12/10/02

LC021210

VAL ZAVALA>> TONIGHT ON LIFE AND TIMES --

JESS MARLOW>> WE COUNT ON THEM TO HARVEST OUR FOOD, BUT WHEN FARM WORKERS GET SICK OR RUN INTO TROUBLE, THEY COUNT ON NATIVE AMERICANS FOR SHELTER AND REFUGE.

DELIGHT RAMIREZ>> IT’S AN INDIAN RESERVATION. NOBODY COULD REALLY SAY ANYTHING. NOBODY COULD REALLY SAY ANYTHING, AND THE PEOPLE DON’T SAY ANYTHING BECAUSE THEY’RE ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS. THEY’RE AFRAID. THEY’RE AFRAID TO SAY ANYTHING.

VAL>> IT’S BEEN CALLED ONE OF THE MOST DANGEROUS BUILDINGS IN DOWNTOWN L.A. NO FIRE ALARMS OR SPRINKLERS AND IT’S BEEN IN VIOLATION FOR FOURTEEN YEARS. WE’RE TALKING ABOUT PARKER CENTER, HEADQUARTERS FOR THE LOS ANGELES POLICE DEPARTMENT. ARE THE COPS ON THE VERGE OF BECOMING HOMELESS? TONIGHT WE’LL LOOK AT THE POSSIBILITIES.

JESS>> PATT MORRISON HAS BEEN LOOKING AT ANOTHER DOWNTOWN BUILDING WITH BIG PROBLEMS, A MULTI-MILLION DOLLAR FIASCO, THE BELMONT LEARNING CENTER.

PATT MORRISON>> BELMONT IS A HIGH SCHOOL STILL UNDER CONSTRUCTION. ITS NAME ROUGHLY MEANS “LOVELY HILL”. THE RESEMBLANCE ENDS THERE -- ON TONIGHT’S INFINITELY MORRISON.

VAL>> SHE’S A SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA ARTIST WITH A SPECIAL PASSION FOR THE PEOPLE OF AFRICA.

[FILM CLIP]

VAL>> NOW LESLIE CLARK IS DEEPLY INVOLVED IN IMPROVING THE LIVES OF NOMADIC TRIBES STRUGGLING TO SURVIVE IN THE HARSH SAHARA. WE’LL FIND OUT HOW SHE DOES IT.

JESS>> THESE STORIES COMING UP NEXT ON TONIGHT’S LIFE AND TIMES.

LIFE AND TIMES TONIGHT 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>> GOOD EVENING, I’M VAL ZAVALA.

JESS>> AND I’M JESS MARLOW. FARM WORKERS. THEY ARE TOO OFTEN A FORGOTTEN GROUP OF CALIFORNIANS. THE STATE HAS A LONG UNEASY RELATIONSHIP WITH THESE PEOPLE, PEOPLE WHO PUT FOOD ONTO OUR TABLES, AND TONIGHT WE’RE ABOUT TO SEE HOW THAT’S LED TO A HEALTHCARE CRISIS AFFECTING THOUSANDS OF MIGRANT FAMILIES.

VAL>> DESPITE SOME UNION VICTORIES, MANY FARM WORKERS STILL LIVE IN SQUALOR AND, FOR THOSE WHO ARE HERE ILLEGALLY, LIFE IS EVEN MORE DIFFICULT ESPECIALLY IF THEY GET SICK OR INJURED. TONIGHT GAY YEE BEGINS AN IN-DEPTH LOOK AT A WORLD FEW OF US EVER SEE EVEN THOUGH IT’S IN OUR OWN BACK YARD.

[FILM CLIP]

GAY YEE>> HERE IN THE VAST RICH FARMLAND IS CALIFORNIA’S BIGGEST BUSINESS, BUT THE STATE’S $27 BILLION DOLLAR AGRICULTURE INDUSTRY COULDN’T FUNCTION WITHOUT THE ESTIMATED ONE MILLION FARM WORKERS WHO SPEND THEIR DAYS STOOPED IN FIELDS TO PUT FOOD ON AMERICA’S TABLE. PHOTOGRAPHER, RICK NAHMIAS, SET OUT TO TELL THEIR STORY IN AN EXHIBIT CALLED “THE MIGRANT PROJECT”. WE ASKED RICK TO COME BACK WITH US TO SOME OF THE COMMUNITIES HE PROFILED.

RICK NAHMIAS>> AFTER LEARNING ABOUT MIGRANTS ABOUT THREE OR FOUR YEARS AGO WHEN I WAS WORKING ON A SCREENPLAY ABOUT EDWARD R. MORROW'S LIFE IN THE LATTER YEARS WHEN HE PRODUCED “HARVEST OF SHAME”, IT WAS KIND OF MY FIRST INTRODUCTION TO MIGRANT FARM WORKERS AND REALLY SHOWED WHAT IT TAKES TO GET WHAT IS THE BEST-FED NATION ON EARTH FOOD ON THEIR TABLE AND IT WAS A REAL EYE-OPENER. I KEPT WONDERING OVER THE YEARS SINCE WORKING ON THAT PROJECT WHERE ARE THESE PEOPLE NOW AND WHAT ARE THEY DOING?

GAY YEE>> SO, RICK, WHERE ARE WE GOING?

RICK NAHMIAS>> WE’RE HEADED DOWN TO THE EASTERN COACHELLA VALLEY, WHICH IS BASICALLY THE OTHER SIDE OF THE TRACKS FROM PALM SPRINGS AND PALM DESERT.

GAY YEE>> OTHER SIDE OF THE TRACKS, BOTH LITERALLY AND FIGURATIVELY, A WORLD NAHMIAS CALLS THE INVISIBLE UNDER-CLASS, PEOPLE WHO SPEND THEIR DAYS BENT IN LABOR UNDER SCORCHING HEAT FOR WAGES THAT RARELY AMOUNT TO MORE THAN $10,000 A YEAR. AND THEY ARE RELEGATED TO NOT ONLY THE LOWEST OF THE LOW-END JOBS, BUT ALSO IN LIVING CONDITIONS. MANY FARM WORKERS LIVE ON INDIAN RESERVATIONS LIKE THIS ONE. BECAUSE IT’S A SOVEREIGN NATION, THE INS DOESN’T COME HERE BOTHERING PEOPLE ABOUT GREEN CARDS. BUT THERE IS A FLIP SIDE TO BEING LEFT ALONE. THERE ARE NO HEALTH CODES AND PEOPLE BASICALLY LIVE IN SQUALOR.

DELIGHT RAMIREZ>> BECAUSE IT IS AN INDIAN RESERVATION, THERE’S NOT EVEN THE INSPECTORS COMING THROUGH HERE OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT. SO LIKE IF YOU BUY AN ITSY-BITSY TRAILER, YOU COULD JUST BUILD TO A BIGGER TRAILER AND THEY WON’T HAVE INSPECTION OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT, YOU KNOW, TO BE AT REGULATIONS OF THE COUNTY, YOU KNOW.

GAY YEE>> SOME OF THE REGULATIONS ARE LIKE HEALTH CODES, THOUGH.

DELIGHT RAMIREZ>> YEAH, HEALTH CODES. THERE’S TRASH THERE. YOU KNOW, HOW HEALTHY CAN THAT BE?

GAY YEE>> IT’S A DOUBLE-EDGED SWORD. ANOTHER TRAILER PARK WAS SUED FOR HAVING AN INADEQUATE SEWAGE SYSTEM. CHILDREN WERE PLAYING IN RAW SEWAGE AND GETTING HEPATITIS. SO DESPITE BEING LOCATED IN THE HEART OF RIVERSIDE COUNTY, THESE RESIDENTIAL PARKS LOOK MORE LIKE THIRD WORLD COUNTRIES.

DELIGHT RAMIREZ>> IT’S AN INDIAN RESERVATION. NOBODY COULD REALLY SAY ANYTHING. NOBODY COULD REALLY SAY ANYTHING, AND THE PEOPLE DON’T SAY ANYTHING BECAUSE THEY’RE ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS. THEY’RE AFRAID. THEY’RE AFRAID TO SAY ANYTHING.

GAY YEE>> AND BECAUSE THEY ARE TRANSIENT OR UNDOCUMENTED, NAHMIAS SAYS FARM WORKERS ARE OFTEN EXPLOITED AS SOCIETY’S CASTOFFS. THEY WORK IN ONE OF THE NATION’S MOST HAZARDOUS JOBS, SECOND ONLY TO CONSTRUCTION.

RICK NAHMIAS>> WE’RE AT THE HOME OF JOSE GAMEZ, WHO IS A DISABLED FARM WORKER. HE HAD AN ACCIDENT SEVERAL YEARS BACK AND IS NOW DISABLED.

GAY YEE>> JOSE LUIS GAMEZ CAME HERE WHEN HE WAS SEVENTEEN YEARS OLD. HE TRAVELED FROM ARIZONA TO WASHINGTON FOLLOWING THE CROPS. THEN NINETEEN YEARS AGO, WHILE IN THE VINEYARDS, HE HAD AN ACCIDENT.

JOSE LUIS GAMEZ [INTERPRETED]>> THE TRUCK CAME TO PICK UP THE GRAPES. IT WAS THE WORST DAY OF MY LIFE. THAT’S BECAUSE THE BOXES FELL ON TOP OF ME.

GAY YEE>> JOSE SAYS HE WAS TRAPPED UNDER BOXES CARRYING SEVERAL HUNDRED POUNDS OF GRAPES. THEN THE TRUCK BACKED OVER HIS LEG.

JOSE LUIS GAMEZ [INTERPRETED]>> FIRST OF ALL, TWO VERTEBRAE IN MY SPINE WERE HURT AND ALSO MY LEG.

GAY YEE>> JOSE SAYS HE WAS GIVEN A $7,500 SETTLEMENT FROM THE COMPANY. AFTER THE ATTORNEY FEES, HE ACTUALLY TOOK HOME ONLY $5,000, $5,000 TO SUPPORT HIM AND HIS FAMILY FOR THE REST OF HIS LIFE.

RICK NAHMIAS>> IF I HEARD OF ONE SETTLEMENT THAT WAS OVER FIVE FIGURES, I'D TELL YOU RIGHT NOW, BUT THEY'RE IN THE LOW FIVE FIGURES AND, AFTER THAT, YOU TAKE OUT ATTORNEY'S FEES AND YOU TAKE OUT ALL KINDS OF THINGS AND THEY'RE LEFT OFTEN WITH FOUR FIGURES TO LIVE ON FOR LIFE, SO IT'S PRETTY SOBERING. FROM THE WORK I DID, I FOUND IT VERY COMMON. I THINK YOU'LL FIND HIS STORY IS PARTICULARLY -- IT'S NOT UNUSUAL IN WHAT HAPPENED TO HIM AND WHERE HE'S AT NOW AND THE WAY IT CHANGED HIS LIFE AND HIS FAMILY'S LIFE IS SOMETHING I'VE HEARD HALF A DOZEN TIMES IN THE COURSE OF DOING THIS PROJECT.

GAY YEE>> PEOPLE LIKE JOSE SABETTI. AN ACCIDENT AT A GRAPE-PACKING PLANT LEFT HIM DISABLED. HE GOT $8,000 TO LAST HIM A LIFETIME. AND THOSE THAT KEEP WORKING DON'T ALWAYS HAVE MUCH TO SHOW. THIS FARM WORKER HOLDS HIS PAYCHECK, $74.08, HIS NET EARNINGS FOR TWO FULL DAYS WORK. BUT IN ALL HIS PHOTOS, RICK SAYS HE NEVER SENSED HOPELESSNESS FROM HIS SUBJECTS. NOT THEN, NOT NOW.

RICK NAHMIAS>> IT'S REAL INTERESTING TO VISIT THESE PEOPLE AGAIN, YOU KNOW, A FEW MONTHS AFTER I'D BEEN OUT HERE, TO SEE A LOT OF THE SAME FACES AND, UNFORTUNATELY, A LOT OF THE SAME CONDITIONS. BUT ONE THING THAT KEEPS REPEATING IS THE HUMILITY IN THIS COMMUNITY AND THE INTERNAL SENSE OF HOPE THEY KEEP GENERATING SOMEHOW. IT'S STILL THERE.

JESS>> GAY JOINS US NOW. AFTER PAINFUL INJURIES AND A PITTANCE TO LIVE ON, THESE ARE APPARENTLY PEOPLE NOT PROTECTED EITHER BY SOCIAL SECURITY OR WORKERS COMPENSATION?

GAY YEE>> QUITE OFTEN NOT, THAT'S RIGHT.

JESS>> ESPECIALLY IF THEY'RE ILLEGAL.

GAY YEE>> THAT'S RIGHT, AND IN JOSE'S CASE, HE WAS LEFT WITH $5,000, HE HAD FIVE KIDS TO FEED AND SO HIS WIFE ENDED UP CLEANING HOMES, CROCHETING DOLL CLOTHES, COOKING TAMALES TO MAKE MONEY FOR THE FAMILY. IT WAS A VERY, VERY ROUGH TIME. THE GOOD THING ABOUT THAT FOR JOSE WAS THAT HE WAS ABLE TO PUT A DOWN PAYMENT TO BUY SOME LAND TO PUT A TRAILER ON IT AND, IN MANY WAYS TODAY, JOSE IS BETTER OFF THAN MANY OF THE PEOPLE THERE.

JESS>> THAT'S WHERE HIS $5,000 WENT THEN?

GAY YEE>> THAT'S WHERE THE $5,000 WENT.

VAL>> SO HE GOT THE $5,000. DID HE HAVE ABSOLUTELY NO INCOME AT ALL?

GAY YEE>> WELL, THE FAMILY -- HE HAS NOW FIVE GROWN KIDS. THEY ALL LIVE IN THE AREA, SO THEY ALL HELP OUT. SO HE'S ACTUALLY DOING OKAY. BUT IT IS A STORY THAT RICK, THE PHOTOGRAPHER, HAD SEEN TIME AND TIME AGAIN.

JESS>> AND THE STATE'S LARGEST INDUSTRY, AGRICULTURE.

GAY YEE>> THAT'S RIGHT.

VAL>> GAY YEE, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THAT.

TOMORROW ON LIFE AND TIMES, A NURSE LEAVES BEVERLY HILLS FOR A DUSTY CLINIC IN THE COACHELLA VALLEY AND, FOR FARM WORKERS WHO HAVE NOWHERE ELSE TO TURN, SHE'S A LIFESAVER.

>> I HAD A CALL FROM THE OFFICE AND SAID, "WE DON'T WANT YOU TO SEND YOUR PATIENTS. WE DON'T WANT YOU TO SEND YOUR DIRTY, BROWN PATIENTS TO SIT WITH OUR PATIENTS ANYMORE."

JESS>> THE LOS ANGELES POLICE DEPARTMENT IS USED TO FACING ALL KINDS OF PROBLEMS, BUT THE DEPARTMENT BEING HOMELESS ISN'T ONE OF THEM, YET THAT'S NOT SUCH A FAR-FETCHED NOTION IF YOU BELIEVE THE RECENT REPORTS ABOUT PARKER CENTER, THE LAPD'S LEGENDARY DOWNTOWN HEADQUARTERS.

VAL>> IT SURVIVED A RIOT AND MORE THAN A FEW EARTHQUAKES, BUT THE 47-YEAR-OLD PARKER CENTER ISN'T ONE OF THE SAFEST PLACES IN TOWN. IN FACT, IT'S FAR FROM IT. THE BUILDING DOESN'T HAVE PROPER FIRE ALARMS, SPRINKLERS OR EVEN EMERGENCY LIGHTING AND IT'S BEEN IN VIOLATION OF CITY SAFETY CODES FOR FOURTEEN YEARS. WELL, TONIGHT WE ASK THE HEAD OF L.A.'S POLICE COMMISSION, RICK CARUSO, IF PARKER CENTER HAS AN APPOINTMENT WITH THE WRECKING BALL.

JESS>> FOURTEEN YEARS AGO, THE CITY PASSED A REGULATION THAT ANY BUILDING TALLER THAN SEVENTY-FIVE FEET HAD TO HAVE FIRE SPRINKLERS.

RICK CARUSO>> RIGHT.

JESS>> PARKER CENTER, THE POLICE DEPARTMENT HEADQUARTERS, WAS EXEMPT?

RICK CARUSO>> IT WASN'T EXEMPT FROM THE LAW, BUT IT SEEMED --

JESS>> -- SO IT'S VIOLATED THE LAW.

RICK CARUSO>> IT'S VIOLATED THE LAW FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS AND I DON'T KNOW WHY. I CAN'T EXPLAIN IT. BUT THAT'S ONE OF THE REASONS WE NEED TO GET PEOPLE OUT OF THAT BUILDING. IT'S A SAFETY HAZARD FOR EVERYONE WHO WORKS THERE EVERY DAY.

VAL>> SO IT'S MISSING PROPER SPRINKLERS?

RICK CARUSO>> THERE'S NO FIRE SAFETY SYSTEM IN THE BUILDING.

VAL>> NO ALARMS EITHER, CORRECT?

RICK CARUSO>> NO ALARMS.

VAL>> EMERGENCY LIGHTING IS NOT UP TO SPEED?

RICK CARUSO>> NO EMERGENCY LIGHTING.

VAL>> I UNDERSTAND A LOT OF DOORS AND EXITS ARE BLOCKED BY ALL SORTS OF STUFF. THIS IS DANGEROUS.

RICK CARUSO>> WE HAVE PEOPLE WORKING IN CLOSETS, THERE'S IMPROPER VENTILATION, IT'S INFESTED --

VAL>> -- PLUMBING PROBLEMS, ROOF PROBLEMS --

RICK CARUSO>> -- IT'S LEANING TO THE SOUTH. IT'S A MESS. IT'S AN ABSOLUTE MESS.

JESS>> THE POLICE CHIEFS WHO'VE REIGNED OVER PARKER CENTER CERTAINLY DIDN'T INTEND TO VIOLATE THE LAW. THEY JUST COULDN'T GET THE POLITICAL OR BUDGET SUPPORT FOR REBUILDING IT?

RICK CARUSO>> I THINK THAT'S WHAT IT IS. I THINK THE POLITICIANS, FOR WHATEVER REASON, IT WAS NEVER HIGH ON THEIR PRIORITY LIST. IT WAS ON THEIR RADAR SCREEN. IT JUST WASN'T ON THEIR PRIORITY LIST.

VAL>> AND ALSO, VOTERS VOTED DOWN A BOND, I BELIEVE, THAT WOULD HAVE PROVIDED SOME MONEY FOR THIS AS WELL, SO VOTERS REJECTED APPROVING THIS.

RICK CARUSO>> YEAH. I'M NOT QUITE SURE, THOUGH, THAT THE RIGHT STORY WAS EVER TOLD TO THE PUBLIC. THAT'S WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO GET OUT NOW.

JESS>> FROM THAT 1999 ELECTION WHEN THEY TURNED IT DOWN, DO YOU THINK THE PUBLIC DIDN'T KNOW WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS?

RICK CARUSO>> I DON'T THINK IT WAS EVER COMMUNICATED. AS A CITIZEN MYSELF, I NEVER KNEW THE SEVERITY OF PARKER CENTER.

JESS>> WELL, LAST YEAR'S BOND MEASURE DIDN'T INCLUDE FUNDS FOR PARKER CENTER EITHER.

RICK CARUSO>> IT SHOULD HAVE, IN MY OPINION. I CAN'T TELL YOU WHY IT WASN'T. THAT'S RIGHT WHEN WE CAME ON THE BOARD. WHEN I FIRST WALKED INTO PARKER CENTER WHEN I WAS APPOINTED AS A COMMISSIONER, I COULDN'T BELIEVE IT. THEN, OF COURSE, WE HAD 9/11 HIT, WE HAD THE CHIEF RE-APPOINTMENT HIT. THERE WERE CERTAINLY THINGS THAT WE HAD TO DEAL WITH THAT WERE MORE IMMEDIATE. BUT NOW THAT WE HAVE A LITTLE BIT OF A LULL, IT'S TIME TO FOCUS ON PARKER CENTER.

JESS>> WHAT WILL IT TAKE TO DO IT? NOW YOU DON'T HAVE A BOND ISSUE AVAILABLE TO YOU.

RICK CARUSO>> NO.

JESS>> $150 MILLION? $170 MILLION?

RICK CARUSO>> WELL, I DON'T THINK WE NEED TO SPEND THAT RIGHT NOW. WE NEED TO MOVE INTO TEMPORARY SPACE AND TEMPORARY SPACE COULD BE FIVE TO SEVEN YEARS. BUT IT'S SO EXPENSIVE TO KEEP THIS OLD BUILDING OPERATING, WE COULD MOVE INTO NEWER VENTED SPACE AND AT NO ADDITIONAL COST. SO THAT'S THE SHIFT THAT I'M TRYING TO MAKE AND THEN LET'S FIND A LONG-TERM SOLUTION. TEAR DOWN PARKER CENTER. I THINK IT SHOULD BE REBUILT WHERE IT STANDS TODAY. THERE WOULD BE NO LAND COST TO THE CITY AND WE'LL END UP WITH A NEW FIRST-CLASS FACILITY THAT WE NEED TO FIGHT CRIME IN THIS CITY.

VAL>> BUT IN THE MEANTIME, THE CITY IS IN KIND OF A PRECARIOUS SITUATION. I MEAN, THERE ARE SOME POTENTIAL LIABILITIES HERE IF ANYTHING SHOULD HAPPEN.

RICK CARUSO>> OH, ABSOLUTELY. I THINK THERE IS HUGE EXPOSURE TO THE CITY. IF ANY OTHER ORGANIZATION, ANY OTHER PRIVATE COMPANY, WAS OPERATING LIKE THIS IN THE CITY OF LOS ANGELES, THEY WOULD BE CLOSED DOWN. FOR SOME REASON, THE CITY OFFICIALS HAVE ALLOWED PARKER CENTER TO OPERATE THIS WAY AND LAPD WHILE, AT THE SAME TIME, WE DEMAND THE BEST FROM THEM. IT'S A DOUBLE STANDARD THAT SHOULDN'T BE TOLERATED ANY LONGER.

JESS>> I WOULD ASSUME THAT THE PRIORITIES OF POLICE CHIEFS AND OTHERS, EVEN IN YOUR POSITION, ARE INCREASING THE FORCE FIRST, THEN THE BUILDING SECOND?

RICK CARUSO>> WELL, THAT'S TRUE, BUT ONE OF THE PROBLEMS WITH INCREASING THE FORCE IS THAT WE CAN'T KEEP CIVILIANS WITH US BECAUSE THE WORKING CONDITIONS ARE SO INTOLERABLE. WE HAVE SIX HUNDRED OPEN POSITIONS IN CIVILIANS, WHICH MEANS YOU HAVE MORE SWORN --

JESS>> -- IN PARKER CENTER?

RICK CARUSO>> IN AND AROUND PARKER CENTER. BUT YOU HAVE MORE SWORN OFFICERS DOING CIVILIANS' JOBS, SO THERE'S A DIRECT CORRELATION BETWEEN THE WORKING ENVIRONMENT, RETAINING EMPLOYEES AND HAVING MORE OFFICERS ON THE STREET.

VAL>> SO ANOTHER BIG JOB. $150 MILLION DOLLAR CONSTRUCTION PROJECT. YOU'RE A DEVELOPER. YOU MIGHT HAVE SOME LITTLE BIT --

RICK CARUSO>> -- I WON'T HAVE ANYTHING TO DO WITH IT. THAT'S A LITTLE BIT OF A CONFLICT. BUT WE NEED TO GET OUR PEOPLE IN THE RIGHT FACILITIES.

JESS>> IN THE MEANTIME, GOING TO YOUR OTHER RESPONSIBILITIES AS PRESIDENT OF THE POLICE COMMISSION, GREAT CONCERN ABOUT THE COST IN HUMAN SUFFERING OF POLICE CHASES. WE NOW HAVE THE INCIDENT OF A FEW WEEK OLD BABY LOSING AN ARM IN AN ACCIDENT THAT RESULTED FROM A HIGH-SPEED POLICE CHASE. ARE WE GOING TO CHANGE OUR PROCEDURES FOR HIGH-SPEED CHASES?

RICK CARUSO>> WELL, WE'RE REVIEWING IT. WE STARTED REVIEWING IT AFTER THE LITTLE GIRL WAS KILLED DOWNTOWN, THE FOUR-YEAR-OLD GIRL, AND WE'VE GONE BACK FOR MORE INFORMATION. WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A RECOMMENDATION FROM THE CHIEF ON THE 17TH OF DECEMBER, IN A WEEK BASICALLY, AND WE'VE GOT SOME THOUGHTS AT THE COMMISSION, SO WE ARE GOING TO RE-LOOK AT THAT POLICY.

BUT THERE ARE TWO SIDES, IF I COULD JUST ADD. THE OTHER SIDE IS THAT THERE HAS TO BE A STRONG DISINCENTIVE AND REALLY A PUNITIVE NATURE OF EVADING POLICE AND INJURING AN INNOCENT PERSON. IN THIS INSTANCE, WITH THIS LITTLE BABY, AS TRAGIC AS IT WAS, EVEN WITH THE HIGHER STANDARD THAT THE COMMISSION IS REVIEWING WOULD HAVE BEEN IN POLICY BECAUSE THEY WERE AFTER SOMEBODY WHO HAD JUST COMMITTED A FELONY, A STABBING.

VAL>> IT WAS A SERIOUS CRIME.

RICK CARUSO>> IT WAS A VERY SERIOUS CRIME. SOMEBODY WAS STABBED, FLAGGED DOWN AN OFFICER, THE OFFICER WENT AFTER THEM. IT WASN'T THE POLICE CAR THAT RAN INTO THE CAR. IT WAS THE SUSPECT'S. BUT THERE SHOULD BE MANDATORY JAIL TIME. YOU EVADE POLICE, YOU GET INVOLVED IN A PURSUIT, YOU HIT AN INNOCENT PERSON, INJURE THEM OR KILL THEM, YOU SHOULD GO TO JAIL.

VAL>> THERE'S CURRENTLY NOT MANDATORY JAIL TIME FOR THAT?

RICK CARUSO>> IT CAN BE TRIED AS A FELONY OR A MISDEMEANOR. IF IT'S A FELONY, IT'S A MINIMUM OF SIX MONTHS, A MAXIMUM OF A YEAR. I THINK IT SHOULD BE A MINIMUM OF A YEAR. FRANKLY, I'D RATHER HAVE IT A MINIMUM OF FIVE YEARS. THIS LITTLE CHILD, WHEN YOU LOOK AT THIS CHILD IN THE HOSPITAL AND YOU SEE A THREE-WEEK OLD BABY MISSING AN ARM, THAT CHILD'S GOING TO LIVE WITH THAT FOR THE REST OF HIS LIFE. PUT SOMEBODY AWAY FOR FIVE YEARS.

JESS>> BUT THE OFFICERS INVOLVED IN THIS CASE DID NOT VIOLATE PROCEDURE?

RICK CARUSO>> THEY DIDN'T EVEN VIOLATE THE HIGHER STANDARD THAT WE'RE CONSIDERING. THEY WERE COMPLETELY WITHIN POLICY.

JESS>> THE FACT THAT THEY WERE CHASING A FELON?

RICK CARUSO>> THE FACT THAT THEY WERE CHASING A FELON, THAT'S CORRECT.

VAL>> SO DO YOU SEE THAT THERE'S NO NEED FOR CHANGING THE POLICE PURSUIT POLICY BECAUSE THINGS WITHIN THE CURRENT STANDARDS ARE ACCEPTABLE?

RICK CARUSO>> NO, I THINK WE SHOULD RAISE THE BAR.

VAL>> STILL.

RICK CARUSO>> IT SHOULD BE NO PURSUITS UNLESS THERE IS A FELONY. TODAY IT COULD BE ANY CRIME THAT COULD INITIATE A PURSUIT. BUT THE BIGGEST PART OF THAT ALSO IS THE OFFICER HAS TO HAVE THE DISCRETION OF WHEN TO STOP AND CEASE THE PURSUIT.

VAL>> RICK CARUSO, PRESIDENT OF THE POLICE COMMISSION, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR STOPPING BY.

RICK CARUSO>> THANK YOU. GOOD SEEING YOU AGAIN.

LIFEANDTIMES@KCET.ORG
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LIFE AND TIMES TONIGHT
4401 SUNSET BLVD.
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JESS>> THE PROBLEMS AT PARKER CENTER ARE MINOR COMPARED TO THE EXPENSIVE FIASCO FACING THE L.A. UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT. ONLY THINGS GOT WORSE AFTER THE DISTRICT DISCOVERED A FAULT LINE RUNNING BENEATH THE BELMONT LEARNING CENTER AND PATT SAYS THE SUPERINTENDENT NEEDS TO CHILL OUT. THAT'S TONIGHT'S INFINITELY MORRISON.

PATT MORRISON>> AT WHAT POINT DO THEY STICK A FORK IN BELMONT? THE MOST EXPENSIVE HIGH SCHOOL IN THE HISTORY OF CALIFORNIA IS NOW, BEYOND DOUBT, THE EDSEL, THE JOB, OF PUBLIC EDUCATION. WE HEAR NOW THAT THERE IS AN EARTHQUAKE TRACE FAULT RUNNING MORE THAN SEVEN STORIES BELOW PART OF THE VITALLY-NEEDED 35-ACRE L.A. HIGH SCHOOL. NOBODY KNOWS WHETHER IT'S AN ACTIVE FAULT BECAUSE, FOR THAT, THEY'D HAVE TO CHECK TO SEE WHETHER THE TOPSOIL HAS MOVED IN 11,000 YEARS AND THE TOPSOIL HAS LONG SINCE BEEN SCRAPED OFF. BUT AS LONG AS THE FAULT CAN'T BE PROVEN TO BE INACTIVE, NOT ANOTHER NAIL GOES IN, NOT ANOTHER FOOT OF CONCRETE GETS POURED. THE DISTRICT CAN EITHER KNOCK DOWN THE BUILDINGS DIRECTLY OVER THE FAULT AND CONCENTRATE THEM ON A SAFER PART OF THE SITE OR IT CAN KNOCK THEM ALL DOWN, SAY ADIOS, AND DIVORCE THIS ALBATROSS.

BELMONT HAS HAD MORE REVIVALS AND MORE COMEBACK TOURS THAN CHER. WHEN METHANE WAS DISCOVERED ON THE PROPERTY, THEY STOPPED CONSTRUCTION, THEN THEY STARTED IT UP AGAIN. NOW ANYONE KNOWING LOCAL HISTORY OR PRACTICAL SCIENCE WOULD HAVE KNOWN THAT OIL WAS FIRST COMMERCIALLY DISCOVERED A FEW BLOCKS FROM THE BELMONT SITE AND THAT METHANE IS A BYPRODUCT OF OIL. THERE'S OIL AND METHANE UNDER A WHOLE LOT OF LOS ANGELES. NOW THE SAME GOES FOR EARTHQUAKE FAULTS. THEY ARE EVERYWHERE. HOW MUCH OF EVERY ASPECT OF LIFE HERE IS A CALCULATED RISK ALREADY AND TO WHAT DEGREE CAN WE REALISTICALLY AVOID ALL OF IT? IF NO ONE EVER BUILT ON OR NEAR EARTHQUAKE FAULTS OR OLD OIL FIELDS, THE POPULATION OF LOS ANGELES WOULD STAND AT ABOUT 150,000, WHICH HAS ITS ADVANTAGES BUT THAT'S NOT A TOPIC FOR HERE.

PERSONALLY, I ALWAYS THOUGHT THE METHANE COULD WORK TO BELMONT'S ADVANTAGE. THEY COULD STICK PIPES IN THE GROUND AND LIGHT THEM IN THE EVENINGS LIKE TIKI TORCHES THAT PEOPLE USED TO DO IN NEWPORT BEACH. AND MAYBE THE METHANE COULD FUEL BARBECUES OUTSIDE THE SCHOOL CAFETERIA. THE FULL NAME IS THE BELMONT LEARNING CENTER. I'M NOT SURE THE DISTRICT OFFICIALS ARE LEARNING ANYTHING. BUT IF THE SCHOOL EVER GRADUATES ITS FIRST STUDENTS, YOU CAN BET THEY'LL BE A LOT SAVVIER THAN THE PEOPLE WHO BUILT THEIR SCHOOL.

VAL>> SHE'S AN OJAI ARTIST WHO'S DISCOVERED A HIGHER CALLING. LESLIE CLARK MADE HER FIRST VISIT TO AFRICA NEARLY TEN YEARS AGO. WHILE SHE WAS IN NIGER, SHE CAME TO KNOW AND LOVE TWO NOMADIC TRIBES, THE TUAREG AND THE WODAABE. BUT CLARK ALSO SAW HOW THEY STRUGGLED TO SURVIVE IN THE HARSH SAHARA DESERT AND THAT'S WHEN A LARGER MISSION EVOLVED.

JESS>> AND HERE TO TELL US ABOUT IT IS THE ARTIST, LESLIE CLARK. YOU HAVE LET YOUR ART STEP ASIDE WHILE YOU DEAL WITH SOME SOCIAL ISSUES, I GUESS?

LESLIE CLARK>> WELL, THEY ARE ALWAYS BLENDED. I'M PAINTING EVERY DAY AND, AS I'M DOING THAT, I'M VISITING WITH PEOPLE AND SEEING THINGS ABOUT THEIR LIVES THAT I MIGHT BE ABLE TO HELP THEM HAVE A LITTLE BETTER LIFE.

JESS>> YOU'RE NOT NEW TO AFRICA. YOU'VE BEEN DOING THIS FOR YEARS.

LESLIE CLARK>> WELL, ABOUT TEN YEARS.

VAL>> SO TELL US ABOUT THESE TRIBES. WHAT ARE THE WOMEN LIKE? WHAT CAPTURED YOUR ATTENTION? HOW DID YOU SENSE THAT YOU NEEDED TO HELP THEM? GIVE US A LITTLE BACKGROUND ON THAT.

LESLIE CLARK>> WELL, I DIDN'T REALLY -- WHEN I FIRST WENT IN, THEY WERE SO WELCOMING AND GENEROUS AND FRIENDLY AND HAPPY. I DIDN'T REALLY IMMEDIATELY FEEL THAT I NEEDED TO HELP THEM. THEY WERE VERY CONTENT WITH THEIR LIVES AND ARE. BUT THEN I WOULD SEE -- THE LONGER I SPENT WITH THEM, I WOULD SEE THE YEARS THAT THEY WOULD STRUGGLE AND HAVE TROUBLE FEEDING THEIR CHILDREN AND CERTAIN YEARS WHEN THERE WERE DROUGHTS AND I REALIZED THAT THEY ARE VERY GOOD AT WHAT THEY DO AS HERDERS, BUT THERE ARE MOMENTS BECAUSE THEIR PASTURE IS SOMEWHAT RESTRICTED BECAUSE OF ENCROACHMENT OF AGRICULTURE, THERE ARE MOMENTS NOW THAT THEY COULD USE A LITTLE EXTRA INCOME TO SEE THEM THROUGH BAD TIMES SO THEY CAN CONTINUE TO USE THEIR SKILLS.

VAL>> AND DO THEY HAVE A RICH CULTURE? YOU KNOW, THE FAMILY IS STRONG? DO THEY HAVE A LONG TRADITION?

LESLIE CLARK>> OH, THE FAMILIES ARE VERY STRONG. THEY MOVE TOGETHER IN A GROUP OF MAYBE SIXTY PEOPLE, THE BROTHERS AND THE FATHER WITH ALL OF HIS SONS, AND EVERY CHILD IS THE CHILD OF EVERYONE ELSE. THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS AN UNWANTED CHILD. THEY LOVE THE CHILDREN TREMENDOUSLY.

JESS>> THIS, APPARENTLY, IS IN CONTRAST TO CENTRAL AND SOUTHERN AFRICA WHERE THERE IS INCREDIBLE TURMOIL, CIVIL WARS, THE AIDS EPIDEMIC.

LESLIE CLARK>> WELL, THAT'S ONE REASON WHY I FEEL SO COMPELLED TO HELP THESE PEOPLE RETAIN THEIR CULTURAL PRIDE AND THEIR TRADITIONS BECAUSE THEY LIVE A VERY SUCCESSFUL SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC SYSTEM AS IT IS. WHEN THAT IS INTERFERED WITH BY OUTSIDE FORCES, IT BREAKS DOWN AND YOU RUN INTO THIS TURMOIL.

JESS>> ARE YOU CONCERNED THAT YOU MIGHT BE AN OUTSIDE FORCE INTERFERING WITH THEIR CULTURE?

LESLIE CLARK>> I AM CONCERNED ABOUT THAT EVERY DAY AND I TRY MY BEST TO UNDERSTAND HOW I CAN TAKE LITTLE STEPS TO HELP THEM COPE WITH THE MODERN WORLD AND NOT BE OVERWHELMED BY IT, BUT NOT CHANGE THEIR CULTURE.

VAL>> NOW ONE OF THE STEPS YOU'VE TAKEN IS TO HELP THE WOMEN FORM COOPERATIVES AND THEY HAVE DONE SO. THEY HAVE PRODUCED SOME BEAUTIFUL THINGS THAT YOU ARE WEARING AND YOU HAVE HERE TODAY. WHY DON'T YOU SHOW US WHAT THE COOPERATIVES HAVE DONE? THEY'VE DONE JEWELRY?

LESLIE CLARK>> WELL, YES. THE WOMEN'S COOPERATIVES HAVE MADE THIS TUNIC THAT I'M WEARING. IT'S FROM MAURITANIA. IT'S A TRADITIONAL GARMENT THAT THEY WEAR AND I HAD IT MADE INTO A TUNIC SO THAT PEOPLE HERE WOULD BE INTERESTED IN WEARING IT.

VAL>> THAT'S GORGEOUS.

LESLIE CLARK>> AND I HAVE THIS PILLOW THAT WAS MADE BY A WOMEN'S COOPERATIVE IN NIGER. THEY'RE THE WODAABE AND THEY NORMALLY JUST EMBROIDER FOR THEMSELVES. THIS IS THE FIRST TIME THEY'VE DONE SOMETHING FOR SALE AND THEY DID A VERY GOOD JOB. THEN THE TUAREG WOMEN MAKE THIS LEATHER WORK THAT THEY USE TO TRANSPORT. IT'S LIKE THEIR SUITCASES. AND THE TUAREG MEN MAKE THE SILVER.

VAL>> THAT'S STUNNING.

JESS>> I ASSUME, AT YOUR GALLERY IN OJAI, THESE ITEMS ARE FOR SALE TOO?

LESLIE CLARK>> THEY ARE, YES.

VAL>> SO YOU BRING THEM BACK, YOU BRING THE ITEMS BACK, FIRST OF ALL, YOU HELP THE COOPERATIVES GET STARTED, CORRECT? YOU GIVE THEM, WHAT, SUPPORT? IN WHAT WAY DO YOU GIVE THEM SUPPORT? IN MATERIALS? CASH?

LESLIE CLARK>> I BRING THEM THE MATERIALS. I GET THEM TRAINING IF THERE IS A SKILL THAT THEY DON'T HAVE THAT THEY NEED TO PRODUCE WHAT I CAN SELL, BUT GENERALLY THEY HAVE ALL THE SKILLS.

VAL>> AND IN THE MEANTIME, YOU HAVEN'T FORGOTTEN YOUR ARTWORK AND WE'RE GOING TO TAKE A QUICK LOOK AT SOME OF IT. THIS IS WORK THAT YOU'VE DONE DEPICTING BOTH THE PEOPLE AND THE LANDSCAPES, IS THAT RIGHT? THAT'S GORGEOUS.

JESS>> THE PROBLEMS FOR YOU, I WOULD THINK, WOULD BE KEEPING UP WITH THEM. THEY ARE NOMADIC TRIBES. THEY'RE ON THE MOVE A LOT, ARE THEY NOT?

LESLIE CLARK>> THEY'RE NOT EASY TO FIND (LAUGHTER). I'VE SPENT DAYS CHASING THEM DOWN AND WONDERING WHERE I'VE LEFT THEM.

VAL>> BUT, YOU KNOW, WE OFTEN THINK OF NOMADIC AS PRIMITIVE OR WHATEVER, BUT NOT NECESSARILY. I MEAN, THERE'S A REALLY GOOD REASON WHY THEY HAVE TO BE MOBILE, YES?

LESLIE CLARK>> WELL, THEY HAVE TO FOLLOW THE PASTURE. THEIR LIVELIHOOD ARE THEIR ANIMALS, SO THEY FOLLOW THE PASTURE IN ORDER TO KEEP THEM ALIVE.

VAL>> LESLIE CLARK, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR WORK AND BRINGING THESE BEAUTIFUL THINGS BACK.

JESS>> AND FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT LESLIE'S EFFORT, YOU CAN VISIT HER GALLERY IN OJAI OR GO TO THE WILD FOUNDATION'S WEBSITE AT WILD.ORG.

VAL>> AND WHILE YOU'RE LOGGED ON, CHECK OUT OUR SPECIAL SITE ON THE HEALTHCARE CRISIS FACING CALIFORNIA'S FARM WORKERS. THE ADDRESS IS, AS ALWAYS, KCET.ORG.

JESS>> AND THAT'S TONIGHT'S PROGRAM. NOW FOR ALL OF US HERE AT LIFE AND TIMES, THANK YOU FOR JOINING US. HAVE A GREAT EVENING.

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