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

COMING UP, WRONGFUL DEATH LAWSUIT INVOLVING THE U.S. MILITARY.

WE TALK TO THE MOTHER OF A LOCAL WOMAN WHO WAS MURDERED BY A FORMER MARINE WHO SHOULD NOT HAVE BEEN OUT.

>>> WORKER SAY SOMETHING HAS TO CHANGE, THE FIGHT FOR BETTER PAY.

>>> MORE FROM A SPECIAL SERIES ON PUBLIC ART IN SAN DIEGO COUNTY.

THE ARTISTIC FLOURISHES FOR THE NEW LIVE WELL CENTER.

WE START WITH THE FAMILIAR SCENE PLAYING OUT ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE BORDER, HUNDREDS OF MIGRANTS ARE RELYING ON THE KINDNESS OF STRANGERS TO ENDURE AND MAKESHIFT OUTDOOR CAMP AND ARE BEING KEPT THERE BY CUSTOMS AND BORDER PROTECTION.

WE TALKED WITH HIM ABOUT THE UNCERTAINTY THAT THEY ARE FACING.

>> IT'S WRITTEN ALL OVER THEIR FACES, TIRED, HUNGRY AND DESPERATE, FORCED TO SLEEP OUTSIDE IN THAT MIGRANT CAMP NEAR THE BORDER.

MORE THAN 300 MIGRANTS INCLUDING MANY SMALL CHILDREN HAVE NO PROTECTION FROM THE ELEMENTS.

>> REASSESS THE FRIGID TEMPERATURES AND MOSQUITOES KEPT HER AND HER ONE-YEAR-OLD SON UP ALL NIGHT AND HAD BEEN AT THE CAMP FOR TWO DAYS AND STILL HAS NOT BEEN TOLD WHEN SHE WILL BE ALLOWED TO LEAVE.

HAD SHE KNOWN JUST HOW MISERABLE IT WOULD BE SHE SAID SHE MAY NOT HAVE FLED HER HOME AND WHEN SHE ASKED THAT WE NOT USE HER FULL NAME MIGRANTS HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT THEY GET SOME WATER BOTTLES, CHEESE AND CRACKERS AND EVERYTHING ELSE COMES FROM VOLUNTEERS.

THE AMERICAN FRIENDS SERVICE COMMITTEE.

>> WE ARE ESTIMATING 300 TO 400 PEOPLE WAITING IN BETWEEN THE TWO FENCES.

>> THEY PASSED FOOD AND OTHER SUPPLIES TO THE MIGRANTS MAY HAVE BLANKET, MEDICINES, DIAPERS AND MENSTRUAL PADS AND EVEN PHONE CHARGERS.

PEOPLE IN THE CAMP COME FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD.

>> WE HAVE PEOPLE FROM CAMEROON, WEST AFRICA, NORTHERN AFRICA AND FROM DIFFERENT ASIAN COUNTRIES INCLUDING VIETNAM AND SOME PARTS OF CHINA.

PEOPLE FROM JAMAICA, BRAZIL, PERU.

WE JUST MET PEOPLE FROM AFGHANISTAN.

A BIG FAMILY WITH SEVERAL SMALL CHILDREN.

>> MANY ARE FLEEING PERSECUTION.

SHE IS AN INDIGENOUS WOMAN FROM ECUADOR AND SAID DISCRIMINATION IS RAMPANT AND ALSO ASKED THAT WE DON'T USE HER FULL NAME.

IT TOOK NANCY AND HER HUSBAND TWO MONTHS TO GET TO THE U.S. BORDER AND SHE PRAYS TO GOD THAT THEIR SUFFERING ENDS SOON.

>> CUSTOMS AND BORDER PROTECTION DID NOT RESPOND TO QUESTIONS INCLUDING WHY THE MIGRANTS ARE BEING HELD IN THESE CONDITIONS AND BACK IN APRIL THE SAME THING HAPPENED.

I HAD PUT 400 MIGRANTS IN A MAKESHIFT CAMP AND THE HOMELAND SECURITY COMMITTEE IN WASHINGTON DC IS CURRENTLY INVESTIGATING.

AFTER CONGRESSIONAL DEMOCRATS FILED COMPLAINTS.

AROUND 11:00 AM TODAY, CUSTOMS AND BORDER PROTECTION REMOVED SOME MIGRANTS AND OFFICIALS PRIORITIZE FAMILIES WITH SMALL CHILDREN COME LEAVE IN THE BEST MAJORITY OF MIGRANTS OUTSIDE IN THE CAMP.

VOLUNTEERS WILL CONTINUE TO BE OUT THERE EVERY DAY AND SHE ENCOURAGED OTHER SAN DIEGANS SO HELP OUT.

>> IF PEOPLE ARE MOVED BY THE IMAGES AND FACES WE HAVE BEEN SEEING FOR THE LAST WEEK OR SO, THEY AGREED TO COME AND SEE FOR THEMSELVES.

>> PEOPLE ARE BEING ASKED TO DONATE SMALL FRUITS LIKE ORANGES AND APPLES BECAUSE THEY CAN BE PASSED THROUGH THE BORDER WALL VERY EASILY.

>> THE SUPER SPEISER WHOSE DISTRICT COVERS MUCH OF THAT COUNTY IS NOT HAPPY WITH THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT DROPPING OFF MORE MIGRANTS OF FEDERALIST TRANSIT STATIONS AND SAID 500 PEOPLE ARE MEANT THE LATEST TO BE LEFT WITH FEW RESOURCES AND PART OF THE STATEMENT ISSUED READS, THIS IS NOT HUMANE AND IT'S NOT COMPASSIONATE.

THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IS FAILING IN ITS OBLIGATION TO PROTECT THE PEOPLE OF SAN DIEGO COUNTY.

THE SYSTEM IS BROKEN UP WITH THE REGION AT RISK.

OF THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT WANTS THE PROCESS FOLLOWING SEEKERS THEN IT MUST PROVIDE ADEQUATE RESOURCES TO MANAGE PEOPLE ENTERING THE AREA.

>>> THE FAMILY OF A NAVY CORPSMAN GUNNED DOWN BY FORMER SERVICE MEMBER IS TAKEN THE GOVERNMENT TO COURT.

THE KILLER FORCED OUT OF THE MARINE CORPS FOR MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES SHOULD NEVER HAVE BEEN ABLE TO BUY A GUN AND THE CASE SPOTLIGHTS PROBLEMS THAT THE MILITARY HAS HAD FAILING TO REPORT DISQUALIFIED SERVICEMEMBERS TO THE GUN BACKGROUND CHECK DATABASE.

PARAMILITARY REPORTER HAS MORE.

>> THE PETTY OFFICER RETURNED TO HER APARTMENT IN SUBURBAN OCEANSIDE AFTER HER SHIFT AT CAMP PENDLETON AND IT WAS A FRIDAY IN 2018 AND THE 24-YEAR- OLD NAVY CORPSMAN TOOK HER NEW PUPPY OUT FOR A WALK AND WHEN SHE RETURNED HER UPSTAIRS NEIGHBOR, A MAN SHE DID NOT KNOW WAS WAITING OUTSIDE HER DOOR WAS HOLDING A REVOLVER.

>> SHE HAS REALLY ENJOYED BEING IN THE NAVY AND ENJOYED HER JOB.

>> HER MOTHER IS DEVASTATED BY THE LOSS OF HER ONLY CHILD AND SAID THEY SPOKE ON THE PHONE EVERY DAY AND SHE HAD PLANNED TO BECOME AN OCCUPATIONAL THERAPIST.

>> I THINK SHE HAD TWO MORE YEARS LEFT AND THEN SHE WAS GOING TO TRANSFER TO GRADUATE SCHOOL.

>> THE MAN WHO SHOT AND KILLED HER WAS A MARINE DESERTER AND WAS DIAGNOSED AS SCHIZOPHRENIC, SUFFERING FROM DELUSIONS AND HALLUCINATIONS AND FOUND INCOMPETENT TO FACE COURT- MARTIAL AND FORCED OUT OF THE SERVICE.

THE DIAGNOSIS SHOULD'VE LANDED HIM ON THE NATIONAL INSTANT CRIMINAL BACKGROUND CHECK SYSTEM USED TO SCREAM GUN PURCHASES BUT THE DEFENSE DEPARTMENT DID NOT REPORT HIM SO WHEN HE WENT TO A GUN DEALER TO PURCHASE A REVOLVER, NOTHING CAME BACK.

>> IT CAME INTO THE DATABASE AND THERE WAS NOTHING THERE.

>> HE REPRESENTS LESLIE WOODS AND TWO LAWSUITS MAKE OF THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AND STATE OF CALIFORNIA AND SAYS THE LAW IS CLEAR THAT HE SHOULD NOT HAVE BEEN ABLE TO BUY A GUN.

>> NO ADDITIONAL LAW WAS NEEDED TO VENT THE DEATH.

ALL YOU NEEDED WAS COMPLIANCE WITH THE LAW THAT HAS BEEN IN EFFECT FOR OVER 30 YEARS, THE BRADY ACT.

AND THAT IS WHY WE HAVE SUCH A POWERFUL CASE.

>> FOR YEARS THE PENTAGON INSPECTOR GENERAL FALL TO THE MOTOR FOR VIOLATING THE LAW AND FAILING TO AT DISQUALIFIED PERSONNEL TO THE NATIONAL INSTANT CRIMINAL BACKGROUND CHECK SYSTEM.

THE MOST WELL-KNOWN CASE WAS THAT OF THE FORMER AIR FORCE AIRMAN, DEVIN KELLEY, WHOSE 2012 DOMESTIC ASSAULT CONVICTION SHOULD'VE LANDED HIM IN THE SYSTEM BUT THE AIR FORCE FAILED TO REPORT HIM.

IN 2017 HE KILLED 26 PEOPLE AT THE FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH IN SUTHERLAND SPRINGS, TEXAS.

THE POLICY DIRECTOR OF THE GIFFORD LAW CENTER TO PREVENT GUN VIOLENCE.

>> THE MILITARY HAS A LONG TRACK RECORD OF NOT REPORTING THE INFORMATION WHEN IT SHOULD GOING BACK TO THE 1990s WHEN THE BACKGROUND CHECK SYSTEM WAS FIRST ESTABLISHED.

>> IN 2020 THE INSPECTOR GENERAL FOUND AFTER THE SHOOTING THAT THE SYSTEM IMPROVED AND PREVIOUSLY THEY REPORTED DISQUALIFYING CRIMINAL INFORMATION TO INTERNAL COMPONENT BUT IT THE INFORMATION DO NOT ALWAYS GET TO THE FBI NOW THE SERVICE BRANCHES SUBMITTED TO THE FBI DIRECTLY BUT THE INSPECTOR GENERAL REPORT LOOKED ONLY WHETHER SERVICEMEMBERS CRIMINAL CONVICTIONS MADE IT INTO THE BACKGROUND CHECK SYSTEM AND DID NOT INVESTIGATE WHETHER MENTAL HEALTH DIAGNOSIS MADE IT INTO THE SYSTEM LIKE THEY SHOULD.

>> THE MILITARY EXISTED DEFEND OUR COUNTRY FOR SO VIOLENCE SO THE REQUIREMENT THAT DOD PROPERLY REPORT TO THE BACKGROUND CHECK SYSTEM FOR GUN PURCHASES DIRECTLY FULFILLS THE VERY PURPOSE OF THE MILITARY.

>> SENTENCED LIFE IN PRISON LAST YEAR AND IN JULY A FEDERAL JUDGE DENIED THE GOVERNMENT MOTION TO DISMISS THE LAWSUIT.

>>> LOCAL HEALTHCARE WORKERS ARE SPEAKING UP IN FAVOR OF PLAN THAT WOULD PHASE IN A $25 PER HOUR MINIMUM WAGE.

HOW THE CHULA VISTA CITY COUNCIL IS LOOKING AT THE IDEA OF THEMSELVES.

>> DISCUSSION OF THE DRAFT ORDINANCE TO BRING A $25 MINIMUM WAGE TO HEALTHCARE WORKERS PACKED THE CHULA VISTA CITY HALL ON TUESDAY AND SOME SAY THE BASE PAY WOULD BE LIFE- CHANGING.

>> I WORK OVER 25 HOURS A WEEK DOING A SECOND JOB TO MAKE ENDS MEET AND IT'S REALLY HARD TO LIVE HERE IN CHULA VISTA AS A SINGLE PARENT.

>> THEY CALL US HEROES, HERE IS WORK HERE BUT WE LAUGH ABOUT IT WHAT IS BECOMING A HERO?

THEY ARE NOT GIVING US ANYTHING.

>> I LIVE IN LOW INCOME HOUSING AND I JUST APPLIED FOR FOOD STAMPS.

>> THE INCREASE IN PAY CAN HAVE UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES.

>> IT WILL NEGATIVELY IMPACT HEALTHCARE PROGRAMS AND SERVICES THAT THE COMMUNITY NEEDS AND DESERVES.

>> THE BOARD CHAIR OF THE MEDICAL CENTER SAID THE HOSPITAL HAS BEEN OPERATING AT A SIGNIFICANT LOSS FOR THE LAST FIVE YEARS AND PREDICTS THIS YEAR THE LOSSES WILL EXCEED $70 MILLION.

>> AND THE ABSENCE OF ADDITIONAL REVENUES, WE WILL BE FACED WITH DIFFICULT DECISIONS INCLUDING PROGRAM REDUCTIONS AND SERVICE CLOSURES.

>> THE PROPOSED ORDINANCE WOULD INCREASE PAY FOR WORKERS TO $25 AN HOUR STARTING IN JANUARY WHILE SENATE BILL 525 WOULD PHASE IT IN AND SOMEHOW FACILITIES WOULD HAVE MORE TIME THAN OTHERS FOR HOSPITALS WITH A HIGHER GOVERNMENT PAY MIX, CURRENT REVISIONS WOULD NOT SEE $25 PER HOUR BASE PAY UNTIL 2033.

>> ONE OF THE THINGS ABOUT THE STATE PROPOSAL THAT THOMAS MAKES MORE SENSE IS A PHASING IN PLANNED.

WE ARE STILL NOT SURE HOW IT WILL BE FUNDED OR PAID FOR.

>> IN THE LATEST VERSION SP 525 STATES THAT PROPOSE CITY ORDINANCES OR BALLOT INITIATIVES FOR HEALTHCARE MINIMUM WAGES LIKE THIS ONE WOULD BE NULLIFIED IF THE BILL PASSES BUT THAT IS NOT DETERRING SUPPORTERS.

>> I'M GOING TO POINT OUT THAT I THINK IT'S COMICAL THAT WE HAVE SEE I WAS -- CEOs THAT MAKE MILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN WORKERS THAT MAKE LESS THAN $70 AN HOUR.

>> HOSPITAL ASSOCIATION OF SAN DIEGO AND IMPERIAL COUNTIES ESTIMATE THE $25 PER HOUR BASE PAY WOULD INCREASE ANNUAL EXPENSES A $20 MILLION FOR CHULA VISTA FACILITIES.

>> I HAVE YET TO HEAR ONE HEALTHCARE SPEAKER COME UP AND SAY WE DON'T WANT TO PAY EMPLOYEES WHAT THEY'RE WORTH BUT IT HAS TO BE WELL THOUGHT OUT.

>> THEY ARE CALLING FOR AN ECONOMIC IMPACT STUDY TO BE DONE AND MANY AGREED TO MOVE THE ITEM FORWARD FOR HEARING NEXT WEEK KNOWING THAT IF IT WERE TO PASS IN THE CURRENT STATE AND BE SIGNED INTO LAW, THE PROPOSAL WOULD BE MOOT.

>>> THERE ARE PLENTY OF WAYS TO FOLLOW THE WORK DONE BY THE NEWSROOM AND ONE WAY IS TO SIGN UP FOR OUR NEWSLETTER ROLLS -- NEWSLETTERS AND YOU CAN THE TOPICS DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX DAILY.

FIND OUT MORE AT KPBS.ORG.

>>> SAN DIEGO POLICE ENFORCE A CURFEW FOR THIS THAN 18 DESPITE RESEARCH SO IT'S NOT EFFECTIVE IN REDUCING CRIME.

SOMEONE SAID IT MY TWO MORE HARM THAN GOOD.

>> YOU HAVE ALL WALKS OF LIFE HERE.

>> HE WAS A TEENAGER IN CITY HEIGHTS IN THE LATE 80s AND EARLY 90s AND SAYS AT THE TIME, THE COMMUNITY HAD A LOT OF TRAUMA AND FEW RESOURCES.

>> THESE WERE THE YEARS WHEN POLITICIANS INCLUDING THAT THEN SENATOR, JOE BIDEN, PROMISED TO BE TOUGH ON CRIME TO STOP SUPER PREDATORS AND THIS MYTH THAT MORE AND MORE YOUTH WERE COMMITTING VIOLENCE WITHOUT REMORSE.

HE SAYS THAT CITY HEIGHTS YOUTH FEARED THE POLICE WHO HE SAYS ONLY CAME INTO THE NEIGHBORHOOD FOR THINGS LIKE CURFEW SUITES AND IMMIGRATION RAIDS SO THEY RAN.

>> THE POLICE IS COMING SO LET'S RUN AND GET AWAY.

>> HE WAS A LATCHKEY KID.

>> I WAS RAISED BY SINGLE MOTHER WHO WORKED TWO JOBS.

>> HE HAD NO FATHER AND NO OTHER FAMILY HERE AND SOUGHT OUT OTHERS WHO WOULD VALIDATE HIM.

>> I NEEDED A WAY OUT AND THAT WAS BECOMING PART OF THE GANG.

>> AT THAT TIME HE WAS MORE OF A GANG WANT TO BE AS HIS FRIENDS LIKE TOGETHER IN A QUICK CORNER PARKING LOT AND MOST TIMES THEY WERE NOT DOING ANYTHING WRONG.

>> WE WERE JUST HANGING OUT AND TALKING FOR TO EACH OTHER.

>> IT DID NOT MATTER.

THE CITY HAS A CURFEW LAW AND KIDS UNDER 18 CANNOT BE OUT WITHOUT AN ADULT BETWEEN 10:00 PM AND 6:00 AM.

>> THEY COME IN WITH THEIR LITTLE VANS AND WAGONS IN THE RAIDS.

>> HIS FIRST ARREST WAS FOR CURFEW.

>> WHILE THEY WERE DOING CURFEW SWEEPS AND THEY DISCOVERED HE HAD A STOLEN BIKE.

>> AT THAT POINT I BEGAN TO GET WRAPPED UP IN THE SYSTEM.

>> HE WENT TO JUVENILE HALL BEFORE BEING PUT ON PROBATION BUT HE SAYS IT WAS THE START OF THE CYCLE.

>> FOR MOST KIDS, THE WAY OF SOLVING IT WAS RUNNING UNTIL WE GOT CAUGHT.

>> THE INTERACTION FED INTO RESIDENT OF THE AS A GANG MEMBER WOULD EVENTUALLY GO TO PRISON FOR 23 YEARS AND HAS BEEN OUT FOR THE NEXT 11 AND NOW WORKS FOR YOUTH CAUGHT IN THE SAME SYSTEM.

SAN DIEGO POLICE STOPPED PUNISHING CURFEW VIOLATIONS IN MID-2019 BUT THEY STILL ENFORCE IT.

THERE ARE 141 CURFEW ARRESTS LAST YEAR AND THEY DETAIN THE CHILDREN, CALL THEIR PARENTS, RETURN THEM HOME OR TO THE POLICE STATION FOR PICKUP.

THEY CAN FORCE IT TO KEEP CHILDREN SAFE AND MAKE IT LESS LIKELY THAT THEY WILL COMMIT A CRIME BUT RESEARCH IS ALMOST UNANIMOUS THAT IT'S NOT A FACT THAT ACCORDING TO A SENIOR RESEARCHER.

>> THEY FUNCTION AS DEVICES TO WASTE POLICE TIME TAKING LAW- ABIDING YOUTH OFF THE STREET AND CREATING ANTAGONIST RELATIONSHIPS THE TWIN POLICE AND YOUTH AND REALLY NOT ACCOMPLISHING ANYTHING.

>> THE RESEARCH DOES NOT SEEM TO SHAPE SAN DIEGO POLICY AND AT ONE POINT THE CITY ACCOUNTED FOR 40% OF ALL CURFEW ARRESTS IN CALIFORNIA AND BLACK AND LATINO YOUTH MAKE UP MORE THAN THREE FOURTHS OF THE ARRESTS.

WERE HE SAYS RACIAL DISCRIMINATION IS THE POINT.

>> A LOT OF THIS IS RACIAL INTENT TO GET BLACK AND LATINO YOUTH OFF THE STREET AND GENTRIFYING AREAS OR SUBURBS.

>> HE SAID THEY ACTUALLY HAVE A LOWER THAN AVERAGE CRIME RATE AND IT'S BEEN GOING DOWN.

>> WHEN POLICE APPREHENDED FOR CURFEWS, 99+ % OF THE TIME, THE YOUTH WAS NOT DOING ANYTHING WRONG.

>> YOUTH BEING IN PUBLIC DURING CURFEW HOURS HELPS REDUCE CRIME , LESS EMPTY STREETS AND MORE WITNESSES.

HE SUGGESTS AN ALTERNATIVE, YOUTH DROP-IN CENTERS THAT CAN BE OPEN LATE NIGHT YEAR-ROUND.

HE HELPED WRITE EXTENDED YOUTH PROGRAMS DURING THE SUMMER AND WAS SURPRISED BY THE DEMAND.

>> THE KIDS ARE NOT GOING TO STAY WITH US FOR FIVE OR SIX HOURS AND WILL WANT TO GO BACK HOME AND GET INTO WHAT KIDS GET INTO BUT NO.

LIKE CLOCKWORK FROM 12:00 TO 6:00.

>> YOUTH DROP-IN CENTERS WERE VOTED DOWN IN CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS WILL RE-EXAMINE IT NEXT SPRING.

>>> SOME OF THE YOUNGEST RESIDENTS GOT A LESSON IN HELPING THOSE WHO NEED IT THOUSANDS OF MILES AWAY.

WE HEAR ABOUT THE EXCEPTIONAL DONATION DRIVE STARTED IN THE SECOND GRADE CLASSROOM.

>> SHELLEY CRICKET SHARES HER PASSION FOR THE UKULELE WITH HER SECOND GRADE CLASS HERE AT THIS SECOND GRADE CLASSROOM.

THE MOST WELL-KNOWN INSTRUMENT ALSO PROVIDES THE STUDENTS WITH A REMINDER OF WHAT IS HAPPENING THERE NOW, CLEANUP AND RECOVERY FROM THE DEVASTATING WILDFIRES.

SHE IS SO PASSIONATE ABOUT EDUCATING HER STUDENTS THAT SHE HAS ALMOST LOST HER VOICE.

>> I WANTED MY SECOND GRADERS TO LEARN COMPASSION, EMPATHY AND FEEL LIKE WHAT IT WOULD BE IF YOU WENT TO SCHOOL THE NEXT DAY AND YOUR SCHOOL WAS BURNED DOWN.

>> JUST OVER ONE WEEK AGO, MATH LESSONS TOOK ON A DEEPER MEANING AS STUDENTS AND FAMILIES STARTED COLLECTING SPARE CHANGE TO HELP HAWAIIAN CHILDREN IN MAUI.

MS. CRICKET HAS LONGTIME TIES IN HAWAII AND OWNS PROPERTY ON THE BIG ISLAND.

>> I LIKE THE SPIRIT OF ALOHA AND I LIKE TO LIVE ALOHA.

AND THAT IS JUST BEING KIND TO EVERYONE.

>> MORE THAN $700 IN COINS AND OTHER MANY HAVE BEEN DONATED AND THEY ARE ACCOUNTING FOR EVERY PENNY AND THE REST OF THE SCHOOL HAS JOINED IN AND NOW THE EFFORT INCLUDES COLLECTING MUSICAL SURPRISE FOR THE NEXT SEVERAL MONTHS.

>> IT'S BEEN A GOOD PERSON FOR HELPING PEOPLE IN NEED.

>> IT'S BECAUSE THEY HAVE LOST A LOT OF THINGS AND THEY MIGHT HAVE TO COME HOME WITH I DON'T KNOW, THEY NEED MONEY TO BUY STUFF.

>> EVEN THOUGH THE PALM TREES OF SAN DIEGO ARE 2500 MILES AWAY FROM MAUI, THE CONNECTION IS STRONG AND THE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL IS CREATING COMMUNITY THERE TOO.

>> THERE WAS NO ESCAPING IT AND PEOPLE WERE COMING UP.

COVERED IN SMOKE.

>> THEY ARE TRUSTED FRIENDS AND THEIR HOME SURVIVED SIX MILES NORTH OF THE FIRE ZONE AND HAVE BEEN WORKING FOR WEEKS TO HELP STUDENTS OF THE CATHOLIC SACRED HEART SCHOOL IN LAHAINA, FIND PLACES TO KEEP LEARNING LIKE A COVERED PARKING LOT AND UNUSED CHURCH SPACES AND WILL MAKE SURE EVERY DIME AND SCHOOL SUPPLY COMING FROM THE SCHOOL GETS TO THE CHILDREN WHO NEED IT NOW, PUBLIC SCHOOLS HOPE TO OPEN IN THE TEMPORARY LOCATIONS BY HALLOWEEN.

>> IF WE CAN CONNECT THE KIDS ONE ON ONE AND ALLOW THEM TO LEARN FROM ONE ANOTHER, WE ARE TAKING EDUCATION WAY OUTSIDE OF THE CLASSROOM.

>> KIDS HELPING KIDS WITH THE ALOHA SPIRIT.

>>> THE TRANSIT SERVICES IT'S BRINGING BACK THE FREE RIDE DAY ON WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 4.

PEOPLE WILL BE ABLE TO RIDE THE BUSES AND TROLLEYS AT NO COST.

THE SAME GOES FOR THE COASTER AND SPRINTER TRAINS COVERING PARTS OF NORTH COUNTY.

IT COMES DURING A TIME OF ELEVATED GAS PRICES WITH AAA PUTTING THE LOCAL AVERAGE AT MORE THAN $5.50 PER GALLON.

>>> SAN DIEGO COUNTY HAS LIVE WELL CENTERS, BUILDINGS THAT PROVIDE EVERYTHING FROM VACCINES TO PROBATION SERVICES TO COMMUNITY MEETING ROOMS AND A NEW CENTER IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD ALSO HAS A LARGE DISPLAY OF PUBLIC ARTS.

>> THE ART INSTALLATION HOVERS UNDER THE SKYLIGHT AT THE COUNTY OF SAN DIEGO SOUTHEASTERN LIVE WILL CENTER.

HAND CUT PIECES THE 4 DIFFERENT TYPES OF GLASS ARE ATTACHED TO STAINLESS STEEL WIRES REPRESENTING THE NEARBY CREEK.

IT IS A SUNNY DAY SO THE GRASS CREATES SHADOW PLAY.

SPLASHES OF BLUE, PURPLE AND YELLOW.

>> I CAME UP WITH THE GENERAL CONCEPT THAT WENT OUT TO THE PUBLIC INTO THE COMMUNITY FOR FEEDBACK AND DURING THE PERIOD THEY EXPRESSED THEIR DESIRE TO SEE A LOT OF COLORS AND SOMETHING THAT GIVES HOPE AND OPTIMISM.

>> SHE CREATED THE ART.

>> I WANTED TO USE MATERIALS THAT SHINE AND REFLECT OFF OF OUR BEAUTIFUL SUNLIGHT.

>> IT'S ONE OF MANY PIECES OF PUBLIC ART AT THE NEW SOUTHEASTERN LIVE WILL CENTER.

ORGANIZERS OF THE ART PROGRAM SAY THE PIECES SELECTED WERE BASED ON COMMUNITY MEMBER FEEDBACK AND AN ATTEMPT TO CREATE A BUILDING FOR THE COMMUNITY.

THE CENTER USED TO BE WHERE THE LIVE WILL CENTER STANDS NOW.

IN OCTOBER 2021, CONSTRUCTION FOR THE FACILITY BEGAN.

THE GOAL WAS TO COMBINE SEVERAL RESOURCE BUILDINGS INTO ONE.

LIVE WELL CENTERS ARE MEANT TO PROVIDE SOCIAL AND HEALTH SERVICES TO SAN DIEGANS AND ARE DESIGNED TO BE ONE STOP SHOPS AIMING TO PREVENT MANY VISITS TO DIFFERENT BUILDINGS FOR ACCESS TO VARIOUS SERVICES.

AND IT CAME TO INSTALLING ART IN THE BUILDING THE COUNTY GATHERED COMMUNITY INPUT AND USE THE COMMITTEE TO MAKE SELECTIONS.

THE COMMUNITY OPERATIONS OFFICER AT THE COUNTY SAID IT WASN'T HARD TO GET FEEDBACK.

>> WHAT WE HEARD BACK DIRECTLY FROM THE COMMUNITY IS THAT IT IS A DIVERSE COMMUNITY AND HAVING THE OPPORTUNITY TO REFLECT DIVERSITY THROUGH OUR WAS IMPORTANT.

>> 100 ARTISTS SUBMITTED PROPOSALS IN SPRING 2022 AND IT WAS PURCHASED FROM 33 ARTISTS WITH 14 COMMISSION TO CREATE PIECES FOR THE BUILDING, INSTALLATION, STATUES, PAINTINGS, MEDITATION GARDEN AND MORE.

ONE OF THE COMMUNITY REQUESTS, DIVERSITY IS SEEN, IT MEANS MELTING POT AND SPANISH AND CONSISTS OF PANELS WITH CERAMICS AND TEXTILES AND IS LOCATED IN THE STAIRWELL UNDER THE INSTALLATION AND VISITOR SEE A NEW PANEL EVERY FEW STEPS TAKEN.

THE TEXT TILES ARE FROM DIFFERENT CULTURES IN SAN DIEGO.

>> THE WORK IS VERY NONPERSONAL MEANING I DID VERY LITTLE TREATMENT TO THE TEXT TILES AND PRETTY MUCH RESPECTING THE ORIGINAL DESIGN.

>> IT CELEBRATES OUR COMMUNITY.

>> THEY WANTED THE BUILDING TO FEEL LIKE A HEALING PLACE.

>> IT'S BASED ON PRINCIPLES THAT I USED AND MY DECADE OF CREATING HEALING ENVIRONMENTS THAT ARE AT PLAY HERE EVEN NOTES A PUBLIC HEALTH CENTER, PEOPLE MAY NOT BE HAVING THEIR BEST DAY SO AS A PUBLIC ART CONSULTANT, WE LOOKED AT WAYS TO FIND TOUCH POINTS TO CREATE BEAUTY.

>> I HOPE THE VISITORS FIND THE BEAUTY FROM WORKS OF LIGHT AND COLORS.

>> I'M HOPING THAT SOME PEOPLE VISIT HERE MORE THAN ONCE THEN THEY SEE THE CHANGES THROUGHOUT THE DAY AND THROUGHOUT THE SEASON AND NOTICE LITTLE THINGS THAT CHANGE AROUND US.

>>> THERE WILL BE AN OPEN HOUSE AND RESOURCE FAIR ON OCTOBER 14 AND MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC ARE INVITED TO TOUR THE FACILITY.

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

YOU CAN FIND MORE OF OUR STORIES THAT KPBS.ORG/PUBLIC ART.

WE HOPE YOU ENJOY THIS LOOK AT KATE PBS NEWS THIS WEEK.

THANKS FOR JOINING US.