5/15/03

LC030515

VAL ZAVALA>> TONIGHT ON LIFE AND TIMES --

JESS MARLOW>> THE NEWEST PLACE WHERE PEOPLE ARE SAYING NASTY THINGS ABOUT GRAY DAVIS, COLLEGE CAMPUSES, AND IT'S ALL ABOUT MONEY.

ELIZABETH SAVO>> LESS MONEY FOR RENT, LESS MONEY FOR FOOD. I MEAN, DON'T MAKE THIS STARVING COLLEGE STUDENT HOMELESS NOW TOO, YOU KNOW.

VAL>> AND THEN, NAUGHTY MOVIES FROM THE EARLY DAYS OF HOLLYWOOD. PASSIONATE KISSES, FLIRTATIOUS TAPS, BUT THEN CAME THE DECENCY CODE.

JESS>> PLUS, DIVERTING DRUG OFFENDERS AWAY FROM JAIL AND INTO TREATMENT, BUT IS IT WORKING?

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>> FOR MOST CALIFORNIANS, IT'S THE GATEWAY TO A HIGHER EDUCATION.

JESS>> NOW THE CALIFORNIA STATE SYSTEM IS FACING SUBSTANTIAL BUDGET CUTS AND STUDENTS THERE ARE PAYING THE PRICE. THE VARIOUS CAL STATE CAMPUSES TAKE ON FAR MORE STUDENTS THAN ALL THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA CAMPUSES. THE GOVERNOR SPARED THE SCHOOLS FROM FURTHER CUTS IN HIS NEW BUDGET, BUT AS TONI GUINYARD REPORTS, TEACHERS AND STUDENTS STILL AREN'T HAPPY WITH THE LAST ROUND OF REDUCTIONS.

CRAIG FLANERY>> YEAH, SOME OF YOU WILL RESPOND TO THIS BY TRANSFERRING TO A COMMUNITY COLLEGE OR AT LEAST TRYING TO PICK UP SOME COURSES THERE, RIGHT?

TONI GUINYARD>> STUDENTS IN CRAIG FLANERY'S CAL STATE L.A. POLITICAL COMMUNICATION CLASS ARE GETTING A LESSON IN ECONOMICS THEY DID NOT EXPECT. THEY ARE AMONG MORE THAN 407,000 ENROLLED IN THE CALIFORNIA STATE UNIVERSITY SYSTEM WHO HAVE BEEN ISSUED A WARNING. THE COST OF CLASSES IS GOING UP. IT'S THE PRICE THEY'LL HAVE TO PAY BECAUSE OF THE STATE BUDGET CRISIS.

CRAIG FLANERY>> YOUR FEES ARE GOING UP TWENTY, THIRTY, FORTY PERCENT, SOMETHING IN THAT RANGE.

JOANN HORTA>> THAT MEANS MY PARENTS ARE GOING TO HAVE A LOT OF TROUBLE GETTING THE MONEY BACK IN PUERTO RICO FOR ME BECAUSE THEY PAY FOR MY SCHOOL TUITION AND I GET SOME FINANCIAL AID, PLUS I'VE BEEN TAKING OUT LOANS BECAUSE IT'S STILL A LITTLE BIT EXPENSIVE. BUT IF THEY INCREASE IT, IT'S JUST GOING TO GET EVEN WORSE. MY PARENTS MIGHT HAVE TO TAKE LOANS.

TONI GUINYARD>> A MAJOR ISSUE FOR SOME, AN INCONVENIENCE FOR OTHERS.

MEGAN COHEN>> MY DAD'S A HIGH-LEVEL CORPORATE MANAGER IN HIS COMPANY AND, TO HIM, $200 OR $300 WOULDN'T MAKE A DIFFERENCE, YOU KNOW? IF I WHINE AND COMPLAIN ENOUGH, I CAN GET $300 TO GO SHOPPING (LAUGHTER), SO IT'S LIKE IT WOULDN'T AFFECT ME ANYWAY.

TONI GUINYARD>> THE GREATER THE FINANCIAL NEED, THE LOUDER THE COMPLAINTS. STUDENTS CLAIM A TWENTY-FIVE PERCENT FEE INCREASE, THE EQUIVALENT OF AN ADDITIONAL $348 TO $396 ANNUALLY, PUTS THEIR QUEST FOR HIGHER EDUCATION IN JEOPARDY. AT THIS PROTEST, THEY ALSO COMPLAINED THE HIGHER FEES HAVE HIDDEN COSTS, LARGER CLASS SIZE, FEWER COURSE OPTIONS.

[FILM CLIP]

ELIZABETH SAVO>> EVEN BEFORE ALL THESE PRICE INCREASES HAPPENED, I WAS LOOKING AT, YOU KNOW, $40,000 IN DEBT UPON GRADUATING FROM COLLEGE. I MEAN, THAT'S A LOT TO HANDLE RIGHT FROM COLLEGE. BUT NOW I'M LOOKING AT EVEN MORE BECAUSE I HAVE TO TAKE OUT -- NOT ONLY DO I HAVE TO TAKE OUT FINANCIAL AID AND DIRECT LOANS AND WHATNOT, I HAVE TO TAKE OUT LOANS JUST SO I CAN EAT.

TONI GUINYARD>> STUDENTS ARE JOINING WITH PROFESSORS IN PROTEST ACROSS THE STATE.

CRAIG FLANERY>> I'M GETTING CALLS FROM LECTURERS EVERY SINGLE DAY WHO ARE WORRIED ABOUT LOSING THEIR JOBS, GETTING LAID OFF, NOT KNOWING IF THEY'RE GOING TO BE TEACHING IN THE FALL, NOT KNOWING IF THEY'RE GETTING ANY CLASSES, AND A LOT OF FACULTY ARE CONCERNED ABOUT HOW THIS IS GOING TO AFFECT QUALITY EDUCATION IN THE CSU'S.

TONI GUINYARD>> THE CALIFORNIA FACULTY ASSOCIATION LED THIS WELL-ORCHESTRATED DEMONSTRATION TAKING PLACE IN LONG BEACH OUTSIDE, BUT WITHIN EARSHOT, OF A CSU BOARD OF TRUSTEES MEETING.

>> TWENTY-FIVE PERCENT YIELDS $142 MILLION DOLLARS NET REVENUE.

TONI GUINYARD>> A TWENTY-FIVE PERCENT INCREASE IS INEVITABLE, BUT IT'S POSSIBLE THAT FEES WILL BE RAISED EVEN MORE. BUT FIRST, THE TRUSTEES WANT TO CONSIDER THE IMPLICATIONS OF GOVERNOR GRAY DAVIS'S REVISED BUDGET BEFORE PUTTING THE FEE HIKE TO A VOTE. THEY SAY THAT, WITHOUT THE FEE INCREASE --

COLLEEN BENTLEY-ADLER>> -- YOU'RE GOING TO SEE FEWER CLASSES, YOU'RE GOING TO SEE LAYOFF OF SOME OF THE PART-TIME FACULTY, PROBABLY EVEN OTHER LAYOFFS THROUGHOUT THE SYSTEM. WE MAY HAVE TO DELAY ACCEPTING ANY NEW STUDENTS IN THE SPRING AND THOSE STUDENTS WHO ARE ALREADY THERE IN THE FALL WILL NOT GET THE CLASSES THEY NEED.

TONI GUINYARD>> BENTLEY-ADLER SAYS THAT'S THE SITUATION THE CSU SYSTEM FACED IN THE EARLY 1990'S, SOMETHING THE TRUSTEES DO NOT WANT TO REPEAT. THE EMOTIONAL APPEALS --

>> I DON'T QUALIFY FOR FINANCIAL AID, SO I HAVE TO WORK THREE JOBS.

TONI GUINYARD>> -- UNDERSCORE THE POSSIBILITY THAT SOME STUDENTS MAY DROP OUT FOR FINANCIAL REASONS.

WILLIAM HAUCK>> WHEN YOU HEAR THEIR INDIVIDUAL STORIES, THEY GET YOU. YOU KNOW, THEY REALLY GET YOU. I HOPE WE DON'T LOSE STUDENTS. WE'RE GOING TO MAKE EVERY EFFORT NOT TO LOSE STUDENTS, BUT WITH OVER 400,000 STUDENTS, IT'S POSSIBLE THAT WE WILL LOSE SOME.

TONI GUINYARD>> AND THAT IS UNACCEPTABLE, SAYS PROTEST COORDINATOR, AUDRENA REDMOND.

AUDRENA REDMOND>> MOST OF THOSE STUDENTS ARE FROM THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA, WILL STAY IN THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA, WILL GO ON TO BE THE PROFESSIONALS WHO KEEP THIS STATE RUNNING, WHO WILL BE OUR FUTURE LEGISLATORS, WHO WILL BE OUR FUTURE CITY MANAGERS, WHO WILL BE OUR FUTURE CITY COUNCIL PEOPLE. THEY WILL BE PEOPLE MAKING DECISIONS, SO IT'S IMPORTANT THAT EVERYBODY CARES ABOUT THEM BECAUSE WHAT HAPPENS IN THE CSU WILL AFFECT ALL OF US.

TONI GUINYARD>> AND NO MATTER HOW FRUSTRATING THE SITUATION GETS, CAL STATE L.A. LECTURER, CRAIG FLANERY, SAYS HE'S NOT GIVING UP ON HIMSELF OR HIS STUDENTS.

CRAIG FLANERY>> THIS IS MY CAREER. THIS IS MY CAREER. I'M COMMITTED TO THIS. I WAS A STUDENT AT CAL STATE L.A. TWENTY YEARS AGO. I BELIEVE IN THIS SYSTEM, DESPITE ITS CURRENT MISMANAGEMENT, AND I'M CONCERNED ABOUT OUR STUDENTS AND I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY DO GET A QUALITY EDUCATION. THAT'S WHY I'M STICKING WITH THIS.

JESS>> TONI JOINS US NOW. GRAY DAVIS IS BEING DEMONIZED BY THIS. WHAT ABOUT THE LEGISLATURE?

TONI GUINYARD>> WELL, THAT'S WHAT SOME OF THE TRUSTEES ARE SAYING. DON'T BLAME US, TELLING ALL THE STUDENTS IT'S FINE THAT YOU PROTEST, WE HEAR YOU LOUD AND CLEAR, BUT YOU NEED TO SPEAK WITH THE LEGISLATORS BECAUSE THEY'RE THE ONES WHO ARE ULTIMATELY GOING TO BE MAKING THIS DECISION.

VAL>> NOW $400 MAY NOT SOUND LIKE A LOT, BUT A LOT OF THESE KIDS ARE JUST BARELY MAKING IT. YOU KNOW, THEY'RE THE FIRST ONES TO GO TO COLLEGE. THEY COME OUT OF IMMIGRANT HOMES. IT'S A LOT OF MONEY.

TONI GUINYARD>> IT IS AN AWFUL LOT OF MONEY. IT WAS INTERESTING LISTENING TO SOME OF THE STUDENTS. IN ONE OF THE CLASSES THAT I WENT TO, ONE YOUNG LADY IS A MOTHER WHO HAS A NEWBORN AND AN EIGHT-YEAR-OLD SON. HER HUSBAND IS NOW ESSENTIALLY PAYING FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY, PAYING THE FAMILY'S WAY WHILE SHE GOES TO SCHOOL. IF THIS FEE INCREASE HAPPENS, AND IT'S GOING TO HAPPEN, SHE DOESN'T KNOW WHAT SHE'S GOING TO DO. PERHAPS SHE'LL HAVE TO GO BACK TO WORK AND EVEN SLOW DOWN HER EDUCATION EVEN FURTHER.

JESS>> YOU SAID THE TWENTY-FIVE PERCENT INCREASE IS INEVITABLE?

TONI GUINYARD>> YEP. THEY SAY THEY HAVE TO DO IT. THEY HAVE TO DO IT. IT'S ALREADY BUILT INTO THE CUTS THAT THEY WERE LOOKING AT THAT THE GOVERNOR PROPOSED BACK IN JANUARY. NOW THIS COULD GO HIGHER, BUT THEY'RE HOPING IT WON'T.

JESS>> ALL THIS BY LEGISLATORS AND A GOVERNOR WHO WERE RUNNING AS THE EDUCATION CANDIDATES?

TONI GUINYARD>> THAT'S RIGHT, BUT WHEN YOU'RE LOOKING AT BEING IN THE RED AS DEEPLY IN THE HOLE AS THIS STATE OF CALIFORNIA IS, YOU HAVE TO DO SOMETHING. WE'RE ALSO LOOKING AT OTHER TAX INCREASES, THE VEHICLE LICENSE FEE INCREASE. THEY'RE TALKING ABOUT TRIPLING IT, $158 ADDITIONAL FOR ALL OF US DRIVERS, SO PEOPLE ARE COMPLAINING ABOUT THAT AS WELL.

VAL>> EVEN THOUGH THE GOVERNOR WAS SO PROUD WHEN HE ANNOUNCED THAT THEY WOULD GO DOWN, BUT NOW THEY'RE GOING BACK UP.

JESS>> WE'LL SHARE THE PAIN.

TONI GUINYARD>> YOU BET.

VAL>> TONI, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THAT REPORT.

TOMORROW ON LIFE AND TIMES, TURNING EIGHTEEN IN THE FOSTER CARE SYSTEM. FOR MANY YOUNGSTERS, IT'S A TICKET TO A LIFE ON THE STREETS WITH NO FAMILY AND NO DIRECTION.

>> I LIVED ON MY OWN BEFORE, BEFORE I WENT TO JAIL, BUT I WAS STILL DOING DRUGS WHEN I WAS LIVING ON MY OWN, BUT I DID LIVE ON MY OWN. THEY JUST SAID THAT LIKE IT WAS TIME FOR ME TO LEARN TO LIVE ON MY OWN, PAY MY OWN WAY, AND HAVING A JOB, GOING TO SCHOOL, BEING RESPONSIBLE, YOU KNOW?

PHILIP BRUCE>> HERE ARE THE RESULTS OF LAST NIGHT'S LIFE AND TIMES "WHAT DO YOU THINK?" POLL: "HOW MUCH WOULD YOU PAY TO EASE THE STATE'S DEFICIT?". ZERO: SEVENTY-TWO PERCENT, $100 A YEAR: FIFTEEN PERCENT, $200 A YEAR: THIRTEEN PERCENT. LOG ONTO OUR WEBSITE AT KCET.ORG TO WEIGH IN ON A NEW QUESTION TOMORROW.

JESS>> THREE YEARS AGO, CALIFORNIA VOTERS PASSED PROPOSITION 36. YOU MIGHT REMEMBER IT AS THE DRUG REHAB INITIATIVE. IT CALLED FOR TREATMENT INSTEAD OF JAIL FOR CERTAIN NON-VIOLENT DRUG USERS. THE IDEA WAS TO EASE CROWDING IN PRISONS AND TO GIVE NON-VIOLENT OFFENDERS A CHANCE TO TURN THEIR LIVES AROUND.

VAL>> SO HOW WELL IS IT WORKING? WELL, NOT LONG AGO, I WENT TO A DRUG REHAB FACILITY IN PASADENA AND MET SOME OF THE PEOPLE MOST DIRECTLY IMPACTED BY PROP 36. JOHN LLOYD LOST TWENTY YEARS OF HIS LIFE TO SPEED.

JOHN LLOYD>> ALL SPEED. I STARTED OUT WITH JUST ALCOHOL, BUT SPEED, POT. IT'S KIND OF PREVALENT EVERYWHERE.

VAL>> HE SAYS THE ONLY TIME HE WAS CLEAN WAS WHEN HE DID EIGHT MONTHS IN JAIL, AND THE DAY HE GOT OUT, HE MADE A BEELINE FOR MORE METHAMPHETAMINES.

VAL>> I'VE GOT TO SAY THAT, IF I WERE JUST TO MEET YOU ON THE STREET, I WOULD NEVER HAVE GUESSED THAT YOU HAD A SERIOUS DRUG PROBLEM.

JOHN LLOYD>> THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF CHANGES. LET ME SHOW YOU A PICTURE.

VAL>> OKAY. THIS IS FROM WHAT?

JOHN LLOYD>> FROM TWO WEEKS AFTER I CAME IN HERE.

VAL>> TWO WEEKS AFTER YOU CAME IN. WOW. AND YOU WEIGHED HOW MUCH THEN?

JOHN LLOYD>> SOAKING WET, MAYBE 130 POUNDS.

VAL>> FOR THE PAST SIX MONTHS, JOHN HAS BEEN LIVING HERE AT IMPACT, A DRUG REHAB FACILITY IN PASADENA. HE IS ONE OF TWENTY RESIDENTS WHO WOULD BE BEHIND BARS TODAY WERE IT NOT FOR PROPOSITION 36.

VAL>> SO YOU CAME HERE WHEN?

JOHN LLOYD>> DECEMBER 12.

VAL>> HAVE YOU RELAPSED?

JOHN LLOYD>> NO.

VAL>> WHY NOT? BECAUSE YOU'VE TRIED BEFORE, FAILED BEFORE? WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE?

JOHN LLOYD>> IT'S A NEW WAY OF LIFE. I CAME IN SO WILLING BECAUSE I HAD GOTTEN THAT BREAK THAT I WAS LIKE WHATEVER THEY SAY, JUST WHATEVER THEY SAY.

VAL>> BECAUSE YOU THOUGHT YOU WERE GOING TO JAIL, RIGHT?

JOHN LLOYD>> I THOUGHT I WAS GOING TO PRISON. I'VE BEEN TO JAIL MANY TIMES. JAIL IS JAIL. PRISON -- I WAS, YOU KNOW, FORTY YEARS OLD. I WAS LIKE I DON'T WANT TO GO TO PRISON.

VAL>> JOHN IS THE KIND OF DRUG USER VOTERS HAD IN MIND FOR PROP 36. HE NEVER SOLD NARCOTICS AND HE NEVER COMMITTED A VIOLENT ACT. HE WAS JUST ADDICTED.

JOHN LLOYD>> I'M FORTY YEARS OLD AND TWENTY YEARS WENT JUST LIKE THAT.

VAL>> TWENTY YEARS ON DRUGS?

JOHN LLOYD>> TWENTY YEARS ON METH. IT WENT JUST LIKE THAT.

VAL>> IT WAS IN JULY 2001 THAT PROP 36 WENT INTO EFFECT, SO JUST WHAT HAS THE EFFECT BEEN? IN THE FIRST YEAR, AN ESTIMATED 12,000 DEFENDANTS STATEWIDE WERE IN PROP 36 TREATMENT. THAT, HOWEVER, IS THOUSANDS FEWER THAN ORIGINALLY ESTIMATED. THERE ARE ABOUT 4,000 FEWER DRUG OFFENDERS BEHIND BARS COMPARED TO THE PREVIOUS YEAR AND THE SAVINGS WERE ABOUT $100 MILLION DOLLARS, BUT THAT IS ONLY ABOUT HALF THE ORIGINAL EXPECTATION. SOME SAY IT'S STILL TOO EARLY TO GET A FULL ASSESSMENT, MUCH LESS TO DECLARE SUCCESS.

VAL>> SUCCESS OR NOT?

JAMES STILLWELL>> NOT YET. NO, I DON'T THINK WE'RE SUCCESSFUL YET. I THINK IT'S -- I'D PROBABLY GIVE IT A "C" AT BEST.

VAL>> JAMES STILLWELL IS EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF IMPACT AND A FORMER ADDICT HIMSELF. HE SAYS, AT THE BEGINNING, NEARLY EIGHTY PERCENT OF THE REFERRALS NEVER SHOWED UP.

JAMES STILLWELL>> THEY WERE COMING OUT OF THE COURTHOUSE, GOING OVER TO THE REFERRAL CENTER, THEY WOULD MAKE THE DETERMINATION WHICH PROGRAM YOU WOULD GO TO AND THEN THEY WOULD CALL US OR FAX US OVER A PIECE OF PAPER SAYING EXPECT THESE PEOPLE TODAY OR TOMORROW. THEY WOULDN'T SHOW UP, OR WHEN THEY DID SHOW UP, THEY WERE SO HEAVILY UNDER THE INFLUENCE THAT YOU COULDN'T EVEN COMMUNICATE WITH THEM.

VAL>> THE NO-SHOWS HAVE NOW DECREASED CONSIDERABLY, BUT STILLWELL SAYS THERE ARE OTHER PROBLEMS. FOR EXAMPLE, UNDER PROP 36, ADDICTS GET THREE CHANCES BEFORE THEY'RE SENT BACK TO A JUDGE.

JAMES STILLWELL>> FOR AN ADDICT, IF YOU TELL THEM GOING IN THAT, YOU KNOW, THIS IS CHANCE NUMBER ONE AND YOU GET TO FAIL TWO MORE TIMES BEFORE YOU'RE GOING TO GET IN TROUBLE, I'M GOING TO TAKE THE TWO MORE TIMES.

VAL>> JAMES PREFERS THE MORE ESTABLISHED DRUG COURTS WHERE A JUDGE KEEPS A CLOSE EYE ON A DEFENDANT AND JAIL IS A CONSTANT THREAT. HE SAYS DRUG COURT SUCCESS IS IMPRESSIVE. MORE THAN SEVENTY PERCENT OF THOSE WHO COMPLETE DRUG COURT STAY CLEAN.

VAL>> DO YOU THINK PROP 36, IN FIVE OR SEVEN YEARS FROM NOW, WILL BE AS SUCCESSFUL AS DRUG COURT?

JAMES STILLWELL>> I DON'T SEE HOW IT COULD BE. NOT WITH THE WAY IT'S STRUCTURED.

VAL>> AND THEN THERE IS THE QUESTION OF FUNDING. LAEL RUBIN IS THE PROP 36 SPECIALIST AT THE LOS ANGELES COUNTY D.A.'S OFFICE. SHE SAYS THAT THE FIRST YEAR OF IMPLEMENTATION HAS REVEALED AN UNEXPECTED TREND.

LAEL RUBIN>> WHAT WE HAVE FOUND IS THAT THOSE PEOPLE WHO WERE CHOOSING TO ENTER PROPOSITION 36 TREATMENT ARE THE MOST SERIOUSLY ADDICTED WHO HAVE BEEN ADDICTED FOR A VERY LONG PERIOD OF TIME AND REQUIRE MUCH MORE EXPENSIVE TREATMENT, MOSTLY INPATIENT RESIDENTIAL TREATMENT. GENERALLY, THE PEOPLE WHO WOULD BE MINIMAL DRUG USERS, THEY'RE NOT CHOOSING PROPOSITION 36.

VAL>> AND THAT HAS MAJOR FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS.

LAEL RUBIN>> AS YOU CAN IMAGINE, INPATIENT RESIDENTIAL PROGRAMS THAT TREAT THE SERIOUSLY ADDICTED ARE MUCH MORE COSTLY AND, FRANKLY, THE MONEY IS NOT REALLY THERE.

VAL>> VIRTUALLY EVERYONE INVOLVED IN MAKING PROP 36 WORK IS WORRIED ABOUT FUTURE FUNDING AND, WITH THE STATE'S $38 BILLION DOLLAR BUDGET DEFICIT, CUTBACKS ARE ALMOST INEVITABLE.

LAEL RUBIN>> WE DON'T WANT TO BE IN A SITUATION OF SAYING THIS GRAND EXPERIMENT FAILED BECAUSE THERE WASN'T SUFFICIENT MONEY TO HANDLE IT.

VAL>> OF COURSE, THE SUCCESS OF PROP 36 ALSO DEPENDS ON THE QUALITY OF THE REHAB PROGRAMS. TAKE IMPACT HERE IN PASADENA. IT HAS ONE OF THE BEST REPUTATIONS AND HIGHEST SUCCESS RATES. IN FACT, THE RESIDENTS HERE CALL IT "THE HARVARD OF RECOVERY". ALTHOUGH JAMES STILLWELL IS CRITICAL OF PROP 36, HE'S STILL GLAD IT PASSED.

JAMES STILLWELL>> I'M SPEAKING NOW AS A RECOVERING ADDICT THAT IS THE DIRECTOR OF A TREATMENT PROGRAM. ANYTHING THAT'S GOING TO INTRODUCE SOMEBODY INTO ANOTHER WAY OF LIFE OTHER THAN THE ONE THEY'RE LIVING CAN'T BE A BAD THING.

VAL>> THAT IS CERTAINLY JOHN'S ATTITUDE AND, REGARDLESS OF THE LONG-TERM SUCCESS OR FAILURE OF PROP 36, HE IS DETERMINED NOT TO BLOW THIS OPPORTUNITY. HE IS INTERNING AT IMPACT AND IS ON HIS WAY TO BECOMING A MEMBER OF THE STAFF.

VAL>> IF YOU COULD TALK TO THE VOTERS WHO PASSED PROP 36 --

JOHN LLOYD>> -- THANK YOU. YOU SAVED MY LIFE.

JESS>> HOW IS JOHN LLOYD DOING NOW?

VAL>> I'M GLAD TO REPORT THAT I TALKED TO HIM TODAY. HE'S DOING VERY WELL. HE IS ON STAFF FULL-TIME IN THE POSITION OF ADMISSIONS SPECIALIST. HE IS LIVING IN HIS OWN PLACE IN EAGLE ROCK. HE GETS A LEGAL DRIVER'S LICENSE FOR THE FIRST TIME IN TWELVE YEARS AND HE'S BEEN SOBER NOW FOR EIGHTEEN MONTHS. HE'S DOING GREAT.

JESS>> GOOD NEWS.

TO SEND A COMMENT OR A QUESTION TO OUR PROGRAM, YOU CAN REACH US BY MAIL AT THIS ADDRESS:

LIFE AND TIMES
4401 SUNSET BLVD.
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA 90027

YOU CAN ALSO CALL OUR VIEWER COMMENT LINE (323) 953-5555) OR CONTACT US THE FAST WAY BY E-MAIL AT KCET.ORG.

JESS>> IT'S A BATTLE OVER THE BENCH AND PATT SAYS DEMOCRATS HAVE LEARNED A FEW THINGS FROM REPUBLICANS. THAT'S TONIGHT'S INFINITELY MORRISON.

PATT MORRISON>> WHY IS THE U.S. SENATE LIKE A LOS ANGELES GANG? BECAUSE NOBODY GETS LAST LICKS. IT NEVER STOPS. IN GROTESQUELY PARTISAN WASHINGTON, EVEN THE FABLED COURTLINESS OF THE SENATE HAS SUFFERED ESPECIALLY WHEN IT COMES TO FEDERAL JUDGES NOMINATED BY THE PRESIDENT AND APPROVED BY THE SENATE. JUDGES ARE PRESIDENTS' LEGACIES BECAUSE, FOR DECADES AFTER PRESIDENTS LEAVE THE WHITE HOUSE, JUDGES REMAIN AS POWERFUL INSTRUMENTS OF THEIR IDEAS. THAT'S WHY SENATORS FIGHT OVER THEM.

ALTHOUGH 121 BUSH NOMINEES TO DISTRICT COURTS HAVE BEEN APPROVED, A HUNDRED OF THEM WHEN DEMOCRATS CONTROLLED THE SENATE, TWO APPOINTMENTS TO THE HIGHER CIRCUIT COURTS HAVE BEEN BLOCKED BY DEMOCRATIC FILIBUSTERS AND REPUBLICANS ARE CRYING FOUL. IT WAS REPUBLICANS WHO FIRST FILIBUSTERED A JUDGE, BLOCKING LBJ'S NOMINEE FOR SUPREME COURT JUSTICE. REPUBLICAN JESSE HELMS ONCE THREATENED TO FILIBUSTER A RONALD REAGAN SUPREME COURT NOMINEE BECAUSE THE JUDGE WASN'T CONSERVATIVE ENOUGH. UNDER CLINTON, THE PROBLEM GOT SO BAD THAT CHIEF JUSTICE WILLIAM REHNQUIST SCOLDED FELLOW REPUBLICANS FOR STALLING ON JUDICIAL NOMINEES.

NOW THAT IT'S DEMOCRATS DOING THE FILIBUSTERING, REPUBLICANS SAY THE WHOLE PROCESS IS BROKEN AND WANT TO REWRITE THE RULES. PERHAPS PASS THE SO-CALLED NUCLEAR OPTION, WHICH COULD DECLARE THAT THE VENERABLE SIXTY-VOTE PROCEDURAL RULE DOESN'T APPLY TO JUDICIAL NOMINATIONS, ONLY TO LEGISLATION. IF THAT HAPPENS, YOU CAN EXPECT TO SEE DUELING RETURN TO POLITICS. WHEN THE GAVEL IS IN THE OTHER HAND, THINGS LOOK DIFFERENT.

WHEN REPUBLICANS STALLED FOR YEARS ON CLINTON'S NOMINATION OF LOS ANGELES JUDGE, RICHARD PAEZ, DEMOCRATS SAID THE GOP WAS ANTI-HISPANIC. NOW WITH DEMOCRATS HOLDING UP THE NOMINATION OF MIGUEL ESTRADA, REPUBLICANS STAGE CANDLELIGHT VIGILS AND CHARGE DEMOCRATS WITH BEING ANTI-HISPANIC. AND FORMER SPECIAL PROSECUTOR, KENNETH STARR, SAYS THAT REPUBLICANS SHOULD NOT SURRENDER THE RIGHT OF THE PRESIDENT TO NOMINATE HIS CHOICES FOR THE FEDERAL JUDICIARY, THE SAME POINT DEMOCRATS MADE WHEN THEIR GUY WAS IN THE WHITE HOUSE.

ALL THIS, AND ESPECIALLY THE EAGERNESS TO CHANGE THE RULES, IS BECAUSE THESE NOMINATIONS ARE MERELY A DRESS REHEARSAL FOR THE BIG TIME, THE CENTER RING, THE MAIN EVENT, THE INEVITABLE DOMINATION OF A SUPREME COURT JUSTICE WHO'S SINGLE VOTE COULD, AMONG OTHER THINGS, MAKE ABORTION ILLEGAL. THAT WILL MAKE ALL THIS LOOK LIKE CHILD'S PLAY. WHAT AM I SAYING? IT ALREADY DOES.

VAL>> IMAGINE A HOLLYWOOD THAT IS PREOCCUPIED WITH SEX, CRIME AND DRUGS. NO, WE'RE NOT TALKING ABOUT TODAY. WE'RE TALKING ABOUT SEVENTY YEARS AGO. THOSE WERE SOME OF THE FAVORITE THEMES OF FILMS IN THE DEPRESSION ERA. BUT THEN CAME A PRODUCTION CODE THAT PUT AN END TO ALL THE NAUGHTINESS ON THE SCREEN.

JESS>> THE MOTTO IN HOLLYWOOD SEEMED TO BE "ANYTHING GOES", SO RELIGIOUS LEADERS AND INDUSTRY WATCHDOGS DECIDED IT WAS TIME TO CRACK DOWN ON MOVIE MORALITY. HERE'S A SAMPLE OF WHAT THEY CONSIDERED TOO RISQUÉ. IT'S A 1933 FILM CALLED "THE STORY OF TEMPLE DRAKE".

[FILM CLIP]

VAL>> WELL, FOR THE NEXT THREE WEEKENDS, THE UCLA ARCHIVE IS PRESENTING A FILM SERIES CALLED "SIN UNCENSORED: HOLLYWOOD BEFORE THE CODE", AND JOINING US IS ONE OF THE PROGRAMMERS, MIMI BRODY. SHE IS WITH THE UCLA FILM AND TELEVISION ARCHIVES. THANK YOU FOR COMING.

MIMI BRODY>> THANK YOU.

JESS>> THAT WAS CONSIDERED RISQUÉ BECAUSE THE WOMAN IN QUESTION WAS IN A HOUSE OF ILL REPUTE, HUH?

MIMI BRODY>> ABSOLUTELY, YES. THE FILM, "THE STORY OF TEMPLE DRAKE", FEATURED MIRIAM HOPKINS IN A WONDERFUL PERFORMANCE. HOPKINS PLAYS A VERY SPOILED SOUTHERN BELLE WHO ENDED UP IN THE CLUTCHES OF A VERY DUBIOUS BOOTLEGGER NAMED TRIGGER. IN THE CLIP THAT WE JUST WATCHED, ONE OF TEMPLE'S EX-BOYFRIENDS FINDS HER IN A BROTHEL WITH TRIGGER.

JESS>> AND SHE SAYS, "I'M HERE BECAUSE I WANT TO BE"?

MIMI BRODY>> RIGHT.

VAL>> BUT SHE SAYS THAT JUST TO KEEP HER EX-BOYFRIEND FROM GETTING SHOT, SO THERE'S A WONDERFUL SCENE THAT UNFOLDS THERE.

MIMI BRODY>> YES, ALTHOUGH IT'S IMPLIED THAT SHE DOES IN FACT WANT TO BE THERE AND THAT'S PART OF WHAT THE CATHOLIC CHURCH AND THE LEGION OF DECENCY IN 1933 REALLY OBJECTED TO.

JESS>> SO IT WAS SEX, DRUGS AND ROCK AND ROLL WITHOUT THE ROCK AND ROLL, HUH?

MIMI BRODY>> RIGHT, ABSOLUTELY.

VAL>> NOW HOW IS IT THAT MOVIES LIKE THIS, AND WE'RE GOING TO SEE SOME OTHERS, ACTUALLY CAME TO BE BECAUSE THIS WAS A TIME WHEN THERE DID EXIST A CODE, BUT IT WASN'T ENFORCED. WHAT WAS HAPPENING?

MIMI BRODY>> RIGHT. WELL, ESSENTIALLY THIS IS PRE-CODE HOLLYWOOD. WHAT PRE-CODE REFERS TO IS A REMARKABLE PERIOD IN HOLLYWOOD FILM HISTORY WHICH COINCIDED WITH THE GREAT DEPRESSION. IT WAS A TIME WHEN HOLLYWOOD STUDIOS, DESPERATE FOR PROFITS, PRODUCED PICTURES WHICH INCLUDED, AS WE'VE JUST SEEN, SCANTILY-CLAD ACTRESSES, REFERENCES TO PROMISCUITY, DRUG USE, PROSTITUTION, ETC.

VAL>> WE'RE GOING TO TAKE A LOOK AT ANOTHER ONE. THIS IS "SEARCH FOR BEAUTY", 1934, STARRING BUSTER CRABBE AND IDA LUPINO. HERE'S A CLIP.

[FILM CLIP]

VAL>> (LAUGHTER) NOW THAT WAS CONSIDERED RISQUÉ AT THAT TIME BY TODAY'S STANDARDS NOW?

MIMI BRODY>> UM-HUM. WHAT'S INTERESTING ABOUT THIS FILM, "SEARCH FOR BEAUTY", IS THAT THEY POKED FUN AT EVERYONE. THEY POKED FUN AT THEMSELVES, AT HOLLYWOOD'S TENDENCY TO MAKE THESE VERY NAUGHTY PICTURES. THEY CERTAINLY POKED FUN AT THE CENSORS WHILE AT THE SAME TIME FLOUTING THE CODE. THERE IS A SCENE IN THIS FILM WHICH I DIDN'T SHOW YOU WHICH ACTUALLY FEATURES VISIBLY COMPLETELY NUDE MEN RUNNING THROUGH A LOCKER ROOM, SO NUDITY WAS ALSO ANOTHER FEATURE IN PRE-CODE HOLLYWOOD WHICH YOU WOULD NOT SEE AFTER 1934.

JESS>> YOU SUGGEST THAT THESE ARE PRETTY GOOD FILMS.

MIMI BRODY>> ABSOLUTELY. VERY ENTERTAINING, WELL-SCRIPTED, WELL-ACTED, AND THAT FILM ACTUALLY FEATURED IDA LUPINO IN HER VERY FIRST AMERICAN FILM AS A BLONDE.

JESS>> ALL RIGHT. THE NEXT ONE HAS ONE OF MY FAVORITES, TALLULAH BANKHEAD.

VAL>> 1931, "THE CHEAT".

[FILM CLIP]

VAL>> OH, WE SHOULD EXPLAIN THIS. SHE WAS IN THAT POSITION BECAUSE SHE HAD A GAMBLING HABIT AND --

MIMI BRODY>> -- RIGHT. SHE BORROWED MONEY FROM A LOCAL ART COLLECTOR WHO EXPECTED SOMETHING IN RETURN FOR THAT MONEY.

JESS>> SO HE PUT HIS BRAND ON HER.

MIMI BRODY>> HE WAS VERY POSSESSIVE.

VAL>> SO WHAT HAPPENED THEN? THERE WAS A MOMENT IN TIME, I GUESS, ABOUT FOUR YEARS WHERE THESE KINDS OF FILMS WERE MADE AND THEN WHAT HAPPENED?

MIMI BRODY>> RIGHT. FROM 1930 TO 1934, THERE WAS A CODE WHICH WAS A SIX-PAGE DOCUMENT WHICH OUTLINED WHAT YOU SHOULD AND, MORE IMPORTANTLY, SHOULD NOT DEPICT IN MOTION PICTURES. BUT IT WAS ESSENTIALLY A LAME DUCK ADMINISTRATION UNTIL 1934 WHEN THEY REALLY BUCKLED UNDER PRESSURE FROM INDUSTRY WATCHDOGS, FROM THE CLERGY, CLUB WOMEN --

JESS>> -- THE LEGION OF DECENCY.

MIMI BRODY>> THE LEGION OF DECENCY, ABSOLUTELY, WHO ACTUALLY HAD THEIR MEMBERS SIGN A PLEDGE CARD STATING THEY WOULD NOT SEE SINFUL FILMS.

VAL>> BUT THERE WAS ENOUGH OF THEM MADE TO MAKE FOR A GREAT SERIES. WE WANT TO THANK MIMI BRODY FROM THE UCLA FILM AND TELEVISION ARCHIVES. THANK YOU SO MUCH.

MIMI BRODY>> THANK YOU.

VAL>> THE SERIES, AGAIN, IS CALLED "SIN UNCENSORED: HOLLYWOOD BEFORE THE CODE". FOR MORE DETAILS, CALL THE NUMBER ON YOUR SCREEN (310) 206-8013) OR VISIT THE WEBSITE AT THE UCLA FILM AND TELEVISION ARCHIVES.

BEFORE WE GO, WE WANT TO MAKE A NOTE ABOUT THE PASSING OF A CHERISHED MEMBER OF THE KCET FAMILY. THIS WEEK, OUR FRIEND, NEAL NAGATA, LOST HIS COURAGEOUS BATTLE WITH CANCER. NEAL WAS A HIGHLY-REGARDED AND MUCH BELOVED ENGINEER HERE AT KCET. THROUGHOUT HIS VERY TOUGH FIGHT, HE NEVER LOST HIS WONDERFUL SMILE AND SUNNY ATTITUDE. OUR THOUGHTS ARE WITH NEAL'S FAMILY. HE WILL BE MISSED VERY MUCH BY ALL OF US.

JESS>> AND THAT'S OUR PROGRAM FOR TONIGHT. FOR ALL OF US HERE AT LIFE AND TIMES, THANK YOU FOR JOINING US. GOOD NIGHT.

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