7/10/03

LC030710

VAL ZAVALA>> TONIGHT ON LIFE AND TIMES --

THE PEOPLE OF HACIENDA HEIGHTS REJECTED CITYHOOD, BUT WHY DID THE CAMPAIGN LEAVE SUCH BITTER FEELINGS?

KEN MANNING>> THIS CAMPAIGN, I THINK, BROUGHT OUT THE WORST IN SOME PEOPLE.

JIM CRABTREE>> SOME OF THESE PEOPLE, FOR THINGS THEY DID AND THINGS THEY SAID, THE TRUST IS GONE.

VAL>> AND THEN, HE'S PLAYED WITH SOME OF THE GREATS. NOW HE'S TEACHING THE NEXT GENERATION OF JAZZ ARTISTS. MEET GUITARIST KENNY BURRELL.

ALL THIS AND MORE STRAIGHT AHEAD ON TONIGHT'S LIFE AND TIMES.

LIFE AND TIMES IS MADE POSSIBLE THROUGH THE GENEROUS SUPPORT OF
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.

VAL>> HELLO, I'M VAL ZAVALA REPORTING FROM BOYLE HEIGHTS IN EAST LOS ANGELES. THIS OLD NEIGHBORHOOD HAS LONG BEEN A GATEWAY TO LOS ANGELES FOR ALL KINDS OF NEW IMMIGRANTS FROM JEWISH FAMILIES WHO SETTLED HERE A CENTURY AGO TO LATINOS AND ASIANS WHO LIVE HERE NOW. IT'S ALSO ONE OF THE MOST DYNAMIC POLITICAL AREAS IN THE CITY AND A LITTLE LATER WE'LL BE TALKING TO THE AREA'S NEW CITY COUNCILMAN, ANTONIO VILLARAIGOSA. BUT FIRST A LOOK AT ANOTHER POLITICAL HOTBED JUST A FEW MILES EAST OF HERE. WE'RE TALKING ABOUT HACIENDA HEIGHTS. THAT COMMUNITY IS ALSO A CULTURAL MELTING POT, BUT AS PHILIP REPORTS, LATELY IT'S BEEN BOILING OVER.

PHILIP BRUCE>> IT LOOKS LIKE JUST ANOTHER QUIET LITTLE TOWN, BUT STICK AROUND AND YOU'LL SOON FIND OUT HACIENDA HEIGHTS IS NO MAYBERRY.

JIM CRABTREE>> SOME OF THESE PEOPLE, FOR THINGS THEY DID AND THINGS THEY SAID, THE TRUST IS GONE.

SCARLET TREU>> SOME PEOPLE ARE TAKING IT VERY PERSONALLY AND EMOTIONALLY.

HENRY PEDREGON>> THEY SAID THAT WE WERE NOBODIES. WE DIDN'T DO ANYTHING. WE HAVE DONE NOTHING IN THIS COMMUNITY.

KEN MANNING>> THIS CAMPAIGN, I THINK, BROUGHT OUT THE WORST IN SOME PEOPLE.

PHILIP BRUCE>> THE CAMPAIGN WAS ALL ABOUT WHETHER HACIENDA HEIGHTS SHOULD BECOME A CITY INSTEAD OF AN UNINCORPORATED PART OF LOS ANGELES COUNTY. THERE WAS ONE THING EVERYONE HERE COULD AGREE ON: THE FACT THAT THIS IS A PRETTY DECENT PLACE TO LIVE.

SCARLET TREU>> IT'S A VERY TRANQUIL BEDROOM COMMUNITY.

HENRY PEDREGON>> PEOPLE GO TO WORK FROM HERE AND THEY COME HOME AND SPEND THE WEEKENDS AND BARBECUE AND THEY GO TO WORK BACK ON MONDAY.

KEN MANNING>> HACIENDA HEIGHTS IS THE KIND OF COMMUNITY WHERE PEOPLE GENERALLY GET ALONG. THIS IS NEVER WOULD I CLASSIFY AS A PLACE THAT'S BEEN CONTENTIOUS.

PHILIP BRUCE>> BUT ALL THAT PEACE AND HARMONY STUFF WENT OUT THE WINDOW IN THE MONTHS LEADING UP TO THE ELECTION. JIM CRABTREE WAS ONE OF THE PEOPLE DEAD SET AGAINST CITYHOOD. CRABTREE GREW UP HERE, MOVED AWAY AND CAME BACK AGAIN.

JIM CRABTREE>> I CHOSE TO LIVE HERE IN HACIENDA HEIGHTS BECAUSE I HAD SEEN TOWNS, I LIVED IN SMALL TOWNS, I LIVED IN MINOR CITIES AND HACIENDA HEIGHTS JUST HAS ALL THE GOOD STUFF AND NONE OF THE BAD.

PHILIP BRUCE>> CRABTREE WANTS LIFE HERE TO GO ON EXACTLY AS IT HAS IN THE PAST. HE FEELS MORE COMFORTABLE WITH THE COUNTY IN CHARGE.

JIM CRABTREE>> A CITY BRINGS GOVERNMENT CLOSER TO THE PEOPLE AND, UNIVERSALLY, THE PEOPLE WHO ARE AGAINST CITYHOOD ARE AGAINST HAVING GOVERNMENT LOOKING OVER THEIR SHOULDER AT ALL TIMES.

PHILIP BRUCE>> CRABTREE SAYS WHEN HE BRINGS HOME A FEW PIECES OF LUMBER, HE DOESN'T WANT A BUILDING INSPECTOR WAITING ON HIS DOORSTEP THE NEXT DAY. HE THINKS THAT MIGHT HAPPEN IF HACIENDA HEIGHTS BECAME A CITY.

JIM CRABTREE>> IN A CITY SITUATION, YOU WOULD HAVE CITY EMPLOYEES WHO CRUISE THE SMALL SQUARE MILEAGE THAT HACIENDA HEIGHTS IS AND LOOKING FOR PROBLEMS AND TRYING TO MAKE IT BETTER.

PHILIP BRUCE>> BUT SCARLET TREU SAYS ALL SHE WANTS IS A BETTER HACIENDA HEIGHTS. THAT'S WHY SHE SUPPORTED CITYHOOD. SHE AND HER FAMILY MOVED HERE FROM ORANGE COUNTY IN 1990. TEN YEARS EARLIER, THEY BOUGHT LAND IN THE HILLS AND WAITED UNTIL THEY COULD AFFORD TO BUILD. TREU DOESN'T UNDERSTAND THE "IF IT ISN'T BROKEN, DON'T TRY TO FIX IT" SENTIMENT OF CITYHOOD OPPONENTS.

SCARLET TREU>> I'VE BEEN HEARING THAT ALL ALONG, BUT MY RESPONSE IS THAT, ALTHOUGH IT'S NOT BROKEN, BUT EVERYTHING REQUIRES MAINTENANCE AND WE CAN ALWAYS DO BETTER.

PHILIP BRUCE>> AND THEN THERE IS KEN MANNING, A SUPPORTER OF CITYHOOD WHO'S BEEN ACTIVE IN THE COMMUNITY FOR YEARS. MANNING AND HIS WIFE GRADUATED FROM HIGH SCHOOL HERE.

KEN MANNING>> WE STAYED HERE IN HACIENDA HEIGHTS. IT SEEMED LIKE A GREAT PLACE TO RAISE A FAMILY. WE STARTED OUR FAMILY FAIRLY YOUNG.

PHILIP BRUCE>> HE AGREES THAT THE COUNTY DOES NOT LOOK OVER RESIDENTS' SHOULDERS HERE, BUT MANNING SAYS THE LACK OF A CITY HALL TO WATCH OVER THINGS CAN BE A PROBLEM.

KEN MANNING>> IT DOES NOT PROTECT YOU WHEN THE GUY NEXT DOOR IS FIXING CARS IN HIS FRONT YARD AND RUNNING A BUSINESS OUT OF HIS HOME OR THEY'RE PARKING THEIR CARS IN FRONT OF YOUR HOME OR DOING THE KINDS OF THINGS THAT WOULD REALLY BRING DOWN THE PROPERTY VALUES IN YOUR COMMUNITY.

JIM CRABTREE>> FOLKS WHO LIVE IN THE MORE WEALTHY PARTS OF TOWN, WHO HAVE PROFESSIONALLY LANDSCAPED YARDS AND HAVE PROFESSIONALLY MADE ADD-ONS OR WHATNOT DRIVE THROUGH THE LOWER PARTS AND SAY THAT'S UGLY, THAT DOESN'T LOOK GOOD. WELL, PEOPLE THAT LIVE IN THE LOWER PARTS OF TOWN ARE HAPPY WITH THEIR HOMES AND WE DON'T WANT THE FOLKS WHO HAVE MONEY TO BE MEDDLING IN THE LIVES OF THE PEOPLE WHO DON'T.

PHILIP BRUCE>> MANNING BELIEVES THAT PEOPLE HERE WOULD GET A BETTER RETURN ON THEIR INVESTMENTS IF HACIENDA HEIGHTS WERE A CITY.

KEN MANNING>> I'VE FELT FOR A LONG TIME THAT HACIENDA HEIGHTS WAS NOT GETTING ITS FAIR SHARE OF THE SERVICES THAT IT DESERVES BASED UPON THE AMOUNT OF MONEY WE WERE PAYING IN TAXES.

PHILIP BRUCE>> BUT MONEY IS EXACTLY THE THING THAT SCARED SOME VOTERS AWAY FROM THE CITYHOOD PROPOSAL.

HENRY PEDREGON>> IT WOULD BE A FOOLISH VENTURE, I WOULD THINK, A VERY RISKY VENTURE. WHAT COMES ALONG WITH CITIES WHEN THEY START TO HAVE PROBLEMS, EMINENT DOMAIN, RAISING TAXES, CREATING NEW LAWS, YOU KNOW, AND IT ALL COMES OUT OF OUR POCKETS.

PHILIP BRUCE>> HENRY PEDREGON AND HIS WIFE, LUCY, MOVED TO HACIENDA HEIGHTS TWENTY-FIVE YEARS AGO AND RAISED THEIR FOUR CHILDREN HERE.

HENRY PEDREGON>> IT WAS A VERY QUIET, VERY RESPECTED COMMUNITY. PEOPLE LOOKED UP TO HACIENDA HEIGHTS BECAUSE THEY THOUGHT -- I GUESS THE WORD "HEIGHTS" AND THEY MOVED ON UP.

PHILIP BRUCE>> AND THAT'S HOW IT BEGAN. ALL THE GOOD PEOPLE ON BOTH SIDES OF CITYHOOD STARTED TALKING, BUT NOT TO EACH OTHER. THEY SHARED SUSPICIONS AND RUMORS AND GOSSIP ABOUT ALL THE THINGS THAT MIGHT HAPPEN IF HACIENDA HEIGHTS WERE A CITY, BUT ALL THE THINGS THAT MIGHT HAPPEN IF IT WEREN'T. SOME SAID THE COMMUNITY WOULD WANT TO EXPAND ITS TAX BASE BY REDEVELOPING THIS PART OF TOWN AFTER PUSHING LOCAL RESIDENTS OUT.

HENRY PEDREGON>> THE ONLY WAY YOU CAN CREATE NEW BUSINESS OR THEATERS THAT THEY ENVISION IS TO GET RID OF WHAT IS THERE ALREADY. THAT MEANS HOMES, SMALL BUSINESSES, THEY'RE GONE. THEY'RE GONE. WHERE ELSE ARE THEY GOING TO BUILD?

KEN MANNING>> IT'S REALLY NOT AN ISSUE IF YOU LOOK INTO IT, BUT IT MAKES FOR A GREAT SOUND BITE FOR THE ANTI-CITYHOOD PEOPLE AND THAT'S WHAT WE ARE FIGHTING. THEY WERE USING SOUND BITES OF TWO SENTENCES AND WE HAD TO SPEND, IN MANY CASES, THIRTY OR FORTY MINUTES DESCRIBING WHAT REALITY WAS.

PHILIP BRUCE>> AND RACE BECAME ANOTHER EMOTIONAL ISSUE. HACIENDA HEIGHTS IS A MIXED CITY, SPLIT ALMOST EVENLY AMONG ANGLOS, LATINOS AND ASIAN-AMERICANS. BEFORE THE CITYHOOD DEBATE, THERE HAD BEEN NO MAJOR CONFLICTS AMONG THEM.

JIM CRABTREE>> NOW THEY GOT ALONG BASICALLY BECAUSE THERE WASN'T THAT MUCH INTERACTION. PEACE COEXISTENCE WAS THE BEST WAY TO DESCRIBE THAT.

PHILIP BRUCE>> BUT THE ELECTION SHATTERED THE GOOD WILL. AT ONE POINT, ONLY THE FIVE CHINESE-AMERICAN CANDIDATES RUNNING FOR THE CITY COUNCIL WERE INVITED TO A CANDIDATES' FORUM. THE OTHER TWELVE NON-CHINESE CANDIDATES WEREN'T.

HENRY PEDREGON>> IT WAS REALLY INSULTING. WHEN WE FOUND OUT ABOUT IT, YOU KNOW, WE SQUAWKED. WHY AREN'T ALL THE CANDIDATES THERE? THEY SHOULD BE THERE AS WELL TO GIVE THEIR VIEW.

SCARLET TREU>> I THINK THAT WAS WHERE THE MISTAKE AND ALL THE TROUBLE BEGINS. IT MAY NOT BE INTENDED TO SAY ALL CHINESE VOTE FOR CHINESE, BUT IT SOMEHOW IS A PERCEPTION.

PHILIP BRUCE>> WHATEVER THE INTENTION, THE RACE ISSUE NEVER FADED AND, WHEN THE VOTES WERE COUNTED, CITYHOOD FAILED WITH A RESOUNDING THUD. NOW WHEN KEN MANNING LOOKS BACK, HE BELIEVES THE EFFORT WAS DOOMED BY BAD TIMING.

KEN MANNING>> I THINK THAT WAS MAINLY BECAUSE PEOPLE WERE JUST AFRAID TO MAKE A MOVE IN TODAY'S ECONOMY. I THINK THAT THE YES ON CITYHOOD CAMPAIGN WAS DOOMED PROBABLY BEFORE WE EVER STARTED, BASED UPON THE WAY THE ECONOMY WAS MOVING. NO ON CITYHOOD WOULD HAVE BEEN VICTORIOUS HAD THEY NOT EVEN SPENT A DIME OR WALKED A PRECINCT.

PHILIP BRUCE>> IN FACT, THE ANTI-CITYHOOD FORCES WAGED AN ACTIVE CAMPAIGN.

JIM CRABTREE>> THOSE OF US WHO CAME TOGETHER TO FIGHT CITYHOOD SAID, NO, NO, NO, THEY'RE NOT GOING TO GET AWAY WITH THAT. WE MOUNTED A HUGE OFFENSIVE TO THAT AND, IN DOING SO, WE RAISED THE ISSUES, WE BROUGHT THE DEBATE TO THE HEAD, WE GOT PEOPLE TALKING ABOUT IT AND ONE OF THE WAYS THAT WE DID THAT, OF COURSE, WAS TO MAKE AN EMOTIONAL ISSUE, WHICH WASN'T VERY HARD BECAUSE THIS IS A COMMUNITY THAT A LOT OF PEOPLE REALLY LIKE, SO IT'S NOT HARD TO BECOME EMOTIONAL ABOUT IT. WE TALKED ABOUT AND EMPHASIZED ALL THE TRAUMAS AND BAD THINGS THAT CAN COME OUT OF CITYHOOD AND PEOPLE SAID, YES, I DON'T WANT THAT HERE.

HENRY PEDREGON>> NOTHING WILL CHANGE AND THAT'S FINE BECAUSE PEOPLE SAY, GOOD, IF IT'S NOT BROKEN, WHY BREAK IT?

VAL>> AS WE SAID, THE CITYHOOD CAMPAIGN HAS FAILED THREE TIMES IN HACIENDA HEIGHTS. THE FIRST ELECTION MORE THAN TWENTY YEARS AGO WAS CALLED OFF BECAUSE OF FRAUDULENT SIGNATURES ON THE BALLOT PETITION. THE SECOND TRY AT CITYHOOD FAILED A DECADE AGO BY SEVERAL HUNDRED VOTES.

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VAL>> IF LOS ANGELES'S LATINO COMMUNITY HAS A GEOGRAPHIC HEART AND SOUL, BOYLE HEIGHTS MAY BE IT. TRAVEL ALONG CESAR CHAVEZ BOULEVARD, THE OLD BROOKLYN AVENUE HERE, AND YOU'LL SEE ALL THE SIGNS OF A VIBRANT COMMUNITY WHERE SPANISH IS BOTH THE LANGUAGE AND THE CULTURE. BUT IT'S ALSO A NEIGHBORHOOD THAT'S BEEN ROCKED BY GANG VIOLENCE AND MANY PEOPLE HERE SAY THEY HAVEN'T GOTTEN THE PROTECTION THEY NEED FROM THE LAPD. THAT'S ONE OF THE CHALLENGES FACING THE NEW CITY COUNCILMAN SERVING BOYLE HEIGHTS AND MUCH OF EAST LOS ANGELES, ANTONIO VILLARAIGOSA. HE'S A NATIVE SON HERE AND WE ASKED HIM WHAT HE PLANS TO DO. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR TAKING TIME OUT OF A BUSY DAY TO BE HERE WITH US.

ANTONIO VILLARAIGOSA>> WELL, THANK YOU, VAL, FOR ASKING ME TO BE HERE WITH YOU.

VAL>> NOW THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF COMPLAINTS THAT THE PEOPLE HERE IN BOYLE HEIGHTS DON'T GET THE SAME KIND OF LAPD POLICE PROTECTION THAT OTHER AREAS GET AND THEY HAVE A SERIOUS CRIME PROBLEM.

ANTONIO VILLARAIGOSA>> WELL, VAL, AS YOU KNOW, I WAS BORN AND RAISED ON THE EAST SIDE. I'VE LIVED HERE AND WENT TO SCHOOL HERE. THIS IS A COMMUNITY I KNOW WELL. I'VE BEEN HERE MY WHOLE LIFE AND I CAN TELL YOU THAT I DON'T BELIEVE THEY'VE EVER GOTTEN THEIR FAIR SHARE OF POLICE SERVICES. THERE ARE GREAT POLICE OFFICERS REPRESENTING THE BOYLE HEIGHTS AREA, THE EAST SIDE IF YOU WILL, BUT THERE JUST AREN'T ENOUGH OF THEM. I JUST GOT BACK FROM A FUNERAL FOR A POLICE OFFICER, A GREAT MAN WHO DIED, BUT MANY OF THE OFFICERS HERE, THERE JUST AREN'T ENOUGH OF THEM TO GO AROUND.

VAL>> BUT THE CITY COUNCIL HAD THE DECISION TO MAKE. WOULD YOU ALLOCATE HOWEVER MANY MILLIONS OF DOLLARS IT WOULD TAKE TO HIRE ANOTHER 350, ALMOST 700, OFFICERS? AND THE CITY COUNCIL SAID, NO, WE'RE GOING TO PLAY IT CONSERVATIVE.

ANTONIO VILLARAIGOSA>> WELL, AS YOU KNOW, I'M JUST STARTING. I WASN'T PART OF THAT VOTE.

VAL>> YOU WEREN'T PART OF THAT VOTE, OKAY.

ANTONIO VILLARAIGOSA>> BUT I'VE SAID FROM THE BEGINNING THAT I'D LIKE TO FIGURE OUT A WAY TO PUT THREE HUNDRED MORE POLICE OFFICERS ON THE STREETS OF LOS ANGELES. AND I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT, WHEN WE PUT THOSE POLICE OFFICERS, THEY'RE ASSIGNED TO THE PLACES WHERE GUN VIOLENCE IS THE MOST PREVALENT, PLACES LIKE THE FOURTEENTH COUNCIL DISTRICT, PLACES THAT NEED ENOUGH POLICE PRESENCE TO BEGIN TO ADDRESS THE RISING CRIMES.

VAL>> SO YOU JUST RECENTLY GOT ON THE CITY COUNCIL, SO YOUR NEXT CHANCE TO MAKE AN IMPACT ON POLICING HERE IN THIS AREA, WILL IT BE ANOTHER WHOLE YEAR BEFORE THE BUDGET IS DECIDED ON? WHAT CAN YOU DO BETWEEN NOW AND THEN?

ANTONIO VILLARAIGOSA>> NO, I'D LIKE US TO START TO ASK THE QUESTIONS. HOW WE DEPLOY OFFICERS IN THE CITY OF LOS ANGELES? ARE WE DEPLOYING THEM OPTIMALLY? WHAT ARE WE DOING TO PUT AS MANY POLICE OFFICERS ON THE STREET? WHAT ARE WE DOING TO MAKE SURE THAT CIVILIANS ARE DOING JOBS THAT CIVILIANS CAN DO? AND POLICE OFFICERS ARE IN OUR PATROL CARS WORKING AS DETECTIVES AND PROTECTING THE NEIGHBORHOODS THAT NEED THE POLICE PRESENCE. SO WE'RE GOING TO LOOK AT THOSE. I INTEND TO DO THAT SOONER RATHER THAN LATER AND I DON'T EXPECT TO WAIT A YEAR TO DO THAT, THAT'S FOR SURE.

VAL>> HAVE YOU HEARD THAT, IN THIS AREA, SOME PARTS ARE POLICED BY THE SHERIFF AND OTHER PARTS ARE POLICED BY LAPD, AND THE AREAS THAT ARE POLICED BY THE SHERIFF ACTUALLY HAVE LOWER CRIME AND GET BETTER SERVICE? HAVE YOU HEARD THAT?

ANTONIO VILLARAIGOSA>> YES. IN THE BOYLE HEIGHTS AREA OF THE EAST SIDE AND UNINCORPORATED EAST LOS ANGELES, IN THE LAST YEAR THERE HAVE BEEN, YOU KNOW, A MUCH LOWER CRIME RATE ON THE COUNTY SIDE.

VAL>> WELL, MAYBE THE SHERIFF IS DOING SOMETHING RIGHT OR DIFFERENT?

ANTONIO VILLARAIGOSA>> I THINK OUR POLICE OFFICERS ARE DOING A LOT OF THINGS RIGHT AS WELL. I JUST DON'T THINK WE HAVE ENOUGH OF THEM AND THAT'S MY CONCERN. BUT IT DOESN'T END WITH JUST POLICE PRESENCE. WE'RE HERE IN A BEAUTIFUL KIOSK --

VAL>> -- A FAMOUS PLACE.

ANTONIO VILLARAIGOSA>> A WONDERFUL PLACE THAT RICHARD ALATORRE HELPED TO BUILD ABOUT A DECADE AGO. YET AS YOU CAN SEE ALL AROUND HERE, THE STREETS ARE DIRTY. THERE JUST ISN'T THE KIND OF STREET CLEANING THAT YOU SEE IN OTHER PARTS OF THE CITY.

VAL>> NOT ONLY THAT, BUT THERE ARE PIGEONS OVER US AND WE'RE CROSSING OUR FINGERS (LAUGHTER).

ANTONIO VILLARAIGOSA>> AND WE'RE CROSSING OUR FINGERS THAT THEY DON'T HAVE THEIR WAY WITH ME, AND YOU (LAUGHTER).

VAL>> WELL, THE GOOD NEWS IS -- WE'RE GOING TO WAIT FOR THAT BUS TO PASS -- THE GOOD NEWS IS, YOU'RE BACK ON THE CITY COUNCIL, YOU'RE IN THE HEART OF THINGS. I MEAN, THE CITY COUNCIL IS A FAR CRY FROM SACRAMENTO. ON THE OTHER HAND, THIS IS WHERE THE RUBBER HITS THE ROAD. THE CITY COUNCIL PEOPLE ARE REALLY THE ONES THAT MAKE A DIFFERENCE AND IT'S A WHOLE NEW LEADERSHIP THERE. I MEAN, A REAL CHANGEOVER. WHAT'S THE MOOD THERE? WHAT DO YOU ALL HOPE TO ACCOMPLISH?

ANTONIO VILLARAIGOSA>> OH, I'M EXCITED. I JUST LEFT A SENIOR CENTER IN EL SERENO AND I SAID, YOU KNOW, I'M JUST SO PROUD TO REPRESENT A COMMUNITY THAT I WAS RAISED IN, THAT I'VE LIVED IN NEARLY MY ENTIRE LIFE, THE COMMUNITY WHERE I WENT TO SCHOOL, AND I FEEL VERY HONORED THAT, OVER FOUR ELECTIONS IN ALMOST A DECADE, I'VE NEVER HAD A VOTE LESS THAN TWO-THIRDS PERCENT. THIS IS A COMMUNITY THAT BELIEVES IN ME AND I BELIEVE IN THEM. SO I HOPE TO WORK WITH THIS NEW LEADERSHIP THAT YOU TALK ABOUT AND MAKE SURE WE'RE GETTING OUR FAIR SHARE OF RESOURCES, THAT WE'RE REALLY CELEBRATING THE FINE AND GREAT PEOPLE THAT LIVE IN THIS COMMUNITY BY PROVIDING THE SERVICES THAT THEY NEED.

VAL>> BUT IN TERMS OF THE CITY COUNCIL, WE NOW HAVE HOW MANY LATINOS? YOU'VE GOT PADILLA, YOURSELF. I MEAN, IT'S A REAL CHANGEOVER.

ANTONIO VILLARAIGOSA>> I THINK THERE ARE NOW FIVE LATINOS ON THE CITY COUNCIL.

VAL>> FIVE LATINOS. THAT'S PROBABLY A RECORD.

ANTONIO VILLARAIGOSA>> ABSOLUTELY. THE PRESIDENT OF THE COUNCIL IS LATINO. BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY, I THINK WHAT YOU HAVE IS AN ENERGY ON THE COUNCIL WHETHER THEY'RE LATINO, AFRICAN-AMERICAN OR WHITE. THEY ARE PEOPLE THAT UNDERSTAND THAT, IF LOS ANGELES IS GOING TO BE A GREAT CITY, IT'S GOT TO BE A GREAT CITY THROUGHOUT. IT'S GOT TO BE A GREAT CITY IN ALL THE NEIGHBORHOODS AND I THINK THE COUNCIL IS COMMITTED TO IMPROVING THE QUALITY OF LIFE IN ALL THE NEIGHBORHOODS AND NOT JUST THE ONES THAT THEY REPRESENT. I'M EXCITED ABOUT SERVING WITH THEM.

VAL>> NOW HOW ABOUT THE BATTLE WITH MAYOR HAHN, THE BATTLE OVER THE POLICE BUDGET AND HOW MANY POLICE WOULD BE DEPLOYED? THAT WAS A TOUGH ONE AND IT REALLY DISTINGUISHED THINGS. HAHN WANTED MORE POLICE, THE CITY COUNCIL HELD THE LINE. IS THAT GOING TO BE TYPICAL OR IS THAT AN ANOMALY AND YOU'RE REALLY MUCH MORE COOPERATIVE THAN THAT?

ANTONIO VILLARAIGOSA>> WELL, I THINK, FOR THE MOST PART, IF YOU LOOK AT THE LAST TWO YEARS, THE COUNCIL WORKED VERY WELL WITH THE MAYOR. I'VE SAID TO THE MAYOR FROM DAY ONE THAT I'M A MAN THAT LOOKS FORWARD AND NOT BACKWARD. I'M GOING TO WORK VERY WELL WITH THE MAYOR. WE CERTAINLY UNDERSTAND THAT BOTH OF US HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY TO THE CITY TO PUT THE CITY AHEAD OF ANY, YOU KNOW, PERSONAL DIFFERENCES OVER THE YEARS. IN ADDITION TO THAT, I'VE SAID TO HIM THAT I WANT HIM TO WORK WITH ME TO MAKE SURE THAT THE QUALITY OF SERVICES HERE, THE POLICE PROTECTION HERE, IS THE SAME AS OTHER PARTS OF THE CITY AND HE'S ASSURED ME THAT HE WILL. I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO GETTING TO WORK.

VAL>> WELL, WE WILL LET YOU DO THAT. THANK YOU SO MUCH. WE WON'T PUSH OUR LUCK ANY FURTHER WITH THE PIGEONS (LAUGHTER).

ANTONIO VILLARAIGOSA>> I HOPE NOT (LAUGHTER).

VAL>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.

ANTONIO VILLARAIGOSA>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.

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LIFE AND TIMES
4401 SUNSET BLVD.
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PHILIP BRUCE>> THE MUSIC SCENE HERE IN LOS ANGELES HAS PRODUCED ALL KINDS OF LANDMARKS DOWN THROUGH THE YEARS. THE CAPITAL RECORDS BUILDING HERE IN HOLLYWOOD IS JUST ONE OF THE MOST FAMOUS. BUT NOT ALL OF THOSE LANDMARKS ARE BUILT WITH CONCRETE AND STEEL. SOME ARE MADE OF FLESH AND BLOOD. WE FOUND ONE OF THEM IN A CLASSROOM AT UCLA. HIS NAME IS KENNY BURRELL AND, WHEN IT COMES TO JAZZ, KENNY IS TRULY ONE OF THE GREATS.

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PHILIP BRUCE>> HE'S PLAYED WITH JUST ABOUT EVERY JAZZ LEGEND YOU EVER HEARD OF FROM BENNY GOODMAN TO CHARLIE PARKER TO LOUIS ARMSTRONG. AND IF YOU LISTEN, IT'S EASY TO SEE WHY SO MANY PEOPLE RANK KENNY BURRELL IN THAT SAME LOFTY STRATOSPHERE. HE'S COMFORTABLE AMONG THE MANY GIANTS HE'S KNOWN SO WELL, BUT THE ONE WHO STANDS OUT IN BURRELL'S MIND IS THE ONE WHO INFLUENCED NOT ONLY HIS MUSIC, BUT HIS PHILOSOPHY OF LIFE, THE LATE GREAT DUKE ELLINGTON.

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KENNY BURRELL>> HE WAS VERY SUCCESSFUL AND HE HAD BECOME A ROLE MODEL FOR ME AND MANY OTHERS IN TERMS OF HOW TO DO WHAT YOU WANT TO DO, WHAT YOU REALLY LOVE, AND MAKE IT WORK.

PHILIP BRUCE>> DUKE ELLINGTON SAID YOU WERE HIS FAVORITE GUITAR PLAYER?

KENNY BURRELL>> WELL, HE DID (LAUGHTER). I'VE WON MANY AWARDS THROUGH MY CAREER AND I WOULD SAY THAT'S AMONG THE HIGHEST ACCOLADE I'VE EVER GOTTEN.

PHILIP BRUCE>> NOT BAD FOR A KID FROM DETROIT WHO FIGURED OUT THE GUITAR AT A VERY EARLY AGE NOT BY TAKING LESSONS, BUT BY WATCHING HIS ELEVEN-YEAR-OLD BROTHER PLAY.

KENNY BURRELL>> WELL, I LOOKED AT SOME SIMPLE CHORDS AND I SAID, WELL, THAT DOESN'T LOOK TOO DIFFICULT. YOU KNOW, SOME SIMPLE CHORDS LIKE THE G CHORD AND THE C CHORD.

PHILIP BRUCE>> IT WASN'T LONG BEFORE THOSE SIMPLE CHORDS STARTED GETTING MORE AND MORE COMPLEX. AS A YOUNG MAN, KENNY BURRELL DEVELOPED HIS OWN UNIQUE SOUND. BY THE TIME HE WAS IN COLLEGE, HE WAS ALREADY A HOT PROPERTY SITTING IN WITH ONE OF HIS IDOLS, DIZZY GILLESPIE. PRETTY DAZZLING STUFF, EVEN FOR A TALENTED YOUNG KID LIKE KENNY.

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KENNY BURRELL>> THAT WAS MY FIRST EXPERIENCE WORKING WITH A SMALL GROUP OF REALLY HIGH-LEVEL JAZZ. IN THAT SMALL GROUP, BY THE WAY, AND I DID THIS WHEN I WAS JUST NINETEEN, WAS JOHN COLTRANE IN THAT SMALL GROUP, PERCY HEATH, JOE JACKSON WHO'S FROM DETROIT. YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE THINGS ABOUT BEING A YOUNG MUSICIAN, YOU GET A LITTLE NERVOUS WHEN YOU GO IN TO DO HIGH-LEVEL GIGS, YOU KNOW. BUT DIZZY GILLESPIE WAS SO FUNNY AND SO COMICAL THAT YOU COULDN'T GET NERVOUS. HE WOULD JUST CRACK JOKES ALL THE TIME AND HE WAS HILARIOUS NOT ONLY TO US, BUT TO THE AUDIENCE AS WELL. THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN, HE'S COUNTING THE SONG OFF AND THEN YOU PLAY. YOU DIDN'T HAVE TIME TO GET NERVOUS. HE WAS ONE OF THE GREAT TEACHERS I FEEL IN JAZZ.

PHILIP BRUCE>> IF DIZZY WAS A TEACHER, THOSE EARLY DAYS ON STAGE WERE LIKE A SCHOOL WHERE KENNY BURRELL AND SO MANY OTHER FUTURE LEGENDS HONED THEIR SKILLS.

KENNY BURRELL>> YOU HIT IT ON THE HEAD WHEN YOU SAID SCHOOL. THAT'S KIND OF WHAT IT WAS.

PHILIP BRUCE>> HE'S NEVER STOPPED RECORDING OR PERFORMING, BUT HIS MAIN JOB IS TRYING TO TEACH YOUNG MUSICIANS WHAT SOME SAY IS AN UNTEACHABLE THING, THE VERY ESSENCE OF JAZZ, LETTING THE SOUND COME FROM THE INSIDE AND NOT JUST FROM THE NOTES ON THE PAGE.

KENNY BURRELL>> YOU CANNOT TEACH THE THING THAT'S WITHIN. WHAT YOU DO IS ASSIST A PERSON. YOU HEAR THEM SING SOMETHING OR PLAY SOMETHING AND YOU STOP THEM AND YOU SAY, "THAT WAS REALLY NICE. DID YOU ENJOY THAT?"

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PHILIP BRUCE>> HE'S AT AN AGE WHEN MANY PERFORMERS ARE CONTENT TO REFLECT ON OLD MEMORIES, BUT KENNY BURRELL IS TOO BUSY CREATING NEW MOMENTS IN THE CLASSROOM AND ON STAGE. UNLIKE SO MANY OF HIS JAZZ CONTEMPORARIES, HE NEVER FELL VICTIM TO THE DRUGS AND OTHER TEMPTATIONS THAT WRECKED LIVES AND CAREERS. THAT TAKES US BACK TO KENNY'S ROLE MODEL, DUKE ELLINGTON, WHO ALSO HAD A LONG SUCCESSFUL CAREER IN SPITE OF THE TIMES WHEN AFRICAN-AMERICAN MUSICIANS OFTEN COULDN'T EAT OR GET A DRINK IN THE CLUBS WHERE THEY PLAYED. BURRELL SAYS ELLINGTON SURVIVED BY NEVER LETTING ANYTHING GET IN THE WAY OF THE MUSIC.

KENNY BURRELL>> HE DID IT LONGER AND BETTER THAN ANYONE. I'LL GIVE YOU A QUOTE FROM MILES DAVIS. HE SAID, "ON A GIVEN DAY, ALL MUSICIANS SHOULD GET ON THEIR KNEES AND THANK GOD FOR DUKE ELLINGTON." HE LAID THE GROUNDWORK FOR INTEGRITY IN AMERICAN MUSIC.

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PHILIP BRUCE>> THIS YEAR, HE CELEBRATES HIS TWENTY-FIFTH ANNIVERSARY WITH UCLA AND, WHILE NO ONE WOULD ARGUE THAT KENNY BURRELL HAS BEEN LUCKY, IT TOOK A LOT MORE THAN LUCK FOR HIM TO BECOME A LEGEND.

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VAL>> KENNY BURRELL DEFINITELY IS ONE OF THE MOST PROLIFIC JAZZ ARTISTS EVER. HE'S TURNED OUT NINETY-SIX ALBUMS OF HIS OWN AND HAS APPEARED ON COUNTLESS OTHER ALBUMS WITH OTHER ARTISTS.

I'M VAL ZAVALA REPORTING FROM BOYLE HEIGHTS IN EAST LOS ANGELES. FOR ALL OF US HERE AT LIFE AND TIMES, THANKS FOR WATCHING.

LIFE AND TIMES WAS MADE POSSIBLE THROUGH THE GENEROUS SUPPORT OF
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.

VAL>> TOMORROW ON LIFE AND TIMES, IT'S THE OTHER PRO FOOTBALL. CAN SOCCER MAKE IT IN LOS ANGELES WHEN THE NFL HASN'T?

>> I WOULD CHALLENGE ANYBODY WHO HAD A LOT OF DIFFERENT DEFINITIONS THAT THIS IS THE GREATEST SOCCER MARKET IN THE WORLD.

VAL>> THAT'S TOMORROW ON LIFE AND TIMES.