9/10/01

LC010910

VAL>> ON LIFE AND TIMES TONIGHT --

JESS>> FILLING THE SHOES OF A CITY HALL LEGEND ISN'T EASY, BUT TEN PEOPLE ARE RUNNING FOR THE JOB.

PHILIP BRUCE>> IT'S A NEW ERA FOR L.A. POLITICS AND ALL THESE NEW FACES HOPE TO PLAY A PART, BUT WHAT DO THE VOTERS THINK ABOUT THE ISSUES AND THEIR CHOICES?

SANDY BOECK>> THERE ARE SO MANY THINGS TO BE CONCERNED ABOUT. TRAFFIC AND CRIME, THE PARKS. I THINK THAT GRAFFITI -- WE HAVE SO MANY, SO MANY ISSUES.

VAL>> WE'VE HEARD L.A.'S POLICE CHIEF DENY A RECENT NEWS REPORT THAT GANG VIOLENCE IS ON THE RISE, BUT TONIGHT WE'LL HEAR FROM THE TIME MAGAZINE REPORTER WHO WROTE THE STORY. HE SAYS THE GANG PROBLEM IS A WHOLE LOT WORSE THAN POLICE ARE WILLING TO ADMIT.

JESS>> AND WE LOOK BACK TONIGHT AT A PLACE THAT'S BEEN CALLED AMERICA'S SUBURB.

[FILM CLIP]

JESS>> SAN FERNANDO VALLEY ACTUALLY HAS A LONG HISTORY QUITE SEPARATE FROM THE REST OF LOS ANGELES. TONIGHT WE'LL GET A GLIMPSE OF THE VALLEY'S EARLY DAYS WITH THE AUTHOR OF A NEW BOOK ON AMERICA'S SUBURB.

VAL>> THESE STORIES COMING UP NEXT ON LIFE AND TIMES TONIGHT.

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

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

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.

AND THE CALIFORNIA COMMUNITY FOUNDATION
UNDERWRITING THE SPANISH LANGUAGE TRANSLATION OF LIFE AND TIMES TONIGHT.

VAL>> GOOD EVENING, I'M VAL ZAVALA.

JESS>> AND I'M JESS MARLOW.

IT'S BEEN A YEAR OF MAJOR POLITICAL CHANGE IN LOS ANGELES AND ANOTHER ONE IS JUST AROUND THE CORNER. IT'S HAPPENING IN THE CITY'S FOURTH COUNCIL DISTRICT WHERE THE LATE COUNCIL PRESIDENT, JOHN FERRARO, WAS THE DOMINANT POLITICAL FIGURE FOR MORE THAN THREE DECADES.

VAL>> THE ELECTION TO FILL FERRARO'S VACANT SEAT IS TOMORROW AND A LOT IS AT STAKE SINCE THE WINNER COULD EASILY SHIFT THE BALANCE OF POWER AT L.A. CITY HALL. TONIGHT PHILIP BRUCE LOOKS AT THE RACE AND WHAT VOTERS WANT.

PHILIP>> THE NEW ERA IN LOS ANGELES POLITICS BEGAN THIS SUMMER WHEN L.A. ELECTED A NEW MAYOR AND SIX NEW CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS. AND NOW MORE CHANGE IS COMING TO CITY HALL. TOMORROW VOTERS IN THE FOURTH DISTRICT WILL HEAD TO THE POLLS TO FILL THE COUNCIL SEAT LEFT VACANT BY THE DEATH OF JOHN FERRARO WHO DIED IN APRIL AFTER 35 YEARS IN OFFICE. AFTER DECADES OF FERRARO'S LEADERSHIP, VOTERS IN THE DISTRICT SEE THIS ELECTION AS A NEW AND UNUSUAL OPPORTUNITY.

JOANN CLARK>> AND I ENJOYED JOHN FERRARO TREMENDOUSLY, BUT AS THE TIME WENT ON, HIS HEALTH PROBLEMS INTERFERED WITH SOME OF THE GETTING TO SEE HIM PERSONALLY AND I THINK THE NEW ERA HERE WILL BE REALLY IMPORTANT FOR US TO GET THINGS DONE AND ACCOMPLISHED.

BRUCE WALKER>> IT'S A BIG CHANGE, SO IT'S EXCITING. PEOPLE SEE AN OPPORTUNITY HERE AND THEY HAVE TO THINK ABOUT WHAT THEIR CHOICES ARE AND PICK THE RIGHT PERSON BECAUSE, AS THEY SAY, THIS PERSON WILL PROBABLY BE WITH US FOR THE NEXT TEN YEARS.

PHILIP>> TEN CANDIDATES ARE VYING FOR THE FOURTH DISTRICT COUNCIL SEAT. THEY GATHERED LAST WEEK FOR THE FINAL FORUM OF THE CAMPAIGN. THEY INCLUDE DENISE MUNRO ROBB, A COMMUNITY AND ENVIRONMENTAL ACTIVIST; PUBLIC INTEREST ATTORNEY, MICHAEL SCHAEFER; LINDA LOCKWOOD, A DESIGNER AND COMMUNITY ORGANIZER; COMMUNITY COLLEGE BOARD MEMBER, BETH GARFIELD; FERRIS WEHBE, A HOLLYWOOD BUSINESSMAN AND LEADER OF THE SECESSION MOVEMENT; TOM LABONGE, AN AIDE TO JOHN FERRARO AND MAYOR RICHARD RIORDAN; ADULT EDUCATION TEACHER, SUSAN FONG; FORMER STATE SENATE PRESIDENT PRO TEM, DAVID ROBERTI; MELROSE LARRY GREEN, A PERENNIAL CANDIDATE AND COUNCIL GADFLY; AND RICHARD MACMINN, A BUSINESSMAN AND HOLLYWOOD ACTIVIST.

KITTY FELDE>> I'M KITTY FELDE. THIS IS "TALK OF THE CITY", BUT PERHAPS BEFORE WE MEET THE CANDIDATES, WE SHOULD PROFILE THE DISTRICT...

PHILIP>> IN THIS NEW ERA, TERM LIMITS WILL HOLD THE WINNER TO EIGHT YEARS AT MOST ON THE CITY COUNCIL. BUT OTHER CHANGES ARE TAKING PLACE IN THE FOURTH DISTRICT. IT COVERS A DIVERSE SWATH OF LOS ANGELES FROM MID-WILSHIRE AND HANCOCK PARK UP TO LOS FELIZ, GRIFFITH PARK, NORTH HOLLYWOOD AND TOLUCA LAKE.

LU KUNENE>> WELL, IN THIS AREA, I THINK THE BIGGEST ISSUE HAS TO DO WITH DEVELOPMENT AND, YOU KNOW, DEVELOPMENT RUNNING RAMPANT AS WELL AS HISTORIC PRESERVATION WHICH MY NEIGHBORHOOD PARTICULARLY IS CONCERNED WITH.

PATRICIA CASADO>> IT'S JUST GOTTEN TO BE VERY DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER AND TO NAVIGATE. YOU KNOW, THERE ARE TOO MANY PEOPLE AND TOO MANY APARTMENTS. I MEAN, THE TRAFFIC IS REALLY THE WORST THING. I DON'T THINK THEY EVER REALLY THOUGHT THERE WOULD BE THIS MANY PEOPLE IN THIS NEIGHBORHOOD.

PHILIP>> WHILE VOTERS HERE HAVE SOME CONCERNS THAT ARE SPECIFIC TO THE DISTRICT, MOST OF THEM SHARE THE SAME INTEREST AS THE REST OF THE CITY.

SANDY BOECK>> THERE ARE SO MANY THINGS TO BE CONCERNED ABOUT. TRAFFIC AND CRIME, THE PARKS. I THINK THAT GRAFFITI -- WE HAVE SO MANY, SO MANY ISSUES.

DAVID SCHULMAN>> THE THING THAT I'M INTERESTED IS ABOUT THE PRESERVATION OF LOS ANGELES AND THE HISTORICAL LANDMARKS AND GREEN SPACE.

PHILIP>> UNLESS ONE CANDIDATE WALKS AWAY WITH OVER FIFTY PERCENT OF THE VOTE ON TUESDAY, THE TOP TWO VOTE-GETTERS WILL FACE EACH OTHER IN A RUNOFF ON OCTOBER 23. WITH SUCH A CROWDED FIELD, THAT SEEMS LIKELY, EVEN AS ALL THE CANDIDATES DO THEIR BEST TO STAND OUT IN THIS CROWD. FOR LIFE AND TIMES TONIGHT, I'M PHILIP BRUCE.

JESS>> AND SOME ARE ASKING WHAT THIS RACE WILL MEAN TO AFRICAN-AMERICANS AND LATINOS WHO'VE BEEN ENGAGED IN A BIG TURF BATTLE AT CITY HALL. JOINING US TO TALK ABOUT THAT AND OTHERS IS PROFESSOR SHERRY BEBITCH JEFFE. SHE'S A POLITICAL SCIENTIST AT USC AND A PRO AT SIZING UP WHAT'S HAPPENING IN LOCAL POLITICS. THANKS FOR JOINING US.

SHERRY BEBITCH JEFFE>> (LAUGHTER) THANKS FOR THE COMPLIMENT.

JESS>> IF IT'S SO IMPORTANT TO AFRICAN-AMERICANS AND LATINOS, WHY AMONG THOSE TEN IS THERE NEITHER AN AFRICAN-AMERICAN OR A LATINO?

SHERRY BEBITCH JEFFE>> THERE IS NOT AN AFRICAN-AMERICAN CANDIDATE, THERE'S NOT A LATINO CANDIDATE. IT IS A DISTRICT THAT IS DIVERSE, JESS, BUT THE NUMBERS INDICATE THAT IT IS STILL PREDOMINANTLY ANGLO. CERTAINLY THE ELECTORATE IS PREDOMINANTLY ANGLO AND I THINK THAT THE ENERGIES OF LATINOS AND AFRICAN-AMERICANS IN THE CITY, AT THIS POINT IN TIME, ARE CONCENTRATED ELSEWHERE.

VAL>> NOW THERE'S TEN CANDIDATES. THAT'S A LOT TO HANDLE. WHO ARE THE REAL FRONT-RUNNERS HERE?

SHERRY BEBITCH JEFFE>> WELL, THE CONVENTIONAL WISDOM, AND I TEND TO AGREE WITH IT THIS TIME, IS THAT FIRST-YEAR CANDIDATES ARE TOM LABONGE, WHO WAS A LONG-TIME CITY HALL STAFFER; BETH GARFIELD, WHO IS A FORMER PRESIDENT OF THE COMMUNITY COLLEGE BOARD; AND DAVID ROBERTI, WHO WAS PRESIDENT PRO TEM OF THE CALIFORNIA STATE SENATE AND SERVED FOR A VERY LONG TIME, 27 YEARS IN SACRAMENTO.

JESS>> WOULDN'T CONVENTIONAL WISDOM HAVE SUGGESTED THAT DAVID ROBERTI WAS THE SHOO-IN?

SHERRY BEBITCH JEFFE>> WELL, THE BOTTOM LINE AXIOM IN POLITICS, JESS, IS "WHAT HAVE YOU DONE FOR ME LATELY?" (LAUGHTER)

JESS>> (LAUGHTER) THAT'S RIGHT. HE'S BEEN OUT OF THE SPOTLIGHT FOR A WHILE.

SHERRY BEBITCH JEFFE>> AND HE'S BEEN OUT SINCE 1994. ALSO, THINK BACK TO JUNE. THINK BACK TO THE CITY ELECTION. THERE WAS A PATTERN THERE. THE SACRAMENTO CONNECTION DIDN'T HELP. WE HAD A FORMER SPEAKER, ANTONIO VILLARAIGOSA, RUNNING FOR MAYOR. HE LOST, FOR MANY REASONS. TOM HAYDEN, CONVENTIONAL WISDOM TOM HAYDEN, BEEN AROUND FOREVER --

JESS>> -- NAME ID, YEAH.

SHERRY BEBITCH JEFFE>> NAME ID, MONEY, HE WAS GOING TO WIN. NO, HE LOST THE FIFTH COUNCIL RACE. CARL WASHINGTON, A MEMBER OF THE ASSEMBLY, LOST IN THE NINTH. AND SCOTT WILDMAN DIDN'T EVEN MAKE IT THROUGH THE PRIMARY FOR A CITY COUNCIL SEAT. I THINK THERE'S A MESSAGE IN THAT.

JESS>> THE MESSAGE IS, "DON'T MENTION SACRAMENTO". (LAUGHTER)

SHERRY BEBITCH JEFFE>> (LAUGHTER) YEAH. YOU WANT TO KNOW WHAT? IN THAT FORUM LAST WEEK THAT WAS SHOWN, DAVID ROBERTI DIDN'T MENTION IT UNTIL HIS CLOSING STATEMENT.

VAL>> WOW. NOW WHAT DOES THIS MEAN IN THE CONTEXT OF THE L.A. CITY HALL. LET'S SAY ONE OF THE THREE TOP CANDIDATES WINS. CAN YOU SAY FOR SURE SOMETHING WILL -- WHAT IMPACT THAT WILL HAVE?

SHERRY BEBITCH JEFFE>> WHAT IS SO FASCINATING, VAL, IS THAT WHOEVER WINS THIS ELECTION WILL LIKELY BE FACING A DISTRICT THE NEXT TIME AROUND IN 2003 FOR THE FULL TERM THAT DOESN'T LOOK LIKE THE DISTRICT THAT THEY WON IN --

JESS>> -- REDISTRICTING.

SHERRY BEBITCH JEFFE>> -- BECAUSE REDISTRICTING IS HAPPENING. AND I WILL ALSO TELL YOU, QUITE FRANKLY, ALTHOUGH YOU'LL HEAR THAT, OH YEAH, WE'RE GOING TO BEGIN THE REAPPORTIONMENT PROCESS IN JANUARY, IT'S ON. SO WHOEVER WINS THE FOURTH RACE, WHOEVER WINS JOEL WACHS'S SEAT WHICH COMES UP NEXT WILL REALLY HAVE NOT BEEN INVOLVED IN THE EARLY NEGOTIATIONS ON REAPPORTIONMENT.

VAL>> SO THEY COULD GET --

SHERRY BEBITCH JEFFE>> -- YEAH, SO, SURPRISE. YOU'RE NOT THERE AT THE TABLE. SO THE PEOPLE WHO ARE THERE AT THE TABLE CAN DO A LOT OF FANCY CUTTING UP IF THEY SO CHOOSE.

JESS>> BUT BEFORE THEY GET TO THAT POINT, WITH TEN CANDIDATES RUNNING, THERE'S BOUND TO BE A RUNOFF, ISN'T THERE?

SHERRY BEBITCH JEFFE>> OH, I THINK SO BECAUSE THERE ARE THREE VERY STRONG CANDIDATES. YOU'VE GOT TO GET FIFTY PERCENT PLUS ONE TO AVOID A RUNOFF. THE TOP THREE CANDIDATES TOGETHER WILL HAVE SPENT BY TOMORROW WELL OVER A MILLION DOLLARS IN TOTAL. I MEAN, THIS IS AN EXTREMELY EXPENSIVE CITY COUNCIL RACE. THAT COUNTS FOR SOMETHING. YOU'VE GOT NAME RECOGNITION, YOU'VE GOT TEN CANDIDATES. YOU KNOW, MANY OF THEM ARE REALLY GOOD ARTICULATE PEOPLE AND I THINK IT'S ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO AVOID A RUNOFF.

VAL>> WHOEVER WINS, WILL THEY TIP THE BALANCE ONE WAY OR THE OTHER IN THE CITY COUNCIL OR ARE THEY ALL VERY DIFFERENT?

SHERRY BEBITCH JEFFE>> DEFINE WHAT YOU MEAN BY "BALANCE". (LAUGHTER) YOU'VE GOT FIFTEEN EGOS RUNNING AROUND THERE ANYWAY. (LAUGHTER)

VAL>> WELL, TRADITIONAL LIBERAL CONSERVATIVES.

SHERRY BEBITCH JEFFE>> WELL, MORE THAN THAT, ONCE THE FERRARO SEAT IS FILLED AND ONCE JOEL WACHS'S SEAT IS FILLED, EIGHT OF FIFTEEN MEMBERS OF THE L.A. CITY COUNCIL WILL BE BRAND NEW. THAT'S THE BALANCE THAT'S GOING TO BE WORTH LOOKING AT. YOU WANT TO HEAR SOMETHING THAT WILL ABSOLUTELY BLOW YOUR MIND? YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT JOHN FERRARO AS AN ICON, A LEGEND --

JESS>> -- 35 YEARS.

SHERRY BEBITCH JEFFE>> 35 YEARS. DO YOU KNOW THAT, WHEN HE WAS FIRST APPOINTED TO HIS SEAT IN 1966 BY THEN MAYOR SAM YORTY, THE CURRENT CITY COUNCIL PRESIDENT, ALEX PADILLA, WASN'T EVEN BORN?

VAL>> OH, MY GOD. SO WHOEVER IT IS, IT WILL BE NEWCOMERS.

SHERRY BEBITCH JEFFE>> YEAH, NEWCOMERS RULE AND THIS HAS TO DO WITH TERM LIMITS AND IT WILL BE VERY INTERESTING TO SEE HOW THE NEWEST OF THE NEW WHO REPLACES THE MOST EXPERIENCED IN THE HISTORY OF THE CITY MAKES IT IN CITY HALL.

VAL>> WOW, WHAT A CHANGE. SHERRY BEBITCH JEFFE, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR THOUGHTS. ALWAYS FUN TO HAVE YOU ON.

SHERRY BEBITCH JEFFE>> MY PLEASURE.

VAL>> TOMORROW ON LIFE AND TIMES TONIGHT, ARE YOU FED UP WITH THOSE DINNERTIME PHONE CALLS FROM TELEMARKETERS? WE'LL TELL YOU HOW STATE LAWMAKERS ARE TRYING TO GIVE YOU A BREAK.

PHILIP BRUCE>> LAWMAKERS DON'T HAVE TO PHONE HOME TO FIND OUT WHAT THE PROBLEM IS. TOO MANY CALLS FROM TELEMARKETERS AT THE WORST TIME OF THE DAY. BUT CAN THEY PUT A LID ON THESE UNWANTED CALLS WITHOUT CAUSING A CONSTITUTIONAL CRISIS? WE'LL LOOK AT THE PROS AND CONS OF THE "DON'T CALL ME" BILL.

VAL>> THAT'S WEDNESDAY AT 7:00 P.M. ON LIFE AND TIMES TONIGHT.

JESS>> THE CURRENT ISSUE OF TIME MAGAZINE HAS SOME UNSETTLING NEWS ABOUT THE GANG PROBLEM IN LOS ANGELES. IT CLAIMS THINGS HAVEN'T BEEN THIS BAD SINCE THE EARLY 90'S. THE STORY REPORTS A BIG JUMP IN GANG-RELATED HOMICIDES, UP 23 PERCENT FOR THE FIRST HALF OF THIS YEAR, AND IT SAYS 30,000 GANG MEMBERS NOW IN CALIFORNIA PRISONS ARE ON THE VERGE OF BEING PUT BACK ON THE STREETS.

VAL>> BUT LOS ANGELES POLICE CHIEF, BERNARD PARKS, SAYS THE NUMBERS IN THAT TIME MAGAZINE ARTICLE DON'T QUITE ADD UP. ON THIS PROGRAM LAST WEEK, CHIEF PARKS SAID THE MAGAZINE GOT IT WRONG WHEN IT SAID THERE WERE 100,000 GANG MEMBERS IN CALIFORNIA STATE PRISONS.

BERNARD PARKS>> THERE'S ONLY ABOUT 130,000 TO 140,000 PEOPLE IN STATE PRISON OVERALL. A HUNDRED THOUSAND OF THEM CANNOT BE GANG MEMBERS. SO I THINK HE, AGAIN, MISQUOTED SOME FIGURES. I DON'T KNOW WHERE HE GOT THOSE, BUT I THINK THE NUMBERS OF PEOPLE THAT ARE IN PRISON ARE NOT ALL GANG MEMBERS AND WE WOULD NOT HAVE THAT PERCENTAGE OF GANG MEMBERS IN PRISON. WHAT WE KNOW IN THE CITY OF L.A. IS THAT WE HAVE ROUGHLY ABOUT 400 GANGS. HE RELATES ABOUT 1,300, NOT 400 GANGS --

VAL>> YOU SAY, NOT NEARLY THAT MANY?

BERNARD PARKS>> NO. WE DON'T HAVE NEARLY THE 1,300 -- 1,300 MIGHT BE A COUNTYWIDE FIGURE.

JESS>> WITH US NOW IS THE JOURNALIST WHO DID THE GANG STORY, TERRY MCCARTHY. HE IS L.A. BUREAU CHIEF FOR TIME MAGAZINE HERE TO TALK ABOUT SOME OF THE THINGS HE DISCOVERED DURING THE COURSE OF RESEARCHING THAT ARTICLE. THANKS FOR BEING WITH US.

TERRY MCCARTHY>> NICE TO BE HERE.

JESS>> YOU HEARD THE CHIEF'S CONCERN ABOUT YOUR FIGURES. WHAT DO YOU THINK?

TERRY MCCARTHY>> WELL, YOU KNOW, I CAN DEBATE WITH THE CHIEF WHY THERE IS A RISE IN GANG VIOLENCE. THERE ARE VARIOUS THEORIES OF WHY IT'S GOING ON. BUT THE STATISTICS ARE THERE AND WE USED LAPD'S STATISTICS. IN 1999, YOU HAD 136 PEOPLE KILLED BY GANGS IN L.A. THAT'S IN L.A. CITY, THE LAPD AREA. IN THE YEAR 2000, YOU HAD 331. THAT'S 143 PERCENT INCREASE. NOW IN ANYONE'S BOOK, THAT'S A SERIOUS PROBLEM. HOW THAT'S HAPPENING, WHY THAT'S HAPPENING, THAT'S ANOTHER QUESTION.

ON THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE IN JAIL, I THINK THE FIGURES THAT WE USED WERE THERE'S 160,000 GANG MEMBERS IN JAIL THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY. OF THOSE, 100,000 ARE IN JAILS IN CALIFORNIA. SOME MAY BE STATE, SOME MAY BE FEDERAL, BUT OBVIOUSLY THE LARGE NUMBER OF GANG MEMBERS IN THIS ENTIRE COUNTRY ARE ALL IN CALIFORNIA.

VAL>> THAT'S A HUGE PERCENTAGE YOU'RE SAYING --

TERRY MCCARTHY>> -- HUGE PERCENTAGE, YEAH.

VAL>> I SEE.

TERRY MCCARTHY>> AND THE REAL ISSUE AND ONE OF THE ISSUES WE'RE TRYING TO GET IN THIS STORY IS, A LOT OF THOSE GUYS WENT IN FOR THE CRACK EPIDEMIC, EARLY 90'S, AND, AS LONG AS THEY DIDN'T KILL SOMEONE, THEIR TERMS ARE JUST ABOUT COMING UP NOW. ACCORDING TO THE CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS, THEY'RE RELEASING ABOUT 3,000 A MONTH AND, OF COURSE, A LOT OF THOSE ARE COMING BACK TO LOS ANGELES. THEY'RE GOING BACK TO THE NEIGHBORHOODS. A LOT OF THEM HAVEN'T BEEN GIVEN ANY ADDITIONAL SKILLS WHILE THEY WERE IN JAIL, POSSIBLY GOT EVEN WORSE WITH THEIR VIOLENT WAYS, AND YOU'RE SEEING AN INCREASE IN GANG ACTIVITY AGAIN.

VAL>> BUT IT IS KIND OF STRANGE BECAUSE THEY THINK JUST BETWEEN 1999 AND 2000, YOU SAY THAT THERE WAS A 23 PERCENT INCREASE IN --

TERRY MCCARTHY>> -- NO, THAT'S THIS YEAR.

VAL>> THAT'S -- FROM 2000 --

TERRY MCCARTHY>> --ON TOP OF THAT, YOU HAD 143 PERCENT INCREASE FROM '99 TO 2000 AND THEN I THINK FOR THE FIVE MONTHS OF THIS YEAR, YOU HAD AN ADDITIONAL 23 PERCENT INCREASE.

VAL>> THAT WAS IT. THE FIRST HALF -- AND YET POLICE CHIEF PARKS WAS HERE SAYING IT'S NOT ANYWHERE NEAR THAT. HE SAID IT'S LESS THAN ONE PERCENT. HOW CAN THERE BE SUCH A HUGE DISCREPANCY?

TERRY MCCARTHY>> I THINK THE FIGURE HE'S USING, AND HE'S USING FIGURES HERE, I THINK THE TOTAL HOMICIDES ARE AT ONE PERCENT. I'M TALKING GANG HOMICIDES AND THAT'S A VERY DIFFERENT ISSUE.

JESS>> YOU CONJECTURE IN YOUR ARTICLE THAT PART OF THE PROBLEM IS THE FACT THAT THE POLICE HAVE SIMPLY PULLED BACK, THANKS TO THE RAMPART SCANDAL, THAT THEY'RE PRO ACTIVE IN DEALING WITH GANGS THE WAY THEY ONCE WERE.

TERRY MCCARTHY>> SURE, THAT'S A VERY CLEAR DIFFERENCE. YOU KNOW, WHEN WE WERE WORKING ON THE STORY, WE SPENT ABOUT THREE MONTHS WITH ONE PARTICULAR GANG, THE PLAYBOYS, WHO WERE BASED ON PICO AND FEDORA. IT WAS VERY CLEAR WITH HANGING OUT WITH THEM THAT THE POLICE ARE NOT AGGRESSIVELY INTERROGATING THEM ANYMORE. IT USED TO BE THE THAT THEY WOULD JUMP OUT OF THEIR CARS, ASK THEM WHAT THEY WERE DOING WHEN THEY'RE HANGING ON THE STREET CORNERS, TRYING TO LOOK AT THEIR TATTOOS, ALL THAT KIND OF STUFF. THESE DAYS, MOSTLY YOU JUST SEE THEM DOING LAPS IN THEIR CARS. UNLESS THERE IS A SPECIFIC CRIME REPORTED, THEY DON'T GET OUT. I WAS THERE FOR THREE MONTHS. I VERY RARELY SAW POLICE OFFICERS GETTING OUT OF THEIR CAR AND THE GANG MEMBERS KNOW THAT.

VAL>> WERE YOU ABLE TO TALK TO THE POLICE OFFICERS ABOUT THEIR ATTITUDE TOWARD THIS CHANGE? WHAT DID THEY SAY?

TERRY MCCARTHY>> YEAH, AND THE POLICE OFFICERS ARE EXTREMELY UPSET THAT THEY HAVE BEEN TOLD BY THEIR HIGHER-UP OFFICERS TO BE MUCH MORE CAREFUL. OF COURSE, THE RAMPART SCANDAL LED TO A LOT OF COURT ACTIONS AGAINST THE CITY.

VAL>> SO THIS BEHAVIOR OF PULLING BACK IS BY DIRECT ORDER FROM THE POLICE OFFICERS' SUPERIORS?

TERRY MCCARTHY>> ABSOLUTELY, ABSOLUTELY. I MEAN, THEY DISBANDED THE CRASH UNITS. THEY SET UP THESE NEW ANTI-GANG UNITS, SPECIAL ENFORCEMENT UNITS, SEU'S. THEY'VE BEEN GIVEN MUCH MORE STRICT MODUS OPERANDI. THEY'VE BEEN TOLD TO BE VERY CAREFUL IN CONDUCTING SEARCHES, IN A --

VAL>> -- IS THIS NECESSARILY BAD, THOUGH, GIVEN THE ABUSES OF THE RAMPART SCANDAL?

TERRY MCCARTHY>> I'M NOT SAYING IT'S GOOD OR BAD. I'M SAYING THIS IS WHAT HAS HAPPENED.

JESS>> BUT THE RULES OF ENGAGEMENT CLEARLY HAVE CHANGED.

TERRY MCCARTHY>> OH, ABSOLUTELY. AND POLICE OFFICERS ON THE STREET KNOW THAT AND THEY LAMENT IT SOMEWHAT BECAUSE THEY --

JESS>> -- AND GANG MEMBERS KNOW IT AS WELL?

TERRY MCCARTHY>> OH, ABSOLUTELY. I MEAN, THEY'RE RIGHT ON THE CUTTING EDGE OF THAT.

VAL>> DO YOU THINK, OVERALL, THAT IT'S BENEFICIAL IN A SENSE TO HAVE OFFICERS THAT ARE MORE CAREFUL EVEN IF IT -- OR DO YOU THINK THE SOCIAL COSTS AND THE RISING CRIME IS TOO HIGH?

TERRY MCCARTHY>> IT DEPENDS ON WHO YOU ASK. YOU KNOW, IF YOU GO TO RAMPART DISTRICT, THEY LOOK BACK ON THE OLD DAYS OF THE AGGRESSIVE CRASH UNITS WITH GREAT FONDNESS AND THEY'RE UNDERSTANDABLY EXTREMELY UPSET THAT THE GUNFIRE IS COMING BACK TO THEIR NEIGHBORHOOD. IF YOU TALK TO LAWYERS AND THE CIVIL LIBERTIES PEOPLE, THEY'LL SAY, WELL, YOU KNOW, POLICE HAVE TO BE CONTROLLED. SO, I MEAN, YOU HAVE TO SOMEHOW STRIKE A BALANCE.

JESS>> I'M CURIOUS. YOUR THREE MONTHS OF INVESTIGATING THIS AND THE TIME YOU SPENT WITH THE PLAYBOY MEMBER, YOU USED THE NAME, CHINO, WHAT DID YOU LEARN ABOUT THE GANG CULTURE? IS IT CHANGING DRAMATICALLY? THEY'RE STILL INVOLVED IN DRUGS, THEY'RE STILL INVOLVED IN GANG-BANGING, THEY'RE STILL INVOLVED IN DRIVE-BY SHOOTINGS. HAVE THEY CHANGED OTHER THAN THEIR RELATIONSHIP WITH THE POLICE?

TERRY MCCARTHY>> I GUESS THERE IS SOME CHANGE, PARTICULARLY IN THE LATINO GANGS. THE AMOUNT OF DRUGS THEY'RE MOVING HAS KIND OF GONE DOWN. I GUESS THE CRACK EPIDEMIC IS SLOWLY WORKING ITS WAY OUT OF THE SYSTEM. THEY ARE MOVING SOME MARIJUANA AND PCP, BUT IT'S LESS A DRUG-BASED ACTIVITY NOW, CERTAINLY IN THE RAMPART DISTRICT. IT'S MORE TERRITORIAL, DRIVE-BYS --

VAL>> IN FACT, THAT WAS ONE OF THE MORE INTERESTING THINGS ABOUT THE ARTICLE. YOU SAID THE DIFFERENT GANGS, BLACK AND LATINO GANGS AND I THINK THERE WAS A THIRD GROUP, ACTUALLY HAD VERY DIFFERENT APPROACHES AND VERY DIFFERENT EMPHASIS.

TERRY MCCARTHY>> OH, YEAH. IF YOU GO DOWN TO WATTS OR SOUTH CENTRAL, THE BLACK GANGS THERE ARE STILL DEEPLY INVOLVED IN MOVING DRUGS. IT'S A LARGE PART OF THEIR ACTIVITIES. YOU DON'T GET THAT TYPE OF TERRITORIAL BEHAVIOR WHERE THEY'LL JUST GO OUT WITH A SPRAY GUN AND PUT THEIR GRAFFITI ON SOMEBODY ELSE'S TERRITORY TO PROVOKE SOME KIND OF A FIRE FIGHT. THAT'S MORE A LATINO PATTERN.

JESS>> AND LATINOS MAKE UP SIXTY PERCENT, I BELIEVE YOU SAY, OF GANGS --

TERRY MCCARTHY>> -- SIXTY PERCENT OF GANGS IN L.A.

JESS>> AND THEY'RE MUCH MORE INTO GRAFFITI AND TAGGING AND SUCH.

TERRY MCCARTHY>> YEAH.

VAL>> AND THEN THERE'S THE WHITE-MASKED HELL'S ANGELS, RIGHT?

TERRY MCCARTHY>> YEAH, THAT'S ANOTHER THING. THESE WEIRDOES. I GUESS THE POLICE JUST BUSTED A BUNCH OF THEM.

VAL>> ANYWAY, FASCINATING ARTICLE. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR COMING BACK AND RESPONDING TO POLICE CHIEF PARKS. I'M SURE HE'LL --

TERRY MCCARTHY>> -- MY PLEASURE. I'D LIKE TO TALK TO HIM FACE TO FACE. WE CAN MAYBE GET SOME PROGRESS ON THIS.

VAL>> (LAUGHTER) WE TRIED TO HAVE YOU BOTH ON, BUT THE SCHEDULES DIDN'T WORK OUT. BUT WE HOPE TO DO IT IN THE FUTURE.

JESS>> THANKS FOR COMING.

VAL>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.

TERRY MCCARTHY>> GLAD TO BE HERE.

VAL>> SO WHAT DO YOU MAKE OF ALL THIS GANG TALK BACK AND FORTH AND WHAT EXPERIENCE ARE YOU SEEING IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD? LET US KNOW. HERE'S HOW YOU CAN REACH US:

LIFEANDTIMES@KCET.ORG
WWW.KCET.ORG.
LIFE AND TIMES TONIGHT
4401 SUNSET BLVD.
LOS ANGELES, CA 90027
(323) 953-5555

JESS>> SOME FOLKS SUGGEST IT'S EASY TO FEEL DETACHED FROM THE REST OF THE COUNTRY WHEN YOU LIVE IN LOS ANGELES, BUT THERE'S ONE PART OF THE CITY THAT'S ABSOLUTELY ALL-AMERICAN AND YOU DON'T HAVE TO LIVE HERE TO FEEL AS THOUGH YOU KNOW IT.

VAL>> THE SAN FERNANDO VALLEY HAS LONG BEEN A LAND OF DREAMS.

[FILM CLIP]

VAL>> WELL, NOW A NEW BOOK LOOKS BACK AT THE VALLEY'S LONG HISTORY AND ITS PLACE IN AMERICAN CULTURE. THE BOOK IS CALLED "THE SAN FERNANDO VALLEY: AMERICA'S SUBURB".

JESS>> JOINING US IS AUTHOR KEVIN RODERICK. THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

THE VALLEY IS VERY PERSONAL TO YOU. YOU'RE A VALLEY NATIVE, AREN'T YOU?

KEVIN RODERICK>> YEAH, I GREW UP IN NORTHRIDGE AND GREW UP HEARING ALL THE STORIES ABOUT THE ORIGINS OF THE VALLEY AND WENT TO THE SAN FERNANDO VALLEY FAIR EVERY SUMMER AND ATTENDED MY LOCAL PARADE ON RESEDA BOULEVARD AND CLIMBED UP THE WALNUT TREES AND HUNG OUT IN THE ORANGE ORCHARDS AND KIND OF LIVED THE LIFE OF A VALLEY KID.

JESS>> PERFECT TRAINING FOR A JOB AT THE L.A. TIMES. (LAUGHTER)

KEVIN RODERICK>> (LAUGHTER) GOT TO START SOMEWHERE.

VAL>> SO YOU'RE A REPORTER FROM THE L.A. TIMES AND THEN YOU TOOK SOME TIME OFF TO WRITE THIS BOOK. WE'RE GOING TO TAKE A LOOK AT SOME PICTURES THAT ARE IN THE BOOK. THE BOOK IS FULL OF PICTURES. WE'RE GOING TO LOOK AT SOME OF THE EARLY ONES. THE FIRST ONE IS --

JESS>> -- THAT'S THE MISSION.

VAL>> -- OF THE MISSION.

KEVIN RODERICK>> YEAH, THIS IS A LOOK INSIDE THE CHAPEL OF THE MISSION WHICH, IN THIS TIME IN ABOUT THE 1880'S, HAD BEEN RANSACKED BY VANDALS AND PEOPLE LOOKING FOR LOOT. WHAT YOU SEE IS THE SUNLIGHT CASCADING THROUGH THE ROOF OF THIS VERY HISTORIC OLD CHURCH.

VAL>> SO EVEN BACK THEN, IT WAS ON THE VERGE OF, WELL, COLLAPSE?

KEVIN RODERICK>> WELL, BY THEN, IT WAS ABOUT A HUNDRED YEARS OLD.

VAL>> I SEE.

KEVIN RODERICK>> SAME THING IN THIS PICTURE, WHICH IS ACTUALLY AROUND THE TURN OF THE TWENTIETH CENTURY, AND YOU CAN SEE HOW OPEN THE AREA AROUND THE MISSION WAS. THIS WAS LOOKING AT THE BUILDINGS -- THE MAIN BUILDING THERE ON THE LEFT IS THE BUILDING THAT YOU STILL SEE AT THE SAN FERNANDO MISSION.

VAL>> SO IT'S RESTORED NOW?

KEVIN RODERICK>> IT'S RESTORED AND IT'S BEAUTIFUL THESE DAYS, YEAH.

VAL>> WOW, THAT'S WONDERFUL. NOW ANOTHER PICTURE WE HAVE HERE IS GOING TO SURPRISE EVERYBODY. PEOPLE WILL BE AMAZED TO LEARN THAT IS THE CAHUENGA PASS. (LAUGHTER)

JESS>> IN FACT, THAT'S A SIGALERT ON THE CAHUENGA PASS. (LAUGHTER)

VAL>> THAT BIKE TRAIL ON THE CAHUENGA PASS.

KEVIN RODERICK>> YEAH, THE PASS WAS A MAIN THOROUGHFARE BETWEEN LOS ANGELES AND THE SAN FERNANDO VALLEY IN THOSE DAYS. THEY WERE, YOU KNOW, A WHOLE MOUNTAIN RANGE APART. THIS SHOWS YOU HOW KIND OF RUGGED AND WILD THE TERRITORY WAS.

VAL>> BUT THE BASIC ROUTE IS STILL THE SAME?

KEVIN RODERICK>> THE BASIC ROUTE IS THE SAME. IT'S JUST BEEN MADE A LITTLE BIT EASIER.

VAL>> NOW THIS IS SAN FERNANDO ROAD, WHICH IS NOW CALLED --

KEVIN RODERICK>> -- WELL, THIS IS SAN FERNANDO ROAD. THAT'S WHAT IT'S CALLED TODAY. THIS IS IN BURBANK.

VAL>> OH, I THOUGHT THE NAME CHANGED TO --

KEVIN RODERICK>> -- NO, NOT THIS ONE.

VAL>> NOT THIS ONE.

KEVIN RODERICK>> BUT THIS IS AN INTERESTING VIEW OF BURBANK AROUND -- IN THE EARLY 1900'S. THERE'S HORSES AND WAGONS ON THE STREET AND ALSO AN AUTOMOBILE GARAGE THERE ON THE LEFT. THERE'S STILL PEOPLE IN THE VALLEY WHO THINK THERE'S TOO MANY CARS AND NOT ENOUGH HORSES. THIS GOES BACK A LONG WAY.

VAL>> THE NEXT ONE HERE WE HAVE IS OF VAN NUYS IN 1911 AND 1914. TELL US WHAT'S HAPPENING IN THIS PHOTOGRAPH.

KEVIN RODERICK>> WELL, THIS IS WASHINGTON'S BIRTHDAY IN 1911. IT'S THE OPENING DAY OF THE NEW TOWN OF VAN NUYS AND THESE PEOPLE HAVE JUST GOTTEN --

JESS>> -- HOW DO YOU OPEN A NEW TOWN?

KEVIN RODERICK>> WELL, WHAT YOU DO IS YOU ATTACH FLYERS ON ALL THE LUGGAGE TAGS IN LOS ANGELES HOTELS AND INVITE PEOPLE TO TAKE THE TRAIN OUT TO THIS NEW PLACE CALLED VAN NUYS AND TRY TO SELL THEM PROPERTY. THEY SOLD A LOT OF PROPERTY THAT WEEKEND.

VAL>> SO PEOPLE ARE COMING OUT HERE TO LOOK AT THE LAND AND BUY PROPERTY?

KEVIN RODERICK>> EXACTLY, AND THERE WAS A LOT OF ACTIVITIES, SORT OF CONSTRUCTION ACTIVITIES, STAGED FOR THEM TO SEE. AS YOU CAN SEE, THERE WASN'T A WHOLE LOT GOING ON IN THE TOWN.

VAL>> BUT NOT SHORTLY AFTER.

JESS>> BUT THE AUTO CULTURE WAS COMING.

KEVIN RODERICK>> THIS WAS A FEW YEARS LATER. THAT'S VAN NUYS BOULEVARD THERE AND YOU CAN SEE THAT THE BEGINNINGS OF THE TOWN HAVE STARTED TO SETTLE IN AND, RIGHT, THERE'S A GOODRICH TIRE STORE THERE.

VAL>> THAT IS FASCINATING. THIS IS --

KEVIN RODERICK>> -- THIS WAS ALSO VAN NUYS BOULEVARD EVEN LATER, PROBABLY IN THE 20'S.

VAL>> OH, IS THIS THE ONE THAT WAS ORIGINALLY CALLED SHERMAN WAY AND THEN THE NAME WAS CHANGED --

KEVIN RODERICK>> YES, VAN NUYS BOULEVARD WAS KNOWN AS SHERMAN WAY. SHERMAN WAY WAS A HIGHWAY THAT STARTED AT THE NORTH HOLLYWOOD BORDER AND SHOT ACROSS THE VALLEY ALL THE WAY OUT TO THE TOWN OF OWENSMOUTH, WHICH TODAY IS CANOGA PARK. WHAT IT WAS WAS A REAL ESTATE PROMOTION TO TRY TO GET PEOPLE TO COME OUT FROM LOS ANGELES TO SEE THESE NEW TOWNS AND BUY LAND. THE GIMMICK WAS THAT YOU COULD DRIVE A HUNDRED MILES AN HOUR ON THIS NEW ROAD. (LAUGHTER)

JESS>> DO WE SEE THE TRACKS OF, WHAT, THE RED CAR?

KEVIN RODERICK>> YEAH, THOSE ARE RED CAR TRACKS.

VAL>> OH, REALLY?

JESS>> AH, THE MOTION PICTURE INDUSTRY WAS ALIVE AND WELL TOO.

KEVIN RODERICK>> SURE. I MEAN, VALLEYWOOD IS AS MUCH A PART OF THE MOTION PICTURE INDUSTRY AS HOLLYWOOD IS. AND THIS IS D.W. GRIFFITH INSTRUCTING A CREW DURING THE FILMING OF "THE BIRTH OF A NATION" WHICH WAS HIS CLASSIC THAT WAS FILMED ON THE SAME LAND WHERE FOREST LAWN NOW STANDS NEXT TO THE RIVER NEAR BURBANK.

AND THIS WAS THE IVERSON RANCH, WHICH WAS A MOVIE RANCH OUT IN CHATSWORTH WHERE 3,000 MOVIES WERE FILMED.

JESS>> STUNTMAN AT WORK HERE.

KEVIN RODERICK>> STUNTMAN HERE, AND THIS IS THE PLACE WHERE, YOU KNOW, YOU LOOK AT ANY OF THE OLD WESTERN MOVIES AND YOU CAN SEE THE IVERSON RANCH IN THE BACKGROUND.

VAL>> AND THEN, OF COURSE, THERE WAS, FOR A LONG TIME, WONDERFUL FARMS, AGRICULTURE. BEAUTIFUL, BEAUTIFUL FARMING PLACE BEFORE IT BECAME HOUSES.

KEVIN RODERICK>> SURE. FOR A WHILE, THE SAN FERNANDO VALLEY WAS COVERED IN SUGAR BEET FARMS AND LIMA BEANS AND WALNUT ORCHARDS. THIS IS A VIEW OF ENCINO, ACTUALLY, LOOKING TOWARD THE SANTA MONICA MOUNTAINS AT A TIME WHEN IRRIGATED AGRICULTURE HAD BEEN MADE POSSIBLE BY MULHOLLAND'S AQUEDUCT WHICH BROUGHT WATER TO WHAT HAD BEEN A VERY PARCHED AREA. BEFORE THAT, ALL THEY COULD GROW WAS WHEAT.

JESS>> MULHOLLAND RUINED THE VALLEY THEN?

KEVIN RODERICK>> WELL, IT DEPENDS ON HOW YOU LOOK AT IT. (LAUGHTER)

VAL>> BUT IT QUICKLY BECAME THIS.

KEVIN RODERICK>> SOME PEOPLE WILL LOOK AT THIS PICTURE AND SAY IT'S A RUIN, I DON'T KNOW. BUT THIS IS SHORTLY AFTER WORLD WAR II AND THE VALLEY'S POPULATION BEGAN TO DOUBLE EVERY DECADE. AND THIS IS LOOKING FROM OVER PANORAMA CITY ACROSS NORTH HOLLYWOOD TO THE HILLS OF GRIFFITH PARK.

VAL>> THAT IS INCREDIBLE. WOULD YOU SAY THAT, CLEARLY, THE GOVERNING FORCE HERE WERE THE DEVELOPERS? WERE THEY POLITICALLY, ECONOMICALLY, THE POWERHORSE?

KEVIN RODERICK>> SURE. THE DEVELOPMENT INDUSTRY HAS BEEN WHAT HAS DRIVEN THE SAN FERNANDO VALLEY FOR A LONG TIME, CERTAINLY SINCE WORLD WAR II. YOU KNOW, TRACTS OF HOUSES HAVE OPENED UP ALL ACROSS THE VALLEY AND, YOU KNOW, THE TERM "URBAN SPRAWL" COULD HAVE BEEN COINED FOR THE SAN FERNANDO VALLEY.

VAL>> DID THEY EVER HAVE ANY OPPOSITION, SERIOUS OPPOSITION, AT ALL?

KEVIN RODERICK>> SURE. THERE WERE ALWAYS HOMEOWNERS' ORGANIZATIONS AND OTHERS WHO WANTED TO RETAIN THE RANCHING CULTURE OF THE VALLEY. IN FACT, THE CITY PLANNING DIRECTOR AT THE TIME WORLD WAR II ENDED PROPOSED THAT THE VALLEY REMAIN A FARMING COMMUNITY WITH SEPARATE TOWNS DIVIDED FROM EACH OTHER BY FARMS.

JESS>> IT STILL IS, BUT YOU HAVE TO GO TO PIERCE COLLEGE TO FIND IT.

KEVIN RODERICK>> THAT'S ABOUT THE ONLY PLACE YOU COULD FIND THAT, AND AROUND THE EDGES OF THE HILLS.

JESS>> WONDERFUL STUFF. KEVIN RODERICK, THANK YOU FOR BEING WITH US. AGAIN, THE BOOK IS CALLED "THE SAN FERNANDO VALLEY: AMERICA'S SUBURB".

VAL>> IT'S BEEN GETTING GREAT REVIEWS AND I CAN SEE WHY. IT'S JUST REALLY FASCINATING, SO WE HOPE THAT YOU'VE ENJOYED THIS.

THAT'S OUR PROGRAM FOR TONIGHT. FOR ALL OF US HERE AT LIFE AND TIMES, HAVE A GREAT EVENING. DON'T FORGET THAT YOU CAN GO TO THE WEBSITE, AND CHECK OUT TRANSCRIPTS AND ALSO GET INFORMATION, AT WWW.KCET.ORG.

JESS>> WE DID THAT WITHOUT EVER TALKING ABOUT SECESSION.

VAL>> OH, THAT'S RIGHT. SECESSION, THE FINAL CHAPTER MAYBE.

JESS>> HAVE A GREAT EVENING.

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