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>>> NEXT ON "KQED NEWSROOM," AS
DEMOCRATS GATHER FOR THEIR STATE
CONVENTION IN LOS ANGELES,
WHAT'S AHEAD FOR THE PARTY?
THE DEBATE SURROUNDING OAKLAND
SURVEILLANCE CENTER EXPOSES
HEATED CONCERNS OVER PRIVACY.
PLUS, GOING WITH THE FLOW.
WATER RECYCLING AS THE NEXT
FRONTIER IN THE BATTLE AGAINST
DETRO
DROUGHT.
>> RECYCLED WATER IS GOING TO BE
VERY IMPORTANT TO SILICON VALLEY
IN THE FUTURE.
*
>>> GOOD EVENING, AND WELCOME TO
"KQED NEWSROOM."
I'M THUY VU.
CALIFORNIA DEMOCRATS GATHER IN
LOS ANGELES THIS WEEKEND FOR THE
STATE'S PARTY'S CONVENTION.
WHILE IT'S NOT QUITE AS
GLAMOROUS AS LAST WEEKEND'S
ACADEMY AWARDS, THERE IS A LOT
RIDING ON THIS ELECTION YEAR.
SCOTT SHAFER LEADS OUR ANALYSIS
OF WHAT THE PARTY FACES AS IT
GEARS UP FOR NOVEMBER.
>> IN MANY WAYS, IT'S THE BEST
OF TIMES FOR CALIFORNIA
DEMOCRATS.
THE PARTY HOLDS BOTH U.S. SENATE
SEATS AND EVERY STATEWIDE OFFICE
FROM GOVERNOR ON DOWN, WHILE THE
REPUBLICAN PARTY STRUGGLES TO
REBRAND ITSELF.
STILL, THERE'S PLENTY FOR
DEMOCRATS TO WORRY ABOUT,
STARTING WITH POLITICAL SCANDALS
THAT HAVE COST THEM THEIR
TWO-THIRDS MAJORITY IN THE STATE
SENATE.
JOINING ME TO DISCUSS WHAT
CHALLENGES MAY BE AHEAD ARE
DEMOCRATIC STRATEGIST CHRIS
LEHANE AND SCOTT DETROW,
SACRAMENTO BUREAU CHIEF FOR KQED
JOINING US FROM LOS ANGELES,
WHERE HE'S COVERING THE
CONVENTION.
AND SCOTT, LET ME START WITH
YOU.
WHAT IMPACT ARE THESE SCANDALS,
INCLUDING THE INVESTIGATION OF
SENATOR RONALD CALDRON OF
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA, WHAT IMPACT
ARE THEY HAVING ON DEMOCRATS, IF
ANY?
>> I THINK DEMOCRATS ARE
DEFINITELY CONCERNED ABOUT THIS,
AND YOU KNOW THAT BECAUSE STATE
SENATE LEADERS ANNOUNCED A BIG
ETHICS REFORM PACKAGE THIS WEEK
THAT WOULD HALF THE AMOUNT OF
GIFTS LAWMAKERS CAN RECEIVE AND
LEAD TO MORE DISCLOSURE, AND
THIS IS CLEARLY A RESPONSE TO
THE FACT THAT RON CALDRON IS
FACING MASSIVE CRIMINAL CHARGES
ON ETHICS ISSUES.
AND ROB WRIGHT, ANOTHER SENATE
DEMOCRAT, HAS TAKEN A LEAVE OF
ABSENCE FROM THE SENATE AFTER
BEING CONVICTED OF NOT LIVING IN
HIS DISTRICT.
DEMOCRATS PUSHED BACK ON THIS,
SAYING THESE ARE ISOLATED
INCIDENTS AND YOU CAN'T TIE THEM
TO PARTY LEADS, BUT THE FACT IS,
CALDRON ESPECIALLY HAS MADE A
POINT TO TRY TO DRAG OTHER
DEMOCRATS INTO THE SCANDAL WITH
HIM.
HE MADE THE PUBLIC CHARGE THAT
IT WAS DARRELL STEINBERG, THE
SENATE PRO TEM AND THE NEXT PRO
TEM THAT WERE THE SUBJECT OF THE
INVESTIGATION.
NOW THE FBI SAYS THAT'S NOT THE
CASE, BUT THAT'S A CHARGE YOU
CAN STILL EXPECT ON REPUBLICAN
MAILERS.
>> DOES THAT OFFER ANY OPENING
FOR REPUBLICANS OR IS THIS
SOMETHING REALLY NOT ON THE
MINDS OF VOTERS AND WON'T BE IN
NOVEMBER?
>> FIRST OF ALL, IT'S AN
INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT ISSUE
SUBSTANTIVELY BECAUSE LEGAL
ISSUES AND ANY TIME IT'S
INVOLVING THE PUBLIC, IT'S
SERIOUS.
BUT I THINK IN TERMS OF THE
POLITICAL IMPLICATIONS, I THINK
SOMEWHAT VERY LIMITED.
I MEAN, THE MOST SIGNIFICANT
IMPLICATION IS WHAT SCOTT
TOUCHED ON, WHICH IS DEMOCRATS
LOSING THEIR TWO-THIRDS SUPER
MAJORITY, WHICH REALLY WILL
CONSTRAIN SOME OF THE TYPES OF
STUFF THAT THE SENATE DEMOCRATS
AND THE ASSEMBLY DEMOCRATS COULD
POTENTIALLY HAVE LOOKED AT OVER
THE COURSE OF THE NEXT FOUR OR
FIVE MONTHS GOING INTO THE
ELECTION, BUT IN TERMS OF WHAT
TYPE OF AN IMPACT?
I MEAN, JUST LOOK AT THE NATURE
OF THESE DISTRICTS.
YOU ARE IN A STATE WHERE THE
REAL QUESTION IS GOING TO BE,
ARE THE DEMOCRATS ABLE TO ELECT
ENOUGH PEOPLE TO GET THE
SUPERMAJORITY BACK OR NOT?
THAT'S REALLY THE ISSUE THAT'S
AT STAKE.
>> AND SCOTT DUTROW, IN TERMS OF
LOSING THE SUPERMAJORITY, FROM
COVERING SACRAMENTO, WHAT TYPES
OF THINGS MIGHT DEMOCRATS NOT BE
ABLE TO GET DONE, GIVEN THAT
THEY DON'T HAVE THE
SUPERMAJORITY, AT LEAST IN THE
SENATE RIGHT NOW?
>> THE BIG ISSUES IS ALWAYS
TAXES, SO THE DEMOCRATIC
LEADERSHIP MADE IT CLEAR THEY
WILL NOT PUSH FOR ANY TAX
INCREASES IN THE LEGISLATURE,
SOMETHING JERRY BROWN PROMISED
WHEN HE CAMPAIGNED FOR
PROPOSITION 30, SAYING IF WE'RE
GOING TO RAISE TAXES, WE'LL DO
IT THROUGH THE BALLOT, NOT THE
LEGISLATURE, BUT YOU DO NEED
TWO-THIRDS FOR A LOT OF THINGS,
AMONG THEM PUTTING
CONSTITUTIONAL CHANGES ON THE
BALLOT, AND THAT'S SOMETHING
THAT JERRY BROWN WANTS TO DO.
HE WANTS TO PUSH FORWARD WITH A
PROPOSITION THAT WOULD CREATE A
NEW RAINY DAY FUND.
YOU NEED TWO-THIRDS VOTES FOR
THAT.
NOW, WILL THAT GET HELD UP
BECAUSE OF THE MISSING SEATS?
UNCLEAR, BECAUSE THIS IS AN IDEA
THAT A LOT OF REPUBLICANS HAVE
VOICED SUPPORT FOR.
BUT IF REPUBLICANS WANT TO PLAY
HARD BALL ON AN ISSUE THAT THE
GOVERNOR HAS MARKED AS A
PRIORITY, THEY NOW HAVE THE
LEVERAGE TO DO THAT.
>> AND CHRIS LEHANE, JERRY BROWN
RUNNING FOR AN UNPRECEDENTED
FOURTH TERM.
HE'S GOING TO BE 76 YEARS OLD
NEXT MONTH.
IS THERE ANYTHING, YOU KNOW,
BESIDES HIS AGE AND POTENTIALLY
A HEALTH PROBLEM THAT COULD
DERAIL HIM?
>> NOT UNLESS THERE IS SOME
ALIGNMENT OF THE STARS THAT NO
ONE HAS EVER IMAGINED.
NO, I MEAN, HE IS IN A STRONG
POSITION AS A SITTING GOVERNOR
RUNNING FOR RE-ELECTION, REALLY,
FRANKLY, ANYWHERE IN THE
COUNTRY.
AND I THINK THE REAL ISSUE HERE
IS, YOU KNOW, DOES THE GOVERNOR
USE THIS ELECTION YEAR TO HAVE A
BROADER CONVERSATION WITH THE
STATE ABOUT WHERE HE POTENTIALLY
WANTS TO TAKE IT AT A PRETTY
IMPORTANT MOMENT IN TIME, RIGHT?
OUR BUDGETS ARE UNDER CONTROL,
ECONOMIC GROWTH IS GOING IN THE
RIGHT DIRECTION, BUT WE STILL
HAVE ENORMOUS, SIGNIFICANT
CHALLENGES.
AND YOU KNOW, WITH WHAT IS
ESSENTIALLY A FREE SHOT YEAR
ELECTION, DO YOU USE THAT TO SET
UP THAT CONVERSATION, THEN DO
SOME BIG LEGACY PIECES?
>> AND YOU HAVE A BIG GAP
BETWEEN HIM AND LIEUTENANT
GOVERNOR GAVIN NEWSOM WHO
TWEETED LAST NIGHT HE WAS
RUNNING FOR RE-ELECTION,
OBVIOUSLY NO SURPRISE THERE.
HE CAME OUT A COUPLE WEEKS AGO
OPPOSING HIGH-SPEED RAIL,
SOMETHING THE GOVERNOR'S
EMBRACED.
WHAT DO YOU MAKE OF THAT DYNAMIC
AND THAT RELATIONSHIP?
>> FIRST OF ALL, THE LIEUTENANT
GOVERNOR TOOK A HARD LOOK AT
RUNNING FOR GOVERNOR AND, IN
FACT, HAD A CAMPAIGN FOUR YEARS
AGO WHERE HE AND GOVERNOR BROWN
WOULD HAVE BEEN IN A PRIMARY.
ULTIMATELY DECIDED NOT TO GO.
BUT YOU DEFINITELY HAVE THE SORT
OF JERRY BROWN AS SORT OF, ONE
END OF HIS CAREER, GAVIN NEWSOM
AT ANOTHER END AND SORT OF
CIRCLING EACH OTHER.
>> CHAMPING AT THE BIT.
>> AT SOME LEVEL.
AND LOOK, IT'S UNDERSTANDABLE,
PARTICULARLY IF YOU'RE
LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR, YOU'RE
ALWAYS LOOKING FOR WHAT IS NEXT.
AND I THINK SOME OF WHAT THE
LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR WITH GAVIN
NEWSOM IS DOING IS REALLY
BEGINNING TO STAKE OUT POSITIONS
THAT HELP DEFINE HIM STATEWIDE
AS HE LOOKS DOWN THE ROAD,
FRANKLY, FOUR YEARS FROM NOW.
SO, I THINK YOU'RE SEEING THAT
ON HIGH-SPEED RAIL.
I THINK YOU'RE SEEING THAT IN
TERMS OF HIS EMBRACE OF THE
LEGALIZATION OF MARIJUANA.
I THINK YOU'RE GOING TO SEE THAT
IN A VARIETY OF ISSUES THAT
CONSISTENTLY REINFORCE THE BRAND
THAT HE'S SORT OF AHEAD OF THE
CURVE, HAS THE COURAGE TO TAKE
ON SOME INTERESTING ISSUES, AND
I THINK, YOU KNOW, HE'S GOING
ABOUT THIS IN A SMART WAY.
>> AND SCOTT DETROW, THERE ARE
GOING TO BE SOME ENDORSEMENTS
POTENTIALLY MADE THIS WEEKEND IN
LOS ANGELES, AND THERE ARE SOME
HOT CONTESTS IN THE PRIMARIES,
LIKE THE STATE COMPTROLLER'S
RACE.
BUT WHAT EFFECT DO YOU THINK
THOSE INTRAPARTY BATTLES,
BECAUSE OF TERM LIMITS AND OTHER
THINGS THAT ARE PITTING
DEMOCRATS AGAINST EACH OTHER,
ARE HAVING ON THE PARTY?
>> I THINK YOU LOOK AT THE TWO
STATEWIDE RACES WHERE YOU HAVE
COMPETITIVE DEMOCRATIC PRIMARIES
PRIMARIES, COMPTROLLER AND
SECRETARY OF STATE.
THE PARTY CHAIR, JOHN BURTON,
HAS MADE A POINT OF PUBLICLY
ASKING THESE CANDIDATES NOT TO
SEEK THE PARTY ENDORSEMENT THIS
WEEKEND.
HE'S SAYING THAT HE'S GOING TO
STAY NEUTRAL, BUT HE'S ALSO
ACKNOWLEDGED THAT HE CAN'T
REALLY CONTROL WHAT VOTES HAPPEN
AND WHO CAN CONTEND FOR WHAT.
BUT I THINK IN THE PUSH FOR
NEUTRALITY AND TRYING TO AVOID A
PARTY FIGHT, I MEAN, THAT'S A
CLEAR SIGN THAT DEMOCRATIC
LEADERS DON'T REALLY LOVE THE
TOP TWO PRIMARY SYSTEM WHERE YOU
CAN HAVE DEMOCRATS BATTLING IT
OUT WITH EACH OTHER IN THE FALL.
>> I WANT TO ASK CHRIS LEHANE --
>> MOST PROFESSIONAL RACES --
>> I'M SORRY, WE'RE GETTING
SHORT ON TIME.
LET ME ASK CHRIS ABOUT THAT,
BECAUSE IN THE SOUTH BAY, YOU
HAVE A BATTLE.
IS THAT A GOOD THING FOR THE
PARTY?
>> I THINK COMPETITION IS GOOD
AS A GENERAL PROPOSITION.
I THINK ANY TIME CANDIDATES ARE
FORCED TO HAVE TO ACTUALLY
CAMPAIGN, IT'S GOOD FOR
DEMOCRACY, IT'S HOW IT IS SET
UP.
YOU KNOW, I WOULD SEPARATE THAT
FROM THE TOP TWO PRIMARY
PROCESS, WHICH I DO THINK HAS
BECOME A BITTER CHALLENGE FOR
DEMOCRATS AND HAS HAD SOME
UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES, WHERE
YOU COULD HAVE THE SCENARIO
EITHER WHERE DEMOCRATS HAVE TO
RUN AGAINST EACH OTHER MULTIPLE
TIMES OR YOU HAVE MULTIPLE
DEMOCRATS RUNNING STATEWIDE AND
RUN REPUBLICAN AND YOU END UP
GETTING A REPUBLICAN INTO A
RUNOFF WHEN THAT PERSON REALLY
DIDN'T GET THE SAME NUMBER OF
VOTES.
AND YOU COULD SEE SOME CRAZY
SITUATIONS PLAYING OUT AS A
RESULT OF THAT, SO I WOULD
BIFURCATE THOSE TWO ISSUES.
>> YEAH, ALL RIGHT.
QUICKLY, SCOTT DETROW, I KNOW
TURNOUT IS A BIG ISSUE FOR
DEMOCRATS, ESPECIALLY IN
OFF-YEAR ELECTIONS LIKE THIS.
WHAT ARE YOU HEARING THE
DEMOCRATS ARE GOING TO DO TO TRY
TO GET THAT TURNOUT UP IN
NOVEMBER SO THEY HOLD ON TO SOME
OF THESE CLOSE SEATS THAT
THEY'RE GOING TO BE CHALLENGED
FOR?
>> WELL, I THINK THEY'RE GOING
TO START THAT PROCESS BY
REMINDING THE PEOPLE COMING TO
THIS CONVENTION THIS WEEKEND
THAT THEY SHOULDN'T TAKE
ANYTHING FOR GRANTED.
OBVIOUSLY, DEMOCRATS ARE IN A
GREAT SPOT AND THE REPUBLICAN
PARTY IS PRETTY WEAK HERE, BUT
THE MESSAGE IS GOING TO BE DON'T
COAST INTO THE FALL, BECAUSE YOU
NEVER KNOW WHAT IS GOING TO
HAPPEN.
>> ALL RIGHT.
SCOTT DETROW IN LOS ANGELES,
HAVE A GOOD TIME THIS WEEKEND,
NOT TOO GOOD, AND CHRIS LEHANE,
THANKS FOR COMING IN.
>> THANKS FOR HAVING ME.
>>> AND COMING UP, RECYCLED
WATER GETS A BIG BOOST IN
SILICON VALLEY.
BUT FIRST, THIS WEEK, AFTER A
FIERCE DEBATE OVER PRIVACY,
OAKLAND CITY COUNCIL VOTED TO
SCALE BACK A CONTROVERSIAL
PROGRAM FOR CITYWIDE
SURVEILLANCE.
THE DOMAIN AWARENESS CENTER WILL
NOW MONITOR ONLY THE OAKLAND
INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT AND THE
PORT OF OAKLAND.
AT THE HEART OF THE DEBATE IS
WHETHER THE USE OF NEW
TECHNOLOGY FROM STREET AND
POLICE CAMERAS TO THE WEARABLE
COMPUTERS GOOGLE GLASS
CONSTITUTES AN INVASION OF
PRIVACY.
JOINING US FOR ANALYSIS ARE
AARTI SHAHANI, KQED NEWS
REPORTER, AND ALI WINSTON,
FREELANCE JOURNALIST.
NOW, ALI, LET'S BEGIN WITH YOU.
YOU'VE BEEN COVERING THIS STORY
FOR KQED AND FOR THE CENTER FOR
INVESTIGATIVE REPORTING.
HOW ARE CIVIL LIBERTIES GROUPS
AND OPPONENTS OF THE CENTER
REACTING TO WHAT THE OAKLAND
CITY COUNCIL DID THIS WEEK?
>> SO, THERE ARE SOME GROUPS
THAT ARE ACTUALLY OPPOSED TO THE
PLAN TO GO FORWARD WITH THE
DOMAIN AWARENESS CENTER IN ANY
FORM OR SHAPE.
THE OAKLAND PRIVACY WORKING
GROUP, WHICH IS ONE OF THE
GROUPS THAT'S BEEN IN OPPOSITION
TO THIS INITIATIVE SINCE THE
BEGINNING, HAS ACTUALLY VOWED TO
SUE THE CITY FOR VIOLATING A
NUCLEAR-FREE ORDINANCE FROM THE
1980s OR THE 1990s, AND THEIR
CONTRACTOR RIGHT NOW HAS SOME
HISTORY WITH MANUFACTURING
NUCLEAR WEAPONS.
BUT --
>> WHAT'S THEIR MAIN CONTENTION,
THOUGH?
>> THEIR MAIN CONTENTION IS
THAT, "A," THE CITY SHOULD NOT
BE HIRING CONTRACTORS THAT
VIOLATE CITY LAW, THAT HAS TO DO
WITH BRINGING NUCLEAR WEAPONS.
BUT "B," THEY DON'T WANT TO HAVE
ANY SORT OF SURVEILLANCE
INFRASTRUCTURE IN THE CITY.
>> BECAUSE THEY FEEL IT VIOLATES
PEOPLE'S PRIVACY, PEOPLE
COLLECTING DATA ON PEOPLE WHO
HAVE DONE NOTHING WRONG?
>> YES.
BUT THE CENTER, AS OF THE
COUNCIL VOTE THIS WEEK, IS NOW
RESTRICTED TO THE ORIGINAL
INTENT OF THE GRANT THAT WAS
GIVEN OUT FOR THIS, RESTRICTED
TO THE PORT OF OAKLAND'S
PROPERTY, WHICH IS THE PORT OF
OAKLAND AND THE OAKLAND
INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT.
>> AND THIS WAS A GRANT GIVEN BY
THE DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND
SECURITY.
IT'S FEDERAL MONEY.
>> IT'S FEDERAL MONEY.
IT STARTED WITH A 2009 GRANT
FROM THE STIMULUS ACT, AND THEN
SINCE THEN, THE PORT HAS BEEN
RECEIVING GRANTS FROM THE
FEDERAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT
ADMINISTRATION.
>> HOMELAND SECURITY MONEY.
>> AND AARTI, YOU'VE REPORTED
EXTENSIVELY ON THIS AS WELL.
OAKLAND'S MAYOR'S CONTENTION, A
BIG SUPPORTER OF THE DOMAIN
AWARENESS CENTER, ALSO KNOWN AS
DAC, AND SHE SAYS POLICE AND
FIRE OFFICIALS SUPPORT THIS,
SAYING ACCESS TO BIG DATA WOULD
HELP THEM RESPOND BETTER IN
EMERGENCIES WHEN THEY HAVE
REALTIME DATA.
IS THAT A GOOD POINT?
>> YOU KNOW, IT'S A GOOD POINT
IF IT WERE APPLICABLE.
AND WHAT I MEAN BY THAT, LISTEN,
EVERYBODY WANTS TO REDUCE CRIME,
OKAY?
NO ONE IS SAYING, OH, WE THINK
THAT BEING A *** CAPITAL IS A
GOOD THING.
OBVIOUSLY, EVERYONE WANTS TO
FEEL SAFE.
I THINK THE ISSUE WITH THE
SURVEILLANCE CENTER, THE DOMAIN
AWARENESS CENTER, THAT IT'S
CALLED, IN OAKLAND, WHICH I
THINK IS REALLY -- YOU KNOW,
EVERYONE THAT LISTENS AND SEES
THIS THING POPPING UP IN THEIR
NEIGHBORHOOD SHOULD THINK ABOUT
IS THAT IT'S A PRETTY STANDARD
EXAMPLE OF FEDERAL MONEY COMING
IN TO PROMPT, YOU KNOW, A
TECHNOLOGY PROJECT THAT,
FRANKLY, IT'S NOT ENOUGH MONEY
TO FUND, AND THE PEOPLE ON THE
GROUND RUNNING IT DON'T KNOW HOW
TO IMPLEMENT.
I ACTUALLY WENT THROUGH THE
PROCESS OF TALKING TO DIFFERENT
LEADERS IN THE CITY TO
UNDERSTAND, OKAY, WHAT IS THIS
DOMAIN AWARENESS CENTER GOING TO
DO FOR YOU?
AND SOMETHING THAT STUNNED ME IS
THAT THE MONEY WAS GOING TO THE
PORT OF OAKLAND, AND THE PEOPLE
AT THE PORT OF OAKLAND SAID WE
WANT THIS BECAUSE WE NEED HELP
WITH 24/7 SURVEILLANCE, BECAUSE
YOU KNOW, IF A TREE BRANCH OR AN
INTRUDER HITS OUR FENCE AT 4:00
A.M. IN THE MORNING, WE DON'T
HAVE STAFF TO LOOK TO SEE
WHETHER IT'S AN INTRUDER OR A
BRANCH, SO WE NEED 24/7
SURVEILLANCE.
WE NEED HELP WITH MANPOWER TO
LOOK AT THE VIDEO CAMERAS.
THEN YOU GO OVER TO EMERGENCY
SERVICES, AND THEY'RE LIKE, OH,
IT'S NOT GOING TO OPERATE 24/7.
THERE WILL BE A DARK HOUR WHERE
WE SHUT IT ALL OFF.
AND THESE BASIC THINGS ABOUT HOW
THEY DIDN'T EVEN KNOW HOW THEY
WERE GOING TO COOPERATE WITH
EACH OTHER AND THEN WHO WOULD BE
IN CHARGE OF THIS WHOLE THING.
THEY PLANNED TO LAUNCH BEFORE
THEY ANNOUNCED THEY WOULD NO
LONGER HAVE SUCH AN EXPANDED
PROGRAM, THEY PLANNED TO LAUNCH
BY JUNE OF THIS YEAR.
WHO WOULD BE HEAD OF IT, WHICH
AGENCY?
THEY DIDN'T KNOW WHETHER IT WAS
POLICE, FIRE OR A CONTRACTOR, A
PRIVATE CONTRACTOR.
>> SO THERE'S THE PERSONNEL
ISSUE THERE, BUT ALSO THE LARGER
ISSUE THAT'S BEEN INTENSIFIED BY
EDWARD SNOWDEN AND THE NSA LEAK.
THE INTENSIFIED CONTROVERSY OVER
THE SENSE OF PRIVACY, THE LACK
OF PRIVACY THAT EVERYWHERE YOU
GO NOW THERE SEEMS TO BE
CAMERAS, AND IT'S CAPTURING DATA
ON YOU AND YOUR DAILY
ACTIVITIES.
CASE IN POINT, GOOGLE GLASS.
THAT'S RAISING A LOT OF WORRIES.
HOW DOES GOOGLE GLASS WORK?
I KNOW YOU HAD A CHANCE TO TRY
IT.
WHAT ARE THE WORRIES?
>> I DID.
I TRIED IT.
I WENT FOR A DRIVE WITH A GOOGLE
GLASSWEAR THE OTHER DAY.
THERE ARE MAYBE THREE KINDS OF
WORRIES.
YOU KNOW, ONE IS THAT IT'S
PRIVACY, RIGHT?
IT'S THAT -- GOOGLE GLASS IS
LIKE A PAIR OF SUNGLASSES.
BY WAY OF TECHNOLOGY, IT'S
REVOLUTIONARY.
IT'S TRULY THIS DISRUPTIVE,
AMAZING INVENTION WHERE YOU CAN
HAVE A CAMERA AND A COMPUTER
PROCESSING ALL SORTS OF APPS
JUST HANGING OUT ON THE UPPER
RIGHT-HAND CORNER OF YOUR EYE.
THAT'S A BREAKTHROUGH
TECHNOLOGICALLY, BUT IF I'M
WALKING DOWN THE STREET, I DON'T
WANT YOU TO RECORD ME.
AND SO, IT'S GOTTEN A LOT OF
PEOPLE UPSET FROM THE QUESTION
OF ARE YOU RECORDING ME, SO MUCH
SO THAT THERE'S NOW A PETITION
THAT WAS STARTED IN SAN
FRANCISCO CALLED GLASS
GLASSHOLE-FREE.ORG, AND THEY'BARS ARE
SIGNING UP SAYING WE DON'T WANT
GOOGLE GLASS HERE BECAUSE OF
THESE PRIVACY CONCERNS.
>> GETTING BACK TO THE ISSUE OF
THE DOMAIN AWARENESS CENTER AND
EVEN GOOGLE GLASS, WHAT KINDS OF
PRIVACY LAWS ARE IN PLACE?
DO AGENCIES HAVE GUIDELINES?
HOW DO YOU CONTROL THIS, HOW
DATA IS COLLECTED, HOW IT'S
RETAINED AND FOR HOW LONG?
>> SO, LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES,
FOR EXAMPLE, HAVE DIFFERENT
GUIDELINES FOR DIFFERENT
TECHNOLOGIES, FOR LICENSE PLATE
READER DATAS, CAMERAS THAT TAKE
AUTOMATIC PICTURES OF CARS AS
THEY PASS BY OTHER STATIONARY
OBJECTS OR PATROL CARS, WHICH
HAVE THESE DEVICES.
THE RETENTION PERIODS VARY FROM
60 DAYS TO 3 YEARS TO NONE AT
ALL, THERE ARE NO RETENTION
PERIODS.
FOR CAMERAS, THE INDIVIDUAL
AGENCY CAN HAVE THEIR OWN
RETENTION PERIOD.
THIS IS REALLY A GRAY AREA OF
THE LAW, AND THAT IS A BIG POINT
OF DEBATE IN, OBVIOUSLY,
MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENTS AROUND THE
COUNTRY AND CERTAINLY IN
CONGRESS, BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE
LAWS OR FIRM RULES ON THESE
TECHNOLOGIES, AND THE
TECHNOLOGIES HAVE COMPLETELY
OUT-STRIPPED THE LEGAL LIMITS.
>> AND I WOULD SAY AN ADDED
PROBLEM WITH THIS IS THAT IT'S
NOT JUST THAT THESE BIG DATA
TECHNOLOGIES CUT COSTS, THEY
CREATE NEW COSTS.
FOR EXAMPLE, 2013 WASN'T JUST A
YEAR WE DISCOVERED SNOWDEN LEAKS
AND HACKING, IT'S ALSO TARGET
HACKING.
THE FACT IS, WHEN YOU'RE
COLLECTING ALL THIS DATA AND
THROWING IT INTO A CENTRALIZED
SERVER, THAT BECOMES A TARGET.
AND SO, ARE YOU AS A
MUNICIPALITY OR A FEDERAL
AGENCY, WHATEVER THE SIZE IS,
ARE YOU PREPARED TO HANDLE THAT?
BECAUSE THE COST OF A BREACH
WILL FAR OUTSTRIP, YOU KNOW,
1,000% THE COST OF GATHERING IT.
>> AND JUST A REAL QUICK
QUESTION -- IS THE DOMAIN
AWARENESS CENTER UP AND RUNNING
ALREADY AT THE PORT OF OAKLAND
OR IT'S STILL IN THE
CONSTRUCTION STAGES?
>> IT IS UP AND RUNNING RIGHT
NOW.
IN A CERTAIN RESPECT, UNTIL THE
VOTE THIS WEEK, THE CITY HAD
LINKED IN TRAFFIC CAMERAS AND
GUNSHOT DETECTORS INTO A CENTRAL
HUB AT 18th STREET AND MARTIN
LUTHER KING JR. WAY, BUT AFTER
THE COUNCIL VOTE, THEY WILL HAVE
TO DISCONNECT THE CAMERAS FROM
THE CITY'S TRAFFIC CAMERAS AND
THE GUNSHOT DETECTORS FROM THE
SYSTEM.
SO, NOW THEY ONLY WILL HAVE
ABOUT 130 CAMERAS ON PORT
PROPERTY LINKED INTO IT.
>> OKAY, AND CERTAINLY THIS IS
NOT THE LAST OF IT BECAUSE MAYOR
JEAN QUAN HAS SAID THEY WILL
WORK ON DEVELOPING PRIVACY LAWS,
AND ONCE THOSE ARE IN PLACE,
THEY MAY TRY TO RESURRECT OTHER
PARTS OF THE DOMAIN AWARENESS
CENTER --
>> SHE WANTS TO PULL IT BACK TO
THE WHOLE CITY.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH ALI WINSTON
AND AARTI SHAHANI.
>> THANK YOU.
>> ONE MORE NOTE ON THIS, WE
WILL BE TAKING A DEEPER LOOK AT
THESE ISSUES IN AN UP ECOMING
SPECIAL PRODUCED WITH THE CENTER
FOR COLLABORATIVE REPORTING.
"STATE OF SURVEILLANCE" WILL AIR
ON FRIDAY, APRIL 11th.
>>> AS CALIFORNIA'S DROUGHT
CONTINUES, THE RECENT RAIN
BROUGHT MORE HOPE AND RELIEF.
LAST WEEK, GOVERNOR BROWN SIGNS
LEGISLATION THAT COULD PROVIDE
MILLIONS OF DOLLARS FOR WATER
CONSERVATION EFFORTS AND TO
EXPAND THE USE OF RECYCLED
WATER.
SILICON VALLEY HAS A HEAD START
ON THAT FRONT WITH A NEW
FACILITY IN SANTA CLARA COUNTY.
AS CRAIG MILLER REPORTS, IT
PURIFIES SEWAGE WATER, MAKING IT
CLEAN ENOUGH TO EVEN DRINK.
>> Reporter: AS CALIFORNIA'S
DROUGHT DRAGS ON, WASHING AND
BUFFING THE CARS AT A.J. AUTO
DETAILING IN SAN JOSE IS A BIT
MORE OF A CHALLENGE THESE DAYS.
>> BECAUSE YOU'RE NOT SUPPOSED
TO WASH YOUR CAR IN YOUR HOME,
SO PEOPLE ARE TAKING A LONG
TIME, AND FINALLY, WHEN THE
CAR'S REALLY DIRTY, THEY BRING
IN THE CAR.
>> Reporter: HELEN MASAMORI
MANAGES THIS BUSINESS, WHICH
USES THOUSANDS OF GALLONS A DAY
TO CLEAN LUXURY CARS, BUT
INSTEAD OF GOING DOWN THE DRAIN,
70% OF THE WATER IS FED INTO
THESE TANKS FOR REUSE.
>> BEFORE WE HAD THE RECYCLING
WATER, WE WERE SPENDING ALMOST
$3,000 A MONTH IN WATER.
WE'RE SPENDING I WOULD SAY ABOUT
$300 OR $400 NOW.
>> Reporter: MASAMORI WANTS TO
USE EVEN MORE RECYCLED WATER BY
HOOKING UP TO SAN JOSE'S NETWORK
OF PURPLE PIPES THAT CARRY
RECYCLED WATER TO MORE THAN 700
CUSTOMERS.
>> WE'RE GOING TO BE THE FIRST
CAR WASH IN THE SAN JOSE AREA
WHO IS GOING TO USE 100%
RECYCLING WATER.
>> Reporter: SAN JOSE'S RECYCLED
WATER IS NOT YET USED FOR
DRINKING, BUT BY USING IT
ELSEWHERE, THE CITY CAN FREE UP
MORE WATER FOR DRINKING AND BE
LESS DEPENDENT ON OUTSIDE
SOURCES, ACCORDING TO
ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES DIRECTOR
KERRY ROMINOW.
>> WE HAVE SOME PUMPED GROUND
WATER AND SOME FROM THE DELTA.
THE HAT CHECHI AND THE DELTA
HAVE HAD ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES,
BUT RECYCLED WATER GIVES US
CONTROL OVER A LOCAL RESOURCE.
>> Reporter: THIS STARTS OFF AS
SEWAGE, TREATED SO IT'S CLEAN
ENOUGH TO DISCHARGE INTO THE SAN
FRANCISCO BAY.
EVEN THOUGH MOST OF IT ENDS UP
IN THE BAY, 9 MILLION GALLONS A
DAY ARE REUSED IN SAN JOSE'S
PARKS, FOUNTAINS AND COOLING
TOWERS.
>> HERE IN SILICON VALLEY, WE'RE
NOT ONLY TALKING ABOUT BEING
ENERGY INDEPENDENT, BUT WE'RE
ALSO TALKING ABOUT BEING WATER
INDEPENDENT AND REALLY SQUEEZING
THE LAST DROP OUT OF EVERY
OPPORTUNITY THAT WE HAVE IN OUR
WATER WORLD.
>> Reporter: SO, THE CITY OF SAN
JOSE AND THE SANTA CLARA VALLEY
WATER DISTRICT ARE FINISHING UP
A NEW $70 MILLION FACILITY TO
EXPAND THE USE OF RECYCLED WATER
BY MAKING IT CLEANER, A LOT
CLEANER.
>> THIS IS THE WATER THAT COMES
INTO THE PLANT.
IT'S ALREADY BEEN TREATED AT THE
WASTEWATER PLANT ACROSS THE
STREET TO SOME LEVEL.
AND THEN WE THEN CLEAN IT
FURTHER.
>> WE'RE GOING TO HOPEFULLY SHOW
AND DEMONSTRATE THAT THE WATER
WILL BE PURE ENOUGH TO BE USED
FOR DRINKING WATER PURPOSES.
>> Reporter: THIS NEW PLANT WILL
ALSO HELP THE WATER DISTRICT
DOUBLE ITS USE OF RECYCLED WATER
TO 10% BY 2025.
IT ALL HAPPENS IN HERE, HUH?
ALTHOUGH IT WON'T OPEN UNTIL
JUNE, OPERATIONS MANAGER CRYSTAL
YESMIN SHOWED ME THE THREE-STAGE
TECHNOLOGY THAT WILL PURIFY UP
TO 8 MILLION GALLONS OF SEWAGE
WATER A DAY.
SO, THIS IS A SORT OF A CROSS
SECTION, I GUESS, OF WHAT WE'RE
SEEING HERE.
>> THE MICROCESSATION UNIT.
INSIDE, THERE ARE OVER 6,000
LITTLE FIBERS AND THERE'S HOLES
ON THE SIDE.
AND SO, THE WATER'S PUSHED INTO
THE HOLES AND COMES OUT THROUGH
THE CENTER OF THESE FIBERS, LIKE
A STRAW.
>> Reporter: OKAY.
>> AND SO, WE'RE FILTERING OUT
LARGE BACTERIA AND PARTICLES.
>> Reporter: THE WATER THEN GOES
TO A SECOND STAGE OF FILTRATION.
>> ALL RIGHT, SO, HERE WE ARE,
REVERSE OSMOSIS.
>> Reporter: REVERSE OSMOSIS.
AND THIS IS?
>> A REVERSE OSMOSIS ELEMENT.
>> Reporter: SO, THAT'S WHAT'S
INSIDE ALL THOSE?
>> THAT'S WHAT'S INSIDE.
>> Reporter: LOOKS LIKE A ROLL
OF SARAN WRAP.
>> IT'S ACTUALLY MADE OF HARD
PLASTIC.
AND THE PORE SIZE HERE IS SO
SMALL THAT WE'RE REALLY ONLY
LETTING WATER MOLECULES THROUGH.
WE'RE REMOVING VIRUSES, BACTERIA
BACTERIA, PHARMACEUTICALS AND
ALSO SALT.
>> Reporter: AND BY REMOVING THE
SALTS, EVEN MORE RECYCLED WATER
CAN BE SOLD TO COOL DATA
CENTERS, FOR EXAMPLE, IN SILICON
VALLEY.
BUT THE WATER STILL ISN'T DONE
WITH ITS HIGH-TECH TREATMENT.
>> INSIDE EACH ONE OF THESE
REACTORS ARE 40 UV LIGHT BULBS,
ULTRAVIOLET LIGHT BULBS.
>> Reporter: LIKE THIS?
>> THIS IS AN EXAMPLE OF ONE.
IT CREATES A GLOW AT A CERTAIN
WAVE LENGTH OF LIGHT THAT CAN
DEACTIVATE OR INACTIVATE
BACTERIA
SUPPLEMENT SANTA CLARA COUNTY'S
DRINKING WATER.
IT'S ALREADY HAPPENING IN ORANGE
COUNTY, WHERE THE WATER DISTRICT
THERE MIXES 70 MILLION GALLONS
OF PURIFIED SEWAGE WATER A DAY
WITH GROUNDWATER BEFORE IT
REACHES PEOPLE'S TAPS.
>> AND IN A SENSE, ALL WATER IS
REUSED AND RECYCLED.
THEY SAY THAT THE WATER IN THE
MISSISSIPPI RIVER IS USED FIVE
TIMES BY THE TIME IT HITS THE
GULF OF MEXICO.
>> Reporter: THIS TOILET-TO-TAP
CONCEPT TOOK YEARS TO WIN OVER
WARY WATER CONSUMERS IN SOUTHERN
CALIFORNIA, BUT IT MAY FAVOR
BETTER IN TECHNOLOGY-EMBRACING
SILICON VALLEY.
>> RAUL SANCHEZ.
>> Reporter: RAUL SANCHEZ.
DO YOU LIVE HERE IN SAN JOSE?
>> I DO.
>> Reporter: WHAT WOULD IT TAKE
TO CONVINCE YOU PERSONALLY?
>> YOU KNOW, IT'S A PROVEN
METHOD, MAKING SURE PEOPLE
DIDN'T GET SICK.
>> Reporter: SO, HERE'S THE
ULTIMATE TEST, OKAY?
IF I WERE TO SAY TO YOU, THIS
WAS RECLAIMED WATER HERE.
>> RIGHT.
SURE.
>> Reporter: CHEERS.
>> I'D HAVE TO SMELL IT FIRST.
SURE, WHY NOT?
>> Reporter: OKAY.
>> TASTES GREAT.
>> Reporter: YEAH, WELL, I WAS
KIDDING, ACTUALLY.
IT'S TAP WATER.
I JUST WANTED TO SEE.
KIDDING ASIDE, AS POPULATION
SOARS AND THERE'S A STRAIN ON
WATER SOURCES, REUSING WATER FOR
WORK, PLAY AND DRINKING WILL
LIKELY BECOME A NECESSITY, NOT A
CHOICE.
>> RECYCLED WATER JUST HAS AN
INTEGRAL ROLE IN THE FUTURE OF
THE SILICON VALLEY IN
PARTICULAR, BUT MOST OF
CALIFORNIA AS WELL.
IT IS A RENEWABLE, SUSTAINABLE
SOURCE OF WATER.
IT'S SOMETHING WE'RE GOING TO
NEED IF OUR ECONOMY AND OUR
POPULATION IS GOING TO CONTINUE
TO GROW.
>> AND JOINING ME NOW FOR A LOOK
AT OTHER STORIES WE'RE FOLLOWING
IS SCOTT SHAFER.
>> HEY, THUY.
>> BIG SHAKE-UP IN THE
SUPERMARKET INDUSTRY.
A PRIVATE EQUITY FIRM IS BUYING
SAFEWAY, BASED IN PLEASANTON.
WHY WOULD THEY WANT THIS?
>> THEY'RE GETTING PRESSURE FROM
ABOVE AND BELOW, FROM ABOVE FROM
THE HIGH-END STORES LIKE WHOLE
FOODS AND FROM BELOW, COSTCO,
WALMART.
AND ALSO ONLINE, AMAZON FRESH.
SO, THE GROCERY BUSINESS IS NOT
EXPANDING, SO IF THEY CAN MERGE
THE ACQUIRED AND MAYBE MERGE
WITH THIS COMPANY THAT ALSO OWNS
ALBERTSON'S, MAYBE THEY'LL BE
ABLE TO GET SOME EFFICIENCIES
AND SAVE SOME MONEY, AND
HOPEFULLY, MAKE SOME MONEY AS
WELL.
>> ARE THERE SOME ANTITRUST
ISSUES, THOUGH, GIVEN THAT THE
COMPANY ACQUIRING THEM DOES OWN
LUCKY AS WELL, IN ADDITION TO
ALBERTSON'S?
>> THERE COULD BE, AND CERTAINLY
ANTITRUST REGULATORS WILL SEE IF
IT PASSES MUSTER.
WE'RE ALREADY HEARING FROM
CONSUMER ADVOCATES SAYING THIS
IS A LITTLE SCARY, BECAUSE YOU
KNOW, WHEN YOU HAVE FEWER
CHOICES AND MORE CONTROL IN
FEWER HANDS, POTENTIALLY, PRICES
GO UP, THERE COULD BE IMPACT ON
LABOR AND, YOU KNOW, THE WORKERS
AND SO ON.
SO, THEY'RE GOING TO BE TAKING A
CLOSE LOOK AT THAT.
IT'S NOT A DONE DEAL.
>> RIGHT.
AND KROEGER'S, WE HEAR, THE
NUMBER ONE GROCER IN THE U.S.,
MAY WANT IN ON THE DEAL AS WELL.
ANY IMMEDIATE IMPACT ON
SHOPPERS, NUMBER OF STORES,
EMPLOYEES?
>> I'LL TELL YOU, THE MOST
NERVOUS IS PROBABLY THE CITY OF
PLEASANTON, WHERE SAFEWAY IS
BASED.
WE REMEMBER WHAT HAPPENED WHEN B
OF A GOT BOUGHT BY A COMPANY IN
NORTH CAROLINA.
THOSE COMMUNITIES COUNT ON THAT
CORPORATE SUPPORT FOR ALL KINDS
OF THINGS, AND I THINK THAT NOT
ONLY ARE THEY CONCERNED ABOUT
LOSING JOBS, BUT ALSO THAT
CORPORATE MONEY THAT COMES WHEN
YOU HAVE A LOCAL CORPORATE
HEADQUARTERS IN YOUR TOWN OR IN
YOUR REGION.
>> A COUPLE OF DEVELOPMENTS THIS
WEEK AS WELL ON A COUPLE OF
THINGS WE'VE REPORTED.
ONE HAVING TO DO WITH PEDESTRIAN
SAFETY.
WE HAD A PANEL DISCUSSION ON
THAT RECENTLY.
SAN FRANCISCO MAYOR ED LEE
ANNOUNCED SOMETHING THIS WEEK
ABOUT TRYING TO MAKE THE STREETS
SAFER.
WHAT DID HE ANNOUNCE?
>> WELL, THEY'RE ANNOUNCING $17
MILLION TO MAKE INTERSECTIONS
AND STREETS SAFER.
YOU KNOW, THERE'S THREE PEOPLE
HIT BY CARS A DAY IN SAN
FRANCISCO.
THERE HAVE BEEN MORE PEOPLE
KILLED BY CARS SO FAR THIS YEAR
THAN HAVE BEEN MURDERED IN SAN
FRANCISCO.
SO, THERE'S A LOT OF PRESSURE TO
ENFORCE THE LAWS BETTER, MAKE
THE STREETS SAFER BY CHANGING
THE INTERSECTIONS, MORE TIMED
LIGHTS, THAT KIND OF THING.
SO, THERE'S GOING TO BE KIND OF
A DOWN PAYMENT.
IT'S NOT GOING TO SOLVE THE
PROBLEM, BUT THEY'RE PUTTING
SOME MONEY TOWARD THAT.
>> A LITTLE BIT OF PROGRESS
THERE.
ALSO, THE OTHER ITEM IS YOU HAD
INTERVIEWED SUNNYDALE'S MAYOR
LAST YEAR REGARDING THE GUN
MEASURE THAT WAS PASSED BY
VOTERS.
THE NRA CHALLENGED IT THIS WEEK,
AND A COURT RULED ON THAT.
WHAT DID THEY SAY?
>> THE NRA IS APPEALING IT,
SAYING IT IS CONSTITUTIONAL AND
DOES NOT INFRINGE ON SECOND
AMENDMENT RIGHTS.
THE LAW IS IN EFFECT, BUT AS OF
YESTERDAY, THOSE MAGAZINE CLIPS
WITH TEN OR MORE ROUNDS ARE
ILLEGAL IN THE CITY OF
SUNNYVALE.
THEY HAVE TO GET RID OF THEM,
DESTROY THEM, GIVE THEM TO
POLICE.
SO, THAT LAW IS IN EFFECT.
I'M SURE THE NRA IS GOING TO
APPEAL, BUT RIGHT NOW, THAT LAW
IS THE LAW OF THE LAND HERE.
>> THANK YOU FOR BEING ON TOP OF
ALL THAT.
THANKS, SCOTT.
>> YOU BET.
>> FOR ALL OF KQED'S NEWS
COVERAGE, GO TO KQED.ORG.
>> I'M SCOTT SHAFER.
THANKS FOR JOINING US.
>> AND I'M THUY VU.
HAVE A GOOD NIGHT.