11/7/02

LC021107

VAL ZAVALA>> TONIGHT ON LIFE AND TIMES --

JESS MARLOW>> WE’LL HEAD TO UTAH WHERE AN OLD URANIUM PILE MAY BE CREATING NEW PROBLEMS FOR SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA’S WATER SUPPLY.

BILL HEDDEN>> THE METROPOLITAN WATER DISTRICT HAS ALWAYS BEEN VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THIS ISSUE BECAUSE THEY POINT OUT THAT URANIUM IS ONE OF THE CARCINOGENS THAT IS DANGEROUS AT ANY LEVEL AND THEY DON’T HAVE THE TECHNOLOGY CURRENTLY TO REMOVE THAT FROM THE WATER.

VAL>> WE’LL ALSO MEET A GLENDALE BUSINESSMAN WHO’S TRYING TO HELP COMPANIES RECOVER FROM THE EFFECTS OF SEPTEMBER 11. HE’S LATINO, REPUBLICAN AND THE PRESIDENT’S POINT MAN ON SMALL BUSINESS.

JESS>> AND THEN WE’LL TAKE A TRIP TO THE LOS ANGELES ZOO WHERE YOUNGSTERS ARE DISCOVERING MORE THAN JUST ANIMALS.

>> WHEN WE PUT OUR HANDS IN THE FOUNTAIN, THE WATER COMES DOWN LIKE MAGIC.

JESS>> WE’LL FIND OUT HOW AN ARTIST HAS CAPTURED THE HEARTS AND MINDS OF CHILDREN AND GIVEN THEM A FEW MORE REASONS TO APPRECIATE THE ZOO.

VAL>> IT’S ALL STRAIGHT AHEAD 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. TONIGHT A LOOK AT A SOUVENIR FROM THE COLD WAR AND THE THREAT IT MAY POSE TO OUR WATER. WE’RE TALKING ABOUT A RADIOACTIVE WASTE SITE IN A REMOTE CORNER OF UTAH. EXPERTS SAY CONTAMINATION HAS ALREADY KILLED FISH IN THE NEARBY COLORADO RIVER, THE MAJOR SOURCE OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA’S WATER.

VAL>> BUT DOES THAT MEAN THERE’S ALSO A DANGER TO PEOPLE? TONIGHT DAVID GARCIA TAKES US TO THE RED HILLS OF UTAH WHERE THE HAZARD IS CONCEALED BY SOME STUNNING SCENERY.

DAVID GARCIA>> A RATHER CLEVER DISGUISE. IT LOOKS LIKE A FAIRLY HARMLESS LANDFILL, TERRACED, DEEP RED LIKE THE ROCKS ALL OVER THIS AREA IN SOUTHEASTERN UTAH. MOAB, UTAH IS JUST ACROSS THE COLORADO RIVER, GATEWAY TO ARCHES NATIONAL PARK AND THOSE INCREDIBLE ROCK FORMATIONS THAT ATTRACT MILLIONS OF TOURISTS EACH YEAR. IDYLLIC UNTIL YOU TAKE A CLOSER LOOK AT THE SIGNS ALONG THE FENCE.

THIS ELEVEN-STORY RED PILE IS THE RADIOACTIVE WASTE BYPRODUCT, OR TAILINGS, FROM A URANIUM MINE, THE ATLAS URANIUM MINE WHICH BEGAN OPERATIONS IN THE MID-1950’S. APPARENTLY, AT THE TIME, NOBODY THOUGHT ABOUT ANY FUTURE DANGER FROM ALL THE RADIOACTIVE TAILINGS WHICH STARTED PILING UP FROM THE BEGINNING. THE MINE CLOSED IN THE MID-80’S, BUT THE POTENTIAL HUMAN DANGER IS STAGGERING. BILL HEDDEN OF THE GRAND CANYON NATIONAL TRUST LEADS THE CITIZEN EFFORT TO GET THE URANIUM PILE MOVED.

BILL HEDDEN>> THE DISCHARGE FROM THE TAILINGS PILE INTO THE GROUNDWATER EVER SINCE THE LATE 50’S HAS AVERAGED ABOUT 57,000 GALLONS A DAY AND THEN THAT UNDERGROUND AQUIFER DISCHARGES INTO THE RIVER AT SOMEWHAT MORE THAN 100,000 GALLONS A DAY. THE RIVER IN THE AREA NEAR THE TAILINGS PILE IS SO CONTAMINATED THAT THE U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY HAS A BIOLOGICAL RESEARCH BRANCH AND THEY WENT IN AND PUT FISH IN CAGES IN THE RIVER ADJACENT TO THE TAILINGS PILE AND THE AMMONIA LEVELS ARE SO HIGH THAT THE FISH ALL DIED IMMEDIATELY. A HUNDRED PERCENT MORTALITY AS SOON AS THE FISH HIT THE RIVER.

DAVID GARCIA>> SO THE FISH DIED. CERTAINLY, THAT’S TERRIBLE, BUT WHAT ABOUT PEOPLE?

BILL HEDDEN>> YOU CAN CERTAINLY DILUTE IT. YOU CAN’T REMOVE IT. THE METROPOLITAN WATER DISTRICT HAS ALWAYS BEEN VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THIS ISSUE BECAUSE THEY POINT OUT THAT URANIUM IS ONE OF THE CARCINOGENS THAT IS DANGEROUS AT ANY LEVEL AND THEY DON’T HAVE THE TECHNOLOGY CURRENTLY TO REMOVE THAT FROM THE WATER.

DAVID GARCIA>> SO WE’RE DRINKING WATER WITH RADIOACTIVITY IN IT?

BILL HEDDEN>> THE WATER IS WITHIN EPA STANDARDS. I NEED TO BE CLEAR ABOUT THAT. BUT, YES, THERE IS RADIOACTIVITY IN THIS WATER. IT COMES FROM NATURAL SOURCES AND IT COMES FROM ATLAS. IT’S THERE.

DAVID GARCIA>> BUT IS IT HERE IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA? WHAT ABOUT RADIOACTIVITY AT OUR DRINKING WATER SUPPLIES? WE PUT THAT QUESTION TO METROPOLITAN WATER DISTRICT VICE PRESIDENT, ADAN ORTEGA.

ADAN ORTEGA>> THE ELEVEN-STORY PILE OF URANIUM TAILINGS DO LEECH NOXIOUS CHEMICALS EVERY TIME IT RAINS AND YOU HAVE THE WILDLIFE IN THAT AREA SEVERELY AFFECTED BY WHAT’S HAPPENING THERE. IN MANY RESPECTS, THAT AREA HAS SERVED AS THE CANARY FOR THE REST OF THE LOWER COLORADO RIVER BASIN, SO WE CAN’T AFFORD TO LET MORE CANARIES DIE. I THINK THE WARNINGS ARE OUT THERE. WE NEED TO AVOID THIS URANIUM CONTAMINATING OUR WATER SUPPLY.

DAVID GARCIA>> WITH THE WARNINGS MORE OBVIOUS EVERY DAY, THE QUESTION IS WHAT TO DO ABOUT WHAT’S KNOWN AS THE URANIUM PILE.

ADAN ORTEGA>> WE’RE BASICALLY TAKING THE HARD POSITION AS TO REMOVE IT. THE DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY SEEMS TO BE TAKING TO THIS RECOMMENDATION. I KNOW GOVERNOR LEAVITT IN UTAH HAS BEEN VERY ACTIVE IN MAKING CALLS TO THE ADMINISTRATION AND WE’RE GETTING THE MONIES TO PUT EVERYTHING IN PLACE TO BEGIN THE REMOVAL PROCESS HERE WITHIN THE NEXT FEW YEARS.

DAVID GARCIA>> BUT PEOPLE WHO LIVE IN THIS AREA ARGUE WE CAN’T AFFORD TO WAIT A FEW YEARS TO ACT. TO BEGIN WITH, THE URANIUM PILE COULDN’T BE IN A WORSE LOCATION.

BILL HEDDEN>> TAILINGS REMAIN DANGEROUS ESSENTIALLY FOREVER. THE ATLAS SITE IS SITTING 110 FEET TALL, IN THE FLOOD PLAIN OF THE SOUTHWEST’S LARGEST RIVER, RIGHT NEXT TO THE ENTRANCE TO A NATIONAL PARK, DIRECTLY ACROSS THE COLORADO RIVER FROM THE LARGEST WETLAND IN THE WHOLE UPPER COLORADO SYSTEM, THE NATURE CONSERVANCY’S MATHESON WETLAND PRESERVE. IT’S IN A NARROW VALLEY WITH THE FASTEST-GROWING TOWN IN THE SOUTHERN PART OF UTAH AND AT THE INTERSECTION OF TWO STATE HIGHWAYS. IT’S AT THE CONJUNCTION OF TWO DIFFERENT FAULT SYSTEMS AND SO IT’S ABOUT AS BAD A LOCATION AS YOU COULD CONCEIVABLY IMAGINE.

DAVID GARCIA>> WHATEVER IS DONE, MOVING IT OR, AS ONE STUDY PROPOSES, CAPPING OR SEALING IT IN PLACE, WILL COST MONEY. SOME ESTIMATES ARE $250 MILLION DOLLARS OR MORE. THE NEXT QUESTION THEN IS WHO’LL GET THE FINAL BILL?

BILL HEDDEN>> BECAUSE THE MAJORITY OF THOSE TAILINGS WERE PRODUCED BY MAKING WEAPONS FOR THE U.S. GOVERNMENT DURING THE COLD WAR, IT SEEMS APPROPRIATE THAT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT BELLY UP TO THE BAR AND PAY FOR THIS CLEANUP AND DO IT RIGHT.

JESS>> DAVID GARCIA JOINS US NOW. WHEN WE WERE DESPERATE TO GET WEAPONS DURING THE EARLY COLD WAR PERIOD, NOBODY CONSIDERED THE FACT THAT WE WERE CREATING THIS MASSIVE THREAT TO OUR ENVIRONMENT.

DAVID GARCIA>> NO, ABSOLUTELY NOT. NO, BECAUSE OBVIOUSLY AT THE TIME, ALL OF THE FOCUS WAS TO PRODUCE THE WEAPONS THAT WE NEEDED. IT’S PART OF A LEGACY THAT WE’VE ALWAYS SUFFERED, IT SEEMS. WE DON’T THINK ABOUT THE FUTURE WHEN WE DO THINGS NOW. IT’S FIX IT NOW, GET WHATEVER WE NEED NOW, AND THE FUTURE? WELL, SOMEBODY WILL TAKE CARE OF THAT. WELL, NOW WE HAVE TO TAKE CARE OF THAT.

JESS>> TIME’S UP, HUH?

DAVID GARCIA>> TIME’S UP, INDEED.

VAL>> NOW THE MINING THAT CREATED THIS WASTE, IS IT GOING ON STILL OR HAS IT STOPPED?

DAVID GARCIA>> NO. IT STOPPED OPERATIONS IN THE 1980’S. IT STARTED BACK IN THE 50’S AND THE TAILINGS -- YOU KNOW, IT’S GOT TO GO SOMEWHERE, SO THEY JUST TOOK IT OUT OF THE GROUND AND PILED IT UP THERE.

VAL>> BUT THERE’S NO MORE TAILINGS BEING PRODUCED? WHAT’S THERE IS ALL WE HAVE TO DEAL WITH?

DAVID GARCIA>> AND THAT’S PLENTY. IF YOU COULD IMAGINE 110 FEET, ELEVEN STORIES, THAT COVERS SEVERAL ACRES AND IT LOOKS ALMOST PERFECTLY HARMLESS. I MEAN, EVERYTHING IN THAT AREA IS RED --

VAL>> -- I HATE TO SAY IT, BUT IT LOOKS PRETTY.

DAVID GARCIA>> EVERYTHING IS GORGEOUS. YOU DRIVE BY IT AND YOU THINK, WELL, THERE’S NOTHING HERE. WELL, YES, THERE IS. AND PEOPLE CANOE DOWN THE COLORADO, AS YOU SAW. THEY ENJOY IT. BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY PERHAPS, THAT IS ONE OF OUR PRIMARY SOURCES FOR WATER AND WHAT IS IT DOING TO US?

VAL>> YOU MEAN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA?

DAVID GARCIA>> IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA.

JESS>> OUR WATER IS STILL MEETING EPA STANDARDS THOUGH, IS IT NOT?

DAVID GARCIA>> IT’S MEETING EPA STANDARDS, BUT THE QUESTION IS, IF IN FACT URANIUM IS ONE OF THOSE CARCINOGENS THAT IS DANGEROUS AT ANY LEVEL, IS EVEN A TRACE TOO MUCH PARTICULARLY FOR PREGNANT WOMEN, FOR CHILDREN, FOR THE ELDERLY WHOSE IMMUNE SYSTEMS ARE JUST REALLY SUSCEPTIBLE? SO EVEN THOUGH IT MIGHT MEET A STANDARD, STANDARDS CHANGE ALL THE TIME. WE SEE EPA CHANGING THOSE STANDARDS. BUT EVEN A TRACE LEVEL, IF IT’S DANGEROUS AT THAT LEVEL, THEN IT’S DANGEROUS.

VAL>> HAVE THERE BEEN ANY OBSERVATIONS OR STUDIES OF HEALTH EFFECTS FOR THE POPULATION THAT LIVES RIGHT AROUND THERE? HAS THERE BEEN ANY INDICATIONS THEY’VE HAD ANY OF THESE PROBLEMS?

JESS>> OTHER THAN THE FISH.

DAVID GARCIA>> OTHER THAN THE FISH. THAT’S ONE OF THOSE THINGS THAT IS EXTREMELY DIFFICULT AND EXTREMELY EXPENSIVE TO STUDY. IF SOMEONE DEVELOPS A CANCER OR A PARTICULAR MALADY OF SOME SORT, WHAT CAUSED IT? WELL, DID THE PERSON SMOKE? DID THEY SMOKE AND STOP? WHAT ELSE DID THEY COME IN CONTACT WITH? THAT HAS TO MEET A CERTAIN PROTOCOL. THAT TAKES MONEY AND, RIGHT NOW, MONEY IS AT A PREMIUM NO MATTER WHERE YOU ARE AND NO MATTER WHAT ISSUE YOU’RE LOOKING INTO.

JESS>> THE TWO ALTERNATIVES ARE TO CAP IT UNDER A CAP OF CLAY OR TO REMOVE IT. NOW IF YOU REMOVE IT, WHERE DO YOU TAKE IT?

DAVID GARCIA>> WELL, ACTUALLY, THEY HAVE EARMARKED AN AREA WAY TO THE NORTH IN UTAH OUT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE DESERT WHICH THEY SAY HAS NO GROUNDWATER POTENTIAL AT ALL, THAT IT’S ABSOLUTELY A SOLID AREA WHERE IT CANNOT ESCAPE. AGAIN, IT’S THAT MENTALITY, THOUGH. BURY IT. I CALL IT THE DOG MENTALITY. DIG A HOLE, PUT IT IN THERE AND WALK AWAY. HOPEFULLY, THAT WOULD BE THE SAFEST THING TO DO AND THAT’S WHAT MOST PEOPLE --

JESS>> -- WELL, WHAT’S THE LIFE SPAN OF THE CONTAMINATION?

DAVID GARCIA>> FOREVER. I MEAN, RADIOACTIVITY IS FOREVER. IT’S GOING TO BE THERE LONG AFTER WE’RE GONE AND IT’S THE FUTURE GENERATIONS. JUST AS BILL HEDDEN WAS SAYING, IT COULDN’T BE IN A WORSE SPOT. RIGHT THERE, MOAB IS A PRETTY TOWN. PEOPLE GO THERE FOR RECREATION ALL THE TIME. THEY BICYCLE UP AND DOWN THOSE RED ROCKS. IT’S DECEPTIVE UNLESS YOU LOOK ALONG THE FENCE LINE AND IT SAYS NO TRESPASSING AND YOU SEE THAT RADIOACTIVE SIGNAL.

VAL>> SO PEOPLE CAN’T GO IN THERE, CORRECT?

DAVID GARCIA>> WELL, YOU CAN IF YOU WANT TO JUMP THE FENCE, BUT AT YOUR OWN RISK (LAUGHTER).

JESS>> BUT THE PILE IS THERE BECAUSE THAT’S WHERE THE URANIUM WAS.

DAVID GARCIA>> WELL, THAT’S WHERE IT WAS. THEY HAD TO PUT IT SOMEWHERE. EITHER THEY’RE GOING TO CAP IT OR THEY’RE GOING TO MOVE IT. NOW CAPPING IT, YOU PUT A SHELL OVER IT, BUT THEN YOU STILL HAVE THE UNDER --

VAL>> -- RIGHT. LONG-TERM PROBLEM, IT SOUNDS LIKE. YOU KNOW HOW LONG IT TOOK FOR YUCCA MOUNTAIN.

DAVID GARCIA>> EXACTLY.

VAL>> DAVID GARCIA, THANK YOU SO MUCH. I HAD NO IDEA THAT EXISTED.

DAVID GARCIA>> MY PLEASURE.

VAL>> TOMORROW ON LIFE AND TIMES, ANOTHER SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA HOSPITAL STRUGGLES TO SURVIVE AND THERE’S APPARENTLY NO CURE FOR WHAT AILS THIS ONE.

>> WELL, IT’S EVEN WORSE THAN YOU MIGHT THINK. THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS’ DECISION WAS TO KEEP THE OTHER FOUR HOSPITALS OPEN AS EMERGENCY HOSPITALS, SO THE PATIENTS WILL JUST SIT THERE IN BED AND BE WAREHOUSED WITHOUT ANY PLACE TO GO, AND THIS WAS THE STATE OF CARE IN LOS ANGELES FORTY OR FIFTY YEARS AGO.

JESS>> IF SMALL BUSINESS IS THE ENGINE THAT KEEPS OUR ECONOMY GOING, HECTOR BARRETO KEEPS THAT ENGINE WELL-GREASED. BARRETO IS A GLENDALE BUSINESSMAN WHO WAS TAPPED BY PRESIDENT BUSH TO LEAD THE SMALL BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION. HE OVERSEES $45 BILLION DOLLARS OF LOANS AND RELIEF. LITTLE WONDER THAT HE'S BEEN NAMED ONE OF AMERICA'S ONE HUNDRED MOST INFLUENTIAL HISPANICS.

VAL>> BARRETO HAS BUSINESS IN HIS BLOOD. HE WORKED IN HIS FATHER'S RESTAURANT AND STARTED HIS OWN INSURANCE AND FINANCIAL SERVICES COMPANY IN GLENDALE. WELL, JUST OVER A YEAR AGO, HE HEADED TO WASHINGTON, D.C. AND WHAT A YEAR IT'S BEEN.

JESS>> COULD YOU HAVE EVER IMAGINED WHEN YOU WERE CALLED TO WASHINGTON THAT YOU'D BE FACING WHAT YOU FACED AFTER SEPTEMBER 11?

HECTOR BARRETO>> NO WAY TO PREDICT WHAT TO EXPECT WHEN I GOT CONFIRMED. IT'S JUST BEEN AN INCREDIBLE YEAR SINCE THAT DAY, OBVIOUSLY, DEALING WITH SEPTEMBER 11 AND MANY OTHER CHALLENGES.

JESS>> MANY PEOPLE DON'T KNOW, BUT THE SMALL BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION, YOU'RE THE AGENCY THAT PROVIDES DISASTER LOANS AND WE THINK OF THE TWIN TOWERS AS BEING HEADQUARTERS FOR CORPORATE AMERICA. SMALL BUSINESS?

HECTOR BARRETO>> OH, JESS, THERE WERE 17,000 SMALL BUSINESS AROUND THE WORLD TRADE CENTER AND PROBABLY ABOUT 700 INSIDE THE WORLD TRADE CENTER, SO OUR IMMEDIATE RESPONSE WAS ASSISTING ALL OF THOSE BUSINESS. EVEN IF THEY DIDN'T HAVE PHYSICAL DAMAGE, MANY OF THEM WERE DAMAGED VERY SIGNIFICANTLY AFTER SEPTEMBER 11.

VAL>> IT ACTUALLY, IN AN ODD WAY, RAISED THE PROFILE OF YOUR AGENCY, NO?

HECTOR BARRETO>> IT REALLY DID. I MEAN, THE PRESIDENT OFTENTIMES SAYS THAT SOMETIMES WHEN BAD THINGS HAPPEN, GOOD THINGS CAN COME FROM IT. WE'VE SEEN THAT AT THE SMALL BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION. IT'S ALLOWED US TO HELP MANY MORE SMALL BUSINESSES WITH OUR LOAN PROGRAMS, OUR TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AND ASSISTANCE IN GETTING GOVERNMENT CONTRACTS.

JESS>> WE THINK OF THE SMALL BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION AS BEING AN AGENCY THAT ENCOURAGES SMALL BUSINESSES AND, INDEED, THAT IS YOUR PRINCIPAL JOB, ISN'T IT?

HECTOR BARRETO>> WELL, IT IS, BUT OUR REAL PRINCIPAL JOB IS TO HELP THE EXISTING 25 MILLION SMALL BUSINESSES IN THE UNITED STATES. NOW WE GET A LOT OF INQUIRIES FROM PEOPLE THAT ARE INTERESTED IN STARTING A BUSINESS. HOW DO I DO THAT? HOW DO I PUT A BUSINESS PLAN TOGETHER? WHERE CAN I GET A LOAN? BUT WE HAVE 25 MILLION SMALL BUSINESSES IN THE UNITED STATES AND THEY'RE TRULY THE ENGINE THAT FUELS THE ECONOMY.

VAL>> NOW ONE OF THE REASONS YOU'RE HERE IS BECAUSE YOU'RE AN ANGELENO. FIFTEEN YEARS IN LOS ANGELES, DEEP ROOTS IN THE LATIN BUSINESS ASSOCIATION AND THE SPANISH CHAMBER OF COMMERCE. WHAT DO YOU THINK YOU TAKE TO WASHINGTON AS A CALIFORNIAN AND AN ANGELENO GOING TO WORK FOR THE BUSH ADMINISTRATION?

HECTOR BARRETO>> WELL, I THINK WHAT THE PRESIDENT WANTED IS SOMEBODY WHO'S DONE IT BEFORE. YOU KNOW, THE PRESIDENT WAS A SMALL BUSINESS OWNER. HE'S SEEN THE UPS AND DOWNS OF A SMALL BUSINESS, THE CHALLENGES OF GETTING FINANCING, OF GETTING TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE, OF BUILDING A BUSINESS THROUGH ALL KINDS OF ECONOMIC TIMES.

VAL>> YOU'VE BEEN A BUSINESS OWNER.

HECTOR BARRETO>> I HAVE BEEN, ALL MY LIFE. I WAS BORN INTO A SMALL BUSINESS FAMILY. I'VE RUN FAMILY BUSINESSES. I'VE OWNED MY OWN BUSINESSES. I'VE BEEN INVOLVED WITH CHAMBERS OF COMMERCE. SO I'VE REALLY LIVED THAT EXPERIENCE AND I THINK I TAKE THAT EXPERIENCE BACK TO D.C. AND HOPEFULLY A NEW UNDERSTANDING FOR WASHINGTON ON WHAT SMALL BUSINESS NEEDS.

JESS>> NOT TO MENTION A SINGULAR QUALIFICATION IN BEING A LATINO REPUBLICAN.

HECTOR BARRETO>> THAT'S RIGHT, THAT'S RIGHT. THERE'S A LOT OF US OUT THERE. LOS ANGELES DOESN'T REALIZE THAT. YOU KNOW, I WAS VERY PROUD TO BE PART OF THE CAMPAIGN AND VERY HONORED WHEN THE PRESIDENT ASKED ME TO GO BACK AND SERVE MY COUNTRY AND TO HELP SMALL BUSINESSES IN THE SBA.

JESS>> AS A LATINO IN THE POSITION YOU'RE IN NOW, WHAT CAN YOU DO TO ENCOURAGE MINORITIES TO GET INVOLVED IN SMALL BUSINESSES? THEY REALLY REPRESENT VERY FEW.

HECTOR BARRETO>> WELL, ACTUALLY, THE FASTEST-GROWING SEGMENT OF SMALL BUSINESS IN THE UNITED STATES ARE MINORITY-OWNED BUSINESSES AND WOMEN-OWNED BUSINESSES.

JESS>> BUT THEY'RE STILL LESS THAN TEN PERCENT?

HECTOR BARRETO>> FIFTEEN PERCENT OF ALL BUSINESS IN THE UNITED STATES ARE MINORITY-OWNED BUSINESSES AND, IN THE HISPANIC COMMUNITY, WE THINK THERE ARE PROBABLY 600,000 HISPANIC0-OWNED BUSINESSES IN CALIFORNIA. SBA SAYS THERE ARE 550,000 IN THE GREATER L.A. AREA AND THOSE NUMBERS ARE DOUBLING EVERY FIVE YEARS. IT'S TRULY A TIDAL WAVE OF GROWTH.

VAL>> WHAT DO YOU THINK IT IS ABOUT SMALL BUSINESSES OR STARTING YOUR OWN BUSINESS THAT WORKS FOR NOT JUST LATINOS, BUT BLACKS AND ASIANS AS WELL, THE MINORITY COMMUNITIES?

HECTOR BARRETO>> WELL, I JUST THINK IT'S PART OF THE AMERICAN DREAM, YOU KNOW, OF WORKING FOR YOURSELF, OF BEING AN OWNER, OF HAVING NO CAP ON HOW FAR YOU CAN GO, OF ONLY BEING LIMITED BY YOUR OWN IMAGINATION, YOUR OWN CREATIVITY, YOUR OWN HARD WORK.

VAL>> AND IT'S ALSO VERY CHALLENGING. I MEAN, ALL THE REGULATIONS. MANY OF THEM ARE NEWCOMERS HERE. THEY'RE, YOU KNOW, OFTEN STICKING THEIR HANDS IN A HORNET'S NEST.

HECTOR BARRETO>> IT IS NOT EASY. IT IS NOT A GLAMOROUS LIFE. BUT I LIKE THE JOKE THAT THE HARDER YOU WORK, THE LUCKIER THAT YOU GET. THESE SMALL BUSINESSES ARE WILLING TO DO WHATEVER IT TAKES. WE LEARNED THAT AFTER SEPTEMBER 11. INCREDIBLE COURAGE AND DETERMINATION AND PATRIOTISM THAT WE SAW IN SMALL BUSINESSES ALL AROUND THE COUNTRY.

JESS>> YOU MADE ONE BILLION DOLLARS WORTH OF LOANS AFTER SEPTEMBER 11, JUST FOR THAT TRAGEDY ALONE?

HECTOR BARRETO>> WE DO ON AVERAGE ABOUT $16 BILLION A YEAR IN ALL OF OUR LOAN PROGRAMS, BUT WE DID AN ADDITIONAL BILLION DOLLARS THROUGH DISASTER ASSISTANCE. OF COURSE, THESE ARE FOUR PERCENT LOANS THAT WE DO AS MUCH AS A THIRTY-YEAR TIME HORIZON, SO THEY'RE VERY IMPORTANT ESPECIALLY FOR THOSE BUSINESSES THAT ARE THE MOST AFFECTED.

VAL>> CAN I ASK YOU MORE OF A PERSONAL QUESTION? WHAT WAS THE BIGGEST CULTURAL CHANGE WHEN YOU HAD TO MOVE FROM YOUR WEST COAST CALIFORNIA AND LOS ANGELES TO WASHINGTON, D.C.?

HECTOR BARRETO>> WELL, THERE WERE A LOT OF ADJUSTMENTS. WASHINGTON IS A GREAT TOWN. IT'S A POLITICAL TOWN, OBVIOUSLY, JUST LEARNING THE INTRICACIES OF HOW GOVERNMENT WORKS. IT CAN BE VERY ARCANE. THERE ARE A LOT OF ACRONYMS FOR THINGS. LEARNING THE WHOLE BUDGET PROCESS. SO IT'S TRULY BEEN AN EDUCATION. WE NEEDED TO LEARN QUICKLY AND I THINK THAT WE DID AND WE'VE HAD A VERY GOOD FIRST YEAR.

VAL>> WELL, HECTOR BARRETO, WE'RE SO GLAD AN ANGELENO IS OVER THERE IN WASHINGTON, D.C. SETTING THOSE D.C. PEOPLE STRAIGHT (LAUGHTER).

HECTOR BARRETO>> WELL, THANK YOU, VAL AND JESS. I REALLY APPRECIATED THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE WITH YOU.

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VAL>> SEVEN YEARS AGO, THE LOS ANGELES ZOO STARTED A MAJOR RENOVATION THAT HAS BROUGHT SOME STATE OF THE ART HOMES TO THE ANIMALS, BUT NOT ALL OF THE NEW ATTRACTIONS ARE ALIVE.

JESS>> IN FACT, ONE OF THE MOST POPULAR ADDITIONS DOESN'T MOVE AT ALL. IT'S FOUND IN THE NEW CHILDREN'S ZOO AND TONIGHT RAIFORD ROGERS TAKES US ON A GUIDED TOUR.

RAIFORD ROGERS>> IT'S THE BEST KEPT SECRET IN LOS ANGELES, THE NEW CHILDREN'S ZOO AT THE LOS ANGELES ZOO. EVERY MORNING AS THE GATES OPEN, A WAVE OF CHILDREN POUR IN. THE WINNICK FAMILY CHILDREN'S ZOO IS NOT JUST ABOUT LETTING KIDS PET ANIMALS. HERE THEY LEARN TO RESPECT ALL LIVING THINGS AND GET A DIFFERENT POINT OF VIEW. THERE'S SOMETHING ELSE THAT MAKES THE CHILDREN'S ZOO UNIQUE. A SERIES OF SEVEN REMARKABLE SCULPTURES BY ARTIST ARMANDO ALVAREZ DEPICTING ALL SORTS OF ANIMALS, EVEN A COW.

ARMANDO ALVAREZ>> THE ANIMAL THAT THEY LIKE THE MOST AS THEY GO BY THE ZOO IS THE COW. I WOULD NEVER HAVE THOUGHT THAT THE COW WAS THE ONE THEY LIKED THE MOST. THEY GO THERE AND MILK IT AND THEY GET ON TOP OF IT. THEY LOVE THE COW. MY SON TOLD ME THAT THE COW IS UNIVERSAL AND I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT HE MEANT. YOU KNOW, COWS ARE UNIVERSAL. THE CHILDREN LOVE THAT PIECE.

RAIFORD ROGERS>> THE CENTERPIECE OF THE ZOO IS A COLORFUL FOUNTAIN MADE OF STEEL AND BYZANTINE MOSAIC FROM MEXICO. IT DOUBLES AS A HAND-WASHING STATION.

ARMANDO ALVAREZ>> WHAT I LOVED AS A CHILD WAS TO PLAY WITH WATER AND TO HAVE A LITTLE GROUP FUN AND TO PUT MY HANDS IN IT. I TRIED TO HAVE SOMETHING FOR THE WATER TO COME FROM THE TOP AND THAT'S HOW I CAME TO THIS, FOR ONE LAYER TO THE NEXT TO THE NEXT.

RAIFORD ROGERS>> ARMANDO WAS BORN IN MEXICO AND CAME TO THE UNITED STATES WHEN HE WAS NINE YEARS OLD. HE TRAINED AS BOTH AN ARTIST AND A CLASSICAL MUSICIAN. TODAY HE LIVES IN NEW MEXICO AND IS WIDELY KNOWN FOR HIS ENORMOUS STILL SCULPTURES LIKE THIS ONE IN GALLUP. A HALLMARK OF THESE PIECES IS HOW HE RECESSES OR PULLS BACK DIFFERENT IMAGES FROM A WALL AND, AS THE LIGHT PASSES THROUGH, THE FIGURES SEEM TO COME ALIVE. IN HIS PAINTINGS, ARMANDO HAS ALSO CREATED A UNIQUE PERSONAL STYLE, HIS SIGNATURE BEING THE BOLD USE OF VIBRANT COLOR.

ARMANDO ALVAREZ>> IN MY WORK, I GO CRAZY WITH THE COLOR AND THE WAY THAT IT GOES WITH ONE ANOTHER, I CAN HEAR IT. JUST LIKE A MUSICIAN PLAYS WITH SEVERAL NOTES TO MAKE A HARMONY IS THE SAME WAY THAT I PLAY WITH SEVERAL COLORS TO MAKE ANOTHER HARMONY TO THE EYES, TO MY EYES, THE WAY I SEE THEM.

RAIFORD ROGERS>> ARMANDO SAYS HIS DARING STYLE WAS HEAVILY INFLUENCED BY HIS MEXICAN HERITAGE AND HIS LOVE FOR THE GREAT MEXICAN PAINTERS.

ARMANDO ALVAREZ>> SO THE MEXICAN PAINTERS, ESPECIALLY RUFINO TAMAYO, HAVE A BIG INFLUENCE ON ME. THEY'RE MY BIGGEST INFLUENCES BECAUSE I WAS RIGHT NEXT TO THEM.

RAIFORD ROGERS>> WHEN ARMANDO APPROACHED THE ZOO PROJECT, HE WASN'T JUST THINKING OF CREATING INDIVIDUAL ART PIECES. HE WAS MORE CONCERNED WITH THE OVERALL IMPACT THAT THE SCULPTURES WOULD HAVE ON THE ENTIRE SPACE AND THEN THE RELATIONSHIP CREATED BETWEEN ART, CHILDREN AND ANIMALS.

ARMANDO ALVAREZ>> I FINALLY CAME UP WITH THIS IDEA THAT IT WAS PART OF THE LEADER WALL AS AN ENTRANCE THAT SHOWS THE CHILDREN WHERE TO GO, THEN ART TO GREET THEM, AND ANIMALS THAT LEAD THE WAY TO WHERE THE WATERFALL IS AND THEY WASH THEIR HANDS.

RAIFORD ROGERS>> THE PYRAMID FOUNTAIN IS ESPECIALLY POPULAR WITH KIDS. THEY LOVE THE COLORS AND THEY LOVE PLAYING WITH THE WATER.

>> WHEN WE PUT OUR HANDS IN THE FOUNTAIN, THE WATER COMES DOWN LIKE MAGIC.

>> I LIKE ALL THE COLORS. ORANGE, GREEN, YELLOW, BLUE, RED.

RAIFORD ROGERS>> THE ARTWORK HAS ALSO BEEN EXCITING FOR ZOO OFFICIALS. MANUEL MOLLINEDO, AS FORMER ZOO DIRECTOR.

MANUEL MOLLINEDO>> IT WORKS VERY WELL FOR US NOT ONLY FROM THE STANDPOINT THAT IT HELPS TO KEEP THE CHILDREN'S HANDS CLEAN WHEN THEY GO IN AND WHEN THEY COME OUT OF THE ANIMAL EXHIBITS, BUT IT ALSO IS INTERACTIVE. IT ALLOWS THE CHILDREN TO EXPERIENCE ANOTHER ADVENTURE HERE AT THE LOS ANGELES ZOO, PLUS THEY'RE EXPOSED TO THE ART. IF YOU LOOK AT ALL THAT FINE MOSAIC THAT WAS PUT IN THERE, THE MOSAIC IS PART OF THAT HAND-WASHING STATION AND IS A STORY UNTO ITSELF.

RAIFORD ROGERS>> FOR THE ZOO EXPANSION, ONE PERCENT OF THE CONSTRUCTION, BY LAW, WAS EARMARKED FOR PUBLIC ART. FELICIA FLIER IS HEAD OF THE PUBLIC ARTS DEPARTMENT THAT SELECTED ARMANDO AMONG HUNDREDS OF OTHER CANDIDATES.

FELICIA FLIER>> THE ZOO IS ATYPICAL IN THAT THEY HAVE PUBLIC ARTWORKS AS PART OF THEIR REDEVELOPMENT AND THEIR RENOVATION PROGRAMS BECAUSE THERE'S A ZOO RENOVATION PROGRAM HAPPENING ACROSS THE COUNTRY, BUT THEY'RE NOT INSTALLING PUBLIC ART. SO WHAT I HAVEN'T SEEN, WHICH IS WHAT WE HAVE HERE IN LOS ANGELES, IS PERMANENT ARTWORK PERMANENTLY EXHIBITED. THAT, I THINK, IS SOMETHING HUGE.

RAIFORD ROGERS>> MORE THAN A QUARTER OF A MILLION KIDS WILL VISIT THE CHILDREN'S ZOO THIS YEAR. FOR ARMANDO, BEING ABLE TO MAKE AN IMPRESSION ON SO MANY YOUNG MINDS WAS AN OPPORTUNITY HE COULDN'T RESIST.

>> WHOEVER MADE THIS ART, IT'S BEAUTIFUL. THEY MADE ALL THE COLORS COME OUT PRETTY.

ARMANDO ALVAREZ>> ABSOLUTELY NOTHING CAN MAKE ME FEEL BETTER THAN TO SEE A CHILD ENJOY LIFE. IF I HAPPEN TO BUILD SOMETHING THAT THAT CHILD IS ENJOYING, IT'S A THRILL. YOU FEEL PART OF HUMANITY THAT, YOU KNOW, YOU HAVE COMPLETED SOMETHING THAT YOU'RE PART OF BECAUSE YOU'VE TOUCHED THEIR LIVES IN A WAY. IN A VERY TINY SMALL WAY, YOU HAVE TOUCHED THEM WITH SOMETHING THAT IS GOOD.

JESS>> RAIFORD ROGERS JOINS US NOW. HE'S BEST KNOWN FOR THESE GIANT ANIMALS, ALL FABRICATED OUT OF METAL. HOW DOES HE GO ABOUT THE FABRICATION?

RAIFORD ROGERS>> YOU KNOW, THESE SCULPTURES ARE AN ENORMOUS JOB. HE HAS TO USE INDUSTRIAL WELDERS. NOW THESE ARE THE SAME KIND OF WELDERS THAT BUILD THINGS LIKE SHIPS AND WATER TOWERS. THE REASON IS THAT THE STEEL IS OVER AN INCH THICK ON SOME OF THESE SCULPTURES. HE NEEDS TWO WELDERS AT THE SAME TIME CUTTING BOTH SIDES OF THE STEEL. HE MAKES THE CURVES AND BENDS THESE PIECES OF STEEL BY USING THESE MASSIVE HYDRAULIC ROLLERS THAT CREATE THE CURVES.

VAL>> THAT IS AMAZING. HIS PAINTINGS ARE INCREDIBLE TOO. WE SAW MAINLY HIS SCULPTURES, BUT HE'S FAMOUS FOR HIS PAINTINGS?

RAIFORD ROGERS>> YES, AND HE'S DEVELOPED A VERY INTERESTING TECHNIQUE. HE OVERLAYS ROWS AND ROWS OF PAINT MIXED WITH WAX AND HE BUILDS UPON THIS UNTIL FORMS AND SHAPES APPEAR. NOW IT'S INTERESTING. HE DESCRIBES IT AS A BATTLE BETWEEN THE ABSTRACT AND THE DEFINED, OR THE FIGURATIVE, AND --

VAL>> -- WHAT DOES THAT MEAN?

RAIFORD ROGERS>> WELL, IF YOU NOTICE IN HIS PAINTINGS, SOMETIMES YOU RECOGNIZE FIGURES LIKE A BULL OR A PERSON, BUT SOMETIMES IT JUST HAS THESE WONDERFUL ABSTRACT SHAPES AND FORMS. HIS COLORS COME FROM THAT GREAT TRADITION OF MEXICAN ARTISTS.

VAL>> THAT YOU CAN DEFINITELY TELL.

JESS>> THE CHILDREN OBVIOUSLY LOVE IT TOO, AS WE SAW.

RAIFORD ROGERS>> YOU KNOW, THEY CAN'T KEEP THEIR HANDS OFF THOSE PIECES. THEY LOVE THE PIECES, YEAH.

VAL>> HE'S A CHARMING GENTLEMAN.

JESS>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR JOINING US. WE APPRECIATE THAT. TO FIND OUT MORE ABOUT THE ART YOU'VE JUST SEEN AND THE CHILDREN'S ZOO, YOU CAN CHECK THE L.A. ZOO'S WEBSITE AT WWW.LAZOO.ORG.

VAL>> AND YOU CAN LISTEN TO RECENT STORIES OR GET TRANSCRIPTS OF OUR PAST SHOWS AT KCET.ORG. JUST CLICK ON LIFE AND TIMES AND YOU'LL SEE THERE PREVIEWS OF SOME OF THE SEGMENTS THAT WE'RE PLANNING.

JESS>> THAT'S TONIGHT'S PROGRAM. THANKS FOR BEING WITH US, AND GOODNIGHT FROM ALL OF US HERE AT LIFE AND TIMES.

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