4/19/01

LC010419

VAL>> ON LIFE AND TIMES TONIGHT --

JESS>> NOT EVERYONE CAN MANAGE TO PAY THEIR UTILITY BILLS AND SOME PEOPLE ARE RUNNING OUT OF OPTIONS.

JIM HILL>> EVERYONE IN THIS ROOM IS PANICKED ABOUT ENERGY BILLS. MANY FACE SHUT-OFF NOTICES OR HAVE ALREADY HAD THEIR SERVICE DISCONNECTED.

DIANE BROWN>> I'M LIVING ON $1200 A MONTH DISABILITY WHICH BARELY COVERS MY RENT. I HAVE THREE CHILDREN AND THEY STILL TURNED OFF MY ELECTRICITY.

VAL>> AND WHAT HAPPENS WHEN ACTIVISTS GO UP AGAINST REAL ESTATE TYCOONS? WELL, SOMETIMES THE LITTLE GUY WINS. WE'LL HEAR ABOUT THE BATTLE OVER THIS PIECE OF VACANT LAND NEAR L.A.'S CHINATOWN, ON TONIGHT'S THINKERS, SHAKERS & NEWSMAKERS.

JESS>> AND PATT MORRISON NOTES THE PASSING OF THE GRAND OLD MAN OF L.A. POLITICS.

PATT>> A TOWERING SILHOUETTE VANISHES FROM THE CIVIC SKYLINE, ON TONIGHT'S INFINITELY MORRISON.

VAL>> REMEMBER THE OLD SAYING, "IF LIFE HANDS YOU A BUNCH OF LEMONS, MAKE LEMONADE"? WELL, THESE DOLLS ARE A POIGNANT EXAMPLE OF THAT SAYING PUT TO ACTION. CHILDREN IN POVERTY MADE THEM FROM SCRAPS OF CLOTH AND DISCARDED BITS OF WOOD. WE'LL SHOW YOU AN EXHIBIT OF TOYS "NOT SOLD IN STORES".

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, A HOLE IN THE SAFETY NET. WHEN FAMILIES FALL ON HARD TIMES, THEY OFTEN TURN TO A NETWORK OF CHARITIES TO HELP SEE THEM THROUGH, BUT SOME OF THOSE CHARITIES ARE IN DANGER OF RUNNING SHORT THEMSELVES.

VAL>> THE PROBLEM IS TIED TO CALIFORNIA'S ENERGY CRISIS. MORE AND MORE FAMILIES FIND THEMSELVES FALLING BEHIND IN THEIR UTILITY PAYMENTS. AS JIM HILL REPORTS, THESE PEOPLE ARE QUITE LITERALLY POWERLESS.

>> IF YOU HAVE A SHUT-OFF, WE WOULD CALL THE UTILITY COMPANY SO THAT YOU DON'T GET DISCONNECTED.

JIM>> EVERYONE IN THIS ROOM IS PANICKED ABOUT ENERGY BILLS. MANY FACE SHUT-OFF NOTICES OR HAVE ALREADY HAD THEIR SERVICE DISCONNECTED. DIANE BROWN LIVES IN A SMALL CONDO IN IRVINE.

DIANE BROWN>> A YEAR AND A HALF AGO, I WAS DIAGNOSED WITH BREAST CANCER AND I HAD TO GO ON DISABILITY. I HAVE SPOKEN TO EDISON EVERY SINGLE MONTH WHEN I GET A BILL EXPLAINING MY SITUATION, THAT I'M LIVING ON $1200 A MONTH DISABILITY WHICH BARELY COVERS MY RENT, I HAVE THREE CHILDREN AND THEY STILL TURNED OFF MY ELECTRICITY.

JIM>> A FRIEND GAVE BROWN THE $300 SHE NEEDED TO GET THE ELECTRICITY BACK ON, BUT SHE STILL OWES EDISON $670, AND SHE'S THREE MONTHS BEHIND IN HER GAS COMPANY BILL, OWING THEM CLOSE TO $90. SO BROWN HAS COME FOR HELP FROM AN ORANGE COUNTY NONPROFIT GROUP KNOWN AS THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL, OR CDC. 

>> HERE'S THE COPY OF THE ELECTRIC BILL, SO IF YOU NEED TO CALL THE ELECTRIC COMPANY, YOU CAN CALL THE 1-800 NUMBER, OKAY?

JIM>> THE CDC DISTRIBUTES FEDERAL MONEY TARGETED TOWARD LOW-INCOME PEOPLE WHO CAN'T PAY THEIR UTILITY BILLS. PROGRAM HEAD, KATHY KIFAYA, SAYS THE PROBLEM HAS BECOME GREATER THAN THE RESOURCES TO SOLVE IT.

KATHY KIFAYA>> THE SHORT-TERM SOLUTION? THERE IS NONE, QUITE FRANKLY. THERE IS CERTAINLY BAND-AID GOVERNMENT ASSISTANCE THAT WILL HELP AS AN INTERVENTION AND THAT'S WHAT WE DO HERE.

JIM>> THE RECENTLY APPROVED MAJOR RATE HIKE FOR ELECTRICITY HASN'T YET BEEN REFLECTED ON CUSTOMERS' BILLS, BUT THE COLD WINTER AND HIGH NATURAL GAS PRICES HAVE ALREADY LED TO A BIG INCREASE IN THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE WANTING HELP. THE CDC IS GETTING 450 PHONE CALLS A DAY.

KATHY KIFAYA>> IT'S LIKE GOING INTO TRIAGE AND SAYING THE PERSON WHO'S DYING VERY SLOWLY DOES NOT NEED AS MUCH HELP AS THAT PERSON WHO'S DYING VERY QUICKLY. SO UNFORTUNATELY, THE STAFF HAS TO PLAY GOD ON A DAILY BASIS AND MAKE SOME VERY DIFFICULT CHOICES. WE HAVE TO PICK AND CHOOSE WHICH CLIENT IS GOING TO RECEIVE THE ASSISTANCE AND, UNFORTUNATELY, TURN AWAY MANY, MANY MORE.

JIM>> IN THE END, ONLY 60 OR 70 PEOPLE A DAY MAKE THE CUT AND ARE INVITED IN TO APPLY FOR ASSISTANCE. THAT'S ABOUT 15 PERCENT OF THOSE WHO CALL IN.

DOROTHY VAUGHN>> WELL, LIKE, MY GAS BILL IS SUPPOSED TO BE PAID BY TOMORROW OR IT'S SHUT OFF.

JIM>> MANY OF THOSE MOST AFFECTED ARE THE ELDERLY LIVING ON FIXED INCOMES. DOROTHY VAUGHN WILL BE 80 IN JUNE. SHE AND HER HUSBAND PAY $900 A MONTH RENT ON THIS SMALL RUN-DOWN HOUSE IN GARDEN GROVE. THAT LEAVES THEM WITH JUST $400 TO COVER ALL THEIR OTHER MONTHLY EXPENSES.

DOROTHY VAUGHN>> RIGHT NOW, TOMORROW THEY'RE GOING TO TURN OFF THE GAS AT $156 IF WE DON'T PAY IT AND THE ELECTRIC IS $70-SOMETHING. YOU KNOW, IT NEVER WAS THAT MUCH BEFORE. DON'T HAVE THE MONEY TO PAY IT, PERIOD.

JIM>> UNTIL RECENTLY, VAUGHN EARNED AN EXTRA $50 A MONTH RECYCLING CANS AND GLASS, BUT NOW SHE HAS A BAD BACK AND CAN'T EVEN DO THAT. VAUGHN WILL BE ELIGIBLE FOR UP TO $400 A YEAR IN HELP FROM THE CDC. SO, TOO, WILL DARLENE ALVAREZ, A SINGLE MOTHER OF FOUR YOUNG GIRLS.

DARLENE ALVAREZ>> I HAVE AN OKAY JOB. I HAVE A DECENT JOB. IT'S JUST NOT ENOUGH. EVERY PENNY IS SPENT.

JIM>> ALVAREZ FOUND A SHUT-OFF NOTICE ON HER GAS BILL. SHE OWES $159.

DARLENE ALVAREZ>> WELL, MY GAS BILL USED TO RUN ABOUT $8 TO $10 A MONTH AND NOW IT'S GONE UP TO $60. I USE MY WASHER AND DRYER, WHICH IS WONDERFUL, BUT I DON'T KNOW IF THAT'S THE ROOT OF MY EVIL. MY ELECTRIC BILL HAS GONE UP FROM MAYBE $35 TO $45 A MONTH TO ABOUT $75 A MONTH AND I CAN'T DO IT. IT'S EITHER THE ELECTRICITY OR THE GAS BILL OR NO GROCERIES.

JIM>> OANH NGUYEN HAS ALREADY MADE MANY CHOICES. SHE LIVES IN AN ALL-ELECTRIC APARTMENT BUILDING WITH HER HUSBAND AND THREE CHILDREN.

OANH NGUYEN>> I DON'T USE HEATER, I DON'T USE AIR CONDITIONER, NO, NOT AT ALL. EVEN MY STOVE, IT IS ELECTRIC, I DON'T USE THAT.

JIM>> NGUYEN NOW COOKS ON HER PATIO WITH A TINY GAS STOVE. STILL, SHE'S BEHIND ON HER $100-PLUS A MONTH ELECTRICAL BILL AND FACES A SHUT-OFF. THAT ALREADY HAPPENED TO JACK LARSON. TWO MONTHS AGO, HE LOST HIS JOB. HE LIVES WITH HIS FATHER, WHO IS DISABLED AND UNABLE TO WORK.

JACK LARSON>> WE'VE HAD TO PUSH BACK THE ELECTRICAL BILL AND, BECAUSE THIS WINTER WAS SO COLD, WE WERE PUTTING ON HEATERS AND TRYING TO KEEP WARM IN OUR HOUSE BECAUSE WE HAVE AN OLDER HOUSE AND IT'S NOT THE MOST WEATHER-EFFICIENT HOUSE ON THE PLANET.

JIM>> A FRIEND HELPED THEM PAY THEIR BILL AND NOW LARSON HOPES HE'LL SOON FIND A JOB. AND DIANE BROWN EXPECTS TO BE BACK AT WORK BEFORE LONG, BUT SHE'S STILL ANGRY ABOUT THE DAY SHE WAS LYING IN BED WATCHING TELEVISION AND SUDDENLY THE POWER WAS CUT.

DIANE BROWN>> I HEARD THE TRUCK RIGHT BEHIND MY HOUSE AND, AS I WALKED OUT THE DOOR TO TRY TO CATCH HIM (LAUGHTER), HE TOOK OFF AND THERE WAS A NOTE UNDERNEATH MY FRONT DOOR MAT SAYING YOU'RE SERVICE HAS BEEN DISCONNECTED. HE DIDN'T KNOCK ON THE DOOR TO TELL ME. THEY GIVE YOU NO OPPORTUNITY AT THAT POINT TO DO SOMETHING. THEY JUST COME IN, THEY TURN IT OFF AND THEY HIT THE ROAD.

JESS>> JIM, SOME WOULD SAY HAVE THESE PEOPLE NOT HEARD THE MESSAGE THAT YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO UPGRADE YOUR INSULATION IN YOUR HOME, YOU OUGHT TO REPLACE THOSE OLD APPLIANCES WITH NEW ENERGY-EFFICIENT APPLIANCES?

JIM>> IT'S AN INTERESTING POINT YOU'VE RAISED, REALLY, BECAUSE THE PEOPLE WHO ARE HIT WORSE IN THIS ARE THE PEOPLE WHO CAN LEAST AFFORD IT. THEY ARE THE POOR. THEY ALSO TEND TO BE THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE IN HOMES WITH POOR INSULATION, OLDER APPLIANCES, ENERGY-INEFFICIENT HOMES, SO IT'S A DOUBLY WHAMMY FOR THESE PEOPLE REALLY. IT'S A ONE-TWO PUNCH.

VAL>> NOW THE CDC IS ONE CHARITY. ARE OTHER CHARITIES ALSO EXPERIENCING THE SAME THING?

JIM>> YES. CATHOLIC CHARITIES, I BELIEVE LUTHERAN SOCIAL SERVICES, SALVATION ARMY, FOR EXAMPLE, ARE ALSO DOING THIS, BUT IN EACH CASE, THEY'RE USING THEIR FULL MONTH'S EXPENDITURE USUALLY IN THE FIRST TWO WEEKS. THAT'S HOW HIGH THE DEMAND IS, SO REALLY THE DEMAND IS OUTSTRIPPING THE MONEY AND THE HELP THAT'S THERE.

JESS>> AND THE CDC IS USING FEDERAL FUNDS FOR THAT AND THERE'S NO INDICATION THAT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IS ABOUT TO ENHANCE THAT PROJECT, AT LEAST GIVEN THE WAY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT HAS DEALT WITH CALIFORNIA'S ENERGY CRISIS?

JIM>> AT THIS POINT, NO INDICATION THAT ANY MORE MONEY IS ON THE WAY. IT LOOKS LIKE THERE IS GOING TO BE A SHORTFALL IN TERMS OF THESE PROGRAMS AND THEIR ABILITY TO HELP THE PEOPLE WHO ARE NOW HAVING PROBLEMS. AND, OF COURSE, IN THE FUTURE AS THE WEATHER CHANGES FROM COOL TO HOT, WE'LL HAVE ANOTHER WAVE OF HIGH ENERGY USE AND PEOPLE WILL SEE EVEN HIGHER BILLS.

VAL>> AND THE RECENT INCREASES THAT THE PUC APPROVED HAVEN'T EVEN HIT YET, SO THE OUTLOOK IS NOT GOOD. THANK YOU SO MUCH, JIM.

OUR TOP STORY TOMORROW, WHERE WOULD THE FILM AND TELEVISION INDUSTRIES BE WITHOUT WRITERS? WE MAY SOON FIND OUT.

LEAH SANDERS>> WITH THE WRITERS GUILD UNION CONTRACT EXPIRING IN TWO WEEKS, A LOT OF PEOPLE WORKING IN THE ENTERTAINMENT INDUSTRY WONDER IF A STRIKE IS GOING TO PUT THEM OUT OF WORK FOR A LONG TIME.

>> WE ARE IN A MARRIAGE. WE'RE MARRIED TO WRITERS AND THEY ARE MARRIED TO US. WE WILL MAKE A DEAL.

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

JESS>> IN TONIGHT'S THINKERS, SHAKERS & NEWSMAKERS, WE LOOK AT THE BATTLE OF THE CORNFIELD. IT'S A DAVID VERSUS GOLIATH STORY THAT CENTERS ON A 50-ACRE PARCEL OF LAND JUST NORTH OF DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES.

VAL>> THE CORNFIELD IS ALSO ONE OF THE LARGEST OPEN SPACES LEFT IN CENTRAL LOS ANGELES. IT'S BEEN A RAILROAD YARD, A CHRISTMAS TREE LOT AND, MOST RECENTLY, THE PRIZE IN A HIGH-STAKES TUG-OF-WAR. JOINING US NOW ARE TWO MEMBERS OF THE WINNING TEAM, JOEL REYNOLDS OF THE NATURAL RESOURCES DEFENSE COUNCIL, AN ENVIRONMENTAL GROUP, AND CHINATOWN ACTIVIST, CHI MUI. WELCOME, BOTH OF YOU, TO LIFE AND TIMES TONIGHT.

JOEL REYNOLDS>> THANK YOU.

JESS>> THIS WAS DESCRIBED AS A REMARKABLE TURNAROUND BECAUSE YOU WERE FACING COMPETITION FROM A MAJOR REAL ESTATE DEVELOPER, ED ROSKI, WHO DEVELOPED STAPLES CENTER AND OTHER INDUSTRIAL AREAS. THE MAYOR WAS BACKING HIS DEVELOPMENT PROJECT. SO WAS THE COUNCIL PERSON REPRESENTING THAT DISTRICT. AND EVEN THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, HUD, WAS ALLOCATING, WHAT WAS IT, $15 MILLION DOLLARS TO THEIR PROJECT? AND YET YOU PULLED IT OFF. HOW?

JOEL REYNOLDS>> A YEAR AGO, PEOPLE TOLD US WE WERE WASTING OUR TIME, THAT IT COULDN'T REALLY CHANGE, BUT I THINK THREE THINGS IN PARTICULAR MADE THIS TURN AROUND. FIRST OF ALL, WE FILED A LAWSUIT AGAINST THE CITY CHALLENGING ED ROSKI'S APPROVAL FOR THE PROJECT. TWO, WE WERE SUCCESSFUL IN MAKING THE CORNFIELD AN ISSUE IN THE MAYORAL CAMPAIGN AND VIRTUALLY ALL THE MAJOR CANDIDATES CAME OUT AGAINST THE INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT. AND THEN THE THIRD THING WAS, I THINK VERY UNEXPECTEDLY, WE WERE SUCCESSFUL IN GETTING THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO CANCEL THE FEDERAL MONEY FOR THE PROJECT UNTIL SUCH TIME AS A FULL FEDERAL ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT WAS PREPARED.

VAL>> NOW WHAT DID MAJESTIC REALTY AND MR. ROSKI WANT TO DO WITH THE LAND AND WHY DID YOU DISAGREE WITH THAT PLAN?

CHI MUI>> WELL, MAJESTIC REALTY, MR. ROSKI, WANTED TO PUT IN A MILLION SQUARE FEET OF WAREHOUSES.

VAL>> WAREHOUSES?

CHI MUI>> WAREHOUSES.

JESS>> A MILLION SQUARE FEET?

CHI MUI>> A MILLION SQUARE FEET OF WAREHOUSES.

VAL>> BUT THEY ALSO SAID IT WOULD HAVE BROUGHT 1,000 JOBS, YES?

CHI MUI>> THAT'S NOT THE KIND OF JOB THAT THE COMMUNITY WANTS. WE WANT JOBS, FOR EXAMPLE, THAT WOULD BE SCHOOL TEACHERS, THEY COULD WORK AS VOLUNTEERS AT THE SCHOOL OR EVEN -- THOSE ARE THE KIND OF JOBS THAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR. NOT THAT WE'RE OPPOSED TO JOBS PER SE, BUT THE 1,000 JOBS THEY'RE TALKING ABOUT IS SORT OF A MATHEMATICAL FORMULA WHICH WE DON'T PERCEIVE WOULD HAPPEN IN THE LONG RUN.

VAL>> SO WHAT WILL HAPPEN WITH THE LAND?

CHI MUI>> IF THE WAREHOUSES COME IN, IT WILL BE A GIANT PLACE FOR GRAFFITI IN THE EVENING. THE WAREHOUSES USUALLY CLOSE DOWN AROUND 3:30 OR 4:00 IN THE AFTERNOON AND THEY DON'T WORK ON WEEKENDS. YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE PROBABLY 500 DIESEL TRUCK TRIPS COMING IN THAT AREA. WE ARE INUNDATED WITH TRAFFIC AROUND THAT AREA ALREADY WITH THE TWIN TOWERS. THE JOBS THAT MIGHT COME IN ARE RELOCATED BUSINESS MAYBE FROM VERNON OR FROM COMMERCE AND A LARGE POPULATION OF THE COMMUNITY ARE LATINOS AND ASIANS AND THEY DON'T SPEAK ENGLISH.

JESS>> SO WHAT WILL YOUR PLAN DO WITH THIS 50 ACRES?

JOEL REYNOLDS>> WELL, THE SUCCESS STORY IS THAT WE REACHED AN AGREEMENT WITH MAJESTIC REALTY AND THE AGREEMENT IS THAT --

JESS>> -- THEY'RE NOW SUPPORTING YOU, AREN'T THEY?

JOEL REYNOLDS>> WELL, THEY'VE AGREED, ONE, TO SELL THE PROPERTY, AND TWO, TO HELP US FIND MONEY TO BUY IT.

VAL>> WOW.

JOEL REYNOLDS>> WE'RE WORKING TOGETHER WITH THEM TO GO TO THE STATE, TO HAVE THE STATE PURCHASE IT AS A STATE PARK AND OTHER COMPATIBLE USES THAT THE COMMUNITY DESIRES. WE HAVE THE REAL POSSIBILITY FOR THE FIRST MAJOR BUILDING BLOCK OF A WORLD-CLASS PARK IN THIS NEIGHBORHOOD, SOMETHING THAT ALL THE SURROUNDING COMMUNITIES DESPERATELY NEED AND WANT. IT'S THE FIRST PART OF A GRANDER VISION FOR A GREENBELT THAT WILL RUN ALL THE WAY FROM OLVERA STREET THROUGH THE CHINATOWN CORNFIELDS DOWN TO THE LOS ANGELES RIVER ALONG THE RIVER TO ANOTHER RAIL YARD CALLED TAYLOR YARD WHERE WE ARE ALSO HOPING TO CREATE ANOTHER 60 TO 100-ACRE PARK.

VAL>> NOW LOCAL SUPPORT AMONG SORT OF THE GRASSROOTS, THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE THERE, WAS KEY TO YOUR SUCCESS. HOW DID YOU GET THEIR SUPPORT?

CHI MUI>> THREE YEARS AGO, WE DISCOVERED THIS PROJECT INADVERTENTLY. IT WASN'T REALLY TOLD TO US DIRECTLY. WE STARTED TO ORGANIZE THE COMMUNITY AND I WAS REALLY THRILLED. I'VE BEEN A BIG-TIME SUPPORTER OF ENVIRONMENTAL GROUPS LIKE CLEAN AIR AND SIERRA CLUB AND NOW I LEARN ABOUT THE NATIONAL RESOURCES DEFENSE COUNCIL. I'M ON THE BOARD OF FRIENDS OF L.A. RIVER. IT'S THE FIRST TIME THAT WE HAVE COME TOGETHER TO WORK ON A COMMON BOND ISSUE HERE. THEY COME TO THE INNER CITY SUPPORTING US, THEY SEEK OUR INPUT, THEY WANT TO KNOW WHAT WOULD BE GOOD AND APPROPRIATE FOR THE COMMUNITY AND THIS IS AN UNPRECEDENTED 35 ORGANIZATION OWNERS COALITION CALLED THE CHINATOWN (INAUDIBLE) AND I LOOK FOR MORE OF THAT TO COME.

VAL>> AND MAJESTIC REALTY FAILED TO CONTACT ANY OF THESE LOCAL GROUPS?

CHI MUI>> THEY REALLY DIDN'T HAVE ANY MEETINGS PER SE. THERE WAS ONE MEETING HELD IN CHINATOWN WITH COUNCILMAN HERNANDEZ'S OFFICE TAKING THE LEAD ON THAT. IN THAT MEETING, THE STAFF MEMBER OF COUNCILMAN HERNANDEZ'S OFFICE WAS PRESENT WITH MAJESTIC ALSO. IN THAT MEETING, I THINK THEY SAW THE ANGER FROM THE COMMUNITY ABOUT THIS PROJECT. WE HAD OVER 100 PEOPLE THERE, MOSTLY RESIDENTS, AND I THINK THEY SAW FOR THE FIRST TIME THAT WE DON'T WANT THE PROJECT IN CHINATOWN.

JESS>> HOW LONG BEFORE WE CAN SEE THIS PROPERTY BLOSSOM WITH PARKS AND RIVERSIDES AND --

VAL>> -- SCHOOLS TOO.

JESS>> AND SCHOOLS?

JOEL REYNOLDS>> WELL, THAT'S THE KEY QUESTION. THE IMPORTANT THING TO REMEMBER IS THAT THIS IS A FANTASTIC STORY SO FAR.

JESS>> RIGHT.

JOEL REYNOLDS>> BUT WE DON'T HAVE THE MONEY YET AND, IF WE DON'T GET THE MONEY IN THIS LEGISLATIVE SESSION, THE AGREEMENT IS THAT MAJESTIC CAN THEN GO FORWARD, KEEP THE LAND AND DEVELOP IT AS AN INDUSTRIAL FACILITY.

JESS>> CALIFORNIA'S VOTED A BOND ISSUE FOR PARK DEVELOPMENT. IS THAT GOING TO HELP YOU?

JOEL REYNOLDS>> THE MONEY IS THERE. I'M 99 PERCENT CERTAIN THAT WE'RE GOING TO GET IT, BUT WE CANNOT RELAX UNTIL THAT MONEY IS THERE. THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR A REBIRTH OF DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES.

VAL>> HOW MUCH MONEY ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT?

JOEL REYNOLDS>> THE ACQUISITION PRICE IS $30 MILLION. THE DEVELOPMENT COSTS BEYOND THAT WOULD PROBABLY BE SOMEWHERE BETWEEN $10 AND $15 MILLION. IT'S NOT A LOT OF MONEY. IF YOU RECOGNIZE THAT WE'RE BLEEDING $50 MILLION DOLLARS A DAY ON THE ELECTRICITY CRISIS, ALL WE NEED IS ABOUT 16 HOURS OF THAT TO MAKE THIS A REALITY. (LAUGHTER)

VAL>> (LAUGHTER) WELL, IT'S A WONDERFUL PROJECT. CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR VICTORY SO FAR AND I HOPE THAT YOU COME THROUGH WITH THE MONEY.

JOEL REYNOLDS>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

CHI MUI>> THANK YOU.

VAL>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THAT IS CHI MUI, CHINATOWN ACTIVIST, AND NATIONAL RESOURCES DEFENSE COUNCIL, JOEL REYNOLDS. THANKS.

SO WHAT DO YOU THINK? WE'D LOVE TO HEAR FROM YOU ABOUT PERHAPS A LOCAL BATTLE THAT'S HAPPENING IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD. HERE'S 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

JESS>> AS LOS ANGELES HEADS INTO RUNOFF ELECTIONS FOR SIX CITY COUNCIL DISTRICTS, PATT MORRISON REFLECTS ON ONE VACANT SEAT THAT'S NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE TO FILL. HERE'S TONIGHT'S INFINITELY MORRISON.

PATT>> THERE'S SOME SYMMETRY IN THE FACT THAT JOHN FERRARO, THE LONGEST-SERVING MEMBER OF THE LOS ANGELES CITY COUNCIL, TOOK LEAVE OF THE WORLD THIS WEEK JUST AS TERM LIMITS HAS BEGUN MOVING POLITICIANS THROUGH THE CITY COUNCIL AS SWIFTLY AS IF THOSE CHAIRS WERE SEATS ON A SUBWAY.

THE BEATLES WERE STILL TOURING WHEN JOHN FERRARO FIRST TOOK HIS CITY COUNCIL SEAT IN 1966. HE WAS AN ALL-AMERICAN FOOTBALL PLAYER, A HALL OF FAMER WHO PLAYED IN THREE ROSE BOWLS. HE'D MADE A MILLION BUCKS AND SERVED ON THE POLICE COMMISSION BEFORE HE WAS NAMED TO AN EMPTY CITY COUNCIL SEAT.

HE STOOD A SHADE OVER 6'4" AND I WROTE SOME TIME BACK THAT, WHEN FERRARO FIRST CAME TO CITY HALL, THE CARPENTERS HAD TO CUT THE LAP DRAWER OUT OF THE DESK SO HIS LONG LEGS COULD FIT UNDER IT. TO SEE HIM IN HIS SEVENTIES, SLOWED AND STOOPED, SOLICITOUS OF HIS WIFE, A FRAGILE WOMAN IN PERFUME AND FRILLS WHO'D BEEN A FAMOUS STRIPPER IN HER DAY, WAS TO UNDER-ESTIMATE HIS LONG HEYDAY AS A DEAL MAKER.

HE BECAME WHAT WE NOW THINK OF AS THE CLASSIC PAUL, A MAN OF CHARM WHO DID WHAT WAS NEEDED TO BE DONE WITHOUT CNN OR CROSS-FIRE. BECAUSE OF TERM LIMITS, WE WILL NOT SEE HIS LIKE AGAIN, A MAN WHO WAS AROUND SO LONG HE WASN'T AFRAID TO CRACK EVEN THE HARDEST OR MOST SENIOR HEADS LIKE THOSE OF MAYOR TOM BRADLEY AND POLICE CHIEF DARRYL GATES WHO, UNTIL THE 1992 RIOTS, HAD NOT SO MUCH AS SPOKEN TO EACH OTHER FOR MONTHS.

IN 1960 WHEN THE DEMOCRATS CAME TO LOS ANGELES AND NOMINATED JOHN F. KENNEDY FOR PRESIDENT, FERRARO DELIVERED THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE. NEXT TIME THE DEMOCRATS CAME, IN 2000, HE WAS TOO ILL TO GO. THE LAST TIME I SAW HIM WAS IN SEPTEMBER AT A GREEK THEATER CONCERT. THE GREEK WAS IN FERRARO'S DISTRICT AND HE HAD HELPED THE SAME FIRM TO HOLD THE LEASE THERE FOR 25 YEARS, BUT EVERYTHING WAS CHANGING. THE COUNCIL, THE WAY THE CITY DOES BUSINESS, EVEN THE LEASE AT THE GREEK. YET WHEN THE AUDIENCE SAW HIM AND RECOGNIZED HIM, A RARE THING IN TERM LIMITS POLITICS, THEY BEGAN TO APPLAUD. JOHN FERRARO WAVED BACK AND SETTLED INTO THE MUSIC AND THE DARK.

VAL>> IN TONIGHT'S PEOPLE, PLACES & THINGS, A TOY STORY THAT MAY BRING A LUMP TO YOUR THROAT. IT STARTED WHEN A VIEWER OF OURS, ROY HAWLER OF LAWNDALE, WAS SO MOVED BY AN EXHIBIT OF TOYS AT THE MUSEUM OF TOLERANCE THAT HE WROTE TO TELL US ABOUT IT AND WE THOUGHT YOU'D LIKE TO SEE IT TOO.

JESS>> IT'S A COLLECTION OF TOYS MADE BY CHILDREN SO POOR THEY DIDN'T EVEN HAVE A BALL TO PLAY WITH. THE EXHIBIT IS NAMED FOR A SLOGAN YOU OFTEN HEAR ON TELEVISION, "NOT SOLD IN STORES". CHILDREN IN ASIA, AFRICAN AND LATIN AMERICA MADE THE TOYS USING DISCARDED MATERIALS SUCH AS WOOD AND METAL OR BITS OF WORN-OUT CLOTHING.

VAL>> AND JOINING US NOW IS RABBI ABRAHAM COOPER. HE'S ASSOCIATE DEAN OF THE SIMON WIESENTHAL CENTER. THANK YOU FOR COMING TO LIFE AND TIMES TONIGHT. NICE TO SEE YOU.

RABBI ABRAHAM COOPER>> NICE TO BE HERE.

JESS>> ROY WAS PROBABLY NOT THE ONLY ONE INTERESTED IN THAT STORY. IT HAS BEEN A FAVORITE OF PEOPLE COMING INTO THE CENTER, HASN'T IT?

RABBI ABRAHAM COOPER>> WELL, YOU KNOW, THE MUSEUM OF TOLERANCE IS A HIGH-TECH CUTTING EDGE FACILITY AND HERE YOU HAVE ABOUT AS LOW-TECH AS YOU CAN GET. IT'S A GREAT REMINDER, I THINK, TO ALL OF US IN TERMS OF OUR OWN YOUTH WHEN YOU WERE REALLY A LITTLE KID, WHAT WAS IMPORTANT, AND THAT KIND OF CREATIVITY, BUT ALSO IN TERMS OF THE TOYS BEING COLLECTED FROM THE POOREST PARTS OF THE PLANET. IT'S NOT ONLY AN ISSUE OF HOW GREAT THE KIDS ARE. IT'S A REMINDER, AN INDICTMENT THAT THE WORLD SHOULDN'T HAVE TO BE THIS KIND OF PLACE.

VAL>> LET'S SHOW PEOPLE WHAT THEY MIGHT SEE IF THEY WERE TO GO DOWN. THESE ARE PHOTOGRAPHS THAT ARE ON EXHIBIT, YES?

JESS>> AND THESE ARE FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD?

RABBI ABRAHAM COOPER>> ALL OVER THE WORLD. CHRISTIAN CHILDREN'S FUND THAT GOES OUT AND HELPS THEM IN A REAL WAY, COLLECTING THESE TOYS. THEY'RE ACTUALLY DONATED BY THE KIDS FOR THIS LITTLE EXHIBIT.

VAL>> SO ARE THESE PICTURES THAT WERE TAKEN WITH THE EXHIBIT IN MIND OR ARE THEY PICTURES THAT HAPPENED TO CATCH CHILDREN PLAYING?

RABBI ABRAHAM COOPER>> ACTUALLY, THERE WAS NO EXHIBIT IN MIND. THE CHRISTIAN CHILDREN'S FUND KIND OF CAME TO US. WE'RE NOT A TYPICAL KIND OF MUSEUM AND, WHEN WE SAW IT, WE SAID THIS JUST HAS TO BE SEEN AND SHARED WITH EVERYONE.

THIS IS THE LITTLE BOAT THAT STARTED IT ALL. IT'S AN OLD SANDAL, A PLASTIC BAG, STUFF WE THROW AWAY.

JESS>> A TOP? SPINNING TOP, YEAH.

VAL>> OH, LOOK AT THIS. SO ALL THESE CHILDREN MADE THEM THEMSELVES, MADE THESE THINGS THEMSELVES FROM LITTLE BITS OF WHAT THEY FOUND. NICE PHOTOGRAPHS TOO. YOU KNOW, KIDS ARE SO CREATIVE. THEY'RE SO RESOURCEFUL. I THINK THAT'S ONE THING THIS SHOWS.

JESS>> SLINGSHOTS MADE FROM STRIPS OF RUBBER FROM INNER TUBES, I SUSPECT?

RABBI ABRAHAM COOPER>> RIGHT. AND GENERALLY SPEAKING, NO TOY GUNS. JUST MOSTLY --

VAL>> -- REALLY?

RABBI ABRAHAM COOPER>> HERE YOU SEE IT NOW, THE SOCCER BALL. THE TICKET OUT, BOTH IN AFRICA AND BRAZIL, OF COURSE, WHICH IS THE NATIONAL PASSION. IT MAKES NO DIFFERENCE. KIND OF LIKE SOME OF US GROWING UP AND CREATING THAT BASEBALL AND PLAY OUT IN THE BACK YARD. SO IT'S GOT THE GENTLE TOUCH WITH AN UNDERLYING --

VAL>> -- NOW WHAT KIND OF REACTION DO YOU GET FROM AMERICAN CHILDREN WHO HAVE EVERYTHING IN THE WORLD COMING THROUGH AND LOOKING AT THIS?

RABBI ABRAHAM COOPER>> I THINK THEY'RE SHOCKED AND MAYBE THE INNER CHILD IS SAYING HOW COME I DON'T REALLY HAVE THOSE KINDS OF OPPORTUNITIES AND MAYBE THEIR PARENTS ARE COMING SOME OF THE SUNDAYS SAYING I JUST SHELLED OUT $185. MAYBE WE SHOULD GO BACK TO THE MILK CARTON.

JESS>> BUT THERE HAS GOT TO BE A GENERATION OF AMERICANS THAT WAS BORN IN THE DEPRESSION ERA WHO REMEMBER WHEN LITTLE GIRLS, PARTICULARLY IN RURAL AREAS, MADE DOLLS OUT OF CORN HUSKS.

RABBI ABRAHAM COOPER>> AND THEY SPEAK DIRECTLY BACK TO THEIR YOUTH.

VAL>> SOME OF THESE TOYS ARE VERY NICELY DONE, ALMOST LIKE IT'S LITTLE CRAFTSMEN.

RABBI ABRAHAM COOPER>> THE CREATIVITY AND THE RESILIENCY OF CHILDREN AND THEIR SENSE OF HOPE. THEY'RE REACHING FOR THE SKY IN EVERY GENERATION AND, IN THAT SENSE, IT BELONGS IN THE MUSEUM OF TOLERANCE AS WELL, THEY BEING YOM HASHOAH, THE HOLOCAUST MEMORIAL DAY. IT'S ALSO SIX YEARS SINCE THE OKLAHOMA CITY BOMBING AND THE MAN WHO'S CONVICTED FOR THAT CALLED CHILDREN COLLATERAL DAMAGE. SO THIS IS A POSITIVE REMINDER IN A VERY DIFFICULT SETTING. WE'VE ALSO OPENED AN EXHIBIT ON ARTWORK OF CHILDREN IN THE HOLOCAUST. THEY PERISHED AT AUSCHWITZ. THEIR ART LIVES ON, SO IT'S KIND OF AN INTERESTING JUXTAPOSITION.

JESS>> INTERESTING STORY HOW THE CHILDREN AT AUSCHWITZ, THOSE PRIOR TO THAT, WERE ACTUALLY TAUGHT, WEREN'T THEY?

RABBI ABRAHAM COOPER>> THAT'S RIGHT. THEY WERE IN A KIND OF MODEL CAMP WHICH THE NAZIS KEPT AROUND IN CASE THE INTERNATIONAL RED CROSS WOULD SHOW UP. BUT SOME OF THE MOST BRILLIANT TEACHERS AND ART PEOPLE WHO WERE JEWISH AND CAUGHT UP IN THE HOLOCAUST ENDED UP TEACHING THE KIDS HOW TO DRAW AND IT'S ABSOLUTELY STUNNING AND SPECTACULAR. THE GREATEST HEROINE --

JESS>> -- WHAT HAPPENED TO THE ART AND TO THE KIDS?

RABBI ABRAHAM COOPER>> THE ART LIVES. THE ARTISTS AND MOST OF THE CHILDREN PERISHED IN THE HOLOCAUST, SO IT'S A KIND OF --

VAL>> -- SO WE CAN SEE BOTH EXHIBITS. WE CAN SEE THESE THINGS HERE --

JESS>> -- EXTRAORDINARY INGENUITY. LOOK AT THIS BICYCLE. PERFECT EXAMPLE.

VAL>> LOOK AT THAT.

RABBI ABRAHAM COOPER>> AND I BET IF WE GAVE THE KIDS IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA A CHANCE TO GO BACK TO THE BASICS, THEY WOULDN'T HAVE TO GO TO A GARBAGE DUMP. THAT WAS MY FAVORITE, OF COURSE, THE CANS.

VAL>> THIS IS A LITTLE BOAT CARVED OUT OF WOOD?

RABBI ABRAHAM COOPER>> SOME OF THE STUFF CAME FROM GARBAGE DUMPS, SOME JUST FROM PIECES OF WOOD ON THE BEACH.

VAL>> NOW DO YOU KNOW IF MANY AMERICAN TOYS -- LIKE CLOTHES -- YOU KNOW, YOU CAN GO TO AFRICA AND SEE SOME STARBUCKS T-SHIRTS BEING WORN BY SOMEBODY OUT IN THE MIDDLE OF NOWHERE. DO MANY AMERICAN TOYS GET DOWN TO POOR CHILDREN IN OTHER COUNTRIES?

RABBI ABRAHAM COOPER>> NOT AS MUCH AS WE THINK. THE REAL MESSAGE HERE IS THAT HERE YOU HAVE AN IMPORTANT HUMANITARIAN GROUP GIVING OUT THE FOOD AND TRYING TO HELP AND SEEING WHAT'S COMING BACK TO THEM, JUST WANTING TO SHARE SOMETHING BACK. A CHILD GIVING UP SOMETHING LIKE THAT IS A GIFT. WHAT A GESTURE.

VAL>> SO THE CHILDREN ACTUALLY SURRENDERED THESE TOYS FOR THE EXHIBIT?

RABBI ABRAHAM COOPER>> YEAH, VERY SPECIAL.

JESS>> VERY NICE.

VAL>> BEAUTIFUL, BEAUTIFUL. WONDERFUL EXHIBIT. I HOPE PEOPLE WILL TAKE ADVANTAGE AND TAKE THEIR CHILDREN. THAT'S PROBABLY THE MOST VALUABLE THING THAT YOUNG PEOPLE COULD SEE TODAY.

RABBI ABRAHAM COOPER>> WE LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING EVERYONE AT THE MUSEUM OF TOLERANCE AND IT'S GREAT TO SEE YOU ABOUT A POSITIVE STORY.

JESS>> YOU'VE BEEN PLAYING HOST TO A NUMBER OF DIGNITARIES AT THE MUSEUM OF TOLERANCE ON THIS SPECIAL DAY TOO.

RABBI ABRAHAM COOPER>> ON HOLOCAUST MEMORIAL DAY, WE HAD THE VICE CHAIRMAN OF THE (INAUDIBLE) WHO HAPPENS TO BE A TEACHER FROM EAST BERLIN AND SHE'S A PUPPET MAKER. SHE WENT OVER AND SPENT SOME TIME AT THE EXHIBIT, BUT ALSO EARLIER TODAY, ELLA WEISBERGER, WHO LIVES HERE IN L.A., IS ONE OF THE FEW CHILDREN OF TERESA WHO DREW SOME OF THOSE PICTURES, WHO SURVIVED --

VAL>> -- WHO SURVIVED.

RABBI ABRAHAM COOPER>> -- AND SHE SPOKE AT OUR HOLOCAUST MEMORIAL PROGRAM. ACTUALLY, WE HAVE HER SPEECH STARTING TOMORROW AT OUR WEB SITE AT WIESENTHAL.COM IF PEOPLE WANT TO HEAR IT.

JESS>> AND YOU HAD POLITICAL LEADERS THERE TODAY AS WELL.

RABBI ABRAHAM COOPER>> OH, ALL THE SUSPECTS. THEY WERE THERE, BUT YOU'LL TAKE CARE OF THE DEBATES, I'M SURE. (LAUGHTER)

VAL>> SO THERE'S A LOT GOING ON THERE. WHAT'S THAT AGAIN, IT'S WIESENTHAL --

RABBI ABRAHAM COOPER>> -- WWW.WIESENTHAL.COM.

VAL>> GREAT. RABBI ABRAHAM COOPER, THANK YOU SO MUCH. WONDERFUL TO SEE YOU HERE AGAIN. 

RABBI ABRAHAM COOPER>> GOOD TO SEE YOU, VAL AND JESS.

JESS>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH, RABBI. YOU CAN CHECK THE NUMBER AND THE WEB SITE ON YOUR SCREEN FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE EXHIBIT. THE EXHIBIT, AGAIN, IS ENTITLED "NOT SOLD IN STORES". IT'S ON DISPLAY AT THE MUSEUM OF TOLERANCE THROUGH THE 30TH OF APRIL. WORTH SEEING.

VAL>> YOU KNOW, I ALWAYS REMEMBER THAT, WHEN YOU GET YOUR CHRISTMAS TOYS, ONE OF THE MOST FAVORITE THINGS TO PLAY WITH IS THE BOX THE BIGGEST TOY CAME IN AND THAT REMINDS ME OF THAT. (LAUGHTER)

JESS>> THAT'S TRUE.

VAL>> THAT'S IT FOR US THIS EVENING. FOR ALL OF US HERE AT LIFE AND TIMES TONIGHT, THANKS FOR WATCHING. SEE YOU LATER.

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