7/14/03

LC030714

VAL ZAVALA>> TONIGHT ON LIFE AND TIMES --

A TERMED-OUT POLITICIAN IS TRYING TO REVOLUTIONIZE SOLAR POWER IN CALIFORNIA.

ROBERT HERTZBERG>> LOS ANGELES IS ON THE CUTTING EDGE. ENTREPRENEURIALISM IN LOS ANGELES IS HERE, RIGHT HERE, WHERE OPPORTUNITY MEETS SOCIAL JUSTICE IN SOUTH LOS ANGELES DOING STUFF THAT WON'T BE JUST FOR LOS ANGELES, BUT WILL EXPORT TO ALL THE CORNERS OF THE PLANET.

VAL>> AND THEN, YOU'VE HEARD OF USER-FRIENDLY, BUT ONE PROFESSOR IS TRYING TO PUT THE WARM AND FUZZY INTO COMPUTER TECHNOLOGY.

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. WE'RE REPORTING FROM LOS ANGELES, BUT THE STORY WE'RE ABOUT TO BRING YOU COULD HAVE MAJOR IMPACT FOR ALL OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA REGARDLESS OF WHETHER YOU LIVE IN A BIG CITY OR A SMALL TOWN. IT'S ALL ABOUT HARNESSING THE SUN TO GENERATE ELECTRICAL POWER. THE IDEA ISN'T NEW, BUT SOLAR TECHNOLOGY HAS MADE A QUANTUM LEAP IN WHAT MOST OF US HAVE SEEN AND, AS YOU'LL SOON FIND OUT, ONE OF THE LEADING FORCES BEHIND IT IS THE MAN WHO USED TO PRESIDE OVER THE CALIFORNIA STATE ASSEMBLY, FORMER SPEAKER ROBERT HERTZBERG.

WITHIN VIEW OF DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES IN A RENOVATED WAREHOUSE IN THE MIDDLE OF LOS ANGELES'S INDUSTRIAL BELLY IS A COMPANY CALLED SOLAR INTEGRATED TECHNOLOGIES. IT WANTS TO DO NOTHING LESS THAN REVOLUTIONIZE SOLAR POWER IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA. NOW WHAT'S UNUSUAL ABOUT THIS PLACE IS THAT THE CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD OF THIS COMPANY IS SOMEONE THAT YOU MIGHT REMEMBER. HE WAS SPEAKER OF THE ASSEMBLY, THEN HE GOT TERMED OUT. ROBERT HERTZBERG, IS THIS WHAT HAPPENS TO OUR TERMED-OUT POLITICIANS?

ROBERT HERTZBERG>> THAT'S RIGHT. WE'RE ON THE CUTTING EDGE DOING GREAT THINGS. IT'S A LOT OF FUN.

VAL>> SO NOW YOU'RE IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR?

ROBERT HERTZBERG>> THAT'S RIGHT.

VAL>> BUT FOR A LONG TIME, YOU'VE ACTUALLY BEEN INVOLVED WITH THIS SOLAR TECHNOLOGY.

ROBERT HERTZBERG>> THAT'S RIGHT.

VAL>> TELL US WHAT YOU'VE DISCOVERED AND WHAT YOU'RE DOING HERE.

ROBERT HERTZBERG>> WELL, WHAT WE'VE DONE IS, YOU KNOW, SOLAR TECHNOLOGY IS INCREDIBLE IN WHAT'S HAPPENED OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS. YOU KNOW, IT USED TO BE SOMETHING THAT WE SAW IN BERKELEY BACK IN THE 1960'S WITH HOT WATER HEATERS. WELL, NOW THE TECHNOLOGY HAS CHANGED. WHAT WE'VE DONE IS WE'VE MARRIED THE ROOFING BUSINESS WITH THE SOLAR BUSINESS AND COME UP WITH THIS FABULOUS NEW TECHNOLOGY WHERE YOU LAMINATE, INTEGRATE, THESE FLEXIBLE PHOTOVOLTAIC CELLS ON THIS ROOFING MATERIAL OR YOU COULD MAKE TENTS OUT OF IT. SO WE'VE COME TO THE HEART OF CENTRAL LOS ANGELES AT THE CORNER RIGHT HERE. THIS IS MARTIN LUTHER KING BOULEVARD EAST AND THIS IS ALAMEDA, WHERE OPPORTUNITY MEETS SOCIAL JUSTICE AND WE'VE OPENED UP THIS FABULOUS FACTORY.

VAL>> ROBERT HERTZBERG GAVE US A TOUR OF THEIR SLEEK, NEW ONE-OF-A-KIND FACTORY. THEY PRODUCE THESE: LONG SHEETS OF FLEXIBLE PLASTIC LAMINATED WITH PHOTOVOLTAIC CELLS. THIS IS A MAJOR INNOVATION IN SOLAR PANELS. NOW THIS IS TRADITIONAL SOLAR PANEL?

ROBERT HERTZBERG>> THIS IS TRADITIONAL SOLAR PANEL. WE ALSO REPRESENT A COMPANY CALLED BP HERE IN CALIFORNIA, UP IN NORTHERN CALIFORNIA IN FAIRFIELD, AND WE HAVE SOME OF THESE ROOFS ON. IT'S GLASS AND IT'S THE PHOTOVOLTAIC CELL ENCAPSULATED WITHIN GLASS.

VAL>> THIS IS WHAT PEOPLE ARE MOST FAMILIAR WITH WHEN THEY THINK OF SOLAR.

ROBERT HERTZBERG>> THIS IS WHAT THEY'RE FAMILIAR WITH.

VAL>> BUT IT'S VERY HEAVY.

ROBERT HERTZBERG>> IT'S HEAVY. SOME APPLICATIONS IT WORKS FOR. WE'VE DONE SOME, BUT IT'S --

VAL>> -- SOME PEOPLE THINK IT'S A LITTLE UGLY.

ROBERT HERTZBERG>> SOME PEOPLE THINK IT'S A LITTLE UGLY, BUT IN CERTAIN INSTANCES, IT WORKS. WE JUST DID A --

VAL>> -- OKAY, NOW SHOW US THE ALTERNATIVE.

ROBERT HERTZBERG>> OKAY.

VAL>> THE ALTERNATIVE IS A LIGHTWEIGHT, THIN, FLEXIBLE MATERIAL THAT SOAKS UP THE SUN'S RAYS AND TURNS IT INTO ELECTRICITY.

ROBERT HERTZBERG>> IT'S LITERALLY HOT-AIR WELDED ON THE ROOF. THERE'S NO ADVERSE ENVIRONMENTAL PROBLEMS WHEN THEY'RE PUT ON. THEY'RE NOT LIKE A BUNCH OF GLUE AND STUFF THAT SMELLS AND HAS ADVERSE AFFECTS ON THE ENVIRONMENT. THE ENTIRE PROCESS IS ENVIRONMENTAL-FRIENDLY, LET ALONE THE PRODUCT BEING ENVIRONMENTALLY-FRIENDLY RIGHT HERE IN SOUTH LOS ANGELES.

VAL>> THE WHOLE IDEA IS TO PUT A ROOF TO WORK TO DO MUCH MORE THAN KEEP OUT THE RAIN AND SUN, AND THEY HAVE. THIS IS THE FRITO LAY PLANT IN TORRANCE. IT'S THE SOLAR INTEGRATED TECHNOLOGIES' FIRST CLIENT. THEIR ROOF IS NOW A FIELD OF ENERGY-GATHERING SOLAR CELLS. THE PANELS CONVERT SUNLIGHT INTO ELECTRICITY AND SEND IT DIRECTLY TO THE FACTORY FLOOR. THE SOLAR PANELS COST MORE THAN NORMAL ROOFING, BUT OVER THE LIFE OF THE ROOF, TWENTY YEARS OR MORE, FRITO LAY EXPECTS TO SAVE MILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN ENERGY BILLS.

ROBERT HERTZBERG>> I WANT YOU TO MEET KEVIN TABOR FROM OUR COMPANY. HE'S GOING TO SHOW YOU THIS REALLY COOL STUFF ABOUT HOW WE CAN MONITOR ELECTRICITY THAT'S PRODUCED ON THE ROOFS.

VAL>> TEN MILES AWAY, BACK AT SOLAR INTEGRATED TECHNOLOGIES, THEY CAN TELL EXACTLY HOW THE FRITO LAY ROOF IS WORKING.

KEVIN TABOR>> HERE'S A VIDEO CAMERA OF WHAT WE'RE SEEING AND THEN OVER HERE YOU ACTUALLY SEE WHAT THE POWER AT THE CURRENT TIME IS.

VAL>> SO THERE'S A VIDEO CAMERA ON THE ROOF AND IT'S SENDING YOU THIS REAL TIME DATA.

KEVIN TABOR>> THAT'S PART OF THE DATA ACQUISITION SYSTEM, THE VISUAL, BUT THERE IS ALSO MORE TECHNICAL DATA. THE POWER, THE SYSTEM, WHICH IS SHOWN HERE --

VAL>> -- HOW MUCH POWER IS BEING USED?

KEVIN TABOR>> RIGHT NOW, WE'RE AT ABOUT NINETY-THREE KILOWATTS, WHICH IS EQUIVALENT TO EIGHTEEN TO TWENTY RESIDENTIAL HOMES HERE IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA.

VAL>> ROBERT HERTZBERG KNOWS HOW IMPORTANT ENERGY IS TO CALIFORNIA. HE WAS IN THE ASSEMBLY WHEN DEREGULATION TRIGGERED BLACKOUTS ACROSS THE STATE. HE BELIEVES THIS NEW SOLAR ROOFING COULD CHANGE THE ENERGY LANDSCAPE FOR MANUFACTURING.

ROBERT HERTZBERG>> FLY INTO LOS ANGELES AND LOOK DOWN. ACRES AND ACRES, MILES AND MILES THAT ARE COSTING MONEY, THAT DON'T PRODUCE ANYTHING AND WHAT WE'VE DONE IS WE CAN CONVERT THOSE ROOFS INTO ENERGY SOURCES AND CAPTURE THE SUN AND POWER EVERYTHING THAT GOES ON IN THESE BUILDINGS. UNDER THE LAW, WE HAVE WHAT'S CALLED REVERSE METERING WHERE, IF IT'S A WEEKEND AND IT'S SOAKING UP THE SUN, IT GOES BACK INTO THE SYSTEM. THE POWER GOES BACK INTO THE SYSTEM AND THE PERSON GETS CREDIT AND THE POWER CAN BE USED.

SO TODAY WE NOW HAVE AND WHAT I SAW IS THIS FABULOUS OPPORTUNITY WHERE THE TECHNOLOGY HAS FINALLY MET WHERE WE REALLY NEED TO BE. TWENTY YEARS AGO, IT WAS DIFFERENT, BUT NOW THE TECHNOLOGY IS THERE. THIS CAN HAPPEN. IT'S LIGHTWEIGHT. IT'S AFFORDABLE. I JUST REALLY THINK IT'S THE FUTURE. THAT'S WHY I WAS CAPTURED BY IT AND CHOSE TO PUT SO MUCH TIME AND ENERGY AFTER I LEFT MY TIME IN GOVERNMENT SERVICE.

VAL>> THE ROOFING PANELS ARE DESIGNED FOR BIG FLAT ROOFS, FACTORY AND STORES MAINLY. THEY'RE NOT MEANT FOR HOMES, BUT YOU COULD MAKE A TENT OUT OF IT, WHICH IS JUST WHAT THEY'VE DONE IN THEIR PARKING LOT.

ROBERT HERTZBERG>> WHAT WE'RE SEEING IS THIS TENT, THIS LITTLE SMALL PIECE OF ROOF, WITH PHOTOVOLTAIC MATERIAL THAT'S POWERING A REFRIGERATOR, A MICROWAVE, A FAN, A LIGHT, A TELEVISION, A LAPTOP COMPUTER, RIGHT, WITH MORE POWER TO SPARE.

VAL>> HERTZBERG SAYS THESE SOLAR PANELS COULD CHANGE MORE THAN CALIFORNIA. HE BELIEVES THEY COULD CHANGE THE WORLD.

ROBERT HERTZBERG>> THIS IS REALLY SET UP -- THE LOS ANGELES DEPARTMENT OF POWER JUST LAST WEEK BROUGHT IN A DELEGATION FROM KENYA POWER AND LIGHT SO THEY COULD SET UP SOMETHING LIKE THIS AND THIS WILL LITERALLY POWER A HOUSEHOLD. THIS IS REALLY DESIGNED TO LOOK, WHAT, FIVE THOUSAND WATTS OF POWER IS GENERATED BY WHAT THIS IS HERE.

VAL>> SO FOR LESS DEVELOPED COUNTRIES THAT HAS NO POWER, NOTHING, YOU CAN JUST TAKE THIS OUT IN THE MIDDLE OF NOWHERE AND HAVE ELECTRICITY?

ROBERT HERTZBERG>> THAT'S RIGHT. AND THE MESSAGE IS THAT LOS ANGELES IS ON THE CUTTING EDGE. THAT ENTREPRENEURIALISM IN LOS ANGELES LIVES HERE, RIGHT HERE, WHERE OPPORTUNITY MEETS SOCIAL JUSTICE IN SOUTH LOS ANGELES, DOING STUFF THAT WON'T BE JUST FOR LOS ANGELES, BUT WILL EXPORT TO ALL CORNERS OF THE PLANET.

VAL>> I ASKED ROBERT HERTZBERG WHAT IT'S LIKE TO LEAVE THE POWERFUL POST OF SPEAKER OF THE CALIFORNIA ASSEMBLY AND RETURN TO LIFE AS A PRIVATE CITIZEN IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR. HE SAID, IN SOME WAYS, IT'S NOT ALL THAT DIFFERENT.

ROBERT HERTZBERG>> EVERYTHING WE'RE DOING HERE IS POLICY, IT'S PUBLIC POLICY. WE'RE MAKING REALITY. WE'RE SAYING HOW DO WE MEET THOSE CHALLENGES AND I LEFT GOVERNMENT WHERE I TALKED ABOUT IT AND I CAME HERE TO SOUTH LOS ANGELES AND WE'RE DOING IT.

VAL>> REALLY DOING IT.

ROBERT HERTZBERG>> AND, IN FACT, I'M ON MY WAY RIGHT NOW TO CATCH AN AIRPLANE TO GO TO SPEAK AT THE JAPAN SOCIETY UP IN SAN FRANCISCO, SO IT'S A PRETTY HECTIC LIFE.

VAL>> OH, OKAY. WE'LL LET YOU GO. THANK YOU SO MUCH. GREAT MEETING UP WITH YOU.

ROBERT HERTZBERG>> THANK YOU. COME ON, I'VE GOT TO GIVE YOU THE HERTZBERG HUG.

VAL>> THE HERTZBERG HUG. GOOD LUCK TO YOU.

ROBERT HERTZBERG>> OKAY, BYE-BYE.

VAL>> SOLAR ENERGY ASIDE, IF THERE IS ONE PERSON IN CALIFORNIA WHO WILL NEVER RUN OUT OF ENERGY, IT'S ROBERT HERTZBERG. AS WE MENTIONED, THE SOLAR PANELS AREN'T SUITABLE FOR HOMES, BUT THEY COULD SAVE HOMEOWNERS SOME BIG BUCKS. IT ALL DEPENDS ON WHETHER ENOUGH COMPANIES EMBRACE THE TECHNOLOGY TO MAKE A DENT IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA'S OVERALL ENERGY COSTS. HERTZBERG SAYS SEVERAL LARGE FIRMS AND RETAILERS ARE LINED UP FOR THE SOLAR PANELS.

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VAL>> LAX IS ONE OF THE BUSIEST AIRPORTS IN AMERICA AND IT'S RAPIDLY RUNNING OUT OF SPACE. BUT EXPANDING THE AIRPORT ISN'T SO EASY, ESPECIALLY WHEN SO MANY PEOPLE WHO LIVE NEARBY ARE AGAINST IT, BUT THE IDEA OF MOVING TO ORANGE COUNTY AND BUILDING A NEW AIRPORT AT THE EL TORO MARINE BASE IGNITED A NEW CONTROVERSY. WE HEAR NOW FROM ONE OF THE PEOPLE TRYING TO FIND A SOLUTION, LOS ANGELES MAYOR JAMES HAHN. HE GOES ONE-ON-ONE WITH OUR POLITICAL ANALYST, KERMAN MADDOX.

KERMAN MADDOX>> ALL RIGHT, WE'RE AT FELIPE'S RESTAURANT IN DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES. I'M WITH MAYOR JAMES HAHN AND, BEFORE WE TALK ABOUT THE MAYOR'S MODERNIZATION PLAN AT LOS ANGELES INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT, I WANT TO GET A STATUS REPORT ABOUT WHAT'S GOING ON WITH THE AIRPORT AT EL TORO IN ORANGE COUNTY BECAUSE A LOT OF PEOPLE THINK PEOPLE IN ORANGE COUNTY OUGHT TO BEAR THEIR SHARE OF THE BURDEN OF ALL THE TRAFFIC AT LAX. SO CAN YOU GIVE US A STATUS REPORT ON WHAT'S GOING ON EL TORO?

JAMES HAHN>> WELL, IN APRIL WE WROTE A LETTER TO THE FAA SAYING, YOU KNOW, IF THE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE WANTS TO DECLARE THIS A SURPLUS PROPERTY AND TRANSFER EL TORO TO THE FAA, L.A. WORLD AIRPORTS WOULD BE HAPPY TO OPERATE THAT AS AN AIRPORT FOR THE BENEFIT OF EVERYONE IN ORANGE COUNTY. WE THINK THAT IT'S A REAL NATIONAL ASSET. THE AIRPORT HAS BEEN THERE FOR OVER FOUR DECADES. PEOPLE HAVE BEEN USED TO PLANES FLYING AROUND THERE. IN ADDITION TO THE AIRPORT ITSELF, WE'VE GOT 14,000 ACRES OF BUFFER AROUND THAT AIRPORT. IMAGINE TWENTY YEARS FROM NOW, IF YOU HAD TO START ALL OVER AGAIN AND TRY TO FIND A PLACE TO PUT AN AIRPORT IN ORANGE COUNTY. YOU COULDN'T DO IT.

KERMAN MADDOX>> ON THAT SAME VEIN, THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO ARGUE THAT WE OUGHT TO HAVE A REGIONAL APPROACH TO AIR TRAFFIC IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA. DO YOU HAVE ANY SPECIFIC PLANS TO DO ANYTHING AT PALMDALE AIRPORT, ONTARIO AIRPORT, AS WELL AS BURBANK AIRPORT TO RELIEVE TRAFFIC AT LAX?

JAMES HAHN>> WE THINK IT HAS TO. YOU KNOW, I'M COMING OUT WITH MY PLAN TO MODERNIZE LAX AND OUR WHOLE THING IS ABOUT A REGIONAL TRANSPORTATION SOLUTION BECAUSE WE DON'T WANT ALL THE TRAFFIC AT LAX. I'M GOING TO CAP THE NUMBER OF FLIGHTS AT LAX SO THAT WE HAVE NO MORE THAN SEVENTY-EIGHT MILLION ANNUAL PASSENGERS. THAT STILL ALLOWS FOR GROWTH OF OVER TWENTY-SIX MILLION MORE PASSENGERS THAN ARE COMING TO LAX THIS YEAR.

KERMAN MADDOX>> IS THERE ANYTHING ON THE DRAWING BOARD FOR THOSE AIRPORTS, THOUGH?

JAMES HAHN>> ONTARIO CAN GROW. IT'S ABOUT SEVEN OR EIGHT MILLION ANNUAL PASSENGERS NOW. WE THINK ONTARIO COULD GROW TO THIRTY MILLION ANNUAL PASSENGERS, GIVEN THE PRESENT STATE OF THEIR FACILITIES. WE SPENT MILLIONS CLEANING UP THE TERMINALS OUT THERE. WE JUST NEED TO GET THE AIRLINES TO FLY MORE FLIGHTS THERE. PALMDALE, WE STILL THINK HAS POSSIBILITIES AS WELL, SO WE'VE GOT A MASTER PLAN FOR PALMDALE.

KERMAN MADDOX>> OKAY. NOW I WANT TO TALK ABOUT YOUR PLAN, YOUR SPECIFIC PLAN. I WANT TO GIVE YOU A CHANCE TO RESPOND TO SOME OF YOUR CRITICS. THE RAND INSTITUTE, AS YOU KNOW, CAME OUT WITH A STUDY A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO AND WERE FAIRLY CRITICAL OF YOUR PLAN, ALTERNATIVE D. ONE OF THE THINGS THEY SAID IS THAT THIS PLAN WILL NOT BOLSTER SECURITY AT THE AIRPORT AND ACTUALLY IT WILL NOT EVEN MAKE THE RUNWAYS SAFER. THIS IS YOUR SAFETY AND SECURITY PLAN. WHAT DO YOU SAY ABOUT THAT CRITICISM?

JAMES HAHN>> WELL, RAND IS WRONG. WE HAD THE FINEST SECURITY CONSULTANTS WE THINK WE CAN FIND. SAIC WERE OUR CONSULTANTS ON THIS PLAN. WHAT WE WANTED THEM TO DO WAS TAKE A LOOK AT THE ISSUE OF THE RUNWAYS THEMSELVES, THE RUNWAY INCURSION PROBLEMS, OF RUNWAYS BEING SO CLOSE TOGETHER, PLANES LANDING AND TAKING OFF, SOMETIMES THEY GET IN THE WAY OF EACH OTHER. ONE OF THE WORST AIR DISASTERS EVER WASN'T IN THE AIR. IT WAS ON THE GROUND AT THE CANARY ISLANDS WHEN TWO BIG PLANES RAN INTO EACH OTHER. SO WE WANT TO SEPARATE THE RUNWAYS AT LAX AND PUT A CENTER TAXIWAY IN BETWEEN EACH OF THEM SO THAT, ONCE PLANES LAND, THEY CAN MOVE OFF OF THAT RUNWAY AND GET OUT OF THE WAY OF OTHER PLANES. WE THINK THAT'S GOING TO MAKE IT A LOT SAFER.

KERMAN MADDOX>> SO WHAT WAS IT IN YOUR PLAN THAT RAND SAW THAT MADE THEM COME TO THAT CONCLUSION?

JAMES HAHN>> I THINK THEY DIDN'T SEE THE WHOLE PLAN. YOU KNOW, THEY SAW INITIAL DRAWINGS THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT, BUT WE'VE JUST RELEASED THE ENTIRE PLAN, OVER FIVE THOUSAND PAGES, AND I'D INVITE THE PEOPLE WHO WERE CRITICAL OF IT, INCLUDING RAND, TO TAKE A LOOK AT WHAT WE'VE DONE THERE. WE'VE LISTENED TO THE CONCERNS OF PEOPLE WHO LOOKED AT EARLIER ALTERNATIVES, WHAT WE CALLED A, B, AND C, WHICH WERE GIANT EXPANSION PLANS THAT DIDN'T INCLUDE SAFETY AND SECURITY AS EVEN ONE OF THE ELEMENTS. TAKE A LOOK AT THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THOSE AND WHAT WE'VE GOT AND I THINK YOU'LL SEE A MUCH SAFER AIRPORT.

KERMAN MADDOX>> ANOTHER CRITICISM THEY HAD HAS TO DO WITH POTENTIAL TERRORIST ATTACKS. THEY BASICALLY SAID THAT YOUR GROUND TRANSPORTATION CENTER AT MANCHESTER SQUARE, ALL IT DOES IS REALLY DIVERT ALL THE TRAFFIC FROM THE AIRPORT INTO THE TRANSPORTATION CENTER AND THEY SAY WHAT IT DOES IS JUST MOVES THE RISK FROM THE AIRPORT TO THE TRANSPORTATION CENTER WHICH IS WHERE A LOT OF THE PEOPLE ARE AND WHERE A LOT OF THE AIRPORT EMPLOYEES ARE, PLUS IT'S CLOSER TO A RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOOD. WHAT DO YOU SAY TO THAT?

JAMES HAHN>> YOU KNOW, WHAT I WAS ABSOLUTELY FIRM ON IS THAT WE NEED TO CLEAR OUT THE CENTRAL TERMINAL AREA FOR PASSENGER VEHICLES. YOU KNOW, RIGHT AFTER 9/11, WE COULDN'T EVEN PARK CARS THERE AND, IF WE EVER HAVE THAT THREAT LEVEL AGAIN, WE'LL STILL HAVE TO CLEAR OUT THE CENTRAL TERMINAL AREA. I DIDN'T WANT A CAR BOMB OR A TRUCK BOMB THAT COULD COME CLOSE TO ACTUALLY DISRUPTING THE AIRPORT OPERATIONS, SO WE WANTED TO MOVE THE ENTRY POINT FOR PEOPLE AWAY FROM THE AIRPORT. THAT'S TO SECURE THE CENTRAL TERMINAL AREA.

WE HAD TO FIGURE OUT A WAY TO MAKE THAT SAFER, SO WHETHER IT'S AT MANCHESTER SQUARE OR AT SOME OTHER PLACE, I WANTED TO TAKE THAT AWAY FROM THE AIRPORT. PEOPLE AREN'T JUST GOING TO BE STANDING THERE. THEY'RE GOING TO BE MOVING THROUGH THERE CONSTANTLY. THEY'RE GOING TO BE DROPPED OFF OR THEY PARK THEIR CARS, THEY'RE GOING TO BE GETTING ON A PEOPLE MOVER. WITHIN EIGHT MINUTES, THEY'LL BE AT THE CENTRAL TERMINAL AREA READY TO GET ON THEIR GATES.

KERMAN MADDOX>> DOESN'T IT CONCERN YOU AT ALL, THOUGH, THAT THE PEOPLE MOVER IS THERE AND MOST OF THE TRAFFIC IS GOING TO BE THERE, MANY OF THE EMPLOYEES ARE GOING TO BE THERE? IT SEEMS LIKE A RIPE TARGET FOR A POTENTIAL TERRORIST ATTACK.

JAMES HAHN>> EXCEPT FOR THE FACT THAT WE'RE ALSO GOING TO HAVE SECURITY THERE. THAT'S THE OTHER THING RAND MISSED. THEY THOUGHT WE WERE NOT GOING TO DO ANY INITIAL SECURITY SCREENING THERE, BUT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE SCREENING THERE AND ALSO AT ANOTHER TRANSPORTATION CENTER THAT'S GOING TO CONNECT THE GREEN LINE TO THE AIRPORT. PEOPLE SAY WE SHOULD HAVE DONE THAT A LONG TIME AGO. OUR PLAN DOES THAT. ALSO, PEOPLE ARE USING RENTAL CARS. THERE IS GOING TO BE A SEPARATE ENTRY POINT FOR EVERYBODY. ALL THE RENTAL CAR COMPANIES ARE GOING TO BE IN ONE PLACE. THERE WILL BE THREE DIFFERENT PLACES. AGREED, MOST OF THEM ARE GOING TO COME THROUGH MANCHESTER SQUARE, BUT WE'RE GOING TO DO EVERYTHING WE CAN TO MAKE THAT AS SAFE AS POSSIBLE.

KERMAN MADDOX>> OKAY. I WORKED ON THIS PROJECT FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS IN THE PAST AND ONE OF THE THINGS I HEARD IS THERE WERE A LOT OF CONCERNS ABOUT ADVERSE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS ON THE SURROUNDING AREA, INCREASED TRAFFIC, AIR QUALITY ISSUES AND, OF COURSE, NOISE IN PLACES LIKE LENOX, INGLEWOOD AND SOUTH LOS ANGELES. DOES YOUR PLAN HAVE MITIGATION MEASURES FOR TRAFFIC, NOISE AND POLLUTION?

JAMES HAHN>> YEAH, WE WANT TO PUT A LOT MORE MONEY INTO SOUNDPROOFING FOR THE HOMES IN INGLEWOOD AND LENOX UNDERNEATH THE FLIGHT PATH. WE ALSO THINK, BY HAVING THE MANCHESTER SQUARE GROUND TRANSPORTATION CENTER, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE DIRECT ACCESS ON AND OFF THE 405 FREEWAY AND THE 105 FREEWAY, WHICH WE DON'T HAVE NOW, SO WE WANT TO KEEP AS MANY CARS OFF THE SURFACE STREETS THAT ARE IMPACTING NEIGHBORHOODS AS WE CAN, SO I THINK THAT'S GOING TO BE A BIG BENEFIT.

IT'S GOING TO TAKE A LOT OF TRAFFIC OFF SEPULVEDA, WHICH IS ALREADY USED BY PEOPLE IN THE SOUTH BAY WHO HAVE TO SHARE THE ROAD WITH PEOPLE GOING TO THE AIRPORT. WE'LL MOVE PEOPLE AWAY FROM THAT AND CLOSER TO THE FREEWAY AND I HOPE A LOT OF PEOPLE WILL TAKE THE GREEN LINE INSTEAD OF TAKING THEIR CAR. TAKE THE FLYAWAY BUSES. WE'RE GOING TO HAVE FLYAWAY BUSES SO THAT PEOPLE AREN'T DRIVING THEIR CARS. WE'LL STILL LET THEM DO IT, BUT WE WANT TO ENCOURAGE THEM TO USE OTHER WAYS TO LESSEN THE IMPACT OF NOISE AND POLLUTION IN THOSE NEIGHBORHOODS.

KERMAN MADDOX>> WHAT DO YOU HAVE TO DO TO GET THE AIRLINE CARRIERS ON BOARD BECAUSE THEY HAVE A PRETTY IMPORTANT LOBBY IN WASHINGTON, D.C. WITH THE FAA?

JAMES HAHN>> VERY IMPORTANT. IN FACT, WE LISTEN TO THE AIRLINES A LOT AS WE DEVELOP THIS ALTERNATIVE FOR SAFETY AND SECURITY AT LAX. IN FACT, UNITED AIRLINES, THE BIGGEST CARRIER AT THE AIRPORT, SUPPORTS IT AS WELL AS THE STAR ALLIANCE THAT UNITED IS A PART OF. SO IS LUFTHANSA AND MEXICANA AIRLINES AND A NUMBER OF OTHER AIRLINES. WE HAVE A GREAT NUMBER OF AIRLINES WHO ARE VERY MUCH IN FAVOR OF THIS. AIRLINES, OF COURSE, ARE CONCERNED WITH THE BOTTOM LINE. THEY DON'T WANT TO SPEND THE MONEY IF THEY DON'T HAVE TO.

BUT WE THINK THAT, IF WE DON'T SPEND THE MONEY AT LAX, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE AIRLINES LEAVE LAX AND GO TO OTHER PLACES. WE NEED TO HAVE AN AIRPORT THAT'S DESIGNED FOR 707'S AND DC-8'S. WE NOW HAVE MORE 747'S THAN ANY OTHER AIRPORT IN NORTH AMERICA WITH AN AIRPORT THAT'S NOT EVEN BUILT TO HANDLE THOSE, PLUS THE BIGGER PLANES THAT ARE ON THE HORIZON HERE LIKE THE AIR BUSES AND THINGS. SO WE NEED TO MODERNIZE THE AIRPORT AND I THINK WE CAN GET THE AIRLINES' SUPPORT.

KERMAN MADDOX>> AND, AGAIN, IT'S GOING TO COST YOU $9 BILLION DOLLARS, SO YOU NEED THEM TO GET ON BOARD BECAUSE THEY HAVE TO FINANCE SOMETHING LIKE FIFTY PERCENT OF IT, RIGHT?

JAMES HAHN>> WE DON'T THINK QUITE FIFTY PERCENT, BUT THEY COULD BE FINANCING UPWARDS OF A THIRD OF THE COST. BUT ALSO THE AIRPORT WILL ISSUE BONDS. WE HAVE OTHER REVENUES AT THE AIRPORT, OUR PARKING CONCESSIONS THAT COULD HELP PAY FOR THIS. LAX IS ONE OF THE CHEAPEST AIRPORTS THAT AIRLINES USE RIGHT NOW IN AMERICA. WE THINK A SMALL INVESTMENT HERE, ALTHOUGH $9 BILLION DOESN'T SOUND SMALL, COMPARED TO WHAT'S GOING ON AROUND THE COUNTRY, WE THINK THAT THIS IS REASONABLE. AGAIN, IT'S $9 BILLION OVER ELEVEN YEARS, NOT ALL AT ONCE, AND WE THINK IT'S MANAGEABLE. WE THINK THAT THE AIRLINES WILL SUPPORT IT AND I THINK THE COMMUNITY WILL SUPPORT IT. A LOT OF THINGS EVERYBODY HATED ABOUT THE EARLIER PLAN, WE'VE GOTTEN RID OF.

KERMAN MADDOX>> ALL RIGHT, MAYOR HAHN. THANK YOU FOR JOINING US AT FELIPE'S IN DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES.

JAMES HAHN>> OH, IT'S GREAT TO BE HERE AT FELIPE'S. I'VE BEEN COMING HERE SINCE I THINK I WAS FOUR YEARS OLD. NICE TO BE HERE AGAIN.

KERMAN MADDOX>> GOOD HAVING YOU.

JAMES HAHN>> THANK YOU.

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VAL>> IT'S HARD FOR MANY OF US TO GET THROUGH THE DAY WITHOUT RELYING ON A COMPUTER, BUT WHAT IF THOSE DEVICES SEEMED LESS MECHANICAL AND MORE HUMAN? THAT'S WHAT RESEARCHERS AT USC ARE TRYING TO ACCOMPLISH AND, AS PHILIP BRUCE REPORTS, ONE OF THE LEAD SCIENTISTS ISN'T WHAT YOU'D EXPECT.

PHILIP BRUCE>> LEWIS JOHNSON LOOKS EVERY BIT THE PART OF THE COMPUTER SCIENTIST AND THAT'S A GOOD THING SINCE HE HEADS UP PART OF USC'S EFFORT TO MAKE COMPUTERS ACT AND SOUND MORE HUMAN. ONE OF HIS PROJECTS IS ADELE, A VIRTUAL TEACHER WITH A HEART OF GOLD WHO HELPS NURSING STUDENTS LEARN THEIR LESSONS.

ADELE>> "IF YOU WANT TO KNOW WHY OR HOW TO DO SOMETHING, CLICK ON MY OTHER BUTTONS."

LEWIS JOHNSON>> WE ARE BEGINNING TO DEVELOP A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF HOW TO MODEL SOCIAL INTERACTION IN THE COMPUTER SO THAT A COMPUTER ISN'T JUST A BOX THAT SITS ON YOUR DESK. IT HAS SOME AWARENESS OF ITS RELATIONSHIP WITH YOU, WHAT YOU'RE DOING, HOW IT CAN HELP WHAT YOU'RE DOING. THESE, I THINK, ARE GOING TO HAVE A BIG IMPACT ON THE WAY COMPUTERS WORK WITH PEOPLE.

PHILIP BRUCE>> IT'S CALLED ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE, GIVING COMPUTERS THE ABILITY TO INTERACT WITH PEOPLE AND RESPOND AS A HUMAN WOULD. HERE THEY'VE CREATED A VIRTUAL COUNSELOR THAT OFFERS ADVICE TO A MOTHER WHOSE CHILD HAS CANCER. IT'S A PROGRAM BEING USED IN SOME HOSPITALS. THE COMPUTER REACTS TO A REAL LIFE DILEMMA POSED BY THE PARENT.

LEWIS JOHNSON>> THE REALITY IS THAT PEOPLE HAVE A NATURAL TENDENCY TO BELIEVE THAT SOMETHING IS INTELLIGENT, WHETHER IT REALLY IS OR NOT. THERE ARE SOME TRICKS THAT WE'VE LEARNED ALONG THE WAY ABOUT HOW TO GIVE THE IMPRESSION OF INTELLIGENCE.

PHILIP BRUCE>> JOHNSON SAYS MAKING A COMPUTER MORE HUMAN ISN'T ALL PURE SCIENCE. IT ALSO REQUIRES SOME SHOW BUSINESS AND, AS IT TURNS OUT, HE'S JUST THE MAN FOR THE JOB.

[FILM CLIP]

PHILIP BRUCE>> THAT'S THE PROFESSOR ON STAGE DEEPLY ENGAGED IN HIS OTHER BIG PASSION.

[FILM CLIP]

PHILIP BRUCE>> NOW TELL ME ABOUT THIS SINGING THING. THIS IS SOMETHING THAT'S BEEN A PASSION OF YOURS, RIGHT?

LEWIS JOHNSON>> IT IS. IN FACT, EARLY ON, I WASN'T QUITE SURE IF I WANTED TO GET A DEGREE IN COMPUTER SCIENCE OR WHETHER I'D RATHER GET TRAINING IN OPERA AND TRY TO MAKE A GO AS A SINGER, SO I ENDED UP BEING TRAINED SOMEWHAT IN BOTH AREAS. I DECIDED THAT A DEGREE IN COMPUTER SCIENCE WAS A SURER BET.

PHILIP BRUCE>> HE MAY HAVE KEPT HIS DAY JOB, BUT LEWIS JOHNSON HAS ALSO DONE PLENTY OF PROFESSIONAL STAGE WORK. ALL THIS DRAMA HAS TAUGHT HIM A THING OR TWO ABOUT HOW TO GRAB AN AUDIENCE AND HOLD THEIR ATTENTION AND NOW HE'S PUTTING THOSE LESSONS TO USE WITH HIS COMPUTERS.

LEWIS JOHNSON>> I JUST HAD A LEAD ROLE IN AN OPERA UP IN VENTURA COUNTY. I TRY TO DO IT WHEN I CAN. IT ACTUALLY HELPS MY WORK HERE AT USC BECAUSE ONE WAY OF TALKING ABOUT OR LOOKING AT WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO HERE IS TO CREATE CHARACTERS THAT ARE NOT JUST LIFELIKE, BUT HAVE A DRAMATIC ASPECT TO THEM.

PHILIP BRUCE>> WE'VE SEEN IT ALL BEFORE IN THE MOVIES, MOST NOTABLY WITH AN IRRITABLE COMPUTER NAMED "HAL".

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PHILIP BRUCE>> TODAY THE SCIENCE FICTION IS BECOMING FACT. THE CHARACTERS THAT JOHNSON AND HIS TEAM ARE COOKING UP CAN ACTUALLY LOOK AT YOU BY WAY OF A TV CAMERA AND FIGURE OUT IF YOU'RE PAYING ATTENTION. THIS COMPUTER MEASURES MY EYE MOVEMENT TO DETERMINE IF I UNDERSTAND THE INSTRUCTIONS FROM A VIRTUAL TEACHER.

LEWIS JOHNSON>> USING THIS TECHNOLOGY, THE COMPUTER CAN TELL IS THE STUDENT READING THE INSTRUCTIONS? IS THE STUDENT TRYING TO CARRY OUT THE INSTRUCTIONS? IS THE STUDENT STILL STARING AT THE INSTRUCTIONS, BUT SEEMS TO BE CONFUSED ABOUT WHAT TO DO?

PHILIP BRUCE>> A BLANK STARE INDICATES I DON'T GET IT.

LEWIS JOHNSON>> ABSOLUTELY.

PHILIP BRUCE>> THE CHARACTERS ARE BORN IN A LAB THAT LOOKS LIKE SOMETHING OUT OF DISNEY OR DREAMWORKS. THEY'RE HUMAN-LIKE IN APPEARANCE, BUT ONLY UP TO A POINT AND THAT'S NO ACCIDENT.

LEWIS JOHNSON>> INTERESTINGLY, THE GREATER THE REALISM OF THE COMPUTER GRAPHICS, THE MORE YOU NOTICE SLIGHT IMPERFECTIONS IN THE BEHAVIOR OF THE CHARACTER. FOR THIS REASON, IT'S ACTUALLY EASIER TO CREATE A CARTOON-LIKE CHARACTER THAT SEEMS TO BEHAVE VERY LIFE-LIKE THAN TO ACTUALLY CREATE SOMEONE WHO LOOKS PHOTO-REALISTIC LIKE A REAL HUMAN BEING.

PHILIP BRUCE>> WHO KNOWS HOW LONG IT WILL BE BEFORE EVERYBODY HAS A SMART COMPUTER AT HOME, ONE THAT HAS A FACE AS WELL AS A KEYBOARD? WILL IT HELP SOLVE OUR PROBLEMS? WILL IT ACT LIKE OUR FRIEND? SOME OF THE ANSWERS MIGHT COME FROM THIS LAB AT USC.

LEWIS JOHNSON>> THE BASIC LEVEL MEANS GETTING THE COMPUTER TO BE ABLE TO REASON, TO BEHAVE IN A MANNER THAT, IF A HUMAN WAS DOING IT, WE WOULD CONSIDER IT TO BE INTELLIGENT. THAT'S THE GENERAL DEFINITION.

PHILIP BRUCE>> IN THE MEANTIME, LOOK FOR LEWIS JOHNSON AT A THEATER OR A MUSIC HALL NEAR YOU AND REMEMBER, WITH EVERY NOTE, HE'S LEARNING HOW TO BUILD A SMARTER, MORE HUMAN, COMPUTER.

VAL>> THE PROFESSOR SAYS IT WOULD BE NICE IF HE COULD CREATE A ROBOT WHO CAN SING HARMONY DURING HIS PERFORMANCES, BUT IF THAT HAPPENS, HE EXPECTS HE'LL HAVE TO DO IT ON HIS OWN TIME.

I'M VAL ZAVALA. FOR EVERYONE 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, THEY WITNESSED THE WORLD'S ONLY NUCLEAR ATTACK AND LIVED TO TELL THE TALE, BUT NOT WITHOUT SOME LINGERING SCARS.

>> I DIDN'T SEE MYSELF WHAT HAPPENED AT THE MOMENT, BUT I CAN SEE OTHER PEOPLE. IT WAS JUST HORRIBLE. IT WAS JUST HELL.

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