7/16/03

LC030716

VAL ZAVALA>> TONIGHT ON LIFE AND TIMES --

YOU CAN TAKE A DIP IN THE OLYMPIC-SIZE POOL OR TAKE A TRIP TO THE BEAUTIFUL MOUNTAIN RESORT AND THE CITY PICKS UP THE TAB.

NANCY FRIEDMAN>> AS AN INDUSTRIAL RESIDENT, WE ARE ABLE TO USE THE GYM. WE'RE ABLE TO UTILIZE CAMP COMMERCE, WHICH IS A CAMP UP IN THE SAN BERNARDINO MOUNTAINS.

VAL>> AND THEN THE PRIEST WHO SAVES SO MANY YOUNG GANG MEMBERS IN EAST LOS ANGELES IS IN A FIGHT FOR HIS LIFE. WE'LL HAVE THE STORY OF FATHER GREG AND HIS BAND OF UNLIKELY ANGELS.

NEXT 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'VE ALL GOTTEN USED TO HEARING THE STORIES ALMOST EVERY DAY ABOUT HOW CITIES AND STATES ARE CUTTING BACK ON SERVICES TO COPE WITH BUDGET PROBLEMS. BUT WE'RE ABOUT TO TAKE YOU TO ONE CITY IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA THAT IS DOING JUST THE OPPOSITE. IT'S THE CITY OF COMMERCE JUST A FEW MILES DOWN THE FREEWAY FROM LOS ANGELES, BUT WORLD'S APART WHEN IT COMES TO GIVING LOCAL TAXPAYERS A TON OF PERKS JUST FOR LIVING THERE.

IT'S THE ONLY IMPRESSION OF THE CITY OF COMMERCE THAT MOST OF US HAVE: THE MASSIVE CITADEL OUTLET CENTER. MOST OF THE TIME, WE WHIZ RIGHT BY ON THE GOLDEN STATE FREEWAY, BUT BEHIND THESE WALLS ARE SOME BARGAINS THAT SHOPPERS WOULD NEVER IMAGINE. THE CITY OF COMMERCE OFFERS ITS RESIDENTS PERKS AND SERVICES THAT RIVAL SWEDEN. EVERYTHING FROM FREE TRASH PICKUP TO A LODGE IN LAKE ARROWHEAD AVAILABLE TO RESIDENTS OF COMMERCE FOR ONLY SIX DOLLARS A NIGHT.

WE GOT A TOUR OF THE CITY FROM MISS COMMERCE HERSELF, NINETEEN-YEAR-OLD JAY LOPEZ, COMMERCE'S OWN J-LO.

JAY LOPEZ>> MY FAMILY HAS BEEN HERE SINCE BEFORE THE CITY WAS COMMERCE. THERE WERE MY GREAT-GRANDPARENTS, THEN MY GRANDPARENTS AND MY PARENTS AND NOW ME. SO WE'VE ALL LIVED HERE OUR WHOLE LIVES.

VAL>> BUT HOW CAN THE CITY AFFORD SUCH GIVEAWAYS? THE KEY TO THEIR LARGESS IS SIMPLE. ONLY SEVEN PERCENT OF THE CITY OF COMMERCE LOOKS LIKE THIS: RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOODS, HOMES AND APARTMENTS. NINETY-THREE PERCENT OF IT LOOKS MORE LIKE THIS: BUSINESS PARKS, RETAIL AND INDUSTRY. BUSINESSES BRING IN MORE TAXES THAN HOMES, SO THE LOPSIDEDNESS MAKES FOR A FAT CITY COFFER.

ONE OF THE MOST IMPRESSIVE PERKS IS THIS, A FITNESS CENTER THEY CALL THE AQUATARIUM. THERE IS AN OLYMPIC-SIZE POOL, A SAUNA AND A BUSY WEIGHT ROOM AND THIS IS JUST ONE OF THREE CENTERS.

RAY GRANADOS>> OVER AT BRISTOL PARK, WE ACTUALLY HAVE A BOXING GYM OVER THERE, HANDBALL COURTS, A LIBRARY. AT BANDINI, WE ACTUALLY OFFER ARTS AND CRAFTS, AS WELL AS A BASEBALL FIELD THERE. OVER AT VETERANS PARK, WE ACTUALLY OFFER AN INDOOR BASKETBALL GYM.

VAL>> MEMBERSHIP? ONLY FIVE DOLLARS A YEAR. IF A RESIDENT WANTS ACTUAL SWIMMING LESSONS, THAT WILL COST A WHOLE THREE DOLLARS FOR TWO WEEKS.

OUR NEXT STOP WAS THE SUMMER DAY CAMP AT ROSEWOOD PARK WHERE KIDS GET A FULL DAY OF ACTIVITIES FOR ONLY FIVE DOLLARS A DAY.

JAY LOPEZ>> IN A FEW WEEKS, THEY'LL BE GOING TO DISNEYLAND. WE HAVE UNIVERSAL STUDIO TRIPS. THEY GO SEVERAL PLACES ALSO LIKE ZOOS, YOU KNOW, SO THEY CAN GET INTERACTIVE WITH ANIMALS AND THEY LEARN MORE THINGS.

VAL>> THEN THERE'S THE SENIOR CITIZEN CENTER COMPLETE WITH GAME ROOMS AND POOL TABLES, COMPUTERS AND INTERNET CLASSES AND PLENTY OF SOCIAL PROGRAMS. ERLINE BALDONI HAS LIVED HERE SINCE 1938.

ERLINE BALDONI>> WHEN WE JOIN A CLUB, IT'S LIKE NINE DOLLARS A YEAR, SO THAT TAKES CARE OF ALL OF OUR THINGS HERE.

VAL>> NINE DOLLARS A YEAR?

ERLINE BALDONI>> YEAH, YEAH.

VAL>> NOT A WEEK OR A MONTH? A YEAR?

ERLINE BALDONI>> NO. ONE YEAR (LAUGHTER).

JAY LOPEZ>> AND ANYONE IS ALWAYS WELCOME. YOU JUST NEED TO BE SIXTY AND OVER.

VAL>> AND A RESIDENT OF COMMERCE (LAUGHTER).

JAY LOPEZ>> (LAUGHTER) AND A RESIDENT, YES.

VAL>> SO, AGAIN, ARE THESE SERVICES AND PROGRAMS OFFERED FREE OF CHARGE, DO YOU KNOW, OR VERY MINIMAL CHARGE?

JAY LOPEZ>> FREE OF CHARGE. THE SENIORS REALLY ARE LIKE THE STARS OF COMMERCE. SENIORS ARE BABIED VERY MUCH HERE.

VAL>> ERLINE CAME FOR THE DEDICATION OF SEVERAL NEW BUSES DESIGNED ESPECIALLY FOR SENIORS AND PEOPLE WITH MEDICAL NEEDS. THEY ARE, OF COURSE, FREE. WE RAN INTO THE MAYOR OF COMMERCE AT THE CEREMONY. HE'S THE PERSONIFICATION OF THE TRANSITION OF COMMERCE LEADERSHIP FROM ANGLO TO LATINO.

VAL>> YOU DON'T HAVE VERY MANY PEOPLE MOVING OUT?

JESUS CERVANTES>> EXACTLY. MOST OF THE PEOPLE WANT TO STAY HERE AND I DON'T BLAME THEM. THEY HAVE ALL KINDS OF SERVICES. RIGHT NOW THE CITY CAN AFFORD IT, SO WHY NOT?

VAL>> NOW IF YOU DIVIDE THE CITY'S BUDGET BY THE NUMBER OF RESIDENTS, ONLY 13,000, IT WOULD COME TO ABOUT $2,500 PER RESIDENT. COMPARE THAT TO SOUTHGATE WHICH IS JUST NEXT DOOR WHERE IT'S ONLY $250. AT THE HEART OF THE REVENUE ENGINE IN COMMERCE IS THIS, THE COMMERCE CASINO. THE CASINOS REVENUES ACCOUNT FOR ABOUT FORTY PERCENT OF THE CITY'S TOTAL BUDGET. JIM AND NANCY ARE MANAGERS AT THE COMMERCE CASINO. JUST WORKING IN COMMERCE IS ENOUGH TO GIVE THEM ACCESS TO PROGRAMS AND FACILITIES, ALTHOUGH AT A SLIGHTLY HIGHER FEE. THEY ARE CALLED INDUSTRIAL RESIDENTS.

NANCY FRIEDMAN>> FOR INSTANCE, I JUST PULLED OUT MY CARD TODAY. I CAN USE THE GYM ANY TIME. WE'VE GOT A BEAUTIFUL FACILITY IN THE CITY OF COMMERCE. THERE ARE ACTUALLY QUITE A FEW OF THEM, SO AS AN INDUSTRIAL RESIDENT, WE ARE ABLE TO USE THE GYM, WE'RE ABLE TO UTILIZE CAMP COMMERCE WHICH IS A CAMP UP IN THE SAN BERNARDINO MOUNTAINS. IT'S JUST WONDERFUL. THERE ARE A LOT OF OTHER BENEFITS THAT ARE AVAILABLE TO THE RESIDENT AS WELL AS THE INDUSTRIAL RESIDENTS.

VAL>> HOW MANY EMPLOYEES DO YOU HAVE HERE?

JIM BARBO>> WE HAVE 2,400 EMPLOYEES AND GROWING. IT'S QUITE A LARGE BUSINESS. WE WOULD LOVE TO GET BIGGER AND PROVIDE MORE TAX REVENUES TO THE CITY.

VAL>> BUT THE CASINO IS FEELING THE EFFECT OF THE GROWING NUMBER OF INDIAN CASINOS IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA AND, IF THE REVENUE SHOULD FALL, THAT WOULD HAVE A MAJOR IMPACT ON THE CITY. STILL, FOR THE TIME BEING, CASINO TAXES ALONE ARE ENOUGH TO COVER THE ENTIRE PUBLIC SAFETY AND FIRE PROTECTION BILL FOR THE CITY. LITTLE WONDER WHEN A HOUSE GOES UP FOR SALE IN COMMERCE, IT SELLS FAST AND OFTEN TO A RELATIVE OF A CURRENT RESIDENT.

JAY LOPEZ>> SO I LIVE HERE. MY AUNTS AND ACTUALLY MY SISTER LIVES IN THE FRONT HOUSE.

VAL>> AND IF YOUR HOUSE NEEDS SOME SPRUCING UP, DON'T FORGET TO COLLECT FIVE HUNDRED DOLLARS FROM THE CITY TO COVER THE COST OF PAINT OR PLASTER. OH, AND IF YOU NEED YOUR LAWN MOWED AND YOU DON'T HAVE A MOWER, YOU CAN BORROW ONE FROM CITY HALL. ELDERLY FOLKS GET THEIR LAWN CUT FOR FREE.

THERE ARE SOME DRAWBACKS TO LIVING IN COMMERCE. YOU'RE IN THE THICK OF LOS ANGELES'S INDUSTRIAL BELT AND WITH THAT COMES TRUCKS AND A FEW OTHER NOISY THINGS.

VAL>> NOW ONE OF THE DISADVANTAGES OF LIVING IN COMMERCE IS YOU CAN GET SOUNDS LIKE THIS, RIGHT? (LAUGHTER)

JAY LOPEZ>> YES (LAUGHTER). I LIVE BY THE TRAINS.

VAL>> SO YOU DO HAVE TO PUT UP WITH SOME DISADVANTAGES?

JAY LOPEZ>> OH, YEAH, SOMETIMES THERE ARE DISADVANTAGES.

VAL>> NOISE AND FREEWAYS.

JAY LOPEZ>> I MEAN, IT'S NOT THE MOST PERFECT CITY, BUT IT IS A GREAT CITY AS FAR AS WHAT THEY HAVE TO OFFER.

VAL>> STILL, JAY LOPEZ AND MANY LIKE HER ARE SOLD ON COMMERCE AND SHE PLANS TO GROW OLD HERE.

JAY LOPEZ>> AS FAR AS HAVING A FAMILY OF MY OWN, I WOULD WANT TO COME BACK TO COMMERCE JUST BECAUSE OF WHAT THEY HAVE TO OFFER AND THE PROGRAMS. IT'S JUST A GREAT CITY TO RAISE YOUR KIDS AS FAR AS SPORTS GO. MYSELF, I WAS INVOLVED IN EVERY SINGLE SPORT SINCE I WAS FIVE BECAUSE THEY HAVE THE HOT-SHOT PROGRAM. NOW I COACH SPORTS, SO IT'S ONE OF THOSE CHAINS THAT NEVER ENDS.

VAL>> OH, AND THERE'S ANOTHER PERK I FORGOT TO MENTION. IF YOU ARE AN EMPLOYEE OF THE CITY OF COMMERCE AND GOING TO SCHOOL, THE CITY WILL PAY ALL OR MOST OF YOUR TUITION.

>> I THINK THEY WASTE QUITE A BIT OF IT, BUT I DON'T MIND GIVING THEM THE TAX MONEY FOR THE SERVICES THAT WE NEED, BUT SOMETIMES THEY GET CARRIED AWAY AND WE KEEP GIVING THEM MORE MONEY AND THEY'LL INCREASE THEIR SPENDING INSTEAD OF JUST THE OPPOSITE.

>> THE MONEY THAT WE'RE PUTTING INTO THIS WAR FOR THE WEAPONS THAT DON'T EXIST IS KIND OF TICKING ME OFF BECAUSE WE'RE SPENDING MONEY ON THEM AND WE'VE GOT PEOPLE LOSING JOBS AND NO HEALTHCARE AND PROBLEMS HERE AT HOME.

>> I DON'T THINK REAL ISSUES ARE REALLY EXPLORED WITH HOW OUR TAX MONEY IS UTILIZED. I MEAN, I THINK EDUCATION, A LOT OF MONEY HAS GONE TO THE BUREAUCRACY, BUT A LOT OF THE MONEY DOESN'T TRICKLE DOWN TO WHERE IT REALLY IS NEEDED.

>> I HESITATE TO BLAME ANYBODY DIRECTLY THOUGH. REPUBLICANS ARE ALWAYS POINTING THE FINGER TO DEMOCRATS AND VICE VERSA AND I DON'T THINK THAT ANY ONE PARTY KNOWS ANY BETTER REALLY HOW TO MANAGE THINGS.

VAL>> YOU'RE ABOUT TO MEET SOMEONE WHO HAS TRULY MADE A DIFFERENCE. HE'S A JESUIT PRIEST WHO HAS SPENT THE PAST SIXTEEN YEARS HELPING GANG MEMBERS IN EAST LOS ANGELES TURN THEIR LIVES AROUND. NOW FATHER GREGORY BOYLE FACES A PERSONAL CRISIS THAT'S REMINDING SCORES OF PEOPLE JUST HOW IMPORTANT HE'S BEEN IN THEIR LIVES. HE HAS BEEN DIAGNOSED WITH LEUKEMIA. AS HE DEALS WITH THE SIDE EFFECTS OF CHEMOTHERAPY, FATHER BOYLE IS STILL RUNNING HOMEBOY INDUSTRIES, THE JOBS PROJECT HE STARTED TO GIVE GANG MEMBERS A SECOND CHANCE. PHILIP BRUCE TAKES US THERE FOR A CONVERSATION WITH FATHER GREG.

PHILIP BRUCE>> WHAT'S BEEN THE REACTION OF THE COMMUNITY TO FINDING OUT ABOUT YOUR CONDITION?

FATHER GREGORY BOYLE>> WELL, I WAS DIAGNOSED WITH LEUKEMIA AT THE END OF MARCH AND I BEGAN CHEMOTHERAPY RIGHT AWAY IN APRIL. I THINK, INITIALLY, PEOPLE DON'T KNOW WHAT TO THINK OF THAT. I MEAN, I FEEL LIKE I WILL PROBABLY DIE OF SOMETHING ELSE AT SOME POINT.

PHILIP BRUCE>> SO YOU FEEL OPTIMISTIC ABOUT THIS?

FATHER GREGORY BOYLE>> OH, SURE, YEAH. THEY, OF COURSE, GET VERY -- THERE'S A LOT OF INVESTMENT THERE AND MUTUAL AND YET I THINK IT'S HEARTENING FOR THEM TO SEE ME HERE. I'VE BEEN IN THE HOSPITAL A COUPLE OF TIMES, BUT I HAVE BEEN TOLERATING STUFF PRETTY WELL.

PHILIP BRUCE>> THEY'RE USED TO SEEING YOU AS SOMEBODY THEY CAN COUNT ON. I GUESS AT LEAST ONE GENERATION AND MAYBE MORE OF YOUNG FOLKS HAVE GROWN UP RELYING ON YOU. IS THERE ANY FEAR ON THEIR PART THAT YOU WON'T ALWAYS BE THERE TO HELP THEM?

FATHER GREGORY BOYLE>> YEAH. I MEAN, I THINK -- IT'S JUST BEEN AN ENDLESS PROCESSION THE FIRST TWO MONTHS, AN ENDLESS ARRAY OF PEOPLE COMING IN, WELL-WISHERS AND HOMIES AND FOLKS THAT I'VE KNOWN FOR MANY YEARS, WHO HEAR AND COME IN TO MY OFFICE AND CRY. YOU KNOW, WE SORT OF HAVE TO LET THEM DO THAT AND LET THEM EXPRESS WHAT THEY NEED TO SAY. IT ALSO, OF COURSE, GIVES YOU AN OPPORTUNITY TO EXPRESS WHAT YOU NEED TO SAY TO THEM AS WELL.

PHILIP BRUCE>> YOU'RE A MAN OF FAITH, BUT WHAT'S IT LIKE FOR YOU TO HAVE TO GO THROUGH THIS?

FATHER GREGORY BOYLE>> GOSH, YOU KNOW, THERE ARE SO MANY OTHER PRESSING THINGS IN THE WORLD AND IN THIS COMMUNITY THAN A KIND OF ILLNESS, IT SEEMS TO ME. I MEAN, I HAVE TO RESPECT THE PEOPLE. THIS IS ON THEIR WAVELENGTH AND THEY PROJECT ONTO YOU THEIR FEARS ABOUT DEATH AND THAT KIND OF THING. BUT THERE ARE A LOT MORE PRESSING URGENT ISSUES THAT HAVE TO BE TENDED TO RIGHT NOW.

THEN I FEEL LIKE IN THE END NOT JUST AS A PERSON OF FAITH, BUT IN THE DEEPEST PART OF ME THAT DEATH HAS NO POWER REALLY AND LOVE IS ALREADY VICTORIOUS AND YOU SORT OF LIKE, OH, WELL, YOU DEAL WITH THE STUFF THAT'S RIGHT IN FRONT OF YOU. PLUS, I'M HOPEFUL ABOUT HOW THINGS WORK AND HOW THE TREATMENT. IT'S JUST ONE DAY AT A TIME, JUST TRYING TO KEEP THE SORT OF NAUSEA DISTRACTED FOR A WHILE. I COME INTO THE OFFICE. IT'S BETTER THAN STAYING AT HOME.

PHILIP BRUCE>> YOU'VE SEEN SO MANY YOUNG FOLKS NOT MAKE IT. YOU'VE ATTENDED A LOT OF FUNERALS OVER THE YEARS AND WE'VE COME OFF A PARTICULARLY VIOLENT TIME IN LOS ANGELES AND EAST L.A. WHAT'S IT LIKE NOW? ARE YOU SEEING NEW CAUSES FOR HOPE AND OPTIMISM THAT SOME OF THAT VIOLENCE MAY BE GOING AWAY?

FATHER GREGORY BOYLE>> WELL, YOU KNOW, I HAVE SORT OF A HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE. MANY YEARS IN THIS COMMUNITY, YOU KNOW, NOTHING WILL EVER COMPARE TO KIND OF THE PERIOD OF TIME THAT WAS QUITE INTENSE FROM THE MID-80'S TO THE MID-90'S. YOU KNOW, ONCE I HAD BURIED EIGHT KIDS IN A THREE-WEEK PERIOD. THAT WAS INTENSE. I BURIED MY 116TH KID A COUPLE OF MONTHS AGO. BUT NOTHING HAS COMPARED IN THE LAST FIVE YEARS FOR ALL THE OCCASIONAL INCREASES THAT WE'VE SEEN. IT'S NOT AT THE LEVEL THAT WE KNEW, YOU KNOW, TEN YEARS AGO.

PHILIP BRUCE>> I KNOW LOOKING HERE AT HOMEBOY INDUSTRIES, YOU'VE USED A LOT OF TOOLS OVER THE YEARS TO MAKE THIS HAPPEN, TO MAKE A LOT OF GOOD THINGS HAPPEN FOR YOUNG PEOPLE IN TROUBLE. I WONDER IF YOU MAY BE USING LEUKEMIA NOW AS A TOOL TO GET A MESSAGE ACROSS AND MAYBE GET SOME OF THESE FOLKS TO PAY ATTENTION.

FATHER GREGORY BOYLE>> WELL, YOU KNOW, A SORT OF ATTENTION HAS COME TO THIS PLACE BECAUSE THERE WAS AN ARTICLE ABOUT ME BEING ILL. THE NEXT THING YOU KNOW, THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF ATTENTION AND, OF COURSE, THAT'S BROUGHT A LOT OF HOMIES HERE, SOME WHO ARE OUT OF THE ACTIVE GANGBANGING AND SOME WHO ARE STILL KIND OF ONE FOOT IN OR IN. SO IT ALWAYS GIVES YOU AN OPPORTUNITY TO LEVERAGE SOMETHING. IF YOU CAN DO IT USING THEIR OWN KIND OF SENSE OF SYMPATHY AND CONNECTION TO YOU THAT'S EMOTIONAL AND DEEP, YOU KNOW, I'VE BEEN DOING THAT SINCE THE DAY I GOT HERE. SO GOD SORT OF HANDS THINGS TO YOU AND SAYS, WELL, WHY DON'T YOU USE THIS IN THIS WAY WITH THIS KID? JUST YESTERDAY -- I MEAN, IT HAPPENS ALL THE TIME WHERE YOU CAN ALL OF A SUDDEN THEY'RE AT AN EMOTIONAL LOCK WITH YOU AND THEN YOU CAN SAY STUFF THAT MORTALITY SORT OF ALLOWS YOU TO RAISE THAT YOU WEREN'T ABLE TO RAISE EFFECTIVELY BEFORE.

PHILIP BRUCE>> LIKE WHAT?

FATHER GREGORY BOYLE>> WELL, WE CAN JUST TALK TO KIDS AT A LEVEL WHERE THEY'RE TELLING YOU HOW MUCH YOU MEAN TO THEM AND THEN YOU TELL THEM AND THEN YOU KIND OF ARTICULATE FOR THEM WHAT YOU THINK SORT OF GOD'S DREAM AND DESIRE AND WISHES FOR THEM, WHICH IS THE HOPE TO PULL BACK AND REDIRECT, LEAVE BEHIND ALL THIS STUFF THAT WE'D AGREE GANG MEMBERS OUGHT TO LEAVE BEHIND.

PHILIP BRUCE>> I KNOW YOU HAVEN'T TALKED A LOT ABOUT THE PARTICULARS OF WHAT YOUR DIAGNOSIS IS, BUT WHAT IS YOUR DAILY EXPERIENCE WITH THIS LIKE? HOW ARE YOU COPING WITH IT? WHAT ARE YOU FACING?

FATHER GREGORY BOYLE>> I'M OKAY. I JUST FINISHED ON WEDNESDAY MY FOURTH CYCLE OF CHEMO, SO THESE FOUR DAYS ARE SORT OF YOU DON'T FEEL GREAT, YOU KNOW. LIKE I SAY, I COME IN HERE TO SORT OF DISTRACT MYSELF AND I DISAPPEAR AND GO HOME AND REST WHEN I FEEL LIKE I CAN'T REALLY HANG IN HERE. BUT I'D RATHER BE HERE THAN JUST AT HOME TO THE EXTENT THAT I CAN DO IT WITHOUT, YOU KNOW, GETTING TOO IRRITATED BY HOW I'M FEELING. I'D PREFER TO BE HERE. BUT I THINK I'LL BE OKAY AND I THINK, YOU KNOW, MY BLOOD COUNT SEEMS TO BE GOING OKAY, SO THINGS SEEM TO BE WORKING.

PHILIP BRUCE>> YOU'VE CLEARLY GOT A BIG JOB AHEAD OF YOU HERE. DO YOU WANT TO DO IT?

FATHER GREGORY BOYLE>> YEAH. I MEAN, I'M HOPEFUL ABOUT WHAT THE NEXT STEPS WOULD BE HERE AT HOMEBOY INDUSTRIES. OBVIOUSLY, WE'VE GROWN AND I THINK THERE'S NOTHING LIKE IT IN THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA. WE GET A THOUSAND GANG MEMBERS WHO COME THROUGH OUR DOORS A MONTH AND WE'RE HAPPY TO CREATE AN ENVIRONMENT HERE THAT'S KIND OF AN OASIS OF WELCOME AND A PLACE WHERE THEY FEEL A DEEP SENSE OF REALLY A COMMUNITY OF UNCONDITIONAL LOVE.

PHILIP BRUCE>> I'M SURE WE'LL COME BACK THIS TIME NEXT YEAR AND MANY YEARS TO COME AND WE'LL HAVE THESE SAME CONVERSATIONS.

FATHER GREGORY BOYLE>> ABSOLUTELY.

PHILIP BRUCE>> TAKE CARE. GOOD LUCK TO YOU.

FATHER GREGORY BOYLE>> THANK YOU, PHIL.

VAL>> AS YOU'VE HEARD, FATHER GREG IS CONFIDENT HE'LL MAKE A FULL RECOVERY, BUT HE DOESN'T TALK IN GREAT DETAIL ABOUT THE PROGNOSIS. HE SAYS HE DISCOVERED THE ILLNESS BY ACCIDENT AFTER TRYING TO GIVE BLOOD. INITIALLY, DOCTORS THOUGHT HE WAS JUST RUNDOWN. ONLY LATER DID THEY REALIZE HE WAS SUFFERING FROM LEUKEMIA.

KCET.ORG IS THE PLACE TO LOOK FOR THE VERY LATEST ON LIFE AND TIMES. YOU'LL FIND PREVIEWS OF UPCOMING STORIES, TRANSCRIPTS AND AUDIO OF PAST EPISODES AND LINKS TO SOME OF OUR MOST INTERESTING FEATURES. JUST GO TO KCET.ORG AND CLICK ON "LIFE AND TIMES".

PHILIP BRUCE>> OUR NEXT STORY TONIGHT IS ABOUT A NEW HIGH-TECH ENGINE THAT COULD PRODUCE CLEANER AIR AND SAVE US ALL A LOT OF MONEY ON ENERGY. IT RUNS SO CLEAN THAT YOU CAN ACTUALLY DRINK THE STUFF THAT COMES OUT OF THE TAILPIPE AND, WHILE THAT MAY SOUND LIKE SOMETHING OUT OF SCIENCE FICTION, IT'S ACTUALLY A FACT OF LIFE NEAR PALM SPRINGS. THAT'S WHERE DAVID GARCIA FOUND THIS UNIQUE ENGINE IN USE AND TONIGHT HE TELLS US HOW IT MIGHT ONE DAY BE A SOLUTION TO MANY OF AMERICA'S PROBLEMS.

DAVID GARCIA>> THE BUBBLES ARE THE ONLY THING YOU CAN SEE MOVING, BUT THIS FUEL CELL DEVELOPED BY SUNLINE'S TRANSIT AGENCY IN THE DESERT COMMUNITY OF THOUSAND PALMS TURNS OUT ALL THE ELECTRICITY NEEDED TO POWER A SMALL OFFICE BUILDING.

RICHARD CROMWELL>> IF THIS CAN BE PERFECTED OR GO TO WHERE IT NEEDS TO GO, WE'RE NOT GOING TO HAVE TO HAVE WARS OVER OIL ANYMORE. PRETTY NEAT CONCEPT.

DAVID GARCIA>> THE TECHNOLOGY IS THE SAME POWER SOURCE THAT RUNS THIS FUEL CELL BUS ALSO DEVELOPED BY THE SUNLINE'S TRANSIT AGENCY, THE OLD DIESEL STINKPOTS REPLACED WITH POWER PRODUCED FROM NATURAL ELEMENTS ALL AROUND US. WHAT WE'RE SEEING IS A DIFFERENT MINDSET FOR POWER?

RICHARD CROMWELL>> YEAH, A TOTALLY DIFFERENT MINDSET TO WHERE WE'RE NO LONGER DEPENDENT ON FOREIGN OIL OR ANY OIL ANYWHERE, WHETHER YOU'RE FOREIGN OR NOT FOREIGN. A RICH COUNTRY, POOR COUNTRY, MAKES NO DIFFERENCE BECAUSE THE PLAYING FIELD IS LEVEL. HYDROGEN ALLOWS US TO DEVOTE THOSE KINDS OF ENERGIES, WAR ENERGIES, TO SOMETHING ELSE.

DAVID GARCIA>> AND THAT DEMONSTRATION OF SOMETHING ELSE IS UP AND RUNNING, CRANKING OUT ELECTRICITY IN ONE OF THE SUNLINE BUILDINGS.

RICHARD CROMWELL>> YOU CAN ACTUALLY SEE HOW IT WORKS. YOU'LL SEE THE SUN MAKING ELECTRICITY, SPLITTING THE WATER, THE HYDROGEN BROUGHT TO HERE, RECOMBINED AND MAKING ELECTRICITY TO RUN THE LIGHTS IN THIS BUILDING. WE THINK THIS IS A PRECURSOR TO WHAT MIGHT BE IN YOUR HOME SOMEDAY. NOT QUITE AS BIG AS THIS BECAUSE IT WILL GET SMALLER AND MORE COMPACT AND SIMPLER, BUT WE HAVE TO KEEP BUILDING ON THAT TECHNOLOGY. JUST LIKE WE DO WITH CARS, WE'VE GOT TO DO THAT WITH STATIONARY, SO THAT WE REALLY CAN BE THAT ALTERNATIVE.

DAVID GARCIA>> AND ADD THE ADDITIONAL BENEFIT THAT IT'S NONPOLLUTING. THE ONLY BYPRODUCT IS, IN FACT, WATER.

RICHARD CROMWELL>> I THINK 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, WORKS JUST AS WELL, WHY WOULDN'T I CHOOSE THAT? AND FOR THE FIRST TIME, OUR YOUNG PEOPLE HAVE THAT CHOICE.
YOU KNOW, THERE WAS GASOLINE OR THERE WAS DIESEL. THAT'S ALL THERE WAS. WELL, NOW THERE IS NATURAL GAS AND VERY SOON THERE'S GOING TO BE HYDROGEN. IF WE TEACH EVERYBODY THE PLUSES AND THE MINUSES OF ALL OF THIS, I HAVE A LOT OF FAITH THAT OUR FOLKS ARE GOING TO CHOOSE THE RIGHT CHOICE AND THAT'S THE CLEAN CHOICE, THE HEALTHY CHOICE.

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.

VAL>> IT USED TO BE THE TALLEST OFFICE BUILDING IN THE SAN FERNANDO VALLEY, BUT IT WAS NEVER VERY WIDE. ONLY THIRTY-FIVE FEET, SO CAME THE OBVIOUS NICKNAME OF "THE SKINNY SKYSCRAPER". WELL, A LOT OF THINGS HAVE CHANGED IN THE VALLEY, BUT THE BUILDING HAS BECOME AN ENDURING LANDMARK PERHAPS WITH A BRIGHT FUTURE. THAT'S WHY WE ASKED TONI GUINYARD TO GIVE US THE SKINNY ON THE SKINNY SCRAPER.

TONI GUINYARD>> ON ANY GIVEN DAY, HUNDREDS OF CARS PASS BY THE WELLS FARGO HIGH-RISE OFFICE TOWER AT THE CORNER OF VICTORY BOULEVARD AND BELLINGHAM AVENUE IN NORTH HOLLYWOOD. PERHAPS IT'S CAUGHT YOUR EYE. PERHAPS YOU'VE EVEN GIVEN IT A SECOND LOOK. BUT IF BY CHANCE, YOU'VE IGNORED THE TOWERING SENTRY STANDING GUARD OVER THE SMALLER BUSINESSES THAT MAKE UP THE VALLEY PLAZA SHOPPING CENTER, NOW'S THE TIME TO TAKE A CLOSER LOOK.

CECILIO WILMOT>> WHEN THEY BUILT THIS BUILDING, IT WAS THE TALLEST BUILDING IN THE VALLEY, SO EVERYTHING WAS CENTERED AROUND THIS BUILDING.

TONI GUINYARD>> IT WAS A MUCH DIFFERENT ERA AS SEEN IN THIS AERIAL PHOTOGRAPH FROM NOVEMBER 1956. BACK THEN, AN ECONOMIC REPORT CALLED THIS SPOT THE NATION'S FASTEST-GROWING SUBURBAN AREA AND NEWEST BILLION DOLLAR RETAIL MARKET. THAT'S WHEN THE VALLEY PLAZA SHOPPING CENTER WAS BORN, HOME OF THE BUILDING CALLED THE TOWER BY SOME, A SKYSCRAPER BY OTHERS. IT WAS COMPLETED IN 1960, THE CROWNING TOUCH ON A THRIVING SHOPPING CENTER PROJECT.

WHILE VALLEY PLAZA ISN'T EXACTLY WHAT IT USED TO BE, IF YOU ASK ANY LONG-TIME SAN FERNANDO VALLEY RESIDENT ABOUT THE PLAZA OR ABOUT THE TOWER, THEY'LL START TELLING YOU STORIES THAT BEGIN WITH "I REMEMBER WHEN".

BRUCE SPIEGEL>> IT WAS THE EARLY SUBURBS. IT WAS WHEN SUBURBIA HIT LOS ANGELES, EXPANDED OUT INTO THE VALLEY. THE VALLEY PLAZA AREA WAS THE FIRST OUTDOOR SHOPPING CENTER TYPE THING.

TONI GUINYARD>> BRUCE SPIEGEL IS PRESIDENT OF THE UNIVERSAL CITY NORTH HOLLYWOOD CHAMBER OF COMMERCE. ASK HIM ABOUT THE TOWER AND VALLEY PLAZA AND THE FORMER SHOPS SEEM TO SPRING TO LIFE.

BRUCE SPIEGEL>> YEAH, IT'S WHERE ALL THE SHOPPING HAPPENED. THERE WAS AN ICE-SKATING RINK IN THERE. AN ICE-SKATING RINK INDOORS WAS JUST AMAZING. I MEAN, I WAS A LITTLE KID AT THE TIME AND I CAN'T BELIEVE THAT I'M NOW TALKING LIKE, YOU KNOW, THIS WAS WAY BACK, THE OLD DAYS. YOU KNOW, I DON'T THINK OF MYSELF AS BEING THAT OLD (LAUGHTER).

TONI GUINYARD>> SPIEGEL'S MOST VIVID MEMORIES ARE OF THE BUILDING'S MURAL.

BRUCE SPIEGEL>> THEY WOULDN'T PUT THEM UP OVERNIGHT. THEY WOULD HAPPEN LIKE A LITTLE HERE, A LITTLE THERE. YOU DRIVE BY ONE TIME AND THERE WOULD BE A LITTLE BIT OF IT THERE. YOU DRIVE BY ANOTHER TIME, A LITTLE BIT MORE WOULD BE FINISHED. IT WAS ALWAYS REALLY EXCITING TO SEE THAT. IT CHANGED A COUPLE OF TIMES THROUGH THE YEARS, BUT IT WAS ALWAYS ON THAT ONE SIDE. THE MURAL WASN'T ON BOTH SIDES. IT WAS ONLY ON THE WEST SIDE.

TONI GUINYARD>> WHILE THE MURAL HAS ALWAYS BEEN AN ATTENTION-GETTER, SOME ADMIRERS SAY IT SIMPLY IS NOT ENOUGH. THEY WANT WHAT THEY CAN'T HAVE. THEY WANT TO GO INSIDE. THEY WANT TO GO TO THE TOP FLOOR AND LOOK DOWN BELOW.

CECILIO WILMOT>> PEOPLE ALWAYS COME AND THEY SAY, OH, I'VE SEEN THIS BUILDING FOR SO LONG AND I'D LIKE TO GO UP AND TAKE A LOOK AND SEE WHAT IT'S LIKE, BUT WELLS FARGO DOESN'T ALLOW IT.

TONI GUINYARD>> PERHAPS IT'S NOT ALLOWED BECAUSE ONLY AFTER GOING INSIDE DO YOU REALIZE THE BUILDING IS, WELL, NARROW. IT'S 156 FEET TALL, BUT ONLY 35 FEET WIDE.

CECILIO WILMOT>> FROM THE OUTSIDE, IT LOOKS LIKE A REAL LARGE BUILDING, BUT WHEN YOU GO ONTO THE FLOOR, IT'S NOT AS LARGE AS IT LOOKS FROM THE OUTSIDE. THERE ARE JUST TWO SIDES OF THE BUILDING THAT YOU CAN REALLY SEE ANYTHING FROM. YOU CAN SEE FROM THE NORTH SIDE AND YOU CAN SEE FROM THE SOUTH SIDE. YOU CAN SEE AS FAR AS UNIVERSAL STUDIOS ON THE SOUTH SIDE AND, ON THE NORTH SIDE, YOU CAN SEE AS FAR AS SYLMAR, MAYBE FURTHER, ALMOST TO MAGIC MOUNTAIN IF YOU GO HIGH ENOUGH.

TONI GUINYARD>> WILMOT HOPES HE'LL BE ABLE TO TAKE IN THIS VIEW FOR YEARS TO COME, BUT HE KNOWS CHANGES ARE INEVITABLE. THE VALLEY PLAZA IS DUE TO GET A FACELIFT AS PART OF A PLAN TO REVIVE THE ONCE-POPULAR SHOPPING DISTRICT.

BRUCE SPIEGEL>> IT'S AT SUCH AN INCREDIBLE JUNCTURE, RIGHT THERE BY THE HOLLYWOOD FREEWAY. IT'S SMACK IN THE MIDDLE OF THE EAST VALLEY, WHICH IS LIKE CLOSE TO THE BURBANK SIDE, CLOSE TO THE NORTH VALLEY, AND THERE IS NO SHOPPING MALLS IN ANY WAY, SHAPE OR FORM ANYWHERE OUT IN THOSE AREAS. THERE IS NOTHING UP TOWARDS THE NORTH, THERE IS NOTHING TOWARDS THE CENTER OF THE AREA, SO THAT SEARS IS ONE OF SEARS' TOP PERFORMING STORIES IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA BECAUSE THERE IS NO OTHER COMPETITION AROUND THE AREA.

TONI GUINYARD>> THE VALLEY PLAZA SHOPPING CENTER HAS CHANGED OVER THE YEARS, YET SOME OF ITS BUILDINGS HAVE BECOME FAMILIAR LANDMARKS. THE TOWER IS JUST ONE. SO PERHAPS THE NEXT TIME YOU DRIVE BY, YOU'LL TAKE A MOMENT TO GIVE IT MORE THAN A PASSING GLANCE. TAKE TIME TO REMEMBER ITS HISTORY.

VAL>> TONI TELLS US THE BUILDING HAS JUST ONE ELEVATOR. THAT'S ALL IT HAS ROOM FOR, AND EACH FLOOR HAS A TINY ELEVATOR LOBBY JUST THREE FEET WIDE.

THAT'S OUR PROGRAM. I'M VAL ZAVALA. FOR ALL OF US HERE AT LIFE AND TIMES, THANKS FOR WATCHING. WE'LL SEE YOU NEXT TIME.

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, THE COP WHO'S TRYING TO GET JUSTICE FOR AN OLD CRIME, BUT DID THE PRIEST WHO ALLEGEDLY MOLESTED HIM GET AWAY SCOT FREE?

>> THEY COULD PUT, YOU KNOW, A HUNDRED PRIESTS IN PRISON. IT'S NOT REALLY GOING TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE. WHAT'S GOING TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE IS WHEN THEY LOOK AT THEIR CHECKBOOK AND REALIZE THAT THEY LOST A TON OF MONEY.

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