3/23/01

LC010323

VAL>> ON LIFE AND TIMES TONIGHT --

JESS>> WIND AND SOLAR AND OTHER FORMS OF ALTERNATIVE ENERGY ARE FRONT AND CENTER AND FOR GOOD REASON.

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.

MATT PETERSEN>> 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.

GAY>> AND MADDOX & HEWITT ARE CONCERNED WITH ANOTHER KIND OF POWER, THE KIND POLITICIANS WIELD.

HUGH>> LIGHTS-OUT GRAY DAVIS HAS BLOWN THROUGH $4 BILLION DOLLARS, MOST OF HIS POLITICAL CAPITAL, AND STILL THE ENERGY CRISIS GETS WORSE.

KERMAN>> AND THE BIG-TIME POLITICAL ENDORSEMENTS COME IN IN THE MAYOR'S RACE AND THE 32ND CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT.

HUGH>> COMING UP ON MADDOX & HEWITT>>

JESS>> MARIACHI HAS BEEN CALLED THE HEARTBEAT OF MEXICO AND ONE LOCAL MUSICIAN IS DOING HIS PART TO MAKE SURE IT KEEPS BEATING FOR GENERATIONS TO COME.

VAL>> 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, ALTERNATIVE POWER COMES OF AGE. SOLAR POLAR, WIND POWER AND OTHER RENEWABLE ENERGY SOURCES HELPED TO KEEP THE LIGHTS ON IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA DURING FEBRUARY, BUT THIS WEEK WHEN MANY OF THOSE SAME SMALL SUPPLIERS SHUT DOWN THEIR PLANTS, THE SOUTHLAND GOT ITS FIRST TASTE OF ROLLING BLACKOUTS.

VAL>> SO WHY DID THEY GO OFF LINE? BECAUSE THEY HAVEN'T BEEN PAID IN MONTHS. WHO ARE THESE SMALL POWER PRODUCERS WHO HAVE BECOME BIG PLAYERS IN THE ENERGY GAME? GAY YEE INTRODUCED US TO ONE WINDFARM OWNER IN THIS STORY THAT FIRST AIRED IN JANUARY.

GAY>> NESTLED UNDER THE MOUNTAINS WEST OF PALM SPRINGS IS SAN GORGONIO PASS, ONE OF THE WINDIEST PLACES IN THE STATE, TAILOR-MADE FOR MAKING ELECTRICITY.

MILES BARRETT>> THE WINDMILLS ALL SIT HERE TO CAPTURE THAT ENERGY AS IT'S GETTING PULLED RIGHT THROUGH THE PASS.

GAY>> MILES BARRETT IS A FOUNDING PARTNER OF WINTEC ENERGY, ONE OF THE OPERATORS OF THIS WINDMILL FARM.

MILES BARRETT>> YOU GOT THE SAN BERNARDINO MOUNTAINS AND SAN GORGONIO IN PARTICULAR THAT'S ABOUT 10,500 FEET. WE'RE STANDING AT 800 FEET HERE AND THIS IS THE ONLY REAL AVENUE FOR THE COASTAL AIR TO COME INTO THE DESERT. AS THE DESERT HEATS UP ON A TYPICAL DAY, THE AIR RISES AND CREATES ALMOST A VACUUM AND IT JUST PULLS THE COASTAL AIR THROUGH HERE.

GAY>> THE MACHINES WORK ON THE SAME PRINCIPLE USED ON THE OLD FARM. WIND TURNS THE BLADES WHICH TURN A SHAFT CONNECTED TO A GENERATOR AND MAKES ELECTRICITY. LAST YEAR, THIS AREA PUMPED 900 MILLION KILOWATT HOURS OF ELECTRICITY INTO THE UTILITY GRID. THAT'S ONE AND A HALF TO TWO PERCENT OF THE STATE'S ELECTRICITY. WHILE THAT MAY NOT SOUND LIKE MUCH, OPERATORS SAY IT WAS ENOUGH TO SAVE CALIFORNIA RECENTLY FROM ROLLING BLACKOUTS.

CHRIS COPELAND>> EVEN AS RECENT AS THIS PAST DECEMBER, WE WERE ABLE TO PRODUCE ELECTRICITY WHEN NOBODY ELSE WAS. WE AVOIDED THE STATE FROM GOING TO A STAGE THREE ALERT AND THE STAGE TWO TO STAGE THREE IS ONLY ONE OR TWO PERCENT OF THE TOTAL ENERGY NEEDS, BUT IT CAN MAKE A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF DIFFERENCE TO THE STATE ENERGY NEEDS.

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GAY>> THE CALL FOR RENEWABLE ENERGY IS HEARD IN CALIFORNIA. UTILITY COMPANIES ARE REQUIRED BY LAW TO BUY SOME OF ITS POWER FROM ALTERNATIVE ENERGY PRODUCERS. TWELVE PERCENT OF THE ELECTRICITY IN THE STATE COMES FROM WIND, SOLAR, GEOTHERMAL AND OTHER ALTERNATIVE SOURCES, MAKING CALIFORNIA THE COUNTRY'S LARGEST CONSUMER OF ALTERNATIVE ENERGY. CONSERVATIONISTS SAY THAT'S GOOD, BUT IT COULD BE EVEN BETTER.

GRAY DAVIS>> SINCE APRIL 1999, MY ADMINISTRATION HAS LICENSED NINE NEW POWER PLANTS. FIVE ARE UNDER CONSTRUCTION AS WE SPEAK, BUT MANY MORE MUST BE BUILT TO SERVE OUR GROWING POPULATION.

GAY>> GOVERNOR GRAY DAVIS, FOR INSTANCE, IN HIS STATE OF THE STATE ADDRESS URGED CALIFORNIANS TO CONSERVE, BUT HIS BIG PUSH WAS TO FIND A WAY TO BUY AND BUILD MORE POWER PLANTS.

MATT PETERSEN>> WHAT WE'RE DOING RIGHT NOW IS WE'RE JUST POLLUTING THE ATMOSPHERE MORE BECAUSE WE HAVE SUCH A DEMAND. WE ARE LOOKING AT BUILDING MORE NATURAL GAS POWER PLANTS, WHICH ADD TO CLIMATE CHANGE, AND WE NEED TO BE LOOKING AT MORE RENEWABLE ENERGY SOLUTIONS.

GAY>> THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF GLOBAL GREEN U.S.A., MATT PETERSEN, SAYS INSTEAD OF SPENDING BILLIONS ON POWER PLANTS THAT USE NATURAL GAS, THE STATE SHOULD FOLLOW SANTA MONICA'S EXAMPLE. LAST YEAR, THE CITY BECAME THE FIRST IN THE COUNTRY TO SWITCH TOTALLY TO GREEN POWER. THAT MEANS THE ELECTRICITY THAT POWERS THE CITY'S FOUNTAINS AND STREET LIGHTS COMES FROM ENVIRONMENTALLY-FRIENDLY POWER SOURCES.

THE COSTS WERE PROHIBITIVE IN THE PAST, BUT AS THE PRICE FOR NATURAL GAS GOES UP AND TECHNOLOGY IMPROVES, GREEN ENERGY IS STARTING TO MAKE SENSE. HUGE SOLAR ENERGY COMPANIES ARE POPPING UP IN THE MOJAVE DESERT NEAR BARSTOW TO FEED THE ENERGY GRID AND MORE WINDMILLS ARE GOING UP IN THE SAN GORGONIO PASS.

THEY'RE PUTTING IN ANOTHER 120 TO 150 WINDMILLS JUST SOUTH OF THE I-10 FREEWAY. BY THE TIME THIS FIELD IS COMPLETE, IT WILL GENERATE ENOUGH POWER TO LIGHT 97,000 HOMES. AN ADDED PLUS IS THAT IT JUST TAKES SIX MONTHS TO BUILD COMPARED TO THE AVERAGE POWER PLANT WHICH TAKES TWO YEARS. THE USE OF WINDMILLS HAS SOARED IN THE LAST TWO YEARS, DRIVEN BY NEW TECHNOLOGY THAT'S REDUCED COSTS BY AS MUCH AS 80 PERCENT.

MILES BARRETT>> THIS IS A 1983 MACHINE THAT WAS A 17-KILOWATT MACHINE AND THEY PUT IT ON A 140-FOOT TOWER SO THAT YOU HAD TO CLIMB 140 FEET IN THE AIR TO MAINTAIN A 17-KILOWATT MACHINE. IT DID NOT MAKE ECONOMIC SENSE.

GAY>> BARRETT SAYS THE OLD CLUNKERS HAVE BEEN REPLACED WITH BIGGER, SLEEKER WINDMILLS THAT GENERATE TEN TIMES MORE ELECTRICITY.

MILES BARRETT>> WITH ALL THAT NOW BEHIND US, THE CAPITAL COST HAS COME WAY DOWN, VERY, VERY COMPETITIVE. THE MAINTENANCE COSTS AND OPERATING COSTS HAVE COME WAY, WAY DOWN SO THAT WE ARE NOW COMPETING WITH MORE OF THE TRADITIONAL SOURCES OF WHAT YOU MIGHT THINK HOW ELECTRICITY IS PRODUCED.

GAY>> CONVINCING CONSUMERS AND POLITICIANS THAT GREEN IS BETTER IS NOT EASY, ESPECIALLY WHEN MUCH DEPENDS ON MOTHER NATURE. NO WIND, NO ELECTRICITY. BUT BARRETT SAYS CONVENTIONAL POWER IS NOT ALWAYS RELIABLE EITHER.

MILES BARRETT>> THERE IS NO TRUE NON-INTERMITTENT POWER SOURCE. I THINK A PERFECT EXAMPLE IS OUT-OF-STATE POWER. ONE OF THE REASONS CALIFORNIA HAS GOTTEN IN TROUBLE, ESPECIALLY LAST SUMMER, IS THAT THEY WERE DEPENDING ON POWER COMING IN FROM OUT OF STATE AND IT WASN'T AVAILABLE. SO YOU COULD SAY THAT THAT'S AN INTERMITTENT SOURCE JUST LIKE WIND IS.

GAY>> 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.

MATT PETERSEN>> WE NEED TO REALIZE THAT THIS IS FOR THE LONG HAUL. WHETHER IT'S AN ELECTRIC VEHICLE, A HYBRID CAR, TURNING OFF THE LIGHTS, PUTTING UP THE SOLAR PD PANEL, YOU KNOW, GOING OUT AND SWITCHING OUR HOME TO GREEN POWER SO MORE WINDMILLS GET BUILT OUT IN THE DESERT, 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.

JESS>> CHECKED WITH WINTEC TODAY. THEY SAY THEY'VE NOT BEEN PAID SINCE LAST NOVEMBER.

VAL>> STILL NOT PAID?

JESS>> NO.

VAL>> AND I THINK, HOWEVER, THEY DO HAVE ENOUGH POWER, THEY'RE GOING AHEAD AND FULFILLING THEIR POWER --

JESS>> -- THEY HAVE SOME CAPITALIZATION LEFT, THANK GOODNESS, YES.

VAL>> RIGHT, BUT ONLY ABOUT TWO TO FOUR MORE WEEKS, AND THEN THEY SAY THEY'RE GOING TO RUN OUT OF POWER.

JESS>> YEAH.

VAL>> BUT YOU KNOW WHAT'S INTERESTING, THESE WINDMILLS, IF THEY'RE SO PRACTICAL, DO YOU THINK THEY COULD BE ADAPTED TO LIKE INDIVIDUAL HOMES OR COULD YOU HAVE ONE IN YOUR BACKYARD?

JESS>> I REMEMBER IN RURAL AMERICA BEFORE THEY GOT RURAL ELECTRIFICATION AGENCIES THAT BROUGHT ELECTRICAL POWER TO THE FARMS, I CAN REMEMBER A FARMER WHO HAD A TRIPOD ARRANGEMENT ATOP HIS BARN WITH A SMALL WINDMILL THAT POWERED A RADIO. THEY COULD USE KEROSENE FOR ELECTRIC LIGHTS, BUT A RADIO THEY POWERED WITH THAT.

VAL>> SO ONE WINDMILL FOR A RADIO. GOING TO NEED A LOT OF WINDMILLS IN YOUR BACKYARD. (LAUGHTER)

JESS>> (LAUGHTER) THAT'S FOR SURE.

OUR TOP STORY ON MONDAY, CAN WE LEARN SOMETHING FROM NEW YORK WHEN IT COMES TO HELPING THE HOMELESS?

VAL>> THIS IS SKID ROW IN DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES. MOST OF US WOULDN'T GO NEAR THIS BLOCK WITHOUT A BODYGUARD.

ARE YOU SAYING THAT THIS KIND OF SCENE THAT'S RIGHT BEHIND YOU --

>> -- DOESN'T EXIST.

VAL>> DOES NOT EXIST IN NEW YORK?

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

VAL>> AND SO THIS IS WHAT SHOCKED YOU SO MUCH WHEN YOU --

>> -- ABSOLUTELY. AND THE CONDITION OF THE PEOPLE. I MEAN, IF YOU LOOK AT THE FACES OF THESE PEOPLE, THEY'RE IN DESPERATE STRAITS.

JESS>> THAT'S COMING UP MONDAY AT 7:00 P.M. ON LIFE AND TIMES TONIGHT.

AND IN TONIGHT'S MADDOX & HEWITT, TWO BIG POLITICAL ENDORSEMENTS AND THE POLITICS OF POWER.

HUGH>> THAT'S RIGHT, JESS. IT'S A BAD WEEK FOR GRAY DAVIS. A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE SAYING THAT THE BLACKOUTS WE HAD THIS WEEK WOULD NEVER HAVE HAPPENED IF GRAY DAVIS WAS ALIVE. HE HAS BLOWN THROUGH $4 BILLION DOLLARS OF THE SURPLUS. HE HAS NOW GOT HIMSELF IN A TIGHT JAM WHERE WE'RE RUNNING LOW ON SURPLUS MONEY. THERE ARE NO LONG-TERM CONTRACTS. HE'S ONLY BEEN ABLE TO SIGN DEALS FOR ONE-THIRD OF WHAT WE NEED BY 2002. AND REPUBLICANS HAVE CALLED FOR THE RESIGNATION OF LORETTA LYNCH, THE POLITICAL APPOINTEE WHO DOES NOT KNOW WHAT SHE'S DOING AT THE HEAD OF THE PUC. HE'S BOTCHED IT BADLY AND DEMOCRATS AS WELL AS REPUBLICANS ARE GOING TO START DEMANDING SOME ACTION FROM HIM, INCLUDING KATHLEEN CONNELL.

KERMAN>> NOW DOES THIS SUGGEST THAT IF HE WEREN'T ALIVE, HUGH, WE WOULDN'T HAVE THESE ROLLING BLACKOUTS IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA?

HUGH>> I'M JUST SAYING THAT HE'S HIDDEN UNDER THE DESK FOR TOO LONG, KERMAN. HE'S GOT TO GET OUT AND LEAD. HE'S BEEN WAITING AND HOPING THAT SOMETHING WOULD TURN UP AND NOTHING'S TURNED UP.

JESS>> IS IT JUST THAT HE HASN'T BEEN COMPLETELY CANDID WITH US?

HUGH>> NO, I THINK HE HAS NOT BEEN CANDID. I THINK HE HAS SQUANDERED $4 BILLION DOLLARS AND THERE'S NO GUARANTEE THAT IT WILL BE BACK. AND EVEN A DEMOCRAT APPOINTEE, KATHLEEN CONNELL, THE COMPTROLLER OF THE STATE, REFUSES TO SIGN ANY MORE CHECKS FOR HIM BECAUSE IT'S A BOTTOMLESS PIT. HE JUST KEEPS SPENDING MONEY ON HIS OWN POLITICAL FUTURE.

KERMAN>> NOW HE HASN'T SQUANDERED $4 BILLION DOLLARS. BASICALLY WHAT HAPPENED IS, KATHLEEN CONNELL, THE COMPTROLLER WHO'S THE DEMOCRAT CANDIDATE RUNNING FOR MAYOR, REFUSED TO TRANSFER $5.6 BILLION DOLLARS TO A RAINY DAY ENERGY CRISIS FUND. THE ARGUMENT REPUBLICANS ARE MAKING IS, IF SHE MAKES THE TRANSFER, ALL OF A SUDDEN WE'RE IN A DEFICIT. WELL, WHAT THEY FAIL TO SHARE WITH THE VOTERS IS, WE GOT $10 BILLION DOLLARS COMING IN IN LONG-TERM DEBT, SO EVEN IF SHE EVENTUALLY DOES TRANSFER THE MONEY, IT DOES NOT PUT THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA IN ANY FINANCIAL PERIL BECAUSE $10 BILLION DOLLARS, ALL YOU GOT TO DO IS THE MATH, WE'RE STILL GOING TO HAVE A $6 BILLION SURPLUS.

LET ME ALSO ADD, JESS, KATHLEEN CONNELL AND GRAY DAVIS HAVE NEVER GOTTEN ALONG POLITICALLY. WHEN SHE WAS ELECTED STATE COMPTROLLER, ONE OF THE FIRST THINGS SHE DID WAS AN AUDIT OF THE OFFICE THAT HE USED TO HAVE, OR OCCUPY, AND IT WAS FAIRLY EMBARRASSING TO HIM. SO THE FACT THAT NEITHER ONE OF THEM HAS ANY KIND OF A PERSONAL POLITICAL RELATIONSHIP SHOULDN'T SURPRISE ANYBODY.

COUPLED WITH THAT, THIS WEEK GOVERNOR GRAY DAVIS DECIDED HE'S GOING TO MAKE AN ENDORSEMENT IN THE RACE FOR MAYOR. HE DID NOT ENDORSE KATHLEEN CONNELL. HE ENDORSED ANTONIO VILLARAIGOSA, EVEN THOUGH EVERYBODY SOUGHT THAT ENDORSEMENT. SO I THINK IT'S MORE THAN A COINCIDENCE THAT, ON TUESDAY, THE GOVERNOR ENDORSES KATHLEEN CONNELL AND, ON THURSDAY, ALL OF A SUDDEN KATHLEEN CONNELL DECIDES TO DO THIS RIDICULOUS PRESS HIT THAT CRITICIZED THE GOVERNOR. IT'S A NON-STORY.

HUGH>> WELL, I JUST WANT TO GO BACK TO ONE THING BEFORE WE MOVE ON TO THE MAYOR'S RACE AND THAT IS THE FACT THAT WHEN LORETTA LYNCH WAS APPOINTED TO THE PUC, GRAY DAVIS PUT POLITICS AHEAD OF THE PUBLIC INTEREST. AND WHEN REPUBLICANS CALLED ON HER TO RESIGN THIS WEEK, THEY DIDN'T USE THE TERM "POLITICAL HACK" BECAUSE THAT WOULD HAVE ADDED TO HER RESUME. SHE HAS NO QUALIFICATIONS TO BE RUNNING CALIFORNIA IN THE MIDDLE OF THIS VERY SIGNIFICANT CRISIS. PEOPLE ARE GOING TO START TO LOSE LIVES AS A RESULT OF THIS AND GRAY DAVIS IS NOT DOING WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE. INSTEAD, HE'S PLAYING POLITICS IN LOS ANGELES. IT'S NICE THAT HE'S ENDORSED ANTONIO VILLARAIGOSA, BUT I'D HAVE TO SAY TO ANTONIO, WHY DO YOU WANT THIS ALBATROSS AROUND YOUR NECK? THIS GUY'S FUTURE IS GOING DOWN FASTER THAN CALIFORNIA POWER PLANTS.

KERMAN>> I'LL TELL YOU WHY. YOU AND OTHER REPUBLICANS ARE DOING THE BEST YOU CAN TO TRY AND BLAME GRAY DAVIS FOR THE ENERGY CRISIS. THE PROBLEM IS, THE PUBLIC ISN'T BUYING IT. EVERY OPINION POLL DONE BY ANYBODY BASICALLY SAYS THEY BLAME THE UTILITY COMPANIES, THEY BLAME THE LEGISLATURE IN SACRAMENTO, BUT THEY DON'T BLAME GRAY DAVIS. GRAY DAVIS IS UP FOR RE-ELECTION IN 2002, YOU GUYS DON'T HAVE A CANDIDATE, HE'S DOING WELL IN THE POLLS, AND, OF COURSE, ANTONIO WANTS THE GOVERNOR.

EVERYBODY WENT AFTER GRAY DAVIS' ENDORSEMENT BECAUSE HE'S VERY POPULAR IN THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA, INCREDIBLY POPULAR IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA AND L.A. COUNTY AND THE CITY OF L.A. IS A VASTLY DEMOCRATIC CITY. SO WHAT THIS DOES IS, IT HELPS ANTONIO WITH MODERATE DEMOCRATS AND IT HELPS HIM IN THE SAN FERNANDO VALLEY. THAT'S WHY, ACCORDING TO THE RECENT POLLS, IT'S A DEAD HEAT FOR SECOND PLACE BETWEEN ANTONIO AND STEVE SOBOROFF. SO THIS IS A BIG PLUS FOR HIS CAMPAIGN.

HUGH>> I THINK IT GETS HIM GRAY DAVIS' AND SHARON DAVIS' VOTE AND NOBODY ELSE. THE REAL ENDORSEMENT NEWS THIS WEEK IS THAT MAXINE WATERS WEIGHED IN. WHO DID SHE GO FOR?

KERMAN>> SHE WENT WITH STATE SENATOR, KEVIN MURRAY. THIS IS THE HOTLY-CONTESTED 32ND CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT --

JESS>> -- 32ND, RIGHT.

KERMAN>> -- TO REPLACE JULIAN DIXON. KEVIN MURRAY HAS INCREDIBLE MOMENTUM. NOW DIANE WATSON IS IN FIRST PLACE. THERE'S NO DISPUTE ABOUT THAT, BUT EVERYBODY HAS BEEN WAITING TO FIND OUT WHAT CONGRESSWOMAN MAXINE WATERS WOULD DO BECAUSE HER ENDORSEMENT MOVES VOTERS LIKE NOBODY ELSE IN THAT PARTICULAR COMMUNITY. THIS WEEK SHE DECIDED TO ENDORSE KEVIN MURRAY, WHICH MEANS THAT A LOT OF PEOPLE THINK THAT ENDORSEMENT MIGHT BE ENOUGH TO CARRY HIM TO VICTORY COME APRIL 10.

JESS>> WELL, THAT, AND HE HAS MRS. DIXON'S --

KERMAN>> -- HE'S GOT THE LIST. HE'S GOT ORGANIZED LABOR. HE'S GOT THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY. THIS IS A HEAVILY DEMOCRATIC DISTRICT. HE'S GOT THE WIDOW, BETTY DIXON, AND NOW HE HAS MAXINE WATERS. THAT'S AN INCREDIBLE FORMULA.

JESS>> DIANE WATSON HAS INCREDIBLE NAME IDENTIFICATION, DOESN'T SHE?

HUGH>> SHE DOES. SHE'S BEEN AROUND FOR A LONG TIME. BUT I WAS JUST GOING TO ASK YOU. YOU'VE COVERED L.A. FOR SO LONG, JESS. NATE HOLDEN IS SORT OF SITTING BACK THERE. THE ALLIGATOR IN THE WATER NOT MAKING A LOT OF NOISE. A LOT OF PEOPLE COUNTED HIM OUT FOR A LONG TIME. DO YOU THINK HE'S OUT OF THIS RACE THEN?

JESS>> I THINK HE IS. (LAUGHTER)

HUGH>> DO YOU, KERMAN?

KERMAN>> WELL, I'D NEVER COUNT NATE HOLDEN OUT BECAUSE --

JESS>> -- WHICH MAY BE THE REASON FOR HIS SILENCE, RARE SILENCE.

HUGH>> IT IS RARE.

KERMAN>> BUT, YOU KNOW, IT'S A SMART STRATEGY BECAUSE IF THE FOCUS IS ON NATE HOLDEN, THEN YOU TALK ABOUT SOME OF THE PROBLEMS HE'S HAD WHEN HE'S BEEN IN PUBLIC OFFICE. SO I THINK IT'S A VERY SMART STRATEGY FOR HIM TO KIND OF LAY LOW. IN ALL THE DEBATES AND FORUMS THAT I'VE BEEN TO, THE FOCUS HAS BEEN ON DIANE WATSON OR KEVIN MURRAY AND THEY JUST KIND OF --

JESS>> -- DOESN'T KEVIN MURRAY HAVE SOME OF THOSE SAME PROBLEMS?

KERMAN>> KEVIN MURRAY HAD SOME PROBLEMS AND THEY SURFACED IN THE DEBATE I WENT TO THE OTHER DAY, THE PROBLEMS HE HAD, BEING CAUGHT WITH HIS PANTS DOWN. LEO TORRELL, THE CIVIL RIGHTS ATTORNEY, BROUGHT THAT UP. SO ALL OF A SUDDEN, THE RACE FOR THE CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT IS GETTING KIND OF UGLY WITH MOST OF THE CRITICISM DIRECTED TOWARD KEVIN MURRAY BECAUSE MOST PEOPLE THINK HE'S THE GUY TO BEAT.

HUGH>> MAXINE WATERS, WHEN SHE PUTS OUT HER ENDORSEMENT PACKAGE, IT'S A REAL DEAL. IT LOOKS LIKE THE BALLOT. PEOPLE CARRY IT WITH THEM.

KERMAN>> LOOKS LIKE THE BALLOT.

HUGH>> WHO ELSE IS ON THAT WITH KEVIN MURRAY? HAS SHE ENDORSED IN THE MAYOR'S RACE?

KERMAN>> SHE HAS ENDORSED AND HER CANDIDATE IS GOING TO BE JIMMY HAHN. BIG BOOST FOR HIM.

HUGH>> OKAY. WELL, THAT MAKES GRAY DAVIS' ENDORSEMENT OF ANTONIO PALE IN COMPARISON BECAUSE, WHEN IT COMES DOWN TO MAKING VOTE, I HAVE TO THINK MAXINE HAS GIVEN JIMMY HAHN THE BIG HEADS UP IN THAT RACE.

KERMAN>> OH, YEAH, THAT HELPS IN THAT COMMUNITY. BUT AGAIN, REMEMBER, IN THE SAN FERNANDO VALLEY WHICH ANTONIO JUST NEEDS TO GET SOME VOTES AWAY FROM JOEL AND SOBOROFF, GRAY DAVIS HELPS HIM OUT THERE, ACCORDING TO ALL THE POLLS.

HUGH>> NOT IF THE LIGHTS ARE OUT.

KERMAN>> (LAUGHTER) I THINK THE LIGHTS WILL BE ON.

JESS>> (LAUGHTER) GENTLEMEN, THANKS VERY MUCH.

IT'S TIME NOW TO HEAR WHAT YOU, OUR VIEWERS, HAVE TO SAY ABOUT OUR BROADCASTS. THE POWER BLACKOUTS THIS WEEK PUT THE ENERGY CRISIS BACK ON THE FRONT BURNER AND BROUGHT THIS COMMENT FROM FRANK CALABRESE OF LOS OSOS:

"CAL POLY SAN LUIS OBISPO HAS DONE RESEARCH ON CONVERTING HUMAN AND LIVESTOCK WASTE INTO ELECTRICITY. PERHAPS SOME OF THE 'WASTE' GENERATED BY HIGH-LEVEL MEETINGS OF ALL CONCERNED IN FIXING BLAME COULD BE CONVERTED INTO A USEFUL PRODUCT."

VAL>> GOOD USE OF HOT AIR. AND ON TUESDAY, WE TALKED WITH GARY ACKERMAN, WHO REPRESENTS A GROUP OF ELECTRIC POWER TRADERS AND MARKETERS, GENERATORS BASICALLY. A VIEWER WHO WANTS TO BE KNOWN ONLY AS "JOHN" THOUGHT THAT JESS AND I WERE BIASED AGAINST OUR GUEST. HE WRITES:

"ALTHOUGH THE REPORTERS TRIED TO REAM THIS GUY AND PUT HIM TO THE FIRE, HE CORRECTED EVERY COMMENT THEY MADE. I BELIEVE HE WAS INVITED TO A LYNCHING."

VAL>> BUT J. BARTLETT SAW THIS SAME INTERVIEW DIFFERENTLY. HE OR SHE WRITES THAT:

"JESS AND I ACT LIKE A COUPLE OF KIDS UP AGAINST A PHILADELPHIA LAWYER WHEN YOU INTERVIEW THESE POWER PEOPLE."

VAL>> I GUESS THAT'S A GOOD SIGN, TWO DIFFERENT INTERPRETATIONS. (LAUGHTER)

JESS>> WE WELCOME YOUR THOUGHTS, YOUR COMMENTS AND YOUR CRITIQUES, 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>> IN TONIGHT'S PEOPLE, PLACES & THINGS, THE SOUNDS OF MARIACHI. IT IS MUCH MORE THAN THE SOUND OF MEXICO. IT IS A CULTURAL AND SPIRITUAL TRADITION.

JESS>> JOSE HERNANDEZ IS A LOCAL MARIACHI WHOSE FAMILY HAS BEEN A PART OF THAT TRADITION FOR MORE THAN A CENTURY. TEN YEARS AGO, HERNANDEZ FOUNDED THE MARIACHI HERITAGE SOCIETY. IT'S DEDICATED TO ENSURING THAT TODAY'S GENERATION CONTINUES THIS PROUD MUSICAL HERITAGE.

JOSE HERNANDEZ>> MARIACHI MUSIC FOR ME IS THE SOUL OF MEXICO. THE MARIACHI HERITAGE SOCIETY TRIES TO INSTILL PRIDE IN THE YOUNGER GENERATION.

>> I LOVE THE MUSIC.

>> I LIKE THE MARIACHI MUSIC A LOT.

>> I LIKE THE MUSIC AND I LOVE THE WAY IT SOUNDS.

>> I JUST LOVE THE MUSIC AND ENJOY IT.

JOSE HERNANDEZ>> MARIACHI MUSIC IS A MUSICAL FORM THAT WAS CREATED FROM THE SPANIARDS COMING TO MEXICO AND HAVING INFLUENCE UPON THE INDIGENOUS PEOPLE OF MEXICO. LITTLE BY LITTLE, THE INDIANS CAME UP WITH DIFFERENT VERSIONS OF INSTRUMENTS THAT SORT OF LOOK SIMILAR TO THE ACOUSTIC GUITAR AND TO A HARP. THEY CAME UP WITH THEIR OWN VERSIONS AND ALSO THEIR OWN RHYTHMS AND SONGS. MARIACHI MUSIC, FOR MANY YEARS, HAS BEEN EVOLVING TO WHAT WE KNOW IT NOW. ORIGINALLY IT ONLY CONSISTED OF ONE VIOLIN, A HARP AND A GUITAR.

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SINCE I WAS A KID, I STARTED SINGING THE SONGS. WHAT WAS GREAT FOR ME WAS THAT I GOT TO SEE ALSO MY DAD REHEARSE WITH HIS GROUP AT OUR HOUSE. I THOUGHT EVERYBODY IN THE WORLD WAS A MARIACHI, SO I FIGURED I'M GOING TO BE A MARIACHI TOO.

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MY FATHER, WHO WAS BORN IN 1924, HIS NAME WAS [INAUDIBLE] HERNANDEZ, PLAYED THE VIOLIN. AND HIS FATHER, MY GRANDFATHER, JOSE HERNANDEZ, ALSO PLAYED THE VIOLIN. HE WAS BORN IN 1901. AND MY GRANDFATHER'S FATHER, [INAUDIBLE] HERNANDEZ, WAS BORN IN 1879 AND HE ALSO PLAYED THE VIOLIN. IT GOES BACK TO HIS FATHER, PEDRO HERNANDEZ, WHO PLAYED THE GUITAR. THERE ARE SIX GENERATIONS WE KNOW OF MARIACHI MUSICIANS WITHIN THE HERNANDEZ FAMILY AND, LAST YEAR ACTUALLY, WE CELEBRATED 125 YEARS IN THE MARIACHI.

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AFTER HIGH SCHOOL, I WENT TO A MUSIC INSTITUTE CALLED THE GROVE SCHOOL IN NORTH HOLLYWOOD AND I HAD TEACHERS LIKE NELSON RIDDLE AND HENRY MANCINI. MY DREAM WAS TO BECOME A FILM SCORER. I WANTED TO LEARN HOW TO COMPOSE AND ARRANGE AND TO HEAR MARIACHI DEL SOL JUST -- YOU KNOW, I COULDN'T GET IT OUT --

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MARIACHI SOL DE MEXICO IS KNOWN TO BE A VERY RISK-TAKING MARIACHI AND IT SORT OF PORTRAYS THAT. BECAUSE OF MY WRITING, THE ARRANGEMENTS, I FEEL THAT TRADITIONAL MARIACHI CONSISTS OF ABOUT THREE OR FOUR CHORDS AND I FEEL THAT THERE IS SO MUCH TO BE DONE WITH THE MUSIC. FOR ME, BRINGING OTHER INSTRUMENTS TOGETHER WITH THE MARIACHI, IT'S BEAUTIFUL, YOU KNOW, TO CREATE THAT FUSION, BUT IT'S A WAY OF SHOWING THAT WE ARE MUSICIANS AND THAT WE ADAPT OURSELVES. WE KNOW HOW TO READ MUSIC AND WE KNOW HOW TO WRITE IT.

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MARIACHI HERITAGE SOCIETY TRIES TO INSTILL PRIDE IN THE YOUNGER GENERATION OF WHO THEY ARE AND NOT TO BE ASHAMED OF BEING OF MEXICAN DESCENT AND TO HAVE A RESPECT FOR THE MUSIC OF THEIR PARENTS AND THEIR GRANDPARENTS. I THINK IT FORMS THEM. IT MAKES THEM MORE COMPLETE AS HUMAN BEINGS.

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>> I'VE ALWAYS WANTED TO PLAY MARIACHI, BUT I NEVER KNEW THAT WOMEN COULD BE INVOLVED UNTIL I MOVED HERE TO LOS ANGELES AND I FOUND THIS SCHOOL AND IT'S A MOST WONDERFUL THING.

JOSE HERNANDEZ>> WE HAVE CLASSES AT THE MARIACHI HERITAGE OFFICE AND ALSO AT A NEARBY COMMUNITY CENTER WHERE IT'S OPEN TO ALL AGES. THE PROGRAM IS ALSO PART OF SOME OF THE ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS. THEY'RE PART OF THE CURRICULUM, SO KIDS DO GET CREDIT FOR LEARNING THE MUSIC, WHICH IS GREAT, AND WE HAVE MARIACHI REYNA DE LOS ANGELES.

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THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE ALL-FEMALE MARIACHI REYNA DE LOS ANGELES AND MARIACHI SOL DE MEXICO, OBVIOUSLY, I THINK ARE THE VOICES. YOU KNOW, IT'S A DIFFERENT COLOR WHEN YOU HEAR THE GROUP. WHEN YOU HEAR THEM PLAYING JUST THE INSTRUMENTALS, THERE'S NO DIFFERENCE. THE GIRLS PLAY FABULOUS AND THEY PLAY GREAT. BUT WHEN THEY SING, IT'S A DIFFERENT COLOR. YOU KNOW, THEY'RE ALL IN SOPRANO VOICES AND IT'S REALLY NEAT TO HEAR.

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IT'S GREAT AND, NOT ONLY THAT, BUT 50 PERCENT OF OUR STUDENTS ARE LITTLE GIRLS AND FOR THEM IT'S GREAT TO HAVE A ROLE MODEL. REYNA DE LOS ANGELES HAS BEEN THAT. IT IS A VERY POSITIVE ROLE MODEL FOR THE YOUNGER LITTLE GIRLS. THE KIDS ARE DEFINITELY A JOY FOR SOL DE MEXICO AND FOR REYNA DE LOS ANGELES BECAUSE WE FEEL THAT THAT SEED THAT WE PLANTED TEN YEARS AGO NOW, YOU KNOW, IS BEARING THAT FRUIT AND IT'S SO POSITIVE AND SO BEAUTIFUL. WE SEE THEM AND WE HEAR THEM PLAY AND IT'S A JOY TO US. NOW WE'RE STARTING WITH A NEW GENERATION OF YOUNG KIDS AND WE'RE STARTING THEM ALL OVER AGAIN AND WE'RE JUST TRYING TO BE A POSITIVE FORCE WITHIN OUR COMMUNITY.

EVERY YEAR THE MARIACHI HERITAGE SOCIETY HAS THIS BENEFIT CONCERT TO TRY TO GET MORE FUNDS TO BE ABLE TO TEACH KIDS AND FOR THE SCHOOL TO BE ABLE TO GROW SOME MORE. RIGHT NOW, WE HAVE A WAITING LIST OF I THINK OVER 100 STUDENTS AND WE'RE JUST TRYING TO GET SOME MORE MONEY TOGETHER SO WE COULD BE ABLE TO PROVIDE MORE TEACHERS FOR THE STUDENTS. THE ARTS ARE THE FIRST THINGS THAT GO, YOU KNOW, IN THE SCHOOLS, SO THIS IS A GOOD WAY OF GIVING SOMETHING BACK. I MEAN, WE'VE BEEN SO BLESSED. AS FAR AS MY RESTAURANT HERE, WE'VE HAD IT FOR 15 YEARS, AND IT'S JUST A WAY OF GIVING BACK AND THANKING THE COMMUNITY, YOU KNOW, FOR BEING BEHIND US ALL THIS TIME.

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VAL>> WELL, THEY ARE ON THEIR WAY. YOU CAN CALL THE NUMBER OR VISIT THE WEB SITE ON YOUR SCREEN NOW FOR MORE INFORMATION ON THE MARIACHI HERITAGE SOCIETY. THE ANNUAL CELEBRATION AND FUNDRAISER FOR MARIACHI SOL DE MEXICO TAKES PLACE TOMORROW NIGHT AT THE PASADENA CIVIC AUDITORIUM.

PASADENA CIVIC AUDITORIUM
TICKETS: 626-449-7360

MARIACHI HERITAGE SOCIETY
INFORMATION: 626-279-1700

JESS>> AND THAT'S OUR PROGRAM FOR TONIGHT. NOW FOR ALL OF US HERE AT LIFE AND TIMES TONIGHT, HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND.

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