Friday, Nov. 4, 2011 - Evening Edition

>> COMING UP NEXT ON KPBS
"EVENING EDITION", IF STICKING
IT TO THE MAN ISN'T ENOUGH, THEN
MAYBE A HUNDRED BUCKS IS.
>> SAN DIEGO CREDIT UNIONS ARE
OFFERING ALL KINDS OF INCENTIVES
FOR TOMORROW'S "BANK TRANSFER
DAY"
>>> SCHOOL TRUSTEES HAVE TO CUT
MILLIONS FROM THEIR BUDGETS.
>> KPBS "EVENING EDITION" STARTS
NOW.
.
>> HELLO, THANKS FOR JOINING US.
I'M JOANNE FARYON.
>> AND I'M DWANE BROWN.
>> TODAY CAMP PENDLETON HONORED
MARINES LOST IN AFGHANISTAN, BUT
THERE IS ALSO CONCERN ABOUT
THOSE LOST TO SUICIDE.
>> 28 MARINES HAVE COMMITTED
SUICIDE, AND OTHERS HAVE
ATTEMPTED TO DO SO.
A MILITARY VET COMMITS SUICIDE
EVERY 80 MINUTES IN THE U.S.
AT CAMP PENDLETON, THERE IS AN
EFFORT TO TRY TO REIN IN THE
PROBLEM.
THERE ARE 800 CALLS A MONTH TO A
HOTLINE NATIONWIDE.
>> IF SOMEBODY CALLS AND NEEDS
HELP, I'LL DO WHAT I CAN.
>> SHE HAS BEEN WORKING TO
PREVENT SUICIDES AMONG MILITARY
VETERANS FOR THREE YEARS.
THERE WAS A JILTED
20-SOMETHING-YEAR-OLD WHO ENDED
UP HOMELESS AFTER SERVING IN
IRAQ.
>> WE GOT HIM CONNECTED, HE HAD
MENTAL HEALTH TREATMENT THAT
DAY, HE DIDN'T HAVE ANY FRIENDS,
WE WERE ABLE TO GET HIM SOME
CASH SO HE COULD HAVE CASH IN
HIS POCKET, HE WAS GIVEN
MEDICATIONS, WE WERE ABLE TO
ARRANGE FOR A PLACE FOR HIM TO
STAY THAT NIGHT, AND I SAW HIM
ABOUT, YOU KNOW, TWO MONTHS
AFTER THAT EVENT, AND HE WAS
CLEAN, HE WAS IN SCHOOL,
EVERYTHING HAD BEEN TAKEN CARE
OF, AND HE REALLY HAD SOME HOPE.
>> THERE ARE OVER 28,000 VETS
FROM IRAQ AND AFGHANISTAN LIVING
IN SAN DIEGO.
THAT IS THE LARGEST NUMBER IN
THE COUNTRY.
ABOUT 5,000 OF THEM ARE SERVED
RIGHT HERE, WITH SOME FORM OF
MEDICAL TREATMENT, AT THE V.A.
SAN DIEGO HEALTHCARE SYSTEM.
COUNSELORS HERE SAY THERE ARE
MANY SIGNS YOU CAN LOOK FOR WHEN
A PERSON MIGHT BE SUICIDAL,
INCLUDING PROBLEMS WITH FAMILY
MEMBERS, DRASTIC CHANGES IN
BEHAVIOR, AND SOMETIMES A
CERTAIN SITUATION CAN TRIGGER
IT.
>> THERE ARE SORT OF THINGS THAT
PEOPLE DO TO PLAN.
THEY MIGHT START GIVING AWAY --
GIVING AWAY OBJECTS THAT ARE
IMPORTANT TO THEM, THEY MIGHT
START LOOKING AT LIFE INSURANCE
POLICIES, THEY MAY -- THEY MAY
DO THINGS, IF THEY'RE TRYING TO
THINK OF A PLAN FOR SUICIDE, FOR
INSTANCE, IF THEY'RE THINKING
ABOUT GETTING RUN OVER BY A
TRAIN, FOR EXAMPLE, THEY MIGHT
START DRIVING BY THE TRAIN
TRACKS.
>> TO GET A BETTER HANDLE ON THE
INCREASING NUMBER OF MARINE
SUICIDES, A PSYCHOLOGICAL
AUTOPSY WILL BE LAUNCHED EARLY
NEXT YEAR, EXAMINING THE FINAL
DAYS, WEEKS, AND MINUTES OF
MARINES WHO TOOK HIS OWN LIFE
THIS YEAR.
>>> THE RAIN HAS NOT STOPPED
"OCCUPY SAN DIEGO".
THEY'RE STAYING IN CIVIC CENTER
PLAZA.
POLICE ARE NOT LETTING THEM HANG
THE TARPS FROM THE TREES, SO
PROTESTERS MADE A HUMAN TENT
INSTEAD: THEY SAY THEY'LL DRY
OUT TOMORROW IN TIME TO ORGANIZE
A BIG MARCH AGAINST BIG BANKS.
>>> IN SCRIPPS RANCH LAST NIGHT,
SOME RESIDENTS THERE ARE
PROTESTING KAISER PERMANENTE'S
PLAN TO BUILD A 450-BED
HOSPITAL.
THE RESIDENTS TELL OUR MEDIA
PARTNER 10NEWS THEY ARE
CONCERNED ABOUT TRAFFIC.
KAISER SAYS THE NEW FACILITY
WOULD GENERATE 11,000 TRIPS A
DAY ON POM RADO ROAD.
SOME SAY THE ACTUAL NUMBER IS
MORE THAN DOUBLE.
>>> SAN DIEGO COUNTY IS PLANNING
TO HIRE AT LEAST 65 NEW
EMPLOYEES FOR ITS FOOD-STAMP
PROGRAM.
MORE THAN HALF OF THEM HAVE
ALREADY BEEN HIRED.
DEMAND FOR FOOD STAMPS HAS
DOUBLED NEAR APRIL OF 200.
SAN DIEGO COUNTY HAS LONG BEEN
CRITICIZED FOR HAVING AMONG THE
LOWEST FOOD-STAMP PARTICIPATION
RATES IN THE COUNTRY.
>>> A CITY HEIGHTS ELEMENTARY
SCHOOL HIGHLIGHTS A NEW TREND TO
MAKE LUNCHES HEALTHIER, BUT A
CHARTER SCHOOL SAYS IT'S
TRANSLATING TO CLASSROOM IN WAYS
THEY DIDN'T ANTICIPATE.
OUR PARTNERS AT SPEAK CITY
HEIGHTS BRING US THIS NEXT
STORY.
>> LAST YEAR THE KIDS ALL
BROUGHT THEIR OWN LUNCHES, AND
SOME OF THE PARENTS REALLY
HEALTH CONSCIOUS, ALL ORGANIC
FOOD, AND THEN SOME KIDS WOULD
BRING TWINKIES.
THE SO THIS PROGRAM IS AMAZING
BECAUSE WE KNOW THEY'RE GETTING
HEALTHY FOOD, AND IT WILL
SUSTAIN THEM FOR THE REST OF THE
DAY.
>> WELL, YESTERDAY WE HAD
CHICKEN AND [ AUDIO GARBLES ]
>> CLEAN THE TABLES OFF.
>> WE'RE ACTUALLY GOING TO BE
SERVING THE MEALS FAMILY STYLE,
SO THAT MEANS IT'S GOING TO COME
TO THEM IN BULK, PUT OUT EVERY
MORNING FRESH FROM OUR L.A.
KITCHEN, SENT DOWN HERE TO SAN
DIEGO WHERE IT WILL BE HEATED UP
FOR CHILDREN, AND THE CHICKEN
REALLY WAS A CHICKEN OUT ON A
FARM.
IT THE MILK REALLY CAME FROM A
COW.
FAMILY STYLE HELPS THE KIDS
REALLY UNDERSTAND REAL MEALS
LIKE THEY WOULD HAVE AT HOME.
>> I THINK THE KIDS ARE HAPPY TO
HAVE ORGANIC FOOD HERE.
>> I WALK AROUND, AND I CAN HEAR
THEM TALKING TO EACH OTHER, AND
ASKING PLEASE PASS THE FOOD.
THE I'VE NOTICED IN CLASS
THEY'LL SAY OH, CAN YOU PLEASE
HAND ME A PENCIL.
THEY HAVE A LOT MORE TRUST IN
EACH OTHER, AND THEY'RE MORE
COMFORTABLE WITH EACH OTHER.
IN A LESSON, THEY WON'T BE AS
AFRAID TO ASK A QUESTION OR MAKE
A MISTAKE OR VOLUNTEER.
IT'S TRANSLATING INTO THE
CLASSROOM, WHICH IS REALLY COOL.
>> THAT STORY FROM OUR PARTNERS
AT SPEAK CITY HEIGHTS.
WE'RE TOLD THE LUNCH MENU FOR
MONDAY IS A CHOICE BETWEEN
BARBECUED CHICKEN SANDWICHES AND
VEGETABLE LASAGNA.
YUM!
.
>>> WE TOLD YOU ABOUT "OCCUPY
SAN DIEGO".
THIS WEEK WE HAVE BEEN LOOKING
AT THE FISCAL PROBLEMS OF THE
SAN DIEGO UNIFIED SCHOOL
DISTRICT.
JOANNE AND HER GUESTS ARE
TALKING ABOUT BOTH ISSUED USE --
ISSUES AT THE "EVENING EDITION"
ROUNDTABLE.
>> WELCOME TO "EVENING EDITION"
ROUNDTABLE.
IT HAS BEEN A BUSY WEEK FOR SAN
DIEGO UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT.
THE DISTRICT CONSIDERED CLOSING
SCHOOLS TO SAVE MONEY, BUT JUST
THIS WEEK THE PLAN WAS TAKEN OFF
THE TABLE.
AND DEMONSTRATORS CONTINUE TO
OCCUPY SAN DIEGO.
NOW THEY'RE TALKING ABOUT BANK
TRANSFER DAY.
WITH ME ARE WILL CARLESS AND
JEAN CALBREATH.
THE SCHOOL DISTRICT SPENT A YEAR
LOOKING AT A PLAN TO CLOSE
SCHOOLS, AND NOW THAT'S GONE.
WHAT HAPPENED?
>> GOOD QUESTION.
OF I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO
REMEMBER THAT YOU'VE GOT TWO
PLAYERS HERE, TWO ACTORS -- THE
BOARD AND THEN THE STAFF.
NOW, THE BOARD SORT OF TOLD THE
STAFF, ABOUT A YEAR AGO, "GO AND
HAVE A LOOK AT WHAT SCHOOLS WE
COULD CONCEIVABLY CLOSE," AND I
DON'T KNOW IF THEY THOUGHT IT
WAS GOING TO HAPPEN OR IF THEY
WERE GOING TO COME BACK WITH A
LIST OF SCHOOLS, BUT THAT'S WHAT
THEY DID, AND THEY CAME BACK,
AND THE BOARD SUDDENLY WERE
FACED WITH THE OPTION OF HAVING
TO CLOSE THESE VERY POPULAR,
VERY NICE LITTLE SCHOOLS, AND
HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE SHOWED UP AT
THE SCHOOL BOARD MEETING HOLDING
SIGNS, AND VERY EMOTIONAL
TESTIMONY FROM KIDS AND FROM
PARENTS AND FROM TEACHERS,
PEOPLE TRY CRYING, AND THE BOARD
SAID BASICALLY, "WE'RE NOT GOING
TO DO THAT ANYMORE."
>> PUBLIC PRESSURE?
THEY CAVED?
>> AND A REALIZATION THAT IT'S
NOT WORTH IT.
IT'S NOT WORTH UPSETTING THIS
MANY PEOPLE TO SAVE $500,000 PER
SCHOOL.
AND THE SORT OF POLITICAL
CALCULATIONS STARTED TO GO ON,
IT WAS, LIKE, DO I REALLY WANT
TO UPSET THIS MANY PEOPLE TO
SAVE A SMALL AMOUNT OF MONEY.
>> DON'T THEY HAVE A BUDGET GAP,
THOUGH?
>> MASSIVE.
BUT IF YOU WANT TO TALK ABOUT
THE ONGOING SIGNIFICANCE OF WHAT
THEY DID, THEY HAVE A BUDGET GAP
OF MINIMUM $60 MILLION, PROBABLY
MORE LIKE $130 MILLION, IF THE
STATE COMES IN WITH CUTS, AND
THEY HAVE DISTASTEFUL OPTIONS.
TWO, ONE OF THEM IS SCHOOL
CLOSINGS, THE OTHER IS CUTTING
BACK ON BUSING AND
TRANSPORTATION.
SO FAR THEY HAVE VOTED DOWN BOTH
OF THOSE.
THEY'RE NOT GOING TO CONSIDER
EITHER OF THOSE.
THEY'RE LEFT WITH THE OTHER
OPTIONS, CUTTING PAY, CUTTING
BENEFITS, FIRING PEOPLE, AND
INCREASING CLASS SIZES, AND KIND
OF RUNNING OUT OF OPTIONS ARE OF
WHERE WE CAN FIND THIS MON {JI}.
>> IT SEEMS LIKE WE HEAR THIS
EVERY YEAR.
IS IT DIFFERENT THIS YEAR?
>> THE PAST COUPLE OF YEARS WHEN
WE'VE HEARD IT, FORTUNATELY
THERE WAS FEDERAL STIMULUS MONEY
AVAILABLE, WHICH KEPT US GOING
FOR TWO YEARS LONGER THAN WHAT
IT WOULD HAVE BEEN, IT DID
PRESERVE JOBS.
NOW PUSH HAS COME TO SHOVE, THAT
MONEY HAS RUN OUT, SO THAT'S A
MAJOR REASON WHY THOSE PREVIOUS
CRIES OF "WOLF" ARE TURNING INTO
CRIES OF "WOLF!"
.
>> FOR REAL.
>> FOR REAL.
THE -- YOU KNOW, IN TERMS OF,
NATIONWIDE, TALK ABOUT THE
PRIVATE-SECTOR JOBS, WHICH IS
BEGINNING TO GROW, BUT
PUBLIC-SECTOR JOBS ARE ON THE
WAY DOWN, AND MOST OF THOSE ARE
SCHOOL TEACHERS.
YOU KNOW, NATIONWIDE, PEOPLE ARE
LAYING OFF SCHOOL TEACHERS.
>> OUR CLASSROOMS ARE GETTING
BIGGER, THAT'S HAPPENING HERE IN
SAN DIEGO.
>> I DON'T NECESSARILY BUY THIS
SORT OF, YOU KNOW -- A LOT OF
PEOPLE THINK THE DISTRICT HAS
CRIED WOLF, BUT I THINK WHAT HAS
HAPPENED IS THEY'VE GOTTEN UP TO
CRUNCH TIME IN TERMS OF THIS
COULD GO EITHER WAY.
THE STATE COULD MAKE CUTS, IT
COULD NOT.
IF THE STATE DOESN'T MAKE CUTS
IT DOESN'T MEAN BY CRYING WOLF
THAT THEY'RE GOING TO GO
BANKRUPT.
IT WOULD BE SAD IF WE GET TWO
MONTHS DOWN THE LINE AND THE
CUTS DON'T HAPPEN AND EVERYONE
POINTS FINGERS AT THE DISTRICT.
>> THE DISTRICT HAS BEEN MAKING
CUTS.
THEY HAVE CUT BACK IN A LOT OF
DIFFERENT AREAS.
BUT THIS IS AN INCREDIBLY BAD
ECONOMY, IT WAS A BAD TAX BASE,
YOU KNOW, WHICH IS REALLY
HURTING THEM, PROPERTY TAXES
AREN'T COMING IN THAT REALLY ARE
SUPPORTIVE OF SCHOOL.
>> THE DISTRICT'S GETTING LESS
MONEY PER STUDENT NOW THAN IT
WAS 11 YEARS AGO, AND EVERYTHING
HAS GOTTEN MORE EXPENSIVE IN THE
LAST 11 YEARS, QUITE APART FROM
THE INCREASE IN SALARIES THAT GO
UP EVERY YEAR AND MEDICAL COSTS.
AND WE'RE STILL GETTING LESS PER
STUDENT THAN WE WERE 11 YEARS
AGO.
THAT'S EXTRAORDINARY.
>> THIS IS A STORY WE'RE GOING
TO KEEP FOLLOWING.
OUR OTHER BIG STORY THIS WEEK,
"OCCUPY SAN DIEGO".
ALL WEEK SAN DIEGANS HAVE BEEN
ENCOURAGING MEMBERS OF THE
PUBLIC TO GET INVOLVED, AND NOW
THEY'RE ASKING THEM TO LEAVE
THEIR BANK AND OPEN UP ACCOUNTS
AT CREDIT UNIONS.
SO TOMORROW IS BANK TRANSFER
DAY.
WHAT DOES THAT MEAN?
WHAT SPECIFICALLY ARE THEY
ASKING PEOPLE TO DO.
>> THEY'RE ASKING PEOPLE TO PULL
THEIR MONEY OUT OF BANKS AND PUT
THEM INTO CREDIT UNIONS BECAUSE
-- THIS WAS SPURRED IN PART BY
BANK OF AMERICA'S DECISION,
WHICH HAS SINCE BEEN REVOKED
BECAUSE OF POPULAR PRESSURE --
BANK OF AMERICA'S DECISION TO
CHARGE $5 FOR MONTH FOR ANYONE
USING THEIR DEBIT CARD,
BASICALLY CHARGING PEOPLE FOR
USING THEIR OWN MONEY.
SO YOU KNOW, IT WAS SPURRED IN
PART BY THAT, BUT ALSO IN PART
BY THE IDEA THAT THE BIG BANKS
HAVE REALLY TOTALLY DOMINATED
THE ECONOMY, HAVE SCREWED UP THE
ECONOMY OR HAVE LED US TO WHERE
WE ARE TODAY, AND THIS IS A
PROTEST AGAINST THAT, A PROTEST
TO BRING YOURSELF BACK DOWN TO A
CREDIT UNION, WHICH ARE
COMMUNITY-BASED IN GENERAL, YOU
KNOW, WHICH HAVE STRONG RESPONSE
TO THE COMMUNITY, WHERE YOU CAN
GO ONE ON ONE WITH YOUR MANAGERS
OF THE BANK RATHER THAN HAVING
IT BE LOCATED IN CHARLOTTE OR
NEW YORK OR OTHER PLACES.
>> IT'S A SENSE OF FIGHTING BACK
WITH ANYTHING YOU POSSIBLY CAN,
AS A CONSUMER, SOMEBODY WHO IS
TICKED OFF, WHO DISAGREED WITH
THE BAILOUT AND THE BANK'S
ACTIONS DURING THE FINANCIAL
CRISIS.
THE INTERESTING THING, AND I
MIGHT BE WRONG, BUT THE VAST --
THE BIGGEST SORT OF WAY THAT
ANYBODY INJECTS MONEY INTO THE
FINANCIAL SYSTEM, IS THROUGH
THEIR MORTGAGE, RIGHT?
>> RIGHT.
>> HAS THERE BEEN ANY CALL TO
SWITCH MORTGAGES FROM BIG BANKS?
CAN YOU DO THAT?
>> YOU COULD, BUT IT WOULD BE
VERY HARD.
THIS IS THE EASY THING TO DO.
YES, AND THE IRONY, I THINK,
THAT MOST PEOPLE DON'T REALIZE
IS THAT MORTGAGES, CREDIT CARDS
-- THAT'S WHAT -- LOANS FROM THE
BANK, THAT'S WHAT MAKES THE
MONEY.
.
>> AND BANK FEES ALSO.
>> YES.
DEPOSITS ARE A LIABILITY FOR THE
BANK.
THE BANK HAS TO PAY THEM BACK
EVENTUALLY.
THEY MAKE THE MONEY BACK BY
CHARGING YOU FEES FOR
TRANSACTIONS, SOME BANKS CHARGE
YOU FEES FOR WRITING A CHECK, SO
THERE ARE A WHOLE VARIETY OF
FEES, AND THIS FEE JUST GOT TOO
BIG, TOO NOTICEABLE, THIS $5 PER
DEBIT-CARD TRANSACTION.
>> A LOT OF IT -- CAN IT BE
TRACED BACK -- I THINK IT WAS A
COURT DECISION -- THAT SAID THEY
COULD NO LONGER CHARGE AS MUCH
PER TRANSACTION?
>> THAT'S RIGHT, THE RETAILERS
WERE GETTING CHARGED.
IT WAS A RETAILER CHARGE, THEY
WOULD HAVE TO BE CHARGED FOR
PROCESSING THE TRANSACTION, SO
THE BANK SHIFTED IT TO THE
CREDIT UNION.
>> THE FACEBOOK PAGE HAS PEOPLE
INVOLVED.
IS THIS GOING TO MAKE A
DIFFERENCE?
>> IN THE PAST MONTH, 640,000
PEOPLE NATIONWIDE HAVE
TRANSFERRED.
THAT'S TWO-THIRDS OF A MILLION
PEOPLE.
THAT'S MORE PEOPLE IN ONE MONTH
THAN ALL THE TRANSFERS IN 210.
IF THAT -- IN 2010.
IF THAT CONTINUES, THAT COULD
MAKE A DIFFERENCE.
THAT COULD PUT PRESSURE ON THE
BANKS.
YOU KNOW, YOU DON'T KNOW HOW
LONG IT WILL CONTINUE, YOU DON'T
KNOW WHAT THE BANKS ARE GOING TO
DO TO RESPOND, BUT IT IS A -- IT
IS RIGHT NOW A SIGNIFICANT
MOVEMENT THAT'S GROWING.
>> AND THIS IS A NATIONAL THING,
RIGHT?
>> IT IS.
>> WE'VE GOT ABOUT TEN MILLION
CREDIT UNION CUSTOMERS IN
CALIFORNIA, SAN DIEGO, ARE WE A
BIG CREDIT UNION TYPE OF TOWN?
>> WE HAVE A LOT OF BIG CREDIT
UNIONS, A COUPLE OF BIG MILITARY
CREDIT UNIONS.
THEY HAVE FIXED AUDIENCES THAT
THEY CATER TO, SO NAVY CATERS TO
MILITARY FAMILIES AND VETERANS.
WE HAVE SAN DIEGO EMPLOYEE
CREDIT UNION, ANYBODY EMPLOYED
BY THE COUNTY, UNION CREDIT
UNION FOR PEOPLE IN LABOR
UNIONS, SO THERE ARE A NUMBER OF
CREDIT UNIONS HERE, AND THEY ARE
REALLY ACTIVELY TRYING TO TAP
INTO THIS.
YOU'VE GOT ONE THAT IS OFFERING
$100 TO ANYBODY WHO TRANSFERS
OVER, YOU'VE GOT ONE THAT IS THE
ANTI-BANK OF AMERICA, THEY'RE
GIVING MONEY, GIVING A QUARTER
PER DEBIT-CARD TRANSACTION FOR
PEOPLE WHO ARE DOING THAT, AND
THEN YOU HAVE ONE WHO IS GOING
TO HAVE A PARTY TOMORROW WITH
FREE PRIZES FOR ANYONE WHO
TRANSFERS.
>> WE'RE GOING TO HAVE WAIT AND
SEE WHAT HAPPENS TOMORROW.
THANK YOU, WILL CARLESS AND JEAN
CALBREATH FOR BEING HERE.
>>> PRESIDENT OBAMA IS COMING TO
SAN DIEGO NEXT WEEK.
WE'LL SHOW YOU THE PREPARATIONS
ABOARD THE USS CARL VINSON.
>>> AND THE SYMPHONY IS GOING TO
GET A FACELIFT.
THIS IS
KPBS "EVENING EDITION".
.
>> IN ONE WEEK, PRESIDENT OBAMA
COMES TO SAN DIEGO TO TAKE IN A
BASKETBALL GAME ON THE DECK OF
THE USS CARL VINSON.
THE NAVY IS ALREADY GETTING THE
SHIP READY.
BUT YOU CAN'T BUY A TICKET FOR
THIS GAME BETWEEN NORTH CAROLINA
TAR HEELS AND THE MICHIGAN STATE
SPARTANS.
TICKETS ARE BEING DISTRIBUTED TO
ACTIVE DUTY MILITARY PERSONNEL,
INCLUDING ABOUT 800 SAILORS FROM
THE VINSON.
THE GAME WILL BE NATIONALLY
TELEVISED.
>>> THE RAIN PUT A BIT OF A
DAMPER ON A GROUNDBREAKING IN
SOUTHEAST SAN DIEGO TODAY.
THE COMMUNITY COLLEGE DISTRICT
WAS LAUNCHING ITS NEW $11
MILLION CONTINUING EDUCATION
BRANCH.
>>> SAN DIEGO'S SYMPHONY IS
GETTING A NEW HOME AND A NEW
LOOK.
JOANNE IS TALKING ABOUT IT WITH
HER GUEST AT THE "EVENING
EDITION" ROUNDTABLE.
.
>> I WANT TO SHOW YOU THE
EXTERIOR OF QUITE A FAMOUS PLACE
HERE IN SAN DIEGO AND SEE IF YOU
CAN GUESS WHAT IS BEHIND THE
NONDESCRIPT FACADE.
IT'S A MUSIC VENUE, LOOKS LIKE
AN OFFICE BUILDING, BUT IT'S SAN
DIEGO'S SYMPHONY HALL.
IF YOU THINK IT NEEDS A
FACELIFT, SO DOES WARD GILL.
THANK YOU FOR COMING.
HOW DID THE SYMPHONY END UP WITH
THIS FACADE?
>> ORIGINALLY IT WAS THE FOX
MOVIE THEATER.
AND THEN IN THE MID-80s, WE WENT
THROUGH A REORGANIZATION, IF YOU
WILL, AND THEN THE WHOLE IDEA
CAME UP OF DEVELOPING SYMPHONY
TOWERS, AND SYMPHONY TOWERS IS A
LARGE OFFICE BUILDING, AND THE
SHARATON HOTEL IS ON THE OTHER
SIDE, AND WHAT WAS DONE IS THE
FRONT AREA OF THE BUILDING WAS
TAKEN AWAY, AND ACTUALLY MADE
INTO AN OFFICE BUILDING, AND
THEN BUILT RIGHT OVER THE HALL
ITSELF.
SO, IN ESSENCE, WE WERE LOST, IF
YOU WILL, INTO A BUSINESS
STRUCTURE.
>> SO WHY NOW?
WHY IS THE SYMPHONY SAYING OKAY,
LET'S DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS?
>> WELL, OUR STRATEGIC PLAN, WE
WANT TO MAKE SYMPHONY HALL A
DESTINATION FOR THE BROADER
COMMUNITY, AND OUR CORE AUDIENCE
ALWAYS KNOWS WHERE WE'RE
LOCATED, BUT WE WANT TO CREATE
AN AWARENESS.
WE WANT PEOPLE TO COME THERE AND
REALLY REALIZE THE RESOURCE THAT
WE HAVE.
SO DURING OUR DISCUSSIONS THAT
WE HAD WITH OUR BOARD MEMBERS
AND OUR STAFF, WE'RE COMING TO
THE OPINION WE NEED TO DO
SOMETHING ON THE OUTSIDE FACADE
TO SAY WHAT'S GOING ON DOWN AT
THAT LOCATION.
WE MOVE FORWARD.
>> AND THE SYMPHONY IS IN GOOD
SHAPE.
YOU OWN THE BUILDING, DON'T YOU?
>> WE DO, AND THE TRANSFER OF
TITLE HAPPENED JUST A YEAR AGO,
AND A PHILANTHROPIST IN THE
COMMUNITY, MR. LARRY ROBINSON,
BACK IN THE MID-90s BOUGHT THE
HALL SO THE STRUCTURE WOULD STAY
INTACT, AND THEN BECAUSE OF THE
SOUND FINANCIAL AND ARTISTIC
STRENGTH OF THE ORGANIZATION,
LAST YEAR HE TRANSFERRED THE
TITLE TO US, AND WE OWN IT FREE
AND CLEAR WITH NO DEBT.
>> SO NOW YOU CAN START
INVESTING SOME MONEY INTO THE
WAY IT LOOKS.
HOW MUCH IS THIS GOING TO COST?
>> WELL, WE'VE REALLY BROKEN IT
DOWN INTO TWO PARTS.
WE HAVE AN EXTERIOR FACADE THAT
WE WANT TO MODIFY, AND WE LOOK
AT THAT COSTING IN THE MID-SIX
FIGURES, AND RIGHT NOW WE'VE
DONE A PHASE 1, IF YOU WILL.
WE HAVE LARGE BILLBOARD ART, 60
X 120 PHOTOS OF THE SYMPHONY ON
7TH AVENUE AND SOMETHING SIMILAR
ON 8TH AVENUE, AND THAT'S TO
HAVE PEOPLE LOOK UP AND SEE THE
MUSICIANS AND THINK, HMM, IT
MUST HAVE SOMETHING TO DO WITH
MUSIC, AND THEN THE REST WE
WILL, AS WE DEVELOP THE FUNDS
AND GET THEM, WE'LL MOVE FORWARD
AND MAKE SOME STRUCTURAL
MODIFICATIONS.
>> TELL US WHAT IT'S GOING TO
LOOK LIKE.
>> WHAT WE REALLY WANT TO DO IS
CREATE SYMBOLS THAT RELATE TO
MUSIC.
INSIDE THE ACOUSTICS ARE
OUTSTANDING, SO WE WANT TO
CREATE SYMBOLS THAT REMIND
PEOPLE OF MUSIC.
WE'RE LOOKING AT HAVING ON 7TH
AVENUE A BASE CLEF, MAYBE A
TREBLE CLEF, MAYBE A STAFF
COMING UP AND OUT, SO PEOPLE SEE
CONTEAM -- TEMPORARY VISUAL ART,
AND THEY'LL THINK OF SOMETHING
THEY LEARNED IN SCHOOL OR NOT
ABOUT READING MUSIC.
THEY'RE GOING TO ASK, AND THAT'S
WHAT WE WANT, AND WE'LL SAY COME
DOWN HERE.
WE'RE LOOKING AT HAVING
FLAT-PANEL SCREENS ON B STREET
TO SHOW WHAT'S COMING UP AND
EVENTS THAT WILL APPEAL TO THE
WHOLE COMMUNITY.
>> WARD GILL, THANK YOU FOR
BEING HERE.
>> ABSOLUTELY MY PLEASURE.
>>> WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT BANK
TRANSFER DAY?
THIS IS KPBS "EVENING EDITION".
.
>> WELCOME BACK TO THE PUBLIC
SQUARE ON KPBS "EVENING
EDITION".
AS YOU HEARD EARLIER, IT'S BANK
TRANSFER DAY TOMORROW ACROSS THE
COUNTRY.
WE'RE GOING TO FOLLOW UP ON THIS
STORY MONDAY ON "EVENING
EDITION", AND I'D LOVE TO KNOW
WHETHER YOU PLAN ON TRANSFERRING
YOUR ACCOUNT TOMORROW.
MAYBE I CAN READ SOME OF YOUR
COMMENTS ON AIR WHEN WE
INTERVIEW THE CEO OF A SAN DIEGO
CREDIT UNION, OR MAYBE YOU HAVE
A QUESTION FOR HIM.
SEND ME AN EMAIL.
WE'VE ALREADY HEARD FROM JOHN T.
ON OUR WEBSITE, KPBS.ORG.
.
>> JOHN, THAT'S A GOOD QUESTION,
TOO.
IF YOU WANT TO REPLY BE TO JOHN
OR HAVE YOUR OWN QUESTION, YOU
CAN FOLLOW US ON TWITTER OR LIKE
US ON FACEBOOK OR EMAIL US.
>>> RAINY WEATHER HASN'T STOPPED
THE "OCCUPY SAN DIEGO" PROTEST.
PEOPLE ARE STAYING AT THE CIVIC
CENTER USING TARPS.
AND THEY'RE PLANNING A PROTEST
MARCH AGAINST BANKS TOMORROW.
>>> PRESIDENT OBAMA IS SCHEDULED
TO ATTEND A BASKETBALL GAME ON
THE DECK OF THE USS CARL VINSON
ON VETERANS DAY.
YOU CAN WATCH AND COMMENT ON ANY
OF THE STORIES YOU SAW TONIGHT
ON KPBS.ORG/EVENING EDITION.
THE WEATHER SERVICE SHOWERS WILL
STAY WITH US TONIGHT, BUT THINGS
WILL CLEAR UP A BIT TOMORROW,
ONLY FOR A DAY, THOUGH.
HERE'S A FINAL LOOK AT THE
FORECAST.
THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.
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