4/10/01

LC010410

VAL>> ON LIFE AND TIMES TONIGHT --

JESS>> FOR A GOOD SNAPSHOT OF ELECTION DAY, L.A. STYLE, THIS NEIGHBORHOOD IS WHERE THE ACTION WAS.

PHILIP BRUCE>> IF YOU LIVE IN CRENSHAW, YOU'VE GOT PLENTY OF CANDIDATES TO CHOOSE FROM. THIS CLUTTER OF SIGNS SAYS IT ALL. THAT'S BECAUSE, IN ADDITION TO ALL THE BIG CITY RACES, THERE'S A HOT CONGRESSIONAL RACE AS WELL.

DON MCGEE>> OH, IT'S BEEN TORTURE. EVERY DAY THERE'S 15 OR 20 PIECES OF JUNK MAIL. YOU KNOW, EVERYBODY'S LOOKING FOR A VOTE.

VAL>> THE FLURRY OF HEADLINES ABOUT THE ENERGY CRISIS COULD LEAD YOU TO WONDER IF A SOLUTION IS AT HAND. IN TONIGHT'S THINKERS, SHAKERS & NEWSMAKERS, WE GET A REALITY CHECK WITH AN ENERGY EXPERT.

VAL>> ALSO, WANT TO KNOW THE WINNER IN TODAY'S ELECTION? PATT MORRISON IS CONSULTING A SOURCE EVERYBODY ELSE SEEMS TO HAVE OVERLOOKED.

PATT>> STAR POWER AND THE LOS ANGELES MAYOR'S RACE, ON TONIGHT'S INFINITELY MORRISON.

VAL>> MICHELANGO WAS NOT AVAILABLE, SO HOW DO YOU BEAUTIFY A 58,000-SQUARE-FOOT CATHEDRAL? WELL, YOU START WITH A VERY TALENTED CONTEMPORARY PAINTER AND THEN HAVE HIM EXPLORE A DIFFERENT MEDIUM. WE'LL PREVIEW THE ARTWORK FOR THE CATHEDRAL OF OUR LADY OF THE ANGELS.

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, CHOOSING A MAYOR. THAT'S JUST ONE OF THE DECISIONS VOTERS HAD TO MAKE TODAY AS THEY HEADED TO THE POLLS IN THE LOS ANGELES CITY ELECTION, BUT IT IS THE ONE AT THE CENTER OF THE MOST EXPENSIVE CAMPAIGN IN LOS ANGELES HISTORY.

VAL>> THE SIX LEADING CANDIDATES ALONE SPENT MORE THAN $17 MILLION DOLLARS ON THIS RACE, BUT IF MONEY TALKS, WHAT DID THE VOTERS HEAR? PHILIP BRUCE TOOK IN A SAMPLING OF L.A. PRECINCTS.

PHILIP>> IF YOU LIVE IN CRENSHAW, YOU'VE GOT PLENTY OF CANDIDATES TO CHOOSE FROM. THIS CLUTTER OF SIGNS SAYS IT ALL. THAT'S BECAUSE, IN ADDITION TO ALL THE BIG CITY RACES, THERE'S A HOT CONGRESSIONAL RACE AS WELL.

DON MCGEE>> OH, IT'S BEEN TORTURE. EVERY DAY THERE'S 15 OR 20 PIECES OF JUNK MAIL. YOU KNOW, EVERYBODY'S LOOKING FOR A VOTE.

JESS>> OKAY, THIS WAS, AS WE SAID, THE MOST EXPENSIVE CAMPAIGN IN L.A. HISTORY?

PHILIP>> WELL, AND, YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU LOOK AT THAT $17 MILLION DOLLARS, I MEAN, YOU HAVE TO KIND OF WONDER HOW MUCH PEOPLE OUT THERE HAD TO PUT UP WITH BECAUSE MOST OF THAT MONEY WAS SPENT ON CAMPAIGN ADVERTISING, A LOT OF IMPACT ON A LOT OF NEIGHBORHOODS. WE WENT OUT TO CRENSHAW TODAY, ACTUALLY, TO TALK TO PEOPLE BECAUSE THEY WERE BARRAGED WITH THE BIGGEST IMPACT OF IT.

JESS>> LET'S TAKE A LOOK AT THAT.

VAL>> THAT'S RIGHT. OUR APOLOGIES FOR THAT SHORT TAKE. HERE IS YOUR REPORT.

PHILIP>> AT GOOD SHEPHERD MANOR IN CRENSHAW, SOME FOLKS HAVE BEEN VOTING SINCE THE DAYS OF FDR AND THEY DON'T TAKE ELECTIONS FOR GRANTED.

>> NO HANGING CHADS, AND THEY ALL MATCH UP. THEY LINING UP NUMBER, TO THE CARD, AND TO THE NUMBER.

PHILIP>> THIS BUILDING HAS SOME OF THE MOST POLITICALLY ACTIVE SENIORS IN TOWN, PEOPLE LIKE 69-YEAR-OLD MARGARET DEPRIEST WHO SHOWED UP BRIGHT AND EARLY EVEN THOUGH SHE HAD TO USE A WALKER TO GET TO THE POLLS.

MARGARET DEPRIEST>> YOU KNOW, IF THIS DOESN'T BRING THEM OUT TODAY, NOTHING WILL. I THINK THIS IS GOING TO BE ONE OF THE BIGGEST TURNOUTS WE'VE EVER HAD.

PHILIP>> MARGARET IS A RETIRED SCHOOL TEACHER AND SHE'D ALREADY DECIDED ON A SLATE OF CANDIDATES BY THE TIME SHE GOT HERE.

MARGARET DEPRIEST>> ONLY ONE GROUP GOT IT RIGHT AND THAT WAS THIS GROUP RIGHT HERE.

PHILIP>> IF YOU LIVE IN CRENSHAW, YOU'VE GOT PLENTY OF CANDIDATES TO CHOOSE FROM. THIS CLUTTER OF SIGNS SAYS IT ALL. THAT'S BECAUSE, IN ADDITION TO ALL THE BIG CITY RACES, THERE'S A HOT CONGRESSIONAL RACE AS WELL, 18 HOPEFULS ALL VYING FOR ONE SEAT IN THE 32ND DISTRICT, THE ONE LEFT VACANT LAST YEAR BY THE DEATH OF A NEIGHBORHOOD LEGEND, CONGRESSMAN JULIAN DIXON. MARGARET PICKED HER OLD FRIEND, DIANE WATSON, A LEADER IN THIS CROWDED FIELD.

MARGARET DEPRIEST>> SOME OF THE CANDIDATES HAD VERY, VERY NARROW BACKING AND THEY LOOKED LIKE THEY COULD BE BOUGHT OFF VERY EASY WHEN THEY GOT TO CONGRESS.

PHILIP>> CRENSHAW COULD BE A CASE STUDY IN THE LONG-TERM EFFECTS OF POLITICAL ADVERTISING. VOTERS HERE HAVE BEEN BOMBARDED FOR WEEKS AND NOT JUST BY THE CONGRESSIONAL CANDIDATES, BUT BY ALL THE WOULD-BE MAYORS, CONTROLLERS, COUNCIL MEMBERS AND CITY ATTORNEYS.

DON MCGEE>> OH, IT'S BEEN TORTURE. EVERY DAY THERE'S 15 OR 20 PIECES OF JUNK MAIL. YOU KNOW, EVERYBODY'S LOOKING FOR A VOTE. THEY WANT YOU TO VOTE FOR THEM.

PHILIP>> WHAT IMPACT DID THAT HAVE ON YOU AND HOW YOU FINALLY VOTED TODAY?

DON MCGEE>> WELL, IT REALLY DIDN'T BECAUSE I MADE UP MY MIND A LONG TIME AGO. WHEN I SAW THE LIST OF CANDIDATES, I KNEW WHO I WAS GOING TO VOTE FOR IN THE MAYOR'S ELECTION AND THE CONGRESSIONAL ELECTION. THIS PRETTY MUCH FOR ME WAS A WASH.

PHILIP>> DON MCGEE AND HIS WIFE SAY RACE DID NOT PLAY A ROLE IN THEIR FINAL CHOICES TODAY, BUT FOR SOME HERE IN THE HEART OF L.A.'S AFRICAN-AMERICAN COMMUNITY, THE LACK OF A POWERFUL BLACK CANDIDATE IN THE MAYOR'S RACE WAS, AT THE VERY LEAST, A DISAPPOINTMENT AND, FOR MANY, IT MEANT STAYING UNDECIDED UNTIL THE FINAL HOURS OF THE CAMPAIGN.

MATTIE WEBB>> THIS RACE, I MEAN, EVERYBODY WANT TO BE IN. CAN'T EVERYBODY BE IN. SOMEBODY GOT TO BE IN, SO YOU TRY TO FIGURE OUT WHO'S THE GOOD, YOU KNOW, THE BEST PERSON TO SELECT. IT'S KIND OF DIFFICULT WITH ME, REALLY, BECAUSE I HAVE TO DEAL WITH MY KIDS AND TAKE CARE OF OTHER THINGS. I JUST SAID, WELL, YOU KNOW WHAT? WE LIVING IN THIS WORLD, WE TAKE A DAY AT A TIME. THAT'S WHAT I'M DOING.

PHILIP>> NEXT TO CRENSHAW, THE HOTTEST POLITICAL SPOT IN THE CITY HAS TO BE THE VALLEY. NEARLY HALF THE VOTE COMES FROM HERE AND ALL THE MAJOR CANDIDATES FOR MAYOR HAVE TARGETED NEIGHBORHOODS SUCH AS THIS ONE IN SHERMAN OAKS.

>> IT'S MAINLY WHITE VOTERS AND SOME HISPANIC VOTERS. VERY FEW ORIENTAL VOTERS HERE. AND I THINK IT'S GOING TO TAKE A LONG TIME. I THINK THE MAYORAL RACE, BECAUSE THERE ARE 11 PEOPLE RUNNING, I THINK THAT THERE'S GOING TO BE A RUNOFF THERE AND I THINK IN THE 5TH DISTRICT, THERE'S GOING TO BE A RUNOFF ALSO BECAUSE THERE ARE NINE PEOPLE WHO ARE RUNNING.

PHILIP>> IRONICALLY, MANY OF THESE PEOPLE MAY BE VOTING FOR L.A. MAYOR FOR THE LAST TIME. THAT IS, IF THE DRIVE TO SECEDE COMES TO A VOTE NEXT YEAR AND PASSES.

>> IT'S NOT HERE YET, BUT DEFINITELY THE VALLEY WILL SECEDE.

PHILIP>> WHAT DO THEY WANT FROM A MAYOR IN THE MEANTIME? SOMEBODY WHO WILL MAKE SURE THAT THE VALLEY GETS ITS MONEY'S WORTH FROM ALL THE TAXES PEOPLE HERE PAY. THAT'S WHAT HARVEY SHIELDS WANTED TO HEAR MORE ABOUT, NOT ALL THE CANDIDATES' LAST-MINUTE NAME-CALLING.

HARVEY SHIELDS>> THAT'S REALLY NOT THE NICEST THING, YOU KNOW, TO HAPPEN, BUT IT'S A SHAME THAT IT HAD TO WORK OUT THAT WAY. IT WAS GOING ALONG FINE, BUT THEN IT TURNED UGLY AT THE END.

PHILIP>> AT MANY PRECINCTS HERE, THE VOTE ACROSS THE VALLEY SEEMED LIGHT, ONE INDICATION THAT MUCH OF THE CAMPAIGN RHETORIC MAY HAVE MISSED ITS MARK. AND THE SAME IS TRUE ACROSS TOWN IN ATWATER VILLAGE, A RACIALLY-DIVERSE NEIGHBORHOOD ON THE EDGE OF GRIFFITH PARK. HERE VOTERS WERE TRICKLING IN AT THE RATE OF AROUND A DOZEN AN HOUR. ONE LONG-TIME POLL WATCHER GUESSED THAT MANY VOTERS WERE SUFFERING FROM SENSORY OVERLOAD. TOO MANY CANDIDATES TO PICK FROM AND NONE OF THEM AN OBVIOUS CHOICE.

>> THE FIELD IS SO LARGE, I THINK PEOPLE ARE CONFUSED ABOUT WHO ARE THEY GOING TO VOTE FOR.

PHILIP>> ONE OF THE BIGGER QUESTIONS OF THE DAY IS HOW LARGE THE TURNOUT WILL BE AMONG LATINO VOTERS AND HOW THAT VOTE WILL AFFECT THE TWO LATINO CANDIDATES IN THE MAYOR'S RACE, VILLARAIGOSA AND BECERRA. CONVENTIONAL WISDOM SAYS THOSE TWO CANDIDATES HAVE THE MOST TO GAIN, BUT MANY LATINO VOTERS SAY THEY'RE LOOKING BEYOND ETHNICITY WHEN IT COMES TO PICKING A NEW MAYOR.

ALEXANDER OROZCO>> FOR ME AS BEING A MEXICAN-AMERICAN, IT DON'T REALLY MAKE A DIFFERENCE ON WHO IS HISPANIC OR NOT, JUST AS LONG AS WHO COULD DO THE JOB RIGHT.

PHILIP>> COUNTING THE LATINO VOTE MAY TAKE A BACK SEAT TO FIGURING OUT THE WINNERS AND LOSERS. A HUGE NUMBER OF ABSENTEE BALLOTS, MORE THAN 200,000, COULD HAVE A MAJOR IMPACT ON THE FINAL RESULTS. IT MEANS IT COULD BE SEVERAL MORE DAYS BEFORE THIS ELECTION IS TRULY OVER.

JESS>> PHILIP, THEY TALKED ABOUT DIVERSITY AND ETHNICITY. WAS THERE A CONSENSUS ABOUT A CANDIDATE WHO COULD UNITE THIS DIVERSE AND ETHNIC CITY?

PHILIP>> YOU KNOW, YOU DIDN'T HEAR A LOT OF NAMES FROM TODAY'S LIST OF CANDIDATES, BUT I HAVE TO TELL YOU, IN GOING ACROSS THE CITY TODAY, I HEARD TOM BRADLEY'S NAME INVOKED BY SO MANY PEOPLE ON SO MANY CORNERS OF LOS ANGELES IN THE VEIN OF SAYING WE NEED ANOTHER MAYOR WHO CAN BRING TOGETHER ALL THESE VARIOUS COALITIONS THAT MAKE UP THIS CITY AND BRING THEM TOGETHER TO A POSITIVE END.

VAL>> PHILIP, THERE WAS TALK ABOUT POSSIBLE CONFUSION ON THE BALLOT AND SO FORTH. ANY SIGNS OF THAT?

PHILIP>> NO, AND NO CHAD PROBLEMS, I'M HAPPY TO REPORT RIGHT NOW THAT WE KNOW OF. (LAUGHTER) OUR MACHINES ARE IDENTICAL TO THE ONES THAT WERE USED IN FLORIDA DURING ALL THAT FIASCO, SO THAT OBVIOUSLY IS A SOURCE OF CONCERN, BUT OUR MACHINES ARE CLEAN MACHINES.

JESS>> NOT ONLY THAT, BUT THERE WERE SIGNS IN SOME OF THE POLLING PLACES TELLING YOU TO BEWARE OF HANGING CHADS?

PHILIP>> WELL, THE TAG LINE TODAY WAS "GOT CHAD?". IF THEY DON'T GET SUED BY THE "GOT MILK?" PEOPLE, IT'LL BE GREAT. (LAUGHTER)

VAL>> THERE ARE, HOWEVER, ABOUT 25,000 ABSENTEE VOTES, SO THAT MAY DELAY THE FINAL TALLY.

PHILIP>> WELL, THERE ARE OVER 200,000 BALLOTS THAT WERE SENT OUT, ACTUALLY, IN THE ABSENTEE BALLOTS AND THAT'S A HUGE NUMBER. PLUS THERE WAS A LATER THAN NORMAL DEADLINE FOR BEING ABLE TO REGISTER. A LOT OF PEOPLE MIGHT SHOW UP AT THE POLLS NOW, EVEN NOW. THEY MAY NOT BE ON THE ROLLS. THEY MAY BE ALLOWED TO VOTE, THEY DEFINITELY WILL BE ALLOWED TO VOTE, BUT THOSE VOTES WON'T BE COUNTED UNTIL LATER WHEN THEY CAN BE VERIFIED.

JESS>> ANY SENSE THAT THE LATE HIT PIECES, THE REALLY NASTY HIT PIECES, MADE A DIFFERENCE?

PHILIP>> IT TURNED A LOT OF PEOPLE OFF, I CAN TELL YOU, THE ONES WE TALKED TO. IN FACT, I TALKED TO MORE THAN ONE VOTER WHO SAID I THOUGHT ABOUT NOT EVEN COMING. OF COURSE, YOU GOT TO ALWAYS REALIZE THAT LOTS OF PEOPLE LIKE TO SIT OUT THE SEMI-FINALS AND WAIT FOR THE BIG GAME AND THEY FEEL LIKE THAT'S WHAT'S COMING.

VAL>> RIGHT. THERE'S GOING TO BE ONE. PHILIP, THANK YOU SO MUCH.

OUR TOP STORY TOMORROW, SURVIVOR. NOT THAT SURVIVOR. WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE CANDIDATES LEFT STANDING AFTER TODAY'S ELECTION. WE'LL HAVE THE FINALISTS LIVE IN OUR STUDIO ALONG WITH SOME POST-ELECTION ANALYSIS ON WHAT THE VOTERS SAID OR WHAT THEY MEANT TO SAY. THAT'S TOMORROW ON LIFE AND TIMES TONIGHT AT 7:00 P.M.

JESS>> IN TONIGHT'S THINKERS, SHAKERS & NEWSMAKERS, PG&E IS IN BANKRUPTCY, EDISON MAY BE ON SHAKY GROUND AND A DEAL TO BUY THE GRID MAY BE FALLING APART, AND THAT'S JUST A SAMPLING OF HEADLINES ON CALIFORNIA'S POWER CRISIS.

VAL>> ALL OF THIS HAPPENED AFTER GOVERNOR GRAY DAVIS WENT ON STATEWIDE TELEVISION TO REASSURE CALIFORNIANS THAT THE SITUATION WAS IN HAND, SO JUST WHERE DO WE STAND? JOINING US NOW IS UC IRVINE ECONOMIST, PETER NAVARRO. WELCOME TO LIFE AND TIMES TONIGHT, AGAIN.

JESS>> PETER, EVERYONE IS TALKING ABOUT A POWER CARTEL, BUT YOU THINK THERE MAY BE SOMETHING TO CARTELS THAT COULD WORK?

PETER NAVARRO>> INDEED, AND I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO POINT OUT THAT WHATEVER GOVERNOR DAVIS HAS SAID OR DONE TO THIS POINT IS NOT GOING TO STOP THE NEXT SIX MONTHS FROM BEING VERY SERIOUS. THERE'S PREDICTED ROLLING BLACKOUTS, STAGE THREE ALERTS AND, IF THE WHOLESALE MARKET BEHAVES IN A WAY WHICH IT'S BEEN BEHAVING WHICH IS TO SAY SERIOUS PRICE SPIKES EVERY TIME WE HAVE SHORTAGES, WE COULD SEE OUR RATES GO UP ANOTHER 100 PERCENT ON TOP OF EVERYTHING WE'VE SEEN, AND THE STATE COULD SEE ITS ELECTRICITY BILL GET AS HIGH AS $50 BILLION DOLLARS.

VAL>> ARE YOU SERIOUS? YOU REALLY THINK THAT OUR BILLS COULD DOUBLE? OVER WHAT KIND OF TIME ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT?

PETER NAVARRO>> WELL, LET'S THINK ABOUT WHAT'S HAPPENED SO FAR. JUST SINCE LAST SUMMER, THIS POWER CARTEL, BASICALLY THESE WHOLESALE GENERATORS, CAME IN, BOUGHT THE POWER PLANTS FROM THE UTILITIES AND NOW THEY HAVE A CHOKEHOLD ON THIS MARKET. FROM LAST SUMMER THROUGH THE FALL AND WINTER, THEY TOOK ABOUT $13 BILLION DOLLARS FROM THE UTILITIES AND THAT'S WHAT PUT THE UTILITIES IN BANKRUPTCY.

BEGINNING IN JANUARY, THE GOVERNOR AND THE LEGISLATURE BASICALLY STARTING WRITING THIS BLANK CHECK. THEY BECAME THE PURCHASER OF ELECTRICITY DE FACTO AND THEY ATE THROUGH ABOUT $5 BILLION TO $6 BILLION DOLLARS AT THE RATE OF $50 MILLION TO $60 MILLION DOLLARS A DAY FROM THIS MARKET. BASICALLY, THESE GENERATORS ARE GENERATING POWER FOR A NICKEL, A DIME, MAYBE AS MUCH AS 15 CENTS IN THE OLDER, MORE EFFICIENT PLANTS. THEY'RE SELLING IT TO US FOR 25 AND 50 CENTS A KILOWATT HOUR AND, WHEN THE PRICES SPIKE LIKE THEY DID MARCH 19 AND 20 DURING THE ROLLING BLACKOUTS, PRICES SPIKED UP TO A DOLLAR A KILOWATT HOUR. SO WE ARE IN A VERY SERIOUS SITUATION AND THERE'S ALL THESE OTHER THINGS. THE GOVERNOR'S GOT ALL THESE OTHER BALLS IN THE AIR AND THEY'RE DROPPING.

JESS>> WHO'S WEARING THE BLACKEST HAT? IS IT THE FEDERAL ENERGY REGULATION COMMISSION THAT DOESN'T REGULATE?

PETER NAVARRO>> ABSOLUTELY, JESS, AND LET'S BE VERY CLEAR ABOUT THIS. THE FEDERAL ENERGY REGULATORY COMMISSION COULD END THIS CRISIS TOMORROW BY DOING TWO THINGS. IMPOSING HARD PRICE CAPS AT 15 TO 20 CENTS A KILOWATT HOUR AND ORDERING THE GENERATORS, UNDER MUST-RUN ORDERS, TO SUPPLY AMPLE POWER TO THE MARKET. THAT WOULD GO A LONG WAY TOWARD SOLVING. AS A PRACTICAL MATTER, THAT'S NOT GOING TO HAPPEN.

JESS>> IT COULD BE DONE SIMPLY BY EXECUTIVE ORDER?

PETER NAVARRO>> ABSOLUTELY. I MEAN, THE FEDERAL POWER ACT WHICH WAS PASSED 65 YEARS AGO STATES QUITE CLEARLY THAT RATES MUST BE JUST AND REASONABLE. AND THE GOVERNOR OF THIS STATE, THE CALIFORNIA DEFENSE SYSTEM OPERATOR, THE LEGISLATURE, HAVE ALL COMPLAINED AND HAVE LEGAL PROCEEDINGS AT THE FERC ON THE BASIS OF THAT LAW. BUT THE FERC, FOR IDEOLOGICAL REASONS, FOR COZY RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN THE PEOPLE WHO ARE OPERATING THERE, THE BUSH ADMINISTRATION AND THE TEXAS MEMBERS OF THIS CARTEL, HAVE ALL LED THAT FERC TO DO NOTHING AND BE NOTHING AND WE ARE IN TROUBLE.

VAL>> PETER, WE'VE READ THAT THE STATE IS GOING TO BUY THE GRID FROM EDISON. EVERYONE SEEMS TO THINK THAT SOUNDS LIKE A SOLUTION. PUT THAT IN PERSPECTIVE FOR US.

PETER NAVARRO>> I'VE BEEN A STRONG SUPPORTER OF BUYING THE GRID FROM ALL OF THE UTILITIES FOR A COUPLE OF REASONS. FIRST OF ALL, THE UTILITIES NEED CASH TO PAY OFF THEIR CREDITORS AND BUYING THE GRID WAS A CASH-FOR-ASSETS SWAP. IT'S A GOOD DEAL FOR THE RATE PAYERS. BUT THE SECOND THING IS THAT BUYING THE GRID FROM ALL THE UTILITIES WOULD GIVE US ENOUGH EFFICIENCIES OPERATING THE GRID TO HELP PAY FOR THE PURCHASE AND, MOST IMPORTANTLY, IF BY QUIRK OF FEDERAL LAW -- AND DON'T ASK ME TO EXPLAIN THIS TOO WELL -- BUT BY A QUIRK OF FEDERAL LAW, IF THE PUBLIC OWNS THE GRID RATHER THAN PRIVATE UTILITIES, THE STATE REGAINS SOME MEASURE OF CONTROL OVER THAT FEDERAL ENERGY REGULATORY COMMISSION WHICH IS REALLY HOLDING US BACK. SO HERE'S THE PROBLEM. HALF A GRID IS NOT HALF A LOAF. IT'S A LOT LESS THAN HALF A LOAF AND, UNLESS THE GOVERNOR CAN DELIVER PG&E ALONG WITH EDISON FOR THAT GRID PURCHASE, IT'S PROBABLY NOT WORTH DOING.

JESS>> BUT PG&E HAVING DECLARED BANKRUPTCY, THEY'D HAVE TO GO TO BANKRUPTCY COURT IN ORDER TO GET --

PETER NAVARRO>> -- NOT NECESSARILY. BANKRUPTCY AT THIS EARLY STAGE PARTICULARLY WOULD BE REVERSIBLE. THERE'S A QUESTION OF WHETHER PG&E MAY JUST BE PLAYING A STRATEGIC GAMBIT TO GET A LITTLE HIGHER PRICE FOR THE GRID. BUT IF THE GOVERNOR COULD PUT THIS TOGETHER TOMORROW, PG&E COULD WITHDRAW ITS PAPERS, THE CASH COULD GO AND EVERYTHING COULD BE ALL RIGHT, BUT DON'T COUNT ON THAT. ALL I'M SAYING IS THAT THE GOVERNOR IS IN SOMEWHAT OF A PANIC MODE. LAST WEEK, AS YOU MENTIONED, HE HAD THIS KIND OF, IN MY VIEW, A DO-NOTHING, SAY-NOTHING FEEL-GOOD JIMMY CARTER TYPE SPEECH AND HE'S REAPING THE WHIRLWIND NOW. I THINK THAT HIS ACTIONS WITH EDISON ARE KIND OF LIKE THE KNEE-JERK REACTION WE'VE BEEN SEEING. HE NEEDED SOME GOOD NEWS, SO HE WENT OUT AND GOT IT. THE QUESTION IS, DID HE PAY TOO MUCH FOR IT?

VAL>> WOULDN'T WE ALSO -- THE CITIZENS OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA -- ALSO HAVE TO BUY THE GRID FROM SDG&E TO HAVE THE WHOLE GRID STATEWIDE?

PETER NAVARRO>> YEAH, BUT THAT'S NOT REALLY A PROBLEM. SEMPRA'S GOT A SMALL PART OF THE GRID BECAUSE THEY WERE DEREGULATED DOWN SOUTH DURING THAT SUMMER WHEN THE OTHER TWO UTILITIES WERE RACKING UP THE BIG DEBT. THEY'RE NOT A BIG PROBLEM. THEY'LL COME TO THE TABLE WILLINGLY AND FOR A SMALL AMOUNT. IT'S PROBABLY MAYBE HALF A BILLION OUT OF THE SEVEN BILLION FOR SEMPRA AND I WOULDN'T WORRY ABOUT THAT. PG&E IS THE ONE THAT'S HOLDING EVERYTHING UP AND THE ONLY THING I WOULD SAY IN DEFENSE OF THEM IS THAT I DON'T THINK THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE PAID ENOUGH ATTENTION TO THEM DURING THE NEGOTIATIONS. HE WAS TOO BUSY COURTING EDISON.

JESS>> YOU'VE RECOMMENDED SEIZING THE POWER PLANTS AS A SOLUTION TO IT ALSO?

PETER NAVARRO>> WELL, THAT IS AN OPTION AND THE GOVERNOR NEEDS TO DO SOMETHING. OTHERWISE, WE'RE IN TROUBLE.

VAL>> CANDLELIGHT DINNERS. THAT'S WHAT I SEE IN OUR FUTURE. (LAUGHTER)

SO WHAT DO YOU THINK? WE'D LOVE TO HEAR FROM YOU. HERE ARE THE WAYS YOU CAN REACH US:

LIFEANDTIMES@KCET.ORG
WWW.KCET.ORG.
LIFE AND TIMES TONIGHT
4401 SUNSET BLVD.
LOS ANGELES, CA 90027
(323) 953-5555

JESS>> PATT MORRISON HAS A QUESTION YOU WON'T HEAR ANYWHERE ELSE ON THIS ELECTION NIGHT. HEY, MR. OR MS. MAYORAL CANDIDATE, WHAT'S YOUR SIGN? HERE'S TONIGHT'S INFINITELY MORRISON.

PATT>> IN CASE YOU DON'T FEEL LIKE STAYING UP UNTIL MIDNIGHT AND BEYOND FOR THE LATE ELECTION RETURNS IN THE LOS ANGELES MAYOR'S RACE, WE CAN HELP. HERE ARE ASTROLOGY'S PREDICTIONS. THE ELECTION DAY HOROSCOPES FOR THE TOP SIX CANDIDATES. NOW, UNLIKE NANCY REAGAN, I DON'T PUT CREDENCE IN THESE THINGS, BUT FOR THE SAKE OF THOSE WHO DO AND FOR THE SAKE OF THOSE WHO SIMPLY FIND SOME AMUSEMENT IN IT, HERE YOU GO. INTERESTINGLY, AMONG THE DOZEN SIGNS OF THE ZODIAC, ONLY FOUR APPLY TO THE SIX TOP-RANKING CANDIDATES BECAUSE FOUR OF THEM WERE BORN ONLY A FEW DAYS APART FROM ONE ANOTHER, SO JUDGE ACCORDINGLY.

NOW, BOTH KATHLEEN CONNELL AND JAMES HAHN WERE BORN UNDER THE SIGN OF CANCER, THE CRAB. THAT ELECTION DAY HOROSCOPE READS: "BURDEN LIFTED. YOU WILL HAVE MORE TIME FOR FUN AND GAMES". DOESN'T SOUND LIKE A RUNOFF ELECTION TO ME.

STEVE SOBOROFF IS A VIRGO AND HIS ELECTION DAY PREDICTION IS A TRIFLE PERKIER, OR IT WOULD BE IF YOU WERE RUNNING FOR SCHOOL BOARD INSTEAD OF MAYOR: "YOUR KIND OF DAY. EXCELLENT FOR TEACHING, READING AND WRITING".

HERE'S WHAT JOEL WACHS' PISCES HOROSCOPE READING ADVISES: "FOCUS ON WHERE YOU ARE GOING AND WHAT TO DO WHEN YOU ARRIVE", WHICH, LIKE ALMOST ALL HOROSCOPE PREDICTIONS, CAN BE INTERPRETED MANY WAYS, INCLUDING VICTORY OR THE ENFORCED LEISURE OF TERM LIMITS.

THE TWO LATINO CANDIDATES, ANTONIO VILLARAIGOSA AND XAVIER BECERRA, ARE BOTH AQUARIANS AND THERE'S READS THE MOST OPTIMISTICALLY: "DON'T FOLLOW OTHERS. TAKE A LEAD. BE READY FOR A DIFFERENT KIND OF RELATIONSHIP. MAINTAIN CREATIVE CONTROL". 

NOW NONE OF THE TOP CANDIDATES WAS BORN A SCORPIO WHICH HOLDS THE BEST ELECTION DAY PREDICTION: "BE GRACIOUS DURING DEBATE. YOU CAN WIN WITHOUT CREATING ENMITY".

REMEMBER, WHOEVER WE GET, AS SHAKESPEARE ADMONISHED: THE FAULT, DEAR VOTERS, LIES NOT IN OUR STARS, BUT IN OURSELVES.

VAL>> IN TONIGHT'S PEOPLE, PLACES & THINGS, THE CATHEDRAL OF OUR LADY OF THE ANGELS. IT IS RISING ON THE DOWNTOWN SKYLINE AND, WHILE THE CONSTRUCTION GOES ON, WORK ON THE ART THAT WILL ADORN THE INSIDE OF THE CATHEDRAL IS ALSO UNDERWAY.

JESS>> ONE OF THE MANY COMPONENTS IS A SERIES OF HUGE TAPESTRIES THAT WILL COVER THE WALLS. PAINTER JOHN NAVA WAS COMMISSIONED FOR THE WORK EVEN THOUGH HE'D NEVER WORKED IN TEXTILES. ARTS ADVOCATE, RAIFORD ROGERS, BRINGS US THE STORY OF NAVA'S VISION FOR THE TAPESTRIES AND HOW THEY'RE BEING MADE.

RAIFORD ROGERS>> HELLO, I'M RAIFORD ROGERS. TODAY ON ART SHOW, WE'RE VISITING WITH LOS ANGELES ARTIST, JOHN NAVA, WHO HAS BEEN COMMISSIONED TO CREATE AN ENORMOUS SERIES OF TAPESTRIES FOR THE NEW DOWNTOWN CATHEDRAL. FOR JOHN, IT'S THE COMMISSION OF A LIFETIME. THE CATHEDRAL OF OUR LADY OF THE ANGELS WILL BE THE BIGGEST IN THE UNITED STATES AND THE TAPESTRIES INSIDE WILL BE THE LARGEST COLLECTION IN THE WORLD, FILMMAKER, DAVID [KOLAFICAS] RECORDING THE PROCESS STEP BY STEP FOR AN UPCOMING FULL-LENGTH DOCUMENTARY.

JOHN NAVA>> I DON'T KNOW OF ANY OTHER MODERN TAPESTRY CYCLES IN A SACRED BUILDING LIKE THIS THAT ARE THIS SIZE. IT'S BIG. IT'S ONE OF THE BIGGEST ONES. THE BUILDING IS A BIG BUILDING. I THINK IT'S GOING TO BE THE BIGGEST CHURCH IN NORTH AMERICA, SO IT'S AN IMMENSE BUILDING. THESE TAPESTRIES RANGE -- I'M DOING GROUPS OF TAPESTRIES THAT RANGE IN SIZE FROM 18 FEET TO ABOUT 45 FEET IN HEIGHT AND THEY'RE HUNG LIKE PARALLEL BANNERS GOING DOWN THE ROW, BUT THEY COVER THE ENTIRE WALL ON EACH SIDE OF THE NAVE. SO IT'S A LOT OF ACREAGE OF WEAVING AND, YOU KNOW, OVER 130 FIGURES.

FR. RICHARD VOSKO>> HE DESCRIBED FOR US, IN A VERY CLEVER WAY, HOW HE PROPOSED TO TAKE THESE PORTRAITS AND PHOTOGRAPH THEM DIGITALLY, MANIPULATE THESE IMAGES ON HIS COMPUTER, TO STORE THEM ON A DISK, TO WRITE A PROGRAM SO THAT A LOOM COULD ACTUALLY WEAVE THESE THINGS. IT WAS ABSOLUTELY AN INCREDIBLE AND FASCINATING INTERVIEW PROCESS. SO WE LEFT THAT PARTICULAR ROOM SAYING THAT THERE'S REALLY NONE OTHER THAN JOHN, REALLY, IN ORDER TO CARRY THIS OUT.

MICHAEL DVORTCSAK>> WELL, THE SALIENT FEATURE OF HIS WORK IS THAT HE'S SELF-TAUGHT, THAT HE'S ONE OF THE BETTER DRAFTSMEN IN THE COUNTRY. HE DRAWS LIKE A PRINCE. AS A FIGURATIVE PAINTER, HE JUST BRINGS TO THE TABLE AN INCREDIBLE AMOUNT OF FACILITY. JOHN HAS BEEN ABLE TO UTILIZE ALL THE TECHNIQUES THAT HAVE PRECEDED HIM TO PRESENT DAY, SO THAT ONE LOOKS AT HIS WORK AND CAN SEE INFLUENCES OF VELAZQUEZ OR SARGEANT, SO IT BECOMES VERY RICH IN TERMS OF OUR HISTORY. WHAT'S REMARKABLE FOR ME IS THAT JOHN, WITHOUT KNOWING ANYTHING ABOUT TAPESTRY, CAME UP WITH ALL THE KNOWLEDGE THAT WAS NECESSARY TO ACHIEVE THIS AND THAT'S TESTIMONY TO HIS GENIUS.

JOHN NAVA>> THESE PAINTINGS ARE SORT OF NOT ABOUT ART, IN A FUNNY WAY. I MEAN, THEY HAVE A FUNCTION THAT IS REAL AND THEY'RE TAKEN VERY SERIOUSLY. I MEAN, THEY CARE VERY MUCH ABOUT HOW THE SAINTS LOOK AND WHAT ATTRIBUTES THEY HAVE BECAUSE IT'S NOT JUST ABOUT BEING DECORATIVE. IT HAS A NATURAL REALITY THAT TYPIFIES. SO ALL OF A SUDDEN, YOU'RE DOING SOMETHING THAT HAS, YOU KNOW, A REAL MEANING BEYOND JUST BEING ELEGANT. BUT IF YOU HAVE A FEELING FOR THAT, THERE IS A DEEP TRUTHFULNESS AND THAT'S WHAT YOU HAVE TO GET AND, IF YOU GET THAT, I THINK THAT'S PART OF WHAT GIVES IT POWER AND THAT'S PART OF WHAT MAKES IT BEAUTIFUL.

THE WAY THE DESIGNS ARE DONE IS THAT EVERYTHING IS SEEN AT EYE LEVEL, SO I GET DOWN ON THE FLOOR AND I SHOOT THE FEET AT EYE LEVEL AND I SHOOT THE FIGURE FROM TWO DIFFERENT, LIKE FROM ABOUT KNEE LEVEL AND ABOUT ELBOW LEVEL, AND THEN I SHOOT THE HEAD AT EYE LEVEL. SO EVERYTHING LAYS OUT PRETTY FLAT TO THE WALL AND THIS IS THE WAY EGYPTIAN ART WAS DONE. EVERYTHING WAS SILHOUETTES AND PART OF THE IDEA OF THIS DESIGN IS THAT THEY LAY VERY FLAT ON THE WALL, SO I'M TRYING TO BREAK THE THREE-DIMENSIONALITY OF IT A LITTLE BETTER.

THE DEMANDS OF THE WEAVING PROCESS REQUIRE THAT I CHANGE THE WAY I PAINT, SO I HAVE THIS VERY SMALL PRIMITIVE LIMITED PALETTE AND I HAVE TO PUT THE PAINT ON RELATIVELY CRUDELY AND I HAVE TO DO IT FAST. THESE ARE ALL EXACTLY THE OPPOSITE WAY (LAUGHTER) I USED TO WORK, BUT WHAT'S FANTASTIC IS THAT I'VE BEEN TOTALLY SEDUCED BY IT SO THAT NOW I LOVE WORKING THAT WAY. I LOVE THAT SURFACE. I LOVE THAT FINISH. I LOVE THAT LIMITED PALETTE. I LOVE THE WAY EVERYTHING GETS EXECUTED, SO IT'S CHANGED THE WAY I WORK.

WHEN THE IMAGE HAS BEEN INDEXED AND FLATTENED, I LITERALLY SEND IT ELECTRONICALLY TO BELGIUM AND IT'S SENT DIRECTLY TO A LOOM. IT'S EXACTLY LIKE SENDING A PIECE OF WORK TO YOUR PRINTER, EXCEPT THAT INSTEAD OF A PRINTER, IT'S A HUGE MACHINE THAT GENERATES A TAPESTRY.

FR. RICHARD VOSKO>> WHEN YOU THINK OF TAPESTRIES AS A FORM OF ART, WHAT THIS PROJECT HAS WROUGHT FOR NOT ONLY THE CATHOLIC CHURCH, BUT ALSO THE CIVIC COMMUNITY HERE IN THE L.A. BASIN, IT IS A WONDERFUL GIFT OF TAPESTRIES THAT WILL MAKE THIS CITY VERY, VERY PROUD.

JOHN NAVA>> SO I WANTED THAT ASPECT, THE INDIVIDUAL HUMANITY AND REALITY OF THESE PEOPLE, TO BE VERY PRESENT. BECAUSE WHAT YOU'RE REALLY FOCUSING ON IS THAT THEY ARE HUMAN BEINGS AND THAT'S THE ASPECT OF IT THAT I WAS TRYING TO EMPHASIZE.

JESS>> WHAT WE WERE SEEING WERE PROTOTYPES, BUT HOW LARGE WILL THE ACTUAL TAPESTRIES BE?

RAIFORD ROGERS>> YOU HAVE TO UNDERSTAND THAT JOHN HAS BEEN WORKING ON THESE FOR OVER TWO YEARS, DAY AND NIGHT. I MEAN, HE EATS AND SLEEPS TAPESTRIES IN ORDER TO COVER THESE GIGANTIC INTERIOR WALLS OF THE CATHEDRAL, THE SIZE OF FOOTBALL FIELDS. I MEAN, IT'S MIND-BOGGLING, IT TRULY IS, AND VERY EXCITING.

JESS>> HOW WILL THEY BE SUSPENDED?

RAIFORD ROGERS>> BEATS ME. (LAUGHTER)

VAL>> (LAUGHTER)

JESS>> (LAUGHTER) THAT'S THE ARCHITECT'S PROBLEM.

VAL>> BUT THEY'RE GOING TO GO, WHAT, 45 FEET HIGH?

RAIFORD ROGERS>> THAT HIGH. AND THE ARCHITECT IS THE SPANISH ARCHITECT, MONEO, WHO --

VAL>> -- ARCHITECT OF THE CATHEDRAL.

RAIFORD ROGERS>> OF THE CATHEDRAL. VERY HIGHLY REGARDED WORLDWIDE. IT'S GOING TO BE EXCITING BECAUSE YOU'LL HAVE A DISNEY HALL GOING UP AND THE CATHEDRAL GOING UP. TWO VERY SIGNIFICANT BUILDINGS BY WORLD-CLASS ARCHITECTS.

JESS>> WILL THEY FIGHT WITH EACH OTHER?

RAIFORD ROGERS>> ARCHITECTS --

JESS>> -- THE STYLES ARE VERY DIFFERENT.

RAIFORD ROGERS>> ARCHITECTS ALWAYS GET ALONG. (LAUGHTER)

JESS>> NO, THE BUILDINGS.

RAIFORD ROGERS>> I DON'T KNOW, BUT TOTALLY DIFFERENT.

VAL>> I DON'T THINK SO. I THINK THEY WILL BE AMAZINGLY COMPLEMENTARY AND JUST BOTH FASCINATING.

RAIFORD ROGERS>> I THINK IT'S GOING TO BE SO EXCITING FOR DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES.

JESS>> AND THE BIGGEST CHURCH IN NORTH AMERICA.

VAL>> RAIFORD ROGERS, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BRINGING US THAT REPORT. WE HOPE TO SEE YOU AGAIN.

RAIFORD ROGERS>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

VAL>> THAT'S IT FOR TONIGHT'S PROGRAM. FOR ALL OF US HERE AT LIFE AND TIMES TONIGHT, HAVE A WONDERFUL EVENING.

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