12/26/02

LC021226

VAL ZAVALA>> TONIGHT ON LIFE AND TIMES --

JESS MARLOW>> TWENTY THOUSAND DOSES OF SMALLPOX VACCINE. IT’S ENOUGH TO PROTECT LOCAL DISASTER TEAMS FROM BIOTERRORISTS, BUT WHAT ABOUT THE REST OF US? TONIGHT SOME ANSWERS FROM THE LOS ANGELES DOCTOR WHO’S IN CHARGE OF MAKING THE TOUGH DECISIONS.

VAL>> HOW CAN A CHILD DO HIS HOMEWORK WHEN HE DOESN’T HAVE A HOME? TONIGHT A SOLUTION FROM A RETIRED SCHOOL TEACHER WHO CARES.

AGNES STEVENS>> SO ONE NIGHT, I WAS JUST THINKING ABOUT IT AND I THOUGHT, WELL, WHAT COULD YOU DO? YOU CAN’T MAKE IT PERFECT, BUT WHAT COULD YOU DO TO HELP THESE CHILDREN? SO I KIND OF WROTE ON A LITTLE SCRAP PAPER, YOU KNOW, ONE-TO-ONE TUTORING WOULD BE GOOD.

JESS>> THEN WE’LL SHIFT GEARS AND LOOK AT A FICTIONAL CIVIL WAR BETWEEN THE NORTH AND THE SOUTH. ONLY THIS TIME, THE ENTIRE CONFLICT TAKES PLACE WITHIN THE BORDERS OF CALIFORNIA. IT’S A STORY TOLD IN THE PAINTINGS OF ARTIST SANDOW BIRK.

VAL>> AND 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. WE BEGIN TONIGHT WITH A STORY OF ONE WOMAN’S CRUSADE TO KEEP KIDS IN SCHOOL AND THAT’S NO EASY CHORE SINCE MOST OF THE CHILDREN YOU’RE ABOUT TO MEET EITHER LIVE ON THE STREETS OR IN LOCAL HOMELESS SHELTERS.

VAL>> WHAT CHANCE DO THESE YOUNGSTERS HAVE OF EVER GETTING A DECENT EDUCATION? WELL, BETTER THAN YOU MIGHT THINK, THANKS TO SOMETHING CALLED “SCHOOL ON WHEELS”. TONIGHT GAY YEE TELLS US IT ALL STARTED AFTER A LOCAL TEACHER LEFT THE CLASSROOM AND HIT THE STREETS.

GAY YEE>> EVEN THOUGH SHE’S SIXTY-SEVEN, AGNES STEVENS STILL WORKS AS HARD AS SHE DID WHEN SHE WAS A YOUNG ELEMENTARY SCHOOL TEACHER. SHE RETIRED A DOZEN YEARS AGO, BUT AGNES KNEW SHE STILL WANTED TO HELP KIDS, SPECIFICALLY HOMELESS CHILDREN, AND SHE’S MORE THAN REACHED HER GOAL. TODAY, THE ORGANIZATION SHE FOUNDED IN 1993, “SCHOOL ON WHEELS”, HAS OVER FOUR HUNDRED VOLUNTEERS TUTORING HOMELESS KIDS IN MORE THAN FIFTY SHELTERS IN LOS ANGELES AND BEYOND.

AGNES STEVENS>> I DIDN’T SET OUT TO SAY, OH, WE’RE GOING TO HAVE A PROGRAM THAT’S THIS BIG. IT WAS ONE OF THOSE THINGS THAT JUST HAPPENED.

GAY YEE>> IT ALL STARTED AFTER AGNES LEARNED ABOUT A SCHOOL IN VENICE WITH A BIG HOMELESS POPULATION AND BEGAN WORKING THERE SEVERAL DAYS A WEEK.

AGNES STEVENS>> IT WAS KIND OF OVERWHELMING TO ME. SO ONE NIGHT, I WAS JUST THINKING ABOUT IT AND I THOUGHT, WELL, WHAT COULD YOU DO? YOU CAN’T MAKE IT PERFECT, BUT WHAT COULD YOU DO TO HELP THESE CHILDREN? SO I KIND OF WROTE ON A LITTLE SCRAP PAPER, YOU KNOW, ONE-TO-ONE TUTORING WOULD BE GOOD.

GAY YEE>> AT FIRST, SHE BEGAN TUTORING WITH JUST TWO VOLUNTEERS IN A LOCAL PARK.

AGNES STEVENS>> IT TOOK ON A LIFE OF ITS OWN. I DON’T KNOW HOW TO EXPLAIN THAT, BUT IT JUST SEEMED LIKE IT WAS A MEANT TO BE THING AND PEOPLE WOULD COME ON, YOU KNOW, SAYING, YEAH, I’D LIKE TO VOLUNTEER. I’D LIKE TO HELP IN THIS WAY.

GAY YEE>> TODAY, BESIDES THE WORK “SCHOOL ON WHEELS” DOES IN SHELTERS, IT HAS ITS OWN STOREFRONT IN THE HEART OF DOWNTOWN L.A.’S SKID ROW. KIDS WHO LIVE IN NEARBY SHELTERS CAN COME HERE AFTER SCHOOL.

CARMEN>> THE THING THAT I LIKE THE MOST ABOUT COMING OVER HERE IS THAT I GET TO DO MY HOMEWORK AND, IF I NEED HELP WITH MY HOMEWORK, THE TUTORS HELP US AND THEY ALSO GIVE ME A BACKPACK AND GET ME ENROLLED IN SCHOOL.

GAY YEE>> MANY HOMELESS CHILDREN END UP FAR FROM THEIR OLD NEIGHBORHOODS AND SCHOOLS AND IT’S NOT UNUSUAL FOR THEM TO BE OUT OF CLASS FOR DAYS OR EVEN MONTHS AT A TIME.

DENISE MARTINEZ>> MOST OF THE TIME, THERE ARE GAPS IN THEIR EDUCATION AND THAT MAKES IT VERY HARD FOR THEM BECAUSE MOST OF THEM ARE ALREADY BEHIND ANYWAY BECAUSE OF ALL THE TRANSITIONS, SO HAVING TO START OVER AGAIN IS VERY DIFFICULT.

GAY YEE>> ONCE A “SCHOOL ON WHEELS” VOLUNTEER, DENISE MARTINEZ NOW RUNS THE DOWNTOWN FACILITY. SINCE SEPTEMBER, SHE’S HELPED ONE HUNDRED FIFTY KIDS WITH THEIR SCHOOL ENROLLMENTS AND SHE SET UP TIES WITH L.A. UNIFIED ATTENDANCE COUNSELOR, DIERDRE SKELTON.

DIERDRE SKELTON>> IT IS EASY FOR THE FAMILIES TO FALL THROUGH THE CRACKS BECAUSE, IF THEY MOVE OUT OF THE AREA, THE KID IS ABSENT IN SCHOOL AND, IF NO ONE KNOWS WHERE THE FAMILY HAS BEEN, THEN THE CHILD IS JUST UNKNOWN.

GAY YEE>> SKELTON SAYS HOMELESS KIDS ARE UNDER A LOT OF STRESS.

DIERDRE SKELTON>> IT’S ISOLATION. IT’S SHAME. SOMETIMES JUST A CLASSROOM ASSIGNMENT SUCH AS DESCRIBING YOUR ROOM AND YOU DON’T HAVE A ROOM. IT’S INSTABILITY, NOT HAVING ANYTHING OF YOUR OWN, NOT HAVING A PLACE TO PUT YOUR STUFF. IT’S VERY DIFFICULT. IT’S VERY DIFFICULT AND TRYING TO MAKE SURE NOBODY ELSE FINDS OUT BECAUSE YOU DON’T WANT TO BE MADE FUN OF.

GAY YEE>> MANY OF THE CHILDREN WHO COME HERE AFTER SCHOOL ARE STAYING WITH THEIR MOTHERS AT THE NEARBY UNION RESCUE MISSION.

CARMEN>> LIVING IN THE SHELTER IS REALLY HARD AND YOU CAN’T REALLY TELL KIDS, ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU’RE IN MIDDLE SCHOOL, BECAUSE THEY MAKE FUN OF YOU OR THEY SPREAD RUMORS AROUND, AND YOU CAN’T REALLY TELL NOBODY. IT’S REALLY DIFFICULT TO BE IN A SHELTER.

GAY YEE>> MARTINEZ ECHOES THIS SEVENTH GRADER’S WORDS.

DENISE MARTINEZ>> IT’S VERY, VERY DIFFICULT FOR THE KIDS AND IT’S VERY CHAOTIC. THE ONES ESPECIALLY THAT STAY AT THE MISSION, YOU KNOW, THEY HAVE TO BE UP VERY EARLY, SO THEY’RE EXHAUSTED MANY TIMES, YOU KNOW, WHEN THEY COME HERE.

GAY YEE>> AND THEN THERE ARE THINGS ON THE STREET THAT MOST OTHER CHILDREN NEVER EXPERIENCE.

DENISE MARTINEZ>> THEY SEE PEOPLE THAT ARE ON THE STREET DEAD. YOU KNOW, THEY SEE A LOT OF THINGS THAT MOST CHILDREN DON’T HAVE TO DEAL WITH ASIDE FROM TRYING TO KEEP UP WITH THEIR SCHOOLWORK.

GAY YEE>> “SCHOOL ON WHEELS” CAN’T MAKE EVERYTHING RIGHT FOR HOMELESS CHILDREN, BUT THEY KNOW THEY CAN HELP KIDS STAY FOCUSED ON THEIR SCHOOLWORK.

DOMMINIECE>> WORKING HERE, IT’S PEACEFUL. I CAN HAVE TIME, SPACE.

STEPHANIE>> I LIKE TO DO ARTS AND CRAFTS. I LIKE TO PLAY WITH DENISE.

DENISE MARTINEZ>> THIS WILL BE A GOOD ONE FOR YOUR BOOK REPORT, HUH?

DENISE MARTINEZ>> THIS IS OUR FUTURE WE’RE LOOKING AT HERE AND IT’S SO EASY TO IGNORE THEM, YOU KNOW. THEY’RE A SILENT VOICE. TO GET THESE KIDS AND TO GET THEM THROUGH SCHOOL, YOU KNOW, AND GIVE THESE KIDS A CHANCE IS THE MOST IMPORTANT THING THAT WE CAN DO.

GAY YEE>> LLOYD LEE WOULD AGREE. HE’S A “SCHOOL ON WHEELS” VOLUNTEER AT THE UNION RESCUE MISSION.

LLOYD LEE>> I’VE WORKED WITH TUTORING KIDS FOR ABOUT TEN YEARS, BUT PRIOR TO THIS, I ONLY WORKED WITH SUBURBAN KIDS. IT’S MUCH DIFFERENT BECAUSE KIDS IN THE SUBURBS ARE VERY PRIVILEGED AND, WHETHER I TUTOR THEM OR NOT, THEY’RE GOING TO DO WELL IN SCHOOL OR AT LEAST RELATIVELY OKAY IN LIFE, WHEREAS THESE KIDS ARE KIND OF ON THE MAKE-OR-BREAK LEVEL.

>> THE TUTORS ARE VERY HELPFUL. THEY’RE VERY SUPPORTIVE AND I THINK THEY DO A VERY GOOD JOB.

AGNES STEVENS>> IT TAKES SO LITTLE TO HELP A KID. IT REALLY TAKES SO LITTLE THAT THEIR WHOLE CONFIDENCE TAKES OFF AND THEIR HAPPINESS GETS UP WHEN THEY HAVE SOMEBODY WORKING WITH THEM.

GAY YEE>> HOMELESS CHILDREN ARE NOT JUST IN SHELTERS, BUT ALSO IN CHEAP DOWNTOWN HOTELS. “SCHOOL ON WHEELS” HAS VOLUNTEERS TO HELP THEM AS WELL. AGNES STEVENS SAYS IT CAN BE HARD FOR VOLUNTEERS WHEN THEY START TO WORK WITH CHILDREN ONLY TO SEE THEM DISAPPEAR INTO AN UNKNOWN FUTURE, BUT SHE’S CONVINCED THEY ARE NOT FORGOTTEN.

AGNES STEVENS>> I REMEMBER IN MY LIFE, THERE WERE CERTAIN PEOPLE THAT I DIDN’T KNOW THAT CAME ALONG FOR A SHORT TIME, A STRANGER OR SOMEONE THAT HELPED ME. I MIGHT NOT REMEMBER THEIR NAME OR EVEN THE ISSUE AT THE TIME, BUT I’LL NEVER FORGET THAT SOMEBODY WAS THERE FOR ME.

JESS>> IT’S ILLEGAL FOR ANY CALIFORNIA PUBLIC SCHOOL TO TURN AWAY HOMELESS CHILDREN, BUT MANY PARENTS CLAIM IT’S A FAIRLY COMMON PRACTICE. THEY SAY PRINCIPALS ASK FOR THINGS THEY DON’T HAVE, SUCH AS A PERMANENT ADDRESS OR A PHONE NUMBER AT WORK. FACED WITH THOSE BUREAUCRATIC OBSTACLES, WE’RE TOLD THAT MANY HOMELESS PARENTS SIMPLY STOP TRYING AND THEIR CHILDREN SUFFER FOR IT.

JESS>> IT’S THE KIND OF THING WE’D LIKE NOT TO HAVE TO THINK ABOUT, BUT LOCAL AUTHORITIES HAVE TO BE READY JUST IN CASE. WE’RE TALKING ABOUT BIOTERRORISM AND SOME DOOMSDAY EVENT THAT MIGHT EXPOSE LARGE NUMBERS OF PEOPLE TO A DEADLY AGENT SUCH AS SMALLPOX. LOS ANGELES COUNTY IS REQUESTING 20,000 DOSES OF SMALLPOX VACCINE TO INOCULATE DISASTER TEAMS AND HEALTHCARE WORKERS, BUT WHAT ABOUT THE REST OF US?

VAL>> DR. JONATHAN FIELDING IS ONE OF THE PEOPLE WHO’LL HAVE TO MAKE THE TOUGH CHOICES ABOUT HOW TO USE THOSE VACCINES. HE IS LOS ANGELES COUNTY’S DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC HEALTH AND HE JOINS US NOW TO TALK ABOUT THE LOCAL SMALLPOX READINESS PLAN. WELCOME TO LIFE AND TIMES.

DR. JONATHAN FIELDING>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

JESS>> DR. FIELDING, ARE THOSE 20,000 DOSES AVAILABLE TO US NOW?

DR. JONATHAN FIELDING>> NO. WE HAVE TO SUBMIT A PLAN BY DECEMBER 9 AND THAT PLAN HAS TO INCLUDE OUR FIRST PHASE. THERE ARE THREE PHASES THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT HAS PRESCRIBED AND WE HAVE TO GET APPROVAL FOR PHASE ONE. THAT WOULD COVER A PUBLIC HEALTH RESPONSE TEAM, PEOPLE WHO WOULD GO OUT AND IDENTIFY A PROBLEM, WOULD TRACE CONTACTS, WHO WOULD BE ABLE TO TRANSLATE, UNDERSTAND WHERE PEOPLE WERE WHO MIGHT HAVE BEEN EXPOSED, MEDICAL EPIDEMIOLOGISTS AND THE LIKE, A GROUP OF VACCINATORS BECAUSE, IF WE HAVE A PROBLEM, WE CERTAINLY WANT TO HAVE PEOPLE WHO CAN GO OUT AND VACCINATE LARGE NUMBERS OF PEOPLE.

JESS>> BE SURE THE VACCINATOR HAS BEEN VACCINATED, HUH?

DR. JONATHAN FIELDING>> EXACTLY. AND THEN THE THIRD GROUP WOULD BE A SMALL CADRE OF PEOPLE IN EACH OF THE 911 RESPONSE HOSPITALS. THERE ARE ABOUT EIGHTY OF THEM IN LOS ANGELES COUNTY. NOT ENOUGH FOR THE WHOLE STAFF, BUT A START. IN ADDITION, WE'RE TALKING TO THE CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL ABOUT ADDING SOME OF THE FIRST RESPONDERS, THE 911 RESPONSE GROUPS THAT GO OUT. THAT WOULD BE THE FIRST GROUP. THE SECOND WOULD BE ALL HEALTHCARE WORKERS AND FIRE AND POLICE. THAT'S PHASE TWO. THEN PHASE THREE WOULD BE MAKING IT AVAILABLE TO EVERYONE, AGAIN ON A STRICTLY VOLUNTARY BASIS.

JESS>> BUT THE 20,000 IS JUST A START THEN?

DR. JONATHAN FIELDING>> THAT'S JUST A START AND THAT'S THE PHASE THAT'S BEEN PRESCRIBED, AGAIN, BY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT. THEY HAVE TO APPROVE OUR PLAN AND THE PRESIDENT HAS TO DECIDE HE WANTS TO PROCEED IN GENERAL WITH THE SMALLPOX INOCULATION PLAN. THAT'S NOT HAPPENED YET.

VAL>> SO WE HAVE 20,000 VACCINATIONS COMING IN AND YOU HAVE TO PRIORITIZE THOSE. SECOND PHASE IS, WHAT, ANOTHER LIKE 100,000 VACCINES? BUT IT'S GOING TO TAKE MILLIONS TO GET TO PHASE THREE. WHEN MIGHT THAT HAPPEN, IF EVER?

DR. JONATHAN FIELDING>> IT'S LIKELY THAT PHASE THREE, WHICH WOULD MAKE IT AVAILABLE TO THE GENERAL POPULATION, WILL BE WHEN THE NEW VACCINE UNDER DEVELOPMENT IS READY IN LARGE NUMBERS. THAT'S GOING TO BE THE END OF 2003 OR THE BEGINNING OF 2004.

VAL>> AND THAT WILL BE A NEW VACCINE. HOW IS IT DIFFERENT FROM THE CURRENT VACCINE?

DR. JONATHAN FIELDING>> IT'S A TISSUE CULTURE. THE CURRENT ONE IS DONE IN A DIFFERENT SYSTEM. IT'S DONE IN GLANDS FROM ANIMALS. IT'S --

VAL>> -- IS THE NEW ONE SAFER THAN THE CURRENT ONE?

DR. JONATHAN FIELDING>> IT PROBABLY WILL BE SAFER IN GENERAL. BOTH, AGAIN, ARE COWPOX. THEY'RE LIVE VACCINES. THEY'RE NOT SMALLPOX, THEY'RE COWPOX, WHICH IS RELATED AND CONFERS IMMUNITY.

JESS>> BUT THERE IS A RISK TO THOSE WHO ARE RECEIVING THE VACCINE?

DR. JONATHAN FIELDING>> THERE ARE RISKS AND THAT'S WHY IT'S VERY IMPORTANT, FIRST OF ALL, TO SCREEN PEOPLE. IF SOMEBODY IS PREGNANT, IF THEY HAVE ATOPIC DERMATITIS OR ECZEMA, IF THEY HAVE ANY IMMUNE PROBLEM LIKE HIV OR ON CANCER CHEMOTHERAPY, THEY SHOULD NOT GET THE VACCINE IN THIS PRECAUTIONARY PHASE. BUT EVEN THEN, PEOPLE SHOULD UNDERSTAND THE RISKS AND THERE ARE RISKS. SOME ARE SIMPLY LOCAL PROBLEMS, SWELLING OR PAIN OR FEVER, AND THERE CAN BE VERY SERIOUS PROBLEMS LIKE ENCEPHALITIS OR VACCINIA THAT GOES OVER THE WHOLE BODY, AND THERE ARE PEOPLE THAT CAN DIE. IN THE LAST MASS VACCINATION, ABOUT ONE OR TWO PER MILLION DIED FROM THE VACCINE, SO PEOPLE NEED TO WEIGH THE RISKS AND THE BENEFITS AND THIS IS ENTIRELY VOLUNTARY.

VAL>> ALL RIGHT, SO LET'S SAY WE GET TO PHASE THREE BECAUSE THAT'S THE GENERAL PUBLIC --

JESS>> -- THAT'S US.

VAL>> LET'S FACE IT. THAT'S WHAT WE'RE INTERESTED IN, ALTHOUGH IT'S NICE TO KNOW YOU GUYS GET IT FIRST. BUT WHEN WE HAVE TO DECIDE, NUMBER ONE, IT'S VOLUNTARY, SO IT'S NOT LIKE THE GOVERNMENT IS FORCING EVERYBODY TO GET THIS. SO WHAT ARE THE FACTORS THAT WE SHOULD THINK ABOUT? OKAY, OBVIOUSLY, IF OUR IMMUNE SYSTEM IS DOWN, WE SHOULDN'T, BUT WHAT ARE THE OTHER THINGS WE SHOULD THINK ABOUT WHETHER OR NOT WE SHOULD GET A VACCINE?

DR. JONATHAN FIELDING>> WELL, IT'S A VERY PERSONAL DECISION. IT'S VERY DIFFICULT BECAUSE ONE DOESN'T KNOW EXACTLY THE RISK. FOR EXAMPLE, THERE IS CONCERN THAT IRAQ MAY HAVE THE SMALLPOX VIRUS AND MAY HAVE HAD A VERY ACTIVE BIOWEAPONS PROGRAM AND THERE ARE OTHER COUNTRIES THAT MAY HAVE HAD SMALLPOX VIRUS. OFFICIALLY, IT'S ONLY IN THE UNITED STATES AND IN RUSSIA IN A VERY WELL-GUARDED PLACE, SO THAT LEADS TO CONCERNS AND --

VAL>> -- WELL, HOW CONTAGIOUS IS IT? IF THERE WERE AN ATTACK, WHAT'S THE CHANCES OF IT SPREADING THAT QUICKLY?

DR. JONATHAN FIELDING>> IT IS CONTAGIOUS, BUT IT'S NOT AS CONTAGIOUS AS, FOR EXAMPLE, GETTING A COLD OR INFLUENZA. IT TAKES PROLONGED PERSON-TO-PERSON CONTACT. GENERALLY, IT WOULD BE WITHIN SIX FEET FOR SOME PERIOD OF TIME, AND YOU HAVE TO HAVE PEOPLE IN A CERTAIN PHASE OF THE DISEASE. THE EARLY PHASE IS FEVER USUALLY OF 101, BODY ACHES, BACK ACHES. THEN THE SECOND PHASE IS THIS CHARACTERISTIC RASH, USUALLY ON THE FACE AND HANDS AND ALSO FEET AND THEN MOVING TO THE TRUNK. IT'S DURING THAT PHASE THAT IT'S MOST CONTAGIOUS AND PARTICULARLY DURING THE FIRST WEEK OF HAVING THAT RASH.

JESS>> AND WHAT'S THE MORTALITY RATE?

DR. JONATHAN FIELDING>> THE MORTALITY RATE, BASED ON PAST EXPERIENCE, IS ABOUT THIRTY PERCENT. IT MIGHT BE LOWER, IT MIGHT BE A LITTLE HIGHER, BUT THAT'S THE OFFICIAL RATE.

JESS>> HOW WOULD THIS COMPARE WITH ANTHRAX?

DR. JONATHAN FIELDING>> IT DEPENDS. SMALLPOX, WE DON'T HAVE ANY EFFECTIVE TREATMENT FOR. IT'S ALL SUPPORTIVE TREATMENT. THERE IS ONE ANTIVIRAL AGENT THAT WE WILL TRY --

JESS>> -- ONCE YOU GET IT --

DR. JONATHAN FIELDING>> -- EXACTLY. ONCE YOU GET IT, WE DON'T HAVE EFFECTIVE TREATMENT. ANTHRAX, IF YOU GET IT EARLY AND YOU GIVE IT A ROUTINE ANTIBIOTIC, YOU'RE ABLE, IN FACT, TO STAVE IT OFF, SO THERE'S A BIG DIFFERENCE.

VAL>> BUT STILL, THIRD MORTALITY MEANS THAT, EVEN IF YOU GET IT, TWO-THIRDS OF THE PEOPLE WHO GET IT WILL SURVIVE WITHOUT ANY PARTICULAR TREATMENT?

DR. JONATHAN FIELDING>> THAT IS CORRECT, BUT IT'S NOT EXACTLY A FUN DISEASE TO HAVE AND IT'S NOT EASY -- YOU CAN'T FORETELL WHO IS GOING TO SUCCUMB TO IT AND WHO IS NOT.

JESS>> WE THOUGHT THIS WAS ALL OVER IN, WHAT, 1979 WHEN IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THERE WAS NO MORE SMALLPOX REMAINING IN THE WORLD?

DR. JONATHAN FIELDING>> THAT'S CORRECT. IN 1980, THE WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION DECLARED SMALLPOX ERADICATED ON A WORLD-WIDE BASIS. WE HAVEN'T HAD A CASE IN THE UNITED STATES SINCE 1949.

JESS>> BUT WE KEPT SOME OF THE VIRUS? FOR RESEARCH PURPOSES?

DR. JONATHAN FIELDING>> YES, WE KEPT SOME OF THE VIRUS FOR RESEARCH PURPOSES AND RUSSIA DID AS WELL. OBVIOUSLY, THIS WAS DURING THE TIME OF THE COLD WAR AND DÉTENTE AND, IF THEY HAD IT, WE WANTED TO HAVE IT, SO WE'VE HAD IT IN OUR FREEZERS FOR A LONG TIME.

VAL>> NOW YOU'RE GETTING 20,000 VACCINES TO START AND YET SOMEONE ESTIMATED THAT REALLY TO INOCULATE ALL THE HEALTH SERVICE PERSONNEL, YOU NEED 80,000 TO 200,000 VACCINES. DO YOU FEEL LIKE 20,000 IS NOT NEARLY ENOUGH?

DR. JONATHAN FIELDING>> IT'S A PHASE PROGRAM. THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT HAS DICTATED WHAT THE PHASES ARE AND IN PHASE TWO, WHICH COULD FOLLOW QUICKLY AFTER PHASE ONE IF THEY SO DECIDE, IT WOULD BE OFFERED TO ALL HEALTHCARE WORKERS AND ALL FIRE AND ALL POLICE. SO THAT'S REALLY THE PHASE THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT HAS TO DECIDE AND THE TIMETABLE AND WE DON'T KNOW THAT YET. THEY'VE NOT MADE THE PRONOUNCEMENT.

JESS>> SO THIS PROVIDES ANOTHER CRISIS FOR YOU IN YOUR JOB. YOU'VE GOT ENOUGH GOING ON ALREADY WITH THE HEALTH CRISIS IN LOS ANGELES COUNTY ON A BUDGETARY BASIS.

DR. JONATHAN FIELDING>> WELL, THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT BECAUSE WHAT WE LEARN AS WE PREPARE -- AND WE'RE BETTER PREPARED EVERY DAY -- HELPS US FOR EVERYTHING. IT HELPS US FOR ALL FORMS OF TERRORISM AND THAT'S THE APPROACH WE TAKE OR FOR WEST NILE OR FOR ANY NEW KIND OF INFECTIOUS AGENT. SO IT MAKES US BETTER PREPARED TO RESPOND TO ANY TYPE OF EMERGENCY.

VAL>> DR. FIELDING, DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC HEALTH, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR COMING IN.

DR. JONATHAN FIELDING>> MY PLEASURE.

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

JESS>> RESIDENTS OF THE SAN FRANCISCO BAY AREA ARE FAMOUS FOR LOOKING DOWN THEIR COLLECTIVE NOSES AT SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA, BUT IMAGINE A TIME WHEN CALIFORNIA'S REGIONAL DIFFERENCES BECOME SERIOUS ENOUGH TO CAUSE A CIVIL WAR. THAT'S THE PREMISE OF A NEW FILM THAT REDEFINES THE WAR BETWEEN THE NORTH AND THE SOUTH.

PAUL ZALOOM>> "SOON CALIFORNIA WAS AT WAR WITH HERSELF. BROTHER AGAINST BROTHER, NEIGHBOR AGAINST NEIGHBOR, ANGELENO AGAINST SAN FRANCISCAN. A BITTER, SAD AND TRAGIC AFFAIR, THE GREAT WAR OF THE CALIFORNIAS WAS THE RESULT OF MANY EVENTS, ACTIONS AND PERSONALITIES, ALL ROLLED INTO THE GIANT BURRITO OF HISTORY."

JESS>> THE FILM IS CALLED "IN SMOG AND THUNDER" AND IT'S BASED ON THE WORKS OF AN ARTIST WHO SPENT SOME TIME DREAMING UP A GREAT WAR OF THE CALIFORNIAS.

VAL>> AND JOINING US NOW IS SANDOW BIRK WHO WROTE THE FILM WHICH USES SO MANY OF HIS PAINTINGS. ALSO WITH US IS SEAN MEREDITH, WHO PRODUCED AND DIRECTED "IN SMOG AND THUNDER". I LOVE THAT, THE GREAT BURRITO (LAUGHTER).

SANDOW BIRK>> THANK YOU.

JESS>> IS IT TOUGH TO PAINT WITH TONGUE-IN-CHEEK?

SANDOW BIRK>> YES. IT CAN BE TOUGH, YEAH.

VAL>> NOW THIS FILM OBVIOUSLY WAS BUILT UPON THE SUCCESS OF THE PAINTINGS WHICH WERE AN EXHIBIT UNTO THEMSELVES, CORRECT?

SEAN MEREDITH>> WELL, IT STARTED AT SEVERAL EXHIBITS. FIRST AT THE KOPLIN GALLERY IN LOS ANGELES WHERE I SHOW REGULARLY, AND IT WAS ALSO AT THE LAGUNA ART MUSEUM TWO YEARS AGO.

JESS>> WHAT TECHNIQUE DID YOU EMPLOY TO MAKE A FILM OF THIS? IS THIS A DOCUMENTARY?

SEAN MEREDITH>> YEAH, IT'S A DOCUMENTARY OF THE WAR IN CALIFORNIA, SO IT SPOOFS THE KEN BURNS GENRE, SO WHERE SANDOW'S PAINTINGS SORT OF LIKE SPOOF THE HISTORICAL WAR PAINTINGS FROM THE 1800'S AND SO FORTH. YEAH, THIS FILM WENT ON AND SPOOFED THE MEDIA THAT'S GOING ON NOW.

JESS>> YOU'RE A TEAM OF PRANKSTERS THEN, HUH? (LAUGHTER)

SANDOW BIRK>> YEAH, WE WORKED WITH PAUL ZALOOM WHO HELPED WRITE THE SCRIPT ALSO.

SEAN MEREDITH>> AND HE'S ALSO THE NARRATOR.

VAL>> I THINK WE'RE GOING TO SEE SOME IMAGES THAT WERE USED AND WE'RE ALSO GOING TO TAKE A COUPLE OF CLIPS. WHAT IS THIS? A "MOCKUMENTARY", IS THAT CORRECT?

SANDOW BIRK>> YEAH, EXACTLY.

VAL>> SO WHAT HAPPENS IN THIS WAR?

SEAN MEREDITH>> WELL, IT'S SET ON THE PREMISE THAT, DUE TO THE ANTAGONISM BETWEEN THESE TWO CITIES, THAT LOS ANGELES INVADES SAN FRANCISCO, SAN FRANCISCO RISES UP AND COUNTER-ATTACKS AND --

VAL>> -- WE'RE THE AGGRESSOR?

SANDOW BIRK>> OH, YEAH.

SEAN MEREDITH>> AT THE BEGINNING, YEAH, BECAUSE SAN FRANCISCO IS SO HOSTILE, YOU KNOW, AGAINST THE SOUTH, BUT THE WHOLE THING IS NOT JUST SIMPLY MEANT TO BE FUNNY --

JESS>> -- THIS IS A SPONSORED WAR. WE'VE GOT ALL THESE BUD LIGHT AND GOODYEAR --

VAL>> -- IS THAT RIGHT? IT'S A SPONSORED WAR? THERE'S ENDORSEMENTS FOR EACH SIDE, IS THAT RIGHT?

SEAN MEREDITH>> YEAH, ABSOLUTELY. BUT IT TALKS ABOUT REAL SERIOUS ISSUES TOO LIKE THE VALLEY TRYING TO BREAK AWAY AND SECEDING. IT TALKS ABOUT IMMIGRATION, CIVIL RIGHTS --

JESS>> -- THE WATER WAR?

SEAN MEREDITH>> ALL KINDS OF THINGS.

VAL>> DID YOU ACTUALLY DRAW A LOT ON HISTORY OR DID YOU JUST MAKE ALL THIS UP USING CONTEMPORARY POP CULTURE?

SEAN MEREDITH>> WE DREW A LOT ON CURRENT EVENTS, YEAH. CONTEMPORARY SOCIAL ISSUES AND THINGS.

VAL>> SO SAN FRANCISCO IN THE NORTH, LOS ANGELES IN THE SOUTH. WHERE DID BAKERSFIELD GO? NORTH OR SOUTH? (LAUGHTER)

SANDOW BIRK>> THEY'RE ACTUALLY IN THERE. LAS VEGAS PLAYS A ROLE, SAN DIEGO AND, IN THE GRAND FINALE, TIJUANA IS INVOLVED ALSO.

JESS>> I SUPPOSE THE SAN FRANCISCO CULTURE IS THE MAJOR WEAPON USED.

SEAN MEREDITH>> YEAH, AND THEN LOS ANGELES CULTURE. I MEAN, IT'S SORT OF THE BATTLE BETWEEN WHO HAS CULTURE AND WHO DOESN'T AND SORT OF SAN FRANCISCO THINKING WE DON'T HAVE ANY, SO IT'S QUITE A --

VAL>> -- WHAT ORIGINALLY GAVE YOU THE IDEA OF CREATING PAINTINGS BASED ON A FICTIONAL WAR?

SANDOW BIRK>> WELL, A LOT HAD TO DO WITH HISTORY PAINTING ITSELF, AN IDEA OF PAINTINGS THAT HISTORICALLY PAINTED WARS AND THINGS, AND TAKING THAT IDEA OF PAINTING AND SORT OF MAKING A JOKE ABOUT THE ROLE OF PAINTING IN OUR WORLD TODAY.

JESS>> WHEN YOU SEE AN ARMED CAVALRY CHARGING IN THERE WEARING DODGER JACKETS....

VAL>> WE'RE GOING TO TAKE A LOOK AT A CLIP AND THIS IS A CLIP THAT TALKS ABOUT A PARTICULAR BATTLE. IT WAS THE ATTACK ON THE GETTY CENTER. LET'S TAKE A LOOK.

JESS>> THAT'S AN ARMED FORTRESS UP THERE.

SEAN MEREDITH>> EXACTLY, EXACTLY.

VAL>> GOOD VENUE. LET'S TAKE A LOOK.

PAUL ZALOOM>> "FINALLY, ANGELENO REINFORCEMENTS ARRIVED EAGER TO MOUNT THE STEEP HILL TO SAVE THE GETTY. BUT LIEUTENANT-MAJOR D.J. DOWN HELD THEM BACK SEEING NO POINT IN SACRIFICING MORE TROOPS TO SAVE WHAT HE DESCRIBED AS 'AT BEST, A MEDIOCRE COLLECTION OF 'B' GRADE PAINTINGS AND ROCOC0 TCHOTCHKE.' D.J. DOWN WAS LATER SLAIN IN THE BATTLE OF UNIVERSAL STUDIOS. IN THE MEANTIME, ANGELENO CIVILIANS KEPT LIVING THEIR LIVES AS IF NOTHING WAS HAPPENING AROUND THEM."

>> "THIS IS RUDY IN SKY-WATCH 1. THINGS ARE NOT LOOKING TOO GOOD FOR THE MORNING COMMUTE, FOLKS. THERE'S AN ARMORED PERSONNEL CARRIER ON FIRE BLOCKING THE TRANSITION FROM THE NORTHBOUND 5 TO THE 710. WE GOT A SIGALERT ON THE 210 NORTH WITH A SLOW-MOVING SUPPLY CONVOY IN THE CARPOOL LANE. NOW IF YOU'RE PLANNING ON GETTING OUT TO PALM SPRINGS THIS WEEKEND, YOU'D BETTER TAKE THE 60 CAUSE THE 10'S GOT A SEVENTY-FOOT DEEP SMOLDERING CRATER BY THE 605 WITH CALTRANS ON THE WAY. KFWB PHONE FORESTER BOB CALLED IN ABOUT A BRUSH FIRE ON THE 405 SOUTH BY LA TIERRA DUE TO SOME FLAME-THROWER ACTIVITY ON THE SHOULDER. OKAY, WE'RE TAKING SOME FLAK. MORE TRAFFIC COMING UP ON THE 1'S."

VAL>> (LAUGHTER) THAT IS, UNFORTUNATELY, TOO TRUE. EVERYTHING IS GOING ON, BUT GIVE ME MY TRAFFIC REPORT. OH, THAT'S GREAT.

JESS>> THIS IS, WHAT, A 45-MINUTE?

SEAN MEREDITH>> YEAH, 45 MINUTES.

JESS>> AND WHERE WILL IT BE SEEN?

SEAN MEREDITH>> IT HAD ITS FIRST SHOWING LAST MONTH AT A FESTIVAL IN PALM SPRINGS CALLED "THE FESTIVAL OF FESTIVALS" (LAUGHTER). IT'S A BUNCH OF FESTIVALS ROLLED INTO ONE. IT WILL BE SHOWING AT MORE FESTIVALS NEXT YEAR. STARTING IN JANUARY, IT WILL START ROLLING AND, HOPEFULLY, A FEW OF THEM WILL BE IN CALIFORNIA ONCE IT ALL STARTS SHOWING, BUT IN WESTERN STATES MOSTLY.

VAL>> I DON'T THINK IT WILL BE SHOWING AT THE GETTY (LAUGHTER).

SEAN MEREDITH>> IT'S ALSO OUT ON DVD NOW TOO THAT THE PUBLISHING COMPANY THAT HELPED MAKE THE FILM RELEASED.

VAL>> WE'RE GOING TO TAKE A LOOK AT ANOTHER CLIP BECAUSE WE HAVE TO GET THIS IN. THIS IS ABOUT THE ALLIES THAT FORM ON EACH SIDE. LET'S TAKE A LOOK.

PAUL ZALOOM>> "WHILE SAN FRANCISCO HAD SUCCESSFULLY ENLISTED THEIR NORTHERN NEIGHBORS, SEATTLE AND PORTLAND, IN THE WAR, THE SOUTH HAD HAD LESS SUCCESS IN GATHERING ALLIES. ORANGE COUNTY DECIDED TO REMAIN NEUTRAL WITH SAN DIEGO. OBSESSED WITH ITS CONSTANT AND MANIACAL BORDER-FENCED BUILDING TO THE SOUTH, SAN DIEGO FAILED TO PERCEIVE THE THREAT LOOMING BEHIND THE CLOUDS OF WAR. THE HOPES OF LOS ANGELES WERE NOW PINNED ON THE DECISION OF MEXICO. JUST AS BOTH GOMEZ'S AND PARKS' FLANKS WERE CRUMBLING, THE ARRIVAL OF MEXICAN BRIGADIER GENERAL QUINCY SALERNO AND HIS 15,000 TIJUANA REINFORCEMENTS SAVED THE DAY FOR EAST LOS ANGELES. THEY HAD HEARD THE CALL FOR AID FROM THEIR BROTHERS AND SENT EVERYTHING THEY COULD MUSTER.

"I WOULD HAVE BEEN HERE SOONER, BUT THE DAMNED LINE AT THE BORDER WAS A NIGHTMARE. THE INS DOESN'T SYMPATHIZE WITH THE SOUTH'S CAUSE, SO WE HAD TO MOVE OUR TROOPS WEST OF TOWN AND CUT THROUGH THE FENCES." -- GENERAL QUINCY SALERNO, COMMANDER OF THE ARMY OF TIJUANA."

VAL>> (LAUGHTER) TOO MUCH TRUTH IN THAT. NOW HAS THIS BEEN SHOWN UP IN SAN FRANCISCO?

SANDOW BIRK>> IT WILL BE SOON, BUT RIGHT NOW IT HASN'T YET.

JESS>> IT WILL PROBABLY BE WELL-RECEIVED UP THERE.

SANDOW BIRK>> I HOPE SO.

VAL>> DO I DARE -- SHOULD WE ASK WHO WON OR SHOULD WE NOT ASK?

SANDOW BIRK>> YOU SHOULDN'T ASK US (LAUGHTER).

JESS>> NO, DON'T TELL US HOW THE STORY ENDS.

SANDOW BIRK>> IT ALSO HAS A CELEBRITY CAMEO AND IT'S QUITE GOOD.

JESS>> WE'LL LOOK FOR THAT (LAUGHTER).

SANDOW BIRK>> KCET-RELATED.

VAL>> REALLY? OH, NOW WE'VE GOT TO GO SEE IT (LAUGHTER).

JESS>> OUR THANKS TO SANDOW BIRK AND SEAN MEREDITH. IF YOU'D LIKE MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THAT FILM, YOU CAN CHECK THEIR WEBSITE AT INSMOGANDTHUNDER.COM.

VAL>> OH, I LOVE IT. THE BATTLE IS NEVER-ENDING BETWEEN SAN FRANCISCO AND LOS ANGELES. SPEAKING OF WEBSITES, YOU CAN LOG ONTO OUR WEBSITE AT KCET.ORG AND CHECK OUT LIFE AND TIMES AS WELL AS THE LATEST CURRENT EVENTS. IT'S ALL RIGHT THERE FOR YOUR CLICKING.

JESS>> AND THAT'S TONIGHT'S PROGRAM. NOW FOR ALL OF US HERE AT LIFE AND TIMES, THANK YOU AND GOODNIGHT.

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