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FROM THE KPBS STUDIOS, THIS IS SAN DIEGO WEEK.
HELLO, THANK YOU FOR JOINING US. THE BIG STORY THIS WEEK, THE GOVERNOR JERRY BROWN VETOS
THE STATE BUDGET.
SO, I'M VETOING IT TODAY BECAUSE I DON'T WANT TO SEE BILLIONS IN BORROWING, LEGAL MANEUVERS
THAT ARE QUESTIONABLE AND A BUDGET THAT WILL NOT STAND THE TEST OF TIME.
WE'LL TELL WHY YOU HE DIDN'T SIGN THE BUDGET PASSED BY HIS OWN PARTY.
IT LOOKS LIKE REDEVELOPMENT WILL TAKE A FINANCIAL HIT, WHAT DOES IT MEAN FOR THE CHARGER STADIUM?
ALSO IN THE SHOW, SPECIAL HOMECOMING AT NAVAL BASE CORONADO.
BLOWING THE BUGS OFF STRAWBERRIES. HOW IT IS DONE. ALL THAT AND MORE COMING UP BUT,
FIRST, THE NEWS. [MUSIC]
AMITRA SHARMA JOINS ME FROM THE KPBS NEWS CENTER.
Reporter: THERE IS GOOD NEWS FOR DRIVERS, PRICES AT THE PUMP ARE DROPPING ABOUT A PENNY
A DAY. HIGHER PRICES SINCE THE POLITICAL UNREST IN THE MIDDLE EAST THIS SPRING HAVE STRAINED
BUDGETS AND PUSHED DOWN DEMAND. GET READY FOR TRAFFIC JAMS, HOV LANES WILL BE CLOSED
IN BOTH DIRECTIONS FOR NINE DAYS STARTING TOMORROW AS CONSTRUCTION IS COMPLETED ON TWO
NEW CAR POOL LANES.
HOME FORECLOSURES ARE ON THE DECLINE. FORECLOSURES DECREASEDLE PERCENT IN PAY. THE NUMBER OF
DEFAULTS ON MORTGAGE PAYMENTS DROPPED LAST MONTH BY NEARLY 17%. AMONG THE REASONS FOR
THE DECREASES ARE THE RELUCTANCE OF BANKS TO PUSH THROUGH HOME FORECLOSURES AND MORE
SHORT SALES BY HOMEOWNERS.
AND FORMER DEFENSE SECRETARY DONALD RUMSFELD WAS SIGNING COPIES OF HIS BOOK. THE PUBLIC
WAS IN THE INVITED AND REPORTER QUESTIONS WERE RESTRICTED. HE SEES IT AS A CHANCE TO
TELL HIS SIDE OF HISTORY ON THE IRAQ WAR AND OTHER EVENTS. SOME CRITICS LIKE BOB WOODWARD
CALLS THE BOOK A WHITEWASH OF HISTORY. [MUSIC]
FOR THE FIRST TIME IN 20 YEARS, CALIFORNIA LEGISLATORS MET THE CONSTITUTIONAL DEADLINE
TO PASS THE STATE BUDGET. BUT THE NEXT MORNING, THE GOVERNOR VETOED THAT BUDGET. THE FIRST
TIME IN CALIFORNIA'S HISTORY A GOVERNOR HAS MADE SUCH A MOVE.
IN JANUARY I PRESENT ADD BALANCED BUDGET SOLUTION OF DEEP SPENDING CUTS AND A PROPOSAL TO LET
THE PEOPLE OF CALIFORNIA VOTE ON WHETHER TO EXTEND TAXES ON A TEMPORARY BASIS. UNFORTUNATELY,
THE REPUBLICANS SAID NO. THEY DIDN'T WANT THE PEOPLE OF CALIFORNIA TO HAVE THAT RIGHT
TO VOTE. THE DEMOCRATS, ON THE OTHER HAND, MADE SOME VERY DEEP CUTS. THE BUDGET THAT
I RECEIVED TODAY, THERE WAS MORE POSITIVE WORK. UNFORTUNATELY, IT DOES NOT GO FAR ENOUGH.
CALIFORNIA IS FACING A FISCAL CRISIS AND VERY STRONG MEDICINE MUST BE TAKEN. SO, I AM VETOING
IT TODAY BECAUSE I DON'T WANT TO SEE MORE BILLIONS IN BORROWING, LEGAL MANEUVERS THAT
ARE QUESTIONABLE AND A BUDGET THAT WILL NOT STAND THE TEST OF TIME.
AND THAD CAUSER IS A PROFESSOR AND HE TELLS ME WHY THE GOVERNOR DIDWAY DID. LET'S START
AT THE BEGINNING NOW. FIRST OF ALL, THE FACT THERE WAS A BUDGET TO VETO MADE NEWS. WHAT
CHANGED SO WE NOW HAD A LEGISLATURE THAT PASSED THE BUDGET ON TIME VERSUS THE PAST 20 YEARS
WHERE THIS DID NOT HAPPEN.
WE HAVE A RULE, WE MET THE DEADLINE, IT WAS CHANGED LAST YEAR THROUGH PROP 25 WHICH DID
TWO THINGS: PROVIDED THE WILL AND THE WAY FOR LEGISLATORS TO PASS THE BUDGET. THE WILL
WAS THEY DON'T GET PAID IF THEY ARE A DAY LATE. THEY WILL NOT GET THE MONEY BACK. THE
WAY, THOUGH, I THINK WAS MORE IMPORTANT, IT SAID INSTEAD OF HAVING TO GET 2/3 OF IT WHICH
MEANS REPUBLICANS AND DEMOCRATS TO GET TOGETHER TO PASS, IT COULD YOU PASS IT BY A MAJORITY
THAT'S WHAT THE VOTE, THAT'S WHAT THE BILL PASSED ON EARLIER THIS WEEK.
THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE SITTING AT HOME THAT THINK THIS IS A TRICK, LET'S PASS THE
BUDGET THAT THE GOVERNOR WILL NOT STAKE WE GET OUR CHECKS. I MEAN, DO YOU THINK THERE
IS ANYTHING TO THAT?
VOTERS CAN BE FRUSTRATED BUT GOING BACK TO, I THINK WEDNESDAY WHEN IT PASSED. THIS WAS
NOT A FOREGONE CONCLUSION THAT IT WOULD BE VETOED. THE GOVERNOR WAS SILENT AND WAITING
AND IT GAVE THE GOVERNOR A LOT OF WHAT HE WANTED JUST NOT EVERYTHING. HE USED HIS POWER
TO VETO IT. IT IS NOT ACTING CLEARLY IN BAD FAITH.
LET'S TALK ABOUT THAT, YOU HAVE A GOVERNOR WHO VETO AS BUDGET THAT WAS APPROVED BY HIS
OWN PARTY. HE SAYS THIS WOULD NOT HAVE WITHSTOOD THE TEST OF TIME. WHAT DID HE MEAN?
HE WANTS SOMETHING FROM THE OTHER PARTY. HE WANT AS CONCESSION TO NOT TO VOTE FOR A TAX
INCREASE BOUT PUT THIS UP, THIS TAX INCREASE UP FOR A PUBLIC VOTE. HE IS IN A SENSE PICKING
A FIGHT WITH HIS OWN PARTY IN ORDER TO GET SOMETHING OUT OF THE OTHER PARTY AND DOING
SO HE IS PUTTING HIMSELF IN THE MIDDLE OF THE POLITICAL SPECTRUM, WHICH IS WHEREVERRY
GOVERNOR WANTS TO BE. HE STARTED THE WAR AND SQUIRMISH THEY WILL NOT CONFIRM HIS APPOINTMENTS,
HE SAID THEY SHOULD BE PART TIME T HAS NOT BEEN PRETTY THIS WEEK.
LET'S TALK ABOUT THAT VOTE THAT HE WANTS TO PUT TO THE PUBLIC. WHAT IF VOTERS SAY, NO,
IT DOES NOT END UP ON A BALLOT. WHAT HAPPENS TO THE BUDGET?
YES. WE'LL PROBABLY THE LEGISLATURE WOULD RECONVENE AND IF THE VOTERS REJECT THE TAX
INCREASES THEY WILL GO ALL THE WAY WITH CUTS T IS IMPORTANT TO SEE HOW FAR WE HAVE COME
THIS YEAR. JANUARY 1, THE GOVERNOR IS SWORN IN THE LEGISLATORS ARE SWORN IN WE HAVE A
$25 BILLION DEFICIT. THE LEGISLATURE PASSED 11 BILLION IN CUTS. WE HAD GOOD NEWS IN APRIL,
5 BILLION. THE LEGISLATURE DID ANOTHER 4 BILLION IN CUTS. WE'RE ALMOST ALL THE WAY, WE'RE AT
THE 10-YARD LINE AND IT DIDN'T TAKE US INTO THE END ZONE TO RESOLVE THIS DEFICIT. IT DID
SOME BORROWING AND GIVING TO GET THERE.
LET'S TALK ABOUT THE CUTS, DEEP CUTS, CUTS, CUTS --BIGGER CLASSROOMS, WHAT IS BEING CUT?
THERE ARE SLIGHT CUTS TO K THROUGH 12 EDUCATION BUT MOSTLY THE SCHOOLS HAVE NOT BEEN AS HURT
AS OTHER AREAS OF STATE GOVERNMENT. THIS IS THE AREA THAT ALL VOTERS SUPPORT. WE HAVE
SEEN CUTS TO WELFARE, TO WELFARE, PAYCHECKS TO HEALTH CARE SERVICES, WE HAVE SEEN CUTS
TO THE COMMUNITY COLLEGES, CSU, UC IN EARLIER IN THE YEAR AND EVEN MORE THIS WEEK IN THE
PROPOSED BUDGET SO CUTS AROUND IN EVERY OTHER AREA OF STATE GOVERNMENT, SCHOOLS TAKING A
HIT. THE STATE BORROWING FROM THEM BUT NOT BEING SHUT DOWN.
SO THE GOVERNOR BROWN HAS SAID ON THE RECORD THAT, LOOK, IF THE VOTERS DON'T APPROVE THIS,
WE'LL SEE MORE CUTS, ALL CUTS, YOU HAVE TO WONDER, HE WAS THE GOVERNOR WHEN THE PEOPLE
VOTED FOR PROP 13 IN 1978. SOME ARGUE THAT'S WHAT PUT US ON THE TRACK. WE HAVE A STATE
THAT CANNOT INCREASE TAXES UNLESS WE HAVE THE 2/3 VOTE. ONE WONDERS IF JERRY BROWN HAS
BEEN STEWING ALL THESE YEARS SAYING, OKAY, OKAY, THIS IS THE BUDGET THAT YOU GET WHEN
YOU DON'T LET US RAISE TAXES OR INCREASE TAXES. IS THAT JUST SOME SORT OF CRAZY THEORY?
YOU KNOW WHEN HE WAS A YOUNG MAN IN HIS POLITICAL CAREER AHEAD OF HIM, HE WAS RUNNING FOR GOVERNOR
THAT YEAR, HE DECIDED TO SOFTEN THE BLOW TO LOCAL GOVERNMENTS AND VOTERS BY TAKING A STATE
SURPLUS AND GOING TO LOCAL GOVERNMENTS AND WHAT THEY LOST. NOW, HE IS IN THE TWILIGHT
OF HIS CAREER, HE KNOWS THAT'S KIND OF GIVING HIM THE POWER TO STAND TOUGH AND NOT TAKE
ANYTHING THAT HE DOES NOT THINK FIXES THE PAIN FOR THE LONG TERM F IT MEANS MAKING IT
CLEAR TO VOTERS THROUGH MAJOR CUTS, YOU KNOW, IF WE DON'T SEE TAX INCREASES, WE COULD SEE
SCHOOLS BEING HIT AND BEING CLOSED EARLIER AND SO HE HAS THE POWER TO SPEAK TRUTH TO
THE POWER.
THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.
THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME. [MUSIC]
THE STATE LEGISLATURE PASSED ANOTHER BILL THIS WEEK THAT WAS NOT VETOED IT WOULD TRANSFER
MILLIONS IN PROPERTY TAXES FROM REDEVELOPMENT AGENCIES TO SCHOOLS.
PECO PARK IS ONE OF THE PROJECTS INITIATED BY A REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY HERE IN SAN DIEGO.
THE AGENCIES ARE ARMS OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT THEY USE TAXPAYER FUNDS TO GENERATE DEVELOPMENT.
MOST OF THE PROJECTS ARE IN URBAN AREAS AND THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY NEARLY EVERY CITY HAS
A REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY. YOUR PROPERTY TAX DOLLARS CONTRIBUTE TO THE AGENCIES. HERE IS
THE BREAKDOWN. MOST OF YOUR TAX GOES TO LOCAL SCHOOLS. 20% TO CITIES, ANOTHER 20% TO THE
COUNTY, ABOUT 11% TO REDEVELOPMENT AGENCIES. THE BILL THAT WAS PASSED THIS WEEK WOULD SHIFT
SOME OF THOSE REDEVELOPMENT DOLLARS TO SCHOOLS. WE CONTACTED THE COUNTY TO FIND OUT HOW MUCH
OF YOUR TAX DOLLARS WILL BE SHIFTED TO SCHOOLS. A SPOKESPERSON SAID THE COUNTY IS LOOKING
AT THE NUMBERS AND NOT READY TO TALK ABOUT THEM, HOWEVER, SAN DIEGO HAS BEEN KEEPING
A WATCHFUL EYE ON THE LEGISLATION AND THE IMPACT THAT IT WILL HAVE ON DEVELOPMENT OF
THE CITY. THE COUNCILMAN TODD GLORIA, WHO REPRESENTS DISTRICT 3, JOINS ME NOW TO TALK
ABOUT THE ISSUE. HELLO THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.
THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.
HOW MUCH MONEY IN REDEVELOPMENT FUNDS WILL THE CITY STAND TO LOSE IF THE GOVERNOR SIGNS
THE BILL?
MILLIONS, MANY MILLIONS. WE GET 200 MILLION FOR REDEVELOPMENT IN THE CITY. DOWNTOWN, LOGAN
HEIGHTS, CITY HEIGHTS --UNDER THIS PROPOSAL AND WE'RE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT THE NUMBERS.
WE STAND TO LOSE, YOU KNOW, END UP RECEIVING BETWEEN 10 AND 40 MILLION T IS A SMALLER FIGURE
AND THAT'S WHY THE STATE HAS PUT THIS IN THE CROSS HAIRS, IT IS THE ABILITY TO BRING IN
A LOT OF CASH AND TAKE IT UP TO SACRAMENTO.
LET'S TALK ABOUT THE PROJECTS, REDEVELOPMENT AGENCIES. WE MENTIONED PECO PARK. WHAT ARE
THE THINGS THEY ARE LOOKING AT DOING, WE HEAR ABOUT THE STADIUM. HOW WOULD THIS IMPACT THAT?
CERTAINLY IT WOULD IMPACT THE STADIUM, WE HEARD THAT IT WOULD BE A PRIMARY SOURCE TO
FUND THE STADIUM. I THINK ABOUT MY OWN DISTRICT, I REPRESENT NORTH PARK AND CITY HEIGHTS. WE
HEARD THEM TO BREATHE NEW LIFE INTO NORTH PARK. AND IT IS THERE AND JOBS AND BUSINESSES
TO THE COMMUNITY. CITY HEIGHTS THE PROJECT AREA THE CITIZENs GROUP APPROPRIATED FOR THE
PROJECTS IN THEIR NEIGHBORHOOD. AND THEY ARE GOING NEAR ROUND. AND WE WORKED HARD TO DEVELOPMENT
AND IT WILL BE REDEVELOPED WITH THE FUNDS. ATHLETES ARE AT STAKE, PRESERVATION, HOMELESS
SERVICES, AFFORDABLE HOUSING. IT IS NOT ABOUT STADIUMS BUT STUFF THAT MATTERS TO NEIGHBORHOODS.
AND ISN'T THIS A QUESTION OF PRIORITIES? I THINK IT IS WHAT THE GOVERNOR SORT OF ARGUED
WHEN HE INTRODUCED THE BUDGET THAT YOU HAVE A LIMITED PROPERTY TAX PIE. HE BELIEVES THAT
THE DOLLARS SHOULD GO TO CORE SERVICES, SCHOOLS AND FIRE AND POLICE. NOT FOR REDEVELOPMENT.
AND THIS IS A PHILOSOPHICAL QUESTION THAT TAXPAYERS HAVE TO ANSWER. HOW DO YOU MAKE
THE CASE WE SHOULD SPEND THE MONEY ON THE REDEVELOPMENT PUTTING IT INTO THE SCHOOLS.
BUDGETS ARE ABOUT PRIORITIES BUT WE SAY IS THAT THE REDEVELOPMENT IS A BROAD TERM. WHAT
DO WE THINK IT PAYS FOR? JOB CREATION, AFFORDABLE HOUSING, NEIGHBORHOOD INFRASTRUCTURE. THESE
ARE THINGS PEOPLE THINK ARE PRIORITIES SO WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT THE COMPETITIVENESS FOR
BRINGING JOBS TO SAN DIEGO, HOUSING AFFORDABILITY IS A FACTOR WHEN THEY DECIDE TO COME HERE.
WE HAVE TO HAVE AFFORDABLE HOUSING. REDEVELOPMENT IS THE PRIMARY SOURCE OF CASH BE TO DO THAT.
TO LOSE THAT ENTIRELY WOULD BE DETTRY MENTAL. TO ANY OF THE POLITICIANS IN SAN DIEGO, IN
THIS BUDGET THERE ARE STILL, MY UNDERSTANDING, OVER 12 BILLION OF CUTS TO PROGRAMS. ELIMINATING
REDEVELOPMENT DOES NOT MAKE IT ANY BETTER, 12 BILLION OF CUTS WILL HURT EDUCATION, SOCIAL
SERVICES, EVERYTHING. LET'S NOT GET CONFUSED HERE. THE BUDGET IT STILL HURTS KIDS AND THE
SENIORS AND THE DISABLED. THEY ARE NOT GIVING US ANY GREAT CURE-ALL BY ELIMINATING IT BUT
SPREADING THE PAIN OUT.
WHAT DOES THE CITY DO NEXT, WHAT IS THE PLAN.
WE'LL FIGHT THIS, WE DEVELOP IT IS UNCONSTITUTIONAL. WE APPROVED THE INITIATIVE ON THE BALLOT THAT
SAYS YOU CAN NOT DO THIS. AND THEY IGNORE IT AND.
WHAT IS THE INITIATIVE? WHICH ONE?
THE LAST NOVEMBER BALLOT AND BASICALLY IT STAYED THAT THE, WE'RE TIRED OF THE STATE
RAIDING FUNDS TO SOLVE THEIR BUDGET PROBLEMS. WE HAVE THE SERIES OF THESE AND THEY TRY TO
GO AROUND THEM. THIS ONE SPECIFICALLY ADDRESSED A LOT OF THE THINGS LIKE REDEVELOPMENT. WE'RE
GOING TO FIGHT THIS. WE THINK WE'LL BE SUCCESSFUL AND FIGHT IT BECAUSE, AGAIN, WE HAVE TO HAVE
AFFORDABLE HOUSING. MY NEIGHBORHOOD IS CITY HEIGHTS I LIVE THERE. THREE GENERATIONS, WE
HAVE TURNED IT AROUND THANKS TO REDEVELOPMENT. YOU KNOW WHETHER YOU LIKE IT OR NOT, ANY REDEVELOPMENT
MEANS POOR COMMUNITIES LOSE. NO ONE CAN ARGUE THAT POINT, THAT'S WHAT WE HAVE TO FIGHT FOR.
TODD GLORIA, THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.
THE CARRIER RESPONSIBLE FOR BURYING OSAMA BIN LADEN DOCKED WEDNESDAY MORNING AT NAVAL
BASE CORONADO ENDING THE DEPLOYMENT. FAMILY AND FRIENDS WERE THERE TO WELCOME THE 5000
SAILORS AND AIR WING PERSONNEL ON THE USS CARL VINSON. AND WE WERE THERE TO CAPTURE
THE HOMECOMING.
DADDY! [MUSIC] >> I HEAR THE TRAIN ROLLING, ROLLING AROUND THE BEND... [MUSIC]
WE LOVE AMERICA.
WE LOVE DADDY! [ LAUGHTER ] [MUSIC]
I CANNOT TELL WHAT YOU A PRIVILEGE IT HAS BEEN TO COMMAND THE YOUNG MEN AND WOMEN, TO
--THE WORK THEY HAVE DONE ACROSS THE MARITIME OPERATION HAS BEEN PHENOMENAL T IS HISTORIC,
WE'RE PROUD OF THAT. I THINK EVERYONE WAS PRETTY STOKED, I THINK THAT, YOU KNOW, THE
FIRST WEEK OF MAY THEY WERE LOOKING AROUND AND VERY PROUD TO HAVE BEEN A PART OF THAT
PIECE OF HISTORY.
WE'RE VERY PROUD BUT VERY NERVOUS AT THE SAME TIME, I KNOW HOW IMPORTANT IT WAS TO THEM
AND EVERYONE IN THE COUNTRY THAT WE'RE HAPPY, PROUD, GRATEFUL. JUSTICE HAS BEEN SERVED FINALLY.
RIGHT NOW IT IS A VERY EXCITING TIME FOR AMERICA, IT IS AN EXCITING TIME FOR THE NAVY. AND IT
WAS GREAT AN HONOR AND PRIVILEGE TO BE A PART OF THIS. >> FEBRUARY 14th, I'M AT A LOSS FOR
WORDS. I HAVE SEEN PICTURES EFFICIENT HIM. NOTHING COMPARES TO SEEING HIM IN PERSON.
[MUSIC] >> YOU ARE READY?
THERE YOU GO, BIG GUY.
I'M GLAD AND I THOUGHT YOU WOULD CROWD ME.
WHEN WE HEARD IT, WE HEARD IT ON THE NEWS, THE NAME OF THE SHIP, WE COULD NOT BELIEVE
SHE WAS ON THAT. I COULD NOT WAIT TO HEAR FROM HER.
I'M PROUD OF MY DAUGHTER. [MUSIC]
KPBS KATIE UFAT REPORTING PGH IF YOU ARE LIKE AMERICANS YOU WILL EAT SEVEN POUNDS OF STRAWBERRIES
THIS YEAR. ONE FARMER IN SAN DIEGO HOPES YOU EAT HIS BECAUSE OF THE WAY HE GROWS THEM.
AND KPBS PEGGY PECO SAYS IT MAKES FOR TASTY BERRIES.
LET ME TAKE YOU DOWN, I'M GOING TO STRAWBERRY FIELDS...
A SALUTE TO CELEBRATE THE SPECIAL STRAWBERRIES ENDS HERE AT THE SOPHISTICATED MARINE ROOM
RESTAURANT. THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA PATENTED THE STRAW PERRY VARIETY CALLED SEA SCAPE.
THEY'RE DELIVERED TO THE RESTAURANT ON THE DAY THEY ARE HARVESTED. THESE ARE THE ONLY
STRAWBERRIES THAT THE CHEF USES.
MY STRAWBERRIES HAVE ARRIVED. ALL RIGHT. THIS IS GORGEOUS.
THE ROAD TO STARDOM FAR FROM GLAMOROUS, THE JOURNEY STARTS AT A UNIQUE ORGANIC GREEN HOUSE
IN OCEAN SIDE CALLED AIR STREAM INNOVATIONS. IT BRINGS US TO THE PERCENT PLACE OF THE STRAWBERRY,
300- FOOT PLASTIC COCOON WHICH IS A LOW-SPEED WIND TUNNEL. IT IS THE CONSTANT 3-MILE PER
HOUR WIND THAT DRIVES THIS STRAWBERRY TO PERFECTION. WIND THAT MAKES THIS SORT OF A FRUIT FARM
IN A BLEND.
THE INTAKE TOWER, IT STARTS THERE, IT CAPTURED THE WIND.
TWO FANS SUSPENDED IN THE GREENHOUSE KEEP THE THREE MILE PER HOUR BREEZE CONSTANT. THAT'S
ENOUGH PRESSURE TO KEEP THIS FRAMELESS BUBBLE INFLATED 24 HOURS A DAY, 365 DAY AS YEAR.
YOU SEE THERE IS NO FRAME HOLDING THIS UP, AIR PRESSURE.
DAN IS PRESIDENT OF THE AIR STREAM INNOVATION, HE BELIEVES THAT THE PATENT PENDING WIND SYSTEM
THAT HE DESIGNED IN 2005 IMPROVES THE PLANT'S PHOTO SYNTHESIS MAKING IT MORE FLAVORFUL.
THE AIR IS FLOWING FROM ONE END TO THE OTHER AT SLOW RATE. YOU CAN SEE THIS IS BARELY MOVING.
IT HAS MORE WATER, MINERALS CARBON DIE OX SIDE FOR FLOWERS AND BERRIES.
A LAYER OF BUBBLE WRAP PROTECTS THE SOIL FROM EVAPORATION IT REDUCES THE AMOUNT OF WATER
BY A THIRD. AND CONSTANT AIR PRESSURE ACTS AS MECHANICAL BARRIER.
HERE WE ARE AT THE BOTTOM OF THE INTAKE TOWER, SURROUNDED BY THIS.
IF IT MAKES IT THROUGH THE BLADES, NO PESTICIDES EVEN NATURAL ONES WILL BE USED TO STOP IT.
I HAVE USED MY PHYSICS BACKGROUND TO PROVIDE AN ENVIRONMENT WHERE WE DON'T NEED THOSE.
THE CLEAN SUN LEFT TO HUNGRY LADY BUGS.
THEY COST US MORE TO SPRAY WITH ANYTHING THAN USING LADY BUGS.
THEY ARE SAN DIEGO'S FOURTH LARGEST CASH CROP AND PART OF CALIFORNIA'S $2 BILLION INDUSTRY.
AND THE NEW APPROACH HAS NOT GONE UNNOTICED.
HE HAS AN INTERESTING TECHNIQUE. HE IS USING MECHANICAL PROCESSES TO MAKE SURE THAT NO
DISEASEs OR PESTS ARE IN THERE WHERE HIS CROPS ARE. WHEN SOMEONE DOES SOMETHING THAT'S MECHANICAL
AND IT SEPARATES THEIR CROP, THEY'RE FOG TO BE A LEG UP ON EVERYONE ELSE.
BUT ONLY IF IT IS COST EFFECTIVE.
YOU CAN GROW THEM SUCCESSFULLY HERE OUTDOORS F YOU WANT TO TAKE THEM INDOORS AND USE THAT
TECHNOLOGY, IT JUST A MATTER OF WHETHER THE RESULTS OR THE PROFIT MARGIN JUSTIFIES THE
INVESTMENT IN THE TECHNOLOGY.
I KNOW FROM MY NUMBERS NOW IT IS COST EFFECTIVE. AND GIVEN THAT IT IS COST EFFECTIVE, IT WILL
BE THE SOLUTION.
A SOLUTION THAT IS GOOD FOR THE TASTE BUDS AND THE ENVIRONMENT, SAYS THE CHEF. THE ADVICE
IS BUY OR GAP TRICK A FARMER'S MARKET.
WE HAVE THEM IN SAN DIEGO, 48.
HE PUTS THE FINISHING TOUCHES ON THE DISH, HE SHARE AS PASSION WITH FARMERS.
I LOVE WHAT I DO, I LOVE WHAT HE DOES. WE LOVE TO SHOW OUR PASSION.
STRAWBERRY FIELDS FOREVER.
KPBS'S PEGGY PECO REPORTING. AIR STREAM STRAWBERRIES ARE SOLD TO RESTAURANTS ONLY BUT THE COMPANY
HOPES TO HAVE THEM IN FARMER'S MARKETS SOON.
THREE YEARS AGO VENDORS AT THE MARKET IN CITY HEIGHTS STARTED ACCEPTING STOOD STAMPS FOR
FRESH FRUITS AND VEGETABLES. ORGANIZERS SAID IT WAS RISKY. THEY DIDN'T KNOW IF LOW INCOME
PEOPLE WOULD SHOP AT THE MARKET BUT ON THE FIRST DAY PEOPLE LINED UP FOR HOURS, THEY
LINED UP EVERY SATURDAY MORNING SINCE. AND CITY HEIGHTS HAS THE HIGHEST FOOD STAMP REDEMPTION
RATE OF ANY MARKET IN THE NATION. THIS NEXT STORY COMES TO FROM US OUR PARTNERS ON THE
SPEAK CITY HEIGHTS PROJECT.
THEY WERE GOING TO BE MAKING A SQUASH DISH. DO YOU LIKE THAT?
YES.
IT CAME IN A --I SAW A LOT OF MY FAMILY MEMBERS WITH DIABETES, HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE THAT'S
SOMETHING I DID NOT WANT FOR MY FAMILY SO WE STARTED MAKING HEALTHIER CHANGES.
AND IT HAS THE LOWEST PARTICIPATION RATE IN THE NATION. SO THERE IS A LOT OF EFFORTS HERE
IN SAN DIEGO COUNTY AND PARTICULARLY AT CITY HEIGHTS TO MAKE SURE WE INCREASE THE SECURITY.
AND THE MARKET HAS BEEN A SUCCESS AS FAR AS SUPPORTING THE PROGRAM. SINCE THE MARKET STARTED
THERE HAS BEEN $70,000 WORTH OF EBT DOLLARS SPENT.
SINCE WE WERE CERTIFIED BECAUSE OF OUR PARTNERSHIP WITH IRC AND THE PROGRAM, WE SAW THAT IT WOULD
BE A BENEFIT TO THE COMMUNITIES TO OPEN UP AND BRING MARKETS. THE FRESH AND LOCAL PRODUCE,
CALIFORNIA PRODUCE, INTO THE COMMUNITIES THAT HAVE NEVER BEEN SERVE BADE FARMER'S MARKET
BEFORE.
I DON'T CARE WHAT I EAT, I WILL EAT WHATEVER I SEE OR GO DRIVE THROUGH. AND SINCE I GOT
PREGNANT, I CHANGED MY HABITS HOW I EAT, I WANT TO BE A ROLE MODEL FOR MY SON.
THE MANAGERS UNDERSTANDS, THEY HAVE TOKENS READY TO GET HANDED OUT. THERE ARE VOUCHERS.
THEY COME TO US, THEY PAY WHAT W* A TOKEN.
AND MY BUDGET MY WEEKLY OR MONTHLY BUDGET. WE GET MORE FRUITS, VEGETABLES, EGGS, HONEY.
PEOPLE WITH LOW INCOMES NEED THAT. WE NEED CUSTOMERS SO IT WORKS OUT BOTH WAYS.
THIS MARKET IS UNIQUE BECAUSE OF THE NATURE OF THE COMMUNITY AND THE MARKET YOU THAT WILL
SEE REFLECTS THAT. WE HAVE GONE OUT OF OUR WAY TO FIND VENDORS WHO SHOW A DIVERSITY OF
PRODUCE.
AND THAI. CHINESE, CAMBODIAN.
IF THERE IS A LOCAL MARKET, IT IS GOING TO BE EXPENSIVE.
AND THEY CAN GET ITEMS THAT WE CANNOT GET.
CITY HEIGHTS IS A NATIONAL MODEL SO THE IDEA NOW HAS BEEN REPLICANTED IN FIVE OTHER FARMER'S
MARKETS THAT ACCEPT IT.
IT CHANGED MY FAMILY WHAT WE EAT ON THE TABLE.
THAT REPORT CAME TO US FROM BRIAN MYERS AND MEGAN BURKES AS PART OF THE SPEAK CITY HEIGHTS
PROJECT.
TOMORROW IS THE THIRD ANNIVERSARY OF THE MARKET IN CITY HEIGHTS IT IS OPEN THERE 9 A.M. AT
FAIR MONTH AND WHITMAN. YOU CAN SEE MORE STORIES FROM THE PROJECT ANY TIME ON THE WEB AT SPEAK
CITY HEIGHTS.ORGE NOW HERE IS A AMITRA SHARMA WITH A LOOK AT WHAT WE ARE WORKING ON FOR
NEXT WEEK.
COMING UP NEXT WEEK, AUTHORITIES ARE CRACKING DOWN ON SCAM ARTIVES WHO PREY ON IMMIGRANTS
HOPING TO BECOME CITIZENs. ON MIDDAY WE'LL FIND OUT WHY LIBRARIES ARE SO IMPORTANT TO
SAN DIEGO LAWMAKERS.
THANK YOU, AMITRA.
ALL THE STORIES CAN BE VIEWED AT KPBS.ORG.
HERE IS A LOOK AT THE FORECAST, THANK YOU FOR WATCHING. GOOD NIGHT.