5/16/02

LC020516

JESS MARLOW>> ON LIFE AND TIMES TONIGHT --

FRAUD, NEPOTISM, TERRORIST THREATS. THEY'RE ALL PART OF THE SCANDAL PLAYING OUT IN A SMALL TOWN WITH BIG PROBLEMS.

ALBERT ROBLES>> IN MY CASE, HE'S AN OVERZEALOUS DISTRICT ATTORNEY MAKING A MOUNTAIN OUT OF A MOLEHILL AND, IF IT CAN HAPPEN TO ALBERT ROBLES IN LITTLE OLD SOUTH GATE, THEN IT CAN HAPPEN TO ANYBODY.

STEVE COOLEY>> THEY APPEAR TO BE LEADING THE HIT PARADE RIGHT NOW, BUT THAT'S BECAUSE THAT'S WHERE THE ACTION IS. THAT'S WHERE THE ALLEGATIONS OF MISCONDUCT ARE COMING FROM AND THAT'S WHERE WE'RE GOING TO GO.

JESS>> HE IS THE NEW MAN IN CHARGE AT THE LAPD. MARTIN POMEROY TAKES OVER AS INTERIM CHIEF WITH A MANDATE TO GET THINGS UNDER CONTROL. SOME SAY THE DEPARTMENT IS IN CRISIS, AND NOW ONE MORE PROBLEM. HIGH-LEVEL OFFICERS ARE ACCUSED OF DRAGGING THEIR FEET ON THE FEDERAL CONSENT DECREE. TONIGHT WE'LL GET CHIEF POMEROY'S REACTION.

THE LAKERS, THE DODGERS AND THE ANGELS ARE SAFE, BUT PATT MORRISON TELLS US OTHER MASCOTS MAY BE IN JEOPARDY.

PATT MORRISON>> THE LAND OF THE FREE AND THE HOME OF THE BRAVES? THINK AGAIN -- ON TONIGHT'S INFINITELY MORRISON.

JESS>> HE IS THE MAN WHO TAUGHT CALTRANS A LESSON AND HE CAUGHT IT ALL ON VIDEOTAPE.

RICHARD ANKROM>> "I HAVE TAKEN IT UPON MYSELF TO MANUFACTURE AND INSTALL THESE MISSING GUIDE SIGNS."

JESS>> ARTIST RICHARD ANKROM TOOK MATTERS INTO HIS OWN HANDS, FEARLESSLY COMING TO THE RESCUE OF CONFUSED FREEWAY DRIVERS. TONIGHT WE'LL TALK WITH ANKROM ABOUT WHAT HE CALLS "GUERILLA PUBLIC SERVICE".

IT'S ALL 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.

JESS>> GOOD EVENING, I'M JESS MARLOW. VAL HAS THE NIGHT OFF.

WE'RE ABOUT TO VISIT ONE OF L.A.'S NEIGHBORS. IT'S A SUBURBAN CITY THAT'S CAUGHT UP IN WHAT APPEARS TO BE A MAJOR LEAGUE SCANDAL THAT MAY NOT FIT YOUR IMAGE OF SMALL-TOWN AMERICA. BUT AS GAY YEE REPORTS, SOME OF THE BIGGEST SCANDALS IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA COME IN SMALL PACKAGES.

XOCHILT RUVALCABA>> OKAY, THERE'S A MOTION AND A SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY SAYING "AYE" -- AYE. OPPOSED? ARE YOU GOING TO OPPOSE?

>> YOU KNOW, YOU'D THINK THIS WAS A DICTATORSHIP OR SOMETHING...

GAY YEE>> NOTHING GOES EASILY AT SOUTH GATE CITY COUNCIL MEETINGS. THERE'S A BITTER THREE-TWO SPLIT ON THE COUNCIL AND ANGRY TOWNSPEOPLE SHOW UP REGULARLY TO PROTEST THE STATE OF AFFAIRS IN THIS SMALL CITY SOUTHEAST OF LOS ANGELES. BUT ATTENTION DOESN'T COME JUST FROM LOCALS. THE D.A. HAS ALSO MADE SOUTH GATE A TARGET.

STEVE COOLEY>> IT'S A POSTER CITY, POSTER CHILD, IF YOU WISH, FOR ALL THE THINGS THAT CAN GO WRONG AND THAT'S WHY WE'RE SPENDING SO MUCH TIME THERE.

GAY YEE>> RIGHT NOW, THE CITY TREASURER IS FREE ON A HALF MILLION DOLLARS BAIL. THE CHARGES AGAINST HIM INCLUDE MAKING THREATS ON THE LIVES OF THE LOCAL ASSEMBLYMEN AND A STATE SENATOR. THEN THERE WERE EARLY MORNING RAIDS OF HIS HOME AND THOSE OF THREE MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL.

STEVE COOLEY>> YOU TALK ABOUT THE SMALLER CITIES? YEAH, WE'RE PRETTY BUSY IN SOME SMALLER CITIES, BUT WE'LL GO WHERE THE ALLEGATIONS AND THE EVIDENCE OF CORRUPTION IS.

ALBERT ROBLES>> IN MY CASE, HE'S AN OVERZEALOUS DISTRICT ATTORNEY MAKING A MOUNTAIN OUT OF A MOLEHILL AND, IF IT CAN HAPPEN TO ALBERT ROBLES IN LITTLE OLD SOUTH GATE, THEN IT CAN HAPPEN TO ANYBODY IN RANCHO PALOS VERDES OR SANTA MONICA OR PERHAPS TO ONE OF THE COUNTY'S BOARD OF SUPERVISORS.

STEVE COOLEY>> THEY APPEAR TO BE LEADING THE HIT PARADE RIGHT NOW, BUT THAT'S BECAUSE THAT'S WHERE THE ACTION IS. THAT'S WHERE THE ALLEGATIONS OF MISCONDUCT ARE COMING FROM AND THAT'S WHERE WE'RE GOING TO GO.

GAY YEE>> BITTER CONFLICT IS ROUTINE IN SOUTH GATE. THE EXAMPLES ARE ENDLESS. A YEAR AGO, VOTERS ELECTED CARMEN AVALOS AS CITY CLERK, BUT THE COUNCIL MAJORITY VOTED TO TAKE AWAY HER AUTHORITY TO CONDUCT SOUTH GATE ELECTIONS, AN ACTION DEFENDED BY THE MAYOR.

XOCHILT RUVALCABA>> THE CITY CLERK HAS, ON MORE THAN ONE OCCASION, BEEN BIASED TOWARDS ONE SEGMENT OF THE CITY COUNCIL, THE MINORITY. SHE'S DONE A LOT OF THINGS TO BE BIASED AND WE DON'T FEEL THAT SHE COULD PROVIDE A FAIR AND EQUITABLE ELECTION.

GAY YEE>> BUT COUNCILMAN HENRY GONZALEZ ALLEGES THERE'S MORE TO IT.

HENRY GONZALEZ>> YOU'VE GOT TO UNDERSTAND THAT THE CITY CLERK BEAT THE MAYOR'S SISTER. THEY WERE THE ONLY TWO PEOPLE THAT RAN IN THE ELECTION.

GAY YEE>> THE COUNCIL MAJORITY AND TREASURER ROBLES FACE A RECALL, BUT THE WHOLE PROCESS IS STALLED WHILE THE MATTER OF WHO SHOULD RUN THE ELECTION IS DECIDED IN COURT. SECRETARY OF STATE, BILL JONES, HAS LAMBASTED THE COUNCIL MAJORITY FOR THWARTING VOTERS' ACCESS TO THE RECALL PROCESS. MAYOR XOCHILT RUVALCABA SAYS THE PROBLEMS IN SOUTH GATE COME FROM THOSE WHO USED TO HOLD THE POWER. WHAT WAS ONCE A BLUE-COLLAR ANGLO COMMUNITY IS NOW HEAVILY LATINO.

XOCHILT RUVALCABA>> NOW THOSE PEOPLE THAT USED TO BE IN THE MAJORITY ARE ON THE OUTSIDE LOOKING IN AND, UNDERSTANDABLY SO, THEY'RE VERY BITTER ABOUT IT.

GAY YEE>> CITY CLERK AVALOS SAYS THAT'S NOT THE PROBLEM. TODAY ALL OF SOUTH GATE'S ELECTED OFFICIALS ARE LATINO.

CARMEN AVALOS>> WE'VE HAD A MAJORITY LATINO COUNCIL AND, UNFORTUNATELY, IT'S THE SAME LATINOS WHO ARE IN POWER HURTING THE LATINO COMMUNITY.

GAY YEE>> SOME HAVE ACCUSED DISTRICT ATTORNEY COOLEY OF UNFAIRLY TARGETING HEAVILY LATINO CITIES IN SOUTHEAST LOS ANGELES. IT'S A CHARGE HE DENIES, SAYING THE SPECIAL UNIT HE CREATED TO INVESTIGATE PUBLIC CORRUPTION PAYS NO ATTENTION TO RACE, RELIGION OR ZIP CODE.

STEVE COOLEY>> WE HAVE A TREMENDOUS NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS COMING FROM CITIZENS OUT THERE WHO ARE CONCERNED ABOUT GOOD GOVERNMENT SERVING THEM.

GAY YEE>> COOLEY SAYS NO CITY, LARGE OR SMALL, IS IMMUNE TO CORRUPT OFFICIALS.

STEVE COOLEY>> IT'S NOT SOUTH GATE, THE CITY. IT'S SOME PEOPLE WHO HAVE TRIED TO TAKE OVER SOUTH GATE. HOW DO THOSE INDIVIDUALS GET OFF TRACK? PROBABLY AN APATHETIC ELECTORATE AND THESE INDIVIDUALS ARE HIGHLY MOTIVATED TO MISUSE THE POWER THEY GET IN A GOVERNMENTAL POSITION TO AGGRANDIZE THEMSELVES FINANCIALLY AND OTHERWISE.

GAY YEE>> EMMETT BERG USED TO BE A REPORTER FOR THE CITY NEWS SERVICE. NOW HE ANALYZES SMALL CITIES FOR THE CENTER FOR GOVERNMENTAL STUDIES. BERG SAYS OFFICIALS IN SOME SUBURBAN TOWNS OFTEN DON'T EXPECT ANYONE TO BE LOOKING OVER THEIR SHOULDERS, AND THERE'S THE ROLE OF PERSONALITY.

EMMETT BERG>> IN SOUTH GATE, IT SEEMS AS THOUGH THERE ARE PERSONALITY ISSUES THAT UNDERLIE A LOT OF THESE ALLEGED ILLEGAL DEALINGS.

GAY YEE>> THE ONE THING MOST PEOPLE IN SOUTH GATE WOULD SEEM TO AGREE ON IS THE POWER OF ALBERT ROBLES.

CARMEN AVALOS>> HE'S A POWERFUL PERSON IN THE SENSE THAT HE CONTROLS PEOPLE AND MANIPULATES THE SYSTEM, YES. IN THAT SENSE, YES.

GAY YEE>> ROBLES SAYS HIS CRITICS ARE UNFAIR AND, ON HEARING THE D.A.'S DESCRIPTION OF SOUTH GATE AS A POSTER CHILD FOR CORRUPTION, HE HAS A CHALLENGE.

ALBERT ROBLES>> THEN, STEVE COOLEY, PROVE IT. NOT ONLY IN SOUTH GATE, BUT IN EVERY OTHER SOUTHEAST COMMUNITY YOU'VE GONE INTO AND YOU HAVE THESE IMPENDING INVESTIGATIONS, COMPLETE THEM.

JESS>> AND ALBERT ROBLES, SOUTH GATE'S EMBATTLED TREASURER, MAY HAVE TROUBLES WITH THE D.A., BUT SHORTLY AFTER HE MADE BAIL, HE WAS APPOINTED TO A NEW ROLE AT CITY HALL. HE IS NOW SOUTH GATE'S DEPUTY CITY MANAGER.

TOMORROW ON LIFE AND TIMES, OUR AIRPORTS ARE BUTTONED DOWN, BUT WHAT ABOUT THREATS BY SEA? WE'LL FIND OUT HOW SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA'S SEAPORTS ARE ON THE LOOKOUT FOR NUCLEAR TERRORISM.

GAY YEE>> PORT OFFICIALS ARE PREPARED FOR JUST ABOUT ANYTHING, INCLUDING THE MOST NIGHTMARISH OF POSSIBILITIES: A NUCLEAR DEVICE. JUST LOOK AT THE LATEST PIECE OF EQUIPMENT THEY'RE CARRYING.

>> IT'S A RADIATION PAGER AND, IF WE HAVE ANY KIND OF NUCLEAR DEVICE OR ANY OTHER TYPE OF RADIATION THAT COMES THROUGH THE PORT, IT GIVES US A READING.

JESS>> NO ONE WOULD FAULT MARTIN POMEROY FOR THINKING THE CARDS ARE STACKED AGAINST HIM. HE'S TAKING OVER AS INTERIM CHIEF OF THE LAPD AT A TIME WHEN MORALE AMONG RANK AND FILE OFFICERS IS SAID TO BE AT A LOW POINT, THE POLICE COMMISSION DESCRIBES THE DEPARTMENT AS IN CRISIS, AND NOT ONLY IS THE DEPARTMENT LATE IN IMPLEMENTING A FEDERAL CONSENT DECREE, AN INDEPENDENT MONITOR NOW ACCUSES OFFICERS OF PUBLICLY UNDERMINING THE COURT-ORDERED REFORMS.

JOINING US IS THE MAN CHOSEN TO LEAD THE L.A. POLICE DEPARTMENT DURING THESE TROUBLED TIMES, INTERIM CHIEF MARTIN POMEROY. CHIEF POMEROY, THANKS FOR JOINING US. YOU ARE QUOTED AS SAYING YOU'RE GLAD TO BE BACK?

MARTIN POMEROY>> I AM INDEED.

JESS>> YOU WERE IN COMFORTABLE RETIREMENT IN MONTANA WHEN THE CALL CAME. NO HESITATION?

MARTIN POMEROY>> NONE WHATSOEVER. THIS IS A PROUD ORGANIZATION AND I LOVE IT AND I'M GLAD TO BE BACK.

JESS>> AND WHAT ARE YOUR RESPONSIBILITIES NOW? YOU'VE GOT, AS WE POINTED OUT, THE PROBLEMS OF MORALE, THE PROBLEMS WITH RECRUITMENT, SUPPOSEDLY HEMORRHAGING OFFICERS TO OTHER DEPARTMENTS, PROBLEMS OF DISCIPLINE. ARE YOU, AS INTERIM CHIEF, FULLY EMPOWERED TO DEAL WITH ALL THOSE?

MARTIN POMEROY>> I AM. THE POLICE COMMISSION AND THE MAYOR'S OFFICE HAVE BOTH TOLD ME THAT THEY WANT ME TO ACT LIKE A CHIEF AND MAKE THE DECISIONS OF A CHIEF.

JESS>> AND AT THIS POINT?

MARTIN POMEROY>> SO FAR, THAT'S WHAT I'M DOING.

JESS>> HOW ARE WE DOING WITH MORALE?

MARTIN POMEROY>> I'D HEARD THAT IT WAS EXTREMELY POOR AND THERE ARE SOME ISSUES THERE TO BE ADDRESSED, NO DOUBT. BUT I THINK WE'VE TAKEN A COLLECTIVE SIGH HERE. WE'VE PAUSED AND TAKEN A DEEP BREATH AND THINGS ARE LOOKING UP. SO THE OFFICERS I'M TALKING TO APPEAR TO BE IN PRETTY GOOD SPIRITS. THEY APPEAR TO BE TRYING THEIR BEST AND I BELIEVE MORALE IS NOT QUITE AS BAD AS WE FEARED OR HAVE FEARED THAT IT IS.

JESS>> SOME HAVE SAID THAT SELECTION OF YOU AS INTERIM CHIEF HAS IMPROVED MORALE JUST ON THAT POINT ALONE, BUT YOU HAVE NO INTEREST IN THE JOB PERMANENTLY?

MARTIN POMEROY>> NO, I'VE MADE THAT ABUNDANTLY CLEAR. I'M NOT INTERESTED IN A PERMANENT JOB.

JESS>> HOW LONG BEFORE A NEW CHIEF WILL BE APPOINTED? WHAT'S YOUR GUESS?

MARTIN POMEROY>> WELL, I'M TOLD IT WILL BE SIX OR SEVEN MONTHS. IT MIGHT BE A FEW DAYS EITHER SIDE OF SIX OR SEVEN MONTHS, BUT I'M PLANNING TO BE BACK IN MONTANA WHERE I LIVE NOW ON THE FIRST OF DECEMBER.

JESS>> YOU, IN THAT SHORT TIME, HAVE A REAL CHALLENGE AHEAD OF YOU. U.S. DISTRICT COURT JUDGE, GARY FEESS, SAYS THE DEPARTMENT HAS FAILED TO MAKE CHANGES MANDATED BY THAT FEDERAL CONSENT DECREE GOVERNING THE LAPD, AND SOME IN THE DEPARTMENT HAVE SIMPLY RIDICULED THE REFORMS AND THE DECREE. CAN YOU DEAL WITH THAT IN THIS SHORT TIME?

MARTIN POMEROY>> OH, I THINK SO. I JUST FINISHED READING THE THIRD QUARTER REPORT FROM THE MONITOR AND WE DID HAVE, DISAPPOINTINGLY TO ME PERSONALLY AND TO THE ORGANIZATION AS A WHOLE, A COUPLE OF OFFICERS MAKE SOME REMARKS THEY SHOULD NOT HAVE. THE MONITOR CORRECTLY IDENTIFIED SOME AREAS WHERE WE NEED IMPROVEMENT, BUT KEEP IN MIND, WE'RE COPS. WE'RE NOT AUDITORS. WE'RE AHEAD OF THE CURVE, I THINK. I THINK WE'RE MAKING GOOD PROGRESS.

AS A MATTER OF FACT, THE SAME MONITOR SAID THAT WE HAD MADE SUBSTANTIAL EFFORT, GOOD FAITH EFFORT, AND OVERALL THINGS ARE LOOKING PRETTY GOOD. SO EVEN THOUGH THERE ARE SOME SPECIFIC AREAS TO WORK IN, I THINK WE'RE DOING OKAY. I CAN'T MINIMIZE, HOWEVER, THE ATTITUDE. AT THE END OF THE DAY, IT'S THE THING THAT WILL DRIVE CHANGE. THE THING THAT WILL DRIVE IMPROVEMENT IS OUR ATTITUDE, SO THAT CAUSES ME THE MOST CONCERN AND THAT WILL BE ONE OF THE AREAS I WORK ON THE HARDEST.

JESS>> CHIEF BERNARD PARKS WAS A STERN DISCIPLINARIAN. THIS MAY BE A GAUGE OF YOUR ABILITY TO DISCIPLINE. WHAT WILL YOU DO WITH OR TO THOSE WHO HAVE DISPARAGED THE REFORMS?

MARTIN POMEROY>> WELL, I CAN'T COMMENT ON WHAT WE MAY DO UNTIL WE KNOW WHAT THE FACTS ARE, BUT WE IMMEDIATELY LAUNCHED AN INVESTIGATION. WE WILL KNOW SHORTLY EXACTLY WHAT WAS SAID AND UNDER WHAT CIRCUMSTANCES AND THEN WE'LL TAKE APPROPRIATE ACTION.

JESS>> I ASSUME CHIEF PARKS IS A LONG-TIME ACQUAINTANCE OF YOURS. DID HE HAVE ANY ADVICE FOR YOU?

MARTIN POMEROY>> WELL, I HAVEN'T TALKED TO THE CHIEF YET. I HAVE EVERY INTENTION OF DOING SO. I'VE BEEN SETTLING IN. YOU'RE CORRECT. THE CHIEF AND I WERE GOOD FRIENDS. AS A MATTER OF FACT, I CONSIDERED HIM TO BE A MENTOR. HE WAS KIND TO ME, HE PROMOTED ME, AS DID CHIEF WILLIAMS, AS DID CHIEF GATES, AS DID CHIEF DAVIS.

I'M DISAPPOINTED FOR HIM PERSONALLY. I KNOW THIS WAS A GREAT BURDEN ON HIM. BUT ON THE OTHER HAND, THE LAPD IS AN ORGANIZATION THAT SHOULD MOVE FORWARD. SO FROM THIS POINT FORWARD, WE NEED TO EVOLVE, WE NEED TO GET BETTER, WE NEED TO NOT LOOK TO THE PAST EXCEPT FOR PERHAPS SOME OF OUR PROUD TRADITIONS, AND WE NEED TO LOOK FORWARD ABOUT WHERE WE WANT TO GO AND WHERE WE SHOULD BE.

JESS>> AT THIS POINT IN TIME, DO YOU AGREE WITH THOSE WHO SAY THAT IT IS A DEPARTMENT IN CRISIS?

MARTIN POMEROY>> I DO NOT. I HAD HEARD THAT, BUT AS I LOOK AROUND THE DEPARTMENT, I FIND THAT THAT CRISIS IS HOPEFULLY OVER-STATED. RECRUITMENT IS NOT AS BAD AS I'D BEEN LED TO BELIEVE. PERHAPS THE DESCRIPTION OF THE RECRUITMENT HAD TO DO WITH SOME MONTHS AGO. THE MORALE, I THINK, IS DESCRIBING A SITUATION THAT EXISTED PERHAPS RECENTLY, BUT STILL IN THE PAST. AND SOME OF THOSE OTHER ISSUES THAT ARE BEFORE US NOW, I THINK ARE WELL ON THE ROAD TO BEING DEALT WITH. I'M HOPEFUL TO LEAVE A VERY STABLE, VERY ORGANIZED AND VERY PROUD ORGANIZATION TO WHOMEVER MY SUCCESSOR IS.

JESS>> HAS THERE BEEN A PROBLEM WITH LINES OF COMMUNICATION IN THE DEPARTMENT WHEN PEOPLE ARE DISPARAGING THE FEDERAL CONSENT DECREE? DOES THAT GET UP TO THE TOP?

MARTIN POMEROY>> (LAUGHTER) THAT REMARK CERTAINLY GOT TO THE TOP IN A HURRY. THINGS LIKE THAT CAN'T BE HIDDEN. PEOPLE KNOW THEM AND, AS YOU KNOW, THE FEDERAL MONITOR DOES ATTEND OUR MEETINGS AND QUICKLY KNOWS WHAT IS SAID.

JESS>> YOU'VE SPOKEN WITH THE FEDERAL MONITOR. WHAT ASSESSMENT DOES HE GIVE YOU?

MARTIN POMEROY>> THE FEDERAL MONITOR WAS VERY ENCOURAGING WHEN HE TALKED TO ME. HE SPOKE IN TERMS THAT WE'RE DOING WELL AND THERE MAY BE A NEED TO ADJUST THE ATTITUDE OF A FEW, BUT BY AND LARGE, HE WAS HAPPY WITH THE EFFORT WE'VE PUT FORWARD. I CERTAINLY DON'T CRITICIZE THE FEDERAL MONITOR FOR THOSE CRITICISMS THEY HAVE OF US. WE WANT TO KNOW WHAT WE NEED TO DO, BUT I DON'T THINK IT'S A PARTICULARLY BLEAK OUTLOOK.

JESS>> I REALIZE YOU'LL BE LIMITED BY GOOD JUDGMENT, BUT I DO HAVE TO ASK ABOUT A SUCCESSOR, A PERMANENT CHIEF, WHO WILL REPLACE YOU. THERE ARE THOSE WHO INSIST IT CAN ONLY WORK IF IT IS SOMEBODY FROM WITHIN OR SOMEBODY WHO HAS BEEN WITHIN THE DEPARTMENT.

MARTIN POMEROY>> WELL, I KNOW THERE'S AN ARGUMENT BOTH WAYS. I'LL GIVE YOU MY PERSONAL PREFERENCE, AND THAT IS THAT IT IS SOMEONE WHO IS NOW IN OR HAS RECENTLY BEEN IN THE LOS ANGELES POLICE DEPARTMENT. WE'RE A COMPLEX ORGANIZATION WITH A GREAT NUMBER OF PERSONALITIES. I THINK THE NEW CHIEF WILL NEED TO KNOW THAT ORGANIZATION AND THOSE PERSONALITIES IF THAT NEW CHIEF IS TO DO WELL FROM DAY ONE. THERE'S A STEEP LEARNING CURVE INVOLVED THERE AND I THINK SOMEONE WHO IS HERE NOW OR WHO HAS BEEN HERE RECENTLY WILL HAVE A GREAT ADVANTAGE OVER SOMEONE WHO COMES IN FROM THE OUTSIDE.

JESS>> THE CONTRARY ARGUMENT, I SUPPOSE, WOULD BE THAT ONLY SOMEBODY FROM THE OUTSIDE COULD REALLY MAKE THE REFORMS THAT ARE REQUIRED.

MARTIN POMEROY>> WELL, I THINK WE'RE WELL ON THE WAY TO MAKING THOSE REFORMS AND I ADMIT THERE'S AN ARGUMENT ON THE OTHER SIDE.

JESS>> YOU HAVE SOME SIGNIFICANT NAMES BEING MENTIONED. LOPEZ IS ONE. DARYL GATES HAS SAID HE IS GOING TO -- OR HAS HE APPLIED FORMALLY?

MARTIN POMEROY>> (LAUGHTER) I DON'T KNOW. I READ IN THE PAPER THAT HE WANTS THE JOB, THOUGH.

JESS>> (LAUGHTER) IS HE SERIOUS?

MARTIN POMEROY>> I HAVE NO IDEA.

JESS>> WHAT WOULD YOU SUGGEST TO THE NEW CHIEF, REGARDLESS OF WHETHER HE'S FROM THE DEPARTMENT OR WITHOUT THE DEPARTMENT?

MARTIN POMEROY>> WELL, THE NEW CHIEF HAS TO BE ABSOLUTELY COMMITTED TO IMPLEMENTING THE CONSENT DECREE IN ITS FULLEST AND QUICKEST MANNER. THE NEW CHIEF HAS TO BE COMMITTED TO THE OFFICERS AND THE CIVILIAN EMPLOYEES OF THE ORGANIZATION AND THEIR WELFARE. THE NEW CHIEF HAS TO BE ABSOLUTELY COMMITTED TO FORGING COMMUNITY TIES AND WORKING WITH THE COMMUNITY. THAT'S JUST THE FIRST WEEK. (LAUGHTER)

JESS>> THANKS, CHIEF POMEROY. WELCOME BACK. GOOD TO SEE YOU AGAIN.

MARTIN POMEROY>> GOOD TO BE HERE.

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

JESS>> MANY OF US HAVE FOND MEMORIES OF OUR HIGH SCHOOL OR COLLEGE MASCOTS, BUT THE CHEERS MAY BE DYING OUT FOR TEAMS NAMED AFTER NATIVE-AMERICANS. HERE'S PATT WITH TONIGHT'S INFINITELY MORRISON.

PATT MORRISON>> WAVE GOODBYE TO THE REDSKINS, THE CHIEFS, THE COMANCHES AND THE INDIANS, THE WAR PAINT AND THE TOMAHAWK CHOP. ODDS ARE THEY'LL BE PAINTING OUT THE NATIVE-AMERICAN MASCOTS IN HIGH SCHOOL GYMS ACROSS CALIFORNIA IF ASSEMBLY BILL 2115 BECOMES LAW, AND THERE'S ALMOST NO CHANCE THAT IT WON'T.

FOR DECADES, NATIVE-AMERICANS HAVE RIGHTLY CRUSADED AGAINST CARICATURED INDIANS AS TEAM MASCOTS. LOS ANGELES SCHOOLS OUTLAWED THEM FIVE YEARS AGO. THE PROFESSIONAL SPORTS TEAMS, THE KANSAS CITY CHIEFS AND THE WASHINGTON REDSKINS, SEEM BEYOND REACH, BUT SOME COLLEGES LIKE STANFORD LONG AGO GAVE UP THEIR INDIAN-THEMED MASCOT. SAN DIEGO STATE IS STILL AGONIZING OVER MONTY MONTEZUMA WHO HAS EVOLVED FROM A BEEF-CAKE GUY IN FEATHERS TO A FIGURE WITH MORE DIGNITY AND LESS BARE SKIN.

BUT HERE'S THE RUB, AND THERE'S ALWAYS A RUB. THE HOLLYWOOD HIGH SHEIKS WERE NAMED FOR THE GLAMOROUS CHARACTER THAT RUDOLPH VALENTINO PLAYED. THE SHEIK WAS THE ULTIMATE FIGURE OF ROMANCE, BUT SOMEONE COULD FIND THE SHEIK DEROGATORY AND HE'D HAVE TO RIDE OFF INTO THE SUNSET.

EVERY LAW THAT PASSES IS ALSO THE LAW OF UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES. BEYOND CALIFORNIA, MODERN-DAY SOUTHERNERS COULD OBJECT TO THE UNIVERSITY OF NEVADA'S RUNNING REBELS. THE DESCENDANTS OF THE ACADIAN FRENCH COULD TAKE OFFENSE AT LOUISIANA LAFAYETTE'S RAGIN' CAJUNS. THE BLUE-COLLAR CLASS COULD GET HUFFY OVER THE BOILERMAKERS OF PURDUE. SCANDINAVIA COULD OBJECT TO THE MINNESOTA VIKINGS. EVERYONE IN IRELAND AND SCOTLAND COULD FUSS ABOUT THE BOSTON CELTICS, AND I DON'T WANT TO THINK ABOUT THE BLOOD-LETTING IF NOTRE DAME HAD SOME DUBLINERS SUE THEM OVER THE FIGHTING IRISH.

IN COLORADO, A COLLEGE BASKETBALL TEAM ORGANIZED BY NATIVE-AMERICANS VERY WITTILY POKED FUN AT THE FIGHTIN' REDS INDIAN MASCOT AT A NEARBY HIGH SCHOOL BY NAMING THEIR MASCOT THE FIGHTIN' WHITES, A MEEK 50'S GUY WITH "FATHER KNOWS BEST" HAIR, BUT IT RATHER BACKFIRED. THE LOCAL HIGH SCHOOL IS ANNOYED INSTEAD OF ENLIGHTENED AND THE COLLEGE IS MAKING A HEAP OF MONEY SELLING FIGHTIN' WHITES T-SHIRTS.

FRANKLY, THAT'S PRETTY COOL. I'VE ALWAYS LIKED IT WHEN THE REDSKINS KICK THE SNOT OUT OF THE VIKINGS OR THE BRAVES WHACK THE BREWERS OR THE CLEVELAND INDIANS WHALE THE TAR OUT OF THE OLD WASHINGTON SENATORS. TRUE, IT'S NOT GETTING THE ANCESTRAL LANDS BACK, BUT THEY DO SAY THAT LIVING WELL IS THE BEST REVENGE.

JESS>> DRIVING NORTH ON THE 110 FREEWAY THROUGH DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES WAS ALWAYS CONFUSING TO RICHARD ANKROM. THE SIGNS FOR THE I-5 NORTH WEREN'T CLEAR ENOUGH, SO BEING AN ARTIST, ANKROM DECIDED TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT HIMSELF. HE SPENT TWO YEARS PLANNING THE PROJECT AND VIDEOTAPED THE ENTIRE PROCESS. WE'LL MEET RICHARD ANKROM IN A MOMENT, BUT FIRST AN INTRODUCTION TO HIS ARTWORK ENTITLED "GUERILLA PUBLIC SERVICE".

[FILM CLIP]>> "OVERHEAD SIGNS INDICATE THE EXIT FOR 5 FREEWAY SOUTH. BOTH DIRECTIONAL SIGNS FOR 5 NORTH ARE TOO SMALL, NON-ILLUMINATED AND PLACED ON NEARBY POLES. FOR CLARITY, THE 5 SHIELD BELONGS ON THE OVERHEAD SIGN. I HAVE TAKEN IT UPON MYSELF TO MANUFACTURE AND INSTALL THESE MISSING GUIDE SIGNS TO EASE THE CONFUSION AND TRAFFIC CONGESTION AT THIS SECTION OF THE 110 FREEWAY."

JESS>> JOINING US IS THE ARTIST BEHIND THIS PIECE, RICHARD ANKROM. IS THIS A FAVOR TO CALTRANS OR IS IT ART?

RICHARD ANKROM>> IT'S ART AND THE FACT THAT I'M HERE MAKES IT SO. ALTHOUGH IT MAY BE CONFUSING FOR MOST PEOPLE, IT IS JUST A SIGN. BUT IN THE PROCESS, I SAID THE THING ABOUT WHERE ART IS AND HAS BEEN, THIS IDEA IS AT LEAST A HUNDRED YEARS OLD. THE FACT THAT MOST PEOPLE UNDERSTAND ART AS A LANDSCAPE PAINTING IS REALLY LAST CENTURY'S IDEA.

JESS>> BUT CALTRANS -- WERE YOU SURPRISED THAT THEY ARE PERFECTLY WILLING TO ACCEPT YOUR ART? BECAUSE IT HAS SERVED A PURPOSE?

RICHARD ANKROM>> WELL, I WASN'T EXACTLY SURPRISED. I WASN'T SURE WHAT THE OUTCOME WAS GOING TO BE, BUT ULTIMATELY, THEY WERE STUCK. I INADVERTENTLY TRACKED THEM AND, IF THEY TOOK IT DOWN, THERE WOULD BE A PUBLIC OUTCRY AND, IF I WAS INCARCERATED, THERE PROBABLY WOULD BE ALSO.

JESS>> AND HAD THEY CAUGHT YOU, WOULD YOU HAVE BEEN INCARCERATED?

RICHARD ANKROM>> PROBABLY. THE PEOPLE THAT I HAD HELP TAPE THIS SAID, "WELL, WHAT DO WE DO?" I SAID, "WELL, JUST KEEP TAPING. WHATEVER HAPPENS HAPPENS. IF I GET INCARCERATED, THEN WE'LL HAVE THAT TOO."

JESS>> OKAY, HOW DID YOU PULL IT OFF?

RICHARD ANKROM>> WELL, I DID A LOT OF PLANNING. THIS PARTICULAR LOCATION WAS NOT -- I WAS NEVER PARKED ON THE FREEWAY. MY BIGGEST CONCERN WAS PUBLIC SAFETY BECAUSE IF ANYTHING HAPPENED TO ANYBODY, I WOULD HAVE HAD TO JUST DROP THE WHOLE PROJECT, SO THAT WAS PARAMOUNT. SORT OF THE HIPPOCRATIC OATH, "DO NO HARM", AND -- NOW I FORGOT WHAT THE QUESTION WAS.

JESS>> YOU'VE EVEN PLANNED IT DOWN TO COLOR-CODING, HUH?

RICHARD ANKROM>> WELL, IT HAD TO BE AN EXACT DUPLICATE OR AS CLOSE AS POSSIBLE FOR IT TO STAY. IF IT HAD THE WRONG INFORMATION OR IT LOOKED INCORRECT OR WAS EVEN A DISTRACTION, IT COULD CAUSE A PUBLIC SAFETY HAZARD. SO THE OTHER POINT OF THIS WAS TO SHOW, YOU KNOW, HOW ART CAN MIMIC LIFE, HOW IT CAN BLEND IN WITH OUR SURROUNDINGS, AND IT'S ALSO SOMETHING YOU CAN SEE AND NOT SEE AND ALSO TAKE FOR GRANTED.

THIS HERE ARE ALL THE DIFFERENT STEPS THAT I TOOK TO ACTUALLY MAKE THE SIGN. I HAD ACTUALLY DECIDED TO MANUFACTURE IT ITSELF, TO SORT OF GUIDE PEOPLE ALONG WITH THE STORY. I COULD JUST GO PURCHASE ONE, BUT THE BUTTON REFLECTORS IT TOOK TO GLUE DOWN AND GET THIS TO MATCH THE EXISTING SIGNS WHICH WERE PUT UP IN THE 50'S, I WANTED THIS TO BLEND WITH THE REST OF THAT. SO I DECIDED IF I BOUGHT SOMETHING NEW, IT WOULDN'T MATCH. IT WOULD BE GLARINGLY NEW. I WANTED TO MAKE SURE IT LOOKED OLD LIKE EVERYTHING ELSE.

JESS>> YOU'RE AN ARTIST, BUT YOU ALSO MAKE YOUR LIVING PRETTY MUCH AS A SIGN MAKER, DO YOU NOT?

RICHARD ANKROM>> YEAH, THAT'S WHAT I'VE BEEN DOING FOR TWENTY YEARS. ACTUALLY, MAKING THE SIGN WAS THE EASIEST PART OF THE ENTIRE PROJECT BECAUSE I'VE HAD TWENTY YEARS OF EXPERIENCE. EVEN CLIMBING UP THERE TO PUT IT UP WAS ACTUALLY JUST A NO-BRAINER. I DO THAT FOR A LIVING AND I'VE ACTUALLY BEEN IN MORE DANGEROUS SITUATIONS. THE DIFFERENCE IS, I USUALLY GET PAID FOR IT. (LAUGHTER)

JESS>> (LAUGHTER) NOBODY SPOTTED YOU? NOBODY STOPPED YOU?

RICHARD ANKROM>> NO. I DRESSED AND LOOKED THE PART. IT WAS ACTING AFTER THAT POINT. I EVEN MADE UP A MAGNET FOR THE TRUCK AND A FAKE INVOICE AND DRAWING. IF I WAS STOPPED, I WOULD JUST SAY, "WELL, I HAVE THIS WORK ORDER. IF YOU'RE GOING TO STOP ME, THEN I'LL LEAVE. I'LL HAVE TO GO BACK AND TALK TO THE BOSS." I WASN'T GOING TO ARGUE, BUT I NEEDED TO HAVE SOME SORT OF DOCUMENTATION AT LEAST TO MAKE IT LOOK LIKE I BELONGED THERE.

JESS>> HAVE YOU BEEN SURPRISED AT ALL AT THE REACTION TO IT?

RICHARD ANKROM>> WELL, I THOUGHT AT BEST THERE MIGHT BE SORT OF, YOU KNOW, MAYBE A LITTLE BLIP IN THE NEWS MEDIA AND IT WOULD BE OVER. I WASN'T QUITE PREPARED FOR THIS NATIONAL COVERAGE.

JESS>> THIS NEW ROLE AS FOLK HERO HAS GOT TO BE DIFFICULT, HUH?

RICHARD ANKROM>> YEAH, I DON'T WANT TO BE KNOWN AS JOHNNY APPLESEED. (LAUGHTER) THIS IS PRIMARILY FOR ME TO KEEP IT EVEN INTERESTING FOR ME AS AN ART PROJECT. LIKE I SAID, I THINK ART BELONGS MORE IN OUR CULTURE AND I THINK THIS IS A SHINING EXAMPLE WHY.

JESS>> WELL, YOU KNOW, WE'VE GOT A LOT OF TRAFFIC PROBLEMS AROUND. WHAT'S NEXT FOR YOU?

RICHARD ANKROM>> WELL, I'M STILL WITH THIS IDEA. I'M NOT GOING TO GO PUTTING UP MORE SIGNS JUST FOR THE SAFETY REASON. I'VE MADE MY POINT. SO WHAT I'M DOING IS ORGANIZING A WEBSITE. IT'S STILL TRYING TO PROPAGATE ONTO THE INTERNET NOW, CALLED ANKROM.ORG. THE IDEA IS TO GATHER ALL THIS INFORMATION AND EVENTUALLY APPROACH CALTRANS WHEN I HAVE SOMETHING TO GIVE THEM AND TRY TO FIND A SOLUTION FOR ALL OF US. BECAUSE IF I CAN, AND WE IN GENERAL, MAKE OUR LIVES OUR EASIER, WE'RE ALL BETTER OFF, ME, YOU, EVERYONE, BECAUSE WE ALL USE THESE FREEWAYS.

JESS>> NO QUESTION THIS IS FUNCTIONAL ART.

RICHARD ANKROM>> IT'S FUNCTIONAL, IT'S PERFORMANCE AND, PRIMARILY, IT'S CONCEPTUAL JUST TO COME UP WITH THE IDEA AND THEN EXECUTE IT.

JESS>> AND THE VIDEOTAPE WAS A MAJOR PORTION OF THE ART.

RICHARD ANKROM>> WELL, PERFORMANCE ART WOULDN'T EXIST WITHOUT IT'S DOCUMENTATION. SO I DID THE VIDEO AND I EXPLOITED THE MEDIUM AND THAT'S WHY I DID ALL THESE DISSOLVES. I SPENT AS MUCH TIME WORKING ON THE VIDEO, EVEN MORE SO, THAN ON THE SIGN.

JESS>> THIS IS NOT AN INEXPENSIVE PROPOSITION THEN?

RICHARD ANKROM>> WELL, NO, BUT IT WAS ALSO A LABOR OF LOVE AND I ALSO THOUGHT IT WAS JUST A GOOD IDEA. THE MORE I THOUGHT ABOUT IT, THE BETTER IT SEEMED FROM EVERY ANGLE AND FOR ALL THESE DIFFERENT REASONS.

JESS>> YOUR WORK PROBABLY COST US LESS THAN CALTRANS PUTTING THAT SIGN UP, WOULDN'T IT?

RICHARD ANKROM>> WELL, IT WOULD HAVE COST LESS, BUT YOU ALSO HAVE TO CONSIDER THINGS LIKE INSURANCE. I LOOKED INTO TRYING TO GET LIABILITY INSURANCE, BUT BECAUSE I WAS TRESPASSING AND IF SOMETHING HAPPENED, NO ONE WOULD HAVE COVERED IT. SO THAT WAS THE ONE LOOPHOLE I COULDN'T QUITE COVER UP. BUT WHEN YOU CONSIDER WORKMEN'S COMP AND INSURANCE AND UNION THINGS, IT DOES RAISE THE PRICE, BUT EVERYBODY'S COVERED THAT WAY AND EVERYONE'S SAFE.

JESS>> THIS HAS BEEN A DELIGHT HAVING YOU WITH US HERE. IF YOU'D LIKE TO SEE MORE ABOUT RICHARD ANKROM'S WORK, YOU CAN GO TO HIS WEBSITE, THE ADDRESS THAT'S NOW ON YOUR SCREEN, AND IT'S FILLED WITH MUCH MORE DETAILS THAN WE HAVE HAD TIME TO COVER HERE TONIGHT.

[WWW.ANKROM.ORG]

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