I HEAR YOU.

ICU.

>> Reporter: SOME COUNCILMEMBERS CITED CONCERNS ABOUT POSSIBLE CONSEQUENCES AND RETRIBUTION FROM THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION.

>> THIS IS AN ORGANIZATION THAT IS VENGEFUL.

I BELIEVE THAT IF THE CONTRACT IS CANCELED, I DO BELIEVE THAT ALL THIS BAD THINGS THAT HAVE HAPPENED ARE GOING TO HAPPEN IN ESCONDIDO.

>> Reporter: SALVADOR PSO ME AND SO IS WITH THE NATIONAL DAY LABORER ORGANIZING NETWORK, WHICH HELPED ORGANIZE A RALLY BEFORE THE MEETING.

HE SAYS THE COUNCIL WAS BEING COWARDLY BY HIDING BEHIND THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION.

>> THE FACT THAT TO TURN YOUR BACK ON YOUR NEIGHBORS BECAUSE YOU'RE AFRAID OF SOME PALM BEACH POLITICIAN THAT'S IN THE WHITE HOUSE RIGHT NOW, THAT'S COWARDLY AND IT'S REALLY SAD, HONESTLY, THAT WE CAN'T COUNT ON LOCAL OFFICIALS TO SHOW A FRACTION OF THE COURAGE THAT THEIR OWN WORKING-CLASS RESIDENTS DEMONSTRATE.

MAXIMUM GUZMAN WITH SOWING SEEDS OF DIGNITY WAS ALSO DISAPPOINTED BY THE COUNCIL'S ACTION BUT SAYS HE WAS HEARTENED BY ALL THE PEOPLE WHO SHOWED UP TO SUPPORT THEIR NEIGHBORS.

HE SAYS THE FIGHT IS NOT OVER.

>> I FELT SO MUCH PRIDE KNOWING THAT WE WERE GOING TO KEEP ORGANIZING.

WE WERE IN THAT MOMENT, WE WERE PRESENT WITH OUR VOICES HEARD.

>> Reporter: NO ONE FROM THE CITY WAS AVAILABLE TO COMMENT TODAY.

THE CONTRACT REMAINS IN PLACE.

GUZMAN SAYS THE DEBATE IS NOT OVER.

>> CANCEL THE CONTRACT NOW.

THANK YOU.

>> ALEXANDER WIN, KPBS NEWS.

>>> BORDER COVERAGE ALSO FOCUSES ON POLITICS BUT NOT JUST PEOPLE WHO ARE IMPACTED BY GOVERNMENT ACTIONS.

KPBS ENVIRONMENT REPORTER VISITED THE REMOTE LANDSCAPE TO SEE THE EFFECTS ON WILDLIFE FROM THE BORDER WALL TO INTERSTATE 8.

HEARS HER TWO PART FEATURE REPORT.

>> Reporter: ON THE EASTERN EDGE OF CALIFORNIA'S PENINSULAR RANGES, THE MOUNTAINS REVEAL THEIR DRAMATIC PATTERN.

TALL, JAGGED SPINES WITH STEEP SLOPES DROPPING INTO DUSTY VALLEYS.

ON A RECENT MORNING CHRISTINE AIELLO LOOKS OUT OF THE WINDOW OF A SMALL PLANE TO SEE HOW FAR THEY EXTEND INTO MEXICO.

>> THE CHAIN OF MOUNTAINS AHEAD OF US IS ALL PART OF THE PENINSULAR RANGES, WHICH GO ALL THE WAY FROM PALM SPRINGS DOWN INTO BAJA CALIFORNIA SUR.

>> SHE'S A BIOLOGIST WITH THE WILDLANDS NETWORK.

SHE'S TREKKED HERE IN THE RUGGED WILDERNESS BEFORE.

THE AERIAL VIEW OFFERS A NEW PERSPECTIVE.

>> AND THE PENINSULAR RANGES IS A PRETTY NARROW NORTH/SOUTH ORIENTED RANGE.

>> IN A MOMENT OF REFLECTION.

>> BEFORE WE KIND OF FRAGMENTED AND DEVELOPED THIS HABITAT, THAT MOUNTAIN RANGE WAS ONE CONTINUOUS RANGE OF HABITAT FOR SPECIES LIKE PENINSULAR BIGHORN SHEEP.

>> IT WASN'T UNTIL THE 1990S THAT MILES OF STEEL PLATES BEGAN DIVIDING MOST OF THE CALIFORNIA/MEXICO REGION, WHERE NATURE PROVIDES A NATURAL BARRIER THE METAL WALL STOPS.

THE ROCKY RIDGE'S DIDN'T STOP THE BIGHORN SHEEP FROM MIGRATING BETWEEN BOTH COUNTRIES BUT RECENTLY CONCERTINA WIRE RIGHT BEHIND ME IN IMPERIAL COUNTY, JUST OFF THE WILDERNESS, HAS BEEN ADDED AND THAT'S CUT ACCESS TO A LOT OF ANIMALS LIKE THE BIGHORN SHEEP.

>> THE BOLLARD WALL STOPS AND THAT IS WHERE THE RAZOR WIRE BEGINS.

>> Reporter: U.S.

CUSTOMS AND BORDER PROTECTION OR CDP HAS BEEN ADDING LARGE COILS OF CONCERTINA WIRE ALONG THE NEAR VERTICAL SLOPES.

THEY'RE PART OF THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT'S PLAN TO SEAL THE LAST REMAINING GAPS IN THE BORDER WALL.

AIELLO SAYS THEY PUT COLLARS ON SOME OF THE SHEEP AND ARE TRACKING -- >> FOR SIGNS OF THEM BEING CAUGHT IN THE FENCE, BECAUSE RIGHT NOW CUSTOMS AND BORDER PROTECTION ARE TELLING US CONCERTINA WIRE IS NOT A THREAT TO WILDLIFE.

>> Reporter: BUT SHE SAYS WILDLIFE DOES NOT RECOGNIZE THE WIRE DANCING AS AN IMPASSABLE BARRIER.

THEY MAY ATTEMPT TO CROSS IT AND RISK GETTING TANGLED UP AND INJURED.

ACROSS THE BORDER IN MEXICO, HENRIQUE RUIZ TAKES THE DUSTY DESERT VALLEYS AIELLO SAW FROM THE SKY.

HE'S A RESEARCHER AT THE AUTONOMOUS UNIVERSITY OF BAJA CALIFORNIA.

HE'S LOOKING FOR BIGHORN SHEEP.

>> THIS IS THE PROOF OF THE SHEEP'S.

>> Reporter: DROPPINGS THE SIZE OF LIMA BEANS LEFT NEAR WHERE WATER LEAKS FROM A PIPE.

RUIZ SAYS THEY COME HERE AND TO A NEARBY OASIS TO DRINK.

HE SAYS CLOSING THE BORDER WALL WILL SPLIT THE SPECIES HOME RANGE IN HALF.

>> STARTED SPEAKING SPANISH ] >> BORREGO'S OR SHEEP ARE ONE OF THE MOST CHERISHED ANIMALS IN BALL HAWK AFFORDED.

THERE I KINNICK CURLED HORNS AGAINST THE DESERT ENVIRONMENT ARE DEPICTED IN INDIGENOUS ENGRAVINGS.

TO PRESERVE THIS EMBLEMATIC SPECIES, THE UNIVERSITY ESTABLISHED A CENTURY.

RUIZ WORKS ON THE SANCTUARY PROJECT.

HE SAYS CONSERVATIONISTS ARE SHIFTING THEIR FOCUS TO THE BORDER REGION BECAUSE OF THE CLOSURE.

THEY'RE STARTING TO WORK WITH AIELLO TO DOCUMENT WILDLIFE CROSSINGS BEFORE THE WALL IS COMPLETED.

>> [ SPEAKING SPANISH ] >> RUIZ AND AIELLO SAY WILDLIFE OPENINGS ON THE WALL ARE ONE WAY TO KEEP THE HABITATS CONNECTED.

THEY WANT SMALL PASSAGES THE SIZE OF A SHEET OF PAPER AND LARGER ONES THAT ACCOMMODATE ANIMALS LIKE THE ENDANGERED BIGHORN SHEEP.

THE WILDLANDS NETWORK AS EVIDENCE THAT THESE PASSAGES ARE WORKING IN OTHER STATES.

THEIR CAMERAS SHOW CROSSINGS BY MOUNTAIN LIONS, HAVOLINE US AND COYOTES.

>> CAN'T ALLOW ANIMALS TO GET SOME RESOURCES THAT THEY NEED.

THAT AT LEAST IS AVOIDING SOME OF THE WORST IMPACTS SO WE THINK THEY ARE GOING TO BE INCLUDED HERE IN CALIFORNIA AS WELL.

>> CBP CONFIRMED IT IS WORKING TO IDENTIFY LOCATIONS HERE FOR SMALL WILDLIFE PASSAGES BUT THERE ARE NO PLANS FOR LARGE OPENINGS.

INSTEAD, LARGE ANIMALS WOULD HAVE TO USE FLOODGATES IF THEY ARE OPENED.

AIELLO WORRIES THE OPTION IS INCOMPATIBLE WITH HOW SOME SPECIES MIGRATE.

SHE HOPES CBP WILL BE OPEN TO OTHER IDEAS.

>> I THINK ASKING FOR NO NEW BORDER BARRIER IS UNREALISTIC AND WE KIND OF ACCEPTED THAT BUT I THINK THAT DOESN'T MEAN WE TOTALLY GIVE UP THE EFFORT FOR MAKING THINGS BETTER FOR WILDLIFE.

I THINK WE JUST HAVE JUST WHAT WE ASKED FOR AND THAT IS GOING TO INVOLVE COMPROMISE.

>> Reporter: SCIENTISTS AND CONSERVATIONISTS SAY ANIMALS STUCK ON EITHER SIDE OF THE BORDER WILL TRAVEL ARE OUTSIDE THEIR RANGE IN SEARCH OF FOOD AND WATER, BUT ANOTHER MAJOR MAN-MADE THREAT AWAITS THEM.

TAMMY VIRGA, KPBS NEWS.

>>> INTERSTATE 8 SERVER TEAMS THROUGH THE RUGGED PENINSULAR MOUNTAIN RANGE IN SAN DIEGO COUNTY.

IT'S SO QUIET YOU CAN HEAR A FLY BUZZING.

STANDING STILL ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, CARS CUT THROUGH THAT SILENCE.

IT'S NO WONDER THIS SECTION OF I-8 IS CONSIDERED A HOTSPOT FOR VEHICLE COLLISIONS WITH PENINSULAR BIGHORN SHEEP.

>> THAT'S THE THING ABOUT THE BIGHORN SHEEP, THEY LIVE RIGHT THERE.

IF THEY HAVE TO GO BACK AND FORTH THEY'RE GOING TO GET HIS.

>> Reporter: FRAZIER IS A RESEARCHER AT UC DAVIS.

HE SAYS THAT SINCE 2012, MORE THAN 30 SHEEP HAVE BEEN KILLED HERE AND THAT'S LIKELY A BIG UNDERCOUNT.

NEARLY HALF OF THOSE ROAD KILL INCIDENTS HAVE HAPPENED WHERE THE EAST AND WESTBOUND LANES ISOLATE A CRITICAL HABITAT.

SKYLER FELDMAN EXPLAINS WHY IT'S SO DEADLY.

>> THERE'S UNIQUE TOPOGRAPHY HERE WHERE THE I-EIGHT SPLITS IN TWO AND IT CREATES THIS ISLAND, AND THE BIGHORN SHEEP, THAT ISLAND, THEY LIKE TO TRAVEL TO THEIR TO REAR AND LAMB SO THEY ARE CROSSING THE FREEWAY QUITE A BIT AND BEING STRUCK BY VEHICLES AT A HIGH RATE.

>> Reporter: HE'S WITH THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF FISH AND WILDLIFE.

IT'S ONE OF THE AGENCIES WORKING TO BUILD A WILDLIFE OVERPASS TO REDUCE ANIMAL DEATHS BUT SCIENTISTS AND CONSERVATIONISTS SAY THERE'S NOW A GREATER URGENCY TO COMPLETE PROJECTS LIKE THIS.

THAT'S BECAUSE THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION IS WORKING TO SEAL GAPS IN THE BORDER WALL AND THAT IS LIKELY TO IMPACT HOW AND WHERE ANIMALS LIKE THE ENDANGERED BIGHORN SHEEP FIND FOOD AND WATER.

CHRISTINA AIELLO IS A WILDLIFE BIOLOGIST WITH WILDLANDS NETWORK.

SHE SAYS THE BIGHORN THAT LIVE ON THE BORDER ARE BEING CUT OFF FROM RESOURCES IN MEXICO LIKE WATER.

>> AND THAT IS POTENTIALLY GOING TO CAUSE THEM TO MOVE FURTHER NORTH, AWAY FROM THE WALL, WHICH THEN BRINGS BEEN IN CONTACT WITH THIS HIGHWAY.

VERY DANGEROUS, HIGH ROADKILL RATES OF BIGHORN THAT LIVE IN THIS AREA.

>> Reporter: AIELLO SAYS IF THEY DO RUN TOWARD THE I-EIGHT.

>> THAT ALSO PUTS THEM IN COMPETITION WITH ANOTHER NEW GROUP THAT LIVES HERE ALREADY.

>> Reporter: SHE'S REFERRING TO THE GROUP, DEPENDING ON THE SEASON THEY MOVE ACROSS THE HIGHWAY TO ACCESS FOOD, WATER AND HAVE THEIR LAMBS.

>> IF YOU THEN FORCE ANIMALS WHO LIVE IN A SMALLER AND SMALLER AREA, THAT'S LESS RESOURCES TO ALLOW THEM TO PRODUCE YOUNG SUCCESSFULLY SO THAT CAN AFFECT THEIR SURVIVAL.

IT CAN AFFECT HOW MANY YOUNG THEY'RE ABLE TO PUT OUT.

>> ON A RECENT AFTERNOON AIELLO AND OTHER CONSERVATIONISTS LOOK FOR BIGHORN SHEEP.

THERE ARE NONE IN SIGHT THIS TIME.

>> I ALWAYS SAY THEY KIND OF LOOK LIKE A GARBANZO BEAN.

>> Reporter: BUT FRESH TRACKS AND DROPPINGS ARE A REMINDER THIS IS STILL THEIR HOME.

>> IN MY MIND IS IS EXCITING BECAUSE THIS IS EVIDENCE THAT THEY WERE RIGHT HERE.

>> Reporter: RIGHT HERE ALONG A FIVE MILE STRETCH OF THE I- EIGHT IS WHERE ENVIRONMENTAL AGENCIES WANT TO BUILD AN ANIMAL CROSSING.

THE ROAD ECOLOGY CENTER AT UC DAVIS IS USING STATE GRANT FUNDING TO DESIGN THE WILDLIFE OVERPASS.

THEY PLAN TO HAVE IT READY BY 2027.

FRAZIER SCHILLING IS THE CENTER'S DIRECTOR.

HE SAYS THE PROJECT ALSO INVOLVES ADDING FENCING.

>> THE CONCEPT IS THE FENCE BETWEEN CROSSING AREAS, WHETHER THEY GO RIGHT OR LEFT THEY'LL EVENTUALLY FIND A WAY ACROSS AND YOU HOPE THAT'S WHAT HAPPENS.

>> Reporter: SCHILLING SAYS IT'S IMPORTANT TO FENCE THAT ENTIRE SECTION OF THE HIGHWAY, WHERE THE EAST AND WESTBOUND LANES SPLIT.

>> ALL AROUND THE ISLAND, AND IF WE THINK ABOUT IT, THIS IS A NURSERY, THIS IS A KINDERGARTEN, THIS IS THE BIRTHING ROOM AT A HOSPITAL.

THAT'S WHAT THIS IS.

WE NEED TO PROTECT THE WHOLE THING.

>> Reporter: SHILLINGS IS ABOUT TWO TO THREE BIGHORN DIE EVERY YEAR FROM VEHICLES ON THE I-8.

STATEWIDE HE SAYS THERE'S ABOUT TWICE THAT NUMBER.

THESE FIGURES ARE UNDERREPORTED BECAUSE -- >> AN ANIMAL THE SIZE OF THE BIGHORN SHEEP, WHEN IT GETS HIT, ONLY ABOUT 40% OF THE TIME WILL IT STAY VISIBLE ON THE SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY.

AND SO PART OF THE TIMES THERE INJURED, PART OF THE TIME THEY'LL GET KNOCKED OFF THE EDGE AND IS NOT VISIBLE.

>> Reporter: HE SAYS THE NEED FOR FENCING AND AN OVERPASS IS BECOMING FAR MORE IMPORTANT WITH THE GROWTH IN INTERNATIONAL TRADE AND TRAVEL IN THAT REGION.

CALTRANS DATA SHOW TRAFFIC THERE INCREASED FROM ABOUT 14,000 VEHICLES A DAY IN 2018 TO ABOUT 22,000 IN 2023.

SCHILLING SAYS THIS HAS ALL BECOME A WEIRD BATTLE BETWEEN FENCES, THE BORDER WALL AND THE HIGHWAY.

>> AND THE IRONY IS THAT TO PROTECT, WE HAVE TO FENCE THE HIGHWAY, YOU KNOW?

IT'S REALLY A STRANGE CONCEPT TO ME THAT WE HAVE TO PROTECT THEM FROM US, BASICALLY.

>> Reporter: SCHILLING ESTIMATES BUILDING THE WILDLIFE CROSSING AND FENCING WILL REQUIRE AT LEAST $30 MILLION.

TAMMY, KPBS NEWS.

>>> MAKING MOVIES IS A LABOR OF LOVE FOR MANY INDEPENDENT REDUCTION COMPANIES.

IN BAJA CALIFORNIA ONE IS MAKING ITS WORK ON MEXICAN CINEMA.

JOURNALIST MATTHEW BOWLER WAS ON SET FOR THE LATEST PRODUCTION.

>> Reporter: HOLLYWOOD PRODUCTIONS HAVE FALLEN 36% OVER THE PAST FIVE YEARS, ACCORDING TO A NONPROFIT, FILM L.A.

WHILE THE INDUSTRY IN CALIFORNIA MAY BE CONTRACTING AGAIN THIS YEAR, MEXICO IS TRYING TO ENTICE PRODUCTIONS WITH TAX INCENTIVES AND OTHER PROGRAMS.

LAST WEEK SALMA HAYEK JOINED RESIDENT SHEINBAUM TO ANNOUNCE A SERIES OF NEW INCENTIVES MEANT TO ATTRACT PRODUCTIONS TO MEXICO.

STARTED SPEAKING SPANISH ] >> Reporter: WHILE HOLLYWOOD MAY RETURN TO MEXICO AT SOME POINT, MEXICAN FILMMAKERS AREN'T WAITING AROUND.

THIS IS THE SET OF THE INHERITANCE.

IT TELLS THE STORY OF A WEALTHY PATRIARCH WHO LEARNS OF HIS LONG-LOST DAUGHTER FROM THE GHOST OF HIS WIFE.

THICK WITH DRAMA AND INTRIGUE, THIS STORY IS ONE OF MANY PRODUCED BY BAJA CALIFORNIA FILMMAKER EMILIO MONTE L. HE DIDN'T ALWAYS MAKE MOVIES.

>> [ SPEAKING SPANISH ] >>'S MOVIES ARE NOT IN THEATERS.

THEY ARE NOT EXPENSIVE PRODUCTIONS AND THEY ARE NOT BIG BUDGET ACTION FILM'S BUT THEY ARE WATCHED BY MILLIONS.

>> STARTED SPEAKING SPANISH ] >> Reporter: MONTIEL HAS 34 MOVIES, EACH WITH OVER 1 MILLION VIEWS.

THEY AREN'T SHORT, EITHER.

EACH ONE RUNS ABOUT 90 MINUTES AND HIS MOST POPULAR HAS BEEN SEEN MORE THAN 5 MILLION TIMES.

>> YOU THROW MONEY AT SOMEBODY, THEY SHOULD BE ABLE TO MAKE SOMETHING AWESOME.

BUT WHEN YOU CAN DO IT ON A SHOESTRING AND YOU CAN -- YOU'RE SPEAKING, YOU'RE COMMUNICATING SOMETHING TO PEOPLE OUT THERE WHO FEEL IT, THAT IS COOL, RIGHT?

THAT IS COOL.

>> Reporter: THAT'S WHERE HE PENDERGRAST.

BY DAY HE'S A PERSONAL INJURY LAWYER IN SAN DIEGO.

ON THE WEEKENDS HE'S ONE OF MONTIEL'S ACTORS.

HE'S PLAYED A LAWYER AND MANY OF HIS NOVELLAS BUT LAST TIME HE GOT TO BE AN AMERICAN IN A MEXICAN PRISON IN A MOVIE, PRESIDIO INFERNAL OR PRISON .

>> Reporter: IN 2022 THE GLOBAL ECONOMIC ADVISORY FIRM, OXFORD ECONOMICS, REPORTED THAT THE MEXICAN FILM INDUSTRY CONTRIBUTED 228 BILLION PESOS TO THE ECONOMY.

AT THE CURRENT EXCHANGE RATE THAT'S OVER $13 BILLION.

IF SOMEONE OFFERED MONTIEL BIG MONEY TO MAKE HIS MOVIES, HE WOULD TAKE IT.

>> STARTED SPEAKING SPANISH ] >> BUT UNTIL THEN -- HE'LL KEEP TELLING STORIES MILLIONS LOVE.

MATTHEW BOWLER, KPBS NEWS.

>>> KPBS 'S PORT OF ENTRY HAS MORE ON EMILIO MONTIEL'S STORY AND THAT EPISODE IS NOW AVAILABLE.

YOU CAN LISTEN TO KPBS WHEREVER YOU GET YOUR PODCASTS .

>>> MUSICAL DUO AND AVID ART COLLECTORS ALICIA KEYS AND SWISS BEATS HAVE A HOME IN SAN DIEGO AND WILL SHOW THEIR GIANTS COLLECTION HERE THIS APRIL.

LAST WEEK THE COUPLE ALSO SHOWED SUPPORT FOR LOCAL ARTISTS IN A BIG WAY, AS KPBS ARTS REPORTER JULIA DIXON EVANS EXPLAINS.

>> Reporter: IN JUST THE SECOND MONTH AFTER TRANSFORMING INTO A GALLERY, SOME CELEBRITY COLLECTORS WALKED INTO COURT VIDA AND BOUGHT AN ENTIRE EXHIBITION.

>> WE ARE EXCITED TO SEE WHAT'S NEXT FOR US AND WHO COMES TO DOOR NEXT.

WE'VE GOT SWIZZ BEAT AND ALICIA KEYS ON THE 1-2.

>> Reporter: THE CAFE HAS THRIVED AS A COFFEE SHOP AND GATHERING SPOT FOR A DECADE BUT SOMETHING WAS MISSING.

>> GOD IT WAS JUST LIKE, YOU KNOW, WHAT IF WE PIGGYBACK TO THE ROOTS OF HOW WE GOT STARTED?

>> Reporter: OWNERS CARLENE SANTANA AND MILO LORENZ ON A HAVE A LONG HISTORY WITH ART IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND DECIDED TO TURN THEIR CAFE INTO AN ART SPACE.

SO FAR THE BUSINESS RISK HAS PAID OFF.

>> IT'S ALL INTUITIVE, TO BE HONEST.

IT TRULY IS AN INTUITIVE APPROACH THAT WE'VE RAN WITH OPERATING COURT VIDA.

>> Reporter: THE EXHIBITION, NEIGHBORHOOD VISUALS FEATURES FILM PHOTOGRAPHY, MOSTLY BY ARTIST OSCAR CRUZ AND MJ PENANCE OF.

THE IMAGES CAPTURE SCENES OF DAILY LIFE IN A STRONG, CONNECTED NEIGHBORHOOD.

>> THIS COMMUNITY IS WHAT EVEN GOT ME TO START SAYING I'M AN ARTIST OR TWO LIKE BELIEVE THAT MY PHOTOGRAPHS ARE ART.

>> THIS NEIGHBORHOOD MEANS EVERYTHING TO ME.

BORN AND RAISED THERE, ALL MY FRIENDS ARE HERE.

MY FAMILY LIVED HERE.

>> Reporter: IN ALL 46 WORKS WILL BE ADDED TO SWIZZ BEATS AND ALICIA KEYS DEAN COLLECTION, A SIGNIFICANT CONTEMPORARY ART COLLECTION MOSTLY BY ARTISTS OF COLOR.

BEING INCLUDED IN THE COLLECTION CAN BE CAREER CHANGING FOR ARTISTS.

AND FOR THE NEIGHBORHOOD THEY CAPTURE, WITH INTERNATIONAL SCOPE AND INSTITUTIONAL RECOGNITION.

>> I FEEL LIKE A LOT OF THESE PEOPLE, LIKE IN THESE PHOTOS, THEY ARE MY FRIENDS.

THEY ARE MY NEIGHBORS.

THEY ARE PEOPLE WHO ARE SPECIAL TO ME.

SO I FEEL HONORED TO BE ABLE TO BRING THEM TO A PLATFORM LIKE THIS COLLECTION.

>> Reporter: THE EXHIBIT IS ON VIEW THROUGH MARCH 11th, WITH A CLOSING RECEPTION SCHEDULED FOR MARCH 8th.

JULIA DIXON EVANS, KPBS NEWS.

>>> JULIA IS ALSO THE HOST OF THE FINEST, THE KPBS ARTS PODCAST IS NOW IN ITS SECOND SEASON.

LOOK FOR NEW EPISODES ON THURSDAYS.

YOU CAN LISTEN NOW AT KPBS.ORG AND WHERE YOU GET YOUR PODCASTS.

>>> SAN DIEGO'S CLAREMONT HIGH SCHOOL COULD SOON HAVE A NEW MASCOT, THE CAPTAINS.

KPBS EDUCATION REPORTER SAYS THE CHANGE COMES AFTER NEARLY A YEAR OF COMMUNITY INPUT.

>> Reporter: SINCE 1958, CLAREMONT HIGH SCHOOL'S MASCOT HAS BEEN THE CHIEFTAINS.

TODAY SIGNS AND MURALS OUTSIDE THE SCHOOL DEPICT A CARICATURE OF AN INDIGENOUS MAN.

IN 2024, CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE PASSED A BILL PROHIBITING SCHOOLS FROM USING DEROGATORY NATIVE AMERICAN TERMS AS TEAM NAMES OR MASCOTS, INCLUDING CHIEFTAINS.

>> ALTHOUGH THERE BIG CONCERN OVER THE YEARS ABOUT THE NAME AND PEOPLE FEELING UNCOMFORTABLE ABOUT IT REALLY BECAUSE OF THE STATE LAW IS WHAT REALLY PUSHED THIS PROCESS.

>> Reporter: IN MARCH 2025, SAN DIEGO UNIFIED'S INDIAN EDUCATION PROGRAM SUBMITTED A LETTER TO THE SCHOOL BOARD AND SUPERINTENDENT, SIGNED BY LOCAL INDIGENOUS COMMUNITY MEMBERS.

THEY WROTE, QUOTE, WAS FOR DECADES THE CHIEFTAINS MASCOT HAS BEEN A SOURCE OF ANTI- INDIGENOUS RACISM BECAUSE OF THE STEREOTYPICAL IMAGERY AND PORTRAYAL THAT CLAREMONT HIGH SCHOOL HAS PERMITTED AND PROMOTED.

FROM THE CARICATURE TO THE CHANTS AND IMAGERY USED AT SCHOOL EVENTS, NATIVE AMERICAN PEOPLE AND CULTURE HAVE BEEN A SOURCE OF RIDICULE AND MOCKERY AT THE SCHOOL.

THIS ISN'T THE FIRST TIME A SCHOOL IN THE DISTRICT HAS CHANGED ITS MASCOT.

AFTER A STUDENT LED PETITION IN 2021, SAN DIEGO UNIFIED RENAMED JUNIPERO SARAH HIGH SCHOOL TO CANYON HILLS HIGH SCHOOL AND SWAPPED HIS CONQUISTADOR ASCOT FOR A RATTLESNAKE.

IT IS THE FIRST TIME A DISTRICT SCHOOL HAS CHANGED ITS MASCOT BECAUSE OF THE STATE LAW.

STARTING NEXT SCHOOL YEAR, CLAREMONT HIGH SCHOOL'S MASCOT WILL LIKELY BE THE CAPTAINS.

SCHOOL AND DISTRICT LEADERS HELD TOWN HALL MEETINGS AND ASKED COMMUNITY MEMBERS FOR SUGGESTIONS.

>> IT WAS A REALLY INTERESTING PROCESS.

IT WAS A POSITIVE PROCESS.

WHAT WAS NICE IS THAT IT WAS ACCEPTED THAT WHEN WE ARE DEBATING THE WHY WE WERE WORKING ON THE WHAT SO THAT WE ARE JUST MAKING A DECISION ON WHAT IT'S GOING TO BECOME.

>> Reporter: THE FINALISTS WERE AVIATORS, CAPTAINS, SEAHAWKS AND TRAILBLAZERS.

THE DISTRICT SAYS MORE THAN 500 PEOPLE RATED THE FINALISTS AND CAPTAINS CAME OUT ON TOP.

THE DISTRICT SAYS IT SIGNIFIES LEADERSHIP PLUS IT TIES IN WELL WITH NEARBY MARSTON MIDDLE SCHOOL'S MASCOT, THE MARINERS.

>> CLAREMONT IS ALSO A HISTORIC MILITARY COMMUNITY, SO IT KIND OF TALKS ABOUT, KIND OF REPRESENTS THAT TO A DEGREE AND IT'S NOT GENDER SPECIFIC.

IT COULD BE A MAN.

IT COULD BE A WOMAN.

THE ANIMAL WITH THE CAPTAIN'S HAT ON.

WE LIKE THE IDEA THERE WAS FLEXIBILITY AROUND HOW WE CAN USE THAT.

>> Reporter: PLANS TO WORK WITH A GRAPHIC DESIGNER TO COME UP WITH THAT NEW LOGO.

THEY'LL HAVE THREE YEARS TO UPDATE SIGNS, SPORTS UNIFORMS, AND ANYTHING ELSE WITH THE OLD MASCOT.

THE SCHOOL BOARD IS EXPECTED TO APPROVE THE NEW CAPTAINS MASCOT TONIGHT.

KATIE ANASTAS, KPBS NEWS.

>>> A PROPOSAL TO TAX SECOND HOMES IN SAN DIEGO APPEAR HEADED FOR THE JUNE PRIMARY BALLOT.

KPBS REPORTER ANDREW BOWEN SAYS IT'S A SCALED-BACK VERSION OF AN EARLIER PROPOSAL.

>> Reporter: LAST MONTH COUNCILMEMBER SEAN RIVERA PROPOSED A BALLOT MEASURE THAT WOULD'VE TAXED VACANT HOMES AND SHORT-TERM HOME RENTALS.

THAT TRIGGERED A BACKLASH FROM AIRBNB AND THE PROPOSAL FAILED TO ADVANCE OUT OF THE COUNSEL'S RULES COMMITTEE.

THE NEW TAX PROPOSAL, LIMITED TO EMPTY SECOND HOMES, WON UNANIMOUS SUPPORT FROM THAT COMMITTEE ON WEDNESDAY.

DEAL RIVERA SAID HOMEOWNERS CAN AVOID THE TAX BY SIMPLY RENTING OUT THEIR SECOND HOME.

>> IT WILL CHANGE INCENTIVES AND HOMES WILL COME BACK INTO USE, AND JUST LIKE EVERY NEW HOME WE BUILD, EVERY HOME RETURNED TO HOUSING IS WORTHY OF CELEBRATION, BECAUSE IT OPENS THE DOOR TO A FAMILY THAT GETS TO STAY IN SAN DIEGO, POTENTIALLY EVEN AS A HOMEOWNER.

>> Reporter: SAN DIEGO HAS MORE THAN 5100 HOMES THAT COULD BE SUBJECT TO THE TAX, INCLUDING DOWNTOWN CONDOS AND LA JOLLA MANSIONS.

THE CITY'S INDEPENDENT BUDGET ANALYST'S OFFICE ESTIMATED IT COULD GENERATE BETWEEN ABOUT 12 AND 24 MILLION DOLLARS IN THE FIRST YEAR.

A HANDFUL OF OPPONENTS TO THE TAX MEASURE SETTING WOULD INFRINGE ON PROPERTY RIGHTS AND ADD TO AN ALREADY HIGH TAX BURDEN.

COUNCILMEMBER KEN LEE SAID THE TAX WOULD ONLY APPLY TO THE WEALTHY.

>> I SAID THIS DURING THE LAST MEETING BUT IF SOMEONE CAN AFFORD TO OWN A SECOND HOME AND NOT USE IT FOR ANY PURPOSE, THEY CAN ABSOLUTELY AFFORD TO PAY THAT TAX AND THEY SHOULD.

>> Reporter: THE TAX MEASURE NOW HAS SUPPORT FROM A MAJORITY OF COUNCILMEMBERS.

THE COUNCIL HAS A DEADLINE OF MARCH SIXTH TO OFFICIALLY PLACE THE TAX MEASURE ON THE BALLOT.

KPBS NEWS.

>>> JUST A FEW MONTHS AFTER CLOSING DOWN, A BARRIO LOGAN INSTITUTION IS MAKING A COMEBACK.

KPBS REPORTER JACOB AERE IS THE ICONIC LOSS QUATTRO MILK IS MEXICAN RESTAURANT IS GETTING READY TO ENTER A NEW LOCATION.

>> Reporter: FROM 1933 UNTIL 2025, THE FAMILY SERVED TAMALES, HANDMADE TORTILLAS, ROLLED TACOS AND SO MUCH MORE.

THE FOOD WAS RENOWNED FOR ITS SIMPLICITY AND FLAVOR.

THE RESTAURANT OFTEN HAD A LONG LINE OUT FRONT.

THE GREAT-GRANDDAUGHTER OF THE ORIGINAL OWNERS.

>> I WOULD DESCRIBE IT AS YOUR TYPICAL HOMEY MEXICAN FOOD, WHAT YOU EXPECT WHEN YOU GO TO YOUR GRANDMA'S HOUSE, THAT WARM BOWL OF CHORIZO WITH YOUR FRESH FLOUR TORTILLAS, YOUR BEANS AND RICE.

>> Reporter: BUT THEY CLOSED IN DECEMBER AFTER 92 YEARS IN BUSINESS.

THEY SOLD THE RESTAURANT PROPERTY FOR $2.2 MILLION.

>> IT WAS A VERY SAD MOMENT FOR OF COURSE THE FAMILY BECAUSE THAT PROPERTY HAD BEEN IN OUR FAMILY FOR ABOUT 100 YEARS NOW.

>> Reporter: NADIA SAYS THE CLOSURE WAS DUE TO FINANCIAL ISSUES THAT ARE BEING RESOLVED.

NOW IT'S REOPENING ITS DOORS JUST A FEW BLOCKS AWAY.

>> I CANNOT LET MY GREAT- GRANDPARENTS LEGACY DIE AND MY FATHER COULDN'T ALLOW THAT TO HAPPEN FOR HIS GRANDPARENTS, EITHER.

SO HENCE OUR NEW LOCATION, OUR NEW CHAPTER.

>> Reporter: BROKER GENO COLOSSO OF COMMERCIAL ADVISORS WORKED WITH THE RESTAURANT TO SECURITY SPACE.

>> ONE OF THE MAIN POSITIVES ABOUT THE SPACE IS IT HAS A FULL KITCHEN, IT HAS A GOOD, GREASE TRAP INTACT.

>> Reporter: HE SAID THEY SIGNED THE LEASE OVER VALENTINES WEEKEND.

THE NEW SPACE IS JUST A FEW BLOCKS FROM THE PREVIOUS LOCATION.

>> I THINK IT'S GOING TO BE POSITIVE FOR THEM BECAUSE IT'S DEFINITELY A RATED AND MORE RECENT IN TERMS OF CODE, THINGS LIKE THAT.

A LOT OF THESE GUYS DON'T HAVE TO WORRY AS MUCH.

GOT THE PATIO OUT HERE WHICH THEY DID NOT HAVE AT THEIR OTHER LOCATION.

MIGHT BE ABLE TO BETTER SERVICE THE LINES, HOPEFULLY.

>> Reporter: THEY HOPE THE NEW LOCATION WILL BE OPEN BY CHICANO PARK DAY, APRIL 25th.

>> STILL GOING TO KEEP OUR SAME DISHES, SAME DYNAMIC ALWAYS HAS PEOPLE LOVE GOING DOWN THAT COOKING LINE.

WE'RE GOING TO KEEP THAT ALL THE SAME, A FEW TWEAKS AND UPGRADES THERE ALONG THE LINE BUT IT'S FOR THE BEST.

>> Reporter: SOME OF THOSE TWEAKS INCLUDE A CHANGE IN DECOR AND SELLING SOME MERCHANDISE, AND AFTER A LONG HISTORY OF BEING A CASH ONLY BUSINESS, THEY'LL START ACCEPTING CARDS FOR PAYMENT.

JACOB AERE, KPBS NEWS.

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

I'M MAYA TRABULSI.

THANKS FOR JOINING US.