5/17/02

LC020517

JESS>> ON LIFE AND TIMES TONIGHT --

GUARDING AGAINST NUCLEAR TERRORISM. WE'LL FIND OUT HOW SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA'S SEAPORTS ARE ON THE LOOKOUT FOR SUSPICIOUS CARGO.

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.

DAMON DRIVER>> IT'S A RADIATION PAGER. 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>> IT'S FAIRLY GOOD ENOUGH FOR NEW YORK, BUT COULD IT WORK IN LOS ANGELES? TONIGHT THE PROS AND CONS OF CARVING THE CITY INTO BOROUGHS. THE SAN FERNANDO VALLEY COULD GET MORE LOCAL CONTROL, BUT WILL THE BACKERS OF THE SECESSION MOVEMENT EMBRACE THIS NEW IDEA?

PLUS, A LOOK AT THE ROOTS OF ANTI-AMERICANISM IN THE MUSLIM WORLD. WE GO TO EGYPT, A NATION THAT GETS MILLIONS OF DOLLARS OF U.S. FOREIGN AID, YET MANY EGYPTIANS SAY THEY HATE THE U.S. GOVERNMENT. TONIGHT WE'LL FIND OUT WHY.

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.

WHEN THE COLD WAR ENDED, IT SEEMED THAT AMERICA'S NUCLEAR NIGHTMARE WAS FINALLY OVER, BUT THEN CAME THE TERRORIST ATTACKS THAT RAISED THE SPECTER OF A BRAND NEW NUCLEAR THREAT. WE'RE TALKING ABOUT A SMALL BOMB OF SOME KIND THAT COULD BE SMUGGLED INTO THE COUNTRY, POSSIBLY INSIDE A SHIPPING CONTAINER. THAT'S ONE OF THE REASONS THE PORTS OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA ARE IN A CONSTANT STATE OF ALERT. BUT AS GAY YEE REPORTS, HEIGHTENED SECURITY DOESN'T MEAN THAT EVERY PIECE OF CARGO GETS CHECKED.


GAY YEE>> IT'S A BRAVE NEW WORLD ALONG THE DOCKS OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA, A WORLD IN WHICH U.S. CUSTOM AGENTS USE MILLION DOLLAR X-RAY MACHINES TO CHECK THE FLOW OF INBOUND CARGO.

PAUL PULETZ>> WHAT WE'RE DOING IS SCANNING CONTAINERS BEING OFFLOADED FROM A SHIP ARRIVING FROM PANAMA.

GAY YEE>> SINCE SEPTEMBER 11, SECURITY IS THE MANTRA AT THE SEAPORTS OF LONG BEACH AND LOS ANGELES. X-RAYS BEAM INTO CARGO CONTAINERS THE SAME WAY SMALLER MACHINES SCAN LUGGAGE AT THE AIRPORT, BUT THESE INSPECTORS LOOK FOR MORE THAN SMALL WEAPONS OR HANDGUNS. THEIR SOPHISTICATED SOFTWARE IS DESIGNED TO ROOT OUT ALMOST ANY KIND OF CONTRABAND, ESPECIALLY THE KIND THAT MIGHT HAVE BEEN PLANTED BY A TERRORIST.

PAUL PULETZ>> IF THERE WERE A LOAD IN THERE, WHETHER IT BE NARCOTICS OR BE IMPROVISED EXPLOSIVES, IT WOULD SHOW UP MORE DENSE AND WE'D BE ABLE TO SEE IT ON THERE.

GAY YEE>> IF ANYTHING LOOKS SUSPICIOUS, INSPECTORS MOVE TO THE NEXT LEVEL OF THE SECURITY PROTOCOL. THEY CALL IT A TAILGATE SEARCH. THAT'S WHEN INSPECTORS GO INSIDE AND THEY'RE PREPARED FOR JUST ABOUT ANYTHING, INCLUDING THE MOST NIGHTMARISH OF POSSIBILITIES: A NUCLEAR DEVICE. IF YOU DOUBT WHETHER AUTHORITIES CONSIDER THAT A REAL THREAT, CHECK OUT THE NEW PIECE OF EQUIPMENT THAT'S NOW STANDARD ISSUE AT THE PORTS.

DAMON DRIVER>> IT'S A RADIATION PAGER. IF WE HAVE ANY KIND OF NUCLEAR DEVICE OR ANY OTHER TYPE OF RADIATION THAT COMES THROUGH THE PORT, IT GIVES US A READING SHOWING US WHAT THE RADIATION LEVEL IS AND WHETHER WE SHOULD BE ALARMED OR WHAT TYPE OF RADIATION IT IS THAT WE'RE GETTING.

GAY YEE>> BUT IS ALL THIS ENOUGH? THE PROBLEM IS, NOBODY KNOWS FOR SURE WHAT'S EXACTLY IN NINETY PERCENT OF THOSE CONTAINERS. THERE COULD BE SHOES, THERE COULD BE SOCKS, THERE COULD BE SOMETHING HIGHLY DANGEROUS. THIRTY-FIVE PERCENT OF ALL U.S. IMPORTS COME FROM SHIPS THAT PASS THROUGH THESE TWO PORTS. LONG BEACH ALONE HANDLES UP TO 12,000 TWENTY-FOOT-LONG CONTAINERS EVERY DAY, BUT SURPRISINGLY ONLY TWO PERCENT OF THESE BIG BOXES ARE THOROUGHLY INSPECTED.

VERA ADAMS>> IF WE TRIED TO EXAMINE EVERY SINGLE CONTAINER THAT CAME INTO THIS COUNTRY, THE ECONOMY WOULD COME TO A SCREECHING HALT.

GAY YEE>> VERA ADAMS IS THE PORT DIRECTOR FOR THE U.S. CUSTOMS SERVICE. SHE SAYS IT'S NOT NECESSARY TO EXAMINE EVERY CONTAINER. SHIPPERS WITH A GOOD RECORD ARE FAST-TRACKED. INSPECTORS USE RISK MANAGEMENT TO ANALYZE THE CARGO, PORT OF ORIGIN AND SHIPPING COMPANY. THEY LOOK FOR ANYTHING UNUSUAL AND CHECK THOSE SHIPMENTS.

VERA ADAMS>> THE CARRIER SENDS US AN ELECTRONIC MANIFEST WITH ALL OF THE INFORMATION ABOUT WHAT'S COMING IN ON THAT SHIP. USUALLY THAT'S TWO DAYS OUT. OF EVERYTHING THAT'S COMING IN ON THAT SHIP, WE DECIDE BEFORE IT EVEN GETS HERE WHAT WE WANT TO LOOK AT.

GAY YEE>> BUT EVEN THIS ISN'T FOOLPROOF. IN RECENT YEARS, HUMAN BEINGS, CHINESE IMMIGRANTS, HAVE BEEN SMUGGLED INSIDE THESE CONTAINERS, LOCKED IN FOR WEEKS AT A TIME WITH NO ELECTRICITY, WATER OR TOILETS. AND A LOS ANGELES RADIO REPORTER DROVE UP TO AN UNLOCKED GATE RECENTLY AND WAS NEVER CHALLENGED FOR THIRTY MINUTES. CRITICS SAY IT COULD BE JUST AS EASY FOR A TERRORIST TO GET IN. THEY SAY, WHILE AIRPORTS ARE TURNING INTO FORT KNOX, SEAPORT SECURITY STILL HAS PLENTY OF HOLES.

JOHN HOLMES>> IS IT A LEVEL COMMENSURATE WITH AN AIRPORT? I THINK IT'S HARDENED CONSIDERABLY. YOU CAN'T COMPARE AN AIRPORT AND A PORT BECAUSE ONE HANDLES PASSENGERS.

GAY YEE>> AFTER SEPTEMBER 11, PORT AUTHORITIES WOULD LIKE TO SEE A GLOBAL TRACKING SYSTEM THAT WOULD ALLOW U.S. INSPECTORS TO CHECK CARGO BEFORE IT REACHES OUR BORDERS, BUT THAT TAKES MONEY.

FAUSTO CAPOBIANCO>> THOSE INCREASED COSTS HAVE TO COME IN THE FORM OF INCREASED FUNDING, SO WE'RE HOPING FOR ADDITIONAL SUPPORT IN TERMS OF FEDERAL FUNDS FOR SOME OF THAT CONSTRUCTION.

GAY YEE>> AND THE MONEY ISN'T THERE YET, SO --

VERA ADAMS>> WE HAVE TO BALANCE SECURITY WITH PROTECTING THE COMMERCE AND THE SMOOTH FLOW OF GOODS AND SERVICES COMING INTO THIS COUNTRY. THE LAST THING WE WANT TO DO IS HAVE THE IMPACT THAT THE TERRORISTS ORIGINALLY INTENDED, WHICH IS TO DISRUPT THIS ECONOMY.

GAY YEE>> BUT CRITICS SAY THEY ONLY HOPE TRYING TO KEEP THE CARGO MOVING WITHOUT INTERRUPTION IS WORTH THE RISK. AT THE PORT OF LONG BEACH, GAY YEE FOR LIFE AND TIMES.

JESS>> GAY JOINS US NOW. YOU TALKED TO VARIOUS AUTHORITIES, BUT WHO'S ACTUALLY IN CHARGE? YOU'VE GOT THE CUSTOMS SERVICE, THE PORT POLICE, HOMELAND SECURITY, I WOULD ASSUME, THE COAST GUARD.

GAY YEE>> THAT'S ONE OF THE ISSUES. THERE ISN'T ONE CONSISTENT GROUP THAT'S TAKING CARE OF ALL OF SECURITY. THE COAST GUARD TAKES CARE OF THINGS BEYOND THE BREAKWATER. THE U.S. CUSTOMS TAKES CARE OF GUIDELINES TO THE VARIOUS TERMINALS. BUT THE VARIOUS COMPANIES PRETTY MUCH ARE ON THEIR OWN. THEY GET THE GUIDELINES FROM THE U.S. CUSTOMS SERVICE, BUT IT'S REALLY UP TO THEM. IF THEY'RE ABLE TO FOLLOW THEM, THEY DO NEED TO HAVE EITHER PHOTO I.D. OR THEY MAY HAVE A CHOICE TO HAVE INCREASED SECURITY GUARDS. BUT IT'S REALLY UP TO THE INDIVIDUAL COMPANY AND TERMINALS TO DO THEIR OWN THING.

JESS>> PHOTO I.D.S AND BACKGROUND CHECKS HAVE BEEN OPPOSED BY THE LONGSHOREMEN'S UNION?

GAY YEE>> THE UNION, ABSOLUTELY. THERE IS A LOT OF CONCERN BECAUSE THEY'RE FEARFUL THAT THEIR BACKGROUNDS, WHICH MAY NOT HAVE ANYTHING TO DO WITH THEIR CURRENT POSITIONS, MAY BE USED AGAINST THEM. SO THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF CRITICISM OF THAT.

JESS>> AND THE CONCEPT OF EXTENDING OUR BORDERS. WHAT IS THAT?

GAY YEE>> THAT'S SOMETHING THAT THE U.S. CUSTOMS TALKED ABOUT. THEY WERE SAYING THAT, IF SOME OF THE MATERIALS ARE, SAY, IN THE COUNTRY OF SWEDEN DESTINED FOR HERE IN THE UNITED STATES, WHY CAN'T SOME OF OUR U.S. CUSTOMS PEOPLE GO OVER TO SWEDEN AND CHECK THAT LOAD OUT FIRST BEFORE IT COMES WITHIN OUR BORDERS?

JESS>> WITH ALL OUR IMPORTS FROM CHINA, THAT WOULD BE A STICKY SITUATION, WOULD IT NOT?

GAY YEE>> THAT WOULD BE TOUGH, AND THAT'S A PROBLEM AREA.

JESS>> AND THE FACT THAT WE'RE A NATION THAT IMPORTS FIFTY PERCENT OF ITS OIL, THOSE GIANT OIL TANKERS COULD POSE A REAL THREAT, COULD THEY NOT?

GAY YEE>> THAT IS A BIG CONCERN, ESPECIALLY WITH THE CONCERNS ABOUT NUCLEAR WEAPONS. THAT IS ONE OF THE REASONS THEY STARTED THE SITUATION WITH THE RADAR DETECTORS AMONG THE OFFICERS AT THE PORT. THEY'RE VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THAT.

JESS>> THANKS, GAY.

MONDAY ON LIFE AND TIMES, TALK OF A NEW FOOTBALL STADIUM AND MASSIVE NEW DEVELOPMENT FOR DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES, BUT WHO STANDS TO GAIN? THE CITY OR WEALTHY DEVELOPERS?

>> THE IDEA OF A FOOTBALL TEAM WAS NEVER PART OF OUR PLANS, BUT WE KNOW THAT THE TIMING IS VERY COINCIDENTAL. SO I WANTED TO MAKE IT VERY CLEAR TO EVERYONE OUT THERE THAT I INTRODUCED A MOTION THAT SAYS THAT WE'RE NOT GOING TO USE TAX MONEY TO LURE A FOOTBALL TEAM. WE'RE NOT GOING TO PAY FOR A STADIUM.

JESS>> IT'S A GREAT PLACE TO VISIT AND THEY CLAIM YOU CAN'T BEAT THEIR PIZZA, BUT IS NEW YORK REALLY A GOOD ROLE MODEL FOR LOS ANGELES? THAT'S A SERIOUS QUESTION, AS LOCAL OFFICIALS EXPLORE THE POSSIBILITY OF CARVING L.A. INTO A SERIES OF NEW YORK STYLE BOROUGHS. IT COULD BE A WAY OF GIVING THE SAN FERNANDO VALLEY AND OTHER PARTS OF THE CITY MORE LOCAL CONTROL, BUT WOULD IT BE ENOUGH TO DERAIL SECESSION?

TONIGHT WE'RE JOINED BY TWO PEOPLE WITH DEFINITE OPINIONS ON THAT QUESTION. CITY COUNCIL MEMBER, WENDY GREUEL, BELIEVES HER PROPOSAL FOR CREATING BOROUGHS COULD KEEP LOS ANGELES FROM BREAKING APART, BUT L.A. COUNTY SUPERVISOR, ZEV YAROSLAVSKY, IS SKEPTICAL. ALSO HERE TO WEIGH IN ON THIS ISSUE IS KERMAN MADDOX.

MS. GREUEL, IS THIS REALLY A DESIGN SIMPLY TO DERAIL SECESSION?

WENDY GREUEL>> NO, NOT AT ALL. I THINK IT IS IMPORTANT TO DISTINGUISH WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT VERSUS WHAT'S IN NEW YORK. IT'S NOT A NEW YORK STYLE BOROUGH. WE USE THE WORD "BOROUGH" BECAUSE IT IS A FORM WHICH PEOPLE ARE FAMILIAR WITH, WHICH IS LOCAL CONTROL IN NEIGHBORHOODS AND COMMUNITIES. LOS ANGELES IS UNIQUE AND THAT'S WHY WE NEED TO LOOK AT UNIQUE WAYS TO GOVERN. PEOPLE IN MY COMMUNITY, WHEN I WALKED NEIGHBORHOODS THROUGHOUT MY CAMPAIGN, SAID TO ME, "WE ARE FRUSTRATED. CITY GOVERNMENT DOESN'T WORK. WE'RE NOT SURE SECESSION IS THE ANSWER, BUT WE DO BELIEVE THAT SOMETHING NEEDS TO CHANGE."

I'VE ONLY BEEN IN OFFICE NOW ABOUT FIVE AND A HALF WEEKS AND I REALIZED THAT I HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO BRING THIS DEBATE FORWARD. THAT WE COULD INTRODUCE A MOTION AND PUT BEFORE THE VOTERS A CHARTER REFORM THAT WOULD TELL PEOPLE WE'RE SERIOUS ABOUT LOCAL CONTROL. PUT TOGETHER BASIC PRINCIPLES OF WHAT A BOROUGH SYSTEM WOULD LOOK LIKE IN LOS ANGELES WHERE LOCAL DECISIONS LIKE PLANNING AND LAND USE AND LIBRARIES AND STREET REPAVING ARE DECIDED ON A LOCAL LEVEL AND REGIONAL ISSUES ARE DECIDED ON A REGIONAL BASIS. PEOPLE ARE FRUSTRATED AND WE NEED TO LOOK AT CREATIVE WAYS TO ADDRESS THEIR CONCERNS.

JESS>> SO IT'S JUST COINCIDENCE THAT YOU AND JANICE HAHN, THE COUNCILWOMAN WHO'S HARBOR DISTRICT IS ALSO THREATENING TO SECEDE, IT'S JUST COINCIDENCE THAT THE TWO OF YOU ARE STRONGLY PUSHING THIS?

WENDY GREUEL>> WELL, ACTUALLY, JANICE AND I SIT NEXT TO EACH OTHER IN CITY COUNCIL. JANICE AND I HAVE BEEN TALKING SINCE THE FIRST DAY I WAS THERE ABOUT HOW DO WE CHANGE THE SYSTEM. SHE WAS ON THE CHARTER COMMISSION BEFORE --

JESS>> -- WHICH TURNED DOWN BOROUGHS.

WENDY GREUEL>> WELL, SHE SAID TO ME, "YOU KNOW, I TALKED ABOUT BOROUGHS DURING THAT CHARTER REFORM." THE POLITICAL WILL WASN'T THERE THEN. IT IS NOW. THIS IDEA'S TIME HAS COME, ONE IN WHICH WE CAN DISCUSS HOW TO PUT LOCAL CONTROL INTO OUR COMMUNITIES. THAT'S WHAT YOU HEAR IN ALL PARTS OF THE CITY.

KERMAN MADDOX>> SPEAKING ABOUT LOCAL CONTROL, I WANT TO MOVE FROM BOROUGHS TO SECESSION FOR A SECOND. A LOT OF PEOPLE SEE THIS AS THE ALTERNATIVE TO SECESSION, ESPECIALLY THOSE PEOPLE WHO ARE AGAINST THE VALLEY BREAKING AWAY. SUPERVISOR, ZEV YAROSLAVSKY, CAN YOU GIVE US THE LATEST DEVELOPMENTS ON SECESSION? BY THAT, I MEAN, WHEN IS LAFCO, THE BOARD THAT YOU SIT ON, GOING TO MAKE A DECISION WHETHER THIS IS GOING TO BE ON THE BALLOT IN NOVEMBER OR NOT?

ZEV YAROSLAVSKY>> FIRST OF ALL, LET ME SAY I'M NOT SKEPTICAL ABOUT WENDY AND HER DESIRE TO STUDY THIS AND TO BRING IT FORTH. I THINK IT'S A VERY HELPFUL DISCUSSION. I THINK WE ALL WISH IT WOULD HAVE HAPPENED A LOT SOONER. WENDY WASN'T A COUNCILWOMAN THEN, BUT THE DISCUSSION OF BOROUGHS IS IMPORTANT AND IT SHOULD BE DISCUSSED AS IT WAS DURING THE CHARTER DEBATE A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO.

THE LAFCO BOARD, THE LOCAL AGENCY FORMATION COMMISSION, WHICH IS THE AGENCY BOARD CHARGED WITH THE RESPONSIBILITY OF DECIDING WHAT GOES ON THE BALLOT IN TERMS OF SECESSION, IS SCHEDULED ON WEDNESDAY TO DECIDE WHETHER TO PUT THE SAN FERNANDO VALLEY SECESSION ON THE BALLOT THIS NOVEMBER, ALONG WITH AN ELECTION FOR MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL IN THE SAN FERNANDO VALLEY. THE FOLLOWING WEEK, WHICH WILL BE MAY 29, IS SCHEDULED TO DECIDE WHETHER TO PUT THE HARBOR AREA, SAN PEDRO-WILMINGTON CITY ISSUE, ON THE BALLOT, AND THE FOLLOWING WEEK AFTER THAT, THE ISSUE OF HOLLYWOOD.

I DON'T KNOW FOR SURE WHERE PEOPLE STAND ON THE SAN FERNANDO VALLEY OF THE LAFCO BOARD, BUT I SUSPECT THAT THE VALLEY IS PROBABLY THE MOST RIPE OF THE THREE TO GET SUPPORT FROM THE BOARD TO BE PLACED ON THE BALLOT FOR A VOTE OF THE PEOPLE AND THEN LET THE PEOPLE DECIDE THE ISSUE.

KERMAN MADDOX>> SO I WANT TO MAKE SURE I'M CLEAR. IF IN FACT THESE VOTES TAKE PLACE OVER THE NEXT THIRTY DAYS, ON THE BALLOT IN NOVEMBER, WILL THERE BE A VOTE FOR SECESSION IN THE SAN FERNANDO VALLEY, SECESSION IN THE HARBOR AND SECESSION IN HOLLYWOOD?

ZEV YAROSLAVSKY>> WELL, THERE COULD BE. IT ALL DEPENDS ON WHAT THE LAFCO BOARD DECIDES TO DO. EACH OF THEM IS A SEPARATE ISSUE. IF THE LAFCO BOARD DECIDES TO PUT ALL THREE ON THE BALLOT, THEN THERE WILL BE THREE SECESSION MATTERS ON THE BALLOT. THE WAY IT WORKS IS, FOR SECESSION OF ANY ONE AREA TO OCCUR, IT NEEDS A MAJORITY VOTE BOTH IN THE AREA PROPOSING TO SECEDE AS WELL AS CITYWIDE.

SO YOU'D NEED, FOR EXAMPLE, IN THE SAN FERNANDO VALLEY CASE, THE MAJORITY OF THE VALLEY WOULD HAVE TO VOTE FOR IT AND THEN A MAJORITY OF THE CITY, INCLUDING THE VALLEY, WOULD HAVE TO VOTE FOR IT. IT'S TWO ELECTIONS IN ONE. THE SAME WOULD GO FOR SAN PEDRO AND FOR HOLLYWOOD. I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE LAFCO BOARD WILL DO ON ALL THREE OF THEM. BUT ASSUMING THEY PUT ALL THREE ON, YOU WOULD HAVE THREE ELECTIONS ON AT THE SAME TIME. IF THEY PUT ONE ON, OBVIOUSLY YOU'D HAVE ONE ELECTION ON AT THE SAME TIME.

JESS>> MS. GREUEL, DO YOU EXPECT TO HAVE THE BOROUGHS SYSTEM ON THE BALLOT ALSO IN NOVEMBER?

WENDY GREUEL>> I WOULD HOPE SO. I HAVE A QUICK TURNAROUND --

JESS>> -- SIDE BY SIDE WITH SECESSION.

WENDY GREUEL>> SIDE BY SIDE. BY JULY 17, WE HAVE TO HAVE THIS BEFORE THE CITY COUNCIL AND APPROVED. I THINK THE MOST IMPORTANT THING IS FOR PEOPLE TO DECIDE. I BELIEVE THAT THE VALLEY SECESSION SHOULD BE ON THE BALLOT. I TALKED ABOUT THAT DURING MY CAMPAIGN AND I THINK HERE --

JESS>> -- ABOUT THE BOROUGHS, HOW MANY ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT? HOW MANY BOROUGHS FOR THE CITY OF LOS ANGELES?

WENDY GREUEL>> WELL, PEOPLE HAVE PARAMETERS. SOME PEOPLE SAY FIVE, SOME SAY 25. WE NEED TO LOOK AT -- AGAIN, WE DON'T WANT TO CREATE MORE BUREAUCRACY. WE WANT TO HAVE IT BE SOMETHING --

JESS>> -- CAN YOU AVOID MORE BUREAUCRACY? EACH BOROUGH WOULD HAVE A PRESIDENT AND ONE WOULD ASSUME, WHAT, MAYBE FIVE BOARD MEMBERS?

WENDY GREUEL>> POTENTIALLY, YES. I MEAN THOSE MIGHT --

JESS>> -- AND AS MANY A 25 BOROUGHS?

WENDY GREUEL>> WELL, AGAIN, THAT'S WHAT SOME PEOPLE ARE SUGGESTING. WHAT WE ARE GOING TO DO IS PROPOSE A CHARTER AMENDMENT THAT SAYS WE'RE SERIOUS ABOUT THIS. BECAUSE I THINK SUPERVISOR YAROSLAVSKY WOULD AGREE WITH ME THAT WE HAVE A LOT OF CYNICAL PEOPLE OUT THERE WHO DON'T TRUST POLITICIANS AND I SAW THAT ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL, SO --

JESS>> -- SO YOU'RE GOING TO ASK FOR APPROVAL OF JUST THE GENERAL IDEA RATHER THAN SPECIFICS?

WENDY GREUEL>> WELL, I THINK THAT IT'S TWOFOLD. ONE, WE HAVE TO PUT IT ON AS A CHARTER AMENDMENT SO WE TELL PEOPLE WE'RE SERIOUS ABOUT IT, AND PUT PARAMETERS ON THAT TO INDICATE IT'S GOING TO BE FIVE TO, LET'S SAY, 25 BOROUGHS. IT WILL HAVE THESE KINDS OF AUTHORITIES RELATIVE TO LAND USE AND RELATIVE TO LIBRARIES AND PARKS. THEN COME BACK AND HAVE A PROCESS THAT IS GOING TO CONTINUE TO DISCUSS HOW TO FINE-TUNE THAT.

BUT I BELIEVE THAT, IF YOU PUT IT ON THE BALLOT, PEOPLE THEN SAY YOU'RE ACTUALLY SERIOUS AND, IF IT BINDS US AS A CITY COUNCIL, TO ACTUALLY DO IT, THAT SAYS TO PEOPLE WE ARE DEEPLY CONCERNED ABOUT LOCAL CONTROL. I HAVE TO TELL YOU, I'VE GOTTEN HUNDREDS OF E-MAILS. PEOPLE CALLING ON THE PHONE, MOSTLY NON-POLITICIANS, SAYING WE'VE WANTED THIS, WE WANT TO SEE IT GO FORWARD, GREAT, STAND UP AND HOPE YOU HAVE YOUR OTHER COLLEAGUES WITH YOU.

KERMAN MADDOX>> ZEV, LET ME ASK YOU. YOU SAID YOU DON'T LIKE TO USE THE WORD "SKEPTICAL" ABOUT THE BOROUGHS SYSTEM, BUT I GOT THE IMPRESSION YOU HAVE CONCERNS ABOUT THIS PROPOSAL. WHAT ARE THOSE CONCERNS?

ZEV YAROSLAVSKY>> WELL, IT'S NOT A CONCERN ABOUT THE PROPOSAL BECAUSE I DON'T THINK WE KNOW WHAT THE PROPOSAL IS YET. UNTIL WENDY AND HER COLLEAGUES FASHION SOMETHING SPECIFIC, WE WON'T KNOW. MY CONCERN IS THAT THEY HAVE ABOUT 75 MORE DAYS TO DECIDE WHAT THEY'RE GOING TO PUT ON THE BALLOT IN NOVEMBER. BY EARLY AUGUST, THEY HAVE TO MAKE A DECISION ON WHAT GOES ON THE NOVEMBER BALLOT. THAT'S A VERY SHORT PERIOD OF TIME TO VET A CONCEPT THIS COMPLEX. I WISH HER A LOT OF LUCK AND, IF THERE'S ANYBODY WHO CAN DO IT, WENDY CAN BECAUSE SHE'S GOT A LOT OF EXPERIENCE AND A LOT OF SMARTS, BUT IT'S A TOUGH ORDER TO DO IT IN 75 DAYS.

JESS>> DOES THIS NOT SUGGEST THAT THE NEIGHBORHOOD COUNCILS THAT WERE CREATED BY THE 1999 NEW CHARTER DIDN'T AMOUNT TO MUCH?

ZEV YAROSLAVSKY>> WELL, YOU KNOW, FRANKLY I THINK THE NEIGHBORHOOD COUNCILS HAVEN'T BEEN GIVEN A CHANCE YET. THEY'RE SO NEW. THEY'RE STILL FIGHTING IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD TO --

JESS>> -- THEY HAVE NO REAL POWER.

ZEV YAROSLAVSKY>> THEY HAVE NO POWER, BUT, YOU KNOW, A LOT OF HOMEOWNER ASSOCIATIONS HAVE NO POWER LEGALLY AND STATUTORILY, BUT FUNCTIONALLY, THEY HAVE A LOT OF POWER.

JESS>> BUT THEY DO HAVE INFLUENCE.

ZEV YAROSLAVSKY>> THE ISSUE REALLY IS A POLITICAL ONE AND A CULTURAL ONE. I THINK, WHEN YOU LOOK AT SAN PEDRO, THE WILMINGTON AREA, OR YOU LOOK AT THE SAN FERNANDO VALLEY, THIS IS A VERY WELL-GOVERNED CITY. I SAY THAT NOT ONLY AS SOMEBODY WHO'S SERVED ON THE CITY COUNCIL FOR 19-1/2 YEARS, BUT FOR A CITY THIS LARGE, AMONG THE LARGEST CITIES IN THE COUNTRY, THIS IS AMONG THE BEST GOVERNED. IT'S NOT ABOUT GOVERNANCE. I THINK IT'S A CULTURAL THING. I THINK IT'S PEOPLE IN PARTS OF THE CITY WHO PERCEIVE THEY WANT A LITTLE MORE OF THEIR OWN. THAT'S WHAT THE VALLEY --

KERMAN MADDOX>> -- BUT IF PEOPLE THINK IT'S SO WELL GOVERNED, WHY DOES THE VALLEY WANT TO BREAK AWAY, SAN PEDRO WANT TO BREAK AWAY, HOLLYWOOD WANT TO BREAK AWAY? PEOPLE IN SOUTH CENTRAL ARE TALKING ABOUT --

ZEV YAROSLAVSKY>> -- KERMAN, IT'S VERY SIMILAR TO -- IT'S A CONTRADICTION. IT'S LIKE WHEN YOU ASK PEOPLE, "DO YOU THINK THAT CONGRESS IS DOING A GOOD JOB, YES OR NO?" SOMETIMES THE MAJORITY WILL SAY NO. WHEN YOU SAY, "IS YOUR CONGRESSMAN DOING A GREAT JOB?", THEY SAY ABSOLUTELY. "IS THERE A NEED FOR TERM LIMITS?" YES. "DO YOU WANT YOUR CONGRESSMAN TO BE TERMED OUT?" NO. SO IT'S ONE OF THOSE THINGS WHERE YOU JUST CAN'T EXPLAIN IT.

JESS>> CAN YOU TELL US, ON THE LAFCO BOARD, ARE YOU GOING TO VOTE FOR PUTTING ALL THREE OF THOSE CITIES ON THE BALLOT? ALL THREE OF THOSE BREAK-AWAY AREAS ON THE BALLOT?

ZEV YAROSLAVSKY>> I HAVE NOT COME TO TERMS ON THE ISSUE OF THE HARBOR AND OF HOLLYWOOD AT THIS POINT BECAUSE WE'VE JUST GOTTEN THE REPORTS. ON THE SAN FERNANDO VALLEY, IT WOULD TAKE A BOLT OF LIGHTNING, SOME NEW PIECE OF INFORMATION, TO CAUSE ME NOT TO VOTE TO PUT IT ON. THE VALLEY WOULD BE A VIABLE CITY.

THE FINDING WE HAVE TO MAKE, AS A LAFCO BOARD MEMBER, IS WILL THE REMAINING CITY OF THE CITY OF LOS ANGELES BE VIABLE? OF COURSE, IT WOULD. AND WOULD THE SAN FERNANDO VALLEY BE A VIABLE CITY? OF COURSE, IT WOULD. ALL OUR ROLE IS IS TO DECIDE WHETHER THE PEOPLE SHOULD HAVE A CHANCE TO DECIDE. I AIR ON THE SIDE OF LETTING THE PEOPLE HAVE A VOTE IN THIS. THE PEOPLE WILL NORMALLY GET IT RIGHT AND THEY OUGHT TO HAVE A SHOT AT THIS. FINALLY GET IT OUT OF THE HANDS OF THE POLITICIANS AND LET IT BE FOUGHT OUT IN THE MARKETPLACE OF IDEAS.

KERMAN MADDOX>> COUNCILWOMAN GREUEL, IF YOU HAD A CHANCE TO VOTE, WOULD YOU VOTE TO ALLOW THE PEOPLE TO MAKE THE DECISION ON VALLEY SECESSION AS WELL?

WENDY GREUEL>> MOST DEFINITELY. MOST DEFINITELY IT SHOULD BE ON THE BALLOT.

JESS>> THANK YOU BOTH.

WENDY GREUEL>> THANK YOU.

JESS>> WENDY GREUEL, ZEV YAROSLAVSKY AND, OF COURSE, KERMAN MADDOX.

KERMAN MADDOX>> THANKS, JESS.

JESS>> I WANT TO TELL YOU A BIT ABOUT OUR NEXT "ETHICS PROJECT" SPECIAL THAT'S COMING UP NEXT WEDNESDAY. WE'RE FOCUSING ON THE ETHICS OF HOLLYWOOD. HERE'S A SMALL SAMPLE.

>> WHEN YOU SEE SOMEONE PLAY OUT A MORALITY PLAY LIKE "STAR WARS" IS, TENS OF THOUSANDS, HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS, OF YOUNG KIDS ALL OVER THE WORLD ARE IMPACTED BY THE VALUES THAT THEY SEE THERE.

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JESS>> WHY DO THEY HATE US? THAT'S A QUESTION MANY AMERICANS ASK IN THE WAKE OF LAST YEAR'S TERRORIST ATTACKS. SUDDENLY THE COUNTRY HAD A NEW AWARENESS OF AMERICA'S IMAGE IN PARTS OF THE MUSLIM WORLD, EVEN IN COUNTRIES THAT ARE SUPPOSEDLY OUR FRIENDS. TONIGHT WITH THE HELP OF CHANNEL ONE NEWS, WE TAKE YOU TO ONE OF THOSE COUNTRIES, EGYPT, AND AS YOU'LL SEE, MANY EGYPTIANS DRAW A DISTINCTION BETWEEN THE AMERICAN PEOPLE AND THE AMERICAN GOVERNMENT. THE CORRESPONDENT IS GOTHAM CHOPRA.

GOTHAM CHOPRA>> THE MAIN REASON WE CAME HERE WAS BECAUSE, ON SEPTEMBER 11, THE UNITED STATES WAS SHOCKED BY AN ACT OF TERRORISM COMMITTED BY ISLAMIC TERRORISTS. WELL, WE WERE CURIOUS TO COME TO AN ISLAMIC COUNTRY, LIKE EGYPT WHICH IS HEAVILY POPULATED BY ISLAMIC PEOPLE, TO FIND OUT, YOU KNOW, WHAT'S GOING ON HERE.

THE LAST TIME CHANNEL ONE VISITED EGYPT IN 1993, THE GOVERNMENT WAS BATTLING ANTI-AMERICAN ISLAMIC MILITANTS WHO DENOUNCED U.S. CULTURE AND VALUES. THEIR SLOGAN WAS "ISLAM IS THE SOLUTION". SO WHEN I ARRIVED IN EGYPT LAST MONTH, I WANTED TO TAKE A LOOK AT THE STATE OF ISLAMIC MILITANCY. I MET WITH AN OUTSPOKEN ISLAMIC LEADER NAMED SHEIK SHAHINE.

AFTER THE EVENTS OF SEPTEMBER 11, MANY AMERICANS SEEM TO FEEL SHOCKED THAT THERE COULD BE SUCH ANTI-AMERICAN FEELING COMING FROM ANOTHER PART OF THE WORLD. IS THAT ACCURATE TO SAY?

SHEIK SHAHINE (INTERPRETED)>> WE ARE REALLY DISAPPOINTED IN AMERICA. NO ONE KNOWS WHAT WILL HAPPEN, BUT HATRED TOWARDS AMERICA CAN DOUBLE.

GOTHAM CHOPRA>> BUT HIS WARNING ISN'T AGAINST AMERICA IN GENERAL. WHAT'S ANGERING MANY EGYPTIANS TODAY IS WHAT THEY VIEW AS U.S. FAVORITISM OF ISRAEL AND BIAS AGAINST THE PALESTINIANS WHO ARE LARGELY MUSLIM.

SHEIK SHAHINE (INTERPRETED)>> ISRAEL CANNOT DO ANYTHING WITHOUT THE APPROVAL OF AMERICA.

GOTHAM CHOPRA>> THEN I WENT TO CAIRO UNIVERSITY, A NOTORIOUS SOURCE OF ISLAMIC MILITANCY. JUST OFF TO THE RIGHT HERE, YOU CAN ALSO SEE ALL THESE RIOT POLICE. THEY'RE HERE EVERY SINGLE DAY AND THAT'S BECAUSE CAIRO UNIVERSITY IS KNOWN TO BE A HOTBED OF ACTIVISM.

WE WANT TO KNOW WHAT YOUNG PEOPLE HERE THINK ABOUT THE UNITED STATES.

INTERPRETER>> WE LIKE THE AMERICAN PEOPLE, BUT THE ADMINISTRATION AND IT BEING BIASED TOWARDS ISRAEL, THIS WE DON'T LIKE.

>> THE AMERICAN GOVERNMENT -- I DON'T HATE THE PEOPLE. I HATE THE GOVERNMENT.

GOTHAM CHOPRA>> BUT THEY ALSO TOLD ME WHAT THEY LIKE ABOUT THE U.S.

>> I LIKE AMERICA TOO MUCH. I LIKE TO LIVE THERE. I LIKE HOW THEY BEHAVE. I LIKE AMERICAN MOVIES.

GOTHAM CHOPRA>> THIS STUDENT SHOWED ME A PHOTO OF HIS AMERICAN PEN PAL.

SO WHO IS THIS?

>> THIS? THIS IS MY GIRLFRIEND VICKI.

GOTHAM CHOPRA>> VICKI?

>> YES. FROM WASHINGTON.

GOTHAM CHOPRA>> SO, SINCE SEPTEMBER 11, YOU HAVEN'T SPOKEN TO HER?

>> NOT TO SEND TO ME ANY LETTER.

GOTHAM CHOPRA>> DO YOU THINK SHE THINKS YOU ARE HER FRIEND STILL?

>> I DON'T KNOW. I HOPE THAT.

GOTHAM CHOPRA>> THEN I WENT TO CAIRO'S POOR NEIGHBORHOODS, THE SO-CALLED BREEDING GROUNDS FOR ISLAMIC MILITANCY.

IT USED TO BE THAT ISLAMIC FUNDAMENTALISTS CAME FROM NEIGHBORHOODS LIKE THESE. DOES THAT STILL HAPPEN?

INTERPRETER>> NO MORE, NO MORE. YES, WE ARE MUSLIMS, BUT WE DON'T THINK IN AN EXTREME WAY. WE DON'T BELIEVE IN TERRORISTS. THAT WAS IN THE PAST. YOU CANNOT FIND THEM ANYWHERE HERE.

GOTHAM CHOPRA>> AND THAT'S A HUGE CHANGE. TODAY, MOST PEOPLE IN NEIGHBORHOODS LIKE THIS NO LONGER SEEM TO BELIEVE THAT VIOLENTLY IMPOSING ISLAMIC RULE WILL SOLVE BASIC PROBLEMS SUCH AS POVERTY.

INTERPRETER>> THE MINORITY, OR EXTREMISTS, THEY BELIEVE THAT THEY SHOULD CHANGE THE COMMUNITY HERE, BUT THEY'RE THE MINORITY. WE ARE PEACEFUL PEOPLE.

GOTHAM CHOPRA>> AND FINALLY I MET MOHAMMED. HE'S 23 YEARS OLD AND, JUST A FEW YEARS AGO, HE BECAME MORE FERVENT ABOUT HIS ISLAMIC FAITH.

HOW LONG AGO DID THIS TRANSFORMATION TAKE PLACE?

MOHAMMED EL-HALABY>> LIKE THREE OR FOUR YEARS AGO.

GOTHAM CHOPRA>> NOW MOHAMMED PREFERS TO WEAR THE TRADITIONAL RELIGIOUS GARB.

MOHAMMED EL-HALABY>> NOW THAT I'VE BECOME MORE INTO RELIGION, I HAVE TO THINK ABOUT EVERY STEP I TAKE. I HAVE TO THINK ABOUT THE CONSEQUENCES OF THAT BECAUSE ONE DAY I WILL HAVE TO STAND IN FRONT OF GOD AND HE'LL ASK ME EVERY SECOND I SPENT IN THIS LIFETIME WHAT I DID WITH THEM.

GOTHAM CHOPRA>> AT FIRST GLANCE, MOHAMMED FITS THE PROFILE OF WHAT MANY AMERICANS WERE FEARFUL OF AFTER SEPTEMBER 11, A YOUNG ARAB WITH EXTREME RELIGIOUS VIEWS. BUT IF YOU TAKE ANOTHER LOOK, YOU CAN SEE HE'S JUST A NORMAL GUY WHO LIKES WESTERN CULTURE. MOHAMMED LISTENS TO "PEARL JAM" AND STUDIES MARKETING AT THIS UNIVERSITY WHERE, SURPRISINGLY, HE FITS IN WITH THE OTHER STUDENTS.

WE WERE JUST WALKING AROUND THIS UNIVERSITY AND WE RAN INTO OUR FRIEND, MOHAMMED. YOU LOOK VERY DIFFERENT THAN THE LAST TIME WE SAW YOU.

AND IN MANY WAYS, THE TWO SIDES OF MOHAMMED REPRESENT THE NEW GENERATION OF ISLAM.

MOHAMMED EL-HALABY>> I WOULD LIKE TO TELL ALL PEOPLE WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW, THAT GOD CREATED US ALL ON ONE PLANET, SO THAT MEANS WE HAVE TO LIVE WITH EACH OTHER PEACEFULLY. SO I WOULD LIKE YOU ALL TO HAVE A GREAT TIME.

JESS>> NEXT MONDAY, PART TWO OF GOTHAM CHOPRA'S REPORT. HE'LL SHOW US HOW AMERICA'S CULTURE AND EVEN OUR FAST FOOD HAVE INVADED EGYPT.

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