Friday, July 20, 2012 - Evening Edition

>> >>: GUN FIRE IN A CROWDED MOVIE THEATER IN COLORADO.
DOZENS OF MOVIE GOERS ARE SHOCKED AND A FORMER SAN DIEGO REZ DNTD IS NOW IN CUSTODY.
I'M ERIK ANDERSON, TONIGHT ON EVENING EDITION, THE LATEST ON THE INVESTIGATION AND WHAT WE
KNOW ABOUT THE SUSPECT. >> >>PEGGY: I'M PEGGY PICO, TONIGHT ON THE
ROUND TABLE AFTER YEARS OF SAYING CRIME IS DOWN IN SAN DIEGO, THE POLICE DEPARTMENT NOW
SAYS IT'S ON THE RISE AND THEY NEED MILLIONS TO FIGHT IT. WHY SOME SCEPTICS AREN'T BUYING
IT. PLUS HOW THE FEDS PROPOSED DEFENSE SPENDING
CUTS COULD MEAN 30,000 LESS JOBS IN SAN DIEGO. >> >>: ALSO, TONIGHT, THE LATEST JOBLESS NUMBERS
FOR SAN DIEGO AND A SCANDAL THAT STATE PARKS DEPARTMENT, SITTING ON A SURPLUS WHILE THE
PARKS WERE THREATENED WITH CLOSURE. KPBS EVENING EDITION STARTS NOW.
>> >>: GOOD EVENING, THANKS FOR JOINING US, DWANE BROWN IS OFF TONIGHT.
A FORMER SAN DIEGO MAN IS IN CUSTODY IN COLORADO TONIGHT ACCUSED OF SHOOTING DOZENS OF PEOPLE
IN A MOVIE THEATER NEAR DENVER. POLICE IN AURORA SAY 24 YEAR OLD JAMES EAGAN
HOLMES OPENED FIRE FOR THE SHOWING OF THE FILM THE DARK KNIGHT RISES.
SO FAR THEY SAY HE IS NOT TALKING TO INVESTIGATORS. SEVENTY ONE PEOPLE WERE SHOT, 12 WERE KILLED.
IT'S ONE OF THE DEADLIEST MASS SHOOTINGS IN RECENT U.S. HISTORY.
HOLMES WAS WEARING A GAS MASK AND SET OFF A GAS CANISTER BEFORE BEGINNING TO SHOOT.
>> >>: TOOK ME A SECOND TO REALIZE WHAT WAS ACTUALLY GOING ON AND A AS PEOPLE WERE RUNNING
AWAY, I HIT THE GROUND SO I WOULDN'T BE HIT. THAT'S ALL I SAW WASÊ I HEARD THE SOUND OF
METAL CANNISTERS CLINGING AROUND AND THEN PLUMES OF SMOKE.
>> >>: WE GO OUT AND SEE A 13 YEAR OLD GIRL WITH A BULLET HOLE IN HER LEG, I THINK HER
STOMACH AND CHEST. >> >>: HOLMES WAS TAKEN INTO CUSTODY OUTSIDE
THE THEATER. POLICE SAY HE HAD FOUR GUNS, ALL PURCHASED
AT LOCAL SPORTING GOODS STORES OVER THE PAST TWO MONTHS.
OFFICERS ALSO WENT TO HIS HOME FOUR MILES AWAY FROM THE THEATER.
>> >>PEGGY: THEY SAY THEY FOUND IT BOOBY TRAPPED WITH TRIP WIRES.
THEY EVACUATED BUILDINGS AROUND THE APARTMENT. JAMES HOLMES IS ORIGINALLY FROM SAN DIEGO.
THE SHOOTING HAS BROUGHT CROWDS OF MEDIA TO WHERE HE GROUP UP IN RANCHO PENNASQUITOS.
>> >>PEGGY: WE WANT TO BE CAREFUL NOT TO JUMP TO ANY PRE MATURE CONCLUSIONS ABOUT HOLMES.
HE WAS A DOCTORAL CANDIDATE AT THE UNIVERSITY OF COLORADO IN DENVER, BUT WAS IN THE PROCESS
OF WITH DRAWING FROM THE PROGRAM. TO TELL US MORE ABOUT MORE OF HIS LIFE IN
SAN DIEGO IS KPBS REPORTER KATIE ORR. WE KNOW A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHERE HE'S FROM,
TELL US MORE ABOUT THAT. >> >>KATIE: HE LIVED IN RANCHO PENNASQUITOS,
HE WENT TO WESTVIEW HIGH SCHOOL WHICH IS A RECENT SCHOOL IN SAN DIEGO BUILT IN SAN DIEGO.
>> >>PEGGY: DID HE STAY IN SAN DIEGO LONG AFTER HIGH SCHOOL?
>> >>KATIE: HE GRADUATED AND WENT ON TO A UC RIVERSIDE WHERE HE MAJORED IN EURO SCIENCE.
THE CHANCELLOR OF THAT SCHOOL HELD A NEWS CONFERENCE TODAY, TIM WHITE, AND HE CONFIRMED
THAT HOLMES WAS AN UNDER GRAD THERE BETWEEN 2006 AND 2010.
HE SAYS HOLMES RECEIVED MERIT SCHOLARSHIPS AND WAS ENROLLED IN ONE OF THE MOST RIGOROUS
MAJORS ON THE CAMPUS, AND THAT HE EXCELLED ACADEMICALLY.
WE HAVE A CLIP FROM HIM. >> >>: HE WAS AN HONOR STUDENT, SO ACADEMICALLY
HE WAS AT THE TOP OF THE TOP. YOU KNOW, HE REALLY DISTINGUISHED HIMSELF
FROM AN ACADEMIC POINT OF VIEW DURING HIS FOUR YEARS WITH US, GRADUATING WITH HIGHEST
HONORS. >> >>PEGGY: WE ALSO HEARD FROM SOME OTHER
PEOPLE WHO KNEW HOLMES A LITTLE BIT MORE PERSONALLY. >> >>KATIE: I SPOKE TO ONE OF HIS FORMER CLASSMATES
FROM HIGH SCHOOL, AND HE DID NOT WANT TO BE IDENTIFIED.
HE SAID HE HAD SEVERAL CLASSES WITH HOLMES AT WESTVIEW AND SAID THAT HOMES WAS NOT A
NICE PERSON, AT LEAST NOT TO HIM, HE WAS A BIT OF A BULLY.
HE SAID THAT HE WASÊ HE THOUGHT HE WAS A LOT SMARTER THAN THE TEACHERS AND THE STUDENTS
THERE, ALTHOUGH HE WAS THIS PERSON CALLED HOLMESÊ ONE OF THE POPULAR KIDS.
ANOTHER ONE OF OUR REPORTS KENNY GOLDBERG WENT TO HOLMES' PARENTS HOUSE AND SPOKE WITH
THE NEIGHBOR, HE SAID HE REMEMBERED HOLMES AS A VERY NICE GUY.
>> >>: HE DOESN'T SEEM LIKE THE PERSON WHO WOULD DO THAT.
I'VE KNOWN HIM MY WHOLE LIFE. I DON'T KNOW HIM THAT WELL, HE FELT LIKE A
NORMAL GUY AND I DIDN'T THINK HE'D BE GOING AROUND WITH GUNS SHOOTING PEOPLE.
>> >>PEGGY: IT'S ALWAYS A SURPRISE TO NEIGHBORS. >> >>KATIE: I THINK WHAT'S INTERESTING IS
GETTING BACK TO THE UC CHANCELLOR, HE SAID HE BELIEVES HOLMES COULD HAVE DONE ANYTHING
HE WANTED TO. HE NEVER HAD ANY RUN INS WITH THE POLICE,
EVEN IN COLORADO, THE OFFICIALS THERE SAID THE ONLY RECORD HE HAD WAS A SPEEDING TICKET.
SO HE CERTAINLY WASN'T ON ANYBODY'S RADAR. >> >>PEGGY: ABC CONTACTED THE FAMILY EARLIER
THIS MORNING, WHAT DID THEY TELL ABC? >> >>KATIE: HOLMES' MOTHER APPARENTLY TOLD
ABC NEWS THAT WHEN THEY CALLED HER AND ASKED ABOUT THE INCIDENT THAT SHE THOUGHT THEY PROBABLY
HAD THE RIGHT PERSON, THAT SHE NEEDED TO CALL THE POLICE BECAUSE SHE HADN'T HEARD FROM THEM
YET AND NEEDED TO GET ON A FLIGHT TO COLORADO. LATER IT WAS REPORTED THAT HIS FATHER FLEW
TO COLORADO. THE FAMILY RELEASED A STATEMENT, THEY SAID
THEIR HEARTS ARE WITH THE VICTIMS AND THEY ASKED FOR THE MEDIA TO RESPECT THEIR PRIVACY.
>> >>PEGGY: YEAH, SO IT'S EARLY ON FOR THEM. A LOT OF THINGS ARE BEING SAID, HINDSIGHT
IS 20/20, PEOPLE ARE LOOKING FOR ANSWERS. IT'S TOO SOON TO EXTRAPOLATE ANYTHING ABOUT
HIS PERSONALITY. >> >>KATIE: IN TERMS OF HOLMES WE REALLY DON'T
KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT HIM BEYOND WHAT WE'VE HEARD FROM PEOPLE WHO KNEW HIM IN HIGH SCHOOL
OR PERHAPS IN COLLEGE. THERE HAVE BEEN STUDIES DONE ON THIS, THE
SECRET SERVICE DID A STUDY ON SCHOOL SHOOTERS. THEY SAY REALLY THERE IS ANT PROFILE FOR THESE
PEOPLE. THEY'RE DIFFERENT KINDS OF PEOPLE.
IT'S ALSO NOT REALLY CORRECT TO SAY THEY JUST SNAPPED.
THE STUDIES DONE SAY SHOW THESE PEOPLE DON'T SNAP, THEY PLAN THESE EVENTS OVER A LONG PERIOD
OF TIME AND AT ONE POINT THEY DECIDE OKAY, TODAY IS THE DAY I'M GOING TO CARRY OUT THIS
PLAN. IT'S NOT LIKE THEY'RE NORMAL AND ALL OF A
SUDDEN DECIDE TO DO SOMETHING. THIS IS SOMETHING THAT HAS PROBABLY BEEN IN
THE WORKS FOR A LONG TIME, AS WE CAN TELL FROM THE WAY HE BOOBY TRAPPED HIS APARTMENT.
>> >>PEGGY: ABSOLUTELY, AND POLICE ARE BEING VERY CLEAR ABOUT THAT THIS DID LOOK LIKE IT
WAS PRE PLANNED. HIS BOOBY TRAPS IN HIS APARTMENT WERE ELABORATE.
THEY SAY IT COULD TAKE A COUPLE DAYS TO GET THROUGH THOSE.
>> >>KATIE: THAT'S WHAT WE'RE HEARING FROM THE NEWS REPORTS IN COLORADO.
THEY'RE EMPHASIZING AS FAR AS THEY KNOW HE WORKED ALONE.
>> >>PEGGY: THANK YOU SO MUCH. WE'RE GOING TO HAVE SOME EXPERTS IN ON MONDAY
TO TALK ABOUT THIS SORT OF PROFILING AND ARE THERE ANY EARLY WARNING SIGNS TO SOMEBODY
WHO DOES DO SOMETHING LIKE THIS. >> >>: SAN DIEGO MAYOR JERRY SANDERS IS WHETHER
TOO FAMILIAR WITH MASS SHOOTINGS. HE COORDINATED POLICE RESPONSE TO A MASSACRE
IN SAN YSIDRO BACK IN 1984. TWENTY FOUR PEOPLE WERE KILLED AT A MCDONALDS
RESTAURANT. THE COLORADO SHOOTING IS A TRAGIC INCIDENT
AND SANDERS PLANS TO CALL THE MAYOR OF AURORA. THE CITY OF AURORA IS NOT CAUSING SCREENINGS
TO SHUT DOWN HERE IN SAN DIEGO, BUT IT IS RAISING QUESTIONS ABOUT SAFETY.
IT REMAINS TO SEE HOW MUCH BUSINESS WILL BE AFFECTED, BUT THE INCIDENT IS ON PEOPLE'S
MINDS. VICTOR DAWSON IS VISITING FROM TRACEY, CALIFORNIA.
HE WORRIED ABOUT TAKING HIS FAMILY TO SEE A MOVIE, BUT DIDN'T WORRY SO MUCH HE STAYED
AWAY. >> >>: WE'RE SO FAR AWAY, ALTHOUGH, THESE
THINGS HAPPEN TO THE PEOPLE THEY'RE SO FAR AWAY, WE KNEW WE COULDN'T JUST STAY IN OUR
HOTEL AND NOT DO ANYTHING. IT WAS OKAY.
>> >>: AND THE CHALLENGING THING FOR A MOVIE THEATER IS THEIR BUSINESS RELIES ON PEOPLE
COMING OUT TO THE THEATER. SOME LOCAL THEATER MANAGERS SAY THEY PLAN
TO BE OAP FRN BUSINESS AS USUAL, BUT ARE PUTTING EXTRA SECURITY IN PLACE.
THEY DID NOT EXPLAIN WHAT THE EXTRA SECURITY WAS.
SAN DIEGO STATE UNIVERSITY BUSINESS LECTURER WENDY PATRICK SAYS AWARENESS IS THE KEY.
>> >>: PEOPLE NEED TO PAY MORE ATTENTION. WE ALL KNOW THAT, BUT THAT ACTUALLY IS THE
ANSWER BOTH TO WHAT CAN BUSINESSES DO TO PROTECT THEMSELVES AND THEIR CUSTOMERS AND WHAT CAN
WE DO TO PROTECT OURSELVES LOVED ONES. >> >>: DETROIT NATIVE BROAD CAROL SAYS IT'S
A TRAGEDY BUT WON'T CHANGE HOW HE LIVES LIFE. >> >>: I'M GOING TO GO TO THE RESTAURANTS,
THE BARS, THEATERS, PLACES I LIKE TO GO AND OBVIOUSLY IF SOMETHING LIKE THAT HAPPENS,
IT WOULD BE UNFORTUNATE FOR ME, BUT I'M NOT GOING TO CHANGE THE WAY I LIKE TO LIVE MY
LIFE. >> >>: AMC THEATERS SAYS IT IS REVIEWING ITS
SECURITY. THEY ARE THE SECOND LARGEST THEATER CHANGE
WITH FIVE MOVIE HOUSES HERE IN SAN DIEGO COUNTY. THE COMPANY SAYS IT'S ACTIVELY WORK POLICE
TO MAKE SURE THE THEATERS ARE SAFE. VISTA BASED ULTRA STAR THEATERS ARE ASKING
GUESTS NOT TO COME IN COSTUMES. ANYONE WHO DOES COME IN COSTUME WILL BE ASKED
TO CHANGE. ULTRA STAR IS INCREASING SECURITY AND THEATER
WORKERS WILL BE CHECKING EXIT DOORS BEFORE THE MOVIES START.
THE STUDIO THAT MADE THE DARK KNIGHT RISES HAS CANCELED THE ADS FOR THE MOVIE, AND PULLED
TRAILERS FROM AN UPCOMING MOVIE CALLED THE GANGSTER SQUAD.
A TRAILER INCLUDED A SHOOTING IN A MOVIE THEATER, AND CNN REPORTS THE TRAILER WAS SHOWN AT THE
TRAILER IN AURORA BEFORE THE SHOOTING. WARNER BROTHERS SAYS THAT EXECUTIVES ARE SADDENED
BY THE INCIDENT. THE TRAGEDY ALSO IMPACTED THE PRESIDENTIAL
CAMPAIGN WITH BOTH SIDES PULLING THEIR NEGATIVE COMMERCIALS FROM COLORADO'S AIR WAVES.
>> >>: THERE ARE GOING TO BE OTHER DAYS FOR POLITICS.
THIS, I THINK, IS A DAY FOR PRAYER AND REFLECTION. >> >>: TODAY IS A MOMENT TO GRIEVE AND TO
REMEMBER, TO REACH OUT, AND TO HELP. TO U APPRECIATE OUR BLESSINGS IN LIFE.
>> >>: THAT WAS PRESIDENT OBAMA SPEAKING IN FLORIDA IN & MITT ROMNEY IN NEW HAMPSHIRE.
BOTH CAMPAIGNS HAVE CANCELED ACTIVITIES OVER THE NEXT COUPLE OF DAYS BECAUSE OF THE SHOOTING.
>> >>: SAN DIEGO'S UNEMPLOYMENT RATE CLIMBED A BIT LAST MONTH AND THE JUNE NUMBER WAS 9.2%,
UP FROM 8.8% IN MAY. IT IS STILL A BETTER REPORT THAN A YEAR AGO
WHEN THE JOBLESS RATE WAS OVER 10%. AFTER YEARS OF SAYING THE CRIME IS DOWN IN
SAN DIEGO, THE POLICE DEPARTMENT TOLD THE CITY COUNCIL THIS WEEK THAT VIOLENT CRIME
IS ON THE INCREASE AGAIN. THEY SAY THEY NEED MILLIONS TO FIGHT IT.
PEGGY HAS THE LATEST CRIME STATISTICS AND EXPLAINS WHY SOME SAY THE WARNING IS FLAWED.
>> >>PEGGY: AFTER YEARS OF BEING TOLD CRIME RATES IN SAN DIEGO WERE FALLING, THE POLICE
NOW SAY CRIME IS ON THE RISE AGAIN, AND THEY NEED MORE MONEY TO FIGHT IT.
JOINING ME TO TALK ABOUT WHAT HE CALLS THE BIG FLAW IN THE NEW CRIME WARNING IS VOICE
OF SAN DIEGO REPORTER KEEGAN KYLE. >> >>: THIS WARNING CAME OUT AS THE POLICE
DEPARTMENT IS SEEKING 66ÊMILLION DOLLARS OVER THE NEXT FIVE YEARS TO ADD MORE OFFICERS,
AND REPAIR FACILITIES, NEW EQUIPMENT. >> >>PEGGY: WE KNOW WHERE THEY WANT TO SPEND
THE MONEY. LES RR LOOK AT THE CRIME STATS AND SEE WHAT
THEY'RE TALKING ABOUT. BETWEEN JANUARY AND MAY, WHICH CRIMES HAVE
ACTUALLY INCREASED? >> >>KEEGAN KYLE: WE'RE TALKING ABOUT VIOLENT
CRIME CATEGORIES, MURDER, RAPE, ROBBERY, AGGRAVATED ASSAULT.
ALL OF THEM HAVE INCREASED EXCEPT MURDER. >> >>PEGGY: AND WE HAVE SOME ACTUAL NUMBERS
WE CAN BREAK DOWN A LITTLE FURTHER. THE MURDER WAS DOWN YOU KNOW MURDER WAS DOWN BY A LITTLE
LESS THAN FIVE PERCENT. WHAT ELSE DO WE SEE HERE? WE'VE GOT RAPE WAS
UP SIGNIFICANTLY, AGGRAVATED ASSAULT. THE OVERALL 12%, IS THAT A TREND?
>> >>KEEGAN KYLE: WE'VE SEEN CRIME GOING UP OVER THE PAST FEW MONTHS AND THAT'S WHAT DEFINES
THAT TREND. WHAT WE'RE COMPARING IS JANUARY THROUGH MAY
THIS YEAR WITH JANUARY THROUGH MAY LAST YEAR. THAT'S A KIND OF TIME FRAME THAT POLICE DO
A LOT OF TIMES. BUT WHAT CRIMINOLOGISTS DO IS LOOK AT LONGER
PERIODS OF TIME, LIKE AN ENTIRE YEAR. IF YOU LOOK AT THE PAST 12 MONTHS AND COMPARE
DURING THAT PERIOD VERSUS THE 12 BEFORE THAT, CRIME IS ALMOST EXACTLY THE SAME.
IT'S FINE FOR THE POLICE DEPARTMENT TO CITE THESE STATISTICS AND SAY CRIME HAS GONE UP,
BUT YOU ALSO NEED TO CONSIDER THIS IN A BROADER CONTEXT AND SAY CRIME HAS GONE UP DURING A
RECENT PERIOD, BUT OVER ALL, DURING THESE LUMPS AND HILLS WE'RE FINE.
>> >>PEGGY: OVER YEAR THE CRIME HAS GONE DOWN OVERALL.
>> >>KEEGAN KYLE: IF YOU PUT WHERE WE ARE TODAY IN A VERY BIG CONTEXT, CRIME IS AT THE
LOWEST POINT SINCE THE 1990S WHEN YOU HAD MORE THAN HUNDREDS OF MURDERS IN SAN DIEGO,
NOW WE'RE SEEING ABOUT 30 OR 40 EACH YEAR. >> >>PEGGY: WHAT IS THE CHIEF'S CREDIT TO
THE DROP IN CRIME? PERSONNEL? BETTER POLICE? >> >>KEEGAN KYLE: FOR A LONG TIME IT'S BEEN
THE DEPARTMENT GETTING MORE EFFICIENT. EVEN THOUGH THEY LOST HUNDREDS OF OFFICERS
MAINLY THROUGH RETIREMENT, THEY GOT BETTER EQUIPMENT, AS KIND OF REASONS AS THEY WERE
ABLE TO ADDRESS CRIME IN A MORE EFFECTIVE MATTER.
WHAT'S KIND OF CHANGED CRIME RECENTLY, IS THESE TYPES OF THINGS LOSING OFFICERS AND
STAFF ARE CATCHING UP TO THEM. >> >>PEGGY: THERE HAS BEEN A LOSS HERE AS
WE CAN SEE FROM 2009 OF SWORN OFFICERS, RIGHT, BUT IT DOESN'T SEEM LIKE VERY MUCH.
>> >>KEEGAN KYLE: WELL, I MEAN THAT DEPENDS ON YOUR PERSPECTIVE.
TO THE POLICE DEPARTMENT, THAT'S A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT BECAUSE EVERY OFFICER THEY LOSE PLACES
INCREASING PRESSURE ON THEIR RESPONSE TIMES AND THEIR ABILITY TO DO THINGS LIKE PROACTIVE
POLICING, WHERE THEY'RE ACTUALLY LOOKING AT UNDERLYING CAUSES INSTEAD OF JUST RESPONDING
TO COMPLAINTS. >> >>PEGGY: THE POLICE DEPARTMENT HAS COME
UP WITH A FIVE YEAR PLAN RANGING SOMEWHERE BETWEEN 12 AND 20ÊMILLION DOLLARS TO SOLVE
THE PROBLEM. WHO PAYS FOR THIS?
>> >>KEEGAN KYLE: THAT'S THE BIG QUESTION. THERE ISN'T A FORECAST RIGHT NOW THAT SAYS
THE CITY ISN'T GOING TO BE GETTING $65ÊMILLION IN THE NEXT FOUR YEARS. THE CITY COUNCIL AND
THE MAYOR NEED TO START ASKING ARE WE GOING TO START TAPPING OTHER THINGS LIKE FIRE FIGHTERS
AND LIBRARIES OR BY INCREASING TAXES AND BOND MEASURES?
>> >>PEGGY: ESPECIALLY SINCE THIS TREND IS IN THE LAST FIVE MONTHS.
WHAT'S THE NEXT STEP? >> >>KEEGAN KYLE: WE RECOGNIZE THESE NEEDS
AND NOW WE NEED TO TALK MORE ABOUT MONEY. YOU'RE NOT PROBABLY GOING TO SEE VOTES ON
SETTING THIS UP FOR AWHILE. >> >>PEGGY: DO YOU EXPECT TO SEE MORE CRIME
STATISTICS FAIR TED OUT IN DIFFERENT WAYS BECAUSE OF THIS?
>> >>KEEGAN KYLE: YES. I THINK THAT WILL BE A MAJOR POINT OF THE
DISCUSSION ALWAYS WITH THE POLICE DEPARTMENT IS HOW IS CRIME CHANGING, HOW WILL IT BE IMPACTED
IF WE INVEST IN MORE OFFICERS. >> >>PEGGY: THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR TALKING
TO US. >> >>: SAN DIEGO CITY WORKS HAVE WON THE BID
TO RUN THE MIRAMAR LAND FILL. JERRY SANDERS SAYS THE DEAL WILL SAVE THE
CITY NEARLY 3ÊMILLION DOLLARS. VOTERS APPROVE TD SIX YEARS AGO IN AN EFFORT
TO SAVE MONEY. THE COMPANY BEHIND THE QUAIL BRUSH POWER PLANT IS GOING TO THE SAN DIEGO
CITY COUNCIL TRYING TO GET A ZONING CHANGE FOR THE PROJECT'S SITE.
YESTERDAY THE PLANNING COMMISSION TURNED DOWN THE REQUEST.
COGENTRIX ENERGY WANTS TO BUILD THE PLANT NEAR MISSION TRAILS REGIONAL PARK.
NORTH CAROLINA CONGRESSMAN SAYS THE MARINE CORPS COVERED UP PROBLEMS FROM TAINTED WATER
AT CAMP LEJEUNE. DOCUMENTS RELEASED THIS WEEK SAYS THE COVER
UP HAZ HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR 30 YEARS. MARON CORE SAYS IT HAS NO COMMENT ON THE DOCUMENTS
OR ON PENDING LEGISLATION TO PROVIDE HEALTH CARE FOR THOSE AFFECTED. THE WATER WAS ALLEGEDLY
CONTAMINATED BY DRY CLEANING AGENTS FROM THE 1950S.
HEALTH OFFICIALS BELIEVE MORE AS MEN A OF A MILLION PEOPLE HAVE BEEN CONTAMINATED.
SAN DIEGO WILL BE AMONG MANY CITIES TO POSSIBLY FACE MASSIVE DEFENSE SPENDING CUTS.
>> >>PEGGY: MILITARY SPENDING INCLUDE DG FENCE RELATED CIVILIAN JOBS HAS BOOSTED SAN DIEGO'S
ECONOMY FOR DECADES BUT THERE'S DIFFERING OPINIONS ON HOW MUCH AUTOMATIC CUTS ON SPENDING
WILL IMPACT OUR COMMUNITY. JOHN WARREN, SAN DIEGO PUBLISHER OF SAN DIEGO
VOICE IS HERE TO SORT O OUT. IT'S ESTIMATED THAT SAN DIEGO COULD LOSE UP
TO 30,000 JOBS IF THESE AUTOMATED CUTS GO THROUGH.
WHAT KIND OF JOBS ARE WE TALKING ABOUT? >> >>JOHN WARREN: I THINK WE'RE LOOKING AT
ACROSS THE BOARD WE HAVE THE DEFENSE JOBS FOR INSTANCE, WE COULD HAVE LOSSES AT NORTH
ISLAND, WITH MCRT, LOSSES AT COMPANY PENNED TN, OCEANSIDE, WE HAVE OVER A HUNDRED THOUSAND
MILITARY PEOPLE IN UNIFORM, AND THEN SUBSIDIARIES. WE HAVE CIVILIAN EMPLOYEES.
WE SEE A TRICKLE EFFECT THAT WOULD REACH INTO MANY HOMES.
>> >>PEGGY: THAT'S KIND OF THE GLASS HALF EMPTY APPROACH.
SOME PEOPLE ARE SAYING THERE'S A NEW FOCUS ON THE ASIA FOCUS, THE NEW FOCUS COULD HELP
BOOST JOBS. >> >>JOHN WARREN: SOME PEOPLE ARE SAYING FOR
INSTANCE WE WERE SLATED TO RECEIVE A THIRD AIR CRAFT CARRIER FOR THIS AREA, WE DON'T
KNOW THAT THE CARRIER WOULD GO ELSEWHERE. WE KNOW IF THERE IS A GREATER EMPHASIS ON
THE PACIFIC RIM, THERE WOULD HAVE TO BE MORE RESOURCES PUMP UNDER TO SAN DIEGO SINCE WE
ARE THE KEY SPRING BOARD FOR THAT AREA. WE JUST DON'T KNOW WHAT THAT WOULD MEAN.
>> >>PEGGY: SO FIRST THE CUTS AND THEN PERHAPS THE FOCUS.
>> >>JOHN WARREN: IF IT GOES THAT WAY. >> >>PEGGY: THE AUTOMATED BUDGET CUTS ARE
CALLED SEA QUESTATION. >> >>JOHN WARREN: FOR ALL OF THE FEDERAL SPENDING
WE HAVE, WE WILL HAVE A 10% CUT ACROSS THE BOARD IN EVERY AREA UNDER THE BUDGETED CONTROL
ACT OF 200011. SO THAT MEANS IN THE MILITARY, FOR INSTANCE,
IN THE DEFENSE DEPARTMENT, $492ÊBILLION IN CUTS, DOMESTIC CUTS, AND 490ÊBILLION FIRST
YEAR OF 2012, 55ÊBILLION IN DEFENSE, IT WOULD BE A CLEAN SWEEP.
>> >>PEGGY: I THINK IT'S IMPORT TONIGHT NOTE THIS ISN'T JUST DEFENSE SPENDING THAT'S BEING
CUT, IT'S EVENLY SET UP ACROSS THE BOARD. >> >>JOHN WARREN: THAT'S CORRECT.
THE BUDGET IS INTENDED TO MAKE THESE CUTS OVER A 10 YEAR PERIOD. THE FIRST YEAR WE KNOW
WOULD BE 55ÊBILLION FOR DEFENSE. WE DON'T KNOW WHAT THAT WOULD BE IN TERMS
OF DOMESTIC, BUT WE KNOW UNEMPLOYMENT WOULD OBVIOUSLY GO UP WITH DOLLARS BEING CUT OFF.
>> >>PEGGY: WHAT ARE SOME OF THE OTHER CHOICES FOR I'M ASSUMINGÊ ACTUALLY Y DO KNOW THERE
ARE SOME OTHER CHOICES BESIDES THESE AUTOMATIC BUDGET CUTS.
>> >>JOHN WARREN: WE'VE ALWAYS HAD A CHOICE. THIS WHOLE THING STARTED BACK IN 2011 WHEN
WE COULD NOT GET A BUDGET. THE CONGRESS IS SUPPOSED TO COME UP WITH A
BUDGET ANNUALLY AND WHEN WE COULD NOT GET A BUDGET FOLLOWING THE BIG CRISIS OVER THE
DEAD SEAL INCREASE, A CAN SUPER COMMITTEE WAS CREATED THEY HAD A DEADLINE BY LAST THANKS
GIVING, DIDN'T MAKE IT, AND THERE'S STILL TIME FOR CONGRESS TO COME TOGETHER WITH THE
PRESIDENT AND GET IT TOGETHER. >> >>PEGGY: MAYOR JERRY SANDERS ACTUALLY JOINED
SOME OTHER MAYORS FROM LARGE CITIES IN WASHINGTON, EARLIER THIS WEEK TO SAY HE DID NOT WANT THESE
DEFENSE CUTS TO HAPPEN AND TALKED ABOUT THE IMPACT IN SAN DIEGO.
IS THAT KIND OF I DON'T WANT TO SAY SHOW, BUT DOES IT REALLY DO ANYTHING? DOES IT IMPACT
THE DECISION? >> >>JOHN WARREN: IN THIS CASE, IT DOES.
BECAUSE THOSE BELONG TO AN ORGANIZATION KNOWN AS THE U.S. CONFERENCE OF MAYORS.
IT CARRY AS GREAT DEAL OF INFLUENCE IN TERMS OF THE CONGRESS AND THE WHITE HOUSE.
THIS IS A TIME WHEN PEOPLE ARE RUNNING FOR CONGRESSIONAL SEATS WITHIN THE DISTRICTS OF
THE CITIES WHERE THESE MAYORS ARE IN CHARGE, IN MANY RESPECTS.
SO YOU WILL HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO INFLUENCE ELECTIONS, LOCALLY, AND YOU ALSO IS A BATTLE
GOING IN TERMS OF REPUBLICANS TRYING TO TAKE CONTROL OF THE HOUSE, DEMOCRATS TRYING TO
PICK UP SEATS LIKE WE HAVE HERE, SO YES, WHAT THE MAYORS SAY MEAN AS GREAT DEAL BECAUSE
THEY CAN INFLUENCE THEIR LOCAL POLITICAL STRUCTURE. >> >>PEGGY: SO THEY CAN EVEN IF THEY'RE NOTÊ
>> >>JOHN WARREN: YES, THEY CAN. >> >>PEGGY: JUST BRIEFLY, WE HAVE GENERAL
DYNAMICS HERE. WE GET A LOT OF DEFENSE MONEY THAT'S NOT NECESSARILY
SPENT DIRECTLY ON DEFENSE PRODUCTS, SAL I SAY, LIKE THAT.
IS THAT SOME MONEY THAT COULD BE CUT AS WELL? >> >>JOHN WARREN: O, YES, WE WOULD LOSE DOLLARS
THERE, WE HAVE SHIP REPAIR, SHIP BUILDING, GENERAL DYNAMICS.
ALL OF OUR CONTRACTORS STAND TO LOSE SOMETHING. WE DON'T KNOW EXACTLY HOW MUCH DEPENDING ON
THE PROGRAMS, WHAT YEARS. MANY OF THESE PROGRAMS ARE MULTIYEAR PROGRAMS.
WE CAN'T SAY IN ONE YEAR HOW MUCH RIGHT AWAY, BUT THEY WOULD ALL BE GREATLY IT IMPACTED.
>> >>: SURPRISING NEWS FROM THE STATE PARKS DEPARTMENT ABOUT ITS BUDGET.
IT'S BEEN SITTING ON A NEARLY 54ÊMILLION DOLLAR SURPLUS FOR YEARS, POSSIBLY AS LONG
AS A DOZEN YEARS. STATE PARKS HAVE BEEN THREATENED WITH CLOSURE
BOSS OF BUDGET CUTS. PRIVATE GROUPS HAVE RAISED MONEY TO KEEP THOSE
PARKS OPEN AND NEWS OF THE SURPLUS HAS LEAD TO THE RESIGNATION OF THE STATE PARKS DIRECTER
AND FIRING ONE OF HER DEPUTIES. A STATE ATTORNEY GENERAL IS NOW INVESTIGATING.
IN THE MIDDLE OF BUDGET CUTS, CALIFORNIA LAW MAKERS ARE ALSO HANDING OUT PAY RAISES TO
THEIR EMPLOYEES. MORE THAN A THOUSAND IN THE LAST YEAR, SOME
AS MUCH AS 10%. SENATE SPOKESMAN SAYS THEY WERE MERIT RAISES
AND SAYS THEY CAME AFTER SEVERAL YEARS OF PAY FREEZES AND PAY REDUCTIONS.
CAPTIONS PROVIDED BY ECAPTIONS. >> >>PEGGY: WELCOME BACK TO THE PUBLIC SCWAIRKS
THE MASSACRE AT A MOVIE THEATER IN AURORA COLORADO HAS UNDERSTANDABLY SHOCKED PEOPLE
ACROSS THE COUNTRY, INCLUDING RIGHT HERE IN SAN DIEGO WHERE THE SUSPECTED SHOOTER, 24
YEAR OLD JAMES HOLMES LIVED AND WENT TO SCHOOL ON MONDAY WE'LL EXPLORE WHAT POLICE AND RESEARCHERS
KNOW ABOUT PEOPLE WHO COMMIT MASS KILLINGS. AND EARLIER THIS WEEK, WE BROUGHT YOU OUR
INVESTIGATION INTO ALLEGATIONS OF ABUSE OF BORDER PATROL AGENTS ON ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS
THAT STORY CONTINUES ON YOU NEED TO KNOW ON KPBS.
IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO JOIN IN ON ANY CONVERSATION YOU'VE SEEN ON KPBS EVENING EDITION, FOLLOW
US ON TWITTER, LIKE US ON FACEBOOK OR E MAIL US AT PUBLIC SQUARE @ KPBS.ORG.
>> >>: TWELVE PEOPLE WERE KID KILLED IN A SHOOTING AT A COLORADO SHOOT MOVIE THEATER.
THE SUSPECT JAMES HOLMES HAS DIS ASKED FOR AN ATTORNEY.
HOLMES WAS A DOCTORAL CANDIDATE AT THE UNIVERSITY OF COLORADO IN DENVER.
HE IS DESCRIBED AS AN OUTSTANDING STUDENT BY OFFICIALS AT HIS PREVIOUS SCHOOL, UC RIVERSIDE.
>> >>: HE WAS AN HONOR STUDENT. ACADEMICALLY HE WAS AT THE TOP OF THE TOP.
YOU KNOW, HE REALLY DISTINGUISHED HIMSELF FROM AN ACADEMIC POINT OF VIEW DURING HIS
FOUR YEARS WITH US, GRADUATING WITH HIGHEST HONORS.
>> >>: MORE COVERAGE ABOUT THE SHOOTING IN COLORADO IS COMING UP ON THE PBS NEWS HOUR
AT 7:00ÊP.M. AND YOU CAN FIND TONIGHT'S STORIES ON OUR
WEBSITE, KPBS.ORG/EVENINGEDITION. THANKS FOR JOINING US, AND HAVE A GREAT EVENING.
CAPTIONS PROVIDED BY ECAPTIONS.