1 00:00:00,200 --> 00:00:02,880 Speaker 1: It is the News Blitz with Randy Wang on Talk 2 00:00:03,000 --> 00:00:07,280 Speaker 1: Radio seven ninety KABC. We're here every single day from 3 00:00:07,440 --> 00:00:10,160 Speaker 1: five to six talking about the local issues that matter 4 00:00:10,200 --> 00:00:12,319 Speaker 1: to you most and taking your phone calls at eight 5 00:00:12,440 --> 00:00:15,440 Speaker 1: hundred two two two five two two two one eight 6 00:00:15,560 --> 00:00:18,360 Speaker 1: hundred two two two five two two two, your emails 7 00:00:18,400 --> 00:00:22,600 Speaker 1: at Randy Wangradio at gmail dot com, and search for 8 00:00:22,640 --> 00:00:27,320 Speaker 1: the KABC News Blitz wherever you get your podcasts. It 9 00:00:27,360 --> 00:00:30,400 Speaker 1: is twenty twenty six, That means it is an election year, 10 00:00:30,600 --> 00:00:32,440 Speaker 1: and we're going to try to do our best to 11 00:00:32,560 --> 00:00:36,720 Speaker 1: talk to as many candidates for local offices like city 12 00:00:36,760 --> 00:00:40,320 Speaker 1: council races, mayor's races, and all of our cities. But 13 00:00:40,400 --> 00:00:44,360 Speaker 1: of course the statewide positions are important as well. One 14 00:00:44,360 --> 00:00:46,680 Speaker 1: of those jobs that you will be voting for in 15 00:00:46,720 --> 00:00:51,400 Speaker 1: November is State Superintendent of Public Exstruction, the person that's 16 00:00:51,400 --> 00:00:54,840 Speaker 1: supposed to be in charge of the schools, and considering 17 00:00:54,880 --> 00:00:58,440 Speaker 1: the current state of California schools, you could argue that 18 00:00:58,520 --> 00:01:01,480 Speaker 1: we could use some changes in that petition. Our next 19 00:01:01,520 --> 00:01:06,680 Speaker 1: guest is running for Superintendent of Public Instruction, Gus Madamol. 20 00:01:06,800 --> 00:01:10,119 Speaker 1: Welcome to the Newsplitz, Ronnie. 21 00:01:10,160 --> 00:01:12,240 Speaker 2: Thanks so much for having me on. I really appreciate it. 22 00:01:12,760 --> 00:01:15,480 Speaker 1: Well, why don't we start off introduce yourself, tell us 23 00:01:15,520 --> 00:01:18,200 Speaker 1: who you are, and why, oh why you want to 24 00:01:18,280 --> 00:01:19,320 Speaker 1: run for state office. 25 00:01:20,520 --> 00:01:23,200 Speaker 2: Well, thanks so much, Randy. My name is Gus Monomol. 26 00:01:23,560 --> 00:01:26,400 Speaker 2: I am currently the director of Advantage Testing of Silicon Valley. 27 00:01:26,440 --> 00:01:29,720 Speaker 2: We are known as the nation's premiere tutoring firm. I'm 28 00:01:29,760 --> 00:01:33,080 Speaker 2: also on my city council, and you know, this is 29 00:01:33,120 --> 00:01:36,320 Speaker 2: a seat that's a deeply meaningful to me on a 30 00:01:36,360 --> 00:01:38,720 Speaker 2: personal level because I grew up in an area with 31 00:01:38,760 --> 00:01:40,640 Speaker 2: a failing public school. I was the only kid on 32 00:01:40,640 --> 00:01:42,639 Speaker 2: my block to graduate high school at all, let alone 33 00:01:42,640 --> 00:01:45,080 Speaker 2: go to college. My neighborhood public high school had a 34 00:01:45,120 --> 00:01:47,600 Speaker 2: twenty five percent graduation rate for twenty five years in 35 00:01:47,640 --> 00:01:51,400 Speaker 2: a row, as an entire generation of mostly low income 36 00:01:51,640 --> 00:01:55,400 Speaker 2: black and brown kids set into a function as a 37 00:01:55,440 --> 00:01:59,040 Speaker 2: pitstop on the school to prison pipeline. And ten here. 38 00:01:59,120 --> 00:02:01,840 Speaker 2: That was in Saint Louis in Missouri, but here in 39 00:02:01,840 --> 00:02:04,040 Speaker 2: California we have a lot of schools that function that 40 00:02:04,080 --> 00:02:07,960 Speaker 2: way too. And you know, I think it's personally it 41 00:02:08,160 --> 00:02:11,400 Speaker 2: robs children of low income children in particular of the 42 00:02:11,440 --> 00:02:13,760 Speaker 2: one and only shot they'll have at a pathway to 43 00:02:13,840 --> 00:02:16,240 Speaker 2: the middle class. If we put them in a public school, 44 00:02:16,280 --> 00:02:19,040 Speaker 2: that just doesn't work. So so in my book A 45 00:02:19,200 --> 00:02:21,480 Speaker 2: Is for Average, I laid out my vision for this role, 46 00:02:21,520 --> 00:02:25,600 Speaker 2: the superintendent's role, which can be an important force for change. 47 00:02:25,720 --> 00:02:28,080 Speaker 2: And you know that's true because the last time the 48 00:02:28,120 --> 00:02:30,840 Speaker 2: seat was open in twenty eighteen, sixty million dollars was 49 00:02:30,880 --> 00:02:34,080 Speaker 2: spent on this race, the most money spent for anything 50 00:02:34,080 --> 00:02:37,200 Speaker 2: other than governor for a seat that honestly, most people 51 00:02:37,200 --> 00:02:40,040 Speaker 2: don't even know that it actually exists. But no one 52 00:02:40,080 --> 00:02:42,120 Speaker 2: would spend sixty million dollars on it if it weren't 53 00:02:42,120 --> 00:02:45,200 Speaker 2: a really important seat. So you know, it's a seat 54 00:02:45,240 --> 00:02:47,880 Speaker 2: that could in fact be a driver of change in California. 55 00:02:47,919 --> 00:02:50,840 Speaker 2: And I, as your superintendent, I will absolutely make sure 56 00:02:51,000 --> 00:02:52,519 Speaker 2: that it is that we get kids to the point 57 00:02:52,520 --> 00:02:54,400 Speaker 2: where they can read a book, do math, and get 58 00:02:54,440 --> 00:02:56,560 Speaker 2: a job. That's my focus. And right now we're not 59 00:02:56,600 --> 00:02:58,680 Speaker 2: doing any of that. In California. 60 00:02:59,000 --> 00:03:01,720 Speaker 1: We spend a lot of money per pupil. I think 61 00:03:01,720 --> 00:03:03,920 Speaker 1: the spending just went up in the new budget. We 62 00:03:03,960 --> 00:03:07,360 Speaker 1: spend a lot of money on education, but we don't 63 00:03:07,400 --> 00:03:10,000 Speaker 1: really see a lot of turnaround on though we don't 64 00:03:10,000 --> 00:03:12,440 Speaker 1: really see a lot of return on investment, we see 65 00:03:12,520 --> 00:03:15,600 Speaker 1: low test scores. What is the disconnect there? Is it 66 00:03:15,600 --> 00:03:17,760 Speaker 1: that we're not spending enough money or is there something 67 00:03:17,800 --> 00:03:18,520 Speaker 1: else going on? 68 00:03:19,840 --> 00:03:21,600 Speaker 2: You know, money is always the first thing people point to, 69 00:03:21,680 --> 00:03:23,680 Speaker 2: and I'm always happy to have a conversation about money, 70 00:03:23,680 --> 00:03:25,720 Speaker 2: But if you look at the results, you know, if 71 00:03:25,720 --> 00:03:27,760 Speaker 2: that were true, if money were the only driver, then 72 00:03:27,800 --> 00:03:30,400 Speaker 2: you would expect that whatever state spends number one on 73 00:03:30,440 --> 00:03:32,680 Speaker 2: per pupil would have the number one results, and whoever 74 00:03:32,720 --> 00:03:35,640 Speaker 2: spends the least would have the worst results. You'd expect 75 00:03:35,640 --> 00:03:38,680 Speaker 2: a nice straight line. When I do a roadshow on this, 76 00:03:38,800 --> 00:03:41,280 Speaker 2: I show that data and it just looks like somebody 77 00:03:41,280 --> 00:03:44,040 Speaker 2: sprayed the area with dots. There's like absolutely not any 78 00:03:44,080 --> 00:03:48,240 Speaker 2: kind of relationship whatsoever between spending and results. And here 79 00:03:48,320 --> 00:03:50,520 Speaker 2: in California, as you point out, we're spending a one 80 00:03:50,600 --> 00:03:53,760 Speaker 2: hundred and thirty billion on it this budget year, and 81 00:03:53,920 --> 00:03:56,160 Speaker 2: you know we're going to finish around fortieth in results 82 00:03:56,160 --> 00:03:59,400 Speaker 2: in both math and reading. And the thing is, it's 83 00:03:59,440 --> 00:04:01,560 Speaker 2: not like this is not like trying to cure cancer, 84 00:04:01,560 --> 00:04:03,280 Speaker 2: where it's like, well, we would love to do that, 85 00:04:03,320 --> 00:04:06,640 Speaker 2: but we don't know how we actually know what's best 86 00:04:06,680 --> 00:04:09,680 Speaker 2: in terms of reading. The state of Mississippi, for example, 87 00:04:09,720 --> 00:04:12,240 Speaker 2: has really gotten in the news recently because over the 88 00:04:12,320 --> 00:04:15,040 Speaker 2: last twelve years they've gone from forty eighth in the 89 00:04:15,120 --> 00:04:17,560 Speaker 2: nation and reading to seventh in the nation and reading 90 00:04:18,320 --> 00:04:20,400 Speaker 2: just by fully committing to what we know works, which 91 00:04:20,480 --> 00:04:22,400 Speaker 2: you know these days we call the science of reading. 92 00:04:23,200 --> 00:04:26,240 Speaker 2: Here in California, this last cycle, we couldn't even get 93 00:04:26,240 --> 00:04:29,200 Speaker 2: a strong science of Reading bill passed through the legislature 94 00:04:29,240 --> 00:04:32,880 Speaker 2: because the politics of Sacramento prevented it. So what we 95 00:04:32,960 --> 00:04:34,520 Speaker 2: ended up with is a weak sauce. Well, you can 96 00:04:34,560 --> 00:04:36,600 Speaker 2: do it if you want, but nobody has to. So 97 00:04:36,680 --> 00:04:39,800 Speaker 2: it's a willful choice not to teach reading in the 98 00:04:39,800 --> 00:04:42,760 Speaker 2: way that we know works best. And the people who 99 00:04:42,800 --> 00:04:47,120 Speaker 2: bear the brunt of those those choices are again low income, 100 00:04:47,200 --> 00:04:51,520 Speaker 2: mostly black and brown kids, And it's just it blows 101 00:04:51,560 --> 00:04:54,400 Speaker 2: my mind. Then, in a state that pats itself on 102 00:04:54,400 --> 00:04:57,400 Speaker 2: the back about equity about every three hundred milliseconds, that 103 00:04:56,880 --> 00:05:00,000 Speaker 2: that is the case. Same with math, we could be 104 00:05:00,080 --> 00:05:03,120 Speaker 2: teaching math a lot better. Singapore is the world's number 105 00:05:03,160 --> 00:05:05,919 Speaker 2: one country in terms of math performance, and they published 106 00:05:05,960 --> 00:05:07,520 Speaker 2: their national curriculum and say here it is this is 107 00:05:07,560 --> 00:05:09,720 Speaker 2: what we're teaching kids. It's not like we don't know 108 00:05:09,760 --> 00:05:11,400 Speaker 2: what works. We could be using that, but we don't. 109 00:05:12,040 --> 00:05:14,839 Speaker 2: I use it in my business, my client families, we 110 00:05:14,880 --> 00:05:18,680 Speaker 2: all use that curriculum for younger kids. It's a fantastic 111 00:05:18,720 --> 00:05:21,000 Speaker 2: curriculum and all the kids in California could be using it, 112 00:05:21,040 --> 00:05:23,400 Speaker 2: and the fact that we don't is again a political 113 00:05:23,480 --> 00:05:26,479 Speaker 2: choice that comes out of Sacramento. So the only way 114 00:05:26,480 --> 00:05:29,000 Speaker 2: we're going to change this again for our low income 115 00:05:29,080 --> 00:05:31,880 Speaker 2: kids in particular, is if we say enough with these 116 00:05:31,960 --> 00:05:35,400 Speaker 2: establishment candidates. We've got three or four establishment Democrats in 117 00:05:35,440 --> 00:05:37,800 Speaker 2: this thing who are just playing musical chairs and Sacramento. 118 00:05:38,240 --> 00:05:40,160 Speaker 2: If any of those win this thing, it's another four 119 00:05:40,240 --> 00:05:41,640 Speaker 2: years where the kids are not going to get a 120 00:05:41,640 --> 00:05:44,440 Speaker 2: decent education. You know, I'm willing to go in there. 121 00:05:44,440 --> 00:05:46,520 Speaker 2: I've been a full time educator for twenty two years. 122 00:05:46,839 --> 00:05:49,039 Speaker 2: Education is my passion issue. I will make sure that 123 00:05:49,080 --> 00:05:51,720 Speaker 2: our kids get that education they deserve. I will be 124 00:05:51,880 --> 00:05:54,719 Speaker 2: a force for making sure we switch to signs of reading, 125 00:05:54,720 --> 00:05:57,240 Speaker 2: for making sure that we use a math curriculum that 126 00:05:57,279 --> 00:05:59,000 Speaker 2: makes sense. And that's how we're going to turn it 127 00:05:59,040 --> 00:06:00,360 Speaker 2: around for our kids. 128 00:06:01,160 --> 00:06:03,560 Speaker 1: Now, if you get into this position. You know, you 129 00:06:03,600 --> 00:06:07,000 Speaker 1: speak about the power brokers in Sacramento, specifically in education, 130 00:06:07,560 --> 00:06:09,880 Speaker 1: that is the teachers' unions. How do you stand up 131 00:06:09,920 --> 00:06:13,359 Speaker 1: against the teachers unions who have unchecked power when it 132 00:06:13,400 --> 00:06:14,800 Speaker 1: comes to the state of California. 133 00:06:15,920 --> 00:06:17,880 Speaker 2: Yeah, you know, that's it's that's so great that you 134 00:06:17,920 --> 00:06:21,200 Speaker 2: bring that up the teachers. First of all, I grew 135 00:06:21,240 --> 00:06:23,960 Speaker 2: up in a union household. I have nothing against unions 136 00:06:24,320 --> 00:06:30,159 Speaker 2: on principle, but whenever any person or organization gains total power, 137 00:06:31,120 --> 00:06:33,520 Speaker 2: they become a problem. It has become an obstacle to 138 00:06:33,640 --> 00:06:38,240 Speaker 2: getting new things done. And the Teachers Union has done 139 00:06:38,240 --> 00:06:41,240 Speaker 2: an excellent job cultivating what I would call us an 140 00:06:41,240 --> 00:06:44,719 Speaker 2: aura of invincibility. Like if you get honestly lots of 141 00:06:45,480 --> 00:06:48,039 Speaker 2: you know, Democratic politicians in a room with you know, 142 00:06:48,200 --> 00:06:50,520 Speaker 2: the off record, they'll say, I would love to change 143 00:06:50,600 --> 00:06:52,400 Speaker 2: this or that about education, but I can't because the 144 00:06:52,440 --> 00:06:56,480 Speaker 2: Teachers Union doesn't support it. But the thing about an 145 00:06:56,480 --> 00:07:00,000 Speaker 2: aura of invincibility is, uh, you know, invincibilities like virginity, 146 00:07:00,160 --> 00:07:02,040 Speaker 2: Once you use it, it's gone. Once you lose it, 147 00:07:02,040 --> 00:07:05,200 Speaker 2: it's gone forever and you can't get it back. So 148 00:07:05,320 --> 00:07:07,919 Speaker 2: this is, you know, instead of trying to change forty 149 00:07:07,960 --> 00:07:09,960 Speaker 2: one seats in the Assembly and twenty one seats in 150 00:07:10,000 --> 00:07:12,720 Speaker 2: the Senate. You can just focus on this one race 151 00:07:12,840 --> 00:07:16,200 Speaker 2: because which is the crown jewel of California's education system, 152 00:07:16,560 --> 00:07:20,720 Speaker 2: and for an outsider to win it would send shockwaves 153 00:07:20,760 --> 00:07:23,280 Speaker 2: through Sacramento, would have so many ripple effects in so 154 00:07:23,320 --> 00:07:27,400 Speaker 2: many other areas and create that create the conditions to 155 00:07:27,480 --> 00:07:30,040 Speaker 2: really drive new change. So you can focus on just 156 00:07:30,080 --> 00:07:32,000 Speaker 2: this one race, which is great, Like we all just 157 00:07:32,040 --> 00:07:34,840 Speaker 2: focus on this and it's it's just one race. You know, 158 00:07:34,880 --> 00:07:36,600 Speaker 2: you just have to be a fifth or sixth thing 159 00:07:36,600 --> 00:07:39,160 Speaker 2: on your ballot. Just look for Gus. Gus for us, 160 00:07:39,160 --> 00:07:42,560 Speaker 2: It's easy to remember, and then we can you know, 161 00:07:42,680 --> 00:07:43,960 Speaker 2: let's just take you a minute. I always like to 162 00:07:44,000 --> 00:07:46,880 Speaker 2: say it's a minute to win it, and then we 163 00:07:46,960 --> 00:07:49,320 Speaker 2: will actually create the conditions for change that I'll be 164 00:07:49,360 --> 00:07:51,240 Speaker 2: driving it at the top, but it will also allow 165 00:07:51,960 --> 00:07:54,120 Speaker 2: other politicians wh would love to make changes to our 166 00:07:54,200 --> 00:07:55,920 Speaker 2: education system the space to do it. 167 00:07:57,040 --> 00:07:59,520 Speaker 1: We're speaking with Gus Monimal. He is running for state 168 00:07:59,560 --> 00:08:02,080 Speaker 1: super and tended a public instruction. He'll be on the 169 00:08:02,120 --> 00:08:06,240 Speaker 1: ballot in June and November. Well in June and that 170 00:08:06,400 --> 00:08:10,640 Speaker 1: potentially in November. Now one of the issues that the 171 00:08:10,680 --> 00:08:12,800 Speaker 1: former superintendent had to deal with, and it was a 172 00:08:12,840 --> 00:08:17,160 Speaker 1: pretty huge one, was the former superintendent was in office 173 00:08:17,240 --> 00:08:20,560 Speaker 1: during COVID in California, the schools were closed longer than 174 00:08:20,640 --> 00:08:23,920 Speaker 1: anywhere else. What do you think, What do you think 175 00:08:24,000 --> 00:08:27,000 Speaker 1: of the fact that California stayed closed for so long? 176 00:08:27,280 --> 00:08:29,040 Speaker 1: And what are some of the linger effects that we 177 00:08:29,120 --> 00:08:30,720 Speaker 1: still have on kids today with that? 178 00:08:32,000 --> 00:08:34,960 Speaker 2: Yeah, you know, when when whenever a new family calls 179 00:08:34,960 --> 00:08:37,319 Speaker 2: in to to ask me and my team to work 180 00:08:37,360 --> 00:08:38,960 Speaker 2: with some one of the first questions I asked is 181 00:08:39,320 --> 00:08:42,439 Speaker 2: what grades were What give me the two years that 182 00:08:42,640 --> 00:08:45,439 Speaker 2: covered COVID for you for your kid, because I'm just 183 00:08:45,440 --> 00:08:47,240 Speaker 2: going to assume that you didn't learn like two years 184 00:08:47,240 --> 00:08:49,440 Speaker 2: of math whatever two years that was there, two years 185 00:08:49,440 --> 00:08:52,080 Speaker 2: of math you did not learn, Like the learning loss 186 00:08:52,160 --> 00:08:55,960 Speaker 2: was huge and it helps me be more efficient with 187 00:08:56,280 --> 00:08:58,320 Speaker 2: helping kids if I understand which two years you didn't 188 00:08:58,360 --> 00:09:02,360 Speaker 2: learn any math? You know, for California to have stayed 189 00:09:03,120 --> 00:09:06,160 Speaker 2: closed longer than any other state blows my mind, particularly 190 00:09:06,960 --> 00:09:09,560 Speaker 2: you know, given how much good weather we've got in 191 00:09:09,559 --> 00:09:11,760 Speaker 2: this state there, which we could have put up tents, 192 00:09:11,840 --> 00:09:13,920 Speaker 2: put the kids out. You know, we could have done 193 00:09:13,960 --> 00:09:16,800 Speaker 2: this safely. We could have reopened schools. There was no 194 00:09:16,840 --> 00:09:19,560 Speaker 2: reason to keep the schools closed. As long as we did. 195 00:09:19,600 --> 00:09:23,960 Speaker 2: That was again a political choice, and California's kids really 196 00:09:24,000 --> 00:09:27,360 Speaker 2: bear the brunt of that more so than anybody else's kids, 197 00:09:27,679 --> 00:09:29,800 Speaker 2: and that's part of why we remain kind of mired 198 00:09:29,800 --> 00:09:32,719 Speaker 2: at the bottom of the state rankings every time you 199 00:09:32,760 --> 00:09:35,800 Speaker 2: look at the results. So I just, you know, I 200 00:09:35,840 --> 00:09:39,920 Speaker 2: can't believe that that people felt like it was more 201 00:09:39,960 --> 00:09:43,520 Speaker 2: important to keep these schools shut and prevent those kids 202 00:09:43,559 --> 00:09:47,319 Speaker 2: from getting an education. That it blows my mind that 203 00:09:47,320 --> 00:09:50,280 Speaker 2: that we run the system for adults and we don't 204 00:09:50,360 --> 00:09:52,559 Speaker 2: run the system for kids, like it's the system that 205 00:09:52,600 --> 00:09:54,599 Speaker 2: should be run for the kids at all times. That 206 00:09:54,640 --> 00:09:57,040 Speaker 2: should always be the first thing that we're thinking about. 207 00:09:57,760 --> 00:10:00,480 Speaker 2: But that's not how we've been doing it California. 208 00:10:01,720 --> 00:10:04,720 Speaker 1: Now, another tough issue that's being faced, especially in some 209 00:10:04,840 --> 00:10:07,960 Speaker 1: Bay Area school districts I'm thinking Oakland Unified, is we're 210 00:10:07,960 --> 00:10:11,720 Speaker 1: seeing such a huge decline in population to the point 211 00:10:11,760 --> 00:10:15,120 Speaker 1: where school budgets are getting overblown because they're not getting 212 00:10:15,160 --> 00:10:19,280 Speaker 1: the enrollment dollars, and there's pressure to merge schools, to 213 00:10:19,400 --> 00:10:22,880 Speaker 1: merge classrooms, and it's being fought at every single step. 214 00:10:22,920 --> 00:10:25,440 Speaker 1: But what do we do when we're starting to see 215 00:10:25,440 --> 00:10:28,400 Speaker 1: a point where because it's so expensive to have a 216 00:10:28,480 --> 00:10:30,719 Speaker 1: family in this state, we're going to start seeing a 217 00:10:30,760 --> 00:10:33,720 Speaker 1: lot less people having kids and taking those kids to 218 00:10:33,760 --> 00:10:35,480 Speaker 1: public schools. So what do we do about that? 219 00:10:36,760 --> 00:10:38,480 Speaker 2: Yeah, you know, there's there's a whole bunch of there's 220 00:10:38,480 --> 00:10:40,920 Speaker 2: a bunch of different pieces to that. You know, first, 221 00:10:41,559 --> 00:10:45,160 Speaker 2: it's again choices in Sacramento to make it absolutely unaffordable 222 00:10:45,160 --> 00:10:47,160 Speaker 2: to live in this state. You know, I mean I 223 00:10:47,160 --> 00:10:49,320 Speaker 2: could go to New Mexico and buy gas two dollars 224 00:10:49,320 --> 00:10:52,240 Speaker 2: and seventy five cents today, it's a political choice to 225 00:10:52,240 --> 00:10:55,760 Speaker 2: have gas before seventy five or whatever. It is, same 226 00:10:55,800 --> 00:10:59,000 Speaker 2: with electricity. You know, these are all choices that are 227 00:10:59,000 --> 00:11:02,920 Speaker 2: made in Sacramento and make it so unaffordable to live here, which, 228 00:11:03,040 --> 00:11:05,640 Speaker 2: as you mentioned, causes families to move away. There's so 229 00:11:05,640 --> 00:11:07,760 Speaker 2: many families or you know, older people who are like 230 00:11:07,760 --> 00:11:09,960 Speaker 2: my kids have moved away, which means now my grandkids 231 00:11:10,400 --> 00:11:12,400 Speaker 2: are gone with them. Like that's you know, it's a 232 00:11:12,480 --> 00:11:14,680 Speaker 2: terrible thing to sort of whole families apart like that. 233 00:11:15,240 --> 00:11:17,559 Speaker 2: So on the one hand, you've got choices in Sacramento 234 00:11:17,600 --> 00:11:21,079 Speaker 2: that are driving families who would have kids to other states. 235 00:11:22,240 --> 00:11:24,040 Speaker 2: And then, you know, and then because of that, and 236 00:11:24,120 --> 00:11:27,199 Speaker 2: as you pointed out, we're looking at enrollment declines across 237 00:11:27,240 --> 00:11:30,520 Speaker 2: the system. You know, we need to be educating kids 238 00:11:30,520 --> 00:11:33,000 Speaker 2: who are actually here. You know, I don't I don't 239 00:11:33,000 --> 00:11:36,560 Speaker 2: support the idea of moving to paying by enrollment rather 240 00:11:36,600 --> 00:11:40,200 Speaker 2: than by actual butts and actual seats. You know, that's 241 00:11:40,280 --> 00:11:42,040 Speaker 2: that's just a way of propping up a system and 242 00:11:42,120 --> 00:11:45,200 Speaker 2: not not allowing it to change and adapt to reality 243 00:11:45,240 --> 00:11:47,280 Speaker 2: on the ground. You know, I think when it comes 244 00:11:47,320 --> 00:11:49,200 Speaker 2: to closing schools, you really have to that has to 245 00:11:49,240 --> 00:11:52,199 Speaker 2: be done very, very carefully and thoughtfully, with a lot 246 00:11:52,240 --> 00:11:55,160 Speaker 2: of local input, because it is going to be a 247 00:11:55,160 --> 00:11:58,040 Speaker 2: decision that's going to affect a lot of people, you know, negatively. 248 00:11:58,520 --> 00:12:00,679 Speaker 2: But at the same time, if we don't at least 249 00:12:00,679 --> 00:12:03,720 Speaker 2: some of that, we're spreading our resources too thin, and 250 00:12:03,720 --> 00:12:07,080 Speaker 2: that again not serving the interests of the kids. We 251 00:12:07,200 --> 00:12:09,120 Speaker 2: always have to be thinking about what is the best 252 00:12:09,320 --> 00:12:12,479 Speaker 2: for the kids, not what is best for the adults. 253 00:12:13,080 --> 00:12:16,160 Speaker 2: So we will have to do some consolidating of schools. Again, 254 00:12:16,280 --> 00:12:18,560 Speaker 2: it has to be done carefully and thoughtfully, you know, 255 00:12:18,600 --> 00:12:20,960 Speaker 2: in a very strategic manner, but we'll have to do 256 00:12:21,000 --> 00:12:22,520 Speaker 2: some of it, and I would love to see some 257 00:12:22,520 --> 00:12:25,000 Speaker 2: different leadership and Sacramento making some changes to make it 258 00:12:25,040 --> 00:12:27,280 Speaker 2: more affordable to live here, so people will in fact 259 00:12:27,360 --> 00:12:31,000 Speaker 2: choose to start their families here and then we will 260 00:12:31,040 --> 00:12:33,760 Speaker 2: have you more kids for the schools. And if we 261 00:12:33,840 --> 00:12:35,559 Speaker 2: do better on the results, so this is kind of 262 00:12:35,559 --> 00:12:37,680 Speaker 2: the final piece of it. If we do better with 263 00:12:37,760 --> 00:12:39,760 Speaker 2: the results, if we were getting better results with reading, 264 00:12:39,760 --> 00:12:41,880 Speaker 2: if we were getting better results from math, then people 265 00:12:41,880 --> 00:12:44,280 Speaker 2: would want to put their kids in the public schools. 266 00:12:44,600 --> 00:12:46,400 Speaker 2: Once people want to put their kids in the schools, 267 00:12:46,400 --> 00:12:49,000 Speaker 2: you don't have these enrollment problems. I'm here in the 268 00:12:49,000 --> 00:12:51,360 Speaker 2: Bay area. Palo Alto doesn't have any you know, it 269 00:12:51,559 --> 00:12:54,440 Speaker 2: doesn't have serious enrollment problems because their schools are so 270 00:12:54,520 --> 00:12:56,839 Speaker 2: good that everybody's happy to keep moving to Palo Alto 271 00:12:56,920 --> 00:12:58,920 Speaker 2: to make sure they have access to them. If we 272 00:12:58,960 --> 00:13:01,120 Speaker 2: improve our schools, people will want to put their kids 273 00:13:01,120 --> 00:13:03,000 Speaker 2: in them, and then that will help solve some of 274 00:13:03,000 --> 00:13:06,400 Speaker 2: the enrollment to client. So better schools, better policies, and 275 00:13:06,440 --> 00:13:09,280 Speaker 2: Sacramento to make things more affordable. If we do all 276 00:13:09,320 --> 00:13:11,840 Speaker 2: those things, I think we'll have it will have to 277 00:13:12,200 --> 00:13:16,800 Speaker 2: make far fewer choices about closing schools and consolidating schools 278 00:13:16,800 --> 00:13:18,319 Speaker 2: than we otherwise are going to have to do. 279 00:13:19,679 --> 00:13:22,680 Speaker 1: Now, another issue that's being talked about a lot when 280 00:13:22,679 --> 00:13:25,840 Speaker 1: it comes to education, specifically, you know, for junior high 281 00:13:25,840 --> 00:13:28,800 Speaker 1: and high school, is the subject of cell phones in 282 00:13:28,880 --> 00:13:32,560 Speaker 1: schools and how distracting they can be, but also how 283 00:13:32,600 --> 00:13:36,040 Speaker 1: difficult it is for teachers on the line to enforce 284 00:13:36,120 --> 00:13:39,280 Speaker 1: cell phone bans. Where do you land on banning cell 285 00:13:39,320 --> 00:13:41,120 Speaker 1: phones in schools during instruction? 286 00:13:42,160 --> 00:13:43,800 Speaker 2: Yeah, you know. One of my themes is let kids 287 00:13:43,880 --> 00:13:45,720 Speaker 2: be kids, and the thing about cell phones is cell 288 00:13:45,760 --> 00:13:48,160 Speaker 2: phones don't let kids be kids. Cell phones let kids 289 00:13:48,160 --> 00:13:52,880 Speaker 2: be zombies. So my position on that is, by all means, 290 00:13:52,960 --> 00:13:54,560 Speaker 2: have the cell phone when you get to you know, 291 00:13:54,800 --> 00:13:57,520 Speaker 2: to get yourself to school so mom and dad can 292 00:13:57,640 --> 00:13:59,439 Speaker 2: reach you if necessary. But with the second you walk 293 00:13:59,480 --> 00:14:01,280 Speaker 2: through the door, goes in the locker and it stays 294 00:14:01,280 --> 00:14:04,080 Speaker 2: in the locker until you go home. And if you know, 295 00:14:04,280 --> 00:14:05,960 Speaker 2: while you're at school, if mom and dad need to 296 00:14:05,960 --> 00:14:07,719 Speaker 2: reach you, call the office, so we did for a 297 00:14:07,800 --> 00:14:10,480 Speaker 2: hundred years. Work just fine, call the office. We can 298 00:14:10,480 --> 00:14:13,560 Speaker 2: get a message to a student, no problem, But while 299 00:14:13,559 --> 00:14:15,400 Speaker 2: they're in the school, the phone should be in the 300 00:14:15,400 --> 00:14:17,079 Speaker 2: locker and it should not come out of the locker 301 00:14:17,120 --> 00:14:20,320 Speaker 2: for any for any reason. Whenever I say that to 302 00:14:20,440 --> 00:14:23,000 Speaker 2: groups of young people, there's always kind of a lot 303 00:14:23,040 --> 00:14:24,800 Speaker 2: of pushback on that because they really love their phones. 304 00:14:25,840 --> 00:14:28,400 Speaker 2: But whenever these sorts of policies are put in place, 305 00:14:28,680 --> 00:14:30,480 Speaker 2: like after a few weeks, when the kids are done 306 00:14:30,560 --> 00:14:33,400 Speaker 2: going through the withdrawal, they actually like it because they 307 00:14:33,560 --> 00:14:36,240 Speaker 2: spend more time with each other. They're kids, they're actually 308 00:14:36,320 --> 00:14:40,280 Speaker 2: wired biologically to want to be engaging with each other, 309 00:14:40,800 --> 00:14:42,720 Speaker 2: and they do a lot more of that when they 310 00:14:42,720 --> 00:14:45,280 Speaker 2: don't have the phones with them. So it's again better 311 00:14:45,320 --> 00:14:47,920 Speaker 2: for the kids if they don't if they don't have 312 00:14:47,960 --> 00:14:49,720 Speaker 2: access to them during the school day, and of course 313 00:14:49,760 --> 00:14:52,120 Speaker 2: they can have them when they go go home, but 314 00:14:52,200 --> 00:14:53,960 Speaker 2: during the school day, no, they'll be We'll get a 315 00:14:53,960 --> 00:14:55,280 Speaker 2: lot more out of them, and they'll get a lot 316 00:14:55,320 --> 00:14:59,520 Speaker 2: more out of each other if we institute that policy. 317 00:15:00,000 --> 00:15:04,000 Speaker 1: Now, you're running for state Superintendent of Public Instruction, and 318 00:15:04,400 --> 00:15:06,800 Speaker 1: last week at Gavin Newsom State of the State and 319 00:15:06,840 --> 00:15:10,000 Speaker 1: his budget presentation, he in out some reforms that would 320 00:15:10,000 --> 00:15:12,640 Speaker 1: take a lot of the powers from that position and 321 00:15:12,720 --> 00:15:15,000 Speaker 1: put them under his purview. What do you think of that? 322 00:15:16,200 --> 00:15:19,400 Speaker 2: I mean, that is a naked power grab, is what 323 00:15:19,480 --> 00:15:22,800 Speaker 2: that is. Let's call that what that is. You know. 324 00:15:23,120 --> 00:15:26,760 Speaker 2: The superintendent's position's been there in the state constitution since 325 00:15:26,760 --> 00:15:30,600 Speaker 2: the founding in eighteen forty nine. People always felt that 326 00:15:30,640 --> 00:15:34,560 Speaker 2: it would be good to have an independent superintendent of 327 00:15:34,560 --> 00:15:37,520 Speaker 2: public instruction to trust focus on the schools and not 328 00:15:37,640 --> 00:15:41,520 Speaker 2: have the same kind of political constraints that the governor has. 329 00:15:42,200 --> 00:15:46,040 Speaker 2: It is the only nonpartisan state wide office. When you 330 00:15:46,160 --> 00:15:48,720 Speaker 2: vote in June and November, you know you're not going 331 00:15:48,760 --> 00:15:50,320 Speaker 2: to have to climb over a D or an R 332 00:15:50,360 --> 00:15:54,320 Speaker 2: to get to anybody's name. You know. It's it's meant 333 00:15:54,400 --> 00:15:58,320 Speaker 2: to be an office that separated from the politics because 334 00:15:58,320 --> 00:16:00,320 Speaker 2: we want people just focused on what's the bet for 335 00:16:00,400 --> 00:16:02,440 Speaker 2: the kids. I just keep coming back to, We've got 336 00:16:02,440 --> 00:16:05,440 Speaker 2: to be focused on what's best for the kids now. 337 00:16:05,840 --> 00:16:10,000 Speaker 2: Governors have always hated that that position is independent because, 338 00:16:10,280 --> 00:16:13,560 Speaker 2: as I mentioned earlier, it is a powerful position potentially 339 00:16:13,800 --> 00:16:17,480 Speaker 2: if someone chooses to use it that way. So governors 340 00:16:17,480 --> 00:16:19,720 Speaker 2: have always hated that, and four times in the past 341 00:16:20,120 --> 00:16:21,840 Speaker 2: they have put to the voters the idea of just 342 00:16:21,880 --> 00:16:24,840 Speaker 2: getting rid of the superintendent and making it well, making 343 00:16:24,840 --> 00:16:27,160 Speaker 2: it an appointee of the governor. You know, take the 344 00:16:27,200 --> 00:16:30,280 Speaker 2: governor taking control of that of that office. And every 345 00:16:30,280 --> 00:16:32,800 Speaker 2: time the voters have decisively defeated that, the voters have 346 00:16:32,960 --> 00:16:37,200 Speaker 2: always chosen to have an independent superintendent. So what Governor 347 00:16:37,280 --> 00:16:39,120 Speaker 2: Newsom's come up with is this a great idea where 348 00:16:39,120 --> 00:16:41,840 Speaker 2: he's like, Okay, you know, I know the voters will 349 00:16:41,840 --> 00:16:45,200 Speaker 2: never approve of getting rid of it or turning it 350 00:16:45,240 --> 00:16:48,160 Speaker 2: into a politically appointed office, so instead I'll just gut 351 00:16:48,200 --> 00:16:51,600 Speaker 2: it completely. I was going to the superintendent's office, steal 352 00:16:51,640 --> 00:16:53,360 Speaker 2: everything in it, and then leave the sign on the 353 00:16:53,400 --> 00:16:56,280 Speaker 2: door so that it still seems like the office exists, 354 00:16:56,320 --> 00:16:58,080 Speaker 2: and that person gets to be you know what, they 355 00:16:58,080 --> 00:16:59,720 Speaker 2: call it, champion for education. You get to be a 356 00:16:59,800 --> 00:17:02,360 Speaker 2: cheer leader. I hope it comes with a nice outfit 357 00:17:02,440 --> 00:17:06,480 Speaker 2: in some pomp pumps to go with it. But that 358 00:17:06,600 --> 00:17:09,919 Speaker 2: is just taking the authority away from a position and 359 00:17:09,960 --> 00:17:12,439 Speaker 2: doing it in the most cynical way possible, because he 360 00:17:12,560 --> 00:17:14,639 Speaker 2: knows that the people would never approve that if you 361 00:17:14,680 --> 00:17:17,480 Speaker 2: put it to them to a vote. So I absolutely 362 00:17:17,560 --> 00:17:20,240 Speaker 2: think this is it's a terrible idea. I agree that 363 00:17:20,280 --> 00:17:24,280 Speaker 2: the superintendent's role has not been used as effectively as 364 00:17:24,280 --> 00:17:28,000 Speaker 2: it could be. But that's because of the special interests 365 00:17:27,720 --> 00:17:30,399 Speaker 2: that run that seat. But all this is going to 366 00:17:30,440 --> 00:17:32,840 Speaker 2: do if you put it under the governor's office, all 367 00:17:32,880 --> 00:17:34,959 Speaker 2: that's going to do is mean the same special interests 368 00:17:34,960 --> 00:17:37,160 Speaker 2: that control the governor now do not have to spend 369 00:17:37,200 --> 00:17:39,520 Speaker 2: any extra money to control this seat too, to just 370 00:17:39,520 --> 00:17:41,600 Speaker 2: get it all at once by having the governor in 371 00:17:41,640 --> 00:17:46,159 Speaker 2: their pocket. So I urge everyone to oppose this, you know, 372 00:17:46,400 --> 00:17:48,639 Speaker 2: dash off a quick email to your to your elected 373 00:17:48,680 --> 00:17:51,199 Speaker 2: representatives saying you should not vote for that. Keep the 374 00:17:51,400 --> 00:17:54,960 Speaker 2: superintendent and independent position as is stated in the constitution 375 00:17:55,040 --> 00:17:57,080 Speaker 2: and as the voters have always chosen to do. 376 00:17:58,520 --> 00:18:02,720 Speaker 1: Gus Madama, he is right for state Superintendent of Public Instruction. 377 00:18:02,800 --> 00:18:05,640 Speaker 1: He'll be on your ballot in June. Thanks so much 378 00:18:05,680 --> 00:18:07,359 Speaker 1: for coming on with us. You can check out his 379 00:18:07,480 --> 00:18:13,240 Speaker 1: website for GUSFOURCA dot com, gus fo RCA dot com. 380 00:18:13,359 --> 00:18:16,640 Speaker 1: Gus thanks so much for joining us today, Randy. 381 00:18:16,320 --> 00:18:18,520 Speaker 2: Thanks so much for having me on. It's really great 382 00:18:18,560 --> 00:18:19,320 Speaker 2: pleasure to talk to you. 383 00:18:20,280 --> 00:18:23,399 Speaker 1: Thank you, and we will continue to have as many 384 00:18:23,440 --> 00:18:26,840 Speaker 1: candidates as we on because people don't pay enough attention 385 00:18:27,000 --> 00:18:30,320 Speaker 1: to these local races and That's why the average California 386 00:18:30,359 --> 00:18:32,080 Speaker 1: voter sounds like, no, I. 387 00:18:32,040 --> 00:18:34,320 Speaker 2: Don't know enough to give you any good information, but 388 00:18:34,520 --> 00:18:35,720 Speaker 2: good luck finding someone who does. 389 00:18:35,840 --> 00:18:38,280 Speaker 1: Eight hundred two two two five two two two is 390 00:18:38,320 --> 00:18:41,159 Speaker 1: the telephone number. It's the News Blitz with Randy Wang 391 00:18:41,200 --> 00:18:46,280 Speaker 1: on KABC. It's the News Blitz with Randy Wang on KABC. 392 00:18:47,000 --> 00:18:51,320 Speaker 1: I am broadcasting this week from Santa Fe, New Mexico, 393 00:18:51,800 --> 00:18:54,960 Speaker 1: and it is the first time I've ever spent January 394 00:18:55,080 --> 00:18:58,840 Speaker 1: in Santa Fe. And although it's not currently snowing, it 395 00:18:58,960 --> 00:19:02,080 Speaker 1: did snow last week and it's going to snow on Friday. 396 00:19:02,160 --> 00:19:03,560 Speaker 1: So you know what I get to do for the 397 00:19:03,720 --> 00:19:07,240 Speaker 1: very first time in my life. I had to shovel 398 00:19:07,320 --> 00:19:11,840 Speaker 1: snow on our driveway here. And let me just say, while, 399 00:19:11,840 --> 00:19:13,840 Speaker 1: it's a really good workout, and I kind of felt 400 00:19:13,840 --> 00:19:17,639 Speaker 1: like I was at snow Fantasy Camp. I got to imagine, 401 00:19:17,680 --> 00:19:19,960 Speaker 1: if you live in the mountains, if you live in 402 00:19:20,000 --> 00:19:22,600 Speaker 1: a place that snows all the time, having to do 403 00:19:22,680 --> 00:19:28,520 Speaker 1: that constantly gets real old, real fast. But since ALI 404 00:19:28,600 --> 00:19:30,399 Speaker 1: had to do it this one time so far, I 405 00:19:30,440 --> 00:19:32,920 Speaker 1: thought it was kind of fun. Eight hundred two two 406 00:19:33,040 --> 00:19:35,800 Speaker 1: two five two to two two is the telephone number. 407 00:19:36,040 --> 00:19:40,160 Speaker 1: When we come back, we're going to talk about San 408 00:19:40,160 --> 00:19:44,560 Speaker 1: Diego Mayor Todd Gloria, who is finally seeing some blowback 409 00:19:44,680 --> 00:19:47,800 Speaker 1: for jacking up all the parking rates in San Diego, 410 00:19:47,840 --> 00:19:51,320 Speaker 1: including charging for parking at the first time at Balboa Park, 411 00:19:51,840 --> 00:19:55,040 Speaker 1: and he had the gall to have a State of 412 00:19:55,080 --> 00:19:58,159 Speaker 1: the City address talk about all his accomplishments and not 413 00:19:58,200 --> 00:20:02,960 Speaker 1: even mention the parking. We'll hear about that next right here, 414 00:20:03,359 --> 00:20:08,119 Speaker 1: It's the News Blitz with Randy Wang on KABC. It 415 00:20:08,440 --> 00:20:11,119 Speaker 1: is the News Blitz with Randy Wang on Talk radio 416 00:20:11,320 --> 00:20:15,280 Speaker 1: seven ninety KABC. We're here every single day from five 417 00:20:15,359 --> 00:20:17,720 Speaker 1: to six talking about the local issues that mattered to 418 00:20:17,720 --> 00:20:20,000 Speaker 1: you most and taking your phone calls at eight hundred 419 00:20:20,040 --> 00:20:22,960 Speaker 1: two two two five two two two one eight hundred 420 00:20:22,960 --> 00:20:25,600 Speaker 1: two two two five two two two, your emails at 421 00:20:25,680 --> 00:20:29,000 Speaker 1: Randy Wang Radio at gmail dot com, and search for 422 00:20:29,040 --> 00:20:33,840 Speaker 1: the KABC News Blitz wherever you get your podcasts. Todd 423 00:20:33,880 --> 00:20:37,639 Speaker 1: Gloria is the Mayor of San Diego, and over the 424 00:20:37,760 --> 00:20:42,160 Speaker 1: last few years, everything has gotten more expensive in San Diego, 425 00:20:42,600 --> 00:20:45,680 Speaker 1: water rates going up through the roof, charging for parking 426 00:20:45,720 --> 00:20:50,040 Speaker 1: at Balboa Park, increasing the parking fees at other places, 427 00:20:50,119 --> 00:20:53,680 Speaker 1: like the gas lamp exponentially charging ten dollars an hour 428 00:20:54,080 --> 00:20:56,720 Speaker 1: on special event nights, which is pretty much anytime there's 429 00:20:56,760 --> 00:20:59,960 Speaker 1: a podres game. You hearing so many things. How they're 430 00:21:00,160 --> 00:21:02,200 Speaker 1: still in a deficit and they still need to charge 431 00:21:02,240 --> 00:21:06,399 Speaker 1: you more money, and Todd Gloria is trying to shape 432 00:21:06,400 --> 00:21:09,600 Speaker 1: this all is a victory that he's making the tough 433 00:21:09,880 --> 00:21:13,720 Speaker 1: choices in San Diego. Well, he sat down with NBC 434 00:21:13,800 --> 00:21:17,080 Speaker 1: seven to address why in his State of the City 435 00:21:17,119 --> 00:21:21,040 Speaker 1: address he didn't even bring up his changes to parking 436 00:21:21,080 --> 00:21:24,720 Speaker 1: that have pissed off so many of his constituents. Let's 437 00:21:24,760 --> 00:21:26,560 Speaker 1: go now to NBC. 438 00:21:26,200 --> 00:21:29,560 Speaker 3: Seven, Why in that speech did you neglect to mention 439 00:21:29,760 --> 00:21:32,520 Speaker 3: the controversial parking changes at Balboa Well. 440 00:21:32,480 --> 00:21:35,399 Speaker 4: They ere mentioned indirectly in the budget portion of that speech. 441 00:21:35,440 --> 00:21:38,000 Speaker 4: You know when talking about hard decisions trade offs. 442 00:21:38,040 --> 00:21:41,680 Speaker 1: You know I said hard decisions. So that makes sure 443 00:21:41,680 --> 00:21:44,280 Speaker 1: that you know that I was talking about how Balboa 444 00:21:44,320 --> 00:21:47,719 Speaker 1: Park was free parking forever. Now nobody can even go 445 00:21:47,760 --> 00:21:50,360 Speaker 1: to the museums on free Tuesdays because it's not free 446 00:21:50,400 --> 00:21:51,639 Speaker 1: because you got to pay for parking. 447 00:21:51,880 --> 00:21:53,560 Speaker 5: Balancing our budget and doing so in. 448 00:21:53,880 --> 00:21:56,119 Speaker 1: The budget's also not balanced. 449 00:21:55,800 --> 00:21:58,359 Speaker 4: Balancing our budget and doing so in a way that 450 00:21:58,520 --> 00:22:02,280 Speaker 4: is sustainable is what that is a part of it, 451 00:22:02,359 --> 00:22:04,919 Speaker 4: among other things that we've done. I think if I 452 00:22:05,000 --> 00:22:07,639 Speaker 4: had to have had more time and what notot what 453 00:22:07,720 --> 00:22:09,359 Speaker 4: I would have taken the opportunities to. 454 00:22:09,359 --> 00:22:11,480 Speaker 1: Explain I had more time, he had like an hour, and. 455 00:22:11,520 --> 00:22:14,639 Speaker 4: The opportunities to explain to san Diyagans that this is 456 00:22:14,760 --> 00:22:17,680 Speaker 4: very much about setting up the park up for success 457 00:22:17,760 --> 00:22:20,440 Speaker 4: long term. I mentioned every mare comes in here talking 458 00:22:20,480 --> 00:22:22,720 Speaker 4: about what money we don't have, what deficit we're dealing with, 459 00:22:23,080 --> 00:22:25,840 Speaker 4: and one of the primary harms that come from that 460 00:22:26,040 --> 00:22:28,240 Speaker 4: is the park. You know, we cut tree maintenance, we 461 00:22:28,280 --> 00:22:29,560 Speaker 4: cut park rangers, et cetera. 462 00:22:29,680 --> 00:22:33,200 Speaker 1: No, there's plenty of nonsense, especially mental management bureau rats. 463 00:22:33,240 --> 00:22:35,520 Speaker 1: You can be cutting, but no, what you want to 464 00:22:35,520 --> 00:22:38,719 Speaker 1: do is cut something that people like and then charge 465 00:22:38,760 --> 00:22:41,360 Speaker 1: them for something that they were already paying for. 466 00:22:41,720 --> 00:22:45,640 Speaker 4: You know, these parking fees are a step towards fiscal 467 00:22:45,640 --> 00:22:49,080 Speaker 4: independence for the park, so that it's insulated against future 468 00:22:49,119 --> 00:22:50,960 Speaker 4: downturns in the economy, recessions, et cetera. 469 00:22:51,359 --> 00:22:53,679 Speaker 1: Yes, because the city's totally not going to take the 470 00:22:53,720 --> 00:22:55,720 Speaker 1: money that was supposed to go towards the park. And 471 00:22:55,760 --> 00:22:58,199 Speaker 1: say well, now you're getting a dedicated funding source, so 472 00:22:58,240 --> 00:23:00,680 Speaker 1: we could dig this money and spend it on more nonsense. 473 00:23:01,119 --> 00:23:01,920 Speaker 5: This is step one. 474 00:23:02,119 --> 00:23:04,240 Speaker 4: There are more steps to come, but ultimately, if we 475 00:23:04,280 --> 00:23:07,000 Speaker 4: can shield the park from the whims of the general Fund, 476 00:23:07,359 --> 00:23:10,080 Speaker 4: this crown jewel of our city will be able to 477 00:23:10,119 --> 00:23:11,160 Speaker 4: continue to shine. 478 00:23:11,720 --> 00:23:15,080 Speaker 1: For Definitely, I mentioned it before, but it's worth repeating. 479 00:23:16,080 --> 00:23:19,120 Speaker 1: The museums at Balboa Park have this thing called Free 480 00:23:19,160 --> 00:23:22,640 Speaker 1: Tuesdays where one of the museums every Tuesday and it rotates, 481 00:23:22,680 --> 00:23:25,600 Speaker 1: does free admission. And it used to be a great 482 00:23:25,640 --> 00:23:29,080 Speaker 1: place for schools to go to take kids parties, what 483 00:23:29,280 --> 00:23:33,120 Speaker 1: have you. Yes, some people at birthday parties at museums. 484 00:23:33,200 --> 00:23:39,119 Speaker 1: That's nothing wrong with that. The last Free Tuesday, no 485 00:23:39,200 --> 00:23:41,640 Speaker 1: one showed up because of the parking. 486 00:23:42,560 --> 00:23:46,600 Speaker 3: But by evading tackling those topics head on, do you 487 00:23:46,640 --> 00:23:49,800 Speaker 3: feel like you left constituents feeling like they're not being 488 00:23:49,880 --> 00:23:52,040 Speaker 3: heard when they're shouting from the rooftops about this. 489 00:23:52,640 --> 00:23:54,520 Speaker 4: I think there were plenty of people making themselves heard 490 00:23:54,560 --> 00:23:59,119 Speaker 4: even during that speech. But no, I mean, we've provided 491 00:23:59,240 --> 00:24:01,160 Speaker 4: tons of information, and you know, I think it's frustrating 492 00:24:01,200 --> 00:24:03,320 Speaker 4: because some of the coverage I don't know this is 493 00:24:03,320 --> 00:24:05,919 Speaker 4: from Sandy Agan's because I get positive and negative feedback. 494 00:24:06,359 --> 00:24:08,560 Speaker 1: Wait, are you going to blame the media for the 495 00:24:08,640 --> 00:24:11,760 Speaker 1: reason that people are upset about having to pay for parking. 496 00:24:12,160 --> 00:24:13,160 Speaker 5: Womens stopped me the other day. 497 00:24:13,200 --> 00:24:14,760 Speaker 4: She went with her daughter to the park and she 498 00:24:14,840 --> 00:24:16,200 Speaker 4: was able to park in a parking lot close to 499 00:24:16,240 --> 00:24:17,040 Speaker 4: where she was going. 500 00:24:17,600 --> 00:24:20,359 Speaker 5: She felt safe. This was a nighttime event. Stories like 501 00:24:20,400 --> 00:24:20,719 Speaker 5: that I had. 502 00:24:20,840 --> 00:24:23,800 Speaker 1: She loved paying ten dollars. It was wonderful. 503 00:24:24,560 --> 00:24:29,000 Speaker 4: Stories like that I had not seen covered. But there's 504 00:24:29,040 --> 00:24:32,080 Speaker 4: been discussion about a chaotic rollout. Me Joey, this is change. 505 00:24:32,359 --> 00:24:33,680 Speaker 4: Change is always difficult. 506 00:24:33,720 --> 00:24:36,240 Speaker 1: A chaotic rollout meaning that the chaosks that they bought 507 00:24:36,320 --> 00:24:41,640 Speaker 1: don't work and it's super confusing, and volunteers have quit. 508 00:24:42,400 --> 00:24:44,960 Speaker 1: You have people that go to that park, they're going 509 00:24:45,000 --> 00:24:47,560 Speaker 1: to other places. This is a disaster. 510 00:24:47,920 --> 00:24:50,480 Speaker 4: There's been discussion about a chaotic roll aut Me Joey, 511 00:24:50,480 --> 00:24:53,520 Speaker 4: this is change. Change is always difficult, and I recognize 512 00:24:53,520 --> 00:24:56,080 Speaker 4: that people will struggle with that. But as I sit 513 00:24:56,119 --> 00:24:58,320 Speaker 4: here today, what we've had is, you know, the twenty 514 00:24:58,359 --> 00:25:01,680 Speaker 4: two hundred Sandyegans sign up for annual passes and monthly 515 00:25:01,720 --> 00:25:02,560 Speaker 4: and quarterly passes. 516 00:25:02,840 --> 00:25:03,560 Speaker 5: We've seen. 517 00:25:06,200 --> 00:25:10,000 Speaker 1: That's a success that people signed up for permits, so 518 00:25:10,040 --> 00:25:11,800 Speaker 1: they still have to pay, but they pay a little 519 00:25:11,880 --> 00:25:15,800 Speaker 1: less because they pay ahead of time. This is unacceptable, 520 00:25:15,840 --> 00:25:19,240 Speaker 1: But San Diego has voted for this guy multiple times. 521 00:25:19,320 --> 00:25:23,040 Speaker 4: We've seen several hundred thousand dollars of money generated. Reminder 522 00:25:23,119 --> 00:25:26,080 Speaker 4: that money must stay in the park to help make 523 00:25:26,119 --> 00:25:26,919 Speaker 4: it better. 524 00:25:26,880 --> 00:25:29,400 Speaker 1: And how much of that money is going towards administering 525 00:25:29,440 --> 00:25:30,840 Speaker 1: the paid parking and. 526 00:25:30,840 --> 00:25:32,960 Speaker 4: So there is a good news side of that story 527 00:25:33,200 --> 00:25:34,120 Speaker 4: that needs to be told. 528 00:25:34,160 --> 00:25:37,400 Speaker 3: More so, did you miss the opportunity to explain why 529 00:25:37,400 --> 00:25:38,680 Speaker 3: these decisions were made? 530 00:25:39,119 --> 00:25:42,720 Speaker 1: Good question? If it's such a good thing for the city, 531 00:25:42,760 --> 00:25:46,120 Speaker 1: then why wasn't this a major part of your presentation? 532 00:25:46,760 --> 00:25:48,639 Speaker 1: Considering how contentious it is? 533 00:25:49,760 --> 00:25:52,360 Speaker 4: Mind you that this has been an ongoing conversation for 534 00:25:52,400 --> 00:25:54,480 Speaker 4: a very long time. You know, for the entirety of 535 00:25:54,480 --> 00:25:57,360 Speaker 4: the FI twenty six budget conversations. This was there with 536 00:25:57,359 --> 00:25:59,840 Speaker 4: hold multiple public hearings for people to weigh in on it. 537 00:26:00,000 --> 00:26:03,280 Speaker 1: I think that doesn't mean anything. Public hearings form the 538 00:26:03,320 --> 00:26:05,040 Speaker 1: public two way in Let me just give you and 539 00:26:05,080 --> 00:26:06,879 Speaker 1: this is true in Los Angeles, this is true in 540 00:26:06,880 --> 00:26:10,160 Speaker 1: the Bay Area. This is true. In San Diego, they 541 00:26:10,480 --> 00:26:14,720 Speaker 1: don't care what you think. It is checking a box. 542 00:26:15,400 --> 00:26:19,400 Speaker 1: Nobody listens to public comment. No politician or bureaucrat has 543 00:26:19,400 --> 00:26:22,919 Speaker 1: had their mind changed during public comment. Now, if you 544 00:26:22,920 --> 00:26:25,720 Speaker 1: get in their face and embarrass them on the TV, maybe, 545 00:26:25,960 --> 00:26:28,320 Speaker 1: But for the most part, when they're going to hold 546 00:26:28,359 --> 00:26:31,919 Speaker 1: an informational hearing about something they're gonna do, they know 547 00:26:32,000 --> 00:26:35,320 Speaker 1: they're gonna do it. It's like in the area where 548 00:26:35,359 --> 00:26:40,160 Speaker 1: I live in Lake Balboa, Ammelda Padilla, the La City 549 00:26:40,200 --> 00:26:43,199 Speaker 1: council woman, held informational hearings to let you know that 550 00:26:43,240 --> 00:26:46,080 Speaker 1: they're going to take a metro parking ride lot and 551 00:26:46,080 --> 00:26:49,280 Speaker 1: turn it into an RV dumping ground. Hey, we told 552 00:26:49,320 --> 00:26:50,159 Speaker 1: the public about it. 553 00:26:50,200 --> 00:26:52,760 Speaker 4: I think the focus is obviously because it's went into effect, 554 00:26:53,400 --> 00:26:56,199 Speaker 4: but it is very easy to understand I think, not 555 00:26:56,240 --> 00:26:58,600 Speaker 4: only the facts of it. You know that residents pay 556 00:26:58,640 --> 00:27:00,600 Speaker 4: five dollars right, That seems to be as a surprise 557 00:27:00,640 --> 00:27:02,119 Speaker 4: as I talked to Sandy against because they have some 558 00:27:02,160 --> 00:27:03,679 Speaker 4: impression of the numbers much larger. 559 00:27:03,800 --> 00:27:06,000 Speaker 5: Again, this is where good reporting could be very helpful. 560 00:27:06,280 --> 00:27:09,000 Speaker 1: What about all the residents of the neighboring cities in 561 00:27:09,040 --> 00:27:11,480 Speaker 1: the county that like to use that they're being charged 562 00:27:11,520 --> 00:27:12,200 Speaker 1: tourist rates. 563 00:27:12,280 --> 00:27:14,440 Speaker 5: Again, this is where good reporting could be very helpful. 564 00:27:14,800 --> 00:27:16,880 Speaker 1: But additionally he's very condescending. 565 00:27:17,280 --> 00:27:17,480 Speaker 2: You know. 566 00:27:17,560 --> 00:27:20,280 Speaker 1: I know we have our share of awful mayors, Karen 567 00:27:20,320 --> 00:27:23,360 Speaker 1: Bass being probably one of the worst. But Todd Gloria 568 00:27:23,520 --> 00:27:26,520 Speaker 1: is spectacularly awful. Do you remember when he did a 569 00:27:26,600 --> 00:27:30,439 Speaker 1: victory lap celebrating, Hey, San Diego's built more housing than 570 00:27:30,480 --> 00:27:33,399 Speaker 1: any other big city in California and it has really 571 00:27:33,440 --> 00:27:36,520 Speaker 1: made an impact. And he had that press conference in 572 00:27:36,520 --> 00:27:39,520 Speaker 1: front of a brand new apartment building where a one 573 00:27:39,560 --> 00:27:42,080 Speaker 1: bedroom was going for four thousand dollars a month. 574 00:27:42,400 --> 00:27:47,000 Speaker 4: But additionally, to understand that it is being implemented and 575 00:27:47,040 --> 00:27:47,959 Speaker 4: it's moving forward. 576 00:27:48,359 --> 00:27:50,480 Speaker 5: You know, I see the state of the city. I 577 00:27:50,520 --> 00:27:52,000 Speaker 5: was raised Catholic. I want to be in and out 578 00:27:52,000 --> 00:27:52,440 Speaker 5: in an hour. 579 00:27:52,520 --> 00:27:54,920 Speaker 4: You know, I recognize that not everyone can do long 580 00:27:54,960 --> 00:27:58,800 Speaker 4: form interviews like this one, and so fitting into. 581 00:27:58,440 --> 00:28:01,200 Speaker 1: I didn't have enough time to explos this policy. It's 582 00:28:01,240 --> 00:28:04,600 Speaker 1: incredibly unpopular, and so fitting in because there was nowhere 583 00:28:04,640 --> 00:28:06,040 Speaker 1: else to cut in the budget. 584 00:28:06,200 --> 00:28:08,840 Speaker 4: And so fitting in the totality of the eighth artist 585 00:28:08,840 --> 00:28:10,879 Speaker 4: city of one point four million people's lives of a 586 00:28:10,920 --> 00:28:13,080 Speaker 4: six billion dollar budget and trying to do it in 587 00:28:13,160 --> 00:28:15,160 Speaker 4: roughly forty minutes or so, which is what we did. 588 00:28:16,119 --> 00:28:18,240 Speaker 4: You know, there are limitations even to that speech, and 589 00:28:18,359 --> 00:28:20,320 Speaker 4: I suspect that we'll be asked more about the park 590 00:28:20,359 --> 00:28:22,720 Speaker 4: going forward. But what I think that story will look 591 00:28:22,800 --> 00:28:25,719 Speaker 4: like a few months from now is people understanding how 592 00:28:25,760 --> 00:28:30,000 Speaker 4: it works, navigating that and importantly seeing the improvements that 593 00:28:30,000 --> 00:28:32,120 Speaker 4: are funded because of the fees, so that when they 594 00:28:32,119 --> 00:28:34,000 Speaker 4: go to the park the lights are on right, that 595 00:28:34,000 --> 00:28:37,800 Speaker 4: the parking lot has been repaid, that the environment that 596 00:28:37,840 --> 00:28:40,640 Speaker 4: they already love is made better. That is the challenge 597 00:28:40,640 --> 00:28:42,560 Speaker 4: going forward, and that's when I look forward to implementing. 598 00:28:45,880 --> 00:28:48,800 Speaker 1: People will love paying for parking. They're going to see 599 00:28:48,840 --> 00:28:52,680 Speaker 1: their government actually using that money for something. Yeah, I 600 00:28:52,680 --> 00:28:57,240 Speaker 1: don't think so. People are already paying for that park. 601 00:28:57,760 --> 00:29:00,360 Speaker 1: It is a public park. If the city he's not 602 00:29:00,400 --> 00:29:02,920 Speaker 1: fixing the lights, that's a failure of the city, not 603 00:29:03,000 --> 00:29:05,120 Speaker 1: that oh the park doesn't make enough revenue. It's not 604 00:29:05,160 --> 00:29:09,400 Speaker 1: its own little bubble. It's a public good. We'll continue 605 00:29:09,840 --> 00:29:12,720 Speaker 1: with Todd Gloria, the mayor of San Diego, as he 606 00:29:12,760 --> 00:29:18,040 Speaker 1: tries to worm his way around this incredibly unpopular policy 607 00:29:18,160 --> 00:29:21,880 Speaker 1: of charging for parking at Balboa Park. It's the News 608 00:29:21,880 --> 00:29:25,240 Speaker 1: Blitz with Randy Wang on KABC. It's the News Blitz 609 00:29:25,280 --> 00:29:28,760 Speaker 1: with Randy Wang on KABC. We're listening to San Diego 610 00:29:28,800 --> 00:29:32,960 Speaker 1: Mayor Todd Gloria explain why jacking up parking fees is 611 00:29:33,000 --> 00:29:34,800 Speaker 1: such a great thing for San Diego. 612 00:29:35,120 --> 00:29:38,040 Speaker 3: So let's talk about this more broadly. Do you feel 613 00:29:38,040 --> 00:29:41,400 Speaker 3: like the city dropped the ball on explaining why some 614 00:29:41,480 --> 00:29:43,760 Speaker 3: of these scary changes were necessary. 615 00:29:44,760 --> 00:29:48,080 Speaker 4: Well, I think it's there if you pay attention. I mean, 616 00:29:49,040 --> 00:29:52,200 Speaker 4: you know, I think you understand that for years, not decades, 617 00:29:52,240 --> 00:29:55,240 Speaker 4: we've been talking about the budgetary challenges at the city. 618 00:29:56,440 --> 00:29:59,000 Speaker 4: I am painfully aware of that, and I'm just simply 619 00:29:59,000 --> 00:30:00,840 Speaker 4: not interested in can in that narrative. 620 00:30:00,880 --> 00:30:02,400 Speaker 5: I want to fix it. I want to solve it. 621 00:30:03,040 --> 00:30:05,280 Speaker 1: So I'm going to make everyone lives a living hell 622 00:30:05,360 --> 00:30:07,480 Speaker 1: because no one gets to take a pay cut under 623 00:30:07,520 --> 00:30:09,920 Speaker 1: my watch. And we make sure we don't eliminate any 624 00:30:10,000 --> 00:30:13,600 Speaker 1: unnecessary positions, even though there are many. Do you know that? 625 00:30:13,680 --> 00:30:15,960 Speaker 1: And I don't understand why they voted for this, but 626 00:30:16,360 --> 00:30:20,520 Speaker 1: San Diego voted for a ballot measure a few years ago. 627 00:30:20,840 --> 00:30:24,480 Speaker 1: They gives the mayor and the city council raises every 628 00:30:24,560 --> 00:30:28,080 Speaker 1: single year, and have they gotten better government for it? No, 629 00:30:28,200 --> 00:30:29,040 Speaker 1: They've gotten worse. 630 00:30:29,480 --> 00:30:32,680 Speaker 4: So when people, you know, wonder will wire water vates 631 00:30:32,720 --> 00:30:35,280 Speaker 4: the way that they are, you know that's actually generally 632 00:30:35,320 --> 00:30:37,240 Speaker 4: outside of our control. You know, those are costs that 633 00:30:37,240 --> 00:30:40,080 Speaker 4: are passed on to us by our suppliers. I think 634 00:30:40,120 --> 00:30:42,280 Speaker 4: one of the areas where I can't say it enough, 635 00:30:42,320 --> 00:30:45,120 Speaker 4: although I've said it plenty, is that the cost pressures 636 00:30:45,120 --> 00:30:47,880 Speaker 4: that are experienced by you, by me, by all your viewers, 637 00:30:47,960 --> 00:30:49,600 Speaker 4: are also experienced by the city. 638 00:30:49,960 --> 00:30:53,440 Speaker 1: So when you yes, but that's also circular logic because 639 00:30:53,480 --> 00:30:57,400 Speaker 1: the more you increase prices because you're feeling inflation, the 640 00:30:57,400 --> 00:31:02,360 Speaker 1: more you're directly causing the inflation and water rates going 641 00:31:02,440 --> 00:31:05,640 Speaker 1: up by thirty percent, How are people supposed to afford that? 642 00:31:06,000 --> 00:31:08,120 Speaker 4: So when you see your electricity bill go up, so 643 00:31:08,240 --> 00:31:11,880 Speaker 4: does the city. When you're impacted by paying more at 644 00:31:11,880 --> 00:31:15,040 Speaker 4: the pump to put gas in your car, that's also 645 00:31:15,080 --> 00:31:17,840 Speaker 4: true for the city, except we have five thousand vehicles, right. 646 00:31:18,120 --> 00:31:20,560 Speaker 4: I think we have to continually paint the picture of 647 00:31:20,640 --> 00:31:22,280 Speaker 4: the fact that the city is not insulated from the 648 00:31:22,360 --> 00:31:25,480 Speaker 4: very same things that San Diegans are experiencing. The difference 649 00:31:25,520 --> 00:31:28,320 Speaker 4: is is that the only way we get revenue, generally speaking, 650 00:31:28,440 --> 00:31:30,080 Speaker 4: is to ask our taxpayers for that money. 651 00:31:30,400 --> 00:31:33,520 Speaker 1: And see, here's what this is really all about. Because 652 00:31:33,720 --> 00:31:36,360 Speaker 1: in order to increase taxes, you need to have the 653 00:31:36,480 --> 00:31:39,160 Speaker 1: voters say yes. That is one of the things that Prop. 654 00:31:39,200 --> 00:31:42,040 Speaker 1: Thirteen does. You need to have a two thirds vote 655 00:31:42,080 --> 00:31:47,160 Speaker 1: of your citizens to raise taxes. But in twenty twenty four, 656 00:31:47,600 --> 00:31:49,600 Speaker 1: a measure in the City of San Diego and the 657 00:31:49,640 --> 00:31:54,440 Speaker 1: County of San Diego to raise taxes failed. So todd 658 00:31:54,480 --> 00:31:57,400 Speaker 1: glory is revenge because he already spent all the money 659 00:31:57,400 --> 00:32:00,920 Speaker 1: he was going to get from that is to increase fees, 660 00:32:01,400 --> 00:32:03,920 Speaker 1: which are not held to the same standard as taxes. 661 00:32:04,280 --> 00:32:07,200 Speaker 1: So that's why trash fees went up, that's why beach 662 00:32:07,240 --> 00:32:10,120 Speaker 1: fees went up, that's why parking fees are going up, 663 00:32:10,160 --> 00:32:13,520 Speaker 1: that's why water rates are going up. Because he didn't 664 00:32:13,520 --> 00:32:16,720 Speaker 1: get his tax increase. And do you think he's satisfied. No, 665 00:32:17,280 --> 00:32:20,240 Speaker 1: they're going to put that sales tax increase on the 666 00:32:20,360 --> 00:32:24,040 Speaker 1: city and the county on the ballot again in twenty 667 00:32:24,080 --> 00:32:28,120 Speaker 1: twenty six. It's the News Blitz with Randy Wang on KABC. 668 00:32:28,560 --> 00:32:32,080 Speaker 1: It's the News Blitz with Randy Wang on KABC. We 669 00:32:32,160 --> 00:32:34,920 Speaker 1: have an update on the Eeden fire, which at this 670 00:32:35,120 --> 00:32:38,480 Speaker 1: point it's pretty much a conclusion that so Cal Edison 671 00:32:38,600 --> 00:32:41,760 Speaker 1: is responsible, and so kel Edison has been trying to 672 00:32:42,040 --> 00:32:44,640 Speaker 1: give out money to the fire victims, you know, if 673 00:32:44,640 --> 00:32:47,240 Speaker 1: they promise not to sue because it's not our fault, winking, 674 00:32:47,360 --> 00:32:50,840 Speaker 1: but it is. Well, here's an interesting one. So kel 675 00:32:51,000 --> 00:32:54,280 Speaker 1: Edison is now suing La County and the gas company, 676 00:32:54,560 --> 00:32:57,160 Speaker 1: saying no, no, no, no, no, it's their fault that 677 00:32:57,240 --> 00:33:03,480 Speaker 1: Altadena burned down. For more, here's NBA right now at. 678 00:33:03,360 --> 00:33:06,280 Speaker 6: Eleven a new lawsuit in the aftermath of the Eaton fire. 679 00:33:06,480 --> 00:33:10,160 Speaker 6: So Cal Edison, already the target of an ongoing legal battle, 680 00:33:10,520 --> 00:33:14,440 Speaker 6: now says others deserve to bear some of the responsibility 681 00:33:14,520 --> 00:33:15,040 Speaker 6: as well. 682 00:33:15,560 --> 00:33:17,600 Speaker 1: By the way, I'd just like to point out the 683 00:33:17,680 --> 00:33:21,160 Speaker 1: nonsense of all of this, because so Cal Edison is 684 00:33:21,200 --> 00:33:26,720 Speaker 1: a monopoly. There's no competition. Even if they're responsible for 685 00:33:26,800 --> 00:33:31,320 Speaker 1: a devastating fire, they, thanks to their connections and Sacramento, 686 00:33:31,640 --> 00:33:34,760 Speaker 1: get approval from the CPUC to pass on the cost 687 00:33:34,800 --> 00:33:38,600 Speaker 1: of paying out fire victims to the rate payer. Happen 688 00:33:38,680 --> 00:33:43,440 Speaker 1: with the Wolsey fire very recently. So even if people 689 00:33:43,520 --> 00:33:46,920 Speaker 1: are successfully able to sue so Cal Edison, they'll get 690 00:33:46,920 --> 00:33:49,320 Speaker 1: their money back because they'll jack up the rates on 691 00:33:49,480 --> 00:33:54,240 Speaker 1: everybody to continue to have us paying for their derelict infrastructure. 692 00:33:54,760 --> 00:33:58,480 Speaker 1: At the same time, Sure, so Cal Edison can sue 693 00:33:58,520 --> 00:34:01,520 Speaker 1: the county, they can sue the company, but all that 694 00:34:01,560 --> 00:34:04,280 Speaker 1: money's coming out of us anyway. We're screwed no matter what. 695 00:34:04,840 --> 00:34:06,920 Speaker 6: This is the latest step in the saga to find 696 00:34:06,920 --> 00:34:10,359 Speaker 6: out what contributed to the deadly blaze. Thanks for joining us. 697 00:34:10,360 --> 00:34:13,560 Speaker 7: I'm Kathy Varra, I'm Jonathan Gonzalez. So Call Edison's lawsuit 698 00:34:13,560 --> 00:34:16,480 Speaker 7: comes as the utility is already being sued by thousands 699 00:34:16,560 --> 00:34:19,800 Speaker 7: of people who were affected, but now the utilities suing 700 00:34:20,000 --> 00:34:24,759 Speaker 7: La County, multiple cities, and other agencies accusing them of negligence. 701 00:34:25,080 --> 00:34:26,400 Speaker 7: R Keenan Will are joining his liibnix. 702 00:34:26,400 --> 00:34:28,520 Speaker 1: I mean there is plenty of that to go around. 703 00:34:28,640 --> 00:34:30,600 Speaker 7: Our Keenan Will are joining his libno in the newsroom 704 00:34:30,640 --> 00:34:31,799 Speaker 7: to break all this down for us. 705 00:34:31,880 --> 00:34:34,520 Speaker 8: Keenan Nathan Cathy, We just spoke with a legal expert 706 00:34:34,520 --> 00:34:37,160 Speaker 8: who tells us this lawsuit from SoCal Edison is an 707 00:34:37,200 --> 00:34:40,200 Speaker 8: attempt to spread out the blame for the devastation caused 708 00:34:40,200 --> 00:34:43,239 Speaker 8: by the Eton fire, accusing others of failing to take 709 00:34:43,239 --> 00:34:46,839 Speaker 8: steps to protect Altadena before and after the fire broke out. 710 00:34:47,880 --> 00:34:50,600 Speaker 8: More than a year's past since the Eton fire tore 711 00:34:50,719 --> 00:34:54,399 Speaker 8: through Altadena, killing nineteen people and destroying more than nine 712 00:34:54,480 --> 00:34:57,839 Speaker 8: thousand homes and businesses. Today, people who live and work 713 00:34:57,880 --> 00:35:00,360 Speaker 8: in the fire zone say they're still fighting to re build. 714 00:35:00,800 --> 00:35:03,400 Speaker 1: A lot of them are still fighting with their insurance company. 715 00:35:03,680 --> 00:35:06,759 Speaker 7: Our backyard back fence is three hundred yards from the 716 00:35:06,880 --> 00:35:08,640 Speaker 7: Edison tower that caught fire. 717 00:35:08,560 --> 00:35:10,040 Speaker 9: In December Southern California. 718 00:35:10,160 --> 00:35:13,560 Speaker 10: Edison CEO said the company's equipment likely caused the Eaton 719 00:35:13,640 --> 00:35:16,200 Speaker 10: fire to break out. The utility has been sued by 720 00:35:16,360 --> 00:35:19,560 Speaker 10: La County and thousands of affected people seeking damages. 721 00:35:19,960 --> 00:35:22,320 Speaker 9: Tonight, so Cal Edison is hitting back. 722 00:35:22,520 --> 00:35:25,960 Speaker 11: Everybody's been suing them, saying you're day, it's royal. Everybody's 723 00:35:26,000 --> 00:35:29,040 Speaker 11: been suing them, saying your transmission lines caused the fire. 724 00:35:29,080 --> 00:35:31,200 Speaker 11: Where they want the public to know it really isn't 725 00:35:31,239 --> 00:35:33,520 Speaker 11: their fault so much, it's other people. 726 00:35:33,600 --> 00:35:35,960 Speaker 10: So Cal Edison has filed a new lawsuit against a 727 00:35:36,040 --> 00:35:39,759 Speaker 10: dozen local government entities and companies, including La County and 728 00:35:39,800 --> 00:35:42,839 Speaker 10: the City of Pasadena. In the lawsuit, Edison says they 729 00:35:42,920 --> 00:35:46,200 Speaker 10: contributed to the damage caused by the Eton fire, including 730 00:35:46,239 --> 00:35:49,760 Speaker 10: by failure to issue timely evacuation alerts, lack of water, 731 00:35:49,960 --> 00:35:53,520 Speaker 10: overgrown brushed throughout publicly owned land, and failure to properly 732 00:35:53,520 --> 00:35:55,600 Speaker 10: allocate resources to fire suppression. 733 00:35:55,840 --> 00:35:59,239 Speaker 1: Okay, they might have a point, because yes, it was 734 00:35:59,239 --> 00:36:03,680 Speaker 1: so Cal Edison and their old tower from the seventies 735 00:36:03,719 --> 00:36:05,920 Speaker 1: that they wouldn't tear down because it would cost too 736 00:36:05,960 --> 00:36:08,680 Speaker 1: much money that started the fire. But part of the 737 00:36:08,719 --> 00:36:11,400 Speaker 1: reason the fire was so bad and so devastating was 738 00:36:11,960 --> 00:36:14,840 Speaker 1: La County's alert system was a mess and the brush 739 00:36:14,920 --> 00:36:15,520 Speaker 1: was overgrown. 740 00:36:15,680 --> 00:36:18,080 Speaker 11: They're suing a gas company saying you didn't turn off 741 00:36:18,080 --> 00:36:20,839 Speaker 11: the gas and that caused fire. They're suing the La 742 00:36:20,960 --> 00:36:24,240 Speaker 11: County and the fire folks saying you didn't evacuate properly 743 00:36:24,320 --> 00:36:25,160 Speaker 11: or ran out of water. 744 00:36:25,239 --> 00:36:27,200 Speaker 1: I think the only ones winning in this are the lawyers. 745 00:36:27,200 --> 00:36:29,720 Speaker 10: In a statement, so Cal Edison tells us these actions 746 00:36:29,760 --> 00:36:32,279 Speaker 10: are a standard legal process that allows the court to 747 00:36:32,320 --> 00:36:36,120 Speaker 10: fully examine all potential contributing factors and responsible parties. 748 00:36:36,400 --> 00:36:37,280 Speaker 9: Southern California. 749 00:36:37,280 --> 00:36:40,560 Speaker 10: Addison remains committed to the communities impacted by the January 750 00:36:40,560 --> 00:36:41,080 Speaker 10: fires and. 751 00:36:41,200 --> 00:36:44,200 Speaker 1: To no, they don't, but sure say that while you 752 00:36:44,239 --> 00:36:46,839 Speaker 1: try to get them to take your low ball claims and. 753 00:36:46,880 --> 00:36:48,279 Speaker 9: To supporting their recovery. 754 00:36:48,440 --> 00:36:52,400 Speaker 10: In Altadina today, Congresswoman Judy Chu echoed concerns about damage 755 00:36:52,400 --> 00:36:54,399 Speaker 10: that was done during the fire because of a lack 756 00:36:54,440 --> 00:36:55,560 Speaker 10: of proper warnings. 757 00:36:55,920 --> 00:36:58,400 Speaker 12: Nineteen people lost their lives and we know that at 758 00:36:58,520 --> 00:37:03,719 Speaker 12: least eighteen of them were losses of life due to 759 00:37:05,200 --> 00:37:09,280 Speaker 12: a less inadequate evacuation notice system. 760 00:37:09,480 --> 00:37:11,719 Speaker 1: And do you remember, I know, so many horrible things 761 00:37:11,719 --> 00:37:14,040 Speaker 1: happened all at once, but do you remember how there 762 00:37:14,160 --> 00:37:16,719 Speaker 1: was the Palisades fire, there was the Eaton fire, and 763 00:37:16,760 --> 00:37:19,080 Speaker 1: then there was the Kenneth fire out in Woodland Hills. 764 00:37:19,640 --> 00:37:21,560 Speaker 1: And again it was a very small fire, but it 765 00:37:21,640 --> 00:37:26,440 Speaker 1: was contained in Woodland Hills, and La County sends out 766 00:37:26,480 --> 00:37:31,480 Speaker 1: an evacuation alert to the entire county and then corrects it. 767 00:37:31,520 --> 00:37:34,879 Speaker 1: Ten minutes later, the news is breaking up, everyone's freaking out, 768 00:37:35,160 --> 00:37:37,640 Speaker 1: and then they hold an investigation and they say, well, 769 00:37:37,640 --> 00:37:40,120 Speaker 1: it turns out no one was responsible for this failure. 770 00:37:40,320 --> 00:37:43,360 Speaker 10: Those who survived the Eating fire saying they'll keep pushing 771 00:37:43,440 --> 00:37:44,360 Speaker 10: for accountability. 772 00:37:44,680 --> 00:37:49,200 Speaker 1: We are still displaced, We are still fighting with insurance. 773 00:37:49,960 --> 00:37:53,880 Speaker 1: We're just doing our best right now to fight our 774 00:37:53,880 --> 00:37:57,480 Speaker 1: way through. There you go, so cal Edison suing La 775 00:37:57,560 --> 00:38:01,000 Speaker 1: County saying no, it's your fault. It's The News Blitz 776 00:38:01,000 --> 00:38:02,560 Speaker 1: with Randy Wang on K A B C