4/6/01

LC010406

VAL>> ON LIFE AND TIMES TONIGHT --

JESS>> YOUR LAST CHANCE TO SEE AND HEAR FROM THE LEADING CANDIDATES. THE SIX LEADING CANDIDATES FOR MAYOR OF LOS ANGELES GO ON THE RECORD TONIGHT.

VAL>> AND OUR POLITICAL ANALYSTS, MADDOX & HEWITT, WILL GIVE US THEIR TAKE ON THE DEBATE.

HUGH HEWITT>> STEVE SOBOROFF USES THE LAST DEBATE TO GIVE HIS CAMPAIGN A LIFT.

KERMAN MADDOX>> WE LOOK AT THE WINNERS AND LOSERS IN THE LAST DEBATE FOR MAYOR.

HUGH HEWITT>> COMING UP ON MADDOX & HEWITT.

JESS>> NEXT ON THIS SPECIAL EDITION OF 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. WELCOME TO THIS SPECIAL EDITION OF LIFE AND TIMES TONIGHT, THE SECOND OF TWO BROADCASTS DEVOTED TO THE FINAL L.A. MAYORAL DEBATE.

VAL>> WE WILL HEAR FROM THE SIX MAJOR CANDIDATES IN THE RACE. HERE THEY ARE IN THE ORDER THEY WILL APPEAR ON THE BALLOT. U.S. CONGRESSMAN, XAVIER BECERRA; L.A. CITY COUNCILMAN, JOEL WACHS; COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE BROKER, STEVE SOBOROFF.

JESS>> CITY ATTORNEY FOR LOS ANGELES, JAMES HAHN; FORMER SPEAKER OF THE CALIFORNIA ASSEMBLY, ANTONIO VILLARAIGOSA, AND CALIFORNIA STATE CONTROLLER, KATHLEEN CONNELL.

VAL>> AGAIN, THESE ARE THE SIX LEADING CANDIDATES AMONG THE FIELD OF 15 WHOSE NAMES ARE ON THE BALLOT.

JESS>> LET'S GO NOW TO THE VERISON CALIFORNIA STATE FORUM AND THE DEBATE WHICH TOOK PLACE WEDNESDAY EVENING AT ROYCE HALL ON THE CAMPUS OF UCLA. IT WAS PRESENTED IN ASSOCIATION WITH THE LEAGUE OF VOTERS. HERE IS PART TWO OF THE DEBATE.

[APPLAUSE]

VAL ZAVALA>> I DON'T WANT TO BE PREOCCUPIED WITH THE LAPD PROBLEMS OF RAMPART, BUT THERE IS A VERY KEY SPECIFIC QUESTION THAT NEEDS TO BE ANSWERED. WOULD YOU, AS MAYOR, RETAIN OR FIRE POLICE CHIEF, BERNARD PARKS? YOU'VE ALL ANSWERED IN THE PAST, "IF HE DOES A GOOD JOB, I'LL KEEP HIM. IF HE DOES A BAD JOB, I WON'T." THAT'S KIND OF A NO-BRAINER. HE'S BEEN IN OFFICE SINCE '97, YOU KNOW WHAT HIS RECORD IS, IF YOU HAD TO DECIDE TODAY, WOULD YOU RETAIN OR FIRE POLICE CHIEF PARKS, AND I'LL BEGIN WITH XAVIER BECERRA. (APPLAUSE)

XAVIER BECERRA>> VAL, THE DAY I HAVE A CHANCE TO SIT DOWN AND REVIEW ALL THOSE DOCUMENTS, I CAN MAKE A FULL JUDGMENT ON CHIEF PARKS, BUT I WILL TELL YOU THIS. AND I'LL TAKE THE HITS. YOU KNOW WHY? BECAUSE ANYTIME YOU WANT TO PASS JUDGMENT AND NEVER HAVE A CHANCE TO REVIEW ALL THE EVIDENCE, THEN YOU'RE CONDEMNING OUR SYSTEM OF GOVERNMENT BECAUSE WE ALWAYS HAVE PEOPLE (APPLAUSE) BE INNOCENT UNTIL PROVEN GUILTY. I DON'T BELIEVE I'VE SEEN A CHIEF IN MY MEMORY WHO HAS TRIED AS HARD AS CHIEF PARKS TO ROOT OUT THE CORRUPTION IN HIS DEPARTMENT. CHIEF PARKS' PROBLEM IS HIS INFLEXIBILITY AND I DON'T BELIEVE HE'S LEARNED QUICK ENOUGH WHAT THAT INFLEXIBILITY IS CAUSING. THE LOSS OF MORALE, THE LOSS OF OFFICERS.

THREE CRITERIA: FIRST, PRODUCE. YOUR JOB IS TO REDUCE CRIME. MAKE THE STREETS SAFE. SECOND, STOP THE HEMORRHAGING OF OUR POLICE OFFICERS BECAUSE WE'RE LOSING TOO MANY. AND THIRD, IMPLEMENT RIGHT NOW, ON TIME, ON BUDGET, THOSE CONSENT DECREE REFORMS THAT WE'RE REQUIRED TO MAKE. AND IF YOU DO THAT, CHIEF, YOU'RE MY CHIEF. IF YOU CAN'T DO THAT, THEN MOVE ASIDE. (APPLAUSE)

XANDRA KAYDEN>> JOEL?

JOEL WACHS>> I HAVE, VAL, MADE IT VERY CLEAR THAT I WOULD, IN FACT, HIRE A NEW CHIEF FOR TWO REASONS. FIRST OF ALL, I JUST THINK IT'S IMPOSSIBLE FOR THE CHIEF TO REFORM THE DEPARTMENT HIMSELF BECAUSE I THINK IT'S BASICALLY HUMAN NATURE THAT PEOPLE CANNOT BE OBJECTIVE WHEN THEY LOOK AT THEMSELVES. YOU KNOW, IF PEREZ HADN'T GOT CAUGHT STEALING DRUGS AND SQUEALED FOR A LIGHTER SENTENCE, WE MIGHT STILL NOT KNOW WHAT WE KNOW ABOUT RAMPART TODAY.

AND YOU HAVE TO ASK YOURSELF, HOW COULD SOMETHING OF THAT MAGNITUDE GO ON SO LONG WITHOUT THE CHIEF OF POLICE KNOWING ABOUT IT OR PERHAPS KNOWING ABOUT IT AND LOOKING THE OTHER WAY? I DON'T THINK THAT YOU CAN GET -- REFORM IN THIS DEPARTMENT IS NOT ABOUT JUST HOLDING THREE OR FOUR PEOPLE RESPONSIBLE FOR THEIR ACTIONS. REFORM ABOUT THIS DEPARTMENT IS GOING INTO THE CULTURE AND LOOKING TO WHAT GAVE RISE TO IT IN THE FIRST PLACE AND WOULD COUNTENANCE ITS EXISTENCE AFTER. THE ONLY WAY YOU'RE GOING TO GET REFORM IS IF YOU GO THROUGHOUT THE SYSTEM.

AND SECONDLY, I DON'T BELIEVE THAT THE CHIEF IS REALLY COMMITTED TO COMMUNITY BASE POLICING. HE TAKES SORT OF THE ATTITUDE OF "I'LL TELL YOU. I KNOW WHAT'S GOOD FOR YOU. I'M THE BOSS" AND WE CANNOT HAVE EFFECTIVE POLICING IN A MODERN SOCIETY WITHOUT THE BOND AND PARTNERSHIP AND TRUST OF THE PEOPLE BEING POLICED AND WE REALLY NEED COMMUNITY BASE POLICING. IT IS THE ESSENCE OF AN EFFECTIVE DEPARTMENT, SO I THINK WE NEED A NEW COMMISSION AND A NEW CHIEF WHO ARE DEDICATED TO THAT. (APPLAUSE).

XANDRA KAYDEN>> OKAY. JIM?

JAMES HAHN>> YOU KNOW, I THINK THAT IT'S WRONG TO TURN ANYBODY INTO A POLITICAL FOOTBALL AND I THINK THAT THE CHIEF OF POLICE AND I HAVE HAD DISAGREEMENTS IN THE PAST. HE DIDN'T AGREE THAT WE SHOULD HAVE A CONSENT DECREE. I CONVINCED HIM THAT IT WAS THE RIGHT THING TO DO. I HAVE SAID, AND I WILL SAY IT AGAIN, WHETHER YOU LIKE THE ANSWER OR NOT, VAL, THAT I DON'T THINK IT'S FAIR TODAY TO MAKE THE DECISION WITHOUT LOOKING AT ALL THE FACTS. THE CHIEF AND I WILL MEET TOGETHER WHEN I BECOME MAYOR AND WE WILL SET OUT WHAT I WANT TO SEE HAPPEN IN THE DEPARTMENT IN TERMS OF IMPLEMENTING THE CONSENT DECREE, BRINGING BACK COMMUNITY POLICING, REDUCING CRIME AND STRENGTHENING RECRUITMENT EFFORTS TO HIRE MORE POLICE OFFICERS. SO WE'LL AGREE ON WHAT THOSE GOALS SHOULD BE AND IT WILL BE VERY CLEAR TO US BOTH WHETHER OR NOT THOSE GOALS ARE BEING MET AND THAT'S HOW I'M GOING TO MAKE THAT DECISION.

XANDRA KAYDEN>> STEVE?

STEVE SOBOROFF>> I KNOW BERNARD PARKS AND I LIKE HIM VERY MUCH. I KNOW HIS WIFE AND I LIKE HER VERY MUCH AND I KNOW THEIR SON. IF TODAY WAS THE DAY WHERE I HAD TO PUSH THE RED LIGHT OR THE GREEN LIGHT, I'D PUSH THE RED LIGHT. C'MON, THE CRIME RATE IS UP IN LOS ANGELES. THERE'S GRAFFITI IN PLACES THAT WE HAVEN'T SEEN IT IN YEARS. THERE'S SEVEN GANG MEMBERS FOR EVERY MEMBER OF THE LAPD. THERE'S NO CHOICE. BUT TO SAY WHAT I'M GOING TO DO 18 MONTHS FROM NOW IS IRRESPONSIBLE. THE MAN HAS A JOB NOW. I WANT -- WE KNOW WHAT WE NEED TO DO. WE KNOW WHAT WE NEED TO IMPLEMENT TO MAKE THIS CITY SAFE. IF THIS MAN CAN TURN IT AROUND AND HE CAN MAKE ALL THAT HAPPEN, I DOUBT HE CAN ALSO, BUT, MY GOSH, WHAT IS -- I'M NOT BEHOLDING TO HIM BECAUSE I LIKE HIM. I'M NOT BEHOLDING TO HIM BECAUSE HE'S A GOOD DISCIPLINARIAN. I'M BEHOLDING TO THE PEOPLE OF LOS ANGELES TO MAKE THIS CITY SAFER. (APPLAUSE)

XANDRA KAYDEN>> KATHLEEN?

KATHLEEN CONNELL>> I'M GOING TO SIT DOWN WITH CHIEF PARKS ON MY FIRST DAY AS MAYOR AND I'M GOING TO EXPLAIN MY REFORM AGENDA. IT'S AN AGGRESSIVE AGENDA OF REFORM. I'M GOING TO GIVE HIM A 30-DAY NOTICE. I DON'T THINK WE HAVE TO WAIT FOR 18 MONTHS TO LET HIS CONTRACT RUN OUT. I THINK THAT'S NONSENSE. (APPLAUSE) I THINK WE OUGHT TO TELL HIM EXACTLY WHAT WE NEED TO DO HERE. HERE'S THE AGENDA OF REFORM THAT'S GOING TO WORK. IF HE WANTS TO BE PART OF THAT SOLUTION, HE STAYS. IF HE DOESN'T WANT TO, HE'S PART OF THE PROBLEM AND HE'S GONE AND HE'S GONE WITHIN A LIMITED PERIOD OF TIME.

THE AGENDA OF REFORM IS TO HAVE A CIVILIAN REVIEW BOARD. THE AGENDA OF REFORM IS TO LET THE INSPECTOR GENERAL GO THROUGH THAT DEPARTMENT IN A TOP TO BOTTOM MANAGEMENT AUDIT AND CLEAN OUT THE PROBLEM OFFICERS IN THAT DEPARTMENT. THE AGENDA OF REFORM IS TO GET COMMUNITY POLICING STARTED IN THIS CITY WITHIN THE NEXT 90 DAYS. THE AGENDA OF REFORM IS TO HAVE MOBILE SAFETY UNITS ON EVERY ONE OF OUR STREET CORNERS WHERE THERE'S RISING CRIME. THE AGENDA OF REFORM IS TO HAVE AN ATTACK ON GANG WARFARE IN THIS CITY. IF WE DON'T HAVE AGGRESSIVE POLICE OFFICERS, IF WE DON'T HAVE 11,000 POLICE OFFICERS ON THE FORCE AND IF CHIEF PARKS CANNOT AGREE TO IMPLEMENT THAT PLAN, THEN HE IS GONE AND HE IS GONE IN 30 DAYS. (APPLAUSE)

XANDRA KAYDEN>> ANTONIO?

ANTONIO VILLARAIGOSA>> I DON'T BELIEVE THAT WE CAN LAY THE BLAME OF THE RAMPART SCANDAL ALL AT THE FEET OF THE CHIEF. IF YOU READ THE CHEMERINSKY REPORT, YOU KNOW THAT THERE WERE OTHERS WHO WERE ALSO IMPLICATED IN RAMPART. BY YOUR QUESTION, MR. NEWTON, YOU SUGGESTED THAT THE CITY ATTORNEY AND CITY HALL, THE CITY COUNCIL, THE POLICE COMMISSION, THE JURISPRUDENCE SYSTEM, THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY, ALL HAD A ROLE IN THIS SCANDAL. I SAID THAT, AS MAYOR OF THIS CITY, I'D LIKE TO BE A PARTNER WITH CHIEF PARKS TO IMPLEMENT REFORM IN THIS CITY. I'VE ALSO SAID THIS: IF CHIEF PARKS IS NOT PREPARED TO IMPLEMENT THAT REFORM, THEN HE WILL NOT BE THE CHIEF.

XANDRA KAYDEN>> FRANK?

FRANK MOTTEK (KNX NEWS RADIO)>> WHILE THE LIGHTS ARE STILL ON, I WANTED TO ASK SOMETHING ABOUT THE POWER SITUATION WHICH, OF COURSE, WE'RE ALL CONCERNED ABOUT. (APPLAUSE) AND LET ME JUST ASK THIS QUESTION. WHAT IS L.A.'S ROLE IN ALL OF THIS AND WHAT CAN BE DONE TO COLLECT, I BELIEVE, ALMOST $200 MILLION DOLLARS THAT'S OWED TO THE CITY BY THE NEARLY-BANKRUPT UTILITIES AND I SUPPOSE KATHLEEN CONNELL WOULD BE APPROPRIATE TO START THAT ONE.

KATHLEEN CONNELL>> THE ENERGY CRISIS IS GRIPPING THE STATE. IT'S GOING TO AFFECT ALL OF US. SOME PEOPLE IN THE DWP AREA BELIEVE THAT IT ISN'T GOING TO IMPACT YOU. YOU'RE DEAD WRONG. IT'S ALREADY IMPACTED YOU. WE'RE SPENDING BILLIONS OF DOLLARS AND WE HAVE SPENT THEM FROM THE BEGINNING OF THE YEAR TO PAY FOR ELECTRICITY PURCHASES THROUGHOUT THE STATE.

I CAME UP WITH A NEW DWP PLAN THAT, IF PEOPLE IN THIS CITY ARE ABLE TO REDUCE THEIR ENERGY BY 10 PERCENT TO 15 PERCENT THIS SUMMER, THEY GET A 50 PERCENT CUTBACK IN THEIR ENERGY SAVINGS ON THEIR BILL. THAT IS A WIN FOR THEM AS CONSUMERS, IT'S A WIN FOR DWP BECAUSE THEY'LL SELL THAT ENERGY INTO THE SPOT MARKET AT PEAK ENERGY PRICES AND IT'S A TERRIFIC WIN FOR THE STATE. I'VE GOT TO TELL YOU, IF L.A. DOESN'T CONSERVE THIS SUMMER, IF WE DON'T DO OUR FAIR SHARE, THE LIGHTS ARE NOT GOING TO STAY ON AND THEY'RE NOT GOING TO STAY ON IN THIS STATE IN MAY AND IN JUNE, AND THAT IS THE BOTTOM LINE.

XANDRA KAYDEN>> STEVE?

STEVE SOBOROFF>> ANOTHER CASE WHERE ALL THE POLITICIANS, WHEN SOMETHING GOES RIGHT, SAYS THAT THEY'RE THE ONES THAT DID IT. AND WHEN SOMETHING GOES WRONG, THEY SAY, OH, SOMEBODY ELSE DID IT. BUT LET ME TELL YOU WHO DID IT. DAVE FREEMAN DID IT AND DAVE FREEMAN'S DONE A GREAT JOB IN KEEPING THE LIGHTS ON IN LOS ANGELES. WHAT DAVE NEEDS TO DO, THOUGH, IS, WHEN WE SELL POWER TO THE GRID, WE CAN SELL IT CHEAP, BUT WE NEED TO BE PAID FOR IT SO OUR RATES DON'T GO UP.

NUMBER TWO IS, THIS IS A -- HERE WE ARE AT A GREAT UNIVERSITY. THERE'S AN ECON ONE CLASS HERE AND, IN ECON ONE, THEY TALK ABOUT SUPPLY AND DEMAND. WE NEED TO INCREASE THE SUPPLY. WE NEED TO RETOOL OUR EXISTING FACILITIES TO INCREASE SUPPLY AND WE HAVE TO DECREASE DEMAND. OUR KIDS KNOW HOW TO DO IT, OUR PARENTS KNOW HOW TO DO IT. THEY GREW UP IN THE DEPRESSION. BUT THE BABY BOOMERS DON'T. JUST DRIVE OVER BY CENTURY CITY OR DRIVE DOWNTOWN OR DRIVE IN WARNER CENTER. YOU'LL SEE. THIS IS ABOUT SUPPLY AND DEMAND AND WE ALL HAVE TO BE RESPONSIBLE. (APPLAUSE)

XANDRA KAYDEN>> JIM?

JAMES HAHN>> YOU KNOW, DWP, THROUGH THE ACTIONS OF THE CITY COUNCIL AND OTHERS, FOUGHT TO STAY OUT OF THIS DEREGULATION MESS AND IT WAS A WISE DECISION. BUT WE'RE STILL OWED $193 MILLION DOLLARS AND DON'T KNOW WHEN WE'LL GET PAID. AND YOU KNOW WHAT? WE'RE NOT EXEMPT FROM THE REST OF IT AS WELL. REMEMBER WHEN THEY USED TO TALK ABOUT A $14 BILLION STATE SURPLUS? THAT SURPLUS WAS YOUR TAX DOLLARS. JUST CONSERVATIVELY THINK OF IT AS TEN PERCENT, HERE IN L.A., OF THAT MONEY. SIX BILLION DOLLARS HAS ALREADY BEEN SPENT TO PURCHASE ENERGY. THAT'S $600 MILLION DOLLARS OF YOUR MONEY, MONEY THAT COULD HAVE BEEN USED TO IMPROVE OUR SCHOOLS, BUILD OUR ROADS, TO HELP WITH HOUSING ISSUES AND OTHERS. SO DON'T BE FOOLED THAT WE'VE BEEN IMMUNE FROM THIS ENERGY CRISIS. WE'VE ALREADY BEEN PAYING FOR IT AND WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO PAY FOR IT.

XANDRA KAYDEN>> ANTONIO?

ANTONIO VILLARAIGOSA>> TODAY I ANNOUNCED A PLAN TO PROVIDE AFFORDABLE ENERGY FOR LOS ANGELES FOR THE NEXT 20 YEARS. MY PLAN CALLS FOR REBUILDING L.A.'S FOUR POWER PLANTS TO MAKE THEM CLEANER AND MORE EFFICIENT, INCREASING THE USE OF ALTERNATIVE ENERGY SOURCES SUCH AS WIND, SOLAR, BIOMASS (APPLAUSE) TENFOLD BY THE YEAR 2005, GIVING CONSUMERS REBATES FOR INSTALLING ENERGY-EFFICIENT APPLIANCES AND PLANTING A MILLION TREES AND REPLACING CONCRETE WITH LANDSCAPING ALL OVER THE CITY. (APPLAUSE) SOLVING THE ENERGY PROBLEM IS NOT IMPOSSIBLE. IT JUST TAKES A MAYOR WHO KNOWS HOW TO TAKE ACTION.

XANDRA KAYDEN>> XAVIER?

XAVIER BECERRA>> FIVE YEARS AGO, THE UTILITY AND THE ENERGY INDUSTRY WENT TO SACRAMENTO AND ASKED A LOT OF STATE LEGISLATORS AND THE GOVERNOR TO COME TO VEGAS AND ROLL THE DICE ON THE CRAPS TABLE ON DEREGULATION. THEY TOLD THE CONSUMERS, "WE'RE SO CONFIDENT THAT WE'RE GOING TO GUARANTEE, FOR THE NEXT FIVE YEARS, YOUR RATES WON'T GO UP. IN FACT, THEY'LL GO DOWN. WE GUARANTEE IT." THEY ROLLED THE DICE, THEY PUT ALL OF OUR MONEY ON THAT CRAP TABLE AND THEY LOST. NOW THEY'RE ASKING US TO PAY. THAT'S WRONG.

THE FIRST THING WE HAVE TO DO IS HAVE OUR STATE LEADERS GO AFTER THE $7 BILLION DOLLARS THAT WE WERE OVERCHARGED AND MAKE SURE WE RETRIEVE IT NOW. (APPLAUSE) SECONDLY, I WAS THE FIRST ONE HERE TO TALK ABOUT A REBATE PROGRAM INSTEAD OF A RATE HIKE FOR LOS ANGELENOS. WHAT I'LL DO IS, I'LL GIVE YOU A PART OF THE PROFIT I MAKE THROUGH DWP WHEN WE SELL OUR ENERGY TO THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA AT A REASONABLE RATE. I'LL CUT YOU IN ON THAT PROFIT. YOU REDUCE YOUR USAGE, WE REDUCE THE COST AND WE WILL HAVE SOME MONEY TO INVEST IN THOSE CLEAN ENERGIES THAT WE NEED IN SOLAR AND WIND SO WE CAN START CONSERVING AND BE PREPARED FOR THE FUTURE. (APPLAUSE)

XANDRA KAYDEN>> JOEL?

JOEL WACHS>> I THINK XAVIER IS RIGHT AND I THINK THAT YOU CAN JUDGE CANDIDATES A LOT IN COMPARISON OF HOW THEY ACTED ON THE SAME ISSUE. WHAT XAVIER DESCRIBED HAPPENED AT THE STATE LEVEL DID. AT THE CITY LEVEL, WE BROUGHT IN THE FIRST -- AND I'M THE PROUD AUTHOR OF THAT -- THE FIRST INDEPENDENT OUTSIDE AUDIT AND WE BROUGHT IN BARRINGTON-WELLESLEY AND WE BENCHMARKED THE DEPARTMENT AGAINST PUBLIC AND PRIVATE UTILITIES. WE CUT ALMOST A QUARTER OF A BILLION DOLLARS OUT OF THEIR BUDGET, KEPT OUR POWER SUPPLY AND EMBARKED ON ONE OF THE MOST AMBITIOUS CONSERVATION PROGRAMS AND A GREEN POWER PROGRAM ALL AT THE SAME TIME.

NOW WHEN THE STATE IS STRANGLING AND GIVING MONEY, YOUR MONEY, AWAY TO BAIL OUT THE UTILITIES, WE'VE GOT A DEPARTMENT OF WATER AND POWER THAT IS LEAN RATHER THAN MEAN, THAT IS OPERATING EFFICIENTLY AND ACTUALLY HAS SOME EXCESS OVER TO HELP THE REST OF THE STATE IN THEIR TIME OF NEED. I'M VERY PROUD OF THE ROLE I PLAYED IN THAT AND I THINK THAT THE RECORD SPEAKS FOR ITSELF. (APPLAUSE)

XANDRA KAYDEN>> HOWARD, QUICKLY?

HOWARD FINE (L.A. BUSINESS JOURNAL)>> OKAY, THIS IS A QUESTION FOR CITY ATTORNEY HAHN. FIRST OFF, ONE OF THE JOBS OF THE CITY ATTORNEY IS TO REDUCE THE LIABILITY THAT THE CITY FACES. TWO INDEPENDENT REPORTS HAVE COME OUT SHOWING THAT THE CITY HAS AN AMAZING $600 MILLION DOLLARS IN LIABILITIES, $400 MILLION FOR WORKERS COMPENSATION, $200 MILLION IN OTHER LAWSUITS BESIDES RAMPART. HOW DID THAT LIABILITY GET SO BIG ON YOUR WATCH AND WHAT WOULD YOU DO AS MAYOR TO REDUCE THAT LIABILITY?

JAMES HAHN>> YOU KNOW, I DON'T RUN ALL THE CITY DEPARTMENTS THAT HAVE NOT DONE AS GOOD A JOB AS THEY SHOULD IN RISK MANAGEMENT. I'VE URGED OVER THE YEARS THAT AN ASSISTANT GENERAL MANAGER -- AND I WILL DO THIS AS MAYOR -- EVERY DEPARTMENT WILL HAVE AN ASSISTANT GENERAL MANAGER WHOSE JOB IT IS TO BE INVOLVED IN RISK MANAGEMENT.

YOU KNOW, THESE WILD NUMBERS THAT EVERYBODY USES, YOU SHOULD KNOW, THE TAXPAYERS OF THIS CITY SHOULD KNOW, IN THE WORST YEAR THAT WE'VE HAD, WITH THE RAMPART SCANDAL AND ALL THE MONEY THAT WE'RE PAYING OUT ON THAT, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT $80 MILLION DOLLARS A YEAR, NOT $600 MILLION DOLLARS A YEAR. AND WHAT THE KEY IS WE NEED TO LOOK AT IS REPETITIVE INJURIES THAT ARE CAUSING WORKERS COMP CLAIMS. WE NEED TO FIX THOSE. WE NEED TO GET RIGHT FURNITURE FOR PEOPLE, WE NEED TO CHANGE PROCEDURES, TRAIN PEOPLE IN SAFETY PROCEDURES. THEN WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERY DEPARTMENT UNDERSTANDS IT'S NOT THE CITY ATTORNEY'S JOB. IT'S THE GENERAL MANAGER'S JOB TO REDUCE RISK.

XANDRA KAYDEN>> JOEL?

JOEL WACHS>> WELL, I THINK THAT THE REASON A LOT OF IT HAPPENS IS BECAUSE NOBODY WANTS TO BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE. ONE OF THE REASONS THE CITY EMPLOYEE UNIONS ARE NOT SUPPORTING JOEL WACHS IS BECAUSE JOEL WACHS HAS BEEN WILLING TO HOLD MANAGERS ACCOUNTABLE AND HOLD ALL EMPLOYEES ACCOUNTABLE AND HAS SPOKEN OUT ON THAT AND HAS WORKED HARD TO PUT A STRONG NEW RISK MANAGEMENT DEPARTMENT INTO THE MAYOR'S OFFICE SO THAT WE COULD CONTROL THESE THINGS.

THE FACT OF THE MATTER IS, WHEN PEOPLE ARE SPENDING OTHER PEOPLE'S MONEY, THEY JUST DON'T SEEM TO SOMETIMES CARE WHETHER THEY'RE SPENDING IT FOOLISHLY OR TOO MUCH. I'VE TRIED REALLY HARD AND ONE OF THE MAIN REASONS WHY I'VE BEEN ENDORSED BY THE JARVIS TAXPAYER ASSOCIATION IS I'VE REALLY TRIED TO LOOK OUT AFTER PEOPLE'S MONEY EVEN WHEN IT MEANS STEPPING ON THE TOES OF THE UNIONS OR THE MANAGEMENT BECAUSE PEOPLE IN THIS CITY ARE ENTITLED TO BEST VALUE FOR THEIR DOLLAR, FOR A PRODUCTIVE GOVERNMENT THAT GIVES THEM BEST VALUE FOR THEIR DOLLAR AND THE DELIVERY OF SERVICES. THAT'S WHAT I STAND FOR AND THAT'S WHAT YOU'LL GET.

XANDRA KAYDEN>> XAVIER?

XAVIER BECERRA>> THE PROBLEM HERE I SEE MOST IS THE FACT THAT GOVERNMENT IS NEVER OPEN. IT CONCEALS WHAT'S GOING ON AND YOU DON'T FIND OUT UNTIL TOO LATE THAT, IN FACT, WE'VE SETTLED ALL THESE CASES AND SOME OF THESE CASES JUST DON'T SEEM TO HAVE A LEG TO STAND ON. WE'VE GOT TO HAVE ACCOUNTABILITY. THAT'S WHY I WAS THE FIRST OF THE CANDIDATES THAT'S STANDING BEFORE YOU TODAY TO CALL MORE THAN A YEAR AGO FOR AN INDEPENDENT AUDIT, NOT A CITY AUDIT, AN INDEPENDENTLY CONDUCTED AUDIT OF THE CITY GOVERNMENT SO YOU AND I CAN SEE WHAT WORKS AND WHAT DOESN'T WORK WITHIN THE CITY.

WE HAVE TO HAVE ACCOUNTABILITY. ONCE WE HAVE THAT AUDIT, LET'S MAKE SURE WE CLEAN HOUSE. THOSE WHO'VE WORKED, GREAT. THOSE WHO HAVEN'T SHOULDN'T STICK AROUND. AND FINALLY, LET'S REPORT IT TO THE PEOPLE. I'M THE ONLY CANDIDATE, IN FACT, THAT CAN STAND HERE AND TELL YOU THAT, AS A MEMBER OF CONGRESS AND AS A STATE ASSEMBLYMAN, I HELD TOWN HALL MEETINGS THROUGHOUT MY DISTRICT EVERY YEAR THAT I'VE BEEN IN OFFICE. I'LL DO THE SAME AS MAYOR. ACCOUNTABILITY REQUIRES THAT YOU BE OPEN WITH THE PEOPLE. (APPLAUSE)

XANDRA KAYDEN>> ANTONIO?

ANTONIO VILLARAIGOSA>> I THINK IT'S THE JOB OF EVERY CITY OFFICIAL TO ENGAGE IN RISK MANAGEMENT PRACTICES AND, AS MAYOR OF THIS CITY, I WANT TO IMPLEMENT A COMPREHENSIVE RISK MANAGEMENT PLAN THROUGHOUT THE CITY IN EVERY SINGLE DEPARTMENT. THAT MEANS THAT EVERY MANAGER WILL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR PUTTING TOGETHER A RISK MANAGEMENT PLAN TO REDUCE LIABILITY IN THAT DEPARTMENT. THAT MEANS WE'LL WORK IN A PARTNERSHIP WITH THE EMPLOYEES, NOT BASHING THEM, BUT WORKING WITH THEM TO IDENTIFY THE WASTE AND THE SOURCES OF LIABILITY. THAT MEANS THAT WE NEED TO, ON A REGULAR BASIS, PROVIDE THE KIND OF AUDITING OF EACH DEPARTMENT SO THAT WE CAN HAVE A HANDLE ON THE PROBLEM BEFORE WE GET TO THE ASTRONOMICAL NUMBERS THAT YOU SPOKE ABOUT. BECAUSE WHETHER IT'S $600 MILLION OR $80 MILLION, IT'S ONE DOLLAR TOO MUCH.

XANDRA KAYDEN>> KATHLEEN?

KATHLEEN CONNELL>> ACTUALLY, I THINK THE NUMBERS ARE CLOSER TO A BILLION AND THAT'S WHAT THE CITY CONTROLLER HAS SAID. I'D LIKE TO JUST POINT OUT THAT, IN MY TIME IN SACRAMENTO, WE HAVE DONE THOSE TOUGH AUDITS AND WE HAVE RISK MANAGEMENT PRACTICES IN THE STATE AND I'LL USE THE SAME TECHNIQUES HERE. WE'VE SAVED A BILLION AND A HALF AT THE STATE WHILE YOU'VE WASTED IT HERE IN THE CITY. AND I WANT TO TELL YOU WHAT A BILLION DOLLARS PROVIDES IN THE CITY AND THE KIND OF LOSS WE'VE HAD AS CITIZENS BECAUSE THAT RISK MANAGEMENT HAS NOT BEEN IN PLACE BY THE CITY ATTORNEY, BY THE CITY COUNCIL AND BY THE MAYOR. WE HAVE HAD THE ABILITY TO HAVE BOUGHT TEN YEARS OF PRE-K EDUCATION FOR ALL OF OUR KIDS IN L.A. WE COULD HAVE HAD TEN YEARS OF AFTER-SCHOOL PROGRAMS AT EVERY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL. WE COULD HAVE HAD 3500 NEW BUSES. WE COULD HAVE HAD 20,000 POLICE OFFICERS. WE COULD HAVE HAD 12,000 MILES OF SIDEWALKS REPAIRED. DON'T YOU THINK IT WOULD HAVE BEEN WORTHWHILE TO PAY ATTENTION TO THE LIABILITY SIDE OF THE CITY BUDGET? (APPLAUSE)

XANDRA KAYDEN>> STEVE?

STEVE SOBOROFF>> RISK MANAGEMENT IS ABOUT RED FLAGS. JUST YESTERDAY, RETIRED POLICE OFFICERS DID A PRESS CONFERENCE. THEY WEREN'T BEING PAID FOR OVERTIME, THEY WANTED A COUPLE HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS, THEY WENT TO THE CITY ATTORNEY AND, OVER A PERIOD OF YEARS, WERE IGNORED. THIS THING ESCALATED, ESCALATED AND ESCALATED AND THEN IT WAS SETTLED FOR $40 MILLION DOLLARS. NOW TODAY, WE HAVE THE BOMBSHELL ABOUT THE THREE RED FLAGS - I CALL THEM THREE STRIKES - ABOUT RAMPART. HOW MUCH IS THAT GOING TO COST US? I'M AFRAID ABOUT WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN TOMORROW. EVERY SINGLE DAY IS ANOTHER $40 MILLION, WHETHER IT'S $80 MILLION, OR A BILLION DOLLARS, IT'S JUST TOO MUCH. WHEN THESE RED FLAGS COME UP, OUR OFFICIALS HAVE TO BE RESPONSIBLE AND THAT'S WHAT RISK MANAGEMENT IS ABOUT, NOT POINTING FINGERS. (APPLAUSE)

XANDRA KAYDEN>> I WANT TO THANK THE CANDIDATES AND I WANT TO THANK YOU. GOOD NIGHT, AND PLEASE VOTE.

JESS>> AND IN THE DAYS AHEAD, PEOPLE WILL BE SAYING WHO WON THAT DEBATE? IT OCCURS TO ME THE VOTERS WON THAT DEBATE BECAUSE THEY GOT AN OPPORTUNITY TO SEE AND HEAR A GROUP OF CANDIDATES.

VAL>> AND THEY'RE ALL QUALIFIED. IT'S GOING TO BE AN ESPECIALLY INTERESTING RACE. SO WHAT DO YOU THINK? WHO IMPRESSED YOU? WHO DIDN'T IMPRESS YOU? WE'D LOVE TO HEAR FROM YOU. HERE'S HOW YOU CAN REACH US:

LIFEANDTIMES@KCET.ORG
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JESS>> WE TURN THINGS OVER NOW TO KERMAN MADDOX AND HUGH HEWITT. GENTLEMEN, YOUR ASSESSMENT OF THE DEBATE?

KERMAN>> WELL, I'M GOING TO AGREE WITH YOU, JESS. I THINK THE BIG WINNERS ARE THE CITIZENS IN LOS ANGELES BECAUSE, UP TO THIS POINT, THERE HAVE BEEN A LOT OF DISCUSSIONS AND DEBATES AMONG THE CANDIDATES, BUT IN MANY CASES, THEY HAVE NOT BEEN ON TV. SO WHAT HAPPENS IS, THE PEOPLE FINALLY HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY, HUGH, TO HEAR FROM XAVIER, ANTONIO, JIMMY, STEVE SOBOROFF, KATHLEEN CONNELL AND THE OTHERS. THERE HAVE BEEN FORUMS AND DEBATES, BUT I THINK THIS IS THE FIRST OPPORTUNITY THE PEOPLE HAD A CHANCE TO -

HUGH>> -- HOW'D YOU HANDICAP IT?

KERMAN>> WELL, I DON'T THINK THERE ARE ANY WINNERS OR LOSERS. NOBODY MADE ANY MAJOR MISTAKES, NOBODY MADE ANY MAJOR SNAFUS, BUT I THINK WHAT HAPPENS IS, I WAS PAYING REAL CLOSE ATTENTION TO THE THREE FRONT RUNNERS, JIMMY HAHN, STEVE SOBOROFF AND ANTONIO VILLARAIGOSA. THERE WERE SOME SPARKS BETWEEN SOBOROFF AND JIMMY HAHN THAT APPEARED ON ANOTHER TAPE, BUT I DON'T THINK EITHER OF THOSE HURT THEMSELVES AT ANY POINT.

HUGH>> WELL, YOU KNOW, THAT LAST ROUND WHEN THEY WERE ALL BASICALLY ATTACKING JAMES HAHN FOR HIS FAILURE TO STOP THE HEMORRHAGING OF PUBLIC FUNDS, THAT DINGED HIM A LITTLE BIT. I SAW THIS THING AS WHAT I'VE SEEN IT FROM THE BEGINNING. IT'S A CAMPAIGN BETWEEN CHARISMA, COMPETENCE AND COATTAILS. THE CHARISMA IS WITH ANTONIO VILLARAIGOSA. HE DOES THE BEST JOB OF TALKING. HE'S GOT THE MOST MOTIVATED TROOPS. HE'S GOT ALL THE ENDORSEMENTS. HE'S GOT THE MOMENTUM. THE COMPETENCE IS SOBOROFF. I MEAN, IF YOU REALLY THINK ABOUT THE PROBLEMS FACING THIS CITY, AND HE DEMONSTRATED THAT IN THIS DEBATE, HE'S GOT THE FACTS AND FIGURES, HE'S GOT IDEAS, HE'S GOT -

KERMAN>> -- YEAH, BUT, HUGH, SO MANY OTHERS ARE COMPETENT TOO.

HUGH>> I'M SAYING HE'S GOT AN EDGE. THAT'S HOW I VIEW IT AND I THINK VOTERS WHO GO THERE WITH THAT WONDER ABOUT THAT. THE COATTAIL, OF COURSE, IS JIMMY HAHN, KEN HAHN'S SON. WHAT IT'S GOING TO COME DOWN TO, ARE THESE MAILERS WORKING? I MEAN, THIS IS A NICE DEBATE. IT'S GOOD TO HAVE IT ON PBS. WE'RE GLAD TO HAVE IT HAPPEN, BUT THE MONEY THAT'S FLOODING IN ON BEHALF OF ANTONIO AND SOBOROFF BY INDEPENDENT EXPENDITURES, BY NUMBERS ARE COMING IN.

KERMAN>> AND THEY TRIED TO MAKE THAT A CAMPAIGN ISSUE, BUT IT DOESN'T SEEM TO STICK. BUT LET ME JUST GET BACK TO WHAT I THOUGHT WAS INTERESTING. OFTENTIMES, THE MODERATORS WOULD ASK A QUESTION, BUT THE CANDIDATES INVARIABLY WOULD ANSWER THE QUESTION. NOW WHAT I FOUND INTERESTING WAS, ON THE ENERGY QUESTION, YOU ACTUALLY HAD A PLAN THAT WAS INTRODUCED BY KATHLEEN CONNELL. YOU HAD A PLAN THAT WAS INTRODUCED BY FORMER SPEAKER, ANTONIO VILLARAIGOSA. THE OTHERS REALLY DIDN'T SAY ANYTHING ABOUT WHAT THEY WOULD DO TO RESOLVE THE CRISIS. ALSO WHEN THEY TALKED ABOUT CHIEF PARKS, SOME PEOPLE WERE VERY DEFENDING. KATHLEEN CONNELL SAYS, "HE GETS 30 DAYS. I DON'T NEED TO WAIT 18 MONTHS." JOEL WACHS IS CONTINUING TO SAY WHAT HE'S GOING TO SAY, BUT THE OTHERS HAVE BASICALLY SAID, "I'M GOING TO REVIEW THE RECORD AND AT THAT POINT I'M GOING TO MAKE A DECISION.

HUGH>> THAT WAS INTERESTING BECAUSE VILLARAIGOSA IS THE ONLY PRO PARKS PERSON ON THAT PANEL. I THINK THAT'S GOING TO HELP HIM. I THINK THAT'S GOING TO HELP SIGNIFICANTLY IN THE AFRICAN-AMERICAN COMMUNITY. I THINK IT'S GOING TO HELP HIM SIGNIFICANTLY IN THE VALLEY WHERE THEY TEND TO LIKE THE DISCIPLINARIAN SIDE OF BERNARD PARKS. I'M SURPRISED SOBOROFF DID NOT SIGN UP WITH HIM. I KNOW JAMES HAHN CAN'T BECAUSE OF THE RAMPART FIASCO THAT HAS DRAGGED HIM DOWN. I MEAN, JIMMY HAHN IS SINKING IN THE SWAMP OF RAMPART. THAT'S WHAT THIS COMES DOWN TO. YOU SAW IT IN THE LAST QUESTION. IT'S ALL OVER AND IT WAS HIS RESPONSIBILITY. HE'S GOT THE MOST DIRT ON HIM FROM THAT. VILLARAIGOSA IS SKATING ALONG, THE VIGNALI PARDON CAME UP ON YESTERDAY'S TAPE AND THE IDEA -

KERMAN>> -- HE HANDLED IT PRETTY WELL.

HUGH>> AND HE HANDLED IT PRETTY WELL, BUT HE GOT DINGED BY IT TOO.

KERMAN>> YEAH, BUT LET ME TELL YOU, ANOTHER PERSON WHO WAS HURT BY RAMPART WAS THE ARTICLE IN THE L.A. TIMES WHICH BASICALLY SAID JOEL WACHS AND A REPRESENTATIVE OF JIMMY HAHN WERE AT A MEETING WHERE COUNCILMAN MICHAEL HERNANDEZ BASICALLY SAID WE GOT A PROBLEM WITH RAMPART POLICE OFFICERS. THAT WAS BACK IN 1996. AND ONE OF THE QUESTIONS FROM THE L.A. TIMES WAS, "JOEL, DO YOU REGRET THE FACT YOU DIDN'T ACT?" AND HE PUNTED. HE DIDN'T ANSWER THE QUESTION. SO I THINK, WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT RAMPART, JIMMY HAHN'S IN TROUBLE, BUT I THINK JOEL WACHS MIGHT GET DINGED A LITTLE BIT TOO.

HUGH>> JOEL NEVER - YOU KNOW, HE STARTED EARLY. HE WAS EARLY OUT OF THE GATE. HE FADED. HE FADED BECAUSE HE'S A CITY COUNCILMAN. PEOPLE DON'T WANT THAT. TONIGHT YOU SAW THAT AGAIN. THERE WASN'T A LOT OF ENERGY DOWN THERE. THERE WASN'T A LOT OF PIZZAZZ. KATHLEEN WAS INVENTING IT. SHE'D RUN FOR GOVERNOR. SHE'D RUN AGAINST GRAY DAVIS. LET'S PUT HER TO THE OTHER SIDE. IT'S REALLY SOBOROFF, HAHN AND VILLARAIGOSA. OF THOSE THREE, WHO DO YOU SAY TONIGHT?

KERMAN>> WELL, TONIGHT I STILL SAY JIMMY HAHN IS STILL IN THE RUNOFF. IT'S UNCLEAR BECAUSE IT'S SO CLOSE BETWEEN SOBOROFF AND ANTONIO VILLARAIGOSA. I DON'T KNOW WHO'S GOING TO END UP NUMBER TWO. BUT I WILL SAY ONE THING. I THINK ANTONIO MIGHT HAVE A SLIGHT ADVANTAGE BECAUSE HE'S GOT ORGANIZED LABOR AND THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY AND THEY'VE GOT TRUTH IN THE STREETS. THEY'RE WALKING, THEY'RE PHONING, HE HAS A GROUND PRESENCE.

HUGH>> YOU KNOW, THERE WAS A LOT OF STATIC. WE DIDN'T SEE IT ON TONIGHT'S BROADCAST, IF PEOPLE MISSED IT YESTERDAY, ABOUT THE MONEY THAT'S BLOWING IN. AND SOBOROFF HAS TAKEN THE POSITION IT'S NOT HIS MONEY, HE CAN'T DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT AND THAT'S TRUE. THE REPUBLICAN PARTY, AT THEIR LAST CONVENTION, SAID THEY'RE GOING TO PLAY IN THIS BECAUSE SO DISASTROUS WOULD BE THE EFFECT ON ANTONIO VILLARAIGOSA STATEWIDE ON THE PARTY BECAUSE OF HIS LATINO CHARISMA, ETC. -

KERMAN>> -- DISASTROUS FOR YOU REPUBLICANS?

HUGH>> DISASTROUS FOR REPUBLICANS, SO THEY ARE PUNCHING UP HARD. IF THIS BECOMES A SOBOROFF-VILLARAIGOSA RACE, WHICH IS WHAT I'M PREDICTING, MUCH TO YOUR CHAGRIN, I KNOW YOU'RE WITH JIMMY "YAWN", YOU'VE BEEN WITH HIM FOREVER --

KERMAN>> -- NO, I'M NOT WITH JIMMY HAHN --

HUGH>> -- HE'S A NICE GUY, HE'S A NICE GUY.

KERMAN>> -- I JUST PREDICTED HE'D BE IN THERE.

HUGH>> BUT YOU CAN'T PUT SOMEONE IN THE MAYORAL RUNOFF WHO'S BLOWN RAMPART. I MEAN, YOU REALLY CAN'T.

KERMAN>> WELL, I DON'T THINK THAT ANYBODY BELIEVES RAMPART CAN TOTALLY BE LAID AT THE FEET OF JIMMY HAHN --

HUGH>> -- WELL, NOT THE SHOOTING, BUT THE MONEY. THE FAILURE TO INVESTIGATE THE SETTLEMENTS --

KERMAN>> -- OH, THE SETTLEMENTS HAVE BEEN BAD. THERE'S NO QUESTION ABOUT THAT. BUT LET ME SAY, JIMMY HAS TRIED TO MAKE THE MONEY AN ISSUE BECAUSE THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY AND ORGANIZED LABOR HAVE GIVEN A LOT OF MONEY TO ANTONIO VILLARAIGOSA. IT'S A LITTLE SOUR GRAPES BECAUSE JIMMY WANTED THOSE ENDORSEMENTS AND HE LOST.

HUGH>> THIS TIME NEXT WEEK, ONE OF US WILL BE RIGHT AND ONE OF US WON'T.

KERMAN>> OH, I'M GOING TO BE RIGHT.

HUGH>> WE'LL SEE. TOMORROW ON LIFE AND TIMES WEEKEND, WE TALK WITH TWO OF THE LEADING CANDIDATES FOR LOS ANGELES CITY ATTORNEY.

>> WELL, I THINK THAT I HAVE THE BEST QUALIFICATIONS FOR CITY ATTORNEY. I HAVE THE EXPERIENCE, I HAVE ACCOMPLISHMENTS, I'VE BEEN ABLE TO DELIVER WITHIN CITY HALL.

>> YOU CAN BE TOUGH. YOU CAN BE A PROSECUTOR WITHOUT BEING -

HUGH>> -- SO ARE YOU A DEMOCRAT?

>> I'M A REGISTERED INDEPENDENT BECAUSE I AM INDEPENDENT BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT THE PEOPLE OF THIS CITY WANT, AN INDEPENDENT PROSECUTOR.

HUGH>> THAT'S TOMORROW AT 2:00 P.M. ON LIFE AND TIMES WEEKEND.

VAL>> HUGH AND KERMAN, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR GIVING YOUR SPIN. I'LL PUT MY MONEY ON - I'M NOT SAYING. (LAUGHTER) CAN'T DO THAT. NEUTRAL JOURNALISM.

THANKS SO MUCH ALSO TO L.A. CHANNEL 36, VERISON AND REGBERG AND ASSOCIATES FOR THEIR ASSISTANCE WITH THIS SPECIAL EDITION OF LIFE AND TIMES TONIGHT.

JESS>> AND THAT'S OUR PROGRAM FOR TONIGHT. HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND.

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