4/4/01

LC010404

VAL>> ON LIFE AND TIMES TONIGHT --

JESS>> BY MOST ACCOUNTS, THE LATE JULIAN DIXON WAS THE KING OF HIS SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT, BUT AS THEY SAY, THAT WAS THEN AND THIS IS NOW.

LEAH SANDERS>> MORE THAN A DOZEN CANDIDATES ARE RUNNING FOR THE HIGHLY SOUGHT-AFTER 32ND CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT SEAT. JULIAN DIXON, WHO PASSED AWAY IN DECEMBER, HELD IT FOR 22 YEARS.

JORGE FLORES>> SPECIAL ELECTIONS ARE JUST INCREDIBLY GRUELING AND TIRESOME. THEY'RE EXTREMELY DIFFICULT AND SOMETIMES NOT ALWAYS THE BEST CANDIDATE WINS.

VAL>> L.A.'S SPRAWLING COMMUNITY COLLEGES NEED SOME BIG REPAIRS. IN TONIGHT'S THINKERS, SHAKERS & NEWSMAKERS, THE MAN WHO HEADS UP THE SYSTEM MAKES HIS PITCH FOR YOUR VOTE IN NEXT TUESDAY'S CITY ELECTION.

JESS>> ALSO, IF PATT MORRISON HAD HER "DRUTHERS", THOSE CARDS AND LETTERS WOULD STOP COMING IN.

PATT>> CHECK YOUR MAILBOX. YOU MAY ALREADY BE HEARING FROM THE WINNER. THE REAL E-MAIL, ELECTION MAIL, ON TONIGHT'S INFINITELY MORRISON.

VAL>> THIS ANCIENT ART FORM CAME CLOSE TO BEING LOST FOREVER, BUT CHINESE HAND KNOTTING IS ENJOYING A NEW-FOUND POPULARITY. THESE DELICATE FIGURES AREN'T JUST FOR DECORATION. WE'LL SHOW YOU HOW THEY'RE MADE AND WHAT THEY REPRESENT.

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, REPLACING A LEGEND. LONG-TIME LOS ANGELES CONGRESSMAN, JULIAN DIXON, PASSED AWAY IN DECEMBER. NOW MORE THAN A DOZEN CANDIDATES ARE HOPING TO FILL THE VOID LEFT BY HIS DEATH.

VAL>> CALIFORNIA'S 32ND CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT STRADDLES THE SANTA MONICA FREEWAY ROUGHLY BETWEEN THE HARBOR AND THE SAN DIEGO FREEWAYS. LEAH SANDERS REPORTS ON THE CANDIDATES AND WHAT IT WILL TAKE TO WIN THIS INFLUENTIAL SEAT.

LEAH>> THE 32ND CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT IS HOME FOR MANY THINGS. IT'S HOME TO THE LARGEST CONCENTRATION OF AFRICAN-AMERICAN WEALTH IN AMERICA. IT'S HOME TO HIP-HOP CULTURE AND, FOR OVER TWO DECADES, THIS KINGDOM WAS RULED BY CONGRESSMAN, JULIAN DIXON, WITH ITS BOUNDARIES STRETCHING FROM HIGHER INCOME AREAS NEAR BEVERLY HILLS AND LADERA HEIGHTS TO MORE MIDDLE AND LOWER INCOME AREAS LIKE LEIMERT PARK AND SOUTH CENTRAL LOS ANGELES. 

REPRESENTATIVE DIXON'S ABILITY TO REACH OUT TO ALL MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY IS WHAT MOST AGREE KEPT HIM IN OFFICE FOR 22 YEARS. SHORTLY AFTER HIS DEATH LAST DECEMBER, NAMES IMMEDIATELY BEGAN POPPING UP OF LIKELY SUCCESSORS AND, BY MID-FEBRUARY, THE RACE WAS OFFICIALLY ON WITH SIXTEEN CANDIDATES THROWING THEIR NAMES INTO THE SPECIAL ELECTION FOR THIS HIGHLY SOUGHT-AFTER CONGRESSIONAL SEAT.

JORGE FLORES>> SPECIAL ELECTIONS ARE JUST INCREDIBLY GRUELING AND TIRESOME. THEY'RE TRULY DIFFICULT AND SOMETIMES NOT ALWAYS THE BEST CANDIDATE WINS AN ELECTION BECAUSE OF THE SPECIAL ELECTIONS.

LEAH>> POLITICAL CONSULTANT, JORGE FLORES, SAYS CANDIDATES IN THIS ELECTION HAVE TO WORK QUICKLY, LESS THAN TWO MONTHS TO WIN A SEAT NO ONE ELSE HAS BEEN ABLE TO CAPTURE IN MORE THAN TWO DECADES.

JORGE FLORES>> CAMPAIGNS THEMSELVES ARE INCREDIBLY GRUELING, BUT WITH A SPECIAL ELECTION, EVERYTHING THAT YOU WOULD DO OVER THE COURSE OF, YOU KNOW, THREE, FOUR, FIVE, SIX MONTHS, YOU COMPRESS INTO SOMETIMES FOUR WEEKS, FIVE WEEKS, SIX WEEKS AND YOU'VE GOT TO RAISE AN ENORMOUS AMOUNT OF MONEY. YOU'VE GOT TO GET TOGETHER A VERY, VERY LARGE GRASSROOTS OPERATION THAT, YOU KNOW, SOME PEOPLE YOU HAVEN'T TALKED TO IN, YOU KNOW, SIX, SEVEN MONTHS, SOMETIMES A YEAR.

LEAH>> PRIVATE POLLS GIVE FORMER STATE SENATOR AND U.S. AMBASSADOR TO MICRONESIA, DIANE WATSON, AN EDGE AMONG LIKELY VOTERS. NOT FAR BEHIND, STATE SENATOR KEVIN MURRAY AND L.A. CITY COUNCILMAN NATE HOLDEN, HIGH-PROFILE ATTORNEY, LEO TERRELL, AND BUSINESSMAN, PHILIP LOWE. LOWE'S BEEN SPENDING A LOT OF MONEY AND CATCHING VOTER ATTENTION WITH HIS RADIO ADS AND MAIL CAMPAIGNS. IN ALL, 11 DEMOCRATS, THREE REPUBLICANS, ONE GREEN PARTY AND ONE REFORM PARTY MEMBER ARE RUNNING IN A DISTRICT THAT'S 70 PERCENT DEMOCRAT. DICK ROSENGARTEN IS PUBLISHER OF CALIFORNIA POLITICAL WEEK.

DICK ROSENGARTEN>> THERE ARE THREE IMPORTANT ELEMENTS IN THIS RACE. THE FIRST ONE IS MONEY, THE SECOND ONE IS MONEY AND THE THIRD ONE IS MONEY. (LAUGHTER) I MEAN, SAD TO SAY IT, YOU KNOW, AND I KNOW ALL THE PEOPLE OUT THERE WHO LOVE CAMPAIGN FINANCE REFORM, THAT'S REALLY WHAT IT'S ALL ABOUT.

LEAH>> ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS DRIVE THE STREETS OF THE 32ND DISTRICT AND YOU CAN SEE WHERE THE BULK OF THE MONEY IS GOING. SIGNS FILL FRONT LAWNS, STREET CORNERS, FREEWAY OFF-RAMPS AND LIGHT POLES. IT'S THE QUICKEST AND MOST ECONOMICAL WAY TO GET CANDIDATES' NAMES OUT THERE, BUT IT'S NOT THE ONLY THING WHEN IT COMES TO A SPECIAL ELECTION. ENDORSEMENTS ARE KEY. SO FAR, DIANE WATSON'S SUPPORT INCLUDES A LUKEWARM ENDORSEMENT FROM THE LOS ANGELES TIMES.

JORGE FLORES>> SHE'S GOT THE ENDORSEMENT OF THE BLACK CAUCUS AND THE ECUMENICAL COMMUNITY HERE IN THE AREA. THE CHURCHES ARE GOING TO PLAY A HUGE ROLE IN INFLUENCING THE OUTCOME OF THIS RACE.

DICK ROSENGARTEN>> THE BULK OF THE MAJOR ENDORSEMENTS HAVE GONE TO STATE SENATOR, KEVIN MURRAY. HE HAS THE COUNTY AFL-CIO BEHIND HIM, THE CALIFORNIA DEMOCRATIC PARTY, SIERRA CLUB, PLANNING AND CONSERVATION LEAGUE. MAXINE WATERS HAS ENDORSED KEVIN MURRAY. HOWARD BERMAN, HENRY WAXMAN, BOTH HAVE ENDORSED HIM. THE BULK OF MOST OF THE POLITICAL ENDORSEMENTS AND WHATNOT HAVE GONE TO KEVIN. NATE HOLDEN HAS MAYOR RIORDAN ON HIS SIDE. NOW I'M NOT SURE HOW MAYOR RIORDAN PLAYS IN THIS PARTICULAR CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT. I DON'T THINK IT'S THAT GOOD OR THAT BAD. WELL, IT'S BETTER THAN A POKE IN THE EYE WITH A SHARP STICK, AS THEY SAY.

LEAH>> THERE'S ALSO TALK ABOUT AGE. JULIAN DIXON HAD 22 YEARS TO EARN THE RESPECT OF HIS COLLEAGUES ON BOTH SIDES OF THE AISLE IN WASHINGTON AND BECOME THE RANKING DEMOCRAT ON THE HOUSE PERMANENT SELECT COMMITTEE ON INTELLIGENCE.

JORGE FLORES>> THEY COULD CHOOSE KEVIN MURRAY, WHO'S A YOUNGER, PROBABLY MORE DYNAMIC PERSON WHO SAYS HE'S GOING TO BE THERE FOR A LONG TIME AND ISN'T LOOKING TO GO -- YOU KNOW, THIS MAY BE THE LAST STOP FOR KEVIN MURRAY ON HIS POLITICAL ASCENSION. SO THERE'S A HUGE TASK FOR VOTERS HERE. DO THEY WANT SOME STABILITY IN WHO'S REPRESENTING THEM IN CONGRESS OR ARE WE GOING TO SEE AN ELECTION COME DOWN AGAIN IN, YOU KNOW, FIVE, SIX, SEVEN, EIGHT YEARS AGAIN AS CANDIDATES GROW OLDER AND AREN'T ABLE TO FULFILL THEIR OTHER OBJECTIVES?

LEAH>> BUT FLORES SAYS VOTERS MAY ALSO WANT SOMEONE IN WASHINGTON WHO'LL MAINTAIN THE RESPECT THE 32ND DISTRICT HAS HAD FOR SO MANY YEARS.

JORGE FLORES>> THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE HUGE, HUGE SHOES TO FILL AND I THINK THAT ULTIMATELY THE BEST CANDIDATE THAT'S GOING TO COME OUT OF THIS IS SOMEONE WHO CAN PROVE TO THE VOTERS THAT THEY CAN HIT THE GROUND RUNNING AND HAVE SOME, NOT JUST EXPERIENCE AS A LEGISLATOR, BUT EXPERIENCE IN WASHINGTON AND EXPERIENCE TO BUILD ON SOME RELATIONSHIPS THAT EXIST ALREADY AND THAT THEY CAN BUILD RELATIONSHIPS RATHER QUICKLY.

LEAH>> ONE OF THE THINGS THAT KEPT JULIAN DIXON IN OFFICE FOR MORE THAN 20 YEARS WAS HIS CROSS-OVER APPEAL. WHILE THE 32ND DISTRICT IS PREDOMINANTLY AFRICAN-AMERICAN, IT DOES HAVE A SIZABLE NUMBER OF WHITE VOTERS AND IT'S INCREASINGLY BECOMING MORE LATINO AND ASIAN, SO WHOEVER IS ELECTED WILL HAVE A CHALLENGING JOB OF MEETING THE NEEDS OF A VAST CONSTITUENCY.

DICK ROSENGARTEN>> KEVIN MURRAY HAS SOME CROSS-OVER APPEAL. NOT SO MUCH DIANE, NOT SO MUCH NATE. NOEL IRWIN HENTSCHEL, WHO'S THE LONE REPUBLICAN, SHE LIVES IN BEL AIR. I DON'T THINK SHE KNOWS FROM MUCH, YOU KNOW, IN TERMS OF HER CROSS-OVER BECAUSE NOBODY REALLY KNOWS THAT MUCH ABOUT HER IN THE 32ND.

LEAH>> AS FOR VOTER TURNOUT, DICK ROSENGARTEN SAYS IT COULD BE ABOUT 30 PERCENT, WHICH IS BIG FOR A SPECIAL ELECTION.

DICK ROSENGARTEN>> NORMALLY, A SPECIAL ELECTION IS A VERY, VERY LOW TURNOUT AFFAIR, BUT IN THIS CASE, IT COINCIDES WITH THE L.A. CITY MUNICIPAL ELECTION. FOR INSTANCE, IN THIS PARTICULAR AREA, THIS IS ALSO THE 5TH COUNCIL DISTRICT. THERE'S ALL SORTS OF ACTIVITY HERE. THERE WILL BE A VERY LARGE TURNOUT IN THE 5TH DISTRICT OF LOS ANGELES AND THAT, OBVIOUSLY, IS GOING TO SPILL OVER INTO THE 32ND SPECIAL ELECTION.

JESS>> IF, AS THEY SAY, YOU WIN ON MONEY AND ENDORSEMENTS, IT WOULD BE LOWE WITH THE MONEY OR MURRAY WITH THE ENDORSEMENTS, BUT DIANE WATSON IS HEADING THE POLLS.

LEAH>> IT'S REALLY INTERESTING. SHE HAS THIS STAYING POWER. SHE HASN'T BEEN IN OFFICE SINCE '94, EVEN THOUGH SHE'S BEEN THE U.S. AMBASSADOR TO MICRONESIA, BUT PEOPLE STILL RECOGNIZE HER. SHE STARTED IN POLITICS HERE IN THE 70'S, SCHOOL BOARD, STATE SENATOR, AND PEOPLE JUST RECOGNIZE HER IN THAT POSITION.

VAL>> AND THE VOTER MAKEUP IN THAT DISTRICT IS --

LEAH>> 55 PERCENT OF THE VOTERS THERE ARE 55 AND OLDER, THE MAJORITY OF WHICH ARE WOMEN, SO RIGHT NOW THEY'RE SAYING THAT BODES WELL FOR DIANE WATSON.

JESS>> BINGO. YES, INDEED.

VAL>> OLDER WOMEN. VERY INTERESTING. OF COURSE, ONCE YOU'RE IN CONGRESS, THERE ARE NO TERM LIMITS. THANK YOU SO MUCH, LEAH.

OUR TOP STORY TOMORROW NIGHT, WITH LESS THAN A WEEK TO GO FOR THIS ELECTION, IT'S YOUR CHANCE TO HEAR FROM THE CANDIDATES FOR MAYOR OF LOS ANGELES. A SPECIAL EDITION OF LIFE AND TIMES TONIGHT FEATURING A DEBATE AMONG THE LEADING CANDIDATES. IT ALL STARTS TOMORROW NIGHT AT 7:00 P.M. AND CONTINUES FRIDAY NIGHT WITH ANALYSIS BY HUGH HEWITT AND KERMAN MADDOX.

JESS>> IN TONIGHT'S THINKERS, SHAKERS & NEWSMAKERS, THE PAINT IS PEELING, THE AIR CONDITIONING DOESN'T WORK AND, THERE'S SO LITTLE SPACE, SOME STUDENTS HAVE TO GO OFF CAMPUS TO ATTEND CLASSES.

VAL>> THAT'S A QUICK ASSESSMENT OF PROP A IN THE CITY OF LOS ANGELES COMMUNITY COLLEGE DISTRICT. PROP A WOULD PROVIDE MORE THAN A BILLION DOLLARS FOR THOSE REPAIRS AND JOINING US NOW TO MAKE HIS PITCH FOR YOUR VOTE IS DISTRICT CHANCELLOR, MARK DRUMMOND. WELCOME TO LIFE AND TIMES TONIGHT.

MARK DRUMMOND>> THANK YOU.

JESS>> CHANCELLOR DRUMMOND, IT'S MORE THAN JUST THE CITY OF LOS ANGELES?

MARK DRUMMOND>> IT IS INDEED. IT'S ABOUT 80 PERCENT OF LOS ANGELES COUNTY. IT'S THE CITY OF LOS ANGELES AND THEN ALL OR PART OF 28 OTHER COMMUNITIES THAT WE SERVE.

VAL>> AND HOW MANY COLLEGES OR CAMPUSES ARE A PART OF THIS?

MARK DRUMMOND>> WE HAVE NINE COLLEGES AND A COUPLE OF SATELLITE CENTERS ALSO.

JESS>> AN ENORMOUS DISTRICT AND AN ENORMOUS NEED. WE'RE TALKING ABOUT A BILLION DOLLARS?

MARK DRUMMOND>> WE'RE TALKING ABOUT $1.3 BILLION. OF COURSE, YOU HAVE TO REMEMBER THAT WE HAVE NINE COLLEGES, SO WHEN YOU DIVIDE THAT UP, IT'S NOT SUCH A STAGGERING NUMBER. I THINK IF YOU REMEMBER THE DISTRICT WHICH SEPARATED FROM L.A. UNIFIED BACK IN 1959, ALMOST 40 YEARS AGO, SINCE THAT TIME, THERE'S BEEN NO LOCAL INVESTMENT AT ALL IN THOSE COLLEGES.

VAL>> REALLY? NONE?

MARK DRUMMOND>> NONE. NO BOND ISSUES SINCE THAT TIME. SO THE ONLY THING THAT'S KEPT THOSE COLLEGES UP IS THE STATE MONEY THAT'S COME IN WHICH VARIES BETWEEN ABOUT $9 MILLION AND $20 MILLION A YEAR. WHEN YOU DIVIDE THAT AMOUNT BY NINE COLLEGES, YOU BARELY HAVE ENOUGH TO KEEP THE ROOFS UP, LET ALONE THE WINDOWS FROM LEAKING AND THE LABS UP TO DATE. SO THEY'VE BEEN NEGLECTED FOR A LONG, LONG TIME AND THEY DO SURPRISINGLY WELL IN SPITE OF THAT, BUT IT'S HIGH TIME WE STEP UP AND DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT.

JESS>> WHAT WILL THIS COST THE INDIVIDUAL VOTERS?

MARK DRUMMOND>> WELL, LUCKILY, WITH THE INTEREST RATES AS LOW AS THEY ARE RIGHT NOW, IT LOOKS AS THOUGH WHEN THE BONDS ARE ISSUED AT CURRENT RATES, IT WILL COME OUT TO SOMEPLACE AROUND $15 A YEAR PER $100,000 ASSESSED VALUATIONS. SO THE AVERAGE HOUSE IS ASSESSED SOMEWHERE BETWEEN $300,000 AND $400,000, SO WHAT THAT COMES OUT TO IS $50 TO $60 A YEAR.

JESS>> EVEN AT THAT LOW RATE, YOU'VE GOT TO BE AWFULLY PLEASED THAT YOU NO LONGER HAVE TO HAVE A TWO-THIRDS MAJORITY TO PASS A BOND ISSUE.

MARK DRUMMOND>> WELL, IT IS VERY, VERY DIFFICULT TO PASS BOND ISSUES WITH A TWO-THIRDS MAJORITY, NO MATTER HOW GOOD THE CASE IS. IN FACT, THIS DISTRICT HAS HAD A COUPLE OF ISSUES THAT GOT UP TO 65 PERCENT, BUT THEY MISSED BY THAT ONE PERCENT AND IT MAY AS WELL BE 50 PERCENT. IF YOU MISS BY ONE, YOU MISS. SO THIS WILL BE EASIER AS FAR AS PASSING IT. WE CERTAINLY DON'T TAKE IT FOR GRANTED. WE'VE BEEN WORKING VERY HARD ON THIS CAMPAIGN AND THE FUN PART OF THIS IS, YOU KNOW, THE FACULTY, THE STUDENTS, THE ADMINISTRATORS, WE'VE HAD TREMENDOUS OUTPOURING OF SUPPORT. I MEAN, THIS IS A VERY VIBRANT CAMPAIGN. I THINK, FOR THE FIRST TIME, THE TRUSTEES HAVE ALL BEEN VERY ACTIVE, SO IT'S BEEN EXCITING FOR THE COLLEGE COMMUNITY. I WAS LOOKING AT SOME NOTES A COUPLE OF DAYS AGO. I WAS WORKING ON THIS THING VERY ACTIVELY WAY BACK IN SEPTEMBER, TAKING DAYS OFF -- WE ALL HAVE TO TAKE TIME OFF TO DO THIS WORK. YOU CAN'T DO IT LEGALLY WHILE YOU'RE WORKING, SO IT'S BEEN QUITE A BALANCING ACT FOR ALL OF US, BUT IT'S BEEN EXCITING.

VAL>> NOW HOW BAD IS IT? WE KNOW THAT YOU PROVIDE A GREAT SERVICE, MANY, MANY OF YOUR STUDENTS ARE MINORITIES, POOR STUDENTS WHO ARE REALLY GETTING A FOOT ONTO THE ECONOMIC LADDER, BUT HOW BAD ARE THE CONDITIONS?

MARK DRUMMOND>> WELL, YOU HAVE TO LOOK AT THAT A COUPLE OF DIFFERENT WAYS. ONE IS JUST THE BASIC DECENCY OF THE FACILITY. I MEAN, LIGHTING, HEATING AND AIR CONDITIONING. IN OTHER WORDS, A BASIC COMFORT LEVEL AND AN ENVIRONMENT IN WHICH PEOPLE CAN WORK. WE HAVE SOME AREAS THAT ARE FAIRLY ALL RIGHT, BUT AN AWFUL LOT OF OUR FACILITIES, FRANKLY, LACK GOOD LIGHTING, LACK GOOD AIR CONDITIONING. THEY HAVE OLD WINDOWS THAT MAY LEAK, THEY'RE NOT ENERGY-EFFICIENT. SO ONE THING THIS BOND WILL DO IS, IT WILL SAVE US ABOUT A MILLION DOLLARS A YEAR ON ENERGY BILLS. OF COURSE, WITH THE ENERGY CRISIS, WE'RE ANXIOUS TO BE MORE ENERGY-EFFICIENT. BUT ANOTHER AREA THAT WE REALLY NEED TO PAY ATTENTION TO IS JUST, FOR EXAMPLE, IN HEALTH CARE. WE HAVE -- OUT OF THE NINE COLLEGES, WE HAVE SIX NURSING PROGRAMS. WE'RE REKINDLING THE ONE AT L.A. CITY COLLEGE. THAT WOULD BE SEVEN RN PROGRAMS. WE PROVIDE, BY FAR, THE LARGEST NUMBER OF NURSES INTO THE ECONOMY IN LOS ANGELES OF ANY INSTITUTION.

VAL>> AND THERE'S A HUGE NURSING SHORTAGE.

MARK DRUMMOND>> HUGE NURSING SHORTAGE. WE NEED TO EDUCATE MORE NURSES, BUT OUR LABORATORIES WHERE WE TRAIN THESE NURSES ARE SO OUTDATED THAT, FRANKLY, WE NEED TO BRING THEM UP TO DATE AND WE NEED TO EXPAND OUR HEALTH SCIENCE OFFERINGS. WE ALSO TRAIN EMT'S, WE TRAIN --

VAL>> -- WHAT'S AN EMT?

MARK DRUMMOND>> EMERGENCY MEDICAL TECHNICIANS, WHICH THERE'S A HUGE SHORTAGE OF. WE TRAIN LVN'S, WE TRAIN HOME HEALTH CARE PROFESSIONALS, SO IF YOU JUST TAKE A LOOK AT THAT SINGLE ASPECT AND SAY, WHAT DO WE NEED TO DO? ONE OF THE PROJECTS ONLINE FOR THIS BOND AT VALLEY COLLEGE, FOR INSTANCE, IS A NEW HEALTH SCIENCES BUILDING WHICH WOULD GREATLY EXPAND THE NUMBER OF NURSES AND HEALTH CARE PROFESSIONALS.

JESS>> AND TECHNOLOGY TRAINING IS A BIG ISSUE TOO, ISN'T IT?

MARK DRUMMOND>> WELL, THAT'S ENORMOUS. AND CERTAINLY, WITH THE 40 YEARS OF NEGLECT WITHOUT INVESTMENT, FRANKLY, WE HAVE NOT KEPT UP WITH THE KIND OF CABLING AND TECHNOLOGY INFRASTRUCTURE OUR STUDENTS REALLY DESERVE AND OUR WORKFORCE NEEDS.

VAL>> WELL, HOW DO YOU ANSWER PEOPLE WHO SAY, YOU KNOW, WE KEEP VOTING FOR THESE BOND MEASURES, MILLIONS HERE, BILLIONS THERE, AND IT JUST SEEMS AS THOUGH ALL THEY WANT IS MORE, MORE, MORE? HOW CAN THEY MAKE SURE THAT WHAT HAS TO BE DONE IS GOING TO BE DONE?

MARK DRUMMOND>> WELL, I THINK -- WE CAN SAY THIS. FIRST OF ALL, AS I'VE MENTIONED SEVERAL TIMES NOW, THIS PLACE HAS BEEN NEGLECTED. THERE HAVEN'T BEEN BOND MEASURES THAT HAVE BEEN PASSED FOR THESE COLLEGES, SO THEY'VE JUST BEEN LEFT TO SIT AND GO ON FOR YEARS. THEY'RE GREATLY IN NEED. THE SECOND THING IS, WE TOOK THIS VERY SERIOUSLY. WE WENT FROM BOTTOM UP. WE BROUGHT IN A FIRM THAT'S VERY GOOD AT ASSESSING INFRASTRUCTURE REQUIREMENTS AND NEEDS.

FIRST, WE LOOKED AT WHAT WOULD IT TAKE JUST TO BRING THESE BUILDINGS UP TO PAR, NUMBER ONE. NUMBER TWO, TO DO WHAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT, PUT IN THE INFRASTRUCTURE FOR TECHNOLOGY AND SO FORTH. THEN THE THIRD IS, WHAT DON'T WE HAVE THAT WE NEED? WHAT NEW BUILDINGS? THE HEALTH SCIENCE BUILDING AND SO FORTH. AND WE DID THIS IN A VERY OPEN PROCESS. WE HAD THE COMMUNITIES INVOLVED. WE HAD THE STUDENTS INVOLVED AND THE FACULTIES INVOLVED. SO WE HAVE AN EXQUISITE LIST OF PROJECTS. WE KNOW EXACTLY WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO AND WHERE WE'RE GOING TO DO IT AND WE'VE MADE THAT PUBLIC.

JESS>> AND NONE OF THIS GOES TO SALARIES?

MARK DRUMMOND>> NOTHING GOES TO SALARIES. IN FACT, THAT'S A REQUIREMENT OF PROPOSITION 39 IS NONE OF THIS MONEY CAN GO FOR ANY KIND OF SALARIES. THAT MAKES IT A LITTLE BIT TRICKY, ACTUALLY, IF AND WHEN THE BOND PASSES --

JESS>> AND THERE'S A WAY TO CHECK ON THIS?

MARK DRUMMOND>> OH, ABSOLUTELY. WE HAVE OVERSIGHT COMMITTEES AND THERE WILL BE AUDITS. THIS WILL BE A VERY PUBLIC PROCESS AND OUR OVERSIGHT COMMITTEES WILL BE PEOPLED BY FOLKS THAT ARE KNOWN IN THE COMMUNITIES. THESE WON'T BE STRANGERS OR SOME KIND OF, YOU KNOW --

JESS>> -- SO WE'LL KNOW WHERE THE MONEY GOES?

MARK DRUMMOND>> YOU'LL KNOW WHERE THE MONEY GOES.

VAL>> THANK YOU, CHANCELLOR DRUMMOND, FOR COMING IN. THAT, BY THE WAY, WAS YOU IN THE COMMERCIAL NEXT TO THE HORSE AT THE TOP OF THE SHOW. (LAUGHTER)

MARK DRUMMOND>> WELL, WE'RE THE WORK HORSE OF HIGHER ED. (LAUGHTER)

VAL>> WE'RE THE WORK HORSE, THERE YOU ARE. (LAUGHTER)

SO WHAT DO YOU THINK? DO OUR COMMUNITY COLLEGES DESERVE $1.3 BILLION IN REPAIRS? WE'D LOVE TO HEAR FROM YOU. HERE'S HOW YOU 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 EXPLAINS WHY THERE IS ONE INSTANCE IN WHICH SHE'D PREFER CANDIDATES NOT DELIVER, IN TONIGHT'S INFINITELY MORRISON.

PATT>> THERE IS ONE ELECTION SEASON PROMISE THAT'S ALWAYS KEPT. NOT THE FULL DINNER PAIL PRESIDENT MCKINLEY PROMISED A HUNDRED YEARS AGO, BUT A FULL MAIL BOX. IF YOU'VE EVER VOTED OR EVEN REGISTERED TO VOTE, YOUR MAIL RIGHT NOW IS A CORNUCOPIA OF TECHNICOLOR PROPAGANDA FOR LOCAL ELECTIONS. MOST OF IT IS CHEERY AND UPBEAT ABOUT HOW WONDERFUL THE CANDIDATE IS, BUT SOMETIMES IT'S OF A MORE SINISTER CAST, POINTING OUT HOW CREEPY THE OTHER GUY IS. THEY KNOW, THEY, THE CAMPAIGN CONSULTANTS, THEY KNOW YOU CAN CHANGE THE TELEVISION CHANNEL AND AVOID THE NEWSPAPER AND SWITCH OFF THE RADIO, BUT YOU CAN'T DODGE THE MAILBOX. THAT'S WHY THE FLYERS KEEP ON COMING.

YOU MAY GET THE MESSAGE TOO, BUT YOU MIGHT NOT FIND OUT ANYTHING ABOUT THE MESSENGER. A LOOPHOLE IN ONE OF THOSE PROPOSITIONS YOU DON'T REMEMBER VOTING ON, PROPOSITION 34, MEANS THAT YOU CAN'T FIND OUT UNTIL AFTER YOU'VE VOTED EXACTLY WHO IS PAYING FOR SOME OF THESE FLASHY MAILERS AND HOW MUCH THEY COST. FOR EXAMPLE, POLITICAL PARTIES CAN SPEND MONEY NOW ON BEHALF OF CANDIDATES IN THE L.A. MAYOR'S RACE AND, BOY, DO THEY, BUT THEY DON'T HAVE TO TELL YOU, THE VOTER, ABOUT IT UNTIL ALMOST A MONTH AFTER A NEW MAYOR IS SWORN IN. NO WONDER A GOVERNMENTAL STUDY CENTER CALLED PROPOSITION 34 PHONY CAMPAIGN REFORM.

IF THEY CARE ANYTHING ABOUT REFORM, STEVE SOBOROFF AND ANTONIO VILLARAIGOSA, THE REPUBLICAN AND DEMOCRATIC BENEFICIARIES OF THIS LARGESS, SHOULD STEP UP TO THE PLATE AND SQUEAL ON THEIR BENEFACTORS BEFORE THE ELECTION.

THE POTENTIAL FOR MISCHIEF ISN'T CONFINED TO THE MAILBOX. ON A RECORDED MESSAGE TO TELEPHONE NUMBERS ACROSS LOS ANGELES, A WOMAN'S VOICE SUGGESTED THAT VILLARAIGOSA IS SOFT ON CRIME. SHE IDENTIFIED HERSELF AS "GLORIA MORINA", WHICH IS ONE CONSONANT AWAY FROM "GLORIA MOLINA", THE COUNTY SUPERVISOR WHO HAS ENDORSED VILLARAIGOSA. THE D.A. IS INVESTIGATING THAT ONE.

BUT JUDGING BY THE VOLUME OF MAILERS WITH THE MAYOR'S RACE, AN OPEN CONGRESSIONAL SEAT AND SIX VACANT CITY COUNCIL SEATS, THAT'S JUST LOS ANGELES, WHOEVER WINS ANY ELECTION ANYWHERE IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA THIS MONTH SHOULD IMMEDIATELY PROMISE TO INCREASE THE BUDGET FOR RECYCLING. AS THEY SAY ON ELECTION NIGHT, MANY HAPPY RETURNS.

JESS>> IN TONIGHT'S PEOPLE, PLACES & THINGS, THE ANCIENT ART OF CHINESE KNOTTING. BEFORE THE INVENTION OF WRITING, KNOTS WERE USED FOR RECORD-KEEPING, LARGER KNOTS FOR GREAT EVENTS, SMALLER KNOTS FOR LESS IMPORTANT ONES. BUT OVER THE YEARS, KNOTTING EVOLVED INTO A DECORATIVE ART.

VAL>> THIS ANCIENT ART ALMOST DISAPPEARED IN THE 20TH CENTURY, BUT HAND-KNOTTING HAS ENJOYED A REVIVAL IN THE PAST TWO DECADES. JOINING US NOW WITH SOME INSIGHT INTO THIS BEAUTIFUL CHINESE FOLK ART ARE TILLIE EASTON, A CHINESE KNOTTING INSTRUCTOR, AND YVONNE CHANG, A TALENTED STUDENT. WELCOME, BOTH OF YOU, TO LIFE AND TIMES TONIGHT.

YVONNE CHANG>> THANK YOU.

VAL>> MARTHA STEWART, EAT YOUR HEART OUT. THIS IS GORGEOUS. WHY DON'T YOU TELL US WHAT WE'RE LOOKING AT AND SHOW US SOME OF IT.

TILLIE EASTON>> WELL, I'M THE ONE WHO DOES THE NECKLACES AND YVONNE DOES THE WALL HANGINGS AND THESE GORGEOUS FLOWERS BEHIND ME. OF COURSE, THE ART IS ABOUT 5,000 YEARS OLD AND WE'VE ALWAYS LIKED DOING IT, SO, I MEAN THERE'S -- I LEARNED ABOUT TEN YEARS AGO.

VAL>> 5,000 YEARS AGO, IT WAS DONE AS AN ART OR WAS IT DONE FOR THOSE PRACTICAL REASONS LIKE KEEPING RECORDS --

TILLIE EASTON>> -- WELL, PROBABLY PRACTICAL TO BEGIN WITH AND THEN EVOLVED INTO ART.

VAL>> SHOW US UP CLOSE SOME OF WHAT YOU HAVE HERE.

TILLIE EASTON>> WELL, THESE ARE THE DIFFERENT KNOTS AND EACH KNOT HAS A NAME. THIS IS CALLED A PAN CHANG.

VAL>> HOLD IT STILL. THERE YOU ARE.

JESS>> AND YOU INTEGRATE COINS INTO THIS?

TILLIE EASTON>> WELL, WE ALWAYS ADD SOME DECORATIVE PIECE TO GO WITH IT, WHICHEVER LOOKS NICE.

VAL>> THAT BLUE ONE IS GORGEOUS.

TILLIE EASTON>> AND THIS ONE HAS JADE PIECES IN IT.

VAL>> OH, THAT IS SO BEAUTIFUL. NOW, YVONNE, IS THIS DONE TODAY IN CHINA? THIS ART?

YVONNE CHANG>> YES, IT IS DONE TODAY. SOME TIME AGO, EVERY GIRL WAS REQUIRED TO KNOW HOW TO DO IT. EVERY UNMARRIED GIRL.

VAL>> EVERY UNMARRIED GIRL?

YVONNE CHANG>> YES.

VAL>> WHY IS THAT?

YVONNE CHANG>> I DON'T KNOW WHY. JUST LIKE IN SOME CULTURE, EVERY GIRL HAD TO LEARN HOW TO DO EMBROIDERY.

VAL>> OH, I SEE.

JESS>> VAL SAID EARLIER IT'S WHERE THEY GOT TERM "TYING THE KNOT". (LAUGHTER)

VAL>> YEAH, COULD HAVE BEEN. (LAUGHTER) SO WHAT DO YOU THINK BROUGHT IT BACK IF IT WAS LOST, OR WHY WAS IT LOST?

TILLIE EASTON>> WELL, I GUESS THAT THE CHINESE PEOPLE DECIDED THEY WANTED TO CONTINUE THE ART. THEY DIDN'T WANT IT LOST COMPLETELY. IT WAS PROBABLY LOST BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, THE 20TH CENTURY CAME ALONG AND EVERYTHING HAD TO BE MECHANIZED AND PEOPLE WOULDN'T TAKE THE TIME TO DO THIS ANY MORE.

JESS>> AND IS IT AN ART EXCLUSIVELY FOR WOMEN?

YVONNE CHANG>> YES, IT IS.

VAL>> WHY DON'T YOU SHOW US THIS ONE HERE. IT'S NOT ALWAYS JEWELRY, RIGHT?

YVONNE CHANG>> THIS IS A WALL HANGING. THE CHARACTER SAYS A LONG LIFE.

VAL>> OH, THAT'S A CHARACTER.

YVONNE CHANG>> YES, IT IS.

VAL>> NOW HOW LONG MIGHT IT TAKE TO MAKE SOMETHING LIKE THAT?

YVONNE CHANG>> OH, PROBABLY TEN HOURS.

VAL>> TEN HOURS. WHERE DO YOU EVEN BEGIN?

YVONNE CHANG>> BEGIN WITH THE FIRST STEP. (LAUGHTER)

VAL>> OKAY. YOU'RE GOING TO SHOW US THAT FIRST STEP, RIGHT?

TILLIE EASTON>> YES, WE ARE.

VAL>> OKAY. WHAT IS IT CALLED AND WHAT SHOULD WE DO?

TILLIE EASTON>> WELL, THE FIRST KNOT WE ALWAYS TEACH IS THE TRIPLE CONNECTION. THIS PARTICULAR ONE IS DONE WITH CLOVER LEAF. IT HAS A CLOVER LEAF. THE CLOVER LEAF IS ALWAYS HERE AND THIS IS THE DOUBLE COIN KNOT. NORMALLY, WHAT YOU DO WHEN YOU'RE MAKING SOMETHING, YOU COMBINE ALL OF THE KNOTS TO MAKE A DESIGN AND MANY OF THE NECKLACES THAT I MAKE HAVE ANYWHERE FROM FIVE TO SEVEN OR EIGHT KNOTS IN THEM TO CREATE THE DESIGN.

VAL>> HOW MANY DIFFERENT KIND OF KNOTS ARE THERE?

YVONNE CHANG>> THERE ARE 12 BASIC KNOTS.

VAL>> TWELVE.

YVONNE CHANG>> YES.

VAL>> THAT'S NOT TOO BAD, NO.

JESS>> AND THE FIBER IS SILK?

TILLIE EASTON>> WELL, IN THE OLD DAYS, IT WAS SILK AND SOME COTTON PROBABLY, BUT THIS NOW WE'RE USING IS A POLYESTER COMBINATION WITH SILK SO THAT IT HOLDS A LITTLE BIT BETTER.

VAL>> OKAY. WELL, GO AHEAD AND SHOW US THE VERY FIRST.

TILLIE EASTON>> IT'S CALLED THE TRIPLE CONNECTION AND ALL YOU DO IS, YOU PUT THE CORD ON YOUR FOREFINGER AND THEN YOU WRAP THE CORD IN A REVERSE WAY TOWARDS THE BACK, CROSS IT OVER TOWARDS THE BACK --

VAL>> -- LIKE THIS?

TILLIE EASTON>> THAT'S THE FIRST ONE --

VAL>> OKAY.

TILLIE EASTON>> THIS IS THE SECOND ONE AND THIS IS THE THIRD AND THEN YOU SLIP IT FORWARD --

VAL>> -- IT'S SLIPPING OFF ALREADY. THERE WE ARE.

TILLIE EASTON>> THEN YOU SLIP IT FORWARD TOWARD THE TIP OF YOUR FINGER SO THAT YOU --

JESS>> -- THERE'S A REASON ONLY WOMEN DO THIS.

VAL>> (LAUGHTER) BUT, JESS, YOU GET PRACTICE EVERY MORNING WITH YOUR TIES HERE.

TILLIE EASTON>> AND THEN YOU TAKE THE END OF THE CORD AND COME THROUGH THE CENTER OF THE KNOT AND PULL IT THROUGH, AND THEN YOU JUST HOLD THE COILS TOGETHER WITH YOUR THUMB AND FOREFINGER AND PULL THE OTHER CORD FROM UNDERNEATH OUT AND YOU'VE CREATED THE KNOT.

VAL>> AH.

TILLIE EASTON>> THERE'S YOUR TRIPLE CONNECTION.

JESS>> VERY GOOD.

VAL>> VERY NICE. NOW CAN PEOPLE LEARN HOW TO DO THIS TODAY IN A FORMAL SETTING OR IS IT JUST TAUGHT INFORMALLY?

TILLIE EASTON>> WELL, IN A CLASS OF MAYBE FOUR TO SIX PEOPLE AND AT HOME. I MEAN, IF A MOTHER KNOWS HOW TO DO IT, SHE'LL TEACH IT TO HER CHILDREN. I THINK THAT HAPPENS IN CHINA. HERE IN THE WEST, WE HAVEN'T DONE THAT SO MUCH.

VAL>> NOW IF THIS WAS BEING DONE FOR THOUSANDS OF YEARS, DOES STILL THE ORIGINALS, OR VERY OLD ONES, STILL EXIST?

YVONNE CHANG>> NO, THEY DON'T BECAUSE FIBERS DISINTEGRATE.

JESS>> IS THERE SYMBOLISM BEYOND THE DECORATIVE QUALITY TO THE WORK?

YVONNE CHANG>> THERE IS. EACH BASIC KNOT HAS A SYMBOLISM ASSOCIATED WITH IT.

JESS>> YOU MENTIONED -- THESE ARE, WHAT, BUTTERFLIES?

TILLIE EASTON>> CLOVER LEAF KNOTS.

JESS>> CLOVER LEAF. THESE ARE CLOVER LEAF.

VAL>> THAT ONE IS GORGEOUS. SO IF SOMEONE WANTED TO TAKE PART IN THIS AND REVIVE IT EITHER FOR THEIR OWN ETHNIC REASONS OR JUST BECAUSE THEY LOVE IT, HOW WOULD THEY GO ABOUT DOING THAT?

YVONNE CHANG>> THERE ARE CLASSES BEING OFFERED AT PACIFIC ASIA MUSEUM.

JESS>> IN PASADENA?

YVONNE CHANG>> YES.

VAL>> PACIFIC ASIA MUSEUM --

YVONNE CHANG>> -- AND CHINESE SCHOOLS. ON SATURDAYS, SOME CHINESE CHILDREN GO TO SCHOOL TO LEARN CHINESE LANGUAGE TO KEEP THEM OCCUPIED. THEY ALSO LEARN ARTS AND CRAFTS.

VAL>> AND IS IT DIFFICULT? BECAUSE I UNDERSTAND THAT YOU ACTUALLY HAVE TO START WITH IT VERY LARGE AND THEN YOU SHRINK IT, SHRINK IT, SHRINK IT UNTIL IT BECOMES THIS SIZE. DOES IT TAKE A LOT OF CLASSES TO LEARN HOW TO DO THIS?

YVONNE CHANG>> NO, JUST A LOT OF PATIENCE.

VAL>> PATIENCE. (LAUGHTER)

JESS>> HOW IS THIS DIFFERENT FROM MACRAMÉ?

YVONNE CHANG>> IT IS MACRAMÉ.

JESS>> IT IS MACRAMÉ.

VAL>> IT IS MACRAMÉ?

YVONNE CHANG>> IN A WAY.

TILLIE EASTON>> WELL, I WOULDN'T CALL IT THAT, NO. MACRAMÉ HAS ONLY GOT ABOUT FIVE OR SIX KNOTS IN IT AND THIS HAS MANY MORE COMBINATIONS. WITH MACRAMÉ, USUALLY WE CALL IT HITCHES. THE MACRAMÉ IS A LITTLE SIMPLER THAN THIS. THIS BECOMES A LITTLE MORE COMPLICATED BECAUSE YOU NEED TO KNOW ALL OF THE DIFFERENT WAYS OF HOLDING THE CORD TO TIE IT.

VAL>> IT LOOKS MORE COMPLICATED.

JESS>> I CAN TIE A GRANNY KNOT. (LAUGHTER)

VAL>> THERE YOU GO.

TILLIE EASTON>> THAT'S IN MACRAMÉ AND WE USE THAT OCCASIONALLY TOO.

VAL>> THEY'RE NOT ALL FOR "NAUGHT".

JESS>> ALL RIGHT. CALL THE NUMBERS ON YOUR SCREEN NOW FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT CHINESE DECORATIVE KNOTTING. CLASSES ARE OFFERED AT BOTH THE PACIFIC ASIA MUSEUM IN PASADENA AND THE WESTCHESTER EMERSON ADULT CENTER.

PACIFIC ASIA MUSEUM WORKSHOP
626-449-2742 X-41

WESTCHESTER EMERSON ADULT CENTER
310-258-2000

VAL>> THAT TIES IT UP FOR US THIS EVENING. NOW FOR ALL OF US HERE AT LIFE AND TIMES TONIGHT, TAKE CARE.

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