3/29/01

LC010329

VAL>> ON LIFE AND TIMES TONIGHT --

JESS>> YOUR VOTE IN THE UPCOMING ELECTION COULD DECIDE MORE THAN YOU THINK.

PHILIP BRUCE>> THE NEXT MAYOR OF L.A. MAY BE THE LAST MAYOR TO PRESIDE OVER THE CITY AS WE KNOW IT. THE REASON? THE VALLEY WANTS TO BREAK AWAY AND NOW THEY'VE GOT THE NUMBERS TO SHOW THEY CAN.

RON KAYE>> THERE IS A UNIVERSAL FEELING IN THE VALLEY OF NOT GETTING A FAIR SHARE FOR WHAT THEY'VE PAID IN IN TAXES.

VAL>> ELECTRIC BILLS ARE GOING UP FOR A LOT OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIANS, BUT THERE IS A WAY TO LIVE WITHIN YOUR POWER MEANS. WE'LL SHOW YOU HOW IN TONIGHT'S THINKERS, SHAKERS & NEWSMAKERS.

JESS>> ALSO, PATT MORRISON COMMENTS ON THE AGE-OLD QUESTION: SHOULD THEY STAY OR SHOULD THEY GO?

PATT>> THE SECESSION STUDY, THE VALLEY-A-GO-GO, ON TONIGHT'S INFINITELY MORRISON.

VAL>> AND YOU MAY KNOW THAT MARCH IS WOMEN'S HISTORY MONTH. WELL, A LOCAL ART GALLERY IS CELEBRATING WITH AN ALL-FEMALE EXHIBIT. THE ARTISTS ARE MULTI-CULTURAL, CONTEMPORARY AND LOCAL. WE SEE THEIR TAKE ON THEIR LIVES IN "PERSONAL HISTORY-EXPLORING OUR ROOTS".

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, IT IS OFFICIAL NOW. LAFCO, THE AGENCY THAT OVERSEES THE FORMATION OF NEW CITIES, HAS DECLARED THAT THE SAN FERNANDO VALLEY DOES HAVE WHAT IT TAKES TO SURVIVE ON ITS OWN, SEPARATE FROM THE CITY OF LOS ANGELES.

VAL>> OF COURSE, VOTERS ACROSS LOS ANGELES GET THE FINAL SAY ON WHETHER OR NOT THE VALLEY CAN SECEDE FROM THE CITY AND, AS PHILIP BRUCE REPORTS, THAT CREATES A DELICATE BALANCING ACT FOR THIS YEAR'S MAYORAL CANDIDATES.

PHILIP>> LOS ANGELES IS WELL KNOWN FOR THE GEOGRAPHIC FAULT LINES THAT HAVE RATTLED THE CITY TO ITS CORE, BUT THESE DAYS THE POLITICAL FAULT LINES HERE ARE THE ONES THAT THREATEN TO TEAR LOS ANGELES APART IN A WAY NO EARTHQUAKE EVER COULD. SECESSION IS THE BATTLE CRY.

TODAY ALL THE PEOPLE WHO'D LIKE TO TELL L.A. TO GET LOST GOT A MAJOR BOOST FROM THE HEADLINES, DETAILS OF A NEW STUDY SHOWING HOW THE VALLEY COULD EASILY SPLIT OFF INTO ITS OWN INDEPENDENT CITY, BUT AT A COST OF ABOUT $68 MILLION DOLLARS A YEAR THE VALLEY WOULD HAVE TO PAY LOS ANGELES. CALL IT ALIMONY, BUT IT'S A SMALL PRICE FOR THE DIVORCE, SINCE A NEW VALLEY CITY COULD GENERATE A BILLION DOLLARS IN YEARLY REVENUE. IMAGINE WHAT THAT MEANS IF YOU'RE ONE OF THE SIX CANDIDATES RUNNING FOR MAYOR FOR ALL OF LOS ANGELES, NOT JUST A PART OF IT. HOW DO YOU DEAL WITH A SECESSION ISSUE WITHOUT ALIENATING ONE OF THE BIGGEST VOTING BLOCKS AROUND?

RICHARD CLOSE>> IN THE RACE FOR THE MAYOR, ABOUT 48 PERCENT OF THE VOTES COME FROM THE SAN FERNANDO VALLEY, SO CLEARLY WHOEVER CAN CAPTURE THE IMAGINATION OF THE SAN FERNANDO VALLEY HAS A LEG UP ON MAKING IT INTO THE RUNOFF ELECTION.

PHILIP>> RICHARD CLOSE IS A SHERMAN OAKS ATTORNEY AND AN ACTIVE LEADER OF THE SECESSIONIST MOVEMENT. HE ADMITS THAT MAYORAL CANDIDATES ARE FACED WITH A NO-WIN POSITION AS THEY TRY TO COURT VALLEY VOTERS WHO WANT NOTHING MORE THAN TO BREAK AWAY FROM LOS ANGELES.

RICHARD CLOSE>> WELL, ONE OF THE MAJOR ISSUES IN THE SAN FERNANDO VALLEY IS SECESSION, THE VALLEY BECOMING A SEPARATE CITY. IRONICALLY, NONE OF THE CANDIDATES CAN SUPPORT SECESSION BECAUSE THAT'S LIKE SUPPORTING BREAKING UP YOUR EMPIRE. THEY WANT TO BE ELECTED TO RUN THE SECOND LARGEST CITY IN THE COUNTRY.

PHILIP>> EVEN THOUGH THEY'RE FACED WITH A CLASSIC POLITICAL CATCH-22, THE CANDIDATES CAN'T AFFORD TO TURN THEIR BACKS ON THE VALLEY SINCE THAT'S WHERE ONE OF THE BIGGEST CHUNKS OF LIKELY VOTERS ARE. THEY'VE ALL PASSED THROUGH THE POLITICALLY POWERFUL SHERMAN OAKS HOMEOWNER'S ASSOCIATION, WHICH RICHARD CLOSE CHAIRS, AND THEY'VE VOWED NOT TO TRY TO BLOCK A CITYWIDE VOTE ON SECESSION SHOULD THEY BECOME MAYOR. BUT CLOSE REMAINS SKEPTICAL, AS DO MANY OTHERS HERE IN THE VALLEY.

RON KAYE>> I THINK THEY ALL DOUBLE-TALK AROUND AN ISSUE THAT THEY HAVE NO ANSWER FOR. NOBODY WANTS TO AGGRESSIVELY GO AT CITY HALL AND SAY IT HASN'T BEEN SERVING THE VALLEY OR ANY OF THE OTHER COMMUNITIES. THEY TALK AROUND THAT AND HOW THEY'RE GOING TO DO THINGS FOR THE NEIGHBORHOODS, BUT I DON'T THINK THERE'S A LOT OF CONCRETENESS TO IT. I THINK IT WILL BE MORE INTERESTING AFTER THE PRIMARY WHEN WE GET INTO THE RUNOFF WHEN THERE'S TWO CANDIDATES AND THEY CAN BE PINNED DOWN MORE CLOSELY AS TO WHAT THEY'RE SAYING.

PHILIP>> RON KAYE IS MANAGING EDITOR OF THE LOS ANGELES DAILY NEWS, THE UNOFFICIAL VOICE OF THE SAN FERNANDO VALLEY. HE SAYS, WITH THE RELEASE OF THE NEW NUMBERS ON SECESSION, THE MAYORAL CANDIDATES WOULD BE UNWISE TO TRY AND BLOCK A BREAK-AWAY VOTE.

RON KAYE>> WELL, I THINK THEY'VE ALL RESERVED THE RIGHT TO CAMPAIGN AGAINST IT AND THEY CAN COUNT ON OTHER CONSTITUENCIES TO TRY TO GO TO COURT. I THINK IT WOULD BE A TERRIBLE CRIME IF THEY DON'T LET THIS COME TO A VOTE. THAT WILL ONLY MAKE THE CITY MORE FRACTIOUS. THE VALLEY WAS DENIED ITS FUNDAMENTAL RIGHT TO SELF-DETERMINATION FOR 20 YEARS. THE FIRST STEP WAS TO WIN THE RIGHT TO MOVE FORWARD. HOLLYWOOD AND SAN PEDRO HAVE JOINED IN. HALF THE CITY IS NOW UP FOR SECESSION AND I THINK, TO SIMPLY STAND IN THE WAY OF IT, TRY TO BLOCK IT, TO USE THE POWER OF GOVERNMENT, WOULD BE BOTH WRONG AND THE WORST THING THEY COULD DO.

PHILIP>> WHAT'S GOT THE VALLEY SO FIRED UP ABOUT SPLITTING FROM LOS ANGELES? MAINLY A LONG-STANDING FEELING OF ABUSE AND NEGLECT, A BELIEF THAT L.A. TAKES THEIR MONEY, BUT GIVES LITTLE BACK IN RETURN. ONE OF THE MAYORAL CANDIDATES MAY BE ABLE TO SOOTHE THOSE TENSIONS, BUT IT COULD TAKE THE SKILLS OF AN ABRAHAM LINCOLN TO HOLD THIS UNION TOGETHER.

RICHARD CLOSE>> WHY, IN BURBANK, GLENDALE AND OTHER CITIES ARE THEY GETTING ADEQUATE SERVICES? THEIR POLICE DEPARTMENT RESPONDS TIMELY, PARAMEDICS ARRIVE IF THERE'S AN EMERGENCY. WHY, IN LOS ANGELES, DON'T WE HAVE ADEQUATE SERVICES?

PHILIP>> ONE SERVICE THE VALLEY CAN'T DO WITHOUT IS POWER AND IN LOS ANGELES, UNLIKE MOST OF CALIFORNIA, IT'S PLENTIFUL AND CHEAP. FOR A WHILE, IT LOOKED AS THOUGH THE POWER CRISIS MIGHT SAP THE JUICE RIGHT OUT OF THE SECESSION MOVEMENT, SINCE THE VALLEY WOULDN'T WANT TO GO IT ALONE WITHOUT OUTSIDE POWER SUPPLIERS WHO CHARGE AN ARM AND A LEG. BUT NOW THAT ISSUE IS ALL BUT BURNED OUT, SINCE IT APPEARS THE VALLEY HAS A LEGAL RIGHT TO CONTRACT WITH LOS ANGELES FOR ELECTRICITY AND WATER. MEANWHILE, THE MAYORAL CONTEST IS PLAYING OUT HERE WITH NO ONE CANDIDATE EMERGING AS THE VALLEY'S CLEAR CHOICE, THOUGH TWO HOPEFULS, SOBOROFF AND WACHS, ARE MAKING THE BIGGEST PUSH.

DICK ROSENGARTEN>> THEY'RE BASICALLY GOING FOR THE SAME BASE VOTE OUT IN THE SAN FERNANDO VALLEY, JEWS AND HIGH PROPENSITY VOTERS, BECAUSE THEY'RE BOTH JEWISH AND THE VALLEY IS WHERE, YOU KNOW, THEY SEE THE CONNECTION.

PHILIP>> DICK ROSENGARTEN, PUBLISHER OF THE POLITICAL NEWSLETTER, CAL PEEK, SAYS EARLY ON JOEL WACHS LOOKED AS THOUGH HE HAD A LOCK ON THE VALLEY. AS THE AREA'S LONG-TIME CITY COUNCILMAN, HE STARTED THE RACE WITH HIGH NAME RECOGNITION.

DICK ROSENGARTEN>> BUT IF YOU LOOK AT WACHS' NUMBERS, THEY'VE STARTED TO COME DOWN AND THEY'VE NOW SORT OF PLATEAUED OUT. HE STARTED OUT AT AROUND, OH, ANYWHERE FROM 18 TO 20 PERCENT. NOW HE'S SOMEWHERE AROUND 12 OR 13 PERCENT, AND THE PERSON WHO HAS REALLY BENEFITED THE MOST FROM WACHS' DROP HAS BEEN STEVE SOBOROFF.

PHILIP>> THE VALLEY IS NO DIFFERENT FROM THE REST OF LOS ANGELES WHEN IT COMES TO FOCUSING ON A BROAD MAYOR'S RACE WITH SIX CANDIDATES ALL LOOKING TO PLACE IN THE RUNOFF. RON KAYE SAYS THE REAL TEST COMES WHEN THE FIELD IS WHITTLED DOWN TO TWO AND THAT'S WHEN THE VALLEY COULD MAKE OR BREAK A CANDIDATE.

RON KAYE>> THERE IS A UNIVERSAL FEELING IN THE VALLEY OF NOT GETTING A FAIR SHARE FOR WHAT THEY'VE PAID IN IN TAXES. THERE'S ABOUT HALF AS MANY COPS HERE PER 1,000 PEOPLE AS THERE IS IN MUCH OF THE CITY AND YOU CAN GO THROUGH THE LITANY OF CITY SERVICES AND IT'S THE SAME. PEOPLE WANT A FAIR SHARE. THEY WANT THE STREETS PAVED, THEY WANT THE SIDEWALKS PAVED, THEY WANT THE GARBAGE PICKED UP, THE POLICE, THE PARAMEDICS, THEY WANT THE BASIC SERVICES. I THINK THAT WHOEVER WINS IN THE END IS GOING TO HAVE TO BE ABLE TO COME UP WITH A PROGRAM THAT SAYS THEIR COMMITMENT IS TO THE BASIC SERVICES OF MUNICIPAL LIFE AND NOT IDEOLOGICAL QUESTIONS. AT LEAST THAT WOULD BE MY HOPE.

JESS>> WITH SECESSIONIST SENTIMENT AND THE LAFCO DECISION ASIDE, UNLESS THE ENTIRE CITY VOTES IN FAVOR OF SECESSION, IT DOESN'T WORK?

PHILIP>> IT WON'T HAPPEN. IT IS A CITYWIDE ISSUE. RIGHT NOW THE POLLS INDICATE THAT, CITYWIDE, A MAJORITY OF PEOPLE IN LOS ANGELES ARE OPPOSED TO THIS BREAK-AWAY, BUT A CLEAR MAJORITY OF THE PEOPLE IN THE VALLEY ARE VERY MUCH FOR IT.

VAL>> PHILIP, YOU MENTIONED AT THE TOP OF YOUR PIECE THAT THE VALLEY WOULD HAVE TO PAY -- IF THEY SECEDED, THE VALLEY WOULD HAVE TO PAY THE CITY OF LOS ANGELES $68 MILLION DOLLARS? WHAT IS THAT AGAIN?

PHILIP>> WELL, THIS STUDY REALLY QUANTIFIES WHAT, FOR ALL PRACTICAL PURPOSES, IS LIKE A MARRIAGE GONE BAD. IT DIVVIES UP THE ASSETS AND PART OF THAT LOOKS AT THE FACT THAT THE VALLEY SUBSIDIZES THE REST OF LOS ANGELES TO THE TUNE OF WELL OVER $100 MILLION DOLLARS. THAT'S MONEY THAT COMES FROM TAXES. SO IF YOU LOSE THAT MONEY, IF THE OLD CITY OF LOS ANGELES, WHAT WAS LEFT OF IT, HAD TO GO IT ALONE, THEY WOULD BE FINANCIALLY INSOLVENT, SO THIS ALIMONY WOULD BE MADE TO KEEP IT WHOLE.

VAL>> IS THAT FOREVER OR JUST THE ONE-TIME PAYMENT?

PHILIP>> IT WOULD BE A FOREVER DEAL.

VAL>> PHILIP, THANK YOU SO MUCH. INTERESTING AND FASCINATING TOPIC FOR POLITICALS.

OUR TOP STORY TOMORROW, L.A.'S MAYOR SAYS HE HAS ONE MORE THING TO DO BEFORE HE LEAVES OFFICE.

JIM HILL>> MAYOR RICHARD RIORDAN IS ONCE AGAIN PLAYING A MAJOR ROLE IN SCHOOL BOARD ELECTIONS.

RICHARD RIORDAN>> WHEN YOU REALIZE THAT A POOR SIX-YEAR-OLD IN THE L.A. SYSTEM HAD ONLY A 12 PERCENT CHANCE TO READ AND WRITE AT THE EIGHTH GRADE LEVEL, BY THE TIME THEY'RE 18, YOU KNEW SOMETHING WAS WRONG.

VAL>> WILL MAYOR RIORDAN LEAVE HIS MARK ON L.A. UNIFIED? THAT'S TOMORROW ON LIFE AND TIMES TONIGHT AT 7:00 P.M.

JESS>> IN TONIGHT'S THINKERS, SHAKERS & NEWSMAKERS, IF YOU'RE AN EDISON CUSTOMER, YOU ALREADY KNOW YOU'LL PROBABLY SOON BE PAYING MORE FOR ELECTRICITY, BUT SOME CUSTOMERS WILL BE PAYING A HIGHER RATE THAN OTHERS.

VAL>> IT ALL DEPENDS ON SOMETHING CALLED THE BASELINE. THERE'S A WORD YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE TO LEARN ABOUT. THAT'S THE AMOUNT OF POWER CONSIDERED NECESSARY FOR ESSENTIAL USE AND HERE TO HELP EXPLAIN IT ALL IS SUZANNE MIDDELBURG. SHE IS MANAGER OF CUSTOMER COMMUNICATION AND SATISFACTION -- OH, THAT'S A TOUGH TITLE TO HAVE THESE DAYS -- FOR SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA EDISON. WELCOME TO LIFE AND TIMES TONIGHT.

SUZANNE MIDDELBURG>> THANK YOU.

JESS>> WE'VE ALL SEEN THE CHARTS. I THINK THE TIMES RAN IT AGAIN TODAY, SHOWING YOU HOW TO FIGURE IT, BUT IT REALLY IS COMPLEX.

SUZANNE MIDDELBURG>> IT DOESN'T NEED TO BE COMPLEX IF PEOPLE JUST REALIZE THAT THERE IS A BASELINE ALLOCATION IDENTIFIED FOR EACH GEOGRAPHIC REGION AND FOR EACH WINTER AND SUMMER SEASON, SO YOU GET TWO EACH.

VAL>> GOT IT.

JESS>> AND THAT BASELINE IS BASED ON AVERAGE?

SUZANNE MIDDELBURG>> THE BASELINE IN 1992 WAS ESTABLISHED TO BE 50 TO 60 PERCENT OF THE AVERAGE CONSUMPTION IN EACH GEOGRAPHICAL AREA AND IT TOOK INTO ACCOUNT WEATHER, IT TAKES INTO ACCOUNT SIZE OF THE HOME AND NUMBER OF PEOPLE IN THE HOME. IT'S AN AVERAGE. AND IT WAS PURPOSEFULLY SET TO ENCOURAGE CONSERVATION SO THAT PEOPLE WOULD WORK HARD TO STAY WITHIN THAT BASELINE AMOUNT AND, IF THEY GO ABOVE IT, THEY WOULD BE PAYING A HIGHER RATE.

JESS>> DID IT WORK?

SUZANNE MIDDELBURG>> IT DID WORK, AND IT'S GOING TO WORK AGAIN.

VAL>> IT'S EVEN MORE IMPORTANT NOW THAT PEOPLE PAY ATTENTION TO THIS THING CALLED BASELINE BECAUSE THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN WHAT YOU PAY BEFORE THE BASELINE AND -- ABOVE AND BELOW THE BASELINE IS GOING TO BE GETTING EVEN GREATER?

SUZANNE MIDDELBURG>> RIGHT. WE HAVE TWO TIERS NOW. WE HAVE THE BASELINE RATE WHICH IS OUR LOWEST RATE POSSIBLE AND THEN THE NEXT TIER WHICH IS EVERYTHING ABOVE THAT AMOUNT AT THE SECOND RATE, 12 CENTS AND 14 CENTS.

VAL>> IS THAT THE ACTUAL RATE DIFFERENCE? 12 CENTS AND 14 CENTS?

SUZANNE MIDDELBURG>> YES, YES, ON A RESIDENTIAL BILL. WHAT THE PUC DECIDED LAST TUESDAY WAS TO ADD ANOTHER TIER. SO THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE A BASELINE RATE WHICH IS FROZEN, THAT WON'T CHANGE, AND THE SECOND TIER OF 14 CENTS NOW BECOMES WHAT WE CHARGE THE FIRST 130 PERCENT OF THE BASELINE.

JESS>> IT'S SOUNDING COMPLICATED. LET'S TAKE A LOOK AT A BILL AND MAYBE WE CAN SEE BETTER HERE.

VAL>> OKAY, HERE'S WHAT PEOPLE MIGHT GET IN THEIR MAIL AND RIGHT THERE, IF PEOPLE CAN LOOK ON THE LEFT, YOU CAN'T READ IT REAL CLEAR, BUT IT SAYS "BASELINE" AND "OVER BASELINE". THAT'S WHAT WE HAVE TO PAY ATTENTION TO?

SUZANNE MIDDELBURG>> THAT'S RIGHT, AND THAT RATE HAS BEEN FROZEN BASICALLY SINCE 1995. WE FROZE RATES IN 1996. THEY REALLY HAVEN'T GONE UP SINCE THEN.

VAL>> OKAY.

SUZANNE MIDDELBURG>> SO THOSE NUMBERS WILL STAY FROZEN FOR THE FIRST AMOUNT OF BASELINE AND THEN FOR 130 PERCENT OF THAT.

VAL>> SO WHAT WILL CHANGE IS THE ADDITIONAL BASELINE LEVEL, OR TIER?

SUZANNE MIDDELBURG>> RIGHT. THE COMMISSION HAS APPROVED A 3-CENT SURCHARGE PER KILOWATT HOUR, SO THAT THIRD TIER IS LIKELY TO BE ABOUT 17 CENTS. NOW THERE'S ALSO TALK ABOUT MAYBE A FOURTH TIER. SO AT 200 PERCENT OF BASELINE, YOU MAY PAY AS MUCH AS A QUARTER. SO LARGE ENERGY USERS THAT USE A LOT OF ELECTRICITY ABOVE THEIR BASELINE, LOOK AT HOW MUCH YOU USE. THE SAMPLE WE HAVE AS THE AVERAGE CUSTOMER USE IS 500 KILOWATT HOURS A MONTH. IF YOU USE A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT ABOVE YOUR BASELINE, YOU CAN EXPECT TO HAVE AN INCREASE.

JESS>> SO WHAT WOULD THE AVERAGE HOMEOWNER -- HOW MUCH INCREASE WILL THEY SEE?

SUZANNE MIDDELBURG>> WELL, THAT DEPENDS, JESS, ON THE WEATHER ZONE YOU'RE IN AND HOW MUCH ENERGY YOU USE. IF YOU LIVE ALONG THE COAST, WE HAVE VERY MILD WINTERS AND VERY MILD SUMMERS, COMPARED, SO THE BASELINE AMOUNTS FOR THAT ZONE IS SMALLER THAN THE BASELINE AMOUNT, SAY, IN THE COACHELLA VALLEY WHERE IT GETS VERY HOT.

JESS>> SO YOU'RE NOT HOME FREE SIMPLY BECAUSE YOU LIVE WHERE THERE ARE COOLING BREEZES?

SUZANNE MIDDELBURG>> THAT'S CORRECT, THAT'S CORRECT, BUT I WANT TO CAUTION TOO. WE'VE LOOKED AT OUR CUSTOMERS' CONSUMPTION ON AVERAGE AND ABOUT 45 PERCENT OF OUR CUSTOMERS DON'T GO ABOVE BASELINE IN THE SUMMER SEASON. SO THERE IS A HUGE GROUP OF CUSTOMERS THAT WON'T BE AFFECTED BY THIS RATE --

VAL>> -- THAT STAY BELOW THE BASELINE?

SUZANNE MIDDELBURG>> BECAUSE THEY'RE ALREADY LIVING BELOW THE BASELINE AND THEY CAN STAY BELOW THE BASELINE AND, HOPEFULLY, EVEN WORK HARDER TO GET EVEN FURTHER DOWN AND SAVE SOME MONEY.

VAL>> NOW THE CUSTOMERS WHO ARE MOST LIKELY TO GO OVER THE BASELINE AND PAY THE HIGHER RATES ARE THE ONES INLAND WHERE YOU GET THE HIGH TEMPERATURES AND --

SUZANNE MIDDELBURG>> -- IT CAN BE ANYWHERE. YOU CAN LIVE ALONG THE BEACH IN A TEMPERATE ZONE AND STILL HAVE A LOT OF ENERGY USERS AND ENERGY GUZZLERS.

VAL>> OH, I SEE, IT'S LIKE LOWER, OF COURSE. I SEE.

SUZANNE MIDDELBURG>> YES, YES, SO PEOPLE ARE REALLY GOING TO HAVE TO PAY ATTENTION LIKE WE DID IN THE 80'S AND LIKE WE DID IN THE 70'S TO USING ENERGY WISELY AND NOT WASTING IT. ONE OF THE THINGS WE'RE STRONGLY SUGGESTING IS THAT PEOPLE CONSIDER GETTING RID OF THE INCANDESCENT LIGHT BULBS AND REPLACING THEM WITH THESE COMPACT FLUORESCENT LIGHTS.

JESS>> YOU TRIED THAT AND IT DIDN'T WORK.

VAL>> I TRIED THAT. YOU KNOW WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS? THEY WEREN'T THE SAME SIZE AS MY BULB, SO THEY DIDN'T FIT IN HALF OF MY LAMPS AND FIXTURES.

SUZANNE MIDDELBURG>> YOU NEED TO GET BIGGER LAMPS. (LAUGHTER)

VAL>> (LAUGHTER) SORRY, THAT'S TOO MUCH OF AN INVESTMENT.

SUZANNE MIDDELBURG>> BUT THIS 25-WATT LIGHT WILL REPLACE A 100-WATT INCANDESCENT. AND IF YOU USE THAT LIGHT JUST FOUR HOURS A DAY, YOU CAN SAVE ONE DOLLAR A MONTH. NOW THIS DOESN'T TAKE AN ELECTRICIAN TO INSTALL. YOU CAN GO TO YOUR HOME IMPROVEMENT STORE, BUY IT AND PUT IT IN AND GET IMMEDIATE SAVINGS. IT WILL PAY FOR ITSELF IN ABOUT NINE OR TEN MONTHS.

VAL>> VERY GOOD. AND WHAT ELSE DO YOU HAVE HERE THAT WE CAN USE?

SUZANNE MIDDELBURG>> WELL, SET-BACK THERMOSTATS. WE TALKED A LOT IN THE SUMMER ABOUT SETTING YOUR THERMOSTAT UP, TURNING YOUR THERMOSTAT UP, UP IN THE SUMMER BECAUSE YOU WANT THE TEMPERATURE TO BE HIGHER. WHAT YOU CAN ALSO DO, AND THEY'RE NOT VERY EXPENSIVE AND WE WILL BE OFFERING REBATES, IS PURCHASE A SET-BACK THERMOSTAT. THIS ALLOWS YOU TO PROGRAM YOUR HEATER OR YOUR AIR CONDITIONER TO COME ON AND COME OFF DURING CERTAIN PERIODS OF THE DAY AND BE SENSITIVE TO TEMPERATURE. SO IF YOU'RE AT HOME AND YOU LEAVE IN THE MORNING, YOU CAN HAVE YOUR THERMOSTAT TELL YOUR AIR CONDITIONING UNIT NOT TO COME ON UNTIL ONE HOUR BEFORE YOU GET HOME AND YOU'RE NOT PAYING FOR THE --

VAL>> -- OH, IT'S LIKE A TIMER.

SUZANNE MIDDELBURG>> YES.

JESS>> ALL THIS IS GOING TO SAVE US. IS IT GOING TO SAVE SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA EDISON?

SUZANNE MIDDELBURG>> WE CERTAINLY HOPE SO. I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S GOING TO SAVE THE EDISON COMPANY, BUT WE DO KNOW THAT, IF CONSUMERS CONSERVE AND IF THEY INVEST IN DEVICES LIKE THIS, IT'S GOING TO HELP US IN THE LONG RUN.

JESS>> BUT THERE IS A QUESTION OF WHETHER THE INCREASE IN RATES IS ENOUGH TO LET YOUR COMPANY AVOID BANKRUPTCY?

SUZANNE MIDDELBURG>> THAT'S A BIG ISSUE, JESS, BECAUSE THE WAY THE DECISION READS, THE INCREASE IS BEING PLACED ON OUR BILLS SO THAT WE CAN PAY FOR THE ELECTRICITY THAT THE STATE IS BUYING FOR CUSTOMERS. IT DOES NOT ADDRESS THE UNCOLLECTEDS THAT EDISON HAS AND THAT PG&E HAS.

VAL>> THANK YOU SO MUCH. WE WILL TAKE THAT ADVICE TO HEART AND I'M SURE THAT PEOPLE WILL FIND A FINANCIAL INCENTIVE VERY SOON IN THEIR MAIL TO CONSERVE.

SUZANNE MIDDELBURG>> YES.

VAL>> SO WHAT DO YOU THINK? DO YOU THINK CONSERVING WILL DO IT? DO YOU FEEL LIKE YOU HAVE MORE ROOM TO CONSERVE OR HAVE YOU DONE ALL YOU CAN? 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>> NOT "R-E-S-P-E-C-T", BUT SHOULD L.A.'S THEME SONG BE "D-I-V-O-R-C-E" OR "STAND BY YOUR MAYOR"? HERE'S PATT WITH TONIGHT'S INFINITELY MORRISON.

PATT>> THE SAN FERNANDO VALLEY HAS EVERYTHING IT TAKES TO STAND ON ITS OWN TWO FEET AND BE A REAL CITY, UP TO A POINT. THE REPORT THAT EVERYONE'S BEEN WAITING FOR CONCLUDES THAT THE SAN FERNANDO VALLEY CAN MAKE IT AS A CITY SO LONG AS IT PONIES UP $68 MILLION BUCKS A YEAR TO L.A. IN WHAT'S BEING CALLED ALIMONY. THE 370-PAGE STUDY COST $1.4 MILLION DOLLARS. THAT'S ABOUT $4,000 A PAGE IF YOU'RE COUNTING. IT WAS COMMISSIONED BY AN AGENCY HEADED BY A MAN WHO LED A FAILED VALLEY SECESSION MOVEMENT IN THE 1970'S. KEEP THAT IN MIND BECAUSE I'M SURE HE WILL.

THE STUDY CALCULATED THAT, IN GENERAL, THE VALLEY SUBSIDIZES L.A. TO THE TUNE OF $123 MILLION DOLLARS A YEAR. ON THE FACE OF IT, THAT'S GROSSLY UNFAIR. BUT THEN CONSIDER, PEOPLE WHO DON'T DRIVE PAY TAXES FOR FREEWAYS, PEOPLE WHO DON'T HAVE CHILDREN PAY TAXES FOR SCHOOLS, PEOPLE WITH HEALTH INSURANCE PAY TAXES FOR THE MEDICAL CARE OF PEOPLE WHO DON'T HAVE HEALTH INSURANCE, ALL IN THE NAME OF THE BETTER CIVIC GOOD. AND IN VALLEY CITY, RICHER VALLEYITES WOULD STILL PAY TAXES FOR SERVICES FOR POOR VALLEYITES. TO THINK CITYHOOD WILL CHANGE THAT IGNORES THE NATURE OF RESPONSIBLE GOVERNMENT.

THE REPORT ALSO FOUND THE VALLEY AND THE REST OF L.A. TO BE SIAMESE TWINS. THE VITAL FUNCTIONS LIKE ELECTRICITY AND WATER ARE SO ENTWINED AS TO MAKE IT IMPOSSIBLE TO SEPARATE THEM COMPLETELY. IN SHORT, A VALLEY CITY WOULD BE LIKE THE 31-YEAR-OLD WHO MOVES AWAY FROM HOME, GETS AN APARTMENT, BUYS A CAR, BUT STILL COMES BACK ON SATURDAYS TO DO HIS LAUNDRY OR HAVE IT DONE FOR HIM AND STILL SHOWS UP AT DINNERTIME WHEN THE DIET OF PIZZA AND BURGERS GETS TOO SICKENING.

IF THE VALLEY CITIFIES, IT CAN EVEN, LIKE, YOU KNOW, HAVE ITS OWN LANGUAGE. JOEL WACHS CAN STILL RUN FOR MAYOR. THE INTERCHANGE OF THE 405 AND THE 101 WILL STILL BE A NIGHTMARE. AND WHATEVER THEY NAME THIS NEW ENTITY, THEY WILL, LIKE PASADENA, LIKE LONG BEACH, EVEN LIKE ORANGE COUNTY, BE DESTINED ALWAYS TO HEAR THEMSELVES DESCRIBED AS "A SUBURB OF LOS ANGELES".

VAL>> IN TONIGHT'S PEOPLE, PLACES & THINGS, LOCAL WOMEN ARTISTS GET A SHOW OF THEIR OWN IN HONOR OF WOMEN'S HISTORY MONTH.

JESS>> THE AVENUE 50 STUDIO IS EXHIBITING THE WORK OF CONTEMPORARY FEMALE ARTISTS IN A SHOW TITLED "PERSONAL HISTORY-EXPLORING OUR ROOTS". THE ARTISTS' WORK EXPLORES THE THEMES OF IDENTITY AND CONNECTION. IT'S A JURIED SHOW AND THE ARTISTS WERE CHOSEN FOR THEIR ABILITY TO DISPLAY MULTI-CULTURALISM THROUGH THE TRADITIONS AND STORIES HANDED DOWN TO THEM.

VAL>> AND JOINING US NOW IS ARTIST AND DIRECTOR OF THE AVENUE 50 STUDIO, KATHY GALLEGOS. WELCOME TO LIFE AND TIMES TONIGHT.

KATHY GALLEGOS>> HI, THANK YOU.

JESS>> SHOW'S BEEN GOING ON FOR A WHILE?

KATHY GALLEGOS>> FOR A MONTH NOW.

JESS>> PUBLIC RESPONSE?

KATHY GALLEGOS>> VERY GOOD. I THINK PEOPLE ARE REALLY INTERESTED. THEY CAN RELATE TO THE SOME OF THE WORK THAT THESE WOMEN ARTISTS HAVE PUT UP ON THE WALLS. THEY'RE REALLY BEAUTIFUL WORK. THEY'RE VERY HEARTFELT.

VAL>> AND YOU BROUGHT A LOT OF IT TO SHOW US, SO WE'RE GOING TO GET RIGHT TO IT. TELL US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THIS FIRST ONE.

KATHY GALLEGOS>> YES, THIS IS A PIECE BY EDIE BALE SANDOVAL. SHE RELATES TO THE YORUBA PEOPLE OF CUBA. SHE'S FROM CUBA AND WHAT SHE DID WAS PUT THE CATHOLIC CHURCH IN THE BACKGROUND AND HOW THE YORUBA PEOPLE OF CUBA ACTUALLY USE THEIR RELIGION.

VAL>> AND A LOT OF THESE WORKS -- WE'LL SEE THE NEXT ONE WHICH IS ENTITLED "EUROPAGAN GODDESS". A LOT OF THEM HAVE IMMIGRANT AND FOREIGN EXPERIENCES --

KATHY GALLEGOS>> -- CECILY ALSO USED RELIGION FOR HER ROOT PIECE. THIS IS A MALE GOD THAT SHE CHANGED INTO A FEMALE GOD BECAUSE OF THE POWER. SHE SAID WOMEN CAN BE HUNTERS TOO, WOMEN CAN BE HUNTERS ALSO AND THAT'S WHAT SHE WANTED TO DO. MAKE POWERFUL WOMEN IN THIS PIECE.

VAL>> AND THE NEXT ONE IS BY DEBRA HOSKINS CALLED "FAITH".

KATHY GALLEGOS>> DEBRA DID A LOT OF TRAVELING THROUGH RUSSIA. THAT'S HER HERITAGE, FROM RUSSIA, AND SHE SAW A LOT OF POVERTY THERE AND A LOT OF INDIFFERENCE. ON THE LEFT-HAND SIDE, YOU SEE KIND OF AN IMAGE OF A VIRGIN AND CHILD, BUT IT'S SEPARATED BY THAT BOX. IT'S SEPARATED FROM THE CHILDREN THAT ARE IMPOVERISHED.

JESS>> THEY ALL SEEM SOMEWHAT ABSTRACT, BUT SOME MORE THAN OTHERS. TAKE A LOOK AT THIS ONE.

KATHY GALLEGOS>> ACTUALLY, THESE ARE FOUR PANELS. IN THIS PIECE, REBECCA FEELS LIKE SHE IS PART OF BOTH MEXICO AND THE U.S. BECAUSE, AT FIVE YEARS OLD, HER FAMILY PICKED UP THEIR ROOTS AND WENT ACROSS THE BORDER AND SHE WAS VERY CONFUSED, LIKE, WHERE IS SHE FROM? YOU SEE THE FIRST PANEL IS GREEN, THE SECOND IS RED AND THE THIRD IS WHITE. THAT'S THE COLORS OF THE MEXICAN FLAG. AND ON THE OTHER SIDE, YOU SEE BLUE, WHITE AND RED, THE COLORS OF THE AMERICAN FLAG. SO SHE FEELS THAT SHE IS PART OF BOTH CULTURES, BUT THAT ALSO CONFUSED HER. WHEN SHE'S IN MEXICO, IS SHE AMERICAN? AND WHEN SHE'S HERE, YOU KNOW, IS SHE MEXICAN?

VAL>> THAT'S A WONDERFUL WAY TO DISPLAY "CROSSING THROUGH BORDERS". THIS NEXT ONE IS, IS IT LINDA ESTRADA?

KATHY GALLEGOS>> LINDA, YES. LINDA LIVED FOR A LONG PERIOD OF TIME IN CANADA AND SHE HAD TO LEAVE. SHE SAID SHE LIVED IN A LOG CABIN UP IN CANADA. SHE LOVED IT UP THERE. YOU CAN SEE THE WATER SWIRLING AROUND THE WOMAN'S HEAD. SHE HAD AN UNFORTUNATE INCIDENT. SHE HAD TO LEAVE. YOU SEE THE SNAKE COMING AROUND AND CIRCLING THE FACE THAT'S SCREAMING AND AROUND HER IS BLACK, SO SHE OBVIOUSLY WAS DEPRESSED. BUT THIS FIGURE OF THIS WOMAN ON THE LEFT-HAND SIDE HELPED HER COME THROUGH THAT DEPRESSION. YOU KNOW, THERE'S LOVE. THERE'S LOVE THERE.

VAL>> THAT'S BEAUTIFUL. THE NEXT ONE?

JESS>> "COMING TO AMERICA".

KATHY GALLEGOS>> INCA CAME AT 10 YEARS OLD AND SHE COULDN'T UNDERSTAND WHERE SHE WAS AND EVERYTHING LOOKED LIKE GIBBERISH TO HER.

VAL>> WHERE DID SHE COME FROM?

KATHY GALLEGOS>> SHE CAME FROM POLAND WITH HER FATHER. HER FATHER USED TO SAY THESE WORDS WHENEVER, YOU KNOW, THERE WERE SOME HARD TIMES. IT'S ALMOST LIKE, WELL, YOU KNOW, C'EST LA VIE, OR THAT'S LIFE. THESE ARE GIBBERISH WORDS AND SHE FELT THAT'S WHAT SHE SAW. IN HER FIRST FEW YEARS, SHE DIDN'T UNDERSTAND ANYTHING.

VAL>> I CAN'T IMAGINE. EVERY SIGN YOU LOOK AT, YOU CAN'T INTERPRET. EVERYTHING'S FOREIGN.

KATHY GALLEGOS>> YOU LOOK AT IT, YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND. AND THE STREETS, YOU DON'T KNOW WHERE YOU ARE. EVERYTHING WAS SO FOREIGN AND YOU LOSE YOUR SENSE OF PLACE.

JESS>> IT'S ONE OF THE EXCEPTIONS, BECAUSE MOST OF THE ART IS EXTREMELY COLORFUL.

KATHY GALLEGOS>> THIS IS A VERY SERIOUS PIECE.

JESS>> LET'S TAKE A LOOK AT THIS NEXT ONE.

KATHY GALLEGOS>> "AWAKEN THE DRAGON". BETTY WAS A CO-CURATOR IN THE SHOW AND THIS IS A BEAUTIFUL, BEAUTIFUL PIECE. YOU CAN'T SEE QUITE THE COLOR. IT'S A VERY STRONG YELLOW. IT'S TALKING ABOUT BALANCE. SHE'S TRYING TO BALANCE HER CHINESE HERITAGE AND HER AMERICAN HERITAGE. IN HER BODY, YOU WILL SEE A DRAGON AND THE DRAGON IS A MALE POWER SYMBOL. YET HER HAIR IS THIS BEAUTIFUL FEMALE OF FEMININE QUALITY, SO --

VAL>> -- CAN'T APPRECIATE IT ON TELEVISION. IT'S REALLY BEAUTIFUL.

KATHY GALLEGOS>> IT'S A VERY LARGE PIECE ALSO.

JESS> IS THIS NOT JUST WOMEN'S EXHIBITION, BUT A FEMINIST SHOW?

KATHY GALLEGOS>> (LAUGHTER) WELL, I THINK ALL THE WOMEN IN THE SHOW ARE PRETTY MUCH FEMINISTS. THEY'RE VERY STRONG IN THEIR IDENTITY.

VAL>> HERE'S ONE THAT CAN BRING A FEW -- OUCH. (LAUGHTER) THIS IS CALLED "WALKING MY CAT".

KATHY GALLEGOS>> BY REMA. REMA WENT THROUGH A VERY DIFFICULT PERIOD. INSTEAD OF TALKING ABOUT HER ROOTS, SHE WANTED TO TALK ABOUT HER OWN PERSONAL HISTORY AND SHE WENT THROUGH A VERY SERIOUS PERIOD. THE FOOT IS ACTUALLY FLOATING ON THAT PIECE. YOU CAN'T QUITE SEE IT. YOU DON'T KNOW WHETHER SHE'S KIND OF LIKE JUST DOING THIS BALANCING ACT. IS SHE GOING TO CLEAR THOSE BLADE-LIKE BRANCHES? YOU KNOW, WILL SHE FALL ON TOP OF THEM?

VAL>> LEAVES YOU SUSPENDED (LAUGHTER) THIS IS A BEAUTIFUL, VERY SUBTLE PIECE.

JESS>> "SECRETS", YEAH.

KATHY GALLEGOS>> JOY WAS TALKING ABOUT HOW SHE HAS A LOT OF SECRETS IN HER FAMILY. IN HER INVESTIGATION, SHE FOUND THAT A LOT OF FAMILIES HAVE SECRETS. YOU CAN'T QUITE SEE, BUT IN THE BACK THERE, SHE HAS WORDS IN THE BLACK AND IT SAYS SECRETS. IF YOU READ THEM, IT'S ALMOST LIKE WHISPERING. THIS WHITE IS KIND OF WHITEWASHING THOSE SECRETS SO YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON IN THE PIECE. THE PIECE ITSELF IS PRETTY MYSTERIOUS.

JESS>> WE'RE ABOUT OUT OF TIME, BUT THE ARROYO AREA AND HIGHLAND PARK AREA IS ONE THAT IS REALLY COMING TO THE FRONT IN ARTWORK, ISN'T IT?

KATHY GALLEGOS>> ACTUALLY, IT'S HAD A LONG HISTORY OF ART. THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF ARTISTS IN THIS AREA AND WE'RE JUST KIND OF LIKE CARRYING ON THE TRADITION. YOU KNOW, THERE HAVE BEEN GALLERIES THERE, BUT WE'RE JUST KIND OF CARRYING IT ON.

JESS>> AND THERE WERE THE ARROYO PAINTERS OF THE 20'S AND 30'S.

KATHY GALLEGOS>> UM-HUM, THAT'S RIGHT.

VAL>> KATHY GALLEGOS, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR COMING OUT. WE DIDN'T GET TO ALL OF THEM, BUT THEY'LL HAVE TO GO LOOK AT THEM THEMSELVES.

KATHY GALLEGOS>> YES.

JESS>> YOU CAN CHECK THE NUMBER ON YOUR SCREEN FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE SHOW "PERSONAL HISTORY". THERE WILL BE AN ARTISTS' TALK AT AVENUE 50 STUDIO THIS SATURDAY, MARCH 31, AT 3:00 P.M.

VAL>> CHECK IT OUT. WONDERFUL OPPORTUNITY TO MEET THE ARTISTS AND SEE THEIR WORK.

[323-258-1435]

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