Thursday, November 8, 2012 - Evening edition

>> >>DWANE: TONIGHT ON KPBS EVENING EDITION, ELECTION RETURNS JUST RELEASED FROM THE COUNTY REGISTRAR SHOW DEMOCRAT SCOTT PETERS HOLDS THE LEAD IN THE 52ND CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT. WE'LL HEAR WHAT THE CANDIDATE SAYS ABOUT CLOSE RACES. AND A NEW ADDITION TO KPBS REPORTS TONIGHT, KEN KRAMER. >> >>PEGGY: AND WE'LL TALK WITH FORMER CITY COUNCIL MEMBER DONNA FRYE ABOUT THE ROLE SHE MAY PLAY IN THE MAYOR ELECT'S NEW PLAN FOR AN OPEN GOVERNMENT. PLUS WE'LL HEAR FROM DEMOCRAT SCOTT PETERS ABOUT LIVING IN LIMBO FOR THE 52ND CONGRESSIONAL SEAT. I'M PEGGY PICO THOSE STORIES AND MORE JUST AHEAD. CAPTIONS PROVIDED BY ECAPTIONS >> >>DWANE: HELLO, GOOD EVENING, THANKS FOR JOINING US, I'M DWANE BROWN. SAN DIEGO LABOR GROUPS HAVE AGREED TO DROP THEIR OPPOSITION TO THE PROPOSED CONVENTION CENTER EXPANSION DOWNTOWN. MAYOR JERRY SANDERS ANNOUNCED THE DEAL WITH LABOR GROUPS TODAY. KATIE ORR JOINS US WITH THE STORY. WHAT DOES THIS AGREEMENT MEAN? >> >>KATIE: LABOR GROUPS HAVE AGREED TO DROP OUT OF LAWSUITS AGAINST THE EXPANSION AFTER COMING TO AGREEMENTS AFTER WORK SAFETY AND OTHER ISSUES. THIS DOES NOT MEAN ALL LITIGATION IS DONE. IN FEBRUARY A JUDGE WILL WEIGH IN WHETHER THE FINANCING METHOD IS LEGAL. SAN DIEGO MAYOR JERRY SANDERS SAYS THE AGREEMENT IS AN IMPORTANT DEVELOPMENT BUT NOTES IT IS NOT A PROJECT LAYER LABOR AGREEMENT WHICH IS ILLEGAL IN THE CITY. >> >>: THE ONLY THING WE AGREED ON WERE THE LAWSUITS. THAT'S THE SETTLEMENT WITH THE GROUP. LABORERS WORKING WITH THE GENERAL CONTRACTOR WHICH IS NOT IN OUR PER VIEW, THEY WORK OUT THINGS TOGETHER. >> >>DWANE: WHAT KIND OF REACTION ARE WE GETTING FROM LABOR UNIONS? >> >>KATIE: LORENA GONZALEZ IS WITH THE SAN DIEGO AND IMPERIAL COUNTY'S LABOR COUNCIL. SHE SAYS THE AGREEMENT HAS BEEN IN THE BURKS FOR AWHILE. >> >>: ALL THE LITTLE PIECES KIND OF CAME TOGETHER FINALLY AND THIS IS GO TO BE A GOOD PROJECT AND WE CAN SUPPORT THIS PROJECT AND AS WE MOVE FORWARD IN SAN DIEGO WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A NEW LOOK THAT. >> >>KATIE: THE UNIONS HAVE ALSO AGREED TO SUPPORT THE EXPANSION IN FRONT OF THE COASTAL COMMISSION WHICH WILL NEED TO GRANT APPROVAL BEFORE THE PROJECT CAN GO FORWARD. >> >>DWANE: KPBS METRO REPORTER, KATIE ORR. MAYOR JERRY SANDERS WILL HAVE A NEW JOB WHEN HE LEAVES OFFICE NEXT MONTH. HE'LL BECOME PRESIDENT AND C.E.O.OF THE REGIONAL CHAMBER OF COMMERCE. SANDERS HAS ALREADY WORKED ON A LOT OF THE ISSUES WHILE LEADING THE CITY. SANDERS SAYS HE BEGAN THINKING ABOUT THE D POSITION LAST MONTH WITH CHAMBER BOARD MEMBER APPROACHED HIM WITH THE IDEA. HE WAS ALSO SAN DIEGO'S POLICE CHIEF. >> >>: YOU KNOW, I'VE WORKED WITH A LOT OF PEOPLE OVER A LONG PERIOD OF TIME AND I THINK THAT'S ONE OF THE CHAMBER'S ROLL IS PUSHING BUSINESS. WE HAVE 90,000 SMALL BUSINESSES IN SAN DIEGO. THAT IS ACROSS THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY. I LIVED IN EVERY NEIGHBORHOOD IN SAN DIEGO. WE WANT TO GET OUT SMALL BUSINESS IS WHAT CREATES JOBS AND WE'RE GOING TO WORK TO MOCK SURE THEY HAVE THAT OPPORTUNITY. >> >>DWANE: SANDERS JOB AT THE CHAMBER BEGINS NEXT MONTH AFTER HE LEAVES THE MAYOR'S OFFICE. THE TROUBLED SAN ONOFRE NUCLEAR POWER PLANT IS BACK IN THE NEWS TODAY. TODAY THE NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION REJECTED A DECISION TO REQUIRE A LICENSED AMENDMENT. SAN ONOFRE HAS BEEN OFF LINE YOU MAY RECALL SINCE LATE JANUARY AFTER SMALL RADIOACTIVE LEAK WAS DISCOVERED. ALISON ST. JOHN JOINS US FROM THE NEWS CENTER WITH MORE ON THE STORY. WHY IS A LICENSE AMENDMENT IMPORTANT? >> >>ALISON: IF THE NRC HAD RECOGNIZED THE DESIGN OF THE NEW STEAM GENERATOR WAS DIFFERENT FROM THE DESIGN OF THE OLD, FRIENDS OF THE EARTH ARGUES THE AGENCY MIGHT NEVER HAVE ALLOWED THE AGENCY TO GO AHEAD WITHOUT A LICENSED AMENDMENT. THAT WOULD HAVE INVOLVED EXPENSIVE PUBLIC HEARINGS THAT MIGHT HAVE CAUGHT THE PROBLEM. >> >>DWANE: HOW ST FRIENDSOFTHE EARTH REACTING. >> >>ALISON: THEY'RE ACTUALLY QUITE OPTIMISTIC ABOUT THE NRC'S RULING. ALTHOUGH THE NRC VOTED AGAINST ISSUING A OPENING, THEY DID PASS THE ISSUE LONG TO THE ATOMIC LICENSING BOARD. THEY DIDN'T REJECT THE IDEA OUT RIGHT. THE NRC SAYS IF THE LICENSING BOARD DOES NOT MAKE A DECISION ON THIS, THEY WOULD TAKE THE MEASURE UP U AGAIN. >> >>DWANE: THE NRC CHAIR MENTIONED EARLIER THIS WEEK IN AN ADDRESS TO THE NUCLEAR LEADERS, WHAT DID SHE HAVE TO SAY ABOUT IT? >> >>ALISON: SHE TWO THINGS. SHE SAID FIRST THE LICENSEE THAT'S SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA EDISON IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE PROBLEMS, EVEN IF THE PROBLEMS WERE CAUSED BY SUB CONTRACTORS. IN THIS CASE MITSUBISHI IN JAPAN DESIGNED THE NEW STEAM GENERATORS. SHE SAID COMMUNITIES AROUND SAN ONOFRE HAVE BECOME CONCERNED. SOLANA BEACH, DEL MAR, AND ENCINITAS THEY HAVE WRIT P LETTERS TO THE NRC. MCFARLAND SAID THEY SHOULD LISTEN TO THE COMMUNITY CONCERNS AND BE TRANSPARENT IN THEIR COMMUNE DAIGZS. THE NRC WILL HOLD A MEETING WITH EDISON NEXT WEEK TO DISCUSS THE COMPANY'S PLANS TO RESTART UNIT TWO AT LOWER POWER. AND THAT MEETING IS OPEN TO THE PUBLIC. >> >>DWANE: SOUNDS LIKE WE'LL BE HEARING MORE ABOUT THIS. KPBS REPORTER ALISON ST. JOHN. THANK YOU. THE MAN WHO FATALLY SHOT SIX PEOPLE AND WOUNDED 13 OTHERS INCLUDING FORM ARIZONA CONGRESS WOMAN WAS SENTENCED TO LIFE IN PRISON TODAY IN TUCSON. JARED LOUGHNER'S PLEA AGREEMENT HELPED HIM AVOID THE DEATH PENALTY, BUT STATE PROSECUTORS COULD DECIDE TO TRY HIM. SOME OF THOSE WOUNDED SPOKE OUTSIDE THE COURT HOUSE TODAY. >> >>: I AND MANY OTHERS HAVE PHYSICAL AND MENTAL WOUNDS THAT WILL BE WITH US FOR THE REST OF OUR LIVES. MY FAMILY HAS SUFFERED GREATLY, AND OUR LIVES ARE FOREVER CHANGED. SIX FAMILIES LOST LOVED ONES AND THEIR HEARTS WILL ACHE FOR AS LONG AS THEY LIVE. >> >>DWANE: REPRESENTATIVE GIFFORDS REPLACEMENT HAS YET TO BE DETERMINED. RON BARBER WAS TRAILING IN THE POLLS BY A FEW HUNDRED VOTES. SAN DIEGO COUNTY'S DISTRICT ATTORNEYS IS ON A MISSION TO END WORKERS COMPENSATION FRAUDS. SIXTY FIVE BILLBOARDS WENT UP AROUND THE COUNTY TODAY. 399 PEOPLE CONVICTED OF WORKERS COMPENSATION FRAUD AND ORDERED THEM TO PAY SIX MILLION DOLLARS IN RESTITUTION. HUNDREDS OF CASES ARE STILL UNDER INVESTIGATION. THE PUBLIC AWARENESS CAMPAIGN IS FUNDED BY A STATE GRANT. BOB FILNER SAYS HE PLANS TO CREATE A NEW OPEN GOVERNMENT. PEGGY PICO TALKS WITH A FORMER CITY COUNCIL MEMBER ABOUT THE ROLE SHE MAY PLAY AT CITY HALL. >> >>PEGGY: WHEN I ASKED MAYOR ELECT BOB FILNER HOW HE INTENDS TO FILL HIS CAMPAIGN PROMISE FOR MORE TRANSPARENT GOVERNMENT, HE TOLD ME ABOUT HIS NEW PLAN TO CREATE A DEPARTMENT DEDICATED TO OPEN GOVERNMENT. TO BE HEADED UP BY A LONG TIME ADVOCATE FOR GOVERNMENT TRANSPARENCY, FORMER SAN DIEGO CITY COUNCIL MEMBER DONNA FRYE. WELCOME TO EVENING EDITION. HOW WILL THIS NEW DEPARTMENT ACTUALLY CREATE TRANSPARENCY IN THE GOVERNMENT? >> >>DONNA FRYE: THE FIRST THING IS THAT WE HAVE IN THE FILNER ADMINISTRATION SOMEONE THAT'S COMMITTED TO BEING ACCESSIBLE TO THE PUBLIC, AND THAT IS A BIG CHANGE IN MY OPINION. SOMEBODY THAT ACTUALLY WILL MEET WITH FOLKS IN THE NEIGHBORHOODS, WILL ACTUALLY, YOU KNOW, GET OUT, HAVE MEETINGS, THAT WILL BE ACCESSIBLE FOR PEOPLE THAT HAVE TO WORK ALL THE TIME, AND THEY'LL BE ABLE TO COME DOWN TO CITY HALL. I THINK THAT ONE OF THE OTHER MOST IMPORTANT THINGS IS THAT THERE IS A RECOGNITION OF THE IMPORTANCE OF IT BY CREATING A DEPARTMENT IF. THIS IS SOMETHING THAT IS BEING TAKEN VERY SERIOUSLY. >> >>PEGGY: RIGHT OUT THE SHOOT SHE'S SAYING THIS IS A PRIORITY. >> >>DONNA FRYE: AND THAT'S I HAVE NEVER SEEN DONE BEFORE IN THE HISTORY OF OUR CITY. >> >>PEGGY: OKAY. A LOT OF PEOPLE WOULD ASK WHY DO WE NEED TO HAVE A SEPARATE DEPARTMENT FOR THIS. WHAT HAPPENED DO TOO YOUR GOVERNMENT EFFICIENCY AND OPENNESS COMMITTEE IN 2003, 2004? >> >>DONNA FRYE: THAT IS A COUNCIL. THAT IS A CITY COUNCIL COMMITTEE DONE UNDER THE OLD FORM OF GOVERNANCE WHEN WE HAD A CITY MANAGER, CITY COUNCIL FORM OF GOVERNANCE. THE COUNCIL AT THAT POINT COULD DIRECT THE CITY MANAGER TO DO CERTAIN THINGS. THINGS HAVE CHANGED NOW WE HAVE A STRONG MAYOR FORM OF GOVERNANCE. THE COUNCIL CAN DO THE LEGISLATING, WHAT HAPPENED TO THAT COMMITTEE IT WAS ENDED AND ULTIMATELY FOLD UNDER TO THE RULES COMMITTEE. >> >>PEGGY: SO JUST TO BE CLEAR, BECAUSE OF THE STRONG MAYOR YOU FEEL WE ACTUALLY DO NEED TO HAVE A SPECIFIC DEPARTMENT FOR THIS. >> >>DONNA FRYE: ABSOLUTELY. ABSOLUTELY. THE COUNCIL IS THE LEGISLATIVE BODY. THE MAYOR IS NOW THE PERSON WHO IS THE PERSON WHO IS SUPPOSED TO BE ACCOUNTABLE TO THE PUBLIC. IN ORDER TO BE ACCOUNTABLE TO THE PUBLIC, YOU NEED TO MAKE SURE THE PUBLIC IS GETTING THE INFORMATION THEY NEED AND THAT THEY'RE GETTING IN IN TIMELY MANNER, GETTING QUESTIONS RESPONDED TO. THE MEDIA IS ASKING FOR RECORDS OR BROWN ACT ISSUES, THAT THOSE ISSUES ARE BEING ADDRESSED AND PEOPLE ARE TAKING IT SERIOUSLY. >> >>PEGGY: WHAT'S YOUR ROLE? WHAT DO YOU MAN, AS FAR AS I SHOULD SAY? >> >>DONNA FRYE: THEY ASKED NEE HEAD UP THE DEPARTMENT. MY ROLE IS TO LISTEN TO WHAT WE'RE HEARING FROM THE PUBLIC. THE THINGS THAT HAVEN'T HAPPENED IN THE PAST. I'LL GIVE YOU AN EXAMPLE, JUST FROM PERSONAL EXPERIENCE. ONE OF THE BIGGEST COMPLAINTS FOR THE LEGISLATIVE BRANCH OF GOVERNMENT IS GETTING DOCK YMS IN A TIMELY MANNER. THESE ARE ISSUES THEY HAVE TO VOTE ON. IF THE CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS DON'T GET THEM IN A TIMELY MANNER, NEITHER DOES THE PUBLIC. IT'S VERY DIFFICULT FOR PEOPLE TO PARTICIPATE IN THE DECISION MAKING PROCESS IF THE DOCUMENTS AT THE MAYOR'S OFFICE SUPPOSED TO BE PROVIDING AND THE DOCUMENTS FROM THE DEPARTMENTS ARE NOT FORTHCOMING IN A TIMELY MANNER. I REMEMBER SITTING DOWN AND HAVING PILES OF DOCUMENTS IN FRONT OF ME ON ISSUES I WAS SUPPOSED TO VOTE ON THAT DAY. THAT IS NOT HOW YOU DO GOOD, SOUND DECISION MAKING AND THAT IS NOT OPEN GOVERNMENT. >> >>PEGGY: LET ME PLAY DEVIL'S ADVOCATE HERE FOR A MINUTE. SOME WOULD SAY BEHIND THE SCENES CONVERSATION HELPED PROJECT GET DOWN FASTER. THE DOWNTOWN LIBRARY FUNDING OR IRWIN JACOBS INVOLVEMENT IN THE PLAZ LAW DE PANAMA PROJECT. ARE THERE TIMES THAT SOME BACK ROOM CONVERSATIONS MIGHT HELP GOVERNMENT? >> >>DONNA FRYE: YOU KNOW, AND I DON'T KNOW THAT I WOULD CHARACTERIZE THEM NECESSARILY AS BACK ROOM CONVERSATIONS. I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO MEET WITH EVERYBODY. AND I THINK THAT'S THE DIFFERENCE WITH THE FILNER ADMINISTRATION IS THAT BOB IS COMMITTED TO MEETING WITH EVERYBODY. AND NOT HAVING THIS PERCEPTION OUT THERE WHETHER IT'S REAL OR NOT THAT THERE'S ONLY CERTAIN PEOPLE THAT THE MAYOR WILL MEET WITH. AND I THINK THAT'S THE DIFFERENCE. >> >>PEGGY: ALL RIGHT. HOW IS THIS GOVERNMENT HOW WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE ANYWAY THIS DEPARTMENT ACTUALLY HELP EVERY DAY CITIZENS OF SAN DIEGO? MAYBE NOT BUSINESS OWNERS, HOW IS HAVING ACCESS TO PUBLIC INFORMATION GOING TO HELP THEM? >> >>DONNA FRYE: ONE OF THE BAYS SAY FOR EXAMPLE SOMEONE CALLS WITH A QUESTION. THEY DON'T KNOW EXACTLY WHERE THEY NEED TO GO TO GET THAT INFORMATION. ONE O THE SIMPLIST THINGS YOU COULD DO IS POST IT A LIST OF FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ONLINE. MAKING INFORMATION EASY TO OBTAIN, AND THAT INCLUDES BUSINESSES, THAT INCLUDES ANYBODY THAT NEEDS THAT INFORMATION. TRYING TO MAKE SURE THAT IT'S ACCESSIBLE, THAT IT'S UNDERSTANDABLE, AND READILY AVAILABLE. >> >>PEGGY: ALL RIGHT. HOW MUCH IS THIS GOING TO COST AND WHERE IS THE MONEY SUPPOSED TO COME FROM? >> >>DONNA FRYE: THAT WOULD BE AN ISSUE THAT WOULD BE HANDLED BY THE MAYOR'S CHIEF OF STAFF, AS FAR AS SETTING UP THE BUDGETS AND I AM NOT GOING TO PRESUME TO DISCUSS THAT. IT'S BEEN WIN DAY AFTER THE ELECTION, AND THAT IS UP TO OUR MAYOR ELECT AND HIS CHIEF OF STAFF. I WILL TELL YOU THEY ARE TAKING THIS VERY SERIOUSLY AND THAT THE FACT THAT BOB HAS COME OUT AND SAID THIS IS A PRIORITY, I'M SURE THAT THE BUDGETING WILL BE DONE WITHIN THE MAYOR'S BUDGET. >> >>PEGGY: THE MAYOR'S BUDGET LAST YEAR WAS ABOUT 5.8MILLION. >> >>DONNA FRYE: RIGHT, AND IT MIGHT HAVE BEEN A LITTLE HIGHER. IT DEPENDS HOW THEY DO THE BUDGETING. NOT ALL THE MAYOR BUDGETING IS SHOWN IN THE MAYORAL BUDGET. >> >>PEGGY: ANY EXPECTATION OF CAN WHEN THIS MIGHT START? >> >>DONNA FRYE: AS SOON AS WE'RE ABLE TO GET IT STARTED. I MEAN, BOB, YOU KNOW, OBVIOUSLY WON'T BE SWORN INTO OFFICE UNTIL DECEMBER3, AND SO AS SOON THEREAFTER AS WE CAN GET IT STARTED T WILL BE STARTED. >> >>PEGGY: I'M SURE YOU WILL KEEP US UPDATED. >> >>DONNA FRYE: I WILL. >> >>PEGGY: THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR TALKING WITH US. >> >>DWANE: SAN DIEGO CHARGERS DIDN'T BREAK ANY RULES BY HAVING TOWELS CONTAINING AN ADHESIVE SUBSTANCE ON THE SIDE LINES DURING THE GAME LAST MONTH, BUT THE NFL FINED THE BOATS 20,000 DOLLARS. USE OF THE ADHESIVE TO IMPROVE A PLAYERS GRIP IS BAND. CHARGER COACH SAYS THE TEAM USES STICKY TOWELS TO DRY OFF BALLS, GLOVES, AND PLAYERS ARMS. THE TEAM WILL APPEAL THE FINE. >> >>: THE CHALLENGES AHEAD FOR THE PRESIDENT'S SECOND TERM, PLUS CHINA'S COMMUNIST PARTY PREPARES FOR NEW LEADERS. THAT'S THIS THURSDAY ON THE PBS NEWS HOUR. >> >>DWANE: THE LATEST COUNTY ELECTION RETURNS SHOW DEMOCRAT SCOTT PETERS IS HOLDING ON TO HIS LEAD IN THE FIFTY TWO 52ND CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT BY 814 VOTES OVER REPUBLICAN INCUMBENT BRIAN BILBRAY. PEGGY PICO SPOKE WITH PETERS EARLIER TODAY ABOUT THE TIGHT RACE WITH 375,000 BALLOTS YET TO BE COUNTED. >> >>PEGGY: SCOTT PETERS, THANKS SO MUCH FOR TAKE THE TIME OUT TODAY TO TALK WITH US. REPUBLICAN INCUMBENT BRIAN BILBRAY SAID HIS CAMP IS DOWN AT THE REGISTRAR OF VOTERS KIND OF OBSERVING THE COUNT. DO YOU HAVE PEOPLE DOWN THERE AS WELL? >> >>SCOTT PETERS: YES, WE DO. I GUESS THAT'S PRETTY STANDARD PROTOCOL, AND FIRST OF ALL THANKS FOR HAVING ME. IT'S JUST NORMAL TO OBSERVE THE PROCESS, I GUESS. WE HAVE A COUPLE PEOPLE DOWN THERE TOO. >> >>PEGGY: JUST TO EXPLAIN TO PEOPLE WHAT YOUR DOING, YOU'RE NOT INTERFERING, JUST LITERALLY WATCHING, RIGHT? >> >>SCOTT PETERS: I WAS TELLING SOMEBODY THAT OUR REGISTRAR MS.SEILER HAS A REPUTATION AS ONE OF THE TOP REGISTRARS IN CALIFORNIA, SHE'S VERY FAIR, SHE RUN AS GOOD SHOP, SO I GUESS IT'S PRETTY STANDARD FOR PEOPLE TO BE DOWN THERE AND WATCH THEM COUNT. >> >>PEGGY: HAVE YOU TALKED TO BRIAN BILBRAY? >> >>SCOTT PETERS: I HAVE NOT. >> >>PEGGY: OKAY. WE'VE SEEN A LOT OF GRIDLOCK IN BOTH PARTIES IN THIS ELECTION THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY. HOW WILL YOU IF YOU END UP WINNING THIS, KIND OF BRIDGE THOSE GAPS? >> >>SCOTT PETERS: WELL Y THIJ A LOT ABOUT THIS, PEGGY. THAT'S ACTUALLY SOMETHING WE HAVE TO DO. I THINK ONE OF THE MESSAGES FROM THIS ELECTION ACROSS THE COUNTRY REALLY IS THAT EXTREMISM IS NOT REALLY WHAT AMERICANS ARE LOOKING FOR, IT'S REALLY NOT SAN DIEGANS AND MR.BILBRAY PLEDGED TO THE TEA PARTY AND PLEDGED NOT TO COMPROMISE I DON'T THINK PEOPLE REALLY THOUGHT THAT WAS ATTRACTIVE. THEY WANT PEOPLE TO WORK TOGETHER. THAT'S MY ATTITUDE, THAT'S BEEN MY RECORD. I WAS TELLING SOMEBODY ABOUT ELIZABETH WARREN'S ANSWER TO THIS QUESTION WHICH WAS FIRST YOU HOPE THIS CONVERSATION ACROSS THE COUNTRY IN 435 CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICTS, 33 SENATE SEATS AND THE PRESIDENTIAL RACE SENDS THE MESSAGE WE WANT PEOPLE TO WORK TOGETHER. SECOND, THE PEOPLE WHO GO WHO TAKE THAT ATTITUDE, WHICH I HAVE. I DON'T HOLD ANY GRUDGES ABOUT THE CAM PAY, I WANT TO MAKE SURE IF ANYONE HAS A GOOD IDEA I'LL WORK TO MAKE IT HAPPEN, IF IT HELPS SAN DIEGO AND THE COUNTRY. THE THIRD THING IS WE NEED TO KEEP THE PUBLIC INVOLVED F.YOU LOOK AT WHEN PLANNED PARENTHOOD AND SUSAN KOMEN HAD THEIR SPLIT, THEIR FIGHT, THE DECISIONS THAT WERE MADE WERE CHANGED WITHIN HOURS. WHAT IF WE APPLIED THAT SAME KIND OF PRESSURE TO BALANCING THE BUDGET OR DEALING WITH CLIMATE. WE NEED PEOPLE INVOLVED TOO. THAT'S A THESIS I HAVE ABOUT HOW TO DO IT. >> >>PEGGY: IS THERE A PARTICULAR ISSUE YOU KNOW FOR SURE YOU WOULD REACH ACROSS THE AISLE FOR? IS IT BUDGET, THE 30,000 JOBS IN SAN DIEGO, WHAT IS IT YOU'RE WILLING TO REACH OUT >> >>SCOTT PETERS: JUST ABOUT ANYTHING. I SAY PEOPLE DESCRIBE ME AS A MODERATE. I DON'T THINK YOU CAN COMPROMISE ON HUMAN RIGHTS ISSUES. A WOMAN'S RIGHT TO MAKE A HEALTH CARE DECISION OR PEOPLE RIGHT TO MARY, I THINK THOSE ARE THINGS YOU JUST HOPE YOU'RE JUST GOING TO HAVE TO FIGHT IT OUT FLT ON ANYTHING ELSE, IF YOU WANT TO MAKE A TAX CODE THAT FUNDS THE GOVERNMENT THAT INCENTIVIZES LOCAL JOB CREATION, THAT'S A MATTER OF SITTING AROUND THE TABLE AND WORKING SOMETHING OUT. I DON'T THINK THAT SHOULD BE IDEOLOGICAL. OR IF YOU WANT TO FIX CLIMATE. HOW ARE YOU GOING TO DEAL WITH CARBON EMISSIONS HOW ARE WE GOING TO DEAL WITH THE EFFECTS OF THAT, WHETHER IT'S SEA LEVEL RISE OR THE KIND OF INTENSITY OF STORMS OR FIRES IN SAN DIEGO COUNTY. THAT'S ABOUT A CONVERSATION. THAT'S WHAT I LIKE TO DO, AND TO REACH A SOLUTION. >> >>PEGGY: LET'S TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT YOUR CAMPAIGN. THIS WAS ACROSS THE BOARD VERY IT'S STILL A TIGHT RACE, BUT IT WAS NECK AND NECK. THERE WERE A LOT OF THINGS SAID. YOU SAID YOU'RE NOT HOLDING ANY GRUDGES. BUT, UM, ARE YOU COMFORTABLE WITH THE WAY YOUR CAMPAIGN RAN, OR WOULD YOU CHANGE ANYTHING IF YOU COULD? >> >>SCOTT PETERS: I'M PROUD OF THE CAMPAIGN WE RUN, IT WAS FOCUS OD N ISSUES. WHEN WE HIT HARD, WE HIT MY OPPONENT'S RECORD, WE DIDN'T DO ANYTHING PERSONAL. THE OTHER THING IS WE HAD JUST A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF ENGAGEMENT. I WAS AMAZED I MEAN, I REMEMBER THINKING THAT MY CAMPAIGN MANAGER HAD RENTED FAR TOO MUCH SPACE. WHEN IT GOT UP TO THE TIME OF THE ELECTIONS, BOTH THE PRIMARY AND TODAY, WE HAD LITERALLY HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE, SENIOR CITIZENS, STUDENTS, MAKING PHONE CALLS, KNOCKING ON DOORS. THIS ELECTION DAY WE STAGED THEM FROM POINT LOMA, PENNASQUITOS AND KEARNY MESA. IT WAS OBVIOUSLY A BIGGER CAUSE THAN ME. I THINK WE RAN AN EXCELLENT CAMPAIGN. >> >>PEGGY: YOU ARE IN LIMBO NOW, NOT THE FIRST R FIRST TIME YOU'VE BEEN HERE. IS THIS DIFFICULT FOR YOU? >> >>SCOTT PETERS: I TELL PEOPLE THERE'S NOT A LOT I CAN DO ABOUT IT. AT THIS POINT, THERE'S NO VOTES TO GET, SO IT'S ACTUALLY FOR ME JUST WAITING AND I'M FINDING TIME TO MAKE MY TIME PRODUCTIVE. MY WIFE DOESN'T LIKE IT TOO MUCH. SHE'S VERY NERVOUS ABOUT IT. BUT I'M FINE WITH IT, AND SPENDING TIME FOCUSING NOW ON THE NEXT STEP WHICH IS REPRESENTING THE PEOPLE OF THE 52ND DISTRICT IN THE UNITED STATES CONGRESS, GETTING CONGRESS CONGRESS TO WORK BETTER, OUR DELEGATION TO WORK BETTER TOGETHER, CONNECTING WASHINGTON WITH SAN DIEGO. >> >>PEGGY: HOW YOU DOING THAT, CALLING FOLKS, HEARD FROM FOLKS FROM WASHINGTON? >> >>SCOTT PETERS: GOTTEN A LOT OF CALLS FROM PEOPLE I MET IN WASHINGTON D.C. AND FROM MY FRIENDS IN THE COUNTY SAYING HOW CAN WE HELP, HOW CAN WE BE INVOLVED AND I'M REALLY STARTING TO THINK ABOUT YOU KNOW MAKING THOSE CONNECTIONS AND BUILDING THOSE BRIDGES AND STARTING TO MAKE PROGRESS. >> >>PEGGY: AS PEOPLE ARE STARTING TO GET TO KNOW YOU A LITTLE BIT BETTER, THEY HAVE SAID YOU WERE A CITY COUNCIL MEMBER AND A PORT COMMISSIONER, AND NOW YOU'VE JUMPED TO CONGRESS. OR WILL JUMP TO CONGRESS. WHY NOT START THAT STATE LEVEL. WHY'D YOU MAKE THIS JUMP. >> >>SCOTT PETERS: I DON'T KNOW. I MEAN, I FIRST OF ALL, I THINK THAT BEING CITY COUNCIL PRESIDENT AND CHAIRMAN OF THE PORT WERE BIG, BIG THINGS. I PROMISED MY WIFE THAT I WOULD NOT RUN FOR ANYTHING OUT OF TOWN WHILE THE KID WERE YOUNG. MY KIDS ARE BOTH IN COLLEGE AS OF ABOUT THREE MONTHS AGO. AND IT JUST SEEMS LIKE A NATURAL FIT FOR ME. WE'VE WORKED TOGETHER TO MAKE A LOT OF THINGS HAPPEN LOCALLY. IF YOU SAID ONE THING TO THE AVERAGE PERSON ABOUT WHAT DOES WASHINGTON NEED, PEOPLE TO WORK TOGETHER TO GET THINGS DONE. I THINK THE BACKGROUND EQUIPS ME FOR T.I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO AND HOPE TO BE ABLE TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE. >> >>PEGGY: SCOTT PETERS, WE'RE OUT OF TIME. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US. >> >>DWANE: WE DID REACH OUT TO CONGRESSMAN BILBRAY'S CAMPAIGN FOR AN INTERVIEW BUT HE WAS UNAVAILABLE. SAN DIEGO'S BATTLE ON THE MIDWAY TAKES PLACE ON VETERANS DAY THIS SUNDAY. THE MEN'S COLLEGE BASKETBALL GAME PITS SAN DIEGO STATE AGAINST SYRACUSE, AND WILL MEET ON A MAKE SHIFT ARENA ON THE U.S.S. MIDWAY'S FLIGHT DECK. TONIGHT A NEW EDITION TO OUR SAN DIEGO STORIES COMES FROM A FAMILIAR FACE. KEN KRAMER HOST OF ABOUT SAN DIEGO HAS THIS CLOSE UP OF THE PARROTS OF OCEAN BEACH. >> >>KEN: THEY'RE MEXICAN RED HEADED AMAZON PARROTS. YOU'VE SEEN THEM OR HEARD THEM. >> >>: I WOULD SAY THE FLOCK VARIES FROM AROUND A HUNDRED TO MAYBE AS MANY AS 300, 350 BIRDS. >> >>KEN: SOMETIMES IF THEY GET INJURED THEY END UP AT THE ANIMAL HOSPITAL IN MISSION VALLEY IN THE CARE OF DR.JEFFREY JENKINS WHO HAS SPENT YEARS STUDYING THEM. >> >>: THEY NEST IN THE DATE PALMS, WHERE THE LEAVES ARE STILL HAVE BEEN TRIMMED BUT HAVEN'T FALLEN OFF THE TRUNK OF THE TREE. >> >>KEN: THEY FEED ON THE ROOT OF CARUB TREES AND MAKE A VERY DISTINCTIVE SOUND. SOME PEOPLE CALL IT A SCREECH OR A SQUAWK. THAT'S A SIMILAR NOISE WHEN THEY'RE GRUMP GRUNTING WITH EACH OTHER. YOU MAKE SOME MORE NOISE? ERNIE, THAT'S THIS PARROT'S NAME WAS BROUGHT IN FROM OCEAN BEACH AS A BABY. SO LONG IN HEALING, HE COULDN'T SURVIVE IN THE WILD NOW. HE HAS A FRIEND HERE NAMED JARET WHO'S A LITTLE BIT OF A DIFFERENT KIND OF TROPICAL PARROT AND CAME FROM ANOTHER FLOCK THAT SEEMS TO HANG AROUND EAST COUNTY AND EL CAJON. >> >>: THEY'RE FROM THE GULF COAST OF MEXICO, ORIGINALLY, THEIR ANCESTORS ARE FROM THERE. THESE GUYS WERE PROBABLY BROUGHT HERE BY PEOPLE. THEY WEREN'T THEY DIDN'T FLY HERE. >> >>KEN: IN FACT, IT'S IMPOSSIBLE THEY FLEW HERE. IT'S JUST TOO FAR. SO HOW DID THEY GET HERE TO OCEAN BEACH? ONE THEORY IS THAT THEY CAME BACK AS PETS ABOARD TUNA BOATS. >> >>: I WAS TOLD THEY CAME FROM A PET SHOP THAT BURNED DOWN IN OCEAN BEACH IN THE 60S AND I LITERALLY WENT TO THE NEWSPAPER AND THROUGH ALL THE ARCHIVES LOOKING FOR THE HISTORY OF A PET SHOP BURNING DOWN IN OCEAN BEACH. AS FAR AS I COULD TELL, THERE WAS NEVER A PET SHOP THAT BURNED DOWN IN OCEAN BEACH IN THE 60S. >> >>KEN: THERE'S ALSO THE STORY OF THE BIRD WOMAN OF OCEAN BEACH WHO PERHAPS RAISED PARROTS SHE HAD RES RESCUED. THERE WAS A FIRE, AND THE BIRDS WERE RELEASED. HE'S BEEN TOLD PARROTS WERE AROUND THE THEOSOPHICAL CENTER WHICH LATER BECAME POINT LOMA NAZARENE UNIVERSITY AS FAR BACK AS THE LATE 1930S. FOR HIS PART, ERNIE ISN'T STAYING CONTENT TO PLAY RUBBER BAND BUNGIE. MOSTLY INDIFFERENT TO PEOPLE THEY DON'T ATTACK OR CARRY HUMAN DISEASE. ONE OCEAN BEACH HOME CELEBRATES THEM IN A STAINED GLASS WINDOW. IF YOU DON'T MIND THE SQUAWKING, THEY'RE PRETTY GREAT. >> >>: TROPICAL, THE TROPICAL WORLD, HEARING THE PARROTS, YOU KNOW, DO THEIR CELEBRATION THAT THE SON'S COME UP IN THE MORNING IS PART OF LIVING IN OCEAN BEACH. >> >>KEN: THE PARROTS OF OCEAN BEACH FOR MAYBE AS LONG AS 80 YEARS NOW, THEY'VE BEEN HANGING AROUND AND ABOUT SAN DIEGO. >> >>DWANE: IF YOU WANT TO SEE MORE OF KEN KRAMER'S ABOUT SAN DIEGO STORIES, HIS SHOW AIRS EVERY THURSDAY NIGHT AT 8:00P.M. RIGHT HERE ON KPBS. A RARE SITE AT SEA WORLD, THE BIRTH OF AN ATLANTIC BOTTLE NOISED DOLPHIN. TRAINERS HAVE BEEN MONITORRING THE BABY AND MOTHER AROUND THE CLOCK. BOTH ARE SAID TO BE IN GOOD HEALTH. RECAPPING TONIGHT'S TOP STORIES, SAN DIEGO MAYOR JERRY SANDERS HAS A NEW JOB, ONCE HE STEPS DOWN FROM OFFICE HE WILL BE THE NEXT PRESIDENT AND C.E.O.OF THE REGIONAL CHAMBER OF COMMERCE. SANDERS HAS ALREADY WORKED ON A LOT OF THE ISSUES WHILE HE WAS LEADING THE CITY. SANDERS SAYS CHAMBER BOARD MEMBER VINCE MUTT APPROACHED HIM ABOUT THE IDEA LAST MONTH. THE MAN WHO FATALLY SHOT SIX PEOPLE AND WOUNDED 13 OTHERS INCLUDING FORMER ARIZONA CONGRESS WOMAN GABRIELLE GIFFORDS WAS SENTENCED TO LIFE IN PRISON TODAY IN TUCSON. STATE PROSECUTORS COULD STILL DECIDE TO TRY HIM. SAN DIEGO LABOR GROUPS HAVE AGREED TO DROP THEIR OPPOSITION TO THE PROPOSED CONVENTION CENTER EXPANSION DOWNTOWN. CITY LEADERS AND LABOR GROUPS HAVE COME TO AGREEMENTS REGARDING WORKER SAFETY, LOCAL HIRING, AND OTHER ISSUES. THIS DOES NOT MEAN LITIGATION AGAINST THE PROJECT IS DONE. YOU CAN FIND TONIGHT'S STORIES ON OUR WEBSITE, KPBS.ORG/EVENINGEDITION. THANKS FOR JOINING US. YOU HAVE A GREAT NIGHT.