Tip:
Highlight text to annotate it
X
>>> NEXT, CALTRANS UNDER
SCRUTINY AGAIN AMID ONGOING
CONCERNS ABOUT THE BAY BRIDGE
SPAN.
>>> AND A CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION
OF A PETALUMA SLAUGHTERHOUSE
PUTS LOCAL RANCHERS AT RISK.
>>> AND A HI-TECH LIFELINE
TEACHING COMPUTER CODES TO GIVE
BLACK YOUTH BETTER
OPPORTUNITIES.
>> WE NEED DESIGNERS.
WE NEED A LOT OF PEOPLE.
>>> GOOD EVENING AND WELCOME.
WITH CONTINUING CRITICISM
SURROUNDING THE NEW EASTERN SPAN
OF THE BAY BRIDGE, CALTRANS SAID
THAT IT WOULD ADDRESS SOME OF
THE DOUBTS ABOUT THE BOLTS AND
RODS RAISED BY CRITICS.
AT A HEARING THIS WEEK THE
OFFICIALS SAID THE ALLEGE SI IS
DOING FURTHER TESTING AND
ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS HAVE BEEN
RAISED ABOUT MISALIGNED ROAD
DECEMBER CONCEPTISEPGS AND POSSIBLE --
JOINING ME FOR A LOOK AT SAFETY
ISSUES ARE THE "SACRAMENTO BEE"
SENIOR WRITER.
AND WE HAVE THE SAN FRANCISCO
"CHRONICLE" REPORTER AND BRIAN
MARONEY, THE CHIEF BRIDGE
DESIGNER FROM CALTRANS JOINING
US FROM SACRAMENTO.
LET ME BEGIN.
AS YOU KNOW, THERE HAVE BEEN A
NUMBER OF QUESTIONS ABOUT THE
MATERIALS AND THE INSTRUCTIONS
FOR THE BAY BRIDGE.
HOW ARE YOU ADDRESSING THESE
CONCERNS?
>> WHAT WE'RE DOING IS WE'RE
TRYING TO GO TO EXTRAORDINARY
LENGTHS TO MAKE SURE WE REACH
OUT TO THE PUBLIC TO COMMUNICATE
WHAT WE'VE ACTUALLY DONE IN THE
ORIGINAL PLANNING STAGES WHERE
WE REACHED OUT TO THE PUBLIC
FOLLOWING THE N OECHLT PA, THE
NATIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY
ACT WHERE THE COMMUNITY CHOSE
THE KIND OF BRIDGE THEY WANTED.
THE KIND OF ENGINEERING THAT WAS
INVOLVED IN THE DESIGN THAT THE
COMMUNITY CHOSE.
THE KIND OF ENGINEERING AND
CONSTRUCTION THAT WAS NECESSARY
IN THE CONSTRUCTION STAGES FOR
THAT BRIDGE.
AND EVEN WE'RE NOW STARTING TO
TALK ABOUT WHAT KIND OF
MAINTENANCE AND OPERATIONS WE'RE
GOING TO BE NEEDING TO DO FOR
THE NEXT 150 YEARS.
AND ACTUALLY, JUST TWO NIGHTS
AGO, WE HAD PUBLIC MEETING AND
ANY OTHER INTERESTED PARTIES AND
INVITED GUESTS TO TALK ABOUT THE
A-354 BD BOLTS.
>> AND EXCUSE ME FOR
INTERRUPTING.
YOU'RE TRYING TO ENGAGE THE
PUBLIC MORE BUT SPECIFICALLY,
WHAT KINDS OF TESTING AND WHAT
KINDS OF REPAIRS ARE YOU MAKING
AND CAN YOU TELL THE PUBLIC AT
THIS POINT THAT THIS BRIDGE
WHICH HAS COST $6.4 BILLION, IS
SUPPOSED TO LAST 150 YEARS, CAN
YOU TELL THE PUBLIC THAT IT
WILL, INDEED, HOLD UP AND BE
SAFE IF WE HAVE A BIG
EARTHQUAKE?
>> I FEEL VERY COMFORTABLE AT
THAT.
THERE ARE NO PROMISES IN A MAJOR
EARTHQUAKE.
ANY REAL -- THERE ARE NO
PROMISES IN AN EARTHQUAKE BUT
WE'VE GONE TO LENGTHS THAT ARE
WAY BEYOND THE STANDARDS OF
CALIFORNIA, WAY BEYOND THE
STANDARDS IN THE UNITED STATES.
THIS WAS DESIGNED FOR A
THOUSAND-YEAR EARTHQUAKE.
WE DESIGNED FOR A 1500-YEAR
GROUND MOTIONRY IS ABOVE AND
BEYOND.
WE DIDN'T JUST DESIGN FOR
STANDARDS.
THAT IS NO COLLAPSE AFTER A BIG
EARTHQUAKE.
WE ACTUALLY DESIGNED FOR THIS
BRIDGE TO BE OPERATIONAL.
IT WILL STEAL HAVE STEEL THAT'S
BENT AND HAVE REPAIR THAT'S
NECESSARY.
BUT I BELIEVE WE'RE GOING TO BE
ABLE TO GET LITTLE BOY
TRACTOR-TRAILER RIGS, FIRE
TRUCKS, WATER TRUCKS ACROSS THIS
BRIDGE.
REASONABLY QUICKLY WE'LL HAVE
THIS SO THE BAY AREA CAN START
TO RECONSTRUCT ITSELF AFTER A
MAJOR EARTHQUAKE AND THIS IS THE
FIRST BRIDGE THAT'S BEEN EL
SKRATD TO THIS LEVEL AND IT ALL
GOES BACK TO WHERE THE
GOVERNOR'S BOARD OF INQUIRY
CHALLENGED THE GOVERNOR TO MAKE
THIS BRIDGE SOMETHING MORE AND
THE GOVERNOR PUT OUT AN
EXECUTIVE DIRECTIVE SAYING,
LET'S HAVE THE FIRST BRIDGE AS
THE LIFELINE BRIDGE WHERE
AFTERWARDS, WE'RE NOT THINKING
ABOUT NO COLLAPSE.
WE'RE THINKING ABOUT LET'S MAKE
IT OPERATIONAL AFTER AN EVENT.
I'M REALLY EXCITED THAT THIS
TEAM HAS TAKEN THAT CHALLENGE
ON.
SO I FEEL VERY GOOD ABOUT WHAT
WE'VE DONE.
I ALSO WANT TO SAY -- IN THE
REAL WORLD, ANY TIME YOU BUILD
ANYTHING, THERE'S NO SUCH THING
AS PERFECTION.
THERE'S NO SUCH THING AS 100%.
I THINK THERE'S BEEN SOME
MISUNDERSTANDING ABOUT SOMETHING
BEING PERFECT.
ANY TIME YOU DO A BILLION
THINGS, THERE ARE GOING TO BE A
FEW CHALLENGES.
AND, OF COURSE, THAT'S PRACTICAL
AND WE'RE ADDRESSING THOSE
THINGS.
BUT I STILL FEEL THIS BRIDGE IS
SOUND.
IT'S VERY GOOD.
THE PUBLIC CAN BE VERY PROUD OF
IT.
AND IT'S -- I'VE WORKED FROM SAN
DIEGO TO CRESCENT CITY.
THIS IS THE MOST FANTASTIC
BRIDGE THAT I'VE SEEN FROM SAN
DIEGO TO CRESCENT CITY.
>> LET ME BRING IN CHARLES
PILLAR, FROM THE "SACRAMENTO BY.
BEE."
AND YOU'VE BEEN COVERING THE
BRIDGE.
WHAT DO YOU MAKE OF WHAT BRIAN
MARONEY JUST SAID AND YOU WOULD
HAVE A TECHNICAL BRIEFING WITH
CALTRANS.
WHAT ARE ARE YOU HEARING FROM
ENGINEERS OUTSIDE OF CALTRANS.
>> I WANT TO COMMEND THEM FOR
THE TECHNICAL BRIEFING IN ONE
RESPECT.
WHAT WAS INTERESTING ABOUT IT IS
FOR THE FIRST TIME THEY ACCEPTED
OUTSIDE CRITICISM AS HAVING
CONSIDERABLE VALIDITY ABOUT THE
CONCERNS ABOUT THE HIGH STRENGTH
ANCHOR RODS AND BOLTS ON THE
BRIDGE AND WHAT IRRELEVANT MEANS
IS THEIR SHOWING A DEGREE OF
OPENNESS TO RECONSIDER THE
PIPELINE POSITION AND LETTING
THE OUTSIDE EXPERTS WHO ARE
QUITE BRILLIANT IN THEIR OWN
RIGHT HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO
STATE THEIR CASE.
I THINK THE NEXT QUESTION FOR
CALTRANS IN THIS REGARD IS
PARTICULARLY WITH THE BOLTS IS,
WILL THEY ALLOW ALLOW THEM FOR
TESTS TO GET AN INDEPENDENT
REVIEW OF WHAT CALTRANS WAS VERY
REASSURING IN THE COMMENTS THAT
THEY MAKE ABOUT THE VALIDITY OF
THEIR TESTS AND ABOUT THE
STABILITY OF THE STRUCTURE.
AND I THINK IT'S SO GREAT THEY
FEEL SO CONFIDENT.
IF THEY'RE SO CONFIDENT WHY NOT
RELEASE SAMPLES OF THE BOLTS TO
THE INDEPENDENT ENGINEERS WHO
REQUESTED THEM SO THAT THESE
KINDS OF TESTS CAN BE DONE
INDEPENDENTLY AND NEW TESTS THAT
MIGHT GIVE THE PUBLIC AN EXTRA
MEASURE OF REASSURANCE ABOUT HOW
GREAT THAT STRUCTURE REALLY IS.
>> SINCE WE HAVE THE CHIEF
ENGINEER FROM THE BAY BRIDGE
HERE FROM CALTRANS, BRIAN
MARONEY, WHY NOT HAVE OUTSIDE
FOLKS TEST THE BOLTS AND RODS?
>> WELL, I'M NOT IN A POSITION
TO GIVE AWAY STATE PROPERTY.
HOWEVER, I THINK WE'VE BEEN
REALLY OPENED TO INVITING
EVERYBODY TO COME IN AND REVIEW
OUR DATA AND I HOPE WE'LL
CONTINUE TO DO THAT.
I CERTAINLY WILL BE A FULL
PARTICIPANT OF MAKING SURE
EVERYBODY GETS A CHANCE TO SEE
EVERYTHING WE'RE DOING.
AGAIN, I THINK WE'VE BEEN OPENED
AND I'M WILLING TO CONTINUE TO
BE OPENED.
IF WE TRANSFER MATERIAL TO OTHER
AGENCIES, THAT THIS WHOLE BRIDGE
PROGRAM OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE WILL
HAVE TO EVALUATE.
I'M 100% OPENED TO ANY KIND OF
REVIEW.
SO IT'S A PUBLIC BRIDGE.
I BELIEVE THE PUBLIC SHOULD GET
A CHANCE TO SEE AND UNDERSTAND
EVERYTHING.
>> YOU HAD A REPORT THIS WEEK,
TALKING ABOUT MISALIGNED STEEL
SECTIONS.
CAN YOU EXPLAIN WHAT YOU FOUND?
WHAT HAPPENED WAS THAT WHEN THEY
MADE THESE GIANT STEEL HOLES AND
SHIPPED THEM FROM CHINA, THEY
FIT TOGETHER ONE WAY IN CHINA.
AND WHEN THEY ARRIVED HERE THEY
FIT TOGETHER IN DIFFERENT WAYS.
THE úJTOP, THE LONG PLANE WHERE
THE DECK IS WHERE PEOPLE DRIVE
OVER THERE WERE DIPS AND
VALLEYS, SMALL, BY PROPOTION TO
THE THICKNESS.
OF 14 MILLIMETER AND THIS WAS AS
MUCH AS EIGHT SO IT WAS HALF.
YOU HAVE TO FABRICATE A WELL, A
DIFFERENT WAY AND THAT WELL CAN
BE A PROBLEM AND WHAT HAPPENED
WAS THE CHIEF DESIGNER OF THE
BRIDGE GAVE A BRIEFING TO
CALTRANS IN 2010, HE SAID IN A
MAJOR EARTHQUAKE A SEISMIC EVENT
LIKE THE TYPE BRIAN WAS TALKING
ABOUT.
YOU COULD HAVE AREAS OF LOCAL
FAILURE IN THE MISALIGNED
SECTIONS.
THAT DOESN'T MEAN THE BRIDGE IS
GOING TO FALL DOWN.
BUT THE QUESTION WAS -- WHY
WOULD YOU ACCEPT THIS MATERIAL
THAT WOULD BAKE ADDITIONAL
FAILURES THAT AREN'T NECESSARY,
CONSIDERING THERE ARE A NUMBER
OF FAILURES THEY ANTICIPATE
WHAT'S GOING TOíw.AA IN AN
EARTHQUAKE.
THAT'S WHERE -- THE QUESTION
IS -- WHY WOULD YOU ACCEPT THIS
MATERIAL?
IT WASN'T ACCESSIBLE UNDER
CALTRANS' STANDARDS OR THE
WELDING SOCIETY BRIDGE CODE OR
ALL THESE DIFFERENT RULES THAT
SAY YOU CAN'T DO THIS.
IT HAS A NUMBER OF RISKS BUT THE
SIGNIFICANT RISK WAS A SEISMIC
ONE.
>> AND SENATOR, YOU'RE HEAD OF
THE SENATE TRANSPORTATION AND
HOUSING COMMITTEE INVESTIGATING
ALL THIS.
ARE YOU ASKING THE SAME
QUESTIONS.
WHAT'S YOUR INVESTIGATION NOW?
>> IT'S ONGOING.
WE HAD HOPE TO BE DONE BY NOW
AND WE KEEP FINDING MORE AND
MORE AND WE KEEP GETTING MORE
AND MORE PEOPLE COMING FOR
WARNED GIVING US INFORMATION.
WITH ALL DUE RESPECT TO MR.
MARONEY WHO I HAVE A LOT OF
RESPECT FOR AND BRIAN AND I HAVE
A LOT OF HISTORY ON THE BRIDGE.
I DON'T THINK IT'S BEEN AS
OPENED AS IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN
AND CLEARLY, THERE WAS MISTAKES
MADE.
THE BRIDGE IS TEN YEARS LATE
OPENING.
IT WAS $5 BILLION MORE THAN IT
WAS SUPPOSED TO BE WHEN I VOTED
FOR IT AND WE CONTINUE TO HAVE
ALL OF THESE OTHER ISSUES ABOUT
ITS DURABILITY.
I KNOW THAT BRIAN DID HIS BEST.
HE'S GREAT AT WHAT HE DOES BUT
CLEARLY THERE WERE MISTAKES MADE
WE WANT TO LEARN FROM THOSE
MISTAKES.
>> YOU WERE THE TIEBREAKER VOTE
ON THE METROPOLITAN
TRANSPORTATION COMMISSION WHEN
IT APPROVES THE DESIGN FOR THIS
NEW EASTERN SPAN.
IF YOU HAD TO DO IT ALL OVER
AGAIN WOULD YOU DO ANYTHING
DIFFERENTLY?
>> IT WAS A SUBCOMMITTEE OF NTC
AND I WAS ONE OF THE MEMBERS AND
THERE WAS A PROFESSIONAL GROUP
GIVING US ADVICE.
I THINK THE DESIGN WAS A MISTAKE
AND I THINK IT'S A BUJ BRIDGE
AND CLEARLY WE TRIED TO DO
SOMETHING ASPIRATIONAL THAT HAD
NEVER BEEN DONE, OF ITS TYPE AND
I THINK WE COULD HAVE DONE JUST
AS WELL IF WE WERE ABLE TO DO.
>> OR PERHAPS, RETROFIT THE OLD
BAY BRIDGE.
YOU THINK THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN
BETTER THAN THE NEW DESIGN?
>> I DON'T KNOW.
WE WERE GIVEN SPECIFIC COST
ESTIMATES OF WHAT IT WOULD DO
FOR THAT AND WHAT WE WOULD GET
IF WE BUILT THIS BRIDGE.
IT'S HINDSIGHT IS 20/20.
I THINK THE DESIGN DROVE A LOT
OF THE THINGS THAT HAVE RESULTED
IN A LOT OF INNOVATION BUT A LOT
OF RISK AS WELL.
>> AND BRIAN, I'LL ASK YOU THE
SAME QUESTION.
IF YOU COULD DO THIS ALL OVER
AGAIN, WOULD YOU DO ANYTHING
DIFFERENTLY.
>> I FEEL GOOD ABOUT WHAT
DIRECTOR DID MANY, MANY YEARS
AGO.
HE'S A GREAT LEADER.
I GAVE HIM ADVICE ABOUT
FANTASTIC BRIDGE AND WE CALLED
IT THE SKYWAY AND WE SUGGESTED
PARALLEL SINGLE-LEVEL STRUCTURES
AND IT WAS POTENTIALLY, I
BELIEVE, GOING THE SAME SIZE AT
THE OLD BRIDGE AS WELL AS
SOMETHING THAT WOULD PERFORM
MUCH BETTER.
BUT FOLLOWING THE NATIONAL
ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY ACT WHICH
IS FEDERAL LAW AND WE HAVE TO.
WE ASK THE COMMUNITY WHAT WE
WANT.
THAT INCLUDES A LOT OF PEOPLE
WITH COMPLEX VALUES.
MANY PEOPLE WERE INVOLVED.
I DON'T WANT TO NAME NAMES.
BUT I AGREE WITH SENATOR, THE
SENATOR, I THINK HIS PERSPECTIVE
IS EXACTLY RIGHT AND HE AND I
HAVE BEEN ON THIS FROM THE VERY
BEGINNING.
THE COMMUNITY CHOSE A FANTASTIC
BRIDGE.
THEY CHALLENGED ME AND MY TEAM
AND THE SENATOR AND WE PUT OUR
SHOULDER TO IT AND WE DID -- WE
DID THE VERY BEST JOB THAT WE
COULD HAVE DONE AND WE GOT A
GREAT BRIDGE.
IT IS OVER -- IT IS OVER COST.
IT HAS TAKEN TOO LONG AND I'LL
BE THE FIRST PERSON TO SAY THAT.
I COMPLETELY AGREE WITH THE
SENATOR ON THAT.
BUT YOU KNOW, I STILL FEEL THAT
AS I UNDERSTAND IT, MARY KING
AND OTHERS TAUGHT ME, WE NEED TO
FOLLOW WHAT THE COMMUNITY WANTS
AND AS AN ENGINEER, I'M A BRIDGE
NEAR.
I DO WHAT THE COMMUNITY AND
ELECTED OFFICIALS CHALLENGE ME
TO DO TO THE BEST OF MY ABILITY.
>> AND SENATOR, MARCH 4th,
CALTRANS GAVE THE NTC A FULL
ACCOUNTING OF CONSTRUCTION
ņ DEFECTS, FLAWS AND
IRREGULARITIES AND YOU HAVE SOME
LEGISLATION YOU'RE WORKING ON?
>> AS PART OF OUR INVESTIGATION,
AND THIS YEAR, IT WILL BE THE
BILLS FROM THE LESSONS WE
LEARNED FROM BOTH OF THE
INVESTIGATIONS.
>> I THANK YOU ALL.
>> I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT IT'S
CLEAR THAT AT LEAST ME AND MY
TEAM, WE'RE ABSOLUTELY GOING TO
SUPPORT THE SENATOR AND HIS
EFFORT 110%.
AND WITH THE ISSUE THAT JACKSON
BROUGHT UP, AND HE HAS
IDENTIFIED A POTENTIAL
DISCUSSION BETWEEN THE TWO OF US
AND MYSELF, I VERY, VERY, VERY
COMFORTABLE ABOUT MY DECISION
AND I FEEL WE LOOKED AT THE
OUTSIDE EXPERTS VERIFIED IT AND
THE PUBLIC CAN BE VERY CONFIDENT
AND THE SAFETY OF THIS BRING,
LEAVE IT THERE AND GIVE YOU THE
LAST WORD ON THAT.
BRIAN MONTH ROEN ANY WITH
CALTRANS AND CHARLES PILLAR AND
THE SENATOR AND JACKSON, THANK
YOU ALL FOR BEING HERE.
>> THANK YOU.
>>> AND COMING UP, A LOOK AT HOW
LEARNING COMPUTER CODE COULD
LEAD TO SOCIAL CHANGE.
>>> AND THE CRIMINAL
INVESTIGATION OF A PETE LIEU MAY
SLAUGHTERHOUSE.
UNDER FIRE FOR PROCESSING
DISEASED ANIMALS.
THE ISSUE IS RENEWING CONCERNS
ABOUT FOOD SAFETY AND RAISING
QUESTIONS ABOUT THE ROLE OF
GOVERNMENT INSPECTORS.
MEANWHILE, BAY AREA CATTLE
PRODUCERS ARE LEFT WITHOUT A
LOCAL FACILITY TO PROCESS THEIR
MEAT.
OUR NEWS REPORTER HAS BEEN
COVERING THIS STORY AND SHE
SPOKE WITH SCOTT SCHAFER EARLIER
TODAY.
>>> THIS STARTED OFF AS A RATHER
LIMITED INVESTIGATION AND WE'RE
NOW LOOKING AT A WHOLE YEAR'S
WORTH OF BEEF PROCESS OF THIS
PLANT BEING RECALLED.
WHAT'S THE LATEST ON THE USDA
INVESTIGATION AND THE POTENTIAL
IMPACT OF IT?
>> THIS RECALL OF NEARLY 9
MILLION POUNDS OF BEEF HAPPENED
ABOUT THREE WEEKS AGO WHEN A
PETALUMA SLAUGHTERHOUSE, RANCH
CEO FEEDING CORPORATION RECALLED
THIS AMOUNT OF BEEF THAT HAD
BEEN PROCESSED OVER THE COURSE
OF AN ENTIRE YEAR AS YOU SAID,
BECAUSE USDA OFFICIALS SAID THAT
DISEASED ANIMALS MAY HAVE BEEN
PROCESSED AT PLANT.
BUT THAT SPARKED A LOT OF
QUESTIONS BECAUSE BY LAW.
USDA INSPECTORS ARE SUPPOSED TO
BE THERE WHEN IT'S TAKING PLACE.
HOW IS IT POSSIBLE THAT DISEASED
ANIMALS MOVE THROUGH THROUGH
WITHOUT THIS.
EARLIER THIS WEEK, THE PRESS
REPORTED THAT AN INSPECTOR
ACTUALLY TRIED TO FLAG PROBLEMS
AT THE USDA PLANT AND WAS
IGNORED.
WE TALKED WITH USDA INSPECTORS
AND THEY WOULDN'T SAY MUCH ABOUT
THE INVESTIGATION BUT THEY DID
SEND US A STATEMENT SAYING THAT
THEN RANCHO OWNERS ARE POSSIBLY
CIRCUMVENTING INSPECTIONS AND
THAT THEY DON'T FEEL THAT THIS
RECALL IN ANY WAY REFLECTS ANY
FAILURES ON USDA'S PART.
>> BUT WE DON'T KNOW THE RESULTS
OF THE INVESTIGATION?
>> RIGHT.
>> SO THE RANCHO SLAUGHTERHOUSE
IS SHUT DOWN.
WHAT AFFECT IS THAT HAVING?
>> THIS IS THE ONLY
SLAUGHTERHOUSE IN THE SAN
FRANCISCO BAY AREA.
SO THAT MEANS RANCHERS ARE
DRIVING TO EUREKA OR OTHER
PLACES GET THEIR MEAT PROCESSED.
>> SO GOING WITH LIVE CAT?
>> YES AND IT TAKES HOURS.
THAT'S NOT AN INSIGNIFICANT COST
AND COUPLED WITH THE DROUGHT,
THEY'RE BEING HIT WITH FEEDING
COSTS BECAUSE THERE'S ENOUGH
GRAIN TO GROW THEIR OWN GRASS,
FOR EXAMPLE.
THEY'RE GETTING HIT ON MANY
SIDES.
THE OTHER WAY THAT THESE RANCHOS
ARE BEING HIT, SOME OF THEM HAVE
MEAT TIED UP THAT THEY PROCESSED
THAT THEY HAVE FROZEN AND WERE
HOPING TO SELL.
>> NO ONE HAS GOTTEN SICK THAT
WE KNOW OF BECAUSE OF MEAT
PROCESSED.
WHY IS IT BEING HELD BACK OR
RECALLED AND WHERE IS IT?
>> I SPOKE WITH BILL NEIMAN WHO
HAS ABOUT 100,000 POUNDS OF BEEF
IN COLD STORAGE.
AND HE'S HOPING TO GET THAT MEAT
RELEASED.
HE'S TALKING WITH THE USDA ABOUT
HOW THE PROCEDURES THAT HIS
COMPANY USES TO SLAUGHTER THEIR
CATTLE MAKE IT IMPOSSIBLE WITH
COMINGLED WITH OTHER MEAT AND
MOST OF IT IS NOT IN COLD
STORAGE.
IT WAS PROCESSED OVER THE COURSE
OF A YEAR AND IF PEOPLE HAVE
PRUNGTS THERE'S A PARTIAL LIST
ON OUR WEBSITE ON OUR NEWS LOG.
OF PRODUCTS THAT ARE BEING
RECALLED.
IF THEY HAVE THE PRODUCTS THEY
CAN TAKE THEM BACK TO THE STORE
WHERE THEY BOUGHT THEM AND GET A
REFIND.
>> THAT'S A GRASS-FED OPERATION.
HIGH END.
MANY OF THE BEST RESTAURANTS AND
GROCERY STORES SELL THAT MEAT.
WHAT DOES IT DO TO THEM AND
THEIR REPUTATION THAT THEY'VE
DEVELOPED OVER ALL THESE YEARS?
>> THEY'RE HOPING TO SECURE
THEIR REPUTATION BY GETTING
THEIR MEAT RELEASED FROM THE
RECALL ACTIVELY WITH THE USDA.
BUT THEY COULD TAKE UP TO A
400,000 DOLLAR HIT IF THEY CAN'T
GET THIS MEAT SOLD DURING THE
COURSE OF THIS YEAR.
INTERESTINGLY, RANCHO OWNERS ARE
NOT SAYING MUCH BUT --
>> THEY'RE HOPING THE THAT THAT
GETS RESOLVED.
RANCHO IS SHUT DOWN AND THERE'S
A LOCAL BUYER, MARIN SUN FARMS,
TRYING TO PURCHASE THE
SLAUGHTERHOUSE.
TOLL US ABOUT THEM AND WHAT IT
WOULD MEAN PORE THEM TO TAKE
OVER.
>> MARIN SUN FARMS A LOCAL PURR
PURVEY OF HIGH-END MEATS.
IF THEY SUCCESSFULLY BUY THE
PLANT AND THE PROCESS IS GOING
WELL, THEY WILL BE ABLE TO
PROVIDE LOCAL RANCHERS WHO RELY
ON THE SLAUGHTERHOUSE FOR THEIR
BUSINESS.
A MEANS TO CONTINUE THEIR
BUSINESS AND THRIVE.
THE OTHER THING THAT THEY HAVE
IS THAT IT HAS A FACILITY WHERE
YOU CAN CUT AND WRAP THE MEAT
AND GET IT READY FOR SALE AND IT
HAS A VERY ROBUST DISTRIBUTION
CHAIN.
SO PRESUMABLY, IF MARIN SUN
FARMS TAKES OVER, RANCHERS WHO
USE THEIR FACILITIES WILL BE
ABLE TO GET THEIR HIGH-END MEATS
TO MARKET, TO RESTAURANTS, TO
STORAGE FASTER AND MAYBE, MORE
AFFORDABLE.
>> SO, IN FACT, IN THE END IT
COULD BE A VERY HAPPY
RESOLUTION?
AT LEAST FROM THE POINT OF VIEW
OF THESE RANCHERS?
>> I GUESS IF YOU'RE LOOKING FOR
A SILVER LINING FOR THIS STORY,
THAT'S IT.
>> AND IN THE MEANTIME
VEGETARIANISM LOOKS GOOD.
>> FOR SOME.
>> THANKS SO MUCH.
>> THANK YOU.
>>> ON THURSDAY, PRESIDENT OBAMA
ANNOUNCED A NEW INITIATIVE
CALLED "MY BROTHER'S KEEPER"
AIMED AT HELPING YOUNG MEN OF
COLOR SUCCEED.
>> THIS IS AN ISSUE OF NATIONAL
IMPORTANCE.
AS IMPORTANT AS ANY ISSUE THAT I
WORK ON.
IT'S AN ISSUE THAT GOES TO THE
VERY HEART OF WHY I RAN FOR
PRESIDENT.
>> AMONG THE COMMUNITY LEADERS
ADVICING THE WHITE HOUSE IS THE
HEAD MENTOR AS AN OAKLAND-BASE
NOND PROFIT CALLED "THE HIDDEN
GENIUS PROJECT."
THIS GROUP AND OTHERS WANT TO
DIVERSIFY THE HI-TECH SECTOR BY
PREPARES MORE AFRICAN-AMERICANS
FOR COMPUTER JOBS.
AS WE REPORT, THE GOAL IS TO
TRANSFORM LIVES ONE KEY STROKE
AT A TIME.
>> AFTER THE -- OKAY.
>> --
>> Reporter: THESE NAMES SPEND
HOURS GLUED THE THEIR COMPUTER
SCREENS.
BUT THEY'RE NOT PLAYING GAMES OR
DOING THEIR HOMEWORK FOR THAT
MATTER.
THEY'RE STUDYING SOMETHING
THEY'RE NOT TAUGHT AT SCHOOL.
COMPUTER CODING.
THEY'RE PICKING UP HTML 5 AND
RUBY ON RAILS.
JOHN WHITE IS A SOPHOMORE AT
VALLEJO HIGH.
>> A NEW LANGUAGE.
IT'S LIKE YOU LEARN -- LIKE
YOU'RE LEARNING SPANISH BUT
YOU'RE LEARNING SOMETHING ELSE
OTHER THAN SPANISH.
LETTERS AND NUMBERS AND SYMBOLS.
>> REPEAT ONE MORE TIME?
>> THIS IS "THE HIDDEN GENIUS
PROJECT."
A SMALL NONPROFIT WORKING TO
RECRUIT YOUNG BLACK MEN INTO THE
HI-TECH SECTOR.
ONE OF THE FEW PARTS OF THE
ECONOMY THAT'S BOOMING AND
ACHING FOR DIVERSITY.
>> OTHER PEOPLE CAN HELP YOU --
>> THE BOYS HAVE TO APPLY TO THE
PROGRAM AND IF ACCEPTED, THEY
COMMIT TO CLASSES TWICE A WEEK
IN OAKLAND.
>> BRIAN IS A SOPHOMORE AT THE
HIGH SCHOOL IN RICHMOND.
HE HOPES FOR A FOOTBALL CAREER
AND THEN A KNEE INJURY PUT HIM
ON THE SIDELINE.
>> I DIDN'T THINK I WOULD BE
DOING ANYTHING AND THIS COMES
ALONG, HIDDEN GENIUS PROJECT AND
IT JUST OPENED -- I JUST THOUGHT
IT OPENED DOORS FOR ME.
>> BRIAN LIVES WITH HIS
GRANDPARENTS WHO REALLY LIKE
WHAT HE'S DOING.
BUT DON'T QUITE GET IT.
DELORES MURRAY IS HIS
GRANDMOTHER.
>> I DON'T HAVE ANY IDEA WHAT
CODING IS.
>> MURRAY DOES UNDERSTAND THAT
IT'S A PROMISING STEP.
INSTEAD OF PLAYING VIDEO GAMES,
HER GRANDSON COULD END UP MAKING
THEM.
FOR MONEY.
>> IT HAS BEEN A REAL GOOD THING
FOR A TEENAGE YOUNG MAN, WHO IS
TRYING TO DO THE RIGHT THING.
HE'S TRYING TO STAY OUT OF THE
STREETS.
TRYING TO GET GOOD GRADES.
HE HAS ALL OF THIS GOING FOR HIM
AND THEN "HIDDEN GENIUS" COMES
ALONG AND ADDS SOME MORE GEL TO
THE PUDDING SO IT KIND OF SETS.
>> A FEW WEEKS AGO THE HIDDEN
GENIUS STUDENTS SPENT THREE DAYS
TO BUILD THESE GAMES AND MOBILE
APPS.
THEIR VERY FIRST, ONE FOR BLACK
MALE ACHIEVEMENT.
AND BEHIND IT, IS THE MENTOR.
NOW, A TECH ENTREPRENEUR,
STARTED IN A VERY DIFFERENT
PLACE.
HE GREW UP IN FOSTER CARE AND
WHILE HE FOUND A WAY OUT, HIS
LITTLE BROTHER DID NOT.
>> THE SYSTEM REDUCED A LOT OF
HIS OPPORTUNITIES TO PURSUE HIS
OWN DREAMS.
HE WANTED TO BE A COMPUTER
SCIENTIST.
SO HE STAYED IN THE GROUP HOME
SYSTEM UNTIL HE WAS 18 AND THEN
HE AGED OUT AND THEN HE WAS
KILLED A COUPLE OF MONTHS LATER.
SO THAT WAS WHEN I DECIDED THAT
I WOULD FOCUS ON BECOMING AN
EDUCAGUCATO
EDUCATOR.
>> THIS IS ABOUT AGAIN RATIGENERATING
IDEAS AND PROTOTYPES FAST.
BUT TODAY THE FOCUS IS ON MOBILE
APPS THAT HELP TEENS DEAL WITH
EVERY DAY PROBLEMS.
WHAT TO EAT AND WHETHER TO SHOW
UP FOR SCHOOL.
BRIAN AND HIS GROUP ARE WORKING
ON A DO IT YOURSELF ADVENTURE
GAME ABOUT DECISIONMAKING.
>> MAKE THAT SMALLER.
>> HIS TEAM IS CREATING A
FITNESS APP WITH A CARTOON BIRD
THAT GETS SLIM OVER.
THE MORE HE EXERCISES.
>> HOME STUDENTS DO THIS?
JUMPING JACKS?
>> FIVE OR TEN?
>> EACH TEAM HAS TECH
PROFESSIONALS, COACHING THE
STUDENTS.
>> WE NEED DESIGNERS.
WE NEED A LOT OF PEOPLE.
>> OAKLAND IS A STONE'S THROWs.į
AWAY FROM SILICON VALLEY AND
COMPANIES LIKE THE MUSIC
STREAMING SITE PANDORA, HAVE SET
UP SHOP HERE.
BUT SHOW SAYS WHILE THE
COMMUNITY IS LARGELY
AFRICAN-AMERICAN, THE START-UP
WORKFORCE IS NOT.
>> SO MANY KIDS KOIB CONSIDERED
MISFITS OR BE CONSIDERED
DISADVANTAGES AND ALL THESE
DIFFERENT WEIRD THINGS BUT I
LIKE TO PREFER TO SEE THEM AS
LOW-OPPORTUNITY.
>> AND WE ARE TRAILBLAZERS.
>> AT THE END OF THE WEEKEND,
EACH GROUP PITCHES THEIR IDEAS
TO EACH OTHER, 12.5 MILLION
POTENTIAL CUSTOMERS AND A PANEL
OF JUDGES.
>> HOW DID YOU REACH OUT TO
FOLKS TO GET MORE INPUT ON THIS?
>> THE FUNDER, MITCH CAPER, HAS
INVESTED OVER $1 MILLION IN THE
OAKLAND START-UP TEAM THIS LAST
YEAR ALONE.
HE SAYS THAT THE EAST BAY IS
FULL OF UNPASSED POTENTIAL AND
MAYBE EVEN THE NEXT
BILLION-DOLLAR COMPANY.
>> I'VE ALWAYS BEEN LOOKING
AROUND THE CORNER.
SO WHEN I GOT STARTED IN
PERSONAL COMPUTERS IN 1978,
NOBODY TOOK THEM SERIOUSLY.
AND WHEN I STARTED WORKING ON
AND INVESTING IN INTERNET
COMPANIES IN 1993, NOBODY TOOK
IT SERIOUSLY.
AND SO ON.
SO THIS REALLY ISN'T ANY
DIFFERENT.
>> BLACK AND LATINO KIDS SPENT
PLENTY OF TIME USING TECHNOLOGY.
BUT THE "HIDDEN= GENIUS PROJECT"
WANTS CONSUMERS TO BE PRODUCERS
AND SEE THAT REFLECTED IN
HI-TECH PRODUCTS.
TAKE VIOLENCE ON THE STREETS.
>> IF WE WANT TO BUILD AN APP
THAT COULD HAVE SAVED TRAYVON
MARTIN'S LIFE WHEN THE BEST
APPROACH IS TO MAKE SURE THAT
TRAYVON MARTIN IS ABLE TO BUILD
THAT ARP FOR TRAYVON MARTIN.
>> WHAT POTENTIAL?
>> AS EXCITING AS IT IS, A
HACKATHON IS SHORT LIVED.
IT WILL TAKE A LOT OF CODING AND
PROGRAMS LIKE "THE HIDDEN GENIUS
PROJECT" TO REALLY CHANGE THE
GAME.
>> I LIVE IN SOUTH VALLEJO SO I
HAD'S GET HETTO EVERY DAY.
>> I THINK WE CAN THANK THE
WORLD WITH THIS.
>> THAT WAS KQED REPORTING.
JOINING ME FOR A LOOK AT OTHER
NEWS WE'RE TRACKING IS SCOTT
SCHAFER.
HI, SCOTT.
>> HI.
>> JER RAY BROWN FILED PAPERS TO
RUN FOR RE-ELECTION.
NO SURPRISE.
WHAT KIND OF RACE DO YOU THINK
HE'LL HAVE BETWEEN NOW AND
NOVEMBER?
>> HE'S IN GREAT SHAPE.
HE HAS $17 MILLION IN THE BANK
AND HE'S RUNNING AGAINST TWO
RELATIVELY UNKNOWN REPUBLICAN
OPPONENTS WHO DON'T HAVE MONEY
OR NAME I.D.
HE'S PRESIDING OVER A RECOVERING
ECONOMY AND A BALANCED BUDGET.
WELL KNOWN AND HIS POLL NUMBERS
ARE GOOD AND IT WOULD SEEM THAT
JERRY BROWN IS GOING TO CRUISE
TO RE-ELECTION COME NOVEMBER BUT
IT DOESN'T ALWAYS WORK THAT WAY
IN TERMS OF CONVENTIONAL WISDOM
PLAYING OUT.
>> WHAT ARE SOME OF THE THINGS
THAT COULD TRIP HIM UP?
IT SEEMS LIKE HE HIT THE SWEET
SPOT.
HE'S FISCALLY TIGHT BUT LIBERAL
ON SOCIAL JUSTICE ISSUES?
>> I THINK THE MAIN CONCERN IS
HIS AGE.
HE TURNS 76 IN APRIL.
HE HAD A BATTLE WITH SKIN CANCER
ON HIS NOSE A COUPLE OR FEW
YEARS AGO NOW AND THAT SEEMS TO
BE GONE.
THERE'S THAT UNFORESEEN THING
ABOUT THERE.
IF YOU ASK THEM PRIVATELY THEY
WOULD SAY THAT'S THE BIGGEST
CONCERN IF SOMETHING LIKE THAT
RAISED QUESTION ABOUT HIS
ABILITY TO SERVE.
>> GOVERNOR BROWN ALSO HAS AN
APPOINTMENT TO THE STATE SUPREME
COURT SOON.
HOW WILL THAT TIE INTO THIS
ELECTION YEAR FOR HIM?
AND ALSO, NEW STATISTICS KAURM
OUT ON THE ETHNIC MAKEUP OF THE
COURT TODAY.
>> AND THE JUDGES IN CALIFORNIA,
ALTHOUGH IT'S GETTING MORE
DIVERSE, STILL TWO-THIRDS MALE
AND WHITE.
THE STATE SUPREME COURT HAS FOUR
ASIAN AMERICANS AND A MAJORITY
OF WOMEN BUT NO LATINO JUDGES
AND NO AFRICAN-AMERICANS.
SO YOU CAN BE SURE THE PRESSURE
WILL BE ON THE GOVERNOR TO
APPOINT ONE OF THOSE JI
CITIESES, AFRICAN-AMERICAN OR
LATINO AND HE'LL HAVE A GREAT
OPPORTUNITY TO DO THAT IN THE
COMING WEEKS.
>> BUT FROM A GENDER
PERSPECTIVE, ABOUT 45% OF HIS
APPOINTMENT HAVE BEEN WOMEN?
>> HE'S DONE WELL.
THERE'S A LOT OF JUDGES.
HIS APPOINTMENTS HAVE AN IMPACT
GRADUALLY BUT STILL, JUST 32% OF
THE JUDGES ARE WOMEN.
CHANGING BUT SLOWLY.
>> THANK YOU, SCOTT.
>> YOU BET.
>>> KWOR ALL OF OUR NEWS
COVERAGE GO TO KQED NEWS.ORG.
>> I'M SCOTT SCHAFER, THANKS FOR
JOINING US.
>> HAVE A GOOD NIGHT.