4/20/01

LC010420

VAL>> ON LIFE AND TIMES TONIGHT --

JESS>> A LOT OF LIVES IN HOLLYWOOD COULD CHANGE BECAUSE OF THE EVENT SOME FEAR IS UNAVOIDABLE.

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.

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

VAL>> IT'S FRIDAY AND THAT MEANS MADDOX & HEWITT ARE HERE.

KERMAN>> SOME PEOPLE WANT TO CHANGE THE RULES OF THE MAYOR'S ELECTION DURING THE MIDDLE OF THE CAMPAIGN.

HUGH>> AND GRAY DAVIS MELTS DOWN IN A MEETING WITH SENATE REPUBLICANS. HAS THE GOVERNOR LOST HIS GRIP?

KERMAN>> AND WE TALK ABOUT THE PASSING OF ONE OF L.A.'S MOST DISTINGUISHED LEADERS, JOHN FERRARO.

HUGH>> COMING UP ON MADDOX & HEWITT.

JESS>> AND ONE OF THE SOUTHLAND'S LARGEST UNIVERSITIES CELEBRATES A NEW ERA. CSUN HAS A NEW PRESIDENT FOR ONLY THE FOURTH TIME IN ITS HISTORY. WE GIVE YOU A STUDENT'S EYE VIEW OF THE NEW HEAD MATADOR AT CAL STATE NORTHRIDGE.

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. OUR TOP STORY TONIGHT, FEAR AND LOATHING IN HOLLYWOOD. JUST TEN DAYS FROM NOW, THE CONTRACT EXPIRES FOR 12,000 WRITERS GUILD MEMBERS. THE THREAT OF A STRIKE IS SENDING RIPPLES FAR BEYOND THE MOTION PICTURE AND TELEVISION INDUSTRIES.

VAL>> L.A. MAYOR, RICHARD RIORDAN, SAYS A PROLONGED STRIKE WOULD PLUNGE BOTH THE CITY AND, HE SAYS, THE ENTIRE COUNTRY INTO A RECESSION. WE FIRST BROUGHT YOU THIS REPORT LAST MONTH ON THE EFFECTS OF THE STRIKE. NOW, OF COURSE, THE POSSIBILITY OF A STRIKE HAS GOTTEN EVEN CLOSER AND THERE HAS BEEN LITTLE PROGRESS. LEAH SANDERS EXPLAINS WHAT'S AT STAKE.

LEAH>> THE LAST TIME THE WRITERS GUILD WENT ON STRIKE WAS IN 1988. THE WALKOUT LASTED 22 WEEKS, DELAYING THE START OF THE TELEVISION SEASON AND HITTING THE MOVIE-MAKING INDUSTRY PRETTY HARD. BACK THEN, WRITERS SAY THEY ACCEPTED LESS MONEY FROM STUDIOS WHILE MANAGEMENT ATTRACTED MORE DOLLARS FROM OVERSEAS MARKETS IN HOME VIDEO, DVD'S, RERUNS ON CABLE, FOREIGN TELEVISION AND A THEN FLEDGLING FOX NETWORK. MORE THAN A DECADE LATER, THE WRITERS SAY PAY UP AND GIVE US MORE CREDIT FOR THE WORK WE DO. DAVID KUKOFF IS A FREELANCE FEATURE FILM AND TV PILOT WRITER. HE SAYS WRITERS ARE HOPEFUL AN AGREEMENT WILL BE IN PLACE BY THE MAY 1ST CONTRACT DEADLINE, BUT HE AND HIS PEERS ARE TAKING THE THREAT OF A STRIKE SERIOUSLY.

DAVID KUKOFF>> I CANNOT EMPHASIZE ENOUGH HOW DEVASTATING THIS IS TO WRITERS. I REMEMBER THE STRIKE 13 YEARS AGO ONLY BECAUSE MY FATHER WAS A WRITER. HE'D WORK FOR A WHILE AND WAS ABLE TO, WELL, MORE OR LESS RIDE IT OUT. BUT THERE WERE PEOPLE HE KNEW AND WAS FRIENDS WITH WHO'D REALLY GO FROM PAYCHECK TO PAYCHECK AND FROM GIG TO GIG WHO WERE DESTROYED, ABSOLUTELY PUT OUT OF BUSINESS.

LEAH>> KUKOFF SAYS HE'S BEEN A GUILD MEMBER FOR FIVE YEARS AND HASN'T HAD MUCH TIME TO STORE UP A WAR CHEST. HE SAYS HE'S SAVING WHAT HE CAN FOR HIS WIFE AND TWO KIDS.

DAVID KUKOFF>> WHATEVER HOME RENOVATIONS YOU WERE GOING TO DO, YOU PRETTY MUCH PUT OFF. YOU START GOING ON A BUDGET REALLY QUICKLY. YOU HAVE TO OBVIOUSLY PREPARE FOR IT. SOME PEOPLE ARE TAKING OUT HOME EQUITY LOANS OR DIPPING INTO THEIR RETIREMENT FUNDS.

LEAH>> THE WRITERS GUILD HAS ABOUT 11,000 MEMBERS WITH HALF THAT NUMBER WORKING REGULARLY IN TV AND FILM MAKING A MEDIAN SALARY OF $80,000 A YEAR. DREAMWORKS STUDIO FOUNDER, JEFFREY KATZENBERG.

JEFFREY KATZENBERG>> WE ARE IN A MARRIAGE. WE ARE MARRIED TO WRITERS AND THEY ARE MARRIED TO US. WE WILL MAKE A DEAL TOMORROW, IN A MONTH, A MONTH AFTER THEIR CONTRACT EXPIRES, SIX MONTHS AFTER. WE WILL MAKE A DEAL AND WE'LL STAY MARRIED TO EACH OTHER.

LEAH>> KATZENBERG IS SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF THE ALLIANCE OF MOTION PICTURE AND TELEVISION PRODUCERS, WHICH IS NEGOTIATING FOR THE STUDIOS. ONE OF THE CREATIVE AREAS AT ISSUE INVOLVES JUST THREE WORDS: "A FILM BY". CHECK OUT MOST FILMS AND YOU'LL FIND THE DIRECTOR'S NAME FOLLOWS, BUT SOME WRITERS ARGUE, IN THE ABSENCE OF A DIRECTING ICON, THEIR NAME DESERVES THE CREDIT BECAUSE, WITHOUT THEIR WORDS, THERE WOULD BE NO STORY TO BEGIN WITH. EVEN LESS GROUND HAS BEEN MADE ON THE ISSUE OF MONEY.

JEFFREY KATZENBERG>> WE ALWAYS BELIEVE THE GRASS IS GREENER ON THE OTHER SIDE IN ANY OF THESE THINGS. YOU KNOW, WE ALWAYS THINK THE OTHER GUY MAKES MORE MONEY THAN WE DO (LAUGHTER) AND, YOU KNOW, MAYBE WE'RE NOT GETTING A FAIR COUNT. YOU KNOW, THOSE ARE THINGS THAT ARE TRUE IN ANY BUSINESS. OURS IS A BIT MORE COMPLICATED THAN OTHERS. YOU KNOW, WE'RE NOT STAMPING OUT CARS AND WE'RE NOT DEALING WITH PEOPLE WHO ARE SORT OF THE TYPICAL, YOU KNOW, MINIMUM WAGE EARNERS. YOU KNOW, THESE ARE HIGHLY, HIGHLY TALENTED, INTELLIGENT, INTELLECTUAL ARTISTS AND THEY'RE UNIQUE AND THEY'RE VERY, VERY HIGHLY PAID FOR THE UNIQUE TALENTS THAT THEY HAVE. THEY WANT TO BE MORE HIGHLY PAID.

LEAH>> WRITERS AND STUDIO NEGOTIATORS TRIED TO CLOSE THIS ECONOMIC GAP BY BEGINNING TALKS A MONTH EARLY. THE NEGOTIATIONS ENDED EARLY MARCH WHEN THE WRITERS WALKED OUT. BOTH SIDES WERE FAR APART, THE WRITERS ASKING FOR A RAISE OF NEARLY $100 MILLION DOLLARS OVER THREE YEARS, WHICH INCLUDES THE USE AND RE-USE OF THEIR WORK IN BENEFITS, AND THE STUDIOS OFFERING $30 MILLION OVER THREE YEARS. PARIS QUALLES IS AN AWARD-WINNING WRITER ON THE NEGOTIATING COMMITTEE.

PARIS QUALLES>> FROM 1985 THROUGH VARIOUS NEGOTIATIONS, IT WAS ALWAYS, "WELL, GIVE US MORE TIME SO WE CAN GROW THE MARKET. GIVE US MORE TIME, GIVE US MORE TIME." WELL, WE'RE 16 SIXTEEN YEARS LATER. WE'VE GIVEN THEM ALL THE TIME IN THE WORLD. THEY'VE MADE TONS OF MONEY. THEY'RE MAKING MORE MONEY IN VIDEOCASSETTES AND DVD'S NOW THAN THEY MAKE IN THEATRICAL RUNS IN THE THEATERS AND THEY'RE TELLING US NOW, "WELL, YES, WE'RE MAKING SOME MONEY THERE, BUT NOW WE'RE LOSING SO MUCH MONEY ELSEWHERE THAT WE CAN'T GIVE YOU ANY MORE." THAT'S UNACCEPTABLE.

LEAH>> SO WHAT HAPPENS IF AN AGREEMENT IS NOT MET BY MAY 1ST? THERE IS A LOT RIDING ON THE WRITERS' SHOULDERS IF THEY DO STRIKE. HALF A MILLION PEOPLE WORK DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY IN THE ENTERTAINMENT BUSINESS IN LOS ANGELES COUNTY. BASED ON EMPLOYMENT, IT'S THE FIFTH LARGEST INDUSTRY IN THE AREA. BRAD POMERANCE IS THE ENTERTAINMENT CORRESPONDENT FOR KPCC RADIO.

BRAD POMERANCE>> BACK IN 1988 WITH THE WRITERS GUILD STRIKE FIVE MONTHS LONG, THE SOUTHLAND ECONOMY LOST ABOUT $250 MILLION DOLLARS. NOW THAT WAS RIGHT AROUND THE TIME WHEN DEFENSE WAS STARTING TO LEAVE SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA AND IT WAS HOLLYWOOD THAT CAME AND REALLY RESCUED THE REGION'S ECONOMY. WELL, IF THERE'S A WRITERS AND ACTORS STRIKE IN TANDEM, THE PREDICTIONS ARE THE ECONOMY IN THIS REGION WOULD LOSE $2 BILLION DOLLARS A MONTH. THAT'S A MASSIVE AMOUNT OF MONEY FLEEING FROM THE REGION.

LEAH>> AND FOR AREAS LIKE BURBANK, GLENDALE, HOLLYWOOD AND STUDIO CITY, WHERE MANY ENTERTAINMENT INDUSTRY PEOPLE WORK AND LIVE, A STRIKE WOULD HAVE A RIPPLE EFFECT WITH PEOPLE SPENDING LESS. SO WITHOUT A SCRIPT, WHAT WILL BE LEFT TO WATCH WHEN YOU PICK UP THE REMOTE OR GO TO THE MOVIE THEATERS? WELL, AS FOR FEATURE FILMS, IT WILL PROBABLY TAKE ABOUT NINE MONTHS BEFORE THERE IS AN EFFECT AT THE BOX OFFICE, BUT AS FOR TELEVISION, THAT'S A COMPLETELY DIFFERENT STORY.

PARIS QUALLES>> YOUR NETWORKS AND YOUR STUDIOS ARE LOOKING AT SORT OF FILLING IN WITH THE REALITY TYPE SHOWS. NOW YOU ASK YOUR AUDIENCE, YOU KNOW, HOW MUCH OF THAT TYPE OF DIET ARE THEY WILLING TO PUT UP WITH? SURVIVOR THREE, FOUR AND FIVE, YOU KNOW, AND THE VARIOUS INCARNATIONS OF MILLIONAIRE? I MEAN, THE AUDIENCES ARE SMARTER THAN THAT.

LEAH>> JEFFREY KATZENBERG SAYS THE STUDIOS ARE STOCKED UP FOR NOW. IT'S TV EVERYONE'S EYES ARE ON.

JEFFREY KATZENBERG>> AND I THINK, AS WE SAW IN 1988 AFTER WE HAD A STRIKE, THERE WAS A REAL CHANGE. NOT ONLY IN WHAT HAPPENED SHORT-TERM, A LOT OF RERUNS, A LOT OF NEWS PROGRAMS, BUT IT ACTUALLY CHANGED THE LANDSCAPE OF TELEVISION. THAT REALLY WAS THE BIRTH OF THE PRIME TIME NEWS PROGRAMS WHICH, YOU KNOW, NOW ARE PROLIFERATED THROUGH THE, YOU KNOW, THE SCHEDULES OF THE NETWORKS. IT'S NEVER GONE BACK TO TRADITIONAL WRITTEN, ACTED TELEVISION.

JESS>> WE WERE FORTUNATE THAT YOU WERE ABLE TO GET THOSE COMMENTS FROM THOSE INVOLVED IN THIS STRIKE BEFORE THE GAG ORDER WENT IN EFFECT KEEPING EVERYBODY FROM TALKING TO THE MEDIA, EXCEPT, OF COURSE, MAYOR RIORDAN.

LEAH>> (LAUGHTER) EXACTLY. RIGHT NOW, THEY HAVE A MEDIA BLACKOUT GOING ON. THIS HAPPENED LAST MONTH WHEN THE FIRST TALKS WENT ON. THEY REALLY -- THEY'RE NOT TALKING TO US. THEY'RE ACCESSIBLE, BUT THEY'RE NOT GIVING A LOT OF INFORMATION ABOUT WHAT'S GOING ON ONCE THEY GO INTO THE MEETING ROOMS AND THEY'RE TRYING TO HAMMER THIS DEAL OUT. THEY'RE GIVING US MINIMAL INFORMATION, BUT NOT REALLY ENOUGH TO GAUGE HOW THE TALKS ARE GOING.

VAL>> OFTENTIMES TALKING TO THE MEDIA CAN OFTEN COMPLICATE A NEGOTIATION.

LEAH>> YES.

VAL>> BUT THERE'S ALSO A NEW ECONOMIC STUDY ABOUT WHAT A POTENTIAL STRIKE MIGHT MEAN TO OUR AREA?

LEAH>> ACTUALLY, MAYOR RIORDAN'S OFFICE HAD AN INDEPENDENT STUDY DONE AND BASICALLY THE RESULTS SHOW THAT, IF THERE WERE TO BE A PROLONGED STRIKE, AND THEY CONSIDER A PROLONGED STRIKE ABOUT FIVE MONTHS, IT WOULD BE ABOUT $7 BILLION DOLLARS THAT THE LOCAL ECONOMY COULD LOSE, AND WE'RE TALKING ABOUT 82,000 JOBS THAT'S DIRECTLY AND INDIRECTLY RELATED TO THE INDUSTRY BECAUSE WE'RE LOOKING AT MORE THAN JUST WRITERS. YOU KNOW, ONCE THE SCRIPTS RUN OUT, WE'RE LOOKING AT, YOU KNOW, ALL FACETS OF THE INDUSTRY, CATERERS AND SO ON AND SO FORTH.

VAL>> WOW, $7 BILLION OVER FIVE MONTHS. THAT'S A LOT. WE'LL KEEP WATCH. THANK YOU SO MUCH, LEAH.

JESS>> TOMORROW ON LIFE AND TIMES WEEKEND, LOS ANGELES DISTRICT ATTORNEY, STEVE COOLEY, EXPLAINS WHY HE CALLS THE BELMONT LEARNING COMPLEX A CRIME SCENE.

STEVE COOLEY>> WE KNOW IT'S A BLIGHT. WE KNOW IT'S A DISASTER. WE KNOW IT HURTS THE COMMUNITY. BUT WHAT REALLY HURT THE COMMUNITY WAS THE FACT WE SPENT $200 MILLION DOLLARS IN A COMMUNITY THAT DESPERATELY NEEDED A HIGH SCHOOL AND THEY HAVEN'T GOT ONE.

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

TIME NOW FOR MADDOX & HEWITT. THEY'RE TRYING TO CHANGE THE RULES IN THE MAYOR'S ELECTION AFTER THE PRIMARY?

HUGH>> PRETTY MUCH THE CITY COUNCIL TRYING TO DO IT RIGHT.

KERMAN>> WELL, IT'S THE ETHICS COMMISSION. WHAT HAPPENED IS, WE JUST FINISHED THE MOST EXPENSIVE MAYORAL PRIMARY IN THE HISTORY OF THE CITY OF L.A. AND THERE WAS A LOT OF MONEY THAT WAS SPENT ON BEHALF OF CERTAIN CANDIDATES, ESPECIALLY FROM ORGANIZED LABOR AND THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY. IF YOU WERE NOT THE RECIPIENT OF ALL THAT CAMPAIGN CONTRIBUTION, YOU'RE A LITTLE UPSET BECAUSE THEY'VE BEEN ABLE TO COMMUNICATE WITH THEIR MEMBERS, DIRECT MAIL, PHONE CALLS AND THINGS LIKE THAT. SO THE OTHER CANDIDATES HAVE KIND OF ARGUED THAT, WAIT A MINUTE, THERE'S A LOT OF MONEY OUT THERE AND WE OUGHT TO DISCLOSE THE SOURCE OF THE MONEY. THEY'VE GONE TO THE CITY ETHICS COMMISSION AND BASICALLY SAID, LET'S DISCLOSE THE SOURCE OF THE MONEY FROM THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY AND ORGANIZED LABOR TO PRINCIPALLY ANTONIO VILLARAIGOSA BECAUSE HE GOT ENDORSEMENTS FROM THOSE GROUPS --

JESS>> -- CAN THEY DO IT RETROACTIVELY?

KERMAN>> WELL, THERE'S A QUESTION ABOUT THAT, JESS. THE ETHICS COMMISSION HAS SAID, LET'S DISCLOSE IT ONE WEEK BEFORE THE ELECTION. THE CURRENT LAW SAYS YOU DON'T HAVE TO DISCLOSE IT UNTIL JULY 31. NOBODY IS DOING ANYTHING ILLEGAL. THE QUESTION IS, THEY'RE TRYING TO MAKE THIS A CAMPAIGN ISSUE. THE ETHICS COMMISSION HAS NOW RECOMMENDED THAT THE CITY COUNCIL GET INVOLVED AND THE MAYOR SUPPORTED IT, SO IT'S BEFORE THE CITY COUNCIL NEXT WEEK. I SUSPECT THE CITY COUNCIL IS NOT GOING TO TOUCH IT.

HUGH>> YEAH, I READ IN THE ANALYSIS OF THIS THAT THE CITY COUNCIL IS NOT GOING TO INTERVENE IN THE MIDDLE OF AN ELECTION CAMPAIGN. IT'S NOT FLORIDA IN LOS ANGELES. WE DON'T CHANGE THE RULES AFTER THE VOTE AND WE DON'T CHANGE THE RULES IN THE MIDDLE OF THE CAMPAIGN. THE RULES ARE THE RULES AND, IF VILLARAIGOSA IS GETTING MONEY FROM THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY AND JIMMY HAHN ISN'T, THAT'S TOO BAD. I THINK ACTUALLY THAT'S WIDELY SUPPORTED BECAUSE IT WOULD BE AWFULLY HARD, ABSENT INSTANT DISCLOSURE VIA THE INTERNET, TO TRY AND FIGURE OUT SOME KIND OF CAUSALITY. SEEMS TO ME LIKE JIMMY HAHN IS A CAMPAIGN IN NEED OF AN ISSUE AND THAT THEY'RE TRYING TO MAKE THIS AN ISSUE BECAUSE THEY AIN'T GOT NOTHING ELSE.

JESS>> BUT WOULDN'T YOU UNDERSTAND HIS CONCERN, BOTH BEING DEMOCRATS AND ALL THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY MONEY WENT TO HIS OPPONENT?

HUGH>> NO, I MEAN -- WHOEVER'S BEHIND IS GOING TO HAVE THIS CONCERN. THAT'S IT. WHOEVER IS BEHIND IS GOING TO WANT TO SAY THEY'RE GETTING ALL THE MONEY AND THERE'S ALWAYS GOING TO BE SOMEONE BEHIND, THERE'S ALWAYS GOING TO BE A COMPLAINT ABOUT FINANCING. I THOUGHT, EXCEPT FOR THE PHONE CALLS, IT WAS A PRETTY CLEAN CAMPAIGN THE LAST TIME AROUND. DEMOCRATS GAVE MONEY TO ANTONIO, DEMOCRATS ARE ALLOWED TO GIVE MONEY, THAT'S FREE SPEECH.

KERMAN>> AND JIMMY HAHN IS NOT THE ONLY CANDIDATE. DURING THE CAMPAIGN, KATHLEEN CONNELL AND SOME OF THE OTHER CANDIDATES WHO, OF COURSE, DIDN'T RECEIVE THE MONEY, ALTHOUGH THEY TRIED TO GET THE ENDORSEMENT OF ORGANIZED LABOR AND THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY, THEY LOST; THEREFORE, THEY SHIFTED THE ISSUE AND THEY TRIED TO MAKE IT A CAMPAIGN ISSUE. DIDN'T STICK IN THE PRIMARY. I SUSPECT IT'S NOT GOING TO BE A CAMPAIGN ISSUE IN THE RUNOFF.

HUGH>> HOW DO YOU SPELL SOUR GRAPES? NOW TELL ME ABOUT RIORDAN, THOUGH, BECAUSE RIORDAN HAS BEEN TALKING WITH JAMES HAHN. THERE'S SOME QUESTION ABOUT WHETHER THE MAYOR IS GOING TO TRY AND PLAY IN THIS RACE. WHAT DO YOU HEAR?

KERMAN>> A LOT OF RUMORS. YOU KNOW, A LOT OF PEOPLE WANT THE MAYOR'S ENDORSEMENT. THE MAYOR REMAINS VERY POPULAR IN THE CITY OF L.A., BUT THE THING IS, THE MAYOR DOESN'T HAVE COATTAILS. YOU MIGHT REMEMBER DURING THE MOST RECENT ELECTION, HIS CANDIDATES FOR CONGRESS, HIS CANDIDATES FOR CITY COUNCIL AND HIS CANDIDATES FOR SCHOOL BOARD DID NOT FARE WELL. SO I THINK IT'S MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING, BUT BOTH CAMPAIGNS ARE AGGRESSIVELY GOING AFTER THE MAYOR. HIS FORMER POLITICAL ADVISER, BILL WARDLAW, POLITICAL GURU NUMBER ONE IN THE CITY, IS RUNNING JIMMY HAHN'S CAMPAIGN AND HE'S BEEN MAKING A LOT OF PHONE CALLS TO DICK RIORDAN AND MY SOURCES SAY THAT SOMETHING MIGHT HAPPEN KIND OF SOON.

JESS>> IS IT JUST BECAUSE RIORDAN IS A LAME DUCK?

HUGH>> NO, I THINK IT'S BECAUSE THIS IS A DEMOCRAT-DEMOCRAT RACE. IT'S AWFULLY HARD FOR RIORDAN TO BRING ANYONE TO THE TABLE.

JESS>> THAT'S RIGHT. WHERE'S THE REPUBLICAN PARTY GOING TO --

HUGH>> -- HEY, YOU KNOW, I THINK THAT THE REPUBLICANS ARE CRAZY IF THEY SUPPORT JIMMY HAHN. THEY OUGHT TO VOTE FOR ANTONIO VILLARAIGOSA. HE'S MORE LIBERAL. HE'S UNELECTABLE STATEWIDE, BUT --

JESS>> -- BUT YOU DON'T EXPECT THEM TO SEND MONEY TO VILLARAIGOSA?

HUGH>> I WOULDN'T PUT IT PAST THEM. HEY, YOU KNOW WHAT? IT WOULD BE SUCH A BOON TO THE REPUBLICAN PARTY TO HAVE ANTONIO ON THE STATE TICKET IN SIX YEARS THAT, YOU KNOW, IT'S WORTH GIVING HIM SOME HELP RIGHT NOW. IT REALLY IS.

KERMAN>> WELL, YOU WANTED TO TALK ABOUT OUR GOOD GOVERNOR --

HUGH>> -- I WANT TO TALK ABOUT GRAY DAVIS BECAUSE --

JESS>> -- DID THE GOVERNOR BLOW A FUSE?

HUGH>> OH, BOY, DID HE BLOW A FUSE. HE IS TRYING TO SELL A PLAN THAT'S DEAD ON ARRIVAL. HE UNVEILED HIS BIG BAIL-OUT PLAN FOR SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA EDISON THIS WEEK AND THE BIG BAIL-OUT WENT OVER LIKE A LEAD BALLOON, NOT A TRIAL BALLOON. JOHN BURTON, SENIOR DEMOCRAT IN THE SENATE, SAID IT LOOKS LIKE BANKRUPTCY'S A BETTER OPTION AND OTHER DEMOCRATS JUMPED ON BOARD.

EVERYBODY HATES GRAY'S PLAN, SO HE TRIES TO SELL IT TO THE REPUBLICANS, WALKS INTO THE SENATE REPUBLICAN CAUCUS, RUNS INTO SOME STATIC. TOM MCCLINTOCK SAYS, GRAY, THIS IS CRAZY. HE BLEW UP. HE MELTED DOWN. HE STORMED OUT OF THE ROOM AFTER USING MULTIPLE PROFANITIES AND HE SAID I'M NOT TAKING THE FALL FOR THIS. IT HAD THE LOOK OF CAPTAIN QUEEG. HE STARTED TO LOSE THE GRIP AND WHAT WE'VE HEARD ON THE REPUBLICAN SIDE -- I'LL LET KERMAN TALK ABOUT THE DEMOCRATS -- IS LOOK FOR A CERTAIN SENIOR SENATOR FROM THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA TO ANNOUNCE THAT IT'S TIME FOR THE GROWNUPS TO COME BACK AND TAKE OVER AND RUN FOR GOVERNOR.

JESS>> DOES THAT SOUND LIKE GRAY DAVIS? THE COOL, COLLECTED GRAY DAVIS?

KERMAN>> GRAY TYPICALLY IS COOL, BUT I GOT TO TELL YOU, THE WORD I'M GETTING OUT OF SACRAMENTO, JESS, IS THIS GUY IS KIND OF UPSET AND HE'S KIND OF LOSING IT BECAUSE HIS NUMBERS ARE GOING DOWN. HE CLEARLY DOESN'T HAVE A HANDLE ON THIS. THE PG&E BANKRUPTCY WAS LIKE A SHOT ACROSS THE BOW, LIKE WHAT HAPPENED THE DAY AFTER HE WENT ON TV AND BASICALLY SAID I'VE GOT IT UNDER CONTROL, TRUST ME, SO TO SPEAK. BUT HE WAS TALKING ABOUT, AND THIS IS THE RUMOR I'VE HEARD FOR THE PAST COUPLE OF WEEKS ON THE DEMOCRATIC SIDE, U.S. SENATOR, DIANNE FEINSTEIN, WHO DOES NOT HAVE A GOOD RELATIONSHIP WITH GRAY DAVIS ANYWAY, IS BEING WOOED BY A NUMBER OF CALIFORNIANS TO COME BACK AND SAVE THE GOLDEN STATE AND RUN AGAINST GRAY DAVIS IN A PRIMARY. LET ME TELL YOU, THERE ARE A LOT OF DEMOCRATS WHO LIKE THAT IDEA BECAUSE THEY'RE CONCERNED THAT GRAY DAVIS, EVEN THOUGH HE MIGHT WIN THE PRIMARY, HE MIGHT GET DEFEATED BY A REPUBLICAN.

HUGH>> AND ALREADY THE INCUMBENTS IN SACRAMENTO HAVE TO DEAL WITH REDISTRICTING IN TWO YEARS AND YOU KNOW HOW REDISTRICTING IS. EVERYONE GETS THROWN UP IN A DIFFERENT DISTRICT, YOU GOT TO MEET NEW PEOPLE, YOU GOT TO ESTABLISH NEW RELATIONSHIPS. DEMOCRATIC INCUMBENTS AND WOULD-BE NEW PEOPLE IN THE ASSEMBLY DO NOT WANT TO HAVE TO DO THAT, FORGING AN UPHILL BATTLE AGAINST AN ALBATROSS THAT IS THE GRAY DAVIS RECORD. YOU KNOW, SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA EDISON, MAYBE THEY DESERVE A BAIL-OUT. A LOT OF PEOPLE DON'T THINK SO. THE REPUBLICANS HAVE SAID, NO, WE'RE NOT GOING TO GIVE A NICKEL TO EDISON. THEY BLEW IT. JOHN BURTON SAID IT AND THAT'S GRAY DAVIS' BIG DEAL. WHEN THESE BLACKOUTS START TO HIT AND THEY ARE GOING TO HIT, THEY'RE GOING TO BE HURTFUL TO HIM. HE DID ONE GOOD THING THIS WEEK. LET'S GIVE THE COW IT'S DUE, ITS BELL. HE TOLD THE CITY OF SAN JOSE THEY HAD TO BUILD A NEW ENERGY PLANT IN SAN JOSE DESPITE THE OPPOSITION OF CISCO HEADQUARTERS UP THERE. FINALLY.

JESS>> AND THE CITY COUNCIL OF SAN JOSE --

HUGH>> -- FINALLY A LITTLE BIT OF SPINE ON THE PART OF THE GOVERNOR.

KERMAN>> ONE OTHER STORY I WANTED TO TALK ABOUT. THIS WEEK THERE WAS A TREMENDOUS LOSS IN THE CITY OF L.A. AND THAT IS COUNCIL PRESIDENT, JOHN FERRARO, WHO YOU KNEW WELL FROM THE NUMBER OF YEARS YOU SPENT OVER AT NBC. JOHN FERRARO WAS JUST A TREMENDOUS PERSON, WELL-LIKED BY THE MAYORS, THE MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL. THIS IS A GUY WHO'S BEEN ON THE COUNCIL THROUGH THE YORTY YEARS, THE BRADLEY YEARS AND NOW THE RIORDAN YEARS, SO YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT INSTITUTIONAL MEMORY AND HISTORY, THIS GUY HAD IT AND HE WAS ONE WHO WAS BELOVED BY EVERYBODY. WHETHER YOU'RE LIBERAL OR CONSERVATIVE, DEMOCRATIC OR REPUBLICANS, PEOPLE ON THAT CITY COUNCIL LOVED JOHN FERRARO AND, UNFORTUNATELY, HE PASSED AWAY THIS WEEK.

JESS>> WOULD YOU DESCRIBE HIM AS A CENTRIST?

KERMAN>> A CENTRIST, BUT PROBABLY MORE IMPORTANT THAN THAT, A GUY WHO WAS JUST LOVED BY EVERYBODY.

JESS>> A REAL GENTLEMAN.

KERMAN>> A REAL GENTLEMAN AND JUST A GREAT GUY, A THROWBACK.

JESS>> THANK YOU, GENTLEMEN.

HUGH>> THANK YOU.

JESS>> IT'S TIME NOW TO HEAR FROM WHAT YOU, OUR VIEWERS, HAVE TO SAY ABOUT OUR BROADCASTS. LAST THURSDAY, WE REPORTED ON POSSIBLE HEALTH RISKS TO CHILDREN WHO RIDE DIESEL-POWERED SCHOOL BUSES. ONE PROPOSED SOLUTION IS TO USE BUSES POWERED BY NATURAL GAS INSTEAD. COLEMAN MILLER OF PISMO BEACH FINDS THAT IDEA:

"CRAZY. THE ENERGY CRISIS IN CALIFORNIA DEMONSTRATES THAT THERE IS NOT ENOUGH NATURAL GAS TO HEAT HOMES AND INDUSTRY. NOW L.A. UNIFIED WANTS TO FURTHER DEPLETE THE SUPPLIES BY SWITCHING TO NATURAL GAS BUSES. NO. FIX THE EXHAUST SYSTEM ON DIESEL BUSES, BUY NEW GREEN DIESEL OR USE METHANE."

VAL>> AND QUITE A NUMBER OF YOU WROTE IN RESPONSE TO JESS'S INTERVIEW LAST WEEK WITH AUTHOR JAMES CARROLL. CARROLL'S NEW BOOK RECOUNTS THE HISTORY OF ANTI-SEMITISM IN THE CATHOLIC CHURCH. WELL, ROBERT IMRIE OF GARDEN GROVE WRITES:

"AS A CATHOLIC, I FIND IT MOST EGREGIOUS THAT, DURING THE HOLY WEEK, YOUR SHOW INVITES A GUEST TO BASH THE CATHOLIC CHURCH. MR. CARROLL IS ENTITLED TO HIS OPINION, BUT NO SPOKESMAN FROM THE CATHOLIC CHURCH WAS ON THE PROGRAM TO RESPOND."

WELL, VIEWER DAVE BLODGETT DID RESPOND. HE HAD QUITE THE OPPOSITE REACTION. HE WRITES:

"ANY SO-CALLED CHRISTIAN WHO IS ANTI-SEMITIC IS NO CHRISTIAN AT ALL. THANK YOU FOR GIVING JAMES CARROLL A PLATFORM."

WELL, TELL US WHAT YOU THINK. WE LOVE TO HEAR FROM YOU. HERE IS HOW YOU CAN REACH US:

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JESS>> IN TONIGHT'S PEOPLE, PLACES & THINGS, A NEW INSTALLMENT IN OUR LOOK AT TELEVISION DONE BY PEOPLE OUTSIDE THE CONVENTIONAL MEDIA OUTLETS. TONIGHT A CAL STATE NORTHRIDGE STUDENT SHARES HER STORY ON THE INAUGURATION OF A NEW UNIVERSITY PRESIDENT.

VAL>> THE EVENT WAS SEVEN MONTHS IN THE MAKING. JOLENE KOESTER STARTED THE JOB AS PRESIDENT LAST JULY. NOW CSUN IS OFFICIALLY WELCOMING HER WITH A WEEK-LONG CELEBRATION. JOURNALISM STUDENT, JENNIFER EDWARDS, INTERVIEWED KOESTER FOR THE CAMPUS NEWS PROGRAM, VALLEY VIEW NEWS.

JOLENE KOESTER>> I FEEL VERY, VERY LUCKY.

JENNIFER EDWARDS>> LUCKY. THAT'S HOW NEW CSUN PRESIDENT, JOLENE KOESTER, FEELS ABOUT HER NEW JOB, A JOB THAT SHE TOOK ON JUST TWO MONTHS AGO, BUT ALREADY SHE KNOWS WHAT SHE WANTS TO DO.

JOLENE KOESTER>> I WANT TO STRENGTHEN THE CONNECTIONS BETWEEN THE CAMPUS AND THE EXTERNAL COMMUNITY. CSUN IS A REGIONAL UNIVERSITY, IT IS THE SAN FERNANDO VALLEY'S ONLY PUBLIC UNIVERSITY AND WE ALREADY GIVE BACK TO THIS COMMUNITY IN MULTIPLE WAYS THAT ARE REALLY QUITE DRAMATIC.

JENNIFER EDWARDS>> KOESTER IS GOING TO INCORPORATE HUGE FUNDRAISING EFFORTS INTO HER PLANS. CSUN IS A PART OF THE CSU SYSTEM, MEANING IT RECEIVES MONEY FROM THE STATE. BUT TO FURTHER ENHANCE THE QUALITY OF EDUCATION, KOESTER KNOWS MORE FUNDING IS NEEDED.

JOLENE KOESTER>> WE NEED PARTNERSHIPS WITH THE LOCAL COMMUNITY, WITH NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS, WITH THE CORPORATIONS FOR WHOM WE EDUCATE A LOT OF THEIR FUTURE EMPLOYEES. I AM GOING TO BE OUT IN THE COMMUNITY TALKING TO COMMUNITY GROUPS REPEATEDLY ABOUT THE WONDER THAT I THINK THAT THE UNIVERSITY IS, SO I'LL TAKE ANY INVITATION TO GO AND TALK TO GROUPS. (LAUGHTER)

JENNIFER EDWARDS>> PARKING ON CAMPUS IS ONE OF THE BIGGEST COMPLAINTS STUDENTS HAVE. WITH EARTHQUAKE CONSTRUCTION NEARING COMPLETION IN MARCH, KOESTER SAYS WORK ON THE PARKING SITUATION IS READY TO BEGIN.

JOLENE KOESTER>> WE HAVE COMMISSIONED A TRAFFIC STUDY THAT IS GOING TO LAY THE GROUNDWORK FOR US UNDERSTANDING. WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO IS CREATE A COMPLETE TRANSPORTATION PLAN THAT INVOLVES NOT JUST CARS, NOT JUST PARKING FROM OTHER ALTERNATIVE WAY, TO IMPLEMENT CIRCULATOR. WE'RE IN THE BEGINNING STAGES OF ALL OF THIS AND IT'S GOING TO TAKE US SEVERAL YEARS.

JENNIFER EDWARDS>> THE ATHLETIC DEPARTMENT HAS BEEN THE CENTER OF CONTROVERSY FOR YEARS. TROUBLES HAVE RANGED FROM THE UNEXPECTED DROP AND THEN REINSTATEMENT OF FOUR MEN'S SPORTS, SHAKY CONFERENCE AFFILIATIONS AND SUBSTANDARD FACILITIES.

JOLENE KOESTER>> SOME OF OUR FACILITIES CLEARLY WE NEED TO PROVIDE SOME ADDITIONAL ATTENTION TO. THE FOOTBALL STADIUM ISSUE IS ONE. WE'VE GOT ISSUES IN TERMS OF FIGHTING. WE'VE GOT EVEN MORE SUBSTANTIAL ISSUES RELATED TO FUNDING IN HOW WE WOULD BUILD A FOOTBALL STADIUM. BUT WE'RE GOING TO BUILD AN INTERCOLLEGIATE ATHLETIC PROGRAM THAT'S BROAD-BASED, THAT IS SUCCESSFUL AND THAT IS FINANCIALLY SOUND. WE'VE GOT SOME CHALLENGES IN EACH OF THOSE AREAS, BUT WE'RE GOING TO PROCEED WITH THOSE AS OUR GOALS.

JENNIFER EDWARDS>> KOESTER CAME TO CSUN FROM CAL STATE SACRAMENTO WHERE SHE BEGAN HER CAREER AS A PROFESSOR AND FINALLY SERVED AS VICE PRESIDENT PROVOST. MINNESOTA-BORN KOESTER ENTERED INTO THE FIELD OF EDUCATION BECAUSE OF A YEARNING TO KNOW AND EMBRACE THE DIFFERENCES OF THE WORLD. HERE AT CSUN, KOESTER WANTS TO CELEBRATE THE DIVERSITY THE COLLEGE IS KNOWN FOR.

JOLENE KOESTER>> I THINK THAT THIS UNIVERSITY REPRESENTS, IN TERMS OF CULTURAL, RACIAL AND ETHNIC DIVERSITY, THE WORLD OF THE FUTURE. I THINK IT'S A HALLMARK OF WHAT CSUN IS. THE UNIVERSITY IS A MICROCOSM OF THE WORLD. YOU KNOW, IT'S A WONDERFUL ENVIRONMENT TO BE IN BECAUSE WE HAVE ALL THE EXCITEMENT AND ALL THE JOY THAT COMES FROM THIS CULTURAL HETEROGENEITY.

JENNIFER EDWARDS>> ENROLLMENT ON CAMPUS IS AT ITS ALL-TIME HIGH SINCE 1992. THE SCARS FROM THE CONSTRUCTION ARE BEGINNING TO DISAPPEAR AND THIS IS PROGRESS THAT JOLENE KOESTER HOPES TO EXPAND UPON.

JOLENE KOESTER>> I THINK CSUN IS A GEM THAT NEEDS TO, HOPEFULLY, BE RECOGNIZED BY MORE AND MORE PEOPLE AS THE GEM THAT IT REALLY REPRESENTS TO THIS VALLEY. WE HAVE AN ENORMOUS IMPACT ON THE VALLEY, AN ENORMOUS IMPACT ON THIS VALLEY, AND IT'S A MAJOR CHALLENGE TO HELP OTHERS SEE WHAT I'VE COME TO SEE AND UNDERSTAND ABOUT THE CAMPUS.

VAL>> AND JOINING US NOW IS THE STUDENT REPORTER YOU SAW THERE, JENNIFER EDWARDS, WHO RECENTLY GRADUATED FROM CAL STATE NORTHRIDGE'S JOURNALISM PROGRAM. WELCOME TO LIFE AND TIMES TONIGHT.

JENNIFER EDWARDS>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

JESS>> JENNIFER, YOU NOTED IN YOUR REPORT THAT THE ATHLETIC DEPARTMENT THERE HAD BEEN A SOURCE OF SOME CONCERN, BUT SURELY AFTER THE MATADORS IN BASKETBALL MADE IT TO THE NCAA TOURNAMENT, SOME OF THAT PRESSURE MUST BE OFF.

JENNIFER EDWARDS>> WELL, YOU KNOW, IT PROVES THAT ANY PROGRAM CAN TURN ITSELF AROUND, YOU KNOW, WITH THE RIGHT KIND OF LEADERSHIP AND, YOU KNOW, STUDENTS THAT WANT TO GO THERE AND PLAY.

VAL>> NOW YOU DECIDED TO PROFILE THE NEW PRESIDENT BECAUSE SHE REALLY DOES SIGNAL A NEW ERA IN CSUN'S HISTORY. WHAT DO YOU THINK -- WHAT KIND OF ASSETS, WHAT KIND OF VALUES WILL SHE BRING?

JENNIFER EDWARDS>> ONE OF HER BIGGEST ASSETS IS THAT SHE IS A VERY HANDS-ON PERSON. I MEAN, THAT'S ONE OF HER BIG PLEDGES IS THAT SHE'S GOING TO GO OUT INTO THE COMMUNITY AND SHE'S GOING TO BE A FIXTURE ON CAMPUS AND SHE IS. SHE IS AT EVERY SINGLE THING THAT HAPPENS AND OUR SCHOOL NEEDS THAT. WE NEED SOMEONE TO GLUE US ALL TOGETHER BECAUSE THE SCHOOL TENDS TO, YOU KNOW, BE KIND OF INDIFFERENT TO ONE ANOTHER AND SHE'S VERY INTERESTED IN IT ALL.

JESS>> TO WHAT EXTENT IS THAT THE RESULT OF IT BEING BASICALLY A COMMUTER SCHOOL?

JENNIFER EDWARDS>> I THINK THAT HAS A BIG IMPACT ON WHAT IT IS. I MEAN, A LOT OF PEOPLE GOING TO THIS SCHOOL ARE GOING BACK TO SCHOOL, OR AN OLDER STUDENT, SO, YOU KNOW, SHE'S GOING TO BE THERE TO HELP THIS SCHOOL GET THAT SPIRIT THAT IT TENDS TO LACK AND A LOT OF PEOPLE, YOU KNOW, DON'T TEND TO FEEL MUCH PRIDE. BUT SHE HAS IT AND I THINK THAT'S IMPORTANT FOR STUDENTS TO FEEL.

VAL>> NOW YOU WENT THERE ALL FOUR YEARS, YOU JUST GRADUATED. DID YOU FEEL CONNECTED? DID YOU SENSE A SENSE OF IDENTITY THERE?

JENNIFER EDWARDS>> WELL, I CAN SAY FOR MYSELF, I GOT INVOLVED AND I GOT INVOLVED IN MY JOURNALISM PROGRAM. I GOT INVOLVED IN STUDENT ACTIVITIES ON CAMPUS AND IT WAS SOME OF THE BEST FOUR YEARS I SPENT DOING ANYTHING. I MEAN, I GOT AN AMAZING EDUCATION. THE JOURNALISM PROGRAM IS AMAZING THERE AND I'M VERY THANKFUL TO HAVE GONE.

VAL>> JENNIFER EDWARDS, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR COMING BY.

JENNIFER EDWARDS>> THANK YOU.

JESS>> THANKS, JENNIFER.

JENNIFER EDWARDS. THANKS.

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

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