♪ >> THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

LET'S LOOK AT SOME OF THE BEST STORIES FROM KPBS NEWS THIS WEEK.

I AM MAYA TRABULSI.

>>> COMING UP, IF FEDERAL FUNDING FREEZE IS AFFECTING LOCAL SCHOOLS.

NOW, DISTRICTS ARE SCRAMBLING TO COME UP WITH A SHORT-TERM SOLUTION.

>>> NEW RESEARCH ON LUNG CANCER FOCUSES ON NON-SMOKERS.

UC SAN DIEGO SCIENTISTS TELL US ABOUT WHAT THEY LEARNED ABOUT SECONDHAND SMOKE AND AIR POLLUTION.

>>> AND THE DEMAND FOR EAST COUNTY, IT IS PART OF OUR PUBLIC MATTERS REPORTING.

THE MAYOR TALKS ABOUT FINDING ROOM TO BUILD.

>>> WE START WITH MIXED STATUS IMMIGRANT FAMILIES, WHO SAY THEY ARE LIVING ON EDGE.

JUST ABOUT EVERY DAY, WE ARE SEEING VIDEO OF I.C.E.

ARRESTS ALL OVER SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA AND AS A RESULT, FAMILIES ARE CHANGING HOW THEY DO ORDINARY THINGS.

TANIA THORNE HEARS FROM TWO PEOPLE AND DISCUSSES HOW THIS FEAR COULD AFFECT THEIR HEALTH.

>> Reporter: HEADLINES AND VIRAL VIDEOS OF IMMIGRATION DETENTIONS ARE FILLING NEWSFEEDS.

AND WITH THEM, FEAR IS RISING IN IMMIGRANT COMMUNITIES ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

IT IS NOT JUST FAMILIES WITHOUT LEGAL STATUS.

IT IS MIXED STATUS FAMILIES, THAT FEAR FOR LOVED ONES.

LIKE THIS MAN, FOR HIS FAMILY'S SAFETY, WE DID NOT USE HIS NAME.

HE SAYS THAT FEAR OF IMMIGRATION DETENTIONS HIT CLOSE TO HOME.

>> Translator: YES, THERE IS LOTS OF WORRY.

WITHIN OUR FAMILY, BECAUSE WE HAVE A FAMILY MEMBER WHO, UNFORTUNATELY, HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO GET HIS DOCUMENTS.

IN THIS CASE, HE IS THE HEAD OF HOUSEHOLD.

>> Reporter: HE HAS LEGAL STATUS, AND IS RETIRED, BUT THE THREAT OF AN INTERACTION WITH IMMIGRATION AGENTS COULD SHATTER HIS FAMILY.

>> Translator: IF SOMETHING IS TO HAPPEN TO THIS FAMILY MEMBER, THEN OUR FAMILY WOULD COMPLETELY FALL APART.

>> Reporter: AS A RESULT, HIS FAMILY HAS HAD TO TAKE EXTRA PRECAUTIONS.

>> Translator: WHEN I DO THE SHOPPING, I HAVE NOTICED A CONSIDERABLE DROP IN LATINOS AT THE STORE, COMPARED TO BEFORE.

>> Reporter: HE KNOWS HE IS NOT ALONE AND MANY FAMILIES ARE ERRING ON THE SIDE OF CAUTION.

>> Translator: THE BEST THING TO DO, IS TO STAY HOME.

IF YOU HAVE NOTHING TO DO.

UNLESS YOU ARE GOING TO WORK, BECAUSE WE HAVE TO GENERATE INCOME.

IF NOT, WHO IS GOING TO PAY THE BILLS?

>> Translator: I AM FILLED WITH EMOTIONS.

WITH LOTS OF FEAR.

WE HAVE TO DO THINGS WITH PRECAUTIONS.

EVEN GROCERY SHOPPING.

>> Reporter: WE ALSO TALKED WITH THIS WOMAN, WHO IS IN THE U.S.

WITHOUT LEGAL STATUS.

SHE ALSO ASKED THAT WE NOT USE HER NAME, DUE TO THE FEARS FOR HER SAFETY.

>> Translator: I HAVE FELT LIKE I CAN'T BREATHE.

THIS STRESS IS HURTING ME.

I HAVE NOTICED IT, EVEN IN MY HAIR.

IT IS FALLING OUT.

>> Reporter: SHE SAYS THE STRESS OVER THE IMMIGRATION RAIDS IS TAKING A TOLL ON HER HEALTH, BUT SHE FEELS EVEN DOCTORS APPOINTMENT POSE A RISK.

NOT JUST PHYSICALLY, BUT FINANCIALLY, TOO.

>> Translator: WE DON'T RECEIVE GOVERNMENT ASSISTANCE FOR INSURANCE.

WE ALWAYS PAY OUT-OF-POCKET.

OUT OF FEAR THAT RECEIVING ASSISTANCE COULD HURT US LATER ON OR THAT OUR INFORMATION COULD BE SHARED WITH IMMIGRATION AGENCIES.

>> Reporter: SHE HAS BEEN IN THE U.S. FOR OVER 20 YEARS.

WHILE SHE HAS THOUGHT ABOUT SELF DEPORTING, SHE STRUGGLES WITH LEAVING THE LIFE SHE HAS BUILT BEHIND.

>> Translator: I AM NOT READY TO LEAVE, YET.

I WISH THE GOVERNMENT WOULD HELP PEOPLE THAT HAVE BEEN HERE FOR SO MANY YEARS.

WE PAY OUR TAXES, AND TRY NOT TO BE A BURDEN ON THE GOVERNMENT.

>> SO, THEY GET PEOPLE, AND THEN THEY ASK QUESTIONS LATER, WHICH IS VERY UNCONSTITUTIONAL.

THAT IS NOT HOW IT WORKS, HOW IT IS SUPPOSED TO WORK.

SO, PEOPLE ARE FEARFUL.

>> Reporter: AN ETHNIC STUDIES PROFESSOR AND COMMUNITY ACTIVIST.

HE OFTEN PARTICIPATES IN THE COMMUNITY PATROLS THAT WARN PEOPLE OF IMMIGRATION SIGHTINGS.

>> AND THE FACT THAT THERE IS MATCHING PEOPLE, FROM ALL CATEGORIES, FROM PEOPLE THAT ARE UNDOCUMENTED, PEOPLE THAT ARE REFUGEES, PEOPLE THAT ARE IN THE PROCESS, PEOPLE THAT GO TO COURT FOR A LEGAL HEARING, AND THEY GET SNATCHED, OR PEOPLE THAT ARE WALKING IN THE STREETS.

>> Reporter: HE SAYS THE IMPLICATIONS OF THE IMMIGRATION RAIDS ARE INSTILLING FEAR AND TRAUMA FOR MANY COMMUNITIES.

>> THEY ARE GOING TO BE AFFECTED AND THEY DO NEED SUPPORT.

THEY DO NEED -- YOU KNOW, THIS IS GOING TO BE SOMETHING THAT IS GOING TO LEAVE A MARK ON THEM FOREVER BECAUSE IT IS JUST TRAUMA AND WE DON'T TALK ABOUT THAT STUFF.

ALL OF THIS IS GOING TO AFFECT PEOPLE MENTALLY, PSYCHOLOGICALLY.

>> Reporter: LIZETTE IS A FAMILY PSYCHOLOGIST IN SAN DIEGO.

SHE SAYS THAT THE STRESS OF FEAR HAS A DEEP IMPACT ON PEOPLE.

>> FEAR, LOGICALLY, RIGHT, IT HAS AN EFFECT, EVEN IF THAT STRESS OR CONCERN, OR FEAR, IS GETTING TO A LEVEL THAT IS JUST IMPEDING YOUR SLEEP CYCLE.

YOU ARE NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO PERFORM, RESPOND IN AN APPROPRIATE WAY, OR FAST ENOUGH, IF YOU ARE CONSTANTLY, YOU KNOW, STRESSED OUT, WORRIED, NOT SLEEPING, NOT EATING.

>> Reporter: DESPITE THE CONSTANT STREAM OF MUSE, HER BEST ADVICE IS TO AVOID DROWNING IN THE HEADLINES.

>> LIFE IS SO IMPORTANT, THAT WE ARE PACING OURSELVES, MICRO DOSING THE AMOUNT OF NEWS THAT WE SEE, AND JUST FOCUSING ON ONE THING AT A TIME BECAUSE IT CAN BECOME VERY OVERWHELMING AND WE HAVE TO HELP OURSELVES.

>> Reporter: FOR SOME IMMIGRANT FAMILIES, THE FEAR OF SEPARATION IS A DAILY REALITY.

BUT, THROUGH COMMUNITY SUPPORT, AWARENESS, AND CARE, THERE COULD BE ROOM TO FOCUS ON HEALING AND HOPE.

TANIA THORNE, KPBS NEWS.

>>> IT IS NOT JUST IMMIGRANTS WHO ARE CAUGHT UP IN THESE I.C.E.

ARRESTS.

A VOLUNTEER LEGAL OBSERVER SAYS SHE WAS LEFT BRUISED AFTER BEING DETAINED BY AGENTS IN SAN DIEGO'S FEDERAL IMMIGRATION COURT.

KPBS VIDEO JOURNALIST, MATTHEW BOWLER, SAYS SHE IS ACCUSED OF PUSHING AN I.C.E.

AGENT.

>> HEY, HEY, HEY!

>> Reporter: THAT WAS THE MOMENT AN I.C.E.

AGENT ACCUSED BARBARA STONE, A VOLUNTEER LEGAL OBSERVER, OF PUSHING HER.

>> SHE PUSHED HER?

>> Reporter: STONE VOLUNTEERS AS A LEGAL OBSERVER IN SAN DIEGO'S IMMIGRATION COURT.

THE 71-YEAR-OLD GRANDMOTHER OF TWO SAYS HER JOB IS TO OBSERVE AND FILM, NOT TO INTERFERE.

>> IT IS NECESSARY, THAT WE PROVIDE PEOPLE WHO CAN LEGALLY OBSERVE, WHEN I.C.E.

IS DETAINING ASYLUM-SEEKERS IN THE COURTHOUSE.

>> Reporter: STONE'S LAWYER, EMILY HOWE, SAYS THAT STONE SERVES AS A LEGAL OBSERVER AND NEUTRAL VOLUNTEER WHO DOCUMENTS PUBLIC INTERACTIONS WITH GOVERNMENT ACTORS.

>> AND I HAD MY PHONE UP IN THE AIR, AND THEY STARTED CHASING ME, AND SAYING THEY WERE GOING TO ARREST ME.

>> YOU WANT CHARGES?

>> SURE, YES!

>> ARREST, NOW.

>> SHE'S OVER HERE.

>> DETAIN HER.

>> HEY, DETAIN THAT LADY.

>> Reporter: THE AGENTS FOLLOWED STONE DOWN THE HALL AND HANDCUFFED HER.

SHE SAYS SHE WAS PUT INTO A SMALL ROOM.

>> I WAS THERE FOR MORE THAN EIGHT HOURS.

I ASKED, RIGHT AWAY, IF I COULD SEE AN ATTORNEY.

>> Reporter: STONE SAYS HER PHONE AND PURSE WERE SEIZED.

AFTER HER RELEASE, ONLY HER PURSE WAS RETURNED.

AND I ASKED HIM WHY HE NEEDED MY PHONE, AND HE COMPARED IT TO A DRUG BUST, WHERE THEY KEEP A DRUG DEALER'S PHONE, BECAUSE I HAD USED IT IN THE CRIME.

THEY REFERRED TO ME AS "THE SUSPECT."

YEAH.

>> Reporter: NOW AT HOME, STONE HAS BRUISING ON HER WRISTS AND THE BACK OF HER ARM.

SHE SAYS IT IS FROM THE HANDCUFFS AND WHERE AN AGENT GRABBED HER WHEN SHE WAS DETAINED.

STONE SAYS SHE WON'T LET HER DETENTION STOP HER VOLUNTEER WORK.

>> I'M JUST PART OF A MUCH BIGGER STRUCTURE, AND ORGANIZATION, AND WHATEVER I CAN DO, I WANT TO DO.

>> Reporter: KPBS CONTACTED IMMIGRATION AND CUSTOMS ENFORCEMENT, BUT DID NOT RECEIVE AN IMMEDIATE RESPONSE.

MATTHEW BOWLER, KPBS NEWS.

>>> ONE WAY TO FOLLOW OUR IMMIGRATION COVERAGE, IS BY SUBSCRIBING TO KPBS ON YOUTUBE.

AND THAT IS WHERE YOU WILL FIND ALL OF OUR CONTENT, ALONG WITH FULL EPISODES OF KPBS RADIO SHOWS AND PODCASTS.

YOUTUBE IS ALSO WHERE WE LIVE STREAM "KPBS EVENING EDITION" WEEKNIGHTS AT 5:00.

>>> ONE OF THE BIG, NATIONAL STORIES THIS WEEK, IS THE EXTREME WEATHER THAT KILLED DOZENS OF PEOPLE IN TEXAS.

LAST YEAR, SAN DIEGO HAD ITS OWN FLOODING EMERGENCY.

JOHN CARROLL SAYS THAT FOR SOME SAN DIEGO'S, SEEING THE DEVASTATION IN TEXAS WAS ENOUGH TO BRING BACK SOME HORRIBLE MEMORIES.

>> Reporter: THE SCENES OUT OF TEXAS ARE JUST ABOUT AS CLOSE TO INCOMPREHENSIBLE AS YOU CAN GET.

WATER RISING SO FAST, THAT DESTRUCTION AND DEATH WERE SURE TO FOLLOW.

FOR FORMER SAN DIEGO NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE METEOROLOGIST, ALEX TARDY, IT WAS ALL TOO FAMILIAR.

HE APPEARED TODAY ON "KPBS MIDDAY EDITION".

>> THE LATER I LOOK AT THE DATA IN TEXAS AND KERRVILLE, THEY HAD TWO AND HALF INCHES OF RAIN IN ONE HOUR, THEY HAD FIVE INCHES OF RAIN IN THREE HOURS -- THAT IS ALMOST IDENTICAL, TO WHAT WE SAW IN THE SAN DIEGO JULIUS CREEK, WHICH CAUSED ALL OF THAT MAJOR FLOODING IN THE SAN DIEGO REGION.

SO, METEOROLOGIST LEE IT WAS QUITE SIMILAR.

>> Reporter: BUT, TARDY ALSO SAYS THERE WERE IMPORTANT DIFFERENCES.

THE RAIN IN SAN DIEGO ENDED AFTER A FEW HOURS.

THE RAIN IN TEXAS, IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT, IN HILLY TERRAIN, KEPT POURING FOR HOURS ON END.

THE TRAGEDY IN TEXAS HAS BROUGHT BACK SOME TERRIBLE MEMORIES FOR A GROUP OF SAN DIEGANS, SPECIFICALLY, MANY WHO LIVED ALONG THE JULIUS CREEK FLOOD CHANNEL, WHICH IS, ONCE AGAIN, FILLED WITH DIRT, ROCK, SAND, AND OVERGROWN VEGETATION.

>> IT IS TRAUMATIZING, BECAUSE YOU ARE RELIVING YOUR EXPERIENCE.

>> Reporter: WE MET JESSICA CALIX IN FRONT OF HER FORMER RESIDENCE, IN FRONT OF EAST CREEK.

THESE CELL PHONE PICTURES SHOW WHAT IT LOOKED LIKE IN HER APARTMENT ON THAT DAY IN JANUARY 2024.

>> IT IS REALLY HARD, WHEN YOU HAVEN'T EXPERIENCED THIS TYPE OF DISASTER, TO PUT YOURSELF IN OTHER PEOPLE'S SHOES, BUT WE CAN, AND SO WE KNOW HOW HORRIFIC IT IS.

I AM LIVING IN A TRAVEL TRAILER, AND I SEE THAT WHOLE TRAILER PARK GOT WASHED AWAY, FULL OF FAMILIES.

SO, IT IS A EXTREMELY TRAUMATIC TO WITNESS.

>> Reporter: THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN TEXAS SAYS WARNINGS WERE ISSUED FOR THE FLOODED AREA, BUT IT WAS THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT AND CELL SERVICE IN THE AREA IS SAID TO BE SPOTTY.

SO, HOW WELL ARE WE PREPARED, HERE, SHOULD DEVASTATING FLOODS HIT AGAIN?

JESSICA CALIX SAYS SHE DIDN'T GET ANY WARNINGS, BUT LOCAL NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE METEOROLOGIST, JOHN ZUG, SAYS THAT WARNINGS WERE ISSUED HERE, AND HE SAYS THAT, SHOULD WE FIND OURSELVES IN A SIMILAR SITUATION AGAIN, THE WEATHER SERVICE IS PREPARED.

BUT, HE SAYS THE PUBLIC MUST ALSO BE PREPARED TO RECEIVE EMERGENCY MESSAGES.

>> THAT IS GOING TO BE THREE PARTNERS, LIKE KPBS.

GOING ON TWO WEBSITES, LIKE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE, WEATHER.GOV.

MOST WEATHER APPS ALSO HAVE THE PUSH ON ALL WATCHES, THINGS LIKE THAT.

WHEN YOU GET WARNINGS, THAT IS WHEN WE START TO TALK ABOUT DIRECT THREAT TO LIFE AND PROPERTY.

>> Reporter: ALEX TARDY AGREES WITH ZUK ABOUT OUR LEVEL OF PREPAREDNESS, WHEN IT COMES TO WARNINGS.

STILL, CONSIDER THIS.

>> THERE IS ALWAYS ROOM FOR IMPROVEMENT, BECAUSE THESE DISASTERS, THEY ARE GOING TO GET YOU OFFGUARD, SOMEWHERE.

>> Reporter: JOHN CARROLL, KPBS NEWS.

>>> PUBLIC SCHOOLS ARE ALSO DEALING WITH UNEXPECTED CHANGES FROM THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION.

A NEW ACADEMIC YEAR IS JUST A A FEW WEEKS AWAY, NOW.

THERE IS UNCERTAINTY CAUSED BY A FEDERAL GRANT FREEZE.

LOCAL SCHOOL DISTRICTS ARE AMONG THOSE AFFECTED.

JACOB AERE SAYS MILLIONS OF DOLLARS ARE NOW IN QUESTION.

>> Reporter: MORE THAN $50 MILLION IN FEDERAL EDUCATIONAL GRANT FUNDS MEANT FOR SAN DIEGO COUNTY SCHOOLS IS FROZEN, ACCORDING TO THE COUNTY OFFICE OF EDUCATION.

SCHOOLS WERE EXPECTING THE MONEY ON JULY 1st.

IT HAS THROWN A WRENCH INTO BUDGET PLANNING AHEAD OF THE NEW SCHOOL YEAR AT DISTRICTS ACROSS THE COUNTY.

>> WE ARE ESTIMATING THAT THERE IS ABOUT $13 MILLION THAT WOULD COME TO SAN DIEGO UNIFIED, THAT IS BEING WITHHELD, RIGHT NOW, BY THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION.

>> Reporter: IT IS AFFECTING A WIDE RANGE OF PROGRAMS IN MULTIPLE LOCAL SCHOOL DISTRICTS.

RICHARD BARRERA IS BOARD VICE PRESIDENT OF SAN DIEGO UNIFIED.

THE SECOND LARGEST SCHOOL DISTRICT IN THE STATE.

>> AND THIS IS FUNDING SPECIFICALLY FOR PROGRAMS LIKE AFTERSCHOOL, INCLUDING SUMMER ACTIVITIES.

IT IS FUNDING TO SUPPORT ENGLISH LEARNERS.

IT IS FUNDING TO SUPPORT TEACHER TRAINING.

>> Reporter: AN ESTIMATED $811 MILLION IN GRANT FUNDING IS DUE TO SCHOOLS IN CALIFORNIA.

ACCORDING TO ANALYSIS BY THE LEARNING POLICY INSTITUTE, NATIONWIDE, THE ORGANIZATION SAID THAT NUMBER IS $6.2 BILLION FOR K-12 SCHOOLS.

BARRERA SAYS THE DISTRICT IS CURRENTLY USING FUNDING FROM LATER IN THE YEAR, TO PREVENT DISRUPTIONS TO SUMMER PROGRAMS.

BUT, THE FUNDING FREEZE COULD BE FELT AS SOON AS THE BEGINNING AS THE NEW SCHOOL YEAR.

>> THIS IS MONEY THAT HAS ALREADY BEEN BUDGETED FOR THE 25-26 YEAR, SO IF WE LOSE IT, WE ARE GOING TO HAVE TO MAKE ADJUSTMENTS.

>> Reporter: KPBS REACHED OUT TO 10 OF THE LARGEST SCHOOL DISTRICTS ACROSS THE COUNTY AND HEARD BACK FROM FOUR, INCLUDING SAN DIEGO UNIFIED.

THE CHULA VISTA SCHOOL DISTRICT SAYS THAT ABOUT $2.1 MILLION ARE FROZEN.

PALO UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT SAYS ABOUT $1 MILLION ARE IN LIMBO.

SAN MARCO UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT SAYS THEY WOULD BE IMPACTED MINIMALLY.

>> WE HAVE TO MAKE OUR OWN PLANS, AS A LOCAL DISTRICT.

BUT, WE ARE ALSO DEPENDING AND ENCOURAGING THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA TO TAKE LEGAL ACTION, ALONG WITH OTHER STATES.

AND REMEMBER, THIS IS NOT JUST A BLUE STATE ISSUE, THIS IS ALL 50 STATES.

>> Reporter: THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION REFERRED KPBS TO THE OFFICE OF MANAGEMENT AND BUDGET.

IN A STATEMENT, AN OMB SPOKESPERSON SAID, "THIS IS AN ONGOING, PROGRAMMATIC REVIEW OF EDUCATION FUNDING.

INITIAL FINDINGS SHOW THAT MANY OF THESE GRANT PROGRAMS HAVE BEEN GROSSLY MISUSED TO SUBSIDIZE A RADICAL LEFT-WING AGENDA."

THEY ALSO SAID NO DECISIONS HAVE BEEN MADE, YET, ABOUT WHEN THE FUNDING WILL BE RELEASED OR WHEN THE REVIEW WILL BE COMPLETED.

IF CONGRESS DOES NOT APPROVE FUNDING CUTS WITHIN 45 DAYS OF THE COMPLETED REVIEW, THE LAW REQUIRES THE ADMINISTRATION TO DISTRIBUTE THE MONEY, AS ORIGINALLY PLANNED.

JACOB AERE, KPBS NEWS.

>>> THE FINANCIAL OUTLOOK IS IMPROVING FOR ESCONDIDO.

IT IS ANTICIPATING A BUDGET SURPLUS, THANKS TO A VOTER APPROVED SALES TAX INCREASE.

KPBS REPORTER, ALEXANDER WINN, CHECKS IN ON WHAT THAT MEANS FOR THE CITY.

>> Reporter: DESPITE THE HEAT, GRANT AVENUE IN DOWNTOWN ESCONDIDO IS BUSTLING WITH ACTIVITIES DURING LUNCH TIME.

THAT IS GOOD NEWS FOR JULIAN LAPICZ, THE MANAGER AT UPPER EAST ON GRAND.

>> YEAH, IT JUST FEELS GOOD, IT FEELS GOOD TO BE ONE OF THE NEWER PLACES THAT IS OPENED.

>> Reporter: THIS WESTERN BAR OPENED ROUGHLY SEVEN WEEKS AGO IN THIS HISTORIC DISTRICT, BUT SEVERAL WEEKS AGO, IT LOOKED LIKE THIS.

CONSTRUCTION, STREET CLOSURES, AND EMPTY STOREFRONTS.

BUT, NOW, ONE OF DOWNTOWN ESCONDIDO'S BUSIEST STREETS, LOOKS LIKE THIS.

>> I THINK GRANT IS ONE OF THE NEXT STREETS, ONE OF THE NEXT ENTERTAINMENT DISTRICTS THAT IS GETTING DEVELOPED.

I THINK IT IS GOOD WE PUT OUR RESTAURANT HERE, JUST BECAUSE WE DID NEED SOMETHING HERE ON GRAND, IN GENERAL.

>> Reporter: THE CITY SIDEWALK ADDED NEW PARTS AND ROUNDABOUTS AND EXPANDED OUTDOOR DINING AREAS.

>> YEAH, THE RECENT REOPENING OF GRANT WAS A SIGNIFICANT MILESTONE.

>> Reporter: GRAND REVITALIZATION IS ONE OF THE REASONS WHY ESCONDIDO IS SEEING A BUDGET SURPLUS THIS YEAR.

>> WE EXPECTED TO INCREASE THE ECONOMIC ACTIVITY, WHICH WILL ALSO INCREASE SOME SALES TAX REVENUE.

>> Reporter: CHRISTINA HOLMES IS ESCONDIDO'S FINANCE DIRECTOR.

SHE SAYS THE BIGGEST POKE TO THE CITY'S BUDGET COMES FROM MEASURE I, THE SALES TAX INCREASE PASSED BY VOTERS LAST FALL.

THE TAX WAS EXPECTED TO BRING $28 MILLION, BUT AN INCREASE IN ECONOMIC ACTIVITIES CHANGED THE MATH.

A >> WE ANTICIPATED RECEIVING ABOUT $38 MILLION, BUT THAT UPDATED PROJECTION ALSO REFLECTS THE STRONG, ECONOMIC GROWTH THE CITY HAS EXPERIENCED OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS.

>> Reporter: MONEY FROM MEASURE I IS PUTTING ESCONDIDO'S FINANCIALS ON MUCH BETTER FOOTING, BUT THAT DOESN'T MEAN THE CITY'S STRUCTURAL DEFICIT PROBLEM IS SOLVED.

>> MEASURE I WAS ADOPTED WITH A 20 YEAR SUNSET CLAUSE, MEANING THAT UNLESS VOTERS APPROVED TO EXTEND THE TAX, IT WILL END AFTER 20 YEARS.

SO, WHEN THAT REVENUE ENDS IN 20 YEARS, AND WITHOUT ANY OTHER SUBSTANTIAL CHANGE TO THE CITY STRUCTURE, THE CITY WILL BE BACK WITH A STRUCTURAL BUDGET DEFICIT.

>> Reporter: FOR NOW, THE CITY IS INVESTING THE SURPLUS INTO MUCH-NEEDED INFRASTRUCTURAL IMPROVEMENTS THAT HAVE BEEN ON THE CITY'S DEFERRED MAINTENANCE LIST.

>> ROOF REPAIRS, AND OTHER BUILDING REPAIRS.

MEASURE I FUNDS WERE ALSO ALLOCATED TO REPLACE CRITICAL POLICE AND FIRE VEHICLES.

>> Reporter: FOR LAPICZ, GRAND AVENUE IS THE RIGHT PLACE FOR THE NEW EATERY.

>> IT BRINGS IN MORE FOOT TRAFFIC, MAKES IT EASIER TO GET HERE AND PARK UP AND DOWN THE STREET.

>> Reporter: IN ESCONDIDO, ALEXANDER WINN, KPBS NEWS.

>>> SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTERS TO GET A LIST OF OUR MOST POPULAR STORIES, AND HERE ARE SOME FROM THIS WEEK.

TICKET SALES REMAIN STRONG, DESPITE A SAN DIEGO PRIDE FESTIVAL CONTROVERSY.

A SAN DIEGO PEDIATRICIAN WARNS THAT CHILDREN COULD BEAR THE BRUNT OF FEDERAL BUDGET CUTS.

>>> AND WANT TO MAKE YOURSELF LESS APPEALING TO MOSQUITOES?

ELK WAS HAS SOME SURPRISING IDEAS.

>>> AIR POLLUTION WAS A PRIME SUSPECT IN A CAUSE OF LUNG CANCER IN PEOPLE WHO HAVE NEVER SMOKED, BUT SECONDHAND SMOKE IS ON.

KPBS NEWS REPORTER, THOMAS FUDGE, HAS NEW ON RESEARCH COMING OUT OF SAN DIEGO.

>> Reporter: REDUCTIONS IN TOBACCO SMOKING HAVE LED TO LOWER RATES OF LUNG CANCER IN MANY CASES, BUT PEOPLE WHO HAVE NEVER SMOKED STILL GET LUNG CANCER.

IN FACT, BELIEVE THEIR NUMBERS ARE ON THE RISE.

SCIENTISTS AT UCSD WANTED TO LEARN WHY, SO, THEY STUDY GENE MUTATIONS, THAT ACT IN SIGNATURES TO IMITATE THE CAUSE OF CANCERS.

ONE CANCER RISK THEY EXAMINED WAS IN PEOPLE LIVING IN CITIES WITH STRONG PARTICULATE AIR POLLUTION.

PROFESSOR ALEXANDER OFF WAS AUTHOR OF THE STUDY.

>> THE NUMBERS WE GOT ON AIR POLLUTION WAS, WELL, ACTUALLY, IN HIGHLY POLLUTED AREAS, WE ARE GETTING MANY MORE MUTATIONS IN PEOPLE, AND WE ARE SEEING VERY STRONG ASSOCIATION WITH, YOU KNOW, THE POLLUTION LIKELY CAUSING THE MUTATIONS NEEDED FOR PEOPLE TO DEVELOP CANCER.

>> Reporter: THEY ALSO STUDIED PATIENTS WHO WERE EXPOSED TO LOTS OF SECONDHAND SMOKE.

HE SAID THAT THEY EXPECTED TO SEE STRONG EVIDENCE THAT PASSIVE SMOKING CAUSED LUNG CANCERS.

>> THERE IS MORE MUTATIONS IN THE CANCERS OF PASSIVE SMOKERS.

BUT, IT IS A VERY SMALL INDICATION.

THE THINGS WE THOUGHT WE WOULD SEE, SPECIFIC GENES BEING MORE FREQUENTLY MUTATED, OR SPECIFIC PATHWAYS, WE REALLY DIDN'T SEE.

>> Reporter: HE SAID LUNG CANCER, AMONG THE 871 NEVER SMOKERS THEY SURVEYED AROUND THE WORLD, IS HIGHER AMONG WOMEN.

ESPECIALLY THOSE OF ASIAN DESCENT.

ALEXANDER SAID THEY WANTED TO DO FURTHER STUDIES TO UNDERSTAND WHAT MY MAYBE THE RISK OF LUNG CANCER THAT COMES FROM SMOKING OTHER THINGS.

>> BECAUSE WE ARE SEEING THE POPULATION CHANGING THEIR BEHAVIOR, FROM SMOKING TOBACCO CIGARETTES, TO ACTUALLY VAPING ELECTRONIC CIGARETTES, OR SMOKING MARIJUANA.

AND WE WANT TO UNDERSTAND THE RISKS.

>> Reporter: HE WAS CO-SENIOR AUTHOR OF THE RESEARCH PAPER, PUBLISHED IN THE LATEST EDITION OF THE JOURNAL NATURE.

THOMAS FUDGE, KPBS NEWS.

>>> SO, THE NEXT COUPLE OF STORIES ARE ABOUT HOW WE GET AROUND.

WE STARTED IN NORTH COUNTY, WHERE SOME RESIDENTS ARE PUSHING BACK AGAINST NEW TRAFFIC CIRCLES.

ALEXANDER WINN TALKED TO NEIGHBORS, TO FIND OUT WHY THEY ARE AGAINST THE IDEA.

>> Reporter: THIS IS WHAT THE INTERSECTION OF JEFFERSON AND OAK LOOKS LIKE, NOW.

SOON, IT COULD LOOK LIKE THIS.

WITH A TRAFFIC CIRCLE INSTALLED.

>> IT HAS CAUSED NOTHING BUT PROBLEMS.

>> Reporter: RESIDENT, THOMAS MORGAN, DOESN'T LIKE THEM, BECAUSE HE SAYS PEOPLE DON'T KNOW HOW TO USE THEM CORRECTLY.

>> THIS IS NOT FRANCE.

THIS IS, YOU KNOW, CALIFORNIA.

PEOPLE DON'T YIELD, YOU KNOW?

THE OTHER ONE, DOWN THERE, I SLID THROUGH THAT IN A RAINSTORM, IT SCARED ME TO DEATH.

>> Reporter: AND, THERE IS ANOTHER PROBLEM -- PARKING.

THE PROPOSED CIRCLE WOULD TAKE AWAY FOUR PARKING SPOTS AT THIS INTERSECTION, AND THAT DOESN'T SIT WELL WITH HIM.

>> THIS PARKING LOT IS REALLY TIGHT, YOU KNOW?

PEOPLE, AND BUSINESSES ARE AROUND HERE, SO I HAVE TO WALK TO MY PLACE ALREADY -- IT WOULD JUST BE ANOTHER HEADACHE.

>> Reporter: THIS IS ONE OF THE PROPOSED TRAFFIC CIRCLES.

THE CITY SAYS IT WILL IMPROVE SAFETY BY CALMING TRAFFIC AND MAKING THE NEIGHBORHOOD MORE WALKABLE.

THAT TRAFFIC CIRCLES 1 OF 5 APPROVED FOR THIS AREA MORE THAN SIX YEARS AGO, HOWEVER TRANSPORTATION DIRECTOR IN SYDNEY ENGINEER, THOMPSON, SAYS THAT A LOT HAS CHANGED SINCE THEN.

>> PUBLIC VIEWS HAVE CHANGED, STATE LAWS IN REGARDS TO HOUSING HAVE CHANGED.

AND ALSO, STATE LAWS IN REGARDS TO PARKING HAVE CHANGED, WITH THE NEW DAYLIGHT LAW.

SO, CONSIDERING ALL OF THE RECENT CHANGES, THE CITY COUNCIL FELT IT WAS APPROPRIATE TO GO BACK OUT AND SOLICIT ADDITIONAL PUBLIC INPUT.

>> Reporter: BUT, THERE IS A TIME CRUNCH.

THE CONTRACTED BIDS TO BUILD THESE TRAFFIC CIRCLES ARE SET TO EXPIRE ON AUGUST 6th, PLUS FEDERAL FUNDING FOR THE PROJECT NEEDS TO BE ALLOCATED BY SEPTEMBER, OR ELSE THE CITY IS AT RISK OF LOSING IT.

THE FUNDING ACCOUNTS FOR $4 MILLION OF THE $5.6 MILLION SLATED FOR THE TRAFFIC CIRCLES.

THE CITY COUNCIL WOULD TAKE UP THE MATTER AT ITS JULY 29th MEETING.

ALEXANDER WINN, KPBS NEWS.

>>> SANDAG IS A LOCAL AGENCY THAT FOCUSES ON TRANSPORTATION, EVERYTHING FROM FREEWAY EXPANSION, TWO BUS LANES.

THIS WEEK, ACTIVISTS SHOWED UP AT A COMMUNITY WORKSHOP TO DEMAND MORE ATTENTION ON PUBLIC TRANSIT.

KPBS METRO REPORTER, ANDREW BOWEN, WAS THERE.

>> [ CROWD CHANTING ] HEY, HEY, , , HIGHWAY EXPANSION HAS GOT TO GO.

>> Reporter: A GROUP OF ACTIVISTS RALLIED OUTSIDE THE WORKSHOP IN HEIGHTS TUESDAY EVENING.

AMONG THEM WAS CASEY COUTEAU, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE PEOPLE'S PLATFORM SAN DIEGO, A YOUTH LED MOVEMENT TO TACKLE CLIMATE CHANGE BY INVESTING IN PUBLIC TRANSIT.

HE SAYS THAT SANDAG'S DRAFT TRANSPORTATION PLAN SPENDS TOO MUCH MONEY STUDYING HIGHWAY PROJECTS THAT ARE UNDERFUNDED AND MAY NEVER ACTUALLY GET BILLED.

HE IS ALSO DISAPPOINTED THAT MANY RAIL PROJECTS HAVE BEEN DOWNGRADED TO RAPID BUS LINES, WHICH HE SAYS ARE NOT ALWAYS THAT RAPID.

>> RIGHT HERE IS THE RAPID 2:15 AND ONCE SANDAG CONSTRUCTED IT, THEY PROMISED DEDICATED BUS LANES AND A SERVICE MUCH FASTER THAN THE 15 IT REPLACED.

WHAT WE GOT, WAS A ROUTE NO FASTER THAN THE ROUTE REPLACED.

SAN DIEGO CITY HAD TO PAY FOR THE BUS LANDS AND WE NEVER GOT OLDER BOARDING.

SO, SANDAG HAS PROMISED US A LOT IN THE PAST BUT HAVEN'T DELIVERED ON THEIR PROMISES.

>> Reporter: WHILE SANDAG IS PLANNING SEVERAL EXPRESS LANES ON FREEWAYS, THE CITY SAYS IT IS ACTUALLY THE SMALLEST PACKAGE OF HIGHWAY PROJECTS THEY HAVE EVER PROPOSED.

PART OF THE REASON IS LOWER POPULATION GROWTH.

>> WE ALSO WANT TO HAVE THIS PLAN BE A LITTLE BIT MORE AFFORDABLE.

WE HEARD FROM THE BOARD, WE HEARD FROM THE PUBLIC THAT THEY WANTED THE COST TO COME DOWN FOR THE PLAN, SO WE TRIED TO REALLY OPTIMIZE OUR EXISTING INFRASTRUCTURE, TO THE BUS THAT WE COULD.

>> Reporter: SANDAG IS ACCEPTING COMMENTS ON ITS DRAFT REGIONAL TRANSPORTATION PLAN, THROUGH JULY 18th.

THE AGENCY HAS TO OFFICIALLY ADOPT THE PLAN BY THE END OF THE YEAR.

ANDREW BOWEN, KPBS NEWS.

>>> SAN DIEGO COUNTY IS IN A CRIPPLING HOUSING SHORTAGE.

THE SUPPLY OF HOMES DOES NOT MEET THE HEAVY DEMAND.

DRIVING COSTS FAR OUTSIDE MANY PEOPLE'S BUDGETS.

AS PART OF OUR "PUBLIC MATTERS" COLLABORATION, VOICE OF SAN DIEGO REPORTER, BILL HANSBERRY, BRINGS US THIS STORY ABOUT ONE LOCAL CITY.

>> Reporter: EL CAJON IS ONE OF THE MOST RACIALLY AND ECONOMICALLY DIVERSE CITIES IN SAN DIEGO, BUT IT LAGS FAR BEHIND THE REST OF THE COUNTY IN HOME BUILDING.

IN THE LAST FEW YEARS, EL CAJON PERMITTED LESS THAN 10 NEW HOMES PER 1000 RESIDENTS.

NO OTHER CITY HAD NUMBERS THAT LOW.

CHULA VISTA ACTUALLY BUILT THE MOST NEW HOMES.

NEARLY FOUR TIMES AS MANY AS EL CAJON.

THAT IS ALL ACCORDING TO STATE DATA ANALYZED BY VOICE OF SAN DIEGO AND KPBS.

THE CAUSES BEHIND EL CAJON'S HOUSING DROUGHT ARE COMPLICATED.

THE CITY HAS VERY LITTLE VACANT LAND AND IT IS ALSO THE SECOND MOST DENSELY POPULATED COUNTYWIDE.

BUT, THERE ARE A LOT OF SHOPPING MALLS SO IT WOULD MAKE FOR GREAT BUILDING OPPORTUNITIES.

SO FAR, THOUGH, OWNERS HAVE BEEN HOLDING ONTO THOSE PROPERTIES.

>> IT'S JUST A MATTER OF SPACE.

YOU KNOW?

WE ARE LIKE TOKYO.

THERE IS NO SPACE LEFT, NO PLACE TO BUILD.

>> Reporter: THE CITY'S MAYOR, BILL WELLS, SAYS HE IS PRODEVELOPMENT, BUT ISN'T REALLY INTERESTED IN CHANGING THE CITY'S CHARACTER OR SERIOUSLY INCREASING DENSITY.

>> TALL BUILDINGS BRING IN THEIR OWN PROBLEMS.

I THINK THREE STORIES IS ABOUT AS MUCH AS THIS COMMUNITY COULD TOLERATE.

BECAUSE THIS COMMUNITY FEELS LIKE -- I THINK THEY SEE THEMSELVES AS BEING KIND OF A SMALL, RURAL COMMUNITY.

>> Reporter: HE SAYS HE DOESN'T CURRENTLY HAVE PLANS TO CHANGE EL CAJON'S ZONING LAWS.

HE SAYS IF ANYTHING, STATE LAWS ALREADY ALLOW TOO MUCH BUILDING.

TAKE, FOR EXAMPLE, STATE LAWS THAT ALLOW BUILDINGS TO BYPASS PARK EXPANDING REQUIREMENTS.

>> IT IS A FANTASY, TO THINK YOU ARE GOING TO BUY A CONDO AND NOT HAVE A CAR, AND YOUR ROOMMATE IS NOT GOING TO HAVE A CAR AND YOU DON'T NEED PARKING SPACES BECAUSE YOU HAVE A TROLLEY.

3% OF THE ENTIRE POPULATION OF SAN DIEGO, EVER WITH THE TROLLEY.

PEOPLE DRIVE CARS, BUT WE LIVE IN THE FANTASY THAT WE DON'T NEED CARS.

>> Reporter: STILL, WELLS SAYS HE ISN'T HOSTILE TO DEVELOPMENT AND HE SEES IT AS A WAY TO REINVIGORATE BLIGHTED PARTS OF THE CITY.

>> PEOPLE WANT TO TEAR DOWN AN OLD STRIPMALL AND BUILD A NICE CONDO PROJECT, WE WILL TREAT THEM REALLY WELL.

>> Reporter: WELLS SAYS IF COUNTY OFFICIALS ARE REALLY SERIOUS ABOUT GETTING OUT OF THE HOUSING CRISIS, THEY SHOULD OPEN UP RURAL LAND FOR DEVELOPMENT.

A LOT OF IT IS UNDER FIRE FROM DEMOCRATS, WHO NOW CONTROL THE COUNTY AGAIN, WHO HAVE NOT WANTED TO BUILD IT OUT.

IN EL CAJON, I AM WILL HANSBERRY WITH VOICE OF SAN DIEGO.

>> IF THAT INTERESTED YOU, STAY TUNED FOR MORE STORIES ABOUT HOUSING LOCALLY FROM OUR "PUBLIC MATTERS" TEAM.

THEY WILL LAUNCH A SERIES ON HOUSING AT THE END OF THE MONTH.

WE HOPE YOU HAVE ENJOYED THIS LOOK AT KPBS NEWS THIS WEEK.

I AM MAYA TRABULSI.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

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