San Diego County Politicians React To Biden, Harris Inauguration

Speaker 1: 00:00 San Diego congressmen. Talk about their experience at today's presidential inauguration. Speaker 2: 00:06 At this hour, my friends democracy has prevailed. Speaker 1: 00:11 I'm Jade Hindman with Maureen Kavanaugh. This is KPBS midday edition. The local chapter of vice president Kamala Harris's sorority celebrates a historic moment. I Camila David Harris, dishonorably Speaker 2: 00:32 That I will support and defend the constitution of the United States. Speaker 1: 00:37 I support and defend the constitution of the United States, and they look at vaccine reactions. Plus a vocal critic talks about problems in Tijuana that's ahead on midday edition. There were no crowds of people on the mall, no outgoing president on stage and hardly a face without a mask on, but despite the unusual atmosphere, the transfer of power took place in Washington, president Joe Biden and vice president Kamala Harris took the oath of office with the traditional words and most of the traditional pomp and circumstance, one of the San Diego ones who was able to witness today's extraordinary and not curation is San Diego democratic Congressman Scott Peters, congressmen Peters. Welcome. Thank you, Jay. Thanks for having me. I'd like to start with an excerpt from president Biden's speech this morning. Speaker 2: 01:39 I know speaking of unity can sound to some like a foolish fantasy these days. I know the forces that divide us are deep and they are real, but I also know they are not new. Our history has been a constant struggle between the American ideal that we're all created equal and the harsh ugly reality that racism, nativism fear demonization have long torn us apart. The battle is perennial and victory is never assured through civil war. The great depression world war nine 11 through struggle, sacrifice and setbacks are better. Angels have always prevailed. And each of these moments and enough of us are enough of us have come together to carry all of us forward. And we can do that now, history, faith, and reason show the way, the way of unity Speaker 1: 02:49 And Congressman Peters. I'd like to get your response to that part of the president's remarks today on unity boys. So welcome. I must say, Speaker 3: 03:00 I think the greatest threat to this country has been the division among us. The fact that we think of each other as our enemies instead of, um, our fellow citizens. So I think that the president Biden set exactly the right tone and, uh, I think it inspired a lot of us to really look inside of our hearts and figure out how we can ourselves try to bridge these gaps. And maybe he gave that same message to Americans all over the country. Speaker 1: 03:27 Former president Donald Trump did not attend the ceremony today. What do you think is the significance of that in relation to the prospect of unity and bipartisanship moving forward? Speaker 3: 03:38 Well, president Trump was never one for unity. He was really, um, I mean, frankly, I thought thought more about himself than about the country and saw, um, you know, saw, saw his, um, fi found enemies wherever he could. And I think that th the thing that Joe Biden said today was look, you know, we can, we can disagree. It doesn't mean we're just loyal. Um, and that we need to respect each other. We need to hear each other. Um, that's not what president Trump was all about, but fortunately that's what president Biden is about. And I think it gives us a chance to really start healing and restoring American greatness. Again, Speaker 1: 04:15 Today was a highly unusual inauguration, no massive crowds, but instead 400,000 flags representing the people lost to COVID-19 in the last year. What can you tell us about how that affected the ceremony today? Speaker 3: 04:30 Well, mostly driven by COVID. Uh, there weren't many people there, so, uh, well before, um, the additional security concerns that were prompted by the events of two weeks ago, um, where I usually had 60 tickets to give out to people I had one ticket, um, and because they wanted to space everyone out. And so indeed, uh, the crowd was much smaller. It was a bit, it was bittersweet, um, in that, um, it's, it's wonderful to participate in this peaceful transfer of power and it, but it was sad that Americans could enjoy it in the traditional way that a lot of Americans couldn't be there in person. Um, but again, we're going to get through this pandemic. Um, we're gonna deal with these security concerns and, um, I feel that we're on a great trajectory today. I just am so encouraged by how it went today and, um, by the tone and the mood, uh, and I think, um, I got the same message from Democrats to Republicans. Uh, after the ceremony today, Speaker 1: 05:28 You know, president Biden is taking on an America, that's in crisis. What do you see as the biggest priority and what are you most hopeful for? Speaker 3: 05:36 We have to deal with this pandemic. Um, I don't think it's complicated issue, but it's an issue that requires some determination and some effort. Uh, I think we'll do that. I think that will help us, uh, with the economic recovery. Uh, and then I think we've got to restore, we've got to restore our credibility. Uh, internationally America needs to be engaged and we need to be leading the world and we need to be a beacon. Uh, and as I think the president said, um, and we've got a lot of complicated issues ahead of us that need bipartisan support from climate change to national security and a whole host of things. So, um, but I think the pandemic, uh, will take center stage and I'm encouraged about the promise to help States and locals get out the vaccine. I think that's the, that's the biggest challenge right now. Speaker 4: 06:22 I've been speaking to San Diego Congressman Scott Peters, Congressman Peters. Thank you so much. Speaker 3: 06:27 Joining us. Thanks so much for having me. It's a great day. Thank you. Speaker 4: 06:31 And also fresh from the Biden Harrison alteration ceremony, San Diego Congressman Mike Levin joins us now, Congressman Levin. Welcome. Thank you, Marine. Now watching on TV, it looked like a smaller than usual, but still significant ceremony. What was it like to be there? Speaker 5: 06:50 Well, it was an extraordinary honor and it was a historic morning, uh, such a great American tradition of peaceful transfer of power to a new president, new vice-president. Uh, and I'm grateful that, uh, we were able to have a secure ceremony, particularly after the horror, uh, the violence from two weeks ago. Uh, my gratitude is to all of the national guard, all the law enforcement, the us Capitol police and everybody that kept us safe and sound, uh, during the ceremony this morning. And, uh, I'm also happy to be back in a warm, uh, office because it was cold out there. Marine Speaker 4: 07:29 That's something we don't usually experience watching here in San Diego. I want to, I want to follow up though on the fact that it was only two weeks ago, that that same place us capital's West front was overrun with rioters. And of course today it was the setting for the inauguration. Was that on your mind? And just about everyone's mind in the audience today Speaker 5: 07:51 Certainly was on my mind. And, uh, what, uh, uh, crazy historic three weeks, it's been three Wednesdays in January of 21 that I'll never forget, uh, that I think have changed America forever. Uh, first with the senseless violence, the attack from domestic terrorists, uh, on our Capitol second, uh, one Wednesday later trying to hold the president to account for what transpired. And then of course, uh, this morning, the peaceful transition to the 46 president Joe Biden. Uh, our democracy has prevailed. Uh, we'll continue to, uh, advance good public policy for our constituents, uh, consistent with our values. And I'm really excited to get work with, get to work with this new, uh, administration, both, uh, Joe Biden and California's own Kamala Harris. I think they are competent. Uh, they are leaders who are going to serve all Americans with dignity and honor, and respect as the president said, whether you were a supporter of his or he is a president for all Americans. And I think at a time where we are very divided, where we need to unite, we need to heal. And we're trying to recover obviously from a pandemic that has taken more than 400,000 lives tragically across this country. We desperately need competent stable leadership. And I think that's what Joe bride Biden and the Biden ministration will bring. Speaker 4: 09:19 What did you take from the president's inauguration speech? Speaker 5: 09:23 Well, I think, uh, the theme was obviously unity, but, uh, he spoke with a humility and a decency, uh, that I think, uh, is just a breath of fresh air, uh, talking about, uh, hope over fear and truth over lies and the need to get back to, uh, really, uh, uh, coming together using politics for more than just a division, but rather for, uh, solving big problems and, and let's face it. We face some huge problems right now in the United States. Uh, as I turned around and saw the national mall, which normally would have hundreds of thousands of people, uh, watching the inauguration, uh, instead there were a couple of hundred thousand flags and of course, uh, all of that to commemorate, uh, the lives lost due to COVID-19. It was just a reminder of the challenges that we're facing and even looking around and seeing, uh, so much fewer, uh, people, uh, than, than under a normal circumstance where we were all socially distanced wearing mass, uh, trying to keep each other safe. Speaker 5: 10:30 Uh, all of that was just a reminder of the stark challenges that we're facing, uh, during the stark winter. And as we know from, uh, the recent weeks of, uh, trying to get, uh, vaccines distributed and trying to ensure that we can safely reopen and get through the worst of the pandemic, uh, we still have a great deal of work that has to be done. And, uh, I am, uh, very eager to get to work with the new administration, uh, and to continue many of the great things we have done in the past. Uh, but to really, uh, crush this pandemic, uh, get our economy back up and running again, and then doing all we can to advance the interests of our district and our region. Speaker 4: 11:11 You know, the call for unity and president Biden's speech is a call that could be needed. Even in Congress. We've heard that some members of Congress are concerned about the intentions of other members and their possible role in the insurrection. What's your feeling on that? Speaker 5: 11:29 Well, look, uh, we have read the reports that at least a few of the members were either directly or indirectly involved in, uh, perhaps planning the rally that, that led to the insurrection. Uh, we know that at least the, the, uh, investigation is ongoing of, uh, whether one or more members actually allowed, uh, guests into the Capitol, uh, in is alleged. And what has been called, uh, a reconnaissance, uh, sort of, uh, visit, uh, we're not supposed to have visitors right now, Maureen, because of the COVID-19 pandemic. So all of that's deeply problematic, uh, seeing, uh, several of my colleagues unwilling to even go through a magnetometer, uh, the other evening as we were going to the house floor, uh, that was, uh, uh, disturbing as well. So I think it's critically important that we try to seek out those on the other side of the aisle that want to work with us in good faith. And the good news is that I've got many friends across the aisle, uh, with whom I've worked on a variety of issues, whether it be on veterans or environmental issues or otherwise, uh, we need to continue to build those relationships because my experience has been there many excellent members on the other side of the aisle. I want to work with them and, and I'm willing to work with anybody Marine that is willing to work with me to advance the interests of our district and our region Speaker 6: 12:53 And congressmen 11, how will you be spending the rest of this big day? Speaker 5: 12:58 Well, we're going to be doing a couple of virtual, uh, inauguration ceremonies. I know there's one this evening that I'm looking forward to. Of course, normally this would be a busy day, uh, that we we'd be spending probably going all sorts of interesting parties and events. None of that is happening in person. Uh, but we are doing some virtual events. And of course, given that it's a stay at home order, uh, it's disappointing that, uh, you know, my wife is not here with me. I very much miss her and, uh, Mr. Being there with me this morning, but we decided it best for her to stay at home during the, the, uh, the stay at home order. Uh, so I do hope that someday we'll come Marine where my wife can accompany me, uh, 200 hours duration, but this morning we just felt it better safe than sorry. Speaker 6: 13:42 Well, I'm glad you decided to spend some time with us. Anyway, I've been speaking with San Diego Congressman Mike Levin. Thank you Speaker 5: 13:48 So much. Thanks for being good to be with you. Speaker 1: 13:55 The presidency of Donald Trump ended at 9:00 AM today. It marked the end of bitter political and legal warfare between California and the Trump administration over so many things, healthcare, the environment, immigration, but more fundamentally, what kind of country America should be? K Q E D politics editor, Scott Schafer examines. How things might change for California under the Biden Harris administration. Speaker 6: 14:20 You might say the relationship was poisoned right from the start. They don't treat their people as well as they treat illegal immigrants. So at what point does it stop? It's crazy what they're doing. Demonizing immigrants, dismissing climate change as a hoax calling our election rigged like California, the same person votes. Many times you probably heard about that. They always like to say, Oh, that's a conspiracy theory, not a conspiracy theory, flux. It all ends today. It feels like waking up from a nightmare and not just the nightmare being over, but being in a dream that's Los Angeles, mayor Eric Garcetti. He remembers how the Obama Biden administration worked with cities Speaker 7: 14:58 All the time. They're reaching out, what's working in LA, what's working in California. How can we amplify that? How can we scale that up? Speaker 6: 15:05 You said he is looking forward to an administration that isn't constantly at war with the state. Speaker 7: 15:10 We're. We're told that we're, you know, this evil outlier state. What we have now are people who know us. Speaker 6: 15:17 Jerry Brown was governor for six of Barack. Obama's eight years. As president before Trump took over in 2017. He says, while there is a big difference, Speaker 3: 15:27 Open Sesame to whatever you want. However, having a line of communication, it's better to have friends and enemies Speaker 6: 15:35 In particular, Brown says it will make a huge difference. Having Biden embrace what California is doing on the environment rather than fighting it in the courts. He's also hoping California will finally get federal support for one of his priorities. High-speed right. Speaker 3: 15:51 To get the high speed rail from Fresno, from Murcia and right up the line there to share with Cisco. That's a real possibility Speaker 6: 16:00 Like Gavin Newsome after him had to perform a political dance criticizing Trump at times, while also making sure the state got federal relief for wildfires and the pandemic Brown says while California will benefit from Trump's departure, there will be a downside for Newsome potentially amplifying his critics Speaker 3: 16:20 For a governor, especially the difficult period. It's very handy to have someone, uh, what I would call a bigger boogeyman with him, not there. Uh, they may, they may tend to be, uh, more focused on the governor. Speaker 6: 16:36 I managed for Newsome in California is having Kamel Harris as vice-president. He was mayor of San Francisco when she was district attorney. The city's current mayor, London breed is especially looking forward to more direction on the pandemic Speaker 7: 16:51 That I have more support from the federal government. The Biden administration has already made clear what their plans are for expanding the fight against COVID. Speaker 6: 17:01 After bill Clinton, George W. Bush was president for the last years of grey Davis's governorship Davis says while Bush wasn't hostile to California, the way Trump is, he wasn't particularly helpful either. Speaker 7: 17:14 It is. It's far better to have a president that shares your belief system, uh, than want to oppose. Speaker 6: 17:20 Davis thinks Biden will adopt many of California's policies and nationalize them. I think calc Speaker 7: 17:26 Going to have more influence than it ever had before now, are they going to follow us in every issue? No, but at least so give us a hearing, Speaker 6: 17:33 But it's not going to solve all of California's problems either. Yeah. Speaker 3: 17:38 Politics, editor, Scott Schaffer. Speaker 6: 17:52 You're listening to, Speaker 1: 17:53 To KPBS midday edition. I'm Jade Heintzman with Maureen Kavanaugh today marked a historic moment held dear by many, especially women across the country as the nation's first black and South Asian woman to hold the office of vice president was sworn in. Here's a clip of the moment, judge Sonia Sotomayor swore, and vice-president Kamala Harris during an Accuration Speaker 6: 18:15 Hi Camila Davey Harris family, that I will support and defend the constitution of the United States that I will support and defend the constitution of the United States. Speaker 1: 18:26 That moment you just heard is also being celebrated and honored by vice-president Harris's sorority sisters across the country. Alpha Kappa alpha is the nation's oldest black sorority. It was founded on the campus of Howard university. We're not only vice-president Harris crossed, but also our next guest joining us now is Diane joiner, president of alpha Kappa alpha sorority incorporated, Epsilon CYO mega, which is San Diego's chapter. Diane. Welcome. Speaker 8: 18:55 Thank you. I'm glad to be here and thank you for having me. Speaker 1: 18:59 So I have to ask, what was your reaction this morning as you watched Kamala Harris being sworn in? Speaker 8: 19:05 I was so excited. I was proud exuberance everywhere. It's just a great moment for my sorority sisters, for me, but girls and women all over the country, especially African-American females. Speaker 1: 19:22 As you mentioned, you know, it is a watershed moment for the nation's oldest black sorority. Um, what does it mean to you to see the first woman, the first black woman, the first South Asian woman, so many first, uh, to hold the position of vice president of the United States. Speaker 8: 19:39 It is a major accomplishment. First of all, traditionally w black women have a lower point in a society or is men a concern? So, uh, we can, we can rise, but we get to a certain point and then it's just stopped. Like we reached the glass, but we can't get through it. So now she has broken that glass ceiling and we are just all proud Speaker 1: 20:08 Today, not just AKA, but many people are celebrating vice president Harris by wearing pearls and chucks. Are you wearing yours today? And what can you tell me about the significance of the pearls? Speaker 8: 20:20 I am wearing my pearls. I have my black converse sneakers on the Sydney significance of the pearls is that it represents the 20. It represents our founders basically. So when we talk about the founders, we always talk about the 20 pearls. This sorority Speaker 1: 20:38 Has declared January 20th, Kamala Harris day to honor such a historic moment. The moment really speaks to the mission of alpha Kappa alpha sorority incorporated. Can you tell me about that? Speaker 8: 20:50 The mission is comprised of five basic tenants to cultivate and encourage high Scholastic and ethical standards to promote unity and friendship among college women to study and help alleviate problems concerning girls and women in order to improve their social stature, to maintain a progressive interest in college life and to be of service to all mankind. Speaker 1: 21:15 This moment will mean for San Diego's chapter of alpha Kappa alpha. Speaker 8: 21:21 As far as our chapter goes, we're just one of many, of course we have an interest form on our website and it seems like it's this year, especially more people are filling it in and calling us and just want to know all about AKA. Speaker 1: 21:40 And I have to mention again that you also graduated from Howard university. So how proud are you to be an AKA and a Howard bison Speaker 8: 21:48 Today? I am, uh, triply proud because, um, you know, first of all, how it is known all over the world and when we see somebody who graduated from how it, um, we have this little saying of U you know, so I'm proud that she is an alum and I'm proud because she is my sorority sister. So it's doubly important to me. Speaker 1: 22:18 Wonderful. I have been speaking with Diane Joyner president of alpha Kappa alpha sorority incorporated, Epsilon PSI, Omega chapter here in San Diego. Diane, thank you so much for joining us. Speaker 8: 22:29 Thank you for having me. Speaker 1: 22:37 Okay. Speaker 4: 22:37 San Diego joined a nationwide tribute last night to the victims of COVID-19 by illuminating buildings in bell boa park, president Joe Biden, headed the nation's tribute at a ceremony in Washington, DC honoring the more than 400,000 Americans who've lost their lives to the virus. The new administration has put the COVID vaccination program at the top of its priority list, but here in California, the effort hit a glitch this week with news that the state suspended the use of a batch of a dhurna vaccine, several people who received vaccinations from that batch experienced what's being called higher than usual allergic reactions. Joining me is James Paulson, professor and chair of the department of molecular medicine at the Scripps research Institute. And welcome to the program Speaker 8: 23:26 All thank you very much, Speaker 4: 23:27 10 or so people who got vaccinated at Petco park experienced these allergic reactions. Can you explain just what those reactions were? Speaker 8: 23:38 Well, yes. I mean, uh, allergic reactions in general or pre-existing conditions. So someone has been Speaker 9: 23:46 Exposed to, um, some something, you know, beasting peanut allergy, everyone's familiar with allergies in general, Palin, uh, and if you've been exposed and you, and you are allergic, you produce a producer, um, your immune system produces an antibody that, um, that causes allergies. Then, then they're just sitting there waiting for the next exposure. And, uh, the immune system reacts quite vigorously to produce what's called anaphylaxis, which is, uh, a severe shock to the body. Speaker 4: 24:21 Is that possibly deadly a reaction to a vaccine like that Speaker 9: 24:26 It can be, but it's also very preventable or the medical care. Uh, many people are also familiar with, um, if you are very allergic, like to peanut allergies, especially parents with children that have peanut allergies, they have an epi pen, it's an epinephrin pen. And when the reaction starts a quick administration of that, um, the epi pen generally takes care of it. And, uh, and you know, medical teams, um, who are present at these vaccination sites, by the way, uh, are, are, they're prepared to do that and other things to make sure that these severity actions don't end up in a, in a bad way. Speaker 4: 25:09 Are you aware of what ingredients in the Madrona vaccine could have triggered such a reaction? Speaker 9: 25:17 Well, uh, you know, we could, we could be surprised there could be some things that the nobody's anticipating, but the, the most likely ingredients, uh, that I've seen are polyethylene glycol, which is used in manufacturing processes. And I've also heard mention of polysorbate. Um, polyethylene glycol in particular is used in other medicines, and some people become allergic, uh, become, uh, to the, you know, to these materials that aren't present in, in, in most, uh, common day life. Um, so, uh, it's possible that the pH, the people that, that were, um, impacted and have these severe reactions had previous exposure and as a result, um, uh, you know, experienced the same thing with this particular batch of, of maternal vaccine. Speaker 4: 26:13 How common is it for people to have allergic reactions to vaccines? Speaker 9: 26:18 Oh, it's, it's very rare. So this is a common problem for all vaccines, uh, for anyone that's had an influenza vaccine, you, you, you, you will recall that you get, you have to fill out a questionnaire asking if you have allergies to eggs in particular, because many influenza vaccines are produced in eggs, and there's some carry over of allergens into the vaccine. So this is not a new problem at all. And, um, and, and it's very rare because the ingredients in the vaccines, uh, produce these allergies very, very uncommonly. So it was, uh, I think surprising and raise the red flag when, when more than one person in a day or more than one or two in a day experienced some negative reaction. Speaker 4: 27:14 And this is a new kind of vaccine. It's not the egg based flu vaccine that we're used to, is it? Speaker 9: 27:21 Yes, it's not an egg based at all. So it's not the same allergy. It would be a different allergy for components that were carried over in the manufacturing process for this particular modern vaccine. Speaker 4: 27:34 And why did the state decide to take that entire batch of maternity out of circulation? Speaker 9: 27:39 Well, I think it was just, uh, an abundance of caution. Uh, the, the term that was used, we've heard that term used a lot these days, but, uh, and, and, and it's for that reason, um, now Moderna, and the FDA and the CDC are investigating that batch to see if perhaps some of the suspected allergic compounds, uh, were in higher quantity, for example, or if they could detect other things that, that, uh, weren't anticipated to be in that batch or other batches. Um, you know, I, I personally think that we'll learn a lot more by, um, asking the patients what their previous exposures have been. And if there's anything in common, uh, between the patients that would help narrow down what could be the problem with this particular batch of vaccine, if there is a problem we don't know for sure if it was the vaccine, it could have just been a cluster of cases that are extremely rare to have happened that put the finger on that, on that batch of vaccine. But, um, you know, I think it's a combination for patient privacy. You can't ask a patient to spend the time and go through their history, but, but, uh, certainly they can be asked if they're willing and a combination of analyzing the vaccine and talking to the patients, uh, my teachers a lot. Speaker 4: 29:10 And it is common. In fact, it isn't expected for people to have some kind of reaction to this vaccine. Isn't that right? Speaker 9: 29:20 Well, yes. Uh, but, but this is, uh, a very specific type of reaction that is medically and threatening. So many people will expand experienced pain at the site. And as the immune system reacts, um, some will expect more, more pain or swelling or redness, but this is not an allergic reaction. Um, the allergic reaction is, is mediated by a class of antibodies, uh, called IgE. And, you know, many people don't make many these kinds of antibodies. And some people make lots of them to lots of different things, which means, and what they do is they, they, they go to specialized immune cells called mass cells and basophils, and those antibodies just sit there on, on those cells waiting for an allergen to come along. And when it does it activates that cell to release all kinds of nasty contents that, that, uh, cause in the mild cases, you know, sniffling and headaches and nasal congestion, but in severe cases, anaphylaxis with all organs and, uh, being affected with, uh, uh, you know, very severe consequences. And so this is the thing that we're concerned about, not the type of side effects that most people would experience. Speaker 4: 30:46 And is there any tests that can be done beforehand to find out if people might be allergic to these COVID vaccines? Speaker 9: 30:55 I I've, I've gone recently to, uh, one of the vaccinating vaccine sites, um, the, the Petco, and in fact that's where the, where the problem was. And, uh, they asked me questions right up front, you know, do you have allergies? Have you ever had anaphylaxis, um, have you ever used an epi pen? So these are sort of very clear direct questions. Um, the, the screening nature, and I had another colleague who went to the same site, uh, and she has very, very severe allergies to at least 20 different things. So she's a prime candidate to be worried about any allergic material and she was screened and she was, um, she answered, yes, yes, yes. To all of these questions. And they immediately put her in a different line. They have a different line set up for people with allergic, uh, with allergies and the potential to undergo this anaphylaxis. Speaker 9: 32:01 And so, uh, she was greatly relieved because she really wanted to get the vaccine. She got the vaccine and she had no problem at all. So here's a case of a very severely allergic person that had no problem. And the reason is that she wasn't allergic to what ever the components were in the vaccine. You'd have to have had some pre-exposure and be allergic already when you go to get your vaccination. So I think these screening questions are critical. And the more we know about, uh, about the potential allergies for the maternal vaccine, they can, their questions a little bit Speaker 2: 32:40 More specific, um, and flag people that might've had exposure that would need to go into that special line. Speaker 4: 32:48 Well, this has really been some very useful information. I want to thank you very much. James Paulson, professor and chair of the department of molecular medicine at the Scripps research Institute. Thanks very much for speaking with us. Speaker 10: 33:01 My pleasure, Speaker 4: 33:17 More than a dozen States have called up the national guard to try to speed up the pace of COVID-19 vaccinations and president elect Biden may mobilize the guard nationally, Jay price of the American Homefront project visited a vaccination site in Elizabeth city, North Carolina, where the troops are already making a difference. Speaker 2: 33:39 This high school parking lot has been transformed into kind of a vaccine freeway, four lines of cars creeped towards teams of guard soldiers, working shoulder to shoulder with health department nurses, Michael bark, lift a behavioral coach for the local school system rolls to a stop and kills his engine. His major Hollis Gunther walks up. Hi, sir, this is an information card for you to keep Alma and let you fill out your information up here today. You're going to get the maternal vaccination, which basically means in a month, you're going to want to get the maternity booster shot. Okay. Forklift said he had some initial reservations about the vaccine, but educated himself on it. I've been kind of locked in other people and talking to different people until I feel very confident in it. The day after Gunther is finished, giving him instructions about the vaccine bark lift pulls forward a few feet, route tech Sergeant Steven Simpson is waiting with a hypodermic needle. All right, I'm going to go ahead and administer this vaccine, slight pinch. Speaker 2: 34:43 That's so bad. Gunther said as an emergency room nurse practitioner in his civilian life, he's worn down from the pandemic, sick of seeing people suffering and dying from it. But helping out with the vaccine effort has given him a lift. It's almost like being on the offensive for a change in a working in emergency departments has just been a beating over the last honestly year. And so now just trying to get up ahead of this infection, you know, get the world back to eating out again and seeing grandma and you know, not going to funerals as guard troops, work with health department nurses, vaccinating drivers, and passengers, other soldiers across town, or processing the paperwork for each appointment. The director of Albemarle regional health service battle bet says it was a huge relief for his small staff to get the guards help there Speaker 10: 35:33 Training their background. This is perfectly in their wheelhouse. And so it is helping tremendously to pull a lot more people through the lines and a much more efficient process. Speaker 2: 35:44 His organization is responsible for eight counties, the smaller ones each have just two nurses who can do vaccinations on top of their other work already worn down from nearly a year of fighting the pandemic. They face a daunting challenge, vaccinating, a population of 160,000 people twice. Speaker 11: 36:04 You're really talking about 320,000 immunizations because you got to get all those folks back for that second dose. Speaker 2: 36:10 These clinics are part of the largest immunization effort in us history and come after a year that saw the most guard troops activated nationally since world war II and like the health department nurses, the guard has had to cope with pandemic duty while also covering it's normal. Speaker 11: 36:28 At one point in time, we had almost a thousand soldiers that we called up and we knew that's not sustainable forever, you know, because of the pandemic. And then, you know, national guardsmen and airman also have civilian jobs. Speaker 2: 36:40 General Todd hunt is the adjutant general of the North Carolina national guard. He says that while duty for things like hurricane recovery typically lasts a few days. The pandemic is a long effort. So instead of ordering people to duty the guard called for volunteers, Speaker 11: 36:56 And we put them on orders for a specific amount of time based upon, you know, their needs and our needs as well. So we've had to adapt in how we do military business to take care of our soldiers and airmen, and also the people that are out there that we're supporting. Speaker 2: 37:12 It's a busy time for the North Carolina guard, besides those activated for the pandemic hundreds more we're called up to Washington DC and the state Capitol because of potential civil unrest. That duty is expected to be brief. Unlike the pandemic I'm Jay price reporting. This story Speaker 4: 37:31 Produced by the American Homefront project, a public Speaker 10: 37:34 Collaboration that reports on American military life and veterans funding comes from the corporation for public broadcasting. Speaker 4: 37:50 This is KPBS day edition. I'm Maureen Cavenaugh with Jade Heinemann Antonio ley went from being one of T1. His most well-known boosters to being a vocal critic who doesn't shy away from pointing out to one. His problems. KPBS is border podcast. Port of entry continues its series of cross border love stories with a new episode about falling in and out of love with TJ and a common existential crisis that can happen when you live at the border better known as Tony T the former party promoter took the port of entry podcast crew with him on his daily cross-border commute back in 2019, along the way, host Alan Lillian, Thall, producer, Kinsey Morlan, and sound designer. Emily, Jen Koski walked through the border with Tony T as he explained some of the city's issues and the personal life changes, triggering his existential crisis and change of heart. Speaker 12: 38:49 So we were on a city bus going from downtown Tiquana to pet West. That's the newest pedestrian crossing at the San Ysidro port of entry. And Tony's started to take us deeper inside his current existential conundrum. Are you still as enthusiastic about the whole? Speaker 13: 39:05 I want wanna be, I want to be, I live here. I want the city. It's a city, you know, we've got such a perfect neighbor with such a pretty house in her house. We'll never be that pretty, but you can sweep the sidewalk in front of the house, right? Speaker 12: 39:28 Rather than sweep the sidewalk, though, a lot of proud sequencers instead tend to sweep the city's problems under the rug. But Tony, he started using Facebook as a platform to put the problems on blast and instead of posting about cool parties or great food in the corner, like he used to these days, he's mostly posting about the killings and the chaos and some of his friends. They're not his friends anymore because of it. Speaker 13: 39:56 No, that I criticize local government about violence and insecurity and trash, everything. That's, criticizable here to make it like the standard of living, be better for everybody. And not those people that I knew and grew up with, whether it was a privileged few of this town. Uh, but they didn't like me so much anymore. Those people [inaudible] trying to tell people, Hey, don't go eat in Tijuana anymore. Don't drink craft beer. What I'm trying to say is look, what's happening in the city. We live that had calmed down. Remember [inaudible] come down 2010, 2011. It chilled house [inaudible] Oh, fast forward, six, seven years, the worst numbers in the history of the city. Just so you know, before 2016, the most violent year in Tijuana was 800 murders, 2008. It tripled that last year brother, there was more than 2,400 murders. What happened? What happened to the city? Speaker 13: 41:05 We love and take care of so much, or is it only for the people that could buy a Caesar salad and a craft beer? Is that what we're really only worried for collectively as a city? We're not worried about the people getting smoked every day. You're going to brush them under the rug. I am human to have a heart. I don't like seeing that. And I don't like seeing rich [inaudible] sons of privileged people going, they're just killing junkies anyway, bro, you man, you dude, like I don't like it, especially when they say, because they've got so much for the city and they're probably saying it from their apartment in North park, you know what I mean? So them, two times Speaker 12: 41:48 The bus drove over a Hill and the border crossing popped into view. Speaker 13: 41:52 Check the border, no lie, no lie. Look at that. No line on the bridge. Speaker 12: 41:59 Then the bus drove across a bridge that stretches over the notorious, the Hunter river, which is really more of a polluted cement canal filled with makeshift homes for the city's most destitute and Tony. He got triggered because right here in this place, the difference between the two sides of the border just could not be any starker. Speaker 13: 42:24 We're seeing what I call a microcosm of all the problems in decliner, which is the river that the corner river and the canal, the channel that was built here, it's separates, uh, Sola Norton, a place of drugs and prostitution from the outlet center of the H and M is right there, visible a place of a crazy capitalism. And I get to see what both cities have to offer every day when I crossed the border, this place, if you've read it and you know, this is a place of deportees, this is a place of drug use. This is where people land. When times are tough. They lived down there under those. And they're living on the bridge on top of there, you can see them there, you see that overpass and you see the homeless people living on that bridge up there. So this is a lot of part where the referee, uh, the deportees come, some of the refugees came here, the migrant caravan, when they did that rush, they bum rush the border. It was through here, the wall, the neighbors are friendly. They have a lot of barbed wire. And uh, and then again here, the prostitution, trash violence, and then H and M in America. So every day, this is what I see Speaker 12: 43:32 Young Tony. He saw this stuff too, but he didn't let it bother him these days. It bothers him a lot. Speaker 13: 43:43 We get off here. [inaudible] okay. Speaker 12: 43:50 The bus dropped us off just a few feet from where we needed to go to cross into the U S Speaker 13: 43:54 We are under a bridge that we just crossed in the bus. This is a pet West crossing and a it's a pedestrian crossing. We're going to go to the United States like a hundred thousand people do every day from here. And we're going to become the workforce of, uh, America's finest city. It's shocking here sometimes because there is everything to do with refugee crisis is here. So they give the appointments here to get asylum, the asylum appointments we're giving here. So there'll be a lot of people here. A lot of them are a Haitian straight up African, and then not so many central American lately. Now you'll see mostly black people and occasional central Americans and even Mexicans, of course, because people are escaping horrible in Mexico, tuba Speaker 12: 44:44 That by the way, it was all before the entire asylum system essentially shut down during the pandemic. Now it's even worse. Tony's walked through the heart of the migrant crisis, his bus ride over the poverty filled river. It makes sense that he's feeling the way he feels struggling to love. [inaudible] the way he used to when he was younger. Next, we hustled to get ourselves into the borderline before it got any longer. Speaker 13: 45:17 Now I'm border walking. Ain't no time. Ain't no time for podcasts cutesy. We need to beat the crowds. Look at that. They're covet Speaker 12: 45:26 Right before we stepped into the line, though, we passed a new stand. Tony stopped to buy a copy of the newspaper, set that, and the headline that day, it was about 15 people killed in the city the night before. Speaker 10: 45:39 And Speaker 12: 45:40 I saw it disappointment and deep sadness wash across Tony's face. I could see exactly how defeated he was feeling. Speaker 13: 45:50 I don't think that violence in decliner gets enough press or sympathy from anyone because it's happening to groups of people that are marginalized and, and no one hears a thing about it, right? Speaker 10: 46:17 [inaudible] Speaker 13: 46:18 I think that for things to change, there has to be public outcry. And I don't see the public outcry. Why aren't people upset about this? Why are people upset about this? I don't know, man, Speaker 4: 46:40 That was Tony T and Alan Lillian Thall, and an excerpt from KPBS is border podcast. Port of entry here, the full episode online at port of entry, pod.org, or get a port of entry wherever you get your podcasts Coming up on KPBS evening edition at five on KPBS television, a report on training, different kinds of medical workers to give COVID vaccinations and join us again tomorrow for KPBS midday edition at noon. If you ever miss a show, you can find the midday edition podcast on your favorite podcast app. I'm Orien Cavenaugh with Jane Hyman. Thank you for listening.