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>> >>DWANE: TONIGHT ON KPBS EVENING EDITION, NEW EMPLOYMENT FIGURES ARE OUT.
WE'LL TELL YOU HOW SAN DIEGO COMPARES TO THE STATE AND THE REST OF THE NATION.
WE'LL INTRODUCE YOU TO SOME SPECIAL KIDS IN EL CAJON AND HEAR ABOUT AN ORGANIZATION HELPING
THEM TRANSITION INTO LIFE IN THE U.S. >> >>PEGGY: ON THE WEEKLY ROUND TABLE, FEDERAL
AND STATE AGENCIES SEEK TO BALANCE GREEN ENERGY MANDATES AND ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION IN
A MASSIVE DEVELOPMENT PLAN FOR SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA DESERTS.
MAYOR BOB FILNER PROMISED GOVERNMENT TRANSPARENCY BUT HASN'T DELIVERED SO FAR.
KPBS EVENING EDITION STARTS NOW. CAPTIONS PROVIDED BY ECAPTIONS.
>> >>DWANE: HELLO, GOOD EVENING, THANKS FOR JOINING US, I'M DWANE BROWN.
THE NATION'S JOB MARKET ADDED 155,000 JOBS LAST MONTH.
JOINING US TO TALK ABOUT IT IS KPBS BUSINESS AND ENVIRONMENT REPORTER ERIK ANDERSON.
SO, ERIK, HOW DOES CALIFORNIA'S JOB MARKET COMPARE TO WHAT'S HAPPENING NATIONALLY? TRACKING
PRETTY CLOSE. CALIFORNIA PICKED UP JUST OVER 62,000 JOBS
IN LEASH EXPR HOSPITALITY, AND INFORMATION INDUSTRYIES ADDED ABOUT 26,000 JOBS.
CONSTRUCTION AN INCREASE OF 26,400, CALIFORNIA'S JOBLESS RATE OF 9.6% WELL ABOVE THE NATIONAL
AVERAGE. HERE IN SAN DIEGO THE UNEMPLOYMENT RATE STANDS
AT 8.3%? >> >>DWANE: IT LOOKS LIKE THINGS ARE IMPROVING.
>> >>ERIK: THE ECONOMY IS IMPROVING, BUT THE THREAT OF THE DEFENSE INDUSTRY CUT BACK IS
STILL VERY REAL. AND THAT COULD HAVE A HUGE IMPACT ON SAN DIEGO'S
OVERALL ECONOMY. THE JOBS TIED TO THE DEFENSE INDUSTRY LABOR
SECRETARY TOLD US THAT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IS ALREADY HELPING TO EASE ANY TRANSITION.
>> >>: WE NEED TO LOOK AT HOW WE OFF SET ANY JOB LOSS.
WE SAW MANY JOBS LOST OVER THE RECESSION, OVER THE COURSE OF THE LAST THREE YEARS IN
AREAS OF MANUFACTURING OVER ALL. WE NEED TO BRING THAT BACK.
WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THERE'S A TRANSITION THERE.
THAT'S WHY WE'VE REALLY BUILT OUT OUR AMERICAN JOB CENTERS AND OUR WORK FORCE INVESTMENT
ACT PROGRAM MAKING SURE THAT WE CONNECT WITH ENTREPRENEURS THE MANUFACTURERS WANT, WHAT
THE SKILL SETS ARE NEEDED AND THE INSTRUCTION AND THE CREDENTIALS.
>> >>ERIK: THE JOB FORECAST HERE IS POSITIVE IF THE MILITARY AND OTHER GOVERNMENT SPENDING
CUTS DON'T TAKE TOO BIG OF A BITE. AND IF THERE'S NO MAJOR UNSETTLING EVENT,
ECONOMISTS SAY THE RECENT TREND OF GROWTH WILL CONTINUE IN THE COMING YEAR.
>> >>DWANE: KPBS REPORTER ERIK ANDERSON. A LONG TIME SAN DIEGO BANKER PHILANTHROPIST
AND POLITICAL MOVER AND SHAKER HAS DOWN, MURRAY GALINSON.
HE SERVED ON THE BOARD OF SEVERAL FOUNDATIONS INCLUDING PRICE CHARITIES AND SUPPORTED INNER
CITY DEVELOPMENT IN BALBOA PARK. HE WAS A LOYAL DEMOCRAT BUT CROSSED PARTY
LINES TO SUPPORT JERRY SANDERS AND PETE PILLS N.
HE RECENTLY HAD A TUMOR REMOVED FROM HIS BRAIN AND SPINAL CORD.
MURRAY GALINSON WAS 75. THE UNITED PORT OF SAN DIEGO REGULATES DEVELOPMENT, BUSINESS
AND RECREATION. FIVE CITIES HAVE DELEGATES ON THE BOARD.
KPBS METRO REPORTER KATIE ORR JOINS US FROM THE NEWS CENTER.
HOW IS THE PORT COMMISSION SET UP AND WHAT KIND OF CONTROL DOES THE CITY HAVE OVER IT?
>> >>KATIE: AS YOU MENTIONED, THERE ARE FIVE CITIES REPRESENTED BY THE PORT.
CORONADO, IMPERIAL BEACH, CHULA VISTA AND NATIONAL CITY EACH HAVE ONE COMMISSIONER,
BUT THE CITY OF SAN DIEGO GETS THREE. SO NOT ENOUGH TO CONTROL THE BOARD BUT ENOUGH
TO EXERT SOME INFLUENCE. >> >>DWANE: WHY IS SAN DIEGO CHOOSER NEW COMMISSIONERS?
>> >>KATIE: TWO HAVE LEFT. SCOTT PETERS IS SERVING IN CONGRESS AND LEE
BURDIC IS WORKING FOR BOB FILNER. MONDAY THE CITY COUNCIL WILL NOMINATE TWO
MEMBERS. THEY'LL EACH SERVE A FOUR YEAR TERM ON THE
PORT COMMISSION. >> >>DWANE: WHAT ARE SOME OF THE ISSUES THEY'LL
BE DEALING WITH? >> >>KATIE: THERE ARE TWO MAJOR DEVELOPMENT
PROJECTS, THE CONVENTION CENTER AND REMAKE OF THE CHULA VISTA BAY FRONT. THE PORT ALSO
WANTS TO REJUVENATE THE CRUISE SHIP BUSINESS AND WORK ON INCREASING BOTH IMPORTS AND EXPORTS
OF CONSUMER GOODS. THERE WILL BE PLENTY FOR THESE PEOPLE TO DO.
>> >>DWANE: IN OUR FRIDAY ROUND TABLE, PEGGY PICO EXPLAINS HOW FEDERAL AND STATE AGENCIES
ARE TRYING TO BALANCE GREEN ENERGY DEMANDS WITH ENVIRONMENTAL CONCERNS IN THE MASSIVE
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA DESERT AREA. >> >>PEGGY: STATE AND FEDERAL AGENCIES ARE
OFFERING THE PUBLIC AN EARLY LOOK AT FOUR NEW VERSIONS OF THE DESERT RENEWABLE ENERGY
CONSERVATION PLAN. MORGAN LEE JOINS ME WITH DETAILS OF THE PLAN
THAT STRETCHES FROM EAST SAN DIEGO COUNTY THROUGH IMPERIAL, KERN, L.A., RIVERSIDE AND
SAN BERNADINO COUNTIES. YOUR ARTICLE, YOU DESCRIBE THAT THERE WERE
SEVERAL AGENCIES TRYING TO WORK TOGETHER ON THIS TO TRY TO PROTECT PLANTS AND ANIMALS
A T THE SAME TIME TRY TO DEVELOP ALTERNATIVE ENERGY SOURCES IN THE CALIFORNIA DESERT.
BASICALLY, I GUESS I'M TRYING TO FIND OUT WHAT THE PRIMARY GOAL OF THIS PLAN IS.
>> >>: THE CORE IDEA IS TO TRY AND AVOID SOME OF THE CONFLICTS BETWEEN ENERGY DEVELOPMENT
AND HABITAT AND THE ENVIRONMENT IN THESE REALLY VAST UNPOPULATED AREAS OF CALIFORNIA THAT
SUDDENLY ARE AN ENORMOUS ENERGY RESOURCE. >> >>PEGGY: LET'S TALK ABOUT WHAT WE'RE ACTUALLY
TALKING ABOUT IN TERMS OF ACREAGE. HOW MUCH LAND AND WHO OWNS IT RIGHT NOW?
>> >>CRAIG GUSTAFSON: THE PLAN COVERS THIS ENORMOUS AREA, THE SIZE OF INDIANA, OR MAINE,
STRETCHING FROM MEXICO UP PAST LOS ANGELES BASIN.
AND IT'S OUT OF THAT ENTIRE AREA I MEAN A SMALL PORTION RELATIVELY SPEAKING STILL BIGGER
THAN THE CITY OF SAN DIEGO IS GOING TO WIND UP HAVING ACTUAL SOLAR PANELS ON IT, ACTUAL
WIND TURBINES OR GEO THERMAL PLANS. THE IDEA HERE IS TO MAKE SURE THAT IT'S WORKING AROUND
THE MOST DELICATE AREAS OF THE DESERT THAT REALLY NEED TO BE CONSERVED, NOT CUTTING OFF
PATHWAYS FOR MIGRATORY SPECIES. >> >>PEGGY: LET'S TALK ABOUT THOSE SPECIES.
SEVENTY THREE SPECIES YOU NAMED WERE ON THIS DESERT SENSITIVE LIST.
THERE'S SOME CONTENTION OF THAT. WHAT'S THE CONTENTION AND WHAT'S THE ONE UNTOUCHABLE
SPECIES? >> >>MORGAN LEE: THE ONE UNTOUCHABLE IS THE
CALIFORNIA CONDOR. AS A LOT OF US KNOW NOW FOR GENERATIONS SO
MUCH WORK HAS GONE INTO PRESERVING THAT SPECIES AND MAKING SURE IT'S NOT WIPED OFF THE FACE
OF THE EARTH. BUT THE OTHER ONES YOU KNOW, THE BASICALLY
PEOPLE ARE CONCERNED ABOUT THE METHODOLOGY. WHETHER THEY'RE APPROPRIATE.
ONE COMMENT BY A PANEL OF SCIENTISTS THAT WHERE ARE THE INSECTS, THESE ARE ALL BIRDS
AND CUDDLY THINGS. >> >>PEGGY: IT'S NOT COMPREHENSIVE ENOUGH.
>> >>MORGAN LEE: BURROWING OWLS AND GOLDEN EAGLES.
RIGHTED THERE'S A VETTING PROCESS FOR THAT. PEEP KL WEIGH IN INFORMALLY THIS MONTH, AND
THEN BIG SORT OF OFFICIAL PROCESS STARTS NEXT SUMMER WHEN THERE'S AN ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT
STATEMENT AND PEOPLE MAKE COMMENTS THAT ARE PUT ON THE RECORD AND SOME OF THAT GETS SET
SETTLED. >> >>PEGGY: I FOUND THE REPORT TO BE REALLY
INTERESTING. YOU NAMED OFF A WHOLE LOT OF DIFFERENT AGENCIES
FROM FEDERAL, TO STATE, ENVIRONMENTAL. TELL US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE BIG PLAYERS.
WHO'S REALLY INVOLVED IN THIS? >> >>MORGAN LEE: THE BIG AGENCIES, THERE'S
FOUR OF THEM REALLY HEADING UP THE EFFORT. THERE'S THE BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT, I'M
GOING TO REFER TO MY NOTES. >> >>PEGGY: ABSOLUTELY.
>> >>MORGAN LEE: THE CALIFORNIA ENERGY COMMISSION, SO THEY'RE THE ONES THAT CITE POWER PLANT.
THOSE ARE THE FOLKS THAT KEEP TRACK OF SENSITIVE SPECIES, AND THEIR HABITATS AND SOÊ THAT'S
THE REASON THEY'RE IN THERE. >> >>PEGGY: AND THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
AGENCY, RIGHT? >> >>MORGAN LEE: WELL, THEY'RE BEING CONSULTED.
ONE OF THE THING'S THAT'S COME UP, THE EPA JUST COMPLETE AD STUDY WHERE THEY FOUND SORT
OF ALREADY DISTURBED AREAS AND SOME OF THEM ARE BROWN FIELD, SOME ARE JUST FORMER AGRICULTURAL
AREAS, THAT ARE NEAR TRANSMISSION THAT WOULD BE IDEAL FOR PUTTING POWER PLANTS AND PEOPLE
WERE RAISING THEIR HANDS SAYING WAIT A SECOND, HAVE YOU INCORPORATED THIS WORK THAT'S ONE
WAY TO AVOID DEVELOPING UNTOUCHED AREAS, TO TAP THOSE AREAS.
>> >>PEGGY: LET'S TOUCH ON THIS. THERE IS A LOT OF CRITICISM SAYING THIS IS BEING FAST
TRACKED. IT LOOKS ALL KIND OF NICE AND EASY PEOPLE
ARE TALKING, AND PEOPLE ARE TRYING TO GET THIS DONE, BUT THE CRITICISM IS IT'S BEING
FAST TRACKED. TALK ABOUT THE MANDATE.
>> >>MORGAN LEE: IT'S BEING FAST TRACKED BECAUSE THERE'S GOVERNMENT INCENTIVES, HUGE TAX CREDITS,
THE INVESTMENT TAX CREDIT FOR SOLAR, THE PROTECTION TAX CREDIT THAT WAS JUST EXTENDED FOR WIND
ENERGY L.THOSE THINGS ARE DRIVING THIS EMERGING INDUSTRY AS ARE THE STATE REQUIREMENTS THAT
ALL RETAIL ELECTRICITY, A THIRD OF IT BY 2020 IS GOING TO BE DERIVED BY THESE RENEWABLE
ENERGY PLANTS. >> >>PEGGY: ALL RIGHT.
>> >>MORGAN LEE: SO, TO PUT THE BRAKES ON IT, ENVIRONMENTALISTS ARE SAYING THIS IS NOT
A GOOD THING. YOU NEED TO COME UP WITH A CONSERVATION PLAN
TO AVOID THESEÊ THIS SORT OF MAKE SURE IT'S NOT GOING TO GET RUINED.
>> >>PEGGY: AND THEY DON'T HAVE TO GO BACK. THE CLOCK IS TICKING, BUT THE PUBLIC CAN STILL
WEIGH IN. HOW AND WHERE CAN THEY DO THAT? >> >>MORGAN LEE: THERE'S A SPECIAL WEBSITE
FOR THE DESERT RENEWABLE ENERGY CONSERVATION PLAN IT'S JUST THE INITIALS.ORG, IF OR IF
YOU GOOGLE THAT T WILL TAKE YOU TO T.ON WEDNESDAY, NEXT WEEK, ON THE NINTH, THERE'S GOING TO
BE A WEB PRESENTATION. IT'S VERY EASY TO NAVIGATE THAT SITE.
THEN THERE'S A THOUSAND PAGES OF DOCUMENTS THAT YOU CAN READ IF YOU HAVE A LOT OF TIME.
>> >>PEGGY: READ THROUGH AND WEIGH IN ON. UT SAN DIEGO'S MORGAN LEE, THANK YOU FOR TALKING
ABOUT THIS. >> >>DWANE: A TENTATIVE SETTLEMENT HAS BEEN
REACHED IN THE CASE. CONVICTED OF KILLING HER *** IN RIVERSIDE
IN 1994. WE TOLD YOU THE STORY OF SARA KRUZAN WHO LIVED
IN SAN DIEGO AS A CHILD. SHE WAS 16 AT THE TIME OF THE ***.
HER LAWYERS SAY SHE WAS *** AND PUT INTO PROSTITUTION. THE RIVERSIDE PRESS SAYS DETAILS
OF THE SETTLEMENT WERE NOT RELEASED. KRUZAN COULD BE RETRIED OR RELEASED FOR TIME
SERVED. SAN DIEGO GAS PRICES ARE ON THE RISE AGAIN.
THE AVERAGE FOR GALLON OF REGULAR ROSE ONE AND A HALF CENTS TODAY MATCHING THE LARGEST
INCREASE IN NEARLY THREE MONTHS. IT'S BEEN A MONTH SINCE BOB FILNER TOOK OVER
THE MAYOR'S OFFICE IN SAN DIEGO BUT PEGGY PICO PLAINGSES WHY PEAK EXPLAINS WHY MANY
NEWS OUTLETS SAY HE HASN'T KEPT HIS PROMISE OF A TRANSPARENT CITY HALL.
>> >>PEGGY: UT SAN DIEGO'S CRAIG GUSTAFSON TO TALK ABOUT BOB FILNER'S ADMINISTRATION
AND IF THE CITY GOVERNMENT IS ANYMORE TRANSPARENT THAN IT WAS BEFORE HE WAS ELECTED.
GIVE US A GENERAL ASSESSMENT OF WHAT YOU THINK ABOUT FILNER'S NEW ADMINISTRATION, THE BEGINNING
OF IT HERE. >> >>CRAIG GUSTAFSON: I MEAN HE'S OFF TO A
BIT OF A ROCKY START. HE'S BEEN RELUCTANT TO PROVIDE INFORMATION
TO THE MEAD YUVMENT HE HAD A FEW PRESS CONFERENCES, BUT BUT HAD A LITTLE TROUBLE BUTTING TOGETHER
HIS STAFF. HE HIRED A COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR YESTERDAY.
>> >>PEGGY: IRENE. >> >>CRAIG GUSTAFSON: IRENE MCCORMICK FROM
THE PORT, WHO'S A FORMER UT REPORTER FROM BACK IN THE DAY.
IT'S BEEN A SLOW GO IN THE FIRST MONTH OF HIS TENURE.
>> >>PEGGY: HE PROMISED AND WAS VERY CLEAR ABOUT A TRANSPARENT GOVERNMENT.
WHAT HAS BEEN YOUR ISSUE ON TRYING TO GET INFORMATION FROM HIM ABOUT WHO HE'S HIRED
AND OTHER ISSUES? >> >>CRAIG GUSTAFSON: BASICALLY Y PUT IN A
PUBLIC RECORDS REQUEST 101, WHO HAVE YOU HIRED AND HOW MUCH ARE YOU PAYING THEM WE DID THAT
JUST A A FEW DAYS AFTER HE TOOK OFFICE. FOR THE LAST MONTH HE HAS NOT PROVIDED INFORMATION.
THIS ST STUFF THAT'S PRETTY BASIC. UNDER MAYOR SANDERS IF YOU ASKED FOR SOMEBODY'S
POSITION, NAME AND SALARY, YOU WOULD GET THAT PROBABLY WITHIN A HALF AN HOUR.
BY CONTRAST, EACH OF THE CITY COUNCIL OFFICE HAS TO PROVIDE THE SAME INFORMATION AND THEY
GIVE IT WITHIN 24 HOURS. FILNER HASN'T RELEASED ANY OF THAT INFORMATION.
>> >>PEGGY: HAS HE SAID WHY? >> >>CRAIG GUSTAFSON: THEY KEEP MAKING EXCUSES,
WE'RE IN THE TRANSITION PERIOD, HAVING TROUBLE PUTTING THINGS TOGETHER.
BOTTOM LINE, THIS ISÊ YOU SHOULD BE ABLE TO AT ANY GIVEN POINT TELL ME WHO'S ON YOUR
STAFF. >> >>PEGGY: AND HOW MUCH THEY'RE MAKING.
ACCORDING TO THE CALIFORNIA PUBLIC RECORDS ACT, WHAT IS ACTUALLY REQUIRED AS FAR AS DISCLOSURE?
>> >>CRAIG GUSTAFSON: IF YOU HAVE SOMETHING IMMEDIATELY AVAILABLE AT YOUR FINGER TIPS
YOU SHOULD PROVIDE THE INFORMATION RIGHT AWAY. OBVIOUSLY IT WOULD BE PRETTY EASY TO FIGURE
OUT IF SOMEBODY IS WORKING FOR THE CITY ESPECIALLY IF YOU'RE THE MAYOR.
THAT'S SOMETHING THAT SHOULD BE PROVIDED RIGHT AWAY.
IF IT'S SOMETHING MORE COMPLICATED UNDER THE LAW, YOU GET A 10 DAY WINDOW TO PROVIDE IT.
IF IT'S REALLY COMPLICATED YOU CAN ASK FOR A 14 DAY EXTENSION.
HE NEVER ASKED FOR AN EXTENSION, THEY PROMISED THIS INFORMATION TO ME PROBABLY THREE OR FOUR
TIMES NOW, AND WITH SPECIFICS DATES THEY WOULD GIVE IT, AND STILL HAVE NOT.
AS OF TODAY, THEY SAID THEY WOULD PROVIDE IT ON MONDAY.
>> >>PEGGY: NOT JUST YOU. >> >>CRAIG GUSTAFSON: THAT'S THE PROBLEM.
I KNOW THAT PEOPLE WILL SAY THE UT SAN DIEGO THE OWNERSHIP OPPOSED HIS CANDIDACY, MAYBE
HE'S TRYING TO STIFF THE UT. HE'S DOING IT WITH PRETTY MUCH EVERY MEDIA
OUT LET IN TOWN. HE'S NOT PROVIDING BASIC INFORMATION TO CITY
BEAT, KPBS AND OTHERS. >> >>PEGGY: HE WANTED TO HIRE DONNA FRYE TO
BE IRONICALLY DIRECTOR OF HIS OPEN GOVERNMENT. TELL US WHAT THE ISSUE WAS AND DO YOU THINK
MAYBE THAT'S A REASON WHY. >> >>CRAIG GUSTAFSON: SHE IS WORKING FOR HIM
NOW. THE ISSUE IS SHE PREVIOUSLY WAS A CITY COUNCIL
PERSON AND COLLECTING A PENSION FROM THE CITY. IN THE MUNICIPAL CODE YOU CANNOT REHIRE SOMEBODY
WHO'S ALREADY DRAWING A PENSION. SHE CAN ONLY BE HIRED AS A PROVISIONAL EMPLOYEE
FOR UP TO 90 DAYS A YEAR. SHE'S STARTING AT A AS A PROVISIONAL EMPLOY
A. THEY'RE GOING TO TRY TO CHANGE THE MUNICIPAL
CODE TO MAKE AN EXCEPTION TO HER. HE MADE A BIG DEAL SAYING WE'RE GOING TO HAVE
A TRANSPARENT AND OPEN GOVERNMENT, DONNA FRYE IN CHARGE OF THIS, REGULARLY MEETING WITH
THE PRESS AND GIVING YOU GUYS WHATEVER YOU NEED.
THAT HAS NOT BEEN THE CASE AT L.DONNA FRYE WON'T EVEN ANSWER RETURN PHONE CALLS AND WHAT
NOT EVEN THOUGH SHE HAS AN OFFICE IN LINE AND EVERYTHING.
HIS PRESS PEOPLE RARELY RETURN CALLS AND IF THEY DO IT'S USUALLY A NO COMMENT.
>> >>PEGGY: I WANT TO BE CLEAR THIS ISN'T JUST UT SAN DIEGO, YOU KNOW, IT DOESN'T SEEM
TO BE ANYWAY BECAUSE IT SEEMS TO BE ACROSS THE BOARD WITH MANY NEWS OUTLETS.
>> >>CRAIG GUSTAFSON: I KNOW SOME PEOPLE WATCHING WILL BE LIKE BOO HOO, THE UT'S NOT GETTING
WHAT IT WANTS, KPBS IS NOT GETTING WHAT THEY WANT. THAT'S NOT THE POINT.
UNDER THE STRONG MAYOR FORM OF GOVERNMENT, THE MAYOR HAS ALL THE INFORMATION AND CONTROL
OVER THE DISSEMINATION OF THAT INFORMATION. IT'S NOT JUST TO THE MEDIA, IT'S TO LAWYERS,
BUSINESS LEADERS IN TOWN, I MEAN, THIS ISÊ >> >>PEGGY: AND THE VOTERS. THAT'S WHY PEOPLE
ARE TURN NOTHING TO THE MEDIA TO FIND OUT ABOUT THIS.
WE ARE OUT OF TIME, SO CRAIG GUSTAFSON WITH THE UT SAN DIEGO, THANKS SO MUCH FOR TALKING
WITH US. >> >>CRAIG GUSTAFSON: THANKS FOR HAVING ME.
>> >>DWANE: MORE THAN 12,000 LEGAL REFUGEES HAVE RESETTLED IN SAN DIEGO COUNTY DISP MAKING
THE TRANSITION TO AMERICAN LIFE CAN BE STRESSFUL. MONALIZA NOOR TELLS US HOW ONE ORGANIZATION
IS DETERMINED TO HELP. >> >>: ON THE FIELD OF EL CAJON VALLEY HIGH
SCHOOL DOZENS OF KIDS PRACTICE DRILLS AND PLAY SOCCER AFTER A LONG DAY AT SCHOOL.
THESE KIDS ARE PART OF YO LA, A SAN DIEGO NON PROFIT THAT PROVIDES FREE TUTORING AND
SOCCER TRAINING TO IMMIGRANT AND REFUGEE YOUTHS. EIGHTEEN YEAR OLD ACHMED KARINE MOVED TO THE
U.S. IN 2009. LIKE MANY HERE, HE COMES FROM IRAQ.
>> >>: THERE WAS A REASON WHY WE LEFT FROM IRAQ.
THE WAR OF COURSE AND A LOT OF THINGS. >> >>MONALIZA: WHEN THE WAR ON IRAQ STARTED
U MED WAS DIAGNOSED WITH A BLOOD DISORDER. TO GET MEDICAL TREATMENT, HIS FAMILY MOVED
TO JORDAN BEFORE COMING TO THE U.S. LAST YEAR, U MED MOVED TO THE SAN DIEGO AREA.
HIS LOVE FOR SOCCER DREW HIM TO YEAH LA. >> >>: IT MADE MY SCHOOL LIFE LOT EASIER,
BUT BECAUSE IT HELPS ME A LOT THROUGH SCHOOL, THE HOMEWORK, THE THINGS THAT I DON'T KNOW
HOW TO DO, THE THINGS THAT I NEED HELP ON FOR THE SCHOOL.
>> >>: WE CAN PUT MAGICÊ >> >>MONALIZA: EARLIER ON THE DAY, ACHMED
WORKED ON HIS COLLEGE APPLICATIONS. ACHMED PLANS TO STUDY NURSING.
YEAH LA STANDS FOR YOUTH AND LEADERS LIVING ACTIVELY, IT'S ALSO ARABIC FOR LET'S GO.
>> >>: WHEN YOU START WINNING, START SUCCEEDING, THEN THAT REALLY SPILLS OVER TO EVERYTHING
ELSE. WE'RE STARTING TO HAVE THEM REALIZE THEY CAN
SUCCEED IN SCHOOL. >> >>MONALIZA: IT'S A STRATEGY 25 YEAR OLD
HAS EXPERIENCED FIRST HAND. WHILE HE WAS WORN BORN IN THE U.S., KU BON
MOVED TO BEIRUT BEFORE MOVING BACK TO AMERICA WHEN HE WAS 9.
>> >>: WHEN I FIRST CAME HERE, LIKE A LOT OF THE KIDS IN THE PROGRAM RIGHT NOW, I FELT
KIND OF LONELY. I DIDN'T REALLY FIT IN, ECONOMICALLY, THERE'S
LIKE THAT VISIBLE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN YOU AND OTHER KIDS.
BUT WHEN I USED TO PLAY SPORTS ALL THOSE THINGS DIDN'T MATTER.
>> >>MONALIZA: KUBON WENT ON TO GET A COLLEGE FOOTBALL SCHOLARSHIP.
AFTER GRADUATING FROM BAKER UNIVERSITY IN KANSAS, HE WORKED AS A REFUGEE CATERER IN
SAN DIEGO. HE WITNESSED THE TOUGH TRANSITIONS FAMILIES
FACED, KIDS STUCK IN THEIR APARTMENTS STRUGGLING WITH SCHOOL.
>> >>: THE DIFFICULT THING FOR THE KIDS IS THEY HAVE EXPECTATIONS TO DO HOMEWORK, AND
DO COLLEGE APPLICATIONS AND DO SAT PREP, BUT WHEN THEY GET HOME, THEIR PARENTS DON'T SPEAK
ENGLISH, AND THERE'S NOBODY THAT KNOWS THE LANGUAGE THAT HAS A GOOD COMMAND OF THE LANGUAGE.
>> >>MONALIZA: ACCORDING TO THE CENTER FOR HEALTH AND HEALTH CARE IN SCHOOLS, IN 2005,
1 IN 4 IMMIGRANT OR REFUGEE YOUTHS DROPPED OUT OF HIGH SCHOOL.
THE LACK OF RESOURCES AVAILABLE FOR THESE KIDS IS WHAT MOTIVATED COBON TO START YEAH
LA IN 2009. IN ADDITION TO HELPING KIDS WITH SOCCER AND
SCHOOL WORK, THE PROGRAM ALSO FOLKS ON CONNECTING KIDS TO THE OUT DOORS.
YEAH LA OPERATES IN THE CAJON VALLEY UNION AND GROSSMONT VALLEY DISTRICTS.
YEAH LA SERVES 200 STUDENTS RANGING FROM ELEMENTARY TO HIGH SCHOOL.
KABON SAYS HE'S SING SIGNIFICANT IMPROVEMENT IN THE KIDS ACADEMIC SUCCESS.
THE AIM IS TO SET THE BAR HIGH. >> >>: I JUST WANT THESE KIDS TO BE ABLE TO
FEEL LIKE THEY'RE IN THE DRIVER SEAT OF THEIR DESTINY.
BECAUSE I THINK WHEN YOU'RE A REFUGEE, YOU DON'T GET TO CHOOSE YOUR LIFESTYLE, YOU DON'T
GET TO CHOOSE YOUR COUNTRY TO BE DESTROYED, YOU DON'T GET TO CHOOSE TO LOSE FAMILY MEMBERS
OR, YOU KNOW, START OVER. I WANT THESE KIDS TO FEEL LIKE THEY'RE BACK
AND THEY'RE CHOOSING WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN NEXT WITH THEM.
>> >>MONALIZA: KABON HOPES TO START AN ALL GIRLS SOCCER TEAM T.THE PRIMARY GOAL FOR YEAH
LA IS SKEWER FUNDS FOR A COMMUNITY CENTER. MONALIZA NOOR KPBS NEWS.
>> >>DWANE: SCIENTISTS HAVE BEEN WORKING ON WAYS TO PREDICT DISEASE OUT BREAKS FOR DECADES
BUT RECENT IMPROVEMENTS IN WEATHER TRACKING HAVE IMPROVED DISEASE FORECASTING.
MARINA HUTCHEN HAS THE STORY. >> >>: ONLY A 10% CHANCE OF SHOWERS TODAY
BUT A 70% CHANCE OF FLU NEXT MONTH. THAT'S THE KIND OF FORECASTING HEALTH SCIENTISTS
ARE TRYING TO MOVE TOWARD. >> >>: SO WE'RE GOING FOR SOMETHING WHERE
WE COULD SAY THERE'S 50% CHANCE THAT IN FIVE WEEKS WE'RE GO TOOK AT THE PEEK OF THE FLU
FLU OUT BREAK. >> >>: SUCH DISEASE MODELING GOT SOME ATTENTION
RECENTLY WHEN JEFFREY SHEAMAN AND ANOTHER SCIENTIST SAID THEY COULD PREDICT WHEN FLU
SEASON WAS GOING TO PEEK IN NEW YORK NOAR THAN SEVEN WEEKS IN ADVANCE.
THEIRS IS THE LATEST OF THE GROWING WAVE OF TESTERS.
>> >>: WE'RE USING THE TECHNIQUES THAT THEY USE IN WEATHER PREDICTION.
>> >>: DISEASES CAN BE FORECAST BY USING STATISTICAL AND MATHEMATICAL MODELS WHICH SIMULATE DISEASE
TRANSMISSION IN A POPULATION. >> >>: THAT ALSO INVOLVES OBSERVING SEARCHES
FOR INFORMATION ON VARIOUS DISEASES. >> >>: THEY CAN ACTUALLY DO A VERY LOCALIZED
GOOGLE BASED TOOL WHERE THEY TAKE INFORMATION FROM A COMMUNITY AND PREDICT HOW MUCH INFLUENZA
HAS SPREAD IN THAT COMMUNITY. >> >>: SOME DISEASES LIKE THE FLU ARE MORE
PREDICTABLE THAN OTHERS. >> >>: DISEASES FOR WHICH WE KNOW THE MODE
OF TRANSITION OR FOR HOW MANY DAYS THE DURATION OF ILLNESS IS.
>> >>: RECENTLY HEALTH OFFICIALS ADVISED THAT FLU SEASON IS OFF TO ITS EARLIEST START IN
10 YEARS WITH THE HIGHEST ACTIVITY IN FIVE SOUTHERN STATE.
EXPERTS NOTE DISEASE OUT BREAKS ARE INFLUENCED AS MUCH BY HUMAN BEHAVIOR AND OTHER FACTORS
AND BY THE WEATHER. AND THAT WEATHER BASED OUT PREDICTION STILL
HAS A LONG WAY TO GO. >> >>DWANE: THERE'S A NEW REPORT OUT TONIGHT
FROM THE STATE ATTORNEY GENERALS OFFICE ON THE CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF PARKS AND RECREATION.
IT SAYS OFFICIALS AT THE HIGHEST LEVEL HELPED KEEP MILLIONS OF DOLLARS SECRET FOR MORE THAN
A DECADE. THE REPORT SAID EMPLOYEES FEARED THE BUDGET
WOULD BE CUT IF LAW MAKERS FOUND IT. 54ÊMILLION DOLLARS WAS FOUND IN TWO SPECIAL
FUNDS, EVEN AS UP TO 70 PARKS FACE CLOSURE. >> >>: ON THE NEXT NEWS HOUR, THE LATEST JOBS
REPORT, PLUS THE ANALYSIS OF SHIELD AND BROOKS. THAT'S FRIDAY ON THE PBS NEWS HOUR.
>> >>DWANE: SAN DIEGO WEATHER MOSTLY SUNNY AND MILD ALONG THE COAST TOMORROW, MID 60S
WITH INCREASING CLOUDS, AND COOLER TEMPERATURES ON SUNDAY AND MONDAY.
CHILE NIGHTS INLAND, DIPPING INTO THE 40S WITH SUN SHINE, SATURDAY AND THE CHANCE OF
SOME SHOWERS LATE SUNDAY INTO MONDAY. MOUNTAIN AREAS REMAIN COOL IN THE 40S AND
50S WITH A CHANCE OF RAIN, AND THE DESERT WILL BE MOSTLY SUNNY WITH HIGHS IN THE 60S.
>> >>PEGGY: IN TONIGHT'S PUBLIC SQUARE WELL RESEARCHED KPBS WEB COMMENTS ON OPPOSITE SIDES
OF A NEW FEDERAL POLICY THAT AIMS TO HELP FAMILIES STAY TOGETHER DURING THE IMMIGRATION
PROCESS. THE WAIVER CHANGE ADDRESSES SOME UNDOCUMENTED
IMMIGRANTS WHO MARY U.S. CITIZENS OR HAVE MAYOR PARENT OR CHILDREN WHO ARE U.S. CITIZENS.
IRKS DJ QUOTE AD NEW BOOK WHAT FOREIGNERS NEED TO KNOW ABOUT AMERICANS FROM A TO Z THAT
TALKS ABOUT THE STRUGGLE AND CONTRIBUTION OF IMMIGRANTS.
HE QUOTES THE BOOK THAT READS: ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE ISSUE, BRITTANICUS WROTE:
YOU CAN JOIN IN ON THIS CONVERSATION OR COMMENT ON ANY KPBS STORY BY FOLLOWING US ON TWITTER,
LIKING US ON FACEBOOK, OR E MAIL US AT PUBLIC SQUARE @ KPBS.ORG.
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