Professor: Trump administration remains vague on objectives of Iran war
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Good Morning, I’m Lawrence K. Jackson….it’s TUESDAY, MARCH TENTH>>>> [WE HEAR FROM AN INTERNATIONAL LAW PROFESSOR ABOUT THE WAR IN IRAN]
More on that next. But first... the headlines….#######
GAS PRICES HAVE BEEN STEADILY RISING ACROSS THE NATION AND HERE IN SAN DIEGO COUNTY EVER SINCE THE START OF US-ISRAELI STRIKES ON IRAN
ACCORDING TO TRIPLE A AND OIL PRICE INFORMATION SERVICE, PRICES FOR GAS ARE NOW THE HIGHEST THEY'VE BEEN SINCE MAY 20-24
THE AVERAGE PRICE OF A GALLON OF SELF-SERVE REGULAR GASOLINE HAS STEADILY INCREASED FOR OVER TWO WEEKS
A COUPLE DAYS AGO IT SHOT UP NEARLY 15 CENTS, MAKING IT THE LARGEST ONE-DAY INCREASE SINCE 20-22
THE AVERAGE PRICE PER GALLON IN OUR COUNTY WAS $5.21 AS OF YESTERDAY.
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LONGTIME REPUBLICAN REPRESENTATIVE DARRELL ISSA HAS OPTED TO RETIRE RATHER THAN TO RUN FOR RE-ELECTION IN THE NEWLY DRAWN 48TH DISTRICT
ISSA MADE THE ANNOUNCEMENT ON FRIDAY AFTER MISSING THE DEADLINE TO ENTER THE RACE.
ISSA ONLY A FEW MONTHS AGO SAID HE’D FIGHT FOR THE SEAT AFTER THE PASSAGE OF PROPOSITION 50.
THE STATEWIDE MEASURE RE-DREW CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT BOUNDARIES TO BE MORE FAVORABLE TOWARD DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATES.
THE NEW 48TH DISTRICT COVERS PARTS OF SAN DIEGO AND RIVERSIDE COUNTIES, INCLUDING RAMONA, ESCONDIDO, SANTEE, POWAY, TEMECULA, AND MURRIETA.
ISSA IS NOW ENDORSING COUNTY SUPERVISOR JIM DESMOND FOR HIS SEAT AND SAYS HE PLANS TO FINISH OUT HIS TERM.
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THE 20-26 WORLD BASEBALL CLASSIC IS OFFICIALLY UNDERWAY
IT RUNS THROUGH MARCH 17TH AND FEATURES A COLLECTION OF THE BEST BASEBALL PLAYERS FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD – WITH SEVERAL OF YOUR SAN DIEGO PADRES PARTICIPATING
PADRE STARS MANNY MACHADO AND FERNANDO TATIS JR ARE PLAYING FOR A LOADED TEAM DOMINICAN REPUBLIC, AS WELL AS LEFTY-PITCHER, WANDY PERALTA [JUAN-DEE]
YESTERDAY (MONDAY), THE M-L-B SAYS TATIS HIT THE FIRST EVER GRAND-SLAM BY A DOMINICAN REPUBLIC PLAYER IN THE CLASSICS HISTORY
THE PADRES ALSO HAVE PLAYERS REPRESENTING MEXICO, THE NETHERLANDS, PANAMA , CANADA, ISRAEL, JAPAN, ITALY AND THE UNITED STATES
From KPBS, you’re listening to San Diego News Now.Stay with me for more of the local news you need.
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WE’RE IN THE SECOND WEEK OF THE WAR IN IRAN AND THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION REMAINS VAGUE ON WHAT THE END OF THE CONFLICT WILL LOOK LIKE.
MILITARY REPORTER ANDREW DYER SPEAKS TO ONE EXPERT WHO SAYS THE WAY THE ADMINISTRATION DESCRIBES EARLY OPERATIONS AS SUCCESSFUL DOESN’T MEAN THERE’S A COHERENT STRATEGY.
IRANWAR 1 (ad)
Defense secretary Pete Hegseth touted the U-S military advantage on CBS’ 60 Minutes Sunday.
PH: “Our capabilities are overwhelming compared to what Iran's are.”
The Pentagon says it struck more than 3,000 targets in the first week of operations in Iran.
But overwhelming force doesn’t always spell strategic success says…Jonathan Graubart. He’s a professor at San Diego State university WHO SPECIALIZES IN INTERNATIONAL LAW.
JG: Iran's goal is really just to survive
He says it’s not clear what the military’s objectives are – let alone if they can be achieved by force.
JG: “So to actually create a stable regime, it couldn't really do this in Iraq, right, with a massive ground invasion. And there Saddam was Saddam Hussein, and his regime was much weaker than, the current regime in Iran.”
On Monday President Donald Trump said the U-S has won the war in quote “many ways” but … not enough.
Andrew Dyer, KPBS News
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THE LEMON GROVE CITY COUNCIL IS ONE STEP CLOSER TO VOTING ON A PERMANENT ORDINANCE THAT COULD EXPAND RENTERS’ PROTECTIONS. BUT EAST COUNTY REPORTER ELAINE ALFARO SAYS COUNCIL MEMBERS REMAIN DIVIDED ON THE ISSUE.
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It’s safe to say that Lemon Grove council members have strong feelings about whether the city should strengthen protections for its residents who rent.
SOT ALTAMIRANO
“If it was up to me, I will reverse the entire thing tonight. I don't believe it's necessary. Our job is to protect the city and I have strong concerns that there may be liability…”
That’s councilmember Yadira Altamirano at last week’s city council meeting. She and councilmember Seth Smith shared concerns with how the council approved a temporary ordinance last month.
Under the temporary ordinance, landlords face new requirements with so-called no-fault evictions… when tenants are evicted even though they’ve paid their rent and not violated terms of the lease.
At a previous meeting, Mayor Alysson Snow said a permanent ordinance is needed to confront the housing crisis.
SOT SNOW
“Everyday we sit on our hands and pretend like there’s nothing that we can do is one day that one more person joins our homeless population.”
The city will host two public workshops about the ordinance …. scheduled for later this month and April.
Elaine Alfaro, KPBS News.
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THE SAN DIEGO ZOO YESTERDAY (MONDAY) WON AN EXTENSION OF ITS LEASE IN BALBOA PARK. METRO REPORTER ANDREW BOWEN SAYS THE CITY COUNCIL APPROVED THE DEAL UNANIMOUSLY.
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AB: The city began talks with the Zoo eight months ago in an effort to find new revenue sources to help balance its budget. The proposal gives the Zoo another 44 years on its lease in exchange for a new minimum payment of $3 million to the city each year. That money would disappear if the city eliminates parking fees in Balboa Park. Councilmember Jen Campbell said the Zoo has a big impact on the local economy.
JC: This amendment strengthens the city's longstanding partnership with the San Diego Zoo, providing stability for continued investment in the property and creates meaningful revenue for the city.
AB: The Zoo also committed to offering $250,000 worth of free admissions each year to nonprofits, schools and children. Andrew Bowen, KPBS news.
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BETWEEN SANTA YSABEL AND JULIAN, ARTIST JAMES HUBBELL BUILT A PLACE THAT’S HARD TO DESCRIBE. REPORTER JOHN CARROLL GIVES IT HIS BEST SHOT IN MARCH’S MUSEUM A MONTH.
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MAMHUBBELL 4:59 SOQ
Getting to the Ilan-Lael Foundation is not easy…
((DIRT ROAD NATS))
Once you leave Highway 78, you’re on a dirt road for a bit before you - arrive - here.
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Even if you have an inkling of what to expect - being here at first leads to questions both simple - what is this place? And profound, why is this place?
Ask AI and you get an answer that’s rather unsatisfying… 10-acres of integrated natural landscape and art structures. It is 10-acres and the 14-structures on this land are certainly designed and made with art in mind… but why? Ilan-Lael Foundation Executive Director Marianne Gerdes has the best answers you’re likely to find, and they all relate to its creator, Jim Hubbell.
SOT (3442) 8:30 - 8:58 (COUNTER)
CG: Marianne Gerdes/Ilan-Lael Foundation Executive Director
“When Jim was really a child, he decided to seek beauty, but never try to define it. Those are his words, not mine.
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What that means is he was going to use his ability to make art as a balance to some of the negativity that existed in the world.”
Here, you can say you came to see the art - and the buildings - and mean exactly the same thing.
So… describing the buildings is a challenge. Hubbell loved to play with shapes, colors and different materials used in unusual ways… from elaborate metal working to stained glass to the smallest colored tiles… you find all of that and more here.
The buildings on the property are separated into two sections… and that’s because of 2003’s disastrous Cedar Fire. There are the newer structures…
14:03// That includes the buildings you see behind me, the foundation where we have an office and we have meeting space. We keep an art archive of Jim’s work.”
And the ones that - largely - survived the fire intact.
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“Which represent Jim and Anne’s original home, and that’s the historically designated part of the property that comprises their residence, places where they lived, the studios where Jim made his art, and two galleries where he displays a lot of his art and used as a place to store artistic creations.”
Jim and Anne’s home is off limits to visitors… but fortunately all the other buildings are open…. including the Boy’s House. The four Hubbell sons grew up here.
Gerdes says it’s a favorite and you can see why, especially when you step inside.
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“A marvelous example of the inclusive nature of the way Jim designs architecture. So everything from the dome-shaped exterior with the beautiful sculpture of a woman with her hand in front of the sun, shielding her eyes to the elaborate interior with handmade tiles on the floor and mosaics of birds and other creatures and abalone shells in the bathroom, stained glass throwing light all over the rooms at different places at different times of the year. It’s just a jewel.”
One building that was lost and rebuilt after the fire is the Big Studio. Jim Hubbell created not only the building itself, but a lot of art here.
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Those sounds are from an artist creating metal sculpture in the Big Studio. Gerdes says keeping this place alive with newly created art was important to Jim Hubbell.
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“We have artists in our employ, and actually everybody here practices some art. It’s just in the nature of wanting to be here. Creative people are drawn here.”
To this day, all four Hubbell sons are still involved with the Foundation… three of them sit on the board. The youngest, Brennan, was on site the day we were here… we talked to him about what it was like growing up in this place.
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CG: Brennan Hubbell/Youngest Hubbell son
“It was fun to have the mountains to like walk around in and explore with, to have nature so much a part of our lives. You might notice the buildings are really small, so you have to walk outside in order to go to the dining room or your bedroom.”
Jim Hubbell died in 2024. Anne Hubbell is still alive but no longer lives at Ilan-Lael… the place she and her husband created…
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Ilan-Lael can be translated from Hebrew in a couple of ways - “a tree that belongs to God” or “a tree that unites the physical and the spiritual.” That may come about as close as you can to describing - this. JC, KPBS News.
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THE OLD GLOBE COMMISSIONED FIASCO THEATER TO CREATE A NEW PLAY BASED ON HERMAN MELVILLE’S 1853 SHORT STORY, BARTLEBY, THE SCRIVENER (BART-luh-bee, THE SKRIV-uh-ner). THE RESULT IS A WORKPLACE COMEDY THAT PROVES SOME THINGS NEVER CHANGE.
ARTS REPORTER BETH ACCOMANDO SAYS THE PLAY’S RUN HAS BEEN EXTENDED THROUGH MARCH 22.
BARTLEBY (ba) 1:19 SOQ
Herman Melville’s story of Bartleby the Scrivener begins with a simple act of passive resistance.
CLIP All I need you to do is proof this paper with me, it’s a page long, it will take all of five minutes… I’d prefer not to.
NOAH BRODY… That form of passive resistance turns out to be incredibly inflammatory to everyone around him.
Fiasco Theatre’s Noah Brody co-wrote the adaptation of Bartleby with Paul L. Coffey.
PAUL L. COFFEY… I think part of the appeal of the short story is that it is a mystery, and we don't really know exactly what is going on with Bartleby.
The playwrights were interested in a 19th century character who would be right at home in the movie Office Space and how Melville’s themes about humanity required no updating.
NOAH BRODY… I also think that one of the miracles that Melville pulls off in this story is that no one is clearly right or clearly wrong…
You can side with Bartleby or his employer, it’s like a Rorschach test that reveals more about the viewer than the story because Bartleby does not give you any information, he’s an enigma, a blank canvas that you can project whatever you want onto. The cleverness of Melville’s story and Fiasco Theater’s play is that a passive character who simply prefers not to can stir so much vigorous debate and turmoil.
Beth Accomando, KPBS News.
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That’s it for the podcast today. As always you can find more San Diego news online at KPBS dot org. I’m Lawrence K. Jackson. Thanks for listening and subscribing; by doing so you are supporting public media and I really want to thank you for that. Have a great day!
