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>>> NEXT ON KQED NEWS ROOM, THE
FALLOUT TEMPERATURES AFTER THE
FBI STING THAT LED TO CORRUPTION
CHARGES AGAINST STATE SENATOR
LEE MANNED YI AND OTHERS, SOME
WITH ALLEGED TIES TO ORGANIZED
CRIME.
THE FIRST FEMALE CHANCELLOR OF
UCSF PREPARES TO TAKE THE HELM
OF THE BILL AND MEL LINDA GATES
FOUNDATION.
PLUS A NEW DANCE PERFORMANCE
SHOWS A RADICAL TRANSFORMATION
OF SAN FRANCISCO'S BAY
VIEWPOINT.
>> WHAT SHOULD HAPPEN IS THE
RESIDENTS OF BAY VIEW HUNTER'S
POINT HAVE A VOICE IN HOW THEIR
NEIGHBORHOOD IS BEING DEVELOPED.
>>> GOOD EVENING AND WELCOME TO
KQED NEWS ROOM.
THE ALLEGATIONS AGAINST INNOVATE
STORE LEELAND YI OF SAN
FRANCISCO AND OTHERS HAVE
GENERATED ENOUGH DRAMA FOR THE
POPULAR NETFLIX SERIES "HOUSE OF
CARDS."
TODAY IN AN UNPRECEDENTED MOVE,
THE STATE SENATE SUSPENDED YI
ALONG WITH TWO OTHER DEMOCRATIC
SENATORS EMBROILED IN SCANDAL.
YI WAS ARRESTED WEDNESDAY ALONG
WITH SUSPECTED CHINATOWN SIMON
CHOU.
THE FBI PROBE ENSNARED MORE THAN
TWO DOZEN PEOPLE.
AT THE CENTER OF THE CHARGES,
MULTIPLE CRIMES INCLUDING
BRIBERY, DRUG DISTRIBUTION, ARMS
TRAFFICKING, EVEN *** FOR
HIRE.
SHOCK WAVES ARE RIPPLING
THROUGHOUT CALIFORNIA.
JOINING ME NOW FOR THE LATEST
DEVELOPMENTS ARE NATHAN HAVERSON
FROM U.C. BERKELEY.
MELISSA LAGOS AN INVESTIGATIVE
REPORTER.
AND SCOTT, YOU WERE AT THE SUS
MEETING TODAY WHEN THE
SUSPENSION DECISION WAS MADE.
NOW THE GOVERNOR HAS CALLED FOR
ALL THREE SENATORS TO RESIGN.
WHAT'S THE MOOD LIKE IN SAN
FRANCISCO?
>> ANGRY, DISGUSTED, SHOCKED.
THIS IS THE SECOND TIME IN GO
TWO MONTHS A STATE SENATOR HAS
BEEN CAUGHT ALLEGEDLY TAKING
BRIBES FROM FBI AGENTS IN SENATE
HISTORY IN CALIFORNIA NO MEMBER
HAS BEEN SUSPENDED.
TODAY THREE DIFFERENT LAWMAKERS
SUSPENDED BY THEIR COLLEAGUES,
NOT ALLOWED TO COME BACK TO THE
CENTER LEADERS SAY UNTIL THEY'RE
EITHER CLEARED OF THEIR CHARGES.
LEELAND YI TAKES US TO A WHOLE
DIFFERENT LEVEL.
THE CONVERSATION ALL YEAR HAS
BEEN ABOUT ONE CORRUPTION ISSUE
OR ANOTHER WHETHER IT WAS RON
CALDERON CAUGHT ALLEGEDLY TAKING
BRIBES FROM FBI AGENTS OR ROGER
CLYDE WHO WAS SUSPECTED OF
LIVING OUTSIDE HIS DISTRICT.
BUT BRINGING IN ASSAULT WEAPONS
FROM THE PHILIPPINES FROM A GUY
PUSHING FOR STRICT GUN CONTROL
MAKES THE CHARGES TO A WHOLE
DIFFERENT LEVEL HERE.
>> MARIE, LET'S CONNECT THE DOT
AS LITTLE BIT FOR THE FOLKS AT
HOME.
IT ALL STARTED WITH RAYMOND
SHRIMP BOY CHOU.
HE INTRODUCED UNDERCOVER FBI
AGENTS TO KEITH JACKSON, WHO IS
A POLITICAL CONSULTANT AND WHO
USED TO BE HEAD OF THE SCHOOL
BOARD HERE IN SAN FRANCISCO,
WHO'S ALSO A CLOSE FRIEND OF
LEELAND YI.
AND THEN KEITH JACKSON, YOU TAKE
THE STORY FROM THERE.
>> SO YEAH, KEITH JACKSON CAME
INTO THE PICTURE IT SEEMS LIKE
WITH LEELAND AROUND 2011 WHEN
THE SENATOR WAS RUNNING FOR
MAYOR HERE IN SAN FRANCISCO.
AND KIND OF CAME OUT AS A
FUNDRAISER CONSULTANT.
NOT QUITE CLEAR EXACTLY HOW THEY
KIND OF HOOKED UP.
BUT ESSENTIALLY, JACKSON STARTED
GETTING CLOSE TO CHOU AND OTHERS
WITHIN THIS CHINATOWN TONG AND
EVENTUALLY STARTED HITTING UP
THIGHS UNDERCOVER AGENTS FOR
CAMPAIGN CONTRIBUTIONS.
ESSENTIALLY OVER THE NEXT FEW
YEARS, THEY STRUCK A BUNCH OF
DEALS TO MAKE LARGE
CONTRIBUTIONS, WELL ABOVE THE
CITY AND STATE LIMITS, NEXT
CHANGE FOR IN ONE CASE A LETTER
AND A PHONE CALL IN SUPPORT OF
SOMETHING AT THE DEPARTMENT OF
PUBLIC HEALTH, SOME SORT OF
CONTRACT, SOME LEGISLATION THAT
WAS PENDING, EVEN A PROCLAMATION
FOR A SHRIMP BOY'S CHINATOWN
ASSOCIATION WHICH NOT SURE WHY
THAT WOULD COST $6800.
AND CULMINATED AS THE SENATOR,
ACCORDING TO THIS AFFIDAVIT, 137
PAGES THAT THE FEDS LAID OUT,
GOT SORT OF MORE DESPERATE FOR
MONEY AND STARTED APPROACHING
THEM ABOUT GETTING THIS ARMS
TRAFFICKING DEAL, SAYING HE
COULD GET SHOULDER-FIRED
MISSILES FROM THE PHILIPPINES
POTENTIALLY.
>> AND HE WAS DESPERATE FOR
MONEY BECAUSE HE HAD CAMPAIGN
DEBTS FROM HIS RUN FOR SAN
FRANCISCO MAYOR, AND ALSO HE WAS
RUNNING FOR SECRETARY OF STATE.
HE HAS NOW DROPPED OUT OF THAT
RACE A DAY AFTER HIS ARREST.
>> THAT IS A WHOLE OTHER LAYER.
SCOTT MENTIONED THE GUN STUFF.
LEELAND HAD BEEN AN OUTSPOKEN
ADVOCATE FOR GUN CONTROL
MEASURES INCLUDING TRIGGER LOCKS
AND CRACKING DOWN ON SOME
AUTOMATIC WEAPONS.
HE ALSO WAS A HUGE PROPONENT OF
OPEN GOVERNMENT.
HE WAS RUNNING FOR SECRETARY OF
STATE, WHICH IS THE STATE-WIDE
PERSON WHO OVERSEES ELECTIONS.
SO IT'S INTERESTING.
AND YES, WHAT THE AFFIDAVIT SAYS
IS YES, HE WAS DESPERATE TO
RETIRE THIS MAYORAL DEBT AND
RAISE ENOUGH MONEY TO BECOME
SECRETARY OF STATE.
I DON'T KNOW IF THAT ALL ADDS UP
IN TERMS OF THE AMOUNT OF MONEY.
$70,000 IN A MAYORAL RACE ISN'T
A TON OF MONEY ULTIMATELY.
BUT IT DOES SEEM THE PICTURE
THEY PAINT IS OF SOMEBODY WHO'S
INCREASELY SORT OF DESPONDENT
AND UNHAPPY AND DESPERATE TO
MAKE THIS WORK.
HE'S BEEN IN OFFICE SINCE 1988,
I BELIEVE.
MAYBE HE WAS JUST WORRIED ABOUT
LOSING HIS JOB.
>> HE'S BEEN ONE OF THE MOST
PROMINENT ASIAN AMERICAN
POLITICIANS IN THE STATE.
>> ABSOLUTELY.
>> HE WAS THE FIRST CHINESE
AMERICAN ELECT TO THE STATE
SENATE IN THE ASSEMBLY FIRST
ASIAN AMERICAN TO SERVE AS
SPEAKER PRO TEM.
>> HIS DISTRICT WAS ABOUT TO BE
ELIMINATED BY REDISTRICTING.
>> YES.
SO HE NEEDED THAT SECRETARY OF
STATE JOB.
I THINK THAT MIGHT HAVE ADDED TO
THE DESPERATION.
I WANT TO ASK YOU, NATHAN, YOU
MET -- LET'S TURN OUR ATTENTION
TO RAYMOND CHOU.
YOU MET RAYMOND CHOU ABOUT A
YEAR AGO FOR A DOCUMENTARY
PROJECT YOU'VE BEEN WORKING ON
WITH U.C. BERKELEY.
YOU'VE CONTINUED TO FOLLOW THE
TONG, HIS GROUP IN CHINATOWN.
WHAT DO WE KNOW ABOUT HIM?
>> WELL, THERE'S ACTUALLY QUITE
A BIT OF INFORMATION JUST
BECAUSE HE HAS BEEN SUCH A
NOTORIOUS FIGURE FOR SO LONG.
HE CAME TO THE UNITED STATES
WHEN HE WAS 16, DIDN'T SPEAK A
LICK OF ENGLISH.
WENT TO GALILEO HIGH SCHOOL.
GOT INTO AN ALTERCATION PRETTY
QUICKLY.
GOT CAUGHT UP IN STREET GANGS IN
CHINATOWN RAPIDLY.
BECAME AN ENFORCER.
AND MY CONVERSATIONS WITH HIM,
HIS FIRST ILLEGAL ASSIGNMENT
HERE IF YOU WILL WAS TO DO A
HIT -- NOT A HIT, TO BEAT UP A
UNION LEADER OF A LOCAL
TEAMSTER.
AND THAT ASSIGNMENT CAME FROM A
MAFIA BOSS.
SO THEY PAID HIM SEVERAL
THOUSAND TO GO BEAT UP A GUY.
RAYMOND IS A MARTIAL ARTS
EXPERT.
AND FROM THAT KIND OF GET GO HE
REMAINED A VERY NOTORIOUS
FIGURE, GROWING HIGHER AND
HIGHER AND MORE POWERFUL.
UNTIL IN THE EARLY 90s WHEN HE
WAS ARRESTED HE WAS ESSENTIALLY
RUNNING A LARGE PERCENTAGE
OFATION ORGANIOF
ASIAN ORGANIZED CRIME IN THE
UNITED STATES.
>> WHAT'S MOST AMAZING ABOUT THE
SENATOR AND THESE 25 OTHER
DEFENDANTS, 22 OF WHOM WERE
ARRESTED THIS WEEK, THREE OF
WHOM OUTSTANDING, IT READS OUT
OF HOLLYWOOD.
YOU MENTIONED "HOUSE OF CARDS."
SOMEBODY ASKED ME TODAY WHAT
HAPPENS TO THESE OFFICES WHOOIK
WHILE THE SENATORS ARE OUT.
I JOKED HAVEN'T YOU WATCHED
"HOUSE OF CARDS."
BUT IT'S TRUE.
THERE IS GUN RUNNING, COKE
DEALS, CONVERSATIONS IN DARK
KARAOKE BARS AND WHISPERS AND
SECRETS.
AND THE FACTS THAT A STATE
SENATOR GOT CAUGHT UP IN THIS IS
JUST INTERESTING.
IT REALLY SPEAKS TO A LOT OF
WHAT PEOPLE THINK MIGHT HAPPEN
IN THESE SORT OF SHADY
ORGANIZATIONS, BUT WHAT NOBODY
KNOWS.
>> CAN I TELL YOU WHAT BLOWS MY
MIND HERE?
THEY RAN FOUR YEARS OF WIRETAPS
AND SURVEILLANCE ON SHRIMP BOY
GANGSTER.
I'M REALLY INTO GANGSTERS.
THIS IS INTERESTING.
FOUR YEARS.
BUT WHAT DO THEY GET?
THEY GET MONEY LAUNDERING, THEY
GET SOME STOLEN ALCOHOL AND SOME
COUNTERFEIT CIGARETTES.
FOUR YEARS.
THAT'S WHAT THEY GET.
THEY RUN IT ON A STATE SENATOR
AND HIS CRONY FOR ONE YEAR AND
GET INTERNATIONAL ARM
TRAFFICKING, DRUG SMUGGLING,
THEY GET PAY TO PLAY AND THEY
GET --
>> *** FOR HIRE.
>> -- *** FOR HIRE.
SO REALLY IT SEEMS LIKE ALL THE
EXCITEMENT'S IN THE CAPITOL.
>> SPEAKING OF THE CAPITOL,
LET'S GO BACK TO THE CAPITOL AND
TALK TO SCOTT DETER.
THE THREE STATE LAWMAKERS
EMBROILED, THREE IN THREE MONTHS
ESSENTIALLY.
IS THIS A CASE OF A FEW BAD
APPLES?
OR IT SAYS SOMETHING BIGGER
ABOUT THE STATE OF ETHICS IN OUR
STATE LEGISLATURE?
>> I THINK IT RAISES A LOT OF
QUESTIONS ABOUT ETHICS.
I THINK THERE'S FRUSTRATION FROM
GOOD GOVERNMENT FOLKS, BECAUSE
THERE'S NOT REALLY A CLEAR
SOLUTION HERE.
HOW DO YOU ADDRESS THE FACT THAT
A LAWMAKER IS ALLEGEDLY TRYING
TO SHIP ARMS IN FROM OUTSIDE THE
COUNTRY TO GET JUST A FEW
THOUSAND DOLLARS IN CAMPAIGN
CONTRIBUTIONS?
CALIFORNIA ALREADY HAS PRETTY
TIGHT COMPARED TO OTHER STATES
CAMPAIGN FINANCE LAWS, ETHICS
REQUIREMENTS, REPORTING
REQUIREMENTS.
SO THERE'S A QUESTION OF WHAT
CAN YOU DO TO SOLVE THIS
PROBLEM.
BUT GOING BACK TO THOSE
WIRETAPS, YOU HAVE RECORDINGS OF
LEELAND YI ALLEGEDLY SAYING HEY
WE HAVE TO BE CAREFUL BECAUSE
THE FBI JUST BUSTED ONE OF MY
COLLEAGUES FOR TAKING BRIBES.
LITTLE DOES HE KNOW THAT THE
FBI'S LISTENING IN ON THAT
CONVERSATION AS WELL.
I THINK WHEN YOU HAVE TWO -- THE
RIGHT CASE IS NOT ABOUT LIVING
IN THE DISTRICT.
YOU KIND OF HAVE TO SEPARATE
THAT HERE.
BUT WHEN YOU HAVE TWO DIFFERENT
LAWMAKERS SIMULTANEOUSLY BEING
SO WILLING TO TAKE MONEY IN
ORDER TO DO OFFICIAL BUSINESS, I
THINK A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE
CONCERNED ABOUT HOW MANY OF
THOSE CONVERSATIONS ARE
HAPPENING WHEN THE FBI ISN'T
LISTENING.
>> YOU BRING UP AN INTERESTING
POINT.
CLEARLY LEELAND YI HAD SOME IDEA
ABOUT WHAT THE LEGAL BOUNDARIES
ARE IN THE CONVERSATIONS
MENTIONED IN THAT ENTITLEMENT.
MARISSA, DOES THIS BRING UP A
POINT ABOUT POSSIBLE CONCERNS
ABOUT ENTRAPMENT IN THAT A LOT
OF THESE SCENARIOS WERE
FABRICATED BY THE FBI?
DOES IT RAISE THE ISSUE OF
ENTRAPMENT AND MAKE IT MORE
DIFFICULT FOR THEM TO PROVE
THESE CHARGES IN COURT?
>> WELL, I THINK WHAT YOU SEE IF
YOU READ THE LARGE DOCUMENT IS
THAT THEY WERE VERY CAREFUL TO
MAKE THE CHARGES AROUND THE
SENATOR SPECIFICALLY FEDERAL
CHARGES, IN WHICH THE
ENTRAEPMENT LAWS ARE SLIGHTLY
DIFFERENT.
UNDER FEDERAL LAW YOU CAN NUDGE
SOMEBODY TOWARDS THINGS AS LONG
AS IT'S SOMETHING THEY WOULD
HAVE PROBABLY DONE OTHERWISE.
SO I THINK THE FEDS WERE VERY
CAREFUL IN THE WAY THAT THEY
PRESENTED THIS CASE AGAINST THE
SENATOR.
THEY ALSO HAVE MULTIPLE CHARGES
AGAINST HIM ON THE BRIBERY
FRONT.
ONLY ONE ON THE ARMS
TRAFFICKING.
IF YOU ADD THEM UP UP TO 125
YEARS POSSIBLE PRISON TIME.
I WOULD BE SURPRISED IF WE SAW
THIS GO TO TRIAL.
I THINK THAT WHEN YOU THROW
CHARGES LIKE THAT AT SOMEBODY
THERE'S PROBABLY A BIG INCENTIVE
ON BOTH SIDES TO CUT A DEAL.
WHO KNOWS WHAT ELSE THEY MIGHT
WANT TO HEAR FROM HIM.
>> WE'VE HEARD A LOT ABOUT
LEELAND YI AND RAYMOND CHOU.
WE HAVEN'T HEARD QUITE AS MUCH
ABOUT KEITH JACKSON.
WHAT DO WE KNOW ABOUT HIM?
>> AS YOU SAID EARLIER, HE'S A
FORM SCHOOL BOARD PRESIDENT
HERE.
OVER THE LAST 10, 15 YEARS HE
WORKED AS A CONSULTANT ON THE
HUNTERS POINT SHIPYARD PROJECT,
BOTH I THINK DIRECTLY FOR LENAR
CORPORATION BUT ALSO THROUGH SAM
SINGER.
CRISIS COMMUNICATIONS EXPERT.
AND HE'S REALLY A BIT OF AN
ENIGMA HERE.
I'VE TALKED TO PEOPLE WHO SAID
HE'S THE NICEST GUY IN THE
WORLD.
I CAN'T BELIEVE THIS HAPPENED.
WE'VE TALKED TO OTHER PEOPLE WHO
SAID YOU KNOW HE WAS ALWAYS A
LITTLE SHADY.
BUT FACT THAT HE GOT SO DEEP
INTO THIS SORT OF UNDERWORLD,
THE FEDS ALLEGE THAT HE WAS
DOING GUN DEALS WITH HIS SON,
THAT THEY HAD SORT OF PUSHED
SAYING IF YOU NEED A HIT TAKEN
OUT WE CAN HELP YOU FACILITATE
THAT.
CERTAINLY THEY'RE SAYING HE WAS
SELLING DRUGS.
SO IT REALLY DOESN'T JIBE WITH
HIS PUBLIC PERSONA.
BRIBES MIGHT BE ONE THING.
WHEN YOU GO INTO *** FOR HIRE
WE'RE IN ANOTHER REALM.
>> REAL QUICKLY, NATHAN, ARE
THERE OTHER NAMES IN THAT
INDICTMENT TIED TO THE CHINATOWN
GANGS?
>> YEAH.
GEORGE NIE HAS BEEN CHARGED.
HE WAS A FORM LEADER IN THE
WACHING.
SOME OF THE PUBLICATIONS I'VE
BEEN READING NOW ARE SAYING HE'S
STILL A CURRENT MEMBER OF THE
WACHING.
THAT WASN'T MY UNDERSTANDING BUT
HE WAS A FORM LEADER IN THE
WACHING AND ARRESTED AND FLED TO
HONG KONG FOR A FEW YEARS IN THE
90s.
>> AND ALSO MORE COURT
APPEARANCES EXPECTED NEXT WEEK.
>> YEAH, WE'LL SEE.
LEELAND YI WILL BE IN COURT ON
MONDAY FOR AN ARRAIGNMENT.
EVERYONE ELSE, SHRIMP BOY AND
KEITH JACKSON WERE IN COURT ON
FRIDAY.
THEY WERE DENIED BAIL.
SO I THINK MOST OF THE OTHER
DEFENDANTS WILL BE BACK UP IN
FRONT OF A JUDGE NEXT WEEK.
>> OKAY.
MUCH MORE TO COME.
>>> WELL, SCOTT DETRO IN
SACRAMENTO, MARISSA LAGOS AND
NATHAN HABBERSON THANKS FOR
JOINING US.
YOU WILL FIND ALL KQED'S
COVERAGE OF THIS STORY AT
KQED.ORG.
>>> WHEN SUSAN HELDMAN WAS
CHOSEN FIVE YEARS AGO AS THE
FIRST FEMALE CHANCELLOR IN THE
HISTORY OF U.C. SAN FRANCISCO
SHE WAS IN CHARGE OF DRUG
DEVELOPMENT AT THE BIOTECH
COMPANY GENENTEC.
IN ADDITION TO ITS VARIOUS
SCHOOLS, INCLUDING MEDICINE,
DENTISTRY AND NURSING, SHE TOOK
OVER THE $4 BILLION ENTERPRISE
AT A TIME OF SEVERE BUDGET CUTS.
AT THE END OF THIS MONTH SHE
LEAVES UCSF TO HEAD UP THE BILL
AND MEL LINDA GATES FOUNDATION
IN SEATTLE.
CHANCELLOR HELDMAN SAT DOWN
I BELIEVE AND BEING IN SAN
FRANCISCO, BEING IN CALIFORNIA I
THINK IT'S IN OUR DNA TO BELIEVE
THAT HEALTHY DIALOGUE AND DEBATE
BRINGS BETTER OUTCOMES.
>> CHANCELLOR SUSAN HELLMAN,
THANK YOU SO MUCH.
>> THANK YOU.
>>> GENTRIFICATION AS
INTERPRETED BY YOUTH.
THAT'S THE FOCUS OF A NEW WORK
BY THE PUSH DANCE COMPANY AS IT
EXPLORE THE TRANSFORMATION OF
THE BAY VIEW HUNTER'S POINT
NEIGHBORHOOD IN SAN FRANCISCO.
CONCERNS ABOUT WHETHER LOCAL
RESIDENTS WILL BE PRICED OUT OF
THEIR OWN NEIGHBORHOOD ARE
BROUGHT TO I LOTO LIFE IN A UNIQUE
PERFORMANCE THAT PREMIERES THIS
WEEKEND COMBINING DANCE WITH
POETRY.
>> THE SIGHTS AND SOUNDS SEEM
FAMILIAR.
A ROOM FILLS OVER WITH FOCUSED
INTENSITY AS A DANCE TROUPE
REHEARSES FOR ITS UPCOMING
PREMIERE.
BUT THERE'S NOTHING ORDINARY
ABOUT THIS PERFORMANCE.
IT'S CALLED THE POINT SHIPYARD
PROJECT.
AND IT'S A GENRE BENDING MIX OF
POETRY AND DANCE CREATED WITH
THE HELP OF THE THIRD STREET
YOUTH CENTER AND CLINIC.
>> WE ARE COLLABORATING IN ORDER
TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE TOXIC
CLEANUP AT THE BAY VIEW HUNTER'S
NAVAL SHIPYARD AND HOW THAT WILL
AFFECT THE YOUTH AT THE CENTER
TEN YEARS FROM NOW.
>> IT WAS A PLACE IN THE AREA [
INAUDIBLE ] IT WAS NEVER SAFE
WHEN THE GOVERNMENT CAME IN.
CAUTION.
>> THE BAY VIEW HUNTER'S POINT
NEIGHBORHOOD IS LOCATED IN SAN
FRANCISCO'S SOUTHEASTERN CORNER.
IT'S ONE OF THE FEW AREAS IN THE
CITY THAT HAS NOT YET BEEN
GREATLY AFFECTED BY
GENTRIFICATION.
BUT AFTER NEARLY A CENTURY AT A
WORKING SHIPYARD NEIGHBORHOOD,
INHABITED PREDOMINANTLY BY
AFRICAN-AMERICANS, THAT'S
STARTING TO CHANGE.
BAY VIEW HUNTER'S POINT IS IN
THE MIDST OF A RADICAL
TRANSFORMATION.
THE THIRD STREET LIGHT RAIL
PROJECTS WERE FINISHED IN 2007.
AND $8 BILLION REDEVELOPMENT
PROGRAM IS IN PROGRESS.
AND THE NAVY SHIPYARD IS
UNDERGOING A MASSIVE CLEANUP OF
TOXINS.
>> WHEN I FIRST BROUGHT THE
SUBJECT OF GENTRIFICATION TO THE
YOUTH CENTER AND CLINIC, THE
YOUTH DID NOT KNOW ABOUT THE
CLEANUP AT THE SHIPYARD.
AND THERE IS GOING TO BE A WHOLE
NEW NEIGHBORHOOD AND DEVELOPMENT
ALONG THAT AREA.
AND THEY WANTED TO KNOW EXACTLY
HOW THAT WOULD AFFECT THEM.
>> THIS WILL NO LONGER BE THE
HUNTER'S POINT WE'VE KNOWN ALL
OUR LIVES.
>> THE LONG-TIME RESIDENTS ARE
FACING A PARTICULARLY COMPLEX
PROBLEM.
HOW DO YOU SUPPORT IMPROVEMENTS
TO YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD IF THEY MAY
ULTIMATELY RESULT IN THE LOSS OF
YOUR HOME?
SIMPSON BELIEVES YOU START BY
HELPING PEOPLE TELL THEIR
STORIES.
>> MY NEIGHBORHOOD --
CONTAMINATED -- AFTER THE
EXAMINATION I FELT THE
DISCRIMINATION.
>> PUSH ACE DANCE COMPANY THAT
FOCUSES ON SOCIAL TOPICS.
AND WE USUALLY LOOK FOR STORIES
THAT ARE UNTOLD OR NOT REALLY
SEEN IN THE PUBLIC EYE.
SO IT WAS VERY NATURAL FOR US TO
REACH OUT TO THE YOUTH AND ASK
THEM, HEY, CAN YOU PLEASE TELL
US YOUR STORIES ABOUT WHAT YOU
THINK THE NAVAL SHIPYARD WILL
LOOK LIKE IN 200024.
>> THE YOUTH RECORDED THEIR
MONOLOGUES ESTABLISHING A ROAD
MAP FOR CREATING THE
CHOREOGRAPHY THAT WOULD MERGE
THE SPOKEN WORD WITH MOVEMENT.
>> YOU'RE GOING TO DO ANGER LIKE
LET IT COME THROUGH.
>> FOR SIMPSON, THIS MELDING OF
POETRY AND DANCE ISN'T SIMPLY A
TOOL FOR SOCIAL CHANGE, IT'S
ALSO A PERSONAL EXPLORATION.
>> THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT TO THE
DANCING.
FOR ME AS A CHOREOGRAPHER, THERE
ARE PARTS WHERE I TAKE EACH WORD
FROM THE POEM AND MAKE A
MOVEMENT SPECIFICALLY TO THAT
WORD.
>> SO GIVE ME SOME EXAMPLES OF
CERTAIN WORDS AND HOW YOU
TRANSLATE THAT INTO GESTURES FOR
THE DANCERS.
>> WELL, FOR EXAMPLE, WE HAVE
BRAIN CELLS.
>> OKAY.
>> CONTAMINATION.
EXAMINATIO
EXAMINATION.
>> ASTHMA.
>> BREAK THEM DOWN.
>> SO THIS IS THE STORY ABOUT A
YOUNG MAN NAMED SAM OWENS AND
HIS POEM IS TALKING ABOUT THE
DISCRIMINATION IN HIS
NEIGHBORHOOD AND HOW THE TOXINS
AFFECT HIS ABILITY TO THINK, GO
TO SCHOOL, READ, AND JUST LEARN.
>> THE POINT SHIP QUARTER
PROJECT LOOKED TO THE MUSEUM OF
THE AFRICAN DIASPORA FOR SUPPORT
AND DEVELOPMENT.
IT'S THE IDEAL VENUE FOR THE
PERFORMANCE.
>> THIS WAS ANOTHER OPPORTUNITY
TO LOOK AT AFRICAN-AMERICAN
CULTURE AND HOW WE ADAPT AND
BRING CULTURE TO NEW AREAS AS
WELL.
>> SIMPSON CONSIDERS THE PIECE
TO BE PART PERFORMANCE, PART
MUSEUM INSTALLATION.
IT STARTS WITH THE AUDIENCE
WANDERING THROUGH THE SPACE,
INTERACTING CLOSE UP WITH THE
PUSH DANCERS.
BY THE END OF THE PIECE, THE
AUDIENCE HAS BEEN USHERED INTO
THE TOP FLOOR GALLERY TO HAVE A
DIRECT PERSONAL EXPERIENCE WITH
THE DANCERS AND THE WORDS OF THE
BAY VIEW YOUTH.
>> DO NOT WEAR YOUR PANTS LOW.
DO NOT WEAR DEW RAGS OR HEAD
GEAR.
>> ONE OF THE POETS IS SEEING
THE PIECE FOR THE FIRST TIME.
>> SUITS ARE ALWAYS FINE AS LONG
AS THEY CAN COUNT THE NUMBERS ON
YOUR BACK.
BE A NUMBER.
DO NOT BE A STATISTIC.
>> TO WATCH IT TURN INTO
SOMETHING THAT LIKE KIND OF
EXPLAINED HOW I FEEL WALKING
DOWN THE STREET IN MOST
NEIGHBORHOODS, ANYWAY, IT WAS
REALLY COMFORTING TO WATCH OTHER
PEOPLE FEEL THE SAME WAY I DID.
>> LIKE SEVEN PEOPLE ON STAGE
FEEL AND UNDERSTAND WHAT I'M
SAYING AND THEN EXPRESS IT IN
THAT WAY.
IT WAS WONDERFUL.
>> PUSH DANCE COMPANY IS A YOUNG
COMPANY.
AND WE'RE ALSO A PART OF THE
DISCUSSION WHEN IT COMES TO
DISPLACEMENT AND DIASPORA IN SAN
FRANCISCO.
THE RESIDENTS OF BAY VIEW
HUNTER'S POINT ARE FACING THE
QUESTION OF WHETHER OR NOT
THEY'LL BE PRICED OUT.
AND I THINK THAT IN SOME WAYS
WE'RE KINDRED SPIRITS IN THAT
ARTISTS ARE ALSO BEING PRICED
OUT.
[ APPLAUSE ]
>> FOR A CENTURY, THIS
HARD-WORKING NEIGHBORHOOD HAS
SUPPORTED THE NAVY AND OTHER
INDUSTRIES AT GREAT PHYSICAL
COST TO THE RESIDENTS.
BUT WHEN THE CLEANUP AND
REDEVELOPMENT ARE COMPLETE, WHAT
WILL REMAIN OF THE FAMILIES, THE
ARTISTS, THE COMMUNITIES THAT
BUILT THIS NEIGHBORHOOD FROM THE
GROUND UP?
>> I THINK WHAT SHOULD HAPPEN
FOR THAT AREA IS THAT THE
RESIDENTS OF BAY VIEW HUNTER'S
POINT HAVE A VOICE IN HOW THEIR
NEIGHBORHOOD IS BEING DEVELOPED.
>> AND EARLIER TODAY, ANOTHER
DANCE EVENT TOOK PLACE ALL
AROUND THE BAY AREA AND THE
WORLD.
PROFESSIONAL DANCERS AND DANCE
FANS TOOK PART IN WHAT'S CALLED
DANCE ANYWHERE, A SIMULTANEOUS
WORLDWIDE PUBLIC ART
PERFORMANCE.
TO SEE SOME OF THOSE
PERFORMANCES, GO TO
KQED.ORG/ARTS.
THANKS FOR WATCHING.
HAVE A GOOD NIGHT.