5/3/02

LC020503

VAL>> ON LIFE AND TIMES TONIGHT --

JESS>> YOU CAN CALL IT DAYCARE, BUT WHAT SOME PARENTS REALLY NEED IS A BABYSITTER WILLING TO WORK NIGHTS.

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

ADRIANNE MOORE>> 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.

VAL>> KOREAN MERCHANTS CAME HERE FOR A PIECE OF THE AMERICAN DREAM, BUT TEN YEARS AGO, THEIR LIVES WERE SHATTERED BY THE NIGHTMARE OF THE L.A. RIOTS. MANY KOREAN BUSINESS OWNERS LOST EVERYTHING, SO WHY HASN'T SOMEONE APOLOGIZED FOR WHAT HAPPENED? TONIGHT WE'LL ASK THE LEADER OF L.A.'S KOREAN-AMERICAN COALITION IF THE MERCHANTS ARE READY TO FORGIVE AND FORGET.

JESS>> PLAYA VISTA. IT'S NO LONGER JUST A CONCEPT ON A DEVELOPER'S DRAWING BOARD. THE PLANNED COMMUNITY IS MOVING AHEAD IN SPITE OF STRONG OPPOSITION FROM ENVIRONMENTALISTS. TONIGHT WE'LL HEAR FROM A PLAYA VISTA CRITIC WHO CLAIMS THE DEVELOPERS AREN'T BEING HONEST WITH THE CITY.

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.

IMAGINE A SINGLE MOTHER WHO HAS TO WORK OVERNIGHTS TO MAKE ENDS MEET. IF SHE TURNS DOWN THE LATE SHIFT, THERE'S NO JOB AND THE FAMILY CAN WIND UP ON WELFARE. BUT IF SHE TAKES THE JOB, WHO'S THERE FOR THE KIDS?

VAL>> IT'S A COMMON SITUATION EVEN IN TWO-INCOME FAMILIES WHERE BOTH PARENTS WORK NON-TRADITIONAL HOURS. BUT THERE IS A SOLUTION THAT'S JUST STARTING TO CATCH ON: DAYCARE THAT IS OPEN AROUND THE CLOCK. HERE'S MORE FROM GAY YEE.

GAY YEE>> STEPHANIE JOHNSON IS PICKING UP HER KIDS AFTER WORK. IT'S PAST EIGHT P.M. WHILE MANY KIDS ARE ALREADY HOME IN BED, JOHNSON IS PREPARING HER KIDS FOR THE TRIP HOME. JOHNSON SAYS SHE'D PREFER NOT WORKING LATE HOURS, BUT IF SHE DIDN'T, SHE WOULDN'T GET PAID. SO FOR HER, CHILDCARE IS A MUST.
STEPHANIE JOHNSON>> IF I DIDN'T HAVE CHILDCARE, HONESTLY, I WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO MAKE A GOOD LIVING. YOU KNOW, TO HAVE THE QUALITY LIFESTYLE THAT YOU'D WANT TO LIVE INSTEAD OF LIVING OFF THE AFDC OR THE COUNTY.

GAY YEE>> CHILDCARE PROVIDER, ADRIANNE MOORE, KNOWS THIS WELL.

ADRIANNE MOORE>> 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 AND WE NEED TO KNOW IF THERE IS SOMEONE THERE TO ACCOMMODATE US.

ADRIANNE MOORE>> YOU HAVE THE CAR SEAT? OKAY, COOL.

GAY YEE>> MOORE WAS THERE HERSELF ONCE, A SINGLE MOM WITH FOUR KIDS, TWO OF THEM WITH SPECIAL NEEDS. YEARS AGO, SHE TRIED TO GET A JOB, BUT SHE SAYS SHE COULDN'T FIND CHILDCARE THAT WOULD PICK UP HER KIDS FROM SCHOOL. SHE WOUND UP ON WELFARE, BUT SHE ALSO GOT AN IDEA.

ADRIANNE MOORE>> IT ENCOURAGED ME TO START A FAMILY DAYCARE HOME THAT WOULD ACCOMMODATE PEOPLE LIKE MYSELF.

ADRIANNE MOORE>> HI, SWEETIE, HOW YOU DOING?

GAY YEE>> ADRIANNE NOW PROVIDES LICENSED FAMILY CHILDCARE IN HER HOUSE IN JEFFERSON PARK AND SHE'S MADE IT A POINT TO OFFER FREE PICKUP SERVICE FOR PARENTS.

ADRIANNE MOORE>> OKAY, HAND ME YOUR BACKPACKS.

GAY YEE>> MANY OF THE CHILDREN ARE FROM LOW-INCOME FAMILIES. THEIR PARENTS ARE IN THE WELFARE-TO-WORK PROGRAM, WORKING IN ENTRY LEVEL JOBS WITH NON-TRADITIONAL HOURS. IT'S FAST-PACED AND HARD WORK, SO BELTING OUT TUNES IN THE CAR BETWEEN PICKUPS IS A GREAT STRESS RELIEVER. ADRIANNE BRINGS THEM BACK TO HER HOUSE FOR A HOME-COOKED MEAL.

ADRIANNE MOORE>> MISS FELICIA?

FELICIA>> YES, MA'AM?

ADRIANNE MOORE>> CAN YOU PLEASE HAVE THEM START CLEARING THE TABLE?

GAY YEE>> WHEN IT COMES TO AVAILABLE CHILDCARE, L.A. COUNTY RANKS 56 OUT OF 58 COUNTIES IN CALIFORNIA. HALF THE KIDS LIVING IN L.A. COUNTY HAVE WORKING PARENTS, SO THE DEMAND FOR LICENSED CHILDCARE FAR EXCEEDS THE SUPPLY, AND PLACES WITH NON-TRADITIONAL HOURS AND SERVICES ARE EVEN HARDER TO COME BY, EVEN THOUGH IT'S WHAT PARENTS NEED MOST.

ADRIANNE MOORE>> WE HAVE A LOT OF WOMEN THAT ARE WORKING AS BUS DRIVERS, SECURITY GUARDS, A LOT OF WHAT WE WOULD CALL NON-TRADITIONAL WORK FOR WOMEN, THAT'S WHAT THEY'RE DOING AND IT'S ANY TYPE OF HOURS YOU CAN POSSIBLY THINK OF.

GAY YEE>> WHEN NIGHT FALLS, ADRIANNE HAS A FULL HOUSE. IT'S SIX O'CLOCK. MOST CHILDCARE FACILITIES ARE CLOSING UP FOR THE NIGHT, BUT INSTEAD, HERE THE KIDS ARE PULLING OUT COTS AND MATS IN PREPARATION OF SPENDING THE NIGHT. MANY OF THE KIDS EVEN HAVE THEIR OWN TOOTHBRUSHES LABELED AND ON A SHELF IN THE BATHROOM. THEY BEGIN THEIR NIGHT'S REST HERE WAITING FOR THEIR PARENTS TO GET OFF WORK.

ADRIANNE MOORE>> IT IS SAD. IT'S SAD. I HATE TO SEE CHILDREN HAVE TO BE COMPROMISED LIKE THAT, OR FAMILY STRUCTURES, NOT CHILDREN, BECAUSE MOMMY IS WORKING, DADDY IS WORKING, BECAUSE THEY HAVE TO. THAT'S THE NATURE OF SOCIETY. YOU HAVE TO WORK.

GAY YEE>> JOHNSON DOESN'T LIKE BEING AWAY FROM HER CHILDREN FOR SUCH LONG HOURS EITHER, BUT SHE DOESN'T FEEL LIKE SHE HAS A CHOICE. THERE ARE BILLS TO PAY. IN LOS ANGELES, GAY YEE FOR LIFE AND TIMES.

JESS>> GAY JOINS US NOW. IS THIS A BYPRODUCT OR A FALLOUT OF THE WELFARE-TO-WORK PROGRAM?

GAY YEE>> WELL, THERE'S DEFINITELY A CONNECTION. MANY, MANY MORE MOTHERS HAVE TO GO BACK TO WORK AND, UNFORTUNATELY, MANY OF THE NEWER JOBS, THE ENTRY-LEVEL JOBS, ARE AT NIGHT OR ON WEEKENDS, NON-TRADITIONAL HOURS THAT MOST DAYCARE CENTERS DON'T COVER, SO THIS IS WHY WE NEED SOMETHING THAT CAN FILL THAT VOID, BUT THERE ARE NOT ENOUGH OF THEM.

VAL>> NO, I WOULDN'T THINK SO BECAUSE YOU'RE SAYING THIS IS JUST THE -- YOU WENT TO ONE THAT WAS JUST BEGINNING. IT'S NOT AS IF THERE'S A HUNDRED OF THESE OUT THERE YET.

GAY YEE>> SHE'S BEEN OPERATING, I BELIEVE, ABOUT A YEAR, SO THERE ARE NOT THAT MANY OF THEM. THERE'S A TREMENDOUS DEMAND, BUT UNFORTUNATELY, CHILDCARE PROVIDERS ALSO HAVE LIVES TOO AND THEY MAY NOT WANT TO HAVE THEIR ENTIRE HOUSEHOLD DISRUPTED. I MEAN, WITH ADRIANNE, SHE'S DONE JUST THAT. THESE PEOPLE ARE IN HER HOME, IN HER LIVING ROOM, AND HER KIDS ARE IN THE BACK BEDROOMS, SO IT'S TOUGH.

JESS>> HOW DO THE CHILDREN OF WORKING MOTHERS FARE IN THIS KIND OF SITUATION? HOW DOES IT AFFECT THEM?

GAY YEE>> IT'S VERY DIFFICULT. THERE HAVE BEEN STUDIES WITH DAYCARE CENTERS, BUT NOT THE AROUND THE CLOCK CENTERS JUST YET, SO WE HAVEN'T SEEN IT YET. BUT IT'S REALLY A DIFFICULT SITUATION BECAUSE THESE DAYS YOU HAVE TO HAVE SO MANY HOUSEHOLDS HAVING TO HAVE CHILDCARE BECAUSE MANY TIMES BOTH PARENTS ARE WORKING. SO THERE REALLY ISN'T ANY OTHER OPTION FOR MANY FAMILIES.

VAL>> WELL, THIS IS A GOOD START, BUT A LONG WAY TO GO YET.

GAY YEE>> RIGHT.

VAL>> GAY, THANK YOU SO MUCH.

MONDAY ON LIFE AND TIMES, THEY'RE TRADING IN THEIR OLD JOBS FOR NEW LIVES AS SCHOOL TEACHERS, BUT IS THE LEAP INTO THE CLASSROOM ALL IT'S CRACKED UP TO BE?

>> THE PROJECTS THAT I WORK ON ARE INTERESTING, BUT IN THE END, I DON'T THINK THAT THE WORLD NEEDS ANOTHER VERA WANG DRESS AD OR ANOTHER WEBSITE FOR FINANCIAL SERVICES.

JESS>> THIS WEEK A GREAT DEAL HAS BEEN SAID ABOUT THE IMPACT OF THE L.A. RIOTS ON THE CITY'S AFRICAN-AMERICAN COMMUNITY. ON MONDAY, PRESIDENT BUSH VISITED A PREDOMINANTLY BLACK CHURCH AND MARVELED AT HOW SOUTH CENTRAL HAS RISEN FROM THE ASHES OF A DECADE AGO.

VAL>> BUT STEVE LOPEZ, THE COLUMNIST FOR THE LOS ANGELES TIMES, RAISED AN INTERESTING POINT THAT MANY HAVE OVERLOOKED. LOPEZ ASKED, "WHO HAS APOLOGIZED TO THE SCORES OF KOREAN MERCHANTS WHO LOST EVERYTHING IN THE RIOTS?" MANY OF THEIR BUSINESSES WERE TARGETED DURING THE VIOLENCE, A RESULT OF LONG-SIMMERING TENSIONS BETWEEN THE KOREAN AND AFRICAN-AMERICAN COMMUNITIES. A DECADE LATER, HAVE THOSE OLD WOUNDS HEALED?

JESS>> TONIGHT WE'RE PUTTING THAT QUESTION TO TWO PEOPLE WITH VIVID MEMORIES OF THE RIOTS. KERMAN MADDOX, WHO'S WITH US EVERY FRIDAY, AND CHARLES KIM, WHO HEADS THE KOREAN-AMERICAN COALITION OF LOS ANGELES.

MR. KIM, WOULD THE KOREAN COMMUNITY BE SATISFIED WITH AN APOLOGY?

CHARLES KIM>> YOU KNOW, WE'RE NOT NECESSARILY ASKING FOR APOLOGIES. THE THING IS, UNLESS SOMEBODY TAKES THE RESPONSIBILITY, THERE IS NO SOLUTION. BUT LOOKING BACK TEN YEARS AGO, WHAT HAPPENED? I HAVEN'T SEEN ANYBODY TAKING RESPONSIBILITY AND IT'S REALLY SAD. WE HAD LOST EVERYTHING AND THERE WERE A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO GOT KILLED. A LOT OF PEOPLE GOT WOUNDED, TRUCK DRIVERS AND ALL THAT, BUT WHO'S TAKING THE RESPONSIBILITY?

VAL>> WHAT SPECIFICALLY DOES THAT MEAN, "TAKE RESPONSIBILITY"? WRITE OUT A CHECK? ISSUE AN APOLOGY?

CHARLES KIM>> NOT NECESSARILY. YOU KNOW, FOR EXAMPLE, THE KOREAN COMMUNITY. THEY SAY WE'RE NOT POLITE TO THE BLACK CONSUMERS. WE'LL SAY I'M SORRY ON BEHALF OF THE KOREAN COMMUNITY. WE'RE GOING TO DO OUR BEST TO CORRECT WHATEVER WRONG THAT WE HAVE COMMITTED AND THEN WE'RE GOING TO MOVE ON. THEN SPECIAL KOREAN MERCHANTS WHO ARE NOT SENSITIVE ENOUGH, WE'RE GOING TO TELL THEM CONTINUOUSLY ON OUR PART THAT WE'RE GOING TO IMPROVE THE SERVICES. WE'RE GOING TO TELL THE MERCHANTS TO SERVE THE CUSTOMERS BETTER. THAT'S, ON OUR PART, TAKING THE RESPONSIBILITY AND TO MOVE ON AND CORRECT WHAT WAS WRONG.

JESS>> KERMAN, THERE WERE EQUAL OPPORTUNITY LOOTERS OUT THERE. THEY DIDN'T CARE WHETHER IT WAS A KOREAN-OWNED STORE OR NOT. THEY JUST BROKE IN TO WHATEVER WAS AVAILABLE, DIDN'T THEY?

KERMAN MADDOX>> YEAH. UNFORTUNATELY, I WAS IN SOUTH L.A. ON THE STREETS FOR THE THREE DAYS OF RIOTING AND LOOTING AND CHAOS. I'LL TELL YOU, THERE WERE MANY KOREAN MERCHANTS WHO LOST THEIR BUSINESSES. MOST REASONABLE PEOPLE WOULD SAY SOME SORT OF APOLOGY IS IN FACT APPROPRIATE AND YOU FEEL FOR THOSE. BUT MY BANK, BROADWAY FEDERAL SAVINGS AND LOAN, THE FIRST AFRICAN-AMERICAN OWNED AND OPERATED BANK ON THE WEST, MY PERSONAL BANK, WAS BURNED DOWN. THE HARDWARE IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD OWNED BY AFRICAN-AMERICANS WAS BURNED DOWN. THE PHARMACY IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD OWNED BY AFRICAN-AMERICANS WAS BURNED DOWN.

THERE WERE LOOTERS WHO WERE AFRICAN-AMERICAN, LATINO, WHITE, ASIAN THAT I SAW WITH MY OWN EYES. SO IT'S AN INTERESTING SITUATION THAT THERE WAS A LOT OF DESTRUCTION THAT TOOK PLACE. MOST, OF COURSE, TOOK PLACE AGAINST KOREAN MERCHANTS. I DON'T THINK THERE'S ANY QUESTION ABOUT THAT. BUT WHEN YOU TRY TO IDENTIFY, AS I THINK STEVE LOPEZ TRIED TO IMPLY IN HIS ARTICLE, THAT THE VICTIMS WERE "KOREANS AND THOSE WHO WERE THE PERPETRATORS WERE AFRICAN-AMERICANS", I THINK HE'S INACCURATE THERE.

VAL>> MAYBE SO, BUT EVEN THOUGH MANY PEOPLE LOST A LOT OF PROPERTY, IT SEEMS AS THOUGH IT WOULD DO SOME GOOD TO HELP HEAL THE WOUNDS BETWEEN THE TWO GROUPS IF PROMINENT RESPECTED LEADERS OF THE AFRICAN-AMERICAN COMMUNITY LIKE CECIL MURRAY OR REV. WHITLOCK FROM FIRST A.M.E. CHURCH DID MAKE SOME KIND OF STATEMENT OR OVERTURE, NO?

CHARLES KIM>> LAST YEAR, THERE WAS A MEETING BETWEEN KOREAN CLERGIES AND THE AFRICAN-AMERICAN. AN AFRICAN-AMERICAN MINISTER CAME AND SAID TO KOREAN WE'RE SORRY.

VAL>> OH, HE DID SAY THAT?

CHARLES KIM>> YOU KNOW HOW MUCH APPLAUSE? YOU'D BE SURPRISED THAT ALL THE CONGREGATION GATHERED THERE AND YOU FEEL GOOD BECAUSE A LEADER IS SOMEBODY THAT FEELS FOR US. THAT'S THE FEELING OF BONDING TOGETHER. THAT WAS THE ONLY TIME I REMEMBER. THERE WAS ONLY ONCE. I DON'T EVEN REMEMBER THE NAME OF THE MINISTER, BUT IT WAS COVERED. THERE WAS BIG COVERAGE. THAT MEANS IT'S NOT ABOUT MONEY. WE'RE NOT INTERESTED IN GETTING COMPENSATION. IT'S NOT ABOUT MONEY, BUT WHO'S GOING TO COMFORT OUR HEARTS, THE SCAR THAT'S REALLY DEEPLY IMBEDDED IN OUR HEARTS.

KERMAN MADDOX>> I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A COMMENT. I AM AWARE OF MANY MEETINGS THAT HAVE TAKEN PLACE BETWEEN AFRICAN-AMERICAN RELIGIOUS AND COMMUNITY LEADERS AND KOREANS, MANY AT FIRST A.M.E., MANY IN THE KOREAN-AMERICAN COMMUNITY. I AM AWARE WHERE PEOPLE HAVE APOLOGIZED FOR INDISCRETIONS ON BEHALF OF BOTH COMMUNITIES. NOW WHETHER OR NOT THEY PULLED TOGETHER A PRESS CONFERENCE AND INVITED THE PRESS AND SAID WE'RE SORRY FOR WHAT WE DID, I'M NOT AWARE OF THAT. BUT I AM AWARE OF MEETINGS THAT HAVE TAKEN PLACE WHERE BOTH SIDES HAVE APOLOGIZED FOR THE ACTIONS ON BEHALF OF BOTH THEIR COMMUNITIES.

JESS>> BUT THE ASSESSMENT THAT THINGS HAVE IMPROVED GREATLY BETWEEN THE KOREAN COMMUNITY AND THE AFRICAN-AMERICAN COMMUNITY, IS THAT WRONG?

CHARLES KIM>> DEFINITELY, BECAUSE THERE ARE A LOT MORE MERCHANTS AWARE OF WHAT'S HAPPENING AND WHAT HAPPENED AND ALSO THE LEADERS TRYING TO BUILD THE BOND AND ALSO TO CONNECT TO COMMUNITIES. BUT UNFORTUNATELY, THE MEDIA PLAYS A SIGNIFICANT ROLE IN SENSATIONALIZING THE RELATIONSHIP. IT STARTED AS A CONSUMER-MERCHANT RELATIONSHIP, NOT AS A RACIAL PROBLEM. IF WE HAVE BLACK-KOREAN RACIAL PROBLEM, WE HAVE TO HAVE PROBLEM EVERYWHERE. IT'S ONLY CAUSED INTEREST WHERE THERE ARE KOREAN MERCHANTS AND THEIR CONSUMERS. IT STARTED AS A CONSUMER PROBLEM AND BECAME A RACIAL PROBLEM. WE'D LIKE TO FOCUS ON THE CONSUMER ISSUES AND THEN SOLVE THE PROBLEM RIGHT THERE.

VAL>> NOW ALSO TELL US WHAT HAS HAPPENED SINCE THE RIOTS. THERE WERE ABOUT 600 KOREAN-OWNED BUSINESSES IN SOUTH CENTRAL IN 1992 AND NOW THERE'S ABOUT 100 OR 120 FEWER?

CHARLES KIM>> YOU KNOW, LIQUOR STORES USED TO BE VERY ATTRACTIVE TO NEWCOMERS BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, YOU ONLY WORK LONG HOURS AND YOU WORK HARD. THEY CAN AT LEAST SURVIVE IN THIS COUNTRY AND MAKE SOME INCOME. YOUR MONTHLY GROSS SALES TIMES TEN, THAT WAS THE WORTH OF YOUR BUSINESS. NOW IT'S LESS THAN FOUR TIMES. THEN --

VAL>> -- I'M SORRY, YOU'RE SAYING THAT LIQUOR STORES ARE NOT AS PROFITABLE?

CHARLES KIM>> LET'S SAY IF MY GROSS SALES PER MONTH IS $30,000, THEN I CAN SELL MY STORE FOR $300,000.

VAL>> OKAY.

CHARLES KIM>> BUT NOW, I CANNOT SELL MY STORE WITH $100,000.

VAL>> OH, I SEE. IT'S WORTHLESS.

CHARLES KIM>> AND THEN, THE NUMBER OF STORES REDUCED TO ABOUT 100.

JESS>> THE LIQUOR STORE ISSUE IS NOT A RACIAL ISSUE. THERE WERE JUST FAR TOO MANY.

KERMAN MADDOX>> NO, AND THAT'S A VERY SENSITIVE ISSUE. YOU MIGHT REMEMBER, AFTER THE RIOTS AND CIVIL UNREST OF 1992, PEOPLE SAID WE'RE GOING TO REBUILD SOUTH L.A. IN A DIFFERENT WAY. THAT, TO A LOT OF PEOPLE, MEANT NO MORE LIQUOR STORES. THERE WERE MANY LIQUOR STORES, SOME OWNED BY KOREAN-AMERICANS, SOME OWNED BY AFRICAN-AMERICANS. MOST PEOPLE IN THE AFRICAN-AMERICAN COMMUNITY AND LATINO ACTIVISTS SAID WE DON'T WANT THOSE LIQUOR STORES TO COME BACK BECAUSE THEY'RE MAGNETS FOR CRIME.

THERE'S A LIQUOR STORE DOWN THE STREET FROM WHERE I LIVE CALLED JACK'S LIQUOR STORE. THEY WERE SELLING CIGARETTES INDIVIDUALLY. THEY WERE SELLING LIQUOR TO PEOPLE UNDERAGE. GANGBANGERS WOULD HANG OUT THERE. THEY'D DRINK ON THE OUTSIDE. A LOT OF TIMES, THE OWNERS WOULD NOT REALLY MONITOR THE ACTIVITY. SO A LOT OF PEOPLE WOULD ARGUE THAT LIQUOR STORES, NO MATTER WHO THEY'RE OWNED BY, OUGHT NOT BE ALLOWED TO REOPEN BECAUSE THEY'RE MAGNETS FOR CRIME IN THE COMMUNITY.

CHARLES KIM>> SOME OF THE PROBLEMS THAT WE HAVE WITH THAT IS, YOU KNOW, WE'RE NOT FOR THE CRIME AND ATTRACTING ALL THE CRIMES AND ALL THAT. BUT THE THING IS, WE'RE GUILTY OF BUYING THE PROPERTY THERE, BUT WHO ALLOWS THE CONDITIONAL ISSUE IN THAT PARTICULAR PLACE? WHO ALLOWS THE ABC LICENSE TO BE ISSUED IN THAT PLACE? WHY WEREN'T THE COMMUNITY THERE WHEN THEY FIRST APPLIED FOR THE CONDITIONAL USE FORM AND THE ABC LICENSE? WHY BLAME ONLY THE KOREAN MERCHANTS WHO BOUGHT THE BUSINESS AND INVEST THEIR MONEY AND THEY WORKED HARD?

THE THING IS, WE DON'T WANT THOSE BAD APPLES TO BE THERE AND TAINTING ALL OTHER GOOD OWNERS. SO IF THERE ARE ANY BAD STORES, WE'D LIKE TO WORK TOGETHER WITH THE BLACK COMMUNITY AND CLOSE THAT PLACE DOWN. THAT'S THE MESSAGE THAT WE CAN GIVE TO OTHER LIQUOR STORE OWNERS OR MERCHANTS THERE. BUT THE THING IS, IF YOU ONLY WORK ON BEHALF OF THE BLACK COMMUNITY, IT WILL LOOK AS IF IT'S LIKE A RACIAL ISSUE. WE WOULD LIKE TO CERTAINLY WORK WITH THE BLACK COMMUNITY. IF THERE IS ANY STORE CAUSING A PUBLIC NUISANCE, LET'S CLOSE THEM DOWN TOGETHER. I MEAN, THAT'S WHAT WE WANT, SO IT CAN SAVE THE GOOD REPUTATION OF --

KERMAN MADDOX>> -- I THINK THAT CROSSES RACIAL BARRIERS. I THINK THAT CROSSES ALL COMMUNITIES. I THINK EVERYBODY WANTS TO CLOSE DOWN THOSE BUSINESSES, BE THEY MOTELS OR LIQUOR STORES THAT ATTRACT PROSTITUTES AND CRIMINALS AND THINGS LIKE THAT THAT DESTROY THE QUALITY OF LIFE. I THINK EVERYBODY AGREES THAT'S SOMETHING THAT THE KOREAN COMMUNITY, THE AFRICAN-AMERICAN COMMUNITY AND THE LATINO COMMUNITY CAN WORK TOGETHER ON.

CHARLES KIM>> ABSOLUTELY.

JESS>> ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH, KERMAN. IT'S ALWAYS GOOD TO HAVE YOU WITH US HERE ON FRIDAY. MR. KIM, THANK YOU FOR COMING.

KERMAN MADDOX>> THANK YOU, JESS.

CHARLES KIM>> THANK YOU.

VAL>> WELL, WE WANT TO LET YOU KNOW ABOUT A SPECIAL PROGRAM THAT WE HAVE PLANNED FOR NEXT WEDNESDAY. IT'S ANOTHER INSTALLMENT OF WHAT WE'RE CALLING "THE ETHICS PROJECT". THIS TIME WE'RE FOCUSING ON ETHICS OF NEWS -- SOME PEOPLE WOULD CALL THAT A MUTUALLY EXCLUSIVE TERM -- YOU WILL WANT TO FIND OUT WHAT IT MEANS TO THE EDITORS OF THE LOS ANGELES TIMES.

GAY YEE>> JIM NEWTON SUPERVISES GOVERNMENT AND POLITICAL COVERAGE. EVERY DAY HE TACKLES ETHICAL CONCERNS INVOLVING REPORTER CONDUCT AND STORY CONTENT. FROM ANONYMOUS SOURCES --

JIM NEWTON>> TO WHAT EXTENT DO WE LET PEOPLE NOT ATTACH THEIR NAMES TO OPINIONS OR POINTS OF VIEW THAT WE WILL EXPRESS IN THE NEWSPAPER?

GAY YEE>> -- TO IDENTIFYING SUSPECTS.

JIM NEWTON>> AT WHAT POINT DO WE FEEL COMFORTABLE PUTTING A SUSPECT'S NAME IN THE NEWSPAPER WHEN POLICE HAVEN'T EVEN GONE TO THE LENGTHS OF ARRESTING HIM?

JESS>> TIME NOW FOR A LOOK AT OUR MAIL, AND MOST OF IT DEALT WITH OUR SPECIAL CALLED "THE ETHICS PROJECT". THIS WEEK WE FOCUSED ON THE ETHICS OF MEDICINE. ONE VIEWER COMMENTED ABOUT PRESIDENT BUSH'S CALL FOR A BAN ON HUMAN CLONING:

"HE IS AGAINST CLONING, INCLUDING THERAPEUTIC CLONING, BECAUSE IT'S NOT RIGHT TO CREATE A LIFE AND THEN DESTROY IT TO SAVE ANOTHER, AND YET HIS RELIGIOUS BELIEF IS BASED ON A MESSIAH WHO WAS CREATED TO COME TO EARTH AND DIE IN ORDER TO SAVE HIS SOUL."

VAL>> ANOTHER VIEWER RESPONDED TO OUR DISCUSSION ABOUT THE CALIFORNIA PRISON INMATE WHO GOT A HEART TRANSPLANT EARLIER THIS YEAR. THE VIEWER IS A FORMER PRISONER HIMSELF AND HE DENIES THAT CONVICTS GET PREFERENTIAL MEDICAL TREATMENT. THE VIEWER SAYS HE LEARNED THAT FIRSTHAND WHEN HE COULDN'T GET TREATED FOR AN EYE INJURY:

"BECAUSE OF THE LACK OF CARING BY THE FEDERAL BUREAU OF PRISONS AND THEIR MEDICAL STAFF, I MUST LIVE WITH THIS HANDICAP. TO GET A HEART TRANSPLANT MUST HAVE TAKEN AN ACT OF CONGRESS OR IT DID NOT OCCUR IN A FEDERAL INSTITUTION."

VAL>> WE THINK ANOTHER VIEWER WAS KIDDING WHEN HE SUGGESTED THAT CLONING SOME SUPERSTARS MIGHT BE MONEY WELL SPENT:

"WE COULD THEN HAVE PERHAPS A TEAM OF FIVE JORDANS PLAYING ANOTHER TEAM OF FIVE CHAMBERLAINS. THE PROSPECTS IN THE ENTERTAINMENT BUSINESS ARE FABULOUS. HOW MANY ITZHAK PERLMANS MIGHT WE HAVE?"

JESS>> WE DID GET SOME COMMENTS ABOUT THIS WEEK'S TENTH ANNIVERSARY OF THE LOS ANGELES RIOTS AND ONE VIEWER WROTE:

"YOUR REPORT ON THE 1992 RIOTS WOULD HAVE BEEN MORE COMPLETE AND MORE HONEST IF YOU HAD MADE NOTE OF THE MEDIA'S CRITICAL AND DISGRACEFUL CAUSAL ROLE BY CONSTANTLY REPLAYING THE RODNEY KING BEATING OVER AND OVER AND OVER AND OVER AGAIN."

JESS>> HERE'S HOW YOU CAN TELL US WHAT YOU THINK.

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

VAL>> THE FIGHT OVER THE PLAYA VISTA DEVELOPMENT HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR TEN YEARS, PROBABLY MORE, AND EVEN THOUGH DEVELOPERS ARE MOVING FORWARD, ENVIRONMENTALISTS ARE STILL TRYING TO SAVE WHAT'S LEFT OF THE WETLANDS THERE.

JESS>> LAST MONTH WE TALKED WITH STEVE SOBOROFF, THE FORMER MAYORAL CANDIDATE WHO IS NOW RUNNING PLAYA VISTA. SOBOROFF SAYS THE DEVELOPMENT IS PROVIDING MUCH-NEEDED HOUSING AND HE DENIES THAT THE DEVELOPERS HAVE ENCROACHED ON THE WETLANDS. TONIGHT WE'RE JOINED BY A PLAYA VISTA CRITIC WHO CLAIMS SOBOROFF IS NOT BEING HONEST. JOINING US NOW IS KATHY KNIGHT AND, IN PARTICULAR, YOU SAY HE IS BEING DISHONEST BY SUGGESTING THAT THEY ARE NOT BUILDING ON WETLANDS?

KATHY KNIGHT>> WELL, FIRST OF ALL, LET ME EXPLAIN THAT THE MAJORITY OWNERS OF THE PLAYA VISTA PROJECT ARE MORGAN STANLEY AND GOLDMAN SACHS. THEY'RE TWO LARGE WALL STREET CORPORATIONS OUT OF NEW YORK. THEY WILL SAY THINGS THAT MAKE THE DEVELOPMENT MORE FAVORABLE TO THE PUBLIC, BUT IN FACT THEY ARE BUILDING ON WETLANDS. WE KNOW THAT BECAUSE THEY HAD TO APPLY TO THE UNITED STATES ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS FOR PERMITS TO DESTROY WETLANDS OUT THERE. ALSO, THEY'VE WRITTEN LETTERS TO THE CITY GOVERNMENT OF LOS ANGELES COMPLAINING HOW HARD IT IS TO BUILD ON MARSH SOILS.

VAL>> OKAY. I WANT TO RUN A CLIP OF STEVE SOBOROFF SO WE CAN HEAR --

JESS>> -- THIS IS WHAT HE SAYS.

VAL>> EXACTLY. HERE IT IS.

STEVE SOBOROFF>> WE'RE NOT BUILDING ON WETLANDS. THE MARINA DEL REY IS BUILT ON WETLANDS. WE ARE BUILDING ON AN OLD AIRPORT SITE. WE ARE TAKING LAND THAT -- WE ARE RECYCLING LAND. WE'RE DOING STATE OF THE ART ENVIRONMENTAL REMEDIATION.

VAL>> HE SAYS THEY'RE BUILDING ON AN OLD AIRPORT.

KATHY KNIGHT>> THEY'RE BUILDING ON THE OLD HOWARD HUGHES SITE, BUT THEIR OWN HISTORICAL DOCUMENTS SHOW THAT HOWARD HUGHES BUILT ON A MARSH. THAT'S WHY HE HAD TO USE SPECIAL CONSTRUCTION, SO THIS IS A MARSHLAND. I ALSO WANT TO POINT OUT THAT ANY DRY LANDS SUPPORT THE WETLANDS. A LOT OF THE ANIMALS NEED TO NEST AND FORAGE ON THE DRY LANDS, SO AT BALLONA, WE NEED TO SAVE BOTH DRY LANDS AND WETLANDS.

JESS>> IS IT NOT TOO LATE? THE PROJECT IS PRETTY WELL ALONG NOW. THERE HAVE BEEN YEARS OF DISCUSSION ABOUT IT. ARE YOU FIGHTING A LOST CAUSE?

KATHY KNIGHT>> NO, NOT AT ALL. WE'VE MADE A LOT OF PROGRESS. WE'VE SAVED SEVENTY ACRES, THANKS TO THE HELP OF KATHLEEN CONNELL, THE STATE CONTROLLER, BACK IN PUBLIC TRUST HANDS. THE DEVELOPERS, MORGAN STANLEY, HAVE AGREED TO CONSIDER SELLING 193 MORE ACRES WEST OF LINCOLN. WE'RE VERY GRATEFUL FOR THAT. THAT'S IN THE PROCESS OF BEING NEGOTIATED. ALSO, THERE'S A LARGE AMOUNT OF LAND THAT DOESN'T HAVE DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENTS ON IT YET, OR PERMITS YET, SO WE WANT TO SAVE THAT. WE ALSO THINK THERE NEEDS TO BE MORE STUDIES GOING ON BEFORE THEY CONTINUE BUILDING OUT THERE. THERE'S A MAJOR GAS ISSUE. LOS ANGELES UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT HAS TURNED DOWN A SCHOOL SITE THERE BECAUSE THEY DON'T CONSIDER IT SAFE BECAUSE OF THE GAS.

JESS>> SOBOROFF SAYS THEY CAN DEAL WITH THAT.

KATHY KNIGHT>> WELL, THE CALIFORNIA PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION AND THE CALIFORNIA ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY, THEIR TOXICS DIVISION, ARE ASKING FOR MORE STUDIES OUT THERE BECAUSE OF GAS PROBLEMS. THEY THINK A HEALTH RISK ASSESSMENT SHOULD BE DONE IN THAT AREA. SO OUR POSITION IS THAT WE SHOULD DO THESE STUDIES BEFORE WE CONTINUE WITH THIS DEVELOPMENT, NOT AFTER, BECAUSE WE DON'T WANT TO SEE THE TAXPAYERS OF LOS ANGELES HAVE LIABILITY ISSUES FOR BUILDING THERE BEFORE THESE STUDIES ARE FINISHED.

VAL>> ANOTHER THING THAT STEVE SOBOROFF POINTED OUT WAS THAT THE DEMAND FOR THIS HOUSING THAT WENT UP WAS HUGE. THEY HAD WAITING LISTS OF PEOPLE ANXIOUS TO MOVE INTO THE APARTMENTS AND MANY OF THE APARTMENTS ARE BEING RENTED OUT FOR, LIKE, FIFTEEN PERCENT BELOW THE MARKET RATE TO MAKE THEM AFFORDABLE TO PEOPLE. ISN'T THE HOUSING SIMPLY IN NEED? WE'RE REALLY IN NEED OF HOUSING OUT THERE?

KATHY KNIGHT>> YES, WE DO HAVE A HOUSING CRISIS IN THE LOS ANGELES AREA AND WE DO NEED TO SOLVE IT. WE AGREE WITH THAT. WE DON'T THINK PLAYA VISTA IS THE WAY TO GO. FOR $87 MILLION DOLLARS IN TAXPAYERS' SUBSIDIZED BONDS, WE GOT 375 UNITS OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING AT PLAYA VISTA. THE RATE PER UNIT IS TWO TO THREE TIMES WHAT IT'S COSTING OTHER PARTS OF THE CITY. AGAIN, YOU HAVE A --

VAL>> -- WELL, BUT THAT'S APPLES AND ORANGES. YOU CAN'T COMPARE PLAYA VISTA TO OTHER PARTS OF THE CITY. YOU HAVE TO COMPARE IT TO COASTAL AREAS, RIGHT?

KATHY KNIGHT>> WELL, --

VAL>> -- I MEAN, OF COURSE, BURBANK IS GOING TO BE DIFFERENT FROM PLAYA VISTA.

KATHY KNIGHT>> BUT WE'RE ALSO NOT FACTORING IN, WE DON'T THINK, PROPERLY THE LIABILITY ISSUES FOR THE TOXICS THERE. WE'RE TALKING ABOUT ONE OF THE WORST GAS SEATS IN THE COUNTRY, ACCORDING TO EXPERTS. WE'RE TALKING ABOUT OIL-FILLED GASES, BENZENE AND TOLUENE THAT CAN CAUSE CANCER AND BIRTH DEFECTS. WHAT ARE THE ONGOING MITIGATION COSTS FOR THIS SITE? WHAT ARE THE ONGOING LIABILITY ISSUES? WE DON'T THINK THOSE HAVE BEEN PROPERLY FACTORED IN ON THIS UNIQUE SITE TO ACCOUNT FOR THE COST OF THE HOUSING.

IT'S ALSO NEXT TO AN UNDERGROUND GAS STORAGE FACILITY. YOU HAD A PREVIOUS SHOW ABOUT THAT. THIS IS THE ONLY CITY IN THE COUNTRY WE CAN FIND WHERE THEY'RE GOING TO PUT A HIGH-DENSITY HOUSING ADJACENT TO AN UNDERGROUND GAS STORAGE FACILITY. THE TREND HAS PUT THEM WAY OUT IN THE BOONDOCKS WITH A LARGE BUFFER ZONE BECAUSE OF LEAKAGE PROBLEMS.

VAL>> MR. SOBOROFF ALSO POINTED OUT THAT THEY ARE GOING TO BE MAKING A LOT OF IMPROVEMENTS TO THE TRAFFIC, TO THE ROADS, THE INFRASTRUCTURE THERE, YOU KNOW, THE INTERSECTIONS AND SO FORTH, TO MAKE TRAFFIC FLOW MUCH MORE SMOOTHLY.

KATHY KNIGHT>> WELL, THEY HAVE TO DO THAT BECAUSE THEY'RE CAUSING MAJOR GRIDLOCK WITH THEIR DEVELOPMENT. IF THEY GET FULL BUILD-OUT, IT WILL CAUSE ALMOST A ONE-THIRD INCREASE ON THE SAN DIEGO FREEWAY, IMPACTING PEOPLE FROM THE SAN FERNANDO VALLEY TO LONG BEACH, BUT EVEN THE LOCAL AREA WILL BE HAVING MAJOR IMPACTS FROM THIS GRIDLOCK. TO DO THE TRAFFIC MITIGATIONS, THEY'RE GOING TO DESTROY AN ARCHAEOLOGY SITE, WHICH WE'RE VERY CONCERNED ABOUT, AND THEY'RE ALSO GOING TO USE $30 MILLION DOLLARS OF OUR TAXPAYER CALTRANS FUNDS TO DO IT FOR THEIR PRIVATE PROFITS.

JESS>> THEY BELIEVE THAT YOU HAVE WRUNG SUFFICIENT CONCESSIONS OUT OF THEM, THAT YOU OUGHT TO BE SATISFIED, BUT YOU STILL WANT MORE.

KATHY KNIGHT>> YES. THIS IS THE LAST 1,100-ACRE FRAGMENT OF THE ONCE VAST BALLONA WETLANDS. MR. SOBOROFF WAS RIGHT. THE MARINA DEL REY TOOK UP A LOT OF THE WETLANDS. THIS IS ALL WE HAVE LEFT.

VAL>> SO WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE TO DO WITH IT?

KATHY KNIGHT>> WE WOULD LIKE TO HAVE CITIZENS TELL THE CITY OF LOS ANGELES THEY SUPPORT SAVING THE ENTIRE AREA. THEY'D RATHER HAVE THAT THAN THE TRAFFIC AND SMOG OF PLAYA VISTA. WE'D LIKE TO SAVE IT, HELP RESTORE IT, RESTORE OUR FISHERIES, OUR PACIFIC FLYWAY, AND BRING THE STUDENTS AND CHILDREN OF LOS ANGELES OUT THERE TO HELP RESTORE IT AS A WILDLIFE REFUGE.

JESS>> WE'RE OUT OF TIME, BUT KATHY KNIGHT, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR BEING WITH US.

VAL>> THANKS SO MUCH. THAT'S OUR PROGRAM FOR THIS EVENING. IF YOU WANT TO HEAR SOMETHING THAT YOU'VE MISSED, WE HAVE A WEEK'S WORTH OF LIFE AND TIMES SHOWS AVAILABLE ON STREAMING AUDIO ON OUR WEBSITE AT KCET.ORG.

JESS>> THANKS FOR SPENDING YOUR TIME WITH US. NOW 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 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.

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.