San Diego Week: Friday, June 24, 2011

FROM THE KPBS STUDIOS, THIS IS SAN DIEGO WEEK.
I'M JOANN. THANKS FOR JOINING US. TONIGHT ON SAN DIEGO WEEK, THE TROOPS WITHDRAWAL IN
AFGHANISTAN WILL NOT LIKELY MEAN A HOMECOMING IN SAN DIEGO. WE'LL TELL YOU WHY. AND CALIFORNIA
LAWMAKERS WILL LOSE A PAYCHECK NEXT WEEK BECAUSE THEY DIDN'T PASS A BUDGET ON TIME. WE'LL HEAR
FROM SOME OF THEM LATER IN THE SHOW. ALSO THE SURFING MADONNA IS DOWN, PLUS A SPECIAL
FEATURE ON WHEELCHAIR DANCING. BUT FIRST, THE NEWS.
MARK SOUR JOINS ME FROM THE KPBS NEWS CENTER. MARK.
JOANN, TRUSTEES OF THE SWEET WATER SCHOOL DISTRICT FINALLY HAD ENOUGH OF JESUS. THE
EMBATTLED SUPERINTENDENT WAS OUSTED THIS WEEK AND MISSTEPS INCLUDED BILLING THE DISTRICT
FOR HUNDREDS OF MEALS BEYOND HIS $800 A MONTH EXPENSE ACCOUNT AND HITTING UP CONTRACTORS
FOR DONATIONS AT HIS DAUGHTER'S BRIDAL SHOWER. REPLACING HIM WILL BE ED BRAND. HERE'S WHAT
BRAND HAD TO SAY ABOUT HIS NEW OLD JOB.
WE GOT LOTS OF GREAT THINGS HAPPENING. YEAH, WE'VE HAD A FEW ROCKY BUMPS, BUT THESE ARE
THINGS THAT WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO SOLVE IN THE PAST AND WE HAVE THE TALENT. WE HAVE TERRIFIC
PEOPLE. THE TALENT TO FIX THOSE PROBLEMS AND WE'RE GOING TO BE BACK UP ON TOP IN NO TIME.
ALSO RAISED EYEBROWS DURING HIS PREVIOUS STINT. THE CRITICISM, DUBIOUS USE OF HIS SCHOOL DISTRICT
CREDIT CARD. A FOUR YEAR CASCADE OF WATER RATE HIKES HAS BEEN STOP FOR NOW. CITY WATER
OFFICIALS SAY THE NEARLY $9 MILLION INCREASE IN WATER SUPPLY COST WILL NOT BE PASSED ON
TO SAN DIEGO RESIDENTS AND BUSINESSES NEXT YEAR. THE REGION'S LARGEST WATER UTILITY WILL
ABSORB MOST OF THE INCREASED BILL BY USING MORE RELATIVELY CHEAP WATER FROM LOCAL RESERVOIRS.
AFTER LEAVING SAN DIEGO STATE TO A 61 STATE SEASON, LEANARD IS HEADING TO THE NBA. THE
FORWARD IS JOINING ST SAN ANTONIO SPURS AFTER BEING CHOSEN YESTERDAY AS THE 15th PICK OVERALL
IN THE NBA DRAFT. HE IS GOING TO A PHENOMENAL FRANCHISE AND A WINNER SAYS COACH STEVE FISHER.
FOR A LOOK AT ALL THE WEEK'S TOP STORIES, VISIT OUR WEBSITE, KPBS.ORG.
THIS WEEK PRESIDENT OBAMA ANNOUNCED TROOPS IN AFGHANISTAN WOULD BEGIN RETURNING HOME.
STARTING NEXT MONTH, WE WILL BE ABLE TO REMOVE 10,000 OF OUR TROOPS FROM AFGHANISTAN BY THE
END OF THIS YEAR. WE WILL BRING HOME A TOTAL OF 33,000 TROOPS BY NEXT SUMMER. FULLY RECOVERING
THE SURGE I ANNOUNCED AT WEST POINT. AFTER THIS INITIAL REDUCTION, OUR TROOPS WILL CONTINUE
COMING HOME AT A STEADY PACE. AFGHAN SECURITY FORCES MOVE INTO THE LEAD. OUR MISSION WILL
CHANGE FROM COMBAT TO SUPPORT. BY 2014, THIS PROCESS OF TRANSITION WILL BE COMPLETE AND
THE AFGHAN PEOPLE WILL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THEIR OWN SECURITY.
KPBS REPORTER COVERS MILITARY AFFAIRS. SHE JOINS ME NOW. ALLISON, THANKS FOR BEING HERE.
MY PLEASURE.
NOW CAN YOU FIRST DESCRIBE SAN DIEGO'S MILITARY PRESENCE IN AFGHANISTAN?
SO THE MARINES ARE ON A ROTATION WITH THE MARINES IN NORTH CAROLINA. AND EVERY YEAR
THE COMMAND ELEMENT CHANGES. SO LIKE LAST YEAR THE COMMAND ELEMENT WAS FROM CAMP PENALTON
MARINES HAVE RETURNED. THAT'S ONLY ABOUT 5,000 MARINES IN SOUTHERN AFGHANISTAN. THAT WAS
MORE LIKE 10,000 BEFORE AND THEY ARE EXPECTING IT TO BE MORE LIKE 10,000 AGAIN NEXT SPRING.
NOW GIVEN THIS ANNOUNCEMENT, DOES ANY OF THIS NOW CHANGE? HAVE ANY OF THE ORDERS ON THE
MILITARY BASE CHANGED?
WELL NONE OF THE PEOPLE THAT I SPOKE TO SAY THAT THEY HAVE HEARD ANYTHING ABOUT THE CHANGE
IN ORDER. THE OTHER WEEK I WAS ON CAMP PENNLETON WHEN SOME OF THE MARINES CAME FROM JAPAN.
THEY SAID WE ARE EXPECTING TO DEPLOY TO AFGHANISTAN NEXT SPRING. WE ARE GOING TO HAVE A LITTLE
BREAK AND GO STRAIGHT INTO TRAINING AND AS FAR AS WE'RE CONCERNED, THE MISSION IS STILL
ON AND EXPECTING TO GO. THEN I SPOKE TO A SPOKESPERSON FROM THE FIRST MARINE EXPEDITION
FORCE WHO SAID SERGEANT MARK OLIVER. HE SAID THAT HE BELIEVES THAT THEY ARE NOT GOING TO
BE THE FIRST ONES TO BE WITHDRAWN. IF THERE'S A DRAWDOWN, IT WON'T BE THE MARINES WHO ARE
THE FIRST TO GO. THEY WOULD BE THE LAST TO GO IN HIS VIEW.
WHY IS THAT?
HE BELIEVES THEIR MISSION IS VERY MUCH ON FRONT LINES. THEY ARE THE TRIGGER MEN. THEY
ARE THE PEOPLE WHO ARE PUSHING BACK THE TALIBAN AND WHO REALLY ARE SORT OF PART OF THE MISSION
AND TO PULL THEM BACK WOULD REALLY COMPROMISE THE GAINS THAT HE SAID THAT THEY WERE MAKING.
HE DESCRIBED HOW HE HAD WALKED THROUGH THE MARKET WITH A GENERAL MILLS WITHOUT ANY KIND
OF FLAT JACKET. THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN IMPOSSIBLE A YEAR OR SO AGO AND THEY MADE GREAT GAINS
THERE. FIGHTING STRONGLY, BUT HE BELIEVES THAT THE KIND OF PROGRESS THEY'VE MADE MEANS
THEY NEED TO STAY THERE AND KEEP PUSHING TO KEEP THAT PRESSURE ON. THAT'S OF COURSE FROM
HIS PERSPECTIVE.
YOU ALSO SPOKE WITH L.A. TIMES REPORTER TONY PERRY. I'M SURE AUDIENCE KNOWS TONY HAS BEEN
OVER TO AFGHANISTAN, IRAQ, HE'S EMBEDDED WITH THE MARINES SEVERAL TIMES IN THE PAST SEVERAL
YEARS AND HE HAD SOME INSIGHT INTO THIS AS WELL. WHAT DID HE TELL YOU?
HE SAID TODAY AND YESTERDAY HE WAS AT MEETINGS THAT THE PENTAGON GAVE, MADE SOME AVAILABILITIES
FOR JOURNALISTS AND HE HEARD SOME OF THE GENERALS DISCUSSING THIS IN DETAIL WHAT KIND OF --HOW
THIS IMPLEMENTATION WOULD BE IMPLEMENTED. WHAT HE WAS UNDER THE IMPRESSION WAS THE DETAILS
ARE STILL VERY MUCH BEING WORKED OUT, BUT IF WE'RE ASKING WHETHER IT WOULD AFFECT THE
MARINES HERE IN SAN DIEGO, THE CHANCES ARE IT WON'T AFFECT THEM AT ALL THIS YEAR. NOW
NEXT YEAR IT MIGHT. THE 23,000 THAT THE PRESIDENT SAID WOULD BE WITHDRAWN NEXT SUMMER, IF IT'S
THE END OF THE SUMMER, THEN PROBABLY OUR MARINES WILL BE GOING ON THAT ROTATION, 10,000 OF
THEM TO REPLACE THE MARINES AND PERHAPS AT THE END OF THE SUMMER, THAT'S WHEN WE MIGHT
SEE SOME IMPACTS ON THE NUMBER OF MARINES LOCALLY THAT WOULD BE COMING BACK.
WHAT ABOUT SAN DIEGO'S CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION? HOW HAVE THEY RESPONDED TO THIS?
IT'S INTERESTING BECAUSE IT IS BIPARTISAN, ISN'T IT? IT'S NOT LIKE ONE PARTY OR THE OTHER
BELIEVES WE SHOULD BE WITHDRAWING EARLIER OR LATER. CONGRESSMAN WAS THE ONLY ONE WHO
ACTUALLY SIGNED A BIPARTISAN LETTER ASKING FOR A LARGER WITHDRAWAL. THE OTHERS, SUSAN
DAVIS, YOU KNOW, I THINK THEY ARE ALL AWARE THAT THE ECONOMY NEEDS TO BE PULLING RESOURCES
HOME. DAVIS SAID SHE THOUGHT IT WOULD BE GOOD IF THEY COULD COME BACK AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.
WITHDRAWAL OF U.S. TROOPS MIGHT HAVE A BIG INFLUENCE AND IMPACT ON WOMEN IN AFGHANISTAN
WHO HAVE SEEN GREAT GAINS AS A RESULT OF THE TALIBAN. THEN BILL BOTH SAID WELL, IT'S THE
PRESIDENT'S RESPONSIBILITY, BUT THEY FELT THAT IT IS MORE A MATTER OF ROOTING AND CORRUPTION
IN AFGHANISTAN AND PULLING BACK FROM THE MILITARY ENGAGEMENT. AND HUNTER HAS BEEN HIMSELF DEPLOYED
IN AFGHANISTAN. HE TOO BELIEVE IT OR NOT AS A REPUBLICAN SAID YES, IT'S TIME FOR US TO
DO A DRAWDOWN AND REDUCE THE NUMBER OF TROOPS. BUT AS A RESULT, WE NEED TO CHANGE THE MISSION.
I THINK HE IS VERY INTERESTED IN HELPING TO WORK OUT HOW TO DEFINE THAT MISSION TO MAKE
A NARROWER MISSION SO FEWER REMAINING TROOPS CAN BE SUCCESSFUL.
THANKS FOR JOINING US. >> MY PLEASURE.
THE MAN WHO SIGNS CALIFORNIA LEGISLATORS PAYCHECKS DECIDED THIS WEEK THEY WON'T BE GETTING THEM.
STATE CONTROLLER JOHN CHUNK SAID LAWMAKERS DID NOT MEET THEIR OBLIGATION TO DELIVER A
BALANCED BUDGET BY THEIR JUNE 15 CONSTITUTIONAL DEADLINE. A PROPOSITION APPROVED BY VOTERS
LAST YEAR REQUIRES THE BUDGET BE PASSED ON TIME OR LAWMAKERS DON'T GET PAID. WE'LL SPEAK
WITH TWO LEGISLATURES TONIGHT. LATER, TONY ATKINS. BUT FIRST, REPUBLICAN ASSEMBLYMAN,
NATHAN FLETCHER WHO REPRESENTS THE 75th DISTRICT. THAT STRETCHES FROM LAPOYA. THANK YOU SO MUCH
FOR BEING HERE.
THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.
FIRST OF ALL, YOU'RE NOT GETTING PAID.
NOT AT ALL.
HOW MUCH ARE YOU LOSING EVERY DAY THAT GOES BY WITHOUT A BUDGET?
WE'RE LOSING THE ENTIRETY OF THE SALARY. LEGISLATURES IN CALIFORNIA ARE WELL PAID AND IT'S A SIZABLE
AMOUNT.
$95,000 A YEAR?
IN TOTAL COMPENSATION. WE TOOK ABOUT A 26% PAY CUT LAST YEAR IN PAY AND BENEFITS AND
NOW WE AREN'T GETTING PAID AT ALL. AS DIFFICULT AS IT MAY BE. IT'S THE RIGHT THING TO DO.
IF REGULAR FOLKS OUT THERE DON'T DO THEIR JOB, THEY DON'T GET PAID. AND LEGISLATURES
SHOULDN'T BE ANY DIFFERENT.
SO I DID READ AFTER THE CONTROLLER MADE HIS DECISION, YOU SAID THIS WAS A GOOD THING.
WELL IT IS.
YOUR A DEMOCRAT TOO.
I GIVE HIM CREDIT AND WE KNOW THROUGHOUT MY TIME IN OFFICE, WE WILL GIVE CREDIT WHENEVER
IT'S DUE AND I THINK HE DID THE RIGHT THING. THE BUDGET THAT PASSED WASN'T BALANCED. THE
GOVERNOR VETOED IT. THE WILL AND INTENT OF THE VOTER WAS CLEAR. IF THE BUDGET ISN'T DONE
ON TIME, LEGISLATURES SHOULDN'T GET PAID. I THINK IT WILL FORCE PEOPLE TO FOCUS A LITTLE
MORE ON GETTING THE SOLUTION DONE. YOU KNOW, WE HAVE A THIRD OF OUR STATE IS UNOR UNDER
EMPLOYED RIGHT NOW. A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE HAVING GREAT DIFFICULTY AND IF LEGISLATURES CAN'T
PASS A BUDGET ON TIME, THEN WE SHOULD BE NO EXCEPTION. WE AREN'T DOING OUR JOB, WE SHOULDN'T
GET PAID.
WE KNOW IN THE PAST THIS HAS GONE ON FOR MONTHS. HOW IS THIS GOING TO AFFECT YOUR FAMILY?
WE ARE GOING TO MISS IT AND IT WILL BE DIFFICULT. MY WIFE AND I LIVE A MODEST EXISTENCE AND
WE HAVE SAVINGS AND RESERVES AND WE WILL CHANGE OUR LIFESTYLE. ULTIMATELY I WOULD HOPE THE
LEGISLATURE THAT WOULD COME TOGETHER AND GET THIS DONE, YOU KNOW, WE LAYED OUT A COMPREHENSIVE
BUDGET A MONTH AGO THAT FUNDS SCHOOLS, FUNDS LAW ENFORCEMENT, AND DOES IT WITHOUT INCREASING
A FAIRLY HIGH TAX RATE IN CALIFORNIA. THERE'S A NUMBER OF OPTIONS ON THE TABLE, BUT AT THE
END OF THE DAY IT NEEDS TO GET DONE. THIS WOULD BE THE THING TO GET PEOPLE BACK TO THE
TABLE AND NEGOTIATE ON A SOLUTION.
GOVERNOR JERRY BROWN WANTS THE VOTER TO DECIDE WHETHER OR NOT THEY SHOULD BE INCREASED OR
MAINTAINING THE TAX INCREASES. WOULD YOU SUPPORT PUTTING THAT ON THE BALLOT?
I DON'T. THERE'S TWO REASONS WHY. THE FIRST IS WE WERE ELECTED TO DO OUR JOBS. WE WERE
ELECTED TO MAKE DIFFICULT DECISIONS TO BALANCE THE BUDGET AND TO GOVERN THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA
AND I GROW WEARY OF PEOPLE GOING BACK TO THE PUBLIC TO SAY WE ARE INCAPABLE OF MAKING THE
DECISION, WHY DON'T YOU MAKE IT FOR US? WE HAVE A REPRESENTATIVE DEMOCRACY. WE ARE SEEING
TOO MUCH OF A RELIANCE ON THE DESIRE TO PUNT DIFFICULT DECISIONS TO THE PUBLIC.
THERE IS SPECULATION THAT NEXT WEEK GOVERNOR JERRY BROWN COULD INTRODUCE AN ALL CUTS BUDGET.
WE PUT FORWARD A BUDGET, A DETAILED COMPREHENSIVE BUDGET THAT BALANCED WITHOUT THE TAXES. BECAUSE
YOU CAN TAKE THE CUTS THE GOVERNOR PROPOSED IN HIS INITIAL BUDGET. YOU CAN TAKE REFORMS
OF THE REDEVELOPMENT AGENCIES THAT PUT FORWARD. YOU CAN TAKE IDEAS FROM THE LEGISLATIVE ANALYST
OFFICE FROM THE PAST AND YOU CAN BALANCE THIS WITH THE INCREASE IN REVENUES WE HAVE SEEN
IN THE ECONOMY. AND I BELIEVE YOU CAN BALANCE THIS BUDGET WITHOUT RAISING TAXES AND WHILE
FUNDING YOUR SCHOOLS AND WE PUT FORWARD THAT BUDGET. I WOULD LIKE US TO VOTE ON THAT.
THANKS FOR BEING HERE:
THANKS FOR HAVING ME.
DEMOCRAT TONY ATKINS SUPPORTED THE STATE BUDGET THAT >>> THE OWNER TAKES ACCESS TO THE MEDICAL
MARIJUANA PERSONALLY. IN FACT, ONE DAY HE THINKS WALKING UP THESE STAIRS, YOU COULD
GET MORE ACCESS TO INSURANCE.
WHY IS THIS ISSUE SO IMPORTANT TO YOU?
IT IS BECAUSE MY SISTER PASSED AWAY ASKING FOR MARIJUANA AND WAS LAUGHED AT IN A CARE
FACILITY.
CITY'S BUSINESS CODE WOULDN'T ALLOW IT BECAUSE HE IS TOO CLOSE TO THIS STORE FRONT CHURCH.
ONE THING IS FOR CERTAIN, MORE AND MORE CITIES ARE PASSING ZONING LAWS AND MORATORIUMS LIMITING
WHERE DISPENSARIES CAN OPERATE. FEWER WILL BE AVAILABLE FOR PEOPLE WHO REALLY NEED THEM
AND IMPERIAL BEACH AND THROUGHOUT SAN DIEGO COUNTY.
KPBS REPORTER DWAYNE BROWN, AT LEAST NINE CALIFORNIA COUNTIES AND 129 CITIES HAVE BANNED
MEDICAL MARIJUANA DISPENSARIES. MANY OTHERS HAVE MORATORIUMS OR USED ZONING LAWS TO EFFECTIVELY
PREVENT THEM FROM OPERATING.
CREWS HAVE REMOVED THE CONTROVERSIAL SURFING MADONNA MOSAIC FROM ITS ORIGINAL HOME. ARTIST
MARK PATTERSON AND ANOTHER PERSON INSTALLED THE MOSAIC ON A WALL UNDERNEATH A TRAIN BRIDGE
BACK IN APRIL WITHOUT PERMISSION FROM THE CITY. THE STAIN GLASS PIECE GAINED FAST POPULARITY
IN THE COMMUNITY, BUT WAS TECHNICALLY AN UNAUTHORIZED USE OF PUBLIC PROPERTY. AFTER TWO WEEKS OF
NEGOTIATIONS, PATTERSON AND THE CITY HAVE COME TO AN AGREEMENT THAT ALLOWS HIM TO RETAIN
OWNERSHIP OF THE MOSAIC AND NOT BE CHARGED WITH VANDALISM. BUT HE MUST REIMBURSE THE
CITY FOR THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS WORTH OF REMOVAL FEES AND PAY A $500 FINE. VIDEO JOURNALIST
SPOKE TO THE ARTIST AND THE CITY COUNCIL MEMBER RIGHT AFTER THE DEAL WAS ANNOUNCED.
I THINK THAT THERE'S A GOOD REASON TO RELOCATE IT AND I THINK THAT'S THE WAY TO MOVE FORWARD.
WHEN FOLKS ASK, CAN IT STAY HERE? OUR VISITOR HERE WAS STANDING IN A TRAVEL LANE TAKING
A PICTURE. UNFORTUNATELY THAT HAPPENS EVERY DAY AND WE DON'T WANT ANYBODY GETTING HURT.
SO IT WILL NEED TO BE MOVED. WE HAVE SAID THAT ALL ALONG. AND PEOPLE ARE WANTING A VERY
SELFISH THING, BUT THEY WANT A PIECE OF THE MADONNA, SO LOOK AT THAT. THE GOAL IS TO KEEP
IT IN A PLACE WHERE THE PUBLIC CAN ENJOY IT, BUT MAKE SURE IT REMAINS PROTECTED.
I'VE HAD PRIVATE OFFERS ALSO FROM PRIVATE BUSINESSES THAT ARE INTERESTED IN IT. BUT
I'D LIKE IT TO BE IN A PUBLIC LOCATION. SO WE'LL SEE HOW THAT WORKS OUT AND IT'S A STEP
AT A TIME KIND OF PROCESS TO FIND THE RIGHT LOCATION. IT'S GOING TO STAY, THE MOSAIC IS
NOT FOR SALE AND I WOULD LIKE IT TO CONTINUE TO BE A GIFT FROM ME TO THE COMMUNITY.
THE MOSAIC WAS TAKEN DOWN WEDNESDAY NIGHT. SHERIFF DEPUTIES SHUT DOWN TRAFFIC ON THE
BOULEVARD NEAR THE BRIDGE DURING THE TWO-HOUR PROCESS. THE PIECE WAS NOT DAMAGED CONTRARY
TO A CITY COMMISSION STUDY THAT FOUND THE PIECE COULDN'T BE REMOVED WITHOUT MAJOR DAMAGE.
PATTERSON REVEALED HIS IDENTITY AS THE ARTIST AFTER THE STUDY WAS RELEASED. SAYING HE KNEW
HOW TO REMOVE THE PIECE IN TACT. PATTERSON IS NOW SEARCHING FOR A PERMANENT HOME FOR
HIS ARTWORK AND SAYS AGAIN IT IS NOT FOR SALE.
WELL WHAT DO YOU DO IF YOU HAVE A PASSION FOR DANCING, BUT YOU'RE A WHEELCHAIR USER?
YOU USE WHEELCHAIR DANCING. IT'S AN UP AND COMING ACTIVITY AND KPBS REPORTER SAYS WHEELCHAIR
DANCING IS ON A ROLL IN SAN DIEGO.
YOU DON'T HAVE TO BE ABLE TO WALK TO TRIPLE LIGHTS FANTASTIC INSIDE A HALL IN SAN DIEGO'S
BALBOA PARK. SEVEN PEOPLE IN WHEELCHAIRS MOVE COUNTERCLOCK WISE AROUND A BIG CIRCLE. SEVEN
ABLE BODIED DANCERS ARE BY THEIR SIDES. INSTRUCTOR WILLIAM VALENCIA STANDS IN THE MIDDLE.
THIS IS REALLY, REALLY SIMPLE EVEN THOUGH IT LOOKS A LITTLE COMPLICATED.
TODAY HE IS SHOWING THEM THE WALZ.
READY TWO THREE AND ONE, TWO. ONE, TWO, THREE. KEEP GOING. NICE. DON'T FORGET TO LOOK AT
YOUR PARTNER. DON'T LOOK AT THEIR FEET.
VALENCIA OFFERS POINTERS TO THE WHEELCHAIR DANCERS.
DON'T LET THE WHEELS GO. YOU ARE TOO TIGHT IN YOUR ARMS.
AND TO THEIR PARTNERS. >> LEFT FOOT. SHARON. LEFT FOOD. OUTSIDE PARTNER ONE, THAT'S YOUR
RIGHT FOOT.
ALL THE DANCERS LOOK LIKE THEY ARE HAVING FUN, ESPECIALLY ISAAC WHITING. WHITING LIVES
IN AL CAHONE.
I ALWAYS WANTED TO GO OUT INTO THE PUBLIC AND MEET OTHER PEOPLE LIKE ME AND I KNEW IN
THE BACK OF MY MIND THAT OBVIOUSLY PEOPLE IN CHAIRS CAN DO MORE STUFF THAN PEOPLE SAY
THEY CAN DO, BUT I NEVER HEARD ABOUT WHEELCHAIR DANCING, SO I WANTED TO GO OUT AND TRY IT.
> WHEELCHAIR DANCER, BEVERLY WORDING COFOUNDED THIS PROGRAM. SHE SAYS IT'S THE FIRST ONE
OF ITS KIND. UNLIKE SOME OF THE OTHERS HERE, SHE USED TO BE ABLE TO WALK. IN FACT, SHE
USED TO LOVE TO GO DANCING, BUT ABOUT 15 YEARS AGO, WORDING WAS DIAGNOSED WITH MUSCULAR DYSTROPHY
AND THAT CHANGED HER LIFE.
I FOUND MYSELF NOT ABLE TO GO UP STAIRS OR I WAS FALLING. LIFE BECAME SO UNCOMFORTABLE
AND FINALLY I HAD TO FIND MYSELF IN A WHEELCHAIR.
SHE WAS SO ASHAMED, SHE STAYED AT HOME FOR A YEAR.
IT WAS LIKE A TOMB. I DIDN'T WANT MY ABLE FRIENDS TO SEE ME IN A WHEELCHAIR.
WORDING SAYS SHE SNAPPED OUT OF HER FUNK WHEN SHE CAME UP WITH THE IDEA OF STARTING A WHEELCHAIR
DANCING CLASS. IT TOOK HER A YEAR TO FIND A DANCE TEACHER WILLING TO TAKE ON THE TASK.
THAT WAS WILLIAM VALENCIA.
MY PARTNER.
MY GIRL.
HE SPENT MONTHS FIGURING OUT HOW TO TRANSLATE DANCE TECHNIQUES TO PEOPLE IN WHEELCHAIRS.
WITH THE SUPPORT OF SHARP GROSSMONT HOSPITAL, HE LAUNCHED HIS FIRST CLASS IN FEBRUARY OF 2009.
SINCE THEN, VALENCIA FIGURES HE HAS TAUGHT 250 WHEELCHAIR DANCERS.
I ENJOY TEACHING THEM. I LOVE LEARNING ABOUT THEIR EXPERIENCES. HOW THEY DO CERTAIN THINGS
AND THE COURAGE THEY HAVE. THEY ARE STRONG PEOPLE.
THROUGH DANCING, PEOPLE IN WHEELCHAIRS CAN INCREASE THEIR STRENGTH, ENDURANCE, AND FLEXIBILITY,
SAYS LIZ.
AND THEN JUST PEOPLE THAT ARE ABLE BODIED THAT ARE VOLUNTEERING TO DANCE WITH THEM,
THEY INTERACT AND THEY BEGIN TO SEE PEOPLE IN WHEELCHAIRS AS PEOPLE.
AS THE DANCERS MOVE AROUND THE ROOM, THEY EXECUTE SPINS AND TURNS. THEY LOOK GRACEFUL,
EVEN ELEGANT. BEVERLY WORDING SAYS THAT'S WHAT IT'S ALL ABOUT.
AND WHEN PEOPLE SEE US DANCING, THEY FORGET THAT WE'RE IN A WHEELCHAIR. SO WE'RE DANCING
ON OUR WHEELS, BUT IT'S BEAUTIFUL. AND IT'S SO WONDERFUL FOR
PEOPLE
LIKE MYSELF. IT GIVES US A WHOLE NEW FEEL OF CONFIDENCE AND SOMETHING DIFFERENT IN OUR
LIFE.
EXCELLENT JOB. LET'S GIVE A HAND.
VERY NICE. YOU DID VERY WELL.
THAT WAS KPBS'S KENNY GOLDBERG REPORTING. A NEW CYCLE GETS UNDERWAY IN JULY.
AND NOW HERE'S MARK SOUR WITH AN UPDATE ON WHAT KPBS IS WORKING ON FOR NEXT WEEK.
AMONG STORIES WE'RE COVERING ON RADIO NEXT WEEK, A FEATURE ON HOW STUDENT ABSENTEEISM
COSTS SCHOOLS IN SAN DIEGO COUNTY MORE THAN $100 MILLION A YEAR IN FUNDING. THIS COMES
DURING A TIME OF SEVERE O TERITY.
EVERYTHING YOU SAW TONIGHT CAN BE VIEWED ON OUR WEBSITE. HERE'S A LOOK AT YOUR WEEKEND
FORECAST. HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND AND THANKS FOR WATCHING. GOOD NIGHT.