Friday, October 5, 2012 - Evening Edition

>> >>DWANE: WHERE WILL IT STOP? GAS PRICES RISE AGAIN ACROSS CALIFORNIA.
AND SAN DIEGO'S DOWNTOWN CENTRAL LIBRARY GETS ITS CROWNING GLORY.
I'M DWANE BROWN. THOSE STORIES TONIGHT ON KPBS EVENING EDITION.
>> >>PEGGY: AND I'M PEGGY PICO. COMING UP, AN IN DEPTH LOOK AT THE IMPORTANCE
OF TRANSPARENCY FOR SAN DIEGO'S MAYORAL CANDIDATES. EVENING EDITION STARTS NOW.
CAPTIONS PROVIDED BY ECAPTIONS. KPBS EVENING EDITION IS MADE POSSIBLE BY JOAN
AND IRWIN JACOBS, AND BY: >> >>DWANE: HELL O, GOOD EVENING, THANKS FOR
JOINING US. GAS PRICES JUMP NEARLY 20 CENTS A GALLON OVER
NIGHT. TAKE A LOOK AT THIS.
IT'S AT A 7 11 IN CITY HEIGHTS YESTERDAY. REGULAR UNLEADED WAS 4.29 CENTS A GALLON,
AND NOW LOOK THE SAME STATION TODAY A GALLON OF REGULAR WAS UP BY 30 CENTS.
WE FOUND HIGHER PRICES AT OTHER STATIONS IN THE SAME NEIGHBORHOOD.
THE AUTO CLUB SAYS CIRCUMSTANCES OF PIPE LINE PROBLEMS AND PREPARATIONS TO SWITCH OVER TO
WINTER BLEND GASOLINE IN CALIFORNIA. STATE LAW SAYS THE SWITCH CAN'T BE MADE FOR
A FEW WEEKS YET. TODAY, CHULA VISTA LAW MAKER JUAN VARGAS CALLED
ON THE GOVERNOR TO ALLOW THE SWITCH TO GO FORWARD EARLIER.
>> >>: WE HAVE A REAL PROBLEM. AND WE HAVE A REAL SOLUTION.
THE SOLUTION IS TO ALLOW REFINERIES TO REFINE AND TOKER GRADE GASOLINE.
LET'S GET THOSE PRICES DOWN AND STOP THE SHORTAGES IN L.A.
PEOPLE SHOULD REMEMBER THIS. IF L.A. STARTS TO RUN OUT OF GAS, WE'RE NEXT.
>> >>DWANE: TONIGHT EXXON MOBILE SAYS ONE OF ITS REFINERIES IS BACK ONLINE, A POWER
OUTAGE AT THERE FACILITY WAS ONE OF THE FACTORS IN THE PRICE SPIKE, BUT THERE'S NO WORD IF
PRICES WILL START FALLING AGAIN SOON. NOW WE FOUND A COUPLE OF PLACES WHERE GAS
IS BARELY UNDER 4 DOLLARS A GALLON, BUT YOU HAVE TO HEAD TOWARDS THE BORDER TO GET IT.
GASBUDDY.COM LISTS A COUPLE OF STATIONS IN OTAY MESA SELLING GAS FOR 3.99 A GALLON.
A PUBLIC HEARING ON SAN DIEGO GAS AND ELECTRIC'S PROFIT.
CONSUMERS WANT A ROLL BACK OF THE UTILITY'S PROFIT MARGIN FROM MORE THAN 11% TO ABOUT
9%. THEY SAY A REDUCTION WILL MEAN AN EXTRA 50
DOLLAR AS YEAR IN CONSUMER'S POCKETS. THE FORMER HEAD OF A SAN DIEGO CONSUMER GROUP
IS ACCUSE OFFED TAKING THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS HE SHOULDN'T HAVE.
KPBS HAS RECEIVED COPY OF A LET TOOR MICHAEL SHAMES, THE FORMER EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE
CONSUMER UTILITIES ACTION NETWORK. IT ASKS HIM TO RETURN 475,000 DOLLARS IN BONUS
MONEY, SAYING HE TOOK IT WITHOUT APPROVAL. SHAMES LEFT YUKAN AFTER THE GROUP GOT EMBROILED
IN CLAIMS OF MISMANAGEMENT. SAN DIEGO'S BEEN ORDERED TO PAY AT LEAST $5.4ﾊMILLIONS
IN LEGAL FEES FOR OFFICIALS WHO WERE CHARGED WITH BREAKING THE LAW ON PENSION VOTES; SIX
CITY OFFICIALS WERE ACCUSED OF OF VIOLATING CONFLICTS OF STATED ISHER INTEREST LAWS WHEN
THEY VOTED IN FAVOR OF A PLAN TO PUT LESS MONEY INTO THE SYSTEM.
THE U.S. SUPREME COURT THREW OUT CASES AGAINST 5 OF THEM.
IT HOME PRICES WENT UP AGAIN IN SAN DIEGO LAST MONTH.
THE ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS SAYS THE MEDIAN PRICE FOR A SINGLE FAMILY HOME WAS 405,000
DOLLARS IN SEPTEMBER. THAT'S ABOUT 13,000 DOLLARS HIGHER THAN AUGUST.
THE NUMBER OF SALES WAS ACTUALLY LOWER RGS DOWN 16%.
ASSOCIATION'S PRESIDENT SAYS SAN DIEGO REAL ESTATE IS HEADED IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.
TONIGHT A FACT CHECK BY OUR INVESTIGATIONS DESK ON THE VOTING RECORD OF CONGRESSMAN AND
MAYORAL CANDIDATE BOB FILNER. EARLIER THIS WEEK HE WAS CRITICIZED BY HIS
RIVAL CARL DEMAIO FOR MISSING VOTES ON CAPITAL HILL.
DEMAIO SAID FILNER MISSED 60% OF THE VOTES. WE CRUNCHED THE NUMBERS AND FOUND HE WAS CLOSE.
FILNER MISSED 353 OUT OF 602 VOTES, OR 59% THIS YEAR.
IT'S 14 TIMES MORE THAN THE OTHER FOUR SAN DIEGO CONGRESS MEMBERS COMBINED.
IN 2011, HE MISSED 14% OF THE VOTES. STILL, MORE THAN ANY OTHER CALIFORNIA CONGRESSMAN.
OUR INVESTIGATIONS DESK FOUND OVER FILNER'S FIRST 18 YEARS IN CONGRESS HE MISSED ONLY
ABOUT 2% OF THE VOTES. THIS WEEK, A KPBS EYE NEWS SOURCE RESEALED
CARL DEMAIO DID NOT DISCLOSE ALL THE MEETINGS HE HAD WITH WEALTHY DEVELOPER MANCHESTER.
PEGGY PICO HAS MORE. >> >>PEGGY: WHEN KPBS AND INVESTIGATIVE NEWS
SOURCE LOOKED AT CARL DEMAIO'S PERSONAL CALENDAR, WE FOUND AT LEAST TWO MEETINGS BETWEEN DEMAIO
AND DOUG MANCHESTER. LORIE HEARN EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF EYE NEWS
SOURCE, JOINS US TO TALK ABOUT WHETHER IT'S OKAY FOR A MAYORAL CANDIDATE TO MEET WITH
A MAJOR DEVELOPER WITHOUT DISCLOSING SUCH MEETING.
LORIE, REMIND US FOR FIRST ABOUT WHAT CARL DEMAIO SAID ABOUT MEETING WITH DOUG MANCHESTER
OVER THE TENTH AVENUE MARINE TERMINAL. >> >>LORIE HEARN: MR.ﾊDEMAIO TOLD US HE
HAD MET ONCE WITH DOUG MANCHESTER AND JOHN LYNCH AT THE NEW NEWSPAPER, THE UT SAN DIEGO,
TO TALK ABOUT HIS VISION FOR PUTTING A FOOTBALL STADIUM ON THE TENTH AVENUE TERMINAL.
>> >>PEGGY: HE ADMITTED TO MEETING ONCE, BUT YOU FOUND OUT HE ACTUALLY MET TWICE.
>> >>LORIE HEARN: WE FOUND OUT HE HAD MET, IN FACT, WITH DOUG MANCHESTER AND/OR JOHN
LYNCH MORE THAN ONCE. IN FACT, TWO ADDITIONAL TIMES BETWEEN DECEMBER
OF 2011 AND MAYﾊ JUNE OF 2012. WE OBTAINED 17 PAGES OF HIS PERSONAL CALENDAR.
AND TWO MEETINGS WERE INDICATED ON THAT CALENDAR. WE OBTAINED THAT CALENDAR, BY THE WAY, FROM
A SOURCE. I WANTED TO ADD THAT BECAUSE THERE HAS BEEN
SOME CHATTER IN THE TWITTER SPHERE THAT WE MAYBE HACK UNDER TO HIS PERSONAL ACCOUNT.
AND WE DIDN'T. IT WAS THROUGH OLD FASHIONED REPORTING.
>> >>PEGGY: AS YOU SEE, WHAT IS THE REAL ISSUE HERE, THOUGH, YOU LOOKED AT HIS CALENDAR,
IT WAS SOMETHING DIFFERENT HE SAID. IS IT RELATED TO TRANSPARENCY, HONESTYﾊ
>> >>LORIE HEARN: I'D LIKE TO SAY IT CAN BE REALLY TEMPTING FOR PEOPLE TO FOCUS ON WAS
IT ONE MEETING, WAS IT THREE MEETINGS, WAS IT A CERTAIN E MAIL, REALLY WHAT WE'RE DOING
IS LOOKING AT THE BIRG PICTURE. WE'RE TRYING TO PEAL BACK THE LAYERS ON A
STRONG FINANCIAL OR BUSINESS INTERESTS, AND THEIR CONNECTIONS WITH PUBLIC OFFICIALS.
WE ALL WANT TO TRUST THAT PUBLIC OFFICIALS ARE DOING PUBLIC BUSINESS IN PUBLIC, RIGHT?
AND SO BY LOOKING AT THE BIG PICTURE HERE, WE'RE HOPING TO BE ABLE TO TELL PEOPLE YOU
NEED TO TAKE THIS INTO ACCOUNT. YOU NEED TO SEE HOW CLOSE THE RELATIONSHIPS
ARE BETWEEN PEOPLE OF POWER, PEOPLE WHO AREﾊ WHO HAVE A LOT OF MONEY OR DEVELOPERS, AND
HAVE A LARGE MEGAPHONE TO REACH THE PUBLIC AND PERHAPS INFLUENCE PUBLIC OPINION. AND
HOW CLOSE THEY ARE TO PUBLIC OFFICIALS. >> >>PEGGY: LET'S TALK ABOUT THE PERSONAL
CALENDAR. BY DEFAULT, THEY'RE PERSONAL.
WHY SHOULD THE MEDIA OR THE PUBLIC HAVE ACCESS TO THOSE?
>> >>LORIE HEARN: THERE'S A LEGAL QUESTION, I THINK, AND THEN THERE'S A QUESTION, I THINK
OF ACCESS THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT HERE. THE LEGALﾊ THE LAW IS REALLY UNCLEAR ABOUT
THIS. ONE WOULD THINK THAT IF A PERSONAL CALENDAR
INDICATES CITY BUSINESS IS BEING CONDUCTED AND RECORDED ON THAT CALENDAR, LIKEWISE FOR
PERSONAL ACCOUNT E MAIL, BUT THAT'S IN THE PUBLIC INTEREST TO KNOW.
IT SOUNDS LOGICAL, AND ACTUALLY THE LAW SAYS TO SAY THAT.
THE COURTS HAVE NOT COME DOWN FIRMLY ON THAT. WHETHER PERSONAL CALENDARS AND PERSONAL COMMUNICATIONS
ARE ACTUALLY SUBJECT TO REVELATION UNDER THE PUBLIC RECORDS ACT IS A QUESTION.
WHAT WE'RE SAYING, THOUGH, IS THAT IF THERE ARE RELATIONSHIPS THAT ARE DEVELOPING, AND
THERE ARE MEETINGS THAT ARE IN THE PUBLIC INTEREST TO KNOW ABOUT, THOSE THINGS SHOULD
BE REVEALED TO THE PUBLIC, WHETHER THEY'RE ON A A AN OFFICIAL OR PERSONAL ACCOUNT CALENDAR.
>> >>PEGGY: WE'RE TALKING TRANSPARENCY. BOTH CANDIDATES HAVE BEEN AT EACH OTHER'S
THROATS. WHAT OTHER DEMANDS SO FAR AND WHERE DOES IT
STAND AS FAR AS EACH OF THEM BEING TRANSPARENT ABOUT WHAT THE OTHER ONE IS DEMANDING.
>> >>LORIE HEARN: CARL DEMAIO HAS MADE TRANSPARENCY ONE OF THE PLATFORMS IN HIS CAMPAIGN.
HE PUTS HIS OFFICIAL CALENDAR ONLINE, WHICH IS SOMETHING HE'S NOT REQUIRED TO DO.
HE HAS DEMANDED, OR REQUESTED, THAT BOB FILNER RELEASE ALL COMMUNICATIONS HE'S HAD WITH LABOR
LEADERS, BUSINESS, OTHERS WHO SUPPORT HIM, BOB FILNER, BY THE WAY, AS A CONGRESSMAN IS
NOT SUBJECT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT, SO ANYTHING HE WOULD GIVE UP WOULD NEED
TO BE VOLUNTARY, AND MR.ﾊFILNER HAS DEMANDED THAT MR.ﾊDEMAIO RELEASE ALL COMMUNICATION
HE'S HAD WITH DOUG MANCHESTER AND CEO JOHN LYNCH.
RIGHT NOW, WE'RE WAITING FOR FOR SOME RESPONSES FROM MR.ﾊFILNER.
HE'S TOLD US WE WILL RECEIVE HIS OFFICIAL CALENDARS.
WE ALSO ASKED HIM FOR A RESPONSE TO THE REQUEST BY COUNCILMAN DEMAIO AND HAVEN'T RECEIVED
THAT EITHER. >> >>PEGGY: LORIE HEARN, THANK YOU SO MUCH
FOR TALKING
WITH US. >> >>DWANE: WITH ABOUT A MONTH TO GO UNTIL
ELECTION DAY THE MAYORAL CANDIDATES ARE WORKING HARD TO GET THEIR MESSAGE OUT.
KPBS METRO REPORTER KATIE ORR SAYS THEY'RE TRYING TO BE AS MODERATE AS POSSIBLE, EVEN
THOUGH BOTH CANDIDATES ARE FIRMLY TIED TO THEIR PARTIES.
>> >>LAURA DUFFY: THE LASTﾊ >> >>: THE REPUBLICAN CITY COUNCILMAN CARL
DEMAIO IT WAS THE ANNOUNCEMENT OF A HARD ONE ENDORSEMENT FROM A LONG TIME POLITICAL FOA,
FELLOW REPUBLICAN, MAYOR JERRY SANDERS. >> >>: ONLY ONE CANDIDATE HAS DEMONSTRATED
THE DETAILED KNOWLEDGE OF OUR CITY THAT WILL BE REQUIRED FROM HIS FIRST DAY ON THE JOB.
AND ONLY ONE CANDIDATE HAS THE FOK OWS AND ENERGY THAT WILL SUSTAIN HIM THROUGH DIFFICULT
TIMES. THAT CANDIDATE IS CARL DEMAIO.
>> >>: SANDERS' ENDORSEMENT WAS FOLLOW AD FEW DAYS LATER THAT QUALCOMM FOUNDER IRWIN
JACOBS, A DEMOCRAT, WAS ALSO SUPPORTING DEMAIO. IT WASN'T A BAD WEEK FOR DEMOCRATIC CONGRESSMAN
BOB FILNER EITHER. A NEW SURVEY U USA POLL SHOWED FILNER TAKING
A DOUBLE DIGIT LEAD OVER DEMAIO AND LEADING NEARLY ALL OF THE DEMOGRAPHIC GROUPS.
THE POLITICALLY CHARGED IS UNUSUAL AROUND SAN DIEGO.
CARL LUNA SAYS THAT'S BECAUSE SAN DIEGO VOTERS ARE USED TO TWO MODERATED REPUBLICANS FACING
OFF. NOT A RACE BETWEEN TWO PEOPLE FROM OPPOSITE
ENDS OF THE POLITICAL SPECTRUM. LUNA SAYS THE WAY THE POWER PLAYERS IN THE
CITY ARE LINING UP REMINDS HIM OF A POPULAR BOOK TURNED MOVIE.
>> >>: IT'S KIND OF LIKE THAT MOVIE HUNGER GAMES WHERE YOU GET THE CITY CENTER AND THE
DISTRICTS. YOU'VE GOT A DOWNTOWN, MORE BUSINESS, PRO
REPUBLICAN ELEMENT, THAT GROUP WANTS STRONG FLEA CARL DEMAIO.
THE LABOR UNIONS ARE ALL GOING FOR BOB FILNER. SOCIAL GROUPS TOWARDS THE FILNER.
>> >>: THE DIVIDE ISN'T SURPRISING, DESPITE ATTEMPTS TO MOVE TO THE MIDDLE, BOTH CANDIDATES
ARE SEEN AS BEING FIRMLY WITHIN THE BOUNDS OF THEIR POLITICAL PARTIES.
FILNER IS VIEWED AS A CLASSIC DEMOCRAT. LUNA SAYS HE'S LARGELY FOLLOWED THE PARTY
LINE WHILE IN WASHINGTON. AT A RECENT DEBATE, FILNER SCAWFED AT DEMAIO'S
SUGGESTION THAT HE'D TURN DOWN HIS PENSION IF ELECTED.
>> >>: I WORK HARD FOR MY SALARY. EVERY WORKING PERSON DESERVES A PENSION.
EVERY WORKING PERSON DESERVES THE 30 YEARS OF SECURITY OR WHATEVER THEIR WORK HAS GIVEN
TO THEM. I AIN'T GOING TO TURN IT DOWN.
>> >>: DEMAIO LEAD THE EFFORT TO ELIMINATE THE PENSIONS FORﾊ DESPITE HIS MODERATE TALK,
AT THAT SAME DEBATE, DEMAIO BLASTED FILNER FOR THE SUPPORT HE GETS FROM LABOR UNIONS.
AND SAYS FILNER MISREPRESENTS HOW HE'D SPEND TAX PAYER DOLLARS.
>> >>: THEY WOULD HAVE GONE TO YOUR SPECIAL INTEREST MASTERS, THE GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEE
LABOR UNION BOSSES TO CONTINUE UNSUSTAINABLE PENSION PAY OUTS RATHER THAN RESTORE THE SERVICES
IMPORTANT TO OUR WORKING FAMILIES. >> >>: POLITICS IS ALL ABOUT GETTING VOTES
AND IN GENERAL ELECTIONS, CANDIDATES TRY TO APPEAL TO AS MANY PEOPLE AS POSSIBLE.
FOR THE PAST FEW MONTHS, FILNER AND DEMAIO HAVE BEEN WORKING TO BRING OUT THEIR SOFTER
SIDES AND EMPHASIZE THEIR ABILITY TO UNITE PEOPLE.
DEMAIO MADE HIS CASE AT A RECENT KPBS DEBATE. >> >>: MY COALITION REPRESENTS DEMOCRATS,
REPUBLICANS, INDEPENDENTS, FROM ALL AROUND OUR CITY AND ALL WALKS OF LIFE.
WE ALL LOVE SAN DIEGO, AND THAT IS A TIE THAT UNITES F.AND IT ALLOWS US TO OVERCOME DISAGREEMENTS
FROM TIME TO TIME AND PARTY LABELS. >> >>: FILNER SAYS HE'S WORKED HIS WAY UP
FROM THE LOCAL SCHOOL BOARD TO CONGRESS BECAUSE HE CAN WORK WITH PEOPLE.
>> >>: YOU'RE ELECTED BECAUSE YOU'RE A LEADER, BECAUSE YOU CAN BRING THOSE PEOPLE TOGETHER
AND GET THINGS DONE. THAT'S THE HALLMARK OF MY CAREER.
>> >>: WHICHEVER MAN IS ELECTED, HE'LL HAVE PLENTY TO TACKLE RIGHT OUT OF THE GATE.
CITY INFRASTRUCTURE, CIVIC PROJECTS AND OF COURSE SAN DIEGO'S FINANCIAL RECOVERY WILL
ALL BE WAITING FOR THE NEW MAYOR ON DAY ONE. AND LUNA SAYS NO MATTER WHAT THEIR POLITICAL
LEANINGS, EACH MAN CAN FACE THE SAME CHALLENGE. >> >>: BOTH CANDIDATES DO HAVE A TENDENCY
TO HAVE A PROFOUND SENSE OF SELF, AN EGO, WHETHER OR NOT THEY CAN CONTAIN THAT FOR THE
CITY STAGE WILL BE IMPORT TONIGHT SEE. >> >>DWANE: KPBS METRO REPORTER KATIE ORR.
YOU CAN FIND ALL OF OUR ELECTION COVERAGE ONLINE AT KPBS.ORG/ELECTION.
AND STARTING ON MONDAY, WE ARE OFFERING OUR KPBS VOTER GUIDE ONLINE AND ON YOUR SMART
PHONE. THE VOTER GUIDE BREAKS DOWN THE BIG RACES
AND MEASURES IN CLEAR LANGUAGE, WITH LINKS TO OUR STORIES AND BIOGRAPHIES OF THE CANDIDATES.
YOU CAN USE IT TO GO THROUGH YOUR BALLOT, AND MAKE YOUR DECISIONS./ YOU CAN TAKE IT
TO THE POLLS ON YOUR SMART PHONE. YOU'LL FIND IT AT KPBS.ORG/VOTERGUIDE.
>> >>DWANE: MAY THE SHOOTING HAVE THE STORY FROM NAYA HAWK NS. >> >>: NEW DETAILS IN THE SHOOTING OF TWO
BOARD PATROL AGENTS NEAR THE ARIZONA MEXICO BORDER ON WEDNESDAY.
TWO AGENTS WERE SHOT, ONE WAS KILLED. AUTHORITIES SAY THE TWO MEN MAY HAVE EXCHANGED
GUN FIRE THINKING THE OTHER WAS A HOSTILE GUNMAN.
ACCORDING TO A PRELIMINARY INVESTIGATION, AGENT NICHOLAS IVY AND TWO OTHERS WERE RESPONDING
TO AN ALARM, AIMED AT DETECTIC SMUGGLERS ENTERING THE US ILLEGAL.
IEIVE IVY WAS SHOT AND KILLED. A THIRD AGENT WAS UNINJURED. THE DEATH OF
AGENT IVY MARKED THE FIRST FATAL SHOOTING OF AN AGENT SINCE 2010.
REUNITING THE POLITICAL DEBATE OVER SECURITY ON THE BORDER.
NAYA HAWK NS, ASSOCIATED PRESS. >> >>DWANE: PRESCRIPTION DRUGS REMAIN THE
NUMBER ONE ACCIDENTAL CAUSE OF DEATH IN SAN DIEGO COUNTY.
FEDERAL OFFICIALS SAY TRAFFICKING PHARMACEUTICALS SAY MEXICAN DRUG CARTELS ARE LOOKING FOR THE
ACTION. ALISA BARBA SPOKE WITH LAURA DUFFY.
>> >>: I'M JOINED BY U.S. ATTORNEY LAURA DUFFY, WELCOME.
HOW BIG OF A PROBLEM IS PRESCRIPTION DRUG ABUSE AMONG OUR YOUTH TODAY?
>> >>: WITHOUT A QUESTION, THE PRESCRIPTION DRUG ABUSE PROBLEMS THAT WE HAVE IN THE UNITED
STATES ARE THE LARGEST DRUG PROBLEMS THAT WE HAVE IN THE UNITED STATES TODAY.
>> >>ALISA: WHEN DID THAT HAPPEN? WHEN DID THE ECLIPSE, HEROIN, METHAMPHETAMINE, WHEN
DID THAT HAPPEN? >> >>: IT'S BEEN STEADILY HAPPENING OVER THE
LAST SEVERAL YEARS. TODAY WE HAVE MORE INDIVIDUALS IN MAJOR CITIES,
INCLUDING SAN DIEGO, WHO ARE DYING OF OVER DOSES THAN IN CAR ACCIDENTS.
THAT'S IN LARGE PART DRIVEN ACCORDING TO THE CDC BY PRESCRIPTION DRUG ABUSE.
>> >>ALISA: SO IN SAN DIEGO AS WELL MORE PEOPLE ARE DYING OF DRUG ABUSE FROM PRESCRIPTION
DRUGS THAN ANY OF THE OTHER DRUGS? >> >>: WHAT WE HAVE IS WE HAVE MORE RECREATIONAL
USE OF PRESCRIPTION DRUGS, PARTICULARLY THE PAIN KILLERS, THE OXYCODONES, THE HYDROCODONES,
THE VICODINS AND OXYCONTINS THEIR BRAND NAIPS THEY'RE KNOWN BY.
THAT USE HAS SURPASSED HEROIN, COCAINE, AND HALLUCINOGENS, COMBINES.
>> >>ALISA: THAT'S AMAZING. >> >>: WE'VE GOT ONE IN SIX TEENS RIGHT NOW
WHO HAVE USED PRESCRIPTION DRUG MEDICATION THAT'S NOT PRESCRIBED TO THEM THEM, SIMPLY
TO GET HIGH OR FOR A MOOD CHANGE. WE HAVE PRESCRIPTION DRUGS BEING THE NONE
NUMBER ONE DRUG THAT'S ABUSED BY CHILDREN 12 TO 13 YEARS OF AGE.
SO IT'S A SERIOUS PROBLEM. IT'S BEEN A GROWING PROBLEM OVER THE LAST
SEVERAL YEARS, AND THE UNITED STATES ATTORNEYS AND THE COUNTRY AND MYSELF ARE JOINING WITH
PARTNERSHIP FOR DRUG FREE.ORG TO GET THIS MESSAGE OUT TO GET PEOPLE EDUCATED ABOUT THIS,
TO GET THEM AWARE OF THE TRENDS, AND TO HELP PEOPLE START TAKING ACTION ABOUT TALKING TO
THE YOUNG PEOPLE IN YOUR LIVES, AND TO MAKE SURE THAT THE MEDICINES IN YOUR HOME ARE SAFE
GUARDED, AND TO DISPOSE OF THE MEDICINES YOU DON'T NEED OR THAT ARE EXPIRED.
>> >>ALISA: YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT A BIG PROBLEM WITH TEENS.
WHERE ARE TEENS GETTING THESE DRUGS? >> >>: IT'S TWO PLACES, ESSENTIALLY.
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT OUR PARENTS AND ADULTS IN THE COMMUNITY NEED TO BE AWARE OF, THEIR
MEDICINE CABINETS, AND THE INTERNET. OR THE BACK ALLEY DRUG DEALERS OF TODAY.
SO WE'VE GOT TWO THINGS GOING ON. THEY'RE GETTING THEM IN THEIR HOMES, THEY'RE
GETTING THEM FROM FAMILY, FROM FRIENDS, FROM FREBDS OF FRIENDS, YOU KNOW, PARENTS WHO HAVE
MEDICINES THAT ARE LEFT IN THE HOME, IN THE MEDICINE CABINET, THAT ARE GOING UNUSED.
SO WE HAVE THAT GOING ON, AND THAT'S A LARGE SOURCE OF SUPPLY FOR YOUNG PEOPLE.
BUT WE ALSO HAVE DRUG ORGANIZATIONS WHO ARE INVOLVED IN DISTRIBUTING PHARMACEUTICALS TO
YOUNG PEOPLE AND TO, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE OF ALL AGES, REALLY.
>> >>ALISA: HERE IN SAN DIEGO, WE'RE USED TO DRUG ORGANIZATIONS, SOUTH OF THE BORDER
MEXICAN DRUG CARTELS, IS ANY OF IT COMING FROM THERE?
>> >>: WE HAVE OUR TRADITIONAL DRUG CARTELS ARE INVOLVED IN THIS ON ONE LEVEL AND I'LL
EXPLAIN THAT TO YOU. BUT WE HAVE SOME CARTELS THAT ARE DEVOTING
THEIR TRADE TO PHARMACEUTICALS. THE TRAFFIC OF PHARMACEUTICALS.
WE HAVE THE TRADITIONAL CARTELS, WHO ARE GETTING INVOLVED BECAUSE THEY'RE GETTING INVOLVED
IN TAXING THOSE PHARMA CARTELS, IN USING THEIR DRUG ROUTES TO BRING DRUGS INTO THE UNITED
STATES FROM MEXICO. >> >>ALISA: SO LET'S UNDERSTAND.
WE HAVE THE TRADITIONAL DRUG CARTELS, AND THEN WE HAVE ONES THAT FOCUS EXCLUSIVELY ON
PHARMACEUTICALS, AND THE LARGER MORE TRADITIONAL DRUG CARTELS, ARE TAXING THOSE PHARMACEUTICAL
CARTELS FOR DISTRIBUTION, ESSENTIALLY? >> >>: WHAT WE HAVE IS THE TRADITIONAL CARTELS
THAT SPAN ALL ACROSS THE SOUTH WEST BORDER. IN THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA, IT'S
BEEN THE TIJUANA CARTEL, THE ARIANA FELIX CARTEL, SINALONA CARTEL.
THOSE TRADITIONAL DRUG CARTELS HAVE VERY ESTABLISHED CROSSING ROUTES.
FOR PHARMACEUTICAL CARTEL CURE YRS TO USE THOSE ROUTES, THEY ARE BEING TAXED FOR THE
RIGHT TO DO BUSINESS. >> >>ALISA: THE ROUTE TO DISTRIBUTION AND
CROSSING INTO THE UNITED STATES. WHAT CAN YOU DO ABOUT THIS?
>> >>: WE'VE BEEN FOCUSING ON THIS PROBLEM REALLY IN OUR UNITED STATES ATTORNEYS OFFICE
SINCE 2009. WE HAVE PROSECUTED ABOUT 25 DIFFERENT CASES
DIRECTED TOWARDS PHARMACEUTICAL TRAFFICKING. WE ARE INVESTIGATING NEW CASES ALL THE TIME.
THEY'RE TIME INTENSIVE CASES BECAUSE WHAT YOU HAVE IS YOU HAVE INDIVIDUALS IN THE UNITED
STATES WHO ARE DIVERTING DRUGS, DIVERTING DRUGS FROMﾊ
>> >>ALISA: WE'RE OUT OF TIME, WE'LL HAVE MORE ON OUR WEBSITE, THANK YOU SO MUCH.
>> >>DWANE: FEDERAL PROSECUTORS SAY THEY PUT A HIGH PRIORITY OR ON IDENTIFYING AND GOING
AFTER TRAFFICKERS. SAN DIEGO U.S. ATTORNEY'S OFFICE PROSECUTED
LEADERS OF THE INFAMOUS ARIANO FELIX CARTEL. SAN DIEGO'S NEWEST DOWNTOWN LAND MARK CELEBRATES
A MAIMER MILE STONE TONIGHT. THE DOME TOPPED CENTRAL LIBRARY PROJECT IS
ABOUT 85% COMPLETE. YOU WON'T HAVE TO DRIVE YOUR CAR TO THE NEW
CENTRAL LIBRARY DOWNTOWN. IT'S JUST A FEW STEPS AWAY FOR THE TROLLEY.
FOR THOSE WHO DO DRIVE, THERE WILL BE TWO LEVELS OF UNDER GROUND PARKING.
CARMEN VAN IS THE PROJECT SUPERVISOR FOR TURNER CONSTRUCTION, THE SAME FOLK WHO'S DID THE
FIRST SAN DIEGO CONVENTION CENTER EXPANSION. >> >>: THE DOME BY FAR WAS ONE OF THE MOST
CRITICAL PIECES OF THE ACTUAL PROJECT. >> >>DWANE: SHE'S ALSO ONE OF THE MANY WOMEN
WORKING ON THIS PROJECT. >> >>: I'M HOPING IT BECOMES MORE USUAL.
OBVIOUSLY, WE'RE IN A FAIRLY STILL MALE DOMINATED INDUSTRY, BUT YOU'RE SEEING LOTS OF WOMEN,
AND JUST A WHOLE DIVERSE POPULATION. >> >>DWANE: VAN HAS BEEN IN THE CONSTRUCTION
BUSINESS FOR ALMOST 14 YEARS AND IS REALLY EXCITED ABOUT FINISHING THE MOST PROMINENT
FEATURE OF THE NEW LIBRARY. >> >>: A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE EXCITED TO SEE
THE DOME BECOMEﾊ OR EVEN BEGIN, RATHER. ONCE IT GOT COMPLETED AND PEOPLE WERE ABLE
TO SEE IT, CROSSING CORONADO, COMING UP THE 805, THE EXCITEMENT BEGAN TO CHURN.
TODAY WE CELEBRATED THE COMPLETION. >> >>DWANE: WITH THE CONVENTION CENTER BEHIND
ME, WE ARE JUST A BLOCK AWAY FROM PETCO PARK. AND THE NEW CENTRAL LIBRARY.
AT NINE STORIES TALL, IT WILL INCLUDE AN OUT DOOR PLAZA AND CAFE, ALONG WITH A TEEN CENTER
AND SPECIALLY DESIGNED LIBRARY SECTION FOR CHILDREN.
VAN SAYS THE 350 SEAT AUDITORIUM IS STILL UNDER CONSTRUCTION, AND THE 400 STUDENT CHARTER
SCHOOL SHOULD BE READY NEXT SUMMER. THIS FACILITY, SHE SAYS, WILL BE FOR EVERYONE.
>> >>: THIS DOME SHINES AND WE'RE VERY EXCITED ABOUT THE IMPACT IT HAS NOT JUST ON DOWNTOWN
SAN DIEGO, BUT JUST ACROSS THE REGION OF AS A WHOLE.
>> >>DWANE: TURNER CONSTRUCTION WILL COMPLETE ITS WORK AND HAND THE PROJECT OVER TO THE
CITY BY MARCH OF NEXT YEAR. THEN ALL THE LIBRARY BOOKS MUST BE MOVED FROM
THE OLD SITE TO THE NEW ONE. >> >>PEGGY: IN TONIGHT PFTS PUBLIC SQUARE,
WE ASKED SAN DIEGANS TO TALK TO US ON CAMERA AT THE RECENT POLITI FEST.
A LOCAL, ANNUAL FESTIVAL ABOUT CIVIC AND POLITICAL ISSUES.
HERE'S WHAT FOLKS HAD TO SAY. >> >>: REALLY GET OUR GOVERNMENT IN ORDER,
I BELIEVE WE NEED ACCOUNTABILITY. WE NEED SERVANT LEADERSHIP.
AND WE NEED TRANSPARENCY IN OUR GOVERNMENT. >> >>: I THINK PROBABLY WHAT WOULD BE THE
MOST OUTSTANDING THING WOULD BE HONESTY, TRUTH, AND SOLVING THE ISSUES THAT ARE REALLY IMPORTANTﾊ
>> >>: GET MONEY OUT OF POLITICS, THAT WILL BRING US BACK TO YOU.
>> >>PEGGY: NOW YOU DON'T HAVE TO SING, BUT YOU CAN ALWAYS COMMENT ON ANY KPBS NEWS STORY
BY FOLLOWING US ON TWITTER, LIKING US ON FACEBOOK, OR JUST E MAIL US AT PUBLIC SQUARE @ KPBS.ORG.
>> >>DWANE: VOTING GIVES EVERYONE A VOICE IN THEIR GOVERNMENT, AND THE REGISTRAR OF
VOTERS IS REMINDING FOLKS THEY HAVE UNTIL OCTOBERﾊ22 TO REGISTER FOR THE NOVEMBER
ELECTION. IF YOU'RE NOT SURE WHETHER YOU NEED REGISTER,
YOU CAN CHECK ONLINE AT SD VOTE.COM. RECAPPING TONIGHT'S TOP STORY.
GAS PRICES SHOT UP ABOUT 20 CENTS A GALLON OVER NIGHT. SAN DIEGO'S AVERAGE PRICE $4.52
A GALLON. THE PRICE IS BEING BLAMED ON A COMBINATION
OF FACTORS, A LOW INVENTORY OF SUMMER BLEND GAS, PIPELINE PROBLEMS, AND A TROUBLE WITH
A REFINERY IN TORE NS. THAT REFINERY IS BACK ONLINE.
STATE REGULATORS ARE REQUESTING TO PUT WINTER MARKETS BACK ON THE MARKET SOONER THAN THE
LAW ALLOWS ASSESSMENTS IN JUST A FEW MINUTES, A PUBLIC HEARING ON SDG&E PROFITS BEGINS AT
THE ALBAR SHRINE IN KERNE MESA. UTILITY PROFIT MARGIN, A RECENT REPORT PUTS
IT AT MORE THAN 11%. CONSUMER GROUPS WANT THE MARGIN LOWERED TO
JUST UNDER 9%. YOU CAN FIND TONIGHT'S STORIES ON OUR WEBSITE,
KPBS.ORG/EVENINGEDITION. THE PBS NEWS HOUR IS COMING UP WITH A LOOK
AT TODAY'S UNEMPLOYMENT REPORT, THE NATIONAL NUMBER DROPPED BELOW 8% FOR THE FIRST TIME
IN NEARLY FOUR YEARS. SAN DIEGO'S NUMBERS WILL BE OUT NEXT WEEK.
THANK YOU FOR JOINING US. HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND.