3/29/02

LC020329

VAL>> ON LIFE AND TIMES TONIGHT --

JESS>> WHO HAS THE RIGHT TO PUT A PADLOCK ON CALIFORNIA'S BEACHES? SOME WEALTHY HOMEOWNERS MIGHT HAVE THAT RIGHT, DEPENDING ON WHAT HAPPENS IN SACRAMENTO.

GAY>> CALIFORNIA BEACHES ARE SUPPOSED TO BELONG TO EVERYBODY, BUT COASTAL PROPERTY OWNERS SAY FREE ACCESS ISN'T ALWAYS A GREAT IDEA.

TODD SLOAN>> PEOPLE CAN COME DOWN AND GET INTO THE WATER WITHOUT A LIFEGUARD AND THAT MEANS ANYONE'S FREE TO COME DOWN HERE AND KILL THEMSELVES, I GUESS, IF THEY WANT TO. THAT'S PART OF OUR GREAT AMERICAN SYSTEM.

VAL>> THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA IS $18 BILLION DOLLARS IN THE RED AND THE ONLY WAY OUT MAY BE HUGE BUDGET CUTS. HOSPITALS AND CLINICS COULD BE AMONG THE HARDEST HIT IF THE STATE IS FORCED TO CUT SPENDING ON HEALTHCARE. TONIGHT WE'LL FIND OUT JUST HOW BAD THE BUDGET CRISIS IS FROM THE NEW STATE ASSEMBLY SPEAKER, HERB WESSON.

JESS>> WE'LL ALSO JUMP INTO THE MIDDLE OF A HUGE DEBATE. IT'S ALL ABOUT EARTHQUAKES AND WHETHER SCIENTISTS ARE ON THE VERGE OF BEING ABLE TO PREDICT THEM.

ALLAN G. LINDH>> WE HAVE LOTS OF SIGNALS COME OFF THE SAN ANDREAS FAULT. WE HAVE LITTLE EARTHQUAKES, WE HAVE MEDIUM-SIZED EARTHQUAKES, WE HAVE GEODETIC DATA, WE HAVE STRING DATA, WE HAVE CREEK DATA, WE HAVE GEOLOGIC DATA, SO WE HAVE LOTS OF SIGNALS. IT'S NOT LIKE THE EARTH ISN'T TELLING US ANYTHING. IT'S JUST THAT WE DON'T UNDERSTAND IT.

VAL>> 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.

AND 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.

THE RICH AND FAMOUS MAY KEEP THEIR HOUSES OFF LIMITS TO THE PUBLIC, BUT IT'S A DIFFERENT STORY WHEN IT COMES TO THE SAND. MANY EXCLUSIVE NEIGHBORHOODS ARE LINED WITH WALKWAYS THAT GIVE THE PUBLIC DIRECT ACCESS TO THE BEACH, BUT NOW SOME PROPERTY OWNERS SAY IT'S TIME TO CLOSE SOME OF THOSE WALKWAYS AND KEEP THE PUBLIC OUT.

VAL>> THIS BATTLE OVER ACCESS HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR MONTHS. NOW STATE LAWMAKERS ARE CONSIDERING A NEW BILL THAT WOULD GIVE HOMEOWNERS THE UPPER HAND. TONIGHT GAY YEE REPORTS ON WHAT'S AT STAKE IN THIS STRUGGLE OVER CALIFORNIA'S COAST.

GAY>> CALIFORNIA HAS MORE COASTLINE THAN ANY OTHER STATE, OVER 800 MILES OF SAND, RUGGED LANDSCAPE AND ROLLING SURF, BUT MUCH OF IT IS BLOCKED FROM VIEW AND PUBLIC ACCESS BY WALL-TO-WALL DEVELOPMENT AND CALIFORNIANS ARE NOW FIGHTING OVER ACCESS. THOSE WHO DEMAND IT --

SARA WAN>> THIS BELONGS TO THE PUBLIC. THE PUBLIC HAS A RIGHT TO USE IT.

GAY>> -- VERSUS WEALTHY HOMEOWNERS WHO ARE AGAINST PUBLIC WALKWAYS THROUGH THEIR PRIVATE PARADISE.

TODD SLOAN>> WHAT YOU'VE GOT HERE IS A PLACE WHERE PEOPLE CAN COME DOWN AND GET INTO THE WATER WITHOUT A LIFEGUARD AND THAT MEANS ANYONE'S FREE TO COME DOWN HERE AND KILL THEMSELVES, I GUESS, IF THEY WANT TO. IT'S PART OF OUR GREAT AMERICAN SYSTEM.

GAY>> YEARS AGO, CALIFORNIA COASTAL PROPERTY OWNERS PROMISED MORE THAN 1,200 STRIPS OF LAND FOR PUBLIC ACCESS IN EXCHANGE FOR PERMISSION FROM THE COASTAL COMMISSION TO BUILD OR REMODEL THEIR HOMES, AND NOW THE COASTAL CONSERVANCY SAYS IT'S TIME OWNERS MADE GOOD ON THOSE PROMISES. BUT THE CLOCK IS TICKING. MANY OF THESE WALKWAYS TO THE BEACHES EXPIRE AFTER 21 YEARS UNLESS THE GOVERNMENT ACTS OR A NONPROFIT STEPS IN AND AGREES TO MAINTAIN THEM, AND TIME IS RUNNING OUT.

SARA WAN>> WITHOUT THIS EASEMENT HERE -- AND THIS IS ACTUALLY MORE THAN THE NORMAL TEN FEET. THIS WILL BE EIGHTY FEET WIDE THAT HAS BEEN GIVEN TO THE STATE -- WITHOUT THIS, THERE'S AT LEAST TWO MILES OF BEACH THAT THE PUBLIC CANNOT ACCESS AND CANNOT GET TO.

GAY>> SARA WAN IS THE CHAIR OF THE COASTAL COMMISSION AND A MEMBER OF THE CONSERVANCY. SHE SAYS MANY OF THE EASEMENTS CUT BETWEEN EXPENSIVE HOMES TO WHAT ARE NOW EXCLUSIVE BEACHES, SUCH AS LA COSTA BEACH IN MALIBU.

SARA WAN>> THIS PARTICULAR PIECE OF PROPERTY WAS ACTUALLY EXCEPTED BY THE COASTAL CONSERVANCY, BUT THE HOMEOWNERS IN THE AREA HAVE TAKEN THE CONSERVANCY AND THE COASTAL COMMISSION TO COURT CLAIMING, AS I SAID, THAT THIS IS VERY UNSAFE, THERE'S NO PLACE FOR THE PUBLIC TO PARK. BUT THE FACT IS, THERE'S PLENTY OF PARKING HERE. NO PLACE ON PCH IS PARTICULARLY SAFE.

TODD SLOAN>> WELL, THE HIGHWAY PATROL HAD INDICATED THAT THAT WAS THE SECOND OR THIRD MOST DANGEROUS STRETCH OF HIGHWAY ON THE PACIFIC COAST HIGHWAY.

GAY>> TODD SLOAN IS A MALIBU RESIDENT AND LOCAL ATTORNEY. HE SAYS OPENING THE EASEMENT WOULD CREATE A SAFETY HAZARD WITH PEDESTRIANS RUNNING ACROSS THE BUSY PACIFIC COAST HIGHWAY TO GET TO LA COSTA BEACH.

TODD SLOAN>> THIS IS AN EASEMENT THAT WAS DEVELOPED AS PART OF SOMEONE'S CONDITION FOR GETTING A PERMIT FROM THE COASTAL COMMISSION TO BUILD.

GAY>> AND SLOAN CALLS OTHER BEACH ACCESSES LIKE THIS EASEMENTS TO NOWHERE WITH LITTLE FOR VISITORS TO ENJOY DURING MUCH OF THE YEAR.

TODD SLOAN>> AS YOU'LL NOTICE, WHEN YOU LOOK AT THIS, THERE'S NO LIFEGUARD STANDS, THERE ARE NO FACILITIES HERE. IT'S SIMPLY A BEACH ACCESS AND NOTHING MORE.

GAY>> SLOAN SAYS THE MONEY USED FOR EASEMENTS WOULD BE BETTER SPENT ON IMPROVING PUBLIC BEACHES.

TODD SLOAN>> PUT THE MONEY WHERE IT'S BETTER USED. GO BUILD THE PARKING UP AT CORRAL --

GAY>> -- THAT'S A PUBLIC BEACH?

TODD SLOAN>> YES. ADD SOME MORE FACILITIES UP ON ZUMA. MAKE THE BEACH AVAILABLE, MAKE IT MORE USER-FRIENDLY FOR PEOPLE WHO WANT TO COME OUT HERE, BUT DON'T BUILD EASEMENTS TO NOWHERE.

SARA WAN>> AND IT'S ALL WELL AND GOOD FOR THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE HERE TO SAY, OH, NO, NO, GO TO ZUMA BEACH. BUT THE FACT IS, IF YOU DON'T HAVE THE REST OF THESE BEACHES OPEN, YOU PUT ALL THE POPULATION PRESSURE ON THE BIG PUBLIC BEACHES. THEN IT GETS CROWDED AT THOSE BEACHES AND, AS THE POPULATION IN THIS STATE INCREASES, THAT WILL GET WORSE AND WORSE.

GAY>> WAN SAYS IT'S NOT THE WISHES OF THE COASTAL COMMISSION OR THE CONSERVANCY THAT ARE BEING ENFORCED HERE. IT'S THE DESIRES OF THE CITIZENS OF CALIFORNIA WHO VOTED FOR THE COASTAL ACT 25 YEARS AGO.

SARA WAN>> THE PUBLIC OF THIS STATE MADE A VERY LOUD, STRONG STATEMENT WHEN IT WENT TO THE POLLS. IT SAID ONE OF THE REASONS WE WANT TO PROTECT THE COAST IS SO THAT WE CAN GET TO IT. AND IF THE PUBLIC CAN'T GET TO IT AND THE PUBLIC CAN'T SEE IT, THEN, PARDON ME, WHY WOULD THE PUBLIC WANT TO PROTECT IT?

JESS>> GAY YEE JOINS US NOW. IN ADDITION TO THE COURT ACTION, SEEKING REMEDIES IN THE COURT, THEY'VE ALSO LOBBIED THE LEGISLATURE AND THAT'S BEEN EFFECTIVE, HAS IT NOT?

GAY>> APPARENTLY SO. THERE IS NOW A BILL, SB 1966, IT'S KEVIN MURRAY'S BILL, THAT KIND OF SHIFTS IT OVER TO THE HOMEOWNERS. IT APPEARS THAT PERHAPS THAT COULD HAVE THE UPPER HAND. IT BASICALLY SAYS THAT, YOU KNOW, IF YOU PEOPLE WANT TO TAKE OVER THESE EASEMENTS -- BASICALLY, IT WOULD GO TO NONPROFITS OR TO GOVERNMENTS TO TAKE OVER AND ENSURE THAT THESE ARE PROPERLY MAINTAINED -- IF THAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN, YOU HAVE TO ADEQUATELY PLAN FOR IT, ADEQUATELY CONVINCE US THAT THERE'S ENOUGH POLICING, ENOUGH PARKING, THAT YOU JUST CAN'T OPEN THEM UP.

VAL>> OH, SO YOU WOULDN'T BE RESPONSIBLE JUST FOR THE EASEMENT, BUT YOU WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR SAFE ACCESS TO THE EASEMENT. WELL, THAT'S A MUCH BIGGER RESPONSIBILITY.

GAY>> AND ANOTHER ISSUE IS ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT. THERE IS TALK THAT PERHAPS THEY WOULD HAVE TO HAVE AN ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT IN ORDER TO OPEN UP THESE EASEMENTS AND THE --

VAL>> -- ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT REPORT?

GAY>> REPORT, TO OPEN UP THESE EASEMENTS. WELL, HERE AGAIN, THE SIERRA CLUB SAYS THAT'S NOT FAIR BECAUSE THESE HOMEOWNERS DIDN'T HAVE TO HAVE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT REPORTS IN ORDER TO BUILD THEIR HOUSES ON THE BEACH, BUT YET THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE TO DO THIS WITH THE OTHER SIDE.

JESS>> IT SOUNDS AS THOUGH THE LEGISLATION MAY BE LARDED WITH REQUIREMENTS THAT, IN EFFECT, WOULD ELIMINATE THAT BEACH ACCESS.

GAY>> AND THAT'S WHAT THEY'RE CONCERNED ABOUT. THEY DO HAVE A NARROW WINDOW IN ORDER TO OPEN THEM UP.

VAL>> A WINDOW OF TIME?

GAY>> A WINDOW OF TIME.

VAL>> SO ONCE THE DEADLINE RUNS OUT, THEN THE EASEMENTS JUST SIMPLY CAN'T BE USED AS EASEMENTS.

GAY>> ABSOLUTELY.

VAL>> SO THE BATTLE GOES ON. THANK YOU, GAY. WE'LL KEEP WATCHING THIS ONE.

MONDAY ON LIFE AND TIMES, IT'S A FRIGHTENING EPIDEMIC AFFECTING MILLIONS OF CHILDREN, BUT IT'S NOT A VIRUS. IT'S OBESITY.

>> I WOULDN'T EXERCISE. SOMETIMES I WOULDN'T PLAY OUTSIDE, JUST STAY AND PLAY GAMES.

>> THEY JUST MAKE FUN OF ME AT SCHOOL AND STUFF.

JESS>> HIS MAY NOT BE A HOUSEHOLD NAME JUST YET, BUT HE IS ONE OF THE MOST POWERFUL POLITICIANS IN CALIFORNIA AND HERB WESSON HAS HIS WORK CUT OUT FOR HIM NOW THAT HE IS SPEAKER OF THE CALIFORNIA ASSEMBLY.

VAL>> WESSON COMES TO HIS NEW OFFICE JUST AS THE STATE IS GRAPPLING WITH A RECORD BUDGET DEFICIT OF NEARLY $18 BILLION DOLLARS. TO SURVIVE THAT FLOOD OF RED INK, THE STATE MAY HAVE TO MAKE DRASTIC CUTS IN HEALTHCARE. SCORES OF CLINICS AND HOSPITALS COULD PAY THE PRICE, ESPECIALLY IN URBAN NEIGHBORHOODS WHERE THE DEMAND FOR CARE IS GREAT.

JESS>> HOW CAN THE STATE PULL ITS WAY OUT OF THE BUDGET CRISIS? SPEAKER HERB WESSON IS HERE WITH SOME ANSWERS. ALSO JOINING US, OUR POLITICAL ANALYST, KERMAN MADDOX.

LET ME ASK, IS THIS A CASE OF "BE CAREFUL WHAT YOU WISH FOR"? THIS IS A POOR TIME TO BECOME SPEAKER OF THE ASSEMBLY, ISN'T IT?

HERB WESSON>> WELL, I'LL TELL YOU WHAT'S FUNNY. I'VE HAD A LOT OF PEOPLE COME UP TO ME AND CONGRATULATING ME FOR BECOMING SPEAKER AND MY RESPONSE TO THEM IS, "WHY DON'T YOU COME BACK IN SIX MONTHS AND LET'S SEE IF IT'S CONGRATULATIONS OR CONDOLENCES?" (LAUGHTER) NO, I'M EXCITED ABOUT THIS AND I KNOW WE'VE GOT A VERY SERIOUS BUDGET CRISIS. BUT I CAN'T THINK OF ANYBODY ELSE I'D LIKE TO SEE IN LEADERSHIP THAN THE TEAM THAT I'VE PUT IN PLACE AND MYSELF. SOMEHOW WE WILL GET THIS DONE.

KERMAN>> SPEAKER WESSON, I WANT TO TALK ABOUT THE BUDGET CRISIS IN THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA BECAUSE, AS THE CLIP SAID, I THINK WE HAVE A DEFICIT OF SOMETHING LIKE $18 BILLION, WITH A "B", SO OBVIOUSLY SIGNIFICANT CUTS HAVE TO BE MADE. IS THERE ANY PARTICULAR AREA THAT YOU CAN SHARE WITH US WHERE YOU THINK MOST OF THE MAJOR CUTS ARE GOING TO TAKE PLACE?

HERB WESSON>> OKAY. LET ME ANSWER THE QUESTION THIS WAY. FIRST OF ALL, THE NUMBER IS KIND OF A MOVING TARGET. WE'LL HAVE A BETTER FIT, OR BETTER FEEL, FOR WHAT THE NUMBER IS AFTER OUR MAY REVISE. WE BELIEVE THAT THE NUMBER IS AT ABOUT $17.5 BILLION. WE'VE ALREADY TAKEN APPROXIMATELY $2 BILLION DOLLARS IN CUTS, SO WE'VE GOT ABOUT $15 BILLION IN CUTS TO DEAL WITH.

THE PROCESS THAT WE'RE GOING THROUGH NOW IS WE HAVE A BUDGET COMMITTEE. THE BUDGET COMMITTEE HAS FIVE SUBCOMMITTEES. THOSE SUBCOMMITTEES HANDLE VARIOUS AREAS WITH HEALTH AND WELFARE, SAFETY, LOCAL GOVERNMENT, OR WHAT HAVE YOU. SO WE'VE ASSIGNED THEM THE TASK TO GO OUT AND LOOK AT EVERY OPTION POSSIBLE TO SEE HOW WE CAN BRING THIS BUDGET TO CLOSURE. SO THAT'S BASICALLY WHAT'S GOING ON AT THIS POINT IN TIME.

I WOULDN'T WANT TO SPECULATE ON WHERE WE'RE GOING TO MAKE THE MAJORITY OF THE CUTS BECAUSE I DON'T HAVE ALL OF THE INFORMATION IN FRONT OF ME AT THIS POINT IN TIME, BUT I GUARANTEE YOU THE OPERATIVE WORD HERE IS "FAIRNESS" AND WE'LL DO EVERYTHING THAT WE CAN TO BE FAIR.

KERMAN>> WHAT ABOUT THE "T" WORD, TAXES. IT'S AN ELECTION YEAR AND MANY PEOPLE HAVE SAID IF YOU'RE GOING TO BE RESPONSIBLE IN SACRAMENTO, DEMOCRATS IN THE ASSEMBLY AND SENATE HAVE TO CONSIDER A TAX INCREASE. HAVE YOU CONSIDERED THAT?

HERB WESSON>> WELL, I'VE TOLD EVERYBODY THAT EVERYTHING IS ON THE TABLE AND I THINK IT WOULD BE IRRESPONSIBLE IF THERE WAS NOT A DISCUSSION ABOUT THE POSSIBILITY OF TAX INCREASES. THERE'S NOT A PERSON IN SACRAMENTO THAT WANTS TO DO A TAX INCREASE, BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, I THINK THERE MAY BE SOME PEOPLE THAT BELIEVE THAT IT'S NECESSARY OR THAT IT'S A NECESSITY. SO WE'RE LOOKING AT -- MY GOAL IS TO TRY TO CLOSE THIS GAP WITHOUT TAX INCREASES.

VAL>> NOW I KNOW YOU DON'T WANT TO SPECULATE WHAT AREAS, BUT THERE'S ALREADY BEEN TALK THAT OUR SCHOOLS ARE GOING TO TAKE A DEEP CUT AND THAT HEALTHCARE, WHICH ABSORBS HUGE AMOUNTS OF BIG BILLS, VERY EXPENSIVE, WE HAVE A LOT OF UNINSURED PEOPLE HERE IN CALIFORNIA, THAT'S GOING TO TAKE A CUT. I CAN'T IMAGINE THAT YOU'RE GOING TO GET THROUGH THE CUTS WITHOUT HITTING THOSE TWO AREAS.

HERB WESSON>> WELL, I'M NOT SAYING THAT WE'RE NOT GOING TO HIT THEM. SEE, WE'VE GOT A GENERAL FUND BUDGET OF APPROXIMATELY $80 BILLION DOLLARS AND NOW WE'RE TALKING ABOUT A $17 BILLION DOLLAR CUT. I THINK THAT YOU WILL SEE THE REDUCTIONS SPREAD THROUGHOUT. EVERYBODY IS GOING TO HAVE TO TIGHTEN UP THEIR BELT A LITTLE BIT. IF THERE'S A SILVER LINING, THE SILVER LINING IS THAT THE FINANCIAL FORECASTERS ARE INDICATING THAT THIS DOWNTURN IS GOING TO TURN UP, AND THE SOONER THE BETTER.

JESS>> THERE ARE NO SACRED COWS, THOUGH?

HERB WESSON>> THERE CAN'T BE. AT THIS POINT, YOU CAN'T HAVE A FAIR DISCUSSION ABOUT THE BUDGET IF YOU DON'T PUT EVERYTHING ON THE TABLE. IT'S LIKE WHEN YOU WERE A KID, THOSE JIGSAW PUZZLES, 5,000 PIECES. IN ORDER TO PUT THAT PUZZLE TOGETHER, YOU HAD TO TAKE EVERY PIECE OF THE PUZZLE AND PUT IT ON THE TABLE. SO IN ORDER FOR US TO --

JESS>> -- AND EVERY NOW AND THEN, THERE WAS ONE PIECE THAT WAS LOST. (LAUGHTER)

HERB WESSON>> YEAH, WELL, IF WE CAN LOSE A PIECE HERE, I HOPE THAT WE LOSE A PIECE THAT AFFECTS THE PEOPLE THAT DEPEND ON US TO PROTECT THEM. WE WILL NOT BALANCE THIS BUDGET ON THE BACKS OF THOSE THAT DON'T HAVE A VOICE NOR WILL WE BALANCE THE BUDGET ON THE BACKS OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT OR TEACHERS. SOMEHOW WE'VE GOT TO COME TOGETHER AND COME UP WITH A FAIR PROCESS, BUT I DON'T THINK ANYBODY'S IMMUNE.

KERMAN>> I WANT TO ASK YOU A QUESTION ABOUT THE BUDGET CUTS AND THE IMPACT ON THE GOVERNOR'S RACE. A LOT OF PEOPLE SAY THE ONLY WAY SIMON HAS A CHANCE TO REALLY GET AT GOVERNOR DAVIS IS, IF SIGNIFICANT CUTS HAVE TO MADE IN SACRAMENTO -- AND AGAIN, CUTS ARE MADE ON PEOPLE WHO ARE LEAST ABLE TO AFFORD THOSE CUTS -- THEREFORE, RUNNING DEMOCRATS AWAY FROM HIM. DO YOU THINK THE DECISIONS YOU GUYS MAKE IN SACRAMENTO COULD HAVE MAJOR IMPACTS ON THE GOVERNOR'S RACE?

HERB WESSON>> WELL, I THINK FOR EVERY ACTION, THERE'S AN EQUAL AND OPPOSITE REACTION. I'M VERY CONCERNED ABOUT POLITICAL RHETORIC BEING THROWN INTO THE BUDGET DISCUSSION. I'VE DONE EVERYTHING THAT I CAN TO DAMP THAT DOWN BECAUSE WE WERE HIRED BY 34 MILLION CALIFORNIANS TO DO A JOB AND WE'VE GOT TO DAMP DOWN THE POLITICAL RHETORIC AND PUT IT ASIDE.

BUT TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION, ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE. I'M VERY OPTIMISTIC THAT WE'VE GOT TWO CANDIDATES HERE THAT HAVE TWO TOTALLY DIFFERENT STYLES AND, AT THE END OF THE DAY, I BELIEVE CALIFORNIANS ARE GOING TO VOTE FOR GRAY DAVIS, THAT HE'S GOING TO BE RE-ELECTED, AND I'M GOING TO DO EVERYTHING IN MY POWER TO SEE THAT HE IS RE-ELECTED BECAUSE I LIKE TO CALL DOWN ON THE FIRST FLOOR AND GET MY PHONE CALL RETURNED. (LAUGHTER)

JESS>> BUT THE BUDGET CUTS WILL BE DONE ON A BIPARTISAN BASIS.

HERB WESSON>> YES.

JESS>> YOU WERE ELECTED UNANIMOUSLY BY THE ASSEMBLY, CERTAINLY A BIPARTISAN EFFORT. CAN YOU HOLD THAT COALITION TOGETHER FOR THESE BUDGET CUTS?

HERB WESSON>> I'LL GIVE YOU A PERFECT EXAMPLE. JUST LAST WEEK, WE SENT TO THE GOVERNOR'S DESK THE LARGEST SCHOOL BOND, BUT THE LARGEST BOND IN THE HISTORY OF THE WORLD. IT'S OVER $25 BILLION DOLLARS. IN ORDER TO SEND THAT TO THE GOVERNOR'S DESK TO PUT ON NOVEMBER'S BALLOT, WE HAD TO HAVE 54 VOTES. THERE ARE FIFTY DEMOCRATS, SO PEOPLE WERE WONDERING WHERE ARE YOU GOING TO FIND THE FOUR REPUBLICANS TO GET THIS PASSED?

I WENT AND HAD A CHAT WITH THE LEADER OF THE MINORITY PARTY, DAVE COX. HE INVITED ME TO ADDRESS HIS CAUCUS. I ADDRESSED THE REPUBLICAN CAUCUS, THEY HAVE THIRTY OF THEM, 21 OF THEM VOTED YES ON THIS VERY IMPORTANT MEASURE TO TAKE CARE OF OUR CHILDREN. I BELIEVE ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE AND I DO THINK THERE WILL BE SOME OPPORTUNITIES FOR SOME GOOD BIPARTISANSHIP.

KERMAN>> CAN I ASK YOU A QUICK QUESTION ON TERM LIMITS? IT WAS DEFEATED IN THE MARCH PRIMARY. YOU WERE QUOTED IN THE PAPER -- I DON'T KNOW IF IT WAS IN CONTEXT OR NOT -- WHERE YOU SAID YOU'RE GOING TO MAKE ANOTHER RUN ON IT IN THE NOVEMBER ELECTIONS. I BELIEVE YOUR THOUGHT PROCESS WAS THAT PEOPLE IN CALIFORNIA REALLY DO WANT TO CHANGE TERM LIMIT LAWS. DO YOU STILL BELIEVE THAT?

HERB WESSON>> YES, I DO. I HAVE, FROM THE VERY BEGINNING, BELIEVED THAT PEOPLE ALREADY HAD THE RIGHT TO IMPOSE TERM LIMITS. WE JUST DIDN'T DO IT. YOU GO TO THE POLLS AND (LAUGHTER) YOU VOTE THE BUM OUT. BUT IN THIS CASE, I THINK IT'S STILL ON THE TABLE. WE MAY DO SOMETHING IN NOVEMBER. IF NOTHING ELSE, I GET PLEASURE OUT OF MAKING THE U.S. TERM LIMIT PEOPLE NERVOUS SAYING "WHAT IS THIS GUY GOING TO DO?" (LAUGHTER) SO, TERM LIMIT GUYS, DON'T COUNT US OUT YET.

VAL>> WELL, SPEAKER HERB WESSON, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

HERB WESSON>> MY PLEASURE.

VAL>> YOU ARE GOING TO BE TERMED OUT. THE GOOD NEWS IS, YOU CAN MAKE ALL THOSE UNPOPULAR DECISIONS BECAUSE YOU CAN'T RE-RUN FOR OFFICE ANYWAY. (LAUGHTER) THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR COMING BY.

HERB WESSON>> OH, MY PLEASURE.

VAL>> AND KERMAN, ALWAYS GREAT TO SEE YOU.

JESS>> TIME NOW TO LOOK AT YOUR LETTERS AND WE BEGIN WITH ONE FROM A TEACHER. HE FOCUSED ON MONDAY'S REPORT ABOUT A NEW KIND OF SCHOOL IN ORANGE COUNTY WHERE CLASSROOMS ARE DESIGNED TO GIVE THE STUDENTS LOTS OF FRESH AIR AND SUNSHINE. THE TEACHER WRITES IT'S NOTHING LIKE HIS SCHOOL:

"MY CLASSROOM WINDOWS DON'T OPEN BECAUSE OF SECURITY GRATES AND THE AIR CONDITIONER BREAKS DOWN REGULARLY. I DON'T DARE OPEN THE BLINDS TO LET IN THE SUN OUT OF FEAR THAT GANG MEMBERS ON THE OUTSIDE MIGHT BE ABLE TO AIM AT MY STUDENTS ON THE INSIDE. IN THE INNER CITY, PRACTICAL SAFETY CONCERNS MUST BE PRIORITY NUMBER ONE."

VAL>> ANOTHER VIEWER TOOK ISSUE WITH THE SEGMENT ON TROUBLES IN THE MIDDLE EAST IN OUR INTERVIEW WITH CONGRESSMAN HENRY WAXMAN:

"I HOPE AFTER THE INTERVIEW WITH WAXMAN YOU HAVE PLANS TO INTERVIEW SOMEONE WITH A PALESTINIAN PERSPECTIVE. IF NOT, YOU SURELY HAVE GIVEN MR. WAXMAN A WONDERFUL PLATFORM FOR THE RIGHT WING JEWISH VIEWPOINT."

JESS>> AIRPORT SECURITY, OR LACK OF IT, WAS ON THE MIND OF ANOTHER VIEWER WHO WRITES:

"I NO LONGER FLY BECAUSE OF THE ABUSE ONE SUFFERS AT THE HANDS OF OFFICIALS WHO HAVEN'T THE VAGUEST IDEA WHAT SECURITY MEANS. THE CHANCE OF BEING BLOWN UP ON AN AIRPLANE IS MINISCULE COMPARED TO THAT OF BEING RUN DOWN BY AN SUV ON THE WAY TO THE AIRPORT."

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

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

JESS>> THEY'RE ONE OF THE GREAT MYSTERIES OF NATURE: EARTHQUAKES. AND AS WE SAW JUST THIS WEEK IN AFGHANISTAN, THEY CAN STRIKE WITHOUT WARNING AND CAN CLAIM HUNDREDS IF NOT THOUSANDS OF LIVES IN A MATTER OF SECONDS. BUT WHAT IF SCIENTISTS COULD PREDICT EARTHQUAKES? TONIGHT WE'RE ABOUT TO JUMP INTO THE MIDDLE OF A MAJOR SCIENTIFIC DEBATE OVER THAT VERY QUESTION.

VAL>> YOU'LL MEET A WELL-KNOWN EXPERT FROM NORTHERN CALIFORNIA WHO BELIEVES FORECASTING QUAKES ISN'T AS IMPOSSIBLE AS IT NOW SEEMS. AND YOU'LL HEAR FROM A RESPECTED SCIENTIST AT CALTECH WHO SAYS THAT'S A LOT OF BALONEY. TONIGHT BOTH SIDES, IN THIS REPORT FROM SCIENCE CORRESPONDENT, BRIAN HACKNEY.

[FILM CLIP]

BRIAN HACKNEY>> WE CAN FORECAST STORMS DAYS IN ADVANCE.

ANNOUNCER>> A NINETY-MILE BAND OF TOTAL DARKNESS IS JUST MINUTES AWAY NOW FROM THE SHORES OF THIS COUNTRY.

BRIAN HACKNEY>> WE CAN FORECAST ECLIPSES YEARS IN ADVANCE. BUT CAN WE EVER DO THE SAME WITH EARTHQUAKES?

LUCILE M. JONES>> EARTHQUAKES, OF COURSE, ARE VERY MUCH MORE AN EMOTIONAL ISSUE AND IT IS THEIR UNPREDICTABILITY THAT MAKES THEM FRIGHTENING.

[FILM CLIP]

BRIAN HACKNEY>> SCIENTISTS HAVE BEEN SEARCHING FOR THE KEY TO PREDICTING QUAKES FOR YEARS. NOW DR. LUCILE JONES AT CALTECH DOESN'T THINK WE'LL EVER FIND IT.

LUCILE M. JONES>> IN THE SEVENTIES, WE CAME TO WORK AND WE WERE GOING TO PREDICT EARTHQUAKES AND SAVE HUMANITY AND IT BECAME REAL CLEAR OVER THE NEXT DECADE THAT WE WEREN'T GOING TO DO IT.

BRIAN HACKNEY>> WE HAVE MADE MASSIVE STRIDES IN QUAKE ENGINEERING. MODERN BUILDINGS REMAIN STANDING EVEN AFTER STRONG SHAKES, BUT THEY'VE LOOKED EVERYWHERE TO FIND THE TRIGGER FOR BIG QUAKES, FROM THE RATE OF SLIP ON THE SAN ANDREAS FAULT TO THE GRAVITATIONAL PULL OF THE MOON. THEY STILL HAVEN'T GOT A CLUE HOW TO PREDICT QUAKES.

LUCILE M. JONES>> I THINK IT WILL PROBABLY NEVER BE POSSIBLE.

ALLAN G. LINDH>> WELL, SHE'S WRONG.

BRIAN HACKNEY>> DR. AL LINDH, A SEISMOLOGIST AT THE GEOLOGICAL SURVEY AT MENLO PARK.

ALLAN G. LINDH>> SHE'S TALKING ABOUT THE STATE OF OUR UNDERSTANDING TODAY. HOW DOES SHE KNOW WHAT PEOPLE WILL FIGURE OUT FOR THE FUTURE?

BRIAN HACKNEY>> LINDH BELIEVES WE WILL BE ABLE TO FORECAST EARTHQUAKES SOMEDAY. THE CHALLENGE IS TO TRY TO FIND SOMETHING UNIQUE, SOMETHING DIFFERENT, THAT HAPPENS BEFORE A BIG QUAKE STARTS SHAKING, AND, OF COURSE, THERE'S NO SHORTAGE OF DATA. IN SAN FRANCISCO, AS WELL AS IN LOS ANGELES, THERE ARE ABOUT 15,000 EARTHQUAKES A YEAR. OF COURSE, MOST OF THOSE ARE VERY SMALL AND WE DON'T CARE ABOUT THE SMALL ONES.

LUCILE M. JONES>> WHAT WE NEED TO PREDICT IS WHICH OF THE 15,000 TO BE RECORDED THIS YEAR WILL BE ABOVE SOME MAGNITUDE LEVEL, SO WE'RE REALLY PREDICTING THE SIZE OF THE EVENT.

BRIAN HACKNEY>> IN OTHER WORDS, WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN WHAT HAPPENS BEFORE THE SMALL ONES AND WHAT HAPPENS BEFORE THE BIG ONES? THE ANSWER SO FAR? ABSOLUTELY NOTHING. CASE IN POINT, THE NORTHRIDGE QUAKE, JANUARY 17, 1994. AT 4:30 A.M., TEN MILLION PEOPLE IN THE LOS ANGELES BASIN WERE SHAKEN AWAKE BY A 6.7 QUAKE. A BLIND THRUST FAULT SNAPPED FROM THREE TO ELEVEN MILES DEEP, THE SHOCKWAVES SPREADING ON THE SURFACE AT 7,000 MILES AN HOUR. IT WAS OVER IN EIGHT SECONDS. IT CAUSED $20 BILLION DOLLARS IN DAMAGE, THE COSTLIEST QUAKE IN U.S. HISTORY.

RESCUE WORKER>> I DON'T KNOW. I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY.

BRIAN HACKNEY>> FIFTY-SEVEN PEOPLE DIED, BUT AT THE INSTANT THIS EARTHQUAKE BEGAN, THERE WAS NOTHING THAT DISTINGUISHED IT FROM THE HUNDREDS OF TINY QUAKES THAT POP IN CALIFORNIA EVERY DAY.

LUCILE M. JONES>> WELL, WE'VE GONE IN AND LOOKED AT THE BEGINNINGS OF EARTHQUAKES. THEY ALL START THE SAME WAY. YOU TAKE THE FIRST TENTH OF A SECOND OF A MAGNITUDE TWO AND A MAGNITUDE EIGHT AND THEY LOOK THE SAME.

ALLAN G. LINDH>> AND IF I KEEP BEING THE YARDSTICK AND KEEP -- THERE, DID YOU HEAR THE FORESHOCK?

BRIAN HACKNEY>> IF IT JUST WEREN'T FOR THE FACT THAT AL LINDH CAME SO CLOSE TO AN IDEAL FORECAST.

ALLAN G. LINDH>> OH, THAT'S A GREAT ONE.

BRIAN HACKNEY>> IN THE LATE EIGHTIES, TWO QUAKES STRUCK ON A QUIET PART OF THE SAN ANDREAS NEAR SANTA CRUZ. LINDH RAISED THE ALARM ABOUT THE CHANCE OF A MUCH BIGGER QUAKE AND, TWO MONTHS LATER, THE 7.1 LOMA PRIETA QUAKE ERUPTED NEAR SANTA CRUZ.

ALLAN G. LINDH>> WE WERE GOOD ON LOCATION, HALF GOOD ON MAGNITUDE AND LOUSY ON TIME. IT CAME TWO MONTHS LATER, NOT DAYS LATER.

BRIAN HACKNEY>> THESE PYLONS ARE RIGHT ON THE SAN ANDREAS?

BRIAN HACKNEY>> BUT THE MOST FAMOUS FORECAST QUAKE IS THIRTEEN YEARS LATE. AT PARKFIELD IN SOUTHERN MONTEREY COUNTY, AN EXPECTED MAGNITUDE SIX HASN'T MATERIALIZED, BUT THEY'RE READY FOR IT. THERE ARE MORE INSTRUMENTS HERE THAN ON ANY FAULT IN THE WORLD. WHO KNOWS WHAT THEY'LL FIND WHEN IT STRIKES?

ALLAN G. LINDH>> WE HAVE LOTS OF SIGNALS COME OFF THE SAN ANDREAS FAULT. WE HAVE LITTLE EARTHQUAKES, WE HAVE MEDIUM-SIZED EARTHQUAKES, WE HAVE GEODETIC DATA, WE HAVE STRING DATA, WE HAVE CREEK DATA, WE HAVE GEOLOGIC DATA, SO WE HAVE LOTS OF SIGNALS. IT'S NOT LIKE THE EARTH ISN'T TELLING US ANYTHING. IT'S JUST THAT WE DON'T UNDERSTAND IT.

BRIAN HACKNEY>> BUT SEISMOLOGY HAS HELPED US DESIGN BUILDINGS THAT STAND UP TO BIG QUAKES. IT DOESN'T MAKE THEM LESS TERRIFYING, BUT IT'S WHY SO FEW PEOPLE DIE IN THE U.S. FROM MAJOR QUAKES IN MAJOR CITIES.

LUCILE M. JONES>> WE'RE HELPING PEOPLE LIVE WITH EARTHQUAKES AND I THINK THAT'S WHAT IT GETS DOWN TO. WOULD YOU RATHER HAVE TWO HOURS TO GET OUT OF A BUILDING OR A BUILDING THAT DOESN'T FALL DOWN IN THE FIRST PLACE?

BRIAN HACKNEY>> OR WOULD YOU RATHER HAVE BOTH?

ANNOUNCER>> HERE'S WHAT HAPPENS NEXT. THE LOW PRESSURE THAT'S ON TOP OF THE BAY AREA NOW WILL KICK OUT TO THE EAST.

BRIAN HACKNEY>> WE HAVE, AFTER ALL, MADE MASSIVE IMPROVEMENTS IN WEATHER FORECASTS BECAUSE OF BILLIONS INVESTED IN SATELLITES AND SUPER COMPUTERS.

ALLAN G. LINDH>> WE DON'T INVEST A HUNDREDTH OF ONE PERCENT OF THAT EFFORT IN TRYING TO PREDICT EARTHQUAKES.

BRIAN HACKNEY>> DO YOU THINK, IF WE DID, WE'D FIGURE IT OUT?

ALLAN G. LINDH>> SOMEBODY WILL.

BRIAN HACKNEY>> SO MAYBE IT'S POSSIBLE THAT WE'LL ACTUALLY SEE A "QUAKECAST" OF THE FUTURE LOOK MUCH LIKE A WEATHERCAST OF TODAY.

ANNOUNCER>> THEY'VE OFFICIALLY ISSUED A QUAKE WATCH, A SEVENTY PERCENT CHANCE OF A MAGNITUDE SIX QUAKE.

ALLAN G. LINDH>> IF WE INVEST IN THE BEST INSTRUMENTATION WE CAN BUILD ALONG THE SAN ANDREAS, WE WILL LEARN THINGS ABOUT THE SAN ANDREAS FAULT THAT WE CAN'T EVEN DREAM OF. WHETHER OR NOT THOSE WILL MAKE IT POSSIBLE TO PREDICT EARTHQUAKES, ONLY GOD KNOWS, AND MAYBE HE DOESN'T EVEN KNOW.

VAL>> IF HE DOES, I HOPE HE SHARES THE INFORMATION WITH US. THAT IS OUR PROGRAM FOR TONIGHT. FOR TRANSCRIPTS AND STREAMING AUDIO OF RECENT SHOWS, LOG ONTO OUR WEBSITE AT KCET.ORG.

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

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