4/10/03

LC030410

VAL ZAVALA>> TONIGHT ON LIFE AND TIMES --

JESS MARLOW>> THE NEWEST VICTIMS OF THE SARS SCARE, AND WE’RE NOT TALKING ABOUT PEOPLE WHO’VE GOTTEN SICK.

MUYCHHENT EAR>> PEOPLE THEY SAY THAT CHINATOWN WILL HAVE LOT OF PEOPLE THAT GET SICK OR THEY’RE SCARED COMING DOWN AND THEN THEY’RE SCARED THAT THEY COULD DIE, SO THEY DON’T COME DOWN.

VAL>> AND THEN AN INTRIGUING NEW LOOK AT ONE OF THE STRANGEST PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS IN AMERICAN HISTORY, THE RACE BETWEEN GEORGE W. BUSH AND AL GORE.

JESS>> PLUS, A TEENAGER WHO’S BEEN PAINTING LIKE A PRO ALMOST SINCE SHE WAS IN KINDERGARTEN.

VAL>> IT’S ALL STRAIGHT AHEAD ON TONIGHT’S LIFE AND TIMES.

LIFE AND TIMES 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>> TRYING TO STEER CLEAR OF SARS.

JESS>> IT’S MORE THAN JUST A PASSING CONCERN IN SOME LOCAL ASIAN COMMUNITIES. IN L.A.’S CHINATOWN, SOME PEOPLE ARE SO WARY OF THE MYSTERIOUS VIRUS THAT THEY’RE AVOIDING STORES, RESTAURANTS AND ALL KINDS OF PUBLIC PLACES. AND AS PHILIP BRUCE REPORTS, MUCH OF THAT FEAR CAN BE BLAMED ON SOMEONE’S SICK IDEA OF A JOKE.

PHILIP BRUCE>> STEPHEN TONG SAYS THE PHONES IN HIS CHINATOWN TRAVEL AGENCY USED TO RING ALL THE TIME, BUT NOW THEY’RE QUIET.

STEPHEN TONG>> THIS IS THE WORST YEAR I’VE EVER SEEN SINCE I’VE BEEN IN THIS TRAVEL BUSINESS FOR MORE THAN TWENTY YEARS. I’VE NEVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE THIS.

PHILIP BRUCE>> HE MANAGED TO SURVIVE THE WAR AND THE WEAK ECONOMY. HE JUST KEPT ON GOING.

STEPHEN TONG>> EVEN THOUGH THE AMERICANS STARTED A WAR WITH IRAQ AND THE ECONOMY IS NOT THAT GOOD, I STILL HAVE BOOKINGS GOING TO ASIA.

PHILIP BRUCE>> BUT LATELY, STEPHEN TONG’S BUSINESS IS AT A STANDSTILL.

STEPHEN TONG>> FOR THE LAST TEN TO FOURTEEN DAYS, I HAVEN’T SOLD ONE AIRLINE TICKET TO HONG KONG, TAIWAN, CHINA.

PHILIP BRUCE>> AND HIS ISN’T THE ONLY CHINATOWN BUSINESS THAT’S IN BIG TROUBLE. AT THE NEARBY HING-FAT COMPANY, A PLACE THAT SELLS GROCERIES AND HERBS, MANY OF THE REGULAR CUSTOMERS ARE STAYING AWAY.

MUYCHHENT EAR>> SO THE BUSINESS IT REALLY GOES DOWN. VERY QUIET.

PHILIP BRUCE>> BUT NO ONE HERE IS ALL THAT SURPRISED. STORES AND BUSINESSES ARE HURTING BECAUSE PEOPLE ARE AFRAID THEY MIGHT COME INTO CONTACT WITH SARS, THE NEW AND SOMETIMES DEADLY DISEASE THAT STARTED IN ASIA.

MUYCHHENT EAR>> SOME PEOPLE THEY SAY THAT CHINATOWN WILL HAVE LOT OF PEOPLE THAT GET SICK OR THEY’RE SCARED COMING DOWN. THEN THEY’RE SCARED THEY COULD DIE, SO THEY DON’T COME DOWN.

PHILIP BRUCE>> STEPHEN TONG UNDERSTANDS THE FEELINGS. HE SAYS HIS WIFE LISTENS TO NEWS REPORTS ON CHINESE RADIO WHERE SARS IS THE TOP STORY.

STEPHEN TONG>> SHE’S SO SCARED THAT SHE DOESN’T EVEN WANT TO GO OUT. MY WIFE IS SCARED OF THE SARS.

PHILIP BRUCE>> BUT L.A.’S CHINATOWN ISN’T THE ONLY COMMUNITY THAT’S OBSESSED WITH SARS. HERE IN SAN GABRIEL WHERE OVER HALF THE POPULATION IS ASIAN-AMERICAN, BUSINESSES ARE FIGHTING THE EFFECTS OF A WIDELY DISTRIBUTED E-MAIL, ONE THAT STARTED A NEAR PANIC WHEN IT FALSELY ANNOUNCED THAT THE DEADLY VIRUS SARS IS IN TOWN. THE E-MAIL WENT ON TO SAY INCORRECTLY THAT POLICE HAD CLOSED DOWN TWO LOCAL MARKETS IN AN EFFORT TO STOP THE VIRUS FROM SPREADING.

CINDY LAU>> THE E-MAIL HAS BEEN CIRCULATING ON THE INTERNET AND IT DEFINITELY HAS AFFECTED OUR BUSINESS. OUR BUSINESS HAS BEEN SLOW, I’LL SAY ABOUT TWENTY TO THIRTY PERCENT.

PHILIP BRUCE>> THE E-MAIL SUGGESTED THAT A WORKER AT ONE OF THE NEW CAPITAL SEAFOOD RESTAURANTS HAD COME DOWN WITH SARS. THAT’S UNTRUE, AND IT WARNED PEOPLE TO AVOID GOING TO ASIAN AREAS. WELL, NOW THE CHINESE-AMERICAN COMMUNITY IS TRYING TO SET THE RECORD STRAIGHT WITH A LITTLE HELP FROM LOS ANGELES COUNTY.

DR. JONATHAN FIELDING>> I’M GLAD TO BE HERE. I COULD NOT NOT BE HERE BECAUSE OF THE SERIOUSNESS OF THESE UNFOUNDED RUMORS. THERE IS NO REASON FOR PEOPLE NOT TO BE PATRONIZING THESE RESTAURANTS, THESE SUPERMARKETS, ANY MERCHANTS IN ANY PLACE IN LOS ANGELES COUNTY BECAUSE OF FEAR OF SARS. IT IS TOTALLY UNFOUNDED.

PHILIP BRUCE>> JONATHAN FIELDING HEADS LOS ANGELES COUNTY’S DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH.

DR. JONATHAN FIELDING>> ANY TIME YOU HAVE A NEW DISEASE, PEOPLE ARE SCARED. WE STRONGLY SUSPECT IT’S A FORM OF CORONA VIRUS THAT CAUSES THIS. WE’RE NOT A HUNDRED PERCENT SURE, BUT ANY TIME THERE’S ANY UNCERTAINTY ON HOW IT’S TRANSMITTED, HOW YOU CAN GET IT, WHAT’S THE AGENT AND WHAT’S THE LIKELIHOOD OF GETTING SERIOUSLY ILL OR DYING, YOU’RE GOING TO HAVE THIS PATTERN, PARTICULARLY WITH THE MEDIA FEEDING ON NEWS, AND THIS IS NEWSWORTHY.

PHILIP BRUCE>> SAN GABRIEL POLICE ARE ALSO TRYING TO CLEAR UP THE UNFOUNDED RUMORS. THEY’VE LAUNCHED A CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION TO LOCATE THE SOURCE OF THE FALSE E-MAIL. BUT FOR NOW, THE CALLS KEEP ON COMING.

DAVID LAWTON>> THE VOLUME OF CALLS HAS INCREASED TO WHERE WE’RE GETTING OVER FIFTY CALLS A DAY FROM THE PUBLIC WANTING TO KNOW IF WE’VE CLOSED BUSINESSES BECAUSE OF SARS AND IT’S SIMPLY NOT TRUE.

PHILIP BRUCE>> THE OWNERS OF THE NEW CAPITAL SEAFOOD RESTAURANT ARE EAGER TO SHOW OFF SATISFIED DINERS. THEY HOPE THAT PEOPLE WILL REALIZE THEY’RE IN NO GREAT DANGER BY EATING OUT. THE RESTAURANT HAS ALSO PROVIDED FREE CHEST X-RAYS FOR EACH EMPLOYEE SO THERE’S NO DOUBT THAT EVERYONE IS HEALTHY. ACROSS LOS ANGELES COUNTY, THERE HAVE ONLY BEEN A FEW PROBABLE CASES OF SARS AND NO ONE HAS DIED ANYWHERE IN AMERICA. MOST OF THE CASES HERE HAVE FOLLOWED TRIPS TO THE FAR EAST AND ARE ASSOCIATED WITH A HIGH FEVER.

DR. JONATHAN FIELDING>> WE’RE TALKING ABOUT VERY, VERY FEW PEOPLE. YOU KNOW, A NEEDLE IN A HAYSTACK. PEOPLE WHO HAVE RECENTLY RETURNED, PEOPLE WHO HAVE THOSE SYMPTOMS. THE VAST MAJORITY OF PEOPLE, 99.99 PERCENT, WHO SAY, OH, MY GOSH, I HAVE A COLD OR I HAVE A RESPIRATORY INFECTION, I MUST HAVE SARS, JUST HAVEN’T REALLY LOOKED VERY CAREFULLY. THAT KIND OF PANIC IS NOT REALLY NECESSARY.

PHILIP BRUCE>> BUT IT’S DIFFICULT TO TELL PEOPLE NOT TO WORRY WHEN THEY MUST TRAVEL TO AND FROM THE FAR EAST WHERE SARS APPARENTLY ORIGINATED. LUCY KELLEY OF THE MONTEREY PARK CHAMBER OF COMMERCE OFTEN MEETS VISITING DELEGATIONS FROM ASIA AND RECENTLY SHE CRINGED WHEN ONE OF HER GUESTS HAD A COLD.

LUCY KELLEY>> I HOSTED A SMALL DELEGATION HERE LAST FRIDAY. NORMALLY, I’M NOT ONE THAT GETS CONCERNED ABOUT THESE KINDS OF THINGS, BUT WHEN HE SNEEZED, IT CAUGHT MY ATTENTION. SO I’M SURE A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE REACTING PROBABLY NEEDLESSLY BECAUSE WE HAVEN’T HAD A SINGLE OUTBREAK OF THIS ILLNESS IN OUR CITY.

PHILIP BRUCE>> BACK IN CHINATOWN AT THE HING-FAT COMPANY, THE OWNER REMAINS OPTIMISTIC AS SHE TRIES TO REASSURE HER CUSTOMERS.

MUYCHHENT EAR>> SOME PEOPLE THEY CALL US AND WE SAY NO PROBLEM WITH THIS ONE.

JESS>> THERE IS SOME INDICATION THAT SARS MAY HAVE SPREAD WITHIN THE U.S. FOR THE FIRST TIME. A DOCTOR WITH THE CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL SAYS A PERSON WHO GOT SICK AFTER A TRIP TO ASIA MAY HAVE SPREAD THE FLU-LIKE ILLNESS TO A CO-WORKER IN FLORIDA. THERE HAVE BEEN 154 SUSPECTED CASES OF SARS IN THE U.S., BUT NO DEATHS.

VAL>> AND NEXT WEEK, WE’LL BE TAKING A CLOSER LOOK AT THESE MYSTERY ILLNESSES THAT SEEM TO COME OUT OF NOWHERE. THE PROGRAM IS CALLED “SUPERBUGS: THE KILLER VIRUSES”. IT AIRS NEXT TUESDAY NIGHT AT 8:00 HERE ON KCET.

AND TOMORROW ON LIFE AND TIMES, A NEW KIND OF ENGINE THAT DRIVES EVERYTHING FROM BUSES TO HOUSES AND THE ONLY THING IT SPEWS OUT IS THE BYPRODUCT, WATER.

>> OUR MOST EXCITING EFFORT IS THE FACT THAT THERE ARE CHOICES THAT COULD BE MADE TODAY. YOU KNOW, YOU’RE NOT GOING TO FORCE ANYBODY TO DO ANYTHING. WE ALL UNDERSTAND THAT. BUT, BY GOLLY, IF WE HAVE THE AVAILABILITY OF A CHOICE THAT’S CLEANER AND WORKS JUST AS WELL, WHY WOULDN’T I CHOOSE THAT?

PHILIP BRUCE>> HERE ARE THE RESULTS OF LAST NIGHT’S LIFE AND TIMES “WHAT DO YOU THINK?” POLL. LOG ONTO OUR WEBSITE AT KCET.ORG TO WEIGH IN ON A NEW QUESTION TOMORROW.

JESS>> IT WILL LIKELY GO DOWN IN HISTORY AS ONE OF THE MOST BIZARRE PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS IN OUR HISTORY, AND THE CONFUSION THAT SURROUNDED FLORIDA’S DECISIVE VOTE COUNT IN THE BUSH-GORE RACE IS HARD TO FORGET. SO ARE THE CHARGES OF MANIPULATION BY THE POLITICAL FORCES INVOLVED.

VAL>> THAT THEORY IS AT THE HEART OF A DOCUMENTARY CALLED “UNPRECEDENTED: HOW BUSH WON FLORIDA”. THE FILM FOCUSES ON ELECTION DAY AND THE EVENTS LEADING UP TO IT. WE’LL TALK WITH THE FILMMAKERS IN A MOMENT, BUT FIRST A SCENE FROM “UNPRECEDENTED”.

>> “I DON’T THINK ANYONE WHO WENT TO BED LAST NIGHT COULD IMAGINE WAKING UP THIS MORNING AND NOT KNOWING WHO THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES....

NARRATOR>> THE MORNING AFTER THE ELECTION, A STARTLING PICTURE EMERGED.

>> AL GORE IS THE WINNER OF THE NATIONAL VOTE, BUT THE STATE OF FLORIDA, WHOMEVER WINS THERE, WINS THE WHITE HOUSE.

JACK TAPPER>> I WAS AMAZED TO HEAR THAT THERE WERE ABOUT 175,000 BALLOTS IN THE STATE OF FLORIDA THAT THE MACHINES HAD NOT READ.

TIMMOTHY DOWNS>> MANUAL RECOUNTS OF PUNCH CARDS HAVE BEEN DONE LITERALLY THOUSANDS AND THOUSANDS OF TIMES THROUGHOUT THE HISTORY OF OUR COUNTRY, AND THEY ALWAYS COME OUT MORE ACCURATE THAN THE MACHINE COUNT ELECTION NIGHT.

NARRATOR>> BUT THE REPUBLICANS BEGAN TO ADVANCE THE IDEA THAT THERE WAS SOMETHING WRONG WITH MANUAL RECOUNTS.

MARK SIEBEL>> RAUCOUS DEMONSTRATIONS INCLUDING BY CONGRESSIONAL AIDES THAT HAD REPUBLICANS WHO HAD BEEN FLOWN IN FROM WASHINGTON.

NARRATOR>> IN MIAMI, THE DEMONSTRATION WAS LED BY REPUBLICAN STAFFERS.

>> THE CANVASSING BOARD, WHEN THEY DID REASSEMBLE PUBLICLY, JUST DECIDED TO STOP COUNTING ALTOGETHER."

JESS>> WITH US NOW ARE THE FILMMAKERS, JOAN SEKLER AND RICHARD RAY PEREZ. WHENEVER IT’S REVIEWED, THEY INVARIABLY SAY THAT IT WAS PRODUCED BY TWO DEMOCRATIC ACTIVISTS. FAIR?

RICHARD RAY PEREZ>> UNFAIR. ACTUALLY, I THINK THERE WAS ONE REVIEW THAT'S CALLED US DEMOCRATIC ACTIVISTS. I THINK WE'RE VOTING RIGHTS ACTIVISTS. WE HAVE TO POINT OUT THAT THE DOCUMENTARY IS HIGHLY CRITICAL OF THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY. THEY WERE SORT OF DISINGENUOUS IN THEIR EFFORT NOT TO MAKE SURE THAT ALL VOTES WERE COUNTED.

JESS>> INDEED, YOU ARE VERY CRITICAL OF THE GORE CAMPAIGN.

JOAN SEKLER>> CORRECT. RIGHT FROM THE GET-GO, THEY WERE TOLD BY VARIOUS PEOPLE WHO HAD WORKED ON RECOUNTS BEFORE, ATTORNEYS, THAT THEY NEEDED TO RECOUNT ALL 175,000 BALLOTS THAT THE MACHINES HAD REJECTED IN THE STATE AND THAT IT BEHOOVES SOMEBODY WHO IS BEHIND IN A RACE TO COUNT EVERYTHING IN THE STATE AND TAKE YOUR CHANCES AND SEE IF YOU ARE ACTUALLY GOING TO WIN OR NOT. INSTEAD, THE GORE CAMPAIGN DECIDED TO COUNT ON JUST FOUR HEAVILY DEMOCRATIC COUNTIES IN THE HOPES OF JUST WINNING SOME VOTES BECAUSE THE ELECTION WAS SO CLOSE BETWEEN BUSH AND GORE.

VAL>> SO YOU'RE CRITICAL OF BOTH CAMPS, CORRECT?

RICHARD RAY PEREZ>> ABSOLUTELY.

VAL>> NOW THERE'S A KEY PERSON IN THIS WHOLE STORY AND THAT IS THE HEAD OF ELECTIONS IN FLORIDA. I BELIEVE IT WAS KATHERINE HARRIS?

RICHARD RAY PEREZ>> KATHERINE HARRIS.

VAL>> TELL US ABOUT HER AND WHY SHE'S SO CRUCIAL TO THE STORY.

RICHARD RAY PEREZ>> WELL, SHE'S CRUCIAL IN A NUMBER OF WAYS. FIRST OF ALL, SHE WAS A CO-CHAIR OF THE GEORGE W. BUSH CAMPAIGN IN FLORIDA AND ALSO SHE'S THE HIGHEST ELECTION OFFICIAL IN THE STATE OF FLORIDA. SO SHE SHOULD HAVE RECUSED HERSELF TO AVOID, YOU KNOW, ANY POTENTIAL ALLEGATIONS OF CONFLICT OF INTEREST.

VAL>> IS IT DIFFICULT FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE IN CHARGE OF ELECTIONS TO BE ON A PARTICULAR CANDIDATE'S CAMPAIGN?

RICHARD RAY PEREZ>> WELL, IN FLORIDA -- FLORIDA HAS ITS OWN SORT OF SETS OF RULES. IT WAS UNUSUAL IN THIS SCENARIO AND JUST COINCIDENTAL. BUT THE OFFICE HAS SINCE BEEN PHASED OUT AND SO IT'S NO LONGER A PARTISAN POSITION. IT'S NOW AN APPOINTED POSITION AND IT'S DIFFERENT. SO THINGS WERE KIND OF FADED IN THE WAY THE FLORIDA CONSTITUTION OPERATED AT THE TIME.

VAL>> AND WHAT DID SHE DO OR NOT DO THAT WAS SO CRUCIAL TO THIS?

JOAN SEKLER>> WELL, BASICALLY, SHE WORKED WITH A PRIVATE COMPANY THAT HAD BEEN HIRED TO PUT TOGETHER A COMPUTERIZED LIST OF PEOPLE WHO WERE NOT ALLOWED TO VOTE IN FLORIDA, MOST OF WHOM WERE EX-FELONS. IN FLORIDA, EX-FELONS ARE NOT ALLOWED TO VOTE ONCE THEY'RE OUT OF PRISON.

WHAT SHE DID AND WHAT THE DIVISION OF ELECTIONS DID WAS TO CONTACT THE PRIVATE COMPANY AND ASK THEM TO PUT ON THE LIST NAMES OF INNOCENT CIVILIANS WHO WERE VOTING VOTERS WHOSE NAMES WERE SIMILAR IN SPELLING AND SIMILAR IN BIRTH DATES. THEY INSTRUCTED THEM TO DO THAT AND TOLD THEM DON'T WORRY, THE DIVISION OF ELECTIONS OFFICE AND THE ELECTION SUPERVISORS IN THE STATE WILL CORRECT THOSE NAMES. THEY WERE NEVER CORRECTED. SO HOW MANY JOHN JACKSONS ARE THERE IN THE STATE AND HOW MANY WILLIE WHITINGS ARE THERE IN THE STATE? A LOT.

JESS>> IN FACT, THE SUPERVISOR OF ELECTIONS IN LEON COUNTY, LOOKING AT THIS, SAID ONLY THIRTY-THREE OUT OF 690 VOTERS WHO WERE REMOVED FROM HIS LIST COULD BE CONFIRMED AS FORMER CONVICTS.

RICHARD RAY PEREZ>> ABSOLUTELY. HE ACTUALLY WAS A VERY GOOD SUPERVISOR OF ELECTIONS AND HE HAD THE RESOURCES TO CONFIRM THESE LISTS AND MOST OF THE OTHER COUNTIES DIDN'T. SO THEY HAD TO GO BY THE JUDGMENT AND THE INSTRUCTIONS GIVEN BY KATHERINE HARRIS'S OFFICE AND REMOVE THOSE VOTERS, WHICH WE FOUND OUT IN THE END TURNED OUT TO BE, YOU KNOW, HIGHLY INACCURATE AND DISPROPORTIONATELY AFRICAN-AMERICAN.

VAL>> WE'RE GOING TO SHOW A LITTLE CLIP NOW FROM THE DOCUMENTARY. I BELIEVE IT DEALS WITH THIS ISSUE. LET'S TAKE A LOOK.

REV. WILLIE WHITINGS>> "THEY CAME ON THE FARM, THEY SAID, MR. WHITINGS? I SAID, YES. THEY SAID, HAVE YOU BEEN TO COURT YET? BECAUSE WE HAVE YOU LISTED AS A CONVICTED FELON. HE SAID, YOU'VE BEEN PURGED FROM MY ROLL.

CORRINE BROWN>> THIS MAN HAD NEVER BEEN ARRESTED. THE MINISTER IN THE COMMUNITY, BUT YET THEY HAD IDENTIFIED HIM AS A FELON.

NARRATOR>> CLAYTON ROBERTS, THE DIRECTOR OF THE DIVISION OF ELECTIONS UNDER KATHERINE HARRIS, WAS ASKED WHY THIS LIST WAS SO INACCURATE AND WHO WAS RESPONSIBLE.

CLAYTON ROBERTS>> THEY DO WHAT WE CONTRACT THEM TO DO. WE HAVE A STATUTE THAT SAYS WE HAVE TO HAVE A PRIVATE COMPANY DO THIS. WE PUT IT OUT FOR BID. THEY GOT THE BID, AND I THINK I'M DONE WITH THIS INTERVIEW.

>> WAIT. WELL, LET ME JUST SHOW YOU THE CONTRACT IF I COULD. MR. ROBERTS, WAIT.

GREG PALAST>> AT LEAST FIFTEEN PERCENT OF THE PEOPLE REMOVED FROM THE VOTER ROLLS WERE INNOCENT OF ANY CRIME. THAT'S EIGHT THOUSAND VOTERS, HALF OF THEM ARE BLACK, NINETY-THREE PERCENT OF ALL BLACK VOTERS IN FLORIDA VOTED AL GORE. WELL, YOU DO THE ARITHMETIC AND THERE'S THE PRESIDENCY."

JESS>> YOUR DOCUMENTARY IS BEING SEEN AT VARIOUS FILM FESTIVALS AROUND THE COUNTRY. DO YOU EXPECT TO GET ELECTION REFORM NATIONWIDE?

JOAN SEKLER>> THIS DOCUMENTARY IS ACTUALLY BEING USED BY MANY DIFFERENT NONPROFIT GROUPS LIKE PEOPLE FOR THE AMERICAN WAY AND OTHER ORGANIZATIONS TO BE USED FOR THE NOVEMBER 2004 ELECTION, YOU KNOW, TO DO ELECTION REFORM, TO GIVE US VOTING RIGHTS WHICH I THINK AMERICANS DESERVE.

JESS>> SOMEONE SAID YOU EMPTIED OUT YOUR SAVINGS ACCOUNT TO GET THIS FILM PRODUCED.

JOAN SEKLER>> I TOOK OUT $20,000 FROM MY PENSION PLAN IN ORDER TO START THE FILM AND, BECAUSE OF THE WONDERFUL EXECUTIVE PRODUCERS THAT WE HAD, THEY WERE ABLE TO RAISE THE MONEY AND PAY ME BACK.

VAL>> OH, THAT'S GOOD. AND REAL BRIEFLY, WHAT HAPPENED TO KATHERINE HARRIS?

RICHARD RAY PEREZ>> SHE IS NOW IN CONGRESS, UNFORTUNATELY. I HAVE TO SAY UNFORTUNATELY BECAUSE, IN OUR RESEARCH, WE REALIZED SHE DID A VERY PARTISAN JOB.

VAL>> WELL, WE WANT TO THANK JOAN SEKLER AND RICHARD RAY PEREZ. THE DOCUMENTARY, AGAIN, IS CALLED "UNPRECEDENTED". IT'S PLAYING AT FOUR LAEMMLE THEATERS OVER THE NEXT FOUR WEEKS.

TO SEND A COMMENT OR A QUESTION TO OUR PROGRAM, YOU CAN REACH US BY MAIL AT THIS ADDRESS:

LIFE AND TIMES
4401 SUNSET BLVD.
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA 90027

YOU CAN ALSO CALL OUR VIEWER COMMENT LINE (323) 953-5555) OR CONTACT US THE FAST WAY BY E-MAIL AT KCET.ORG.

JESS>> WHAT'S IN A NAME? MAYBE A LOT, DEPENDING ON WHAT IT IS AND WHAT IT'S COME TO MEAN. PATT'S BEEN THINKING ABOUT A CERTAIN PART OF TOWN AND THE NAME IT GOES BY. THAT'S TONIGHT'S INFINITELY MORRISON.

PATT MORRISON>> ISN'T IT WHAT PEOPLE HAVE COME TO CALIFORNIA AND DONE FOR GENERATIONS? DROP THEIR OLD NAMES AND TAKE ON NEW ONES? SHED THE OLD PAST AND START A NEW FUTURE? SOUTH CENTRAL, THE SIXTEEN-SQUARE-MILE PART OF LOS ANGELES, HAS BEEN INSTANTLY WIPED OFF THE MAP. IN ITS PLACE STANDS SOUTH LOS ANGELES AND THERE'S A BIG BLUE AND WHITE SIGN TO PROVE IT.

A LOT OF PLACES IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA HAVE CHANGED THEIR BIG BLUE CIVIC SIGNS OVER THE YEARS, TRYING TO CHANGE THEIR PERSONALITIES ALONG WITH THEM. PART OF CANOGA PARK DECIDED LIFE WOULD BE BETTER IF IT CALLED ITSELF WEST HILLS. NORTH HILLS SECEDED FROM SEPULVEDA JUST BY PUTTING UP NEW SIGNS. VALLEY VILLAGE AND WEST TOLUCA LAKE SAID A VIRTUAL ADIOS TO NORTH HOLLYWOOD. AND ON PAPER ONLY, VALLEY GLEN AND LAKE BALBOA PARTED COMPANY FROM VAN NUYS. ONE SUPPORTER OF THE NAME LAKE BALBOA SAID HE WAS EMBARRASSED TO SAY HE LIVED IN VAN NUYS. HE EVIDENTLY WASN'T EMBARRASSED BY THE FACT THAT THE REAL LAKE BALBOA IS ACTUALLY IN ENCINO.

BUT PERCEPTION ENFORCES REALITY. THE POST OFFICE DOESN'T CARE WHAT YOU NAME IT, SO LONG AS YOU GET THE ZIP CODE RIGHT. BUT NEIGHBORHOODS HOPE A RITZIER SOUNDING NAME CAN GET A LITTLE MORE JUICE DOWN AT CITY HALL AND SOMETIMES INEXPLICABLY IT DOES. IT CAN EVEN, JUST AS MYSTERIOUSLY, LIFT PROPERTY VALUES. THAT'S ONE REASON DEVELOPERS LOVE THIS TREND OF VERBAL SECESSION.

IN CHANGING SOUTH CENTRAL TO SOUTH LOS ANGELES, THERE'S HOPE IT WILL MEAN A LOT MORE THAN THAT, THAT THE AREA CAN SHED THE STIGMAS OF CRIME AND POVERTY AND RIOT THAT SOUTH CENTRAL BECAME SHORTHAND FOR IN BOTH THE PRESS AND IN PUBLIC POLICY. AT ITS WORSE, THOUGH, THIS IS A DANGEROUS SOP, A WINDOW DRESSING THAT WILL MOLLIFY THE CONSCIENCES OF THE VERY PEOPLE WHO SHOULD BE PUTTING TIME AND MONEY AND ATTENTION INTO MAKING THESE PLACES BETTER.

COUNCIL MEMBER, JAN PERRY, WROTE THE NAME CHANGE MOTION AS PART OF A LARGER REVITALIZATION EFFORT, BUT IT NEEDS MORE SUBSTANTIAL CHANGES OR SOUTH LOS ANGELES COULD SLIP AS EASILY INTO THE SAME VOCABULARY SLOT AS ITS PREDECESSOR. COUNCIL MEMBER, NATE HOLDEN, VOTED FOR IT, BUT WARNED THAT IF THE NAME IS THE ONLY THING THAT CHANGES, ONE DAY RESIDENTS WILL BE JUST AS UPSET AS THEY ARE NOW BECAUSE PEOPLE WILL SAY EVERYTHING BAD HAPPENS IN SOUTH LOS ANGELES. BUT, HEY, IF A NAME CHANGE IS ALL IT TAKES, WHY NOT JUST DUMP THE NAME LOS ANGELES COMPLETELY? LET'S ALL JUST LIVE IN EAST BEVERLY HILLS.

VAL>> SHE WAS AN ART PHENOM AT AGE TEN. BY AGE ELEVEN, SHE HAD SIXTEEN SOLO EXHIBITS. COLLECTORS WERE PLUNKING DOWN $10,000 TOWARD THE PURCHASE OF HER NEXT PAINTING, SIGHT UNSEEN. YOU MAY REMEMBER HER. ALEXANDRA NECHITA, THE YOUNG ROMANIAN GIRL FROM NORWALK.

JESS>> ALEXANDRA IS NOW SEVENTEEN AND HAS A NEW BODY OF WORK THAT'S ABOUT TO GO ON EXHIBIT, BUT SHE ALSO HAS ANOTHER PROJECT VERY CLOSE TO HER HEART. SHE'S TRYING TO HELP MAKE UP FOR SEVERE CUTBACKS IN ARTS EDUCATION IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS. SHE'S HERE NOW TO LAY OUT HER STRATEGY.

ALEXANDRA NECHITA>> YES.

JESS>> HOW ARE YOU GOING TO COUNTER THE CUTBACKS?

ALEXANDRA NECHITA>> WELL, YOU KNOW, INITIALLY I WAS VERY DISAPPOINTED, BUT I THINK AS A YOUNG ARTIST AND REALIZING HOW IMPORTANT ART EDUCATION IS AND EVEN IF KIDS AREN'T FULLY EXPOSED AND INVOLVED, JUST THE FACT THAT THEY ARE AWARE AND TO GAIN SOME SORT OF APPRECIATION FOR IT, THAT WAS WHAT MATTERED TO ME MOST. WHAT WE'RE DOING IS, I HAD THIS IDEA CALLED "ART DEPARTMENT IN A BOX". IT'S A VERY SIMPLE CONCEPT THAT WE JUST FILL UP BOXES WITH ART SUPPLIES AND, HOPEFULLY, ENOUGH ART SUPPLIES TO LAST FOR A SEMESTER FOR A CLASS OF THIRTY STUDENTS.

VAL>> YOU'VE GOT PAINTS, CONSTRUCTION PAPER --

ALEXANDRA NECHITA>> -- THERE ARE PAINTS, THERE IS A BOOK OF MINE, THERE ARE BRUSHES, OF COURSE, AND SKETCHPADS AND CANVASSES, YES.

VAL>> THESE BOXES ARE BIG.

ALEXANDRA NECHITA>> I CAN'T LIFT THEM UP (LAUGHTER). WHEN WE FIRST STARTED, THE FIRST BOXES WE DISTRIBUTED IN GARDEN GROVE, I COULD LIFT THEM UP AND GIVE THEM TO PEOPLE. WHEN WE WERE AT SAN DIEGO A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO, I COULDN'T PICK THEM UP (LAUGHTER). I HAD TO HAVE, YOU KNOW, THESE BIG STRONG GUYS HELP ME LIFT THEM UP AND PASS THEM ON TO PEOPLE WHO ARE ACCEPTING THEM.

VAL>> HOW MANY ARE BEING DISTRIBUTED?

ALEXANDRA NECHITA>> WE HAVE ALREADY DISTRIBUTED 1,500 AND THAT'S ABOUT 45,000 SCHOOL KIDS, SO THIS IS JUST THE BEGINNING.

JESS>> THIS IS NOT INEXPENSIVE.

ALEXANDRA NECHITA>> NO, NOT AT ALL.

VAL>> WHO'S FUNDING THIS?

ALEXANDRA NECHITA>> THIS HAS ALL ACTUALLY BEEN FUNDED BY ME AND, HOPEFULLY, WE'LL GATHER SUPPORT AND BE EMBRACED BY BIGGER SPONSORS THAT WILL EVENTUALLY GIVE THEIR HEARTS TO THE PROGRAM AS WELL.

VAL>> THAT'S FANTASTIC. NOW WERE YOU EXPOSED TO ART EARLY ON? AS I UNDERSTAND IT, YOU JUST STARTED COLORING EVEN WHEN YOU WERE ABOUT FOUR YEARS OLD.

ALEXANDRA NECHITA>> I DID. IT WAS SUCH A NATURAL THING. I THINK A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE THIS IDEA THAT, YOU KNOW, PERHAPS I WAS CREATING THESE MASTERPIECES AND IT WASN'T THE CASE. I MEAN, IT WAS THE FACT THAT I WAS ABSOLUTELY IN LOVE WITH WHAT I WAS DOING. I COULD SIT DOWN AND DRAW FOR TWO HOURS, WHICH OF COURSE WOULD MAKE ANY PARENT OF A TWO OR THREE-YEAR-OLD HAPPY BECAUSE OH, SHE'S QUIET FOR A LONG AMOUNT OF TIME (LAUGHTER). BUT IT WAS JUST THIS OBSESSION WITH COLOR AND IT'S SOMETHING THAT OCCUPIED ME AND HAS DEVELOPED INTO A PASSION OF WHAT IT IS NOW.

JESS>> YOU OBVIOUSLY WERE ENCOURAGED BY YOUR PARENTS.

ALEXANDRA NECHITA>> OF COURSE, OF COURSE.

VAL>> ALTHOUGH THERE WAS A TIME WHEN THEY WERE SO WORRIED THAT THEY STOPPED BUYING YOU COLORING BOOKS BECAUSE --

ALEXANDRA NECHITA>> -- MY MOM ESPECIALLY. I MEAN, WHAT ARE YOU DOING, MOTHER? KEEP HER BUSY (LAUGHTER). AND, NO, SHE'S WAY TOO ISOLATED. SHE'S DOING THIS TOO MUCH. SHE NEEDS TO GO OUT AND PLAY AND HAVE FUN. SHE TOOK AWAY MY COLORING BOOKS, BUT SHE GAVE ME THESE PLAIN SHEETS OF PAPER. YOU KNOW, SINCE I WAS SO ACCUSTOMED TO THE FORMAT OF A COLORING BOOK, I'D STAPLE TWENTY OR THIRTY SHEETS TOGETHER AND HAVE MY OWN FORMS AND PRETTY MUCH CREATE MY OWN COLORING BOOK (LAUGHTER).

JESS>> INITIALLY, YOU WERE VIRTUALLY SELF-TAUGHT, BUT YOU WERE INFLUENCED, BY ALL APPEARANCES, VERY INFLUENCED BY PICASSO.

ALEXANDRA NECHITA>> YOU KNOW, I THINK AS ANY ARTIST, YOU STRIVE AND YOU YEARN FOR AN IDENTITY OF YOUR OWN. INFLUENCES ARE INADVERTENT AND I THINK IT WAS NOT SOMETHING I WAS CONSCIOUS OF. I'M VERY SINCERE AND ADMIRE PICASSO'S WORK.

JESS>> YOU WERE DISTINGUISHED NOT ONLY BY THE QUALITY OF YOUR WORK, BUT BY THE AGE AT WHICH YOU WERE ACHIEVING IT.

ALEXANDRA NECHITA>> (LAUGHTER) WHAT CAN I SAY? I MEAN, YOU KNOW, IT WAS SOMETHING THAT REALLY STARTED OFF WITH NO INTENTION OF BECOMING A CAREER OR SOMETHING I WOULD DO FOREVER. IT WAS SOMETHING THAT I HAD FUN WITH AND FELT VERY COMFORTABLE DOING. THAT'S STILL WHAT IT IS, REALLY. I MEAN, OF COURSE, I HAVE BIG DREAMS AND I WANT TO PURSUE GREAT THINGS AND I HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO DO THAT NOW. BUT IT'S FUNNY. EVERYTHING STARTS OFF SMALL AND, WITH THE SUPPORT AND THE LOVE AND THE ENCOURAGEMENT OF OTHER PEOPLE, IT BECOMES --

JESS>> -- YOU HAVE A VERY SUPPORTIVE FAMILY.

ALEXANDRA NECHITA>> I DO. VERY LUCKY, UNLIKE A LOT OF OTHER PEOPLE MY AGE. THAT'S ANOTHER IMPORTANT THING.

JESS>> OF COURSE, WHEN YOU MISBEHAVE, THEY SAY GO TO YOUR ROOM AND PAINT (LAUGHTER).

ALEXANDRA NECHITA>> NO, NOT PAINT. THEY SAY GO TO YOUR ROOM, YOU'RE NOT GOING OUT (LAUGHTER).

VAL>> THEY TAKE YOUR PAINTBRUSH AWAY. NOW YOU BRANCHED OUT INTO SCULPTURE AND CERAMICS AS WELL. WHEN DID THAT HAPPEN AND WHAT DREW YOU TO CERAMICS?

ALEXANDRA NECHITA>> YOU KNOW, I THINK THAT'S WHAT HAS KEPT ME SO FASCINATED WITH ART. THERE'S THIS NEVER-ENDING, THIS PERPETUAL PASSIVE EXPLORATION.

JESS>> WHAT IS THIS PIECE YOU'RE WORKING ON HERE?

ALEXANDRA NECHITA>> THIS PIECE IS ACTUALLY THE FIRST BRONZE THAT I POURED. IT'S ENTITLED "LET THERE BE PEACE" AND IT WILL BE AT THE SHOW THAT IS OPENING THIS SATURDAY ACTUALLY. IT'S SMALL. IT'S ABOUT THIRTY-FIVE INCHES TALL. WHAT WE'RE DOING IS EXPANDING IT TO NINE FEET AND ULTIMATELY TO A THIRTY-FIVE-FOOT MONUMENT.

VAL>> OH, MY GOODNESS.

ALEXANDRA NECHITA>> YES, AND THE PIECES BEHIND IT ARE ACTUALLY A SERIES OF MY LARGEST CANVASSES, THE LARGEST BEING THIRTY-TWO FEET AND THE OTHERS RANGE BETWEEN SIXTEEN FEET LONG AND TEN FEET TALL.

JESS>> MUCH OF YOUR WORK, I NOW ASSUME, IS ON COMMISSION?

ALEXANDRA NECHITA>> NO. ACTUALLY, VERY RARELY DO I DO COMMISSION. I'M VERY PARTICULAR ABOUT THAT JUST BECAUSE I DON'T LIKE WORKING BY THE COMMAND AND RESTRICTION OF ANYONE.

JESS>> YOU WANT TO DO WHAT YOU WANT TO DO.

ALEXANDRA NECHITA>> AND YOU KNOW WHAT? THAT'S SUCH A LIBERTY YOU HAVE AS AN ARTIST AND YOU DON'T ALLOW ANYONE TO DEPRIVE YOU OF THAT.

VAL>> WERE YOU EVER AFRAID OF, YOU KNOW, ALL THE PEOPLE WHO SAID, WELL, YES, SHE HAS ALL THIS FAME AND SUCCESS EARLY ON, BUT IT WON'T LAST OR, YOU KNOW, AS SHE GETS OLDER, IT WON'T REALLY PROVE TO BE SOMETHING, THAT YOU WON'T BECOME A TRULY MATURE ARTIST? YOU KNOW, ALL THOSE PEOPLE WHO WERE SKEPTICAL. HOW DO YOU DEAL WITH THAT?

ALEXANDRA NECHITA>> YOU KNOW, I THINK INDEED IT GOES BACK TO THE FACT THAT I HAVE SUCH A STRONG FAMILY UNIT. I HAVE NOT BEEN HIDDEN FROM THE REALITIES AND THE IDEAS AND THE CONCEPTS OF THE CRITICS, BUT RATHER MY PARENTS HAVE OPENLY EXPOSED ME TO IT AND SAID, LOOK, THIS IS WHAT THEY THINK. WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO ABOUT IT? IT WAS NEVER A DEFENSE MECHANISM. IT WAS JUST SOMETHING THAT I CHOSE TO DO AND, WHETHER IT DOES PROVE THEM WRONG OR NOT, THAT'S IRRELEVANT TO ME, THE FACT THAT I CAN CONTINUE PROSPERING CREATIVELY AND THEN CONTINUING GROWING.

JESS>> THANK YOU AND THANK YOU FOR THE GOOD WORK IN PROMOTING ART EDUCATION IN THE SCHOOLS.

ALEXANDRA NECHITA>> YES, INDEED. THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

JESS>> ALEXANDRA NECHITA, THANK YOU FOR BEING WITH US. YOU CAN SEE MORE OF ALEXANDRA'S WORK ON HER WEBSITE AT WWW.NECHITA.INFO/INDEX.HTM AND YOU AN MEET HER IN PERSON AND SEE AN EXHIBIT OF HER WORK THIS SATURDAY IN THE GRAND BALLROOM OF THE BEVERLY HILTON HOTEL.

VAL>> AND A REMINDER THAT YOU CAN FIND TRANSCRIPTS OR HEAR THE AUDIO OF RECENT LIFE AND TIMES PROGRAMS. JUST GO TO OUR WEBSITE AT KCET.ORG.

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

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