4/13/01

LC010413

VAL>> ON LIFE AND TIMES TONIGHT --

JESS>> PEOPLE IN MONROVIA HAVE SPECIAL RELATIONSHIPS WITH THEIR NEIGHBORS AND THEY AIM TO KEEP IT THAT WAY.

PHILIP>> THESE BEARS LIVE ON A LOCAL HILLSIDE THAT'S NOT MORE THAN FIVE MINUTES FROM THE NEAREST STARBUCKS. SO FAR, CIVILIZATION HASN'T RUN THEM OFF, BUT THE BEARS' FATE IS FAR FROM CERTAIN.

GARY POTTER>> I HATE TO LOOK OUT HERE AND THINK THAT THERE'S GOING TO BE 21 HOUSES BEHIND THAT BUSH HERE SOMEDAY, BUT HOPEFULLY SOMETHING WILL HAPPEN THAT WILL HELP THAT.

VAL>> MADDOX & HEWITT GIVE US AN INSIDER'S SPIN ON THIS WEEK'S EXCITING EVENTS.

MADDOX>> SIX MONTHS AGO, WE COULDN'T EVEN PRONOUNCE HIS NAME. NOW ANTONIO VILLARAIGOSA IS THE FRONT RUNNER TO BE L.A.'S NEXT MAYOR.

HEWITT>> AND AS CONGRESSMAN, CHRIS COX, LOOKS AT A JUDGESHIP, JIM ROGAN, FORMER CONGRESSMAN, LOOKS SOUTH TO ORANGE COUNTY FOR A NEW CAREER OPPORTUNITY.

MADDOX>> ALL THAT AND MORE COMING UP ON MADDOX & HEWITT.

JESS>> LIONS AND TIGERS AND BEARS? PROBABLY NOT, BUT YOU WILL SEE CRITTERS OF ALL SHAPES AND SIZES AT L.A.'S ANNUAL BLESSING OF THE ANIMALS. WE'LL TAKE YOU TO THIS CHERISHED OLVERA STREET TRADITION.

VAL>> THESE STORIES COMING UP NEXT ON LIFE AND TIMES TONIGHT.

LIFE AND TIMES TONIGHT IS MADE POSSIBLE BY THE FOLLOWING FOUNDATIONS:

THE JAMES IRVINE FOUNDATION
WHICH IS DEDICATED TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF AN INFORMED CALIFORNIA CITIZENRY.

THE L.K. WHITTIER FOUNDATION
DEDICATED TO IMPROVING THE QUALITY OF LIFE BY SUPPORTING INNOVATIVE ENDEAVORS IN THE FIELDS OF MEDICINE, HEALTH, SCIENCE AND EDUCATION.

AND THE CALIFORNIA COMMUNITY FOUNDATION
UNDERWRITING THE SPANISH LANGUAGE TRANSLATION OF LIFE AND TIMES TONIGHT.

VAL>> GOOD EVENING, I'M VAL ZAVALA.

JESS>> AND I'M JESS MARLOW. TONIGHT WE BEGIN WITH A STORY ABOUT LOCAL WILDLIFE. URBAN SPRAWL IS FORCING SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA'S WILD ANIMALS INTO SMALLER AND FEWER SPACES, BUT THE PEOPLE OF MONROVIA ARE TRYING TO HALT THAT TREND.

VAL>> THEY FEEL SO STRONGLY ABOUT OPEN SPACE THAT THEY VOTED TO RAISE THEIR OWN TAXES TO PROTECT IT. THE MONEY IS EARMARKED FOR 600 ACRES OF LAND AT THE NORTHERN END OF THE SAN GABRIEL VALLEY. BUT AS PHILIP BRUCE REPORTS IN THIS STORY WE FIRST SHOWED YOU IN FEBRUARY, THE EFFORT MAY COME UP SHORT.

PHILIP>> THE WIDE OPEN SPACES OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA AREN'T NEARLY AS WIDE OR OPEN AS THEY USED TO BE, BUT ON THE EDGE OF L.A.'S URBAN SPRAWL, THERE'S AT LEAST ONE STRETCH OF CLOSE-IN WILDERNESS THAT'S BARELY BEEN TOUCHED BY HUMAN HANDS. AND SPEAKING OF BARELY --

>> A BEAR. A BEAR. THERE'S A BEAR RIGHT THERE.

PHILIP>> YOU MIGHT HAVE THOUGHT BLACK BEARS WERE A VANISHING PART OF CALIFORNIA'S PAST, BUT THIS MOTHER AND HER CUBS BEG TO DISAGREE. AS THIS VANLOAD OF VISITORS DISCOVERED, THE BEARS ARE ALIVE AND WELL IN A RANGE OF URBAN HILLS LESS THAN 20 MILES FROM DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES.

>> NO, LOOK RIGHT HERE. THREE. THREE OF THEM.

ROBERT KASTENBAUM>> IT WAS QUITE STARTLING, OBVIOUSLY, BECAUSE IT WAS ALMOST LIKE A DISNEYLAND TOUR WHERE YOU SEE WILD HABITAT. BUT IN THIS CASE, IT REALLY WAS WILD.

PHILIP>> ROBERT KASTENBAUM WAS THERE THAT DAY LAST NOVEMBER WHEN THE BEARS CAME OUT AND, WHILE IT WAS A BIG SURPRISE, IT WAS JUST WHAT HE NEEDED TO BUILD A STRONGER CASE: THAT THESE HILLS SHOULD BE TAKEN OUT OF PRIVATE HANDS AND SET ASIDE FOREVER AS A WILDERNESS PRESERVE. KASTENBAUM WORKS FOR THE CITY OF MONROVIA, A FOOTHILL SUBURB OF ABOUT 40,000 PEOPLE JUST EAST OF LOS ANGELES.

THE MOUNTAIN RANGE IN QUESTION, PART OF THE SAN GABRIEL, IS ONLY ABOUT FIVE MINUTES FROM MONROVIA'S BUSTLING DOWNTOWN AREA. LAST YEAR, VOTERS HERE PASSED A TAX INCREASE SO THEY COULD BUY THE HILLS AND SAVE THEM FROM DEVELOPERS. BUT THE $10 MILLION DOLLARS THE TAX WILL RAISE IS ONLY ABOUT HALF OF WHAT THE TOWN NEEDS TO MAKE THE PURCHASE, SO KASTENBAUM IS OUT LOOKING FOR THE REST OF THE MONEY, HOPING TO CONVINCE THE STATE, THE FEDS AND NATURE-LOVERS OF ALL KINDS TO GET INVOLVED.

ROBERT KASTENBAUM>> BY PRESERVING THIS FOR MONROVIA, YOU'RE PRESERVING THIS FOR SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA. YOU'RE PRESERVING THIS FOR A MUCH WIDER AREA IN TERMS OF SOMETHING THAT IS UNIQUE. IT'S SOMETHING THAT ISN'T GOING TO STAY FOREVER UNLESS SOME SPECIFIC ACTION IS TAKEN, SO IT'S REALLY PRESERVING SOMETHING FOR MANKIND.

PHILIP>> THERE'S A LOT MORE AT STAKE HERE THAN PRESERVING SOME OPEN SPACE FOR THE CITY OF MONROVIA. THIS LAND COMPRISES A MAJOR WILDLIFE CORRIDOR CONNECTING CIVILIZATION WITH SOME OF THE MOST PRISTINE PARTS OF THE ANGELES NATIONAL FOREST. THAT'S WHY YOU SEE SO MANY ANIMALS HERE. AND EVEN WHEN YOU CAN'T SEE THEM, THERE ARE PLENTY OF SIGNS THAT THE ANIMALS ARE NOT FAR AWAY.

THE FIRST TIP-OFF COMES FROM THE UTILITY POLES THAT RUN ACROSS THIS MOUNTAIN RIDGE. TAKE A CLOSE LOOK AT WHAT'S HANGING FROM ONE OF THE SPLINTERS. IT'S BEAR HAIR AND THERE'S LOTS OF IT OUT HERE. AND THERE'S SOMETHING EVEN MORE OBVIOUS. GOUGES AND BEAR CLAW MARKS ON THOSE SAME POLES. WHAT ALL OF THIS MEANS IS THAT THE LAND MONROVIA WANTS TO PRESERVE IS ONE OF THE MOST ACTIVE BEAR HABITATS IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA AND, IF YOU DON'T BELIEVE THE CLUES, MAYBE YOU'LL BELIEVE GARY POTTER. THE BEARS DROP BY HIS BACK YARD EVERY SO OFTEN FOR A DIP IN THE POOL.

GARY POTTER>> WELL, THIS IS REAL COMMON FOR THE CUBS TO COME OVER HERE AND SWIM AROUND AND PLAY AND RUN OUT, JUMP AND RUN UP AND DOWN THIS TREE.

PHILIP>> POTTER DOESN'T JUST HAVE STORIES. HE HAS PICTURES TO PROVE THE TALE, YEARS OF HOME VIDEO SHOWING FAMILIES OF BLACK BEARS HAVING FUN IN THE SUN. HIS BACK YARD IS JUST ON THE EDGE OF THE HILLS MONROVIA WANTS TO PRESERVE. HIDING BEHIND A SLIDING GLASS DOOR ON HIS BACK YARD PATIO, POTTER HAS COMPILED A REMARKABLE VIDEO RECORD OF THE WILDLIFE THAT'S BOTH ENTERTAINING AND COMPELLING. HOME MOVIES NOT JUST OF CALIFORNIA BLACK BEARS, BUT OF BOBCATS, FOXES, DEER AND, MOST RECENTLY, A MOUNTAIN LION.

GARY POTTER>> I DON'T KNOW WHY THE POPULATION HAS INCREASED SO MUCH. IT SEEMS LIKE IT'S INCREASED SO MUCH IN THE LAST TEN OR SO YEARS SINCE WE'VE BEEN HERE. I GREW UP IN THE CITY AND I'VE NEVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE THIS AND I DON'T KNOW WHY THERE SEEMS TO BE SO MUCH, THE BEAR SPECIFICALLY, AND THE LIONS AND STUFF THAT WE'RE SEEING NOW, AND THE DEER. WE NEVER SAW THAT. NOW WE SEE DEER ALMOST DOWNTOWN SOME DAYS.

PHILIP>> POTTER IS WELL-KNOWN IN THESE PARTS FOR THE BIG BEAR NAMED SAMSON WHO SHOWED UP SEVERAL YEARS AGO IN HIS BACK YARD SPA. EVENTUALLY, THE BEAR GOT SICK AND WAS ON THE VERGE OF DYING. SAMSON SURVIVED MAINLY BECAUSE POTTER LAUNCHED A CITYWIDE CAMPAIGN TO SAVE THE BEAR. NOW THE FATE OF ALL THESE OTHER ANIMALS MAY DEPEND ON MONROVIA'S ABILITY TO BUY THE WILDERNESS FROM PRIVATE DEVELOPERS BEFORE THEY CAN START USING THE LAND TO BUILD MILLION DOLLAR HOMES.

PHILIP>> IF YOU SUDDENLY THREW 200 NEW HOMES INTO THE MIX HERE, WHAT IMPACT WOULD THAT HAVE?

GARY POTTER>> IT WOULD BE TOUGH. I MEAN, WHERE ARE THESE ANIMALS GOING TO GO? SOMEWHERE. THIS OBVIOUSLY IS A CORRIDOR TO SOMEPLACE THROUGH HERE.

PHILIP>> THE ANIMALS HAVE ALREADY GOTTEN THE SQUEEZE FROM HILLSIDE DEVELOPERS IN NEIGHBORING TOWNS SUCH AS ARCADIA WHERE THE WILDERNESS IS NOW DOTTED BY MANSIONS WITH A VIEW. THIS LAND IN MONROVIA WAS SPARED LARGELY BECAUSE THE LOCAL REAL ESTATE MARKET TANKED BEFORE THE DEVELOPERS COULD GET BUSY.

LARA BLAKELY>> A BAD ECONOMY WAS GOOD FOR MONROVIA IN TERMS OF OUR FOOTHILLS. IT SAVED OUR FOOTHILLS AND OUR ENVIRONMENT AND IT SAVED OUR WILDLIFE.

PHILIP>> NOW THAT THE ECONOMY IS ONCE AGAIN BOOMING, COUNCILWOMAN LARA BLAKELY SAYS THE DEVELOPERS HAVE AN INCENTIVE TO BUILD, THAT IS, UNLESS THE CITY CAN COME UP WITH THE CASH TO BUY THE LAND.

LARA BLAKELY>> WE REALLY APPRECIATE WHAT WE HAVE UP THERE, THE UNIQUENESS OF MONROVIA, AND THE FACT THAT IT'S OUR LAST FRONTIER AND IT'S UNLIKE OTHER COMMUNITIES ALONG THE FOOTHILLS.

PHILIP>> BUT AS MONROVIA LOOKS TO THE STATE FOR HELP, PEOPLE HERE WORRY THAT POLITICIANS MAY BE TOO CONSUMED WITH MATTERS SUCH AS THE CALIFORNIA ENERGY CRISIS TO PAY MUCH ATTENTION TO A FEW BEARS. THAT'S GARY POTTER'S BIGGEST FEAR, THAT ALL OF THIS COULD EASILY JUST FADE AWAY.

GARY POTTER>> YEAH, I'D SAY WE'RE NOT REALLY OVER THE HUMP YET. YOU KNOW, I THINK A LOT OF IT WILL BE DEVELOPED, BUT I THINK THIS HAS CUT IT DOWN TO WHERE THE IMPACT WON'T BE QUITE SO BAD. UNFORTUNATELY, IN MY AREA RIGHT HERE, IT MAY BE A LITTLE TOO LATE. WE WERE KIND OF EXCLUDED FROM THAT BIG PROGRAM. I HATE TO LOOK OUT HERE AND THINK THERE'S GOING TO BE 21 HOUSES BEHIND THAT BUSH HERE SOMEDAY, BUT HOPEFULLY SOMETHING WILL HAPPEN THAT WILL HELP THAT.

VAL>> THAT REPORT BY PHILIP BRUCE. NOW THE CITY OF MONROVIA IS STILL A LONG WAY FROM HAVING ALL OF THE CASH IT NEEDS TO BUY THIS LAND. SINCE WE FIRST AIRED THE REPORT, MONROVIA HAS APPLIED FOR A $370,000 GRANT FROM THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF RECREATIONS AND PARKS. WE SPOKE WITH THE CITY PLANNER RECENTLY AND HE SAID THE DECISION ON THE GRANT ISN'T DUE UNTIL MAY, BUT HE DOES FEEL VERY GOOD ABOUT THEIR CHANCES. EITHER WAY, THE PRIVATE AND CORPORATE FUNDRAISING EFFORT TO BUY THE LAND WILL CONTINUE.

JESS>> TOMORROW ON LIFE AND TIMES WEEKEND, AS THE DUST SETTLES ON L.A.'S PRIMARY ELECTION, LIFE AND TIMES GOES BEHIND THE HEADLINES.

>> AND THERE WAS SOMETHING SORT OF ALARMIST, BOTH WITH WACHS AND WITH SOBOROFF, ABOUT, YOU KNOW, THINGS ARE REALLY MESSED UP AND I'M GOING TO COME IN AND I'M GOING TO FIX IT. APPARENTLY, THE VOTERS DON'T THINK THAT THINGS ARE THAT MESSED UP.

JESS>> THAT'S COMING UP TOMORROW AT 2:00 P.M. ON LIFE AND TIMES WEEKEND EDITION.

IN TONIGHT'S MADDOX & HEWITT, WE NOW KNOW WHICH TWO CANDIDATES ARE STILL IN THE RUNNING TO BE L.A.'S NEXT MAYOR, BUT THERE IS A LOT MORE AT STAKE IN THIS WEEK'S ELECTION. HUGH AND KERMAN, WHO ARE THE REAL WINNERS AND THE REAL LOSERS?

HUGH>> WELL, LET'S START WITH THE MAYOR'S RACE, THEN, KERMAN. WHO WAS THE BIG WINNER IN THAT?

KERMAN>> WELL, I THINK THE BIG WINNER IN THE MAYOR'S RACE IS ORGANIZED LABOR. THERE'S A GUY BY THE NAME OF MIGUEL CONTRERAS. HE'S THE LEADER OF THE L.A. COUNTY FEDERATION OF LABOR HERE IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA. LABOR MADE A RISKY GAMBLE. IF YOU REMEMBER, THEY SAID EARLY ON THEY'RE GOING TO GET INVOLVED IN THE PRIMARY EVEN THOUGH WE HAD A NUMBER OF DEMOCRATS RUNNING AND THEY DECIDED TO GO WITH ANTONIO VILLARAIGOSA. THEY RAISED MONEY, THEY GOT THEIR TROOPS OUT THERE AND THEY CAME OUT BIG. NOT ONLY DID ANTONIO COME IN FIRST PLACE IN THE MAYOR'S RACE, BUT MOST LABOR-SUPPORTED CANDIDATES FOR CITY COUNCIL RACES CAME IN FIRST PLACE AS WELL. SO ANTONIO VILLARAIGOSA IS A WINNER, BUT ORGANIZED LABOR IS THE BIG WINNER.

HUGH>> ANOTHER BIG WINNER IN THE RACE YESTERDAY, ROCKY DELGADILLO, WHICH WE TALKED ABOUT ON WEDNESDAY AND WILL TALK ABOUT TOMORROW WITH ZEV YAROSLAVSKY AND JANET CLAYTON OF THE LOS ANGELES TIMES. THEY CAME OUT OF NOWHERE USING AN AD BY MAGIC JOHNSON WHICH JUST STUNNED A LOT OF PEOPLE, SO HE'S A HUGE WINNER. MIKE FEUER, A BIG LOSER, PERHAPS NOT CENTRIST ENOUGH FOR THIS RACE, ROCKY TAKING THE CENTER LEFT PART AND SORT OF SQUEEZING HIM OUT. GRAY DAVIS MIGHT ALSO BE A WINNER IN THIS. I UNDERSTAND HE WAS PRETTY CLOSE TO ANTONIO ON THE NIGHT OF THE ELECTIONS. (LAUGHTER)

KERMAN>> (LAUGHTER) YEAH, WHAT HAPPENED WAS, THE NIGHT OF THE ELECTION, GRAY DAVIS SHOWED UP AND, OF COURSE, HIS POPULARITY HAS BEEN PLUMMETING IN THE POLLS BECAUSE OF THE ENERGY CRISIS, AND HE KIND OF STUCK PRETTY CLOSE TO ANTONIO AND PEOPLE WERE YELLING, "GET AWAY, MOVE AWAY, YOUR POPULARITY'S DROPPING". (LAUGHTER) BUT ANYWAY, GRAY WAS THERE. GRAY DID ENDORSE ANTONIO AT A CRITICAL TIME AND I THINK THAT ADDED MOMENTUM.

THERE'S ANOTHER PERSON THAT I THINK MOST POLITICAL PUNDITS WOULD SAY WAS A LOSER AND THAT'S MAYOR RICHARD RIORDAN. HE'S LEAVING OFFICE AND MOST OF THE CANDIDATES THAT HE SUPPORTED, OTHER THAN ROCKY DELGADILLO WHO RAN FOR CITY ATTORNEY, LOST. STEVE SOBOROFF, OBVIOUSLY, WAS THE CANDIDATE HE WANTED, JESS, TO REPLACE HIM. STEVE SOBOROFF DID NOT MAKE THE RUNOFF AND MOST OF HIS CANDIDATES THAT HE SUPPORTED FOR SCHOOL BOARD DID NOT MAKE RUNOFF ELECTIONS. THEY LOST, SO RIORDAN DIDN'T DO TOO WELL THE OTHER NIGHT.

HUGH>> TWO OTHER LOSERS, LONG-TIME FIGURES IN LOS ANGELES, JESS, YOU'VE BEEN COVERING HERE. MIKE WOO, WHO RAN FOR MAYOR EIGHT YEARS AGO AND LOST TO RICHARD RIORDAN, TRIED TO MAKE A COMEBACK YESTERDAY. TOM HAYDEN, LONG-TIME ACTIVIST FROM SANTA MONICA, RAN FOR MAYOR FOUR YEARS AGO. BOTH OF THESE FORMER MAYORAL CANDIDATES IN LOS ANGELES SURPRISED A LOT OF OBSERVERS BY NOT BEING VERY STRONG IN THE PRIMARY, RAISING DOUBTS AGAIN. WE TALK ABOUT BOTH THESE RACES TOMORROW. ZEV BASICALLY SAYS TOM HAYDEN CAN'T WIN. HE CANNOT PUT TOGETHER THAT KIND OF A NUMBER. I DON'T THINK IT'S THAT DIRE FOR MIKE WOO, IS IT?

KERMAN>> SEE, I RESPECTFULLY DISAGREE WITH ZEV ON THE TOM HAYDEN ISSUE. TOM HAYDEN IS A TENACIOUS CAMPAIGNER AND PEOPLE HAVE COUNTED HIM OUT BEFORE. HE'S RUNNING ON THE WEST SIDE IN COUNCIL DISTRICT NUMBER FIVE TO REPLACE MICHAEL FEUER WHO'S RUNNING FOR CITY ATTORNEY. HE CAME IN FIRST PLACE. HE GOT 33 PERCENT OF THE VOTE, BUT I STILL THINK TOM HAYDEN IS IN IT. NOW MIKE WOO IS A LARGER SURPRISE BECAUSE HE'S COME IN TO RECLAIM HIS CITY COUNCIL SEAT, WHICH IS THE 13TH COUNCIL DISTRICT, WHICH IS THE HOLLYWOOD AREA, AND HE CAME IN SECOND PLACE TO ERIC GARCETTI, A POLITICAL NEWCOMER. SMART GUY WHO, OBVIOUSLY, RAN A VERY, VERY AGGRESSIVE CAMPAIGN --

JESS>> -- POLITICS IS A FAMILY BUSINESS IN THIS TOWN, ISN'T IT?

KERMAN>> IT'S A FAMILY BUSINESS. HIS FATHER, AS YOU KNOW, IS THE FORMER DISTRICT ATTORNEY. BUT THAT SURPRISED A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT MIKE WOO -- HE'S IN THE RUNOFF, BUT HE CAME IN SECOND PLACE AND HE ONLY CAME IN AT SOMETHING LIKE 25 PERCENT OF THE VOTE. THAT'S A SURPRISE.

HUGH>> ANOTHER BIG WINNER IS DIANE WATSON. YOU HAVE TO KIND OF EXPLAIN ON THAT ONE A LITTLE BIT.

KERMAN>> WHAT HAPPENED IS, CONGRESSMAN JULIAN DIXON PASSED AWAY, SO THERE'S A SPECIAL ELECTION IN THE CRENSHAW COMMUNITY TO REPLACE HIM. DIANE WATSON WAS AHEAD IN THE POLLS FROM DAY ONE, BUT SHE RAN AGAINST A WELL-FINANCED CANDIDATE IN STATE SENATOR, KEVIN MURRAY.

JESS>> WITH THE ENDORSEMENTS TOO.

KERMAN>> HE HAD EVERY ENDORSEMENT YOU WOULD WANT TO HAVE. HE HAD THE ENDORSEMENT OF THE WIDOW. HE HAD THE ENDORSEMENT OF THE MOST POWERFUL BLACK POLITICIAN ON THAT SIDE OF TOWN, CONGRESSWOMAN MAXINE WATERS. HE HAD THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY AND HE HAD ORGANIZED LABOR --

JESS>> -- THE EXCEPTION WAS THE L.A. TIMES, THOUGH.

KERMAN>> THE L.A. TIMES WENT WITH DIANE WATSON. BUT UNDER MOST CIRCUMSTANCES, IF YOU HAVE THOSE ENDORSEMENTS IN THAT COMMUNITY, YOU'RE GOING TO WIN. THE L.A. TIMES, OBVIOUSLY, HELPED DIANE WATSON, BUT I THINK ANOTHER THING HAPPENED. THIS ELECTION BECAME A REFERENDUM ON KEVIN MURRAY AND THE WART THAT KEVIN MURRAY HAS, AND THAT BECAME THE ISSUE AND THEN DIANE WATSON EVENTUALLY WON.

HUGH>> BIG WINNER, ALSO, I THINK IS STEVE COOLEY. STEVE COOLEY IS THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY WHO SAID I'M GOING TO GO AFTER THE PEOPLE WHO RAN THE NEGATIVE STUFF OVER THE WEEKEND. THERE WAS A VERY SMELLY ANTI-SEMITIC ATTACK ON STEVE SOBOROFF ACCUSING HIM OF BEING BACKED BY JEWISH MONEY. THERE WAS A VERY NASTY ATTACK ON ANTONIO VILLARAIGOSA ACCUSING HIM OF BEING SOFT ON CRIME. ANTONIO TOOK HIS HEAD-ON. STEVE DIDN'T DO MUCH ON THE AIR. HE MAY NOT HAVE SPENT ENOUGH MONEY. KERMAN'S OF THAT OPINION. BUT IF STEVE COOLEY FINDS THESE PEOPLE, HE WILL SERVE NOTICE THAT, DURING HIS TENURE AS DISTRICT ATTORNEY, THERE'S A NEW SHERIFF IN TOWN, PROVERBIALLY, AND HE WILL GO FIND THE BAD GUYS. IT WAS A GOOD THING FOR HIM TO DO.

JESS>> EVEN IF IT WAS NOT AGAINST THE LAW?

HUGH>> EVEN IF IT WAS NOT AGAINST THE LAW. HE SAID THAT HE'S IN THE TRUTH-TELLING BUSINESS. ZEV MENTIONS THAT TOMORROW. I THINK THAT'S A GREAT THING. IT RAISED HIS PROFILE AS WELL AT A TIME WHEN NOT MANY PEOPLE ARE TALKING DISTRICT ATTORNEY.

KERMAN>> AND, YOU KNOW, JESS, EVEN THOUGH IT'S NOT AGAINST THE LAW, I THINK A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE FED UP WITH NEGATIVE CAMPAIGNS AND DIRTY TACTICS LIKE THIS. IT'S UNETHICAL, IT'S IMMORAL AND IT DRIVES A LOT OF PEOPLE AWAY. NOW WE DON'T KNOW WHO DID IT, BUT IT'S KIND OF INTERESTING THAT, OF THE TOP THREE-TIER CANDIDATES, TWO WERE VICTIMS OF SOME NEGATIVE CAMPAIGNING.

JESS>> BUT NOW YOU'VE GOT TWO CANDIDATES IN A RUNOFF, VERY TIGHT RUNOFF. TRYING TO FIND A DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE TWO OTHER THAN PERSONALITY, DO YOU THINK WE'RE NOT GOING TO HAVE NEGATIVE, MAYBE DIRTY, CAMPAIGNING THIS TIME?

KERMAN>> WELL, I THINK YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE SOME NEGATIVE CAMPAIGNING, BUT I'M OF THE OPINION THAT SOMETIMES NEGATIVE CAMPAIGNING CAN BACKFIRE. I THINK ONE OF THE REASONS ANTONIO VILLARAIGOSA CAME IN FIRST PLACE AND JIMMY HAHN SEEMED TO HAVE SUNK IS THERE'S THIS IMPRESSION -- I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S TRUE -- THAT JIMMY HAHN WAS IN SOME WAY RESPONSIBLE FOR SOME OF THOSE NEGATIVE TACTICS AND I THINK THAT BACKFIRED --

HUGH>> -- I THINK THERE'S A BIG DIFFERENCE BETWEEN NEGATIVE AND DUPLICITOUS. NEGATIVE IS SAYING MY OPPONENT IS SOFT ON CRIME, HE DOESN'T KISS ENOUGH BABIES, HE BLEW RAMPART, IF YOU'RE ATTACKING JIMMY. DUPLICITOUS IS RUNNING THE GLORIA MOLINA FAKE TELEPHONE CALLS, IT'S ANTI-SEMITISM, IT'S THAT SORT OF STUFF.

HEY, WE GOT TO LOOK SOUTH BECAUSE WE'VE DONE A LOT OF L.A. BUT THERE'S A BROUHAHA BREWING DOWN IN MY NECK OF THE WOODS IN ORANGE COUNTY. LONG-TIME CONGRESSMAN, CHRISTOPHER COX, FORMERLY THE SENIOR ASSOCIATE COUNSEL IN THE WHITE HOUSE, HARVARD LAW, HARVARD UNDERGRAD, MR. SMART GUY, HAS BEEN APPROACHED ABOUT BECOMING A JUDGE ON THE NINTH CIRCUIT COURT OF APPEALS HERE IN TOWN, A VERY LIBERAL COURT, AND REPUBLICANS ARE HAPPY TO HEAR THAT. CHRIS IS ENORMOUSLY WELL-QUALIFIED. JUST A QUESTION OF WHETHER OR NOT HE WANTS TO DO IT. INSIDERS ARE SAYING HE'S KIND OF LEANING TOWARDS TAKING THIS AND BARBARA BOXER AND DIANNE FEINSTEIN WILL PROBABLY BE INCLINED TO LET HIM GET THROUGH AFTER A COUPLE OF KNOCKS.

THIS HAS SET OFF -- YOU THOUGHT THE WATSON RACE HAD EVERYONE IN IT? WE'RE TALKING FORMER ASSEMBLY SPEAKER, SCOTT BAUGH. SITTING SENATOR, DICK ACKERMAN. FORMER SENATOR, JOHN LEWIS. THERE IS BOB DORNAN. B-1 BOB HAS SAID HE'S GOING TO RUN FOR THIS SEAT. AND THERE'S ALSO A FELLOW BY THE NAME OF MARK CHAPIN JOHNSON, WHO'S THE PRO ABORTION RIGHTS LIBERAL REPUBLICAN. HE'S PUTTING A MILLION AND A HALF IN, ALREADY BANKED IT. AND THEN OUT OF GLENDALE TO THE SOUNDS OF THE TRUMPETS COMES JIM ROGAN. OF COURSE, WE ALL REMEMBER JIM ROGAN --

JESS>> -- HE'S GOING TO MOVE SOUTH?

KERMAN>> HE'S GOING TO MOVE ALL THE WAY TO ORANGE COUNTY?

HUGH>> HE'S GOING TO CARPETBAG RIGHT IN AND WITH THE BLESSING OF THE LOCAL REPUBLICANS. THEY ARE SO ENTHUSED BECAUSE WHAT IT WILL DO IS, IT'LL SAVE US BLOOD MONEY. JIM ROGAN WALKS INTO TOWN, EVERYBODY BUT B-1 AND MARK CHAPIN JOHNSON SHOULD GET OUT OF THE WAY, SHOULD LET HIM HAVE -- HE'S ENORMOUSLY WELL-RESPECTED, ENORMOUSLY WELL-QUALIFIED. HE FOUGHT THE GOOD FIGHT ON IMPEACHMENT, A MAN OF ENORMOUS PRINCIPLE. HE WOULD WALK AWAY, I THINK, WITH THE NOMINATION IF HE DECIDES TO DO IT, SO THAT WILL BE JUST GREAT FUN TO WATCH. WE'RE GOING TO HAVE AN ELECTION OFF-YEAR. IT'S GOOD. WE NEED POLITICS AROUND THE CLOCK, 24-7.

KERMAN>> LET ME ASK YOU A QUESTION ABOUT THAT RACE. QUESTION NUMBER ONE, WHY WOULD CHRISTOPHER COX GIVE UP THAT SEAT? BECAUSE I'VE ALWAYS THOUGHT ABOUT HIM AS A POTENTIAL REPUBLICAN FOR STATEWIDE OFFICE.

HUGH>> BECAUSE IT'S A LIFETIME APPOINTMENT AND IT'S A DIRECT LINE TO THE UNITED STATES SUPREME COURT. MARK MY WORDS, CHRIS COX IS EXTRAORDINARILY WELL-QUALIFIED TO BE A JUDGE. HE IS ALSO EXTRAORDINARILY WELL-QUALIFIED TO BE A JUSTICE ON THE UNITED STATES SUPREME COURT. CHRIS WAS PASSED OVER, TO THE SURPRISE OF MANY, FOR A COUPLE OF SENIOR POSITIONS IN THE BUSH ADMINISTRATION AND I THINK THAT'S PROBABLY TURNED HIS EYES TOWARD THERE WHERE HE CAN HAVE THE MOST IMPACT. THAT COULD BE THE NINTH CIRCUIT FOR A FEW YEARS AND THEN UP TO THE BIGS.

JESS>> ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU, GENTLEMEN. VERY INTERESTING.

TIME NOW TO HEAR WHAT YOU, OUR VIEWERS, HAVE TO SAY ABOUT OUR BROADCASTS. JERRY HOLLOMBE OF WINNETKA:

"WHAT A LOAD OF POLITICAL PUFFERY. I CAN'T EVEN FIGURE OUT WHO THE LEAST EVIL MIGHT BE. WHERE IS 'NONE OF THE ABOVE' WHEN YOU REALLY NEED IT?"

VAL>> AND ON TUESDAY, ECONOMIST PETER NAVARRO BROUGHT US UP TO DATE ON THE POWER CRISIS. HE LAID PART OF THE BLAME ON THE FAILURE OF THE FEDERAL ENERGY REGULATORY COMMISSION TO SET CAPS ON WHOLESALE GENERATORS. WELL, D.A. PAPANASTASSIOU WRITES:

"REMEMBER THE SLOGAN 'IT'S THE ECONOMY, STUPID?' NOW AS PETER NAVARRO EFFECTIVELY SAID, 'IT'S THE DOING NOTHING FERC, STUPID'. IF WE ALL SAY IT FREQUENTLY ENOUGH AND LOUD ENOUGH, THERE MAY BE AN EFFECT IN WASHINGTON, D.C."

VAL>> WE'D LOVE TO HEAR WHAT SAY YOU ABOUT ANY OF THE REPORTS WE HAVE HERE ON LIFE AND TIMES TONIGHT. HERE IS HOW YOU CAN REACH US:

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

VAL>> IN TONIGHT'S PEOPLE, PLACES & THINGS, WE REVISIT A CHERISHED EASTER TRADITION, THE BLESSING OF THE ANIMALS.

JESS>> ONE OF THE MOST COLORFUL EVENTS TAKES PLACE EVERY YEAR ON THE SATURDAY BEFORE EASTER. IN THIS STORY WE FIRST SHOWED YOU IN 1997, PATT MORRISON GIVES US HER INIMITABLE TAKE ON THE BLESSING OF THE ANIMALS.

[FILM CLIP]

>> THESE ARE MY ONLY CHILDREN. THEY DON'T TALK BACK.

>> OUR CAT'S KIND OF RILED UP ALL THE TIME AND CAITLIN OVER HERE DECIDED MAYBE THIS WILL GO AHEAD AND TAKE A LITTLE BIT OFF OF HIM.

>> SOMETIMES CHULO IS A BAD BOY, SO I TELL HIM YOU GOT TO GO AND GET BLESSED EVERY ONCE IN A WHILE.

PATT>> THIS MURAL IS CALLED "THE BLESSING OF THE ANIMALS". IT'S BY LOS ANGELES ARTIST, LEO POLITI, WHO IS KNOWN FOR PAINTING, AMONG OTHER THINGS, ANGELS FLIGHT. NOW THIS MURAL WAS PAINTED IN THE 1970'S, BUT THE BLESSING OF THE ANIMALS HAS BEEN AN EVENT HERE ON OLVERA STREET SINCE 1930. THOSE, OF COURSE, WERE THE DAYS BEFORE DOG SHRINKS AND CAT PSYCHIATRISTS, SO THE ONLY RECOURSE FOR A BEHAVIORAL PROBLEM WAS TO BRING THEM DOWN TO THE BLESSING OF THE ANIMALS.

CARDINAL ROGER MAHONY>> IN THE NAME OF THE FATHER AND OF THE SON AND OF THE HOLY SPIRIT, LORD, OUR GOD, WHO HAS FILLED THE EARTH WITH A GREAT DIVERSITY OF ANIMALS, YOU WHO HAVE CREATED THEM WITH MAGNANIMITY AND PATERNALLY GIVEN THEM TO US, YOU WHO ORDERED NOAH TO GATHER THEM INTO THE ARK AND HAVE DESTINED THEM FOR OUR SERVICE, HEAR OUR PRAYER TODAY. WE ASK YOU TO PROTECT THESE ANIMALS, TO BLESS THEM SO THAT THEY MAY REJOICE IN YOUR PRESENCE. HELP US SO THAT WE MAY HONOR YOU WITH THEM. GIVE US THE KNOWLEDGE AND THE VIRTUE TO TAKE CARE OF THEM AND USE THEM WELL AND WISELY FOR YOUR GREATER HONOR AND GLORY. WE ASK THIS THROUGH CHRIST OUR LORD.

PATT>> IT SEEMS LIKE THE LINE AT THE MATTERHORN AT DISNEYLAND. YOU GO A LONG WAY, YOU TURN A CORNER, YOU THINK YOU'RE ALMOST THERE AND THERE'S ANOTHER LINE. ON THE OTHER HAND, THE CREATURES IN LINE HERE ARE MUCH BETTER BEHAVED THAN THEY ARE AT THE MATTERHORN. I DON'T THINK THERE'S BEEN A SINGLE FIGHT ALL DAY.

[FILM CLIP]

PATT>> THIS IS OSGOOD. WHEN PEOPLE ASK ME WHAT KIND OF DOG OSGOOD IS, I SAY HE'S A HIGHLAND COLLIE BECAUSE IF I WERE GOING TO DESIGN A HIGHLAND COLLIE, THIS IS WHAT IT WOULD LOOK LIKE. BUT ACTUALLY, OSGOOD IS A MUTT, A HEINZ 57, ALTHOUGH I THINK IN MORE PC AMERICA, WE HAVE TO CALL THEM MULTI-CULTURAL CANINES. AS YOU CAN SEE, THIS MULTI-CULTURAL CANINE IS A LITTLE BIT ON STRESS OVERLOAD. I THINK HE LIKES BAGPIPES BETTER THAN MARIACHI AND CERTAINLY ISN'T ACCUSTOMED TO THIS MUCH COMPANY, BUT HE'LL COME OUT OF THE BLESSING BETTER THAN HE WENT INTO IT, I HOPE. WON'T YOU? IS THAT RIGHT?

[FILM CLIP]

>> OH, YOU GOT TO SEE THIS. SHE LOVES TO GET HER NAILS DONE.

PATT>> I DECIDED A LONG TIME AGO THAT, WHEN I WON THE LOTTERY, THE FIRST THING I WOULD BUY IS A FLEET OF UNMARKED SPAY AND NEUTER VANS TO ROAM SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA FIXING AND SNIPPING AS THEY WENT. BECAUSE REALLY ONE OF THE GREATEST PROBLEMS WE HAVE IN THIS COUNTRY TO THE TUNE OF 10 OR 12 MILLION PETS A YEAR IS OVERPOPULATION, AND WHAT HAPPENS AS A CONSEQUENCE TO THAT IS THAT THEY HAVE TO BE KILLED. THEY USE WORDS LIKE "EUTHANIZE" AND "PUT TO SLEEP", BUT THE FACT IS THAT THEY ARE KILLED.

[FILM CLIP]

PATT>> I THINK OSGOOD FOUND HIS BROTHER. LOOK AT THAT. YES. GOOD BOY. ALL RIGHT, THE BIG MOMENT IS APPROACHING. OH, WE'VE WORN OUT THE ASPERGILLUM. HERE WE GO. I THINK HE GOT A KICK OUT OF THAT. YEAH, THERE WE GO. SEE? YOU FEEL BETTER NOW?

[FILM CLIP]

PATT>> THERE WERE SO MANY PEOPLE AND SO MANY PETS AND CREATURES HERE TODAY THAT THE CARDINAL WORE OUT HIS ASPERGILLUM, THE SILVER THING FULL OF HOLY WATER WITH WHICH HE SPLASHED EVERYBODY, AND ONE OF HIS ASSISTANTS HAD TO RUN OVER TO A BUSH AND BREAK OFF SOME BRANCHES AND HE USED THAT. ACTUALLY, THAT'S NOT QUITE TRUE. THE ASPERGILLUM CLOGGED UP AND THEY HAD TO GO TO THE BRANCHES. YOU KNOW, L.A., HARD WATER.

CARDINAL ROGER MAHONY>> WE'VE SEEN THE DIVERSITY OF GOD'S CREATION AND THE ANIMALS BRING US SO MUCH LOVE AND COMPANIONSHIP AND THEY'RE SUCH A GREAT HELP FOR ALL OF US, FROM LITTLE TINY ONES TO THE GREAT BIG ONES.

PATT>> THERE WERE SOME HUGE ONES, YES.

CARDINAL ROGER MAHONY>> THERE WERE SOME BIG ONES TODAY AND I THINK, IF WE'RE GOING TO TAKE CARE OF OUR ANIMALS, WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE THEY'RE SPAYED AND NEUTERED SO THAT WE DON'T HAVE EXCESSIVE NUMBERS OF ANIMALS WHO END UP HAVING TO BE EUTHANIZED. I THINK THAT'S A TERRIBLE WASTE AND WE'RE THE ONES RESPONSIBLE, SO I HAVE MY TWO CATS NEUTERED AND I THINK EVERYBODY SHOULD DO THE SAME.

PATT>> BRAVO. GLAD TO HEAR IT. YOU HEARD IT FROM A HIGHER AUTHORITY THAN I AM. THANK YOU. HAPPY EASTER.

CARDINAL ROGER MAHONY>> (LAUGHTER) THANK YOU. SAME TO YOU.

[FILM CLIP]

VAL>> YOU KNOW, JESS, I WAS GOING TO TAKE MY CAT DOWN THERE, BUT SHE'S AGNOSTIC. I DON'T THINK THE BLESSING WOULD TAKE. IT'S JUST A WASTE OF TIME FOR HER. (LAUGHTER)

JESS>> (LAUGHTER) CONVERT HER.

VAL>> (LAUGHTER) MY CAT?

JESS>> ALTHOUGH HE WAS TALKING ABOUT SPAY AND NEUTER.

VAL>> I KNOW. DOES THAT MEAN THE CATHOLIC CHURCH HAS CHANGED ITS POLICY ON BIRTH CONTROL?

JESS>> (LAUGHTER)

VAL>> I DON'T THINK SO. DON'T QUOTE US. (LAUGHTER)

JESS>> THOSE ANIMALS WERE TERRIFIC, THOUGH, BUT --

VAL>> -- WONDERFUL.

JESS>> -- IT'S CLEAR THAT BEAUTY IS IN THE EYE OF THE BEHOLDER. SOME OF THOSE --

VAL>> -- I KNOW. ALLIGATORS --

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

VAL>> TAKE CARE.

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