Friday, November 30, 2012 - Evening Edition

>> >>PEGGY: TONIGHT ON KPBS EVENING EDITION, NEW TROUBLES FOR SAN DIEGO HOSPICE PLUS QUESTIONS
ABOUT SCHOOL FINANCES AS DISTRICTS SHIFT MONEY AROUND TO PAY THEIR BILLS.
ALSO AHEAD A REPORT OF POSSIBLE TAMPERING AT THE SAN ONOFRE NUCLEAR POWER PLANT.
AND IN OUR WEEKLY ROUND TABLE, THE HORRORS OF WAR EXTEND TO COMBAT DOGS.
WHAT THE MILITARY IS DOING TO TREAT CANINE PTSD.
THE STORIES OF GRAFFITI ARTISTS GO ON DISPLAY IN A NEW PLAY STREET ART PROPHETS.
KPBS EVENING EDITION STARTS NOW. CAPTIONS PROVIDED BY ECAPTIONS.
>> >>PEGGY: GOOD EVENING, THANKS FOR JOINING US, I'M PEGGY PICO IN FOR DWANE BROWN.
SAN DIEGO HOSPICE HAS LAID OFF 260 EMPLOYEES AND CLOSED ITS TWO SMALL HOSPITALS.
EARLIER THIS MONTH WE TOLD YOU ABOUT A MEDICARE AUDIT OF OUR LARGEST HOSPICE ORGANIZATION
AS PART OF MEDICARE'S NATIONWIDE AUDIT. SAN DIEGO MAS PS SAYS IT HASN'T ALWAYS FOLLOWED
FEDERAL DOCUMENTATION GUIDELINES TO THE LETTER AND AS A RESULT THEY MAY HAVE TO REFUND MILLIONS
TO THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT. THEIR PATIENT LOAD HAS DECLINED.
SAN DIEGO UNIFIED OFFICIAL SCHOOL DISTRICTS SAY THEY HAVE SENT THE COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY
INFORMATION ABOUT 10S OF THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS MISSING FROM THE EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION
PROGRAM. OUR MEDIA PARTNER 10 NEWS SAYS A DISTRICT
EMPLOYEE IS BEING QUESTIONED ABOUT THE MISSING MONEY.
SEARCH WARRANTS SHOWED 179,000 DOLLARS DISAPPEARED OVER FIVE YEARS FROM TWO DEVELOPMENT CENTERS.
A DISTRICT WIDE AUDIT REVEALED THE PROBLEM. NO CHARGES HAVE BEEN FILED AND THE DISTRICT
ATTORNEY'S OFFICE HAS NOT COMMENTED ON THE MATTER.
IF YOU'RE A FAMILY WHO MAKES ENDS MEET BY PAYING ONE BILL ONE MONTH AND ANOTHER THE
NEXT, YOU MAY RELATE TO THIS STORY. THE SAN DIEGO SCHOOL DISTRICTS IN THE SAME BOAT.
THE SITUATION HAS LEAD TO SOME CREATIVE ACCOUNTING PRACTICES AND GOT ONE SCHOOL DISTRICT INTO
SERIOUS TROUBLE T.FROM OUR INVESTIGATIONS DESK INEWS SOURCE REPORTER KEVIN CROWE HAS
THE DETAILS. >> >>KEVIN: A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO THE SWEET
WATER UNION HIGH SCHOOL DISTRICT BORROWED $42ÊMILLION FROM A BUILDING FUND TO PAY ITS
OPERATING EXPENSES. THAT'S KIND OF LIKE TAKING MONEY FROM YOUR
RETIREMENT ACCOUNT TO MAKE YOUR MORTGAGE PAYMENT. AND IT WOULD HAVE BEEN LEGAL IF THE SCHOOL
BOARD PUT THE MONEY BACK INTO THE BUILDING FUND ON TIME.
IT DIDN'T. THAT WAS THE BEGINNING O THE SCANDAL AT SWEET
WATER. IT TURNS OUT SCHOOL DISTRICTS ACROSS THE COUNTY
BORROW FROM A VARIETY OF ACCOUNTS, SOME OF THEM BUILDING FUNDS RK JURS TO MEET THEIR
EVERY DAY EXPENSES. SAN DIEGO UNIFIED BORROWS NIL YNS FROM ITS
WORKERS COMPENSATION FUNDS AND ITS CAPITALS FACILITIES FUNDS AND ISSUES SHORT TERM BONDS
ON WALL STREET, THAT COSTS THE DISTRICT $5ÊMILLION THIS YEAR. THE SAN DIEGO COUNTY OFFICE OF
EDUCATION SAYS SCHOOL DISTRICTS CAN BORROW THE FUNDS AS LONG AS THEY PAY THEM BACK, USUALLY
WITHIN THE SAME FISCAL YEAR AND WITH INTEREST. IT'S ABOUT THE ONLY WAY THEY CAN PAY TEACHERS
GIVEN THE STATE IS SO HE LATE WITH PAYMENTS. SWEETWATER AND NO LONGER TO BORROW FROM ITS
BUILDING FUND, BUT IT IS BORROWING FROM OTHER FUNDS.
THAT MONEY IS SUPPOSED TO PAY FOR TANGIBLE ITEMS LIKE SCHOOLS, BUSES AND COMPUTERS, NOT
THINGS LIKE SALARIES. THE COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION SAYS THE
DISTRICTS CAN USE MELLO ROOS FUNDS IF THEY PAY BACK WITHIN INTEREST.
>> >>: AS LONG AS THE FUND IS MADE WHOLE FOR ANY ECONOMIC LOST IT WOULD HAVE SUFFERED LIKE
THE INTEREST, THERE'S NO CONSEQUENCE TO THAT. >> >>KEVIN: SCHOOL BUDGETS WEREN'T ALWAYS
LIKE THIS. THE STATE USED TO MAKE ITS PAYMENTS ON TIME.
SINCE THE BUDGET CRISIS BEGAN FIVE YEARS AGO, SACRAMENTO STARTED DEFERRING PAYMENTS.
NOW THE VOTERS PASSED PROP 30, ADMINISTRATORS HOPE THE STATE CAN BEGIN TO CATCH UP AND PAY
ON TIME. FOR THE KPBS INEWS SOURCE INVESTIGATIONS DESK,
I'M KEVIN CROWE. >> >>PEGGY: COME MONDAY SAN DIEGO WILL HAVE
A NEW MAYOR, SOME NEW CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS AND A NEW COUNCIL PRESIDENT.
AND IT LOOKS LIKE THAT JOB WILL GO TO CITY COUNCIL MEMBER TODD GLORIA.
TODAY OUT GOING COUNCIL PRESIDENT TONY YOUNG TOLD KPBS HE'LL SUPPORT GLORIA GIVING THE
DEMOCRAT THE FIVE VOTES HE NEEDS TO WIN THE POST.
SAN DIEGO'S COUNCIL PRESIDENT SETS THE COUNCIL'S AGENDA AND IS PART OF THE CHECK AND BALANCE
SYSTEM WITH THE MAYOR. ANOTHER HEARING IS UNDER WAY TONIGHT ABOUT
THE FATE OF THE SAN ONOFRE NUCLEAR POWER PLANT. ITS OPERATORS SAY SOMEONE MAY HAVE TAMPERED
WITH AN EMERGENCY GENERATOR AT THE PLANT LAST MONTH.
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA EDISON IS INVESTIGATING THE INCIDENT BUT SAID IT WOULD NOT IMPOSE
A DANGER BECAUSE SAN ONOFRE'S BEEN SHUT DOWN SINCE JANUARY.
EDISON WANTS TO REOPEN THE REACTOR AT REDUCED POWER.
FEDERAL REGULATORS ARE GETTING PUBLIC COMMENTS ON THE PLANT TONIGHT IN DANA POINT.
A DECISION IS LIKELY TO BE MONTHS AWAY. THE FIRST MAN RELEASED FROM PRISON UNDER CALIFORNIA'S
REVISED THREE STRIKES LAW SAYS HIS GOAL NOW IS TO NEVER GO BACK BEHIND BARS.
KENNETH CORLEY THANKED HIS ATTORNEYS AND SPOKE TO THE MEDIA FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE HIS
RESENTENCING. HE HAD BEEN SERVING 25 YEARS TO LIFE FOR DRUG
POSSESSION. BECAUSE HE WAS A NON VIOLENT OFFENDER, HE
WAS FREED UNDER PROPOSITION 36. NOW HE SAYS HE DOESN'T WANT TO LET THE VOTERS
DOWN AND PROMISES TO STAY DRUG FREE. >> >>: THAT'S MY MAIN GOAL.
THAT'S WHAT GOT ME INTO PRISON. SO I'M JUST GOING TO DO WHAT'S RIGHT.
>> >>: DRUGS, I THINK, WERE ONE OF THOSE ISSUES THAT FACED MR.ÊKORLY AND HE'S BEEN WORKING
ON WHILE HE'S BEEN IN PRISON AND NOW THAT THE TRUE TEST IS GOING TO HAPPEN.
WE HAVE TO WRAP OUR ARMS AROUND HIM TO MAKE SURE HE WILL SUCCEED AND GIVE HIM THE TOOLS
THAT IT WILL REQUIRE TO SUCCEED. >> >>PEGGY: AFTER THE NEWS CONFERENCE BONNIE
DOMES DID JUST THAT. SHE LITERALLY PUT HER ARMS AROUND KORLY AND
ASKED HIM TO KEEP IN TOUCH. A FEDERAL JUDGE WILL DECIDE WHETHER OR NOT
TO BLOCK CALIFORNIA'S NEW BAN ON GAY CONVERSION THERAPY.
THE THERAPY IS A CONTROVERSIAL PROCESS WHICH SOME COUNSELORS SAY CAN TEACH GAY MINORS TO
BECOME STRAIGHT. THE BAN DOES NOT TAKE EFFECT UNTIL JANUARY FIRST.
IT'S BOWING CHALLENGED BY SOME COUNSELORS AND A FEW PARENTS SAYING THE THERAPY HELPED
THEIR SONS. SUPPORTERS SAY THE LAW WILL PROTECT YOUNG
PEOPLE FROM THE PRACTICE. THE JUDGE RULING IS EXPECTED NEXT MONTH.
MILITARY VETERANS SAY ABOUT 10% OF COMBAT DOGS DEPLOYED TO IRAQ AND AFGHANISTAN COME
HOME WITH THE CANINE EQUIVALENT OF POST TRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER.
EARLIER TODAY I SPOKE WITH TONY PERRY, SAN DIEGO'S BUREAU CHIEF FOR THE L.A. TIMES ABOUT
THIS PROBLEM. TONY, GOOD TO SEE YOU AGAIN.
YOU WROTE A STORY ABOUT A DOG NAMED CORA, A COMBAT DOG WHO APPARENTLY SUFFERS FROM A
POST TRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER. WHERE WAS SHE DEPLOYED AND WHAT DID THIS DOG
DO? >> >>TONY PERRY: CORA DEPLOYED TO IRAQ AND
HER JOB WAS TO SNIFFLE OUT THE BURIED BOMBS THAT ARE THE ENEMY'S WEAPON OF CHOICE SHE
WAS VERY, VERY GOOD FOR A LONG PERIOD OF TIME THEY COULD TRUST HER OFF THE LEASH, SHE WOULD
RUN OUT THERE, FIND THEM, SIGNAL HERE'S ONE, SHE SAVED AMERICAN LIVES.
>> >>PEGGY: WE'RE SEEING A PICTURE OF HER I BELIEVE WITH HER HANDLER.
THEY CALLED HER A PUSH BUTTON DOG. >> >>TONY PERRY: ALL YOU GOTTA DO IS SAY CORA,
GO, AND SHE DID EVERYTHING REQUIRED OF HER. AND SHE LOVED IT.
IT WAS ALL A GAME TO HER AND SHE TRAINED UP WELL, AND HER HANDLERS FELT CLOSE TO HER,
AND SHE PERFORMED VERY, VERY WELL UNTIL SHE DIDN'T.
>> >>PEGGY: AND HOW DID SHE CHANGE? HOW DID THEY KNOW SOMETHING WAS GOING ON?
>> >>TONY PERRY: SHE WOULDN'T LEAVE HER HANDLER, WOULDN'T RUN LOOSE LIKE SHE HAD, SHE WAS QUARRELSOME,
SNARLED AT OTHER DOGS. JUST WOULDN'T DO WHAT THEY WANTED HER TO DO.
ABOUT THAT TIME THEY REDEPLOYED HOME. SHE BECAME YET ANOTHER DOG WHO HAS REALLY
POST TRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER. ABOUT A YEAR AGO THE VETERINARIANS THAT RUN
THE MILITARY DOG PROGRAM OUT OF LACKLAND AIR FORCE BASE TEXAS DECIDED DOGS TOO SUFFER FROM
PTSD AND NEED TREATMENT THEY DID DECIDE THAT BUT THERE WAS RELUCTANCE IN CALLING IT.
>> >>TONY PERRY: ONE USUALLY DECISIONS LIKE THAT ARE VETTED THROUGH THE SYSTEM, THE PUBLICATIONS
AND PROFESSIONAL REVIEW. BUT ALSO THEY DIDN'T WANT TO SEEM DISRESPECTFUL
TO THE SOLDIERS, MARINES, SAILORS, AIR BORN WHO HAVE PTSD TO SOME HOW SAY AND A DOG HAS
WHAT YOU HAVE. THEY FINALLY DECIDED THEY NEEDED TO CALL IT
SOMETHING, NEEDED TO SIGNAL THAT SOME OF THESE DOGS THAT COME HOME NEED HELP AND CANNOT REDEPLOY
BECAUSE THEY COULD BE DANGEROUS. THEY COULD NOT DO THEIR JOB WHEN IT IS REQUIRED
OF THEM AND AMERICANS COULD GET INJURED VERY SEVERELY.
>> >>PEGGY: YOUR ARTICLE TALKED ABOUT I THINK 2500 DOGS COMBAT DOGS OR 2500 DOGS TRAINED
AT THE AIR FORCE BASE. WHAT PERCENTAGE OF THEM DO YOU REMEMBER DOO
THEY THINK COME BACK WITH THIS CANINE PTSD. >> >>TONY PERRY: HUNDREDS OF DOGS HAVE DEPLOYED,
THEY ARE EVERYWHERE IN AFGHANISTAN, AND THEY WERE EVERYWHERE IN IRAQ ALSO.
THEY ARE ESTIMATING, AND IT'S AN ESTIMATE, THAT MAYBE 10ÊPERCENT, THAT WOULD BE HUNDREDS
OF DOGS, CAME BACK WITH PTSD. SOME OF THEM WHO SO SEVERELY TRAUMATIZED THEY
CAN NEVER WORK AGAIN FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE OR BORDER PATROL OR LAW ENFORCEMENT.
THEY JUST HAVE TO BE U ADOPTED OUT AND LEFT TO REST IN SOMEBODY'S BACK YARD.
SOME CAN BE RECONDITIONED AS THEY WERE TRAINED UP, GIVEN XANEX, AND PUT BACK EITHER IN THE
FIELD REDEPLOYED TO AFGHANISTAN NOW OR WORK FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT.
THANK GOODNESS FOR CORA'S SAKE, HAS A MILD CASE.
THEY RETRAINED HER. SHE WILL NEVER DEPLOY AGAIN.
SHE WILL NEVER GO TO AFGHANISTAN, BUT SHE'S TRAINING THE TRAINERS.
>> >>PEGGY: I WANT TO TALK ABOUT THAT. SHE'S NOT NECESSARILY ALL BETTER.
SHE'S ACTUALLY A LITTLE MOODY AND DIFFICULT. THIS IS GREAT FOR THE TRAINERS.
>> >>TONY PERRY: SHE'S LIKE THAT GRUMPY FIRST SERGEANT YOU HAVE IN BASIC TRAINING M SHE'S
DIFFICULT. THESE YOUNG AIRMEN SOLDIERS, MARINES, SAILORS
THAT WANT TO BECOME DOG HANDLERS THEY GIVE THEM CORA, AND SHE IF YOU CAN HAND AL DOG
WHO'S BULKY AND MAY DO WHAT YOU WANT OR NOT. BECAUSE IF YOU CAN'T HANDLE A BULKY DOG HERE,
WE DON'T WANT YOU TO FORWARD DEPLOY AND NOT BE ABLE TO HANDLE A DOG.
SO IN HER GRUMPINESS, CORA IS STILL HELPING SAVE AMERICAN LIVES MORE INDIRECTLY THIS TIME
BUT STILL HELPING. >> >>PEGGY: THE DOGS YOU WERE TALKING ABOUT
THEY COME BACK FROM COMBAT AND ARE RETRAINED TO GO INTO BORDER.
THEY'RE BEING TREATED WITH TRAINING, WITH XANEX, THINGS LIKE THAT, PUT IT IN CONTEXT
FOR US. DOGS IN THE MILITARY IS A VERY PASSIONATE
SUBJECT, SHALL WE SAY. TELL US ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED IN VIETNAM T ABSOLUTELY.
DOGS WERE USED IN VIETNAM FOR MANY F THE SAME PURPOSES, LOOKING FOR BURIED EXPLOSIVES, GOING
INTO TUNNEL SAID, CONTROLLED AGGRESSION GUARD DOGS, VERY IMPORTANT.
THEY DIDN'T COME HOME, MOST OF THEM, FOR VARIOUS REASONS,.
>> >>PEGGY: THEY WERE LEFT BEHIND; CORRECT? >> >>TONY PERRY: THEY WERE LEFT BEHIND SOME
OF THEM HAD AN ILLNESS THE MILITARY DIDN'T WANT TO DEAL WITH LEFT BEHIND A LOT OF RESIDUE
OF AJAR OF DOG HANDLERS THESE MANY DECADES LATER THAT THEIR DOGS WERE LEFT BEHIND.
MILITARY NOW HAS MADE IT VERY, VERY CLEAR THESE DOGS THAT WE HAVE NOW, THEY'RE NOT EQUIPMENT.
THEY'RE COMING HOME. WHEN THEY COME HOME F THEY NEED TREATMENT,
THEY GET TREATMENT. >> >>PEGGY: GETTING TREATMENT FOR THIS CANINE
PTSD, THANKS FOR BRINGING US THIS STORY. YOU CAN READ TONY'S STORY ON CANINE PTSD ON
KPBS.ORG. THANKS A LOT.
>> >>TONY PERRY: MY PLEASURE. >> >>PEGGY: YOU MAY RECALL LAST SUMMER'S BIG
BAY BLAST AS IT'S BEEN CALLED THE FOURTH OF JULY FIRE WORKS SHOW THAT FIZZLED BECAUSE
OF A COMPUTER PROBLEM. THE ANNUAL SHOW STILL HAS A LIT OF SIZZLE
FOR OUR COMMUNITY. $10.6ÊMILLION FOR OUR COMMUNITY.
RESEARCHERS AT POINT LOMA NAZARENE SAY THE ANNUAL SHOW INCREASES SPENDING AT LOCAL RESTAURANTS,
HOTELS AND SHOPS. THEY FOUND THE EVENT INCREASES HOTEL BUSINESS
BY ABOUT 30%. PRODUCERS OF THE BIG BAY BOOM SAY THERE WILL
BE A SPECIAL SHOW IN 2013 TO MAKE UP FOR LAST JULY'S DISAPPOINTING DISPLAY.
OUR LOCAL ECONOMY PICKED UP JUST A BIT LAST MONTH FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF SAN DIEGO.
THE INDEX OF LEADING ECONOMIC INDICATORS ROSE BY 3/TENTHS OF A PERCENTAGE IN OCTOBER.
IT'S NOT AS MUCH AS THE MONTH BEFORE, BUT CONSUMER CONFIDENCE KEEPS GOING UP AND SO
DOES THE NUMBER OF BUILDING PERMITS. WHAT HASN'T CHANGED MUCH, LOCAL STOCK PRICES,
HELP WANTED ADS AND THE UNEMPLOYMENT RATE. HE SAYS WE SHOULD SEE MORE JOBS CREATED IN
2013. THIS IS DAY BEFORE THE STRIKE AT PORTS OF
LOS ANGELES, HAS BEEN IDOL BECAUSE OF A CONTRACT DISPUTE WITH CLERICAL WORKERS.
DOCK WORKERS ARE NOT CROSSING THE PICKET LINE AND SHIPS HAVE BEEN STACKING UP OFF SHORE,
EVEN THOUGH CONTRACT TALKS HAVE RESUMED. VICTORIA HAMILTON, SAN DIEGO'S DIRECTOR OF
THE CITY'S ARTISTS AND CULTURE COMMISSION FOR THE LAST 24 YEARS RECENTLY ANNOUNCED HER
RESIGNATION. EARLIER THIS WEEK I TALKED WITH HER ABOUT
THE COMMISSION AND THE FUTURE OF THE ARTS COMMITTEE HERE IN SAN DIEGO.
VICTORIA, THANKS FOR BEING HERE. NOW, MAYOR JERRY SANDERS HAS SAID THAT YOU
SINGLE HAND UDLY HAVE CHANGED THE WAY WE SUPPORT THE ARTS IN SAN DIEGO, AND YOU ACTUALLY BUILT
THE COMMISSION FROM SCRATCH IN 1988. >> >>VIRGINIA HAMILTON: THAT'S CORRECT.
>> >>PEGGY: WHAT ARE THE MOST SIGNIFICANT CHANGES THAT YOU'VE SEEN SINCE THEN.
>> >>VIRGINIA HAMILTON: FIRST OF ALL, WHEN I MOVED TO SAN DIEGO DOWNTOWN WAS PRETTY SCARY,
BALBOA PARK WAS PRETTY SHABBY, THERE WASN'T MUCH GOING ON IN THE NEIGHBORHOODS.
SO WHEN THE CITY DECIDED TO PUT SOME SERIOUS INVESTMENT IN ARTS AND CULTURE, WE BEGAN TO
SEE THE ARTS FLOURISH, NOT JUST DOWNTOWN, AND BALBOA PARK, BUT OUR NEIGHBORHOODS, AND
EVEN THE FESTIVALS WE HAVE EVERY WEEKEND FOR EXAMPLE.
>> >>PEGGY: IT CERTAINLY EXPANDED. YOU HAD TO CHANGE THE WAY THE CITY OFFICIALS
WERE LOOKING AT OUR ARTS AND COMMUNITIES KIND OF CULTURE HERE.
WHAT DID YOU NEED TO CONVINCE THEM OF? >> >>TONY PERRY: ORIGINALLY THEY HAD TO BE
CONVINCED ABOUT THE IMPACT IN TERMS OF THE ECONOMY, JOBS, THE RETURN OF THE CITY'S INVESTMENT,
HOW IT IMPACTED THE QUALITY OF LIFE, AND HOW IT MIGHT EVEN IMPACT SAN DIEGO'S REPUTATION
AS A CULTURAL DESTINATION. >> >>PEGGY: CERTAINLY, I MEAN, BACK THEN,
PEOPLE DIDN'T COME TO SAN DIEGO FOR THE ARTS. >> >>VIRGINIA HAMILTON: THAT'S RIGHT.
>> >>PEGGY: BUT I THINK A LOT OF THAT HAS CHANGED.
WHAT ARE THE CHALLENGES IN THIS COMMUNITY AND OUR ARTS AND CULTURE COMMUNITY THAT WE
STILL FACE TODAY? >> >>VIRGINIA HAMILTON: I THINK WHAT WE FACE
IS SIMILAR TO WHAT'S HAPPENING AROUND THE COUNTRY, AND THAT IS HOW DO WE PROVIDE PROGRAMMING,
AND ACCESS TO THE CHANGEING DEMOGRAPHICS AND ESPECIALLY IN SAN DIEGO.
AND WHAT KIND OF OUTREACH PROGRAMS TO ARTS AND CULTURE ORGANIZATIONS PROVIDE, ARE THEY
GOING INTO THE SCHOOLS, INTO THE NEIGHBORHOODS. FOR EXAMPLE, IN THE MUSEUMS NOW HAVE SPANISH
LANGUAGEÊ >> >>PEGGY: I'VE NOTICED THAT, CORRECT.
AND ALSO THEATER, WE'RE LOOKING AT SOME VIDEO OF SOME LIVE THEATER.
THAT'S CERTAINLY GROWN. >> >>VIRGINIA HAMILTON: THAT HAS CHANGED AS
WELL. WE'RE SEEING MORE ETHNICALLY DIVERSE ACTORS
ON OUR STAGES, IN OUR BOARD ROOMS, PATRONS, AND CERTAINLY THE PROGRAMMING IS A LOT MORE
DIVERSE THAN IT WAS IN 1988. >> >>PEGGY: LET'S TALK ABOUT PUBLIC ART. YOU
SPEAR HEADED THE PUBLIC ART MASTER PLAN AND IT'S BECOME A VERY IMPORTANT MODEL.
WHY DO YOU THINK THAT IS? >> >>VIRGINIA HAMILTON: FAIRLY AGGRESSIVE.
WE TURNED THE CITY'S 1% FOR ART CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROJECT TO A 2% REQUIREMENT AND WE ALSO HAVE
A 1% ENLARGED PRIVATE DEVELOPMENT PROJECT. IT'S VERY CONTROVERSIAL, BUT WE SUCCEEDED
TO GET UNANIMOUS SUPPORT FROM THE MAYOR AND COUNCIL AT THAT TIME.
>> >>PEGGY: PUBLIC ART TYPICALLY SPARKS CONTROVERSY IS THAT WHY MAYBE THEA CITY WAS SHY ABOUT
INVESTING IN IT? >> >>VIRGINIA HAMILTON: I DON'T THINK SO.
>> >>PEGGY: NO? >> >>VIRGINIA HAMILTON: THE CITYÊ WE HAVEN'T
HAD THAT MUCH CONTROVERSY. WE'VE SEEN CONTROVERSY AT THE PORT AND THE
AIRPORT, BUT NOT NECESSARILY CITY PROJECTS. >> >>PEGGY: WE'RE PROGRESSIVE HERE IN SAN
DIEGO. WHAT ARE YOU MOST PROUD OF IN YOUR TENURE
HERE? >> >>VIRGINIA HAMILTON: I GUESS I WOULD SAY
WHAT HAPPENED ON OCTOBERÊ22, THE CITY COUNCIL UNANIMOUSLY SUPPORTED WHAT WE CALLED A PENNY
FOR THE ARTS FIVE YEAR BLUEPRINT. WHAT THAT WILL DO IS DEDICATE ONE CENTS OF
THE TRANSIENT OCCUPANCY TAX TO SUPPORT ARTS AND CULTURE.
AND THAT'S GOING TO BE A HUGE BENEFIT TO THIS COMMUNITY.
>> >>PEGGY: HOW DO YOU THINK MAYOR ELECT BOB FILNER WILL INTERACT WITH THE ARTS COMMUNITY?
>> >>VIRGINIA HAMILTON: I THINK VERY WELL. HE HAS A VERY ROBUST ARTS PLATFORM, WHILE
HE WAS RUNNING. WE MET WITH HIM YESTERDAY, AND HE TALKED ABOUT
HOW IMPORTANT THIS JOB, THE DIRECTOR OF THE COMMISSION, IS.
AND HE WAS EAGER TO TALK SOME MORE SO WE HAVE ANOTHER MEET WITHING HIM TOMORROW.
>> >>PEGGY: WHAT IS NEXT FOR YOU? >> >>VIRGINIA HAMILTON: NEXT IS FINDING ANOTHER
JOB HERE IN SAN DIEGO WHERE I CAN CONTINUE TO ADVANCE ARTS AND CULTURE.
>> >>PEGGY: I HAVE AN IDEA. >> >>VIRGINIA HAMILTON: YEAH?
>> >>PEGGY: I HAVE AN IDEA FOR YOU. THE CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION OF BALBOA PARK
IN 2015, IS THAT SOMETHING YOU CAN SEE BEING INVOLVED IN?
>> >>VIRGINIA HAMILTON: IF THERE'S A WAY I CAN HELP, I CERTAINLY WILL.
>> >>PEGGY: VICTORIA HAMILTON, THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE TO THE CITY AND THANKS SO MUCH
FOR TALKING WITH US. >> >>VIRGINIA HAMILTON: THANK YOU FOR HAVING
ME. >> >>PEGGY: THE SURF WAS WAY UP AGAIN AT SAN
DIEGO COUNTY BEACHES. HERE'S A LOOK AT THE WAVES AT O.B.PIER EARLIER
TODAY. THIS WAS WELL AFTER HIGH TIDE, PLENTY OF PEOPLE
CAME OUT TO GET A LOOK AT THE SURF, BUT THEY STAYED OUT OF THE WATER AT LEAST WHILE OUR
CAMERA WAS THERE. THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE AS WARNED OF
DANGEROUS RIP TIDES. THE HIGH SURF ADVISORY IS IN EFFECT UNTIL
MONDAY AFTERNOON AND STILL A CHANCE OF RAIN THIS WEEKEND.
HERE'S A CLOSER LOOK AT THE FORECAST. IN OUR WEEKLY PUBLIC SQUARE OUR REPORT ON
SAN DIEGO CYCLE TRACKS OR BLOCKED OFF LANES WHICH KEPT RIDERS ON THE ROAD GOT MIXED REVIEWS
ON OUR WEBSITE. WEB COMMENTER DISAGREED:
AND FROM FACEBOOK JOSHA TOODLE HAD THIS COLORFUL TAKE ON THE ISSUE:
YOU CAN JOIN THIS CONVERSATION OR COMMENT ON ANY KPBS STORY BY FOLLOWING US ON TWITTER,
LIKING US ON FACEBOOK OR JUST E MAIL US AT PUBLIC SQUARE @ KPBS.ORG.
>> >>: I'M RAY ON THE NEXT NEWS HOUR, THE FIGHT OVER THE RULES IN THE SENATE, PLUS SHIELDS
AND BROOKS. THAT'S FRIDAY ON THE PBS NEWS HOUR.
FILL >> >>PEGGY: CIRCLE CIRCLE DOT DOT DESCRIBES
ITSELF AS A COMMUNITY BASED THEATER, IT KICKS OFF ITS SECOND SEASON WITH A FOCUS ON COMMUNITY
OF ARTISTS ON A COMMUNITY OF ARTISTS THAT ARE OFTEN REGULATED TO THE FRINGES.
KPBS ARTS REPORTER BETH ACCOMANDO LOOKS AT THE EVOLUTION OF THE PLAY STREET ART PROPHETS.
>> >>BETH: GRAFFITI ARTIST WALLS AND BLANK CANVASES.
TOO FEW ARE MADE AVAILABLE TO PAINT. THAT'S WHY GRAFFITI ART HAS ITS ROOTS ON THE
STREETS. >> >>: BACK IN THE DAY I WOULD HAVE TO GO
OUT AND PAINT IL EE A. >> >>BETH: HE'S A SELF TAUGHT ARTIST TO EXPRESS
HIMSELF FOR THREE DECADES. >> >>: IT'S REALLY COMPLEX LETTERS, CHARACTERS,
BACKGROUNDS, AND YOUR SURFACE IS EIGHT FEET TALL BY 60ÊFEET.
SO IMAGINE YOU'RE THAT CLOSE PAINTING THESE HUGE MURALS UNDER PRESSURE WITH SECURITY GUARDS
OR OTHER CREWS THAT ARE GOING TO TRY AND CONVICT YOU FOR YOUR PAINT.
A LOT OF PRESSURE. SO IT'S INCREDIBLE THAT THAT ART WAS ACCOMPLISHED
IN THOSE CIRCUMSTANCES. >> >>BETH: A CHALLENGE OF PUTTING UP A WALL
AND THE NEED TO EXPRESS ONE'S SELF ATTRACTED KAREN TO THE WORLD OF GRAFFITI ART.
>> >>: IT'S ALL ABOUT BEING HEARD AND FINDING YOUR VOICE AS AN ARTIST.
>> >>BETH: SHE IS ARTISTIC DIRECTOR OF CIRCLE CIRCLE DOT DOT, A COMMUNITY BASED THEATER
COMPANY. SHE TURNED TO LOCAL STREET ARTISTS AS INSPIRATION
FOR FIVE SHORT THEATER PIECES. SHE SAYS SHE CREATED CIRCLE FOR THE VERY SAME
REASONS GRAFFITI ARTISTS PAINT. >> >>: CIRCLE WAS CREATED BECAUSE I WAS HUNGRY
TO BE ABLE TO DO ALL OF THE THINGS THAT I FELT PASSIONATE ABOUT AND I COULDN'T LIVE
DAY TO DAY WONDERING WHEN THAT WAS GOING TO HAPPEN AND I FEEL LIKE GRAFFITI ART IS VERY
SIMILAR IN THAT WAY, THAT THEY PAINT WHERE THEY ARE GOING TO PAINT BECAUSE THEY CAN'T
WAIT UNTIL THEY HAVE A SPACE TO DO IT IN. >> >>BETH: MICHAEL SU ANOTHER ARTIST SERVING
AS INSPIRATION FOR CIRCLE STREET ART PROPHETS. >> >>: I HAVE A BACKGROUND IN FINE ART AND
I HAD A LOT OF DIFFICULTY GETTING THAT KIND OF WORK IN THE GALLERIES.
>> >>: WE ARE LOOKING FOR A MORE REFINED AESTHETIC AT THIS PARTICULAR GALLERY.
YOU CAN FIND DOWNTOWN WOULD BE MORE YOUR SPEED. >> >>: I KIND OF FELT IF I CAN'T GET MY ART
WORK IN A GALLERY, I CAN GET IT ON THE STREET. >> >>: THEY'RE TRYING TO GET THEIR ART UP
IN THE WORLD, PUTTING THEIR NAMES IN THE WORLD, THESE BEAUTIFUL PICTURES IN THE WORLD, AND
I THINK WE'RE TRYING TO GO INTO THE COMMUNITY AND FIND THOSE STORIES AND BRING THOSE STORIES
TO LIFE ON STAGE. >> >>BETH: MELISSA COALMAN WROTE THE PIECE
ON FAME AND GRUNT. >> >>: THEY'RE GIVING LIFE AND ART ON A WALL,
WE'RE BRINGING IF INTO THIS BUILDING AND ENCOURAGING THEM TO COME AND EXPERIENCE, AND LIVE WITH
US AND MEET THESE NEW CHARACTERS. >> >>BETH: ADAM MARKER DIRECTED BIG BLOCK
LETTERS, THE PIECE INSPIRED BY SAKI'S ART. >> >>: IT WASN'T THE ART SO MUCH AS IT WAS
THE PEOPLE AND WHAT THEY HAVE TO ENDURE TO MAKE THIS HAPPEN AND THE STRUGGLE THAT THEY
GO THROUGH TO DO SOMETHING THAT THEY LOVE SO MUCH, BUT HAD SO MANY CONSEQUENCES.
I THINK EVERYONE THAT DOES IT, THERE IS THIS FEELING THAT YOU SUPERAN IDEA OR AN EMOTION
OR SOMETHING THAT YOU SUPERTO GET ACROSS EVEN IF THERE IS SOMEBODY CHASING AFTER YOU, A
FLASH LIGHT AND A GUN. IT'S JUST THIS EXTREME PASSION IT'S JUST THAT
NEED TO GET YOUR MESSAGE OUT THERE COME WHAT MAY.
>> >>BETH: ONE OF THE THINGS PARKER TAPPED INTO WAS THE COMRADERY OF PAINTING WITH FRIENDS.
>> >>: WHAT HAPPENS WHEN A CREW GETS TOORLGT AND GO OUT AT NIGHT, THEY START DOING THE
ART, SPRAYING, HOW MUCH MORE INVIGGER ATING THAT PART OF THEIR LIFE WAS INVIGORATING THAT
STUFF WAS. >> >>BETH: SAKI'S STORY COMES FROM A DIFFERENT
GENERATION. >> >>: MY PERSONAL EXPERIENCE IS THAT IT HAS
BEEN A VERY SOLITARY THING, NOT SO MUCH WITH CREWS.
IT'S KIND OF FUN SEEING THE COMRADERY BETWEEN THEM, BETWEEN A WHOLE GROUP OF PEOPLE.
>> >>BETH: GRATEFUL TO SEE HIS STYLE OF GRAFFITI ART HIGHLIGHTED IN STREET ART PROPHETS.
>> >>: I THINK IT WILL DEFINITELY REACH TO MAYBE A DIFFERENT CROWD OF PEOPLE THAT NORMALLY
WOULDN'T THINK TWICE ABOUT GRAFFITI. >> >>BETH: BETH ACCOMANDO KPBS NEWS.
>> >>PEGGY: YOU CAN FIND ALL OF TONIGHT'S STORIES AND MORE ON OUR WEBSITE KPBS.ORG/EVENINGEDITION.
THANKS AGAIN FOR JOINING US AND HAVE A FANTASTIC WEEKEND.