Thursday, Jan. 5, 2012 - Evening Edition

>> JOANNE: Coming up next on KPBS Evening Edition, governor Jerry brown releases his
budget proposal. >> PEGGY: >> PEGGY: Calling for deep cuts
in healthcare. >> JOANNE: Defense cuts could be a boon as
the government turns toward the Pacific Rim. >> PEGGY: And Tony young supports money on
a football stadium but he has conditions attached. >> JOANNE: KPBS Evening Edition starts now.
>> JOANNE: Hello thanks for joining us I'm Joanne Faryon.
>> PEGGY: And I'm Peggy Pico in for Dwane brown.
>> JOANNE: California is in for for tough budget cuts.
>> PEGGY: Today the governor unveiled his plan for the next several years, he says the
deficit is smaller than last year at over $9 billion compared to $26 billion last year,
the budget calls for $4 billion more in cuts with welfare subsidized childcare and Medi
Cal on the slate. Tax increase and proposed on the wealthy could
happen. If that measure doesn't pass funds for schools
would be cut by $5 billion, the equivalent of losing three weeks of school and state
universities would take a cut. >>> Government passes a lot of spending programs
and these spending programs attempt to do good, whether it's childcare, education at
the university, policing or whatever. Now when you say "we don't have enough money"
you got to cut some of that good and that's what we're doing, we got to bite the bullet.
>> PEGGY: Brown says he doesn't like the cuts especially to the universities but he says
education is where the money is. >> JOANNE: District attorney and San Diego
mayoral candidates Bonnie Dumanis wants to make some changes to the school board if elected.
Kyla Calvert joins us to tell us more. Kyla what is she proposing
>>> Adding four mayoral appointees, and creating an outside independent financial advisory
board for the district and she says those changes would bring expertise into district
management. Some of the other things include bringing
parents to theing inning table for employee contracts, renegotiating existing employee
contracts to cut costs, she says she won't support a tax to increase school revenues
and she wants to see state legislation reforms that would stabilize school funding and allow
for more technical technological innovation in the classrooms.
>> JOANNE: With regard to expanding the school board and having this advisory committee,
having parents at the table is this something that's doable?
Wouldn't it require changes to the city charter? >> Adding members to the school board would
require charter changes however the other things she is suggesting the point was made
at the press conference a lot of those things are happening at the school district in one
form or another and here was her response to that?
>> I applaud the school district they have done a lot of different things but it's not
good enough because where we are now is not what we need for our future kids and to have
them realize their potential and that's what we want to have.
I think everybody working together can do that.
>> JOANNE: KPBS Reporter Kyla Calvert. >> PEGGY: It's not the height of the wild
fire season but Cal fire is worried about increased fire dangers, the warm weather,
little range and nonexistent snowpac has made this one of the driest on record, they want
to you create a defensible space around your home and have an evacuation plan.
More fugitives are being caught along the borders, 2,000 fugitives were caught last
year that's a 15% jump in arrests from 2010. The fugitives were wanted for series crimes
that include kidnapping and murder. Billions of dollars in military cuts were
announced by the White House, Joanne looks at what it means to San Diego.
She is joined by San Diego Congressman and a military journal list.
>> JOANNE: San Diego has a strong military presence, anytime cuts are announced there
is concern about our local economy already struggling.
We will find how those cuts could affect San Diego but let's hear what the president had
to say about the strategy for the military where the focus shifts from the Middle East.
>>> We will be strengthening our presence in the Asia Pacific, and budget reductions
will not come at the expense of that critical region.
We're going to continue investing in our critical partnerships and alliances including NATO
which has demonstrated recently in Libia that it's a force multiplier.
We will stay vigilant especially in the Middle East.
>> JOANNE: Joining me first to talk about the presidents new focus for the military
is Congressman Duncan Hunter he represents San Diego's 52nd district thank you for being
here. >>> Thanks for having me.
>> JOANNE: Your reaction to the cuts and changes of direction to the military?
>> I couldn't hear which clip of the president you had but I read what they are planning.
In some sense in general if you're talking about the new sea air change and our focus
on China and the Pacific and our focus closer to home and moving from the Middle East when
it comes to San Diego I think it's actually going to be better for us than the old focus
and the reason is we're obviously on the west coast in California, we have shipbuilders
here, we have some large ship repair industry here, we have the Marine Corp, the Navy, I
think we will see benefit out of this long term and overarching for the whole nation
and for our global strategies going forward I think it's going to be hard.
It's a big change not to be able to fight two conventional wars in two areas, that's
going to be a big change, hard for our commanders to swallow but at the same time we have allot
to chew a lot to chew on right now and it's expensive and the problem is we're spending
too much money. So if we had to narrow things down, smaller,
efficient, quicker and wider, we have to be able to fight one conventional war and the
president has his eyes set on our near competitors in the Pacific, let's put it that way and
counter terrorism throughout the world and maybe leave it at those two things and not
say we have to provide it for the entire world and take care of our near competitors that
are close to us in the Pacific. We will not be able to fight another big land
war in southwest Asia or in the Middle East. >> JOANNE: I know you have concerns about
what these cuts combined with the trigger cuts that are supposed to happen in 2013,
what those two together would do with regard to the strength of our military.
What's your biggest worry? >> Sure and actually there are two big things
and two different types of cuts. The ones that the president and secretary
Panetta talked about and the Congress put into affect those are picked out by the secretary
and our joint chiefs and military leaders. The second big cut, the $600 billion that
gets cut starting January of 2013, those are indiscriminate cuts meaning they are not going
to do it intelligently because Congress nor the Donna Frye secretary would have the say
on where those cuts are made, that's the biggest problem along with being a whole lot of money
taken out of Donna Frye in a big chunk in an unthought out way.
>> JOANNE: Congressman Duncan Hunter thank you so much.
>>> Thank you. >> JOANNE: My next guest is Rick Rogers, who
has covered military issues for 25 years he is the columnist for the "north county times"
thank you for being here. >>> Thanks for having me.
You heard what Congressman said in terms of San Diego this might be a good thing.
Why is that? >> Because the big fish eat the small fish
and in this situation San Diego is the biggest fish in the country has the largest concentration
of military, has 8 of the 10 largest defense contractors in the country so if anyplace
is going to add people and material it's going to be San Diego.
>> JOANNE: What about I did read that there is talk about reducing the number of Marines
we have. Of course we have a huge number based out
of San Diego, would we see perhaps those bases shrink?
>> I hadn't heard that and I'm look at a story now that ran late last year, talking about
7,000 more Marines coming to this area and thousands of more sailors so I haven't heard
about a reduction, I think if anything there will be an increase.
The Congressman had it correct, if you look at the map, the Pacific, California is closer
to these places that we want to keep an eye on than certainly the east coast.
>> JOANNE: So if we have a reduction I think it came out of a story today if there is a
reduction in marines, it wouldn't be San Diego based Marines perhaps on the east coast and
our numbers increasing. >>> I think that would be the case.
>> JOANNE: What about to the president this morning making comments where it seems as
though we are going to be targeted, more focused, cyber war, high they can, do you think high
tech, do you think with our defense contractors based here do you think we could make headway?
>> I think where they make the predators is in Poway and everyone wants those, so an agree
I think that there is every chance that the high tech is going to favor San Diego.
I will say when the Congressman talked about and when the president talked about wanting
a force that's more agile and lean and cheap sounded like he was talking about the military
in general, I think that makes the Marine Corp more important than before.
>> JOANNE: Thank you for being here. >>> Thank you for having me.
>> PEGGY: After years of planning big changes are underway on San Diego's waterfront.
We have the story coming up. And we all know San Diego has great weather
but what do you think about an international business that's come to town to take advantage
of that weather. This is KPBS Evening Edition
>> PEGGY: City officials broke ground today on the embarcadaro vision plan, it will transform
it with art by Pei white, gardens, and trees, and the project is exported to be done by
the summer of 2013. City council member Kevin Faulkner says he's
not worried about the funding. >>> San Diego's redevelopment program has
been put in jeopardy, but ladies and gentlemen let's be clear: While the future of redevelopment
is in question, our resolve in finishing the north embarcadaro is not.
>> PEGGY: The port, city of San Diego and city center development are funding construction
and long term maintenance. For the second year in a row council member
Tony Young will serve as president of San Diego city council, Joanne puts him on the
record at the round table. >> JOANNE: What's a city to do when it loses
hundreds of millions of dollars in tax revenue as San Diego will, and should taxpayers support
a new Chargers stadium? These are questions for my guest Tony Young,
thank you for being ear council member young? >> Thank you.
>> JOANNE: Let's start off with redevelopment, the Supreme Court decision came down last
week what was your reaction? >> That now we have to do something different
and this is a great chance for San Diego and California to imagine what redevelopment should
look like and my goal is to encourage council and the state representatives to say how can
we continue to support development of these communities that have blight?
How do we provide opportunities for affordable housing is it's a different dynamic now but
it's an opportunity for us to reimagine what we want for this city.
>> JOANNE: Did you support using property tax dollars for redevelopment?
It was 11% of the property tax countywide, did you support shift that go?
>> What I support is keeping the dollars in San Diego.
>> JOANNE: But they stay no matter what, do you support them being shifted over to schools?
>> I support the schools getting some of those dollars and keeping it here in San Diego but
I also support the opportunity to develop these communities that haven't been supported
when it comes to infrastructure, affordable housing, transit oriented development, those
things are important to these communities and in turn create jobs for the parents of
the kids who go to these schools. An agree that we should support our schools
but redevelopment did play a key role in the development of the city.
>> Do you think the state will come up with a compromise plan?
We know the compromise was struck down by the Court but do you think there is an opportunity
for a new agency? >> I think we have to do that.
As a city, and as a state I think everybody is interested in identifying ways to develop
these areas that have blight, and the question is how do we do it?
I agree that that program that we had before, the redevelopment effort was flawed and when
you start developing areas that aren't blighted then that's a problem.
Now this is an opportunity to relook at how we do this and I think that welcome up with
a better idea. >> JOANNE: I want to talk about the chargers
so a new stadium, that was one of the major projects that might have been funded by redevelopment
agency, first of all do you think we need a new stadium?
>> It would be good to have one, because we can see how they can be a big draw for economic
development in our city, just look at Petco park.
The question is how do we do it, where does it happen, how is it financed, who finances
it? And those are the questions that are out and
for a whole year we didn't know if we can use redevelopment funds for a stadium and
now it looks like it's going to be more difficult but it has to be more than just a stadium,
we have to be able to utilize it for 365 days a year.
Nine days of football games is not enough to build a brand new stadium but there are
opportunities to make a situation that really is beneficial for all of San Diego, year round.
>> JOANNE: Do you think public money should go into a new stadium?
>> Only if there is a greater return. If that is something if I can be convinced
that that could happen then we should invest in ourselves as a city.
If it's something that does not have any return for the citizens of San Diego for the businesses
that could be around there, for jobs, job creation, then I would have a big problem
actually supporting that. >> JOANNE: I want to get in a question from
al from Clairemont, he was watching the show yesterday.
He wants to know why do we cater to what I'll call the lower, echelon of society and consider
a football stadium, why not a fine arts school or music academy?
>> I like al and I like the way he thinks. I can't wait for him to come down and see
the library that has a school within the library right downtown in the area that he's talking
about. That's going to be a wonderful opportunity,
a unique situation where a central library has a school that's going to be a cultural
hub for us and a learning hub for us so I agree we should invest in the arts and culture
of this city, but also I look at opportunities these large projects like the convention center
that we have been working on to bring additional dollars into city of San Diego.
>> JOANNE: We have literally seconds left so the next two questions, yes or no.
Have you endorsed a candidate for mayor? >> I have not
>> JOANNE: Is there someone you like? >> I like individuals who want to work to
support education in the city, who have a leadership vision for the city and when that
person is very clear to me that we have identified that person I might support 'em.
>> JOANNE: We're going to have to have you back, I have more questions, councilman Tony
Young thanks for being here. >>> Thank you.
>> PEGGY: The global economy works in interesting ways.
Take the Swedish flying school operating out of an airport in El Cajon.
They teach students from all over the world at their base in Gillespie field.
San Diego is a great place for a flying school as we see.
>>> Swedes teaching Chinese to fly airplanes in Southern California this isn't a joke and
there is no punch line it's business as usual at the El Cajon airport.
>>> Chinese love basketball. >>> They do.
>>> They love basketball, gone up to L.A. and seen the lakers.
>>> Karl win field is operations direct for for SAA, he's talking about pilots in training
from China, where the school gets most of its students.
He says the flight school named after it's Swedish parent company was founded in 1994.
>>> Cleared forte off. >>> Why come all the way to San Diego to train
flight students? >> The weather is great and that's actually
a big part of it. In regards to flight training we are dependent
on the initial stages of flight training with good weather.
He ads the cost of doing business is better than in the U.S.
>>> Your prices are better, the fuel prices are better.
>>> SAA trains amateur pilots but the cost of the one year program close to $70,000,
means the vast majority of students are aiming to become professional pilots.
The flight instructor says even though these students will fly 737s, they learn on fundamental
prop planes. >>> You have to teach them air and speed control,
how much pressure you might need on a take off or a landing, so that's figuring out how
to get the feeling for the aircraft is what they are learning here.
>>> The students who come to train at SAA have to find a place in El Cajon to live and
this is their flight school dormitory, SAA rents 50 units at the development and reserves
them for its students. It even provides daily transportation to classes.
>>> Hello, welcome. >>> This apartment unit is shared by four
flight students some of them from Holland, the dismembered tie condemn memorandum more
rates their first solo flight. Mitzi a student recalls her first flying lesson.
>>> I thought if this would become my job it would be so nice.
>>> Another student happy to be in San Diego. >>> It's beautiful here, I like it very much.
The weather is always good! So that we can keep on flying every day.
>>> LOU is one of the students who makes up two thirds of Chinese students and they are
sponsoring and paying for his television. The airline industry is trying to correct
the did deficit of pilots. >>> I think it's like any other business where
the market dictates which country or what type of students are going to be here training.
>>> The San Diego county airport director Peter drinkwater says San Diego should see
SAA as a tool for economic development. >>> I think it's something to be proud of
that San Diego in in a U.S. economy that has trouble right now is able to compete and land
these types of contracts and those students bring money in that goes into renting apartments,
eating at local restaurants, attending local activities, and those kinds of relationships
very likely can generate other opportunities for San Diego beyond aviation training.
>> PEGGY: That was Tom fudge reporting, SAA has 130 students enrolled in its flight training
program at Gillespie field. We have reaction to the governor's proposed
tax increases coming up on public square in just a moment.
This is KPBS Evening Edition. >> JOANNE: Welcome back to the public square
on KPBS Evening Edition, as we told you earlier, governor Jerry brown's new budget calls for
Mr. Education cuts unless the tax initiative is passed by voters this year.
He says his proposal isn't pretty but it's what it's going to take to balance the budget.
Do you think Californians can take on a tax increase in the current economy or are there
other options besides the tax increase? We heard from you earlier today, Parker on
Facebook "I'm more than happy to pay higher taxes if it would prevent further cuts to
the education system, we need a well educated work force to take competitive in the world
economy. Tell me what you think, email me, follow us
on Twitter or like us on Facebook. Now let's go back to Peggy at the news desk
for a recrap of the other top stories. >> PEGGY: Governor Jerry brown is calling
for more than $4 billion in state spending cuts in his new budget and he made another
push for his proposed tax increases. He says if voters don't pass the tax measure
it will trigger $5 billion dollars in new cuts to education that's the equivalent of
losing three weeks of school. San Diego county district attorney and mayoral
candidate Bonnie Dumanis wants to expand the board of trustees by adding appointees by
the mayor and wants more transparency in district management.
And Cal fire says our warm temperatures and dryer weather mean fire danger.
They are asking you to prepare for an early fire season.
You can watch and comment on any of the stories you saw tonight on our web site.
Www.kpbs.org/news/evening edition thank you for joining us, have a great evening and we
leave you with a look at the forecast. "Captions provided by eCaptions"