME MAJOR RENOVATION. IT NEEDED EXTENSIVE REPAIRS AND RESTORATION, SO MAYOR RIORDAN SPEARHEADED A CAMPAIGN TO BRING IT BACK TO ITS FORMER GLORY. AFTER TWO YEARS AND $2 MILLION DOLLARS, GETTY HOUSE WAS RE-OPENED FOR OFFICIAL CITY FUNCTIONS. AND NOW THAT MAYOR RIORDAN IS LEAVING OFFICE, HE'S THROWING OPEN THE DOORS FOR THE PUBLIC.

VAL>> AND HERE TO TELL US MORE ABOUT THE HISTORY AND RESTORATION IS THE CHAIR OF THE GETTY HOUSE FOUNDATION AND THE MAYOR'S WIFE, NANCY DALY RIORDAN. WELCOME TO LIFE AND TIMES TONIGHT.

NANCY DALY RIORDAN>> THANK YOU. IT'S NICE TO BE HERE.

JESS>> SO WHEN PEOPLE SAY NOW, WE'RE GOING TO SEE THE GETTY, THEY'RE NOT JUST NECESSARILY TALKING ABOUT THAT BIG ONE ON TOP OF THE HILL?

NANCY DALY RIORDAN>> NO, BUT THERE'S BEEN CONFUSION A FEW TIMES OF PEOPLE WANTING TO COME TO GETTY HOUSE AND ENDING UP THERE AT THAT FABULOUS PLACE ON THE HILL (LAUGHTER), SO WE TRY TO MAKE IT CLEAR THAT IT IS THE MAYOR'S OFFICIAL RESIDENCE THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT.

VAL>> LET'S SEE SOME PICTURES. NOW YOU BROUGHT SOME OLD PICTURES AND YOU'LL TAKE US UP TO THE PRESENT?

NANCY DALY RIORDAN>> YES.

VAL>> LET'S TAKE A LOOK AND WHY DON'T YOU TELL US WHAT WE'RE SEEING HERE.

NANCY DALY RIORDAN>> WELL, THE PICTURES THAT YOU'LL BE LOOKING AT ARE OLD PHOTOS THAT GO WAY BACK IN TIME, PROBABLY TO ABOUT 1928, BETWEEN '20 AND '28, WHEN IT WAS ORIGINALLY FURNISHED LIKE THIS. THIS WAS THE DINING ROOM. HERE IS THE LIVING ROOM LOOKING OUT TOWARD THE ENTRANCE. THESE ARE NOT PICTURES OF WHEN MAYOR BRADLEY WAS THERE. THIS GOES WAY BACK IN TIME. THESE ROOMS HAVE ALL BEEN COMPLETELY RESTORED, MOST OF IT TO THE ORIGINAL. OF COURSE, THAT CEILING ISN'T THERE ANYMORE. IF YOU WENT THERE, YOU WOULD SEE IT NOT LOOKING ALL THAT DIFFERENT AS FAR AS THE STYLE OF THE ROOMS. IT'S A BEAUTIFUL ENGLISH TUDOR STYLE BUILT IN 1921.

VAL>> BUT NEVER AS A MAYOR'S HOUSE ORIGINALLY?

NANCY DALY RIORDAN>> NO, NO, IT WAS BUILT BY A FAMILY, THE PAULSON FAMILY, AND IT WAS A VERY, VERY FINE HOME AT THE TIME. THEY SPENT $83,000 ON IT, A CENTRAL VACUUM --

VAL>> -- A LOT OF MONEY AT THAT TIME (LAUGHTER).

NANCY DALY RIORDAN>> A LOT OF MONEY AT THAT TIME.

JESS>> A CENTRAL VACUUM SYSTEM AT THAT TIME?

NANCY DALY RIORDAN>> THAT'S WHAT THEY SAY, SO MORE THAN WE KNOW. WE DON'T KNOW THE THINGS THAT THEY HAD BACK THEN. A FEW YEARS LATER, THEY SOLD THE HOUSE TO ANOTHER FAMILY, THE LOCKHARTS, WITH TWO CHILDREN. THEY DID SOME ADDITION FOR THEIR CHILDREN TO MAKE IT GOOD FOR THEM. THEY THEN RENTED THE HOUSE FOR MANY YEARS TO ARTISTS AND ACTORS, INCLUDING DELORES COSTELLO. WHEN SHE LEFT JOHN BARRYMORE, SHE WAS THERE FOR SEVERAL YEARS WITH HER CHILDREN. SO THERE'S QUITE A HISTORY TO THE HOUSE.

JESS>> BUT GETTY HOUSE HAS NEVER HAD A GETTY IN RESIDENCE?

NANCY DALY RIORDAN>> NO. THE GETTY OIL COMPANY BOUGHT UP THAT PROPERTY IN THAT AREA THINKING THEY WERE GOING TO PUT THEIR CORPORATE HEADQUARTERS THERE. IN THE '40'S, THEY BEGAN TO BUY UP THE PROPERTY. IN 1975, THEY FINALLY REALIZED THEY WEREN'T GOING TO BE ABLE TO DO IT. THEY REALLY WEREN'T ZONED FOR THAT KIND OF DEVELOPMENT.

JESS>> AND ALL THOSE LOVELY OLD HOMES IN WINDSOR SQUARE WOULD HAVE BEEN DEMOLISHED FOR IT?

NANCY DALY RIORDAN>> EXACTLY, AND HOW SAD BECAUSE WE WOULD HAVE LOST SUCH A HISTORY OF ARCHITECTURE THERE. IN FACT, THE LAST RENTERS WERE ANNA AND LEE STRASBURG, WHO WERE THERE WITH THEIR TWO SONS FOR SEVEN YEARS, AND ANNA HAS COME BACK TO SEE THE HOUSE SINCE WE'VE RESTORED IT. SHE'S A FRIEND. IN FACT, SHE BROUGHT A TEA SET THAT LEE USED WHEN HE LIVED IN THE HOME AND WE NOW HAVE IT AS PART OF OUR CHINA AT THE HOUSE.

VAL>> SO IT WAS 1975 THAT IT ACTUALLY BECAME A MAYOR'S RESIDENCE?

NANCY DALY RIORDAN>> THAT'S RIGHT. WHEN THE STRASBURGS WOULD NOT PURCHASE THE HOUSE, THEY DIDN'T WANT TO BUY IT, THE GETTY OIL COMPANY GAVE IT TO THE CITY AS THE MAYOR'S RESIDENCE, THE OFFICIAL MAYOR'S RESIDENCE.

VAL>> AND TOM BRADLEY WAS MAYOR AT THE TIME.

NANCY DALY RIORDAN>> RIGHT. HE WAS MAYOR AND HE MOVED IN THEN AND LIVED IN THAT HOME FOR 17 YEARS. I THINK MANY PEOPLE IN THE CITY WENT THERE AND HAD WONDERFUL VISITS WITH MANY DIGNITARIES.

JESS>> LET'S LET PEOPLE ENJOY THIS BRIEF VIDEO PRESENTATION OF THE GETTY HOUSE.

NANCY DALY RIORDAN>> YES.

VAL>> AND THIS IS SOME BEFORE AND AFTER SHOTS, IF I RECALL.

NANCY DALY RIORDAN>> YES.

VAL>> MAYBE YOU CAN TELL US WHAT WE'RE LOOKING AT.

JESS>> CLASSIC TUDOR STYLE.

NANCY DALY RIORDAN>> CLASSIC TUDOR, AND THIS IS FOLLOWING THE RESTORATION AND WAS WONDERFUL. OBVIOUSLY, RESTORED THE PAINTING AND ALL OF THE WOODWORK. I DON'T KNOW IF YOU'RE GOING TO BE SEEING THE ACTUAL FURNISHING HERE WHICH ARE REALLY QUITE EXTRAORDINARY --

VAL>> OH, THERE THEY ARE.

NANCY DALY RIORDAN>> OH, GOOD. HERE WE GO. WE HAD 17 DIFFERENT DESIGNERS WHO DESIGNED 19 DIFFERENT ROOMS. ALL THEY HAD -- THEY HAD TO COMPLY WITH CERTAIN COLORS, WHICH WERE REALLY EARTHTONES AND GOLDS AND BEIGES, AND YOU WOULD NEVER REALLY KNOW THAT THIS HOME HAD BEEN DESIGNED BY 17 DIFFERENT DESIGNERS. IT IS ELEGANT AND BEAUTIFUL.

VAL>> SO IT WAS RENOVATED AFTER MR. BRADLEY MOVED OUT?

NANCY DALY RIORDAN>> YES, THAT'S CORRECT. AND WITH PRIVATE MONEY ONLY. THIS IS THE NEW KITCHEN HERE.

VAL>> OH, THAT'S GORGEOUS.

NANCY DALY RIORDAN>> ALL OF THE DESIGNERS DID A PRO BONO. WE HAD HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS OF IN-KIND DONATIONS DONE AND WE RAISED MONEY THAT WE NEEDED TO PURCHASE THINGS THAT COULD NOT BE DONATED.

VAL>> DID IT HAVE THE TYPICAL SURPRISES THAT ALWAYS COME ALONG WITH HOME RENOVATIONS?

NANCY DALY RIORDAN>> WELL, IT SURE DID. FIRST OF ALL, WE HAD THE EARTHQUAKE RIGHT AFTER WE STARTED, SO THAT SET US BACK QUITE A BIT. EVEN WITH THAT, THOUGH, THE PEOPLE CAME TO THE RESCUE AND DID JUST AN INCREDIBLE JOB OF RESTORING IT TO BEAUTY. AND THE GARDEN, BY A.E. HANSON, IS ACTUALLY HISTORICAL GARDENS THAT WAS RESTORED BY ONE DONOR TO ITS ORIGINAL BEAUTY. IT IS WORTH PEOPLE COMING TO SEE. THERE'S BEAUTIFUL PAINTINGS FROM SEVERAL MUSEUMS THROUGHOUT THE HOUSE. THERE'S MANY THINGS FOR PEOPLE TO ENJOY DURING THESE TWO WEEKS.

JESS>> AND NOT ONLY WILL IT BE USED, I GATHER, FOR ENTERTAINING DIGNITARIES, FOREIGN AND OTHERWISE, BUT THE COMMUNITY USES IT TOO. CHILDREN, IN PARTICULAR.

NANCY DALY RIORDAN>> ABSOLUTELY. WE HAVE LAUSD FOURTH GRADERS COME EVERY WEDNESDAY AND HAVE A CIVICS CLASS AND THEY HAVE A TOUR. THEY GET A LITTLE PACKAGE WITH A PENCIL AND A BOOK AND A T-SHIRT. AND WE HAVE AFTER-SCHOOL PROGRAMS FOR L.A.'S BEST CHILDREN, YMCA CHILDREN, WE DO READING CORNERS. WONDERFUL THINGS FOR CHILDREN THERE.

VAL>> BIG QUESTION. WILL THE NEXT MAYOR ACTUALLY LIVE THERE?

NANCY DALY RIORDAN>> WE DON'T KNOW, AND IT'S READY FOR HIM OR HER IF THEY CHOOSE TO.

JESS>> HAS ANY OF THEM EXPRESSED AN INTEREST IN IT?

NANCY DALY RIORDAN>> NOT AT THIS POINT. I THINK THEY'RE JUST TOO BUSY RUNNING RIGHT NOW. (LAUGHTER)

VAL>> THAT WOULD BE JUMPING THE GUN A TAD. (LAUGHTER)

NANCY DALY RIORDAN>> I THINK SO.

VAL>> NANCY DALY RIORDAN, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR COMING BY. IT'S JUST DELIGHTFUL TO --

JESS>> -- THANKS, INDEED.

NANCY DALY RIORDAN>> THANK YOU. I APPRECIATE THIS.

JESS>> YOU CAN CALL THE NUMBER ON YOUR SCREEN FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT GUIDED TOURS OF THE GETTY HOUSE. THEY ARE FREE AND OPEN TO THE PUBLIC STARTING TOMORROW AND THROUGH APRIL 8.

[323-692-9797]

VAL>> GET IN THERE NOW BECAUSE, WHO KNOWS, THE MAYOR MIGHT MOVE IN.

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