10/26/99

VAL>> ON LIFE AND TIMES TONIGHT --

WARREN>> EXPLOSIVE GAS AT BELMONT HIGH HAS ATTENTION FOCUSED ON DOWNTOWN LA, BUT PEOPLE ARE LIVING AND WORKING IN SEVERAL NEIGHBORHOODS WHERE THE PROBLEMS ARE EVEN WORSE.

>> THE BELMONT IS NOT ALONE. PLENTY OF PLACES IN THE CITY HAVE SIMILAR PROBLEMS BECAUSE, FOR MUCH OF THIS CENTURY, MUCH OF THE LA BASIN WAS DOTTED WITH OIL WELLS.

>> CERTAINLY THERE ARE POTENTIAL HAZARDS AND THAT'S WHY ALL BUILDINGS IN METHANE AREAS NEED TO BE PROTECTED. I WOULD NEVER RECOMMEND THAT A BUILDING WITH SOIL GAS AT THESE LEVELS, OR EVEN LESSER LEVELS, GO UNPROTECTED.

VAL>> AND LOS ANGELES WON'T ELECT A MAYOR UNTIL 2001, BUT, IN CASE YOU HAVEN'T NOTICED, THE RACE IS ALREADY ON.

>> I'M GOING TO TALK TO EVERYONE IN THIS CITY THAT I CAN. EVERY CORNER, EVERY NEIGHBORHOOD, AND TALK ABOUT WHAT ARE THE ISSUES IMPORTANT TO THEM AND MY VISION FOR A GREAT CITY IN THE 21ST CENTURY.

WARREN>> ALSO TONIGHT, THE MOVIE THAT'S MAKING MONEY HAND OVER FIST WITHOUT MAJOR STUDIO BACKING. IT'S NOT THE BLAIR WITCH PROJECT. IT'S A FILM MADE BY AND FOR EVANGELICAL CHRISTIANS. AND NOW THE BOX OFFICE IS BEARING WITNESS TO ITS SUCCESS.

VAL>> THESE STORIES COMING UP NEXT ON LIFE AND TIMES TONIGHT FOR TUESDAY, OCTOBER 26, 1999.

LIFE AND TIMES TONIGHT IS MADE POSSIBLE BY THE FOLLOWING CORPORATIONS AND FOUNDATIONS:

THE JAMES IRVINE FOUNDATION
WHICH IS DEDICATED TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF AN INFORMED CALIFORNIA CITIZENRY.

GTE
A COMPANY COMMITTED TO TELECOMMUNICATIONS EXCELLENCE AND AN OPEN DIALOGUE AMONG ALL PEOPLE.


AND THE L.K. WHITTIER FOUNDATION
DEDICATED TO IMPROVING QUALITY OF LIFE BY SUPPORTING INNOVATIVE ENDEAVORS IN THE FIELDS OF MEDICINE, HEALTH, SCIENCE AND EDUCATION.

WARREN>> GOOD EVENING, I'M WARREN OLNEY.

VAL>> AND I'M VAL ZAVALA.

WARREN>> OUR TOP STORY TONIGHT IS A PROBLEM THAT'S LURKED JUST BELOW GROUND LEVEL IN LOS ANGELES FOR A LONG TIME, ALTHOUGH IT ONLY GETS PUBLIC NOTICE WHEN IT BOILS OVER. METHANE GAS IS ONE OF THE DANGERS THAT THREATEN THE HALF-BUILT BELMONT LEARNING CENTER, BUT THE FACT IS, THERE'S METHANE ALL OVER THE CITY.

VAL>> A DRAMATIC METHANE EXPLOSION IN THE MID-80'S FORCED CHANGES IN THE CITY'S BUILDING CODES. STRUCTURES NOW HAVE TO BE PROTECTED FROM THE DANGEROUS UNDERGROUND SOUP OF GAS AND CONTAMINANTS. IT'S A PROCESS CALLED MITIGATION AND, AS GAY YEE REPORTS, IT'S ALREADY WORKING IN PLACES A LOT WORSE OFF THAN BELMONT.

GAY>> THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE BELMONT LEARNING CENTER BROUGHT A SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA PROBLEM TO THE SURFACE. IT CALLED ATTENTION TO DANGERS THAT LURK UNDERGROUND. BELMONT IS ON A FORMER OIL FIELD. UNDERNEATH IT, EXPERTS HAVE FOUND EXPLOSIVE METHANE AND HYDROGEN SULFIDE. BUT BELMONT IS NOT ALONE. PLENTY OF PLACES IN THE CITY HAVE SIMILAR PROBLEMS BECAUSE, FOR MUCH OF THIS CENTURY, MUCH OF THE LA BASIN WAS DOTTED WITH OIL WELLS.

>> THERE ARE METHANE OIL FIELDS THROUGHOUT THE LOS ANGELES CITY AREA. WE HAVE METHANE OIL FIELDS THAT EXTEND UP TO CHATSWORTH, ALL THE WAY TO VENICE, DOWN TO WILMINGTON AND OUT TO BOYLE HEIGHTS, SO IT PRETTY MUCH COVERS THE PERIMETER OF THE CITY.

GAY>> FIRE INSPECTOR, LLOYD FUKUDA, SAYS PEOPLE KNEW THERE WAS GAS UNDERGROUND, BUT IT TOOK AN EXPLOSION AT 3RD AND FAIRFAX 14 YEARS AGO TO MAKE THEM REALIZE THEY WERE LIVING AND WORKING ON TOP OF TIME BOMBS.

THE ROSS DEPARTMENT STORE WAS BUILT ON TOP OF THE OLD SALT LAKE OIL FIELD. METHANE GAS HAD GOTTEN TRAPPED UNDERNEATH THE BUILDING, GATHERED PRESSURE AND EVENTUALLY EXPLODED.

LLOYD FUKUDA>> YOU HAD FLAMES COMING OUT OF THE GROUND THAT WERE AS MUCH AS 18 INCHES HIGH.

GAY YEE>> THE ROSS EXPLOSION IN 1985 WAS THE CITY'S WAKE-UP CALL THAT THE METHANE GAS PROBLEM WASN'T CONFINED TO HERE AT 3RD AND FAIRFAX, BUT A PROBLEM IN A LOT OF OTHER PLACES AS WELL.

THERE HAD TO BE A WAY TO ALLEVIATE THE METHANE DANGER SO PEOPLE COULD CONTINUE TO LIVE AND WORK. TODAY AT THE ROSS STORE, THERE ARE TUBES UNDERNEATH THE CONCRETE TO DRAW OUT THE METHANE, VENT IT OUT OVER THE PARKING LOT SO PRESSURE DOESN'T BUILD. AND THE AIR INSIDE IS CONSTANTLY MONITORED TO MAKE SURE THE METHANE NEVER GETS TO AN EXPLOSIVE LEVEL. FUKUDA SAYS THERE ARE AT LEAST 100 BUILDINGS IN THE CITY EQUIPPED WITH METHANE SYSTEMS, SOME IN HIGHLY USED, HIGHLY PUBLIC PLACES, LIKE THE LA CENTRAL LIBRARY. WORKERS DISCOVERED METHANE WHILE EXCAVATING THE EAST WING. AS PROTECTION, THE CITY REQUIRES THAT THE BUILDING HAVE A VENT SYSTEM IN THE FOUNDATION, A MEMBRANE TO KEEP THE GAS FROM COMING INTO THE BUILDING AND A DETECTION SYSTEM TO MONITOR METHANE LEVELS.

LLOYD FUKUDA>> IN THIS PARTICULAR ROOM, YOU HAVE ONE ON THE CEILING. IT'S LOCATED THROUGHOUT THE BUILDING AND THERE ARE 119 OF THESE SENSORS THAT ARE LOCATED THROUGHOUT THE LIBRARY. THEY'RE PLACED IN THE LOWEST AREA WHERE IT'S CONTACTED WITH EARTH.

GAY YEE>> IF THE METHANE HITS THE 15% MARK, THERE IS AN ALARM, AND SECURITY IS ALERTED. IN HIGH-RISK AREAS SUCH AS THE FAIRFAX DISTRICT, THE CITY ALSO REQUIRES THE BUILDINGS TO HAVE VENTILATION TIED IN WITH THE DETECTION SYSTEM. JOHN SEPICH IS THE PRESIDENT OF METHANE SPECIALISTS, WHICH HAS INSTALLED THE MAJORITY OF PROTECTION SYSTEMS IN THE CITY.

JOHN SEPICH>> THE TYPICAL WAY OF MITIGATING NEW CONSTRUCTION FOR METHANE IS TO PUT A SYSTEM OF VENT PIPING AND BARRIERS UNDERNEATH THE NEW BUILDINGS. ALONG WITH THIS PIPE, SOMETHING CALLED A MEMBRANE IS USED AND THAT MEMBRANE WOULD BE PLACED UNDERNEATH THE CONCRETE SLAB OF THE BUILDING BUT ABOVE THE PIPE, AND THE MEMBRANE WOULD ACT TO DEFLECT GASES INTO THE PIPE, NOT ALLOW THEM INTO THE BUILDING.

GAY YEE>> SEPICH BELIEVES HIS SYSTEM COULD WORK TO MAKE THE BELMONT LEARNING CENTER SAFE, BUT HIS PLAN WAS REJECTED. THE DISTRICT FELT THAT IT DIDN'T GO FAR ENOUGH, EVEN THOUGH IT MEETS ALL CITY REQUIREMENTS.

JOHN SEPICH>> WELL, I BELIEVE THAT THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE CITY CODE UNDER THOSE BUILDINGS MAKES THE PROJECT PERFECTLY SAFE, AND NORMALLY IT WOULD NOT BE NECESSARY TO SPEND ADDITIONAL MONEY OR TO TAKE ADDITIONAL MEASURES. I DO BELIEVE THAT, IF THE MEASURES THEY'RE RECOMMENDING ARE IMPLEMENTED, THE BUILDING WILL BE PERFECTLY SAFE AND MORE THAN SAFE. THERE IS ABSOLUTELY NO DOUBT WHATSOEVER THAT BELMONT CANNOT BE MADE SAFE.

GAY YEE>> BUT DR. BERNARD ENDRES, WHO WAS A PRIMARY CONSULTANT ON THE ROSS INVESTIGATION, BELIEVES THE CITY CODES DON'T GO FAR ENOUGH, BECAUSE THE BELMONT LOCATION IS ON WHAT HE CALLS A GAS OUTCROPPING. ENDRES SAYS THE BELMONT IS ON TOP OF A SITUATION SIMILAR TO WHAT WE SEE AT THE LA BREA TAR PITS. IT SITS ON TOP OF OIL AND GAS THAT'S MIGRATING TO THE SURFACE.

DR. BERNARD ENDRES>> IT WOULD BE THE EQUIVALENT OF GOING UP TO YELLOWSTONE AND CLAIMING THAT SOMEHOW YOU CAN CONTROL OLD FAITHFUL WHEN IT RELEASES ITS ENERGY. IT'S A NATURAL FORCE UNDER THE SITE THAT IS SO POWERFUL THERE ISN'T ANY HUMAN CAPABILITY IN ORDER TO CONTROL IT.

GAY YEE>> SEPICH THINKS THE CONCERNS ABOUT BELMONT AND THE RISK OF METHANE GAS ARE OVERBLOWN.

JOHN SEPICH>> THE AREA FOR HALF A MILE AROUND HANCOCK PARK IS ALL MUCH WORSE THAN THE BELMONT SCHOOL SITE. CERTAINLY THERE ARE POTENTIAL HAZARDS AND THAT'S WHY ALL BUILDINGS IN METHANE AREAS NEED TO BE PROTECTED. I WOULD NEVER RECOMMEND THAT A BUILDING WITH SOIL GAS AT THESE LEVELS, OR EVEN LESSER LEVELS, GO UNPROTECTED. BUT ONCE THEY'RE PROTECTED, THEY CAN BE MADE SAFE.

GAY YEE>> BUT ENDRES PREFERS TO AIR ON THE SIDE OF CAUTION.

DR. BERNARD ENDRES>> IF WE'RE DEALING WITH SOMETHING AS DANGEROUS AS METHANE GAS AND AS EXPLOSIVE AS IT IS, THIS WOULD CONSTITUTE AN ULTRA-HAZARDOUS ACTIVITY. AND WHEN YOU'VE GOT AN ULTRA-HAZARDOUS ACTIVITY, THEN YOU HAVE A DUTY OF CARE TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU LOOK INTO ALL OF THE SURROUNDING CIRCUMSTANCES AND TAKE EVERY POSSIBLE MEASURE IN ORDER TO ELIMINATE THE HAZARD.

WARREN>> SO EVERYBODY'S LIVING ON AN OLD OIL FIELD. ARE SOME PLACES, THOUGH, CLEARLY MORE HAZARDOUS THAN OTHERS?

GAY YEE>> WELL, IT DEPENDS ON WHICH ENGINEER YOU SPEAK TO, BUT ENDRES BELIEVES THAT'S SO. THAT THERE ARE LOTS OF OIL FIELDS, A LOT OF OLD OIL WELLS OUT THERE, BUT THEY'RE ALL DIFFERENT. IT DEPENDS WHERE YOU'RE AT. SOME ARE DEEPER THAN OTHERS. IN BEVERLY HILLS, RIGHT BY THE SCHOOL, THERE IS AN OIL DERRICK RIGHT THERE AND HE DOESN'T SEE THAT AS A DANGER. BUT AT BELMONT, IT'S A SITUATION WHERE THE GASES ARE BUBBLING UP. THAT IS A PROBLEM, HE SAYS.

VAL>> I SEE. SO, IN THE END, THE SCHOOL DISTRICT REJECTED ANY OF THIS MITIGATION OR ARE THEY CONSIDERING SOME OF IT ACCEPTABLE? WHERE DOES IT STAND FOR BELMONT?

GAY YEE>> THE CITY SCHOOL BOARD AND THE SAFETY COMMITTEE SEEM TO FEEL THAT JUST GOING BY THE CITY CODE WASN'T ENOUGH. THEY HAD FOUR DIFFERENT PROPOSALS. THEY ACTUALLY DECIDED ON THE ONE THAT WAS THE CADILLAC VERSION, BECAUSE THEY REALLY DON'T KNOW WHAT TO ANTICIPATE WITH BELMONT.

VAL>> SO THEY'RE PLAYING IT SAFE. THEY'RE GOING FOR THE MOST EXPENSIVE, MOST COMPREHENSIVE MITIGATION PLAN.

GAY YEE>> AT THIS POINT. WHICH WOULD COST -- I THINK IT WAS ABOUT $60 MILLION DOLLARS OVER THE LIFE OF THE BUILDING.

WARREN>> THAT'S IF THEY DECIDE TO GO AHEAD WITH THE SITE, AND THEY --

GAY YEE>> -- THAT'S RIGHT.

WARREN>> -- HAVEN'T EVEN DECIDED THAT AS YET.

GAY YEE>> AND THERE ARE SO MANY PEOPLE WHO FEEL THAT IT'S NOT WORTH THE CHANCE NOT ONLY BECAUSE OF THE MITIGATION PROBLEMS, BUT THE LITIGATION PROBLEMS LATER ON.

VAL>> GAY, THANK YOU VERY MUCH. VERY INTERESTING BACKGROUND ON THAT.

IN TONIGHT'S THINKERS, SHAKERS & NEWSMAKERS, WE MEET ONE OF CALIFORNIA'S MOST POWERFUL PUBLIC OFFICIALS, ASSEMBLY SPEAKER ANTONIO VILLARAIGOSA. HE TOOK THE OATH OF OFFICE IN JANUARY OF 1998, BUT THIS IS THE ERA OF TERM LIMITS AND THAT MEANS HE'S ALREADY LOOKING FOR A NEW JOB.

WARREN>> JUST LAST WEEK, HE LAUNCHED HIS CAMPAIGN FOR MAYOR OF LOS ANGELES. IT'S A MOVE THAT'S ALREADY PLACED HIM IN THE MIDDLE OF WHAT MAY BE THE CITY'S STICKIEST POLITICAL SITUATION, THE ONE WE'VE JUST BEEN TALKING ABOUT, THE MANAGEMENT SHAKE-UP AT THE LAUSD.

MR. SPEAKER, THANKS VERY MUCH FOR JOINING US.

ANTONIO VILLARAIGOSA>> WELL, THANKS FOR HAVING ME.

WARREN>> YOU'VE BEEN ATTEMPTING TO MEDIATE BETWEEN THE SCHOOL BOARD AND DR. ZACARIAS. ARE YOU GOING TO BE ABLE TO RESOLVE THAT?

ANTONIO VILLARAIGOSA>> IT'S HARD TO SAY AT THIS POINT. I THINK WHAT WE WERE LOOKING FOR FROM THE BEGINNING WAS A WAY TO GET BEYOND THE CRISIS, IF YOU WILL, TO FIND A PLACE WHERE RUBEN ZACARIAS HAS SOME RESPECT FOR THE 33 YEARS OF SERVICE TO THE SCHOOL DISTRICT. A CURING OF THE PROCESS, IF YOU WILL. I THINK THERE IS A CONSENSUS IN THE CITY THAT THE PROCESS WAS DEFECTIVE, THAT THERE WASN'T ENOUGH PUBLIC DIALOGUE AND DISCOURSE AROUND AN ISSUE AS IMPORTANT AS THIS, THAT THE ACTION WAS ACTUALLY ILLEGAL. IN POINT OF FACT, THE ONLY CEO IS THE SUPERINTENDENT. WHAT I TRIED TO DO IS FIND A WAY TO WORK WITH THE BOARD TO VINDICATE THEIR CONCERN TO HAVE A STRONG OPERATIONS PERSON WHILE, AT THE SAME TIME, GIVE MR. ZACARIAS THE OPPORTUNITY TO CONTINUE AS SUPERINTENDENT.

WARREN>> I'M SURE THERE'S A CONSENSUS IN SOME QUARTERS, BUT I THINK A LOT OF PEOPLE STILL THINK THAT THE LATINO LEADERSHIP PARTICULARLY IS ASKING THAT DR. ZACARIAS BE JUDGED NOT ON THE BASIS OF HIS COMPETENCE, BUT RATHER ON HIS ETHNICITY. WHAT DO YOU SAY TO THAT?

ANTONIO VILLARAIGOSA>> WELL, I'VE SAID FROM THE BEGINNING THAT ACCOUNTABILITY HAS TO BE COLOR BLIND. THAT YOU CAN'T TAKE THE POSITION THAT THE ONLY PERSON THAT COULD LEAD LA UNIFIED IS A LATINO. THE TRUTH IS, A LATINO WAS HIRED. RUBEN ZACARIAS. BEFORE THAT, IT WAS AN AFRICAN-AMERICAN. BEFORE THAT, IT WAS ANOTHER LATINO. WHAT WE WANT IS A SUPERINTENDENT WHO'S GOING TO BE ACCOUNTABLE TO THE BOARD, WHO'S GOING TO BE ACCOUNTABLE TO RAISING ACHIEVEMENT AND EXPECTATIONS AND MAKING SURE THAT THE KIDS AT THE END OF THE DAY ARE THE MEASURE BY WHICH ALL OF US MEASURE OUR PERFORMANCE.

WARREN>> SO GIVEN THE STATE OF THE SCHOOL BOARD IS WHAT'S REALLY BEING TALKED ABOUT, A COMFORTABLE WAY FOR DR. ZACARIAS TO BE REPLACED.

ANTONIO VILLARAIGOSA>> WELL, WHAT I'VE SAID IS, LOOK, CLEARLY THE PROCESS WAS DEFECTIVE. WE NEED TO CURE THAT, BUT I BELIEVE THE SCHOOL BOARD HAS EVERY RIGHT AND, IN FACT, THE RESPONSIBILITY TO EVALUATE RUBEN ZACARIAS, TO HOLD HIM ACCOUNTABLE IF HE'S NOT PERFORMING AT A LEVEL THAT'S APPROPRIATE AND THAT'S SUCCESSFUL. I'VE NOT TAKEN THE POSITION THAT ONLY A LATINO CAN LEAD THIS CITY ANY MORE THAN I WOULD SAY THAT ANY OTHER GROUP HAS A MONOPOLY ON LEADERSHIP. I THINK WHAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR AT THE END OF THE DAY IS WHAT IS IN THE BEST INTERESTS OF THE CHILDREN. THIS ATTEMPT TO MEDIATE WAS AN ATTEMPT, FRANKLY, TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE RESPECTIVE, YOU KNOW, POSITIVE POINTS ON BOTH SIDES OF THIS ISSUE. I CAN TELL YOU THIS. THAT AS I'VE DISCUSSED WITH PEOPLE ALL OVER THE CITY, WITH ALL OF THE CONSTITUENTS HERE, THIS IS A CITY THAT DOESN'T TALK TO ONE ANOTHER. WHEN IT DOES TALK, THEY DON'T HEAR ONE ANOTHER BECAUSE THEY'RE OFTENTIMES NOT TALKING IN THE SAME LANGUAGE. THERE WERE SOME REAL LEGITIMATE ISSUES RAISED BY SOME OF THE LATINO LEADERSHIP. THERE ARE ALSO SOME REAL LEGITIMATE ISSUES RAISED BY THIS SCHOOL BOARD, AND I TRIED TO FIND A PLACE WHERE WE COULD MARRY THOSE TWO ISSUES TO THE EXTENT THAT WE COULD AND GET BEYOND THE CRISIS SO THAT WE COULD START TALKING ABOUT THE MOST IMPORTANT THING HERE. NOT THE ISSUE OF LATINOS OR WHAT THE BOARD DID, BUT THE BEST INTEREST OF THE KIDS.

VAL>> NOW YOU'VE BEEN SORT OF A SHUTTLE DIPLOMAT BETWEEN GENETHIA HAYES, THE HEAD OF THE SCHOOL BOARD, AND DR. ZACARIAS. WHAT CAN YOU TELL US ABOUT THE NATURE OF THE TERMS OF THE DEAL THAT YOU'RE TRYING TO BROKER?

ANTONIO VILLARAIGOSA>> I CAN'T REALLY DIVULGE TOO MUCH OF THAT. SOME OF IT HAS LEAKED IN THE PAPERS. I CAN JUST SAY THIS. I'VE TRIED TO VINDICATE. ON THE ONE HAND. RUBEN ZACARIAS' NEED FOR CURING A DEFECTIVE PROCESS, YOU KNOW, THAT IT WASN'T PUBLIC DISCLOSURE. THEY CAN'T REALLY REMOVE HIM AS CEO WITHOUT AN EVALUATION PROCESS. SO TO CURE THAT AND TO RESTORE HIM AS CEO. WHILE, AT THE SAME TIME, GIVING THE BOARD SOME COMFORT THAT THERE IS SOMEONE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE OPERATIONS OF THE SCHOOL DISTRICT.

VAL>> AND, REAL QUICKLY, WHAT WOULD YOU GIVE THE CHANCES OF YOUR BROKERING THE SUCCESS? WHAT CHANCES OF SUCCESS DO YOU THINK --

ANTONIO VILLARAIGOSA>> -- WELL, THE TRUTH IS, TIME WILL ONLY TELL. THE IMPORTANT THING WAS THAT I DIDN'T WANT TO WALK AWAY FROM AN IMPORTANT OPPORTUNITY TO BRIDGE THIS COMMUNITY -- AN IMPORTANT OPPORTUNITY I THINK TO GET THE DIFFERENT PARTS OF THIS CITY TALKING TO ONE ANOTHER AGAIN.

WARREN>> OTHERS HAVE BEEN TRYING TO MEDIATE AS WELL. DO YOU THINK THAT, IF YOU COULD DO IT AND GET CREDIT FOR IT, IT WOULD MAKE YOU MAYOR?

ANTONIO VILLARAIGOSA>> I DON'T THINK, FRANKLY, THE PEOPLE ARE GOING TO SUPPORT YOU FOR ANY ONE THING YOU DO. I'VE DONE MANY THINGS IN THE FOUR AND A HALF YEARS OF PUBLIC SERVICE IN THE CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE. I THINK PEOPLE ARE GOING TO LOOK AT A BROAD RANGE OF THINGS, INCLUDING THE NEXT 17 MONTHS.

WARREN>> EVERYBODY KNOWS YOU'RE ONE OF THE MOST LIBERAL SPEAKERS WE'VE PROBABLY EVER HAD IN THE HISTORY OF CALIFORNIA AND WE HAVE, AT THE MOMENT, A FAIRLY CONSERVATIVE CLIMATE IN THE CITY WITH A REPUBLICAN MAYOR. HOW DO YOU BRIDGE THAT GAP?

ANTONIO VILLARAIGOSA>> WELL, I THINK THERE'S NO QUESTION THAT I'M A PROGRESSIVE, UNABASHEDLY. BUT I'VE ALSO BEEN SOMEONE WHO'S LOWERED THE PARTISANSHIP IN SACRAMENTO, WHO'S WORKED WITH THE MINORITY PARTY TO BUILD CONSENSUS AROUND A SCHOOL BOND, A PARKS BOND, A WATER BOND, HMO REFORM, AND THE LIST GOES ON. THE TRUTH IS, WHAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR IS LEADERS WHO CAN DEVELOP CONSENSUS, WHO ARE BRIDGE BUILDERS IN THIS A CITY WHERE THERE'LL SOON BE NO MAJORITIES, WITH SOMEBODY WHO HAS A TRACK RECORD. AND I'M HOPING THAT THAT TRACK RECORD, THAT CONSENSUS BUILDING SKILLS AND THE BRIDGE BUILDING SKILLS THAT I'VE DEMONSTRATED OVER THE LAST FOUR AND A HALF YEARS WILL BE HELPFUL IN THE MONTHS AHEAD.

VAL>> WHAT DO YOU SAY TO POLITICAL ANALYSTS WHO SAY NOBODY HAS EVER CAPTURED THE MAYOR'S SEAT FROM SACRAMENTO? IN OTHER WORDS, A PERSON IN SACRAMENTO HAS NEVER MANAGED TO BECOME MAYOR OF LA.

ANTONIO VILLARAIGOSA>> WELL, PEOPLE ALSO SAID THAT I'D NEVER GET ELECTED TO THE STATE ASSEMBLY, THAT I'D NEVER BE SPEAKER, AND THAT CERTAINLY I'D NEVER HAVE A SUCCESSFUL SPEAKERSHIP. THE TRUTH IS, I'VE NOT BEEN ONE TO LISTEN TO THE PUNDITS ON THOSE KINDS OF ISSUES. I'M GOING TO TALK TO EVERYONE IN THE CITY THAT I CAN, EVERY CORNER, EVERY NEIGHBORHOOD, AND TALK ABOUT WHAT ARE THE ISSUES THAT ARE IMPORTANT TO THEM AND MY VISION FOR A GREAT CITY IN THE 21ST CENTURY. I HOPE THAT'LL RESONATE AND I CERTAINLY LOOK FORWARD TO THE COMING 17 MONTHS TO GET THE OPPORTUNITY TO DO THAT.

WARREN>. YOU'VE GOT 79 CONSTITUENTS IN SACRAMENTO WHO WANT YOU TO SPEND FULL TIME ON THEIR PROBLEMS. WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO IF THEY BOUNCE YOU OUT AS SPEAKER EARLIER RATHER THAN LATER? HOW IS THAT GOING TO AFFECT YOUR CAMPAIGN FOR MAYOR, DO YOU THINK?

ANTONIO VILLARAIGOSA>> I DON'T THINK THAT THEY'RE GOING TO BOUNCE ME OUT AS SPEAKER --

WARREN>. SO HOW LONG ARE YOU GOING TO BE ABLE TO HOLD THE JOB?

ANTONIO VILLARAIGOSA>> WELL, THE TRUTH IS, AS LONG AS I'M DOING THE JOB, AND WHAT I'VE SAID IS, THE MEASURE SHOULD BE AM I DOING THE JOB? JUST LIKE IN THE CASE OF RUBEN ZACARIAS, IT SHOULDN'T BE HIS RACE OR ETHNICITY. IT SHOULD BE IS HE DOING THE JOB? THE SAME HERE. I'VE SAID IF I CONTINUE TO SERVE YOU AND I CONTINUE TO LEAD THE LEGISLATURE TOWARD MORE PROBLEM-SOLVING LEGISLATURE, ONE THAT'S ACCOUNTABLE TO THE PRIORITIES OF THE PEOPLE THIS DAY, THAT I SHOULD CONTINUE AS SPEAKER. THIS ELECTION WILL BE HELD 17 MONTHS FROM NOW AND I'VE SAID IT'S A LONG WAY AWAY AND CERTAINLY ENOUGH TIME FOR ME TO BE ABLE TO DO MY JOB AS SPEAKER WHILE, AT THE SAME TIME, RUN FOR MAYOR. AT SOME POINT, THAT MAY CHANGE. FOR NOW, I DON'T THINK IT'S AN ISSUE AND, IN FACT, MY COLLEAGUES IN A MEETING TWO WEEKS AGO BASICALLY AGREED WITH THAT. THAT WE'D REVISIT IT IN JANUARY.

WARREN>> OKAY. ANTONIO VILLARAIGOSA, SPEAKER, CANDIDATE FOR MAYOR, MEDIATOR, THANK YOU FOR BEING WITH US.

ANTONIO VILLARAIGOSA>> WELL, THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

VAL>> AND, OF COURSE, MR. VILLARAIGOSA IS JUST ONE OF SEVERAL CANDIDATES FOR MAYOR AND WE WILL BE HAVING INTERVIEWS WITH THOSE OTHER CANDIDATES AS TIME GOES ON.

WARREN>> AND IT WILL TAKE A LOT OF TIME.

VAL>> RIGHT.

WARREN>> IN TONIGHT'S PEOPLE, PLACES AND THINGS, WE LOOK AT A FILM INDUSTRY PHENOMENON. IT'S A NEW MOVIE THAT, LIKE THE SLEEPER HIT, BLAIR WITCH PROJECT, CAME OUT OF NOWHERE AND IT'S SUDDENLY GROSSING MORE MONEY PER SCREEN THAN ANY OTHER FILM IN THE COUNTRY.

VAL>> THE MOVIE IS CALLED THE OMEGA CODE AND IT IS PERHAPS MOST REMARKABLE BECAUSE OF THE WAY IT WAS MARKETED.

THE OMEGA CODE IS AN ACTION THRILLER WITH A BIBLICAL PLOT. IT WAS MADE WITH THE BACKING, THE FINANCIAL BACKING, OF TRINITY BROADCASTING NETWORKING, A CHRISTIAN TELEVANGELIST GROUP BASED IN ORANGE COUNTY. AND IT WAS MARKETED ALMOST EXCLUSIVELY THROUGH AND TO THE CHRISTIAN COMMUNITY.

WARREN>> WITH US NOW IS A KEY MEMBER OF THE TEAM BEHIND THE OMEGA CODE. HE'S MICHAEL HARPSTER, PRESIDENT OF MARKETING AT PROVIDENCE ENTERTAINMENT. THANKS FOR BEING WITH US.

MICHAEL HARPSTER>> THANK YOU.

WARREN>> IT WAS THE MARKETING THAT HAS EVERYBODY TALKING AND IT HAD TO DO WITH THE TRINITY BROADCASTING NETWORK AND THE EVANGELICAL COMMUNITY.

MICHAEL HARPSTER>> RIGHT. WE KNOW EXACTLY WHERE THE AUDIENCE WAS BECAUSE WE HAD FOLLOWED IN THE FOOTPRINTS OF TRINITY BROADCASTING'S CABLE AND BROADCAST PENETRATION. WE KNEW WHERE THERE STRENGTH WAS AND WHERE WE SHOULD BE PUTTING THE FILMS AND HOW MANY PRINTS WE SHOULD PUT INTO EACH MARKETPLACE AND HOW WE SHOULD ADVERTISE FOR THAT AUDIENCE. THERE'S ACTUALLY A VERY LARGE GROUP OF PEOPLE IN THE UNITED STATES THAT ARE INTERESTED IN FILMS WITH CHRISTIAN MESSAGES. THERE'S RECORDS, THERE'S BOOKS, THERE'S BOOKSTORES, SO IT'S RELATIVELY EASY TO FIND THESE PEOPLE. IT'S A LITTLE BIT MORE DIFFICULT TO GALVANIZE THEM, BUT THIS IS AN AUDIENCE THAT'S LITERALLY STARVED FOR ENTERTAINMENT THAT REFLECTS THEIR POINT OF VIEW, THAT REFLECTS THEIR CORE VALUES, AND WE WERE FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO GET INVOLVED WITH THE OMEGA CODE AND IT'S BEEN A VERY BIG SUCCESS.

VAL>> TELL US, REAL BRIEFLY, THE PREMISE OF THE MOVIE AND THEN WE'RE GOING TO SEE A CLIP.

MICHAEL HARPSTER>> THE PREMISE OF THE MOVIE IS THAT, IMBEDDED IN THE BIBLE, THERE IS A SERIES OF CODES AND IF YOU ARRANGE THE LETTERS IN A CERTAIN WAY, IT WILL REVEAL THE FUTURE WHICH WILL TALK ABOUT THE END TIMES TO COME IN REVELATIONS AND HOW DO YOU PREPARE YOURSELF FOR THAT.

VAL>> SO IT DEALS WITH REVELATIONS AND WHAT WE'RE SEEING IS A CONFLICT BETWEEN THE ANTI-CHRIST AND THE --

MICHAEL HARPSTER>> RIGHT. THE BAD GUY FINDS THE MESSAGE AND HE TRIES TO USE IT FOR HIS OWN ENDS.

VAL>> LET'S TAKE A LOOK.

WARREN>> WHOA. SO MICHAEL YORK, MAINSTREAM ACTOR. YOU YOURSELF ARE NOT AN EVANGELICAL CHRISTIAN. NEITHER IS HE, SO THIS ISN'T EXACTLY, TOTALLY, AN INSIDE OPERATION.

MICHAEL HARPSTER>> WELL, AS WITH HIM, AS WITH ME, IT'S REALLY ABOUT THE WORK. FOR US AT PROVIDENCE, WE THINK THIS IS AN UNDER-SERVED NICHE THAT HOLLYWOOD NEVER ADDRESSES. WE THINK THERE ARE MILLIONS OF PEOPLE AVAILABLE TO SEE MOVIES AND WANT TO SEE MOVIES AND WE THINK THAT IT WILL OPEN UP A WHOLE NEW GROUP OF AUDIENCES. WHO KNOWS WHERE IT WILL GO?

WARREN>> LET'S TAKE A LOOK AT ONE OF THE PROMOTERS ON OUR SECOND CLIP THAT WE HAVE HERE. I THINK EVERYBODY WILL RECOGNIZE WHO WE'RE ABOUT TO SEE.

"THIS IS PAT ROBERTSON. I WANT TO COMMEND PAUL CROUCH, TRINITY BROADCASTING, FOR THE OMEGA CODE, A NEW MOTION PICTURE, THRILLING, FULL OF ADVENTURE AND EXCITEMENT WITH SOMETHING FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY. IT'S GOING TO BE OPENING ON OCTOBER 15 IN 80 CITIES AT 300 THEATERS. YOU CAN FIND OUT MORE ABOUT IT BY LOGGING IN THE INTERNET, WWW.OMEGACODE.COM."

WARREN>> I DON'T THINK PAT ROBERTSON HAS RECOMMENDED A MOVIE IN HOWEVER LONG IT'S BEEN SINCE HE'S BEEN ON TELEVISION. YOU REALLY GOT SOMETHING GOING HERE. WHAT DO YOU THINK THE IMPACT OF THIS IS AND WILL OTHER FILMS TRY TO HIT THIS SAME NICHE AUDIENCE?

MICHAEL HARPSTER>> WELL, WE'RE CERTAINLY GOING TO BE OUT THERE WITH MORE FILMS IN THE FUTURE. AND HOLLYWOOD COPIES SUCCESS LIKE NOBODY'S BUSINESS. THEY ALWAYS LOOK FOR THE GROSSES AND THEY'LL FOLLOW THIS. WE DON'T KNOW WHAT WILL HAPPEN WITH THAT, BUT WE'RE CERTAINLY GOING TO FOLLOW IT UP.

WARREN>> LOT OF GREAT STORIES IN THE BIBLE.

MICHAEL HARPSTER>> LOT OF GREAT STORIES IN THE BIBLE.

VAL>> BUT IT WAS TRINITY BROADCASTING, WE SHOULD MAKE IT CLEAR, THAT PUT UP THE $7.2 MILLION DOLLARS THAT IT TOOK TO MAKE THE FILM. NATURALLY, THEY HAVE A STAKE IN MARKETING --

MICHAEL HARPSTER>> ABSOLUTELY.

VAL>> -- ITS'SUCCESS BECAUSE IT'S THEIR MONEY ON THE LINE. SO THEY DIDN'T JUST GO ON TELEVISION AND TELL PEOPLE TO GO TO THE MOVIE. THEY ALSO BOUGHT OUT THEATERS, IS THAT CORRECT?

MICHAEL HARPSTER>> WELL, THEY DIDN'T BUY OUT THEATERS. WE HAVE 2,000 VOLUNTEERS IN THE FIELD THAT ARE WORKING WITH THE FILM THAT ARE ALL TBN VIEWERS --

VAL>> SO THEY RECRUITED VOLUNTEERS --

MICHAEL HARPSTER>. -- WE RECRUITED THE VOLUNTEERS, AND THEN WE INVITED PASTORS AND YOUTH GROUPS AND CHURCHES AND ALL KINDS OF PEOPLE TO GO IN AND BUY TICKETS IN ADVANCE FOR A MONTH AHEAD OF TIME.

WARREN>> YOU'RE MAKING A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF MONEY. WHO GETS THE PROFIT?

MICHAEL HARPSTER>> WELL, FIRST OF ALL, WE HAVE TO PAY OFF THE COST FOR SELLING IT AND THEN WE HAVE TO PAY OFF THE COST FOR MAKING THE FILM, SO --

WARREN>> -- HOLLYWOOD ACCOUNTING --

MICHAEL HARPSTER>> NO, NO, EVENTUALLY THERE WILL BE SOME MONEY MADE, YES.

WARREN>. AND WILL IT GO TO TRINITY BROADCASTING?

MICHAEL HARPSTER>> MATT CROUCH WAS THE ACTUAL PRODUCER ON IT, SO HE'S THE POINT PERSON FOR TRINITY, YES.

VAL>> SO IS THIS THE START OF A NEW TREND? IN OTHER WORDS, IS THE RELIGIOUS COMMUNITY SAYING, WELL, WE CAN'T BEAT HOLLYWOOD, SO WE'LL JOIN HOLLYWOOD?

MICHAEL HARPSTER>> ABSOLUTELY. WE'VE SEEN THAT ALL ACROSS -- PASTORS EVERYWHERE CAME OUT AND SAID, OKAY, YOU DON'T LIKE THE FILMS THAT THEY'RE MAKING FOR YOU? HERE'S ONE. GO SEE IT. AND THEY'VE DONE THAT ALL ACROSS THE COUNTRY AND, YES, IT COULD BE THE START OF A NEW TREND AND IT SHOULD BE. WHY NOT? HERE'S MILLIONS OF PEOPLE.

WARREN>> BIG WEEKEND OPENING, HELD UP THE SECOND WEEKEND --

MICHAEL HARPSTER --HELD UP THE SECOND WEEKEND --

WARREN>> WE'LL SEE WHAT HAPPENS NEXT.

MICHAEL HARPSTER>> YEAH, YOU'RE RIGHT.

WARREN>. MICHAEL HARPSTER, THANKS A LOT FOR BEING WITH US.

MICHAEL HARPSTER>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

VAL>> THAT IS OUR PROGRAM FOR TONIGHT.

TOMORROW, IS ANOTHER TOLL ROAD THE SOLUTION TO ORANGE COUNTY'S TRAFFIC PROBLEMS, OR IS A RECIPE FOR ENVIRONMENTAL DISASTER?

>> I THINK I'D RATHER PAY TO GO THROUGH THE 15-MINUTE TRAFFIC JAM FOR MY KIDS TO ENABLE THEM TO BE ABLE TO HIKE BACK HERE IN THE BACK COUNTRY AND ENJOY WHAT GOD HAS GIVEN THEM.

WARREN>> THAT'S TOMORROW ON LIFE AND TIMES TONIGHT.

TOMORROW ON WHICH WAY LA, THE WORLD TRADE ORGANIZATION IS ABOUT TO MEET IN SEATTLE. WHAT'S IT REALLY ABOUT? IS WTO FOR TRADE LIBERALIZATION OR WORLD GOVERNMENT? THAT'S TOMORROW.

KCRW 89.9 FM, WHICH WAY LA
WEEKDAYS FROM 1-2 P.M.
REBROADCAST AT 7:00 P.M.

VAL>> FOR ALL OF US HERE AT LIFE AND TIMES TONIGHT, HAVE A WONDERFUL EVENING. THANKS FOR WATCHING. SEE YOU TOMORROW.

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