7/30/03

LC030730

VAL ZAVALA>> TONIGHT ON LIFE AND TIMES --

CROWDING OUT THE NEEDY TO MAKE WAY FOR A NEW DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES. ARE DEVELOPERS GOING TOO FAR?

ALICE CALLAGHAN>> SPECULATORS ARE THROWING MONEY AT ANY PIECE OF PROPERTY THEY CAN FIND ON MAIN STREET. PROPERTY VALUES ARE RISING RAPIDLY. WE CANNOT COMPETE IN THAT MARKET.

VAL>> AND THEN, WE'LL LOOK AT SOME FRENCH MASTERPIECES ON THEIR FIRST TRIP TO AMERICA.

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 DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES. IF YOU'RE THE TYPICAL SOUTHERN CALIFORNIAN, CHANCES ARE IT'S BEEN A WHILE SINCE YOU'VE BEEN IN THIS NEIGHBORHOOD. BUT DEVELOPERS ARE HOPING THAT WILL CHANGE SOON AS DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES BECOMES MORE OF A DESTINATION. BUT PROGRESS COULD TAKE A HUGE TOLL ON THE HOMELESS POPULATION THAT LIVES ON THE STREETS YEAR ROUND. WE HEAR FROM BOTH SIDES OF THE ISSUE STARTING WITH A HOMELESS ADVOCATE WHO THINKS DOWNTOWN DEVELOPERS ARE GOING TOO FAR. PHILIP BRUCE HAS OUR STORY.

PHILIP BRUCE>> EVERYBODY KNOWS ABOUT SKID ROW'S HOMELESS. LIKE MOST OF THE REST OF US, THEY HAVE THEIR ROUTINES. MANY OF THEM -- THE NUMBER IS THOUGHT TO BE ABOUT A THOUSAND -- CAMP EVERY NIGHT ALONG THE AREA'S SIDEWALKS. COME MORNING, THEY MAKE WAY FOR THE WORK CREWS WHO TAKE OVER THE STREETS, THE PEOPLE WHO SWEEP AWAY THE DEBRIS AND CART OFF THE CARDBOARD BOXES THAT SERVE AS SHELTERS FOR THE HOMELESS. BUT THERE'S A MUCH LARGER, THOUGH MUCH LESS VISIBLE, GROUP OF PEOPLE WHO CALL SKID ROW HOME.

ALICE CALLAGHAN>> THE BIGGEST ISSUE CONFRONTING LOS ANGELES'S SKID ROW IS NOT WHAT TO DO WITH THE HOMELESS POPULATION THAT'S VISIBLE ON THE SIDEWALK, BUT IT'S HOW TO KEEP HOUSED A VERY ENDANGERED LOW-INCOME HOUSING SET OF TENANTS.

PHILIP BRUCE>> FOR TWENTY-ONE YEARS, ALICE CALLAGHAN HAS BEEN A SKID ROW ACTIVIST. ONCE A NUN AND NOW AN EPISCOPAL PRIEST, SHE FOUNDED THE SKID ROW HOUSING TRUST IN THE 1980'S. HER MISSION? TO PRESERVE AND REHABILITATE THE AREA'S OLD HOTELS FOR LOW-INCOME TENANTS. EIGHT THOUSAND PEOPLE NOW LIVE IN THESE HOTELS FULL-TIME AND THEIR NUMBERS FAR EXCEED THOSE OF THE HOMELESS. THE PRODUCE HOTEL IS ONE OF THE HOUSING TRUST'S EIGHTEEN BUILDINGS.

GREGORY>> I REALLY APPRECIATE THIS PLACE BECAUSE IT'S LIKE RIGHT ON TIME FOR ME BECAUSE I HAD LIKE ANOTHER THREE DAYS BEFORE MY MONEY WAS RUNNING OUT.

SAMUEL>> I DON'T MIND IT. IT'S PEACEFUL, IT'S CLEAN AND IT'S SAFE.

DION SMITH>> ALL I CAN SAY IS THAT, IF IT WASN'T FOR THIS PLACE, IT WOULD BE DEVASTATING TO ANYONE THAT EVER WANTED TO TRY TO RE-GROW OR TO MAKE SOMETHING OUT OF THEMSELVES. IT GIVES YOU A CHANCE TO REBUILD YOURSELF, TO RE-GROW, TO REFURBISH, WHAT HAVE YOU. IF IT WASN'T FOR THIS PLACE, THERE WOULD BE A LOT MORE PEOPLE ON THE STREET OR PLACES LIKE THIS.

PHILIP BRUCE>> ALICE CALLAGHAN'S DREAM IS FOR NONPROFIT GROUPS SUCH AS HERS TO TAKE OVER AS MANY OF THE AREA'S SINGLE-ROOM OCCUPANCY HOTELS AS POSSIBLE. AT THIS POINT, NONPROFITS HAVE ACQUIRED AND IMPROVED OVER HALF OF THESE HOTELS, BUT THEY HOUSE ONLY A THIRD OF THE AREA'S POOR RESIDENTS. THE MAJORITY STILL LIVE IN LARGE, RUNDOWN HOTELS THAT ARE OPERATED FOR PROFIT. CALLAGHAN HAS HER EYE ON THESE PLACES, ESPECIALLY THOSE ON MAIN STREET WHICH HAS BEEN DESIGNATED AS PART OF DOWNTOWN'S HISTORIC CORE.

ALICE CALLAGHAN>> WE WOULD LOVE TO GET THE ROSSLYN HOTEL JUST BECAUSE IT'S RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE, AND IF WE COULD SECURE ENOUGH OF THE HOUSING IN THE MIDDLE OF MAIN STREET, WE ALREADY OWN ALL THE SMALL HOUSING ON MAIN STREET FOR A THREE OR FOUR BLOCK AREA, BUT IF WE COULD SECURE AT LEAST ONE OF THE LARGE HOUSING UNITS, THEN I THINK IT DISCOURAGES OTHER THINGS FROM HAPPENING ON THAT STREET.

PHILIP BRUCE>> THE ROSSLYN HOTEL IS AT 5TH AND MAIN AND, IF YOU WANT TO UNDERSTAND WHAT CALLAGHAN MEANS BY OTHER THINGS HAPPENING ON THE STREET, FOLLOW HER TO THE SCENE A BLOCK AWAY AT 4TH AND MAIN.

ALICE CALLAGHAN>> THERE IS PETE'S CAFÉ. IT'S A FANCY RESTAURANT. YOU'VE JUST PASSED ALL THESE HOMELESS PEOPLE ON MAIN STREET, THE POOREST OF THE POOR OUT IN THE CITY SIDEWALKS, AND THEN SUDDENLY HERE'S THIS FANCY RESTAURANT, A LITTLE MARKET WITH BASKETS OF FRUIT OUTSIDE ON DISPLAY, PEOPLE COMING OUT OF THE DOOR WITH SECURITY GUARDS THERE, WALKING THEIR FANCY DOGS WITH THEIR NICE SWEATERS AND THE NICE SHIRTS ON. THE DISCONNECT IS ABSOLUTELY STARTLING. ON MAIN STREET ALONE, IN LOS ANGELES'S SKID ROW, MORE THAN ONE-THIRD OF ALL THE PEOPLE OF SKID ROW LIVE ON MAIN STREET. SO WHAT HAPPENS TO THE HOUSING ON MAIN STREET IS VERY, VERY CRITICAL.

PHILIP BRUCE>> MANY PEOPLE SPEAK GLOWINGLY OF HOW ABANDONED MAIN STREET BUILDINGS HAVE BEEN TURNED INTO LOFTS. TENANT JOHN LINDAUER IS AMONG THEM.

JOHN LINDAUER>> I HAVE LIVED IN DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES SINCE 1999 AND IN THIS IMMEDIATE AREA FOR ABOUT A YEAR AND A HALF SINCE 2002. I JUST LOVE LIVING IN A CITY, YOU KNOW, AND THIS IS REALLY THE PART OF LOS ANGELES THAT FEELS AND APPEARS AND SEEMS AND BEHAVES LIKE A CITY. YOU KNOW, IT'S GOOD.

PHILIP BRUCE>> BUT ALICE CALLAGHAN SEES NOTHING GOOD ABOUT WHAT'S HAPPENING AT 4TH AND MAIN.

ALICE CALLAGHAN>> SPECULATORS ARE THROWING MONEY AT ANY PIECE OF PROPERTY THEY CAN FIND ON MAIN STREET. PROPERTY VALUES ARE RISING RAPIDLY. WE CANNOT COMPETE IN THAT MARKET. WHAT'S HAPPENING AT THE CORNER OF 4TH AND MAIN HAS MADE IT IMPOSSIBLE FOR US TO BUY HOTELS ANYWHERE SOUTH OF THAT, SO THOSE LARGE HOTELS IN A SENSE ARE BEING HELD HOSTAGE WHILE EVERYBODY IS WAITING TO SORT OUT WHAT MIGHT OR MIGHT NOT HAPPEN IN THE DOWNTOWN AREA. MEANWHILE, THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE ARE LIVING IN THEM AND ARE AT RISK OF LOSING THAT HOUSING.

PHILIP BRUCE>> SOME SAY THEY DON'T MIND IF MORE AFFLUENT PEOPLE MOVE INTO THE AREA.

>> WELL, PEOPLE ARE PEOPLE. THEY'RE HUMAN BEINGS JUST LIKE WE ARE, SO THEY HAVE A RIGHT JUST LIKE WE DO TO LIVE WHERE THEY WANT TO LIVE. THIS IS AMERICA, YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN?

PHILIP BRUCE>> AND NOT EVERYONE THINKS THE DEVELOPERS WILL SUCCEED.

>> ACTUALLY, I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THIS HAPPEN, BUT I THINK YOU MIGHT HAVE TO CALL IN THE MILITARY TO CLEAN THIS PLACE UP. THE LAPD CAN'T DO IT. YOU SEE THIS CORNER RIGHT HERE? WHAT IS THAT? 5TH AND MAIN? IT'S GOING TO BE LIKE TRYING TO TAKE SADDAM HUSSEIN'S SONS.

PHILIP BRUCE>> BUT OTHERS WORRY WHAT LOSING THE OLD HOTELS WOULD MEAN.

MARVETTE MAZONE-ALSTON>> THE POOR PEOPLE SUCH AS MYSELF, I MEAN, WE DON'T HAVE AN OPTION. I MEAN, THIS IS HOME TO US, SO WE DON'T HAVE A CHOICE. IF THIS WASN'T HERE, THEN WE WOULD PROBABLY BE HOMELESS.

PHILIP BRUCE>> AND THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT MOTIVATES ALICE CALLAGHAN.

ALICE CALLAGHAN>> EVERY TIME YOU GO AND YOU TALK TO SOMEBODY LIVING IN A CARDBOARD BOX OR YOU TALK TO SOMEBODY WHO, FOR THE FIRST TIME, HAS MOVED INTO THE HOUSING, FOR THE FIRST TIME FEELS LIKE A REAL HUMAN BEING BECAUSE THEY'RE IN A ROOM AND HAVE A ROOM TO GO BACK TO, YOU GET ALL THE ENERGY YOU NEED TO COME OUT AND FIGHT THOSE BATTLES ANOTHER DAY. YOU KNOW, GIVING PEOPLE A CLEAN, SAFE PLACE TO LIVE WON'T SOLVE THE DRUG PROBLEM, WON'T SOLVE THE UNEMPLOYMENT PROBLEM, WON'T SOLVE ANY OF THE MENTAL HEALTH PROBLEM, BUT YOU CAN'T EVEN BEGIN TO WORK ON THOSE PROBLEMS UNTIL PEOPLE ARE LIVING IN CLEAN, SAFE HOUSING.

PHILIP BRUCE>> CALLAGHAN BELIEVES IT'S A MYTH THAT PEOPLE LIVING ON SKID ROW WANT TO BE ON THE STREETS. SHE POINTS OUT THAT EVERY SINGLE AFFORDABLE HOUSING UNIT IN THE AREA HAS A WAITING LIST. AT THE MOMENT, THE HOUSING TRUST EFFORT TO FINALIZE THE PURCHASE OF ONE BIG HOTEL HAS STALLED, BUT CALLAGHAN PUSHES ON.

ALICE CALLAGHAN>> THE ONLY WAY TO REALLY WIN ON THE ROW IS TO OWN THE REAL ESTATE. ONCE WE OWN ALL OF SKID ROW HOUSING, THEN IN A SENSE IT DOESN'T MATTER HOW THE POLITICS CHANGE OR WHO'S IN OFFICE. EVERYBODY ON SKID ROW WILL CONTINUE TO BE HOUSED. SO IF WE COULD GET AT LEAST ONE OF THE BIG HOTELS ON MAIN STREET, AND THERE ARE ACTUALLY AT LEAST FOUR RIGHT IN THE CENTER, WE'D LIKE TO GET LARGE HOTELS, THEN IN A SENSE WE'VE SAVED THE ROW FOR THE POOR OF THE ROW. I DON'T CARE THEN IF THEY PUT A HILTON IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROW BECAUSE THAT EXISTENCE OF THE HILTON THEN CAN NO LONGER THREATEN THE PRESERVATION OF THE HOUSING FOR THE POOR.

VAL>> ALICE CALLAGHAN HAS BEEN A TWENTY-YEAR FIXTURE ON SKID ROW AND, AS YOU SAW, SHE'S DETERMINED TO SAVE MAIN STREET FOR THE POOR. SHE CLAIMS IF DEVELOPERS CONTINUE TO GET THEIR HANDS ON THE OLD RESIDENTIAL HOTELS, HUNDREDS OF NEEDY WILL BE TURNED OUT ON THE STREETS.

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VAL>> NOW THE OTHER SIDE OF THE DOWNTOWN DEVELOPMENT STORY. WE'RE ABOUT TO HEAR FROM AN EXPERT ON HOW ALL THE RECENT GROWTH HERE IS TRANSFORMING THE LOCAL LANDSCAPE AND THE DOWNTOWN ECONOMY. CAROL SCHATZ IS PRESIDENT AND CEO OF THE CENTRAL CITY ASSOCIATION OF LOS ANGELES. I TALKED WITH HER ABOUT THE NOTION THAT DEVELOPERS ARE PUSHING OUT THE POOR TO MAKE WAY FOR AFFLUENT RESIDENTS AND BUSINESS PEOPLE.

VAL>> MY QUESTION IS, WE HAVE JUST SEEN A STORY ABOUT HOW THE HOMELESS ARE GETTING EASED OUT, PUSHED OUT, BECAUSE OF ALL THE DOWNTOWN REVITALIZATION, WHICH IS WONDERFUL, BUT THE DOWNSIDE IS THE HOMELESS MAY NOT HAVE A PLACE TO LIVE ANYMORE. WHAT'S YOUR TAKE ON THIS?

CAROL SCHATZ>> THERE ARE A NUMBER OF PEOPLE LIVING IN SRO, OR SINGLE ROOM OCCUPANCY HOTELS, THAT ARE TRULY NEEDY, WHO ARE HONEST AND PROBABLY WORKING IN VERY LOW INCOME JOBS AND NEED A PLACE THAT'S AT LOW-RENT LEVEL TO ALLOW THEM TO LIVE IN A DECENT WAY. UNFORTUNATELY, IN TOO MANY OF THOSE HOTELS, VAL, WE FIND ABSOLUTELY UNCONSCIONABLE CRIMINAL BEHAVIOR GOING ON. EVEN IF FACILITIES AND MORE BEDS WERE AVAILABLE, THOSE FACILITIES, OF COURSE, WOULD HAVE SOME KIND OF RULE. YOU WOULDN'T PROBABLY BE ABLE TO SHOOT UP IN THE FACILITY. YOU PROBABLY WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO COMMIT PROSTITUTION IN A FACILITY LIKE THAT. THOSE INDIVIDUALS -- WE KNOW, BECAUSE WE HAVE AN OUTREACH PROGRAM AND WE'VE MADE AN EFFORT TO TALK TO THESE FOLKS AND BRING THEM IN TO SOME KIND OF SERVICE -- DON'T WANT THOSE SERVICES. THEY WANT TO BE ABLE TO LIVE ON THE STREET.

VAL>> NOW ALICE CALLAGHAN WILL SAY, HOWEVER, THAT THE NOTION -- I THINK ACTUALLY POLICE CHIEF BRATTON SAID THIS TOO, THAT THERE ARE ALL THESE PEOPLE WHO WANT TO LIVE ON THE STREET -- SHE SAYS NOT SO BECAUSE JUST LOOK AT THE WAITING LIST FOR PEOPLE WHO WANT TO GET INTO THIS LOW-INCOME HOUSING. BUT YOU'RE SAYING,, YES, THERE'S A WAITING LIST, BUT THERE'S ALWAYS A PORTION --

CAROL SCHATZ>> -- THAT'S EXACTLY RIGHT, AND THAT PORTION IS LIVING IN CARDBOARD BOXES ON LOS ANGELES STREET AND OTHER PARTS --

VAL>> -- AND BASICALLY YOU'RE SAYING THEY CAN'T KICK THEIR DRUG HABIT --

CAROL SCHATZ>> -- DON'T WANT TO, DON'T WANT TO, AND HAVE RESISTED INNUMERABLE EFFORTS TO PUT THEM IN SHELTERS AND GIVE THEM SOME KIND OF SERVICE.

VAL>> BUT WE'RE LOOKING AT THOSE SINGLE-OCCUPANCY HOTELS WHICH DO PROVIDE REALLY LOW-INCOME HOUSING FOR PEOPLE WHO NEED IT, AND WHAT ALICE WAS SAYING IS THAT, WITH ALL THIS WONDERFUL REVITALIZATION AND THE APARTMENTS AND THE LOFTS OR WHATEVER, THE DEVELOPERS ARE GOING TO BE ABLE TO GO IN AND PAY A MUCH HIGHER PRICE FOR, SAY, THE ROSSLYN HOTEL AND SHE WOULD LOVE TO BUY IT HERSELF AND SECURE SOME DECENT HOUSING. IS THERE A WAY THAT THAT KIND OF HOUSING COULD BE SECURED, COULD BE BOUGHT, FOR THE HOMELESS?

CAROL SCHATZ>> I THINK WE HAVE TO LOOK ALSO AT WHERE WE ARE DOWNTOWN AND WHERE WE'VE BEEN AND WHERE WE NEED TO GO. WE HAVE SAID FOR A LONG TIME THAT WE NEED HOUSING FOR ALL INCOME LEVELS DOWNTOWN, BUT WHAT I WOULD ALSO TELL ALICE AND OTHERS IS THAT, AS SHE WELL KNOWS ACTUALLY, DOWNTOWN HAS PROVIDED A FAR LARGER SHARE OF CURRENT HOUSING FOR THE VERY POOR AND THE HOMELESS THAN ANY OTHER PART OF LOS ANGELES.

IT'S ONE THING TO FOCUS ON THE RENOVATION OF DOWNTOWN, BUT WHY ISN'T ALICE TALKING ABOUT PUTTING UP FACILITIES IN BRENTWOOD? WHY ISN'T SHE TALKING ABOUT PUTTING UP FACILITIES IN THE VALLEY? WHY ISN'T SHE TALKING ABOUT PUTTING UP FACILITIES IN MID-WILSHIRE OR IN SAN PEDRO? DOWNTOWN HAS THE HIGHEST CONCENTRATION OF HOMELESS IN THE WHOLE CITY. YOU TALK TO ANY HOMELESS ADVOCATE AND NINETY-NINE PERCENT OF THEM WILL SAY TO YOU IT HAS BEEN INAPPROPRIATE IN TERMS OF HELPING THOSE WHO REALLY DESERVE AND NEED HELP TO HAVE THIS HUGE CONCENTRATION JUST HERE. BUT IN THOSE NEIGHBORHOODS I JUST MENTIONED, WHAT DO YOU THINK THE NEIGHBORS WOULD SAY ABOUT LOCATING A HOMELESS FACILITY OR VERY LOW-INCOME HOUSING PROJECTS THERE?

VAL>> OH, IT WOULD BE THE CLASSIC "NOT IN MY BACKYARD".

CAROL SCHATZ>> ALL RIGHT. SO WE ARE BUILDING A NEIGHBORHOOD. RIGHT NOW, PEOPLE NEED TO REALIZE DOWNTOWN WAS NEVER A PLACE THAT THE AVERAGE CITIZEN WOULD THINK ABOUT LIVING AND WE HAVE, THROUGH A LOT OF EFFORT AND A LOT OF STRUGGLE, NOW THE PRIVATE SECTOR HAS CREATED A MARKET WHERE PEOPLE ARE INTERESTED IN LIVING DOWNTOWN.

VAL>> BUT YOU AGREE WITH HER BASIC PREMISE THAT THE DIRECTION THAT DOWNTOWN IS GOING -- WHICH IS GREAT FROM MY POINT OF VIEW, YOU KNOW, I'M KIND OF THE YUPPIE TYPE. I MEAN, I LIKE LOFTS AND APARTMENTS AND GROCERY STORES AND WHATNOT -- BUT THAT THE GENERAL TREND WILL CROWD OUT THOSE PEOPLE WHO NEED THOSE SINGLE-OCCUPANCY UNITS?

CAROL SCHATZ>> AS I SAY, THERE ARE SOME HOTELS -- WE HAVE TO LOOK AT WHAT WILL CREATE A VIBRANT COMMUNITY. IF WE KNOW FOR A FACT THAT WE'RE STARTING FROM A PLACE WHERE WE HAVE TWO-THIRDS MORE LOW-INCOME UNITS THAN WE HAVE, YOU KNOW, UNITS FOR THE MARKET, THEN WE HAVE A WAYS TO GO, IT SEEMS TO US, BEFORE WE THEN SAY, OKAY, ENOUGH IS ENOUGH. WE HAVE A COUPLE THOUSAND UNITS COMING ON LINE THAT ARE MOSTLY MARKET RATE, BUT WHAT WE'RE SAYING IS THAT WE NEED MORE AFFORDABLE HOUSING EVERYWHERE IN THIS CITY.

VAL>> BUT RIGHT NOW, YOU'RE SAYING THAT THE BALANCE ACTUALLY FAVORS THE HOMELESS?

CAROL SCHATZ>> THAT'S CORRECT.

VAL>> SO I SEE WHAT YOUR SOLUTION IS. YOUR SOLUTION IS, SAY, LET'S PUT SOME HOMELESS SHELTERS IN THE VALLEY, LET'S SPREAD IT OUT, LET'S GET THE WOMEN AND CHILDREN OUT OF DOWNTOWN.

CAROL SCHATZ>> RIGHT. THEN IF THOSE COMMUNITIES THEN ARE SAYING OR SAY THROUGH THEIR REPRESENTATIVES, WELL, I'M SORRY, WE DON'T WANT IT HERE, IS IT FAIR THAT A NEW COMMUNITY STARTING TO DEVELOP THAT ADDS TO THE ALREADY RICH STOCK OF LOW-INCOME HOUSING THAT WE HAVE, THAT THE WHOLE BURDEN SHOULD FALL ON THIS NEW EMERGING DOWNTOWN POPULATION?

VAL>> I SEE. ONE OF THE SOLUTIONS THAT'S BEING CONSIDERED IS INCLUSIONARY HOUSING, BASICALLY, WHERE THE DEVELOPER IS REQUIRED TO SET ASIDE A CERTAIN NUMBER OF UNITS FOR REALLY LOW-INCOME RENTERS ALONG WITH THE MORE MARKET RATE. IS THAT A SOLUTION?

CAROL SCHATZ>> WE DON'T THINK SO. WE DON'T THINK SO BECAUSE THIS IS A HUGE PROBLEM THAT, ONCE AGAIN, NEEDS TO BE SHARED BY OUR CITIZENRY AND THIS REMEDY PUTS THE ENTIRE BURDEN OF PROVIDING THAT AFFORDABLE HOUSING ONLY ON THE DEVELOPER AND THE OWNER OF THE BUILDING. WE DON'T THINK IT IS ADVISABLE TO THREATEN WHAT IS, YOU KNOW, THE STRONGEST SEGMENT OF OUR ECONOMY WHICH HAS HUGE, YOU KNOW, OVERLAPPING IMPACT FOR OTHER PARTS OF OUR ECONOMY AT A TIME WHEN THE ECONOMY IS STILL FALTERING, IF YOU WILL, AND STILL VERY UNCERTAIN. WE THINK THAT THE BURDEN NEEDS TO BE SHARED.

VAL>> CAROL SCHATZ FROM THE CENTRAL CITY ASSOCIATION, THANK YOU VERY MUCH. APPRECIATE IT.

CAROL SCHATZ>> THANK YOU.

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VAL>> I'M AT THE LOS ANGELES COUNTY MUSEUM OF ART. NOW WHEN YOU THINK OF RUSSIAN CULTURE, YOU THINK OF WORDS LIKE DARK, BRASH AND MUSCULAR. WHEN YOU THINK OF FRENCH PAINTING, YOU THINK OF SOFT, DELICATE AND LIGHT. SO IT'S A BIT OF A SURPRISE TO REALIZE THAT THE RUSSIANS HAD A DEEP LOVE AFFAIR WITH FRENCH ART. IT STRETCHED OVER CENTURIES. IN FACT, RUSSIAN COLLECTORS HAVE THE LARGEST COLLECTION OF FRENCH MASTERS OUTSIDE OF FRANCE. NOW MANY OF THE PAINTINGS HAVE NEVER BEEN SEEN BEFORE IN THE UNITED STATES, BUT A STUNNING EXHIBIT CAME TOGETHER AT LACMA.

VAL>> OUR GUIDE IS PATRICE MARANDEL, THE CHIEF CURATOR FOR EUROPEAN ART AT LACMA. HE SAYS MANY OF THE FRENCH MASTER WORKS WENT DIRECTLY FROM PARIS STUDIOS INTO THE HANDS OF MOSCOW COLLECTORS.

J. PATRICE MARANDEL>> THOSE PAINTINGS IMMEDIATELY DISAPPEARED FROM FRANCE.

VAL>> BUT NOT FROM THE WORLD.

J. PATRICE MARANDEL>> NOT FROM THE WORLD.

VAL>> AND WE NOW GET TO SEE THEM IN THE UNITED STATES FOR THE FIRST TIME.

J. PATRICE MARANDEL>> ABSOLUTELY, MANY OF THEM. THANK YOU.

VAL>> THIS ONE IS JUST STUNNING. IT'S HUGE, IT'S BEAUTIFUL. IT'S CALLED "THE VILLAGE LOVERS". TELL US ABOUT THIS.

J. PATRICE MARANDEL>> YES. IT IS BY AN ARTIST NAMED JULES BASTIEN-LEPAGE. I SHOULD SAY IT'S FROM THE LARGEST PAINTING IN THE EXHIBITION. THE ARTIST MAY NOT BE AS WELL-KNOWN AS SOME OTHER PAINTERS IN THIS SHOW, BUT IN HIS OWN DAYS, THE LATE NINETEENTH CENTURY, HE WAS WORLD FAMOUS AND WHAT HE SHOWS IS A SCENE THAT YOU HAVE TO REALLY MAKE UP FOR YOURSELF. I MEAN, IT'S CALLED "THE VILLAGE LOVERS", BUT THE GIRL HAS HER BACK TURNED AND WE DON'T REALLY KNOW WHAT HER RESPONSE IS TO THE BOY WHO I SUPPOSE IS PROPOSING HER OR WHATEVER OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT. SHE MAY SAY YES, NO, MAYBE. IT'S UP TO YOU TO MAKE YOUR STORY BASICALLY.

VAL>> WELL, IF THEY'RE FRENCH, SHE'D SAY YES (LAUGHTER).

J. PATRICE MARANDEL>> WELL, LET'S HOPE.

VAL>> NOW THIS IS A VAN GOGH THAT I HAD NEVER SEEN BEFORE AND I WAS JUST STUNNED WHEN I SAW IT. I SAID, OH, MY GOD, I DIDN'T KNOW HE DID THIS.

J. PATRICE MARANDEL>> YES. I THINK THIS IS GOING TO BE ONE OF THE GREAT SURPRISES OF THE EXHIBITION FOR MANY VISITORS BECAUSE WE ALWAYS ASSOCIATE VAN GOGH WITH BASICALLY LANDSCAPES, YOU KNOW, WITH SKIES, WITH TREES OR PORTRAITS AND THERE IS A BEAUTIFUL PORTRAIT ALSO IN THE EXHIBITION. BUT THIS KIND OF CLAUSTROPHOBIC, ALMOST, IMAGE I THINK IS REALLY FASCINATING.

HE ACTUALLY -- THERE IS ONE MAN IN THE CENTER WHO LOOKS VERY MUCH LIKE HIM. HE'S THE ONLY BLONDE ONE AND WE KNOW HE WAS A RED-HAIRED ARTIST. I MEAN, THIS IS HIM AND HIS FEATURES ARE VERY MUCH LIKE HIM, BUT HE PUT HIMSELF IN THIS VERY MOVING AND ALSO QUITE SAD IMAGE OF PEOPLE IN JAIL. OF COURSE, HE NEVER WAS IN JAIL, BUT HE WAS IN A PSYCHIATRIC HOSPITAL WHICH, IN THOSE DAYS, WAS VERY CLOSE TO BEING IN JAIL ACTUALLY, WHICH DESCRIBES REALLY HIS MENTAL STATE. IT'S REALLY WHAT HE FELT AND NOT WHAT HE SAW. THIS IS NOT A REALISTIC PAINTING. IT'S REALLY A PAINTING OF HIS SOUL.

VAL>> BUT THE ONE THING THAT'S BEAUTIFUL IS THE COLOR.

J. PATRICE MARANDEL>> THE COLORS ARE WONDERFUL BECAUSE HE IS THIS GREAT COLORIST AND NO MATTER WHAT HE DOES, EVEN WHEN HE PAINTS THE MOST BIZARRE SUBJECT AS HERE, HE CANNOT RESIST TO MIX THE BLUES AND PINKS AND THINGS AND REALLY GIVE SOME KIND OF INCREDIBLE BRILLIANCE TO HIS CANVAS. HE ALWAYS DOES THAT.

VAL>> BEAUTIFUL. NOW THIS IS A BEAUTIFUL GAUGUIN PAINTING WITH AN UNUSUAL TITLE.

J. PATRICE MARANDEL>> YES. THE TITLE IS -- I CANNOT SAY IT IN POLYNESIAN -- BUT IT'S "DO NOT WORK", THE TRANSLATION I'M TOLD.

VAL>> "DO NOT WORK".

J. PATRICE MARANDEL>> YES. WHEN GAUGUIN WENT TO POLYNESIA, HE WAS NOT VERY HAPPY IN EUROPE. HE TRIED LIVING IN VARIOUS PLACES IN FRANCE AND IN DENMARK AND SO ON. HE WAS NOT PLEASED. HE JUST WANTED TO GO SOMEWHERE THAT WAS LIKE PARADISE AND I CAN'T HELP THINKING THAT, WHEN HE SENT HIS PICTURES BACK TO PARIS, BECAUSE HE DID SEND THEM TO PARIS OCCASIONALLY, IT WAS JUST TO REALLY TELL THE PEOPLE BACK HOME, YOU KNOW, YOU MAY WORK AND SO ON, BUT LOOK AT MY KIND OF LIFE (LAUGHTER). I MEAN, THIS SAYS I'M REALLY HAPPY DOING NOTHING OR DOING THESE LOVELY PAINTINGS, LOOKING AT THESE BEAUTIFUL PEOPLE. SO THERE IS A PART OF FANTASY --

VAL>> -- MAYBE A LITTLE BIT OF "DON'T YOU WISH YOU WERE HERE" (LAUGHTER).

J. PATRICE MARANDEL>> SOMETHING LIKE THAT. BUT IN ANY CASE, IT'S A GORGEOUS PAINTING IN THE COMPOSITION AND LOVELY COLORS.

VAL>> WHAT IS THIS? WHAT DO YOU THINK THAT IS? IS IT A CIGARETTE?

J. PATRICE MARANDEL>> IT'S A CIGARETTE.

VAL>> IT IS A CIGARETTE.

J. PATRICE MARANDEL>> IT'S A CIGARETTE, YES.

VAL>> NOT SOMETHING ELSE.

J. PATRICE MARANDEL>> IT'S A CIGARETTE. I'M NOT SAYING IT'S TOBACCO (LAUGHTER). SO ALL HIS PAINTINGS REFLECT THIS KIND OF REALLY PEACEFULNESS, WHICH IS REALLY WHAT HE WAS LOOKING FOR WHEN HE WENT THERE.

VAL>> WELL, I THINK PLENTY OF ANGELENOS WOULD HAVE LOVED TO JOIN HIM.

J. PATRICE MARANDEL>> YES, YES (LAUGHTER).

VAL>> NOW WHEN YOU THINK OF FRENCH IMPRESSIONISTS, YOU THINK OF DEGA.

J. PATRICE MARANDEL>> DEGA, AND THIS IS REALLY A TYPICAL IMAGE BY DEGA. DANCERS ARE ONE OF HIS FAVORITE SUBJECTS, BUT THIS ONE HAS A LITTLE EDGE TO IT, I WOULD SAY.

VAL>> HOW SO?

J. PATRICE MARANDEL>> SHE'S IN A DIFFERENT SPACE. SHE IS NOT REHEARSING PER SE, ALTHOUGH SHE IS STRIKING A POSE, BUT SHE'S STRIKING A POSE FOR A PHOTOGRAPHER. THIS PAINTING HAS BEEN CALLED "DANCER POSING FOR A PHOTOGRAPHER" IN A PHOTOGRAPHIC STUDIO SO WE KNOW IT WAS THAT. IT'S A VERY UNIQUE IMAGE AND IT'S VERY RARE AND WE'RE VERY GLAD TO HAVE IT HERE.

VAL>> BUT SHE'S NOT IN MOTION AT ALL?

J. PATRICE MARANDEL>> SHE'S NOT REALLY IN MOTION. SHE'S JUST STEADY (LAUGHTER). THIS IS A WONDERFUL PAINTING CALLED "IN THE GARDEN" BECAUSE, AS I SAID, THE IMPRESSIONISTS LOVED PARIS, BUT THEY LOVE TO GO OUT OF PARIS. LIKE ALL CITY PEOPLE, THEY ALWAYS ENJOY THE COUNTRYSIDE. WE KNOW ACTUALLY THE NAMES OF ALL THE PEOPLE WHO ARE IN THIS PICTURE, ABSOLUTELY, AND THE MAN WITH THE STRAW HAT WITH THE BLACK RIBBON IS MONET, THE PAINTER MONET.

VAL>> NOW THIS WAS 1876. IS THAT A VERY GOOD TIME IN FRENCH HISTORY?

J. PATRICE MARANDEL>> IT'S THE BEST. THE FIRST IMPRESSIONIST EXHIBITION WAS IN 1874 AND BY 1876, ALTHOUGH THEY WERE NOT ACCEPTED BY EVERYBODY, THEY WERE REALLY AT THE HEIGHT OF THEIR TALENTS, I MUST SAY. IT'S THE BEST PERIOD FOR THIS.

VAL>> THIS IS THE PEAK EXAMPLE.

J. PATRICE MARANDEL>> THIS IS THE PEAK OF IMPRESSIONISM AND THE PEAK OF RENOIR.

VAL>> AH, MATISSE. THIS REPRESENTS THE BEGINNING OF A WHOLE NEW ERA.

J. PATRICE MARANDEL>> IT IS ONE OF THE FIRST MODERN PAINTINGS, I THINK WE CAN CALL IT. IT IS, IN MY MIND, ONE OF THE MOST BEAUTIFUL OF ONE OF THE GREAT ICONS OF EARLY TWENTIETH CENTURY PAINTINGS. WHAT MANY PEOPLE DO NOT REALIZE ABOUT IT IS THAT IT IS, IN FACT, A VIEW OF HIS STUDIO.

VAL>> OH, REALLY?

J. PATRICE MARANDEL>> WHAT YOU SEE IN THE BACKGROUND, THOSE THREE FIGURES, ARE NOT JUST THERE. IT'S A PAINTING OF A PAINTING. THE PAINTINGS EXISTS IN TWO VERSIONS, ACTUALLY. A HUGE PAINTING CALLED "THE DANCE". WHAT YOU HAVE HERE, YOU HAVE IT PROPPED AGAINST THE WALL.

VAL>> SO THAT MAKES SENSE. THEY'RE NOT SUSPENDED IN AIR. THAT'S A PAINTING BEHIND --

J. PATRICE MARANDEL>> -- ALMOST LIKE PERHAPS THE CARPET, A BIT OF FLOOR AND THEN THE PAINTING AGAINST THE WALL RESTING ON THE FLOOR. IT WORKS DIFFERENTLY, IF YOU WANT, AND IT'S MUCH MORE INTERESTING WHEN YOU LOOK AT IT THAT WAY, I THINK.

VAL>> IT IS, BECAUSE YOU HAVE THE ACTION GOING AS THE DANCER IS GOING OFF TO THIS SIDE, THE CHAIR GOING OFF THAT SIDE. IT'S ALMOST LIKE IT'S CROPPED.

J. PATRICE MARANDEL>> ABSOLUTELY. IT LOOKS LIKE A CROPPED PAINTING, BUT THAT IS INTENTIONAL. THAT IS REALLY WHAT HE WANTS TO DO, TO CREATE SOMETHING THAT IS REAL INTO AN ALMOST, NOT ABSTRACT, BUT VERY DECORATIVE. FOR ME, IT IS THE MOST BEAUTIFUL PAINTING IN THIS WHOLE EXHIBIT.

VAL>> OH, IS IT YOUR FAVORITE?

J. PATRICE MARANDEL>> YES, I HAVE TO ADMIT IT (LAUGHTER).

VAL>> THAT'S WONDERFUL. THANK YOU SO MUCH.

J. PATRICE MARANDEL>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

VAL>> RUSSIAN-FRANCO WAS MORE THAN JUST FRENCH PAINTING. DURING THE REIGN OF CATHERINE THE GREAT, THE RUSSIAN ARISTOCRACY ALSO INDULGED IN FRENCH FASHION, FOOD AND LUXURY GOODS AND EVEN FRENCH BECAME THE PREFERRED LANGUAGE OF THE COURT.

THAT'S OUR PROGRAM. I'M VAL ZAVALA REPORTING FROM DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES. FOR EVERYONE HERE AT LIFE AND TIMES, AU REVOIR.

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, HE'S VOWING TO FIGHT THE RECALL LIKE A BENGAL TIGER, BUT WILL GRAY DAVIS EVEN MAKE IT TO THE ELECTION?

PHILIP BRUCE>> WHAT'S BEEN THE LAST STRAW AS FAR AS YOU WERE CONCERNED WITH DAVIS?

>> HE GOT ELECTED.

PHILIP BRUCE>> NOT A DAVIS MAN?

>> NO, SIR.

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