Which Way, L.A.?

Villaraigosa Challenges Pacheco in Council Race

From Boyle Heights to Eagle Rock, through Mount Washington and Glassell Park, the 14th City Council District is one of LA-s most diverse. Two generations of Latino politicians, and former Olympic gold medalist Paul Gonzalez, are vying to represent the district in next month-s election. One is a veteran of statewide politics hoping to make a comeback after losing a mayoral race that got him national publicity. The other-s a one-term incumbent whose grass-roots organizing made him an upset victor four years ago. LA City Councilman Nick Pacheco and his challenger, former Assembly Speaker Antonio Villaraigosa, talk about education, healthcare, gangs and violent crime, civil liberties, campaign ethics, and their versions of the future at LA City Hall. Making News: LA Nightclub Inspections Open flames are being blamed for almost 100 deaths in Rhode Island, and blocked exits for another 21 in Chicago, at the kind of night clubs where overcrowding is one of the attractions. Kendall McCarthy, a public assemblage inspector with the LA City Fire Department, says that such overcrowding and blocked exits make an accident like those in Providence and Chicago disasters -just waiting to happen.- Reporter's Notebook: Has Political Fire Gone out of Contemporary Music? In the Vietnam era, popular music was an important forum for protest. During last night-s Grammy Awards, the war in Iraq was hardly mentioned. Brent Staples, a former writer for several music publications, now writes on culture and politics for the New York Times. Staples points to giant media conglomerates for the difference between pop music then and now. (This segment was originally broadcast earlier today on To the Point.)