>>> GOOD EVENING.

IT'S FRIDAY, MAY 6th.

THANKS FOR JOINING US.

I'M MAYA TRABULSI.

>>> BIG DOLLARS, BIG DECISIONS AT ISSUE.

HOW TO PROTECT THE PUBLIC AND PAY AND KEEP OUR POLICE OFFICERS?

DOES THE DILEMMA FACING SAN DIEGO CITY LEADERS AND IT'S PROVING TO BE A CONTENTIOUS ONE TOO.

KPBS REPORTER ANDREW BOWEN EXPLAINS.

>> Reporter: THE CITY'S PENSION FUND HAS BENEFITED FROM A STRONG STOCK MARKET.

AND SINCE PENSIONS ARE PART OF THE POLICE BUDGET, THAT MEANS OVERALL POLICE SPENDING WOULD GO DOWN BY ABOUT $9 MILLION.

AT THE SAME TIME, THE MAYOR IS BUDGETING FOR OFFICER RAISES AND 23 NEW CIVILIAN POSITIONS TO ENFORCE PARKING VIOLATIONS.

THE POLICE CHIEF SAYS IT TAKES TOO LONG FOR OFFICERS TO RESPOND TO COMPLAINTS OF ILLEGAL PARKING.

BUT WE ARE NOT MEETING THE COMMUNITY EXPECTATION.

SOMETIMES SOME OF OUR BACKLOG CAN BE UP TO 35 DAYS.

WE SHOULD DROP THE TWO ABOUT A WEEK PROCESS.

SO I'M VERY GRATEFUL FOR THOSE ADDITIONAL POSITIONS.

>> Reporter: OVERSHADOWING THE BUDGET HEARING WERE RECENT ATTACKS FROM THE POLICE OFFICER'S UNION ON COUNCILMEMBER MONICA MONTGOMERY STEPP WHO MADE FALSELY ACCUSED OF TRYING TO CUT POLICE FUNDING.

SHE STEPPING FOR REFORMS FOR RACIAL DISPARITIES IN POLICING AND EVEN IN THE FACE OF CRITICISM FROM THE POLICE UNION, SHE'S NOT BACKING DOWN.

>> WE THINK DISPARATE TREATMENT , I LIVE IN BLACK SKIN.

I CAN'T IGNORE IT.

I'M NOT GOING TO IGNORE THE STATISTIC THAT TELLS US AND GIVES US AN IDEA OF THE TYPE OF EXPERIENCE THAT, IN PARTICULAR, BLACK PEOPLE AND BLACK AND BROWN PEOPLE HAVE IN THOSE INTERACTIONS.

I'M NOT GOING TO IGNORE THAT.

>> Reporter: THE HIGHER SALARIES PROPOSED BY MAYOR TODD GLORIA ARE MEANT TO RETAIN MORE OFFICERS AS MANY LEAVE SAN DIEGO FOR OTHER DEPARTMENTS.

MONTGOMERY STEPP MADE CLEAR TODAY SHE SUPPORTS THAT.

ANDREW BOWEN, KPBS NEWS.

>>> COUNTY LEADERS ALSO WRESTLE WITH SPENDING ISSUES AND A $7 MILLION BUDGET PLAN AMONG SOME OF THE PROPOSALS INCLUDE BIG INCREASES IN MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES.

KPBS HEALTH REPORTER MATT HOFFMAN SAYS THERE'S ALSO A NEED TO HELP THE COUNTY AGING POPULATION.

>> Reporter: THE BUDGET CALLS FOR AN ADDITIONAL $71 MILLION INVESTMENT IN MENTAL HEALTH.

THE COUNTY WANTS TO MOVE AWAY FROM A CRISIS RESPONSE MODEL TO A PREVENTATIVE ONE, AND LOCAL PROVIDERS SAY THE DOLLARS ARE DEFINITELY NEEDED.

>> WE ARE SEEING AN ENORMOUS INCREASE IN THE NEED AND WE ARE TALKING ABOUT THE NEED WITH EVERYTHING FROM CHILDREN TO ALL THE WAY UP TO THE OLDER ADULT SYSTEMS OF CARE.

>> Reporter: THE LOCAL CHAPTER OF THE ALLIANCE ON MENTAL ILLNESS IN SAN DIEGO NOW WORKS WITH UP TO 40,000 PEOPLE PER YEAR.

SO THE INCREASE IN THE VOLUME OF OUR CALLS TO FINDING RESOURCES.

AN INCREASE IN OUR SUPPORT GROUPS.

>> Reporter: THEY HAVE STAFF AT LOCAL CLINICS AND AT THE COUNTY PSYCHIATRIC HOSPITAL.

SHE ALSO WORKS WITH THOSE EXPERIENCING SUBSTANCE ABUSE DISORDERS.

>> OVERDOSES HAVE INCREASED DRAMATICALLY ACROSS THE COUNTRY, BUT ALSO PARTICULARLY HERE IN SAN DIEGO COUNTY.

SO WE DO HAVE TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT WE ARE IN A CRISIS WHEN IT COMES TO ARE INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE LOSING THEIR LIFE.

DUE TO ADDICTION DISORDERS AND THEY ARE ALSO EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS THAT WE HAVE A HEAVY LIFT TO START DOING AND GETTING THOSE WRAPPED AROUND AND INTO SUPPORTIVE SERVICES.

>> Reporter: INCLUDES ADDITIONAL MONEY TO SERVE THE AGING POPULATION.

OFFICIALS WANT TO ADD 60 NEW POSITIONS FOR IN-HOME SUPPORTIVE SERVICES.

>> ONE OF THE MOST DISTURBING TRENDS RELATES TO HOMELESSNESS.

WE ARE SEEING MORE AND MORE HOMELESS, OLDER ADULTS COMING THROUGH OUR DOORS.

>> Reporter: PAUL DOWNEY IS THE CEO OF SERVING SENIORS.

YOU WOULD LIKE TO HEAR IN SUPPORT, SENIORS EXTEND TO HOMELESS SHELTERS.

SPENT MANY OF THE SHELTERS HAVE PEOPLE WHO COME IN, SENIORS OR EVEN ON SENIORS WHO CAN'T MEET THEIR ACTIVITIES OF DAILY MEETING.

ADLS.

THIS IS LIKE BEING ABLE TO BE THEMSELVES, DRESS THEMSELVES.

GO TO THE BATHROOM BY THEMSELVES.

THEY ARE TURNED AWAY.

BUT THOSE ARE EXACTLY THE KIND OF THINGS THAT IN SOME SUPPORTIVE SERVICES CAN DO TO ASSIST.

>> Reporter: THE BUDGET WITHOUT 100 NEW POSITIONS TO HELP PEOPLE SECURE LIFE-SAVING BENEFITS LIKE CAL FRESH AND MEDI-CAL.

SERVING SENIORS HAS DOUBLED THEIR DISTRIBUTIONS DURING THE PANDEMIC.

ON TRACK TO SERVE 1.5 MILLION THIS YEAR.

>> THIS FOOD INSECURITY IS A BIG DEAL.

>> Reporter: PUBLIC BUDGET MEETINGS ARE SET TO START LEADERS THIS MONTH AND CONTINUING TO JUNE.

A FINAL BUDGET MUST BE PASSED BY JUNE 30th.

MATT HOFFMAN, KPBS NEWS.

>>> AS WE HAVE IN REPORTING, COVID CASES ARE ON THE RISE AND NO COUNTY OFFICIALS WANT TO REMIND PEOPLE TO MASK UP AT LARGE EVENTS, INCLUDING UPCOMING PROMS AND GRADUATIONS.

THERE ALSO ADVISING EVAN GORES TO MASK UP, BE VACCINATED OR SHOW PROOF OF A RECENT TEST.

ALSO TONIGHT, THE FDA IS PUTTING STRICT LIMITS ON THE JOHNSON AND JOHNSON COVID VACCINE.

WORN OUT FROM REPORTER GLORIA HAS ME KNOW.

>> Reporter: THE FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION ANNOUNCED IT'S LIMITING THE EMERGENCY USE AUTHORIZATION OF THE JOHNSON & JOHNSON COVID VACCINE.

THE FDA SAID THE CHANGES DUE TO THE RISK OF A RARE BUT DANGEROUS CLOTTING CONDITION KNOWN AS T Ts.

REC STRUCK ITS CLOTTING DUE TO LOW BLOOD PLATELETS.

WE KNEW THIS ABOUT A YEAR AGO IS THAT A RELATIVELY SMALL NUMBER OF PEOPLE WERE DEVELOPING UNUSUAL CLOTS OR CLOTS IN UNUSUAL PLACES, LIKE THE BRAIN.

OFTEN A WEEK TO TWO WEEKS AFTER GETTING THE JOHNSON & JOHNSON VACCINE.

>> Reporter: ONLY PEOPLE 18 AND OLDER WHO CANNOT ACCESS OTHER VACCINES ARE ALLERGIC TO THEM, OR THOSE WHO WOULD REFUSE TO GET VACCINATED OTHERWISE WILL BE ABLE TO RECEIVE THE JOHNSON & JOHNSON SHOT.

DESPITE THE NEW LIMITATIONS, OFFICIALS SAY THE RISK IS EXTREMELY LOW.

>> WE ARE TALKING ABOUT ONE IN 2 MILLION PEOPLE HAVING A REALLY HORRIBLE OUTCOME.

THREE IN 1 MILLION GETTING ANY KIND OF SIDE EFFECT ON THAT TTS THAT WE ARE TRACKING CLOSELY.

SO IS EXTREMELY RARE.

>> Reporter: SIDE EFFECTS TIP A SHORT ONE TO THREE WEEKS AFTER VACCINATION.

OFFICIALS STRESS THAT THOSE YET TO BE VACCINATED AGAINST THE VIRUS HAVE GOOD ALTERNATIVES.

>> THE BOTTOM LINE IS THERE ARE OTHER OPTIONS.

MADRONA AND PFIZER BOTH OF WHICH DON'T HAVE THIS RARE SIDE EFFECT.

>> Reporter: GLORIA PASMINO, KPBS NEWS.

>>> A PROPOSAL TO ALLOW CHILDREN 12 AND UP TO BE VACCINATED WITHOUT THEIR PARENTS' CONSENT IS ONE STEP CLOSER TO BECOMING LAW IN CALIFORNIA.

IT CLEARED ITS FIRST LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEE YESTERDAY.

IF APPROVED, CALIFORNIA WOULD ALLOW THE YOUNGEST PEOPLE OF ANY STATE TO BE VACCINATED WITHOUT PARENTAL PERMISSION, INCLUDING AGAINST THE CORONAVIRUS.

.

>>> A NEW BUILDING OFFICIALLY OPENED IN DOWNTOWN SAN DIEGO TODAY.

THESE DAYS, THAT'S NOT NEWS BUT AS KPBS REPORTER JOHN CARROLL SHOWS US, THE BUILDING AT THE CORNER OF PARK BOULEVARD AND MARKET STREET IS SOMETHING VERY UNIQUE.

>> Reporter: AMONG SAN DIEGO'S EVER-INCREASING NUMBER OF GLITTERING, GLASSY HIGH-RISES, THERE IS THIS AT THE CORNER OF PARK AND MARKET.

FOUR STORIES OF INFINITE POSSIBILITY.

THE VOICES OF OUR CITY CHOIR SINGING OF A BRIGHT SUNSHINY DAY , A PERFECT MUSICAL METAPHOR FOR THIS PLACE.

IT'S UC SAN DIEGO LEAVING THE CONFINES OF LA JOLLA.

COMING DOWNTOWN TO ANY PLACE.

A NEW CONCEPT THAT GOES FAR BEYOND WHAT WE TYPICALLY THINK OF AS EDUCATION.

>> IT CONNECTS PEOPLE TO SHARE IDEAS.

NEW CONCEPTS AND TO DISCOVER THE NOT YET IMAGINED.

>> Reporter: PARK AND MARKET IS PART OF UC SAN DIEGO IN LOTS OF WAYS.

IT'S CONNECTED TO THE MAIN CAMPUS BY THE BLUE LINE TROLLEY, JUST STEPS AWAY.

OF COURSE, THAT SAME TROLLEY ALSO GOES TO THE BORDER, AND THAT'S ALSO AN IMPORTANT CONNECTION FOR PARK AND MARKET.

>> THIS BUILDING IS DEDICATED TO THE NOTION OF CROSS-BORDER RELATIONSHIP OF A DEEP AND INTERTWINING WITH BAJA, CALIFORNIA.

WE AS A REGION ARE SEEING EXTREMELY CLEARLY THAT WE WILL BRING THE UNIVERSITY TO YOUR COMMUNITY.

>> Reporter: PARK AND MARKET IS CLOSE TO THE CENTER FOR U.S. AND MEXICAN STUDIES AND AN ARRAY OF OTHER ORGANIZATIONS, INCLUDING THE BURNHAM CENTER FOR CULTURAL ADVANCEMENT.

IS ALSO THE NEW HOME OF SAN DIEGO'S BLACK CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AND THE DIGITAL JIM CINEMA.

MORE ON THAT LATER IN THIS NEWSCAST FROM OUR OWN CINEMA JUNKIE, BETH.

THERE ARE OF COURSE THE KINDS OF THINGS YOU WOULD EXPECT TO SEE IN A UNIVERSITY BUILDING LIKE THE COMPUTER LAB.

TAKEN ALTOGETHER, PARK AND MARKET IS DESIGNED TO BE SO MUCH MORE THAN THE SUM OF ITS PARTS.

A PLACE WHERE BARRIERS OF EVERY SORT ARE MEANT TO BE TORN DOWN.

WHERE IDEAS AND INSPIRATION TURN INTO THINGS THAT MAKE THIS COMMUNITY BETTER.

FOR ALL OF US.

THE OFFICIAL OPENING OF PARK AND MARKET IS A WEEKEND LONG AFFAIR.

CONTINUES ON WITH MORE LIVE MUSIC, FAMILY ACTIVITIES, A FEE FREE MOVIE SCREENING OF THE DIGITAL CINEMA AND A BOOK GIVEAWAY.

FROM DOWNTOWN, JOHN CARROLL, KPBS NEWS.

>>> SCHOOL DISTRICTS ACROSS THE COUNTY ARE PREPARING FOR HUNDREDS OF NEW PRESCHOOL STUDENTS THIS FALL.

THEY WILL MAKE UP CALIFORNIA'S FIRST UNIVERSAL TRANSITIONAL KINDERGARTEN CLASS.

KPBS EDUCATION ORDER M.G.

PEREZ TAKES US TO A CLASSROOM IN CHULA VISTA.

>> Reporter: MRS. BAUTISTA'S KINDERGARTEN CLASS AT HILLCREST ELEMENTARY IS FINISHING A VERY IMPORTANT ASSIGNMENT.

IT'S ALMOST MOTHER'S DAY AND SIX-YEAR-OLD AMELIA IS CREATING A CROWN.

>> IT'S FOR MY MOM AND I JUST WANT TO MAKE HER FEEL SPECIAL.

>> Reporter: THESE STUDENTS TURNED FIVE YEARS OLD IN TIME TO MAKE IT TO KINDERGARTEN LAST SEPTEMBER, BUT THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA WANTS MILLIONS MORE STUDENTS TO BEGIN THEIR PUBLIC EDUCATION EARLIER WITH A OR FOUR YEARS OLD.

AMELIA'S CLASSMATE FINN SAYS HE'S ALREADY VERY SMART.

>> I COULD COUNT ALL THE WAY TO 306 IN PRESCHOOL.

>> Reporter: SINCE 2012, THE STATE HAS FUNDED TRANSITIONAL KINDERGARTEN, BETTER KNOWN AS TK FOR CHILDREN WHO TURN FIVE YEARS OLD BETWEEN SEPTEMBER 2nd AND DECEMBER 2nd.

BEGINNING THIS FALL, THE AGE CUTOFF DATE WILL BE EXTENDED TO FEBRUARY 2nd.

AS THE FIRST STAGE IN CALIFORNIA'S UNIVERSAL TRANSITIONAL KINDERGARTEN PROGRAM.

HILLCREST IS IN THE CHULA VISTA ELEMENTARY SCHOOL DISTRICT WHICH EXPECTS TO ADD 300 NEW TK STUDENTS THIS YEAR.

>> WE WILL BE ADDING ADDITIONAL MONTHS EACH YEAR UNTIL 2025, 2026 WHERE IT WILL BE ALL FOUR- YEAR-OLDS WHO TURN FOUR BY SEPTEMBER 1st, WILL BE ALLOWED PUBLIC EDUCATION.

IT WILL BECOME A WHOLE NEW GRADE LEVEL.

>> Reporter: IS THE LARGEST ELEMENTARY SCHOOL DISTRICT IN THE STATE, CHULA VISTA IS A LEADER IN STRATEGIES AND CURRICULUM.

THE DISTRICT U TK PROGRAM WILL BE A FULL DAY SCHEDULED TO INCREASE THE IMPACT ON STUDENTS.

BESIDES THE CHULA VISTA ELEMENTARY SCHOOL DISTRICT, SAN DIEGO UNIFIED STARTED TAKING ONLINE APPLICATIONS THIS WEEK FOR ITS U TK CLASSES.

CORONADO UNIFIED IS STILL LOOKING FOR PUBLIC INPUT BEFORE SITTING U TK START DATE AND OCEANSIDE UNIFIED HAS BEGUN REGISTRATION.

SO THEY BECOME MORE CONFIDENT AND INDEPENDENT AND BECOME THE LEADERS ARE THE KIDDOS WHO DIDN'T GET THAT EXPERIENCE.

SO THEY ARE THE MODELS AND IT JUST MAKES IT SO MUCH EASIER FOR EVERYONE.

>> Reporter: MEANWHILE, AMELIA HAS SOMETHING TO SAY ABOUT IT.

>> THE THING ABOUT SCHOOL IS SPEND TIME WITH MY FRIENDS AND LEARN NEW THINGS BECAUSE LEARNING NEW THINGS CAN BE FUN.

>> Reporter: FINN HAS FINISHED HIS MOTHER'S DAY CROWN AND KNOWS EXACTLY WHAT HE WILL TELL HIS MOM ON SUNDAY.

>> I LOVE YOU.

>> Reporter: M.G.

PEREZ, KPBS NEWS.

>>> SOME HOPEFUL NEWS ON THE JOBS FRONT TODAY.

THE U.S. GOVERNMENT REPORTS THAT EMPLOYERS ADDED 428,000 JOBS IN APRIL.

MEANWHILE, THE UNEMPLOYMENT RATE HELD STEADY AT 3.6%.

THE JOB GROWTH AND WAGE GAINS WILL HELP FUEL CONSUMER SPENDING AND LIKELY KEEP THE FEDERAL RESERVE ON TRACK TO RAISE BORROWING RATES SHARPLY TO FIGHT INFLATION.

SDSU'S MIRACLE PICK HAS MORE ON THE FRIDAY BUSINESS REPORT.

FROM IT'S INTERESTING WHERE THE SECTORS ARE AND WHEN WE LOOK AT CALIFORNIA, FOR EXAMPLE, CALIFORNIA IS A STATE IN MARCH, HAD A 4.9% UNEMPLOYMENT RATE AND WE ARE LITTLE BIT BEHIND THE TOTAL JOBS REGAINED.

WE ARE ABOUT 90% OF OUR JOBS REGAINED.

MOST OF THOSE ARE IN THE LEISURE AND HOSPITALITY SECTOR.

BUT SAN DIEGO HAS FARED EXTRAORDINARILY WELL.

OUR UNLIMITED RATE IS 3.4%.

BETTER THAN THE NATIONAL AVERAGE.

WE HAVE SEEN EMPLOYMENT GAINS ACROSS THE BOARD.

ONE OF THE THINGS THAT'S UNFORTUNATE IS BETWEEN THE GREAT RESIGNATION AND THE NUMBER OF JOBS AVAILABLE IN MARCH, THERE WERE 11.5 MILLION JOBS AVAILABLE.

THAT WOULD REPRESENT ALMOST 1.9 JOBS FOR EVERY UNEMPLOYED PERSON IN THE COUNTRY.

THAT SHOWS THAT EVEN IF WE GO BACK TO OUR LABOR FORCE PARTICIPATION RATE THAT WE HAD BEFORE THE PANDEMIC, WE WOULD STILL BE SEVEN TO $8 MILLION JOB STRIKE.

THAT'S PEOPLE BEING OFF THE FIELD NOT BEING ALLOWED ON THE FIELD.

>>> WE ARE DEALING WITH A BIG CHANGE THIS WEEKEND.

LOCALLY.

WIND IS GOING TO PICK UP A BIT, ESPECIALLY SOME FIRE DANGER CONCERNS IN THE MOUNTAINS.

BUT IT'S ONSHORE WIND THAT'S BETTER NEWS THAN AN OFFSHORE WIND.

WITH THIS ONSHORE WIND, YOU WILL HAVE A SIGNIFICANT COOLING TREND, ESPECIALLY BY SUNDAY.

YOU WILL NOTICE A CHANGE IN THE AIR, EVEN ON SATURDAY.

COOLER THAN TODAY HAS BEEN.

ALL PRECIPITATION WITH THIS NEXT FRONT WILL STAY TO THE NORTH.

THERE IS A COLD FRONT BRINGING SOME PRECIPITATION TO PARTS OF THE GOLDEN STATE, BUT NOT THIS FAR SOUTH.

TONIGHT WE WILL GET DOWN TO AROUND 50 IN POMONA.

50 IN THE CITY.

CHULA VISTA DOWN TO 59 DEGREES AND STAYING IN THE UPPER 60s.

SATURDAY, HERE COMES OUR FRONT AND WHENEVER A COLD FRONT DROPS IN LIKE THIS, THE WINDS TO PICK UP.

IT WILL BE A BREEZY AND WARM TIME.

THE MOST DANGEROUS WIND FOR US IS THAT OFFSHORE WIND THAT LEADS TO GREATER FIRE DANGER.

THIS IS AN ONSHORE WIND THAT'S GOING TO BRING AT LEAST SOME INCREASE IN THE DEWPOINT.

THE RELATIVE HUMIDITY ISN'T GOING TO BE TERRIBLY LOW AND THAT WILL ALSO HELP WITH MARINE CLOUDS, THE COASTAL CLOUDS.

SO FIRE DANGER A LITTLE GREATER FURTHER EAST INTO THE FOUR CORNERS REGION BUT TO SOME EXTENT, EVEN THE MOUNDS OF EASTERN SAN DIEGO COUNTY WAS SOME DEGREE OF DANGER BECAUSE OF THAT WIND.

STILL VERY STEAMY INTO THE DESERTS OF THE FAR EASTERN PART OF THE REGION, INTO SUNDAY BUT WE WILL NOTICE SOME CHANGES LOCALLY IN SAN DIEGO COUNTY.

SO WATCH AS THE TEMPERATURES DROP.

YOUR COASTAL AREAS, 71 SATURDAY.

UPPER 60s, SUNDAY AND MONDAY.

MORNING CLOUDS NEAR THE COAST WILL GIVE WAY TO SOME AFTERNOON SUNSHINE.

WE ARE PRETTY COOL NEXT WEEK.

64 ON WEDNESDAY.

INLAND AREAS, MORE PRONOUNCED CHANGE.

77 SATURDAY, BUT BY WEDNESDAY ONLY 63.

THAT'S DOWNRIGHT COOL FOR THIS TIME OF THE YEAR.

MOUNTAINOUS AREAS, BREEZY IF NOT WINDY THIS WEEKEND AND A BIG COOLING TREND.

48 FOR THE HIGH ON TUESDAY.

IN THE DESERT, HERE'S A SIGNIFICANT DROP.

98 FALLING AND IN THE LOWER 70s BY WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON.

I'M METEOROLOGIST GEOFF CORNISH FOR KPBS NEWS.

>>> AFTER A 30 YEAR BAN, LOW RIDERS ARE COMING BACK TO THE SOUTH BAY.

KPBS JACOB AYRES IS THE FIRST CREW'S NIGHTS IN NATIONAL CITY SHOWS THE PASTIME IS ABOUT FAMILY.

>> Reporter: LOW RIDER ENTHUSIASTS FROM ACROSS THE REGION ARE EXCITED TO CRUISE DOWN HIGHLAND AVENUE IN NATIONAL CITY ONCE AGAIN.

LOW RIDER CRUISING WILL BE ALLOWED IN NATIONAL CITY ON THE FIRST FRIDAY OF THE MONTH, NOW THROUGH OCTOBER.

AS PART OF A TRIAL PERIOD.

TONIGHT CRUISE KICKS OFF FROM THE HIGH SCHOOL.

HERE'S TERESA GARZA.

BUT WE HEARD THERE'S PEOPLE FROM L.A., SAN JOSE AND SAN FRANCISCO.

EVEN EL PASO, TEXAS.

THAT THEY WILL BE HERE.

LET'S SEE IF THEY SHOW UP.

WE WERE TOLD AT FIRST THAT PROBABLY EXPECT ABOUT 200 CARS, 250.

BUT NOW EVERYBODY THINKS IT'S GOING TO BE LIKE 500.

>> Reporter: NATIONAL CITY MAYOR IS LOOKING FORWARD TO SEEING HER TOWNS CHICANO CULTURE COME BACK TO LIFE.

>> WITH THE CHICANO, LATINO COMMUNITY, LOW RIDING IS SYNONYMOUS WITH MILESTONES.

YOU HAVE THEM AT YOUR WEDDING.

YOU DEFINITELY HAVE THEM POSSIBLY FOR PROM.

IT'S NOT ONLY A RIGHT OF PASSAGE, BUT IT'S ALSO TOO AN INVESTMENT OF YOUR BLOOD, SWEAT AND TEARS.

>> Reporter: FROM SIX TO 9 P.M.

THEY WILL BE UP TO CRUISE DOWN HIGHLAND AVENUE BETWEEN SIXTH AND 28th STREET.

THIS MARKS THE FIRST LEGAL CRUISE IN THE CITY SINCE 1992.

NOW LOW RIDER GROUPS ARE AIMING TO SHAKE THEIR PREVIOUS NEGATIVE IMAGE AND INCREASES ABOUT FAMILY.

>> BECAUSE I WANTED TO BE LOUDER THAN THE DRUGS, THEN THE GAMES, THEN THE ALCOHOL IN THE STREETS.

SO I USED LOW RIDING TO BE THAT BIGGER VOICE TO GET MY KIDS' ATTENTION AND KEEP IT ON ME.

TO SHOW THE WHAT HARDWARE REALLY DOES.

TO SHOW THEM WHAT UNITY IS AND TO SHOW THEM HOW EVERYBODY IN A COMMUNITY CAN BECOME A FAMILY.

>> Reporter: THE NATIONAL CITY COUNCIL VOTED IN EARLY APRIL TO ALLOW THE TEMPORARY.

FOR LOW RIDER CRUISE NEXT.

LOW RIDER ENTHUSIASTS ARE HOPING TO MAKE THE CREW'S NIGHTS CONTINUE LONG TERM AFTER THE TRIAL PERIOD ENDS IN OCTOBER.

JACOB AIR, KPBS NEWS.

>>> SAN DIEGO HAS BEEN GETTING A SNEAK PEEK OF TOP GUN MAVERICK THIS WEEK.

KPBS MILITARY REPORTER STEVE SAYS THE NAVY IS BANKING ON THE FILM STRIKING GOLD TWICE FOR NAVAL AVIATION.

BUT THIS IS THE ENGINEERING DEPOT IN THE CENTER AND THIS IS WHERE PLANES COME FROM MAJOR MAINTENANCE OVERHAUL.

>> Reporter: CAPTAIN BRIAN FERGUSON IS OUT OF NAVAL AIR STATION NORTH ISLAND.

THE BASE WITH THIS ROLE OF F-18 FIGHTERS IS AS MUCH A STAR IN THE NEW FILM IS TOM CRUISE.

FERGUSON HAS BEEN A NAVY PILOT FOR 28 YEARS.

HE WAS THE NAVY'S TECHNICAL ADVISER ON THE FILM AND A FAN OF THE ORIGINAL.

>> MY CAREER ESSENTIALLY STARTED IN 1986 WHEN I SAW THE FIRST MOVIE.

I SAID I WANT TO DO THAT.

I WENT TO LAND ON SHIPS IN A JET AND GO INTO COMBAT.

>> I FEEL THE NEED.

THE NEED FOR SPEED.

>> Reporter: WE WENT IN RIGHT AFTER COLLEGE WHEN THE ORIGINAL FILM WAS MADE, TOP GUN, OR U.S. NAVY STRIKE FIGHTER TACTICS INSTRUCTOR PROGRAM WAS IN SAN DIEGO.

WHEN MIRAMAR WAS A NAVAL AIR STATION.

THE ACTUAL TOP GUN MOVED TO FALLON NAVAL AIR STATION BACK IN THE 1990s, BUT THE FILMMAKERS WANTED TO KEEP THE NEW MOVIE SET IN SAN DIEGO.

FERGUSON BREAKS IT DOWN.

EXPECT TOP GUN IS ACKNOWLEDGED UNIVERSALLY TO BE NAVAL AIR STATION, THE BEST OF THE BEST IN THE STORY LINE DOWN TO SAN DIEGO TO TRAIN HERE.

WE WERE TRAINING CALLING.

BUT TO GET THE BEACHES, THERE'S BETTER BEACHES HERE THAN IN THE DESERTS OF NEVADA.

SO THERE WAS A LITTLE BIT OF ARTISTIC MISS AND IT DOESN'T BOTHER ME AT ALL.

THERE WAS A LAG TIME BETWEEN WHEN FILM MAKERS WERE FOAMING IN AND AROUND SAN DIEGO AND THE PREMIER THIS WEEK.

>> WE STARTED FILMING OCTOBER OF 2018.

SO FOUR YEARS AGO.

COVID PUT A BIT OF A PAUSE ON THAT.

>> Reporter: THE ORIGINAL FILM WAS A RECRUITING FOR THE NAVY.

THIS TIME AROUND, THE NAVY WENT ALL OUT.

IT OPENED ITS DOORS TO PARAMOUNT, PROVIDING F-18'S AND PILOTS.

THE FILM MAKERS WERE ALLOWED TO SHOOT ON THE USS ABRAHAM LINCOLN AND THE USS ROOSEVELT WHICH WERE BOTH BASED IN SAN DIEGO AT THE TIME.

HERE'S FERGUSON.

>> WE STARTED FILMING ALONG THE RUNWAY USING AN AIRPLANE AND THEN WE MOVED ON TO VARIOUS SHOOTING LOCATIONS THAT INCLUDED TWO AIRCRAFT CARRIERS, FIVE BASES, STUDIOS IN LOS ANGELES.

REMICK WHEN THE FILM MAKERS DECIDED THE REAL FIGHTER PILOT BARS WERE TOO SMALL, THE NAVY LET THEM BUILD ONE ON THE BASE OF NORTH ISLAND.

BUT WE LOVE THEM BUT THEY WEREN'T BIG ENOUGH TO PUT CAMERAS AND GET THE ANGLES THEY WANTED.

SO THE MOVIEMAKERS BUILT AN ENTIRE, HUGE COMPLEX ON THE BEACH AT BREAKERS BEACH.

>> Reporter: FERGUSON INSISTS THE NAVY BUILT THE STUDIOS FOR EVERYTHING.

>> WERE GETTING MAINTENANCE DONE ON IT NOW.

SO WE DO AVIATION TOURS.

>> Reporter: WHETHER BROOKE IS A PILOT AT SAN DIEGO SKY TOURS.

I CAUGHT UP WITH HIM WITH HIS INTERVIEW IN THE COMPANY'S HANGER WHEN HE WAS ABOUT TO FLY.

AT THE TIME THE FIRST MOVIE CAME OUT, HE WAS STATIONED IN YUMA, ARIZONA.

>> IT'S KIND OF A MARINE VERSION, IF YOU WILL.

I KNEW A LOT OF GUYS WHO FLEW AND WHO GAVE THEM A HARD TIME.

>> Reporter: HE SAID HE SAW THE SURGEON INTEREST BACK IN 1986 WITH HIS OWN EYES, JUST GOING OUT TO THE BAR AT MIRAMAR AT THE TIME.

HE SAYS IT'S HARD TO IMAGINE THE NEW FILM HAVING THE SAME IMPACT.

>> AT THE TIME, IT WAS KIND OF THE COLD WAR.

THERE WASN'T MUCH GOING ON.

A LOT OF PATROLS.

THERE WAS NO COMBAT.

THE THING INTERESTING NOW IS WE HAVE JUST GONE THROUGH THREE YEARS OF ESSENTIALLY CONTINUOUS COMBAT IN THE MIDEAST.

THE AUDIENCE WILL BE A LITTLE DIFFERENT.

I THINK THEY'RE GOING TO LOOK AT IT A LITTLE DIFFERENT.

>> Reporter: EVIL WATCHING THIS MOVIE ARE NOW MUCH MORE AWARE OF THE REALITY OF WAR.

STILL, THE NAVY IS BANKING ON MAVERICK TO BOOST THE IMAGE OF NAVAL AVIATION ONE LAST TIME.

STEVE WALSH, KPBS NEWS.

>>> DIGITAL JIM CINEMA IS REOPENING THIS WEEKEND.

THE NEW UC SAN DIEGO AT PARKIN MARKET BUILDING.

KPBS CINEMA JUNKIE BETH SAYS FILMGOERS CAN CHOOSE BETWEEN TWO VERY DIFFERENT FILMS.

>> Reporter: MEMORIAL BEGINS WITH THE SOUND.

THAT WAKES A WOMAN NAMED JESSICA AND THEN CONSUMES HER.

>> IS LIKE A RUMBLE FROM THE CORE OF THE EARTH.

>> Reporter: JESSICA PLAYED A QUIET, INTENSE CORRECTION BY TILDA SWINTON SETS OFF ON A JOURNEY TO DISCOVER WHAT THE SOUND MEANS.

WHY IT OBSESSES FOR AND IF OTHER PEOPLE HEAR IT TOO.

THE FILM REVELS IN LONG, STATIC SHOTS AND SILENCE IS BROKEN BY CAREFULLY ORCHESTRATED SOUND DESIGN.

IT'S A FILM THAT ASKS YOU TO SURRENDER TO ITS CONTEMPLATIVE CURIOSITY.

FOR PROGRAMMER MARISSA, IT SUMS UP THE KIND OF CHALLENGING AND EXCITING FILMMAKING THE DIGITAL GYM CINEMA WANTS TO PROVIDE.

>> I'M ALL ABOUT LOOKING FOR CINEMA AND TO THE SAN DIEGO COMMUNITY AT LARGE.

BUT I DO THINK THAT PROGRAMMERS REALLY HAVE TO PUSH TO EXPAND THE PUBLIC'S DEFINITION OF WHAT CINEMA MEANS.

>> Reporter: THE FACT THAT MEMORIA OPENS THE SAME WEEKEND AS MARVEL'S DR.

STRANGE, IT HIGHLIGHTS THE CONTRAST THAT DIGITAL GYM CINEMA WANTS TO OFFER.

IT'S NOT THAT ONE TYPE OF FILM IS BETTER THAN ANOTHER, BUT RATHER THAT FILMGOERS DESERVE DIVERSITY AND CHOICE.

>> THERE'S NO BOX OFFICE BATTLE BETWEEN THE DIGITAL GYM CINEMA AND THE MARVEL CINEMATIC UNIVERSE.

WERE OPERATING ON A DIFFERENT FIELD.

I THINK MEMORIA IN ITSELF IS OPENING UP THE POSSIBILITIES OF OTHER MULTI-VERSES THAT EXIST WITHIN INDEPENDENT FILM MAKING.

DEFINITELY BOUNDARY PUSHING.

DEFINITELY A FILM THAT'S CONTEMPLATIVE AND THAT IS REALLY A GIFT TO PEOPLE WHO LOVE DECIPHERING CENTER.

WHO LOVE THINKING ABOUT AFTERWARDS.

>> Reporter: SO PUSH YOUR BOUNDARIES AND YOUR DEFINITION OF FILM BY STEPPING INTO THE NEW DIGITAL GYM CINEMA AT PARK AND MARKET, AND EXPERIENCING MEMORIA.

SPEAKING OF DR.

STRANGE, MARVEL IS EVERYWHERE AT THE MOMENT.

IT'S CABLE SERIES MOON NIGHT IS WRAPPING UP JUST AS ITS LATEST FEATURE FILM, DR.

STRANGE AND THE MULTI-VERSE OF MADNESS IS OPENING.

AS A LIFELONG FAN OF DIRECTOR SAM RAIMI, IT PAINS ME TO SAY THAT DR.

STRANGE ON THE MULTIMERS OF MADNESS IS A DISAPPOINTMENT.

REMY HELPED USHER IN THE CURRENT WAVE OF SUPERHEROES WITH SPIDERMAN IN 2002.

HERE, HE'S BURDENED WITH A COMPLICATED BUT NOT CLEVER SCRIPT.

ANSWERING THAT QUESTION REQUIRES A LOT OF EXPOSITION AND A NUMBING AMOUNT OF COMPUTER GENERATED EYE CANDY.

BUT THAT LEAVES LITTLE ROOM FOR REMY TO TO SCARE ANY PERSONAL THERE EVEN THOUGH IT MEANS INTO HIS TALENT OF HORROR.

ELIZABETH OLSON'S SCARLET WHICH IS THE ONLY CHARACTER OF INTEREST.

ALL IN ALL, THIS MULTI-VERSE IS A MESS.

JESSICA, KPBS NEWS .

>>> YOU CAN FIND TONIGHT'S STORIES ON HER WEBSITE, KPBS.ORG .

THANKS FOR JOINING US.

I'M MAYA TRABULSI.

GOOD NIGHT.