Tuesday, September 18, 2012 - Evening Edition

>> >>DWANE: TONIGHT ON KPBS EVENING EDITION, GOVERNOR JERRY BROWN VISITS SAN DIEGO TO SIGN
A CONTROVERSIAL REFORM BILL AND SOME NEW TECHNOLOGY WILL LET FIRE FIGHTERS SEE THROUGH THE SMOKE
OF A RAGING WILD FIRE. >> >>PEGGY: AND TELLING YOUR FACEBOOK FRIENDS
YOU VOTE SD CONTAGIOUS. A UC SAN DIEGO RESEARCH STUDY FINDS VOTE BRAGGING
ON SOCIAL MEDIA SIGNIFICANTLY IMPROVES VOTER TURN OUT ON ELECTION DAY. WE'LL TELL YOU HOW.
KPBS EVENING EDITION STARTS NOW. >> >>: KPBS EVENING EDITION IS MADE POSSIBLE
BY JOAN AND IRWIN JACOBS, AND BY: >> >>DWANE: GOVERNOR JERRY BROWN WAS IN SAN
DIEGO'S BARRIO LOGAN TO SIGN A BILL OVERHAULING CALIFORNIA'S 16ﾊBILLION DOLLARS WORKERS
COMPENSATION SYSTEM. BROWN SAYS IT WILL SAVE BUSINESSES MONEY AND
INCREASE BENEFITS TO WORKERS WHO GET SICK OR HURT ON THE JOB.
KPBS BUSINESS AND ENVIRONMENT REPORTER ERIK ANDERSON JOINS US.
WHY THE NEED FOR AN OVERHAUL TO THE WORKERS COMPENSATION NOW?
>> >>: THE MAIN REASON IS RISING COSTS. WORKERS COMP INSURANCE PREMIUMS HAVE RISEN
FOR FOUR STRAIGHT YEARS AND JUST THE LAST TWO YEARS THE COST WAS UP FOUR BILLION DOLLARS
WHILE THE COST OF PREMIUMS WAS GOING UP, THE MONEY FOR BENEFITS WAS SHRINKING.
THE GOVERNOR ASKED LABOR BUSINESS REPUBLICANS AND DEMOCRATS TO CRAFT A SOLUTION BRCH TBHFER
SITUATION BECAME A CRISIS AND THEY CAME UP WITH THIS MEASURE.
>> >>: WE'RE SAVING HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS FOR BUSINESS, WE'RE GETTING WORKERS
BACK TO WORK FASTER, WE'RE GETTING THE KIND OF MEDICAL CARE THEY NEED THAT'S APPROPRIATE.
SO THIS IS PEOPLE COMING TOGETHER TO MAKE CALIFORNIA WORK BETTER.
AND IT'S NOT ONE PERSON, IT'S MANY PEOPLE. AND THAT'S THE WAY STUFF WORKS.
WHEN YOU GET IT DONE. >> >>: NOW THE BILL PASSED THROUGH BOTH HOUSES
OF LEGISLATURE WITH ONLY FOUR NEGATIVE VOTES. THE CHANGE IS GOING TO LIFT A GROWING BURDEN
ON BUSINESSES AND GET MORE BENEFITS TO DESERVING WORKERS WHO GET SICK OR WORK ON THE JOB.
>> >>DWANE: NOW THIS CHANGE ISN'T GOING OVER WELL CAN W EVERYONE IS IT?
>> >>: LIKE ANYTHING ELSE, NOT EVERYONE. AMONG THE MANY CHANGES IMPLEMENTED BY THE
BILL ARE MEASURES TO GET RID OF COVERAGE BY THINGS THAT FREQUENTLY WOUND UP IN COURT.
THERE'S A NEW BINDING ARBITRATION SYSTEM TO RESOLVE DISPUTES.
SOME ATTORNEYS FOUGHT THE MEASURE. THEY SAY IT CUTS INTO THEIR ABILITY TO SUE.
THE TRIAL SAY IT WILL LIMIT THE ABILITY OF CHIROPRACTORS TO SERVE.
THEY SAY THE REFORM LIM LIMITS THE KIER KIND OF CARE THE SERIOUSLY INJURED WORKERS WOULD
END UP GETTING. >> >>DWANE: KPBS BUSINESS AND ENVIRONMENT
REPORTER, ERIK ANDERSON. CALIFORNIA STATE UNIVERSITY SYSTEM IS MAKING
CONTINGENCY PLANS IN CASE THE GOVERNOR'S TAX INITIATIVE FAILS IN NOVEMBER.
A UNIVERSITY COMMITTEE VOTED TO RAISE TUITION 5% IN JANUARY IF PROPOSITION 30 DOESN'T PASS.
150 DOLLARS EXTRA A SEMESTER. ASSEMBLYMAN AND FORMER SAN DIEGO MAYORAL CANDIDATE
NATHAN FLETCHER CROSSED PRTY LINES ONCE AGAIN TODAY.
ENDORSING DEMOCRAT SCOTT PETERS IN THE 52ND CONGRESSIONAL RACE.
SO FAR FLETCHER HASN'T ENDORSED ANY OF HIS FORMER OPPONENTS RUNNING FOR SAN DIEGO MAYOR
REPUBLICAN BRIAN BILBRAY RESPONDED TO THE ENDORSEMENT BY CALLING ON PETERS TO APOLOGIZE
FOR HIS ROLE IN SAN DIEGO'S PENSION DEBACLE. PETERS WAS A CITY COUNCILMAN IN 2000 TWO 2
AND VOTED TO UNDER FUND THE PENSION SYSTEM. HIS CAMPAIGN SAYS HE REGRETS THE VOTE.
SAN DIEGO CITY COUNCIL APPROVE AD LAW TO STOP FORECLOSED HOMESﾊ BANKS COULD BE FINED IF
THEIR PROPERTIES FALL INTO DISREPAIR. TONIGHT CITY COUNCIL WILL ALSO CONSIDER A
LAW REPORTING VOTES ON LENDING PRACTICES OF BANKS DOING BUSINESS WITH A CITY.
THE MOTHERﾊ REOPEN THE INVESTIGATION. MAX SHACKNAI'S DEATH WAS RULED AN ACCIDENT
LAST YEAR. HIS MOTHER DEAN UH HIRED AN INVESTIGATOR SAYS
HE WAS ASSAULTED. DAYS AFTER MAX'S FALL, HIS FATHER'S GIRLFRIEND
WAS FOUND HANGING FROM A BAL KEAN AT THE MANSION. REBECCA ZAHAU'S DEATH WAS RULE AD SUICIDE
BUT HER FAMILY DOESN'T BELIEVE THE REPORT. SEPTEMBER IS THE PEEK OF FIRE SEASON IN SOUTHERN
CALIFORNIA AND IT'S ALSO FIRE PREVENTION MONTH, REGIONAL LEADERS GATHERED AT MONTGOMERY FIELD
TO PROMOTE A JOINT EFFORT USING NEW TECHNOLOGY TO BETTER RESPOND TO FIRES, EARTHQUAKES AND
OTHER DISASTERS. FROM AN AIR BORN VIDEO CAMERA SYSTEM THAT
CAN SEE THROUGH SMOKE SLOWING HOT SPOTS AND WHERE FIRE IS SPREADING OR DYING DOWN, TO
A MOBILE COMMAND CENTER PROVIDING WIRELESS ACCESS TO THE INTERNET IN REMOTE RURAL AREAS.
THIS TECHNOLOGY IS DESIGNED TO IMPROVE THE FIRE FIGHTING RESPONSE IN SAN DIEGO.
>> >>: THIS COULD BE KM VERY IMPORTANT TO FIRE FIGHTERS THEY GET THE INFORMATION TO
THEM. AS FAR AS I KNOW, THE FIRE IS NOT THE GREATEST
DANGER TO THE FIRE FIGHTER, THE WEATHER IS. >> >>DWANE: HANZ BRAWN IS A RESEARCHER WITH
UC SAN DIEGO. HE'S BEEN WORKING ON A HIGH PERFORMANCE WIRELESS
NETWORK IN SAN DIEGO. >> >>: IF THE WIND SPEED PICKS UP, THEY CAN
BE IN REAL TROUBLE. AND BEING ABLE TO GET THERE AND GET THEM TIMELY
INFORMATION ABOUT THAT COULD BE REALLY A LIFE SAVOR.
>> >>DWANE: FOR PUBLIC SAFETY, THERE'S SCORES OF REAL TIME WEB CAMERAS ANYONE CAN ACCESS
TO SEE WHAT'S GOING ON FROM A FIRE, EARTHQUAKE, OR SUDDEN FLASH FLOOD.
>> >>: ONE MINUTE YOU CAN ACTUALLY WALK ACROSS THE RIVER AND GET YOUR FEET WET.
JUST A FEW MINUTES LATER YOU WOULD HAVE JUST BEEN KILLED.
>> >>DWANE: THE CITY AND COUNTY OF SAN DIEGO ALONG WITH SDG&E AND UC SAN DIEGO WILL SHARE
THESE TECHNOLOGIES DURING DISASTERS. IT'S AN OFFENSIVE TURN FOR FIRST RESPONDERS
BUT PROPERTY OWNERS MUST PROVIDE THE DEFENSE BY CLEARING HAZARDOUS BRUSH AND DEBRIS FROM
AROUND HOMES AND BUSINESSESES AND THE 200,000 DOLLAR INFRARED CAMERA WAS PAID FOR WITH COUNTY
AND SDG&E FUNDS. >> >>: IT'S NECESSARY IN TERMS OF WHAT WE
CAN ACTUALLY SEE WHAT'S GOING ON MUCH BETTER. WE HAVE BETTER CAMERAS NOW.
MANY OF THE CAMERAS ESPECIALLY THE ONES THAT SDG&E PROVIDED ARE INFRARED SENSITIVE.
>> >>DWANE: THE NEW TECHNOLOGY DOESN'T MEAN WE CAN PREVENT FIRES BUT WE'LL HAVE BETTER
RESOURCES TO EFFECTIVELY RESPOND MORE QUICKLY. >> >>PEGGY: HERE WITH MORE ON HOW THE NEW
FIRE EYE SYSTEM COULD OFFSET THE COST OF FIGHTING WILD FIRES IN THE FUTURE AND AN UPDATE ON
THE SDG&E 2007 WILD FIRE SETTLEMENT ARE MY GUESTS SAN DIEGO COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
RON ROBERTS AND MIKE NIGGLIA, COO AND PRESIDENT OF SDG&E.
MIKE, HOW IS SDG&E INVOLVED IN THIS NEW FIRE TECHNOLOGY?
>> >>MIKE NIGGLI: WE'RE ACTUALLY SUPPLEMENTING THE EYE IN THE SKY WITH 29 ADDITIONAL HIGH
RESOLUTION HIGH PERFORMANCE CAMERAS. THEY'RE HOOKED AROUND THE SUN RISE POWER LINK
AND HAVE FIVE MILE VISIBILITY. WE TAKE ALL OF THAT DATA AND THEY HAVE INFRARED
CAPABILITY TO DETECT FIRES. WE FEED THAT BACK THROUGH A SYSTEM THAT GOES
THROUGH UCSD'S SUPER COMPUTERS AND IS ALLOWED TO BE UTILIZED BY ALL INCIDENT COMMANDERS.
>> >>PEGGY: THAT'S BEEN OFFICIAL TO SDG&E BECAUSE YOU CAN MONITOR THE SITUATION AS IT'S
HAPPENING AS IT STARTS? >> >>MIKE NIGGLI: YOU GET A BIG JUMP START
ON IT BECAUSE YOU KNOW WHERE IT'S AT, WE CAN DISPATCH FIRE CREWS.
WE HAVE OUR BIG HELITANKER WITH US RIGHT NOW, SO WE CAN GET TO THE SPOT VERY QUICKLY AND
HELP PREVENT FIRES FROM SPREADING. >> >>PEGGY: TIMING IS VERY IMPORTANT IN FIGHTING
FIRES. LET'S TALK ABOUT THE VIDEO SYSTEM, RON.
IT'S PART OF A MUCH BIGGER EMERGENCY RESPONSE SYSTEM.
>> >>RON ROBERTS: THE SITUATION IS CHANGE DRAMATICALLY.
WE LEARNED FROM 2007 AND I PERSONALLY LEARNED THAT WHAT WE NEEDED TO DO WHAT THE MILITARY
HAS BEEN DOING. THE BAY THEY'VE CHANGED THE BATTLE FIELD IN EFFECT, BY HAVING INTEGRATED
A VISUAL, AN ARIEL VISUAL WITH THE TROOPS ON THE GROUND.
IN ESSENCE, THAT'S WHAT WE'RE DOING. IN ADDITION TO THE CAMERAS ON THE SUN RISE
TOWERS, WE ALSO HAVE CAMERAS MOUNTED ON VARIOUS MOUNTAIN TOPS, A WHOLE SLEW OF THOSE.
WE'RE BRINGING ALL OF THESE SYSTEMS TOGETHER THROUGH THE UCSD SUPER COMPUTER SO THAT THE
VISUALS INCLUDING INFRARED THAT CAN SEE THROUGH THE SMOKE KNOWING EXACTLY WHERE THE FIRE IS,
WHERE IT'S GOING, MICROWEATHER STATIONS THAT ARE DEPLOYED THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY, THE INCIDENT
COMMANDER, THE GUY ON THE GROUND HAVING TO SAY WHERE DO I WANT THESE ARIEL DROPS IS GOING
TO HAVE BETTER INFORMATION THAN EVER BEFORE. >> >>PEGGY: YOU CAN SEE THEM NOW JUST BRIEFLY.
RON, HOW MUCH IS THIS COST UP FRONT AND HOW MUCH IS IT GOING TO COST TO MAINTAIN?
>> >>RON ROBERTS: FIRST OF ALLﾊ FIRST OF ALL, THERE'S A SYSTEM IN PLACE HERE.
I CAN TELL YOU THAT THE COUNTY HAS SPENT OVER $250ﾊMILLION SINCE 2003, IN CREATING NOT
JUST THESE BUT OTHER IMPROVEMENTS. BUT THE THERE'S SO MANY PIECES HERE.
TODAY THE CAMERA ALONE WAS 100,000 DOLLARS. TO CONNECT THE CAMERA AND INTEGRATE IT WAS
ANOTHER HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS. THANKS TO SDG&E THE COUNTY KICKED IN 100,000
TO ACQUIRE THE CAMERA, AND SDG&E KICKED IN MONEY TO MAKE THAT CAMERA OPERATIONAL.
>> >>PEGGY: WE'LL COME BACK TO THE COSTS OF FIGHTING FIRES.
I HAVE TO GET TO THE SDG&E SETTLEMENT THAT WAS RECENTLY ANNOUNCED, SIX MILLION DOLLARS.
CAN YOU EXPLAIN WHAT THESE CLAIMS FROM 2000, WHAT ARE THESE ABOUT BASICALLY?
>> >>MIKE NIGGLI: IF YOU THINK ABOUT IT, THE U.S. FOREST SERVICE HAS CERTAIN LANDS THAT
THEY HAVE JURISDICTION OVER. SO IF THERE'S FIRE THAT GOES THROUGH THERE,
THEY HAVE TO FIGHT THE FIRE, THEY HAVE TO DO THINGS TO PROTECT THEIR LAND AND THEY ARE
ESSENTIALLY BILLING US FOR THAT COST AS THEY WOULD HOLD US LIABLE FOR A FIRE LIKE THAT.
THEY'RE TRYING TO RECOVER THOSE COSTS AND ALSO TO OFFSET SOME OF THE DAMAGE YOU MIGHT
HAVE IN THE ENVIRONMENT. SO WE'VE GOT A SETTLEMENT WITH THEM.
THAT'S THE LAST OF ALL WE NEEDED WITH THE GOVERNMENTAL AGENCIES.
WE'RE NOW SET TO MOVE FORWARD. >> >>PEGGY: BRIEFLY ON THE COST OF THAT, THE
ONE BIG LOOMING QUESTION I HAVE TO ASK, IS RATE PAYERS GOING TO ABSORB SOME OF THAT COST
IN SETTLEMENT? >> >>MIKE NIGGLI: WE HAVE SETTLED ABOUT 1
AND A HALF TO 2ﾊBILLION CLS IN SETTLEMENTS. WE HAVE INSURANCE FOR A BILLION AND A HALF.
ANYTHING ABOVE A BILLION AND A HALF WE'LL BE ASKING RATE PAYERS TO HELP IN THOSE COSTS.
>> >>PEGGY: HAVING A SYSTEM IN PLACE LIKE THIS, HAVING THE SEDIMENT COST THINGS LIKE
THAT, IN LIGHT OF THE BUDGET SITUATION, IN THE STATE, HOW ARE WE IN SAN DIEGO COUNTY
GOING TO PAY FOR THIS? DO WE HAVE A CONTINGENCY PLAN?
>> >>MIKE NIGGLI: WE DO. YOU KNOW, FIRST OF ALL WE HAVE A LOT OF PARTNERS
IN THIS. WE WOULDN'T HAVE BEEN ABLE TO DO THIS WITHOUT
HOMELAND SECURITY, AND NORMALLY YOU THINK OF HOMELAND SECURITY AS BEING INVOLVED WITH
TERRORISTS. NOT WITH THE TYPES OF EMERGENCIES THAT WE'RE
LOOKING AT. THEY HAVE GIVEN US ENORMOUS SUPPORT IN HELPING
CREATE ALL THE SOFTWARE. THAT'S A VERY EXPENSIVE PART OF THIS WHOLE
SYSTEM. LINCOLN AT MITS HAS BEEN DOING THAT.
WE HAVE UCSD, THE COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS JUST APPROVED A, GRANT, IT WILL BE ON OUR
NEXT AGENDA APPROVING A GRANT FOR FUNDING UCSD'S PARTICIPATION FOR THE NEXT YEAR AS
WE'RE WORKING OUR WAY THROUGH THIS AND THEN WE'LL LOOK AT HOW WE SUSTAIN THIS.
>> >>PEGGY: IT SOUNDS LIKE THERE'S A LOT OF COLLABORATION GOING ON Y.WANT TO HAVE A LAST
COMMENT WITH YOU MIKE. TELL US WHO SDG&E IS INVOLVED WITH AS FAR
AS FIRE PREVENTION AND THIS COLLABORATIVE EFFORT TO PREVENT FIRES AND FIGHT FIRES IN
THE FUTURE. >> >>: A TECHNOLOGY GAME CHANGER FROM OUR
STANDPOINT. WE'VE BEEN INVOLVED WITH THE RED CROSS, THE
CITY, THE COUNTY, UCSD, SAN DIEGO STATE, ALL OF THE ACADEMIC UNIVERSITIES HAVE CONTRIBUTED
IN ONE WAY OR ANOTHER ON THIS. AND THE HP WREN SYSTEM WHICH CONNECTS THE
ENTIRE NETWORK, WE TAKE OUR 140 WEATHER STAI STATIONS WE HAVE THROUGHOUT SAN DIEGO COUNTY,
FEED IT INTO THAT, MAKE IT AVAILABLE ON THE INTERNET, ALL OF THAT REALLY WORKS WELL.
>> >>PEGGY: WE ARE UNFORTUNATELY OUT O OF TIME.
WE HAVE A LOT MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THIS ON OUR WEBSITE.
MIKE NIGGLIA WITH SDG&E, AND RON ROBERTS COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS.
>> >>DWANE: LAST NIGHT WE TOLD YOU ABOUT A NATIVE AMERICAN TEENAGER WHO WILL LIKELY GRADUATE
HIGH SCHOOL BECAUSE OF PROGRAMS AT A JUVENILE DETENTION CENTER IN ARIZONA.
ABOUT 80ﾊPERCENT OF THE KIDS GRADUATE. WHAT HAPPENS WHEN THEY'RE RELEASED FROM JUVENILE
DETENTION? LAUREL MORALES BRINGS US PART TWO OF HER SPECIAL REPORT.
>> >>: HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN 18? >> >>: ONCE THE KIDS ARE RELEASED HOME, MANY
ATTEND THE TRANSITION SCHOOL DO GET CAUGHT UP ON CREDITS THEY MISSED. THE TRANSITION
COUNSELOR ASSESSES THE KIDS AND HELPS THEM FIND THEIR TALENTS.
>> >>: TO LEAVE THIS PLACE BELIEVING THAT THEY ARE GOOD, AT THOSE CERTAIN THINGS, AND
SO I THINK IT'S MY JOB TO REALLY INSTILL HOPE AND CONFIDENCE AND SELF ESTEEM.
BECAUSE I'M NOT GOING TO BE THERE IN THEIR LIVES SO THEY NEED TO LEAVE ON THEIR OWN WITH
THAT CONFIDENCE. >> >>LAUREL: SOMETIMES LEE WILL MAKE A BREAKTHROUGH
WITH KIDS WHEN HE OPENS ABOUT HIS OWN STRUGGLES. >> >>: I WAS STEALING, I STOLE ANYWHEREﾊ
MY PARENTS OWNED A GROCERY STORE, I WAS STEALING AT DIFFERENT STORES, FROM MY OWN PARENTS ANYWHERE
FROM A DOLLAR TO A HUNDRED DOLLARS A DAY. I STOLE THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS FROM THEM.
THEY HAD FILED BANKRUPTCYﾊ >> >>LAUREL: FROM YOUR PARENTS?
>> >>: YES, I DID. THEY FILED BANKRUPTCY.
I WAS RAN AWAY FROM THE COPS ONE TIME, GOT INVOLVED WITH DRUGS IT WAS AROUND MIDDLE SCHOOL
AND HIGH SCHOOL WHICH IS A PIVOTAL TIME IN LIFE AND I GOT CONNECTED TO A CHURCH AND I
MET A FEW MEN THAT BECAME MY MENTORS AND THEY REALLY PUT THEIR LIVES INTO MINE AND GAVE
ME HOPE, GAVE ME THE SKILLS AND THE TOOLS TO SUCCEED AND THEY WERE A HUGE PART OF MY
LIFE. >> >>: THIS IS OUR BRAVO UNIT.
>> >>LAUREL: DETENTION MANAGER REMEMBERS THAT CRITICAL TIME WHEN HE WAS YOUNG.
>> >>: A LOT OF THE PEER THAT I GREW UP WITH ARE IN PRISON AND HAVE THEIRﾊ I THINK THE
DIFFERENCE FOR ME IS HAVING THOSE CARING PARENTS THAT PROVIDED SOMEONE THAT STRUCTURE AND PROVIDED
ME WITH THOSE BOUNDARIES AND SOME OF THOSE VALUES THAT I NEEDED TO MAKE SURE THAT I END
UP IN THE SAME PLACE. BUT I WAS VERY FORTUNATE.
VERY FORTUNATE. AND SOMETIMES IT'S NOT A MATTER OF HAVING
THOSE SKILLS BUT JUST LUCK. JUST LUCK.
AND THAT YOU MADE THE RIGHT DECISION AT THE RIGHT TIME.
SOME OF OUR KIDS, THEY MADE A MISTAKE. THEY MADE A POOR DECISION.
I WOULD SAY 99.99% OF OUR KIDS ARE NOT BAD PEOPLE.
THEY JUST MADE A POOR DECISION. IT IS MY HOPE AND OUR STAFF'S HOPE AND OUR
DEPARTMENT'S HOPE THAT THAT DECISION IS SOMETHING THAT THEY END UP THE REST OF THEIR LIFE PAYING
FOR. >> >>LAUREL: THEY ALL AGREE THE HARDEST PART
OF THEIR JOB IS SEEING KIDS SUCCEED IN DETENTION THEN REGRESS TO THEIR OLD WAYS AS SOON AS
THEY LEAVE. >> >>: ONE THING WE HAVE TO DO AS ADULTS AND
WHAT WE LEARN WITH WORKING WITH TROUBLED KIDS IS THAT CHANGE DOESN'T COME ALL AT ONCE.
>> >>LAUREL: BRIAN POINTS TO A LONG TERM STUDY BY EMY WARNER AND RUTH SMITH THAT SHOWED EVEN
TROUBLED TEENS CHANGE. THE TWO RESEARCHERS FOLLOWED THE LIVES OF
500 MEN AND WOMEN WHO WERE BORN IN 1955. A THIRD WERE CONSIDERED AT RISK.
AFTER TRACKING THEM INTO THEIR 40S, THEY DISCOVER MOST BECOME COMPETENT, CARING ADULTS.
>> >>: KIDS DO GROW UP. SOMETIMES IT'S A LONG JOURNEY FOR SOME.
SOMETIMES THEY DO THINGS THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE TO BE IN PRISON FOR MAYBE IN PRISON FOR
FOR A LONG TIME. BUT THE GREAT MAJORITY DO GROW AND DEVELOP
AND SOMETIMES 18 DOESN'T MEAN THAT YOUR ALL GROWN UP.
>> >>LAUREL: IF ONLY WE COULD FAST FORWARD JAY'S LIFE TO FIND OUT WHERE HE WILL BE.
SINCE THE FILMING HE'S BEEN RELEASED FROM JUVENILE DETENTION AND HAS TURNED 18.
AUTHORITIES HAVE LOST TRACK OF JAY, AND HE HASN'T CHECKED INTO SCHOOL.
THEY'RE CONCERNED ABOUT A RELAPSE. >> >>DWANE: THAT'S LAUREL MORALES WITH OUR
FRONTERAS DESK REPORTING FROM FLAG STAFF ARIZONA. YOU CAN SEE BOTH PARTS OF THIS REPORT ON OUR
WEBSITE KPBS.ORG. SOME UC SAN DIEGO RESEARCHERS SAY SOCIAL NETWORKS
LIKE FACEBOOK HAVE SIGNIFICANTLY INCREASED VOTER TURN OUT.
PEGGY PICO TAKES A CLOSER LOOK AT THE STUDY AND HOW SOCIAL MEDIA IS CHANGING VOTING HABITS.
>> >>PEGGY: THE 61ﾊMILLION PERSON STUDY FOUND THE SMALL I VOTED BUTTONS ON FACEBOOK
PAGE NZ FLEUNSED 340,000 MORE PEOPLE TO VOTE IN THE NOVEMBERﾊ2010 ELECTIONS.
JAMES FOWLER, PROFESSOR OF POLITICAL SCIENCE AND MEDICAL GENETICS AT UC SAN DIEGO LEAD
THIS UNUSUAL STUDY. THANKS FOR BEING HERE.
WHY DID YOU DO THIS EXPERIMENT AND HOW DID YOU DO IT?
>> >>JAMES FOWLER: WE WANTED TO KNOW U IF ALL THIS HYPE ABOUT SOCIAL MEDIA WAS TRUE.
SO WE COLLABORATED ACTUALLY DIRECTLY WITH FACEBOOK TO DO AN EXPERIMENT THAT INVOLVED
61ﾊMILLION PEOPLE. >> >>PEGGY: ACROSS THE STATE.
YOU POSTED SOMETHING ON FACEBOOK, WE'RE GOING TO POP IT UP SO THE VIEWERS CAN SEE, SO WHAT
DID YOU ACTUALLY PUT ON WHAT DID YOU ACTUALLY PUT ON THE FACEBOOK PAGE?
>> >>JAMES FOWLER: WE HAD A MESSAGE THAT SHOWED TODAY IS ELECTION DAY, IT SHOWED A BUTTON
THAT YOU CAN CLICK ON TO SAY WHETHER OR NOT YOU VOTED AND A COUNTER OF THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE
WHO CLICKED ON THAT BUTTON THAT DAY. THEN AN ALTERNATIVE MESSAGE THAT ALSO SHOWED
FACES OF YOUR FRIENDS AND THEN A THIRD GROUP WHO SAW NO MESSAGE AT ALL.
SO WE COULD COMPARE. >> >>PEGGY: AND THE PEOPLE WHO GOT THE INTEREST
THING THING IS THE PEOPLE WHO GOT THE MESSAGES WITH THE FACES THAT'S WHERE YOU SAW A DIFFERENCE.
>> >>JAMES FOWLER: THAT'S RIGHT. SO THE PEOPLE WHO SAW THEIR FRIENDS FACES,
WE ESTIMATE THAT CAUSED AN ADDITIONAL SCIGZ 60,000 PEOPLE TO GO TO THE POLLS.
MORE IMPORTANTLY, THEIR FRIENDS WERE ALSO MORE LIKELY TO VOTE.
SO THE FRIENDS OF PEOPLE WHO SAW THE MESSAGE, GOT AN ADDITIONAL 280,000 PEOPLE TO THE POLLS.
>> >>PEGGY: MORE SO JUST BY SEEING YOUR FRIEND OPPOSED BY SEEING THE VOTE BUTTON.
LET'S TALK ABOUT THE VIRAL ASPECT. THE IMPORTANT THING ISN'T JUST THE PEOPLE
WHO SAW THIS AND PUSHED THE BUTTON THAT SAY I VOTED. THE REAL POTENTIAL HERE IS THE VIRAL
ASPECT. >> >>JAMES FOWLER: FOR EVERY ONE PERSON WHOSE
BEHAVIOR HAS CHANGED DIRECTLY FOR THEIR FRIENDS HAD CHANGED.
THAT POINT TO THE POWER OF SOCIAL NETWORKS. WE HAVE FRIENDS AND FRIENDS OF FRIENDS.
>> >>PEGGY: WE'RE SEEING A GRAPHIC OF CLOSE FRIENDS.
IT'S NOT JUST EVERY FRIEND. CLOSE FRIENDS AS SEEN HERE IN THE RED DOTS.
WHAT WAS THE CONNECTION BETWEEN THE CLOSE FRIENDS LINK?
>> >>JAMES FOWLER: THIS IS REALLY IMPORTANT. WE DID A SEPARATE STUDY WHERE WE ASKED PEOPLE
TO TELL US WHO THEIR REAL WORLD FRIENDS WERE AND USED FACEBOOK DATA TO PREDICT WHO HAD
REAL FACE TO FACE RELATIONSHIPS. THE AVERAGE PERSON HAS ABOUT 10 CLOSE FRIENDS WHAT WE
FOUND WAS THAT ALL OF THE EFFECTS OF SPREADING TO THE NETWORK WAS DRIVEN BY THE FACE TO FACE
FRIENDS NOT BY ALL THE FACEBOOK FRIENDS. >> >>PEGGY: THAT WOULD BE INTERESTING POLITICALLY.
ONE INTERESTING PART I READ ABOUT THIS, THERE WAS NO DIFFERENCE AMONG POLITICAL LINES.
DID THAT SURPRISE YOU? >> >>JAMES FOWLER: WHAT WE FOUND IS THAT LIBERALS
AND CONSERVATIVES WERE EQUALLY EFFECTED BY SEEING THE MESSAGE.
>> >>PEGGY: WHEN WE FIRST RAN THE STORY WE DID A COUPLE DAYS ON OUR WEBSITE, THERE WAS
CONCERN ABOUT PRIVACY. IN FACT, WE HAD ONE PERSON WHO POSTED THIS:
IT'S A CONCERN THAT THE STUDY AUTHORS COULD TRACK EACH PERSON WHO CLICKED THE I VOTED
AND LINK THEM TO VOTER RECORDS. WHICH INCLUDES NAMES, ADDRESSES AND PARTY
AFFILIATION TO CHECK IF THEY ACTUALLY VOTED. WHICH WAS YOUR METHOD.
HOW WERE THESE FACEBOOK PEOPLE IDENTIFIED? WAS IT THAT WAY AND HOW DO YOU RESPOND TO
PRIVACY ISSUES? >> >>JAMES FOWLER: FACEBOOK HAD EXACTLY THE
SAME CONCERN AS THE PERSON WHO WROTE THIS COMMENT.
WHEN WE SAID WE WANTED TO LOOK AT REAL BEHAVIOR, THEY SAID THAT'S FINE, BUT WE DON'T WANT TO
KNOW WHO REGISTERED. WE USE TD THIS PROCEDURE THAT MATCHES GROUPS
OF PEOPLE IN THE VOTER RECORD TO GROUPS OF PEOPLE ON FACEBOOK TO PRESERVE PRIVACY.
>> >>PEGGY: SO DOLLAR WAS A PRIVACY PROTECTION IN LINE.
AND IT'S FAIR TO SAY THAT VOTER RECORDS ARE PUBLIC RECORD.
>> >>JAMES FOWLER: RESEARCHERS USE THEM ALL THE TIME.
>> >>PEGGY: HOWﾊ SINCE YOU'VE DONE THE STUDY, THE EFFECTIVENESS OF SOCIAL MEDIA, DO YOU
THINK BECAUSE AFTER DOING THE STUDY, DO YOU THINK IT REALLY WILL HAVE AN IMPACT ON THE
NOVEMBER PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION? CERTAINLY THE CANDIDATES THINK SO.
>> >>JAMES FOWLER: I'M SURE IT'S GOING TO CHANGE THE STRATEGY BECAUSE ONE OF THE KEY
MES NLS IF YOU'RE TESTING THE THE NETWORK IS KEY.
IT'S REALLY THOSE FOUR FRIEND WHOSE REACT THAT REALLY DRIVE THE IMPACT OF ANYTHING YOU'RE
TRYING TO DO TO GET YOUR SUPPORTERS TO THE POLLS.
>> >>PEGGY: YOU HAVE TO STILL HAVE THE SORT OF SHAKING HANDS KISSING BABIES BUT ON FACEBOOK
SOME HOW. >> >>JAMES FOWLER: THAT'S RIGHT, IT'S THE
REAL WORLD SOCIAL NETWORK THAT MATTERS. THAT'S THE FUNDAMENTAL MESSAGE OF THIS RESEARCH.
>> >>PEGGY: LAST QUESTION HERE, WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO BE LOOKING AT NEXT WITH THIS SOCIAL
MEDIA RESEARCH? >> >>JAMES FOWLER: WE'RE INTERESTED IN TWO
KEY QUESTIONS. WHAT KINDS OF MESSAGES ARE MOST EFFECTIVE,
AND WHAT KIND OF PEOPLE ARE AFFECTED. YOU MAYBE SOME PEOPLE YOU CAN GET A 10 PER
1 OR 20 PER 1 RATIO. >> >>PEGGY: SO SORT OF A SOCIAL SCIENCE, POLITICAL
SCIENCE RESEARCH PROJECT I'M SURE MANY POLITICIANS WILL BE FOLLOWING.
>> >>JAMES FOWLER: THANK YOU. >> >>PEGGY: I HOPE.
ALL RIGHT, JAMES FOWLER, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR TALKING WITH US.
>> >>JAMES FOWLER: THANK YOU. >> >>PEGGY: IN TONIGHT'S PUBLIC SQUARE, WE'VE
RECEIVED QUITE A FEW RESPONSES ON THE WEB, BOTH GOOD AND BAD TO MANY OF OUR RECENT NEWS
STORIES. OUR STORY ON FEDERAL BUDGET CUTS WAS ONE SIDED
HE OBJECTED TO THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE CLAIM THAT ONE OUT OF FOUR JOBS IN SAN DIEGO ARE
AT RISK WHEN BUDGET CUTS GO INTO EFFECT. KPBS MID DAY EDITION HOST MAUREEN CAVANAUGH
RESPONDED TO HIS COMMENTS WITH REFERENCE TO A LENGTHY NON PARTISAN KPBS REPORT ON THE
POTENTIAL IMPACT OF BUDGET CUTS ESPECIALLY ON LOCAL INDUSTRIES LINKED TO THE MILITARY.
SHE WROTEﾊ WE WELCOME BOTH CRITICISM AND COMPLIMENTS
HERE, WEB USER FRANKIE SAID: YOU CAN JOIN IN ON THESE CONVERSATIONS OR COMMENT
ON ANY KPBS STORY BY FOLLOWING US ON TWITTER, LIKING US ON FACEBOOK, OR E MAIL US AT PUBLIC
SQUARE @ KPBS.ORG. >> >>DWANE: RECAPPING TONIGHT'S TOP STORY
GOVERNOR JERRY BROWN CAME TO SAN DIEGO TO SIGN A BILL OVERHAULING CALIFORNIA'S WORKERS
COMPENSATION SYSTEM. HE SAYS IT SAVES MONEY AND STREAM LINES THE
PROCESS BUT SOME ATTORNEYS SAY THE BILL LIMITS THE ABILITY TO SUE WHEN A WORKER IS HURT ON
THE JOB. THEY ALSO SAY IT LIMITS THE TYPE OF CARE INJURED
WORKERS CAN RECEIVE. AND YOU CAN FIND TONIGHT'S STORIES ON WERE
WEBSITE, KPBS.ORG/EVENINGEDITION. PBS NEWS HOUR IS COMING UP NEXT.
THANKS FOR JOINING US, YOU HAVE A GREAT NIGHT.