>>> THANK YOU FOR JOINING US FOR THIS LOOK AT THE BEST ORIGINAL REPORTING FROM KPBS NEWS THIS WEEK.

COMING UP, IS PART OF SAN DIEGO'S A FORMAL HOUSING SOLUTION ALREADY IN PLACE?

WE WILL TELL YOU ABOUT AN IDEA TO GIVE THE VACANT 101 ASH STREET BUILDING A NEW LIFE.

>>> THE WEEK STARTED WITH AID SOAKING FROM TROPICAL STORM HILLARY.

WHAT DID THAT DO FOR THE RISK OF WILDFIRES IN SAN DIEGO COUNTY?

AND KPBS IS LAUNCHING THIS YEAR'S ONE BOOK ONE SAN DIEGO CAMPAIGN.

YOU CAN SEE THE BIG REVEAL FOR THE BOOK'S SHOWCASING IN 2023.

>>> IT IS BACK TO SCHOOL TIME FOR SAN DIEGO'S LARGEST SCHOOL DISTRICT.

KPBS EDUCATION REPORTER MIKE CAP G PEREZ SPENT OPENING-DAY AT HOOVER HIGH WERE SOME OF SAN DIEGO UNIFIED'S 100,000 STUDENTS ARE BEGINNING A NEW YEAR.

>> THEY DIDN'T MISS A BUTTER.

THE HOOVER HIGH SCHOOL BAND AND CHEERLEADING SQUAD HERE TO WELCOME 2200 STUDENTS BACK TO SCHOOL.

YOU CAN SEE THE DIVERSITY OF THE COMMUNITY ON THIS MEGA CAMPUS IN CITY HEIGHTS WHICH INCLUDES 98% STUDENTS OF COLOR.

A QUARTER OF THEM, ENGLISH LANGUAGE LEARNERS AND ABOUT 150 STUDENTS LIVING WITHOUT PERMANENT HOUSING.

AND THEY ARE ALL HERE TO SUCCEED.

>> I WILL CHALLENGE US AND ASK US AND BEG US AND PLEAD WITH US.

CREATE THE CONDITIONS FOR THEM TO BE AMAZING NOW AND INTO THE FUTURE.

>> THESE ARE SOME OF THE PLAYERS ON THE GIRL'S FLAG FOOTBALL TEAM, A NEW LEAGUE SPORT COMING TO 17 SAN DIEGO UNIFIED CAMPUSES FOR THE FIRST TIME.

>> IT IS GOOD BECAUSE YOU WANT TO ENCOURAGE MORE PEOPLE, LIKE LITTLE KIDS, TO LOOK UP AT YOU.

>> IT IS REALLY FUN.

WE NEVER HAD FLAG FOOTBALL AT THE SCHOOL BEFORE.

IT IS THE FIRST TIME AND IT'S NICE TO MAKE HISTORY.

>> JUNIORS AND SENIORS WILL BEGIN SPORTS MEDICINE CLASSES THIS FALL.

THIS RENOVATED CLASSROOM SPACE WILL BE USED TO EDUCATE STUDENTS ON HOW TO PRACTICE MEDICAL PROTOCOLS ON EACH OTHER WHILE WORKING TO IMPROVE THEIR ACADEMIC GRADE-POINT AVERAGES AND EXPLORE CAREER OPTIONS.

>> EMT, PHYSICAL THERAPY, NURSE.

IF YOU THINK OF THE SKILL SETS WE ARE LEARNING HERE, IT DOES NOT LIMIT US TO JUST ATHLETIC TRAINING.

>> THERE IS MORE THAN ACADEMICS HAPPENING ON THE HOOVER HIGH CAMPUS THIS YEAR.

THIS IS ONE OF THE DISTRICT'S PREMIER COMMUNITY SCHOOLS, WHICH MEANS SUPPORT PROGRAMS FOR THE WHOLE STUDENT.

>> HOOVER HAS A MEDICAL AND DENTAL CLINIC ON CAMPUS THROUGH PARTNERSHIP WITH A FAMILY HEALTH CENTER.

SAN DIEGO, FEEDING SAN DIEGO PROVIDES 4600 POUNDS OF RIGHT -- FOODS AND VEGETABLES EVERY MONTH TO STOCK THE SCHOOL PANTRY FOR FAMILIES TO USE.

AND THERE IS THERAPY AND INDIVIDUAL COUNSELING SESSIONS AVAILABLE TOO.

>> YOU CANNOT LEARN IF YOU ARE HUNGRY OR HAVING TROUBLE AT HOME.

YOU CANNOT LEARN IF YOU ARE DEALING WITH MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES OR IF YOUR STOMACH HURTS AND HAVE AN UNDERLYING MEDICAL CONDITION.

WE NEED TO MEET ALL OF THEIR NEEDS.

>> AND THIS IS JUST THE FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL.

KPBS NEWS.

>> CAMPUSES CLOSED FRIDAY BECAUSE OF A BOIL WATER NOTICE ISSUED FOR THE SOUTH BAY COMMUNITIES.

STATE OFFICIALS SAY E. COLI BACTERIA WAS DETECTED IN THE DRINKING WATER SYSTEM.

WE HAVE A MAP OF THE AFFECTED AREA ON KPBS.COM AND IT INCLUDES PARTS OF CHULA VISTA, CORONADO, IMPERIAL BEACH AND SAN DIEGO.

BE SURE TO CHECK THROUGHOUT THE WEEKEND AS UPDATES ARE GIVEN.

THE ADVISORY WILL IN EFFECT UNTIL LAB RESULTS SHOW THAT NO BACTERIA IS IN THE WATER SUPPLY.

>>> WE ALL KNOW THAT SAN DIEGO NEEDS MORE AFFORDABLE HOUSING.

AT LEAST ONE LOCAL DEVELOPER SAYS PART OF THE SOLUTION MIGHT BE IN ONE OF DOWNTOWN SAN DIEGO'S MOST VISIBLE AND INFAMOUS BUILDINGS.

OUR KPBS METRO REPORTER TELLS US WHAT THE FUTURE MIGHT HOLD FOR 101 ASH STREET.

>> 101 ASH HAS BECOME SYNONYMOUS WITH POLITICAL SCANDALS AND BAD REAL ESTATE DEALS.

THE CITY OVERPAID FOR THE DOWNTOWN HIGH-RISE IN 2016.

IT THEN BOTCHED RENOVATIONS AND DISCOVERED THE CITY'S OWN BROKER HAD ALSO BEEN WORKING FOR THE BUILDING'S SELLER.

DESPITE ITS TOXIC HISTORY, THE REAL ESTATE FIRM HOPES TO GET THE BUILDING AND TURN IT INTO NEARLY 400 UNITS OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING.

STEPHEN RUSSELL OF THE NONPROFIT SAN DIEGO HOUSING FEDERATION SAYS THAT DOWNTOWN HAS THOUSANDS OF LOW-WAGE JOBS AND IN TOURISM AND HOSPITALITY.

AND THOSE WORKERS NEED MORE HOUSING OPTIONS.

>> IF WE CAN GET MORE AFFORDABLE HOUSING SO THE FOLKS WORKING IN THE TOWERS AND SERVICE THE PEOPLE THAT WORK IN THE TOWERS, WE COULD BENEFIT LIKE MANY OF THE SENIORS DO FOR BEING CLOSE TO SOCIAL ACTIVITIES AND ALL OF THAT.

AM REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THE FUTURE.

>> CONVERTING OFFICE BUILDINGS TO HOUSING IS EASIER SAID THAN DONE.

THE BUILDING'S ASBESTOS WILL HAVE TO BE REMOVED AND IT NEEDS NEW ELECTRICAL, HVAC AND PLUMBING SYSTEMS.

BARROSO SAYS THAT FROM AN ENVIRONMENTAL STANDPOINT, REUSING A HIGH-RISE IS BETTER THAN TEARING IT DOWN AND BUILDING SOMETHING NEW.

>> NOTWITHSTANDING THE FACT THAT IT HAS A BAD REPUTATION WITH POLITICS.

IT IS THE NEXT ORDINARY BUILDING WITH GREAT BONES AND A DIGNIFIED FAADE AND IS REPRESENTATIVE OF THE PARTICULAR ERA OF SAN DIEGO HISTORY IN THE MID-60s WHEN WE WERE REALLY STRIVING TO BE SOMETHING MORE.

>> BIG QUESTIONS REMAIN.

HOW WILL THE PROJECT TO BE FINANCED?

WILL THE GAIN IN AFFORDABLE HOUSING BE WORTH THE COST?

THE CITY AND REVENUE CAPITAL WILL STILL STUDENT KICK OFF A 90 DAY NEGOTIATING PERIOD TO TRY TO STRIKE A DEAL WHICH WOULD ULTIMATELY NEED THE APPROVAL OF THE CITY COUNCIL.

KPBS NEWS.

>> THE OCEANSIDE BURST HOMELESS SHELTER IS OFFICIALLY HOUSING NEW RESIDENTS.

OUR KPBS REPORTER SAYS THERE IS SPACE FOR SINGLE MEN AND WOMEN AS WELL AS FOR FAMILIES.

>> IT HAS BEEN A WEEK OF PEOPLE COMING TO SAN DIEGO RESCUE MISSION'S NEW NAVIGATION CENTER IN NORTH COUNTY.

THE HOMELESS SHELTER IS A FIRST FOR OCEANSIDE.

SO FAR, IT IS HOUSING ABOUT 15 RESIDENTS.

>> THEY COME TO THIS ROOM AFTER THEY HAVE BEEN ADMITTED.

THEY GET A SHEET AND A BLANKET AND PILLOW.

THEY GET HYGIENE MATERIAL AND THEY GET THE OPPORTUNITY AFTER THE SHOWER TO GET NEW SHOES AND CLOTHING.

>> DONNY D IS A HEAD OF THE SAN DIEGO RESCUE MISSION.

THE ORGANIZATION CONTRACTED BY THE CITY OF OCEANSIDE TO RUN THE SHELTER PROGRAM.

HE SAID THAT THE SITE IS NOT A WALK-UP FACILITY.

PEOPLE WILL BE REFERRED TO THE CENTER FOR A 30 DAY STAY.

>> LAST THURSDAY, WE STARTED ADMITTING GUESTS FROM THE STREETS.

EITHER THE OCEANSIDE POLICE DEPARTMENT DROPPING THEM OFF OR COMING FROM THE OUTREACH UNIT.

>> THERE IS SKEPTICISM ABOUT THE NEW FACILITY AMONG THE OCEANSIDE HOMELESS POPULATION.

THIS MAN, WHO WOULD NOT TELL US HIS REAL NAME, GREW UP IN OCEANSIDE AND IS NOW HOMELESS, LIVING NEAR THE SERVICE PROVIDER HERE AND DID NOT WANT TO SHOW HIS FACE ON CAMERA.

>> I HAVE HEARD MIXED THINGS ABOUT WHAT KIND OF HELP THEY ACTUALLY OFFER.

THEY LIKE TO TAKE PEOPLE IN BUT THEY ALWAYS PUSH THEM AWAY.

>> HE IS REFERRING TO THE 30 DAY LIMIT OF THE FACILITY BUT SAYS THAT ALMOST ANYONE CAN STAY THERE INCLUDING SINGLE MEN AND WOMEN AS WELL AS FAMILIES.

AND THERE IS NO FAITH-BASED COMPONENT REQUIRED AT THE NORTH COUNTY SHELTER AND THEY WELCOME ALL PEOPLE.

>> IT IS A PLACE TO SLEEP.

THEY ARE RECEIVING THE OPPORTUNITY TO USE OUR FACILITIES AND SHOWER AND COMPUTERS AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

THEY ARE RECEIVING THREE MEALS A DAY AND THEY ARE BEING REQUIRED TO SEE A CASE MANAGER.

IT IS THROUGH THAT CASE MANAGER THAT WE FIGURE OUT WHERE YOU GO NEXT.

THIS IS SHORT TERM HOUSING.

WE DON'T THINK YOU WILL BE HERE LONGER THAN 30 DAYS.

>> THE GOAL IS TO INCREASE THE CENTER'S RESIDENTS TO 50 PEOPLE OVER THE NEXT MONTH.

THEY SAY THE NAVIGATION CENTER HAS A CAPACITY FOR 100 PEOPLE AT ONE TIME WHICH IS A LONG- TERM GOAL.

KPBS NEWS.

>> IT IS NOT EVERY WEEK THAT WE CAN SAY A TROPICAL STORM MOVED THROUGH SAN DIEGO BUT THAT WAS THE CASE SUNDAY.

OUR KPBS ENVIRONMENTS A REPORTER TELLS US HOW THE SOAKING MIGHT EASE THE RISK OF WILDFIRES IN THE WEEKS AHEAD.

>> SEVERAL RAINFALL RECORDS FOR AUGUST FELL SUNDAY AS RECORDS WERE SET.

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PREDICTED RAINFALL WOULD BE HEAVIEST IN THE MOUNTAINS AND IT WAS.

MORE THAN 6 INCHES FELL AT PALOMAR MOUNTAIN.

AT MOUNT LAGUNA, REPORTED RAINFALL TOPPED 4.5 INCHES.

THIS HAS THE ADDED BENEFIT OF TAMPING DOWN THE RISK OF WILDFIRES IN THE BACKCOUNTRY.

>> WITH THE RAIN STORM, HOPEFULLY IT WILL BE LESS OF A CONCERN.

THE WIND CAN DRY OUT THE FIELDS RAPIDLY.

SO IF WE HAVE A COUPLE OF SANTA ANA WIND EVENTS, WHAT WILL THE CONDITIONS LOOK LIKE?

THAT HAS YET TO BE SEEN.

>> THEY SAY THAT THIS STORM DOES NOT ELIMINATE THE RISK FOR THE REST OF THE YEAR.

BOTH OF THE COUNTY'S MOST DESTRUCTIVE WILDFIRES, THE CEDAR IN 2003 AND THE WITCH CREEK IN 2007, WERE SPARKED IN LATE OCTOBER.

UNLIKE SPRING RAIN THAT FEED PLANT GOLD GROWTH, THE SOAKING LIKELY WON'T ADD TO WILDFIRE FUEL LOADS.

>> WE MIGHT SEE NEW GROWTH AS FAR AS NEW GRASS AND WHATNOT.

I DON'T THINK IT IS REALLY GOING TO BE ENOUGH TO BUILD UP THE FUEL OR REAL FIRE POTENTIAL ON THIS ONE.

>> CAL FIRE OFFICIALS SAY THEY WILL CONTINUE MONITORING MOISTURE LEVELS AND PLANTS IN THE BACKCOUNTRY DURING THE REGION'S HOTTEST MONTHS.

THEY HOPE THE SHORT-TERM BENEFITS OF THE AUGUST RAINSTORM WON'T BECOME A LONG- TERM LIABILITY DURING PEAK FIRE SEASON THIS FALL.

>> ERIC ANDERSON, KPBS NEWS.

>> THE HAWAIIAN ISLAND OF MAUI IS IN THE EARLY STAGES OF RECOVERING FROM DEADLY WILDFIRES THAT DEVASTATED COMMUNITIES THIS MONTH.

SAN DIEGO IS PLAYING A ROLE IN HELPING THE HAWAII PEOPLE AND THEIR ANIMALS.

WE GET UPDATED ON SOME OF THAT WORK.

>> OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF NIGHTS, SOME VERY SPECIAL HAWAIIANS HAVE BEEN ARRIVING AT THE SAN DIEGO INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT.

REFUGEES OF THE FOUR-LEGGED VARIETY.

>> AFTER THE FIRE, WE KNEW THAT ADOPTION RATES WOULD PLUMMET.

>> THAT IS MONICA FROM THE HELLEN WOODWARD ANIMAL CENTER IN RANCHO SANTA FE.

SHE IS HOLDING "BUDDY."

WOODWARD HAS A LONG WORKING RELATIONSHIP WITH COLLEAGUES AT THE ANIMAL RESCUE FOUNDATION.

>> WE KNEW THEY WOULD BE OVERCAPACITY WITH THESE PETS AND THEY HAVE BEEN FOUND LOST OR INJURED.

>> BUT THE 10 PLUS DOGS NOW IT HELLEN WOODWARD ARE NOT THOSE LOST AND INJURED PETS.

SHE SAYS IT WAS APPARENT FROM THE START THAT THE SHELTERS IN MAUI WOULD QUICKLY BE OVERCAPACITY WITH THOSE ANIMALS THAT FOUND THEMSELVES HOMELESS.

>> WHAT OUR PARTNERS NEEDED THE MOST WHEN WE ASKED THEM, WAS SPACE.

THEY ARE CURRENTLY TRYING TO BUILD MAKESHIFT CANDLES BECAUSE THEY ARE OUT OF ROOM.

>> THE FINAL FLIGHT OF REFUGEES WILL ARRIVE TONIGHT.

THAT GROUP WILL CONSIST OF FELINES.

BUT FOR NOW, THE CANINE ARRIVALS ARE BEING ASSESSED AND GETTING EVERYTHING THEY NEED.

>> I CHECKED TO SEE IF THERE IS ANY NASAL DISCHARGE.

>> BREANNA IS A MEMBER OF THE WOODWARD MEDICAL TEAM.

>> WE DO HAVE TO DO AN AIR CLEANING.

>> GETTING THESE ANIMALS TO SAN DIEGO IS A GROUP EFFORT.

ALASKA AIRLINES IS FLYING THEM HERE FOR FREE.

THEY SAY WOODWARD IS GETTING FINANCIAL HELP FROM THE SAN DIEGO FOUNDATION.

THE DOGS AND SOON TO ARRIVE CATS WILL ALL BE HERE UNTIL AT LEAST SEPTEMBER 5th WHERE THEY WILL BE PUT UP FOR ADOPTION.

>> IN THE HALLWAY, THERE ARE PLAQUES, TRIBUTES TO OUR FOUR- LEGGED FRIENDS AND THE HELLEN WOODWARD SLOGAN, "PEOPLE HELPING ANIMALS AND ANIMALS HELPING PEOPLE."

IT STARTS AND ENDS WITH US.

PLEASE CONSIDER ADOPTING ONE OF THESE MAUI REFUGEES OR ANYONE OF THE OTHER HUNDREDS OF DOGS AND CATS HERE THAT NEED A LOVING HOME.

JOHN CARROLL, KPBS NEWS.

>>> IT IS TARANTULA MATING SEASON IN SAN DIEGO.

YOU MIGHT BE SEEING MORE OF THE CRAWLING CREATURES, ESPECIALLY IN EAST COUNTY.

MATT HOFFMAN HAS MORE ON WHAT TO DO IF ONE ENDS UP IN YOUR HOUSE.

>> WHAT WE ARE SEEING RIGHT NOW IS THE MALES ARE JUST ON THE HUNT FOR LOVE.

THEY ARE TRYING TO BREED AND FIND FEMALES.

>> MATT THOMAS IS THE CEO OF PET KINGDOM IN THE MIDWAY AREA.

HE SAYS CALIFORNIA'S BRONZE AND BLACK TARANTULAS WILL BE MATING THROUGH OCTOBER AND THAT MEANS THE MALES ARE ACTIVELY OUT LOOKING FOR MATES.

HE HAS ALREADY SEEN A LOT OF THEM AROUND HIS ALPINE HOME.

>> MY NEIGHBORS AND EVERYONE IS FREAKING OUT.

THEY ARE IN THE KITCHEN.

SO WE WILL REMOVE THEM.

EAST COUNTY, IT IS REALLY PREVALENT RIGHT NOW.

>> THOMAS SAID THE DESERT AREAS WILL ALSO SEE A LOT OF THE SPIDERS.

THE ONE HE IS HANDLING IS NOT EXACTLY WHAT RESIDENTS IN SAN DIEGO WOULD SEE BUT SIZE WISE, IT IS ABOUT THE SAME.

>> THIS IS A MEXICAN RED KNEE TARANTULA.

THERE IS REALLY NO NEED TO KILL THE ANIMAL.

JUST RELOCATING IT.

IT WILL JUST MOVE ON.

IT IS NOT IN YOUR HOUSE TRYING TO FEED OFF OF YOU OR YOUR PETS.

>> THOMAS SAID TARANTULAS ARE AN IMPORTANT PART OF THE LOCAL ECOSYSTEM AND EVEN THOUGH VENOMOUS, THEY ARE RELATIVELY TAME.

>> IF YOU WERE TO GET BIT BY ONE, YOU WILL HAVE SOME LOCAL SWELLING IN THAT AREA.

MAYBE A LITTLE BIT OF REDNESS.

BUT THAT IS ABOUT IT.

>> THEN IT WAS TIME FOR ME TO SEE JUST HOW DOCILE TARANTULAS ARE.

>> YOU ARE JUST AN OBJECT.

>> IT FEELS HEAVY.

>> A LITTLE BIT OF WEIGHT TO IT, YES.

>> THAT IS A LITTLE SCARY.

>> THOMAS SAYS GARAGES ARE A COMMONPLACE THAT RESIDENTS MIGHT SEE THE SPIDERS.

THEY MAKE OUT TO BE A LITTLE DEFENSIVE.

>> IF YOU SEE THE LEGS ARCHED BACK, GIVE THEM A SECOND TO RELAX.

THEY WILL STOP FREAKING OUT AND YOU CAN SAFELY GET THEM IN A CUP OR DUSTPAN IS PROBABLY THE EASIEST THING TO DO.

>> THOMAS SAYS THAT TARANTULAS ARE POPULAR PETS BECAUSE THEY ARE LOW MAINTENANCE BUT PET STORES ARE NOT ALLOWED TO SELL NATIVE SPECIES.

OTHER VARIETIES CAN RUN ANYWHERE FROM 25, UP TO $200.

MATT HOFFMAN, KPBS NEWS.

>> YOU CAN FIND EPISODES OF KPBS NEWS THIS WEEK AND ALL OF OUR STORIES ON THE KPBS YOUTUBE PAGE.

SUBSCRIBE AND GET NOTIFICATIONS FOR NEW CONTENT WHEN IT WAS PUT WHEN IT IS POSTED AND THAT IS WHERE WE LIVE STREAM THE KPBS EVENING EDITION WEEKNIGHTS AT 5:00.

>> THAT STORY ON TARANTULAS WAS ONE OF THE MOST POPULAR THIS WEEK.

HERE ARE SOME OF THE OTHERS.

WE SAW HUGE INTEREST IN TROPICAL STORM HILARY, ESPECIALLY HOW IT AFFECTED COASTAL COMMUNITIES LIKE IMPERIAL BEACH.

AND ACCOUNTABILITY IN EAST COUNTY AS KPBS INVESTIGATES QUESTIONABLE SPENDING BY RAMONA'S CEMETERY DISTRICTS.

AND A PIECE OF THE BERLIN WALL FINDS A NEW HOME IN TIJUANA.

>> COURAGE, HOPE, ADVOCACY AND SOLIDARITY.

THOSE ARE THE THEMES FOR ONE BOOK, ONE SAN DIEGO 2023.

IN RECENT DAYS, KPBS REVEALED THIS YEAR'S SELECTIONS FOR READERS OF ALL AGES.

HERE IS MORE ON THIS YEAR'S TITLE AND SOME SPECIAL COMMENTS FROM THE AUTHORS.

>> KPBS AND COMMUNITY PARTNERS CELEBRATE 17 YEARS OF ONE BOOK ONE SAN DIEGO.

WE ARE EXCITED TO ANNOUNCE THE 2023 SELECTIONS.

FOR ADULTS, THE NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER, "THE SOME OF U ."

BY HEATHER MCGEE.

>> HELLO.

MY NAME IS HEATHER MCGEE AND I'M THE AUTHOR OF "THE SOME OF US."

WHAT RACISM COSTS EVERYONE AND HOW WE CAN PROSPER TOGETHER.

AND I'M OVER THE MOON THAT THIS BOOK WILL BE A PART OF ONE BOOK, ONE SAN DIEGO.

I WROTE THIS AS A RESULT OF A JOURNEY THAT I TOOK ACROSS THE COUNTRY FROM CALIFORNIA TO MISSISSIPPI TO MAINE AND BACK AGAIN MULTIPLE TIMES IN SEARCH OF AN ANSWER TO A QUESTION THAT YOU MIGHT HAVE ASKED YOURSELF AT SOME POINT WHICH IS, WHY DOES IT SEEM LIKE WE CAN'T HAVE NICE THINGS IN AMERICA?

I DON'T MEAN DRIVE-THROUGH ESPRESSO.

I MEAN THINGS LIKE WORLD-CLASS INFRASTRUCTURE AND A WELL- FUNDED SCHOOL IN EVERY NEIGHBORHOOD OR SOLUTION TO HOMELESSNESS.

MY JOURNEY INTRODUCED ME TO AMERICANS OF ALL STRIPES AND ALL WALKS OF LIFE WHO HELPED ME SEE WHAT IS HOLDING US BACK FROM COMING TOGETHER TO FIND COMMON SOLUTIONS TO THE COMMON PROBLEMS.

>> THE SUM OF US IS A BOOK ABOUT AMERICA.

ABOUT RACE AND CLASS AND THE ECONOMY.

IT IS STORIES OF EVERYDAY PEOPLE.

IT IS A BOOK ABOUT OUR HISTORY AND OUR, AND FUTURE.

MOST IMPORTANTLY, IT IS A HOPEFUL BOOK.

I HOPE THAT READING IT WILL MAKE YOU MORE OPTIMISTIC ABOUT OUR SHARED FUTURE.

I HOPE YOU WILL READ IT AND SHARE IT WITH YOUR FRIENDS AND NEIGHBORS AND THEN JOIN ME ON TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 26TH AND WE WILL TALK ABOUT IT ALL.

THANK YOU SAN DIEGO.

>> MY NAME IS ANDREA AND I AM THE AUTHOR.

I AM SO EXCITED TO BE PART OF ONE BOOK, ONE SAN DIEGO THIS YEAR.

I WROTE THIS BECAUSE I WANTED TO HAVE MORE CONVERSATIONS ABOUT HOW HARD IT IS TO BE A MIDDLE SCHOOL ARE STRUGGLING WITH MENTAL HEALTH AND SURROUNDED BY FRIENDS AND FAMILY WHO LOVE YOU BUT MAYBE DON'T UNDERSTAND YOU OR KNOW HOW TO SUPPORT YOU IN THE BEST WAY.

I'M EXCITED FOR ONE BOOK, ONE SAN DIEGO, BECAUSE I HOPE THIS MEANS MORE STUDENTS WILL FIND THIS IN BOTH LANGUAGES.

SPANISH IS MY FIRST LANGUAGE SO I AM EXTRA EXCITED THAT THIS BOOK EXISTS IN MY NATIVE TONGUE AS WELL AND I CAN'T WAIT TO TRAVEL TO SAN DIEGO IN DECEMBER TO CELEBRATE WITH YOU ALL.

>> AND THE TITLE FOR KIDS, "NIGEL AND THE MEN" FROM ANTOINE EDIE AND ARTIST GREASY JONG.

>> HELLO EVERYONE.

MY NAME IS ANTOINE EDIE.

AUTHOR OF "NIGEL AND THE MOON."

AND I'M SUPER THRILLED TO BE PART OF THIS YEAR'S "ONE BOOK, ONE SAN DIEGO."

NIGEL AND THE MOON IS THE STORY ABOUT A BOY WHO IS AFRAID TO TELL THE WORLD HIS DREAMS SO HE SHARES THEM WITH THE MOON AT NIGHT.

MY BOOK WAS INSPIRED BY MY CHILDHOOD, HAVING GROWN UP IN SOUTH CAROLINA WHERE I COULD DREAM WITHOUT LIMITATIONS.

BUT I ALSO WAS INSPIRED BY ALL OF YOU, THE SHY DREAMERS, THE BRAVE DREAMERS AND DREAMERS OF ALL AGES AND FROM ALL WALKS OF LIFE.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR READING AND RECEIVING NIGEL INTO YOUR HOMES AND INTO YOUR HEARTS.

I AM FOREVER GRATEFUL.

AND I LOOK FORWARD TO SHARING MORE WITH ALL OF YOU SOON IN SAN DIEGO.

THANK YOU AGAIN.

SEE YOU SOON!

>> MANY THANKS TO OUR SPONSORS AND COMMUNITY PARTNERS.

PICK UP THESE BOOKS FROM YOUR LIBRARY OR AN INDEPENDENT BOOKSTORE AND READ WITH US.

JOIN US FOR COMMUNITY EVENTS ACROSS THE REGION.

TO LEARN MORE, VISIT KPBS.ORG/ONEBOOK.

>> CALIFORNIA'S $310 BILLION STATE BUDGET IS NOW BEING ALLOCATED.

THE CITY OF SAN DIEGO IS BENEFITING TO THE TUNE OF NEARLY $25 MILLION.

KPBS REPORTER JOHN CARROLL SAID THAT SOME OF THE FUNDS WILL BENEFIT BALBOA PARK.

>> MORE THAN 7 MILLION FROM THE STATE WILL BE SPENT LARGELY ON INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS INSIDE TWO FAMILIAR PLACES.

>> THIS IS CHRIS.

SHE IS THE VICE PRESIDENT FOR ADVANCEMENT AT THE FLEET SCIENCE CENTER.

THEY ARE GETTING THE BIGGEST PIECE OF THE PIE.

THEY WILL USE IT TO TRANSFORM A COUPLE OF SPACES INCLUDING MOVING THE MUSEUM ENTRANCE BACK TO ITS ORIGINAL LOCATION NEAR THE IMAX THEATER.

>> THIS GALLERY CAN BE A SPACE THAT IS FREE TO THE PUBLIC, AND FRONT OF WHAT WE CALL THE PAY WALL.

>> SHE SAYS THAT SPACE WILL BE FREE.

IT WILL BE FILLED WITH EXHIBITS SHOWCASING THE SCIENCE BEING DONE IN SAN DIEGO COUNTY.

THE CURRENT ENTRANCE WILL BE TRANSFORMED TOO, MAKING USE OF ITS 32-FOOT HIGH CEILING.

>> WHAT WE ARE TRYING TO DO IS MAKE THAT INTO A GALLERY SPACE WHERE WE CAN PUT A CLIMBING TREE THAT GOES ALL THE WAY UP THROUGH THAT SPACE RATHER THAN JUST USING THE BOTTOM HALF.

>> THE SPACE IN THE BASEMENT THAT HASN'T BEEN USED IN 20 YEARS WILL BE HOME TO AN EXHIBIT CALLED, "SCIENCE OF THE IMPOSSIBLE."

JASON LATTIMORE IS DESIGNING IT.

>> SO MIND CONTROL.

THESE KINDS OF CONCEPTS.

HOW IT CAN APPEAR TO BE HAPPENING AND HOW SCIENCE IS MAKING THAT REAL.

>> ACROSS THE WAY FROM THE FLEET, THE NATURAL HISTORY MUSEUM IS GETTING THE SECOND BIGGEST CHUNK OF FUNDING, 1.3 MILLION.

>> WE ARE EXCITED AND GRATEFUL TO BE GETTING THIS MONEY.

>> THE NATURAL HISTORY MUSEUM PRESIDENT AND CEO SAYS THAT THE MUSEUM WILL USE THE MONEY FOR REPAIRS AND UPGRADES.

>> WE ARE LOOKING AT REPLACING THE ROOF.

WE HAVE AIR CONDITIONING THAT NEEDS WORK AND SEVERAL OTHER THINGS THAT WILL PROVIDE ENERGY SAVINGS.

>> THE REST OF THE 25 MILLION WILL BE SPLIT AMONG THE WIDE ARRAY OF PROJECTS.

EVERYTHING FROM FUNDING THE DESIGN OF A NEW DAM TO THE CREATION OF THE CREATION OF A GUN VIOLENCE RESPONSE TASK FORCE AND MONEY FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE GRANT PARK RIVER CENTER IN MISSION VALLEY.

BUT BACK TO BALBOA PARK.

>> FINALLY, A HALF MILLION DOLLARS WILL GO TO KEEPING THE MUSIC PLAYING.

I AM SPEAKING SPECIFICALLY OF THE FABULOUS OREGON.

$500,000 WILL BE USED TO RE- LEATHER THE OREGON WHICH BASICALLY MEANS TO REFURBISH IT.

JOHN CARROLL, KPBS NEWS.

>> YOU CAN GO TO THE SAN DIEGO COUNTY WATERFRONT PARK AND YOU WILL SEE A BRIGHT COLORED MURAL SHOWING A SUNFLOWER, A BIRD AND A WHEELCHAIR.

THE MESSAGE IS INCLUSION.

OUR KPBS REPORTER TELLS US HOW THIS PUBLIC ART REFLECTS THE PEOPLE THAT CREATED IT.

>> IT IS A GORGEOUS DAY AT BAYFRONT PARK NEXT TO THE COUNTY BUILDING DOWNTOWN.

THIS IS A PLACE WHERE KIDS CAN RIDE A SWING, GET VERY WET AND SEE PUBLIC ART LIKE THE STATUE, NUMBER 19 BASEBALL PLAYER.

AND ALSO, A NEW MURAL PAINTED EARLIER THIS SUMMER.

>> GETTING ALL THE WAY FROM THE TROLLEY STATION AND WALKING UP, YOU CAN SEE IT FROM DIFFERENT ANGLES.

IT DRAWS PEOPLE IN AND BRINGS A FEELING OF HAPPINESS WHICH WE COULD ALL USE MORE OF THAT.

>> HANNAH IS AN ARTIST THAT WORKS WITH A SAN DIEGO NONPROFIT .

THERE, SHE COACHES ASPIRING ARTISTS WHO ARE ON THE AUTISM SPECTRUM AND SHE WORKED WITH THEM TO CREATE THIS PIECE OF PUBLIC ART.

SHE CREATED A MURAL DESIGN THAT SHE PROJECTED ON THE WALL ONE NIGHT AND OUTLINED THE FORMS.

PEOPLE WORKING WITH REVISION CAME THE FOLLOWING DAY AND FILLED IN THE COLORS.

>> BEFORE THAT, SHE GOT IDEAS FROM A LOT OF PEOPLE ABOUT WHAT IMAGES WOULD PRESENT THE RIGHT STORY AND MESSAGE.

JACK CAME UP WITH THE IDEAS FOR THE SUNFLOWER AND THE POT IT IS IN.

>> IT KIND OF REPRESENTS SOMETHING VERY IMPORTANT.

INCLUSION FOR OTHERS.

A GREAT WAY TO RESPECT THE CIRCLE OF LIFE.

SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

>> HE IS A PERSON WITH AUTISM.

SOME OF HIS PAINTINGS ARE ON DISPLAY AT THE DOWNTOWN COFFEE SHOP NEXT TO POKEY'S RESTAURANT.

THE REVISION FOUNDER AND DIRECTOR CALLS ART A UNIFYING FORCE BECAUSE IT DOESN'T COMPLETELY REVEAL THE PERSON BEHIND IT.

>> WHEN YOU SEE A BEAUTIFUL PIECE OF ART, YOU DON'T NECESSARILY THINK, WHO WOULD HAVE CREATED THIS?

WHAT TYPE OF PERSON IS BEHIND THIS?

YOU IMMEDIATELY HAVE A REACTION TO THE ART ITSELF SO THE PERSON COMES SECONDARY TO THE EXPERIENCE YOU ARE HAVING WHEN YOU ARE VIEWING ARE.

>> THEREFORE, SHE SAYS COME WITH ART, YOU JUDGE THE CREATION.

YOU DON'T REALLY JUDGE THE ARTIST OR THEIR PERSONALITY.

SHE LIKES TO USE THE EXPRESSION, "NEURO- DIVERSITY" WHEN TALKING ABOUT PEOPLE ON THE AUTISM SPECTRUM.

>> A LOT OF TIMES, PEOPLE CANNOT COMMUNICATE TYPICALLY THROUGH SPEECH AND LANGUAGE BUT THEY MIGHT HAVE A GIFT OF OBJECTS.

THEY MIGHT HAVE A GIFT OF PIECING ITEMS TOGETHER OR CREATING A SCULPTURE OR PUTTING COLORS TOGETHER BEAUTIFULLY.

TO ME, THAT IS A FORM OF COMMUNICATION AS WELL.

>> EVERYBODY HAS A BLESSING.

NOT EVERY ARTIST IS THE SAME HERE.

WE ARE ALL BLESSED WITH UNIQUE GIFTS AND TALENTS.

IT DOESN'T MATTER WHAT YOU CHOOSE.

THERE IS NO WRONG PLACE OR RIGHT PLACE TO START.

>> BECAUSE THE MURAL SITS IN A VERY POPULAR WATERFRONT PARK, IT WILL BE SEEN BY A LOT OF PEOPLE.

FAMILIES, TOURISTS, PEOPLE WHO ARE HOMELESS.

THEY HOPE THAT THEY WILL ALL REMEMBER SOMETHING GOOD.

>> WE DON'T KNOW PEOPLE'S HISTORY.

WE DON'T KNOW WHERE THEY HAVE BEEN OR WHAT THEIR STRUGGLES OR TRIUMPHS MIGHT BE.

AND WITH WATERFRONT PARK ESPECIALLY BEING SUCH A COMMUNITY ORIENTED SPACE WITH SO MANY DIFFERENT TYPES OF PEOPLE COMING HERE TO ENJOY THE CITY AND THE PARKS, JUST LETTING PEOPLE KNOW THEY ARE WELCOME AND THEY BELONG AND THAT THEY ARE CARED ABOUT ESSENTIALLY.

>> THE SIGN LANGUAGE ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THE PAINTING SAYS, "I LOVE YOU."

THE INFINITY SYMBOL ON THE RIGHT CORNER HAS BECOME A SYMBOL FOR PEOPLE WITH AUTISM.

THEY SAY REPRESENTS THE SPECTRUM AND THE POSSIBILITIES THAT PEOPLE CONTINUE TO HAVE IN THEIR LIVES.

THOMAS FUDGE, KPBS NEWS.

>> THIS STORY IS PART OF AN ONGOING SERIES ABOUT PUBLIC ART IN THE SAN DIEGO REGION.

YOU CAN FIND MORE OF OUR STORIES ON KPBS.ORG/PUBLICART.

WE HOPE THAT YOU ENJOYED THIS LOOK AT KPBS NEWS THIS WEEK.

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