5/2/02

LC020502

VAL>> ON LIFE AND TIMES TONIGHT --

JESS>> COUNTING THE DOLLAR SIGNS AS SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA HOME PRICES SOAR. GREAT NEWS IF YOU OWN PROPERTY, NOT SO GREAT IF YOU'RE TRYING TO BUY A HOME.

SANDY HECKER>> I MEAN, WE'VE SERIOUSLY CONTEMPLATED AT TIMES JUST PICKING UP AND MOVING AWAY FROM CALIFORNIA JUST BECAUSE IT WOULD BE THE ONLY WAY IN OUR MINDS THAT WE WOULD BE ABLE TO AFFORD A HOME FOR OUR FAMILIES.

VAL>> AND CAN YOU IMAGINE A SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT THAT CAN'T AFFORD BULLETS? THINGS AREN'T THAT BAD JUST YET FOR SHERIFF LEE BACA, BUT HE SAYS L.A. COUNTY'S BUDGET PLAN WILL FORCE HIM TO SCALE BACK ON CRIME-FIGHTING. TONIGHT BACA IS HERE TO TAKE ON THE BEAN COUNTERS.

JESS>> ALSO, PATT MORRISON SAYS SHE DOESN'T NORMALLY INDULGE IN GOSSIP, BUT TONIGHT SHE CLAIMS TO HAVE AN ITEM THAT'S JUST TOO JUICY NOT TO SHARE.

PATT MORRISON>> FROM THE OVAL OFFICE TO THE GREEN ROOM? BILL CLINTON AND THE EMPTY OPRAH CHAIR -- ON TONIGHT'S INFINITELY MORRISON.

VAL>> AND WE'LL MEET THE WORLD'S FIRST SPACE TOURIST, SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA BUSINESSMAN DENNIS TITO. HE TOOK A RIDE INTO ORBIT FOR $20 MILLION DOLLARS. NOW SOME OTHER CIVILIAN SPACE TRAVELERS ARE TRYING TO FOLLOW TITO'S ACT.

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.

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.

SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA IS IN THE MIDST OF A FRENZY AND IT'S ALL ABOUT REAL ESTATE. HOME PRICES ARE SKYROCKETING AND, IF YOU'RE IN A BUYING MOOD, GET READY. YOU MAY HAVE TO OFFER MORE THAN THE ASKING PRICE JUST TO GET THE SELLER'S ATTENTION.

VAL>> LOW INTEREST RATES AND A SHAKY STOCK MARKET ARE PROMPTING SCORES OF PEOPLE TO TURN TO REAL ESTATE AS A PLACE TO PUT THEIR MONEY, BUT THE BOOM HAS A MAJOR DOWNSIDE. IT'S KILLING MOST PEOPLES' DREAMS OF EVER OWNING A HOME. TONIGHT GAY YEE LOOKS AT THE WINNERS AND LOSERS.

GAY YEE>> JOHN AND JUNE BODDY ARE RIDING THE WAVE OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA'S RED-HOT REAL ESTATE MARKET. LIKE MANY HOMEOWNERS, THEY'RE COUNTING THE DOLLAR SIGNS AS THEIR PROPERTY VALUES SOAR.

JOHN BODDY>> TIMES ARE GOOD.

JUNE BODDY>> TIMES ARE GOOD.

GAY YEE>> BUT TIMES ARE GOOD ONLY IF YOU OWN PROPERTY. ROB AND SANDY HECKER DON'T.

SANDY HECKER>> WE'VE SERIOUSLY CONTEMPLATED AT TIMES JUST PICKING UP AND MOVING AWAY FROM CALIFORNIA JUST BECAUSE IT WOULD BE THE ONLY WAY IN OUR MINDS THAT WE WOULD BE ABLE TO AFFORD A HOME FOR OUR FAMILIES.

GAY YEE>> THESE ARE THE UPS AND DOWNS OF THE BEST REAL ESTATE MARKET IN YEARS, A GREAT TIME FOR THOSE WHO ALREADY OWN PROPERTY, A HORRIBLE TIME FOR FIRST-TIME BUYERS. REAL ESTATE AGENT, IRA SPEARS, DEALS WITH BOTH.

IRA SPEARS>> I DO INCOME PROPERTY AS WELL. I DO RESIDENTIAL PROPERTIES, AND IT JUST SEEMS LIKE EVERYONE -- THIS WHOLE MARKET HAS JUST GONE FROM ZERO TO NINETY REAL QUICK.

GAY YEE>> THE MEDIAN PRICE FOR A HOME IN L.A. COUNTY IS WELL OVER $300,000. IT GETS EVEN MORE EXPENSIVE IN ORANGE AND VENTURA COUNTIES, BUT SPEAR SAYS PROPERTY IS SELLING.

IRA SPEARS>> WITHIN HOURS, WITHIN HOURS OF GOING ON THE MARKET.

GAY YEE>> SPEARS IS WORKING WITH THE BODDYS. THEY'RE IN THE MARKET TO SELL. THEY'VE LISTED A SMALL APARTMENT COMPLEX THEY BOUGHT SEVERAL YEARS AGO FOR ABOUT $100,000. WHAT'S IT WORTH NOW?

JOHN BODDY>> HOPEFULLY, WE'RE GOING TO GET $400,000 FOR IT.

GAY YEE>> SPEARS IS ALSO WORKING WITH THE HECKERS.

IRA SPEARS>> WE HAVE SEVERAL PROPERTIES HERE TO SHOW YOU TODAY.

GAY YEE>> THEY'RE LOOKING TO BUY A HOME, BUT AREN'T FINDING MUCH WITHIN THEIR BUDGET.

ROB HECKER>> WE'VE BEEN MARRIED FOR FOURTEEN YEARS, WE HAVE TWO BOYS. FOR ABOUT A YEAR, WE'VE BEEN LOOKING FOR A HOUSE.

GAY YEE>> THE HECKERS ARE HOPING FOR A COMFORTABLE THREE-BEDROOM, TWO-BATH HOUSE IN THE $250,000 RANGE. A LOT OF MONEY TO THEM, BUT BARELY ENOUGH FOR A STARTER HOME IN TODAY'S MARKET.

SANDY HECKER>> ALL RIGHT, WHAT ARE YOU SHOWING US TODAY?

GAY YEE>> THIS IS HOW THE GREAT AMERICAN DREAM TURNS INTO A NIGHTMARE. IT'S CALLED STICKER SHOCK.

SANDY HECKER>> WOW. THE FLOOR'S NICE. IT HAS OVERHEAD LIGHTING, ROB. WE COULD PUT A CEILING FAN IN HERE IF WE WANTED TO.

ROB HECKER>> YEP.

SANDY HECKER>> I CAN'T BELIEVE THAT THE HOUSES JUST IN THIS NEIGHBORHOOD A YEAR AGO WERE GOING FOR ABOUT $205,000 OR $210,000. NOW THIS IS $250,000.

GAY YEE>> ROB AND SANDY ARE LOOKING IN THE WHITTIER AREA.

ROB HECKER>> WHAT DID YOU THINK OF THAT ONE?

SANDY HECKER>> IT'S STILL -- GOSH, IT'S STILL KIND OF SMALL. I DON'T THINK WE COULD FIT OUR BEDROOM SET IN THAT MASTER BEDROOM.

GAY YEE>> THEY'VE BEEN SEARCHING FOR A YEAR AND CAN'T BELIEVE FINDING A DECENT AFFORDABLE HOUSE IS THIS HARD.

SANDY HECKER>> WE'RE CREDIT CARD DEBT-FREE. WE DO HAVE TWO CAR PAYMENTS. ONE WILL GO AWAY IN A COUPLE OF MONTHS, BUT THAT'S IT, AND WE'RE STILL LOOKING AT BEING MORTGAGE-POOR EVERY MONTH.

SANDY HECKER>> DID HE TELL YOU ANYTHING ABOUT THIS NEXT HOUSE?

ROB HECKER>> ONLY THAT IT'S IN OUR PRICE RANGE.

GAY YEE>> HOUSE NUMBER TWO IS LISTED AT $239,000, BUT IT'S A FIXER.

SANDY HECKER>> OH, MY GOD.

GAY YEE>> THE HOME IS BEING REMODELED, BUT ROB AND SANDY SEE DRAWBACKS.

SANDY HECKER>> I CAN'T BELIEVE THEY WANT $240,000 FOR THIS HOUSE. I MEAN, IT'S A GOOD ENOUGH SIZE. IT'S ONLY GOT ONE BATHROOM, THOUGH.

ROB HECKER>> YEAH, THAT'S A BIG DRAWBACK. I MEAN, IT'S A GOOD SIZE, BUT THERE'S NO BACK YARD.

GAY YEE>> ROB AND SANDY WONDER IF IT'S WORTH IT TO KEEP ON SEARCHING.

ROB HECKER>> YOU LOOK AT SOMETHING LIKE THIS, IT KIND OF MAKES YOU THINK, WELL, YOU KNOW, IS IT WORTH STAYING HERE FOR SOMETHING LIKE THIS?

GAY YEE>> OR WAIT JUST A LITTLE LONGER?

ROB HECKER>> OR WAIT A LITTLE LONGER.

GAY YEE>> THE HECKERS HAVE PLENTY OF COMPANY. LESS THAN A THIRD OF THE PEOPLE LIVING IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA CAN AFFORD TO BUY A HOME.

GAY YEE>> BUT SUPPOSE YOU DO WAIT. WHAT ARE THE RISKS IN THAT?

ROB HECKER>> IT'S LIKE GOING TO VEGAS AND PLAYING BLACKJACK. YOU KNOW, A FIFTY-FIFTY SHOT IS DO YOU WAIT OR DO YOU BUY? IT ALL DEPENDS ON YOU.

GAY YEE>> AND IF YOU WAIT, WHAT COULD HAPPEN?

ROB HECKER>> YOU NEVER BUY A HOUSE. WE'LL BE RENTERS FOR THE REST OF OUR LIVES.

GAY YEE>> FOR NOW, THEY'RE STILL IN THE GAME. THE QUESTION IS, FOR HOW LONG?

JESS>> GAY JOINS US NOW. AFFORDABLE HOUSING, AN OXYMORON?

GAY YEE>> (LAUGHTER) I THINK SO, THESE DAYS.

VAL>> OH, THAT FIXER-UPPER. I DID THE SAME THING SHE DID. OH, MY GOD, $239,000. (LAUGHTER)

GAY YEE>> YOU KNOW, THE THING THAT REALLY PUT IT INTO PERSPECTIVE WHEN I SPOKE TO THEM, SHE SAID THINK ABOUT IT. WE'RE LOOKING FOR A HOUSE IN THE $250,000 RANGE. YOU KNOW WHAT THAT IS? THAT'S A QUARTER OF A MILLION DOLLARS. BUT YOU LOSE PERSPECTIVE. YOU THINK, OH, $250,000 RANGE, $350,000 RANGE, BUT YOU BEGIN TO REALIZE THAT IS A QUARTER OF A MILLION DOLLARS AND IT'S STILL NOT ENOUGH TO GET THEM THE HOUSE THEY WANT.

VAL>> AND MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT, IF YOU LOOK AT THE AFFORDABILITY INDEX WHICH MEASURES WHAT PERCENTAGE OF A POPULATION CAN AFFORD THE AVERAGE HOME, THEY'RE IN THE MAJORITY, LIKE THREE-QUARTERS OF THE RESIDENTS IN L.A. COUNTY CANNOT AFFORD THE AVERAGE PRICE.

GAY YEE>> AND THEY CAN'T AFFORD THE MEDIAN.

VAL>> MEDIAN.

GAY YEE>> THE MEDIAN IS ABOUT IN THE $300,000 RANGE, SO THEY'RE LOOKING BELOW THE MEDIAN AND THAT'S WHY THEY'RE HAVING SUCH A DIFFICULT TIME. THEY'RE LOOKING FOR THAT FIRST-TIME OPPORTUNITY. THESE ARE PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN MARRIED FOURTEEN YEARS, WHO HAVE SAVED. MANY PEOPLE HAVE PARENTS THAT CAN KICK IN. THEY'RE NOT. SO THEY'RE WORKING HARD, THE AMERICAN WORK ETHIC, AND THEY'RE HAVING A HARD TIME. IT'S REALLY A STRUGGLE.

VAL>> ARE THEY REALLY THINKING OF LEAVING THE AREA?

GAY YEE>> THEY'VE CONSIDERED IT. THEY'VE CONSIDERED MOVING FURTHER OUT TO, SAY, LIKE HEMET. BUT THEN THEY'RE TALKING ABOUT ADDING AN HOUR COMMUTE, TWO-HOUR COMMUTE EACH WAY, AND THEN THEY LOSE TIME WITH THEIR KIDS, OR MOVING OUT OF THE STATE ALTOGETHER WHICH THEY HAVE FRIENDS WHO HAVE DONE THAT.

VAL>> UNBELIEVABLE. TWO SIDES OF THE SAME COIN.

GAY YEE>> RIGHT.

VAL>> THANK YOU SO MUCH, GAY.

JESS>> THANKS, GAY.

VAL>> TOMORROW ON LIFE AND TIMES, YOU CAN CALL IT DAYCARE, BUT WHAT SOME WORKING PARENTS REALLY NEED IS A BABYSITTER WHO'S OPEN ALL NIGHT.

GAY YEE>> THE DEMAND FOR LICENSED CHILDCARE FAR EXCEEDS THE SUPPLY, AND PLACES WITH NON-TRADITIONAL HOURS ARE EVEN HARDER TO COME BY.

>> FAMILIES ARE NO LONGER TYPICAL FAMILIES. WE'RE NOT, YOU KNOW, "LEAVE IT TO BEAVER" TYPE SITUATIONS. A LOT OF US ARE SINGLE WOMEN OR CAREER WOMEN AND OUR HOURS NEED TO BE FLEXIBLE.

JESS>> BULLETS VERSUS BUDGETS. IF YOU'RE THE SHERIFF OF LOS ANGELES COUNTY, YOU CAN'T HAVE ONE WITHOUT THE OTHER AND THAT'S WHY SHERIFF LEE BACA IS CONCERNED.

VAL>> THE SHERIFF SAYS HE IS FACING A $100 MILLION DOLLAR DEFICIT IF THE L.A. COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS GOES AHEAD WITH ITS PROPOSED BUDGET PLAN FOR THE COMING YEAR, AND BACA SAYS THAT MEANS HE'LL HAVE TO MAKE SOME MAJOR CUTS THAT COULD EFFECT PUBLIC SAFETY.

JESS>> SHERIFF BACA IS WITH US NOW TO GIVE THE BEAN COUNTERS A PIECE OF HIS MIND. WELCOME, SHERIFF.

LEE BACA>> THANK YOU, JESS. THANK YOU, VAL.

JESS>> WHO'S WEARING THE BLACK HAT? THE COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS OR THE CHIEF ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER?

LEE BACA>> WELL, I THINK WHAT'S GOING ON HERE, JESS, IS THAT THE BUDGET PROCESS FOR THE COUNTY IS FLAWED. I'M ASKING FOR AN INDEPENDENT AUDITOR TO COME IN AND LOOK AT THE PRACTICES, WEIGH THEM AGAINST THE FACTS OF THE SHERIFF'S BUDGET AND ASK ARE WE SPENDING THE TAXPAYERS' DOLLARS THE RIGHT WAY? SO I THINK THE PROCESS IS FLAWED.

AT THIS POINT, I THINK I HAVE TO GIVE A COURTESY IN TERMS OF A WARNING TO THE BOARD AND TO THE CAO THAT THIS IS NOW A PUBLIC ISSUE. THESE ARE TAXPAYERS' DOLLARS. I'M NOT PICKING ON ANYONE INDIVIDUALLY BECAUSE I RESPECT MY COLLEAGUES ON THE BOARD AND I DO RESPECT THE CAO. HE'S A GOOD MAN.

VAL>> SINCE THEY'RE NOT HERE, I'M GOING TO TAKE UP THEIR CASE A LITTLE BIT. THEY DO POINT OUT THAT YOU HAVE OVER-SPENT YOUR BUDGET SO SEVERELY THAT THE COUNTY NOW REQUIRES YOU TO SUBMIT MONTHLY EXPENDITURE REPORTS. THEY SAY YOU HAVEN'T MANAGED WHAT YOU HAVE VERY WELL.

LEE BACA>> WELL, THAT'S LIKE PASSING THE BUCK TO THE GUY THAT HAS TO GET THE JOB DONE. FIRST OF ALL, THEY DIDN'T GIVE ME FUNDS TO DO THE TRAINING THAT'S NECESSARY. I'VE TRAINED OVER 600 OR 700 PEOPLE THIS YEAR WITH FUNDS TO ONLY TRAIN 270. I'VE REPORTED THAT TO THEM IN PRIOR BUDGET SESSIONS, INCLUDING THE CURRENT BUDGET. THEY IGNORE IT. SECONDLY, THERE IS ABOUT A $58 MILLION DOLLAR SHORTFALL FOR SALARIES OF MY PEOPLE THAT I CURRENTLY HAVE THAT IS NOT FUNDED.

WHEN YOU LOOK AT WHAT IS REALLY GOING ON HERE, IT'S A $100 MILLION DOLLAR CUT IN THE OPERATING FUNDS OF MY DEPARTMENT. I'VE GOT THE PAPER HERE THAT THEY GAVE ME. AND THERE'S ANOTHER $40 MILLION TO $50 MILLION DOLLARS IN PERSONNEL SHORTAGE COST THAT I'M NOT BEING FUNDED. THEY'RE WELL AWARE OF THIS. THE PROBLEM IS COMMUNICATION. THE PROBLEM IS THE REAL PROFESSIONAL BEAN COUNTERS ARE AUDITORS. LET'S GET AN AUDITOR. LET'S SEE WHO'S RIGHT. I'M NOT SAYING TO BELIEVE ME. I'M SAYING GET AN INDEPENDENT AUDITOR.

JESS>> IF IT PROVES THAT YOU HAVE TO ABSORB THAT CUT, $100 MILLION-PLUS, WHERE WOULD THE CUTS COME?

LEE BACA>> WELL, SIMPLY THIS. IN THE JAILS. I'LL CLOSE THE JAIL, I'LL CLOSE OUR RECOVERY CENTER FOR DRUG ADDICTS AND DOMESTIC VIOLENCE OFFENDERS. MY REFORMS IN THE JAILS WILL BE SIGNIFICANTLY AND NEGATIVELY IMPACTED. THE REFORMS THAT I'VE BROUGHT IN THE COMMUNITY WITH COMMUNITY-BASED POLICING, THE REFORMS THAT I'VE BROUGHT RELATIVE TO PARTNERING WITH THE PUBLIC, ESPECIALLY IN THE UNINCORPORATED AT-RISK NEIGHBORHOODS, ALL THAT'S GOING TO GO. WE'RE GOING TO GO BACK TO THE TRADITIONAL POLICING OF JUST RIDING TO CALLS, ADDRESSING POLICE SERVICES THROUGH A RADIO CAR DRIVING THIRTY MILES AN HOUR DOWN THE NEIGHBORHOOD. HOW SAFE DO WE FEEL WITH A RADIO CAR DRIVING THROUGH THE NEIGHBORHOOD ONCE EVERY 24 HOURS A DAY?

JESS>> BUT YOU ACKNOWLEDGE THAT COUNTY REVENUE IS CERTAINLY SHORT.

LEE BACA>> INDEED, I DON'T DENY THAT, BUT LET'S LOOK AT WHAT'S BEEN GOING ON WITH COUNTY DOLLARS. MY BUDGET IS A $1.6 BILLION DOLLAR BUDGET, $650 MILLION IS COUNTY DOLLARS, THE REST IS CONTRACTED THROUGH, AND THE BOARD, TEN YEARS AGO, FUNDED THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT AT $750 MILLION DOLLARS. SO HERE I AM GOING BACKWARD IN COUNTY BUDGETING PROCESSES ALL BECAUSE THE HALF-CENT SALES TAX THAT I GET TODAY IS GIVING THE BOARD A CUSHION SO THEY CAN SAVE COUNTY DOLLARS AND SPEND IT ELSEWHERE.

VAL>> NOW WHAT DO YOU SAY TO THOSE THAT POINT OUT, WELL, YOU HAD TO SPEND $27 MILLION DOLLARS ON A LEGAL SETTLEMENT BECAUSE YOU KEPT PEOPLE IN JAIL TOO LONG?

LEE BACA>> WELL, THAT'S A VERY GOOD POINT, BUT THAT WAS A PROTRACTED SETTLEMENT OVER A THREE-YEAR PERIOD. THE FIRST PART OF THE PAYMENT WAS IN THIS CURRENT BUDGET YEAR OF ABOUT $11 MILLION DOLLARS, OF WHICH $5.5 MILLION WENT TO ATTORNEY'S FEES, AND I HAD TO ABSORB THAT OUT OF MY OWN BUDGET. THIS IS A PRIME EXAMPLE THAT I'M DEALING WITH A LAWSUIT THAT I INHERITED FROM A PRIOR ADMINISTRATION, SETTLED IT. IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN $60 MILLION DOLLARS LIKE NEW YORK HAD TO FACE.

I WORKED THROUGH SOLVING THE PROBLEM FIRST, THE LAWYERS SAW THE SOLUTION, THEY SET ASIDE $27 MILLION DOLLARS. WHEN IT'S ALL SAID AND DONE, ON AN INDIVIDUAL PER CAPITA CLAIM BASIS, I'LL BE SURPRISED IF THIS WHOLE SETTLEMENT COSTS MORE THAN $15 MILLION DOLLARS. SO THAT'S THE OUTSIDE END OF THE SETTLEMENT. IT'S $27 MILLION. I BELIEVE IT'LL BE $15 MILLION WHEN IT'S DONE.

JESS>> AND WHAT DO YOU SAY TO YOUR CRITICS WHO COMPLAIN THAT YOU SPENT $2.4 MILLION DOLLARS ON AN AIRPLANE?

LEE BACA>> SIMPLY THIS. THE FUNDS DIDN'T COME FROM TAXPAYERS' DOLLARS. THE MONEY CAME FROM OUR NARCO FORFEITURE FUND. IT CAME FROM SELLING AN OLD AIRPLANE THAT I HAD. AND IT ALSO CAME FROM INSURANCE OF A HELICOPTER THAT WAS CRASHED. LET'S FACE IT. THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT HAS HAD AN AIRPLANE SINCE ROBERT TAYLOR GAVE US ONE. NOW IF THERE'S ANOTHER ACTOR OUT THERE THAT WANTS TO GIVE ME AN AIRPLANE, THEN I'LL TAKE IT FROM HIM.

VAL>> THERE PROBABLY IS. (LAUGHTER) A LOT OF MONEY SPENT ON OVERTIME. $30 MILLION DOLLARS SPENT ON O.T. THEY SAY OVERTIME IS OUT OF CONTROL.

LEE BACA>> SIMPLY WRONG. OVERTIME, FIRST OF ALL, IS SOMETHING THAT YOU DO BECAUSE YOU HAVE TO DO IT. IT ISN'T ANYTHING THAT YOU CREATE ON YOUR OWN TO OVER-SPEND. I'VE BEEN UNDER-FUNDED FOR OVERTIME, UNDER-FUNDED FOR PERSONNEL COSTS, AND NOW, WITH THIS $100 MILLION DOLLAR CUT FROM MY OPERATING BUDGET WHICH INCLUDES EVERYTHING, TELEPHONES, COMMUNICATIONS, MAINTENANCE -- I MEAN, WE WERE JUST TALKING EARLIER ABOUT HOMES. WHEN YOU BUY A HOME, YOU GOT TO HAVE MONEY TO OPERATE IT.

WELL, THE HOME OF THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT IS THESE FUNDS THAT THEY'VE CUT $100 MILLION DOLLARS. IT DOESN'T MAKE SENSE. RADIO CARS NEED TO BE REPAIRED, HELICOPTERS NEED TO BE REPAIRED, COMPUTERS BREAK, COMPUTERS NEED TO BE REPLACED. WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE LARGEST SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT IN THE UNITED STATES. LET'S GET REAL. LET'S HAVE AN INDEPENDENT AUDITOR.

JESS>> THIS HAS NOT BEEN AN EASY TIME FOR THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT OR THE SHERIFF. THE BLACK RIBBON ON YOUR BADGE WOULD ATTEST TO THAT, WITH THE LOSS OF WHO WAS REGARDED AS A VERY FINE MAN RECENTLY.

LEE BACA>> THANK YOU. HE INDEED WAS. HE WAS HONEST, DECENT, CARING, AND HE'S GOT A WONDERFUL FAMILY, AND THE FUNERAL IS ON SATURDAY.

VAL>> I'M GOING TO ASK YOU MORE OF A POLITICAL QUESTION. USUALLY THESE BUDGET BATTLES ARE KEPT BEHIND CLOSED DOORS. IS IT SMART TO TAKE IT "PUBLIC"?

LEE BACA>> THIS IS A PUBLIC PROBLEM. YES, IT IS, BECAUSE OF THE CUTS THAT I'M GOING TO ENGAGE IN. HOW ABOUT THE FAMILY CRIMES BUREAU THAT INVESTIGATES DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND CRIMES AGAINST CHILDREN? HOW ABOUT THE HATE CRIMES UNIT? HOW ABOUT THE HIGH-TECH IDENTITY THEFT UNIT? HOW ABOUT ALL THOSE INNOVATIONS THAT THE BOARD BUILT UP?

THIS IS WHAT I'M TELLING THEM. YOU WERE RESPONSIBLE FOR HELPING ME BUILD UP THESE PROGRAMS. NOW I'M GOING TO GIVE YOU A LIST OF THE THINGS THAT YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE TO CHOOSE TO CUT AND I'M GOING TO GIVE IT BACK TO THEM. THIS IS A COLLABORATION. I'M A TEAM PLAYER. I'M NOT TRYING TO PUT ALL THE BLAME THERE. I'M ASKING FOR MORE ACCOUNTABILITY TO THE PUBLIC AT LARGE.

VAL>> SHERIFF BACA, THANK YOU VERY MUCH. WE APPRECIATE YOUR COMING IN.

LEE BACA>> THANK YOU, JESS. THANK YOU, VAL.

JESS>> PRESIDENT BUSH GOT A LOT OF PRESS COVERAGE FOR HIS VISIT TO LOS ANGELES THIS WEEK, BUT A FORMER PRESIDENT CAME AND WENT WITH LITTLE FANFARE. PATT SHARES THE BUZZ ON WHY HE WAS HERE IN TONIGHT'S INFINITELY MORRISON.

PATT MORRISON>> YES, THE NATION IS AT WAR. YES, THE MIDEAST IS AFLAME. BUT TODAY, AT LEAST, THE BIG BUZZ AROUND TOWN IS ABOUT BIG BILL. WORD IS THAT BILL CLINTON, UNTIL 17 MONTHS AGO THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES, IS TALKING ABOUT HIS OWN TALK SHOW. THE L.A. TIMES REPORTED THAT CLINTON MET WITH NBC EXECUTIVES TO CHAT ABOUT IT AND CBS SUPPOSEDLY WOULD LIKE A BIG POLITICAL NAME TO HOST A TALK SHOW. CBS SYNDICATES "THE OPRAH WINFREY SHOW", WHICH MS. O. PLANS TO QUIT IN 2006 AFTER TWENTY YEARS. MAYBE CLINTON COULD FILL THAT CHAIR.

THERE'S A LOT OF CONFLICTING INFORMATION AND THERE'S SOME QUESTION ABOUT WHETHER HE'D WANT THE RIGORS OF A DAILY TAPING SCHEDULE EVEN FOR $50 MILLION DOLLARS A YEAR, WHICH IS RUMORED BY ONE SOURCE TO BE CLINTON'S ASKING PRICE. THAT'S WAY LESS THAN HALF OF WHAT OPRAH GETS AND WELL BELOW THE $600,000 NIXON GOT FOR BEING INTERVIEWED BY DAVID FROST 25 YEARS AGO, BUT THAT'S INFLATION FOR YOU.

IT'S PROBABLY MORE NOT TRUE THAN TRUE, BUT IT'S JUST TOO IRRESISTIBLE AN IDEA NOT TO TALK ABOUT IT. THINK OF THE PROMOS: "PRESIDENT BILL CLINTON - FROM THE WHITE HOUSE TO THE GREEN ROOM". "PRESIDENT BILL CLINTON - HE SHARES YOUR PAIN WEEKDAYS AT 3:00 P.M." NO MATTER HOW SERIOUS THE TOPICS, HE'D STILL BE AN EX-PRESIDENT WHO WOULD LIVE OR DIE BY THE RATINGS, AND WHAT TV EXECUTIVE WANTS TO TELL THE FORMER CHIEF EXECUTIVE THAT HE'S BEEN CANCELED? IT COULD BE WORSE THAN BEING IMPEACHED.

CLINTON DOESN'T NEED THE MONEY. HE'S GOT A $12 MILLION DOLLAR ADVANCE ON HIS BOOK AND IS REPORTEDLY GETTING $15 MILLION DOLLARS A YEAR MAKING SIX-FIGURE SPEECHES. BUT AS THE FIRST BABY BOOMER PRESIDENT, CLINTON MIGHT FIND THE LITTLE BOX TO BE AN IRRESISTIBLY BIG MAGNET. HE'S A GREAT TV PRESENCE AND, WHO KNOWS, PERHAPS RIGHT THERE ON TALK TV, HE COULD HAMMER OUT THE PEACE AGREEMENT THAT ELUDED HIM WHEN HE WAS IN THE WHITE HOUSE. HE MIGHT BECOME THE FIRST TV PERSONALITY IN THE WORLD TO GET NOMINATED FOR A NOBEL PEACE PRIZE. THAT'S REALLY NICE, BUT IT'S NOT AN EMMY.

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VAL>> ARE YOU THE KIND OF PERSON WHO LOOKS THROUGH ALL THOSE TRAVEL MAGAZINES AND THINKS, "OH, BEEN THERE, DONE THAT"? WELL, THERE IS ONLY ONE MAN ON EARTH WHO CAN SAY HE'S GONE WHERE NO ORDINARY TOURIST HAS GONE BEFORE.

JESS>> NOT EXACTLY AN ORDINARY TOURIST. DENNIS TITO ACTUALLY PREFERS THE TERM "SPACE TRAVELER" TO TOURIST. IT WAS JUST OVER ONE YEAR AGO THAT TITO JOINED TWO RUSSIAN CREWMATES FOR A TRIP TO THE INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION. THE PRICE FOR THAT TEN-DAY ROUNDTRIP? $20 MILLION DOLLARS.

VAL>> AND JOINING US NOW IS THAT VERY PRICEY TRAVELER, DENNIS TITO HIMSELF. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR COMING IN.

DENNIS TITO>> NICE TO BE HERE.

JESS>> I GUESS, FOR $20 MILLION, YOU GOT IN THE FIRST CLASS SECTION? (LAUGHTER)

DENNIS TITO>> WELL, I GOT IN ALL SECTIONS ACTUALLY.

VAL>> WAS THERE ENOUGH LEG ROOM THERE?

DENNIS TITO>> PLENTY, BECAUSE YOU COULD FLOAT TO THE CEILING. YOU HAD PLENTY OF ROOM.

JESS>> WORTH THE PRICE?

DENNIS TITO>> ABSOLUTELY.

VAL>> NOW YOU SEEM TO HAVE STARTED A TREND HERE. THERE'S ANOTHER GENTLEMAN FROM SOUTH AFRICA UP THERE NOW. HE MADE A FORTUNE BY SELLING AN INTERNET SECURITY FIRM AND HE ALSO PAID $20 MILLION. IS THAT THE GOING RATE?

DENNIS TITO>> THAT'S WHAT I UNDERSTAND, YES.

VAL>> IS THIS A GOOD THING? OR WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THE IDEA OF MORE AND MORE PEOPLE GOING?

DENNIS TITO>> WELL, IT REPRESENTS A NEW ERA OF SPACE TRAVEL. WE'VE HAD FOR FORTY YEARS ASTRONAUTS AND COSMONAUTS THAT WERE ALWAYS SELECTED BY GOVERNMENTS AND I'M THE FIRST PERSON ACTUALLY TO SELECT HIMSELF TO GO UP IN SPACE.

JESS>> YOU WOULD HAVE BEEN HAPPY TO GO UP WITH A U.S. FLIGHT, WOULD YOU NOT?

DENNIS TITO>> SURE, SURE. IT WOULD HAVE BEEN A LOT EASIER BECAUSE THE RUSSIAN CRAFT WAS SOMEWHAT DATED AND THE G FORCES WERE A LOT STRONGER THAN THE SHUTTLE.

JESS>> NASA SAYS NO, HUH?

DENNIS TITO>> I DIDN'T EVEN BOTHER TO ASK NASA. I KNEW THAT THAT WAS IMPOSSIBLE.

VAL>> NOW HOW MUCH TRAINING DID YOU HAVE TO GO THROUGH?

DENNIS TITO>> EIGHT MONTHS IN RUSSIA. THAT WAS ACTUALLY QUITE ROUGH BECAUSE IT WAS AWAY FROM L.A. AND I LIVED IN A TWO-ROOM FLAT AND HAD TO MAKE MY OWN BED AND COOK MY OWN FOOD. I HATED THE RUSSIAN FOOD. (LAUGHTER)

JESS>> AND THE FOOD ON BOARD THE INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION?

DENNIS TITO>> OH, I ENJOYED THAT A LOT MORE THAN THE RUSSIAN FOOD. THEY HAD AMERICAN FOOD UP THERE.

JESS>> WHAT WAS THE GREATEST THRILL?

DENNIS TITO>> THE THRILL, I THINK, FIRST WAS ARRIVING IN SPACE. AFTER EIGHT MINUTES AND FIFTY SECONDS FROM LIFTOFF, YOU'RE IN SPACE. YOU LOOK OUT THE WINDOW AND YOU SEE THAT BEAUTIFUL EARTH, THE BLACKNESS OF SPACE, AND YOU REALIZE, AFTER FORTY YEARS, I FINALLY REALIZED MY DREAM. BUT THE OTHER PART OF IT WAS JUST, FOR EIGHT DAYS, FLOATING WEIGHTLESS, LISTENING TO OPERA. I LISTENED TO ABOUT THIRTY HOURS OF OPERA. I HAD THE ADVANTAGE THAT I DIDN'T HAVE A WORK SCHEDULE LIKE THE COSMONAUTS AND ASTRONAUTS WHO GET PAID TO FLY. I DIDN'T GET PAID.

JESS>> THE U.S. SPACE AGENCY SAYS THAT PEOPLE LIKE YOU WOULD GET IN THE WAY.

DENNIS TITO>> WELL, THEY SAID THAT A YEAR AGO BEFORE I FLEW AND I THINK I PROVED THEM WRONG BECAUSE NOW THEY FULLY SUPPORT THE RUSSIANS FLYING SPACE TOURISTS.

VAL>> DO YOU THINK THAT, WITH MORE PEOPLE GOING UP, PLUNKING DOWN $20 MILLION DOLLARS -- THAT'S ANOTHER ISSUE ITSELF. YOU KNOW, THAT MONEY COULD HAVE BEEN USED BETTER ELSEWHERE -- DO YOU THINK THAT ALL IT WILL TAKE IS SOMETHING TO GO WRONG ONE TIME WITH A TOURIST UP THERE TO PUT AN END TO ALL THIS?

DENNIS TITO>> WELL, CERTAINLY IT PUT AN END TO THE CITIZEN IN SPACE PROGRAM WHEN WE HAD THE CHALLENGER TRAGEDY FIFTEEN YEARS AGO. MY VIEW IS THAT, WHEN I FLEW, I WAS TAKING A RISK AND I REALIZED THAT I MIGHT NOT COME BACK, BUT I ACCEPTED THAT RISK. I THINK IT WOULD BE A SETBACK, BUT I DON'T THINK IT WOULD STOP.

VAL>> BUT DO YOU THINK THAT THE AVERAGE -- NOT THE AVERAGE PERSON BECAUSE THE AVERAGE PERSON DOESN'T GO UP THERE -- BUT, YOU KNOW, THE FELLOW THAT'S UP THERE NOW AND THERE ARE TWO OTHERS, I THINK MEMBERS OF A ROCK BAND THAT WANT TO GO UP -- CAN ALMOST ANYBODY BE ADEQUATELY TRAINED SO THAT IT'S SAFE?

DENNIS TITO>> YES. YOU HAVE TO HAVE THE PHYSICAL ABILITY. YOU HAVE TO HAVE THE PROPER MEDICAL CONDITION, BUT YOU DON'T HAVE TO BE SOME KIND OF SUPERSTAR TEST PILOT. YOU CAN BE AN ORDINARY PERSON.

JESS>> BUT YOU DID HAVE TO HAVE PHYSICAL TRAINING, DID YOU NOT?

DENNIS TITO>> A LITTLE BIT, BUT I WAS TRAINED MYSELF BECAUSE I'D BEEN WORKING OUT FOR 25 YEARS. SO YOU HAVE TO BE IN GOOD SHAPE.

JESS>> AND WHAT QUESTIONS DID THE RUSSIANS ASK YOU? THEY OBVIOUSLY WELCOMED YOUR $20 MILLION DOLLARS, BUT THEY MUST HAVE HAD SOME RESERVATIONS. WHAT DID THEY ASK YOU?

DENNIS TITO>> WELL, I WENT THROUGH PSYCHOLOGICAL TESTING. YOU KNOW, THEY ASKED ME THE STANDARD PSYCHE 101 QUESTIONS LIKE WHAT DID I THINK OF MY MOTHER? WHAT DID I THINK OF MY FATHER? (LAUGHTER) BUT THEY WERE REALLY TRYING TO DETERMINE WHETHER I HAD THE GUTS TO MAKE THIS FLIGHT AND I THINK THEY MADE THAT ASSESSMENT.

JESS>> THERE WERE SOME PEOPLE HERE WHO WONDERED WHETHER YOU HAD IT. (LAUGHTER)

DENNIS TITO>> (LAUGHTER) WELL, I WASN'T ONE OF THEM.

VAL>> IS GUTS THE MAIN PSYCHOLOGICAL FACTOR THAT IT TAKES OR JUST DESIRE?

DENNIS TITO>> WELL, DESIRE TO GO THROUGH THE TRAINING. BEING IN RUSSIA FOR EIGHT MONTHS IS NOT FUN, ON A MILITARY BASE, TRAINING EVERY DAY. THAT'S PART OF IT, BUT YOU HAVE TO REALIZE THAT THERE'S RISK AND YOU'RE PUTTING YOUR LIFE AT RISK AND YOU HAVE TO BE WILLING TO DO THAT.

JESS>> WELL, THERE ARE SURVEYS THAT HAVE INDICATED THAT A GREAT NUMBER OF PEOPLE WOULD REALLY LIKE TO EMULATE YOU AND, IF THERE WERE SOME WAY IT COULD BE DONE AFFORDABLY AND MORE PRACTICALLY, THAT AMERICANS WOULD BE DELIGHTED TO GO INTO SPACE. DO YOU FIND THAT WHEN YOU TALK TO PEOPLE TELLING THEM ABOUT YOUR EXPERIENCE?

DENNIS TITO>> ABSOLUTELY, MEN AND WOMEN. PEOPLE WOULD LOVE TO GO TO SPACE AND, IF THERE'S ANY DREAM I HAVE NOW, IT'S TO SEE IF I COULD DO SOMETHING OVER THE NEXT DECADE OR TWO TO FACILITATE THAT BECAUSE IT'S GOING TO TAKE PRIVATE MONEY INVESTMENT TO PROVIDE A MUCH LOWER COST METHOD TO GET TO SPACE. I HOPE MORE THAN ANYTHING THAT THAT WILL BE ACHIEVED.

VAL>> ME TOO. IF THE PRICE COMES DOWN TO ABOUT $200, I'M THERE. (LAUGHTER)

JESS>> (LAUGHTER) FREQUENT FLYER MILES.

VAL>> RIGHT. (LAUGHTER)

JESS>> DENNIS TITO, THANK YOU FOR JOINING US AND CONGRATULATIONS.

DENNIS TITO>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

VAL>> THAT IS OUR PROGRAM FOR THIS EVENING. YOU CAN LISTEN TO OUR RECENT PROGRAMS ON OUR WEBSITE THROUGH AUDIO STREAMING. OUR WEBSITE IS AT KCET.ORG. YOU'LL ALSO FIND TRANSCRIPTS OF PROGRAMS THAT GO WAY BACK. THANKS FOR WATCHING.

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

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