>>> GOVERNOR JERRY BROWN OUR GOD -- AGREE THROUGH TRUMP'S REQUEST FOR NATIONAL GUARD AT THE BORDER.

CONFUSION REIGNS AT THE SHERIFF DEPARTMENT OVER POLICIES AND PRACTICES REGARDING PREGNANT INMATES.

>>> THE CITY RECENTLY BOUGHT A DOWNTOWN BUILDING TO HELP SOLVE THE HOMELESS CRISIS.

CRITICS SAY TOO MUCH WAS PAID FOR AND ILL-SUITED BUILDING.

I AM MARK SAUER AND THE KPBS ROUNDTABLE STARTS RIGHT NOW.

>>> WELCOME TO OUR DISCUSSION OF THE WEEK'S TOP STORIES I AM MARK SAUER.

JOINING ME OUR WATCHDOG REPORTER JEFF McDONALD OF THE SAN DIEGO UNION TRIBUNE.

KELLY DAVIS, AND MILITARY REPORTER, STEVE WALSH.

>> JERRY BROWN DECIDED THIS WEEK HE DIDN'T WANT ANOTHER FIGHT WITH DONALD TRUMP.

HE AGREED TO SEND 400 NATIONAL GUARD TROOPS TO THE BORDER.

THE MISSION IS TO TARGET CRIMINALS.

STEVE, REMIND US HERE WHAT TRUMP PUSHED FOR WHEN HE SAID A MILITARY PRESENCE.

>> THAT IS THE QUESTION HERE.

HE SAYS MILITARY PRESENCE, THE ORDER THAT CAME THROUGH, JAMES MATTIS, IT'S MUCH MORE IN LINE WITH WHAT WE HAVE SEEN IN THE PAST BORDER OPERATIONS.

LIKE WHEN GOVERNOR SCHWARZENEGGER SENT TROOPS TO THE BORDER IN 2006 AND 2010 UNDER THE OBAMA ADMINISTRATION.

ESSENTIALLY THEY WANT TO CALL UP 4000 TROOPS TO AID IN SOME SORT OF MISSION DEFENDING AGAINST ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION AND TO ENFORCE IMMIGRATION POLICY.

>> BUT BROWN AND HIS STATEMENT, HE SCOFFED AT TRUMPS WALL ONCE AGAIN.

WHAT DID HIS ORDER ALLOW THE TROOPS TO DO?

>> FIRST OF ALL, GOVERNOR BROWN WAS THE LAST OF THE FOUR BORDER GOVERNMENTS -- GOVERNORS TO SAY YES TO THIS.

THEY WOULD NOT WORK WITH BORDER INFRINGEMENT -- ENFORCEMENT.

THEY WOULD NOT BUILD A WALL.

NOW ROUNDING UP OF WOMEN AND CHILDREN.

WENT THERE IS A TENTATIVE END DATE OF SEPTEMBER 30 OF BOTH PARTIES DON'T AGREE TO EXTEND IT.

>> THERE IS CONFUSION ON WHETHER TRUMP AGREED WITH ALL OF THIS.

>> THE LAST COUPLE OF DAYS, IT IS HARD TO GO BETWEEN THE TWEETS WE SEE COMING OUT OF THE WHITE HOUSE AND THE POLICY WE SEE COMING OUT OF THE WHITE HOUSE.

WENT TO GOVERNOR BROWN SENT OUT THIS LETTER?

IT WAS WARMLY RECEIVED BY THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION.

PRESIDENT TRUMP WHO WAS CALLED THE GOVERNOR, GOVERNOR MOONBEAM PRAISED HIM FOR DOING THIS.

THE PRESS SECRETARY THANK THE GOVERNOR FOR PARTICIPATING.

GLAD EVERYONE WAS ON BOARD.

SO FAR WE HAVE NOT SEEN THE SIGNED AGREEMENT FROM THE PENTAGON.

JUST BEFORE WE CAME ON AIR, I GOT WORD BACK FROM THE CALIFORNIA NATIONAL GUARD REFERRING TO THE QUESTION OF WHETHER THIS IS BEEN SIGNED OFF ON.

THEY REFERRED THOSE QUESTIONS BACK TO THE PENTAGON.

>> SO THE TROOPS ARE NOT THERE YET.

>> TEXAS ALL READY HAD A NUMBER OF TROOPS ALL READY ON THE BORDER EVEN BEFORE THIS.

CALIFORNIA HAS TROOPS THAT ARE WORKING DIFFERENT FEDERAL ENTITIES.

THEY WORK IN VARIOUS SUPPORT ROLES.

>> UNDER FEDERAL LAW, THERE ARE LIMITATIONS ON WHAT THE NATIONAL GUARD CAN DO IN SITUATIONS LIKE THIS.

>> ONE DAY WERE GOING TO HAVE TO DO A WHOLE SHOW ON THAT.

BUT YES, THAT IS AN ACT THAT WAS PASSED RIGHT AFTER THE CIVIL WAR THAT PREVENTS MARTIAL LAW FROM OCCURRING IN THE SOUTH.

IT LIMITS HOW THE ACTIVE-DUTY ARMY CAN ENFORCE DOMESTIC LAWS.

IT IS PART OF A SUITE OF DIFFERENT LAWS AND PRECEDENTS.

IT ONLY MENTIONS THE ARMORY SPECIFICALLY.

IT WAS LATER AMENDED TO INCLUDE THE AIR FORCE.

IT DOESN'T INCLUDE THE MARINES, NAVY, OR COAST GUARD.

>> IS IT SURPRISING THAT BROWN FINALLY AGREED TO IT?

>> AS WE SAID, THE NATIONAL GUARD OFTEN WORKS IN SUPPORT ROLES WITH THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.

THEY WORK WITH THE BORDER PATROL IN CERTAIN CAPACITIES.

IT IS NOT UNHEARD OF.

IF THE GOVERNOR AGREES TO DO THIS, AND KEEP THEM UNDER STATE CONTROL RATHER THAN HAVING THEM FEDERALIZE, THIS WILL GIVE THE GOVERNMENT -- THE GOVERNOR MORE CONTROL.

>> WE HAVE ADVICE FROM A COUPLE OF PLAYERS.

JEFF SESSIONS ARGUING THE GUARD IS NEEDED AND THEN DEBBIE KANE WROTE A BOOK ABOUT THE HISTORY OF IMMIGRATION LAW AND THE U.S.

MEXICAN BORDER.

>> WE HAVE A CRISIS HERE.

WE KNOW IT, THE PRESIDENT KNOWS HER, WE DETERMINED TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT.

>> FY17, UNDOCUMENTED IMMIGRATION FELL TO APPROXIMATELY 300,000.

THAT IS THE LOWEST NUMBER SINCE 1971.

SO I'M NOT SURE EXACTLY WHAT SORT OF CRISIS THEY WILL BE ADDRESSING.

>> OF COURSE, PRESIDENT TRUMP, THIS WAS A HUGE CENTRAL PLANK OF HIS CAMPAIGN.

IMMIGRATION, SECURE THE BORDER, THE BORDER WALL.

CRITICS SAY TRUMP, AS HER POINTING OUT, THE NUMBERS ARE WAY DOWN AND GOVERNOR BROWN SAID THAT AS WELL.

>> END DATE.

WHERE IS THE CRISIS HERE?

IT HAS BEEN DOWN AT A LOW POINT.

ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION FROM MEXICO SPECIFICALLY IS THAT A 10 YEAR LOW.

SO WHY NOW?

WHY DO THIS NOW?

THAT WILL BE THE QUESTION GOING FORWARD.

THIS WILL CALL ADDITIONAL ATTENTION TO IT AND WHAT EXACTLY WILL BE THE ROLE OF THESE TROOPS ALONG THE BORDER?

>> IT IS NOTABLE WHEN TRUMP WAS IN SAN DIEGO TO LOOK AT THOSE BORDER WALL PROTOTYPES, HE DIDN'T SEE GOVERNOR LEADERS ARE EVEN MAYOR FAULKNER SHOW UP AT THE PRESIDENTS EVENT THERE.

>> IT IS A REAL TIGHT ROPE FOR SAN DIEGO.

THE SAN DIEGO CHAMBER OF COMMERCE CAME OUT AGAINST THIS AND URGED GOVERNOR BROWN NOT TO AUTHORIZE TROOPS TO GO TO THE BORDER.

THEY DON'T LIKE THE OPTICS OF THAT AS THEY TRY TO WORK WITH MEXICO.

>> I WANTED TO TALK ABOUT ANOTHER STORY YOU REPORTED ON.

NAVY EFFORTS TO RAIN THAT'S RETAIN SOLDIERS.

>> THE GOLDEN TICKET PROGRAM.

ONE OF MANY THINGS THE NAVY IS TRYING TO DO TO ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO STAY WITH THE NAVY.

YOU GET A SABBATICAL, YOU CAN LEAVE ONE YEAR, TEST CIVILIAN LIFE AND THEN RESUME YOUR CAREER RIGHT WHERE YOU LEFT OFF.

THIS IS PART OF AN EFFORT TO TRY AND KEEP THEIR NUMBERS UP.

THEY ARE LOOKING TO EXPAND NOT ONLY THE NAVY BUT ALL ACTIVE DUTY MILITARY.

THEY DON'T KNOW IF THEY CAN MAKE THEIR NUMBERS.

>> WHAT ARE SOME OF THE OTHER EFFORTS THEY'RE TRYING TO DO?

>> THEY ARE DOING ALL SORTS OF THINGS TO MAKE NAVY LIFE EASIER.

YOU HAVE A LOT OF TWO CAREER NAVY FAMILIES.

THEY TRY TO SPACE OUT THERE DEPLOYMENT SO BOTH PARENTS ARE NOT DEPLOYED AT THE SAME TIME.

THAT IS STILL AT THE NEEDS OF THE NAVY SO I HAVE TALKED TO SAILORS WHO BOTH HAD TO GO.

IT IS NOT AN EASY THING TO DO TO RETAIN THESE NAVY PERSONNEL.

>> THE PRESSURE ON RETENTION IS MORE THAN EVER.

ARE THEY MEETING THEIR NUMBERS?

>> RIGHT NOW, THE NAVY IS.

THE ARMY IS VERY MUCH IN DANGER OF NOT MAKING THOSE.

THERE ARE SHORTAGES THROUGHOUT ALL OF THE ARMY.

PILOTS ARE AN ENORMOUS PROBLEM ESPECIALLY FOR THE AIR FORCE.

IS BECOMING A LARGER ISSUE FOR THE NAVY.

TRIED TO KEEP THESE HIGHLY TRAINED PEOPLE TO SAY WITH IT >> IT LOOKS LIKE THERE WILL BE FOLLOW-UPS TO SEE WHAT WILL HAPPEN.

AND ALSO WITH THE RETENTION RESULTS AS WE MOVE FORWARD.

WE WILL MOVE ON NOW.

WHAT IS GOING ON WITH THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT AND IS STILL SYSTEM PRESSURE MARK CONFUSION SEEM TO BE THE WATCHWORD THIS WEEK.

THIS INVOLVES HOW PREGNANT INMATES ARE TAKEN -- TREATED.

LET'S START WITH GIVING BIRTH.

KELLY, YOU REPORTED THOSE STATEMENTS AND -- THIS WEEK.

LET'S START WITH WHAT OFFICIALS TOLD YOU.

>> THE IMPETUS FOR THIS STORY WAS A LETTER THAT THE CITIZENS LAW ENFORCEMENT REVIEW BOARD SENT TO THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT BACK IN DECEMBER.

THIS WAS IN RESPONSE TO A COMPLAINT THEY RECEIVED.

CLERB TOOK ISSUE WITH SOMETHING CALLED THE PREGNANT PATIENTS RIGHTS.

IT IS A STATEMENT THAT PREGNANT WOMEN ARE READ AS THEIR BOOKED INTO JAIL AND A LINE IN THE STATEMENT SAID THAT YOU WILL BE CHANGED AND HANDCUFFED DURING LABOR AND DELIVERY.

SO I SAW THAT AND CONTACTED THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT.

AND SAID, I ASKED FOR SOME CLARIFICATION.

THEY TOLD ME THAT THAT IS THE CASE.

THE DEPARTMENT SPOKESPERSON TOLD ME THAT YES, ALL INMATES START OFF MINIMALLY RESTRAINED.

ONE WRIST TO THE BED OR SOMETHING SIMILAR WHILE THEY ARE IN THE HOSPITAL.

>> AND THEN THE CITIZENS LAW ENFORCEMENT REVIEW BOARD SAID THEY WANTED TO CHANGE THAT WORDING AN UPDATE THAT POLICY.

>> THEY ASKED THE SHERIFF DEPARTMENT, THE STATEMENT DOESN'T JIBE WITH STATE LAW.

STATE LAW SAYS THAT FIRST OR NEED TO BE A FINDING THAT THIS WOMAN POSES A FLIGHT RISK OR A SAFETY RISK.

AND THEN, IF THEY MAKE THAT FINDING, THEY CAN RESTRAIN THE WOMAN DURING LABOR.

THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT SAID THE STATEMENT YOU'RE READING THIS WOMEN WHEN THEIR BOOKED INTO JAIL DOESN'T FIT WITH STATE LAW.

AND THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT SAID NO, WE'RE GOING TO KEEP THE WORDING BECAUSE THIS IS TRUE.

THAT IS WHAT WE DO.

WE DO IN MOST CASES WE RESTRAIN WOMEN DURING LABOR, DELIVERY, AND RECOVERY.

>> SO YOUR STORY COMES OUT AND THEY SCRAMBLE A LITTLE BIT AND THEY CONTACTED YOU AND THEY CONTACTED US AND THEY SAID WELL, NO, THAT'S REALLY NOT WHAT WE DO.

>> THEIR POLICY IS GREAT.

THEIR WRITTEN POLICY FITS WITH STATE LAW.

YOU HAVE TO MAKE THE SAFETY FINDING FIRST.

AND WHEN I WAS WORKING ON THE STORY I WENT TO THE SHERIFF DEPARTMENT AND SAID HEY, YOUR WRITTEN POLICY SAYS THIS BUT YOU'RE PREGNANT PATIENT RIGHTS SAY THIS AND YOUR SPOKESWOMAN IS TELLING ME YOUR RESTRAINING ALL INMATES.

SO NOW THEY'RE GOING BACK AND POINTING TO THEIR POLICY WHICH I NEVER SAID THERE IS ANY PROBLEMS WITH THEIR WRITTEN POLICY.

IT IS WHAT THEY ARE DOING IN PRACTICE THAT'S A LITTLE STRANGE .

>> I WAS JOKING ON TWITTER THAT PARENTING IS HARD ENOUGH WITHOUT BEING HANDCUFFED GOING INTO IT.

IS THERE A RASH OF PREGNANT WOMEN RUNNING AWAY FROM CUSTODY?

>> THERE IS NO -- THE DATA SHOWS NO WOMEN HAVE TRIED TO ESCAPE.

THE OFFICIAL NATIONAL OB/GYN ASSOCIATION SAID THAT THERE IS NO RATIONALE.

THERE IS NOTHING SUPPORTING SHACKLING OF ANY KIND OF ANY WOMAN JUST DON'T, HAVE GUARDS IN THE ROOM TO CATCH THEM IF THEY TRY TO RUN AWAY.

IF THEY START LASHING OUT OR SOMETHING, THEN YOU RESTRAIN THEM.

DON'T START THEM OFF RESTRAINED.

I HAVE NEVER HAD A CHILD, MY FRIENDS WHO HAVE, THE PAIN THEY TELL ME ABOUT -- >> THOSE WHO WHO -- THOSE HAVE BEEN IN LABOR AND DELIVERY, IT'S HARD TO IMAGINE THEM GETTING UP AND RUNNING AWAY.

>> SO YOU TRY TO FIND OUT WHAT'S HAPPENING IN THE JAIL.

>> I'M GOING TO HAVE A FOLLOW- UP STORY.

I HAVE FOUND SOME INMATES WHO SAY THAT THEY WERE RESTRAINED.

ONE WOMAN DESCRIBED THE WHOLE PROCESS WAS HORRIFIC.

>> AND THE DOCTORS?

>> DOCTORS SAY DON'T DO IT.

MEDICAL PERSONNEL DOES HAVE THE RIGHT TO TELL THE SHERIFF'S REMOVE THESE RESTRAINTS FROM THIS WOMAN BECAUSE IT'S GOING TO HARM HER HEALTH OR THE HEALTH OF THE BABY.

>> STEVE?

>> HOW OFTEN DOES THIS EVEN COME UP?

>> I BELIEVE THERE WERE 54 WOMEN WHO HAVE GIVEN BIRTH OVER THE LAST, SINCE JANUARY 1, 2015 THROUGH MARCH 31, 2018.

>> SO ONE OR TWO A MONTH.

>> I WANTED TO TURN TO A DIFFERENT COMPLAINT ABOUT THE SHERIFF'S APARTMENT.

THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT TENDS NOT TO TELL THE PUBLIC ABOUT DEATHS OF THOSE IN CUSTODY UNTIL A REPORTER INQUIRES ABOUT IT.

>> THE POLICY WAS A LITTLE FUZZY.

THEY TOLD ME THAT THEY DO NOT LIKE TO REPORT, ONE CASE WAS A SUICIDE, THE MOST RECENT ONE.

WHEN I ASKED HIM ABOUT IT THEY SAID THEY DON'T LIKE TO REPORT SUICIDES TO THE PUBLIC BECAUSE THEY WORRY IT MIGHT ENCOURAGE OTHER DETAINEES TO TAKE THEIR LIFE.

I SAID OKAY, BUT WHAT IS THE POLICY REGARDING ALERTING THE PUBLIC WHEN PEOPLE DIE IN CUSTODY?

THEY SENT ME A 500 PAGE POLICY AND PROCEDURE MANUAL AND DIRECTED ME TO ONE SECTION OF IT.

I FOUND A DIFFERENT SECTION THAT SAID WE SHALL REPORT EVERY DEATH WHETHER IT'S A HOMICIDE, SUICIDE, OR NATURAL.

>> THE LANGUAGE IS VERY CLEAR.

>> WHEN I ASKED A FOLLOW-UP QUESTION WITH THE DEPARTMENT THEY SAID, WELL, THAT ONLY APPLIES UNDER CIRCA -- CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES.

THEN THEY MAKE THE DECISION ON WHETHER OR NOT TO RELEASE A PRESS RELEASE.

>> SO THEY'RE TRYING TO HAVE IT BOTH WAYS.

WE WILL REPORT EVERY DEATH BY PRESS RELEASE.

>> THE REASON IT MATTERS IS BECAUSE SOMETIMES THINGS HAPPEN IN JAIL BECAUSE OF NEGLIGENCE ON THE PART OF SAN DIEGO COUNTY.

LIKE ANY LARGE INSTITUTION THAT DETAINS THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE.

IN THOSE CASES, IF NO ONE'S MADE AWARE OF IT, THERE MAY NOT BE CORRECTIVE ACTIONS TAKEN.

THAT IS WHY WE CARE THAT WE SHOULD BE ALERTED AS A PUBLIC WHEN PEOPLE DIE IN CUSTODY.

>> HOW DO I -- HOW TO OTHER COUNTIES TAKE CARE OF THIS?

>> I SPOKE WITH OTHER PRISON SYSTEMS, THE STATE AND THREE OR FOUR OTHER COUNTIES.

THEY TEND TO SEND OUT PRESS RELEASES.

THE STATE HAS SO MANY, IS THE LARGEST SYSTEM IN THE COUNTRY.

THEY ONLY ISSUE UNDER LIMITED CIRCUMSTANCES AND THEY DON'T ISSUE BLANKET PRESS RELEASES.

THEY TARGET THEM TO WHERE THE INMATE WAS FROM OR HOUSED.

>> 40 DEATH SINCE 2007.

DO THEY HAVE A SUICIDE PROBLEM?

>> WEATHER IS A PROBLEM OR NOT, IT'S A VERY FREQUENT OCCURRENCE.

>> KELLY, YOU HAVE DONE A LOT OF REPORTING.

IS THEIR RELUCTANCE TO REPORT DEATHS BECAUSE IS NEGATIVE PUBLICITY AS WE GO ALONG?

>> I WASN'T AWARE OF THIS POLICY ACTUALLY, THANK YOU JEFF.

I THOUGHT I LOOKED THROUGH ALL OF THEM AND I WASN'T AWARE OF THIS POLICY.

YES, THERE WOULD HAVE BEEN A POINT WHERE IT WOULD HAVE LOOKED REALLY BAD.

I THINK IT WAS 2015 WHERE THERE WAS BACK TO BACK TO GO BACK SUICIDES.

INTERESTING, THE ONLY TIME OUR AWARE OF THEM ISSUING PRESS RELEASES WERE IN TWO HIGH PROFILE INMATE SUICIDES WHOSE CAPTURE HAD MADE NEWS.

THEY WERE BOTH SUICIDES.

SO REPORTING THE SUICIDE CAN CAUSE SUICIDES BUT WITH ONLY TWO PRESS RELEASES WERE SUICIDES, THAT DIDN'T REALLY -- >> THEY HAVE A LACK OF CONSISTENCY.

>> MIGHT THIS BE AN ISSUE IN THE REELECTION CAMPAIGN FOR THE SHERIFF?

THOSE ARE TOUGH FOR CHALLENGERS TO CRACK THROUGH.

A WELL-KNOWN NAME AND VOTERS TEND TO GO WITH THE KNOWN HORSE .

>> THE CAMPAIGN HAS BEEN LOW- PROFILE.

I KNOW THEY ARE EACH OUT MAKING THE CIRCUITS IN DEALING WITH GROUPS OF PEOPLE.

I IMAGINE IT COMES UP AT THE QUESTION-AND-ANSWER SESSIONS.

THIS IS JUST ONE OF A NUMBER OF ISSUES CONFRONTING THE SHERIFF'S APARTMENT.

I'M SURE IT'S ADDED TO A STACK OF ISSUES HE'S BEING ASKED ABOUT .

>> WE WILL BE TALKING ABOUT THAT ELECTION AND MANY OTHERS AS WE MOVE ALONG.

WE'RE GOING TO MOVE ALONG.

THE CITY BOUGHT A BUILDING DOWNTOWN THE LATEST MOVE IN DEALING WITH THE HOME AND -- HOMELESS POPULATION.

IS TO HELP PEOPLE GET OFF THE STREETS AND INTO THE -- A HOME.

JEFF, START WITH THIS BUILDING.

WHAT WAS IT DESIGNED FOR?

>> IT IS A SKYDIVING CENTER THAT WENT OUT OF BUSINESS.

THE FOUNDER AND VENTURE BUSINESSMAN THAT UNDERTOOK AT, SINK MILLIONS AND MILLIONS OF DOLLARS INTO IT.

HE IS A BIG FAN OF AVIATION AND THAT WAS HIS DREAM TO OPEN THAT CENTER.

IT DID NOT FLY, SO TO SPEAK COMMERCIALLY.

SO IS THAT VACANT AND IT CLOSED AND THEN IT WAS FORECLOSED UPON BY THE FINANCIER.

AND THEN THE CITY BOUGHT IT EARLY THIS YEAR.

THE THING THAT I THOUGHT MOST CURIOUS, A COUPLE OF THINGS, THE CITY SPENT $7 MILLION WITHOUT CONDUCTING AN APPRAISAL.

I'M NOT SURE THAT'S A PRUDENT COURSE OF ACTION.

YOU USUALLY WANT AN INDEPENDENT APPRAISAL.

MORE CURIOUS, IT IS A SKYDIVING FACILITY.

THERE ARE TWO GIANT WIND TUNNELS IN THE CENTER OF THE BUILDING 60 FEET OR 80 FEET TALL.

THEY INHIBIT THE FLOOR SPACE AND THE USABLE AREA THAT PEOPLE ARE GOING TO NEED TO MEET AND INTERVIEW AND FILL OUT FORMS -- >> JUST TO SET THE SCENE HERE FOR OUR RADIO AUDIENCE, YOU GET A LOT OF PEOPLE COMING INTO A CENTER DURING THE DAY TO GET VARIOUS FORMS AND INFORMATION OR WHATEVER.

YOU THINK IT'S A MAJOR OFFICE BUILDING.

YOU'VE GOT THESE GIANT TUBES IN THE MIDDLE.

>> THE CITY SAYS THAT WHOEVER IS ELECTED TO OPERATE IT WILL WORK AROUND IT AND IS NOT A PROBLEM.

IT'S A REALLY GOOD DEAL FOR THE CITY AND IT WILL TAKE A BITE OUT OF THE HOMELESSNESS PROBLEM.

SOME REAL ESTATE EXPERTS I SPOKE TO, THEY ARE NOT SO CONVINCED.

THEY THINK THAT THAT MONEY COULD HAVE BEEN SET ASIDE AND MAYBE EVEN PUT INTO AN ANNUITY AND EVEN A 5% THAT WOULD RAISE $400,000 A YEAR TO DELIVER DIRECT SERVICES OR KEEP A SYSTEM OPERATING IN PERPETUITY.

IN THIS CASE THEY JUST BOUGHT THE BUILDING AND THE GOING TO HAVE AN OPERATOR INTERVIEWING CLIENTS AND FIGURING OUT WHAT THEY NEED AND REFERRING THEM TO OTHER SERVICES.

THEY ARE NOT DELIVERING ANY DIRECT SERVICES INSIDE THE BUILDING.

>> WAS THERE ANY ASSESSMENT OF OTHER AVAILABLE PROPERTIES FIRST TO SEE IF THIS WAS INDEED THE BEST ONE?

>> WELL, IT DEPENDS ON WHOM YOU ASK.

THE CITY SAYS THEY DID THEIR DUE DILIGENCE.

IT IS RIGHT NEXT TO FATHER JOE'S.

IT IS LOCATED IN A PLACE FOR HOMELESS PEOPLE TEND TO CONGREGATE.

AGAIN, SOME PEOPLE THINK THAT CENTRALIZING ALL OF THE SERVICES IN DOWNTOWN EAST VILLAGE IS NOT A GOOD STRATEGY BECAUSE THERE ARE SO MANY OTHER HOMELESS PEOPLE ACROSS THE COMMUNITY.

ANOTHER PERSON I SPOKE TO SAID THE CITY MIGHT HAVE DONE THAT -- DONE BETTER TO LEASE STOREFRONT AROUND THE CITY IN SEVERAL DIFFERENT NEIGHBORHOODS.

YOU ONLY NEED A MEETING ROOM, AND DESKS AND CHAIRS.

>> THE OLD LIBRARY HAD BEEN PROPOSED.

>> THEY SAY THE LIBRARY WASN'T FEASIBLE.

THIS WAS A REALLY GOOD DEAL.

THEIR VALUATIONS -- >> THERE HAVE BEEN EARLIER APPRAISALS, RIGHT?

>> THERE WAS AN APPRAISAL IN 2016 FROM ONE BUSINESS TO ANOTHER WHEN THE PROPERTY WAS SECURED AS ALONE, COLLATERALIZE.

THAT HAD IT APPRAISED AT, I THINK, $7 MILLION.

THERE WAS A BROKER'S OPINION WHICH IS A LOT MORE RECENT DONE IN DECEMBER.

AGAIN, THAT WAS FROM ONE PRIVATE BUSINESS TO ANOTHER.

THE CITY NEVER DENNIS OWN EVALUATION.

THE BROKER'S OPINION WHICH SPECIFICALLY SAID -- >> THE FIGURE CAME IN MUCH HIGHER.

>> 15 MILLION TO 22 MILLION.

THE MAYOR'S OFFICE TOLD THE CITY COUNCIL THIS IS A GOOD DEAL.

WE'RE GETTING IT FOR HALF OF WHAT IT'S WORTH.

WHEN I STARTED PRESSING THEM ABOUT THEIR APPRAISAL THEY SIMPLY SAID IT WASN'T NECESSARY.

THE FOLKS THAT LOOKED AT IT WERE SATISFIED AND THE COUNCILMAN SAID IT'S A GOOD DEAL.

>> IS A GOING TO COST QUITE A BIT TO CONVERT?

WILL THEY GET RID OF THE TUBES SOMEHOW TO MARK >> WHEN I GOT THE TOUR LAST WEEK, THEY SAID THE OPERATOR WILL WORK AROUND THE TUNNELS AND THE OTHER INFRASTRUCTURE THAT IS SPECIFIC TO A SKYDIVING FACILITY.

THAT SAID, IT WILL BE UP TO THE OPERATOR TO MAKE USE OF THE BUILDING.

THE CITY WILL SUBSIDIZE IT TO WHOEVER OPERATES IT.

EITHER ONE CHARITY OR A GROUP OF CHARITIES.

>> THE GOING TO BE STUCK WITH THESE WIND TUNNELS?

>> IT ACTUALLY LOOKS LIKE A LOT OF FUN.

IT LOOKS LIKE A GREAT PLACE FOR A CORPORATE EVENT IF YOU COULD AFFORD THAT.

>> WAS THIS WHY THEY KNOW THAT THEY WERE LOOKING FOR OFFICE SPACE PRIOR TO THIS?

THEY SAW A BUILDING AND DECIDED TO BUY IT?

THAT'S ALWAYS MY QUESTION WHEN DEALING WITH HOMELESSNESS IN SAN DIEGO.

>> THE MAYOR SAID THE HOUSING NAVIGATION CENTER HAS BEEN A LINCHPIN OF THEIR STRATEGY.

IT WAS AT ONE POINT GOING TO BE AT 20th STREET AND D STREET.

THE MAYOR CHANGE HIS MIND AND THEY PUT UP THE TEMPORARY TENTS.

THE OVERALL STRATEGY IS MULTI- PRONGED.

THEY HAVE A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT THINGS ARE TRYING.

INTERVENTIONS, GETTING PEOPLE INTO SERVICES WHERE THEY CAN GET THEIR ID, THEIR ADDRESS, A PLACE TO STORE THEIR STUFF.

THEY ARE TRYING TO ADDRESS IT ON A NUMBER OF FRONTS.

>> THEY JUST NEED MORE PERMANENT HOUSING.

>> IT ALL GOES BACK TO THE HOUSING.

>> ANY RESPONSE TO THE CRITICS FROM MAYOR FALCONER?

>> NO.

I DID NOT HEAR A LOT OF FEEDBACK FROM THE CITY AFTER THAT STORY RAMMED.

THEY HAVE CRITICIZED THOSE FOR REPORTING THE ISSUE AS DEEPLY AS WE HAVE, -- >> THE CITY COUNCIL MIGHT REVISIT THIS?

>> I DON'T KNOW.

I HAVEN'T HEARD ANYTHING.

I THINK THEY'RE OKAY WITH THEIR APPROVAL OF IT.

>> THAT DOES WRAP UP ANOTHER WEEK OF STORIES AT THE KPBS ROUNDTABLE.

I LIKE TO THINK MY GUESTS, JEFF McDONALD, FREELANCE JOURNALIST, KELLY DAVIS, AND STEVE WALSH OF KPBS NEWS.

ALL OF THE STORIES WE DISCUSSED TODAY ARE AVAILABLE ON OUR WEBSITE, WWW.KPBS.ORG.

I AM MARK SAUER.

THANK YOU FOR BEING WITH US TODAY AND JOIN US NEXT WEEK ON THE ROUNDTABLE.