For the past month, we've been working on a 30-minute documentary about how people are struggling to get by in San Diego. Getting By will air this Thursday Oct. 23 on KPBS-TV, followed by a half-hour of discussion with local civic leaders. You can ask questions as a part of the studio audience.
Here's how it works. First, RSVP now. This Thursday, arrive at KPBS studios at 5:30 p.m. We'll show the 30-minute documentary, host a discussion with San Diego leaders (Councilmember Ben Hueso, Councilmember Jim Madaffer, Center on Policy Initiatives, San Diego Food Bank, local economist Alan Gin), and take audience questions. The entire hour-long program will air at 8:00 p.m. on KPBS-TV that evening.
If you're unable to make the taping, you can ask questions in advance right in the comments. Thanks!
]]>The sunshine tax has long been our justification for higher prices and lower wages here in San Diego County. It’s nearly always 70 degrees and sunny – so you pay more to live here and you get paid less.
But, does desirability really make this place so expensive? A leading county economist says, no. SANDAG Chief Economist Marney Cox says wages are low because of the jobs the county attracts and creates – jobs in the tourist industry - waiters waitresses, hotel clerks, and maids. Cox says the sunshine tax is really low paying jobs combined with a shortage of houses.
]]>Did you know that average wages in 1972 were 30 percent higher in the county than the nation? A SANDAG study revealed that local wages haven't kept up with inflation. In 2005, the county average was only five percent higher than the national average. And to top it all off, San Diego County is one of the most expensive places to live in the country.
Do you think the high cost of living in San Diego comes from the "sunshine tax," the price we pay for good weather? Is it worth it?
Recently, reporter Joanne Faryon investigated San Diego's low ranking among cities that distribute food stamps. She found that only one in three people who are eligible actually apply. And that means the county is losing more than $140 million in free food.
This is a big story. These are days of shrinking wealth. Every income bracket is being squeezed with housing, food, transportation, clothing and education expenses.
To learn more, Joanne talked to Donna Hand, Deputy Director for Health and Human Services in the North Region. As it turned out, Ms. Hand did poorly in the interview. She misquoted information and at times got information entirely incorrect. The most egregious mistake came when Ms. Hand was asked whether the county received funding to administer the program. Ms. Hand said no. Joanne repeatedly tried to clarify. Again, the answer was no.
However, San Diego County does, indeed, receive $28 million to administer the food stamp program. (Whether those funds are enough, or whether they are being used effectively is the subject for another report.)
Here's the issue: How much responsibility does a reporter take for how an interview subject performs? And how much knowledge are officials expected to have at their fingertips? Is it responsible for KPBS to include Ms. Hand's interview as part of the story?
We decided yes. Ms. Hand is a senior executive who should know how her programs are administered. Her strategic decisions play an important role in determining how needy families receive food stamp benefits. And it is not like we're playing "gotcha" journalism, because we had told Ms. Hand what we wanted to talk about in advance of the interview.
The public relations staff for the county claimed that we're being irresponsible. They say it's unrealistic for an upper level manager to know fiscal details of the food stamp program. Additionally, a county spokesperson says that they will no longer cooperate with KPBS on the story.
Here's the finished report, and here's the unedited raw footage. What do you think?
- John Decker is KPBS Radio's Director of News and Programming.
]]>It's getting to be that time of year when all the sunny days run together, creating a blur of unidentifiable days and weeks, rolled into forgotten months.I am always on the verge of buying air conditioning this time of year, and yet I know cloudy, cooler, rainier days are on the way. They're just out of reach.
The grass on my lawn has about had it. Given up for my water conservation efforts, bleached to a straw like state in spots. October is always a tough month in San Diego. And it's the same every year. The early fall, but really summer-like, heat is at its peak.
No one remembers when we had the last significant rain. The Chargers are struggling. Wildfire season is in full swing. The daily commute seems more of a drag. The faces at bus stops look so hopeless and oppressed. We are bombarded with political ads.
Everyone is tan. People are closer to just snapping this time of year. Our tolerance is at its lowest and everyone seems to be in a hurry. Is this what happens to normally docile San Diegans at the end of a long, hot summer?
The National weather service is predicting cooler weather for Saturday, with clouds, a chance of showers and temperatures in the mid- to upper-60s for most of us. Maybe I will go buy a pumpkin.
- Brad Martin is the late afternoon host on KPBS Radio.
]]>Above: Click play to view the web exclusive report on food stamps
For the past couple of weeks, we've been working on a project called Getting By. It's a look at the local economy and how people are coping, given the market crash, the foreclosure mess, and the rising cost of rent, gas and food.
We've heard from you about how this is affecting your everyday lives. More of you are simply not getting by; middle-class families are now showing up at food bank lines.
We also uncovered a story about food stamps: a federal program that provides money for food to working families and those on assistance.
San Diego County has the lowest food stamp participation rate in the country according to a national survey of 24 large urban areas. Only one in three who are eligible actually apply. And that means the county is losing more than $140 million in free food -- food that could go to the poorest of the poor.
The county is responsible for getting the word out about food stamps. They also administer the program. We asked them why so few people participated in a program that would give them more money for food. Some people are intimidated by the process, others just don't know it's available.
The most surprising response we got from the county was that they didn't have enough money to administer the program. This is surprising because the federal and state governments paid the county $28 million last year, according to a county spokesperson. That just to administer the food stamp program -- to do the paperwork and outreach -- and get the word out to the community.
In the past seven years, a California Department of Social Services spokesperson says, the state has paid the county more than $75 million to administer the program. A county spokesperson says while that may be the case, the state has not increased the money it gives per caseload in seven years, and the cost of doing business has gone up.
As we dig deeper into the economic life of the county, we will keep you updated here on our website, and we'll also bring you stories on KPBS-FM (89.5). Beginning Monday, October 6 at 10 a.m. These Days will launch its weekly series, Getting By -- and let you know how San Diego is faring amid the financial ruin around us.
On Thursday, October 23, at 8 p.m., KPBS-Television will air an Envision San Diego special about the local economy. We'll profile local families and we'll talk to the experts and city leaders. You can be in the live studio audience to ask questions -- RSVP here.
So, if you have a comment, a suggestion, or even a question about the economy you want answered, you can leave a comment here (below), or you can email us at gettingby@kpbs.org.
One more thing. The Food Bank has seen huge increases in its demand for food lately, so KPBS is hosting a food drive. If you're near our studios in the next few weeks, stop by and drop off some canned goods.
Most-needed items include:
Last month, producer Megan Burke and I were trying to figure out how we were going to tell the story of the local job market for this month's episode of our newly revamped public affairs show, Envision San Diego. We knew things were tough out there -- the unemployment rate is the highest it's been in more than a decade. The challenge really was to make all the statistics meaningful. We decided we would profile unemployed people -- it seemed like a no-brainer.
But finding unemployed people, (there are 100,000 of you in the county), is harder than it sounds. I put an ad on Craig's list, our web team sent out a message on Twitter, and Megan asked KPBS program director John Decker to air something you don't often hear on KPBS, radio announcements asking for your help. Decker agreed and for nearly a week we asked you to email us if you were unemployed and wanted to tell your story. You responded. You'll meet one of our listeners this Thursday, Sept. 25, at 8 p.m. on KPBS Television as she courageously describes her nearly year-long unemployment struggle. She was a casualty of the mortgage meltdown. The radio announcements worked; we found interview subjects, but it achieved something else. It gave you, our listeners and viewers another level of ownership in public broadcasting. You are reflected in our storytelling.
Our goal for the new Envision San Diego is to reflect our diverse community in the stories we tell. So often we the media, turn to the same experts, the same community organizations, the same politicians, to attempt to make sense of the news of the day. It is at times, unavoidable on daily and even hourly deadlines. We're lucky at Envision San Diego. We are given more time to find and tell stories in a different way. And so, here's where you come in again. We hope to include you on a regular basis. From time to time, you will hear us on the radio asking for your help. And now, you will even see us on this website asking you to tell us your story. I truly believe everyone has a story to tell. Here is your chance to get involved in the journalistic process and know that you are helping to shape the stories you'll see on KPBS Television. You'll still get the facts and analysis from the experts, but you'll also see how the statistics affect real people.
This month, we're asking you to tell us your story about how you are managing in these difficult economic times. Rent, gas and food are all more expensive this year than last, but wages are stagnant. How are you getting by? You can post your story here in the public comments or send an email to gettingby@kpbs.org. So, join the conversation. We really do want to hear from you.
]]>It was a good story and one that many old timers in San Diego are interested in… the Kitty Hawk spent half of her 48 years home ported in San Diego. We followed up and did a radio spot to mark her departure.
But today, another fax eventually made its way to the newsroom from some far-off fax machine in the station, informing us that the Navy is holding public hearings on the traffic impacts of permanently home porting a third aircraft carrier in San Diego. When was that hearing? It started 20 minutes ago!
I called to find out why we didn’t get the information sooner. I was told that, due to Labor Day weekend, they had to fax out the information instead of emailing it. Hmm.
The web site on the press release led to a message: “There is a problem with this website's security certificate.” When I asked where I could get information on the proceedings, the Environmental Public Information Officer didn’t know the web site address.
I called another Navy contact who eventually found me the web site.
It is, conveniently, under the Navy’s Engineering Command.
The public scoping period on the impacts of home-porting a third Nimitz class (that means nuclear powered) aircraft carrier starts next month, in October. Maybe by then the Navy will have figured out its public outreach.
]]>Her story was the impetus for our series "The Food We Eat." We wondered about the history of vegetarianism. We pondered how the human body gets what it needs from an all-plant diet. And we wanted to know how vegetarians see themselves in a culture where meat is prevalent and commonplace.
We hope you'll listen to our segment, "Exploring the History and Health of the Vegetarian Diet," on Wednesday's These Days. And we'll love to hear from you. Are you a vegetarian...or do you have vegetarian leaning? How do you balance your diet to ensure that you get everything your body needs? What restaurants offer good vegetarian options?
]]>Our guest was the engaging, energetic Dr. Heinz Valtin, a professor emeritus from Dartmouth Medical School, who blew the myth wide open with his comprehensive report on how much water the body needs. Despite his study being released in 2002, Americans, backed by misguided medical personnel and physical trainers, and crafty bottled-water suppliers, continue to believe in, and buy into, the myth.
We even received a call from a local physician who said he has a hard time convincing his patients that it is not necessary to drink 64 ounces of water a day because the myth is so pervasive. As Dr. Valtin says, you can stop feeling guilty about not drinking all this water. I know that I already have.
What about you? Do you drink 8 glasses of water a day? Tell us why... and after listening to our segment, will you change your habits?
]]>Factory-style farming and U.S. agricultural policy has democratized meat and made it available on a daily basis to all people, rich and poor. But eating too much animal protein can contribute to obesity, and it can cause high cholesterol and heart disease. In fact some studies show consumption of meat, in large quantities, boosts the incidence of colon cancer. The problem with trying to do without, especially if you adopt a strictly vegan diet (no milk or cheese either), is it becomes hard to get certain needed vitamins like B-12 and iron.
As with so many issues of how to eat healthy, the answer to the question of meat is moderation. It's best to avoid being a glutton or a puritan and eat what you need and leave it at that. So what do you need? Three ounces of red meat a day is the limit recommended by the USDA... imagine a meat portion that's about the size of a deck of cards. Fish is easier on the body than red meat. If you eat chicken, avoid eating the skin. Grass-fed beef is more healthy than corn-fed due to the lower level of saturated fats
We're interested in what you think, so feel free to comment on what kind of a meat diet works for you. And let us know what questions you think we should ask about the food we eat.
]]>Why are cookies and pizza unhealthy? Because those foods contain a lot of sugar and fat (duh!). What I'm going to tell you next may not be a surprise either: the United States has an obesity problem. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, one in four Americans is obese and that doesn't include those who are considered overweight.
I recently produced a segment for These Days featuring Vicky Newman, Director of Nutrition Services for the UCSD Cancer Prevention and Control Program, that explored the good and the bad of sugar and fat. Our conversation touched on why our bodies need sugar and fat, and how consuming too much of either of those things can lead to health problems.
While I learned a lot about both energy nutrients, I thought the most interesting elements of the conversation didn't have to do with sugar or fat specifically, but rather our eating habits in America. Why do so many of us choose to go through the McDonald's drive-thru instead of taking the time to make a meal from scratch? How can sitting down to eat a family meal improve your diet? If the French diet traditionally consists of more fatty foods than ours, why doesn't that country have the same problems with obesity? We explored all of those questions and concepts in our "Sugar and Fat" segment.
What other food-related topics would you like to hear discussed on an upcoming These Days?
- Hank Crook is a Producer for These Days and the Editors Roundtable.
]]>To answer these questions, the These Days team decided to devote a series of shows to the topic of the food we eat. We'll look at how our bodies work and what they need to be healthy, to why we crave certain foods. We'll discuss how to enjoy beef and seafood in an environmentally sustainable way, as well as explore the rising trend of vegetarianism.
We'd like to know what you think about food. What concerns do you have about the food you eat? Are you confused by all the information out there on nutrition and weight loss? Send us your questions or comments and we'll try to incorporate them into our coverage of "The Food We Eat."
- Natalie Walsh is the Senior Producer for These Days.
Last December, when I wrote about a convicted fraud expert and former meth addict, (Lisa is not her real name; she continues to work with the DA's office) I asked whether anyone could ever trust her again. Would someone give Lisa a job when for more than a decade she supported her drug habit by stealing mail and stealing identities. "How can you believe someone who was so good at fooling everyone? . . . I hope she finds her way. But I wonder what great leap of faith it will take for someone to trust a thief," I wrote months ago.
Lisa read that blog post and she wrote to me a couple weeks ago:
"I remember in your article that you wrote about me online and in it you talk about how can I get people to trust me, well Ms. Faryon I think that I am accomplishing it. Life is so GOOD!!"
Lisa got a job. She works for an organization called Second Chance. The name is no coincidence. The agency helps people like Lisa get a job and keep a job. Lisa is a graduate of the agency's job training program, STRIVE. With her permission, here's how Lisa describes her job in an email to me.
"I AM THE FIRST PERSON THAT OUR CLIENTS SIT AND MEET WITH. I DO THEIR INTAKES AND IT IS MY JOB TO GET AS MUCH INFORMATION OUT OF THEM THAT I CAN. I NEED TO KNOW THEIR CHARGES AND IF THEY HAVE SEX CHARGES AND IF THEY ARE ON PAROLE OR PROBATION. THAT'S WHAT I LIKE BEST ABOUT MY JOB IS FINDING OUT ALL THE BACKGROUND ON MY CLIENTS. THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT I CAN RELATE TO AND A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT HAVE CHECK CHARGES AND I TELL THEM THAT I USE TO DO IT AND THAT IF THEY CONTINUE THEY WILL SOON BE ADDICTED TO IT AND END UP DOING A LOT OF TIME. I BOND WITH A LOT OF MY CLIENTS AND WHEN I SEE THEM GRADUATE IT MAKES ME VERY HAPPY. "
Lisa invited me to visit her office and see the kind of work Second Chance does. She's cut her hair since I last saw her, wearing a tan suit with pointy shoes, looking like a woman on her way up the company ladder. Her desk is cluttered with photos of family and friends. She's obviously happy -- happy being herself instead of pretending to be the name on stolen mail.
Here's more from Lisa in her own words:
"I AM VERY HAPPY AND I AM ENJOYING LIFE. MY RELATIONSHIP WITH MY PARENTS IS SO GOOD AND MY KIDS ARE WITH ME EVERY WEEKEND AND ONE LIVES WITH ME. I GO TO OPEN HOUSE AT THEIR SCHOOLS AND WE DO FAMILY OUTINGS EVERY WEEKEND. I WAS NEVER ABLE TO DO ANY OF THAT BECAUSE I ALWAYS WORRIED ABOUT GETTING HIGH AND MAKING CHECKS AND ID'S, SO I NEVER WANTED TO BE AROUND ANYONE BUT MY LAPTOP. THINGS HAVE NOW CHANGED. I AM AROUND PEOPLES' CALIFORNIA ID'S AND SOCIAL SECURITY CARDS AND PERSONAL INFORMATION AND FOR THE FIRST TIME I'M NOT COPYING THEM OR STEALING THEIR IDENTITY. THAT'S A FIRST. I DON'T EVEN GET TEMPTED TO DO IT. I HAVE A LOT OF TRUST FROM MY CO WORKERS. I HAVE COME A LONG WAY. I HAVE BEEN CLEAN FOR 395 DAYS AND I FEEL GOOD."
]]>But this year, after the first flush of mail-in ballot results arrived just after 8 p.m., there was nothing to feed the mounting speculation until nearly 11 o'clock. The crowds in Golden Hall and the related campaign hubs in nearby hotels and bars had thinned out considerably by the time the first precinct results of the day came in. It's just not the same when you have to wait so late for the returns to trickle in!
Of course accuracy is the first order of business in elections. And the new optical scan ballots are better than the old punch card ballots. Registrar of Voters Deborah Seiler says the reason it takes so much longer for the results to come in now is because the optical scan ballots take longer to count. I remember seeing those punch cards flying through the counting machines at the registrar's office, poll workers scurrying around with big boxes of them in their arms. I don't know if the optical scan ballots have to be fed in one at a time, but it sure seems like the whole process slowed down!
It's true, the initial absentee results are much more significant now than they were, even four years ago. In those days it was risky to assume the early returns predicted the outcome, and many a disappointed candidate watched their fledgling lead evaporate as the night wore on. This all added to the excitement, of course. Golden Hall was a boiling pot of gossip, wonder and speculation. You could hardly work your way across the room between all the movers and shakers with their entourages, rubbing shoulders with the average San Diego citizens who came for the fun of it all.
Seiler tells me that this election, the initial "hit" of results -- the mail-in ballots that arrived after polls closed at 8 p.m. -- were an astonishing 57 percent of all the votes that were counted that night. Turn out was so low (only 370,000 voters countywide, that's 27 percent) that the mail-in ballots pretty much accurately predicted the outcome.
Next November's election night will obviously be a much bigger deal, as voters turn out in droves for the presidential race. But if it's going to take so long to get the San Diego precinct results out, maybe someone should hire a band or start taking bets, just to keep the people from drifting off home before the final results come in.
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