2/12/02

LC020212

VAL>> ON LIFE AND TIMES TONIGHT --

JESS>> IT CAN BE A DANGEROUS WORLD, BUT IN SOME NEIGHBORHOODS, IT COULD GET MUCH WORSE, ESPECIALLY IF THE POLICE GO AWAY.

GAY YEE>> LIVING IN THE CRIME-RIDDEN PROJECTS IS TOUGH FOR RESIDENTS, BUT IF THEY LOSE THEIR HOUSING POLICE, IT COULD GET EVEN TOUGHER.

FREDDY TELLES>> MY PERSONAL OPINION IS THAT THERE'S NOT REALLY THAT MANY LAPD HERE, YOU KNOW? HOW CAN YOU TAKE THE HAPD OUT WHEN THERE'S NOT THAT MANY HERE IN THE CITY OF LOS ANGELES?

VAL>> FIRST LADY, LAURA BUSH, CONTINUES HER TOUR ACROSS LOS ANGELES. WHAT'S ON HER MIND? REASSURING OUR CHILDREN.

LAURA BUSH>> CHILDREN WILL SIDLE UP TO ME AND WHISPER, "WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED?" AND I'LL SAY, "I'M SAD" AND THEY'LL NOD THEIR HEADS AND SAY THAT THEY'RE SAD TOO.

JESS>> ALSO, IT'S SOMETIMES BETTER TO BE SEEN BUT NOT HEARD. PATT MORRISON SAYS THIS IS NOT ONE OF THEM.

PATT>> THE MAN THE PRESIDENT CALLS "KENNY BOY" TAKES THE FIFTH. ENRON IN RHYME, ON TONIGHT'S INFINITELY MORRISON.

VAL>> HE DEFINED PASADENA IN A WAY FEW PEOPLE CAN, ONE BUILDING AT A TIME, FROM CHARMING BUNGALOWS TO ELEGANT MANSIONS, FROM LUXURIOUS HOTELS TO A THEATER FOR MEXICAN CULTURE. WE'LL LOOK AT THE LEGENDARY WORKS OF PASADENA ARCHITECT, SYLVANUS MARSTON.

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

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.

WE'VE BEEN DOING A LITTLE REDECORATING, AS YOU CAN SEE. IT'S OUR SAME OLD STUDIO, BUT A BRAND NEW SET AND, FOR THE FIRST TIME, YOU CAN ACTUALLY LOOK OUT THE WINDOWS AND SEE SOME OF THE PEOPLE WHO ACTUALLY PUT KCET ON THE AIR. IN FACT, WE'LL TAKE YOU ON A BEHIND-THE-SCENES TOUR A BIT LATER IN THE PROGRAM, BUT FIRST WE WANT TO TELL YOU ABOUT A NEIGHBORHOOD IN TROUBLE. AND TO MAKE MATTERS WORSE, THEY MAY BE LOSING THEIR LOCAL POLICE.

VAL>> THE NEIGHBORHOOD IS AN L.A. CITY HOUSING PROJECT AND THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE THERE ARE IN JEOPARDY OF LOSING ANY SENSE OF SECURITY THEY EVER HAD. THAT'S BECAUSE BUDGET CUTS MAY FORCE THE CITY TO SCRAP THEIR FIRST LINE OF DEFENSE AGAINST GANG VIOLENCE. GAY YEE HAS THE STORY.

GAY>> AS APPEARANCES GO, THE NEIGHBORHOOD DOESN'T LOOK ALL THAT THREATENING. EVEN AT NIGHT, THE AREA IS WELL-LIT. BUT THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE HERE KNOW THAT LOOKS CAN BE DECEIVING, ESPECIALLY WHEN SOME OF THE LOCAL GANG MEMBERS START SHOOTING. THAT'S WHY RESIDENTS OF THE PICO ALISO HOUSING PROJECT ARE TAKING DONALD SMITH ON A TOUR. HE'S IN CHARGE OF L.A.'S HOUSING AUTHORITY. HE'S THE ONLY ONE WHO CAN OFFER THEM SOME PEACE OF MIND.

>> AS WE DON'T HAVE THE LIGHTS, SOMETIMES WE DON'T, SO IT'S KIND OF BUSHY. ANYBODY CAN COME AND JUST HIDE IN THERE. ANYBODY CAN GET HURT.

GAY>> BESIDES THE RANDOM NEIGHBORHOOD GUNFIRE, THE PROJECT HAS BEEN HIT BY A RASH OF BURGLARIES. THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE HERE ARE FRIGHTENED.

>> SHE JUST WANTS TO LET YOU KNOW THAT THERE'S THIS VEHICLE THAT YOU SEE RIGHT HERE HAS BEEN HERE FOR THREE DAYS AND IT DOESN'T EVEN BELONG, YOU KNOW, HERE.

GAY>> PICO ALISO IS ONE OF FIFTEEN PROJECTS OPERATED BY THE HOUSING AUTHORITY OF LOS ANGELES. MOST OF THEM ARE GRAPPLING WITH RISING CRIME RATES, BUT INSTEAD OF BEEFING UP PATROLS, THE CITY IS CUTTING BACK MANY OF THEM. IN FACT, THE HOUSING POLICE, THE OFFICERS WHO SPEND ALL OF THEIR TIME WATCHING OVER THE PROJECTS, MAY BE SCRAPPED ENTIRELY BECAUSE OF BUDGET CUTS.

DONALD SMITH>> HUD'S FEELING IS THAT HOUSING AUTHORITIES ARE NOT IN THE BUSINESS OF PUBLIC SAFETY. THE LOCAL JURISDICTION, IN THIS CASE THE LOS ANGELES POLICE DEPARTMENT, IS RESPONSIBLE AND THEY ARE FOR KEEPING PUBLIC ORDER.

GAY>> EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, DONALD SMITH, SAYS MONEY FOR POLICE HAS BEEN SCARCE FOR A LONG TIME. FOR YEARS THE HOUSING AUTHORITY HAS PAID FOR SECURITY PATROLS BY DIVERTING MONEY FROM THE MAINTENANCE BUDGET. THAT'S NO LONGER POSSIBLE.

DONALD SMITH>> SO I'M LOOKING TO GET $4 MILLION DOLLARS NEXT YEAR AND EACH YEAR THEREAFTER IN OPERATING FUNDS FROM SOME SOURCE IN ORDER TO KEEP THE COMMUNITY-BASE POLICING AT THE HOUSING AUTHORITY GOING.

GAY>> SO IF WE DO NOT FIND A $4 MILLION DOLLAR SOURCE, WHAT ARE WE FACED WITH?

DONALD SMITH>> WELL, WE'RE FACED WITH DISBANDING THE HOUSING AUTHORITY'S REMAINING PUBLIC SAFETY OPERATIONS.

CLAUDIA MARTINION>> WE WANT TO PUT A FENCE HERE.

GAY>> CLAUDIA MARTINION SAYS THE CUTS COULDN'T HAPPEN AT A WORSE TIME. SHE'S A LONG-TIME RESIDENT OF THE PROJECT AND HAS WATCHED A CRIME WAVE SPREAD IN HER COMMUNITY. MARTINION SAYS BURGLARS NEVER TAKE A HOLIDAY. THEY BROKE INTO ONE HOME ON CHRISTMAS EVE.

CLAUDIA MARTINION>> IN THREE WEEKS, THREE HOUSES AND, AFTER THAT, WE ARE CONCERNED BECAUSE SOME PEOPLE HAVE CHILDREN AND WE SAY WE HAVE TO DO SOMETHING.

GAY>> THE CITY HOUSING AUTHORITY HAS OPERATED ITS OWN POLICE FORCE TO WATCH OVER THE PROJECTS FOR OVER FOUR DECADES. BUT IN RECENT YEARS, IT'S BEEN WHITTLED BY THE BUDGET AX. SIX YEARS AGO, THERE WERE 78 OFFICERS PATROLLING THE PROJECTS. A YEAR AGO, IT WENT FROM 63 TO 41. A YEAR FROM NOW, IT COULD BE ZERO. RESIDENTS SAY LOSING THE HOUSING POLICE WOULD SIMPLY SHIFT THE RESPONSIBILITY TO THE LAPD, WHICH IS ALREADY OVER-BURDENED.

FREDDY TELLES>> MY PERSONAL OPINION IS THAT THERE'S NOT EVEN REALLY THAT MANY LAPD HERE, YOU KNOW? HOW CAN YOU TAKE THE HAPD OUT WHEN THERE'S NOT THAT MANY HERE IN THE CITY OF LOS ANGELES?

GAY>> FREDDY TELLES IS THE RESIDENT COUNCIL PRESIDENT. HE REPRESENTS ABOUT 500 PEOPLE IN THE PROJECT. HE SAYS THE LAPD IS ALREADY SHORT-HANDED BY OVER 1,200 OFFICERS.

GAY>> SHOTS FIRED?

FREDDY TELLES>> YEAH, THERE WERE SHOTS FIRED. AUTOMATIC WEAPONS.

GAY>> HERE IN THE PROJECTS?

FREDDY TELLES>> HERE IN THE PROJECTS, IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD, YEAH.

GAY>> AND WHAT DO PEOPLE DO?

FREDDY TELLES>> THEY GET THEIR KIDS AND TAKE THEM IN THE HOUSE LIKE I DO MY OWN.

GAY>> BUT DISBANDING THE HOUSING POLICE FOLLOWS A NATIONAL TREND.

MIKE PIERNAS>> THE RESIDENTS HAVE BECOME NOT DEPENDENT ON US, BUT THEY HAVE BECOME USED TO US BEING THERE ABLE TO ASSIST THEM IN ALL OF THEIR CALLS AND IT'S NOT GOING TO BE THERE, SO I'M CONCERNED.

GAY>> IN BOYLE HEIGHTS, GAY YEE FOR LIFE AND TIMES.

JESS>> JOINING US NOW IS ED GRIFFIN FROM THE LOS ANGELES CITY HOUSING AUTHORITY. MR. GRIFFIN, THANK YOU FOR JOINING US. LET'S MAKE IT CLEAR. THIS IS A HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT PROJECT, IS IT NOT? THIS IS ALL FEDERAL MONEY? THE CITY HASN'T BEEN PAYING FOR POLICING OF THE HOUSING PROJECT?

ED GRIFFIN>> THAT'S CORRECT, MR. MARLOW. YEAH, THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT SUBSIDIZES ALL THE OPERATION OF THE PUBLIC HOUSING MANAGEMENT AND MAINTENANCE AND EVEN THIS SMALL SECURITY THAT WE'RE ABLE TO PUT OUT THERE. IT'S ALL FEDERAL DOLLARS.

JESS>> AND THESE OFFICERS ARE NOT JUST SECURITY GUARDS. I MEAN, THESE ARE SWORN OFFICERS?

ED GRIFFIN>> THEY'RE SWORN OFFICERS. THEY HAVE POST-TRAINING. THEY'RE THE SAME AS ANY OTHER POLICE OFFICER. THEY'RE NOT JUST SECURITY, BUT THEY GIVE EXCLUSIVE SERVICE TO THE PUBLIC HOUSING DEVELOPMENTS, IN PARTICULAR THE FIFTEEN LARGE PUBLIC HOUSING DEVELOPMENTS THROUGHOUT THE CITY.

VAL>> NOW, WE KNOW THAT CRIME IS ALREADY GOING UP IN THE INNER CITY, BUT I UNDERSTAND THAT, WITH THE LOSS OF SOME OF THE OFFICERS, YOU'RE ALREADY SEEING A CRIME INCREASE OF, WHAT, OVER TWENTY PERCENT IN SOME AREAS?

ED GRIFFIN>> WELL, WE SAW AN INCREASE IN PART ONE, THE MORE SERIOUS CRIMES, OF ABOUT NINETEEN PERCENT, SO YOU'RE RIGHT, VAL. WE'VE HAD EVEN A LITTLE BIT OF A HIGHER INCREASE IN THE PART TWO, THE KIND OF THINGS YOU SAW THERE ON THE VIDEO, THE BURGLARY. WE ALSO HAD -- BASICALLY, DOMESTIC VIOLENCE HAS BEEN TWENTY PERCENT OF OUR TOTAL REPORTED CRIME OVER THE LAST TWO YEARS. THOSE ARE ISSUES THAT COMMUNITY-BASE POLICING CAN WORK WELL TO RESOLVE AND WE'D LIKE TO KEEP OUR FORCE IN PLACE TO DO SOME OF THOSE ACTIVITIES.

JESS>> YOU'VE NEVER TURNED TO THE CITY FOR HELP BEFORE?

ED GRIFFIN>> NO, THIS IS THE FIRST TIME THE HOUSING AUTHORITY HAS GONE FOR OPERATING DOLLARS TO THE CITY. MANY OTHER CITIES DO CONTRIBUTE. THE CITY WORKS WITH US INDIRECTLY IN MANY WAYS AND WE COORDINATE WITH LAPD AS WELL AS WE CAN, BUT WE DO NEED SOME DIRECT FUNDING FROM SOME SOURCE, AS MR. SMITH SAID.

VAL>> IT'S ABOUT $4 MILLION DOLLARS, I UNDERSTAND --

ED GRIFFIN>> -- IT'S ABOUT $4 MILLION.

VAL>> BUT ISN'T THE CITY STRAPPED FOR FUNDS RIGHT NOW TOO? I MEAN, ARE THEY GOING TO BE ABLE TO GIVE YOU $4 MILLION DOLLARS?

ED GRIFFIN>> WELL, THAT'S SOMETHING WE DON'T KNOW. AGAIN, THEY'RE NOT THE ONLY SOURCE, AS MR. SMITH POINTED OUT. THERE MAY BE THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE, MAYBE SOME STATE MONEY, BUT HOPEFULLY THE ECONOMIC PICTURE OF THE CITY MIGHT GET BETTER. THERE ARE A LOT OF VACANT POSITIONS AT LAPD AND MAYBE WE COULD WORK SOME OF THAT BUDGET AUTHORITY OVER TO COVER OUR OFFICERS WHO ARE ALREADY IN PLACE AND ALREADY TRAINED AND ALREADY DOING THE JOB.

JESS>> BUT AS YOU POINTED OUT, WITH 1,200 OFFICERS SHORT IN THE LAPD, THEY'RE HARDLY IN A POSITION TO TAKE OVER THE POLICING OF THE PROJECTS, ARE THEY?

ED GRIFFIN>> NO. AGAIN, WE DON'T THINK THEY'RE READY TO DO IT, WHICH IS REALLY A JUSTIFICATION FOR THOSE OFFICERS WE HAVE OUT THERE NOW. BUT WE DO WANT TO COORDINATE WITH LAPD ALL THE WAY BECAUSE THEY CAN DO THE ENFORCEMENT SIDE. WE NEED TO HAVE OUR OFFICERS ON THE SITES KEEPING AN EYE ON THE THINGS THAT YOU SAW IN THE VIDEO.

VAL>> WELL, ED GRIFFIN, WE'LL KEEP A LOOK ON THIS STORY AND SEE IF THE MONEY COMES THROUGH FOR YOU AND THE PEOPLE THERE.

ED GRIFFIN>> HOPE SO.

JESS>> SEPTEMBER IS THE DEADLINE?

ED GRIFFIN>> BY SEPTEMBER, WE'LL KNOW.

VAL>> ED GRIFFIN, THANK YOU SO MUCH.

ED GRIFFIN>> THANKS VERY MUCH.

VAL>> TOMORROW ON LIFE AND TIMES, WE'LL GO LIVE TO LONG BEACH FOR THE SECOND BIG DEBATE BETWEEN THE REPUBLICAN CANDIDATES FOR GOVERNOR. RIORDAN, SIMON AND DAVIS WILL SQUARE OFF AND OUR OWN PATT MORRISON WILL BE AMONG THE JOURNALISTS HOLDING THEIR FEET TO THE FIRE. IT'S ALL PART OF A SPECIAL ONE-HOUR LIFE AND TIMES TOMORROW NIGHT AT 7:00 P.M.

JESS>> HER HUSBAND HASN'T BEEN AROUND HERE MUCH SINCE HE GOT THE JOB AS LEADER OF THE FREE WORLD, BUT FIRST LADY LAURA BUSH MAY WANT TO MAKE LOS ANGELES A REGULAR PART OF HER TRAVEL AGENDA.

VAL>> SHE'S BEEN TOURING THE CITY FOR THE PAST COUPLE OF DAYS AND SHE DREW A HUGE CROWD THIS MORNING AT "TOWN HALL LOS ANGELES". THE FORMER TEACHER AND LIBRARIAN HAS ALWAYS MADE EDUCATION HER NUMBER ONE CAUSE, BUT SINCE THE SEPTEMBER TERRORIST ATTACKS, LAURA BUSH HAS TAKEN ON AN ADDITIONAL ROLE AS A COMFORTING VOICE FOR CHILDREN AND THE NATION. HERE'S A SAMPLE OF WHAT SHE HAD TO SAY TODAY.

LAURA BUSH>> AS I'VE TRAVELED THE COUNTRY, I'VE FOUND THAT CHILDREN STILL NEED TO BE REASSURED. WHEN I VISIT CLASSROOMS, AND THIS HAPPENED EVEN YESTERDAY AT FAIR AVENUE SCHOOL, CHILDREN WILL SIDLE UP TO ME AND WHISPER, "WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED?" AND I'LL SAY, "I'M SAD" AND THEY'LL NOD THEIR HEADS AND SAY THAT THEY'RE SAD TOO. OUR CHILDREN ARE WORKING THROUGH THE SAME FEELINGS MANY OF US HAVE AND THEY'VE SHOWN REMARKABLE RESILIENCE.

WE'RE REMINDED THAT LITTLE THINGS AND LITTLE HANDS CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE. A MONTH AFTER THE ATTACKS, I SPENT A DAY TEACHING AT BIRNEY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL IN WASHINGTON, D.C. I WAS SURPRISED WHEN A CHILD HANDED ME 169 ENVELOPES CONTAINING DONATIONS FROM THE STUDENTS. THE MONEY IN THOSE ENVELOPES WAS INTENDED FOR THE AMERICA'S FUND FOR AFGHAN CHILDREN. THE STUDENTS KNEW THAT THE PRESIDENT HAD ASKED CHILDREN TO SEND A DOLLAR TO HELP PAY FOR FOOD AND MEDICINE FOR AFGHAN CHILDREN. THE CHILDREN AT BIRNEY ELEMENTARY MIGHT UNDERSTAND HUNGER. OF THE 565 STUDENTS WHO ATTEND THE SCHOOL, ALL BUT 27 CHILDREN ARE ELIGIBLE FOR THE FREE OR REDUCED-COST LUNCH PROGRAM, YET THEY CONTRIBUTED $173.64 TO THE CHILDREN'S FUND.

ANOTHER WAY YOU CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE IS BY VOLUNTEERING IN YOUR LOCAL SCHOOLS. IN THE PAST, IT'S BEEN EASIER TO COMPLAIN ABOUT WHAT WAS WRONG WITH OUR SCHOOLS THAN TO DO SOMETHING TO IMPROVE THEM, AND I'M NO EXCEPTION. WHEN MY DAUGHTERS WERE IN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, YOU WON'T BELIEVE THIS, BUT I, A FORMER SCHOOL TEACHER, ACTUALLY CALLED MY MOTHER TO COMPLAIN ABOUT ONE OF THE GIRLS' TEACHERS. I WAS UPSET BECAUSE SHE'D SENT A NOTE HOME WITH THEM SAYING THAT THEY WERE DISORGANIZED WHEN I THOUGHT IT WAS REALLY THE TEACHER WHO WAS DISORGANIZED. MY MOTHER THOUGHT FOR A MOMENT AND THEN SHE SAID, "HAVE YOU GONE UP TO THE SCHOOL TO HELP THE TEACHER?" AND I, OF COURSE, HAD TO SAY NO. LET THAT BE A LESSON TO YOU. YOU'RE NEVER TOO OLD TO GET TAKEN TO SCHOOL BY YOUR MOTHER. (LAUGHTER)

THESE DAYS, WE ALL NEED A REASON TO FEEL GOOD ABOUT OURSELVES AND ABOUT OUR FUTURE. WE CELEBRATE OUR DIVERSITY UNDER ONE FLAG AND THE ABILITY TO RESPECT AND APPRECIATE OUR DIFFERENCES IS A DEFINING TRAIT IN OUR COUNTRY. WE NEED TO LOOK NO FURTHER THAN THE CITY OF LOS ANGELES TO APPRECIATE THE VALUE OF DIVERSITY, OF MANY CULTURES, RELIGIONS AND CUSTOMS. OUR LIVES WERE PERMANENTLY CHANGED LAST SEPTEMBER, BUT AS TIME PASSES AND WE BEGIN TO SEE OURSELVES AND OUR PATH MORE CLEARLY, ONE THING DOES REMAIN THE SAME. WE'RE ALL PROUD AMERICANS. THANK YOU ALL VERY, VERY MUCH.

VAL>> THIS WEEK, LAURA BUSH HAS GOTTEN THE TOTAL HOLLYWOOD EXPERIENCE. LAST NIGHT SHE SHOWED COMEDIAN, JAY LENO, THE KIND OF PRETZEL THAT THE PRESIDENT CHOKED ON AND, FROM NOW ON, SHE SAYS HER HUSBAND WILL BE A LITTLE BIT MORE CAREFUL. HE'S PROMISED TO PRACTICE SAFE SNACKS. (LAUGHTER)

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JESS>> HE'S WILLING TO FACE THE SPOTLIGHT, BUT NOT THE MUSIC. PATT MORRISON REVIEWS TODAY'S COMMAND PERFORMANCE BY ENRON'S TOP EXECUTIVE, IN TONIGHT'S INFINITELY MORRISON.

PATT>> KENNETH LAY WAS IN CONGRESS TODAY IN BODY, BUT NOT IN SPIRIT AND CERTAINLY NOT IN SPEECH, DECLINING TO SAY ANYTHING MUCH AS HE'D LIKE TO. SO FOR HIM, I WROTE THIS, A REVISED VERSION OF THE ONE IN THE L.A. TIMES, AND I CALL IT "RED INK AND KEN".

"WE DO NOT LIKE RED INK FROM KEN,
AND SO WE MUST KNOW WHERE AND WHEN
AND WHAT HE KNEW AND WHAT HE TOOK
AND DID HE DO IT BY THE BOOK?
WE WANT TO HEAR YOU, KENNETH LAY,
WE WANT TO LET YOU HAVE YOUR SAY.
TELL US HOW YOUR ENRON DREAM
BECAME THE BANKRUPT ENRON SCHEME?
WE HEARD YOUR WIFE SAY ON TV
THAT NOW YOU LIVE IN POVERTY.
HOWEVER WILL YOU JUST SURVIVE
WITH SO FEW HOUSES, FOUR OR FIVE?
WE HOPED YOU'D TELL US, KENNETH LAY,
PRECISELY HOW THINGS GOT THIS WAY.
TO LEARN THE MEANS, HOWEVER SCREWY,
THE WAY THAT ENRON WENT KABLOOEY.
BUT YOU TOLD CONGRESS, 'NOT A PRAYER,
NOT ONE SECRET WILL I BARE.'
YOU RAISED YOUR HAND AND ZIPPED YOUR LIP
INSTEAD OF TALKING FROM THE HIP.
IT SEEMS YOU FEATHERED YOUR OWN NEST,
BUT WHAT BECAME OF ALL THE REST?
TELL US WHERE THE MONEY WENT?
WAS IT SHREDDED, WAS IT SPENT?
WHERE COULD IT HAVE GOT TO, PLEASE,
AMONG THE CHOCOLATES, CASH AND CHEESE
OF SWITZERLAND, THE LAND OF BANKS
AND SECRET SHEKELS, BAHTS AND FRANCS?
OR TO THE CAYMANS DID IT GO?
THE HOME OF ALL THAT OFFSHORE DOUGH?
PERHAPS NO MATTER WHERE IT'S GONE,
YOU'LL UNDERSTAND WHERE YOU WENT WRONG.
YOU TOOK ADVANTAGE, KENNETH LAY,
YOU MADE THE LAW WORK JUST YOUR WAY.
YOU SHOOK THE HANDS, YOU SIGNED THE CHECKS
AND LEFT A TRAIL OF FISCAL WRECKS.
MADE PAUPERS OF SOME HONEST FOLK
AND MADE THE ENRON NAME A JOKE.
SO WE THE PEOPLE, WE THE DOPES,
WHO DON'T EXACTLY KNOW THE ROPES,
WHO DON'T HAVE FRIENDS IN MARBLE HALLS
OR PRESIDENTS RETURN OUR CALLS,
FOR US, YOU MUST REVEAL YOUR TRICKS
AND STAND UP STRAIGHT AND TAKE YOUR LICKS.
WE HAVE TO KNOW, RED INK AND KEN,
TO SEE IT WON'T OCCUR AGAIN."

JESS>> IT IS NO CRIME TO MAKE A RHYME. (LAUGHTER) AT THE TOP OF THE PROGRAM, WE MENTIONED OUR NEW LOOK. WE HOPE YOU LIKE WHAT WE'VE DONE. NOW WE'VE GOT A LITTLE MORE ELBOW ROOM, ESPECIALLY FOR OUR GUESTS AND FOR THE LIFE AND TIMES STUDIO CREW. BUT THE BIGGEST CHANGE MAY BE THE WALL OF WINDOWS YOU SEE BEHIND VAL AND ME. THEY'VE BEEN THERE ALL ALONG. YOU JUST COULDN'T SEE THEM UNTIL NOW.

VAL>> THAT'S RIGHT. WE WANT TO LET YOU KNOW THAT THOSE WINDOWS ARE REAL. THEY'RE NOT SOME HOLLYWOOD HOCUS-POCUS. NOW THE OLD LIFE AND TIMES SET USED TO BLOCK THAT VIEW, SO FROM NOW ON, WHEN YOU SEE TV MONITORS OR PEOPLE BEHIND JESS AND ME, YOU KNOW THEY ARE THE GENUINE ARTICLE, NOT SOME COMPUTER-GENERATED PEOPLE. THEY ARE, OF COURSE, THE CORE OF WHAT MAKES KCET WORK. SO WHAT LIES BEYOND THOSE WINDOWS? FOR THAT, WE ASKED GAY YEE TO TAKE US ON A BEHIND-THE-SCENES TOUR.

GAY>> YOU MAY BE WONDERING WHERE I'M STANDING RIGHT NOW. WELL, I HAPPEN TO BE ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE WALL OF THE LIFE AND TIMES SET. THESE WINDOWS YOU SEE HERE? THEY'RE THE EXACT SAME WINDOWS YOU SEE AS YOU LOOK IN ON THE PROGRAM. THEY WERE INSTALLED HERE SO THAT VISITORS TO THE STUDIO COULD WATCH AN ACTUAL PRODUCTION, BUT IT CAN GO THE OTHER WAY AROUND.

JUST ACROSS THE HALL FROM US IS THE HEART OF THE STATION. THIS IS MASTER CONTROL. LET ME INTRODUCE YOU TO JOHN HOUSHOLDER. HE'S DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS. JOHN, WHAT ARE ALL THESE MONITORS THAT PEOPLE SEE WHEN THEY'RE LOOKING THROUGH THE WINDOWS?

JOHN HOUSHOLDER>> WELL, IT'S AN INDICATION OF ALL THE SIGNALS WE HAVE COMING INTO THE PLANT. WE HAVE SEVERAL SATELLITE FEEDS WE GET IN, WE HAVE VIDEOTAPE WE'RE PLAYING BACK AND, IN THIS ROOM HERE, IT'S THE HEART OF THE WHOLE STATION.

GAY>> SO YOU MIGHT BE WONDERING WHAT EVER HAPPENED TO OUR OLD LIFE AND TIMES SET. WELL, HERE IT IS SITTING IN STORAGE. WITH ME HERE IS JOHN RETSEK. HE'S THE ART DIRECTOR. SO, JOHN, WHAT'S SO DIFFERENT WITH THE NEW SET?

JOHN RETSEK>> WELL, THE BIG DIFFERENCE IS, OKAY, THERE ISN'T A SET. THE OLD SET USED TO SIT IN FRONT OF THE REAL STUDIO WALLS. NOW THE SET IS THE REAL STUDIO WALLS. WE'VE MADE IT A LITTLE MORE INTERESTING, BUT IT'S STILL BASICALLY THE REAL STUDIO. WE GOT A DESK THERE, OF COURSE, SO LIFE AND TIMES WILL BE THE SAME.

GAY>> SO THE NEW SET IS VIRTUALLY NO SET AT ALL. IT'S ACTUALLY A WINDOW INTO THE BEHIND-THE-SCENES OF KCET. SO SEE WHAT YOU THINK. ON LIFE AND TIMES, I'M GAY YEE.

JESS>> ALL RIGHT. NEXT TIME YOUR FRIENDS FROM OUT OF TOWN START TURNING UP THEIR NOSES AT SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA'S ARCHITECTURE, TAKE THEM TO PASADENA. STROLL PAST THE WESTMINSTER PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH OR THE OLD VISTA DEL ARROYO HOTEL OR THE PACIFIC ASIAN MUSEUM. WHAT YOU MAY NOT REALIZE IS THAT THESE AND A THOUSAND OTHER BUILDINGS ARE THE WORK OF ONE MAN, SYLVANUS MARSTON, WHO, MORE THAN ANY OTHER ARCHITECT, PUT HIS MARK ON PASADENA.

VAL>> IN FACT, SIXTY OF MARSTON'S BUILDINGS ARE ON THE NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES, AND NOW A NEW BOOK TELLS ABOUT THE ARCHITECT AND HIS STORY. JOINING US NOW IS THE AUTHOR, KATHLEEN TUTTLE. WELCOME TO LIFE AND TIMES.

KATHLEEN TUTTLE>> IT'S GREAT TO BE HERE. THANK YOU.

JESS>> PASADENA ALSO HAS A VERY PROTECTIVE ATMOSPHERE WHEN IT COMES TO THESE OLD BUILDINGS, SO MARSTON'S LEGACY STILL REMAINS AND WILL FOREVER.

KATHLEEN TUTTLE>> IT DOES. ABOUT EIGHTY PERCENT OF HIS SOME 1,000 BUILDINGS ARE STILL EXTANT AND THEY'RE ALL CONSIDERED TREASURES BY PASADENANS.

VAL>> WE'RE GOING TO TAKE A LOOK AT SOME OF THE THINGS THAT HE'S BUILT, BUT HE WAS AMAZINGLY VERSATILE, AS WE'RE ABOUT TO SEE, YES?

KATHLEEN TUTTLE>> HE WAS. HE WAS PROBABLY THE MOST VERSATILE OF ARCHITECTS IN PASADENA, OR SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA FOR THAT MATTER. HIS PRACTICE BEGAN IN 1908.

VAL>> AND HERE'S ONE OF HIS -- PROBABLY A GEM AMONG HIS WORK.

KATHLEEN TUTTLE>> YES. THIS BRINGS US TO THE RESORT ERA IN PASADENA FROM THE TURN OF THE CENTURY THROUGH THE 20'S. THIS IS THE VISTA DEL ARROYO HOTEL, THE ORIGINAL 1920'S BUILDING WHICH HE DESIGNED ALONG WITH HIS FIRM. THEY ALSO DESIGNED SOME TEN BUNGALOWS THAT WERE INCORPORATED AS A PART OF THAT HOTEL.

VAL>> TODAY IT IS A COURTHOUSE?

KATHLEEN TUTTLE>> TODAY IT IS THE NINTH CIRCUIT COURT OF APPEALS, A FEDERAL COURTHOUSE, THAT'S CORRECT.

VAL>> OH, THAT'S GORGEOUS.

KATHLEEN TUTTLE>> THIS REALLY EXEMPLIFIES THE LIFESTYLE BACK THEN. THIS IS THE POOLSIDE DINING WHICH THE VISTA DEL ARROYO WAS FAMOUS FOR AND, IN THE BACKGROUND, YOU CAN SEE THE COLORADO STREET BRIDGE WHICH IS ELEGANT STILL TODAY.

VAL>> IS THE POOL STILL THERE?

KATHLEEN TUTTLE>> THE POOL IS NOT THERE, SADLY.

VAL>> NOW HERE'S THE CLASSIC KIND OF ARCHITECTURE WHEN YOU THINK OF PASADENA HOMES.

KATHLEEN TUTTLE>> YES, IT IS. THIS IS ONE OF MARSTON'S BEST EXAMPLES OF A TRUE ARTS AND CRAFTS STYLE, THAT THE RUSTIC VERSION OF IT WAS THE GREAT COBBLESTONE WORK SEEMING TO BRING THE HOUSE RIGHT OUT OF THE GROUND.

JESS>> WAS HE A CONTEMPORARY OF THE GREENE BROTHERS?

KATHLEEN TUTTLE>> HE ACTUALLY CAME JUST AFTER THE GREENE BROTHERS.

JESS>> WAS HE INFLUENCED BY GREENE & GREENE? (LAUGHTER)

KATHLEEN TUTTLE>> NO, I WOULD SAY --

JESS>> -- THE STONEWORK WOULD SUGGEST THAT --

KATHLEEN TUTTLE>> -- THEY HAD NO INFLUENCE. HE WORKED FOR THEM FOR A SUMMER WHEN HE WAS HOME FROM CORNELL UNIVERSITY, SO I KNOW THAT THERE WAS SOME EXPOSURE. AND, OF COURSE, GREENE & GREENE, I THINK, INFLUENCED ALL THOSE ARCHITECTS WHO WERE DESIGNING IN THE ARTS AND CRAFTS STYLE OF PASADENA AT THAT TIME.

VAL>> AND THESE HOMES HAVE DEFINITELY LASTED, MADE FROM BOULDERS LIKE THAT. BUT HE WASN'T JUST -- HE DIDN'T JUST HAVE WEALTHY CLIENTS. HE ACTUALLY BUILT BUNGALOWS THAT WERE CONSIDERED VERY AFFORDABLE, YES? LIKE THIS ONE HERE?

KATHLEEN TUTTLE>> YES. IN FACT, THIS WAS BUILT IN 1912. IT'S AN EXAMPLE OF HOW HE TRIED TO DEMOCRATIZE BUNGALOW CONSTRUCTION AND IT WAS ACTUALLY FEATURED IN THE CRAFTSMAN MAGAZINE, THAT VENERABLE PUBLICATION BACK AT THE TURN OF THE CENTURY.

THIS IS THE GRACE -- CURRENTLY THE PACIFIC ASIAN MUSEUM WHICH IS HOW PEOPLE KNOW IT TODAY. BUT IT WAS BUILT FOR THE MOST CHALLENGING CLIENT OF MARSTON'S, GRACE NICHOLSON, BACK IN 1924. SHE WAS --

JESS>> -- THE CHALLENGE CERTAINLY ESTABLISHED HIS VERSATILITY WITH THIS.

KATHLEEN TUTTLE>> YES. YOU WON'T FIND IT ANYWHERE ELSE IN PASADENA OR SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA OR MAYBE THE UNITED STATES.

VAL>> WHAT IS THIS WE'RE LOOKING AT? THAT'S THE INSIDE COURTYARD?

KATHLEEN TUTTLE>> THIS IS THE INTERIOR COURTYARD THAT THE FIRM DESIGNED AS WELL. IT INCORPORATES CHINESE PLANTS, INCLUDING GRACE NICHOLSON'S FAVORITE GINKGO TREES.

VAL>> (LAUGHTER) YOU THINK SHE WAS A VERY EXACTING CLIENT?

KATHLEEN TUTTLE>> SHE WAS EXACTING, SHE HAD HER OWN IDEAS AND SHE WAS THE ONE THAT SAID, "I WANT A CHINESE PALACE THAT IS A MODEL OF THE BUILDINGS IN THE FORBIDDEN CITY IN PEKING." SO THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT MARSTON AND HIS FIRM ENDED UP PRODUCING. THAT'S GRACE NICHOLSON WITH HER CAT.

HERE WE HAVE THE PADUA HILLS THEATER IN THE CLAREMONT HILLS --

JESS>> -- HE STRAYED FROM PASADENA FOR THAT ONE.

KATHLEEN TUTTLE>> YES, AND HE DID HAVE QUITE A BIT OF WORK ACTUALLY IN THE CLAREMONT-POMONA AREA. HE ATTENDED POMONA COLLEGE FOR TWO YEARS BEFORE HE WENT TO CORNELL.

THIS IS AN EXQUISITE SPANISH COLONIAL REVIVAL STRUCTURE. IT WAS BUILT IN 1930. THIS IS THE DINING ROOM THAT IS IN THAT EXACT CONDITION TODAY.

VAL>> OH, THAT'S GREAT.

KATHLEEN TUTTLE>> IT'S OWNED BY THE CLAREMONT HISTORICAL SOCIETY. IN 1932 DURING THE OLYMPICS IN LOS ANGELES, THIS BECAME QUITE A DESTINATION OF HOLLYWOOD STARS. ITS GREATEST CONTRIBUTION AS A STRUCTURE IS THAT IT SOUGHT TO BRING A LOT OF HARMONY BETWEEN THE MEXICAN AND AMERICAN CULTURES.

VAL>> SO THEY WOULD PARTICIPATE OR PUT ON PERFORMANCES AND PLAYS THERE AT THE THEATER?

KATHLEEN TUTTLE>> YES. A GROUP CALLED THE MEXICAN PLAYERS, WHO WERE PREDOMINANTLY CHILDREN, YOUNG PEOPLE FROM MEXICO, BEGAN TO WORK THERE AND THEN EVOLVED INTO THE ENTERTAINMENT, THE WAITERS AND THE WHOLE WORKS.

THIS IS A 1929 STRUCTURE NOW DEMOLISHED. IT WAS A CHURCH THAT JACKIE ROBINSON ATTENDED.

JESS>> NOW DEMOLISHED?

KATHLEEN TUTTLE>> IT'S NOW DEMOLISHED, THAT'S CORRECT, SADLY --

JESS>> -- HOW DID THEY LET THAT HAPPEN?

KATHLEEN TUTTLE>> PASADENA HERITAGE IS SOLICITING FUNDS TO PROTECT ALL BUILDINGS LIKE THIS BECAUSE IT'S SAD WHEN WE SEE ANY OF THEM GO.

THIS IS THE DRAWING ROOM OF MARSTON'S BUSINESS IN 1913.

VAL>> THAT'S HIM UP IN THE LEFT CORNER. HERE'S A LITTLE CLOSER PICTURE.

KATHLEEN TUTTLE>> CORRECT. AND THERE'S SYLVANUS MARSTON IN THE 30'S. HE WAS A MAN WHO WAS BORN IN THE VICTORIAN ERA IN 1883, CAME TO PASADENA WITH HIS FAMILY BEFORE IT WAS A CITY, SO THEY'RE CONSIDERED SOME OF THE ORIGINAL PIONEERS. HE WAS GENTLEMANLY CULTURED, EDUCATED IN THE FRENCH BEAUX ART SYSTEM AT CORNELL UNIVERSITY, LEFT AN IMPRINT ON PASADENA THAT WILL NEVER BE FORGOTTEN. HE GIVES IT SO MUCH IN THE WAY OF A FEEL AND A LOOK THAT IS STILL PRESENT TODAY.

VAL>> AND WHEN DID HE DIE?

KATHLEEN TUTTLE>> HE DIED IN 1946 AT THE AGE OF 63 YEARS OLD, SO HE DIDN'T ACTUALLY HAVE A LONG, LONG LIFE. BUT HIS CONTRIBUTIONS TO SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA, AND ESPECIALLY PASADENA, WERE PRETTY REMARKABLE.

VAL>> THEY REALLY ARE.

JESS>> THE BOOK, WE'LL REMIND YOU, IS "SYLVANUS MARSTON: PASADENA'S QUINTESSENTIAL ARCHITECT". IT'S PUBLISHED BY HENNESSEY & INGALLS. KATHLEEN TUTTLE WILL ALSO BE APPEARING AT THE LOS ANGELES TIMES' FESTIVAL OF BOOKS IN APRIL.

VAL>> KATHLEEN, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US. IT'S A WONDERFUL COLLECTION. A BEAUTIFUL BOOK WITH PHOTOGRAPHS AND THE WHOLE STORY BEHIND PASADENA. THANK YOU.

KATHLEEN TUTTLE>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

JESS>> YOU CAN FIND TRANSCRIPTS OF OUR BROADCASTS OR LISTEN TO ABOUT A WEEK'S WORTH OF LIFE AND TIMES THROUGH OUR WEBSITE, WWW.KCET.ORG.

VAL>> FOR ALL OF US HERE AT LIFE AND TIMES, THANK YOU SO MUCH. "GUNG HAY FAT CHOY". SOME PEOPLE UNDERSTAND THAT. HAVE A GOOD EVENING.

JESS>> "GUNG HAY FAT CHOY". HAVE A GREAT EVENING.

VAL>> (LAUGHTER) THERE YOU GO.

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