Friday, November 2, 2012 - Evening Edition

>> >>ERIK: BAIL AND RETRIAL OF A MAN ACCUSED OF KILLING A YOUNG GIRL IN THE NORTH COUNTY.
AND A SAN DIEGO EAGLE SCOUT SENDS BACK HIS AWARDS TRYING TO SEND A MESSAGE ABOUT A CONTROVERSIAL
SCOUTING POLICY. I'M ERIK ANDERSON.
THOSE STORIES TONIGHT ON KPBS EVENING EDITION. >> >>PEGGY: AND I'M PEGGY PICO.
COMING UP IN OUR WEEKLY ROUND TABLE AN UPDATE ON THE SCANDALS DOGGING A CANDIDATE FOR A
BOARD SEAT IN THE SOUTH BAY SCHOOL DISTRICT. PLUS TONY AWARD WINNER DES MCANUFF TALKS WITH
US ABOUT HIS NEW MUSICAL AT THE LA JOLLA PLAY HOUSE.
KPBS EVENING EDITION STARTS NOW. >> >>: KPBS EVENING EDITION IS MADE POSSIBLE
BY JOAN AND IRWIN JACOBS, AND BY: CAPTIONS PROVIDED BY ECAPTIONS.
>> >>ERIK: GOOD EVENING, AND THANKS FOR JOINING US, DWANE BROWN IS OFF TONIGHT.
A MILLION DOLLARS BAIL HAS BEEN SET FOR A TRANSIENT WHO'S WAITING TO BE RETRIED IN THE
MURDER OF AN ESCONDIDO GIRL. THE RETRIAL OF RICHARD TUITE HAS BEEN SCHEDULED FOR MAY.
HE WAS CONVICTED ONCE BEFORE OF KILLING STEPHANIE CROWE.
A RETIRED SAN DIEGO ARCHITECT HOPES RETURNING HIS EAGLE SCOUT BADGE WILL ADD TO THE BUILDING
CRESCENDO OF OPPOSITION TO A LONG RUNNING BOY SCOUT POLICY.
THE SCOUTS REAFFIRMED THEIR OPPOSITION TO ACCEPTING OPENLY GAY MEMBERS.
DANIEL BROGANﾊ ANNOUNCED TO THE WORLD THAT DANIEL HAD ACHIEVE AD LONG STANDING GOAL IN
HIS YOUNG LIFE TO BECOME AN EAGLE SCOUT. >> >>: THIS WAS ONE OF THE KEY COMPONENTS
OF THE STEPS IN MY LIFE. AND HELPED SHAPING MY VALUES.
>> >>ERIK: THE LOCAL NEWS PAPER RECORDED THE EVENT WITH MOM AND DAD LOOKING ON.
>> >>: IF YOU LOOK THAT HISTORY THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE RECEIVED THIS AWARD I THINK IT'S
SOMETHING LIKE 2% OF SCOUTING, BUT IF YOU LOOK AT THE INDIVIDUALS THERE'S A LOT OF LEADERSHIP
THAT IS BROUGHT TO BEAR AND YOU LEARN ABOUT LEADERSHIP EARLY ON.
>> >>ERIK: BROGAN SAYS IT IS TIME TO EMPLOY SOME OF THOSE LEADERSHIP LESSONS, THAT'S WHY
HE'S RETURNING THE BADGES, SATIONS AND CERTIFICATES AND INCLUDING A LETTER SAYING WHY.
HE WANTS THE SCOUTS TO KNOW THEIR ANTI GAY POLICY REINFORCES BIGOTRY AND THERE'S NO REASON
FOR IT. >> >>: TO TAKE A GROUP OF KIDS AND OSTRACIZE
THEM IN THIS DAY IN AGE FOR THEIR ORIENTATION IS JUST WRONG.
ITS IT'S JUST WRONG. SO MY PURPOSE HERE IS HOPEFULLY TO ACCELERATE
A CHANGE THAT'S INEVITABLE. IT'S GOING TO HAPPEN.
>> >>ERIK: BROGAN IS JOINING HUNDREDS OF OTHER EAGLE SCOUTS WHO ALREADY RETURNED THEIR BADGES
SINCE SUMMER. >> >>: MOST OF THESE THINGS LIKE EVERY OTHER
CAUSE, MOST OF IT HAS TO DO WITH TIMING, MOMENTUM, AND THE STRENGTH OF SUPPORT THAT YOU HAVE
FOR THE CAUSE. THIS IS THE TIME.
>> >>ERIK: KPBS CONTACTED THE BOY SCOUTS OF AMERICA AND THEY SENT US A WRITTEN STATEMENT
QUOTE: EACH YEAR MORE THAN 50,000 YOUNG MEN EARN THE RANK OF EAGLE SCOUT, TOTALING TO
OVER 2ﾊMILLION. ALTHOUGH WE'RE DISAPPOINTED TO LEARN OF ANYONE
WHO FEELS COMPELLED TO RETURN HIS EAGLE RANK, WE EXPECT THEIR RIGHT TO EXPRESS AN OPINION.
WHILE A MAJORITY OF OUR MEMBERSHIP AGREES WITH OUR POLICY, WE FULLY UNDERSTAND AND APPRECIATE
THAT NOT EVERYONE WILL AGREE WITH ANY ONE POSITION OR POLICY.
UNQUOTE. >> >>ERIK: BROGAN SAYS HE IS HOPEFUL THE SCOUTS
WILL CHANGE THEIR POSITION AND SAYS IF THEY DO, HE'D LIKE TO GET HIS BADGES AND CERTIFICATES
BACK. A MEASURE TO REGULATE MEDICAL MARIJUANA IN
IMPERIAL BEACH IS GETTING AN ENDORSEMENT FROM COUNCILMAN BRIAN PAT BILBRAY.
HE'S THE SON OF INCUMBENT CONGRESSMAN BRIAN BILBRAY AND THE BROTHER OF BRIANA BILBRAY
WHO'S BECOME AN ADVOCATE FOR MEDICAL MARIJUANA SINCE UNDERGOING TREATMENT FOR MELANOMA.
THEIR FATHER HAS BEEN AN OPPONENT OF MEDICAL MARIJUANA.
A NEW POLL SHOWS GROWING SUPPORT FOR A MEASURE TO REPEAL CALIFORNIA'S DEATH PENALTY. THE
LATEST FIELD POLL SHOWS 45% OF LIKELY VOTERS FAVORING PROPOSITION 34 T.WOULD REPLACE THE
DEATH PENALTY WITH LIFE IN PRISON WITH NO POSSIBILITY OF PAROLE.
THIRTY EIGHT% ARE AGAINST IT. SUPPORTERS OF THE MEASURE DON'T YET HAVE THE
MAJORITY THEY NEED FOR IT TO PASS. SEVENTEEN% OF THOSE POLLED SAID THEY ARE STILL
UNDECIDED. SAN DIEGO MAYORAL CANDIDATES CARL DEMAIO AND
BOB FILNER STOPPED TAKING JABS AT EACH OTHER JUST LONG ENOUGH TO ANSWER SOME QUESTIONS
FROM TEENS ON BULLYING. OUR SPEAK CITY HEIGHTS REPORTER MEGAN BURKS
JOINS US WITH MORE ON HOW YOUNG AREA PEOPLE ARE GETTING INVOLVED.
HOW ARE THEY PARTICIPATING IN POLITICS THIS YEAR?
>> >>JOANNE: TEENAGERS FROM THE NON PROFIT SENT THE MAYORAL CANDIDATES A QUESTIONNAIRE.
THEY ASKED THE CANDIDATES QUESTIONS ABOUT BULLYING, TEEN SUBSTANCE ABUSE AND AFTER SCHOOL
PROGRAMS. >> >>ERIK: WHAT ARE THE TEENS GOING TO DO
WITH THAT INFORMATION IF THEY CAN'T CAST A BALLOT.
>> >>MEGAN: THEY MAY NOT BE ABLE TO VOTE, BUT A CONTRACT OF SORTS WITH THE FUTURE MAYOR.
IT SEEMS THEY WANTED TO GET THE CANDIDATES TO TAKE A STAND ON THESE ISSUES AND PUT IT
IN WRITING. >> >>ERIK: AND YOU SAID THERE WAS AN ADDED
BENEFIT FOR SOME OF THE TEENS. >> >>MEGAN: MANY OF THE TEENS ARE SECOND GENERATION
IMMIGRANTS WHOSE PARENTS DON'T SPEAK ENGLISH. THEY SAID NOW THEY CAN HELP EDUCATE THEIR
PARENTS ON ISSUES BEFORE THEY HEAD TO THE POLLS.
WE HAVE ALL THE CANDIDATES ANSWERS ONLINE AT SPEAKCITYHEIGHTS.ORG.
>> >>ERIK: KPBS SPEAK CITY HEIGHTS REPORTER MEGAN BURKS.
A CANDIDATE FOR ONE OF THE TWO BOARD SEATS IN THE SWEET WATER UNION HIGH SCHOOL DISTRICT
FACES CHARGES BY THE CITY'S DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE.
PEGGY PICO FINDS OUT MORE ABOUT THE TROUBLING ACCUSATIONS.
>> >>PEGGY: THE SWEET WATER UNION HIGH SCHOOL DISTRICT HAS SOME CHALLENGES, AND SOME OPPOSITION
TO THE NEW SUPERINTENDENT. HER HERE TO HELP SORT OUT THESE ACCUSATION
AS IS RICKEY YOUNG. THANKS FOR BEING HERE.
ONE CANDIDATE INCUMBENT PEARL IS UNDER INDICTMENT BY THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE FOR WHAT?
>> >>TOM: IT'S NOT AN INDICTMENT TO CHARGES. THE GRAND JURY BRINGS INDICTMENTS.
IT'S CHARGESﾊ FELONY CHARGES NICHEY THEY WERE CHARGES OF ACCEPTING GIFTS, MEALS, PLAYS,
JERSEY BOYS TICKETS FROM CONTRACTORS, AND FAILING TO REPORT THAT.
AND THEN LATER THE D. A. BROUGHT CHARGES OF ACTUALLY ACCEPTING BRIBES.
SO THESE ARE VERY, VERY SERIOUS CHARGES THAT HAVE BEEN WORKING THEIR WAY THROUGH THE COURTS.
THEY'RE LOOKING AT JANUARYﾊ7 I THINK AS A TRIAL.
>> >>PEGGY: WHAT DOES SHE SAY ABOUT THOSE CHARGES?
>> >>RICKY YOUNG: SHE HAS PLED NOT GUILTY. I'M NOT SURE EXACTLY WHAT HER DEFENSE IS.
BUT SHE HAS MADE THE CASE THROUGH HER ATTORNEY TO US MAYBE THERE IS SELECTIVE PROSECUTION
GOING ON. THAT OTHER PEOPLE IN THE COUNTY HAVE ACCEPTED
GIFTS OR MEALS AND FAILED TO REPORT THEM. AND GIVEN GOVERNMENT MONEY TO THE PEOPLE WHO
GAVE THEM THOSE GIFTS. ALL THEY HAD TO DO WAS FILL OUT A NEW FORM
AND MAYBE PAY A LITTLE FINE AND MOVE ON WITH THEIR LIFE.
THEY'RE NOT FACING CRIMINAL CHARGES. >> >>PEGGY: THAT'S SORT OF EVERYBODY ELSE
IS DOING. SHE'S NOT DENYING THE CHARGES MIRKS SHE PLED
NOT GUILTY. I DON'T THINK SHE'S GOING TO SAY SHE DIDN'T
TAKE THE MEALS OR THE JERSEY BOYS TICKETS BECAUSE IT'S PRETTY CLEAR.
BUT EXACTLY WHAT THE LEGAL DEFENSE IS, I'M NOT SURE.
>> >>PEGGY: ALL THIS WAS GOING ON, SHE BECAME THE GRAND MARTIAL AT THE SWEET WATER HIGH
SCHOOL'S HOMECOMING PARADE. HOW DID THAT COME ABOUT?
>> >>RICKY YOUNG: WE'RE NOT EXACTLY SURE. WE SENT A REPORTER WHO COVERS CHULA VISTA
FOR US TO TRY TO FIGURE THAT OUT BECAUSE THERE WAS SOME DISSATISFACTION IN THE COMMUNITY
THAT A CRIMINAL DEFENDANT WOULD BE THE GRAND MARTIAL OF THEIR HOMECOMING PARADE.
WE ASKED PEARL WHO ASKED YOU AND WHEN DID THEY ASK YOU TO BE THE GRAND MARSHAL AND SHE
DIDN'T REMEMBER. THEN WE TRIED TO FIND OUT THROUGH SOME OTHER
SOURCES. ORIGINALLY DR.ﾊORUM FROM THE NEARBY NATIONAL
SCHOOL DISTRICT HAD BEEN ASKED AND THEN HE WAS TOLD THE ASB DECIDED THEY WANTED SOMEONE
ELSE. SO WE WENT TO THE ASB ADVISER WHEN & HE SAID
HE'S GOT NOTHING TO DO WITH WHO THE GRAND MARSHAL IS.
>> >>PEGGY: WHEN YOU WERE TALKING ABOUT ASB, ASSOCIATION OF STUDENT BODY; CORRECT?
>> >>RICKY YOUNG: THAT'S RIGHT. >> >>PEGGY: TELL US ABOUT THE INCUMBENT FOR
THE OTHER SEAT. >> >>RICKY YOUNG: BERTHA, LOPEZ IS HER NAME.
EARLY ON ABOUT A YEAR AGO, LAST DECEMBER, HER HOUSE WAS RAIDED AND SOME OF HER POLITICAL
OPPONENTS HAVE SAID THAT'S AN INDICATION OF SOMETHING SHE'S ISM LBLGHTED IN ALL THIS CONTRACT
MESS. SHE SAYS SHE'S VERY CRITICAL OF EVERYTHING
GOING ON. SHE'S DRAWN A CHALLENGER, BERT GROSSMAN, A
FORMER SAN DIEGO CHARGER, WHO WAS NAMED IN SPORTS ILLUSTRATED BIG MOUTH BECAUSE HE WAS
ALWAYS VERY OUT SPOKEN. AND HE'S BEING VERY OUT SPOKEN IN THIS RACE.
HE'S MADE SOME VERY CHOICE COMMENTS ABOUT PEARL AND OTHERS.
PRESUMABLY WITH THAT NAME I.D., HE'S A PRETTY SERIOUS CANDIDATE.
>> >>PEGGY: WE CAN HEAR MORE OF YOUR INTERVIEW ON OUR WEBSITE KPBS.ORG.
RICKEY YOUNG, THANKS SO MUCH FOR TALKING WITH US.
>> >>ERIK: WHILE THE SAN DIEGO UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT IS PLEADING WITH ITS RESIDENTS THIS
ELECTION TO INCREASE THEIR PROPERTY TAXES BY A FEW HUNDRED DOLLARS TO PAY FOR SCHOOL
REPAIRS AND UP GRADES, OTHER SCHOOL DISTRICTS IN THE COUNTY ARE RAISING TAXES WITHOUT A
PUBLIC VOTE. OUR INVESTIGATIONS DESK TAKE AS LOOK AT THIS
SO CALLED VOLUNTARY TAX. JOANNE FARYON HAS MORE.
>> >>JOANNE: ACROSS CALIFORNIA, A LAW CALLED MELLO ROOS ALLOWS SPECIAL DISTRICTS NEARLY
ALL IN NEW DEVELOPMENTS TO CHARGE HOME OWNERS THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS A YEAR TO BUILD NEW SCHOOLS,
BUY BUSES, EVEN PAY FOR IPADS. HERE'S A LOOK AT ONE SAN DIEGO NEIGHBORHOOD
THAT BENEFITS FROM THE EXTRA TAX DOLLARS. ABOUT 7 MILES EAST OF THE COAST IS A NEW NEIGHBORHOOD
CALLS DEL SUR. HOMES CAN COST UP TO A MILLION DOLLARS.
THE NEIGHBORHOOD HAS FIVE SWIMMING POOLS, PARKS INFUSED WITH THE COUNTY'S ROLLING HILLS.
THE BIGGEST DRAW HERE ARE THE SCHOOLS. DESPITE BEING IN THE CITY OF SAN DIEGO, SCHOOLS
HERE BELONG TO THE ACCLAIMED POWAY UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT.
THE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL ATD FIRST GLANCE LOOKS MORE LIKE A COUNTRY CLUB.
IT'S A PUBLIC SCHOOL. BUT THE PEOPLE WHO BUY HOMES IN THIS NEIGHBORHOOD
PAY EXTRA TAXES SO THEIR KIDS CAN ATTEND. >> >>: WE LOVE THE NEIGHBORHOOD, LOVE THE
SCHOOL, AND AGREED IT'S WELL WORTH IT. >> >>JOANNE: HOW MUCH EXTRA DO YOU PAY FOR
THAT ON YOUR TAXES? >> >>: YOU KNOW, WE HAVEN'T GOT A BILL YET,
BUT I WANT TO THINK 700, 800 DOLLARS. >> >>JOANNE: SEVEN OR 800 DOLLARS A MONTH
IN EXTRA PROPERTY TAXES. THE TAX IS CALLED THE MELLO ROOS, NAMED AFTER TWO CALIFORNIA
LEGISLATURES WHO CAME UP WITH THE IDEA IN THE EARLY 80S.
IT ALLOWS LAND OWNERS, USUALLY A SMALL GROUP OF DEVELOPERS, TO CREATE MEN MINI GOVERNMENTS
THAT HAVE THE POWER TO COLLECT TAXES FROM THE PEOPLE WHO BUY THEIR HOMES.
ABOUT ONE IN EVERY 10 SAN DIEGO PROPERTY OWNERS PAYS THE MELLO ROOS, RANGING FROM 50 DOLLARS
TO AS MUCH AS 13,000 DOLLARS PER HOME, PER YEAR.
SOME OF THE MONEY PAYS FOR ROADS AND SEWER LINES, BUT MOST OF IT PAYS FOR SCHOOLS.
POWAY UNIFIED COLLECTED MORE THAN 40ﾊMILLION DOLLARS IN EXTRA TAXES FROM HOME OWNERS LAST
YEAR ALONE. ROCKY ROY'S SON IS IN KINDERGARTEN AT DEL
SUR ELEMENTARY. ROY PAYS MORE THAN 5,000 DOLLARS A YEAR IN
MELLO ROOS TAXES. >> >>: I DON'T REALLY AGREE WITH THE IDEA
THAT, YOU KNOW, DEVELOPERS CAN JUST DICTATE WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN AND WHAT THEY'RE GOING
TO HAVE HERE. I THINK IT DEFINITELY SHOULD HAVE MORE OF
A DEMOCRATIC PROCESS AND HAVE THE PARENTS INVOLVED.
>> >>JOANNE: INEWS SOURCE REPORTER AND DATA SPECIALIST KEVIN CROWE JOINS ME.
HE HAS BEEN GATHERING AND ANALYZING MELLO ROOS DATA.
KEVIN, WE'RE GOING TO GET TO THE NUMBERS SOON, BUT FIRST OF ALL, AS WE JUST HEARD IN THE
STORY, DEVELOPERS GET TO FORM MINI GOVERNMENTS AND CHARGE PEOPLE TAXES.
HOW DOES THAT WORK? >> >>KEVIN CROWE: DEVELOPERS NEED TO BUILD
COMMUNITIES AROUND THE HOUSES THEY WANT TO SELL, SEWERS, SCHOOLS, MAYBE SOME POOLS.
SO THEY FORM THESE LITTLE GOVERNMENTS AND THEY CAN THEN ISSUE BONDS TO PAY FOR ALL OF
THAT NEW INFRASTRUCTURE, THEN THEY PASS THE COST OF THOSE BONDS ON TO THE NEW HOME OWNERS.
>> >>JOANNE: IN CALIFORNIA, ISN'T THERE SUPPOSED TO BE A TWO THIRDS MAJORITY VOTE FOR ANY PUBLIC
TAX? >> >>KEVIN CROWE: THERE IS A PUBLIC VOTE.
WHEN THOSE DEVELOPERS GET TOGETHER AND THERE'S USUALLY ONLY A FEW, AND SOMETIMES THERE CAN
ONLY BE ONE, THEY TAKE A PUBLIC VOTE TO RAISE TAXES ON THEMSELVES OR THEIR PROPERTY, THE
PEOPLE WHO MOVE IN TO THE LAND BUY THE HOUSES THEY SIGN AGREEMENTS SAYING THEY KNOW ABOUT
THE TAX, THEN THE TAX IS THERE. >> >>JOANNE: THEY TAKE A VOTE AND THAT'S CONSIDERED
A PUBLIC VOTE? >> >>KEVIN CROWE: CORRECT.
>> >>JOANNE: A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE AFFECTED BY MELLO ROOS.
I WANT TO SHOW SOME NUMBERS TO THE PEOPLE AT HOME.
IT'S ONE IN 10 PROPERTIES. LET'S HAVE A LOOK, ONE IN 10.
DO WE KNOW HOW MANY PROPERTIES THAT AMOUNTS TO?
>> >>KEVIN CROWE: A LITTLE BIT MORE THAN A HUNDRED THOUSAND PROPERTIES IT'S HOME OWNERS,
BUSINESS OWNERS, COMMERCIAL. THERE ARE DIFFERENT FEES DEPENDING ON THE
SIZE OF YOUR HOUSE, WHERE IT'S LOCATED. >> >>KEVIN CROWE: WE HEARD THIS STORY.
LET'S LOOK AT THESE NUMBERS AGAIN. I THINK THIS IS SORT OF A BIG PART OF THE
STORY NOW. PEOPLE ARE PAYING PER YEAR BETWEEN 50 DOLLARS
AND 13,000 DOLLARS PER YEAR PER HOME, FULL DISCLOSURE HERE.
I'M IN THE POWAY UNIFIED DISTRICT, I HAVE A MELLO ROOS, MINE IS 800 DOLLARS A YEAR.
IS THERE A LIMIT TO HOW MUCH PEOPLE CAN BE CHARGED IN MELLO ROOS?
>> >>KEVIN CROWE: THERE S.THERE'S A FORMULA THAT THE DEVELOPERS, YOU KNOW, CREATE TO CHECK
OUT THESE TAXES AND ESTABLISH THOSE. AND SO THAT FORMULA ALREADY HAS YOUR 1% ASSESSED
TAX THAT GOES TO THE COUNTY, THAT'S ALREADY IN THERE.
YOUR TAXES TYPICALLY CANNOT BE MORE THAN 2% TOTAL.
ALL OF THE MELLO ROOS FIGURED INTO THAT, IT MAY BE SOMEWHERE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD OF A
HALF OF A PERCENT OR THREE QUARTERS. >> >>JOANNE: SO IT WOULDN'T BE MORE THAN WHAT
YOUR NORMAL PROPERTY TAX BILL IS. >> >>KEVIN CROWE: RIGHT.
>> >>JOANNE: SO WHAT'S THIS MONEY BEING SPENT ON? IPADS, REALLY?
>> >>KEVIN CROWE: YES, IPADSﾊ TYPICALLY IT GOES FOR SCHOOLS, LIKE ACTUAL INFRASTRUCTURE.
BUILDINGS, MAYBE SOME PRACTICE FIELD SAID, MAYBE SOME POOLS.
IT CAN ALSO BE USED FOR THINGS LIKE TECHNOLOGY, SCHOOL BUSES, IPADS.
>> >>JOANNE: BASICALLY ANYTHING THAT A SCHOOL CAN SAY HAS THE LIFE OF FIVE YEARS.
>> >>KEVIN CROWE: FIVE YEARS OR MORE. >> >>JOANNE: I KNOW YOU'VE BEEN WORKING ON
THIS ANALYSIS FOR A LONG TIME. WHAT ABOUT OVERSIGHT? BHOO IS KEEPING TRACK
OF ALL OF THIS MONEY? >> >>KEVIN CROWE: THE STATE KEEPS THE DEBT,
AND THE COUNTY THE TAXES THEY COLLECT. IN TERMS OF HOW THEY ACTUALLY SPEND THE MONEY
IT'S TIP DLEA JUST THE SCHOOL BOARDS AND CONCERNED CITIZENS.
>> >>JOANNE: THANK YOU SO MUCH. THERE'S A LOT MORE OF YOUR REPORTING AT KPBS.ORG.
>> >>ERIK: AS WE LOOK FORWARD TO THIS YEAR'S ELECTION, SAN DIEGO CHICKEN FARMERS ARE WONDERING
ABOUT A PROPOSITION THAT PASSED FOUR YEARS AGO.
PROP 2 WHICH REQUIRED ROOMIER CAGES FOR EGG LAYING HENS.
KPBS REPORTER TOM FUDGE SAYS PERHAPS NOT SO SIMPLE.
>> >>TOM: THERE ARE ABOUT 25,000 CHICKENS HERE LAYING ABOUT 16,000 EGGS EVERY DAY.
THEY'RE KEPT IN CONFINED QUARTERS WHERE THE EGGS ROLL DOWN A RUNWAY FOR EASY HARVEST.
THIS CHICKEN FARM IN LAKESIDE IS THE KIND OF OPERATION THAT WAS TARGETED BY PROPOSITION
2, AND THE FARMER WHO RUNS IT FRANK HILLICKER IS GOING TO HAVE TO MAKE SOME CHANGES TO COMPLY
WITH THE LAW. THE PROBLEM, IS HE DOESN'T KNOW WHAT CHANGES
HE HAS TO MAKE. >> >>: I WISH I KNEW.
THERE'S NO REGULATION. PROPOSITION 2 SAID JUST GIVE THE CHICKENS
A LITTLE MORE ROOM. >> >>TOM: BUT HOW MUCH MORE ROOM? THAT'S WHAT
NOA NOBODY IS SURE OF. >> >>: FARMER PROP 2, IF PEOPLE REMEMBER IT,
IT SAYS THIS CHICKEN NEEDS TO BE ABLE TO SPREAD ITS WINGS, TURN AROUND AND DO NATURAL OCCURRING
PRACTICES, YOU KNOW, SCRATCH, SIT ON A ROOST, BUT IT'S NOT QUANTIFIED AT ALL.
>> >>: VOTE YES ON PROPOSITION 2. >> >>TOM: PROPOSITION 2 WAS OVERWHELMINGLY
APPROVED IN 2000 EIGHT BY CALIFORNIA VOTERS WITH SUPPORT FROM ANIMAL WELFARE GROUPS WHO
ARGUED KEEPING CHICKENS IN SOME CROWDED CAGES WAS INHUMANE.
WHAT'S MISSING FROM THE PROPOSITION IS ANY SPECIFICS ABOUT HOW MANY SQUARE FEET OR INCHES
A CHICKEN NEEDS TO LIVE IN. CALIFORNIA CHING CHICKEN FARMERS HAVE UNTIL 2015 TO COMPLY
WITH PROP 2. GOING CAGE FREE WOULD BOOST UP THE PRICE DRAMATICALLY.
>> >>: WHAT IT'S GOING TO COST ME, WHAT MY RETURN ON INVESTMENTS IS GOING TO TO BE, I
CAN'T MAKE THOSE DECISIONS. >> >>TOM: THERE HAS BEEN SOME MOVEMENT ON
THE SENATEOR LEVEL. SENATOR DIANE FEINSTEIN SETTING MINIMAL GUIDELINES
FOR COMMERCIAL CHICKEN CAGES NATIONWIDE. MEAN WHILE, FARM BUREAU DIRECTOR ERIC LARSON'S
BEST ADVICE FOR SAN DIEGO CHICKEN FARMERS FACING THE REQUIREMENTS OF PROP 2:
>> >>: I THINK THE EASY ANSWER IS YOU DON'T DO ANYTHING RIGHT NOW BECAUSE WHY WOULD YOU
TAKE SUCH A HUGE RISK TO GO AND MAKE THIS BIG INVESTMENT, PUT IN ALL THESE NEW CAGES,
AND THEY DON'T MEET SOMEBODY'S STANDARDS. >> >>ERIK: KPBS REPORTER TOM FUDGE PUT TOGETHER
THAT STORY. THE PRESIDENT OF THE SAN DIEGO COUNTY HUMANE SOCIETY SAYS PROPOSITION 2 WAS
A BIG VICTORY FOR ANIMAL WELFARE, BUT THERE NEED TO BE CLEAR STANDARDS FOR CHICKEN FARMS
IN CALIFORNIA AND ACROSS THE NATION. A FIRE WEATHER WATCH WILL GO INTO AFFECT ON
SUNDAY MORNING. THE WEATHER SERVICE SAYS DRY, WINDY CONDITIONS
ARE EXPECTED. HERE'S A LOOK AT THE FORECAST.
AN ALTERNATIVE ROCK BAND, GIANT ROBOTS AND A LOVE STORY.
THOSE ARE JUST A FEW OF THE ELEMENTS IN A NEW MUSICAL COMING TO THE LA JOLLA PLAY HOUSE.
PEGGY PICO TALKS WITH ITS DIRECTOR. >> >>PEGGY: THE LA JOLLA PLAY HOUSE HAS AN
IMPRESSIVE TRACK RECORD WITH ROCK MUSICALS. FIRST THERE WAS THE BROADWAY HIT AND TONY
AWARD WINNERS, THE WHO'S TOMMY. NOW A NEW MUSICAL BASED ON THE ALBUM BY THE
INDIE ROCK BAND THE FLAMING LIPS. MUSICAL PRODUCER DES MCANUFF, WELCOME TO EVENING.
YOSHIMI BATTLES THE PINK ROBOT. BASED ON THE MUSIC OF THE FLAMING LIPS.
WAS IT THEIR MUSIC, THEIR ELABORATE LIVE SHOWS, WHAT WAS IT THAT INSPIRED YOU?
>> >>DES MCANUFF: THEY ASKED NEE DO THIS, AND ASKED ME TO LISTEN TO THE ALBUM.
I KNEW SOME OF THE CUTS FROM THE ALBUM AND I KNEW A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THEIR MUSIC, BUT
I BASICALLY I PUT THEIR MUSIC IN THE CAR, AND PLAYED IT OVER AND OVER AND THERE WAS,
YOU KNOW, A BIT OF A STORY IMPLIED ON THE ALBUM.
AND I'M KIND OF LIKE A PENCIL SKETCH. AND I JUST STARTED YOU KNOW FILL TG IN WITH
MY IMAGINATION. AND EVENTUALLY PLAYED THEM THEIR MUSIC.
I WENT INTO STUDIO IN NEW YORK AND REMIXED THE MUSIC TO YOU KNOW, FOR THE THEATER PIECE.
AND WHICH WAS ONE OF THE WEIRDEST EXPERIENCES I'VE EVER HAD IN MY LIFE.
>> >>PEGGY: SPEAKING OF WEIRD, LET'S TAKE A LOOK AT THEIR PERFORMANCE.
A CLIP OF THE FLAMING LIPS PERFORMING AT COACHELLA IN 2007.
>> >>DES MCANUFF: GREAT. ｦｦ HER NAME IS YOSHIMI.
SHE'S A BLACK BELT IN KARATE. WORKING FOR HER CITY,.
SHE HAS TO DISCIPLINE HER BODY ｦｦ >> >>PEGGY: PRETTY IMPRESSIVE.
PRETTY AN MATED. I'VE HEARD THE SAME ABOUT YOUR NEW MUSICAL
T. TELL US WHAT THE STORY IS ABOUT.
>> >>DES MCANUFF: IT'S REALLY A STORY THAT HAPPENS ON MORE THAN ONE LEVEL.
SO THERE'S THE SCIENCE FICTION, ANIME LEVEL, YOU KNOW, WHERE YOSHIMI IN N DEED IS BATTLING
THE PINK ROBOTS AND IT'S ALSO ABOUT A RELATIONSHIP, IT'S ABOUT REALLY THIS CHARACTER'S RELATIONSHIP
WITH TWO DIFFERENT MENﾊ >> >>PEGGY: A LOVE STORY PERHAPS?
>> >>DES MCANUFF: VERY MUCH A LOVE STORY. AND THEN ALSO, SHE IS BATTLING AN ILLNESS
AND SO IT'S ON THAT LEVEL IT'S QUITE A SERIOUS STORY.
BUT IT'S VERY MANAGINGAL MAGICAL, AND I THINK IT'S TREMENDOUSLY UP LIFTING.
WAYNE'S MUSIC, THE FLAMING LIPS, WAYNE COYNE, IT'S VERY EMOTIONALﾊ IT'S NOT WHAT YOU EXPECT.
>> >>PEGGY: REALLY? NOW, DID YOU COLLABORATE WITH WAYNE?
>> >>DES MCANUFF: YEAH, WE SHARED STORY CREDIT ON THIS ALTHOUGH HE WROTE THE LYRICS AND THE
YOU KNOW THE BAND WROTE THE MUSIC, SO I YOU KNOW, THEY ARE CERTAINLY THE PRINCIPLE CREATORS
OF THIS AND THEY WROTE THE SONGS. BUT I WAS SANTA'S LITTLE HELPER.
>> >>PEGGY: YOU GOT TO COLLABORATE WITH THEM, THAT MUST HAVE BEEN EXCITING.
>> >>DES MCANUFF: THAT PHRASE IS I CLOBBER YOU, AND YOU CLOBBER ME.
>> >>PEGGY: YOU ACTUALLYﾊ I HAVE TO SAY THAT YOU MENTIONED THAT THE SHOW WAS MAGICAL.
ONE OF THE THINGS ABOUT THAT WAS THAT THE ALBUM HAD ROBOTS.
>> >>DES MCANUFF: UH HUH, YUP. >> >>PEGGY: AND SO DOES YOUR MUSICAL.
ROBOTS IN A LOVE STORY. DO TELL US ABOUT THE ROBOTS.
>> >>DES MCANUFF: ON THE ALBUM, THERE'S THE ROBOT UNIT 3,021 ACTUALLY FALLS IN LOVE WITH
YOSHIMI, THAT'S THE KIND OF IMPLICATION. SO WE HAVE ALL KINDS OF PINK ROBOTS, ZEE FLYING
ROBOTS, WE HAVE A ROBOT THAT STANDS 17ﾊFEET TALL IN OUR PRODUCTION.
SO, YEAH, THERE ARE PLENTY OF PINK ROBOTS. >> >>PEGGY: YEAH, WE WERE JUST SEEING SOME
VIDEO OF THAT. IT SEEMS LIKE THERE'S SOME PEOPLE BEHIND THE
SCENE WHOSE HAVE TO BE QUITE SKILLED AT MANIPULATING THEM.
>> >>DES MCANUFF: BASIL TWIST IS PERHAPS THE PRINCIPLE PUPPETEER IN THE COUNTRY, HE'S BEEN
DOING THE PUPPET WORK AND WORK WITHING PAUL TAZLAR, COSTUME DESIGNER, ON THE LOOK OF THESE
THINGS. IT'S A MAGILLA.
THERE'S A LOT OF TECHNOLOGY IN THE SHOW. AS I SAY, IT'S THE HUMAN PART OF THE SHOW
THAT I THINK IS MOST APPEALING. >> >>PEGGY: IS THAT WHY YOU THINK IT MIGHT
APPEAL TO PEOPLE WHO MAYBE AREN'T FANS OF THE FLAMING LIPS OR WHO DON'T KNOW THE MUSIC?
>> >>DES MCANUFF: YEAH, I WOULD SAY THE MUSIC'S VERY BEATLE ESQUE.
THEY HAVE ALL KINDS OF INFLUENCES AS MANY BANDS DO.
BUT, YOU KNOW, I THINK FOR THOSE OF US WHO REMEMBER THE BRITISH INVASION, AND LOVED THAT
PARTICULAR MUSIC, IT IS REMINISCENT OF THAT SOUND.
I MEAN, THEY'RE VERY MELODIC, A LOT OF HARMONIES, THEY USE THE STUDIO LIKE IT'S A MUSICAL INSTRUMENT
THE WAY THE BEATLES DID. SO THAT'S THE PSYCHEDELIC PART.
>> >>PEGGY: IT COULD APPEAL TO A LOT OF PEOPLE. >> >>DES MCANUFF: I THINK IT'S GOT A VERY
BROAD APPEAL. I REALLY DO.
>> >>PEGGY: WELL, ALL RIGHT. WE LOOK FORWARD TO IT.
WE ARE OUT OF TIME, TONY AWARD WINNING DES MCANUFF.
YOSHIMI BATTLES THE PINK ROBOTS OPENS A T THE LA JOLLA PLAY HOUSE NEXT TUESDAY, NOVEMBERﾊ6.
THANKS AGAIN. >> >>DES MCANUFF: THANK YOU.
>> >>PEGGY: EARLIER THIS WEEK WE TOLD YOU ABOUT UT SAN DIEGO OWNER DOUG MANCHESTER'S
PLAN TO INCLUDE A NEW CITY HALL IN HIS NAVY COMPLEX.
MAYORAL CANDIDATE CARL DEMAIO HAD A MIXED RESPONSE ON WHETHER HE SUPPORTS THE IDEA.
ON MONDAY HE SAID NO. BUT ON WEDNESDAY, HIS CAMPAIGN SAID MAYBE.
IN RESPONSE TO THE STORY, JOHN GORDON POSTED THIS ON OUR WEBSITE: ON TWITTER, VOICE OF
SAN DIEGO CEO SCOTT LEWIS WROTE: OF THE MANY COMMENTS TO KPBS, THERE WERE NONE
THAT BACKED DEMAIO'S STAND. THOUGH SOME SAID THEY WEREN'T SURPRISED.
ON FACEBOOK, RAIMY ZOMISKI HAD THIS SARCASTIC RESPONSE:
YOU CAN WEIGH IN ON THIS STORY BY FOLLOWING US ON TWITTER, LIKING US ON FACEBOOK OR E
MAIL US AT PUBLIC SQUARE.KPBS.ORG. >> >>ERIK: TONIGHT'S STORY OZS ARE ONLINE
AT KPBS.ORG/EVENINGEDITION. REMEMBER, TURN YOUR CLOCK BACK AN HOUR BEFORE
TURNING IN TOMORROW NIGHT. WE RETURN TO STANDARD TIME AT 2:00ﾊA.M.
ON SUNDAY. THANKS FOR JOINING US, HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND.