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>> >>DWANE BROWN: DWANE BROWN. >> >>PEGGY PICO: PEGGY PICO.
>> >>AMITA SHARMA: AMITA SHARMA. >> >>BETH ACCOMANDO: BETH ACCOMANDO.
>> >>SUSAN MURPHY: SUSAN MURPHY. >> >>TODD GLORIA: TODD GLORIA.
>> >>DR. TAFFE: DR.�TAF TAFFE. >> >>DR. DICKERSON: DR.�DICKERSON. TELEMUNDO
TAMMY ABDOLLAH, ERIC GARCETTI, STEPHEN FILLMORE, SHAP REL CHAPARRAL, DESCANSO, CHAPARRAL, SAUDI
ARABIA, GAMER CON,. GOOD EVENING, JEANNA, TESTING THE ENCODER.
>> >>DWANE BROWN: I'M DWANE BROWN, TONIGHT ON KPBS EVENING EDITION, MORE ON THE CONTROVERSY
SURROUNDING MAYOR BOB FILNER WITH TALK FROM COUNCIL PRESIDENT TODD GLORIA.
ANOTHER BIG WILD FIRE BURNING IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA TONIGHT WE TAKE A LOOK AT THE DRY
AND DANGEROUS CONDITIONS HERE IN SAN DIEGO. AND IF YOU WANTED A PASS TO COMICCON AND COULDN'T
GET IT, THERE'S AN ALTERNATIVE. WE'LL GIVE YOU A LOOK AT SAN DIEGO'S GAMER
CON. KPBS EVENING EDITION STARTS NOW.
CAPTIONS PROVIDED BY ECAPTIONS. GOOD EVENING, THANKS FOR JOINING US.
TWO MORE ORGANIZATIONS HAVE JOINED CALLS FOR SAN DIEGO MAYOR BOB FILNER TO RESIGN.
THE SAN DIEGO CHAPTER OF THE NATIONAL ORGANIZATION FOR WOMEN AND THE LEAGUE OF CONSERVATION FOCUS
GROUPS ENDORSED FILNER DURING THE CAMPAIGN. SIX OUT OF NINE CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS HAVE
ALSO CALLED ON FILNER TO STEP DOWN INCLUDING P COUNCIL PRESIDENT TODD GLORIA.
AMITA SHARMA SPOKE WITH HIM. >> >>AMITA SHARMA: SAN DIEGO MAYOR BOB FILNER
IS CALLS THAT HE SHOULD QUIT THE OFFICE BECAUSE OF *** HARASSMENT ALLEGATIONS.
AMONG THE VOICES URGING FILNER TO STEP DOWN IS CITY COUNCIL PRESIDENT TODD GLORIA.
STORIES ABOUT MAYOR BOB FILNER SEXUALLY HARASSING WOMEN HAVE BEEN CIRCULATING AT CITY HALL ALMOST
SINCE THE TIME OR AT LEAST THE TIME HE WAS SWORN IN AS MAYOR LAST DECEMBER.
WHAT DID YOU HEAR? >> >>: I THINK WE ALL HAD WITNESSED BAD BEHAVIOR,
WRONG BEHAVIOR, THE TREATMENT OF ANDREW JONES. THE NATURE OF THE ALLEGATIONS COMING OUT IN
RECENT DAY, EXCEED ANYTHING I HAD EVER HEARD OF.
CERTAINLY TO THE LEVEL OF CRIMINAL ACTIVITY. >> >>PEGGY PICO: HAVE YOU EVER PERSONALLY
WITNESSED THE MAYOR SEXUALLY HARASSING A WOMAN AT CITY HALL?
>> >>: NO Y DID NOT AND NOT ANYTHING LIKE WHAT WAS DESCRIBED.
I DID WITNESS WHAT I WAS Y THOUGHT WAS INAPPROPRIATE BEHAVIOR WITH ANDREW JONES IN A VERY VOLATILE
AND DIFFICULT MANNER, BUT NOTHING LIKE WHAT WE HEARD FROM PEOPLE YESTERDAY.
>> >>AMITA SHARMA: IN AN INTERVIEW THE MAYOR HAD THIS TO SAY ABOUT THE *** HARASSMENT
ALLEGATIONS AGAINST HIM, LET'S TAKE A LOOK. >> >>: I BROUGHT THIS ON THROUGH MY OWN PERSONAL
FRAILTIES, AND THE BIGGEST MONSTER RIGHT NOW IS, YOU KNOW, INSIDE ME.
WHICH WE WILL DEAL WITH. BUT OBVIOUSLY, WHEN YOU'RE A MAYOR BHOOZ RR
TRYING TO DO CHANGE, PEOPLE WILL TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THAT.
I THINK PEOPLE, YOU KNOW, WILL HAVE TO ACCOUNT FOR THEIR OWN MOTIVATION IN ALL THIS, BUT
I'M CONFIDENT THAT AT THE END OF THE DAY, AFTER A FAIR PROCESS I WILL BE VINDICATED
AND WE'RE GOING TO MOVE FORWARD ON THE BIG VISION I HAVE FOR SAN DIEGO AND OUR FUTURE.
WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS ABOUT THE MAYOR'S CHARACTERIZATION OF HIS BEHAVIOR AND THE SITUATION ITSELF?
>> >>: I THINK THE MAYOR'S ADMITTING TO HARASSMENT, THE MAYOR'S ACKNOWLEDGMENT THAT HE'S DONE
THINGS WRONG IN THE PAST, HIS OWN SELF CHARACTERIZATION OF NEEDING HELP AND BEING A MONSTER, I THINK
ARE CONCERNING TO EVERY SAN DIEGAN AND PROOF HE'S NOT CAPABLE OF GOVERNING OUR CITY.
>> >>AMITA SHARMA: IT APPEARS THERE ARE TWO FACTIONS THAT HAVE DEVELOPED WITHIN THE SAN
DIEGO DEMOCRATIC PARTY. THOSE WHO SAY BOB FILNER IS ENTITLED TO FACE
HIS ACCUSERS. THE WOMEN NEED TO COME FORWARD, MAKE THEIR
STORIES PUBLIC, MAKE THEMSELVES PUBLIC. THEN THERE ARE OTHERS SAYING LOOK, BOB FILNER
KNOWS WHAT HE'S DONE, HE KNOWS WE KNOW WHAT HE'S DONE, LET'S SPARE EVERYONE THE PAINFUL
PROCESS OF MAKING PUBLIC EMBARRASSING DETAILS. YOU'VE CALLED FOR HIM TO RESIGN WITHOUT THE
ACCUSERS GOING PUBLIC. WHY IS HE NOT ENTITLED TO DUE PROCESS?
>> >>: HE'S CERTAINLY ENTITLED TO DUE PROCESS, I DON'T BELIEVE HE NEEDS TO DO THAT WHILE
MAYOR OF THE EIGHTH LARGEST CITY IN THE COUNTRY. THE MAYOR AD HAS ADMITTED TO BAD BEHAVIOR,
HE HAS NOT DENIED ANY OF THE CLAIMS THAT CAME OUT YESTERDAY, THE FACT HE'S NOT INTERACTING
WITH CONSTITUENTS, HOLED UP IN HIS OFFICE Y THINK TELLS THE PUBLIC EVERYTHING THEY NEED
TO KNOW. AT THE END OF THE DAY PEOPLE ELECT US TO OFFICE
TO YIELD RESULTS. IT'S QUITE OBVIOUS THE MAYOR IS NOT CAPABLE
OF DOING THAT FOR OUR CITY AND HE SHOULD GO. WITH IN THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY, YES THIS IS
DIFFICULT, HE'S THE HIGHEST ELECTED DEMOCRAT IN OUR CITY, WE KNOW HE CAN'T BE SUCCESSFUL
ANY LONGER. WHETHER AS A SAN DIEGAN OR A DEMOCRAT WE SHOULD
STAND UP AND SAY HE SHOULD RESIGN. >> >>AMITA SHARMA: THE MAYOR ALSO SPOKE TO
KUSI, HE SAID DESPITE THE ALLEGATIONS, CITY BUSINESS IS GETTING DONE. HERE'S MORE OF WHAT
HE SAID. >> >>: THE CITY WILL CONTINUE TO BE GOVERNED
AT A VERY HIGH AND EFFECTIVE LEVEL. WALT ECKERS WHO GOVERNED THE COUNTY FOR 14
YEARS AS ONE OF THE BEST LOCAL GOVERNMENTS IN AMERICA IS IN CHARGE.
AND THEY'RE GOING TO BE INSULATED FROM THESE PROCESSES.
I WANT TO ASSURE THE PEOPLE OF SAN DIEGO THE CITY'S GOING TO BE WELL GOVERNED WHILE WE
DEAL WITH THE PROCESS OF THESE WHAT MIGHT BE INVESTIGATIONS.
>> >>AMITA SHARMA: SO, IS THAT TRUE? >> >>: THE CITY COUNCIL'S GOING TO MAKE SURE
WE GET THE CITY'S BUSINESS IS GETTING DONE. WE DON'T HAVE A STAFFING PROBLEM, WE HAVE
A MAYOR PROBLEM. >> >>AMITA SHARMA: IF BOB FILNER WERE TO STEP
DOWN, YOU BECOME INTERIM MAYOR. DO YOU HAVE ANY DESIRE TO RUN FOR MAYOR?
>> >>: I'M FOCUSED ON THE CITY COUNCIL PRESIDENT. WE HAVE TO CLEAN UP THIS MESS AT CITY HALL.
THE FIRST STEP IS HAVING THE MAYOR RESIGN. >> >>AMITA SHARMA: WALT ECKERT WILL BE RUNNING
THE CITY, HAVE THE REPUBLICANS STAGED A KOO BECAUSE OF MAYOR FILNER'S ALLEGED INDISCRETIONS?
>> >>: NO, I DON'T THINK THAT'S THE CASE AT ALL.
I THINK WHAT THE MAYOR IS DOING IS FAIRLY STRATEGIC, BRINGING ON CAPABLE PEOPLE TO RUN
THE CITY. THEY CAN HELP HIM RUN THE CITY, IT'S OBVIOUS
HE CANNOT RUN THE CITY AND THAT'S WHY HE NEEDS TO RESIGN.
>> >>DWANE BROWN: AS YOU JUST HEARD THE MAYOR HAS HIRE AD NEW INTERIM CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER,
WALT ECKERT, SANDHYA DERKS WONDERED IF THIS DEVELOPMENT WOULD HELP THE MAYOR WEATHER THE
STORM. SO SANDHYA, WHO DID YOU TALK WITH ABOUT THIS?
>> >>: I CALLED UP STEVE EERIE APOLITICAL SCIENTIST.
HE WROTE THE BOOK PARADISE PLUNDER. HE'S TRAINED HIS EYE ON SAN DIEGO POLITICS
FOR A LONG TIME. ASKED HIM WHAT IS GOING ON BEHIND THE SCENES,
FELLOW DEMOCRATS AS YOU SAW ARE TELLING HIM TO STEP DOWN BECAUSE HE ISN'T IN CONTROL OF
THE CITY. EERIE ADMITS RIGHT NOW THE MAYOR'S OFFICE
IS BASICALLY IN RECEIVERSHIP. HE TOLD ME NOT TO MAKE TOO MUCH OUT OF THE
FACT FILNER HAS BROUGHT IN A CONSERVATIVE REPUBLICAN TO RUN HIS OFFICE.
>> >>: CERTAINLY THIS IS, YOU KNOW, AN ATTEMPT TO BUILD RAPPORT WITH THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY.
I WOULDN'T CALL IT A, YOU KNOW A REPUBLICAN COO.
IF YOU KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT BOB FILNER, RIGHT, HE'S NOT GOING TO TREMENDOUSLY, UH, SURRENDER
POWER. >> >>: WHICH OF COURSE IS PRETTY OBVIOUS FROM
THE PAST WEEK. HE SAYS THE MAYOR MAY TAKE A STEP BACK, BUT
SAYS THE MAYOR IS STILL IN CONTROL. AND YOU KNOW HE ALSO SAYS THE MAYOR NEEDED
THIS. THE LAST MAYOR, EVEN, NEEDED THIS.
EERIE SAYS THE MAYOR'S OFFICE WAS KIND OF A MESS AND IT WAS BT JUST THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY
THAT FELT SLIGHTED. DEMOCRATS WHO HAD CAMPAIGNED AND VOTED FOR
FILNER. EERIE SAYS THEY ALL FELT LOCKED OUTSIDE THE
CASTLE GATES. >> >>DWANE BROWN: DID HE HAVE ANY THOUGHTS
ON HOW THE SCANDAL WOULD TURN OUT? HE KIND OF, UH, ALLUDED TO THAT.
WILL HE RESIGN, THE MAYOR, OR WILL HE STAY ON?
>> >>: HE SAYS THERE ARE BASICALLY TWO WAYS FOR A MAYOR TO LEAVE OFFICE.
RECALL, OR FELONY CONVICTION. HE ALSO SAYS THE BEST TIME TO BE EMBROILED
IN A SCANDAL IN SAN DIEGO IS THE SUMMER, WHILE WE CAN'T STOP TALKING ABOUT THIS, A LOT OF
PEOPLE ARE DOWN THAT BEACH AND THESE THINGS CAN BLOW OVER.
HE NOTED THESE ARE VERY SERIOUS CHARGES AND SHOULD NOT BE TAKEN LIGHTLY.
>> >>DWANE BROWN: KPBS METRO REPORTER SANDHYA DERKS.
THE CITY ATTORNEY SAYS HE WILL REPRESENT SAN DIEGO IF A *** HARASSMENT CLAIM OR LAWSUIT
IS FILED. BUT HE HAS NOT BEEN ASKED TO REPRESENT THE
MAYOR. FILNER HAS RETAINED A PRIVATE ATTORNEY. JAN
GOLDSMITH SAYS HE HAS NO COMMENT. YOU CAN FIND LINKS TO OUR COVERAGE OF THE
MAYOR'S TROUBLES AND THE DOCUMENTS RELEASED BY FILNER AND HIS DETRACTORS.
WE'VE GOT A SPECIAL SECTION CALLED THE FILNER FILES.
YOU CAN FIND IT AT KPBS.ORG/NEWS/FILNER. IN OTHER NEWS, PRESIDENT OBAMA SAYS HE WILL
NOT SIGN AN IMMIGRATION BILL WITHOUT A PATHWAY TO CITIZENSHIP IN AN INTERVIEW WITH TELEMUNDO.
HE SAYS IT DOESN'T MAKE SENSE. THERE'S AN ESTIMATED 11�MILLION PEOPLE LIVING
IN THE COUNTRY ILLEGALLY, AND OBAMA SAYS THEIR STATUS NEEDS TO RESOLVE.
IF NOT THE U.S. WILLED WIND UP WITH TWO. POLICE IN LOS ANGELES ARE READY TO CRACK DOWN
IF THEY SEE MORE VIOLENT PROTEST OVER THE ACQUITTAL OF GEORGE ZIMMERMAN.
HE'S THE FLORIDA MAN TRIED IN THE SHOOTING DEATH OF A TEENAGER.
THE DEMONSTRATIONS BEGAN ON SATURDAY AFTER A VERDICT WAS ANNOUNCED.
A WILD FIRE IS THREATENING HOMES IN THE MOUNTAINS NEAR PALM SPRINGS TONIGHT.
THE MOUNTAIN FIRE IS BURNING BETWEEN PALM SPRINGS AND HEMET IN RIVERSIDE COUNTY.
IT STARTED YESTERDAY AFTERNOON. AND IT NEARLY DOUBLED IN SIZE OVER NIGHT,
THE FIRE HAS BURNED ABOUT 8,000ACRES. DRY BRUSH IS FUELING AN EARLY START TO WILD FIRES
THROUGHOUT THE STATE. SUSAN MURPHY TELLS US HOW IT'S AFFECTING PLANT
LIFE IN SAN DIEGO. >> >>BETH ACCOMANDO:
>> >>SUSAN MURPHY: STEVEN FILLMORE WALKS UP A CHAPARRAL COVERED HILL SIDE IN THE EAST
COUNTY COMMUNITY OF DESCANSO. >> >>: WE'VE GOT SCISSORS AND A SMALL SAW,
AND SOME LOPPERS. >> >>SUSAN MURPHY: FILLMORE IS FUEL OFFICER
WITH THE CLEVELAND NATIONAL FOREST. HE'S ON A MISSION TO TEST VEGETATION MOISTURE
LEVELS TO DETERMINE THE FIRE DANGER. >> >>: WHEN YOU LOOK AT THESE PLANTS THAT
ARE ALIVE, WHEN WE TAKE THESE SAMPLES AND TAKE PIECES OFF THAT, WE'RE TAKING THE LIVE
FUEL MOISTURE. >> >>SUSAN MURPHY: LIVE FUEL MOISTURE IS THE
LIVING PART OF THE PLANT. DEAD FUEL MOISTURE IS DEAD BRANCHES OR STICKS
ON THE GROUND. >> >>: YOU CAN SEE THERE ARE SOME DEAD STICKS
COMING OFF IT, INNER MIXED WITH THE LIVE. SO YOU HAVE BOTH LIVE AND DEAD FUEL MOISTURE
IN THE SAME PLANT. >> >>SUSAN MURPHY: THESE CHAPARRAL PLANTS
HERE IN DESCANSO ARE SO DRY THEY CRUMBLE IN MY HAND.
CLIMATOLOGISTS ARE WARNING SOME VEGETATION AROUND SAN DIEGO COUNTY IS THE DRYEST IT'S
BEEN FOR THIS TIME OF YEAR IN NEARLY A CENTURY. SAN DIEGO'S RAIN FALL IS FOUR IMPS BELOW NORMAL.
SOME PARTS OF THE STATE EXPERIENCE THE DRYEST WINTER ON RECORD.
THAT'S LEFT SHRUBS PRIME TO BURN. CALIFORNIA FIRE FIGHTERS HAVE BATTLED MORE
THAN 2000 FIRES SO FAR THIS YEAR AND THE PEEK OF THE SEASON IS STILL MONTHS AWAY.
FILLMORE CLIPS THE NEWEST GROWTH FROM THE TIPS OF THE CHIMISE AND FILLS HIS GLASS JAR.
HE SAYS THE PLANT IS FULLY BLOOMED WITH LITTLE WHITE FLOWERS AND HOLDS ENOUGH MOISTURE TO
STAVE OFF FUTURE FIRES FOR TWO MONTHS. >> >>: THEY'VE BEEN STRESSED.
WHEN THEY'RE STRESSED THEY DON'T PUT AS MANY RESOURCES INTO GROWING THAT NEW GROWTH, PLOWING,
AND PUTTING OUT THE SEED CROP. >> >>SUSAN MURPHY: FILLMORE TAKES THE CROP
BACK TO THE LAB. >> >>: WE NEED TO GET THE WET WEIGHT OF THIS,
WHICH IS JUST THE WEIGHT OF THE FUEL WHEN IT'S STILL WET BEFORE WE'VE DRIED IT.
>> >>SUSAN MURPHY: HE SUBTRACTS THE WEIGHT OF THE JAR AND MEASURES THE SAMPLES IN GRAMS.
>> >>: THIS IS 200GRAMS. WE RECORD THE 200GRAMS AS THE WET WEIGHT.
THEN WE JUST SIMPLY PUT THAT IN THE OVEN AT 212DEGREES FAHRENHEIT AND COOK IT FOR ABOUT
24 HOURS. >> >>SUSAN MURPHY: THE OVEN COOKS AWAY THE
REMAINING MOISTURE UNTIL THE SAMPLES ARE BONE DRY.
FILLMORE CALCULATES THE FUEL MOISTURE PERCENTAGES. >> >>: THIS ONE WAS 200GRAMS WHEN WE PUT IT
IN THE OVEN AND IT'S NOW 194GRAMS, IT'S LOST SIX GRAMS OF MOISTURE.
>> >>SUSAN MURPHY: THE SAMPLES ALL MEASURE BELOW 60% FUEL MOISTURE WHICH IS IN THE CRITICAL
THRESHOLD FOR FIRE DANGER. THE LOWEST THEY GO IS 50%, AT THAT LEVEL THE
PLANT BASICALLY SHUTS DOWN AND RESTORES ALL REMAINING MOISTURE IN ITS CORE UNTIL IT ARE
RAINS AGAIN. FILLMORE SAYS DRY VEGETATION IS A HUGE CONCERN
BECAUSE LOW FUEL MOISTURE CREATES GREATER FIRE INTENSITY AND HIGHER AND FASTER MOVING
FLAMES. >> >>: THE ENERGY THAT THE FIRE IS PUTTING
INTO SUSTAINING ITSELF GETS LOST WHEN IT'S TRYING TO Y EVAPORATE OFF THAT MOISTURE.
WHEN IT'S NOT HAVING TO DO THAT, THE FIRE CAN PUT MORE ENERGY INTO THE FLAME LENGTHS
AND HOW FAST IT MOVES. >> >>SUSAN MURPHY: FILLMORE TRAINS FIRE FIGHTERS
ON FUELS BECAUSE THE ENVIRONMENTAL AWARENESS CAN BE LIFE SAVING ON THE FRONT LINES OF A
RAGING FIRE. >> >>: THE MORE THEY KNOW U ABOUT THE FUEL
MOISTURES AND ALL THE OTHER ENVIRONMENTAL PARAMETERS HAPPENING ON A FIRE, CONCEIVABLY
THE SAFER THEY WILL BE. >> >>SUSAN MURPHY: THE FUEL MOISTURE DATA
IS PASSED ON TO FIRE AND WEATHER OFFICIALS THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY AND STATE WHO DETERMINED
WHEN TO ISSUE FIRE ALERTS AND FLAG WARNINGS. >> >>: TOMORROW WE'RE AT A HUNDRED DEGREES,
THE FUEL MOISTURE IS AT 60 WHICH WE CONSIDER A CRITICAL FUEL MOISTURE.
THEN YOU GET A FIRE ON A MODERATELY STEEP SLOPE.
>> >>SUSAN MURPHY: RICHARD BOEN IS A FIRE ENGINEER WITH THE CLEVELAND NATIONAL FOREST.
HE SAYS UNDER THESE CIRCUMSTANCES, MORE RESOURCES WOULD BE ON STAND BY BECAUSE IT WOULD BE VERY
DIFFICULT TO SUPPRESS A FIRE TO UNDER 10ACRES. >> >>: IF IT GOES OVER, SAY, 10ACRES, THAT'S
WHEN IT'LL REACH ITS RESISTENCE TO CONTROL WHERE IT'S GOING TO TAKE A LOT MOW RESOURCES,
PLANNING, EVERYTHING TO GET IT UNDER. >> >>SUSAN MURPHY: SAN DIEGO'S TOPOGRAPHY
OF STEEP CANYONS AND FOOT HILLS MAKES IT ONE OF THE MOST EXTREME FIRE BEHAVIOR AREAS IN
THE COUNTRY. FILLMORE SAYS THEY'RE KEEPING A CLOSE WATCH
ON FUELS AND MAINTAINING A HIGH LEVEL OF RESPONSE. >> >>: I ALWAYS SAY YOU NEVER KNOW WHAT A
FIRE SEASON IS GOING TO BE UNTIL THE FIRE SEASON IS OVER.
BUT WHAT I DO SAY IS THAT THIS YEAR IS SORT OF STAGE IS SET, THERE'S A LOT OF POTENTIAL
OUT THERE. >> >>SUSAN MURPHY: PHIL FILLMORE SAYS SAN
DIEGO'S MAJOR WILD FIRES IN 2003 AND 2007 HAVE HELPED THEM PREPARE.
>> >>: WE'VE DEALT WITH THINGS LIKE THIS BEFORE. >> >>SUSAN MURPHY: SUSAN MURPHY, KPBS NEWS.
>> >>DWANE BROWN: SAN DIEGO COULD BE GETTING UP TO 800 MORE PRISON INMATES BECAUSE OF THE
STATE'S REALIGNMENT. CALIFORNIA HAS BEEN UNDER FEDERAL ORDER FOR
ALMOST TWO YEARS TO REDUCE ITS OVER CROWDED POPULATION.
LOWER RISK INMATES TO COUNTY JAILS, BUT THE STATE STILL NEEDS TO RELEASE 10,000 MORE INMATES
BY THE END OF THE YEAR. THE GOVERNOR'S REALIGNMENT SHIFTED LOWER RISK
INMATES TO COUNTY JAILS, BUT THE STATE STILL NEEDS TO RELEASE 10,000 MORE INMATES BY THE
END OF THE YEAR. SAN DIEGO'S JAIL SYSTEM IS NEAR 100% CAPACITY,
ESPECIALLY ON THE WEEKENDS, SO THE COUNTY WANTS TO EXPLORE OTHER OPTIONS TO DEAL WITH
THE PROBLEM. SUPERVISOR RON ROBERTS IS SUGGESTING VIDEO
ARRAIGNMENTS, EVEN WEEKEND COURTS. >> >>: WE WANT TO ADDRESS TWO ISSUES.
ONE, LET'S KEEP THESE GUYS IN JAIL, IF POSSIBLE. IF WE CAN'T, LET'S REORGANIZE OURSELVES QUICKLY
SO WE HAVE ROOM FOR WHAT WE'RE ANTICIPATING IS GOING TO BE AN INCREASED NUMBER OF PEOPLE
THAT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO HOUSE. >> >>DWANE BROWN: DISTRICT ATTORNEY BONNIE
DUMANIS SAYS IT'S A TOUGH BALANCING ACT. >> >>: BECAUSE PEOPLE ARE IN THE JAIL NOW
THAT WOULD ORDINARILY BE IN PRISON. BUT THE LAW CHANGE SAID YOU CAN NO LONGER
SEND THESE PEOPLE TO PRISON. THIRTYEIGHT PERCENT OF THE POPULATION ARE PEOPLE THAT SHOULD BE
IN PRISON. WHEN PEOPLE COME IN ON THE WEEKENDS THAT'S
WHAT'S FORCING THE OVER CROWDING. >> >>DWANE BROWN: THE COUNTY ALSO CONCERNED
THE NEXT GROUP OF INMATES BEING RELEASED MAY BE MORE VIOLENT.
THE STATE HAS UNTIL DECEMBER�31 TO COMPLY WITH THE FEDERAL COURT ORDER.
ANOTHER MONTH OF PRICE INCREASES IN THE SAN DIEGO COUNTY HOUSING MARKET.
THE CALIFORNIA ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS SAYS THE MEDIAN PRICE WAS OVER 483,000DOLLARS LAST
MONTHS, THE SAME TIME LAST YEAR IT WAS ABOUT 388,OOO.
WE TOLD YOU ABOUT A NEW STUDY SHOWING ANOTHER DRUG MORE POTENT THAN ***.
AMITA SHARMA HAS MORE ON THE SURPRISING FINDINGS. >> >>AMITA SHARMA: MORE THAN 100 SAILORS WERE
KICKED OUT OF THE NAVY IN SAN DIEGO LAST YEAR FOR USING BATH SALTS TO GET HIGH.
THE SALTS ARE CONSIDERED A DESIGNER DRUG AND ARE ILLEGAL IN CALIFORNIA.
BATH SALTS CAUSE HALLUCINATIONS AND NOW RESEARCH SHOWS THEY ARE MORE POTENT AND ADDICTIVE THAN
METHAMPHETAMINE. MICHAEL TAFFE AND TOBY DICKERSON AT THE SCRIPPS
INSTITUTE ARE STUDYING BATH SALTS. THEY ARE HERE WITH MET.
MICHAEL, WHAT ARE BATH SALTS MADE OF? >> >>DR. TAFFE: THE CORE MOLECULE IS VERY
SIMILAR TO AMPHETAMINE. IT COMES FROM A NATURAL PRODUCT, THE COTTON
PLANT. WE'RE IN AN EXPLOSION OF DESIGNER DRUGS MUCH
LIKE WE SAW THE AMPHETAMINES 20 YEARS AGO. IT'S A STIMULANT AND THIS IS JUST ONE OF THE
MANY, UM, MODIFICATIONS THIS MDPV COMPOUNDS IS ONE OF THE MANY MODIFICATIONS WE'VE BEEN
SEEING IN THE USER POPULATION. >> >>PEGGY PICO: TOBIN, HOW DID YOU STUD THEA
DRUG? >> >>DR. DICKERSON: WE SAW THIS FIRST EMERGING
IN THE UK IN ABOUT 2009, AND REALIZED THIS WAS EVENTUALLY GOING TO COME TO THE U.S.
WE FIGURED OUT WHAT THE DRUG LOOKS LIKE AT A MOLECULAR LEVEL AND THEN SYNTHESIZE IT IN
A LAB. WE MADE THIS, WE COULD DO ANIMAL MODELS, IN
THIS CASE WE USED RATS TO MAW MAAED T WHAT IT WOULD BE LIKE IF A HUMAN WERE USING THE
DRUG. >> >>AMITA SHARMA: WHAT DID THE FINDINGS SHOW?
>> >>DR. TAFFE: THESE ARE RATS THEY'RE GIVEN INTRAVENOUS LINES, THEY PRESS A LEVEL FOR
AN INFUSION OF DRUG. IN ONE YOU INCREASE THE REPRESSES THE PRESSES
THE ANIMAL HAS TO GIVE TO GET THE DRUG, THEY WOULD HAVE TO PRESS THE LEVEL MORE.
THE OTHER THING YOU DO IS DECREASE THE AMOUNT OF DRUG FOR THE EVERY LEVEL PRESS.
AS YOU DECREASE THE DOSE AVAILABLE, THE RATS CONTINUE TO WORK FOR THE BATH SALTS WHEN THEY
STOPPED WORKING FOR METHAMPHETAMINE. >> >>AMITA SHARMA: WERE THESE FINDINGS THAT
YOU HAD WITH THE RATS SIMILAR TO WHAT HAS BEEN DISPLAYED WITH HUMAN BEINGS?
>> >>DR. DICKERSON: THERE IS SOME ANECDOTAL EVIDENCE WITH HUMAN BEINGS WHERE HUMAN USERS
HAVE SAID IT'S VERY DIFFICULT TO STOP USING THESE BATH SALT DRUGS.
THEY'RE MORE POTENT OR STIMULATING THAN THEY WERE FOR SAY METHAMPHETAMINE.
WE DID SEE THAT WITH THE RATS AS WELL. THE RATS DID WANT THE DRUG.
WE DIDN'T LOOK AT COMING OFF OF THE DRUG, BUT THEY DID SHOW EFFECTS THAT THIS DRUG IS
MORE POTENT AND MORE REWARDING TO THEM. >> >>AMITA SHARMA: MICHAEL, WHAT DID THE FINDINGS
SAY ABOUT THE FUTURE? WHAT DID THE FINDINGS TELL YOU ABOUT THE FUTURE OF THE SYNTHETIC
DRUG INDUSTRY? >> >>DR. TAFFE: THEY'RE CERTAINLY GOING TO
BE AROUND FOR AWHILE. ONE OF THE THINGS WE'RE TRYING TO DO, THERE'S
A DIVERSITY OF COMPOUNDS. THE BATH SALTS ARE A COLLECTION OF DESIGNER
COMPOUNDS. WE WOULD LIKE TO GET OUT IN FRONT OF THE HUMAN
USE PROFILE SO WE KNOW MORE BEFORE PEOPLE START DOING THIN THEM IN SIGNIFICANT NUMBERS.
>> >>AMITA SHARMA: THAT'S WIN ONE OF THE PROBLEMS THAT THE COMPOSITION OF THESE DRUGS KEEPS
ON CHANGING AND SO THEY REMAIN OUTSIDE THE BOUNDS OF LAW.
TELL ME A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THAT. >> >>DR. DICKERSON: THE WAY THIS WORKED THE
DRUG USERS STAYED IN FRONT OF THE LAWS BOTH FOR DETECTION PURPOSES IN ORDER THAT THESE
DRUGS THEY TAKE THEM, YOU AREN'T DETECTED. IN THE MILITARY POPULATIONS, FOR EXAMPLE,
WHERE YOU'RE UNDER SURVEILLANCE. ALSO THEY STAY OUT IN FRONT BECAUSE OF REGULATION.
THIS COMPOUND MPVP WAS SCHEDULED IN 2011, THERE ARE NEW CATHINONES THAT ARE OUT.
THERE'S NO STUDIES ARE THEY MORE POWERFUL STIMULANTS THAN METHAMPHETAMINE.
>> >>AMITA SHARMA: HOW CAN LAW ENFORCEMENT STAY AHEAD OF THESE DRUG USERS?
>> >>DR. TAFFE: THEY'LL TRY DO PREDICTIVE MODELS AS WELL AND TRY TO WRITE LEGISLATION
IN A WAY OF THE WHOLE CLASS OF COMPOUNDS. ONE OF THE THINGS WE'VE ILLUSTRATED WITH SPICE
AND K2 IS THAT IT'S G DIFFICULT TO LEGISLATE IN A WAY THAT ANTICIPATES EACH AND EVERY MODIFICATION
THAT MIGHT COME ALONG. >> >>AMITA SHARMA: AS I SAID IN THE INTRODUCTION,
LAST YEAR A HUNDRED SAILORS WERE KICKED OUT OF THE NAVY IN SAN DIEGO FOR USING BATH SALTS.
WHAT MAKES THESE DRUG SOAZ POPULAR? >> >>DR. DICKERSON: I THINK IN THE MILITARY
POPULATION THEY ARE UNDER SURVEILLANCE, BEING MONITORED FOR DRUG USE.
YOU HAVE DRUGS THAT ARE NO LONGER BEING PICKED UP ON THE SCREENS.
THEN THEY'RE U U LOOED TO ALLOWED TO USE THOSE WITHOUT ANY REPERCUSSIONS.
THERE ARE SOCIOECONOMIC FACTORS THAT CAN PLAY INTO WHY SOMEONE USES DRUGS.
THESE DRUGS IN PARTICULAR SEEM TO HAVE A COMBINATION OF BEING OUTSIDE OF THE SCREENING, AS WELL
AS HAVING EXTREMELY POTENT ACTIVITY SO THEY'RE REWARDING AND REINFORCE.
>> >>AMITA SHARMA: MICHAEL, WHAT MADE YOU DECIDE TO STUDY BATH SALTS?
>> >>DR. TAFFE: WHEN THEY FIRST EMERGED, THERE WASN'T INFORMATION AVAILABLE, AS A SCIENTIST
WORKING FOR THE GOVERNMENT THROUGH TAX PAYER GRANTS, THAT'S OUR JOB.
>> >>DWANE BROWN: A BIG HONOR FOR UC SAN DIEGO TODAY.
THE CENTER FOR WORLD UNIVERSITY RANKING SAYS THE SCHOOL IS THE 20TH BEST IN THE WORLD.
THE CENTER RANKS UNIVERSITIES ON PUBLICATIONS, PATENTS AND NOBEL PRIZES.
OTHER TOP 20 SCHOOLS, STANFORD, BERKLEY, AND UCLA.
>> >>: THE FILIBUSTER FIGHT IN THE SENATE AND BREAKING THE CYCLE OF POVERTY IN INDIA.
TUESDAY ON THE PBS NEWS HOUR. >> >>DWANE BROWN: IF YOU'RE NOT AMONG THE
130,000 LUCKY ENOUGH TO GET INTO COMICCON THIS WEEK, YOU MIGHT WANT TO CHECK OUT GAMER
CON. IT'S AN ALTERNATIVE DESIGN SPECIFICALLY FOR
GAMERS, AND YOU CAN STILL GET TICKS. BETH ACCOMANDO GIVES US A LOOK.
>> >>BETH ACCOMANDO: GAME CON WAS A DESIRE TO BRING THEATER TO GEEKS, AND GEEKS TO THEATER.
>> >>: I CAN'T BELIEVE NO ONE'S EVER THOUGHT IT BEFORE.
A RAID IN THE MIDDLE OF THE AFTERNOON WHILE HALF THE PLAYERS ARE AT WORK AND THE OTHER
HALF AT SCHOOL. >> >>BETH ACCOMANDO: THEY WANTED TO STAGE
A PLAY AT COMICCON, BUT THERE WASN'T A PLACE FOR LIVE THEATER.
THAT'S WHERE 10 LGT AVENUE THEATER STEPPED IN.
>> >>: WE HAD A CHANCE TO BORROW THE TENTH AVENUE THEATER.
JEFF WHO OWNS IT, BRIAN HAD MET HIM AND SAID MY THEATER'S EMPTY, WHY DON'T YOU DO IT HERE.
>> >>BETH ACCOMANDO: THATS THAT WAS FOUR YEARS AGO.
IT SERVED UP FOUR FLOORS OF GAMING ACTIVITY AND ART.
>> >>: ON THE FIRST FLOOR THEY FIND A VIDEO GAME ARENA, TWENTY 28 CONSOLES AND FOUR PC'S
SO PEOPLE CAN PLAY IN A TOURNAMENT AND ALSO AT THE CONVENTION.
MOVING UP WE HAVE OUR TABLE TOP LOUNGE, WHICH HAS ROLE PLAYING GAMES, CARD GAMES, RETROCADE,
EVERYTHING FROM ATARI, UP THROUGH ORIGINAL NINTENDO, TO THE LAST TO COME UP.
UP FROM THERE IS THE GEEK THEATER, UP FROM THERE THE GAMING ART EXHIBIT, AND UP FROM
THERE, THE ROOF WHERE WE ARE WITH THIS BEAUTIFUL VIEW OF SAN DIEGO.
WE HAVE EVENTS EVERY NIGHT, RANGING FROM LIVE MUSIC TO COMEDIANS.
>> >>BETH ACCOMANDO: GAMER CON PRIDES ITSELF ON BEING SMALL, INTIMATE AND STILL WITH BREATHING
SPACE. IT RUNS SIMULTANEOUS TO COMICCON JULY�18
TO 21, THE GAMES ROOM IS OPEN FROM 2:00�P.M. TO 2:00�A.M. AT THE TENTH AVENUE THEATER.
A TICKET IS 50DOLLARS. >> >>DWANE BROWN: TEMPERATURES ARE GOING TO
START WARMING UP ABOUT 80 ON THE COAST BY THURSDAY, UPPER EIGHTIES FOR THE INLAND VALLEYS,
A CHANCE FOR THUNDER STORMS IN THE MOUNTAINS LATER IN THE WEEK.
THUNDER STORMS ARE ALSO IN THE FORECAST IN THE DESERT.
SAN DIEGO'S COUNCIL PRESIDENT IS ADDRESSING THE *** HARASSMENT CLAIMS AGAINST MAYOR
BOB FILNER. TODD GLORIA IS ONE OF MANY ELECTED OFFICIALS
CALLING ON THE MAYOR TO RESIGN. HE SAID HE'S NEVER WITNESSED FILNER MISTREATING
WOMEN BUT� >> >>: I DID WITNESS WHAT I THOUGHT WAS VERY
INAPPROPRIATE BEHAVIOR WITH ANDREW JONES HAVING HIM FORCIBLY REMOVED FROM A ROOM IN A VERY
VOLATILE AND DIFFICULT MANNER, BUT NOTHING LIKE WHAT WE'VE HEARD FROM THREE PEOPLE YESTERDAY.
>> >>DWANE BROWN: THE WHOLE INTERVIEW AND ALL OF TONIGHT'S STORIES ARE ONLINE AT KPBS.ORG/EVENINGEDITION.
THANKS FOR JOINING US. GOODNIGHT.
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