Thursday, June 21, 2012 - Evening Edition

>> >>PEGGY: TONIGHT ON KPBS EVENING EDITION THE GOVERNOR MAKE AS DEAL WITH STATE LAWMAKERS,
IT INCLUDES SOME BIG CHANGES IN SOCIAL SERVICES. >> >>JOANNE: IS SAN DIEGO ON THE ROAD TO RECOVERY
OR HALFWAY STALLED? ONE OF THE COUNTY'S TOP ECONOMISTS IS AT THE ROUND TABLE ALONG WITH
ANALYSIS OF LEJ LEGISLATION THAT WOULD CUT FOOD STAMPS OF FAMILIES AND THOSE IN THE MILITARY.
>> >>PEGGY: SOME CLOUD ONS THE HORIZON FOR SAN DIEGO'S SOLAR ENERGY INDUSTRY, AND IT'S
THE END OF THE LINE FOR A SAN DIEGAN WHO TOOK ON ONE OF THE TOUGHEST CHALLENGES IN SPORTS.
KPBS EVENING EDITION STARTS NOW. >> >>PEGGY: GOOD EVENING, THANKS FOR JOINING
US, I'M PEGGY PICO. CALIFORNIA UTILITY REGULATORS SAY THEY WILL
LAUNCH AN INVESTIGATION INTO THE TROUBLED SAN ONOFRE NUCLEAR POWER PLANT.
THE PLANT HAS BEEN SHUT DOWN FOR NEARLY FIVE MONTHS AFTER A BREAK IN A TUBE THAT CARRIES
RADIOACTIVE WATER. INVESTIGATORS LATER FOUND UNUSUAL WEAR ON
HUNDREDS OF THE TUBES RUNNING THROUGH THE PLANT'S STEAM GENERATORS. THE NUKE I'LL REGULATORY
COMMISSION SAYS A CHANGE IS TO BLAME. THE CHAIRMAN OF THE STATE PUBLIC UTILITIES
COMMISSION SAYS THE PANEL HAS EVERY INTENTION OF PROBING THE SAN ONOFRE SHUT DOWN AND ITS
POSSIBLE IMPACT ON ELECTRICITY RATES FOR POWER CUSTOMERS.
BUT HE SAYS THE PANEL NEEDS MORE TIME TO GATHER INFORMATION.
GOVERNOR JERRY BROWN AND DEMOCRATIC LAWMAKERS SAY THEY'VE MADE A DEAL TO BALANCE THE STATE
BUDGET IN A JOINT STATEMENT THEY SAY THE NEW SPENDING PLAN PROTECTS EDUCATION PERMANENTLY
REFORMS WELFARE, AND INCLUDES TOUGH ON GOING CUTS.
THE CHANGES INCLUDE A SHORTER TIME LINE FOR CAL WORK RECIPIENTS AND TO FIND JOBS, AND
THE HEALTHY FAMILIES PROGRAM WILL BE ELIMINATED BY SHIFTING MORE THAN 800,000 CHILDREN INTO
MEDI CAL. IT CUTS FUNDING FOR CHILD CARE ASSISTANCE
AND CAL GRANTS FOR COLLEGE. THE LEGISLATURE SCHEDULED TO VOTE NEXT WEEK.
THE NEW BUDGET DEPENDS ON PASSAGE OF GOVERNOR JERRY BROWN'S PROPOSED TAX INCREASE.
THAT MEASURE WASN'T INITIALLY QUALIFIED FOR THE NOVEMBER BALLOT UNTIL YESTERDAY.
THE BROWN INITIATIVE WOULD RAISE THE STATE SALES TAX BY A QUARTER SENT ON THE DOLLAR.
IT WOULD ALSO RAISE INCOME TAXES FOR INDIVIDUALS EARNING MORE THAN 250,000 DOLLARS A YEAR,
AND ON JOINT FILERS WHO MAKE MORE THAN 500,000 DOLLARS A YEAR.
A RIVAL TAX MEASURE WILL BE ON THE BALLOT ALSO PROMOTE BID CIVIL RIGHTS ATTORNEY MOLLY
MUNGER, IT WOULD RAISE INCOME TAX RATE EARNING ABOVE ABOUT 373,000 DOLLARS, USING A SLIDING
SCALE. A NEW REPORT SAYS HIGH SPEED RAIL MIGHT BE
A GOOD INVESTMENT FOR CALIFORNIA, BUT NOT LIKELY TO BENEFIT THE STATE'S ECONOMY.
AN ECONOMIST FOUND NO REAL EVIDENCE IN ECONOMIC GROWTH AS A RESULT OF THE SYSTEM IN JAPAN.
BECAUSE IT DOESN'T CARRY FREIGHT, THE CALIFORNIA HIGH SPEED RAIL AUTHORITY WOULD CREATE UP
TO 450,000 NEW PERMANENT AND STATE WIDE JOBS OVER THE NEXT 25 YEARS.
STATE LAW MAKERS ARE STILL CONSIDERING WHETHER TO ALLOCATE VOTER APPROVED BOND FUNDS.
THE MONEY WOULD BE GIN THE FIRST LEG OF THE NEARLY 70ÊBILLION DOLLAR RAIL PROJECT.
PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION USE IN SAN DIEGO IS UP HERE AND THROUGHOUT THE NATION.
ACCORDING TO THE AMERICAN PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION ASSOCIATION, A ONE CAR VERSUS TWO CAR HOUSE
HOLD SAVES ABOUT 10,000 DOLLARS A YEAR. AND EVERY PERSON WHO USES PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION
INSTEAD OF A CAR REDUCES CARBON EMISSIONS BY 20 POUND AS DAY.
THAT'S JUST A FEW OF THE REASONS TRANSIT RIDERS GAVE TODAY FOR CELEBRATING THE DUMP THE PUMP
DAY. TROLLEY, BUS.
COMMUNER TRAIN OR EVEN JUST WALKING, TODAY SAN DIEGANS JOINED IN THE SEVENTH ANNUAL NATIONAL
DUMP THE PUMP DAY BY DITCHING THEIR CARS FOR PUBLIC TRANSIT.
TOURISTS ERIC VINCENT AND HIS SON BRADLY USE PUBLIC TRANSIT EVERY TIME THEY VISIT SAN DIEGO.
>> >>: EVERY TIME I COME TO TOWN I TAKE THE TROLLEY BECAUSE IT'S A REAL EASY WAY TO GO
BASICALLY AROUND THE CITY. >> >>: I RIDE THE BUSES.
>> >>: BRADLY PREFERS SIVMENTD TROLLEY. >> >>PEGGY: HOW KM?
>> >>JOANNE: THEY'RE FASTER. YOU T.
>> >>PEGGY: CARL UH IS TAKING HER FIRST SOLO TROLLEY RIDE TODAY.
EVEN IF YOU HAVE A CAR, THE METROPOLITAN TRANSIT SYSTEM SAYS USING PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION HELPS
THE ENVIRONMENT AND SAVES CONSUMERS MONEY. >> >>: BY RIDING PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION YOU
CAN SAVE A LOT OF MONEY. SEVENTY TWO DOLLAR MONTHLY PASS AND 18 DOLLAR
SENIOR DISABLED PASS SO THAT SAVES YOU A LOT OF MONEY IN GATIONZ GAS AND PARKING PRICES.
>> >>PEGGY: IT'S EASY AND EVEN KIND OF FUN. >> >>: I LIKE IT, ACTUALLY, YEAH, BECAUSE
I DON'T KNOW, IT'S JUST CONVENIENCE, I GUESS. >> >>PEGGY: MTS AND SANDAG OFFER GIFT CARDS
AND OTHER INCENTIVES FOR THE DUMP THE PUMP DAY.
SAN DIEGO'S FULL COMPETITOR IN THE RACE ACROSS AMERICA HAS DROPPED OUT, MIKE WILLS EXPN HIS
CREW PULLED INTO A SMALL TOWN ON THE KANSAS PLANES.
RACE ACROSS AMERICA IS A BIKE RACE THAT MAY BE THE TOUGHEST ENDURANCE TEST IN ALL OF SPORT.
TOM FUDGE HAS BEEN FOLLOWING THE RACE AND TOM, HOW FAR DID MIKE GET AND WHY COULDN'T
HE GO ON? >> >>TOM: WELL, PEGGY, HE GOT TO A LITTLE
TOWN IN KANSAS WHICH IS CALLED YATES CENTER AND, IT WAS AT THAT POINT HE AND HIS CREW
PULLED INTO A PIZZA HUT RESTAURANT AND MADE THE DECISION HE SHOULD DROP OUT.
EXHAUSTION HAD TAKE AN TREMENDOUS TOLL ON HIM, AND HE WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO GET TO HIS
NEXT TIME POST, THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER TO STILL KNEE QUALIFIED TO CONTINUE IN THE RACE.
HE WAS BATTLING A VERY TOUGH CROSS WIND IN KANSAS, HAVING HIP PROBLEMS A FOOT INJURY,
SO THEY FIGURED IT WAS TIME TO STOP T.EVERY YEAR, ABOUT HALF OF THE PEOPLE WHO COMPETE
IN THE RACE ACROSS AMERICA DON'T FINISH, AND TODAY MIKE WILSON ENDED UP BEING ONE OF THOSE.
>> >>PEGGY: TOM T IS SUCH A TOUGH CONTEST. CAN YOU GIVE SOME DETAILS AS TO WHY IT IS
SO HARD? >> >>TOM: THE RACE ACROSS AMERICA BEGINS HERE
IN SAN DIEGO COUNTY AT THE OCEANSIDE PEER, AND GOES ALL THE WAY ACROSS THE COUNTRY TO
ANNAPOLIS MARYLAND. THE RULES ARE REALLY VERY SIMPLE.
THE FIRST PURSE TOON GET TO ANNAPOLIS WINS F.YOU CAN KEEP ON RIDING WITH NO BATH ROOM
BREAKS, WITHOUT STOPPING TO EAT, OR SLEEP, MORE POWER TO YOU.
SO OBVIOUSLY, THIS FORCES PEOPLE TO TRY TO KEEP GOING WITH AS LITTLE SLEEP AS POSSIBLE.
IT'S VERY DIFFICULT ON THE BODY, IT CAUSES INJURIES, IT CAUSES PEOPLE WHO DO IT TO BECOME
MENTALLY DISORIENTED BECAUSE THEY'RE SO EXHAUSTED AND THAT'S WHY THIS IS CONSIDERED BY A LOT
OF PEOPLE TO BE THE TOUGHEST SPORTING EVENT IN THE WORLD.
>> >>PEGGY: IT SOUND SAID ABSOLUTELY GRUELING. WILSON DIDN'T FINISH, BUT THERE WAS THING
THAT DID GO AS HE HAD PLANNED. >> >>TOM: YES, PICO, I HAVE TO WARN YOU THIS
IS WHERE THE STORY GETS A LITTLE BIT ROMANTIC. THERE IS A MEMBER OF HIS CREW WHO IS HIS GIRLFRIEND,
AND RAW, AND AFTER THEY STOPPED IN KANSAS, MIKE WILSON HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO ASK HER
A QUESTION, AND HERE WE'RE GOING TO HEAR WHAT HE HAS TO SAY.
>> >>: AFTERNOON IN A DIRTY PARKING LOT, I ASKED ANDREA IF SHE WOULD MARRY ME AND SHE
SAID YES. WE HAD HER ON NIGHT CREW, SO SHE HADN'T SLEPT
ALMOST AT ALL FOR THE ENTIRE RACE Y FIGURED MY ODDS WERE GREATEST AT THAT MOMENT.
>> >>TOM: I THINK THAT'S A GOOD LESSON FOR ALL OF US.
WHEN YOU WANT TO PROPOSE MARRIAGE, MAKE SURE SHE'S REALLY TIRED AND DOESN'T KNOW WHAT SHE'S
TALKING ABOUT. SO MIKE ACTUALLY WAS HOPING TO POP THE QUESTION
TO ANDREA ONCE THEY GOT TO THE FINISH LINE IN ANNAPOLIS, KANSAS WORKED AS WELL.
>> >>PEGGY: THERE ARE STILL SOME PEOPLE STILL RACING.
WHEN WILL THE RACE ACROSS AMERICA ACTUALLY BE COMPLETED?
>> >>TOM: IT'S GOING TO BE COMPLETE VERY SOON. THE LEADERS ARE A COUPLE OF INDIVIDUALS, ONE
NAMED RITO SCOCH FROM SWITZERLAND, AND CHRISTOPH STRASSER FROM AUSTRIA Y.CALL THEM THE ALPINE
TWINS. THEY ARE VERY, VERY CLOSE.
BOTH OF THEM HAVE CROSSED GETTYSBERG PENNSYLVANIA, AND WILL PROBABLY GET THERE BEFORE MIDNIGHT
TONIGHT. THEY'RE VERY CLOSE, ABOUT 30 MINUTES APART.
WE'LL HAVE TO WAIT AND SEE, WE'LL KNOW TOMORROW WHO WON THE RACE ACROSS AMERICA.
>> >>PEGGY: THAT'S KPBS REPORTER TOM FUDGE. SAN DIEGO FAMILIES TOOK A HIT IN THE 2008
FINANCIAL CRISIS THAT LEAD TO THE RECESSION AND MANY ARE STILL RECOVERING.
JOANNE TAKES A LOOK AT HOW THE REGION IS REBOUNDING OVER AT THE ROUND TABLE.
>> >>JOANNE: A STUDY BY THE SAN DIEGO REGIONAL CHAMBER OF COMMERCE FOUND THE WORST OF THE
RECESSION MAY BE OVER FOR SAN DIEGO, BUT IT WILL STILL TAKE SOME TIME FOR THE ECONOMY
TO RURVE R RETURN TO PRE RECESSION LEVELS. JOINING ME TO GIVE US A STATUS REPORT ON THE
ECONOMY IS MARNY COX, CHIEF OF COMMERCE SANDAG. DID THE REPORT GET IT RIGHT, IS OUR ECONOMY
LOOKING BETTER AND BRIGHTER? >> >>JENNIFER TRACY: I THINK IT'S HEADED IN
THE RIGHT DIRECTION, BUT I WOULDN'T GO SO FAR AS TO SAY WE'RE ON THE ROAD TO RECOVERY.
A GOOD WAY TO FINALIZE THAT WOULD BE WHAT RATE OF GROWTH WE NEED TO ACHIEVE BEFORE WE'RE
SURE THE ECONOMY WILL RECEIVE A PRE RECESSION LEVEL WITHIN A SPECIFIC PERIOD OF TIME.
THAT'S ABOUT AT THE NATIONAL LEVEL, A 3ÊPERCENT RATE OF GROWTH CONSISTENTLY YEAR AFTER YEAR,
LOCALLY IT'S ABOUT A 4 TO 5ÊPERCENT RATE OF GROWTH.
WE'RE RUNNING AT THE NATIONAL LEVEL, ONE TO TWO PIRS AND LOCALLY SUB 3.
WE'RE NOT ON THE ROAD TO RECOVERY QUITE YET, AND WE CAN'T BE SURE AT THE RATES WE ARE ACHIEVING,
THAT THEY'LL RETURN TO THE PRE RECESSION LEVELS OR ANY TIME SOON.
>> >>JOANNE: LET'S TALK ABOUT THE MEASURES. WHEN WE TALK ABOUT THE ECONOMY AND HOW WE
MEASURE T, WHAT ARE WE LOOKING AT? >> >>MARNEY COX: THE UNEMPLOYMENT RATE, RIGHT,
AND HOW IT'S DOING, HOW WE'RE ACHIEVING. A COUPLE THINGS STL, THE CHAIM CHAMBERS REPORT
MADE MENTION THE UNEMPLOYMENT RATE REES PTLY DECLINED SIGNIFICANTLY.
IT'S AN UNEMPLOYMENT RATE THAT'S THAT'S SIEGE NLY ADJUSTED.
EVERY YEAR AROUND THIS TIME, THE INDUSTRIES HIRE PEOPLE.
IF YOU GO BACK THIS HAPPENS EVERY YEAR AT THIS TIME.
SO YOU HAVE TO BE CARE THAT MAJOR MOVEMENTS IN THE UNEMPLOYMENT RATE AREN'T A FUNCTION
OF SOMETHING THAT OCCURS EVERY YEAR. ANOTHER EXAMPLE MIGHT BE THE LENGTH OF TIME
THAT SAN DIEGO'S UNEMPLOYMENT RATE HAS BEEN BELOW THE NATION.
SAN DIEGO I THINK BENEFITS AS WELL AS ORANGE COUNTY FROM A UNIQUE CONDITION.
A LOT OF THE PEOPLE WHO WERE EMPLOYED IN SAN DIEGO AND LOST THEIR JOBS WERE LIVING IN RIVERSIDE
OR MEXICO, THEY BECOME UNEMPLOYED AND GO HOME, WHERE THEY'RE COUNTED AS OPPOSED TO LEER IN
SAN DIEGO. BOTH ORANGE COUNTY AND SAN DIEGO'S UNEMPLOYMENT
RATE HAS BEEN BELOW THE NATIONAL LEVEL FOR THOSE TWO REASONS.
>> >>JOANNE: I NOTICED IN THE REPORT WHERE WE SAW JOB GROWTH AND WHERE WE SAW JOB LOSS.
I WAS A LITTLE SURPRISED TO SEE THAT IT SAID STATE AND LOCAL JOBS WERE INCREASED WHEREAS
FEDERAL JOBS DECREASED IN THE PUBLIC SECTOR. REALLY, AN INCREASE IN STATE AND LOCAL JOBS?
>> >>MARNEY COX: YEAH, THE STATE AND LOCAL JOBS ALLOT OF THOSE ARE TEACHERS, RIGHT? SO
AGAIN YOU'RE GOING TO SEE INCREASES THERE AT CERTAIN POINTS IN TIME.
SUMMER TIME YOU'RE GOING TO SEE DECREASES, AGAIN YOU HAVE TO GO BACK TO SEASONAL ADJUSTMENT.
ANOTHER PART OF JOB GROWTH WE NEED TO LOOK AT HERE, IS THAT THE JOB GROWTH HAS RECENTLY
OCCURRED, FOR EXAMPLE IN THE FIRST QUARTER, THEY MAKE A BIG DEAL OUT OF YEAR OR YEAR BEING
ABOUT 9,000 JOBS OR SO. LAST YEAR, 2011, WE WERE TRACKING AT ABOUT
20,000 JOB INCREASE. EACH YEAR, THE EMPLOYMENT DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT,
THE KEEPER OF THE NUMBERS SURVEYS BUSINESSES AT THE END OF THE YEAR, USUALLY MARCH, AND
ASKS HOW THE YEAR WENT. AND WHEN THE NUMBERS CAME BACK, WE ACTUALLY
WERE ONLY UP 8,400 JOBS INSTEAD OF 20,000 JOBS.
DURING THE THIRD QUARTER WE SAW NEGATIVE EMPLOYMENT, ACTUALLY LOST JOBS.
BUT YOU NEVER READ THAT ANYWHERE. SO THIS NEXT YEAR, MARCH OF 2013, WHEN THE
2012 NUMBERS ARE REVISED I EXPECT THE SAME THING, WHAT LOOKS LIKE A ROSY OUT PUT TODAY
WILL BE LESS THAN BY THE TIME THOSE ARE ADJUSTED. >> >>JOANNE: I WANT TO TOUCH ON THE HOUSING
MARKET. I THINK FOR A LOT OF PEOPLE WE TEND TO MEASURE
OUR OWN PERSONAL WEALTH RELATIVE TO HOW OUR HOUSE PRICE IS.
WHAT DOES THE HOUSING MARKET LOOK LIKE? >> >>MARNEY COX: I THINK IT IS STABILIZED.
I'M STILL EXPECTING SOMEWHERE AROUND ZERO TO THREE TO FIVE PERCENT DECLINE FOR HOME
PRICES OVERALL FOR THIS YEAR, BUT THE MOST RECENT INDICATORS SHOW THAT HOME PRICES PR
BEGINNING TO PICK UP A LITTLE BIT ABOVE LAST YEAR'S LEVEL.
SO I MAY BE WRONG, BUT THE GROWTH RATE IN HOME PRICES WILL PROBABLY BE RELATIVELY SMALL,
ONE OR TWO PERCENT, SOMEWHERE IN THERE. THE IMPORTANT THING IS WE HAVEN'T MADE ANY
HEADWAY AT ALL ON THE EQUITY COMPONENT. A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE STILL UNDER WATER, DON'T
HAVE NEAR THE EQUITY THEY DID BEFORE THE RECESSION STARTED.
THAT HAS A TENDENCY TO WAY ON PEOPLE'S EXPENDITURE PATTERNS, HOW COMFORTABLE ARE THEY THEY'LL
HAVE CUSHION TO FALL BACK IN TERMS OF HOME EQUITY.
I THINK THAT KEEPS CONSUMPTION EXPENDITURES LOW PEOPLE FEAR NOT HAVING EQUITY IN THEIR
HOME. >> >>JOANNE: I WANT TO SEND PEOPLE TO KPBS.ORG,
WE HAVE LINKS TO THIS REPORT AND A MUCH LONGER CONVERSATION WITH YOU FROM MID DAY TODAY.
>> >>PEGGY: IT'S HARD NOT TO PANIC WHEN YOU THINK OF A BABY WHO CAN'T BREATHE, BUT THAT'S
EXACTLY WHAT DOCTORS ARE TRYING TO AVOID IN THIS PRACTICE SCENARIO.
THIS ISN'T A REAL BABY, IT'S A ROBE OUGHT, ONE THAT'S SO REALISTIC, DOCTORS AND OTHER
MEDICAL WORKERS USE IT TO LEARN WHAT TO DO IN A REAL EMERGENCY.
RADY CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL IN SAN DIEGO IS ONE OF THE FIRST HOSPITALS IN THE NATION TO HAVE
THIS SIM BABY. >> >>: THE STUDENTS OR THE TRAINEE WHO'S LEARNING
THIS IS AS REAL AS IT'S GOING TO BE, SO WHEN THEY GET INTO THAT REAL LIFE SITUATION, THEY
ARE RED A TO DO WHAT THEY NEED TO DO. >> >>PEGGY: THE SIM BABY COSTS $40,000, RADY
ISN'T KEEPING THE TECHNOLOGY TO ITSELF. SIM BABY WILL BE SHARED WITH OTHER HOSPITALS
TO TRAIN THEIR DOCTORS AND NURSES AS WELL. >> >>JOANNE: AS WE TOLD YOU EARLIER THIS WEEK
MORE MILITARY FAMILIES ARE USING FOOD STAMPS TO BUY GROCERIES ON BASE, THAN IN THE PAST.
IRONICALLY, REPUBLICAN, AND DEMOCRATIC LAW MAKERS ARE TRYING TO CUT LAW STAMPS TO REDUCE
CUTS FOR MILITARY SPENDING. JENNIFER TRACEY, EXECUTIVE DIRECTER OF THE
SAN DIEGO COALITION FOR HUNGER. LET'S TALK ABOUT FOOD STAMPS RIGHT NOW.
WE KNOW THE NUMBERS ARE UP, ON MILITARY BASES, AND OFF MILITARY BASES.
WE'RE GOING TO SHOW THE NUMBERS FOR THE PEOPLE AT HOME RIGHT NOW IN TERMS OF FOOD STAMP USE.
IS THIS FOR OBVIOUS REASONS, PEOPLE LOSING JOBS?
>> >>JENNIFER TRACY: THIS PROGRAM IS DOING EXACTLY WHAT IT WAS MEANT TO DO.
AS THE ECONOMY GOES DOWN, THE PROGRAM EXPANDS TO MEET THE NEEDS, CHILDREN DON'T GO HUNGRY,
WORKING PEOPLE HAVE FOOD TO EAT UNTIL THEY ARE EMPLOYED AGAIN.
THIS PROGRAM EXPANDS FOR NOW, BUT WHAT THE PROJECTIONS SHOW OVER THE NEXT 10 YEARS THIS
PROGRAM IS GOING TO CONTRACT AGAIN. WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE INFLATION ADJUSTED NUMBERS,
THERE'S A STEEP DECLINE IN PARTICIPATION OVER THE NEXT 10 YEARS ALL THE WAY DOWN TO NUMBERS
BEFORE THE RECESSION. >> >>JOANNE: OF COURSE THE CRITICISM POLITICALLY
HAS BEEN WE HAVE A FOOD STAMP PRESIDENT, THE NUMBERS ARE UP WHILE HE'S PRESIDENT.
IN TERMS OF MILITARY USE, IS THIS REAL A REFLECTION OF HOW LITTLE PEOPLE IN THE MILITARY ARE PAID,
THAT THEY NEED TO GET FOOD STAMPS? >> >>JENNIFER TRACY: PEOPLE WHO QUALIFY FOR
THE PROGRAM EARN LESS THAN A HUNDRED AND 30ÊPERCENT OF THE POVERTY LINE.
THAT'S A VERY LOW NUMBER. THERE'S A LESS THAN TWO PERCENT RATE OF FRAUD
IN THIS PROGRAM, AND THAT INCLUDES WORK ERROR. SO THE VAST MAJORITY OF PEOPLE WHO GET THESE
BENEFITS ARE ELIGIBLE. >> >>JOANNE: SO WHO WANTS TO CUT THIS PROGRAM?
>> >>JENNIFER TRACY: YOU KNOW, UNFORTUNATELY, THIS VOTE THIS YEAR WAS VOTED ON BY BOTH DEMOCRATS
AND REPUBLICANS TO ELIMINATE A $4.5ÊBILLION FROM THE SNAP PROGRAM, FEDERALLY, IT'S CAL
FRESH IN CALIFORNIA. SO WHAT WE'D REALLY LIKE TO SEE IS MEMBERS
OF CONGRESS REFLECT WHAT THE GALLOP POLLS SHOW AND WHAT AMERICANS CARE ABOUT, THEY DON'T
WANT TO SEE KIDS, FAMILIES OR SENIORS GOING HUNGRY.
WE'D LIKE TO SEE OUR LEGISLATURE STAND UP FOR THE AMERICANS SO THE BUDGET REFLECTS THE
NEEDS FOR OUR COMMUNITY. >> >>JOANNE: IN TERMS OF CUTS, DOES IT MEAN
FEWER PEOPLE ARE ELIGIBLE, OR THE PEOPLE ELIGIBLE WILL GET LESS MONEY?
>> >>JENNIFER TRACY: THEY'LL GET LESS MONEY. IN CALIFORNIA THIS WILL AFFECT OVER A HUNDRED
THOUSAND FAMILIES AND THEY'LL GET ANYWHERE FROM 42 TO 90,000 DOLLARS TAKEN FROM THEIR
EXISTING BENEFITS. WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE SITUATION PEOPLE ARE
IN NOW, THE BENEFITS USUALLY LAST ABOUT THREE WEEKS, AND SO THAT MEANS THAT FOR THE FIRST
THREE WEEKS THEY HAVE ACCESS TO FOOD, MORE LIKELY TO PURCHASE HEALTHY FOOD.
WHAT THE RESEARCH HAS SHOWN IS THAT FOR EVERY DOLLAR ADDITIONAL THEY GET IN BENEFITS THEY'RE
MORE LIKELY TO PURCHASE HEALTHY FOOD. WE'RE GOING TO HAVE AN EXACERBATION OF OTHER
PROBLEMS RELATED TO OBESITY AND DIABETES. >> >>JOANNE: CAN YOU GIVE US AN EXAMPLE OF
A A FAMILY FOUR OF WHAT BENEFITS ARE PER MONTH? >> >>JENNIFER TRACY: IN CALIFORNIA THE AVERAGE
BENEFIT PER PERSON IS ABOUT $160 PER MONTH, PER FAMILY IT'S 250 A MONTH.
>> >>JOANNE: WHICH COULD GO DOWN. >> >>JENNIFER TRACY: WHICH WOULD GO DOWN.
YOU CAN IMAGINE FOR THE AVERAGE HOUSE HOLD SIZE, ABOUT TWO TO THREE PEOPLE TO BE DOWN
TO LESS THAN 200 DOLLARS A MONTH FOR FOOD GOING TO PUT A SERIOUS BURDEN ON THEM, AND
YOU'RE GOING TO SEE THINGS LIKE PARENTS WHO HAVE TO SKIP MEALS SO KIDS CAN EAT, KIDS WHO
DON'T EAT OVER THE WEEKEND, SENIORS WHO HAVE MORE HEALTH RELATED PROBLEMS.
>> >>JOANNE: THIS PROPOSED CUT IS GOING THROUGH THE LEGISLATIVE PROCESS.
DO WE KNOW HERE IN CALIFORNIA HOW OUR LEGISLATURES HAVE VOTED SO FAR?
>> >>JENNIFER TRACY: BOTH FEINSTEIN AND BOXER VOTED AGAINST THE CUT, AND 29 LEADERS FROM
THE CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION SENT A LETTER IN SUPPORT THE SNAP PROGRAM.
THEY KNOW THIS PROGRAM IS REALLY IMPORTANT FOR FAMILIES AND LOCAL ECONOMY.
THE MONEY THAT COMES IN, THE LOW INCOME, AND HARD WORK FAMILIES HELP OUR LOCAL BUSINESSES,
MAKE A DIFFERENCE FOR THEM, AND HELPS ALL OF US, BECAUSE IT MAKES SURE OUR ECONOMY IS
STABLE. >> >>JOANNE: THERE IS THE MULTIPLIER FACT,
RIGHT? FOR EVERY DOLLAR SPENT SEVERAL TIMES MORE IN TERMS OF BENEFITS.
>> >>JENNIFER TRACY: ABOUT A DOLLAR 73. THEY HAVE TO BUY FOOD, SO NIEPT% OF BENEFITS
ARE SPENT WITHIN 30 DAYS. >> >>JOANNE: JENNIFER TRACEY, THANK YOU.
I WANT TO SEND PEOPLE TO KPBS.ORG, WE HAVE A LOT MORE LINKS AND INFORMATION ABOUT THIS
ISSUE. >> >>PEGGY: TYPICALLY THE SUN SHINES BRIGHTLY
ON SAN DIEGO SOLAR POWER INDUSTRY. THE STATE'S TOP SOLAR CITY, AND THE AMOUNT
OF ELECTRICITY CREATED BY SOUL NR STATIONS WILL GROW DRAMATICALLY IN THE COMING MONTHS.
HOWEVER, KPBS ENVIRONMENT REPORTER ERIK ANDERSON SAYS THERE ARE CLOUDS ON THE HORIZON.
>> >>ERIK: THIS SOLAR POWER PROJECT IN LA JOLLA IS TYPICAL FOR A COMMERCIAL SOLAR INSTALLATION.
PANELS WILL COVER MUCH OF THE ROOF OF THIS NEW FEDERAL OFFICE BUILDING THAT WILL HOUSE
THE SOUTH WEST MARINE FISHERY SERVICE. CONSTRUCTION FOREMAN SAYS THESE RAILS ON THE
ROOF WILL EVENTUALLY SUPPORT MORE THAN 800 FOAT TOE PANELS.
>> >>: A LOT OF NUTS AND BOLTS. WE GROUND THEM HERE, ALL THE MODULES TO THE
SPARS, AND FROM HERE, THEY GO AHEAD AND DAIRY THEM OVER AND SET THEM IN PLACE.
>> >>ERIK: THESE SOLAR PANELS ARE SITTING UP.
WHEN THEY'RE OPERATING, THEY'RE GOING TO LAY DOWN, FLAT ON THIS ROOF, AND WILL GENERATE
ENOUGH POWER FOR ABOUT 150 HOMES. >> >>: AS WE BUILD IT FROM THAT SIDE OVER,
THE ENTIRE ROOF AREA IS GOING TO BE COVERED. THERE WILL BE SPACE AROUND IT SHOW SO THE
SYSTEM CAN BE SERVICED FOR THE MOST PART IT'S COMPLETELY COVERED.
>> >>ERIK: DAN SULLIVAN IS PRESIDENT. THE LOCAL COMPANY GOT INTO THE BUSINESS ABOUT
EIGHT YEARS U AGO AND HAS GROWN PRETTY RAPIDLY SINCE THERE.
THE COMPANY DOES SIX TO EIGHT INSTALLATIONS A WEEK, RANGING FROM SMALL RESIDENTIAL PROJECTS
TO LARGE COMMERCIAL SCALE EFFORTS LIKE THIS ONE.
>> >>: IN THE BEGINNING, PRICES WERE BETWEEN EIGHT AND TEN DOLLARS PER WATT INSTALLED,
NOW PRICES ARE 4 AND SIX DOLLARS PER WATT INSTALLED.
THERE'S BEEN A SUBSTANTIAL DECLINE IN COST. >> >>ERIK: A HOME OWNER LOOKING TO ZERO OUT
A 160 DOLLAR A MONTH ELECTRIC BILL WOULD INSTALL 460 SQUARE FEET OF PANELS.
SOLE SULLIVAN PUTS THE COST AFTER INCENTIVES AND TAX CREDITS AT ABOUT 19,000 DOLLARS.
BUT NOT ALL HOME OWNERS PAY THAT UP FRONT COST.
>> >>: SEVENTY FIVE% OF ALL NEW SYSTEMS SOLD IN THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA, ARE NOT OWNED
BY THE CUSTOMERS, THE GUY PAYING THE ELECTRIC BILL.
IT'S OWNED BY A THIRD PARTY FINANCIER RGS THEN THEY MAKE MONTHLY PAYMENTS LESS THAN
THE COST OF ELECTRICITY. >> >>ERIK: THE SOLAR MARKET PLACE HAS CHANGED
DRAMATICALLY. MANAGING DIRECTOR PETER HAMILTON SAYS THAT
CHANGE HAS HAPPEN QUICKLY. >> >>: FIVE YEARS AGO, MANY OF THE PEOPLE
GOING SOLAR WERE DOING SO BECAUSE IT WAS THE RIGHT THING TO DO THEY WANTED TO GO GREEN,
THEY WERE LOOKING AT VERY HEFTY CAPITAL INVESTMENTS, 50, 70,000 DOLLARS WITH LIMITED FINANCING
OPTIONS. >> >>ERIK: HAMILTON SAYS THE HIGH COST KEPT
THE MARKET SMALL, THEN PRICES STARTED FALLING AND THE COST OF ELECTRICITY WENT UP.
>> >>: YOU HAVE NOW SOME CUSTOMERS WHO MAY NOT EVEN CARE ABOUT GOING GREEN, MAY NOT CARE
ABOUT HAVING PANELS ON THEIR HOUSE OR NOT, BUT THEY'RE DOING IT FOR THE ECONOMIC BENEFIT.
>> >>ERIK: ISSUES REMAIN. CALIFORNIA REGULATORS RESTRICT THE NUMBER
OF PEOPLE WHO CAN SELL THEIR SOLAR GENERATED POWER BACK TO THE UTILITY.
HOME OWNERSHIP RATES ARE BELOW AVERAGE IN SAN DIEGO, LIMITING WHO CAN INSTALL A SOLAR
SYSTEM, AND WHAT PENCILS OUT ECONOMICALLY TODAY MAY NOT TOMORROW.
EVEN SO, SAN DIEGO GATION GAS AND ELECTRIC SAYS SOME MAJOR SOLAR FARMS ARE POISED TO
COME ONLINE SOON. >> >>: THE GROWTH IN THE FIRST YEAR OF WHAT
COMES ON NEXT YEAR FOR THE FIRST CENTRAL STATION WILL BE LARGER THAN ALL THE ROOF TOPS WE'VE
DONE IN THE LAST TEN YEARS. WE'LL BE ADDING ONE SEVERAL MONTHS.
>> >>PEGGY: THAT WAS KPBS ENVIRONMENT REPORTER ERIK ANDERSON.
IF THE CURRENT TRENDS CONTINUE, SOLAR RAYS COULD GENERATE CLOSE TO 10% OF THE REGION'S
POWER IN THE NEXT FEW YEARS. RIGHT NOW 2ÊPERCENT OF THE REGIONS POWER.
IN FULL INTEREST IN THE INTEREST OF FULL DISCLOSURE, SULLIVAN SOLAR IS A FUNDER OF KPBS.
>> >>JOANNE: TONIGHT IN THE PUBLIC SQUARE, A LOT OF DISCUSSION ON TWITTER THIS WEEK ABOUT
REMOVING THE CHARLES LINDBERGH MURAL FROM THE AIRPORT.
SETH HALL STARTED THE CONVERSATION
BY TWEETING: >> >>JOANNE: THEN ROBERT PINK CHIMED IN, THE
FORM ARTS CRITIC FOR UT SAN DIEGO: >> >>JOANNE: TELL US WHAT YOU THINK.
YOU CAN SEE THE LINDBERGH IMAGE AT KPBS.ORG/CULTURE LUST OR SEND ME AN E MAIL AT JFARYON@KPBS.ORG
OR POST OR COMMENT ON TWITTER OR FACEBOOK. >> >>PEGGY: YOU CAN FIND OUR STORIES ON KPBS.ORG/EVENING
EDITION. THANK YOU FOR JOINING US, AND HAVE A GREAT
EVENING.