♪ SO I .

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

I'M MAYA TRABULSI.

COMING UP, REMEMBERING THOSE WHO DIED IN I.C.E.

CUSTODY.

HEAR FROM THOSE WHO ORGANIZED A VIGIL OUTSIDE OF THE OTAY MESA DETENTION CENTER.

ELECTION DAY IS ALMOST HERE.

PART OF OUR COVERAGE INCLUDES A FOCUS ON THOSE RUNNING FOR MAYOR OF IMPERIAL BEACH.

AND A HIDDEN TREASURE LEFT IN A DRAWER.

FOR 40 YEARS THE SAN DIEGO NATURAL HISTORY MUSEUM SHOWS US HOW THIS FOSSIL WILL HELP STUDY LIFE ON EARTH.

THIS WEEK CALIFORNIA LOST AN ICON WHO SHAPED MODERN LIFE FOR WORKERS AND ACTIVISTS FAR BEYOND OUR STATE.

JOHN CARROLL LOOKS BACK ON THE LIFE OF DOLORES HUERTA.

>> Reporter: DOLORES HUERTA WAS A SCHOOLTEACHER IN STOCKTON, CALIFORNIA IN THE 1950s BEFORE SHE BECAME AN ACTIVIST.

FRIENDS SAY WHAT SHE SAW IN THE CLASSROOM SPURRED HER ON TO WHAT WOULD BECOME HER LIFE'S WORK.

>> SHE SAW THAT HER STUDENTS WHO WERE FARM WORKERS WERE STARVING AND HAD NO SHOES AND HOW CAN I TEACH THEM TO READ AND WRITE WHEN THEY'RE STARVING?

AND SHE AT THAT POINT DECIDED SHE WOULD TRY TO DEDICATE HER LIFE TO UPLIFTING THEIR SITUATION AND FIGHTING INJUSTICE.

>> Reporter: GREGORY NAVA IS AN INDEPENDENT FILMMAKER.

HE'S CURRENTLY WORKING ON A BIOPIC ABOUT HUERTA'S LIFE.

THERE'S A LOT TO COVER ARE FROM HER YEARS SPENT AS A CO-FOUNDER AND LEADER OF THE UNITED FARMWORKERS UNION.

>> DOZENS AND DOZENS OF LAWS AND DOZENS AND DOZENS OF LABOR CONTRACTS THAT SHE NEGOTIATED AND DOZENS OF PESTICIDES THAT THEY GOT BANNED.

PEOPLE DON'T REALIZE THAT THEIR MOVEMENT WASN'T JUST ABOUT THE WORK YERLZ, IT WAS ABOUT THE EARTH.

LA MADR ARE E TIERRA.

>> Reporter: NAVA SAYS WERTDA OFTEN PAID A HIGH PRICE FOR TRYING TO UPLIFT HER FELLOW HUMAN BEINGS.

>> SHE WAS ARRESTED 25 TIMES AND SHE WAS BEATEN SO BADLY BY THE POLICE IN SAN FRANCISCO THAT SHE WAS DECLARED DEAD.

>> Reporter: SHE RECOVERED AND WENT ON TO FIGHT.

NAVA SAYS SHE WAS FIGHTING RIGHT UP UNTIL THE END.

AN IMPORTANT PART OF THAT FIGHT WAS SPEAKING TO YOUNG PEOPLE.

>> SHE VISITED THE CAMPUS IN 2022 AND DID A FORUM AT OUR PERFORMING ARTS CENTER.

>> Reporter: DR.

MARK SANCHEZ IS THE SUPERINTENDENT AND PRESIDENT OF SOUTHWESTERN COLLEGE.

HUERTA'S 2022 VISIT WAS NOT HER FIRST TO THE COLLEGE.

>> SHE ALSO VISITED THE COLLEGE IN 2018 AND REALLY HAD A DEEP-SEATED CONNECTION TO THE COLLEGE BECAUSE OF OUR PROXIMITY TO THE U.S.-MEXICO BORDER IN THE SOUTH COUNTY OF SAN DIEGO AND REALLY HAD AN AFFINITY FOR THE WORK THAT WE WERE DOING HERE IN SERVING OUR SOUTH COUNTY AND BINATIONAL COMMUNITIES.

>> Reporter: HUERTA WAS NO STRANGER TO SAN DIEGO.

GREGORY NAVA SAYS SHE LOVED THE ZOO.

IN JUNE OF 2025 HUERTA SAT DOWN WITH FORMER KPBS REPORTER AMITHA SHARMA.

AT THAT TIME SHE WAS VERY CONCERNED ABOUT CIVIL RIGHTS IN THE U.S.

>> I LIVED RIGHT AFTER THE DEPRESSION, WORLD WAR II, THE '60s AND THE '70s, THE VIETNAM WAR, AND I HAVE NEVER SEEN ANYTHING AS HORRIFIC AS WHAT WE ARE SEEING NOW IN TERMS OF THE WAY PEOPLE HERE IN THE UNITED STATES ARE BEING TREATED.

>> Reporter: BUT HUERTA NEVER LOST HOPE.

SHE'S THE ONE CREDITED WITH COINING THE PHRASE SI SE PUEDE MEANING YES WE CAN.

IT WAS THE MOTTO OF THE FARMWORKERS UNION, A MESSAGE OF ENDURING HOPE.

HOPE FOR A BETTER TOMORROW NO MATTER WHAT.

OR AS SHE PUT IT IN THE KPBS INTERVIEW -- >> THEY CAN CUT ALL THE NOWERS BUT THEY CAN'T HOLD BACK THE SPRING.

SO WE HAVE TO BE THE MESSENGERS AND THE GARDENERS AND WE HAVE TO SPREAD THE SEEDS OF TRUTH AND JUSTICE AND ACTIVISM OUT THERE.

SI SE.

.

UEDE.

>> AMONG O'THE MANY FEATURED ON MURALS AT CHICANO PARK IS NOT SURPRISINGLY DOLORES HUERTA A PROPHETIC VOICE NOW FALLEN SILENT BUT WHOSE WORDS WILL LIVE ON FOR SOCIETY'S CHANGEMAKERS.

AT CHICANO PARK JOHN CARROLL, KPBS NEWS.

>> THE COMING DAYS WILL BRING DIA DE MUERTOS, OR DAY OF THE DEAD.

LOCAL ACTIVISTS ARE INCLUDING THOSE WHO DIED IN I.C.E.

CUSTODY.

KPBS SOUTH BAY REPORTER KORI SUZUKI ATTENDED A VIGIL OUTSIDE THE OTAY MESA DETENTION CENTER.

>> Reporter: ARE AS THE -- THE ORGANIZERS SET UP THE OFRENDA.

PEDRO RIOS AND ADRIANA HASO LAY OUT THE MARIGOLDS.

THE BRIGHT ORANGE PETALS STAIN THEIR FINGERTIPS AS THEY PLACE THEM ON THE ASPHALT.

HERE'S RIOS.

>> WE'RE BREAKING UP THE FLOWER, THE MARIGOLDS, AND CREATING A PATH FROM THE OTAY MESA DETENTION CENTER TO THE ALTAR.

>> Reporter: REE SKPOS HASA ARE WITH THE AMERICAN FRIENDS SERVICE COMMITTEE.

THEY'RE CREATING A PATHWAY OUTSIDE THE OTAY MESA DETENTION CENTER IN SAN DIEGO.

THE PATHWAY LEADS TO THE OFRENDA.

IT'S DECORATED WITH CANDLES, CALAVERA'S AND MONARCH BUTTERFLIES.

THEY SAY PHOTOGRAPHS SHOW PHOTOGRAPHS OF PEOPLE I.C.E.

AGENTS HAVE SHOT WHO DIED IN CUSTODY THIS YEAR.

>> IT WAS NOT THE TIME FOR THEM TO LEAVE THEIR FAMILIES, LEAVE THEIR RELATIONSHIPS, AND SO THE SPACE AND THE INTENTION IS TO REMEMBER THEM BUT ALSO TO HONOR THEM.

>> Reporter: JUST LAST WEEKEND AN IMMIGRANT FROM GUATEMALA GEEFRMO PASCUAL GOTANZA DIED INSIDE A CELL AT OTAY MESA.

I.C.E.

SAYS HIS DEATH IS UNDER INVESTIGATION.

SAN DIEGO COUNTY OFFICIALS ARE DEMANDING AN OUTSIDE PROBE.

IN THEIR STATEMENTS HASA SAYS I.C.E.

IS TRYING TO CRIMINALIZE VERGANZA.

>> THEY LEFT OUT THE FACT THAT HE WAS A PERSON.

THEY LEFT OUT THE FACT THAT HE WAS A FATHER.

THEY LEFT OUT THE FACT THAT HE WAS A PARTNER TO SOMEONE.

A SON OF SOMEONE.

AND THEY LEFT OUT SO MANY OTHER THINGS THAT WE ARE SURE WE'RE GOING TO FIND OUT WITH TIME.

>> Reporter: HA IS.

O SAYS THEIR GOAL FOR DIA DEMERITOS IS TO REMIND EVERYONE THAT EVERYONE WHO'S DIED IN CUSTODY WAS A PERSON TOO.

>> ALBERTO GUTIERREZ REYES 48.

>> PRESENTE.

>> CORI SUZUKI, KPBS NEWS.

>>> SAN DIEGO CITY COUNCIL IS TURNING ITS ATTENTION TO DATA CENTERS.

THIS WEEK MEMBERS APPROVED A TEMPORARY PAUSE.

BUT AS KPBS METRO REPORTER ANDREW BOWEN REPORTS THERE IS LITTLE THEY CAN DO WHEN IT COMES TO ONE IDEA MAKING HEADLINES.

>> Reporter: EARLIER THIS MONTH "VOICE OF SAN DIEGO" REPORTED DEVELOPERS WERE EXPLORING BUILDING A MASSIVE DATA CENTER AT NAVOR.

THAT'S THE NAVY'S CYBERSECURITY CAMPUS IN THE MIDWAY DISTRICT.

THE CITY HAS NO AUTHORITY OVER THAT DEVELOPMENT.

BUT OFFICIALS SAY IT SHOWS THERE'S DEMAND FOR DATA CENTERS IN SAN DIEGO AND THE CITY NEEDS RULES AROUND WHERE AND HOW THEY CAN BE BUILT.

COUNCIL MEMBER SEAN ELO-RIVERA SAYS IT'S AN ISSUE OF ECONOMIC JUSTICE.

>> THEY WANT TO PARK THEIR COMPUTERS ON OUR LAND AND THEN SEND US THE BILL.

WITHOUT A MORATORIUM SAN DIEGANS IS ARING SUBSIDIZING THE BILLIONAIRES' PROFIT MACHINE WHILE WE LOSE CLEAN WATER, CLEAN ENERGY, CLEAN AIR AND LAND THAT WE COULD OTHERWISE USE FOR HOUSING.

>> Reporter: CURRENTLY SAN DIEGO HAS NO LAND USE REGULATIONS SPECIFICALLY FOR DATA CENTERS.

THERE ARE DATA CENTERS IN SAN DIEGO.

CITY OFFICIALS SAY THEY WERE PERMITTED UNDER RULES FOR TELECOMMUNICATIONS FACILITIES.

COUNCIL PRESIDENT JOE WILL CAVA SAYS FEW THINGS HAVE UNITED SAN DIEGANS MORE THAN OPPOSITION TO DATA CENTERS.

>> WHILE OUR ABILITY TO CONTROL LANDS IS LIMITED WE MUST USE EVERY TOOL IN OUR TOOLBOX CONTINUING TO BUILD A BROAD COALITION FROM SAN DIEGANS TO OUR CITY LEADERS TO OUR FEDERAL LEGISLATORS IS WHERE WE HAVE BEEN WORKING AND WE'LL CONTINUE TO WORK.

I WILL CONTINUE TO DO WHATEVER IS NEEDED OR NECESSARY TO KEEP THAT MOMENTUM GOING.

>> Reporter: THE MORATORIUM LASTS 45 DAYS.

IT CAN BE EXTENDED UP TO 10 1/2 MONTHS WHILE THE CITY CRAFTS PERMANENT REGULATIONS FOR DATA CENTER DEVELOPMENT.

ANDREW BOWEN, KPBS NEWS.

>>> SAN DIEGO'S MAYOR SAT DOWN WITH KPBS IN RECENT DAYS TO TALK ABOUT TECH ISSUES.

AND THAT INCLUDES THE CRITICISM OF AUTOMATED LICENSE PLATE READERS.

TODD GLORIA SAYS HE STILL SUPPORTS THE LAW ENFORCEMENT TOOL.

HE EXPLAINED HIS STANCE IN A CONVERSATION WITH KPBS "MIDDAY EDITION" HOST JADE HINDMON.

>> LAST WEEK THE SAN DIEGO CITY COUNCIL TOOK ITS FIRST STEP TO MOVE FORWARD TO END THE USE OF AUTOMATED LICENSE PLATE READERS, OR ALPRs, AND THE CITY'S CONTRACT WITH THE TECH COMPANY THAT RUNS THE FLOCK SAFETY CAMERAS.

YOU HAVE REMAINED IN SUPPORT OF THE TECHNOLOGY.

WHY?

>> BECAUSE IT KEEPS SAN DIEGANS SAFE.

AND I CAN'T SAY THIS ENOUGH.

LISTEN, I SHARE THE PUBLIC'S GENERAL CONCERNS ABOUT HOW MY DATA AND YOUR DATA ARE BEING USED OR NOT USED BY ANY NUMBER OF TECHNOLOGIES.

BUT WHAT IS OFTEN MISSED IN THIS CONVERSATION IS THE FACT THAT EARLY IN MY ADMINISTRATION YOU MAY REMEMBER MY PREDECESSOR HAD THESE CAMERAS, TOLD NOBODY ABOUT THEM AND WAS FORCED THROUGH PUBLIC PRESSURE TO TURN THEM OFF.

I SPENT THE FIRST TWO YEARS AS MAYOR WORKING WITH THE COMMUNITY, ALL RELEVANT STAKEHOLDERS TO PUT TOGETHER WHAT WE CALL THE TRUST ORDINANCE.

THIS IS WHAT PROTECTS PEOPLE'S PRIVACY AND PROVIDES CLEAR RULES FOR THE ROAD FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT WHO WANT TO USE THIS IN OUR CITY.

AND THAT I BELIEVE IS THE GOLD STANDARD NOW.

WHAT OTHER COMMUNITIES ARE TALKING ABOUT ADOPTING WE HAVE HAD IN PLACE SINCE 2022.

THAT SAID, FOLKS NOW ARE HAVING MAYBE A CHANGE OF HEART, AND WHAT I CAN JUST TELL YOU, JADE, IS WE HAVE SEEN A DRAMATIC REDUCTION IN AUTO VEHICLE THEFTS.

WE'VE SEEN THE ABILITY TO LOCATE MISSING CHILDREN AND SENIOR CITIZENS AND REUNITE THEM WITH THEIR FAMILIES.

WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO SOLVE ROUGHLY 1/3 OF THE HOMICIDES IN OUR CITY LAST YEAR UTILIZING THIS TECHNOLOGY.

SO THE BOTTOM LINE FOR ME IS I KNOW THIS IS HELPING KEEP OUR COMMUNITY SAFE AND MY JOB AS MAYOR IS NOT TO MAKE LIFE EASIER FOR CRIMINALS.

IT'S TO HOLD THEM ACCOUNTABLE IN OUR CITY AND THAT'S WHAT THIS TECHNOLOGY HELPS US TO DO.

>> YOU'VE SOLVED A THIRD OF THE HOMICIDES LAST YEAR?

WERE THOSE CASES THAT WOULD HAVE OTHERWISE GONE UNSOLVED?

>> IT'S HARD TO TELL.

BECAUSE WE HAVE INCREDIBLE POLICE OFFICERS AND DETECTIVES THAT ARE GOING TO WORK VERY HARD REGARDLESS OF WHAT TOOLS ARE PROVIDED FOR THEM.

BUT WHAT I KNOW IS IN A CITY WHERE WE ARE ROUGHLY 200 POLICE OFFICERS SHORT OF WHAT WE ARE AUTHORIZED AND BUDGETED FOR WE NEED TO FIND WAYS TO FILL IN THOSE GAPS.

NOW, OBVIOUSLY I'D LIKE TO HIRE MORE POLICE OFFICERS BUT THE BOTTOM LINE IS THAT IF YOUR CAR IS STOLEN, IF YOUR CHILD GOES MISSING OR IF YOU'RE SOMEHOW GOD FORBID INVOLVED IN A HOMICIDE WHERE YOU WANT TO SEE JUSTICE I BELIEVE THAT THIS TECHNOLOGY MAKES IT MORE LIKELY THAT WE CAN PROVIDE THAT JUSTICE.

THESE ARE NOT CAMERAS THAT ARE BEING MONITORED 24/7 BY A HUMAN BEING THAT'S TRYING TO GET IN YOUR BUSINESS.

WHAT IT IS IS AN INVESTIGATIVE TOOL THAT WHEN WE SAY OKAY, WE HAD A HIT-AND-RUN AS WE'VE HAD ON A NUMBER OF OCCASIONS, THERE'S A WHITE SEDAN WITH THIS PARTICULAR ATTRIBUTE, WE CAN PUT THAT IN THE SYSTEM AND HELP LOCATE THAT VEHICLE AND FIND THAT SUSPECT AND BRING THEM INTO OUR CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM FOR THEM TO BE JUDGED, HAVE THEIR DAY IN COURT.

ABSENT THIS TECHNOLOGY IT MAY NOT BE THAT WE CAN FIND THAT INDIVIDUAL.

AND I DON'T WANT TO LOOK A PARENT OR A VICTIM OF CRIME IN THE FACE AND SAY THAT I COULD NOT DO EFG VERYTHING I POSSIBLY COULD TO GET YOU THE JUSTICE YOU DESERVE AND HOLD A CRIMINAL ACCOUNTABLE.

LOSING THIS TECHNOLOGY WOULD MEAN THAT'S MUCH MORE LIKELY TO HAPPEN.

>> BEFORE I MOVE ON HOW HELPFUL HAS IT BEEN IN SOLVING CASES OF KIDNAPPINGS AND -- >> WELL, IT'S BEEN VERY HELPFUL.

WE'RE A LITTLE -- >> HOW MANY CASES DID IT SOLVE?

>> I CAN'T TELL YOU OFF THE TOP OF MY HEAD BUT I CAN TELL YOU AN INSTANCE THAT IT WAS VERY EYE-CATCHING FOR ME.

WE HAD AN INDIVIDUAL WHO WAS PREYING AT LOCAL MALLS IN THE MISSION VALLEY AREA LOOKING AFTER CHILDREN.

HE ATTEMPTED TO CONTACT TWO DIFFERENT CHILDREN.

THERE WAS THE LICENSE PLATE READER THAT ALLOWED US TO GET HIM INTO CUSTODY.

AND I DON'T KNOW WHAT WOULD HAVE HAPPENED IF WE DID NOT HAVE THAT DATA, THAT TECHNOLOGY AND THAT ABILITY TO FIND HIM BEFORE HE CONTINUED ON HIS PATH.

BOTH OF THOSE CHILDREN WERE FINE.

THEY ULTIMATELY WERE NOT TAKEN BY HIM.

BUT IT'S JUST THAT RISK ALONE THAT I DO NOT BELIEVE IS WORTH TAKING.

I BELIEVE THAT THERE'S PROTECTIONS WE HAVE IN PLACE FOR PEOPLE'S INDIVIDUAL PRIVACY.

THE TRANSPARENCY THAT WE HAVE.

THE FACT WE HAVE THESE COUNCIL MEETINGS IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THE PUBLIC TO WEIGH IN ON AN ANNUAL BASIS.

I BELIEVE WE'VE COVERED THESE CONCERNS IN A WAY THAT IT BALANCES THE NEED FOR SAFETY AND PRIVACY AND WE SHOULD CONTINUE ON THE PATH THAT WE'RE ON.

>> WOULD YOU VETO A COUNCIL EFFORT TO REMOVE ALPR CAMERAS FROM CITY STREETS?

>> I WILL USE EVERY POWER I HAVE TO TRY AND MAKE SURE THAT WE CAN KEEP SAN DIEGANS SAFE AND THAT WOULD INCLUDE USING THAT TO PRESERVE THIS TECHNOLOGY.

>> AND YOU CAN FIND THE FULL INTERVIEW WITH MAYOR TODD GLORIA AVAILABLE ON THE "MIDDAY EDITION" PODCAST.

YOU CAN ALSO STREAM IT AT THE KPBS YOUTUBE PAGE.

>>> FOR DECADES THE SMALL WATERFRONT TOWN OF IMPEER RIAL BEACH HAS BEEN KNOWN FOR ITS ACTIVIST SPIRIT.

MOST RECENTLY THE CITY'S MAYORS HAVE WAGED PUBLIC BATTLES TO BRING ATTENTION TO THE TIJUANA RIVER SEWAGE CRISIS.

BUT KPBS'S KORI SUZUKI SAYS THEIR NEXT MAYOR COULD BE DIFFERENT.

>> Reporter: FOR THE FIRST HALF OF THE EVENING THE ELECTION FORUM IS PRETTY LIGHTHEARTED.

IT'S MID SEPTEMBER.

THE FORUM IS FOR THE CITY COUNCIL RACES IN IMPERIAL BEACH.

MODERATOR STARTS OUT WITH SMALL TOWN ISSUES.

SHE ASKS THE CANDIDATES WHAT THEY THINK ABOUT A NEW DOG BEACH AND ABOUT THEIR FACTION PLANS FOR ADDRESSING THE SUMMER BUG INFESTATION.

>> NEXT QUESTION.

WHAT WOULD BE THE BEST PRACTICES THAT YOU WOULD UTILIZE TO COMBAT THE ONGOING MOSQUITO PROBLEM?

>> Reporter: BUT AS THE NIGHT GOES ON THE DISCUSSION TURNS TO THE PUBLIC HEALTH CRISIS FACING IMPERIAL BEACH.

THE SEWAGE FLOWING ACROSS THE BORDER FROM TIJUANA POLLUTING THE WATER, THE BEACHES AND THE AIR.

>> OUR PREVIOUS TWO MAYORS WERE WARRIORS ON THE ISSUE OF POLLUTION.

THEY STOOD ON THE ROOFTOPS AND MADE THIS AN ISSUE.

>> Reporter: THAT'S CARL BRADLEY.

HE'S A RETIRED SCHOOL DISTRICT ADMINISTRATOR RUNNING FOR MAYOR.

IT'S A LITTLE HARD TO HEAR BUT BRADLEY SAYS HE DOESN'T THINK THE CITY'S CURRENT MAYOR IS TAKING THE RIGHT APPROACH.

>> THE MAYOR HAS STATED THAT HE LIKES TO WORK BEHIND THE SCENES.

BUT WHAT I'VE SEEN IS INACTION.

SO I WOULD DO PROACTIVE THINGS TO INFORM MY COMMUNITY, TO PRESSURE OUR REPRESENTATION TO FUND THESE PROJECTS.

>> Reporter: MITCH McKAY IS THE CITY'S CURRENT MAYOR.

HE SEES THINGS DIFFERENTLY.

McKAY SAYS IT'S TIME FOR A MORE DIPLOMATIC STRATEGY.

>> IF YOU COME IN, YOU KNOW, GUNZ-A-BLAZING AND PITCHFORKS AND TORCHES, HUMAN NATURE JUST DOESN'T WORK THAT WAY.

>> Reporter: THIS YEAR'S MAYORAL ELECTION IS A BIG ONE IN IMPERIAL BEACH.

McKAY, AN INDEPENDENT, IS RUNNING AGAINST TWO DEMOCRATIC CHALLENGERS.

BRAD HI THE FORMER ADMINISTRATOR AND FELLOW CITY COUNCIL MEMBER MATTHEW LEBA GONZALEZ.

WITH THE NOVEMBER ELECTION JUST AROUND THE CORNER THE RACE HAS BECOME PARTLY ABOUT THE CITY'S ACTIVIST ROOTS AND WHETHER IT'S TIME TO TRY SOMETHING DIFFERENT.

>> WELL, I THINK THERE'S A LONG TRADITION IN IMPERIAL BEACH THAT STARTED WITH MAYOR BRIAN BILBRAY WHO WAS I AMAR'E BACK A MAYOR BACK WHEN I WAS A KID IN THE '70s.

>> Reporter: EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF AN OCEAN CONSERVATION GROUP WILD COAST.

HE SAYS THERE'S A DEEP LEGACY OF ENVIRONMENTAL ACTIVISM HERE MOST RECENTLY AROUND THE SEWAGE CRISIS.

HE SAYS THE MAYOR CAN PLAY A VERY IMPORTANT ROLE.

THEY MAY NOT HAVE JURISDICTION OVER NATIONAL BORDERS OR FEDERAL WATERWAYS.

WHAT THEY CAN DO IS SPEAK TO HOW PEOPLE'S LIVES ARE BEING AFFECTED, TO BEACH CLOSURES, EMERGENCY ROOM VISITS AND TOXIC FUMES.

>> ANYBODY CAN ASSUME AS MUCH POWER AS THEY WANT.

I ASSUMED I WAS ESSENTIALLY THE AMBASSADOR OF IMPERIAL BEACH TO MEXICO AND I MET WITH THE PRESIDENT OF MEXICO ALONG WITH MAYOR KEVIN FAULKNER, THEN MAYOR KEVIN FAULKNER AND I MET WITH THE MAYOR OF BAJA CALIFORNIA.

OUR PRESIDENT.

WENT TO THE WHITE HOUSE, MET WITH OUR GOVERNOR.

THERE'S NO LIMIT TO WHAT A SMALL TOWN FEISTY BEACH TOWN MAYOR CAN DO.

>> Reporter: AFTER DEDINA THE NEXT MAYOR WAS PALOMA AGUIRRE.

SHE ALSO BELIEVES IN SHOUTING FROM THE ROOFTOPS.

AGUIRRE LED A DELEGATION OF LOCAL MAYORS TO WASHINGTON, D.C.

AND BROUGHT LAWMAKERS TO TOUR THE TIJUANA RIVER VALLEY.

LAST YEAR SHE WON A RACE FOR COUNTY SUPERVISOR AND HAS MADE THE ISSUE A REGIONAL PRIORITY.

McKAY WAS APPOINTED TO SERVE THE REST OF AGUIRRE'S TERM AND HE ARGUES THAT HE'S BEEN JUST AS PERSISTENT.

HE'S HELD HIS OWN PRIVATE MEETINGS WITH FEDERAL AND STATE OFFICIALS AND SAYS HE'D KEEP PRESSING FOR ACTION BEHIND THE SINES.

>> I'VE BEEN CRITICIZED LOCALLY BY ONE OF MY CANDIDATES FOR NOT BEING OUT HERE IN THE PARK WITH A BULLHORN AND SCREAMING AND YELLING.

AND I SAID YOU THOUGH, THAT'S JUST -- I'M MORE PRAGMATIC, THAT'S NOT MY STYLE.

>> Reporter: LEBA GONZALEZ IS THE THIRD CANDIDATE IN THE RACE.

HE'S ALSO BEEN MORE REFBD.

AT AT THE SEPTEMBER FORUM HE SAID HE'D FOCUS ON SUPPORTING THE COUNTY'S EFFORTS.

>> I SUPPORT THE MEASURE.

AND I BELIEVE WE NEED TO GRAVITATE TOWARD SOLUTIONS AND BUILDING CONSTRUCTION ON OUR END TO TREAT THE SEWAGE.

>> Reporter: SO FAR LEBA GONZALEZ HASN'T OUTLINED MANY SPECIFIC ACTION PLANS OF HIS OWN.

BRADLEY IS PITCHING HIMSELF AS SOMEONE WHO WOULD BRING THAT ACTIVIST SPIRIT BACK TO CITY HALL.

HE SAYS HE WOULD ASK THE CITY ATTORNEY TO FILE OFFICIAL RECORDS REQUESTS WITH THE U.S.

INTERNATIONAL BOUNDARY AND WATER COMMISSION AND DEMAND TO SIT IN ON CONSTRUCTION MEETINGS IN THE U.S.

AND TIJUANA.

>> SO MY JOB IS TO PUBLICIZE THIS, MAKE SURE IT CONTINUES TO BE A NATIONAL ISSUE, MAKE SURE PEOPLE IN WASHINGTON, D.C., PEOPLE IN SACRAMENTO KEEP THEIR FEET TO THE FIRE ON THIS ISSUE.

>> Reporter: BACK AT THAT SEPTEMBER CANDIDATE FORUM SUPERVISOR AGUIRRE IS THERE TO LISTEN.

AFTERWARD SHE SAYS SHE DOES WANT TO SEE A MAYOR WHO TACKLES THE CRISIS HEAD ON LIKE INVESTING IN SMALL BUSINESSES.

>> WELL, AS AN I.B.

RESIDENT I WANT MY NEXT MAYOR TO BE VOCAL, AGGRESSIVE, PURSUING SOLUTIONS, BECAUSE THIS IS NOT JUST AN EXISTENTIAL CRISIS TO THIS TOWN BUT TO THE ENTIRE COUNTY.

>> Reporter: SO AS MUCH AS THE CANDIDATES DISAGREE AAGUIRRE SAYS SHE DOES SEE SOME IMPORTANT SIMILARITIES TOO.

NO MATTER WHO VOERLTS CHOOSE SHOULD SAYS THEY'RE GOING TO GET SOMEONE WHO LOVES I.B.

AND WANTS THE BEST FOR THEIR LITTLE BEACH TOWN.

KORI SUZUKI, KPBS NEWS.

>>> AND TUESDAY IS ELECTION DAY.

AND IF YOU'RE STILL PLANNING TO VOTE THE KPBS VOTER HAD HUB IS A ABIG RESOURCE.

WE HAVE AN ENGLISH AND A SPANISH VERSION FOR YOU.

SO LOOK FOR THE LINKS ON OUR HOME PAGE AT KPBS.ORG.

WE'LL HAVE EXPLAINERS ON DOZENS OF RACES AND INFORMATION ON VOTING CENTERS.

THE DEADLINE TO VOTE IS 8:00 P.M.

TUESDAY NIGHT.

KPBS WILL HAVE LIVE COVERAGE OF THE RESULTS ON ALL OF OUR PLATFORMS.

>>> FOR 40 YEARS A FOSSIL SAT IN A DRAWER AT SAN DIEGO'S NATURAL HISTORY MUSEUM.

BUT THE SCIENTISTS FROM ACROSS THE WORLD HAD HAD A HUNCH IT COULD BE SOMETHING QUITE SPECIAL, THE ANSWER TO A MYSTERY.

KPBS SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY REPORTER CARLY KAY SHOWS US HOW IT UNFOLDED.

>> WHAT'S HIDING IN HERE?

THESE ARE FOSSILS FROM CARLSBAD THAT ARE 75 MILLION YEARS OLD.

>> Reporter: TOM DEMARAY PULLS OUT ACHTD SHELLS FROM A DRAWER.

THEY'RE ONE OF THE 1.6 MILLION ARTIFACTS THAT ARE STORED HERE.

THEY MIGHT LOOK LIKE ORDINARY ROCKS AND BONES BUT HE SAYS THE SAN DIEGO NATURAL HISTORY MUSEUM'S COLLECTION IS HOME TO HIDDEN TREASURES.

>> THERE ARE A LOT OF TREASURES.

IF I OPEN THIS CABINET HERE AND I OPEN A DRAWER IT'S POSSIBLE THAT THERE ARE FOSSILS IN HERE THAT ARE NEW TO SCIENCE BUT THEY HAVEN'T BEEN -- THEY HAVEN'T BEEN STUDIED YET.

THAT'S WHY WE HAVE COLLECTIONS.

>> Reporter: DEMARAY IS THE PALEONTOLOGY CURATOR AT THE MUSEUM BUT HE'S BEEN HANDLING FOSSILS LIKE THESE FOR YEARS.

HE REMEMBERS WHEN THE OLD CURATOR BROUGHT BACK THIS FOSSIL FROM TEXAS IN 1985.

BACK IN ANCIENT TIMES MARINE LIFE LIVED IN THE STATE.

DEMARAY HOPED TO FIND THE REMNANTS.

>> WE WERE PREPARING THEM DOWN TO SEE IF THERE WERE FOSSILS IN THEM.

AND THIS SPECIMEN SHOWED UP.

AND SO THAT WAS WHAT, 41 YEARS AGO OR SO.

>> Reporter: THE SPECIMEN LIVED IN ONE OF THESE DRAWERS FOR DECADES.

IT WAS LABELED AS AN EARLY CRUSTACEAN, OR A CRAB-LIKE CREATURE.

BUT RECENTLY A RESEARCHER FROM AROUND THE WORLD HAD A HUNCH IT WAS SOMETHING DIFFERENT.

HE STUMBLED UPON AN IMAGE OF THE FOSSIL IN AN UNLIKELY PLACE.

>> HE PURCHASED A USED RUSSIAN PALEONTOLOGY TEXTBOOK, AND IN THAT WAS A FIGURE OF THIS SPECIMEN, AN ILLUSTRATION OF THIS SPECIMEN, AND THE FIGURE CAME ARE FROM A PUBLICATION PUBLISHED IN 1991.

>> Reporter: SOMETHING ABOUT THE LABEL BUGGED THE CAMBRIDGE Ph.D.

STUDENT.

TO HIM IT LOOKED MORE LIKE AN INSECT THAN A CRUSTACEAN.

TURNS OUT THE SEEMINGLY IP CONSPICUOUS FOSSIL WAS A BIT OF BOTH.

IT'S WHAT DEMARAY DESCRIBES AS A MISSING LINK.

>> IT'S KIND OF A MISSING LINK IN THIS TRANSITION FROM TOTALLY AQUATIC LIFESTYLE TO A TERRESTRIAL LIFESTYLE.

>> Reporter: GENETICS SHOW INSECTS EVOLVED FROM CRUSTACEANS.

THEY'RE SHELLED ANIMALS THAT TYPICALLY LIVE IN WATER BUT THERE'S AN 80 MILLION-YEAR GAP IN THE FOSSIL RECORD THAT CAN'T EXPLAIN HOW INSECTS GOT TO LAND.

THIS FOSSIL, HOWEVER, PROVES THAT THEY LIKELY HAD AN IN BETWEEN PHASE.

>> THEY HAVE THESE LITTLE PADDLED APPENDAGES THEY USED TO SWIM AROUND.

SO THAT KIND OF -- THAT CHARACTERISTIC IS KIND OF WHAT BRIDGES THAT GAP BETWEEN THE THINGS THAT SWIM AND THE THINGS THAT WALK PURELY ON LAND.

>> Reporter: THE CAMBRIDGE RESEARCHER REACHED OUT TO THE MUSEUM TO TAKE A CLOSER LOOK.

USING SPECIAL TOOLS HE SAW THE SPECIMEN HAD MANY DEFINING CHARACTERISTICS OF MODERN INSECTS.

THAT INCLUDES A PAIR OF THREE LEGS MADE FOR WALKING AN ANTENNA AND A SEGMENTED BODY.

BUT IT ALSO HAD 18 ABENDBALLS SHAPED LIKE PADDLES.

D.R.

KARABEDIAN SAYS THE COMBINATION MEANS THE ANCIENT CREATURE WAS LIKELY AMPHIBIOUS.

>> LONGER APPENDAGES HERE, THE ONES TOUCHING THE ROCK, THOSE ARE THE WALKING APPENDAGES.

AND THEN THESE OTHER ONES HERE KIND OF STICKING OUT, THOSE ARE THE STYLE YI THAT ARE HYPE OGT SIZED TO BE THE APPENDAGES USED TO MOVE IN THE WATER.

>> Reporter: THE FOSSIL IS 324 MILLION YEARS OLD.

IT'S BEEN IDENTIFIED AS ONE OF THE OLDEST FOSSILS ON RECORD.

KARABEDIAN SAYS IT SHOWS YOU NEVER KNOW WHAT NEW SCIENTIFIC INSIGHTS ARE HIDING IN PLAIN SIGHT.

>> IT TELLS US SOMETHING ABOUT THE HISTORY OF LIFE ON THIS PLANET.

PLANET.

HOW ANIMALS MADE IT ONTO LAND AND THE IMPORTANCE OF COLLECTIONS IN NATURAL HISTORY MUSEUMS BECAUSE WE DON'T KNOW -- WE DON'T KNOW WHAT WE HAVE UNTIL SOMETIMES SOMEBODY COMES TO VISIT.

>> Reporter: THE RESEARCHER APTLY NAMED THE FOSSIL CHOSA PRECURSOR.

IT'S THE NAVAJO NAME FOR PREDECESSOR.

YOU CAN VISIT THE FOSSIL IN THE BASEMENT SECTION FOR ONE MORE WEEK.

CARLY KAYE, KPBS NEWS.

>>> THE LONG-TIME OWNER OF SAN DIEGO'S LAKE GIRLS THEATER SAYS THE VENUE ALWAYS HAD GHOSTS.

SO WHEN JOHN SNITZER WAS LOOKING FOR A HAUNTED VENUE FOR HIS SOMETHING SPOOKY SHOW HE HAD A MATCH.

AND KPBS ARTS REPORTER BETH ACCOMANDO JOINED THEM TO CHECK FOR PARANORMAL ACTIVITY AT THE NEARLY 60-YEAR-OLD LANDMARK.

♪ >> Reporter: I'M JOHN SNITZER WITH SOMETHING SPOOKY.

IT'S A PARANORMAL COMEDY SHOW THAT I ONLY DO IN HAUNLTED THEATERS.

AND I SAID YOU OUGHT TO COME TO SAN DIEGO BECAUSE I CAN ASSURE YOU THAT LES GIRLS HAS MANY GHOSTS HERE.

>> Reporter: THE OWNER OF LES GIRLS THEATER.

SHE INSISTS THERE HAVE ALWAYS BEEN GHOSTS OF DANCERS SEEKING REFUGE THERE.

JOHN SCHKNITSER DROVE DOWN FROM L.A.

EQUIPPED WITH A SPIRIT BOX, PENDULUM AND DOUSING RODS TO FIND OUT IF THE VENUE IS INDEED HAUNTED.

>> I BROUGHT DOUSING RODS.

THEY CAN BE USED TO FIND WATER, LOST OBJECTS AND COMMUNICATE WITH THE DEAD.

>> ARE THERE ANY SPIRITS IN THIS ROOM?

YES.

>> OKAY, YOU CAN BE A SKEPTDIC AND DISMISS THEM AS NONSENSE, BUT ALBERT EINSTEIN DID SAY THE DOUSING ROD IS A SIMPLE INSTRUMENT WHICH SHOWS THE UNCANNY REACTION OF THE HUMAN NERVOUS SYSTEM TO CERTAIN FACTORS WHICH ARE UNKNOWN TO US AT THIS TIME.

>> SO I JUST GOT A FEELING IN MY LEFT ARM.

WAS THAT YOU?

>> Reporter: SCHNITZER IDENTIFIES A DANCE ERR WHY'S SPIRIT ON THE STAGE AND ASKS HOW MANY GHOSTS RESIDE AT LES GIRLS.

>> IS IT MORE THAN SEVEN?

MORE THAN NINE?

MORE THAN 12?

MORE THAN 20?

MORE THAN 30?

IS IT MORE THAN 40?

OKAY.

SO YOU'VE GOT AROUND 30 GHOSTS IN HERE.

DID YOU JUST TOUCH THE BACK OF MY NECK?

I JUST GOT THIS ELECTRICAL FEELING IN THE BACK OF MY NECK.

>> Reporter: PIERS MORGAN WAS PLEASED THAT DANCERS WERE HAUNTING HER THEATER.

>> I WAS TOTALLY COMFORTABLE WHAT WAS HAPPENING AND IT FELT VERY ACCURATE.

A LOT OF INTEGRITY TO IT.

A LOT OF TRUTH TO IT.

I WASN'T SHOCKED.

>> IS THERE MORE PAIR RANORMAL ACTIVITY, MORE SPIRITS IN THE BACK ROOM?

>> Reporter: YES.

AND THAT'S WHERE SCHNITZER ENCOUNTERED THE SPIRIT OF ANGELA, A DANCER THOUGHT TO HAVE DIED BY SUICIDE.

>> OKAY.

YOU CAN KNOW TO THE CLEAR SO WE CAN -- THANK YOU.

IS THIS ANGELA?

SO THIS IS -- WE'RE TALKING TO ANGELA RIGHT NOW?

I'M SORRY, I HAVE A FEELING.

YOU CAN FEEL THE -- IT'S LIKE ELECTRICAL AND IT'S ALSO LIKE VERY SAD.

I NEED A SIP OF WATER REAL QUICK.

ONE SECOND.

OOH.

I JUST GOT CHILLS LIKE ALL OVER.

>> Reporter: CHILLS BECAUSE SHE JUST REVEALED SHE HAD NOT TAKEN HER OWN LIFE.

>> LET'S JUST DOUBLE-CHECK.

LA.

ANGELA, DID YOU JUST SAY THAT -- WERE YOU MURDER ED BY YOUR HUSBAND?

DID YOUR HUSBAND TRY TO MAKE IT LOOK LIKE SUICIDE?

SO YOU DID NOT COMMIT SUICIDE?

OKAY.

YOU DID NOT.

YOU WERE MURDERED BY YOUR HUSBAND?

>> Reporter: PIERCE MORGAN THEN DIRECTS SCHNITZER TO THE WOMEN'S BATHROOM.

>> IS THERE A DIFFERENT SPIRIT IN THIS ROOM?

>> Reporter: WHERE VICE OFFICERS OFTEN HARASSED THE DANCERS.

AND HE FINDS THE SPIRIT OF A COP.

>> IT'S HARD TO TRUST YOU BECAUSE YOU'RE AT A PLACE WHERE YOU'RE NOT WANTED IN THE CORNER IN FRONT OF THE LADIES' BATHROOM.

>> GO FURTHER.

>> YOU WANT ME TO GO FURTHER?

>> GO IN THE BATHROOM.

>> YOU WANT ME TO GO TO THE BATHROOM?

>> THAT'S WHERE THE BAD GUYS WERE.

>> ARE YOU KIDDING ME?

>> HAD THE GIRLS PINNED UP AGAINST THE WALL.

>> YOU'RE SCARING THE [ BLEEP ] OUT OF ME RIGHT NOW.

ARE YOU INSIDE THE BATHROOM?

STOP IT.

THIS IS LIKE A HORROR MOVIE RIGHT NOW.

THIS IS REALLY SCARY.

LIKE YOU'RE TELLING ME GO FURTHER.

WHAT A CREEP.

DUDE.

YOU'VE GOT TO MOVE ON.

THIS IS REALLY CREEPY.

I NEED TO GET OUT OF THIS ROOM.

I REALLY DO.

>> Reporter: ARE WE SPENT 2 1/2 HOURS AT LES GIRLS.

>> IT IS VERY HAUNTED.

GAVE ME THE CHILLS.

AND I COULD FEEL IT.

>> I MEAN, I'VE BEEN HERE SINCE 1970 AND I'M TELLING YOU, I'M NOT AFRAID IN HERE AT ALL.

EVEN WITH THE BAD RENEGADE COPS I DEALT WITH THEM IN REAL LIFE.

THEM BEING DEAD DOESN'T BOTHER ME AT ALL.

YOU KNOW, MY CONCERN IS FOR THE DANCERS THAT ARE HERE, THEY'RE DEAD, BUT THIS IS WHERE THEY FELT SAFE.

>> SOMETHING SPOOKY IS COMING TO LES GIRLS.

>> Reporter: AND THEN YOU CAN COME DECIDE FOR YOURSELF IS LES GIRLS IS TRULY HAUNTED.

BETH ACCOMANDO, KPBS NEWS.

>> ANOTHER GREAT HALLOWEEN STORY BY OUR BETH ACCOMANDO.

AND HE WE HOPE YOU ENJOYED THIS LOOK AT KPBS "NEWS THIS WEEK."

I'M MAYA TRABULSI.

THANKS FOR JOINING US.

♪