12/27/02

LC021227

VAL ZAVALA>> TONIGHT ON LIFE AND TIMES --

JESS MARLOW>> AS AMERICA CONSIDERS ANOTHER WAR WITH IRAQ, THOUSANDS OF U.S. VETERANS ARE STILL FIGHTING THE LAST ONE.

ANTHONY JOSEPH>> THEY SAY MY BLEEDING GUMS IS NOT GULF WAR RELATED, MY TEETH FALLING OUT IS NOT GULF WAR RELATED, OR MY RASHES, THE V.A. IS SAYING, IS NOT GULF WAR RELATED. THERE WAS NOTHING LIKE THIS IN MY HEALTH RECORD PRIOR TO DESERT STORM.

VAL>> ARE WE BETTER OFF THAN WE WERE A YEAR AGO? THAT DEPENDS ON WHO YOU ARE AND WHERE YOU LIVE. TONIGHT A REVEALING NEW STUDY IN LOS ANGELES COUNTY PROVIDES A TALE OF TWO CITIES. WE’LL HAVE THE DETAILS.

JESS>> PATT MORRISON HAS HER OWN TALE TO TELL. YOU MIGHT CALL IT THE STORY OF THE LAST GREAT OAK.

PATT MORRISON>> THERE’S A MAN UP A TREE NEAR SANTA CLARITA, BUT DON’T CALL THE FIRE DEPARTMENT. CALL YOUR LEGISLATOR -- ON TONIGHT’S INFINITELY MORRISON.

VAL>> AND THEN WE’LL TALK WITH THE DAUGHTER OF LEGENDARY WRITER, ARTHUR MILLER. SHE’S KEEPING THE FAMILY TRADITION ALIVE WITH AN AWARD-WINNING FILM. “PERSONAL VELOCITY” IS A TRILOGY OF THREE WOMEN’S STORIES. TONIGHT WE’LL MEET THE DIRECTOR, REBECCA MILLER. SHE’S WINNING TOP AWARDS WITH A TINY BUDGET.

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. TONIGHT CASUALTIES OF AMERICA’S LAST WAR WITH IRAQ. THEY’RE STILL PAYING A MAJOR PRICE FOR THEIR SERVICE DURING DESERT STORM AND THEY’RE CONCERNED SADDAM MAY HAVE SOME DEADLY SURPRISES WAITING IF AMERICA TRIES TO DRIVE HIM FROM POWER.

VAL>> THE VETERANS YOU’LL MEET TONIGHT SUFFERED NO OBVIOUS INJURIES, BUT THEY’RE AMONG MORE THAN 100,000 GULF WAR SOLDIERS WHO ARE NOW ON SOME KIND OF DISABILITY DUE TO ILLNESS. AND AS PHILIP BRUCE REPORTS, THE MYSTERY OF WHAT MADE THEM SICK IS JUST PART OF THE REASON THEY’RE WORRIED ABOUT A SECOND WAR WITH IRAQ.

PHILIP BRUCE>> ANTHONY JOSEPH SAYS HE FIRST WANTED TO JOIN THE MARINES WHEN HE WAS A BOY GROWING UP IN TRINIDAD. BACK THEN, HE WATCHED THEM ON HIS WAY HOME FROM SOCCER PRACTICE STANDING GUARD OVER THE AMERICAN EMBASSY. LATER, AFTER HE AND HIS MOTHER MOVED TO THE UNITED STATES, HE GOT HIS WISH. AT AGE TWENTY-FOUR, JOSEPH JOINED THE MARINES.

ANTHONY JOSEPH>> GUNG HO. I TOOK PRIDE IN EVERYTHING I DID AND THAT’S WHAT I CARRIED ALL THE WAY THROUGH IN MY CAREER.

PHILIP BRUCE>> HE BECAME A DIEHARD MARINE VETERAN WHO SPENT MUCH OF HIS TIME AS A DRIVER FOR THE TOP BRASS.

ANTHONY JOSEPH>> DRIVING A GENERAL, IT’S A GOOD JOB, YOU KNOW. NOT EVERYONE GETS TO DO IT, SO IT MAKES YOU FEEL SPECIAL.

PHILIP BRUCE>> JOSEPH IS STILL PROUD OF HIS MILITARY SERVICE, BUT HE’S NOT SO PROUD OF THE TREATMENT HE SAYS HE’S GOTTEN FROM THE U.S. GOVERNMENT. HE WAS ONE OF NEARLY 700,000 AMERICANS WHO SERVED IN THE GULF WAR AND JOSEPH SAYS THAT DUTY LEFT HIM WITH A HOST OF AILMENTS.

ANTHONY JOSEPH>> PHYSICALLY TODAY, I’M TIRED. LIKE IN THE DAYTIME, I HAVE NO ENERGY. I GET A LOT OF HEADACHES AND TOOTHACHES. EVERY MONTH, I HAVE AN ABSCESS OF ONE TOOTH. MY GUMS BLEED AND I CAN’T BRUSH MY TEETH.

PHILIP BRUCE>> AND THAT’S NOT THE END OF HIS ILLNESSES. JOSEPH ALSO HAS RASHES, STOMACH PAINS, INSOMNIA AND RESPIRATORY PROBLEMS.

ANTHONY JOSEPH>> THEY SAID MY BLEEDING GUMS IS NOT GULF WAR RELATED, MY TEETH FALLING OUT IS NOT GULF WAR RELATED, OR MY RASHES, THE V.A. IS SAYING, IS NOT GULF WAR RELATED. IF I HAVE THESE SYMPTOMS, IT’S GOT TO COME FROM SOMEWHERE. THERE WAS NOTHING LIKE THIS IN MY HEALTH RECORD PRIOR TO DESERT STORM.

DR. RONALD HAMM>> THERE ARE ACTUALLY THIRTEEN SEPARATE OR DISTINCT SYMPTOM COMPLEXES WHICH HAVE BEEN ASSOCIATED WITH RETURNING GULF WAR VETERANS.

PHILIP BRUCE>> RONALD HAMM IS THE ENVIRONMENTAL PHYSICIAN AT THE VETERANS HEALTHCARE SYSTEM IN WEST LOS ANGELES. HE SAYS THE FRUSTRATION FOR MANY GULF WAR VETS IS THAT THE GOVERNMENT HAS NEVER FOUND A CAUSE OF THEIR SYMPTOMS.

DR. RONALD HAMM>> WE HAVE NOT YET FOUND ANY EXPOSURE OR COMBINATION OF EXPOSURES WHICH SATISFY WHAT WE WOULD NEED TO KNOW TO SAY THIS EXPOSURE CAUSED THIS CONDITION.

GEORGE W. BUSH>> THE DICTATOR OF IRAQ WILL FULLY DISARM OR THE UNITED STATES WILL LEAD A COALITION AND DISARM HIM.

PHILIP BRUCE>> WHEN ANTHONY JOSEPH HEARS PRESIDENT BUSH THREATEN A NEW WAR WITH IRAQ, HE THINKS OF WHAT IT MIGHT MEAN TO AMERICAN GROUND TROOPS WHO COULD SURVIVE THE WAR, BUT COME HOME TO BROKEN LIVES SUCH AS HIS OWN.

ANTHONY JOSEPH>> IF THE GOVERNMENT TRULY IS BEING HONEST WITH US SAYING THAT THEY DON’T KNOW WHAT HAPPENED, WE SHOULD NOT GO BACK AND PUT GROUND TROOPS INTO THAT SAME ENVIRONMENT.

PHILIP BRUCE>> AND THEN THERE’S TOBY ECHELBERRY WHO JOINED THE ARMY STRAIGHT OUT OF HIGH SCHOOL. HE WAS ONLY TWENTY WHEN HE SERVED IN THE GULF WAR. ECHELBERRY CAME HOME IN GOOD HEALTH AND REMAINS WELL TODAY, BUT HE WORRIES WHAT BIOLOGICAL OR CHEMICAL HORRORS THAT SADDAM MIGHT UNLEASH IN A NEW WAR AND HE STILL WORRIES ABOUT ANY UNDETECTED PROBLEMS THAT MIGHT STILL BE LURKING INSIDE OF HIM.

TOBY ECHELBERRY>> IT JUST SEEMS LIKE THERE’S NOT ENOUGH BEING DONE AND THERE’S NOT ENOUGH REALLY BEING PUBLISHED OUT THERE, YOU KNOW, TO GIVE US THAT PEACE OF MIND, TO LET US KNOW WHETHER OR NOT WE ARE OKAY.

PHILIP BRUCE>> LAST SUMMER, ECHELBERRY GOT ON THE INTERNET HOPING TO TRACK DOWN SOME OLD SERVICE BUDDIES AND WHAT HE FOUND WAS STUNNING. INFORMATION SUGGESTING THAT HIS COMPANY MAY HAVE BEEN EXPOSED TO A NERVE AGENT WHEN AMERICAN TROOPS BLEW UP AN AMMUNITION DUMP CONTAINING IRAQI ROCKETS.

DR. RONALD HAMM>> WE’RE A LITTLE MORE THAN A DECADE PAST THE GULF WAR, SO IT WOULD REALLY BE PREMATURE TO SAY THAT THOSE VETERANS WHO DO NOT CURRENTLY HAVE ANY ILL HEALTH ARE TOTALLY OUT OF THE WOODS. I EXPECT THAT’S THE WAY IT’S GOING TO BE AND WE CERTAINLY HOPE THAT’S THE WAY IT’S GOING TO BE, BUT IT WOULD BE PREMATURE TO SAY THAT DOGMATICALLY.

PHILIP BRUCE>> ON THE WEB, ECHELBERRY ALSO LEARNED ABOUT A WOMAN HE’D SERVED WITH. SHE HAD A CHILD WITH A SEVERE BIRTH DEFECT. IT MADE HIM THINK ABOUT HIS OWN YOUNG DAUGHTER. SHE’S IN FINE HEALTH, BUT HE WORRIES THE NEXT CHILD HE AND HIS WIFE ARE HOPING TO HAVE SOMEDAY MAY NOT BE SO LUCKY. THE VETERANS ADMINISTRATION SAYS BIRTH DEFECTS ARE NO HIGHER AMONG GULF WAR VETS THAN AMONG THE REST OF THE POPULATION, BUT ANTHONY JOSEPH SAYS HE STOPPED LISTENING TO THE V.A. EVER SINCE THEY SAID HIS ILLNESSES WERE ALL IN HIS HEAD.

ANTHONY JOSEPH>> IT’S CONFUSING. THEY KEPT TELLING ME IT’S MENTAL. I’M SUFFERING SOME KIND OF POST STRESS. SO WHAT I DID, I FILED A CLAIM FOR POST STRESS, PTSD, AND I JUST GOT THE RESULTS BACK. I DON’T HAVE THE SYMPTOMS.

PHILIP BRUCE>> HAMM SAYS HE CAN UNDERSTAND WHY GULF WAR VETS FEEL IGNORED.

DR. RONALD HAMM>> THEY WENT TO THE GULF, THEY CAME BACK AND NOW THEY HAVE A CONDITION AND THEY HAVE NO OTHER EXPLANATION FOR THAT CONDITION. THEY’RE LOOKING TO THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO MAKE IT RIGHT. AND PARTICULARLY, IF THEIR ISSUE IS NOT ONE OF COMPENSATION, BUT RATHER OF DIAGNOSIS OR TELL ME WHAT I HAVE TO EXPECT FOR THE FUTURE AND THE ASSEMBLED EXPERTS CANNOT TELL THEM WHAT TO ANTICIPATE FOR THE FUTURE, THAT’S A RATHER OFF-PUTTING PLACE TO BE LEFT WITH.

PHILIP BRUCE>> MEANWHILE, ANTHONY JOSEPH STILL DREAMS THAT HIS LIFE IS NORMAL AGAIN, JUST THE WAY IT WAS BEFORE THE GULF WAR.

ANTHONY JOSEPH>> I WAS NOT SICK PRIOR TO THE GULF, AND IT’S GOT TO BE SOMETHING. I’M NOT TRYING TO GET A QUICK BUCK BECAUSE THE V.A. IS NO PLACE TO GO. YOU KNOW, IT’S A TOUGH FIGHT WITH THE V.A.

JESS>> IS IT LIKELY THAT SADDAM HUSSEIN WOULD USE CHEMICAL OR BIOLOGICAL WEAPONS IF U.S. FORCES INVADE IRAQ? WE’VE ASKED PAUL KAPUR TO HELP US PONDER THAT TONIGHT. HE’S A PROFESSOR OF GOVERNMENT AT CLAREMONT MCKENNA COLLEGE. HIS SPECIALTY IS INTERNATIONAL SECURITY. IS IT LIKELY THAT HE WOULD USE BIOLOGICAL WEAPONS?

PAUL KAPUR>> IT’S CERTAINLY A POSSIBILITY. HE’LL BE BACKED INTO A CORNER IF THERE’S ACTUALLY A WAR. THE UNITED STATES HAS EXPLICITLY SAID THAT THE PURPOSE OF THIS WOULD BE REGIME CHANGE.

JESS>> SO HE’S THREATENED?

PAUL KAPUR>> HE’S THREATENED. DURING THE FIRST GULF WAR, THE IRAQIS WERE DETERRED FROM USING BIOLOGICAL WEAPONS, BUT AT THAT POINT, THE GOAL OF AMERICAN FORCES WAS REALLY TO KICK THE IRAQIS OUT OF KUWAIT AND IT WASN’T NECESSARILY A REGIME CHANGE. IN THIS CASE, IT’S NOT CLEAR THAT HE HAS A LOT TO LOSE, SO IT’S CERTAINLY A SERIOUS POSSIBILITY.

VAL>> HE HAS NOTHING TO LOSE IF WE GO IN. IF HE KNOWS THAT WE’RE WILLING TO GO ALL THE WAY, HE’LL TAKE WHATEVER DESPERATE STEPS HE WANTS TO. THE QUESTION IS, DOES HE HAVE THE BIOLOGICAL CHEMICALS AND THE BIOLOGICAL WEAPONS TO ACTUALLY USE?

PAUL KAPUR>> WELL, IT’S UNCLEAR. I THINK THERE ARE GOOD REASONS TO THINK THAT HE DOES AND I THINK MOST PEOPLE WHO ARE KNOWLEDGEABLE ABOUT THIS BELIEVE THAT HE DOES. WE DON’T KNOW EXACTLY WHAT’S THERE. THAT’S WHY THE U.N. INSPECTORS ARE GOING TO GO IN.

JESS>> IF HE HAD AND WERE TO USE A NUCLEAR WEAPON, ONE OF YOUR SPECIALTIES ALSO INVOLVES INDIA AND PAKISTAN. WOULD WE SEE THAT TRIGGER ALSO?

PAUL KAPUR>> IN TERMS OF WOULD THE UNITED STATES RESPOND IN KIND?

JESS>> NO, WOULD THE NUCLEAR WEAPONS BE USED?

PAUL KAPUR>> BY IRAQ? WELL, IN THE EVENT THAT HE’S REALLY PUSHED INTO A CORNER, I THINK, YOU KNOW, HE WOULD BE WILLING TO PROBABLY USE ANYTHING AT HIS DISPOSAL. WHAT WE’RE GOING TO TRY TO DO IS, AT THIS POINT, TWO THINGS. ONE WILL BE TO TAKE OUT ANY WEAPONS THAT WE KNOW OF THAT HE HAS OR THAT WE THINK THAT HE HAS AS THE WAR STARTS. THE SECOND THING WILL BE TO DETER IRAQ FROM USING ANY WEAPONS THAT WE MIGHT NOT GET. WE PROBABLY WON’T BE ABLE TO DETER SADDAM HIMSELF BECAUSE, AS WE SAID, HE DOESN’T HAVE A LOT TO LOSE.

JESS>> BUT YOU’RE CONVINCED HE DID NOT USE BIOLOGICAL WEAPONS IN THE GULF WAR?

PAUL KAPUR>> WELL, NOT IN A LARGE-SCALE WAY. YOU KNOW, THERE’S SOME CONTROVERSY ABOUT THIS. U.S. FORCES MAY HAVE BEEN EXPOSED MAYBE WHEN WE WERE DESTROYING IRAQI STOCKPILES IS ONE POSSIBILITY, BUT CERTAINLY NOT IN A LARGE-SCALE WAY THEY WERE NOT USED AND PROBABLY BECAUSE HE WAS DETERRED BY AMERICAN THREATS.

VAL>> NOW HOPEFULLY, ALL OF THIS WILL NOT BE NECESSARY IF THE INSPECTIONS ARE SUCCESSFUL, IF HE COOPERATES. DO YOU TRUST THE INSPECTION PROCESS IF IT'S COMPLETED ACCORDING TO PLAN?

PAUL KAPUR>> WELL, I THINK THE INSPECTORS HAVE A VERY POWERFUL MANDATE FROM THE UNITED NATIONS, FROM THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY. I ASSUME THEY'RE CERTAINLY GOING TO DO THEIR JOB AND REPORT BACK. I THINK IN THIS CASE, UNLIKE IN THE PAST, THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY AND ESPECIALLY THE UNITED STATES IS NOT PREPARED REALLY TO ACCEPT ANY SORT OF EVASION ON THE PART OF IRAQ. ALTHOUGH MILITARY FORCE WON'T BE AUTOMATIC, THE UNITED STATES HAS RESERVED THE RIGHT TO USE MILITARY FORCE IN THE EVENT OF ANY KIND OF LACK OF COOPERATION, SO I THINK THE CONSEQUENCES WOULD BE SEVERE.

VAL>> PAUL KAPUR FROM CLAREMONT MCKENNA COLLEGE, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR COMING IN. WE APPRECIATE YOUR COMMENTS.

PAUL KAPUR>> THANK YOU.

JESS>> IT'S A TALE OF TWO CITIES. THAT'S THE BEST WAY TO DESCRIBE A NEW STUDY OF LOS ANGELES RELEASED JUST TODAY. POPULATION, INCOME, EDUCATION, CRIME AND HOUSING ARE A FEW OF THE BASES THEY'VE COVERED AND WITH THAT COMES SOME FAIRLY AMAZING NUMBERS. FOR EXAMPLE, LOS ANGELES COUNTY ALONE HAS A GREATER POPULATION THAN FORTY-TWO OF THE FIFTY STATES AND THE NUMBERS HERE ARE STILL GROWING.

VAL>> THE STUDY ALSO SAYS VOLUMES ABOUT THE HUGE GAP BETWEEN THE HAVES AND THE HAVE-NOTS IN LOS ANGELES COUNTY. WITH US NOW IS JOSEPH HAGGERTY. HE IS PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED WAY OF GREATER LOS ANGELES, WHICH SPONSORED THE STUDY. AND ALSO JOINING US IS LOS ANGELES CITY ATTORNEY, ROCKY DELGADILLO. THANK YOU BOTH FOR COMING.

ROCKY DELGADILLO>> HAPPY TO BE HERE.

JESS>> THIS STUDY WOULD SUGGEST THAT THE UNITED WAY HAS ITS WORK CUT OUT FOR THEM.

JOSEPH HAGGERTY>> WE DO, AND THIS STUDY HELPS US DETERMINE HOW MONEY SHOULD BEST BE SPENT. THERE IS SOME GOOD NEWS IN THIS STUDY, OBVIOUSLY. CRIME IS DOWN SIGNIFICANTLY IN THE PAST TEN YEARS, ALTHOUGH WE HAD A LITTLE BLIP LAST YEAR. PEOPLE WHO OWN THEIR HOMES IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA ARE DOING VERY WELL, BUT PEOPLE WHO WANT TO BUY HOMES OR ARE PAYING RENT ARE FINDING IT VERY, VERY DIFFICULT. WHILE POVERTY HAS COME DOWN FROM TWENTY-FOUR PERCENT TO EIGHTEEN PERCENT --

VAL>> -- IN FACT, I THINK WE HAVE SOME GRAPHICS THAT REFLECT THAT.

JOSEPH HAGGERTY>> -- WE STILL HAVE MORE PEOPLE LIVING IN POVERTY THAN ANY OTHER METROPOLITAN AREA IN THE UNITED STATES.

VAL>> THAT'S RIGHT. LOS ANGELES COUNTY POVERTY IS DOWN, AS YOU MENTIONED, FROM TWENTY-FOUR PERCENT DOWN TO EIGHTEEN PERCENT. THAT'S A PRETTY SIGNIFICANT DROP. ALSO WHAT WAS VERY INTERESTING IS THAT, IF YOU LOOK AT FORMER WELFARE RECIPIENTS, WHICH MAINLY MEANS THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN FORCED OFF OF WELFARE BY THE WELFARE TO WORK PROGRAM, NEVERTHELESS, SIXTY-EIGHT PERCENT OF THESE FORMER WELFARE RECIPIENTS ARE STILL LIVING IN POVERTY AND THE AVERAGE WAGE AMONG THESE FORMER WELFARE RECIPIENTS IS $9,988 A YEAR. HOW CAN YOU LIVE ON THAT?

ROCKY DELGADILLO>> OH, THOSE ARE TROUBLING NUMBERS FOR ANYPLACE, LET ALONE LOS ANGELES, WHERE THE COST OF LIVING HERE IS VERY HIGH. CERTAINLY, WE NEED TO DO ALL WE CAN TO MAKE SURE THAT INDIVIDUALS CAN MOVE UP THE LADDER. THERE IS HOPE BECAUSE I THINK THAT'S ONE OF THE GREAT THINGS ABOUT THIS CITY, THAT THERE'S A PROMISE HERE, BUT THAT'S A TROUBLING STATISTIC.

JESS>> PUBLIC OFFICIALS CAN DO LITTLE ABOUT IT, BUT THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT.

ROCKY DELGADILLO>> WELL, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO CHANGE THE DYNAMIC WITH WHICH WE INTERACT WITH OUR FUTURE, FRANKLY. THE GREAT THING ABOUT THE STUDY THAT I TOOK FROM IT WAS THAT IMMIGRATION IS STILL HAPPENING HERE. PEOPLE ARE COMING HERE. ONE OF THE STUDY'S THEME WAS WHETHER OR NOT THIS WAS PROMISE OR PERIL. FOR ME, THAT SAID THAT PEOPLE FROM AROUND THE WORLD THINK THIS IS STILL A PLACE OF PROMISE. THEY DIDN'T COME HERE FOR THE PERIL. THEY CAME HERE FOR THE PROMISE. IF WE CAN HARNESS THAT ENERGY, THAT DREAM, THAT EXCITEMENT, I THINK WE CAN MAKE THIS AN INCREDIBLE PLACE.

JESS>> BUT THERE IS A LARGE BODY OF OPINION THAT SUGGESTS THAT SOME OF THOSE PEOPLE ALSO BROUGHT THEIR PROBLEMS WITH THEM.

ROCKY DELGADILLO>> WELL, MY SENSE OF THAT IS THAT THEY CAME HERE TO SHED THOSE PROBLEMS --

JESS>> -- ESCAPE THEM.

ROCKY DELGADILLO>> ESCAPE THEM AND ALSO TO, AGAIN, REACH FOR SOMETHING THAT THEY WEREN'T ABLE TO REACH FOR IN THEIR COUNTRIES OF ORIGIN.

VAL>> WE'RE GOING TO TAKE A LOOK NOW AT ANOTHER STATISTIC FROM THE STUDY BECAUSE IT IS A WEALTH OF INFORMATION. THIS, BY THE WAY, YOU DIDN'T JUST LOOK AT POOR PEOPLE. I MEAN, THE MEDIAN INCOME, WHICH MEANS HALF THE PEOPLE EARN MORE, HALF THE PEOPLE EARN LESS, HAS GONE DOWN. THIS IS ADJUSTED FOR INFLATION. TEN YEARS AGO, THE MEDIAN INCOME IN LOS ANGELES COUNTY WAS OVER $45,000. NOW IT HAS DROPPED TO JUST OVER $42,000. WHAT ARE THE IMPLICATIONS OF THAT?

JOSEPH HAGGERTY>> WELL, WHAT'S HAPPENED IS THAT WE'VE GONE FROM SOME OF THOSE HIGH-PAYING MANUFACTURING JOBS THAT DISAPPEARED IN THE LATE 80'S AND EARLY 90'S AND ESPECIALLY SOME OF THOSE BIG AEROSPACE DROPS TO MORE OF A SERVICE ECONOMY. WHAT IT MEANS FOR PEOPLE COMING OFF OF WELFARE OR PEOPLE CHANGING JOBS IS THAT EDUCATION BECOMES MORE IMPORTANT THAN EVER. ONE OF THE OTHER STATISTICS IS THAT PEOPLE WITH COLLEGE AND ADVANCED DEGREES ARE DOING MUCH, MUCH BETTER. SO WE'VE GOT TO KEEP OUR KIDS IN SCHOOL AND PEOPLE COMING OFF OF WELFARE NEED TO BE TRAINED AND NEED TO HAVE THE CHANCE AT VOCATIONAL TRAINING AND COMMUNITY COLLEGE.

JESS>> BUT WE CAN'T JUST ATTRIBUTE THAT TO THE ECONOMIC DECLINE WE'VE EXPERIENCED IN THE LAST YEAR OR SO.

JOSEPH HAGGERTY>> NO, I THINK IT'S A COMPLETE CHANGE OF THE TYPES OF JOBS IN OUR ECONOMY, MUCH MORE SERVICE LEVEL JOBS. THE SERVICE JOBS ARE THE FASTEST-GROWING. MANY OF THEM IN RETAIL AND IN HOTELS AND THE SALARY RATES JUST DON'T COMPARE TO TEN YEARS AGO.

JESS>> AND THOSE ARE THE JOBS THE IMMIGRANTS ARE TAKING?

ROCKY DELGADILLO>> WELL, SOME OF THEM, YEAH. BUT I DO BELIEVE THAT WE NEED, AGAIN, AS GOVERNMENT TO FOCUS ON CAPTURING THOSE WEALTH-GENERATING JOBS, THOSE INDUSTRIAL JOBS, THE ENTERTAINMENT INDUSTRY JOBS, THE HIGH-TECH JOBS, THE BIO-MED. THOSE ARE THE KINDS OF JOBS THAT WE NEED TO TRY TO RETAIN HERE IN LOS ANGELES BECAUSE THEY DO PAY THE HIGHER WAGES.

VAL>> AND, OF COURSE, INCOME AND EDUCATION IS INTEGRALLY MIXED. AND, AS YOU MENTIONED, THERE ARE SOME GOOD NEWS ON THE EDUCATION FRONT WE SHOULD SAY. AS YOU MENTIONED, COLLEGE SCORES ARE UP, BUT ALSO EARLY READING SCORES ARE UP FOR THIRD GRADERS ESPECIALLY. SAT SCORES ARE UP AND FORTY-EIGHT PERCENT OF HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATES -- IN OTHER WORDS, THOSE WHO ACTUALLY GRADUATE IF THEY DON'T DROP OUT -- FORTY-EIGHT PERCENT OF THEM DO GO ON TO COLLEGE. ANOTHER BIT OF GOOD NEWS IS ON THE CRIME FRONT.

ROCKY DELGADILLO>> CORRECT.

VAL>> WE'VE GOT FAMILY ABUSE, SPECIFICALLY DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, IS DOWN BY TWENTY-ONE PERCENT AND CHILD ABUSE IS DOWN BY TWENTY-FOUR PERCENT. I THINK THIS IS COMPARED TO ABOUT THREE YEARS AGO. WHAT'S CAUSING THAT?

ROCKY DELGADILLO>> WELL, I THINK THOSE ARE GOOD NUMBERS, BUT PART OF IT, I THINK, IS THAT PUBLIC SAFETY AGENCIES WERE DOING A BETTER JOB ABOUT REPORTING THEM AND TALKING TO PEOPLE ABOUT THEM. THERE IS MORE ACCEPTANCE IN THE GENERAL PUBLIC ABOUT DEALING WITH DOMESTIC VIOLENCE. IT'S OFTEN A CRIME THAT IS HIDDEN IN FAMILIES. BUT I STILL THINK IT'S A SIGNIFICANT PROBLEM IN THE CITY OF LOS ANGELES BECAUSE DOMESTIC VIOLENCE IS ONE OF THOSE CRIMES THAT HAS MANY ANCILLARY OR RIPPLE EFFECTS. THE ONE STATISTIC THAT ALWAYS GETS ME IS THAT, I THINK, SEVENTY-SIX PERCENT OF SERIAL RAPISTS WERE ABUSED AS CHILDREN. YOU KNOW, I'M WORRIED ABOUT THE RIPPLE EFFECT.

VAL>> RIGHT. I'M SO SORRY TO HAVE TO CUT YOU OFF. I WANT TO THANK JOSEPH HAGGERTY, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED WAY OF GREATER LOS ANGELES, AND CITY ATTORNEY, ROCKY DELGADILLO, FOR BEING HERE. THANK YOU SO MUCH. IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO SEE THE ENTIRE REPORT, IT'S A WEALTH OF INFORMATION, GREAT FOR ANYBODY DOING ANY KIND OF BUSINESS OR SOCIAL WORK HERE IN LOS ANGELES, GO TO WWW.UNITEDWAYLA.ORG. YOU CAN DOWNLOAD IT OR GET IT IN CD OR PRINT FORM.

LIFEANDTIMES@KCET.ORG
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LIFE AND TIMES TONIGHT
4401 SUNSET BLVD.
LOS ANGELES, CA 90027
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JESS>> TELLING SOMEONE TO GO CLIMB A TREE IS USUALLY AN INSULT, BUT IT CAN ALSO BE A GOOD WAY TO MAKE A POINT. PATT EXPLAINS IN TONIGHT'S INFINITELY MORRISON.

PATT MORRISON>> YES, IT'S BEEN DONE BEFORE, BUT IT'S WORKED BEFORE, SO WHY NOT? JOHN QUIGLEY HAS TAKEN UP RESIDENCE IN THE LAST GREAT OLD OAK TREE LEFT IN A CANYON NEAR SANTA CLARITA TO SAVE THE FOUR HUNDRED YEAR OLD TREE AND TO MAKE A POINT. YOU CAN PRACTICALLY FILL IN THE BLANKS YOURSELF. A "BLANK" PLANS TO "BLANK" THE TREE TO MAKE WAY FOR A "BLANK" IN A "BLANK". THAT'S RIGHT. A DEVELOPER PLANS TO CUT DOWN THE TREE TO MAKE WAY FOR A ROAD IN A SUBDIVISION. THE PLAN WAS APPROVED BY LOS ANGELES COUNTY TO WIDEN PICO CANYON ROAD FROM TWO LANES TO FOUR TO ACCOMMODATE, YEP, MORE DEVELOPMENT. SO MANY SUBDIVISIONS, SO FEW TREES.

UNFORTUNATELY, IT'S A VERY CALIFORNIA THING TO CUT SOMETHING DOWN, PAVE IT OVER AND PUT UP HOUSES AND THEN NAME THE SUBDIVISION OR THE TOWN AFTER WHATEVER IT WAS YOU JUST WIPED OUT. CONSIDER ALL THE PLACES BEARING NAMES WITH WORDS LIKE OAKS, PINES, VINEYARDS, ORCHARDS, BUT COMPLETELY DEVOID OF OAKS, PINES, VINEYARDS OR ORCHARDS. DEVELOPERS TEAR THEM DOWN, THEN USE THE WORDS TO EVOKE THE BUCOLIC GHOSTS THE PLACES NOW DESTROYED.

A WOMAN NAMED JULIA BUTTERFLY HILL LIVED FOR MONTHS IN A TWENTY-STORY OLD-GROWTH REDWOOD IN NORTHERN CALIFORNIA, ULTIMATELY SAVING IT FROM THE CHAINSAWS EVEN AS OTHER ANCIENT TREES WERE BROUGHT DOWN ALL AROUND IT. A THOUSAND YEARS TO GROW, AN HOUR TO DESTROY. QUIGLEY'S TREE IS A YOUNGSTER BY COMPARISON, BUT IT'S STILL NEARLY TWO HUNDRED YEARS OLDER THAN THE UNITED STATES. IF WE PLANTED ANOTHER SUCH OAK TREE TODAY, IT WOULD BE THE YEAR 2402 BEFORE IT RESEMBLED THE OAK SLATED FOR THE AXE. AS THE REDWOOD TREE WAS NAMED "LUNA", QUIGLEY HAS NICKNAMED HIS OAK TREE "OLD GLORY", JUST LIKE THE FLAG.

AT SOME POINT, QUIGLEY SAYS, YOU HAVE TO DRAW THE LINE AND SAY STOP. FOR ME, IT STARTS WITH ONE TREE. WANT TO PREDICT THE FUTURE? HERE'S ANOTHER FILL-IN-THE-BLANK FOR YOU. QUIGLEY WAS "BLANKED" AFTER DEVELOPERS "BLANKED" THE TREE PRIOR TO "BLANKING" IT. RIGHT AGAIN. QUIGLEY WAS ARRESTED AFTER DEVELOPERS FENCED OFF THE TREE PRIOR TO CUTTING IT DOWN. SO ANOTHER ONE, A BIG ONE, BITES THE DUST AND I'M NOT JUST SPEAKING OF THE TREE.

VAL>> HER FATHER IS THE FAMOUS PLAYWRIGHT, ARTHUR MILLER, AND LIKE FATHER-LIKE DAUGHTER, REBECCA MILLER IS ALSO A WRITER.

JESS>> BUT REBECCA MILLER HAS OPTED TO BRING HER WORK TO THE SCREEN INSTEAD OF THE STAGE. THE RESULT? AN INDEPENDENT FILM THAT WON THE BEST DRAMA AWARD AT SUNDANCE. IT'S BASED ON THREE SHORT STORIES, EACH FEATURING FEMALE CHARACTERS WHO STRUGGLE TO ESCAPE A RELATIONSHIP. HERE'S A LOOK AT "PERSONAL VELOCITY".

[FILM CLIP]

VAL>> AND JOINING US NOW IS THE WRITER AND DIRECTOR OF "PERSONAL VELOCITY", REBECCA MILLER. WELCOME TO LIFE AND TIMES.

REBECCA MILLER>> THANK YOU.

JESS>> A STORY OF THREE WOMEN. IS THIS A WOMEN'S FILM?

REBECCA MILLER>> I DON'T THINK OF IT THAT WAY. A LOT OF MEN ARE SURPRISED AT HOW MUCH THEY LIKE IT, IN FACT (LAUGHTER).

VAL>> (LAUGHTER) THEIR WIVES OR GIRLFRIENDS DRAG THEM TO SEE IT. IT WAS BASED ON THREE SHORT STORIES THAT YOU WROTE AND THAT'S KIND OF AN UNUSUAL FORMAT FOR A MOVIE, RIGHT? IS IT LIKE THREE SEPARATE STORIES ALL IN ONE MOVIE?

REBECCA MILLER>> IT IS. IT'S A TRILOGY. THREE WOMEN WHO ARE AT A CRISIS POINT IN THEIR LIVES WHERE THEY HAVE TO MAKE A CHOICE ONE WAY OR THE OTHER THAT WILL CHANGE THEIR LIVES.

VAL>> AND ONE OF THEM IS GRETA. WE'RE GOING TO SEE A CLIP FROM THAT. TELL US A BIT ABOUT GRETA.

REBECCA MILLER>> GRETA IS A COOKBOOK EDITOR WHO SUDDENLY GETS A JOB EDITING THE HOTTEST WRITER FOR A GENERATION'S NEW BOOK AND GETS ROCKETED TO KIND OF EDITING FAME AND IT CHANGES HER MARRIAGE, SORT OF CATAPULTS HER OUT OF HER MARRIAGE.

VAL>> ALL RIGHT, LET'S SEE A LITTLE CLIP FROM "PERSONAL VELOCITY" GRETA.

[FILM CLIP]

JESS>> I SUPPOSE PEOPLE INSIST ON COMPARING YOUR WRITING TO YOUR FATHER'S. YOUR WRITING IS RATHER SPARE.

REBECCA MILLER>> WELL, SO IS HIS. I MEAN, I DON'T KNOW THAT IT'S VERY FRUITFUL TO COMPARE WRITING BECAUSE IT'S SO DIFFERENT.

VAL>> BUT YOU DO HAVE A CERTAIN TECHNIQUE THAT YOU LIKE. YOU DON'T LIKE A LOT OF PURPLE PROSE. IN FACT, YOU KIND OF DESCRIBE YOUR WRITING AS SORT OF MUSCULAR OR MASCULINE?

REBECCA MILLER>> WELL, I ACTUALLY HAVEN'T DONE THAT. OTHERS HAVE. I DON'T KNOW THAT IT'S MASCULINE. PERHAPS MUSCULAR (LAUGHTER).

VAL>> AND YOU ALSO HAD A REALLY INTERESTING PHRASE. WHAT DID YOU MEAN BY THIS, WHERE YOU LIKE TO CLIP A FINGERNAIL FROM A GIANT? IS THAT CORRECT?

REBECCA MILLER>> OH, YEAH. I THINK THAT CAME FROM AN INTERVIEW. I ONCE SAID, YEAH, TO TAKE A SMALL THING, PERHAPS JUST A CHARACTER OF ONE PERSON, AND GET SO FAR INTO THEIR INTERIOR LIFE THAT THE WHOLE STORY RADIATES OUT FROM THAT RATHER THAN TRYING TO MAKE GRAND THEMES FROM THE BEGINNING. I LIKE TO START SMALL AND LET IT GET BIG.

JESS>> BUT YOU'RE NOT DEALING WITH MINUTIA?

REBECCA MILLER>> NO. THESE ARE VERY IMPORTANT PROBLEMS AND I THINK UNIVERSAL PROBLEMS OF THESE WOMEN'S LIVES. I MEAN, YOU KNOW, THAT ARE IN THE FILM.

VAL>> NOW DO YOU FEEL LIKE YOU'VE SORT OF FOUND YOURSELF IN FILM BECAUSE YOU WERE A PAINTER, RIGHT? AND THEN A WRITER AND I THINK SOMETHING ELSE IN THERE AS WELL, AND NOW YOU'VE MOVED TO MOVIES.

REBECCA MILLER>> WELL, I'VE BEEN MAKING MOVIES FOR ABOUT SEVEN YEARS NOW. I MEAN, I MADE MY FIRST FEATURE ABOUT SIX YEARS AGO. IN MANY WAYS, MY LIFE HAS BEEN MOVING TOWARD BEING A WRITER AND DIRECTOR, I THINK. WRITING AND DIRECTING ARE SYMBIOTIC FOR ME.

VAL>> BECAUSE A LOT OF WRITERS DON'T NECESSARILY EVEN WANT TO WRITE THEIR OWN SCREENPLAY.

REBECCA MILLER>> NO, BUT FOR ME, IT'S ALL PART OF THE SAME THING.

JESS>> YOU HAVEN'T WRITTEN SOMETHING TO CAST YOUR HUSBAND IN?

REBECCA MILLER>> NOT YET, BUT MAYBE SOMEDAY.

VAL>> FOR THOSE WHO DON'T KNOW, YOU'RE MARRIED TO DANIEL DAY-LEWIS, THE OSCAR AWARD-WINNING ACTOR. YOU HAVEN'T THOUGHT OF WORKING ON A COMBINED PROJECT?

REBECCA MILLER>> WELL, IF WE EVER THINK OF SOMETHING THAT WE CAN BOTH BECOME OBSESSED WITH AT THE SAME TIME, WE MIGHT DO IT.

VAL>> NOW WHAT DO YOU HOPE THE EFFECT OF THIS MOVIE WILL BE ON THOSE WHO SEE IT?

REBECCA MILLER>> I HOPE THEY'LL JUST BE CURIOUS ABOUT THE CHARACTERS AND THAT THEY'LL ENJOY IT. IT'S KIND OF LIKE THREE FEATURE FILMS WITH THE BORING PARTS CUT OUT, SO EVENTUALLY THERE'S REALLY A LOT TO FEAST ON.

VAL>> BUT IS IT DEPRESSING? IS IT UPLIFTING?

REBECCA MILLER>> NO, IT'S NOT DEPRESSING. I THINK, FUNDAMENTALLY, IT'S A VERY POSITIVE ENDING. IT'S A VERY POSITIVE FILM. IT'S ABOUT CHOICE AND ABOUT HOW WE CREATE OUR OWN LIVES.

VAL>> REBECCA MILLER, THANK YOU SO MUCH. WE REALLY APPRECIATE IT.

REBECCA MILLER>> THANK YOU.

JESS>> REBECCA MILLER'S "PERSONAL VELOCITY" OPENS IN THEATERS LATER THIS MONTH. IT IS ALSO AVAILABLE IN BOOK FORM. IT'S YOUR FIRST NOVEL?

REBECCA MILLER>> THAT'S RIGHT.

JESS>> THANKS VERY MUCH FOR BEING WITH US.

VAL>> AND FOR THE LATEST NEWS, YOU CAN LOG ONTO KCET.ORG AND LOOK FOR "NEWSROOM". YOU CAN ALSO CLICK ONTO LIFE AND TIMES FOR PREVIEWS OF UPCOMING STORIES. IT'S A GREAT RESOURCE, SO CHECK IT OUT.

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

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