9/18/02

LC020918

VAL ZAVALA>> ON LIFE AND TIMES TONIGHT --

JESS MARLOW>> A LOOK AT THE PRIVATE DEALS BEHIND ORANGE COUNTY’S TOLL LANES AND WHY SOME CRITICS SAY THEY’RE HURTING YOUR DAILY COMMUTE.

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

VAL>> WE’LL ALSO TALK WITH A VETERAN AUTHOR ABOUT THE NUTS AND BOLTS OF WRITING. CAROLYN SEE HAS SOME GOOD ADVICE FOR THOSE WHO DREAM OF LIVING A LITERARY LIFE.

JESS>> AND WE’LL MEET A YOUNG MAN WHO MAY HAVE HAD SOME GOOD REASONS FOR TUNING OUT AT SCHOOL.

ALEX ALFARO>> PEOPLE COME TO SCHOOL TO DO THREE THINGS. THEY LEARN HOW TO FIGHT, THEY LEARN HOW TO CURSE AND THEY PICK UP BAD HABITS.

JESS>> HIS ADVENTURES AT VENICE HIGH SCHOOL BECAME THE SUBJECT OF A NEW PBS DOCUMENTARY. TONIGHT YOU’LL MEET THE STAR AND THE FILMMAKER BEHIND “AKA CREEK”.

VAL>> THESE STORIES COMING UP NEXT ON LIFE AND TIMES TONIGHT.

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. THEY WERE TOUTED AS AN ALTERNATIVE TO THE JAM-PACKED FREEWAYS AND THEY WERE BUILT WITH PRIVATE MONEY AT A TIME WHEN THE STATE HAD NO MONEY FOR NEW HIGHWAYS. BUT NOW, SOME TWENTY YEARS LATER, CRITICS ARE CALLING ORANGE COUNTY’S EXPERIMENT WITH TOLL ROADS A HUGE AND EXPENSIVE FAILURE.

VAL>> THE CONCEPT ISN’T DEAD YET, BUT AS GAY YEE REPORTS, MOTORISTS ACROSS THE COUNTY SAY LIFE IN THE FAST LANE ISN’T WHAT IT’S CRACKED UP TO BE.

GAY YEE>> MOST MORNINGS, THE 91 FREEWAY COMING OUT OF RIVERSIDE COUNTY INTO ORANGE COUNTY IS A COMMUTER’S NIGHTMARE.

MIKE WARD>> WE’RE FORTUNATE TODAY. YOU LOOK AT THE RIVERSIDE FREEWAY TODAY, YES, IT DOESN’T SEEM TO BE VERY BAD NOW. IF WE WERE TO LISTEN TO THE RADIO RIGHT NOW, WE MAY FIND THAT THERE’S A MAJOR ACCIDENT JUST EAST OF US AND THAT’S WHY THERE’S NOT ENOUGH TRAFFIC DOWN HERE RIGHT NOW. BUT IF YOU COME OUT HERE IN THE EVENING WHEN THE COMMUTE REVERSES AND THE PEOPLE ARE GOING BACK TO RIVERSIDE, THIS IS A PARKING LOT OUT HERE.

GAY YEE>> A PARKING LOT FOR EVERYONE, THAT IS, EXCEPT FOR THE DRIVERS USING THE 91 EXPRESS LANES. THESE ARE PRIVATELY-OWNED TOLL LANES WHERE RUSH HOUR COMMUTERS CAN EXPECT TO TRAVEL SIXTY MILES AN HOUR OR BETTER. SEVEN YEARS AGO, WHEN THE EXPRESS LANES OPENED, SUPPORTERS SAID THE LANES WOULD REDUCE TRAFFIC CONGESTION. BACK THEN, THE STATE HAD NO MONEY FOR NEW ROADS.

MIKE WARD>> THESE LANES HELPED. THEY GAVE PEOPLE A CHOICE TO HELP PICK UP THEIR MOBILITY. IT HELPED THE TRAFFIC BECAUSE WHEN THOSE PEOPLE GOT OFF THE 91, THAT GAVE UP MORE ROOM ON THE FREE-FLOW LANES SO THAT THEY COULD MOVE FASTER, SO THEY SERVED A NEED.

GAY YEE>> BUT NOW THE STORY HAS CHANGED. CONGESTION ON THE 91 HAS ONLY GOTTEN WORSE AS MORE ORANGE COUNTY WORKERS MOVE INTO RIVERSIDE COUNTY BEDROOM COMMUNITIES. AND THE STATE CAN DO NOTHING TO IMPROVE THE 91 FREEWAY OVER A THIRTY-MILE STRETCH RUNNING ALONG THE EXPRESS LANES AND BEYOND. THE REASON? A NON-COMPETE CLAUSE IN THE STATE’S AGREEMENT WITH THE PRIVATE COMPANY THAT OWNS THE EXPRESS LANES.

LOU CORREA>> I LOOK AT THIS EXPERIMENT HERE AS ANOTHER FAILED EXPERIMENT IN PRIVATIZATION.

GAY YEE>> ASSEMBLYMAN, LOU CORREA, AUTHORED A BILL NOW ON THE GOVERNOR’S DESK TO ALLOW THE ORANGE COUNTY TRANSPORTATION AUTHORITY TO BUY THE EXPRESS LANES.

LOU CORREA>> THE PROBLEM IS, PRIVATE TOLL ROAD, NOT-COMPETE CLAUSE, YOU CAN’T ADD LANES, IT’S JUST RIDICULOUS. THAT WAS A SHORT-TERM SOLUTION THAT ENDED UP CAUSING A LONG-TERM PROBLEM. WE CAN’T ADD CAPACITY TO THIS FREEWAY AND THIS FREEWAY IS THE LIFELINE BETWEEN THE TWO FASTEST-GROWING COUNTIES PROBABLY IN THIS COUNTRY.

GAY YEE>> TRANSPORTATION AUTHORITY MEMBER, MIKE WARD, SAYS THE EXPRESS LANE’S CURRENT OWNER HAS BEEN ADAMANT IN TURNING DOWN THE STATE’S REQUEST TO BE ALLOWED TO MAKE IMPROVEMENTS.

MIKE WARD>> CALTRANS HAS ASKED CAN WE DO THIS, AND THEY SAY NO
BECAUSE IT’S THEIR FEELING THAT, IF CALTRANS WOULD HAVE MADE THOSE IMPROVEMENTS, THEN IT WOULD HAVE REDUCED THE AMOUNT OF TRAFFIC ON THE TOLL LANES, THEREFORE REDUCING THEIR REVENUE.

GAY YEE>> IF THE GOVERNOR SIGNS THE BILL AND THAT’S A DEFINITE “IF” SINCE HE’S ON RECORD AS OPPOSING TOLL ROADS ALTOGETHER, THE ORANGE COUNTY TRANSPORTATION AUTHORITY WILL END THE EXPRESS LANE’S NON-COMPETE AGREEMENT. THAT MEANS CALTRANS WILL BE ABLE TO IMPROVE THE 91. MEANWHILE IN SOUTH ORANGE COUNTY, ANOTHER TOLL ROAD IS UNDER CRITICISM FOR A VERY DIFFERENT REASON. THE SAN JOAQUIN HILLS, OR 73 TOLL ROAD, DOESN’T HAVE ENOUGH TRAFFIC. THE PROJECTIONS DONE BEFORE THE ROAD WAS BUILT HAVEN’T BEEN MET.

SCOTT DIEHL>> IT DOESN’T HAVE AS MANY PEOPLE RIDING ON IT TODAY AS THEY PROJECTED, BUT WE’VE MADE EVERY SINGLE PAYMENT AND WE CONTINUE TO MAKE OUR PAYMENTS ON TIME. I BELIEVE STRONGLY THAT WE WILL CONTINUE TO DO THAT IN THE FUTURE.

GAY YEE>> SCOTT DIEHL IS A MEMBER OF THE TRANSPORTATION CORRIDOR AGENCIES THAT OPERATE FIFTY-ONE MILES OF TOLL ROADS IN SOUTHERN AND EASTERN ORANGE COUNTY. HE SAYS THAT, OVERALL, THESE ROADS HAVE BEEN A SUCCESS.

SCOTT DIEHL>> TODAY, 228,000 TRIPS A DAY ARE NOT IMPACTING THE 5, 405 OR THE 55 BECAUSE THEY’RE USING THE TOLL ROAD ROADS, SO I THINK WE’VE GOT A VERY GOOD SUCCESS RATE.

GAY YEE>> DIEHL IS ALSO A SAN CLEMENTE CITY COUNCILMAN. FOR HIM, THE BATTLE IS NOW TO COMPLETE THE FINAL PLANNED STRETCH OF THE ORANGE COUNTY TOLL ROAD SYSTEM. HE SAYS, ON WEEKENDS, THERE’S NEAR GRIDLOCK ALONG THE I-5 IN SAN CLEMENTE.

SCOTT DIEHL>> THAT TRAFFIC SPILLS OVER INTO OUR LOCAL STREETS AND MAKES A LOT OF CONGESTION ON OUR LOCAL STREETS AS WELL. IF WE CAN ADD THE FOOTHILL SOUTH CAPACITY AND TAKE AWAY THAT TEN, FIFTEEN, TWENTY PERCENT THAT ARE NOW STUCK ON THE I-5 BECAUSE IT’S THE ONLY WAY TO GET FROM SAN DIEGO COUNTY TO ORANGE COUNTY, THEN WE WILL HAVE DONE A GREAT SERVICE TO THE MOTORING PUBLIC ON THOSE WEEKEND TIMES.

GAY YEE>> BUT ENVIRONMENTALISTS DON’T SEE IT THAT WAY. THEY LOOK AT THE PROPOSED ROUTE OF THE NEW TOLL ROAD ALONG THE CURRENTLY DRY SAN MATEO CREEK AND SEE NOTHING BUT TROUBLE.

MARK BABSKI>> IF YOU ARE GOING TO BE SENSITIVE ABOUT WHERE YOU PUT HIGHWAYS, THIS WOULD BE THE FIRST PLACE THAT YOU WOULD HAVE ON YOUR LIST FOR NOT PUTTING A HIGHWAY. THIS IS THE SINGLE LAST CREEK IN ALL OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA THAT IS STILL CLEAN AND PRISTINE AND YOU’LL GET ALL OF THE RUNOFF, ALL OF THE CONSTRUCTION SEDIMENT, ALL OF THE NEGATIVE ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS FROM THE HIGHWAY.

GAY YEE>> ENVIRONMENTAL ACTIVIST, MARK BABSKI, WORRIES ABOUT EIGHT ENDANGERED AND THREATENED SPECIES IN THE AREA. HE ALSO SAYS A NEARBY SURFING BEACH WILL BE HARMED BY THE NEW ROAD. DIEHL COUNTERS THAT HIS AGENCY HAS, AND WILL CONTINUE TO BE, ENVIRONMENTALLY SENSITIVE.

SCOTT DIEHL>> SOMETIMES THE ENVIRONMENTAL FOLKS ON THE OTHER SIDE DON’T WANT TO GIVE US ANY CREDIT FOR THAT.

GAY YEE>> IN THE END, THE ARGUMENT IS OVER DEVELOPMENT. WILL THE PLANNED TOLL ROAD LEAD TO MORE GROWTH, AS ENVIRONMENTALISTS ARGUE?

MARK BABSKI>> THE INTENTION OF THE TOLL ROAD IS TO PROMOTE DEVELOPMENT AND IT WILL DO THAT. SO WHAT WILL HAPPEN WHEN YOU GET THE TOLL ROAD BUILT IS YOU WILL HAVE ACCOMPANYING DEVELOPMENT WHICH WILL CONTRIBUTE TO TRAFFIC ON HIGHWAY 5.

GAY YEE>> OR WILL THE NEW HIGHWAY SIMPLY TAKE CARE OF THE PEOPLE WHO ARE GOING TO BE TRAVELING THROUGH THE AREA ANYWAY?

SCOTT DIEHL>> THERE’S AN ASSUMPTION THAT, IF THE ROADS AREN’T BUILT, THERE WON’T BE ANY DEVELOPMENT IN SOUTH ORANGE COUNTY AND THAT’S SIMPLY NOT TRUE. IF THE FOOTHILL SOUTH IS NOT BUILT, THERE STILL WILL BE HOMES BEING BUILT BECAUSE WE HAVE THE POPULATION GROWTH THAT REQUIRES HOUSING.

JESS>> AND IF THE GOVERNOR DOES INDEED SIGN THAT BILL THAT ALLOWS ORANGE COUNTY TO BUY THE 91 EXPRESS LANES, DON’T EXPECT THE TOLLS TO GO AWAY OVERNIGHT. THERE’S STILL A BIG DEBT TO PAY ON THOSE LANES. IT COULD TAKE THE COUNTY SEVERAL YEARS TO RECOVER ALL THAT CASH, WHICH MAY TOTAL NEARLY $200 MILLION DOLLARS.

VAL>> TOMORROW ON LIFE AND TIMES, UNHAPPY WITH THE TWO MAIN CHOICES IN THE CALIFORNIA GOVERNOR’S RACE? AND TIRED OF SEEING THEM WAGE A MULTI-MILLION DOLLAR MUDFEST? WELL, WE WILL INTRODUCE YOU TO ANOTHER CANDIDATE WHO’S NEITHER DEMOCRAT NOR REPUBLICAN, BUT HE HOPES TO GIVE BOTH PARTIES A RUN FOR THEIR MONEY. THAT’S THURSDAY AT 7:00 ON LIFE AND TIMES.

JESS>> WE’VE ALL HEARD THE CALLS FOR FIXING WHAT’S WRONG WITH PUBLIC SCHOOLS, BUT TONIGHT WE’RE ABOUT TO GET A DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVE FROM A YOUNG MAN WHO’S BEEN THERE.

VAL>> HE CAME FROM SOUTH CENTRAL L.A. AND WAS KNOWN TO HIS FRIENDS AS “CREEK”. WHEN HE WOUND UP AT VENICE HIGH SCHOOL, HE FOUND OUT WHAT SCHOOL REFORMS REALLY MEANT TO STUDENTS LIKE HIM. HIS STORY IS TOLD IN A NEW PBS DOCUMENTARY THAT AIRS TONIGHT ON KCET AND HERE’S A BRIEF LOOK AT “AKA CREEK”.

ALEX ALFARO>> “WE’RE SUPPOSED TO BE LEARNING HOW TO SPEAK A NEW LANGUAGE AND THE TEACHER IS HAVING US WATCH “I LOVE LUCY”. WE’RE JUST SITTING THERE WATCHING “I LOVE LUCY” FOR HALF THE PERIOD WHEN WE’RE SUPPOSED TO BE LEARNING FRENCH. THAT’S WHY THE ONLY THING I KNOW HOW TO SAY IS HELLO AND GOODBYE (LAUGHTER) BECAUSE I DIDN’T LEARN ANYTHING AND I PASSED WITH A “C”.”

VAL>> AND JOINING US NOW IS THE YOUNG MAN YOU JUST SAW IN THAT CLIP, ALEX ALFARO. HE IS ALSO KNOWN AS “CREEK”. ALSO WITH US IS EUGENE SHIRLEY, WHO MADE THE DOCUMENTARY ON CREEK’S EXPERIENCES AT VENICE HIGH SCHOOL. WELCOME, BOTH OF YOU, TO LIFE AND TIMES.

ALEX ALFARO>> THANK YOU.

EUGENE SHIRLEY>> THANK YOU.

JESS>> ALEX, YOU’RE A WHISTLEBLOWER, THEN, ON PUBLIC EDUCATION.

ALEX ALFARO>> YEAH, PRETTY MUCH.

JESS>> WERE YOU EXAGGERATING WHEN YOU SAID YOU GO TO SCHOOL TO LEARN THREE THINGS?

ALEX ALFARO>> NO. ACTUALLY, I SPOKE RIGHT FROM THE HEART, WHICH IS SOMETHING THAT, YOU KNOW, I FEEL COMFORTABLE WITH DOING.

JESS>> AND THE THREE THINGS ARE?

ALEX ALFARO>> GO TO SCHOOL TO JUST SLEEP, LEARN BAD WORDS AND PICK UP DIRTY HABITS.

VAL>> NOW WHY DID YOU CHOOSE ALEX AS THE MAIN SUBJECT FOR THIS DOCUMENTARY?

EUGENE SHIRLEY>> WELL, ACTUALLY, WE HAD STARTED OUT MAKING A STRAIGHT POLICY FILM AND DECIDED EARLY ON THAT WE NEEDED A STRONG HUMAN INTEREST BASE TO IT. THE ASSOCIATE PRODUCER, MARIAM JOBRANI, WENT OUT TRYING TO, YOU KNOW, FIND KIDS TO PROFILE AND HAPPENED UPON ANNAR AND HIS FAMILY. WE WEREN’T ACTUALLY LOOKING FOR A CERTAIN PROFILE OF A KID. WE WERE LOOKING FOR SOMEONE WHO WOULD BE ARTICULATE AND WHO COULD HANDLE A VIDEO CAMERA BECAUSE WE WERE GOING TO ASK THEM TO DO A VIDEO DIARY AND WHO WOULD BE ABLE TO SPEAK FROM THE HEART BASICALLY, AS HE WAS SAYING.

JESS>> NOW ANNAR LIKES TO BE CALLED ALEX NOW AND HE WAS CALLED CREEK IN THE FILM. HOW DID THE FILM CHANGE? HOW DID THE IDEA CHANGE AS A RESULT OF THIS YOUNG MAN’S INVOLVEMENT?

EUGENE SHIRLEY>> WELL, IT GAVE THE POLICY ISSUES A GREATER DEPTH, A GREATER COMPLEXITY AND A GREATER AMBIGUITY. I MEAN, IT CAST HIM IN A MORE AMBIGUOUS FRAMEWORK.

JESS>> YOU WEREN’T LOOKING FOR A WHISTLEBLOWER?

EUGENE SHIRLEY>> NO, NO. WE WERE LOOKING FOR SOMEONE WHO WOULD JUST TELL US WHAT GOING THROUGH A SEMESTER OF SCHOOL WAS REALLY LIKE FROM HIS OWN PERSPECTIVE.

VAL>> AND HE IS VERY HONEST, AS WE’RE GOING TO SEE IN A CLIP HERE. THIS IS ALEX DESCRIBING WHY HE GOES TO SCHOOL. LET’S TAKE A LOOK.

ALEX ALFARO>> “YOU GO TO CLASS TO TRIP OUT, GO TO CLASS TO SLEEP, GO TO CLASS TO TRY TO BRING YOUR HIGH DOWN (LAUGHTER), GO TO CLASS TO CATCH UP ON WHAT’S GOING ON WITH YOUR GIRLFRIEND, YOU KNOW, GO TO CLASS TO TAG, GO TO CLASS TO LISTEN TO YOUR WALKMAN. BASICALLY, GO TO CLASS TO DO EVERYTHING BUT LEARN, YOU KNOW, BECAUSE WE HAVE A LOT OF TIME ON OUR HANDS WHEN WE’RE IN CLASS.”

JESS>> THE QUESTION IS, WHY DID YOU GO TO CLASS?

ALEX ALFARO>> WELL, BECAUSE MY MOM WOULDN’T LET ME STAY HOME (LAUGHTER), SO I HAD TO GO TO SCHOOL.

VAL>> NOW WHEN YOU LOOK AT YOURSELF THERE, I HAVE TO ASSUME YOU’VE CHANGED A LOT. WHAT WAS YOUR MENTALITY BACK THEN?

ALEX ALFARO>> MY MENTALITY WAS JUST GETTING THROUGH THE DAY.

VAL>> AND WHAT CHANGED YOU?

ALEX ALFARO>> THE FACT THAT I REALIZED THAT I WASN’T GOING TO DIE WHEN I HIT EIGHTEEN. YOU KNOW, THIS WAS LIKE PRE-EIGHTEEN AGE. AFTER I HIT EIGHTEEN, I REALIZED THAT THERE’S A FUTURE TO ACTUALLY LOOK FORWARD TO IF YOU COULD GET YOUR HEAD RIGHT AND --

VAL>> -- I’M SORRY, YOU THOUGHT YOU WERE GOING TO DIE BEFORE EIGHTEEN?

ALEX ALFARO>> YEAH, BECAUSE ALL MY PEERS AND THE PEOPLE THAT WERE SURROUNDING ME AT THE TIME WERE EITHER DYING, ENDING UP IN JAIL OR HOSPITALIZED WITH ALL TYPES OF THINGS THAT COME FROM THE STREETS.

JESS>> WE ASKED HOW THIS FILM CHANGED AS A RESULT OF YOUR INVOLVEMENT. HOW DID YOU CHANGE, OR DID YOU CHANGE AS A RESULT OF YOUR INVOLVEMENT?

ALEX ALFARO>> DEFINITELY, DEFINITELY. I MEAN, I BELIEVE THAT EVERY EXPERIENCE IN LIFE IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO CHANGE, IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO CREATE SOMETHING NEW AND RENEW YOURSELF. SO WITH THE DOCUMENTARY, I GOT A CHANCE TO REALLY SEE WHO I WAS AND I GOT A CHANCE TO REWIND THE TAPE AND SEE WHO I WAS BEING AT THAT TIME. ALL I DID TO CHANGE WAS JUST CHOOSE SOMETHING ELSE. I JUST CHOSE TO BE A DIFFERENT VERSION OF MYSELF AND THAT’S HOW I BECAME WHO I AM NOW.

VAL>> BUT IT WASN’T ALL THAT EASY, RIGHT? YOU DON’T JUST SAY, OH, I’M GOING TO DECIDE TO CHANGE AND YOU DO. BECAUSE YOU TRIED TO CHANGE AND THEN YOU SLIPPED, RIGHT, FOR A WHILE? WHAT HAPPENED THERE?

ALEX ALFARO>> IT’S JUST ONE OF THOSE THINGS THAT HAPPEN. YOU KNOW, YOU FOCUS YOURSELF ON A GOAL AND THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN YOU HAVE ALL THESE DIFFERENT THINGS TUGGING AT YOU TO COME BACK TO YOUR OLD WAY OF BEING. YOU KNOW, A LOT OF TIMES HUMAN BEINGS FEAR CHANGE AND NATURALLY I FEARED CHANGE BECAUSE I FELT THAT I WAS BETRAYING WHO I HAD BEEN FOR THE LAST WHATEVER YEARS, FIVE OR SIX YEARS, THAT I HAD BEEN IN THE STREETS DOING WHAT I WAS DOING. FOR ME TO JUST TOTALLY CHANGE FROM ONE DAY TO ANOTHER, I WAS BETRAYING WHO I WAS AND I WAS BETRAYING WHO I HAD BECOME. SO IT WAS AN ISSUE THAT I HAD TO OVERCOME BEFORE I COULD BE WHO I AM NOW.

JESS>> THE QUESTION IS, WHO ARE YOU NOW? HOW ARE YOU DIFFERENT?

ALEX ALFARO>> IN A WAY, I’M NOT. IN A WAY, I’M STILL THE SAME PERSON EXCEPT THAT I HAVE A MUCH DEEPER UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT LIFE IS AND WHAT LIFE BRINGS AND WHAT YOU CAN MAKE OF THIS LIFE IF YOU REALLY PUT YOUR MIND TO IT. IT REALLY HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH EDUCATION BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, IF YOU GO TO SCHOOL -- THERE’S PEOPLE THAT NEVER GRADUATED FROM SCHOOL. THERE’S PEOPLE THAT, YOU KNOW, JUST DID WHATEVER THEY DID AND THEY BECAME SUCCESSFUL PEOPLE DESPITE THAT THEY DIDN’T FINISH THEIR HIGH SCHOOL. BUT I BELIEVE THAT HIGH SCHOOL IS A STEPPING STONE FOR ME IN ORDER TO ACHIEVE WHAT I’VE CHOSEN NOW TO ACHIEVE.

VAL>> AND YET, EUGENE, THERE WERE OTHER ISSUES. DESPITE THE FACT THAT THIS IS ALEX’S PERSONAL STORY, THERE NEVERTHELESS ARE SOME ISSUES OF POLICY AND SCHOOL REFORM THAT ARE IN THE BACKGROUND OF THIS FILM, CORRECT?

EUGENE SHIRLEY>> THAT’S RIGHT. WHAT WE DID WAS INTERWEAVE ANNAR’S STORY, OR ALEX’S STORY, USING IT AS A CENTRAL SPINE OF THE PIECE WITH EDUCATION REFORM ISSUES.

VAL>> AND WHAT, IN PARTICULAR, ISSUES?

EUGENE SHIRLEY>> TWO OF THEM, PROBABLY THE TWO BIGGEST ON THE COUNTRY’S AGENDA RIGHT NOW, THE STANDARDS TESTING ACCOUNTABILITY ISSUES AND THAT PLAYS OUT WITH AN ORGANIZATION HERE IN LOS ANGELES DEALING WITH THOSE ISSUES. THEN SCHOOL CHOICE, VOUCHERS AND CHARTER SCHOOLS AND THAT KIND OF THING. THE CENTRAL POLICY PERSON ON THAT IS SOMEONE FROM DETROIT AND SO, FROM THAT WAY, WE BROUGHT IN DETROIT WITH LOS ANGELES ON A POLICY PERSPECTIVE. CHESTER FINN, FORMER ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF EDUCATION, IS BROUGHT INTO THE FILM THEN AS WELL.

VAL>> IN FACT, WE’RE GOING TO TAKE A LOOK AT A CLIP FROM CHESTER RIGHT NOW TALKING ABOUT THE PERCEPTION OF YOUNG PEOPLE. LET’S TAKE A LOOK AT THAT.

CHESTER FINN>> THERE’S A REAL CONTRAST BETWEEN THE SORT OF STREET BUTT LOOK AND THE ARTICULATENESS AND THOUGHTFULNESS. THEY’RE BOTH SORT OF A TEENAGE KID WITH A SWEATSHIRT AND THE HOOD THAT CAUSES MIDDLE-CLASS PEOPLE TO SORT OF WITHDRAW, SORT OF THERE MAY BE SOME TROUBLE HERE, SO LET’S PRETEND THESE KIDS AREN’T ACTUALLY HERE.

JESS>> WILL THIS PROJECT CHANGE POLICY IN LOS ANGELES SCHOOLS? NOT ASKING MUCH OF THIS PROJECT (LAUGHTER).

EUGENE SHIRLEY>> (LAUGHTER) EXACTLY. WE CERTAINLY SET OUT HOPING IT WOULD, BUT YOU KNOW, NONETHELESS. NO, I THINK THAT WHAT WE DID WANT TO DO WAS TO STIR THE WATERS OF THE EDUCATION DEBATE. I DO THINK IT DOES THAT. ONE, THE POLICY PEOPLE IN THE FILM ARE VERY STRONG AND ARTICULATE ADVOCATES FOR THEIR COMPETING POSITIONS AND, TO ANNAR’S STORY, PUTS THAT IN A STRONG CONTEXT SO THAT ONE CAN JUDGE THOSE PERSPECTIVES FROM A WAY THAT ONE’S NOT USED TO LOOKING AT THEM.

VAL>> AND, ALEX, WE CAN’T GO WITHOUT YOU TELLING PEOPLE WHAT YOUR LIFE IS LIKE NOW. YOU HAVE SOME MAJOR DEVELOPMENTS.

ALEX ALFARO>> YEAH, I’M HAPPY, I’M HAPPY.

VAL>> YOU’RE ALSO A FATHER?

ALEX ALFARO>> I’M A FATHER, YEAH. I HAVE A LITTLE GIRL NAMED ALEXANDRIA WHO I LOVE VERY MUCH. SHE’S THREE MONTHS OLD AND SHE’S ALSO BEEN PART OF THE CHANGE IN MY LIFE.

VAL>> AND YOU HAVE A JOB AT A CONVALESCENT HOME?

ALEX ALFARO>> THAT’S RIGHT. I WORK WITH SENIOR CITIZENS DOING ACTIVITIES, ADMISSIONS AND SOMETIMES, YOU KNOW, CENTRAL SUPPLY AND ALL THAT.

JESS>> AND WILL YOU FINISH HIGH SCHOOL?

ALEX ALFARO>> PARDON ME?

JESS>> AND YOU’LL FINISH HIGH SCHOOL?

ALEX ALFARO>> DEFINITELY. FROM HERE ON, DECEMBER.

VAL>> AND YOU HAVE A POEM, I UNDERSTAND?

ALEX ALFARO>> YES, I DO.

VAL>> IS THAT RIGHT?

ALEX ALFARO>> YEAH. YOU GUYS WANT TO HEAR IT?

VAL>> IF IT’S QUICK, OKAY.

ALEX ALFARO>> YEAH, SURE. I DIDN’T REMEMBER IT, SO I JUST HAD TO WRITE IT.

VAL>> YOU CAN READ IT.

ALEX ALFARO>> “FREEDOM -- I’M A SLAVE IN MY MIND, BUT I AM IN NO CAGE OR BEHIND BARS. IGNORANCE IS MY PRISON WITH MANY INMATES, BUT NO GUARDS.”

VAL>> OH, THAT’S BEAUTIFUL. I THINK YOU’RE ON YOUR WAY. MAYBE WRITING IS YOUR CALL IN LIFE. THANK YOU SO MUCH, ALEX ALFARO. BEST OF LUCK TO YOU. THANK YOU SO MUCH, EUGENE SHIRLEY, FOR BEING WITH US TODAY. THE DOCUMENTARY, “AKA CREEK”, IS ON KCET TONIGHT AT 10:00. CONGRATULATIONS.

LIFEANDTIMES@KCET.ORG
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JESS>> OUR NEXT GUEST MAY BE A BORN WRITER, BUT SHE SAYS IT’S VERY POSSIBLE TO ACQUIRE THE SKILLS NEEDED TO TELL A GOOD STORY IN PRINT.

VAL>> CAROLYN SEE HAS SPENT HER LIFE WRITING AND TRYING TO TEACH OTHERS TO DO THE SAME, BUT NOW SHE’S PUT SOME OF HER BEST TIPS INTO A NEW BOOK, A GUIDE FOR THOSE WHO’D LIKE TO FOLLOW IN HER FOOTSTEPS. IT IS CALLED “MAKING A LITERARY LIFE: ADVICE FOR WRITERS AND OTHER DREAMERS”. IT’S A LOOK AT THE NUTS AND BOLTS OF HOW TO PUT YOUR INSPIRATION INTO WORDS AND CAROLYN SEE IS HERE TO TELL US ABOUT IT. WELCOME.

CAROLYN SEE>> HI, GUYS.

JESS>> NOT EVERYBODY, EVEN WITH THE GUIDELINES YOU PROVIDE, CAN BECOME A GOOD WRITER. WHAT DOES IT TAKE TO BE ONE?

CAROLYN SEE>> OH, SURE THEY CAN, HONEY. THAT’S MY POSITION AND I’M GOING TO JUST STICK WITH IT (LAUGHTER). I DON’T WANT TO BE CONTENTIOUS.

JESS>> ANYBODY CAN WRITE A BESTSELLER?

CAROLYN SEE>> NO, NOT A BESTSELLER, BUT ANYBODY CAN WRITE SOMETHING THAT WILL MAKE HIM OR HER HAPPIER AND WILL ALLOW HIM OR HER TO LIVE A BETTER, PERKIER LIFE, A MORE PROFOUND LIFE.

VAL>> CAN ANYONE MAKE A LIVING AS A WRITER?

CAROLYN SEE>> ACTUALLY, IT’S QUITE ASTONISHING. MANY PEOPLE DO. YOU KNOW, ALL MY FRIENDS ARE WRITERS AND WE ALL STARTED OUT IN THE GUTTER BASICALLY. WE’RE THOUGHT THAT WE’LL END IN THE GUTTER, BUT RIGHT NOW WE’RE HAVING A GOOD TIME, SO THAT’S OKAY (LAUGHTER).

JESS>> HOW DOES THIS -- YOU KNOW, YOU REVIEWED BOOKS FOR THE WASHINGTON POST. YOU CONTRIBUTE TO THE LOS ANGELES TIMES. WE’RE ACCUSTOMED TO YOUR BY-LINE. HOW DOES THIS BOOK AFFECT YOUR LIFE?

CAROLYN SEE>> THIS BOOK HAS BEEN VERY INTERESTING FOR ME BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, IT’S ABOUT THE LIFE OF A WRITER FROM THE MINUTE YOU HAVE YOUR FIRST IDEA THAT YOU WANT TO WRITE UNTIL THREE MONTHS AFTER YOUR FIRST BOOK, SO IT GOES THROUGH THE WHOLE PROCESS. THERE HAVE BEEN TIMES -- I MEAN, THE PUBLICATION OF ANY BOOK IS A LITTLE BIT ROCKY AND THERE HAVE BEEN TIMES WHEN I’VE SAID TO ANYONE WHO WOULD LISTEN THAT I AM SO GLAD I WROTE THE BOOK ON THIS BECAUSE OTHERWISE I’D REALLY BE UPSET. IT REALLY SHOWS YOU, IN A VERY REALISTIC WAY, WHAT TO EXPECT AND HOW TO COPE WITH THE LARGER WORLD BECAUSE MOST PEOPLE DON’T WANT YOU TO WRITE. THEY FIND IT EMBARRASSING.

VAL>> REALLY?

CAROLYN SEE>> SURE, BECAUSE WHAT IF YOU LOOKED AT ME AND SAID, “HMM, I’M WRITING A NOVEL AND, AHEM, YOU’RE IN IT.” (LAUGHTER) YOU KNOW, I MEAN, IT GIVES ORDINARY PEOPLE THE CREEPS.

VAL>> WELL, YOU HAVE SOME VERY SPECIFIC ADVICE AND I’M JUST GOING TO SKIP AROUND, NO PARTICULAR ORDER HERE. ONE, FOR EXAMPLE, IS THAT YOU SUGGEST WRITING FLATTERING NOTES --

CAROLYN SEE>> -- NOT FLATTERING.

VAL>> NOT FLATTERING, SORRY, BUT ADMIRING --

CAROLYN SEE>> -- CHARMING.

VAL>> -- CHARMING NOTES TO LITERARY FIGURES?

CAROLYN SEE>> YES. IT’S ESSENTIALLY A TWO-PRONGED IDEA. ONE IS A THOUSAND WORDS A DAY, FIVE DAYS A WEEK, FOR THE REST OF YOUR LIFE OR TWO HOURS OF REVISION. THEN THE OTHER HALF OF THAT IS A CHARMING NOTE FIVE DAYS A WEEK FOR THE REST OF YOUR LIFE TO SOMEONE IN THE PUBLISHING BUSINESS WHO MAKES YOUR HANDS SWEAT, WHO SCARES YOU, AND YOU’RE NOT ASKING A FAVOR. YOU’RE JUST SAYING HELLO, YOU EXIST AND I EXIST. ISN’T THAT AMAZING?

JESS>> WELL, THAT’S PART OF THE PROCESS OF MARKETING THE BOOK, ISN’T IT?

CAROLYN SEE>> WELL, IF YOU DON’T, WHO WILL? SHE SAID RHETORICALLY (LAUGHTER)

VAL>> IS THAT MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY, ALL YEAR ROUND FOR THE REST OF YOUR LIFE?

CAROLYN SEE>> WELL, IT COULD BE TUESDAY THROUGH SATURDAY.

VAL>> BUT THAT’S A LOT OF NOTES.

JESS>> DO YOU PRACTICE WHAT YOU PREACH?

CAROLYN SEE>> I DO. NOW FATE HAS CHANGED SO THAT I GET MORE NOTES, SO I’M ANSWERING NOTES. BUT, YES, I DO AND I TRY TO WRITE AT LEAST ONE NOTE A WEEK TO A NEW WRITER WHO’S STARTING OUT WHO’S WORK I SEE AND WHO I ADMIRE, TO BE ENCOURAGING, YOU KNOW?

VAL>> WHAT GOES AROUND COMES AROUND. ISN’T THAT NICE.

CAROLYN SEE>> THAT’S MY THOUGHT.

VAL>> YOU ALSO TALK A LOT ABOUT, FOR EXAMPLE, HOW TO SURVIVE REJECTION. THIS IS SORT OF A CLASSIC LESSON THAT ALL WRITERS HAVE TO LEARN, RIGHT?

CAROLYN SEE>> YES. I THINK, NOT TO SHAMELESSLY PLUG MY OWN BOOK, BUT IT’S WORTH THE PRICE JUST FOR THE STUFF ON REJECTION (LAUGHTER). BECAUSE, AGAIN, IF YOU GET A TERRIBLE REJECTION, YOU IMMEDIATELY TAKE OUT YOUR CHARMING NOTE STATIONERY, I MEAN, WITHIN THE FIRST HALF HOUR, AND WRITE THEM A CHARMING NOTE. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR BRACING REJECTION, MR. MARLOW. IT MADE ME RETHINK MY WORK. I’LL BE SENDING SOMETHING ALONG TO YOU SOON. THEN YOU PUT THAT IN THE MAIL AND YOU CAN BREATH. THEN THE PERSON WHO REJECTED YOU OPENS IT UP AND, TO HIM OR HER, IT LOOKS LIKE, YOU KNOW, IT COULD HAVE ANTHRAX INSIDE (LAUGHTER).

JESS>> (LAUGHTER) SO YOU’RE SHAMING EDITORS THEN?

CAROLYN SEE>> NO, YOU’RE JUST SAYING HELLO, I EXIST, I’M NOT DEAD YET. THANKS VERY MUCH. TRY AGAIN. SO IT’S GOOD.

JESS>> BUT YOU ALSO TEACH WRITING AT UCLA. IS THE UNIVERSITY LEVEL WHERE MOST OF THE WRITERS ARE COMING FROM TODAY? FROM PROGRAMS SUCH AS YOURS? PROGRAMS SUCH AS UC IRVINE?

CAROLYN SEE>> I DON’T KNOW. THIS BOOK ISN’T REALLY GEARED TO MFA PROGRAMS. THIS BOOK IS GEARED TO PEOPLE IN THE MIDDLE OF AMERICA OR PEOPLE WHO ARE TOO OLD OR TOO YOUNG OR TOO POOR OR TOO RICH OR TOO OUT OF IT.

JESS>> ANYBODY WHO THINKS THEY HAVE A STORY?

CAROLYN SEE>> EXACTLY.

VAL>> WHAT YOU CALL THE SIDETRACK WRITERS, RIGHT?

CAROLYN SEE>> YEAH, THE TIMID, FORLORN AND CLUELESS. OF COURSE, ALL OF US ARE THAT SOME OF THE TIME. MFA PROGRAMS ARE TERRIFIC, BUT THIS IS ANOTHER WAY OF DOING IT.

JESS>> WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE WRITERS WHO’VE HAD GREAT INFLUENCE OVER US, SOME OF THEM ARE THE WRITERS YOU DESCRIBE, ARE THEY NOT?

CAROLYN SEE>> SURE. JACK LONDON, WHEN HE TOOK A CREATIVE WRITING CLASS, THE TEACHER JUST SAID NOBODY LIVES THAT WAY. YOU’RE MISTAKEN. NOBODY LIVES LIKE THAT. HE WAS LIKE, YEAH, WELL, I LIVED THAT WAY. NO ONE REMEMBERS HER NAME, BUT WE STILL DO REMEMBER HIM.

VAL>> YOU SAY THAT YOU STARTED OUT, I GUESS EARLY IN YOUR CAREER, I’M NOT SURE EXACTLY WHEN, WITH A CHIP ON YOUR SHOULDER. WHAT DO YOU MEAN?

CAROLYN SEE>> YEAH. I WAS RAISED BY A BAD-TEMPERED MOTHER AND I THINK I WILL JUST BLAME IT ON HER, BUT NOW FINALLY I HAVE TO JUST SORT OF SAY I WAS HARD TO GET ALONG WITH (LAUGHTER). I WAS JUST KIND OF CRABBY ABOUT LIFE AND PARTLY BECAUSE I THOUGHT I WOULDN’T BE ABLE TO HAVE WHAT I WANTED. I WOULDN’T BE ABLE TO WRITE. I WOULDN’T BE ABLE TO TRAVEL. I WOULDN’T BE ABLE TO HAVE FUN. I JUST DIDN’T SEE IT AHEAD OF ME.

JESS>> WHAT WAS THE TURNING POINT?

CAROLYN SEE>> ACTUALLY, WHEN I STARTED WRITING, I THINK. THEN I HAD SOME WONDERFUL KIDS, BUT THE WRITING KIND OF EXPLODES YOUR BODY AND ALL YOUR IONS GO NUTS. AT ONE POINT, I SAID TO THE MAN WHO WOULD BECOME MY LIFE PARTNER FOR TWENTY-EIGHT YEARS, THAT I’VE NEVER MET ANYONE IN A HAPPY MARRIAGE. HE LOOKED KIND OF LIKE, OH YEAH? THEN HE SAID I’VE NEVER MET ANYONE WHO WAS IN AN UNHAPPY MARRIAGE. WE JUST KIND OF LOOKED AT EACH OTHER AND I SAW THAT, OH GOD, THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE OUT THERE HAVING A LOT NICER TIME THAN I AM AND I MIGHT WANT TO CROSS OVER.

VAL>> NOW IS THIS BOOK AS USEFUL TO FICTION WRITERS AS WELL AS NONFICTION OR IS IT REALLY MEANT FOR FICTION WRITERS?

CAROLYN SEE>> FICTION, SERIOUS NONFICTION, CERTAINLY MAGAZINE PIECES. THERE’S A LOT ABOUT MAGAZINE JOURNALISM, YOU KNOW, OBSCURE LITERARY JOURNALS, ALL THAT. I DON’T THINK IT’S GOOD FOR POETRY AND I DON’T THINK IT’S GOOD FOR SCREENWRITING. YOU KNOW, SOME OF IT APPLIES, BUT NOT ALL.

JESS>> CAROLYN SEE, THANK YOU FOR JOINING US TONIGHT.

CAROLYN SEE>> THANKS, GUYS.

JESS>> AGAIN, THE BOOK IS CALLED “MAKING A LITERARY LIFE: ADVICE FOR WRITERS AND OTHER DREAMERS”.

VAL>> THAT’S OUR PROGRAM. GO ONTO KCET.ORG AND LOOK FOR TRANSCRIPTS AND STREAMING AUDIO OF OUR PROGRAMS IF YOU LIKE.

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

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