9/17/02

LC020917

VAL ZAVALA>> ON LIFE AND TIMES TONIGHT --

JESS MARLOW>> CLOSING A MAJOR TRAUMA CENTER NEAR YOU. JUST HOPE IT’S STILL THERE WHEN YOU NEED IT MOST, BUT THE COUNTY IS OFFERING NO GUARANTEES.

DR. ROBERT HOCKBERGER>> AT HARBOR, WE SEE 1,750 TRAUMA PATIENTS A YEAR. THAT’S ABOUT ONE EVERY FOUR AND A HALF HOURS, ONE CHILD EVERY DAY AND, OF THOSE, AT LEAST ONE EVERY DAY OR TWO WOULD HAVE DIED IF WE’D NOT BEEN HERE TO TAKE CARE OF THEM.

VAL>> HOW DO YOU PICK A POLICE CHIEF FOR A TROUBLED DEPARTMENT WITH A PROUD PAST? TONIGHT MAYOR JAMES HAHN IS HERE TO TELL US WHAT HE’S LOOKING FOR.

JAMES HAHN>> I WANT A POLICE CHIEF -- I WANT TO TELL HIM UP FRONT THAT I DON’T WANT ANY MORE RAMPARTS, I DON’T WANT ANY MORE RODNEY KINGS, I DON’T WANT ANY MORE CORRUPTION IN THIS DEPARTMENT. WE CAN’T TOLERATE IT.

JESS>> PATT MORRISON WEIGHS IN ON SECESSION AND HOW BREAKING UP IS HARD TO DO.

PATT MORRISON>> HERE’S A GOOD NAME FOR A VALLEY CITY: SPLITSVILLE -- ON TONIGHT’S INFINITELY MORRISON.

VAL>> PLUS, AN INSIGHTFUL LOOK AT A FORMER DODGER GREAT, SANDY KOUFAX.

>> “NOW THE WINDUP BY SANDY. HE DELIVERS. IT’S A STRIKE CALL. THE FOURTH STRAIGHT STRIKE-OUT FOR SANDY KOUFAX.”

VAL>> HE WAS FAMOUS FOR REFUSING TO PITCH ON YOM KIPPUR. TONIGHT A FEW THINGS YOU DIDN’T KNOW ABOUT THAT DAY AND KOUFAX’S MEMORABLE DECISION, AS WE PREVIEW A NEW BOOK ON THE LEGENDARY DODGER SOUTHPAW.

JESS>> 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.

VAL>> GOOD EVENING, I’M VAL ZAVALA.

JESS>> AND I’M JESS MARLOW. WHEN YOUR LIFE IS IN JEOPARDY, A TRAUMA CENTER IS THE PLACE YOU WANT TO BE. IT’S SEVERAL STEPS BEYOND THE TYPICAL EMERGENCY ROOM AND CAN HANDLE EVERYTHING FROM GUNSHOT WOUNDS TO MAJOR HEAD INJURIES. BUT JUST IMAGINE YOU’RE THE VICTIM OF A CAR ACCIDENT AND THE TRAUMA CENTER NEAREST YOU IS SHUT DOWN.

VAL>> L.A. COUNTY OFFICIALS ARE PONDERING THAT SCENARIO AS THEY CONSIDER SHUTTING DOWN TWO MAJOR MEDICAL CENTERS ON THE OPPOSITE ENDS OF THE COUNTY. IT’S THE LATEST FALLOUT FROM AN $800 MILLION DOLLAR DEFICIT IN LOCAL HEALTHCARE FUNDING. TONIGHT A LOOK AT ONE OF THE HOSPITALS THAT COULD FALL VICTIM TO THE COUNTY’S BUDGET AX, HARBOR-UCLA MEDICAL CENTER. HERE’S MORE FROM TONI GUINYARD.

TONI GUINYARD>> IT’S A SCENE REPEATED SEVERAL TIMES ON ANY GIVEN DAY AT ANY COUNTY HOSPITAL. ON THIS DAY AT HARBOR-UCLA MEDICAL CENTER, AN INJURED PERSON ARRIVES AND IS IMMEDIATELY RUSHED TO THE EMERGENCY ROOM FOR TREATMENT. HARBOR-UCLA IS A TRAUMA CENTER. IF YOU GET SERIOUSLY INJURED WHILE IN THE SOUTH BAY AREA FROM LAX TO THE PORT OF LONG BEACH, THIS IS WHERE YOU WOULD GO. THE DOCTORS AND NURSES HERE CAN’T IMAGINE THIS FACILITY BEING FORCED TO CLOSE ITS DOORS, BUT IT COULD HAPPEN. IT AND OLIVE VIEW-UCLA MEDICAL CENTER IN SYLMAR COULD BE SHUT DOWN AS A DRASTIC MONEY-SAVING MEASURE BY THE COUNTY.

DR. ROBERT HOCKBERGER>> AT HARBOR, WE SEE 1,750 TRAUMA PATIENTS A YEAR. THAT’S ABOUT ONE EVERY FOUR AND A HALF HOURS, ONE CHILD EVERY DAY, AND OF THOSE, AT LEAST ONE EVERY DAY OR TWO WOULD HAVE DIED IF WE’D NOT BEEN HERE TO TAKE CARE OF THEM.

TONI GUINYARD>> THERE IS LITTLE ARGUMENT ABOUT THE POTENTIAL RISK, BUT ACCORDING TO THE HEAD OF THE LOS ANGELES COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH SERVICES, SINCE FORTY-FOUR PERCENT OF ALL PATIENTS WHO COME TO A COUNTY MEDICAL FACILITY HAVE NO HEALTH INSURANCE, THE COUNTY SIMPLY DOES NOT HAVE THE MONEY TO KEEP ALL THE HOSPITALS AND TRAUMA CENTERS OPEN.

DR. THOMAS GARTHWAITE>> IF YOU RUN AN EMERGENCY ROOM, YOU’RE BASICALLY OPENING YOUR DOOR AND INVITING PEOPLE WHO HAVE NO HEALTH INSURANCE, NO WAY OF PAYING THEIR BILLS, TO COME IN AND GET A WHOLE LOT OF EXPENSIVE CARE. I THINK THAT’S REALLY AT THE HEART OF THE ISSUE. THERE ARE SO MANY UNINSURED IN L.A. COUNTY. THERE ARE SO MANY NEEDS FOR EMERGENCY CARE. THERE IS SO MUCH THAT WE HAVE TO DO AND THE FUNDING STREAMS, THE MONEY THAT COMES IN, ESPECIALLY FOR THE UNINSURED IN L.A. COUNTY, IS EITHER CAPPED OR DECREASING OVER TIME. MEDICAL CARE INFLATION IS BACK IN THE DOUBLE DIGITS AND THAT’S JUST A RECIPE FOR DISASTER.

TONI GUINYARD>> NO MATTER WHAT THE COUNTY DECIDES TO DO, IT WILL IMPACT THE PRIVATE SECTOR.

DR. ROBERT HOCKBERGER>> ALL THE PRIVATE HOSPITALS CURRENTLY HAVE ER’S THAT ARE VERY BUSY AND SOMETIMES BACKED UP A COUPLE OF HOURS. PEOPLE COULD LITERALLY BE STANDING IN A LINE OUTSIDE OF THEIR OWN EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT AT A PRIVATE HOSPITAL WITH ALL THE INSURANCE IN THE WORLD AND HAVE TO WAIT THREE, FOUR OR FIVE HOURS TO BE SEEN FOR THEIR HEART ATTACK OR THEIR BABY’S INFECTION.

TONI GUINYARD>> ARE WE EXAGGERATING THIS POTENTIAL ISSUE AT ALL?

DR. ROBERT HOCKBERGER>> NOT ONE BIT, NOT ONE BIT.

TONI GUINYARD>> IF HARBOR-UCLA WAS CLOSED, THIS PATIENT WOULD BE TAKEN TO KING DREW MEDICAL CENTER.

[FILM CLIP]

TONI GUINYARD>> AN ADDITIONAL EIGHT TO TEN-MINUTE RIDE AWAY.

[FILM CLIP]

DR. ROBERT HOCKBERGER>> IF YOU GO THROUGH OUR EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT AND SEE HOW BUSY WE ARE, HOW MANY PEOPLE WE HAVE, HOW SICK THOSE PEOPLE ARE AND HOW MANY STAFF WE HAVE HERE, NURSES, TECHNICIANS, ALL THESE DOCTORS IN TRAINING --

[FILM CLIP]

DR. ROBERT HOCKBERGER>> -- IF YOU SIMPLY TAKE ALL THOSE PEOPLE AWAY, WHO’S GOING TO PROVIDE ALL OF THAT CARE? IT’S GOING TO HAVE TO BE THE PRIVATE SECTOR AND THE PRIVATE SECTOR THESE DAYS IS NOT CAPABLE OF ASSUMING THAT LOAD, PARTICULARLY THAT LOAD OF UNCOMPENSATED CARE.

TONI GUINYARD>> AND AT THAT POINT, WHAT DO YOU BELIEVE WILL BE THE RESULT?

DR. ROBERT HOCKBERGER>> I THINK THAT MANY PEOPLE WILL SUFFER AND SOME WILL DIE.

TONI GUINYARD>> THE POTENTIAL RISKS AND A COUNTY MEDICAL CARE SYSTEM FACING A BUDGET DEFICIT OF MORE THAN $700 MILLION DOLLARS, AN ESTIMATED 350 MILLION COULD BE SAVED BY CONSOLIDATING, CUTTING OR CLOSING FACILITIES, A DRASTIC MEASURE UNDER CONSIDERATION. I’M TONI GUINYARD FOR LIFE AND TIMES TONIGHT.

JESS>> JOINING US IS DR. MARC ECKSTEIN, MEDICAL DIRECTOR OF THE LOS ANGELES FIRE DEPARTMENT AND ALSO AN EMERGENCY ROOM EMPLOYEE AT USC COUNTY MEDICAL CENTER. WHAT WOULD HAPPEN AT USC COUNTY WHEN WE’VE ALREADY SEEN HUGE CROWDS AND PEOPLE WAITING HOUR AFTER HOUR? IF THESE OTHER HOSPITALS CLOSE, WHAT HAPPENS WHERE YOU’RE WORKING?

DR. MARC ECKSTEIN>> WELL, WE’RE ALREADY IN A CRISIS MODE. IT’S REALLY THE DOMINO EFFECT WHERE MORE AND MORE HOSPITALS CLOSE, PEOPLE HAVE NOWHERE TO GO, SO EVEN IF YOU DON’T THINK YOU’RE GOING TO BE IMPACTED IF YOU HAPPEN TO HAVE HEALTH INSURANCE. EVERY COMMUNITY HOSPITAL WILL HAVE LONGER AND LONGER WAITS. THERE ARE PARAMEDICS WHO HAVE TO WAIT LONGER AND LONGER, SO THE AMBULANCE WON’T BE THERE TO RESPOND FOR YOUR NEXT EMERGENCY. SO THE SYSTEM REALLY IS COLLAPSING ALL AROUND US RIGHT NOW.

VAL>> IT SEEMS AS THOUGH THE PROBLEM IS WELL DEFINED AND APPRECIATED, SO WHAT ARE THE SOLUTIONS? I UNDERSTAND THERE IS AN INITIATIVE ON THE BALLOT IN NOVEMBER WHERE PEOPLE WOULD VOTE TO RAISE THEIR PROPERTY TAX AND THAT WOULD PROVIDE A HUGE INFUSION OF FUNDS. IS THAT THE ANSWER OR IS THAT ONLY A TEMPORARY BAND-AID?

JESS>> AND IS THAT LIKELY TO HAPPEN?

DR. MARC ECKSTEIN>> WELL, I’LL GIVE YOU MY OPINION ON THAT. THE FIRST QUESTION, IT IS A BAND-AID BECAUSE THE AMOUNT OF TAX REVENUE THAT WOULD BE GENERATED IF THIS PROPOSITION DOES PASS WILL NOT BE ENOUGH TO KEEP THE ENTIRE HEALTHCARE SYSTEM AFLOAT IN L.A. COUNTY, SO IT’S A VERY, VERY SHORT-TERM FIX AND WE’RE REALLY GRASPING AT STRAWS RIGHT NOW. WE HAVEN’T ADDRESSED THE REAL ISSUE, WHICH IS MEDICAL CARE IS GETTING MORE EXPENSIVE, THERE ARE MORE AND MORE PEOPLE MOVING TO L.A. COUNTY AND MORE AND MORE PEOPLE WHO ARE UNINSURED OR UNDER-INSURED. WE HAVE THREE MILLION PEOPLE IN L.A. COUNTY WHO HAVE NO HEALTH INSURANCE, WHICH IS LARGER THAN THE POPULATION OF MOST CITIES IN AMERICA. YOU CAN’T TURN AWAY A PATIENT FROM THE EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT AND A LOT OF THE CARE THESE PEOPLE NEED IS VERY, VERY COSTLY.

JESS>> BY LAW, YOU MUST PROVIDE THAT TREATMENT?

DR. MARC ECKSTEIN>> THAT’S CORRECT.

JESS>> FEDERAL LAW.

DR. MARC ECKSTEIN>> WE CANNOT TURN ANYBODY AWAY.

JESS>> YOU’RE ALSO INVOLVED, OBVIOUSLY, WITH THE PARAMEDICS IN YOUR FIRE DEPARTMENT ROLE. THE RESPONSIBILITY OF PARAMEDICS, WHEN THEY’RE TAKING CRITICALLY ILL PATIENTS ANOTHER TWENTY MILES, THEY HAVE A GREATER RESPONSIBILITY THAN EVER. THE LIFE-SAVING MAY BE THEIRS.

DR. MARC ECKSTEIN>> WELL, THAT’S CORRECT AND, YOU KNOW, IT BECOMES A SITUATION RIGHT NOW WHERE THERE’S NOWHERE TO GO AND NOWHERE TO UNLOAD. WHAT I MEAN BY THAT IS THAT WE HAVE A COMPUTER SYSTEM THAT CONNECTS ALL THE HOSPITALS AS TO THEIR DIVERSION STATUS TO RECEIVE PARAMEDIC AMBULANCES. MOST NIGHTS NOW, ROUTINELY MOST HOSPITALS IN L.A. ARE CLOSED, MEANING THEY’RE SATURATED WITH PATIENTS AND THEY CAN’T ACCOMMODATE MORE PATIENTS.

JESS>> AND NEITHER WASHINGTON NOR SACRAMENTO IS OFFERING TO HELP?

DR. MARC ECKSTEIN>> NOT AT THIS TIME. OBVIOUSLY, THE POLITICS ARE VERY DIFFERENT NOW THAN BACK IN 1995, WHICH WAS THE LAST TIME WE GOT A FEDERAL BAILOUT.

VAL>> IT WAS A BIG FEDERAL BAILOUT AND I THINK THERE IS HESITANCY ON THE PART OF THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO DO IT AGAIN BECAUSE THEY PROBABLY SEE NO END IN SIGHT.

DR. MARC ECKSTEIN>> YEAH, I THINK THE LAST FEDERAL BAILOUT WAS CONTINGENT UPON L.A. COUNTY COMING UP WITH A LONG-TERM PLAN TO MOVE AWAY FROM EXPENSIVE INPATIENT CARE TO AN OUTPATIENT PREVENTATIVE CARE SETTING. THAT REALLY HASN’T HAPPENED, SO WE’RE STILL IN THE SAME MODE WHERE WE’RE PRIMARILY PROVIDING VERY EXPENSIVE INPATIENT CARE AND THAT’S NOT WHAT WE’RE SUPPOSED TO DO. ON TOP OF THAT NOW, THE COUNTY JUST CLOSED ELEVEN HEALTH CLINICS, SO WHERE THESE PEOPLE WHO WERE GOING FOR PREVENTATIVE CARE NOW WILL EITHER GO TO THE ER’S BY DEFAULT OR LET THEIR DIABETES OR HYPERTENSION GO UNCHECKED AND THEY’LL GO TO THE EMERGENCY DEPARTMENTS WHEN THEY’RE SICK OR NEED TO BE ADMITTED.

JESS>> GOOD ADVICE? STAY WELL.

VAL>> IF POSSIBLE, IF YOU HAVE THAT CHOICE.

DR. MARC ECKSTEIN>> IF POSSIBLE.

VAL>> DR. MARC ECKSTEIN FROM THE L.A. FIRE DEPARTMENT, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR COMING IN. WE APPRECIATE THAT.

DR. MARC ECKSTEIN>> YOU’RE VERY WELCOME.

VAL>> TOMORROW ON LIFE AND TIMES, ORANGE COUNTY COMMUTERS MAY BE PAYING A BIG PRICE FOR TOLL ROADS EVEN IF THEY DON’T USE THEM.

>> I LOOK AT THIS EXPERIMENT HERE AS ANOTHER FAILED EXPERIMENT IN PRIVATIZATION. THE PROBLEM IS, PRIVATE TOLL ROAD, NOT COMPETE CLAUSE, YOU CAN’T HAVE LANES. IT’S JUST RIDICULOUS.

JESS>> AND JOIN US TONIGHT AT 11:00 FOR A SPECIAL NATIONAL EDITION OF LIFE AND TIMES. IT’S CALLED “HIGH NOON: ECHOES OF HOLLYWOOD’S BLACK LIST”. WE’LL SEE HOW STANLEY KRAMER’S CLASSIC WESTERN FILMED AT THE HEIGHT OF THE MCCARTHY ERA STRAINED A FRIENDSHIP TO THE BREAKING POINT. THAT’S TONIGHT AT 11:00.

JESS>> AND THEN THERE WERE THREE. THAT’S THE FINAL COUNT AS THE POLICE COMMISSION COMPLETES ITS SHORT LIST OF CANDIDATES FOR THE JOB OF LOS ANGELES POLICE CHIEF AND WHEN THEY’RE DONE, IT WILL BE UP TO MAYOR JAMES HAHN TO PICK ONE.

VAL>> SO WHAT’S THE MAYOR LOOKING FOR AS HE MAKES THIS IMPORTANT DECISION? WILL HE GIVE THE RANK AND FILE WHAT THEY WANT BY PICKING AN LAPD INSIDER? AND CAN THE MAYOR MEND FENCES AFTER HIS HEATED CLASH WITH FORMER CHIEF BERNARD PARKS? TONIGHT JESS AND I PUT THOSE QUESTIONS AND MORE TO MAYOR JAMES HAHN. WELCOME TO LIFE AND TIMES.

JAMES HAHN>> NICE TO BE HERE.

JESS>> MR. MAYOR, WHEN ARE YOU GOING TO GET THE LIST OF THREE FROM THE POLICE COMMISSION?

JAMES HAHN>> I THINK ANY TIME IN THE NEXT FEW DAYS. THE COMMISSION MET TODAY AND DID NOT COME UP WITH THAT LIST OF THREE. I KNOW THEY’RE GOING TO MEET AGAIN LATER ON. I WANT THEM TO TAKE AS MUCH TIME AS POSSIBLE BECAUSE WE WANT TO GET THE BEST PERSON WE CAN TO BE THE NEXT CHIEF OF POLICE. IT IS ABSOLUTELY THE MOST IMPORTANT GENERAL MANAGER POSITION IN CITY GOVERNMENT. PUBLIC SAFETY IS THE MOST IMPORTANT JOB OF GOVERNMENT, SO WE WANT TO GET THE BEST PERSON TO DO THE JOB.

WHAT I’M LOOKING FOR, I KNOW EVERYBODY’S GOING TO ASK, WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING FOR, MAYOR? I’M LOOKING FOR SOMEBODY WHO’S A REAL LEADER, WHO CAN TURN THIS DEPARTMENT AROUND, WHO CAN MAKE IT AN EFFECTIVE CRIME-FIGHTING FORCE HERE IN THE CITY, BUT ALSO ONE THAT NOT ONLY PROTECTS COMMUNITIES, BUT RESPECTS THEM. WE WANT TO FINISH THE JOB OF POLICE REFORM THAT WAS STARTED BY THE CHRISTOPHER COMMISSION OVER TEN YEARS AGO. I WANT A POLICE CHIEF WHO WILL WORK WELL WITH ME, THE CITY COUNCIL AND, MOST IMPORTANTLY, TAKE DIRECTION FROM OUR CITIZENS’ POLICE COMMISSION WHO, UNDER THE CITY CHARTER, REALLY ARE THE HEAD OF THE DEPARTMENT.

VAL>> BUT SOMETIMES, THERE’S A CONFLICT BECAUSE YOU WANT A STRONG LEADER, SOMEONE WHO CAN TURN THIS DEPARTMENT AROUND. YOU KNOW HOW HARD THAT IS TO TURN A MASSIVE DEPARTMENT BASICALLY SORT OF A MILITARY ORGANIZATION AROUND, AND YET YOU WANT SOMEONE WHO’S COOPERATIVE, WHO GETS ALONG, WHO SHARES YOUR VISION, WHO CAN BE A POLITICIAN. THAT’S TOUGH, ISN’T IT?

JAMES HAHN>> I DON’T KNOW THAT WE WANT A POLITICIAN MORE THAN SOMEONE WHO HAS THE POLITICAL SKILL TO KNOW THAT THEY NEED TO WORK WITH THE ELECTED OFFICIALS OF THE CITY. I WAS ELECTED BY EVERYBODY IN THE CITY TO BE THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER OF THIS CITY GOVERNMENT. REALLY, THAT IS SITTING ON MY BRAIN ALL THE TIME. PEOPLE ARE GOING TO HOLD ME ACCOUNTABLE ON THE STATE OF PUBLIC SAFETY IN THIS CITY, SO I NEED TO HAVE CONFIDENCE IN THE PERSON WHO’S THE POLICE CHIEF AS SOMEBODY I CAN WORK WELL WITH, SOMEONE WHO SHARES MY GOAL OF COMMUNITY POLICING, WHO SHARES MY GOAL OF MAKING SURE THE DEPARTMENT FINISHES THE JOB OF REFORM. IF THE MAYOR AND THE POLICE CHIEF ARE AT ODDS ALL THE TIME, I THINK THAT HURTS PUBLIC SAFETY.

JESS>> SOME WHO HAVE LOOKED AT YOUR LIST OF REQUIREMENTS FOR THE JOB ARE SAYING HOW ABOUT BERNARD PARKS? WHERE DID HE FAIL?

JAMES HAHN>> WELL, YOU KNOW, I DON’T WANT TO GO BACK INTO THE PAST. THERE WERE SOME NUMBER OF DIFFERENCES THAT WE HAD I THINK OVER ISSUES LIKE COMMUNITY POLICING AND HE TOOK AWAY THE SENIOR LEAD OFFICERS THAT I THINK THE COMMUNITY REALLY LIKED. I BELIEVED THAT WE NEEDED TO IMPLEMENT A FLEXIBLE WORK SCHEDULE THAT HE HAD CURTAILED BECAUSE WE WERE LOSING OFFICERS TO OTHER DEPARTMENTS. MORE IMPORTANTLY, I WAS WORRIED THAT THE CRIME RATE WAS GOING UP AND WE DIDN’T HAVE A PLAN TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. WE KEPT SEEING THE DEPARTMENT SHRINK WITHOUT A REAL PLAN TO INCREASE RECRUITMENT. WE’RE DOWN STILL OVER A THOUSAND OFFICERS FROM WHERE WE USED TO BE.

THE GOOD NEWS IS, PEOPLE ARE COMING BACK TO LAPD. WE’VE HAD FIVE RECRUIT CLASSES IN A ROW. I WANT THE NEW CHIEF TO BUILD ON THE SUCCESSES THAT WE’VE WORKED ON OVER THE LAST YEAR TO RESTORE COMMUNITY POLICING, TO HAVE A FLEXIBLE WORK SCHEDULE THAT’S GOING TO BE ATTRACTIVE TO OFFICERS AND REALLY START WORKING WITH THE COMMUNITY. SEE, COMMUNITY POLICING HAS TO WORK BECAUSE THERE ARE ONLY 9,000 OR SO POLICE OFFICERS RIGHT NOW IN A CITY OF 3.8 MILLION. IF WE DON’T HAVE THE COMMUNITY IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE POLICE DEPARTMENT, WE CAN’T EXPECT THE POLICE DEPARTMENT TO DO IT ALONE.

JESS>> WELL, YOU SENT A STAFF OUT TO TALK TO SOME OF THE LEADING CONTENDERS AND YOU EXPECT THEM TO FOLLOW ALL THESE RULES?

JAMES HAHN>> I DON’T SEE THEM AS RULES SO MUCH AS THE WAY THAT I THINK WE CAN ALL BE SUCCESSFUL TOGETHER. YOU KNOW, THE GOAL IS TO HAVE A POLICE DEPARTMENT THAT IS IN SYNC WITH THE COMMUNITY THAT IT’S SERVING, THAT PEOPLE REALLY HAVE TRUST AGAIN IN THE LAPD. YOU KNOW, I WANT A POLICE CHIEF -- I WANT TO TELL HIM UP FRONT THAT I DON’T WANT ANY MORE RAMPARTS, I DON’T WANT ANY MORE RODNEY KING BEATINGS, I DON’T WANT ANY MORE CORRUPTION IN THIS DEPARTMENT. WE CAN’T TOLERATE IT.

VAL>> YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE REASONS THAT YOU ARE HERE RIGHT NOW DOING A PUBLIC INTERVIEW, AND THIS IS NOT THE ONLY PLACE YOU’RE GOING, IS BECAUSE YOU REALLY DO WANT THE PUBLIC TO KNOW WHAT YOU’RE THINKING. THIS IS VERY DIFFERENT FROM THE WAY YOU DEALT WITH THE BERNARD PARKS TERMINATION IN WHICH THE AFRICAN-AMERICAN COMMUNITY WAS VERY UPSET. ARE YOU GOING TO TRY TO MEND FENCES WITH THEM?

JAMES HAHN>> YOU KNOW, EVER SINCE THE DIFFERENCE THAT I HAD WITH CHIEF PARKS ON WHETHER OR NOT HE SHOULD CONTINUE, I’VE BEEN WORKING VERY HARD TO MEND FENCES AND TO BUILD A BETTER RELATIONSHIP WITH PEOPLE ALL OVER THE CITY. BUT IN THE AFRICAN-AMERICAN COMMUNITY, I’VE SPENT A LOT OF TIME TALKING TO PEOPLE ABOUT WHAT I WANT TO SEE HAPPEN IN THE POLICE DEPARTMENT. I THINK PEOPLE, REGARDLESS OF THEIR NEIGHBORHOOD OR THEIR ETHNIC BACKGROUND, WANT THE SAME THINGS. THEY WANT A SAFE NEIGHBORHOOD, THEY WANT A POLICE DEPARTMENT THAT THEY CAN TRUST, THEY WANT A POLICE DEPARTMENT THAT RESPECTS THEM. YOU KNOW, WE HAD SEVERAL DIFFERENT EVENTS AROUND THE CITY WHERE WE ASKED CITIZENS TO COME AND TELL US WHAT THEY WANTED IN A NEW POLICE CHIEF. I WENT TO THE ONE IN WATTS AND BERNARD PARKS’ NAME DIDN’T COME UP AT THAT MEETING. IN FACT, NO CANDIDATES’ NAME CAME UP.

PEOPLE WANTED TO TALK ABOUT HERE’S A CRIME PROBLEM. WHAT’S SOMEBODY GOING TO DO ABOUT STREET GANGS? I’M WORRIED ABOUT THE SAFETY OF MY KIDS GOING TO AND FROM SCHOOL. THAT’S WHAT PEOPLE CARE ABOUT AND THEY WANT A POLICE DEPARTMENT THAT IS GOING TO BE RESPONSIVE TO THEM. THE BIG ISSUE FOR THE AFRICAN-AMERICAN COMMUNITY? DO WE HAVE ENOUGH POLICE OFFICERS IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD? WHEN WE CALL THEM, IT TAKES TOO LONG FOR THEM TO GET THERE. YOU KNOW, I’VE BEEN WORKING ON REPAIRING RELATIONSHIPS, BUT I WANT EVERYBODY TO REALIZE THAT THIS POLICE CHIEF IS GOING TO BE THE POLICE CHIEF FOR EVERYBODY IN THE WHOLE CITY.

JESS>> AND IT’S YOUR CHOICE. THEY’RE GOING TO OFFER YOU THREE CHOICES, BUT IF YOU DON’T LIKE ANY OF THE THREE, YOU CAN GO BACK TO THEM FOR THREE MORE, CAN’T YOU?

JAMES HAHN>> I CAN, BUT I THINK THAT WE’VE GOT A PROCESS THAT WORKS WELL. I KNOW THE COMMISSION HAS WORKED VERY HARD. WE HAD A CONSULTANT THAT HELPED DO OUTREACH. I WANTED TO MAKE SURE WE REACHED OUT NOT ONLY INSIDE THE DEPARTMENT, BUT NATIONWIDE. IF THERE IS SOMEBODY WHO’S FACED SIMILAR CHALLENGES AS THE ONES FACING LAPD AND HAS SUCCESSFULLY MET THOSE CHALLENGES, I WANT TO LOOK AT THOSE CANDIDATES AS WELL AS THE INSIDE CANDIDATES. I THINK THE PROCESS SHOULD WORK WHERE IT IS COMPETITIVE. THEY’VE INTERVIEWED THIRTEEN CANDIDATES. I BELIEVE THAT POLICE COMMISSION IS GOING TO PRESENT A LIST TO ME OF THE THREE BEST PEOPLE. IT WILL BE A TOUGH DECISION BECAUSE I’M SURE THEY’RE ALL GOING TO BE VERY, VERY QUALIFIED.

VAL>> NOW THERE ARE THOSE WHO SAY THE CRITERIA ACTUALLY FAVORS THE CHOICE OF AN INSIDER.

JAMES HAHN>> I THINK THAT THE BLUE RIBBON COMMITTEE THAT THE POLICE COMMISSION APPOINTED SAID THE SAME THING, THAT ALL THINGS BEING EQUAL, AN INSIDER COMES TO THE TABLE WITH THE KNOWLEDGE OF LAPD, THE EXPERIENCE, KNOWING WHO THE PEOPLE ARE, KNOWING THE CITY, KNOWING THE DIFFERENT PROBLEMS OF THE CITY, SO I THINK THAT THAT’S TRUE. IT DOESN’T MEAN AN OUTSIDER HAS NO CHANCE, BUT I THINK THAT AN OUTSIDER HAS TO DEMONSTRATE CLEAR SUPERIORITY TO AN INSIDE CANDIDATE IN ORDER TO BE CONSIDERED.

YOU KNOW, WE SAID FROM THE VERY BEGINNING THAT WE’RE NOT GOING TO RESTRICT THIS JUST TO LAPD AND WE’VE ATTRACTED SOME VERY, VERY NOTABLE CANDIDATES FROM OUTSIDE THE CITY. AGAIN, I’M LOOKING FOR THE BEST PERSON WHO CAN DO THE JOB THAT WE NEED TO DO OF BRINGING DOWN CRIME. YOU’VE GOT TO FIGHT CRIME AS NUMBER ONE, BUT WE ALSO HAVE TO DO IT IN A WAY WHERE THE COMMUNITY FEELS LIKE THEY’RE A PARTNER.

VAL>> MAYOR JAMES HAHN, ALWAYS NICE TO SEE YOU. WE HOPE TO HAVE YOU BACK SOON WHEN YOUR CHOICE IS MADE.

JAMES HAHN>> THANK YOU. I LOOK FORWARD TO THAT AS WELL.

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

JESS>> PATT LOOKS AT WHETHER SECESSION IS IN RECESSION IN TONIGHT'S INFINITELY MORRISON.

PATT MORRISON>> LET'S CHECK IN WITH LOS ANGELES'S CANTANKEROUS SIBLING, THE ONE WHO'S ALWAYS THREATENING TO RUN AWAY FROM HOME, THE SAN FERNANDO VALLEY. FOR STARTERS, YOU'LL REMEMBER ALL OF LOS ANGELES GETS TO VOTE ON SECESSION IN NOVEMBER, BUT ONLY VALLEY RESIDENTS GET TO VOTE ON A POSSIBLE NEW NAME FROM SUCH CANDIDATES AS RANCHO SAN FERNANDO, MISSION VALLEY, VALLEY CITY AND CAMELOT. CAMELOT. YEAH, I KNOW, ME TOO. THE IRONY IS, IF THE VALLEY SECEDES, NO MATTER WHAT NAME IT CHOOSES, NO ONE WILL USE IT. PEOPLE WILL CONTINUE TO SAY "THE VALLEY" OR NAME THEIR SMALLER NEIGHBORHOODS THE WAY THEY DO NOW. ASK A VALLEYITE WHERE HE LIVES AND HE'LL PROBABLY SAY ENCINO OR VAN NUYS OR PACOIMA, NOT "THE VALLEY".

THE SECESSION PEOPLE SEND OUT REGULAR BULLETINS ABOUT HOW THEY'RE MISTREATED AT THE HANDS OF BIG, MEAN, OLD LOS ANGELES. ONE OF MY FAVORITES WAS THAT AT A CITY COMMITTEE HEARING, A VALLEYITE WAS TREATED IN A "RUDE, INSOLENT AND BRUSQUE MANNER." WHAT DOES THIS HAVE TO DO WITH SECESSION? EVERYBODY GETS TREATED THAT WAY BY THE BUREAUCRACY REGARDLESS OF ZIP CODES. NOW THERE'S A REPORT COMPLAINING THAT THE VALLEY GETS STIFFED OUT OF FEDERAL DOLLARS. WELL, LET'S SEE, WHAT DO FEDERAL DOLLARS OFTEN GO FOR? HMM. A LOT OF PROGRAMS TO HELP STRUGGLING CITIES. ENCINO VERSUS WATTS. HMM. NOW WHICH OF THESE WOULD YOU THINK OF AS STRUGGLING AND THEREFORE LIKELIER TO RECEIVE FEDERAL BUCKS? TO HEAR THE SECESSIONISTS TELL IT, THE VALLEY IS FINANCIALLY FIT AND VIABLE, WHICH IS WHY IT IS ABLE TO SECEDE. THEY CAN'T HAVE IT BOTH WAYS.

THE ELECTION IS ABOUT SIX WEEKS OFF, BUT AT THE END OF THIS WEEK, A CONFERENCE AT USC WILL DEAL WITH THE REALITIES OF SECESSION, NOT THE NASTY POLITICS OF DRAWING A LINE AT THE CAHUENGA PASS, BUT THE SOBER TRUTH OF GOVERNANCE. IT'S GOT SOME BIG-NAME SOCIAL SCIENCE PLAYERS AND IT'S SPONSORED BY THE JOHN RANDOLPH HAYNES AND DORA HAYES FOUNDATION BECAUSE HAYNES WAS THE CHIEF ARCHITECT OF THE CITY'S 1925 CHARTER. LIKE THE U.S. CONSTITUTION, THE CHARTER WAS DRAFTED TO BE A LIVING FLEXIBLE THING, TO MAKE THE CITY WORK AS ONE CITY. THE VALLEY SHOULDN'T HAVE TO DUMP ITS STARBUCKS BEANS IN L.A. HARBOR TO MAKE IT HAPPEN.

VAL>> DODGER PITCHER, SANDY KOUFAX, SET A STANDARD IN BASEBALL THAT STILL STANDS AFTER FOUR DECADES.

>> "ROGER MARIS. THE WIND-UP, SANDY DELIVERS. SWING AND A MISS, HE STRUCK HIM OUT!"

VAL>> FROM 1962 TO 1966, HE LED THE NATIONAL LEAGUE IN EARNED RUN AVERAGES AND, DURING THAT TIME, HE WON THREE CY YOUNG AWARDS AND PITCHED FOUR NO-HITTERS INCLUDING A PERFECT GAME.

JESS>> BUT THEN KOUFAX ABRUPTLY RETIRED AT THE TOP OF HIS GAME IN 1966 AND DISAPPEARED FROM THE PUBLIC EYE. NOW A NEW BOOK OFFERS INSIGHT INTO THE CHARACTER OF THE MAN WHO'S BEEN CALLED MYSTERIOUS AND ENIGMATIC. THE BOOK IS CALLED "SANDY KOUFAX: A LEFTY'S LEGACY". JOINING US NOW IS THE AUTHOR, JANE LEAVY. JANE, WAS HE THAT MYSTERIOUS AND ENIGMATIC FIGURE?

JANE LEAVY>> NO. BLUNTLY SAID, HE WAS NOT. IT'S THE RECEIVED WISDOM HANDED DOWN FROM SPORTS WRITING GENERATION TO SPORTS WRITING GENERATION. IN FACT, THERE'S A REAL DIFFERENCE AND PEOPLE HAVE FORGOTTEN IT. A RECLUSE IS SOMEBODY WHO SHUNS PEOPLE. ALL HE DOES IS PREFER TO NOT HANG AROUND WITH MEDIA PEOPLE AND THERE'S A DIFFERENCE.

VAL>> WHY WOULD THAT BE? (LAUGHTER)

JANE LEAVY>> (LAUGHTER) AN ENIGMA DEFIES UNDERSTANDING. THIS IS A MAN WHO DOES NOT FEEL COMPELLED TO BE UNDERSTOOD AND WHO IS SELF-SUFFICIENT ENOUGH AND HE ISN'T NEEDY IN THE KIND OF CRAVEN CELEBRITY-DRIVEN WAY OF THIS CULTURE TO BE THE FOCUS OF ATTENTION WHEREVER HE GOES.

JESS>> WELL, HOW DID YOU GET TO HIM? VERY FEWE REPORTERS HAVE EVER BEEN ABLE TO GET TO SANDY KOUFAX.

JANE LEAVY>> WELL, THIS IS NOT AN AUTHORIZED BIOGRAPHY --

JESS>> -- BUT HE COOPERATED.

JANE LEAVY>> WELL, IT'S A NEW GENRE. WE CALL IT A RELUCTANTLY TOLERATED BIOGRAPHY (LAUGHTER). ONCE IT WAS MADE CLEAR TO HIM THAT I WAS GOING TO GO AHEAD, HE SAID, WELL, IF IT'S GOING TO BE DONE, I'D RATHER IT BE DONE RIGHT. HE DID NOT WANT TO SIT DOWN FOR AN INTERVIEW. HE WAS NOT INTERVIEWED, BUT HE DID GIVE ME ACCESS TO ALL HIS FRIENDS AND HE AGREED AT THE END OF THE DAY TO VERIFY SOME BIOGRAPHICAL FACTS. SO I COULD GO TO HIM WITH A LIST OF THINGS AND HE'D SAY YES, NO, YES, NO.

FOR EXAMPLE, HIS BIOLOGICAL FATHER LEFT HIS FAMILY WHEN HE WAS THREE YEARS OLD AND THE MAN WHOSE NAME HE TOOK AND WHO RAISED HIM, IRVING KOUFAX, NEVER ACTUALLY LEGALLY ADOPTED HIM. SANDY TOOK HIS NAME WHEN HIS MOTHER MARRIED HIM AND HE'S THE MAN WHO HE CONSIDERS HIS FATHER. WHEN I HEARD THAT, RATHER THAN HAVING TO SPEND FIFTEEN HOURS IN THE BROOKLYN HALL OF RECORDS, NOT A PLACE I WANTED TO SPEND EVEN TWO HOURS, YOU KNOW, I COULD GO TO HIM AND SAY, IS THAT TRUE? HE WOULD CONFIRM IT AND, SINCE HE IS AN INCREDIBLY HONEST MAN, BUZZY BAVASI, THE FORMER GENERAL MANAGER, SAYS HE'S THE ONLY MAN HE'S EVER MET WHO NEVER TOLD A LIE. I KNEW HE WOULD TELL ME THE TRUTH.

VAL>> ANOTHER SURPRISING STORY IN YOUR BOOK IS THE FAMOUS YOM KIPPUR STORY. TELL US WHAT WAS GOING ON THERE.

JANE LEAVY>> WELL, SANDY IS WIDELY BELIEVED TO BE PRESUMPTIVELY DEVOUT BECAUSE HE REFUSED TO PITCH THE OPENING GAME OF THE 1965 WORLD SERIES IN MINNESOTA.

JESS>> THAT'S NOT TRUE?

JANE LEAVY>> WELL, IT'S TRUE THAT HE DIDN'T PITCH IT. WHAT IS NOT TRUE IS THAT HE WAS A TERRIBLY DEVOUT MAN. HE IS IN FACT NOT A PARTICULARLY PRACTICING JEW AND HE'S NOT PARTICULARLY OBSERVANT. IF YOM KIPPUR IS A DAY OF SACRIFICE, WHICH IT IS, IT'S WHY JEWS FAST, FOR EXAMPLE, IT WAS A MUCH GREATER SACRIFICE FOR HIM THAN PEOPLE REALIZE. IF YOU'RE A VERY RELIGIOUS PERSON NOT WORKING ON YOM KIPPUR, THAT'S A NO-BRAINER. FOR SOMEONE FOR WHOM THE JUDAISM IS MORE CULTURAL AND WHO FOR PERSONAL REASONS COULD HAVE PITCHED OR NOT PITCHED, GIVING IT UP BECAUSE HE RECOGNIZED THAT IT WAS IMPORTANT TO OTHERS MEANS THAT IT WAS AN EVEN GREATER ACT IN MY ESTIMATION.

VAL>> AND HE DIDN'T EVEN GO TO SERVICES THAT DAY.

JANE LEAVY>> NO. APPARENTLY, HE DID NOT. HE WAS REPORTED TO HAVE ATTENDED SERVICES IN AT LEAST TWELVE SYNAGOGUES IN MINNEAPOLIS, ST. PAUL AND LOS ANGELES. IN FACT, HE SPENT THE DAY IN HIS HOTEL ROOM.

JESS>> FANS WOULD LIKE TO KNOW, IS HE IN HIS PRIVACY A HAPPY MAN?

JANE LEAVY>> I THINK THIS GUY LEADS A FABULOUS LIFE AND IS EXQUISITELY HAPPY. I THINK THAT, AFTER HE RETIRED, YOU SAID HE DISAPPEARED, IN FACT, HE DID SIX YEARS OF COLOR COMMENTARY FOR NBC GAME OF THE WEEK. HE WAS HORRIBLE. HE WAS JUST ABSOLUTELY HORRIBLE. THE RED LIGHT WENT ON AND HE FROZE. HE'S AN ENTIRELY DIFFERENT MAN OFF-CAMERA AND WITHOUT PADS AND WITHOUT PENCILS AND WITHOUT MICROPHONES. SO HE QUIT AFTER SIX YEARS. HE GAVE BACK $400,000 IN SALARY. IT'S AN EXAMPLE OF WHAT FORMER DODGER, DON SUTTON, CALLS AN ETHICAL LIFE.

JESS>> THE BEST HE EVER MADE AS A BALLPLAYER WAS, WHAT, $125,000?

JANE LEAVY>> CORRECT, IN 1966.

JESS>> WHAT WOULD HE THINK OF TODAY'S SALARIES?

JANE LEAVY>> HE LAUGHS.

VAL>> HE LAUGHS?

JANE LEAVY>> HE LAUGHS. JOE GARAGIOLA SAID THAT PEOPLE SAY WHAT WOULD YOU HAVE TO PAY KOUFAX TODAY, HE'D SAY "HOWDY, PARTNER". (LAUGHTER)

JESS>> (LAUGHTER) IT'S AN INTERESTING BOOK, AND MUCH SUCCESS WITH IT.

JANE LEAVY>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

JESS>> JANE LEAVY, THANKS FOR BEING WITH US. THE NAME OF THE BOOK IS "SANDY KOUFAX: A LEFTY'S LEGACY".

VAL>> THAT IS OUR PROGRAM FOR THIS EVENING. YOU CAN FIND TRANSCRIPTS OR LISTEN TO OUR RECENT PROGRAMS ON OUR WEBSITE. CHECK US OUT AT KCET.ORG -- AND REAL QUICK -- I UNDERSTAND THERE'S AN EVENT AT DODGER STADIUM, REAL QUICK?

JANE LEAVY>> I'M GOING TO BE SIGNING BOOKS WITH MAURY WILLS, ONE OF SANDY'S TEAMMATES AND A GREAT OLD DODGER.

VAL>> AND WHEN IS THAT?

JANE LEAVY>> TOMORROW NIGHT.

VAL>> TOMORROW NIGHT. FANTASTIC.

JESS>> I WONDER IF HE'S STILL CLOSE WITH HIM.

JANE LEAVY>> VERY CLOSE.

VAL>> WONDERFUL.

JESS>> NOW FOR ALL OF US HERE AT LIFE AND TIMES, 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.