9/2/02

LC020902

VAL ZAVALA>> ON LIFE AND TIMES TONIGHT --

JESS MARLOW>> GANG MURDERS ARE ON THE RISE AND THE VALLEY CEASEFIRE IS HISTORY. WHAT'S BEHIND THIS SURGE IN VIOLENCE AND CAN A FORMER GANG MEMBER HELP BROKER PEACE?

WILLIAM "BLINKY" RODRIGUEZ>> EVERYONE SAYS, WELL, WHY DO THEY DO IT? NO ONE CAN PUT THEIR FINGER ON IT. WHY DO THEY DO IT? WELL, WHY DID THE HATFIELDS AND MCCOYS GO AT IT? HAS ANYONE FIGURED THAT ONE OUT YET? WAS IT OVER A WATER WELL? I DON'T KNOW. ALL I KNOW IS THAT IT'S HAPPENING.

VAL>> DO GANG TRUCES REALLY WORK? WE'LL HEAR FROM A PRIEST WHO'S SPENT YEARS WORKING WITH GANGS IN EAST L.A.

FATHER GREGORY BOYLE>> I'VE BEEN THERE, DONE THAT. I MEAN, I'VE DONE TRUCES. I'VE DONE PEACE TREATIES. I'VE DONE LET'S AGREE NOT TO SHOOT INTO HOUSES. LET'S AGREE NOT TO SHOOT THIS SUMMER. I THINK, IN THE END, YOU STILL HAVEN'T GOTTEN UNDERNEATH. WHAT IS THE PROBLEM THAT UNDERGIRDS THE SYMPTOM THAT WE'RE SEEING?

JESS>> ALSO, PATT MORRISON IS HERE TO WEIGH IN ON A JUDICIAL MATTER OF GASTRONOMIC IMPORTANCE.

PATT MORRISON>> FAST FOOD, FAT TIMES. JUNK FOOD MIGHT GO TO A JURY -- ON TONIGHT'S INFINITELY MORRISON.

VAL>> GANG VIOLENCE MAKES HEADLINES, BUT EAST LOS ANGELES WANTS TO BE JUDGED BY SOMETHING MORE THAN JUST THE LATEST CRIME STORY ON THE LOCAL NEWS.

DAISY RODRIGUEZ>> YOU KNOW, THEY'RE TRYING TO JUDGE US BY PARTLY LIKE SCHOOL, GANGS, STEREOTYPES AND ALL OF THAT, BUT THEY SHOULD REALLY COME HERE AND WATCH US AND SEE WHAT THE COMMUNITY DOES TO MAKE THINGS BETTER, TO MAKE THIS A BETTER PLACE.

VAL>> TONIGHT YOU'LL MEET SOME BOYLE HEIGHTS RESIDENTS WHO AREN'T MAKING NEWS, BUT THEY ARE MAKING A DIFFERENCE.

JESS>> AND IT'S ALL STRAIGHT AHEAD ON TONIGHT'S LIFE AND TIMES.

LIFE AND TIMES TONIGHT IS MADE POSSIBLE BY THE FOLLOWING FOUNDATIONS:

THE L.K. WHITTIER FOUNDATION
DEDICATED TO IMPROVING THE QUALITY OF LIFE BY SUPPORTING INNOVATIVE ENDEAVORS IN THE FIELDS OF MEDICINE, HEALTH, SCIENCE AND EDUCATION.

AND THE CALIFORNIA ENDOWMENT
THE STATE'S LARGEST HEALTH FOUNDATION SUPPORTING ORGANIZATIONS THAT DIRECTLY IMPROVE THE HEALTH AND WELL-BEING OF CALIFORNIA'S DIVERSE COMMUNITIES. THE CALIFORNIA ENDOWMENT, A PARTNER FOR HEALTHIER COMMUNITIES.

VAL>> GOOD EVENING, I'M VAL ZAVALA.

JESS>> AND I'M JESS MARLOW.

AT A TIME WHEN WE'RE ALL CONCERNED ABOUT ATTACKS FROM FOREIGN TERRORISTS, MANY LOCAL NEIGHBORHOODS ARE UNDER SIEGE FROM WITHIN. GANG VIOLENCE IS THE PROBLEM AND THIS YEAR IT MAY WELL CLAIM UPWARDS OF FOUR HUNDRED LIVES IN THE LOS ANGELES AREA.

VAL>> BUT FOR THE BETTER PART OF THE PAST DECADE, GANG MURDERS HAVE BEEN ON THE DECLINE LARGELY BECAUSE OF A SERIES OF CEASE-FIRES, TREATIES AND TRUCES. BUT IN THE SAN FERNANDO VALLEY, NEIGHBORHOODS HAVE BEEN TERRORIZED THIS SUMMER WITH ONE BLOODY KILLING SPREE AFTER ANOTHER. TONIGHT GAY YEE REPORTS FROM ONE OF THE MOST DANGEROUS SPOTS, PACOIMA, WHERE ONE FORMER GANG MEMBER IS TRYING TO ACT AS A PEACEMAKER.

GAY YEE>> AT FIRST GLANCE, THIS OLD HOME VIDEO DOESN'T SEEM VERY IMPORTANT, BUT TO SOME PEOPLE, IT WAS AN HISTORIC MOMENT. THE TEAMS WERE MADE UP OF RIVAL GANGS FROM THE SAN FERNANDO VALLEY PLAYING ON A FOOTBALL FIELD INSTEAD OF KILLING EACH OTHER ON THE STREETS.

>> I WANT EVERYBODY TO KNOW THERE AIN'T NO LOSERS HERE IN THIS GAME. NOTHING BUT WINNERS, NOTHING BUT WINNERS...

GAY YEE>> ALMOST A DECADE AGO, GANGS IN THE SAN FERNANDO VALLEY AGREED TO STOP THE KILLING AFTER A WAVE OF DRIVE-BYS AND MURDERS.

WILLIAM "BLINKY" RODRIGUEZ>> FEBRUARY 3, 1990, MAN, I PLANTED A SEED IN THE SAN FERNANDO CEMETERY.

GAY YEE>> ONE OF THE PEOPLE WHO HELPED BROKER THE PEACE ACCORD WAS WILLIAM "BLINKY" RODRIGUEZ.

WILLIAM "BLINKY" RODRIGUEZ>> MY SON, SONNY, WAS KILLED IN A DRIVE-BY FEBRUARY 3, 1990. WHAT'S A SAD COMMENTARY IS THAT I'M NOT UNIQUE. I'M NOT UNIQUE. HOW MANY FAMILIES HAVE LOST?

GAY YEE>> TODAY'S HEADLINES INDICATE MANY, EVEN NOW. THE PEACE DIDN'T LAST. SINCE JANUARY, THERE HAVE BEEN THIRTY-FIVE GANG-RELATED KILLINGS IN THE VALLEY.

WILLIAM "BLINKY" RODRIGUEZ>> THERE'S BEEN A GANG FROM ANOTHER NEIGHBORHOOD THAT WOULD COME DOWN THIS STREET AND, IF THERE'S ANYBODY STANDING ON THE SIDEWALK, THEY'LL START SHOOTING.

GAY YEE>> BUT RODRIGUEZ AND HIS HARD-CORE GANG INTERVENTION TEAM AREN'T GIVING UP. THEY TOOK US TO BLYTHE STREET. IT'S HOME TO ONE OF THE MOST NOTORIOUS GANGS IN THE VALLEY, A NEIGHBORHOOD WHERE PEOPLE LIVE IN FEAR. THE PLAYGROUND IS EMPTY AND BIG BROTHERS REFUSE TO LET THEIR YOUNG SIBLINGS OUTSIDE.

>> LAST TIME, SOME THREE-YEAR-OLD GOT SHOT.

GAY YEE>> JUST BY BEING OUTSIDE?

>> YES.

VAL>> RODRIGUEZ IS IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD PROMOTING A SOFTBALL GAME BETWEEN THE BLYTHE STREET AND LANGDON STREET GANGS, TWO GROUPS WHOSE RIVALRIES GO WAY BACK.

WILLIAM "BLINKY" RODRIGUEZ>> EVERYONE SAYS, WELL, WHY DO THEY DO IT? NO ONE CAN PUT THEIR FINGER ON IT. WHY DO THEY DO IT? WELL, WHY DID THE HATFIELDS AND MCCOYS GO AT IT? HAS ANYONE FIGURED THAT ONE OUT YET? WAS IT OVER A WATER WELL? I DON'T KNOW. ALL I KNOW IS THAT IT'S HAPPENING.

GAY YEE>> RODRIGUEZ SAYS, IF THERE WAS PEACE ONCE, THERE CAN BE AGAIN.

WILLIAM "BLINKY" RODRIGUEZ>> HEY, SPIDER, IT'S ME, BLINKY. WE'RE GOING TO DO THAT THING AT TWO O'CLOCK INSTEAD OF THREE.

GAY YEE>> THE LATEST CRIME WAVE HAS MOTIVATED RODRIGUEZ TO MOBILIZE. THE FORMER KICKBOXER TURNED MINISTER IS WORKING WITH OTHER CLERGY MEETING WITH GANG MEMBERS ONCE A WEEK TO PROMOTE PEACE.

REV. RUDY TRUJILLO>> WHAT WE'RE DOING IS, WE'RE REACHING THE GANGSTERS, THE YOUNG PEOPLE, TO BRING A POSITIVE WORD, A MESSAGE, THAT CAN BRING A TRANSFORMATION.

GAY YEE>> A FEW WEEKS AGO, THEY HELD A PEACE MARCH. MAYOR HAHN WAS THERE AND OTHER OFFICIALS SITTING SIDE BY SIDE WITH GANGBANGERS. BUT CRITICS SAY WHAT RODRIGUEZ WANTS IS UNREALISTIC, THAT A GANG TRUCE COULD ONLY BE A SHORT-TERM FIX, THAT TREATIES IN GENERAL NEVER LAST. RODRIGUEZ DISAGREES.

WILLIAM "BLINKY" RODRIGUEZ>> THE RATIONAL THING TO DO IS JUST SAY FORGET ABOUT THEM, OKAY? FORGET ABOUT THEM. KEEP DOING THIS. THEN THE SOUND BITE IS, WE'RE NOT DYING, WE'RE MULTIPLYING.

GAY YEE>> SOME OF HIS STRONGEST SUPPORTERS HAVE BEEN GANG MEMBERS THEMSELVES, OLDER ONES LIKE "BIG SPIDER" FROM THE CRIMINALS, AND "SCRAPPY" FROM THE LANGDON STREET GANG. BOTH TOOK PART IN THE CEASE-FIRE NEARLY A DECADE AGO AND REMEMBER IT AS THE GOOD OLD DAYS.

"BIG SPIDER">> WE USED TO GO CRUISING. I'D SEE HIS HOMEBOYS THERE IN LANGDON. I'D SEE VAN NUYS, BLYTHE STREET, ALL THESE OTHER NEIGHBORHOODS. YOU KNOW, EVERYBODY WAS COOL.

GAY YEE>> "SPIDER AND "SCRAPPY" AREN'T SURE WHY PEACE UNRAVELED. MAYBE NEW GANGS, MAYBE NEW MEMBERS TOO YOUNG TO REMEMBER THE TRUCE, BUT THEY AGREED A TREATY IS NOT ENOUGH.

"BIG SPIDER">> TO ME, IT'S LIKE FOR THE COMMUNITY TO SAY, OH, WE'RE TIRED OF KILLING. WELL, SO ARE WE. WELL, WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO ABOUT IT?

GAY YEE>> RODRIGUEZ SAYS HIS NONPROFIT GROUP, COMMUNITIES AND SCHOOLS, IS ONE OF JUST A HANDFUL PROMOTING GANG INTERVENTION AND JOBS. BUT HE SAYS EVEN WHEN TIMES WERE GOOD, LOCAL BUSINESSES RARELY SUPPORTED THEM.

WILLIAM "BLINKY" RODRIGUEZ>> WHAT, ARE YOU SITTING IN YOUR ARMCHAIR WITH YOUR REMOTE CONTROL? NO OFFENSE. IF THAT'S WHAT YOU WANT TO DO, DO IT, BUT DON'T CAST STONES UNLESS YOU'RE GOING TO ROLL YOUR SLEEVES UP, UNLESS YOU KNOW THE PAIN. HEY, I SEEN MY SON'S FEET HANGING OUT FROM UNDER A WHITE SHEET. I SEEN HIM. MY KID. AND HOW MANY KIDS NOW?

GAY YEE>> "SCRAPPY" SAYS HE'S A FATHER HIMSELF NOW. HE HAS A FIVE-YEAR-OLD DAUGHTER. HE SAYS NO ONE KNOWS BETTER THAT THE KILLING NEEDS TO END.

"SCRAPPY">> AND NOBODY ELSE IS GOING TO STOP IT. NOBODY WILL BE ABLE TO STOP IT UNLESS IT'S US, YOU KNOW? WE SAY, OKAY, WELL, YOU KNOW, WE'RE TIRED OF IT FOR THE SIMPLE FACT BECAUSE IT'S NOT JUST ABOUT US ANYMORE. IT'S OUR KIDS, YOUR KIDS, BECAUSE A BULLET DOESN'T KNOW A NAME.

JESS>> THERE IS SOME GOOD NEWS TO REPORT IN ALL OF THIS. THE LANDMARK GANG TRUCE IN WATTS NEGOTIATED IN THE DAYS AFTER THE L.A. RIOTS SEEMS TO BE HOLDING. THE TRUCE BROUGHT AN END TO THE VIOLENCE BETWEEN THE CRIPPS AND THE BLOODS. NOW SOME OF THE PEOPLE BEHIND THAT EFFORT SAY THEY MAY TRY TO ORGANIZE A NATIONAL GANG PEACE SUMMIT LATER THIS YEAR.

JESS>> A MOMENT AGO, YOU HEARD HOW GANG COUNSELOR, "BLINKY" RODRIGUEZ, IS TRYING TO BROKER A NEW CEASE-FIRE IN PACOIMA, BUT ARE TREATIES THE BEST SOLUTION TO GANG VIOLENCE? NOT ENTIRELY, SAYS A LOS ANGELES PRIEST WHO'S HAD YEARS OF EXPERIENCE WITH GANGS.

VAL>> FATHER GREGORY BOYLE HAS WORKED WITH TROUBLED KIDS IN EAST LOS ANGELES FOR THE PAST FOURTEEN YEARS. HIS HOMEBOY INDUSTRIES, A PROGRAM THAT PROVIDES JOBS AND TRAINING TO FORMER GANG MEMBERS, IS WELL KNOWN. JESS AND I TALKED WITH FATHER BOYLE ABOUT HOW TO STOP THE KILLINGS AND RESTORE THE PEACE.

JESS>> FATHER BOYLE, WITH THE INCREASE IN GANG SHOOTINGS, IT APPEARS THE GANG TRUCE CLEARLY HAS FAILED. IS IT TIME FOR ANOTHER GANG SUMMIT? A RESTORATION OF THE TRUCE?

FATHER GREGORY BOYLE>> IT'S TIME TO DO A LOT OF THINGS. I THINK ONE OF THE THINGS THAT THE CITY HAS TO DECIDE TO DO AND HAVE THE WILL TO DO IS TO DO INTERVENTION AND REALLY HAVE SOMETHING FOR GANG MEMBERS TO MOVE TOWARD. IF LAW ENFORCEMENT PROVIDES A CERTAIN KIND OF RESPONSIBLE AND REASONABLE HEAT THAT WILL MOVE THEM TOWARDS LIGHT, TOWARDS JOBS AND AN ABILITY TO REHAB AND TO BE IN RECOVERY, IF YOU WILL, THAT'S WHAT THE CITY NEEDS TO KIND OF CONCENTRATE ON.

IT'S NOT A QUESTION, I DON'T THINK, OF JUST TRYING TO BRING SIDES TOGETHER NECESSARILY TO KIND OF, YOU KNOW, GIVE PEACE A CHANCE. I THINK A LOT OF IT HAS TO DO WITH -- GANG VIOLENCE IS ALWAYS ABOUT SOMETHING ELSE. IF YOU CAN FIND OUT WHAT THE SOMETHING ELSE IS UNDERNEATH, THEN YOU CAN IN FACT ADDRESS THAT ISSUE OF DESPAIR AND LACK OF HOPE AND INABILITY TO FIND EMPLOYMENT.

VAL>> BUT IF YOU'RE SAYING YOU'RE NOT A BIG FAN OF TRUCES AS A REAL SOLUTION, AT THE SAME TIME, YOU CAN LOOK AT THESE NUMBERS. IN 1993 BEFORE THE TRUCE, WE HAD 346 GANG-RELATED MURDERS IN LOS ANGELES. AFTER THE TRUCE SIX YEARS LATER, IT DROPS DOWN, WAY DOWN, TO LESS THAN HALF OF THAT, 136. TRUCES SEEM TO WORK.

FATHER GREGORY BOYLE>> I NEVER SAID THAT I WASN'T A BIG FAN OF TRUCES. I SAID WHAT I DO IS I TRY TO DO INTERVENTION, WHICH IS YOU TRY TO OFFER JOBS, AN ALTERNATIVE TO GANG MEMBERS WHO WANT TO WALK IN THAT DIRECTION TOWARDS THE STUFF THAT WILL IN FACT HELP THEM. I MEAN, PART OF THE PROBLEM IS WHAT YOU HAVE TO DO SOMETIMES IN ORDER TO EFFECT A TRUCE IS YOU HAVE TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THESE ENTITIES, THE GANGS, THE GROUPS, YOU KNOW, HAVE A VALIDITY AND A RIGHT TO SORT OF EXIST IN THE COMMUNITY.

I THINK LAW ENFORCEMENT NEEDS TO BE CLEAR AND SPEAK KIND OF WITH THE CLARITY OF PARENTS THAT SAY THIS IS NOT ACCEPTABLE HERE AND THEN PROVIDE AGAIN A CERTAIN KIND OF VIGILANCE THAT WILL HOPEFULLY MOVE THEM TOWARDS PROGRAMS. THE PROBLEM IS, WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH INTERVENTION OR ANYTHING TO OFFER GANG MEMBERS IF A KID DECIDES THAT I HAVE HAD ENOUGH OF THIS. THIS MORNING I BURIED MY 108TH YOUNG PERSON KILLED BECAUSE OF THIS.

I DON'T THINK YOU CAN EVER LAY ANYTHING AS THE ONE REASON WHY WE'VE HAD A DECREASE IN GANG VIOLENCE OR INCREASE. DURING THAT PERIOD OF THE TRUCES, YOU HAD THE ECONOMY IN A CERTAIN POSITION THAT WAS QUITE ROBUST AND CERTAINLY YOU HAD MORE JOBS AND I THINK YOU HAD A LOT OF OTHER THINGS IN PLACE. MY CONCERN HERE IS THAT WE HAVE A HIGH DEGREE OF REVERENCE FOR HOW COMPLEX THIS ISSUE IS. I'M NOT IN FAVOR OF ANY ONE SOLUTION AND I DON'T SUGGEST THAT JOBS, YOU KNOW, IS THE ONE THING THAT YOU HAVE TO DO. I THINK YOU HAVE TO DO ALL THINGS, PREVENTION, INTERVENTION AND SUPPRESSION, AT THE SAME TIME. IF ONE IS IN FACT FAILING, THEN YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE TROUBLE.

JESS>> YOU TALKED ABOUT LAW ENFORCEMENT APPLYING HEAT. IS IT THE CASE, AS WE HAVE HEARD, SINCE RAMPART, THE POLICE HAVE BEEN APPLYING LESS HEAT?

FATHER GREGORY BOYLE>> WELL, I THINK THAT, YOU KNOW, CERTAINLY THERE ARE DIMINISHED NUMBERS IN TERMS OF -- MORALE IS AN ISSUE AMONG LAW ENFORCEMENT IN L.A. CITY, AND I THINK THERE ISN'T THE KIND OF VIGILANCE WHERE YOU HAVE THE PRESENCE WHERE GANG MEMBERS USED TO COME TO ME AND SAY, GEE, IT'S TOO HOT OUT HERE RIGHT NOW. DO YOU HAVE A JOB FOR ME OR DO YOU HAVE SOMETHING THAT I CAN ACTUALLY --

VAL>> -- HOT, MEANING THAT THE COPS ARE --

FATHER GREGORY BOYLE>> -- HOT, MEANING THAT THERE'S A VIGILANCE THAT'S SAYING THIS IS NOT OKAY TO BE CONGREGATING HERE OR TO BE ENGAGED IN THIS.

VAL>> AND THEY'RE NOT HEARING THAT NOW?

FATHER GREGORY BOYLE>> NO, NO. YOU DON'T HEAR THAT AT ALL. IN FACT, THE TWO KIDS THAT I BURIED, I THINK, HAD THERE BEEN KIND OF MORE PRESENCE AND VIGILANCE WHICH IS A HEALTHY THING FOR A COMMUNITY TO SAY, GEE, THIS ISN'T ACCEPTABLE HERE. WE'RE NOT SEEING YOU AS THE ENEMY. THERE'S NO DEMONIZING THAT'S GOING ON. YOU KNOW, THERE ISN'T AN OCCUPYING FORCE IN TERMS OF THE POLICE PRESENCE. BUT THE KIND OF CLARITY THAT OUGHT TO BE THERE ISN'T THERE. THAT'S THE PIECE THAT'S MISSING RIGHT NOW AND I THINK THAT ACCOUNTS FOR A LOT OF WHAT'S GOING ON, COUPLED WITH THE FACT THAT THERE ISN'T ANY OPPORTUNITY FOR GANG MEMBERS TO RE-DIRECT THEIR LIVES ANYWAY.

JESS>> YOU DEAL WITH NEIGHBORHOODS THAT ARE POLICED BY THE LAPD AND ALSO BY THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT. IS THERE A DIFFERENCE IN THE WAY LAW ENFORCEMENT DEALS?

FATHER GREGORY BOYLE>> WELL, PRIMARILY, WHERE MY OFFICE IS LOCATED IS LAPD, BUT SINCE MY OFFICE GETS ABOUT A THOUSAND GANG MEMBERS FROM ALL OVER L.A. COUNTY WALKING INTO OUR OFFICE EVERY MONTH TO GET FREE TATTOO REMOVAL, JOB PLACEMENT COUNSELING OR ASSISTANCE PRIMARILY WHEN THEY'RE RELEASED FROM DETENTION, WE GET THEM FROM ALL OVER. I'M MORE FAMILIAR WITH THE PRESENCE OF LAPD THAN I AM WITH THE SHERIFF'S.

VAL>> BUT IS THERE A DIFFERENCE THOUGH?

FATHER GREGORY BOYLE>> YOU KNOW, YOU HEAR DIFFERENCES. I DON'T HAVE ANY FIRST-HAND EXPERIENCE WITH THAT. THAT'S KIND OF MORE ON, OBVIOUSLY, THE COUNTY SIDE.

VAL>> WOULD YOU AGREE THAT PART OF THE REASON THAT WE'VE HEARD FOR THE INCREASE IN GANG VIOLENCE IS THE FACT THAT YOUNGER GANG MEMBERS WHO DON'T REMEMBER THE DAYS OF THE TRUCE, IT'S HISTORY TO THEM AND THAT THEY ARE EXPERIENCING -- YOU KNOW, THE GANG EXPERIENCE IS FAIRLY NEW AND THAT MEANS A KIND OF A NEW WAVE OF VIOLENCE BEFORE YOU CAN SAY, ENOUGH, TIME FOR ANOTHER TRUCE? IS IT A NEW GENERATION? A YOUNGER --

FATHER GREGORY BOYLE>> -- WELL, I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S ABOUT RECALLING TRUCES. WE'VE NEVER HAD A TRUCE ON THE EAST SIDE OF LOS ANGELES, CERTAINLY, SO I THINK YOU'LL ALWAYS HAVE YOUNGER KIDS WHO ARE COMING UP WHO WANT TO PROVE THEMSELVES AND SOMEHOW --

VAL>> -- DO THEY HAVE TO LEARN THE SAME LESSONS, HARD LESSONS?

FATHER GREGORY BOYLE>> A LITTLE BIT. I MEAN, I THINK, AGAIN, THAT'S WHY YOU HAVE TO ADDRESS THIS AT EVERY POSSIBLE LEVEL. YOU KNOW, IF YOU CAN HELP A KID IMAGINE A FUTURE THAT DOESN'T INCLUDE YOUR OWN FUNERAL, THEN I THINK YOU'VE GONE A LONG WAY TO PREVENTING THAT KID FROM GETTING TO A PLACE WHERE HE INFLICTS HARM.

JESS>> WE'RE TOLD THAT THE TRUCE IS HOLDING IN WATTS, OR WORKING IN WATTS. WOULD YOU AGREE?

FATHER GREGORY BOYLE>> I DON'T KNOW. I DON'T KNOW WHAT'S HAPPENING IN WATTS. I JUST KNOW THAT THIS ISSUE OBVIOUSLY IS WAY LARGER THAN BRINGING SIDES TOGETHER AND SAYING, GEE, CAN'T WE WORK THIS OUT? I'VE BEEN THERE, DONE THAT. I MEAN, I'VE DONE TRUCES. I'VE DONE PEACE TREATIES. I'VE DONE LET'S AGREE NOT TO SHOOT INTO HOUSES. LET'S AGREE NOT TO SHOOT THIS SUMMER. I THINK, IN THE END, IS YOU STILL HAVEN'T GOTTEN UNDERNEATH WHAT IS THE PROBLEM THAT UNDERGIRDS THIS SYMPTOM THAT WE'RE SEEING. I THINK, UNLESS WE REALLY COMMIT OURSELVES TO DO THAT IN THE FULLEST SENSE, I DON'T THINK YOU CAN SIT GANGS DOWN AND SAY LET'S WORK OUT WHAT YOUR DEMANDS ARE, BECAUSE THERE AREN'T ANY DEMANDS. IT'S NOT MIDDLE EAST. IT'S NOT NORTHERN IRELAND.

JESS>> AND SAYING "BE NICE" ISN'T ENOUGH.

FATHER GREGORY BOYLE>> YEAH.

VAL>> FATHER GREGORY BOYLE, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR INTERVIEW AND FOR ALL YOUR MANY YEARS OF HARD WORK IN EAST L.A. THANKS.

FATHER GREGORY BOYLE>> THANK YOU BOTH VERY MUCH.

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

JESS>> OBESITY. IT'S NO LAUGHING MATTER. IT'S AN EPIDEMIC THAT RIVALS CIGARETTE SMOKING AS THE LEADING CAUSE OF PREMATURE DEATH, AND IT IS THE TOPIC OF TONIGHT'S INFINITELY MORRISON.

PATT MORRISON>> EVERYONE'S GOTTEN A GOOD LAUGH AND SOME UNEASY NAVEL-GAZING MOMENTS FROM A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT AGAINST FOUR FAST FOOD CHAINS FILED BY A 272-POUND NEW YORK MAN WHO CLAIMS THAT HE THOUGHT ONE HUNDRED PERCENT BEEF MEANT IT WAS GOOD FOR YOU. HOW MUCH OF THIS IS ABOUT JUNK FOOD AND HOW MUCH ABOUT THE PLAINTIFF IS OPEN TO QUESTION. HE ADMITTED HE USED BAD FOOD AS A SUBSTITUTE FOR A LIFE. "I ATE A LOT", HE SAID, "BECAUSE I WAS BY MYSELF."

THE LATEST NEWS IS THAT EATING FEWER CALORIES COULD ADD YEARS TO YOUR LIFE. IN THAT CASE, WE MAY ALL LIVE FAST, DIE YOUNG AND LEAVE A CHUBBY CORPSE. SOME TEENAGERS GET FORTY PERCENT OF THEIR DAILY CALORIES FROM SOFT DRINKS. A STUDY FOUND THAT DENNY'S GRAND SLAM BREAKFAST, PRICED MORE CHEAPLY THAN HEALTHIER BREAKFASTS, HAS MORE FAT AND CALORIES THAN TWO QUARTER-POUNDERS IN ONE MEAL.

IT'S A P.T. BARNUM EXERCISE IN GIVING PEOPLE WHAT THEY WANT. MCDONALD'S ABANDONED ITS LOWER-FAT BURGER AND TACO BELL DUMPED ITS LOW-FAT BURRITOS BECAUSE PEOPLE WANTED THE FAT STUFF. WHAT AMERICANS SEEM TO LIKE, AS THE DESCRIPTION OF FETTUCCINI ALFREDO GOES, IS A HEART ATTACK ON A PLATE OR A BUN. IN CONSEQUENCE, WE ARE A NATION OF FAT PEOPLE AND ESPECIALLY FAT CHILDREN, EXCEPT IN CERTAIN LIPOSUCTION ZIP CODES OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA.

"BILLIONS SERVED" TRANSLATES INTO HUNDREDS OF BILLIONS OF DOLLARS FOR HEALTHCARE BATTLING THE RAVAGES OF OBESITY. THE PLAINTIFF SAYS HE HADN'T A CLUE THIS WAS HARMFUL. FAST FOOD CHAINS GRUDGINGLY MADE NUTRITIONAL CONTENT AVAILABLE, ALTHOUGH IN SMALL PRINT AND SOMETIMES ONLY ON REQUEST. IF THEY'RE PROUD OF WHAT THEY SELL, PROCLAIM IT TO THE WORLD. FULL OF FAT AND PROUD OF IT.

MAYBE THE LAWSUIT WILL GET WARNINGS POSTED AT THE DRIVE-UP WINDOW LIKE THOSE ON CIGARETTES OR LIQUOR - CAN BE DANGEROUS TO YOUR HEALTH - AND PERHAPS A PUBLIC SERVICE AD CAMPAIGN ON THE PERILS OF EXCESSIVE JUNK FOOD STARRING SOME OF THE CELEBRITIES WHO'VE STOOD UP AGAINST SMOKING AND FUR. AND IN THE INTEREST OF TRUTH, LET'S MAKE RONALD MCDONALD LOOK THE WAY HE WOULD REALLY LOOK IF HE ATE HIS PRODUCTS THREE MEALS A DAY. OBESE, SLUGGISH, UNHEALTHY AND SOON HEADED NOT FOR A HAPPY MEAL, BUT THE HAPPY HUNTING GROUND.

JESS>> VERY OFTEN WHEN WE LOOK AT AREAS WITH GANG PROBLEMS, ALL THE YOUNG PEOPLE WHO LIVE THERE GET TARRED WITH THE SAME BRUSH. BUT CLEARLY, THAT IS NOT AN ACCURATE PICTURE OF THESE PLACES AND TONIGHT WE'RE GOING TO SHOW YOU THE REST OF THE STORY.

VAL>> IT'S TOLD BY SOME YOUNG FILMMAKERS FROM A PROGRAM AT USC. THEY FOCUSED ON EAST LOS ANGELES AND THEY DECIDED TO LET THE PEOPLE WHO ACTUALLY LIVE THERE TELL THEIR OWN STORIES IN A DOCUMENTARY. WITH US NOW, THE FILM'S PRODUCER, JUAN MACIAS, AND ALSO JOINING US IS CINEMATOGRAPHER, JOAQUIN MURRIETA. THE FILM IS CALLED "OUR DREAMS, OUR VOICES". WELCOME, BOTH OF YOU, TO LIFE AND TIMES.

JOAQUIN MURRIETA>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

JESS>> DID YOU HAVE DIFFICULTY GETTING PEOPLE TO TELL THEIR STORIES?

JUAN MACIAS>> AT FIRST, PEOPLE WERE HESITANT SIMPLY BECAUSE THE MEDIA HAS NOT ALWAYS PORTRAYED THEM IN A MOST ACCURATE WAY. BUT AFTER WE GAINED THEIR TRUST, THEY WERE VERY EXCITED ABOUT TELLING THEIR STORY.

VAL>> WHAT INSPIRED YOU TO DO THIS DOCUMENTARY?

JOAQUIN MURRIETA>> TO GO INSIDE AND SEE A COMMUNITY AND FIND OUT THAT THEIR DREAMS ARE THE SAME. DREAMS ARE UNIVERSAL, NO MATTER WHERE YOU'RE FROM AND NO MATTER WHAT YOU'RE UP AGAINST. PEOPLE ARE THE SAME EVERYWHERE.

VAL>> NOW THE DOCUMENTARY IS TEN MINUTES LONG. YOU WERE KIND ENOUGH TO LET US CUT IT DOWN TO ABOUT FIVE MINUTES AND WE'RE GOING TO TAKE A LOOK AT IT. HERE IT IS, "OUR DREAM, OUR VOICES".

DAISY RODRIGUEZ>> YOU KNOW, THEY TRY TO JUDGE US BY PARTLY LIKE SCHOOLS, GANGS, STEREOTYPES AND ALL OF THAT, BUT THEY SHOULD REALLY COME HERE AND WATCH US, TO SEE WHAT THE COMMUNITY DOES TO MAKE THINGS BETTER, TO MAKE THIS A BETTER PLACE.

GLADYS GOMEZ>> I CAME HERE FROM EL SALVADOR. I LEFT AS SOON AS I WAS EIGHTEEN. I LEFT MY MOTHER. I LEFT MY BROTHERS. I THOUGHT IT WOULD BE EASIER, BUT AT FIRST IT WAS DIFFICULT. I HAD TO WORK VERY HARD AS A SEAMSTRESS. I HAD TWO SEWING MACHINES. I WORKED DAY AND NIGHT. THAT'S WHERE I MET MY HUSBAND. WE BOTH WORKED THE MACHINES. LATER, MY DAUGHTERS WERE BORN AND WE KEPT WORKING. NOW WE'VE CHANGED JOBS. HE WORKS AS A BARTENDER VERY FAR FROM HERE. I WORK HERE IN OUR HOUSE AS A BABYSITTER. WE TRY TO LIVE AS BEST WE CAN WITH THE WORK THAT WE HAVE.

DAVID RAMOS>> IN HIGH SCHOOL, I ALWAYS PREFERRED LIKE THE TITLE CHICANO INSTEAD OF LIKE LATINO OR HISPANIC BECAUSE, AT MY HIGH SCHOOL, I FELT LIKE EVERYONE WAS INTO THE WHOLE AMERICAN DREAM, AND ME COMING FROM EAST L.A., MY AMERICAN DREAM WAS LIKE SOMETHING DIFFERENT FROM WHAT THEY WANTED. THEY WANTED THEIR MONEY, THEY WANTED THEIR NEW CARS AND STUFF. ME, I JUST WANTED TO HELP OUT MY MOM, YOU KNOW? THAT'S ONE THING I LIKE ABOUT THIS AREA. I MEAN, A LOT OF TIMES A LOT OF PEOPLE AREN'T SUPERFICIAL BECAUSE THEY CAN'T AFFORD TO BE.

GLADYS GOMEZ>> I WAS BORN AND RAISED IN EL SALVADOR UNDER VERY DIFFICULT CIRCUMSTANCES, LIKE EXTREME POVERTY AND WAR. SOLDIERS PULLED OUT MY LITTLE BROTHER'S TEETH AND SHOT HIM TO DEATH. THEY DIDN'T HAVE ANY RESPECT FOR HUMANITY, ONLY FOR MORE POWER.

LUIS GUEVARA>> EDUCATION, TO ME, WAS MY ESCAPE FROM A LOT OF THE NEGATIVE THINGS THAT WERE HAPPENING HERE. I HAD A BROTHER WHO WAS INVOLVED IN GANGS. HE WAS KILLED IN A DRIVE-BY SHOOTING. HE GOT SOME OF HIS CARE HERE AND ACTUALLY THIS IS THE HOSPITAL IN WHICH, YOU KNOW, HE HAD HIS LAST CARE. TO BE ABLE TO COME BACK AS AN ADULT, AS A PSYCHOLOGIST, AND TO BE ABLE TO HELP TRAIN PHYSICIANS WHO ARE GOING TO BE WORKING WITH PEOPLE WHO ARE LIKE MY BROTHER, WHO ARE LIKE ME, THAT HAS BEEN A GREAT EXPERIENCE.

OSCAR RODRIGUEZ CRUS>> THIS IS DELORES MISSION. IT WAS BORN THIRTEEN YEARS AGO TO PROVIDE SERVICE TO THE PEOPLE THAT ARE LIVING ON THE STREETS. NO MATTER WHAT IS COMING FROM OR WHAT RELIGION IS COMING FROM, JUST WE PROVIDE THE SERVICE FOR THE PEOPLE THAT NEED IT. GOD OR JESUS IS NOT SEPARATED FROM OUR EVERYDAY LIVES. ACTUALLY, JESUS IS AN INSPIRATION THAT MOVES US TO ACTION AND, IN THAT, WE SEE A CONNECTION BETWEEN FAITH AND JUSTICE.

GLADYS GOMEZ>> FOR PEOPLE WHO WERE BORN HERE WHO HAVE ALWAYS LIVED HERE, WELL, IT'S DIFFICULT BECAUSE THEY HAVE NOT KNOWN HOW IT IS TO TRULY LIVE IN A WAR THAT YOU DON'T EVEN UNDERSTAND. I TELL MY DAUGHTER YOU'RE IN PARADISE. YOU HAVE EVERYTHING AHEAD OF YOU. YOU HAVE MANY THINGS, MANY DREAMS YOU CAN REALIZE.

>> MY PLANS FOR THE FUTURE ARE TO GO TO COLLEGE, DAVIS, PREFERABLY, BECOME A VETERINARIAN, BUY MY PARENTS A HOUSE, AND BUY MYSELF A HOUSE. BUT FIRST I WANT -- THE FIRST HOUSE I'M GOING TO BUY WILL BE FOR MY MOM AND MY DAD. YOU KNOW, WHEREVER I GO, I'M STILL GOING TO COME BACK AND DO WHAT I GOT TO DO. IT'S NOT LIKE I'M LEAVING AND NEVER COMING BACK. I JUST WANT TO COME BACK AND MAKE THIS, YOU KNOW, LIKE THE MEDIA SAYS. I WANT TO MAKE IT BETTER. THEY WANT TO SEE BETTER, I'LL MAKE IT BETTER. I'LL TRY AND PUT PEOPLE TOGETHER FOR US TO DO SOMETHING WITH AND WE COULD SHOW THEM THAT WE'RE FOR REAL. YOU KNOW, THAT WE WILL WORK OUR BUTTS OFF TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE.

JESS>> VERY NICE. ARE THESE PEOPLE TYPICAL?

JOAQUIN MURRIETA>> I WOULD SAY THESE PEOPLE ARE TYPICAL IN A UNIVERSAL WAY. I MEAN, EVERYBODY HAS THE SAME DREAMS. THEY CARE ABOUT THEIR FAMILY, THEIR PRIDE IN THE COMMUNITY. THEY HAVE FAITH AND THEY WANT TO DO BETTER FOR THEIR PARENTS AND THEN FOR THEIR FUTURE CHILDREN.

JESS>> ALL NOBLE QUALITIES, BUT NOT QUALITIES WE ALWAYS SEE.

JUAN MACIAS>> EXACTLY, EXACTLY. YOU KNOW, THE MESSAGE THAT WE REALLY WANT TO GET ACROSS THROUGH THE DOCUMENTARY IS THAT REALLY THE MESSAGE THAT THE MEDIA USUALLY GIVES IS NOT ACCURATE. ALTHOUGH THERE ARE A LOT OF NEGATIVES THAT DO HAPPEN IN THE COMMUNITY, UNFORTUNATELY, THERE ARE ALSO POSITIVE THINGS THAT DO HAPPEN IN THE COMMUNITY AND, IF PEOPLE CAN WATCH THE FILM AND COME AWAY WITH THAT, THEN I THINK WE'VE DONE OUR JOB.

VAL>> WELL, YOU HAVE DONE YOUR JOB BECAUSE THESE PEOPLE, UNFORTUNATELY, WE DON'T SEE ON THE NEWS, BUT THEY'RE JUST EXTRAORDINARY WHAT THEY'VE GONE THROUGH AND WHAT THEY'RE DOING. JUAN MACIAS, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BRINGING US YOUR FILM AND, JOAQUIN MURRIETA, THANK YOU AGAIN VERY MUCH. ONCE AGAIN, THE FILM IS CALLED "OUR DREAMS, OUR VOICES". CONGRATULATIONS. THAT WAS THROUGH A PROJECT AT USC, YES?

JUAN MACIAS>> YES, IT WAS.

JESS>> CONGRATULATIONS.

JUAN MACIAS>> THANK YOU.

VAL>> THAT IS OUR PROGRAM. FOR UPDATES OR TRANSCRIPTS FROM OUR BROADCASTS, MAKE SURE TO LOG ONTO OUR WEBSITE AT WWW.KCET.ORG.

JESS>> THANKS FOR WATCHING. NOW FOR ALL OF US HERE AT LIFE AND TIMES, HAVE A GREAT EVENING.

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