9/26/01

LC010926


THIS PROGRAM IS MADE POSSIBLE IN PART BY A GRANT FROM THE CITY OF LOS ANGELES CULTURAL AFFAIRS DEPARTMENT.

VAL>> ON LIFE AND TIMES TONIGHT --

JESS>> THE BIG AIRLINES AREN'T THE ONLY FIRMS ON THE VERGE OF BANKRUPTCY. SO ARE LOCAL FLIGHT SCHOOLS. THEY'RE AMONG THE EARLY CASUALTIES OF AMERICA'S WAR ON TERRORISM.

GAY YEE>> IT GOT SO BAD AT THE LONG BEACH FLYING CLUB THAT FLIGHT SCHOOL OWNER, CANDY ROBINSON, HAD TO DIP INTO HER OWN POCKET TO PAY EMPLOYEES.

CANDY ROBINSON>> THE SALARIES ARE COMING OUT OF MY PERSONAL SAVINGS RIGHT NOW BECAUSE I DIDN'T WANT TO LET PEOPLE GO.

VAL>> HIS DREAMS OF BEING MAYOR NEVER MATERIALIZED, BUT AFTER THIRTY YEARS ON THE L.A. CITY COUNCIL, JOEL WACHS HAS NO REGRETS. THE SAN FERNANDO VALLEY'S FAVORITE SON HAS HAD MORE THAN A FEW MOMENTS IN THE SPOTLIGHT. TONIGHT WACHS IS HERE TO LOOK BACK ON SOME CAREER HIGHLIGHTS AT CITY HALL AS HE PREPARES TO HEAD OFF TO A NEW JOB AND A NEW CITY.

JESS>> A FEW THINGS HAVE BEEN AROUND EVEN LONGER THAN JOEL WACHS, EVEN WITH HIS THIRTY YEARS. TAKE WATTS TOWERS, FOR EXAMPLE. THE L.A. LANDMARK HAS JUST GOTTEN A MUCH-NEEDED FACELIFT AND IS FINALLY LOOKING FIT AGAIN AFTER DECADES OF DISREPAIR. TONIGHT WE'LL VISIT THE TOWERS AS THEY'RE ABOUT TO REOPEN TO THE PUBLIC.

VAL>> THESE STORIES STRAIGHT AHEAD 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 DIDN'T TAKE THE FBI LONG TO FIGURE OUT WHERE THOSE TERRORIST HIJACKERS LEARNED TO FLY. THEY ATTENDED FLIGHT SCHOOLS RIGHT HERE IN AMERICA.

VAL>> SOON ENOUGH, FEDERAL AGENTS WERE LOOKING AT FLIGHT SCHOOLS ACROSS THE COUNTRY AS POSSIBLE TRAINING GROUNDS FOR OTHER TERRORISTS. BUT HERE IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA, EVEN SCHOOLS THAT HAVE NO LINK TO TERRORISM ARE STILL UNDER SCRUTINY. AS GAY YEE REPORTS, THE INTENSE SCRUTINY HAS LEFT SOME OF THEM ON THE VERGE OF BANKRUPTCY.

GAY>> FOR ELEVEN DAYS, IT WAS CLEAR SKIES OVER THE LONG BEACH AIRPORT, CLEAR BUT EMPTY. SECURITY MEASURES AFTER THE TERRORIST ATTACKS ON THE EAST COAST GROUNDED NEARLY ALL AIRPORT ACTIVITY, A DEVASTATING BLOW TO AIRPORT FLIGHT SCHOOLS. WITH PLANES IDLE, BUSINESS REVENUES NOSE-DIVED FROM THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS A DAY TO ZERO. IT GOT SO BAD AT THE LONG BEACH FLYING CLUB THAT FLIGHT SCHOOL OWNER, CANDY ROBINSON, HAD TO DIP INTO HER OWN POCKET TO PAY EMPLOYEES.

CANDY ROBINSON>> THEIR SALARIES ARE COMING OUT OF MY PERSONAL SAVINGS RIGHT NOW BECAUSE I DIDN'T WANT TO LET PEOPLE GO.

GAY>> ON TOP OF EVERYTHING ELSE, THE FLIGHT SCHOOL HAS HAD DAILY VISITS FROM THE FBI.

CANDY ROBINSON>> WE WERE SUBPOENAED FOR ALL OF OUR RECORDS, EVERYTHING SINCE 1996, SO WE COPIED EVERYTHING. IT TOOK US THREE DAYS. THE COPIER WAS CHURNING EIGHT HOURS, NINE HOURS A DAY TO GET ALL THESE RECORDS COPIED.

GAY>> THE SCRUTINY COMES BECAUSE SEVERAL OF THE TERRORISTS IN THE ATTACK ATTENDED FLIGHT SCHOOLS IN THE UNITED STATES. ROBINSON SAYS THE SCHOOLS DON'T DO EXTENSIVE BACKGROUND CHECKS. IT'S NEVER BEEN REQUIRED.

CANDY ROBINSON>> THERE'S SO MANY HOOPS TO JUMP THROUGH. THAT HAS NEVER BEEN INCLUDED IN THE HOOPS. WE NEVER THOUGHT IT WAS AN ISSUE. IT'S NEVER BEEN ASKED OF US. WE DEFINITELY WOULD COMPLY IF IT HAD EVER BEEN PART OF THE REGULATION THAT WAS CONTROLLING US.

ALEX KOTHE>> THE NEED FOR SPEED. YEA.

GAY>> TRAINING FOREIGN PILOTS HELPS TO KEEP MANY FLIGHT SCHOOLS AND INSTRUCTORS FLYING HIGH. ALEX KOTHE SAYS STUDENTS COME FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD TO TRAIN HERE BECAUSE THE WEATHER IS BETTER AND IT'S CHEAPER.

ALEX KOTHE>> THOUSANDS OF FOREIGN NATIONALS GET TRAINED IN THE COUNTRY EVERY YEAR. EVEN THE UNITED STATES AIR FORCE WILL TRAIN FOREIGN NATIONALS, YOU KNOW, MILITARY FLYING, OKAY? IT'S A DREAM OF MILLIONS OF PEOPLE TO LEARN HOW TO FLY, OKAY? IF ONE OR TWO PEOPLE DECIDE TO LEARN HOW TO FLY AND TURN THEMSELVES INTO A WEAPON, THEY CAN LEARN HOW TO FLY IN ANY OTHER COUNTRY AND DO THE SAME THING.

GAY>> HIS STUDENT, EDUARDO BURGA, IS ALREADY A COMMERCIAL PILOT IN HIS NATIVE PERU. A LEGAL RESIDENT IN THE U.S., BURGA WANTS A HIGHER RATING IN MULTI-ENGINE PLANES TO FLY COMMERCIAL AIRLINERS.

EDUARDO BURGA>> ONLY I'M A LITTLE WORRIED THAT THESE TERRIBLE ACTS THAT HAVE HAPPENED CAN DETERIORATE MY DREAM TO REACH MY GOALS.

GAY>> ROBINSON SAYS FLIGHT SCHOOLS ARE BEING UNFAIRLY TARGETED.

CANDY ROBINSON>> WE'RE THE ONLY INDUSTRY THAT REMAINS GROUNDED, THAT REMAINS UNDER SUSPICION AND INQUIRY AND UNDER ECONOMIC DISASTER BECAUSE OF THE EVENT.

GAY>> LATE FRIDAY, THE FAA EASED MANY OF ITS RESTRICTIONS AND, ONCE AGAIN, THE SOUND OF AIRPLANES OVERHEAD BECAME MUSIC TO ROBINSON'S EARS.

CANDY ROBINSON>> AIRPLANE NOISE, YEA (LAUGHTER) IT'S ONE OF OURS TOO.

GAY>> YOU HAVEN'T HEARD VERY MUCH OF THAT.

CANDY ROBINSON>> WE HAVEN'T HEARD IT AT ALL.

GAY>> FOR ELEVEN DAYS, ALL OF THESE PLANES SAT GROUNDED ON THE TARMAC. THAT'S $100,000 IN REVENUE FOR ONE FLIGHT SCHOOL ALONE. ROBINSON SAYS IT WILL TAKE A LONG TIME FOR HER BUSINESS TO RECOVER, IF EVER. THE FLIGHT SCHOOL IS STILL OPERATING AT A LOSS DESPITE BEING BACK UP TO EIGHTY PERCENT OF ITS OPERATION. THE ECONOMIC IMPACT ON THE LONG BEACH AIRPORT HAS BEEN SO DEVASTATING THAT A NUMBER OF BUSINESS OWNERS ARE ASKING FOR HELP.

CANDY ROBINSON>> IF WE CAN MAYBE GET SOME DEFERRING OF OUR RENT SO THAT OUR CASH FLOWS CAN BE MAINTAINED RIGHT NOW AND TO SEE IF THERE'S ANY LOW-INTEREST CITY MONEY THAT'S AVAILABLE TO ASSIST THE SMALL BUSINESSES.

GAY>> ROBINSON SAYS FLIGHT SCHOOLS WILL BE EVEN MORE FINANCIALLY STRAPPED IF THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT REQUIRES EXTENSIVE BACKGROUND CHECKS IN THE FUTURE. KOTHE SAYS THE SECURITY RESTRICTIONS WOULD BE IN THE INTEREST OF SAFETY AND WOULD COMPLY WITH THEM, BUT HE ALSO SAYS HE WILL NOT LET THE EVENTS GROUND THE DREAMS OF PEOPLE WHO WANT TO LEARN TO FLY.

ALEX KOTHE>> THE WORST THING TO DO IS TO LET THE TERRORISTS COME AND STEAL OUR DREAM.

JESS>> GAY JOINS US NOW ALONG WITH PATRICK BAILEY. HE'S AN AVIATION ATTORNEY AND FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR WHO'S BEEN WATCHING THE DRAMATIC CHANGES IN SECURITY AT FLIGHT SCHOOLS.

YOU CAN UNDERSTAND WHY, SINCE THAT'S THE ONE THING THEY'VE BEEN ABLE TO TRACE, IS THE CONNECTION BETWEEN FLIGHT SCHOOLS AND THOSE PILOTS WHO APPARENTLY PLUNGED THEIR AIRCRAFT INTO THE WORLD TRADE CENTER AND THE PENTAGON?

PATRICK BAILEY>> SURE. THAT'S UNDERSTANDABLE, JESS, BECAUSE THERE'S NOT A LOT OF CONTROL OVER FLIGHT TRAINING AND CIVIL AVIATION IN THAT RESPECT AS WE KNOW IT. TODAY THE REGULATIONS ARE MUCH, MUCH MORE RESTRICTIVE, EVEN TRAINING RIGHT TODAY. FOR EXAMPLE, UNDER VFR CONDITIONS, I --

VAL>> -- WHICH IS VISUAL FLIGHT RULES.

PATRICK BAILEY>> VISUAL FLIGHT RULES. FLIGHT TRAINING CAN'T BE IN A TURBOJET AIRCRAFT, IT CAN'T BE IN AN AIRCRAFT THAT WEIGHS MORE THAN 12,500 POUNDS AND OVER METROPOLITAN AREAS LIKE LAX OR SAN FRANCISCO, IT'S GOT TO BE LESS THAN 6,000 POUNDS AND MUST BE A PISTON AIRCRAFT.

VAL>> SO BASICALLY, SMALL AIRCRAFT ONLY.

PATRICK BAILEY>> ABSOLUTELY.

JESS>> ARE THESE RULINGS UNFAIR?

PATRICK BAILEY>> I DON'T THINK, IN THE WAKE OF WHAT'S HAPPENED, WE CAN CALL ANY OF IT UNFAIR. IF WE'RE ERRING TO THE SIDE OF CAUTION, I THINK WE NEED TO DO THAT NOW AND THEN, STEP BY STEP, BRING BACK THE CONTROL AS WE DEEM IT SAFE.

VAL>> SO THESE FLIGHT SCHOOLS THAT ARE EXPERIENCING REALLY SEVERE FINANCIAL DAMAGE, YOU'RE JUST SAYING IT'S JUST SIMPLY NECESSARY FOR THE TIME BEING?

PATRICK BAILEY>> WELL, I HATE TO SAY SUCK IT UP, BUT KIND OF IN A WAY THAT'S REALLY WHAT'S HAPPENING. BECAUSE IN COUNTER-BALANCE, TRYING TO MAINTAIN A LEVEL OF SECURITY AS WELL AS TRYING TO KEEP THE FINANCIAL WORLD OF AVIATION GOING, I THINK THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT THAT BEING A REALITY AT LEAST FOR A WHILE.

GAY>> BUT I THINK WHAT SOME OF THESE FLIGHT SCHOOLS ARE SAYING IS WE'RE WILLING TO COMPLY AND WE'RE WILLING TO DO WHAT'S NECESSARY TO MAKE OUR NATION MORE SECURE. BUT HOW COULD YOU HAVE ANTICIPATED SOMETHING LIKE THIS? HOW COULD YOU HAVE FORESEEN THIS? AND ONE EVEN BROUGHT UP A REALLY GOOD EXAMPLE. THE LAST TIME THE WORLD TRADE CENTER WAS ATTACKED, IT WAS A TRUCK BOMB. I MEAN, SOMEONE ACTUALLY DROVE A VEHICLE INTO IT. DOES THAT MEAN EVERYONE DOES NOT GET TO GO TO THE DMV AND GET A DRIVER'S LICENSE ANY LONGER? SO IT'S A REAL DIFFICULT THING TO DEAL WITH. YOU CAN'T ANTICIPATE THE USE IN THIS FASHION.

JESS>> ARE THEY PERSUADED THAT THESE RESTRICTIONS ARE TEMPORARY?

GAY>> I DON'T KNOW. THAT MAY BE A BETTER QUESTION FOR MR. BAILEY, WHETHER OR NOT THIS WOULD BE TEMPORARY OR PERMANENT. BUT I WOULD THINK THAT PROBABLY WE'LL SEE SOME PERMANENCE HERE.

PATRICK BAILEY>> GAY, THEY'VE BEEN EVOLVING OVER THE LAST TEN DAYS WHERE IT'S BECOMING LESS AND LESS RESTRICTIVE. SO WE'RE SEEING AN EVOLUTION IN THAT SECURITY REGULATION RIGHT NOW. HOW FAR THAT WILL CONTINUE, WE DON'T KNOW.

VAL>> MR. BAILEY, YOU'VE BEEN WITNESSING ANOTHER VERY, PERHAPS PREDICTABLE, TREND AND THAT IS A HUGE FLUX OF PEOPLE MOVING AWAY FROM COMMERCIAL FLIGHT ALTOGETHER AND, IF THEY CAN AFFORD IT, GOING ON PRIVATE PLANES.

PATRICK BAILEY>> ABSOLUTELY, VAL. THE CHARTER INDUSTRY HAS JUST I MEAN EXPLODED IN THE LAST TEN DAYS AND IT WAS ALREADY A SIGNIFICANT INDUSTRY. WHEN YOU CONSIDER THAT THERE ARE OVER 14,000 BUSINESS AIRCRAFT OPERATING AND MOVING BUSINESS TRAVELERS DAY TO DAY, THE CHARTER INDUSTRY IS JUST BOOKED ACROSS THE BOARD RIGHT NOW.

JESS>> THIS USED TO BE JUST A CORPORATE PERK, THE CORPORATE JET, BUT IT'S SOMETHING ELSE NOW.

PATRICK BAILEY>> YOU BET. IT USED TO BE CONSIDERED A PERK AND THEN IT BECAME KNOWN AS A TOOL AND I THINK IT'S SAFE TO SAY THAT IT'S A NECESSITY TODAY.

VAL>> WOW. SO EVEN IF SECURITY DOES INCREASE IN AIRPORTS, WE'RE GOING TO BE SEEING A LOT OF PEOPLE NOT WANTING TO DEAL WITH THAT SECURITY AND, IF THEY CAN AFFORD IT, GOING TO PRIVATE.

PATRICK BAILEY>> OH, NO DOUBT ABOUT IT. EVEN THE FRACTIONAL OWNERSHIP FLEET, WHICH IS --

VAL>> -- WHICH IS WHEN YOU SHARE OWNERSHIP?

PATRICK BAILEY>> EXACTLY, AKIN TO A TIMESHARING. IF YOU ADDED UP ALL THOSE AIRPLANES, WHICH ARE SLIGHTLY OVER 4,000, YOU HAVE THE WORLD'S SIXTH LARGEST AIRLINE JUST IN FRACTIONAL OPERATORS.

VAL>> WOW, THAT'S AMAZING.

JESS>> BIG BUSINESS.

VAL>> PATRICK BAILEY, PILOT AND ATTORNEY, THANK YOU SO MUCH. GAY YEE, THANK YOU.

PATRICK BAILEY>> THANK YOU, VAL.

VAL>> COMING UP TOMORROW, WE'LL LOOK AT ANOTHER INDUSTRY THAT'S SUFFERING BECAUSE OF THE TERRORIST ATTACKS, THE TRAVEL BUSINESS. AND LATER TODAY, WE'LL TAKE YOU ON A TRIP TO AN L.A. LANDMARK, THE WATTS TOWERS.

JESS>> HIS IS ONE OF THE MOST FAMILIAR FACES AT L.A.'S CITY HALL, BUT AFTER THIRTY YEARS ON THE JOB, HE IS LEAVING POLITICS AND LEAVING LOS ANGELES, FOR THAT MATTER. 

VAL>> JOEL WACHS SET A FEW MILESTONES DURING HIS THIRTY YEARS ON THE L.A. CITY COUNCIL. HE WORKED WITH SOME OF THE GIANTS OF LOS ANGELES POLITICS, SUCH AS THE LATE MAYOR TOM BRADLEY. AND IN THE YEARS THAT FOLLOWED, WACHS'S CAREER SPANNED SOME OF THE BEST AND WORST TIMES FOR THE CITY. NOW AFTER ALL THESE YEARS, HIS POLITICAL CAREER IS ENDING IN PART BECAUSE OF TERM LIMITS, BUT NOT BECAUSE THE VOTERS WERE TIRED OF HIM.

JESS>> AND, IN FACT, JOEL WACHS, YOU HAD A COUPLE OF YEARS LEFT YOU COULD HAVE SERVED.

JOEL WACHS>> I COULD HAVE, BUT A GREAT OPPORTUNITY CAME ALONG AND, IN LIFE, YOU TAKE THEM.

JESS>> IT IS A GREAT OPPORTUNITY. TELL US WHAT YOU'LL BE DOING.

JOEL WACHS>> WELL, I'M GOING TO BE THE NEW PRESIDENT OF THE ANDY WARHOL FOUNDATION FOR THE VISUAL ARTS. THAT'S REALLY THE LARGEST FUND IN AMERICA TO SUPPORT CONTEMPORARY ART IN THE UNITED STATES AND IT'S SOMETHING THAT I BELIEVE IN STRONGLY, SOMETHING THAT I THINK IS REALLY CRITICALLY IMPORTANT TO OUR SOCIETY AND IT'S A GREAT OPPORTUNITY AND I GET ANOTHER FIFTEEN MINUTES. (LAUGHTER)

VAL>> (LAUGHTER) AND YOU'RE A BRAVE SOUL BECAUSE YOU'RE GOING TO NEW YORK CITY.

JOEL WACHS>> I MUST BE THE ONLY ONE GOING THAT WAY. (LAUGHTER)

VAL>> (LAUGHTER) THAT'S RIGHT. WELL, WE'RE GOING TO TAKE A LOOK AT YOUR PAST. WE'VE PULLED SOME CLIPS HERE. YOU BECAME THE CITY'S FIRST OPENLY GAY COUNCIL MEMBER AND YOU HAD HOPES OF BEING THE CITY'S FIRST OPENLY GAY MAYOR. WELL, WE'D LIKE TO LOOK AT A NEWS CLIP FROM 1983 WHERE YOU WERE BEING INTERVIEWED ABOUT WHAT WAS THEN A CONTROVERSIAL STORY, YOUR APPEARANCE AS GRAND MARSHAL OF THE LOCAL GAY PRIDE PARADE.

>> "NOW A LOT OF PEOPLE, AS YOU KNOW, DON'T LIKE THE GAY COMMUNITY AND THEY WOULD MAKE CERTAIN JUDGMENTS. WHY DID YOU DO THIS?

JOEL WACHS>> WELL, I THINK THAT IT COULD BE A POLITICAL LIABILITY, BUT I THINK IN POLITICS AND ANYTHING ELSE IN LIFE, YOU HAVE TO DO WHAT YOU THINK IS RIGHT. THE FACT OF THE MATTER IS, THERE ARE SOME EXTRAORDINARILY SERIOUS PROBLEMS AFFECTING THE COMMUNITY RIGHT NOW.

>> LET'S SPELL THEM OUT, JOEL. WHAT WOULD BE THE --

JOEL WACHS>> -- WELL, ONE RIGHT NOW, YOU HAVE A GRAVE HEALTH CRISIS, SOMETHING CALLED AIDS.

>> YES, SIR.

JOEL WACHS>> AIDS IS NOT A GAY DISEASE AS SUCH. IT AFFECTS ALL PEOPLE, BUT IT AFFECTS GREATLY THE GAY COMMUNITY. PEOPLE ARE DYING IN OUR COMMUNITY AND THEY'RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO DIE UNLESS PEOPLE ARE EDUCATED, ARE INFORMED, ARE POLITICALLY INVOLVED. AND I THINK THAT THE PARADE IS A SYMBOL OF THE FACT OF A COMMUNITY THAT IS GOING TO GET INVOLVED AND BE POLITICALLY INVOLVED AND IS GOING TO CONCERN ITSELF ABOUT PROBLEMS THAT FACE IT."

VAL>> WOULD YOU CONSIDER THAT, IN A WAY, ONE OF YOUR BIGGEST NON-LEGISLATIVE ACHIEVEMENTS, AND THAT IS TO BE OPENLY GAY, AS A STRONG POLITICAL --

JOEL WACHS>> -- WELL, COUPLED AT THE SAME TIME, I WAS REALLY PROUD AND I STILL REMAIN PROUD, THAT SAME YEAR WE INTRODUCED THE FIRST LAW IN THE COUNTRY PROHIBITING DISCRIMINATION AGAINST PEOPLE WITH AIDS. YOU KNOW, NOW IT'S POLITICALLY SAFE TO DO THAT, BUT TWENTY YEARS AGO, PEOPLE WOULDN'T EVEN TALK ABOUT IT, LET ALONE DO SOMETHING. I FELT VERY STRONGLY THAT IT WAS MY OPPORTUNITY TO DO SOMETHING MEANINGFUL FOR A WHOLE LOT OF PEOPLE. THOSE ARE THE KINDS OF ACTIONS WHICH HAVE MADE ME REALLY FEEL FULFILLED BY BEING A PUBLIC OFFICIAL.

JESS>> AS EVIDENCE OF IT BEING, AT LEAST WE'VE GROWN A GOOD BIT. DURING YOUR MAYORAL CAMPAIGN, SOME THOUGHT IT WOULD BE AN ISSUE. IT NEVER WAS AN ISSUE, WOULD YOU AGREE?

JOEL WACHS>> NO, ABSOLUTELY.

VAL>> WE'RE GOING TO TAKE A LOOK AT ANOTHER PIECE OF VIDEO HERE. A FEW YEARS AGO, YOU MADE NEWS AFTER AN INTRUDER TRIED TO BREAK INTO YOUR HOME. YOU RAN OUTSIDE WITH A KITCHEN KNIFE IN HAND AND JUMPED ONTO A SPARKLETTS WATER TRUCK. (LAUGHTER) WITH THE TRUCK DRIVER'S HELP, YOU CHASED DOWN THE INTRUDER ON THE STREET, AND HERE'S HOW THAT WENT.

MOSHEN LAVIZANI>> "ALL OF A SUDDEN, I SAW MR. WACHS RUNNING OUT OF HIS HOUSE WITH THE LARGE KNIFE LIKE A MACHETE. AT FIRST I THOUGHT HE WAS COMING AFTER ME. (LAUGHTER) 

JOEL WACHS>> IT MUST HAVE BEEN A VERY, VERY BIZARRE SCENE OF A COUNCILMAN IN A BATHROBE AND SLIPPERS WITH A KITCHEN KNIFE RIDING A SPARKLETTS TRUCK SAYING 'FOLLOW THAT CAR'."

JESS>> (LAUGHTER) YOU WIELDED A CUTTING INSTRUMENT OF ANOTHER SORT IN YOUR BUSINESS AT CITY HALL. YOU WERE REALLY TOUGH IN TERMS OF THE STAPLES CENTER AND THE USE OF TAX MONIES FOR THAT. YOU WERE PUNISHED A BIT FOR THAT TOO, WEREN'T YOU?

JOEL WACHS>> I WAS, BUT, YOU KNOW, IT'S JUST SO EASY FOR PEOPLE IN PUBLIC OFFICE TO SPEND OTHER PEOPLE'S MONEY TO TAKE CARE OF THEIR FRIENDS. I JUST FEEL AN OBLIGATION TO GIVE PEOPLE SOMETHING BACK FOR THEIR MONEY. YOU KNOW, BILLIONAIRES AND GAZILLIONAIRES DON'T NEED THE TAXPAYERS' MONEY AND I FELT VERY STRONGLY ABOUT THAT. I KNEW I WAS RIGHT, I BELIEVED I WAS RIGHT, AND I FELT I HAD TO TAKE THAT LEADERSHIP ROLE AND THAT OTHERS WOULD FOLLOW AND, IN FACT, THAT'S WHAT HAPPENED.

JESS>> DO YOU THINK THAT PHILOSOPHY, WHICH SOME OTHERS SHARE, IS ONE OF THE REASONS L.A. DOES NOT HAVE AN NFL TEAM?

JOEL WACHS>> IT MAY BE, BUT IF THAT'S THE COST, THEN SO BE IT. I THINK THAT PEOPLE KNOW NOWADAYS THAT THERE ARE FAR MORE IMPORTANT THINGS TO SPEND PUBLIC MONEY ON THAN BILLIONAIRE SPORTS TEAM OWNERS.

JESS>> AND L.A. LIVES WITHOUT IT.

JOEL WACHS>> L.A. LIVES WITHOUT IT AND THE WORLD GOES ON, EVEN THOUGH I'M A GREAT FAN.

VAL>> JOEL, OVER THIRTY YEARS, YOU KNOW, WE ALWAYS TEND TO REMEMBER JUST THE LAST FEW YEARS, BUT OVER THE THIRTY YEARS, WHAT WOULD YOU SAY WAS THE MOMENT WHERE YOU FELT MOST DISILLUSIONED OR THE MOST DISHEARTENED AND THEN THE MOMENT WHERE YOU JUST FELT THE MOST ELATED ABOUT LOS ANGELES IN GENERAL? ANY IDEA?

JOEL WACHS>> WELL, IN MOMENTS OF TRAGEDY, I KNOW WHEN WE HAD THE CIVIL UNREST, THAT WAS A MOMENT OF SADNESS BECAUSE I HATED TO SEE NOT ONLY A CITY BURN, BUT I HATED TO SEE PEOPLE TURNED AGAINST EACH OTHER. I WAS IN NEW YORK TWO WEEKS AGO AND WATCHED ANOTHER FORM OF TRAGEDY AND WATCHED --

VAL>> -- YOU WERE THERE?

JOEL WACHS>> YES, I WAS THERE -- HOW PEOPLE COULD COME TOGETHER. AND A LOT OF LESSONS ARE LEARNED FROM THAT AND IT'S A LOT ABOUT WHAT I'VE TRIED TO TALK ABOUT IN MY CAREER, AND THAT'S THE IMPORTANCE OF VALUING THE ORDINARY PERSON. YOU KNOW, WE DOTE ON CELEBRITY, WE DOTE ON SUPER STARS. I THINK THAT YOU SAW FROM INCIDENTS LIKE THIS THAT IT'S ORDINARY PEOPLE THAT DO EXTRAORDINARY THINGS. THEY DO SO NOT JUST IN CRISIS, BUT THEY DO SO EVERY DAY, AND MUCH OF WHAT I'VE TRIED TO DO IS OPEN UP GOVERNMENT IN A WAY THAT INVITES PEOPLE IN AND GIVES THEM A CHANCE TO CONTRIBUTE AND TO GROW AS PEOPLE. HOPEFULLY, NOW WE'RE GOING TO RECOGNIZE THE IMPORTANCE OF THAT AND THAT WILL BODE WELL FOR OUR CITY.

JESS>> YOU THINK THAT YOUR GREATEST CONTRIBUTION WAS TRYING TO OPEN UP GOVERNMENT?

JOEL WACHS>> IN PART, AS A PART OF THE WAY I'VE TRIED TO CONDUCT MYSELF. I'VE REALLY TRIED HARD, JESS AND VAL, I'VE REALLY TRIED HARD TO GIVE POLITICS A GOOD NAME. I REALLY BELIEVE THAT PUBLIC SERVICE SHOULD BE A HIGH AND HONORABLE CALLING AND IT'S IMPORTANT FOR ME TO HAVE CONDUCTED MYSELF IN A WAY THAT WOULD BUILD RESPECT FOR THE INSTITUTION. I THINK THESE INCIDENTS SHOW YOU NEED STRONG LEADERS, YOU NEED GOOD LEADERS, BUT YOU NEED PEOPLE THAT PEOPLE CAN HAVE CONFIDENCE IN. I THINK EVERYTHING I'VE DONE HAS TRIED TO CONDUCT MYSELF IN THAT MANNER.

VAL>> AND NOW YOU'RE ANSWERING ANOTHER HIGH AND NOBLE CALLING. THAT IS YOUR LOVE OF ART. TELL US ABOUT THAT BECAUSE MANY PEOPLE WOULD SAY, WHAT? THE ANDY WARHOL FOUNDATION? THEY HAD NO IDEA THAT YOU HAD THIS OTHER SIDE.

JOEL WACHS>> WELL, I'VE BEEN A PERSONAL SUPPORTER OF THE ARTS. I MEAN --

JESS>> -- AND COLLECTOR.

JOEL WACHS>> AS A COLLECTOR. THE ARTS HAVE ENRICHED MY LIFE. NOT JUST THE VISUAL ARTS, BUT THE PERFORMING ARTS, THEATER AND MUSIC AND DANCE AND POETRY. I CAN'T IMAGINE MY LIFE WITHOUT IT AND, AS A RESULT, I'VE TRIED AS PART OF MY POLITICAL CAREER TO MAKE THE ARTS MORE OF A PART OF EVERYONE'S LIFE. WE STARTED THE L.A. ARTS ENDOWMENT. MOST OF THE LAWS IN LOS ANGELES THAT MAKE THE ARTS AVAILABLE TO PEOPLE IN THE DIFFERENT NEIGHBORHOODS AND COMMUNITIES HAVE BEEN ALL THINGS THAT --

VAL>> -- YOU STARTED THE CULTURAL ARTS DEPARTMENT.

JOEL WACHS>> YES -- ALL THINGS THAT I INTRODUCED. I THINK THE ARTS ARE CRITICAL NOT ONLY TO AN ENRICHED SOCIETY, BUT THEY'RE VITAL TO THE ECONOMY AND THE QUALITY OF LIFE IN THIS CITY, AND CERTAINLY THEY'RE JUST ABSOLUTELY ESSENTIAL TO EACH OF OUR WELL-BEINGS. IN TIMES LIKE THIS, I THINK WE CAN LOOK TO THE ARTS TO HELP HEAL US AND HELP BRING US OUT OF THIS.

JESS>> AND EVEN YOUR FRIENDS IN NEW YORK CAN NO LONGER SAY L.A. HAS NO CULTURE.

JOEL WACHS>> NO, ABSOLUTELY NOT. THEY KNOW L.A. IS PRETTY GREAT.

VAL>> JOEL WACHS, THANK YOU SO MUCH. L.A.'S LOSS IS NEW YORK'S GAIN.

JOEL WACHS>> BUT I'LL BE BACK. THANK YOU VERY MUCH AND I LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING YOU AGAIN. THANKS SO MUCH.

VAL>> BEST OF LUCK IN NEW YORK.

JOEL WACHS>> THANK YOU.

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

JESS>> THEY SAY ANGELENOS DON'T APPRECIATE ANYTHING THAT'S OLD AND, FOR A WHILE, THAT APPEARED TO APPLY TO AN INTERNATIONALLY ACCLAIMED PIECE OF FOLK ART, THE WATTS TOWERS.

VAL>> THE TOWERS WENT UP IN THE 1920'S, BUT THE YEARS THAT FOLLOWED WEREN'T ESPECIALLY KIND AND THE LANDMARK DETERIORATED BADLY, BUT THOSE DAYS ARE OVER. THE TOWERS HAVE JUST GOTTEN A NEW FACELIFT AND, THIS WEEKEND, THEY'RE FINALLY REOPENING TO THE PUBLIC. TONIGHT WE'VE GOT A PREVIEW OF WHAT YOU CAN SEE.

[FILM CLIP]

MARK GREENFIELD>> THE TOWERS ARE PROBABLY ONE OF THE MOST SIGNIFICANT PIECES OF FOLK ART IN THE WORLD. THIS IS AN ART PIECE. YOU KNOW, A LOT OF PEOPLE LOOK AT IT AND THINK IT'S ARCHITECTURE OF SOME KIND, BUT THIS IS ACTUALLY SCULPTURE. IN MANY WAYS, I CONSIDER THIS L.A.'S PREMIER LANDMARK.

[FILM CLIP]

THE TOWERS WERE BUILT BY A MAN NAMED SIMON RODIA WHO MIGRATED HERE FROM ITALY AROUND THE TURN OF THE CENTURY. HE CAME TO LOS ANGELES AROUND 1921 AND THE FIRST THING HE DID WAS PUT AN EIGHT-FOOT FENCE AROUND THE WHOLE PROPERTY AND STARTED BUILDING THE TOWERS.

SIMON WAS VERY MYSTERIOUS AND MERCURIAL. OFTENTIMES, REPORTERS WOULD COME HERE AND THEY'D ASK HIM WHAT HE WAS DOING AND HE WOULDN'T GIVE THEM ANY ANSWER. HE'D KIND OF BRUSH THEM OFF. HIS OWN PERSONAL DESCRIPTION WAS THAT HE SAID I WANT TO DO SOMETHING BIG.

WELL, HE WORKED ON THE TOWERS FOR 33 YEARS BETWEEN 1921 AND 1954 AND HE BUILT THE TOWERS WITHOUT ANY HELP. HE WOULD ACTUALLY TIE HIMSELF TO THE TOWERS WITH A TELEPHONE CLIMBER'S BELT. HE CLIMBED THE TOWERS EACH DAY. HE DIDN'T HAVE A SCAFFOLD. HE'D CARRY A BUCKET OF MORTAR AND A BUCKET OF DECORATIONS.

THE TOWERS ARE CONSTRUCTED PRIMARILY OUT OF CONCRETE, SEASHELLS, BOTTLES, PIECES OF POTTERY, ALL KINDS OF DIFFERENT CERAMICS. I THINK THE HISTORY OF CERAMICS IS REALLY EMBODIED IN THE TOWERS. PIECES OF ROSENTHAL, BLUE WILLOW, THE BOWER, FIESTA, STUFF LIKE THAT. YOU'LL FIND ALL KINDS OF EXAMPLES OF THAT HERE IN THE TOWERS.

[FILM CLIP]

YOU ALSO HAVE TO REMEMBER THAT THIS IS BASICALLY SIMON RODIA'S BACK YARD AND A HOUSE ONCE STOOD HERE, OKAY? THE HOUSE WAS MUCH LIKE THE HOUSES IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD. THIS WAS THE CHIMNEY OF THE HOUSE. THE BACK DOOR OF THE HOUSE IS OVER THERE. THESE ARE HIS TWO MAILBOXES HERE. "SR", THESE ARE HIS INITIALS, AND "1765" IS THE STREET ADDRESS. OVER HERE, THIS IS ACTUALLY THE GARAGE. I KNOW IT LOOKS LIKE SOMETHING FROM "THE FLINTSTONES", BUT THESE ARE BASICALLY SHEETS OF STEEL THAT ARE COVERED WITH CONCRETE. 

AGAIN, UP HERE, YOU SEE SIMON RODIA, "SR", HERE AND HERE AND EVEN UP A LITTLE FURTHER, AND THEN YOU SEE "1921" WHICH IS BASICALLY WHEN HE STARTED THE PROPERTY. ALSO YOU SEE "NUESTRO PUEBLO" WHICH, WE THINK, MIGHT HAVE BEEN THE NAME THAT HE GAVE IT. IN MANY WAYS, THE TOWER IS KIND OF LIKE A METAPHOR FOR A BACK YARD, A LOW-MAINTENANCE BACK YARD. YOU KNOW, YOU CAN SEE THE CONCRETE ON THE GROUND IS GREEN TO KIND OF SYMBOLIZE GRASS. THEN YOU'VE GOT, YOU KNOW, THE TALL TOWERS WHICH I GUESS YOU COULD LOOK AT AS TREES AND YOU'VE GOT A GAZEBO WHICH YOU'D FIND IN A BACK YARD.

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THE TALLEST TOWER IS 99 AND ONE-HALF FEET TALL, THE SECOND TALLEST IS 96 FEET, THIRD TALLEST IS 66. THERE ARE ABOUT SEVENTEEN TOWERS, DEPENDING ON WHAT YOU'D CALL A TOWER. SEVERAL OF THEM HAVE NAMES THAT WE'VE GIVEN TO THEM. THERE'S THE CACTUS GARDEN, THERE'S THE CHIMNEY AND THE BARBECUE PIT AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

WE CALL THIS TOWER THE WEDDING CAKE BECAUSE OF THE WAY IT'S STACKED AND IT PROBABLY HAS THE LARGEST CONCENTRATION OF DECORATIVE TILES AS ANY OF THE TOWERS HERE.

THESE ARE REALLY THE BASIC TOOLS THAT SIMON USED IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE TOWERS. YOU KNOW, YOU CAN SEE IT'S NOTHING TOO SOPHISTICATED. A LOT OF THE REBAR THAT HE USED IN THE CONSTRUCTION, HE ACTUALLY WOULD STICK IT UNDER THE RAILROAD TRACKS AND WOULD BEND IT THROUGH LEVERAGE, SO THAT'S HOW HE MADE A LOT OF THESE CURVATURES.

HE USED ALL KINDS OF THINGS TO STAMP INTO CONCRETE. SOMETIMES HE WOULD USE THE SPIGOTS OFF OF WATER FOUNTAINS AND THINGS LIKE THAT. LOTS OF 7-UP, LOTS OF MILK OF MAGNESIA, PROBABLY SOME VICKS BOTTLES IN THERE SOMEWHERE. AND THERE'S A RECURRING THEME IN THE TOWERS, WHICH IS THE HEART. YOU'LL SEE THIS HEART IN MANY DIFFERENT PLACES.

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BECAUSE OF THE NATURE OF CONCRETE, IT TENDS TO CRACK. AND AS MOISTURE GETS INTO THE CRACKS, IT CAUSES RUST. AFTER THE NORTHRIDGE EARTHQUAKE, SOME OF THE FISSURES IN THE TOWERS OPENED UP A LITTLE WIDER AND IT REALLY EXPOSED A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF INTERIOR DAMAGE. WHAT WE'VE ACTUALLY HAD TO DO IS CUT SECTIONS AWAY AND PUT IN NEW METAL AND REPACK IT WITH CONCRETE AND THEN ATTEMPT TO PUT THE DECORATION BACK WHERE IT WAS, SO IT'S BEEN VERY, VERY LABOR-INTENSIVE.

THE TOWERS WILL ALWAYS REQUIRE A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF MAINTENANCE JUST BECAUSE OF THE NATURE OF HOW THEY WERE CONSTRUCTED. BUT FOR ANYTHING TO BE ADDED TO THE TOWERS WOULD BE TO COMPROMISE THE ARTISTIC INTEGRITY OF THEM. YOU KNOW, PEOPLE COME IN AND SAY, WELL, WHY DON'T YOU REPLACE THOSE SEASHELLS, OR WHY DON'T YOU PUT NEW GLASS UP THERE, AND STUFF LIKE THAT. WELL, IT'S LIKE SIMON DIDN'T DO IT, SO WE CAN'T DO IT, YOU KNOW? IT WOULD BE TANTAMOUNT TO TRYING TO PUT THE NOSE BACK ON THE SPHINX.

THE SPIRIT OF THE PEOPLE IN THIS COMMUNITY IS ABOUT OFTENTIMES MAKING THE BEST OF WHAT YOU HAVE. AND IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE TOWERS, SIMON RODIA USED THOSE THINGS THAT REPRESENTED THE CULTURE OF THIS COMMUNITY AT THE TIME. ALSO, YOU HAVE TO REMEMBER THAT WATTS, BACK IN THE DAYS WHEN SIMON WAS HERE, WAS AN EXTREMELY DIVERSE COMMUNITY. WE HAD ALMOST EVERY ETHNIC GROUP THAT REPRESENTS LOS ANGELES TODAY THAT WAS LIVING HERE. AND THOSE MANY COLORS, I THINK, ARE REALLY CAPTURED IN THE PIECES THAT SIMON RODIA USED IN THE TOWERS. SO I THINK THAT REALLY SPEAKS OF THE COMMUNITY'S SENSE OF OWNERSHIP OF THE TOWERS.

JESS>> THE WATTS TOWERS REOPENING CELEBRATION TAKES PLACE THIS WEEKEND. YOU CAN CALL THE WATTS TOWERS ART CENTER FOR MORE INFORMATION.

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