5/2/03

LC030502

VAL ZAVALA>> TONIGHT ON LIFE AND TIMES --

JESS MARLOW>> GIVING PUBLIC SCHOOL KIDS ALL THE BENEFITS OF A PRIVATE SCHOOL EDUCATION AND THE RESULTS CAN BE PRETTY AMAZING.

STUDENT>> THEY TEACH ABOVE YOUR GRADE LEVEL TO WHAT EVERYBODY CAN UNDERSTAND. WHEN YOU GO HOME, YOUR PARENTS ARE LIKE “WHAT DID YOU LEARN?” I’M LIKE “OH, MOMMY, I LEARNED ALL THIS AND I LEARNED ALL THIS.”

VAL>> AND THEN TWO TV LEGENDS ARE TOGETHER AGAIN. DICK VAN DYKE AND MARY TYLER MOORE STAR IN “THE GIN GAME”. WE’LL TALK ABOUT THEIR ONSCREEN REUNION AND HOW IT BROKE NEW GROUND FOR BOTH OF THEM.

JESS>> PLUS, A NEW ETHICS CRUSADE AT LOS ANGELES’S CITY HALL.

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>> FINALLY THE STORY OF A PUBLIC SCHOOL THAT WORKS.

JESS>> AND IT’S ALL BECAUSE OF A FORMER TEACHER WHO WANTED THE BEST FOR HIS STUDENTS. THEY’RE NOT RICH KIDS. IN FACT, MOST ARE FAR FROM IT. BUT AS PHILIP BRUCE REPORTS, THEY’RE GETTING THE SAME KIND OF EDUCATION MANY CHILDREN OF THE WEALTHY GET AND PEOPLE ARE BEGINNING TO NOTICE.

MIKE PISCAL>> WE AS A SCHOOL AND AS A COMMUNITY HAVE A MISSION TO PREPARE EACH ONE OF YOU TO ATTEND AND TO COMPETE AT THE TOP ONE HUNDRED COLLEGES IN THE NATION.

PHILIP BRUCE>> YOU KNOW THIS ISN’T JUST ANOTHER SCHOOL WHEN YOU HEAR THE HEADMASTER, MIKE PISCAL, GIVING A PEP TALK TO THE KIDS. THIS IS VIEWPARK PREP ELEMENTARY IN L.A.’S CRENSHAW DISTRICT, A PLACE WHERE PISCAL HAS HIGH HOPES AND EQUALLY HIGH EXPECTATIONS FOR THESE YOUNGSTERS.

MIKE PISCAL>> WHETHER IT BE HARVARD OR HOWARD, WHETHER IT BE SPELLMAN OR PRINCETON, MOREHOUSE OR YALE, YOU’RE GOING TO BE PREPARED TO BE A GREAT STUDENT.

PHILIP BRUCE>> THERE ARE 250 STUDENTS ON THIS CHARTER SCHOOL CAMPUS AND ANOTHER 150 KIDS ATTEND THE NEARBY VIEWPARK PREP MIDDLE SCHOOL.

NADIA CHAN>> GOOD MORNING, FIRST GRADE.

STUDENTS>> GOOD MORNING, MISS NADIA.

PHILIP BRUCE>> WHEN THE CHILDREN ENTER THE FIRST GRADE, MOST OF THEM CAN ALREADY READ, BUT THAT’S PAR FOR THE COURSE AT A SCHOOL WHERE BOTH THE TEACHERS AND THE STUDENTS AIM HIGH.

NADIA CHAN>> A LOT OF THE WORK THAT WE DO IS A GRADE LEVEL AHEAD, SO THE STANDARD OF THE STUDENTS’ WRITING, THEIR READING, THEIR MATH IS ALL ALREADY VERY ADVANCED.

KIRK KIRKWOOD>> THERE IS NO NUMBERED SQUARE THAT WILL GIVE YOU FORTY-FOUR.

PHILIP BRUCE>> EVERY EIGHTH-GRADER STUDIES ALGEBRA AND, WHEN THESE KIDS ARE IN THE TWELFTH GRADE AT VIEWPARK PREP HIGH SCHOOL WHICH OPENS NEXT FALL, THE PLAN IS THAT THEY’LL BE READY FOR CALCULUS.

KIRK KIRKWOOD>> WE’RE PREPARING THEM NOW FOR AN INTENSE ENVIRONMENT, AN ENVIRONMENT WHICH REQUIRES A STUDENT TO BE ON POINT AT ALL TIMES AND THESE KIDS ARE GOING TO BE READY.

PHILIP BRUCE>> AND THE STUDENTS HERE SEEM TO HAVE NO TROUBLE BUYING INTO THE PROGRAM.

STUDENT>> WE HAVE HOMEWORK EVERY NIGHT. THE CLASS SIZES ARE SMALLER. THE TEACHERS WORK WITH YOU ONE ON ONE IF YOU NEED HELP.

STUDENT>> I THINK THE KIDS IN MY CLASS TAKE SCHOOL REALLY SERIOUSLY, ESPECIALLY WITH THEIR GRADES AND HOW THEY’RE GOING TO GO AND HOW THEY’RE GOING TO DO IN HIGH SCHOOL AND COLLEGE.

STUDENT>> WHEN YOU GO HOME, YOUR PARENTS ARE LIKE “WHAT DID YOU LEARN?” I’M LIKE, “OH, MOMMY, I LEARNED ALL THIS AND I LEARNED ALL THIS.” IT’S SO FUN.

PHILIP BRUCE>> MIKE PISCAL IS A PRODUCT OF THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS IN NEW JERSEY, BUT HIS STINT AS AN ENGLISH TEACHER AT THE EXCLUSIVE HARVARD WESTLAKE SCHOOL HERE IN LOS ANGELES LEFT HIM IMPRESSED AND EAGER TO DO SOMETHING FOR KIDS WHO DON’T HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY FOR FANCY PRIVATE SCHOOL EDUCATION.

MIKE PISCAL>> WHEN I WORKED AT HARVARD WESTLAKE, I LEARNED SO MUCH ABOUT HOW A SCHOOL SHOULD BE RUN AND I KEPT READING ABOUT THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS IN L.A. MY HEART JUST WENT OUT AND SAID, YOU KNOW, I DON’T SEE WHY IT CANNOT BE DONE THE WAY IT’S BEING DONE HERE IN A PRIVATE SCHOOL.

PHILIP BRUCE>> FIRST THERE WAS A SUMMER PROGRAM, THEN AN AFTER-SCHOOL PROGRAM AND FINALLY, FOUR YEARS AGO, THE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL OPENED. FROM THE START, PISCAL HAS HAD SOME HELP FROM A PARENT WHO’S NOW DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS, ROCHELLE MACKABEE. AT THE TIME, HER SON DAVID ATTENDED THE NEIGHBORHOOD ELEMENTARY SCHOOL AND ROCHELLE WAS A PTA PRESIDENT THERE. BUT SHE BECAME DISCOURAGED BY THE SCHOOL’S TEST RESULTS AND EVEN MORE UPSET BY THE STAFF’S REACTION.

ROCHELLE MACKABEE>> IT WAS DECIDED AT THAT TIME THAT THERE WAS NOTHING THAT THEY COULD DO FOR THE CURRENT CHILDREN, THE CHILDREN THAT WOULD HAVE INCLUDED MY SON, AND THAT THEY WERE GOING TO START FOCUSING ON THE KINDERGARTEN THROUGH THE SECOND GRADE, WHICH WOULD HAVE ELIMINATED MY SON’S OPPORTUNITY TO IMPROVE.

PHILIP BRUCE>> ROCHELLE AND SOME OF HER FRIENDS DECIDED TO PULL THEIR CHILDREN OUT OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD SCHOOL AND HOPE FOR SOMETHING BETTER.

ROCHELLE MACKABEE>> WE WERE GOING TO HOME SCHOOL, BUT WE WERE ALL PRAYING FOR VIEWPARK TO BE CHARTERED. THEY CHARTERED AND THOSE SAME GROUP OF PARENTS AND MYSELF AND MR. PISCAL JUST HIT THE GROUND RUNNING AND HERE WE SIT.

PHILIP BRUCE>> THE PHILOSOPHY OF VIEWPARK IS TO BE OPEN TO ANYTHING THAT WORKS, BUT THE HARVARD WESTLAKE MODEL IS ALWAYS IN MIND.

BRIAN TAYLOR>> THEY HEAR SO MUCH ABOUT HARVARD WESTLAKE OVER HERE THAT I THINK SOMETIMES THEY GET TIRED OF IT.

PHILIP BRUCE>> BRIAN TAYLOR IS DIRECTOR OF THE MIDDLE SCHOOL. THE PRINCETON-EDUCATED FORMER NBA STAR TAUGHT WITH PISCAL AT HARVARD WESTLAKE AND THIS YEAR TAYLOR MADE GOOD ON A PROMISE HE MADE TO PISCAL MANY YEARS AGO.

BRIAN TAYLOR>> I HAD AN AGREEMENT WITH MIKE A LONG TIME AGO THAT, WHEN HE HAD THINGS UP AND RUNNING AND HE NEEDED ME, I MEAN, REALLY NEEDED ME, THAT I WOULD COME ON BOARD AND TRY TO HELP HIM GET TO THE NEXT LEVEL.

PHILIP BRUCE>> THE NEXT LEVEL FOR VIEWPARK IS TO BUILD TWO NEW CAMPUSES. RIGHT NOW THEY RENT. THEY ALSO WANT TO EXPAND THE STUDENT BODY WHILE STILL KEEPING THE SCHOOL SMALL. INITIALLY, EVERYONE WHO WANTED TO ATTEND VIEWPARK COULD GET IN, BUT WORD OF MOUTH HAS BEEN SO STRONG THAT THERE’S NOW A WAITING LIST OF NEAR TWO THOUSAND KIDS.

DOMINIQUE MCMILLAN>> I DECIDED TO ENROLL IN VIEWPARK PREP, MY HUSBAND AND I, BECAUSE THE SCHOOL HAD A GREAT REPUTATION.

DAVID MOORE>> WHAT I SAW AT THE OTHER SCHOOL MY KIDS ATTENDED WAS THAT ONLY A SELECT NUMBER OF STUDENTS WERE BEING PUSHED TO EXCEL AND THAT BOTHERED ME. IF YOU WERE NOT CHOSEN TO DO THAT EARLY ON, YOU GOT A DIFFERENT TRACK, AND HERE EVERYBODY IS ON THE SAME TRACK AND THAT’S SOMETHING WE JUST APPRECIATE. WE THINK EVERY KID HAS THAT KIND OF POTENTIAL.

PHILIP BRUCE>> VIEWPARK PARENTS ARE REQUIRED TO VOLUNTEER FOUR HOURS A MONTH HERE. INVOLVED PARENTS ARE PART OF THE RECIPE FOR SUCCESS. TEACHER NOAH KAISER SAYS THAT’S A BIG DIFFERENCE. HE LEFT A POSITION AT A BIG INNER CITY HIGH SCHOOL BECAUSE HE WAS SO FRUSTRATED.

NOAH KAISER>> AT FREMONT, I NEVER SAW A PARENT UNLESS THE KID WAS IN TROUBLE. BUT HERE, I’VE ACTUALLY LIKE BUILT RELATIONSHIPS WITH PARENTS AND THAT IS HUGE, I MEAN, IN HELPING STUDENTS LIKE SEE THE WHOLE GOAL OF GETTING TO COLLEGE.

PHILIP BRUCE>> ROCHELLE MACKABEE SAYS THERE WILL NEVER BE A SHORTAGE OF PARENTS READY TO MAKE A COMMITMENT TO VIEWPARK.

ROCHELLE MACKABEE>> I THINK VIEWPARK WILL BECOME INVALUABLE TO THIS COMMUNITY. I MEAN, THAT WAS THE WHOLE PURPOSE OF VIEWPARK IN THE FIRST PLACE. AFRICAN-AMERICANS IN THE CRENSHAW DISTRICT, IF YOU REALLY WANTED A BETTER SCHOOL, YOU HAD TO LEAVE YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD. WE DIDN’T WANT TO DO THAT. WE REALLY WANTED THE SAME QUALITY, EQUITABLE EDUCATION IN OUR COMMUNITY THAT OTHER CHILDREN WERE RECEIVING IN OTHER COMMUNITIES AND THAT’S WHAT VIEWPARK REALLY MEANS. IT’S REALLY ABOUT THE COMMUNITY.

JESS>> WE TOLD YOU THERE’S A WAITING LIST AT THIS SCHOOL. THEY’VE ACTUALLY SET UP A LOTTERY FOR SELECTING STUDENTS. BUT BEFORE THE KIDS GET IN, THEIR PARENTS HAVE TO PROMISE THEY WILL ABIDE BY THEIR COMMITMENT TO SERVE AS VOLUNTEERS ON THE CAMPUS AND IN THE CLASSROOM.

VAL>> MONDAY ON LIFE AND TIMES, AN OLD URANIUM MINE IN SOUTHERN UTAH. WE’LL FIND OUT WHY SOME EXPERTS THINK IT MAY BE THREATENING SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA’S WATER SUPPLY.

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

JESS>> IF YOU’VE EVER GOTTEN ANGRY AT SHADY POLITICIANS OR CANDIDATES OR POLITICAL CORRUPTION, HERE’S YOUR CHANCE TO BE AN ETHICS COP. LOS ANGELES CITY CONTROLLER, LAURA CHICK, IS PUTTING OUT A CALL FOR CITIZENS WHO ARE INTERESTED IN BEING ON THE CITY’S ETHICS COMMISSION.

VAL>> LOS ANGELES CITY HALL HAS HAD A CHECKERED PAST, AS YOU PROBABLY KNOW. IN THE THIRTIES AND FORTIES, IT WAS MIRED IN CORRUPTION. REFORMERS HELPED CLEAN THINGS UP AND TODAY CITY OFFICIALS ARE SUBJECT TO A TOUGH CODE OF ETHICS, BUT HOW STRICTLY IS IT ENFORCED? THAT DEPENDS ON CITIZENS, AND JOINING US NOW WITH MORE IS LOS ANGELES CITY CONTROLLER, LAURA CHICK. WELCOME TO LIFE AND TIMES.

LAURA CHICK>> THANKS FOR HAVING ME.

JESS>> I ASSUME THE PREMISE HERE IS THAT IT ISN’T BEING STRICTLY ENFORCED?

LAURA CHICK>> WELL, AND THERE ARE SO MANY LOOPHOLES AND IT SEEMS EVERY TIME WE CREATE A NEW WAY OF MAKING SURE THAT THE PLAYING FIELD STAYS EVEN, FOR INSTANCE, THERE COMES A NEW WAY AROUND IT. SOME LOBBYISTS PUT IT IN TERMS OF, YOU KNOW, THERE’S MONEY THAT WANTS TO COME AND IT WILL FIND A WAY. BUT I THINK WHAT WE NEED TO BE CONCENTRATING ON IS RESTORING THE PUBLIC’S TRUST IN GOVERNMENT, IN ITS ELECTED OFFICIALS. IF ANYTHING, WE NEED TO STRENGTHEN THE ORDINANCE AND ELIMINATE THE LOOPHOLES.

VAL>> SO THE ETHICS COMMISSION OVERSEES POLITICAL CAMPAIGN MONEY, CORRECT?

LAURA CHICK>> YES.

VAL>> LOBBYISTS, AND WHAT ELSE DOES IT OVERSEE?

LAURA CHICK>> HIGH-RANKING PUBLIC OFFICIALS, BOTH ELECTED AND OTHER MANAGEMENT, IN TERMS OF ETHICAL BEHAVIOR. WE WANT TO HAVE A CITY THAT’S RUN IMPECCABLY AND I, AS CITY CONTROLLER, WANT A CITY THAT’S RUN WITH ITS BOOKS AND ITS OPERATIONS WIDE OPEN. SO I WAS DISAPPOINTED WHEN THE COUNCIL CHOSE NOT TO PASS THE LATEST RECOMMENDATION FROM THE ETHICS COMMISSION.

JESS>> AS CITY CONTROLLER, YOU HAVE ONE PERSON YOU CAN SELECT FOR THE ETHICS COMMISSION?

LAURA CHICK>> THAT’S CORRECT.

JESS>> AND YOU’RE REQUIRING THAT YOU MUST BE A REGISTERED VOTER IN THE CITY OF LOS ANGELES, YOU CAN’T HOLD ANY OTHER PUBLIC OFFICE, YOU CAN’T GIVE MONEY OR WORK IN A CITY ELECTION OR FOR A CANDIDATE, OR BE A LOBBYIST OR WORK FOR ONE.

VAL>> YOU HAVE TO BE VERY INDEPENDENT?

LAURA CHICK>> VERY INDEPENDENT, AND THE PART ABOUT NOT BEING ABLE TO DONATE COULD SAVE SOMEONE SOME MONEY (LAUGHTER). IT’S A GREAT EXCUSE, I GUESS. BUT THOSE ARE ACTUALLY THE CITY’S REQUIREMENTS.

JESS>> IT’S A FIVE-YEAR TERM, ISN’T IT?

LAURA CHICK>> IT’S A FIVE-YEAR TERM.

JESS>> AND ANYONE WHO’S ON IT CAN’T, IN YOUR VIEW, SHOULD NOT BE ABLE TO RUN FOR PUBLIC OFFICE FOR TWO YEARS AFTER THAT?

LAURA CHICK>> WELL, THAT’S THE CITY ETHICS LAW WHICH MANDATES THAT FOR COMMISSIONERS AND I THINK IT’S NOT A BAD IDEA. WE WANT PEOPLE ON THAT COMMISSION WHO ARE REALLY SEPARATED OUT FROM PERSONAL INVOLVEMENT IN LOCAL POLITICAL CAMPAIGNS.

JESS>> A LOT OF THESE PEOPLE WHO ARE KNOWLEDGEABLE THEN?

LAURA CHICK>> WELL, LOOK AT THIS THAT I HAVE HERE, YOU KNOW, FOR MY FIRST COUPLE OF DAYS OF TRYING TO GET THE WORD OUT TO THE PUBLIC SO I GET BEYOND THE INSIDER CROWD.

JESS>> GOOD CANDIDATES?

LAURA CHICK>> UNBELIEVABLE GOOD CANDIDATES. BASICALLY, WHAT I’M LOOKING FOR, MY REQUIREMENTS, I WANT SOMEONE WHO HAS A TRACK RECORD IN LEADERSHIP, PROVEN LEADERSHIP, THAT THEY’RE ACTIVE IN SOME WAY IN THE CIVIC LIFE OF LOS ANGELES. BUT I ESPECIALLY WANT A LEADER BECAUSE THE PERSON THEY’RE REPLACING, MIRIAM KRINSKY, HAS BEEN THE LEADER ON THE ETHICS COMMISSION FOR THE DURATION OF HER TERM.

JESS>> HER TERM IS UP THEN?

LAURA CHICK>> HER TERM IS UP.

JESS>> BUT SHE’S ACTUALLY PRESIDENT OF THE COMMISSION.

LAURA CHICK>> SHE IS THE PRESIDENT, EXACTLY. I THINK, IF ANYTHING, YOU KNOW, I FEEL COMPELLED TO FIND A STRONG LEADER-TYPE PERSON TO REPLACE HER. I KNOW ONE PERSON WHO WOULD HAVE BEEN VERY WONDERFUL AS A CANDIDATE SAID NO, THERE WAS NO INTEREST. WHY? BECAUSE IN THIS PERSON’S VIEW, THE CITY COUNCIL, THE ELECTED OFFICIALS, AREN’T REALLY SERIOUS ABOUT WANTING CAMPAIGN FINANCE REFORM TO GO FURTHER. I WANT THAT KIND OF PERSON WHO EVEN KNOWS THAT MIGHT BE TRUE, BUT WANTS TO COME AND FIGHT FOR IT ANYWAY.

VAL>> HOW WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE -- YOU SAID THAT THE CITY COUNCIL RECENTLY REJECTED AT LEAST A PART OF CAMPAIGN FINANCE REFORM THAT YOU THOUGHT WAS VERY IMPORTANT. WHAT PART WAS THAT?

LAURA CHICK>> IT WAS ABOUT CONTROLLING AND HAVING BETTER OVERSIGHT AND MORE DISCLOSURE ABOUT INDEPENDENT EXPENDITURE COMMITTEES.

JESS>> YOU’RE TALKING ABOUT SOFT MONEY?

LAURA CHICK>> WELL, SOFTER. AND IT’S MONEY THAT, BY THE WAY, IS A NEW WAY OF COMING INTO CAMPAIGNS TO GET AROUND SOME OF THE OTHER REGULATIONS.

VAL>> IS THIS SOME MONEY, FOR EXAMPLE, THAT SOME OF THE INDIAN TRIBES WILL SPEND IN A CAMPAIGN, BUT NOT DIRECTLY TO THE CANDIDATE?

LAURA CHICK>> THAT’S CORRECT. AND IT’S NOT DONE IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE CANDIDATE’S CAMPAIGN, BUT QUITE FRANKLY, MOSTLY SPECIAL INTEREST MONEY. IT’S BIGGER MONEY THAN IS ALLOWED UNDER THE CITY’S RULES IN THE NORMAL CAMPAIGN AND IT’S OFTEN EITHER CORPORATIONS, VERY WEALTHY INDIVIDUALS, UNIONS OR SOME SPECIAL INTEREST ORGANIZED GROUP THAT COMES TOGETHER.

VAL>> SO THEY WANT TO INFLUENCE A PARTICULAR RACE, BUT THEY DON’T GIVE DIRECTLY TO THE CANDIDATE, SO THE CANDIDATE DOESN’T EVEN HAVE THE CONTROL, BUT HE OR SHE MAY BENEFIT OR NOT BENEFIT.

LAURA CHICK>> THAT’S CORRECT.

JESS>> IN YOUR VARIOUS CAMPAIGNS, HAVE YOU BENEFITED FROM THIS KIND OF HELP?

LAURA CHICK>> I THINK IN MY VERY FIRST CAMPAIGN WHICH WAS AGAINST A SIXTEEN-YEAR INCUMBENT THAT THERE WAS A SMALL INDEPENDENT EXPENDITURE MADE IN MY CAMPAIGN.

JESS>> WAS IT HELPFUL TO YOU?

LAURA CHICK>> I THINK IT WAS HELPFUL TO ME --

VAL>> -- BUT YOU WOULD LIKE TO SEE --

LAURA CHICK>> -- BUT WE’RE NOT LOOKING TO ELIMINATE INDEPENDENT EXPENDITURE COMMITTEES. QUITE FRANKLY, OUR RESPECT FOR FIRST AMENDMENT FREEDOM OF SPEECH RIGHTS PROHIBITS US FROM DOING THAT. WHAT WE WERE LOOKING TO DO WAS TO ALLOW THEM TO OPERATE, BUT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE KEEP THE PLAYING FIELD EVEN. SO IF SOMEONE HAS AN INDEPENDENT EXPENDITURE MADE FOR THEM, THE OTHER CANDIDATES WOULD GET PUBLIC MATCHING MONEY FASTER, MORE, AND THE PERSON BENEFITING FROM THE INDEPENDENT EXPENDITURE WOULD NOT.

VAL>> INTERESTING.

JESS>> IS THERE A QUESTION OF DISCLOSURE?

LAURA CHICK>> WE ALSO THOUGHT, AND IT DIDN’T PASS, THAT ANYONE WHO GAVE MORE THAN $25,000 -- AND THAT’S A PRETTY HEFTY AMOUNT --

JESS>> -- YOU BET.

LAURA CHICK>> -- ANY ENTITY THAT PUT MORE THAN $25,000 INTO A INDEPENDENT EXPENDITURE, THEIR IDENTITY OR THE ORGANIZATION’S IDENTITY BE DISCLOSED ON ANY LITERATURE OR RADIO OR TV ADS. THAT DIDN’T PASS. QUITE FRANKLY, I THINK UNTIL WE HAVE AN OUTRAGED PUBLIC INSISTING ON THIS BEING CLEANER AND MORE OPEN, IT WON’T HAPPEN.

JESS>> ARE THINGS SO ROTTEN AT CITY HALL THAT THEY OUGHT TO BE OUTRAGED?

LAURA CHICK>> I THINK IN TERMS OF POLITICS IN GENERAL BEING HEAVILY INFLUENCED BY SPECIAL INTERESTS BECAUSE THAT’S WHERE CAMPAIGN CONTRIBUTIONS COME FROM, YES, I THINK THE PUBLIC SHOULD BE OUTRAGED.

VAL>> WE SHOULD MENTION THAT THE ETHICS COMMISSION, THE PEOPLE THERE, WORK FOR NO MONEY, RIGHT?

LAURA CHICK>> THAT’S CORRECT.

VAL>> AND IT’S FOR A FIVE-YEAR TERM. AND WHAT OTHER REQUIREMENTS? THEY MEET HOW OFTEN?

LAURA CHICK>> I BELIEVE IT’S --

VAL>> -- ONCE A MONTH, I THINK?

LAURA CHICK>> ONCE A MONTH. THEY HAVE TO BE STALWARTS WHO ARE READY FOR OPPOSITION AND GOOD ARGUERS. BY THE WAY, THEY HAVE TO LIVE JUST ANYWHERE IN THE CITY OF LOS ANGELES.

VAL>> DON’T HAVE TO BE IN YOUR DISTRICT OR ANY PARTICULAR --

LAURA CHICK>> -- THEY DON’T HAVE TO BE IN ANY PARTICULAR DISTRICT. I’M REALLY LOOKING TO REACH OUT TO ALL THOSE FOLKS IN THE PUBLIC WHO’VE NEVER HAD A CHANCE BEFORE.

VAL>> THAT IS GREAT. WELL, YOU ARE GOING TO GET FLOODED WITH RESUMES (LAUGHTER).

LAURA CHICK>> I THINK SO. THANK YOU.

VAL>> LAURA CHICK, HAVE FUN LOOKING THROUGH THEM ALL. IF YOU WOULD LIKE MORE INFORMATION ABOUT APPLYING FOR THE ETHICS COMMISSION, CHECK OUT THIS WEBSITE: LACITY.ORG/CTR. OR YOU CAN WRITE A LETTER TO LAURA CHICK AT THE ADDRESS ON YOUR SCREEN:

CITY CONTROLLER LAURA CHICK
200 NORTH MAIN STREET
LOS ANGELES, CA 90012

VAL>> IF YOU MISS IT, JUST DROP US A LINE HERE AT KCET AND WE’LL GIVE YOU THE ADDRESS.

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>> IT’S HARD TO BELIEVE THEY GOT TOGETHER FOR THE FIRST TIME MORE THAN FORTY YEARS AGO. BACK THEN, DICK VAN DYKE AND MARY TYLER MOORE SOON BECAME AMERICA’S FAVORITE TV COUPLE AND, THANKS TO RERUNS, THEIR CLASSIC SERIES, “THE DICK VAN DYKE SHOW”, LIVES ON.

VAL>> WELL, NOW DICK AND MARY ARE REUNITED IN THE KCET PRODUCTION OF “THE GIN GAME”. IT PREMIERS ON PBS THIS SUNDAY AND IT’S QUITE A DEPARTURE FROM HOW WE’VE SEEN THEM IN THE PAST. THEY PLAY TWO ARGUMENTATIVE RESIDENTS IN A NURSING HOME. TONIGHT DICK AND MARY TELL US WHAT IT’S LIKE TO SHARE THE SCREEN AGAIN.

DICK VAN DYKE>> “YOU PLAY CARDS?”

MARY TYLER MOORE>> MY, (LAUGHTER) I HAVEN’T PLAYED IN YEARS.

DICK VAN DYKE>> DO YOU EVER PLAY GIN?

MARY TYLER MOORE>> IS GIN AND RUMMY THE SAME THING?

DICK VAN DYKE>> TELL YOU WHAT. LET ME PULL UP A CHAIR AND I’LL SHOW YOU.”

DICK VAN DYKE>> WE’VE NEVER FACED ANYTHING QUITE LIKE THIS ONE.

MARY TYLER MOORE>> NO.

DICK VAN DYKE>> WE CALL IT THE TRIATHLON OF ACTING. YOU HAVE TO NOT ONLY REMEMBER THE LINES, BUT YOU HAVE TO PLAY GIN AT EXACTLY THE SAME TIME AND YOU CAN’T THINK ON TWO LEVELS AT ONCE.

MARY TYLER MOORE>> IT’S VERY HARD.

DICK VAN DYKE>> YOUR MIND CAN BOUNCE BACK AND FORTH, BUT YOU CAN’T DO IT (LAUGHTER).

MARY TYLER MOORE>> YEAH, IT’S THIS THING. WHEN YOU FIRST LEARN TO DO IT.

DICK VAN DYKE>> OF COURSE, SHE’S A CARD PLAYER AND I’M NOT. I HAD TO LEARN TO SHUFFLE AND DEAL AND EVERYTHING. I DIDN’T KNOW HOW TO DO ANY OF THAT.

MARY TYLER MOORE>> I CAN’T BELIEVE IT TOO BECAUSE THIS MAN CAN DO SLIGHT OF HAND LIKE A PRO. HE CAN MAKE CARDS FLIP AND DISAPPEAR, BUT SHUFFLING WAS SOMETHING HE HAD TO REALLY WORK AT.

DICK VAN DYKE>> I DON’T KNOW WHAT THEY MEAN, ALL THOSE PICTURES ON THEM THOUGH (LAUGHTER).

MARY TYLER MOORE>> (LAUGHTER) YOU LEARNED.

MARY TYLER MOORE>> “FINALLY, GIN.

DICK VAN DYKE>> GODDAMN IT! GIN! WHAT DID I DO THAT FOR? I KNEW YOU WERE KEEPING JACKS. I GAVE THEM RIGHT TO YOU. TALKING TOO DAMN MUCH!

MARY TYLER MOORE>> YOU KNOW, I NEVER HEARD MY FATHER USE A CURSE WORD IN HIS LIFE.

DICK VAN DYKE>> WELL, OBVIOUSLY, HE NEVER PLAYED WITH YOU.”

DICK VAN DYKE>> JUST WORKING TOGETHER AGAIN HAS BEEN THE REWARD FOR ME IN SOMETHING THAT’S SO COMPLETELY DIFFERENT THAN ANYTHING WE’VE EVER DONE BEFORE.

MARY TYLER MOORE>> YEAH, IT’S TRUE.

DICK VAN DYKE>> I WOULDN’T HAVE DONE IT WITH ANYBODY BUT MARY (LAUGHTER). WELL, I WAS ASKED, YOU KNOW, WHY ONCE IT WAS DONE BY HUME CRONIN AND JESSICA TANDY, WHY ANYBODY WOULD WANT TO EVER TOUCH IT AGAIN, AND MY FEELING WAS THAT MARY AND I WOULD BRING SOMETHING TO IT THAT WASN’T THERE BEFORE, THAT THE AUDIENCE WOULD WANT VERY MUCH TO SEE THEM GET TOGETHER AND TO HAVE EACH TO HANG ONTO AS THEY WENT INTO OLDER AGE.

DICK VAN DYKE>> “ALL RIGHT, IF YOU INSIST.”

MARY TYLER MOORE>> THERE’S A WONDERFUL SCENE WHERE HEARING THE WALTZ THAT IS BEING PLAYED IN THE DANCE LESSON THAT’S TAKING PLACE ACROSS THE HALL, SHE CONVINCES HIM TO GET UP AND DANCE WITH HER, AND IT’S A MAGICAL MOMENT.

MARY TYLER MOORE>> “WELLER, YOU’RE A WONDERFUL DANCER.

DICK VAN DYKE>> WELL, I WAS.

MARY TYLER MOORE>> NO, YOU STILL ARE.”

DICK VAN DYKE>> WHAT SEEMS TO HAPPEN IS THAT, FOR THAT MOMENT THAT THEY DANCE, THEY BECOME YOUNG AGAIN.

MARY TYLER MOORE>> YES.

DICK VAN DYKE>> AND IT REALLY IS SUCH A PRETTY SCENE.

MARY TYLER MOORE>> AND THERE’S THE LAYER OF SEEING ROB AND LAURA TOGETHER IN THEIR RAPTURE, IN THEIR BEING YOUNG AGAIN AS THEY’RE WHIRLING IN THE WALTZ.

DICK VAN DYKE>> THAT’S WHAT I FELT THAT WE COULD BRING TO IT THAT HAS NOT BEEN DONE BEFORE, THE FACT THAT THERE IS AN ATTRACTION BETWEEN THE TWO OF THEM THAT, AT THIS POINT IN LIFE, IS A VERY BITTERSWEET STORY.

DICK VAN DYKE>> “ALL RIGHT. WE’LL PLAY ONE HAND. YOU PLAY TO WIN, GODDAMN IT.

MARY TYLER MOORE>> DON’T YOU WORRY ABOUT THAT, MISTER.

DICK VAN DYKE>> ALL RIGHT. THIS IS IT. THIS IS THE GAME.

MARY TYLER MOORE>> DEAL.”

DICK VAN DYKE>> JUST WORKING TOGETHER AGAIN, IT WAS LIKE THE YEARS HADN’T EVEN PASSED. IT WAS EXACTLY THE SAME.

MARY TYLER MOORE>> THE SAME. THE ONLY THING I NOTICED WAS THAT DICK WAS DROOLING ON HIMSELF (LAUGHTER).

[FILM CLIP]

MARY TYLER MOORE>> I HAD READ FOR CARL REINER AND CARL KNEW IMMEDIATELY WHATEVER IT WAS HE WANTED THAT I WAS IT. HE TOOK ME INTO SHELDON LEONARD’S OFFICE AND THEN THE NEXT DAY I CAME BACK TO READ WITH DICK. HE WALKED INTO THE OFFICE AND MY HEART JUST PITTER-PATTED. OH MY. I THOUGHT, LORD, HOW LUCKY COULD WE BE TO HAVE SUCH A HANDSOME LEADING MAN AND SO TALENTED, SO FUNNY, AND CAN SING AND DANCE. THERE NEVER WAS A MOMENT OF DISAPPOINTMENT IN THE TIME WE WERE TOGETHER, EVER.

DICK VAN DYKE>> I LOOKED GREAT. I HAD FOUR FEVER BLISTERS. I WAS SO NERVOUS AND I SAID, BOY, SHE’S BEAUTIFUL, BUT SHE’S AWFUL YOUNG (LAUGHTER).

MARY TYLER MOORE>. OH, COME ON.

DICK VAN DYKE>> YOU WERE TWENTY-THREE OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

MARY TYLER MOORE>> I WAS TWENTY-THREE, BUT I WAS LYING. I SAID I WAS TWENTY-FOUR BECAUSE I WAS AFRAID THAT THEY WOULD THINK I WAS TOO YOUNG. NO WAY WAS I TOO YOUNG. IT WAS A PERFECT COUPLING.

[FILM CLIP]

MARY TYLER MOORE>> IT’S JUST SO MUCH FUN. WHEN WE’RE NOT ON CAMERA PLAYING THESE CHARACTERS, TEARING AT EACH OTHER’S SOULS, WE HAVE SO MUCH FUN REMINISCING AND TALKING ABOUT MUTUAL FRIENDS AND SO ON.

MARY TYLER MOORE>> “OH, WELLER, I DON’T THINK SHE MEANT IT THAT WAY. MY LORD, LOOK AT ALL YOU’VE DONE.

DICK VAN DYKE>> YEAH, WELL, SHE WAS TALKING ABOUT MY LIFE THE WAY IT IS NOW.

MARY TYLER MOORE>> OH, NO.

DICK VAN DYKE>> I’M STILL ALIVE, DAMN IT.

MARY TYLER MOORE>> WELL, I SHOULD HOPE TO TELL YOU, YOU ARE.”

MARY TYLER MOORE>> IT’S ONE OF THE MOST CHALLENGING ROLES OF MY LIFE AND THE FACT THAT I AM DOING IT WITH DICK ENABLED ME TO TAKE IT ON BECAUSE I KNEW I WOULD FEEL SUPPORTED AND I WOULD BE COMFORTABLE AND I WOULD BE WORKING WITH SOMEBODY WHO WAS GOING TO BRING A GREAT DEAL TO IT.

DICK VAN DYKE>> IF YOU LIKE GIN -- (LAUGHTER)

MARY TYLER MOORE>> (LAUGHTER) THAT’S WHY I LIKE BEING AROUND HIM.

JESS>> “THE GIN GAME” STARRING MARY TYLER MOORE AND DICK VAN DYKE AIRS THIS SUNDAY ON KCET AT 9:00 P.M. AND THE FIRST SEASON OF “THE DICK VAN DYKE SHOW” BECOMES AVAILABLE ON DVD IN SEPTEMBER.

VAL>> AND A REMINDER THAT YOU CAN FIND TRANSCRIPTS OR HEAR AUDIO OF RECENT PROGRAMS, INCLUDING MORE OF THE INTERVIEW WITH DICK VAN DYKE AND MARY TYLER MOORE, ON 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.

LIFE AND TIMES WAS 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.

TO REACH US AT LIFE AND TIMES, CALL 323-953-5555. SEND US AN E-MAIL TO LIFEANDTIMES@KCET.ORG OR LOG ONTO OUR WEBSITE AT WWW.KCET.ORG TO SEND MESSAGES OR DOWNLOAD TRANSCRIPTS OF TONIGHT’S PROGRAM.