7/16/02

LC020716

JESS MARLOW>> ON LIFE AND TIMES TONIGHT --

CALIFORNIA LEADS THE NATION IN SENDING DRUG OFFENDERS TO REHAB INSTEAD OF PRISON, BUT ARE THE FORMER ADDICTS REALLY BETTER OFF?

JOHN LLOYD>> ONCE I GOT HERE AND FOUND OUT THAT THERE'S A DIFFERENT WAY OF LIVING, THAT IT'S JUST A WHOLE NEW WAY OF LIVING, IT SAVED MY LIFE.

JESS>> CAN A MOSTLY MINORITY CITY GET ALONG WITH A MOSTLY WHITE POLICE DEPARTMENT? TONIGHT COMMUNITY FALLOUT FROM THE VIDEOTAPED BEATING OF A TEENAGER.

>> WE WANT TO KNOW EXACTLY, PRECISELY, WHAT TYPE OF THREAT A SIXTEEN-YEAR-OLD CHILD EATING A BAG OF POTATO CHIPS POSES TO TRAINED, PROFESSIONAL POLICEMEN.

JESS>> WOODY ALLEN HATES IT, STEVE MARTIN MOCKS IT, NOW IT SEEMS EVEN PATT MORRISON IS TURNING ON LOS ANGELES.

PATT MORRISON>> THE NASTY THING ABOUT STEREOTYPES IS THAT SOMETIMES THEY'RE RIGHT. L.A. LIVES UP OR DOWN TO ITS LA-LA LAND REPUTATION -- ON TONIGHT'S INFINITELY MORRISON.

JESS>> AND DECADES LATER AND HALF A WORLD AWAY, SHE IS CARRYING ON A FAMILY TRADITION.

[FILM CLIP]

JESS>> ANNA DJANBAZIAN RUNS A CLASSICAL DANCE ACADEMY IN GLENDALE MUCH LIKE THE ONE HER FATHER HAD IN TEHRAN. WE'LL MEET THE WOMAN WHO FLED IRAN AND FOUND SUCCESS TEACHING BALLET TO ANGELENOS.

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 IS OFF TONIGHT.

CALIFORNIA IS ONE YEAR INTO A GROUNDBREAKING PROGRAM, A LAW THAT SENDS DRUG OFFENDERS TO TREATMENT INSTEAD OF PRISON. IT ALL CAME ABOUT BECAUSE OF PROPOSITION 36, THAT BALLOT INITIATIVE THAT PROMISED TO REDUCE THE PRISON POPULATION BY HELPING DRUG USERS STAY OFF THE STREETS AND OUT OF TROUBLE. BUT IS IT WORKING? TONIGHT VAL ZAVALA TAKES US TO A DRUG RECOVERY CENTER TO FIND OUT.

VAL ZAVALA>> JOHN LLOYD LOST TWENTY YEARS OF HIS LIFE TO SPEED.

JOHN LLOYD>> ALL SPEED. I STARTED OUT WITH JUST ALCOHOL, SPEED, POT. IT'S KIND OF PREVALENT EVERYWHERE.

VAL ZAVALA>> HE SAYS THE ONLY TIME HE WAS CLEAN WAS WHEN HE DID EIGHT MONTHS IN JAIL, AND THE DAY HE GOT OUT, HE MADE A BEELINE FOR MORE METHAMPHETAMINES.

VAL ZAVALA>> I'VE GOT TO SAY THAT, IF I WERE JUST TO MEET YOU ON THE STREET, I WOULD NEVER HAVE GUESSED THAT YOU HAD A SERIOUS DRUG PROBLEM.

JOHN LLOYD>> THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF CHANGES. LET ME SHOW YOU A PICTURE.

VAL ZAVALA>> OKAY. THIS IS FROM WHAT?

JOHN LLOYD>> FROM TWO WEEKS AFTER I CAME IN HERE.

VAL ZAVALA>> TWO WEEKS AFTER YOU CAME IN. WOW. AND YOU WEIGHED HOW MUCH THEN?

JOHN LLOYD>> SOAKING WET, MAYBE 130 POUNDS.

VAL ZAVALA>> FOR THE PAST SIX MONTHS, JOHN HAS BEEN LIVING HERE AT IMPACT, A DRUG REHAB FACILITY IN PASADENA. HE IS ONE OF TWENTY RESIDENTS WHO WOULD BE BEHIND BARS TODAY WERE IT NOT FOR PROPOSITION 36.

VAL ZAVALA>> SO YOU CAME HERE WHEN?

JOHN LLOYD>> DECEMBER 12.

VAL ZAVALA>> HAVE YOU RELAPSED?

JOHN LLOYD>> NO.

VAL ZAVALA>> WHY NOT? BECAUSE YOU'VE TRIED BEFORE, FAILED BEFORE? WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE?

JOHN LLOYD>> IT'S A NEW WAY OF LIFE. I CAME IN SO WILLING BECAUSE I HAD GOTTEN THAT BREAK THAT I WAS LIKE WHATEVER THEY SAY, JUST WHATEVER THEY SAY.

VAL ZAVALA>> BECAUSE YOU THOUGHT YOU WERE GOING TO JAIL, RIGHT?

JOHN LLOYD>> I THOUGHT I WAS GOING TO PRISON. I'VE BEEN TO JAIL MANY TIMES. JAIL IS JAIL. PRISON -- I WAS, YOU KNOW, FORTY YEARS OLD. I WAS LIKE I DON'T WANT TO GO TO PRISON.

VAL ZAVALA>> JOHN IS THE KIND OF DRUG USER VOTERS HAD IN MIND FOR PROP 36. HE NEVER SOLD NARCOTICS AND HE NEVER COMMITTED A VIOLENT ACT. HE WAS JUST ADDICTED.

JOHN LLOYD>> I'M FORTY YEARS OLD AND TWENTY YEARS WENT JUST LIKE THAT.

VAL ZAVALA>> TWENTY YEARS ON DRUGS?

JOHN LLOYD>> TWENTY YEARS ON METH. IT WENT JUST LIKE THAT.

VAL ZAVALA>> IT WAS A YEAR AGO JULY THAT PROP 36 WENT INTO EFFECT, SO JUST WHAT HAS THE EFFECT BEEN? WELL, SO FAR, AN ESTIMATED 12,000 DEFENDANTS STATEWIDE ARE IN PROP 36 TREATMENT. THAT, HOWEVER, IS THOUSANDS FEWER THAN ORIGINALLY ESTIMATED. THERE ARE ABOUT 4,000 FEWER DRUG OFFENDERS BEHIND BARS COMPARED TO A YEAR AGO AND THE SAVINGS IS ABOUT $100 MILLION DOLLARS, BUT THAT IS ONLY ABOUT HALF THE ORIGINAL ESTIMATE. SOME SAY IT IS WAY TOO EARLY TO GET A FULL ASSESSMENT, MUCH LESS TO DECLARE SUCCESS.

VAL ZAVALA>> SUCCESS OR NOT?

JAMES STILLWELL>> NOT YET. NO, I DON'T THINK WE'RE SUCCESSFUL YET. I THINK IT'S -- I'D PROBABLY GIVE IT A "C" AT BEST.

VAL ZAVALA>> JAMES STILLWELL IS EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF IMPACT AND A FORMER ADDICT HIMSELF. HE SAYS, AT THE BEGINNING, NEARLY EIGHTY PERCENT OF THE REFERRALS NEVER SHOWED UP.

JAMES STILLWELL>> THEY WERE COMING OUT OF THE COURTHOUSE, GOING OVER TO THE REFERRAL CENTER, THEY WOULD MAKE THE DETERMINATION WHICH PROGRAM YOU WOULD GO TO AND THEN THEY WOULD CALL US OR FAX US OVER A PIECE OF PAPER SAYING EXPECT THESE PEOPLE TODAY OR TOMORROW. THEY WOULDN'T SHOW UP, OR WHEN THEY DID SHOW UP, THEY WERE SO HEAVILY UNDER THE INFLUENCE THAT YOU COULDN'T EVEN COMMUNICATE WITH THEM.

VAL ZAVALA>> THE NO-SHOWS HAVE NOW DECREASED CONSIDERABLY, BUT STILLWELL SAYS THERE ARE OTHER PROBLEMS. FOR EXAMPLE, UNDER PROP 36, ADDICTS GET THREE CHANCES BEFORE THEY'RE SENT BACK TO A JUDGE.

JAMES STILLWELL>> FOR AN ADDICT, IF YOU TELL THEM GOING IN THAT, YOU KNOW, THIS IS CHANCE NUMBER ONE AND YOU GET TO FAIL TWO MORE TIMES BEFORE YOU'RE GOING TO GET IN TROUBLE, I'M GOING TO TAKE THE TWO MORE TIMES.

VAL ZAVALA>> JAMES PREFERS THE MORE ESTABLISHED DRUG COURTS WHERE A JUDGE KEEPS A CLOSE EYE ON A DEFENDANT AND JAIL IS A CONSTANT THREAT. HE SAYS DRUG COURT SUCCESS IS IMPRESSIVE. MORE THAN SEVENTY PERCENT OF THOSE WHO COMPLETE DRUG COURT STAY CLEAN.

VAL ZAVALA>> DO YOU THINK PROP 36, IN FIVE OR SEVEN YEARS FROM NOW, WILL BE AS SUCCESSFUL AS DRUG COURT?

JAMES STILLWELL>> I DON'T SEE HOW IT COULD BE. NOT WITH THE WAY IT'S STRUCTURED.

VAL ZAVALA>> AND THEN THERE IS THE QUESTION OF FUNDING. LAEL RUBIN IS THE PROP 36 SPECIALIST AT THE L.A. COUNTY D.A.'S OFFICE. SHE SAYS THAT THE FIRST YEAR OF IMPLEMENTATION HAS REVEALED AN UNEXPECTED TREND.

LAEL RUBIN>> WHAT WE HAVE FOUND IS THAT THOSE PEOPLE WHO WERE CHOOSING TO ENTER PROPOSITION 36 TREATMENT ARE THE MOST SERIOUSLY ADDICTED WHO HAVE BEEN ADDICTED FOR A VERY LONG PERIOD OF TIME AND REQUIRE MUCH MORE EXPENSIVE TREATMENT, MOSTLY INPATIENT RESIDENTIAL TREATMENT. GENERALLY, THE PEOPLE WHO WOULD BE MINIMAL DRUG USERS, THEY'RE NOT CHOOSING PROPOSITION 36.

VAL ZAVALA>> AND THAT HAS MAJOR FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS.

LAEL RUBIN>> AS YOU CAN IMAGINE, INPATIENT RESIDENTIAL PROGRAMS THAT TREAT THE SERIOUSLY ADDICTED ARE MUCH MORE COSTLY AND, FRANKLY, THE MONEY IS NOT REALLY THERE.

VAL ZAVALA>> VIRTUALLY EVERYONE INVOLVED IN MAKING PROP 36 WORK IS WORRIED ABOUT FUTURE FUNDING. WITH THE STATE'S BUDGET SURPLUS NOW NONEXISTENT, CUTBACKS ARE ALMOST INEVITABLE.

LAEL RUBIN>> WE DON'T WANT TO BE IN A SITUATION OF SAYING THIS GRAND EXPERIMENT FAILED BECAUSE THERE WASN'T SUFFICIENT MONEY TO HANDLE IT.

VAL ZAVALA>> OF COURSE, THE SUCCESS OF PROP 36 ALSO DEPENDS ON THE QUALITY OF THE REHAB PROGRAM. TAKE IMPACT HERE IN PASADENA. IT HAS ONE OF THE BEST REPUTATIONS AND HIGHEST SUCCESS RATES. IN FACT, THE RESIDENTS HERE CALL IT "THE HARVARD OF RECOVERY". ALTHOUGH JAMES STILLWELL IS CRITICAL OF PROP 36, HE'S STILL GLAD IT PASSED.

JAMES STILLWELL>> I'M SPEAKING NOW AS A RECOVERING ADDICT THAT IS THE DIRECTOR OF A TREATMENT PROGRAM. ANYTHING THAT'S GOING TO INTRODUCE SOMEBODY INTO ANOTHER WAY OF LIFE OTHER THAN THE ONE THEY'RE LIVING CAN'T BE A BAD THING.

VAL ZAVALA>> THAT IS CERTAINLY JOHN'S ATTITUDE AND, REGARDLESS OF THE LONG-TERM SUCCESS OR FAILURE OF PROP 36, HE IS DETERMINED NOT TO BLOW THIS OPPORTUNITY. HE IS INTERNING AT IMPACT AND IS ON HIS WAY TO BECOMING A MEMBER OF THE STAFF.

VAL ZAVALA>> IF YOU COULD TALK TO THE VOTERS WHO PASSED PROP 36 --

JOHN LLOYD>> -- THANK YOU. YOU SAVED MY LIFE.

VAL ZAVALA>> I'M VAL ZAVALA FOR LIFE AND TIMES.

JESS>> OTHER STATES ARE LOOKING AT PROP 36 AS A MODEL FOR TREATING DRUG OFFENDERS. SIMILAR MEASURES ARE EXPECTED TO BE ON THE BALLOTS THIS NOVEMBER IN MICHIGAN, OHIO AND THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.

TOMORROW ON LIFE AND TIMES, IT MAY BE THE MOST EXPENSIVE SCHOOL IN CALIFORNIA HISTORY. WE'LL VISIT A BOOT CAMP FOR TROUBLED TEENAGERS. TEN HAVE GRADUATED AT A COST OF MORE THAN $12 MILLION DOLLARS.

>> THEY'RE TOUGH KIDS COMING FROM TOUGH BACKGROUNDS, DYSFUNCTIONAL FAMILIES, SO FORTH AND SO ON. BUT THE THING THAT WE STILL TRY TO DRIVE HOME HERE IS, YOU KNOW, THEY'RE KIDS.

JESS>> THE FIRST REACTION WAS SHOCK, THEN OUTRAGE, AND NOW THAT VIDEOTAPE BEATING OF AN INGLEWOOD TEENAGER IS PROMPTING A GROWING CHORUS OF DEMANDS FOR ACTION. AFRICAN-AMERICAN AND CIVIL RIGHTS LEADERS HAVE JOINED INGLEWOOD RESIDENTS IN THEIR PROTESTS. THEY SAY THE ALLEGED POLICE BRUTALITY IS JUST THE LATEST EXAMPLE OF A WIDESPREAD PROBLEM: TENSION BETWEEN POLICE AND RESIDENTS OF MINORITY COMMUNITIES.

WITH US NOW, EARL OFARI HUTCHINSON, A LONG-TIME ACTIVIST, AUTHOR AND COMMENTATOR FOR KPFK RADIO. ALSO WITH US IS MERRICK BOBB, A POLICE REFORM EXPERT WHO TRACKS THE PERFORMANCE OF THE L.A. COUNTY SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT FOR THE LOS ANGELES COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS.

GENTLEMEN, THANK YOU FOR JOINING US. LOOKING AT THE INCIDENT IN INGLEWOOD OF LATE, HAVE WE LEARNED NOTHING?

EARL OFARI HUTCHINSON>> WELL, I THINK WE'VE LEARNED SOME THINGS. OVER THE LAST FEW DAYS, I'VE KEPT HEARING THIS IS ANOTHER RODNEY KING. I DISAGREE. I DON'T THINK IT IS ANOTHER RODNEY KING. RODNEY KING HAPPENED IN 1991, OBVIOUSLY WITH THE LOS ANGELES POLICE DEPARTMENT. YOU HAD A VERY INFLAMED SITUATION AT THE TIME. THE LAPD HAD A REPUTATION AS BEING VERY BRUTAL, BEING VERY VIOLENT, VERY RACIST. OBVIOUSLY, WE KNOW THE VERDICT IN SIMI VALLEY, THE CHRISTOPHER COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION REFORMS AND ALSO THE RIOT IN THE CITY. I THINK IN TEN YEARS THERE WERE SOME SUBSTANTIVE CHANGES MADE, AT LEAST A REAL EFFORT MADE AT REFORM.

IN INGLEWOOD, TOTALLY DIFFERENT. PREDOMINANTLY AFRICAN-AMERICAN CITY, AFRICAN-AMERICAN CITY ADMINISTRATION, POLICE CHIEF AND THE MAYOR, MOST OF THE CITY EMPLOYEES AND THE CITY COUNCIL. YOU HAD A QUICK RESPONSE TO THAT. THERE WAS NO ATTEMPT TO DUCK, DODGE AND STONEWALL, SO I THINK IN THAT SENSE CITY OFFICIALS AND POLICE OFFICIALS LEARNED ONE THING. YOU HAVE TO GET AHEAD OF THESE THINGS. YOU CAN'T LET MOMENTUM AND STEAM BUILD UP AND ALSO GIVE THE PERCEPTION ON THE PART OF THE PUBLIC THAT YOU DON'T CARE AND YOU'RE INDIFFERENT TO THAT. SO I THINK THERE ARE HUGE DIFFERENCES IN THAT TIME PERIOD.

JESS>> MR. BOBB, IN ADDITION TO OVERSEEING WHAT'S HAPPENING WITH THE LOS ANGELES COUNTY SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT, YOU ALSO ARE DIRECTOR OF POLICE ASSESSMENT RESOURCE CENTER, WHICH IS A NATIONAL CENTER ON POLICE OVERSIGHT AND REFORM. WHAT ABOUT THE INGLEWOOD POLICE DEPARTMENT? AS EARL MENTIONED, IT CLEARLY IS NOT THE LOS ANGELES POLICE DEPARTMENT, BUT THIS IS NOT THE FIRST TIME THERE HAVE BEEN ACCUSATIONS THAT THE INGLEWOOD POLICE DEPARTMENT DID NOT HAVE THE HIGHEST OF PROFESSIONAL STANDARDS.

MERRICK BOBB>> THAT'S CORRECT. I THINK EARL MAKES A VERY GOOD POINT. THIS IS NOT RODNEY KING IN TERMS OF THE WAY THIS CITY HAS RESPONDED AND THE LEADERS HAVE RESPONDED. THEY HAVE, IN THAT SENSE, LEARNED THE LESSONS OF RODNEY KING.

THE QUESTION REALLY IS WHETHER THE INGLEWOOD POLICE DEPARTMENT, AS CONTRASTED TO THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT OR THE L.A. POLICE DEPARTMENT, LEARNED THE LESSONS OF THE CHRISTOPHER COMMISSION AND LEARNED THE LESSONS OF RODNEY KING IN TERMS OF IDENTIFICATION OF PROBLEM OFFICERS, INTERVENING IN THEIR CAREERS TO TRY TO TURN THEM AROUND OR TO REHABILITATE THEM OR TO TAKE OTHER STEPS IF THEY ARE SERIOUSLY ENDANGERING THE COMMUNITY. THOSE KINDS OF STEPS, THOSE SYSTEMIC REFORMS, THAT HAVE BEEN INSTITUTED IN THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT, ARE BEING INSTITUTED IN THE LAPD AND IN A NUMBER OF POLICE DEPARTMENTS ACROSS THE COUNTRY, MAY NOT HAVE REACHED INGLEWOOD.

JESS>> WHAT DO YOU SAY TO THOSE WHO INSIST THAT THIS IS NOT UNUSUAL, THIS IS ALMOST THE NORM, THE ONLY THING UNIQUE ABOUT THIS IS THAT A TELEVISION CAMERA CAUGHT IT, A TAPE RECORDER CAUGHT IT?

EARL OFARI HUTCHINSON>> WELL, WE'D HAVE THE SECOND TIME IN TEN YEARS IN THE COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES WHERE WE'VE SEEN POLICE MISCONDUCT CAUGHT ON VIDEOTAPE. NOW WHAT I'M REALLY HOPING IS THIS. THE FACT THAT IT DID HAPPEN, LITERALLY MILLIONS OF PEOPLE NOT ONLY IN L.A. COUNTY, BUT ACROSS THE NATION AND I'M TOLD NOW INTERNATIONALLY, DID SEE THIS TAPE, DID RAISE QUESTIONS ABOUT POLICING. HAVE WE LEARNED ANYTHING? WHERE DO WE GO FROM HERE?

WHAT I'M REALLY CONCERNED ABOUT NOW THAT IT'S COME TO LIGHT VIA THE VIDEOTAPE THAT, AS MERRICK SAID BEFORE, THE INGLEWOOD POLICE DEPARTMENT AND CITY OFFICIALS PLAY CLOSE ATTENTION TO LEARN THE LESSONS THAT IT DOESN'T HAPPEN AGAIN. THAT ENTAILS SYSTEMIC REFORMS THAT HAVE TO COME TO SMALLER POLICE DEPARTMENTS LIKE THE INGLEWOOD PD.

YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT THE LAPD AND THE L.A. COUNTY SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT, THERE ARE LAYERS OF CIVILIAN OVERSIGHT WITH THE POLICE COMMISSION, WITH THE LAPD, INSPECTOR GENERAL. SMALL CITIES LIKE INGLEWOOD DON'T HAVE THAT, SO WE'RE MAKING PROPOSALS TO THE MAYOR -- WHEN I SAY WE, MYSELF AND OTHER CITIZENS IN INGLEWOOD -- TO BRING IN SOME REFORMS. FOR EXAMPLE, CITIZEN COMPLAINTS, USE OF FORCE, REASSESSED TRAINING. SO IT'S AN OPPORTUNITY NOW FOR THE CITY OF INGLEWOOD AND INDEED SMALLER POLICE DEPARTMENTS THROUGHOUT SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA TO LOOK AT THIS, LEARN FROM THIS AND, WHERE REFORMS ARE NEEDED, INITIATE THEM.

JESS>> ONE THING THAT DISTINGUISHES THIS FROM THE RODNEY KING BEATING TOO WAS THE IMMEDIATE RESPONSE OF OFFICIAL INGLEWOOD. HOW WOULD YOU GAUGE THAT?

MERRICK BOBB>> I WOULD GAUGE THE OFFICIAL RESPONSE OF INGLEWOOD AS VERY GOOD. I GIVE THE MAYOR, IN PARTICULAR, VERY HIGH MARKS FOR --

JESS>> -- ROOSEVELT DORN WAS OUT THERE IMMEDIATELY ALMOST --

MERRICK BOBB>> -- DORN WAS OUT THERE IMMEDIATELY. TRUE, BANKS WAS NOT THERE TO --

JESS>> -- THE POLICE CHIEF WHO IS AFRICAN-AMERICAN WAS IN HAWAII ON VACATION.

MERRICK BOBB>> THAT'S RIGHT, SO IT FELL TO DORN TO BE OUT THERE AND TO BE OUT FRONT. I THINK HE HAS BEAUTIFULLY LEARNED THE LESSONS FROM PRIOR POLICE CRISES IN GETTING OUT THERE, BEING AN HONEST, CLEAR VOICE VERY QUICKLY.

JESS>> THE POLICE CHIEF SEEMED NOT TO BE QUITE SO AGGRESSIVE. GIVEN HIS BACKGROUND, AND AFRICAN-AMERICAN, WOULDN'T YOU HAVE EXPECTED SOMETHING DIFFERENT FROM HIM?

MERRICK BOBB>> NOT NECESSARILY. ONE OF THE JOBS OF THE POLICE CHIEF IS TO WAIT UNTIL THE INVESTIGATION IS OVER, WAIT UNTIL THE DUST HAS SETTLED --

JESS>> -- BUT WOULD NOT THE MAYOR HAVE HAD THE SAME RESPONSIBILITY?

MERRICK BOBB>> THE MAYOR HAS NOT QUITE THE SAME RESPONSIBILITY. THE MAYOR HAS THE RESPONSIBILITY OF MAKING SURE THAT THE COMMUNITY KNOWS THAT THE PROCESSES THAT WILL TAKE PLACE ARE GOING TO BE FULL, FAIR AND THOROUGH PROCESSES. IT IS THEN THE JOB OF THE POLICE CHIEF TO EXECUTE UPON THAT. I THINK THAT THE POLICE CHIEF HAS A DUTY AND OBLIGATION, TO SOME EXTENT, NOT TO PREJUDGE HIS OWN MEN AND WOMEN.

JESS>> IS THERE ANY CONCERN THAT WE HAVE ALL PREJUDGED?

EARL OFARI HUTCHINSON>> WELL, THERE IS A CONCERN, AND I CAN SAY THIS ABOUT MAYOR ROOSEVELT DORN. EVEN IF YOU LOOK VERY CLOSELY, HE HAS KIND OF BACKED A LITTLE BIT AWAY FROM HIS INITIAL STATEMENT. NOW HE'S SAYING, AS MERRICK SAID, LET'S LET THE PROCESS WORK. LET'S NOT PREJUDGE. AS A MATTER OF FACT --

JESS>> -- ISN'T THAT APPROPRIATE?

EARL OFARI HUTCHINSON>> IT IS APPROPRIATE AND IT'S THE CORRECT THING TO SAY, LEGALLY AND ALSO POLITICALLY AND MORALLY TOO, BECAUSE LET'S FACE IT. WE KNOW DONOVAN JACKSON OBVIOUSLY HAS RIGHTS. THE VIDEOTAPE SHOWS THEY WERE VIOLATED. WE'LL SEE. BUT ALSO, THERE'S A PROCESS TOO ABOUT THE OFFICERS THAT WERE INVOLVED TOO. SO YOU WANT TO MAKE THIS A CLEAN PROCESS AND, TO DO THAT, YOU HAVE TO FOLLOW THE PROCESS AND THE GUIDELINES AND THE RULES. I THINK THE MAYOR IS DOING THAT AND I THINK THE POLICE CHIEF IS DOING THAT AND I APPLAUD THEM FOR IT.

JESS>> AND WE'LL BE WATCHING. MERRICK BOBB, EARL OFARI HUTCHINSON, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR JOINING US. THANKS FOR BEING WITH US.

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JESS>> AND NOW ON LIFE AND TIMES TONIGHT, HERE IS PATT MORRISON'S INFINITELY MORRISON.

PATT MORRISON>> IF YOU HAVE NOT BEEN TO THE MUSEUM OF CONTEMPORARY ART, I CAN RECOMMEND IT, BUT NOT FOR THE REASONS THAT THE LOS ANGELES CONVENTION AND VISITORS BUREAU IS NOW PUTTING FORTH. THE BUREAU IS FLAUNTING HOTEL AND SPECIAL TICKET PACKAGES TO SEE THE ANDY WARHOL RETROSPECTIVE IN ITS ONLY NORTH AMERICAN EXHIBITION, AND HERE ARE THE REASONS IT GIVES.

"CINDY CRAWFORD, ANJELICA HUSTON, BRAD PITT, MARTIN SHORT, BEN STILLER, JERRY STILLER AND MINA SUVARI HAVE ALL VISITED THE ANDY WARHOL RETROSPECTIVE AND YOU TOO CAN WALK THROUGH THE SAME GALLERIES THAT CANDICE BERGEN, JAMES VANDERBEEK, LEIF GARRETT, FRAN DRESHER, JEFF GOLDBLUM AND MR. BLACKWELL HAVE ALL EXPERIENCED." I'M NOT ALTOGETHER SURE WHO SOME OF THESE PEOPLE ARE, BUT THEY MUST BE FAMOUS OR THEY WOULDN'T BE USED TO PROMOTE A MUSEUM. WHAT A NOVEL NOTION. DON'T GO BECAUSE OF THE ART. GO BECAUSE CELEBRITIES ARE GOING.

IN L.A., NOT A CIGAR SHOP OPENS, NOT A RESTAURANT SERVES ITS FIRST SALADE MAISON, BUT THAT SOME CELEBRITY CAN BE COUNTED ON TO ORNAMENT THE BIG MOMENT AND THE PRESS IS DULY NOTIFIED. ON ANY GIVEN DAY, WE ALSO HAVE ROCK MUSICIANS SUING AND BEING SUED, TV AND MOVIE ACTORS MARRYING AND DIVORCING, SINGERS GOING INTO REHAB OR COMING OUT OF IT, ALL IN THE MEDIA MAELSTROM. BUT I MUST SAY THAT L.A. IS MOCKED FOR ITS SELF-ABSORBED ENTERTAINMENT-OBSESSED SELF BY A NATION THAT IS EVEN CELEBRITY-OBSESSED.

MADONNA LIVES IN LONDON NOW, BUT WHEN SHE LIVED HERE, SHE SOMETIMES TURNED UP AT THE MAYFAIR ON HYPERION. IT WAS THE COOL THING, THE LOS ANGELES THING, TO IGNORE HER. YOU DIDN'T GET ON THE PHONE AND HYPERVENTILATE "OH MY GOD, YOU'LL NEVER GUESS WHO'S HERE AT THE MARKET!" THE REAL ANGELENO EITHER PAID NO ATTENTION OR, BETTER YET, IF THE MATERIAL GIRL WAS TRYING TO BRAZEN IT OUT WITH FIFTEEN ITEMS IN THE 10-ITEMS-OR-FEWER LINE, CALL HER ON IT.

WE'RE SUPPOSED TO LEAVE THE PANTING AND GAWKING TO THE TOURISTS. OH, AND THE PRESS RELEASE? THE ONE INVITING MERE MORTALS TO THE SAME EXHIBITION WHERE ACTORS WALK? IT MISSPELLED ANJELICA HUSTON'S NAME.

JESS>> HER FATHER OPENED A BALLET STUDIO IN IRAN. THAT WAS BACK IN 1941. NOW ANNA DJANBAZIAN IS FOLLOWING IN HER FATHER'S FOOTSTEPS IN THE CITY OF GLENDALE. SINCE 1988, HER DANCE ACADEMY HAS TRAINED STUDENTS OF ALL AGES. THE TRADITION MAY HAVE BEGUN HALF A WORLD AWAY, BUT IT'S STILL ALIVE AND WELL IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA. TONIGHT WE'LL MEET THE TEACHER AND SOME OF THE STUDENTS WHO SHARE HER DREAMS OF DANCE.

ANNA DJANBAZIAN>> MY NAME IS ANNA DJANBAZIAN. I AM A TEACHER, DANCER, CHOREOGRAPHER. I BORN IN TEHRAN. I'M ARMENIAN. I ALWAYS LOVED DANCING. I KNOW WHERE THIS COME FROM. PROBABLY FROM MY DAD. OUR STUDIO AND HOUSE WAS THE SAME PLACE, SO MOST OF THE TIME I WAS SPENDING MY TIME WATCHING DAD'S CLASS. WHENEVER THERE WAS NO CLASS GOING ON, I WAS PLAYING IN THE CLASSROOM IN FRONT OF MIRRORS DOING ALL KINDS OF CHOREOGRAPHY, SINGING, DANCING.

MY FATHER CAME FROM RUSSIA. HE WAS A BALLET DANCER AND HE STUDIED AT PETRODVORETS KIROV BALLET AND HE WAS A PRINCIPAL DANCER OF KIROV BALLET. I WAS SO LITTLE. I DON'T KNOW WHY, BUT I KNOW AFTER REVOLUTION, THE FAMILY TRANSFERRED TO IRAN. HE WAS THE FIRST PERSON TO HAVE A BALLET STUDIO IN IRAN, ESPECIALLY MALE DANCERS. IT WAS VERY NON-TRADITIONAL, SO IT WAS NOT A VERY EASY JOB FOR HIM, BUT HE SUCCEEDED. HE SUCCEEDED AND EVERYBODY RESPECT HIM AND HE WAS VERY WELL-KNOWN IN IRAN. UNFORTUNATELY, HE DIED SOON AND I WAS DEFINITELY WANTING TO CONTINUE HIS STEPS.

IN 1984, I MIGRATE TO UNITED STATES. IN 1988, I FINALLY SUCCEEDED TO HAVE MY OWN STUDIO IN GLENDALE. SINCE THEN, WE'RE STILL WORKING. WE HAVE LOTS OF STUDENTS COMING IN AND OUT. THEY'RE USUALLY PARTICIPATING IN BALLET CLASSES, MODERN DANCE CLASSES, TRADITIONAL, ARMENIAN AND PERSIAN, SO OUR SHOWS USUALLY HAVE DIFFERENT KIND OF VARIETY OF PERFORMANCE DANCERS.

IF WE CAN TEACH THEM HOW TO CREATE, HOW TO LET THEIR MIND AND BODY WORK TOGETHER. I KNOW THAT ALL MY STUDENTS ARE NOT GOING TO -- HOPEFULLY -- BUT THEY'RE NOT GOING TO BE A BALLET DANCER. BUT DEFINITELY THEY ARE GOING TO BE A BETTER PERSON FOR THEMSELVES AND THE COMMUNITY. THEY ARE GOING TO BE MORE DISCIPLINED. THEY ARE GOING TO BE MORE OPEN TO SEE, REALIZE AND BE A VERY QUICK THINKER. THE CREATIVE DANCE MOVEMENT THAT WE'RE TEACHING IN THE CLASSROOM IS HELPING THEM TO -- ACTUALLY GIVING THEM THE SKILLS.

[FILM CLIP]

LATER ON WHEN THEY ARE PERFORMING ON STAGE, WITH THIS TRAINING, THEY'RE MORE OPEN AND LIVE PERFORMER INSTEAD OF ONLY LEARNING THE ROUTINE, COME ON STAGE, LISTEN TO THE MUSIC, COUNT, DO YOUR ROUTINE AND JUST GET OUT. IT'S JUST LIFE. THEY CAN TRANSFER LIFE TO THE AUDIENCE. I LOVE TO SEE THEM WHEN THEY ARE SHEDDING ALL THESE LITTLE BOUNDARIES THAT LIFE PUTTING AROUND US. DON'T MOVE, DON'T TALK, DON'T WALK. WE'RE TAKING ALL THESE DON'TS OUT AND JUST LET THEM TO SHINE.

I HAVE A BALLET CLASS THAT I AM TEACHING YOUNG GIRLS OF FIFTEEN OR SIXTEEN YEARS OLD. WITH THIS PARTICULAR GROUP, WHICH IS MY JUNIOR DANCE COMPANY, WE ARE WORKING ON BALLET THREE TIMES A WEEK. USUALLY WE'RE STARTING WITH WARM-UP, EVERY JOINT AND EVERY BODY PART. THEN WE GO FOR A LITTLE EXTENSION AND THEN AFTER WE START TO DO ALL THE LIFTING, TURNING, JUMPING AND THAT KIND OF MOVEMENT, WHICH IS NOT VERY EASY. IT NEEDS A LOT OF WILL TO TAKE ALL THIS PRESSURE, BUT AFTER THEY CAN DO IT, IT'S REALLY FUN FOR THEM TOO.

DANCE MEANS LIFE TO ME. DANCE MEANS AIR, IT MEANS ENERGY, IT MEANS LOVE. WITHOUT OUT, THAT'S THE ONLY WAY I CAN COMMUNICATE. THAT'S THE WAY I COMMUNICATE. THAT WAY IS BETTER THAN THE OTHER WAYS. DANCE IS LIFE TO ME. IT'S LOVE. IT'S EVERYTHING.

[FILM CLIP]

JESS>> FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE DANCE ACADEMY, CALL THE NUMBER ON YOUR SCREEN [818-247-4465] OR YOU CAN ALSO LOG ONTO THEIR WEBSITE, WWW.DJANBAZIANDANCE.COM. WE'LL LEAVE THIS UP FOR A FEW SECONDS SO YOU CAN WRITE DOWN THE SPELLING. D-J-A-N-B-A-Z-I-A-N-D-A-N-C-E.

THAT'S IT FOR TONIGHT'S PROGRAM. WE INVITE YOU TO CHECK OUR WEBSITE, WWW.KCET.ORG, FOR TRANSCRIPTS AND AUDIO OF RECENT BROADCASTS. NOW FOR ALL OF US HERE AT LIFE AND TIMES, GOOD NIGHT AND HAVE A GREAT EVENING.

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.