5/23/02

LC020523

JESS MARLOW>> ON LIFE AND TIMES TONIGHT --

SOME CALL IT A BREATH OF FRESH AIR, CLEANER-RUNNING CARS FOR CALIFORNIA, BUT ONE OF THE STATE'S BIGGEST AUTO DEALERS IS SAYING "NO THANKS".

CAL WORTHINGTON>> "WELL, HOWDY AGAIN, I'M CAL WORTHINGTON. HEY, I'M HERE TO WARN YOU ABOUT SOMETHING THAT IS VERY, VERY IMPORTANT TO ALL OF US."

TIM CARMICHAEL>> THE AUTOMOBILE INDUSTRY IS PREYING ON PEOPLES' FEARS. THEY ARE, YOU KNOW, FALLING INTO THE TRAP THAT THEY'VE FALLEN INTO OVER THE LAST THREE OR FOUR DECADES.

JESS>> STAYING ALERT TO TERROR. LOS ANGELES AUTHORITIES ARE ACTING ON SOME OF THE STRONGEST TERRORIST WARNINGS SINCE SEPTEMBER 11, BUT WHAT ARE INDIVIDUALS SUPPOSED TO DO? AND IS SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA A LIKELY TARGET? TONIGHT WE'LL HEAR FROM AN EXPERT ON THE THREATS FACING AMERICA.

PLUS, CAMELLIAS, AZALEAS AND ROSES IN ONE OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA'S GREENEST PLACES. TONIGHT PATT MORRISON TAKES US ON A TOUR OF DESCANSO GARDENS AND SHARES THE HORTICULTURE AND HISTORY OF ONE OF NATURE'S TREASURES.

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.

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

YEARS AGO, CALIFORNIA SET THE PACE FOR CLEAN AIR LAWS, BUT A NEW EFFORT TO CLAMP DOWN EVEN TIGHTER ON AUTO EMISSIONS SEEMS TO BE RUNNING OUT OF GAS. THE MEASURE TARGETS CARBON DIOXIDE, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT MAY BE CAUSING GLOBAL WARMING. BUT AS GAY YEE REPORTS, THE GREEN BRIGADE MAY BE NO MATCH FOR ONE OF CALIFORNIA'S BEST-KNOWN CAR DEALERS.

GAY YEE>> IT'S TURNED INTO THE SPLASHIEST ISSUE OF THE SEASON IN SACRAMENTO AND IT'S TOPPED THE CHARTS IN THE WORLD OF TALK RADIO.

JOHN KOBYLT>> THEY HATED IT. WE GOT MORE E-MAILS THAN ANYTHING WE'VE DONE ALL YEAR. PROBABLY MORE E-MAILS THAN WE GOT FROM 9/11. THEY ABSOLUTELY HATED THE IDEA TOP TO BOTTOM.

GAY YEE>> THEY'RE TALKING ABOUT ASSEMBLY BILL 1058, A MEASURE THAT WOULD FORCE CARMAKERS TO CURTAIL CARBON DIOXIDE EMISSIONS ON ALL NEW VEHICLES SOLD IN CALIFORNIA BY THE END OF THE DECADE. THE BILL HAS ALREADY PASSED BOTH HOUSES OF THE STATE LEGISLATURE, BUT THE ASSEMBLY STILL HAS TO APPROVE SOME AMENDMENTS FOR THE MEASURE TO REACH THE GOVERNOR'S DESK, AND THAT MAY NEVER HAPPEN. WHY NOT? IF YOU WANT AN ANSWER, "GO SEE CAL". CAL, AS IN CAL WORTHINGTON, ONE OF THE BIGGEST AND BEST-KNOWN CAR DEALERS AROUND.

CAL WORTHINGTON>> "HEY, I'M HERE TO WARN YOU ABOUT SOMETHING THAT IS VERY, VERY IMPORTANT TO ALL OF US. DO YOU KNOW THEY'RE ABOUT TO PASS A NEW LAW HERE IN CALIFORNIA THAT WOULD PREVENT YOU FROM BUYING THE VEHICLE YOU NEED AND WANT?"

GAY YEE>> WORTHINGTON'S FRIENDLY VOICE HAS BEEN HEARD ALL ACROSS THE STATE AND THE MOTORCAR DEALERS ASSOCIATION HAS TAKEN OUT FULL-PAGE NEWSPAPER ADS LIKE THIS ONE IN THE LOS ANGELES TIMES. THE MEDIA BLITZ HAS LEFT THE BILL SUPPORTERS REELING.

TIM CARMICHAEL>> THE AUTOMOBILE INDUSTRY IS PREYING ON PEOPLES' FEARS. THEY ARE, YOU KNOW, FALLING INTO THE TRAP THAT THEY'VE FALLEN INTO OVER THE LAST THREE OR FOUR DECADES WHERE AN ENVIRONMENTAL REGULATION COMES FORWARD OR SAFETY REGULATION COMES FORWARD AND THEY SCREAM ABOUT IT AND THEY CLAIM THAT IT WILL DESTROY THEIR INDUSTRY OR BANKRUPT THEIR COMPANIES OR PREVENT PEOPLE FROM BUYING THE VEHICLES THEY WANT TO BUY.

GAY YEE>> BUT THE AUTO INDUSTRY SAYS THIS BILL IS DIFFERENT. PETER HOFFMAN IS PRESIDENT OF SIERRA AUTO CARS IN MONROVIA.

PETER HOFFMAN>> THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THIS LEGISLATION AND THE OTHER SAFETY-RELATED OR ENVIRONMENTAL, YOU KNOW, EMISSIONS-RELATED LEGISLATION IS THAT THIS ONE REALLY DOESN'T HAVE ANY BENEFIT TO CALIFORNIANS. THAT WHAT YOU'RE DOING IS ASKING THE CALIFORNIA CONSUMING PUBLIC TO STEP ONTO THE BLEEDING EDGE OF GREENHOUSE GAS REDUCTION FOR THE WORLD AND THERE MAY BE NO BENEFIT.

GAY YEE>> HOFFMAN SAYS THE BILL MIGHT RESULT IN LIGHTER, MORE EFFICIENT CARS FOR CALIFORNIA, BUT HE SAYS THOSE VEHICLES WOULD ALSO BE SMALLER AND MORE EXPENSIVE. AND EVEN IF THEY DID CLEAN UP OUR AIR, HOFFMAN BELIEVES CARMAKERS WOULD STILL SELL THE REGULAR MODELS WITH THE SAME OLD EMISSIONS TO THE REST OF THE COUNTRY. BUT TIM CARMICHAEL OF THE COALITION FOR CLEAN AIR SAYS CALIFORNIA HAS A CHANCE TO SET AN EXAMPLE FOR THE NATION ON HOW TO FIGHT GLOBAL WARMING.

TIM CARMICHAEL>> THERE'S A NECESSITY FOR CALIFORNIA TO LEAD. THERE IS NO LEADERSHIP COMING FROM WASHINGTON, D.C. OR THE BUSH ADMINISTRATION ON THIS ISSUE. YET MANY AMERICANS BELIEVE THAT THIS IS A VERY SERIOUS ISSUE THAT WE NEED TO TAKE ACTION ON.

BENJAMIN ZYCHER>> ALL WE HEAR ARE VAGUE ILLUSIONS TO REDUCTIONS IN GLOBAL WARMING COMBINED WITH THE ASSERTION THAT CALIFORNIA HAS TO BE A LEADER, WHATEVER THAT MEANS. THAT IS NOT A POLICY. THAT IS MERELY A SLOGAN.

GAY YEE>> BENJAMIN ZYCHER IS A SENIOR ECONOMIST WITH THE PACIFIC RESEARCH INSTITUTE. HE SAYS THE BILL IS FULL OF FALSE PREMISES.

BENJAMIN ZYCHER>> IT WOULD IMPOSE SIGNIFICANT ADVERSE EFFECTS UPON CALIFORNIA CONSUMERS GENERALLY AND CALIFORNIA DRIVERS IN PARTICULAR AND ON THE BUSINESS SECTOR IN RETURN FOR WHICH WE WOULD OBTAIN NO ENVIRONMENTAL BENEFITS AT ALL.

GAY YEE>> ZYCHER CONTENDS THAT REDUCING THE CARBON DIOXIDE EMISSIONS FROM CALIFORNIA CARS WOULD HAVE NO REAL IMPACT ON GLOBAL WARMING. BUT WHAT'S GOT THE STATE'S DRIVERS RILED UP IS TALK OF NEW TAXES. THE OPPOSITION CLAIMS THE BILL MAY RESULT IN SPECIAL FEES ON HEAVY CARS SUCH AS SUV'S, AN EXTRA FIFTY CENTS A GALLON ON GASOLINE AND A TWO-CENT-A-MILE TAX ON EVERY MILE DRIVEN. BACKERS OF THE LEGISLATION SAY THOSE CLAIMS ARE ABSURD.

TIM CARMICHAEL>> THE AIR RESOURCES BOARD CANNOT IMPOSE A TAX ON GASOLINE, CANNOT IMPOSE A TAX ON VEHICLES, AND YET THESE ARE THE BASES OF THE ARGUMENTS THAT THE AUTOMOBILE INDUSTRY IS MAKING.

JOHN KOBYLT>> WE TOLD EVERYONE IT WASN'T IN THE BILL AND THEY UNDERSTOOD THAT, BUT THEY KNEW WHERE THIS WAS GOING TO LEAD AND THEY FLAT OUT DON'T TRUST THE LEGISLATURE AND THEY DON'T TRUST THE CALIFORNIA AIR RESOURCES BOARD. THEY FIGURE THIS WAS JUST THE FIRST STEP TOWARDS MANDATING THOSE TAXES AT SOME POINT.

GAY YEE>> PETER HOFFMAN, THE AUTO DEALER, SAYS HE'S NOT AGAINST ENVIRONMENTALLY-FRIENDLY CARS. HE DRIVES A HONDA "INSIGHT", A HYBRID THAT GETS OVER SIXTY MILES TO THE GALLON. BUT HOFFMAN SAYS CALIFORNIA CAR BUYERS JUST AREN'T INTERESTED IN THESE EFFICIENT LITTLE CARS.

PETER HOFFMAN>> WE COULD MORE THAN SATISFY WHATEVER IT IS THAT THIS LEGISLATION IS TRYING TO DO WITH EXISTING VEHICLES THAT ARE AVAILABLE TO CALIFORNIA CONSUMERS TO BUY. THAT'S WHY I SEE THIS LESS AS A TECHNOLOGY-FORCING BILL AS A CONSUMER PREFERENCE-FORCING BILL.

JESS>> JOINING US IS A JOURNALIST WHO'S BEEN FOLLOWING THIS STORY, NPR'S INA JAFFE. INA, THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

A LOT OF HYPERBOLE CONNECTED HERE, BUT WHAT'S THE PUBLIC TO BELIEVE?

INA JAFFE>> WELL, THEY'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT YOU WON'T BE ABLE TO BUY AN SUV ANYMORE OR A MINIVAN OR A LIGHT TRUCK. IN FACT, THIS BILL SPECIFICALLY PROHIBITS THE CALIFORNIA AIR RESOURCES BOARD FROM BANNING ANY PARTICULAR KIND OF VEHICLE, SO THAT SEEMS TO BE SOMETHING THAT'S PROBABLY A LITTLE FANCIFUL.

JESS>> BUT IF THIS LEGISLATION WERE TO PASS, COULD YOU STILL HAVE THOSE BIG HEAVY SUV'S THAT SOME OF US DRIVE?

INA JAFFE>> (LAUGHTER) YOU COULD STILL HAVE THEM. I DON'T KNOW IF THEY'D BE AS HEAVY. IT DEPENDS ON WHAT KINDS OF STANDARDS THE AIR RESOURCES BOARD COMES UP WITH AND WHAT THE CAR MANUFACTURERS WOULD WANT TO DO IN TRYING TO MEET THEM. I SHOULD MENTION, THOUGH, THAT GM, DAIMLER CHRYSLER AND FORD HAVE ALL TALKED ABOUT TRYING TO DEVELOP A HYBRID ENGINE SUV FOR THAT MARKET.

JESS>> USUALLY YOU'D EXPECT THIS KIND OF CAMPAIGN AGAINST LEGISLATION LIKE THIS TO COME OUT OF DETROIT AND FROM THE AUTO INDUSTRY GENERALLY, BUT THE LOCAL DEALERS ARE REALLY AFTER THIS, AREN'T THEY?

INA JAFFE>> WELL, THIS IS WHERE THEY MAKE A LOT OF THEIR PROFITS. SUV'S AND LIGHT TRUCKS ARE VERY POPULAR IN CALIFORNIA. THEY'RE AMONG THE BIGGEST SELLERS.

JESS>> AND IF YOU REALLY WANT TO OPPOSE LEGISLATION LIKE THIS, IF YOU CAN GET THE SUPPORT OF SOCCER MOMS AND THEIR SUV'S, THIS WILL NEVER FLY.

INA JAFFE>> WELL, IT'S HARD TO TELL. SOCCER MOMS ALSO WANT CLEAN AIR FOR THEIR CHILDREN AND THEY WANT THERE TO BE PLENTY OF WATER FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS. ONE OF THE THINGS THAT THE ENVIRONMENTALISTS SAY IS THAT CALIFORNIA DOES HAVE A GREAT DEAL AT STAKE IN GLOBAL WARMING, THAT IF IT GETS HOTTER, THERE'S LESS SIERRA SNOW PACK WHICH MEANS THE STATE HAS LESS WATER BECAUSE THAT'S WHERE WE GET OUR WATER. MORE FLOODING IN THE WINTER AND WE HAVE AN 1,100-MILE COASTLINE TO PROTECT.

JESS>> WITH ALL THE MONIES THAT HAVE BEEN SPENT OPPOSING THIS LEGISLATION, WHAT ARE ITS CHANCES?

INA JAFFE>> WELL, RIGHT NOW IT'S PROBABLY FIVE OR SIX VOTES SHY OF PASSAGE IN THE ASSEMBLY. THEY HAVE TO PASS IT A SECOND TIME BECAUSE THEY HAVE TO GO THROUGH THE SENATE AMENDMENTS. THEY'RE IN NO HURRY TO PUT IT ON THE FLOOR BECAUSE OF THAT, BUT THEY HAVE UNTIL THE END OF AUGUST. THEY'RE HOPING THEY GET SOME MORE VOTES BY THEN.

THE GOVERNOR, INTERESTINGLY, THIS AFTERNOON, HIS STAFF SAYS THIS IS NOT AN ENDORSEMENT, BUT HE DID SAY TO AN ENVIRONMENTAL ENTREPRENEUR BUSINESS GROUP IN PALO ALTO THIS AFTERNOON THAT, "I WANT TO DO MY BEST TO GET THIS LEGISLATION ON MY DESK." SO IT STOPPED SHY OF AN OUTRIGHT ENDORSEMENT, BUT NOW THE GOVERNOR IS INTERESTED.

JESS>> THERE'S EVERY INDICATION THAT HE WOULD SIGN IT WERE IT TO ARRIVE ON HIS DESK, I ASSUME.

INA JAFFE>> I THINK SO.

JESS>> IS THIS NOT MORE APPROPRIATE LEGISLATION ON A NATIONAL LEVEL?

INA JAFFE>> WELL, CALIFORNIA HAS FREQUENTLY LED THE NATION IN TERMS OF MAKING CARS CLEANER, MAKING THEM SAFER, AND THIS IS JUST ONE MORE STEP IN THAT DIRECTION.

JESS>> POLITICS BEING THE ART OF THE POSSIBLE, CONGRESS PROBABLY WOULD NOT GO FOR IT IN THIS PRESENT CLIMATE?

INA JAFFE>> WELL, YOU ALSO HAVE -- THEY JUST REJECTED MAKING FUEL EFFICIENCY STANDARDS HIGHER, SO THIS IS SOMETHING THAT THEY'RE NOT LIKELY TO LOOK KINDLY ON EITHER, I WOULD THINK.

JESS>> INA, THANKS VERY MUCH FOR JOINING US.

INA JAFFE>> THANK YOU, JESS.

JESS>> TOMORROW ON LIFE AND TIMES, COYOTES COME WITH THE TERRITORY WHEN YOU LIVE IN THE HILLS, BUT NOW THEY'RE NOT JUST WILY, THEY'RE DOWNRIGHT BOLD.

PHILIP BRUCE>> COYOTES HAVE BEEN INCREASINGLY TURNING UP AS UNINVITED HOUSE GUESTS IN OUR BACK YARDS AND ON HIKING TRAILS IN GRIFFITH PARK WHERE A SUBSTANTIAL NUMBER OF THEM LIVE.

>> AND THEY JUST CAME OUT OF NOWHERE, A WHOLE BUNCH OF THEM, LIKE PACKS. THEY RUN LIKE IN TWOS AND THREES, PRETTY BIG. ONE OF THEM I ACTUALLY THOUGHT LOOKED LIKE A WOLF. I GOT SCARED. I HAD TO RUN DOWN AND SING LIKE JINGLE BELLS AND MAKE A LOT OF NOISE SO THAT THEY WOULDN'T ATTACK.

JESS>> IT'S BEEN A WEEK OF WARNINGS FROM WASHINGTON, ALL OF THEM DEALING WITH THE POTENTIAL FOR ANOTHER MAJOR TERRORIST ATTACK ON THE UNITED STATES. U.S. INTELLIGENCE SOURCES SAY OSAMA BIN LADEN'S AL QAEDA NETWORK SEEMS TO BE RECONNECTED AND PREPARING FOR SOMETHING BIG, EVEN BIGGER THAN THE SEPTEMBER 11 ATTACKS. NOW BESIDES ALL THE USUAL TARGETS SUCH AS BRIDGES AND AIRPORTS, AUTHORITIES SAY TERRORISTS MAY STRIKE APARTMENT BUILDINGS. BUT WHAT'S THE PUBLIC SUPPOSED TO DO WITH ALL THESE WARNINGS?

JOINING US NOW IS BRIAN LEVIN. HE'S PROFESSOR AND TERRORIST EXPERT AT CAL STATE UNIVERSITY SAN BERNARDINO. WHAT DO YOU SAY TO THE AVERAGE PERSON WHEN WE'RE BEING FLOODED RECENTLY WITH THESE THREATS?

BRIAN LEVIN>> YOU KNOW, IT CAN BE OVERWHELMING, BUT LIKE ANYTHING ELSE IN LIFE, IT'S PROBABLY BEST THAT YOU SIT BACK, TAKE IT IN PIECES AND JUST USE COMMON SENSE. THE FIRST THING IS, BE VIGILANT ABOUT WHERE YOU ARE. LET ME EXPLAIN WHAT I MEAN. IF YOU'RE IN A RESIDENTIAL APARTMENT COMPLEX AND YOU SEE SOME KIND OF UNUSUAL ACTIVITY, TAKE SOME NOTE OF IT AND NOTIFY THE SUPER. IF YOU'RE THE SUPER, TAKE NOTE OF UNUSUAL ACTIVITY WITH PEOPLE WHO ARE MOVING IN.

WHAT ELSE? IF YOU WORK IN A PARTICULAR AREA AND YOU'RE TASKED WITH SOME KIND OF SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITY, MAKE SURE THAT ALL THE SAFETY MEASURES THAT YOU HAVE IN PLACE FOR THINGS LIKE EARTHQUAKES AND FIRES AND OTHER THINGS ARE ESTABLISHED AND ALSO THAT YOU HAVE SECURITY SET UP BOTH PHYSICALLY BUT ALSO MENTALLY. HERE'S WHAT I MEAN. YOU HAVE TO ACCLIMATE YOUR WORKPLACE TO BE AN AREA WHERE PEOPLE WHO DON'T BELONG THERE ARE CHALLENGED. AND PEOPLE WHO LOOK UNUSUAL FOR SOME REASON, I MEAN BY THEIR CONDUCT OR BY WHAT THEY HAVE ON THEM, ARE QUESTIONED AND STOPPED AND PEOPLE ARE NOT SUPPOSED TO BE INSULTED. GOOD SECURITY MEANS THAT SOMETIMES WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO INCONVENIENCE PEOPLE.

JESS>> INCONVENIENCE PEOPLE, AND THERE'S ALSO THAT THREAT OF ETHNIC PROFILING?

BRIAN LEVIN>> AND THAT'S SOMETHING WE HAVE TO BE VERY CAREFUL ABOUT. I'M ON A RACIAL PROFILING PANEL FOR THE STATE. RACE OR ETHNICITY, IN AND OF ITSELF, ABSENT SOME OTHER FORM OF INDIVIDUALIZED SUSPICION, IS UNCONSTITUTIONAL. IT'S A VIOLATION OF THE FOURTEENTH AMENDMENT. HOWEVER, IF SOMEONE IS WEARING A HEAVY JACKET IN THE MIDDLE OF THE SUMMER OR SOMEONE IS MAKING FURTIVE MOVEMENTS OR IS DOING SOMETHING UNUSUAL LIKE THE FELLOWS WHO WERE BEING TRAINED TO FLY. THEY ONLY WANTED TO LEARN HOW TO FLY, BUT NOT LAND OR TAKE OFF. THOSE KIND OF THINGS, BE ON THE LOOKOUT FOR.

JESS>> THOSE WERE OBVIOUS WARNINGS. IS LOS ANGELES REALLY A TARGET, DO YOU THINK?

BRIAN LEVIN>> YES! CAPITAL YES, EXCLAMATION POINT.

JESS>> HOW SO?

BRIAN LEVIN>> WELL, A COUPLE OF THINGS. ONE OF THE THINGS THESE PEOPLE LIKE IS, THEY LIKE HEAVILY POPULATED AREAS. THEY ALSO LIKE AREAS THAT ARE MEDIA CENTERS. THEY ALSO LIKE AREAS THAT ARE CULTURAL CENTERS. THEY ALSO LIKE AREAS THAT HAVE A BIG INFRASTRUCTURE, EITHER COMMUNICATION, TRANSPORTATION, ECONOMIC, AND THEY ALSO LIKE TO HIT PLACES WHERE THEY WERE UNSUCCESSFUL BEFORE.

IN 1999 AHMED RESSAM, AN ALGERIAN, WAS ARRESTED AND HE WAS TARGETING LAX. SO AS WE'VE SEEN BEFORE, THE WORLD TRADE CENTER, THEY TRIED TWICE. THE U.S.S. COLE WAS HIT AFTER AN ATTEMPT ON THE U.S.S. SULLIVAN. SO WE SEE THESE KINDS OF THINGS WHERE PEOPLE IN THIS BUSINESS TRY THINGS A SECOND TIME IF THEY'RE UNSUCCESSFUL WITH THE FIRST.

JESS>> ARE YOU SATISFIED WITH THE EFFORTS THAT ARE BEING MADE? PARTICULARLY, ARE YOU SATISFIED WITH THE WAY OUR GOVERNMENT HAS BEEN WARNING US? THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO ARE CONCERNED THAT PANIC IS GOING TO SET IN OR THAT BUSINESS IS GOING TO BE DISRUPTED BECAUSE OF THESE CONSTANT WARNINGS THAT THERE IS A TERRORIST THREAT.

BRIAN LEVIN>> SOMETIMES IN LIFE, ALL YOU HAVE ARE A BUNCH OF LOUSY OPTIONS. I'D RATHER KNOW ABOUT SOMETHING THAN NOT KNOW ABOUT SOMETHING. ALSO, AS SECRETARY RUMSFELD SAID, THIS MIGHT BE THESE INDIVIDUALS "JERKING US AROUND", AS THE WORDS HE USED. BUT THE FACT OF THE MATTER IS, WE HAVE TO GET ACCLIMATED TO THIS. IT GIVES PEOPLE, ALSO, AN ABILITY TO JUDGE FOR THEMSELVES AS TO WHAT THEY'RE GOING TO DO ON A PARTICULAR DAY. BETTER TO BE KNOWLEDGEABLE AND TO HAVE A HEIGHTENED SENSE OF VIGILANCE THAN NOT TO BE KNOWLEDGEABLE AT ALL.

JESS>> AND SOME OF THE ADMINISTRATION HAVE SUGGESTED THAT THESE WARNINGS HELP US PREPARE FOR IT AND MAYBE WE CAN FORESTALL TERRORIST ACTS BY SIMPLY BEING PREPARED.

BRIAN LEVIN>> I THINK THAT'S ABSOLUTELY CORRECT. NOT ONLY THAT, A WARNING MIGHT ALSO SERVE AS A DETERRENT. IF SOMEBODY KNOWS THAT PEOPLE ARE ON THE LOOKOUT FOR THEM ON A PARTICULAR WEEK OR AT A PARTICULAR LOCATION, THEY MIGHT LAY LOW AND NOT COMMIT AN ACT OF TERRORISM DURING THAT TIME.

UNFORTUNATELY, I BELIEVE THAT THIS COUNTRY HAS AN INEVITABILITY FOR ANOTHER MAJOR SIGNIFICANT TERRORIST ATTACK AND IT MIGHT BE THINGS THAT WE'RE NOT EVEN THINKING ABOUT LIKE COMING IN FROM THE OCEAN ON BOATS. OTHER INSTRUMENTALITIES, SUICIDE BOMBERS, INDIVIDUALS, THAT COULD BE TOO. THERE WAS JUST A RECENT MEETING BETWEEN HAMAS, HEZBOLLAH AND APPARENTLY SOME AL QAEDA MEMBERS IN BEIRUT WHERE THEY WERE ALLEGEDLY DISCUSSING PLANS FOR CONSOLIDATION.

JESS>> WE'VE TALKED ABOUT POSSIBLE TARGETS, PARTICULARLY IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA. NUCLEAR POWER PLANTS?

BRIAN LEVIN>> SURE, ABSOLUTELY. ONE OF THE THINGS, I THINK TO BE USEFUL FOR THE VIEWERS, IF YOU WORK IN AN AREA THAT IS A HIGH IMPACT AREA AS FAR AS SECURITY-WISE, A PLACE WHERE THERE'S SOMETHING THAT'S VERY VOLATILE OR SOMETHING THAT CAN CAUSE A BIG EXPLOSION, THAT SHOULD BE ON THE RADAR SCREEN. IF IT'S SOMETHING WHERE YOU HAVE A GREAT MASS OF PEOPLE, THAT SHOULD BE ON THE RADAR SCREEN.

WHAT I DO WHEN I GO IN AND TRAIN PEOPLE, I SAY, DON'T ASK ME. YOU GET YOUR TOP PEOPLE. YOU SIT DOWN AND SAY, IF I WERE TRYING TO BREACH SECURITY AT THIS LOCATION AND CAUSE THE MOST DAMAGE OR THE MOST CASUALTIES, HOW WOULD I GO ABOUT DOING IT? REMEMBER THAT THESE PEOPLE LIKE TO USE THINGS CALLED FORCE MULTIPLIERS. THEY LIKE TO GET THE BIGGEST BANG FOR THE BUCK AND THEY LIKE TO GET A LOT OF MEDIA ATTENTION.

EVERYONE, WHETHER IT BE A SHOPPING MALL PERSON, AN AMUSEMENT AREA PERSON OR SOMEONE WHO'S IN AN AREA WITH A GREAT DEAL OF PUBLIC ENTRY AND EGRESS, TAKE A STEP BACK AND THINK "HOW CAN I IMPROVE SECURITY?" ALSO, FOR THE REGULAR CITIZEN, CARRY YOUR CELL PHONE AND DON'T BE AFRAID TO CALL 911. GET A GOOD DESCRIPTION AND, IF YOU'RE WRONG, SO BE IT.

JESS>> YOU HAVE AN INTERESTING BACKGROUND, INCLUDING SERVICE AS A NEW YORK POLICE OFFICER. COULD YOU HAVE EVER IMAGINED WHAT HAPPENED AT THE TWIN TOWERS?

BRIAN LEVIN>> YOU KNOW, WE HAD A SESSION OVER AT THE FBI ACADEMY IN QUANTICO AND WE HAD DISCUSSED CERTAIN, YOU KNOW, EVENTUALITIES. THERE'S ACTUALLY A PLANE THAT CRASHED INTO THE WHITE HOUSE, A SMALL PROPELLER PLANE, IN 1994. WE THOUGHT OF THIS, BUT THE KIND OF STUFF THAT WE WERE THINKING WERE MORE LIKE CHARTER PLANES LOADED WITH EXPLOSIVES. THE ONE THING THAT I AM DISTURBED ABOUT IS THE MEDIA, INCLUDING, BY THE WAY, PUBLIC TELEVISION, WAS QUITE ADEPT AT POINTING OUT THE LAPSES IN SECURITY AT AIRPORTS.

WHAT DISTURBS ME IS NOT ENOUGH REASONABLE MEASURES WERE TAKING PLACE IN THE TIME OF SIX MONTHS OR A YEAR BEFOREHAND AT AIRPORTS. I THINK, IN LARGE PART, THAT'S THE FAILURE OF THE AIRLINE INDUSTRY AND ALSO THE SECURITY INDUSTRY AND A FAILURE OF ENTITIES TO GET TOGETHER AND NOTIFY AND HELP OUT THE ON-THE-GROUND SECURITY PEOPLE AT THESE AIRPORTS. IF THERE ARE HEROES IN THIS, IT'S THE ON-THE-GROUND LAW ENFORCEMENT PEOPLE, INCLUDING THE FBI AGENTS WHO, UNFORTUNATELY, THEIR WARNINGS WEREN'T HEEDED.

JESS>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH, PROFESSOR BRIAN LEVIN FROM CAL STATE SAN BERNARDINO.

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JESS>> THIS WEEKEND IS THE UNOFFICIAL KICKOFF TO SUMMER, BUT SPRING IS IN FULL BLOOM IN THE SAN GABRIEL VALLEY. TONIGHT WE TAKE AN OPPORTUNITY TO REVISIT THE GLORIOUS DESCANSO GARDENS. PATT MORRISON TOURED THAT HALF-CENTURY-OLD GROUNDS WITH THE GARDEN'S EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, RICHARD SCHULHOF.

PATT MORRISON>> IF YOU DON'T RECOGNIZE THIS PLACE, THEN YOU'VE DEPRIVED YOURSELF OF ONE OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA'S GREAT GIFTS, DESCANSO GARDENS. IT'S NOT EXACTLY A PARK NOR QUITE AN URBAN FOREST, BUT MORE OF A GARDEN OASIS. WITHIN ITS 160 ACRES IS AN ABUNDANCE OF FLORA AS VARIED AS THE VISITORS WHO WANDER ITS PATHS FOR THE BENEDICTION OF ITS SIGHTS AND SCENTS.

DESCANSO GARDENS REVERSED THE USUAL SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA PROCESS OF TURNING THE NATURAL INTO THE COMMERCIAL. A MAN NAMED MANCHESTER BODDY FIRST CULTIVATED CAMELLIAS HERE AND SOLD THEM FOR CORSAGES. IT WAS ONLY AFTER HE SOLD THE LAND TO THE COUNTY THAT IT CAME INTO ITS OWN, PART NATURAL LANDSCAPE, PART CULTIVATED GARDEN, A SHOWPLACE IN THE FOOTHILLS OF LA CANADA FLINTRIDGE.

NOW ROSES ARE THE CHOCOLATE OF THE FLORAL WORD. VIRTUALLY EVERYBODY LOVES ROSES. WHAT IS IT THAT THIS ROSE GARDEN TRIED TO CREATE?

RICHARD SCHULHOF>> WELL, THIS ROSE GARDEN IS FIVE ACRES AND HAS 4,000 ROSES AND WHAT IT ATTEMPTS TO DO IS A COUPLE OF THINGS. ONE, IT PRESENTS THE EVOLUTION OF THE GARDEN ROSE. YOU COME THROUGH HERE AND YOU SEE VARIOUS EXHIBITS ABOUT FAMOUS ROSE BREEDERS, THE PLANTS THEY BROUGHT TO THE GARDENING WORLD, AND ALSO THE CONTRIBUTIONS OF VARIOUS COUNTRIES AROUND THE WORLD. BELGIUM AND GERMANY --

PATT MORRISON>> -- I SEE BELGIUM AND GERMANY CO-EXISTING IN THEIR ROSE GARDENS, WHICH WOULD NOT HAPPEN POLITICALLY.

RICHARD SCHULHOF>> THAT'S RIGHT, THAT'S RIGHT, BUT THEY'RE BOTH GREAT COUNTRIES FOR THE PRODUCTION OF NEW ROSE VARIETIES.

PATT MORRISON>> HOW IS IT THAT THIS IS A GOOD PLACE FOR THEM?

RICHARD SCHULHOF>> WELL, ROSES LOVE SUN, AND THIS AREA GETS A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF SUN AND ALSO IT HAS PRETTY GOOD DRAINAGE. SO THE COMBINATION OF GOOD DRAINAGE, SUN, GOOD IRRIGATION AND FEEDING, YOU GET BLOOM LIKE THIS.

PATT MORRISON>> IT REALLY WAS A VERY HUMBLE FLOWER, WAS IT NOT, BEFORE SOMETHING OTHER THAN NATURE GOT HOLD OF IT?

RICHARD SCHULHOF>> WELL, CENTURIES AND CENTURIES OF BREEDING. BUT FOR ME TO LOOK AT ONE OF THE ROSES, ONE OF THE SIMPLE FIVE-PETALED ROSE SPECIES, THAT'S AS BEAUTIFUL AS ANY OF THESE HEAVILY DOUBLED FLOWERS.

PATT MORRISON>> IS THAT LIKE LOOKING BACK IN TIME AT THOSE SIMPLE OLD ROSES?

RICHARD SCHULHOF>> IN A SENSE IT IS, LOOKING AT THE ANCESTORS OF THE PLANTS THAT WE SEE HERE.

PATT MORRISON>> NOW, I'VE BEEN TOLD THIS IS THE PERSIAN YELLOW GARDEN AND WHAT IT DOES IS EXHIBIT PEACEFUL CO-EXISTENCE.

RICHARD SCHULHOF>> YES, YES. (LAUGHTER)

PATT MORRISON>> (LAUGHTER) HOW DOES THAT WORK?

RICHARD SCHULHOF>> THAT'S WELL-PHRASED. ONE OF THE THINGS WE TRY AND DO IN OUR INTERNATIONAL ROSARIUM IS DEMONSTRATE FOR PEOPLE HOW YOU CAN COMBINE OTHER PLANTS WITH ROSES. PERENNIALS, FLOWERING SHRUBS, FLOWERING TREES, AND WHAT WE HAVE HERE ARE THREE WONDERFUL COMPANION PLANTINGS FOR ROSES THAT STAND UP TO THE SEVERE HEAT OF OUR SUMMERS.

PATT MORRISON>> THIS IS SPECTACULAR. THERE ARE HUNDREDS AND HUNDREDS OF KINDS OF CAMELLIAS HERE.

RICHARD SCHULHOF>> YES, WE HAVE SOME 675 SPECIES AND VARIETIES HERE GOING ACROSS A 35-ACRE WOODLAND. AND I FEEL PERSONALLY THAT OUR CAMELLIA FOREST IS THE MOST SPECTACULAR CAMELLIA GARDEN, CERTAINLY OUTSIDE OF THE WILD IN CHINA.

PATT MORRISON>> BUT THIS IS THE END OF THE SEASON FOR CAMELLIAS. IT LOOKS LIKE THE RAIN HAS TAKEN A BIT OF A TOLL ON THEM TOO.

RICHARD SCHULHOF>> YES. THIS YEAR, OUR SEASON IS EXTENDING A LITTLE BIT LONGER THAN USUAL, BUT TYPICALLY THE MOST SPECTACULAR MONTHS ARE FEBRUARY, JANUARY AND MARCH.

PATT MORRISON>> NOW THERE'S ALSO A SYMBIOSIS HERE WITH THE OAK GROVES.

RICHARD SCHULHOF>> YES. MANCHESTER BODDY, WHEN HE DEVELOPED THE CAMELLIA FOREST, REALIZED THAT THE OAKS PROVIDED IDEAL CONDITIONS FOR THE CAMELLIAS, WONDERFUL SHADE AND A RICH, RICH SOIL.

PATT MORRISON>> SO YOU HAVE NATIVE CALIFORNIA OAK TREES WORKING IN SYNC WITH CAMELLIAS, FOR THE MOST PART, FROM CHINA AND THE FAR EAST.

RICHARD SCHULHOF>> YES, THAT'S THE CASE. IT WAS SORT OF A JUXTAPOSITION OF THE NATIVE AND THE EXOTIC.

PATT MORRISON>> IT'S PACIFIC RIM. IT'S PERFECT. (LAUGHTER)

RICHARD SCHULHOF>> YES. THAT'S RIGHT. EXACTLY, EXACTLY.

PATT MORRISON>> NOW I WAS CURIOUS ABOUT THE OAK TREES BECAUSE WHAT HAPPENED HERE YEARS AGO SYMBOLIZES HOW FIRE WORKS IN THE PLANT SYSTEM.

RICHARD SCHULHOF>> YES. IN THE LATE 1870'S, A VERY INTENSE FIRE ROARED THROUGH THIS VALLEY AND WIPED OUT MOST OF WHAT WAS HERE. SO MOST OF THE OAKS YOU SEE TODAY ORIGINATE WITH ACORNS. THEY GERMINATED IN THE 1870'S.

PATT MORRISON>> THEY GERMINATED IN THE HEAT.

DESCANSO IS ALSO HOME TO A NATIVE PLANT GARDEN. NOW THE GREAT PATRON SAINT OF NATIVE PLANTS IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA WAS THEODORE PAYNE, WHO WAS ...?

RICHARD SCHULHOF>> YES, THEODORE PAYNE WAS ONE OF THE GREAT HORTICULTURISTS OF THE PAST ONE HUNDRED YEARS. HE WAS A BRITISH HORTICULTURIST WHO CAME TO L.A. IN THE 1890'S AND DEVOTED MOST OF HIS LIFE TO PROMOTING NATIVE PLANTS AS GARDEN ORNAMENTALS. AND VERY FORTUNATELY FOR DESCANSO, HE WAS INVOLVED IN THE CREATION OF OUR NATIVE PLANT GARDEN AND, IN FACT, CONTRIBUTED NOT ONLY HIS VAST EXPERTISE, BUT ALSO MANY PLANTS FROM HIS GARDEN AND NURSERIES.

PATT MORRISON>> AND SO WE OWE HIM SOMETHING NOT ONLY ON BEHALF OF DESCANSO, BUT ON BEHALF OF THE FACT THAT NATIVE PLANTS ARE BECOMING MORE ACCEPTABLE, MORE POPULAR?

RICHARD SCHULHOF>> ABSOLUTELY. THEODORE PAYNE WAS THE PIONEER WHO REALLY GOT CALIFORNIA PLANTS INTO CALIFORNIA GARDENS.

PATT MORRISON>> IT ISN'T "GOLDEN POND", BUT PRETTY CLOSE.

RICHARD SCHULHOF>> NO. THIS IS DESCANSO'S LAKE AND WE'RE STANDING IN OUR BIRD OBSERVATION AREA. BECAUSE OF THE HEAVY RAINS, A LOT OF THE TREES ARE GENERATING TREMENDOUS NEW GROWTH AND INSECT POPULATIONS ARE RISING PROPORTIONATELY, SO WE'RE GETTING A LOT OF EXCITING BIRD SIGHTINGS THIS SPRING.

PATT MORRISON>> WHEN PEOPLE THINK OF DESCANSO GARDENS, OF COURSE, THEY THINK OF THE FLOWERS. BUT GIVEN HOW WETLANDS ARE DISAPPEARING AND GROVES ARE BEING PLOWED UNDER AND BUILT UPON, THIS BECOMES MORE SIGNIFICANT FOR THE WHOLE HEALTH OF THE ECOSYSTEM.

RICHARD SCHULHOF>> IT REALLY DOES, AND PARTICULARLY FOR MIGRATORY BIRDS. THINK ABOUT THEM PASSING THROUGH SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA. WHERE ARE THEY GOING TO STOP? MANY OF THEM STOP HERE AND, GOSH, WE ENJOY THEM.

PATT MORRISON>> I THINK PART OF THE PUBLIC ENJOYMENT IS THAT HERE IS A PLACE WHERE YOU CAN COME AND FIND SOME SILENCE TOO.

RICHARD SCHULHOF>> YES, YES, THAT'S CERTAINLY THE CASE.

PATT MORRISON>> AN OTHER-WORLDLY VISITOR TO SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA MIGHT BE FORGIVEN FOR THINKING OUR NATIVE PLANT IS THE FREEWAY. AS CONCRETE AND STEEL GROW WHERE OAK AND CHAPARRAL ONCE FLOURISHED, DESCANSO GARDENS REMAINS A KIND OF HORTICULTURAL MUSEUM, NATURE ON THE INSIDE LOOKING OUT, A WISTFUL MEMORY AND A GREEN AND BUDDING PROMISE.

JESS>> FOR MORE INFORMATION ON DESCANSO GARDENS, YOU CAN VISIT THEIR WEBSITE AT WWW.DESCANSOGARDENS.ORG OR CALL THE NUMBER ON YOUR SCREEN.

[818-949-4200]

JESS>> THEIR FAMED CAMELLIAS ARE A BIT PAST THEIR PRIME, BUT THEY TELL US ROSES, AZALEAS, IRIS, WISTERIA AND DOGWOOD ARE IN BLOOM THIS MONTH.

THAT'S IT FOR TONIGHT'S BROADCAST. THANK YOU FOR WATCHING. NOW FOR ALL OF US HERE AT LIFE AND TIMES, HAVE A GREAT EVENING.

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