Tip:
Highlight text to annotate it
X
>>> NEXT ON "KQED NEWSROOM,"
CONTRA COSTA COUNTY UNDER FIRE
FOR ALLEGEDLY MISTREATING TEENS
IN JUVENILE HALL.
>>> SQUALOR, SECURITY PROBLEMS,
AND MISMANAGEMENT.
AN INVESTIGATION OF RICHMOND'S
PUBLIC HOUSING AGENCY.
>> THIS IS A HEALTH HAZARD TO
ME.
BUGS.
I DON'T DO BUGS.
I DON'T DO MICE.
>>> AND THE PRESIDENT OF THE
GOLDEN STATE WARRIORS DISCUSSES
MICHAEL SAMM AND THE DEBATE OVER
*** ORIENTATION IN
PROFESSIONAL SPORTS.
>> THIS IS KIND OF AN
EXCLAMATION POINT ON THE THINGS
THAT HAPPENED IN OUR SOCIETY AND
CERTAINLY IN SPORTS OVER THE
LAST THREE YEARS.
*
>>> GOOD EVENING AND WELCOME TO
"KQED NEWSROOM."
IN A RARE MOVE THE FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT IS WEIGHING IN A O A
LAWSUIT CHALLENGING HOW YOUTHS
WITH DISABILITIES ARE TREATED IN
CONTRA COSTA CITY HALL.
THE SUIT CHARGED THAT TEENS ARE
DENIED SPECIAL EDUCATION AND
REHABILITATION SERVICES AND KEPT
IN ISOLATION FOR UP TO 23 HOURS
A DAY.
LAWYERS HEARD FROM FAMILY
MEMBERS ABOUT THE CONDITIONS.
>>.
>> HE HAS ACTUALLY BEEN KEPT IN
SOLITARY CON FIFINEMENT FOR AS LONG
AS, I BELIEVE, UP TO THREE WEEKS
TO A MONTH.
NO SCHOOLING.
NONE WHATSOEVER.
THE WHOLE THREE WEEKS THAT HE'S
IN SOLITARY CONFINEMENT.
>> THE ALLEGATIONS HAVE LED TO
FINGER POINTING AMID A LARGER
DEBATE ABOUT SUCH PRACTICES.
TO JOIN ME, DAFFODIL ALTAN,
PRODUCER AT THE CENTER FOR
INVESTIGATIVE REPORTING, TWO,
TWO KTVU CONSUMER EDITOR, AND
JILL TUCKER, "SAN FRANCISCO
CHRONICLE" EDUCATION REPORTER.
HOW MANY KIDS ARE LOCKED UP, AND
WHAT IS THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THIS
INTERVENTION BY THE FEDERAL
DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE DEPARTMENT
AND EDUCATION?
>> WELL, THERE ARE ABOUT 30% OF
THE KIDS THAT ARE LOCKED UP,
THERE'S ABOUT 270 BEDS THERE ARE
-- HAVE SPECIAL NEEDS, SPECIAL
EDUCATION.
BUT THAT'S REALLY LOW FOR A
FACILITY.
THE ESTIMATES TYPICALLY ARE
AROUND 70%.
SO AT LEAST 1/3 ARE -- HAVE THE
DIAGNOSIS, HAVE THE PAPERWORK TO
BE IN SPECIAL EDUCATION.
BUT THE LAWSUIT ALLEGES THAT
THERE'S PROBABLY A LOT MORE THAT
HAVEN'T BEEN IDENTIFIED AND
HAVEN'T RECEIVED THE SERVICES.
THE FEDERAL LAWSUIT IS A PRETTY
BIG DEAL.
IT'S RARE FOR THE FEDS TO WEIGH
IN ON A CASE LIKE THIS.
AND IT SORT OF SIGNALS THAT THEY
FELT PRETTY STRONGLY THAT THE
PARTY INVOLVED WHICH ARE THE
PROBATION DEPARTMENT AND THE
COUNTY OFFICE OF EDUCATION WHICH
SORT OF HAVE BEEN POINTING THE
FINGERS AT EACH OTHER, THE FED
WEIGHED IN AND SAID YOU'RE BOTH
RESPONSIBLE FOR THE EDUCATION
AND SERVICES THAT THE CHILDREN
NEED.
>> WHAT KINDS OF DISABILITIES,
TOM, DO THE JUVENILES HAVE?
WHAT ARE THE CONDITIONS LIKE IN
SOLITARY CONFINEMENT FOR THEM?
>> THEY RUN THE GAMUT OF ALL
KINDS OF PROBLEMS.
A LOT COME FROM BAD UPBRINGINGS.
SOME HAVE BEEN INVOLVED IN
SEEING MURDERS.
MANY OF THEM LIVE IN DIRE
POVERTY.
SOME OF THEM ARE -- MANY OF THEM
ARE BANGED UP.
YOU KNOW, THIS IS -- THE RUN OF
THINGS THAT MIGHT TAKE AN
AVERAGE KID AND PUT THEM INTO A
DIFFERENT KIND OF MENTAL
FRAMEWORK.
SOME OF THEM REALLY DO HAVE
CLINICALLY SERIOUS MEDICAL
ISSUES GOING ON IN THEIR MINDS.
SO THE PROBLEM PICTURES WHAT DO
YOU DO WITH THESE PEOPLE.
AND ONE OF THE THING THAT HAS
BECOME A MATTER OF CHOICE IN
MANY PLACES IS IF THEY'RE NOT
GOING TO COOPERATE, THE ONE
THING THEY WILL UNDERSTAND
BETTER THAN ANYTHING ELSE IS
TOTALDE
TOTAL DEPRIVATION.
THEY'RE PUT IN THIS CELL, AS WAS
DESCRIBED IN THE TAPED PIECE.
AND THERE THEY SIT.
AND THE MORE THEY RAIL AGAINST
IT, THE MORE LIKELY THEY ARE TO
GET MORE OF IT.
AND IN MANY CASES, THAT ONLY
MAKES MATTERS WORSE.
NOW, HAVING SAID THAT, THE OTHER
SIDE OF THE COIN IS VERY CLEAR.
THAT SOME OF THESE PEOPLE ARE
VERY BAD ACTORS.
THEY KNOW HOW TO PUSH BUTTONS.
THEY KNOW HOW TO PULL CHAINS.
THEY KNOW EXACTLY WHAT THEY WANT
TO DO.
THEY HAVE NO LOVE OR NO INTEREST
IN DOING ANYTHING FOR SOCIETY IF
AND WHEN THEY GET OUT.
>> AND IT'S NOT JUST THE COUNTY
PROBATION DEPARTMENT THAT SAYS
-- SOME OF THE JUVENILES ARE
BAD.
AND THEY'RE LOCKED UP IN
SOLITARY CONFINEMENT FOR SAFETY
REASONS.
>> RIGHT.
THEN THERE'S THE LAW, AND THE
LAW HAS VERY SPECIFIC
REQUIREMENT THAT THESE ARE NOT
SUPPOSED TO BE PENITENTIARY.
THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO BE
SUPPORTIVE REHABILITATIVE
ENVIRONMENTS.
AND THAT THEY ARE TO BE
EDUCATED.
THERE'S NOT A CHOICE ABOUT
EDUCATING, THEY HAVE TO BE
EDUCATED.
THE LAW'S CLEAR ON.
THIS THAT'S WHAT THE LAWSUIT IS
ABOUT.
>> THE LAW IS VERY CLEAR THAT
THESE ARE NOT SUPPOSED TO BE PEN
PENAL INSTITUTIONS BUT HOMELIKE
ENVIRONMENT.
IF YOU LOOK AT PICTURES OF
SOLITARY CONFINEMENT WHICH NO
ONE HAS REALLY SEEN.
WE'VE SEEN PICTURE, BUT
JOURNALISTS HAVEN'T BEEN ALLOWED
TO SEE THE INSIDE, BUT IT'S A
CELL.
LOOKS LIKE AN ADULT CELL WITH A
CEMENT BLOCK BED WITH A MATTRESS
ON IT.
AND IT DOESN'T LOOK LIKE A HOME.
>> WELL, DAFFODIL, YOU'VE BEEN
TAKING A WIDER PERSPECTIVE ON
THIS IN YOUR REPORTING.
YOU LOOKED AT RIKERS ISLAND IN
NEW YORK, AND YOU'RE LOOKING AT
OTHER CITIES TO SEE WHO THEY'RE
DOING RIGHT PERHAPS.
WHAT ARE YOU FINDING OUT?
>> WELL, YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE
THINGS THAT'S INTERESTING ABOUT
THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE
WEIGHING IN IS THAT ONE OF THE
BIGGEST STUDIES THAT THEY'VE
DONE IS THAT THEY FOUND THAT THE
JUVENILES WHO WERE DETAINED IN
JUVENILE FACILITY, HALF OF THE
SUICIDE THAT'S OCCUR IN THE
FACILITIES HAPPEN WHILE THEY ARE
IN ISOLATION.
SO THERE HAVE BEEN STUDIES DONE
ON ADULTS THAT FIND THAT WHEN
YOU PUT THEM IN ISOLATION,
DEPRIVE THEM, THEY COME OUT AND
ARE MORE VIOLENT.
IT ACTUALLY DOESN'T HELP THE
JAIL SYSTEM.
IT ACTUALLY MAKES THINGS WORSE
BECAUSE YOU DON'T -- YOU'RE NOT
ACTUALLY -- IT'S NOT LAKE A
TIME-OUT.
AND I THINK A LOT OF PEOPLE TEND
TO THINK, WELL, WHAT'S A LITTLE
TIME IN YOUR ROOM.
IT'S JUST -- YOU CAN COOL DOWN.
AND YOU KNOW, BUT MOST
FACILITIES -- WHAT WE'RE FINDING
IS THAT BECAUSE THERE'S NOTHING
FEDERALLY THAT EXISTS, VERY FEW
STATES HAVE -- ONLY SIX STATES
HAVE SOME KIND OF BAN WHEN IT
COMES TO JUVENILES AND JUVENILE
FACILITIES.
OTHER THAN THAT --
>> THE CONFINEMENT --
>> THE CONFINEMENT.
OTHER THAN THAT, IT'S UP TO THE
COUNTIES, THE FACILITY
THEMSELVES.
THE CHAOS OF INFORMATION IS WHAT
THE U.N. SPECIAL INVESTIGATOR ON
TORTURE CALLS.
HE SAYS THERE IS NOTHING
NATIONALLY TO REGULATE THE
PRACTICE AMONG KIDS.
WHAT WE'RE FINDING IS THAT
THEY'RE -- IT'S REALLY
DIFFICULT, IT'S ALMOST LIKE A
SECRETIVE PRACTICE BECAUSE NO
ONE WANTS TO TALK IT IT OR CALL
IT THAT.
>> WHAT'S CLEAR, THOUGH, IS
INTERESTING -- THIS SOLITARY
CONFINEMENT, IT'S THE MOST
EXPENSIVE INCARCERATION THERE
IS.
BY ANY STANDARD BECAUSE WHEN
THESE FOLKS ARE TAKEN OUT OF --
IN THAT PARTICULAR FACILITY,
THAT COULD BE THREE PROBATION
OFFICERS WHENEVER THEY COME OUT.
SO IT'S NOT LIKE, YOU KNOW, ONE
PERSON WALKS UP -- IT'S A
LABOR-INTENSIVE THING.
EXTRAORDINARILY EXPENSIVE.
AND AGAIN, THERE'S A CULTURE
THAT KIND OF DEVELOPS IN THESE
PLACES AND HOW THAT CULTURE
DEVELOPS GOES TO THE ISSUE OF,
WELL, YOU KNOW, WHAT ARE WE
GOING TO DO ABOUT THESE PEOPLE.
AND IT'S PROBABLY FOR MANY
EASIER TO JUST PUT THEM IN A BOX
THAN HAVE TO DEAL WITH THEM
BECAUSE YOU KNOW WHEN WHEN
THEY'RE OUT OF THE BOX THEY'RE
GOING TO TRY TO DEAL WITH YOU.
IT'S A BAD THING AND IS
EXTRAORDINARILY EXPENSIVE.
ONE OF THE ISSUES HERE IS THAT
THE STATE AND THE COUNTIES JUST
DON'T HAVE THE MONEY TO DO IT
THE WAY THEY WOULD LIKE TO DO IT
UNLESS THEY CHANGE THE WAY THEY
DO IT.
>> WE SHOULD NOTE THAT WE
INVITED THE COUNTY PROBATION
DEPARTMENT AND ALSO THE OFFICE
OF EDUCATION TO COME ON THE
SHOW.
THEY BOTH DECLINED.
BUT WE DID HEAR FROM THE
DISABILITY RIGHTS ADVOCATES, THE
GROUP THAT FILED THE LAWSUIT IN
THE FIRST PLACE.
YOU KNOW, THEY MAKE THE POINT --
AND I QUOTE THEM NOW -- "LOCKING
YOUTH WITH DISABILITIES IN
SOLITARY CONFINEMENT EXACERBATES
THEIR DISABILITIES, DOES NOT
PROVIDE AN EFFECTIVE DETERRENT
FROM FUTURE MISCONDUCT, AND THUS
MAKES FURTHER SOLITARY
CONFINEMENT MORE LIKELY.
SUCH BARBARIC PRACTICES MUST
STOP."
IT SEEMS THAT THIS IS BOLSTERED
BY THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT STUDY
YOU MENTIONED EARLIER.
ARE YOU FINDING ANY CITIES OR
DEPARTMENTS OUT THERE THAT
PERHAPS ARE DOING A GOOD JOB OF
-- OF HANDLING DISABLED
JUVENILES?
>> YES, PART OF OUR -- IN PART
OF OUR INVESTIGATION, WE SPEND
TIME IN THE FACILITIES IF SKRUSZ
THAT HAS DONE EVERYTHING IN
THEIR POWER TO AVOID SOLITARY
CONFINEMENT.
THEY'VE REDUCED THE POPULATION.
THAT'S ONE OF THE FIRST THINGS
THEY TRIED.
THAT WAS WORKING WITH THE COUNTY
AND LOOKING AT WHO WAS BROUGHT
IN AND HOW -- DID THEY NEED TO
BE HELD THIS.
THAT WAS THE FIRST SIGNIFICANT
STEP THEY TOOK.
AND THE THING THAT THEY SAY IS
NOW THEY HAVE SERIOUS -- PEOPLE
WITH SERIOUS CHARGES IN THERE.
SO IT'S NOT LIKE THEY'RE --
BECAUSE ONE OF THE ARGUMENTS
THAT ARE MADE IS THAT THESE ARE
DANGEROUS KIDS.
WE HAVE TO ISOLATE THEM BECAUSE
THEY HAVE AGGRESSIVE, AND
THERE'S NOTHING ELSE WE CAN DO
WITH THEM.
THEY GAVE US SOME EXAMPLES, AND
WE MET SOME KIDS WHO WERE
EXTREMELY AGGRESSIVE, AND THEY
TRIED -- THEY TRY TO BE AS
CREATIVE AS POSSIBLE.
AND THAT MEANS THEY HAVE A LOT
OF PROGRAMS FOR THE KIDS.
THERE'S A DIFFERENT CULTURE
THERE.
THEY DON'T TREAT THEM LIKE
CRIMINALS.
THEY -- THEY TRY THEIR BEST NOT
TO TREAT THEM LIKE CRIMINALS.
AND THEY HAVE -- THEY GIVE THEM
A LOT OF PROGRAMS.
SO THEY KEEP THEM BUSY, BUSY.
THESE ARE TEENAGERS.
THEY GET BORED VERY EASILY.
THEY HAVE A LOT OF TESTOSTERONE.
THEY'RE GROWING, THEY'RE
CHANGING.
THEY NEED TO BE BUSY.
SO A LOT OF TIMES FIGHTS START
BECAUSE THEY'RE BORED.
THAT'S WHAT HAPPENS IN NEW YORK.
I'M SORRY, I DIDN'T KNOW IF YOU
WERE GOING TO SAY SOMETHING.
SO THEY'VE DONE ALL THIS WORK,
AND THEY'VE PARTNERED WITH A LOT
OF COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS.
>> AND SPEAKING OF PROGRAM,
GETTING BACK TO THE ISSUE OF
EDUCATION, BY LAW THEY'RE
MANDATED TO PROVIDE SPECIAL
EDUCATION FOR THESE JUVENILES.
HOW IS THE OFFICE OF EDUCATION
-- HOW DO THEY GET AWAY WITH
SAYING, SORRY, THAT'S NOT OUR
RESPONSIBILITY, GRILL?
>> WELL, I THINK WHAT THEY'VE --
AS I SAID, THEY'VE POINTED THE
FINGER AT EACH OTHER SAYING,
LOOK, THEY'RE RESPONSIBLE FOR
KEEPING THESE CHILDREN AND,
THEREFORE, IF THEY HAVE THEM IN
SOLITARY CONFINEMENT, THEY'RE
THIS CHARGE OF THEM.
AND -- THEY'RE IN CHARGE OF
THEM.
AND THE PROBATION DEPARTMENT
POINTS BACK AND SAYS, WELL,
THEY'RE IN CHARGE OF EDUCATION.
THERE'S BICKERING.
I THINK THAT THIS CASE IN
PARTICULAR, THE ISSUE IN CONTRA
COSTA COUNTY IS RAISING VERY
MUCH THE ISSUE OF SOLITARY
CONFINEME
CONFINEMENT.
WHETHER THAT SHOULD BE.
AND CERTAINLY THERE'S
LEGISLATION PENDING TO GET RID
OF IT ACROSS THE STATE.
RIGHT NOW IT'S SORT OF A CRAP
SHOOT OF WHERE YOU COMMIT YOUR
CRIME, WHETHER YOU COULD BE IN
SOLITARY.
THIS CASE SPECIFICALLY TRULY IS
ABOUT THE SERVICES THAT CHILDREN
ARE -- SHOULD RECEIVE WHILE
THEY'RE INCARCERATED, WHETHER
THEY'RE IN SOLITARY OR NOT.
THEY HAVE A CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHT
TO AN EDUCATION IN CALIFORNIA
AND FEDERAL AND STATE RIGHTS TO
-- TO SPECIAL EDUCATION.
>> AND THERE'S A HEARING ON THIS
IN MARCH.
AND I THINK THEN THE FEDERAL
JUDGE WILL DECIDE WHETHER THIS
WILL BE GRANTED CLASS ACTION
STATUS.
WE'LL STAY ON TOP OF THAT.
I KNOW YOU WILL STAY ON TOP OF
THAT, AS WELL.
JILL TUCKER, DAFFODIL ALTAN, AND
TOM VACAR, THANK YOU FOR JOINING
US.
>> THANK YOU.
>>> COMING UP, A LOOK AT
TROUBLED PUBLIC HOUSING LODGES
IN RICHMOND.
FIRST, UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI
FOOTBALL STAR MICHAEL SAM
IGNITED A NATIONAL CONVERSATION
EARLIER THIS MONTH BY ANNOUNCING
HE'S GAY.
THIS WEEKEND IN INDIANAPOLIS,
HE'LL BE UNDER SCRUTINY AT THE
ANNUAL GATHERING OF TOP COLLEGE
PROSPECT WHO WORK OUT FOR NFL
COACHES AND EXECUTIVES.
IF SAM IS DRAFTED IN MAY, HE
WOULD BECOME THE FIRST OPENLY
GAY PLAYER ON A PRO FOOTBALL
TEAM.
HERE IN THE BAY AREA, GOLDEN
STATE WARRIORS PRESIDENT RICK
WELCH UNDERSTANDS WHAT SAM IS
FACING ON A PERSONAL LEVEL.
WELCH IS THE HIGHEST RANKING
OPENLY GAY EXECUTIVE IN MEN'S
PROFESSIONAL SPORTS.
HE SPOKE EARLIER WITH SCOTT
SCHAEFER.
>> RICK WELCH, WELCOME.
>> THANK YOU.
>> IT'S BEEN ABOUT THREE YEARS
SINCE YOU CAME OUT.
YOU WERE WITH THE PHOENIX SUNS
AT THE TIME.
TELL ME WHAT'S BEEN GOING
THROUGH YOUR MIND IN THE LAST
TWO WEEKS AS YOU'VE SEEN MICHAEL
SAM WITH HIS REVELATION.
>> WELL, IT'S 2014, SO MY
CONVERSATIONS WITH HIM HAVE BEEN
BY TEXT.
I HAVEN'T MET HIM YET, BUT WE'VE
HAD INTERESTING CONVERSATIONS.
I THINK IT'S REMARKABLE WHAT'S
TRANSPIRED OVER THE LAST THREE
YEARS.
I THINK THIS IS KIND OF -- AN
EXCLAMATION POINT ON THE THINGS
THAT HAVE HAPPENED IN OUR
SOCIETY AND CERTAINLY IN SPORTS
OVER THE LAST THREE YEARS.
I THINK WE HAVE A VERY SPECIAL
MOMENT HAPPENING RIGHT NOW.
ONE THAT I THINK A LOT OF PEOPLE
ARE GOING TO BE PAYING CLOSE
ATTENTION.
>> WHAT ARE THESE COACHES AND
G.M.s GOING TO LOOK FOR THIS
WEEKEND IN INDIANAPOLIS BESIDE
HOW QUICKLY HE CAN RUN THE
40-YARD DASH?
>> I THINK A LOT OF IT IS ABOUT
CHARACTER.
THEY WANT PLAYERS ON THEIR TEAMS
THAT FIT THE PROFILE OF THE TYPE
OF PEOPLE THAT THEY'RE LOOKING
FOR.
AND I THINK THAT MEANS YOU WANT
TO LOOK INSIDE A GUY AND
UNDERSTAND WHAT MAKES HIM TICK.
I THINK MICHAEL SAM HAPPENS TO
BE UNIQUELY SUITED TO PLAY THE
PART THAT HE SIGNED UP FOR HERE.
>> WHAT ARE THEY GOING TO LOOK
FOR FROM HIM THAT THEY MIGHT NOT
OTHERWISE HAVE BEEN LOOKING FOR
NOW THAT HE'S OUT?
>> I THINK EVERY TEAM WILL BE
LOOKING FOR SOMETHING A LITTLE
BIT DIFFERENT.
I THINK WHAT HE'S PROVEN BY
DOING WHAT HE'S DONE SO FAR
ESPECIALLY WITH HIS TEAM IN
MISSOURI, HE CONFIDED IN HIS
TEAMMATES A YEAR AGO, HE WENT
THROUGH A FULL SEASON OF -- OF
FOOTBALL, AND DID INCREDIBLY
WELL.
I THINK HE'S PROVEN MAYBE THAT
HE IS THE RIGHT GUY TO BE IN THE
POSITION THAT HE'S IN TODAY.
>> IT'S BEEN OVER A YEAR SINCE
JASON COLLINS CAME OUT.
HE WAS A FREE AGENT AT THE TIME
BUT HAD BEEN IN THE NBA FOR 12
YEARS WITH I THINK SIX TEAMS.
AT THE TIME WHEN HE CAME OUT,
YOU SAID, I'M QUOTING, THAT
"MORE DOORS UPWILL OPEN THAN WILL
CLOSE."
YET, HE HASN'T PLAYED ANOTHER
GAME IN THE NBA.
I'M WONDERING, DO YOU THINK THAT
HIS COMING OUT CLOSED A DOOR TO
THE NBA FOR HIM?
>> I THINK IT'S ONE OF THOSE
QUESTIONS WE'LL NEVER KNOW.
HE DID THIS AT THE END OF HIS
CAREER.
>> HE'S ONLY 34 YEARS OLD.
>> IN NBA YEARS, THAT'S QUITE
OLD.
FOR A PLAYER WHO HAD BEEN
MARGINALLY CONTRIBUTING OVER THE
COURSE OF THE PREVIOUS TWO
SEASONS, RIGHT.
I DON'T KNOW THAT WE'LL EVER
KNOW THAT.
IF YOU TALK TO HIM AS I DO, I
THINK HE HAS HAD A LOT OF DOORS
OPEN PERSONALLY AS WELL AS
PROFESSIONALLY.
JUST DON'T HAPPEN TO BE ON THE
BASKETBALL COURT.
>> HE WAS, AS YOU SAID -- I
DON'T WANT TO SAY A MARGINAL
PLAYER, BUT HE WASN'T LeBRON.
HE WASN'T KOBE.
I'M WONDERING, DOES THAT MEAN
THAT TEAMS LOOK AT THESE
SITUATIONS AS IS IT WORTH, IS HE
WORTH THE TROUBLE THAT IT'S
GOING TO BRING.
>> I DON'T THINK YOU CAN
GENERALIZE THAT ACROSS EVERY
TEAM.
EVERY TEAM HAS DIFFERENT
OWNERSHIP.
EVERY TEAM HAS DIFFERENT
MANAGEMENT.
AND I THINK -- I HAVE NO DOUBT
THAT THERE WERE TEAMS IN THE NBA
WHO LOOK TED SITUATION AND SAID,
YOU KNOW, THAT MAYBE MORE THAN
WE WANT TO SIGN UP FOR RIGHT
NOW.
BUT I ALSO BELIEVE THERE ARE
TEAMS IN THE NBA, AS I HOPE
THERE ARE NFL TEAMS WITH MICHAEL
SAM, WHO CAN LOOK WAY BEYOND
THAT AND REALIZE THIS IS ABOUT
WINNING GAMES.
AND IF A PLAYER CAN HELP WIN
GAMES, HE CAN BE ON ROSTER.
>> WHEN JASON COLLINS CAME OUT,
THE COACH OF THE WARRIORS, MARK
JACKSON, SAID THAT AS A
CHRISTIAN MAN, I HAVE BELIEFS OF
WHAT'S RIGHT AND WHAT'S WRONG.
HE SAID, ON THE OTHER HAND, I
KNOW JASON COLLINS AND HIS
FAMILY.
I'M PRAYING FOR THEM.
THAT TO ME DID NOT SOUND LIKE
OPEN ARMS FOR AN OPENLY GAY
PLAYER FOR THE WARRIORS D. THAT
COMMENT FROM THE COACH
DISAPPOINT YOU?
>> YES.
AND MARK AND I HAVE THE KIND OF
RELATIONSHIP WHERE WE COULD HAVE
A CONVERSATION ABOUT THAT.
AND I THINK, YOU KNOW, THAT WAS
IN SOME WAY TAKEN OUT OF
CONTEXT.
I THINK MARK AND I ARE IN A GOOD
PLACE NOW.
I THINK THAT -- YOU KNOW, HOW HE
FEELS ABOUT THE ISSUE IS -- IS
NOT INCONSISTENT WITH WHAT WE
WOULD HOPE AS ANY EMPLOYEE OF
THE WARRIORS.
AND I THINK THAT HE PROBABLY
DIDN'T SAY IT EXACTLY THE WAY HE
WISHED HE SAID IT.
IT DID DISAPPOINT ME.
I THINK SINCE WE CERTAINLY
TALKED IT OUT AND -- WE'RE IN A
GOOD PLACE.
>> I WANT TO ASK YOU ABOUT THE
WARRIORS' ARENA, PROPOSED FOR
THE SAN FRANCISCO WATERFRONT.
ORIGINALLY YOU WERE HOPING TO BE
IN THE CITY IN THAT ARENA FOR
THE 2017 SEASON.
THAT'S NOW BEEN PUSHED BACK.
WHAT'S THE STATUS OF IT?
>> FULL SPEED AHEAD IS THE
STATUS.
IT'S PUSHED BACK BECAUSE WE'RE
DOING EXACTLY WHAT WE PROMISED
TO DO.
AND WE PROMISED TO TAKE EVERY
BIT OF REGULATORY INPUT, EVERY
BIT OF PUBLIC INPUT.
WE'RE NOW IN OUR THIRD COMPLETE
DESIGN OF THE PROJECT.
THERE ARE NOT ENOUGH
THAT I'M NOT SURE ANYONE SAW
COMING.
SO WE'RE -- LISTEN, THIS IS THE
PROCESS WE SIGNED UP FOR.
THERE ARE NO SHORTCUTS.
WE'VE COMPLETELY EMBRACED IT.
WE'RE COMPLETELY COMMITTED TO
BRINGING THE WARRIORS TO SAN
FRANCISCO.
>> RICK WELT, THANKS.
GOOD LUCK TO YOU AND THE
WARRIORS THIS YEAR.
>> THANK YOU.
>>> SHORTLY AFTER THE INTERVIEW
OF TAPED YESTERDAY, THE BROOKLYN
NETS BASKETBALL TEAM SHOWED
INTEREST IN JASON COLLINS WHO
REVEALED LAST YEAR HE'S GAY.
IF SIGNED, COLLINS WOULD BE THE
FIRST OPENLY GAY PLAYER IN THE
NBA.
>>> EVERY YEAR, THE U.S.
DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN
DEVELOPMENT OR HUD NAMES THE
WORST OF THE WORST PUBLIC
HOUSING AGENCIES.
OUT OF MORE THAN 4,000 ACROSS
THE NATION, JUST 44 WERE ON THE
LIST INCLUDING THE CITY OF
RICHMOND.
IN FACT, RICHMOND HAS BEEN ON
THAT LIST SINCE 2009.
SOME OF THE POOREST, OLDEST, AND
MOST VULNERABLE PEOPLE IN THE
BAY AREA LIVE THERE IN SQUALOR
AND FEAR DUE TO MISMANAGEMENT
AND NEGLECT.
THAT'S THE FINDINGS OF A SERIES
OF REPORTS PRODUCED BY KQED, THE
CENTER FOR INVESTIGATIVE
REPORTING AND "THE SAN FRANCISCO
CHRONICLE."
HERE'S OUR STORY.
BEFORE HE WENT BLIND 25 YEARS
AGO, WADDLE JOINS WAS A MECHANIC
FOR THE AIR FORCE.
REMARKABLY, HE HAS TAUGHT
HIMSELF TO PAINT.
HIS APARTMENT IN RICHMOND'S
NEVIN PLAZA PUBLIC HOUSING
PROJECT IS FILLED WITH PAINTINGS
OF LANDSCAPES HE REMEMBERS AND
IMAGINES.
HEY, IT'S AMY HARRIS, A
REPORTER.
>> ON THIS DAY, HE'S MEETING
WITH AMY JULIA HARRIS, A
JOURNALIST WITH THE CENTER FOR
INVESTIGATIVE REPORTING WHO FOR
THE PAST SIX MONTHS HAS BEEN
DOCUMENTING MISMANAGEMENTS AND
POOR CONDITIONS -- MISMANAGEMENT
AND POOR CONDITIONS IN
RICHMOND'S PUBLIC HOUSING
COMPLEXES.
IN THIS CASE, HE HASN'T HAD HEAT
FOR MORE THAN A YEAR.
THE HOUSING AUTHORITY SAYS IT
FIXED THE PROBLEM IN OCTOBER.
>> CAN YOU FEEL IT --
>> I DON'T FEEL ANYTHING.
>> OKAY.
THAT'S -- IT'S ON NOW.
CAN YOU HEAR THE MOTOR, IT'S
RUNNING.
BUT IT DOESN'T COME OUT.
>> Reporter: NO HEAT.
>> NO HEAT.
>> Reporter: SO WARDELL, CAN YOU
SHOW, WHAT DO YOU DO FOR HEAT?
>> THIS I TRADED ON -- ABOUT
TWO, THREE HOURS.
THEN IT HEATS UP.
ECONOMIC BACK, AND I TRADE IT
OFF.
>> Reporter: YOU DO THAT EVERY
DAY?
>> EVERY DAY.
>> Reporter: IT SAYS ON HERE
THAT IT WORKS.
>> YOU DON'T FELL HEAT, HUH?
>> Reporter: NOPE.
I DON'T FEEL ANYTHING.
>> DOWN THE ROAD IS THE
SIX-STORY HACIENDA HOUSING
COMPLEX.
ON THE SURFACE, IT LOOKS LIKE
MANY PUBLIC HOUSING PROJECTS
ACROSS THE NATION.
BUT RESIDENTS CALL IT THE
HACI-HELL HOLE.
YEARS OF CHRONIC MISMANAGEMENT
HAVE LED TO A HOST OF PROGRAMS
LIKE A ROOF THAT HAS BEEN
LEAKING FOR EIGHT YEARS.
>> THEY'VE HAD TO EVACUATE THE
ENTIRE SIXTH FLOOR OF HACIENDA
BECAUSE THERE'S MOLD AND
STALAGTITES OF CHEMICALS THAT
ARE DRIPPING DOWN FROM THE ROOF.
>> SQUATTERS SOMETIMES USE THE
EMPTY APARTMENT.
ON THE FLOORS BELOW, THERE ARE A
HOST OF PROBLEMS.
GENEVA EATON, A GRANDMOTHER OF
12, HAS FOR THE LAST YEAR BEEN
COMPLAINING ABOUT A TERRIBLE
INFESTATION PROBLEM.
WORKER HAVE COME, BUT THE
PROBLEM PERSISTS.
EVERY MORNING, SHE SETS TRAPS
AND WASHES HER FLOORS AND WALLS
IN BLEACH.
SOMETIMES SHE CATCHES UP TO 12
MICE PER DAY.
HER DECREPIT REFRIGERATOR
REMAINS INFESTED WITH
COCKROACHES DESPITE REPEATED
REQUESTS TO REPLACE IT.
>> THIS IS A HEALTH HAZARD TO
ME.
BUGS.
I DON'T DO BUGS.
I DON'T DO MICE.
I'M SCARED OF THEM.
WE SHOULDN'T HAVE TO LIVE LIKE
IT.
WE'RE NOT DOGS.
>> ON SUNNY DAYS, HACIENDA'S
COURTYARD IS A GATHERING PLACE.
BUT AT NIGHT, IT CAN BE
FRIGHTENING FOR ELDERLY
RESIDENTS.
LIGHTING HERE WAS BROKEN FOR TWO
YEARS, AND ONLY FIXED IN
DECEMBER.
RHONDA MARSHALL WAS ROBBED
TWICE.
>> HAD A GUN, TOO.
YOU KNOW WHAT IT WAS --
YOUNGSTERS.
I KNOW THEY HAD BEEN -- THEY
DON'T BELONG TO THE BUILDING
BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE NO
YOUNGSTERS IN THE BUILDING.
>> VISITORS ARE SUPPOSED TO
ENTER AT A SECURITY DESK.
INTRUDERS HAVE EASY ACCESS
BECAUSE THIS GATE ALMOST NEVER
LOCKS, AS RESIDENT DENNIS LEWIS
DEMONSTRATED.
>> YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO NEED A KEY
CARD.
AS YOU SEE, YOU DON'T.
>> RESIDENTS HAVE REPEATEDLY
COMPLAINED ABOUT CYBERSECURITY,
THE COMPANY THAT WATCHES THE
HOUSING COMPLEX.
AT THE JANUARY MEETING, JACKIE
THOMPSON WANTED TO KNOW WHAT
NEEDS TO BE DONE TO FIND A NEW
FIRM.
>> HOW COME IN COMMISSION
DOESN'T KNOW THAT WE ARE
ENTERING INTO A NEW CONTRACT?
>> TIM JONES HEADS THE RICHMOND
PUBLIC HOUSING AUTHORITY.
>> IT IS THE OPINION OF THIS
BOARD THAT WE'RE NOT MOVING
FORWARD WITH THIS PARTICULAR
FIRM.
WE WOULD MAKE THAT DECISION
THEN.
BUT THE ORIGINAL CONTRACT --
>> EVERY MONTH THEY COMPLAIN
ABOUT THE JOB THAT THE SECURITY
GUARDS ARE DOING AND HAVE
QUESTIONS ABOUT THE COMPETENCY
OF THE FIRM.
THEY'VE BROUGHT THESE CONCERNS
TO TIM JONES MEETING AFTER
MEETING AFTER MEETING.
>> INTERNAL U.S. DEPARTMENT OF
HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT
MEMOS HAVE CRITICIZED TIM JONES'
OVERALL LEADERSHIP, CHASTISING
HIS AGENCY FOR A TOTAL LACK OF
INTERNAL CONTROLS.
>> CALLED HIM STRAIGHT OUT
INEFFECTIVE AND SAID THAT HE
FAILED IN A FEW KEY AREAS.
ONE JOB TO MAKE SURE THE
FINANCES ARE IN ORDER.
UNDER TIM JONES' WATCH, THE
HOUSING AUTHORITY'S $7 MILLION
IN DEBT.
THEY HAVEN'T TURNED IN AUDITS TO
THE FED ON TIME FOR YEARS AND
YEARS.
YOU HEAD ALSO SAID HE DIDN'T
EVEN RESPOND TO THEIR EMAILS.
>> WHILE JONES DOES HAVE
SUPPORTERS ON THE ADVISORY
COMMISSION, SEVERAL ARE CRITICAL
OF HIM.
NONE MORE SO THAN SYLVIA GRAY
WHITE, A RETIRED FORMER PUBLIC
HOUSING MANAGER WITH DECADES OF
EXPERIENCE.
>> I THINK IT'S THE DIRECTOR.
>> WHAT DO YOU MEAN DIABETIC.
>> -- MEAN THE DIRECTOR?
>> HE KNOWS WHAT HE'S DOING.
>> AS WE'RE TALKING, WE HEAR A
BEEPING HORN.
IT TURNS OUT IT WAS ANOTHER
ADVISORY COMMISSION MEMBER WHO
SAID, LOOK, YOU'RE NOT ALLOWED
TO TALK TO THE PRESS.
YOU'RE SAYING ALL OF THESE
NEGATIVE THINGS.
DON'T TALK.
>> CAN'T SHUT ME UP.
CAN'T PAY ME TO SHUT UP.
NO.
THAT'S WHY THEY PUT ME THIS
BOARD.
I WILL TELL YOU WHAT'S GOING ON.
>> JONES HAD AGREED TO AN
INTERVIEW FOR THE STORY, BUT
CITING COMMISSIONER WHITE'S
ON-CAMERA COMMENTS, HE BACKED
OUT.
AT RICHMOND CITY HALL, MAYOR
GALE McLAUGHLIN SAYS SHE REMAINS
CONFIDENT IN THE HOUSING
AUTHORITY'S EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR.
>> I HAVE ALWAYS FOUND MR. JONES
TO BE EXTREMELY RESPONSIVE.
AND EVERY TIME I BRING SOMETHING
TO HIS ATTENTION, HE'S RIGHTS
THERE.
SO I'LL CONTINUE TO WORK WITH
HIM.
>> THE PROBLEM, SAYS THE MAYOR,
A LONG-TIME GREEN PARTY LEADER,
IS NOT TIM JONES BUT THE FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT AND MISPLACED
PRIORITIES.
>> I'M WORKING HARD TO DO WHAT I
CAN.
BUT DON'T -- DON'T LAY THE -- AT
THE FEET OF RICHMOND THAT WE'RE
NOT WORKING HARD ENOUGH WHEN WE
HAVE A PRESIDENT WHO IS PUTTING
MONEY INTO WAR AND A PRESIDENT
WHO HAS BAILED OUT THE BANKS TO
THE TUNE OF $29 TRILLION.
>> IN RICHMOND, THE DECISION TO
HIRE OR FIRE THE EXECUTIVE
DIRECTOR OF HOUSING PRIMARILY
REST WITH THE CITY.
BUT HUD'S TOP OFFICIAL IN THE
WESTERN U.S., OPHELIA BASCOL,
SAYS THERE ARE OTHER OPTIONS.
>> THERE'S A PROVISION IF WE GET
TO A POINT WHERE WE BELIEVE THE
AUTHORITY IS TOTALLY MISMANAGED,
WHERE WE CAN STEP IN AND TAKE
OVER THE AUTHORITY.
SORT OF THE -- YOU KNOW, THE
NUCLEAR KIND OF OPTION THAT WE
COME TO AT THE VERY END.
>> A FREEDOM OF INFORMATION
REQUEST REVEALED THAT HUD STAFF
THOUGHT FIRING JONES IN 2012
MIGHT HELP RESOLVE THE PROBLEMS,
BUT NOTED LIKELY OPPOSITION FROM
RICHMOND'S MAYOR AND CITY
COUNCIL.
THE FEDERAL AGENCY PUT RICHMOND
UNDER A STRICT IMPROVEMENT PLAN
THAT, IF NOT FOLLOWED, COULD END
IN THE NUCLEAR OPTION.
PASCAL SAYS THE RICHMOND HOUSING
AUTHORITY HAS MADE IMPROVEMENT.
>> RICHMOND IS ON TRACK WITH ITS
CORRECTIVE ACTION PLAN.
>> FOR GENEVA EATON, IT IS TOO
LITTLE, TOO LATE.
>> THAT'S RIGHT.
HERE THEY ARE MAKING IT LOOK
GOOD FOR HUD DOWN THERE.
LOOK AT THE PEOPLE HERE, HOW
WE'RE LIVING UP HERE.
>> SHE SAYS IT'S TIME FOR A
CHANGE.
IN RESPONSE TO THE REPORTING FOR
THIS SERIES, CHANGES HAVE
ALREADY OCCURRED.
RICHMOND'S CITY MANAGER ORDERED
INSPECTIONS OF ALL 715 UNIT AT
THE CITY'S PUBLIC HOUSING.
HE ALSO PLANS TO TERMINATE THE
CONTRACT WITH THE SECURITY FIRM
IN CHARGE OF PATROLLING THE TWO
WORST HOUSING COMPLEXES.
AND AT A CITY COUNCIL MEETING
THIS WEEK, TIM JONES APOLOGIZED,
ADMITTING THAT HIS AGENCY HAS
FALLEN SHORT BUT DENIED ANY
SYSTEMIC FAILURES.
HE ALSO RECOMMENDED THAT
HACIENDA BE DEMOLISHED AND
RESIDENTS GET VOUCHERS TO MOVE
ELSEWHERE.
THE COUNCIL IS EXPECTED TO TAKE
UP THE ISSUE AGAIN IN A SPECIAL
SESSION IN THE COMING WEEKS.
FOR FULL COVERAGE OF THE STORY
AND FOR ALL OF KQED'S NEWS
COVERAGE, PLEASE GO TO KQEDNEWS
.ORG.
THAT'S ALL FOR TONIGHT.
I'M THUY VU.
THANKS FOR WATCHING.
HAVE A GOOD NIGHT.
>>> FUNDING FOR "INVESTIGATIVE
REPORTING" ON "KQED NEWSROOM"
PROVIDED BY T