3/22/02

LC020322

VAL>> ON LIFE AND TIMES TONIGHT --

IT'S THE LATEST THING IN AIRPORT SECURITY, A BODY SCANNER THAT GOES WHERE NO MACHINE HAS GONE BEFORE AND IT MAY LEAVE YOU BLUSHING.

GAY YEE>> THE SAME TECHNOLOGY THAT PENETRATES CLOTHING TO REVEAL WEAPONS ALSO REVEALS INTIMATE DETAILS OF THE HUMAN BODY. CRITICS SAY THE SCAN GOES TOO FAR.

PETER WILLIAMSON>> IF WE WERE CLOAKING THIS AREA BECAUSE OF PRIVACY CONCERNS AND BASICALLY KOWTOWING TO THE ACLU, WE PROBABLY WOULD NOT HAVE IDENTIFIED AND THAT PLASTIC EXPLOSIVE SIMULATE WOULD HAVE GOTTEN ON A PLANE.

VAL>> SHE'S ON A CRUSADE AGAINST WASTEFUL GOVERNMENT SPENDING, BUT IS L.A. CITY CONTROLLER A CHAMPION FOR THE TAXPAYER OR JUST A BULLY? TONIGHT WE'LL TALK WITH LAURA CHICK ABOUT HER RECENT BATTLE WITH THE DWP.

PLUS, A LOOK AT CHILDREN CAUGHT IN THE CROSSFIRE IN ISRAEL, BOTH PHYSICALLY AND EMOTIONALLY.

>> BUT I UNDERSTAND THEM BECAUSE THEY WERE THROWN OUT OF HERE AND THEY FEEL VERY SMALL, VERY LIKE HURT, BECAUSE THEY WERE THROWN OUT THAT WAY.

VAL>> PALESTINIANS AND ISRAELIS TRYING TO HAVE A NORMAL CHILDHOOD IN THE MIDDLE OF A WAR ZONE. THEY APPEAR IN A NEW OSCAR-NOMINATED DOCUMENTARY CALLED "PROMISES". TONIGHT WE'LL MEET ONE OF THE FILMMAKERS AND HEAR HIS COMPELLING STORY.

IT'S ALL STRAIGHT AHEAD ON TONIGHT'S 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 HAS THE NIGHT OFF.

WE BEGIN WITH A LOOK AT A CONTROVERSIAL NEW APPROACH TO AIRPORT SECURITY. IT'S A BODY SCANNER MANUFACTURED HERE IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA. THE DEVICE ACTUALLY PEERS THROUGH CLOTHING AND PROVIDES WHAT AMOUNTS TO AN R-RATED LOOK AT ANYONE WHO'S BEING SCANNED. AS GAY YEE REPORTS, THE NEW TECHNOLOGY MAY BRING BETTER SECURITY, BUT AT WHAT COST?

GAY>> WHAT MIGHT BE HIDDEN INSIDE CHECKED BAGGAGE AT THE NATION'S AIRPORTS STILL WORRIES TRAVELERS AND SECURITY EXPERTS ALIKE. EVEN AFTER DECADES OF EFFORTS TO SCREEN LUGGAGE, CRITICS SAY IT IS STILL A MAJOR WEAK SPOT IN U.S. AIR TRAVEL, SO CONGRESS HAS SET A DEADLINE, THE END OF 2003. AIRPORTS MUST BE ABLE TO SCREEN ALL CHECKED BAGGAGE WITH A SPECIAL MACHINES THAT CAN DETECT EXPLOSIVES. THE TROUBLE IS, RIGHT NOW THERE ARE FAR TOO FEW OF THESE MACHINES TO HANDLE LUGGAGE FOR THE 700 MILLION PASSENGERS WHO FLY EVERY YEAR.

PETER WILLIAMSON>> PIPE BOMB, AND YOU'VE GOT YOUR FAIRLY TYPICAL HOMEMADE DETONATOR EXPLOSIVE.

GAY>> OKAY, SO YOU'RE GOING TO SEND THIS THROUGH?

PETER WILLIAMSON>> SURE.

GAY>> PETER WILLIAMSON OF RAPISCAN PRODUCTS IN HAWTHORNE SAYS THERE ARE A NUMBER OF HIGH-TECH WAYS TO BEEF UP AIRPORT SECURITY. FOR STARTERS, TEACH AIRPORT SECURITY WORKERS HOW TO BE MORE EFFECTIVE ON THE JOB.

PETER WILLIAMSON>> IN A CHECKED-IN BAG, YOU DON'T CARE ABOUT A GUN BECAUSE A PASSENGER IS NOT GOING TO HAVE ACCESS TO THAT GUN DURING FLIGHT TIME. YOU'RE NOT GOING TO CARE ABOUT A BOX CUTTER. YOU'RE GOING TO CARE A LOT ABOUT EXPLOSIVES, THESE TYPES OF OBJECTS. AND IF YOU'RE LOOKING FOR A SMALLER NUMBER OF THREAT OBJECTS AND A DIFFERENT TYPE OF THREAT OBJECTS, IT REQUIRES A DIFFERENT LEVEL OF TRAINING.

GAY>> REGULAR BAGGAGE X-RAY MACHINES CAN BE FITTED WITH TRAINING SOFTWARE CALLED TIPS. IT STANDS FOR "THREAT IMAGE PROJECTION". THE PROGRAM RANDOMLY SUPERIMPOSES ANY OF 700 DIFFERENT WEAPON IMAGES ONTO THIS SCREEN AS ACTUAL LUGGAGE IS BEING X-RAYED. THE COMPANY SAYS THE PROGRAM KEEPS WORKERS ON THEIR TOES AND TRAINS THEM FOR THE REAL THING.

BRYAN ALLMAN>> BUT IN THIS CASE, A TIP HAS SHOWN UP. THIS OBJECT WAS NOT IN THAT BAG WHEN WE ORIGINALLY PUT IT IN AND IT'S BEEN DISPLAYED AS A TIP. WHEN WE HIT THE SEARCH KEY ON THE CONTROL PANEL, IT HAS NOW DRAWN A RED BOX AROUND THE THREAT OBJECT AND GIVEN YOU THE MESSAGE THAT YOU'VE CORRECTLY IDENTIFIED A FICTIONAL BOMB THREAT.

GAY>> SO IT'S A TEST?

BRYAN ALLMAN>> IT IS. IT'S A TEST. IT'S GOING TO TEST AND EVALUATE AND TRAIN AN OPERATOR AT THE SAME TIME BECAUSE, IN REAL LIFE, AN OPERATOR IS GOING TO SEE A THREAT ON A VERY SELDOM BASIS. THIS GIVES US THE ABILITY TO PROJECT THREATS ON A RANDOM BASIS, BUT ON A FAIRLY HIGH FREQUENCY TO EXPOSE THEM TO A WIDE VARIETY OF THREATS, BUT ALSO CHALLENGE THEM TO FIND THOSE THREATS.

GAY>> BUT ANOTHER RAPISCAN PRODUCT HAS CAPTURED UNCLE SAM'S ATTENTION. WEEKS AFTER SEPTEMBER 11, THE FAA BOUGHT FIVE OF THE COMPANY'S SECURE 1000 MACHINES AND IS TESTING THEM.

PETER WILLIAMSON>> ALL DONE. YOU CAN TURN AROUND.

GAY>> THE SCANNER PENETRATES HAIR AND CLOTHING. WITHIN SECONDS, IT DETECTS THE GUN, PLASTIC EXPLOSIVE, EVEN THE PLASTIC RAZOR KNIFE. THE BODY SCANNER CAPTURES IMAGES, GUNS, KNIVES, EVEN EXPLOSIVES, IN REMARKABLE DETAIL. THE MAKERS SAY THAT'S WHY IT'S SO EFFECTIVE, BUT TO SOME, THIS AMOUNT OF DETAIL CAN ALSO BE AN INVASION OF PRIVACY. WHAT'S THE PROBLEM? THE SAME TECHNOLOGY THAT PENETRATES CLOTHING TO REVEAL WEAPONS ALSO REVEALS INTIMATE DETAILS OF THE HUMAN BODY. CRITICS SAY THE SCAN GOES TOO FAR, BUT WILLIAMSON SAYS THERE CAN BE NO COMPROMISE.

PETER WILLIAMSON>> IF WE WERE CLOAKING THIS AREA BECAUSE OF PRIVACY CONCERNS AND BASICALLY KOWTOWING TO THE ACLU, WE PROBABLY WOULD NOT HAVE IDENTIFIED AND THAT PLASTIC EXPLOSIVE SIMULATE WOULD HAVE GOTTEN ON A PLANE.

GAY>> SOME CIVIL LIBERTARIANS SAY THE TECHNOLOGY IS SIMPLY TOO INTRUSIVE, BUT WILLIAMSON CONSIDERS IT MUCH LESS INTRUSIVE THAN THE COMMON PAT-DOWN SEARCH. AND AFTER SEPTEMBER 11, HE ARGUES, SOME PERSONAL FREEDOMS MAY HAVE TO BE SACRIFICED AT THE ALTAR OF SECURITY.

PETER WILLIAMSON>> PRIVACY IS IMPORTANT. IT'S A BIG CONCERN AND IT'S DEFINITELY A RIGHT. I DON'T THINK IT USURPS THE RIGHT TO GET ON AN AIRPLANE AND KNOW THAT YOU'RE GOING TO GET OFF IN ONE PIECE. AT THIS POINT IN TIME, WE'VE GOT TO DO WHATEVER IT TAKES AND DEPLOY WHATEVER TECHNOLOGY IS AVAILABLE TO KEEP THE PLANES FROM BLOWING OUT OF THE SKY.

GAY>> IN HAWTHORNE, I'M GAY YEE FOR LIFE AND TIMES.

VAL>> NOW THE DEVICE THAT YOU JUST SAW HAS BEEN INSTALLED FOR A TEST RUN AT THE AIRPORT IN ORLANDO, FLORIDA. OTHER CITIES AROUND THE COUNTRY MAY BE GETTING IT SOON AND HERE TO SHARE HIS THOUGHTS ABOUT THIS NEW SEE-THROUGH TECHNOLOGY IS MICHAEL DIGEROLAMO. HE'S EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS AT LAX. WELCOME TO LIFE AND TIMES.

MICHAEL DIGEROLAMO>> THANK YOU.

VAL>> FIRST QUESTION, ARE WE GOING TO BE SEEING THESE RAPISCANNERS AT LAX?

MICHAEL DIGEROLAMO>> ACTUALLY, WE HAVE TWO OF THEM THAT ARE BEING USED IN CUSTOMS AND HAVE BEEN FOR TWO YEARS. THEY'VE BEEN USED FOR DRUG DETECTION. THIS IS A NEW PHASE THAT THEY'RE LOOKING AT, WEAPONS DETECTION, EXPLOSIVE DETECTION, AND I WOULD THINK THAT THE NEW TSA, WHICH IS THE NEW TRANSPORTATION SECURITY ADMINISTRATION, WHO HAS THIS RESPONSIBILITY, IF THEY FEEL THE MACHINES ARE EFFECTIVE, WE WILL SEE THEM IN USE AT AIRPORTS.

VAL>> TELL US ABOUT THIS NEW AGENCY, BECAUSE THE FAA IS NO LONGER IN CHARGE OF SECURITY AT AIRPORTS?

MICHAEL DIGEROLAMO>> CORRECT. CONGRESS PASSED A SWEEPING LAW LAST YEAR THAT CLEARLY TOOK ALL OF THE SECURITY REQUIREMENTS AT AIRPORTS, PUT THEM UNDER THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION DIRECTLY UNDER SECRETARY MINETA, CREATED A TRANSPORTATION SECURITY ADMINISTRATION, BROUGHT A GENTLEMAN IN BY THE NAME OF JOHN MCGAW, WHO WAS A FORMER ATF AND SECRET SERVICE EXECUTIVE. HE'S RUNNING THIS ORGANIZATION. HE WILL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR ALL SECURITY OF ALL TRANSPORTATION MODES, PLANES, TRAINS AND BOATS.

VAL>> AND IS IT A TOUGHER AGENCY? WHAT'S THE NATURE OR THE CHARACTER --

MICHAEL DIGEROLAMO>> -- THE FAA WAS REGULATORY IN NATURE WITH SOME ENFORCEMENT. THE NEW TSA IS ENFORCEMENT. MINETA HAS SAID NO EXCEPTIONS, ZERO TOLERANCE, IT'S ENFORCEMENT, WE WILL NOT HAVE WHAT HAPPENED ON SEPTEMBER 11 HAPPEN AGAIN TO THE AMERICAN PUBLIC.

VAL>> I ALSO WANT TO ASK YOU ABOUT SOMETHING THAT WE'RE ALL AFRAID OF WHEN WE GO TO THE AIRPORT. WE'RE ABOUT TO GET ON A PLANE AND SOME ALARM GOES OFF. SOMEBODY HAS DONE SOMETHING REALLY STUPID AND SUDDENLY ALL THE FLIGHTS ARE GROUNDED AND THERE ARE THESE EVACUATIONS. YOU'VE HAD A LOT OF THEM AT LAX.

MICHAEL DIGEROLAMO>> WE'VE HAD MORE THAN WE WOULD LIKE, BUT THIS GETS BACK TO THE ZERO TOLERANCE. PASSENGERS HAVE TO UNDERSTAND THAT WE ARE NO LONGER ALLOWING A LOT OF WEAPONS, A LOT OF INSTRUMENTS THAT THEY WOULD CONSIDER NOT WEAPONS: NEEDLES TO BE USED FOR KNITTING, THINGS LIKE LITTLE POCKETKNIVES. WE HAD AN INDIVIDUAL WHO TRIED TO GET THROUGH SCREENING JUST LAST WEEK WITH A CHAINSAW, BELIEVE IT OR NOT, AND DIDN'T SEE ANY PROBLEM WITH IT. OBVIOUSLY, IT WAS CONFISCATED AND WE'RE CONFISCATING A LOT OF MATERIAL AT THE SCREENING POINTS. PEOPLE HAVE TO UNDERSTAND THESE THINGS ARE NOT LEGAL ANYMORE.

VAL>> BUT IS THERE ANY ALTERNATIVE TO THESE SHUTDOWNS, THE EVACUATIONS THAT HOLD THINGS UP FOR HOURS AND HOURS?

MICHAEL DIGEROLAMO>> NO, NOT IF YOU'RE ZERO TOLERANCE. YOU CANNOT TAKE A CHANCE WITH SECURITY AND THE NEW TRANSPORTATION SECURITY ADMINISTRATION HAS SAID THERE IS NO LEEWAY. IF YOU HAVE AN INCIDENT, IF YOU HAVE A POSSIBLE BREACH OF SECURITY, YOU HAVE TO EVACUATE THE TERMINAL.

VAL>> I SEE. WHAT HAPPENS TO THESE PEOPLE WHO DO THESE DUMB THINGS THAT CAUSE ALL OF US SO MUCH INCONVENIENCE? DO THEY GET FINED?

MICHAEL DIGEROLAMO>> WELL, IT DEPENDS ON THE NATURE OF WHERE THEY'RE GOING. SOME THINGS ARE FEDERAL OFFENSES. YES, THEY'LL DO JAIL TIME. AS AN EXAMPLE, PRIOR TO SEPTEMBER 11, WE HAD PEOPLE WHO WOULD SHOW UP AT THE SCREENING POINTS WITH WEAPONS, PARTICULARLY A PISTOL, FORGOT IT WAS IN THEIR PURSE. THEY WOULD BE LET GO PREVIOUSLY. TODAY THEY'RE LOOKING AT JAIL TIME.

VAL>> WOW, I'M SORT OF GLAD TO HEAR THAT. SO OVERALL, HOW IS TRAFFIC DOING? IT DROPPED SIGNIFICANTLY AFTER SEPTEMBER 11, ALMOST TWENTY PERCENT, I THINK. HOW IS IT NOW?

MICHAEL DIGEROLAMO>> IT'S COMING BACK SLOWLY. THE AIRLINES ARE SEEING MORE PASSENGERS COMING BACK. THERE ARE SOME GREAT AIRFARES OUT THERE. THEY'RE ENTICING PASSENGERS TO FLY AGAIN. THERE'S STILL A LITTLE FEAR OF FLYING AMONGST A LOT OF THE TRAVELING PUBLIC, BUT WE'RE SEEING SOME GREAT AIRFARES OUT THERE AND PEOPLE SHOULD TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THEM RIGHT NOW. THEY'RE NOT GOING TO GET ANY LOWER AND THEY'RE GOING TO BE THROUGH THE SUMMER AND THE AIRLINES WILL ACCOMMODATE THE PASSENGERS WITH THESE LOW AIRFARES.

VAL>> WELL, THANK YOU SO MUCH, MICHAEL DIGEROLAMO, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF LAX. WE REALLY APPRECIATE YOUR BEING HERE.

MICHAEL DIGEROLAMO>> MY PLEASURE.

VAL>> MONDAY ON LIFE AND TIMES, THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA NEEDS TO BUILD HUNDREDS OF NEW PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND PLANNERS MAY WANT TO CONSIDER A BACK-TO-BASICS APPROACH, CLASSROOMS WITH PLENTY OF NATURAL LIGHT AND WINDOWS THAT ACTUALLY OPEN.

>> I THINK THEY WOULD ENJOY BEING ABLE TO SEE OUT AND FOR OTHER PEOPLE TO BE ABLE TO SEE IN, AND NOBODY'S GOING TO EVER ARGUE WITH HAVING FRESH AIR COME IN THEIR CLASSROOM.

>> IT'S A LOT BETTER THAN WHAT WE WERE IN BEFORE BECAUSE WE WERE IN LIKE A LOCKER ROOM BEFORE.

VAL>> SHE MAY WIN THE HEARTS OF TAXPAYERS, BUT L.A. CITY CONTROLLER, LAURA CHICK, IS MAKING NO FRIENDS AT THE LOS ANGELES DEPARTMENT OF WATER AND POWER. CHICK IS ON A RAMPAGE AGAINST WASTEFUL SPENDING AND SHE'S ACCUSED THE DWP OF BLOWING HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS ON FANCY PARTIES AND LAVISH ENTERTAINMENT. THOSE ARE STRONG WORDS. TONIGHT LAURA CHICK IS HERE IN PERSON TO ELABORATE. ALSO JOINING US IS OUR POLITICAL ANALYST, KERMAN MADDOX.

LAURA, WHAT FIRST BROUGHT YOUR ATTENTION TO THESE BILLS THAT YOU DID NOT THINK WERE JUSTIFIED?

LAURA CHICK>> WELL, AS CITY CONTROLLER, IT'S MY JOB TO SIGN THE CHECKS TO PAY THE BILLS. DWP WAS SENDING THEM OVER TO ME, AS THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO, AND THAT WAS QUITE AN EYE-OPENER. ONE AFTER ANOTHER, AN ASSEMBLY LINE OF PARTIES AND CONSULTANT CONTRACTS WITHOUT ANY DETAILS, AND I STARTED ASKING QUESTIONS AND DISCOVERED THERE WEREN'T ANY ANSWERS FORTHCOMING.

VAL>> WE'RE GOING TO TAKE A LOOK AT SOME OF THE THINGS THAT YOU'VE SEEN. YOU'VE ACCUSED THE DWP OF RUNNING MORE THAN FIFTY DIFFERENT SLUSH FUNDS AND HERE'S A LOOK AT SOME OF THE SPENDING THAT YOU'VE REJECTED SO FAR. $75,000 FOR SOMETHING CALLED THE COLISEUM SPONSORSHIP, $100,000 FOR THE PROJECT RESTORE GALA. I BELIEVE THAT WAS THE RESTORATION OF THE CITY HALL. AND THE MORE THAN $8,000 FOR "CLIENT APPRECIATION". BOY, THOSE MUST BE GREAT CLIENTS. AND NEARLY $5,000 FOR A DODGER DAY EVENT. SO IN ALL, YOU HAVE REJECTED MORE THAN $600,000 IN DWP INVOICES.

WE ALSO WOULD LIKE TO POINT OUT THAT WE DID ASK THE DEPARTMENT OF WATER AND POWER TO COMMENT. THEY DIDN'T ANSWER, BUT THE DWP'S GENERAL MANAGER, DAVID WIGGS, TOLD THE LOS ANGELES DAILY NEWS THAT HIS AGENCY HAS SPENT MILLIONS OF DOLLARS ON VARIOUS EVENTS -- OR RATHER, HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS -- BUT HE SAID, "YES, SOME THINGS NEED TO BE CORRECTED. I DON'T KNOW WHY IT WASN'T DONE BEFORE." SO IN FAIRNESS TO THEM, HE DID HAVE THAT COMMENT, BUT HE DIDN'T WANT TO APPEAR ON OUR SHOW.

KERMAN>> LAURA, LET ME ASK YOU A QUESTION. IN THE ABSENCE OF DWP BEING HERE AND IN THE INTEREST OF TRYING TO GET SOME SORT OF BALANCE, LET ME ASK YOU THIS. DURING THE ENERGY CRISIS, PEOPLE LOOKED TO DWP AS THIS MODEL MUNICIPAL UTILITY, ESPECIALLY GIVEN THE WAY CONSUMERS WERE BEING GOUGED BY EDISON, PG&E, ETC. ARE YOU CONCERNED WITH THE ENTIRE OPERATION OF DWP OR JUST THEIR WASTEFUL SPENDING, SO TO SPEAK?

LAURA CHICK>> I DON'T WANT TO TOUCH THEIR DAY-TO-DAY OPERATIONS. THEY CERTAINLY WERE HEROES TO US HERE IN THE CITY OF LOS ANGELES. BUT PART OF MY POINT EXACTLY, KERMAN, IS THEY NEED TO REMEMBER THEY'RE A PUBLIC UTILITY AND THESE ARE PUBLIC DOLLARS. INSTEAD, THEY'RE BEHAVING AS THOUGH THEY'RE SOME -- I REALLY WOULDN'T WANT TO SAY FORTUNE 500 COMPANY BECAUSE THOSE ARE COMPANIES THAT ARE ACCOUNTABLE TO THEIR SHAREHOLDERS. MAYBE MORE LIKE AN ENRON WHERE THEY THINK THEY DON'T NEED WRITTEN POLICIES OR PRACTICES, THEY DON'T NEED CRITERIA BY WHICH SHOWS THE PUBLIC HOW THEY'RE DIRECTING THE DOLLARS AND THEY DON'T NEED TO CONVINCE THE PUBLIC THAT THERE'S BANG FOR THE BUCK IN HOW THEY'RE SPENDING THE MONEY.

KERMAN>> IS YOUR CONCERN THE EXPENDITURES OR THE LACK OF DOCUMENTATION THEY'VE GIVEN YOU TO JUSTIFY THOSE EXPENDITURES?

LAURA CHICK>> IT BEGINS WITH THE LACK OF WRITTEN JUSTIFICATION AND THE LACK OF DOCUMENTATION, BUT AS I'VE ASKED QUESTIONS, THE ANSWERS LEAD TO MORE QUESTIONS. ONE OF THE THINGS THAT'S VERY CLEAR IS THERE'S NO RHYME OR REASON TO WHY THESE DOLLARS ARE BEING SPENT. THERE'S NO DIRECT LINE THAT SAYS THE PUBLIC, THE RATEPAYERS THAT WE SERVE, ARE RECEIVING ADDED VALUE BY OUR SPENDING THE DOLLARS THIS WAY. ALSO, WE'RE NOT IN A DEREGULATED ENVIRONMENT. DWP HAS A CAPTIVE CUSTOMER BASE AND THEY SHOULD CONCENTRATE ON SERVING US ALL VERY WELL, NOT WINING AND DINING US.

KERMAN>> SO IF WE WANT TO CORRECT THESE PRACTICES, IS IT THE AUTHORITY OF THE CONTROLLER TO DO IT? DO WE NEED THE CITY COUNCIL TO GET INVOLVED? HOW DO WE REFORM THIS OUT-OF-CONTROL SPENDING?

LAURA CHICK>> GOOD QUESTION, BECAUSE MY POWER IS TO JUST SAY NO AND MY POWER IS TO SHINE THE LIGHT OF DAY ON THINGS AND OPEN UP THE CITY BOOKS TO PUBLIC SCRUTINY. BUT IT'S REALLY THE DWP, THE DEPARTMENT OF WATER AND POWER, WASTEFUL PRACTICES COMMISSION, BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS AND THE CITY COUNCIL AND THE MAYOR THAT SET THE POLICY. SO PART OF MY SAYING NO WAS TO ALSO GET THE ATTENTION OF THE POLICYMAKERS AND TO BRING THIS INTO THE LIGHT OF DAY. I'M VERY MUCH HOPING THAT THE CITY COUNCIL HAS SOME HEARINGS AND PUBLIC DEBATE AND THE SAME WITH THE COMMISSION. THIS IS ABOUT THE PUBLIC KNOWING HOW THEIR DOLLARS ARE BEING SPENT.

VAL>> NOW IF IT GOES TO THE CITY COUNCIL, OR THE CITY COUNCIL COMMITTEE, COULD THEY SIMPLY SAY, OH, WELL, THESE ARE FINE. IT'S FINE, GO AHEAD AND PAY THEM, AND THE PRACTICE GOES ON UNINTERRUPTED?

LAURA CHICK>> ABSOLUTELY, THAT'S POSSIBLE. I DO WANT TO POINT OUT THAT MANY OF THESE BILLS ARE FOR SERVICES RENDERED AND RENDERED QUITE A LONG TIME AGO BY --

VAL>> -- WELL, THOSE HAVE TO BE PAID.

LAURA CHICK>> THEY HAVE TO BE PAID AND IT'S NEVER BEEN MY INTENTION TO FURTHER PENALIZE COMPANIES THE CITY IS DOING BUSINESS WITH. WE NEED, IF ANYTHING, TO SPEED UP OUR PAYMENTS. IT'S EXACTLY WHY I DIRECTED THE GENERAL MANAGER TO PAY THOSE VENDORS. WHAT'S SO BIZARRE IS THAT, ON SOME OF THE BILLS, THEY PAID THEM OUT OF THEIR SLUSH FUNDS AND CAME TO ME FOR BACK PAYMENT, REIMBURSEMENT. ON OTHERS, LIKE AN ENGLEWOOD BARBEQUE COMPANY, THE POOR GUY IS WAITING FOR HIS MONEY FOR MONTHS AND MONTHS. SO THAT'S WHY I SAID PAY THE BILLS. BUT THIS IS ABOUT CHANGING POLICY AND CHANGING PRACTICES.

KERMAN>> SO WHERE ARE WE RIGHT NOW? OBVIOUSLY, YOU'VE BEEN LOOKING AT THIS FOR A WHILE --

LAURA CHICK>> -- MONTHS, MONTHS.

KERMAN>> YOU'VE ASKED THE CITY COUNCIL TO GET INVOLVED, IT'S BEEN GOING ON FOR MONTHS. IS ANYTHING HAPPENING THAT WE OUGHT TO KNOW ABOUT?

LAURA CHICK>> THE DWP COMMISSION IS STARTING TO LOOK AT WRITING CRITERIA. IT WENT INTO ONE OF THEIR SUBCOMMITTEES. THE BILLS THAT I'VE SAID NO TO, I BELIEVE ARE GOING INTO A COUNCIL COMMITTEE NEXT WEEK. I HOPE IT'S THE RIGHT COMMITTEE. IT REALLY SHOULD BE THE COMMITTEE THAT WORKS WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF WATER AND POWER AND THE BUDGET COMMITTEE.

VAL>> DO YOU EXPECT THAT YOUR KIND OF SCRUTINY WILL SPREAD TO OTHER AGENCIES?

LAURA CHICK>> WELL, I WILL BE SCRUTINIZING OTHER AGENCIES. PEOPLE, YOU KNOW, THEY ALWAYS WANT TO BE INVOLVED IN HOW THE MONEY IS BEING SPENT AND NOW, AS I'M LOOKING AT THE DEPARTMENT OF WATER AND POWER, FOLKS ARE FINDING ME AND SAYING HAVE YOU LOOKED AT THIS DEPARTMENT? HAVE YOU LOOKED AT THE HARBOR DEPARTMENT? THEY HAVE -- THEY GIVE AWAY EVEN MORE THAN THE DEPARTMENT OF WATER AND POWER.

SO PART OF MY MANDATE AS CITY CONTROLLER, BESIDES TAXPAYER WATCHDOG, IS TO OPEN THE CITY BOOKS TO MORE PUBLIC UNDERSTANDING AND SCRUTINY. I ABSOLUTELY BELIEVE THAT SHINING THE LIGHT OF DAY ON SOMETHING AND ASKING THE RIGHT QUESTIONS CAN OFTEN BRING ABOUT THE NEEDED CHANGE JUST IN AND OF ITSELF. BUT I'M HOPEFUL THAT THE CITY COUNCIL JOINS ME AND TAKES THEIR GIVEN ROLE IN WEIGHING IN ON THIS VERY IMPORTANT ISSUE.

VAL>> LAURA CHICK, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR WATCHING OUR MONEY AND FOR BEING HERE, AND KERMAN MADDOX, ALWAYS GREAT TO SEE YOU. THANKS.

LAURA CHICK>> THANKS FOR HAVING ME.

LIFEANDTIMES@KCET.ORG
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LIFE AND TIMES TONIGHT
4401 SUNSET BLVD.
LOS ANGELES, CA 90027
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VAL>> WE'VE ALL GROWN ACCUSTOMED TO THE GRIM SCENES OF VIOLENCE AND DEATH IN ISRAEL, BUT TONIGHT YOU'RE ABOUT TO SEE ANOTHER SIDE TO THE CONFLICT BETWEEN PALESTINIANS AND ISRAELIS. A NEW OSCAR-NOMINATED DOCUMENTARY FOCUSES ON THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL AND HOW YOUNGSTERS ON BOTH SIDES OF THE FIGHTING ARE TRYING TO COPE.

>> THEY THINK IT'S THEIR LAND AND WE THINK IT'S OURS. WE KNOW IT'S OURS.

>> IT'S NOT FOR ISRAEL. IT'S FOR THE ARABS. IT'S OURS. THIS IS MY LAND. I WAS BORN AND RAISED HERE. YOU HAVE NO RIGHT TO TAKE IT.

VAL>> THE DOCUMENTARY IS CALLED "PROMISES" AND JOINING US NOW IS ONE OF THE FILMMAKERS, CARLOS BOLADO. WELCOME TO LIFE AND TIMES.

CARLOS BOLADO>> THANK YOU.

VAL>> WHAT STRIKES ME ABOUT THIS DOCUMENTARY -- I WAS ABLE TO WATCH IT. IT REALLY IS EXTRAORDINARY -- WHAT STRIKES ME IS THE PASSION THAT EXISTS IN THESE CHILDREN AT AGES, WHAT, NINE TO TWELVE? AND YET THEY ARE POLITICALLY SAVVY, THEY KNOW THEIR HISTORY, BUT THEY ARE PASSIONATE ABOUT THEIR SIDE. IS THAT KIND OF SCARY BECAUSE THEY'RE GOING TO GROW UP TO BE PERHAPS EXTREMISTS?

CARLOS BOLADO>> I THINK, IN THE MIDDLE EAST, PEOPLE, YOU KNOW, WITH ALL THIS VIOLENCE AND THINGS HAPPENING, PEOPLE GROW FASTER AND THEY HAVE TO LEARN MORE. THEY ARE MORE LIKE -- THEY LOST A LITTLE OF THEIR CHILDHOOD, BUT THEY ARE MORE ARTICULATE. THEY HAVE TO KNOW MORE ABOUT WHAT'S HAPPENING IN THE WORLD BECAUSE THEY LIVE DAY TO DAY WITH THE NEWS.

VAL>> WHAT FIRST INSPIRED YOU TO EVEN THINK ABOUT DOING A DOCUMENTARY IN THE MIDDLE EAST FROM THE CHILDREN'S PERSPECTIVE?

CARLOS BOLADO>> IT WAS AN IDEA OF JUSTINE SHAPIRO AND B.Z. GOLDBERG, MY CO-DIRECTORS. WE WORKED TOGETHER AND COLLABORATED BEFORE, THREE PEOPLE, TO MAKE THIS DOCUMENTARY, SO I THINK THAT'S WHY IT'S SO BALANCED BECAUSE IT'S THREE PEOPLE FROM THREE DIFFERENT SPECTRUMS. THEY WERE THINKING TO DO THE FILM BECAUSE B.Z. WAS JOURNALIST DURING THE FIRST INTIFADA.

VAL>> THE OTHER PRODUCER WAS A JOURNALIST THERE?

CARLOS BOLADO>> YES, ACTUALLY, AND JUSTINE SHAPIRO WAS WORKING FOR A PROGRAM CALLED "LONELY PLANETS" AND SHE WAS TRAVELING THERE. SHE HAS FAMILY THERE AND THE FAMILY WAS TALKING ABOUT HOW THEY DIDN'T LIKE THE ARABS AND SHE WAS LIKE, "WHAT'S HAPPENING HERE?" SO SHE TRIED TO FIND OUT WHAT'S GOING ON IN BETWEEN WHY HIS FAMILY WAS NOT SO LIKE HAVING THIS RELATION WITH THE ARABS. SO THEY HAVE A LONG CONVERSATION, THEY INVITE ME TO BE PART OF THE PROJECT AND WE DECIDED TO TAKE THE PERSPECTIVE OF THESE KIDS. YOU KNOW, IT'S SOMETHING THAT THE ADULTS DON'T HAVE. THE ADULTS DON'T WANT TO SAY THINGS IN FRONT OF THE CAMERA SOMETIMES, AND KIDS SOMETIMES --

VAL>> -- THAT'S WHAT'S SO STRIKING. THESE KIDS ARE AMAZINGLY CANDID AND VERY, VERY OPEN. YOU FOCUS ON SEVEN CHILDREN. TWO OF THEM ARE TWINS AND THEY'RE YOUNG BOYS, THEY'RE ISRAELIS. WE'RE GOING TO TAKE A LOOK AT A CLIP. THESE ARE THE TWO ISRAELI TWINS WHO ACTUALLY, AT SOME POINT IN THE DOCUMENTARY, WANT TO MEET THE PALESTINIANS. LET'S TAKE A LOOK AT THAT.

>> THIS IS FARAJ.

>> HOW OLD IS HE? HE LOOKS LIKE A RUNNER. IS HE TALLER THAN US?

>> HE'S SMALL FOR HIS AGE.

>> YOU CAN SEE HE'S A LITTLE CRAZY, BUT NICE.

>> DOES HE SPEAK HEBREW?

>> NO, BUT HE SPEAKS SOME ENGLISH.

>> WHY DON'T WE MEET THEM?

>> THEY DON'T WANT TO. THEY DIDN'T INVITE US.

VAL>> SO, IN FACT, THEY DO GO ON TO MEET EACH OTHER. IT'S A BEAUTIFUL, BEAUTIFUL DAY. THEY PLAY TOGETHER, THEY MAKE THIS CONNECTION. DOES THE CONNECTION STILL EXIST? WHAT'S HAPPENING NOW WITH THESE TWO YOUNG MEN?

CARLOS BOLADO>> WELL, ACTUALLY, THEY ARE HERE FOR THE ACADEMY AWARDS.

VAL>> HERE IN LOS ANGELES?

CARLOS BOLADO>> YES, THE TWINS ARE HERE AND SANABEL, ONE OF THE GIRLS THAT IS IN THE DOCUMENTARY, IS HERE. THEY FEEL A LITTLE DISPARATE WITH ALL THIS VIOLENCE THAT IS HAPPENING NOW IN THE MIDDLE EAST. YOU KNOW, THEY FEEL LIKE --

VAL>> -- YES, BECAUSE THE DOCUMENTARY WAS DONE AT A RELATIVELY PEACEFUL TIME?

CARLOS BOLADO>> EXACTLY, JUST BEFORE THE LATEST INTIFADA, SO NOW THEY FEEL A LITTLE BIT -- THEY STILL BELIEVE WHAT THEY SAY. THEY STILL BELIEVE IN PEACE AND THEY STILL WANT IT TO WORK IN SOME WAY. THEY ARE TEENAGERS NOW, SO I THINK THEY STILL HAVE THEIR STRONG OPINION ABOUT WHAT'S HAPPENING NOW.

VAL>> SINCE THEY'RE ALL HERE IN LOS ANGELES, ARE THEY FORGING A CLOSE RELATIONSHIP AGAIN OR IS THERE A LOT OF SUSPICION?

CARLOS BOLADO>> WELL, YEAH, IT'S MORE DIFFICULT BECAUSE THEY GET ALL THIS INFERENCE BY THE NEWS AND WHAT'S HAPPENING, SO THE NEWS TRIES TO DIVIDE PEOPLE AND SAY LIKE THIS IS ONE SIDE AND THIS IS THE OTHER SIDE. SO FOR PEOPLE THAT ARE IN THE MIDDLE OR THEY'RE LOOKING FOR PEACE, IT'S MORE DIFFICULT TO SPEAK NOW WITH ALL THIS VIOLENCE. PEOPLE TEND TO BE THE ENEMIES OR THE EXTREMES IN A MOMENT OF WAR OR VIOLENCE. SO THEY ARE NOT TOGETHER IN THIS MOMENT. BUT I'M HERE TALKING TO YOU AND MY OTHER TWO CO-DIRECTORS ARE HAVING A LONG CONVERSATION WITH THEM RIGHT NOW, TALKING ABOUT WHAT'S GOING ON, ESPECIALLY AFTER THE LATEST SUICIDE BOMBER.

VAL>> ONE OF THE MOST EXTRAORDINARY CHARACTERS WAS A YOUNG PALESTINIAN GIRL AND THIS IS A SCENE IN WHICH SHE'S TRYING TO CONVINCE HER FRIENDS TO GO AHEAD AND MEET THE ISRAELIS. HERE IT IS.

>> NO PALESTINIAN CHILD EVER TRIED TO EXPLAIN OUR SITUATION TO THE JEWS. ARABS AND JEWS SHOULD MEET.

>> BUT NETANYAHU --

>> -- NOT POLITICIANS. I WANT CHILDREN TO MEET.

VAL>> SHE IS AN AMAZING YOUNG GIRL. THE SAD PART ABOUT IT WAS THAT, A COUPLE OF YEARS LATER, ACTUALLY JUST RECENTLY IN A "60 MINUTES" INTERVIEW, SHE ACTUALLY SAID SHE WAS SO ANGRY AT ALL THE VIOLENCE AND A GOOD FRIEND OF HERS HAD BEEN KILLED, SHE ACTUALLY WANTED TO BECOME A SUICIDE BOMBER. THAT WAS SO SAD.

CARLOS BOLADO>> YEAH. WE WERE TALKING TO THEM ABOUT THAT. THEY WERE NOT SO HAPPY. WE WERE NOT SO HAPPY WITH THAT PIECE OF "60 MINUTES". I THINK THEY GO TO EXTREMES. WE KIND OF FEEL USED IN SOME WAY WITH THAT PIECE. BUT ANYWAY, THINGS HAPPEN ON TV AND WHEN YOU GIVE AN INTERVIEW, SOMETIMES IT'S LIKE THAT. I THINK IT'S A LITTLE BIT OUT OF CONTEXT, THE WHOLE THING. SHE WAS SO SAD AND IT WAS A VERY INTENSE MOMENT WHEN THEY INTERVIEWED HER AND SHE SAID THAT THING.

VAL>> WHAT DO YOU HOPE FOR THESE CHILDREN? DO YOU THINK THERE'S HOPE IN THE MIDDLE EAST?

CARLOS BOLADO>> I THINK IN THE LONG-TERM THERE'S HOPE. I MEAN, THE SHORT-TERM IS VERY DIFFICULT. THE FILM OPENS TONIGHT AND I THINK PEOPLE HAVE TO SEE IT AND SEE HOW WE THINK THERE'S HOPE IN THE LONG-TERM.

VAL>> CARLOS BOLADO, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR COMING BY AND GOOD LUCK ON SUNDAY NIGHT AT THE OSCARS. WE REALLY APPRECIATE IT.

CARLOS BOLADO>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.

VAL>> "PROMISES" OPENS TODAY, AS WE MENTIONED, AT THE MUSIC HALL THEATER IN BEVERLY HILLS.

THANKS SO MUCH FOR WATCHING. CHECK US OUT ON OUR WEBSITE AT KCET.ORG. HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND.

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