Roundtable: Billionaire Targets San Diego County District Attorney Race

ASJ: Less than a month until the California primary and the money is flowing. 1 candidate in the race for San Diego District Attorney has a billionaires backing.Can homelessness really be solved? 1 Southern California city said it has a solution for veterans. Life on the White House beat. Scott Horsley is here with tales of covering Trump administration. I am Allison St. John at the KBPS Roundtable it starts now. ASJ: Welcome to our discussion on the week's top stories I am Allison St. John. And joining me, Art Michael Smolens, columnist for the San Diego Tribune. Amita contributor to the California dream project as well. As well as Scott Horsley, White House correspondent for National Public Radio. When it comes to money and politics the biggest checks are usually written at the national level. But, a massive influx to the local district attorney's race threatens to shake up the status quo in San Diego's public safety community. Michael, I think a lot of people assume that summer Stefan was the anointed successor to Bonnie D- when she decided to step down? the supervisors appointed her, seem like she was the establishment candidate. Now, this massive influx of money from an independent pack has come in. So, tell us why has billionaire Soros decided to jump into the race. MS: You're correct she is the established crew candidate. And that is part of it some people feel that, on the local level things like that have happened before were there has been a vacancy, and people have gone together to appoint somebody. Summer Stefan is a very experienced prosecutor. She's been with the DAs office for almost 30 years. But, this is interesting thing that you mentioned a person like -- George soreness is a billionaire investor, he finances various finance -- that try to reform governments around the world. Pro-democracy product -- projects and trying to reform justice. More recently that's what is trying to do in the United States. Rather go to Congress and state legislatures, he's really diving in, to these local district attorney races I think he's been in like 14 that he's been involved in. With her concern is, if they think there's a half and have not component to the criminal justice system so they want to come in and change it. ASJ: Specifically his agenda is to change the criminal justice system how? MS: Primarily by getting different kinds of district attorney's. District attorney's are usually prosecute different backgrounds judges, law enforcement. The people that he is backed, and helped out and helped elect our deputy or public defenders excuse me like Genevieve Jones who has challenging Stefan. Or civil rights attorneys. They bring a different perspective, and I think some people are incarcerated too much and probably not for the right reasons. They think that the Bill system is skewed towards the wealthy or the people that have means. And those of the kind of things you want to change. They want to try to do it on a nationwide basis. Election, by election. AS: There seems to be quite a big cry over George involvement in the race. How is that any different from say the Democratic national party contributing to AIPAC supporting a candidate? it still a national level, or an entity at a national level attributing money on a local level? MS: It is, but because it's him is different. The whole process is just something people are not used to. At a very localized race here like a DAs race. In the national Democratic Party usually doesn't get involved in the a races or the national Republican Party. Just the fact that he has his nationwide agenda, and is coming in, and may not be as familiar with the situation here. Nothing is wrong, I think that is why it startles some people. And also, he makes a bogeyman. He is investing, his cause controversy, he was fined in France for insider trading. Some of his maneuvers have actually affected economies of all countries. Or people believe that it happens. Was also a bit of a mystery, like I said he makes a debt -- ASJ: Some people compare him to the code brothers? SH: They are comparable in the sense that they are both bogeyman. The code brothers are the trigger for the left and they want to talk about big money playing on the other side. Michael is a bogeyman on the right when they want to complain about wealthy lefties pouring money into the system. Is interesting actually in criminal justice reform is an area where the Coke brothers and George are on the same side. We both want to see changes in the criminal justice system. The thing I'm curious about, is why San Diego? Stefan, her sponsor Bonnie D- were not the sort of tough on crime prosecutors. They are not just session types. At all the DA races that he could play in, he's playing a lot of them, but why San Diego? MS: Is a good question, it's in Philadelphia, I'm sorry civil rights attorney Larry Krasner got elected, and that was pretty controversial. They have had a lot of problems from top to bottom in law enforcement and criminal justice there. SH: And one is a tough on crime talking about lock him up you know no mercy. MS: I think as you go back Bonnie D- two out her conviction record and stuff like that. San Diego has gotten credit for certain reform. We have the homeless court, veterans court, drunk court, to try to get people out of the normal criminal justice system. That I think what is happening, but I haven't talked to her, but in reading about what he and the people are wanting to do, they think that there's a systemic problem in that you need to get different people in. While maybe do Manas and Summer Stefan are not as hard-core as others. They still promote that system, it's interesting because there is a through -- a few other races that his -- he is involved in and a candidate he's opposing says wait a minute I support all the reforms he's talking about. They've done a good job of vetting. She was a little upset. I don't know if that's the case here. There's a established candidate and a public deputy defender that believe in different changes. AS: So George has been a successful in other day races across the country, what are his changes in San Diego? MS: I think and some of them, the element of surprise is a baking. The kind of MO is that they create a pact, just several weeks before the election migrated here. In a dump and a lot of money and people are outmatched. I give credit to Summer Stefan and the consultant. I think they saw this coming a year or so ago, they were sounding the alarms and some people were wondering if they were crying wolf to raise money but they have raised money. ASJ: And they've used this to their advantage. They created some pretty powerful ads. We have a clip let's take a look at that. [Clip] San Diego is the safest urban county in America. But that could change. Billionaire activist George Soros is spending over $1 million to elect a dangerous choice for district attorney. ASJ: Do you think, that's -- this could be an effective strategy? that public safety could be affected by this candidate? MS: It always can be, whatever one tries to do to define the election early on and I don't think Summer Stefan is that well known, but she's been the incoming DA for a while and we see her name out there and she's proposing all sorts of stuff. John B have Jones isn't really not known. John VF -- Genevieve Jones. This is one of the first things out of the box from the Stefan campaign. And they obviously want to paint her as a threat. Which is the MO going on. To get back to one point I was making, their chances, we'll see. I said, like I said the Stefan folks have prepared pretty well for this, they saw it coming and they convince people that it was going to happen and they were right. Last a look which was a week ago they had combined about $800,000 from her campaign, and deputy district attorneys packing the Chamber of Commerce's involves. That combined with her power and come and see, can give her certainly a good shot. ASJ: We love to talk more about this and we will be watching this race in the trenches newsroom. But we have to move forward. Thank you more -- Michael. The city of Riverside is 1 a 62 communities that consisted -- successfully complaint -- claim that they had successfully and is homelessness for veterans. I reset your story is part of the California dreams series and highlights what Riverside has done. From your reporting what is the secret to their success? AS: Well, they have a lot of money. That money was federal money in the form of housing vouchers, and social services. Were talking about veterans, and access to social services from the VA, and have housing vouchers from the VA. From the gates, Riverside had a lot to offer. I think what Riverside brought to the table, in terms of ending veteran homelessness for that city, was this commitment to reach out, to the homeless people at the river bottom or scattered threat the city, what they did was they sent out these teams of outreach people, who went out, with pens and notepads and introduce themselves to the cities veterans. Got to know them, neither names, you their stories and told them housing was available for them, they developed a bond, developed a trust within the VATS. And did not quit until they had gotten all of these people into homes. It was just getting the city's homeless veterans on board, it was also getting the cities landlords on board. They needed to get this group of people to commit to renting their apartments to people that wanted to rent to them. ASJ: I think the mayor really reached out to the landlords. From your reporting is unlike the city did not actually spend that much maybe like $300,000? in a way he was appealing to the public's private sector to come in and help him right? AS: Right he went in and met with landlords and pounded on the table and said it is inexcusable to have veterans living on the streets. Where are you at? how are you going to help? his energy -- ASJ: His energy was very -- very genuine? right? AS: Yes, he had had 2 family friends from childhood that had descended into homelessness, he saw the aftermath of that. He also recalled and shared an anecdote with us about his church. That's when he was in the ninth grade they would serve dinner to the homeless. He said one night, when he was there, he grabbed a tray, got some utensils and turned around to hand the tray to someone who was actually a classmate, and has he recalled that, he choked up and we paused for 40 or 50 seconds. He had a hard time continuing. So he said, I don't call homeless people homeless people I call them our neighbors without homes. So he wants to -- duplicate the success that Riverside experienced with the veterans to the chronically homeless. MS: You mentioned that one of the key things if not the king -- Keating was convincing landlords. That is addressed in San Diego with Mayor Faulkner. Had 1000 vets off the streets and they fell behind a little bit, some of that there is concern that the landlords were not playing ball if you well. They started pressuring them more, and making certain guarantees that these people would be good. How is it, is a difficult that rental market is very tight. What kind of pressure can or persuasion can the government bring when you have a choice of a lot of people I would you take them? AS: You have to appeal to emotion and make the argument as I believe the Riverside mayor did that these folks served our country they defended us, he basically try to shame them and embarrass them into opening what they had to the veterans. And he is the first person to acknowledge, that he will face monumental challenges in convincing landlords to do the same thing for the chronically homeless people who you know maybe are not that sympathetic who are maybe ex-cons are people who are substance abusers, people who are shooting up in the parking lot. You know he said I acknowledge that's going to be a huge challenge however, he said I am going to use the same approach that I did with the landlords to our faith-based community to synagogues, two mosques, two churches. MS: You are the same resources? Is he won't have vouchers from the VA. AS: Exactly and that's why said he's going to appeal to make them step up and use their network of their congregations to offer their apartments or money or whatever it takes. He's appealing to them. SH: Can San Diego tapped the same accounts? as veterans? AS: Could Riverside experienced be replicated here at the city took advantage of the same resources from the VA and other sources? Buck while the city has been taking advantage of them. They've managed to get more than 1000 that's off the streets. So the San Diego task force is on the homeless. And asked them. Riverside had a very small number of homeless vets. 89. In San Diego County has something like 1000 I don't know how much the city has. Some people stayed around for 500. The point is is that is different right? so I asked Gordon Walker, who again has this task force on the homeless, he came from Utah they have seen tremendous success in terms of getting rules over homeless people. So he said yeah, absolutely you can duplicate this anywhere we did in Utah, it's all about building trust, and it's all about housing first. Building trust with the homeless people and getting them into these homes. He said it takes political well. He said and what he pointed out which I think is pretty important, is that 2 of the cities that have the highest number of homeless people in the country, are in California. The richest state in the country. And the some of the richest cities. If your political will, the money tends to follow. ASJ: Is also the question of once you found the housing for these folks, the question is, can they stay functioning or self-sustaining or will they fall back out again of the system? that's for social services comes back in. With the VA, the vets at least have a lot of access to social services whether that's mental health, or substance abuse. And job training as well. And helping them find jobs. AS: Your veteran said he been in rehab like eight times before. What was the charm that made it work this time? well, he had been in rehab yeah around seven times, and then he got a letter from his daughter who lived in Germany, and they said they wanted to visit him. And he was living on the streets. And I understand that this is the guy who would get to the liquor store at 6 AM and get as many as 50 beers a day and top off that drinking with a couple hits of vodka. And didn't stop until he passed out. And then he got a bout of alcohol poisoning. That, combined with the letter from his daughters is what made him decide that. AS: The key is catching people at the time when they are most motivated. ASJ: Good thank you for telling us about the program. Very inspiring. Managing to get all the veterans of the streets is very impressive. Scott Horsley has been a White House correspondent since the beginning of President Barack Obama's first term. Our listeners has been hearing him covering complex policy issues for years. Making them interesting and easy to understand. Scott you are in and interesting position to tell us what the difference between covering the White House from president Barack Obama and President Trump? SH: Is very different. President Trump has positioned in himself as anti-Obama. Just last week we saw them pulling the rug out of the Iran deal. He's backtracked on what Obama did with Cuba. Is reversed economic policies put forward by the Obama administration. ASJ: From your perspective covering him is it change the way you have access to the White House? SH: Yes, it is. I think there's more adversary relationship between the press corps and this administration than there was with Obama. Not to say that there was really a harmonious relationship between the press corps and Obama. There's always a certain adversarial quality to it. But, President Trump and his staffers has sort of deliberately set out to undercut the press court and delegitimize the press court. And create an environment where listening public and the viewing public in the reading public is skeptical of any mainstream news account that might be critical. ASJ: Just this week he has threatened to take away the credentials of what he called a corrupt media so I don't know whether he feels like the National Public Radio as part of the fake media he seems to mention the more commercial channels but what is your take? SH: For better or worse we are just on the presidents radar. That can be a disadvantage trying to gain access did not see a lot of need to communicate with NPR. On the other hand, we are not hugely called out or singled out for attacks like CNN or the New York Times. Is obviously not an NPR listener. Which is also a change from the Obama and ministration. Former President Obama gave 7 or 8 interviews cultivating the NPR audience. Everyone in the White House have the NPR app on their iPad. So we were much more of a known commodity in the previous administration. ASJ: The last priest -- press Bree being -- press briefing. You can see this clip here. [Clip] Suggestion of taking American journalists, press credentials away, advocating for a free press in this country and that those who do not go together. ASJ: The fact that I am taking questions in the fact that the president took questions from your colleagues just two hours ago demonstrates this White House's commitment, to accessibility and to of providing information to the American public. At the same time, the press has a responsibility to put out accurate information. ASJ: Does that reassure you that the president would not act on his threat? SH: I'm not terribly worried about the White House delivering on that threat. And I agree with Sarah Sanders that the mid news media has a responsibility to provide accurate news information. All of our colleagues agree with that we strive to do it. I was the white house felt bound by the same constraints. It's also not true that this meant -- administration stands there and takes questions. Traditionally the daily White House briefing ended when the press court ended. Was up to the AP recorder. Sarah Sanders routinely walks away after 17 or 18 minutes. When she is done, not when we are done or when all of our questions have been field. MS: You mentioned there's a big difference between the Trump and Obama administrations, but while the Obama administration was more or catering or not catering but had NPR apps and the trumpet ministration does not. Is a stress to call them press friendly. To their surprise they expected more Democrat friendly to the press and many times he was but when it came down they really clampdown. SH: The Obama administration held NPR in higher esteem than you know the Trump administration but I think both of them had their battles with the press. That is normal. Every media has a problems with the White House. There was half a dozen people that were prosecuted for national leaks. That was unusual at that time. I think it was more than all the previous presidents combined although we are still talking about half a dozen. No one would say I would call the Obama administration pushovers or press friendly. Although they did have a different attitude toward NPR. MS: More antagonistic perhaps? SH: They were not in open where -- warfare from the get-go. And for that matter, they did not spew misinformation in the same way as is a ministration does. AS: You -- you mentioned open warfare. -- War there. -- Fair how is that affected the psychology of reporters, covering the president or has it? what is the mood like when you go into these press briefings every day? SH: I think it's antagonistic. Is less so under Sarah Sanders. Opposed to Spicer. When Sean Spicer came in, the blood pressure started ratcheting up from the moment he walked in the room. Sarah is more professional, a little lower key. It's contestant from the get-go. As I said, she frequently just walks off after 20 minutes which is about a third of the time the Obama administration debt. ASJ: How much is NPR rely on those press briefings to cover the White House? SH: That's a good point, the press briefings have always been just 1 of many ways be gaining information. Today there a less valuable source of information than they've ever been before. ASJ: What do you do? what other strategies you do? SH: You can ask questions outside the briefing. Members of the White House staff or people on the outside who are looking in and have some expertise or knowledge about the subject matter. ASJ: And NPR had increased the number of people covering the White House right? SH: Right we have fourth White House reporter. It's a heavy load, they're making a lot of news over there so is keeping us busy. When I started at 3. But if you go back to the first George W. Bush term, and all of the Clinton administrations, and going back before that we only had one and White House reporter. We have made a big commitment to covering this administration. I think our listeners are curious about it. We have gotten a lot of that. ASJ: Delete maybe the nation is focused too much on that one area and we are missing other things? SH: Yes absolutely I do think that sometimes. There are 49 seats in the White House press room and they are always filled. Sadly across the country, there are state legislatures, and city councils, and town councils, and other government entities and other entities that are not getting the same level of scrutiny. We need to be paying at least as much attention to all those other levels of government as we are to the White House. And more over to the White House, we pay an awful lot of attention to the ups and downs, the chaos of fighting, the personality driven stories that surround Donald Trump sort of reality show. We have to be careful not to lose sight in all the policies and the real workings of this administration that matter to people. >> I think Aretha and I are 2 of them that remember when you worked in the KBPS news room and managed to keep up to date on what the soaps were on the TV at the same time as writing foster stories. Do you miss that? ASJ: Now I have the soap opera right front of me. [ laughter ] I do miss San Diego, it's great to be home for a little while. >> Thank you so much Scott, that wraps up another week of still -- KBPS roundtable stories. We think all of our guests. A reminder, all the stories that we discussed today are available on our website on www.kpbs.org. I am Allison St. John, thank you for joining us today on the roundtable.