2/8/02

LC020208

VAL>> ON LIFE AND TIMES TONIGHT --

JESS>> YOU'VE HEARD ABOUT THE DOG-MAULING CASE IN SAN FRANCISCO. JUST IMAGINE A NIGHTMARE SUCH AS THAT ON YOUR STREET.

PHILIP BRUCE>> HAVING AN AGGRESSIVE DOG IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD CAN BE A REAL NIGHTMARE. THE ONLY THING WORSE IS MEETING THAT DOG FACE-TO-FACE.

[AGGRESSIVE DOG]

MATTHEW MARGOLIS>> IF I WERE TO PUT MY HAND IN THERE, GOOD NIGHT. NOW DOES THIS LOOK LIKE THE FAMILY PET?

VAL>> AND WHY IS RACE A FACTOR IN THE ONGOING CONTROVERSY OVER POLICE CHIEF BERNARD PARKS? TONIGHT A RESPECTED CIVIL RIGHTS LEADER TALKS ABOUT PARKS' IMPORTANCE TO THE AFRICAN-AMERICAN COMMUNITY AND WE'LL ALSO GET HIS TAKE ON THE POLITICAL FUTURE OF MAYOR JAMES HAHN WHO OUTRAGED MANY BLACK SUPPORTERS BY OPPOSING PARKS' BID FOR A SECOND TERM.

JESS>> THE CRITICS ALL LOVE IT, BUT CAN "MONSTER'S BALL" GET THE ATTENTION OF THE ACADEMY?

[FILM CLIP]

JESS>> WE'LL TALK TO DIRECTOR, MARC FORSTER, AND HEAR WHAT IT'S LIKE TO BE AN UNDERDOG IN THE RACE FOR AN OSCAR.

VAL>> 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.

THE CALIFORNIA ENDOWMENT
THE STATE'S LARGEST HEALTH FOUNDATION SUPPORTING ORGANIZATIONS THAT DIRECTLY IMPROVE THE HEALTH AND WELL-BEING OF CALIFORNIA'S DIVERSE COMMUNITIES. THE CALIFORNIA ENDOWMENT, A PARTNER FOR HEALTHIER COMMUNITIES.


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

JESS>> AND I'M JESS MARLOW.

WHAT HAPPENS WHEN MAN'S BEST FRIEND BECOMES A DEADLY MENACE? IN SAN FRANCISCO, IT TOOK A TRAGEDY TO FINALLY GET AUTHORITIES' ATTENTION. NOW THE COUPLE WHO OWNED THE TWO DANGEROUS DOGS IN THAT CASE ARE CHARGED WITH THE DEATH OF THEIR NEIGHBOR AND THEIR TRIAL HAS BEEN MOVED TO LOS ANGELES.

VAL>> THE CASE OF MARJORIE KNOLLER AND ROBERT NOEL POINTS TO A PROBLEM THAT EXISTS IN MOST CITIES, AND THAT'S THE DIFFICULTY IN PROTECTING YOURSELF AGAINST A DANGEROUS DOG. TONIGHT PHILIP BRUCE REVISITS THE CONTROVERSY HE FIRST REPORTED ON A YEAR AGO WITH ONE WOMAN'S UNANSWERED CALL FOR HELP.

PHILIP>> WHEN ERIKA WALCZAK MOVED TO THE HOLLYWOOD HILLS, IT WAS PARTIALLY BECAUSE THE NEIGHBORHOOD OFFERED PLENTY OF GOOD PLACES FOR HER TO WALK HER DOG, SKY.

ERIKA WALCZAK>> HEY, SKY, WANT A TREAT?

PHILIP>> BUT THEN CAME THE ATTACK, TWO ROTTWEILERS WALKING OFF-LEASH ON A TRAIL ALONGSIDE AN OWNER WHO DID NOTHING TO CONTROL THEM.

ERIKA WALCZAK>> I ASKED HIM IF HE WOULD PLEASE HOLD HIS DOGS, VERY CALMLY, AS CALMLY AS I COULD, AND HE DIDN'T. THEY CHARGED ACROSS THE STREET AND BEGAN BITING MY DOG INSTANTLY ON THE HEAD, NECK AND BACK. WE WERE PINNED AGAINST AN EMBANKMENT SO IT WAS VERY DIFFICULT -- WE COULDN'T GET AWAY.

PHILIP>> THESE PHOTOGRAPHS WERE TAKEN AFTER VETERINARIANS MANAGED TO STOP THE BLEEDING AND STITCH SKY BACK TOGETHER. NOTICE THE DRAINAGE TUBES IN HIS THROAT AND NECK, THE RESULT OF DEEP BITE WOUNDS THAT SEVERED FLESH AND MUSCLE.

ERIKA WALCZAK>> IT TOOK ABOUT TWO TO THREE MONTHS FOR HIM TO RECOVER. I THINK, ACTUALLY, IT PROBABLY TOOK ME LONGER TO RECOVER BECAUSE I DIDN'T REALIZE AT THE TIME, BUT EVENTS LIKE THESE, I THINK, SORT OF TAKE HOLD IN YOUR PSYCHE. THERE WAS A LOT OF DIFFICULTY SLEEPING AND JUST A LOT OF STRESS AROUND THE WHOLE EVENT.

PHILIP>> THE ROTTWEILERS BELONGED TO ONE OF ERIKA'S NEIGHBORS. WHEN HE AGREED TO PAY SKY'S VET BILLS, SHE SAYS SHE ASSUMED HE'D DO THE RIGHT THING.

ERIKA WALCZAK>> UNTIL I SAW HIM WALKING HIS DOGS OFF-LEASH AGAIN, AND THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON ACTUALLY FOR TWO YEARS NOW.

PHILIP>> THAT'S WHEN ERIKA FILED NOT ONE, BUT TWO SEPARATE COMPLAINTS WITH L.A. ANIMAL CONTROL, THE CITY DEPARTMENT THAT'S SUPPOSED TO DEAL WITH THREATENING OR DANGEROUS DOGS. BUT INSTEAD OF GETTING QUICK ACTION, ERIKA SAYS HER COMPLAINTS GOT TOSSED INTO A BUREAUCRATIC BLACK HOLE AND THE DANGEROUS ROTTWEILERS CONTINUED TO WALK OFF-LEASH IN FRONT OF HER HOME.

ERIKA WALCZAK>> AFTER MAKING MY THIRD REPORT TO ANIMAL CONTROL AND LEARNING THAT THEY HAD LOST MY PREVIOUS REPORTS, I REALIZED I WAS UP AGAINST SORT OF A DIFFICULT BUREAUCRACY AND I MADE A CONSCIOUS DECISION TO EXTRACT MYSELF FROM THAT. I DON'T WANT TO HAVE TO QUIT MY JOB AND BECOME AN ADVOCATE FOR DOG VIOLENCE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD.

PHILIP>> IN SHORT, ERIKA WALCZAK STOPPED TRYING TO GET THE ROTTWEILERS UNDER CONTROL BECAUSE IT WAS CLEAR THE BATTLE WOULD TAKE MORE TIME AND MORE MONEY THAN SHE HAD TO SPEND. IT'S A COMMON DILEMMA FOR THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE ACROSS SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA WHO FIND OUT THE HARD WAY HOW DIFFICULT IT IS TO FORCE A DOG OWNER TO CONTROL A THREATENING ANIMAL. AND IF YOU THINK THE FOLKS AT ANIMAL CONTROL HAVE THE ANSWER, GUESS AGAIN.

JACKIE DAVID>> I PERSONALLY HAVE A NEIGHBOR WHO JUST GOT A LARGE PIT BULL AND I KNOW THAT THESE ARE NOT RESPONSIBLE PEOPLE. I HAVE A TWO-YEAR-OLD AND A FOUR-YEAR-OLD. I AM VERY SCARED. I'M VERY SCARED, BUT THERE'S NOTHING I CAN DO, AND I WORK FOR THE DEPARTMENT.

PHILIP>> JACKIE DAVID IS A SPOKESPERSON FOR ANIMAL CONTROL, BUT SHE CLAIMS SHE'S JUST AS HELPLESS TO DEAL WITH THE THREAT AS THE AVERAGE CIVILIAN. WHILE THE SHELTERS ARE FILLED WITH STRAYS OR ABANDONED DOGS THAT HAVE BEEN PICKED UP, DAVID SAYS IT'S OFTEN DIFFICULT TO TAKE ACTION WHEN AN ANIMAL BELONGS TO SOMEONE, EVEN IF IT'S ATTACKED OTHER DOGS. SO WHAT CAN YOU DO IF THERE'S A THREATENING DOG IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD?

JACKIE DAVID>> NOTHING. JUST BE AWARE OF THE DOG AND, YOU KNOW, BE AWARE OF WHAT TO DO IN CASE THE DOG MAY ATTACK OR, YOU KNOW, TO PREVENT A DOG FROM ATTACKING YOU.

PHILIP>> SO YOU BASICALLY HAVE TO WAIT UNTIL THE DOG ACTUALLY ATTACKS SOMEBODY TO TAKE ANY KIND OF ACTION?

JACKIE DAVID>> BASICALLY, IF THERE'S NO EVIDENCE, YES, THAT'S IT. THAT TRULY IS IT.

PHILIP>> IF ANY CASE ILLUSTRATES THE DILEMMA, IT'S THE RECENT FATAL MAULING IN SAN FRANCISCO. DIANE WHIPPLE DIED A BRUTAL DEATH OUTSIDE HER PACIFIC HEIGHTS APARTMENT WHEN HER NEIGHBOR'S PRESA CANARIO, AN ANIMAL BRED FOR AGGRESSION, ATTACKED AND KILLED HER. AUTHORITIES LATER DISCOVERED THE DOG HAD A VIOLENT HISTORY OF ATTACKING OTHER ANIMALS AND MOST AMAZING OF ALL WAS ITS LINK TO A PRISON GANG THAT'S BEEN BREEDING AND SELLING PRESA CANARIOS. BUT THE BIGGEST STIR CAME WHEN THE DOG'S OWNERS SEEMED TO SUGGEST THAT THE VICTIM HAD PROVOKED THE ATTACK POSSIBLY WITH HER PERFUME OR HER ACTIONS IN THE HALLWAY.

MATTHEW MARGOLIS>> THE OWNERS ARE SOLELY RESPONSIBLE. YOU HAVE TO KNOW THEY KNEW THIS DOG WAS AGGRESSIVE. HE'S A DANGEROUS ANIMAL. HE'S KILLED HUNDREDS OF ANIMALS, KILLED GOATS, KILLED CATS, HE WAS BRED TO BE A FIGHTING DOG. WHAT WERE THEY THINKING?

PHILIP>> LOS ANGELES DOG TRAINER, MATTHEW MARGOLIS, BETTER KNOWN BY MILLIONS AS UNCLE MATTY, SAYS TOO MANY PEOPLE TRY TO COVER UP OR MAKE EXCUSES WHEN THEY OWN AN AGGRESSIVE ANIMAL. TODAY, TAMMY SOLKO HAS COME TO HIM FOR HELP WITH HER DOG, LUCY.

MATTHEW MARGOLIS>> WHERE IS SHE?

[AGGRESSIVE DOG]

MATTHEW MARGOLIS>> NOW YOU CAN SEE HOW AGGRESSIVE SHE IS NEAR THE CAR. IF I WOULD PUT MY HAND IN THERE, GOOD NIGHT. NOW DOES THIS LOOK LIKE THE FAMILY PET? WELL, TO TAMMY, IT IS. THIS IS HER BABY.

PHILIP>> BUT THEN TAMMY'S BABY TOOK A BITE OUT OF HER HAND. THAT'S WHEN SHE REALIZED SHE NEEDED HELP.

TAMMY SOLKO>> I WAS LETTING A FRIEND INTO THE HOUSE AND I THOUGHT MY DOG KNEW THE FRIEND WELL ENOUGH BECAUSE PEOPLE THAT SHE KNOWS WELL, SHE LETS IN WITH NO TROUBLE. SHE WENT FOR MY FRIEND AND I PUT MY HAND OUT TO STOP HER AND I GOT BITTEN.

PHILIP>> IT WAS THE FIRST TIME THAT TAMMY GOT BITTEN, BUT IT WASN'T THE FIRST TIME THAT LUCY HAS TRIED TO TAKE A PIECE OUT OF SOMEBODY.

MATTHEW MARGOLIS>> THE PROBLEM IS, TAMMY, IF YOU THINK ABOUT HOW MANY DOG BITES THAT HAS HAPPENED AND SHE STILL TO THIS DAY WILL SAY IT'LL LIKE THREE OR FOUR OF HER FRIENDS, SHE ABSOLUTELY BELIEVES THAT THIS DOG WOULDN'T BITE SOME OF HER CLOSEST FRIENDS. I DISAGREE WITH HER. I THINK ONE DAY ONE OF HER CLOSEST FRIENDS IS GOING TO GET BIT.

PHILIP>> MARGOLIS HAS SPENT MUCH OF HIS ADULT LIFE DEALING WITH THREATENING ANIMALS. IN HIS NEW BOOK ON CANINE AGGRESSION, HE SAYS THE BIGGEST PROBLEM IS DOG OWNERS WHO LIVE IN DENIAL. MARGOLIS SAYS WHAT THE ANIMALS TRULY NEED IS TRAINING TO BRING THEM UNDER CONTROL. SOMETIMES IT DOESN'T WORK, BUT USUALLY IT DOES. AFTER JUST A FEW MINUTES WITH MARGOLIS, LUCY SHOWED PROMISE. QUITE A CHANGE FROM THE GNASHING OF TEETH AT THE CAR WINDOW.

MATTHEW MARGOLIS>> TRUTHFULLY, IF THIS WASN'T YOUR DOG WHEN YOU WATCHED THAT, WOULD YOU TRUST THAT DOG?

TAMMY SOLKO>> NO, I WOULDN'T. I KNOW. WE HAD THAT DISCUSSION BEFORE. NOT IF IT WEREN'T MY DOG.

MATTHEW MARGOLIS>> SEE, IF IT'S NOT HER DOG, IT'S A WHOLE DIFFERENT PERCEPTION. IT IS HER DOG. ALL OF A SUDDEN, IT'S WONDERFUL. SO IT'S A GOOD DOG WITH A REAL BAD PROBLEM THAT NEEDS TO BE HELPED.

JESS>> LAWYERS ARE STILL QUESTIONING POTENTIAL JURORS IN THE TRIAL OF THAT SAN FRANCISCO COUPLE. THEIR BIGGEST CHALLENGE IS FINDING PEOPLE WHO SAY THEY CAN KEEP AN OPEN MIND UNTIL THEY HEAR ALL THE EVIDENCE.

VAL>> MONDAY ON LIFE AND TIMES, THE STORY OF A LEGAL LOOPHOLE IN NAFTA. IT'S ALLOWING THE PRODUCER OF A SUSPECTED CARCINOGEN TO SUE THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA FOR DAMAGES.

>> DID YOU KNOW THAT ONE INVESTOR IN A FOREIGN COMPANY CAN SUE THE UNITED STATES BECAUSE OF AN ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION LAW IN CALIFORNIA? PEOPLE ARE ASTOUNDED ONCE THEY KIND OF GRASP IT.

JESS>> FOR MORE THAN TWO GENERATIONS, THE HAHN NAME HAS BEEN RESPECTED, EVEN REVERED, IN THE AFRICAN-AMERICAN COMMUNITIES OF LOS ANGELES, BUT WHAT A DIFFERENCE A FEW DAYS CAN MAKE. NOW SOME BLACK LEADERS ARE CALLING MAYOR JAMES HAHN A TRAITOR AND THEY'VE STARTED PLOTTING A RECALL EFFORT.

VAL>> IT'S ALL BECAUSE OF THE RIFT BETWEEN THE MAYOR AND L.A.'S TOP COP, CHIEF BERNARD PARKS. PARKS DEFENDS HIS CREDENTIALS AS A REFORMER AND SAYS HE'S SURPRISED THE MAYOR IS OPPOSED TO HIM GETTING A SECOND TERM AS CHIEF. MEANWHILE, A FEW OF HAHN'S CLOSEST ALLIES ARE WORRIED THE MAYOR MAY HAVE COMMITTED A HUGE POLITICAL BLUNDER BY ALIENATING HIS CORE SUPPORTERS IN THE BLACK COMMUNITY.

JESS>> JOINING US NOW TO TALK ABOUT ALL OF THIS, OUR POLITICAL ANALYST, KERMAN MADDOX, AND ALSO HERE IS JOHN MACK FROM THE LOS ANGELES OFFICE OF THE URBAN LEAGUE. KERMAN, IS HAHN IN BIG TROUBLE?

KERMAN>> I THINK HE'S IN VERY BIG TROUBLE, JESS, BECAUSE WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT THE COALITIONS THAT PUT HIM INTO OFFICE, HE HAD HUGE SUPPORT IN THE SAN FERNANDO VALLEY, HE HAD HUGE SUPPORT IN THE AFRICAN-AMERICAN COMMUNITY. THOSE COMMUNITIES RIGHT NOW ARE VERY UPSET WITH THE MAYOR FOR DIFFERENT REASONS. THE VALLEY, OF COURSE, ABOUT SECESSION, AND THE AFRICAN-AMERICAN COMMUNITY, WHICH I'LL LET JOHN TALK ABOUT.

I BELIEVE THEY FELT THAT MAYOR HAHN, DURING THE PRIMARY, MADE A COMMITMENT THAT HE WOULD EXTEND THE CONTRACT OF CHIEF OF POLICE, BERNARD PARKS, AND THEN, ONCE HE SEEMED TO GET THE ENDORSEMENT OF THE POLICE PROTECTIVE LEAGUE, HE KIND OF FLIPPED. SO I THINK THERE'S A SENSE OF BETRAYAL IN THE AFRICAN-AMERICAN COMMUNITY, AS WELL AS IN THE SAN FERNANDO VALLEY.

VAL>> IS BETRAYAL THE PROPER TERM?

JOHN MACK>> ABSOLUTELY, IT IS.

JESS>> WAS THERE SUCH A PLEDGE?

JOHN MACK>> WELL, THERE ARE SOME INDIVIDUAL LEADERS WITHIN OUR COMMUNITY WHO WENT OUT AND RAISED MONEY FOR HIM, PUT THEIR POLITICAL CAPITAL ON THE LINE, AND SOME OF THEM HAVE INDICATED TO ME THAT THEY HAD SOME DIRECT DISCUSSIONS WITH THE MAYOR. WHILE HE DIDN'T SIGN A BLOOD OATH PLEDGE, THERE WAS A STRONG IMPLICATION THAT CLEARLY HE WOULD BE SUPPORTIVE OF CHIEF PARKS FOR A SECOND TERM. SO, YES, THAT IS A VERY IMPORTANT PART OF THE ANGER AND OUTRAGE THAT'S OUT THERE NOW.

VAL>> NOW, YOU WERE AT THE MEETING IN WHICH MAYOR HAHN MET WITH YOU AND OTHER LEADERS WITHIN THE BLACK COMMUNITY AND MADE HIS CASE, OR TRIED TO CONVINCE YOU THAT HE WAS JUSTIFIED IN DOING IT. WHAT DID HE SAY?

JOHN MACK>> WELL, THE MAYOR TICKED OFF -- HE EMPHASIZED TWO ISSUES THAT HE FIGURED WOULD RESONATE WITH US. HE SAID THE CHIEF HAD FOUGHT HIM ON THE CONSENT DECREE. WELL, WE KNOW THAT, DURING THE FORMER MAYOR WHEN THEN CITY ATTORNEY JAMES HAHN WAS THE LEAD NEGOTIATOR, NO DOUBT ABOUT IT, THE CHIEF DID RESIST THE CONSENT DECREE. WE WERE ON OPPOSITE SIDES OF THE FENCE ON THAT ONE, I MIGHT ADD. HOWEVER, THE CHIEF TAKES THE POSITION THAT ONCE IT BECAME A DONE DEAL THAT HE'S BEEN WORKING TO VIGOROUSLY IMPLEMENT IT.

AND, BY THE WAY, THERE IS THE INDEPENDENT COURT-APPOINTED MONITOR WHO HAS ISSUED A PROGRESS REPORT WHICH THE CHIEF AND THE DEPUTY CITY ATTORNEY MAINTAINS SHOWS THAT SUBSTANTIAL PROGRESS HAS BEEN MADE, WHICH MAKES THAT A LITTLE BIT SUSPICIOUS. BUT WE REALLY THINK THAT IT'S BEYOND THAT. INCREASINGLY, THERE ARE THOSE WHO BELIEVE THAT THE MAYOR -- WE KNOW THAT HE CUT THE 3-12 DEAL WITH THE POLICE PROTECTIVE LEAGUE. THERE IS A FEELING THAT MAYBE HE CUT A PRIVATE DEAL TOO, AND THIS MAY HAVE BEEN IT.

KERMAN>> JOHN, CAN I ASK YOU A QUESTION? I THINK THE PRESS HAS NOT BEEN VERY RESPONSIBLE IN THE WAY THEY'VE COVERED THIS. THEY'VE ONLY FOCUSED ON THE ISSUE OF RACE AND, OF COURSE, BERNARD PARKS. CAN YOU GIVE PEOPLE A SENSE OF, ONE, WHY THE COMMUNITY IS SO OUTRAGED, AND ISN'T IT REALLY BIGGER THAN BERNIE PARKS?

JOHN MACK>> IT ABSOLUTELY IS, KERMAN, YEAH. I THINK IT REALLY DOES AN INJUSTICE TO SUGGEST THAT STRICTLY AN AFRICAN-AMERICAN COMMUNITY BEING MAD BECAUSE AN AFRICAN-AMERICAN POLICE CHIEF IS BEING OPPOSED BY THE MAYOR. FIRST OF ALL, THERE'S A STRONG FEELING THAT BERNIE PARKS HAS BEEN A CAPABLE, COMPETENT POLICE CHIEF. YES, HE'S BEEN A POSITIVE ROLE MODEL IN SYMBOL. BUT I'VE HAD CONVERSATIONS WITH MANY BUSINESS LEADERS, HIGH-LEVEL BUSINESS LEADERS, WHO FEEL ALSO THAT BERNARD PARKS HAS BEEN A GOOD CHIEF OF POLICE. THE PROTECTIVE LEAGUE HAS BEEN YELLING AND SCREAMING BECAUSE HE'S BEEN COMING ON HARD ON BAD COPS. WE SAY, GOOD, MORE POWER TO YOU. THAT'S WHAT WE NEED TO DO. CLEAN UP THAT DEPARTMENT. FOR THEM TO WRAP THEMSELVES IN THE CLOAK OF REFORM, THE BASTIONS OF PROGRESSIVE LIBERALISM, I MEAN, THAT'S A SHAM.

BUT THERE ARE MANY PEOPLE IN THIS CITY FAR BEYOND SOUTH CENTRAL LOS ANGELES, WHITE PEOPLE, OTHER PEOPLE OF COLOR, WHO FEEL VERY STRONGLY, ESPECIALLY IN POST-9/11. THE STAKES ARE VERY HIGH. WE NEED TO HAVE A POLICE DEPARTMENT THAT'S GOING TO BE WELL-RUN, WELL-MANAGED, SO THAT EVERY EFFORT CAN BE MADE TO TRY TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE A SAFE CITY FOR ALL OF THE CITIZENS. SO IT'S NOT JUST THAT. FRANKLY, -- I'LL TELL YOU TOO, THERE ARE MANY PEOPLE WHO ARE QUITE CONCERNED THAT THE WAY THIS IS COMING OFF, IT'S LOOKING AS THOUGH THE POLICE PROTECTIVE LEAGUE NOT ONLY WON OUT IN CONVINCING THE MAYOR TO DITCH BERNARD PARKS, BUT A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE ASKING THE QUESTION: DO YOU WANT THE POLICE PROTECTIVE LEAGUE SELECTING THE NEXT CHIEF OF POLICE?

JESS>> WHY WOULD HE BEND TO THE POLICE PROTECTIVE LEAGUE? THERE AREN'T THAT MANY VOTES THERE AND THERE WASN'T THAT MUCH MONEY CONTRIBUTED.

JOHN MACK>> WELL, YOU KNOW, I GUESS BECAUSE THEY MAKE NOISE. THEY DID CONTRIBUTE SOME MONEY, YOU'RE RIGHT. MOST OF THEM DON'T LIVE IN THE CITY, SO THEY COULDN'T VOTE FOR HIM.

VAL>> WELL, THERE'S ALSO THE POINT THAT CHIEF BERNARD PARKS HAS CRITICIZED JAMES HAHN'S PERFORMANCE WHEN HE WAS --

KERMAN>> -- CITY ATTORNEY.

VAL>> CITY ATTORNEY, EXACTLY, AND THAT HE EVEN PUT IN A MEMO SOMETHING VERY, VERY CRITICAL, SO --

JOHN MACK>> -- ON THAT POINT, YOU KNOW, AND WE DISCUSSED THIS IN OUR MEETING WITH THE MAYOR, WE UNDERSTAND THAT NOT EVERYBODY'S GOING -- THE CHEMISTRY IS NOT GOING TO ALWAYS BE THERE. YOU KNOW, I HAVE PEOPLE WHO WORK FOR ME. EVERYBODY DOESN'T HAVE TO LOVE EVERYBODY TO BE ABLE TO GET ALONG. YOU HAVE TO BE PROFESSIONAL AND YOU HAVE TO BE ABLE TO UNDERSTAND WHERE YOU CAN IDENTIFY COMMON GROUND.

CLEARLY, WHEN THE PERSON IN CHARGE, THE MAYOR IN THIS CASE, AFTER THEY'VE HAD INPUT FROM ALL THE PROFESSIONALS AND HE'S DECIDED THAT THIS IS THE WAY IT'S GOING TO GO, WELL THEN, NO DOUBT ABOUT IT, THE CHIEF SHOULD MAKE SURE THAT HE IMPLEMENTS. NOW THE CHIEF HAS ASSURED US DURING SEVERAL MEETINGS THAT HE HAS BEEN PREPARED TO FULLY EMBRACE AND IMPLEMENT THE MAYOR'S PRIORITIES AND THE MAYOR'S MISSION, BUT THE MAN DOESN'T SEEM TO WANT TO LISTEN TO THIS.

KERMAN>> JESS, THE OTHER THING IS, SOMETIMES POLITICIANS JUST MAKE BLUNDERS. I THINK THIS IS ONE OF THOSE DECISIONS THAT PEOPLE ARE TRYING TO SCRATCH THEIR HEADS AND FIGURE OUT WHAT'S THE UPSIDE OF DOING THIS. I DON'T KNOW THAT ANYONE HAS DISCOVERED THAT THERE'S AN ANSWER. I THINK HE JUST BLEW THIS THING.

WHAT'S INTERESTING IS, THE CITY ATTORNEY, ROCKY DELGADILLO, ON SUNDAY CAME TO FIRST A.M.E. CHURCH AND HE SAID HE SUPPORTS BERNARD PARKS FOR ANOTHER FIVE YEARS. ALL OF A SUDDEN, LESS THAN 48 HOURS AFTER THAT, THE MAYOR, WHO I THINK IS INTIMIDATED BY THIS GUY, COMES OUT AND SAYS I DON'T THINK PARKS OUGHT TO GET ANOTHER FIVE YEARS. SO I THINK THERE'S SOME STRANGE THINGS GOING ON.

VAL>> BUT YOU SAY, WHAT DOES HAHN HAVE TO GAIN FROM IT? WELL, HE GETS TO PUT HIS OWN CHIEF IN OFFICE IF THE COMMISSION ENDS UP OUSTING PARKS.

JOHN MACK>> THAT WOULD BE THE ONE THING. HE WOULD PICK HIS OWN CHIEF, TO THE EXTENT THAT THERE'S A COMFORT LEVEL. BUT, YOU KNOW, YOU MENTION THE COMMISSION. I HAVE TO MAKE THIS POINT QUICKLY. IT AIN'T OVER 'TIL IT'S OVER, AS YOGI BERRA SAID.

VAL>> THAT'S RIGHT, THAT'S RIGHT.

JOHN MACK>> WE ONLY NEED THREE VOTES OUT OF THE POLICE COMMISSION. NOW EVEN THOUGH THE MAYOR'S ANNOUNCEMENT HAS EFFECTIVELY UNDERCUT IN MANY WAYS THE COMMISSION, BUT WE KNOW THAT THE COMMISSION NOW IS GOING TO DO ITS DUE DILIGENCE AND WE HOPE THERE WILL BE THREE PEOPLE WHO WILL JUDGE THE CHIEF ON HIS MERITS AND RE-HIRE HIM.

VAL>> AND THEY CLAIM THEY'RE INDEPENDENT. JOHN MACK FROM THE LOS ANGELES URBAN LEAGUE, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR COMING IN. ALWAYS GREAT TO SEE YOU, KERMAN.

JOHN MACK>> THANK YOU.

JESS>> THE LIFE AND TIMES MAILBAG WAS FULL THIS WEEK MOSTLY WITH YOUR COMMENTS ABOUT RECENT STORIES. ONE VIEWER WRITES THAT HE REALLY ENJOYED VAL'S REPORT ON THE CLEAN-UP OF AVILA BEACH, BUT THAT ALL CHANGED WHEN VAL SAID --

"10,000 TRUCKLOADS OF TOXIC WASTE WERE BEING TAKEN TO THE CENTRAL VALLEY. BY ANY CHANCE, WAS SOME OF THAT STUFF TAKEN TO THE WASTE FACILITY IN BUTTONWILLOW, A MERE TWENTY MILES FROM MY HOME?"

VAL>> PERHAPS, AND SEVERAL VIEWERS DISAGREED WITH OUR STORY ABOUT THE ABUSE OF RITALIN. IT FOCUSED ON AN AUTHOR WHO CHRONICLED HER ADDICTION TO RITALIN. AS WE POINTED OUT, THE DRUG IS USED MOST OFTEN TO TREAT ATTENTION DEFICIT DISORDERS AND HYPERACTIVITY IN CHILDREN, BUT ONE VIEWER THOUGHT THE STORY WAS STILL OFF-BASE. HE WRITES:

"RITALIN IS SAFE AND EFFECTIVE WHEN PROPERLY PRESCRIBED. WHILE DRUG ABUSE OF ANY KIND IS A CAUSE FOR CONCERN, THE PUBLIC VIEW SHOULD NOT BE TAINTED BY ONE PERSON'S ABUSE AND SUBSEQUENT BOOK PROMOTION."

JESS>> ANOTHER VIEWER SAID HE WAS STUNNED BY OUR INTERVIEW WITH COMMENTATOR, JOHN MCLAUGHLIN, PART OF THAT CONVERSATION FOCUSING ON BIG MONEY AND POLITICS:

"I FELL OFF MY CHAIR WHEN PHILIP BRUCE GOT NEO-LIBERAL JOHN MCLAUGHLIN TO ADMIT IMPLICITLY THAT THE ENRON SCANDAL MIGHT BE INFLUENCED BY POLITICAL CAMPAIGN DONATIONS."

JESS>> HERE'S HOW YOU CAN REACH LIFE AND TIMES.

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

JESS>> IF YOU PICK UP YOUR PAPER, SAY, THE L.A. TIMES, YOU CAN EXPECT TO BE BOMBARDED BY PAGE AFTER PAGE OF MOVIE ADS. THAT'S BECAUSE IT IS OSCAR SEASON AND THE MAJOR STUDIOS ARE DOING WHATEVER THEY CAN TO DRAW THE ACADEMY'S ATTENTION.

VAL>> BUT AMONG ALL THOSE BIG MONEY FILMS IS A SMALL INDEPENDENT MOVIE THAT IS TRYING TO WIN ATTENTION WITHOUT THE BENEFIT OF A MAJOR STUDIO CAMPAIGN. IT'S CALLED "MONSTER'S BALL" AND TONIGHT WE'LL HEAR THE DIRECTOR, MARC FORSTER, TALK ABOUT THE FILM AND WHAT IT'S LIKE TO BE AN UNDERDOG.

[FILM CLIP]

VAL>> THAT WAS A SCENE FROM "MONSTER'S BALL" AND WITH US NOW IS THE DIRECTOR, MARC FORSTER. WELCOME TO LIFE AND TIMES.

MARC FORSTER>> THANK YOU.

JESS>> THIS IS CERTAINLY NOT "MONSTERS, INC." (LAUGHTER)

VAL>> NOT AT ALL.

JESS>> THIS IS VERY HEAVY, BUT IT'S CONTEMPORARY, ISN'T IT?

MARC FORSTER>> YEAH, IT IS CONTEMPORARY. IT PLAYS CONTEMPORARY.

JESS>> THE ISSUE OF RACISM THAT'S EXHIBITED IN YOUR FILM IS A CONTEMPORARY RACISM THAT STILL EXISTS?

MARC FORSTER>> YEAH, I WOULD SAY SO. IT'S DEFINITELY -- YOU KNOW, YOU CAN'T GENERALIZE IT, BUT IT DOES EXIST.

VAL>> SO TELL US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE ORIGIN OF THIS MOVIE. IT DOESN'T FOLLOW THE HOLLYWOOD FORMULA. IT'S VERY SPARSE IN DIALOG, VERY MOODY, SERIOUS, DARK, NO CAR CHASES, AS FAR AS I SEE. (LAUGHTER) TELL US HOW IT CAME ABOUT.

MARC FORSTER>> YOU KNOW, FIRST, WHEN I READ THE SCRIPT -- MY AGENT SENT ME THE SCRIPT AND I JUST REALLY LOVED IT. I MET THE PRODUCER AND THE WRITERS AND I TOLD THEM MY VISION AND I WAS JUST REALLY PASSIONATE ABOUT THE MOVIE. FOR ME, WHEN I FIRST READ IT, IT WAS ALWAYS ABOUT INTERRUPTED SILENCES BECAUSE IT WAS SO SPARSE AND SO DEEP --

VAL>> -- INTERRUPTED SILENCES.

JESS>> YOU RATHER LIKED THE IDEA THAT IT HAD RELATIVELY LITTLE DIALOG?

MARC FORSTER>> YES. I THINK IT WAS VERY BEAUTIFUL BECAUSE I THINK THAT OFTEN SILENCES IN THE FILM GIVES US A LOT OF REPRESSED EMOTIONS. YOU SAY ACTUALLY MORE, I THINK, JUST IN EXPRESSIONS THAN YOU WOULD SAY WITH DIALOG.

JESS>> BUT THAT'S THE CHALLENGE TO THE DIRECTOR, ISN'T IT?

MARC FORSTER>> YES, BUT I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT EVERY MORNING YOU WAKE UP AND YOU GET ON A SET TO BE CHALLENGED.

VAL>> WE'RE GOING TO TAKE ANOTHER LOOK AT A CLIP HERE. THIS ONE IS A CONVERSATION THAT OCCURS BETWEEN A HUSBAND AND WIFE AND THEIR SON. THE HUSBAND IS ABOUT TO BE EXECUTED. THIS IS THEIR LAST CONVERSATION TOGETHER.

[FILM CLIP]

VAL>> THAT'S SUCH A TENDER MOMENT. YOU HAVE THE FATHER WHO IS ON DEATH ROW SAYING HE'S ALL BAD, TRYING TO CONVINCE HIS SON THAT HE'S NOT, THAT THEY'RE NOT CONNECTED IN THAT WAY.

JESS>> "YOU ARE NOT ME." SEAN COMBS. AN UNUSUAL ROLE FOR HIM.

MARC FORSTER>> YEAH, HE CAME IN AT THE LAST MINUTE AND I THINK HE DID A REALLY TREMENDOUS JOB AND IT WAS REALLY WONDERFUL TO WORK WITH HIM.

VAL>> TELL US ABOUT THE CASTING. WAS IT EASY TO DO?

MARC FORSTER>> YOU KNOW, CASTING IS ALWAYS CHALLENGING. BUT, YOU KNOW, BILLY BOB CAME ON BOARD AND, ONCE HE GOT ON BOARD, THE FILM GOT -- HE WAS REALLY TREMENDOUS TO WORK WITH AND THE WHOLE CASTING PROCESS WAS A LOT OF FUN. IT WAS REALLY WONDERFUL.

JESS>> WELL, WITH BILLY BOB THORNTON AND HALLE BERRY, YOU'VE GOT A HEAD START.

MARC FORSTER>> YES, DEFINITELY (LAUGHTER) AND, YOU KNOW, I FELT VERY BLESSED THAT THE TWO OF THEM SAID YES AND WANTED TO DO IT. THE THREE OF US HAD A GREAT, GREAT EXPERIENCE WORKING TOGETHER.

VAL>> HAD YOU EVER WORKED TOGETHER BEFORE? DID YOU JUST GET TO KNOW EACH OTHER FOR THE FIRST TIME?

MARC FORSTER>> NO. WE GOT TO KNOW EACH OTHER FOR THE FIRST TIME AND WE DIDN'T HAVE ANY REHEARSALS, SO I DIDN'T KNOW THEM AT ALL WHEN THEY ARRIVED ON THE SET. THEY JUST BASICALLY CAME THE DAY BEFORE AND WE JUST STARTED SHOOTING. SO WE GOT TO LEARN TO KNOW EACH OTHER THROUGHOUT THAT PROCESS AND IT WAS WONDERFUL.

JESS>> IT'S BEEN IN LIMITED RELEASE THUS FAR, BUT IT'S GOTTEN SOME VERY NICE REVIEWS.

MARC FORSTER>> YEAH, IT SEEMS LIKE, YOU KNOW, I HAD NO EXPECTATIONS AT THE BEGINNING, BUT IT SEEMED LIKE PEOPLE REALLY RESPONDED TO THE MOVIE. EVEN THOUGH THE FIRST HALF OF THE MOVIE IS RATHER DARK, THE SECOND HALF OF THE MOVIE IS MORE OF A LOVE STORY AND HAS LIKE A HOPEFUL ENDING.

VAL>> WE'RE GOING TO TAKE A LOOK AT ANOTHER SCENE BETWEEN THE MAIN CHARACTER, BILLY BOB THORNTON, AND THE HALLE BERRY CHARACTER. THIS IS THEIR FIRST SUBSTANTIVE CONVERSATION, THE FIRST TIME THEY'VE REALLY MET. HERE IT IS.

[FILM CLIP]

VAL>> WOW, IT'S CLEAR IN THAT SCENE THAT THE HALLE BERRY CHARACTER DOESN'T REALIZE THAT BILLY BOB THORNTON WAS THE ONE WHO EXECUTED HER HUSBAND. SHE WAS NOT AWARE OF THAT AT THAT TIME?

MARC FORSTER>> THAT'S CORRECT.

JESS>> WITHOUT REVEALING TOO MUCH DETAIL, BUT THE TITLE IS INTRIGUING TOO.

MARC FORSTER>> YEAH, THE TITLE COMES FROM, LIKE, 17TH OR 18TH CENTURY ENGLAND WHEN THE NIGHT BEFORE SOMEONE GOT EXECUTED, THEY BASICALLY THREW THE PERSON A PARTY AND THAT'S WHAT THEY CALLED THE MONSTER'S BALL.

VAL>> REAL QUICK. STUDIOS ARE SPENDING ENORMOUS AMOUNTS OF MONEY TO PROMOTE THEIR FILMS BEFORE THE OSCAR SEASON, HOPING THAT THEY WILL GET NOMINATED, AND YET A SMALL FILM LIKE THIS DOESN'T HAVE THAT KIND OF --

MARC FORSTER>> -- NO, BASICALLY A FILM LIKE THAT THRIVES OVER WORD OF MOUTH, YOU KNOW, AND HOPE THAT THE AUDIENCE PASSES ON BY WORD OF MOUTH BECAUSE THEY DON'T HAVE THE MONEY TO PROMOTE --

JESS>> -- NOW TODAY IT'S IN WIDE RELEASE, SO IT WILL GET SOME OF THAT WORD OF MOUTH, ONE WOULD ASSUME, BUT IS THAT TIME ENOUGH FOR AN OSCAR NOMINATION?

MARC FORSTER>> I THINK THAT THE NOMINATIONS, THE BALLOTS, ARE ALREADY DUE (LAUGHTER), BUT I HOPE THAT STILL PEOPLE GO AND SEE THE MOVIE.

VAL>> WELL, GOOD LUCK. BEAUTIFUL FILM. MARC FORSTER, DIRECTOR OF "MONSTER'S BALL". THANK YOU SO MUCH.

MARC FORSTER>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

JESS>> THANKS FOR JOINING US.

MARC FORSTER>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

JESS>> "MONSTER'S BALL" PREMIERED IN DECEMBER, BUT GOES INTO WIDE RELEASE ACROSS THE COUNTRY TODAY.

VAL>> THAT IS OUR PROGRAM FOR TONIGHT. IF YOU WANT TO HEAR SOMETHING YOU MISSED, WE NOW HAVE A WEEK'S WORTH OF LIFE AND TIMES SHOWS AVAILABLE ON AUDIO ON OUR WEBSITE, WWW.KCET.ORG.

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

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