10/3/02

LC02103

VAL ZAVALA>> ON LIFE AND TIMES TONIGHT --

JESS MARLOW>> HE TOOK A BITE OUT OF THE BIG APPLE’S CRIME PROBLEM, BUT CAN WILLIAM BRATTON DO THE SAME FOR LOS ANGELES?

WILLIAM BRATTON>> I THINK MY RECORD SPEAKS FOR ITSELF. I CARE ABOUT COPS. I UNDERSTAND THEM. I UNDERSTAND THE GOOD, THE BAD AND THE UGLY AND I WILL WORK VERY HARD TO MEET THEIR NEEDS SO THAT THEIR NEEDS, WHEN MET, WILL MEET THE NEEDS OF THE CITIZENS OF THIS CITY.

VAL>> FRUIT IS ROTTING, CARGO IS GOING NOWHERE AND RETAILERS ARE GETTING NERVOUS. THE FEUD BETWEEN MANAGEMENT AND DOCKWORKERS HAS CLOSED PORTS UP AND DOWN THE WEST COAST. HOW MANY BILLIONS IS IT COSTING THE COUNTRY AND WILL IT CAUSE PROBLEMS FOR A SUPERMARKET NEAR YOU?

JESS>> WHEN YOU’RE HUNGRY, SUPER SIZING MAY SOUND LIKE A GOOD DEAL, BUT TONIGHT WE’VE GOT THE SKINNY ON FAST FOOD AND WHAT YOU’RE REALLY GETTING IN THAT BIG BURGER.

ANDREA GIANCOLI>> AND THINK OF HOW THAT YOU’RE GOING TO HAVE A BIG MAC AND A SUPER SIZED FRIES. THIS EQUATES TO ABOUT FIVE AND A HALF TABLESPOONS OF FAT. THAT’S HOW MUCH THIS IS. THIS IS HOW MUCH FAT YOU’RE EATING WHEN YOU HAVE A BIG MAC AND A SUPER SIZED FRIES.

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 ALL THE TALK ABOUT INSIDERS VERSUS OUTSIDERS IS HISTORY. THE MAYOR HAS SELECTED A NEW YORKER TO RUN THE LAPD AND, BARRING SOME UNFORESEEN AND UNLIKELY PROBLEM WITH THE CITY COUNCIL, WILLIAM BRATTON IS VIRTUALLY ASSURED THE JOB.

VAL>> BRATTON COMES WITH A BIG REPUTATION AND A STRONG RECORD FOR FIGHTING CRIME, BUT HE’S ALSO LEGENDARY FOR THE RUN-INS WITH HIS FORMER BOSS, MAYOR RUDOLPH GIULIANI. TONIGHT GAY YEE REPORTS ON THE MAN WHO WILL BE CHIEF AND THE JOB THAT LIES AHEAD OF HIM.

GAY YEE>> HE SAYS CHOOSING A NEW POLICE CHIEF HAS BEEN THE TOUGHEST JOB FACING HIS ADMINISTRATION. TODAY MAYOR JAMES HAHN ANNOUNCED HIS PICK.

JAMES HAHN>> MY DECISION WAS CLEAR. WILLIAM BRATTON IS THE RIGHT PERSON AT THE RIGHT TIME TO LEAD THE LAPD INTO A NEW ERA.

GAY YEE>> FIFTY-FOUR-YEAR-OLD WILLIAM BRATTON IS A FORMER NEW YORK CITY POLICE COMMISSIONER CREDITED WITH TURNING AROUND CRIME IN THE BIG APPLE. HAHN SAYS BRATTON IS A PROVEN LEADER WHO SHARES HIS COMMITMENT TO COMMUNITY POLICING, ONE WHO COULD HELP REBUILD THE RANKS OF THE RANK AND FILE.

JAMES HAHN>> THEY WANT AND NEED STRONG LEADERSHIP AND THEY DESERVE A CHIEF WHO WILL INSPIRE AND MOTIVATE THEM AND WORK WITH THEM TO REBUILD THE BOND OF TRUST BETWEEN THE POLICE DEPARTMENT AND THE COMMUNITY.

WILLIAM BRATTON>> I DID NOT BRING MY INTERPRETER WITH ME, SO...

GAY YEE>> BRATTON IS THE FIRST TO ADMIT HIS EAST COAST ACCENT SOUNDS A LITTLE FOREIGN IN THESE PARTS, BUT HE’S NO STRANGER TO L.A. POLICE WORK. BRATTON SPENT A YEAR MONITORING THE LAPD’S COMPLIANCE WITH THE FEDERAL CONSENT DECREE AND HE’S AWARE OF THE DEPARTMENT’S MORALE PROBLEMS AND SHORTAGE OF MANPOWER.

WILLIAM BRATTON>> THE THIN BLUE LINE. THAT TERM WAS CREATED HERE BY A FORMER CHIEF, AND IT’S APPROPRIATE. THIS IS A CITY THAT HAS VERY FEW POLICE, BUT WITH VERY FEW POLICE, IT MAKES UP FOR THAT WITH THE PROFESSIONALISM AND THE SKILL OF ITS MEMBERS.

GAY YEE>> IT’S CLEAR BRATTON IS TRYING TO BUILD GOOD RELATIONS WITH THE FORCE, SOMETHING CRITICS SAY CHIEF BERNARD PARKS DIDN’T HAVE. BUT CAN BRATTON BRIDGE THE GAP? BRATTON IS AN OUTSIDER. HE DIDN’T COME THROUGH THE RANKS AND THE LAPD HAS A HISTORY OF NOT BEING TOO KIND TO LEADERS IT DOESN’T ALREADY RECOGNIZE.

CONNIE RICE>> THE QUESTION IS WHETHER ENOUGH LAPD OFFICERS ARE WILLING TO ACCEPT AN OUTSIDER THIS TIME. TEN YEARS AGO, THEY WERE NOT AND THEY DID NOT GIVE CHIEF WILLIE WILLIAMS A CHANCE AT ALL. IN FACT, CHIEF WILLIAMS WAS ATTACKED BY BOTH THE RANK AND FILE AND THE BRASS AT THE TOP.

GAY YEE>> CIVIL RIGHTS ATTORNEY, CONNIE RICE, WAS PART OF THE COMMITTEE THAT HELPED SCREEN THE CANDIDATES FOR CHIEF. SHE SAYS HAHN’S CHOICE WILL DISAPPOINT MANY WHO SUPPORTED OXNARD POLICE CHIEF, ART LOPEZ, THE ONLY LATINO AMONG THE FINAL THREE CANDIDATES AND THE ONLY ONE WITH LAPD EXPERIENCE.

CONNIE RICE>> CAN HE WIN THE TROOPS AND GET THEM TO FOLLOW HIM? CAN HE RETAIN ENOUGH OF THE INTELLIGENT BRASS WITHIN LAPD TO MAKE SURE THAT LAPD DOESN’T LOSE ALL OF ITS LEADERSHIP?

GAY YEE>> THE POLICE UNION’S CHIEF SAYS YES.

MITZI GRASSO>> WE FEEL HE IS ONE OF THE PREMIER LAW ENFORCEMENT ADMINISTRATORS IN THE UNITED STATES AND WILL BRING A NUMBER OF FRESH IDEAS TO LOS ANGELES, A BREATH OF FRESH AIR TO THE LOS ANGELES POLICE DEPARTMENT. WE’RE LOOKING FORWARD TO WORKING WITH HIM.

GAY YEE>> BUT THOSE WHO KNOW HIM SAY NEW YORK’S FORMER TOP COP IS ALSO A MAN WITH AN EGO.

WILLIAM BRATTON>> SO I DID HERE WHAT I’VE DONE IN EVERY OTHER POLICE DEPARTMENT I’VE GONE INTO. I DID MY HOMEWORK.

GAY YEE>> AND THEY CLAIM IT GOT HIM IN TROUBLE WITH HIS LAST BOSS, RUDY GIULIANI. BUT RICE SAYS, IN THE LAPD, EGO CAN WORK FOR HIM AND AGAINST HIM.

CONNIE RICE>> THERE’S ONE THING THAT LAPD’S CULTURE DOESN’T STAND FOR AND THAT’S GRANDSTANDING AND SHOWBOATING JUST FOR ITS OWN SAKE. YOU HAVE TO BE ABLE TO USE YOUR EGO TO BUILD AND FORTIFY THE DEPARTMENT AND TO BUILD AND FORTIFY YOUR TROOPS AND TO CONNECT WITH YOUR COMMUNITIES. THERE’S NOTHING WRONG WITH HAVING A BIG EGO. THE QUESTION IS, WHAT DO YOU DO WITH IT?

JESS>> WE’RE JOINED NOW BY MERRICK BOBB. HE’S A POLICE REFORM EXPERT WHO TRACKS THE SHERIFF’S DEPARTMENT FOR L.A. COUNTY AND HE WORKS ON SPECIAL PROJECTS FOR LAPD. THANKS FOR JOINING US.

MERRICK BOBB>> IT’S A DELIGHT TO BE HERE. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

JESS>> ONE QUICK QUOTE FROM BRATTON: “I CAN GO IN THERE VERY QUICKLY AND TURN IT AROUND.”

MERRICK BOBB>> THAT’S BILL BRATTON. WE HAVE TO KEEP IN MIND THAT HE CAME INTO THE NYPD, I BELIEVE IT WAS IN 1994, AND WITHIN TWO YEARS HAD TURNED THAT DEPARTMENT AROUND. THE CRIME RATE DROPPED VERY SUBSTANTIALLY IN NEW YORK.

VAL>> UP THIRTY-THREE PERCENT.

MERRICK BOBB>> HE WAS ABLE TO INSPIRE THE TROOPS THERE TO DO THAT AND, THUS, I THINK WE CAN HOLD HIM TO HIS WORD.

VAL>> BUT A LOT OF PEOPLE SAY IT WASN’T HIM. IT WAS DEMOGRAPHICS AND ECONOMICS, THE CRIME RATE AT THAT TIME WENT DOWN ACROSS THE COUNTRY, ALTHOUGH IT WENT DOWN MORE IN NEW YORK. HOW MUCH CAN REALLY BE ATTRIBUTED TO THE INDIVIDUAL LEADERSHIP OF A CHIEF?

MERRICK BOBB>> I THINK A SUBSTANTIAL AMOUNT IS ATTRIBUTABLE TO THE CHIEF. YES, THE DEMOGRAPHICS HELPED. YES, NEW YORK WAS ALREADY ON A TREND OF LOWER CRIME. BUT TO DRIVE CRIME DOWN THAT FAR, THAT FAST, THAT EFFECTIVELY, I THINK IS VERY MUCH TO THE CREDIT OF THE POLICE CHIEF.

JESS>> I WOULD ASSUME ONE OF HIS GREATEST STRENGTHS IN TERMS OF THE COMPETITION HE FACED TO GET TO WHERE HE IS WAS THE FACT THAT HE HAD BEEN RESPONSIBLE FOR OVERSEEING MUCH OF THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE FEDERAL CONSENT DECREE. HE KNOWS WHERE THE BODIES ARE BURIED IN LAPD. ALTHOUGH AN OUTSIDER, HE MUST KNOW A GREAT DEAL ABOUT THE DEPARTMENT.

MERRICK BOBB>> HE STUDIED UP ON THE DEPARTMENT. I THINK ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WAS MOST IMPRESSIVE ABOUT HIM WAS THE DEGREE TO WHICH HE GOT TO KNOW THE DEPARTMENT. HE HAS THREE VERY IMPORTANT TASKS AT HAND. ONE, HE HAS TO SEE TO IT THAT THE FEDERAL CONSENT DECREE IS IMPLEMENTED QUICKLY, FAIRLY AND THOROUGHLY. SECOND, HE HAS TO FIGHT THE GROWING CRIME PROBLEM IN LOS ANGELES. AS WE KNOW, CRIME HAS GOTTEN TO BE MORE OF A PROBLEM HERE AND HE NEEDS TO DO THAT. HE ALSO NEEDS TO LIFT THE MORALE OF THE TROOPS.

THE LAPD, FACE IT, HAS BEEN THROUGH A HELLISH EXPERIENCE OVER THE LAST TEN YEARS. I THINK FINALLY IT’S NOW ON AN UPSWING. WE’VE SEEN HOW MITZI GRASSO AND THE PPU, THE UNION, IS SUPPORTIVE OF HIM. HE WAS ABLE TO INSPIRE IN NEW YORK. HE’LL NEED TO DO THAT SAME JOB HERE. HIS JOB IN LOS ANGELES IS NOT GOING TO BE AN EASY ONE. LET NO ONE THINK THAT IT IS. HE HAS FAR FEWER POLICE THAN HE DID IN NEW YORK. IN NEW YORK, WHICH IS A CITY OF EIGHT MILLION PEOPLE, HE HAD 40,000 COPS. HERE IN A CITY OF A LITTLE LESS THAN FOUR MILLION PEOPLE, WE HAVE LESS THAN 9,000 COPS.

JESS>> THAT IS THE THIN BLUE LINE, HUH?

MERRICK BOBB>> IT IS. THUS, THE STRATEGY FOR REDUCING CRIME IN LOS ANGELES MAY BE DIFFERENT THAN WHAT IT WAS IN NEW YORK.

VAL>> IN FACT, ONE OF THE CRITICISMS IS THAT THE REASON WHY HE WAS SUCCESSFUL IN REDUCING CRIME IN NEW YORK IS THAT HE HAD VERY AGGRESSIVE TACTICS ON THE STREET, OFFICERS WALKING THE BEAT, THAT’S NOT NECESSARILY TRANSFERABLE TO LOS ANGELES, AND WE’RE AT A TIME WHEN AGGRESSIVE COPS RIGHT NOW ARE BEING LOOKED AT VERY CAREFULLY.

MERRICK BOBB>> THAT’S RIGHT. THAT’S WHY HIS EMPHASIS THAT HE HAS PUT ON THE CONSENT DECREE I THINK IS VERY IMPORTANT AND THE EXPERIENCE THAT HE HAD FOR OVER A YEAR MONITORING THE LOS ANGELES POLICE DEPARTMENT’S COMPLIANCE WITH THE CONSENT DECREE IS GOING TO PROVE TO BE VERY VALUABLE EXPERIENCE. THAT CONSENT DECREE IS AN EMBODIMENT OF BEST PRACTICE TO TRY TO DEAL WITH PROBLEM COPS AND PROBLEM SITUATIONS AND I THINK HE UNDERSTANDS AND APPRECIATES THAT.

JESS>> AFTER RODNEY KING AND RAMPART, HERE’S ANOTHER QUOTE FROM HIM: “OFFICERS FEARFUL OF CONTROVERSY ARE TRYING TO FIND WAYS TO STAY OUT OF TROUBLE INSTEAD OF POLICING THE CITY.” THAT SOUNDS LIKE HE MAY BE ALSO GOING TO, PARDON THE EXPRESSION, KICK BUTT.

MERRICK BOBB>> WELL, WHAT I THINK HE IS GOING TO DO IS TO TRY TO INCENTIVIZE THE LOS ANGELES POLICE DEPARTMENT TO BECOME MORE ACTIVE ONCE AGAIN. THE LOS ANGELES POLICE DEPARTMENT, BECAUSE OF THE PROBLEMS OF MORALE, BECAUSE OF THE STAFFING PROBLEMS, HAS NOT BEEN AS ACTIVE A POLICE DEPARTMENT IN TERMS OF PROACTIVE OFFICER-INITIATED ACTIVITY AND THAT’S SOMETHING THAT HE PUTS AN EMPHASIS ON.

VAL>> MERRICK BOBB, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR COMING BY AND, OF COURSE, WE LOOK FORWARD TO HAVING THE CHIEF HIMSELF ON THE SHOW VERY SOON. THANK YOU.

MERRICK BOBB>> THANK YOU BOTH VERY MUCH.

VAL>> TOMORROW ON LIFE AND TIMES, FEDERAL SCREENERS FINALLY HAVE ARRIVED AT SOME SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA AIRPORTS. WE’LL TALK WITH A FORMER NAVY ADMIRAL WHO’S TRYING TO FIX SECURITY PROBLEMS AT LAX.

>> THERE IS DEFINITELY A MENTALITY HERE THAT, HEY, THIS IS A WAR ON TERRORISM AND NOT A TIME TO LOOK AT THE EASIEST PATH OR WHAT MIGHT BE THE MOST EFFICIENT WAY.

JESS>> SHOES, COMPUTERS, BANANAS, YOU NAME IT. THEY ALL MOVE THROUGH PORTS ALONG THE WEST COAST, SO WHEN LONGSHOREMEN GOT LOCKED OUT IN A FEUD WITH MANAGEMENT, RETAILERS OF ALL SORTS GOT WORRIED. THE LABOR DISPUTE HAS SHUT DOWN TWENTY-NINE PORTS FROM SAN DIEGO TO SEATTLE. VIRTUALLY HALF THE NATION’S SEA CARGO MOVES THROUGH THESE DOCKS.

VAL>> AND JOINING US NOW TO EXPLAIN THE IMPACT IS JACK KYSER. HE IS AN ECONOMIST WITH THE L.A. ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION. NICE TO SEE YOU AGAIN.

JACK KYSER>> GOOD TO SEE YOU BOTH.

JESS>> THE IMPACT IS SAID TO BE A BILLION DOLLARS A DAY?

JACK KYSER>> THAT’S THE BOILERPLATE. IT STARTED OUT SOMEBODY SAID A BILLION A DAY. OTHER PEOPLE SAID THE FIRST COUPLE OR THREE DAYS PROBABLY NOT THAT. BUT NOW WE’RE SIX DAYS INTO THIS LOCKOUT AND THE IMPACTS ARE ESCALATING. YOU’RE HEARING MORE NOT JUST ABOUT MERCHANDISE NOT GETTING TO THE RETAILERS, BUT MERCHANDISE SPOILING AND PLANTS BEING SHUT DOWN BECAUSE PARTS AREN’T AVAILABLE.

VAL>> NOW WHAT DOES THAT ACTUALLY MEAN, A BILLION DOLLARS A DAY? OKAY, WHO FIGURES THIS OUT AND WHO CALCULATES IT?

JESS>> ECONOMISTS DO IT.

JACK KYSER>> ECONOMISTS.

VAL>> BUT WHAT DOES IT REALLY MEAN, CONCRETELY?

JACK KYSER>> WELL, YOU HAVE JOB IMPACTS. FOR EXAMPLE, THE INDEPENDENT TRUCKERS THAT WORK AT THE PORTS OF L.A. AND LONG BEACH. THEY’RE LOSING $2.7 MILLION DOLLARS A DAY IN INCOME. THEY’LL NEVER MAKE THAT UP --

VAL>> -- BECAUSE THEY ARE THEIR OWN --

JACK KYSER>> -- THEY’RE THEIR OWN BOSSES, YEAH. AND THEN YOU HAVE LOGISTICS DISRUPTIONS TO THE LONG DISTANCE TRUCKERS AND THE RAILROADS, LOSS OF CARGO, BUSINESS DISRUPTION, PLANT CLOSURES, JUST ABSOLUTE LOSS OF BUSINESS.

VAL>> HOW MANY PLANT CLOSURES?

JACK KYSER>> WE KNOW OF A WHOLE BUNCH. FOR EXAMPLE, TOYOTA’S TRUCK BED PLANT DOWN IN LONG BEACH, NEW UNITED MOTORS UP IN FREMONT, NOW BOEING IS TALKING ABOUT IT AND OTHER PEOPLE ARE TALKING ABOUT A SHUTDOWN.

VAL>> AND THIS IS BECAUSE SPARE PARTS THAT THEY NEED ARE JUST SITTING IN SHIPS AT THE PORTS?

JACK KYSER>> YEAH, YOU’VE GOT ABOUT -- THE LAST WE HEARD WERE NINETY SHIPS IN PORT JUST SITTING THERE. THEY’RE EITHER AT THE DOCKS OR ANCHORED OFFSHORE AND THAT’S A COST TO THESE PEOPLE OF $3.1 MILLION DOLLARS A DAY FOR THESE NINETY SHIPS JUST SITTING IDLE.

JESS>> I KNOW BOTH SIDES ARE MEETING, BUT IT’S NOT BEEN A PLEASANT CIRCUMSTANCE AT ALL.

JACK KYSER>> NO. VERY CONTENTIOUS.

JESS>> THEY’RE MEETING IN A SECRET LOCATION THIS TIME, I GUESS, SO THAT MANAGEMENT WON’T FEEL IT NECESSARY TO BRING ARMED GUARDS.

JACK KYSER>> EVIDENTLY THERE WERE THREATS.

JESS>> TACTICALLY, THAT WAS AWKWARD, TO SAY THE LEAST, WASN’T IT?

JACK KYSER>> IT’S AWKWARD, BUT REMEMBER THERE’S BEEN EVIDENTLY A LOT OF THREATS MADE ALONG THE WAY, SO IT’S PRETTY CONTENTIOUS. THEN THE LONGSHOREMEN HAVE THEIR OWN DISPUTE WITH THE MACHINISTS UNION AND THAT’S GOTTEN A LITTLE BIT DICEY TOO.

JESS>> THE REASON FOR THE LOCKOUT WAS SAID TO BE THAT LONGSHOREMEN WERE STAGING SLOWDOWNS AND WERE, IN SOME INSTANCES, ACCUSED OF SABOTAGING SHIPMENTS, BUT MANAGEMENT'S GOT TO BE REALLY CONCERNED ABOUT THIS LOSS OF INCOME TOO.

JACK KYSER>> YEAH, BUT THEY'RE BITING THE BULLET BECAUSE THEY ARE BEING SUPPORTED BY WHAT THEY CALL THE SHIPPING INDUSTRY, EVERYBODY WHO IMPORTS AND EXPORTS, BECAUSE THEY SAY THE CARGO VOLUMES ARE GETTING SO HUGE THAT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO IMPLEMENT TECHNOLOGY TO SPEED THE CARGO THROUGH THE PORTS OR --

VAL>> -- ELECTRONIC INVENTORIES AND SO FORTH INSTEAD OF PAPER INVENTORIES?

JACK KYSER>> EXACTLY. BAR SCANNERS AND ALL KINDS OF THINGS, BECAUSE THEY'RE GOING TO BE OVERWHELMED. THEN YOU'VE ALREADY HAD SOME LOSS OF CARGO TO OTHER PORTS IN THE UNITED STATES BECAUSE OF THE HIGH COST OR SLOWNESS IN SOME CASES AND SOMETIMES OF WHIMSICAL NATURE. THE ILWU WILL HAVE WALKOUTS AND DEMONSTRATION OF SUPPORT AND THEY'LL JUST SHUT DOWN THE PORTS UNEXPECTEDLY.

JESS>> WELL, THERE WAS CONTROVERSY MUCH LIKE THIS WHEN CONTAINERIZATION BECAME THE NORM AT THE PORTS, BUT THEY MANAGED TO OVERCOME THAT.

JACK KYSER>> THEY MANAGED TO OVERCOME THAT AND THE PACIFIC MARITIME ASSOCIATION SAID, YES, IF WE DO TECHNOLOGY, YOU WILL LOSE JOBS, BUT WILL PROVIDE INCOME FOR THOSE PEOPLE AND PROVIDE JOBS FOR THEM AND THEN THE IDEA IS THAT THE CARGO GROWTH WILL BE ENOUGH THAT, IN A COUPLE OF YEARS, THOSE PEOPLE GET THEIR JOBS BACK.

VAL>> NOW HOW MANY DAYS WILL THIS LOCKOUT HAVE TO CONTINUE BEFORE WE SEE AN ACTUAL EFFECT, WHETHER IT BE AT THE GROCERY STORE OR EVEN, YOU KNOW, THE LATEST FASHION CLOTHES COME IN TO MAY COMPANY OR SOMETHING?

JESS>> OR CHRISTMAS TOYS?

JACK KYSER>> CHRISTMAS TOYS, EXACTLY. NO, YOU'RE GETTING TO THAT POINT.

VAL>> ARE WE GETTING TO THAT POINT ALREADY?

JACK KYSER>> YOU'RE GETTING SIX DAYS IN AND YOU CAN SAY, OKAY, BY THE TIME YOU UNLOAD A SHIP AND PUT THE CARGO ON A CONTAINER TRAIN AND GET IT TO THE MIDDLE OF THE U.S., YOU'RE GOING TO START TO SEE PAIN IN THE MIDWEST. WE'RE GETTING CALLS FROM TAIWAN. THE TAIWANESE PEOPLE ARE SCREAMING WHAT'S HAPPENING OVER THERE? AND I WOULD EXPECT CALLS FROM MEXICO BECAUSE A LOT OF CARGO THAT GOES DOWN TO MEXICO FROM ASIA COMES THROUGH THE PORTS OF LOS ANGELES AND LONG BEACH.

JESS>> PRESIDENT BUSH, WITH A SIGNATURE ON ONE PIECE OF PAPER, COULD PUT THEM BACK TO WORK TOMORROW, COULDN'T HE?

JACK KYSER>> HE VERY DEFINITELY COULD, BUT THEN THE QUESTION IS, WOULD THE UNION WORK TO RULES AGAIN AND GO SLOW OR WOULD THEY GO BACK TO NORMAL PRODUCTIVITY? SO IT'S REALLY A KNIFE EDGE. BUT THIS HAS NATIONAL ECONOMIC IMPLICATIONS. WHAT IF YOU START TO SCARE CONSUMERS? YOU KNOW, I'M NOT GETTING WORK. A LOT OF IMPLICATIONS IN THIS WHOLE THING AND IT'S NOT GOING TO BE EASY TO FIND SOLUTIONS.

VAL>> IS THERE ANY CHANCE WE COULD SEE, YOU KNOW, PRICES GOING UP IN SOME SITUATIONS?

JACK KYSER>> YOU MIGHT, BUT IT'S JUST SO COMPETITIVE OUT THERE. THERE'S JUST NOT THAT MUCH PRICING POWER AND WE'VE HEARD OF PEOPLE WHO ARE SENDING THINGS BY AIR AND THEY'RE SWALLOWING THE PRICE INCREASES. THEY'RE NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO PASS THAT ALONG.

JESS>> BUT, CLEARLY, WE CAN'T LET THIS CONTINUE. THERE HAS TO BE SOME ACTION TAKEN. WHAT DO YOU EXPECT?

JACK KYSER>> I WOULD EXPECT THAT, IF YOU GO A COUPLE OF MORE DAYS, PROBABLY YOU'RE GOING TO GET ACTION FROM THE WHITE HOUSE AND THEN WE'LL HAVE TO SEE HOW THE UNION REACTS. REMEMBER, THIS IS A VERY UNIQUE UNION. IT HAS A MONOPOLY ON THE U.S. WEST COAST PORTS. YOU DON'T HAVE THAT ANYWHERE ELSE IN THE UNITED STATES.

VAL>> THAT'S RIGHT. IT'S ONE UNION GOVERNING ALL THE PORTS, WHEREAS BACK EAST IT'S DIFFERENT. UNIONS IN DIFFERENT PORTS.

JESS>> THE LEGEND OF HARRY BRIDGES.

JACK KYSER>> VERY DEFINITELY. IT LIVES ON, THAT SPIRIT.

VAL>> WELL, WE'LL BE WATCHING THIS ONE. JACK KYSER, ALWAYS NICE TO SEE YOU. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR COMING BY.

JACK KYSER>> MY PLEASURE.

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VAL>> THIS WEEK, WE'VE BROUGHT YOU SOME SPECIAL REPORTS ON WHAT HAS BEEN DESCRIBED AS AN EPIDEMIC: CHILDHOOD OBESITY. WE'RE CALLING OUR SERIES "TIPPING THE SCALES" AND TONIGHT, IN THE FINAL INSTALLMENT, WE LOOK AT THE FAST FOOD INDUSTRY.

JESS>> ARE BURGER JOINTS TO BLAME FOR HEART DISEASE AND DIABETES? MAYBE NOT, BUT AS GAY YEE REPORTS, CONSUMERS ARE STARTING TO HOLD BIG CORPORATIONS RESPONSIBLE FOR BIG WAISTLINES.

GAY YEE>> FAST FOOD HAS ITS ROOTS IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA AND JAY'S IN SILVER LAKE WAS ONE OF THE SEEDS. SINCE THE 1950'S, IT'S BEEN COOKING UP ITS NAMESAKE, THE JAYBURGER, AND THE HOUSE FAVORITE, THE EGGBURGER.

>> I'M MAKING IT RIGHT NOW. A DOUBLE JAY WITH AN EGG.

GAY YEE>> IT'S BUTTER-FRIED EGG SITS ON TOP OF A CHILI CHEESEBURGER, WHAT SOME MIGHT CALL A HEART ATTACK WAITING TO HAPPEN, BUT NO ONE'S COMPLAINING.

>> YOU GOT TO ENJOY LIFE AND IT TASTES GOOD (LAUGHTER).

>> IF IT IS KILLING US, I'D SAY IT'S THE BEST WAY TO DIE.

>> WHAT DO YOU WANT TO CALL IT? YOU'RE JUST ADDICTED TO IT. IT'S AN ADDICTION.

GAY YEE>> SOME PEOPLE BELIEVE FAST FOOD IS ADDICTING, MUCH LIKE TOBACCO. THEY'RE SUING MCDONALD'S, BURGER KING, KENTUCKY FRIED CHICKEN AND WENDY'S FOR THE HEALTH PROBLEMS THEY NOW SUFFER. THE NATIONAL RESTAURANT ASSOCIATION CALLS THE LAWSUITS SENSELESS, BASELESS AND RIDICULOUS. SO WHO SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE HERE? WHO SHOULD WE BLAME FOR MAKING US FAT? IS IT THE PEOPLE WHO EAT THE FOOD OR IS IT THE PEOPLE WHO PREPARE IT?

>> I THINK THAT THOSE PEOPLE SHOULD TAKE A LOOK IN THE MIRROR AND SEE IF ANYBODY IS HOLDING A GUN TO THEIR HEAD TELLING THEM TO EAT THERE. LET THEM STAY HOME AND EAT VEGETABLES.

>> IT'S NOT TAKING RESPONSIBILITY, YOU KNOW, FOR WHO THEY ARE AND WHAT THEY'RE DOING AND BASICALLY TRYING TO, YOU KNOW, TRYING TO MAKE SOMEBODY ELSE PAY FOR THEIR MISTAKE.

>> I THINK IT'S NONSENSE. IT'S NO DIFFERENT THAN THE WOMAN THAT SUED FOR THE COFFEE BURNING HER. IF YOU'RE AN IDIOT, YOU'RE AN IDIOT (LAUGHTER).

GAY YEE>> PUBLIC HEALTH ADVOCATE, ROSA SOTO, SAYS THE LAWSUITS ARE A WAKEUP CALL. SHE SAYS FAST FOOD IS ONE REASON WHY CHILDHOOD OBESITY IN THE U.S. IS NOW AN EPIDEMIC.

ROSA SOTO>> IT INDICATES A STRONG SENSE, I THINK, BY THE AMERICAN PUBLIC THAT WE NEED TO BE RESPONSIBLE TO OUR YOUTH. WE NEED TO BE RESPONSIBLE TO OUR SOCIETY AND OUR SOCIETY'S HEALTH. IF WE HAVE AN EPIDEMIC OF CHILDHOOD OBESITY, IMAGINE WHAT THE HEALTH COMPLICATIONS OF THOSE ADULTS WILL BE.

GAY YEE>> CRITICS SAY FAST FOOD MAKERS NEED TO TAKE MORE RESPONSIBILITY. LET PEOPLE KNOW WHAT THEY'RE EATING INSTEAD OF HOW MUCH MONEY THEY'RE SAVING IF THEY BUY BIGGER PORTIONS.

ANDREA GIANCOLI>> THINK OF HOW YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE A BIG MAC AND A SUPER SIZED FRIES. THAT HAS ABOUT SIXTY TO SIXTY-FIVE GRAMS OF FAT IN IT. THIS EQUATES TO ABOUT FIVE AND A HALF TABLESPOONS OF FAT. THAT'S HOW MUCH THIS IS. THIS IS HOW MUCH FAT YOU'RE EATING WHEN YOU HAVE A BIG MAC AND A SUPER SIZED FRIES.

GAY YEE>> SHE SAYS CHILDREN ARE TARGETED BY THE INDUSTRY.

ANDREA GIANCOLI>> OF COURSE, PEOPLE MAKE THEIR OWN CHOICES, BUT THE INDUSTRY MARKETS TO CHILDREN. THEY BRAND CHILDREN FOR LIFE IF THEY WILL EAT THEIR PRODUCTS AND THEY'RE OUT THERE TO MAKE MONEY. THEY REALLY KNOW WHAT THEY'RE DOING AND THAT'S NOT RESPONSIBLE TO MARKET TO CHILDREN THAT WAY.

GAY YEE>> ONE ACTIVIST TEACHER SAYS AN ANSWER IS EDUCATING THE KIDS.

JACKIE DOMAC>> WELL, WE WANT OUR KIDS TO BE HEALTHIER PRIMARILY. SECONDLY, WE ARE TRYING TO GET RID OF THE MASS MARKETING STRATEGIES OF THESE LARGE CORPORATIONS.

GAY YEE>> VENICE HIGH SCHOOL HEALTH TEACHER, JACKIE DOMAC, AND HER STUDENTS HAVE LOCKED HORNS WITH THE FOOD AND BEVERAGE INDUSTRY. THEY GOT SODAS REMOVED FROM CAMPUS IN A BATTLE THEY CALLED DAVID AGAINST GOLIATH.

JACKIE DOMAC>> OKAY, LET'S DEBRIEF. LET'S MAKE A LITTLE CIRCLE.

GAY YEE>> BUT DOMAC AND HER STUDENTS SAY THE SOFT DRINK COMPANY WAS SLOW TO REMOVE THE MACHINES AND THEY BELIEVE THE COMPANY IS TRYING TO BRING A NEW DRINK ON CAMPUS.

JACKIE DOMAC>> ALL THE JUNK, BASICALLY, IN A SODA WITH A SPLASH OF MILK AND NOW THEY'RE CLAIMING IT'S A MILK BEVERAGE SO THEY CAN STILL SELL IT. I REALLY LIKE TO SHOW MY STUDENTS THAT THEY CAN FEEL EMPOWERED, THAT THEY CAN STRONGLY BELIEVE IN SOMETHING AND CREATE CHANGE. WE MAY NEED TO TAKE A TRIP DOWNTOWN TO THE SCHOOL BOARD TODAY TO ADDRESS THEM.

GAY YEE>> DOMAC SAYS SHE'S TEACHING HER STUDENTS TO BE ACTIVISTS.

JACKIE DOMAC>> WE'RE AT THE LOS ANGELES UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT DOWNTOWN HEADQUARTERS AND WE'RE AT THE BOARD OF EDUCATION AND WE'RE HOPING TO TIE UP A FEW LOOPHOLES WE FEEL LIKE THE SODA INDUSTRY HAS FOUND.

GAY YEE>> HER STUDENTS ARE LEARNING THAT, IF YOU WANT THINGS TO CHANGE, GO TO THE VERY TOP. THEY CALLED A MEETING WITH THE STAFF OF THE LOS ANGELES UNIFIED SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER.

>> WHAT IS THE DEFINITION OF MILK?

>> OKAY. IS THIS RELATED TO -- BECAUSE OF COKE'S MILK DRINK?

>> YES.

GAY YEE>> AND WITH THIS GROUNDSWELL OF ACTIVISM, THERE ARE HINTS THE FOOD MAKERS MAY BE READY TO GET WITH THE PROGRAM.

ANDREA GIANCOLI>> SOME OF THEM ARE STARTING TO MAKE CHANGES. JACK IN THE BOX IS NOW GOING TO BE OFFERING A LIGHTER FARE. THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE A TARGET TOWARDS WOMEN. MCDONALD'S JUST PUT ON THEIR WEBSITE VERY RECENTLY A WHOLE REPORT ABOUT THEIR SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY. SO I THINK THE WRITING IS ON THE WALL AND I THINK THEY'RE SEEING IT AND WE'RE GOING TO BE SEEING SOME CHANGES.

GAY YEE>> DOMAC BELIEVES THE FOOD INDUSTRY IS GETTING A RUDE AWAKENING, A NEW GENERATION OF CONSUMERS DEMANDING HEALTHIER FOOD, AND THEY'RE WILLING TO MAKE A LOT OF NOISE UNTIL THEY GET IT.

JACKIE DOMAC>> I THINK THEY NEED TO PUT THIS ISSUE IN THE TERMS OF FACES AND IT'S NOT JUST NUMBERS ON A PIECE OF PAPER LIKE MONEY IS. THESE ARE REAL PEOPLE WITH REAL HEALTH CONCERNS THAT WE NEED TO TAKE CARE OF RIGHT NOW.

JESS>> SHIRLEY THORNTON IS COORDINATOR OF L.A. COUNTY'S "PROJECT LEAN". SHE JOINS US TO TALK ABOUT WHETHER FAST FOOD REALLY IS EVIL. COME ON, THEY LABEL IT. FATBURGER IS FATBURGER (LAUGHTER).

SHIRLEY THORNTON>> ABSOLUTELY. AND THEY LABEL IT "VALUE MARKETING" ALSO, BUT IT'S NOT REALLY A VALUE. NOT ONLY ARE KIDS SPENDING MORE MONEY, ANYWHERE FROM TWENTY TO SEVENTY CENTS FOR THE LARGE-SIZED MEALS, BUT THEY'RE GETTING EXTRA CALORIES AND EXTRA SATURATED FAT. THERE IS A GROUP CALLED THE NATIONAL ALLIANCE FOR NUTRITION AND ACTIVITY AND THEY RELEASED A REPORT IN JUNE OF THIS YEAR ENTITLED "FROM WALLET TO WAISTLINE". IT REALLY DEPICTED HOW CHILDREN ARE GETTING LARGER AND LARGER AND SPENDING MORE MONEY ON FAST FOOD THAT HAS NO NUTRITIOUS VALUE.

VAL>> IN FACT, OFTENTIMES THE LARGER PORTIONS AND SO FORTH ARE A MUCH, MUCH BETTER BARGAIN, CORRECT? FINANCIALLY. SO IT'S NOT AS IF THEY'RE MAKING A HUGE AMOUNT OF MONEY, BUT THEY JUST WANT US TO EAT MORE?

SHIRLEY THORNTON>> THEY WANT YOU TO EAT MORE, AND IT'S REALLY SO UNFAIR. ACTUALLY, THERE'S ONE FAST FOOD RESTAURANT THAT OFFERS THE LARGE-SIZED BURGER WITH THE REGULAR FRIES AND REGULAR DRINK AND THEY CHARGE YOU TWENTY-FIVE CENTS MORE THAN IF YOU WOULD BUY THE LARGE-SIZED BURGER WITH THE EXTRA-SIZED FRIES AND THE EXTRA-SIZED DRINK. SO IT'S AMAZING BECAUSE THEY ACTUALLY ARE MAKING MORE MONEY, BUT IT'S NOT COSTING THEM THAT MUCH MORE AT ALL TO ADD A FEW MORE POTATOES AND A LARGER DRINK. THEY'RE MAKING MORE MONEY OFF OF OUR CHILDREN.

JESS>> WITH SCHOOLS BEING THE TARGET THEY ARE, IS THE NOTION THAT IF YOU CATCH THEM AT THE SCHOOL LEVEL TO WEAN THEM AWAY FROM FAST FOODS THAT THEY'LL CONTINUE THAT?

SHIRLEY THORNTON>> WE ARE DOING THAT WITH THE UTMOST OF OUR POWER BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, IF YOU LEARN EARLY, THEN YOU CARRY THAT THROUGH YOUR ADULTHOOD. SO WE'RE WORKING WITH SCHOOLS AND WE DID A LOT OF WORK WITH LOS ANGELES UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT. WE'RE WORKING WITH SMALL CHILDREN, AS WELL AS THE MIDDLE SCHOOL AND THE HIGH SCHOOL CHILDREN.

VAL>> WHO, BY THE WAY, PASSED THE --

SHIRLEY THORNTON>> -- PASSED THE SODA RESOLUTION BAN. IT'S CALLED HEALTHY BEVERAGE RESOLUTION. AS JACKIE DOMAC DEMONSTRATED, BY WORKING WITH THE SMALLER CHILDREN, YOU GET IT IN THEIR HEADS EARLY SO THEY KEEP IT WITH THEM AS ADULTS. IT WAS INTERESTING, I WAS AT A MAC MEETING WHERE THEY HAD VERY YOUNG CHILDREN IN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL. I WATCHED A LITTLE BOY READ THE LABEL. THERE WAS JUICE AND THERE WAS WATER ON THE TABLE. HE WAS NO MORE THAN EIGHT YEARS OLD, BUT HE READ THE LABEL ON THE JUICE, PUT IT DOWN AND PICKED UP THE WATER AND DRANK THE WATER.

VAL>> THERE WERE TOO MANY CALORIES IN THE JUICE?

SHIRLEY THORNTON>> TOO MANY CALORIES, YEAH.

VAL>> NOW DO YOU THINK THESE LAWSUITS ARE GOING TO GO ANYWHERE? DO YOU THINK THAT THAT'S THE WAY TO FIGHT THIS?

SHIRLEY THORNTON>> YOU KNOW, I THINK THAT IT WILL BE SIGNIFICANT, JUST AS IT WAS IN THE TOBACCO INDUSTRY. I DON'T THINK THAT THAT'S TOTALLY THE WAY TO FIGHT IT. WE HAVE TO FIGHT IT USING GRASSROOTS METHODS.

JESS>> BUT BAD PUBLICITY AT LEAST CALLS ATTENTION TO IT.

SHIRLEY THORNTON>> IT DOES CALL ATTENTION, BUT WE'RE USING SOME OF THE METHODS THAT DR. KING USED IN THE CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT. WE'RE GOING TO THE GRASSROOTS. WE'RE GOING TO FAMILIES. WE'RE GOING INTO COMMUNITIES. WE'RE NOT JUST GOING TO SCHOOLS AND POLICYMAKERS, BUT WE'RE ALSO DEALING WITH POLICYMAKERS BECAUSE THAT'S AN IMPORTANT GROUP.

JESS>> YOU BET IT IS. WE'LL BE WATCHING. SHIRLEY THORNTON, THANKS FOR BEING WITH US.

SHIRLEY THORNTON>> THANK YOU.

VAL>> AND IF YOU MISSED THE REST OF OUR SPECIAL SERIES ON OBESITY, YOU CAN FIND IT ON OUR WEBSITE. JUST GO TO KCET.ORG AND CLICK ON LIFE AND TIMES. YOU'LL FIND AUDIO STREAMING, VIDEO STREAMING AND TRANSCRIPTS OF OUR "TIPPING THE SCALES" SERIES.

JESS>> THAT'S TONIGHT'S PROGRAM. NOW FOR ALL OF US HERE AT LIFE AND TIMES, HAVE A GREAT EVENING.

VAL>> TAKE CARE.

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