10/10/02

LC021010

VAL ZAVALA>> ON LIFE AND TIMES TONIGHT --

JESS MARLOW>> L.A.’S INCOMING POLICE CHIEF ALREADY SOUNDS LIKE A MAN IN CHARGE, BUT HOW IS THE COMMUNITY REACTING TO THIS TOUGH-TALKING NEW YORKER?

JOHN MILLS>> THIS NEW CHIEF SAYS THAT HE’S INTERESTED IN COMMUNITY POLICING AND THAT INTERESTS ME VERY MUCH BECAUSE OF THE FACT THAT I DO A LOT OF COMMUNITY WORK.

VAL>> AMERICA KNEW THEM BOTH, THE KIND-HEARTED LADY AND HER SPECIAL FRIEND.

[FILM CLIP]

VAL>> TONIGHT THE DAUGHTER OF THE LATE SHARI LEWIS TALKS ABOUT HER CRUSADE AGAINST BREAST CANCER, THE DISEASE THAT CLAIMED HER MOTHER’S LIFE.

JESS>> AND THEN A SNEAK PEAK OF THE NEW DISNEY HALL AS SEEN BY A WELL-KNOWN LOCAL PHOTOGRAPHER. WHEN GIL GARCETTI LEFT THE D.A.’S OFFICE, HE PICKED UP HIS CAMERA. TONIGHT WE’LL SEE HOW HE CAPTURED THE MAKING OF A NEW LOS ANGELES LANDMARK.

VAL>> 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. IT’S BEEN ONLY A WEEK SINCE HE GOT THE NOD FROM MAYOR JAMES HAHN AND THE CITY COUNCIL HAS YET TO FORMALLY CONFIRM HIM AS L.A.’S NEW POLICE CHIEF, BUT WILLIAM BRATTON HAS COME ON STRONG WITH PROMISES TO FIX THE DEPARTMENT AND TO CRACK DOWN HARD ON CRIME.

VAL>> BRATTON HAS BEEN VISITING NEIGHBORHOODS AND TRYING TO STIR UP AS MUCH GRASSROOTS SUPPORT AS POSSIBLE, BUT HOW ARE RESIDENTS OF THE CITY’S CRIME-PLAGUED AREAS REACTING TO BRATTON’S PROMISES? AS GAY YEE REPORTS, SOME ARE HOPEFUL, BUT OTHERS SAY THEY’VE HEARD IT ALL BEFORE.

JOHN MILLS>> YEAH, YOU CAN CALL THIS NUMBER ANY TIME FOR THE GRAFFITI.

>> OKAY.

JOHN MILLS>> TWENTY-FOUR HOURS A DAY.

GAY YEE>> SEVENTY-EIGHT YEAR OLD JOHN MILLS IS OUT EVERY DAY TRYING TO CLEAN UP HIS RAMPART NEIGHBORHOOD. MILLS SAYS THE STREETS AROUND HIS SENIOR CITIZEN APARTMENT BUILDING ARE SAFER THAN THEY WERE A FEW YEARS BACK WHEN CLASHING GANGS WOULD ENGAGE IN SHOOTING WARS. THE BIGGEST PROBLEM HE SEES?

JOHN MILLS>> NARCOTICS IS YOUR BIGGEST CRIME IN THIS AREA. NARCOTIC DEALERS. PEOPLE COME FROM ALL OVER THE CITY OF LOS ANGELES, HERE TO THIS AREA. THIS WAS ONE OF THE MANUFACTURING POINTS OF VIEW AS FAR AS DRUGS GO. IT’S LIKE A DRIVE-IN. YOU DRIVE UP AND DRIVE OUT. YOU VERY SELDOM SEE PEOPLE WALKING TO BUY THEIR DRUGS AND THEN WALK AWAY. IT’S MOSTLY MOBILE TRAFFIC.

GAY YEE>> HE SAYS HE’S HAPPY THAT FORMER NEW YORK AND BOSTON POLICE COMMISSIONER, WILLIAM BRATTON, WILL TAKE OVER THE LAPD.

JOHN MILLS>> THIS NEW CHIEF SAYS THAT HE’S INTERESTED IN COMMUNITY POLICING AND THAT INTERESTS ME VERY MUCH BECAUSE OF THE FACT THAT I DO A LOT OF COMMUNITY WORK.

GAY YEE>> BRATTON’S INTEREST IN COMMUNITY POLICING WAS EVIDENT LAST WEEK AFTER MAYOR HAHN ANNOUNCED HIS APPOINTMENT TO HEAD THE POLICE DEPARTMENT.

WILLIAM BRATTON>> COMMUNITY POLICING IS VERY SIMPLY PARTNERSHIP, PROBLEM-SOLVING, PREVENTION. PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN THE POLICE AND THE COMMUNITY, FOCUSING ON AND IDENTIFYING WHAT ARE THE PROBLEMS IN EACH NEIGHBORHOOD THAT NEED TO BE IDENTIFIED AND PRIORITIZED, UNDERSTANDING THERE IS LIMITED RESOURCES TO DEAL WITH EVERYTHING ALL AT THE SAME TIME.

GAY YEE>> BRATTON KNOWS HOW THE LAPD WORKS. HE WAS ON THE TEAM MONITORING THE DEPARTMENT’S COMPLIANCE WITH THE FEDERAL CONSENT DECREE. HIS DESIRE TO ERASE THE DEPARTMENT’S TROUBLED PAST IS ONE REASON HE SET OUT TO BECOME CHIEF.

WILLIAM BRATTON>> YOU WANT ME TO COME IN HERE AND NOT KNOW A DAMNED THING ABOUT THE PLACE? YOU’D BETTER BELIEVE I STUDIED THIS PLACE. YOU’D BETTER BELIEVE I CAMPAIGNED FOR THIS POSITION. PREMIER LAW ENFORCEMENT OPPORTUNITY IN AMERICA TODAY.

GAY YEE>> HIS CHALLENGE NOW IS CONVINCING ANGELENOS HE’S THE RIGHT PERSON FOR THE JOB.

>> I HAVEN’T BEEN WATCHING TV, SO I DON’T REALLY KNOW WHO HE IS.

>> I THINK HE WAS GOOD IN NEW YORK, BUT I DON’T KNOW IN CALIFORNIA.

>> I WOULD HAVE PREFERRED A SELECTION HERE LOCALLY AND PREFERABLY MAYBE EVEN AN HISPANIC GENTLEMAN TO BE MORE REPRESENTATIVE OF THE DEMOGRAPHIC OUT HERE.

GAY YEE>> THE REAL TEST FOR WILLIAM BRATTON WILL BE IN HOW WELL AND HOW FAST HE CAN REVERSE THE CITY’S RISING CRIME RATES AND TURN AROUND MORALE IN A DEPARTMENT STILL TAINTED BY THE RAMPART SCANDAL.

>> IN FACT, THIS IS A GOOD AREA FOR THE START. SEE EXACTLY WHAT HE DO IN THIS AREA BECAUSE THIS IS THE MOST CORRUPT AREA IN THE CITY OF LOS ANGELES.

GAY YEE>> THE AREA IN QUESTION? THE POORER NEIGHBORHOODS OF THE RAMPART DIVISION JUST WEST OF DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES WHERE DRUGS AND GANGS HAVE HELD CENTER STAGE FOR YEARS.

>> WELL, I DON’T FEEL THAT SAFE BECAUSE THERE’S A LOT OF GANGS, A LOT OF PEOPLE LIKE RIGHT HERE BAD. LIKE AROUND WHERE I LIVE, THERE’S LIKE TWO OR MORE THAN THREE PEOPLE THAT THEY DIED BY GETTING SHOT.

GAY YEE>> SOME PEOPLE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD ARE STILL PREOCCUPIED WITH THE RAMPART SCANDAL.

>> I’D LIKE HIM TO START DEEPER INVESTIGATIONS INTO THE WHOLE ISSUE OF RAMPART AND ALL THE SCANDALS THAT WENT ON WITH PEREZ.

GAY YEE>> OTHERS ARE READY TO MOVE ON.

JOSE OLVERA>> I THINK THEY SHOULD FOCUS ON WHAT IS HAPPENING TODAY RATHER THAN TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHO’S AT FAULT AND WHAT HAPPENED IN THE PAST.

GAY YEE>> JOSE OLVERA OWNS SEVEN BUILDINGS IN THE AREA. AS A BUSINESSMAN, HE WANTS MORE POLICE VISIBILITY ON THE STREETS.

GLORIA FRIAS>> YOU GOING TO BE A READER?

GAY YEE>> GLORIA FRIAS HEADS PICO-UNION HOUSING, A LONG-TIME FIXTURE IN THE RAMPART COMMUNITY. SHE SAYS POLICE OFFICERS HAVE BACKED OFF CHALLENGING GANGS.

GLORIA FRIAS>> THERE ARE GROUPS OF BOYS, TWENTY OR THIRTY, SELLING, DOING WHATEVER THEY DO. POLICE PASSES RIGHT BY THEM AND THEY JUST LOOK THE OTHER WAY. I MEAN, IT’S HAPPENING TO A LOT OF OUR STREETS HERE.

GAY YEE>> FRIAS SAYS THE NEIGHBORHOOD HAS HAD PROBLEMS WITH BAD COPS, BUT HOPES THAT’S ALL IN THE PAST.

GLORIA FRIAS>> THERE ARE A LOT OF GOOD COPS THERE AND WE NEED TO GIVE THEM THE STRENGTH AND HELP AND ASSISTANCE TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY DO THEIR JOB ACCORDINGLY AND PROPERLY AND BE FORCEFUL. IT CAN HAPPEN, BUT WE NEED TO WORK TOGETHER.

GAY YEE>> AS FOR JOHN MILLS, HE’S HOPING THE NEW CHIEF WILL BRING ABOUT THE DAY WHEN ALL OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD GRAFFITI IS GONE AND DRUG DEALERS CLOSE UP SHOP FOR GOOD.

JESS>> JARRETTE FELLOWS IS A LOS ANGELES JOURNALIST AND THE EDITOR OF “BEYOND URBIA” MAGAZINE. HE’S HERE WITH SOME THOUGHTS ABOUT THIS INCOMING CHIEF. WHAT DO YOU THINK SO FAR?

JARRETTE FELLOWS>> SO HERE I AM IN THE HOT SEAT AGAIN (LAUGHTER). WELL, THERE’S NOTHING I CAN SAY RIGHT NOW. THE JURY IS STILL OUT. WE HAVE TO WAIT AND SEE WHAT HE’S GOING TO DO, YOU KNOW. LET’S GIVE THE CHIEF A CHANCE.

JESS>> WELL, HE’S CERTAINLY BEEN HEARD IN RECENT DAYS. WHAT DO YOU THINK OF WHAT HE SAYS?

JARRETTE FELLOWS>> WELL, HE SOUNDS LIKE HE KNOWS WHAT HE’S TALKING ABOUT. HE COMES WITH AN EXCELLENT RESUME. HE DID A GOOD JOB IN NEW YORK AND BOSTON, BUT L.A.’S A DIFFERENT PLACE. I STILL THINK WE HAVE TO GIVE THE MAN A CHANCE.

VAL>> BUT HE HAS SAID THAT HE IS GOING TO CRACK DOWN ON THESE QUALITY OF LIFE CRIMES. YOU KNOW, THE LITTLE THINGS LIKE THE GRAFFITI AND THE BROKEN WINDOWS, THE THINGS THAT THEORETICALLY GROW INTO LARGER PROBLEMS. THAT WOULD BE WELCOME, I WOULD IMAGINE.

JARRETTE FELLOWS>> THAT’S A GOOD THING, VAL. THOSE MAY SEEM LIKE SMALL THINGS IN OTHER COMMUNITIES, BUT THOSE THINGS FEED CRIME. GRAFFITI DEFACES THE COMMUNITY, TEARS DOWN PROPERTY VALUES. GANG MEMBERS ARE THE ONES WHO MANIFEST THAT KIND OF THING. HE NEEDS TO STOP IT AT THE ROOT, SO THAT’S A GOOD THING. THAT’S NOT A BAD THING. THAT’S NOT OVERBEARING.

VAL>> FROM WHAT YOU KNOW OF YOUR COMMUNITY AND THE PEOPLE YOU’VE TALKED TO, ARE PEOPLE EXCITED ABOUT BRATTON? ARE THEY SKEPTICAL ABOUT HIM?

JARRETTE FELLOWS>> WELL, PEOPLE ARE INDIFFERENT. NOBODY GETS EXCITED ABOUT THE POLICE CHIEF UNLESS, OF COURSE, THIS BEING A MINORITY COMMUNITY HE’S BLACK LIKE BERNARD PARKS. BUT I THINK WHAT’S ON THE MINDS OF MOST FOLKS IS THAT WE DON’T SEE A RETURN TO THE COWBOY DAYS OF DARYL GATES AND THAT KIND OF POLICING. WE DON’T NEED THAT. THAT DOESN’T MAKE FOR GOOD RELATIONS BETWEEN THE COMMUNITY AND THE POLICE DEPARTMENT. WE NEED POLICE OFFICERS WHO ARE INTELLIGENT AND WHO THINK THROUGH SITUATIONS, AND WE NEED A CHIEF WHO’S GOING TO SET THE TONE FOR THAT.

JESS>> HAS THE AFRICAN-AMERICAN COMMUNITY FORGIVEN MAYOR HAHN?

JARRETTE FELLOWS>> WELL, IT’S BLOWN OVER. I MEAN, THERE ARE PROBABLY STILL SOME EMBERS BURNING AND, WHEN ELECTION TIME COMES AROUND AGAIN, THOSE WILL BE FANNED. BUT RIGHT NOW, PEOPLE ARE THINKING ABOUT JUST HOW TO SURVIVE EVERY DAY.

VAL>> NOW NATE HOLDEN, AFRICAN-AMERICAN ON THE CITY COUNCIL WHO HAS TO APPROVE THIS APPOINTMENT, SAYS THAT HE WILL NOT SUPPORT BRATTON.

JARRETTE FELLOWS>> WELL, YOU KNOW NATE. THAT’S PROBABLY SOME THEATRICS AND GRANDSTANDING. WE HAVE TO SUPPORT THE CHIEF. HE’S NEW, BUT WE DON’T NEED TO CREATE ANY ANIMOSITY BETWEEN THIS COMMUNITY AND HIM. WE DON’T KNOW HIM. WHY SHOULD WE EVEN THINK THAT WAY? LET’S GIVE THE MAN A CHANCE.

JESS>> WELL, HE’S CERTAINLY MAKING EVERY EFFORT TO GET TO KNOW THE CITY, TO GET TO KNOW THE COMMUNITY, TO GET TO KNOW THE PEOPLE WHO ARE INVOLVED. HE SEEMS TO BE EVERYWHERE IN RECENT DAYS.

JARRETTE FELLOWS>> WELL, HE’S GOOD AT PR. THAT’S PROBABLY WHY HE DID SO GOOD IN NEW YORK. BUT REMEMBER, THE COMMUNITY, BY AND LARGE, NEEDS THE POLICE. WITHOUT POLICE, WE’D HAVE ANARCHY. COME ON, GANG MEMBERS CONTROL THE COMMUNITY. PEOPLE ARE AFRAID TO GO OUT AT NIGHT. THIS IS NOT JUST SOMETHING THAT’S OVERBLOWN. I MEAN, THE DEATH RATE THERE IS ASTRONOMICAL FROM GANG VIOLENCE.

IF THIS HAD BEEN ANY OTHER PLACE, THERE WOULD BE RESOURCES POURING IN TO THIS AREA. I MEAN, COME ON, ONE HUNDRED MURDERS A YEAR? THAT’S RIDICULOUS. THAT SOUNDS LIKE BEIRUT LEBANON OR THE MIDDLE EAST. THIS IS THE U.S.A. THESE ARE AMERICANS DYING. YEAH, WE NEED THE POLICE. WE NEED POLICE WHO’S TOUGH, BUT WHO’S REASONABLE. WE DON’T NEED THE COWBOY MENTALITY WHERE PEOPLE COME IN AND CRACK HEADS. WE NEED PEOPLE WHO WILL THINK THROUGH SITUATIONS AND WE NEED THEM TO PROTECT AND TO SERVE.

JESS>> WE ALSO NEED MORE OF THEM.

JARRETTE FELLOWS>> AND WE NEED MORE OF THEM, YES.

VAL>> EVERYONE SAYS, WELL, HE DID THIS GREAT JOB IN NEW YORK, BUT NEW YORK IS A DIFFERENT KIND OF CITY. THEY HAVE MANY MORE OFFICERS THAN WE DO. YOU KNOW, MUCH MORE DENSELY POPULATED. YOU CAN PUT POLICE ON THE SIDEWALKS AND MAKE A DIFFERENCE. HERE, YOU’VE GOT TO KEEP THEM IN CARS. DO YOU THINK HE’LL BE SUCCESSFUL IN MAKING THAT TRANSITION FROM NEW YORK TO L.A.?

JARRETTE FELLOWS>> I THINK HE WILL. I DON’T THINK HE CAME HERE TO FAIL. I THINK HE’S GOING TO DO A GOOD JOB AND, IN A YEAR FROM NOW, WE SHOULD REVISIT THAT AGAIN AND SEE WHAT HAPPENS. BUT WE’RE ALL HOPING THAT HE COMES IN AND HE TAKES CONTROL OF THE SITUATION, ESPECIALLY THE CRIME. I MEAN, I’M FIFTY YEARS OLD. I TURNED FIFTY LAST WEEK. I WANT TO LIVE ANOTHER FIFTY YEARS, YOU KNOW. GANG MEMBERS NOT ONLY KILL GANG MEMBERS. THERE ARE ERRANT BULLETS THAT FLY EVERYWHERE AND INNOCENT PEOPLE GET HURT. I WANT THAT TO STOP. I REALLY DO.

VAL>> SO YOU’RE WILLING TO GIVE HIM A CHANCE?

JARRETTE FELLOWS>> I’M GOING TO GIVE HIM A CHANCE.

VAL>> GREAT.

JARRETTE FELLOWS>> BUT IF HE DOESN’T DO THE JOB, I’LL BE DOWN ON HIM. I WILL. I WILL BE RIGHT THERE WITH MY PEN AND WILL LET PEOPLE KNOW AND WE’LL HOLD HIS FEET TO THE FIRE.

VAL>> HOW MUCH TIME ARE YOU GOING TO GIVE HIM?

JARRETTE FELLOWS>> I THINK A YEAR IS A GOOD TIME. I MEAN, THERE SHOULD BE SOME TURNAROUND IN A YEAR. IF THE SITUATION HASN’T CHANGED, THEN HE’S GOING TO BE ON THE COVER OF MY PUBLICATION.

VAL>> WE’LL HAVE YOU BACK IN A YEAR AND SEE WHAT YOU THINK (LAUGHTER). JARRETTE FELLOWS, THANK YOU SO MUCH.

TOMORROW ON LIFE AND TIMES, CITY SLICKERS AND RANCHERS JUST CAN’T SEEM TO GET ALONG, BUT WILL THAT LEAD TO A BIG SPLIT IN SANTA BARBARA COUNTY?

>> WE’VE BEEN WORKING ON A WIN-WIN SITUATION WITH THE SOUTHERN PART OF SANTA BARBARA COUNTY ALL OF MY LIFE AND IT’S NOT WORKING.

JESS>> SHE WAS A MUCH-LOVED PERFORMER WHO WON OUR HEARTS WITH A SUNNY PERSONALITY AND A SOCK PUPPET AND HERE’S HOW WE REMEMBER HER BEST.

[FILM CLIP]

JESS>> IN 1998, MANY OF HER FANS WERE SHOCKED WHEN SHARI LEWIS DIED OF BREAST CANCER. HER DAUGHTER, MALLORY, IS AN EMMY AWARD-WINNING PRODUCER AND NOW SHE IS A DEDICATED CRUSADER FOR BREAST CANCER RESEARCH. THANK YOU FOR JOINING US, AND YOUR FRIEND TOO.

“LAMB CHOP”>> OH, THANK YOU SO MUCH. BOY, DID I LOOK YOUNG IN THOSE PICTURES.

MALLORY LEWIS>> YOU STILL LOOK GOOD, SWEETIE (LAUGHTER).

VAL>> SO YOU’VE CLEARLY PICKED UP WHERE YOUR MOTHER LEFT OFF AND --

“LAMB CHOP”>> -- YOU KNOW, REALLY, IT’S ALL ME. I JUST NEEDED A REDHEAD TO HANG OUT WITH.

MALLORY LEWIS>> THANK YOU (LAUGHTER).

VAL>> (LAUGHTER) BUT TELL US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT YOUR MOTHER. IT DID COME AS A BIG SURPRISE WHEN SHE PASSED AWAY.

MALLORY LEWIS>> TOTAL SHOCK. SIX WEEKS FROM DIAGNOSIS TO PASSING. SHE DIED OF UTERINE CANCER WHICH THEY BELIEVE WAS CAUSED BY TAMOXIFEN BECAUSE SHE WAS A TEST PATIENT FOR TAMOXIFEN AND SHE TOOK IT FOR ELEVEN YEARS, WHICH IS NOT RECOMMENDED.

VAL>> OH, I’M SORRY, I THOUGHT SHE DIED OF BREAST CANCER.

MALLORY LEWIS>> WELL, IT WAS A BREAST CANCER-RELATED DISEASE. THE TAMOXIFEN WHICH SHE WAS TAKING FOR HER BREAST CANCER, WE BELIEVE WAS THE CAUSAL AGENT FOR THE UTERINE CANCER.

JESS>> AND NOW YOUR DEDICATION IS TO RESEARCH?

“LAMB CHOP”>> OH, YES. WE ARE TRYING TO RAISE SO MUCH MONEY FOR THE CITY OF HOPE.

VAL>> HOW MUCH MONEY ARE YOU PLANNING TO RAISE, LAMB CHOP?

“LAMB CHOP”>> GAZILLIONS.

MALLORY LEWIS>> (LAUGHTER) ACTUALLY, WE THINK WE’RE GOING TO RAISE PROBABLY CLOSE TO A HALF MILLION DOLLARS THIS TIME. IN 1999, WE DID “JUMP FOR THE CAUSE”, THE 1999 WOMEN’S WORLD RECORD SKYDIVING EVENT. WE RAISED ABOUT $300,000 AND, THIS YEAR IN 2002, WE’RE DOING THE WOMEN’S WORLD RECORD SKYDIVING EVENT AND I THINK WE’LL RAISE MORE THAN THAT THIS TIME.

JESS>> HOW MANY WOMEN WILL BE INVOLVED IN THIS EVENT?

MALLORY LEWIS>> ONE HUNDRED FORTY WOMEN, AND I'M NOT ONE OF THEM THIS TIME.

JESS>> BUT YOU DO JUMP?

MALLORY LEWIS>> I USED TO, BUT NOW I NEED TO PROTECT MY WRIST.

"LAMB CHOP">> THAT'S BECAUSE OF ME.

VAL>> NOW WE SHOULD SAY, WHEN WE SAY JUMP, YOU MEAN LITERALLY --

MALLORY LEWIS>> -- SKYDIVING.

VAL>> PEOPLE MAY NOT REALIZE YOU ARE AN EXPERIENCED SKYDIVER?

MALLORY LEWIS>> YES. I HAVE OVER SEVEN HUNDRED JUMPS WHICH ACTUALLY PUTS ME AT THE BOTTOM END OF EXPERIENCED.

JESS>> OH, REALLY?

VAL>> AND SO YOU ARE USING YOUR JUMPING EXPERIENCE AND THOSE OF OTHER EXPERIENCED JUMPERS TO RAISE MONEY FOR BREAST CANCER RESEARCH?

MALLORY LEWIS>> MONEY AND AWARENESS. ONE HUNDRED FORTY WOMEN ARE COMING FROM AROUND THE WORLD TO RAISE MONEY AND SET A NEW WOMEN'S WORLD RECORD. THAT IS THEM LAST YEAR JUMPING OUT OF EIGHT DIFFERENT AIRPLANES AT PARIS VALLEY SKYDIVING TO FORM THE LARGEST PINK DOILY YOU'VE EVER SEEN (LAUGHTER).

VAL>> SO THIS YEAR, YOU'RE GOING TO TRY TO BREAK THE RECORD?

MALLORY LEWIS>> WE'RE GOING TO TRY AND BREAK THE RECORD AND RAISE A LOT OF AWARENESS WHICH, OF COURSE, YOU'RE HELPING US DO. THANK YOU.

JESS>> NOW HOW LONG DO THEY HAVE TO STAY IN FORMATION?

MALLORY LEWIS>> THEY HAVE TO BUILD THE FORMATION SLOT PERFECT AND HOLD IT FOR THREE SECONDS IN ORDER FOR IT TO BE AN FAA AND FAI RECORD.

JESS>> MEANWHILE, DROPPING AT --

MALLORY LEWIS>> -- ONE HUNDRED TWENTY MILES PER SECOND PER SECOND, OR SOMETHING SCARY LIKE THAT.

VAL>> NOW WERE YOU PART OF THIS GROUP?

MALLORY LEWIS>> I WAS.

VAL>> THIS GROUP?

MALLORY LEWIS>> I WAS, BUT I'M GROUNDED NOW AND IT'S ALL YOUR FAULT, LAMB CHOP (LAUGHTER).

"LAMB CHOP">> YEAH, WELL -- OH, FINE. SHE BLAMES ME FOR EVERYTHING.

VAL>> LAMB CHOP, HAVE YOU EVER JUMPED OUT OF A PLANE?

"LAMB CHOP">> UM-HUM. I JUMPED IN MALLORY'S JUMPSUIT. SHE SHOVED ME DOWN THERE.

JESS>> SHE WHAT?

"LAMB CHOP">> SHE PUTS ME RIGHT DOWN THERE IN HER SHIRT.

VAL>> (LAUGHTER) THAT'S A COMFORTABLE PLACE TO BE.

MALLORY LEWIS>> WELL, I'M AFRAID THE CHEST STRAP IS A LITTLE BIT TIGHT ON HER (LAUGHTER).

VAL>> AND WHAT DO YOU REALLY HOPE? WHAT IS THE LATEST IN BREAST CANCER RESEARCH? ARE THEY MAKING PROGRESS?

MALLORY LEWIS>> WELL, THEY ARE MAKING PROGRESS, BUT, YOU KNOW, IT'S INTERESTING. IN SEPTEMBER 11, 2001, WE LOST 3,000 PEOPLE TO TERRORISM. EVERY YEAR, WE LOSE 43,000 WOMEN. THAT'S 2001, 2002 AND, IF WE DON'T WIN THIS BATTLE AGAINST THAT KIND OF TERRORISM, THE INTERNAL TERRORISM OF THE CANCER CELLS, WE'LL LOSE 43,000 WOMEN NEXT YEAR TOO AND THE YEAR AFTER. SO THERE IS PROGRESS, BUT MONEY AND AWARENESS -- I MEAN, EARLY BREAST EXAMS AND MONEY FOR RESEARCH. YOU KNOW, THE NEW DRUGS ARE COMING OUT EVERY DAY, BUT IF PEOPLE ARE NOT AWARE OF THE DANGERS OF BREAST CANCER AND DON'T CHECK THEMSELVES AND DON'T SUPPORT THE CITY OF HOPE AND THE OTHER PLACES THAT ARE DOING SUCH GOOD WORK, IN FIVE YEARS I'LL STILL BE HERE GOING "WE'RE STILL LOSING 43,000 PEOPLE".

JESS>> AND BREAST CANCER CUTS ACROSS ALL LIFELINES, ALL AGES, ALL SOCIOECONOMIC SECTIONS.

VAL>> AND IT HITS WOMEN IN THEIR FIFTIES ESPECIALLY HARD --

MALLORY LEWIS>> -- WELL, AND EVERY ONE OF THOSE 43,000 HAS A FAMILY. SO IT DOESN'T JUST AFFECT THE WOMAN WITH THE BREAST CANCER. IT'S THE CHILDREN WHO DON'T HAVE MOTHERS ANYMORE AND THE HUSBANDS WHO DON'T HAVE WIVES AND THE MOTHERS WHO LOSE THEIR DAUGHTERS. SO ARE YOU GOING TO JUMP WITH US NEXT YEAR?

VAL>> OH, I'M HARDLY AN EXPERT. I'D LOVE TO, BUT I THINK I'D REALLY MESS UP THE FORMATION (LAUGHTER). I'D BE THAT PERSON WAY OUT --

MALLORY LEWIS>> -- WELL, WE COULD JUMP IN TANDEM WITH YOU.

"LAMB CHOP">> YOU KNOW WHAT? YOU CAN JUMP WITH ME BECAUSE I DONE IT BEFORE.

VAL>> (LAUGHTER) YOU GOT IT. I'LL HOLD ONTO LAMB CHOP. THAT WILL BE MY SAVING GRACE.

JESS>> WITH THE MILLION DOLLARS YOU RAISE, WHERE WILL IT GO?

MALLORY LEWIS>> IT WILL GO TO THE CITY OF HOPE AND IT WILL GO FOR RESEARCH AND NEW TECHNOLOGY. WE HOPE TO BE ABLE TO SORT OF ENDOW A ROOM OR A PARTICULAR PART OF THE FACILITY AND, YOU KNOW, CALL IT THE "JUMP FOR THE CAUSE", WHATEVER WE CAN AFFORD TO ENDOW. BUT CITY OF HOPE IS WONDERFUL BECAUSE THEY REALLY REACH OUT ACROSS THE COUNTRY AND ACROSS THE WORLD AND THEY'RE ONE OF THE LEADING RESEARCH PLACES IN THE WORLD.

VAL>> AND THEY SHARE THEIR RESEARCH AND THEIR FINDINGS WITH OTHER INSTITUTIONS?

MALLORY LEWIS>> THEY DO. IT IS PART OF WHAT THEY HAVE IN THEIR BYLAWS. THEY DON'T HOG IT, THEY SHARE IT. THEY'RE REALLY TRYING TO HELP PEOPLE, HELP US.

"LAMB CHOP">> THANK YOU, MALLORY. OH, YOU'RE SO WELCOME. LOOK AT CUTE I AM.

MALLORY LEWIS>> (LAUGHTER) OH, LAMB CHOP, STOP IT.

VAL>> (LAUGHTER) MALLORY, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE. AND LAMB CHOP HAS HER FIRST NEW VIDEO, BY THE WAY, IN YEARS. IT'S CALLED "LAMB CHOP, CHANUKAH AND PASSOVER SURPRISE" AND IT INCLUDES SOME MEMORABLE MOMENTS WITH SHARI LEWIS AND NEW MATERIAL AS WELL WITH MALLORY. IT'S AVAILABLE NOW ON DVD.

"LAMB CHOP">> IT'S MY FIRST DVD.

VAL>> (LAUGHTER) CONGRATULATIONS.

LIFEANDTIMES@KCET.ORG
WWW.KCET.ORG.
LIFE AND TIMES TONIGHT
4401 SUNSET BLVD.
LOS ANGELES, CA 90027
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JESS>> L.A.'S NEWEST AND PERHAPS MOST SPECTACULAR ARCHITECTURAL LANDMARK IS GOING UP FAST. DISNEY HALL IS SLATED TO OPEN ONE YEAR FROM NOW. THE DISTINCTIVE STAINLESS STEEL EXTERIOR IS NOW BEING ATTACHED AND INSIDE 2,200 SEATS WILL SURROUND THE LOS ANGELES PHILHARMONIC. EXPERTS SAY THE ACOUSTICS WILL BE AMONG THE BEST IN THE WORLD.

VAL>> A HUNDRED YEARS FROM NOW WHEN HISTORIANS WANT TO LOOK BACK AT THE CONSTRUCTION OF DISNEY HALL, THEY WILL HAVE PLENTY OF PHOTOS TO CHOOSE FROM. MANY ARE CONTAINED IN A NEW BOOK BY FORMER DISTRICT ATTORNEY GIL GARCETTI. THE BOOK IS CALLED "IRON: ERECTING THE WALT DISNEY CONCERT HALL" AND GIL GARCETTI JOINS US NOW TO TALK ABOUT IT. WELCOME BACK.

GIL GARCETTI>> THANKS, VAL. APPRECIATE IT, JESS.

JESS>> WHEN WE FIRST TALKED WITH YOU ABOUT THIS PROJECT, IT WAS IN ITS BEGINNING STAGES, BUT NOW THE BOOK IS OUT AND THE BUILDING IS COMING ALONG VERY NICELY TOO.

GIL GARCETTI>> THE TIMING IS EXACTLY WHAT I WANTED IN TERMS OF THE BOOK COMING OUT FULLY A YEAR BEFORE THE BUILDING IS FINISHED BECAUSE FRANK GEHRY IS GOING TO GET ALL THE DESERVED CREDIT, BUT I WANTED A LITTLE FOCUS ON THE TRADESPEOPLE WHO MADE IT HAPPEN, THE IRONWORKERS. LET'S GIVE THEM SOME THANKS. GIVE THEM A LITTLE RESPECT THAT I THINK TOO OFTEN THEY NEVER GET AND THIS BOOK MAYBE WILL HELP DO THAT.

JESS>> YOU'VE ALWAYS BEEN A PHOTOGRAPHER. WHAT DREW YOU TO THIS PROJECT?

GIL GARCETTI>> JESS, IT WAS VERY INTERESTING. I'M LITERALLY LEAVING A MEETING DOWNTOWN AND, AS I'M MAKING A RIGHT-HAND TURN BETWEEN THE DOROTHY CHANDLER PAVILION AND THE DISNEY HALL, I SEE THIS ONE IRONWORKER HIGH UP ON ALL FOURS CRAWLING OVER A BEAM. I SAID I'VE GOT TO PHOTOGRAPH IT. I STARTED PHOTOGRAPHING AND THAT JUST CONTINUED. IT WAS A MARVELOUS SITUATION WHERE IT WAS BOTH THE IRONWORKER, THE MEN AND THE WOMAN -- ONE WOMAN IRONWORKER THERE -- BUT ALSO THE GEOMETRY OF THE IRON WAS SO BEAUTIFUL.

VAL>> AND YOU CAN SEE THAT IN YOUR PICTURES. I THINK IT REALLY COMES OUT BECAUSE YOU CHOSE TO STAY WITH BLACK AND WHITE.

GIL GARCETTI>> ALL BLACK AND WHITE.

JESS>> AND FRANK GEHRY CHOSE TO STAY WITH ALL CURVES. NO STRAIGHT LINES.

GIL GARCETTI>> MOST DEFINITELY. AND THIS WAS WHAT THE INCREDIBLE CHALLENGE WAS FOR THE IRONWORKERS. THEY'RE USED TO PUTTING UP BUILDINGS, BUT VERTICAL AND HORIZONTAL BUILDINGS. WHEN THEY DO THE FIRST FLOOR, THEY KNOW WHAT THE NEXT THIRTY OR FORTY FLOORS ARE GOING TO BE LIKE. HERE, YOU HAD 110-FOOT BEAMS THAT WERE CURVED OUT, SEVENTEEN DEGREE LEAN. THEY'D NEVER WORKED WITH ANY BEAMS LIKE THAT. VERY FEW IRONWORKERS EVER HAD. SO IT WAS AN INCREDIBLE CHALLENGE, BUT ALSO INCREDIBLY DANGEROUS. BUT THEY ROSE TO THE CHALLENGE. SOMETIMES THEY MAY HAVE MUTTERED SOME THINGS UNDER THEIR BREATH ABOUT FRANK GEHRY, BUT FOR THE MOST PART, THEY REALLY ENJOYED THIS CHALLENGE AND THEY MET THE CHALLENGE.

JESS>> AND THEY WELCOMED YOU CLIMBING AROUND UP THERE WITH THEM?

GIL GARCETTI>> JESS, THEY COULDN'T BELIEVE IT. THEY'D SAY ARE YOU REALLY THE D.A.? I SAID NO, I WAS THE D.A. AND THEY'D SAY YEAH, I KNOW YOU WERE. WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE? I SAID I'M JUST TAKING SOME PHOTOGRAPHS. YOU KNOW, I WANT TO GIVE YOU A COPY OF THE PHOTOGRAPH. THIS IS JUST BETWEEN US. THEY WERE THE ONES THAT CAME UP WITH THE IDEA ABOUT A BOOK.

THEY'D SAY ARE YOU GOING TO DO A BOOK? I'D SAY I'M NOT GOING TO DO ANY BOOK, NO. THIS IS JUST BETWEEN US. I WAS DOING IT FOR A FEW MONTHS AND I WANTED TO DO SOMETHING FOR THEM. THEY KEPT ENCOURAGING AND KEPT ENCOURAGING AND I FINALLY SAID, OKAY, LET'S SEE IF WE CAN DO A BOOK. ONCE I SAID YES, BALCONY PRESS, OUR PUBLISHER, SAID WE WANT TO DO IT, THIS IS GOING TO BE GREAT. I SAID ALL RIGHT, ALL MY PROCEEDS THEN I WANT TO GO TO THE IRONWORKERS SCHOLARSHIP FUND BECAUSE THESE ARE THE PEOPLE THAT I'M DOING IT FOR.

VAL>> AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT PEOPLE HAVE TO REMEMBER IS THAT THE BEAMS WHICH ARE EXPOSED WHEN YOU SHOT THEM ARE NOW BEING COVERED UP, NEVER TO BE SEEN AGAIN, WE HOPE IN A WAY. SO THIS IS ALSO ONE OF THE MOTIVATIONS BECAUSE YOU KNEW, IF YOU DIDN'T GET THESE PHOTOGRAPHS NOW, THEY WOULD BE LOST VIRTUALLY FOREVER.

GIL GARCETTI>> MOST DEFINITELY. VAL, WHEN YOU SEE THE GORGEOUSNESS OF THE IRON, AND I REALLY MEAN IT, IT'S THE GEOMETRY OF THE IRON, THE SHADOWS AND ALL, I CAUGHT IT WHEN IT WAS EXPOSED. IT'S LIKE SEEING THE BONES, THE VEINS, WHAT'S INSIDE THE HUMAN BODY. BUT NOW IT IS ALL COVERED UP AND IT'S GOING TO BE BEAUTIFUL, BUT THE PEOPLE WHO ENJOY THE CONCERT HALL AND LOOK AT THE MAGIC OF THE ARCHITECTURE WILL NOT KNOW WHAT IT TOOK TO GET THOSE CURVES IN THERE IN THE FIRST PLACE.

VAL>> WELL, THEY MAY KNOW NOW BECAUSE THAT'S THE WHOLE POINT THAT YOU'VE CAPTURED.

GIL GARCETTI>> WELL, I HOPE SO.

JESS>> VERY APPROPRIATE TOO THAT IT'S DONE IN BLACK AND WHITE.

GIL GARCETTI>> WELL, THAT'S THE MEDIUM THAT I HAVE ALWAYS USED AND CERTAINLY, BECAUSE IT IS IRON, IT JUST GIVES THE TEXTURE THAT I WANTED AND THE FEELING THAT I WANTED. BUT, AGAIN, IT'S THESE IRONWORKERS -- I HAVE A COUPLE COPIES FOR YOU. I EVEN SIGNED THEM FOR YOU -- THAT YOU JUST CAN SENSE THE DANGER, YOU CAN SENSE THE BEAUTY, BUT YOU CAN ALSO SENSE THE PRIDE THAT THE IRONWORKERS HAVE IN DOING IT. NOT MANY PEOPLE ARE GOING TO BE WILLING TO GO UP THERE AND DO WHAT THEY ARE DOING.

VAL>> WERE THERE ANY INJURIES?

GIL GARCETTI>> THERE WERE SOME INJURIES, BUT THERE WAS NO ONE KILLED, NO SERIOUS INJURIES, AND IRON WORK IS THE THIRD MOST DANGEROUS JOB IN THE UNITED STATES. PEOPLE ARE GETTING KILLED AND SERIOUSLY HURT ALL THE TIME.

VAL>> WHAT ARE THE FIRST TWO? NOT D.A. (LAUGHTER)

GIL GARCETTI>> (LAUGHTER) WELL, YEAH, HERE'S YOUR FIRST VICTIM, THE D.A. NO, COMMERCIAL DEEP SEA FISHING AND FIREFIGHTING.

VAL>> AND THEN IRON WORKING.

GIL GARCETTI>> AND THEN IRONWORKERS.

JESS>> THE PHOTOGRAPHS WERE ALREADY TAKEN, BUT WHILE THIS WAS BEING CONSTRUCTED AND PUT TOGETHER -- THE BOOK, NOT THE BUILDING -- YOU WERE OFF TEACHING AT HARVARD.

GIL GARCETTI>> I AM. I JUST STARTED TEACHING AT HARVARD AT THE KENNEDY SCHOOL AND THAT'S AN ENTIRELY NEW EXPERIENCE. IT'S A MARVELOUS EXPERIENCE. I'M TEACHING A SEMINAR ENTITLED "THE INTERACTION OF THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM, RACE, POLITICS AND THE MEDIA". IT'S A TEN-YEAR COURSE (LAUGHTER). BUT MY STUDENTS AND MY FELLOW FELLOWS -- I'M CALLED A FELLOW AT THE KENNEDY SCHOOL -- ARE ALL EXCITED ABOUT THIS BOOK. THEY WANTED TO MAKE SURE I BRING THE BOOK BACK AND SHOW IT TO THEM.

THEY SAY, HOW COME YOU'RE ABLE TO DO THIS? THIS IS SOMETHING I ALWAYS WANTED TO DO. I HEAR THAT SO OFTEN FROM LAWYERS AND OTHERS, THAT'S REALLY WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO DO. SO I FEEL I'M REALLY BLESSED HAVING MET THESE IRONWORKERS, HAVING WORKED WITH THEM, HAVING MET MY PUBLISHER AND THESE WONDERFUL PEOPLE THAT ARE MAKING THIS POSSIBLE FOR THE IRONWORKERS AND REALLY FOR THE TRADESPEOPLE OF OUR COUNTRY WHO SIMPLY DO NOT GET THE RESPECT THAT I THINK THEY DESERVE.

VAL>> NOW THIS WAS A RATHER UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY. I MEAN, WHEN YOU LOOK AHEAD, ARE THERE ANY OTHER PROJECTS LIKE THIS? I MEAN, THIS IS REALLY UNUSUAL.

GIL GARCETTI>> VERY UNUSUAL. NOT IN LOS ANGELES, UNFORTUNATELY. I HOPE THAT FRANK GEHRY HAS ANOTHER OPPORTUNITY TO DO SOMETHING IN LOS ANGELES BECAUSE HIS ARCHITECTURE IS SO INCREDIBLE. THIS BUILDING WILL BE THE SIGNATURE ARCHITECTURAL BUILDING CERTAINLY IN LOS ANGELES IF NOT THE WEST COAST. HE HAS OTHER PROJECTS THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY AND THROUGHOUT THE WORLD, BUT UNFORTUNATELY, NONE HERE.

VAL>> I'M JUST SAYING THAT YOUR CAMERA WILL HAVE TO SIT IN THE CLOSET FOR A LITTLE WHILE OR --

GIL GARCETTI>> -- OH, NO, NO. I'VE GOT A COUPLE OF OTHER PROJECTS UNDERWAY, BUT --

JESS>> -- WE JUST HAVE ABOUT THIRTY SECONDS LEFT, BUT I HAVE TO ASK HOW'S YOUR SON, ERIC, DOING AT THE CITY COUNCIL?

GIL GARCETTI>> WELL, THIS IS FROM A VERY UNBIASED INDIVIDUAL --

JESS>> -- THAT'S WHY WE ONLY GIVE YOU THIRTY SECONDS (LAUGHTER).

GIL GARCETTI>> (LAUGHTER) HE'S DOING FABULOUS. HE LOVES IT. HE TRULY DOES. HE'S LEARNING A LOT AND HE TELLS ME THAT I CAN'T BELIEVE HOW MUCH WE'RE ACTUALLY ACCOMPLISHING. THE FEEL OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING, PARKS, THINGS LIKE THAT, THINGS HE REALLY PASSIONATELY CARES ABOUT.

VAL>> POLITICS IN HIS BLOOD.

GIL GARCETTI>> INDEED.

JESS>> OUR THANKS TO GIL GARCETTI. AGAIN, THE BOOK IS CALLED "IRON: ERECTING THE WALT DISNEY CONCERT HALL" AND PROCEEDS FROM THE BOOK DO GO TO THE IRONWORKERS SCHOLARSHIP FUND.

VAL>> THAT'S OUR PROGRAM FOR TONIGHT. CHECK OUT OUR WEBSITE FOR TRANSCRIPTS AND STREAMING AUDIO OF OUR PROGRAMS AT KCET.ORG.

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

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