TV Reviews : ‘Push for Power’ Looks at L.A.’s Latino Population

“The Push for Power,” airing tonight at 9 on Channel 28, marks the push into a prime-time spot for KCET’s public-affairs series “By the Year 2000.”

And, for its maiden voyage in the new time slot, the show examines a timely subject: the emerging political force of Los Angeles County’s Latino population.

Unfortunately, “The Push for Power” falls victim to the same problem of other “2000” offerings: It raises interesting points, but rarely explores them in depth.

“Push” starts with an examination of the Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund/ACLU lawsuit against Los Angeles County to force the county to hold elections in redrawn districts favorable to Latinos. (The case went to trial Wednesday.)

This is followed by an in-studio discussion with co-host Eric Burns, Prof. Jim Regalado of Cal State Los Angeles and former Long Beach Mayor Eunice Sato, who argues against redrawing political boundaries along ethnic lines.

Next is a look at the demographics of the local Latino population, followed by another in-studio discussion with another set of experts, this time talking about the problems of Latino disenfranchisement.

The first in-studio discussion capsulizes “Push’s” weakness. Regalado brings up the problem behind the problem--the county’s near-feudal system in which five supervisors represent areas bigger than most cities. He suggests breaking it up into smaller districts more representative of all the county’s population. Burns acknowledges his statement, but quickly moves on to another matter. An opportunity to illuminate the entire subject is lost.

Another problem: “Push” stacks the deck. With the exception of Sato, who is ineffectual, the experts are all on the same side. No one from the county is heard from.