9/19/02

LC020919

VAL ZAVALA>> ON LIFE AND TIMES TONIGHT --

JESS MARLOW>> HE HAS NO MULTI-MILLION DOLLAR CAMPAIGN COFFER AND NO NEGATIVE ADS ON TELEVISION, SO HOW DOES THE GREEN PARTY CANDIDATE EXPECT TO COMPETE IN THE RACE FOR CALIFORNIA GOVERNOR?

CHARLES CRITTENDEN>> TO VOTE FOR SOMEBODY YOU DON’T REALLY WANT TIME AFTER TIME GIVES YOU SOMEBODY YOU DON’T REALLY WANT IN OFFICE, TIME AFTER TIME, AND THAT’S JUST A DESTRUCTIVE SYSTEM YOU’RE NEVER GOING TO CHANGE. IT’S NEVER GOING TO IMPROVE.

VAL>> THREE OUTSIDERS ARE THE FINALISTS IN L.A.’S SEARCH FOR A NEW POLICE CHIEF. TONIGHT WE’LL LOOK AT THOSE NAMES AND GET SOME EXPERT ANALYSIS ON WHO THE FRONT-RUNNER MIGHT BE.

JESS>> ALSO, WHAT ARE YOU AFRAID OF? PATT MORRISON WANTS US ALL TO LEAVE OUR WORRIES ON THE DOORSTEP.

PATT MORRISON>> NOTHING TO FEAR BUT OUR OWN WRONG-HEADED FEARFULNESS -- ON TONIGHT’S INFINITELY MORRISON.

VAL>> IS BEING HAPPY BIOLOGICAL OR CAN WE CREATE OUR OWN HAPPINESS? I’LL GIVE YOU A HINT. MONEY, WEALTH AND POWER DON’T HAVE ANYTHING TO DO WITH IT. TONIGHT WE’LL TALK ABOUT SOMETHING CALLED AUTHENTIC HAPPINESS. A PSYCHOLOGIST CLAIMS HE’S DISCOVERED IT AND HE’LL TELL THE REST OF US WHERE TO FIND IT.

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. IN LESS THAN TWO MONTHS, CALIFORNIANS WILL ELECT A GOVERNOR, BUT THE POLLS SHOW MOST VOTERS AREN’T EXACTLY ENTHUSIASTIC ABOUT THE TWO MAIN CHOICES ON THE BALLOT. SO WHAT ARE YOU TO DO WHEN YOU WANT NONE OF THE ABOVE?

VAL>> THE GREEN PARTY CANDIDATE HOPES THAT SOME OF THOSE DISENCHANTED VOTERS WILL TURN TO HIM. NO ONE GIVES PETER CAMEJO MUCH CHANCE OF WINNING, BUT AS TONI GUINYARD REPORTS, THE 61-YEAR-OLD POLITICAL ACTIVIST HOPES TO SEND A MESSAGE THAT BOTH DEMOCRATS AND REPUBLICANS WILL LONG REMEMBER.

TONI GUINYARD>> THIS IS PETER CAMEJO. HE’S RUNNING FOR GOVERNOR ON THE GREEN PARTY TICKET. IF YOU’VE NEVER HEARD OF HIM, THERE’S A GOOD CHANCE YOU WILL AS THE NOVEMBER ELECTION DRAWS CLOSER. CAMEJO AND OTHER GREEN PARTY CANDIDATES ARE APPEALING TO DISENFRANCHISED LIBERAL VOTERS AND SOME ANALYSTS PREDICT THE GREENS COULD FINALLY HAVE AN IMPACT AT THE POLLS EVEN IF THEY DON’T WIN.

PETER CAMEJO>> A LOT OF PEOPLE THINK THAT THE ONLY IMPACT THE GREENS WILL HAVE IN ELECTIONS IS TO HELP THE REPUBLICANS GET ELECTED. OF COURSE, THAT’S NOT OUR INTENT AT ALL.

TONI GUINYARD>> THE INTENT, SAYS CAMEJO, IS TO GET THE PUBLIC TO REALIZE THERE ARE OPTIONS TO THE TWO-PARTY POLITICAL SYSTEM, BUT HE DENIES THE GREEN PARTY’S POTENTIAL ROLE AS THE SPOILER, TAKING VOTES AWAY FROM ONE CANDIDATE, IN THIS CASE INCUMBENT GRAY DAVIS, TO HELP THE OTHER, REPUBLICAN NOMINEE BILL SIMON.

PETER CAMEJO>> WE REALLY WOULD LIKE TO END THE ISSUE OF SPOILERSHIP. THE WAY TO DO THAT IS VERY SIMPLE. HAVE RUNOFF ELECTIONS. THAT’S ALL THERE IS TO IT. WE’RE FOR IT. DEMOCRATS AND REPUBLICANS ARE AGAINST IT. THE ISSUE SHOULD REALLY BE POSED TO THEM AND NOT TO US. WE HAVE THE RIGHT TO RUN. IT’S PART OF DEMOCRACY AND WE INTEND TO PRACTICE IT.

DONNA WARREN>> PETER MIGUEL CAMEJO IS, WAS AND CONTINUES TO BE AN ACTIVIST FROM WHEN HE WAS AT SCHOOL. HE WENT TO BERKELEY AND HE RAN FOR PRESIDENT AND RONALD REAGAN CALLED HIM ONE OF THE MOST DANGEROUS MEN IN AMERICA AND THAT’S BECAUSE (APPLAUSE) THAT’S RIGHT.

TONI GUINYARD>> THE LONG-TIME POLITICAL ACTIVIST FROM THE BAY AREA WAS UNDAUNTED BY A POOR TURNOUT AT THIS CAMPAIGN STOP AT CAL STATE NORTHRIDGE.

PETER CAMEJO>> DAVIS, VERY CONSCIOUSLY IN THIS CAMPAIGN, HAS BEEN HIDING. HE KNOWS HIS BEST CHANCE OF WINNING IS TO SUPPRESS INFORMATION. THAT TELLS YOU THERE IS SOMETHING TOTALLY WRONG IN THE ELECTORAL SYSTEM.

TONI GUINYARD>> IN A RECENT POLL BY THE PUBLIC POLICY INSTITUTE OF CALIFORNIA, MORE THAN 1,500 REGISTERED VOTERS WERE ASKED ABOUT THE CANDIDATES RUNNING FOR GOVERNOR. MORE THAN HALF, FIFTY-FOUR PERCENT, QUESTIONED SAID THEY WERE NOT SATISFIED WITH THE CHOICE OF CANDIDATES.

CHARLES CRITTENDEN>> TO VOTE FOR SOMEBODY YOU DON’T REALLY WANT TIME AFTER TIME GIVES YOU SOMEBODY YOU DON’T REALLY WANT IN OFFICE, TIME AFTER TIME. THAT’S JUST A DESTRUCTIVE SYSTEM YOU’RE NEVER GOING TO CHANGE. IT’S NEVER GOING TO IMPROVE.

TONI GUINYARD>> CAMEJO WANTS TO OFFER VOTERS AN ALTERNATIVE, HIMSELF. HE BELIEVES, IF HE COULD PARTICIPATE IN TELEVISED DEBATES, HE WOULD WIN THE ELECTION.

PETER CAMEJO>> I THINK THE POLLS SHOW THAT POTENTIAL BECAUSE OF THE VERY HIGH NEGATIVE, FIFTY-FOUR PERCENT SAYING THEY DON’T LIKE EITHER CHOICE. I THINK IF WE HAD NONE OF THE ABOVE LIKE THEY DO IN THE STATE OF NEVADA, IT WOULD BE POSSIBLE IN THIS ELECTION THAT NONE OF THE ABOVE WOULD WIN.

TONI GUINYARD>> BUT NONE OF THE ABOVE IS NOT AN OPTION TO THE CALIFORNIA ELECTORATE, SO VOTERS WILL HAVE TO MAKE A CHOICE.

PETER CAMEJO>> IF I COULD BE TELEVISED, IF EVERYONE WOULD SEE ME AND HEAR WHAT I STAND FOR, I THINK I COULD BECOME THE NONE OF THE ABOVE. AS FAR AS PEOPLE ARE CONCERNED, THEY WOULD SAY, OKAY, LET’S HAVE THIS GUY IN AS GOVERNOR JUST TO PREVENT THESE OTHER TWO FROM BEING THERE.

TONI GUINYARD>> THESE OTHER TWO, DEMOCRATIC INCUMBENT GOVERNOR GRAY DAVIS AND REPUBLICAN NOMINEE BILL SIMON.

LAWRENCE BECKER>> HOW SUCCESSFUL HE’LL BE DEPENDS ON WHAT YOU DEFINE AS SUCCESS. THIS IS NOT SOMEONE WHO’S GOING TO BE THE NEXT GOVERNOR OF CALIFORNIA. BUT IF YOU DEFINE SUCCESS AS BUILDING THE GREEN PARTY, AS GETTING MORE PEOPLE INVOLVED IN POLITICS, THEN THERE IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR SUCCESS THERE.

TONI GUINYARD>> AN OPPORTUNITY GREEN PARTY CANDIDATE CAMEJO IS DETERMINED NOT TO LET SLIP AWAY. I’M TONI GUINYARD FOR LIFE AND TIMES TONIGHT.

JESS>> WE’RE NOW JOINED BY POLITICAL ANALYST AND COMMENTATOR, SHERRY BEBITCH JEFFE. SHE’S A SENIOR SCHOLAR AT USC’S SCHOOL OF POLICY PLANNING AND DEVELOPING.

SHERRY BEBITCH JEFFE>> VERY GOOD (LAUGHTER)

JESS>> IS CAMEJO DESTINED JUST TO BE A SPOILER?

SHERRY BEBITCH JEFFE>> DEFINE WHAT YOU MEAN BY SPOILER. HE MAY NOT EVEN BE A SPOILER. IF IT IS A VERY TIGHT RACE BETWEEN BILL SIMON AND GRAY DAVIS, LET’S SAY, FOUR POINTS BETWEEN THEM, RIGHT NOW CAMEJO IS POLLING ANYWHERE FROM FOUR TO SIX POINTS IN THE POLL. SO HE COULD HAVE AN IMPACT ON THE RACE AND, LIKELY, HE WOULD DRAW MORE VOTERS FROM GRAY DAVIS, MORE DISGRUNTLED, DISSATISFIED, LIBERAL DEMOCRATS THAN CONSERVATIVE REPUBLICANS. THERE IS ALWAYS THAT POSSIBILITY, BUT REALISTICALLY, TO BE A SPOILER, YOU’VE GOT TO GET YOURSELF OUT THERE. YOU’VE GOT TO GET YOUR MESSAGE OUT THERE AND THIS IS ONE OF THE FEW TIMES, I’M SURE, THAT PETER CAMEJO HAS BEEN ABLE TO SEE HIS FACE ON THE MEDIA.

VAL>> NOW THERE ARE A LOT OF VOTERS WHO, WHEN THEY CHECK THE BOX ARE THEY REPUBLICAN OR DEMOCRAT OR WHATEVER, DECLINE TO STATE. FIFTEEN PERCENT, IN FACT, SAID THEY WERE --

SHERRY BEBITCH JEFFE>> -- ARE REGISTERED AND DECLINED TO SAY.

VAL>> RIGHT. AND MR. CAMEJO SAYS HE CAN GET THAT FIFTEEN PERCENT.

SHERRY BEBITCH JEFFE>> OH, WELL, FINE. LET’S SEE WHETHER OR NOT HE CAN (LAUGHTER). DID HE TELL YOU HOW? (LAUGHTER)

JESS>> THERE’S ANOTHER ALTERNATIVE AND THAT’S THE WRITE-IN CANDIDATES. WHERE ARE THEY?

SHERRY BEBITCH JEFFE>> WELL, LET ME TELL YOU, IT’S REALLY KIND OF FUN TO WATCH, JESS. EVERY DAY A NEW NAME POPS UP. FOR A WHILE BEFORE BILL SIMON’S FRAUD JUDGMENT WAS REVERSED, THE BUZZ WAS THAT FORMER L.A. MAYOR DICK RIORDAN WOULD BE LAUNCHING A WRITE-IN CAMPAIGN. THIS WEEK, THE FLAVOR OF THE WEEK IS ARNOLD SCHWARZENEGGER WHO’S BEEN POLLING APPARENTLY WHETHER OR NOT PEOPLE WOULD WRITE IN ARNOLD SCHWARZENEGGER.

JESS>> BUT THEY WOULDN’T DO THAT BECAUSE THEY DON’T KNOW HOW TO SPELL HIS NAME (LAUGHTER).

SHERRY BEBITCH JEFFE>> GOOD NEWS IS, IF YOU’RE CLOSE, IT WORKS. MY OWN PERSONAL THEORY, HAVING READ THE LAW BUT NOT BEING AN ATTORNEY, IS IF YOU WROTE DOWN “THE TERMINATOR” AND THE ELECTION OFFICIAL DECIDED THAT HE OR SHE KNEW WHO IT WAS, THE VOTE WOULD COUNT. IT’S NOT A PROBLEM (LAUGHTER). ALTHOUGH MY FRIEND, ALAN HOFFENBLUM, THE REPUBLICAN CONSULTANT, JOKES WITH ME THAT HE WANTS A WRITE-IN FOR BILL JONES BECAUSE YOU CAN SPELL THE NAME (LAUGHTER).

VAL>> (LAUGHTER) BUT REALLY, THIRD PARTIES IN CALIFORNIA ARE GOING TO HAVE A VERY, VERY TOUGH TIME. BUT IT’S SO FRUSTRATING BECAUSE YOU KNOW THAT VOTERS ARE VERY DISCONTENT. IF THERE’S EVER GOING TO BE A CHANCE FOR A THIRD PARTY, NOW’S THE TIME.

SHERRY BEBITCH JEFFE>> WELL, I’VE NEVER SEEN IT SO DESULTORY OUT THERE, SO NEGATIVE OUT THERE. MARK DICAMILLO OF THE FIELD POLL SAID THAT THIRD PARTY CANDIDATES RIGHT NOW MAY BE POLLING ABOUT NINE PERCENT OF THE VOTE, WHICH IS ALMOST DOUBLE WHAT THEY POLLED LAST NIGHT --

VAL>> -- OH, SO THERE IS --

SHERRY BEBITCH JEFFE>> -- AND THEY COULD GO UP TO ELEVEN PERCENT. NOW ALL THE THIRD PARTIES, NOT JUST CAMEJO. THAT’S AN HISTORIC HIGH, BUT, YOU KNOW, THE REALITY OF RUNNING FOR OFFICE IN CALIFORNIA IS YOU’VE GOT TO HAVE MONEY, YOU’VE GOT TO HAVE MEDIA, YOU’VE GOT TO HAVE A MESSAGE. I’VE WATCHED CAMEJO AND HE DOES HAVE A MESSAGE THAT RESONATES WITH PEOPLE. BUT HE DOESN’T HAVE THE MONEY OR THE MEDIA TO GET THAT MESSAGE ACROSS.

VAL>> NOW THEY BLAME THE MEDIA A LOT FOR THAT. THEY SAY THAT THESE THIRD PARTY CANDIDATES HAVE A LOT OF TROUBLE GETTING ON FREE TELEVISION, NEWS AND COVERAGE AND SO FORTH.

JESS>> WHICH IS TRUE (LAUGHTER).

SHERRY BEBITCH JEFFE>> WELL, SO DO MAJOR CANDIDATES. DON’T ASK ME TO DEFEND THE DECISION OF THE MEDIA, PRESENT COMPANY EXCEPTED, NOT TO COVER POLITICS IN THIS STATE.

JESS>> WHAT’S YOUR READING ON THE GOVERNOR’S DECISION NOT TO PARTICIPATE IN THE RECENT TELEVISED DEBATE?

SHERRY BEBITCH JEFFE>> YOU MEAN THE ONE -- WELL, THE GOVERNOR IS PARTICIPATING IN THE L.A. TIMES DEBATE, BUT HE WON’T ALLOW PETER CAMEJO TO PARTICIPATE. HE DID NOT PARTICIPATE IN THE CALIFORNIA NEW MEDIA DEBATE WHICH WOUND UP AS A LOVE FEST BETWEEN, GOOD GRIEF, PETER CAMEJO AND BILL SIMON. SMART POLITICAL MOVE ON THE GOVERNOR’S PART.

JESS>> THE GOVERNOR DOESN’T NEED IT?

SHERRY BEBITCH JEFFE>> THE GOVERNOR DOESN’T NEED IT. HE’S GOT $60 MILLION DOLLARS OR SO TO GET HIS MESSAGE OUT THE WAY HE WANTS IT. WHY SHOULD HE GIVE CAMEJO AND SIMON MORE FREE MEDIA THAN THEY COULD EVER GET BY THEMSELVES? (LAUGHTER)

VAL>> (LAUGHTER) SHERRY BEBITCH JEFFE, ALWAYS FUN TO HAVE YOU ABOARD FROM USC’S SCHOOL OF POLICY PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT.

SHERRY BEBITCH JEFFE>> MY PLEASURE.

VAL>> TOMORROW ON LIFE AND TIMES, A LOOK AT A TYPICAL MUSLIM-AMERICAN FAMILY LIVING IN A WORLD OF SUSPICION, AND THINGS HAVE ONLY GOTTEN WORSE NOW THAT U.S.-BORN MUSLIMS HAVE BEEN LINKED TO AL QAEDA.

>> MY AMERICANNESS WAS BEING QUESTIONED. ARE YOU GUYS REALLY AMERICANS? AND FOR ME, AS HAVING BEEN BORN AND RAISED HERE, MY INITIAL REACTION WAS, WELL, WHO ARE YOU TO QUESTION ME? WHO ARE YOU TO TELL ME I’M NOT AN AMERICAN? I WAS BORN AND RAISED HERE.

JESS>> AS OF TONIGHT, AS OF THIS MOMENT, LOS ANGELES IS ONE STEP CLOSER TO GETTING ITS NEW POLICE CHIEF. THIS AFTERNOON, THE L.A. POLICE COMMISSION NAMED ITS THREE FINALISTS FOR THE JOB. THEY ARE FORMER NEW YORK POLICE COMMISSIONER WILLIAM BRATTON, FORMER PHILADELPHIA POLICE COMMISSIONER JOHN TIMONEY AND OXNARD POLICE CHIEF ART LOPEZ, FORMERLY OF THE LAPD.

VAL>> LEFT OFF THE LIST ARE SOME OTHER CANDIDATES WHO WERE THOUGHT TO BE FAVORITES, INCLUDING MARK KROEKER, GEORGE GASCON AND DAVID KALISH. WELL, HERE TO GIVE US HIS THOUGHTS ON THE THREE WHO DID MAKE THE CUT IS L.A. CITY COUNCILMAN ERIC GARCETTI. ALWAYS NICE TO SEE YOU.

ERIC GARCETTI>> NICE TO BE HERE.

JESS>> ARE YOU SURPRISED?

ERIC GARCETTI>> I THINK ALL OF US ARE A LITTLE BIT SURPRISED. I THINK ALL THE RUMORS RECENTLY HAD AT LEAST SOME CURRENT INSIDERS AS PART OF THE FINAL LIST, SO TO SEE TWO AND A HALF OUTSIDERS, SOMEBODY WHO’S BEEN THERE BEFORE AND WHO MAY RETURN, I THINK SURPRISED A LOT OF PEOPLE.

VAL>> NOW GO THROUGH THE THREE. WHAT DO YOU THINK WERE THE STRENGTHS THAT MADE THEM THE FINALISTS OUT OF THIRTEEN VERY STRONG CANDIDATES?

ERIC GARCETTI>> WELL, THAT’S AN EXCELLENT POINT YOU MAKE AT THE END, WHICH IS THAT THERE IS REALLY AN EMBARRASSMENT OF RICHES, THAT THROUGH ALL THE THINGS THAT LAPD HAS GONE THROUGH, WE CAN STILL ATTRACT INCREDIBLE TALENT BOTH FROM OUTSIDE AND WITHIN. I THINK THE THREE CANDIDATES BRING VERY DIFFERENT LEADERSHIP STYLES. I MEAN, BRATTON IS A VERY BRASH PERSON, TIMONEY IS KIND OF THE IRISH COP OUT OF CENTRAL CASTING AND ART LOPEZ IS SOMEBODY WHO IS, YOU KNOW, A VERY FEEL GOOD POLICE CHIEF WHO UNDERSTANDS COMMUNITY POLICING AND UNDERSTANDS LOS ANGELES. I THINK, FOR THE TWO THAT COME FROM THE EAST COAST, THEY’RE GOING TO HAVE TO LEARN LOS ANGELES IS A VERY DIFFERENT CITY THAN PHILADELPHIA OR FROM NEW YORK. FOR ART LOPEZ, THAT THE LAPD HAS PROBABLY CHANGED QUITE A BIT SINCE HE’S BEEN HERE. SO THERE ARE REALLY CHALLENGES FOR WHICHEVER CHIEF COMES OUT OF THOSE THREE.

JESS>> LOOKING AT BRATTON, HERE’S A MAN WHO IS GETTING A PRETTY GOOD EDUCATION ON LAPD AND LOS ANGELES IN RECENT MONTHS.

ERIC GARCETTI>> AND HE’S SOMEBODY WHO UNDERSTANDS NUMBERS. I MEAN, HE WAS BEST TO BRING THE COMPUTER SYSTEMS IN AND SHOWING THAT THAT COULD BE USED AS A TOOL TO COMBAT CRIME. I THINK, IF THERE ARE ANY CRITICISMS AGAINST HIM IN NEW YORK, AT WHAT COST DID THAT EFFICIENCY COME? WAS CIVIL LIBERTIES RESPECTED? CERTAINLY, THAT’S BEEN SOMETHING THAT LAPD REALLY NEEDS TO REFORM. AS WE LOOK AT THAT, BRATTON WILL HAVE TO DO THAT. A LOT OF PEOPLE SAY TIMONEY IS A LITTLE BIT LIKE BRATTON WITHOUT THE BRASHNESS. HE WAS HIS NUMBER TWO PERSON IN NEW YORK. HE UNDERSTANDS THAT PHILOSOPHY WHILE, AT THE SAME TIME DURING THE REPUBLICAN NATIONAL CONVENTION, HE WAS OUT THERE ON HIS BIKE TALKING TO PROTESTORS. SO I THINK A LOT OF FOLKS IN THE MAYOR’S OFFICE REALLY TIPPED THEIR HAT TOWARDS HIM TOO.

VAL>> BUT THERE IS A CONTROVERSIAL CASE AROUND TIMONEY IN WHICH AN OFFICER IN THE PHILADELPHIA POLICE DEPARTMENT GOT DRUNK, SLAMMED INTO ANOTHER CAR, NOBODY WAS HURT, BUT THEN THE OFFICER TOOK OFF, HIT AND RUN, AND TIMONEY GAVE HIM ONLY A TWENTY-DAY SUSPENSION. THE OFFICER WAS LATER INDICTED, BUT NEVERTHELESS, THAT WAS LETTING AN OFFICER OFF VERY EASY.

ERIC GARCETTI>> AND IT’S SOMETHING TIMONEY, I THINK, ACKNOWLEDGES WAS A MISTAKE AND I THINK WE WANT LEADERS THAT ARE GOING TO BE ABLE TO ACKNOWLEDGE THOSE MISTAKES AND THOSE LESSONS THAT THEY’VE LEARNED.

VAL>> IS HE KNOWN, NEVERTHELESS, AS A REFORMER? AS SOMEONE WHO HOLDS --

ERIC GARCETTI>> -- HE WAS SOMEBODY WHO WAS A REFORMER AND SOMEBODY ALSO THAT WAS VERY GOOD FOR MORALE. I THINK ALL THREE CANDIDATES WOULD BE GOOD FOR LAPD MORALE AS WELL. I MEAN, WE’VE MADE INCREDIBLE STRIDES, I THINK, JUST IN A FEW MONTHS AND IT’S GOING TO BE VERY CRITICAL FOR THAT CHIEF TO COME IN TO BE A REFORMER WHILE, AT THE SAME TIME, BRING THE TROOPS ALONG WITH HIM.

JESS>> THE MAYOR DOESN’T HAVE TO SELECT ANY OF THOSE THREE. HE COULD ASK FOR SOME MORE NAMES, BUT THE LIKELIHOOD OF THAT IS VERY SLIM, WOULDN’T YOU SAY?

ERIC GARCETTI>> I MEAN, IT’S BEEN A VERY STRONG CAMPAIGN. I THINK JIM HAHN KNOWS THIS IS THE DEFINING MOMENT OF HIS MAYORAL TENURE SO FAR. THIS REALLY WILL DEFINE, I THINK, HIS LEGACY FOR THE NEXT FEW YEARS.

JESS>> AND LOPEZ MUST BE A POPULAR FAVORITE IN LAPD.

ERIC GARCETTI>> YEAH, I THINK PEOPLE KNOW ART AND HE IS UNIVERSALLY RESPECTED AND LIKED. YOU KNOW, THE CHALLENGES ARE THAT OXNARD IS VERY SMALL COMPARED TO LAPD. CAN HE TAKE THAT STEP UP? BUT ALL THREE REALLY FACE CHALLENGES. I THINK THAT WHOLE INSIDER-OUTSIDER BASEBALL GAME THAT WE PLAYED -- I MEAN, YOU LOOK AT ROMAN EMPERORS. SOME OF THE BEST ONES CAME FROM THE HINTERLANDS LIKE SPAIN, SO WE CAN FIND PROBABLY A GOOD POLICE CHIEF FROM SOMEPLACE ELSE RIGHT NOW TOO.

VAL>> NOW IN THE END, DO YOU THINK BECAUSE ALL THESE CANDIDATES ARE SO STRONG, DO YOU THINK IN THE END IT ALMOST PERHAPS WILL NOT MAKE ANY DIFFERENCE BECAUSE ALL OF THEM WOULD MAKE GOOD CHIEFS?

ERIC GARCETTI>> WELL, I THINK THE GOOD NEWS IS THAT WE’RE GOING TO GET A GOOD CHIEF. I MEAN, I THINK WE CAN ALL FEEL GOOD ABOUT ALL THREE OF THEM. AT THE END OF THE DAY, WE HAVE TO REMEMBER THAT THESE ARE GENERAL MANAGERS, THE POLICE CHIEFS. THEY’VE BEEN ALMOST LIKE MAYORS OR MORE POWERFUL, BUT WE HAVE TO FIND FOLKS THAT ARE COMPATIBLE WITH THE MAYOR. SO I THINK A LOT OF IT WILL COME DOWN TO WHO CAN CONNECT WITH THIS MAYOR AND WHO IS THE BEST COMPLEMENT TO HIS PERSONALITY.

JESS>> WE TALK ABOUT BRATTON’S COLORFULNESS, HIS BRASHNESS, HIS BOLDNESS. SHARP CONTRAST WITH JAMES HAHN.

ERIC GARCETTI>> ABSOLUTELY, BUT HE GOT RESULTS TOO. I THINK THE BOTTOM LINE IS YOU HAVE A MAYOR WHO WANTS TO MAKE A GOOD CHOICE AND THEN STEP BACK. HE SAID HIMSELF HE DOESN’T WANT TO HAVE TO MANAGE THE LAPD MANAGEMENT EVERY SINGLE DAY OF THE WEEK. HE WANTS TO BE ABLE TO TRUST IT, LET IT RUN WITH ITSELF AND MAKE SURE IT IMPLEMENTS HIS VISION.

VAL>> WELL, IF IT’S SO IMPORTANT THAT THE POLICE CHIEF AND THE MAYOR GET ALONG, THEN WHAT ABOUT BRATTON’S CLASH WITH NEW YORK MAYOR GIULIANI?

ERIC GARCETTI>> WELL, PERHAPS THEY DID HAVE THAT CLASH BECAUSE THEY ARE BOTH VERY STRONG PERSONALITIES IN A SIMILAR WAY. MAYOR HAHN IS NOT A BRASH PERSONALITY. HE’S SOMEBODY WHO LIKES TO PUT HIS NOSE DOWN AND DO THE HARD WORK. I THINK MAYBE YOU HAVE SOMETHING THERE WHERE THERE’S A MARRIAGE THAT COULD WORK. I SEE THE MAYOR ACTUALLY WORKING WELL WITH ANY OF THESE THREE CANDIDATES.

JESS>> THERE WAS SOME CONCERN THAT NO REAL INSIDER HAD BEEN CHOSEN AND YET MITZI GRASSO, WHO’S HEAD OF THE POLICE UNION, SAYS SHE’S NOT DISAPPOINTED THAT AN INSIDER WAS NOT CHOSEN.

ERIC GARCETTI>> WELL, AGAIN, WE HAD SOME AMAZING PEOPLE LIKE GEORGE GASCON AND DAVID KALISH, SHARON PAPA, CHIEF YORK, YOU KNOW, WOMEN, FIRST GAY CANDIDATE, LATINO CANDIDATES. REALLY, IT SHOWED THE WHOLE BROAD DIVERSITY OF THIS CITY. BUT WE KNOW THAT, WHETHER IT WAS AN INSIDER OR AN OUTSIDER, THERE’S STILL A LOT OF SHAKING UP TO DO IN THE LAPD. LET’S MAKE NO MISTAKE ABOUT THAT. WHILE THEY’RE BOOSTING MORALE, WHILE THEY’RE MAKING PUBLIC SAFETY BETTER, THERE IS STILL A LOT OF SHAKING UP TO DO ABOUT THE CULTURE OF LAPD, ESPECIALLY AT THAT MANAGEMENT LEVEL.

JESS>> WE TALK ABOUT THE MAYOR HAVING THE FINAL WORD WHEN INDEED YOU ON THE CITY COUNCIL HAVE THE FINAL WORD.

ERIC GARCETTI>> THAT’S RIGHT. AFTER THE MAYOR GIVES US A CHOICE, WE WILL EITHER VOTE THAT UP OR DOWN. BUT TALKING TO MY COLLEAGUES ALREADY, I KNOW THAT THE COUNCIL IS GOING TO BE PART OF THE INTERVIEWING PROCESS WITH THE MAYOR AND I REALLY FEEL LIKE HE’S REACHED OUT TO US AND I EXPECT THAT, WHATEVER DECISION HE MAKES, WE PROBABLY WILL GO WITH AS WELL.

VAL>> REAL QUICKLY, WILL IT BE A QUICK ONE?

ERIC GARCETTI>> I HOPE IT WILL BE A QUICK ONE. WE DON’T WANT TO DRAG THIS OUT. WE NEED TO HAVE A PERMANENT CHIEF AND WE NEED THAT LEADERSHIP TO START RIGHT AWAY.

VAL>> CITY COUNCILMAN ERIC GARCETTI, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR COMING IN AT THE LAST MINUTE.

ERIC GARCETTI>> THANK YOU. ALWAYS A PLEASURE.

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

JESS>> AMERICA IS A NATION OF WORRIERS, SO SAYS PATT MORRISON, AND TONIGHT SHE EXPLORES HOW MANY OF US CREATE THINGS TO BE AFRAID OF IN TONIGHT'S INFINITELY MORRISON.

PATT MORRISON>> WELL, HERE'S SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA SETTING TRENDS AGAIN. THE WEST NILE VIRUS DECIDED TO SKIP SEVERAL HUNDRED BORING MILES OF AMERICAN LANDSCAPE AND HEAD RIGHT FOR LOS ANGELES, HOT, HAPPENING LOS ANGELES, FOR THE FIRST CONFIRMED CASE WEST OF THE ROCKY MOUNTAINS. IN THREE YEARS, THE MOSQUITO-BORNE DISEASE HAS CROSSED THE ENTIRE UNITED STATES SLOWER THAN A 747, BUT A LOT FASTER THAN FORREST GUMP. AND FOR ALL OF THE HEADLINES, THE ALARMING TV REPORTS, WHAT DO YOU THINK IS THE GRAND TOTAL OF DEATHS IN THE U.S. FROM THIS MALADY? FIFTY. 5-0. IN FACT, IF YOU SPEND AN HOUR CLEARING YOUR GARDEN OF STANDING WATER TO MAKE SURE THE DISEASED MOSQUITOES HAVE NO PLACE TO BREED AND THEN GO BACK INSIDE THE HOUSE AND EAT LUNCH, YOU'VE PUT YOURSELF AT THOUSANDS OF TIMES GREATER RISK OF GETTING SICK IF YOU HAVEN'T WASHED YOUR HANDS BEFORE YOU EAT.

SO WHAT'S THE BIG DEAL? EXACTLY. WE GET OVER-WROUGHT ABOUT ALL THE WRONG THINGS. WE WORRY ABOUT POISON PUT INTO TYLENOL BOTTLES WHEN IT IS INADEQUATELY INSPECTED AND INADEQUATELY COOKED FOOD THAT KILLS HUNDREDS OF TIMES MORE AMERICANS. WE WORRY ABOUT STRANGERS ABDUCTING OUR CHILDREN WHEN ALMOST ALL THE TIME IT'S A FRIEND OR A RELATIVE WHO SPIRITS THEM AWAY. WE WORRY ABOUT UFO ABDUCTIONS INSTEAD OF ABOUT HAVING AN ACCIDENT EN ROUTE TO A MOVIE ABOUT CROP CIRCLES. A FEW YEARS BACK, A USC PROFESSOR NAMED BARRY GLASSNER WROTE A BOOK ABOUT THIS VERY PHENOMENON CALLED "THE CULTURE OF FEAR: WHY AMERICANS ARE AFRAID OF THE WRONG THINGS". YOU TOO CAN PROBABLY RECALL A FEW FAD FEARS LIKE, OH, FLESH-EATING BACTERIA, FREEWAY SHOOTINGS, DOCTORED HALLOWEEN CANDY.

I HAVE MY OWN TEST. DO I KNOW ANYONE WHO HAS GOTTEN FLESH-EATING BACTERIA, WHO'D BEEN CYBER-STALKED OR CARJACKED? SO FAR, THE ANSWER IS NO. QED. THE BIG DANGER OF THESE INFLATED HEADLINES IS THAT THEY OBSCURE THE REAL RISKS, THE THOUSANDS OF DEATHS FROM OBESITY, SMOKING, DRINKING, GUNS, NO HEALTHCARE. I WOULD HOPE THAT WE'D BE ABLE TO GET A GRIP AFTER SEPTEMBER 11 WHEN THE CARDBOARD TERRORS WERE KNOCKED FLAT AND STOMPED INTO THE DIRT BY VERY REAL TERRORS. AFTER THE HYSTERIA OVER WEST NILE VIRUS, I HAVE TO SAY I'M STILL HOPING.

JESS>> THE BILL OF RIGHTS INCLUDES THE RIGHT TO LIFE, LIBERTY AND THE PURSUIT OF HAPPINESS, BUT NOTICE IT DOESN'T OFFER ANY GUARANTEES OF FINDING HAPPINESS.

VAL>> WELL, A NEW BOOK SUGGESTS THAT MAYBE WE'RE NOT LOOKING IN THE RIGHT PLACES. THE BOOK IS CALLED "AUTHENTIC HAPPINESS: USING THE NEW POSITIVE PSYCHOLOGY TO REALIZE YOUR POTENTIAL FOR LASTING FULFILLMENT" AND THE AUTHOR IS PSYCHOLOGIST, MARTIN SELIGMAN, WHO JOINS US NOW TO EXPLAIN POSITIVE PSYCHOLOGY.

JESS>> WE'VE ALWAYS HEARD OF THE POWER OF POSITIVE THINKING, BUT YOU ACTUALLY HAVE EMPIRICAL EVIDENCE THAT YOU CAN CREATE HAPPINESS?

MARTIN SELIGMAN>> YES. I COME OUT OF SCIENCE IN THE LABORATORY AND I COME OUT OF WORKING ON TRYING TO GET RID OF DEPRESSION AND ANXIETY AND ANGER. WHAT WE FOUND AFTER FIFTY YEARS OF THAT IS, WHEN YOU GET RID OF THOSE THINGS, THE BEST YOU CAN EVER GET TO IS ZERO AND THERE'S MORE THAN THAT IN LIFE. THERE IS PLEASURE, THERE IS FULFILLMENT, THERE IS FLOW. IT'S A DIFFERENT SYSTEM, SO THE QUESTION IS, ON A SCIENTIFIC BASIS, WHAT DO WE KNOW ABOUT HOW TO GET HAPPINESS AND NOT JUST HOW TO GET RID OF MISERY?

JESS>> SO YOU HAVE TO REPLACE THE DEPRESSION WITH HAPPINESS?

MARTIN SELIGMAN>> YOU NEED TO BRING SOMETHING ELSE. THERE ARE THREE LIVES THAT BRING HAPPINESS TO PEOPLE. THE FIRST IS THE PLEASANT LIFE, THE SECOND IS THE GOOD LIFE AND THE THIRD IS THE MEANINGFUL LIFE. THEY'RE COMPLETELY DIFFERENT AND YOU GET THEM IN DIFFERENT WAYS. THE PLEASANT LIFE IS ABOUT THESE PLEASURES THAT YOU FEEL, THE ECSTASIES, MUD COMING OFF WHEN YOU'RE COVERED WITH MUD IN A HOT SHOWER, AND THERE ARE TECHNIQUES FOR AMPLIFYING THAT, SAVORING AND MINDFULNESS. BUT IT TURNS OUT THAT ROUGHLY FIFTY PERCENT OF THE POPULATION ARE NOT SMILERS AND GIGGLERS AND DEBBIE REYNOLDS GOOD-CHEER PEOPLE, BUT THEY'VE GOT A VERY DIFFERENT CAPACITY WHICH BRINGS HAPPINESS. THEY'RE ENORMOUSLY CAPABLE OF FLOW, OF ABSORPTION, OF IMMERSION, OF BEING ONE WITH THE MUSIC.

VAL>> WHAT DOES THAT MEAN EXACTLY? ARE YOU SAYING THAT FIFTY PERCENT OF THE PEOPLE ARE NOT BIOLOGICALLY ABLE TO SORT OF HAVE A CHEERY DISPOSITION, SO THEREFORE THEY HAVE TO WORK AT IT?

MARTIN SELIGMAN>> IT TURNS OUT THE SENSITIVITY OF PLEASURE IS HIGHLY INHERITABLE AND THE BEST YOU CAN DO IS MOVE UP IN YOUR SET RANGE TO THE BEST PART OF IT. BUT THERE'S A COMPLETELY DIFFERENT FORM OF HAPPINESS WHICH COMES FROM KNOWING WHAT YOUR HIGHEST STRENGTHS ARE AND USING THOSE STRENGTHS ALL THE TIME IN WORK, IN LOVE, IN PLAY, AND PARENTING.

VAL>> AND STRENGTHS WOULD BE LIKE WHAT?

MARTIN SELIGMAN>> STRENGTHS ARE THINGS LIKE KINDNESS, VALOR, PERSPECTIVE, LOVE OF LEARNING, JUSTICE, SPIRITUALITY. IT TURNS OUT THAT YOU CAN, ONCE YOU KNOW WHAT YOUR STRENGTHS ARE -- BY THE WAY, THERE'S A WEBSITE AT WWW.AUTHENTICHAPPINESS.ORG WHICH GIVES A VALID TEST FOR ASKING WHAT ARE YOUR FIVE HIGHEST STRENGTHS. ONCE YOU KNOW WHAT THEY ARE, YOU CAN RE-CRAFT YOUR JOB, YOUR LOVE LIFE, SO YOU USE THOSE ALL THE TIME. THE RESULT IS THAT YOU GET COMPLETELY ABSORBED IN WHAT YOU DO. TIME STOPS FOR YOU. THAT'S THE SECOND MAJOR FORM OF HAPPINESS.

VAL>> IF YOU'RE DOING SOMETHING THAT DRAWS ON YOUR TRUE STRENGTHS?

MARTIN SELIGMAN>> ON YOUR TRUE STRENGTHS. THAT'S WHY THE WORD "AUTHENTIC" IS USED HERE. UNLIKE THE PLEASURES, THERE ARE NO SHORTCUTS TO HAPPINESS THAT BRINGS ABOUT THE FLOW, ABSORPTION AND IMMERSION. YOU HAVE TO DEPLOY YOUR STRENGTHS ALL THE TIME.

JESS>> NOW SOME OF IT IS INHERITED AND SOME OF IT IS LEARNED, IS THAT RIGHT?

MARTIN SELIGMAN>> WELL, THE PLEASURES, A GOOD DEAL OF IT IS INHERITED. THE STRENGTHS, A LOT OF IT IS LEARNED AND THE FIRST STEP IS MERELY KNOWING WHAT YOUR STRENGTHS ARE AND THEN RE-CRAFTING THEM. LET ME JUST GIVE YOU ONE EXAMPLE. ONE WOMAN I WORKED WITH WAS A WAITRESS. SHE HATED WAITRESSING. DEMEANING, BEING PATRONIZED, HEAVY TRAYS --

JESS>> -- LOUSY TIPS.

MARTIN SELIGMAN>> LOUSY TIPS. SHE TOOK THE STRENGTHS TEST AND IT TURNED OUT HER HIGHEST STRENGTH WAS SOCIAL INTELLIGENCE. SO SHE RE-CRAFTED HER JOB TO MAKE WAITRESSING -- THE ENCOUNTER WITH HER THAT EVENING FOR EACH CUSTOMER, HER CHALLENGE WAS THAT WILL BE THE SOCIAL HIGHLIGHT OF THEIR EVENING. SHE TRANSFORMED THE JOB FROM TEDIOUS INTO A JOB SHE LOVED.

VAL>> THAT'S INTERESTING. THAT'S AN EXAMPLE OF HOW YOU CAN IMPROVE YOUR JOB. HOW MIGHT YOU IMPROVE RELATIONSHIPS OR MARRIAGES?

MARTIN SELIGMAN>> WELL, THERE'S ONE ASTONISHING FINDING ABOUT MARRIAGE THAT PEOPLE SHOULD KNOW ABOUT. IT KNOCKED MY SOCKS OFF WHEN I BEGAN TO READ ABOUT IT. IT HAS TO DO WITH ILLUSIONS. VERY OFTEN WE THINK WHAT YOU REALLY WANT IN A GOOD RELATIONSHIP IS YOU WANT TO KNOW WHAT THE STORY IS.

VAL>> YOU MEAN AN HONEST UNDERSTANDING --

MARTIN SELIGMAN>> -- RIGHT. OF ALL THE VIRTUES OF THE PERSON YOU'RE WITH. WELL, IT TURNS OUT PSYCHOLOGISTS HAVE STARTED TO MEASURE ILLUSIONS. SO WHAT YOU DO IS YOU ASK YOUR FRIENDS HOW HANDSOME IS HE? HOW TALENTED IS HE? HOW LOVING IS HE? GET A RATING AND THEN YOU GET THE SPOUSE'S RATING. IT TURNS OUT THAT THE LARGER YOUR ILLUSION ABOUT YOUR SPOUSE, THE MORE STABLE, THE MORE LONG-LASTING, THE MORE LOVING THE MARRIAGE. YOU WANT TO HOLD ON TO YOUR ROMANTIC ILLUSIONS.

VAL>> (LAUGHTER) BUT THEN WHAT HAPPENS? YOU KNOW, IT ALWAYS HAPPENS THAT WE ALL START OFF WITH THESE WONDERFUL ILLUSIONS AND THEN TWO OR THREE YEARS GO BY AND REALITY SETS IT. YOU'RE SAYING DON'T LET REALITY SET IN?

MARTIN SELIGMAN>> YOU NEED BIG ONES. IT TURNS OUT THERE ARE VERY NICE THINGS ABOUT ILLUSIONS. IT'S NOT JUST FANTASY LAND. WE TEND TO LIVE UP TO THE ILLUSIONS THAT PEOPLE HAVE ABOUT US.

JESS>> FLATTERY WORKS TOO, DOESN'T IT?

MARTIN SELIGMAN>> OH, FLATTERY IS GREAT.

VAL>> HOW ABOUT RAISING KIDS? ANY TIPS THERE?

MARTIN SELIGMAN>> I THINK IN THE EARLY YEARS, THE FIRST THINGS ABOUT RAISING KIDS ARE THE PLEASANT LIFE, POSITIVE EMOTION, BECAUSE UNDER POSITIVE EMOTION, YOU EXPLORE, YOU FIND MASTERY, YOU FIND YOUR STRENGTHS. BUT THEN IN MIDDLE CHILDHOOD, YOU START TO NOTICE THAT SOME KIDS ARE REALLY KIND, OTHER KIDS ARE REALLY SOCIALLY INTELLIGENT, SOME KIDS ARE REALLY COURAGEOUS.

ONCE YOU START TO NOTICE THE STRENGTHS IN THE KID -- AND AUTHENTIC HAPPINESS ON THE WEBSITE CONTAIN TESTS FOR KIDS AS WELL -- THEN WHAT YOU WANT TO DO IS HAVE THE CHILD USE THAT STRENGTH MORE AND MORE. THE STRENGTHS WE HAVE ARE THE GREAT BUFFERS AGAINST THE TROUBLES. THE REASON WE'RE SITTING IN THIS EXALTED PLACE IS NOT BECAUSE WE CORRECTED OUR WEAKNESSES. IT'S BECAUSE WE KNEW WHAT OUR STRENGTHS WERE AND WE RAN WITH THEM.

JESS>> SO DON'T WORRY, BE HAPPY.

VAL>> THAT'S IT. DR. SELIGMAN, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR COMING IN. AGAIN, THE NAME OF THE BOOK IS "AUTHENTIC HAPPINESS: USING THE NEW POSITIVE PSYCHOLOGY TO REALIZE YOUR POTENTIAL FOR LASTING FULFILLMENT". THANKS.

MARTIN SELIGMAN>> THANKS.

VAL>> GO TO OUR WEBSITE FOR MORE INFORMATION ON LIFE AND TIMES STORIES AND INTERVIEWS.

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.