12/5/02

LC021205

VAL ZAVALA>> TONIGHT ON LIFE AND TIMES --

JESS MARLOW>> SOUTH LOS ANGELES MAY HAVE HAD SOME BAD EXPERIENCES WITH THE LAPD, BUT PEOPLE THERE SAY THEY’RE READY FOR THE POLICE TO GET RID OF THE GANG PROBLEM.

LAWRENCE TOLLIVER>> YOU KNOW, WHO WANTS TO GET OUT OF HERE AND BE LOOKING AROUND SCARED LIKE AN ANTELOPE AT A WATERING HOLE IN AFRICA WORRYING ABOUT SOMEBODY TRYING TO SHOOT THEM OR SOMETHING? YOU DON’T WANT THAT. NO ONE WANTS THAT FOR THEIR KIDS. NO ONE WANTS THAT FOR THEIR FAMILIES.

VAL>> A NEWLY-DISCOVERED FAULT LINE MAY BE THE LAST STRAW FOR L.A.’S TROUBLED BELMONT LEARNING CENTER. TONIGHT THE MAN IN CHARGE AT THE L.A. UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT, SUPERINTENDENT ROY ROMER, TELLS US WHAT’S NEXT FOR THE UNFINISHED SCHOOL BUILDING AND CAN THE DISTRICT FIND A WAY TO SAVE THE EXPENSIVE PROJECT OR IS IT ALL MONEY DOWN THE DRAIN?

JESS>> PATT MORRISON SAYS THE FOLKS AT CITY HALL ARE GETTING PRETTY NOSY ABOUT HER PAYCHECK AND SHE’S GETTING PRETTY STEAMED.

PATT MORRISON>> WHY BOTHER TO FIGHT CITY HALL WHEN CITY HALL IS DOING SUCH A GOOD JOB OF BEATING UP ON ITSELF -- ON TONIGHT’S INFINITELY MORRISON.

VAL>> PLUS, THE STORY OF A FAMOUS JEWISH DIRECTOR WHO LIVED IN BERLIN BEFORE WORLD WAR II. AMAZINGLY, HE WOUND UP MAKING A PROPAGANDA FILM FOR HITLER. IT SHOWS JEWS LIVING HAPPILY IN THE CAMPS AND TRIED TO HIDE THE NAZIS’ TREACHERY. TONIGHT WE’LL PREVIEW A NEW DOCUMENTARY ON THE LIFE OF KURT GERRON.

JESS>> 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. CONSIDER, IF YOU WILL, THIS STAGGERING STATISTIC. LOS ANGELES IS HOME TO MORE THAN 100,000 GANG MEMBERS. LATELY THEY’VE BEEN ON A DEADLY RAMPAGE IN SOUTH L.A. AND HAVE HELPED TO GIVE THE CITY THE DUBIOUS DISTINCTION OF BEING AMERICA’S MURDER CAPITAL.

VAL>> CAUGHT IN THE CROSSFIRE ARE SCORES OF INNOCENT BYSTANDERS AND NOW PEOPLE WHO’VE HAD SOME BAD EXPERIENCES WITH THE LAPD CAN’T WAIT FOR THE POLICE TO CRACK DOWN ON GANGS. BUT AS GAY YEE REPORTS, SOME SAY IT WILL TAKE MORE THAN THE COPS TO STOP THE VIOLENCE.

TONY WAFFORD>> FOR CRYING OUT LOUD, KIDS ARE TWO BLOCKS OF EACH OTHER AND THEY’RE SHOOTING AT EACH OTHER.

GAY YEE>> TOLLIVER’S BARBER SHOP LIES ALONG A QUIET SECTION OF FLORENCE IN SOUTH L.A., BUT INSIDE THE TALK IS OF KILLINGS AND RESPONSIBILITY.

TONY WAFFORD>> SO WHEN DO YOU SAY TO YOURSELF I GOT TO BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE STUFF I DO? I CAN’T BLAME WHITE FOLKS FOR EVERYTHING. WE’RE RESPONSIBLE FOR OUR LIBERATION, RIGHT? SO WHEN DO YOU TAKE THE RESPONSIBILITY FOR YOUR DAMN SELVES? SEE, CRACK MAN DON’T GIVE AWAY CRACK. YOU GOT TO BUY THAT [BLANK]. HE DON’T GIVE IT TO YOU. THE LIQUOR STORE DON’T GIVE UP NO LIQUOR. YOU GOT TO BUY IT.

GAY YEE>> TOLLIVER’S IS IN THE LAPD’S 77TH DIVISION WHERE, SO FAR THIS YEAR, THERE HAVE BEEN 117 MURDERS, TWO-THIRDS OF THEM GANG-RELATED.

JAMES MILLER>> IT’S NOT A GANG WAR WHERE YOU CAN SAY IT’S GANG A AGAINST GANG B. IT’S A LARGE NUMBER OF GANGS THAT ARE ALL FIGHTING EACH OTHER. I’VE HAD EIGHTY GANG-RELATED HOMICIDES THAT INVOLVED FORTY-SIX DIFFERENT GANGS.

GAY YEE>> LAPD CAPTAIN JAMES MILLER RUNS THE 77TH STREET DIVISION. IT PROVIDED THE BACKDROP THIS WEEK FOR THE ANNOUNCEMENT OF THE CITY’S NEW WAR ON GANGS.

WILLIAM BRATTON>> MANY OF OUR GANG UNITS ARE NOT OUT THERE WHEN THE PROBLEMS ARE OCCURRING. SOME SATURDAY NIGHTS, THERE ARE NO GANG UNITS WORKING IN THE CITY. THAT’S GOING TO END.

GAY YEE>> THE RISING NUMBER OF HOMICIDES THROUGHOUT THE CITY IS CLEAR, BUT WHAT’S NOT SO CLEAR, SAYS CAPTAIN MILLER, IS IDENTIFYING THE CAUSE.

JAMES MILLER>> IT’S VERY DIFFICULT TO REALLY PUT A FINGER ON WHAT IS CAUSING ALL OF IT. SOME OF IT IS NARCOTICS, SOME OF IT IS OLD RIVALRIES THAT HAVE RESURFACED. WE’VE SEEN WHEN SOME PEOPLE GET OUT OF PRISON THAT THEY TRY TO RE-ESTABLISH THEMSELVES OR THEY TELL THE YOUNGER GANG MEMBERS THAT THEY HAVE TO BECOME MORE ACTIVE AND WE SEE AN INCREASE IN THE VIOLENCE IN THOSE AREAS.

GAY YEE>> BACK AT TOLLIVER’S, NO ONE IS WAITING FOR THE POLICE TO END THE VIOLENCE. THESE MEN SAY IT HAS TO COME FROM THE COMMUNITY.

CLYDE ODEN>> THE POLICE PLAY A ROLE, BUT THEY ARE NOT THE ANSWER. THE FAMILY AND THE CHURCH AND THE SOCIAL STRUCTURE ARE THE ANSWERS.

ALLEN HUMPHRIES>> THESE ARE OUR CHILDREN, SO THAT IF THE FAMILY UNIT IS STRONG AND YOU’RE RESPONSIBLE FOR YOUR CHILDREN AND I’M RESPONSIBLE FOR MY CHILDREN, THEN THAT’S STUPID FOR CHILDREN TO GO ON SHOOTING EACH OTHER.

TONY WAFFORD>> BECAUSE EVERYBODY DOESN’T HAVE A MOM OR A DAD AT HOME AND SOME OF THE MOTHERS AND FATHERS AT HOME PROBABLY AREN’T WORTH LISTENING TO. I THINK IT’S INCUMBENT UPON US AS A PEOPLE TO REACH OUT AND REACH ACROSS AND DO ALL THAT WE CAN TO HELP THESE YOUNG PEOPLE.

GAY YEE>> BARBER, EDDIE FORD, SAYS IT’S TIME FOR THE COMMUNITY TO HELP THE POLICE.

EDDIE FORD>> PEOPLES OF THE DAY IS NOT CONCERNED. THEY’LL SEE A PERSON JUMP IN THERE AND ROB YOU AND SAY I DON’T WANT TO BE INVOLVED. WELL, WHEN THE POLICE COME, HE HAVE NOTHING TO WORK WITH, SEE? SO POLICE CAN CLEAN UP A LOT OF THINGS IF THE COMMUNITY WOULD HELP THE POLICE. THE POLICE IS NOT A MAGICIAN.

GAY YEE>> IT’S A VIEW ECHOED BY BARBER SHOP OWNER, LAWRENCE TOLLIVER.

LAWRENCE TOLLIVER>> WHEN I SPEAK WITH SOMEONE IN THE SHOP, I SAY WE CAN NO LONGER JUST SIT BACK. THAT MENTALITY OF IT’S NOT MY RESPONSIBILITY OR I DON’T WANT TO GET INVOLVED, THAT DOESN’T WORK. YOU MUST GET INVOLVED. AND IF IT’S CAUSED YOU TO BE OUT THERE A LITTLE BIT, TAKE A LITTLE CHANCE AND SO BE IT.

GAY YEE>> THE LAPD SAYS THIS IS EXACTLY WHAT IT WANTS. WHEN FOURTEEN-YEAR-OLD CLIVE JACKSON WAS GUNNED DOWN LAST MONTH, WITHIN HOURS SOMEONE CALLED THE POLICE WITH A TIP. NOW THEY HAVE A NAME AND A FACE TO TRACK.

JAMES MILLER>> THE COMMUNITY HAS TO SAY THAT THEY’RE TIRED OF IT AND THAT MOVEMENT IS GROWING IN STRENGTH.

GAY YEE>> MILLER SAYS THE WAY HE CAN HAVE THE MOST IMPACT ON CRIME IN THE 77TH IS TO CONVINCE MORE RESIDENTS THEY HAVE A ROLE IN DOING SOMETHING ABOUT IT.

JAMES MILLER>> THERE AREN’T ENOUGH POLICE OFFICERS. THERE WILL NEVER BE ENOUGH POLICE OFFICERS FOR US TO DO IT WHERE CITIZENS SIT BACK AND GO I DON’T HAVE ANY RESPONSIBILITY HERE, I DON’T HAVE TO TESTIFY, I DON’T HAVE TO TELL ANYBODY WHAT I SAW.

GAY YEE>> MILLER ACKNOWLEDGES THAT, IN THE PAST, THE COMMUNITY HAS HAD ISSUES WITH THE LAPD, SEEING IT AS AN OCCUPYING FORCE, BUT HE SAYS THAT WILL NOT BE THE CASE TODAY, THAT THE POLICE WANT THE COMMUNITY’S SUPPORT AS THEY GO AFTER CRIMINALS. MILLER LOOKS TO THE FUTURE OF THE TEENAGERS IN THE 77TH DIVISION’S YOUTH EXPLORER PROGRAM AS REASON ENOUGH FOR EVERYONE TO WANT TO STOP THE VIOLENCE. GAYLON COWAN IS FOURTEEN AND IN THE NINTH GRADE.

GAYLON COWAN>> YOU SEE A LOT OF KILLING AND EVERYTHING. I JUST PRAY. I PRAY EVERY MORNING AND I PRAY EVERY NIGHT BEFORE I GO TO BED THAT THOSE THINGS WON’T HAPPEN.

GAY YEE>> THOUGH SOME COMMUNITY LEADERS HAVE EXPRESSED RESERVATIONS ABOUT HOW THE LAPD WILL CARRY OUT ITS MISSION TO STOP THE VIOLENCE, LAWRENCE TOLLIVER SAYS HE IS MORE THAN HAPPY TO SEE THE POLICE.

LAWRENCE TOLLIVER>> SEE, A LOT OF TIMES PEOPLE PERCEIVE THE BLACK COMMUNITY AS NOT WANTING POLICE. THAT’S NOT TRUE. WE WILL WORK HAND IN HAND WITH THE POLICE CHIEF AND THE POLICEMEN IN OUR COMMUNITY BECAUSE THAT’S WHAT WE WANT. YOU KNOW, WHO WANTS TO GET OUT HERE AND BE LOOKING AROUND SCARED LIKE AN ANTELOPE AT A WATERING HOLE IN AFRICA WORRYING ABOUT SOMEBODY TRYING TO SHOOT THEM OR SOMETHING? WE DON’T WANT THAT. NO ONE WANTS THAT FOR THEIR KIDS. NO ONE WANTS THAT FOR THEIR FAMILIES.

JESS>> IN RECENT WEEKS, THE DEATH TOLL IN SOUTH LOS ANGELES HAS BEEN COMPARABLE TO OR EVEN GREATER THAN THE NUMBER OF DEATHS IN ISRAEL DURING A LIKE PERIOD. NUMBERS SUCH AS THAT GIVE NEW MEANING TO THE LAPD’S NEWLY-DECLARED WAR ON GANGS.

VAL>> TOMORROW ON LIFE AND TIMES, THE GOVERNMENT HAS TURNED LAX INTO A HEAVILY-GUARDED FORTRESS AGAINST TERRORISM, BUT WHO’S WATCHING OVER SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA’S SEAPORTS?

>> WE HAVE JUST SEEN THE PLACEMENT OF 45,000 AIRPORT SCREENERS, FEDERAL AIRPORT SCREENERS, AND YET IF YOU GO TO THE PORT OF LOS ANGELES ON A GIVEN DAY, A TYPICAL POLICE SHIFT HAS FIVE POLICE OFFICERS AT THE PORT OF LOS ANGELES.

JESS>> BELMONT. BY MOST ACCOUNTS, IT’S BEEN A COSTLY FAILURE FOR THE LOS ANGELES UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT. MORE THAN $160 MILLION DOLLARS SPENT SO FAR WITH NOTHING TO SHOW FOR IT. AND NOW ONE MORE BLOW. THE DISTRICT HAS JUST DISCOVERED A FAULT LINE RUNNING BENEATH THE UNFINISHED SCHOOL LOCATED ON THE EDGE OF DOWNTOWN L.A. AND SOME SAY THIS CRACK IN THE EARTH MAY BE THE BLACK HOLE THAT BELMONT FALLS INTO ONCE AND FOR ALL.

VAL>> AND JOINING US NOW IS THE MAN WHO’S BEEN TRYING TO SAVE BELMONT FROM DISASTER, L.A. UNIFIED SUPERINTENDENT ROY ROMER. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.

ROY ROMER>> IT’S GOOD TO BE HERE.

JESS>> FROM THE MOMENT YOU ARRIVED IN LOS ANGELES, YOU SEEMED TO BE DETERMINED TO SALVAGE THE BELMONT LEARNING CENTER.

ROY ROMER>> YEAH. I WANT TO CLEARLY SAY THAT I INHERITED THIS PROBLEM. I DIDN’T CREATE IT. WHEN I SAW IT, $150 MILLION INVESTED, I SAID WE NEED TO SAVE THIS BUILDING. WE NEED IT FOR THE CHILDREN. SO I CONVINCED THE BOARD TO GIVE US THE RIGHT TO GO AHEAD AND FINISH IT. WE HAD TO BE VERY PROPER ENVIRONMENTALLY. NOW IN THE COURSE OF DOING THAT WITH VERY CAREFUL SCRUTINY, WE FOUND AN EARTHQUAKE FAULT THAT RAN RIGHT THROUGH TWO OF THE BUILDINGS. WHEN I SAW THAT, I SAID THIS IS IT. YOU CANNOT BUILD THIS DESIGN. SO I ANNOUNCED A COUPLE OF DAYS AGO THAT DESIGN IS OVER. WE’RE DONE. NOW WE NEED TO LOOK AT ANY OTHER ALTERNATIVE THAT WORKS.

JESS>> THAT DESIGN IS OVER, BUT IS THE SCHOOL OVER?

ROY ROMER>> NO, NO. WE’RE STILL NEEDING TO BUILD THAT SCHOOL IN THAT AREA. WE GOT THREE OPTIONS. ONE, GO BACK AND JUST TAKE AWAY THAT WHICH STRADDLES THE EARTHQUAKE FAULT AND TRY TO SAVE THE REST OF THE BUILDINGS.

VAL>> IF I UNDERSTAND IT CORRECTLY, THE LAW REQUIRES YOU CAN’T BUILD RIGHT ON THE FAULT, BUT YOU CAN BUILD AWAY FROM THE FAULT?

ROY ROMER>> THAT’S CORRECT, THAT’S CORRECT. SO, ONE, WE COULD CONTINUE THE BUILDINGS THAT ARE AWAY FROM THE FAULT. TWO, WE CAN FORGET THAT AND JUST GO TO ANOTHER PORTION OF THE PROPERTY AND BUILD A SEPARATE SCHOOL THERE. THREE, WE COULD GO OFF THE PROPERTY AND BUILD A SCHOOL FOR THAT NEIGHBORHOOD AT ANOTHER LOCATION. WHAT IT IS, IT’S A VERY SAD DAY TO FIND THAT FAULT, BUT WE’VE GOT TO BE SURE IT’S SAFE. I’M STILL TRYING TO SALVAGE THAT INVESTMENT THAT WAS MADE PRIOR TO WHEN I CAME, BUT I’LL TELL YOU, THE EXISTING STRUCTURES MAY NOT BE SALVAGEABLE.

JESS>> SEISMIC STUDIES HAD BEEN DONE ON THIS BEFORE. WHAT PROMPTED YOU TO GO BACK AND LOOK AT IT AGAIN?

ROY ROMER>> WELL, I’LL TELL YOU. I KNEW SEISMIC STUDIES HAD BEEN DONE, BUT I RAN A TEST OF THE OIL FIELD TO SEE IF IT WAS RE-PRESSURIZING AND WHEN THAT TEST CAME BACK, IT WAS REPORTED TO ME BY THAT COMPANY THAT SAID THERE WAS THIS OFFSET OF STRATA IN THAT WELL HOLE. WELL, THAT TRIGGERED A THING IN MY MIND AND OTHERS ON THE STAFF AND I SAID WE’VE GOT TO GO DO A SEISMIC STUDY.

SO WE DID A SEISMIC STUDY, WHICH GIVES THE DESCRIPTION ABOUT 700 OR 900 FEET DOWN, AND THERE WAS SOME DISTURBANCE. BUT THEY DIDN’T SHOW ON THE SURFACE, SO I SAID WE’VE GOT TO DO ONE MORE THING. WE NEED TO DIG TRENCHES OF ABOUT FIVE TO TWELVE FEET DEEP BECAUSE THAT WILL REALLY SHOW YOU WHETHER THERE IS A FAULT. WE DUG SIX THOUSAND FEET, OVER A MILE, OF TRENCHING AND IDENTIFIED CLEARLY A FAULT THAT WAS SERIOUS. WE THEN HAD A VERY THOROUGH INVESTIGATION AND THE CONCLUSION IS THAT, IN AN EARTHQUAKE OF ABOUT 6.2, THIS GROUND WILL MOVE FOUR TO TWELVE INCHES ESTIMATED. AND FOUR TO TWELVE INCHES WOULD TEAR THIS BUILDING DOWN, AS YOU WELL KNOW, SO YOU CAN’T PUT CHILDREN IN IT.

VAL>> SO THIS IS AN ACTIVE AND SERIOUS FAULT. BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, WE BUILD ON EARTHQUAKE FAULTS ALL THE TIME. WE KNOW THERE ARE EARTHQUAKE FAULTS ALL THROUGH SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA. BUT YOU’RE SAYING THIS IS A SERIOUS ONE. IT’S AN ACTIVE ONE, ONE THAT CANNOT BE BUILT UPON?

ROY ROMER>> HERE’S ANOTHER MYSTERY. WE COULD NOT DETERMINE WHETHER IT’S ACTIVE OR NOT. IT’S A SERIOUS FAULT, BUT WHETHER IT’S ACTIVE OR NOT IS DEFINED AS HAS IT MOVED IN THE LAST 11,000 YEARS? THAT’S THE DEFINITION UNDER CALIFORNIA LAW.

VAL>> ELEVEN THOUSAND YEARS (LAUGHTER) OH, MY GOSH.

ROY ROMER>> ELEVEN THOUSAND YEARS. NOW HERE’S THE WAY YOU TEST THAT. YOU LOOK AT THE TOPSOIL ABOVE THE FAULT. THE BEDROCK COMES OUT TO ABOUT TWO TO THREE FEET FROM THE SURFACE. YOU NEED TO LOOK AT THE TOPSOIL. IF THE TOPSOIL HAS NOT BEEN BROKEN AND IT IS OLDER THAN 11,000 YEARS AND YOU CAN DETERMINE THAT, THEN THE FAULT IS NOT ACTIVE AND YOU’RE OKAY. NOW WE HAD NO TOPSOIL, SO THEREFORE --

VAL>> -- OH, BECAUSE OF ALL THE CONSTRUCTION.

ROY ROMER>> BECAUSE OF ALL THE CONSTRUCTION, WE HAVE NO WAY OF KNOWING WHETHER IT’S ACTIVE OR INACTIVE. REALLY, UNDER THAT CIRCUMSTANCE, YOU HAVE TO ASSUME IT IS ACTIVE.

JESS>> IF YOU REMOVE THE TWO BUILDINGS THAT ARE RIGHT OVER THE FAULT, IT'S NOT A TOTAL WASTE OF LAND. THAT COULD BE USED FOR OTHER THAN BUILDINGS, COULDN'T IT? ATHLETIC FACILITIES?

ROY ROMER>> THAT'S RIGHT. BUT I HAVE DONE A CALCULATION OF WHAT IT TAKES TO COMPLETE THAT PRESENT SET OF BUILDINGS TO THE SCHOOL AND IT'S ROUGHLY $70 MILLION. THEN I DID A CALCULATION OF WHAT IT WOULD COST TO JUST BUILD A TOTAL NEW SCHOOL, A LITTLE SMALLER, AND IT'S ABOUT $60 MILLION DOLLARS. SO I'M LOOKING VERY CAREFULLY AT THE ALTERNATIVES. I'M GOING TO GIVE A REPORT TO THE BOARD IN THIRTY TO SIXTY DAYS. I'VE GOT TO TELL YOU, JESS, (LAUGHTER) I'M SORRY THAT I INHERITED THIS BUILDING, BUT IT'S MINE NOW AND I'VE GOT TO TRY TO SALVAGE THE INVESTMENT, BUT I MAY NOT BE ABLE TO BECAUSE OF THIS FAULT.

VAL>> NOW YOU'VE GOTTEN A DE FACTO DEGREE IN SEISMOLOGY ALONG THE WAY HERE (LAUGHTER) THAT YOU DIDN'T EXPECT.

ROY ROMER>> (LAUGHTER) I'VE BEEN READING A LOT OF BOOKS MYSELF.

VAL>> THAT'S TRUE, BUT THE OTHER ALTERNATIVE YOU MENTIONED IS JUST BUILD SOMEWHERE ELSE. BUT THE PROBLEM IS, THERE'S NO LAND. THAT IS SUCH A CROWDED AREA.

ROY ROMER>> THAT'S THE REAL ISSUE. THIS SITE OF BELMONT HAS THIRTY-TWO ACRES. WE HAVE TWELVE ACRES THAT WE HAVE REALLY IDENTIFIED THAT'S VERY SAFE. IT'S HARD BEDROCK. SO THE INVESTIGATION WE'VE DONE OF THE WHOLE SITE AT LEAST HAS IDENTIFIED THAT WE'VE GOT TWELVE ACRES WE COULD BUILD UPON AND WE COULD BUILD ABOUT A 1,500-PUPIL SCHOOL. THE THIRD ALTERNATIVE IS TO GO OFF-SITE, BUT THAT MEANS WE'D HAVE TO TAKE PEOPLE OUT OF HOMES AND THAT'S A VERY DIFFICULT ALTERNATIVE. BUT LET ME TELL YOU, YOU KNOW, I HAVE TO CHUCKLE, BECAUSE A LOT OF THINGS HAPPEN TO YOU WHEN YOU'RE A SCHOOL SUPERINTENDENT. I MEAN, WHEN I FOUND THAT FAULT, I JUST THOUGHT, MAN, YOU KNOW, I NEED A DIFFERENT KIND OF CHRISTMAS PRESENT.

JESS>> AND THIS IS NOT A TIME WHEN YOU CAN GO TO EITHER SACRAMENTO OR WASHINGTON FOR AID?

ROY ROMER>> OH, NO. IT IS A VERY SERIOUS ISSUE TO THE PEOPLE WHO'VE BEEN WAITING FOR SO MANY YEARS. I MEAN, PEOPLE IN BELMONT HAVE BEEN WAITING TWENTY YEARS FOR THIS SCHOOL. I HAD THREE MEETINGS WITH THEM TODAY AND WE'RE TRYING TO FIND AN ANSWER.

JESS>> GOOD LUCK.

VAL>> WE HOPE YOU DO. SUPERINTENDENT ROY ROMER, THANK YOU SO MUCH. ALWAYS GOOD TO TALK WITH YOU.

ROY ROMER>> ALL RIGHT.

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

JESS>> THEY SAY YOU CAN'T FIGHT CITY HALL, BUT PATT SAYS DON'T BELIEVE IT, ESPECIALLY WHEN CITY HALL IS TRYING TO GET YOUR MONEY. THAT'S TONIGHT'S INFINITELY MORRISON.

PATT MORRISON>> SO GO AHEAD AND ARREST ME ALONG WITH A FEW THOUSAND OTHER PEOPLE WHO GOT A LETTER FROM THE CITY OF LOS ANGELES. AN ASSEMBLY BILL THAT TOOK EFFECT THIS YEAR -- I CALL IT THE RAT FINK BILL, BUT IT'S REALLY ASSEMBLY BILL 63 -- ALLOWS CITIES LIKE LOS ANGELES TO TAP INTO STATE TAX INFORMATION TO FIND PEOPLE WHO EARNED MONEY IN THE CITY OF LOS ANGELES AND PAID STATE TAXES ON IT, BUT MAY NOT HAVE PAID CITY TAXES ON IT. THIS RATHER HAND-FISTED LETTER WAS SENT TO ABOUT 151,000 PEOPLE TELLING THEM TO SPILL THE BEANS ABOUT THEIR INCOME OR FACE POSSIBLE ACTION INCLUDING "A CRIMINAL OR CIVIL COMPLAINT BY THE CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE".

THERE ARE BIG-TIME TAX DODGERS AROUND LIKE THE U.S. CORPORATIONS THAT FLEE OFFSHORE, BUT NO ONE HAS EXPLAINED TO ME WHY THE CITY EXPECTS TO TRACK DOWN TAX DODGERS BY GOING AFTER PEOPLE WHO HAVE FILED THEIR TAXES. I GOT ONE OF THOSE LETTERS. I EARNED MAYBE $500 THIS YEAR ON A BOOK I WROTE, MEANING THAT THE CITY PROBABLY EARNED MORE IN TAX FROM THE SALES OF MY BOOK THAN I DID FOR WRITING IT. IN THIS TOWN OF UNPRODUCED SCREENPLAYS, I DON'T KNOW HOW YOU TAX WRITING. I IMAGINE AN ENFORCER POUNDING ON EMILY DICKINSON'S FRONT DOOR YELLING "OPEN UP, LADY! WE KNOW YOU GOT POEMS IN THERE!"

I DID WRITE A COLUMN ABOUT THIS LETTER AND I HEARD SOME AMAZING STORIES FROM OTHER PEOPLE WHO GOT IT TOO. A GLENDALE MAN WHO EARNED $100 FOR GIVING A LECTURE AT USC. AN ELDERLY COUPLE WHO'VE BEEN POTTING CUTTINGS FROM THEIR GARDEN AND SELLING THEM AT FLEA MARKETS NOW AND THEN FOR EXTRA MONEY. A WOMAN WHO WAS TOLD SHE ALSO OWED LATE FEES FOR A TAX SHE DIDN'T KNOW EXISTED. ONE READER SUGGESTED THAT WHOEVER DREAMED THIS UP SHOULD BE DEMOTED TO CLEANING WOMAN, BUT THEN I HEARD ABOUT A CLEANING WOMAN WHO'S BEEN TRYING TO EMERGE FROM THE UNDERGROUND ECONOMY AND WHO GOT WHACKED WITH THIS LETTER FOR THE $60 OR $70 SHE MAKES A DAY.

ONE OF THE THREE BIG LIES IS WE'RE FROM THE GOVERNMENT, AND WE'RE HERE TO HELP YOU. I MAY ANSWER THIS GOVERNMENT LETTER WITH THE SECOND BIG LIE: THE CHECK IS IN THE MAIL.

JESS>> IT WAS A CONVINCING LIE OF THE NAZI REGIME, A PROPAGANDA FILM THAT SHOWED GERMAN JEWS LIVING HAPPILY IN THE CAMPS. IT WAS HITLER'S WAY OF TRYING TO PERSUADE THE WORLD THAT HE WAS TREATING THE JEWS WELL AND THE FILM WAS MADE BY ONE OF THOSE JEWS.

VAL>> THE STORY OF THIS FILMMAKER IS FINALLY BEING TOLD IN A NEW DOCUMENTARY CALLED "PRISONER OF PARADISE". HERE'S A LOOK.

[FILM CLIP]>> "THE NAZIS DECIDED TO MAKE A FILM, LIVING PROOF THAT HITLER'S CONCENTRATION CAMPS WERE PLACES OF CULTURE AND HUMANITY, BUT WHO COULD CONVINCINGLY TELL SUCH A COLOSSAL LIE? THE MAN THE NAZIS CHOSE TO DIRECT THEIR FILM WAS ONE OF THE MOST FAMOUS ACTORS AND DIRECTORS IN PRE-WAR GERMANY, A JEW. HIS NAME WAS KURT GERRON."

VAL>> AND JOINING US NOW ARE THE DIRECTORS OF "PRISONER OF PARADISE", DIRECTOR MALCOLM CLARKE AND EXECUTIVE PRODUCER STUART SENDER. THANK YOU BOTH FOR BEING HERE.

STUART SENDER>> THANKS FOR HAVING US.

MALCOLM CLARKE>> THANK YOU.

JESS>> WHAT SORT OF MAN WAS KURT GERRON?

MALCOLM CLARKE>> HE WAS A DOCTOR. HE GOT BACK FROM THE FIRST WORLD WAR. HE WAS A WAR HERO. HE WAS DECORATED IN THE FIRST WORLD WAR. HE WENT TO BERLIN EXPECTING TO BE A DOCTOR AND HE FELL IN LOVE WITH THE CRAZINESS OF BERLIN IN THE TWENTIES AND HE DECIDED THAT HE WANTED TO ACT AND HE WANTED TO SING AND HE WANTED TO DANCE. HE WENT ON THE STAGE AND HE BECAME AN INCREDIBLY SUCCESSFUL CABARET ARTIST AND ACTOR.

VAL>> AND HE WAS FAMOUS FOR WHAT KIND OF ROLES?

STUART SENDER>> WELL, HE PLAYED BIG CHARACTERS, RASCALS --

VAL>> -- LITERALLY, BECAUSE HE WAS BIG.

STUART SENDER>> AND HE WAS A BIG MAN HIMSELF. THE ROLES THAT HE BECAME BEST KNOWN FOR WERE STARRING OPPOSITE MARLENE DIETRICH IN "THE BLUE ANGEL" AND HE SANG "MACK THE KNIFE" IN THE ORIGINAL PRODUCTION OF "THE THREE PENNY OPERA", SO HE REALLY HAD A CAREER AND BECAME A REAL CENTERPIECE AND A REAL ICON.

VAL>> VERY SUCCESSFUL AND VERY PROSPEROUS?

STUART SENDER>> YES, HE WAS.

MALCOLM CLARKE>> HE BECAME VERY RICH AND HE BECAME VERY BELOVED OF THE GERMANS. HE WASN'T A LEADING MAN, BUT IN 1928, HE WAS IN TWENTY-EIGHT MOVIES IN ONE YEAR. (LAUGHTER) HE WAS VERY PRODUCTIVE.

JESS>> HOW COULD A MAN WITH THESE ACCOMPLISHMENTS, THIS INTELLIGENCE, BE SEDUCED BY THE NAZIS?

STUART SENDER>> WELL, THIS IS REALLY AN INTERESTING QUESTION AND THIS IS WHAT WE TRY AND EXPLORE IN THE FILM. HE REALLY WAS A MAN WHO LIVED FOR HIS WORK AND WE HEAR THAT FROM PEOPLE WHO WERE HIS CONTEMPORARIES, WHO WE WERE FORTUNATE TO BE ABLE TO SPEAK TO. THEY TELL US THAT HE WAS A GUY WHO AT MIDNIGHT WOULD BE LYING ON THE TABLE, DIRECTING, PUSHING. IT WAS NEVER ENOUGH AND THIS IS WHAT HE LOVED.

VAL>> AT THE SAME TIME, HE DID TRY TO ESCAPE NAZI GERMANY. HE WAS AWARE OF THE DANGER TO THE JEWS, IS THAT CORRECT? BUT HE GOT -- WAS HE CAPTURED AND BROUGHT BACK?

MALCOLM CLARKE>> YOU KNOW, THE INTERESTING THING IS, HE DIDN'T TRY TO ESCAPE HARD ENOUGH. HE LOVED HIS WORK AND, IF SOMEONE OFFERED HIM A PART, HE'D SAY, WELL, I'LL GO IN A COUPLE OF MONTHS, I'LL GO IN THREE MONTHS, THERE'S A PART, LET ME JUST DO THIS PART, THERE'S A MOVIE TO DIRECT, I'LL DIRECT THIS MOVIE AND THEN I'LL GO. HE NEVER WENT AND, BY THE TIME HE COULD GO, BY THE TIME HE DECIDED HE SHOULD GO, IT WAS TOO LATE. THEY CAUGHT HIM IN AMSTERDAM.

STUART SENDER>> EVEN AFTER HE HAD OFFERS OF HELP FROM MARLENE DIETRICH AND FROM JOSEF VON STERNBERG, WHO WAS THE DIRECTOR OF "THE BLUE ANGEL", AND COLLEAGUES INCLUDING PETER LORRE, WHO WE KNOW FROM "CASABLANCA", HAD COME TO THE UNITED STATES AND HAD OFFERED TO HELP HIM, HE WAS ALWAYS TOO BUSY. HE HAD SOMETHING ELSE TO DO.

VAL>> WHAT CONCENTRATION CAMP DID HE FINALLY END UP IN?

MALCOLM CLARKE>> HE WENT FIRST TO WESTERBORK, WHICH IS THE CONCENTRATION CAMP IN HOLLAND WHERE THEY COLLECTED ALL THE DUTCH AND BELGIAN JEWS. FROM THERE HE WAS SENT TO THERESIENSTADT, WHICH WAS A VERY ODD PLACE BECAUSE THE NAZIS CALL IT THE PARADISE GHETTO. IT WAS WHERE THE REALLY IMPORTANT JEWISH ACHIEVERS WERE SENT.

VAL>> THE CREATIVE ELITE.

JESS>> AND THAT'S WHERE HE MADE THE FILM?

STUART SENDER>> THAT'S WHERE HE MADE THE FILM.

MALCOLM CLARKE>> THAT'S WHERE HE MADE THE FILM, YES.

VAL>> IN FACT, WE'RE GOING TO TAKE A LOOK AT A CLIP NOW FROM YOUR FILM. THIS IS THE MOMENT WHEN HE WAS TOLD TO MAKE THE FILM. LET'S TAKE A LOOK.

[FILM CLIP]>> "KURT GERRON WAS ORDERED TO CAMP COMMANDANT ROHM AND HE WAS TOLD THAT THEY WANTED A FILM TO BE MADE AND ROHM SAID TO GERRON -- HE TALKED LIKE THIS -- YOU WILL BE THE DIRECTOR OF THE FILM. IT HAD BEEN A FULL SEVEN YEARS SINCE GERRON HAD DIRECTED A FILM. HERE WAS A CHANCE TO WORK AGAIN, BUT ONLY BY MAKING A DEAL WITH THE DEVIL."

JESS>> DID HE TRY TO INGRATIATE HIMSELF TO THE NAZIS? WAS THAT ONE OF THE REASONS FOR HIS MAKING THE FILM?

MALCOLM CLARKE>> NO, I THINK IF -- I MEAN, IT'S VERY HARD TO KNOW EXACTLY WHAT WAS GOING THROUGH HIS MIND, BUT HE MUST HAVE THOUGHT ON ONE LEVEL THAT THIS WAS AN OPPORTUNITY TO WORK. IT WAS AN OPPORTUNITY TO PLEASE HIS CAPTORS --

JESS>> -- AND PERHAPS TO SAVE HIMSELF?

MALCOLM CLARKE>> AND VERY MUCH TO SAVE HIMSELF AND HIS WIFE. IF HE COULD DO A GOOD JOB, MAYBE -- THEY ALL KNEW THE WAR WAS WINDING DOWN. THE NAZIS WERE LOSING THE WAR. IF THEY COULD JUST KEEP IT GOING FOR A LITTLE LONGER, MAYBE HE COULD SURVIVE.

JESS>> AND HE DIDN'T.

VAL>> THESE ARE SCENES ACTUALLY FROM THAT RATHER ELITE CAMP THAT HE WAS AT -- NO, I'M SORRY. THESE ARE SCENES FROM HIS FILM.

STUART SENDER>> THESE ARE SCENES FROM THE PROPAGANDA FILM ITSELF.

VAL>> THE PROPAGANDA FILM SHOWING HOW WONDERFULLY THEY'RE BEING TREATED.

MALCOLM CLARKE>> I MEAN, HE WAS TOLD TO MAKE A FILM WHICH WOULD MAKE A CONCENTRATION CAMP APPEAR TO THE WORLD LIKE CLUB MED.

VAL>> AND WAS THIS DISTRIBUTED TO THE WORLD?

MALCOLM CLARKE>> FORTUNATELY NOT, BECAUSE THE WAR WAS LOST BEFORE THAT. CLIPS OF THE FILM WERE SHOWN TO THE GERMAN PUBLIC RIGHT AT THE END OF THE WAR WHEN THEY WERE LOSING THE WAR WITH THE NARRATION, THE NAZI NARRATION, SAYING THIS IS THE WAY THE JEWS ARE LIVING WHILE OUR BOYS ARE AT THE FRONT AND DYING FOR OUR COUNTRY. THEY'RE PLAYING SOCCER THERE, THEY'RE DRINKING TEA, THEY'RE HAVING PARTIES. THAT WAS THE WAY THE PROPAGANDA WORKED.

JESS>> AND GERRON'S FATE?

STUART SENDER>> WELL, GERRON'S FATE AFTER MAKING THIS PROPAGANDA FILM WAS THAT HE DIDN'T SURVIVE. I THINK IN SPITE OF WHAT HIS HOPES WERE, POSSIBLY TO SAVE HIMSELF AND TO OTHER PEOPLE WHO WERE INVOLVED IN THIS PROPAGANDA FILM, HE WAS SENT FROM THERESIENSTADT TO AUSCHWITZ WHERE HE DIED IN A KIND OF TERRIBLE WAY THE DAY BEFORE THE GAS CHAMBERS WERE FINALLY CLOSED FOREVER.

VAL>> IT'S A BEAUTIFUL FILM. I WANT TO THANK YOU BOTH, MALCOLM CLARKE AND STUART SENDER, FOR BOTH MAKING IT AND BEING HERE WITH US. IT'S A BEAUTIFUL, BEAUTIFUL FILM.

STUART SENDER>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

JESS>> "PRISONER OF PARADISE" WILL BE SCREENING NEXT WEDNESDAY NIGHT, DECEMBER 11, AT THE MUSEUM OF TOLERANCE. FOR MORE INFORMATION, CHECK THE NUMBER ON YOUR SCREEN.

[310-772-2452]

VAL>> ALSO GLAD TO SAY IT WILL BE ON PBS. THANK YOU BOTH.

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