10/24/02

LC021024

VAL ZAVALA>> TONIGHT ON LIFE AND TIMES --

JESS MARLOW>> THE GOVERNMENT'S NEW GUIDELINES FOR ORGANIC FOOD MAY HELP KEEP AMERICA HEALTHY, BUT SOME SAY THOSE RULES MIGHT KILL SOME FAMILY FARMS.

BILL COLEMAN>> WE USE THE WORD ORGANIC TO GET PEOPLE TO ASK US ABOUT OUR AGRICULTURAL PRACTICES SO WE CAN EXPLAIN THAT WE'RE STEWARDS OF THE EARTH AND WE CARE ABOUT OUR CUSTOMERS, AND NOW THEY'VE TAKEN THE WORD AWAY FROM US AND I THINK IT'S A TRAVESTY.

VAL>> EVERYBODY WANTS AFFORDABLE HOUSING, BUT ARE CALIFORNIA TAXPAYERS WILLING TO HELP PAY FOR IT? TONIGHT THE PROS AND CONS OF PROP 46, A $2 BILLION DOLLAR HOUSING MEASURE THAT'S ON THE NOVEMBER BALLOT.

JESS>> AND THEN, LOOKING FOR A BETTER WAY TO DO JUST ABOUT EVERYTHING. PATT MORRISON HAS FOUND A FEW INNOVATIONS JUST WAITING TO BE TRIED.

PATT MORRISON>> WHAT'S THE BIG IDEA? THE LITTLE ONES MAY DO QUITE NICELY -- ON TONIGHT'S INFINITELY MORRISON.

VAL>> PLUS, THE STORY OF AN ITALIAN IMMIGRANT WHO WANTED TO DO SOMETHING BIG AND DID. HIS CREATION BECAME A LOCAL LANDMARK, THE WATTS TOWERS. NOW THEY'RE ON THE NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES, BUT THE TOWERS WERE VERY NEARLY DESTROYED. TONIGHT WE'LL SEE HOW THEY LOOK AFTER A MAJOR FACELIFT.

JESS>> IT'S ALL NEXT ON TONIGHT'S 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. FROM NOW ON, WHEN YOU BUY ORGANIC FOOD, YOU CAN BE SOMEWHAT MORE SURE OF WHAT YOU'RE GETTING. NEW FEDERAL GUIDELINES ENACTED JUST THIS WEEK LAID OUT SOME VERY SPECIFIC STANDARDS THAT WERE NOT THERE BEFORE. GOOD NEWS PERHAPS FOR CONSUMERS, BUT BAD NEWS FOR SCORES OF CALIFORNIA FARMERS.

VAL>> THEY SAY, ALONG WITH THOSE NEW STANDARDS, THERE IS A WHOLE NEW LAYER OF GOVERNMENT RED TAPE THAT GOES WITH BEING CERTIFIED ORGANIC. TONIGHT PHILIP BRUCE LOOKS AT HOW THE NEW RULES MAY AFFECT THE FOOD YOU BUY.

PHILIP BRUCE>> THE SANTA MONICA FARMERS MARKET IS ONE OF THOSE PLACES WHERE THE WORD "ORGANIC" HAS HAD A LOT OF APPEAL, BUT NOW THERE'S A WHOLE NEW WRINKLE. THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT HAS COME UP WITH A STANDARD FOR FARMERS WHO WANT TO LABEL THEIR PRODUCE AS "CERTIFIED ORGANIC" AND SOME FARMERS ARE OUTRAGED BY THE NEW SYSTEM.

BILL COLEMAN>> WE USE THE WORD ORGANIC TO GET PEOPLE TO ASK US ABOUT OUR AGRICULTURAL PRACTICES SO WE CAN EXPLAIN THAT WE'RE STEWARDS OF THE EARTH AND WE CARE ABOUT OUR CUSTOMERS AND THE SOIL AND THE WILDLIFE AND EVERYTHING AROUND US. NOW THEY'VE TAKEN THE WORD AWAY FROM US AND I THINK IT'S A TRAVESTY.

PHILIP BRUCE>> FOR NEARLY FORTY YEARS, BILL COLEMAN HAS SPECIALIZED IN GREENS ON HIS FARM NEAR SANTA BARBARA. HE SAYS FOLLOWING THE NEW FEDERAL GOVERNMENT RULES FOR ORGANIC PRODUCE WOULD DRIVE HIM OUT OF BUSINESS. COLEMAN CLAIMS THAT PAPERWORK AND COST OF CERTIFYING THE NEARLY TWO HUNDRED VEGETABLES HE GROWS WOULD BE NEXT TO IMPOSSIBLE.

BILL COLEMAN>> IT WOULD BE A FINANCIAL BURDEN ON US, A BIG FINANCIAL BURDEN. I MEAN, WE BARELY SUPPORT OURSELVES, YOU KNOW, BUT WE ENJOY WHAT WE'RE DOING AND WE BELIEVE IN IT. OUR GOVERNMENT IS ALWAYS AFTER SMALL BUSINESS AND SMALL FARMERS. THEY'RE JUST TRYING TO PUSH US OUT.

PHILIP BRUCE>> LAURA AVERY MANAGES THE SANTA MONICA MARKET.

LAURA AVERY>> PRIOR TO THIS, CALIFORNIA HAD AN ORGANIC STANDARD, OREGON HAD AN ORGANIC, MAINE, AND THEY WERE ALL DIFFERENT. SOME STATES WOULDN'T ALLOW OTHER PEOPLES' ORGANIC BECAUSE THEY WERE DIFFERENT STANDARDS. NOW THERE IS ONE STANDARD.

PHILIP BRUCE>> BUT NOT ALL SMALL ORGANIC FARMERS ARE UNHAPPY WITH THE NEW RULES. PHIL MCGRATH, A FIFTH GENERATION OXNARD FARMER, HAS BEEN FARMING ORGANICALLY FOR THE LAST DECADE.

PHIL MCGRATH>> NOW YOU HAVE TO MEET A STANDARD. NOW WE HAVE A LEVEL PLAYING FIELD. NOW IT'S NO LONGER THE WILD WEST OUT THERE.

PHILIP BRUCE>> THOUGH MCGRATH LIKES HAVING THE STANDARD, HE DOES OBJECT TO THE FEE.

PHIL MCGRATH>> I HAVE A PERSONAL PRINCIPLE AGAINST THE FEE. I HAVE TO PAY NOT TO SPRAY (LAUGHTER). TO ME, THERE'S SOMETHING INHERENTLY WRONG WITH THAT.

PHILIP BRUCE>> BETTINA BIRCH RUNS A VERY SMALL FARM WITH HER HUSBAND. SHE SAYS, WHILE THERE ARE DOWN SIDES, THEY DECIDED TO GO FOR CERTIFICATION.

BETTINA BIRCH>> ALTHOUGH IT IS A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF PAPERWORK AND ADDITIONAL EXPENSE, WE ARE PRO THAT CERTIFICATION BECAUSE IT VALIDATES WHAT WE'RE DOING. IT IS PROTECTING THE PUBLIC. IT IS TELLING THE PUBLIC THAT THESE PEOPLE HAVE MET THESE STANDARDS.

PHILIP BRUCE>> THE NEW STANDARDS DO NOT IMPRESS BILL COLEMAN.

BILL COLEMAN>> THERE ARE LOOPHOLES IN THOSE LAWS THAT PEOPLE CAN USE SODIUM NITRATE AND DIFFERENT THINGS LIKE THAT ON THEIR SOIL, WHICH IS BAD FOR THE SOIL TO BEGIN WITH, NOT ONLY PEOPLE. WE DON'T GO BY THAT. WE WERE A HUNDRED PERCENT ORGANIC.

BARBARA SPENCER>> THE PEOPLE I KNOW, MOST OF US IN CALIFORNIA ARE ACTUALLY MUCH MORE STRINGENT THAN WHAT THE REGULATIONS REQUIRE.

PHILIP BRUCE>> BARBARA SPENCER'S PASO ROBLES FARM IS CERTIFIED.

BARBARA SPENCER>> WHAT'S REQUIRED IS BASICALLY A HARVEST LOG AND A SALES LOG, PLUS A LOG THAT INVOLVES YOUR INPUTS OF WHAT YOU'RE PUTTING INTO YOUR FIELDS AND THOSE THINGS.

PHILIP BRUCE>> THAT'S SOMETHING THAT REASSURES SOME CUSTOMERS.

GLAIOL PANBECHI>> I WOULD RATHER GO TO THOSE WHO ARE CERTIFIED ORGANIC. I FEEL THERE'S A PROTECTION IN THAT, SOMEONE IS WATCHING WHAT THEY'RE DOING, IT'S UNDER SUPERVISION OF THE GOVERNMENT.

PHILIP BRUCE>> BUT THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT WORRIES OTHERS.

COLIN WALKDEN>> I'M NOT INTERESTED IN WHAT THE GOVERNMENT WANTS FOR ME AND I DON'T TAKE ANY NOTICE OF THE SIGN. I HAVE A DIALOG WITH MY GROWER. THAT'S WHAT EVERYBODY SHOULD BE DOING IF THEY'RE INTERESTED IN WHAT THEY'RE PUTTING IN THEIR BODY. IF YOU'RE NOT INTERESTED, BUY ANY OLD RUBBISH.

PHILIP BRUCE>> CAMPANILE'S CHEF, MARK PEEL, COMES HERE EVERY WEEK TO BUY PRODUCE FOR HIS LOS ANGELES RESTAURANT.

MARK PEEL>> WE TRY TO BUY ORGANIC AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE, BUT THERE ARE A LOT OF FARMERS WHO ADHERE TO THE ORGANIC STANDARDS VERY CLOSELY AND YET DON'T WANT TO GO THROUGH THE PROCESS, THE EXPENSE AND THE PAPERWORK AND DOCUMENTATION THAT IS NECESSARY TO BE CERTIFIED ORGANIC. SO TO ME, THE INTEGRITY OF THE FARMER AND THE QUALITY OF THE PRODUCT IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN THE LABEL.

PHILIP BRUCE>> BUT PEEL SAYS THE NEW SYSTEM WAS INSPIRED BY A WORTHY TREND.

MARK PEEL>> THE INTEREST IN ORGANIC PRODUCTS, VEGETABLES, FRUITS, EVEN MEATS, POULTRY, HAS DEFINITELY EXPLODED.

PHILIP BRUCE>> NOW MAJOR SUPERMARKET CHAINS ARE SETTING UP ORGANIC SECTIONS.

MARK PEEL>> ANYTHING THAT IS INCREASING IN MARKET SHARE IS GOING TO BE OF INTEREST TO THE SUPERMARKETS. IT'S JUST NATURAL. AND ANYTHING THAT IS OF INTEREST TO THE SUPERMARKETS IS GOING TO CREATE LARGE PRODUCERS. THIS IS JUST WHAT HAPPENS. IT'S ECONOMICS. IT'S SOMETHING I APPLAUD, FRANKLY, BECAUSE IF SOMEONE IS GOING TO SUPPLY RALPH'S, IT CAN'T BE A SMALL FARMER WITH FIVE ACRES. IT DOESN'T WORK.

PHILIP BRUCE>> FOR FARMERS MARKET CUSTOMERS, THE DIFFERENCE IS THEY CAN DEAL DIRECTLY WITH THE GROWER AND THEY KNOW THE PRODUCE IS FRESH.

BARBARA SPENCER>> I SAY THE MAJORITY OF THE THINGS YOU GET HERE ARE HARVESTED THE DAY BEFORE. NOTHING MUCH HERE IS OVER TWENTY-FOUR HOURS OLD AND THERE'S A HUGE DIFFERENCE. THE CHEFS KNOW THAT TOO. THAT'S WHY THEY'RE HERE SHOPPING TOO. CASE SETTLED.

BILL COLEMAN>> IF THEY WANT FRESH ORGANIC PRODUCE -- OOPS, FRESH CHEMICAL-FREE PRODUCE -- COME TO THE MARKET ON MARKET DAY. MEET YOUR FARMER, KNOW YOUR FARMER AND PAY A CHEAPER PRICE FOR SOMETHING THAT'S FRESH. I MEAN, JUST BECAUSE IT'S ORGANIC IN THE STORE DOESN'T MEAN IT HASN'T BEEN THERE FOR A WEEK.

JESS>> OF THE 2,100 ORGANIC FARMERS IN CALIFORNIA, ABOUT 700 STILL HAVE NOT RECEIVED THEIR OFFICIAL ORGANIC CERTIFICATION. MANY OF THOSE GROWERS SAY THEY'LL CONTINUE TO FARM AS THEY ALWAYS HAVE, BUT RATHER THAN ORGANIC, THEY'LL CALL THEIR PRODUCE "PESTICIDE AND CHEMICAL-FREE".

VAL>> TOMORROW ON LIFE AND TIMES, DANGER AT THE LOCAL DRY CLEANERS. THEIR CHEMICALS MAY BE HAZARDOUS TO YOUR HEALTH, BUT IS THE THREAT BEING OVERBLOWN?

>> BUT THIS IS A DANGER THAT IS SOMETHING THAT NEEDS TO BE REGULATED AND IT'S IMPACTING EVERYONE BECAUSE A DRY CLEANER IS LOCATED NEAR A SCHOOL, NEAR YOUR PLACE OF BUSINESS, NEAR YOUR HOME.

JESS>> WE'VE ALL HEARD THAT HOMELESS SHELTERS ARE PACKED, THAT CHEAP APARTMENTS ARE HARD TO FIND, THAT YOUNG COUPLES CAN'T AFFORD THEIR FIRST HOME. ON THIS BALLOT IN NOVEMBER, THERE IS A MEASURE THAT MIGHT RELIEVE THOSE PROBLEMS, BUT WOULD IT BE WORTH THE PRICE?

VAL>> WE'RE TALKING ABOUT PROP 46, A $2 BILLION DOLLAR HOUSING AND EMERGENCY SHELTER MEASURE. IT WOULD PROVIDE MORE THAN $900 MILLION DOLLARS FOR RENTAL HOUSING, $495 MILLION DOLLARS TO SUPPLEMENT PRIVATE HOME OWNERSHIP, $390 MILLION DOLLARS FOR EMERGENCY SHELTERS AND $200 MILLION DOLLARS TO HOUSE FARM WORKERS. TONIGHT WE WILL HEAR THE PROS AND CONS OF PROP 46. ON THE PRO SIDE IS ALLAN KINGSTON. HE IS PRESIDENT OF CENTURY HOUSING, A NONPROFIT GROUP DEDICATED TO CREATING MORE AFFORDABLE HOUSING. AND HERE TO ARGUE AGAINST PROP 46 IS STUART JOHNSON, A REPUBLICAN CONGRESSIONAL CANDIDATE WHO'S EXPRESSING THE OFFICIAL POSITION OF HIS PARTY. WELCOME, BOTH OF YOU, TO LIFE AND TIMES.

ALLAN KINGSTON>> THANK YOU.

STUART JOHNSON>> THANK YOU.

JESS>> MR. JOHNSON, THIS SEEMS LIKE A PERFECT LIST OF THINGS WE NEED. WHAT'S THE OPPOSITION?

STUART JOHNSON>> I HAVE NO OPPOSITION TO THE GOALS THAT ARE TRYING TO BE ACHIEVED OSTENSIBLY BY THIS BOND MEASURE. WE OBVIOUSLY HAVE HOUSING PROBLEMS AND HOUSING SHORTAGES IN PARTS OF CALIFORNIA. WE NEED TO ADDRESS THOSE. I THINK THIS IS A WELL-INTENDED MEASURE THAT IS GOING TO HAVE DEVASTATING CONSEQUENCES FISCALLY FOR OUR STATE AND I THINK IT'S IRRESPONSIBLE TO PASS THIS MEASURE THIS YEAR.

VAL>> LIKE WHAT KIND OF DEVASTATING EFFECTS?

STUART JOHNSON>> WELL, WE HAVE RIGHT NOW MORE THAN A $24 BILLION DOLLAR DEFICIT IN OUR STATE. I THINK THE WORST THING THAT WE COULD DO -- WHEN WE'VE ALREADY PROVEN AND SHOWN THAT THE LEGISLATORS IN SACRAMENTO ARE ACTING FISCALLY IRRESPONSIBLE, I THINK THE WORST THING THAT WE COULD DO IS INCUR FURTHER DEBT, ALMOST $3 BILLION DOLLARS ALL TOLD ONCE THE PRINCIPAL AND INTEREST IS PAID ON THIS BOND, AND SEND MORE MONEY TO SACRAMENTO WITHOUT A CLEAR DIRECTION AS TO WHERE IT SHOULD BE SPENT. ULTIMATELY, I DON'T THINK THIS IS GOING TO SPECIFICALLY ADDRESS THE ISSUE AT HAND, WHICH IS HOUSING.

JESS>> MR. KINGSTON, YOU OBVIOUSLY DON'T AGREE.

ALLAN KINGSTON>> NO, I DON'T AGREE. I DON'T AGREE BECAUSE, WHAT THIS MEASURE REALLY IS, IS AN ECONOMIC STIMULUS MEASURE AND I DON'T THINK -- PEOPLE THINK ABOUT THE NEED AN AWFUL LOT. THEY THINK OF THE NEED FOR HOUSING AND THERE IS A TREMENDOUS NEED FOR HOUSING, AS YOU SAID. BUT WHAT'S REALLY INTERESTING ABOUT THIS PARTICULAR BOND ISSUE IS THAT IT DOES PROVIDE A STIMULUS TO THE ECONOMY OF CALIFORNIA OVER THE NEXT SEVERAL YEARS AND THE WORK HAS TO BE DONE IN THE NEXT FOUR YEARS, ACCORDING TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE BOND ISSUE.

MORE THAN 275,000 JOBS WOULD BE CREATED THROUGH THE ADDITION OF THIS HOUSING AND SOMETHING LIKE $25 BILLION DOLLARS IN GOODS AND SERVICES THAT ARE GOING TO BE PURCHASED BY THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE IN THESE HOUSES AND IN THESE APARTMENTS WHO ARE GOING TO GO OUT AND BUY THESE THINGS. THAT'S A TREMENDOUS STIMULUS TO THE ECONOMY OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA AND I WOULD ARGUE THAT THAT'S IMPORTANT. ANY TIME WHEN YOU HAVE THE KIND OF TIMES THAT WE'RE IN -- AND I CERTAINLY DON'T DISPUTE THAT WE ARE IN THE KIND OF ECONOMIC TIMES WHERE WE DON'T WANT TO SEE MORE THINGS COME TO THE TAXPAYER -- HOWEVER, THERE IS AN OPPORTUNITY HERE TO DO SOME REALLY GOOD THINGS FOR PEOPLE WHO REALLY ARE IN NEED OF THE HOUSING, AT THE SAME TIME PROVIDE AN ECONOMIC STIMULUS THAT EVENTUALLY WILL LEVERAGE THIS $2 BILLION DOLLARS UP TO ANOTHER $13 BILLION DOLLARS IN JUST THE HOUSING ITSELF.

VAL>> MR. JOHNSON, ONE OF THE COMPLAINTS, OR CRITICISMS, IS THAT THE MONEY, LET'S SAY, FOR HELPING YOUNG PEOPLE BUY A HOME, GET A DOWN PAYMENT TOGETHER, THAT ACTUALLY THAT WILL NOT REALLY HAVE THAT EFFECT. IS THAT CORRECT?

STUART JOHNSON>> WELL, I THINK THIS ALL KIND OF TIES BACK TO THE IDEA OF HAVING ECONOMIC STIMULUS, BY THE WAY, FOR OUR STATE. IF WE'RE GOING TO HELP PEOPLE WHO WANT TO TRY AND MAKE THAT FIRST DOWN PAYMENT ON A HOME, THE BEST THING WE CAN DO, I THINK, TO HAVE FURTHER ECONOMIC STIMULUS FOR OUR STATE IS TO BRING JOBS TO THE STATE. IF WE ACTUALLY WERE TO START BRINGING JOBS BACK TO THE STATE, RIGHT NOW WE'D SEE EVERY -- IN MY DISTRICT ALONE, I MEET WITH PEOPLE EVERY DAY AND I'M ALWAYS HEARING ABOUT JOBS LEAVING OUR STATE. I NEVER HEAR ABOUT THEM COMING.

JESS>> BUT YOU DON'T THINK THIS STIMULUS WOULD CREATE NEW JOBS?

STUART JOHNSON>> I THINK THE BEST WAY TO STIMULATE OUR ECONOMY IS NOT TO GIVE $2 BILLION DOLLARS OR ALMOST $3 BILLION DOLLARS OF SPENDING POWER TO LEGISLATORS AND BUREAUCRATS IN SACRAMENTO. IT WOULD BRING ACTUAL JOBS TO THE STATE AND HAVE MORE EMPLOYED AT BETTER WAGES.

VAL>> BUT IS IT TRUE THAT THE HELP FOR A DOWN PAYMENT -- I WANT TO PIN THIS DOWN -- THE HELP TO YOUNG COUPLES TO GET A DOWN PAYMENT TOGETHER TO BUY A HOME WOULD NOT APPLY TO SUBURBS? THAT YOU WOULD HAVE TO BUY A HOME IN THE INNER CITY? IS THAT CORRECT?

ALLAN KINGSTON>> THAT'S NOT PART OF THE BILL. NO, THE BILL ALLOWS ANYONE IN THE STATE TO BE ABLE TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE TERMS OF THE BILL. THE BILL IS WRITTEN SO THAT, ALL OVER THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA, THERE WILL BE EQUAL OPPORTUNITY FOR PEOPLE TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF EITHER THE DOWN PAYMENT ASSISTANCE OR THE ASSISTANCE AS IT COMES IN THE OTHER FORMS THAT ARE THROUGH EXISTING PROGRAMS.

JESS>> BUT IS IT NOT LIMITED TO SPECIFIC AREAS?

STUART JOHNSON>> THERE ARE PREFERENCES SET FORTH IN THE MEASURE THAT SAYS WHICH AREAS OF THE STATE AND WHAT TYPES OF AREAS, I SHOULD SAY, ARE TARGETED FOR THIS MEASURE. SO IT DOES TARGET SPECIFIC AREAS AND I THINK ULTIMATELY THE PREFERENCES WOULDN'T GO TO AREAS LIKE THE SUBURBS WHERE YOUNG COUPLES ARE PURCHASING A FIRST HOME. I DON'T THINK IT'S GOING TO AFFECT THAT AREA.

ALLAN KINGSTON>> THAT MAY BE, BUT WHEN YOU ARE IN A SITUATION THAT YOU HAVE LOS ANGELES ALREADY LISTED AS THE MOST CROWDED METROPOLITAN AREA IN AMERICA, YOU HAVE SITUATIONS HERE IN THE INNER CITY AND IN THE URBAN AREAS WHERE THERE IS A TREMENDOUS DEMAND FOR HOUSING. AND A TREMENDOUS DEMAND FOR HOUSING FROM NOT JUST PEOPLE WHO NEED THE HOUSING BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH OF IT, BUT PEOPLE LIKE HOMELESS PEOPLE. IN CALIFORNIA, WE HAVE SOMETHING LIKE 360,000 HOMELESS PEOPLE.

THIS BILL WILL ALSO ASSIST WITH SHELTERS. IT WILL ALSO ASSIST BATTERED WOMEN TO HAVE SHELTERS. THERE WERE SOMETHING LIKE 20,000 OCCASIONS LAST YEAR IN CALIFORNIA WHERE WOMEN AND CHILDREN COULD NOT FIND A PLACE TO GO BECAUSE THE FUNDS WERE NOT AVAILABLE FOR THE KIND OF TEMPORARY SHELTERS THAT WOULD PROVIDE FOR THESE PEOPLE. THE OTHER IMPORTANT AREA IS THE AREA OF SENIOR HOUSING. SENIORS WHO ARE OUR PARENTS OR OUR GRANDPARENTS OR WHATEVER ARE LOOKING FOR HOUSING IN CALIFORNIA. IT'S SIMPLY NOT AVAILABLE AND --

VAL>> -- I'M GOING TO LET HIM RESPOND FIRST TO THE EMERGENCY SHELTERS. WILL IT ACTUALLY CREATE EMERGENCY SHELTERS?

STUART JOHNSON>> WELL, ONCE AGAIN, I AGREE WITH MY COUNTERPART IN THAT THESE GOALS ARE LAUDABLE. THESE ARE GOALS THAT I WANT AND OUR PARTY WANTS AND THE ENTIRE STATE WANTS TO ATTAIN. I DON'T THINK THIS IS GOING TO DO THAT. IF YOU LOOK THROUGH THE ACTUAL LANGUAGE OF THE MEASURE, NOWHERE DOES IT MENTION BATTERED WOMEN. NOWHERE DOES IT PROVIDE SPECIFICALLY FOR THOSE TYPES OF HOUSING. WHAT I'D LIKE --

VAL>> -- IN THE ACTUAL TEXT?

STUART JOHNSON>> IN THE ACTUAL TEXT, AND THAT'S ULTIMATELY WHAT WE HAVE TO GO BY. I MEAN, ALL WE CAN GO BY ARE THE WORDS THAT ARE PRESENTED TO THE VOTERS HERE. SECONDLY, IF WE DO HAVE CERTAIN AREAS OF THE STATE, DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES, PARTS OF SAN FRANCISCO, WHERE WE HAVE TRUE HOUSING SHORTAGES, WHY DON'T WE DO SOMETHING DIFFERENT?

WHY DON'T WE HAVE OUR STATE SIMPLY DESIGNATE AREAS AS HOUSING DEVELOPMENT AREAS? WHY DON'T WE THEN OPEN UP THE FLOODGATES, HAVE DEVELOPERS COME IN, DEVELOP THOSE AREAS AND PROVIDE THEM WITH TAX INCENTIVES TO COME IN AND SAY THIS MIGHT NOT BE NORMALLY A PROFITABLE AREA FOR YOU TO BUILD HOMES, LET ALONE MORE AFFORDABLE HOMES RATHER THAN THE MINI-MANSIONS THAT YOU'RE BUILDING ON THE OUTSKIRTS OR THE SUBURBS, AND GIVE THEM TAX CREDITS FOR DOING THAT?

JESS>> WE'VE BUT THIRTY SECONDS LEFT, BUT I HAVE TO ASK YOU. YOU SAY THIS CAN BE ACHIEVED WITHOUT ANY TAX INCREASE?

ALLAN KINGSTON>> WELL, THAT'S CORRECT. IT CAN BE ACHIEVED WITHOUT A TAX INCREASE. IT IS A BOND ISSUE AND I THINK WE HAVE TO REMEMBER THAT SIXTY-FIVE PERCENT OF THESE FUNDS WILL BE PAID BACK. THESE ARE LOANS THAT WILL BE PAID BACK TO THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA.

VAL>> STUART JOHNSON OF CENTURY HOUSING -- I'M SORRY (LAUGHTER), DON'T WANT TO MIX YOU GUYS UP -- REPUBLICAN CONGRESSIONAL CANDIDATE STUART JOHNSON, THANK YOU SO MUCH. AND ALLAN KINGSTON WITH CENTURY HOUSING, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE.

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

JESS>> BIG IDEAS ARE THE ONES THAT OFTEN CHANGE THE WORLD, BUT LITTLE IDEAS ARE THE ONES THAT CAN CHANGE OUR LIVES. PATT HAS A FEW THOUGHTS ABOUT THAT IN TONIGHT'S INFINITELY MORRISON.

PATT MORRISON>> BEFORE YOU HEAR THIS, KEEP IN MIND THAT SOME OF THE MOST INVENTIVE IDEAS AND ENDURING TRUTHS INITIALLY MET WITH CONTEMPT. EVIDENCE THE SOLAR CENTRIC SOLAR SYSTEM AND THE IDEA OF VACCINE. ALL RIGHT? OKAY. NOW GET A LOAD OF THIS. THE BOOK IS "FUTURE PERFECT". IT'S PUBLISHED IN ENGLAND WHERE A HEALTHY MEASURE OF ECCENTRICITY IS STILL NOT AN OFFENSE AGAINST THE SANCTITY OF CONFORMITY, UNLIKE OTHER NATIONS I COULD NAME.

IT'S A COLLECTION OF SMALL NOTIONS WITH POTENTIALLY BIG LEVERAGE. NOW SOME OF THEM WOULD TAKE GETTING USED TO, LIKE RECYCLING ELEPHANT DUNG INTO PAPER. I CAN THINK OF MANY BOOKS JUST MEANT TO BE PUBLISHED ON DUNG PAPER. I LIKE THE IDEA OF JOB REFERENCES BEING SUPPLIED NOT BY BOSSES, BUT BY FELLOW EMPLOYEES WHO REALLY KNOW THE MEASURE OF A CO-WORKER. I LIKE BOOMERANG DAY, DEDICATED TO RETURNING ANY BORROWED ITEMS GUILT-FREE.

I LIKE THE IDEA OF SCHOOLS TEACHING REAL-LIFE STUFF LIKE HOW TO CHECK YOUR OIL AND TIRE PRESSURE AND UNDERSTAND THE DETAILS OF YOUR PAYCHECK STUB. I LIKE LOCKERS FOR THE HOMELESS. I LIKE MAKING THE FINE PRINT INTO BIG PRINT. NOW MANY OF THESE SEEM TOO EARNEST LIKE THIS UNIVERSAL FLAG WITH A HEART, THE SCALES OF JUSTICE, A LIGHTNING BOLT, A PEACE SYMBOL. I CAN TELL YOU RIGHT NOW THAT IT WILL NOT BE RUN UP THE FLAGPOLE. FOR SOME PEOPLE, THE LIGHTNING BOLT LOOKS TOO NAZIFIED AND, FOR OTHERS, THE PEACE SYMBOL LOOKS, WELL, TOO PEACEFUL.

BUT LEST ANYONE ACCUSE THE LEFT OF HAVING NO SENSE OF HUMOR, I REFER THEM TO BURGERNOMICS, A NEW WAY OF GAUGING THE WORLD ECONOMY. THE COST OF A BURGER AND FRIES COMPARED TO THE BUYING POWER OF INDIVIDUALS IN THE COUNTRY IN QUESTION. UNDER THE HEADING OF LAWSUITS WAITING TO HAPPEN ARE INSTANT LIE DETECTOR TESTS AT AIRPORTS AND SERVING TASTELESS BUT NUTRITIOUS FOOD TO PRISON INMATES. I DON'T KNOW WHAT THEY GET NOW, BUT I DON'T THINK WOLFGANG PUCK HAS MARKETED A LINE OF SAN QUENTIN CUISINE.

TWO IDEAS, IN PARTICULAR, HAVE MY WHOLEHEARTED ENDORSEMENT. ONE, MEDIATORS IN VIDEO STORES WHERE THE SIGHT OF COUPLES ARGUING OVER WHICH FILM TO RENT IS USUALLY FAR MORE ENTERTAINING THAN ANYTHING ON DVD. AND NATIONAL SLACKER DAY, A DAY TO KNOCK THE PINS OUT FROM UNDER THE WORK ETHIC MANIA AND DEVOTE ONE GOLDEN DAY TO DOING NOTHING. I THINK I'LL START NOW.

VAL>> TONIGHT WE HAVE THE STORY OF AN ITALIAN IMMIGRANT WHO CAME TO LOS ANGELES WITH NO SCHOOLING AND VERY LITTLE MONEY. IN 1921, HE BOUGHT A PIECE OF LAND ON A DEAD-END STREET. THEN, FOR THE NEXT THIRTY YEARS, HE WORKED ON A PROJECT THAT WOULD BECOME A LOCAL LANDMARK, THE WATTS TOWERS.

JESS>> HE USED NO BOLTS, RIVETS OR BLUEPRINTS, JUST A LOT OF IMAGINATION, AND IT ALL STARTED WITH A DREAM OF DOING SOMETHING BIG. TONIGHT WE'LL VISIT THE WATTS TOWERS AND SEE HOW THEY'VE FARED AFTER A MAJOR RENOVATION. OUR TOUR GUIDE IS MARK GREENFIELD.

MARK GREENFIELD>> THE TOWERS ARE PROBABLY ONE OF THE MOST SIGNIFICANT PIECES OF FOLK ART IN THE WORLD. THIS IS AN ART PIECE. YOU KNOW, A LOT OF PEOPLE LOOK AT IT AND THINK IT'S ARCHITECTURE OF SOME KIND, BUT THIS IS ACTUALLY SCULPTURE. IN MANY WAYS, I CONSIDER THIS L.A.'S PREMIER LANDMARK.

[FILM CLIP]

THE TOWERS WERE BUILT BY A MAN NAMED SIMON RODIA WHO MIGRATED HERE FROM ITALY AROUND THE TURN OF THE CENTURY. HE CAME TO LOS ANGELES AROUND 1921 AND THE FIRST THING HE DID WAS PUT AN EIGHT-FOOT FENCE AROUND THE WHOLE PROPERTY AND THEN STARTED BUILDING THE TOWERS.

SIMON WAS VERY MYSTERIOUS AND MERCURIAL. OFTENTIMES, REPORTERS WOULD COME HERE AND THEY'D ASK HIM WHAT HE WAS DOING AND HE WOULDN'T GIVE THEM ANY ANSWER. HE'D KIND OF BRUSH THEM OFF. HIS OWN PERSONAL DESCRIPTION WAS THAT HE SAID I WANT TO DO SOMETHING BIG.

WELL, HE WORKED ON THE TOWERS FOR THIRTY-THREE YEARS BETWEEN 1921 AND 1954 AND HE BUILT THE TOWERS WITHOUT ANY HELP. HE WOULD ACTUALLY TIE HIMSELF TO THE TOWERS WITH A TELEPHONE CLIMBER'S BELT. HE CLIMBED THE TOWERS EACH DAY. HE DIDN'T HAVE A SCAFFOLD. HE'D CARRY A BUCKET OF MORTAR AND A BUCKET OF DECORATIONS.

THE TOWERS ARE CONSTRUCTED PRIMARILY OUT OF CONCRETE, SEASHELLS, BOTTLES, PIECES OF POTTERY, ALL KINDS OF DIFFERENT CERAMICS. I THINK THE HISTORY OF CERAMICS IS REALLY EMBODIED IN THE TOWERS. PIECES OF ROSENTHAL, BLUE WILLOW, THE BOWER, FIESTA, STUFF LIKE THAT. YOU'LL FIND ALL KINDS OF EXAMPLES OF THAT HERE IN THE TOWERS.

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YOU ALSO HAVE TO REMEMBER THAT THIS IS BASICALLY SIMON RODIA'S BACK YARD AND A HOUSE ONCE STOOD HERE, OKAY? THE HOUSE WAS MUCH LIKE THE HOUSES IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD. THIS WAS THE CHIMNEY OF THE HOUSE. THE BACK DOOR OF THE HOUSE IS OVER THERE. THESE ARE HIS TWO MAILBOXES HERE. "SR", THESE ARE HIS INITIALS, AND "1765" IS THE STREET ADDRESS. OVER HERE, THIS IS ACTUALLY THE GARAGE. I KNOW IT LOOKS LIKE SOMETHING FROM "THE FLINTSTONES", BUT THESE ARE BASICALLY SHEETS OF STEEL THAT ARE COVERED WITH CONCRETE.

AGAIN, UP HERE, YOU SEE SIMON RODIA, "SR", HERE AND HERE AND EVEN UP A LITTLE FURTHER, AND THEN YOU SEE "1921" WHICH IS BASICALLY WHEN HE STARTED THE PROPERTY. ALSO YOU SEE "NUESTRO PUEBLO" WHICH, WE THINK, MIGHT HAVE BEEN THE NAME THAT HE GAVE IT. IN MANY WAYS, THE TOWER IS KIND OF LIKE A METAPHOR FOR A BACK YARD, A LOW-MAINTENANCE BACK YARD. YOU KNOW, YOU CAN SEE THE CONCRETE ON THE GROUND IS GREEN TO KIND OF SYMBOLIZE GRASS. THEN YOU'VE GOT, YOU KNOW, THE TALL TOWERS WHICH I GUESS YOU COULD LOOK AT AS TREES AND YOU'VE GOT A GAZEBO WHICH YOU'D FIND IN A BACK YARD.

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THE TALLEST TOWER IS 99 AND ONE-HALF FEET TALL, THE SECOND TALLEST IS 96 FEET, THIRD TALLEST IS 66 FEET. THERE ARE ABOUT SEVENTEEN TOWERS, DEPENDING ON WHAT YOU'D CALL A TOWER. SEVERAL OF THEM HAVE NAMES THAT WE'VE GIVEN TO THEM. THERE'S THE CACTUS GARDEN, THERE'S THE CHIMNEY AND THE BARBECUE PIT AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

WE CALL THIS TOWER THE WEDDING CAKE BECAUSE OF THE WAY IT'S STACKED AND IT PROBABLY HAS THE LARGEST CONCENTRATION OF DECORATIVE TILES AS ANY OF THE TOWERS HERE.

THESE ARE REALLY THE BASIC TOOLS THAT SIMON USED IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE TOWERS. YOU KNOW, YOU CAN SEE IT'S NOTHING TOO SOPHISTICATED. A LOT OF THE REBAR THAT HE USED IN THE CONSTRUCTION, HE ACTUALLY WOULD STICK IT UNDER THE RAILROAD TRACKS AND HE WOULD BEND IT THROUGH LEVERAGE, SO THAT'S HOW HE MADE A LOT OF THESE CURVATURES.

HE USED ALL KINDS OF THINGS TO STAMP INTO CONCRETE. SOMETIMES HE WOULD USE THE SPIGOTS OFF OF WATER FOUNTAINS AND THINGS LIKE THAT. LOTS OF 7-UP, LOTS OF MILK OF MAGNESIA, PROBABLY SOME VICKS BOTTLES IN THERE SOMEWHERE. AND THERE'S A RECURRING THEME IN THE TOWERS, WHICH IS THE HEART. YOU'LL SEE THIS HEART IN MANY DIFFERENT PLACES.

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BECAUSE OF THE NATURE OF CONCRETE, IT TENDS TO CRACK. AND AS MOISTURE GETS INTO THE CRACKS, IT CAUSES RUST. AFTER THE NORTHRIDGE EARTHQUAKE, SOME OF THE FISSURES IN THE TOWERS OPENED UP A LITTLE WIDER AND IT REALLY EXPOSED A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF INTERIOR DAMAGE. WHAT WE'VE ACTUALLY HAD TO DO IS CUT SECTIONS AWAY AND PUT IN NEW METAL AND REPACK IT WITH CONCRETE AND THEN ATTEMPT TO PUT THE DECORATION BACK WHERE IT WAS, SO IT'S BEEN VERY, VERY LABOR-INTENSIVE.

THE TOWERS WILL ALWAYS REQUIRE A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF MAINTENANCE JUST BECAUSE OF THE NATURE OF HOW THEY WERE CONSTRUCTED. BUT FOR ANYTHING TO BE ADDED TO THE TOWERS WOULD BE TO COMPROMISE THE ARTISTIC INTEGRITY OF THE PIECE. YOU KNOW, PEOPLE COME IN AND SAY, WELL, WHY DON'T YOU REPLACE THOSE SEASHELLS, OR WHY DON'T YOU PUT NEW GLASS UP THERE, AND STUFF LIKE THAT. WELL, IT'S LIKE SIMON DIDN'T DO IT, SO WE CAN'T DO IT, YOU KNOW? IT WOULD BE TANTAMOUNT TO TRYING TO PUT THE NOSE BACK ON THE SPHINX.

THE SPIRIT OF THE PEOPLE IN THIS COMMUNITY IS ABOUT OFTENTIMES MAKING THE BEST OF WHAT YOU HAVE AND, IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE TOWERS, SIMON RODIA USED THOSE THINGS THAT REPRESENTED THE CULTURE OF THIS COMMUNITY AT THE TIME. ALSO, YOU HAVE TO REMEMBER THAT WATTS, BACK IN THE DAYS WHEN SIMON WAS HERE, WAS AN EXTREMELY DIVERSE COMMUNITY. WE HAD ALMOST EVERY ETHNIC GROUP THAT REPRESENTS LOS ANGELES TODAY THAT WAS LIVING HERE. AND THOSE MANY COLORS, I THINK, ARE REALLY CAPTURED IN THE PIECES THAT SIMON RODIA USED IN THE TOWERS. SO I THINK THAT REALLY SPEAKS OF THE COMMUNITY'S SENSE OF OWNERSHIP OF THE TOWERS.

JESS>> AND IF YOU'VE NEVER BEEN TO THE WATTS TOWERS IN PERSON, NOW IS A GOOD TIME TO GO. A NEW METRO STATION JUST OPENED NEARBY. YOU CAN CALL THE NUMBER ON YOUR SCREEN FOR INFORMATION. THERE ARE TOURS EVERY DAY OF THE WEEK EXCEPT MONDAY.

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