♪ >>> THANK YOU FOR JOINING US FOR THIS LOOK AT SOME OF THE BEST STORIES FROM KPBS NEWS THIS WEEK.

I'M MAYA TRABULSI.

>>> COMING UP, IT'S BEING CALLED THE LARGEST PROTEST SAN DIEGO HAS EVER SEEN.

SEE SOME OF OUR COVERAGE OF THE NO KINGS DAY EVENT THAT DREW MORE THAN 60,000 PEOPLE.

>>> CELEBRATING JUNETEENTH, FOR THE FIRST TIME THE SAN DIEGO BLACK ARTS AND CULTURE DISTRICT RAISES THE FLAG THAT SYMBOLIZES THE HOLIDAY.

>>> AND SPEAKING OUT FOR JOURNALISM, A FORMER EDITOR AT THE SAN DIEGO UNION TRIBUNE QUESTIONS HER ABRUPT DISMISSAL FROM THE DAILY NEWSPAPER.

>>> WE START WITH A COMPREHENSIVE LOOK AT THE I.C.E.

ENFORCEMENT SCENE IN SAN DIEGO IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA IN RECENT WEEKS.

GUSTAVO SOLIS SAYS THE SITUATION IS BECOMING MORE VOLATILE WITH GROWING TENSION BETWEEN DEMOCRATS AND IMMIGRANT RIGHTS ADVOCATES WHO DISAGREE HOW TO APPROACH THE SITUATION.

>> Reporter: FROM ARRESTING IMMIGRANT WORKERS NEAR EL CAJON TO DETAINING PEOPLE IN SAN DIEGO'S IMMIGRATION COURT -- >> I WANT THE U.S. MILITARY JUST -- >> Reporter: -- AND RAIDING A POPULAR SOUTH PARK RESTAURANT, LOCAL IMMIGRATION LAWYERS SAY THIS IS WHAT MASS DEPORTATIONS LOOK LIKE, FEDERAL AGENTS PRESSURED TO MEET ARREST QUOTAS, TARGETING ANYONE THEY SUSPECT OF BEING IN THE COUNTRY ILLEGALLY, NOT JUST IMMIGRANTS WITH VIOLENT CRIMINAL CONVICTIONS.

>> WHEN TRUMP TOOK OFFICE, HE PUT INTO PLACE A NUMBER OF EXECUTIVE ORDERS AND THE DIFFERENT MEMORANDA GREW VASTLY EXPANDING THE SCOPE OF ENFORCEMENT ACTIVITIES AND NOW WE'RE STARTING TO SEE THE FRUITS OF THOSE MEMORANDUM.

>> Reporter: OVER THE LAST COUPLE MONTHS, WE'VE HEARD STORIES OF A GRANDMOTHER, A SOCCER COACH, AND A DISABLED ASYLUM SEEKER ALL BEING CAUGHT IN PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP'S DEPORTATION MACHINE.

WE'VE SEEN AN INCREASE IN WORKPLACE RAIDS, BUT OTHER TACTICS ARE BRAND-NEW LIKE ARRESTING PEOPLE AT IMMIGRATION COURT HEARINGS OR DURING SCHEDULED CHECK-INS WITH I.C.E.

ANOTHER NEW ENFORCEMENT TACTIC?

REVOKING STUDENT VISAS.

>> THESE ARE PEOPLE FINISHING GRADUATE PROGRAMS, DOCTORAL PROGRAMS, A LOT OF TIME INVESTED AND A LOT OF COMMITMENT INVESTED AND TO LOSE THIS IS PRETTY MONUMENTAL FOR SOMEBODY WHO DEVOTED THEIR LIVES TO DO IT.

>> Reporter: A COALITION OF NONPROFITS, HUMANITARIAN WORKERS, AND LAWYERS HAVE SPENT MOST OF THIS YEAR RESPONDING TO THIS NEW WAVE OF I.C.E.

ENFORCEMENT.

ADVOCATES ARE PATROLLING IMMIGRANT NEIGHBORHOODS AND WARNING PEOPLE OF POTENTIAL I.C.E.

ACTIVITY.

LAWYERS ARE RUSHING TO FEDERAL COURTHOUSES AND PROVIDING PRO BONO LEGAL AID TO PEOPLE BEING ARRESTED.

OTHERS ARE FUNDRAISING FOR FAMILIES OF THE PEOPLE DETAINED, INCLUDING THE U.S. CITIZEN PARTNERS AND CHILDREN.

>> COURT FIASCO, THEY WERE THERE.

SOUTH PARK, THEY WERE THERE.

WE'VE GOT SOME ORGANIZATIONS HERE IN SAN DIEGO THAT DO RAPID RESPONSE INCREDIBLY WELL.

>> Reporter: AFTER LAST MONTH'S IMMIGRATION RAID OF A SOUTH PARK RESTAURANT, SAN DIEGO'S POLITICAL AND LABOR LEADERS ARE BECOMING MORE VOCAL.

>> OVER THE PAST WEEK THE IMMIGRATION ENFORCEMENT TACTICS WE'VE SEEN IN SAN DIEGO HAVE CROSSED A NEW LINE.

>> Reporter: SAYING THAT IT'S HYPOCRITICAL OF OUR SOCIETY TO PROFIT FROM THE WORK OF UNAUTHORIZED IMMIGRANTS AND THEN PUNISH THEM FOR THAT WORK.

>> THIS ECONOMY HAS BEEN BUILT ON THE BACKS OF HARD WORKING IMMIGRANTS AND NOW WE UNLEASH SOLDIERS TO ATTACK THEM?

IT IS HYPOCRISY TO THE CRUELEST OF STAGES.

>> Reporter: WHILE POLITICIANS, LABOR LEADERS, AND ACTIVISTS ALL AGREE THIS LEVEL OF ENFORCEMENT IS PROBLEMATIC, THEY DISAGREE ON HOW TO COMBAT IT.

DEMOCRATS ARE QUICK TO CRITICIZE WHITE HOUSE OFFICIALS AND SPECIFIC ENFORCEMENT ACTIONS, BUT THEY STILL GENERALLY SUPPORT I.C.E.

CONGRESSMAN JUAN VARGAS SAYS I.C.E.

AGENTS ARE MOSTLY GOOD PEOPLE FOLLOWING BAD ORDERS.

>> I'VE BEEN IN OFFICE NOW FOR SOME TIME.

I'VE MET A LOT OF I.C.E.

AGENTS.

I CAN ASSURE YOU THAT ALMOST EVERY I.C.E.

AGENT THERE DIDN'T WANT TO BE THERE DOING THAT.

THEY DID NOT WANT TO BE IN THERE DISRUPTING, RUNNING INTO A RESTAURANT LIKE THAT WITH MACHINE GUNS TO ARREST THE COOK.

THEY'RE GETTING THOSE ORDERS FROM WASHINGTON.

>> Reporter: ON THE OTHER HAND, IMMIGRANT RIGHTS ADVOCATES SAY THAT THE ENTIRE AGENCY NEEDS TO BE REBUILT.

THEY POINT TO A HISTORY OF CIVIL RIGHTS ABUSES AND ARGUE THE PROBLEM IS SYSTEMIC, NOT JUST A FEW BAD APPLES ON ARE A PARTICULARLY HARSH ADMINISTRATION.

>> THE INFRASTRUCTURE IS A JUGGERNAUT.

IT IS HUGE.

IT'S LARGE.

UNLESS WE'RE CALLING FOR A TRUE END TO I.C.E.

RAIDS, THEN WE HAVE TO BE TRUTHFUL ABOUT OUR VISION FOR A JUST SOCIETY.

>> Reporter: LOCAL LABOR LEADERS SAY THAT THEY WANT DEMOCRATS TO DO MORE THAN JUST PRESS CONFERENCES.

LOCAL PARTY LEADERS SAY THAT THEIR POWER IS LIMITED.

THEY ARE THE MINORITY PARTY, BUT THEY DID SEND THE DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY SECRETARY KRISTI NOEM A LETTER DEMANDING AN INVESTIGATION INTO THE SAN DIEGO RAID, BUT JUST A FEW DAYS LATER THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION SENT NATIONAL GUARD TROOPS AND THE MARINES TO LOS ANGELES WHERE PEOPLE WERE PROTESTING INCREASED I.C.E.

ENFORCEMENT.

AT A PRESS CONFERENCE IN LOS ANGELES, NOEM WAS CRYSTAL CLEAR ABOUT THEIR PLANS.

>> WE ARE NOT GOING AWAY.

WE ARE STAYING HERE TO LIBERATE THIS CITY.

>> Reporter: AT THAT SAME PRESS CONFERENCE NOEM SECURITY DETAIL PUSHED CALIFORNIA SENATOR ALEX PADILLA TO THE GROUND AND HANDCUFFED HIM AFTER HE TRIED TO ASK HER QUESTIONS.

>> BEHIND MY BACK.

>> LAY FLAT.

LAY FLAT.

>> Reporter: THE SITUATION REMAINS VOLATILE.

ON SUNDAY TRUMP ORDERED I.C.E.

TO INCREASE ENFORCEMENT IN WHAT HE CALLED DEMOCRAT-RUN CITIES LIKE SAN DIEGO.

GUSTAVO SOLIS, KPBS NEWS.

>> GUSTAVO SOLIS HAS DONE EXTENSIVE WORK IN RECENT WEEKS ON THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION'S POLICIES AND HOW THEY'RE AFFECTING SAN DIEGO.

YOU CAN FIND MORE OF HIS CONTENT AT KPBS.ORG.

>>> WE'VE SEEN MANY PROTESTS SINCE PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP TOOK OFFICE IN JANUARY, BUT LAST WEEKEND'S IS CALLED THE LARGEST POLITICAL DEMONSTRATION SAN DIEGO HAS EVER SEEN.

WE HAVE SEVERAL STORIES TIED TO THE EVENT AND ITS UNDERLYING ISSUES.

HERE ARE KPBS REPORTERS JACOB AERE, HEIDI de MARCO, AND JULIA DIXON EVANS.

>> DONALD TRUMP HAS GOT TO GO, HEY HEY, >> Reporter: AN ESTIMATED 60,000 PEOPLE OF ALL AGES AND BACKGROUNDS PEACEFULLY JOINED TOGETHER IN DOWNTOWN SAN DIEGO SATURDAY.

SPEAKING OUT AGAINST THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION AND WHAT ORGANIZERS SAY IS A TAKEOVER OF U.S. DEMOCRACY.

>> IT WAS JUST LIKE SOMETHING THAT WAS BOILING AND BOILING.

I JUST POPPED OFF NOW LIKE NO, I HAVE TO HAVE THE COURAGE TO STAND UP FOR WHAT I BELIEVE IN AND NOT FEAR, YOU KNOW, WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN.

>> Reporter: AMONG THE THOUSANDS WHO MARCHED THROUGH THE STREETS OF DOWNTOWN SAN DIEGO WERE HUSBAND AND WIFE RAY RUBY AND CATIA CORTEZ.

THEY SAID THEY FELT COMPELLED TO PROTEST THE FIRST TIME EVER.

HE'S AN ARMY VETERAN.

>> I FEEL LIKE US THAT SERVED WITH ME AND PEOPLE FEEL LIKE OUR TIME IN SERVICE WAS WASTED AND WE'RE JUST TRYING TO SHOW THAT TO EVERYBODY ELSE, SHOW THAT, YOU KNOW, WE'RE FOR THE PEOPLE, NOT FOR THE GOVERNMENT, CURRENT GOVERNMENT AT LEAST.

>> Reporter: AND SHE'S A LOCAL SCHOOLTEACHER.

>> THERE'S STUDENTS WHO HAVE TOLD ME HEY, MS. CORTEZ, THIS HAPPENED TO MY AUNT TODAY OR MY UNCLE OR MY MOM OR DAD.

SO THEY'RE LOSING PEOPLE LIKE LEFT AND RIGHT AND THEY'RE JUST LIKE WHAT DO WE DO?

>> Reporter: THEY GREW UP IN SAN DIEGO AND IMPERIAL COUNTIES AND COME FROM IMMIGRANT FAMILIES.

THEY'RE STRESSES AND UPSET WITH THE CURRENT DEPORTATION PRACTICES.

>> PEOPLE ARE COMING HERE LEGALLY AND THIS IS HAPPENING.

AMERICAN CITIZENS ARE BEING DETAINED AND EVEN IF THEY END UP REALIZING OH, WE MADE AN ERROR, THEY RETURN THEM BACK, LIKE WHAT ARE THEY BASING THAT ON, JUST HOW WE LOOK?

SO THEY'RE PROFILING US.

>> Reporter: THE FEAR OF DEPORTATIONS IN THEIR COMMUNITY HAS BECOME UNAVOIDABLE IN THEIR OWN LIVES.

>> JUST SEEING EVERYTHING THAT'S HAPPENING FIRSTHAND IN FRONT OF YOU SOMETIMES OUT IN THE STREETS, SEEING I.C.E.

VANS, ALL THAT STUFF AROUND, IT'S REALLY HARD TO WATCH AND IT LEAVES YOU SPEECHLESS.

>> Reporter: SPRING VALLEY RESIDENT KARINA AVELAR ALSO MARCHED AT THE PROTEST WITH HER FRIENDS.

>> I'M HERE FOR MY IMMIGRANT FAMILY MEMBERS WHO ARE SCARED.

THEY'VE BEEN HERE MORE THAN 30 YEARS AND THEY'RE SCARED TO -- THEY'RE JUST SCARED OF WHAT'S HAPPENING RIGHT NOW, THE DISCRIMINATION THEY FACED BACK THEN AND FACING NOW.

THEY'RE SCARED TO SPEAK THEIR VOICE.

I WANT TO BE THAT VOICE FOR THEM.

>> Reporter: SHE HAS FAMILY IN SAN DIEGO AND LOS ANGELES.

>> THESE PEOPLE THAT THEY'RE TAKING, THEY'RE SAYING THEY'RE TAKING THE CRIMINALS, BUT THEY'RE NOT.

THEY'RE TAKING CHILDREN, PARENTS, HARD WORKING VENDORS.

>> Reporter: TO PUT THE GATHERING SATURDAY IN DOWNTOWN SAN DIEGO IN CONTEST, IT WAS FAR LARGER THAN ANY OTHER PROTEST IN TRUMP'S SECOND TERM AND ALMOST DOUBLED THE LOCAL TURNOUT FOR THE WOMEN'S MARCH IN 2017.

JACOB AERE, KPBS NEWS.

>>> IN A SOCIAL MEDIA POST ON JUNE 7th , DONALD TRUMP CLAIMED MASKS WERE BANNED AT PROTESTS, SAYING IT PREVENTS LAW ENFORCEMENT FROM IDENTIFYING VIOLENT AGITATORS, BUT SOME PUBLIC HEALTH PROFESSIONALS SAY A MASK CAN BE A LIFELINE, NOT A THREAT.

>> SAYING SOMEBODY DOESN'T HAVE THE RIGHT TO WEAR A SURGICAL MASK OR RESPIRATOR IN ORDER TO PROTECT THEIR HEALTH, THE HEALTH OF OTHERS, IS REALLY CONCERNING TO ME AS A HEALTH PROFESSIONAL.

>> Reporter: PEDIATRICIAN MAYA KUMAR SAYS THAT'S EXACTLY WHY PEOPLE, ESPECIALLY THOSE AT HIGHER RISK, SHOULD HAVE THE FREEDOM TO PROTECT THEMSELVES.

>> I WOULD JUST ENCOURAGE EVERYONE TO CAREFULLY WEIGH THE RISKS OF GOING TO A CROWDED GATHERING WITHOUT WEARING A MASK, PARTICULARLY IF YOU HAVE NOT BEEN VACCINATES AGAINST RESPIRATORY VIRUSES OR YOU HAVE UNDERLYING HEALTH CONDITIONS THAT PREDISPOSE YOU TO MORE SEVERE ILLNESS.

>> Reporter: STUDIES SHOW IMMUNOCOMPROMISED PEOPLE ARE STILL MORE LIKELY TO BE HOSPITALIZED OR DIE FROM COVID EVEN IF VACCINATED AND DURING THE 2020 BLACK LIVES MATTER PROTESTS WHERE UP TO 96% OF PEOPLE WORE MASKS, 11 OUT OF 12 CITIES SAW NO SPIKE IN COVID CASES.

>> THAT WILL PROBABLY BECOME A MUCH BIGGER DEAL IF PEOPLE ARE NOT ABLE TO TAKE SIMPLE PRECAUTIONS LIKE WEARING A SURGICAL MASK OR RESPIRATOR TO PROTECT THEMSELVES.

>> Reporter: KUMAR SAYS MANY PEOPLE STILL FACE REAL RISKS, EVEN OUTDOORS.

>> FOR A PERSON WITH A SERIOUS ILLNESS LIKE ASTHMA OR HEART DISEASE OR MAYBE WHO'S PREGNANT OR WHO'S ELDERLY OR HAS SOME OTHER KIND OF IMMUNOCOMPROMISE IT, ONLY TAKES ONE EXPOSURE TO ONE SICK PERSON POTENTIALLY TO LAND YOU IN THE HOSPITAL.

>> Reporter: KUMAR SAYS DECISIONS ABOUT MASKING SHOULD BE PERSONAL, NOT POLITICAL.

SHE WARNS THAT BANNING MASKS COULD DISCOURAGE VULNERABLE PEOPLE FROM SAFELY JOINING PUBLIC PROTESTS.

HEIDI de MARCO, KPBS NEWS.

>>> ART AS PROTESTS TAKES MANY FORMS FROM PUBLIC ART INSTALLATIONS AND UNDERGROUND SCENES TO PARODY, CREATED TO MAKE SENSE OF THE WORLD AND SHARE A MESSAGE.

THE PROFESSOR OF DESIGN AT SAN DIEGO UNIVERSITY SAYS PROTEST SIGNS ARE PUBLIC VISUAL MANIFESTATIONS OF REALTIME DISSENT.

>> EVERYBODY IS AN ARTIST, SO THOSE ARE ALL LIKE JOURNAL PAGES OF THE UNITED STATES RIGHT NOW.

THEY'RE SO PERSONAL.

THEY'RE QUICK.

THEY'RE WITTY, ALSO SERIOUS.

>> Reporter: FAMILIAR IMAGERY AND DESIGN CAN INFORM PROTESTERS LIKE A TROJAN HORSE AT THE BORDER OR A MODIFIED NO KINGS STREET SIGN AND EVEN FLAGS ARE THE EMBLEMATIC RED MAGA HAT.

ON SATURDAY LOCAL ARTIST CINDY ZIMMERMAN'S MOBILE MONUMENT GOES ON DISPLAY AT THE DOWNTOWN LIBRARY AND DISPLAYS AND BROADCASTS ALL THE WORDS FROM GOVERNMENT WEBSITES THIS YEAR.

>> MONUMENTS ARE USUALLY ERECTED BY CITY OFFICIALS.

THEY REPRESENT ONE WAY OF HISTORY THEY SEE AS TRUTH, SO IT'S BRILLIANT THAT SOMEBODY ELSE USES OR CINDY USES THIS AS A WAY TO CHALLENGE THAT NARRATIVE.

>> Reporter: THE ISSUES MAY HAVE CHANGED, BUT THE URGENCY TO RESPOND THROUGH ART IS NOTHING NEW.

THE ORIGINS OF ART AS A PROFESSION AND AS SUBVERSION ARE DEEPLY CONNECTED TO POWER STRUCTURES LIKE MONARCHIES AND THE CHURCH AND THEIR PROPAGANDA.

>> THE ARTIST STARTS SAYING HEY, YOU'RE OPPRESSING MY VOICE, SO I'M GOING TO DO THINGS SO PEOPLE CAN UNDERSTAND WHAT MY COMMUNITY IS STRUGGLING OR WHAT I BELIEVE.

>> Reporter: IN HISTORY AND TODAY PEOPLE CREATE ART TO SERVE AND CHALLENGE POWER.

>> WHENEVER WE'RE NOT ALLOWED TO SAY WHAT WE WANT TO SAY, HUMANITY FINDS WAYS, SUBVERSIVE WAYS, TO COMMUNICATE BECAUSE WE HAVE THE URGE TO COMMUNICATE, NEED TO COMMUNICATE.

>> Reporter: JULIA DIXON EVANS, KPBS NEWS.

>>> MORE PEOPLE ARE GETTING THEIR NEWS ON SOCIAL MEDIA AND KPBS IS THERE, TOO.

WE ARE SEEING BIG GROWTH ON TIKTOK, INSTAGRAM, AND YOUTUBE.

SEARCH FOR KPBS AND FIND OUR RECENT COVERAGE OF THE PROTESTS IN SAN DIEGO AND SO MUCH MORE.

>>> THIS WEEK THE JUNETEENTH FLAG WAS FLOWN THE FIRST TIME IN THE SAN DIEGO BLACK ARTS AND CULTURE DISTRICT IN ENCANTO.

ORGANIZERS TELL ALEXANDER NGUYEN IT'S A SIGNIFICANT MILESTONE.

>> Reporter: THE JUNETEENTH FLAG WITH ITS RED, WHITE, AND BLUE AND THE BURSTING STAR REPRESENTING TEXAS AND THE FREEDOM OF AFRICAN AMERICANS IN ALL 50 STATES HAS FLOWN OVER SAN DIEGO CITY HALL, COUNTY BUILDING, AND THE SCHOOL DISTRICT, BUT IT'S THE FIRST TIME IT'S FLOWN HERE AT THE NATIONAL BLACK CONTRACTORS ASSOCIATION BUILDING AT THE START OF THE BLACK ARTS AND CULTURE DISTRICT.

>> IT MAKES ME FEEL PROUD, MAKES ME FEEL I'M PART OF SOMETHING BIGGER THAN MYSELF.

>> Reporter: PHILLIP COLEMAN IS PRESIDENT OF THE BLOCK CLUB, A COWORKING ARTIST SPACE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE DISTRICT.

THE SPACE IS THE FIRST OF ITS KIND TO OPEN SINCE THE DISTRICT WAS FORMED IN 2022.

>> SO FOR US TO BE ABLE TO ALSO SHOWCASE AND HIGHLIGHT WHY JUNETEENTH IS VERY IMPORTANT TO OUR COMMUNITY AND ALSO SHARE THAT WITH OTHER MEMBERS FROM COMMUNITIES THAT SURROUND US, WE'RE ECSTATIC FOR THAT TO HAPPEN AND WE THINK IT'S A POINT THAT WE'LL BE ABLE TO REFLECT ON FOR MANY YEARS TO COME.

>> Reporter: ORGANIZERS SAY IT'S IMPORTANT FOR THE FLAG TO BE FLOWN IN THE MIDDLE OF THE BLACK ARTS AND CULTURE DISTRICT BECAUSE IT CELEBRATES THE COMMUNITY'S ACHIEVEMENTS.

>> WE ARE HERE TO CELEBRATE.

WE ALSO MUST LEAN IN.

WE MUST LEAN IN ON THE REALITIES AND THE REALITY ON WHICH OUR GREAT NATION WAS FOUNDED AND THAT WAS SLAVERY.

LET'S BE CLEAR.

WE BUILT THIS NATION.

>> Reporter: COUNCIL MEMBER HENRY FOSTER SAYS THE STRUGGLE IS STILL NOT OVER AS HE FIGHTS TO KEEP LIBRARIES AND PARKS OPEN IN THE DISTRICT, REFERRING TO THE CURRENT BUDGET FIGHT AT CITY HALL.

SHANE HARRIS FROM PEOPLE'S ASSOCIATION OF JUSTICE ADVOCATES HELPS ORGANIZE THIS EVENT.

HE SAYS HE WANTED TO BRING THE JUNETEENTH CELEBRATION BACK HOME.

>> BUT EVEN MORE SO IMPORTANT THAN ALL OF THAT, IT SHOULD BE RAISED EVERY SINGLE YEAR WITH A CEREMONY THAT LAUNCHES JUNETEENTH STRAIGHT OUT OF THE CITY'S BLACK ARTS AND CULTURE DISTRICT.

>> Reporter: COLEMAN SAYS THE EVENT INSPIRES HIM TO WORK HARDER TO IMPROVE THE DISTRICT.

>> IT JUST INSPIRES ME TO KEEP GOING AND WORKING HARDER BECAUSE LOTS OF OTHER PEOPLE ARE DOING JUST AS MUCH WORK, IF NOT MORE.

>> Reporter: IN ENCANTO, ALEXANDER NGUYEN, KPBS NEWS.

>>> A NEW CALIFORNIA BILL COULD FORCE LOCAL GOVERNMENTS IN IMPERIAL COUNTY TO START TRANSLATING THEIR AGENDAS INTO SPANISH.

KPBS AND IMPERIAL VALLEY REPORTER COREY SUZUKI SAYS THE LACK OF TRANSMISSION HAS KEPT MANY RESIDENTS FROM FULLY PARTICIPATING IN THE DEMOCRATIC PROCESS.

>> Reporter: LAST SEPTEMBERS DO DOZENS OF SPEAKERS GATHERED AT THE SUPERVISES BOARD MEETING IN ENCANTO THERE TO DISCUSS THE TAX DOLLARS WITH THE LITHIUM INDUSTRY, ONE OF THE MAJOR CONVERSATIONS IN THE COUNTY, BUT SOME OF THE SPEAKERS HAD SOMETHING ELSE THEY WANTED TO TALK ABOUT.

>> THERE'S NO SPANISH TRANSLATION OF THE UPDATED PLAN.

WE CANNOT CONTINUE TO PUSH ASIDE SPANISH SPEAKING RESIDENTS, ESPECIALLY WHEN THEIR HEALTH AND LIVELIHOODS ARE AT STAKE.

>> Reporter: FERNANDA VEGA POINTED OUT THE COUNTY HAD ONLY PUBLISHED ITS VENDING PLAN IN ENGLISH, MEANING MANY RESIDENTS WERE LOCKED OUT OF THE DISCUSSION.

>> HOW ARE OUR COMMUNITY SUPPOSED TO FULLY ENGAGED WHEN THEY CANNOT ACCESS THE MOST BASIC TRANSLATION.

>> Reporter: THE LACK OF SPANISH TRANSLATION IN IMPERIAL COUNTY IS ESPECIALLY SIGNIFICANT.

ACROSS THE COUNTY THREE- QUARTERS OF RESIDENTS SPEAK SPANISH AT HOME AND AROUND A QUARTER OF THEM ALSO DON'T SPEAK ENGLISH FLUENTLY.

>> THERE'S NO REASON WE CAN'T HAVE DYNAMIC MULTILINGUAL CONVERSATION, US, THE STATE, AND THE LEGISLATURE, AND IN LOCAL GOVERNMENTS, EVEN IF WE'RE NOT A BIG CITY.

>> Reporter: RAUL URBANA IS THE FORMER MAYOR OF THE COUNTY'S LARGEST CITY WHERE NINE OF TEN RESIDENTS SPEAK SPANISH AT HOME AND MORE THAN HALF DON'T SPEA FLUENTLY.

>> ESPECIALLY IN A CITY WHERE SPANISH IS THE OVERWHELMING MAJORITY LANGUAGE.

>> Reporter: IT IS ONE OF MANY LOCAL GOVERNMENTS STATEWIDE THAT DON'T TRANSLATE MANY KEY DOCUMENTS.

THAT MEANS A LOT OF RESIDENTS HAVE A HARDER TIME HOLDING THEIR ELECTED OFFICIALS ACCOUNTABLE.

IN 2022 A STATE AUDIT FOUND PREVIOUS ELECTED OFFICIALS IN CALEXICO HAD BEEN OVERSPENDING, CREATING AN ONGOING FINANCIAL CRISIS.

ONE OF THE CAUSES THE AUDIT SAID WAS KEY BUDGET DOCUMENTS ARE ONLY PUBLISHED IN ENGLISH THE DOCUMENT SAID.

>> TO HAVE A CHECK ON THE CORRUPTION AND HAVE TRANSPARENCY IN THE FINANCES, THE STATE GOVERNMENT RECOMMENDED THAT AT LEAST THE BUDGET TRANSLATED SO THAT THE POPULATION COULD KNOW WHERE THEIR MONEY WAS BEING SPENT.

>> Reporter: CALEXICO IS ONLY ONE EXAMPLE.

THE IMPERIAL COUNTY REGISTRAR OF VOTERS HAS BEEN ACCUSES OF VIOLATING FEDERAL VOTING RIGHTS LAW BY NOT TRANSLATING KEY ELECTION DOCUMENTS.

THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS, THE MOST INFLUENTIAL BODY IN THE COUNTY, HAS FACED CRITICISM FOR HOLDING ENGLISH-ONLY MEETINGS.

>> SECRETARY PLEASE READ.

>> Reporter: NOW, THOUGH, A NEW STATE BILL COULD PUSH THE COUNTY OF IMPERIAL AND SOME CITIES TO DO MORE.

STATE SENATOR MARIA DORASO OF LOS ANGELES IS THE BILL'S AUTHOR.

>> THIS BILL ALLOWS LOCAL GOVERNMENTS TO SERVE THEIR COMMUNITIES BETTER AND INCREASES THE PUBLIC'S ACCESS TO MEETINGS, ESPECIALLY VULNERABLE MEETINGS.

>> Reporter: S.B.707 WOULD STRENGTHEN PARTS OF THE OPEN MEETINGS LAW, INCLUDING REQUIRING CERTAIN COUNTIES AND CITIES TO PROVIDE TRANSLATED VERSIONS OF THEIR MEETINGS AGENDAS.

THOSE REQUIREMENTS WOULD APPLY TO THE IMPERIAL COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS AND ALSO APPEAR TO APPLY TO THE CITIES OF CALEXICO AND EL CENTRO.

AT THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS MEETING LAST WEEK, THE ASSISTANT CEO POINTED OUT THE BILL DOESN'T INCLUDE ANY STATE FUNDING TO COVER THE COSTS.

>> IT PRESENTS SUBSTANTIAL COSTS AND OPERATIONAL CHALLENGES FOR THE COUNTY TO IMPLEMENT, ESPECIALLY COUNTIES THAT ARE SMALL DEALING WITH BUDGETS BUDGET CONCERNS AS WELL.

>> Reporter: OTHERS ARE MORE HOPEFUL, LIKE VEGA.

BACK IN SEPTEMBER VEGA SAID SHE WAS TRYING TO SPEAK UP FOR EVERYBODY WHO WAS SHUT OUT, INCLUDING HER OWN PARENTS.

>> THAT'S WHAT THEY TOLD US, LIKE IT'S IN ENGLISH.

I DON'T WANT TO BE IN A SPACE WHERE I DON'T UNDERSTAND AND I'M LOOKING ALL CONFUSED.

>> Reporter: VEGA THINKS THE NEW BILL COULD MAKE A BIG DIFFERENCE FOR PEOPLE LIKE HER PARENTS.

>> BY LITERALLY JUST TRANSLATING A MEETING, YOU'RE SAYING YOU'RE INVITED.

YOU'RE IMPORTANT.

WE CARE ABOUT WHAT YOU HAVE TO SAY.

>> Reporter: THE CALIFORNIA SENATE PASSED THE BILL EARLIER THIS MONTH.

IT'S NOW IN THE STATE ASSEMBLY.

>>> THE NEWS MEDIA STATUS AS A CHECK ON THE GOVERNMENT IS UNDER ATTACK AND IN SOME CASES IT'S UNFRIENDLY FIRE FROM WITHIN NEWS OUTLETS.

LONG TIME OPINION EDITOR LAURA CASTANEDA SAYS SHE IS A CASUALTY.

SHE SAYS THE SAN DIEGO UNION TRIBUNE FIRED HER LAST WEEK SHORTLY AFTER MANAGERS NIXED AN EDITORIAL ON THE I.C.E.

RAIDS IN LOS ANGELES AND SHE SPOKE WITH KPBS' AMITA SHARMA.

♪ >> LAURA, DESCRIBE THE CIRCUMSTANCES THAT PRECIPITATED YOUR FIRING LAST WEEK FROM THE UNION TRIBUNE.

>> WELL, THIS WAS NOT THE ONLY INCIDENT, BUT WE WROTE AN EDITORIAL, THE EDITORIAL BOARD, ON THE I.C.E.

RAIDS AND THE PEACEFUL PROTESTS IN LOS ANGELES THAT TURNED VIOLENT.

THAT EDITORIAL WAS PULLED BY THE PUBLISHER, RON HASSEY, AND TOLD ONE OF OUR TEAM MEMBERS THAT IT WAS ONE-SIDED AND THEY WERE NOT GOING TO PUBLISH THAT PIECE.

>> WHAT IS YOUR RESPONSE TO THE IDEA THAT THE PIECE WAS ONE- SIDED?

>> THERE IS ABSOLUTELY NO WAY THAT I CAN AGREE WITH THAT.

I WORK WITH TWO VERY PROFESSIONAL JOURNALISTS.

WE TALKED ABOUT THE PIECE.

THE PIECE WAS WRITTEN BY THE THREE OF US.

WE STAND BY EVERY SINGLE THING THAT WAS IN THAT EDITORIAL.

THERE WAS NO WAY IT WAS ONE- SIDED.

WHAT'S THE OTHER SIDE?

>> HOW WILL YOU CHARACTERIZE THE POINT OF THE EDITORIAL ON THE I.C.E.

RAIDS IN L.A. AND THE ELIMINATION OF YOUR JOB HOURS LATER?

>> THE TWO GO HAND IN HAND NO MATTER WHAT THEY SAY.

YOU CANNOT KILL AN EDITORIAL AT 11:00 OR 12:00 IN THE AFTERNOON AND THEN BY 4:00 IN THE AFTERNOON I CAN'T GET INTO MY COMPUTER OR MY EMAIL.

NOBODY TOLD ME WHAT WAS GOING ON.

I THINK I'M CALLING I.T.

AND I GET A CALL BACK FROM THE NUMBER TWO GUY IN THE COMPANY TELLING ME MY POSITION HAS BEEN ELIMINATED AND I POINT BLANK ASKED HIM IF THIS WAS CONNECTED TO THAT EDITORIAL NOT BEING PUBLISHED AND I TOLD HIM THAT I FELT THAT WAS CENSORSHIP AND HE INSISTED THAT ONE HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH THE OTHER.

I DON'T BELIEVE IT.

>> WERE THERE ANY EVENTS BEFORE LAST WEEK THAT SIGNALED THAT MANAGEMENT AT THE UNION TRIBUNE HAD CHANGED COURSE ON ITS EDITORIAL POLICY?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

ONE OF THE THINGS THAT THEY DID IS THEY DESTROYED OUR COMMUNITY VOICES PROJECT.

WE HAD A PROJECT WHERE WE HAND PICKED A LOT OF COMMUNITY LEADERS FROM ALL WALKS OF LIFE, DIFFERENT AGE GROUPS, GENDERS, RACES, RELIGIONS, AND THEY WERE WRITING ABOUT A VARIETY OF TOPICS AND ALL OF A SUDDEN MOST OF THEM, PEOPLE OF COLOR AND WOMEN, THEIR VOICES WERE SHUT DOWN AND THEY WOULD NOT RUN THEIR PIECES.

THEY ALSO PULLED AN OPINION PIECE THAT A STUDENT WROTE AT USCD OVER THOSE PROTESTS THAT WERE GOING ON.

>> AND WHAT WERE THOSE PROTESTS ABOUT AT UCSD?

>> WELL, IT WAS WHEN THE WAR STARTED BETWEEN ISRAEL AND PALESTINE AND ONE OF THE STUDENTS WROTE AND WE TRIED TO GET THE OTHER SIDE OBVIOUSLY, BUT TRYING TO FIND THE STUDENTS FROM THE PALESTINE GROUP WAS DIFFICULT BECAUSE THEIR STUDENT GROUP HAD BEEN DISBANDED ON CAMPUS.

SO IT WAS TWO VERY, YOU KNOW, DIFFERENT PIECES AND THEY DIDN'T WANT TO HEAR IT.

WE'VE BEEN TOLD NOT TO RUN PIECES THAT HAVE THE WORD GENOCIDE, TO STICK TO LOCAL ISSUES.

WE'RE NOT GOING TO WRITE ABOUT THIS.

WE'RE NOT GOING TO WRITE ABOUT THAT.

YOU KNOW WHAT?

YOU CAN'T SET THE AGENDA ALL THE TIME.

WE WORK IN EDITORIAL AND OPINION.

THAT'S THE JOB WE WERE HIRED TO DO AND TO SILENCE ALL OF THESE VOICES IS RIDICULOUS BECAUSE THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT THAT PROJECT WAS MEANT TO DO.

>> SO JOURNALISTS IN NEWS OUTLETS THESE DAYS ARE SCARED TO REPORT AND WRITE ABOUT TOPICS OR ISSUES EVEN IF THEY'RE TRUE.

DO YOU SEE WHAT HAPPENED WITH YOU WITH THE UNION TRIBUNE AS PART OF THIS?

>> YES, I DO.

IT IS RIDICULOUS BECAUSE WE ARE SUPPOSED TO BE THE EYES AND THE EARS OF THE COMMUNITY, YOU KNOW.

SEE SOMETHING, SAY SOMETHING, BUT THEY ARE TRYING TO SET THE AGENDA.

THEY ARE TRYING TO CONTROL THE NARRATIVE AND THAT'S NOT JOURNALISM.

THERE'S TWO SIDES TO EVERY STORY, NOT ONE, AND THE RICH PEOPLE WHO OWN THESE PAPERS AND TELEVISION STATIONS ACROSS THE COUNTRY SHOULD NOT BE SETTING THE AGENDA.

>> WHY DID YOU DECIDE TO SPEAK OUT TODAY?

>> BECAUSE IT'S NOT RIGHT.

I HAVE BEEN RETALIATED AGAINST BECAUSE I BROUGHT TWO CLAIMS TO THE HUMAN RESOURCES DEPARTMENT.

WOMEN AT THE SAN DIEGO TRIBUNE ARE NOT TREATED FAIRLY.

I'M A BROWN WOMAN OVER THE AGE OF 40 AND THESE GUYS WHO OWN THIS PAPER AND THE THREE MALE SUPERVISORS THAT I HAVE REPORTED TO DON'T LIKE IT.

THEY WANT TO SILENCE ME AND I WILL NOT STAY SILENT AND I HOPE THAT OTHER JOURNALISTS WILL SPEAK UP AS WELL.

>> WHAT'S NEXT FOR YOU?

>> YOU KNOW, I'VE HAD A MIGRAINE FOR TWO DAYS.

I DON'T REMEMBER WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME I ATE AND I FEEL SICK TO MY STOMACH OVER THIS WHOLE THING, BUT I AM GOING TO TAKE A DEEP BREATH AND TRY TO FIGURE OUT WHAT MY NEXT STEP IS.

I KNOW THAT I WILL ONLY GET INVOLVED IN A SITUATION THAT ALLOWS ME TO TELL THE TRUTH BECAUSE THE TRUTH MATTERS AND I WILL ALWAYS BE A STORYTELLER.

I WILL ALWAYS MENTOR JOURNALISTS.

I'M ALSO PRESIDENT OF THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF HISPANIC JOURNALISTS SAN DIEGO- TIJUANA CHAPTER.

SO I HOPE TO SET A GOOD EXAMPLE ABOUT JOURNALISM AND WHERE WE ARE FROM HERE.

>> KPBS REACHED OUT TO THE SAN DIEGO UNION TRIBUNE FOR COMMENT ON CASTANEDA'S DEPARTURE FROM THE PAPER.

A REPRESENTATIVE FROM THE OWNER OF THE MEDIA NEWS GROUP EXECUTIVE EDITOR FRANK PINE ISSUED THE FOLLOWING STATEMENT.

"THE DECISION TO ELIMINATE CASTANEDA'S POSITION HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH ANY EDITORIAL AND, IN FACT, SHE DID NOT WRITE THE DRAFT EDITORIAL THAT FALSELY CLAIMS LED TO HER DISMISSAL."

>>> WE HOPE THAT YOU ENJOYED THIS LOOK AT KPBS NEWS THIS WEEK.

I'M MAYA TRABULSI.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US!

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