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>>> FROM THE KPBS STUDIOS, THIS IS SAN DIEGO WEEK.
>>> GOOD EVENING I'M ANITA CHARMER.
THANKS FOR JOINING US. CAL STATE MADE THE SAN DIEGO STATE PRESIDENT
THE HIGHEST PAIT AND AT THE SAME TIME RAISED TUITIONS. THERE IS AN OBESITY EPIDEMIC IN
A SAN DIEGO TOWN THAT SURPASSES THE NATION >>> AND WE'LL PREVIEW WHAT THE SHOW ME CON
WILL PREVIEW NEXT WEEK. FIRST, THE HEADLINES.
>>> STUDENTS ATTENDING CALIFORNIA'S PUBLIC UNIVERSITY WILL BE PAYING
MORE THIS YEAR. KATY JOINS US. HOW MUCH WILL TUITION INCREASE?
>> IT'S A SIGNIFICANT INCREASE, ANITA. THE TRUSTEES FOR BOTH THE CALIFORNIA UNIVERSITY
SYSTEM HAVE VOTED TO INCREASE TUITIONS FOR THE SECOND TIME THIS YEAR. TUITIONS WILL INCREASE
FOR 10%. CSU STUDENTS WILL SEE THEIR TUITION RISE 12%.
BOTH SYSTEMS ARE DEALING WITH A 112 MILLION-DOLLAR CUT.
>>> THE OPERATION OF MIRAMAR LANDFILL COULD BE PUT OUT
TO BID.
A COMMITTEE HAS VOTED TO MOVE THE ISSUE
TO THE FULL COUNCIL. PRIVATE COMPANIES COULD COMPETE
WITH CITY EMPLOYEES TO COMPETE THE MOST EFFICIENT MANAGEMENT
PLAN A WIN ARE WILL LIKELY NOT BE SELECTED UNTIL NEXT SPRING.
>>> AND SAN DIEGO VOTERS MAY
GET TO DECIDE WHETHER RECENTLY
PASSED REGULATIONS ON MARIJUANA DISPEN SIS ARE TOO HARSH.
CRITICS HAVE COLLECTED ENOUGH SIGNATURES TO PUT THE ISSUE ON
THE BALLOT. THE COUNCIL WILL TAKE IT UP
BEFORE THE END OF THE MONTH. >>> AND SAN DIEGO WILL BE HOME
TO THE NATION'S FIRST ALL ELECTRIC CAR SHARING
SERVICE THIS FALL.
DAIMLER CAR OWNED PICKED SAN DIEGO BECAUSE THE CITY WILL
HAVE MORE THAN 100 PUBLIC CHARGING STATIONS BY THE END OF
THE YEAR. OF THE SERVICE WILL ALLOW
DRIVERS TO USE A SMART FOAN APP TO DRIVE A CAR, DRIVE IT AND
LEAVE IT. THE SYSTEM WORKS GREAT
FOR SHORT, SPONTANEOUS ONE-WAY
TRIPS. >>> AT A TIME WHEN SAN DIEGO
STATE UNIVERSITY HAS SEEN ITS FUNDING SLASHED AND STUDENTS
HAVE BEEN FORCED TO PAY EVER HIGHER TUITIONS, CAL STATE
TRUSTEES THIS WEEK APPROVED A $400,000 PAY PACKAGE FOR THE
COLLEGE'S NEW PRESIDENT ELLIOTT
HISSHMAN. IT'S A MOVE THAT DID NOT SIT
WELL WITH GOVERNOR JERRY BROWN AND MANY IN THE PUBLIC.
EARLIER, I SAT WITH PRESIDENT
HIRESHMAN. SAN DIEGO STATE
UNFORTUNATE HOLDS KPBS' BROADCAST LICENSE.
>>> MORE THAN $650 MILLION WAS CUT FROM THE CAL STATE
SYSTEM THIS YEAR.
INSTRUCTORS HAVE BEEN LAID OFF. CLASSES HAVE BEEN CANCELED.
AND JUST THIS WEEK, CAL STATE TRUSTEES
VOTED TO INCREASE FEES BY 12%.
AGAINST THIS BACK DROP, WHY DO YOU THINK YOU SHOULD BE PAID
$4,400,000 A YEAR? >> SURE.
I WANT TO TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE BACKGROUND OF SOME OF
THE COMPENSATION ISSUES AND I APPRECIATE YOU GIVING ME THE
OPPORTUNITY TO IT GO --TO
GO INTO THAT THE WAY THAT THE
COMPENSATION IS SET FOR A UNIVERSITY SYSTEM IS THAT THE
CHANCELLOR PRIOR TO THE CONDUCT OF THE SEARCH CONDUCT A
NATIONAL STUDY TO TRY TO UNDERSTAND THE NATURE OF
APPROPRIATE COMPENSATION FOR THE PRESIDENTIAL POSITION
THEY'RE GOING TO RECRUITMENT SO THAT'S THE PROCESS THAT
CHANCELLOR REED AND THE BOARD WENT THROUGH.
AND THEN THEY PROCEEDED WITH THAT THROUGH THE SEARCH.
I WAS VERY HONORED TO BE OFFERED THE POSITION AND, RIGHT
NOW, MY FOCUS IS ON DOING EVERYTHING POSSIBLE TO SUPPORT
THE STUDENTS, FACULTY AND STAFF OF SAN DIEGO STATE UNIVERSITY.
I WANT TO ELABORATE ON THE QUESTION IN A NUMBER
OF WAYS. FIRST, I
DO WANT TO COMMEND MR. CARTER, THE CHAIR OF THE BOARD,
FOR HIS THOUGHTS ABOUT
REVISITING THIS SUBJECT. THIS WAS A FAIRLY COMPLICATED
SITUATION THAT THE OFFER THAT WAS MADE TO ME PRECEDED THE
CUTS THAT CAME DOWN AND SOME OF THE EFFECTS THAT YOU WERE
DISCUSSING. WHAT HE'S GOING TO DO IS
CONVENE A COMMITTEE OF THE BOARD TO
EXAMINE THE PROCESS FOR SERVICES AND PRESIDENT
COMPENSATION. I THINK THAT'S AN APPROPRIATE
THANKING TO DO AND I'M VERY SUPPORTIVE OF THAT APPROACH.
A POINT THAT I THINK IS RELEVANT TO THE ISSUES YOU
RAISE ABOUT RESOURCES CONCERNS MY FOCUS ON BRINGING RESOURCES
INTO THE UNIVERSITY. AND THAT'S SOMETHING THAT I
WILL BE SPENDING A VERY LARGE PORTION OF MY TIME SO WE CAN BE
SURE TO BE ABLE TO SUPPORT OUR FACULTY, ENSURE ACCESS FOR
STUDENTS TO CONTINUE OUR PROGRAMS IN THE COMMUNITY
MOVING FORWARD. >> AS YOU KNOW, GOVERNOR BROWN
WROTE A LETTER TO CAM STATE TRUSTEES IN WHICH HE EXPRESSED
CONCERNS. HE SAID, QUOTE, HE IS WORRIED
THAT THEY ARE SETTING A PATTERN FOR PUBLIC SERVICE THAT WE
CANNOT AFFORD. WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THIS
COMMENT? >> I APPRECIATE WHAT THE
GOVERNOR IS SAYING. I UNDERSTAND THE MOTIVATION
AND I THINK THAT MR. CARTER IN
MOVING TOWARD THIS COMMITTEE IS
ATTEMPTING TO BEGIN TO ADDRESS THAT PROCESS I ALSO WANT TO
EMPHASIZE THAT THE GOVERNOR THROUGH COLLEAGUES AND
REPRESENTATIVES HAS CONVEYED TO ME --OF COURSE, THIS IS NOT
PERSONAL. THIS IS NOTHING ABOUT SAN DIEGO
STATE BUT RATHER HIS PERSPECTIVE ON THIS ISSUE.
AND I RESPECT THAT. THE POINT THAT I CONVEYED BACK
TO THE GOVERNOR IS BOTH THAT I RESPECT HIS POSITION IN MOVING
FORWARD AS WELL AS MANY OTHERS AND WHAT I'M EAGER TO DO IS
WORK WITH HIM IN SUPPORTING OUR
STUDENTS, IN SUPPORTING OUR FACULTY, MOVING FORWARD
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT. I BELIEVE THERE ACE STRONG
RECIPROCAL GOAL THERE. >> GETTING BACK TO STUDENT
FEESINGS TUITION HAS GONE UP, ALMOST 92% IN THE
LAST FOUR YEARS MAKING COLLEGE VERY
DIFFICULT TO ATTAIN IN CALIFORNIA WHICH IS A PART OF
THE DREAM HERE. HOW WORRIED
ARE YOU THAT COLLEGE WILL INCREASINGLY, THAT
MONEY WILL INCREASINGLY BECOME A BARRIER TO HIGHER PUBLIC
EDUCATION? >> THAT'S AN EXCELLENT
QUESTION. ONE OF THE DEFINING
CHARACTERISTICS OF SAN DIEGO STATE AND CALIFORNIA STATE
UNIVERSITY SYSTEM IS A FOCUS ON ACCESS AND EXCELLENCE.
AND SO AS WE HAVE GONE THROUGH THIS PERIOD --AND
I WOULD AGREE WHOLEHEARTEDLY THAT
THE TUITION RAISE THOUGH INCREDIBLE
IS NECESSARY. ONE OF OUR STEPS IN OUR SISTER
INSTITUTIONS IN THE CSU SHARED THIS STEP IS THAT WE WILL BE
RESERVING APPROXIMATELY $8 MILLION IN THE TUITION REVENUE
TO SUPPORT FINANCIAL AID. THIS WILL BE FOR
STUDENTS WHOSE FAMILIES ARE BELOW $70,000 IN
INCOME. AND WE'RE GOING TO ASSURE THAT
FOR THOSE FAMILIES, THEY DO NOT
PAY A SINGLE PENNY MORE ASSOCIATED WITH THIS INCREASE.
WE WANT TO GET THAT WORD OUT. WE DON'T WANT STUDENTS TO
BECOME DISCOURAGED. WE DON'T WANT STUDENTS TO THINK
I CAN'T BE PART OF THIS DREAM THAT YOU THINK IS SO IMPORTANT.
WE HAVE STUDENTS WHOSE FAMILY INCOME IS BETWEEN 70 AND
90,000, THOSE STUDENTS ARE -- DO HAVE A FEDERAL TAX CREDIT
AVAILABLE THAT WILL GIVE A DOLLAR FOR DOLLAR OFFSET.
WE WANT PEOPLE TO BE AWARE OF THAT.
WE ALSO ARE TARGETING OUR FUNDRAISING EFFORTS ON STUDENT
SCHOLARSHIP. THIS PAST YEAR, WE RAISED
31 MILLION-DOLLAR TO SUPPORT
STUDENT SCHOLARSHIP AND THAT'S GOING TO BE A CONTINUED FOCUS
THIS COMING YEAR. I ALREADY HAD EXTENSIVE
DISCUSSIONS WITH DONORS ABOUT THIS ISSUE.
PEOPLE ARE VERY, VERY SUPPORTIVE.
PEOPLE WANT TO KEEP THAT ACCESS OPEN.
THAT'S A PRIORITY. >> VERY QUICKLY NOW, GRADUATION
RATES AT THE UNIVERSITY IN 2010 WERE
AT66%. THAT'S A HUGE INCREASE FROM 38%
BACK IN THE TWO. WHAT DO YOU PLAN TO DO TO BOOST
THEM EVEN FURTHER. >> SO, FIRST, I WANT TO
ACKNOWLEDGE PRESIDENT WEBER AND HIS TEAM AND THEIR FOCUS ON
WHAT THEY'VE DONE. THEY HAVE FOCUSED ON THAT
COMBINATION OF ACCESS AND EXCELLENCE SO THAT AN OPEN DOOR
DOES NOT BECOME A REVOLVING DOOR.
THE PROGRESS HAS BEEN EXTRAORDINARY.
PROGRESS ACROSS ALL GROUPS AND I THINK THERE IS A LOT THAT THE
UNIVERSITY HAS TO BE PROUD OF.
IN THIS AREA, THERE ARE MANY PEOPLE IN THE UNIVERSITY WHO
ARE WORKING. WHAT THEY ARE DOING IS REALLY
BREAKING THE PROCESS DOWN SO THAT THEY ARE LOOKING AT
EACH ASPECT OF ADMISSIONS, FINANCIAL
AID, STUDENT MA TRICK
TRICULATION, LOOKING INTO AREAS
SO THAT ACADEMIC GRADUATIONS CAN INCREASE EVEN FURTHER.
>> NO DOUBT YOU HAVE SEEN THEM ON THE STREETS.
THEY HAVE MENTAL ILLNESSES. THEY ARE GRAPPLING WITH
ADDICTIONS. THEY HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO GET
BACK ON THEIR FEET. THEY ARE HOMELESS VETERANS.
TODAY MARKS THE START OF AN ANNUAL PROGRAM CALLED STAND
DOWN THAT HELPS VETERANS RESTART THEIR LIVES.
JOINING ME TO TALK TO ABOUT
STAND DOWN IS BATH. WHAT IS STAND DOWN AND HOW DID
IT GET STARTED. >> WAS STARTD IN 1988
BY VETERAN VILLAGE OF SAN DIEGO.
IT IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR VETERANS TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF
SERVICES THAT WE TAKE ADVANTAGE OF EVERY DAY IN OUR
HOMES, A HOT SHOWER, CLEAN CLOTHES,
OPPORTUNITY TO VISIT A DENTIST. THEY PROBABLY HAVE NOT SEEN A
DENTIST IN A LONG TIME.
THAT RUNS THE GAMUT THAT PEOPLE WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO HAVE
ACCESS TO. >> HOW MANY HOMELESS VETERANS
ARE THERE HERE IN SAN DIEGO? >> WE BELIEVE THERE ARE BETWEEN
3000 TO 4000 HOMELESS VETERANS IN SAN DIEGO RIGHT NOW.
>> WHAT KIND OF CROWD DO YOU EXPECT THIS WEEKEND?
>> THEY ARE EXPECTED UPWARD OF ABOUT 1000.
IT SEEMS TO INCREASE EVERY YEAR THAT THEY'VE DONE.
THIS CONSIDERING THE ECONOMY THIS YEAR, THERE ARE MORE FOLKS
ACTUALLY OUT ON THE STREET. THEY ANTICIPATE PROBABLY
ABOUT 1000 HOMELESS VETERANS.
HOW SUCCESSFUL HAS THIS PROGRAM BEEN IN HELPING VETERANS
RESTART THEIR LIVES? >> WHAT'S INTERESTING IS THAT
WE SENT A REPORTER OUT TO THE STAND DOWN WHICH BEGINS TODAY
AND SHE WAS ABLE TO SPEAK WITH A FEW OF THOSE HOMELESS
VETERANS AND THEY CAN TELL YOU THEMSELVES.
>> I'VE BEEN COMING HERE SINCE 1988, AND
ACTUALLY TOGET SOME GLASSES.
>> I'M HERE AT THE STAND-DOWN TO HELP ME OUT WITH SOME MY
COURT CASES FOR TICKETS AND STUFF, PAST HISTORY, CLOTHING.
I NEED HELP WITH MY CLOTHING AND HOUSING
ISSUES. >> MEDICAL REASONS,
I LOST MY LEG AND MY HUSBAND THROUGH
OTHER MEDICAL REASONS LOST HIS
LEFT LEGS. WE HAVE OTHER MEDICAL PROBLEMS.
BASICALLY, BOTH OF US ARE HOMELESS.
HOPEFULLY THAT NOW THAT I'M OUT OF THE HOSPITAL AND ALMOST
HEALED, WE CAN FIND A PLACE TO LIVE SO WE CAN BOTH BE TOGETHER
>>> THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE LOOKING FOR
HELP. THEY SAY IT'S
NOT A HANDOUT. PEOPLE WHO HAVE NOT HAD A HOME
LIKE THE WOMAN WE SAW THERE, SHE MAY BE ABLE TO, WITH
ASSISTANCE FROM HOUSING AUTHORITIES AND LEGAL
AUTHORITIES, SOCIAL SECURITY ASSISTANCE, CAN MAYBE MAKE THAT
DREAM COME TRUE. SO IT'S A REALLY IMPORTANT
EVENT. AND SAN DIEGO WAS THE FIRST
PLACE THAT IT STARTED AND IT HAS SPREAD THROUGH A VARIETY OF
COMMUNITIES THROUGHOUT THE UNITED STATES.
>> SWITCHING GEARS SLIGHTLY, FOR THE FIRST TIME OF, ACTIVE
DUTY TROOPS ARE GOING TO BE MARCHING IN SAN DIEGO'S GAY
PRIDE PA RAY. HOW DID THIS COME ABOUT?
>> IT'S A REALLY BIG DEAL BECAUSE OF WHAT'S GOING ON SORT
OF LEGALLY WITH GAYS IN THE
MILITARY. DON'T ASK DON'T TELL HAS
BEEN REPEALED.
PRESIDENT OBAMA SIGNED THAT LAW AND THE MILITARY HAS BEEN
SLOWLY WORKING TOWARDS TRAINING THE TROOPS TO PREPARE THEM FOR
WHEN THE LAW IS FULLY ENACTED OR THE REPEAL IS FULLY ENACTED.
THE 9th CIRCUIT COURT OF APPEALS HAD A RULING SAYING
THAT THE BAN NEEDS TO START NOW AND SO THERE ARE LEGAL
WRANGLINGS GOING ON. THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY, WHILE
THIS IS HAPPENING, FOR FOLKS WHO HAVE BEEN HIDING FOR YEARS,
HIDING THEIR IDENTITIES, TO COME OUT AND TO JOIN
TOGETHER. THERE'S BEEN 350 ACTIVE
TROOPS, BOTH GAY AND STRAIGHT, AND THEY
ARE NOT ALLOWED TO WEAR THEIR UNIFORMS BUT THEY WILL BE
WEARING ARMY T-SHIRT, NAVERY T- SHIRTS AND MARCHING TOGETHER
BASICALLY FOR THE FIRST TIME, BEING ABLE TO SHOW
WHO THEY ARE.
AND THEY ARE PRETTY EXCITED ABOUT IT.
>> VERY QUICKLY, HOW SIGNIFICANT IS THIS STEP?
>> IT'S A SIGNIFICANT STEP, BECAUSE IT'S SHOWING SORT OF
WHERE WE ARE TURNING THAT YOU
CAN SEE WHO YOU ARE WITHOUT WORRYING ABOUT GETTING KICKED
OUT OF THE MILITARY, ABOUT LOSING YOUR BENEFITS AND ALL OF
THAT KIND OF THINGS. IT'S A BIG STEP
IN THAT IT'S SORT OF A BELLWHETHER OF WHAT
WE'RE GOING TO SEE IN THE FUTURE THAT PEOPLE THAT WE
DIDN'T KNOW WERE GAY IN THE MILITARY BEING ABLE TO COME OUT
AND SAY, YES, THIS IS WHO I AM AND I DON'T HAVE TO BE AFRAID
TO LOSE MY POSITION IN THE MILITARY AGAIN.
THANK YOU FOR SPEAKING TO US. THANK YOU.
>>> WHEN A CHULA
VISTA ELEMENTARY SCHOOL TEACHER
DECIDED TO WEIGH HER STUDENTS, SHE DIDN'T REALIZE SHE
WOULD FIND AN EPIDEMIC THAT
SURPASS THE NATION'S.
>> THE KIDS AT CHULA VISTA
KELLOGG ELEMENTARY SCHOOL ARE JUST GETTING READY FOR THE
FITNESS FAIR. THERE ARE A LOT OF ACTIVITY
THAT CAN HELP YOU LIKE THE BASKETBALL SHOES, THE
FOOTBALL THROW.
HULA HOOPS. >> THIS IS A FUNNER ALTERNATIVE
THAN WATCHING MOVIES IN CLASS AS THE YEAR WIND DOWN.
>> IT'S GOOD THAT WE GET OUR EXERCISES INSTEAD OF BEING IN
THE CLASSROOM. >> THEY HAVE ALL THESE GAME
VENDORS. WE SAW THEM ON TV.
NOW, THEY ARE ACTUALLY HERE. SO IT'S AWESOME.
>> THIS IS A GREAT OPPORTUNITY
FOR THEM TO BE ENJOYING THE WEATHER THAT'S HERE.
>> HAVING FUN IS ONE GOAL OF THE AFTERNOON BUT THE FAIR IS
PART OF A YEAR-LONG EVIDENT TO
MAKE STUDENTS HEALTHIER. >> CHILDREN AT THE ELEMENTARY
SCHOOL DISTRICT DID A DISTRICT WIDE HEIGHT AND WEIGHT
SURVEILLANCE IN THE FALL. WHAT WE SAW IS THAT THERE WAS A
NEED TO IMPROVE THE PHYSICAL FITNESS OF OUR CHILDREN AND
THAT IS TIED TO GREATER ACHIEVEMENT AND LEARNING AND
FEELING GOOD ABOUT BEING AT SCHOOL.
THIS IS IMPORTANT TO US.
>> NATIONALLY, THE CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL ESTIMATES THAT
THERE ARE ABOUT 70% OF KIDS BETWEEN THE AGES OF 2 AND 19
ARE OBESE. THE CHULA VISTA HEIGHT AND
WEIGHT SURVEY FOUND THE NUMBERS ARE EVEN WORSE IN THEIR
SCHOOLS. NEARLY HALF OF FIRST GRADE
GIRLS AND MORE THAN A THIRD OF
FIRST GRADE BOYS WERE OVEREIGHT.
MORE THAN HALF OF THE STUDENTS WERE OVERWEIGHT AND A QUARTER
WERE CONSIDERED OBESE. ACROSS CALIFORNIA, STUDENTS'
WEIGHT AND HEIGHT ARE ONLY RECORDED IN THE FIFTH GRADE.
AFTER A SURVEY, CHULA VISTA IS NOW THE ONLY DISTRICT IN THE
STATE TO HAVE THIS DETAILED A PICTURE FROM NEARLY ALL
STUDENTS FROM PRESCHOOL TO SIXTH GRADE.
>> WE HAVE BEEN OPERATING WITH ASSUMPTIONS AND
VERY LIMITED INFORMATION.
SO HAVING THIS WEALTH OF DATA REALLY ALLOWS US TO DO A BETTER
JOB OF KNOWING WHAT WE NEED TO
DO. >> THE SCHOOL WITH THE HIGHEST
RATE OF OBESITY ARE LOCATED IN WHAT HAVE COME TO BE
KNOWN AS FOOD DESERTS.
THERE ARE FAST FOOD RESTAURANTS NEARBY
BUT FEWER GREASERY STORES.
AND THERE ARE PARKS BUT THE NEIGHBORHOODS TEND TO HAVE MORE
VIOLENT CRIMES. THE DISTRICT SUPERINTENDENT IS
INTENT ON WORKINGWITH STUDENTS' FAMILIES.
>> WE NEED TO BE VERY FOCUSED ON
OUR APPROACH TO ENSURE THAT WE ARE ACTUALLY CHANGING LIFE
STYLES. AND THE FOCUS HAS TO BE IN
THOSE SPECIFIC CRITICAL AREAS WHERE WE
HAVE HIGHER INCIDENCE OF OBESITY.
>> THE DISTRICT IS ALSO MAKING
PLANS, BRINGING LOCAL PRODUCES AND GIVING MORE OPTIONS.
THEY ARE LOOKING TO HIRE MORE
PHYSICAL EDUCATION TEACHERS AND BRING FARMER'S MARKETS.
THESE EFFORTS ARE CRITICAL. >> THIS IS GOING TO BE
INTERESTING BECAUSE WHEN YOU HAVE SYSTEMIC CHANGE, IT TAKES
FIVE TO TEN YEARS AND WE ARE TRYING TO ACCELERATE THAT
CHANGE BECAUSE WE ARE TALKING ABOUT THE LIVES OF KIDS.
YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT KIDS WHO, WHEN THEY ARE 30, THEY
WILL HAVE SOME DIABETES
OR HEART ATTACKS.
WE CANNOT WAIT. WE HAVE TO
DO SOMETHING NOW. >> IF CHULA VISTA CAN
ACCELERATE THESE CHANGES, THEY HOPE THAT THEIR EFFORTS LIKE
THE FITNESS FAIR CAN SERVE AS MODELS
FOR SCHOOLS ACROSS THE ONE INDUSTRY.
SHARING THE FINDINGS ALREADY TRICKLED TO THE STUDENTS AT
KELLOGG. THEY KNOW IT'S PART FUN AND
SERIOUS. >> I KNOW IT'S FIT.
MOST KIDS ARE LIKE OBESE AND DON'T GO OUT AND BE ACTIVE.
THIS IS A CHANCE FOR ALL OF US TO BE ACTIVE AND
PLAY. >> STUDENTS WILL BE DOING THE
HEIGHT AND WEIGHT SURVEY AGAIN IN THE FALL OF 2012.
CARLA TALBOTT WILL BE FOLLOWING
THEIR PROGRESS AGAIN. >>> AND GROUND ZERO FOR POP
CULTURE FANS. MOVIES, TELEVISION AND COMIC
BOOKS WILL BE CELEBRATED AT COMIC CON INTERNATIONAL.
IT'S THE WORLD'S BIGGEST POP CULTURE CONVENTION
AND IT'S HELD HERE.
JOINING US ARE TWO PEOPLE WHO GO TO THE COMIC CON.
BETH, LET'S START WITH YOU. COMIC CON INTERNATIONAL IS
KNOWN FOR DRAWING HUGE CROWDS. WILL THIS YEAR GOING TO BE ANY
DIFFERENT? >> YES.
IT'S GOING TO BE HUGE. THE CON HAS PUT A CAP
ON THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE WHO CAN COME
BECAUSE THERE IS NO ROOM TO EXPAND.
IT'S BEEN ABOUT 125,000 THE PAST FEW YEARS AND THAT'S WHAT
IT LOOKS LIKE TO BE THIS YEAR AND IT WILL BE CROWDED.
>> AND HOLLYWOOD MOVIES HAVE
ALWAYS BEEN A BIG PART OF THIS EVENT.
THAT MAY NOT BE THE CASE THIS YEAR AND IF THAT'S TRUE, WHY?
>> I DON'T THINK THAT'S THE CASE.
TWO OR THREE STUDIOS DON'T BRING FORTH A COUPLE OF BIG
MOVIES THAT PEOPLE WANT TO SEE. DISNEY IS NOT GOING TO BRING
THE AVENGER AND THERE IS GOING TO BE NO PRESENCE OF THE NEW
BAT MAPP MOVIE. AT LEAST OFFICIALLY BUT THERE
ARE OTHER BIG PROFILE MOVIES THAT WILL BRING.
FOX WHICH DIDN'T BRING ANYTHING LAST YEAR, WILL BRING SOME
MOVIES. THERE WILL BE PLANET OF THE
APES AND OTHERS. THERE WILL BE PLENTY OF
OPTIONS. >> BETH, ANY HUGE CELEBRITIES
THAT MAKE AN APPEARANCE THIS YEAR?
>> CELEBRITIES MIGHT BE DIFFERENT THAN OTHER PEOPLE.
FOR MEEKS THE BIG CELEBRITIES ARE THE DIRECTORS.
FRANCIS FORD COPPOLA WILL BE BACK.
HE WAS HERE WHEN HE DID DONOVAN McNABB CLA IN THE EARLY
NINETIES, LATE EIGHTIES. >> AND IT LOOKS LIKE STEPHEN
SPIELBERG WILL BE MAKING HIS FIRST APPEARANCE FOR THE FILM
TIN-TIN. THAT'S GOING TO BE HIS FIRST
TIME OUT HERE. THEY HAD HARRISON FORD OUT.
HE IS DOING TIN TIN WHICH IS AN ADAPTATION OF A FRENCH COPIC
BOOK, HUGELY POPULAR COMIC BOOK IN EUROPE.
I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S GOING TO HAVE THE SAME APPEAL OVER HERE
IN THE UNITED STATES.
IT HAS EDGAR WRIGHT AND SHAUNA PEG TWO PEOPLE INVOLVED IN DAWN
OF THE DEAD. VERY, VERY POPULAR IN COMIC
CON. THAT WILL BE AN
INTERESTING PANEL.
>> IS IT EASY FOR COMIC CON
ATTENDEES TO INTERACT WITH CELEBRITIES?
>> USUALLY, YOU WILL NOT BE INTERACTING WITH PEOPLE ON THE
PANEL. BUT A LOT OF PEOPLE WILL BE
DOING AUTOGRAPH SIGNING. THERE ARE GOING TO BE PEOPLE IN
THE BOOTH. IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN
MEETING SOME OF THE COMIC BOOK WRITERS AT D.C. OR MARVEL OR
DARK HORSE, THOSE KINDS OF PEOPLE, YOU WILL HAVE A
CHANCE TOINT ABILITY WITH.
BUT THE BIG HOLLYWOOD PEOPLE WILL WHISK IN
AND BACK OUT. >> PANELS, ARE THEY GOING TO
BE --IS TELEVISION GOING TO PLAY
A BIG PRESENCE? >> TELEVISION ALMOST ECLIPSED
HOW BIG MOVIES ARE. THIS YEAR WON'T BE DIFFERENT.
ALMOST EVERY NETWORK IS BRINGING ALL OF IT
BIG SHOWS. HBO HAS GAME OF THRONE AND TRUE
BLOOD. DEXTER WILL BE THERE.
ELIJAH WOOD WHO IS A FILM ACTOR, WILL BRING HIS TV SHOW.
THERE IS NO TV SHOW THAT'S NOT REPRESENTED WITH A CELEBRITY
GUEST AS WELL. >> SO, WHAT ADVICE DO YOU HAVE
FOR PEOPLE WHO GOT TICKETS THIS YEAR IN TERMS OF WHERE TO PARK
AND WHERE TO EAT? >> WHERE TO PARK, IF YOU DON'T
ALREADY HAVE YOUR PARKING PERMITS AND STUFF, DON'T EVEN
BOTHER COMING DOWN. TRY TO TAKE THE TROLLEY OR WALK
OR BE DROPPED OFF. YOU LOOK AT THE GRID, THE
PROGRAM GRID THAT THEY HAVE AVAILABLE ONLINE AND IN THE
PROGRAMS AND KIND OF PLAN OUT YOUR ATTACK.
DECIDE WHAT YOU WANT TO SEE, WHAT THINGS YOU REALLY WANT TO
WAIT IN LINE FOR THAT YOU ARE WILLING TO PUT IN THE HOURS
FOR. PACK A LOT OF FOOD IN.
PACK WATER IN. MAKE SURE YOU HAVE ALL THE
NECESSITY, LIKE THE ZOMBIE APOCK LIPS.
BE READY FOR ANYTHING. >> YOU SHOULD KNOW WHERE YOU
ARE AND WHERE YOU SHOULD BE ALL THE TIME.
IF YOU ARE NOT, YOU ARE SORT OF LIKE A DEER IN
THE HEADLINE, FROZEN.
>> WHAT ARE YOU BOTH MOST EXCITED ABOUT THIS
YEAR? >> FOR ME, PROMETHIUS IS A BIG
ONE, THE BIG RIDLEY SCOTT, ATTACHED TO ALIENS.
I'M EAGER TO SEE TIN TIN THAT BETH WAS TALK BEING.
THAT'S SOMETHING THAT THAT I GREW UP READING.
THOSE TWOR ON MY LIST. >> WHAT ABOUT YOU?
>> I ALWAYS LOVE TO SEE BRUCE CAMPBELL.
HE IS GOING TO BE THERE FOR THE SAM ACTION MOVIE.
AND ATTACK THE BLOCK IS THE MOVIE THAT SAM WRIGHT IS
PRODUCING. IT'S A BRITISH COMEDY ABOUT
TEENS FIGHTING OFF AN ALIEN INVASION.
THE BEST KEPT SECRET OF COMIC CON IS THE FILM FESTIVAL.
EVERY YEAR, I HAVE SEEN OUTSTANDING MOVIES, ESPECIALLY
THEIR DOCUMENTARY. IT'S AT THE MARRIOTT, GREAT
FILMS RUNNING ALL DAY, ALL FOUR DAYS AND IT'S WORTH CHECKING
OUT. >> AND IS THE SAN DIEGO FILM
SOCIETY AIR A FILM? >> YES, THE SAN DIEGO
CRITIC FILM SOCIETY.
IT'S BASED ON A WONDERFUL COMIC BOOK.
THAT'S A FILM THAT'S SORT OF OPPOSITE OF MOST OF THE COMIC
BOOK MOVIES THAT WE SEE. THERE ARE NO SUPER HEROES, JUST
A GREAT STORY. WHEN IT CAME OUT TEN YEARS AGO,
THE FILM CRITIC SOCIETY GAVE IT A NUMBER OF AWARDS AND IT LOOKS
LIKE WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A NUMBER OF TALENTED SHOW THAT
WILL PUT AN APPEARANCE. SATURDAY NIGHT, 9:00 PEOPLE AT
THE GASLAND CINEMAS AND NO
BADGE REQUIRED. >> BASS, ANDREW, THANK YOU SO
MUCH FOR SPEAKING TO US TODAY. >> HERE IS KATY ORR WITH AN
UPDATE ON WHAT KPBS IS WORKING
ON. COMIC CON IS NOT JUST FOR
GUYS ANYMORE.
THE NUMBER OF WOMEN ATTENDING NEARLY EQUALS THE NUMBER OF
MEN. >> ON MID DAY EDITION, TUNE IN
TO HEAR A SPECIAL SERIES ON THE HEALTH OF THE OCEAN.
>> THANKS, KATY >>> ALL OF THE STORIES YOU SAW
TONIGHT CAN BE VIEWED ON OUR
WEBSITE AT KPBS.ORG/SDWEEK. NOW HERE IS A LOOK AT THE
WEEKEND FORECAST. THANKS FOR WATCHING AND GOOD
NIGHT. SAN
DIEGO WEEK IS MADE POSSIBLY IN PART BY A GRAND FROM THE
PARKER FOUNDATION.