Tuesday, July 23, 2013 - Evening edition

SILLY TO JUST DO IT, BUT YOU JUST DO IT. SO I TURNED AROUND, AND HE PROCEEDED TO TAKE HIS HAND AND PAT ME ON MY REAR, AND LAUGH AND SAY NO, IT'S STILL THERE. >> >>ERIK ANDERSON: A POLITICAL CONSULTANT DESCRIBES AN ENCOUNTER WITH THEN CONGRESSMAN BOB FILNER. I'M ERIK ANDERSON, WE TALK WITH HER NEXT ON KPBS EVENING EDITION. >> >>PEGGY PICO: AND I'M PEGGY PICO. ALSO AHEAD WE TALK WITH THE CITY ATTORNEY ABOUT THE NEXT STEPS FOLLOWING THE LAWSUIT AGAINST THE MAYOR AND THE CITY. THEN THE MOTHER OF A MENTALLY ILL MAN WHO KILLED HIMSELF AFTER HE SHOT AND WOUNDED TWO SHERIFF DEPUTIES TALKS ABOUT FALLING THROUGH THE CRACKS OF THE COUNTY'S MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES. >> >>: JOB IS TO MARRY PEOPLE. I'M DOING THAT. >> >>ERIK ANDERSON: A NEW DEBATE FLARING UP OVER SAMESEX MARRIAGE, SAN DIEGO'S COUNTY CLERK DEFENDING HIS PETITION TO STOP THE MARRIAGES. KPBS EVE ED STARTS NOW. CAPTIONS PROVIDED BY ECAPTIONS. GOOD EVENING, DWANE BROWN IS OFF TONIGHT. ANOTHER WOMAN HAS COME FORWARD WITH A HARASSMENT INCIDENT INVOLVING SAN DIEGO MAYOR BOB FILNER. KPBS METRO REPORTER SANDHYA DIRKS SPOKE TODAY WITH LAURA FINNING, A POLITICAL CONSULTANT WHO WAS A FILNER CONGRESSIONAL STAFFER IN 2005. SHE SAYS THE MAYOR'S INAPPROPRIATE� >> >>: WELCOME, TODAY AND FIRST TELL ME YOUR NAME AND WHAT IT IS YOU DO. >> >>: MY NAME IS LAURA FINK, AND I AM A COFOUNDER OF FINK AND HERNANDEZ CONSULTING, A POLITICAL STRATEGY NONPROFIT AND COMMUNICATIONS FIMPLE FIRM. >> >>MEGAN BURKS: TODAY YOU'RE HERE TO TALK ABOUT SOME OF YOUR EXPERIENCES WITH THE MAYOR. CAN YOU TELL ME HOW YOU MET THE MAYOR? >> >>: I MET THE MAYOR IN 2004 WHEN I WAS INTERVIEWING FOR A POSITION ON HIS STAFF. I WAS HIRED TO SERVE ON HIS CAMPAIGN STAFF ORIGINALLY AS HIS CAMPAIGN MANAGER. I WORKED FOR HIM FROM 2004 TO 2006. >> >>SANDHYA DIRKS: YOU HAD AN EXPERIENCE WITH MAYOR BOB FILNER DURING THAT TIME. CAN YOU TELL ME WHAT HAPPENED? >> >>: ONE OF MY DUTIES WAS TO SERVE AS HIS FUNDRAISER ANSWER THE PHONE AND STAFFING HIM AT EVENTS. AND I WAS IN CHARGE OF ONE OF OUR FIRST BIG FUNDRAISERS OF THE CAMPAIGN, IT WAS A CONTENTIOUS AND DIFFICULT CAMPAIGN. WE WERE GEARING UP FOR IT BY DOING SOME FUND RAISING. IT WAS A LARGE EVENT, A FORMAL DINNER, AND WITH MY FIRST EVENT THAT I HAD DONE SO I WAS PARTICULARLY PROUD OF IT. THERE WERE THREE TABLES AT THE EVENT. WE WERE ROTATING THE CONGRESSMEN FROM TABLE TO TABLE BETWEEN COURSES. I WALKED UP TO HIM AND I STOOD BY HIM SO I COULD WAIT FOR THE CONVERSATION TO PAUSE AND ESCORT HIM TO THE NEXT TABLE. DURING WHICH ONE OF THE ATTENDEES AT THE PARTY WAS GIVING ME CREDIT AND SAYING I HAD DONE A WONDERFUL JOB AND I HAD WORKED MY TOOSH OFF FOR HIM AND HE SHOULD APPRECIATE MY EFFORTS. I WAS STANDING NEXT TO HIM HE SAID TO ME TURN AROUND. AS A STAFFER IT SOUNDS SILL TEE JUST DO T. SO I TURNED AROUND AND PROCEEDED TO TAKE HIS HAND AND PAT ME ON MY POSTERIOR, AND LAUGH AND SAY NO, IT'S STILL THERE. >> >>SANDHYA DIRKS: HOW DID THAT MAKE YOU FEEL THE PERSON YOU WERE WORKING FOR TREATED YOU LIKE THAT? >> >>: IN THE MOMENT YOU'RE KIND OF IN SHOCK. SO I JUST ESCORTED HIM TO THE NEXT TABLE, WALKED TO KIND OF OUTSIDE THE DINING ROOM WHERE I WAS SITTING WITH OTHER STAFF MEMBERS AND YOU'RE KIND OF IN DISBELIEF IT HAPPENED. IT CAUSED A PAUSE, IT WAS FUN SO THE OTHER TABLES WERE HAVING FUN. I WOULDN'T SAY IT WAS A SHOW STOPPER, BUT CERTAINLY GAVE THE FOLKS AT THE TABLE I WAS AT PAUSE. AS I SAT IN THE WINGS AND THINKING ABOUT IT, AT FIRST YOUR IN SHOCK THEN SOMETHING REGISTERS, SOMETHING NEGATIVE AND AWFUL JUST HAPPENED TO ME. >> >>SANDHYA DIRKS: DID YOU CONFRONT THE THEN CONGRESSMAN AND NOW MAYOR ABOUT THIS? >> >>: I THINK YOUR FIRST INCLINATION IS THAT DIDN'T REALLY HAPPEN, BUT THE MORE I THOUGHT ABOUT IT, THE MORE UPSET I BECAME AND THE MORE I KNEW, YOU KNOW� I'M SOMEONE� I WENT TO A WOMEN'S COLLEGE, I'M A FEMINIST, I AM SOMEONE WHO BELIEVES IN STRONG WOMEN, IT'S ONE OF THE REASONS I GOT INTO POLITICS. I KNEW THE APPROPRIATE RESPONSE WOULD BE TO DOCUMENT. I ALSO WANTED TO REMEMBER THE FACTS WHILE THEY WERE FRESH IN MY MIND SO I DOCUMENTED THE INCIDENT A FEW DAYS LATER AND I EMAILED IT DIRECTLY TO THE CONGRESSMAN AT HIS PERSONAL ACCOUNT AND ALSO CC'D OUR CHIEF OF STAFF. >> >>SANDHYA DIRKS: DID YOU GET A RESPONSE? >> >>: MY CHIEF OF STAFF CALLED BACK AS I RECALL ALMOST 24 HOURS. HE ASKED ME WHAT I WANTED TO DO. IN THE EMAIL I HAD REQUESTED AN APOLOGY AND I HAD REQUESTED ASSURANCES THAT THIS SORT OF BEHAVIOR WOULD NOT HAPPEN TO ANYONE ELSE, ANY OTHER MEMBER OF HIS FEMALE STAFF. >> >>SANDHYA DIRKS: WHO WAS THE CHIEF OF STAFF AT THE TIME? >> >>: IT WAS THE SAME PERSON WHO IS HIS PERSON WHO IS HIS CURRENT CHIEF OF STAFF. >> >>SANDHYA DIRKS: WHAT DID YOU SAY YOU WANTED DO? YOU WANTED AN APOLOGY, DID YOU GET THAT APOLOGY? >> >>: I'M NOT RECALLING EXACTLY HOW MANY DAYS IT WAS BUT THE CONGRESSMAN CAME UP TO ME, PULLED ME ASIDE, AND MUMBLED AN I'M SORRY, AND THEN FOLLOWED IT UP WITH TELLING ME THAT� TELLING ME BUT I DIDN'T REALLY UNDERSTAND WHAT HAD HAPPENED. >> >>SANDHYA DIRKS: THAT YOU DIDN'T UNDERSTAND WHAT HAPPENED. >> >>: I DIDN'T UNDERSTAND. >> >>SANDHYA DIRKS: HOW DID THAT MAKE YOU FEEL? >> >>: I FELT RATHER INTIMIDATED IN HIS PRESENCE TO BEGIN WITH. YOU WANT TO ASK ACT STRONG, BUT YOU DON'T FEEL STRONG. SO I WAS CERTAINLY DISSATISFIED WITH THAT, BUT I DIDN'T REALLY KNOW WHAT ELSE I COULD DO. >> >>SANDHYA DIRKS: ABSOLUTELY. THIS IS SOMETHING YOU'RE COMING FORWARD WITH IT NOW, CAN I ASK YOU WHY YOU'RE BRINGING YOUR STORY TO THE TABLE? >> >>: YOU KNOW, I THINK THERE� I'VE GIVEN THOUGHT TO TALKING ABOUT THIS FOR SOME TIME. I THINK AT THE TIME I DIDN'T GO PUBLIC WITH IT BECAUSE I WAS BUILDING A CAREER IN POLITICS, I AM FROM SAN DIEGO, I LOVE IT HERE AND KNEW I WANTED TO BUILD MY CAREER HERE. IN POLITICS YOUR REPUTATION IS CRITICAL, AND REFERENCES ARE THE GOLD STANDARD BY WHICH YOU'RE JUDGED. I KNEW THAT THIS WAS GOING TO BE IMPORTANT TO BE CONTINUING TO WORK. I ALSO KNEW THAT BOB FILNER HAS A REPUTATION WITH REGARD TO PEOPLE HE SEES AS POLITICAL ENEMIES. HE HAS A REPUTATION FOR SWIFT RETRIBUTION AND REALLY LONG GRUDGES, I DIDN'T WANT TO BE ON THE LONG END OF THAT. >> >>SANDHYA DIRKS: NOW YOU ARE COMING FORWARD. YOU WERE TELLING ME YOU WANTED TO LEND YOUR VOICE TO THE CHORUS OF WE HEARD FROM IRENE MCCORMICK JACKSON YESTERDAY, AND NOW YOU'RE TELLING US YOUR STORY. >> >>: YOU KNOW, I DON'T KNOW IRENE, BUT I RESPECT HER FOR COMING FORWARD. IT TAKE AS LOT OF COURAGE SO I ADMIRE THAT. I ALSO OVER THE COURSE OF WORKING IN THE COMMUNITY OVER THE YEARS WHEN YOU HAVE THIS STORY AND OCCASIONAL WILL REFERENCE IT OR TALK ABOUT IT, IT WAS SURPRISING IT ME HOW MANY WOMEN, POLITICAL CANDIDATES, COMMUNITY LEADERS THAT RAN ORGANIZATIONS THAT HAD INTERFACE WITH CONGRESSMAN FILNER, NOW MAYOR FILNER, HOW MANY OF THEM HAD EXPERIENCED SIMILAR THINGS AND HOW MANY OF THEM WERE AFRAID TO COME FORWARD BECAUSE OF HIS POSITION. ONE OF THE COMMONALITIES I FOUND, TOO, IS THAT ALL OF THESE WOMEN HAD ONE THING THAT THEY SHARED IN COMMON WITH BOB AND THAT IS THAT HE HAD SOME KIND OF POWER OVER HIM, THEY WERE CANDIDATES SEEKING ENDORSEMENT, COMMUNITY LEADERS WHOSE POSITIONS HAD INTERFACE WITH THE MEMBERS OF THE MAYOR'S OFFICE. HE TENDS TO IN MY OBSERVATION AND THE STORIES THAT HAVE BEEN TOLD FOO ME, OPERATE ONLY WITH FOLKS THAT ARE BEHOLDEN TO HIM IN SOME WAY, IN SOME PUBLIC CAPACITY. >> >>SANDHYA DIRKS: LIKE YOU AS A YOUNG STAFFER. >> >>: LIKE ME AS A YOUNG STAFFER. >> >>SANDHYA DIRKS: THE LAST QUESTION I WANT TO ASK YOU, COME CANNING FORWARD, IS THERE A STRENGTH IN THAT FOR YOU? >> >>: YOU KNOW, I THINK THERE'S A STRENGTH IN KNOWING THAT I'M DOING SOMETHING THAT MIGHT MAKE THINGS A LITTLE BIT BETTER. ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I HAVE RESERVATION ABOUT YOU DON'T WANT THIS TO DEFINE YOU. I'VE WORKED IN MY CAREER, I'VE DONE SO MANY DIFFERENT THINGS, I WAS A COFOUNDER OF RUN, WOMEN RUN, AND I BELIEVE IN GETTING WOMEN ELECTED TO OFFICE, I BELIEVE IN SO MANY PUBLIC SERVICE CAREERS AT THE BEGINNING, I DIDN'T WANT THAT TO BE A FOOTNOTE AND THIS TO BE SORT OF WRITTEN ON MY TOMB STONE. I WOULD RATHER TALK ABOUT THOSE THINGS, BUT I'M NOT TALKING ABOUT THOSE THINGS, I'M TALKING ABOUT WHAT BOB FILNER DID TO ME EIGHT YEARS AGO. I THINK THERE'S A STRENGTH IN WORKING TO MAKE SURE THAT THIS DOESN'T HAPPEN AGAIN. IF IT DOES HAPPEN AGAIN, THAT WOMEN FEEL EMPOWERED TO COME FORWARD AND TALK ABOUT IT. >> >>SANDHYA DIRKS: THANK YOU SO MUCH, LAURA, I REALLY THANK YOU FOR JOINING US TODAY. >> >>: THANK YOU. >> >>ERIK ANDERSON: POLITICAL CONSULTANT LAURA FINK SPEAK WITHING SANDHYA DIRKS. FINK ALSO SAYS THE MAYOR SHOULD RESIGN. THE ARE MANY REASONS FOR HIM TO STEP DOWN, AND ONLY ONE FOR HIM TO STAY IN, THAT IS SELFINTEREST. WE CONTACTED THE MAYOR'S OFFICE FOR A RESPONSE AND HAVE NOT YET RECEIVED ONE. THE MAYOR DID RESPOND TO THE *** HARASSMENT LAWSUIT FILED BY IRENE MCCORMICK JACKSON SAYING HE IS SADDENED BY THE CHARGES AND ONCE DUE PROCESS IS ALLOWED TO UNFOLD, I AM CERTAIN THERE WILL BE A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF THE SITUATION, END QUOTE. FILNER SAYS HE REMAINS COMMITTED TO THE PEOPLE QUOTING AGAIN MY DREAMS AND PLANS FOR MOVING THIS CITY TO NEW HEIGHTS ARE CONTINUING. I HUMBLY ASK FOR PEOPLE TAKE A MOMENT AND TEMPER THEIR RUSH TO JUDGMENT. HE CONCLUDES, I DO NOT BELIEVE THESE CLAIMS ARE VALID. I INTEND TO DEFEND MYSELF VIGOROUSLY AND KNOW THAT JUSTICE WILL PREVAIL. JAN GOLDSMITH JOINS PEGGY PICO NOW FOR AN IN DEPTH LOOK AT THE NEXT STEPS IN THE LAWSUIT FILED AGAINST THE CITY AND MAYOR BOB FILNER. >> >>PEGGY PICO: HIGH PROFILE ATTORNEY GLORIA ALRED IS REPRESENTING THE FIRST PERSON TO SUE THE CITY WITH DETAILED ALLEGATIONS OF LEWD AND *** HARASSMENT AND BEHAVIOR. THE MAYOR MAN PLANS A VIGOROUS DEFENSE. HERE WITH MORE ON THE NEXT STEPS IS CITY ATTORNEY JAN GOLDSMITH. THE LAWSUIT FILED BY THE MAYOR'S FORMER COMMUNICATION DIRECTOR IRENE MCCORMICK JACKSON RECOUNTS ALLEGED DETAILS OF *** HARASSMENT. DOES YOUR OFFICE IT V TO PROVIDE A DEFENSE FOR THE MAYOR AND THE CITY? >> >>SHELLEY KWIK: NO. >> >>JAN GOLDSMITH: NO, WE REPRESENT THE CITY OF SAN DIEGO AND ONLY THE CITY OF SAN DIEGO. UNDER THE LAW, THE MAYOR CAN REQUEST THE CITY PAY FOR T T FOR A DEFENSE. IF THE CITY COUNCIL APPROVED IT� THERE WOULD BE A HEARING, AND THE COUNCIL WOULD MAKE CERTAIN FINDINGS ONE WAY OR THE OTHER AND DECIDE TO PICK UP THE DEFENSE. WE'RE REPRESENTING THE CITY OF SAN DIEGO. I SAY THAT BECAUSE THERE'S A CONFLICT BETWEEN THE CITY OF SAN DIEGO AND THE MAYOR IN A *** HARASSMENT TYPE CASE. GIVEN THE CIRCUMSTANCES, WE WOULD RATHER NOT REPRESENT BOTH. >> >>PEGGY PICO: WILL THERE BE A CROSSCOMPLAINT IF HE DOES HIRE HIS OWN ATTORNEY, THE CITY COUNCIL DOESN'T APPROVE IT, AS FAR AS PAIN WHO'S ON THE HOOK FOR IT? >> >>JAN GOLDSMITH: UNLIKE MANY SITUATIONS WHERE WE DEFEND AN EMPLOYEE WHO IS, FOR EXAMPLE, GETS INVOLVED IN A FENDER BENDER, NEGLIGENCE, WE DEFEND THEM, PAY THE JUDGMENT, AND WE'RE RESPONSIBLE ENTIRELY. *** HARASSMENT CLAIMS ARE A LOT DIFFERENT. WE DEFEND THE CITY OF SAN DIEGO BUT IF WE� IF WE'RE� IF THERE'S FOUND TO BE TRUTH TO THESE ACCUSATIONS AND WE HAVE TO PAY MONEY WE DO HAVE THE RIGHT TO CROSS COMPLAIN AGAINST THE MAYOR FOR INDEMNITY OR REIMBURSEMENT TO THE CITY. WE CAN DO THAT IN A CROSSCOMPLAINT OR A SEPARATE CASE. IN ADDITION THERE'S LESS FACTORS HAVING TO DO WITH THE ABILITY TO GET THE CITY TO DEFEND, TO DEFEND THEM. IT'S A DIFFERENT ANIMAL THAN MOST CASES. >> >>PEGGY PICO: OKAY. THE MAYOR RESPONDED TO THE LAWSUIT IN A STATEMENT SAYING IN PART I DO NOT BELIEVE THESE CLAIMS ARE VALID, I INTEND TO DEFEND MYSELF VIGOROUSLY, AND I KNOW THAT JUSTICE WILL PREVAIL. WHEN DID YOUR OFFICE LEARN OF THE HARASSMENT ALLEGATIONS AND WHAT IS YOUR LEGAL RESPONSIBILITY OR YOUR LEGAL OBLIGATION TO FOLLOW UP ON THOSE TYPES OF CLAIMS. >> >>JAN GOLDSMITH: THE FIRST TIME WE FOUND ANY SPECIFICS LEARNED WAS AT THE PRESS CONFERENCE WITH DONNA FRYE AND THE TWO LAWYERS, BUT WE DIDN'T HAVE IDENTITY. THE FIRST TIME WE FOUND AN IDENTIFIED CLAIMANT WAS GLORIA ALRITCH'S PREZ CONFERENCE. WE WANT TO DEFEND THE CITY, WE'VE OPENED AN INVESTIGATION OF LITIGATION, WE WILL HAVE INVESTIGATORS GETTING STATE MS AND TOGETHER EVIDENCE. AS A CITY WE HAVE A ZERO TOLERANCE POLICY ON *** HARASSMENT AND WE MEAN IT. I'VE IMPOSED THAT IN MY OFFICE. >> >>PEGGY PICO: YOU'VE SET SOME VERY CLEAR STEPS. WHAT STEPS, PLEASE TELL ME. >> >>JAN GOLDSMITH: IN OUR OFFICE WE'VE BEEN FACE WOULD *** HARASSMENT. NORMALLY WHAT YOU WOULD DO IN A SITUATION LIKE THIS IS PUT THE EMPLOYEE ON ADMINISTRATIVE LEAVE OR SOMETHING ALONG THOSE LINES. YOU CAN'T DO THAT WITH THE MAYOR. ONE OF THE THINGS WE CAN DO IS MAKE SURE HE'S NOT MEETING WITH WOMEN ALONE IN HIS OFFICE. >> >>PEGGY PICO: AND HE'S AGREED TO THAT. >> >>JAN GOLDSMITH: HIS LAWYERS HAVE AGREED TO THAT, ON HIS BEHALF AS HAVE HIS CHIEF OF STAFF AND PEOPLE INVOLVED WITH CITY FACILITIES. THAT DOESN'T MEAN THAT WE'VE ASSIGNED CULPABILITY, IT'S JUST A TEMPORARY STEP THE LAW REQUIRES US TO DO. WE'RE GOING TO GET TO THE HEART OF THIS. WE AS A CITY ATTORNEYS OFFICE ARE GOING TO GET TO THE TRUTH. WE OPENED OUR OWN INVESTIGATION ARE & ARE GOING TO START TAKING SOME STATE MS. >> >>PEGGY PICO: LET ME ASK YOU SOME DETAILS ABOUT THOSE STATEMENTS. OPPOSED IN THE EXIT, WOULD THAT BE PUBLIC RECORD? >> >>JAN GOLDSMITH: THE ANSWER IS YES, THEY CAN BE SUBPOENAED, WE WANT TO FIND OUT WHO THEY ARE TO SEE WHAT THEY KNOW, AND WHAT HAPPENED, AND THEY'RE STILL EMPLOYEES TAKE THESE TEMPORARY STEPS TO PROTECT THEM. WHETHER THEY'RE PUBLIC OR NOT NORMALLY IF WE WERE TO GET A DEPOSITION NORMALLY THEY WOULD BE PUBLIC. THERE ARE CERTAIN SENSITIVE ISSUES THAT THE LAWYERS MIGHT AGREE OKAY, WE'RE GO TO PROTECT THEM FROM EMBARRASSMENT. NORMALLY THEY ARE PUBLIC. >> >>PEGGY PICO: THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE UPDATE, CITY ATTORNEY JAN GOLDSMITH. >> >>ERIK ANDERSON: IN OTHER NEWS A WOMEN'S VETERANS GROUP IS PLANNING A RESPONSE TO THE ACCUSATIONS AGAINST THE MAYOR. HE WAS SUPPOSED TO DELIVER THE KEY NOTE ADDRESS AT THE NATIONAL MILITARY VETERANS ASSOCIATION FUNDRAISER. THE GROUP WITH DREW A LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT PLAN FOR FILNER, AND TOMORROW THEY WILL HAVE A NO HOLDS BARRED STATEMENT. YOU CAN FIND ALL OF OUR COVERAGE OF THIS STORY AT KPBS.ORG/NEWS/FILNER. CAPTIONS PROVIDED BY ECAPTIONS. THE STATE SUPREME COURT REJECT AD BID TO STOP SAMESEX MARRIAGES. ERNIE DRONENBERG ASKED TO STOP SAMESEX UNIONS IN SAN DIEGO UNTIL THE COURT DZ SIDE WHETHER THOSE MARRIAGES WILL WITH STAND LEGAL REVIEW. EARLIER TODAY ACTIVISTS GATHERED AT THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATION BUILDING TO CALL FOR A COUNTY INVESTIGATION INTO DRONENBERG'S ACTIONS. CHRIS HARRIS IS PLANNING AN AUGUST WEDDING WHEN DRONENBERG SHOWED UP AT THE WEDDING. HARRIS PRESSED HIM FOR A CLARIFICATION. >> >>: HE CREATE AD LOT OF UNCERTAINTY. >> >>: I DIDN'T CREATE THE UNSUT UNCERTAINTY AND THE CONFUSION. >> >>: YOU GAVE ME A MARRIAGE LICENSE AND NOW YOU'RE ASKING FOR A STAY. >> >>: I'M ASKING FOR A STAY TO PROTECT YOU. >> >>ERIK ANDERSON: DRONENBERG SAYS HE DOESN'T WANT MARRIAGES TO GO FORWARD AND LATER BE OVER TURNED, THAT'S WHY HE WAS ASKING FOR CLARITY. THE STATE ATTORNEY GENERAL MADE IT CLEAR 58 COUNTIES ARE BOUND TO ISSUE MARRIAGE LICENSES TO SAMESEX COUPLES. CUTTING THROUGH THE WHITE NOISE TO FIND INFORMATION ON HOW THE AFFORDABLE CARE ACT AFFECTS YOU CAN BE A LITTLE BIT DIFFICULT. WE'RE BRING YOU STRAIGHT ANSWERS ON THE HEALTH REFORM LAW IN A SERIES WE'RE CALLING SECOND OPINION. I RECENTLY SPOKE WITH SPEAK CITY HEIGHTS REPORTER MEGAN BURKS. WHO'S ASKING OUR QUESTION THIS WEEK? >> >>SANDHYA DIRKS: [INAUDIBLE] CALLS HER. >> >>MEGAN BURKS: GENIUS MARKETING OUT OF A SPARE BEDROOM IN OUR CONDO AND IT'S REALLY TAKING OFF. SHE SCORED SOME BIG CONTRACTS SO SHE'S LOOKING TO GROW HER STAFF OF ONE INTO A STAFF OF TWO OR THREE. SHE'S WORRIED SHE CAN'T AFFORD BOTH SALARIES AND HEALTH INSURANCE FOR NEW HIRES. HERE'S HER QUESTION. >> >>: MY QUESTION ABOUT THE AFFORDABLE CARE ACT IS HOW DOES IT IMPACT SMALL BUSINESSES AND SPECIFICALLY BUSINESSES THAT MIGHT USE A SHORTTERM OR PARTTIME EMPLOYEES. >> >>ERIK ANDERSON: WHAT DID YOU FIND OUT? >> >>MEGAN BURKS: JEAN IS IN THE CLEAR. SHE'S NOT REQUIRED TO OFFER HEALTH BENEFITS. THAT EMPLOYER MANDATE ONLY APPLIES TO COMPANIES WITH 50 OR MORE EMPLOYEES AND BEGINS IN 2015. >> >>ERIK ANDERSON: DOES THE LAW MAKE IT MORE AFFORDABLE IF SHE DOES DECIDE TO OFFER COVERAGE? >> >>: IT TRIES TO INCENTIVIZE. DEPEND THONG SIZE OF BUSINESS AN EMPLOYER COULD GET UP TO 50% BACK ON WHAT THEY SPEND COVERING THEIR WORKERS. THE TAX BREAKS ARE ONLY TEMPORARY SO SHE MIGHT WANT TO LOOK FARER AHEAD ON BUDGET TING. HEAD OVER TO OUR WEBSITE KPBS.ORG. >> >>ERIK ANDERSON: SPEAK CITY HEIGHTS REPORTER MEGAN BURKS. YOU MAY REMEMBER THE STORY OF TWO COUNTY SHERIFF'S DEPUTIES INJURED IN A SHOOTING BACK IN FEBRUARY. PEGGY PICO TALKS ABOUT MENTAL ILLNESS AND LAURA'S LAW WITH THE MOTHER OF THE MAN WHO SHOT THE DEPUTIES AND THEN KILLED HIMSELF. >> >>PEGGY PICO: ON FEBRUARY�20, EVAN KWIK SHOT AND KILLED HIMSELF IN A 10HOUR STAND OFF. KWIK'S MOTHER CALLED POLICE AFTER HER SON THREATENED TO COMMIT SUICIDE. SHELLEY KWIK JOINS US VIA SKYPE TO TALK ABOUT HOW SHE TRIED TO HELP HER SON AND WHY SHOO SHE SUPPORTS IMPLEMENTING LAURA'S LAW OVER SAN DIEGO'S CURRENT MENTAL HEALTH PROGRAM. SHELLEY, THANK YOU FOR SHARING YOUR VERY PERSONAL STORY WITH US TONIGHT. >> >>: THANK YOU FOR LETTING ME BE HERE, I REALLY APPRECIATE IT. >> >>PEGGY PICO: TELL US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT EVAN'S MENTAL ILLNESS AND THE MANY THREATS HE MADE, ACTUALLY. >> >>SHELLEY KWIK: WHEN HE WAS IN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL THAT'S WHEN HE STARTED REALLY SHOWING SYMPTOMS OF BEING VERY SAD AND ANXIOUS AND DEPRESSED WHERE HE COULDN'T GET OUT OF BED IN THE MORNING TO GO TO SCHOOL. HIS SADNESS AND DEPRESSION KIND OF ALSO CAME ACROSS AS OPPOSITIONAL, KIND OF DEFIANT AND FRUSTRATED AND ANGRY BECAUSE HE WAS A BOY AND IT WAS HARD FOR HIM TO SHOW THAT SADNESS ALL THE TIME. YOU COULD SEE BOTH. >> >>PEGGY PICO: HE MADE SOME THREATS ABOUT COLUMBINE, HE HAD KNIVES AND WAS ACTUALLY ACTING OUT. >> >>SHELLEY KWIK: YEAH. THAT WAS IN JUNIOR HIGH HE STARTED SAYING STUFF ABOUT WANTING TO KILL HIMSELF AND HE WOULD SAY IT A LOT. SOMETIMES HE'D SAY IT 15 TIMES, 20 TIMES IN A DAY, AND THEN WE BROUGHT HIM TO A PSYCHIATRIST TO DIAGNOSE HIM WITH DEPRESSION AND ANXIETY AND WE TRIED HIM ON A LOT OF MEDS. THOSE MEDS WERE VERY DIFFICULT ON HIM. HE STARTED CUTTING HIMSELF FROM TAKING MEDS, HE STARTED HAVING RESPONSES LIKE SEIZURES. AS TIME WENT ON, JUNIOR HIGH, HIGH SCHOOL, THEY PUT HIM IN A SPECIAL ED PROGRAM. THERE WAS A LOT OF STRESS OCCURRING BECAUSE HE HAD BAD INSOMNIA. >> >>PEGGY PICO: WAS HE DIAGNOSED WITH A SPECIFIC MENTAL ILLNESS? RIGHT. I UNDERSTAND HE'S AMONG ABOUT 10,000 PEOPLE IN SAN DIEGO COUNTY WHO HAVE WHAT'S CONSIDERED A SEVERE MENTAL ILLNESS. WHAT HAPPENED WHEN YOU TRIED TO GET HIM HELP WITH THE COUNTY'S CURRENT MENTAL HEALTH ASSISTANCE PROGRAM, IN HOME OUTREACH TEAM? >> >>SHELLEY KWIK: THE IHOT TEAM CAME OUT AND TRIED TO TALK TO HIM. EVAN WOULDN'T HAVE ANYTHING TO DO WITH THEM. HE SAID NO, I DON'T WANT THEM TO COME OUT, I'LL HURT MYSELF, I'LL KILL MYSELF, AT THAT POINT EVAN WAS VERY DANGEROUS. I DIDN'T EVEN HAVE MY DAUGHTER LIVING AT HOME BECAUSE HE WAS SO ANXIOUS ALL THE TIME AT EVERYTHING. THERE WAS A LOT OF� IT FELT EVIL, AND DARK. >> >>PEGGY PICO: YEAH, AND VIOLENT TENDENCIES HE WAS MAKING THOSE THREATS. YOU ALSO TRIED TO GET HIM SEVERAL TIMES ADMIT UNDER TO A LONG TERM PSYCHIATRIC HOSPITAL. WHAT HAPPENED THERE? >> >>PEGGY PICO: OKAY, WHEN WE WERE AT THE PSYCHIATRIC HOSPITAL, I TRIED TO LET THEM KNOW EVAN'S ENTIRE HISTORY, BECAUSE THEY NEED TO GO. KNOW. HE WAS TELLING ME THE PSYCHIATRIC UNIT IS CALLING ME AND SAYING HE WAS GOING TO KILL HIMSELF IN A PSYCHIATRIC UNIT OR HURT THE PEOPLE WHO WORKED THERE. I CALLED THEM AND TOLD THEM HE'S SAYING HE'S GOING TO HURT YOU GUYS, BE CAREFUL. I HAD GIVEN HIM ALL THE HISTORY AND SAID I NEED TO TALK TO THE SOCIAL WORKER, I'M A NURSE I KNOW THAT. I TALKED TO THE SOCIAL WORKER, I TOLD HER ALL HIS HISTORY, SAID HE'S A DANGER TO HIMSELF, A DANGER TO OTHERS, YOU CANNOT LET HIM GO. >> >>PEGGY PICO: AND THEY DID, DID THEY NOT? >> >>SHELLEY KWIK: THEY SAID THAT HE WASN'T TALKING TO HIMSELF, AND HE WASN'T WALKING CIRCLES AROUND HIMSELF SO THAT WAS THE ONLY WAY THEY COULD HOLD HIM LONGER. >> >>PEGGY PICO: AT THE END OF THIS MONTH THE COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS WILL VOTE ON EXTENDING THE IHOT PROGRAM, OR SWITCHING TO LAURA'S LAW WHICH MANDATES TREATMENTS FOR THOSE AT HIGHER RISK THROUGH A JUDGE. WHAT DO YOU WANT TO SAY TO THE BOARD ABOUT THIS DECISION? FIRKS IF LAURA'S LAW WOULD. >> >>: IF LAURA'S LAW WOULD HAVE HAPPENED AND BEEN IN PLACE, EVAN WOULD HAVE GOTTEN HELP ALMOST TWO YEARS BEFORE THIS IT INCIDENT HAPPENED. AT THAT POINT HE WASN'T EVEN DOING BLACK TAR ***. HE WAS JUST MENTALLY ILL PERIOD. HE DID THE *** TO TREAT HIS ILLNESS. HE COULD HAVE GONE IN FRONT OF A JUDGE WHO WOULD HAVE MADE HIM HAVE AN ADVOCATE. THE JUDGE COULD HAVE SAID YOU NEED SOMEONE TO HELP YOU OUT, MANEUVER THROUGH THIS SYSTEM. IT'S REALLY HARD, WE WANT TO HELP YOU BECOME INDEPENDENT, WE WANT TO HELP YOU FIND YOUR HEALTH AGAIN AND YOUR WELLBEING, IT'S A COMPASSIONATE, COMPASSIONATE LAW. IF THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN THERE, HE WOULD HAVE HAD ANOTHER PERSON INVOLVED AND I COULD HAVE GOTTEN CONSERVATORSHIP. THEY COULD HAVE HELPED ME WITH A LOT OF THINGS. >> >>PEGGY PICO: ABSOLUTELY. UNFORTUNATELY, AND VERY SADLY SHELLEY KWIK, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR SHARING YOUR STORY WITH US TONIGHT. >> >>SHELLEY KWIK: THANK YOU. >> >>ERIK ANDERSON: THERE ARE SOME CLOUDS IN THE FORECAST FOR THE NEXT COUPLE OF DAYS, COASTAL TEMPERATURES EXPECTED TB IN THE 70S AND THEY'LL BE IN THE LOW EIGHTIES FOR THE INLAND VALLEYS. EIGHTIES IN THE MOUNTAINS AS WELL WITH A CHANCE OF THUNDER STORMS BY FRIDAY. THE MOUNTAINS COULD ALSO GET THUNDER STORMS WITH TEMPERATURES IN THE TRIPLE DIGITS. TONIGHT'S STORIES ARE ONLINE AT KPBS.ORG/EVENINGEDITION. THANKS VERY MUCH FOR JOINING US. HAVE YOURSELF A GREAT EVENING. CAPTIONS PROVIDED BY ECAPTIONS