Friday, May 25, 2012 - Evening Edition

>> TONIGHT ON KPBS "EVENING
EDITION", THE NEW LEADER OF AN
EMBATTLED CONSUMER GROUP SAYS A
FIGHT WILL GO ON.
>>> A SERVICE FOR A HOMELESS
VETERAN WILL BE HELD IN BALBOA
PARK TOMORROW.
HE WILL RECEIVE A DIGNIFIED
FUNERAL.
"EVENING EDITION" STARTS NOW.
>> GOOD EVENING, THANKS FOR
JOINING US.
I'M DWANE BROWN.
A POINT LOMA MEGA-CHURCH SAYS
THE COUNTY GRAND JURY IS WRONG
IN CALLING FOR THE SUSPENSION OF
ITS PERMIT.
THE GRAND JURY REPORT SAYS THE
ROCK CHURCH IS INCOMPATIBLE WITH
LAND-USE PLANS FOR LIBERTY
STATION, LEADING TO TRAFFIC AND
PARKING PROBLEMS IN THE AREA.
IN A WRITTEN STATEMENT, THE
CHURCH SAYS THE REPORT IS
FACTUALLY AND LEGALLY
INACCURATE.
IT SAYS THE PERMIT WAS ISSUED
AFTER A THOROUGH REVIEW IN 2004,
AND, QUOTING HERE: "...THE GRAND
JURY FAILED TO PROPERLY REVIEW
AND CONSIDER THE CORRECT
REGULATORY REQUIREMENTS AND
DOCUMENTS PREPARED BY THE CITY
AND APPROVED BY THE PLANNING
COMMISSION.
AS A RESULT, THE GRAND JURY
FINDINGS ARE INCORRECT."
MAYOR JERRY SANDERS HAS UNTIL
AUGUST 22ND TO RESPOND TO THE
REPORT.
>>> THERE WERE MORE EVACUATIONS
TODAY BECAUSE OF THE BANNER FIRE
EAST OF JULIAN.
CAMPERS WERE FORCED OUT OF AN RV
PARK NEAR ANZA-BORREGO STATE
PARK.
2500 ACRES HAVE BEEN BURNED SO
FAR.
NO WORD ON WHEN IT MIGHT BE
COMPLETELY CONTAINED.
>>> SOME SAN DIEGO CITY COUNCIL
MEMBERS SAY SURPLUS REVENUE
SHOULD MEAN MORE FUNDING FOR
LIFEGUARDS.
THE LIFEGUARD SERVICE WANTS $300
MILLION TO HIRE SOME FILL-IN
LIFEGUARDS AND TO RUN A WELLNESS
PROGRAM TO PREVENT INJURIES.
SAN DIEGO IS PROJECTED TO HAVE A
BUDGET SURPLUS OF NEARLY $18
MILLION.
CITY COUNCIL WILL VOTE ON THE
BUDGET NEXT MONTH.
>>> ON SATURDAY, ONE OF MANY
HOMELESS VETERANS IN SAN DIEGO
WILL HAVE A DIGNIFIED MEMORIAL
SERVICE.
ABOUT 269 FUNERALS HAVE BEEN
HELD AT A HISTORIC SITE IN
BALBOA PARK SINCE 2000.
IT WAS BUILT BACK IN 1944.
ABOUT 12 YEARS AGO, THEY STARTED
A MEMORIAL SERVICE FOR HOMELESS
VETERANS.
MOST HAVE NO RELATIVES TO
CONTACT OR TO MAKE FUNERAL
ARRANGEMENTS.
>> THE REASON WE STARTED THAT,
WE LEARN THAT ROSECRANS WAS
RECEIVING FEDEX BOXES OF ASHES.
DID THEY RECEIVE MILITARY
HONORS?
LET'S HAVE A SERVICE AND MAKE
SURE THAT WE PROVIDE HONORS HERE
FOR THEM.
>> Reporter: THIS MUSEUM AND
MEMORIAL CENTER HAS BEEN
HONORING ACTIVE-DUTY MILITARY
FOR NEARLY 70 YEARS YEARS.
YOU MAY EVEN RECOGNIZE THIS
SIGNATURE, FORMER P.O.W. AND
PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE JOHN
McCAIN.
>> I WATCHED HIM AS HE TALKED TO
PEOPLE AND SO FORTH.
I PRESENTED HIM THE PEN TO HIS
RIGHT HAND.
>> Reporter: THE CENTER COVERS
THE CONFLICT IN IRAQ AND
AFGHANISTAN TO THE IMPACT WOMEN
HAVE HAD ON THE SERVICE.
AND IT WILL BE OPEN ON MEMORIAL
DAY, FOR THE PUBLIC TO REMEMBER
THOSE WHO HAVE GIVEN THEIR LIVES
TO PROTECT OUR NATION'S FREEDOM.
FUNERAL SERVICES FOR HOMELESS
VETS AND OTHERS ARE HELD ONCE A
MONTH AT THAT CENTER.
A SPECIAL TRIBUTE WILL BE HELD
ON MONDAY.
SENATOR McCAIN AND MITT ROMNEY
ARE EXPECTED TO ATTEND.
>>> A NORTH COUNTY TRIBE IS
EXPANDING ITS CASINO.
HARRAH'S RINCON WILL GET A NEW
NIGHTCLUB AND CONCERT VENUE AND
MORE HOTEL ROOMS AND SLOT
MACHINES.
LAST YEAR THE RINCON BAND OF
MISSION INDIANS SUED THE STATE
TO ALLOW MORE SLOTS.
A PUBLIC MEETING ON THE PROJECT
WILL BE HELD WEDNESDAY.
>>> DESPITE THREATS OF
DISSOLUTION, SAN DIEGO'S LARGEST
CONSUMER PROTECTION GROUP WILL
GO ON, BUT WITH A NEW DIRECTOR.
AMITA SHARMA IS TALKING WITH HER
AT THE EVENING EDITION
ROUNDTABLE.
>> KIM MALCOLM STEPPED IN THIS
WEEK TO REPLACE MICHAEL SHAMES
AS EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE
UTILITIES CONSUMERS ACTION
NETWORK.
UCAN HAS BEEN RACKED BY INTERNAL
FIGHTING AND ACCUSATIONS OF
EMBEZZLEMENT IN RECENT MONTHS.
MALCOLM IS HERE TO TALK TO ME
ABOUT THE FUTURE OF UCAN.
YOURE COMING IN AT A TUMULTUOUS
TIME FOR UCAN.
THERE IS AN FBI INVESTIGATION,
TWO STAFFERS MADE SOME SERIOUS
ALLEGATIONS AGAINST THE FORMER
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, MICHAEL
SHAMES, ABOUT FINANCIAL
DEALINGS.
HOW DO YOU PLAN TO REPAIR THE
ORGANIZATION?
>> WELL, THANK YOU, AMITA.
AS YOU KNOW, UCAN HAS A
WONDERFUL REPUTATION WITH STATE
REGULATORS AND WITH THE SAN
DIEGO COMMUNITY.
WE WANT TO BUILD ON UCAN'S GOOD
REPUTATION, ITS LITIGATION
SKILLS, THE WORK IT'S DONE FOR
THE LAST 30 YEARS IN THE
COMMUNITY, HELPING CLIENTS AND
CUSTOMERS WITH THEIR BILLS AND
SERVICES.
SO THAT'S MY JOB RIGHT NOW, IS
TO BUILD ON THAT, AND TO GET BY
THE LAWSUITS AND THE
ALLEGATIONS.
>> WHAT IS MICHAEL SHAMES'S
RELATIONSHIP TO UCAN RIGHT NOW?
IS HE STILL SOMEHOW CONNECTED TO
THE ORGANIZATION THAT HE
BASICALLY HELPED FOUND?
>> YES, DEFINITELY.
MICHAEL HAS STEPPED DOWN AS
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, HE IS STILL
EMPLOYED BY UCAN AS AN ATTORNEY,
AND WILL CONTINUE TO WORK ON THE
PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION
CASES WITH SAN DIEGO GAS &
ELECTRIC, AND WE'RE WORKING OUT
A FUTURE WORKING RELATIONSHIP
WITH MICHAEL, WHO HAS BEEN SUCH
AN ASSET TO UCAN FOR SO MANY
YEARS.
>> AS YOU KNOW, SAN DIEGO GAS &
ELECTRIC HAS AN EFFORT UNDERWAY
TO CHARGE CUSTOMERS FOR THE 2007
UNINSURED WILDFIRE COSTS AS WELL
AS FUTURE UNINSURED WILDFIRE
COSTS.
THERE WERE TWO PUBLIC HEARINGS
HELD HERE IN APRIL, AND THERE
WAS A PRETTY HUGE UPROAR ABOUT
IT; ALMOST 1,000 CUSTOMERS
SHOWED UP TO PROTEST THIS AT THE
COMBINED HEARINGS.
WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THIS
PROPOSAL?
>> UM, WELL, IN MY EXPERIENCE AT
THE PUC, IT WOULD BE
UNPRECEDENTED FOR THE COMMISSION
TO ALLOW A UTILITY TO RECOVER
COSTS RETROACTIVELY FOR DAMAGES
RELATED TO AN EVENT FOR WHICH IT
HAD LIABILITY, AND IT WOULD BE
VERY UNUSUAL.
SO -- AND I DON'T THINK IT WOULD
BE IN CONSUMER INTERESTS, AND I
DON'T THINK IT WOULD SEND THE
RIGHT SIGNAL TO THE UTILITY FOR
ITS FUTURE OPERATIONS AND
MAINTENANCE OF ITS SYSTEM.
>> YOU WORKED AT THE CALIFORNIA
PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION FOR
20 YEARS AS AN ADMINISTRATIVE
LAW JUDGE, YOU WERE ALSO CHIEF
OF STAFF FOR A COMMISSIONER.
THERE IS A PERCEPTION AMONG SOME
PEOPLE THAT THE PUC IS NOT
SERVING THE INTERESTS OF
CUSTOMERS BUT RATHER THE
UTILITIES.
WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THAT
PERCEPTION?
>> I THINK THE COMMISSION HAS A
LOT OF VERY TALENTED AND
DEDICATED STAFF.
I THINK THAT THE PEOPLE WHO MAKE
THE DECISIONS THERE ARE VERY
WELL MEANING.
I THINK IT'S UP TO ORGANIZATIONS
LIKE UCAN TO PRESENT THE FACTS
AND THE ANALYSIS AND ADVOCATE ON
BEHALF OF CONSUMERS AND THE
ENVIRONMENT.
RIGHT NOW I THINK THERE ARE A
LOT OF OPPORTUNITIES, BECAUSE
OUR GOVERNOR HAS JUST APPOINTED
THREE VERY COMMITTED, VERY
SMART, AND VERY KNOWLEDGEABLE
COMMISSIONERS WHO SEEM TO CARE
VERY MUCH ABOUT CONSUMERS.
SO UCAN WILL BE DOING A LOT MORE
LITIGATION UP THERE IN THE
FUTURE ON BEHALF OF SAN DIEGO
RATE-PAYERS.
>> SO THESE THREE APPOINTEES
HAVE SERVED ONE YEAR SO FAR.
HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT HOW THEY
VOTED?
>> WELL, HONESTLY, I'VE BEEN
RUNNING A NON-PROFIT IN BERKELEY
THAT DIDN'T FOLLOW REGULATIONS
SO MUCH.
I HEAR VERY GOOD THINGS ABOUT
THE WORK THEY'RE DOING,
THE INITIATIVES THEY'RE TAKING,
AND THE PUBLIC POLICIES THEY
HAVE COMMITTED THEMSELVES TO.
>> KIM MALCOLM, THANK YOU FOR
SPEAKING WITH US TODAY.
>> THANK YOU.
>>> SAN DIEGO GAS PRICES DROPPED
A LITTLE GOING INTO THE MEMORIAL
DAY WEEKEND.
THE AVERAGE PRICE FOR REGULAR
NOW $4.30 A GALLON, MUCH HIGHER
THAN A YEAR AGO AT THIS TIME.
THE AUTO CLUB SAYS GAS PRICES
ARE ABOUT $4 A GALLON THROUGHOUT
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA.
>>> YOU WON'T NEED MUCH GAS TO
GET TO THE BEST BEACH IN THE
NATION.
IT'S CORONADO!
"DR. BEACH" IS A FLORIDA
RESEARCHER WHO RANKS BEACHES
BASED ON THEIR ENVIRONMENTAL
QUALITY AND SAFETY FOR SWIMMERS.
IT'S THE FIRST TIME IN MORE THAN
20 YEARS A CALIFORNIA BEACH HAS
WON THE SURVEY'S TOP RANKING.
>>> SUPER PACS HAVE BEEN BIG
SPENDERS IN NATIONAL ELECTIONS
SO FAR THIS YEAR, AND RECENTLY
THESE COMMITTEES HAVE BEEN
POURING MONEY INTO CAMPAIGNS IN
SAN DIEGO.
THE PACS AND THE CANDIDATES
RUNNING FOR OFFICE IN THE CITY
FILED THEIR CAMPAIGN FINANCE
REPORTS YESTERDAY.
REPORTER KEVIN CROWE FROM OUR
PARTNER "INVESTIGATIVE NEWS
SOURCE" IS HERE TO TELL US MORE.
KEVIN, GIVE US AN UPDATE.
WHERE DO THE MAYORAL CANDIDATES
STAND IN TERMS OF FUNDRAISING?
>> WELL, CARL DeMAIO'S CAMPAIGN
HAS BROUGHT IN THE MOST CASH IN
THE PAST FEW MONTHS; THEY
BROUGHT IN ABOUT $373,000.
HOWEVER, ABOUT HALF OF THAT CAME
OUT OF HIS OWN POCKET, SO HE'S
ONLY RECEIVED ABOUT 193,000 FROM
DONORS.
ON THE FLIP SIDE, NATHAN
FLETCHER REALLY BROUGHT IN THE
MOST FROM OUTSIDE DONORS.
HE RECEIVED ABOUT 303,000, A
FIGURE HIS CAMPAIGN IS PRETTY
PROUD OF.
>> WHAT ABOUT THE OTHER TWO
CANDIDATES, CONGRESSMAN BOB
FILNER AND DISTRICT ATTORNEY
BONNIE DUMANIS?
>> THEY'RE BOTH PRETTY FAR
BEHIND.
DeMAIO AND FLETCHER ARE VERY FAR
AHEAD, TO BE SURE.
DUMANIS'S CAMPAIGN HAS BROUGHT
IN ABOUT 617,000 IN CASH DURING
THE WHOLE PRIMARY ELECTION
CYCLE, AND FILNER HAS BROUGHT IN
ONLY ABOUT 425,000, AND THAT'S
COMPARED TO DeMAIO'S 1.6 MILLION
AND FLETCHER'S ABOUT 1.3
MILLION.
>> THE CANDIDATES' COMMITTEES
AREN'T THE ONLY ONES, BASICALLY,
CAMPAIGNING FOR THE CANDIDATES.
WHO ELSE IS OUT THERE, WHAT ELSE
IS OUT THERE?
>> THERE ARE INDEPENDENT
EXPENDITURE COMMITTEES.
SOME OF THESE ARE SUPERPACS, AND
SOME ARE NOT, AND THEY'VE
ESTABLISHED THESE COMMITTEES IN
SAN DIEGO TO SUPPORT A GIVEN
CANDIDATE.
SO, FOR EXAMPLE, SAN DIEGANS FOR
NATHAN FLETCHER HAVE RAISED
ALMOST $400,000.
THEY CAN SPEND THAT ON POLLING
DATA, ON MAILERS OR ON
TELEVISION COMMERCIALS IN
SUPPORT OF NATHAN FLETCHER, BUT
THEY'RE NOT SUPPOSED TO BE
COORDINATING WITH NATHAN
FLETCHER'S CANDIDATE CAMPAIGN.
THEY CAN'T BE COORDINATING THEIR
ACTIONS WITH EACH OTHER.
>> HOW MANY OF THESE COMMITTEES
ARE THERE?
>> RIGHT NOW THERE ARE SIX FOR
THE MAYORAL CANDIDATES.
THERE ARE OTHERS FOR SOME OF THE
PROPOSITIONS, BUT RIGHT NOW JUST
SIX THAT ARE GOING TO MATTER IN
THE PRIMARY FOR THE MAYORAL
CANDIDATES.
>> WHAT ABOUT THE TWO BALLOT
INITIATIVES?
WHAT KIND OF MONEY IS BEING
SPENT ON THESE CAMPAIGNS?
>> ONE OF THE MAIN GROUPS IS
COMPREHENSIVE PENSION REFORMER,
CPR FOR SAN DIEGO.
NOW, THEY'RE SUPPORTING
COMPREHENSIVE PENSION REFORM.
THEY SPENT ALMOST $2 MILLION TO
GET SIGNATURES TO GET THIS
MEASURE ON THE BALLOT AND GET
PEOPLE TO SUPPORT IT.
THE PEOPLE WHO OPPOSE IT HAVE
ONLY BROUGHT IN ABOUT $340,000.
IT'S A PRETTY LOPSIDED BATTLE.
>> AND THERE'S ANOTHER MEASURE
ON THE BALLOT; RIGHT?
>> THERE IS.
THERE'S PROPOSITION A, AND IT'S
GETTING A LOT OF FINANCIAL
ATTENTION AS WELL.
THAT'S THE PROPOSITION THAT
WOULD PROHIBIT THE CITY FROM
ENTERING PROJECT LABOR
AGREEMENTS WHEN BUILDING
CITY-FUNDED PROJECTS.
AND SO LOCAL BUILDING AND
CONTRACTING POLITICAL ACTION
COMMITTEES ARE REALLY PUTTING
HEAVILY INTO THAT, AND THEY'VE
FUNNELLED
HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS
INTO THE YES ON "A" CAMPAIGN.
AND AS A RESULT, THAT COMMITTEE
HAS OUTRAISED ITS OPPOSITION
THREE TO ONE.
>> NOW, CAN YOU FILL US IN ON
THE COUNCIL DISTRICTS?
>> YEAH.
THE COUNCIL DISTRICTS -- THERE
ARE A FEW THINGS GOING ON IN THE
COUNCIL DISTRICTS.
IN THE FIRST DISTRICT, THERE ARE
FOUR CANDIDATES.
SHERRI LIGHTNER IS THE
INCUMBENT, AND SHE HAS RAISED
CLOSE TO $200,000 IN CASH.
HER MAIN OPPONENT, RAY ELLIS,
HAS BROUGHT IN ABOUT $60,000
MORE THAN HER.
ON THE BOTTOM END OF THAT, THERE
IS BRYAN PEASE, HE HAS ONLY
BROUGHT IN ABOUT $14,000, AND
DENNIZ RIDZ HAS REALLLY ONLY
RAISED ABOUT THREE.
IN THE NINTH DISTRICT, SCOTT
SHERMAN HAS REALLY OUTRAISED MAT
KOSTRINSKY.
THEY'RE BOTH ENDING UP WITH
SOMEWHERE AROUND 25 TO 30,000 IN
CASH ON HAND FOR THEIR MAIN
PRIMARY CAMPAIGN.
>> KEVIN CROWE, THANK YOU SO
MUCH FOR SPEAKING TO US TODAY.
>> THANK YOU.
>> YOU CAN FIND COMPLETE
COVERAGE OF THIS YEAR'S ELECTION
AND OUR ON-LINE VOTER GUIDE AT
KPBS.ORG/ELECTION.
>>> THE CALIFORNIA SENATE HAS
APPROVED A BILL REGARDING
EMPLOYER ACCESS TO SOCIAL MEDIA
PASSWORDS.
IT MAKES IT ILLEGAL FOR
EMPLOYERS AND COLLEGE ADMISSIONS
OFFICERS TO REQUEST SUCH
INFORMATION.
THE BILL'S AUTHOR SAYS IT'S A
MATTER OF PRIVACY.
OPPONENTS SAY THE RULE MIGHT
KEEP AN EMPLOYER FROM
INVESTIGATING CLAIMS OF EMPLOYEE
HARASSMENT BEFORE THEY ESCALATE.
THE MEASURE NOW GOES TO THE
STATE ASSEMBLY.
>>> ALONG WITH A BILL TO MAKE
THE ROADS SAFER FOR BICYCLISTS,
DRIVERS WOULD HAVE TO GIVE
CYCLISTS A THREE-FOOT BERTH WHEN
PASSING THEM.
RIGHT NOW THE LAW ONLY REQUIRES
A SAFE DISTANCE, BUT DOESN'T
DEFINE WHAT'S "SAFE."
>>> AND ONE MORE MEASURE
CALIFORNIA LAWMAKERS ARE
CONSIDERING REQUIRES TEXTBOOK
PUBLISHERS TO CREATE DIGITAL
VERSIONS OF THEIR CONTENT.
PUBLISHERS WOULD ALSO HAVE TO
OFFER THE BOOKS IN SECTIONS SO
SCHOOL DISTRICTS CAN BUY JUST
THE PARTS THEY WANT.
DISTRICTS WOULD ALSO BE ABLE TO
CREATE ONLINE TEXTBOOK DATABASES
FOR STUDENTS.
SMALL PUBLISHERS WITH FEWER THAN
100 EMPLOYEES WOULD BE EXEMPT.
>>> ONE OF EVERY FIVE TEACHERS
WERE LET GO THIS WEEK IN THE SAN
DIEGO UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT.
WITH ANNUAL TIGHT BUDGETS, IT'S
BECOME A MATTER OF ROUTINE TO
ISSUE LAYOFF NOTICES AND THEN
CANCEL THEM.
BUT THE SCHOOL DISTRICT'S $120
MILLION DEFICIT THIS YEAR MAY
MEAN THOSE LAYOFFS ARE
PERMANENT.
"VOICE OF SAN DIEGO"'S
INVESTIGATIVE REPORTER WILL
CARLESS IS HERE TO TELL US WHAT
HAPPENS NEXT FOR THE LAID-OFF
TEACHERS AND THE STUDENTS THEY
LEAVE BEHIND.
WILL, WE'VE SEEN THIS BEFORE:
LAYOFF NOTICES ARE ISSUED, THEN
THEY'RE RESCINDED.
WHAT'S DIFFERENT THIS YEAR FOR
THE 1,500 TEACHERS WHO GOT THEIR
NOTICES?
>> WELL, TECHNICALLY WHAT'S
DIFFERENT IS THAT, IN PAST
YEARS, A LOT OF THESE LAYOFFS
HAVE BEEN RESCINDED BEFORE THEY
ACTUALLY BECAME FINAL.
WHAT WE'VE SEEN THIS WEEK IS
THAT THESE ARE FINAL LAYOFF
NOTICES.
THAT MEANS THESE TEACHERS WILL
LOSE THEIR JOBS.
THE DISTRICT CAN STILL COME BACK
AND RE-HIRE SOME OR EVEN ALL OF
THEM, BUT WE HAVEN'T REALLY GONE
THIS FAR IN THE PROCESS WITH
THIS MANY PEOPLE LOSING THEIR
JOBS.
THE OTHER THING THAT'S DIFFERENT
IS THAT PRETTY MUCH EVERYONE
I'VE SPOKEN TO SAYS THE BUDGET
CRUNCH IS THAT MUCH WORSE THIS
YEAR, WE'RE KIND OF OUT OF
OPTIONS TO GET ANY EXTRA MONEY
TO SOLVE THIS CRISIS.
NOW, SOME PEOPLE DON'T BELIEVE
THAT, BUT AN AWFUL LOT OF PEOPLE
DO.
THEY THINK THAT, YOU KNOW --
WHAT I KEEP HEARING IS: THIS IS
REAL THIS TIME, THIS IS REALLY
HAPPENING, AND THERE'S NOT SOME
MAGIC CURE THAT'S GOING TO COME
ALONG AND GET US OUT OF THIS
PROBLEM.
>> ANY CHANCE THAT THE DISTRICT
ISSUED MORE LAYOFF NOTICES THAN
NECESSARY?
>> THIS IS SOMETHING THAT'S
REALLY IMPORTANT FOR PEOPLE TO
UNDERSTAND.
THERE'S A LOT OF CONFUSION ABOUT
THIS.
THE DISTRICT'S CFO WAS
CONSTANTLY BEING QUOTED BY UNION
PEOPLE AND TEACHERS AND PARENTS
AS HAVING SAID THAT THEY LAID
OFF 500 MORE PEOPLE THAN ARE
NECESSARY.
LET'S LOOK AT THAT VERY CLOSELY.
BECAUSE WHAT HE'S ESSENTIALLY
SAYING IS -- WHEN TEACHERS
RETIRE OR TAKE LEAVES OF ABSENCE
OR FOR SOME REASON SAY, "I'M NOT
COMING BACK TO THIS DISTRICT
NEXT YEAR," THAT MEANS THAT THEY
CAN RESCIND A LAYOFF FOR EVERY
SINGLE ONE OF THOSE TEACHERS.
NOW, THAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN IN
THE NEXT FEW MONTHS.
IN MOST CASES IT HASN'T HAPPENED
YET BECAUSE WE'RE NOT AT THE END
OF THE SCHOOL YEAR.
WE'RE WAITING TO SEE WHAT'S
GOING TO HAPPEN WITH THAT.
>> NOW, ARE THE ALL SCHOOLS
UNIFORMLY AFFECTED BY THESE
LAYOFFS?
>> CERTAINLY NOT, NO.
I MEAN, LAYOFFS ALWAYS TEND TO
HIT LOWER SOCIOECONOMIC AREAS
FIRST, THEY TEND TO HIT THE
STRUGGLING SCHOOLS FIRST,
BECAUSE THEY TEND TO BE THE
SCHOOLS WITH NEWER, YOUNGER
TEACHERS.
THE WAY IT WORKS, IT'S KIND OF
LAST IN, FIRST OUT.
THE NEWER, LESS-EXPERIENCED
TEACHERS ARE THE FIRST TO GET
LAID OFF, THEY TEND TO BE AT
SCHOOLS IN CERTAIN PARTS OF THE
CITY.
ONE SCHOOL, 25 OUT OF 26
TEACHERS HAVE BEEN LAID OFF.
>> WHAT'S BEEN THE REACTION OF
PARENTS WHOSE CHILDREN STAND TO
BE AFFECTED BY THESE LAYOFFS?
>> I'VE BEEN REALLY SURPRISED BY
HOW LITTLE FEEDBACK I'VE BEEN
GETTING FROM ACTUAL PARENTS.
A LOT OF FEEDBACK FROM TEACHERS
UNIONS, EVERYBODY ELSE.
PARENTS HAVEN'T REALLY BEEN
CONTACTING ME.
EITHER THAT SHOWS ME THAT PEOPLE
PERHAPS AREN'T PAYING THAT MUCH
ATTENTION, OR MAYBE THEY JUST
DON'T THINK THAT IT'S REAL, LIKE
YOU TALKED ABOUT EARLIER.
WE'VE HAD CRY WOLF BEFORE, AND I
THINK PEOPLE ARE SORT OF SITTING
BACK WAITING TO SEE IF THIS IS
REALLY GOING TO CRYSTALLIZE,
REALLY HAPPEN.
THEN I'M SURE I'M GOING TO START
GETTING EMAILS.
>> NOW, LOCAL LABOR LEADER
LORENA GONZALEZ HAS SAID THAT,
LOOK, THESE TWO SIDES, THE
TEACHERS UNION AND THE SCHOOL
DISTRICT, NEED TO SIT DOWN AT
THE TABLE AND NEGOTIATE A DEAL.
WHAT ARE SOME OF THE OPTIONS?
>> WELL, ESSENTIALLY WHAT WE'RE
LOOKING AT HERE, AND I'VE BEEN
TRYING TO SHOUT THIS FROM THE
ROOFTOPS AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE,
THE BIG REASON THE DISTRICT'S IN
THIS MUCH TROUBLE IS THAT IT HAS
PROMISED RAISES TO TEACHERS OVER
THE NEXT TWO YEARS.
THOSE RAISES FORM THE BULK OF
THE DISTRICT'S DEFICIT.
WHAT LORENA GONZALEZ IS SAYING
IN AN EXTRAORDINARY MOVE IS THE
TEACHERS UNION NEEDS TO SIT DOWN
AND TALK ABOUT WHETHER TEACHERS
SHOULD NOT GET SOME OR ALL OF
THOSE RAISES IN EXCHANGE FOR
KEEPING TEACHERS EMPLOYED.
>> THIS VOTE ON TUESDAY TO ISSUE
THE FINAL NOTICES TO TEACHERS,
TO LAY THEM OFF, WAS NOT
UNANIMOUS.
SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER, I THINK
HE'S VICE-PRESIDENT, SCOTT
BARNETT VOTED AGAINST THE
LAYOFFS.
HE'S PROPOSING SOMETHING ELSE.
WHAT ELSE IS HE PROPOSING?
>> WHAT SCOTT WANTS, IS HE WANTS
THE DISTRICT TO RESCIND ALL OF
THE LAYOFFS, WHICH WOULD
IMMEDIATELY PUT ITS BOOKS OUT OF
BALANCE, WHICH WOULD SEND THE
DISTRICT INTO INSOLVENCY.
IT'S ESSENTIALLY THROWING IN THE
TOWEL AND SAYING, "WE ARE
INSOLVENT, WE CAN'T PAY OUR
BILLS."
IN THAT INSTANCE, THE STATE
WOULD SORT OF TAKE OVER SAN
DIEGO UNIFIED.
SCOTT THINKS THAT'S A GOOD IDEA,
HE THINKS THE SCHOOL BOARD HAS
DONE A TERRIBLE JOB OF RUNNING
THE DISTRICT.
THE SCHOOL BOARD WOULD BE KICKED
OUT IF THE STATE TOOK OVER.
SO HE'S IN THIS KIND OF STRANGE
POSITION OF SAYING, "I WANT TO
KEEP THESE TEACHERS," BUT
KEEPING THEM MEANS THAT THE SHIP
CAPSIZES AND THEY GO INTO
INSOLVENCY.
>> VERY QUICKLY, HAS THAT EVER
HAPPENED BEFORE?
>> NO, NEVER HAPPENED TO A
SCHOOL DISTRICT OF THIS SIZE IN
CALIFORNIA EVER.
>> THANK YOU FOR SPEAKING TO ME,
WILL CARLESS OF "VOICE OF SAN
DIEGO."
>> THANK YOU.
>>> ANIMAL CRACKER CONSPIRACY IS
PUSHING THE BOUNDARIES OF
PUPPETRY WITH THEIR NEW
PRODUCTION.
"THE COLLECTOR" IS PLAYING AT
3RD SPACE AND UNIVERSITY
HEIGHTS.
BETH ACCOMANDO WENT BEHIND THE
SCENES TO SEE HOW IT ALL COMES
TOGETHER.
>> Reporter: YOU'RE ABOUT TO
ENTER ANOTHER DIMENSION, OF
SIGHT AND SOUND, OF MIND AND
PUPPETRY.
NEXT STOP, "ANIMAL CRACKER
CONSPIRACY".
>> DON'T EXPECT A REGULAR PUPPET
SHOW IF YOU'RE COMING TO AN
"ANIMAL CRACKER CONSPIRACY"
SHOW.
>> Reporter: IAIN GUNN AND
BRIDGET ROUNTREE ARE THE
CO-CONSPIRATORS BEHIND THE
PUPPET-THEATER PRODUCTION "THE
COLLECTOR".
>> WE'RE TRYING TO CREATE A
WORLD, A WORLD THAT HAS ELEMENTS
OF VICTORIAN, OF EDGAR ALLAN
POE, 1984, A DYSTOPIAN WORLD
WHERE THERE SHOULD BE SOME
CONNECTIONS TO OUR REALITY, BUT
A LOT OF JUST ALLOWS YOU TO GO
IN WITH YOUR IMAGINATION OPENED
UP AND ON.
>> WE DEFINITELY TRY TO CHANGE
PEOPLE'S IDEA ABOUT WHAT
PUPPETRY IS.
I THINK MOST PEOPLE ASSUME
PUPPETRY IS FOR KIDS, A, OR IT
HAS SOMETHING TO DO WITH THE
MUPPETS.
>> Reporter: THE WORK OF ANIMAL
CRACKER CONSPIRACY CHALLENGES
EXPECTATIONS, BE IT WITH SHADOW
PUPPETS --
>> AND IT'S JUST CARDBOARD AND
THE CLEAR PACKING TAPE, SO IT
LOOKS LIKE THAT WHEN IT'S
PROJECTED.
>> Reporter: -- GIANT CREATIONS
--
>> THESE PUPPETS ARE SUPER
EFFECTIVE FOR SPECTACLE, BECAUSE
THEY'RE SO BIG, YOU CAN SEE THEM
COMING FROM MILES AWAY.
>> Reporter: -- OR PUPPETS
CREATED FROM TRASH.
>> SHOPPING BAG CUT INTO LITTLE
STRIPS.
YOU CAN SEE HIS ELBOW THERE.
"YOU LOOKING AT MY ELBOW?"
AND CARDBOARD, ROLLED UP
NEWSPAPER, AND MASKING TAPE THAT
HAS BEEN PAINTED WITH ACRYLIC.
AND THESE HEADS WE SCULPTED OUT
OF STYROFOAM, COVERED WITH
MASKING TAPE, AND THEN
PAPIER-MACHED, AND THEIR EYES
ARE JUST PLASTIC BEADS.
>> HOT GLUE, HIGH TECH.
>> Reporter: MAYBE NOT HIGH
TECH, BUT HIGH CONCEPT.
"ANIMAL CRACKER CONSPIRACY" IS
PUSHING THE NOTION OF WHAT
PUPPETRY CAN BE.
>> IF YOU CAN USE IT AND YOU CAN
TELL A MESSAGE, AND IT'S
SOMETHING OUTSIDE OF YOUR BODY,
THEN YOU'RE ENTERING THAT KIND
OF FABULOUS GRAY AREA THAT
MODERN OR CONTEMPORARY PUPPETRY
IS.
>> TO ME, IT'S TAKING THE
MATERIAL, WHICH IS AN OBJECT,
AND ANIMATING THAT, SO "ANIMUS,"
TO GIVE SOMETHING LIFE.
>> Reporter: AND THERE IS A BIT
OF ALCHEMY INVOLVED IN BRINGING
INANIMATE OBJECTS TO LIFE.
>> OKAY, I HAVE A PUPPET THAT
HAS ONE FLAT EXPRESSION.
HOW DO I CONVEY THAT HE IS
SCARED OR SHE'S EXCITED?
SO WHAT DO YOU DO, PHYSICALLY,
WITH YOUR HANDS, WITH YOUR
MOVEMENT, WITH YOUR HEAD, WITH
YOUR EYES, ANYTHING, TO DO IT
YOURSELF, EMBODY IT, AND THEN GO
BACK AND PICK UP THE PUPPET AND
PUT THAT MOVEMENT INTO THE
PUPPET?
>> Reporter: AND WHEN DONE
RIGHT, IT'S MAGICAL.
FOR "THE COLLECTOR", THE ARTISTS
USE PUPPETS WITHOUT MOVING
MOUTHS, BECAUSE THEY CAN BE MORE
ELOQUENT ON STAGE.
>> WE WON'T BE HOODED
COMPLETELY, BUT WE WEAR ALL
BLACK COSTUMES, AND WE'RE GLOVED
SO YOU WOULDN'T SEE OUR HANDS.
THE IDEA IS FOR US TO DISAPPEAR.
>> WE WANTED TO EXPLORE TABLETOP
PUPPETRY.
WE WANTED TO FIGURE OUT HOW WE
COULD COMBINE VIDEO PROJECTION,
TABLETOP PUPPETRY, AND A GIANT
TOY THEATER AND CREATE A
COMPELLING NARRATIVE.
>> TO ME, IT FEELS LIKE WE'RE
LIVING IN AN AGE OF
HYPERMATERIALISM, AND THAT
OBJECTS AND THINGS ARE VERY
IMPORTANT TO WHO WE ARE AS
PEOPLE, AND OUR SELF-WORTH.
WITH "THE COLLECTOR", I BECAME
REALLY INTERESTED, TOO, IN WHAT
HAPPENS WHEN THESE OBJECTS ALSO
GO AWAY, YOU KNOW, KIND OF
LOOKING AT PSYCHOLOGICALLY THE
NEED TO COLLECT.
>> Reporter: A SHOW THAT PUSHES
BOUNDARIES NEEDS A SPACE THAT
ASPIRES TO SIMILAR GOALS.
GUNN AND ROUNTREE FOUND THAT
VENUE LITERALLY AROUND THE
CORNER FROM THE UNIVERSITY
HEIGHTS HOME, AT PETER
McCONNELL'S 3RD SPACE.
>> IT'S A VERY DIFFERENT
CONCEPT.
IT'S WHAT I CALL A PRIVATE CLUB
FOR THE CREATIVE.
>> Reporter: IN OTHER WORDS,
THE PERFECT PLACE FOR AN
EXPERIMENT WITH PUPPETRY.
>> WE WOULD LIKE TO SEE IT
TREATED MORE ON THE LEVEL WITH
THEATER, THAT YOU'RE GOING TO
SEE A PLAY.
YES, IT'S GOING TO BE SHORTER;
HOWEVER IT SHOULD HAVE EVERY
NUANCE AND DEPTH OF A PLAY THAT
YOU MIGHT SEE AT A LOCAL
THEATER.
>> I THINK PEOPLE WILL LOVE IT
AND BE SURPRISED.
>> THAT'S KPBS ARTS REPORTER
BETH ACCOMANDO.
THE SHOW OFFICIALLY OPENS JUNE
6TH.
>>> THE KISSING STATUE IS COMING
DOWN IN A FEW DAYS.
WORKERS WILL BEGIN REMOVING THE
PIECE ON WEDNESDAY.
IT'S BEING SENT FOR RESTORATION
BEFORE IT'S RETURNED TO THE
SCULPTURE FOUNDATION.
MONEY IS BEING RAISED FOR A
PERMANENT BRONZE VERSION HERE.
TOMORROW THE MIDWAY MUSEUM PLANS
TO ANNOUNCE THE STATUS OF THE
PROJECT.
.
>>> TONIGHT IN THE PUBLIC
SQUARE, SOME REACTION TO OUR
STORY ABOUT PROPOSITION 29,
WHICH WOULD INCREASE THE PRICE
OF A PACK OF CIGARETTES BY ONE
DOLLAR.
THE LEGISLATIVE ANALYST'S OFFICE
ESTIMATES THAT REVENUE FROM THE
TAX INCREASE ON CIGARETTES COULD
GENERATE $735 MILLION A YEAR.
THE STATE WOULD SPEND THE MONEY
ON CANCER RESEARCH AND
ANTI-SMOKING PROGRAMS.
BUT OUR AUDIENCE HAS QUESTIONS.
JEANMARC WRITES, "WHAT IS NEXT?
WILL THE GOVERNMENT START TAXING
UNHEALTHY FOOD AND BEVERAGES TO
ENCOURAGE THE POPULATION TO EAT
ACCORDING TO WHAT THE GOVERNMENT
THINKS IS BEST FOR US AND FOR
THE BOTTOM LINE OF THE NATIONAL
INSURANCE PLAN?"
AND DAVID65 WROTE, "LET'S WAIT
AND SEE HOW MUCH OF THAT $600
MILLION REALLY GOES TO CANCER
RESEARCH."
YOU CAN WEIGH IN ON THE
CONVERSATION BY FOLLOWING US ON
TWITTER, LIKING US ON FACEBOOK,
AND YOU CAN EMAIL US.
>>> NOW DWANE HAS A RECAP OF
TONIGHT'S TOP STORIES.
>> LEADERS OF THE ROCK CHURCH
SAYS THE COUNTY GRAND JURY IS
WRONG TO CALL FOR A SUSPENSION
OF THE CHURCH'S PERMIT.
THE CHURCH SAYS ITS PERMIT WAS
THOROUGHLY REVIEWED IN 2004.
THE GRAND JURY WAS INVESTIGATING
COMPLAINTS ABOUT TRAFFIC AND
PARKING AROUND THE POINT LOMA
CHURCH.
>>> GAS PRICES HAVE DROPPED TO
AROUND $4.30.
>>> AND DR. BEACH RANKS BEACHES
BASED ON WATER QUALITY AND
SAFETY.
CORONADO BEACH TOPPED A LIST OF
THE NATION'S BEST BEACHES.
DR. BEACH SAYS CORONADO'S ONLY
DRAWBACK IS THE CHILLY WATER
TEMPERATURE.
>>> THANKS FOR JOINING US.
HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND.
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