4/17/01

LC010417

VAL>> ON LIFE AND TIMES TONIGHT --

JESS>> MANY FEAR THE RUNOFF CAMPAIGN FOR MAYOR OF LOS ANGELES MAY STIR UP SIMMERING RESENTMENTS BETWEEN BLACKS AND LATINOS.

JIM HILL>> EVER SINCE VILLARAIGOSA AND HAHN EMERGED AS TOP VOTE-GETTERS IN THE PRIMARY, THEIR RUNOFF ON JUNE 5 HAS BEEN SEEN BY MANY AS A REFERENDUM ON MINORITY POWER.

SHERRY BEBITCH JEFFE>> AS LATINO CLOUT GROWS, WHAT WE ARE SEEING IS A DIMINUTION OF AFRICAN-AMERICAN POLITICAL CLOUT.

VAL>> AND GOVERNOR DAVIS SAYS HE HAS A PLAN TO RESCUE EDISON, BUT NOW COMES THE HARD PART: SELLING IT TO CRANKY LAWMAKERS IN SACRAMENTO. IN TONIGHT'S THINKERS, SHAKERS & NEWSMAKERS, WE'LL HEAR WHAT ONE EDISON INSIDER THINKS LIES AHEAD.

JESS>> ALSO, PATT MORRISON HAS AN EARLY WARNING ABOUT A SOUND THAT CAN SET YOUR TEETH ON EDGE.

PATT>> DON'T OPEN YOUR MOUTH. THIS IS THE OTHER KIND OF DRILLING, BUT IT'S JUST AS PAINFUL, ON TONIGHT'S INFINITELY MORRISON.

VAL>> AND HOLLYWOOD ISN'T NOTED FOR STICKING TO THE FACTS WHEN IT COMES TO HISTORY, BUT ONE GROUP IN PARTICULAR, NATIVE-AMERICANS, HAS BEEN PLAGUED BY THE HOLLYWOOD SPIN. WE'LL TALK WITH A NATIVE-AMERICAN ACTOR WHO IS DETERMINED TO SET THE RECORD STRAIGHT.

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. FOR THE NEXT SEVEN WEEKS, A LOT OF PEOPLE WILL BE HOLDING THEIR BREATH HOPING THE RACE FOR MAYOR OF LOS ANGELES DOESN'T DEGENERATE INTO DIVISIVE POLITICS OF RACE.

VAL>> NOW IT'S NO SECRET THAT AFRICAN-AMERICANS FEEL THEY'RE LOSING GROUND TO THE GROWING NUMBER OF LATINO VOTERS AND NOW LATINO CANDIDATE, ANTONIO VILLARAIGOSA, HAS EMERGED AS A FRONT RUNNER AND SOME BLACKS SAY HE HAS HIS WORK CUT OUT FOR HIM. JIM HILL HAS THIS REPORT.

JIM>> INSIDE THE CHAPALA RESTAURANT IN SOUTH LOS ANGELES, VERONICA CISNEROS AND HER FAMILY TALKED ABOUT THE UPCOMING MAYOR'S RACE IN WHICH SHE FAVORS ANTONIO VILLARAIGOSA.

VERONICA CISNEROS>> BECAUSE I THINK HE'S VERY CAPABLE OF RUNNING L.A. AND HE CAN DO IT. HE CAN DO IT.

JIM>> TWO DOORS AWAY, OUTSIDE HIS FABRIC AND CLOTHING STORE, FAADIL ASSADULLAH SAYS HE'LL VOTE FOR JIM HAHN, THE SON OF LEGENDARY COUNTY SUPERVISOR, KENNETH HAHN.

FAADIL ASSADULLAH>> AS YOU KNOW, HE DID A LOT FOR THE BLACK COMMUNITY AND WE'RE HOPING THAT HIS SON WILL CARRY ON THE SAME RELATIONSHIP.

JIM>> EVER SINCE VILLARAIGOSA AND HAHN EMERGED AS TOP VOTE-GETTERS IN THE PRIMARY, THEIR RUNOFF ON JUNE 5 HAS BEEN SEEN BY MANY AS A REFERENDUM ON MINORITY POWER BETWEEN BLACKS WHO OVERWHELMINGLY SUPPORT HAHN AND LATINOS SUPPORTING VILLARAIGOSA.

SHERRY BEBITCH JEFFE>> THE MESSAGE FROM A VICTORY BY ANTONIO VILLARAIGOSA, AS POSITIVE AS IT IS, CANNOT BE SEPARATED FROM THE MESSAGE THAT, AS LATINO CLOUT GROWS, WHAT WE ARE SEEING IS A DIMINUTION OF AFRICAN-AMERICAN POLITICAL CLOUT.

JIM>> AN EXIT POLL CONDUCTED BY THE LOS ANGELES TIMES SHOWED THAT, IN THE PRIMARY, LATINO VOTES WERE 20 PERCENT OF THE TOTAL WHILE AFRICAN-AMERICAN VOTES TRAILED AT 14 PERCENT. IT'S A TREND THAT HAS NOT GONE UNNOTICED IN BLACK POLITICAL CIRCLES.

EARL OFARI HUTCHINSON>> AFRICAN-AMERICANS ARE LOSING GROUND, NOT ONLY IN THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA, BUT ESPECIALLY IN L.A. COUNTY. POLITICALLY, THE NUMBERS ARE WAY DOWN IN TERMS OF AFRICAN-AMERICAN ELECTED OFFICIALS IN THE STATE LEGISLATURE AS OPPOSED TO A FEW YEARS AGO AND, ON THE OTHER HAND, THE NUMBER OF LATINOS THAT HAVE WON OFFICE HAS SKYROCKETED.

JIM>> LEADERS IN BOTH THE AFRICAN-AMERICAN AND LATINO COMMUNITIES HAVE OFTEN SHARED COMMON GROUND IN LIBERAL DEMOCRATIC POLITICS, BUT OBSERVERS SAY AT THE GRASS-ROOTS LEVEL, LATINOS AND AFRICAN-AMERICANS HAVE BEEN FIERCELY COMPETITIVE WITH EACH OTHER. THEY COMPETE OVER SUCH ISSUES AS JOBS, COMMUNITY GRANTS, SCHOOL PROGRAMS AND MORE, A COMPETITION SOME SAY COULD EASILY MAKE THE MAYOR'S CONTEST AN UGLY CAMPAIGN PLAYING OFF GROUP FEARS.

SHERRY BEBITCH JEFFE>> IT IS AN AXIOM OF POLITICS, RIGHTLY OR WRONGLY, THAT FEAR IS ONE OF THE MOST POWERFUL MOTIVATORS FOR POLITICAL PARTICIPATION.

JIM>> MANY PEOPLE STILL REMEMBER THE 1969 CAMPAIGN OF INCUMBENT MAYOR, SAM YORTY, AGAINST TOM BRADLEY, THE MAN WHO WOULD EVENTUALLY BECOME LOS ANGELES'S FIRST BLACK MAYOR.

EARL OFARI HUTCHINSON>> IT WAS A HORRIFIC CAMPAIGN. SLANDER, VILIFICATION AND, QUITE FRANKLY, JUST OUT-AND-OUT NAKED RACISM.

JIM>> IN THE CURRENT CONTEST, BOTH HAHN AND VILLARAIGOSA HAVE PLEDGED TO KEEP THEIR CAMPAIGNS ABOVE THE BELT.

JAMES HAHN>> I'D LIKE THE DEBATE, OVER THE NEXT TWO MONTHS, TO BE ABOUT OUR RECORDS, ABOUT OUR PHILOSOPHIES AND ABOUT OUR APPROACH TO ISSUES.

JIM>> AND VILLARAIGOSA DOWNPLAYS BEING THE FIRST HISPANIC IN MODERN TIMES TO HAVE A STRONG SHOT AT THE MAYOR'S OFFICE.

ANTONIO VILLARAIGOSA>> I'VE SAID FROM THE BEGINNING WE CAN WRITE ONE OR TWO STORIES ABOUT IT, CELEBRATE THAT WE'VE BROKEN ANOTHER BARRIER, AND MOVE ON. MY CANDIDACY IS ABOUT BRINGING PEOPLE TOGETHER.

JIM>> THE COMING WEEKS WILL TELL IF THE RACE STAYS THAT WAY OR HEADS FOR THE MUD PUDDLE.

JESS>> IT'S QUITE CLEAR THAT THESE ARE TWO MEN WHO WOULD HONESTLY LIKE TO KEEP IT AT A HIGHER LEVEL, BUT ARE THEY UNABLE TO DO SO?

JIM>> I THINK EACH OF THEM IS ABLE TO DO SO ON THEIR OWN. THERE ARE THIRD PARTIES, OF COURSE, THAT CAN ENTER THE FRAY. THEY HAVE THEIR VARIOUS AGENDAS AND ARE NOT SHY, ARE NOT SHY ABOUT GOING DOWN INTO THAT MUD PUDDLE.

VAL>> NOW YOU'VE SAID OBVIOUSLY LATINOS ARE GENERALLY BACKING VILLARAIGOSA, BLACKS ARE BACKING HAHN, YET NEITHER GROUP IS REALLY GOING TO SWING THIS ELECTION.

JIM>> THAT'S RIGHT. AS IMPORTANT AS IT IS FOR EACH GROUP, IT'S REALLY GOING TO BE THE 45 PERCENT OF THE VOTERS IN THE PRIMARY WHO DIDN'T VOTE FOR EITHER ONE WHO ARE NOW GOING TO BE SOUGHT BY BOTH SIDES AND THOSE ARE LARGELY CAUCASIAN, MODERATES AND CONSERVATIVES. SORT OF VALLEY VOTERS, AS THEY'VE OFTEN BEEN CALLED.

JESS>> CONVENTIONAL WISDOM WAS THAT IT WAS WHITE VALLEY VOTERS WHO ELECTED TOM BRADLEY.

JIM>> YES, IRONICALLY THAT'S EXACTLY RIGHT AND, ONCE AGAIN, THEY'RE GOING TO BE THE SWING VOTE THAT REALLY IS GOING TO DETERMINE WHO SITS IN THE MAYOR'S OFFICE.

VAL>> NOW YOU SEEM TO BELIEVE THAT IT'S ALREADY BEEN DEFINED AS A LATINO RACE, SO WHETHER VILLARAIGOSA WINS OR LOSES, YOU THINK HIS NAME WILL STILL BE IN THE HEADLINES?

JIM>> THAT IS THE HEADLINE, REALLY. IF HE WINS, OBVIOUSLY YOU CAN'T IGNORE THE HEADLINE THAT HE WOULD BE THE FIRST HISPANIC IN 130 YEARS --

JESS>> -- WHEN HE SAT HERE WHERE YOU ARE, HE WAS REALLY DECRYING THE NOTION THAT HE ALWAYS HAD TO BE IDENTIFIED AS THE LATINO CANDIDATE.

JIM>> BUT, OF COURSE, HE IS THE LATINO CANDIDATE AND THAT IS THE HEADLINE, AND HE WOULD BE A FIRST. OF COURSE, HE SAYS LET'S ACKNOWLEDGE THAT IF IT HAPPENS AND MOVE ON, BUT THAT WOULD BE THE HEADLINE. IF HE FAILS TO SECURE THE MAYOR'S OFFICE, THE HEADLINE WILL BE THAT, IN SPITE OF SURGING LATINO POLITICAL POWER, THEY STILL COULDN'T PUT A MAN IN THE MAYOR'S OFFICE. SO IT IS GOING TO BE THE HEADLINE, ONE WAY OR ANOTHER.

VAL>> AND, OF COURSE, HE'D BE THE FIRST IN MODERN TIMES. 129 YEARS AGO, I THINK WE DID HAVE A --

JESS>> YOU REMEMBER THAT? (LAUGHTER)

VAL>> (LAUGHTER) YES, PERSONALLY.

JESS>> THAT'S AMAZING.

VAL>> JIM, THANK YOU SO MUCH. WE'LL BE WATCHING THIS ONE.

OUR TOP STORY TOMORROW, IT MAY BE THE ULTIMATE CHECKUP. A HIGH-TECH TOUR INSIDE YOUR BODY THAT COULD HEAD OFF MAJOR ILLNESS.

PHILIP BRUCE>> WELCOME TO THE BRAVE NEW WORLD OF 21ST CENTURY MEDICINE WHERE A MACHINE LIKE THIS CAN GO WHERE NO DOCTOR HAS GONE BEFORE, AT LEAST NOT WITHOUT CRACKING YOU OPEN AND POKING AROUND INSIDE.

>> IF A PATIENT HAS A VIRTUAL COLONOSCOPY AND A TOTAL BODY SCREENING AND PICKS UP A COLON CANCER, HAS A TEN-YEAR SURVIVAL OF 95 PERCENT, I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE VALUE OF THAT TO THAT PERSON IS. THAT PERSON WOULD HAVE TO DEFINE THAT.

VAL>> THAT'S TOMORROW ON LIFE AND TIMES TONIGHT AT 7:00 P.M.

JESS>> IN TONIGHT'S THINKERS, SHAKERS & NEWSMAKERS, THE LATEST CHAPTER IN THE POWER CRISIS. GOVERNOR DAVIS RECENTLY ANNOUNCED A BREAKTHROUGH. THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA WOULD BUY EDISON'S PORTION OF THE POWER GRID. THE DEAL WOULD GIVE EDISON THE CASH IT NEEDS TO STAY OUT OF BANKRUPTCY AND TAXPAYERS WOULD OWN SOME OF THE MASSIVE TRANSMISSION LINES THAT DELIVER ELECTRICITY.

VAL>> BUT IT AIN'T A DONE DEAL YET. THE CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE STILL HAS TO APPROVE IT AND, SO FAR, STATE LAWMAKERS ARE SKEPTICAL. WITH US NOW IS SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA EDISON SPOKESMAN, BRIAN BENNETT, WHO WAS IN THE NEGOTIATIONS WHEN THE DEAL WAS BEING STRUCK. WELCOME TO LIFE AND TIMES TONIGHT.

BRIAN BENNETT>> THANKS, VAL. THANKS, JESS.

JESS>> WHEN THE DEAL WAS BEING STRUCK, DID YOU HAVE ANY INDICATION THAT IT WAS GOING TO BE THIS DIFFICULT FOR THE GOVERNOR TO GET IT THROUGH THE LEGISLATURE? THIS DEMOCRATIC GOVERNOR AND THAT DEMOCRATIC LEGISLATURE?

BRIAN BENNETT>> ACTUALLY, WE DON'T KNOW THAT IT'S GOING TO BE DIFFICULT JUST YET.

JESS>> WE DON'T?

VAL>> (LAUGHTER)

BRIAN BENNETT>> NO, WE DON'T. THE GOVERNOR TODAY ADDRESSED THE REPUBLICAN CAUCUS AND HE WILL ADDRESS THE DEMOCRATIC CAUCUS AS WELL NEXT AND HE'S SPEAKING WITH THE LEADERSHIP AND BILLS ARE YET TO BE INTRODUCED. SO I THINK WHAT YOU'RE SEEING IS A LOT OF REVIEW OF THE VERY COMPLICATED DEAL THAT WAS STRUCK BY LEGISLATORS AND SOME PARTS THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE DIFFICULTY WITH AND OTHERS THEY AREN'T. SO IT WILL BE OUR JOB AND OTHERS WHO BELIEVE THAT IT'S IN THE BEST INTERESTS OF THE STATE TO HAVE A DEAL STRUCK, RATHER THAN HAVE ANOTHER UTILITY GO BANKRUPT, TO GET OUT THERE AND SELL IT TO OUR CUSTOMERS, TO OUR CREDITORS AND TO THE LEGISLATORS UP IN SACRAMENTO.

VAL>> ONE OF THE QUESTIONS I HAD IS THAT THE DEAL BASICALLY ALLOWS THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA TO BUY THE TRANSMISSION GRID, BUT ONLY PART OF IT, ONLY THE PART THAT EDISON OWNS. IT WOULD NOT NECESSARILY BUY PG&E. IT'S NOW IN BANKRUPTCY COURT. THERE'S NO GUARANTEE THE STATE COULD GET ITS HANDS ON THE PG&E PORTION OF THE GRID AND SOME PEOPLE SAY THAT'S LIKE BUYING A CAR WITH TWO WHEELS.

BRIAN BENNETT>> RIGHT. THAT'S CORRECT, BUT IT'S VERY POSSIBLE THAT THE GOVERNOR WILL BE ABLE TO BUY IT. FIRST OF ALL, HE'S IN NEGOTIATIONS WITH SAN DIEGO GAS AND ELECTRIC AND THAT WILL PROBABLY SUCCEED, SO THERE YOU'LL HAVE TWO OF YOUR THREE WHEELS, OR THREE OF YOUR FOUR WHEELS. THE FOURTH WHEEL WILL BE THAT -- WHAT WE THINK WILL HAPPEN IS THAT THE STATE WILL BE CONSIDERED A GOOD BUYER, WILL GO INTO THE BANKRUPTCY PROCEEDINGS AND BID ON PG&E'S GRID AND BUY IT, AND THEN THEY'LL HAVE THE FOURTH WHEEL OF THE CAR. OR THAT THE MOA AGREEMENT THAT HAS BEEN REACHED BY EDISON AND ULTIMATELY SDG&E --

VAL>> -- THE MEMO OF UNDERSTANDING?

BRIAN BENNETT>> YEAH, THAT PG&E AND THE BANKRUPTCY JUDGE WILL SEE THAT THAT WAS A GOOD DEAL AND ADOPT THAT AND MOVE THAT AGREEMENT IN BANKRUPTCY COURT AND THEN MOVE PG&E OUT OF BANKRUPTCY COURT A LOT SOONER THAN THEY MIGHT ORDINARILY COME. THAT'S WHY THIS DEAL IS VERY IMPORTANT THAT IT HAPPENED QUICKLY.

JESS>> I WAS CURIOUS TO KNOW HOW THIS DEAL WAS -- SINCE YOU WERE THERE FOR IT -- BOTH SIDES --

BRIAN BENNETT>> -- NO, I WASN'T IN THE NEGOTIATIONS DIRECTLY.

VAL>> OKAY.

JESS>> BUT YOU WERE PRIVY TO WHAT WENT ON?

BRIAN BENNETT>> THAT'S CORRECT, THAT'S CORRECT.

JESS>> SURELY, NO ONE WANTED TO HAVE THIS REGARDED AS A BAILOUT --

BRIAN BENNETT>> -- RIGHT.

JESS>> -- BUT CLEARLY IT IS, AND IT IS THE RATEPAYERS AND THE TAXPAYERS WHO ARE FOOTING THE ENTIRE BILL. THAT'S GOING TO BE TOUGH TO SELL TO THE LEGISLATURE, ISN'T IT?

BRIAN BENNETT>> YEAH, IF YOU CALL IT A BAILOUT, IT SURE WILL BE BECAUSE WE DON'T BELIEVE IT'S A BAILOUT, FIRST OF ALL. WE ARE LOOKING --

JESS>> -- IT'S THE ONE THING THAT WILL PREVENT YOU FROM GOING INTO BANKRUPTCY? IT'S THE ONE THING THAT WOULD ALLOW YOU TO PAY OFF ENOUGH DEBTS THAT YOU'LL BE ABLE TO CONTINUE TO GET POWER FROM THE SUPPLIERS IN, SAY, TEXAS?

BRIAN BENNETT>> YES.

VAL>> AND A GUARANTEE --

JESS>> -- SOUNDS LIKE A BAILOUT.

VAL>> DOESN'T IT GUARANTEE AN 11 PERCENT PROFIT?

BRIAN BENNETT>> THERE ARE TWO BIG PARTS OF THIS. ONE PART THAT CLEARLY IS NOT A BAILOUT IN ANYBODY'S TERM IS US GIVING UP OUR TRANSMISSION SYSTEM, 12,000 LINES OF TRANSMISSION --

JESS>> -- $2.7 BILLION DOLLARS ISN'T EXACTLY GIVING IT UP, IS IT?

BRIAN BENNETT>> WELL, WE'RE BEING PAID FOR AN ASSET, THOUGH, THAT WE WOULDN'T OTHERWISE SELL.

JESS>> RIGHT.

BRIAN BENNETT>> I MEAN, BEFORE DEREGULATION, WE DIDN'T WANT TO SELL OUR GENERATION. SO NOW WE'VE LOST TWO-THIRDS OF OUR BUSINESS AND WE'RE LEFT WITH JUST THE DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM, SO CLEARLY THAT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT WE WANTED TO DO, AND IT WAS NEVER UP FOR SALE, OKAY? THE SECOND PART IS, WE BELIEVE THAT WE'VE BEEN PAYING FOR THE EXTRA CHARGE OF ENERGY SINCE LAST MAY AND HAVE RACKED UP $5 BILLION DOLLARS SO THAT WE COULD KEEP THE LIGHTS ON. WE BELIEVE WE'RE ENTITLED TO THAT MONEY BACK. FEDERAL COURTS HAVE SO FAR GIVEN THE INDICATION THAT WE ARE LEGALLY ENTITLED TO THAT MONEY, SO AS PART OF THIS DEAL, THOUGH, WE'RE GOING TO GIVE UP OUR RIGHT TO PURSUE THAT COURT IN EXCHANGE FOR A LESSER AMOUNT OF MONEY THAN WE THINK WE WOULD HAVE OTHERWISE GOTTEN FOR PAYING MORE. WE BOUGHT HIGH AND WE WERE FORCED TO SELL LOW AND, TO KEEP THE LIGHTS ON, WE SPENT BILLIONS OF DOLLARS. ALL WE'RE ASKING FOR IS TO GIVE US SOME OF OUR MONEY BACK. WE'RE NOT EVEN ASKING FOR ALL OF IT. SO THAT'S THE SECOND HALF OF THE $3.5 BILLION DOLLARS THAT WILL COME BACK TO THE EDISON COMPANY.

VAL>> BUT CONSUMERS WOULD COUNTER THAT ARGUMENT BY SAYING, YES, YOU DID LOSE MONEY IN THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS, BUT EDISON MADE MILLIONS, IF NOT BILLIONS, IN THE FIRST COUPLE OF YEARS OF DEREGULATION AND THOSE PROFITS WERE NOT FACTORED INTO THIS DEAL.

BRIAN BENNETT>> THAT'S RIGHT BECAUSE IT'S COMPARING APPLES AND ORANGES. THE FIRST PART OF DEREGULATION WAS SET TO GIVE US OUR FAIR SHARE OF WHAT WE INVESTED IN THE PLANTS, THE NUCLEAR PLANTS, THE HYDRO PLANTS. GIVE US THAT MONEY BACK IN RETURN FOR HAVING DEREGULATION COME INTO EFFECT, OKAY? SO WE WERE GIVEN BACK THAT MONEY AND IT WAS GIVEN TO OUR SHAREHOLDERS AND IT PAID DOWN THE DEBT.

THEN THE SECOND, TOTALLY INDEPENDENT, ISSUE CAME ALONG THAT HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH THE OPERATION OF THE COMPANY. IT HAD EVERYTHING TO DO WITH WHOLESALES PRICES GOING BERSERK AND THE UTILITIES SUFFERING FOR IT. SO THOSE ARE REALLY TWO INDIVIDUAL THINGS. WE GOT PAID FOR INVESTMENTS THAT OUR SHAREHOLDERS MADE IN THE BEGINNING OF DEREGULATION, BUT WE NEVER, EVER AGREED THAT WE WOULD PAY MORE FOR ELECTRICITY THAN IT COST.

JESS>> CALIFORNIA'S VICTIMS OF ROLLING BLACKOUTS ARE LOOKING FOR THE BAD GUY, LOOKING FOR SOMEBODY TO BLAME.

BRIAN BENNETT>> RIGHT.

JESS>> WHO DO WE BLAME? THE FEDERAL ENERGY REGULATING COMMISSION WHICH DOESN'T REGULATE?

BRIAN BENNETT>> YEAH. ACTUALLY, I WOULD PUT THEM AT THE TOP OF THE LIST. THERE ARE OUT-OF-STATE GENERATORS WHO TOOK ADVANTAGE OF THE LEGAL SYSTEM AND THEIR PRICES WERE FOUND TO BE UNJUST AND UNREASONABLE --

JESS>> -- AND, IN SPITE OF THIS CRISIS, FERC, THE REGULATION COMMISSION, IS NOT GOING TO TAKE ACTION?

BRIAN BENNETT>> WELL, WE HOPE THAT THEY WILL. WE HOPE SUFFICIENT NUMBERS OF THE CALIFORNIA DELEGATION AND THE WESTERN STATES CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATIONS WILL PUT PRESSURE ON FERC, ON THE BUSH ADMINISTRATION, TO SAY, LOOK, OUR SYSTEM IS BROKE. PUT TEMPORARY CAPS ON WHOLESALE PRICES UNTIL WE CAN FIGURE OUT HOW TO MAKE THE SYSTEM WORK. JUST TODAY IN THE STATE OF NEVADA, SIERRA PACIFIC MIGHT GO BANKRUPT. IT'S SPREADING THROUGHOUT THE WESTERN UNITED STATES AND THE BUSH ADMINISTRATION AND FERC HAS TO STEP UP TO THE TABLE AND DO THEIR JOB AND REGULATE WHOLESALE PRICES UNTIL WE CAN FIX THIS PROBLEM.

VAL>> LAST TEN SECONDS, WHAT ARE THE CHANCES AT THIS POINT OF EDISON ENDING UP IN BANKRUPTCY COURT?

BRIAN BENNETT>> THAT'S A GOOD QUESTION. IT'S PROBABLY ABOUT 60-40 THAT WE WILL NOT END UP IN BANKRUPTCY COURT, BUT --

JESS>> -- BUT IF THE LEGISLATURE REJECTS THE GOVERNOR'S BAILOUT, THEN CLEARLY YOU WILL?

BRIAN BENNETT>> YEAH, OUR CREDITORS WILL LOOK AT THAT AND SAY, YOU KNOW, THAT'S THE END GAME, FOLKS. AND THAT SHOULD BE AVOIDED BECAUSE THAT WILL BE A DISASTER TO HAVE YOUR TWO LARGEST UTILITIES IN BANKRUPTCY. IT WILL THROW THE SYSTEM IN DISARRAY.

VAL>> BRIAN BENNETT, VICE PRESIDENT OF EDISON, THANK YOU FOR TAKING THE TIME TO COME IN AND TALK WITH US.

BRIAN BENNETT>> THANKS. I HOPE YOU'LL HAVE US BACK. THANK YOU.

VAL>> YOU KNOW IT. THANK YOU SO MUCH.

SO WHAT DO YOU THINK? WE'D LOVE TO HEAR YOUR THOUGHTS. 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>> IN TONIGHT'S INFINITELY MORRISON, PATT HAS BEEN RUMINATING ON OIL DRILLING, GEORGE W. BUSH AND THE LONG MEMORIES OF THE VOTING PUBLIC.

PATT>> THE LAST REALLY BIG ENVIRONMENTAL WAR IN LOS ANGELES, BEFORE THE PRESENT ONE BEING WAGED OVER THE BALLONA WETLANDS, WAS IN 1988 AND IT WAS ABOUT OIL DRILLING IN THE PACIFIC PALISADES. EVEN OUTSPENT THREE TO ONE BY OCCIDENTAL PETROLEUM AND ARMAND HAMMER, THE ENVIRONMENTALISTS WON. NOW WE HAVE THE BUSH WHITE HOUSE TALKING UP DRILLING IN PLACES HERETOFORE OFF-LIMITS. PRESIDENT BUSH SHOWS HIS IGNORANCE WHEN HE SAYS THAT ANY DRILLING IN THE ARCTIC WILDLIFE REFUGE WOULD ONLY BE ON SWAMPLAND, AS IF SWAMPS ARE AS USELESS ENVIRONMENTALLY AS THEY ARE TO REAL ESTATE SALESMEN. HE'S SUPPORTING MORE OIL DRILLING IN THE GULF OF MEXICO, BUT OPPOSITION IS COMING FROM CLOSE TO HOME, FROM HIS BROTHER, FLORIDA GOVERNOR, JEB BUSH.

CALIFORNIA COULD BE NEXT. THE OIL INDUSTRY'S GEOLOGISTS AND ENGINEERS WANT CALIFORNIA TO RELAX THE BAN ON OFFSHORE DRILLING, EASE UP ON ENVIRONMENTAL RESTRICTIONS AND START PUMPING UP THE CRUDE JUST AS BIG BROTHER BUSH WANTS TO DO IN THE GULF OF MEXICO. REPUBLICANS WOULD LIKE TO STAND TALLER AT THE CALIFORNIA POLLS, BUT THE WHITE HOUSE'S EAGERNESS TO DRILL FOR OIL SEEMS LESS TO BE ABOUT CONCERN FOR KEEPING CALIFORNIA'S POWER FLOWING AND MORE ABOUT KEEPING THE BUCKS FLOWING FOR BIG OIL.

CALIFORNIANS OF NEARLY EVERY POLITICAL STRIPE BECAME ENVIRONMENTALISTS ALMOST OVERNIGHT AFTER THE 1969 SANTA BARBARA OIL PLATFORM BLOWOUT, A DISASTER ONLY ARGUABLY ECLIPSED BY THE EXXON VALDEZ. AND SINCE THEN, JUST AS CALIFORNIA DEMOCRATS DON'T USUALLY GET ELECTED WITHOUT SUPPORTING THE DEATH PENALTY, CALIFORNIA REPUBLICANS DON'T USUALLY GET ELECTED WITHOUT AT LEAST LIGHT GREEN CREDENTIALS ON THE BIG ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES, AND OFFSHORE DRILLING IS ABOUT AS BIG AS THEY GET. JEB BUSH IS PROOF OF THAT.

IN A SERIOUS ENERGY CRISIS, CALIFORNIANS LEFT AND RIGHT WOULD BE LIKELIER TO SUPPORT STRICTER FUEL ECONOMY STANDARDS FOR CARS. IT WOULD SAVE DRIVERS MONEY, BUT FUEL ECONOMY STANDARDS DON'T PUT MONEY IN BIG OIL'S POCKETS. ASKING A PETROLEUM ENGINEER WHETHER WE SHOULD HAVE COASTAL DRILLING OR NOT IS LIKE ASKING A TIRE COMPANY WHETHER WE SHOULD BUILD FREEWAYS OR SUBWAYS. A HONCHO OF THE AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF PETROLEUM GEOLOGISTS WHICH WANTS THE COASTS OPEN TO DRILLING WAS IN L.A. THE OTHER DAY BEWAILING HOW DO WE GET THE PUBLIC'S ATTENTION? BIG OIL'S PROBLEM IS THAT THE PUBLIC HAS NEVER STOPPED PAYING ATTENTION TO THE DANGERS OF OFFSHORE OIL DRILLING AND IT NEVER SHOULD.

VAL>> IN TONIGHT'S PEOPLE, PLACES & THINGS, COWBOYS AND INDIANS. THE WESTERN MOVIE HAS BEEN A HOLLYWOOD STAPLE SINCE THE EARLIEST DAYS OF FILM.

JESS>> BUT IT'S THE WAY THESE MOVIES PORTRAY NATIVE-AMERICANS THAT BOTHERS ACTOR, FLOYD RED CROW WESTERMAN. WESTERMAN PLAYED THE ROLE OF CHIEF TEN BEARS IN "DANCES WITH WOLVES" AND HE APPEARS IN TELEVISION SERIES SUCH AS THE "THE X-FILES", BUT IT WAS THE NEGATIVE PORTRAYAL OF AMERICAN INDIANS THAT LED HIM FROM ACTING TO ACTION. WE'LL TALK WITH FLOYD RED CROW WESTERMAN IN A MOMENT, BUT FIRST, LET'S TAKE A LOOK AT SOME EXCERPTS FROM HIS DOCUMENTARY, "EXTERMINATE THEM! AMERICA'S WAR ON INDIAN NATIONS".

EDWARD CASTILLO>> RIGHT AFTER THE CONQUEST OF THE VALLEY OF MEXICO, A DEBATE ERUPTED WHETHER INDIANS WERE HUMAN BEINGS OR NOT. PHILOSOPHERS AND SCHOLARS IN SPAIN ARGUED THAT THEY WERE NATURAL-BORN SLAVES.

FLOYD RED CROW WESTERMAN>> THE SPANIARDS BUILT 20 OTHER MISSIONS ALONG THE COAST TO COLONIZE THE LAND AND PACIFY THE INDIANS. WHEN FATHER SERRA ARRIVED, THERE WERE APPROXIMATELY 340,000 INDIANS IN CALIFORNIA. BY THE TURN OF THE CENTURY, ONLY 17,000 REMAINED.

EDWARD CASTILLO>> THESE INDIANS WEREN'T JUST VICTIMS, AS THEY RESPONDED IN INNUMEROUS WAYS.

FLOYD RED CROW WESTERMAN>> HAVING SURVIVED THE SPANISH ONSLAUGHT, THE WORST WAS YET TO COME. IN 1848, GOLD WAS DISCOVERED IN THE FOOTHILLS OF THE SIERRA NEVADA.

EDWARD CASTILLO>> THE FIRST TWO YEARS OF THE GOLD RUSH HAD SUCH AN INTENSE PACE THAT 100,000 INDIANS DIED IN THE FIRST TWO YEARS OF THE GOLD RUSH.

FLOYD RED CROW WESTERMAN>> DEATHS WERE PERPETRATED BY CIVILIANS. IT'S VERY MUCH LIKE ETHNIC CLEANSING AT ITS HEIGHT IN THIS COUNTRY.

EDWARD CASTILLO>> IT'S ONE OF THE UGLIER CHAPTERS OF ETHNIC CLEANSING IN NORTH AMERICAN INDIAN HISTORY AND PROBABLY STANDS IN WORLD HISTORY AS AN OUTSTANDING EXAMPLE OF THE CRUELTY OF HUMAN BEINGS TO ONE ANOTHER.

FLOYD RED CROW WESTERMAN>> WHEN GOLD PLAYED OUT, THE SLAUGHTER CONTINUED AS ATTENTION SHIFTED TO OWNERSHIP OF THE LAND. ECHOING THE SENTIMENT OF THE PUBLIC, THE PRESS CALLED FOR THE EXTERMINATION OF THE RED MAN.

EDWARD CASTILLO>> ONE OF THE MOST DISTURBING THINGS THAT I EVER CAME ACROSS IN THE DOCUMENTATION WAS THE INAUGURAL ADDRESS OF CALIFORNIA'S FIRST GOVERNOR MCDOUGAL WHEN HE DECLARED THAT A WAR OF EXTERMINATION WOULD BE MADE AGAINST THE INDIANS UNTIL THE INDIAN RACE IS EXTINCT.

>> REMEMBER ANDREW JACKSON? HE SAID, "ANNIHILATE THE INDIANS FROM THE FACE OF THE EARTH." SEE? BUT WE'RE STILL HERE. WE'RE SO PERSISTENT.

JESS>> JOINING US NOW IS FLOYD RED CROW WESTERMAN. I SEE WHERE YOU GOT THE TITLE FOR YOUR DOCUMENTARY "EXTERMINATE THEM!" THAT SEEMED A BIT EXTREME, BUT YOU WERE ALSO TALKING ABOUT ETHNIC CLEANSING AND ALSO REFERRING TO THIS AS THE AMERICAN HOLOCAUST. TOUGH LANGUAGE.

FLOYD RED CROW WESTERMAN>> YES. YOU KNOW, SO MUCH IN HISTORY HAS BEEN HIDDEN. FOR GENERATIONS, AMERICANS HAVE BEEN TAUGHT THIS FEEL-GOOD HISTORY TO THE POINT THAT AMERICANS NOW OFTEN TEND TO BELIEVE THOSE HISTORY BOOKS AS THEY WERE WRITTEN AS THE TRUTH WHEN, IN FACT, IT WAS A HOLOCAUST. WHEN, IN FACT, WHAT HAPPENED WAS HIDDEN IN HISTORY. THE CRIME SCENES THAT TOOK PLACE, THEY WERE HIDDEN IN HISTORY BOOKS AND I THINK IT'S BASICALLY A REWRITE OF HISTORY THAT'S GOING TO TAKE PLACE.

VAL>> AND WHAT'S ESPECIALLY INTERESTING ABOUT YOUR DOCUMENTARY IS YOU FOCUS ON CALIFORNIA, WHICH MANY PEOPLE THINK -- IN TERMS OF THE INDIAN WARS, THEY THINK OF THE GREAT PLAINS, BUT CALIFORNIA HAD, WHAT, 340,000 INDIANS?

FLOYD RED CROW WESTERMAN>> YES. AT THE TIME THE SPANIARDS FIRST ARRIVED IN THE EARLY DAYS, THIS WAS THE LARGEST POPULATED PART OF THE INDIAN POPULATION IN THIS COUNTRY.

VAL>> IT WAS IN CALIFORNIA?

FLOYD RED CROW WESTERMAN>> IT WAS IN CALIFORNIA.

JESS>> AND, TO THIS DATE, THE GREATEST NUMBER OF NATIVE-AMERICANS IN THE COUNTRY ARE IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA.

FLOYD RED CROW WESTERMAN>> IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA RIGHT HERE, YES.

JESS>> WHAT BROUGHT THEM HERE?

FLOYD RED CROW WESTERMAN>> AFTER WORLD WAR II, THE GOVERNMENT DECIDED ON A THING CALLED ASSIMILATION AND RELOCATION, SO INDIANS WERE SENT FROM RESERVATIONS TO WORK IN THE CITIES. CONSEQUENTLY, THE POPULATION JUST REMAINED AND GREW.

VAL>> NOW THE DOCUMENTARY WE SAW HERE IS JUST ONE OF MANY PROGRAMS THAT YOUR PRODUCTION COMPANY IS BEHIND, IS THAT CORRECT?

FLOYD RED CROW WESTERMAN>> YES, WE HAVE VARIOUS PROGRAMS. OF COURSE, HISTORY AND TELLING THE REWRITE OF HISTORY IS FIRST AND PRIMARY. AMERICANS LIVE WITH SUCH A DISINFORMATION IN HISTORY THAT I THINK WE HAVE SOME ANSWERS FOR AMERICA. BECAUSE OF THE VIOLENCE THAT IS IN AMERICA, IT STEMS BASICALLY FROM HIDING THE VIOLENCE THAT TOOK PLACE.

JESS>> NOW THE MOVIES THAT YOU HAVE BEEN INVOLVED IN, SOME OF THEM AT LEAST HELPED TO TELL THE STORY OF THE TRAGEDY, DID THEY NOT?

FLOYD RED CROW WESTERMAN>> WELL, --

JESS>> -- I KNOW YOU'VE BEEN CRITICAL OF HOLLYWOOD'S TREATMENT OF THE NATIVE-AMERICAN, ALTHOUGH THAT'S BEEN YOUR LIVELIHOOD.

FLOYD RED CROW WESTERMAN>> LET'S TAKE A LOOK AT "DANCES WITH WOLVES", FOR EXAMPLE. IT WAS VERY UNDERSTATED, THAT STORY. IF YOU THINK OF THE MOVIE, IT WAS VERY UNDERSTATED AND WHAT HAPPENED AFTER. PEOPLE SAY, WHY DON'T THEY DO A SEQUEL? WELL, WHAT HAPPENED AFTER IS REALLY WHAT TOOK PLACE. IT WAS THEN THE HOLOCAUST STARTED FOR MY PEOPLE IN SOUTH DAKOTA AND NORTH DAKOTA. THEN STARTED THE REAL TERRIFYING THINGS THAT MY PEOPLE EXPERIENCED AND ALL PLAINS PEOPLE.

VAL>> BUT YOU ARE NOW TRYING TO USE THE MEDIA, USE THE AIRWAVES TO CHANGE THAT. I UNDERSTAND YOU HAVE, ON YOUR PLANS, ON YOUR DRAWING TABLE, A NATIVE-AMERICAN CABLE NETWORK?

FLOYD RED CROW WESTERMAN>> YES. ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT PROJECTS WE HAVE IS -- WE HAVE NO VOICE IN AMERICA. YOU LOOK AT CAPITAL HILL TODAY, THE PRESENT LANDSCAPE THERE, WE HAVE NO VOICE. AND IN ORDER TO CREATE A VOICE, WE NEED TO CREATE AN ALL-TELEVISION CABLE NETWORK FOR INDIAN PEOPLE SO WE DO HAVE A VOICE, BUT ALSO I THINK WE CAN EDUCATE AMERICA IN MANY ASPECTS OF NOT ONLY OUR CULTURE, BUT WE HAVE A POINT OF VIEW ABOUT AMERICA THAT I THINK AMERICA NEEDS TO HEAR.

JESS>> YOU HAVE ONE VOICE, BUT ONLY ONE VOICE IN THE U.S. SENATE IN COLORADO SENATOR, BEN NIGHTHORSE-CAMPBELL.

FLOYD RED CROW WESTERMAN>> THAT'S RIGHT AND THAT'S IT. SO WE HAVE SOME ALLIES, BUT THEY ARE SO FEW AND, WITH THE TREND TODAY, WE NEED TO KEEP WHAT WE HAVE STARTED IN A GOOD WAY. THERE ARE GOOD SIDES TO WHAT CASINOS HAVE BROUGHT TO INDIAN PEOPLE AND A GREAT OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO CREATE A FUTURE FOR OUR CHILDREN, EDUCATION, HOSPITALIZATION. THERE ARE MANY THINGS THAT WE'RE TRYING TO PUT IN PLACE AND I THINK THAT THE AMERICAN PUBLIC HAS SUPPORTED US VERY WELL AND I --

VAL>> -- I'M SORRY TO HAVE TO CUT YOU OFF. WE'RE RUNNING OUT OF TIME. BUT BEST OF LUCK TO YOU AND I'M GLAD TO SEE THAT GAMBLING REVENUES ARE GOING TO A GOOD CAUSE.

FLOYD RED CROW WESTERMAN>> THANK YOU.

VAL>> THANK YOU.

JESS>> YOU CAN CHECK THE NUMBER AND THE WEB SITE ON YOUR SCREEN FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT A GALA BENEFIT FOR THE DOCUMENTARY SERIES, "EXTERMINATE THEM!" IT'S ON THURSDAY, MAY 3, AT UCLA. CALIFORNIA AND OTHER TRIBAL NATIONS WILL BE HONORED.

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VAL>> AND BEFORE WE LEAVE, WE'D LIKE TO TAKE A MOMENT TO REMEMBER ONE OF THE PEOPLE WHO MADE THIS PROGRAM POSSIBLE. JOHN VITELLO WAS PART OF THE KCET FAMILY FOR OVER 20 YEARS. HE WAS OUR PRODUCTION MANAGER WHO JUGGLED THE BUDGET AND MADE IT POSSIBLE TO DO WHAT WE'RE DOING. WE'RE VERY SAD TO SAY JOHN PASSED AWAY TODAY. HE WILL BE TERRIBLY MISSED BY EVERYONE HERE AT KCET AND, OF COURSE, INCLUDING THE STAFF OF LIFE AND TIMES TONIGHT. GOOD NIGHT, JOHN.

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