San Diego Week: Friday, Apr. 8, 2011

THIS IS SAN DIEGO WEEK.
GOOD EVENING, I'M DUANE BROWN. SAN DIEGO HAS MORE PEOPLE ON THE FEDERAL PAYROLL THAN ALMOST
ANY COUNTY IN THE NATION, HOW WOULD A SHUT DOWN AFFECT US. PENSION REFORM, WHY THE COUNTY
IS TAKING FOSTER KIDS MONEY WITHOUT THEIR KNOWLEDGE. AND LIFE AFTER A DEVASTATING EARTHQUAKE
ONE YEAR AGO AND A RECYCLING EVENT FOR WOUNDED WARRIORS. FIRST THE HEAD LINES.
A NEW REPORT FINDS INVESTING IN LOCAL ARTS AND CULTURE HELPS SAN DIEGO'S ECONOMY, FIRST
A COURT RULING ON TARGET STORES HAVE GAY RIGHTS ACTIVISTS.
A SAN DIEGO RULED THAT A PROGAY GROUP WITH, THE TARGET CORPORATION DID NOT HAVE ENOUGH
EVIDENCE TO SHOW CANVAS FOR A CAUSE VOLUNTEERS WERE HARASSING CUSTOMERS. THE JUDGE ALSO SAID
STORE ENTRANCES ARE CONSIDERED A PUBLIC FORUM UNDER CALIFORNIA LAW. THE SAN DIEGO SHIP BUILDER
NASCO ANNOUNCED IT MAY LOSS 0% OF THE WORK FORCE. THE COMPANY BLAMES FEDERAL BUDGET ISSUES AND
A SLUMP IN DEMAND FOR SHOE SHIPS. GENERAL DYNAMICS EMPLOYS ABOUT 3600 PEOPLE IN SAN
DIEGO. AND A NEW REPORT FINDS INVESTMENTS IN ARTS AND CULTURE SIGNIFICANTLY IMPROVES
FINANCES IN SAN DIEGO. THE CITY'S COMMISSION FOR THE ARTS AND CULTURE REPORT FOUND A $6
MILLION INVESTMENT IN THE ARTS GENERATED MORE THAN 173 MILLION FOR THE LOCAL ECONOMY. THAT
WAS LAST YEAR. THE REPORT LISTS MORE THAN 4,000 ART RELATED BUSINESSES IN THE COUNTY.
YOU CAN SEE ALL OF THE WEEK'S TOP STORIES ON OUR WEBSITE KPBS.ORG .
FROM THE MILITARY TO AIR TRAFFIC CONTROLLERS, POST OFFICE WORKERS, HOW BIG OF AN IMPACT
WOULD A GOVERNMENT SHUT DOWN HAVE ON US. DEAN, WHAT AREAS OF THE LOCAL ECONOMIC WOULD YOU
VULNERABLE TO A GOVERNMENT SHUT DOWN?
RIGHT NOW, THE PEOPLE THAT WOULD PROBABLY FEEL IT THE MOST ARE PEOPLE WHO DEPEND ON
SOCIAL SECURITY OR MEDICARE, THOSE KIND OF THINGS, BECAUSE THEIR CHECKS MIGHT GET DELAYED,
THIS IS ONE OF THE BIG IMPACTS FROM THE LAST TIME WE HAD A SHUT DOWN. THE CONCENTRATION
ON NATIONAL PARK JOBS, THE DEFENSE DEPARTMENT AT THIS TIME WHICH IS ABOUT HALF OF OUR JOBS,
FEDERALLY, YOU KNOW, THOSE ARE POSSIBLY PRETTY SAFE FOR RIGHT NOW, YOU BUT ON THE LONGER
TERM THIS DOES SIGNIFY THAT THERE'S GOING TO BE A BATTLE TO HAVE MORE CUT BACKS. THE
PENTAGON, THE MILITARY CONTRACTING BUSINESS IN SAN DIEGO WAS ALREADY BRACING FOR CUT BACKS,
AND I THINK THAT THE SIGNALS THAT THERE WILL BE MORE COMING DOWN THE PIKE.
OF COURSE, WE'RE AT THE POINT WHERE WE HAVE TO FILE OUR TAXES, THE DEADLINE IS COMING
UP.
YES.
THAT COULD BE AFFECTED?
YES, THE RATE AT WHICH YOU GET YOUR RETURNS BACK FROM THE GOVERNMENT COULD BE AFFECTED.
YES, ABSOLUTELY.
IF PAYCHECKS TO MILITARY FAMILIES ARE AFFECTED BY THIS SHUT DOWN, COULD WOULD HE SEE MORE
OF THEM SEEKING THOSE EXPENSIVE PAYDAY LOANS?
THAT COULD HAPPEN. LIKE I SAY, THAT'S PROBABLY FURTHER ON DOWN THE PIKE. THAT WON'T BE AN
IMMEDIATE AFFECT, BUT YEAH THAT COULD HAPPEN.
YOU MENTIONED NASCO. HOW WOULD MILITARY CONTRACTORS BE DIRECTLY AFFECTED BY THIS?
RIGHT NOW THE MILITARY HAS BEEN EYEING WAYS OF CUTTING BACK WHICH IS WHY NASCO IS ALREADY
LAYING OFF HUNDREDS OF EMPLOYEES ON THE WATERFRONT. SO THERE ARE ALREADY CUT BACKS GOING ON. AND
THIS, AGAIN, THIS SHUT DOWN SIGNIFIES WASHINGTON IS REALLY GETTING SERIOUS ABOUT CUT BACKS.
LET TALK ABOUT THE STICKING POWERPOINTSS IN WASHINGTON AT THE MOMENT. WHERE HE THEY?
WELL, SOME OF THE MAJOR STICKING POINTS HAVE NOTHING TO DO WITH THE BUDGET, THEY HAVE TO
DO WITH THINGS LIKE PLANNED PARENT HOOD, THINGS LIKE THAT. THESE ARE RIDERS THAT THE REPUBLICANS
HAVE ADDED ON, WHICH YOU KNOW THE DEMOCRATS DON'T NECESSARILY WANT TO PASS. AND WHICH
HAVE NOTHING TO DO WITH THE BUDGET BUT THEY ARE BECOMING PART OF THE FOCUS THERE.
INTERESTING THAT THE REPUBLICAN PARTY WAS SEEKING 40 BILLION IN CUT BACKS AND WE'RE
TALKING THE 6 MONTH BUDGET, WHAT'S LEFT OF THE CURRENT FISCAL YEAR, RIGHT.
ABSOLUTELY.
VERY CLOSE TO A DEAL. HOW IS THEIR DEMAND HOLDING OUT FOR CUTS TO PLANNED PARENT HOOD
GOING TO SOLVE THE BUDGET DEFICIT ISSUE?
THE PLANNED PARENT HOOD THING WON'T DO ANYTHING TO SOLVE THE BUDGET DEFICIT. THE THING IS
THE BAR KEEPS GETTING RAISED. THE DEMOCRATS HAVE ALREADY COMMITTED TO MAKING CUT BACKS
BUT EVERY TIME THEY ADD CUT BACKS, THEN THE REPUBLICANS ASK FOR MORE. SO THE BAR GETS
RAISED A LITTLE BIT.
REAR RUNNING OUT OF TIME. REPUBLICANS GOT A POLITICAL BLACK EYE OF SORTS IN LATE 1995
OVER SAME ISSUE SHUTTING DOWN THE GOVERNMENT. BILL CLINTON ENDED UP WINNING REELECTION THE
FOLLOWING YEAR. COULD WE BE HEADING BACK THAT WAY?
I THINK THAT THAT'S WHAT SOME DEMOCRATS ARE HOPING. I DON'T KNOW. THE POLL NUMBERS SHOW
THAT THE PUBLIC HAS MORE ANIMOSITY TOWARDS THE REPUBLICANS THAN THE DEMOCRATS ON THIS
BUT SLIGHTLY LESS THAN THEY HAD BACK THIS 1994. THE POLL NUMBERS ARE SLIGHTLY BETTER
FOR THE REPUBLICANS NOW BUT ONLY SLIGHTLY.
WE'LL LEAVE IT THERE. THANK, DEAN.
CITY OF SAN DIEGO HAS REACHED A POLITICAL COMPROMISE ON PENSION REFORM FOR CITY WORKERS.
SUPPORTERS WILL IT MAKE IT EASIER FOR VOTERS TO UNDERSTAND. LIFEGUARDS AREN'T HAPPY WITH
IT. SO KATIE, WHAT'S THE BIG IDEA BEHIND PENSION REFORM?
WELL PENSIONS HAVE BEEN A HOT TOPIC IN SAN DIEGO FOR A COUPLE OF YEARS NOW. THE CURRENT
PENSION PAYMENT THIS YEAR IS ABOUT $230 MILLION. IF WE CONTINUE ON THIS PATH AND NOTHING CHANGES,
IT'S ESTIMATED THAT PAYMENT COULD GET UP TO $500 MILLION IN THE COMING YEARS WHICH IS
HALF OF THE CITY'S OPERATING BUDGET SO MANY PEOPLE FEEL THIS IS UNSTAINABLE AND THERE
IS A MOVEMENT NOW TO SWITCH MOST OF THE CITY WORKERS TO A 401 K SYSTEM LIKE SOMEONE IN
THE PRIVATE SECTOR MIGHT HAVE. THERE WAS A CONFERENCE THIS WEEK TO ANNOUNCE A BALLOT
INITIATIVE TO DO JUST THAT.
THEY'VE BEEN YEARNING FOR REFORM, AS SOON AS THEY GET AN OPPORTUNITY TO WALK INTO A
BALLOT BOX, I BELIEVE THEY HAVE VOTE YES ON PENDING REFORM.
KATIE, WHAT SPECIFICALLY DOES THIS COMPROMISE DO?
IT AS COMPROMISE BETWEEN TWO PROPOSALS. ONE WAS BEING PROPOSED BY MAYOR AND COUNCIL MAN,
SANDERS AND FAULKNER HAVE PROPOSED MOVING WORKERS TO A 401(K). ANOTHER ONE WANTED TO
SEE EVERYONE INCLUDING PUBLIC SAFETY AND SO WHAT THIS DOES, THE BIGGEST COMPONENT OF IT
IS THAT IT LET'S POLICEMEN KEEP THEIR PENSION BUT IT MOVES FIREFIGHTERS AND LIFEGUARDS OVER
TO A 401K SYSTEM.
WHY DID THEY AGREE TO THIS CHANGE?
WELL, BASICALLY ONE BALLOT MEASURE IS BETTER THAN TWO. THE REPUBLICAN PARTY FELT THE LINCOLN
CLUB AND TAXPAYERS ASSOCIATION SORT OF MEDIATED THIS DISCUSSION, THESE NEGOTIATIONS BETWEEN
THE TWO DIFFERENT PROPOSALS. AND THEY JUST WERE AFRAID THAT IF VOTERS GO INTO VOTE AND
THEY SEE TWO MEASURES ON THE BALLOT, THEY'D BE CONFUSED AND JUST VOTE NO ON BOTH OF THEM.
THIS ALSO LETS THEM CONCENTRATE THEIR RESOURCES ON ONE ISSUE AND PRESENT A UNITED FRONT, EVEN
THOUGH BEHIND CLOSED DOORS THEY MIGHT NOT BE THAT UNITED BUT THEY ARE PRESENTING A UNITED
FRONT TO VOTERS.
TALK ABOUT THE UNION'S POSITION ON ALL OF THIS.
WELL THE UNION'S SAY THEY'VE ALREADY MADE COME WILLING PROMICES, THEY DON'T HAVE MANY
OF THOSE PENSION BENEFITS THAT THEY WERE CRITICIZED FOR. THE BLUE COLLAR UNION POINTS OUT THEIR
AVERAGE PENSION IS $30,000 A YEAR AND THEY DON'T GET SOCIAL SECURITY. OF COURSE THE FIREFIGHTER
UNION IS, YOU KNOW, JUST APPALLED BY THIS MEASURE AND I SPOKE TO THE HEAD OF THE FIREFIGHTER
UNION.
I THINK IT'S SHAMEFUL ON THEIR PART THEY WOULD GO SO FAR AS TO TRY TO DENY A FIREFIGHTER
A DECENT --OUR WAGES ARE ALREADY WAY DOWN, BUT TO TRY AND ATTACK THEM ON THEIR BENEFITS
AND THEIR DEATH AND DISABILITY IS SHAMEFUL.
SO, KATIE, WHERE DO WE GO FROM HERE?
NOW THEY HAVE TO COLLECT SIGNATURES, MORE THAN 94,000 SIGNATURES, THEY HAVE SIX MONTHS
TO DO THAT. IF THEY ACCOMPLISH THAT THEN THINK WILL BE ON THE JUNE 2012 BALLOT AND VOTERS
CAN DECIDE.
THANK YOU.
THANK YOU.
FOSTER CHILDREN FACE COUNTLESS BARRIERS TO HAVING A NORMAL CHILDHOOD. THE CHALLENGES
DON'T END WHEN THEY TURN 18. THEN THEY HAVE TO FIND JOBS, HOUSING, NEARLY HALF BECOME
HOMELESS BY AGE 24. A NEW REPORT SHOWS SAN DIEGO COUNTY IS TAKING FOSTER KIDS MONEY WITHOUT
THEIR KNOWLEDGE. WE SAT DOWN WITH THE FOSTER YOUTH ADVOCATE TO FIND OUT WHY.
WHAT IS LIFE LIKE FOR A CHILD WHEN HE OR SHE LEAVES FOSTER CARE IN.
THE LIFE OF A CHILD WHEN THEY LEAVE IS FULL OF UNCERTAINTY. KIDS DON'T HAVE THE FAMILY
SUPPORT TO RELY ON, THEY LITERALLY LEAVE THEIR HOME WITH THE CLOTHES ON THEIR BACK. THEY
DON'T KNOW WHERE THEY'RE GOING TO GET THEIR BED FROM, OR THEIR NEXT MEAL. THEY ARE LEFT
TO FEND FOR THEMSELVES WITH VERY LITTLE TRAINING ON HOW TO SURVIVE IN AN ADULT WORLD. WE DON'T
PROVIDE THEM WITH THE SOCIAL AND LIFE SKILLS THAT THEY NEED TO MANEUVER. AND LIFE FOR THEM
IS SCARY AND OFTEN ENDS UP EPISODE OF COUCH SURFING, HOMELESSNESS, NIGHTS OF GOING HUNGRY
OR NOT KNOW WHERE YOU'RE GOING TO SLEEP OR WHETHER OR NOT YOU'RE GOING TO BE ABLE TO
PAY YOUR RENT. IT'S VERY STRESSFUL AND TERRIFYING FOR MOST FORMER FOSTER YOUTH .
GENERALLY, THEIR PARENTS NOW SPEND AN AVERAGE $50,000 BETWEEN THE AGES OF 18 AND 24, THESE KIDS HAVE THEIR
PARENTS TO HELP THEM COSIGN FOR THEIR FIRST APARTMENT, THEIR PARENTS HELP THEM FILL OUT
COLLEGE APPLICATIONS, THEIR PARENTS PROVIDE THEM WITH A HOME OVER SCHOOL BREAKS, IF THEIR
CAR BREAKS DOWN, MOM AND DAD USUALLY STEP IN AND PAY THAT BILL FOR THEM. SO KIDS WHO
LEAVE HOME AT AGE 18 HAVE A LOT MORE CONFIDENCE THAN OUR YOUTH BECAUSE THEY HAVE THE LOVE
AND SUPPORT AND FINANCIAL SUPPORT THAT THEY NEED TO BE SUCCESSFUL.
THE CHILD ADVOCACY INSTITUTE AT USD, RECENTLY RELEASED A REPORT CALLS THE FLEECING OF FOSTER
CHILDREN AND IT DESCRIBES HOW STATES AND COUNTIES HAVE CONFISCATED THE ASSETS OF FOSTER CHILDREN.
WHAT SORT OF ASSET DO THESE KIDS HAVE AND HOW HAVE THEY BEEN TAKEN AWAY AND WHAT ARE
THEY BEING USED FOR.
SOME FOSTER CHILDREN ARE DISABLED THEMSELVES AND THEY RECEIVE SOCIAL SECURITY BENEFITS
FOR THEIR DISABILITY TO HELP SUPPORT THEIR CARE. OTHER CHILDREN HAVE HAD OTHER FOSTER
HAVE HAD THEIR PARENT DIE OR BECOME SO DISABLED THAT THEY CAN'T CARE FOR THEMSELVES THEN THE
CHILDREN RECEIVE FINANCIAL SUPPORT THROUGH THEIR PARENTS CONTRIBUTIONS TO SOCIAL SECURITY,
HELP THEIR CARE. IN BOTH OF THESE CASES, CHILDREN IN FOSTER CARE OFTEN DON'T EVEN KNOW THAT
THEY'RE RECEIVING THESE CHECKS. THE COUNTY INTERCEPTS THIS MONEY FROM SOCIAL SECURITY
AND USES THAT MONEY TO REIMBURSE ITSELF FOR THE CARE OF THE CHILDREN.
AND HOW MUCH MONEY ARE WE TALKING ABOUT?
IT DEPENDS, BUT WE'RE TALKING ANYWHERE BETWEEN 600 AND THE HUNDRED DOLLARS --AND $900 A MONTH.
THIS MONEY IS THE CHILD'S MONEY THAT BY LAW NEEDS TO BE USED TO SERVE THEIR BEST NEEDS,
THEIR INTERESTS. THIS MONEY NEEDS TO BE SAVED SO THAT WHEN THESE CHILDREN TURN 18, THEY
HAVE A NEST EGG TO GET THEIR FIRST APARTMENT, THEY HAVE MONEY TO PAY FOR FIRST YEAR OF TUITION.
THIS MONEY NEEDS TO BE SAVED FOR THE CHILD.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
ONE YEAR AGO, A 7.2 EARTHQUAKE SHOOK KALEXICO. THE IMPACT WASN'T AS SEVERE AS THE QUAKE IN
JAPAN, BUT DID CAUSE STRUCTURAL DAMAGE IN THE TOWN. TOM FUDGE AND KATIE HAVE THIS UPDATE
ON CALEXICO, ONE YEAR LATER.
THE KID AT JEFFERSON ELEMENTARY SCHOOL ARE BACK IN SCHOOL AND THEY HAVE BEEN SINCE MAY
OF LAST YEAR. BUT THEY'RE STILL GOING TO CLASS IN MAKE SHIFT BUILDINGS ON THE EDGE OF THE
CAMPUS. THAT'S BECAUSE THE SCHOOL'S CLASSROOMS LOOK LIKE THIS AND THEY HAVE SINCE EASTER
OF LAST YEAR.
I COULDN'T BELIEVE THE DAMAGE THAT HAD BEEN DONE. I IMMEDIATELY BEGAN MAKING PHONE CALLS.
PRINCIPAL SAYS HE EXPECTING THEY WON'T BE BACK IN THE SCHOOL BUILDING UNTIL DECEMBER.
THE SCHOOL SUPERINTENDENT SAYS THE QUAKE FORCED THEM TO CANCEL MANY DAYS OF CLASSES THROUGHOUT
THE DISTRICT.
WELL THE HIGH SCHOOL WAS OUT FOR 20 DAYS AND JEFFERSON STUDENTS WERE OUT FOR 23 DAYS. ALL
THE REST OF THE STUDENTS WERE IN CLASS BY THE END OF 17 DAYS. THAT'S A MAJOR HIT COST
WISE.
THAT'S BECAUSE SCHOOL DISTRICTS ARE REIMBURSED BY THE STATE PER STUDENT PER DAY. ABOUT $11
MILLION OF LOST REVENUE. THE CITY OF CALEXICO SAW A LOT OF DAMAGE TO IT'S INFRASTRUCTURE.
THE CITY'S WATER TREATMENT PLANT ALONE SUFFERED $28 MILLION IN DAMAGE.
NOW WE'RE WAITING FOR THE MONEY THAT WAS PUSHED BY SENATOR BARBARA BOXER FROM THE U.S. CONGRESS
AND IT'S NOW IN THE SACRAMENTO AND THE STATE, WE'RE WAITING FOR IT TO FUNNEL TO CALEXICO.
THE GOOD NEWSES IS THAT CALEXICO IS ALMOST BACK TO NORMAL.
OUR CITY RIGHT NOW IS IS 95%, DOWNTOWN IS 95%. THERE ARE SOME HOUSES THAT STILL NEED
TO BE REHABBED, THERE'S SOME FENCES AND STUFF LIKE THAT, THAT STILL NEED TO BE FIXED. BUT
I WOULD SAY OVERALL THE CITY IS ABOUT 95%.
ANDERSON APARTMENTS WAS ONE OF THE RESIDENTIAL BUILDINGS THAT WASES STRUCTURALLY DAMAGED
AND CONDEMNED. 16 UNITS WERE LOST, ABOUT 45 PEOPLE WERE DISPLACED, 117 PEOPLE WERE TEMPORARILY
DISPLACED FROM THE HOTEL, AND OLD FOLKS HOME ABOUT THREE BLOCKS AWAY FROM HERE.
THEY WERE TAKEN TO OTHER PLACES IN THE COMMUNITY, HOTELS AND MOTELS THAT WERE AVAILABLE FOR
THEM.
ANOTHER CALEXICO GROUP THAT HAS TAKEN A WHILE TO BOUNCE BACK IS THE DOWNTOWN BUSINESS COMMUNITY.
SOME BUILDINGS WERE DEEMED UNSAFE AND DEMOLISHED. THIS BUILDING MAY ULTIMATELY LOSE IT'S CHARACTERIZATIONIC
ARCHES.
WE'RE KIND OF SHOCKED AT THE AMOUNT OF DAMAGE AS FAR AS MERCHANDISE BEING ON THE GROUND.
IT ACTUALLY, BECAUSE OF BROKEN ITEMS, THEY CONTAMINATE OTHER ITEMS SO WE HAD TO THROW
A LOT AWAY.
EARTHED TO CLOSE HIS STORE WHILE INSPECTORS MADE SURE THE BUILDINGS WERE STABLE. THE EARTHQUAKE
COST HIM $70,000.
I HAVE NOT COVERED FOR EARTHQUAKE SO BASICALLY THE STORE AND OURSELVES HAS TO ABSORB THE
LOSS OF REVENUE, IN ADDITION TO ALL THE DAMAGES THAT WERE DONE TO THE STORE.
EARTHQUAKES ARE COMMON IN CALEXICO, BUT THE LOCALS ARE HOPING THEY STAY SMALL, AT LEAST
UNTIL EVERYTHING GETS FIXED.
LESS IS MORE WHEN IT COMES TO BURNING GASOLINE AND PRESERVE ISING CALIFORNIA'S ENVIRONMENT.
IT COULD ALSO MEAN YOUR MONEY IN YOUR POCKET. WHAT A GROUP OF RESEARCHERS ARE TRYING TO
PROVE.
MORE INFORMATION COULD BE THE KEY TO SAVING A LOT OF MONEY. CARS IN THE STATE DRINK MORE
THAN A BILLION GALLONS OF GAS EVERY MONTH AND WHEN CARS AND TRUCKS BURNING UP FUEL,
ALSO PUMPING DANGEROUS POLLUTEANTS INTO THE AIR. MATT WANTS TO HELP CHANGE THAT EQUATION.
HE'S NOTICED HIGH FUEL PRICES IN EUROPE HAVE DRIVERS THERE FOCUSED ON FUEL SIPPING DRIVING
HABITS.
THAT'S RIGHT. THERE'S EVEN SOME TRAINING WHEN PEOPLE GET THEIR DRIVER'S LICENSE, THEY GO
THROUGH TRAINING ABOUT HOW TO DRIVE AGENTLY. THERE'S MORE PROGRAMS AVAILABLE FOR THEM TO
SORT OF LEARN THESE HABITS, LEARN THESE BEHAVIORS AND THEN USE THEM IN AN EVERY DAY LIFE.
HE HE IS WORKING ON A WAY TO CHANGE HOW PEOPLE DRIVE AND HE'S HOPING TECHNOLOGY CAN HELP.
HE'S OUTFITTED AN ORDINARY NISSAN WITH SOME EXTRAORDINARY EQUIPMENT, THE ROOF RACK HOSTS
SOPHISTICATED DEVICES. COMPUTERRERS IN THE TRUNK SAY IN CONSTANT CONTACT WITH SERVERS
AT HIS LAB. THE NAVIGATION SYSTEM. AND ON THE DASH, THERE'S A SMALL WHITE ECO METER. >> AN ENGINEER SITS AT THE WHEEL.
THE SCALE ON THE LEFT-HAND SIDE OF THE SCALE, SHOWING ZERO WITH THE COLOR RED AND THAT IS
BECAUSE WE'RE NOT MOVING. NOW, WHEN WE TAKE OFF, THE SCREEN WILL START TO SHOW DIFFERENT
NUMBERS WITH DIFFERENT COLORS OF THE BUT ON THE REAR TIME --
THE IDEA IS SIMPLE. SHOW DRIVERS HOW MUCH FUEL THEY'RE USING AS THEY DRIVE AND THEY'LL
MAKE CHANGES THAT WILL REDUCE CONSUMPTION.
WHEN THE GAS PRICE IS HIGH AND PEOPLE ARE CONCERNED ABOUT THE FUEL COST, THEY MAY PAY
MORE ATTENTION.
THE INITIAL RESULTS WITH METERS IN CARS ARE PROMISING. A STUD I HAVE 20 DRIVERS IN THE
RIVER SIDE AREA FOUND A FUEL CONSUMPTION GAUGE HELPED GET BETTER GAS MILEAGE. THAT MEANS
A $50 WEEKLY GAS BILL WILL ONLY COST $47 AND THAT'S A TANK AND A HALF OF GAS OVER THE COURSE
OF A YEAR. RESEARCHER MATT SAYS HE THINKS THERE BE EVEN MORE SAVINGS POSSIBLE.
WE THINK WE CAN SQUEEZE OUT MAYBE ANOTHER 10, 15% IF WE DO THESE ADVANCED WILLING ALGORITHMS,
THE ONES IS A SAY HEY WE HAVE TRAFFIC AHEAD OF US OR MAYBE SOMETHING WHERE RATHER THAN
ENTERING INTO THE STOP AND GO,S MAYBE TO KEEP A CONSTANT SPEED. THAT'S A GOOD SAVINGS THERE.
WHILE THE TECHNOLOGY IN THE VEHICLE IS DESIGNED TO HELP SAVE FUEL, THE TECHNOLOGY IS REALLY
TRYING TO REACH THE DRIVER, THE PEOPLE WHO ARE IN THE CARSES MAKING SURE THE CARS WHERE
THEY NEED TO GO. SAN DIEGO STATE UNIVERSITY PROFESSOR SAYS CHANGING CONSUMER BEHAVIOR
IS DIFFICULT.
ANYTHING WE CAN DO TO HELP PEOPLE SAVE FUEL AND BE MORE ENVIRONMENTALLY CONSCIOUS IS A
GOOD THING. IT'S NOT GOING TO BE AS EASY SAYING I'M GOING TO PUT THIS ON YOUR CAR NOW AND
YOU ARE GOING TO CHANGE YOUR BUYING BEHAVIORS AND ALSO MAINTAIN THAT CHANGE OVER A LONG
PERIOD OF TIME. IT'S JUST NOT THAT SIMPLE.
HE SAYS COST IS FREQUENTLY A CATALYST FOR SHORT TERM BEHAVIOR CHANGE. HE SAW THAT CHANGE
THREE YEARS AGO WHEN GAS PRICES CLIMBED ABOUT 4.60 A GALLON, HE SAYS PEOPLE DROVE LESS,
BOUGHT MORE FUEL EFFICIENT CARS AND USED PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION. PRICES CAME BACK DOWN, HE
SAYS THE ECONOMIC INCENTIVE DISAPPEARED AND THOSE OLD FUEL SUCKING HABITS RETURNED.
YOU SEE RESEARCHERS ARE TRACKING ABOUT 200 DRIVERS USING THE DEVICES IN THE BAY AREA.
AND CYCLE BE EVENT FOR WOUNDED WARRIORS CAME TO SAN DIEGO RECENTLY. SOLD RIDE GIVES VETERANS
HOPE AND DETERMINATION.
DAN WAS A STAFF SERGEANT IN THE ARMY THEN THE NATIONAL GUARD. SIX YEARS AGO HE LOST
BOTH HIS LEGS IN IRAQ.
I COULD HEAR AND FEEL THE PIECES OF SHRAPNEL BY MY FACE, AND WHEN I OPENED MY EYES I HAD
BEEN EJECTED FROM THE VEHICLE, MY LEGS REMAINED INSIDE THE VEHICLE.
THE FIRST WORDS HE HEARD AT WALTER REED HOSPITAL WERE YOU'RE GOING TO LOSE BOTH YOUR LEGS.
HE THOUGHT HIS LIFE WAS OVER. THEN SOMEONE FROM THE WOUNDED WARRIOR PROJECT GAVE HIM
A CARE PACKAGE.
WHEN YOU HAVE NOTHING, THAT'S THE MOST SIGNIFICANT I EVER RECEIVED.
HAD TODAY HE HAS LEFT THE PAST BEHIND AND REBUILT HIS LIFE. HE TAKES NOTHING FOR GRANTED.
SOLDIER RIDE HAS GIVEN ME A PURPOSE. THERE'S SO MANY OPPORTUNITIES IN OUR LIFE THAT WE
HAVE TO SERVE, YOU KNOW, I UNFORTUNATELY CAN'T WEAR A UNIFORM ANYMORE.
HE IS NOW A PART OF THE CAUSE THAT GAVE HIM HOPE. HE MOTIVATES FELLOW VETERANS. IT IS
A TREMENDOUS MORALE BOOSTER.
YOU KNOW, YOU TOOK A GROUP OF WARRIORS AND NOW THEY FIND THEMSELVES IN A STATE WHERE
THEY CAN'T DO THAT ANYMORE. AND THIS IS ONE OPPORTUNITY THAT THEY CAN STILL DO THAT, THEY
CAN FIND THAT SAME CAMARADERIE THEY HAD ON THE BATTLE FIELD.
SOLDIER RIDE RAISED $31,000. THE MONEY WILL BE USED TO HELP WOUNDED WARRIORS. NOW HERE'S
PEGGY WITH AN UPDATE ON WHAT WE'RE WORKING ON FOR NEXT WEEK.
TUNE IN TO THE MORNING EDITION ON MONDAY TO LEARN ABOUT THE LARGEST EMERGENCY SAFETY DRILL
AT THE NUCLEAR PLANT. AND ON THESE DAYS, WE'LL TELL YOU HOW THE SECURITY BREACH INVOLVING
ONLINE MARKETING EPSILON COULD AFFECT YOU.
THANK, PEGGY, YOU CAN COMMENT ON ANY OF THE STORIES YOU SAW TONIGHT BY GOING TO OUR WEBSITE.
WE'D LOVE TO HEAR FROM YOU. NOW HERE'S A LOOK AT YOUR WEEKEND WEATHER FORECAST. THANKS FOR
WATCHING. I'LL TALK TO YOU ON THE RADIO.