Her Campaign Is Over, But Vivian Moreno Is Still Knocking On Doors And More Local News

Speaker 1: 00:00 Good morning. It's April 24th I'm Deb Welsh and your listing to San Diego news matters. San Diego City Council woman, Vivian Moreno has been on the job for just a few months after a narrow victory. Last November, she represents district eight, which includes Barrio Logan, Logan Heights, Santa Sedro and Otay Mesa KPBS Metro reporter Andrew Board continues our series of profiles on new council members. He says, Moreno is keeping busy. Speaker 2: 00:29 Good morning. Why nosy ass? Her campaign might be over, but Vivian Marino is still knocking on doors in her district and dropping off flyers. We're going to have a huge cleanup, um, on the 27th at 9:00 AM and memorial. We're going to have a barbecue and raffle prizes. Get to know the community type of deal. Her flyers also have her office phone number and instructions on how to report issues to the city. She strikes up a conversation with another resident about curb paint and promises to pass on his complaints on streets division, but at see [inaudible] later in the day, Marino attends a graduation ceremony for workshops for Warriors, a nonprofit in Barrio Logan, the trains veterans to be welders and machinists. And we're confident that the time and energy you've invested here at Workshop for warriors will deliver you a process of prosperous and rewarding future. Moreno had a tough campaign. She's a Democrat, but the county Democratic Party still put out attack ads suggesting she was a Trump sympathizer, which she definitely is not. Speaker 2: 01:33 She won the election last November over another Democrat by just 549 votes. That slim margin keeps her humble. Well, one of the things that I heard is, uh, on the campaign trail walking 8,000 doors was you guys only come out when you guys need something, when you guys want to vote, that's when you guys come out. So I committed to going out to the community, introducing myself to the residents. Merinos transition to council member was smoother than some. She already worked in City Hall in the District Eight Office for former city councilman David Alvarez. Her former boss had a rocky relationship with Mayor Kevin Faulkner, but she says her relationship with the mayor is different. It has been fantastic. We get along really well. Um, I'm a very straight shooter and I think he appreciates that. Um, I'm not afraid to say, Hey, I, I'm not going to agree with you on this, but we could work on, you know, other things. Speaker 2: 02:27 Uh, but no, it's been really good. One area of collaboration is housing Marino chairs, the councils, land use and housing committee and recently advanced a proposal from the mayor that aims to incentivize middle income housing. She put her own stamp on the proposal with suggested amendments. Marino says San Diego has to build more homes for future generations. You know, my nieces and nephews are part of that population and it behooves me to make sure that we enact reforms that will help build more housing because essentially we are in the housing crunch that we are in right now because of the policy from, uh, from people that govern before us. Last week, Moreno also voted to advance a new prohibition on people living in cars. In her comments, she asked the mayor's office to limit new homeless services in her district, but she didn't address concerns brought up in public testimony that the proposal would further criminalize homelessness and poverty. I asked her why I represent district eight and the calls and the emails that we're getting. Um, my, um, my response, uh, or my comments that day and my vote that day reflect, um, what my constituents have asked of me. Do you see people who are homeless who stay in district data is your constituents? MMM. Speaker 3: 03:52 Okay. Speaker 2: 03:52 They do not reside in district eight, so I would say no. Whose constituents are they? Okay. Speaker 3: 04:00 Okay. Speaker 2: 04:01 I'm not sure. One thing she is sheriff is a feeling of responsibility toward young Latinas. Last week she took part in a foot washing ceremony for holy week at her church and Logan Heights. There was a young girl like literally like nine years old who was washing my feet and I just thought like I owe her to be, you know, a good role model and to strive to always do the best for her future. Right. And that's something that um, also I, I hold of importance in my heart. Andrew Bowen Kpbs News, Speaker 1: 04:31 new regulations will soon be in place for ductless scooters and bikes after winning approval from the city council. Tuesday KPBS Metro reporter Andrew Bowen says the goal is to increase safety. Speaker 2: 04:43 The new ordinance requires scooter sharing companies to automatically slow down speeds in high pedestrian areas. They'll also have three hours to respond to reports of abandoned or illegally parks devices, city councilman Chris. Kate says the regulations are just to start. Speaker 4: 04:59 One of the things that we've been very adamant about, at least in my office is going back and reevaluating things that we have adopted. Understanding that technology is going to evolve. The technology has evolved from the beginning of this conversation. A year ago in February to today, Speaker 2: 05:14 much of the public testimony touched on reckless scooter riding on the boardwalks that council may revisit automatic speed limits on the boardwalks before the ordinance goes into effect. July 1st Andrew Bowen KPBS news, Speaker 1: 05:26 Uc San Diego says one of its prominent eye doctors is now on leave. Following an investigation, my KPBS partner, I knew sores. I knew source reporter Jill Castellano as the story and I knew source story last week, detailed how Dr. King Zang put people in harm's way for years. During several human research studies on Thursday, we received a report with more information from the food and Drug Administration. It said Zang had poked a hole in a participants' eye with a needle 2011 which had to be fixed with surgery that allegedly happened because Zang was in a hurry to leave for a trip to China. Dr Peter Camp Oak Cro is an eye doctor at Johns Hopkins University. He says this can usually be avoided, Speaker 5: 06:21 right? Speaker 1: 06:22 We sent the FDA report to UC SD for comment. A spokeswoman said quote, Doctor Zang is currently on leave. Uc San Diego is reviewing Dr Zangs activities and cannot comment further for KPBS. I'm I knew source investigator for porter. Jill Castillano Zang story is the latest in I knew sources. Risky research investigation reported by Jill Castellano and Brad Racino. Read more@iknewsource.org slash risky research I knew source is an independently funded nonprofit partner of KPBS. American history theater has three final performances of the diary of Anne Frank at white box theater this weekend. KPV As ours. Reporter Bev like Mondo speaks with actress lolly bore off about playing the role. Her aunt Shelly winters made famous Speaker 2: 07:13 lolly bore off, felt she was destined to play Mrs Van Dan and diary of Anne Frank. It was the role that one, her aunt Shelly winters and Oscar bore off says this, play about Jews hiding out in an attic to escape Nazi persecution remains relevant today as hate crimes in the u s continued to climb. The staging of the play emphasizes the Claustrophobia of being in that attic and bore off. Remembers her aunt talking about the closed set for the film, helping to define her performance. No one could leave once you arrived. There was no leaving. The doors were locked, lunch was served on set. You couldn't make phone calls and they live that way as long as the cameras were rolling and even during rehearsals. That's how it was. The set was very small, claustrophobic, and so she often was a extremely traumatized by this experience that bore off, loves her character of Mrs Van Dan because she has a lust for life and refuses to accept what her fate might be. The diary of Anne Frank has three final performances this Friday through Sunday at white box theater in liberty station, Beth Ahca, Mondo KPBS knees Speaker 1: 08:18 for the second straight year, the Oakland A's are asking for special treatment from California lawmakers to streamline construction of a new ballpark on the city's downtown waterfront as capital public radio has been Adler reports and assembly committee approved to bill this week that would ease land use restrictions at the site. The team wants to build a stadium at Howard terminal near Jack London square along with housing and retail there and at the Kohler and Oakland Coliseum site, the pay for the park. He's president Dave capital. We think that this project can be something that actually transforms that part of the town and do it in a way that doesn't impede the maritime activities of the port. But Mike Jacob with the Pacific Merchant Shipping Association worries the project would harm business at the port of Oakland. He says the state has long tried to protect ports from nearby waterfront developments. Speaker 6: 09:05 Broken governments will always try and put housing on their waterfront. Is that in the state's best interest? Usually not. If it's a place where you can have deep water ports. The A's already Speaker 1: 09:14 got a law signed last year to streamline the projects environmental review process at the state capitol. I'm Ben Adler, a proposal to limit charter schools in California as live to national civil rights organizations at odds capitol public radio. Scott Rod has the story. The Naacp and the national action network disagree over whether increasing oversight of charter schools and capping their growth would help or hurt black students. According to Ryan Anderson of the legislative analyst's office, black students make up about 8% of enrollment at charter schools compared to 5% at traditional public schools. Speaker 7: 09:49 There are a number of charter schools throughout the state that are specifically intended to serve a predominantly black communities. Speaker 1: 09:58 Reverend Jonathan Mosley is with the national action network in opposes the legislation. He says, charter schools offer options and struggling school districts. Speaker 7: 10:07 People should have the right to choose their children's academics. Speaker 1: 10:11 He adds that charter schools can offer a better quality education than many public schools. Speaker 7: 10:16 You don't have to worry about getting hand me down. Products are even books that are outdated. Speaker 1: 10:21 Julian Vasquez Heilig with the California Naacp disagrees. He's a former charter school instructor, but says he became critical of them after researching their growth. Heilig argues the legislation is an anti school choice, but it would crack down on charter schools that perform poorly, which he says do more harm than good for black students. Speaker 6: 10:40 Charter schools that are doing great have absolutely nothing to worry about. It's the bad apples out there that should be really worried. Speaker 1: 10:46 The legislation cleared the assembly education committee earlier this month from Sacramento. I'm Scott Rod, one of the region's largest providers of a homeless services is opening up a barber shop. KPBS report or Matt Hoffman says this isn't like other places to get a haircut. Father Joe's provides the trimmings free of charge. Speaker 6: 11:09 The shop is called village clips and is located inside Father Joe's main campus downtown. The idea is to help people restore their dignity and build self esteem. Steven Neal who says he's been homeless for the last six months, got his hair cut at the shop, Speaker 8: 11:23 make you feel, feel more human again, you know, make you feel a lot better, especially about yourself and everything else. You don't want to go around, you know, embarrassed to talk to people because you know you look bad. Speaker 6: 11:37 Father Joe's planes to have the shop open seven days a week. The haircuts are provided by volunteers and are available for all people experiencing homelessness. Matt Hoffman, KPBS, PBS news. Speaker 1: 11:48 Californians are increasingly working well into their golden years. About one in five and 65 and older have jobs. Some need the paycheck, but others just want to keep working as part of our grain. California series. KPCC is David Wagner introduces us to one of them. Speaker 9: 12:06 I did want to go over the syllabus one more time since it's George. Shannon is a professor of Gerontology at USC. He's opening today's lecture with a provocative question. Shoot. Older people be protected from bad choices. What does that mean? One student says older people might need help with decisions around money. Okay. Steven said financial, you know financial management, right? George is 79 he welcomed students into the discussion with his calm demeanor and reassuring voice. In other words, staying at home too long without care. If it sounds like the voice of a debonair soap opera star, that's because it was, would you like to be my date tonight at a black tie dinner? That's him in 1990 on nbcs daytime soap generations. George used to be a professional actor. He started in a French surrealist film. He did theater and he narrated lots and lots of commercials and I got the the entire Cadillac account in 1988 by saying Speaker 9: 13:02 new for 1988 the Cadillac Eldorado and I thought, I'm never going to get that. I just drew the line away and I got the job. I was amazed, but George says by his fifties doing commercials was getting boring. He was going through something gerontologists called generativity, sort of like a midlife crisis. When you get to be 45 55 and you're look at your life and you say, what have I done this meaningful? You know, I've done a lot of commercials. I've done a lot of soaps and a few films. Is that what it's all about? Is that what I wanted to do a no, I wanted to do more. So George went back to school as a 55 year old undergrad. He stayed to get his phd and he eventually became a professor. I have to prepare and I have to push myself and that that really stimulates me and keeps me going. Speaker 9: 13:49 His acting skills still come in handy. George says, teaching is a lot like Improv. You have to think on your feet. Teaching also keeps him social and gives him purpose. There are times when I might say, Oh God, I don't feel like going into the office today. And I think to myself, you're so damn lucky to have an office to go to, to be in demand. And if you're doing something that you like and that pays you pretty well, get your butt into the office wall, toss to like move into the muscle depart. Or George runs a lab at USC. I think we can knock this down rather quickly. He likes collaborating with his younger colleagues, but putting off retirement can lead to tension in some workplaces. Younger academics can feel like older professors aren't making room for them. Of course, I think about it of course, and I recognize that it's really not true. Uh, what is true is that having more people in the workplace presents more opportunities. There is research backing him up, showing that older workers are generally not crowding out younger ones. George says he's healthy, capable, and contributing to the economy and who the hell wants retire? People Speaker 1: 14:52 ask me if I want to retire. I don't want to retire. Why would I retire? I'm enjoying what I'm doing in Los Angeles. I'm David Wagner. This story came to us from our California dream collaboration. You can find more from the series at grain, california.org thanks for listening to KPBS San Diego News matters podcast. For more local stories, go to KPB pbs.org.