Roundtable: Tackling Meth, Transportation And Chargers Stadium

A deadly surgeon cheaper and stronger math in ketamine creased challenges for healthcare professionals and law enforcement. A ruling from the state Supreme Court could make it difficult for the Chargers to make their dream of a new stadium a reality. And a half cent transit taxes going on the ballot in November after they reached a compromise with some environmental groups, I am Mark Sauer and KPBS Roundtable starts now . [Music] Welcome to our discussion, I am Mark Sauer and joining me at the KPBS Roundtable is Kenny Goldberg, reporter for KPBS news. And David Garrick, government and education reporter for the San Diego Tribune. Good to see you back, and Metro reporter Andrew Bowen. In spite of increased use of heroin and opioids, methamphetamine and a highly addictive drug that never really went away in San Diego. It is causing more deaths, more crime than ever. We had a series on this, give us the high points and outline the reasons that is behind the latest spate? The drug never really went out of popular -- popularity and now it is stronger than ever and cheaper than ever, it used to be made in makeshift labs and in people's backyards and now it's primarily made in Mexican super labs in a very scientific way it is like breaking bad. The mess is powerful and dirt cheap and it is driving the epidemic. It's widely distributed, available in people don't have to look far to get it. That is right, described the impact on the health care system. In the past few years the number of emergency room visits related to math have skyrocketed, they have quadrupled in about 4 to 5 years and we have more deaths from methamphetamine than we have ever seen before, 262 in 2014 and 2015 figures are coming out soon. I understand they will be higher and it is devastating on the health care system. Emergency room visits her up as well? -- Are up as well? That is right, it's a dangerous drug that causes psychosis, rotted teeth and exasperates underlying problems. Psychological. It is an absolutely devastating drug. We have an interview with the San Diego deputy examiner and here's what he had to say on these deaths who is dying. The last couple of years have been records for us. We have seen more methamphetamine did -- related deaths in the last 20 years than we have ever seen and in 2014 our youngest death was a 17-year-old girl that jumped out of a second story window while intoxicated, our oldest was a 70-year-old man. These over to us stats do not tell the whole story? The overdose are deaths but as the numbers in the emergency rooms show there is a whole lot more people, thousands per year that have these problems and go to the emergency room, not everyone is sick goes to the hospital either. It is a bigger problem than the death and overdose problems. Who are meth users and do we know? The doctor talked about the range in age but is there demographic right down? As the deputy medical examiner was saying, it definitely affects all age groups, no one is exempt. In terms of income levels, I believe it is more low income people that are involved in the elite per se. The other thing to keep in mind is that it has a really devastating affect on crime. There is a high percentage of people in San Diego jails that test positive and 40% of male arrestees and 53% of women are arrested. Arrested into the system. These people come in and get arrested for whatever crime they are accused of it may automatically test them and this is what is coming out. Right. As you say 53% as the majority. I would not think they would be arrested for crimes trying to buy it, it's just something about being on it makes you more reckless, I wouldn't think you need to bias -- to rob a store to buy it. It is cheap you're using many times a day when you are hooked on it. The guy in recovery that I interviewed for the story was shooting up six times a day. That is a lot of methamphetamine, a lot of money. Even though it's relatively cheap compared to other drugs, you are still using it so often. There committing robberies in violent crimes to fuel this habit. It's harder to keep a quality job if you are an meth all day. There's no such thing as a functioning meth user? There is to an extent but as I said it affects your mind and alters the brain. Heavy meth use actually changes the structure of the brain. It is so addictive because it initially stimulates the pleasure center of the brain. That is exactly right. The drug stimulates dopamine levels in the brain to a higher extent than any other human activity, better than sex, better than anything that you get pleasure from. Methamphetamine descends the dopamine levels to the moon and that is why it is so addictive. You mentioned that the fellow you interviewed of national city began using meth when he was only 11, let's hear what he had to say. I was offered a smoke and I did not know anything and I was just trying to fit in, I took my first hit of smoke and once I did that it was just like a whole different world. It listed me up and I felt this rush like you could do stuff and I felt stronger and faster and everything. Then I started hallucinating and seeing things. He was obviously using for a long time, what did he do to get clean and what do people try to do? He spent four different students in prison and was arrested while on parole a few years ago. The prosecutor said you are either going back to jail for 12 years or you can try and clean up your act through drug courts. He said I will go for it. Drug court is a treatment program throughout the US, there are 4 in San Diego County where it is a very intense and rigorous 18 month program of recovery with close supervision and 12 step meetings and the applicants have to get a job, so on and so forth. It is very rigorous and it really helps a lot of people. That is how José got clean. Is that the difference? And 80s we were known as the meth capital and you explained earlier on how it went from makeshift operations to more sophisticated. And imported from Mexico, etc. Have we shifted already in terms of people that are arrested and imprisoned, are they getting more rehab or counseling to get clean than before? Of programs improved? I cannot speak to the programs in jails but there are plenty of treatment programs outside of gentlemen when I was speaking of really is a viable option for nonviolent drug offenders that want to clean up their act. That sounds great and important but I imagine it's also important to get people to stop trying it in the first place. Education for young people is there hope there? Someone asked me the other day if we were making any progress on this fight against meth because law enforcement has been at it for a long time. I would have to say that seizures are way up at the border, there is no question, but this drug continues to wreak havoc here and I do not see how they can stop it, they are not stopping it. It was a great series this week on KPBS and people can catch up on it on our websites in more detail. Thanks Kenny. We will move on, thrown for a loss, a big play and plenty of metaphors come to mind with what chargers are facing with public support. The news this week involve the decision by the California Supreme Court that has a bearing on that ballot initiative in their hopes this fall. Let's start there and what was the news? The week's news had been somewhat anticipated or thought about and it was that the state Supreme Court decided to review a lower court ruling that created a lot of hope. It is said that it is possible that their initiative would only need to be approved this November by 50% instead of two thirds. That has been the law in California and it would've been a significant positive development. The Chargers would've been eligible because it was a citizens initiative. The charges themselves have said it would be two thirds but then groups thought it was important to have 50% and because the Supreme Court chose to review it goes back to the two thirds requirement. They have not overturned the ruling which came in March, they are just taking it on to their agenda. The way the system works and they take it out of the agenda, the lower court ruling was March until Tuesday and then now it is no longer the law of the land because this is the Supreme Court reviewing and publishing and it goes back to the law before which was a two thirds requirement. The chances of the Supreme Court making a decision are almost 0. Give us the highway point and what voters will look at? They want to raise from 12.5 to 16.5 and that would raise this and the rest would come from the NFL and personal seat licenses. There are previous proposals but this one combines the convention center and that is why it's called the conveyed EM. Downtown this is part convention center in part football stadium in mixed use. What is the total cost? 1.8 $1.8 billion. It would argue that it's not local taxpayers it's tourists but it is tax money. If there was a resonator -- revenue stream it would be available. We would have more money for firefighters and parks. Fixing streets, water, etc.. Fixing streets, water, etc. The two thirds threshold I have to imagine is incredibly difficult. People joke that they can get people to agree. This already has a lot of opposition because people say the hotel industry doesn't want to see the tax rate, but there is also people that think billionaire should pay for their own stadiums they lose sight of the fact that the NFL has a monopoly and they do have leverage, that's why the billionaires don't have to pay for their own stadiums. I understand that a lot of people are saying watched the billion or get a subsidized stadium. It's hard to get 50% according to things that I have seen and I have not heard any polls. This could be another show that were trying to demonstrate and we tried to get San Diego to work with us but we will just move to LA. I heard that and it's possible but they could've said we will go to Inglewood in January. We tried for years and it did not work. The theory would be we want people here and you don't hate us and I just don't know if it's worth the time and effort. I don't know how you calculate. Why would the Chargers want to take a risk on the ballot this fall if they have to hit the two thirds majority? Why not wait to see with the Supreme Court says? They could kick it back. Sometimes it is two or three years, I'm not saying it would be, that is controversial. This was in San Jose and there was a rule about text messages or public records. They said they would have arguments. It's not always like that. I suppose they could ask the NFL for an extension with the decision and a film made said that the Rams go to the LA on the Chargers have one year to decide whether to join them. That is why it's now. Than the Oakland Raiders as well because of the charges want to stay in San Diego in the Oakland Raiders have the option to join. They been talking this week in there been rumors about them going to Las Vegas. You have these teams jockeying. So they say this is going to happen now, let's keep the stadium deal as long as we can. Attempt a word prefer to join in Inglewood rather than stay, they looked at the revenue they would get because they did not make it public but I'm sure it's more lucrative than what they were getting. They have to pay a billion-dollar relocation fee? On the in there looking at the numbers but they been complaining for quite a long time because it does not generate the revenue a modern stadium shared with luxury boxes. Mayor Faulkner had a blue ribbon panel and they came up with a big rebuild. The charges are not interested in this because they push the proposal down. It appears that they prefer downtown San Diego number one in Inglewood number two admission value -- Mission Valley third on the list. Where is the proposal? This is headed for the ballot? This is the deadline to put it on the ballots but once you get past there cannot get on their and that is a key element, it was public funding and it was not a tax increase. People said can't they refer if the vote fails in December? They say it needs to be a public roads as it's there for a referendum and they could not just called the city up and say we are going back to Mission Valley because opponents could come into referendum. They said they will have a vote. What if he gets on the ballot and goes to defeat, what happens? The Chargers have until January 15 to decide whether to move to LA or the Raiders will take over the charger spy and the charges would be stuck here with no rights. Provided they have not made a deal Las Vegas or somewhere else. I believe they need NFL approval. The readers get the first position. It is this initiative or bust? I guess so. The Raiders took over and they have no interest in going to Inglewood. Will move on, but the other quick question that I'm throwing out there for you and everyone else, is there charger fatigue? There is a poll right there. Another never ending struggle is transportation, do we try and widen freeways to reduce congestion. This was the dilemma as they worked to come up with the transit plan for the November ballot in a compromise was reached so a new sales tax increase will be on the ballot and it generates billions over many decades for transportation and the lion share will go to public transit. Start with the specifics of this, what will it mean, what will voters see? Is a half cent sales tax and would last 40 years and it is expected to generate $18 billion in most of the money goes to public transit and the next biggest goes to local infrastructure. The transit by the way would be improved operations and more frequent bus lines and trolley operations and new bus lines in a new trolley line. There is more money for highway expansions, 14%, and a little bit for open space preservation and biking and walking. Some environmentalists were not happy with his earlier version and I believe there is still some disagreement? Most are so unhappy and there is a coalition called a quality of life coalition and they came together when the discussion about this task is getting into gear and they said this is our vision for attacks that we could support. It included substantial funding for public transit because labor was involved it included a project labor agreement that would guarantee things were paid. It would not include freeway expansion in certain communities, they are the ones that do not drive on the freeways as often in all of the cars pollute the air. To get the brunt of it. Overall, looking at the plan of lot of them sought as an extension and all of the projects of the tax would fund are already included in the regional transportation plan. Most if not all environmental organizations objected to that said this was just basically a deal way for them and they had some hope that they could craft this tap into something that could support but it did not turn out that way. We have a clip from circulate San Diego and let's hear that. This will give clear assurances to advocates for transit that they are going to make transit priority. I believe that brings up an interesting point as far as I'm concerned and its an idea it seems to me looking at it as a potential voter that it is probably and if you build it, they will come idea and there is not a lot of incentives and they are not pumping the price of gasoline, it's like there is more bus lines and trolley lines and availability. Warning you use this, is that realistic? If you ask a lot of people around my age, many of them are comfortable writing public transit. Circulate San Diego was one environmental pro-transit group that broke away from the rest of the quality of life coalition and said we can support the tax because it took into account their calls for a legally enforceable mechanism that would enforce them to construct projects within 15 years in a big critique was that all the funding for public transit comes too late what they had lobbied successfully is to amend the language and say okay, if we pass this tax we have to construct these projects which included new trolley line in 15 years. They brokered an important compromise to give this thing any chance that it has, but I would ask you with two thirds approval in this much opposition, does it have a chance? I believe the chances are slim at this time and they did a lot of pulling on how could possibly do and the majority was barely above two thirds and as they read more info into the respondents about the actual plan, the support goes down and they said if there is a funded and organized opposition than it could completely fall flat. What is the strategy to push the measure? They have a mandate from the state to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and that involves putting more money into public transit. I believe in their heart they are interested in expanding access to public transit across San Diego. As you said, no one wants to raise the gas tax and that would be the most logical thing to do. Economic incentive. The sales taxes and you are seeing this across California, is transportation sales taxes are really the only method that they had. In order for that to actually pass the need to include freeway projects. I am asking how are they going to sell it? They were on twitter a lot today. There are a number of politicians on the board who are supporting it, there will be a campaign to support this. Before we leave our segment to wrap up the chauffeur today I want to talk a little bit about this community and the plan is complicated and you won't have that much time left, but what kind of development is Northpark targeted for and how could it be a model for transit and density? They have a climate action plan to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and a big part of meeting the goals is to get more people to ride public transit and one way that you do this is by building more housing around this. Instead of having to drive to a public trolley stop her bus stop you can just walk 50 yards or 100 yards and take that to wherever you work. That is the goal behind the community plan update, this transit oriented development and there's a lot of skeptics to housing density and the fear that it will drive up housing prices and build skyscrapers next to my home. There is some debate that Northpark has been one of the few communities in San Diego that is asking for density. They feel that they can actually handle that and in contrast to other neighborhoods like uptown that are very skeptical. Okay, this could then come together and the moons aligned and perhaps become a model. That is a big question then we probably will not know right away. We have this community plan update and it lacks from their perspective a qualitative analysis on how the new smart growth in transit oriented development will accomplish this at the goals of the action plan. We have to increase housing density by this much and. With a bus that would run this often in order to cut greenhouse gas emissions and they say that does not exist and we need to see a data-driven analysis. He said it would come to the city Council in October. We are at a time and that wraps up another week of stories of the KPBS Roundtable. I would like to think my guess Kenny -- stay thank you to my guest Kenny Goldberg and Andrew Bowen. A reminder that all of the stories that we discussed today are on the website, KPBS -- www.kpbs.org. And Mark Sauer, thank you for joining us today at the Roundtable .