Friday, May 11, 2012 - Evening Edition

>> TONIGHT ON KPBS "EVENING
EDITION", A TV AD IN THE SAN
DIEGO'S MAYOR RACE IS CAUSING A
STIR IN A POLITICAL CORRUPTION
RACE.
>>> AND SAN DIEGANS GATHER A
QUALCOMM STADIUM TO REMEMBER
JUNIOR SEAU.
KPBS "EVENING EDITION" STARTS
NOW.
.
>> HELLO, THANKS FOR JOINING US.
I'M JOANNE FARYON.
>> AND I'M DWANE BROWN.
>> A PUBLIC MEMORIAL FOR JUNIOR
SEAU IS JUST GETTING UNDERWAY AT
QUALCOMM STADIUM.
THE CHARGERS ARE CALLING IT A
CELEBRATION OF HIS LIFE.
60,000 PEOPLE WERE EXPECTED
TONIGHT.
WE BEGAN SHOWING UP AT QUALCOMM
EARLIER THIS AFTERNOON AND
SHARED THEIR MEMORIES OF THE
CHARGERS HALL OF FAMER.
>> I'M HERE JUST TO PAY TRIBUTE.
JUNIOR WAS A GREAT MAN.
AND IT'S BEEN A HEAVY, HARD
WEEK.
I CAN'T EVEN THINK ABOUT HIM
WITHOUT CRYING.
I WAS FRIENDS WITH HIM AND HUNG
OUT WITH HIM SEVERAL PLACES, AND
OUTSIDE OF FOOTBALL HE WAS A
GREAT PERSON.
>> EVERYBODY HAS THAT ONE
PERSON, WHETHER YOU'RE A SPORTS
FAN OR MAYBE IT'S A MOVIE STAR,
AND JUNIOR SEAU WAS THAT FOR ME.
>> HE'S FAMILY TO ALL OF US, I
MEAN, FOR THE OLDER COMMUNITY,
HE'S THEIR SON, AND TO ME AND MY
BROTHERS, HE'S A BROTHER TO US.
>> SEAU COMMITTED SUICIDE ON MAY
2ND, FUELING SPECULATION THAT
ATHLETES WHO SUFFER REPEATED
HEAD TRAUMA ARE AT A GREATER
RISK FOR DEPRESSION.
THE SEAU NAMLY STILL HAS NOT
SAID WHETHER HIS BRAIN WILL BE
DONATED TO STUDY THAT
POSSIBILITY.
>>> BRIBERY CHARGES HAVE NOW
BEEN FILED AGAINST FOUR
SWEETWATER UNION HIGH SCHOOL
DISTRICT OFFICIALS.
FORMER SUPERINTENDENT JESUS
GANDARA, CURRENT TRUSTEES ARLIE
RICASA, AND PEARL QUINNONE YES
AND FORMER TRUSTEE GREG SANDOVAL
ARE ACCUSED OF FOSTERING A
PAY-TO-PLAY CULTURE, WHERE
LAVISH GIFTS WERE GIVEN A
CONSTRUCTION EXECUTIVES IN
EXCHANGE FOR SCHOOL CONTRACTS.
>> ONE OF THE CONTRACTORS HAS
PLEADED GUILTY IN THE CASE.
SOME OF THE DEFENDANTS IN THE
SWEETWATER CASE ARE UPSET ABOUT
AN AD IN THE SAN DIEGO MAY'S
RACE FOR DISTRICT ATTORNEY
BONNIE DUMANIS.
THE ATTORNEY FOR THE DEFENDANTS
SAYS THE AD COULD INFLUENCE
POTENTIAL JURORS.
HE ASKED FOR A GAG ORDER ON THE
AD, BUT THE JUDGE SAID HE WASN'T
COMFORTABLE DOING THAT.
THE DUMANIS CAMPAIGN SAYS THERE
ARE NO PLANS TO STOP OR CHANGE
THE AD.
>>> ANOTHER POLITICAL AD MAY
HAVE COST A DOCTOR HER POST ON A
STATE PANEL.
LaDONNA PORTER APPEARED IN AN AD
AGAINST PROPOSITION 29, WHICH
WOULD CREATE A NEW TOBACCO TAX.
GOVERNOR JERRY BROWN REMOVED HER
AND FIVE OTHERS FROM A COMMITTEE
WHICH IDENTIFIES TOXIC
SUBSTANCES.
ALL OF THEM HAD BEEN APPOINTED
BY FORMER GOVERNOR ARNOLD
SCHWARZENEGGER.
>>> A THIRD SUSPECT HAS BEEN
ARRESTED IN THE KILLING OF A
CAMP PENDLETON MARINE'S WIFE.
DOROTHY MARAGLINO WILL BE
ARRAIGNED MONDAY ON CHARGES
RELATED TO THE DEATH OF
22-YEAR-OLD BRITTANY KILGORE.
PUBLIC RECORDS SHOW MARAGLINO
AND THE OTHER SUSPECTS LIVED IN
A HOME NEAR KILGORE'S APARTMENT
IN FALLBROOK.
INVESTIGATORS HAVE SAID NOTHING
ABOUT A MOTIVE FOR THE MURDER.
>>> THE HEAD OF THE MARINE CORPS
IS PLANNING AN ETHICAL
STAND-DOWN AFTER A SERIES OF
EMBARRASSING INCIDENTS RANGING
FROM MARINES URINATING ON THE
BODIES OF INSURGENTS TO FACEBOOK
COMMENTS CRITICIZING THE
PRESIDENT.
MARINE COMMANDERS WILL FIRST GET
TRAINED SOMETIME NEXT MONTH.
A STAND-DOWN FOR ALL MARINES
WILL FOLLOW THAT TRAINING
SESSION.
>>> NEXT WEEK SAN DIEGANS GET A
CHANCE TO VOICE THEIR OPINIONS
ABOUT A $150-A-YEAR FEE FOR FIRE
PROTECTION IN RURAL AREAS.
THE STATE BOARD OF FORRESTRY AND
FIRE PROTECTION WILL HOLD A
PUBLIC MEETING WEDNESDAY MORNING
AT THE COUNTY BOARD OF
SUPERVISORS CHAMBER.
BILLS FOR THE NEW FEE GO OUT IN
A FEW MONTHS.
BUT THE FEE IS TEMPORARY FOR
NOW.
THERE IS TALK OF MAKING THE FEE
PERMANENT, AND WEDNESDAY'S
MEETING WILL GIVE THE PUBLIC A
CHANCE TO WEIGH IN.
>>> SOME TROLLEY PASSENGERS WILL
HAVE TO WALK A LITTLE FARTHER
STARTING ON MONDAY.
THE METROPOLITAN TRANSIT SYSTEM
IS STARTING CONSTRUCTION WORK ON
THREE STATIONS.
THE CIVIC CENTER STATION WILL BE
CLOSED FOR ABOUT THREE MONTHS.
ON WEDNESDAY THE STATION AT 25TH
AND COMMERCIAL IN LOGAN HEIGHTS
WILL CLOSE, AGAIN FOR THREE
MONTHS.
A SUBSTITUTE STATION WILL BE SET
UP A BLOCK AWAY.
AND LATER THIS MONTH THE
MIDDLETOWN STATION WILL CLOSE
FOR ABOUT TWO MONTHS.
MTS WILL PROVIDE A SHUTTLE
INSTEAD.
THE CLOSURES ARE PART OF A
RENEWAL PROJECT TO UPGRADE
STATIONS AND TRACKS TO PUT
LOW-FLOOR TROLLEYS ON THE BLUE
AND ORANGE LINES.
>>> THE FIRST GRADUATING CLASS
OF TRADE TECH HIGH SCHOOL IN
VISTA IS NERVOUSLY EXCITED ABOUT
THE FUTURE.
THE CHARTER SCHOOL SERVES AN
ECONOMICALLY DISADVANTAGED GROUP
OF MOSTLY HISPANIC AND WHITE
STUDENTS, COMBINING COLLEGE PREP
COURSES WITH ON-THE-JOB TRAINING
IN THE BUILDING, CONSTRUCTION,
AND ENGINEERING TRADES.
FROM PUTTING THE FINAL TOUCHES
ON A HOUSE TO FIGURING OUT HOW
TO GENERATE ENERGY USING
WINDMILL POWER, TRADE TECH'S
FIRST GRADUATING CLASS WON'T
HAVE TO CHOOSE BETWEEN COLLEGE
AND WORK BECAUSE THEY'RE ALREADY
PREPARING FOR BOTH.
>> I AM PURSUING BOTH WAYS,
BECAUSE I DO HAVE AN INTERNSHIP,
AND I WORK AT AMERICAN BOBCAT.
>> Reporter: DALIA SAN MIGUEL
WANTS TO BE THE FIRST IN HER
FAMILY TO GRADUATE FROM COLLEGE.
>> IT'S JUST LIKE FUTURE PLAN
THAT I HAVE FOR ME, I WON'T
THINK I WOULD HAVE HAD IF IT
WASN'T FOR TRADE TECH.
>> Reporter: SHE IS ONE OF 20
SENIORS GETTING READY TO
GRADUATE NEXT MONTH.
SAN MIGUEL CREDITS THE SCHOOL'S
SMALLER CLASS SIZE -- THERE ARE
ABOUT 18 STUDENTS FOR EVERY
TEACHER -- FOR KEEPING HER ON
TRACK.
>> I'M A SLOW LEARNING, AND I'LL
LEARN THINGS, BUT MAINLY WHEN
IT'S ONE ON ONE.
>> Reporter: SHE HAS GAINED
PERSPECTIVE ON BUILDING A HOME
FROM SCRATCH.
>> IT'S TOTALLY DIFFERENT, LIKE
THAT'S HARD WORK, VERY HARD
WORK, BUT IT'S VERY REWARDING.
>> Reporter: IN FACT, THE
CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY IS
PREDICTED TO BE AMONG THE TOP
TEN SOURCES OF JOBS IN THE NEAR
FUTURE.
>> LEARNING ABOUT TRADES GOT MY
ATTENTION.
>> LIUS BERL RAFFI WAS ONE OF
THE FIRST STUDENTS AT TRADE TECH
HIGH WHEN IT OPENED IN VISTA IN
2008.
>> WE DO OUR PLANNING, ELECTRIC
STUFF, CARPENTRY.
I WANT TO BE AN ALL-AROUND GUY.
>> Reporter: THE PRINCIPAL SAYS
MOST OF THE SENIOR CLASS WILL BE
GOING ON TO COLLEGE IN THE FALL,
AND FIVE SENIORS HAVE BEEN HIRED
BY INDUSTRY PARTNERS WITH
SUPPORT FROM SCHOLARSHIPS.
>> IN THIS ECONOMY, THEY'RE
GOING TO WALK IN TO A JOB THAT
PAYS $14 TO $18 AN HOUR --
BECAUSE TO BE AN APPRENTICE,
YOU'VE GOTTA HAVE A JOB -- IN
THE FIELD THEY CHOOSE, HAVE
IMMEDIATE EMPLOYMENT AND A
WORKING WAGE.
>> AND TRADE TECH HAS THE
HIGHEST A.P.I. GROWTH OF ANY
CHARTER SCHOOL IN CALIFORNIA,
RAISING ITS SCORES BY 159 POINTS
THIS YEAR IN ENGLISH, SCIENCE,
AND MATH.
>>> ONE OF THE WEEK'S BIGGEST
HEADLINES WAS THE PRESIDENT'S
DECLARATION OF SUPPORT FOR
SAME-SEX MARRIAGE.
JOANNE IS TALKING ABOUT IT WITH
HER GUESTS OVER AT THE "EVENING
EDITION" ROUNDTABLE.
>> THIS WEEK PRESIDENT OBAMA
MADE THE ANNOUNCEMENT MANY HAD
BEEN WAITING FOR: HIS APPROVAL
OF MARRIAGE FOR SAME-SEX
COUPLES.
SEVERAL SAN DIEGO POLITICIANS
WERE AHEAD OF HIM ON THIS ISSUE,
INCLUDING MAYOR JERRY SANDERS
AND ALL FOUR MAYORAL CANDIDATES.
JOINING ME TO TALK ABOUT
REACTION FROM THE SAN DIEGO LGBT
COMMUNITY IS STAMPP CORBIN,
PUBLISHER OF "LGBT WEEKLY".
WELCOME.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING
HERE.
>> GLAD TO BE HERE.
>> FIRST OF ALL, YOUR REACTION
WHEN YOU FIRST HEARD THIS NEWS A
FEW DAYS AGO?
>> WELL, YOU KNOW, I WAS ELATED
THAT THE PRESIDENT HAD FINALLY
COME OUT IN SUPPORT OF SAME-SEX
MARRIAGE, OR MARRIAGE EQUALITY,
AS WE LIKE TO CALL IT, BUT IT
WAS AN INTERESTING 24 OR 36
HOURS, BECAUSE NORTH CAROLINA
HAD VOTED DOWN 61 TO 39% -- OR
VOTED IN A MARRIAGE BAN, AND
THEN COLORADO WAS GOING TO PASS
A MARRIAGE EQUALITY BILL, AND
RATHER THAN HAVE THAT HAPPEN,
THEY JUST PUT EVERYTHING TO THE
FLOOR AND SAID WE'RE NOT GOING
TO EVEN BRING IT UP FOR A VOTE,
AND SO IT WAS A VERY INTERESTING
TIME.
SO, YOU KNOW, THE DISAPPOINTMENT
OF NORTH CAROLINA AND COLORADO
ABSOLUTELY FOLLOWED BY THE
PRESIDENT COMING OUT AND USING
THE BULLY PULPIT TO SAY THAT HE
WAS FOR SAME-SEX MARRIAGE -- I
WAS ELATED.
>> YOU ALSO HAVE A DIFFERENT
CONNECTION TO THIS ANNOUNCEMENT
AS WELL.
YOU CO-CHAIRED THE LGBT
LEADERSHIP COUNCIL DURING
OBAMA'S FIRST CAMPAIGN, YOU'VE
TALKED TO THE PRESIDENT ABOUT
THIS ISSUE, YOU'VE BEEN TO THE
WHITE HOUSE.
HOW MUCH DIFFERENCE DID IT MAKE
TO YOU THEN THAT HE WASN'T IN
FAVOR OF SAME-SEX MARRIAGE, OR
AT LEAST HE DIDN'T COME OUT
PUBLICLY AND SAY HE WAS?
>> WELL, ONE THING ABOUT THE
PRESIDENT, IS HE TELLS YOU THE
TRUTH.
WHEN I DECIDED TO JOIN THE
CAMPAIGN BACK IN 2007, AND
SPECIFICALLY TO WORK ON LGBT
ISSUES, HE TOLD ME THE TRUTH:
"I AM NOT FOR SAME-SEX MARRIAGE;
I'M FOR CIVIL UNIONS."
AND THEN, YOU KNOW, HE HAS DONE
ALL OF THESE GREAT POLICIES
DURING HIS PRESIDENCY, WHETHER
IT'S HOSPITAL VISITATION,
WHETHER IT'S BENEFITS FOR
FEDERAL WORKERS, DON'T ASK DON'T
TELL, THE MATTHEW SHEPARD HATE
CRIMES ACT -- HE HAS DONE ALL OF
THESE WONDERFUL THINGS FOR OUR
COMMUNITY, AND THEN HE SAID HE
WAS EVOLVING.
THAT WAS VERY FRUSTRATING FOR
MANY MEMBERS OF OUR COMMUNITY.
I WASN'T ONE OF THOSE FOLKS WHO
WAS FRUSTRATED BY IT.
I THINK FOLKS SOMETIMES HAVE TO
GO ON A JOURNEY ABOUT THESE
ISSUES.
I WISH THEY DIDN'T HAVE TO, BUT
-- YOU KNOW, BEING
AFRICAN-AMERICAN, THERE WAS A
JOURNEY THAT HAD TO HAPPEN FOR
ME TO BE ABLE TO SIT ACROSS FROM
YOU TODAY.
SO THE PRESIDENT, WHEN HE SAID
HE WAS EVOLVING, WE KNEW HE
WASN'T GOING TO EVOLVE TO THE
SAME PLACE THAT HE WAS;
IT WAS GOING TO BE A BETTER
PLACE.
>> DO YOU THINK THIS IS GOING TO
ULTIMATELY MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN
THE LAW?
PROP 8, THE BAN ON SAME-SEX
MARRIAGE IS TIED UP IN THE
COURTS, COULD THIS MAKE A
DIFFERENCE IN CALIFORNIA OR
ACROSS THE REST OF THE COUNTRY?
>> I THINK YOU HAVE TO LOOK AT
THE PRESIDENCY AS AN INSTITUTION
AS WELL AS AN INDIVIDUAL, AND
WHAT MAKES THIS SO HISTORIC IS
FOR A SITTING PRESIDENT TO SAY
THAT HE'S FOR MARRIAGE EQUALITY.
THAT'S WHY THEY CALL IT THE
BULLY PULPIT WITH THE PRESIDENT.
THOSE FOLKS WHO SUPPORT HIM MAY
TAKE A STEP BACK AND SAY, "WELL,
LET ME LOOK AT WHAT I HAVE BEEN
THINKING."
THE ELECTORATE IS SPLIT 50/50 AT
THIS POINT, BUT IF YOU DRILL
DOWN, INDEPENDENTS AND DEMOCRATS
SUPPORT MARRIAGE EQUALITY MUCH
MORE THAN, SAY, REPUBLICANS.
REPUBLICANS ARE SOMETHING LIKE
75% AGAINST, WHEREAS
INDEPENDENTS ARE 57% FOR, AND I
THINK DEMOCRATS ARE OVER 60% FOR
MARRIAGE EQUALITY.
>> WE HAVE TO LEAVE IT THERE.
WE'RE OUT OF TIME, BUT THANK YOU
SO MUCH, STAMPP CORBIN, FOR
BEING HERE.
>> THANK YOU.
>> MORE THAN 100 MEMBERS OF THE
GREATEST GENERATION GOT A
SPECIAL HONOR TODAY.
THE STORY COMING UP.
>>> PLUS, A LOOK AT AMBITIOUS
PLANS FROM THE OWNER OF "U-T SAN
DIEGO".
>>> AND TRASH WITH AN
ENVIRONMENTAL MESSAGE.
WE'LL SHOW YOU COMING UP.
THIS IS KPBS "EVENING EDITION".
>> MORE THAN A HUNDRED WORLD WAR
II VETERANS FLEW FROM SAN DIEGO
TO WASHINGTON, D.C. TODAY.
KPBS REPORTER TOM FUDGE TELLS US
ABOUT THE HONOR FLIGHT SERVING A
GROUP OF WAR VETERANS WHOSE
NUMBERS ARE THINNING EVERY DAY.
>> THIS IS REALLY ABOUT A
CELEBRATION OF EVERYONE THAT'S
HERE AND EVERYONE THAT HELPED US
GET HERE.
>> Reporter: WHEN THESE NAVY
VETERANS REFLECT ON THEIR WAR
EXPERIENCES, THEY'RE LOOKING
BACK 67 YEARS.
NAVY VETERAN TOM CASENZA SERVED
IN THE PACIFIC.
>> I WAS IN GUAM, SAIPAN, IWO
JIMA -- IWO JIMA!
>> MOOSBURG, GERMANY.
WE LIBERATED A BIG PRISONER OF
WAR CAMP THERE.
>> IN S-3, WHICH IS OPERATIONS
WITH A COMBAT ENGINEER
BATTALION, BUILDING BRIDGES,
PLANTING MINES, DIGGING UP
MINES.
>> Reporter: DIGGING UP MINES.
DANGEROUS WORK?
>> YOU BET.
BUT I'M HERE.
>> Reporter: THEY'RE HERE AT
LINDBERGH FIELD TO CATCH A
FLIGHT TO WASHINGTON, COURTESY
OF THE NON-PROFIT GROUP "HONOR
FLIGHT."
DAVE SMITH IS CHAIRMAN OF "HONOR
FLIGHT SAN DIEGO."
HE SAYS GROUPS SPRANG UP AROUND
THE COUNTRY TO HELP VETERANS
GET TO WASHINGTON TO VISIT THE
WORLD WAR II MEMORIAL WHICH
OPENED IN 2004.
>> I GET JUST SO MUCH ENJOYMENT
SEEING THESE GUYS, 67 YEARS
AFTER THE WAR ENDED, FINALLY
GETTING A PAT ON THE BACK AND A
"THANK YOU".
>> Reporter: THESE WORLD WAR II
VETS ARE ALL OVER THE AGE OF 85.
SOME ARE BOARDING THE PLANE WITH
GUARDIANS WHO CAN HELP THEM OUT.
OF COURSE, SOME PEOPLE DIDN'T
WANT TO REVEAL THEIR AGE.
>> OH, GOD, YOU NEVER ASK A
WOMAN THAT!
NEVER!
>> Reporter: DAVE SMITH SAYS
THESE WAR VETERANS, LIKE ALL
OTHERS, HAVE SUFFERED EMOTIONAL
STRESS, AND HE SAYS HONOR FLIGHT
CAN BE A WAY TO WORK THE DEMONS
OUT.
CASENZA SPEAKS OF HAVING TO BURY
THE DEAD.
>> I WAS THERE, AND IT TOOK ME
30 YEARS TO FORGET ABOUT IT, BUT
NOW I CAN TALK ABOUT IT.
>> THAT WAS TOM FUDGE REPORTING.
ON SUNDAY, THE VETERANS RETURN
TO SAN DIEGO GREETED WITH A
GRAND WELCOME OF A WATER CANNON
SALUTE ON THE AIRPORT RUNWAY,
AND A NAVY AND MARINE CORPS
COLOR GUARD.
>>> THE UT SAN DIEGO COULD GET A
SISTER PUBLICATION SOON.
JOANNE IS TALKING ABOUT IT WITH
HER GUEST AT THE "EVENING
EDITION" ROUNDTABLE.
>> DOUG MANCHESTER HAS MADE A
LOT OF NEWS HIMSELF SINCE BUYING
THE U.T. LAST YEAR.
TAKE A LOOK AT THIS.
HE SAYS HE WANTS TO BUY THE
NORTH COUNTY TIMES, BUILD A MEGA
SPORTS COMPLEX, DEVELOP HIS LAND
IN MISSION VALLEY, AND HE MAY
ALSO OWN THE ORANGE COUNTY
REGISTER.
BESIDES ALL THIS, AFTER
ANNOUNCING ITS ENDORSEMENT OF
CARL DeMAIO FOR MAYOR, THE U-T'S
EDITOR WAS TAPED TELLING NATHAN
FLETCHER OF THE PAPER'S "ANYBODY
BUT FILNER" ATTITUDE.
JUST WHAT IS NEW OWNER PAPA DOUG
MANCHESTER UP TO?
JOINING ME IS
VOICEOFSANDIEGO.ORG CEO SCOTT
LEWIS.
THANKS FOR BEING HERE SCOTT.
LOTS TO TALK ABOUT.
LET'S START WITH THE ORANGE
COUNTY REGISTER.
IS HE OR ISN'T HE BUYING THIS
PAPER?
>> I'D BET ON IT, YEAH, I THINK
THAT HE WILL.
IT MAKES SOME SENSE, IN THE
SENSE THAT THEY BOTH PRINT
PAPERS, AND PRINTING IS THE MOST
EXPENSIVE -- AND DISTRIBUTING --
IS THE MOST EXPENSIVE PART OF
RUNNING A NEWSPAPER, SO IF YOU
CAN CONSOLIDATE FUNCTIONS, THAT
WOULD BE A GOOD BUSINESS
DECISION, AND THEY CAN PROBABLY
COMBINE EDITORIAL FOCUS.
THERE ARE A LOT OF SAN DIEGO
RESIDENTS WHO APPRECIATE LOS
ANGELES-AREA SPORTS AND THINGS
LIKE THAT.
THERE WILL BE SOME INTERESTING
CONSOLIDATION, AND ALSO A
GROWING EMPIRE.
>> WE'VE HEARD ALREADY THAT HE
IS EXPANDING TO TELEVISION NEWS,
WE SEE SOME OF THAT HAPPENING IN
TERMS OF BUILDING A STUDIO.
IN TERMS OF EDITORIAL DIRECTION
WITH THE PAPER, THIS WEEKEND,
WAS IT A SURPRISE WHEN THE PAPER
CAME OUT AND ENDORSED CARL
DeMAIO FOR MAYOR?
>> NO.
WHAT WAS A SURPRISE WAS THAT
THEY PUT IT ON THE FRONT PAGE,
SO IT SAID "CARL DeMAIO FOR
MAYOR," AND IT WASN'T EVEN THE
FRONT PAGE; IT WAS MORE OF A
WRAP-AROUND COVER.
>> CAN I TELL YOU WHAT I THOUGHT
WHEN I SAW THAT?
I THOUGHT CARL DeMAIO BOUGHT AN
AD, I THOUGHT THAT MUST HAVE
COST SO MUCH MONEY.
AND THEN I KEPT READING, NO,
IT'S AN EDITORIAL.
>> THAT ILLUSTRATES HOW POWERFUL
IT WAS, BECAUSE IT WOULD HAVE
COST A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF
MONEY.
WHAT DOES THE NEWSPAPER'S
ENDORSEMENT MATTER?
THIS WOULD HAVE BEEN LIKE
300,000 SIGNS OVERNIGHT ARRIVING
ON PEOPLE'S FRONT STEPS, CARL
DeMAIO FOR MAYOR AND A REASON TO
DO IT.
THAT'S A PRETTY BIG DEAL.
DOUG MANCHESTER BY BUYING THE
PAPER HAS BEEN ABLE TO
DISTRIBUTE MORE MEDIA THAN HE
EVER WOULD HAVE DONE AS AN
INDIVIDUAL INVESTOR IN THE
POLITICAL PROCESS.
IT WAS A VERY INTERESTING AND
POWERFUL MOVE.
AND IT CAME RIGHT AFTER ANOTHER
UNPRECEDENTED THING WHICH WAS
THE RELEASE OF TAPES FROM NATHAN
FLETCHER'S INTERVIEW TO GET THAT
ENDORSEMENT FOR MAYOR, AND
REVEALED REALLY SOME VERY
INTERESTING WORRIES AT THE PAPER
ABOUT THE BRAND OF THE
REPUBLICAN PARTY.
>> LET'S GIVE PEOPLE BACKGROUND.
SO WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU'RE
RUNNING FOR POLITICAL OFFICE,
YOU CAN SIT DOWN WITH A
NEWSPAPER'S EDITORIAL BOARD,
THEY ASK YOU QUESTIONS, AND THEY
DECIDE WHO THEY'RE GOING TO
ENDORSE.
AND THIS WAS TAPED.
THERE WAS A ONE-HOUR TAPE
RECORDING.
NATHAN FLETCHER'S CAMPAIGN
RELEASED IT, AND ON THAT TAPE
YOU HAVE JEFF LIGHT, WHO'S THEIR
THE EDITOR, SAYING WHAT?
>> THE EDITOR IN CHIEF WAS
SAYING -- HE WASN'T -- HE WAS
THE CHIEF INQUISITOR ABOUT
NATHAN FLETCHER AND WHAT HE
COULD SAY TO THIS BOARD THAT
WOULD MAKE THEM FEEL GOOD ABOUT
BEING REPUBLICANS AND STILL
SUPPORTING HIM.
SO BASICALLY, YOU KNOW,
BASICALLY THEY KEPT SAYING "YOU
HAVE, BY LEAVING THE REPUBLICAN
PARTY", IN THAT BIG, GRAND SHOW
THAT HE DID, "YOU HAVE HURT THAT
COALITION OF PEOPLE KNOWN AS THE
REPUBLICAN PARTY WHO ARE TRYING
TO GET POWER AND INFLUENCE."
AND SO THAT MAKES US MAD BECAUSE
WE'RE WITH THEM, BASICALLY.
AND IT'S ONE THING FOR THE PAPER
TO BE CONSERVATIVE, WHICH IT
ALWAYS HAS BEEN, OR FOR YEARS
BEFORE THE LAST OWNERS, BUT IT'S
ANOTHER THING TO ACTUALLY BE
PART OF A COALITION OF PEOPLE
TRYING TO GET POWER, AND THAT'S
A MUCH DIFFERENT ATTITUDE.
THIS WAS THE EDITOR IN CHIEF,
THE EDITOR OF THE PAPER, WHO WAS
EXPRESSING THE MOST CONCERN
ABOUT THIS.
WHAT THAT REFLECTS TO ME IS THE
CONTINUING DISCUSSION ABOUT THE
FUTURE OF THE REPUBLICAN PARTY
IN SAN DIEGO.
AS THEY TRY TO DEAL WITH WHAT I
THINK IS AN EXISTENTIAL THREAT,
IF HE -- AS NATHAN FLETCHER IS
ABLE TO SUCCEED, AND HE HAS
BLAZED A PATH AWAY FROM THE TWO
PARTIES TOWARD SUCCESS AND A NEW
COALITION OF LEADERS, THAT WOULD
BE REALLY POWERFUL.
>> WE HAVE NOT A LOT OF TIME
LEFT.
I WANT TO TOUCH ON THESE CONDOS.
WE'VE SEEN HIM DEVELOP A MEDIA
EMPIRE AND DEVELOP LAND.
>> YEAH, WELL, THE MISSION
VALLEY HEADQUARTERS OF THE UNION
TRIBUNE IS A PRIME SPOT RIGHT
NEXT TO THE FREEWAY, HE WANTS TO
PUT UP A BIG TIMES SQUARE THING
AND CONDOS.
HE'S A REAL ESTATE DEVELOPER AT
HEART.
THIS IS A NATURAL INVESTMENT.
>> SCOTT LEWIS, THANKS FOR BEING
HERE.
>>> USING TRASH TO MAKE A
STATEMENT ABOUT OCEAN POLLUTION,
FROM OUR CULTURE DESK IN JUST
A
MOMENT.
THIS IS KPBS "EVENING EDITION".
>> THE CHULA VISTA NATURE CENTER
RE-LAUNCHED LAST MONTH AS THE
"LIVING COAST DISCOVERY CENTER".
ITS FIRST EXHIBIT IS CALLED
"WASHED ASHORE: PLASTICS, SEA
LIFE, AND ART".
KPBS ARTS REPORTER BETH
ACCOMANDO GIVES US A TOUR OF THE
EXHIBIT WITH ITS CREATOR.
>> Reporter: DO YOU KNOW WHAT
THREE TONS OF GARBAGE LOOKS
LIKE?
CAN IT CAN LOOK LIKE THIS, THIS,
OR EVEN THIS.
BUT IF YOU'RE AN ARTIST LIKE
ANGELA, YOU CAN TURN THREE TONS
OF DEBRIS INTO THIS.
>> HENRY IS BECOMING OUR MASCOT.
HE'S ALMOST BECOMING OUR LOGO OF
SORTS FOR THE "WASHED ASHORE"
PROJECT.
>> Reporter: THE NON-PROFIT
ORGANIZATION STARTS TO EDUCATE
AND CREATE AWARENESS ABOUT
PLASTIC POLLUTION THROUGH ART.
>> WE DON'T CUT UP EVERYTHING
INTO BEAUTIFUL LITTLE TINY
PIECES SO YOU CAN'T TELL WHERE
IT CAME FROM.
THIS IS THE REAL STUFF.
YOU CAN ACTUALLY TELL THAT
THAT'S A BOTTLE.
>> Reporter: OR THAT THAT'S A
GARBAGE BIN LID.
>> THAT CAME ASHORE, AND I SAID
THAT'S GOT TO BE
A TURTLE.
MOST OF THIS IS COMING FROM
OVERSEAS.
WE PROCESS IT BY HOSING IT DOWN
AND SORTING IT AND SCRUBBING IT
AND SOAKING IT AND CUTTING IT
AND DRILLING IT.
>> Reporter: THEN SHE TURNS THE
TRASH INTO BEAUTIFUL SCULPTURES,
LIKE THIS JELLY FISH MADE OF
DISCARDED WATER BOTTLES.
>> THIS IS MEANT TO MOVE
AND IS MEANT TO BE
INTERACTIVE.
>> Reporter: BUT IT ALSO HAS A
MESSAGE.
>> SEA JELLIES IN THE OCEAN ARE
LOOKING JUST LIKE PLASTIC BAGS
TO TURTLES, AND TURTLES EAT
JELLY FISH.
>> Reporter: THAT MESSAGE GETS
THROUGH TO CHILDREN LIKE
9-YEAR-OLD MEGAN.
>> LIKE SOME MOTHER TURTLES THAT
EAT JELLY FISH, AND IF A PLASTIC
BAG IS FLOATING IN THE OCEAN, IT
LOOKS LIKE A JELLY FISH, AND
THEY'LL EAT IT.
>> Reporter: DR. BRIAN JOSEPH
IS THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR.
>> I WAS OVERWHELMED AND
TOUCHED.
IT WAS VERY UNDERSTANDABLE BY
CHILDREN.
IT'S SOMETHING THEY CAN TOUCH,
EVERYDAY OBJECTS, COLORFUL,
THINGS OUT OF THEIR OWN LIVES
THAT END UP IN THE ENVIRONMENT,
AND I THOUGHT THIS WAS A REALLY
POWERFUL MESSAGE FOR CHILDREN.
>> Reporter: THE HOPE IS TO
ENCOURAGE POSITIVE CHANGE.
WASHED ASHORE DIRECTLY ADDRESSES
THAT MESSAGE BY DRAWING
ATTENTION TO OCEAN POLLUTION IN
A NOVEL WAY.
>> WHEN YOU FIRST LOOK AT IT,
YOU THINK THESE ARE VERY
BEAUTIFUL SCULPTURES, AND THEN
WHEN YOU APPROACH THEM CLOSER
AND CLOSER, THEY'RE FILLED WITH
HORROR, BECAUSE THEY'RE EVERYDAY
ITEMS THAT WITH WE DISCARD?
THE ENVIRONMENT.
>> PEOPLE DON'T REALIZE HOW BAD
IT IS LISTENING TO STATISTICS
AND SEEING CHARTS.
I THOUGHT I NEED TO DO SOMETHING
THAT MAKES PEOPLE NOT IGNORE THE
PROBLEM, SO I'LL MAKE GIANT
ANIMALS, AND THEY WON'T IGNORE
IT.
>> Reporter: IN ADDITION TO
HENRY THE FISH, THERE WERE ALSO
STYROFOAM CORAL REEFS, AND A
FISH MADE OF PLASTIC PIECES WITH
TOOTH MARKS FROM SEA CREATURES
THAT TRIED TO EAT THE PLASTIC
AND MOST LIKELY DIED AS A
RESULT.
>> THESE ARE ALL BITE MARKS BY
FISH AND CRAB IN PLASTIC.
>> Reporter: SHE WAS AN
EDUCATOR FOR THREE DECADES
BEFORE SHE STARTED RESEARCHING
THE IMPACT OF PLASTIC ON OCEAN
HABITATS.
>> IT'S HUGE, AND IT'S AFFECTING
EVERY BEACH IN THE ENTIRE WORLD,
AND IT'S BASICALLY BECAUSE
HUMANS HAVE CREATED THIS THING
CALLED PLASTIC THAT LASTS
FOREVER.
>> Reporter: SHE WAS CONFIDENT
HER CLEVER RECYCLING OF TRASH
WOULD APPEAL TO KIDS, BUT SHE
WANTED TO REACH AN EVEN WIDER
AUDIENCE.
>> I DON'T WANT TO BE PREACHING
TO THE CHOIR.
I WANT TO REACH PEOPLE WHO
LITTER ON THE BEACH.
>> Reporter: BECAUSE WASHED
ASHORE SHOWS THE TANGIBLE
RESULT.
>> EVERY PIECE OF PLASTIC HERE
WAS ONCE PURCHASED BY SOMEBODY,
AND THEN GOT TOSSED ASIDE.
AND THEN IT TRAVELED, AND IT
LANDED ON THE BEACH.
ONE PERSON AT A TIME DECIDED TO
PICK UP ONE PIECE OF PLASTIC AT
A TIME.
>> Reporter: THE LIVING COAST
DISCOVERY CENTER PLANS TO USE
THE EXHIBIT TO PROMPT A LARGER
ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION EFFORT,
BECAUSE AS SHE SAYS, EVERY PIECE
OF PLASTIC TELLS A STORY, AND IT
NEVER GOES AWAY.
>> KPBS ARTS REPORTER BETH
ACCOMANDO.
WASHED ASHORE RUNS THROUGH
SEPTEMBER 3RD AT THE LIVING
COAST DISCOVERY CENTER IN CHULA
VISTA.
>>> TONIGHT IN THE PUBLIC
SQUARE, SOME RESPONSES TO THE
STORIES WE'VE BROUGHT YOU THIS
WEEK.
NEWS OF THE NATIONAL PARK
SERVICE'S OBJECTIONS TO THE
PLAZA DE PANAMA PLAN GOT THIS
RESPONSE FROM PEKING DUCK SD ON
OUR WEBSITE:.
>> TOM JUDGE'S STORY ABOUT
MAKING SAN DIEGO'S ROADS SAFER
FOR BICYCLISTS LED VANESSA
HOMYAK TO ASK ON FACEBOOK:.
>> AND LAST NIGHT'S STORY ABOUT
RESCUED BEAGLES BEING PUT UP FOR
ADOPTION GOT THIS COMMENT FROM
APRIL, ALSO ON FACEBOOK:
>> YOU CAN WEIGH IN ON THE
CONVERSATION BY FOLLOWING US ON
TWITTER, LIKING US ON FACEBOOK,
AND, OF COURSE, YOU CAN EMAIL
US.
YOU CAN WATCH AND COMMENT ON ANY
OF THE STORIES YOU SAW TONIGHT
ON OUR WEBSITE AS WELL,
KPBS.ORG/EVENINGEDITION.
THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.
YOU HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND.
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