Friday, July 13, 2012 - Evening Edition

>> >>DWANE: SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA EDISON GIVE AS REASON FOR THE PROBLEMS KEEPING SAN ONOFRE
SHUT DOWN. I'M DWANE BROWN, THE STORIES COMING UP ON
KPBS EVENING EDITION. >> >>PEGGY: AND I'M PEGGY PICO.
THE PASSIONATE CONTROVERSY OVER RENOVATION AT BALBOA PARK CONTINUES WITH A POTENTIAL
LAWSUIT. PLUS THE DENIAL OF ACCREDITATION AT A LOCAL
UNIVERSITY COULD MEAN 3,000 FEWER JOBS IN SAN DIEGO.
I'LL HAVE AN IN DEPTH ANALYSIS ON TONIGHT'S ROUND TABLE.
>> >>DWANE: ALSO MORE THAN A HUNDRED THOUSAND FANS AND 10S OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS, WE LOOK
AT THE ECONOMIC IMPACT OF COMIC CON. AND WE'LL MEET SOME LOCAL ARTISTS HOPING COMIC
CON WILL HAVE A BIG IMPACT ON THEIR CAREERS. KPBS EVENING EDITION STARTS NOW.
CAPTIONS PROVIDED BY ECAPTIONS. >> >>DWANE: GOOD EVENING, THANKS FOR JOINING
US, I'M DWANE BROWN. THE OPERATOR OF SAN ONOFRE SAYS A SETTING OF SUPPORT EQUIPMENT IS TO
BLAME FOR KEEPING THE PLANT OFF LINE. THE PLANT HAS BEEN SHUT DOWN SINCE JANUARY
BECAUSE OF UNUSUAL WEAR IN TUBES CARRYING RADIOACTIVE WATER TO STEAM GENERATORS.
FEDERAL REGULATORS SAY TUBES MUST BE PLUG SAID IF THE WEAR EXCEEDS 30ﾊPERCENT. THE
OPERATOR SAYS IT'S PLUGGED MORE THAN 1300 TUBES AT SAN ONOFRE, BUT MOST OF THEM WERE
BELOW THE 35% THRESHOLD AND WERE ONLY BLOCKED AS A PRECAUTION.
AN ANTINUCLEAR GROUP SAYS EDISON IS DOWN PLAYING THE PROBLEM.
FOR THE FOURTH TIME IN A WEEK, U.S. BORDER AGENTS DISCOVER AD SUSPECTED DRUG TUNNEL.
TWO WERE FOUND IN TIJUANA, AND TWO EN ARIZONA. ONE OF THE TIJUANA TUNNELS EVEN HAD A RAIL
CAR SYSTEM WHERE AGENTS FOUND FOUR MOVING TRUCKS FILL WOULD MARIJUANA.
A MEDICAL ADVISORY GROUP SAYS VETERANS OF THE IRAQ AND AFGAN WAR SHOULD GET CHECKED
YEARLY POST TRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER. 2.6ﾊMILLION HAVE BEEN DEPLOYED TO THOSE
COUNTRIES. IT'S ESTIMATED 20% OF THESE VETERANS HAVE
PTSD BUT ONLY HALF GET TREATED. THE INSTITUTE OF MEDICINE ALSO SAYS FEDERAL
AGENCIES NEED TO DO MORE RESEARCH ON HOW WELL VARIOUS TREATMENTS ARE WORKING.
IS SOME SUPPORTERS OF CALIFORNIA'S PROPOSITION 29 ARE NOT GIVING UP.
THEY'VE REQUEST AD RECOUNT IN PARTS OF LOS ANGELES COUNTY. THE MEASURE LOST BY LESS THAN
30,000 VOTES A.MEMBER OF THE AMERICAN HEART ASSOCIATION WANTSES TO SEE IF A RECOUNT WOULD
SWING THE OTHER WAY, SHEE SO HE'S PAYING FOR THE RECOUNT STARTING MONDAY.
SAN DIEGO'S LARGEST CONVENTION COMIC CON IS DELIVERING A 180ﾊMILLION DOLLAR PUNCH TO
THE ECONOMY. KPBS BUSINESS AND ENVIRONMENT REPORTER ERIK
ANDERSON SAYS THERE'S A LOT F MONEY CHANGING HANDS THIS WEEK.
>> >>ERIK: THE SAN DIEGO CONVENTION CENTER IS A POP CULTURE THIS WEEK.
ABOUT THE COMICS, MOVIES, STARS, COSTUMES, VIDEO GAMES, FANS, AND ABOUT THE MONEY INSIDE
THE CONVENTION CENTER IS WHERE A LOT OF THE BUSINESS HAPPENS.
YOU'LL SEE THE CONVENTION SPILLS OUT INTO DOWNTOWN SAN DIEGO, AND THAT CREATES BUSINESS
THERE AS WELL. >> >>: THIS WHOLE AREA IS COMPLETELY DIFFERENT
DURING THE COMIC CON SHOW. WE'RE PART OF THAT.
>> >>: MAJOR MEDIA COMPANIES HAVE CHANGED THE FACE OF THE GAS LAMP, STORES, BUILDING,
TROLLIES, EVEN LOCAL EATERIES. THIS BAR AND GRILL TURNED TO A GAMING COMPANY.
>> >>: GAME SPOT WILL BE HAVING A LIVE STAGE SHOW, AND THEN WE PARTNER WITH SPONSORS THAT
ARE BRINGING SOME POPULAR GAMING TIGHT TITLES. >> >>ERIK: HOTELS, PEDI CAB DRIVERS AND RESTAURANTS
ARE CASHING IN. TOSCANA CAFE OWNER SAYS IT'S A WEEK OF NON STOP BUSINESS.
>> >>: WE OPEN AT 6:00ﾊA.M., WE CLOSE AT 11:00ﾊP.M., AND WE HAVE A LINE OUT THE THROW
DOOR THROUGH ALL POINTS OF THE DAY. THE CROWD IS A REALLY NICE CROWD, IT'S A GREAT
AT AM ATMOSPHERE. >> >>ERIK: MORE THAN $2.6ﾊMILLION IN TAX
REVENUE IS GENERATED. SAN DIEGO STATE UNIVERSITY PROFESSOR SAYS
IT'S WORTH MORE THAN THAT. >> >>: YOU HAVE A HAVE AN EVENT, AND WHEN
YOU HAVE A LOT OF MEDIA FROM OUTSIDE OF SAN DIEGO, THEY'RE GOING TO SHOW CASE THE TOURIST
VALUE OF SAN DIEGO AS A WHOLE. BUT I THINK MORE IMPORTANT LAY WHAT IT SHOWS
AND IF SAN DIEGO DOES THIS EFFECT FLY AS A CITY, REALLY SHOW CASE SAN DIEGO FROM A BUSINESS
PERSPECTIVE. >> >>DWANE: THE CONVENTION RUNS THROUGH SUNDAY.
COMIC CON IS UNDER CONTRACT WITH THE SAN DIEGO CONVENTION CENTER FOR THREE MORE YEARS.
>> >>: WHAT'S THE TRAFFIC LIKE AROUND HERE? HERE'S THE TRAFFIC.
>> >>: TEXT MY WIFE I'M GOING TO BE 30 MINUTES LATE.
>> >>DWANE: DRIVING WHILE TEXTING IS AGAINST THE LAW, BUT NOW IT'S RR OFFICIALLY OKAY TO
LET SIRI DO IT FOR YOU. GOVERNOR JERRY BROWN SIGN AD BILL LETTER DRIVERS
USE VOICE ACTIVATED DEVICES TO BRING STATE LAW UP TO DATE WITH CURRENT TECHNOLOGY.
HERE'S A RIDDLE FOR YOU: NAME AN ANIMAL NATIVE TO SOUTH AMERICA WHOSE EARS ARE SHAPED LIKE
BANANAS F.YOU SAID LLAMAS, YOU'RE ABSOLUTELY CORRECT.
AND THE SEIBEL FAMILY IN EL CAJON HAVE RESCUED 10 OF THEM.
IN A NEIGHBORHOOD OVERLOOKING SAN DIEGO'S EAST COUNTY, BOB AND KATHLEEN SEIBEL DON'T
ONLY HAVE AN AWESOME VIEW, THEY'VE CREATE AD PEACEFUL HOME FOR ROOSTER, DELI, MARLOW,
STORMY, BOBBY, NICKY AND THE TWO ELDEST LEWIS AND FRECKLES: IT'S THIS TYPE OF AFFECTION
THAT CAPTURED THE HEART OF THIS COUPLE WHO BROUGHT MOST OF THESE COUSINS TO THE CAMEL
TO SAN DIEGO 7 YEARS AGO. >> >>: WE BROUGHT NINE OF THEM OUT HERE.
MOST OF THOSE WERE RESCUED ANIMALS THAT WE HAD GOTTEN FROM VARIOUS SOURCES.
SO WE DIDN'T KNOW A LOT ABOUT THEIR BACKGROUNDS. >> >>DWANE: BOB IS A PROFESSOR AT CALIFORNIA
WESTERN SCHOOL OF LAW AND SAYS TAKE IN RESCUE ANIMALS IS LIKE DOING PRO BONO WORK OR GIVING
BACK TO THE COMMUNITY. >> >>: I TELL MY STUDENTS YOU HAVE TO BE DOING
SOMETHING FOR WORK YOU REAL LOVE. >> >>DWANE: HIS WIFE KATHLEEN ALSO WORKS AT
CAL WESTERN AND SAYS THEY BOTH GREW UP WITHOUT ANIMALS IN THEIR LIVES.
>> >>: MY GRAND MOTHER HAD CATS AND DOGS AND A ASSORTED CRITTERS AND THAT WAS ALWAYS SOMETHING
I ASPIRED TO. FORTUNATELY IT WORKED OUT.
SO WE MET IN LAW SCHOOL, AND DISCOVERED THAT AMONG OTHER MUTUAL INTERESTS WE LOVED ANIMALS.
>> >>DWANE: WOOSTER IS ANOTHER ONE OF THE FAMILY'S FRIENDLY LLAMAS I CAME IN CONTACT
WITH. >> >>DWANE: WE WERE GETTING ALONG SO WELL,
MY PHOTOGRAPHER ROLAND WAS FEELING THE LOVE AND WANTED TO GIVE IT A TRY.
THE SEIBELS SAY TAKING CARE OF THE LLAMAS NO MORE DIFFICULT THAN TAKING CARE OF THEIR
CATS OR DOGS WILL YOU KEEP THEM? >> >>: O, YEAH, THEY'VE GOT A HOME FOR LIFE.
>> >>DWANE: LUCKY LLAMAS. >> >>: YEAH, LUCKY US.
>> >>DWANE: AS FOR SPITTING THE ONLY TIME THE LLAMAS DO THAT IS WHEN THEY CONFRONT EACH
OTHER. THEY SAY THE LIFE EXPECTANCY OF A LLAMA IS
20 TO 25 YEARS. THE SEIBELS HAVE TWO WITHIN THAT AGE RANGE.
THIS WEEK'S TOP STORIES INCLUDED THE CONTROVERSIAL RENOVATION OF BALBOA PARK'S PLAZA DE PANAMA
AND PROBLEMS FOR A SAN DIEGO UNIVERSITY WHICH COULD MEAN 3,000 FEWER JOBS.
>> >>PEGGY: THE 7 AND A HALF HOUR EPIC CITY COUNCIL MEETING ON MONDAY ENDED WITH THE APPROVAL
OF THE PLAZA DE PANAMA PROJECT IN BALBOA PARK. A LAWSUIT TO BLOCK THE PROJECT WAS THREATENED
THE VERY NEXT DAY. TO TALK ABOUT THIS S UTC SAN DIEGO REPORTER
ROGER SHOWLY. BIJ BUT FIRST, BRIDGE POINT'S FOUR FOR PROFIT
ASHFORD UNIVERSITY MANAGES MOST OF ITS STUDENTS FROM ITS SAN DIEGO OFFICE.
THAT'S LIKELY TO CHANGE SINCE THE SCHOOL WAS DENIED ACCREDITATION TO TALK ABOUT THAT FALL
OUT IS VOICE OF SAN DIEGO REPORTER LIAM DILLON. THANK YOU BOTH FOR BEING HERE.
LIAM, LET'S START WITH YOU. ASHFORD UNIVERSITY WAS DENIED ACCREDITATION,
BY WHOM AND WHY? >> >>LIAM DILLON: I'LL GIVE YOU THE QUICK
SENTENCE AND TELL YOU WHAT IT MEANS. WESTERN REGIONAL ACCREDITORS SAID NO TO THE
APPLICATION TO BE ACCREDITED. WHAT ACCREDITED MEANS IS IT'S A KEY MARKER
FOR LEGITIMACY FOR A SCHOOL. IT SAYS A SCHOOL'S LEGITIMATE, IT ALLOWS STUDENTS
TO TRANSFER CREDITS BETWEEN DIFFERENT INSTITUTION, AND MOST IMPORTANTLY FOR BRIDGE POINT EDUCATION'S
MODEL IS THAT IT ALLOWS ACCESS TO FEDERAL FINANCIAL AID. THAT'S HOW ASHFORD WOULD MAKE
MOST OF IS MONEY. STUDENTS WOULD ATTEND, GET STUDENT AID AND THAT WOULD ALLOW THE SCHOOL
TO MAKE MONEY. >> >>PEGGY: THEY WERE DENIED AND THE MAJOR
REASON THEY WERE DENIED WAS THE STUDENT OUTCOMES. IS THAT THE ONLY REASON?
>> >>LIAM DILLON: IT'S RELATED TO THAT, BUT WHAT YOU DEFINE STUDENT OUTCOMES AS BEING,
THIS ACCREDITOR IN THIS CASE LOOKED AT GRADUATION RATES, YOU KNOW, THE THINGS OF THAT NATURE
TO SEE HOW WELL THEY WERE DOING. >> >>PEGGY: THE GRADUATION RATE WE'RE LOOKING
OUT IS OUT OF 87,000 STUDENTS THE DROP OUT RATE IS 84ﾊPERCENT.
ROGER, HOW DOES THAT COMPARE TO WHAT YOU KNOW OF COMMUNITY COLLEGES AND OTHER STATE DROP
OUT RATES? >> >>ROGER SHOWLEY: I THINK SAN DIEGO CITY
COLLEGE IS 26%, AND FOR UNIVERSITY OF PHOENIX IS 12%.
THEN THE REGULAR FOUR YEAR INSTITUTIONS IN SAN DIEGO ARE MUCH HIGHER, AND I WOULD SAY
THIS IS ON THE LOW END OF OUTCOMES. >> >>PEGGY: SO YOU MEAN MUCH HIGHER AS IN
A MUCH HIGHER GRADUATION RATE? >> >>ROGER SHOWLEY: RIGHT.
>> >>PEGGY: SO 84% SEEMS HIGH EVEN FOR THIS KIND OF FOR PROFIT UNIVERSITY.
>> >>ROGER SHOWLEY: EIGHTY FOUR PERCENT DROP OUT RATE.
>> >>LIAM DILLON: IT'S DECENTLY ALIGNED WITH WHAT THE OTHER FOR PROFIT SCHOOLS ARE DOING,
BUT I THINK THERE'S A SORT OF MORE HARD LINE STANCE BEING TAKEN BY SOME OF THESE ACCREDITORS
SAYING ARE THESE THE KIND OF UNIVERSITIES WE WANT TO AFFILIATE OURSELVES WITH WHEN THEY'RE
PUTTING THEIR SEAL OF APPROVAL ON IT, AND WHERE THE WHETHER THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT WANTS
TO PUMP MONEY INTO THESE SCHOOLS THROUGH STUDENT LOANS THAT'S WHY A HARD LOOK IS BEING TAKEN
AT THEM. >> >>PEGGY: AND THERE WAS THE DROP OUT RATE,
BUT THAT WASN'T THE ONLY REASON. ABOUT HOW MUCH MONEY THE EXECUTIVES WERE BEING
MADE TOO. >> >>ROGER SHOWLEY: AND ALSO HOW MUCH IS SPENT
ON MARKETING VERSUS TEACHING. IT'S LOT DIFFERENT THAN THE NORMAL COLLEGES
WE THINK OF. >> >>PEGGY: WE'RE TAKING A LOOK AT THAT RIGHT
NOW. 42ﾊPERCENT OF THEIR MONEY WAS SPENT ON MARKETING.
ONLY 38% ON INSTRUCTION, AND ANOTHER 20% ON ADMINISTRATION TO A TOTAL OF 497ﾊMILLION
DOLLARS LAST YEAR. THAT SOUNDS HIGH TO ME.
>> >>LIAM DILLON: WELL, SURE, I MEAN, YES, COMPARED TO OTHER NON PROFIT EDUCATION INSTITUTIONS,
OR OTHER JUST NON PROFIT EDUCATION INSTITUTIONS, THAT'S CERTAINLY HIGH.
THE ACCREDITOR DID NOTE THERE WERE STEPS TAKEN BY BRIDGE POINT AND ASHFORD TO PUMP UP THE
STUDENT SUCCESS SIDE OF THE EQUATION, RATHER THAN JUST THE MARKETING.
THE REAL KEY THING IS HOW MUCH IS THIS GOING TO AFFECT SAN DIEGO.
BRIDGE POINT IS A HUGE PRIVATE EMPLOYER THAT WENT FROM ZERO PRESENCE IN THIS CITY TO THE
NINTH LARGEST EMPLOYER, THEY'VE GOT 4,000 EMPLOYEES, A RECENT STUDY, ALTHOUGH BRIDGE
POINT DID HELP FINANCE SOME OF THAT STUDY, SHOWED THEY HAD A BILLION DOLLAR ECONOMIC
IMPACT. A REALLY IMPORTANT THING FOR A REGION LIKE
THE REST OF THE COUNTRY THAT'S HURTING. >> >>PEGGY: FOR PRIVATE EMPLOYEES, THREE TO
FOUR THOUSAND HERE. ARE THOSE EMPLOYEES LIKELY TO GO TO THE MAIN
CAMPUS, IF IT'S FOLDING HERE, WHAT IS THIS IMPACT?
>> >>ROGER SHOWLEY: THE ACCREDITATION PEOPLE IN THE MID WEST ARE INSISTING THAT A LARGE
PERCENTAGE OF THEIR EXECUTIVES AND THEIR STAFFING BE IN THE REGION THAT THEY'RE ACCREDITED IN.
IT'S POSSIBLE MANY OF THOSE SAN DIEGO BASED PEOPLE COULD MOVE.
I THINK THE OTHER IMPACT IS THE STUDENTS THEMSELVES. HOW MANY STUDENTS THERE ARE WORLD WIDE WHO
TAKE COURSES FOR THEM, AND WHETHER THEY WILL START DROPPING OUT OF BRIDGE POINT WHEN THEY
HEAR THIS NEWS. >> >>PEGGY: BECAUSE THEY CAN'T GET FEDERAL
FINANCING OR FEDERAL LOANS SO THEY MIGHT NOT BE ABLE TO AFFORD TO GO.
BRIDGE POINT SAYS THEY'LL FIGHT THE DECISION. WHAT WOULD THEY HAVE TO DO, EITHER ONE OF
YOU, TO STAY IN SAN DIEGO IS YOUR OPINION? >> >>LIAM DILLON: I THINK SORT OF IF YOU LOOK
AT THEIR STOCK PRICE, I MEAN, IT'S REALLY TAKEN A HIT AND YOU KNOW OVER THE PAST YEAR,
I JUST CHECKED THIS MORNING, THEY'RE DOWN 70% OVER THEIR YEAR HIGH AS FAR AS STOCK GOES,
YOU MIGHT EVEN TALK ABOUT BEING IN SURVIVAL MODE. IF YOU'RE IN SURVIVAL MODE, IT DOESN'T
MATTER WHETHER YOU'RE IN SAN DIEGO OR IOWA, YOU JUST WANT TO EXIST.
SO I THINK CERTAINLY, WE'RE GOING TO SEE A GOOD CHANCE OF THE PRESENCE THAT BRIDGE POINT
HAS HAD HERE, ALSO CIVIC LIFE SPONSOR THE COLLEGE FOOTBALL GAMES, SOME OF THE THE SYMPHONY,
THEY SPEND THEIR PHILANTHROPIC AND MARKETING MONEY HERE. A DECENT CHANCE THAT WILL MOVE
TO THE MID WEST. >> >>PEGGY: I WANT TO MOVE ON TO OUR SECOND
SUBJECT TODAY AND THAT IS THIS DRAMA OVER THE RENOVATION AT BALBOA PARK, GOING ON.
ROGER, LET ME START WITH YOU, WHY DO YOU THINK, FIRST OF ALL, CITY LEADERS SEEMED OVERWHELMINGLY,
EXCEPT FOR ONE, IN FAVOR OF THE PROJECT? >> >>ROGER SHOWLEY: BECAUSE SAN DIEGO'S BEEN
TALKING ABOUT GETTING THE CARS AND TRAFFIC OUT OF THE CENTER OF BALBOA PARK FOR MORE
THAN 50 YEARS. THERE HAVE BEEN MANY IDEAS AND SUGGESTIONS
FOR HOW TO DO THAT, IT'S IN THE MASTER PLAN OF BALBOA PARK TO CLEAR THE CARS OUT OF PLAZA
DE PANAMA. IT WAS ONLY UNTIL IRWIN JACOBS AND QUALCOMM
STEPPED FORWARD AND SAID I WILL RAISE 31ﾊMILLION DOLLARS, IF NOT FROM HIMSELF, AND OTHER DONORS
STEPPED IN TO MAKE THIS HAPPEN. THE PIPER CALLS THE TUNE, AND THIS IS WHAT
HAPPENED IN THIS CASE. >> >>PEGGY: IT GOT QUITE A BIT OF BACKING.
CIVIC PROJECTS TYPICALLY DON'T ENGENDER SUCH PASSIONATE CONTROVERSY.
WHY DO YOU THINK THE DRAMA OVER THIS IS? >> >>LIAM DILLON: I THINK ON THE ONE HAND,
ACTUALLY PROJECTS DO ENGENDER LOTS OF CONTROVERSY IN SAN DIEGO, WHENEVER YOU'RE TRYING TO DO
BIG THINGS; CONVENTION CENTERS, STADIUMS, GIANT RENOVATION OF THE PARK.
I THINK SECONDARILY, IT'S PART OF THE REASON THAT BALBOA PARK BEING SORT OF THE CENTRAL
FOCAL POINT OF THE CITY, CROWN JEWEL IT'S DESCRIBED AS OVER AND OVER AGAIN, AND I THINK
PART OF THE PROBLEM HERE, IS THAT I CAN UNDERSTAND WHY PEOPLE GOT SO UPSET, EVEN THOUGH EVERYONE
AGREES THE END GOAL IS TO GET THE CARS OUT OF THE PARK.
YOU HAVE A REALLY RICH GUY, NO MATTER HOW BENEVOLENT HE MIGHT BE, GETS TO SAY WHAT GOES
ON IN THE CITY'S CROWN JEWEL. I THINK THAT PEOPLE ARE UPSET BECAUSE IT SORT
OF BELONGS TO EVERYBODY. >> >>PEGGY: EXCEPT THAT'S ALWAYS BEEN THE
HISTORY OF PEOPLE WHO ARE PHILANTHROPISTS, PEOPLE WHO DONATE A LOT OF MONEY. THEY HAVE
A BIG SAY IN IT BECAUSE THEY PUT A LOT OF MONEY INTO IT.
I WANT TO ASK YOU ABOUT BOB FILNER'S REACTIONS AT THE MEETING.
>> >>LIAM DILLON: BOB FILNER RUNNING FOR MAYOR OF SAN DIEGO AGAINST CARL DEMAIO, WHO WAS
SITTING CLOSE TO HIM WHILE FILL NR WAS TALKING. FILNER KIND OF GAVE AN ABSENT MINDED PROFESSORS
SPEECH WONDERING WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IF IRWIN JACOBS DIED BRINGING KATE SESSIONS LOOK ALIKE
TO THE STAGE. KIND OF VERY ACTIVISTY SORT OF BEHAVIOR, AND
PRETTY STARK CONTRACT TO CARL DEMAIO WHO WAS PRETTY STATESMAN LIKE.
IT'S REALLY INTERESTING FOR THE MAYOR'S RACE. TWO GUYS WHO ARE VERY POLARIZING, AND SEE
DEMAIO TRYING TO MOVE TOWARDS THE MIDDLE FILNER BEING THE SAME GUY WE'VE SEEN BEFORE.
>> >>PEGGY: WHAT WAS IRWIN JACOBS RESPONSE? HE IS A BIG SUPPORTER OF KINDS, BUT STILL
WHAT WAS HIS RESPONSE? >> >>ROGER SHOWLEY: HE WAS SITTING IN THE
FRONT ROW ALL ENTIRE SEVEN HOURS OF THIS MEETING AND HAD DONE THE SAME THING THAT SAN DIEGO
PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING IN JUNE. SOME PEOPLE THINK HE WAS CASTING A THREATS
ON PEOPLE WHO OPPOSED HIM. I DON'T THINK THAT'S TRUE, BUT THEY GOT THE
SENSE THAT THIS IS SORT OFﾊ >> >>PEGGY: SITTING THERE SILENTLY DOMINATING?
>> >>ROGER SHOWLEY: HE WAS THE PRINCE SITTING THERE, IF YOU DON'T GO WITH ME, I WILL CUT
YOUR HEAD OFF. THE IMPRESSION WAS THAT.
THAT'S RIDICULOUS. IT IS ISN'T UNPRECEDENTED YOU HAVE WEALTHY
PEOPLE CALLING THE SHOTS FOR BALBOA PARK. THE TIMKEN GALLERY IN PLAZA DE PANAMA IS A
PERFECT EXAMPLE OF THAT FROM THE 1960S. THE DIFFERENCE HERE IS THAT THE PLAN FOR PLAZA
DE PANAMA AND THE REST OF BALBOA PARK WILL MAKE THE BIGGEST CHANGE VISUALLY AT THE ACCESS
TO THE PARK IN ITS HISTORY WITH THIS BYPASS BRIDGE PLANNED BY THE MUSEUM OF MAN.
>> >>PEGGY: COULDN'T IT BE THAT THESE PEOPLE ARE A PART OF THIS IS WE DON'T WANT CHANGE,
THIS IS HISTORICAL. THERE'S THIS ELEMENT OF PUSH BACK.
THE REASON I'M SAYING THAT IS BECAUSE I'M GOING TO PRESENT THIS TO BOTH OF YOU.
DO YOU THINK THIS WILL DIE DOWN ONCE PEOPLE SEE THE DESIGN, ONCE IT STARTS GETTING BUILT?
DO YOU THINK THIS IS SORT OF A FIRE UP RIGHT NOW BECAUSE WE CAN STOP THE CHANGE BUT ONCE
IT GETS GOING PEOPLE KIND OF RELAX AND EXPECT IT.
>> >>LIAM DILLON: I THINK SORT OF THE PROBLEM HERE WHETHER THIS IS GOOD OR BAD, AND CONSPIRACY
THEORIES AND NAMES BEING THROWN ON BOTH SIDES. PART OF THAT IS THE PROPONENTS DIDN'T DO A
GOOD JOB OF COALITION BUILDING. GROUPS ARE USUALLY INVOLVED IN BEING IN THE
ROOM. THEY GET PART OF WHAT THEY WANT AND THEY NEGOTIATE
A DEAL AND THEY'RE HAPPY. I THINK THE FACT ORGANIZED LABOR WAS NOT INVOLVED.
THAT SHOULD BE A NATURAL ALLY. WHEN YOU DON'T HAVE THESE GROUPS THAT CAN
HELP COALESCE AND BLUNT SOME OF THE CRITICISM, YOU CAN GET THAT REACTION.
>> >>PEGGY: ROGER? >> >>ROGER SHOWLEY: I WOULD SAY 10 YEARS FROM
NOW, IF IT IS BUILT AS PLANNED, PEOPLE WILL HAVE FORGOTTEN THE BATTLE.
>> >>PEGGY: THANK YOU BOTH, ROGER AND LIAM, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE.
>> >>DWANE: COMIC CON DOESN'T JUST DRAW FANS, IT ALSO DRAWS THOUSANDS OF CREATIVE TYPES
HOPING TO BUILD A FOLLOWING FOR THEIR WORK. ANGELA CARONE SAYS TWO SAN DIEGANS ARE PRESENTED
THEIR OWN CREATION, A COMEDY SERIES FOR THE WEB ABOUT ANTARCTICA.
>> >>ANGELA: YOU MIGHT THINK A SHOW ABOUT ANTARCTICA WOULD REQUIRE ACTUAL TRAVEL TO
ANTARCTICA. >> >>: MY NAME IS MATT HOIT AND I AM THE DIRECTER.
>> >>ANGELA: HOIT PLAY AS WRITER WHO GOES TO ANTARCTICA TO WRITE THE NEXT GREAT AMERICAN
NOVEL. >> >>: ANTARCTICAﾊ
>> >>ANGELA: THE SHOW'S ANTARCTIC LANDSCAPE WAS FILMED IN HOIT'S APARTMENT IN SAN DIEGO'S
SOUTH PARK NEIGHBORHOOD USEINGA DIEING DIAGRAM. >> >>: THIS IS THE CORE AREA WHERE OUR CHARACTERS
LIVE, WORK AND PAY. IT IS A FICTITIOUS LAND FILL, SLASH JUNK YARD
IN ANTARCTICA. >> >>ANGELA: HOIT CREATED THE SHOW WITH JASON
SHERRY A WELL KNOWN LOCAL ARTISTS. JERRY BUILDS MOST OF THE PROPS AND DOES ALL
OF THE ART DIRECTION. >> >>: THIS PROJECT IS A WAY FOR US TO DO
EVERYTHING WE WANTED TO DO. MINIATURES I ALWAYS WANTED TO DO.
>> >>ANGELA: SHERRY HAS RIP RIGGED AN OLD TOY HELICOPTER TO WORK.
WITH THE MAGIC OF EDITING, THAT HELICOPTER WILL LOOK LIKE THIS IN THE SHOW.
I ASKED HOIT HOW HE DESCRIBES THE SHOW TO SOMEONE LIKE HIS GRAND MOTHER.
>> >>: THAT'S ALREADY HAPPENED. SHE WAS CONFUSED.
SHE DIDN'T KNOW WHERE WE WERE MAKINGﾊ SHE WAS LIKE WHAT, DID YOU GO TO ANTARCTICA TO
MAKE THIS? I WAS LIKE NO, GRANDMA, IT'S EITHER PHOTOS OR LITTLE THINGS MY FRIENDS BUILD,
THEN WE STAND IN FRONT OF THIS GREEN SCREEN AND TALK.
I KNOW A LOT OF PEOPLE MAYBE MIGHT USE TECHNOLOGY LIKE THIS TO MAKE A STAR WARS FAN FILM OR
A STAR TREK FAN FILM, BUT IT'S NOT AN ORIGINAL IDEA, IT'S KIND OF REVISITING SOMETHING WE
ALREADY UNDERSTAND. WHEREAS JASON AND I'S CONCEPT IS WE WANT TO
GO SOMEWHERE WE'VE NEVER BEEN BEFORE AND WANT TO SEE SOMETHING WE WOULD WANT TO SEE.
>> >>ANGELA: SHERRY'S RETD RO D.I.Y. AESTHETIC IS KEY TO THE SHOW.
HE BUILT THIS COSTUME MADE OUT OF ROPE, ALONG WITH A CASKET AND A DOOR TO A FUEL TANKER.
I ASKED SHERRY IF THERE WAS ANYTHING IN THE SCRIPT HE HASN'T BEEN ABLE TO MAKE.
>> >>: NO Y MAKE ANYTHING, PRETTY MUCH. >> >>: HE ASK CAN.
>> >>ANGELA: ALSO KEY TO THE SHOW IS THE DEAD PAN COMEDY.
>> >>: WE TRY TO PLAY MOST OF THE PERFORMANCES BECAUSE MOST OF THE PEOPLE IN THE SHOW ARE
NON ACTORS, THEY'RE FRIENDS AND THINGS LIKE THAT.
WE TRY GET PEOPLE TO PLAY SORT OF STRAIGHT AS THEY'RE ABLE TO.
>> >>: YOU CAN SEE EVERYTHING. >> >>: YEAH, YOU CAN SEE EVERYTHING, CAN YOU.
>> >>: THEY DIDN'T HAVE CLOTHES BACK THEN. >> >>ANGELA: LITERALLY Y FOUND THIS IN THE
CLOSET TODAY. I I WAS TRYING TO CLEAN AND THERE'S LIKE THINGS
LIKE THIS EVERYWHERE, AND SO IT'S OVERWHELMING. WHEN ALISON AND MATT MARRIED TWO YEARS AGO,
SHE INSISTED THEY LIVE IN A HOUSE AROUND THE CORNER, LEAVING THE APARTMENT FOR THE PROJECT.
>> >>: HE NEEDED A MAN SPACE, AND I ACTUALLY THINK IT'S THE BEST THING WE EVERﾊ ONE OF
THE BEST DECISIONS WE EVER MADE AS A COUPLE. >> >>ANGELA: HOIT AND SHERRY ARE NOTHING IF
NOT DEDICATED, DO DESPITE DOING AS MUCH AS THEY CAN ON THE CHEAP, SELF FINANCING IS TAKING
ITS TOLL. >> >>: WE CAN'T KEEP PUTTING STUFF ON CREDIT
CARDS. >> >>ANGELA: THEY'VE LAUNCHED A KICK STARTER
CAMPAIGN TO RAISE 25,000 DOLLARS. AT COMIC CON THEY'RE HOPING TO ADD NEW FANS
AND PEEK THE INDUSTRY OF INDUSTRY REPS. >> >>: WE REALLY WOULD LIKE TO BUILD AN AUDIENCE,
WE WANT PEEP TO SEE THIS. IF ANYONE IN HOLLYWOOD IS WATCHING YOUR PROGRAM,
THEY CAN CALL ME AND REACH ME AT ANTARCTICA.COM. >> >>ANGELA: AS FOR VISITING ANTARCTICA, HOIT
AND SHERRY SAY IT'S DOUBTFUL. RIGHT NOW THEY PREFER THEIR SURREAL ANTARCTIC
ADVENTURE. CAPTIONS PROVIDED BY ECAPTIONS.
>> >>PEGGY: EARLIER THIS WEEK KPBS BUSINESS REPORTER ERIK ANDERSON TALKED TO COMIC BOOK
OWNERS AND ASKED IF THERE WAS STILL ROOM FOR COMICS AT
COMIC CON. >> >>PEGGY: YOU CAN WEIGH IN ON THIS CONVERSATION
OR OTHER NEWS STORIES YOU'VE SEEN TONIGHT BY FOLLOWING US ON TWITTER, LIKING US ON FACEBOOK,
OR YOU CAN E MAIL US AT PUBLIC SQUARE AT KPBS DOT ORG.
>> >>DWANE: SUNJERICO IS A TRADITIONAL STYLE OF FOLK MUSIC HAS BEEN EMERGING IN THE U.S.
>> >>: IT MAKES US FEEL CONNECTED WE FEEL CONNECTED TO THE EARTH, PROVIDES JUST A LOT
OF HAPPINESS. >> >>: TYPICALLY WE'LL GATHER AROUND A DANCER
BOARD WHERE WE GET TOGETHER AND PLAY MUSIC AND DANCE AT THE SAME TIME.
AND WE ALL SHARE THE LYRICS OF THE SONG, IT'S A VERY ENRICHING AND VERY SHARING ENVIRONMENT.
>> >>: IT PROVIDES US WITH COMMUNITY, IT PROVIDES US WITH A CONNECTION TO MEXICO, WHICH A LOT
OF US ARE ORIGINALLY FROM OR OUR PARENTS OR GRAND PARENTS.
>> >>: ONE OF THE FEARS WAS THIS WAS DYING OUT IS BECAUSE IT'S A RURAL MUSIC TRADITIONALLY
PLAYED BY PEOPLE IN RURAL COMMUNITIES. A FEW DECADES AGO, SEVERAL KEY GROUPS SORT
OF I DON'T WANT TO SAY REDISCOVERED IT, BUT STARTED TO PLAY IT AGAIN TO SPREAD IT THROUGHOUT
MEXICO ESPECIALLY HERE IN THE UNITED STATES. I THINK ONE OF THE INTERESTING THINGS ABOUT
THIS MUSIC IS YOU'RE PLAYING WITH PEOPLE THAT YOU'VE NEVER MET.
THERE ARE OFTEN PEOPLE WHO YOU DON'T KNOW AND NEVER MET AT ALL.
THAT'S THE BEAUTY, YOU CAN REGARDLESS OF YOUR SKILL LEVEL, HOW LONG YOU'VE BEEN PLAYING,
YOU HAVE A ROLE BECAUSE THAT REALLY IS VERY OPEN.
>> >>DWANE: ADRIAN WAS PLAYING THE JARANA. YOU CAN HEAR MORE OF THE MUSIC TOMORROW AT
THE FIFTH ANNUAL BORDER FANDANGO AT THE FRIENDSHIP PARK STARTING AT 11:00ﾊA.M.
TONIGHT'S STORIES ARE ON OUR WEBSITE, KPBS.ORG/EVENINGEDITION. THANKS FOR JOINING US FOR JOINING US, YOU
HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND.