2/22/02

LC020222


THIS PROGRAM IS MADE POSSIBLE IN PART BY A GRANT FROM THE CITY OF LOS ANGELES CULTURAL AFFAIRS DEPARTMENT.

VAL>> ON LIFE AND TIMES TONIGHT --

JESS>> THE RIDE TO SCHOOL CAN BE A BREATHTAKING EXPERIENCE. JUST ASK ANY CHILD WHO MAKES THE TRIP.

PHILIP BRUCE>> WE ALL KNOW THE YELLOW SCHOOL BUS, BUT WHAT MOST PEOPLE DON'T KNOW IS THE DANGER THOSE BUSES MAY CARRY, NAMELY DIESEL EXHAUST.

SIENA LESLIE>> WELL, I ASSUME IT'S GOT TO BE BAD BECAUSE THE WAY IT SMELLS, IT'S JUST HORRIBLE.

VAL>> THEY'RE BATTLING TO REPRESENT THE SAN FERNANDO VALLEY AND TONIGHT THEY'LL GO FACE TO FACE. TONY CARDENAS AND WENDY GREUEL SPELL OUT WHY THEY WANT YOUR VOTE IN THE VERY HOT L.A. CITY COUNCIL RACE.

JESS>> BEING FUNNY ISN'T AS EASY AS IT APPEARS. JUST ASK SOME OF THE PEOPLE WHO DO IT FOR A LIVING.

[FILM CLIP: RANDY AND JASON SKLAR]

JESS>> THEY'RE NOT YOUR TYPICAL STAND-UP COMICS AND THIS ISN'T A NORMAL COMEDY CLUB. TONIGHT WE'LL TAKE YOU TO THE UN-CABARET, A PLACE THAT'S TRYING TO REINVENT THE ART OF HUMOR.

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.

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.

THE BUS RIDE TO SCHOOL SHOULDN'T BE HAZARDOUS TO A CHILD'S HEALTH, BUT THAT APPEARS TO BE TRUE IF THE BUS IS AN OLDER MODEL THAT RUNS ON DIESEL AND CALIFORNIA HAS PLENTY OF THOSE. MORE, IN FACT, THAN ANY OTHER STATE EXCEPT FOR WASHINGTON.

VAL>> THE UNION OF CONCERNED SCIENTISTS, AN ENVIRONMENTAL GROUP BASED IN BERKELEY, HAS BEEN TRACKING THE PROBLEM NATIONWIDE. THEY SAY DIESEL FUMES CONTAIN MORE THAN FORTY TOXIC CHEMICALS THAT CAN HARM A CHILD, BUT THE WORRIES AREN'T NEW. A YEAR AGO, MANY PARENTS AND EVEN SOME CHILDREN TOLD US THE OLDER SCHOOL BUSES IN LOS ANGELES WEREN'T SAFE. TONIGHT PHILIP BRUCE LOOKS BACK AT THE SOURCE OF THEIR CONCERN.

PHILIP>> WE ALL KNOW THE YELLOW SCHOOL BUS, BUT WHAT MOST PEOPLE DON'T KNOW IS THE DANGER THOSE BUSES MAY CARRY, NAMELY DIESEL EXHAUST, THE KIND THAT FIFTH GRADER, SIENA LESLIE, INHALES ON HER WAY TO L.A.'S BRENTWOOD SCIENCE MAGNET SCHOOL.

SIENA LESLIE>> WELL, I ASSUME IT'S GOT TO BE BAD BECAUSE THE WAY IT SMELLS, IT'S JUST HORRIBLE. ALSO, MY MOM IS ALWAYS COMPLAINING OF THE DIESEL BUSES CAUSING ASTHMA AND STUFF LIKE THAT, SO I'D SAY IT'S PRETTY BAD.

PHILIP>> STATE HEALTH OFFICIALS SAY DIESEL EXHAUST IS LINKED TO CANCER AND OTHER HEALTH PROBLEMS. LAST YEAR, THE NATURAL RESOURCES DEFENSE COUNCIL, OR THE NRDC, AND THE COALITION FOR CLEAN AIR ANNOUNCED RESULTS OF A NEW STUDY. IT SHOWED THAT THE LEVELS OF DIESEL EXHAUST INSIDE A SCHOOL BUS COULD BE UP TO FOUR TIMES HIGHER THAN THE LEVELS OUTSIDE.

GAIL RUDERMAN FEUER>> WE THOUGHT THE WORST PLACE TO BE WOULD BE OUTSIDE THE BUS. WHAT WAS SURPRISING ABOUT THE STUDY IS, WE FOUND THE WORSE PLACE TO BE IS INSIDE THE BUS AND WE THINK THAT'S BECAUSE THE EXHAUST THAT'S COMING OUT OF THE BUS IS ACTUALLY COMING UNDER THE BUS AND INSIDE THE BUS. THE HIGHEST READINGS OF DIESEL EXHAUST WERE WHEN THE WINDOWS WERE CLOSED AND THOSE KIDS ARE BASICALLY COOKING INSIDE THAT BUS WITH THOSE DIESEL FUMES.

PHILIP>> THE NRDC IS LOBBYING TO HAVE DIESEL SCHOOL BUSES REPLACED BY MODELS THAT RUN ON NATURAL GAS AND THE SOUTH COAST AIR QUALITY MANAGEMENT DISTRICT APPARENTLY IS HEADED IN THE SAME DIRECTION.

GAIL RUDERMAN FEUER>> EVERY SINGLE BUS WE BUY NEEDS TO BE A CLEANER NON-DIESEL BUS AND THAT'S THE ONLY WAY WE'LL GET TO ENTIRE FLEETS OF CLEAN BUSES.

PHILIP>> BUT THE PROPOSED CHANGE IS CONTROVERSIAL. THERE'S A MAJOR PUSH FOR THE AQMD TO SET SCHOOL BUS EMISSION STANDARDS, BUT NOT TO SPECIFY THE KIND OF FUEL THAT'S ALLOWED. MEANWHILE, INTERNATIONAL TRUCK WANTS TO MARKET A NEW STYLE DIESEL BUS ACROSS CALIFORNIA. THEY CALL IT GREEN DIESEL TECHNOLOGY AND SAY THE BUS IS CLEAN. IT'S BEEN APPROVED BY THE STATE AIR RESOURCES BOARD. BOB HATTOY RUNS A GROUP CALLING ITSELF THE COALITION FOR BOOKS AND BUSES. HE CLAIMS THE NRDC HASN'T DONE ITS HOMEWORK.

BOB HATTOY>> I THINK WHEN THEY STARTED THEIR CRUSADE TO ELIMINATE DIESEL, THERE WERE ONLY TWO CHOICES AT THE TIME. THERE WAS DIESEL, THE FILTHY UGLY DIESEL THAT WE ALL HATE, AND NATURAL GAS. NOW WE HAVE AN ALTERNATIVE. I THINK THEY GOT A LITTLE LAZY IN NOT LOOKING AT IT.

PHILIP>> GAIL RUDERMAN FEUER ADMITS THE GREEN DIESEL BUS MAY BE BETTER THAN THE OLD DIESEL MODELS, BUT SHE SAYS IT STILL DOESN'T COMPARE WITH NATURAL GAS MODELS.

GAIL RUDERMAN FEUER>> THE PROBLEM IS, THE SIMPLE FACT IS, THEY'RE NOT AS CLEAN. IF THIS AGENCY WERE TO SET A STANDARD AND SAY SCHOOL DISTRICTS CAN ONLY BUY THE CLEANEST BUS AROUND, THE ONLY BUSES THAT WOULD QUALIFY WOULD BE THE NATURAL GAS BUSES.

PHILIP>> BUT HATTOY SAYS INTERNATIONAL SHOULD BE PRAISED FOR DEVELOPING A BETTER DIESEL BUS.

BOB HATTOY>> I THINK, YOU KNOW, WE NEED TO GIVE THEM A LITTLE, YOU KNOW, PAT ON THE BACK AND HELP THEM OUT A LITTLE. ALSO, WHAT OTHER INCENTIVES WOULD INDUSTRY HAVE IF THEY WEREN'T GIVEN SOME, YOU KNOW, PATS ON THE BACK OCCASIONALLY WHEN THEY DO ACHIEVE BETTER AIR QUALITY AND WORK WITH THE COMMUNITY?

PHILIP>> THE LOS ANGELES BOARD OF EDUCATION HAS VOTED TO SUPPORT NATURAL GAS BUSES. ANGELO BELLOMO HEADS THE DISTRICT'S ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH AND SAFETY OFFICE. HE SAYS THE AQMD'S ANTI-DIESEL STANCE WILL HELP PUSH THE DEVELOPMENT OF NATURAL GAS TECHNOLOGY.

ANGELO BELLOMO>> THERE'S NO QUESTION THE DIESEL LOBBY IS VERY STRONG IN THE STATE. HOWEVER, WHAT WE'RE LOOKING AT IN THE RULE IS TRYING TO MAKE AN ADVANCE IN THE TYPE OF TECHNOLOGY THAT WE'RE USING TO POWER BUSES.

JESS>> SINCE THAT STORY FIRST AIRED, THE STATE HAS ADOPTED A NEW RULE. ALL SCHOOL DISTRICTS WITH MORE THAN FIFTEEN BUSES CAN NO LONGER PURCHASE DIESEL MODELS. INSTEAD, THEY'LL HAVE TO BUY BUSES THAT RUN ON EITHER NATURAL GAS OR ELECTRICITY. IN THE MEANTIME, HUNDREDS OF OLD DIESEL BUSES REMAIN ON THE ROADS UNTIL THE SCHOOLS HAVE A CHANCE TO REPLACE THEM OR, AT ABOUT $80,000 PER BUS, CAN AFFORD TO REPLACE THEM.

VAL>> MONDAY ON LIFE AND TIMES, IF YOU'RE SICK AND IN PAIN, ALL YOU WANT IS RELIEF, BUT SOME DOCTORS DON'T PRESCRIBE ADEQUATE PAINKILLERS.

GAY YEE>> DOCTORS OFTEN UNDER-PRESCRIBE PAIN MEDICATION OUT OF FEAR IT WAS ADDICTIVE OR HAD LONG-TERM SIDE EFFECTS, AND THE PROBLEM MAY BE EVEN WORSE FOR MINORITY PATIENTS.

>> I COULDN'T STAND THE PAIN. I WOULD BE MISERABLE ALL THE TIME.

JESS>> SHE WAS AN AIDE TO THE LATE MAYOR, TOM BRADLEY. HE IS A WELL-KNOWN STATE ASSEMBLYMAN. NOW THEY BOTH WANT THE SAME JOB AND THEY'RE HERE TONIGHT TO LAY OUT THEIR CREDENTIALS.

VAL>> WENDY GREUEL AND TONY CARDENAS ARE VYING FOR THE SECOND DISTRICT SEAT ON THE L.A. CITY COUNCIL. THEY'RE BOTH HOPING TO FILL THE SHOES OF A COUNCIL VETERAN, JOEL WACHS, WHO REPRESENTED THE SAN FERNANDO VALLEY FOR THIRTY YEARS. AND ALSO JOINING US TONIGHT IS ANOTHER CITY HALL VETERAN AND POLITICAL ANALYST, KERMAN MADDOX.

KERMAN>> THANK YOU, VAL.

JESS>> LET ME ASK EACH OF YOU BECAUSE YOU SEEM TO AGREE ON THE MOST CONTENTIOUS ISSUES. THE ISSUE OF VALLEY SECESSION, YOU'RE BOTH OPPOSED TO THAT. ON THE ISSUE OF CHIEF PARKS, YOU BOTH HAVE SAID YOU RESPECT THE CHIEF, BUT YOU DON'T SUPPORT ANOTHER FIVE-YEAR TERM FOR HIM. LET'S START WITH YOU. WHAT ARE THE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN THE TWO OF YOU?

WENDY GREUEL>> WELL, I THINK PRIMARILY THE BIGGEST DIFFERENCE, I BELIEVE, IS EXPERIENCE. I WORKED IN THE CITY OF LOS ANGELES FOR MAYOR BRADLEY FOR TEN YEARS. I KNOW HOW THE CITY OPERATES. BUT I'VE HAD PERSPECTIVE, BOTH WITH WORKING FOR THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT COORDINATING ALL THE EARTHQUAKE RECOVERY, AS WELL AS WORKING FOR DREAMWORKS FOR THE LAST FOUR AND A HALF YEARS, A COMPANY THAT'S PART OF AN ECONOMIC ENGINE FOR THIS REGION. AND THE FOUNDATION OF MY REAL CAREER HAS BEEN MY FAMILY BUSINESS, A BUSINESS CALLED FRONTIER BUILDING SUPPLY IN THE SAN FERNANDO VALLEY AND IN THE SECOND DISTRICT. BEEN THERE SIXTY YEARS.

I THINK MY PERSPECTIVE AND INTEREST IS TO GO DOWN TO CITY HALL, BE INDEPENDENT, BE A STRONG VOICE, FIGHT FOR THE VALLEY'S FAIR SHARE AND TAKE ALL OF MY EXPERIENCES IN CREATING PROGRAMS THAT WORK IN THE COMMUNITIES LIKE L.A.'S BEST, WHICH I KNOW WHEN I WORKED FOR MAYOR BRADLEY, WAS ONE OF OUR PROUDEST ACCOMPLISHMENTS.

JESS>> MR. CARDENAS?

TONY CARDENAS>> I THINK THE MAJOR DIFFERENCE HERE IS THAT I'VE ACTUALLY SERVED THE PUBLIC IN THE CAPACITY OF AN ELECTED OFFICIAL. THERE'S NOTHING LIKE HAVING THE RESPONSIBILITY OF PUSHING THAT BUTTON. AND EVERYBODY CAN IDENTIFY PROBLEMS AND WHEN PEOPLE ARE IN CAMPAIGNS, THEY ALWAYS COME OUT WITH PLANS AND ISSUES THAT THEY'VE IDENTIFIED, BUT REALLY AN ELECTED OFFICIAL'S JOB IS TO PROVIDE SOLUTIONS AND I'VE DONE THAT. FOR EXAMPLE, YOU KNOW, WHEN IT COMES TO DIESEL BUSES, I FUNDED THAT THROUGH THE STATE FUND TO MAKE SURE WE GET MORE DIESEL BUSES OFF THE STREET AWAY FROM OUR CHILDREN.

WHEN IT COMES TO ISSUES OF JUVENILE JUSTICE REFORM, I WROTE THE MOST COMPREHENSIVE JUVENILE JUSTICE REFORM ALONG WITH ADAM SCHIFF, WHO'S NOW A CONGRESSMAN HERE IN THE SAN FERNANDO VALLEY, AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE. GETTING KIDS OUT OF GANGS, MAKING SURE WE HAVE PUBLIC SAFETY, MY BACKGROUND AS AN ENGINEER. ENGINEERS SOLVE PROBLEMS. I USED TO OWN A BUSINESS FOR OVER TEN YEARS IN THE SAN FERNANDO VALLEY. YOU'RE ALWAYS FACED WITH ISSUES YOU GOT TO GET THROUGH TOMORROW AND NOW, AS A STATE LEGISLATOR, I'VE ACTUALLY BUDGETED $103 BILLION DOLLAR BUDGET IN THE STATE LEGISLATURE AND THAT'S THE KIND OF EXPERIENCE THAT I WANT TO BRING TO CITY HALL.

KERMAN>> I'VE TALKED TO A LOT OF PEOPLE ABOUT THIS PARTICULAR COUNCIL RACE AND THEY SAY THEY'RE BOTH GOOD PEOPLE, THEY'RE GOOD DEMOCRATS, THEY'VE GOT EXPERIENCE, AND YOU TALKED ABOUT YOUR DIFFERENCES IN STYLE. BUT, AS JESS SAID, ARE THERE ISSUE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN YOU, TONY AND WENDY, AND I'LL START WITH YOU. OTHER THAN YOUR EXPERIENCE IN SACRAMENTO, HER EXPERIENCE AT THE LOCAL LEVEL, ARE THERE SIGNIFICANT ISSUES THAT DISTINGUISH YOU FROM WENDY GREUEL?

TONY CARDENAS>> ISSUES SUCH AS THAT ARE FACING THE COMMUNITY --

KERMAN>> -- ISSUES THAT ARE FACING THE CITY.

TONY CARDENAS>> FACING THE CITY, ABSOLUTELY. FOR EXAMPLE, THE CITY'S LOOKING AT A BUDGET DEFICIT OF AT LEAST $250 MILLION DOLLARS, PERHAPS EVEN MORE. THAT KIND OF EXPERIENCE THAT I HAVE IN BUDGETING $103 BILLION DOLLAR BUDGET, HAVING TO BALANCE PUBLIC SAFETY, EDUCATION, HEALTHCARE, ALL OF THOSE KINDS OF ISSUES, YET AT THE SAME TIME, PUTTING TOGETHER THE BIGGEST BUDGET RESERVE CALIFORNIA HAD EVER SEEN, TAUGHT ME A LOT. I'M GOING TO TAKE THAT TO CITY HALL AND BE AN ASSET TO THE COMMUNITY OF THE CITY COUNCIL AND ALSO TO THE SAN FERNANDO VALLEY. THAT COMES TO MIND FIRST.

KERMAN>> WENDY, SAME QUESTION. ARE THERE ISSUE DISTINCTIONS BETWEEN YOURSELF AND MR. CARDENAS?

WENDY GREUEL>> WELL, I'VE PUT TOGETHER A PLAN WHICH I CALL "VISION FOR OUR VALLEY" WHICH TALKS ABOUT ALL KINDS OF ISSUES THAT I WANT TO SEE ADDRESSED IN THE COMMUNITY. I'VE TALKED TO THE NEIGHBORHOODS. I RESPECT MY OPPONENT ON HIS ISSUE THAT HE HAS BEEN THE STATE BUDGET CHAIR, BUT I ALSO BELIEVE THAT WE HAVE SOME CHALLENGES IN THIS STATE BASED ON THE FACT THAT TODAY WE READ IN THE PAPERS THERE'S A $14 BILLION DOLLAR DEFICIT. WHEN WE GO INTO CITY HALL, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO TIGHTEN BELTS. WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE DON'T SPEND MORE THAN WE HAVE BECAUSE I THINK MANY OF THE PROGRAMS THAT MAY HAVE BEEN FUNDED BY THE STATE ARE GOING TO BE IN JEOPARDY.

MY EXPERIENCE, AGAIN, IS ONE OF GETTING THINGS DONE WHETHER IT BE DURING THE CRISIS DURING THE EARTHQUAKE AND COORDINATING CLOSE TO A BILLION DOLLARS HERE IN THIS REGION, TO THE CREATION OF L.A.'S BEST, TO HOME OWNERSHIP OPPORTUNITIES. I THINK THAT MY EXPERIENCE IS GOING TO BE ONE IN WHICH THE COMMUNITY VALUES. THEY'RE LOOKING FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE NOT CAREER POLITICIANS THESE DAYS. I THINK THE IDEA OF TERM LIMITS WAS TO GET NEW PEOPLE, NEW IDEAS, INTO THE CITY COUNCIL AND THAT MY DIVERSE ENDORSEMENTS THAT I HAVE ALL OVER THIS CITY AND IN THE SAN FERNANDO VALLEY FROM HOMEOWNERS GROUPS AND BUSINESSES, TO REPUBLICANS AND DEMOCRATS, TO ENVIRONMENTAL GROUPS, THAT DEMONSTRATES THAT I HAVE A BROAD-BASED SUPPORT TO DO SOMETHING AT CITY HALL AND SHAKE THINGS UP. BE INDEPENDENT.

VAL>> MR. CARDENAS, SINCE YOU DID BRING UP THE ISSUE OF THE BUDGET, WHAT IS YOUR RESPONSE TO THE FACT THAT, ALTHOUGH WE HAD A RECORD SURPLUS, WE'RE NOW LOOKING AT A RECORD DEFICIT OF $14 BILLION DOLLARS?

TONY CARDENAS>> WELL, WE'RE EXPERIENCING TODAY, ESPECIALLY AFTER SEPTEMBER 11 ACROSS THE COUNTRY AND HERE IN CALIFORNIA, THE STEEPEST DECLINE IN FUNDING TO THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA IN THE LAST FIFTY YEARS, SINCE WORLD WAR II. THAT'S WHAT WE'RE EXPERIENCING TODAY. NOBODY COULD HAVE SEEN THAT COMING. NOBODY KNEW THAT WAS COMING. WE DID SEE THAT THE ECONOMY WAS GOING TO SLOW DOWN LAST SUMMER WHEN WE PUT TOGETHER THE BUDGET ON TIME WITH THE BIGGEST RESERVE EVER. WE PUT TOGETHER A $2.5 BILLION DOLLAR RESERVE. ON ANY GIVEN YEAR IN CALIFORNIA'S HISTORY, THAT WOULD HAVE DONE US VERY WELL. BUT AFTER SEPTEMBER 11 WHEN WE SEE THE NATIONAL ECONOMY AND THE STATE ECONOMY GOING DOWN SO FAST, THAT IS NOT ENOUGH.

VAL>> WELL, IT WAS HAPPENING BEFORE SEPTEMBER 11. THE ENERGY CRISIS ATE UP A LOT OF THAT SURPLUS.

TONY CARDENAS>> YES. WELL, AS A MATTER OF FACT, IT WOULD BE INAPPROPRIATE TO SAY THAT THE ENERGY CRISIS ACTUALLY CONTRIBUTED TO THAT. THAT'S A SEPARATE BUDGET ISSUE. WE'RE TALKING ABOUT POSSIBLY A $14 BILLION DOLLAR DEFICIT ASIDE FROM THE FACT THAT PHIL ANGELIDES NEEDS TO GO OUT THERE AND SELL THE BONDS TO REPLENISH THE GENERAL FUND FOR THE MONEY THAT WAS PUT FORTH FOR ENERGY PURCHASES, SO THAT'S SEPARATE AND APART. THAT $14 BILLION DOLLAR DEFICIT IS STRICTLY GENERAL FUND DEFICIT.

KERMAN>> I WANT TO ASK YOU ABOUT VALLEY SECESSION BECAUSE YOU BOTH APPARENTLY ARE AGAINST VALLEY SECESSION, WHICH COMES AS ACTUALLY A SURPRISE TO ME BECAUSE, IF YOU READ THE POLLS ON CHANNEL SEVEN, YOU READ THE ARTICLES IN THE L.A. TIMES, IT GIVES THE IMPRESSION THAT MOST PEOPLE IN THE SECOND COUNCIL DISTRICT ARE FOR VALLEY SECESSION. ARE YOU OUT OF STEP WITH THE PEOPLE IN THE DISTRICT ON THAT ISSUE?

WENDY GREUEL>> WELL, I'D LIKE TO -- I MEAN, I THINK THAT THE POSITION I HAVE TAKEN IS ONE IN WHICH WE -- A WAIT AND SEE ATTITUDE. IF ASKED TODAY TO VOTE ON THE ITEM OF SECESSION, I WOULD VOTE NO BECAUSE I DON'T THINK WE HAVE ENOUGH INFORMATION IN THE REPORTS THAT WERE DONE. THERE'S CONFLICTING REPORTS OUT THERE FROM THE CITY AND FROM LAFCO.

THE PEOPLE IN THIS COMMUNITY WANT A RIGHT TO VOTE ABOUT SECESSION. WHEN I KNOCK ON THEIR DOORS AND THEY SAY THEY'VE NEVER HAD A CANDIDATE COME TO THEIR DOOR IN SIXTY YEARS, THEY FEEL DISCONNECTED FROM CITY HALL. THEY BELIEVE THAT THE SERVICES WE NEED TO PROVIDE ARE NOT BEING DELIVERED TO THEIR COMMUNITIES WHETHER IT BE PUBLIC SAFETY, OR STREET CLEANING, OR TREE TRIMMING. SO WE NEED TO DEMONSTRATE AS ELECTED OFFICIALS THE ABILITY TO ACTUALLY DELIVER THOSE SERVICES BECAUSE PEOPLE JUST WANT TO IMPROVE THEIR QUALITY OF LIFE.

JESS>> NOW THE MAN YOU'RE BOTH SEEKING TO REPLACE, JOEL WACHS, WAS ELECTED OVER AND OVER AND OVER AGAIN. DID HE FAIL ON THOSE ISSUES? IS HE PART OF THE REASON THE VALLEY IS DISAFFECTED?

TONY CARDENAS>> ONE OF THE THINGS I'D LIKE TO POINT OUT, I THINK I AM IN STEP WITH THE VOTERS OF THE SAN FERNANDO VALLEY BECAUSE, AS WENDY POINTED OUT, THEY WANT A FAIR AND OPEN PROCESS. THEY WANT THE RIGHT TO VOTE. MYSELF, TOM MCCLINTOCK, A REPUBLICAN, AND BOB HERTZBERG, ANOTHER DEMOCRAT LIKE MYSELF, WROTE THE LANGUAGE TO GIVE IT TO THE VOTE OF THE PEOPLE. IF YOU RECALL, THE CITY COUNCIL HAD VETO POWER OVER ANY PORTION OF THE CITY THAT WANTED TO SECEDE. WE BROUGHT IT TO THE VOTE OF THE PEOPLE. THAT WAS STATE LEGISLATION THAT I WORKED ON AND I VOTED FOR.

IN ADDITION TO THAT, AS WENDY SAID, PEOPLE WANT ANSWERS. RIGHT NOW, I WOULDN'T VOTE FOR SECESSION EITHER. AS WENDY POINTED OUT, SHE WOULDN'T. WE NEED MORE ANSWERS. THAT'S WHY MYSELF, TOM MCCLINTOCK AND BOB HERTZBERG AGAIN, WE GOT LAFCO $1.3 MILLION DOLLARS SO THAT THE VOTERS COULD MAKE AN EDUCATED DECISION COME NOVEMBER OF THIS YEAR WHEN IT'S TENTATIVELY ON THE BALLOT. WE GAVE THE PEOPLE THE RIGHT TO VOTE ON IT.

JESS>> TO ANSWER MY QUESTION, IS JOEL WACHS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE DISAFFECTION OF THE PEOPLE IN THE VALLEY WHO WANT TO SECEDE?

TONY CARDENAS>> I THINK THAT ANY ELECTED OFFICIAL WHO ACTUALLY HAS A MILLION DOLLAR BUDGET AND THEN REDUCES THEIR DISTRICT OFFICE, NOT TWO TO THREE OFFICES LIKE SOME DISTRICTS HAVE, BUT DOWN TO ONE OFFICE, THAT MEANS THAT THEY HAVE FAILED THE VOTERS, AT LEAST WHEN IT COMES TO SERVICE. I THINK THE NUMBER ONE ISSUE THAT PEOPLE FEEL, BUSINESS OWNERS, COMMUNITY MEMBERS, FAMILY MEMBERS, IS WHEN THEY CALL CITY HALL AND THEY GET THAT TWILIGHT ZONE WHERE THEY PUSH THIS BUTTON, PUSH THAT BUTTON, AND THEY END OUT THE BACK DOOR WITH A DIAL TONE. THAT IS THE NUMBER ONE REASON THE PEOPLE ARE TELLING ME THAT THEY'RE FRUSTRATED WITH CITY HALL.

KERMAN>> YOU GUYS GOT TWO WEEKS LEFT. YOU BOTH SOUND GOOD, BUT THERE'S GOT TO BE SOMETHING. I MEAN, TONY, WHY YOU INSTEAD OF WENDY? WHY ARE YOU BETTER THAN WENDY? WENDY, WHY ARE YOU BETTER THAN TONY?

WENDY GREUEL>> YOU WANT ME TO ANSWER THAT FIRST?

JESS>> GO AHEAD. LADIES FIRST. (LAUGHTER)

WENDY GREUEL>> WELL, I THINK THAT -- AGAIN, I'VE TALKED ABOUT INDEPENDENCE AND ABOUT GOING TO CITY HALL AND BEING AN INDEPENDENT VOICE. TONY AND I HAVE FOUGHT A LITTLE BIT ABOUT INDEPENDENT EXPENDITURES AND ABOUT THE ROLE THEY PLAY NOT ONLY IN THIS RACE, BUT WHAT THEY PLAYED IN THE MAYORAL RACE WHICH --

KERMAN>> -- IS THIS INDIAN GAMING YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT?

WENDY GREUEL>> EXACTLY, EXACTLY. I THINK THAT WE DON'T NEED OUTSIDE INFLUENCES IN A LOCAL CITY COUNCIL RACE OR A MAYORAL RACE. WE ACTUALLY PASSED LEGISLATION HERE IN THE CITY OF LOS ANGELES TO HAVE SPENDING CAPS. THEY'VE BEEN BROKEN, I THINK, EVERY TIME THAT THE ELECTIONS HAVE OCCURRED. WE NEED TO REALLY REFORM THAT AND I HAVE A PLAN AND WAYS WE CAN IMPLEMENT IT, WAYS THAT WE CAN LOOK AT NO INDEPENDENT EXPENDITURES, REPORTING THAT OCCURS. PEOPLE DON'T TRUST DOWNTOWN AND I THINK THAT'S WHY MY CANDIDACY IS ONE OF INDEPENDENCE.

VAL>> AND IN CASE PEOPLE DON'T UNDERSTAND, WHAT SHE'S REFERRING TO IS THE CONTROVERSY AROUND YOUR BEING INVOLVED IN MONEY COMING FROM INDIAN TRIBES AND BEING USED AS NEGATIVE ADS AGAINST VILLARAIGOSA. YOUR RESPONSE?

TONY CARDENAS>> YEAH, I'M SURE. MY RESPONSE TO THAT IS IT'S A NON-ISSUE IN THIS PARTICULAR RACE BECAUSE BOTH WENDY AND I HAVE ACTUALLY RECEIVED THE BENEFIT OF INDEPENDENT EXPENDITURES. THE NUMBER ONE INDEPENDENT EXPENDITURE SO FAR HAS BEEN BILLBOARDS. THEY'VE DONE BILLBOARDS ON BEHALF OF WENDY AND MYSELF AND, QUITE FRANKLY, A CANDIDATE DOESN'T EVEN KNOW THEY'RE HAPPENING UNTIL THEY SEE THEM POP UP BECAUSE THAT'S WHY THEY CALL THEM INDEPENDENT EXPENDITURE.

I THINK THAT, WHEN PEOPLE TALK ABOUT CAMPAIGN FINANCE REFORM, THAT'S USUALLY DONE IN CAMPAIGNS. BUT WHEN PEOPLE GET ELECTED, SELDOM DO YOU SEE THEM ACTUALLY VOTE SUBSTANTIALLY ON THAT. I ACTUALLY VOTED ON IT WITH MY COLLEAGUES IN SACRAMENTO. WE PUT IT TO A VOTE OF THE PEOPLE, PROPOSITION 34 LAST YEAR, AND IT PASSED, TO LIMIT MYSELF AS A CANDIDATE TO THE AMOUNT OF MONEY THAT I CAN RAISE. THE MAIN REASON THAT SEPARATES ME AND WENDY IS, I HAVE CHILDREN IN THE DISTRICT WHO GO TO PUBLIC SCHOOL IN THE SAN FERNANDO VALLEY. I HAVE A LOT AT STAKE. I PERSONALLY OWNED A BUSINESS FOR TEN YEARS IN THE SAN FERNANDO VALLEY AND I KNOW WHAT IT'S LIKE TO HANDLE THOSE THINGS.

VAL>> THAT WILL HAVE TO BE THE FINAL WORD, BUT WE WANT TO THANK YOU BOTH, TONY CARDENAS AND WENDY GREUEL, FOR COMING IN. BEST OF LUCK TO BOTH OF YOU ON MARCH 5.

TONY CARDENAS>> THANK YOU.

WENDY GREUEL>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

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

JESS>> IN COMEDY, WE'RE TOLD SOME OF THE FUNNIEST ROUTINES ARE THE ONES THAT RING TRUE WITH EVERYDAY LIFE. NO CONTRIVANCES OR ELABORATE JOKES, JUST A PERFORMER TELLING A STORY. THAT'S THE WHOLE IDEA BEHIND A UNIQUE COMEDY VENUE IN LOS ANGELES KNOWN AS UN-CABARET.

VAL>> THE SHOW BEGAN AS AN ALTERNATIVE TO THE WORLD OF STAND-UP COMEDY, BUT OVER THE PAST DECADE, UN-CABARET HAS BUILT QUITE A REPUTATION THROUGH THE QUALITY OF ITS STORYTELLERS. TONIGHT WE MEET THE SHOW'S CREATOR, BETH LAPIDES, AND FIND OUT HOW SHE'S PUTTING A NEW SPIN ON BEING FUNNY.

[SUE MURPHY FILM CLIP]

[RANDY AND JASON SKLAR FILM CLIP]

[JULIA SWEENEY FILM CLIP]

BETH LAPIDES>> THIS IS THE UN-CABARET, BY THE WAY. WE DON'T TIPTOE....

THE UN-CABARET BEGAN AS A LIVE COMEDY SHOW WHICH WAS COMEDY THAT WAS ABOUT BECOMING WHO YOU WERE, ON STAGE, BEING AUTHENTIC, TELLING THE STORY OF YOUR LIFE AS IT WENT. FOR SOME PEOPLE, IT'S AN ESCAPE FROM THE RELENTLESSNESS OF THE OTHER COMEDY VENUES WHERE IT'S A JOKE, A JOKE, A JOKE.

[SUE MURPHY FILM CLIP]

[CARRIE FISHER FILM CLIP]

BETH LAPIDES>> A LOT OF WRITERS REALLY LIKE TO DO THIS BECAUSE THEY MISS BEING ABLE TO COMMUNICATE IN THEIR OWN VOICE.

[ANDY DICK FILM CLIP]

BETH LAPIDES>> THE UN-CABARET CAME OUT OF NEEDS OF PERFORMERS AND AUDIENCE COMING TOGETHER.

[ANDY DICK FILM CLIP]

BETH LAPIDES>> WELL, THE ONLY STRUCTURAL DIFFERENCE OF THE UN-CABARET IS SORT OF THE BACK MIKE INNOVATION, WHICH THEN SORT OF GOT TAKEN OFF BY A LOT OF ALTERNATIVE COMEDY. ONE NIGHT I JUST HAD A QUESTION FOR SOMEONE. I WAS LIKE, I DON'T KNOW, BUT WAIT A MINUTE, JUDY, WHAT ABOUT DA-DA-DA AND THEN IT JUST SEEMED LIKE, OH, MY GOD, THIS IS THE MOST NATURAL THING TO HELP THE SHOW STAY REALLY IN THE MOMENT AND STAY REALLY FRESH.

[ANDY DICK FILM CLIP]

BETH LAPIDES>> WE'RE REALLY NOT AFRAID TO DEAL WITH PAIN AND FEAR AND DEEP LONGING AND ALL THESE REALLY PAINFUL EMOTIONS.

[CARRIE FISHER FILM CLIP]

RANDY AND JASON SKLAR>> THE UN-CABARET HAS A POLICY. HONESTY FIRST, COMEDY SECOND AND, IN DOING THAT, IT FORCES YOU TO LOOK WITHIN, TURN YOUR COMEDY, YOU KNOW, SCOPE INWARD. THAT'S HOW YOU FIND YOUR VOICE. THAT'S HOW YOU FIND YOUR VOICE AS A COMEDIAN, AS A WRITER, AS A PERFORMER.

[RANDY AND JASON SKLAR FILM CLIP]

[JULIE SWEENEY FILM CLIP]

BETH LAPIDES>> TO ME, WHEN I SEE ANYTHING WHETHER IT'S MUSIC OR THEATER OR A TELEVISION SHOW, WHEN I SEE SOMETHING AUTHENTIC AND TRUTHFUL, I FEEL ELEVATED.

[TAYLOR NEGRON FILM CLIP]

[KATHY GRIFFIN FILM CLIP]

BETH LAPIDES>> IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT THAT THE CRAFTING OF THAT SELF-EXPRESSION IS DONE SPECIFICALLY TO CONNECT TO AN AUDIENCE AND NOT JUST TO DO.

[BETH LAPIDES FILM CLIP]

[JULIA SWEENEY FILM CLIP]

[RANDY AND JASON SKLAR FILM CLIP]

BETH LAPIDES>> THE UN-CABARET IS A POINT OF VIEW LOOKING AT YOUR LIFE AS A FUNNY STORY THAT'S DEEPLY MOVING TO YOURSELF.

[CARRIE FISHER FILM CLIP]

BETH LAPIDES>> EVERY UN-CABARET IS ABOUT THAT MOMENT IN TIME, THAT WEEK, THAT DAY, AND WHAT IS THAT MOMENT? WHAT IS THIS WE'RE LIVING IN?

[KATHY GRIFFIN FILM CLIP]

BETH LAPIDES>> USUALLY YOU CAN ONLY BRING PART OF YOURSELF TO BEAR AND HOPEFULLY IT'S A GOOD PART, BUT WE BRING IT ALL TO BEAR HERE, HONEY.

[ANDY DICK FILM CLIP]

JESS>> THE UN-CABARET APPEARS MOST SUNDAYS AT THE HBO WARNER BROS. WORKSPACE IN HOLLYWOOD. AND TOMORROW NIGHT, THERE'S A SPECIAL PERFORMANCE AT THE SKIRBALL CULTURAL CENTER. FOR MORE INFORMATION, LOG ONTO WWW.UNCABARET.COM OR CHECK THE PHONE NUMBER ON YOUR SCREEN.

[323-993-3305]

VAL>> THAT'S OUR PROGRAM FOR TONIGHT. DON'T FORGET YOU CAN GO TO OUR WEBSITE TO HEAR A WEEK'S WORTH OF LIFE AND TIMES SHOWS AND CHECK OUT OUR TRANSCRIPTS AT KCET.ORG.

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

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.

AND THE CALIFORNIA COMMUNITY FOUNDATION
UNDERWRITING THE SPANISH LANGUAGE TRANSLATION OF LIFE AND TIMES TONIGHT.

TO REACH US AT LIFE AND TIMES TONIGHT, CALL 323-953-5555. SEND US AN E-MAIL TO LIFEANDTIMES@KCET.ORG OR LOG ONTO OUR WEBSITE AT WWW.KCET.ORG TO SEND MESSAGES OR DOWNLOAD TRANSCRIPTS OF TONIGHT'S PROGRAM.