San Diego Mayor says renaming the USNS Harvey Milk is ‘disgraceful’
Good Morning, I’m John Carroll, in for Debbie Cruz….it’s Monday, June 9th>>>>
City leaders speak out against renaming the U-S-N-S Harvey Milk. More on that next. But first... the headlines….#######
President Donald Trump’s new travel ban goes into effect today (Monday).
It bans travel from 12 countries and restricts it from seven more.
The countries are all in the Middle East, Africa and Central and South America.
San Diego nonprofit Partnership for the Advancement of New Americans or PANA has condemned the ban.
In a statement, the organization says the ban discriminates against Muslims and Black and Brown communities.
And will tear families apart and deny students access to education in the U-S.
#######
The San Diego City Council will hold a public hearing today (Monday) over a proposed trash collection fee for single family homeowners in the city.
The proposed fee depends on the size of the trash container.
The 35 gallon container, the smallest, would be an initial monthly fee of nearly 37 dollars. By 2028, the fee would increase to almost 48 dollars a month.
If approved, the fee would go into effect July 1st. But homeowners may see the first charge on their property tax bills… sometime in October.
########
It’s expected to stay warm for the next few days.
Highs are forecasted to be 5 to 10 degrees above normal today (Monday) and tomorrow (Tuesday).
There’s also a moderate risk for heat-related illnesses in our desert areas those days.
After Tuesday, it’s expected to gradually cool down by the end of the week.
#########
From KPBS, you’re listening to San Diego News Now.Stay with me for more of the local news you need.
<<<UNDERWRITING BREAK>>
######
<<<MUSIC BUMP INTO A BLOCK>>
##########
LOCAL VETERANS AND POLITICAL LEADERS ARE DENOUNCING A NEW PENTAGON EFFORT TO RENAME THE U-S-N-S HARVEY MILK, A SUPPLY SHIP NAMED FOR THE SLAIN POLITICIAN AND CIVIL RIGHTS ACTIVIST.
MILITARY REPORTER ANDREW DYER SAYS THE SHIP AND LGBTQ-PLUS VETERANS ARE PART OF SAN DIEGO’S MILITARY COMMUNITY.
MILK 1 SOQ 1:00
“Something is really wrong in America … this is much more than trying to remove the name of Harvey Milk.”
SAN DIEGO LGBTQ-RIGHTS ACTIVIST NICOLE MURRAY-RAMIREZ KNEW HARVEY MILK AND HELPED LEAD THE CAMPAIGN TO HAVE A SHIP NAMED FOR HIM.
MURRAY-RAMIREZ IS JOINED BY LGBTQ-PLUS VETERANS AND LOCAL POLITICAL LEADERS AT THE USS MIDWAY MUSEUM TO SPEAK OUT AGAINST THE EFFORT TO STRIP MILK’S NAME FROM THE SHIP.
SAN DIEGO MAYOR TODD GLORIA SAYS THE MOVE IS JUST THE LATEST IN A BROAD ATTACK ON THE COMMUNITY BY THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION.
“YOU KNOW, THIS IS HAPPENING, DURING PRIDE MONTH. THIS IS INTENTIONAL AND THIS IS DISGRACEFUL. IT IS CRUEL AND IT IS MEAN. AND THAT'S PROBABLY THE POINT. WE UNDERSTAND WHAT IT IS TO NOW BE IN THE CROSSHAIRS OF AN ADMINISTRATION THAT DOES NOT SEE US AS FELLOW AMERICANS, NOT SEE AS EQUAL AMERICANS.”
THE USNS HARVEY MILK IS A SUPPLY SHIP CREWED BY CIVILIAN MERCHANT MARINERS. SEVERAL OTHER SHIPS OF ITS CLASS – ALL NAMED FOR CIVIL RIGHTS LEADERS – ARE ALSO BEING TARGETED FOR RENAMING.
ANDREW DYER, KPBS NEWS.
##########
THE CITY OF OCEANSIDE CELEBRATED THE LGBTQ-PLUS COMMUNITY WITH ITS ANNUAL PRIDE BY THE BEACH EVENT THIS PAST WEEKEND. BUT NORTH COUNTY REPORTER TANIA THORNE SAYS THIS YEAR CONTROVERSY OVER WHERE THE FLAG CAN FLY IS CASTING A SHADOW OVER THE FESTIVITIES.
PRIDE 1 (1:05) SOQ 1:21
For the last 17 years, the city of Oceanside has proclaimed June as Pride Month.
But this year, that proclamation was rejected by the North County LGBTQ Resource Center after the city declined to fly the rainbow-striped pride flag over city hall.
Max Disposti is the executive director of the resource center.
“but this was just a little bit too much for us to come here, get a picture taken, celebrate the proclamation and we just can't do that.”
In May, the majority of the city council voted to display the Pride Flag at city hall for the first time.
But during a second reading two weeks later, council member Jimmy Figueroa changed his vote, killing the resolution.
He later explained that his decision came from a belief in keeping government spaces in Oceanside neutral.
“As a council member, I want to ensure that Oceanside City Hall remains neutral and a place that represents every community member equally from all backgrounds, cultures, and beliefs.”
Disposti with the LGBTQ center says the stance of neutrality is like siding with the oppressive majority, at a time when the LGBTQ communities are under attack.
TT KPBS News
##########
HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE AT UC SAN DIEGO ON FRIDAY ATTENDED WHAT THEY CALLED A “STAND UP FOR SCIENCE” PROTEST. SCI-TECH REPORTER THOMAS FUDGE SAYS MANY OF THEM TOLD THEIR OWN STORIES OF HOW FEDERAL FUNDING CUTS ARE AFFECTING SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH.
SCIENCERALLY 1(tf) :55 …SOQ.
The Trump administration has cancelled many existing science grants and it’s proposing large budget cuts to science funding foundations like the National Institutes of Health. Protesters talked about the importance of science funding to the San Diego economy and the progress of Medicine. Lisa Eyler is a professor of psychiatry at UCSD. She says federal cuts have already had a big impact on the university.
“At UC San Diego as of May 30th, there have been more than 150 federal grants terminated. (boo!) Resulting in a loss of thirty million dollars.”
A postdoctoral student at the rally said his grant was cancelled, and the justification was his research was related to diversity and inclusion programs. He said it was not. It was about neurobiology and the causes of autism. SOQ.
##########
VOTING CONTINUES IN THE SOUTH BAY IN THE RUNOFF ELECTION FOR SAN DIEGO COUNTY’S DISTRICT 1 SUPERVISOR – A RACE THAT WILL DECIDE WHETHER DEMOCRATS OR REPUBLICANS HAVE MORE INFLUENCE OVER THE COUNTY GOVERNMENT. KORI SUZUKI REPORTS, THE TOP TWO CANDIDATES HAVE DIFFERENT PRIORITIES WHEN IT COMES TO THE SHERIFF’S DEPARTMENT AND THE COUNTY JAILS.
D1PUBLICSAFETY 1:04 SOQ
San Diego County has one of the deadliest jail systems in California.
More than 180 people have died in custody over the last two decades, mainly from overdoses and by suicide.
Democrat Paloma Aguirre is the mayor of Imperial Beach and a candidate for the District 1 seat. She says she supports the county’s citizen oversight board of the Sheriff’s Department. And would consider giving them more authority to investigate in-custody deaths.
"I would work with the sheriff and see there's this interest. Can we work together? And um If it makes sense, I think it does. I would absolutely support giving them more authority."
Running against Aguirre is John McCann, a Republican and the mayor of Chula Vista. He’s a strong supporter of law enforcement. And says his focus would be on increasing funding for the hiring of more sheriff’s deputies and jail staff.
"That will help the inmates because many times if they're understaffed, the the guards are not going to be able to see everything and not be able to control everything."
If you live in District 1, the last day to cast your ballot is July 1st.
Kori Suzuki, KPBS News.
<<<SHOW CLOSE>>>
That’s it for the podcast today. As always you can find more San Diego news online at KPBS dot org. I’m John Carroll. Thanks for listening and have a great day.
