2/27/03

LC030227

VAL ZAVALA>> TONIGHT ON LIFE AND TIMES --

JESS MARLOW>> HE’S GOT ALL THE NAME RECOGNITION A CANDIDATE COULD WANT, BUT IT WILL TAKE MORE THAN THAT FOR BERNARD PARKS TO WIN A CITY COUNCIL SEAT.

BERNARD PARKS>> I STAND FOR SOMETHING AND, WHEN I STAND FOR SOMETHING, IT MEANS THAT YOU DON’T WAIT FOR A POLL TO DETERMINE WHAT YOU STAND FOR. YOU HAVE A VIEW, YOU STAND FOR IT, AND THAT’S WHAT PEOPLE APPRECIATE WHEN I TALK TO THEM OUT IN THE COMMUNITY.

VAL>> AND THEN, ONE OF AMERICA’S TOP SECURITY EXPERTS SAYS DON’T COUNT ON THE GOVERNMENT TO PROTECT YOU FROM TERRORISM. HE’LL TELL US WHAT WE CAN ALL DO TO PROTECT OURSELVES.

JESS>> PLUS, WE’LL REMEMBER THE WORKS OF TWO LEGENDS: ANSEL ADAMS AND MISTER ROGERS.

VAL>> IT’S ALL STRAIGHT AHEAD ON TONIGHT’S LIFE AND TIMES.

LIFE AND TIMES IS MADE POSSIBLE BY THE FOLLOWING FOUNDATIONS:

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 ENDOWMENT
THE STATE'S LARGEST HEALTH FOUNDATION SUPPORTING ORGANIZATIONS THAT DIRECTLY IMPROVE THE HEALTH AND WELL-BEING OF CALIFORNIA'S DIVERSE COMMUNITIES. THE CALIFORNIA ENDOWMENT, A PARTNER FOR HEALTHIER COMMUNITIES.

VAL>> HE’S MADE THE SWITCH FROM TOP COP TO POLITICAL CANDIDATE.

JESS>> BUT BERNARD PARKS SAYS HE’S RUNNING ON MORE THAN JUST HIS REPUTATION. HE IS THE BEST KNOWN AND BEST FUNDED CANDIDATE IN THAT CROWDED DISTRICT EIGHT CITY COUNCIL RACE IN SOUTH LOS ANGELES, BUT AS GAY YEE REPORTS, PARKS KNOWS THIS ELECTION IS ANYTHING BUT A SLAM DUNK.

KIM DAVIS>> THIS IS KIM DAVIS FROM BERNARD PARKS FOR CITY COUNCIL REMINDING YOU THAT TUESDAY, MARCH 4, IS ELECTION DAY.

GAY YEE>> IN BERNARD PARKS’ CAMPAIGN OFFICE, POLITICAL SUPPORTERS ARE WORKING THE PHONES, SENDING OUT MAILERS AND PARKS HIMSELF WORKS THE ROOM.

BERNARD PARKS>> HOW ARE YOU DOING?

>> GREAT. HOW ARE YOU DOING TODAY?

GAY YEE>> PUTTING ON THE CHARM AS PARKS, THE FORMER POLICE CHIEF, BECOMES PARKS, THE POLITICIAN. IT’S A BLUSTERY DAY BEFORE E-DAY, ELECTION DAY, MARCH 4, AND PARKS IS POUNDING THE PAVEMENT.

BERNARD PARKS>> MANY PEOPLE DON’T THINK YOU’D BE OUT KNOCKING ON THEIR DOORS AND THEN, WHEN THEY SEE YOU, THEY’RE VERY SURPRISED AND THEN THEY WANT TO TALK TO YOU ABOUT WHAT THE ISSUES ARE.

BERNARD PARKS>> “NOW WHAT IS IT? THE STREETLIGHTS ARE BEING BLOCKED BY THE TREES RIGHT HERE?

>> RIGHT, AND BACK THERE YOU CAN’T SEE THE LIGHT.

BERNARD PARKS>> WELL, WE’LL ADD THAT TO OUR LIST SO THAT WE CAN TURN THAT IN TO THE CONSTITUENCY.”

BERNARD PARKS>> THIS IS SOMETHING THAT I THINK HAS BEEN THE MOST INSIGHTFUL PART OF THE CAMPAIGN WHERE YOU WALK THE DISTRICT AND YOU TALK TO PEOPLE IN THEIR OWN HOME TERRITORY. AND THE THINGS THAT THEY TELL YOU ABOUT, YOU CAN ACTUALLY SEE.

GAY YEE>> PARKS IS CONSIDERED THE FRONT RUNNER FOR THE LOS ANGELES CITY COUNCIL SEAT IN THE EIGHTH DISTRICT WITH A CAMPAIGN WAR CHEST THAT REPORTEDLY DWARFS THE COMPETITION. BECAUSE OF THE MONEY, HIS NAME RECOGNITION, RESOURCES AND PRESTIGIOUS BACKERS, SOME OBSERVERS CONSIDER HIM A SHOO-IN.

EARL OFARI HUTCHINSON>> AT THIS POINT IN TIME, IT LOOKS LESS LIKE AN ELECTION THAN A CORONATION.

GAY YEE>> AUTHOR AND POLITICAL WATCHER, EARL OFARI HUTCHINSON, IS CONCERNED THAT OTHER CANDIDATES IN THE EIGHTH DISTRICT NEVER HAD A CHANCE.

EARL OFARI HUTCHINSON>> THIS IS NO SLAP AT BERNARD PARKS. IT’S NOT TO MINIMIZE THE IMPORTANCE OF HIS EXPERIENCE AND HIS IDEAS AND HIS CONTACTS. BUT AT THE SAME TIME, LET’S FACE IT, THESE ARE THE LEADERS OF THE FUTURE. IF WE DON’T START GROOMING THESE INDIVIDUALS, GIVING THEM A PLATFORM, LETTING THEM HAVE THEIR SAY AND EXPOSING THEM TO A WIDER AUDIENCE, I THINK THE COMMUNITY IS MUCH POORER.

GAY YEE>> PARKS HAS HAD A LONG HISTORY IN PUBLIC SERVICE, MORE THAN THIRTY YEARS IN THE LAPD, THE LAST FIVE AS CHIEF.

EARL OFARI HUTCHINSON>> BUT IT’S DIFFERENT WHEN YOU’RE WEARING A UNIFORM AND YOU’VE GOT THE FORCE OF AUTHORITY BECAUSE, LET’S FACE IT, YOU’RE THE POLICE CHIEF, AS OPPOSED TO WEARING A BUSINESS SUIT NOW AND NOW YOU’RE JUST BERNARD PARKS, ELECTED OFFICIAL. YOU KNOW, IT’S A WHOLE DIFFERENT MINDSET THAT GOES WITH THAT.

GAY YEE>> ON THE UP SIDE, PARKS IS A SEASONED PRO AS A PUBLIC OFFICIAL. ON THE DOWN SIDE, THIS IS A HORSE OF A DIFFERENT COLOR AND HE’LL BE REQUIRED TO DO A WHOLE LOT MORE HORSE TRADING, SOMETHING HE MAY NOT TAKE TO. BUT HUTCHINSON SAYS PARKS MAY BE IN FOR A CULTURE SHOCK.

EARL OFARI HUTCHINSON>> HE’S GOT FOURTEEN OTHER PERSONS ON THE CITY COUNCIL, SAME RULES APPLY. HE’S ALSO GOT TO DO SOME HORSE TRADING WITH THEM, HE’S GOT TO DO SOME POLITICAL SWAPPING, HE’S GOT TO DO A LOT OF LISTENING, HE’S GOT TO DO SOME COMPROMISING, HE’S GOT TO DO SOME CONCILIATING TO GET THINGS DONE. HE CAN’T JUST TELL THEM THIS IS WHAT WE’RE GOING TO DO.

BERNARD PARKS>> AS A CHIEF OF POLICE, YOU HAVE TWENTY-FIVE BOSSES. FIVE COMMISSIONERS, FIFTEEN COUNCIL PEOPLE AND A MAYOR. THEN YOU HAVE FOUR MILLION PEOPLE THAT YOU HAVE TO PROVIDE SERVICE. SO IF YOU DON’T KNOW HOW TO COALESCE AND UNDERSTAND WHAT IT TAKES TO GIVE AND TAKE AND DISCUSS ISSUES, THEN YOU WOULDN’T BE IN THAT POSITION.

GAY YEE>> PARKS POINTS OUT HE IS NOT IN FAVOR OF COMPROMISING AT ALL COSTS.

BERNARD PARKS>> I STAND FOR SOMETHING AND, WHEN I STAND FOR SOMETHING, IT MEANS THAT YOU DON’T WAIT FOR A POLL TO DETERMINE WHAT YOU STAND FOR. YOU HAVE A VIEW, YOU STAND FOR IT, AND THAT’S WHAT PEOPLE APPRECIATE.

GAY YEE>> AND THERE ARE OTHER POTENTIAL CONFLICTS. AS A COUNCILMAN, PARKS WILL HAVE TO TRY TO MAKE DEALS WITH HIS FORMER ADVERSARY, MAYOR HAHN, THE MAN WHO REFUSED TO REAPPOINT HIM AS POLICE CHIEF.

EARL OFARI HUTCHINSON>> AFTER ALL, HE’S STILL THE MAYOR AND THIS IS THE MAN THAT DUMPED YOU. WELL, HE’S GOT TO WORK WITH HIM. YOU KNOW, HE’S GOT TO NOT BE AN ADVERSARY ANYMORE. NOW HE’S GOT TO LOOK TO THE MAYOR TO GET SUPPORT FOR A LOT OF THINGS AND A LOT OF ISSUES THAT HE’LL BE INVOLVED WITH.

BOBBIE PARKS>> “I’M PROUD TO ASK YOU TO VOTE FOR BERNARD FOR CITY COUNCIL.”

GAY YEE>> FROM THE LOOK OF HIS POLITICAL AD, PARKS AND HIS FAMILY APPEAR TO HAVE MOVED ON.

BOBBIE PARKS>> “PLEASE VOTE FOR BERNARD PARKS FOR CITY COUNCIL.”

BERNARD PARKS>> “I AGREE WITH BOBBIE.”

BERNARD PARKS>> YOU KNOW WHAT EXCITES ME MOST IS CONTINUING THE WHOLE ISSUE OF PUBLIC SERVICE. IT’S THE MOST HONORABLE THING THAT YOU CAN DO. YOU’RE NOT HERE TO MAKE A TON OF MONEY. YOU’RE NOT HERE TO BECOME FAMOUS. YOU’RE HERE TO JUST SERVE THE PUBLIC.

>> BERNARD PARKS?

BERNARD PARKS>> YES, WE’RE JUST WALKING THE DISTRICT.

>> YOU OUT HERE GETTING SOME EXERCISE?

BERNARD PARKS>> GETTING SOME EXERCISE.

>> AND CAME TO SEE ME?

BERNARD PARKS>> AND CAME TO SEE YOU.

GAY YEE>> BUT PARKS MAY FIND THAT BEING A MOVER AND SHAKER CAN BE NERVE-WRACKING IN THE CITY OF LOS ANGELES.

EARL OFARI HUTCHINSON>> I THINK A LOT OF EYES ARE GOING TO BE ON BERNARD PARKS IF HE TAKES THE REINS AS CITY COUNCILPERSON IN THIS DISTRICT. HE’S GOING TO BE THE MOST SCRUTINIZED, THE MOST WATCHED, THE MOST LOOKED AT, THE MOST EVALUATED AND, YES, THE MOST CRITICIZED CITY COUNCILPERSON OF ALL OF THEM (LAUGHTER). HE WILL BE SO UNDER THE LOOKING GLASS THAT IT WILL BE INCREDIBLE.

JESS>> PARKS IS ONE OF TEN CANDIDATES IN DISTRICT EIGHT IN THAT COUNCIL RACE AND, WHILE HE IS CLEARLY THE BEST KNOWN, HE’S A NEWCOMER TO THE NEIGHBORHOOD. YOU MAY REMEMBER PARKS MOVED INTO THIS DISTRICT SHORTLY BEFORE ANNOUNCING HIS INTENTIONS TO RUN FOR COUNCIL.

VAL>> TOMORROW ON LIFE AND TIMES, SECURITY GAPS AT A PRIME TARGET FOR TERRORISM, OUR LOCAL PORTS. WHY AREN’T THEY GETTING THE SAME LEVEL OF PROTECTION AS OUR AIRPORTS?

>> WE HAVE JUST SEEN THE PLACEMENT OF 45,000 AIRPORT SCREENERS, FEDERAL AIRPORT SCREENERS, AND YET, IF YOU GO TO THE PORT OF LOS ANGELES ON A GIVEN DAY, A TYPICAL POLICE SHIFT HAS FIVE POLICE OFFICERS AT THE PORT OF LOS ANGELES.

JESS>> HIS IS NOT THE MOST REASSURING OF VOICES WHEN IT COMES TO TERRORISM. THAT’S BECAUSE HE BELIEVES THE GOVERNMENT IS DOING A POOR JOB OF PROTECTING US FROM THE THREATS WE’VE ALL HEARD ABOUT, INCLUDING THE DANGER OF A BIOLOGICAL OR CHEMICAL ATTACK, BUT OUR NEXT GUEST SAYS THE HOMELAND SECURITY DEPARTMENT ALREADY NEEDS TO BE OVERHAULED TO COPE WITH THOSE POSSIBILITIES. AND HE SAYS THOSE COLOR-CODED THREAT ALERTS WE’VE BEEN GETTING ARE USELESS.

VAL>> HE ALSO BELIEVES THAT EVERY U.S. CITIZEN OVER THE AGE OF SIX SHOULD BE ISSUED A NATIONAL ID CARD. MICHAEL CHERKASKY LAYS OUT HIS IDEAS FOR PROTECTING AMERICA IN A BOOK CALLED “FOREWARNED”. HE IS CEO OF KROLL, INCORPORATED, ONE OF THE COUNTRY’S TOP SECURITY FIRMS, AND MICHAEL CHERKASKY JOINS US NOW. WELCOME.

MICHAEL CHERKASKY>> THANK YOU.

JESS>> YOU’RE REALLY TOUGH ON THE HOMELAND SECURITY BUSINESS.

MICHAEL CHERKASKY>> WELL, WE NEED THEM TO BE TOUGH ON THE TERRORISTS AND I DON’T THINK THAT THEY ARE.

VAL>> WHAT HAS NOT BEEN DONE THAT YOU THINK IS REALLY CRUCIAL, THAT THEY’VE JUST MISSED THE BOAT ON?

MICHAEL CHERKASKY>> I THINK IT’S CRUCIAL THAT WE DO HAVE A NATIONAL IDENTIFICATION CARD. I THINK INFORMATION IS THE WAY TO HANDLE THIS. IF, IN FACT, WE DON’T HAVE INFORMATION ABOUT WHO IS COMING INTO THE COUNTRY, WE DON’T HAVE INFORMATION ABOUT WHO IS GETTING ON PLANES OR WHO IS GOING INTO OUR CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE, THEN IN FACT IT’S VERY, VERY HARD TO HAVE SECURITY. ONE OF THE KEY TENETS OF SECURITY IS THAT YOU CAN’T CHECK A HUNDRED PERCENT OF THE PEOPLE THE SAME WAY BECAUSE, IF YOU DO, YOU’RE REALLY NOT DOING A GOOD ENOUGH JOB ON ANYONE.

VAL>> WELL, WE’RE SCREENING NOW. WE’RE CHOOSING THOSE WHO FIT A CERTAIN PROFILE, WHO ARE MOST LIKELY TO BE, YOU KNOW, TERRORISTS OR DANGERS, RIGHT? WE ARE BASING IT ON SOMETHING, NO?

MICHAEL CHERKASKY>> WELL, WE’RE DOING SOME SCREENING NOW AND WE’RE DOING SOME SCREENING BASED ON RACIAL CHARACTERISTICS. I THINK THAT THAT ALSO IS A TERRIBLE MISTAKE. NUMBER ONE, BECAUSE I DON’T THINK IT WORKS BECAUSE A CHECHNYAN DOESN’T LOOK LIKE AN AFRICAN-MUSLIM WHO DOESN’T LOOK LIKE AN ARAB, SO I DON’T THINK IT REALLY WORKS. NUMBER TWO, IT IS INCONSISTENT WITH WHAT AMERICA STANDS FOR AND I THINK THAT WE CAN DO IT SO MUCH MORE EFFECTIVELY.

JESS>> IN YOUR BOOK, YOU MAKE A STRONG CASE FOR CURBING SOME OF OUR CIVIL LIBERTIES, DON’T YOU?

MICHAEL CHERKASKY>> WELL, I THINK THAT WE HAVE TO HAVE A BALANCE AND I THINK THAT THAT’S WHAT WE NEED TO DISCUSS TODAY. WE NEED TO DISCUSS BEFORE THE NEXT ATTACK, AND I AM FIRMLY IN THE BELIEF THAT WE ARE GOING TO BE ATTACKED AGAIN. BEFORE THAT HAPPENS AND ALL THE EMOTIONS RISE, WE NEED TO MAKE THOUGHTFUL DECISIONS ABOUT WHERE WE, IN FACT, CAN CHIP AWAY A LITTLE BIT, BUT THOUGHTFULLY IN MAKING SURE WE ARE PRESERVING THE HEART OF IT. I THINK NATIONAL IDENTIFICATION CARDS IS THAT KIND OF ISSUE. IT’S IMPORTANT. IT CAN MAKE A REAL MATERIAL DIFFERENCE IF WE OVERSIGHT IT APPROPRIATELY. WE WON’T REALLY BE GIVING UP CIVIL LIBERTIES BECAUSE THAT INFORMATION IS OUT THERE ANYWAY.

JESS>> IT’S NOT LIKE A SOCIAL SECURITY CARD OR A DRIVER’S LICENSE. IF YOU HAVE A NATIONAL IDENTITY CARD, IT WILL TRACK, ELECTRONICALLY, I ASSUME, WHERE YOU ARE, WHERE YOU GO, WHO’S WITH YOU. THAT’S REALLY GIVING UP A LOT OF YOUR CIVIL LIBERTIES, ISN’T IT?

MICHAEL CHERKASKY>> WELL, I DON’T THINK IT WILL QUITE DO THAT. IT WILL CERTAINLY TRACK WHEN YOU, IN FACT, TRY TO GO INTO A PLANE. IT WILL SAY THAT MIKE CHERKASKY’S TRYING TO GET ON THAT PLANE AND HAVE A RULES-BASED SYSTEM SAYING CAN WE LET HIM GET ON QUICKLY AND GO THROUGH THAT SENSOR OR DO WE HAVE TO TALK TO THAT PERSON? WE COULD DO IT ON A BASIS OF HAS THAT PERSON TRAVELED A LOT? DOES HE HAVE A CRIMINAL RECORD? IS THERE SOME SPECIFIC INFORMATION ABOUT HIM?

THOSE ARE THE KINDS OF THINGS THAT WE NEED TO DO. NOT WHETHER HE’S A MUSLIM OR FROM A CERTAIN AREA OF THE WORLD. I THINK THAT THAT’S APPROPRIATE AND IT WILL GIVE US ENORMOUS ABILITY SO THAT, WHEN WE DO HAVE A HEIGHTENED LEVEL NEXT TIME, WE CAN SAY, OKAY, WE’RE GOING TO NOW QUESTION A FEW MORE PEOPLE MORE CLOSELY.

JESS>> BUT THIS IS PERILOUSLY CLOSE, CRITICS WILL SUGGEST, TO THE MICROCHIP IN THE POSTERIOR OF EVERY AMERICAN OVER THE AGE OF SIX.

MICHAEL CHERKASKY>> WELL, YOU KNOW, IT’S CLOSE, BUT IT’S NOT THAT. I THINK THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE CAN’T BE AFRAID OF. HAVING DISCUSSIONS AND MOVING FORWARD BECAUSE WE GET CLOSE TO A LINE WHICH IS NOT ACCEPTABLE TO US SHOULDN’T MAKE US AFRAID BECAUSE I BELIEVE THAT WE’RE GOING TO HAVE AN IMPACT ON OUR CIVIL LIBERTIES BECAUSE WE’RE GOING TO BE ATTACKED AGAIN AND PEOPLE ARE GOING TO DEMAND IT. BUT IT’S GOING TO BE WHEN THE PASSIONS ARE UP AND THAT’S NOT WHEN WE’RE GOING TO MAKE RATIONAL --

JESS>> -- YOU’RE MAKING US AFRAID (LAUGHTER).

MICHAEL CHERKASKY>> I HOPE NOT.

VAL>> SHOULD WE REALLY BE AFRAID? I MEAN, PEOPLE ARE GOING OUT AND DOING DUCT TAPE. YOU EVEN TELL THEM IN SOME OF YOUR CHAPTERS THAT, IF THERE IS A BIOLOGICAL OR CHEMICAL ATTACK, TO BE PREPARED TO, YOU KNOW, CLOSE OFF THE VENTS. IS THAT THE WAY YOU WANT PEOPLE TO BE THINKING?

MICHAEL CHERKASKY>> IT REALLY ISN’T. I WANT PEOPLE TO BE THINKING THAT, AS THEY GET IN THEIR CAR, THEY SHOULD DO THEIR SEATBELT UP AND NOT SMOKE BECAUSE THAT’S THE GREATER DANGER, BUT IF IN FACT --

VAL>> -- SO DYING FROM LUNG CANCER OR A CAR ACCIDENT IS MUCH MORE LIKELY THAN TERRORISM.

MICHAEL CHERKASKY>> MUCH, MUCH MORE LIKELY THAN DYING FROM A TERRORIST ATTACK, BUT I DO WANT THEM TO BE PREPARED. I WANT THEM TO BE EDUCATED AND PREPARED IF SOMETHING SHOULD HAPPEN. THAT’S ALL WE’RE SAYING.

JESS>> AND YOU ALSO MAKE A STRONG POINT THAT SOMETHING IS GOING TO HAPPEN.

MICHAEL CHERKASKY>> I DON’T THINK THERE’S ANY QUESTION OF ANY EXPERT YOU’LL TALK TO. WE HAVE AL QAEDA TERRORISTS INSIDE THE UNITED STATES IN SLEEPER CELLS. THEY ARE GOING TO STRIKE AGAIN. THEY ARE A PATIENT GROUP. IT’S GOING TO HAPPEN. WE CAN’T CHANGE OUR LIVES ABOUT IT, BUT WHAT WE CAN DO, AND I HOPE WE WILL DO, IS REALLY TAKE IT SERIOUSLY. OUR GOVERNMENT SHOULD TAKE IT SERIOUSLY AND DO THE KIND OF THINGS THAT ARE NOT JUST A SUPERFICIAL WHITEWASH.

VAL>> OKAY. SO WHAT ARE THE CONCRETE THINGS THE GOVERNMENT HAS DONE? WE NOW HAVE, IN OUR AIRPORTS, FEDERAL EMPLOYEES WHO ARE MANNING THE X-RAY MACHINES AND ALL THAT KIND OF THING, AND WE’RE GOING THROUGH A LOT MORE SECURITY. IT’S TAKING A LOT LONGER. IS THAT PAYING OFF? ARE WE SAFER BECAUSE OF THAT?

MICHAEL CHERKASKY>> NO, I DON'T THINK SO. I THINK THAT CHECKING FOR KNIVES OR NAIL CLIPPERS IN THE AIRPORTS AND HAVING OUR NATIONAL GUARD, WHO REALLY AREN'T TRAINED TO USE THEIR M16S IN AIRPORTS, GUARDING US THERE IS NOT PAYING OFF. IT'S UNLIKELY THAT I THINK THE SAME KIND OF SCHEME WILL HAPPEN TO WHERE WE'RE FIGHTING LAST WAR AND ALSO WE CAN'T KEEP NAIL CLIPPERS AND KNIVES OUT OF OUR JAILS. SO THAT'S NOT REALLY WHAT WE NEED TO DO.

WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THE CORPORATIONS THAT CONTROL THE CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE OF THIS COUNTRY ARE, IN FACT, REQUIRED TO PUT THE MONEY INTO PROTECTING AND HARDENING THOSE SITES. WE NEED TO MAKE SURE OUR PORTS ARE PROTECTED BY SCREENING EVERY CONTAINER THAT COMES INTO THE UNITED STATES. WE CAN USE TECHNOLOGY TO DO THOSE KINDS OF THINGS. THAT'S WHAT WE'RE GOOD AT IN THE UNITED STATES.

VAL>> IN FACT, ONE OF THE TECHNOLOGIES SUGGESTED IN TERMS OF PORT SECURITY IS, WHAT, TO USE BAR CODES ON CARGO CONTAINERS AND THE INFORMATION GOES UP TO A SATELLITE AND COMES BACK? HOW WOULD THAT WORK?

MICHAEL CHERKASKY>> YOU PUT A TRANSPONDER -- SOMEONE WHO YOU TRUST INSPECTS IT AND SEALS IT. YOU HAVE A TRANSPONDER THAT SAYS IT STILL HAS INTEGRITY AS IT COMES INTO OUR WATERS. WE'RE DOING SOME OF THAT STUFF NOW --

JESS>> -- WITH GLOBAL POSITIONING SATELLITES, WE'VE GOT THE TECHNOLOGY FOR IT, HAVEN'T WE?

MICHAEL CHERKASKY>> ABSOLUTELY. WE HAVE THE TECHNOLOGY. LET'S NOT WASTE OUR MONEY ON GUARDS WHICH ARE COUNTER-PRODUCTIVE AND REALLY ARE NOT GOING TO BE EFFECTIVE. LET'S USE THE TECHNOLOGY THE COUNTRY IS FAMOUS FOR.

JESS>> YOURS IS, BY MOST ACCOUNTS, THE PREMIER SECURITY CONSULTING FIRM IN THE COUNTRY.

MICHAEL CHERKASKY>> THANK YOU.

JESS>> SO YOU KNOW WHAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT WHEN IT COMES TO COMMERCIAL THREATS. CAN THAT BE APPLIED TO THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT'S PROTECTION OF US?

MICHAEL CHERKASKY>> ABSOLUTELY. THE SAME KIND OF IMAGINATIVE APPROACHES THAT COMPANIES DO TO SAVE MONEY, WE NEED OUR COUNTRY TO DO AS A WHOLE AND THAT'S CRITICAL.

VAL>> BUT THAT RAISES A GOOD QUESTION. WHAT INCENTIVE DOES A PRIVATE COMPANY HAVE TO SPEND PROFITS ON GREATER SECURITY?

MICHAEL CHERKASKY>> I THINK YOU'RE ABSOLUTELY RIGHT. WE CAN'T LET PRIVATE COMPANIES MAKE THOSE DECISIONS. WE DON'T LET THEM MAKE DECISIONS ON MINIMUM WAGE. WE HAVE TO LEGISLATE IT.

VAL>> MICHAEL CHERKASKY, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR INFORMATION. IT'S SCARY, BUT SOUND. THE BOOK, AGAIN, IS CALLED "FOREWARNED: WHY THE GOVERNMENT IS FAILING TO PROTECT US AND WHAT WE MUST DO TO PROTECT OURSELVES".

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JESS>> AS YOU JUST HEARD, YOU MAY NOT BE ABLE TO COUNT ON THE GOVERNMENT TO PROTECT YOU FROM TERRORISM AND PATT SAYS THE SAME THING GOES FOR YOUR INSURANCE COMPANY. THAT'S TONIGHT'S INFINITELY MORRISON.

PATT MORRISON>> IT TOOK A HUGE LOAD OFF MY MIND TO GET THIS LETTER FROM THE INSURANCE COMPANY THE OTHER DAY. HERE IT IS: COVERAGE FOR ACTS OF TERRORISM IS ALREADY INCLUDED IN YOUR CURRENT HOMEOWNER'S POLICY. NOT ONLY THAT, BUT IF TERRORISTS DECIDE TO TAKE OUT MY HOUSE, NINETY PERCENT OF ANY DAMAGE ABOVE MY DEDUCTIBLE IS PAID BY THE GOVERNMENT OF THE UNITED STATES.

IF YOU CAN'T THINK OF HOW TERRORISTS WOULD SINGLE OUT YOUR HOME, THE AMERICAN INSURANCE ASSOCIATION OFFERS THESE HELPFUL SCENARIOS. A FIRE BEGUN BY A SUICIDE BOMBER ENGULFS YOUR HOUSE OR A HIJACKER TAKES OVER A BUS WHICH PLOWS INTO YOUR BEDROOM. THAT, THEY'LL PAY FOR. BUT THE BAD NEWS. IN CASE OF NUCLEAR ATTACK, WE'RE OUT OF LUCK. NO INSURANCE COVERAGE.

THIS HAS BEEN THE CASE SINCE THE COLD WAR WHEN IT WAS THE GOVERNMENT OF THE SOVIET UNION THREATENING TO LOB THE BIG BOMB ONTO US. THIS GOES FOR OUR CARS TOO. ONE COMPANY IS MAILING OUT FORTY MILLION NOTICES THAT THOSE MILLIONS OF CARS ARE NOT PROTECTED FROM NUCLEAR BLASTS OR THE DAMAGE FROM RADIATION, SAY, IF YOUR CAR GETS TURNED INTO A GLOW-IN-THE-DARK MODEL.

BUT WHAT IF THE NUCLEAR ATTACK IS AN ACT OF TERRORISM? YOU'RE PROBABLY STILL OUT OF LUCK BECAUSE, EVEN THOUGH GEORGE W. BUSH'S PHRASE "WAR ON TERRORISM" WAS MORE FOR RHETORICAL PURPOSES THAN LEGAL ONES, AND WE ARE NOT LEGALLY AT WAR. THAT WORD WAS GOOD ENOUGH FOR ONE INSURANCE COMPANY, WHICH SAID ITS ACT OF WAR EXCLUSION CLAUSE MEANS IT DOESN'T HAVE TO PAY FOR CARS AND OTHER PERSONAL PROPERTY THAT GOT TRASHED IN THE COLLAPSE OF THE WORLD TRADE CENTER.

THE INSURANCE TRADE WAS MAKING SO MUCH MONEY IN THE 1970'S AND 1980'S THAT SOME SPENT PROFITS DIVERSIFYING INTO OTHER BUSINESSES. BUT SINCE 1989, IT'S HAD A COMEUPPANCE. IT'S THE ACTUARIAL EQUIVALENT OF THE SEVEN PLAGUES OF EGYPT. TEN MAJOR DISASTERS, INCLUDING THREE HURRICANES AND TWO EARTHQUAKES. SO WHEN ITS LUCKY STREAK CRASHED AND IT HAD TO PAY THE HOUSE, OR FOR OUR HOUSES, COMPANIES RETREATED, CUTTING COVERAGE, LOWERING CAPS, RAISING DEDUCTIBLES.

PEOPLE ARE NOW, SURPRISE, PAYING MORE AND GETTING LESS. SO WHAT ELSE IS NEW? THE PART THAT'S HARD TO SWALLOW IS THE BOTTOM LINE. SADDAM IS A BETTER RISK THAN SEISMIC. WHEN IT COMES TO INSURANCE, I'M ACTUALLY BETTER OFF BEING ATTACKED BY TERRORISTS THAN RIDING OUT ANOTHER EARTHQUAKE.

VAL>> HIS FIRST PHOTOGRAPH WAS TAKEN WITH A KODAK BROWNIE BOX CAMERA WHEN HE WAS JUST A BOY AND, FROM THAT BEGINNING, ANSEL ADAMS BECAME THE BEST KNOWN AND MOST EXHIBITED PHOTOGRAPHER IN AMERICA.

JESS>> AND NOW, ONE HUNDRED YEARS AFTER HIS BIRTH, THE LOS ANGELES COUNTY MUSEUM OF ART, LACMA, IS PRESENTING MORE THAN ONE HUNDRED OF ANSEL ADAMS' FINEST PIECES. HE IS KNOWN BEST FOR HIS STUNNING BLACK AND WHITE PHOTOGRAPHS OF YOSEMITE, BUT ADAMS ALSO VENTURED INTO THE DESERTS OF NEW MEXICO AND ELSEWHERE. HIS WORK CHANGED THE WAY PEOPLE THOUGHT ABOUT NATURE, LANDSCAPES AND THE AMERICAN WEST. LACMA'S EXHIBIT OFFERS SOME LESSER-KNOWN ANSEL ADAMS WORKS AS WELL.

VAL>> AND JOINING US NOW TO TELL US MORE IS ROBERT SOBIESZEK. HE IS CURATOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY AT LACMA. WELCOME TO LIFE AND TIMES.

ROBERT SOBIESZEK>> THANK YOU, VAL, JESS.

JESS>> WHAT A RESOURCE ANSEL ADAMS LEFT US WITH BECAUSE HE KEPT EVEN HIS EARLIEST PHOTOGRAPHS. THE NEGATIVES WERE CAREFULLY MAINTAINED AND GUARDED?

ROBERT SOBIESZEK>> ABSOLUTELY. HE PRESERVED EVERYTHING HE DID AND THIS IS THE FIRST TIME A LOT OF MATERIAL THAT HE MADE WHEN HE WAS A VERY YOUNG CHILD HAS BEEN PUT INTO AN EXHIBITION OF HIS WORK, SO WE SEE THE FULL RANGE OF ADAMS AT WORK.

VAL>> IN FACT, HE TOOK HIS FIRST PHOTOGRAPH OF YOSEMITE AT AGE --

ROBERT SOBIESZEK>> -- FOURTEEN.

VAL>> FOURTEEN.

ROBERT SOBIESZEK>> HE AND HIS PARENTS WENT TO YOSEMITE, HE HAD A FOLDING CAMERA, TOOK HIS PICTURE, AND THAT PICTURE IS IN THE EXHIBITION.

JESS>> WE ALWAYS IDENTIFY HIM WITH YOSEMITE, BUT HIS PHOTOGRAPHS EXTENDED FAR BEYOND YOSEMITE?

ROBERT SOBIESZEK>> OH, ABSOLUTELY. HE PHOTOGRAPHED, BESIDES YOSEMITE, ALL THE SIERRA NEVADAS, THE ROCKY MOUNTAINS, NORTHERN NEW MEXICO AND THROUGHOUT CALIFORNIA.

VAL>> LET'S TAKE A LOOK AT SOME OF THE THINGS HE'S DONE. WHAT'S GREAT ABOUT THIS EXHIBITION IS THAT YOU OFFER SOME THINGS THAT HAVE NEVER BEEN SEEN BEFORE.

ROBERT SOBIESZEK>> NEVER -- IN FACT, THIS ONE, THIS VERY COMPLEX YOUNG PICTURE DONE BY ADAMS WHEN HE WAS EIGHTEEN YEARS OLD, OF A VERNAL FALLS AND THE ROCK AND A MOUNTAIN IN THE BACKGROUND IN YOSEMITE AND A PINE TREE IN FRONT. IT'S VERY COMPLEX AND VERY WONDERFUL.

VAL>> BUT WHY HASN'T IT BEEN SEEN BEFORE?

ROBERT SOBIESZEK>> BECAUSE HE NEVER EXHIBITED IT.

VAL>> REALLY?

ROBERT SOBIESZEK>> NOR DID HE EXHIBIT THIS IMAGE DONE IN THE HIGH SIERRAS DURING AN OUTING OF THE SIERRA CLUB DONE IN 1928. A REALLY MONUMENTAL VIEW, EVEN THOUGH THE PRINT IS VERY SMALL. OR THIS STUDY OF ROCKS IN BAKER BEACH. IT'S AN ABSOLUTE STUNNING SMALL STUDY.

JESS>> IN YOUR WRITINGS, YOU TALK ABOUT HIM BEING MUCH MORE COMPLEX THAN SIMPLY A LANDSCAPE PHOTOGRAPHER AND SOME OF THESE ILLUSTRATE THAT, DO THEY NOT?

ROBERT SOBIESZEK>> WELL, THEY GO BEYOND JUST BEING LANDSCAPE. I THINK HE SORT OF IDENTIFIES OR CREATES THE AMERICAN LANDSCAPE FOR US. WE MIGHT GO TO YOSEMITE, BUT IT'S THUNDER CLAP STORIES LIKE THIS OR AN IMAGE LIKE THIS THAT WE REMEMBER. WE REMEMBER HIS IMAGES MORE THAN THE THINGS WE SEE OURSELVES SOMETIMES.

VAL>> NOW WHY DO YOU THINK BLACK AND WHITE ALL THE WAY THROUGH? WAS HE BLACK AND WHITE ALL THE WAY THROUGH HIS CAREER?

ROBERT SOBIESZEK>> HE PLAYED WITH POLAROID TOWARD THE END OF HIS CAREER, BUT NOT THAT MUCH. BASICALLY, HE'S A BLACK AND WHITE PHOTOGRAPHER BECAUSE THAT WAS THE CONVENTIONAL ARTISTIC EXPRESSION OF PHOTOGRAPHY. THIS DRAMATIC SHOT OF A HUGE ROCK FOUND IN THE DESERT ALONGSIDE ROUTE 395 IS REALLY UNBELIEVABLY GREAT.

VAL>> YOU'RE RIGHT. IT JUST WOULDN'T BE THE SAME IN COLOR.

JESS>> IT HASN'T BEEN THAT MANY YEARS AGO THAT HE WAS STILL CONDUCTING WORKSHOPS IN YOSEMITE.

ROBERT SOBIESZEK>> YEAH. I THINK ABOUT FIFTEEN YEARS AGO, HE WAS STILL DOING IT. HE HAD A HOUSE IN YOSEMITE. THE FAMILY STILL OWNS IT. THIS IS A REMARKABLE OAK TREE AGAINST CATHEDRAL ROCKS IN YOSEMITE AND IT'S GOING TO BE FOLLOWED BY THE SAME TREE DURING A SNOW STORM. YOU CAN'T SEE THE CATHEDRAL ROCKS IN THE BACKGROUND, BUT IT'S AS THOUGH HE PUT THE TRIPOD DOWN IN THE SAME SPOT.

VAL>> THAT'S AMAZING. NOW HE'S OFTEN CREDITED WITH BEING A BOOST TO THE ENVIRONMENTAL MOVEMENT, OF PRESERVATION. WAS THAT HIS INTENT OR WAS HE DOING THIS PURELY AS AN ARTIST?

ROBERT SOBIESZEK>> AT FIRST, YES, HE DID DO IT JUST AS AN ARTIST. BUT FOLLOWING WORLD WAR TWO, FOLLOWING THE PUBLICATION OF RACHEL CARSON'S "SILENT SPRING", THE ENVIRONMENTALIST MOVEMENT TOOK OFF AND HE WENT WILLINGLY ALONG WITH IT TO TRY TO PROMOTE THE BEAUTY OF OUR LAND AND THE FRAGILITY OF OUR LAND.

JESS>> HE WAS VERY INVOLVED WITH THE SIERRA CLUB.

ROBERT SOBIESZEK>> EXACTLY, ALL THE WAY THROUGH HIS LIFE.

VAL>> AND HOW DID HIS CAREER END? HOW DID HE DIE? I NEVER SEEM TO HAVE --

ROBERT SOBIESZEK>> -- HE DIED PEACEFULLY. I DON'T KNOW HOW HE DIED. I KNEW HIM. I MET HIM A COUPLE OF TIMES BEFORE HE DIED AND I KNEW HIS WIFE, VIRGINIA. HE WAS JUST A GRACIOUS MAN WHO PASSED AWAY, UNFORTUNATELY.

JESS>> NOW THIS EXHIBITION WAS ORIGINALLY CREATED IN SAN FRANCISCO?

ROBERT SOBIESZEK>> SAN FRANCISCO MUSEUM OF MODERN ART CURATED THE SHOW AND JOHN SWARKOWSKI, MY FORMER COLLEAGUE AT THE MUSEUM OF MODERN ART IN NEW YORK, IS THE PERSON RESPONSIBLE FOR SELECTING THE PICTURES AND WRITING THE BOOK.

JESS>> AND IT IS HUGELY POPULAR, WE UNDERSTAND.

ROBERT SOBIESZEK>> THE CROWDS ARE THERE, YES. WE'RE VERY PLEASED WITH THAT.

VAL>> DID YOU SAY OVER TWO THOUSAND PEOPLE?

ROBERT SOBIESZEK>> ALMOST THREE THOUSAND PEOPLE ON WEEKENDS PER DAY, BUT WE ARE TIMING THEM AND IT'S VERY -- PEOPLE CAN GET THROUGH VERY NICELY.

VAL>> BUT PEOPLE HAVE SEEN ANSEL ADAMS EVERYWHERE, ON CALENDARS -- WHY DO YOU THINK THEY'RE STILL FLOCKING?

ROBERT SOBIESZEK>> TWO REASONS. IT'S BECAUSE THEY SEE HIM EVERYWHERE. THEY WANT TO SEE THE REAL THING. THEY SEE THE POSTERS, THEY SEE THE CALENDARS, THEY SEE THE BOOKS. THEY WANT TO SEE THE ACTUAL PRINTS. AND NOW, ON TOP OF IT, YOU'RE GOING TO SEE PRINTS BY ANSEL ADAMS THAT YOU HAVE NEVER SEEN BEFORE.

JESS>> IN ADDITION TO THE ENORMOUS LEGACY HE LEFT BEHIND IN HIS OWN WORK, THOSE HE TRAINED ARE PART OF HIS LEGACY TOO.

ROBERT SOBIESZEK>> ABSOLUTELY, LEGIONS OF PHOTOGRAPHY.

JESS>> WESTON?

ROBERT SOBIESZEK>> HE DIDN'T TRAIN WESTON. HE WAS FRIENDS WITH WESTON IN MINOR WAYS. BUT PEOPLE LIKE JOHN SEXTON, BRUCE BIRNBAUM, BRAD COLE, YOU CAN GO ON WITH A LIST OF NAMES OF CALIFORNIA LANDSCAPE PHOTOGRAPHERS THAT ARE STILL WORKING.

JESS>> WOULD YOU SAY HE INFLUENCED WESTON?

ROBERT SOBIESZEK>> NO, NO. THEY WERE QUITE DIFFERENT PHOTOGRAPHERS.

VAL>> NOW THE EXHIBIT ALSO INCLUDES SOME PHOTOGRAPHS NOT BY ANSEL ADAMS, BUT BY PEOPLE WHO WERE IN FACT INFLUENCED BY HIM, IS THAT RIGHT?

ROBERT SOBIESZEK>> WE PUT UP A LITTLE SHOW AT THE END OF THE ADAMS SHOW THAT SHOWS LANDSCAPE PHOTOGRAPHY AFTER ANSEL ADAMS, PEOPLE WHO WERE INFLUENCED BY HIM, SOME OF HIS STUDENTS, PEOPLE WHO MAKE FUN OF HIM --

VAL>> (LAUGHTER) REALLY?

ROBERT SOBIESZEK>> OH, YEAH, BECAUSE HE IS SUCH A GIANT THAT ARTISTS ARE GOING TO MAKE FUN OF HIM.

JESS>> WELL, SOME REGARDED SOME OF HIS SHOTS AS CLICHÉS.

ROBERT SOBIESZEK>> EXACTLY, EXACTLY. "MOONLIGHT, HERNANDEZ" IS IN THE SHOW. THAT'S HIS MOST POPULAR PICTURE. BUT THERE'S A PHOTOGRAPHER AFTER ADAMS' SHOW THAT HAS "MOONRISE OVER PIE PAN" (LAUGHTER). HE TOOK A PIE PAN AND PUT IT IN THE DESERT.

VAL>> (LAUGHTER) BUT IMITATION IS THE HIGHEST FORM OF FLATTERY.

ROBERT SOBIESZEK>> EXACTLY.

VAL>> ROBERT SOBIESZEK, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR SHARING THIS WITH US. IT'S WONDERFUL.

ROBERT SOBIESZEK>> THANK YOU, VAL. THANK YOU, JESS.

JESS>> "ANSEL ADAMS AT 100" WILL BE AT LACMA THROUGH MAY 11. FOR MORE INFORMATION, YOU CAN CALL THE NUMBER ON YOUR SCREEN (323-857-6000) OR GO TO THEIR WEBSITE AT LACMA.ORG.

VAL>> FINALLY TONIGHT, WE SAY GOODBYE TO AN OLD FRIEND, MISTER ROGERS. HE PASSED AWAY THIS MORNING AT HIS PITTSBURGH HOME AFTER A BRIEF BATTLE WITH CANCER.

JESS>> BY ALL ACCOUNTS, FRED ROGERS WAS THE SAME GENTLE SOUL WE'VE BEEN SEEING ON TELEVISION FOR MORE THAN THIRTY YEARS. HE WAS A MASTER AT SPEAKING TO CHILDREN AS NO ONE ELSE COULD AND THOSE SAME YOUNGSTERS SENT HIM MILLIONS OF LETTERS. WE REMEMBER A VERY SPECIAL ONE ABOUT A LITTLE GIRL NAMED MICHELLE.

FRED ROGERS>> THERE WAS A LETTER FROM A LITTLE GIRL BY THE NAME OF MICHELLE. WELL, IT WAS REALLY WRITTEN BY HER MOTHER. MICHELLE HAD CANCER AND HAD TO HAVE RADIATION TREATMENTS. WHEN THE DOCTOR SAID YOU WILL BE IN THIS LONG TUNNEL FOR A MINUTE, THE LITTLE GIRL JUST SCREAMED. SHE HAD NO IDEA WHAT A MINUTE MEANT. SO HER MOTHER SAID JUST LISTEN TO ME AND HER MOTHER STARTED SINGING "IT'S A BEAUTIFUL DAY IN THIS NEIGHBORHOOD" AND SHE SANG IT THE WHOLE WAY THROUGH OR ALMOST THE WHOLE WAY THROUGH. SHE SAID, LOOK, I COULDN'T EVEN FINISH THE NEIGHBORHOOD SONG AND THE MINUTE IS UP. MICHELLE SAID, OH, WELL, I CAN TAKE THAT.

SO EVERY TIME THEY WOULD GO FOR RADIATION TREATMENTS, THE MOTHER WOULD SING THAT SONG OVER THE LOUDSPEAKING SYSTEM INTO THE TREATMENT ROOM BECAUSE THE LITTLE GIRL HAD TO BE BY HERSELF IN THERE. SHE SAID THAT, EVERY TIME THEY WENT, THEY DID THAT AND THE LITTLE GIRL GOT THROUGH THAT PART OF HER TREATMENT. BUT IT'S SHARING THINGS LIKE THAT WITH US THAT -- I WONDER IF PEOPLE KNOW WHAT A GIFT IT IS THAT THEY GIVE TO US WHEN THEY SHARE THEIR LIFE EXPERIENCES WITH THOSE OF US WHO WOULD HAVE NO OTHER WAY OF KNOWING, AND I'M VERY GRATEFUL FOR THOSE WHO HAVE WRITTEN TO US AND HAVE SENT US PARTS OF THEIR HEARTS THROUGH THE MAIL.

VAL>> AND TONIGHT AT EIGHT O'CLOCK, KCET WILL AIR A SPECIAL ONE-HOUR TRIBUTE TO FRED ROGERS. THAT'S TONIGHT'S PROGRAM.

JESS>> NOW FOR ALL OF US HERE AT LIFE AND TIMES, THANK YOU AND GOOD NIGHT.

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