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

I AM MATT HOFFMAN.

COMING UP, AFFORDABLE HOUSES ARE NEEDED IN HIGH DEMAND NEIGHBORHOODS.

WE ARE LOOKING AT SOME UNDERUSED LAND IN HILLCREST AND FINDING OUT WHY IT IS TAKING SO LONG TO BUILD.

LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS ARE MARKING BANNED BOOK WEEK, AND BRINGING ATTENTION TO EFFORTS TO CENSOR WHAT PEOPLE CAN READ IN PUBLIC PLACES.

>>> AND THE LATEST IN THE KPBS SERIES ON PUBLIC ART.

SEE HOW A MASSIVE MOSAIC CELEBRATING SEA LIFE WAS CREATED AT LA JOLLA SHORES.

WE ARE GOING TO START WITH THE ONGOING CHALLENGE TO SERVE THOUSANDS OF MIGRANTS AND ASYLUM-SEEKERS PASSING THROUGH SAN DIEGO.

>>> BORE REPORTER GUSTAVO SULLY'S SAYS THAT ANY ORGANIZATION STEPPING UP TO HELP ARE RUNNING OUT OF RESOURCES.

>> Reporter: THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF EMIGRANT OFFENDERS, ONE OF A HANDFUL OF NONPROFITS HELPING MIGRANTS AT A MAKESHIFT AID CENTER.

SHE SAYS SOME MIGRANTS END UP IN THE STREETS OF SAN DIEGO WITH NOTHING AND NO IDEA WHERE THEY EVEN ARE.

>> THEY ARE BEING DROPPED, SOME OF THEM WITH LITTLE MORE THAN THE CLOSE ON THEIR BACKS.

JUST AS YOU AND I WERE STANDING HERE, WE HAD SOMEONE COME UP AND SAY WHAT IS THE CLOSEST AIRPORT?

PEOPLE DON'T KNOW WHERE THEY ARE.

>> Reporter: THE AIDE-DE-CAMP IS LOCATED AT THE SENATE SIDRA PARK.

MIGRANTS THEIR TERRIBLE HORRIFYING STORIES ABOUT THEIR JOURNEYS INTO THE U.S. A VENEZUELAN ASYLUM-SEEKERS AS EXTORTION IS RAMPANT IN MEXICO.

HE SAYS THEY EITHER HAVE TO PAY LOCAL GANGS OR DIE.

IT WAS A HORRIBLE SITUATION.

NOW THAT HE IS IN THE U.S., HE PLANS TO REUNITE WITH FAMILY IN MIAMI AND PURSUE AN ASYLUM CASE IN IMMIGRATION COURT.

51% OF ALL ASYLUM CLAIMS HAVE BEEN DENIED SO FAR IN FISCAL YEAR 2023, ACCORDING TO DATA FROM IMMIGRATION COURT.

HE FLED VENEZUELA BECAUSE OF VIOLENCE AND POOR ECONOMIC CONDITIONS.

HE SAYS HE WANTS A BETTER FUTURE FOR HIS DAUGHTERS.

BORDER PATROL IN SAN DIEGO HAVE STRUGGLED TO DEAL WITH AN INCREASE IN ILLEGAL MIGRATION IN THE PAST TWO WEEKS.

THERE MISSION SO FAR AS IT IS SET UP MIGRANT CAMPS.

RIGHTS ACTIVISTS SAY CAMPS ARE INADEQUATE.

MIGRANTS OFTEN SUFFER WITHOUT FOOD, WATER, OR PROTECTION FROM THE NATURAL ELEMENTS.

AN ACTIVIST WITH THE AMERICAN SERVICE COMMITTEE SAYS EVERYONE HAS LEGAL RIGHT TO SEEK ASYLUM IN THE U.S., EVEN IF THEY ENTER THE COUNTRY ILLEGALLY.

>> THE U.S. HAS A RESPONSE ABILITY TO RESPOND TO THEIR ASYLUM CLAIMS.

THEY ARE FLEEING DANGEROUS SITUATIONS OF UNTOLD VIOLENCE.

>> Reporter: THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION SET UP A MOBILE PHONE APP FOR ASYLUM-SEEKERS TO SET UP APPOINTMENTS AND INTO THE U.S.

THE APP IS MEANT TO PREVENT THE KIND OF CHAOS WE ARE NOW SEEING IN SAN DIEGO.

BUT RIOS SAYS THE APP IS NOT PRACTICAL FOR PEOPLE FLEEING FOR THEIR LIVES.

>> ONE YOUNG MOTHER TOLD ME I CAN'T AFFORD TO WAIT FOR THREE WEEKS IN A HOTEL ROOM IN TIJUANA.

I JUST CANNOT AFFORD THAT.

ANOTHER WOMAN TOLD ME I HAVE TRIED USING THE APP MULTIPLE TIMES, IT HAS BEEN THREE MONTHS OF JUST FAILING TO TRY TO ACCESS IT.

I HAVE NO OTHER OPTIONS BUT TO CROSS HERE.

>> Reporter: BACK AT THE AID CENTER IN SAN YSIDRO VOLUNTEERS WORK HARD TO MAKE THE BEST OF A DIFFICULT SITUATION.

>> THESE ARE THE FIRST MOMENTS IN THE UNITED STATES, SO FOR SAN DIEGO IT IS IMPORTANT FOR US THAT THEY REMEMBER THOSE MOMENTS AS SOMEONE WHO GAVE THEM A HELPING HAND AND MADE SURE THAT THEY WERE SAFE.

>> Reporter: BUT MONEY IS RUNNING SHORT.

A SPOKESPERSON TOLD KPBS THAT THE CAMP MAY HAVE TO SHUT DOWN BECAUSE OF LACK OF FUNDS.

>> THE STORY WAS REPORTED BY KPBS JOURNALIST MATT BULLER AND MARIA ELENA CASTELLANO'S.

>>> A BARRIO, ERIC ANDERSON TELLS US WHY SOME NEIGHBORS ARE ENCOURAGED BY WHAT MIGHT COME NEXT.

>> Reporter: THE CONFLICT FLARED UP WHEN THE BARRIO LOGAN COMPANY MOVED THEIR OIL PROCESSING OPERATION INTO A BUILDING NEAR SICARD STREET, TURNING USED COOKING OIL AND BIODIESEL FUEL IS A SMELLY BUSINESS.

NEIGHBORS BEGAN COMPLAINING TO LOCAL AIR QUALITY REGULATORS.

CITATIONS WERE ISSUED, AND THE COMPANY SEALED UP THE BUILDING AND INSTALLED A CHARCOAL ACTIVATED AIR FILTER SYSTEM.

LAST DECEMBER CHRIS WHITE SHUT OFF THE EXPENSIVE NEW SYSTEM TO REGULATORS A DAY AFTER IT WAS INSTALLED.

>> THIS IS EXACTLY AS IT LOOKS.

YESTERDAY AFTERNOON WE GOT EVERYTHING CONNECTED AND IN ITS PROPER PLACE.

YOU'LL NOTICE THAT AT THE TOP THERE IS ANOTHER RING WHICH IS AN INCREASE IN VOLUME.

AND I HAVE JUST PUT THAT WHITE ARROW THERE, SO IT GIVES A BIT OF AN IDEA.

IT'S ABOUT 11 FEET TALL.

>> Reporter: THE EVENTS, FANS, AND 11 FOOT TALL CARBON FILTERS WORKED AS ADVERTISED.

THE OVERWHELMINGLY PUNGENT SMELLS WERE LARGELY ELIMINATED.

BUT THE BUSINESS STILL CREATES AN ODOR.

NEIGHBORHOOD ADVOCATES SAY IT IS THE WRONG KIND OF BUSINESS FOR THIS AREA.

>> A HEAVY INDUSTRIAL BIODIESEL PLANT IN THE MIDDLE OF A RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOOD, RIGHT?

WE HAVE SINGLE-FAMILY HOMES RIGHT BEHIND ME HERE, AFFORDABLE SENIOR HOUSING COMPLEX TO MY RIGHT, AND A PRESCHOOL RIGHT AROUND THE CORNER.

>> Reporter: BUT COMPANY OFFICIALS SAY THEY ONLY LOCATED THERE BUSINESS THERE BECAUSE OF STATE AND CITY INCENTIVES DESIGNED TO REVITALIZE THE ENTERPRISE ZONE IN THE BARRIO LOGAN CENSUS TRACT.

COMPANY FOUNDER JENNIFER KAY SAID IN A STATEMENT THAT THE FIRMS GOT ALONG WITH NEIGHBORS AND WON AWARDS FROM LOCAL OFFICIALS.

THE STATEMENT SAID TO MAKE A POSITIVE IMPACT IN THE WORLD BY DISPLACING SOME PETROLEUM DIESEL WITH BIODIESEL MADE FROM RECYCLED COOKING OIL.

THE FUEL MADE NEW LEASE FACILITIES IS THE LOWEST CARBON DIESEL ALTERNATIVE FUEL IN THE STATE.

85% BETTER THAN PETROLEUM.

BUT CASE CONCEDES THAT THE EXPANSION CAUSED ODOR ISSUES.

THE FILTERS HELP, BUT THE COMPANY'S SUGGESTED BUILDING A PIPELINE UNDER SICARD STREET SO OIL WOULD NOT HAVE TO BE MOVED ON TRUCKS.

THAT PLAN WAS SHELVED AFTER THE COMMUNITY COMPLAINED.

COMPLAINTS THAT CASE HEARD DIRECTLY AT A PUBLIC MEETING IN AUGUST.

>> FOR MANY YEARS, FOR DECADES, THE INDUSTRY HAS OPERATED IN BARRIO LOGAN IN THE WAY THAT IS DISMISSIVE OF COMMUNITY CONCERNS, THEIR QUALITY OF LIFE.

TO BE THERE, TO HEAR AND TO TAKE THAT INPUT FROM RESIDENTS, EVEN IF IT WAS UNCOMFORTABLE, AND I'M SURE IT WAS, FOR HER TO HEAR.

AND THEN TO INTERNALIZE THAT AND TAKE ACTION WITHDRAWING THE PERMIT, THAT IS A BIG STEP.

AND IT IS A STEP, AGAIN, TOWARDS THE HEALING OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD.

>> Reporter: NEW LEAF OFFICIALS HAVE INSISTED THEY HAVE BEEN GOOD NEIGHBORS AND WERE RESPONSIVE ONCE CONCERNS WERE RAISED ABOUT THE ODORS.

CASE'S STATEMENT SAID THE COMEDY ONLY HAS POSITIVE CONCERN FOR THE NEIGHBORHOOD.

QUOTE, IN THE MEANTIME WE MUST ALSO CONSIDER ARE THOUSANDS OF RESTAURANT CUSTOMERS, ARE ULTRALOW CARBON BIODIESEL USERS, AND OUR DEDICATED TEAM OF OVER 50 EMPLOYEES,".

THE COMPANY IS ASKING AIR QUALITY OFFICIALS AND THE ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH COALITION TO GIVE THEM SOME TIME TO MAKE IMPROVEMENTS WHILE THEY FIND A NEW PLACE TO PROCESS COOKING OIL.

MARIA HAS LIVED IN A SENIOR COMPLEX ACROSS FROM THE PLANT FOR EIGHT YEARS.

SHE SAYS THE LAST THREE YEARS HAVE BEEN HORRIBLE, AND SHE WANTS THE PLANS TO MOVE.

>> WE DO NOT HAVE THE 10 YEARS WE ARE ASKING FOR.

MOST OF US, WE DON'T.

FOR US IT IS A MATTER OF BUSINESS, MONEY, AND PROBABLY GREED.

>> Reporter: SHE AND HER HUSBAND LOCKED THEMSELVES IN THEIR APARTMENT DURING THE PANDEMIC IN AN EFFORT TO ESCAPE THE SMELL.

SHE SAYS THE FILTERS DO HELP.

>> IT DID GET BETTER.

WE HAVE DAYS THAT WE CAN LEAVE THE WINDOWS OPEN, MY DOOR IS ALWAYS OPEN WHEN WE DO HAVE A GOOD DAY.

BUT THEN IT ALWAYS COMES BACK, SPECIFICALLY EVENINGS AND WEEKENDS.

>> Reporter: SHE AND OTHERS IN THE APARTMENT COMPLEX ARE SUING NEW LEAF BIOFUELS.

THEY ARE ASKING THE COURTS TO AWARD MONETARY DAMAGES AND TO KEEP THE PLANT FROM EXPANDING FURTHER.

ERIC ANDERSON, KPBS NEWS.

>> ERIC ANDERSON IS ALSO A GUEST ON OUR NEWEST ROUNDTABLE EPISODE, RELEASED EVERY FRIDAY WITH LOCAL REPORTERS.

THIS WEEK IS ALL ABOUT ENVIRONMENTAL NEWS AND OUR LOCAL WATER SUPPLY.

YOU CONSTRAIN THE SHOW ON ALL MAJOR PODCAST PLATFORMS.

IT ALSO AIRS ON KPBS FRIDAYS AT NOON .

>>> NEWS ABOUT OUR CLIENT HAD A LOT OF INTEREST THIS WEEK OVER AT KPBS.ORG.

THE LATEST NUMBERS SHOW IT WAS A VERY WET YEAR FOR SAN DIEGO.

READ ABOUT WHAT THAT MEANS FOR WILDFIRE RISKS IN THE MONTHS AHEAD.

FREE IS ALWAYS POPULAR.

WE HAVE A ROUNDUP OF FREE ACTIVITIES FOR KIDS THIS MONTH ALL AROUND SAN DIEGO COUNTY.

>>> AND CHECKING OUT THE MAP, OUR LATEST SERIES CONTINUES WITH THIS TRIP TO LA JOLLA.

>> Reporter: IT IS JUST STEPS AWAY FROM A SWINGSET, SLIDE, AND A JUNGLE GYM.

IN THE BACKGROUND YOU HEAR THE LAUGHTER OF CHILDREN AND THE SOUND OF CRASHING WAVES.

IT IS ANOTHER PLAYGROUND, OF SORTS, MADE OUT OF CONCRETE AND TILE.

THE MAP, AS IT IS AFFECTIONATELY CALLED, IS A 2500 SQUARE-FOOT MOSAIC.

IT SAID THAT THE WALTER MONK EDUCATIONAL PUZZLE AT LA JOLLA SHORES.

THIS MASSIVE PIECE OF PUBLIC ART TO FIX THE GRAND CANYON'S OF LA JOLLA, AS WELL AS OVER 100 SPECIES INDIGENOUS TO CALIFORNIA'S COAST.

ALL IN HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF PIECES OF HAND CUT TILE.

MAKING A MOSAIC OF THIS SIZE IS NOT EASY.

IT IS ONLY POSSIBLE THANKS TO THE TECHNIQUE CALLED LITTLE MOSAIC.

IT WAS INVENTED BY ROBERT ELFORD ALONG WITH CONCRETE SPECIALISTS.

>> I TEND TO BE A PERSON WHO THINKS BIG.

THIS IS A TECHNIQUE THAT ONLY WORKS FOR BIG.

SO THAT FIT RIGHT IN FOR ME.

>> Reporter: THE PATENTED PROCESS IS A REMIX OF THE CLASSIC MOSAIC TECHNIQUE OF SECURING TILE TO A SURFACE WITH MORTAR AND GROUT.

INSTEAD, LITHOMOSIAC USES MONOLITHIC CONCRETE PORES.

>> LITHOMOSIAC DOES TWO THINGS.

IT ALLOWS US TO WORK SUPERLARGE.

ONE JUST WENT IN THIS WEEK IN TEMPE, ARIZONA, THAT IS 750 SQUARE FEET.

AND IT ALSO HAS FIGURED OUT A WAY THROUGH THE CHEMICAL BALANCE OF THE CONCRETE AND WITH THE TECHNIQUES WE PUT INTO IT TO ALLOW IT TO GO IN IN PRESENT ENVIRONMENTS.

AS WE HAVE IT IN ALASKA, NEVADA, NEW MEXICO, PLACES YOU WOULD NORMALLY BE ABLE TO HAVE MOSAICS.

>> Reporter: SHE ALSO WORKS WITH ARTISTS.

SHE SAID THE NEW MOSAIC BEGINS WITH RESEARCH.

>> WHEN I HAVE A PROJECT OR HAVE IDENTIFIED A SITE THAT I WANT TO DO FOR MY OWN WITHOUT A PUBLIC ART COMMISSION, I THINK OF, I STUDY IT REALLY HARD.

I AM THERE, I WATCH THE SUNRISE, THE MOON SET, WHATEVER.

I TALKED TO PEOPLE, I RESEARCH A LOT, I READ A LOT OF BOOKS.

ALL OF MY PROJECT PROPOSALS HAVE BIBLIOGRAPHIES, EXTENSIVE BIBLIOGRAPHIES FOR THE RESEARCH I HAVE DONE.

>> Reporter: HER HOME STUDIO IS NESTLED IN THE HILLS OF EAST SAN DIEGO COUNTY.

THERE THE SHELVES ARE BOOKS OF EVIDENCE TO THAT SCHOLARLY APPROACH TO ART.

>> WE ARE OUT OF ANY POINT NOW WHERE THE HOUSE DOESN'T HAVE ROOM ON THE WALLS AND ALL THE LAWS THEY CAN HAVE EITHER PAINTINGS OR BOOKSHELVES.

SO HOW MANY MORE BOOKS DO WE BUY?

THAT IS THE CURRENT PROBLEM.

>> Reporter: ONCE THE RESEARCH IS DONE, THE NEXT STEP IS DESIGN CONCEPTION.

>> I DO ALL OF MY LITHOMOSIAC LAYOUTS.

I PLANT THEM ON CLEAR PLASTIC, BECAUSE I AM BASICALLY A GLASS ARTIST.

I AM MOST COMFORTABLE WORKING IN GLASS.

THAT IS WHY THINK YOU ARE SEEING THAT HER OLDER OUR GLASS.

ANYWAY, I PAINT ON BOTH SIDES OF A PIECE OF CLEAR PLASTIC LIKE THIS AND I CAN REALLY GET THE EFFECT THAT I WANT OF WHAT THE LITHOMOSIAC ARE GOING TO BE LIKE.

>> Reporter: THEN THE LABOR- INTENSIVE WORK OF HAND CUTTING AND PLACING EACH PIECE OF TILE BEGINS.

IN THE LITHOMOSIAC PROCESS TILES ARE SECURED UPSIDE DOWN TO MESH WITH WATER-BASED GLUE.

AFTER THE LAYOUT IS COMPLETE, IT IS TIME TO INSTALL THE MOSAIC.

THIS IS DONE BY CONCRETE PROFESSIONALS.

>> SO THEY TAKE IT AND LAY IT UPSIDE DOWN IN THE MONOLITHIC CONCRETE POUR.

PULL OFF THE PLASTIC, THEN THEY TRAVEL IT.

WHEN THE CONCRETE BEGINS TO SETTLE A LITTLE BIT, ENOUGH TO HOLD THE TILES IN PLACE, THEN THEY PULL THE MESH BACK AND THE TILES ARE ACTUALLY THERE IN PLACE.

NO MESH, NO GROUTING, NO BUCKETS, AND NO BACKBREAKING WORK ON OUR PART.

>> Reporter: BACK ON THE MAP, WE ARE BETTER TO GET AN IDEA OF HOW THE SKILLED CRAFTSMEN INSTALLED THE MOSAIC.

>> IMAGINE PUTTING THIS MUCH TILE IN YOUR KITCHEN.

WHAT THEY WERE DOING, ON ONE HAND THEY WERE TRAVELING THIS ONE IN, AND OVER HERE WE HAD THE PUMPER TRUCK AND THEY WERE UP TO THEIR ANKLES PUMPING IN THE CONCRETE AND LEVELING IT, THEN BRINGING OVER THE NEXT ONE AT THE SAME TIME.

IT IS THE BALLET OF THE HIGHEST ORDER, HOW THEY PUT IT TOGETHER.

>> Reporter: ALL OF THIS WOULD NOT BE POSSIBLE WITHOUT THE WALTER MONK FOUNDATION FOR THE OCEANS.

IT WORKS WITH THE CITY AND COMMUNITY STAKEHOLDERS TO BRING THE MOSAIC TO LIFE.

HE IS WIDELY CONSIDERED TO BE THE FATHER OF MODERN OCEANOGRAPHY.

HE WAS ONE OF THE FIRST SCIENTISTS TO BRING STATISTICAL METHODS TO THE ANALYSIS OF OCEAN A GRAPHICAL DATA.

AND WHEN HE DIED IN 2019 BEFORE THE MAP WAS FINISHED, THE MOSAIC CONTINUES HIS LEGACY OF TEACHING THE NEXT GENERATION ABOUT THE OCEANS AND THE ANIMALS THAT CALL IT HOME.

AND THE BEAUTY OF PUBLIC ART IS THAT IT IS FOR EVERYONE.

>> I WAS TALKING TO ONE OF MY COLLABORATORS ON THE PHONE, AND SHE WAS POINTING OUT THAT IN THIS TIME RIGHT NOW, MORTGAGES ARE EXPENSIVE, COVID HAS LET PEOPLE WITHOUT JOBS, THERE IS A LOT OF UNCERTAINTY IN THE WORLD.

AND WHAT IS GREAT ABOUT PUBLIC ART AND SOMETHING LIKE THIS IS THAT YOU CAN SORT OF INTERACT AND OWN IT ON YOUR OWN.

I LOVE THE FACT THAT MY THINGS DON'T BELONG TO ANYBODY, THEY BELONG TO EVERYBODY.

AND YOU CAN BE HERE AT MIDNIGHT, YOU CAN BE HER AT 3:00 IN THE MORNING, YOU CAN BE HOMELESS, YOU CAN HAVE THE BIGGEST HOUSE IN LA JOLLA AND YOU ALL GET TO EXPERIENCE IT AT THE SAME TIME, IN THE SAME WAY.

>> Reporter: FROM A 31 FOOT GRAY WHALE TO A LIFE-SIZE HUMAN DIVER, THE MAP OFFERS VISITORS A CHANCE TO EXPLORE THE OCEAN WITHOUT HAVING TO GET WET.

>> THERE YOU GO.

WHAT MORE CAN I ASK FOR?

>> TO SEE SOME MORE PUBLIC ART STORIES AND TELL US WHAT PIECES WE SHOULD COVER NEXT, GO TO KPBS.ORG/PUBLIC ART .

LA JOLLA PLAYHOUSE RECENTLY HELD THE WORLD PREMIERE OF SUMO.

>>> THE PLAY TAKES YOU INSIDE AN ELITE SUMO FACILITY IN TOKYO.

WE WENT BEHIND THE SCENES FOR A REHEARSAL TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THIS TRADITIONAL JAPANESE SPORT.

>> Reporter: SUMO IS A BATTLE OF GIANTS, WITH ITS ORIGIN DATING BACK FROM 2000 YEARS.

>> IT COMES FROM MYTHOLOGY.

MYTHOLOGY OF THE GODS.

>> Reporter: THE SOCIAL AND MARTIAL ARTS ADVISER FOR LA JOLLA'S PLAYHOUSE SUMO.

>> IT IS A TREMENDOUS RITUAL INVOLVED.

ADDITIONALLY, THESE WERE MEN BACK IN THE 1600S WHERE SOCIETY WAS STILL VERY MUCH A FUTILE AND WARRIOR SOCIETY.

PEOPLE WOULD CARRY SWORDS REGULARLY.

SO A LOT OF THE RITUALS WE SEE IN THE RING ARE ABSTRACTIONS OF BASICALLY SHOWING THE OPPONENT THAT YOU ARE UNARMED, WHICH IS WHY THEY ONLY HAVE BASICALLY A GLORIFIED LOINCLOTH, SO TO SPEAK.

THEY ARE NAKED OTHERWISE, AND THEY SPREAD THEIR ARMS TO SHOW THAT THEY HAVE GOT NOTHING.

IS JUST A SHEER COMPETITION OF STRENGTH.

>> Reporter: A JAPANESE- AMERICAN PLAYWRIGHT FELL IN LOVE WITH SUMO.

>> I WAS SO ENTRANCED BY THE IDEA, OR THE FEELING OF A SPORT BEING SO POWERFUL AND SO FEROCIOUS AND SO WILD, AND ALSO SO RESTRAINED AND SO FILLED WITH CEREMONY AND HONOR.

>> Reporter: THE SENSE OF RITUAL IS EVEN APPARENT IN THE REHEARSAL ROOM.

>> WE BOW BEFORE GOING INTO THE REHEARSAL ROOM, AND WE TAKE OUR SHOES OFF.

THERE IS A PART OF THE STATE WE CANNOT WEAR SHOES IN BECAUSE IT IS WHERE THEY FIGHT.

ALSO IT IS VERY JAPANESE TO TAKE YOUR SHOES OFF WHEN WE ENTER THE SPACE.

WE ARE A ASKED CULTURAL ROOM.

>> WE HAVE A DRUMMER WHO'D PROVIDES THIS WONDERFUL SOUNDSCAPE WITH THE MOVEMENTS WE ARE DOING.

>> Reporter: MOVEMENTS OF THE CAST HAD TO LEARN.

>> I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THE ACTORS HAD PLENTY OF TIME TO GET FAMILIAR WITH MOVING THEIR LOWER HALF OF THEIR BODY.

IN WARM-UPS, BEFORE REHEARSAL WE SPENT A LOT OF TIME ON THE KIND OF EXERCISES THAT SUMO WRESTLERS ACTUALLY DO.

>> SOMETIMES THERE IS A LITTLE TIGHT LITERAL TON OF POWER WHEN YOU DO THE MATH ON THE TWO BODIES.

THAT IS HOPEFULLY WHAT WE ARE PORTRAYING TO THE AUDIENCE, HOW STRONG THESE MEN ARE.

>> Reporter: SHE WANTED TO CREATE A SPACE WHERE ASIAN MEN COULD LEAD WITH STRENGTH AND THE TOPIC WOULD NOT BE RACISM OR VICTIMIZATION.

>> IN THIS PLAY, IT LEADS WITH THAT IS NOT THE CONVERSATION HERE.

WE ARE NOT HAVING TO PROVE OUR MASCULINITY, THE MEN ON STAGE, AND THE PEOPLE ON STAGE ARE NOT HAVING TO PROVE THEIR MASCULINITY BECAUSE IT IS NOT CHALLENGED.

WHICH, I THINK, IN MANY CONVERSATIONS IN THE THEATER RIGHT NOW, WHITENESS IS ASSAULTING SOME PARTS OF ASIA AND THIS.

>> Reporter: THE SUMO RING IS A DRIVING REMINDER OF THE PLAYERS IN THE PLAY.

>> I WANTED TO TELL THE STORY OF SOMEONE RISING TO POWER INSIDE A STRUCTURED HIERARCHY, WHO IS ALSO CHALLENGING THAT HIERARCHY.

AND IS ALSO SO CHANGED BY THE SYSTEM WHICH HE IS IN, THAT HE DOES NOT KNOW WHO HE IS AT THE END OF IT.

WHAT IS IT TO COMPLETELY REVOLUTIONIZE YOUR MIND-SET FROM BEING AN ENTITY UNTO ONESELF AND INTO A PART OF THIS MACHINE?

AND THAT IS ALSO JAPANESE CULTURE, AS WELL.

>> Reporter: WHICH IS WHY THE KNOWLEDGE OF SUMO WAS KEY.

>> FIRST AND FOREMOST, I AM INTERESTED IN TRYING TO CAPTURE ICONIC IMAGES OF WHAT WE SEE AS SUMO.

BUT IN ADDITION TO THAT, THERE IS THE THEATRICAL ELEMENT OF HOW DO WE THEN MAKE THESE IMAGES, THESE RITUALS OR MOVEMENTS INTERESTING IN A THEATRICAL SETTING?

>> IT'S NOT A BAR FIGHT.

A SUMO WRESTLING MATCH IS NOT THAT.

SO I THINK IN ANY SPORT, IT LOOKS LIKE A DANCE INVOLVED.

EVEN IF IT IS A DANCE OF TESTING ONE ANOTHER.

% >> Reporter: AUDIENCES DO NOT NEED TO KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT SUMO BEFORE COMING TO THE PLAY, BUT THEY MIGHT LEAVE WITH A GREATER APPRECIATION OF AN ANCIENT JAPANESE SPORT.

>> THE PRIMARY INTENTION IS NOT TO TEACH PEOPLE ABOUT THE SPORT.

IT IS TO ILLUMINATE HUMANITY AND SIDE OF THE SPORT.

>> Reporter: TAKING US INSIDE THE WORLD OF SUMO TO CREATE A POWERFUL IMAGE OF ASIAN MAN THAT WE OFTEN DO NOT SEE ON THE AMERICAN STAGE.

>> Reporter: ONE OF THE THEMES INSIDE OF OUR ANNUAL DEMOCRACY DAY COVERAGE IS AN EFFORT TO BAN CERTAIN BOOKS IN SCHOOLS.

TONYA THORNE TELLS US HOW SOME LOCAL ACTIVISTS ARE BRINGING ATTENTION TO THE ISSUE DURING BANNED BOOKS WEEK.

>> Reporter: THE AMERICAN LIBRARY ASSOCIATION REPORT SEEING A SURGEON BOOK CENSORSHIP ATTEMPTS IN RECENT YEARS.

SO THEY HAVE DECLARED THE FIRST WEEK OF OCTOBER AS BANNED BOOKS WEEK.

LIBRARIES AND ORGANIZATIONS THROUGHOUT SAN DIEGO WILL BE HOLDING EVENTS TO EDUCATE THE COMMUNITY ABOUT BOOKS CENSORSHIP .

LIKE RENEE CARVER, WITH THE NORTH SAN DIEGO ALUMNI CHAPTER OF DELTA SIGMA THETA SORORITY.

>> IS A SOCIAL ACTION ISSUE ALL OVER THE COUNTRY.

PEOPLE DON'T SEEM TO UNDERSTAND THE GRAVITY OF THE SITUATION.

>> Reporter: SHE SAYS MANY OF THE BOOKS BEING CHALLENGED INTO A RACE UNCOMFORTABLE BUT IMPORTANT AMERICAN HISTORY.

>> EVENTUALLY THERE WILL BE NO HISTORY EXCEPT WHAT PEOPLE TELL US HAPPENED THAT DID NOT HAPPEN.

>> Reporter: THE SORORITY WILL BE HOSTING VIRTUAL EVENTS THROUGHOUT THE WEEK ON BOOK CENSORSHIP.

>> WHAT BANNED BOOKS ARE ABOUT, WHAT OPTIONS PEOPLE HAVE DEFIED CENSORSHIP.

YOU CAN FIGHT CENSORSHIP, SO WE ARE DOING THAT.

THE OPPOSITION TO THIS IS A WELL-ORGANIZED MACHINE.

AND WE HAVE BEEN REACTIONARY.

WE WANT TO NOT BE REACTIONARY.

WE WANT EDUCATED COMMUNITY AND WE WANT THE COMMUNITY TO KNOW HOW THEY CAN FIGHT BACK.

>> Reporter: CALIFORNIANS COULD BE SAYING LESS BOOK CENSORSHIP AFTER GOVERNOR GAVIN NEWSOM SIGNED A BILL THAT FORBIDS LOOK CENSORSHIP IN SCHOOLS.

IT ALSO PREVENTS BOARDS FROM BANNING MATERIALS BASED ON RACIAL OR LGBTQ PLUS TOPICS.

BUT HOW THAT PLAYS OUT IS YET TO BE DETERMINED.

AS OF LAST WEEK, ESCONDIDO SCHOOL DISTRICT CLOSED ALL OF THEIR LIBRARIES FOR A BOOK ON IT.

IN HIS STATEMENT, THE SUPERINTENDENT SAID THE DISTRICT HAS TEMPORARILY SUSPENDED LIBRARY SERVICES TO ALLOW OUR LIBRARY MEDIA TECHNICIANS TO CONDUCT A THOROUGH AUDIT OF OUR LIBRARY COLLECTION.

HE STATED THAT A BOOK CONTAINING SEXUALLY EXPLICIT MATERIAL WAS IN ONE OF THE SCHOOL LIBRARIES.

THE TITLE OF THE BOOK FOUND IN ONE OF BECAME ON HIS EIGHT SCHOOLS WAS NOT PROVIDED.

MORE DETAILS WILL BE RELEASED FOLLOWING THE AUDIT TO KEEP LIBRARIES CLOSED UNTIL THE END OF THIS WEEK.

TONYA THORNE, KPBS NEWS.

>>> IS THREE ACRES OF STATE OWNED LAND IN ONE OF SAN DIEGO'S MOST WALKABLE NEIGHBORHOODS.

AND MOST OF THE TIME IT IS AN EMPTY PARKING LOT.

ANDREW BOWEN A SLIGHTLY LITTLE PROGRESS HAS BEEN MADE TO REDEVELOP THE SITE AND BRINGS A NEW HOUSING TO THE AREA.

>> YOU CAN SAY WE HAVE A LOVELY CAR DEALERSHIP HERE, ONE OF PROBABLY AT LEAST FIVE OR SIX IN THIS STRETCH OF THREE BLOCKS.

>> Reporter: ETHAN COLEY IS SHOWING ME AROUND HIS NEIGHBORHOOD OF GRANTVILLE.

>> SOME FAST FOOD RIGHT THERE, SOME UNMARKED BUILDINGS THAT I STILL DON'T KNOW WHAT THEY CONTAIN.

>> Reporter: HE LANDED HERE EIGHT YEARS AGO AS A GRADUATE STUDENT.

THIS IS THE NEIGHBORHOOD HE COULD AFFORD, BUT HE'S NOT IN LOVE WITH IT.

>> IT'S NOT PARTICULARLY HAVE AROUND HERE.

THERE'S NOT A LOT TO DO.

AND I WOULD REALLY LIKE TO BE ABLE TO WALK TO INTERESTING PLACES RATHER THAN GETTING IN MY CAR AND DRIVING THERE.

SO HILLCREST HAS A LOT OF GREAT RESTAURANTS, CAFES.

>> Reporter: HILLCREST IS ALSO CLOSE TO BALBOA PARK, WHERE HE LIKES TO GO RUNNING.

AND IT IS THE HEART OF SAN DIEGO'S LGBTQ COMMUNITY.

>> FOR PEOPLE WITH THIS IDENTITY , I THINK BEING IN A SPACE THAT FEEL SO OPENLY WELCOMING AND ACCEPTING CAN REALLY CHANGE YOUR QUALITY OF LIFE.

>> Reporter: COLEY IS NOT LIVING OFF A GRADUATE STUDENT STIPEND ANYMORE.

HE IS A FULL-TIME RESEARCHER IN THE NEUROSCIENCES DEPARTMENT.

HILLCREST IS STILL OUT OF REACH.

>> I'VE KEPT MY EYE ON PRICES ON THE APARTMENTS AROUND THERE, AND IT HAS ONLY GOTTEN WORSE.

>> A DMV PROPERTY IS ONE OF THE FINEST SITES PROPERTY POSSIBLE FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING, NOT JUST IN HILLCREST, BUT THE CITY.

>> Reporter: STEPHEN RUSSELL IS DIRECTOR OF THE SAN DIEGO HOUSING FEDERATION AND A RESIDENT OF HILLCREST.

WE MEET AT THE 63-YEAR-OLD HILLCREST DMV.

THE BUILDING IS NOT VERY BIG, BUT THE PROPERTY IS JUST ABOUT THREE ACRES.

MOSTLY A SURFACE PARKING LOT WITH CRUMBLING ASPHALT.

>> THEY INTENDED TO REPLACE THIS FACILITY FOR SO LONG THAT THEY ARE NOT DOING BASIC UPKEEP ANYMORE.

>> Reporter: RUSSELL SAYS THE PROPERTY IS SURROUNDED BY DENSE HOUSING AND THE NEIGHBORHOOD NEEDS MORE THAT FOR ALL INCOME LEVELS.

>> FOLKS WERE GETTING HIGH PAID JOBS IN THE TECH SECTOR WHO WANT ALL THE LIFESTYLE QUALITIES THAT HILLCREST BRINGS ARE WILLING TO PAY EVEN IF THE APARTMENT IS PERHAPS AN OLDER, FUNCTIONALLY OBSOLETE BUILDING.

BUT GIVEN THE CHOICE, THEY WOULD MANY TIMES CHOOSE TO LIVE IN SOMETHING NEWER WITH MORE AMENITIES, AND LEAVE THAT UNIT ON THE MARKET, PERHAPS FOR SOMEONE WHO IS LOWER INCOME.

>> Reporter: THE STATE KNOWS THIS PROPERTY NEEDS REPLACEMENT.

ONE EFFORT TO BUILD A MIXED-USE PROJECT HERE FELL APART IN 2012.

THEN IN 2018, THE DMV PROPOSED A PROJECT WITH NO HOUSING AT A SEVEN FOOT TALL WROUGHT IRON FENCE AROUND THE PERIMETER.

THE PROPOSAL WAS UNIVERSALLY PANNED, AND THE DMV WAS TOLD TO START OVER AND CREATE A PROJECT WITH HOUSING.

>> YOU NEED TO HAVE A DMV FACILITY SOMEWHERE IN CENTRAL SAN DIEGO.

THIS STILL MAKES SENSE FOR THAT PURPOSE.

IT >> Reporter: CHRIS WARD REPRESENTS HILLCREST IN THE STATE ASSEMBLY.

HE MET WITH THE DMV LAST YEAR AND SAYS THEY PROMISED TO ASSESS WHAT THEY NEED IN A NEW FACILITY.

MANY OF THEIR SERVICES HAVE MOVED ONLINE, SO MAYBE THEY COULD GET BY WITH A SMALLER FOOTPRINT.

BUT HE CHECKED IN LAST MONTH, AND THAT ASSESSMENT IS STILL IN THE WORKS.

>> I DON'T FEEL LIKE A LOT HAS BEEN DONE OVER THE PAST YEAR.

CERTAINLY NOT TO MY SATISFACTION.

I DO INTEND TO UP MY LEVEL OF COMMUNICATION AND REALLY PRESS THIS, AND IF THIS COMES IN THE FORM OF LEGISLATION THAT IS TO BE INTRODUCED IN JANUARY WHEN I GET BACK TO SACRAMENTO, SO BE IT.

I HOPE WE ARE NOT GOING TO WAIT ANOTHER FIVE OR 10 YEARS TO SEE THE RIGHT PROGRAM FOR THIS SITE EVENTUALLY MOVE FORWARD.

BUT I AM HERE IN MY TIME AS THE STATE ASSEMBLY MEMBER FOR THIS DISTRICT TO BE ABLE TO HELP SUPPORT THE EVOLUTION OF THIS SITE AND CERTAINLY BE SOMETHING THAT IS MORE MULTIPURPOSE IN NATURE.

>> I HAD ALWAYS HOPED THAT I COULD EVENTUALLY MAKE MY WAY OVER TO SOMEWHERE LIKE HILLCREST.

>> Reporter: COLEY SAYS HE HOPES THE STATE GOVERNMENT CAN CUT THROUGH THE BUREAUCRACY AND GET IT DONE.

>> PEOPLE IN SAN DIEGO NEED AFFORDABLE HOUSING, PEOPLE OUTSIDE OF SAN DIEGO WHO WOULD LIKE TO LIVE HERE NEED AFFORDABLE HOUSING.

SO HAVING THAT SPACE AND JUST KIND OF SITTING ON THAT IS A REALLY UNFORTUNATE MISSED OPPORTUNITY.

IT WOULD BE NICE IF WE COULD UTILIZE THAT IN ONE WAY OR ANOTHER.

>> Reporter: ANDREW BOWEN, KPBS NEWS.

>> YOU CAN ALSO FIND HER STORIES ON THE KPBS YOUTUBE PAGE.

SUBSCRIBE THERE AND GET NOTIFICATIONS FOR NEW CONTENT THAT GETS POSTED DAILY.

THAT IS ARE WE ALSO HAVE THE LATEST WITH EVENING ADDITIONS, WEEKNIGHTS AT 55 P.M. WE HOPE YOU ENJOY THIS LOOK AT KPBS NEWS THIS WEEK, I AM MATT HOFFMAN, THANKS FOR JO