10/29/02

LC021029

VAL ZAVALA>> TONIGHT ON LIFE AND TIMES --

JESS MARLOW>> LOS ANGELES HAS A NEW POLICE CHIEF, BUT IS HE UP TO THE CHALLENGE OF STOPPING THE BLOODSHED IN THE CITY’S DEADLIEST NEIGHBORHOOD?

ED TURLEY>> HERE IN SOUTH CENTRAL, IT’S JUST ANOTHER DAY IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD WHEN SOMEBODY GETS KILLED AND, AS LONG AS INDIVIDUALS CAN GET AWAY WITH MURDER, WHAT’S GOING TO STOP THEM FROM DOING IT AGAIN?

VAL>> BILL SIMON’S LATEST AD HITS GRAY DAVIS RIGHT IN THE BUDGET.

BILL SIMON>> “EVER FIGURE OUT WHAT GRAY DAVIS ACTUALLY COST YOU? START WITH OVER $11 BILLION DOLLARS BECAUSE OF DAVIS’S FAILURE TO ACT ON ENERGY AND THE BUDGET. HE PANICKED ON ENERGY -- “

VAL>> BUT ARE WE GETTING ALL THE FACTS? TONIGHT WE’LL GIVE SIMON’S NEW COMMERCIAL A “REALITY CHECK”.

JESS>> BILL BRATTON MAY HAVE A LOS ANGELES ZIP CODE, BUT PATT MORRISON SAYS THE NEW CHIEF MAY STILL THINK LIKE A NEW YORKER.

PATT MORRISON>> THERE’S NO NUMBER ON HIS BADGE, JUST FOUR STARS. BUT DOES THE LAPD’S NEW CHIEF HAVE L.A.’S NUMBER IN HIS CRIME-FIGHTING PRIORITIES -- ON TONIGHT’S INFINITELY MORRISON.

VAL>> IT’S ONE OF THE BIGGEST HEADACHES WE CALIFORNIANS FACE, JUST GETTING AROUND. WELL, COMMUTERS ARE SITTING IN TRAFFIC LONGER THAN EVER, SO WHAT CAN THE TWO CANDIDATES FOR GOVERNOR DO TO MAKE OUR LIVES EASIER? TONIGHT DAVIS AND SIMON TELL US HOW THEY’LL SOLVE CALIFORNIA’S TRAFFIC NIGHTMARES.

JESS>> IT’S ALL COMING UP 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. L.A.’S NEW POLICE CHIEF HAS HIS WORK CUT OUT FOR HIM AND TONIGHT YOU’RE ABOUT TO SEE WHY. WE’RE TAKING YOU ON A TOUR OF THE CITY’S MURDER CENTRAL, A PLACE WHERE SCORES OF PEOPLE LIVE WITH THE SAME FEARS THE WASHINGTON, D.C. AREA EXPERIENCED DURING THE SNIPER CRISIS, EXCEPT THE CRISIS IS AN EVERYDAY THING THAT NEVER ENDS.

VAL>> WE WENT TO THE 77TH PRECINCT IN SOUTH CENTRAL L.A., A NEIGHBORHOOD THAT LEADS THE CITY IN GANG KILLINGS. THINK OF IT AS BILL BRATTON’S CHALLENGE. BUT AS GAY YEE DISCOVERED, PEOPLE WONDER IF BRATTON CAN SUCCEED WHERE SO MANY OTHERS HAVE FAILED.

GAY YEE>> LOS ANGELES HAS SOME ROUGH NEIGHBORHOODS, BUT NONE IS MORE DEADLY THAN THIS ONE. IT’S PART OF SOUTH CENTRAL, A PLACE WHERE NINETY-SEVEN MURDERS HAVE HAPPENED SO FAR THIS YEAR. POLICE KNOW IT AS THE 77TH STREET DIVISION. THE NEXT MOST DANGEROUS NEIGHBORHOOD FALLS FORTY HOMICIDES SHORT OF THIS ONE, AND THOSE FIGURES DON’T INCLUDE THE LAST TWO WEEKS. ONE OF THE LATEST VICTIMS, NINETEEN-YEAR-OLD RAYMOND KOON, WHO WAS SHOT AND KILLED IN BROAD DAYLIGHT A COUPLE OF BLOCKS FROM HIS SCHOOL.

RACHEL GREENWALD>> I ACTUALLY REMEMBER LAST YEAR WHEN I FIRST CAME INTO THE SCHOOL, IT WAS A BIT OF A ROWDY GROUP AND I WAS TRYING TO QUIET EVERYONE DOWN. RAYMOND STOOD UP AND SAID, “YOU GUYS ALL BETTER BE QUIET. SHE AIN’T KIDDING. GIVE HER SOME RESPECT.” ACTUALLY, EVERYONE GOT QUIET. AND HE DID A NUMBER OF PROJECTS FOR ME THAT WERE GREAT. HE WAS A VERY TALENTED ARTIST, ACTUALLY.

GAY YEE>> RAYMOND WAS GUNNED DOWN IN THIS ALLEY THAT RUNS ALONG VERMONT AVENUE. HE’D MISSED SCHOOL THAT DAY FOR AN APPOINTMENT. IT APPEARS THAT HE WAS ON HIS WAY TO MEET SOME FRIENDS WHEN HE WAS SHOT.

DEBORAH CALLAHAN>> IT’S BEEN A LOT OF TIT FOR TAT. IT’S A LOT OF GANG RIVALRY AND, FROM WHAT I UNDERSTAND, THIS WAS A RESULT OF THAT. HE COULD NOT HAVE EVEN BEEN INVOLVED IN IT. IT’S JUST THAT THE AREA THAT HE WAS IN WAS 84TH AND VERMONT, WHICH IS KNOWN AS HOOPER TERRITORY.

ED TURLEY>> WE WANT TO DO JUST LIKE WE BEEN DOING TO STOP THE KILLING IS GO IN THE MOTORCADE TO THE HOMICIDE LOCATIONS.

GAY YEE>> THESE GANG INTERVENTION SPECIALISTS SPEND A LOT OF TIME IN THE 77TH STREET DIVISION TERRITORY.

ED TURLEY>> THAT’S WHERE SOME OF THE MOST ACTIVE GANGS ARE IN THE CITY.

GAY YEE>> MANY OF THESE WORKERS WERE IN SOUTH CENTRAL WHEN THE GANG TRUCES OF THE EARLY 90’S OCCURRED, BUT THE PEACE IS LONG GONE.

LEON GULLETT>> IT’S THE RISE OF YOUNGER PEOPLE WHO ARE ACTUALLY TRYING TO FEEL THEIR WAY THROUGH AND TRYING TO TAKE THE PLACES OF OTHER PEOPLE WHO KIND OF BACKED OUT OF THE GANG ACTIVITY. WELL, NOW THEY HEAR A LOT OF STORIES FROM OLDER GUYS AND THEY WANT TO PRETTY MUCH BE JUST LIKE THESE GUYS BECAUSE THERE’S NOTHING REALLY POSITIVE THERE FOR THEM TO SAY, OKAY, I WANT TO BE LIKE THAT GUY. SO THAT’S WHAT THEY SEE AND THAT’S WHAT THEY WANT TO BE, BASED ON THOSE STORIES THAT THEY’VE BEEN TOLD.

GAY YEE>> ED TURLEY SAYS THE SHOOTINGS HAVE GOTTEN DEADLIER THAN THE OLD STYLE RANDOM DRIVE-BYS.

ED TURLEY>> THEY’RE WALK-UPS OR DRIVE-UPS OR RIDE UP ON A BICYCLE AND ACTUALLY EXECUTE THEIR VICTIM AS OPPOSED TO JUST RANDOM SHOOTING.

GAY YEE>> L.A.’S NEW POLICE CHIEF IS STILL BRAND NEW, JUST BARELY ON THE JOB, AND, IF WILLIAM BRATTON IS LOOKING FOR A CHALLENGE, HE CAN START WITH THE 77TH. BRATTON VOWS HE’S GOING TO MAKE LOS ANGELES THE SAFEST CITY IN AMERICA.

ED TURLEY>> HE’S GOT A TALL TASK AHEAD OF HIM. HERE IN SOUTH CENTRAL, IT’S JUST ANOTHER DAY IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD WHEN SOMEBODY GETS KILLED.

GAY YEE>> ED TURLEY SAYS GANG MEMBERS DON’T EXPECT TO BE CAUGHT FOR THEIR CRIMES BECAUSE THEY KNOW THE LAPD DOESN’T HAVE THE RESOURCES TO SHUT THEM DOWN.

ED TURLEY>> AS LONG AS INDIVIDUALS CAN GET AWAY WITH MURDER, WHAT’S GOING TO STOP THEM FROM DOING IT AGAIN?

GAY YEE>> ONE CRIME THE NEW CHIEF PLANS TO HIT HARD IS GRAFFITI. BRATTON SUPPORTS THE “BROKEN WINDOW” THEORY, THE IDEA BEING THAT, IF SMALL PROBLEMS SUCH AS BUSTED WINDOWS OR GRAFFITI ARE TAKEN CARE OF, BIG PROBLEMS WON’T DEVELOP. THE STREETS OF THE 77TH COULD PUT THAT THEORY TO THE TEST. ALLEYS ARE FILLED WITH TRASH, SIDEWALKS ARE CROWDED WITH DISCARDED FURNITURE AND, IN SPITE OF EFFORTS TO CLEAN UP GRAFFITI, IT’S OFTEN BACK THE NEXT DAY.

DEBORAH CALLAHAN>> I HATE GRAFFITI. THAT’S THE WAY THEY COMMUNICATE WITH EACH OTHER. IF ONE RIVAL GANG WRITES SOMETHING AND THE OTHER CROSSES IT OUT, THAT’S WAR RIGHT THERE. SO I THINK THAT WILL BE THE BEGINNING, TO GET RID OF THE GRAFFITI.

GAY YEE>> BRATTON SAYS HE WANTS THE LAPD TO EMBRACE COMMUNITY POLICING AND THAT, WITHOUT COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT, THE POLICE WON’T SUCCEED. LEON GULLETT AGREES.

LEON GULLETT>> IF YOU GET POLICE TO START BEING MORE COMMUNITY-TYPE PEOPLE, PEOPLE WHO HAVE PASSIONATE CONCERN ABOUT THE COMMUNITY AND START DEALING WITH SOME OF THE ISSUES VERSUS TRYING TO MAKE EVERYTHING INTO AN ARREST OR INTO A CASE, THEN WE COULD START WORKING WITH OUR COMMUNITY, THEN WE’D HAVE PEOPLE IN OUR COMMUNITY WHO WILL START FEELING MORE COMFORTABLE ABOUT EVEN DEALING WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT.

GAY YEE>> OTHERS QUESTION HOW MUCH THE POLICE CAN DO.

ED TURLEY>> THE PROBLEM IS SOCIAL AND ECONOMICAL, NOT SO MUCH CRIMINAL. THAT’S WHAT HELPS BREED THE CRIMINAL ELEMENT. THE LAPD CAN ONLY DO SO MUCH. YOU KNOW, EVEN IF THEY HAD 100,000 POLICE OFFICERS HERE, IT’S NOT GOING TO STOP THE LEVEL OF VIOLENCE THAT’S GOING ON IN THE COMMUNITY.

GAY YEE>> BUT THOSE WHO LIVE OR WORK OR GO TO SCHOOL IN THE AREA KNOW SOMETHING IS VERY WRONG.

CHARLOTTE AUSTIN-JORDAN>> THERE’S A LOT OF ISSUES THAT A MOTHER IS CONCERNED ABOUT WITH A CHILD LIVING IN SOUTH CENTRAL. YOU’RE SCARED TO LET YOUR CHILD GO OUT.

>> WHERE I LIVE, THEY SELL DRUGS, SO, YEAH, IT’S LIKE KIND OF SCARY BECAUSE THEY’RE ALWAYS HIGH AND STUFF.

>> EVERYBODY IS SCARED TO WALK DOWN THE STREET WITH A DIFFERENT COLOR ON. WE SHOULDN’T FEAR WHERE WE LIVE. I MEAN, WE GOT TO MAKE OURSELVES BETTER FOR OUR COMMUNITY, A LOT BETTER. I MEAN, WE DON’T NEED THIS.

GAY YEE>> ONE OF THE BIGGEST CHALLENGES FOR BRATTON IS COMBATING THE SENSE OF FEAR IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD. PRINCIPAL DEBORAH CALLAHAN SAYS PEOPLE HERE HAVE DEVELOPED A SURVIVAL ROUTINE. IT KICKED IN AFTER RAYMOND KOON WAS KILLED.

DEBORAH CALLAHAN>> WE CALLED A LOCKDOWN ABOUT 12:45 WHEN WE HEARD THE SHOTS FIRED IN THE AREA AND THAT’S NORMAL PROCEDURE. WE CALLED A LOCKDOWN, HAD EVERYONE TO GET COVER INDOORS AND LOCK THE DOORS AND ALL. WHEN IT’S RIVAL GANGS AND BECAUSE WE’RE RIGHT IN THE AREA, YOU KNOW, WHAT’S PRESSING I KNOW ON MY MIND, ARE THEY GOING TO COME BACK? ARE THEY GOING TO COME TO THE SCHOOL?

JESS>> CHIEF BRATTON SAYS HE’LL REORGANIZE THE DEPARTMENT SO IT CAN BETTER RESPOND TO L.A.’S GROWING LEVEL OF GANG VIOLENCE, AND BRATTON CLAIMS HE CAN AVOID USING EXCESSIVE FORCE AND RACIAL PROFILING. THE CHIEF SAYS THERE’S NO NEED TO REPEAT PAST MANAGEMENT MISTAKES THAT LED TO EMBARRASSING SCANDALS SUCH AS RAMPART.

VAL>> TOMORROW ON LIFE AND TIMES, A LOOK AT A DIFFERENT SIDE OF GRAY DAVIS. EVEN FRIENDS ADMIT HE’S NOT EXACTLY WARM AND FUZZY, BUT THE GOVERNOR IS A MONEY MACHINE.

>> DOES IT BOTHER HIM THAT, AT THE MENTION OF HIS NAME, MOST PEOPLE IMMEDIATELY THINK “FUNDRAISING”?

GRAY DAVIS>> I DON’T HAVE ANY INTENTION OF RUNNING FOR ANOTHER OFFICE, SO THEY’LL GET TO SEE ME FOUR MORE YEARS IF THEY’RE KIND ENOUGH TO GIVE ME ANOTHER TERM. HOPEFULLY, AFTER FOUR MORE YEARS, THEY’LL HAVE SOMETHING ELSE TO THINK OF.

JESS>> A WEEK AGO, GOVERNOR DAVIS SAID HE WOULD NO LONGER BE RUNNING NEGATIVE ADS AGAINST BILL SIMON, BUT THAT PLEDGE DIDN'T LAST LONG. THIS WEEK, HE TOOK ANOTHER SWING AT THE REPUBLICAN HOPEFUL, BILL SIMON.

VAL>> NOW DAVIS SAYS SIMON STRUCK FIRST AND TONIGHT WE'LL TAKE A LOOK AT THE COMMERCIAL THAT GOT THE GOVERNOR SO FIRED UP. CINNY KENNARD PUTS THE AD THROUGH OUR POLITICAL CUISINART IN TONIGHT'S "REALITY CHECK".

BILL SIMON>> "EVER FIGURE OUT WHAT GRAY DAVIS ACTUALLY COST YOU?"

CINNY KENNARD>> IN THE LAST DAYS OF THE RACE, BILL SIMON WANTS VOTERS TO REMEMBER WHEN THE LIGHTS NEARLY WENT OUT.

BILL SIMON>> "START WITH OVER $11 BILLION DOLLARS BECAUSE OF DAVIS'S FAILURE TO ACT ON ENERGY AND THE BUDGET."

CINNY KENNARD>> FACT. SOME OF THAT $11 BILLION WAS SPENT ON POWER BILLS, BUT PART ALSO CAME FROM A SALES TAX HIKE THAT WAS APPROVED BY REPUBLICAN GOVERNOR, PETE WILSON, BACK IN 1991. THE INCREASE WAS SUSPENDED FOR ONE YEAR, BUT THE STATE LATER REINSTATED THE TAX WITH THE ONSET OF CALIFORNIA'S BUDGET CRISIS. AS FOR DAVIS'S ACTIONS TO HEAD OFF THE POWER CRISIS?

BILL SIMON>> "HE PANICKED ON ENERGY, SIGNING DEALS THAT RIPPED OFF PRICES. OUR BILLS SKYROCKETED OVER THIRTY PERCENT, MORE THAN $7 BILLION DOLLARS."

CINNY KENNARD>> FACT. DAVIS ADMITS HE DID PANIC AND THE POWER BILLS DID SKYROCKET, BUT THE CRISIS ITSELF BEGAN WITH DEREGULATION WHICH WAS PASSED BY BOTH DEMOCRATS AND REPUBLICANS AND SIGNED INTO LAW BY DAVIS'S PREDECESSOR, GOVERNOR WILSON. WHEN IT COMES TO BLAME, MANY EXPERTS SAY THERE'S PLENTY TO GO AROUND.

BILL SIMON>> "THE MONEY DAVIS WASTED COULD HAVE BUILT A THOUSAND NEW SCHOOLS OR PAID FOR MORE THAN A HUNDRED THOUSAND POLICE OR TEACHERS."

CINNY KENNARD>> TRUE. $11 BILLION DOLLARS WOULD ACTUALLY FUND EXACTLY 1,143 ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS OR IT COULD EASILY PAY FOR MANY MORE POLICE OFFICERS AND TEACHERS ACROSS CALIFORNIA. CRITICS SAY DAVIS COULD HAVE SAVED MUCH OF THAT MONEY BY ACTING MUCH MORE QUICKLY AND FORCEFULLY TO HEAD OFF THE POWER CRISIS.

BILL SIMON>> "IF YOU'VE HAD ENOUGH, I'M ASKING FOR YOUR VOTE. I'M BILL SIMON."

CINNY KENNARD>> THE SIMON CAMPAIGN PLEDGES TO MATCH GRAY DAVIS IN TV ADS IN THE LAST WEEK OF THE CAMPAIGN. UP UNTIL NOW, HE HASN'T HAD THE MONEY TO KEEP UP.

JESS>> CINNY JOINS US NOW ALONG WITH JACK PITNEY. JACK PITNEY IS PROFESSOR OF GOVERNMENT AT CLAREMONT MCKENNA COLLEGE. THANK YOU BOTH FOR JOINING US. THIS "REALITY CHECK"?

CINNY KENNARD>> AND IT'S STILL NOT OVER. I HAVE TO ADD THAT THE GOVERNOR HAS ACTUALLY PUT UP TV ADS IN FIVE DIFFERENT ASIAN LANGUAGES: CANTONESE, MANDARIN, VIETNAMESE, JAPANESE AND KOREAN. THE CAMPAIGN TOLD ME TODAY THAT THEY ALSO PLAN TO PUT UP SOME ADS IN FILIPINO AND THIS AMOUNTS TO PROBABLY ABOUT A HALF MILLION DOLLARS. THE SIMON CAMPAIGN IS ALSO IN THIS LAST COUPLE OF DAYS -- MR. SIMON PUTTING NEARLY TWO MILLION OF HIS OWN MONEY INTO THE CAMPAIGN TO STAY UP ON TV THROUGH ELECTION DAY -- THEY PLAN ANOTHER COMPARATIVE OR NEGATIVE AD, WHICHEVER YOU CHOOSE TO DESCRIBE IT --

VAL>> -- THEY SAY COMPARATIVE, BUT WE NEGATIVE.

CINNY KENNARD>> THEY EXPECT TO RELEASE A NEW AD PROBABLY AS EARLY AS TOMORROW.

VAL>> BUT THE CONCLUSION I DREW FROM THIS AD IS THAT IT WAS FAIRLY ACCURATE, RIGHT? HE DIDN'T TAKE TOO MANY LIBERTIES WITH THE TRUTH?

JACK PITNEY>> YEAH, THIS IS REALLY NEWSWORTHY BECAUSE IT'S ONE OF THE FEW TIMES IN THE CAMPAIGN THAT BILL SIMON DIDN'T MESS UP (LAUGHTER). THIS IS A LEGITIMATE HIT ON A LEGITIMATE ISSUE. IF HE'D RUN THE REST OF HIS CAMPAIGN THIS WAY, HE'D PROBABLY BE DOING MUCH BETTER.

JESS>> MR. PITNEY, YOU'VE WRITTEN ABOUT NEGATIVE CAMPAIGNING. WE'RE TOLD THAT NEGATIVE CAMPAIGNING, NEGATIVE SPOTS, ARE USED BECAUSE THEY WORK. DO YOU AGREE?

JACK PITNEY>> THAT'S RIGHT. PEOPLE PAY ATTENTION TO NEGATIVE INFORMATION BECAUSE THEY TRUST IT MORE THAN POSITIVE INFORMATION. THEY THINK THAT, IF SOMETHING CRITICAL APPEARS ON TV, IT HAS MORE WEIGHT THAN SOMETHING LIGHT AND FLUFFY AND POSITIVE. THIS AD MIGHT MOVE A FEW VOTES, BUT IT'S KIND OF LATE IN THE CAMPAIGN.

JESS>> IS IT BECAUSE PEOPLE THINK THEY WOULDN'T SAY IT IF IT WEREN'T TRUE?

JACK PITNEY>> WELL, IT'S BECAUSE PEOPLE HAVE A PREDISPOSITION TO BELIEVE THE WORST OF POLITICIANS (LAUGHTER) AND, IF INFORMATION CONFIRMS THAT PREDISPOSITION, THEY'RE GOING TO BELIEVE IT.

VAL>> I HAD NOT HEARD THAT. SO PEOPLE ACTUALLY BELIEVE NEGATIVE ADS MORE THAN THEY BELIEVE POSITIVE ADS?

JACK PITNEY>> THEY SAY THEY DON'T LIKE NEGATIVE ADS, BUT THEY BELIEVE NEGATIVE ADS.

CINNY KENNARD>> THE THING ABOUT THE NEGATIVE ADS THIS YEAR, AND I THINK THE PROFESSOR WOULD BACK ME UP ON THIS, IS THAT THE VOTERS HAVE HAD A STEADY DIET OF NEGATIVE ADS. I MEAN, SINCE JANUARY WHEN WE HAD A PRIMARY IN THIS STATE AS WELL. AND THE FACT OF THE MATTER IS THAT IT'S PROBABLY TURNED OFF MANY VOTERS. IT'S GOING TO BE INTERESTING TO SEE THE CORRELATION BETWEEN THESE NEGATIVE ADS AND THE VOTER TURNOUT A WEEK FROM TODAY.

VAL>> SO EVEN IF THEY MAY BELIEVE THEM, IT SORT OF MAKES THEM CYNICAL AND DEPRESSED AND JUST GENERALLY NOT FEELING GOOD ABOUT POLITICS, SO THEY DON'T GO TO THE POLLS.

CINNY KENNARD>> AND DO I REALLY WANT TO GO OUT AND VOTE FOR THESE PEOPLE.

VAL>> I SEE. NEVERTHELESS, AS A STRATEGY, ISN'T THIS SOMETHING THAT PERHAPS BILL SIMON SHOULD HAVE GONE OFF -- THEY WERE TALKING ABOUT HITTING DAVIS AND THE ENERGY CRISIS PROBLEM -- SHOULDN'T HE HAVE TAKEN THIS TACTIC MUCH EARLIER IN THE CAMPAIGN PERHAPS? BECAUSE IT SEEMS TO BE EFFECTIVE.

CINNY KENNARD>> THE FACT OF THE MATTER IS, HE REALLY DIDN'T HAVE THE RESOURCES TO DO IT. ALL ALONG, HE'S NOT HAD THE MILLIONS AND MILLIONS OF DOLLARS THAT THE DAVIS CAMPAIGN HAS BEEN ABLE TO RAISE TO STAY ON TELEVISION CONSISTENTLY. THIS HAPPENED DURING THE PRIMARY. THIS HAS HAPPENED DURING THE GENERAL ELECTION. WE WILL PROBABLY SEE RECORD NUMBERS OF TV ADS IN THIS CALIFORNIA RACE, BUT MOSTLY BECAUSE OF THE DAVIS CAMPAIGN AS OPPOSED TO THE SIMON CAMPAIGN.

JESS>> THERE IS THE VIEW THAT GOVERNOR DAVIS'S RAISING MONEY IS ALMOST AN OBSCENE ACTIVITY. IS THAT A FAIR ASSESSMENT?

JACK PITNEY>> YES, AND BILL SIMON COULD HAVE MADE A MUCH BIGGER SPLASH WITH THIS, BUT HE MADE A FATAL MISTAKE. HE ACCUSED GRAY DAVIS OF ONE OF THE ETHICALLY QUESTIONABLE ACTIVITIES HE DIDN'T DO, WHICH WAS THAT --

VAL>> -- ACCEPTING THAT CHECK IN GOVERNMENT OFFICES, STATE PROPERTY.

JACK PITNEY>> HAD HE NOT MADE THAT ATTACK, HIS SUBSEQUENT ATTACKS WOULD HAVE HAD MORE CREDIBILITY. BUT HE DID THE IMPOSSIBLE AND HE VACCINATED GRAY DAVIS ON THE ISSUE OF CAMPAIGN FINANCE. QUITE AMAZING.

VAL>> SO IF WE'RE GOING TO SEE THIS BLITZ OF ADS FOR SIMON, HE SAVED ALL HIS MONEY AND NOW HE'S GOING TO SPEND IT ALL IN THE LAST FEW DAYS OF THE CAMPAIGN, DOES HE HAVE A CHANCE OR IS IT TOO LATE?

CINNY KENNARD>> I'M NOT IN THE BUSINESS OF PREDICTING. I THINK IT ALL COMES DOWN TO VOTER TURNOUT. I THINK WE BOTH AGREE ON THAT. I MEAN, WHO'S GOING TO GET THE VOTE OUT? THE DAVIS CAMPAIGN IS A VERY WELL-STRUCTURED MACHINE IN THE UNIONS AND IN THE URBAN GET-OUT-THE-VOTE EFFORT THAT YOU'LL PROBABLY SEE A PRETTY HARDY GET-OUT-THE-VOTE EFFORT BY THE DAVIS CAMPAIGN. THEY'VE DONE THIS BEFORE, THEY KNOW HOW TO DO IT AND THEY'VE GOT THE UNIONS TO HELP THEM.

JACK PITNEY>> AND A LARGE PORTION OF THE VOTE HAS ALREADY BEEN CAST. ABOUT TWENTY-FIVE PERCENT OR MORE OF THE VOTE IN CALIFORNIA ELECTIONS IS CAST BY MAIL. SO EVEN IF THERE IS A LAST MINUTE SURGE FOR SIMON, IT MIGHT NOT DO HIM ENOUGH GOOD TO WIN.

JESS>> CONVENTIONAL WISDOM IS THAT MOST OF THE ABSENTEE BALLOTS ARE REPUBLICAN BALLOTS. IS THAT STILL HOLDING?

JACK PITNEY>> THAT USED TO BE THE TRUTH. IT USED TO BE THE CASE IN THE PAST, BUT BECAUSE THE DEMOCRATS HAVE SUCH A GOOD GROUND GAME, IT'S NOT SO MUCH TRUE ANYMORE.

VAL>> IT'S INTERESTING, THOUGH. THERE IS AN INCREASE IN THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE OPTING TO VOTE BY ABSENTEE BALLOT. WHY DO YOU THINK THAT IS?

JACK PITNEY>> IT'S CONVENIENT. PEOPLE DON'T WANT TO FIGHT THE TRAFFIC AND --

JESS>> -- YOU NO LONGER EVEN HAVE TO GIVE A REASON FOR IT. YOU JUST ASK FOR ONE.

JACK PITNEY>> THAT'S RIGHT. CALIFORNIA HAS AMONG THE MOST LIBERAL ABSENTEE BALLOT LAWS IN THE COUNTRY IN THAT REGARD.

VAL>> SO YOU DON'T HAVE TO BE ABSENT AT ALL FOR AN ABSENTEE BALLOT ANYMORE?

JACK PITNEY>> NO.

VAL>> AND WHAT'S YOUR FEELING ABOUT THIS? ONCE THIS CAMPAIGN IS OVER AND IT'S GOING TO BE, MANY PEOPLE SAY, THANKFULLY IT'S GOING TO BE FINISHED IN A WEEK. WE'LL LOOK BACK ON IT AND SAY WHAT?

CINNY KENNARD>> CERTAINLY, STRATEGY WAS A BIG PART OF THE CAMPAIGN. MONEY WAS A HUGE ELEMENT OF THIS CAMPAIGN. I MEAN, AGAIN, RECORD AMOUNTS RAISED BY THE DAVIS CAMPAIGN, CERTAINLY, AND RECORD AMOUNTS OF MONEY PUT INTO TELEVISION ADVERTISING IN THIS.

VAL>> SO THE MOST EXPENSIVE AND THE MOST NEGATIVE. CINNY KENNARD, THANK YOU SO MUCH. JACK PITNEY FROM CLAREMONT MCKENNA UNIVERSITY, THANK YOU FOR COMING IN.

JACK PITNEY>> THANK YOU.

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

JESS>> EARLIER TONIGHT, WE SHOWED YOU PART OF A CHALLENGE FACING L.A.'S NEW POLICE CHIEF, BUT PATT WONDERS WHETHER WILLIAM BRATTON HAS HIS PRIORITIES STRAIGHT. IT'S TONIGHT'S INFINITELY MORRISON.

PATT MORRISON>> I WAS IN THE EXPRESS LINE AT THE MARKET WHEN THE MAN IN FRONT OF ME STARTED TELLING THE MAN IN FRONT OF HIM THAT THE WIDESPREAD FLOUTING OF THE TWELVE ITEMS OR FEWER RULE SIGNALS THE BEGINNING OF THE END OF CIVILIZATION. CUSTOMERS DEFY THE RULE, CLERKS DON'T ENFORCE IT, AND THAT BEHAVIOR, IGNORING THE SMALL, EVERYDAY RULES AND COURTESIES, IS THE FIRST STEP DOWN THAT FATAL ROAD THAT THE ROMAN EMPIRE ONCE FOLLOWED TO ITS DEMISE.

NOW I DON'T KNOW THAT I'D GO SO FAR AS THAT, BUT I CERTAINLY REMEMBERED THAT FELLOW'S WORDS WHEN I HEARD THAT L.A.'S NEW POLICE CHIEF, BILL BRATTON, IS MAKING GRAFFITI A TOP AND IMMEDIATE PRIORITY. IS HE RIGHT TO DO SO? SUCH QUALITY OF LIFE OFFENSES ARE CERTAINLY OUTRAGEOUS TO PUBLIC CIVILITY, BUT IS GRAFFITI REALLY THE CRIMINAL CARTOGRAPHY THAT BRATTON THINKS? THIS IS THE SAME MODEL HE USED IN NEW YORK, GOING AFTER SMALL CRIMES TO STOP BIGGER ONES. ARREST THE SUBWAY TURNSTILE JUMPERS AND SUBWAY ASSAULTS DROP. HIS PREMISE IS JAMES Q. WILSON'S THEORY THAT ONE BROKEN WINDOW UN-MENDED SIGNALS PERMISSION FOR AN EYESORE TO BECOME A SLUM AND A SLUM TO BECOME A CRIMINAL HAVEN.

NOW IT'S CLEAR THAT BRATTON WOULD LIKE TO WIN SOME SMALL VICTORIES FIRST, TRIUMPHS OF SUBSTANCE AND PUBLIC OVATIONS, BEFORE SETTING VASTER AND MORE DEMANDING GOALS. IN GRAFFITI, THOUGH, HIS OPPOSITION MAY NOT BE JUST THE TAGGERS WHO CAN'T EVEN BUY SPRAY PAINT UNLESS THEY'RE EIGHTEEN YEARS OLD, THANKS TO A LAW BY COUNCILMAN NATE HOLDEN, WHO WAS THE ONLY ONE OF THE FIFTEEN COUNCIL MEMBERS TO VOTE AGAINST BRATTON'S APPOINTMENT.

BRATTON MAY FIND HIMSELF, AND NOT FOR THE LAST TIME, UP AGAINST THE LAPD CULTURE. MAKING SCRAWLINGS PAINTED ON A WALL INTO A TOP CRIME-FIGHTING PRIORITY FOR COPS WHO SEE THEMSELVES AS TOUGH GUY MANO A MANO GUNSLINGING CRIME FIGHTERS WILL TAKE A LOT OF PERSUASION AND INSISTENCE ON BRATTON'S SIDE AND A LOT OF -- TO USE A COP PHRASE -- ATTITUDE ADJUSTMENT BY THE BADGES IN THE BLACK AND WHITES.

AND HERE'S A LITTLE MESSAGE TO EVERYONE CHEERING THE CHIEF IN HIS FIGHT AGAINST QUALITY OF LIFE CRIMES. I MEAN, PEOPLE LIKE THE MAN DRIVING THE MERCEDES CONVERTIBLE IN FRONT OF ME ON THE 5 FREEWAY THIS MORNING THROWING YOUR TRASH OUT OF THE CAR AS YOU DROVE ALONG. IT'S PEOPLE LIKE YOU WHO GIVE A WHOLE NEW MEANING TO STREET CRIME.

VAL>> WHEN YOU ARE CRAWLING ALONG THE FREEWAY AT TEN MILES AN HOUR, WHO DO YOU BLAME? THE DRIVER IN FRONT OF YOU, THOSE ANONYMOUS URBAN PLANNERS OR MAYBE CALIFORNIA'S TOP POLITICIANS?

JESS>> TRANSPORTATION IS AS MUCH A STATEWIDE ISSUE AS IT IS A LOCAL CONCERN AND WE'VE GONE TO THE TWO CANDIDATES FOR GOVERNOR IN SEARCH OF SOLUTIONS. TONIGHT IT'S DAVIS AND SIMON ON FREEWAY GRIDLOCK. THE REPORTER IS RANDY SHANDOBIL.

RANDY SHANDOBIL>> KEN HOGARTY IS TRYING TO BEAT THE CLOCK. IT'S FOUR P.M. ON A RECENT FRIDAY AFTERNOON. HOGARTY IS THE VICE PRINCIPAL AT THE SACRED HEART CATHEDRAL SCHOOL IN SAN FRANCISCO. ONE LESSON HE LEARNED LONG AGO? THE LONGER HE WAITS TO HEAD HOME, THE WORSE HIS COMMUTE WILL BE ACROSS THE BAY BRIDGE.

KEN HOGARTY>> I DON'T KNOW WHAT SORT OF MESS I'M GOING TO RUN INTO TONIGHT.

RANDY SHANDOBIL>> HE LIVES IN THE COMMUNITY OF CANYON NEAR MORAGA IN CONTRA COSTA COUNTY. HOGARTY, LIKE MANY CALIFORNIANS, HAS GIVEN UP ON LISTENING TO MUSIC IN HIS CAR. HE NEEDS TO HEAR THE LATEST TRAFFIC ALERTS. ALTERNATE ROUTES CAN SAVE TIME.

KEN HOGARTY>> BUT THERE'S NOT TOO MUCH I CAN DO ABOUT IT. ONCE I'M HERE, I'M PRETTY WELL SET.

RANDY SHANDOBIL>> SOME DAYS, IT'S ONE HOUR, SOMETIMES TWO OR EVEN WORSE.

KEN HOGARTY>> I THINK THAT IS MY ALL-TIME WORST COMMUTE. I LEFT AT FOUR O'CLOCK AND GOT HOME AT NINE-THIRTY, SO THAT'S TAUGHT ME A LESSON. YOU KNOW, BEFORE I LEAVE SCHOOL, ALWAYS GO TO THE BATHROOM BEFORE I GET ON THE BRIDGE BECAUSE YOU NEVER KNOW WHAT YOU'RE GOING TO FIND.

BILL SIMON>> OVER THE LAST THIRTY YEARS, OUR CAPACITY IN ROADS IS UP THIRTY PERCENT. DURING THAT SAME TIME FRAME, OUR PEOPLE, OUR POPULATION, HAS INCREASED BY SEVENTY PERCENT. DRIVERS ARE UP A HUNDRED FORTY PERCENT.

RANDY SHANDOBIL>> BOTTOM LINE, SAYS REPUBLICAN CANDIDATE FOR GOVERNOR, BILL SIMON, TRAFFIC HAS BECOME ONE OF CALIFORNIA'S WORST PROBLEMS. TIME WASTED, PRODUCTIVITY LOST, POLLUTION.

BILL SIMON>> ONE OF THE CONSEQUENCES OF THE CONGESTION IN OUR STATE IS EMISSIONS, PARTICULATE MATTER THAT IS EMITTED EVERY SINGLE DAY. IF WE WERE ABLE TO REDUCE CONGESTION, THAT WOULD BE ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY.

RANDY SHANDOBIL>> SIMON SAYS, WITH THE STATE IN BUDGET DEFICIT RIGHT NOW, HE'D ASK FOR HELP FROM THE PRIVATE SECTOR, HAVE PRIVATE DEVELOPERS BUILD TOLL ROADS OR ROADS THAT THE STATE WOULD PAY OFF OVER TIME.

GRAY DAVIS>> IN TERMS OF TRANSPORTATION, I TAKE A BACK SEAT TO NO GOVERNOR. WE'RE DOING OUR LEVEL BEST, SPENDING MORE MONEY THAN HAS EVER BEEN SPENT.

RANDY SHANDOBIL>> GOVERNOR DAVIS ACKNOWLEDGES THE STATE TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM IS IN BAD SHAPE, BUT HE SAYS HE INHERITED THE PROBLEM AND IS TRYING TO MAKE UP FOR LOST TIME.

GRAY DAVIS>> WE FINALLY HAVE THE BAY BRIDGE BEING REPAIRED. IT WAS AT RISK OF ANOTHER EARTHQUAKE. THAT'S HAPPENING AS WE SPEAK.

KEN HOGARTY>> ON FRIDAYS IN THE BAY AREA NOW, IT ALWAYS SEEMS GRIDLOCKED.

RANDY SHANDOBIL>> SO WHY DOESN'T HOGARTY TAKE BART?

KEN HOGARTY>> NUMBER ONE, IT'S A LONG WAY TO GET TO BART STATIONS FROM MY HOUSE. BY THE TIME I DRIVE THERE, I WOULD BE IN THE COMMUTE LANES, IN THE CARPOOL LANES. THE OTHER CONSIDERATION IS PARKING, THAT AFTER A CERTAIN TIME, YOU CAN'T COUNT ON THE FACT THAT THERE WOULD BE A PARKING SPACE THERE. I HAVE REALLY MIXED FEELINGS ABOUT THE IDEA OF BUILDING MORE AND MORE FREEWAYS BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, THE WHOLE IDEA OF CARS IS JUST AMAZING TO ME. IF SOMEBODY CAME DOWN FROM ANOTHER PLANET, SOME CREATURE, AND LOOKED AT US, THEY WOULD THINK THAT CARS WERE THE DOMINANT CULTURE AND THERE ARE JUST PEOPLE CRAWLING IN AND OUT OF THEM AS THEY MOVED AROUND.

RANDY SHANDOBIL>> IF YOU HAD A LIMITED POT OF MONEY TO SPEND ON TRANSPORTATION, WOULD IT BE TOWARDS CREATING NEW MASS TRANSIT SYSTEMS OR EXTENDING MASS TRANSIT OR BUILDING NEW HIGHWAYS?

GRAY DAVIS>> YOU KNOW, I DON'T THINK IT'S MY JUDGMENT TO SECOND-GUESS WHAT LOCAL METROPOLITAN TRANSIT AGENCIES THINK OF THEIR PRIORITIES.

RANDY SHANDOBIL>> SO THE GOVERNOR SAYS HE PREFERS TO LEAVE MOST DECISIONS TO THE LOCALS, BUT HE SAYS HE BELIEVES IN MASS TRANSIT. HE SAYS HE HOPES THAT TWO YEARS FROM NOW, VOTERS WILL APPROVE A HIGH-SPEED TRAIN CONNECTING SAN FRANCISCO TO LOS ANGELES.

GRAY DAVIS>> WE HAVE PLANS TO EXTEND BART TO SAN JOSE. WE ALREADY HAVE ADDED TRAIN TRAFFIC FROM THE ALTAMONTE EXPRESS THAT COMES DOWN THE BAY AND ALL THE WAY TO SAN JOSE.

BILL SIMON>> WE NEED TO BE CAREFUL ABOUT "GETTING PEOPLE OUT OF CARS," SOCIAL ENGINEERING.

RANDY SHANDOBIL>> BILL SIMON SAYS MASS TRANSIT SOUNDS GOOD, BUT OFTEN ISN'T PRACTICAL IN CALIFORNIA. NOT ENOUGH PEOPLE USE IT TO MAKE IT COST-EFFECTIVE.

BILL SIMON>> WITH A WIFE AND FOUR CHILDREN, I'D LIKE YOU TO TALK TO MY WIFE ABOUT TAKING THE BUS TO ALL THE THINGS THAT SHE NEEDS TO DO DURING THE COURSE OF HER DAY. THERE'S NO BUS THAT TAKES YOU TO ALL THESE PLACES. SHE NEEDS HER CAR. YOU'RE NOT GOING TO GET HER OUT OF HER CAR.

RANDY SHANDOBIL>> MASS TRANSIT, MORE HIGHWAYS. EITHER WAY, KEN HOGARTY SAYS THE DECISION-MAKING PROCESS, THE ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEWS, TAKE TOO LONG.

KEN HOGARTY>> BELIEVE ME, I CONCUR PERFECTLY WITH THE IDEA OF ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES AND I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT FOR US, BUT AT THE SAME TIME, YOU WONDER HOW MUCH OF IT BECOMES POLITICAL SHENANIGANS.

RANDY SHANDOBIL>> SIMON AGREES. TOO MUCH RED TAPE.

BILL SIMON>> YOU KNOW, YOU WANT TO TALK ABOUT SHRINKING THE PERMITTING TIME. YOU WANT TO TALK ABOUT MAKING SURE TO PUSH THE PROCESS.

GRAY DAVIS>> YOU KNOW, WE'D ALL LIKE THINGS TO BE FASTER THAN THEY ARE.

RANDY SHANDOBIL>> BUT, SAYS THE GOVERNOR, SOMETIMES RED TAPE IS GOOD.

GRAY DAVIS>> THERE'S A REASON FOR ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEWS. SOMETIMES YOU RUN INTO A BIG PROBLEM.

RANDY SHANDOBIL>> TRAFFIC WAS RELATIVELY LIGHT TODAY. WE FOLLOWED KEN HOGARTY ON HIS COMMUTE HOME. JUST AN HOUR AND FIFTEEN MINUTES.

JESS>> THAT REPORT FROM KTVU IN OAKLAND, ONE OF THE BEST PRACTICES IN JOURNALISM STATIONS, THAT'S PARTNERED WITH KCET TO PROVIDE BETTER POLITICAL COVERAGE OF CALIFORNIA ISSUES.

VAL>> AND YOU CAN FIND OUT MORE ELECTION NEWS BY GOING TO OUR WEBSITE AT KCET.ORG. JUST CLICK ON THE "REALITY CHECK" ICON FOR THE LATEST POLITICAL STORIES.

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

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