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>> >>DWANE: TONIGHT ON KPBS EVENING EDITION, TWO SAN DIEGANS ARE IDENTIFIED AS VICTIM SAID
IN THIS WEEK'S ATTACK ON A U.S. CONSULATE IN LIBYA.
REGULATORS CALL FOR ANOTHER PUBLIC HERE HEAR OF THE SAN ONOFRE NUCLEAR POWER PLANT.
>> >>PEGGY: PLUS, WE CONTINUE OUR GENERAL ELECTION COVERAGE WITH A NON PARTISAN EXPLANATION
AND ANALYSIS OF SOME OF CALIFORNIA'S CONTROVERSIAL BALLOT MEASURES.
>> >>DWANE: AND WE'LL HAVE A LOOK AT A LONG RUNNING LEGAL BATTLE OVER SOME PRIME LAND
IN THE MIDDLE OF MISSION BAY PARK. KPBS EVENING EDITION STARTS NOW.
KPBS EVENING EDITION IS MADE POSSIBLE BY JOAN AND IRWIN JACOBS.
AND BY: >> >>DWANE: HELLO, GOOD EVENING, THANKS FOR
JOINING US, I'M DWANE BROWN. TWO SAN DIEGANS HAVE BEEN IDENTIFIED IN TUESDAY'S
ATTACK ON THE U.S. EMBASSY IN LIBYA. ONE WAS 41 YEAR OLD TYRONE WOODS A FORMAL
NAVY SEAL. WE HAVE MORE ON HIS BACKGROUND FROM OUR HOME
POST BLOGGER BETH FORD ROTH. >> >>: HIS NAME WAS GLEN DOUGHERTY AND HE
WAS A 22 YEAR OLD NAVY SEAL. DOUGHERTY WAS A MASSACHUSETTS NAVY WHO MADE
HIS HOME IN ENCINITAS. HIS FAMILY TOLD THE BOSTON NEWSPAPER HE LEFT
THE MILITARY FOUR YEARS AGO. HE WAS WORKING IN THAT JOB WHEN HE WAS KILLED IN LIBYA.
DOUGHERTY ALSO WORKED AS A TRAINER FOR SEAL FIT GYM IN ENCINITAS.
THE GYM'S WEBSITE SAID DOUGHERTY WAS A FORMER TRI ATHLETE AND AN ACCOMPLISHED PILOT WHO
LEARNED HIS BACHELOR OF SCIENCE DEGREE IN PROFESSIONAL ERO NOTTICS.
>> >>DWANE: TUESDAY'S ATTACK ALSO KILLED U.S. AMBASSADOR CHRIS STEPHENS.
A LIBYAN OFFICIAL SAYS HEAVILY ARMED MILITANTS WERE BEHIND IT ATTACK AND SAYS SOME HAVE BEEN
ARRESTED. THE OFFICIAL ASSOCIATED PRESS SAYS THE ATTACK
MAY HAVE BEEN TIMED TO MARK THE ANNIVERSARY OF 911 WHEN AN ANTI ISLAM FILM MAY HAVE SERVED
AS A COVER. THE FILM MOCKS THE PROPHET MUHAMMAD. THE MAN
BELIEVED TO HAVE MADE IT, SAM BACILE, THE JUSTICE SAYS HIS REAL NAME IS NAKOULA BASSELY
AND HE HAS A CRIMINAL RECORD. THE MOVIE IS BLAMED FOR THESE ATTACKS IN EGYPT
AND LIBYA. THE PENTAGON IS SENDING THREE SAN DIEGO BAY
SHIPS TO THE MIDDLE EAST ON MONDAY. THE PELELIU, THE RUSH MORE AND THE GREEN BAY.
THE MARINE EXPEDITION UNIT WILL DEPLOY WITH THEM. THE NAVY SAYS THE SAILORS AND MARINES
ARE FRET FROM NINE MONTHS OF TRAINING. THE AGENCY RUNNING THE STATE'S POWER GRID IS MAKING
PLANS FOR ANOTHER SUMMER WITHOUT SAN ONOFRE. THE NUCLEAR POWER PLANT IN THE NORTH COUNT
A HAS BEEN OFF LINE SINCE JANUARY BECAUSE OF PROBLEMS WITH TUBES IN ITS STEAM GENERATORS.
PLANT OPERATOR SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA EDISON IS EXPECTED TO SUBMIT A PLAN FOR RESTARTING
ONE REACTOR, BUT IT COULD TAKE MONTHS FOR FEDERAL REGULATORS TO APPROVE IT.
THEY'VE SCHEDULED A PUBLIC MEETING ABOUT THE PLANT NEXT MONTH.
SAN DIEGO COULD OWE A HEFTY AMOUNT FOR ITS PENSION FUND NEXT YEAR BECAUSE OF TURMOIL
IN THE INTERNATIONAL FINANCIAL MARKETS AND BECAUSE OF PENSION REFORM T.AN EARLY ESTIMATE
SHOWS THE PENSION SYSTEMS ANNUAL INVESTMENT RETURN IS MUCH LOWER THAN EXPECTED AND THE
CITY MAY NEED TO PAY AS MUCH AS 10ÊMILLION DOLLARS TO COVER THE SHORT FALL AT THE SAME
TIME IMPLEMENTING A 401K SYSTEM FOR NEW HIRES EXPECTED TO COST UP TO $30ÊMILLION NEXT YEAR.
THE IS CITY SAYS THE SAVINGS FROM PENSION REFORM WILL KICK IN AFTER SIX YEARS.
HOME SALES AND PRICES WENT UP IN SAN DIEGO COUNTY LAST MONTH.
DATA QUICK SAYS SALES JUMPED MORE THAN 22% COMPARED TO A YEAR AGO, AND THE MEDIAN PRICE
ROSE ABOUT 8%. THE REAL ESTATE TRACKING FIRM REPORT SES SIMILAR INCREASES AROUND SOUTHERN
CALIFORNIA. THERE'S BEEN AN UP TAKE IN SALES OF HIGH END
HOMES. THE NUMBERS ARE THE BEST FOR AUGUST IN ABOUT
SIX YEARS. THE CHARGERS HAVE ONE MORE DAY TO KEEP THEIR
SUNDAY HOME OPENER FROM GETTING BLACKED OUT. THEY HAVE UNTIL 125 TOMORROW AFTERNOON TO
SELL ABOUT 2100 TICKETS. THEY'RE ASKING FANS TO WEAR WHITE FOR THE
GAME AGAINST THE TENNESSEE TIGHTENS. BEFORE KICK OFF, THE CHARGERS WILL HONOR JUNIOR
SEAU ONE MORE TIME. THEY'LL RETIRE HIS NUMBER 55.
IT'S AN HONOR THE TEAMS, GIVEN TO ONLY TWO OTHER PLAYERS, LANCE ALWORTH AND QUARTER BACK
DAN FOUTS. ALONG TIME SAN DIEGO ICON WHO JOKINGLY SAYS
THE PADRES BARE HIS NAME WAS GIVEN A SPECIAL HONOR TODAY.
FATHER JOE CARROLL SPENT THREE DECADES A PUBLIC SERVICE EMPIRE TO FEED, HOUSE AND REHABILITATE
HOMELESS PEOPLE. LIKE THE SWINGING FRIER FOR THE SAN DIEGO
PADRES, FATHER JOE CARROLL HAS BEEN KNOCKING THE BALL OUT THE PARK ON BEHALF OF PEOPLE
IN NEED SINCE 1982. A HUGE BASEBALL FAN, FATHER JOE CLAIMS THE
PADRES WERE NAMED AFTER HIM. OF COURSE, THAT'S NOT TRUE, BUT HE DOES LOOK
A LOT LIKE THE TEAM'S MASCOT. LAST YEAR HE STEPPED DOWN FROM RUNNING FATHER
JOE'S VILLAGES. IT'S A COM COMBINATION OF SEVERAL ORGANIZATIONS
PROVIDING MEALS, HEALTH CARE, HOUSING RK JOB TRAINING AND CHILDREN SERVICES AMONG OTHERS.
AT 70 AND A WHEELCHAIR USER BECAUSE OF DIABETES, HE'S STILL A CONSTANT FUNDRAISER WHO SAYS
IT'S ALL ABOUT NEIGHBORS HELPING NEIGHBORS. >> >>: MY GOAL IN 30 YEARS HAS BEEN THESE
ARE NEIGHBORS WHO HAD TO BE IN TROUBLE. WE HAVE A NEIGHBOR WHO'S SICK, THAT'S A NEIGHBOR.
WE HAVE A HOMELESS PERSON WHO'S SICK, THAT SOUNDS FEARFUL.
SO MY GOAL HAS ALWAYS BEEN WE'RE NEIGHBORS HELPING NEIGHBORS.
THAT'S HAD L THEY ARE, WE'RE THEIR NEIGHBORS AND WE'RE NEIGHBORS TO THEM.
>> >>DWANE: IN 1987 HE REALIZED HIS VISION OF A BUN STOP SHOP APPROACH TO REHABILITATION
PROGRAMS UNDER ONE ROOF. THE PROGRAM BECAME A NATIONAL MODEL FOR DELIVERING
SERVICE TO HOMELESS PEOPLE. >> >>: DESPITE HIS NEW YORK ACCENT, FATHER
JOE AS MUCH A PART OF SAN DIEGO AS FISH TACOS AND CORONADO BRING BRIDGE.
HE CAME OUT TO CALIFORNIA IN THE 60S, HE ENDED UP COMMITTING HIMSELF TO GOD AND HELPING THE
LESS FORTUNATE. >> >>DWANE: AT A ROTARY CLUB LUNCHEON, MARE
JERRY SANDERS PRESENTED HIM WITH A NEW TITLE. >> >>: THE ROTARY CLUB'S 2012 MR.ÊSAN DIEGO
AWARD. >> >>DWANE: SO WHAT DOES FATHER JOE THINK
ABOUT BEING NAMED MR.ÊSAN DIEGO? >> >>: THERE'S NO CHECK WITH IT.
NO, IT'S RECOGNITION, PARTICULARLY BY DOWNTOWN COMMUNITY, THAT WE'VE MADE A DIFFERENCE.
>> >>DWANE: FORMER PRESIDENT OF THE SAN DIEGO ROTARY CLUB, DOLLAR DOCTOR FRED FRY.
>> >>: ONE OF THE REASONS THAT FATHER JOE'S, ST.ÊVINCENT DE PAUL HAS BEEN SUCH A HUGE
SUCCESS, HE HAS RAISED OUR CONSCIOUSNESS ABOUT THEIR MISSION, GOTTEN INTO OUR POCKETS AND
DONE A TREMENDOUS JOB FOR THE HOMELESS AND THE DISADVANTAGED HERE IN THE COMMUNITY.
>> >>DWANE: FATHER JOE CARROLL BECOMES THE 60TH PERSON HONORED WITH THE TITLE MISTER
OR MISS SAN DIEGO SINCE IT STARTED IN 1952. WE CONTINUE OUR NOVEMBER ELECTION COVERAGE
WITH A CLOSER LOOK AT A FEW STATE BALLOT MEASURES. PEGGY PICO EXPLAINS HOW THEY COULD IMPACT
SAN DIEGO. >> >>PEGGY: COME NOVEMBER VOTERS THROUGHOUT
CALIFORNIA WILL DECIDE ON A HANDFUL OF PROPOSITIONS THAT INCLUDE TAXES FOR PUBLIC SAFETY, EDUCATION,
PLUS REVISION ON THE THREE STRIKES LAW, REPEAL OF THE DEATH PENALTY AND LABELING OF GENETICALLY
ENGINEERED FOODS. TO HELP EXPLAIN WHAT MIGHT HAPPEN IF THEY
PASS OR FAIL ARE MY GUESTS CARL LUNA PROFESSOR OF POLITICAL SCIENCE AT MESA COLLEGE ANDJ
THAD KOUSSER PROFESSOR OF POLITICAL SCIENCE AT UC SAN DIEGO.
LET'S START WITH PROPOSITION 30. GOVERNOR BROWN'S TAX INITIATIVE.
THIS IS ACTUALLY THAD, A CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT AND SOME SAY IT'S TWO TAXES ROLL UNDER TO
ONE. EXPLAIN IT FOR US.
>> >>THAD KOUSSER: THE FIRST ONE AFFECTS ALL OF US.
RAISE SALES TAX FOR THE NEXT FOUR YEARS BY A QUARTER OF A PENNY FOR EVERY DOLLAR THAT
WE SPEND IN CALIFORNIA. SMALL, BUT IT DOES AFFECT ALL OF US.
THE SECOND ONE IS THE SO CALLED MILLIONAIRES TAX KICKING IN IF ON INCOMES OVER $250,000
FOR A SINGLE PERSON OR 500,000 DOLLARS A YEAR FOR A FAMILY.
AND THEN YOU HAVE A 1% INCREASE IN YOUR INCOME TAX, THEN IF YOU GET MORE MONEY IT'S TWO%,
AND THEN FINALLY INCOMES OVER A MILLION DOLLARS FOR A FAMILY IT'S 3% INCREASE.
SO DOLLARS ARE A LITTLE BIT OF A OCCUPY REDUCE THE INCOME INEQUALITY IN CALIFORNIA TO BRING
IN SIX BILLION DOLLARS A YEAR IN NEW TAXES. >> >>PEGGY: BEFORE WE MOVE ON TO WHAT THE
FAX ACTUALLY PAYS FOR, IT'S CALL AD TEMPORARY TAX.
MY QUESTION TO YOU IS ARE THERE SUCH THINGS AS TEMPORARY TAXES AND WHY DOES ANYBODY THINK
THAT OUR ECONOMY WILL BE BETTER IN SEVEN YEARS? >> >>THAD KOUSSER: THE ECONOMY'S GOING TO
GO UP AND DOWN. WE'VE HAD TEMPORARY TAXES THAT WORST PART
OF THE RECESSION THAT EXPIRED AND VOTERS SAID NO TO AN INCREASE OF THEM.
POLITICAL ODDS WILL DICTATE IT'S EASIER TO GO BACK TO EXTEND TEMPORARY TAX INCREASE,
SACRAMENTO WOULD STILL HAVE TO COME BACK TO VOTERS, WORK ON TWO THIRDS VOTE.
>> >>PEGGY: SO LITTLE SAFETY NET. CARL, THIS IS SUPPOSED TO INCREASE GOVERNOR'S
TAX INITIATIVE PROP 30 IS SUPPOSED TO INCREASE REVENUE BY ABOUT SIX BILLION A YEAR IN CALIFORNIA.
WHERE'S THAT MONEY GOING? >> >>CARL LUNA: THE BULK OF IT'S GOING TO
EDUCATION, AND OF THAT THE BULK'S GO TOES K THROUGH 12 EDUCATION WITH SOME MONEY GOING
TO POST SECONDARY, THE UCS, STATE SYSTEM AND ALL.
SOME MONEY GOES TO LAW ENFORCEMENT, TO PUBLIC SAFETY INITIATIVES.
THEY KIND OF SPREAD A LITTLE BIT OF MONEY AROUND TO EVERY CONSTITUENCY TO MAXIMIZE VOTER
SUPPORT. >> >>PEGGY: WHAT HAPPENS IF THE SCHOOLS AND
THOSE PUBLIC SAFETY SERVICES DON'T GET THE MONEY?
>> >>CARL LUNA: YOU'VE HEARD OF THE FISCAL CLIFF IN WASHINGTON, WE HAVE THE FISCAL CREVICE
HERE IN CALIFORNIA. THE SCHOOLS HAVE BEEN REDUCING BUDGETS FOR THE LAST 10 YEAR FOR
THE MOST PART. THERE'S NOT A LOT OF IF A FAT LEFT IN THEIR
BUJ *** CUT THROUGH. IF YOU DON'T PASS THIS YOU'RE LOOKING AT HUNDREDS
OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN REDUCTIONS FOR SCHOOL DISTRICTS. THE UC SYSTEMS GET VERY LITTLE
MONEY FROM THE STATE, GET EVEN LESS, TUITIONS GO UP, LAW ENFORCEMENT MUNICIPALITY WILL HAVE
TO STRUGGLE TO FIND MONEY TO COVER SO THE OTHERS WON'T HAVE TO KEEP COPS ON THE BEAT.
>> >>PEGGY: THAT'S NOT THE ONLY CHOICE VOTERS HAVE.
PROPOSITION 38 WHEN IT COMES TO TAXES, A LITTLE BIT OF CONFUSING.
MOLLY MONGER'S TAX, TELL US HOW IT DIFFERS FROM THE GOVERNMENT PR ENOUGHS TAX NICHE INITIATIVE.
>> >>THAD KOUSSER: IT'S SPREAD MORE WIDELY SO EVERYONE PAYS MORE INCOME TAX UNDER THE
MOLLY MONGER PROPOSAL PROP 38, THE IDEA WE ALL ENJOY THE SCHOOLS WE SHOULD ALL PAY FOR
THEM. ALL THE MONEY L10ÊBILLION DOLLARS A YEAR
IS LOCK UNDER TO SCHOOLS. IT CAN'T GO FOR OTHER BUDGET BALANCING AND
LAW ENFORCEMENT. >> >>PEGGY: ALL RIGHT.
AND WHAT HAPPENS IFÊ WHAT DO YOU THINK WILL HAPPEN IF BOTH OF THEM PASS?
>> >>THAD KOUSSER: THE MOST VOTES GOES INTO EFFECT.
>> >>PEGGY: THAT'S RIGHT, WHAT I MEANT TO SAY, THE ONE WITH THE MOST VOTES GOES INTO
EFFECT. >> >>CARL LUNA: IF THEY BOTH FAIL THE STATE
WILL BE SCRAMBLING, MUNICIPALITIES WILL BE SCRAMBLING FOR MONEY YOU'LL YOU'LL FEEL PAIN
THIS YEAR, AND NECKS YEAR IN TERMS OF REDUCED SERVICES, PROGRAM IN SCHOOLS AND TEACHER LAYOFFS.
>> >>PEGGY: PUBLIC SAFETY, PROPOSITION 36 ASKED VOTERS TO REVISE THE REPEAT OFFENDERS
OR THE THREE STRIKES LAW. THAD, WHY IS THIS ON THE BALLOT DO YOU THINK
RIGHT NOW? >> >>THAD KOUSSER: THIS BALLOT MEASURES IS
WRITTEN WITH DOLLARS AND CENTS IN MIND TRYING TO MAKE AN ECONOMIC APPEAL TO VOTERS AND TRYING
TO CAPTURE THE BUDGET CRISIS WE HAVE FOR MAKING AN AMENDMENT PROPONENTS FOR THREE STRIKES
HAVE BEEN WANTING TO MAKE. THE LAST STRIKE THAT PUTS YOU AWAY FOR 25 YEARS TO LIFE HAS
TO BE A SERIOUS OR VIOLENT FELONY, SOMETHING NOT JUST A PROPERTY CRIME OR A DRUG CRIME,
WHICH IS NOW MORE THAN HALF O THE THIRD STRIKERS ARE PUT AWAY, WHICH IS NOT A SERIOUS OR VIOLENT
FELONY. >> >>PEGGY: SO IT COULD STRENGTH THN THREE
STRIKES LAW. BUT MY QUESTION FOR CARL, DO YOU THINK THIS
IS FINANCIALLY MOTIVATED MORE THAN TRYING TO CHANGE THE LAW?
>> >>CARL LUNA: IT'S A COMBINATION OF BOTH. THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IS PUT A TO THE HEAD
OF CALIFORNIA TO DRAWN DOWN ITS PRISON POPULATION. THE STATE CAN'T AFFORD, THE IDEA OF THE THREE
STRIKE PROVISION WOULD GO TO PEOPLE IN PRISON, SORT THROUGH THE PEOPLE THAT MAYBE SHOULDN'T
BE IN FOR A LONG TERM SENTENCE AND GET THEM RELEASED OUT, CHANGE THE NUMBER THAT ARE GOING
IN, AND THERE BY ACHIEVE A SOCIAL JUSTICE GOOD, AND A FISCAL GOOD.
THE DOWN SIDE LAW AND ORDER PROPONENTS SAY BETTER TO GET A GUY WITH A THIRD STRIKE BEFORE
HE GOES OUT, AND SEND CRIME RATES UP. CRIME RATES ARE ALMOST A HISTORICAL LOWS OR
AT THEM, SO THE VOTERS MAY NOT BE FEELING AS FEARFUL, THAT MAY BE ONE OF THE REASONS
YOU PICK THIS AS THE TIME TO DO THE MEASURE. >> >>PEGGY: CARL, IT'S ALSO RELATED TO PROP
34, SEEKING TO REPEAL THE DEATH PENALTY. DO YOU THINK FOR SIMILAR REASONS?
>> >>CARL LUNA: THE REPEAL OF THE DEATH PENALTY IS PRESENTED ON A FISCAL ARGUMENT.
IT IS TRUE, YOU PAY A PREMIUM TO EXECUTE. A LOT OF PEOPLE THINK THAT'S IT'S CHEAPER
TO EXECUTE THAN NOT. YOU'D SAVE A HUNDRED, 110ÊMILLION DOLLARS
A YEAR OR MORE IF YOU SIMPLY INCARCERATE FOR LIFE: IT'S ALSO A SOCIAL JUSTICE ISSUE.
YOU DON'T PUT A PRICE TAG ON JUSTICE A.LARGE PORTION OF THE POPULATION SUPPORTS DEATH PENALTY.
THE POLLS SEE THIS ONE TRAILING. >> >>PEGGY: 725 DEATH ROW INMATES IN CALIFORNIA,
WOULD THIS BE RETRO ACTIVE AS IT PASSES? >> >>THAD KOUSSER: YES T WOULD CONVERT ALL
THE SENTENCES TO LIFE WITHOUT POSSIBILITY OF PAROLE.
>> >>PEGGY: OKAY. WE DON'T HAVE A WHOLE LOT OF TIME LEFT, SO
I WANT TO GET TO STATE PROPOSITION 37 WHICH REQUIRES LABELING OF GENETICALLY ENGINEERED
FOOD OR GENETICALLY MODIFIED FOOD. THAD, LET'S START WITH YOU.
WHAT WOULD HAVE TO CHANGE ON THE LABELS? >> >>THAD KOUSSER: IT'S GOING TO HAVE TO SAY
IT WAS GENETICALLY ENGINEERED OR WITH SOME PRODUCT THE POSSIBILITY IT WAS GENETICALLY
ENGINEERED. THIS APPLIES TO PRODUCE, CANNED GOODS, EXCEPT
FOR EXEMPTS OF ALCOHOL AND ORGANIC FOODS. WE CAN STILL HAVE OUR CHARDONNAY AND OUR ORGANIC
BREE IN CALIFORNIA WITHOUT THIS. EVERYTHING ELSE WE SEE AN AWL MOW CIGARETTE
LABEL LIKE WARNING TELL US US THIS IS FRANKENSTEIN CORN, THESE BEANS WERE GENETICALLY ENGINEERED
AND IT DOESN'T TAKE A STAND ON WHETHER THAT'S GOOD OR NOT BUT LETS THE CONSUMERS KNOW.
>> >>PEGGY: ORGANIC FOOD CAN BE GENETICALLY ENGINEERED SO IT WOULDN'T HAVE TO BE LABELED.
>> >>THAD KOUSSER: YEAH. >> >>PEGGY: THAT'S AN EXCLUSION.
CARL, WHO'S GOING TO PAY FOR THIS? >> >>CARL LUNA: WE ALL ARE.
A FEW MILLION FOR THE STATE TO IMPLEMENT THIS, THE PRODUCERS ARGUE IT'S GOING TO INCREASE
FOOD COSTS NOT A LOT BUT YO HAVE TO RELABEL EVERYTHING.
THE BIGGER IMPACT IS GOING TO BE THE PEOPLE SEE THAT LABEL AND THEY WILL SIMPLY ASSUME
IT'S SOMETHING LIKE A TOBACCO LABEL. IT MAKES THE FOOD SEEM LESS ATTRACTIVE AND
THEY MAY WANT TO MOVE TO ANOTHER ALTERNATIVE. THE PROBLEM IS THERE AREN'T THAT MEBY ALTERNATIVES.
YOU'D HAVE TO PUT A GENETICALLY MODIFIED LABEL RIGHT IN THE FRONT OF EVERY SUPERMARKET BECAUSE
A LOT OF THE FOOD IN THERE HAS BEEN GENETICALLY MODIFIED NOW.
>> >>PEGGY: A LOT TO TALK ABOUT ON THAT. THERE'S A LOT MORE OF YOU BOTH TALKING ON
OUR WEBSITE TODAY ABOUT THESE STATE PROPOSITIONS AND SOME LOCAL PROPOSITIONS AS WELL.
CARL LUNA, THAD KOUSSER, FOR BEING HERE. >> >>DWANE: FOR YEARS, SAN DIEGO CITY PARKS
DEPARTMENT HAS BEEN TRYING TO RECLAIM 76 ACRES IN THE MIDDLE OF MISSION BAY PARK, IT'S A
MOBILE HOME PARK CALLED DE ANZA COVE. A COURT RULING EXPECTED NEXT YEAR MAY DETERMINE
HOW THE LAND WILL BE TURNED BACK TO THE CITY. KPBS REPORT TOM FUDGE SAYS IT'S NOT CLEAR
WHEN THE LEGAL FIGHT OVER DE ANZA COVE WILL END.
>> >>TOM: SEEING THE SUN SPARKLE ON THE WATT SR FAMILIAR TO THOSE WHO HAVE VISITED MISSION
BAY, AND IT'S ALSO THE VIEW YOU GET FROM THE MOBILE HOME OF ERNIE ABBOT, WHO TOLD ME WHAT
HE LIKES ABOUT LIVING THAT MOBILE HOME PARK. >> >>: EVERYTHING, ABSOLUTELY EVERYTHING.
IT'S PEACEFUL, IT'S BEAUTIFUL, IT'S QUIET. IT'S THE KIND OF NEIGHBORHOOD THAT YOU WANT
TO BE IN. I ALWAYS LIKED THE WATER FRONT. >> >>TOM: ABBOT AND HIS NEIGHBORS WHO NOW
OCCUPY MORE THAN 300 MOBILE HOMES AREN'T SUPPOSED TO BE HERE.
THEIR LEASE EXPIRED IN 2003. EVER SINCE THEN, THRAIRVE BEEN IN A LEGAL
TANGLE WITH THE CITY OF SAN DIEGO WHICH IS TRYING TO REMOVE THEM.
SCOTT CHIPMAN IS A MISSION BAY COMMUNITY ACTIVIST. HE SAYS THE MOBILE HOME RESIDENTS ARE LIVING
ON PRIME REAL ESTATE WHICH BELONGS NOT TO THEM, BUT TO ALL OF SAN DIEGO.
>> >>: THE IMPORTANT POINT HERE IS THE RIGHTS OF THE CITIZENS OF SAN DIEGO AND THE REASON
ARE BEING DENIED TO USE MISSION BAY PARK THE WAY IT WAS INTENDED BECAUSE WE'VE GOT PEOPLE
WHO HAVE PERMANENT HOUSING ON TIDE LANDS AND MISSION BAY PARK PROPERTY.
>> >>: MOST OF THE RESIDENTS OF DE ANZA COVE ARE ELDERLY, AND THEY ARE PAYING RENTS THAT
ARE FAR BELOW THE COMMERCIAL RATES YOU'D EXPECT OF WATER FRONT PROPERTY.
DESPITE THE MANY DISPUTE, RESIDENTS OF THE MOBILE HOME PARK HAD KNOWN FOR YEARS THEIR
LEASES WOULD END IN 2000 DLEE, WILLIAM RATHBONE A PRIVATE ATTORNEY REPRESENTING THE CITY SAYS
THE PLAN TO TERMINATE THE LEASE WAS SPELLED OUT IN A LONG TERM RENTAL AGREEMENT ESTABLISHED
IN THE 1980S. >> >>: EVERY RESIDENT WHO ENTERED THE PARK
AFTER THAT SIGNED A DOCUMENT INDICATING THAT THEY AGREED WITH THAT PROVISION.
>> >>TOM: ERNIE ABBOT WHO SERVES AS THE DE ANZA COVE HOME OWNERS RESIDENCY SAYS THEY
HAVE LIMITED OPTIONS OF WHERE THEY CAN MOVE. THE CITY HAS USED BULLYING TACTICS AND NOT
MET ITS OBLIGATION TO HOME OWNERS. >> >>: HAD WE BEEN TREATED JUSTLY AND PROPERLY
WE WOULD HAVE LEFT. >> >>TOM: FIVE YEARS AGO A DISTRICT COURT
JUDGE UP HELD THE LEASE EXPIRATION BUT RULED THE CITY COULD NOT EVICT DE ANZA RESIDENTS
BASED ON THE RENTAL AGREEMENT. STATE LAW GOVERNING MOBILE HOMES MUST DETERMINE
HOW MUCH MONEY IN THE FORM OF RELOCATION BENEFITS WOULD BE.
IT'SY ARE MAINING QUESTION. ASSUMING DE ANZA COVE IS TURNED BACK TO THE
CITY PARKS SYSTEM, THERE IS ONE OTHER QUESTION, WHAT WILL THE CITY DO WITH IT? THEY COULD
TURN IT BACK INTO GREEN SPACE AND PLAY GROUNDS, OR WILL THE CITY TRY TO LEASE THE LAND TO
A RESORT HOTEL LIKE THIS ONE THE MISSION BAY HILTON? IN FACT, THIS WAS THE GOAL OF THE
CITY THROUGHOUT MUCH OF THE 80S AND 90S. BILL GELFAN THE FORMER MANAGER OF THE DE ANZA
COVE MOBILE HOME PARK SAYS THE CITY'S DESIRE TO DEVELOP A HOTEL GOES BACK FURTHER THAN
THAT. >> >>: WHEN WE PURCHASED THE LEASE IN 1969,
THEY TOLD US THEY WANTED THE PROPERTY CONVERTED TO HO TELLS.
>> >>: THERE'S NOT A LOT OF TALK OF BUILDING HOTELS.
RECESSIONS HAVE PUT A DAMPER ON HOTEL FINANCING AND THE LIMITED LEASES THAT ARE ALLOWED ON
CALIFORNIA TIDE LANDS DISCOURAGE HOTELIERS FROM BILT BUILDING ON THE LAND.
ONE MAN WITH ANOTHER PLAN IS SCOTT CHIPMAN. HE HAS SPOKE WN AT LEAST TWO CITY COUNCIL
MEMBERS ABOUT CONVERTING DE ANZA COVE INTO AN EDUCATIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL JOINT USE PROJECT.
ITED WOULD INVOLVE EXPANDING GREEN SPACE ON THE SHORES OF DE ANZA COVE AND MOVING A NEARBY
CAMP SITE, CALLED CAMP LAND ACROSS RODE ROSE CREEK TO THE DE ANZA COVE PROPERTY.
THE PLAN WOULD TURN CAMP LAND INTO AN EXPANDED MARSH AND BIRD SANCTUARY.
CHIPMAN POINTS OUT HIS PLANÊ >> >>: THE CITY HAS AN OBLIGATION TO SETTLE
THIS AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. >> >>TOM: KEVIN FAULKNER SAYS HE AGREES.
>> >>: EVERY YEAR THAT LITIGATION CONTINUES IS ANOTHER YEAR THAT THAT PROPERTY IS NOT
OPEN FOR THE PUBLIC. AND THAT'S WHAT THAT PROPERTY NEEDS TO BE
OPEN FOR THE PUBLIC. >> >>TOM: LAWYERS IN THE CASE SAY EARLY NEXT
YEAR THE JUDGE WILL RENDER A RULING THAT SPELLS OUT THE RELOCATION BENEFITS FOR THE RESIDENTS
OF DE ANZA COVE, BUT THE CITY AND THE MOBILE HOME OWNERS ARE 50ÊMILLION DOLLARS APART
IN WHAT THEY WANT THOSE BENEFITS TO AMOUNT TO.
ERNIE ABBOT SAYS IF MOBILE HOME OWNERS THINK THE JUDGE'S DECISION SHORT CHANGES THEM THEY
WILL CONSIDER FILING AN APPEAL. >> >>: IF YOU APPEAL, THIS COULD GO ON FOR
YEARS TO COME. >> >>: IT COULD.
>> >>: AND THAT'S OKAY WITH YOU? >> >>: THAT'S FINE WITH ME.
I WILL STAY HERE AS LONG AS I HAVE TO AND WANT TO.
AND I DO WANTED TO. >> >>: SO THERE'S NO TELLING WHEN THE LEGAL
PROCESS WILL LOOSEN ITS GRIP ON DE ANZA COVE. >> >>PEGGY: IN TONIGHT'S PUBLIC SQUARE, WE'VE
ALREADY GOT FEEDBACK OF THE ON GOING LEGAL SCUFFLE OF A MOBILE HOME AT DE ANZA COVE IN
MISSION BAY. WHAT WOULD MARKET RATE BE.
KPBS REPORTER TOM FUDGE RESPONDED BY SAYING A ONE BEDROOM IN SAN DIEGO USUALLY RENTS FROM
ABOUT 700 TO 1400 A MONTH. BUT HE ADDED I THINK ANYONE WOULD AGREE WATER
FRONT AND NEAR WATER FRONT PROPERTY IN SAN DIEGO WOULD TYPICALLY GO FOR MORE THAN THAT.
THE USER SBCABAYO POSTED HIS CONCERNSÊ YOU CAN JOIN IN ON THIS CONVERSATION OR COMMENT
ON OTHER KPBS NEWS STORIES BY FOLLOWING US ON TWITTER, LIKING US ON FACEBOOK OR E MAIL
US AT PUBLIC SQUARE AT KPBS.ORG. >> >>DWANE: RECAPPING TONIGHT'S TOP STORIES,
TWO SAN DIEGANS WERE KILLED IN THE TUESDAY ATTACK ON THE U.S. EMBASSY IN BENGHAZI LIBYA.
FORMER NAVY SEAL TYRONE WOODS OF IMPERIAL BEACH, THE OTHER WAS 42 YEAR OLD GLEN DOUGHERTY
OF ENCINITAS. AND CALIFORNIA'S POWER GRID MANAGERS SAY THEY'RE
MAKING PLANS FOR ANOTHER SUMMER WITHOUT THE SAN ONOFRE NUCLEAR PLANT.
IT'S BEEN SHUT DOWN SINCE JANUARY BECAUSE OF EQUIPMENT PROBLEMS.
FEDERAL REGULATORS WILL HOLD A PUBLIC MEETING ABOUT THE PLANT NEXT MONTH.
AND YOU CAN FIND TONIGHT'S STORIES ON OUR WEBSITE, KPBS.ORG/EVENINGEDITION.
THE PBS NEWS HOUR IS COMING UP NEXT. THANKS FOR JOINING US.
YOU HAVE A GREAT NIGHT.