10/2/02

LC02102

VVAL ZAVALA>> ON LIFE AND TIMES TONIGHT --

JESS MARLOW>> A LOOK AT THE FAST FOOD GRAVY TRAIN. WHY IT’S SO LUCRATIVE AND WHY SO MANY PUBLIC SCHOOLS SAY THEY CAN’T AFFORD TO JUMP OFF.

JACKIE DOMAC>> THERE IS A LARGE FEAR THAT WE’RE GOING TO LOSE A LOT OF MONEY IF WE DON’T SELL SODA AND JUNK FOOD ON CAMPUS. THE IRONY IS, IT WAS NEVER THE RESPONSIBILITY OF OUR STUDENTS TO SUBSIDIZE THEIR PUBLIC EDUCATION IN THE FIRST PLACE. WE’RE IN A REALLY SAD SITUATION IF WE’RE RELYING ON THEIR POCKET CHANGE TO RUN A SCHOOL.

VAL>> YOU MAY FEEL PRETTY SAFE IN YOUR SUV RIDING HIGH ABOVE ALL THOSE CARS ON THE FREEWAY, BUT IT TURNS OUT WE MAY HAVE THE WRONG IDEA ABOUT SUVS. TONIGHT A NEW YORK TIMES REPORTER HAS SOME SURPRISING THINGS TO SAY ABOUT CALIFORNIA’S FAVORITE VEHICLE.

JESS>> ALL THEY NEED IS SOME CHALK AND A LITTLE PIECE OF PAVEMENT. THOSE ARE THE MAIN ELEMENTS OF A UNIQUE ART FESTIVAL ABOUT TO THE HIT THE STREETS IN VALENCIA. IT HAPPENS WHERE THE RUBBER MEETS THE ROAD AND WE’LL GIVE YOU A PREVIEW.

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. TONIGHT THE STORY OF TWO ADDICTIONS: CHILDREN HOOKED ON JUNK FOOD AND PUBLIC SCHOOLS HOOKED ON MONEY. IT’S A BAD COMBINATION THAT’S FEEDING ONE OF AMERICA’S NEWEST EPIDEMICS: CHILDHOOD OBESITY.

VAL>> THIS WEEK, WE’RE TRYING TO GET TO THE ROOT OF THE PROBLEM WITH AN IN-DEPTH SERIES CALLED “TIPPING THE SCALES”. TONIGHT GAY YEE ASKS WHY PUBLIC SCHOOLS WON’T JUST SAY NO TO JUNK FOOD WHEN IT’S MAKING SO MANY KIDS FAT.

GAY YEE>> DROP BY MOST ANY PUBLIC SCHOOL AND YOU’LL SOON DISCOVER THE FOOD ISN’T WHAT IT USED TO BE. PIZZA, SODA, CHIPS, IT’S A MECCA FOR JUNK FOOD.

>> THIS IS WHAT WE EAT FOR LUNCH BECAUSE EVERYTHING ELSE IS GREASY AND DISGUSTING.

GAY YEE>> BUT WHY IS THERE SO MUCH JUNK IN THE HIGH SCHOOL?

>> I DON’T KNOW. KIDS LIKE IT.

GAY YEE>> KIDS LIKE IT, THEY BUY IT AND SCHOOLS MAKE MONEY FROM IT, LOTS OF MONEY. SOME SCHOOLS TAKE IN AS MUCH AS $80,000 A YEAR FROM THE SALE OF SODA AND SNACKS. IT’S MONEY THAT CAN BE USED FOR RALLIES, DANCES, UNIFORMS AND AFTER-SCHOOL ACTIVITIES. THAT’S THE UP SIDE, BUT HERE’S THE DOWN SIDE. CONSIDER THIS: THIS IS A TWENTY-OUNCE BOTTLE OF REGULAR SODA. EACH ONE OF THESE AVERAGES ABOUT SIXTEEN TEASPOONS OF SUGAR. THAT’S 250 CALORIES. IF YOU DRINK ONE OF THESE EVERY DAY ON TOP OF YOUR REGULAR DIET, YOU CAN GAIN AS MUCH AS TWENTY-SIX POUNDS WITHIN A YEAR.

JACKIE DOMAC>> TODAY WE’RE JUST GOING TO BE FOCUSING MOSTLY ON FAT AND CHOLESTEROL.

GAY YEE>> VENICE HIGH SCHOOL HEALTH TEACHER JACKIE DOMAC HAS SEEN MORE POUNDS PILE ONTO MORE YOUNGSTERS THAN SHE CAN COUNT.

JACKIE DOMAC>> WHAT’S REALLY SAD, I HAVE FRESHMEN IN MY HEALTH CLASSES AND I SEE THEM COME IN, MOST OF THEM FAIRLY THIN. BY THE TIME THEY’RE DONE WITH HIGH SCHOOL, THEY’VE JUST BALLOONED AND I ALMOST DON’T EVEN RECOGNIZE THEM AND I REALLY THINK A LOT OF IT HAS TO DO WITH THE SODA AND JUNK FOOD.

GAY YEE>> OVER THE PAST TWENTY YEARS, THE NUMBER OF OVERWEIGHT ADOLESCENTS IN AMERICA HAS TRIPLED. BY ANY MEASURE, CHILDHOOD OBESITY IS NOW AN EPIDEMIC. THREE YEARS AGO, A STUDENT ASKED JACKIE DOMAC WHY THERE WAS NO ONE HUNDRED PERCENT JUICE IN THE SCHOOL VENDING MACHINES. GOOD QUESTION, SO SHE ASKED ADMINISTRATORS AND SHE WAS STUNNED BY THE ANSWER.

JACKIE DOMAC>> SO I PUT A LITTLE NOTE IN THE FINANCIAL MANAGER’S MAILBOX, GOT A NOTE BACK THE NEXT DAY WHICH SAID, SORRY, CAN’T SELL IT, IT WOULD CONFLICT WITH OUR EXCLUSIVE SODA CONTRACT.

GAY YEE>> WERE THE KIDS REALLY BEING DENIED FRUIT JUICE JUST BECAUSE A HUGE SODA MAKER SAID SO? YOU BET.

JACKIE DOMAC>> THERE IS A LARGE FEAR THAT WE’RE GOING TO LOSE A LOT OF MONEY IF WE DON’T SELL SODA AND JUNK FOOD ON CAMPUS. THE IRONY IS, IT WAS NEVER THE RESPONSIBILITY OF OUR STUDENTS TO SUBSIDIZE THEIR PUBLIC EDUCATION IN THE FIRST PLACE. WE’RE IN A REALLY SAD SITUATION IF WE’RE RELYING ON THEIR POCKET CHANGE TO RUN A SCHOOL.

GAY YEE>> THE SODA COMPANY GAVE VENICE HIGH $3,000 A YEAR FOR THE EXCLUSIVE RIGHT TO SELL ITS PRODUCTS ON CAMPUS AND VENICE HIGH GOT A PERCENTAGE ON EVERY BOTTLE OR CAN SOLD. SCHOOLS ALL OVER THE COUNTRY HAVE BEEN MAKING SIMILAR DEALS FOR YEARS, BUT THAT’S ABOUT TO CHANGE IN THE L.A. UNIFIED DISTRICT. THE SCHOOL BOARD RECENTLY VOTED TO BAN ALL SODA SALES ON CAMPUSES BY THE YEAR 2004.

JACKIE DOMAC>> WELL, HERE WE HAVE AN EXAMPLE OF A COKE MACHINE. WE HAVE LOTS OF THEM. THE SODA HAS BEEN TAKEN...

GAY YEE>> SODA HAS ALREADY DISAPPEARED FROM VENICE HIGH ALONG WITH THE WORST OF THE JUNK FOOD OFFENDERS. DOMAC MANAGED TO GET A STATE GRANT THAT PROMOTES HEALTHY EATING. IT ALLOWED THE SCHOOL TO IMPLEMENT THE BAN EARLY. IN THE MEANTIME, THERE’S A PUSH TO CHANGE OLD EATING HABITS. ON THIS PARTICULAR LUNCH TIME AT VENICE HIGH, DOMAC’S TEAM OF STUDENT HEALTH ADVOCATES ARE SETTING UP A TASTE TEST.

ARCHANO PRASAD>> HI, I AM HERE TO PROMOTE HEALTHY FOOD ON CAMPUS. JUST GIVE THEM AN IDEA OF WHAT COULD BE SOLD ON CAMPUS.

>> THIS IS GOOD, MAN.

ARCHANO PRASAD>> WOULD YOU BUY THIS IF IT WAS ON CAMPUS?

>> NO.

>> IT DOESN’T LOOK LIKE WATER.

ARCHANO PRASAD>> IT DOESN’T LOOK LIKE WATER?

>> NO, NO. YOU CAN WRITE THAT DOWN, NO.

ARCHANO PRASAD>> DO YOU LIKE IT?

>> YEAH.

ARCHANO PRASAD>> WOULD YOU BUY IT IF IT WAS ON CAMPUS?

>> INSTEAD OF SODA?

ARCHANO PRASAD>> WE’RE JUST EDUCATING THEM TO MAKE A BETTER CHOICE IN LIFE. I KNOW WE CAN’T FEED THEM, WE CAN’T PUT IT IN THEIR MOUTH. IT’S THEIR CHOICE, BUT THE LEAST WE CAN DO IS PROMOTE IT AND THE LEAST WE CAN DO IS, YOU KNOW, KIND OF HAND IT TO THEM AND SAY, PLEASE, CAN YOU TRY THIS?

GAY YEE>> IF HEALTHY EATING DEVELOPS A FOLLOWING HERE, IT CAN SUCCEED ANYWHERE AND JACKIE DOMAC SAYS THE BIG FOOD CORPORATIONS KNOW IT.

JACKIE DOMAC>> WE HAVE LOTS OF COKE MACHINES ON CAMPUS RIGHT NOW, BUT THERE’S NO SODA IN THEM. THE PROBLEM IS, WE NEED TO GET THOSE MACHINES OUT AND GET THE NEW VENDORS IN WHO HAVE HEALTHY PRODUCTS.

GAY YEE>> SOME SAY THE SODA COMPANY IS DRAGGING ITS FEET ON PURPOSE. JACKIE BELIEVES THEY’VE DELIBERATELY LEFT THE OLD VENDING MACHINES AND KEPT THEM UNDER-STOCKED FOR A REASON.

JACKIE DOMAC>> I BELIEVE THEY’RE TRYING TO SABOTAGE US. ALL OF L.A. UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT IS LOOKING AT VENICE HIGH SCHOOL TO SEE IF WE CAN BE SUCCESSFUL FINANCIALLY WITHOUT SODA. IF WE HAVE ALL THESE MACHINES SITTING HERE HALF EMPTY, WE’RE NOT GOING TO BE FINANCIALLY SUCCESSFUL AND THEY KNOW THAT. PERFECT EXAMPLE OF HOW THEY SABOTAGE EVERYTHING. NO KIDDING. I MEAN, THE WATER SELLS OUT FIRST, THEY DON’T REPLACE THAT, THE JUICE GOES FIRST, THEY DON’T REPLACE THAT. LET’S TAKE A LOOK AT THIS MACHINE DOWN HERE.

GAY YEE>> SO DOMAC IS DECLARING WAR AND IS ENLISTING STUDENTS AS HER INFANTRY.

JACKIE DOMAC>> I SEE A LOT OF KIDS, MOSTLY IMPOVERISHED, WHOSE PEOPLE HAVE LOOKED THE OTHER WAY WHEN IT COMES TO THEIR HEALTH. THEY’VE PUT THE BUCK ABOVE GOOD NUTRITION AND THAT’S REALLY SAD.

GAY YEE>> IT’S TIME TO SAY GOODBYE TO EMPTY CALORIES AND HELLO TO HEALTHY CHOICES. DOMAC SAYS THE SODA WAR IS JUST THE BEGINNING AND NOT ONE THAT SHE’LL ALLOW TO FIZZLE OUT.

JACKIE DOMAC>> MY STUDENTS ARE GOING TO MAKE THE CHANGE. EDUCATION IS GOING TO MAKE THE CHANGE. THEY’RE GOING TO REALIZE WHAT’S GOING ON AND THEY’RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO FIGHT. YOU KNOW, AS THEY SAY, IF THE PEOPLE LEAD, THE LEADERS WILL FOLLOW AND I BELIEVE THAT.

JESS>> MANY SCHOOL DISTRICTS SUCH AS L.A. UNIFIED ARE BANNING THE SALE OF SODAS ON CAMPUS, BUT AS YOU SAW IN GAY’S REPORT, THAT’S JUST THE TIP OF THE JUNK FOOD ICEBERG. JOINING US NOW IS DR. HAROLD GOLDSTEIN. HE HEADS THE CALIFORNIA CENTER FOR PUBLIC HEALTH ADVOCACY. THAT’S A NONPROFIT GROUP THAT WORKS FOR BETTER NUTRITION FOR KIDS. DOCTOR, IT’S A GREAT IDEA, BUT IF THE KIDS DON’T EAT THAT, IF THEY DON’T BUY THAT, WHAT HAPPENS?

DR. HAROLD GOLDSTEIN>> WELL, THERE’S A FEAR THAT SCHOOLS ARE GOING TO LOSE A LOT OF MONEY IF THEY DON’T SELL THIS STUFF. BUT THE TRUTH IS, STUDENTS ALL OVER CALIFORNIA WANT TO EAT HEALTHY FOODS AND SCHOOLS THAT HAVE DONE THIS, THAT HAVE BANNED JUNK FOOD AND ARE SELLING HEALTHY MEALS -- FOLSOM CORDOVA SCHOOL DISTRICT IS A GREAT MODEL UP IN NORTHERN CALIFORNIA. THEY’RE MAKING MORE MONEY THAN EVER BECAUSE STUDENTS ARE EATING THESE WHOLE MEALS THAT ARE HEALTHY RATHER THAN INDIVIDUAL JUNK FOODS AND BEVERAGES ON CAMPUS.

VAL>> THIS SEEMS LIKE SUCH A NO-BRAINER TO ME. IT’S AMAZING THAT THE STATE HASN’T JUST, YOU KNOW, PASSED STATEWIDE ON EVERY CAMPUS IN CALIFORNIA NO JUNK FOOD.

DR. HAROLD GOLDSTEIN>> WELL, WE TRIED TO DO THAT LAST YEAR, ACTUALLY. MARTHA ESCUTIA AUTHORED SB 19. ORIGINALLY, THAT BILL WAS GOING TO DO EXACTLY THAT. BAN ALL JUNK FOOD, ALL HIGHLY-SWEETENED SODAS ALL OVER CALIFORNIA AND IT WAS WATERED DOWN. UNFORTUNATELY, IT WILL ONLY APPLY TO ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS BEGINNING JANUARY 2004. IT’S A GOOD FIRST STEP.

JESS>> AND WHO WERE THE LOBBYISTS THAT GOT IT DILUTED?

DR. HAROLD GOLDSTEIN>> WELL, IF YOU LOOK AT WHO SUPPORTED AND WHO OPPOSED THAT BILL, IT WAS VERY INTERESTING. THOSE WHO SUPPORTED WERE ALMOST ALL THE HEALTH ORGANIZATIONS, THE TEACHERS ORGANIZATION, THE CTA WAS A BIG SUPPORTER, THE PTA WAS A BIG SUPPORTER. THOSE WHO OPPOSED WERE THE SCHOOL ADMINISTRATORS AND THE MANUFACTURERS.

VAL>> SCHOOL ADMINISTRATORS BECAUSE THEY HAVE TO DEAL WITH MONEY PROBLEMS.

DR. HAROLD GOLDSTEIN>> WELL, THEY WERE SCARED THAT THEY WERE GOING TO LOSE MONEY, BUT AS YOU CAN SEE FROM THAT PIECE, WHAT JACKIE DOMAC HAS SHOWN WAS VENICE HIGH SCHOOL WAS ONLY GOING TO BE GETTING $3,000 FOR THAT CONTRACT. THIS IS A WIN-WIN TO PUT HEALTHY FOODS AND BEVERAGES IN SCHOOLS. SCHOOLS WILL STILL MAKE THE MONEY BECAUSE STUDENTS WILL STILL BE BUYING PRODUCTS AND MANUFACTURERS WILL STILL BE MAKING MONEY, BUT INSTEAD THEY’LL BE MAKING MONEY ON HEALTHY PRODUCTS.

JESS>> LOOKING BEYOND THE LUNCH ROOM, ARE SCHOOLS TEACHING NUTRITION ADEQUATELY?

DR. HAROLD GOLDSTEIN>> WELL, SOME SCHOOLS ARE AND SOME SCHOOLS AREN’T. BUT I THINK THE IMPORTANT PIECE IS, IN ADDITION TO WHAT’S GOING ON IN THE CLASSROOM IS WHAT’S GOING ON OUTSIDE THE CLASSROOM. A LOT OF PEOPLE WILL SAY THIS IS ALL ABOUT INDIVIDUAL CHOICE. WELL, PART IS ABOUT CHOICE, BUT PART IS ABOUT THE CONTEXT IN WHICH THAT CHOICE IS MADE AND PART OF THAT CONTEXT IS WHAT IS ON THE SCHOOL CAMPUS? WE DID A STUDY IN LONG BEACH, FOR EXAMPLE, LOOKING AT THE CONTENTS OF VENDING MACHINES. WE FOUND THAT NINETY-EIGHT PERCENT OF WHAT WAS SOLD IN THOSE VENDING MACHINES OF THE FOOD WAS ACTUALLY UNHEALTHY. SO AS A MATTER OF CHOICE, OFTENTIMES STUDENTS DON’T REALLY HAVE CHOICE.

VAL>> NOW IF THE STATE PASSED THIS ANEMIC LITTLE BILL THAT’S NOT GOING TO GO INTO EFFECT FOR A COUPLE OF YEARS, CAN EACH SCHOOL DISTRICT DO THEIR OWN, LIKE LAUSD? CAN THEY STEP IN AND SAY WE’RE NOT GOING TO WAIT FOR THE STATE?

DR. HAROLD GOLDSTEIN>> ABSOLUTELY. AND WHAT L.A. UNIFIED -- WE REALLY APPLAUD L.A. UNIFIED. THIS IS A LANDMARK DECISION. A GIANT BABY STEP IS WHAT THE AUTHOR OF THE RESOLUTION CALLED IT.

JESS>> AND THE ADMINISTRATION SUPPORTED IT?

DR. HAROLD GOLDSTEIN>> ROY ROMER WAS VERY SUPPORTIVE OF IT AND WE NOW ENCOURAGE PARENTS ALL OVER CALIFORNIA TO CALL THEIR SCHOOL DISTRICTS AND SAY, IF L.A. UNIFIED CAN MAKE THE HEALTH OF THEIR STUDENTS A TOP PRIORITY, OUR SCHOOL DISTRICT SHOULD BE DOING THE SAME.

JESS>> VERY BRIEFLY, ON THE ISSUE OF CHOICE, WHAT ABOUT STUDENTS WHO, IF THEY’RE OFFERED THAT AND NOT FAST FOODS WHICH THEY SOMETIMES SEEM TO PREFER, DO THEY GO OFF CAMPUS FOR LUNCH?

DR. HAROLD GOLDSTEIN>> WELL, THE IMPORTANT PIECE IS THAT WE ARE IN THE MIDST OF A MAJOR EPIDEMIC. WHAT WE’RE LOOKING AT ARE SKYROCKETING RATES OF DIABETES AMONG YOUNG CHILDREN. THIRTY OR FORTY YEARS FROM NOW, OUR CHILDREN ARE GOING TO BE DYING EARLY OF HEART DISEASE, CANCER AND DIABETES AT RATES THAT WE WOULD NEVER HAVE IMAGINED BEFORE. SCHOOLS NEED TO BE A PART OF THE SOLUTION, NOT A PART OF THE PROBLEM.

JESS>> IT’S AN EMERGENCY.

VAL>> IT IS. DR. HAROLD GOLDSTEIN, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR WORK WITH THE CALIFORNIA CENTER FOR PUBLIC HEALTH ADVOCACY, AND FOR BEING HERE.

DR. HAROLD GOLDSTEIN>> THANK YOU. MY PLEASURE.

VAL>> TOMORROW ON LIFE AND TIMES, WE'LL CONTINUE OUR REPORT ON CHILDHOOD OBESITY AND THE FOCUS WILL BE ON THE PEOPLE WHO MAKE AND SELL FAST FOOD. SHOULD THEY BE BLAMED FOR MAKING US FAT?

JESS>> WE MAY LOVE OUR SUVS AND WE MAY EVEN THINK THAT RIDING HIGH ABOVE ALL THOSE CARS OUT THERE MAKES US SAFE, BUT TONIGHT OUR NEXT GUEST IS ABOUT TO SET THE RECORD STRAIGHT AND WE MAY NOT LIKE WHAT HE HAS TO SAY. AMONG OTHER THINGS, HE CLAIMS SUVS ARE A THREAT NOT JUST TO THE PEOPLE WHO DRIVE THEM, BUT ALSO TO EVERYONE WHO HAS TO SHARE THE SAME HIGHWAY.

VAL>> AND JOINING US NOW IS KEITH BRADSHER. HE IS A NEW YORK TIMES REPORTER AND HE HAS BLOWN THE WHISTLE ON SUVS IN A NEW BOOK CALLED "HIGH AND MIGHTY SUVS: THE WORLD'S MOST DANGEROUS VEHICLES AND HOW THEY GOT THAT WAY".

JESS>> IN "HIGH AND MIGHTY", YOU USE A RATHER BROAD BRUSH. ALL SUVS ARE DANGEROUS?

KEITH BRADSHER>> WELL, AS A CLASS, YES. ALL SUVS ARE QUALIFIED FOR REGULATIONS THAT HAVE LOOPHOLES IN THEM FOR ANYTHING THAT'S A LIGHT TRUCK. SUVS QUALIFY AS LIGHT TRUCKS. AS A RESULT, THEY ARE BEING HELD TO MUCH MORE LENIENT STANDARDS. THEY ARE MORE LIKELY TO ROLL OVER AND THE ROLLOVER REGULATIONS ARE VERY MODEST IN THIS COUNTRY. THEY ALSO ARE PARTICULARLY LIKELY TO HAVE PROBLEMS WHEN THEY HIT A GUARDRAIL. THE GUARDRAILS IN THIS COUNTRY AREN'T TALL ENOUGH FOR THE SUVS AND THE WAY THE POSTS ARE ATTACHED TO THE GUARDRAILS CAN CREATE A REAL PROBLEM WHEN AN SUV HITS THEM THAT YOU DON'T HAVE WHEN A CAR HITS THEM.

ALSO, SUVS QUALIFY FOR MORE LENIENT BRAKE RULES. THE BRAKES ON SUVS WON'T STOP YOU AS QUICKLY AS THE BRAKES IN A CAR. FOUR-WHEEL DRIVE? PEOPLE HAVE THE MYTH, IN MANY CASES, THAT FOUR-WHEEL DRIVE SOMEHOW HELPS YOU STOP. IT DOESN'T. IT HELPS YOU GO FASTER AND THEN, WHEN YOU TOUCH THOSE BRAKES, YOU HAVE NO MORE BRAKING ABILITY THAN THE GUY NEXT TO YOU IN THE 1988 FORD TAURUS. YOU ARE GOING TO BE SLIPPING AND SLIDING JUST AS MUCH AND YOU MAY NOT KNOW IT IN ADVANCE. YOU DON'T HAVE THE WARNING OF SLIPPING AND SLIDING AS YOU'RE GETTING GOING BECAUSE THE FOUR-WHEEL DRIVE HELPS YOU ACCELERATE. IT DOESN'T HELP YOU STOP. A LOT OF SAFETY PROBLEMS.

JESS>> HE'S GOING TO BAN SUVS, BUT NOT UNTIL I GET MINE HOME.

VAL>> I KNOW. JESS DRIVES ONE, BUT WE'LL GET TO THAT AFTER THE SHOW (LAUGHTER). WHY DO PEOPLE BELIEVE THEY'RE SAFER, THEN?

KEITH BRADSHER>> THERE IS THAT LARGE, BULKY LOOK TO THEM AND THEN ALSO THEY ARE DESIGNED TO LOOK INTIMIDATING. THEY ARE DESIGNED TO LOOK MENACING. IN FACT, AS THE MARKET RESEARCH DIRECTOR OF CHRYSLER LIKES TO SAY, THEY LOOK LIKE ARMORED CARS OF THE BATTLEFIELD. THEY ARE DELIBERATELY INTIMIDATING VEHICLES, BUT THAT IS A MYTH. THE DEATH RATE PER MILLION REGISTERED SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES ON THE ROAD IS SIX PERCENT HIGHER THAN PER MILLION REGISTERED CARS. THAT'S FOR THE OCCUPANTS. AND THE DEATH RATE --

VAL>> -- THAT'S THE DEATH RATE OR INJURY?

KEITH BRADSHER>> THAT'S THE DEATH RATE.

JESS>> COULD IT BE THE WAY THEY'RE DRIVEN?

KEITH BRADSHER>> A LITTLE BIT, BUT NOT MOSTLY. THE CURRENT DRIVERS OF SUVS TEND TO BE THE SAFEST DRIVERS ON THE ROAD. THE SAFEST PEOPLE ARE MIDDLE-AGED FAMILIES. THEY'RE NOT OUT AT 3:00 A.M. WHEN THE DRUNKS ARE OUT. THEY'RE NOT GETTING IN THOSE COLLISIONS. THE PEOPLE WHO TEND TO HAVE HIGHER DEATH RATES ARE YOUR TEENS BECAUSE THEY'RE STILL LEARNING TO DRIVE AND THE ELDERLY BECAUSE THEY TEND TO BE MORE PHYSICALLY FRAIL.

ONE OF THE FRIGHTENING THINGS ABOUT SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES IS THAT THEY ARE ONLY TEN PERCENT OF VEHICLES IN USE NOW, ALTHOUGH THEY'RE TWENTY-FIVE PERCENT OF SALES, BUT THEY'RE GOING TO BECOME TWICE AS COMMON OVER THE NEXT TEN YEARS AS THE SALES BEGIN CATCHING UP. ONLY TWO OR THREE PERCENT OF THE VEHICLES ARE SCRAPPED EACH YEAR, SO WE'RE GOING TO HAVE THIS BIG JUMP IN HOW MANY SUVS ARE ON THE ROAD. AT THE SAME TIME, YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE A LOT OF OLDER SUVS BEGINNING TO FALL INTO THE HANDS OF THE TEENS. RIGHT NOW, FOR EXAMPLE, THREE-QUARTERS OF THE FULL-SIZED SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES ON THE ROAD ARE LESS THAN FIVE YEARS OLD. THEY'RE GOING FOR $20,000-PLUS. YOU DON'T HAVE THE TEENS IN THEM YET. WHEN YOU DO HAVE THE TEENS IN THEM, YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE PROBLEMS.

VAL>> NOW THAT'S JUST A FEW OF THE SAFETY CONCERNS. YOU ARE ALSO CONCERNED ABOUT THE ENVIRONMENT AND WHAT THEY DO TO THE ENVIRONMENT.

KEITH BRADSHER>> TO THE ENVIRONMENT IS EXACTLY RIGHT. WHILE THE AUTOMAKERS TRY TO PROJECT A GREEN IMAGE FOR THESE VEHICLES WITH SCENES OF SUVS DRIVING UP MOUNTAIN TRACKS IN THE NATIONAL PARKS, IN FACT, BECAUSE THEY'RE REGULATED AS LIGHT TRUCKS, THEY ARE ALLOWED RIGHT NOW TO PRODUCE UP TO FIVE AND A HALF TIMES THE AIR POLLUTION PER MILE OF A CAR, FIVE AND A HALF TIMES THE SMOG-CAUSING GASES PER MILE OF A CAR. IN FACT, THIS GOES BACK TO HOW SUVS BECAME A PROBLEM IN THE FIRST PLACE.

THE FIRST RULE, THE FIRST LOOPHOLE, WAS IN 1973, AS I DESCRIBED IN MY BOOK. THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY WAS TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT TO DO TO HELP AMERICAN MOTORS. AMERICAN MOTORS COULDN'T MEET THE NEW AIR POLLUTION STANDARDS. IT DIDN'T HAVE THE ENGINEERS OF GENERAL MOTORS OR FORD AND THEY REALLY WERE DEPENDING ON THEIR NEW JEEP DIVISION WHICH THEY'D BOUGHT IN 1970 FOR THEIR PROFITS. SO THE EPA CAME UP WITH AN IDEA. IT WAS THE EPA'S IDEA, IN FACT, NOT AMERICAN MOTORS. THEY SAID WE'LL CLASSIFY THE JEEPS AS NON-PASSENGER VEHICLES. THAT LITERALLY WAS THE DESCRIPTION. NON-PASSENGER VEHICLES.

JESS>> THAT WAS AN ECONOMIC DECISION, PURELY?

KEITH BRADSHER>> IT WAS AN ECONOMIC DECISION AND I QUOTE THE TOP EPA REGULATOR WHO MADE THAT DECISION SAYING, "WE COULDN'T AFFORD TO HAVE THE DEMISE OF AMERICAN MOTORS BLAMED ON THE CLEAN AIR ACT, SO WE MADE AN EXCEPTION". SINCE THEN, EVERY OTHER REGULATION, THEY'VE PUT THEM IN AS NON-PASSENGER VEHICLES NOW CLASSIFIED AS LIGHT TRUCKS, THE SUVS.

VAL>> THE SUVS ARE LIGHT TRUCKS SUPPOSEDLY NON-PASSENGER VEHICLES? THAT'S RIDICULOUS.

KEITH BRADSHER>> EXACTLY. THEY CHANGED THE NAME OVER THE YEARS, BUT THEY QUALIFY AS NON-PASSENGER VEHICLES. THEY NOW USE THE TERM OF LIGHT TRUCKS FOR THEM. THEY STILL ARE LIGHT TRUCKS.

JESS>> WELL, YOU ALSO WRITE THAT THERE'S A REAL ECONOMIC ADVANTAGE TO THE AUTOMAKERS BECAUSE THEY CAN BUILD THEM ON THE CHASSIS OF LIGHT TRUCKS.

KEITH BRADSHER>> EXACTLY. THE BULK OF THE SUVS ARE STILL BEING BUILT USING THE UNDERBODIES OF THE PICKUP TRUCKS. IN FACT, THEY GO DOWN THE SAME ASSEMBLY LINES. YOU WALK THROUGH BIG ASSEMBLY PLANTS IN WAYNE, MICHIGAN AND LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY. THOSE WERE ACTUALLY BUILT, IN FACT, FOR FULL-SIZED OR, IN THE CASE OF LOUISVILLE, MID-SIZED PICKUP TRUCKS, COMPACT PICKUP TRUCKS. THEY JUST LOWER A DIFFERENT PASSENGER COMPARTMENT WITH TWO EXTRA ROWS OF SEATS ONTO THE TOP AND, IF YOU GO THROUGH THE ASSEMBLY PLANT, YOU ACTUALLY SEE THEM SORT OF BOLTING IT ON.

THE ROBOTS COME IN AND THEY BOLT A DOZEN OF THESE VERY POWERFUL BOLTS TO HOLD THAT PASSENGER COMPARTMENT ON TOP OF THAT STEEL FRAME UNDERBODY. THE PROBLEM IS, THOSE STEEL FRAME UNDERBODIES STILL DON'T HAVE THE CRUMPLE ZONES THAT A CAR DOES. THEY DON'T HAVE THE ABILITY TO ABSORB IMPACT. THE ONLY THING THAT IS PROTECTING THE OCCUPANTS OF THE SUVS IS THE SHEER WEIGHT OF THE VEHICLES, WHICH IS DEMOLISHING THE CARS. THAT'S ANOTHER PROBLEM. THEY TRIPLE THE DEATH RATE FOR THE CAR OCCUPANTS THEY HIT, COMPARED TO IF THOSE SAME OCCUPANTS HAD BEEN HIT BY A CAR.

VAL>> IS THERE ANY EFFORT TO CHANGE THE CLASSIFICATION TO MAKE THEM NOT LIGHT TRUCKS? BECAUSE THAT WOULD CHANGE ALL SORTS OF THINGS. IS THAT IMPOSSIBLE TO CHANGE?

KEITH BRADSHER>> THERE HAVE BEEN PERIODIC EFFORTS AND THOSE HAVE BEEN BLOCKED BY VERY ACTIVE LOBBYING BY THE AUTO INDUSTRY AND SOMETIMES WITH THE HELP OF THE UNITED AUTOMOBILE WORKERS UNION BECAUSE A LOT OF JOBS NOW DEPEND ON THE PRODUCTION OF THESE SUVS. NOW SOME OF THE STANDARDS FOR LIGHT TRUCKS AND CARS ARE NOW CONVERGING. THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY REQUIRED, AT THE END OF 1999, THAT BY THE 2009 MODEL YEAR, SUVS WILL HAVE TO MEET THE SAME AIR POLLUTION STANDARDS AS CARS, BUT THAT'S A LONG WAY OUT. IN THE MEANTIME, WE'VE GOT A LOT OF THESE VEHICLES STILL COMING ON THE ROAD.

VAL>> AND WE JUST SCRATCHED THE SURFACE ON THESE -- I CALL THEM OBESE -- VEHICLES (LAUGHTER). WELL, KEITH BRADSHER, THANK YOU SO MUCH. GOOD LUCK WITH THE BOOK AND THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THE INFORMATION.

KEITH BRADSHER>> THANK YOU.

VAL>> THE TITLE, AGAIN, IS "HIGH AND MIGHTY SUVS: THE WORLD'S MOST DANGEROUS VEHICLES AND HOW THEY GOT THAT WAY".

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VAL>> RARELY DOES A STRETCH OF ASPHALT BECOME A CANVAS FOR A WORK OF ART, BUT THIS WEEKEND THE STREETS OF VALENCIA WILL BE TRANSFORMED INTO LARGE-SCALE REPRODUCTIONS OF CLASSIC PAINTINGS. IT'S CALLED "BELLA VIA" AND ALL THESE MODERN-DAY MASTERPIECES WILL BE DONE IN CHALK. IT'S THE FOURTH YEAR IN A ROW THAT THE GREAT WORKS OF MICHELANGELO, RENOIR AND OTHER MASTERS ARE BEING PUT DOWN ON PAVEMENT FOR EVERYONE TO SEE.

JESS>> IT'S ALL PART OF VALENCIA'S ITALIAN STREET PAINTING FESTIVAL. HERE TO TELL US WHAT WE CAN EXPECT IS CAROL MAGLIONE, CO-DIRECTOR OF THE FESTIVAL. ALSO HERE IS ONE OF THE ARTISTS, TRACY LEE STUM. THIS IS A NEW CANVAS FOR YOU THEN, HUH?

TRACY LEE STUM>> YES, IT IS, ACTUALLY. TYPICALLY WE PAINT ON CANVAS OR ON WALLS, BUT THIS TIME WE GET TO ACT LIKE CHILDREN AND RELIVE OUR YOUTH BY GETTING DOWN ON THE PAVEMENT AND MAKING ARTWORK (LAUGHTER).

VAL>> NOW MOST PEOPLE, WHEN THEY THINK OF ART ON PAVEMENT OR CEMENT, THEY THINK OF, YOU KNOW, HOPSCOTCH DRAWINGS AND THINGS, BUT THESE THINGS ARE JUST EXTRAORDINARY. THE FIRST TIME I SAW IT, YOU KNOW, I COULDN'T BELIEVE THAT PEOPLE TOOK THE TIME -- WHAT IT MUST TAKE TO ACTUALLY DRAW ON THAT MEDIUM.

TRACY LEE STUM>> IT'S A LABOR OF LOVE AND --

VAL>> -- IS THERE A SPECIAL TECHNIQUE, THOUGH?

TRACY LEE STUM>> ACTUALLY, THERE ARE SOME TECHNIQUES THAT WE USE THAT ARE PARTICULAR TO THE PAVEMENT, BUT --

JESS>> -- THIS IS ONE OF YOUR WORKS HERE.

TRACY LEE STUM>> YEAH, IT'S A STRAIGHT CHALK PASTEL AND DIRECTLY ON THE BLACK ASPHALT.

VAL>> SO YOU ACTUALLY CREATED THIS ON ASPHALT?

TRACY LEE STUM>> YES. THAT'S A PIECE THAT'S ABOUT TWELVE BY TWELVE FEET AND IT TOOK APPROXIMATELY TWO TO THREE DAYS TO FINISH THAT.

VAL>> WOW. WHEN PEOPLE SAY, OH, MY GOD, YOU MUST BE CRAZY TO DO THIS, ARE THEY RIGHT? (LAUGHTER)

TRACY LEE STUM>> (LAUGHTER) I THINK SO SOMETIMES.

VAL>> I MEAN, WHAT MOTIVATES YOU TO DO IT? HOW DID YOU GET INTO IT?

TRACY LEE STUM>> WELL, JUST THE FACT THAT WE'RE DOING IT FOR A GOOD CAUSE, FOR CHARITY, IS JUST REASON ALONE TO GET INVOLVED. BUT PEOPLE DON'T USUALLY GET A CHANCE TO SEE ARTISTS MAKING ARTWORK BECAUSE MOST ARTISTS WORK IN A STUDIO SOLO. THIS WAY, THEY ACTUALLY COME OUT AND GET TO SEE THE CREATIVE PROCESS AND IT JUST BLOWS THEIR MINDS.

JESS>> IT'S INTERESTING THE PREPARATION THAT'S INVOLVED IN THIS TOO, ISN'T IT?

CAROL MAGLIONE>> OH, YES, ABSOLUTELY. WE WERE MENTIONING THAT WE JUST LAID FRESH ASPHALT ON THE STREET YESTERDAY AND WE'LL BE OUT SNAPPING LINES. WE HAVE ABOUT 153 SQUARES WHERE INDIVIDUAL ARTISTS WILL BE CREATING THEIR MASTERPIECES.

VAL>> AND SNAPPING LINES IS THE WAY TO USE --

CAROL MAGLIONE>> SNAPPING LINES IS FOR THE INDIVIDUAL ART PIECES. SO THAT WILL TAKE ABOUT THREE DAYS JUST TO GET ALL THE SQUARES DOWN.

JESS>> SO YOU'VE GOT NEW BLACK SLURRY TO WORK WITH, SO YOU DON'T HAVE THE CRACKS AND THE --

CAROL MAGLIONE>> -- THE PERFECT CANVAS.

VAL>> YOU KNOW, LIKE WEEDS COMING OUT OF THE MIDDLE OF THE MADONNA (LAUGHTER).

TRACY LEE STUM>> UNLESS WE DRAW THEM IN (LAUGHTER).

JESS>> HOW DO YOU KEEP THE PEOPLE OFF THESE FINE WORKS OF ART?

CAROL MAGLIONE>> OH, WE HAVE A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF VOLUNTEERS AND STAFF AT VALENCIA TOWN CENTER THAT WORK WITH THE ARTISTS AND PEOPLE ARE VERY COOPERATIVE. I THINK THEY APPRECIATE THE TIME AND THE EFFORT AND THE COMMITMENT OF THE ARTISTS AND --

JESS>> -- AND CATTLE PRODS HELP (LAUGHTER).

CAROL MAGLIONE>> (LAUGHTER) AND I THINK JUST THE INTERACTION BETWEEN THE ARTISTS AND THE PEOPLE ON THE STREET. IT'S WHERE THEY HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO INTERFACE WITH THE ARTISTS AND SEE THE WORKS BEING CREATED.

VAL>> AND YOU HAVE A SPECIAL SECTION FOR CHILDREN, I UNDERSTAND.

CAROL MAGLIONE>> WE DO. WE HAVE OUR MICHELANGELO GALLERY WHERE CHILDREN ARE ACTUALLY AFFORDED THE OPPORTUNITY TO SORT OF COPY THE STREET PAINTERS. YOU'LL SEE THEM BLENDING AND USING SOME OF THE SAME TECHNIQUES THAT THE ARTISTS DO.

JESS>> TWO DAYS ON YOUR HANDS AND KNEES DOING THAT HAS GOT TO BE TOUGH THOUGH.

TRACY LEE STUM>> IT'S HARD WORK. THE BACK AND THE NECK REALLY START TO ACHE AFTER A WHILE, BUT NOTHING A GOOD MASSAGE AND A LITTLE RELAXATION CAN'T FIX.

CAROL MAGLIONE>> AND, OF COURSE, THE MOST HEARTBREAKING THING ABOUT THIS IS THE GORGEOUS, BEAUTIFUL WORK, THREE OR FOUR DAYS WORK, AND IT DOESN'T LAST.

TRACY LEE STUM>> THAT'S RIGHT.

CAROL MAGLIONE>> BUT I THINK THAT'S ONE OF THE NEAT THINGS ABOUT THE HISTORY OF STREET PAINTING. IT IS A 400-YEAR-OLD ART MEDIUM AND IT REALLY SPEAKS TO THE TEMPORAL AND THE TEMPORARY NATURE OF ART. YOU MAY SEE AN INCREDIBLE PIECE OF ART IN THE SISTINE CHAPEL AND THAT EXPERIENCE THAT YOU HAVE STAYS WITH YOU FOR THE REST OF YOUR LIFE. THESE ARTISTS EMBRACE THAT WHOLE MEDIUM AND PEOPLE WHO SEE IT KEEP THAT EXPERIENCE WITH THEM FOR YEARS TO COME.

JESS>> WE KEEP LOOKING AT THE PRACTICAL ASPECTS. HAVE YOU CHECKED THE WEATHER FORECAST? (LAUGHTER)

CAROL MAGLIONE>> (LAUGHTER) YES, THE WEATHER IS SUPPOSED TO BE BEAUTIFUL. IT'S A BEAUTIFUL ENVIRONMENT. VALENCIA TOWN CENTER IS LOCATED IN VALENCIA IN THE SANTA CLARITA VALLEY. IT'S A WONDERFUL AREA FOR SHOPPING AND DINING --

VAL>> -- I WAS GOING TO SAY, MORE THAN JUST ART HERE AT THIS FESTIVAL, CORRECT?

CAROL MAGLIONE>> OH, THERE ARE WONDERFUL OPPORTUNITIES FOR KIDS AND ADULTS, EVERYBODY.

VAL>> FOOD, WINE, ACTIVITIES?

CAROL MAGLIONE>> FOOD, WINE, CRAFT ACTIVITIES, A COUPLE OF DIFFERENT CAR DISPLAYS, TREMENDOUS ENTERTAINMENT ALL DAY LONG.

VAL>> GOT IT. ARE YOU THERE WHEN THEY WASH YOUR PAINTING AWAY?

TRACY LEE STUM>> NO, I CAN'T BEAR TO WATCH (LAUGHTER).

VAL>> (LAUGHTER) I COULDN'T BEAR TO WATCH EITHER. COULDN'T BEAR IT.

JESS>> OUR THANKS TO CAROL MAGLIONE AND TRACY LEE STUM.

TRACY LEE STUM>> THANK YOU.

JESS>> VALENCIA'S ITALIAN STREET PAINTING FESTIVAL, "BELLA VIA", RUNS THIS COMING WEEKEND, OCTOBER 5 AND 6, AT VALENCIA TOWN CENTER. FOR MORE INFORMATION, YOU CAN ALSO VISIT THEIR WEBSITE AT BELLAVIAFEST.COM.

VAL>> AND YOU CAN CHECK OUT OUR WEBSITE FOR AUDIO OF PAST SHOWS AND PREVIEWS OF UPCOMING STORIES AND SEGMENTS. THE ADDRESS IS KCET.ORG AND CLICK ON LIFE AND TIMES. IT'S A WONDERFUL RESOURCE. CHECK US OUT.

JESS>> OUR THANKS FOR SPENDING SOME TIME WITH US. FROM ALL OF US HERE AT LIFE AND TIMES, HAVE A GREAT EVENING.

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