11/15/01

LC011115

VAL>> ON LIFE AND TIMES TONIGHT --

JESS>> HOW CAN A MAYOR PROTECT HIS CITY FROM TERRORISM? TONIGHT WE'LL PUT THAT QUESTION TO THE MAYOR OF LOS ANGELES, JAMES HAHN. HOW IS HE COPING WITH WHAT SOME HAVE CALLED THE "NEW NORMAL" AND DOES MAYOR HAHN BELIEVE L.A. IS A LIKELY TARGET?

VAL>> AND A COUNTYWIDE DRILL PUTS EMERGENCY WORKERS TO THE TEST. DID THEY PASS?

GAY YEE>> UCLA CARRIES OUT THIS DRILL ONCE A YEAR, BUT AFTER SEPTEMBER 11, THE EXERCISE HAS NEW MEANING.

VICTOR KENNEDY>> PEOPLE ARE LISTENING NOW A LITTLE BIT MORE. WE'RE ALL TAKING IT TO HEART. WE KNOW THAT IT IS A VERY REAL POSSIBILITY THAT WE MAY HAVE TO USE THIS.

JESS>> ALSO, PATT MORRISON ASKS THE QUESTION THAT WEIGHS HEAVY ON A LOT OF MINDS THESE DAYS.

PATT>> WHERE WOULD A TERRORIST PAINT A TARGET ON A MOVING TARGET LIKE LOS ANGELES? ON TONIGHT'S INFINITELY MORRISON.

VAL>> AND YOU'VE HEARD THE FORECAST, A SPECTACULAR METEOR SHOWER THIS WEEKEND, BUT SCIENTISTS SAY YOU'LL SEE MORE THAN JUST SHOOTING STARS.

SETH SHOSTAK>> THESE ROCKS IN SPACE HAVE BEEN FOUND TO CARRY ORGANIC COMPOUNDS, THE KIND OF STICKY LITTLE CHEMISTRY THAT MAKE UP OUR OWN BODIES AND ALL LIFE HERE ON THE EARTH. ROCKS FROM SPACE MAY HAVE BEEN, IN SOME SENSE, OUR VERY DISTANT ANCESTORS.

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

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

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.


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

JESS>> AND I'M JESS MARLOW.

WHEN MAYOR JAMES HAHN TOOK OFFICE THIS SUMMER, THE BIGGEST PROBLEMS FACING THE CITY WERE VALLEY SECESSION, AIRPORT EXPANSION AND POLICE CORRUPTION, BUT THAT WAS THE "OLD NORMAL".

VAL>> TODAY THE MAYOR FACES A HUGE NEW CHALLENGE, PROTECTING THE CITY AGAINST POSSIBLE TERRORIST ATTACKS. BARRICADES WENT UP AROUND CITY HALL SHORTLY AFTER SEPTEMBER 11 RIGHT WHEN THE CITY WAS SCHEDULED TO CELEBRATE THE COMPLETION OF THE CITY HALL'S MULTI-MILLION DOLLAR RENOVATION. AND MORE BARRICADES WENT UP AT LAX WHERE THE FOCUS HAS CHANGED FROM EXPANSION TO SECURITY.

JESS>> TONIGHT LOS ANGELES MAYOR, JAMES HAHN, JOINS US AND, IF TIME ALLOWS, HE'S AGREED TO ANSWER SOME OF YOUR TELEPHONED QUESTIONS.

MR. MAYOR, YOU ARE CHAIR OF THE U.S. CONFERENCE OF MAYORS TASKFORCE ON AIRPORT SECURITY, BUT I ASSUME THE FIRST PRIORITY IS LAX. HOW ARE WE DOING?

JAMES HAHN>> I THINK WE'RE DOING WELL. TODAY I WAS OUT WITH THE GOVERNOR. HE ANNOUNCED THAT 68 MORE GUARDSMEN WILL BE ASSIGNED TO LAX. THAT BRINGS OUR TOTAL COMPLEMENT TO 179. THEY'LL BE PATROLLING THE PARKING LOTS, CHECKING CARS AS THEY COME INTO THE AIRPORT AND ALSO DOING WHAT THEY'VE BEEN DOING, THE SCREENING FACILITIES, PROVIDING EXTRA SECURITY THERE. ALSO GOING ALONG THE AREA OF CURBSIDE CHECK-IN TO MAKE SURE THAT THAT'S SAFE.

YOU KNOW, AS THIS CHAIR OF U.S. CONFERENCE OF MAYORS, I WAS INTERESTED IN LAX. I WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT THE PEOPLE WHO DO THAT SCREENING FUNCTION WERE FEDERAL EMPLOYEES AND I WAS PLEASED TO HEAR THAT THE CONFERENCE COMMITTEE TODAY BETWEEN THE SENATE AND THE HOUSE HAVE AGREED THAT THAT WILL BE THE CASE.

JESS>> ANY QUESTION THE PRESIDENT WILL SIGN THAT BILL?

JAMES HAHN>> I DON'T THINK THERE'S ANY -- I THINK THE PRESIDENT SENT SIGNALS EARLY ON THAT HE WOULD SIGN WHATEVER CAME THROUGH. HE PREFERRED THAT THEY NOT BE FEDERAL EMPLOYEES, BUT I THINK HE WILL SIGN IT.

VAL>> YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT PEOPLE ARE VERY CONCERNED ABOUT IN TERMS OF AIRPORT SECURITY IS THAT, WHEN YOU CHECK YOUR LUGGAGE, NOT TAKE-ON LUGGAGE, BUT WHEN YOU CHECK IT IN, IT'S NOT SCREENED. IS THAT SOMETHING WE HAVE TO WAIT FOR THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO MOVE ON OR IS THAT SOMETHING THAT LAX COULD MOVE FORWARD ON ON ITS OWN?

JAMES HAHN>> WELL, THE DIFFICULTY IS THE PAYMENT FOR THESE MACHINES. I WAS OUT AT TERMINAL ONE TODAY WHERE WE HAD TWO OF THESE CTX EXPLOSIVE DETECTION MACHINES THAT WERE IN PLACE. THEY WERE ONLY PICKING CERTAIN PASSENGERS' CHECKED LUGGAGE TO GO THROUGH THAT MACHINE BECAUSE WE'VE ONLY GOT, I THINK, THIRTEEN OR SO OF THESE AT LAX.

VAL>> LIKE CERTAIN SUSPICIOUS PASSENGERS?

JAMES HAHN>> KIND OF, IF THEY FIT SOME KIND OF PROFILE OR SOMETHING THAT THEY'RE BEING CHECKED. WE NEED EVERY BAG SCREENED. CLEARLY, THE FAA IS THE ONE WHO SHOULD BE PURCHASING THESE MACHINES. THEY'RE OVER A MILLION DOLLARS APIECE. YOU KNOW, EACH AIRPORT MAY NEED MANY MACHINES. IN FACT, THE MAYOR OF SALT LAKE CITY SAID HE'D LIKE TO HAVE SIXTEEN AT SALT LAKE'S AIRPORT ALONE. SO THAT'S A BIG-TICKET ITEM, PROBABLY A BILLION DOLLARS IN EQUIPMENT ALONE PLUS THE MONEY FOR THE PEOPLE TO OPERATE THESE MACHINES, MAYBE ANOTHER $150 MILLION DOLLARS A YEAR NATIONWIDE. WE'D LIKE THE FAA TO STEP UP TO THE PLATE AND DO THAT. WE DON'T HAVE THE ABILITY TO FORCE THE AIRLINES TO DO THAT. THAT LUGGAGE SCREENING FUNCTION IS THERE'S, BUT THEY DO THAT IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE FAA.

JESS>> WE'RE GETTING INTO THE HEAVY TRAVEL SEASON WITH THE HOLIDAYS COMING UP. THE ASSUMPTION IS THAT AIRLINE TRAFFIC WILL GO BACK TO NEAR NORMAL, MAYBE THE NEW NORMAL, BUT THE PLANE CRASH EARLIER THIS WEEK IN NEW YORK -- WHAT'S THE EXPECTATION AT LAX? WILL IT BE NEAR NORMAL?

JAMES HAHN>> WE'RE NOT EXPECTING NEAR NORMAL, BUT I THINK THAT WE ARE EXPECTING AN INCREASE, BUT THAT WAS BEFORE THE TERRIBLE TRAGEDY IN NEW YORK THIS WEEK. I JUST CAN'T IMAGINE WHAT THAT'S LIKE FOR NEW YORK CITY TO HAVE THAT HAPPEN AGAIN. TO THE AIRLINE PASSENGERS, WHETHER IT WAS A TERRORIST ACT OR MECHANICAL FAILURE, IT DOESN'T, YOU KNOW, ENCOURAGE YOU TO FEEL THAT MUCH SAFER.

THINGS LIKE THAT HAVE HAPPENED IN THE PAST AND THERE'S A SLIGHT REDUCTION FOR A WHILE AND THEN TRAFFIC PICKS UP. BUT HERE IT'S HAPPENING RIGHT WHEN THE MAIN HOLIDAY TRAVEL SEASON IS. WE WANT PEOPLE TO FEEL SAFE ABOUT THE AIRCRAFT. WE WANT THEM TO FEEL SAFE ABOUT THE SCREENING PROCEDURES. RIGHT NOW, I THINK, IS THE TIME THAT WE'VE DONE MORE TO PROVIDE SAFETY FOR PASSENGERS AND LUGGAGE THAN EVER BEFORE. WE HOPE THAT MORE PEOPLE WILL COME, BUT TO SAY NEAR NORMAL MAY BE STRETCHING IT A LITTLE BIT.

VAL>> WE HAVE A QUESTION NOW COMING FROM OUR AUDIENCE, IF YOU'D LIKE TO TAKE IT.

JAMES HAHN>> SURE.

VAL>> FROM SHEILA IN LOS ANGELES. SHEILA, YOU'RE ON LIFE AND TIMES.

SHEILA>> GOOD EVENING.

JAMES HAHN>> GOOD EVENING.

SHEILA>> I'D LIKE TO KNOW -- I'M LEAVING FOR LONDON NEXT WEEK. CAN I BE DROPPED OFF AT LAX? I AM GOING TO AIR NEW ZEALAND.

VAL>> WHAT'S THE BEST WAY IF SOMEONE WANTS TO GET IN THERE?

JAMES HAHN>> WELL, THE BEST WAY IS NOT TO TAKE A PRIVATE CAR, TO TAKE A TAXI OR SHUTTLE OR SOME OTHER WAY INTO THE AIRPORT. THEN YOU CAN BE DROPPED OFF AT THE CURB. BUT EVEN IF YOU --

VAL>> -- BUT IF, SAY, HER RELATIVE OR SOMEBODY --

JAMES HAHN>> IF HER RELATIVES COME, YOU CAN STILL BE DROPPED OFF INSIDE THE CENTRAL TERMINAL AREA, BUT INSIDE THE PARKING STRUCTURES AND THEN --

VAL>> -- OH, NOT RIGHT UP AGAINST THE CURB?

JAMES HAHN>> NOT RIGHT UP AGAINST THE CURB, BUT THEN IT'S JUST A SHORT WALK RIGHT ACROSS THE STREET TO THE CURB, SO YOU CAN DO IT THAT WAY. BUT ALLOW A LITTLE EXTRA TIME IS WHAT WE'RE TELLING PEOPLE BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, THE LINES AT SOME AREAS ARE A LITTLE BIT LONGER BECAUSE WE'RE BEING MUCH MORE CAREFUL AS WE GO THROUGH THE SCREENING. SO ALLOW A LOT OF EXTRA TIME AND YOU SHOULD BE ABLE TO FLY FINE.

JESS>> MR. MAYOR, THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF CONCERN ABOUT THE EMPLOYEES AT LAX WHO WERE LAID OFF BECAUSE OF THE ABSENCE OF PASSENGERS. HAVE MANY OF THEM BEEN CALLED BACK?

JAMES HAHN>> NOT ALL OF THEM HAVE BEEN CALLED BACK. SOME HAVE BEEN CALLED BACK, BUT THE AIRLINES HAVE ALSO LAID OFF A LOT OF WORKERS AND THAT'S BEEN A BIG PROBLEM FOR US BECAUSE WE NEED TO HAVE THOSE PEOPLE WHO CAN ASSIST WITH TICKETING AND BAGGAGE CHECK AND EVERYTHING ELSE. THERE'S FEWER OF THEM NOW, SO THAT'S HELPING TO INCREASE THE LINES.

WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO CALL BACK THE PEOPLE WHO WORKED IN OUR CENTRAL PARKING AREA, WHICH WAS VERY IMPORTANT TO US TO GET THAT AREA OPEN AGAIN, BUT YOU'RE GOING TO SEE A RIPPLE EFFECT THROUGH THE INDUSTRY. NOT JUST AT LAX, BUT AT HOTELS AND RESTAURANTS AND OTHER THINGS THAT DEPEND ON TRAVEL AND TOURISTS. THAT'S ALL DOWN -- ATTRACTIONS AROUND THE AREA. THAT'S WHY WE'RE ALSO TRYING TO PROMOTE -- HEY, YOU KNOW, WE CAN HELP OURSELVES OUT OF THIS PROBLEM IF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIANS WILL FREQUENT THE AREAS THAT TOURISTS USUALLY DO. BE OUR OWN TOURISTS. EXPERIENCE WHAT A GREAT PLACE THIS IS.

JESS>> VACATION AT HOME.

JAMES HAHN>> VACATION AT HOME.

VAL>> YOU KNOW, IT'S NATURAL FOR A LOT OF THE ATTENTION TO BE ON LAX, BUT WHAT OTHER PARTS OR INFRASTRUCTURES OF THE CITY ARE YOU CONCENTRATING ON, ARE YOU BEEFING UP SECURITY, ARE YOU BEING ESPECIALLY ATTENTIVE TO?

JAMES HAHN>> WELL, WE'VE BEEFED UP SECURITY AT THE PORT OF LOS ANGELES. WE'VE HAD A TASKFORCE WORKING ON THAT, BUT THE COAST GUARD HAS BEEN INSPECTING EVERY SHIP COMING IN THAT AREA. WE'RE WORKING VERY CLOSELY WITH CUSTOMS AND INS AND OUR PORT POLICE DOWN THERE. WE'VE BEEFED UP SECURITY AT OUR WATER AND POWER FACILITIES, BOTH THE WATER TREATMENT PLANTS, THE AQUEDUCT, OUR POWER TRANSMISSION FACILITIES.

WE'RE ALSO LOOKING AT TALL BUILDINGS, PUBLIC BUILDINGS, AND WE'VE WORKED VERY CLOSELY WITH THE SCHOOL DISTRICT TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY HAVE PLANS TO DEAL WITH ANY EMERGENCIES AT SCHOOLS. WE IDENTIFIED MOSQUES AND TEMPLES AND OTHER PLACES OF ASSEMBLY WHERE WE THINK MIGHT PRESENT POSSIBLE TARGETS. OF COURSE, THE ENTERTAINMENT INDUSTRY WAS EARLIER IDENTIFIED AS A POSSIBLE TARGET, SO WE'VE WORKED VERY CLOSELY WITH THEM. I RECENTLY ATTENDED A MEETING WITH THE GOVERNOR THAT WE CONVENED TOGETHER TO TALK ABOUT SECURITY WITH THE ENTERTAINMENT INDUSTRY.

VAL>> ARE YOU INVOLVED AT ALL WITH THE MEDICAL EMERGENCY OR IS THAT A DIFFERENT SYSTEM FROM THE CITY?

JAMES HAHN>> WELL, WE ARE INTERFACING TO SOME DEGREE, BUT THE COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES RUNS THE HEALTH SYSTEM. WE PROVIDE, YOU KNOW, PARAMEDIC SERVICES IN THE CITY OF LOS ANGELES AND WE WORK VERY CLOSELY WITH THEM. BUT IT IS SOMETHING THAT WE ALL ARE WORKING ON AND COORDINATING A LOT MORE SINCE THE EVENTS OF SEPTEMBER 11. I THINK THOSE COORDINATION ACTIVITIES ARE WORKING VERY WELL. THE SHERIFF OF LOS ANGELES COUNTY WORKS VERY WELL WITH OUR POLICE CHIEF AND THE POLICE CHIEFS OF OTHER AREAS.

JESS>> IN ADDITION TO LAX, YOU ALSO HAVE RESPONSIBILITY FOR SOME OUTLYING AIRPORTS AS WELL?

JAMES HAHN>> WELL, ONTARIO AIRPORT BELONGS TO LOS ANGELES WORLD AIRPORTS AND PALMDALE, WHICH DOES HAVE SOME ACTIVITY OUT THERE AS WELL. WE'VE BEEFED UP SECURITY AT THOSE AIRPORTS. THE MESSAGE THAT I WANT TO TELL EVERYBODY IS THAT WE'RE DOING A LOT OF THE WORRYING SO PEOPLE WON'T HAVE TO. WE THINK THAT LOS ANGELES IS SAFE. WE DON'T HAVE ANY INFORMATION THAT WE ARE A POTENTIAL TARGET RIGHT NOW, BUT WE'RE GOING TO ACT AS IF WE ARE. EVEN THOUGH WE DON'T HAVE THAT INFORMATION, WE WANT TO BE PREPARED AND I THINK, BECAUSE WE ARE PREPARED, WE'RE SAFE.

VAL>> TAKE NOTHING FOR GRANTED THESE DAYS. THANK YOU SO MUCH, MAYOR JAMES HAHN, FOR COMING IN AND ANSWERING THESE QUESTIONS.

JAMES HAHN>> THANK YOU.

VAL>> AND SPEAKING OF MAYORS, TOMORROW ON LIFE AND TIMES, THE MAN WHO HAD THE JOB BEFORE JAMES HAHN, NOW RICHARD RIORDAN WANTS TO BE GOVERNOR.

RICHARD RIORDAN>> I LOVE CALIFORNIA, YOU LOVE CALIFORNIA.

VAL>> FORMER LOS ANGELES MAYOR, RICHARD RIORDAN, TALKS ABOUT HIS QUEST FOR THE REPUBLICAN GUBERNATORIAL NOMINATION. DOES HE HAVE WHAT IT TAKES TO BEAT GRAY DAVIS AND IS HE UP TO THE GRILLING HE'LL GET IN A STATEWIDE RACE?

JESS>> BACK IN JANUARY, LOS ANGELES COUNTY PLANNED AN EMERGENCY DRILL SIMULATING AN OUTBREAK OF PLAGUE, A SCENARIO SO FAR-FETCHED THAT NO ONE EVER DREAMED ANYTHING LIKE THAT COULD HAPPEN HERE, BUT THEN CAME SEPTEMBER 11.

VAL>> IN THE WAKE OF THE PLANE HIJACKINGS AND THE ANTHRAX DEATHS, A DEADLY PLAGUE OUTBREAK HAS BECOME MUCH MORE IMAGINABLE. WOULD EMERGENCY WORKERS BE READY IF IT HAPPENED? GAY YEE WAS THERE AS THEY WENT INTO ACTION.

ROXANNE MOSTER>> I GOT PAGED AT 7:06 THIS MORNING.

GAY>> MEDIA RELATIONS COORDINATOR, ROXANNE MOSTER, GOT THE WORD SHORTLY AFTER 7:00 A.M.

ROXANNE MOSTER>> CODE YELLOW, ACTIVATED.

GAY>> CODE YELLOW, THE DISASTER CODE FOR UCLA MEDICAL CENTER, ONLY THIS IS JUST A TEST, PART OF A COUNTYWIDE RESPONSE DRILL TO A BIOLOGICAL WEAPONS ATTACK.

VICTOR KENNEDY>> THIS IS A SEALED ENVELOPE THAT WAS GIVEN TO US BY THE COUNTY ABOUT A MONTH AGO THAT HAS SPECIFICS REGARDING THE SCENARIO, THE BIOTERRORISM SCENARIO. "YOUR EMERGENCY ROOM WILL BE SATURATED WITH PATIENTS EITHER COMING THROUGH EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES OR DRIVE ON THEIR OWN". THEN WE HAVE TO RESPOND ACCORDINGLY AND WE'RE GOING TO ASSUME THAT THEY ARE COMING FROM AN AREA THAT'S CONTAMINATED.

GAY>> VICTOR KENNEDY IS UCLA'S SAFETY DIRECTOR. THE SCENARIO HE'S BEEN GIVEN FOR THIS DRILL?

VICTOR KENNEDY>> PNEUMONIC PLAGUE.

GAY>> A CONTAGIOUS AIRBORNE PLAGUE CAUSED BY THE BACTERIA YERSINIA PESTIS. WHEN INHALED, IT CAUSES RAPID PNEUMONIA AND BLEEDING IN THE LUNGS. INCUBATION PERIOD? USUALLY ONE TO SIX DAYS. HALF THE VICTIMS DIE.

FRANCES RIDLEHOOVER>> VICTOR, WE'VE GOT THE MAIN COMMAND POST OPENED, MEDICAL CARE IS OPENED, PATIENT SERVICES IS OPENED, ANCILLARY IS OPENED....

GAY>> THE DRILL INVOLVES MAJOR COORDINATION BETWEEN VARIOUS COMMAND CENTERS SCATTERED THROUGHOUT THE MEDICAL CENTER.

FRANCES RIDLEHOOVER>> HI, KATHY, THIS IS FRANCES AT THE MAIN COMMAND POST.

>> OKAY, GO AHEAD, PLEASE.

FRANCES RIDLEHOOVER>> DO WE HAVE EVERYONE ON LINE?

GAY>> THE GOAL IS TO MAKE THE EXERCISE AS REALISTIC AS POSSIBLE.

VICTOR KENNEDY>> RIGHT HERE WHAT YOU SEE IS WE HAVE THE PATIENTS WHO HAVE COME HERE PRESENTED THEMSELVES AND WE BLOCK OUT THE EMERGENCY ROOM BECAUSE WE DON'T WANT THEM TO CONTAMINATE THE HOSPITAL, WHICH WOULD IMPACT OTHER PATIENTS.

>> WHAT'S WRONG WITH YOU?

>> I WAS EXPOSED TO SOME MEDICINE... I THINK I GOT THE PLAGUE AND I WANT TO GET IN THERE AND THIS MAN RIGHT HERE ALONG WITH....

GAY>> EMPLOYEES ROLE-PLAY AND DISPLAY INJURIES CONSISTENT WITH THE DISASTER, SUCH AS A HEART ATTACK.

>> WE NEED SOME HELP OVER HERE.

>> HEY, WE NEED SOME HELP UP HERE.

GAY>> IN A DRILL LIKE THIS, ALL DEPARTMENTS ARE PUT TO THE TEST FROM THE HAZMAT TEAM TO THE CAMPUS POLICE HAVING TO DEAL WITH PANICKED VICTIMS RUSHING TO HOSPITALS DEMANDING TREATMENT. TROUBLEMAKERS ARE THROWN IN TO CHALLENGE THE SECURITY STAFF.

>> I'VE BEEN EXPOSED TO -- HEY, GET OFF ME, MAN! GET OFF ME!

GAY>> UCLA CARRIES OUT THIS DRILL ONCE A YEAR, BUT AFTER SEPTEMBER 11, THE EXERCISE HAS NEW MEANING.

VICTOR KENNEDY>> PEOPLE ARE LISTENING NOW A LITTLE MORE. WE'RE ALL TAKING IT TO HEART. WE KNOW THAT IT IS A VERY REAL POSSIBILITY THAT WE MAY HAVE TO USE THIS.

GAY>> BUT IN THE WAKE OF SEPTEMBER 11, AMERICAN HOSPITALS ARE IN A DOUBLE BIND, FORCED TO BE THE FRONT LINE IN THIS WAR ON BIOTERRORISM WHEN MANY ARE STRUGGLING TO FINANCIALLY STAY AFLOAT. UCLA'S DEAN OF MEDICAL SERVICES SAYS PRIORITIES NEED TO BE RESHUFFLED.

DR. GERALD LEVEY>> THIS ISSUE WITH BIOTERRORISM, IF THERE IS A SILVER LINING, MAY CAUSE THE GOVERNMENT TO RETHINK -- AND BY GOVERNMENT, I MEAN BOTH STATE GOVERNMENT AND FEDERAL GOVERNMENT -- TO RETHINK THE FINANCIAL UNDERPINNINGS OF THE KEY ELEMENTS OF THE HEALTH CARE INDUSTRY.

>> WHO JUST JOINED US, PLEASE?

>> THAT'S DR. PARKER AGAIN. WE'RE HAVING PROBLEMS WITH OUR PHONES.

>> OKAY, KATHY....

GAY>> BOTTOM LINE, THIS IS A TEST OF WHAT WORKS AND WHAT DOESN'T. FOR INSTANCE, USING A CONFERENCE CALL BETWEEN COMMAND POSTS DIDN'T.

FRANCES RIDLEHOOVER>> TODAY WE TRIED TO DO IT ON A CONFERENCE CALL THINKING THAT THAT WOULD BE EASIER FOR FOLKS. THE TECHNOLOGY DIDN'T WORK THAT GREAT. WE HAD A FEW PROBLEMS GETTING IT HOOKED UP ON SOME STAFF TRAINING ISSUES, SO WE'RE GOING TO GO BACK AND PRACTICE THAT AGAIN.

FRANCES RIDLEHOOVER>> SO A 10:00 DEBRIEFING. LET ME JUST MAKE SURE EVERYBODY'S HERE BEFORE WE GO....

GAY>> DISASTER LEADERS ENDED UP HAVING TO RESORT TO OLD-FASHIONED FACE-TO-FACE COMMUNICATION AND ACTUALLY PREFERRED IT. VICTOR KENNEDY SAYS HE LEARNED A FEW THINGS TOO.

VICTOR KENNEDY>> I THOUGHT THE DRILL WENT VERY WELL. WHAT WE DO FROM HERE IS WE HOLD A DEBRIEFING, OPEN INVITATION ESSENTIALLY. EVERYONE COMES WITH THEIR COMMENTS, WE PUT THEM TOGETHER INTO AN ACTION PLAN AND PEOPLE ARE ASSIGNED TO ADDRESS THESE ISSUES. THEN WITHIN THE NEXT TWELVE MONTHS, WE'RE GOING TO DO A SIMILAR DRILL AND MOVE FORWARD AND HOPEFULLY IMPROVE ON THE THINGS THAT WE NOTED.

GAY>> AND THEY'LL BE LOOKING AT THIS PLAN CLOSELY FOR WHEN THEY DO THIS ALL OVER AGAIN NEXT YEAR. AT UCLA MEDICAL CENTER, GAY YEE FOR LIFE AND TIMES.

JESS>> IN CASE YOU TUNED IN LATE, WE WANT TO REMIND YOU AGAIN THIS WAS ONLY A TEST. HERE NOW IS A PERSON WHO WILL BE EVALUATING TODAY'S RESPONSE AND WHAT IT MEANS FOR THE FUTURE, THE ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF L.A. COUNTY'S OFFICE OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT, BOB GARRETT.

MR. GARRETT, IT WAS A TEST. WHAT SORT OF GRADE DID YOU GIVE THEM? DID THEY PASS?

BOB GARRETT>> OH, ANYTIME YOU PRACTICE, YOU GET AN "A". YOU LEARN SOMETHING AND YOU'RE ABLE TO GO BACK AND START AGAIN LOOKING AT ALL YOUR PROCEDURES AND MODIFY THEM ACCORDINGLY, SO ABSOLUTELY AN "A".

VAL>> NOW WHAT -- GAY YEE'S REPORT CENTERED ON UCLA, BUT WAS THIS A COUNTYWIDE DRILL GOING ON AT A VARIETY OF SITES?

BOB GARRETT>> YES, IT WAS. IT WAS A DRILL THAT INVOLVED ABOUT 65 CITIES OF THE 88 CITIES IN THE COUNTY. THE COUNTY EMERGENCY OPERATIONS CENTER WAS ACTIVE AND WE WERE COORDINATING EMERGENCY OPERATIONS THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY.

JESS>> WE WERE TOLD ABOUT A WEEK AGO BY EXPERTS THAT WE SIMPLY WEREN'T PREPARED FOR ANYTHING LIKE CERTAINLY WHAT HAPPENED IN NEW YORK OR THE ANTHRAX SCARE, THAT HOSPITALS JUST WEREN'T READY. ARE THEY NEARLY READY?

BOB GARRETT>> WELL, THEY'RE MORE READY TODAY THAN THEY WERE YESTERDAY AND THEY'RE GOING TO BE MORE READY TOMORROW THAN THEY ARE TODAY.

VAL>> WE HAVE A QUESTION NOW COMING FROM OUR VIEWER. TOM FROM SAN PEDRO HAS A QUESTION. TOM, YOU'RE ON LIFE AND TIMES.

TOM>> HI, THANKS. I SAW YOUR PROGRAM THE OTHER NIGHT AND CALLERS ASKED ABOUT THE FOOD SUPPLY BEING CONTAMINATED WITH ANTHRAX OR THE WATER SUPPLY BEING CONTAMINATED WITH ANTHRAX. NOW WE HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT THIS PNEUMONIC PLAGUE AND HERE'S THE HEADACHE. WHAT IF THEY CONTAMINATE THE CURRENCY? YOUR DOLLAR BILLS NOW HAVE ONE OF THESE THINGS ON THEM. HAVE YOU PREPARED FOR THAT?

BOB GARRETT>> THAT'S ALWAYS A POSSIBILITY. MAIL CAN BE CONTAMINATED, CURRENCY CAN BE CONTAMINATED, AND WE'LL DEAL WITH THOSE ISSUES JUST AS WE HAVE WITH THE MAIL. I THINK THAT THE RESPONSE TO THE MAIL ISSUE HAS BEEN QUICK. THERE WAS A LITTLE HESITANCY TO UNDERSTAND WHAT THE ISSUES ARE, BUT ONCE WE GOT THAT UNDERSTANDING, THE POSTAL AUTHORITIES, U.S. POSTAL SERVICE AND THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TOOK THE RIGHT STEPS AND ARE STILL TAKING THE RIGHT STEPS.

VAL>> WHAT ARE THE ACTUAL CHANCES -- THE OTHER PART OF THIS QUESTION -- WHAT ARE THE ACTUAL CHANCES THAT PNEUMONIC PLAGUE WOULD REALLY BREAK OUT HERE? IS IT LOW OR HIGH?

BOB GARRETT>> YEAH, PNEUMONIC PLAGUE BASICALLY DOESN'T BREAK OUT NATURALLY. IT WOULD -- PLAGUE IS ALWAYS HERE. THE PLAGUE IS OUT THERE WITH GROUND RODENTS. PNEUMONIC PLAGUE WILL ONLY OCCUR IN PEOPLE IN THE NUMBERS WE PORTRAYED IN OUR EXERCISE IF SOMEBODY HAS DELIBERATELY DONE SOMETHING TO RELEASE IT.

VAL>> AND WHAT KIND OF NUMBERS ARE WE TALKING ABOUT PROBABLY? IS IT EASILY CONTAGIOUS? IS IT NOT? 

BOB GARRETT>> YES, IT'S CONTAGIOUS, WHICH IS WHY WE PICKED IT FOR OUR EXERCISE, BECAUSE IT IS SOMETHING THAT WOULD CHALLENGE US FROM THAT RESPECT.

JESS>> ALTHOUGH ANTHRAX IS NOT CONTAGIOUS, HOW DIFFERENT WOULD THIS BE IF YOU HAD CHOSEN ANTHRAX?

BOB GARRETT>> WELL, THE NUMBERS OF PEOPLE INFECTED WOULD HAVE BEEN SMALLER. THE CHALLENGES TO THE HEALTHCARE SYSTEM WOULD HAVE BEEN SMALLER. WE WANTED A -- FOR OUR EXERCISE, WE WANTED SOMETHING THAT WOULD CHALLENGE US AND CAUSE US TO THINK ABOUT THE ISSUES INVOLVED IN A LARGE SCALE OPERATION SUCH AS PLAGUE COULD CAUSE FOR US.

JESS>> WE HAVE ANOTHER CALL, THIS ONE FROM LAURIE IN LOS ANGELES. LAURIE, YOU'RE ON LIFE AND TIMES.

LAURIE>> GOOD EVENING. I REMEMBERED THE INCIDENT IN WASHINGTON, D.C. WHERE THE POSTAL WORKER CALLED 911 AND TOLD THEM THAT HE THOUGHT HE HAD ANTHRAX AND THEY WERE NOT VERY RESPONSIVE. ARE OUR 911 OPERATORS BEING PREPARED AS WELL FOR A POSSIBLE --

VAL>> -- GOOD QUESTION, GOOD QUESTION. 911?

BOB GARRETT>> YEAH, ABSOLUTELY. I THINK EVERYONE NOW REALIZES THE REALITIES OF WHAT THIS TYPE OF BIOTERRORISM COULD MEAN, SO ABSOLUTELY. TRAINING IS GOING ON WITHIN CITIES, WITHIN THE COUNTY GOVERNMENT, TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERYBODY UNDERSTANDS HOW TO REACT TO REPORTS OF TERRORISM.

VAL>> AND KNOWS THE SYMPTOMS TO LISTEN FOR AND THE QUESTIONS TO ASK BECAUSE THAT'S KEY, RIGHT?

BOB GARRETT>> YES. OUR HEALTH SERVICES DEPARTMENT HAS BEEN PUTTING OUT A LARGE NUMBER OF FLYERS THAT INDICATE WHAT THE SYMPTOMS ARE, WHAT THE PRECURSORS ARE, HOW CONTAGIOUS PEOPLE CAN BE.

VAL>> WAS 911 PART OF THE DRILL TODAY?

BOB GARRETT>> 911 WAS NOT PART OF THE DRILL TODAY, NO. THE DRILL FOCUSED ON EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AND THE HEALTHCARE SYSTEM.

JESS>> AND ALL THE PEOPLE INVOLVED IN TODAY'S DRILL WERE PROFESSIONALS, NOT VOLUNTEERS?

BOB GARRETT>> THAT'S CORRECT.

VAL>> WHAT DO YOU THINK THE WEAK POINTS ARE? OKAY, WE'VE HAD THE DRILL, I KNOW YOU STILL HAVE TO EVALUATE IT, BUT WHAT WOULD YOU SAY ARE THE LESSONS YOU'VE LEARNED SO FAR THAT YOU CAN SEE?

JESS>> IN ADDITION TO THE CONFERENCE CALL THAT DIDN'T WORK. (LAUGHTER)

VAL>> (LAUGHTER) RIGHT.

BOB GARRETT>> WELL, THE BIG POSITIVE, I THINK, IS THAT OUR EXPERIENCE IN L.A. COUNTY WORKING WITH DISASTERS, EARTHQUAKES, FIRES, FLOODS, HAS STOOD US WELL IN TERMS OF LOOKING AT THE ISSUES INVOLVED IN A BIOTERRORISM EVENT. SO I THINK EMERGENCY MANAGERS AND MOST OF THE PEOPLE WORKING IN THE EMERGENCY OPERATIONS CENTER WHERE I WAS TODAY DON'T DO THAT AS A REGULAR JOB.

THIS IS SOMETHING THEY DO AS A PART-TIME JOB, IF YOU WILL. IT'S SOMETHING THEY'RE CALLED IN FROM WHEREVER THEY WORK IN A CHIEF ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICE OR IN THE FIRE DEPARTMENT OR IN THE HEALTH SERVICES DEPARTMENT. THEY COME TOGETHER IN THE EOC AND THEIR WORK THERE IS SOMETHING THAT THEY PRACTICE ONCE A YEAR IN EXERCISES AND WE DO WHEN WE HAVE A DISASTER, SO THE EXPERIENCE THEY'VE HAD HAS BEEN VERY GOOD.

VAL>> ALL THE MORE REASON FOR THE DRILL. BOB GARRETT OF THE L.A. COUNTY OFFICE OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT, THANK YOU.

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JESS>> WHY DO YOU LOVE L.A.? IF YOU CAN'T PUT YOUR FINGER ON IT, THAT MAY BE A GOOD THING. PATT MORRISON EXPLAINS WHY IN TONIGHT'S INFINITELY MORRISON.

PATT>> WHEN ONE L.A. COUNCILMAN WANTED THE CITY TO MAKE THE CIVIC PATRIOTIC GESTURE OF PAINTING A GIANT FLAG ACROSS THE HOLLYWOOD SIGN, ANOTHER COUNCILMAN WHOSE DISTRICT REPRESENTS THE SIGN SAID NO. HE LOVES THE CITY AND HE LOVES THE FLAG, HE SAID, BUT HE ALSO LOVES THE MONUMENTS OF L.A. THEY DON'T PAINT THE WHITE HOUSE RED, WHITE AND BLUE, HE SAID, SO LET'S NOT START HERE.

THE DEBATE POINTED UP THE FACT THAT PERHAPS AT NO OTHER TIME HAS THE DEFINITION OF L.A. AS AN IDEA MORE THAN A PLACE BEEN MORE SALIENT THAN NOW. THE VERY CHARACTERISTIC FOR WHICH L.A. HAS BEEN MOCKED FOR DECADES HAS MADE IT A MORE DIFFICULT LANDSCAPE FOR TERRORISM. IN MILITARY LANGUAGE, NOT AS TARGET-RICH AN ENVIRONMENT AS OTHER PLACES.

IT WAS OAKLAND, WHOSE NATIVE DAUGHTER, GERTRUDE STEIN, WROTE THAT THERE'S NO "THERE" THERE, BUT IT'S LOS ANGELES THAT'S BEEN ACCUSED OF LACKING ANY SENSE OF PLACE. PERHAPS LOS ANGELES, MUCH LIKE CALIFORNIA ITSELF, PROFITS FROM BEING LESS A DEFINED PLACE WITH OBVIOUS SYMBOLS THAN A STATE OF MIND, AN ILLUSIVE QUALITY THAT CAN'T BE FIXED ON A MAP.

L.A. WAS FOUNDED MORE THAN 200 YEARS AGO AS A PLACE OF FAR-FLUNG RANCHOS AND FARMS AND IT'S BEEN RIDICULED EVER SINCE FOR ITS DECENTRALIZED, UNCITIFIED NATURE, AS IF THE COMPONENTS OF EASTERN CITIES HAD BEEN DROPPED INTO A CENTRIFUGE AND SCATTERED ACROSS THE EDGES OF THE GAME BOARD.

BUT TO SAY L.A. HAS NO SENSE OF PLACE IS HARDLY TRUE. IF ANYTHING, L.A. HAS TOO MANY SENSES OF PLACE TO SATISFY THE PEOPLE WHO PINE FOR A STANDARD-ISSUE CITY. EACH PART CAN FUNCTION SEPARATELY FROM THE OTHER. THE HARBOR HAS ONE LIFE, HOLLYWOOD ANOTHER, THE BEACH CULTURE EXISTS APART FROM THE VALLEY CULTURE. AND DOWNTOWN? WHICH DOWNTOWN DO YOU MEAN? CENTURY CITY'S? SANTA MONICA'S? PASADENA'S? OR THE ORIGINAL DOWNTOWN L.A., BELOVED OF FILMMAKERS WHERE L.A.'S GRAND CITY HALL MAY BE MORE READILY RECOGNIZED AS THE DAILY PLANET BUILDING IN THE OLD "SUPERMAN" TV SHOW THAN AS THE MUNICIPAL HUB.

A RAND RESEARCHER NAMED JACK RILEY POSED THE PUZZLE TO THE L.A. TIMES. "WHAT ARE THE DRAWS OF L.A.?", HE SAID. "THE BEACH? THE WEATHER? THE OUTDOOR LIFESTYLE? HOW", HE SAID, "DO YOU ATTACK THAT?" THERE'S ONLY ONE WEAPON I CAN THINK OF THAT TERRORISTS COULD USE. THEY COULD MAKE IT SNOW.

VAL>> THE GREATEST SHOW ON EARTH MAY BE OVER SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA SKIES THIS WEEKEND. IF THE EXPERTS ARE RIGHT, THERE WILL BE MORE SHOOTING STARS EARLY SUNDAY MORNING THAN WE'VE SEEN IN THIRTY YEARS.

JESS>> IT'S CALLED THE LEONID METEOR STORM AND ASTRONOMERS HOPE IT WILL BE A BIG HIT. SATELLITE OPERATORS WILL BE HAPPY WITH A MISS. TONIGHT BRIAN HACKNEY HAS TIPS ON HOW TO WATCH FOR THIS HEAVENLY EVENT.

BRIAN>> AT THIS MOMENT, OUR PLANET IS ON A COLLISION COURSE WITH DUST FROM A COMET AND, WHEN THAT DUST SMASHES INTO OUR ATMOSPHERE, IT CAN PRODUCE A SHOWER OF SHOOTING STARS SO UNFORGETTABLE THAT EVEN A YOUNG ABE LINCOLN STUMBLED OUT OF BED TO WATCH BACK IN 1833.

SUNDAY MORNING'S LEONID METEOR STORM MIGHT SHAPE UP TO BE ONE OF THE BEST, BUT IS IT AN OVERSTATEMENT TO SAY THAT IT COULD BE THE CHANCE OF A LIFETIME?

>> NO. I THINK IT IS THE CHANCE OF A LIFETIME.

BRIAN>> THEY'RE CALLED THE LEONIDS BECAUSE THE SHOOTING STARS APPEAR TO RADIATE FROM THE CONSTELLATION LEO AND, EVERY 33 YEARS OR SO, SKY WATCHERS HAVE SEEN THE NUMBERS OF SHOOTING STARS EXPLODE.

COL. PETER WORDEN>> WE HAVE APPROXIMATELY A THOUSAND METEORS PER HOUR IF YOU WERE TO LOOK OUT IN THE SKY.

BRIAN>> NASA PLANES FLEW INTO PREVIOUS STORMS. EXPERTS USED THE DATA THEY COLLECTED ONBOARD TO PRODUCE A FORECAST FOR LOTS OF SHOOTING STARS EARLY SUNDAY.

>> NASA'S PREDICTING UP TO 3,000 AN HOUR.

BRIAN>> YOU SEEM TO BE FAIRLY CERTAIN IT'S GOING TO PAN OUT ACCORDING TO PREDICTION.

PETER JENNISKENS>> YES.

BRIAN>> PETER JENNISKENS WAS ONBOARD NASA AIRCRAFTS STUDYING THE METEORS. HE'S ONE OF THE WORLD'S FEW EXPERTS.

PETER JENNISKENS>> IF IT UNFOLDS AS PLANNED, THERE IS NOTHING LIKE IT HAPPENING OVER THIS AREA SINCE THE STORM OF 1966.

BRIAN>> THEN, AS NOW, THE EARTH WILL BE PLOWING THROUGH AN ESPECIALLY DENSE CLOUD OF DUST LEFT BEHIND BY COMET TEMPLE-TUTTLE. HUGELY MAGNIFIED, THE DUST LOOKS LIKE THIS, A SPECK OF DEBRIS NO BIGGER THAN A GRAIN OF SAND, BUT WHEN IT SLAMS INTO OUR ATMOSPHERE AT 150,000 MILES AN HOUR, FRICTION HEATS IT, VAPORIZES IT AT 3,000 DEGREES FAHRENHEIT AND WE SEE THE RESULT AS A METEOR, A SHOOTING STAR. AND IF WE SEE THOUSANDS, IT'S A METEOR STORM.

THE PEAK OF THE STORM IS FORECAST TO BE AROUND 2:00 A.M. SUNDAY MORNING. THERE'S A RANGE OF FORECASTS FROM 800 TO 4,000 METEORS AN HOUR, BUT TO SEE AS MANY AS POSSIBLE, YOU HAVE TO DO THIS. FIRST, GET AWAY FROM CITY LIGHTS. THE DARKER THE SKY, THE BETTER. AND SECOND, THE HIGHER, THE BETTER TOO. YOU CAN SEE TWO TO THREE TIMES AS MANY SHOOTING STARS IN THE MOUNTAINS AS YOU CAN AT SEA LEVEL. AND THE BEST TIME TO LOOK IS EARLY SUNDAY MORNING BETWEEN 1:00 AND 3:00 A.M. AGAIN, THE PEAK IS AROUND 2:00 A.M. FINALLY, THERE'S NO PARTICULAR PLACE IN THE SKY TO LOOK. YOU JUST LOOK UP. AND REMEMBER, THE MOST IMPORTANT THING, DEFINITELY, DEFINITELY, DEFINITELY --

>> -- DEFINITELY AWAY FROM CITY LIGHTS.

SCOTT SANDFORD>> DON'T GO OUT AND STAND AND LOOK LIKE THIS OR YOU'LL END UP WITH THE BIGGEST CRICK IN YOUR NECK. YOU CAN IMAGINE. TAKE OUT A LAWN CHAIR OR PILLOW OR SOMETHING. LAY ON YOUR BACK, LET YOUR EYES ADJUST TO THE DARK SKY AND THEN PREPARE TO BE PATIENT.

BRIAN>> AND WHEN YOU DO SEE THOSE GRAINS OF COSMIC DUST STREAKING ACROSS THE SKY AT 240 TIMES THE SPEED OF SOUND, REMEMBER, YOU MAY BE SEEING YOUR MOST DISTANT ANCESTOR FLASHING ACROSS THE NIGHTTIME SKY.

SETH SHOSTAK>> THESE ROCKS IN SPACE HAVE BEEN FOUND TO CARRY ORGANIC COMPOUNDS, THE KIND OF STICKY LITTLE CHEMISTRY THAT MAKE UP OUR OWN BODIES AND ALL LIFE HERE ON THE EARTH. ROCKS IN SPACE MAY HAVE BEEN, IN SOME SENSE, OUR VERY DISTANT ANCESTORS.

BRIAN>> AS LONG AS RAIN SHOWERS DON'T INTERFERE WITH THE SHOW, THIS WEEKEND WILL BE THE TIME TO WATCH WHAT MAY BE THE STORM OF A LIFETIME.

PETER JENNISKENS>> THE NEXT TIME FOR CONDITIONS LIKE THIS WILL NOT BE UNTIL 2099, SO YOU WILL HAVE TO WAIT MORE THAN A LIFETIME TO GET ANOTHER CHANCE TO SEE IT.

BRIAN>> THAT'S IF THE FORECAST TURNS OUT TO BE RIGHT, AND THE CHANCE OF THAT? NOBODY CAN SAY. IN SAN FRANCISCO, I'M SCIENCE CORRESPONDENT, BRIAN HACKNEY, FOR LIFE AND TIMES.

JESS>> THE GRIFFITH OBSERVATORY IS A GOOD SOURCE AND FOR MORE INFORMATION ON THE LEONID METEOR SHOWERS, CHECK THEIR WEBSITE OR CALL THE SKY REPORT HOTLINE AT THE NUMBER ON YOUR SCREEN NOW.

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VAL>> AND, BY THE WAY, THE THREAT TO SATELLITES IS NOT A SERIOUS ONE. THAT'S OUR PROGRAM FOR TONIGHT. THANKS FOR WATCHING.

JESS>> NOW FOR ALL OF US HERE AT LIFE AND TIMES, HAVE A GREAT EVENING.

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

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.


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