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>> COMING UP NEXT ON "EVENING
EDITION", AS THE WARS IN IRAQ
AND AFGHANISTAN COME TO A CLOSE,
WE'RE LOOKING AT THE ISSUES
VETERANS FACE AS THEY RETURN TO
SAN DIEGO.
>>> "EVENING EDITION" STARTS
NOW.
.
>> GOOD EVENING.
I'M AMITA SHARMA, IN FOR JOANNE
FARYON.
>> AND I'M DWANE BROWN.
SAN DIEGANS HONORED VETS AND THE
MILITARY TODAY.
THE BIGGEST EVENT WAS ON THE USS
CARL VINSON.
THE FIRST-EVER BASKETBALL GAME
IS WRAPPING UP.
PRESIDENT AND FIRST LADY OBAMA
WERE PRESENT, BETWEEN MICHIGAN
STATE AND NORTH CAROLINA.
IT WAS A SPECIAL TREAT FOR THE
SAILORS ON THE VINSON, JUST BACK
FROM A SIX-MONTH DEPLOYMENT.
EVEN MOTHER NATURE SMILED ON THE
EVENT.
>>> THE VETERANS DAY PARADE
KICKED OFF ALONG PACIFIC HIGHWAY
IN DOWNTOWN SAN DIEGO.
THE PARADE COMMEMORATED THE 20TH
ANNIVERSARY OF DESERT SHIELD AND
DESERT STORM.
GAY AND LESBIANS OPENLY MARCHED
FOR THE FIRST TIME, FOLLOWING
THE RECENT REPEAL OF "DON'T ASK,
DON'T TELL".
EVELYN WAS AT THE PARADE TO SHOW
HER SUPPORT.
>> IT'S GAY PRIDE, AND THAT'S
HISTORICAL EVENT, FOR ME TO
PARTICIPATE, BECAUSE I'M AN
OPENLY GAY VETERAN.
>> IN THE PAST WEEK, WE'VE
LEARNED HOUSING, JOBS,
HEALTHCARE, EDUCATION ARE SOME
OF THE BIGGEST CHALLENGES FACING
OUR NATION'S VETERANS,
ESPECIALLY THOSE WHO HAVE
RECENTLY SERVED IN IRAQ OR
AFGHANISTAN.
TONIGHT WE HEAR MORE ABOUT
WHAT'S BEING DONE TO ADDRESS
THOSE ISSUES IN SAN DIEGO.
ON THE STREETS OF SAN DIEGO,
IT'S ESTIMATED ONE OUT OF FOUR
HOMELESS PEOPLE ARE MILITARY
VETERANS.
>> I THINK THAT THE VETERANS
HOMELESS ISSUE IS GOING TO
CONTINUE TO GROW, MOSTLY BECAUSE
OF THE INFLUX OF RETURNING
OPERATION ENDURING FREEDOM
VETERANS.
>> Reporter: SAN DIEGO'S HIGH
COST OF LIVING AND LACK OF
AFFORDABLE HOUSING HAVE MADE THE
SITUATION MORE SEVERE.
>> WE'RE HERE WITH THE
CALIFORNIA COMMUNITY HOUSING
DEVELOPMENT IN A PARTNERSHIP TO
ROLL OUT OUR PROGRAM TO ASSIST
VETERANS WITH HOUSING.
>> Reporter: THE SECOND IN
CHARGE OF THE VETERANS
ADMINISTRATION IN WASHINGTON WAS
IN SAN DIEGO THIS WEEK.
HE TALKED ABOUT THE DISMAL
PICTURE FOR YOUNG VETS.
THE UNEMPLOYMENT RATE FOR THEM
WAS ALMOST DOUBLE THE NATIONAL
AVERAGE.
>> FOR MANY OF THEM, THEY WILL
NEED TO REEDUCATE THEMSELVES, TO
TAKE WHAT THEY'VE LEARNED ABOUT
DISCIPLINE AND TEAMWORK, ABOUT
APPLYING THE VALUES THEY LIVED
IN THE SERVICE, AND THEN
LEARNING A TRADE OR A TWO-YEAR
OR FOUR-YEAR COLLEGE, AND WE
HAVE THE G.I. BILL, WHICH WILL
HELP PAY FOR COLLEGE TO ANY
PRIVATE OR PUBLIC UNIVERSITY IN
AMERICA.
>> Reporter: ANOTHER GROWING
PROBLEM IS THE RATE OF SUICIDE
AMONG IRAQ AND AFGHANISTAN VETS.
ABOUT 5,000 ARE RECEIVING SOME
FORM OF MEDICAL CARE AT THE V.A.
SAN DIEGO HEALTHCARE SYSTEM.
>> MANY OF THEM ARE YOUNG PEOPLE
THAT DON'T REALLY KNOW WHAT'S
GOING ON, THIS IS ALL NEW TO
THEM, SO JUST MEETING THEM AT
THEIR LEVEL AND PROVIDING TO
THEM WHAT THEY'RE CAPABLE AT THE
MOMENT IS WHAT WE TRY TO DO.
>> COUNSELORS HERE SAY THERE ARE
MANY SIGNS TO LOOK FOR WHEN A
PERSON MIGHT BE SUICIDAL,
INCLUDING PROBLEMS WITH FAMILY
MEMBERS, DRASTIC CHANGES IN
BEHAVIOR, AND SOMETIMES A
SITUATION CAN TRIGGER IT.
>>> SAN DIEGO WILL NEED ANOTHER
12.2 MILLION DOLLARS ANNUALLY TO
PAID FOR MAINTENANCE OVER THE
NEXT FIVE YEARS, IN ADDITION TO
THE 31.8 MILLION THAT MAYOR
SANDERS HAS IN HIS FINANCIAL
OUTLOOK.
THIS MEANS DEEPER DEFICITS IN
THE FIRST FOUR YEARS AND A
SMALLER THAN EXPECTED SURPLUS IN
THE FINAL YEAR.
THE CITY MUST WHITTLE DOWN A
BACKLOG OF PROJECTS.
>>> THE CITY OF SAN DIEGO IS
POISED FOR YET ANOTHER MARKETING
DEAL WITH A PRIVATE COMPANY,
THIS ONE FOR VENDING MACHINES
COULD BRING THE CITY AS MUCH AS
$870,000 OVER THE NEXT FIVE
YEARS.
THE AGREEMENT WITH RAINBOW
VENDING WOULD GENERATE REVENUE
FROM MACHINES AT CITY
FACILITIES.
IT WILL BE ALLOWED TO CALL
ITSELF SAN DIEGO OFFICIAL
VENDING BEVERAGE PARTNER.
TOYOTA WILL PROVIDE LIFEGUARD
VEHICLES, AND SPRINT WILL
PROVIDE CELL PHONES.
>>> NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE
SAYS HIGH SURF IS HITTING SAN
DIEGO BEACHES, ESPECIALLY THOSE
FACING SOUTH.
THERE WILL BE STRONG RIP
CURRENTS THROUGH TOMORROW
MORNING.
CONDITIONS COULD BE DANGEROUS,
SINCE BEACHES HAVE RELATIVELY
FEW LIFEGUARDS AT THIS TIME OF
YEAR.
THE HIGH SURF ADVISORY EXPIRES
AT 10:00 TOMORROW MORNING.
>>> WE WERE TELLING YOU ABOUT
THE ISSUES FACING RETURNING
VETERANS.
WE HAVE A RECAP OF SOME OF THE
EVENING'S STORIES AT THE
"EVENING EDITION" ROUNDTABLE.
.
>> TWO OF OUR TOP STORIES THIS
WEEK HAVE A MILITARY THEME,
APPROPRIATE FOR VETERANS DAY.
ONE INVOLVES SERIOUS ISSUES
FACING VETERANS, ESPECIALLY
RETURNING FROM IRAQ AND
AFGHANISTAN.
ANOTHER IS A NEW PROPOSAL FOR
NAVY PEER.
ROGER SHOWLEY AND TONY PERRY ARE
MY GUESTS.
PRESIDENT OBAMA FLEW IN FOR THE
BIG GAME ON THE USS VINSON.
HOW BIG OF A DEAL IS THIS FOR
THE NAVY AND FOR VETS?
>> I THINK IT'S A GREAT THING
FOR NAVY VETS, SAN DIEGO, THE
PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES,
COLLEGE, AND PROFESSIONAL
BASKETBALL, THIS GAME, FIRST
GAME ON A FLATOP, ON AN AIRCRAFT
CARRIER, AN ARCHITECTURAL
MARVEL, I THINK, THAT THEY BUILT
THOSE STANDS RIGHT THERE ON THE
CARRIER, AND THE PRESIDENT OF
THE UNITED STATES IS A BIG
BASKETBALL FAN, SO HE CAME OUT
HERE AND AS PART OF A VETERANS
DAY CELEBRATION, AND WE'RE ALL
GOING TO HAVE FUN, AND THE
WEATHER COOPERATED.
THERE HAD BEEN TALK THAT THE
GAME WOULD GET RAINED OUT.
THAT HAS NOT OCCURRED.
BEAUTIFUL GAME UNDER A BEAUTIFUL
SKY, AND A GREAT DIVERSION FROM
SOME MORE GRIM NEWS, BUT ALSO A
WAY TO CELEBRATE AND HONOR WHAT
THIS DAY IS, WHICH IS VETERANS
DAY.
>> THIS IS A ONE-SHOT THING OR
DO YOU THINK IT WILL HAPPEN
AGAIN?
>> THERE IS TALK OF MOVING IT
AROUND, MAYBE FLORIDA, MAYBE
SEATTLE, MAYBE SAN FRANCISCO,
WHEREVER THERE IS A SHIP BIG
ENOUGH, MAYBE WE'LL PUT IT ON
LAND NEXT TIME.
IT'S COMPLICATED, IT'S
EXPENSIVE.
AND WE'LL SEE HOW THE TEAMS DO,
DOES ANOTHER TEAM WANT TO DO
THIS NEXT YEAR OR NOT.
SO ENJOY IT WHILE YOU CAN,
BECAUSE IT MAY OR MAY NOT COME
BACK AGAIN.
>> TONY, YOU SAID IT'S A GREAT
DIVERSION FROM SOME OF THE GRIM
NEWS.
LET'S TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT
THAT.
UNEMPLOYMENT IS AMONG THE MANY
CHALLENGES THAT VETERANS ARE
FACING, IT'S IN THE DOUBLE
DIGITS, WHEREAS THE NATIONAL
UNEMPLOYMENT RATE IS AT 9%.
WHY IS IT HIGHER FOR VETERANS?
>> WELL, IT'S ABOUT 12%, BY ONE
STUDY.
DON'T GET TOO WRAPPED AROUND THE
AXLE ON NUMBERS, THOUGH.
IT'S HARD TO CLEAR UP WHETHER
IT'S APPLES OR ORANGES.
THE ECONOMY IS ILL, IT'S HARD TO
STEP OUT, AND THEN STEP BACK IN
WHEN YOUR PEERS HAVE ALL GOTTEN
ENTRY-LEVEL JOBS AND ARE WORKING
THEIR WAY UP.
THERE MAY BE CONCERNS ABOUT WHO
THESE VETERANS ARE, DO THEY HAVE
PTSD, TRAUMATIC BRAIN INJURY,
WE'VE DONE STORY AFTER STORY
ABOUT SOME OF THESE PROBLEMS,
MAYBE PRIVATE EMPLOYERS ARE
SCARED.
NOW, VETERANS GET PREFERENCE AT
ALMOST ALL GOVERNMENTAL LEVELS,
BUT GOVERNMENTAL EMPLOYMENT IS
BEING CUT BACK.
ANY FACTOR YOU WANT TO CONSIDER
IS CUTTING AGAINST THE IDEA OF A
LOT OF GUYS GETTING OUT AND
QUICKLY GETTING INTO PRIVATE OR
PUBLIC ECONOMY.
ONE FIGURE IS SOME 900,000
VETERANS ARE JOBLESS.
WELL, THERE'S MILLIONS OF PEOPLE
JOBLESS.
AND IT'S ALSO HARD, I THINK, TO
THINK OF CURING THE JOBLESSNESS
AMONG VETERANS WITHOUT CURING
THE JOBLESSNESS IN THE OVERALL
ECONOMY.
>> TONY, IS IT VETERANS, IN
BRIEFLY, LIKE FOUR TO SIX YEARS,
OR CAREER VETERANS WHO HAVE BEEN
IN FOR 20 YEARS?
>> I THINK IT'S MORE THE FOUR
YEARS, THE HITCH, THE YOUNG
FELLOWS AND YOUNG WOMEN WHO,
AGAIN, THEY WENT IN WHILE THEIR
PEERS WERE EITHER GOING TO
COLLEGE OR GETTING TECHNICAL
TRAINING OR GETTING ENTRY-LEVEL
JOBS, AND NOW THEY ARE THREW
WITH THEIR HITCH, MAYBE THEY'RE
IN THE RESERVES AND WANT TO COME
BACK OUT, AND THE ECONOMY HAS
SOURED.
THE AMERICA THAT THEY LEFT WHEN
THEY WENT INTO MILITARY SERVICE
ISN'T THE ONE THEY'RE COMING
BACK TO.
>> THE SENATE ON THURSDAY
APPROVED PRESIDENT OBAMA'S JOBS
PLAN, AND THAT INCLUDES GIVING
COMPANIES WHO HIRE UNEMPLOYMENT
-- UNEMPLOYED MILITARY VETERANS
TAX BREAKS.
HOW FAR IS THAT EXPECTED TO GO
IN GETTING VETERANS BACK ON
THEIR FEET?
>> WELL, MICHELLE OBAMA IS
TALKING ABOUT 100,000 JOBS FOR
VETERANS THROUGH A VARIETY OF
MODES, INCLUDING TAX BREAKS,
INCLUDING HAVING PRIVATE
COMPANIES HITCH UP THEIR PANTS
AND TRAIN VETERANS THEMSELVES,
INCLUDING AFFIRMATIVE ACTION AT
BOTH THE LOCAL AND FEDERAL
LEVEL.
IT'S GOING TO BE TOUGH.
IT'S REALLY GOING TO BE TOUGH.
ALL OF THIS HAS BEEN TRIED
BEFORE.
WE'RE NOT REINVENTING THE WHEEL.
AFFIRMATIVE ACTION, TAX BREAKS,
VARIOUS COMPANIES HAVE STEPPED
UP BEFORE.
WE'LL SEE.
AGAIN, THE OVERARCHING FACTOR IS
THE OVERALL ECONOMY IS SICK, AND
NOT GETTING BETTER QUICKLY.
HARD TO CURE ONE ASPECT OF IT,
JOBLESSNESS AMONG VETERANS,
WHILE THE REST OF IT IS STILL
FLOUNDERING.
>> DO YOU THINK THEY'RE BETTER
OFF AS NEW EMPLOYEES WITH THEIR
MILITARY TRAINING, THEY HAVE A
LOT OF SKILL FROM THE MILITARY,
THAT'S PART OF THE REASON FOR
GOING IN, THEY'RE DISCIPLINED,
THEY HAVE A WORK ETHIC -- IT
SEEMS LIKE THEY WOULD BE
PERSONALLY BETTER OFF EMPLOYEES
THAN NONMILITARY.
>> AND THAT'S THE ARGUMENT THAT
MILITARY BRASS TRY TO SPREAD
AMONG PRIVATE EMPLOYERS.
WE'LL SEE.
I HAVEN'T REALLY SEEN AN
ABSOLUTELY OBJECTIVE, HARD-NOSED
JOB ANALYSIS, CAN YOU STEP FROM
BEING IN THE MILITARY, WHICH IS,
AFTER ALL, A GOVERNMENT-STYLE
JOB, CAN YOU STEP INTO THE
PRIVATE ECONOMY, OR ARE THERE
SKILLS YOU MAY LEARN IN THE
MILITARY WHICH REALLY ARE
PERTINENT TO THE MILITARY BUT
DON'T REALLY TRANSFER OVER.
I DON'T KNOW, AND I'M RELUCTANT
TO BUY INTO THE SORT OF
UNCHALLENGED ASSUMPTIONS.
WE'LL SAY THIS.
IT'S TOUGH, AND GETTING TOUGHER
FOR THESE GUYS, THESE WOMEN,
PARTICULARLY WHEN THEY COME BACK
FROM IRAQ AND AFGHANISTAN, TO
JUST STEP BACK IN AND, BOOM, GET
THEMSELVES A NICE ENTRY-LEVEL
JOB.
THERE ISN'T MUCH CALL FOR AN
INFANTRY GRUNT IN THE PRIVATE
COMPANY, THERE ISN'T MUCH CALL
FOR THE SKILLS THEY HAVE.
THEY MAY HAVE WORK HABITS, BUT
THE SPECIFIC SKILLS -- COMPANIES
ARE NOT INTO TRAINING YOU.
THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS THAT
THE PRESIDENT'S PROGRAM WOULD
DO, ENCOURAGE AND UNDERWRITE
MUCH OF THE TRAINING GOING ON IN
PRIVATE COMPANIES, SO A VETERAN
WHO DOESN'T HAVE THE EXACT
TRAINING, FED-EX OR IBM NEEDS,
HE CAN GET TRAINED RATHER THAN
BEING REJECTED.
>> LET'S TALK ABOUT MILITARY
CUTS.
TROOPS ARE COMING HOME, AND NOW
450 BILLION DOLLARS IN CUTS ARE
BEING PROPOSED.
WHAT KINDS OF CUTS ARE UNDER
CONSIDERATION FOR THE MILITARY?
>> THE MILITARY BUDGET HAS
DOUBLED IN THE LAST TEN YEARS AS
WE HAVE FOUGHT TWO WARS, 450
BILLION OVER A DECADE, THAT'S A
7 TO 8% CUT.
BIG-TICKET ITEMS, THE
EXPEDITIONARY FIGHTING VEHICLE
THAT THE MARINES WANTED, SOME
AIRCRAFT PROJECTS, ALREADY BEING
CUT.
THE NUMBERS ARE GOING TO BE CUT.
ONE FIGURE I'VE SEEN IS 50,000
FEWER SOLDIERS, WE'RE GOING TO
REDUCE THOSE NUMBERS, 15,000
FEWER MARINES, SO PERSONNEL.
BUT ALSO, THERE'S TALK THAT MORE
SACROSANCT ITEMS ARE ALSO ON THE
TABLE -- PENSIONS, HEALTHCARE,
JUST LIKE THE PRIVATE SECTOR.
WHEN YOU LOOK AT AN OVERALL
BUDGET AND YOU LOOK AT PAYING
PEOPLE WHO ARE NO LONGER
ACTIVELY PROVIDING GOODS AND
SERVICES, AS IT WERE, AND THEIR
HEALTHCARE, IT'S REAL EXPENSIVE,
AND SHOULD YOU EITHER ASK THEM
TO CONTRIBUTE MORE FOR BOTH OF
THOSE, OR SHOULD YOU JUST CUT?
REAL, REAL DIFFICULT,
CONTROVERSIAL STYLE.
BUT THOSE ARE NOT OFF THE TABLE.
THOSE ARE ON THE TABLE, CUTS IN
PENSIONS AND HEALTHCARE.
>> SWITCHING GEARS NOW TO
ANOTHER TOPIC, THE IDEA OF A
VETERANS PARK NEXT TO THE MUSEUM
ON NAVY PIER.
LAST WEEK THE COASTAL COMMISSION
REVERSED ITS APPROVAL OF PLANS
FOR {TLA} THAT STRETCH OF LAND.
THIS WEEK ANOTHER PROPOSAL
EMERGED.
TELL US ABOUT THAT PROPOSAL.
>> THIS IS THE PROPOSAL BY THE
USS MIDWAY AIRCRAFT CARRIER
MUSEUM TO BUILD A PARK ON THE
PIER, WHICH IS NEXT TO IT, AND
AT THE FOOT OF THE PIER WOULD BE
TWO THINGS, A PERMANENT HOME FOR
THE SAN DIEGO SYMPHONY'S POPS
CONCERT, AND SKYSCRAPER-SIZE
WINGS SOARING ABOVE THE CITY
WITH -- SHEETED IN TITANIUM, AND
WOULD BE A SPECTACULAR IMAGE ON
THE BAY, AND IT'S ALREADY PAID
FOR BY A DONATION FROM DENNY
SANFORD, A PERSON FROM SOUTH
DAKOTA WITH A PART-TIME HOME IN
SAN DIEGO, AND THE REST OF THE
MONEY IS TO BE RAISED BY THE
CARRIER MUSEUM.
>> WHOSE IDEA WAS IT?
>> THE IDEA WAS MAINLY A
BUSINESSMAN, CIVIC LEADER FOR
MANY YEARS IN SAN DIEGO, AND HE
FOR YEARS HAS BEEN WANTING TO
THE EQUIVALENT OF THE SIDNEY
OPERAHOUSE IN SAN DIEGO, IT
WOULD BE IN ALL THE ARCHITECTURE
BOOKS, IT WOULD BE SAN DIEGO'S
VALENTINE TO THE WORLD, COME SEE
THIS BEAUTIFUL ART IN PERSON.
.
{OOPS} >> WHAT ARE THE CHANCES
THE COASTAL COMMISSION WILL SIGN
OFF ON THIS?
HOW ARE THEY GOING TO GO WITH
THESE TITANIUM SAILS?
>> I DON'T THINK THE SAILS ARE
THE BIG ISSUE.
IT'S THE PARK.
THE PARK IS PROPOSED ON TOP OF
THE PARKING LOT THAT'S THERE
NOW, SO IT WILL BE 20 FEET IN
THE AIR, AND IF YOU'RE ON HARBOR
DRIVE, YOU WON'T BE ABLE TO SEE
THE BAY BECAUSE IT WILL BE THE
PLATFORM ON TOP OF THE PARKING
LOT.
THEY MAY KILL THE IDEA AT THE
OUTSET SAYING WE WON'T ALLOW YOU
TO BUILD THIS PLATFORM, AND THE
ALTERNATIVE ARGUMENT IS IF YOU
WANT PARKING ON THE WATERFRONT
TO SERVE THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE
COMING TO THE MIDWAY, WHICH IS
THE MOST POPULAR AIRCRAFT
CARRIER MUSEUM IN THE COUNTRY,
YOU HAVE TO PROVIDE PARKING,
NOWHERE ELSE TO PUT IT, THIS IS
A GOOD COMPROMISE.
>> HOW'S THE PUBLIC GOING TO
TAKE IT?
>> WE'VE DONE AN UNSCIENTIFIC
POLL ON THE NEWSPAPER'S WEBSITE,
YOU CAN VOTE UNTIL NEXT SATURDAY
WHETHER YOU LIKE IT OR NOT, AND
SO FAR WE'VE GOT ABOUT 1600
VOTES.
>> HOW DOES THAT COMPARE TO
OTHER POLLS?
>> WELL, IT'S BIGGER THAN MOST,
AND SURPRISINGLY, EXACTLY 50%,
EVERY SINGLE DAY I LOOK AT THIS,
IT'S EXACTLY 50% PRO AND CON,
VERY, VERY HEATED PEOPLE FROM --
HEATED COMMENTS FROM PEOPLE.
>> AND YOU CAN REGISTER YOUR
COMMENTS.
WHAT SORT OF COMMENTS ARE YOU
HEARING?
>> THERE ARE SOME ABOUT THE
MONEY SHOULD BE SPENT FOR
SOMETHING ELSE, OR THIS IS THE
WRONG DESIGN, OR IT'S TOO BIG,
OR IT SHOULDN'T BE ONE
PHILANTHROPIST THING FOR SAN
DIEGO, IT SHOULD BE MORE PUBLIC
INPUT AS TO WHAT IT SHOULD BE,
SOME PEOPLE DON'T LIKE THE
DESIGN, PERIOD, REMINDS ME OF
ARGUMENTS ABOUT THE EIFFEL TOWER
OR WASHINGTON MONUMENT, ANY
NUMBER OF THINGS WE TAKE FOR
GRANTED, THEY GO THROUGH DEBATES
LIKE THIS ALL THE TIME.
IT'S GOOD TO HAVE CONTROVERSY.
I THINK THE QUESTION WILL BE
DOES SAN DIEGO NEED AN ICON,
NEED SOME OTHER IMAGE LIKE THIS,
AND THAT WILL BE THE CENTRAL
QUESTION.
>> WHAT'S NEXT FOR THE DESIGN
PLAN.
>> THERE WILL BE THREE PUBLIC
MEETINGS THAT THE MUSEUM IS
GOING TO HOLD WHERE PEOPLE CAN
TALK ABOUT IT, AND ON DECEMBER
13TH, THE PORT DISTRICT BOARD
WILL COME TOGETHER AND DECIDE
WHETHER THEY WANT TO ENDORSE IT
AND MOVE IT FORWARD AND MAKE IT
PART OF THEIR MASTER PLAN FOR
THE EMBARCADERO.
>> THANK YOU FOR SPEAKING TO ME
TODAY.
>>> COMING UP NEXT, THE STORY OF
A SAN DIEGO MAN WHO TRAINS BIRDS
OF PREY TO KEEP OTHERS AWAY FROM
LANDFILLS AND TOURISTS AT THE
HOTEL DEL.
THIS IS KPBS "EVENING EDITION".
FALCONNER FALCONNER FALCONER
JORGE HERERRA HOE JORGE JORGE
FALCONRY SQUADRON.
>> FOR YEARS, THE HOTEL DEL
CORONADO HAS HAD TO DEAL WITH
SEAGULLS STEALING FOOD FROM ITS
GUESTS.
THIS YEAR THEY HAVE TRIED A NEW
APPROACH.
BETH ACCOMANDO SHOWS US WHAT A
MODERN FALCONER HAS DONE.
>> Reporter: JORGE HERERRA IS
DOING HIS JOB.
>> A BIRD LIVING ON THE FOOD
HERE IS VERY FORTUNATE.
WE'RE SCARING THEM.
>> GEORGE BRINGS IN HIS BIRDS,
SETS THEM UP HERE ON OUR WINDSOR
LAWN, THEN HE WILL WALK AROUND
THE PROPERTY.
THEY'RE BIRDS OF PREY, SO THEY
FRIGHTEN THE OTHER SMALLER BIRDS
AND THE SEAGULLS.
>> Reporter: HERERRA PROVIDES
BIRD-ABATEMENT SERVICES THROUGH
XFALCONRY.
>> I WANT THE OTHER BIRDS TO BE
SCARED, AND WE KEEP THEM FROM
COMING IN AND STEALING FOOD.
I WANT TO OVERLOAD THEIR SENSES.
IT'S CALLED A FREAKOUT.
IT'S SHARKS OF THE SKY.
THEY CLEAR OUT.
>> Reporter: FOR GOOD REASON.
HAWKS AND FALCONS CAN BE LETHAL
TO OTHER BIRDS.
KIM CALDWELL'S FAVORITE IS A
PEREGRINE FALCON NAMED JAVA.
>> THEY HAVE BEEN CLOCKED IN
EXCESS OF 240 MILES AN HOUR IN A
DIVE.
THE SPEED IS JUST PHENOMENAL.
SO THEY ARE DESIGNED FOR
HIGH-SPEED PURSUIT, AND ONE
THING THAT REALLY HOLDS THE
FALCON ABOVE ALL THESE OTHER
RAPTORS IS THE FACT THAT THEY
ALMOST EXCLUSIVELY TAKE PREY
FROM THE AIR.
>> Reporter: HERERRA DOESN'T
HAVE TO DO MUCH MORE THAN SHOW
UP TO SCARE THE GULLS.
SIMPLY WALKING AROUND WITH HIS
HAWK ON A PERCH OR DOING A SHORT
FLIGHT IS ENOUGH TO FLUSH THE
PESKY BIRDS AWAY.
>> THEY LOUNGE OUT HERE, I'LL
MIST THEM WITH A SPRAY BOTTLE,
VERY MINIMAL ACTIVITY.
THEY DON'T HAVE TO BE UP IN THE
AIR THE WHOLE TIME TO GET THE
EFFECT.
>> Reporter: BUT THE SEAGULLS
DON'T ABANDON THE HOTEL EASILY.
WHEN HERERRA BRINGS OUT HIS
HAWK, THE BIRDS FIRST INCREASE
THEIR NUMBERS.
>> THEY'RE TRYING TO INTIMIDATE
HER WITH THEIR NUMBERS, THEY'RE
MAKING A RUCKUS, AND THERE WERE
GULLS ON THE SAND ON THE BEACH.
THEY CLEARED OUT OF THE AREA,
THEY HEARD THE OTHERS CALLING
OUT THE WARNING CALL.
THEIR INSTINCT IS FIGHT OR
FLIGHT.
THEY'RE GOING TO CLEAR OUT.
>> Reporter: BUT THE GULLS
LEARN HERERRA'S SCHEDULE AND
COME ON HIS DAYS OFF.
>> THAT'S COMICAL.
>> Reporter: ALL THESE BIRDS
ARE A LOT SMARTER THAN MOST
PEOPLE GIVE THEM CREDIT FOR.
CROWS AND RAVENS CAN RECOGNIZE
PEOPLE'S FACES AND RECOGNIZE
DANGER IN INDIVIDUAL BIRDS.
>> Reporter: AND THEY RECOGNIZE
HERERRA, AND HIS BIRDS OF PREY.
>> SO THE CROWS WILL BE IN THE
PALM TREES.
AS SOON AS THEY SEE ME, THEY
RECOGNIZE ME AND START ALARMING.
>> Reporter: HE MIXES UP HIS
SCHEDULE, AND THE BIRDS START TO
CLEAR OUT AND STAY OUT.
HE ATTRACTS HOTEL GUESTS.
>> WE'LL PUT IT RIGHT HERE.
>> LOOK AT THE BIRD!
>> Reporter: THEY WANT TO SNAP
PICTURES AND LEARN MORE ABOUT
THE BIRDS.
>> THEY DO RECOGNIZE ME, BUT
THEY'RE NOT AFFECTIONATE LIKE A
CAT OR A DOG.
THEY'RE COMFORTABLE, THEY
RECOGNIZE YOU, AND THEY TOLERATE
YOU, BECAUSE THEY'RE STILL WILD.
>> Reporter: HE CONSIDERS
HIMSELF LUCKY BECAUSE HIS HOBBY
IS HIS JOB.
IT HAS A LOT OF REWARDS, AS WELL
AS SOME MINOR DANGERS.
>> THE BIGGEST THING IS I HAVE
TO BE CAREFUL WHEN I HAVE HER
THIS HIGH, TO POINT HER AWAY,
BECAUSE SHE WILL GO TO THE
BATHROOM AND DROP IT ON MY HEAD.
>> THAT WAS BETH ACCOMANDO
REPORTING.
JORGE HERERRA IS PROVIDING HIS
SERVICES AT LANDFILLS AT THE
INLAND EMPIRE.
THIS IS
KPBS "EVENING EDITION".
.
>> WELCOME BACK TO THE PUBLIC
SQUARE ON KPBS "EVENING
EDITION".
TONIGHT WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU
ABOUT YOUR CONCERNS OVER THE
WIDENING GAP BETWEEN THE RICH
AND POOR IN THE U.S.
NATIONAL POLLS SHOW A MAJORITY
OF AMERICANS ARE WORRIED ABOUT
THE WEALTH GAP, AND MANY BELIEVE
THAT THE HALLMARK OF AMERICA'S
FOUNDING PRINCIPLES, THE
OPPORTUNITY FOR UPWARD MOBILITY,
IS CRUMBLING.
WHILE THE WEALTH GAP BETWEEN THE
RICH AND POOR HAS WIDENED, SO
HAS THE GAP BETWEEN OLDER AND
YOUNGER AMERICANS.
IN THE PAST 25 YEARS, NET WORTH
OF YOUNGER AMERICANS HAS GONE
DOWN, WHILE NET WORTH OF OLDER
AMERICANS HAS GONE UP.
WHAT DO YOU THINK?
HOW DO YOU VIEW YOUR PROSPECTS
AND THOSE OF YOUR CHILDREN TO
MAKE GOOD ON THE AMERICAN
PROMISE AND SUCCEED?
YOU CAN HELP US COVER THIS STORY
BY JOINING OUR PUBLIC INSIGHT
NETWORK.
GO TO KPBS.ORG/PIN TO SHARE YOUR
STORY.
>>> NEXT WEEK, A SPECIAL SERIES
ON AGING IN SAN DIEGO.
AT THE BEGINNING OF THE YEAR,
THE OLDEST MEMBERS OF THE BABY
BOOM GENERATION TURNED 65.
NOW BABY BOOMERS MAKE UP 26% OF
THE NATIONAL POPULATION.
10,000 BABY BOOMERS WILL TURN 65
EACH DAY FOR THE NEXT TWO
DECADES.
IN OUR SERIES, WE'LL EXPLORE
WHAT THAT MEANS FOR THE SAN
DIEGO COMMUNITY, FROM WORKING
PAST RETIREMENT TO LIVING ALONE,
FROM LEARNING MUSIC TO MAKING
DIFFICULT DECISIONS ABOUT END OF
LIFE CARE.
WHAT IT MEANS TO GROW OLD RIGHT
HERE IN SAN DIEGO.
OUR SERIES STARTS ON MONDAY.
AND NOW HERE'S A RECAP OF
TONIGHT'S TOP STORIES.
>>> THE FIRST EVER COLLEGE
BASKETBALL GAME ON AN ACTIVE
MILITARY VESSEL IS JUST WRAPPING
UP IN SAN DIEGO BAY.
IT DREW THE PRESIDENT AND FIRST
LADY.
IT WAS ALSO A TREAT FOR THE
VETERANS ON THE CARL VINSON.
>>> SAN DIEGO IS ON THE VERGE OF
A MARKETING DEAL WITH RAINBOW
VENDING.
THE COMPANY WILL SHARE HUNDREDS
OF THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS IN AD
REVENUE AND SALES.
THE VENDING MACHINES WILL BE
PLACED AT CITY FACILITIES.
>>> THE CITY OF SAN DIEGO WILL
HAVE TO COME UP WITH MORE MONEY
FOR STREET MAINTENANCE.
SAN DIEGO'S INDEPENDENT BUDGET
ANALYST SAYS ITS PROJECTION FOR
THE NEXT FIVE YEARS IS MORE THAN
$12 MILLION SHORT.
>>> YOU CAN WATCH AND COMMENT ON
ANY OF THE STORIES YOU SAW
TONIGHT ON KPBS.ORG/EVENING
EDITION.
THANKS SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.
HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND.
WE LEAVE YOU WITH A LOOK AT THE
FORECAST AND SOME RAIN HEADED
OUR WAY.
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