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

AS WE USHER IN 2022 WE ARE VISITING A FEW MEMORABLE STORIES IN THE PAST YEAR.

CONVERSATION SPURRED BY THE RACIAL RECKONING OF 2020 CONTINUED THIS YEAR.

INCLUDING HOW DIFFERENT GROUPS ARE TREATED UNDER THE LAW.

SAN DIEGO'S HISTORY IS NO EXCEPTION.

EVEN FOR THINGS AS MUNDANE AS BUYING A HOME.

IN A SPECIAL THREE-PART SERIES CHRISTINA KIM EXAMINES HOW RESTRICTIVE COVENANTS SHAPED WHO LIVES IN OUR COMMUNITIES.

>> Reporter: SINCE 2014 WHEN MICHAEL DU PONT BOUGHT HIS HOME IN SAN DIEGO HE HAS BEEN A FIXTURE AT HIS PARTIES AND HAPPY HOURS.

EVERY NOW AND THEN SOMETHING HAPPENS THAT REMINDS HIM AS A BLACK MAN HE DID NOT ALWAYS BELONG.

LIKE THE TIME AND OLDER NEIGHBOR MR. KIM IS A GARDENER.

>> I WAS TALKING AND GOING TO REFILL A DRINK AND AN OLDER WOMAN, I WISH I KNEW WHO SHE WAS.

SHE JUST CAUGHT ME OFF GUARD.

AND SHE ASKED IF I WAS A GARDENER.

WHY WOULD A GARDENER BE AT A HAPPY HOUR PARTY??

READING OVER THE 1950 DEED OF HIS RANCH-STYLE HOME HE FIGURED OUT WHY HIS OLDER NEIGHBOR MIGHT'VE SAID SUCH A THING.

THE DEED INCLUDED A RACIALLY RESTRICTIVE COVENANT.

>> NEITHER SAID LOT NOR ANY PORTION SHOULD EVER BE LIVED UPON OR OCCUPIED BY ANY PERSON OTHER THAN OF THE CAUCASIAN RACE PROVIDED HOWEVER IF PERSONS NOT OF THE CAUCASIAN RACE BE KEPT THEREIN BY A CAUCASIAN STRICTLY IN THE CAPACITY OF SERVANTS OR EMPLOYEES.

ACTUALLY ENGAGED IN THE SERVICES OF EACH OCCUPANT OR IN THE CARE OF PREMISES.

>> Reporter: FOR YEARS HIRED HELP WAS ALL HE COULD'VE BEEN IN HIS OWN.

RACIALLY RESTRICTIVE COVENANTS WERE LEGAL DOCUMENTS ATTACHED TO DEEDS SUBDIVISIONS AND ENTIRE DEVELOPMENTS.

THEY TOOK OFF AT THE TURN OF THE 20th CENTURY.

>> BY 1927 THEY WERE ON THREE QUARTERS OF THE NEW HOMES IN AMERICA.

THEY SPREAD VERY QUICKLY AND BECAME THE DOMINANT WAY OF -- >> Reporter: THAT IS AN AFFORDABLE HOUSING SPECIALIST AND AUTHOR OF FREEDOM TO DISSEMINATE.

HE SAYS REAL ESTATE BROKERS AND DEVELOPERS CREATED AND ENFORCED RACIALLY RESTRICTIVE HOUSING COVENANTS ACROSS THE NATION.

>> THEY CREATED A WHOLE SYSTEM THEY WORKED TOGETHER TO MAKE SURE THE CITY WOULD REMAIN ALL- WHITE.

>> Reporter: A SAMPLE OF SAN DIEGO CITY DEEDS FROM 1910 TO 1950 FOUND EVERY SINGLE ONE HAD A RACIAL RESTRICTION.

ADVERTISEMENTS FROM SAN DIEGO PROPERTIES ALL ALLUDE TO THESE RACIAL RESTRICTIONS.

ONE FROM 1910 HAD THE NECESSARY RESTRICTIONS IN THE AREA AND IN HIS PLANNED AND PROTECTED FOR PARTICULAR PEOPLE.

IN OTHER WORDS, WHITE AND AFFLUENT.

BLACK ASIAN LATINO AND JEWISH CINDY HIGGINS WERE ALL BUT LOCKED OUT OF THE CITY'S SIGNATURE NEIGHBORHOODS.

INSTEAD PURPOSELY SEGREGATED INTO SOUTHEAST NEIGHBORHOODS.

IN 1948 THE SUPREME COURT STRUCK DOWN THE LEGALITY OF RACIALLY RESTRICTIVE COVENANTS.

AS RECEIVED WITH HIS HOME THEY CONTINUED INTO THE 50s.

THE REDLINING AND ZONING WAS CREATED.

PATTERNS THAT CONTINUE TO SHAPE SAN DIEGO TODAY.

IT'S NOT HARD TO SEE SAID DENISE MATHIS.

SHE IS PRESIDENT OF THE CALIFORNIA ASSOCIATION OF REAL ESTATE BROKERS.

>> WHETHER YOU ARE AFRICAN AMERICAN, HISPANIC, OR WHITE.

WE STILL USE -- AS THE DIVIDING MARK.

SOUTH OF THE EIGHT YOU EXPECT ONE THING NORTH OF THE EIGHT YOU EXPECT SOMETHING ELSE.

>> Reporter: SAN DIEGO IS MORE SEGREGATED TODAY THAN IT WAS 30 YEARS AGO.

ACCORDING TO A RECENT UC BERKELEY STUDY.

MUCH OF THE SEGREGATION IS STILL MARKED BY INTERSTATE 8 WITH MORE WEALTHY WHITE OR COMMUNITIES IN THE NORTH.

AS A BLACK WOMAN FROM SAN DIEGO MATHIS HIS OWN GRANDFATHER WAS IMPACTED BY HOUSING DISSEMINATION THAT CONTINUE LONG AFTER RACIALLY RESTRICTIVE COVENANTS BECAME ILLEGAL.

>> I ALWAYS REMEMBER HIM TELLING US HE LOOKED AT A HOUSE RIGHT OUTSIDE OF MISSION VALLEY ON TOP OF THE HILL.

HE WAS TOLD HE COULD NOT PURCHASE THERE.

SO WHAT WITH AT HOME IN MISSION VALLEY BE WORTH THAT I COULD HAVE INHERITED COMPARED TO THE HOME THAT THEY STEERED HIM TO BUY IN OAK PARK?

>> Reporter: HOMEOWNERSHIP PLAYS A BIGGER ROLE IN CREATING WEALTH FOR BLACK FAMILIES AND FOR WHITE FAMILIES.

THE GAPS CONTINUE TO PERSIST.

ONLY 30% OF BLACK CINDY HIGGINS ON THEIR HOMES COMPARED TO 61% OF WHITE PEOPLE IN SAN DIEGO ACCORDING TO A 2018 REDFIN STUDY.

>> THERE NEEDS TO BE MORE EVOLUTION OF THOUGHT.

AS TO THE IMPACTS SOME OF THE RULES AND REGULATIONS OF THE PAST THAT DETERMINE WHERE YOUR SOCIOECONOMIC POSITION IS TODAY.

>> Reporter: THAT'S WHY MICHAEL WANTS MORE PEOPLE TO KNOW ABOUT RESTRICTIVE COVENANTS LIKE THE ONE IN HIS HOME.

THE HOME IS HIS GRANDFATHERS.

THEY'RE BOTH VETERANS THAT THEY COULD NOT ABORT.

THE OVERT HOUSING DISCRIMINATION THEY FACED MAY HAVE BEEN ILLEGAL FOR DECADES.

WE ARE STILL A LONG WAY FROM UNDERSTANDING LET ALONE UNDOING THE GENERATIONAL HARM THESE PRACTICES HAVE CAUSED.

>>> THE SERIES AS PART OF A COLLABORATION WITH NPR AND OUR INVESTIGATIVE NEWS PARTNER I NEW SOURCE.

YOU CAN STREAM ALL THREE PARTS AND READ MORE AT KPBS.ORG.

>>> FEDERAL AND LOCAL OFFICIALS HAVE DEPLOYED HIGH IN SURVEILLANCE TECHNOLOGY IN CHULA VISTA.

THE CITY IS ADDING A REAL-TIME OPERATION CENTER.

PRIVACY OUTFITS SAY THIS IS A PROBLEM.

THE POLICE DEPARTMENTS FOR LICENSE PLATES READERS ON PATROL CARS RANDOMLY TAKE PICTURES OF PASSING AND PARK VEHICLES LICENSE PLATES AND THEN STORE THE DIGITS.

THE AGENCY DAILEY DEPLOYS DRONES ACROSS THE CITY TO GET A LIFE YOU HAVE SCENES OF 911 CALLS.

THE POLICE DEPARTMENT HAS BUILT A REAL-TIME OPERATION CENTER THAT SOWS TOGETHER ITS DATA.

>> THIS IS ESSENTIALLY A VERY LARGE TV SCREEN.

>> Reporter: THE VERY LARGE TV SCREEN CONTAINS 12 SMALLER SCREENS WITH UP-TO-THE-MINUTE INFORMATION.

SOME OF IT BASIC LIKE SUSPICIOUS ACTIVITY POSTS ON SOCIAL MEDIA.

>> THERE WAS A DRONE FLYING YOU CAN SEE THE FOOTAGE THERE.

WE CAN DISPLAY OUR SYSTEM AND OUR DISPATCH SYSTEM HERE.

WE HAVE CRIME STATISTICS DISPLAYED HERE.

>> Reporter: THE $550,000 ONE ROOM OPERATION CENTER IS ABOUT EFFICIENCY.

>> AND SOMETHING HAPPENS WE ARE NOT RUNNING ON THE STAIRS BUT WERE RUNNING TO A CREDIT OFFICE STANDING AND GETTING IN THE WAY OF THE WATCH COMMANDER.

>> IT'S ABOUT QUICK ACCESS AND ONE PLACED IN OPEN SOURCE RESOURCES LIKE GOOGLE EARTH.

>> WE HAVE SEEN IF WE HAVE BEEN TO THAT LOCATION OR ARE THERE OTHER CRIMES?

>> Reporter: ULTIMATELY HE SAYS CHULA VISTA RESIDENTS WILL BENEFIT FROM THE NEW OPERATION CENTER WHICH IS 80% COMPLETE.

>> THE PUBLIC DESERVES THE BEST RESPONSE WE CAN GIVE THEM.

>> CITY OFFICIALS WHO PROMOTE THESE TECHNOLOGIES SPEAK IN TERMS OF CERTAIN PUBLIC GOODS.

THEY WILL EMPHASIZE EFFICIENCY AND CONVENIENCE.

>> Reporter: THAT IS LOCAL ACLU LAWYER -- SHE SAID THE PUBLIC GOOD ALSO INCLUDE CIVIL RIGHTS AND PRIVACY.

>> THESE TECHNOLOGIES KEEP HOLDING ON EACH OTHER AND OVERLAYING EACH OTHER.

WE END UP WITH A MASSIVELY SURVEILLED PART OF OUR COMMUNITY.

IT'S INCONSISTENT WITH JUST LIVING IN A FREE SOCIETY.

>> Reporter: HUMAN RIGHTS ACTIVIST PEDRO RIOS WORRIES THE CRIME CENTER WILL FOCUS ON THE WESTERN PART OF THE CITY WERE MOST OF THE AREAS PEOPLE OF COLOR LIVE.

>> THERE ARE NOT ANY REAL GUARD POSTS TO PROTECT SOMEONE WHO IS NOT INVOLVED IN AN INCIDENT TO ALSO NOT BE VICTIMIZED BY THIS TYPE OF POLICING.

>> Reporter: THE CITY IS LOOKING TO ADD OVERSIGHT AND HE CONTENDS THAT ANGST IS MORE ABOUT WHAT THE CENTER COULD DO NOT WHAT IT WILL DO.

THE REAL-TIME CONTRACTOR STATES AND DOCUMENTS THE FACILITY HAS THE CAPACITY TO DO ANALYTICS, AI AND FACIAL RECOGNITION.

THOSE FEATURES WILL NOT BE ACTIVATED.

>> WE HAVE NO INTEREST IN THAT.

BUT THE DEPARTMENTS ON FIVE- YEAR PLAN ENVISIONS USING PREDICTED POLICING WHICH LOOKS AT ANALYTICS TO FIGURE OUT WHO MIGHT COMMIT CRIMES.

>> IF WE HAVE A DOWN THE ROAD IT WILL BE BECAUSE WE VETTED IT AND TAKEN IT TO THE COMMUNITY.

>> Reporter: I ASKED WHETHER AS A PRIVATE CITIZEN HE HAD CONCERNS ABOUT NEW CIVILIAN STOOLS.

HE DIDN'T.

>> I'M NOT WORRIED ABOUT BEING WATCHED OR FOLLOWED.

I DON'T HAVE ANYTHING TO HIDE.

>> Reporter: BRIAN HOFER FROM SECURE JUSTICE IS THE LAW WILL FRAME THE DISCUSSION WE ALL HAVE SOMETHING TO PROTECT.

>> MAYBE I DON'T WANT PEOPLE IN THE WORLD LIVE.

MAYBE I HAVEN'T COME OUT TO MY FAMILY AND FRIENDS I HANG OUT AT BARS.

>> Reporter: THE MAYOR SAYS SHE TRUSTS THE POLICE.

THE OPERATION CENTER IS MEANT TO SERVE THE PUBLIC NOT TO SPY.

>> I LOVE MY POLICE AND I KNOW THEY ARE DOING THE RIGHT THING.

THEY COME FROM THE RIGHT ATTITUDE.

>>> YOU CAN WATCH THE OTHER STORY IN THIS TWO-PART SERIES AND READ MORE ON HER WEBSITE, KPBS.ORG.

>>> THE COVID-19 SHUTDOWN WAS ESPECIALLY CHALLENGING FOR CHILDREN WITH SPECIAL NEEDS.

THEY RETURNED TO IN-PERSON CLASSES THIS FALL AFTER MORE THAN A YEAR WITHOUT BEING AROUND THEIR TEACHERS AND FRIENDS.

EDUCATION REPORTER MJ PEREZ INTRODUCES US TO ONE MOTHER DETERMINED TO MAKE SURE HER SON GETS THE EDUCATION HE NEEDS.

>> Reporter: ALEJANDRA BLANCO WAS A GOOD SPELLER AND HE COULD WRITE HIS MOTHER'S PHONE NUMBER ALSO.

THAT IS SOMETHING HE HAS LEARNED WITH HER HELP RIGHT HERE AT THE DINING ROOM TABLE.

>> I KNOW I HAVE TO TAKE CARE OF MY SON.

AND SINCE THEN I LOVE MY SON WITH ALL MY HEART AND I'M HIS MOMMY AND I DO EVERYTHING THAT IS MY POWER FOR HIM TO BE OKAY.

>> Reporter: MARIA LOPEZ IS A SINGLE MOTHER RAISING HER SON WITH HELP FROM HIS GRANDMOTHER WHO HE CALLS MOM.

MARIA IS HIS MOMMY.

ALEJANDRA LIKES TO BE CALLED ALEX.

IN THE MORNING HE JOINED OTHER STUDENTS IN SAN DIEGO UNIFIED FOR THE FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL.

HE IS NOW A FRESHMAN AT MADISON HIGH SCHOOL.

ON SEPTEMBER 9th HE TURNS 14 YEARS OLD.

HIS MOTHER REMEMBERS THE DELIGHT AND DISTRESS OF THE DAY HE WAS BORN WHEN THE DOCTOR GAVE HER THE NEWS.

>> I WAS LIKE HOPING HE WAS FINE AND I WOULD SEE HIM WHEN I SAW HIM.

HE WAS SO BEAUTIFUL.

THE DOCTOR TOLD ME HE HAS DOWN SYNDROME.

I THOUGHT MY FAMILY ONLY HAD A LITTLE BIT.

>> Reporter: WITH DOWN SYNDROME DIAGNOSIS ALEX HAS RECEIVED SPECIAL EDUCATION THROUGHOUT HIS ELEMENTARY AND MIDDLE SCHOOL YEARS.

THAT INCLUDES AN ANNUAL INDIVIDUAL EDUCATION PROGRAM CALLED AN IEP.

THAT IS A FEDERAL LEGAL DOCUMENT THAT OUTLINES GOALS AND SERVICES FOR EACH STUDENT WITH SPECIAL NEEDS.

REGULAR MEETINGS FOR PARENTS AND TEACHERS ARE PART OF THE PROGRAM.

THE COVID-19 SHUTDOWN FORCED TEACHERS TO SCRAMBLE , TO HOLD IEP MEETINGS ONLINE OR BY PHONE.

>> I THINK THEY THOUGHT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT WAS GOING TO COME IN AND GIVE THEM A PASS FOR ALL OF THIS.

>> Reporter: JENNIFER REAL TAUGHT SPECIAL ED FOR 30 YEARS.

NOW SHE IS A SPECIAL EDUCATION ADVOCATE WHO SUPPORTS PARENTS DURING MEETINGS WITH SCHOOL MINISTERS AND TEACHERS.

>> PARENTS JUST WANT TO KNOW WHERE THEIR KIDS ARE OUT.

IF THEY HAVE PROGRESSED DURING THIS TIME.

IF THEY HAVE MADE PROGRESS WITH VIRTUAL LEARNING.

>> Reporter: SAN DIEGO UNIFIED IS OFFERING ONLINE VIRTUAL LEARNING AND WILL OFFER THE CHOICE OF ONLINE OR IN PERSON IEP MEETINGS.

ALEX MADE SOME PROGRESS WILL LEARNING AT HOME HIS MOTHER IS HAPPY HE IS AT MADISON HIGH SCHOOL NOW WHERE HE HAS FRIENDS.

>> I WANT THE BEST FOR HIM.

I KNOW HE CAN LEARN.

HE CAN LEARN A LOT.

IF YOU WORK WITH HIM I KNOW HE CAN DO A LOT OF THINGS AND HE COULD BE SUCCESSFUL AND FOR LATER ON.

LATER ON FOR THIS YOUNG MAN MEANS AFTER HE TURNS 21 IN AGES OUT OF THE SCHOOL SUPPORT SYSTEM.

THAT IS SEVEN YEARS AWAY FOR ALEX BUT MARIA LOPEZ SAID EVERY SEMESTER COUNTS.

SHE FEELS MOST COMFORTABLE EXPRESSING THE LOVE FOR HER SON IN HER FIRST LANGUAGE.

>> Reporter: LOVE MODELED AND LEARNED IN THE MOST IMPORTANT LESSON OF ALL.

>>> FOUR MONTHS THE PANDEMIC SHUTDOWN GYMS EVERYWHERE.

BUT NOW THAT THEY ARE OPEN AGAIN SOME ARE SEEING AN INCREASE IN CLIENTS.

TANIA THORNE SAYS THAT IS IN PART BECAUSE COVID-19 WAS A REMINDER ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF HEALTH.

>> Reporter: JOSHUA DRIVES 30 MINUTES EVERYDAY TO WORK OUT FOR AN HOUR.

HE HAS LOST 40 POUNDS SINCE HE STARTED WORKING OUT AT (JIM INVESTOR.

THAT'S WHAT KEEPS THEM COMING BACK.

>> THE PEOPLE AND THE ENCOURAGEMENT AND MOTIVATION.

MY FUTURE.

>> Reporter: AFTER RECOVERING FROM COVID-19 HE DECIDED TO GET BACK TO THE GYM.?

AT ONE POINT I WAS JUST REALLY DEPRESSED AND NOT EVEN MONEY CAN GET YOU OUT OF THE DEPRESSION.

THE HELPING IS SO IMPORTANT IN LIFE.

IT REALLY IS.

>> Reporter: WHEN THE PANDEMIC FORCED GYMS TO CLOSE IT WORRIED JIM OWNERS.

BUT THE NEED FOR GOOD HEALTH WORRIED HIM MORE.

>>> HE SAID COVID-19 DESK MADE HIM REALIZE HOW IMPORTANT GOOD HEALTH IS.

THE PEOPLE WERE DYING OF COVID- 19 BECAUSE THEY WEREN'T HEALTHY.

SO HE OPENED HIS JIM AS HE COULD.

IMMEDIATELY HE SAW AN INCREASE IN CLIENTS.

>> Reporter: USES LOTS OF HIS CLIENTS STARTED EXERCISING BECAUSE AFTER COVID-19 THEY SAW THE IMPORTANCE OF HEALTH.

DURING THIS TIME EVERYONE WANTS TO BE HEALTHY HE SAYS.

ROBERTO STARTED TRAINING ABOUT A YEAR AGO.

HE SAID COVID-19 WAS ONE OF THE REASONS WHY YOU WANT TO GET HEALTHIER.

>> Reporter: HE SAYS HE SAW THE NEWS EXERCISE WOULD HELP.

AND TOLD HIMSELF NOW IS THE TIME.

HE HAS LOST MORE THAN 70 POUNDS.

HE IS NEVER HAD COVID-19 AND SAYS HE FEELS GREAT.

>> >> Reporter: IS TRADING MODEL HAS ALWAYS BEEN WITH HELP YOU CAN DO IT ALL.

WITHOUT IT, NOTHING.

>> Reporter: HE SAYS EVEN IF YOU HAVE TONS OF MONEY IN THE BANK WITHOUT GOOD HEALTH YOU WILL NEVER ENJOY IT.

>>> 2021 HAS BEEN A BUSY YEAR AND NOT JUST BECAUSE OF COVID- 19.

OUR KPBS WEB TEAM ROUNDED UP SOME OF THE BIGGEST STORIES FOR THE NEWSLETTER.

ON JANUARY 6th A VIOLENT MOB LOYAL TO FORMER PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP STORMED THE U.S. CAPITAL AS CONGRESS WAS ATTEMPTING TO CERTIFY JOE BIDEN'S PRESIDENTIAL WIN.

IN SEPTEMBER A RECALL ELECTION FAILED TO OUST DEMOCRATIC GOVERNOR GAVIN NEWSOM.

AMONG THE 46 CANDIDATES HOPING TO REPLACE THEM, KEVIN FAULKNER FROM SAN DIEGO AND JOHN COX.

IN NOVEMBER THE U.S./MEXICO BORDER OPEN TO VACCINATED TOURISTS FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE THE PANDEMIC FORCED ITS CLOSURE.

>>> ANOTHER POPULAR STORY ON WHY THIS YEAR TOOK PLACE AT THE SAN DIEGO ZOO.

GENETICIST THERE REVEALED THE FIRST-EVER CASE OF CONDOR REPRODUCTION BUT JUST A SINGLE PARENT.

ERIK ANDERSON EXPLAINS.

>> Reporter: TESTING REVEALED TO YOUNG CONDORS REARED BY TWO SEPARATE MOTHERS CAN ONLY ONE PARENT.

THE EGGS WERE NOT FERTILIZED BY MILL SPRING.

THE ASEXUAL REPRODUCTION WAS A KEY ELEMENT FOR THE 1993 MOVIE JURASSIC PARK IS ACTOR JEFF GOLDBLUM POINTED OUT.

>> I WAS EVERYTHING LIFE FINDS WAY.

>> IT IS IN THE FACE.

WE WERE LOOKING FOR IT OR DIDN'T EXPECT IT.

>> Reporter: GENETIC TESTING AS REGULAR OCCURRENCE AS RESEARCHERS MAINTAIN GENETIC DIVERSITY.

30 YEARS AGO THE SPECIES ALMOST WENT ESTATES.

THE GENOMES OF THE MOTHERS IN OFFSPRING ARE THE SAME CONFIRMING THE FINDINGS.

>> IT HAPPENED TWICE.

WHEN THE POPULATION WAS SMALL.

WILL IT HAPPENED AGAIN WHEN THE POPULATION GETS BIGGER?

I THINK THAT IS AN IMPORTANT QUESTION.

>> Reporter: THESE ARE THE FIRST KNOWN CASES OF REPRODUCTION WITHOUT FERTILIZATION IN CALIFORNIA CONDORS.

IS CALLED PARTHENOGENESIS.

IT'S THE FIRST TIME GENETIC TESTING HAS CONFIRMED THE PHENOMENON.

THE DEVELOPMENT IS ALSO UNIQUE AS THERE WERE FERTILE MALES PRESENT AT THE ASEXUAL REPRODUCTION HAPPENED ANYWAY.

>> Reporter: KNOWING THIS IS NOT LIKE A RANDOM SITUATION.

THIS IS TWO INDIVIDUALS FROM TWO SEPARATE FAMILIES.

THAT WE ARE ABLE TO BE RE- GENERATING.

WE MIGHT THINK THIS IS NOT AS UNCOMMON AS WE THOUGHT BEFORE.

>> Reporter: THE CALIFORNIA CONDORS THE LARGEST FLYING BIRD IN THE WORLD.

WINK SPANS CAN REACH NINE FEET.

THERE ARE NOW MORE THAN 500 LIVING CONDORS BOTH IN CAPTIVITY AND FLYING FREE.

>>> AS LIVE MUSIC AND THEATER PERFORMANCES RETURNED THIS SPRING A NEW OUTDOOR VENUE OPENED.

JOHN CARROLL GOT BEHIND THE SCENES.

>> Reporter: THE SHOW.

SUCH A SIMPLE NAME FOR SOMETHING SO UTTERLY UNIQUE.

>> IT'S MAGNIFICENT.

IT'S ELEGANT.

AND IT'S OURS.

IT IS SAN DIEGO'S.

>> Reporter: FOR SAN DIEGO SYMPHONY CEO MARTHA GILMER IT IS A DREAM COME TRUE.

WHEN GILMER TOOK OVER THE SYMPHONY MORE THAN SIX YEARS AGO THE ORCHESTRA'S OUTDOOR CONCERTS WERE HELD IN THE SAME PLACE BUT IN A MARKEDLY DIFFERENT SETTING.

THE TEMPORARY STAGE SET UP EACH SUMMER AND TAKEN DOWN EACH FALL.

THE SHOW WAS ORIGINALLY GOING TO GO LAST YEAR AND IT WILL HOST YOUR EVENTS YEAR-ROUND.

>> WE WILL HAVE NEW ARTISTS PARTNERING WITH US.

WE WILL DO MOVIES AND MARIACHI.

WE WILL DO FULL ON SYMPHONIC CONCERTS AND GUEST PERFORMERS.

>> Reporter: ALL OF IT HELD IN A VENUE THAT IS STATE-OF-THE- ART IN EVERY WAY.

THESE PICTURES ARE FROM A FEW WEEKS AGO WHEN THE SYMPHONY RECORDED PERFORMANCES TO BE SHOWN ONLINE.

THEY SHOW ONE ASPECT OF WHAT MAKES THIS PLACE SO AMAZING.

THE LIGHTING DESIGN.

THE LIGHTS ON THE SHELL ITSELF AND ON THESE TOWERS THAT WILL CREATE A FEAST FOR THE EYES.

IT IS THE SOUND THAT ELEVATES THE MUSICAL PERFORMANCE.

SOUND EVERYWHERE ON THE STAGE TO THE BACK ROW.

>> THERE ARE SPEAKERS AND MICROPHONES OF THE STATE TO CREATE BASICALLY AN INDOOR ACOUSTIC ENVIRONMENT FOR MUSICIANS.

THEY ARE THE MOST BEAUTIFUL BLOODED SOUND AND THEY CAN HEAR EACH OTHER EXQUISITELY.

SO THE MUSICMAKING IS GOING TO BE FIRST-CLASS.

>> Reporter: THE LORD FAMILIAR LOOKING SPEAKERS ON STAGE FACING OUTWARD OR OBVIOUSLY FOR THE AUDIENCE.

BUT IT IS THE SPEAKERS ON THESE TOWERS THAT WILL MAKE THE SOUND DOWN HERE SO SPECIAL.

>> THE SPEAKERS ARE SURROUND SPEAKERS.

A SYNCHRONIZED PRESENT SOUND.

>> Reporter: GILMER SAYS THE SYMPHONY WANTS TO BE A GOOD NEIGHBOR.

THE DESIGN WILL HELP WITH THAT.

>> WE HAVE REAL-TIME MONITORING OF THE SOUND BOARD ITSELF.

>> Reporter: THE DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION OF THIS NEW VENUE GOES WAY BEYOND THE SHELL ITSELF.

A RAISED BERM HAS OPENED UP FOR SEATING.

THE OLD SETUP ONLY ALLOWED FOR 2800.

THE NEW SETUP WILL ALLOW SEATING ARRANGEMENTS BETWEEN 30 508,000.

UP TO 10,000 FOR CERTAIN SPECIAL EVENTS.

THE OLD FOOD VENDOR TRAILERS ARE LONG GONE.

REPLACED BY SOME OF THE BEST CULINARY EXPERIENCES SAN DIEGO HAS TO OFFER.

>> WE HAVE RICHARD GLAZE WILL BE CREATING INCREDIBLE MEALS IN THE KITCHEN.

THREE-COURSE DINNERS THAT CAN BE SERVED AT THE TABLE.

WE HAVE LOLA 55 TACOS AND PIZZA AND TRACY PORK HIM AND HER PASTA SALAD.

AVERAGE OF YOUR CHOICE OF COURSE.

>>> APART FROM THE STUNNING STAGE AND LIGHTING AND SOUND THERE IS ANOTHER BIG DIFFERENCE WITH THIS NEW VENUE.

IF YOU WERE HERE BEFORE AND YOU HAD TO GO TO THE BATHROOM THERE WERE PORT-A-POTTIES OUT HERE.

NOT ANYMORE.

THERE ARE NOW MORE THAN 60 NEW BATHROOMS RIGHT HERE IN THIS HALLWAY ALL OF IT UNDER THE SEATING AREA IS.

WHEN IT'S NOT BEING USED FOR PERFORMANCES THE VENUE WILL NOT JUST SIT EMPTY.

85% OF THE WILL TURN INTO A PUBLIC PARK.

AS PUBLIC AS IT IS THE COST TO SAN DIEGO TAXPAYERS WAS MINIMAL.

THE CITY CHIPPING AND $50,000 OF THE $85 MILLION PRICE TAG NEARLY ALL OF THAT CAME FROM DONORS.

GILMER SAYS IT WILL OPEN THIS SUMMER.

THEN THIS DREAM TURNED INTO REALITY BY THE WORK OF 133 PEOPLE FROM 32 COMPANIES WILL COME TO LIFE.

IT WILL BE HERE IN THIS BREATHTAKING SETTING FOR GENERATIONS TO COME.

FOR THE ARTIST OF THE FUTURE TO CONTINUALLY BREATHE NEW LIFE INTO IT.

>> AND MAKE IT SOMETHING THAT SAN DIEGO IS KNOWN FOR, LOOK FORWARD TO AND JUST ICONIC PART OF OUR CITY.

>>> WE HOPE YOU ENJOY THIS LOOK AT SOME OF OUR REPORTING OVER THE PAST YEAR.

WE END THE SHOW WITH A KPBS SUMMER MUSIC SERIES.

WE SHOWCASED THIS YEAR OF NEARLY A DOZEN LOCAL ACTS WHICH YOU CAN STREAM ON THE KPBS YOUTUBE PAGE.

HERE IS BILL -- FOR ALL OF US HERE AT KPBS THINK OF HER WATCHING AND HAPPY NEW YEAR.