♪ >>> THANK YOU FOR JOINING US, A LOOK AT THE BEST ORIGINAL REPORTING FROM KPBS, I AM MAYA TRABULSI, KPBS INVESTIGATES DOG ABUSE ALLEGATIONS INVOLVING A BREEDER WHO OPERATED ON BOTH SIDES OF THE BORDER.

>>> MORE ON THE ISSUES WITHIN THE SAN DIEGO COUNTY PUBLIC DEFENDER'S OFFICE, WE LEARN ABOUT ADDITIONAL COMPLAINTS MADE YEARS AGO.

>>> MAKING E BIKES MORE AFFORDABLE, HOPING SOME RIDERS COVER THE COST .

>>> AMONG THE FEATURED REPORTING, A LOOK AT WHAT IS IS LIKE TO RETURN TO THE U.S. AFTER BEING DEPORTED, MOST PEOPLE NEVER GET THAT CHANCE, GUSTAVO SPOKE WITH SEVERAL DEPORTEES NAVIGATING THE TRANSITION.

>> Reporter: YOLANDA WAS DETAINED AND DEPORTED IN 2011 FOR WORKING WITHOUT LEGAL AUTHORIZATION.

IN AN INSTANT, SHE WAS FORCIBLY BEHIND HER TWO YOUNG CHILDREN IN SAN DIEGO, SHE WAS FINALLY ALLOWED TO RETURN IN JUNE 2022, WE MET HER IN SAN YSIDRO JUST BEFORE SHE CROSSED THE BORDER, THE INTERVIEW WAS CUT SHORT WHEN SHE HUGGED HER DAUGHTER FOR THE FIRST TIME IN NEARLY 12 YEARS.

>> [ CRYING ] >> Reporter: A FEW MONTHS LATER WE CAUGHT UP WITH VERONA IN HER HOME IN SAN DIEGO, SHE WAS STILL INCREDIBLY HAPPY ABOUT BEING REUNITED WITH HER CHILDREN AGAIN.

>> FOR ME THE MOST MARVELOUS THING IS TO BE ABLE TO KISS MY CHILDREN AND HUG THEM, THINGS THAT WERE DENIED TO ME FOR 11 1/2 YEARS, TAKEN FROM ME IN AN INSTANT.

>> Reporter: SHE IS GRATEFUL TO BE BACK, SHE LIVES WITH HER HUSBAND, HECTOR, ALSO A FORMER DEPORTEES, BUT THE RETURN HAS NOT BEEN WHAT THEY EXPECTED.

>> >> WE WERE HOMELESS, PEOPLE WHO DON'T HAVE A PLACE TO LIVE, THAT WAS THE REALITY, NOW WE ARE GRATEFUL FOR THIS LITTLE PATIO AND HOME.

>> Reporter: LANDLORD REFUSED, THE GOT HOUSING THROUGH THE MILITARY BENEFITS, IT'S UNCLEAR HOW MANY FORMERLY DEPORTED PEOPLE ARE ALLOWED TO RETURN TO THE U.S., KPBS ASKED MULTIPLE FEDERAL AGENCIES BUT NONE SAID THEY TRACKED THE DATA, A ROBERT IRWIN IS A PROFESSOR AT UC DAVIS, AND 2017 HE HELPED START THE HUMANIZING DEPORTATION PROJECT, AFTER THE RECORD NUMBER DURING THE OBAMA ADMINISTRATION, JUST AFTER FORMER PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP WAS REGULARLY DEMONIZING IMMIGRANTS.>> THE IMAGINED THEY WERE JUST CRIMINALS OR JUST PEOPLE WHO COULD EASILY READJUST TO LIFE, IN MEXICO OR WHEREVER THEY WERE GOING, BECAUSE THAT'S IS WHERE THEY ARE FROM.

>> Reporter: IN REALITY MANY CONSIDER THE U.S. THEIR HOME.

JACK WAS BROUGHT WHEN HE WAS SIX MONTHS OLD, HE GREW UP IN SAN DIEGO AND JOINED THE MARINES, AND IN 2001 HE WAS DEPORTED AFTER BEING CHARGED WITH POSSESSION OF 2 UNREGISTERED FIREARMS, ALLOWED TO RETURN IN 2019, BUT THE SHADOW OF DEPORTATION HAS STAYED WITH HIM.

>> I HAD TO WORK AND ESTABLISH CREDIT, RENT AND PAY BILLS, ALL OF THAT IS YES, WE GOT TO RETURN HOME BUT WE DIDN'T HAVE OPPORTUNITY.>> Reporter: HE LIVES IN CONSTANT FEAR OF BEING DEPORTED AGAIN, HE SAYS HE MOSTLY KEEPS TO HIMSELF, AVOIDS BIG CROWDS AND DOES EVERYTHING HE CAN TO STAY OUT OF TROUBLE, EVEN WHEN HE'S JUST CROSSING THE STREET.>> LITERALLY, I'M VERY PARANOID BECAUSE I DON'T WANT IT.

>> Reporter: HE THINKS OF HIMSELF AS A PATRIOT, HE UNDERSTANDS THAT DEPORTATIONS ARE NECESSARY, ESPECIALLY FOR VIOLENT CRIMINALS WITH NO ROOTS IN THE COUNTRY, BUT HE DOESN'T UNDERSTAND WHY THE PUNISHMENT IS SO SEVERE FOR THOSE WITH NONVIOLENT OFFENSES.

FOR HIM, FAMILIES AND THOSE WHO WORK AND MAKE POSITIVE CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE COMMUNITY.

>> I SERVED MY SENTENCE FOR THE CRIME WITHIN THE GIVE YOU A MUCH HARSHER ONE, THAT DOES NOT MAKE SENSE TO US AND IT STILL DOESN'T.

WE ARE GRATEFUL FOR THE OPPORTUNITY BUT THAT DOESN'T MAKE SENSE.

>> Reporter: FAMILY MEMBERS, INCLUDING AMERICAN CITIZENS, ARE NOT SPARED FROM THE TRAUMA OF DEPORTATION.

MICHAEL PAULSON BECAME A SINGLE FATHER OF THREE YOUNG BOYS WHEN HIS WIFE, EMMA SANCHES, WAS DEPORTED IN 2006.

>> I HAD A FULL-TIME JOB, PART- TIME JOB AND I USED TO TAKE THE KIDS ON THE WEEKEND, IT WAS VERY HARD A LOT OF STRESS AND A LOT OF FINANCIAL BURDENS, 2 RENTON 2 HOUSEHOLDS TO START FOR FOOD.

>> Reporter: SHE WAS ALLOWED TO RETURN IN 2018 AFTER SPENDING 12 YEARS IN MEXICO, TIME HER FAMILY WILL NEVER GET BACK.

>> I LOST 12 YEARS OF MY LIFE, I SHOULD'VE BEEN IN THE HOUSE WITH HER ALREADY, NOW I START OVER, NO FINANCIAL MONEY SAVED, EVERYTHING I MADE I HAD TO SUPPORT THE FAMILY, IT WAS REALLY HARD.

STARTING OVER, IT'S LIKE 12 YEARS OF YOUR LIFE IS GONE.

>> Reporter: DURING THE LONG SEPARATION SANCHES DREAMED OF THE DAY WHEN HER FAMILY MIGHT BE REUNITED AGAIN.>> IT FEELS LIKE WE ARE DESTINED TO CONTINUE TO SUFFER BECAUSE YOU HAVE THIS HOPE AND OPTIMISM OF COMING BACK, BUT YOU GET HERE AND IT ISN'T WHAT YOU EXPECTED.

IN MY CASE, MY CHILDREN GREW UP.

>> Reporter: TO EASE HER PAIN, SANCHES GOES THROUGH OLD FAMILY PHOTOS SHE KEEPS IN BOXES.

THEY REMIND HER OF HAPPY TIMES, BUT ALSO OF WHAT COULD'VE BEEN.

KPBS NEWS.

>>> THAT STORY BY GUSTAVO IS INCLUDED IN THE LATEST SAN DIEGO NEWS NOW PODCAST, ONE OF SEVERAL SHOWS WE INCLUDE, INCLUDING ROUNDTABLE AND MIDDAY IN ADDITION, FIND K PBS BROADCASTS ON ALL MAJOR PODCAST PLATFORMS.

>>> DAYS AFTER THREATENING A STRIKE, THOSE WHO MAKE A LIVING CLEANING COUNTY OFFICES ARE CELEBRATING, UPDATING US ON A STORY WITH ONE OF THE WORKERS GETTING THEIR JOB BACK AFTER CLAIMS OF RETALIATION.

>> Reporter: SOPHIA MARTINEZ IS ALL SMILES.

SHE SAYS SHE FEELS VINDICATED THAT COUNTY CONTRACTOR NOVA HAS BEEN ORDERED TO GIVE HER BACK HER JOB WITH TWO WEEKS OF BACK PAY TO COVER THE TIME SHE'S BEEN OUT OF WORK.>> THE SAN DIEGO COUNTY OFFICE OF LABOR STANDARDS AND ENFORCEMENT FOUND NOVA VIOLATED LABOR LAWS.

AND SEVERAL JANITORIAL WORKERS, AND UNIONIZED.

AND THE SAN DIEGO COUNTY BUILDING CLAIMED OVER THE 10 YEARS, AND PICKETED, AND FRONT OF THE BUILDING.

AND THE BACKLASH.

AND BETTER PAY AND WORKING CONDITIONS.

>> >> Reporter: SHE SUFFERED BLEEDING TO HER HANDS, NOSE AND PAIN TO HER LUNGS, SHE SAYS PERSIST TO THIS DAY.

>> [ SPEAKING SPANISH ] >> Reporter: WE CALLED HER FOR -- NOVA FOR COMMENT, THEY TOLD US THEY WERE VERY EXCITED TO HAVE THE WORKERS BACK AND THEY WILL CONTINUE TO SUPPORT AND HEAR THEIR CONCERNS, AND WHILE THEY HAVE DONE WORK WITH THE COUNTY FOR MORE THAN 15 YEARS, THEY HAVE ONLY HAD THIS CONTRACT FOR LESS THAN 90 DAYS AND INHERITED THE ISSUES FROM A PREVIOUS CONTRACTOR, MARTINEZ SAYS SOME OF THE WORKERS ARE STILL AFRAID OF RETALIATION, THEY STILL HAVE THE SAME SUPERVISORS.

BUT MARTINEZ SAYS HER FOSTER SON INSPIRED HER TO SPEAK UP FOR HER RIDES, AND CHEERED WHEN HEARD SHE'S BACK TO WORK.

>> [ SPEAKING SPANISH ] >> Reporter: SHE SAID SHE LEARNED FROM THE EXPERIENCE, FROM NOW ON, SHE WILL NEVER STAY QUIET WHEN SHE OR SOMEONE ELSE IS BEING ABUSED AT WORK, KATIE ALVARADO.>>> THIS NEXT STORY INCLUDES IMAGES THAT ARE HARD TO WATCH, ESPECIALLY FOR ANYONE WITH A PET, EVEN WITH INCREASED AWARENESS, UNSCRUPULOUS BACKYARD DOG BREEDING IS STILL A BIG PROBLEM, I INVESTIGATED A DOODLE BREEDER WHO WAS ABLE TO OPERATE ON BOTH SIDES OF THE US-MEXICO BORDER DESPITE ALLEGATIONS OF DOG ABUSE.

>> THIS IS OUR FIRST BABY.

THIS IS LIZZIE.

>> SHE IS SO SCARED.

>> THIS IS KIND OF HOW ALL OF THEM WERE.

>> Reporter: LAUREN BOTTICELLI RUNS A SICK ANIMAL SANCTUARY, TAKING PART IN A HARROWING RESCUE OF MORE THAN 100 YARDS FROM E BACK TO OUR DOODLE BREEDER IN MEXICO.

>> EVERY BREED WAS THERE.

>> Reporter: THEY HAVE AN IMPACT HERE, MANY OF THEM AND OF BEING SOLD IN SAN DIEGO COUNTY.

>> MORE BACK HERE.

>> Reporter: THE SITUATION BEGAN WITH A PLEA FOR HELP ON SOCIAL MEDIA ABOUT A BREEDER WHO WAS IN OVER HER HEAD.

>> NO ONE KNEW WHERE SHE WAS OR WHO SHE WAS.

>> Reporter: AND THAT, THE BREEDER, SENT A GEOGRAPHICAL PIN TO THE BREEDER.

>> WE ACTUALLY SAW A HILL OF DOODLES, THERE WERE MANY MORE DOGS THAN SHE HAD ADMITTED TO.

>> Reporter: ONCE SHE SAW THE STATE OF THE COMPOUND AND THE DOGS.

>> I MADE IT AN ISSUE TO FIND OUT ABOUT THIS WOMAN.

>> Reporter: THEY CAME OVER A SERIES OF VISITS, THE FEW DOGS EACH TIME BUT ONLY ONE SHE WOULD ALLOW, DEEMED WEIRDOS.

>> MAKING MONEY THAT SHE COULD PROFIT OFF OF, SHE WASN'T WILLING TO GIVE UP.

WE SAW HER THROW ROCKS AND BUCKETS.

>> Reporter: ROSE PICKING UP A ROCK AND THROWING IT AT A PACK OF DOGS, AND ANOTHER VIDEO, BEING HANDCUFFED BY MUNICIPAL POLICE AFTER MAKING SERIOUS THREATS AT ONE OF THE RESCUERS.

>> YOU ARE GOING TO KILL ME?

>> Reporter: THE TEAMS GOT TO WORK TO REMIT REMOVE THE REMAINING DOGS, WHAT THEY FOUND WILL HAUNT THEM.

>> AND THEY WOULD BE FIGHTING OVER FOOD TO THE POINT WHERE THEY WERE KILLING EACH OTHER, ANY MOM THAT WAS GIVING BIRTH, THE OTHER DOGS WERE EATING THE PUPPIES.

>> Reporter: DOG SCHOOLS WERE FOUND ON THE PROPERTY.

SEVERAL PUPPIES IN THE FREEZER AND SOME DOGS WERE DEFECATING ROCKS EATEN OUT OF HUNGER.

THIS X-RAY SHOWS ONE OF THE PREGNANT DOGS WITH ROCKS IN HER STOMACH.

IN ONE VIDEO A RESCUER CLIMBS UNDER A WHOLE WERE DOGS HAD DUG A CAVE, SEEMINGLY SWALLOWING HER ENTIRE BODY.

>> I DON'T KNOW HOW SHE'S BEEN GOING TO THE BATHROOM.

>> Reporter: DEMENTED FOR TEARING AT THEIR SKIN, ROSE AGREED TO AN INTERVIEW BUT THEN CHANGED HER MIND, INSTEAD SHE HAS IN RECENT WEEKS DEFENDED HERSELF THROUGH TEXT MESSAGES, SHE SAID THE PUPPIES IN THE FREEZER DIED OF PARGO AND SHE HAS NO FELONIES FOR ANIMAL ABUSE, SHE SAID SHE IS BEING SLANDERED BY INDIVIDUALS AND GROUPS WHO HAVE TAKEN AWAY HER LIVELIHOOD, SHE SAID SHE WAS DETAINED BY MEXICAN IMMIGRATION AUTHORITIES AND IS NOW IN GERMANY.

KPBS WAS NOT ABLE TO GET RECORDS TO RELATED TO HER ARREST OR IF SHE WAS DEPORTED FROM MEXICO.

THIS IS NOT THE FIRST TIME SHE HAS RUN AFOUL OF THE LAW, HER ACTIVITIES HAVE NOT BEEN LIMITED TO MEXICO, FOR YEARS SHE RAN BREEDING OPERATIONS IN THE U.S., AND 2017 THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO CHARGED HER WITH 61 VIOLATIONS NEEDED TO LICENSE AND RABIES REQUIREMENTS.

SHE PLEADED GUILTY TO 11 OF THE COUNTS, FIND AND SENTENCED TO 23 DAYS IN JAIL, A MAGISTRATE JUDGE RULED THAT SHE CANNOT OWN ANIMALS ANYWHERE IN THE UNITED STATES.

SIX OF HER DOGS DIED IN A HOT CAR IN ALBUQUERQUE AFTER SHE SAYS THEY WERE ABANDONED BY THE PERSON SHE HIRED TO TRANSPORT THEM TO TEXAS.

CHARGES AGAINST HER IN THAT CASE WERE DISMISSED.

>> I KNEW BEFORE YOU EVEN SET HER NAME WHO IT WAS.

>> Reporter: SYDNEY SULLIVAN, DIRECTOR OF TORRANCE COUNTY IN NEW MEXICO, ONE WHO KNOWS WHO RAN HER BUSINESS.

>> I HAVE SO MANY ALIASES, ANNETTE FRIED RICK, CHRISTINA STICKS, POLLY SMITH.

REMAX SULLIVAN IS AMONG MANY THIS IS THE PROBLEM WITH ANIMAL CONTROL IN THE U.S. IS THAT BREEDERS WHO ARE SHUT DOWN IN ONE JURISDICTION CAN JUST MOVED TO ANOTHER COUNTY OR ANOTHER STATE.>> WE WORK FOR WEEKS AND MONTHS TO TRY TO STOP THESE THINGS FROM HAPPENING.

AND ALL IT TAKES IS FOR THEM TO MOVE INTO THE NEXT DISTRICT.>> THERE IS NO QUESTION WE NEED A CENTRAL DATABASE.

>> Reporter: SAN DIEGO HUMANE SOCIETY CEO SAYS THAT BREEDERS WILL CONTINUE TO HAVE A EASY TIME EVADING LAW ENFORCEMENT UNTIL THERE IS A WAY TO KEEP TRACK OF THEM ON A NATIONAL LEVEL.>> AND ACTUALLY TRANSLATING WHAT IS HAPPENING IN ANOTHER REGION.

THAT PUTS THE ANIMALS AT RISK.

>> IN 2020, EMILY HOYT BROUGHT ONE OF THE GOLDEN DOODLES THAT ROSA TRANSPORTED TO A CHULA VISTA PARKING LOT.

SPEAKERS SHE SENT ME VIDEOS OF THE PUPPIES, IT REALLY FELT COMFORTABLE, SHE SEEMED VERY GENUINE.

>> Reporter: ROWS SEEM VERY CARING, USING THE FACEBOOK GROUP OF 2700 MEMBERS TO CONNECT PUPPY PARENTS, SHE SAID SHE WAS RESPONSIVE AND FOLLOWED UP AFTER THE SALE.

>> LOOKING BACK, THERE ARE PROBABLY SOME RED FLAGS THAT I OVERLOOKED.

UNFORTUNATELY, BUT A PUPPY IS SUCH AN AMAZING THING.

THERE IS A POST OF HER PROMOTING ONE OF THE LITTERS, MULTIGENERATIONAL MANY GOLDEN DOODLES, READY JANUARY 7, 2023.

>> Reporter: THE SAME LITTER FOUND IN THESE CONDITIONS IN MEXICO.

AND NOW HERE AT THE ANIMAL PAD.

BUT THERE ARE MANY DOODLE BUYERS WHO BOUGHT A PUPPY FROM THIS BACKYARD BREEDER AND ARE HAPPY WITH THE ADORABLE DOGS.

>> I TOLD HIM THERE DOGS ARE THE LUCKIEST ONES, BUT REGRET SUPPORTING SOMEBODY IN A SITUATION WHERE OTHER DOGS WERE BEING HURT IN THE PROCESS.

>> AND THE SAN DIEGO HUMANE SOCIETY SAYS ANY TRANSACTION TO SO THEY PUPPY OR DOG ON PUBLIC PROPERTY IS ILLEGAL THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA, FOR MORE INFORMATION ON WHAT TO LOOK FOR IN GOOD BREEDING, YOU CAN FIND MORE ON THE WEBSITE AND MORE AT THE YOUTUBE PAGE, UPDATED FREQUENTLY THROUGHOUT THE DAY, THAT'S WHERE WE ALSO LIVE STREAM KPBS EVENING EDITION WEEKNIGHTS AT 5:00.

THAT STORY WAS ONE OF THE MOST READ AT KPBS.ORG, HERE ARE SOME OTHERS .

>>> A CHANGE IN TOWING POLICY COMING TO SAN DIEGO, LISTEN TO THE SEGMENT ON THE CITY'S ENFORCEMENT, ESPECIALLY WHEN IT COMES TO LOW INCOME DRIVERS, THE ZOO AND SAFARI PART WELCOMES THE BIRTH OF A RARE HORSE AND A BREED THAT WAS ONCE CONSIDERED EXTINCT.

>>> AFTER A MONTH THAT BROUGHT US SOME HIGH BILLS, TIPS ON WHAT WORKS AND WHAT DOESN'T WORK WHEN IT COMES TO SAVING ENERGY.

>>> AND ANITA SHARMA HAS COVERED COMPLAINS OF THE PUBLIC DEFENDER'S OFFICE, NEW INFORMATION ON COMPLAINTS FROM WHISTLEBLOWERS IN LATE 2020, TWO YEARS BEFORE NEXT EMPLOYEE WAS AWARDED MILLIONS IN A WRONGFUL TERMINATION CASE.

>> Reporter: IN NOVEMBER 2020, AT LEAST TWO WHISTLEBLOWERS FILED COMPLAINTS AGAINST THE OTHER DEFENDER'S OFFICE WITH SAN DIEGO COUNTY, THE COMPLAINTS ALLEGED RETALIATION, HOSTILITY, RACIAL INSENSITIVITY AND CONFLICT OF INTEREST, THE ALLEGATIONS FOLLOW THE FIRINGS OF THREE DEPUTY PUBLIC DEFENDERS INCLUDING ZACH, WHO EARLIER THIS MONTH WON A $2.6 MILLION JUDGMENT IN A WRONGFUL TERMINATION LAWSUIT AGAINST THE COUNTY.

COUNTY SPOKESMAN MIKE WORKMAN TOLD KPBS IN AN EMAIL THAT THE OFFICE OF ETHICS AND COMPLIANCE INVESTIGATED THE WHISTLEBLOWER COMPLAINTS, BUT WORKMAN SAID THE PROBE WAS SUSPENDED WHEN OFFICIALS LEARNED THAT TWO OF THE THREE FIRED DEPUTY PUBLIC DEFENDERS MIGHT SUE.

A SAN DIEGO LEGAL ANALYST.

>> ONCE LITIGATION BEGINS, IT IS NOT UNCOMMON FOR WHATEVER INVESTIGATION IS IN PROCESS TO BE PUT ON HOLD, WHICH IS WHAT THE COUNTY ESSENTIALLY DID.

THAT IS BECAUSE THE LITIGATION PROCESS IT SELF HAS A WHOLE SET OF RULES FOR FINDING OUT WHAT HAPPENED.

>> THIS RAISES QUESTIONS AS TO WHETHER ANYTHING HAS BEEN DONE OVER THE PAST TWO YEARS ABOUT THE ALLEGED HOSTILE WORK ENVIRONMENT INSIDE THE PUBLIC DEFENDERS OFFICE, KPBS ASKED THE COUNTY FOR DETAILS ON THE INVESTIGATION, ONE WAS THE PROBE LAUNCHED, HOW MANY PEOPLE WERE INTERVIEWED AND WHEN WAS IT SUSPENDED, THE COUNTY REFUSED TO COMMENT, BUT EATON SAYS THAT COUNTY OFFICIALS HAD CHOICES.

>> THEY DON'T HAVE TO PUT AN INVESTIGATION ON HOLD.

>> HERE'S WHAT WE DO KNOW, LAWYER CHRIS REPRESENTS MICHELLE AND -- MICHELLE REYNOSO, WHO HAS FILED A WRONGFUL TERMINATION SUIT, HE SAID HE LET THEM KNOW THAT LITIGATION WAS PENDING, THREE WEEKS AFTER THE WHISTLEBLOWERS FILED THEIR COMPLAINT.

HE SAYS THE COUNTY NEVER CONTACTED HIS CLIENTS FOR AN INTERVIEW ABOUT THE COMPLAINTS, HOWEVER THE COUNTY DID FOR THE COMPLAINTS TO PUBLIC DEFENDER MANAGEMENT, TESTIMONY DURING THE WRONGFUL TERMINATION TRIAL REVEALS IN EARLY DECEMBER 2020 A SUPERVISOR IN THE PUBLIC DEFENDERS OFFICE SAID IN A LETTER TO THE COUNTY THAT AN INTERNAL HR REPORT TO DETERMINE THE WHISTLEBLOWER COMPLAINTS WERE UNFOUNDED, THAT'S THE SAME REPORT THAT THE PUBLIC DEFENDER TESTIFIED DURING TRIAL THAT HE SIGNED, KNOWING THAT IT CONTAINED FALSE STATEMENTS BY SUPERVISORS IN HIS OFFICE.>> I WILL BET 10-1 THAT DECISION CAN PUT THE INVESTIGATION ON HOLD, IT WAS DICTATED BY THE LAWYERS IN THE LITIGATION.

>> NEW YORK UNIVERSITY, AND THE EMPLOYER, AND ALLEGATIONS OF DISCRIMINATION AND HARASSMENT, AND OTHER WORDS, AND THE LAW DOESN'T CHANGE JUST BECAUSE AN EMPLOYER IS SUED.

>> MAKING SURE THAT THINGS -- THINGS ARE BEING DONE PROPERLY WHATEVER THE LEGAL FALLOUT IN THE LITIGATION.>> Reporter: THE JURY AGREED, AS A GAY MAN, HE WAS DISCRIMINATED WITH THE GENEROUS PERSON, AND TO FLAMBOYANT AND ANIMATED.

AND AND THE PRESSURE, AND INVESTIGATE, AND THE COUNTY DID NOTHING TO PREVENT DISCRIMINATION, AND RETALIATION AGAINST AVINA.

AND WHAT IS THAT WAS GOING ON, A MULTI-DOLLAR VERDICT.

AVOIDING THAT.>> Reporter: KPBS NEWS.

>> BLACK HISTORY MONTH, FOR THE FIRST TIME, A SYMBOL OF SOCIAL JUSTICE IS PART OF THE CELEBRATION FOR LOCAL SCHOOLS.

WE WERE THERE FOR A SPECIAL FLAG RAISING EVENT AT SAN DIEGO UNIFIED HEADQUARTERS.

>> ONE AT A TIME ALL THE WAY TO THE TOP.

>> Reporter: THE WIND WAS STIFLED THIS MORNING BUT THE MESSAGE WAS NOT, THIS MONTH, THE BLACK LIVES MATTER FLAG IS A SYMBOL THAT WILL FLY OVER THE ADMINISTRATION BUILDING OF THE SAN DIEGO UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT, AND STUDENTS ARE WELL EDUCATED ON THE SIGNIFICANCE OF WHAT THAT MEANS.

>> IT DOESN'T ALWAYS FEEL GREAT LEARNING ABOUT THE BAD AND UNFAIR THINGS THAT HAPPEN TO BLACK PEOPLE BUT IT'S IMPORTANT TO LEARN ABOUT IT.

>> Reporter: LEARNING ABOUT IT IN WORDS AND RECITING POETRY.

>> HEY BLACK CHILD, DO YOU KNOW YOU ARE STRONG, REALLY STRONG?

DO YOU KNOW YOU CAN DO WHAT YOU WANT TO DO IF YOU TRY TO DO WHAT YOU CAN DO?

>> Reporter: TEACHERS AND ADMINISTRATORS RECOGNIZE THE WORDS OF THE HARLEM RENAISSANCE POET PERKINS, WORDS OF HER OWN.

>> BEING A BLACK PERSON IS AN ONGOING JOURNEY, BUT YOU CAN NEVER, EVER GIVE UP.

>> Reporter: DISTRICT OFFICIALS DECIDED TO RAISE THE BLACK LIVES MATTER FLAG TO SHOW THEIR COMMITMENT TO DIVERSITY AND EQUALITY TRUST ALL CAMPUSES.

>> AS MANY OF THEM SAID, IT HAS BEEN A CHALLENGE FOR THEM INDIVIDUALLY, I STRUGGLE WITH IDENTITY GROWING UP AND I'M PROUD OF WHO I AM TODAY, BECAUSE OF EDUCATORS.

>> Reporter: WHILE THE FLAG IS A SYMBOL OF EDUCATION THIS BLACK HISTORY MONTH, THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO SAY THERE IS STILL PLENTY OF WORK TO BE DONE, ESPECIALLY WHEN IT COMES TO SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EDUCATION IN CALIFORNIA.

>> Reporter: THE CURRENT STATE BUDGET HAS $300,000 EARMARKED TO HELP STUDENTS WHO RECEIVE FREE OR REDUCED SCHOOL LUNCHES.

GOVERNOR NEWSOM PROPOSED THE SPENDING TO GIVE CHILDREN LIVING IN POVERTY SUPPORT ENCLOSING THE EDUCATIONAL GAP.

SOME BLACK EDUCATIONAL LEADERS BELIEVE THAT EXCLUDES ALMOST 350,000 CHILDREN OF COLOR.

WERE NOT IN POVERTY, AND HAVE FALLEN BEHIND THEIR WHITE CLASSMATES WHO ARE.

>> WHEN YOU REALLY ANALYZE THE DATA, IT IS NOT A FACTOR OF WHETHER OR NOT STUDENTS HAVE WEALTH OR ARE MIDDLE-CLASS, IT IS A FACTOR OF WHETHER YOU ARE BLACK RIGHT NOW IN SCHOOL.

>> Reporter: THESE BLACK STUDENTS REMAIN IN REALITY, AND ALSO HANG ON TO HOPE.

>> THESE BAD THINGS HAPPENING, WHETHER IT WILL MAKE AN IMPACT, ONE DAY YOUR COMMUNITY, WILL BE A SAFE COMMUNITY WHERE EVERYONE IS TREATED EQUALLY.

>> Reporter: A MESSAGE IN THE SAN DIEGO UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT THAT PASSES WITH FLYING COLORS.

MG PEREZ.

KPBS NEWS.

>> COVERAGE INCLUDE SUGGESTIONS FROM THE KPBS ARTS REPORTER, BETH HAS A ROUNDUP OF COMIC BOOK THEMED EVENTS HAPPENING THIS MONTH CELEBRATING BLACK CULTURE, AVAILABLE ONLINE AT KPBS.ORG.

>>> WE ARE EXPECTING SOME SUNNY SKIES THIS WEEKEND, ESPECIALLY SATURDAY, THAT MEANS A LOT OF PEOPLE WILL BE OUT ON E BIKES, GROWING IN POPULARITY.

CLEAR STRONG HAS DETAILS ON A NEW PROGRAM THAT WILL HELP PEOPLE GET ONE OF THEIR OWN.

>> Reporter: ELECTRIC BIKES, OR E BIKES, AS THEY ARE KNOWN, ARE MORE POPULAR THAN EVER.

KIDS USE THEM TO GET TO AND FROM SCHOOL, SURFERS RIDE THEM TO THEIR FAVORITE SPOT AND MANY PEOPLE VIEW THEM AS AN ALTERNATIVE TO CARS, AND THEY CAN EVEN REACH SPEEDS OF ALMOST 30 MILES PER HOUR.

>> I LOVE IT FOR GETTING AROUND TOWN, EASIER FORM OF TRANSPORTATION, NEVER HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT PARKING, GREAT WEATHER USUALLY YEAR-ROUND, A QUICK AND EASY AND CONVENIENT WAY TO GET PLACES.>> Reporter: THE STEEP PRICE TAG CAN BE AROUND 2 1/2 THOUSAND DOLLARS PER BIKE, HAS PREVENTED LOTS OF PEOPLE FROM BEING ABLE TO AFFORD THEM.

HOWEVER A STUDENT -- A NEW STATEWIDE PROGRAM CALLED THE ELECTRIC BICYCLE INCENTIVE PROJECT HOPES TO CHANGE THAT THIS SPRING, BEING RUN BY THE CALIFORNIA AIR RESOURCES BOARD, WITH INPUT FROM A LOCAL NONPROFIT, WHICH RUNS A SIMILAR ONE IN SAN DIEGO, AS WELL AS THE CALIFORNIA BICYCLE COALITION.

>> EQUITY IS CENTRAL TO THE PROGRAM, PEOPLE WILL BE ABLE TO PUT UP FRONT, IT'S NOT A TAX REBATE LIKE MANY OF THE ELECTRICAL VEHICLE PROGRAMS, IN THIS CASE YOU WILL GET A POINT OF SALE VOUCHER, IF YOU FIND A QUALIFIED BIKE THAT YOU WANT TO BUY, GO TO A QUALIFIED VENDOR, AND YOU ASK TO BUY THE BIKE IN YOUR VOUCHER WILL BE APPLIED.

>> Reporter: IN ADDITION TO MAKING E BIKES MORE EQUITABLE, IT IS HOPED IT WILL HELP CUT THE NUMBER OF CARS ON THE ROAD AND CUT GREENHOUSE GASES.

FOR THOSE WHO QUALIFY THE VOUCHER WILL BE WORTH 1000- $2000, TO BE SPENT SPENT AT A CALIFORNIA-BASED E BIKE RETAILER, HOPING LOCAL BUSINESSES LIKE HAPPY E BIKES, IN CARLSBAD.

>> A GREAT WAY TO GET AROUND TOWN, NO GAS NEEDED, ELECTRIC POWER I BELIEVE IS THE FUTURE, AND AS TECHNOLOGY GROWS, OUR BATTERIES WILL GET MORE COMPACT AND WE WILL GET MORE DISTANCE OUT OF THEM AND BECOME A LITTLE BIT MORE EDUCATED ON HOW TO HANDLE THE BATTERIES ESPECIALLY.

>> I HAVE TO PUT MY HELMET ON.

LIKE THIS.

>> UNDER THE WATCHFUL EYE OF DAN, I DECIDED TO TRY OUT AND E BIKE FOR THE FIRST TIME MYSELF, $10 MILLION SET ASIDE FOR THE PROGRAM, SOLELY FOR PEOPLE BELOW THE POVERTY LINE, AND YOU CAN FIND OUT MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE INITIATIVE, DUE TO BEGIN OVER THE NEXT FEW MONTHS, AT CAL BIKE.ORG.

KEY PBS NEWS.

>>> WE HOPE YOU ENJOY THIS LOOK AT KPBS NEWS, I AM MAYA TRABULSI, THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

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