San Diego Week: July 29, 2011

FROM THE KPBS STUDIOS THIS IS SAN DIEGO WEEK.
HELLO. THANK YOU FOR JOINING US. TONIGHT WE WILL TELL YOU WHAT IS AT STAKE FOR SAN DIEGO
IF WASHINGTON DIDN'T REACH A DEBT CEILING COMPROMISE AND WE SPEAK TO ONE OF OUR LOCAL
MEMBERS OF CONGRESS.
THE SAN DIEGO CITY COUNCIL HAS THROWN OUT THE NEW RULES FOR MEDICAL MARIJUANA CLINICS
SO WHAT HAPPENS NEXT?
ALSO WHY A MUSEUM DIRECTOR IS AT THE CENTER OF A GOVERNMENT CORRUPTION DEBATE.
AND A YOUNG JOCKEY WHO IS A RISING STAR AND HASN'T GRADUATED HIGH SCHOOL YET.
FIRST THE TOP STORIES.
FROM THE NEWS CENTER.
THE SAN DIEGO ASSOCIATION OF GOVERNMENTS IS BUYING THE 125 TOLL ROAD. THE AGENCY IS PAYING
$345 MILLION TO BUY THE LEASE FOR THE TEN MILE STRETCH FROM OTO IM MESA TO THE SWEET
WATER R ESIVOIR.
SAN DIEGO IS GOING BACK TO SQUARE ONE TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO REGULATE MEDICAL MARIJUANA COLLECTIVES,
ON MONDAY THE CITY COUNCIL REPEALED THE RULES THAT HAD APPROVED IN APRIL. CRITICS IGNORED
IT'S OWN TASK FORCE WHEN IT PASSED THE RULES AND GATHERED ENOUGH SIGNATURES TO PUT THE
MATTER ON THE BALLOT. THE COUNCIL VOTE MEANS THERE ARE NO LEGAL GUIDELINES FOR THE 160
COLLECTIVES IN SAN DIEGO. ? SAN DIEGO'S INDEX OF LEADING CATERS DROPPED IN JUNE FOR THE
FIRST TIME IN 27 MONTHS. THE UNIVERSITY OF SAN DIEGO ECONOMIST BASES IT ON SIX DIFFERENT
FIGURES RANGING FROM BOILED BUILDING PERMITS TO HELP WANTED ADDS. I SAID THERE WAS ANIS
CREASE IN ADDS. HE SAID THE DIP IS WORRY SOME BUT HE WON'T CALL IT A PATTERN UNTIL HE SEES
THREE MONTHS OF LOSSES.
A MENTAL CHECK HAS BEEN ORDERED FOR A MAN ACCUSED OF KILLING HIS MOTHER AND SISTER.
FUNERAL SERVICES WERE HELD FOR THE VICTIMS ON THURSDAY. THE MOTHER, A 52-YEAR-OLD DONNA
WILLIAMS WAS A SAN DIEGO POLICE DETECTIVE. HER 18-YEAR-OLD DAUGHTER HAD BEEN A STAR SOFTBALL
PLAYER.
THE UNITED STATES NAVY HAS REVOKED A SILVER STAR AWARDED TO A FORM ERA SIFT ISN'T SECRETARY
OF THE NAVY FROM SAN DIEGO. WADE SAND EARS PLED GUILTY TO POSSESSION OF CHILD PORN. THE
AWARD WAS REVOKED LAST AUGUST BUT WOULDN'T GIVE DETAILS ABOUT WHY IT DID IT. THE ACTION
WAS REVEALED THIS WEEK IN A LEAK TO THE ASSOCIATED PRESS.
INVESTIGATORS SAY AN ARSONIST STARTED A FIRE THAT'S BEEN BURNING FOR A WEEK. THE EAGLE
FIRE BURNS MORE THAN 14,000 ACRES AND FORCED THE CLOSURE OF SOME AREAS OF THE STATE PARK.
TWO OUT BUILDINGS WERE DESTROYED, OFFICIALS WITH CAL FIRES SAID THEY WILL HAVE TO CONTAINED
BY SATURDAY.
A POWERFUL RIP CURRENT MADE IT SCARY FOR SWIMMERS THIS WEEK. THE BEACH WAS BACK TO NORMAL, BY
FRIDAY BUT PART WAS CLOSED THURSDAY AFTER THE CURRENT SWEPT ABOUT A HUNDRED PEOPLE OUT
INTO DEEP WATER. LIFEGUARDS CALL IT A FLASH RIP AND SAY A DEEP WATER CANYON OFF SHORE
MAY BE A CAUSE.
THERE IS THE IDEA THAT THE CURRENTS ARE AFFECTED BY THE CANYON, ESPECIALLY WHEN THE WATER TEMPERATURE
CHANGES AND THINGS CHANGE DURING THE SUMMER.
26 SWIMMERS WERE RESCUED.
A HUGE LOAD OF LOW LEVEL RADIOACTIVE JUNK IS ABOUT TO BE TAKEN FROM THE POWER PLANT.
A CARGO HALLER WILL TAKE A STEAM GENERATOR UP TO A SITE IN UTAH. THE WASTE DOESN'T POSE
A THREAT TO THE PUBLIC AND TO PROVE THE POINT COMPANY SPOKESMAN SPOKE TO US WHILE STANDING
JUST A FEW FEET FROM THE GENERATOR.
YOU COULD STAND RIGHT WHERE WE ARE FOR AN HOUR AND RECEIVE NO MORE RADIATION THAN A
NORMAL DENTAL XRAY. YOU COULD WEAR A RADIATION BADGE THAT WE WEAR INSIDE THE PLANT. IF YOU
LIVE ON THE ROUTE IT WOULD MEASURE ZERO. THOSE IN HOMES AND BUSINESSES NEAR THE ROUTE WILL
RECEIVE NO RADIATION AT ALL.
THE UTILITY ISN'T SAYING WHEN THE GENERATOR WILL BE MOVED, ONLY THAT IT'LL HAPPEN LATE
AT NIGHT. THERE WILL BE FOUR SHIP SHIPMENTS IN ALL.
ALL THE WAY FROM WASHINGTON TO SAN DIEGO, THE DEBATE OVER RAISING THE DEBT CEILING HAS
DOMINATED THE CONVERSATION THIS WEEK. THINGS ARE CHANGING BY HOUR IN WASHINGTON BUT THE
BOTTOM LINE AS OF LATE THIS AFTERNOON THE DEMOCRATS AND REPUBLICANS CANNOT FREE ON A
COMPROMISE TO RAISE THE CEILING LEAVING A WEEKEND OF GREAT WORRY FOR MANY PEOPLE WHETHER
THEY ARE WATCHING THE STOCK MARKET OR COUNTING ON GOVERNMENT CHECKS. WHAT'S AT STAKE HERE
BUT FIRST, WE WILL HEAR FROM OUR MEMBERS OF CONGRESS. .
CONGRESSWOMAN SUSAN DAVIS A DEMOCRAT AS EXPECTED DID NOT SUPPORT THE BILL TODAY. I SPOKE WITH
HER EARLIER. SHE SAID HER OFFICE HAS BEEN FLOODED CALLS FROM PEOPLE. I ASKED HER WHAT
THEY HAVE BEEN SAYING.
WELL, I THINK MY PEOPLE AND I THINK PEOPLE ACROSS THE COUNTRY ARE TELLING PEOPLE TO DO
IT. TO MAKE CERTAIN THAT THEY RAISE THE DEBT LIMIT AND FIX THE PROBLEM. IT HAS GOTTEN QUITE
SERIOUS AND WE KNOW THAT PEOPLE ARE COUNTING ON US TO COME TOGETHER AND TO DEVELOP A SOLUTION
THAT WILL WORK FOR THE AMERICAN PEOPLE AND I THINK THAT IS WHAT WE REALLY HAVE TO DO.
PEOPLE SAY THAT WE ARE ALL IN THIS TOGETHER AND THEY WANT US TO FIND COMMON GROUND WHERE
WE DID AND WHERE WE CAN'T TO UNDERSTAND THAT IN THESE SITUATIONS YOU DON'T ALWAYS GET WHAT
YOU WANT. UNFORTUNATELY I THINK THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO HAVE COME HERE TO CONGRESS
LATELY WHO JUST DON'T SEEM TO UNDERSTAND THAT AND ARE NOT WILLING OR EVEN INTERESTED.
I THINK THERE ARE SOME PEOPLE WHO MAY SPIN THAT AROUND ON YOU OR THE DEMOCRATS AND SAY
WHY NOT JUST HOLD YOUR NOSE AND SUPPORT THE REPUBLICAN PLAN?
WELL I THINK RIGHT NOW THAT WHAT THE MARKETS ARE BE LOOKING FOR, THEY WANT TO SEE THAT
THEY CAN HAVE SOME PREDICTABILITY AND WHAT WE WOULD GIVE THEM WITH THE BAYNOR BILL IS
NO PREDICTABILITY AT ALL. THE CREDIT RATING AGENCIES ARE VERY CONCERNED THAT IF WE DON'T
HAVE A REAL PLAN, IT'S GOING TO LAST FOR A WHILE THAT THEY WILL NOT BE ABLE TO HAVE THIS
KIND OF CERTAINTY. BUSINESS WON'T BE ABLE TO RELY ON IT OR PEOPLE. THE OTHER THING THAT'S
CRITICAL IN THE BILL THAT'S BEFORE US RIGHT NOW THAT IS BEING DISCUSSED IS THAT THERE
IS ANOTHER --A KIND OF STEP TWO OF HOSTAGE TAKING AFTER THE SIX MONTH PERIOD AND I DON'T
THINK THAT'S HELPFUL TO THE COUNTRY.
AS YOU KNOW THERE ARE SO MANY PEOPLE HERE IN SAN DIEGO WHO WILL BE AFFECTED BY THIS.
WE HAVE SENIORS EXPECTING THEIR SOCIAL SECURITY CHECKS, VETS ON DISABILITY AND A NUMBER OF
BUSINESSES WHO DO BUSINESS WITH THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AND THEY ARE LOOKING TO THEIR REPRESENTATIVES
AND BLAMING YOU. THEY ARE SAYING LOOK, YOU GOT US INTO THIS MESS TO START WITH. WHAT
DO YOU SAY TO THEM?
I CAN UNDERSTAND. I FEEL THEIR FRUSTRATION ALSO. I HAVE SEEN SEVERAL TIMES WHERE WE WERE
VERY CLOSE TO SOMETHING THAT I THINK WAS --CONSIDERED A BIG DEAL, A WAY OF TRYING TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM
IN THE SHORT RUN AND THEN MOVE TOWARD A PATH OF SOLVING IT DOWN THE LINE. YOU KNOW AROUND
SPENDING CUTS AND ALSO DEALING THE DEFICIT, AT THE SAME TIME DOING WHAT IS BEST I THINK
TO PRESERVE THE AMERICAN DREAM FOR PEOPLE.
WE HAVE GOT ABOUT 20 SECONDS LEFT. WHAT DO YOU THINK WILL HAPPEN THIS WEEKEND?
I THINK THAT WE ARE GOING TO FIND A WAY TO RAISE THE CEILING AND I THINK TO DEAL WITH
A PLAN FOR MOVING FORWARD. IN THE END I'M HOPEFUL THAT PEOPLE WILL DECIDE THAT IS IN
THE BEST INTEREST OF THE AMERICAN PEOPLE.
THANK YOU CONGRESSWOMAN DAVIS FOR SPEAKING WITH US.
NOW WE ASKED ALL FIVE MEMBERS OF SAN DIEGO'S CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION WHERE THEY STAND
ON THIS ISSUE AND WANT TO SHOW YOU WHAT THEY SAID. LET'S START WITH REPUBLICAN DARRYL ISSA.
ALL WEEK HE HAS SUPPORTED THE MAJORITY HOUSE SPEAKER'S PLAN AND WE KNOW LATE TODAY THAT
PLAN WAS APPROVED BY THE HOUSE BUT ISN'T EXPECTED TO BE APPROVED BY THE SENATE. LET'S MOVE ON,
ALSO TO ANOTHER REPUBLICAN, AND THAT'S BRIAN BILLBRAY. WHAT HE SAID IS THAT HE BELIEVES
THAT THIS DEBATE IS REALLY MORE THAN JUST ABOUT RAISING THE DEBT LIMIT. HE IS WORRIED
ABOUT WASHINGTON'S SPENDING OF COURSE THAT'S WHAT WE HAVE BEEN HEARING FROM REPUBLICANS
THROUGHOUT THE DEBATE AND ALSO REPRESENTATIVE HUNTER, A REPUBLICAN, HE SAID EARLIER IN THE
WEEK HE WASN'T QUITE SURE HOW HE WOULD VOTE. AGAIN ADDED THE DEBATE IS FAR BIGGER THAN
RAISING THE DEBT CEILING, IT'S ABOUT RESTORING SANITY TO THE BUDGET. WE ASKED DEMOCRATIC
BOB BILNER AND HE DIDN'T RESPOND TO OUR REQUEST. .
THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT DOES BILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN BUSINESS WITH SAN DIEGO COUNTY. JOINING
ME NOW TO TALK ABOUT HOW SAN DIEGO WILL BE DIRECTLY AFFECTED IF THE GOVERNMENT CAN'T
PAY ITS BILLS IS KELLY CUNNINGHAM ECONOMIST AND SENIOR FELLOW AT THE NATIONAL UNIVERSITY
INSTITUTE FOR POLICY RESEARCH. YOU LOOKED AT HOW MUCH MONEY THE GOVERNMENT SPENDS IN
SAN DIEGO, WHAT DID YOU FIND?
WE FOUND THAT IN TOTAL WHAT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT SPENDS IN SAN DIEGO COUNTY IN THE LATEST YEAR
THAT'S AVAILABLE IS ABOUT $36 BILLION. THAT IS --OUT OF OUR 170 BILLION-DOLLAR ECONOMY,
THAT'S ABOUT 21% OF THE ECONOMY WHICH IS A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF THE ECONOMY.
WHAT ARE THEY SPENDING IT ON?
MOSTLY IN SAN DIEGO IT'S THE MILITARY. IT'S --EVEN THOUGH THE ECONOMY HAS DIVERSE IDENTIFIED
OVER THE YEARS IT'S STILL A BIG PART OF THE ECONOMY AND OF THAT 36 BILLION, LITTLE BIT
LESS THAN HALF IS THE MILITARY. IT'S DEFENSE, IT'S CONTRACTING WORK TOO WHICH IS BESIDES
THE MILITARY OPERATIONS AND THE PEOPLE IT'S THE DEFENSE PRIVATE DEFENSE CONTRACTORS LIKE
SHIP BUILDERS, WHOLE ARRAY OF THINGS.
LET'S ASSUME WORST CASE SITUATION NO COMPROMISE. WE PASS TUESDAY ACTION WE KNOW THE GOVERNMENT
IS ONLY GOING TO BE ABLE TO PAY SOME OF ITS BILLS, 60 CENTS ON THE DOLLAR. DO WE KNOW
WHO THEY WILL STOP PAYING?
WE DON'T KNOW EXACTLY. THAT --WE ARE HOPING -- ASSUMING THAT WON'T HAPPEN. IF IT DID,
40% CUT IN OUR -- THAT $36 BILLION IS SIGNIFICANT. OPEN FOR A PLACE LIKE SAN DIEGO WHERE I THINK
--WE KNOW THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT HAS A BIGGER PART OF OUR ECONOMY. THE TREASUREY DEPARTMENT
WOULD HAVE TO MAKE PRIORITIES, I WOULD ASSUME THEY WOULD KEEP PAYING THEIR DEBT BECAUSE
YOU CAN'T DEFAULT ON THAT. THEY WOULD HAVE TO START REDUCING OR CUTTING EXPENSES THAT
ARE MORE OF A -- SERVICE PROVIDERS, AND THAT WOULD INCLUDE THINGS LIKE THE MILITARY. WE
ARE ANTICIPATING THERE WILL BE SOME CUT BACK IN MILITARY SPENDING. IT WOULD PROBABLY BE
EVEN DEEPER, MUCH MORE DEVASTATING FOR THE AREA AS BECAUSE SO MUCH OF THE ECONOMY IS
DEFENSE RELATED.
WHAT'S YOUR BIGGEST WORRY? YOUR BIGGEST WORRY IF THEY DON'T REACH THIS COMPROMISE BY TUESDAY?
I THINK THE --THE INTEREST RATES, THAT --IT MIGHT AFFECT. THE VALUE OF A DOLLAR WOULD
GO DOWN TO BUYERS, BOND BUYERS WOULD --WE WOULD HAVE TO PAY A HIGHER INTEREST RATE AND
THAT WOULD RIPPLE EFFECT THROUGH A LOT. IT WOULD AFFECT MORTGAGE LOANS, CREDIT CARD,
AUTO LOAN, STUDENT DEBT. THAT WOULD BE VERY DEVASTATING BLOW INTO THE STRUGGLING ECONOMY.
THAT'S THE BIGGER FEAR.
KELLY CUNNINGHAM, THANK YOU FOR JOINING US .
MEDICAL MARIJUANA SUPPORTERS HAVE SPOKEN AND THIS WEEK COUNCILMEMBERS WERE FORCED TO LISTEN.
AFTER POT CLINIC RULES WERE SET IN APRIL THE GROUP START AID CAMPAIGN TO COLLECT SIGNATURES
TO OVERTURN THE COUNCIL. THOSE SIGNATURES WERE VALIDATED EARLIER THIS MONTH QUALIFYING
IT FOR THE JUNE BALLOT. ON MONDAY THE COUNCILMEMBERS VOTED TO REPEAL THE RULES. KATIE HAS BEEN
FOLLOWING THE STORY --WHAT DIDN'T THIS GROUP LIKE ABOUT THE EXISTING ORDINANCE?
THERE WERE A COUPLE THINGS THAT THEY WERE UNHAPPY WITH. ONE WAS THAT THE ORDINANCE EFFECTIVELY
LIMITED COLLECTIVES TO TWO ZONES WITH IN THE CITY SO IT CUT DOWN ON THE NUMBER OF PLACES
WHERE THEY COULD BE LOCATED. ALSO, THE PERMITTING PROCESS THEY WERE GOING TO HAVE TO GO THROUGH
MEANS THAT SOME OF THEM COULD BE SHUT DOWN FOR UP TO A YEAR AND PEOPLE SAY IT WOULD EFFECTIVELY
KILL THEM. AS YOU MENTIONED, THEY DECIDED THEY DIDN'T LIKE IT, GOT SIGNATURES AND FORCED
THE COUNCIL'S HAND EITHER AGREE TO A COSTLY VOTE ON THE ISSUE OR REPEAL THE RULE.
THE CITY HAD A TASK FORCE TO LOOK INTO THIS. COULDN'T THEY HAVE SEEN THIS COMING? A TASK
FORCE A LOT OF TIME -- THEY SPENT A LOT OF TIME PUTTING THE INFORMATION TOGETHER.
IT WAS THE TWO YEAR PROCESS THAT THE TASK FORCE WORKED THEY WORKED DIFFERENT CITY COUNCIL
COMMITTEES AND THAT WAS ONE OF THE CRITICISMS BY THE MEDICAL MARIJUANA PEOPLE THAT THE CITY
COUNCIL IGNORED THE RECOMMENDATIONS. THEY DIDN'T IGNORE ALL OF THEM. I THINK ONE OF
THE BIGGEST CHANGES IS THAT THEY DID RESTRICT THE ZONES IN WHICH THE COLLECTIVES COULD OPERATE.
BEFORE THERE WERE ABOUT FIVE ZONES WITH IN THE CITY THEY -- COMMERCIAL AND INDUSTRIAL.
THE COUNCIL REDUCED THAT BACK TO ABOUT TWO. THEY DID REDUCE THE BUFFER ZONE BETWEEN THE
--AMOUNT OF FEET THAT A COLLECTIVE HAS TO BE AWAY FROM A SCHOOL, PLAYGROUND CHURCH BUT
THAT DIDN'T REALLY HAVE ANY MEANING BECAUSE THEY WERE STILL RESTRICTED TO THE ZONES WHICH
THE THEY SAY WAS JUST A BAN.
I READ A LETTER EVEN FROM TASK FORCE MEMBERS WHO SAID THEY DIDN'T SUPPORT THE ORDINANCE
AND THOUGHT IT WOULD SHUT THE COLLECTIVES DOWN. WHAT HAPPENS NOW? ARE THESE CURRENT
--THESE COLLECTIVES OPERATING AGAINST THE LAW? I MEAN WHAT RULES ARE THEY FOLLOWING
NOW?
THEY ARE EFFECTIVELY ARE NO RULES FOR THEM WITH IN THE CITY. IF A CODE ENFORCEMENT OFFICER
CAME AND LOOKED AT ONE OF THEM THEY WOULD HAVE TO SHUT DOWN BECAUSE THEY ARE VIOLATING
CITY CODES. THERE AREN'T ENOUGH CODE ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS TO GO OUT AND LOOK AT THEM. ESSENTIALLY
THEY ARE ALL OPERATING ILLEGALLY WITH IN THE LOCAL CITY LAW BUT THE CHANCES THAT THERE
IS GOING TO BE A MASSIVE RAID AND THEY ARE GOING TO HAVE TO SHUT DOWN ARE PRETTY SLIM
BECAUSE OF THE ENFORCEMENT.
WHAT HAPPENS NEXT? WHAT'S THE CITY GOING TO DO?
IT'S NOT CLEAR. THE CITY COUNCIL IS PRETTY FRUSTRATED. DESPITE THE CRITICISM THEY GOT
FROM THE MEDICAL MARIJUANA COMMUNITY THEY ALSO HAVE NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATIONS AND PEOPLE
SAYING I DON'T WANT TO LIVE NEXT DOOR TO THIS MEDICAL MARIJUANA COLLECTIVE AND THAT'S SOMETHING
THEY HAD TO BALANCE. THEY THOUGHT THIS WAS A COMPROMISE AND I TALKED TO SEVERAL WHO SAID
WE DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO NOW. IT'S BACK TO THE DRAWING BOARD BUT WHO KNOWS IF THEY WILL
TAKE IT UP. THEY AREN'T REQUIRED BY STATE LAW TO EVEN HAVE ANY KIND OF REGULATIONS.
IT'LL BE INTERESTING TO SEE WHERE IT GOES FROM HERE, WHETHER VOTERS WILL SEE AN INITIATIVE
ON THE ISSUE, IF THE COUNCIL DECIDES TO TRY AND COME UP WITH RULES, EVERYBODY THINKS THERE
NEEDS TO BE SOME KIND OF REGULATION BECAUSE RIGHT NOW IT'S A LITTLE BIT OF A FREE FOR
ALL. IT'LL BE INTERESTING TO SEE WHAT HAPPENS.
GREAT. THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.
THANK YOU.
GOVERNMENT CORRUPTION IS NOTHING NEW AT THE BORDER WHERE OFFICIALS AND INSTITUTIONS ARE
AT RISK FOR BRIBES. THE CASE OF A MUSEUM DIRECTOR IS REVIVING THE DEBATE OF CORRUPTION AMONG
ARTISTS. .
THE EXHIBIT IS CALLED UNDER CONSTRUCTION. IN THE WORKS FOR THREE YEARS IT'S A COLLECTION
OF PAINTINGS AND INSTALLATIONS BY ARTISTS ABOUT THE CITY'S CONNECTION TO THE BORDER,
AS ONE OF THE MOST KNOWN ARTISTS, HE SHOULD HAVE HAD A PIECE BUT TURNED DOWN THE INVITE,
HE HAS BEEN AVOIDING THE MUSEUM SINCE 2009. .
I DIDN'T GO SEAT SHOW. I PREFER TO FOCUS ON WHAT I CAN DO TO MAKE UP.
IT WAS THREE YEARS AGO WHEN A CONTROVERSIAL MAN WAS NAMED AS THE HEAD. HE WAS THE HEAD
OF THE IMMIGRATION AGENCY. IT TRACKS THE FLOW OF IMMIGRATION FROM MEXICO TO THE UNITED STATES.
ONE HUMAN RIGHTS ORGANIZATION DECIDED TO LOOK INTO ALLEGATIONS OF CORRUPTION.
I REMEMBER HEARING A LOT OF RUMORS ABOUT CORRUPTION AND I WENT UP TO THE AREA AND ASKED HIM ABOUT
IT. HE SAID IT WASN'T TRUE AND I DIDN'T WANT TO PUSH IT. AT THAT TIME MANY GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS
AT HIS LEVEL WERE INVOLVED IN A LOT OF ILLEGAL ACTIVITIES.
Reporter: OVER SIX MONTHS, HE MET WITH SMUGGLERS, WITH MEXICAN IMMIGRATION AGENTS, LOCAL POLICE
AND OTHERS. HE FOUND A WEB OF CORRUPTION LINKING ALL THE WAY TO THE TOP. >> THE AMOUNT OF MONEY
THAT CHANGED HANDS WAS HUGE. TENS OF THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS A MONTH WHICH WENT ONTO HELP PUBLIC
OFFICIALS.
IN THE MID-90S 45% OF ALL ILLEGAL MIGRANTS LEFT FROM THE AREA. ONE NETWORK MOVED ABOUT
1,000 PEOPLE A MONTH COLLECTING $250,000. THE AGENCY RECEIVED PART OF THAT MONEY IN
KICK BACKS. AFTER AN INVESTIGATION HE WAS ARRESTED, TWO DAYS LATER HE WAS RELEASED.
HE WAS EVENTUALLY PUT BACK IN AS THE DIRECTOR OF A MAJOR MUSEUM. TODAY HE DOESN'T ACKNOWLEDGE
OR DENY THE CHARMS BUT DISMISSES THE CRITICISM.
THAT'S WHY WE HAVE PUBLIC INSTITUTIONS WHICH ARE IN CHARGE OF SOLVING A PROBLEM. INTEREST
GROUPS THEN DECIDE TO CARRY ON WITH THE PROBLEM THAT'S ANOTHER ISSUE.
HE CALLED THE PROTESTERS PEOPLE FROM A SMALL WORLD. THE NAME WAS APPROPRIATED BY MORE THAN
250 ARTISTS AND AUTHORS. >> I THINK THAT ART HAS TO RESPOND TO WHAT HAPPENS IN SOCIETY.
WHAT YOU LIVE IN RAY PLACE WITH SO MUCH CRIME AND CORRUPTION THE ARTIST HAS A RESPONSIBILITY
TO REACT. SOMETIMES THEY SHOULD RESPOND ONLY BY MAKING ART BUT BY EXERCISING HIS RIGHTS
AS AN ARTIST.
IN THE THREE YEARS SINCE HE HAS TAKEN THE HEAD OF THE MUSEUM SEVEN OF HIS CURATORS AND
ADMINISTRATORS WERE FIRED. ED.
SOME SAW A JOCKEY FOR THE FIRST TIME IN SEA BI SCUIT. NOW WE WILL MEET A REAL LIFE ONE.
TO MEET HIM WE HAD TO GO TO THE BACK SIDE OF THE RACETRACK. THINK OF THIS AS THE BACKSTAGE
OF A MOVIE SET. IT'S WHERE ALL THE HORSES, THE TRAINERS, THE GROOMERS AND THE JOCKEYS
START THEIR DAY. ONCE ON THE TURF WE LOOKED FOR HIM. FROM FARAWAY ALL OF THEM LOOK ALIKE
BUT UP CLOSE YOU KNOW YOU HAVE RUN IN '2FLORES WHEN YOU SEE HIM. HE IS YOUNG AND BY YOUNG
I MEAN HE IS A SHY, BRACES WEARING HIGH SCHOOL SENIOR.
I'M 18 AND RACING HORSES.
HE HAS BEEN WAITING TO SEE THAT SINCE HE COULD REMEMBER.
IT FEELS GREAT. I'M VERY EXCITED FOR EVERYTHING AND EVER SINCE I WAS A LITTLE KID I WANTED
TO BE HERE AND RACE HERE. WHEN MY DAD WOULD BRING ME HERE I WAS LIKE ONE DAY HOPING I
WOULD BE THERE. I'M HERE NOW.
TO UNDERSTAND HOW HE MADE IT TO THE AREA LET'S REWIND BACK TO HIS CHILDHOOD. HIS PARENTS
CAME FROM MEXICO TEN YEAR AGO. HIS FATHER FOUND WORK AS A GROOMER AT THE RACETRACK.
TOOK ME THERE I SAW THE RIDERS AND EVERYTHING AND I WAS LIKE MAN I WANT TO GET IN ONE OF
THOSE HORSES AND HE GOT ME TO RIDE THE PONY, THE PONY FROM THE STABLES. I WAS LIKE MAN,
WHEN I GOT IN TO THE HORSE I FELT CHILLS. I WAS LIKE I WANT TO BE A RIDER.
HE STARTED RACING LATE LAST YEAR AND ABOUT SIX MONTHS LATER MET HIS AGENT DEREK LAWSON.
THEY ALL TOLD ME, YOU HAVE TO GO GET THIS KID. THIS KID KNOWS WHAT HE IS DOING. HE IS
JUST SO NATURAL.
HIS SCHEDULE MEANS WAKING UP AT FOUR IN THE MORNING, RIDING AND RUNNING FIVE MILES A DAY.
AT NIGHT HE HITS THE BOOKS. HE IS IN ONE OF THE TOUGHEST RACING CIRCUITS IN THE COUNTRY.
HERE COMES FLORES, GOT A CHANCE TO WIN HIS FIRST RACE EVER, TAKES OVER THE LEAD. WAY
TO GO YOUNG MAN. IT'S FLORES! FIRST CAREER VICTORY.
HIS FIRST WIN WAS AT HOLLYWOOD PARK IN LOS ANGELES ON THE 4th OF JULY.
MY OPINION I BELIEVE THAT HE IS THE BEST YOUNG APPRENTICE IN THE UNITED STATES. IT'S LIKE
KOBE BRYANT. HE WENT FROM LOWER MARION TO THE NBA. HE IS GOING FROM HIGH SCHOOL TO SAN
ANITA.
WHEN YOU WANT SOMETHING YOU WORK HARD FOR IT AND YOU WILL GET IT.
FLORES IS DUE TO RACE MORE THAN 100 TIMES FROM NOW UNTIL THE SEASON IS OVER IN SEPTEMBER.
AFTER THAT GRADUATING FROM HIGH SCHOOL IN DECEMBER. >> MARISSA YOU CAN SEE HIM AT THE
RACETRACK THIS WEEKEND. HE WILL BE RIDING IN RACING ON BOTH SATURDAY AND SUNDAY.
AND NOW HERE IS A UPDATE ON WHAT WE ARE WORKING ON FOR NEXT WEEK.
COMING UP NEXT WEEK ON RADIO ABOUT 6,000 PEOPLE HELD AN IMMIGRATION DETENTION CENTERS HAVE
MENTAL ILLNESS AND SOME HAVE GOTTEN LOST IN THE SYSTEM. WE WILL TELL YOU WHY AND AT MIDDAY
TWO SAN DIEGO COUNTY SUPERVISORS WILL EXPLAIN WHY THEY ARE AGAINST THE PLANNED FIRE --FOR
BACK COUNTRY RESIDENTS.
WE HAVE BEEN FOLLOWING THE REDISTRICTING PROCESS ACROSS THE STATE FOR WEEKS NOW. JUST RECENTLY
THE STATE REDISTRICTING COMMISSION HAS RELEASED YET ANOTHER SET OF MAPS. YOU CAN NOW SEE YOUR
STATE AND FEDERAL LEGISLATIVE DISTRICTS ON THOSE MAPS. WE HAVE LOADED THEM ON THE WEBSITE.
YOU CAN GO TO KPBS.ORG AND SEE THEM. YOU CAN SEE ANY OF THE STORIES YOU SAW TONIGHT BY
GOING TO THE WEBSITE. THANK YOU FOR WATCHING, HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND, GOOD NIGHT. .