>>> K PBS EVENING EDITION HAS BEEN MADE POSSIBLE BY BILL HOWE FAMILY COMPANIES PROVIDING SAN DIEGO WITH PLUMBING, HEATING AND AIR RESTORATION, FLOOD AND REMODELING SERVICES FOR OVER 40 YEARS.

CALL 1-800-BILL HOWE OR VISIT BILL HOWE.COM.

AND BY THE CONRAD PREBIS FOUNDATION, AND BY THE FOLLOWING: AND BY VIEWERS LIKE YOU, THANK YOU.

♪ ♪ >>> WE ARE BEGINNING TO SEE THE IMPACT OF INCREASED IMMIGRATION ENFORCEMENT HERE IN SAN DIEGO.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

I'M MAYA TREBULSKI.

BUSINESSES ARE REPORTING A DROP IN CUSTOMERS AND FEARFUL COMMUNITIES.

KBPS NORTH COUNTY REPORTER TANIA THORN HAS THE STORY.

>> PROTESTERS GATHERED AT AN INTERSECTION IN ESCONDIDO WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON WAVING FLAGS AND SIGNS PROTESTING IMMIGRATION CRACKDOWNS.

>> I DO NOT WISH TO SPEAK WITH YOU.

>> RECENT IMAGES AND VIDEOS OF IMMIGRATION AGENTS KNOCKING ON DOORS AND DETAINING PEOPLE HAVE INSTILLED FEAR IN MANY IMMIGRANT COMMUNITIES.

AND LOOKING A BUSINESSES ARE FEELING THE IMPACT.

THIS PERSON DID NOT WANT TO BE IDENTIFY OUT OF FEAR.

SHE IS ONE OF THE VENDORS IN ESCONDIDO.

>> TYPICALLY OUR STALL MAKES BETWEEN $1,000 TO $2,000 FOR THE THREE DAYS THAT WE'RE THERE.

LATELY, WE'VE BEEN SELLING 200, 300 A DAY.

IT'S BEEN VERY, VERY SLOW.

LIKE, NOBODY'S SELLING.

ON FRIDAY, I THINK WE HAD ONE OF OUR NEIGHBORS, THE NEIGHBORING STALL TOLD US THAT HE ONLY SOLD, LIKE TEN BUCKS.

>> SHE SAID COMMUNITY ATTENDANCE WAS DOWN OUT OF FEAR OF IMMIGRATION RAIDS.

AS A RESULT, LOCAL VENDORS ARE LOSING THE SOURCE OF INCOME THEY RELY ON.

>> A LOT OF PEOPLE DON'T WANT TO SPEND ANY SAVINGS THEY HAVE, ANY EXTRA MONEY THEY HAVE.

THEY WANT TO TRY TO SAVE AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE.

>> THE FEAR IS ALSO AFFECTING NON-PROFITS WHO HELP THOSE IN NEED.

SINCE THE PANDEMIC, THE NON-PROFIT LIVED EXPERIENCES DISTRIBUTES TO PEOPLE FROM OCEANSIDE FROM THE BACK OF OF A TRUCK, NO QUESTIONS ASKED, BUT THIS WEEK THEY SWITCHED TO MOBILE DELIVERIES TO HELP FAMILIES THAT ARE IN NEED OF FOOD, BUT ARE SCARED OF BEING TARGETED.

>> WE POST UP AT CERTAIN PLACES, AND WE'RE SCARED THAT IF WE -- THESE PLACES ARE KNOWN.

SO IF WE SHOW UP THERE ALL THESE 20, 30, 40, 50 PEOPLE SHOW UP THERE, I.C.E.

SHOWS UP, IT'S NO GOOD.

SO WE'RE -- WE'RE -- IT'S JUST -- IT'S NOT GOOD, YOU KNOW?

IT'S NOT GOOD FOR THEM.

>> EDWARD ON ORTEGA AND HIS BROTHER RUN THE NON-PROFIT.

MY BROTHER HAD THIS IDEA OF LET'S JUST DO WHAT WE'RE DOING AND LET'S GO TO THE WAREHOUSE, LET'S GRAB ALL THE FOOD AND TAKE IT BACK HOME AND PACKAGE IT UP.

PACKAGE IT UP AND CALL EVERYBODY, TEXT EVERYBODY OR WE PUT A NUMBER OUT THERE, HEY, ANYBODY THAT NEEDS FOOD, DIAPERS, SEND US A MESSAGE, WE'LL GET A CARE PACKAGE GOING ON AND WE'LL DELIVER IT TO A SAFE LOCATION.

>> THEY AREN'T SURE HOW LONG THIS WILL LAST.

IT'S UNSETTLING, YOU KNOW?

IT'S UNFORTUNATE AND MY PEOPLE ARE SOME OF THE MOST HARDWORKING BEAUTIFUL PEOPLE IN THIS WORLD, AND YOU KNOW, THEY DON'T DESERVE WHAT'S GOING ON RIGHT NOW.

>> AS FEDERAL OPERATIONS CONTINUE, MORE PROTESTS ARE PLANNED IN ESCONDIDO AND SAN DIEGO THIS WEEKEND.

TANIA THORN, KPBS NEWS.

>>> THE U.S. MILITARY IS SHOWING US MORE OF THE WORK BEING DONE BY CAMP PENDLETON MARINES AT THE BORDER.

THE LATEST VIDEO SHOWS REINFORCING A SECTION OF THE BORDER WALL NEAR SAN YSIDRO.

THEIR WORK IS DESCRIBED AS SUPPORTIST SUPPORTIVE AND LOGISTICAL IN NATURE.

>>> THE CITY OFFEL CAJON WILL NOT SEEK GUIDANCE ON HOW TO HELP THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION ON ENFORCEMENT.

EL CAJON MAYOR BILL WELLS PUSHED FOR THE AGENDA ITEM.

IT GENERATED A HUGE COMMUNITY RESPONSE LAST NIGHT WITH DOZENS OF PEOPLE GIVING PUBLIC COMMENT FOR AND AGAINST.

THE PROPOSAL WAS DEFEATED IN A 3-2 VOTE.

THE EAST COUNTY CITY IS THE LATEST IN CALIFORNIA TO STEP INTO THE DEBATE OVER ARRESTS AND DEPORTATIONS AND HOW MUCH COOPERATION LOCAL GOVERNMENTS WILL PROVIDE.

>>> THE SAN DIEGO CITY COUNCIL VOTED TO REPEAL A CONTROVERSIAL FOOTNOTE IN CITY CODE.

KPBS REPORTER CASEY HI, SEN SAYS IT'S A VICTORY THAT DOESN'T GO FAR ENOUGH FOR NEIGHBORS IN SOUTHEASTERN SAN DIEGO IT ALLOWED MUCH DENSER HOUSING IN THE CHOLLAS AREA WHERE THEY REMAIN MAJORITY BLACK AND LATINO AND LOW INCOME.

CITY STAFF SAYS THE REPEAL WILL RESULT IN 465 FEWER POTENTIAL HOMES.

HENRY FOSTER III IS THE AREA'S COUNCIL MEMBER.

HE SUPPORTS DENSER HOUSING, BUT AGREED WITH CONCERNS ABOUT HOW QUIETLY THE FOOTNOTE WAS PASSED.

>> THE LACK OF TRANSPARENCY AND ENGAGEMENT IN POLICY MAKING AFFECTING NEIGHBORHOODS ESPECIALLY THOSE HISTORICALLY DISCRIMINATED AGAINST LIKE DISTRICT 4 IS UNACCEPTABLE.

NEIGHBORS DISCOVERED THE FOOTNOTE AFTER INVESTIGATING WHY LARGE DEVELOPMENTS WERE COMING TO LOTS THAT DIDN'T SEEM TO BE ZONED FOR THEM.

THEY WANT ALL PROJECTS RELYING ON THE FOOTNOTE TO BE STOPPED, BUT CITY STAFF SAY STATE LAW REQUIRES EXISTING PROJECTS TO MOVE FORWARD INCLUDING ONE IN EMERALD HILLS.

DEVELOPERS PLANNED TO BUILD MORE THAN 120 HOMES ON A LOT THAT WOULD ONLY ALLOW 70 ANYWHERE ELSE IN THE CITY.

CITY STAFF EXPECT THE REPEAL TO TAKE EFFECT IN APRIL.

THE FOOTNOTE WOULD APPLY TO APPLICATIONS COMPLETED BEFORE THEN.

KATIE HISEN, KPBS NEWS.

>> WE'LL HEAR MORE FROM KATIE HISEN IN THIS NEWSCAST.

COMING UP SHE'LL TELL US HOW THE CITY IS RECONSIDERING THE PLAN TO BUILD ADUs IN LOCAL NEIGHBORHOODS AND ONE PROPOSAL FOR SOUTHEAST SAN DIEGO MOBILIZED NEIGHBORS.

HEAR WHY THEY SAY IT GOES TOO FAR FOR THEIR COMMUNITY.

>>> OVER THE LAST DECADE THE CITY OF SAN DIEGO'S HOUSING AGENCY HAS RELIED ON SECTION 8 VOUCHERS TIED TO SPECIFIC PROJECTS TO DELIVER MORE HOUSING FOR HOMELESS RESIDENTS.

IN OUR LATEST WHY IT MATTERS SEGMENT, VOICE OF SAN DIEGO REPORTER LISA HALVERSTAT SAYS THAT'S ♪ ♪ ♪ >>> THE SAN DIEGO HOUSING COMMISSION IS THE CITY'S HOUSING AGENCY.

IT HAS LONG GIVEN THOUSANDS OF SECTION 8 VOUCHERS TO DEVELOPER EACH YEAR FOR PROJECTS.

DEVELOPER USE THOSE VOUCHERS FOR THE POOREST SAN DIEGANS.

THESE SO-CALLED PROJECT-BASED VOUCHERS ENSURE DEVELOPERS WELCOME PEOPLE WHO CAN'T PAY MUCH RENT AND STILL COVER THEIR OWN BILLS FOR THE PROPERTY.

THIS APPROACH HAS HELPED DRAMATICALLY INCREASE THE CITY'S STOCK IN HOUSING ESPECIALLY IN THE LAST FIVE YEARS.

DEVELOPERS HAVE COUNTED ON THESE VOUCHERS BEING AVAILABLE INCLUDING THE DEVELOPERS BEHIND THE PLANNED SPORTS ARENA REDEVELOPMENT PROJECT KNOWN AS MIDWAY RISING, BUT THE HOUSING COMMISSION RECENTLY MADE A TOUGH CALL.

IT DECIDED IT CAN'T ISSUE NEW PROJECT-BASED VOUCHERS FOR THE NEXT SEVERAL YEARS.

HERE'S HOUSING COMMISSION CEO LISA JONES EXPLAINING HER DECISION ABOUT THE VOUCHERS SOMETIMES CALLED PBBs.

>> THE NEED TO STOP AWARDING THESE NEW PBBs IS UNFORTUNATE AND ALSO UNAVIDABLE.

IT IS A STEP WE NEED TO TAKE AS WE CONTINUE TO ASSIST THOUSANDS OF FAMILY WITH LOW INCOME WHO CURRENTLY RELY ON EXISTING HOUSING VOUCHERS.

>> THE COST TO SERVE FAMILIES WHO ALREADY GET RENTAL ASHS CYSTANCE HAS BEEN HOUSING AND THE MONEY THEY'RE GETTING TO SUPPORT THEM IT ISN'T.

>> THE HOUSING SUBSIDY CAN TELL US.

UNFORTUNATELY FEDERAL FUNDING IS NOT KEEPING UP WITH THIS GROWTH AND EXPEND ITURES IN THE SAME RATE.

NOW IT IS TURNING OFF A CRUCIAL ENGINE BACK IN PROJECTS FOR THE LOWEST INCOME SAN DIEGANS.

>> WITH SO MANY FAMILIES CURRENTLY RELYING ON US, WE HAD NO CHOICE TO STOP AWARDING PROJECT VOUCHERS AT THIS TIME.

SO WHAT DOES THIS MEAN?

SAN DIEGANS WHO ALREADY HAVE SECTION 8 VOUCHERS WILL KEEP GETTING RENTAL ASSISTANCE AND HOUSING DEVELOPERS AND ADVOCATES FEAR THAT THE DECISION TO STOP OFFERING PROJECT BASED VOUCHERS WILL AFFECT THE PRODUCTION OF HOUSING FOR ESPECIALLY LOW INCOME SAN DIEGANS FOR YEARS TO COME.

THE CITY WILL SEE A SLOWDOWN IN NEW LOW-INCOME HOUSING ESPECIALLY FOR PEOPLE NOW LIVING ON THE STREET WHO NEED HOMES WITH SUPPORTIVE SERVICES.

I'M LISA HALVERSTADT FOR VOICE OF SAN DIEGO AND THAT'S WHY IT MATTERS.

>> VOICE OF SAN DIEGO IS ONE OF THE PUBLIC MATTERS INITIATIVE AND HEAR MORE AT PUBLIC/PUBLIC MATTERS.

>>> HAPPY WEDNESDAY, EVERYONE.

AS WE HEAD THROUGH THE REST OF THE WEEK I AM GOING TO BE TRACKING HEAVY RAIN IN THE HIGHER ELEVATIONS AND OVERALL FOR THE REST OF THE WEEK IT WILL BE PARTLY CLOUDY AND WE'LL HEAD THROUGHOUT YOUR THURSDAY AND FRIDAY AND AFTER THAT I'M TRACKING CHILLY STARTS AND A MILD WEATHER PATTERN HERE AS WE HIT THROUGHOUT THE WEEKEND AND I'LL DETAIL THE FORECAST COMING UP.

>>> THE SAN DIEGO UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT IS OUTPERFORMING MANY OTHER LARGE DISTRICTS IN NATIONWIDE TEST SCORES RELEASED TODAY.

KATIE SAYS THE PERFORMANCE GAP BETWEEN ECONOMICALLY DISADVANTAGED STUDENTS AND THEIR PEERS CONTINUES TO GROW.

>>> WINNIE GONZALEZ IS A FOURTH GRADE TEACHER AT HORTON ELEMENTARY SCHOOL.

ABOUT 40% OF THEIR STUDENTS ARE HOMELESS OR IN FOSTER CARE.

>> WE WILL ACT OUT WORD PROBLEM, AND WE WILL STAND UP AND DO EXERCISES AND THAT ARE EQUAL TO.

WE'LL DO ENUMERATOR, DENOMINATOR, VERY ACTION ORIENTED TO KEEP THEIR ATTENTION AND I SAID THEY'RE VERY TIRED AND YOU KNOW, SOMETIMES YOU NEED TO GET THEM, YOU KNOW, AWAKE AND ALIVE AND INTERESTED.

>> FOURTH GRADE STUDENT ARIANA BARSENAS SAYS IT'S HER FAVORITE CLASS.

>> SHE'S REALLY SUPPORTIVE, AND SHE HELPS ME UNDERSTAND IT BETTER, LIKE, IN ALL THE SUBJECTS.

SHE HELPS TO UNDERSTAND IT TO GET THROUGH.

>> THE NATIONAL ASSESSMENT OF EDUCATIONAL PROGRESS DATA RELEASED TODAY SHOWS FOURTH GRADE MATH SCORES IMPROVING IN THE SAN DIEGO UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT.

THOSE FOURTH GRADERS WERE IN KINDERGARTEN WHEN THE PANDEMIC STARTED.

FOUR OUT OF TEN SCORED AT OR ABOVE THE MATH TEST PROFICIENT LEVEL.

THAT MEANS THEY UNDERSTAND THINGS LIKE 24 BEING A MULTIPLE OF EIGHT.

STUDENTS WHO WERE ECONOMICALLY DISADVANTAGED HAD LOWER SCORES THAN THOSE WHO WEREN'T.

THREE IN TEN ECONOMICALLY DISADVANTAGED STUDENTS WERE PROFICIENT COMPARED TO SEVEN IN TEN STUDENTS WHO WERE NOT COMINGLY DISADVANTAGED.

THAT GAP HAS GROWN SINCE THE DISTRICT FIRST STARTED PARTICIPATING IN THE TEST IN 2003.

GONZALEZ SAYS THE PANDEMIC HAD LASTING EFFECTS ON THOSE STUDENTS.

>> EVEN THOUGH THEY HAD INSTRUCTION TO BE ON THEIR LAPTOP A CERTAIN TIME AND ALL OF THAT, A LOT OF THEM HAD TO BE CAREGIVERS FOR THEIR OTHER FAMILY MEMBERS AND THEY LEARNED NOT TO BE AS ATTENDIVE.

>> RICARDO IS ONE OF THE KOUPS COUNSELORS, HE SAID UNSTABLE LIVING SITUATIONS.

>> YOU CAN IMAGINE COMING TO SCHOOL AND THINKING AM I GOING TO HAVE A PLACE TO SLEEP AT NIGHT?

AM I GOING TO HAVE WARM FOOD?

AM I GOING TO BE ABLE TO DO MY HOMEWORK.

>> STAFF HELP STUDENTS IN AND OUT OF THE CLASSROOMS.

>> ONCE YOU START TACKLING THOSE SOCIAL EMOTIONAL CONCERNS OF THE STUDENT THEN THE STUDENT WILL SLOWLY FEEL THAT I'M CAPABLE.

I CAN DO THIS.

>> IN A STATEMENT ON THE TEST RESULTS INTERIM SUPERINTENDENT FAVIOLA SAID IN PART, QUOTE, THESE RESULTS CELEBRATE THE HARD WORK BEING PUT IN SCHOOL EACH DAY AND THE SUPPORT THEY'RE GETTING FROM OUR DISTRICT AND THEIR FAMILIES.

I COULDN'T BE PROUDER OF PROGRESS WE HAVE MADE AS A TEAM, BUT THERE IS MORE WORK TO BE DONE.

KATIE ANASTAS, KPBS NEWS.

>>> I'M AMNA NAWAZ, ROBERT KENNEDY, JR., TAKES HIS TURN IN THE HOT SEAT.

COMING UP ON THE EVENING EDITION ON KPBS.

>>> THE SAN DIEGO CITY COUNCIL VOTED LAST NIGHT TO DEBATE REMOVING SAN DIEGO'S BONUS ACCESSORY DWELLING UNIT PROGRAM.

IT ALLOWS WHAT SOME CALL BACKYARD APARTMENT BUILDINGS.

KPBA REPORTER CASEY HISEN SAYS MANY OF THE LARGEST PROJECTS ARE PROPOSED IN SOUTHEAST SAN DIEGO AND NEIGHBORS ARE PUSHING BACK.

>>> ON TARBUCK STREET IN ENCANTO SITS A SMALL HOME WITH A BIG BACKYARD.

A YELLOW SIGN HANGS ON THE FENCE, ENCANTO SAYS NO.

REBECCA BATISTA LIVES NEXT DOOR.

>> MY HUSBAND NOTICED THERE WAS MOVEMENT HAPPENING ON THE PROPERTY SO HE DECIDED TO LOOK FOR THE PERMITS, AND HE'LL TELL YOU HIMSELF THAT HE NEARLY FELL TO THE FLOOR.

>> 43 NEW HOMES ARE PLANNED FOR A YARD SMALLER THAN HALF A FOOTBALL FIELD.

THAT'S MORE HOMES THAN THE REST OF THE STREET COMBINED.

LISA BECERRA LIVE NEXT TO BATISTA, THEY SPREAD WORD TO NEIGHBORS.

>> NO, WE'RE NOT ZONED FOR THAT, AND THEN I SAW THE PLANS AND I WAS, LIKE, ARE YOU KIDDING ME?

OH, MY GOD.

THEY HAD NO IDEA HOW THIS COULD HAPPEN WITHOUT PUBLIC NOTICE, WITHOUT A PUBLIC HEARING AND WITHOUT ADHERING TO A COMMUNITY PLAN.

>> THAT'S BY DESIGN.

ADUs DON'T HAVE TO DO ANY OF THAT.

IT'S PART OF WHAT MAKES THEM CHEAPER AND FASTER TO BUILD.

CALIFORNIA HOPES TO ENTICE DEVELOPERS TO BUILD MORE HOUSING.

IT ALLOWS TWO ADUs ON EACH LOT.

USUALLY THEY'RE WHAT YOU MIGHT CALL GRANNY FLATS, BUT SAN DIEGO TOOK IT FURTHER.

IN 2020 THEY SAID YOU CAN HAVE TWO MORE AS LONG AS ONE OF THEM IS PRICED AFFORDABLY, AND IF YOUR LOT IS WITHIN A WALKING MILE OF A MAJOR PUBLIC TRANSIT STOP THERE'S NO LIMIT RESULTING IN SOME PROPOSED PROJECTS WITH MORE THAN 100 UNITS ON A SINGLE LOT, WHAT SOME CALL GRANNY TOWERS.

THOSE ARE RARE.

IN MOST PARTS OF SAN DIEGO THE TYPICAL PROJECT IS ABOUT FOUR UNITS.

IN ENCANTO IT'S ABOUT TEN.

BATISTA -- >> WE STARTED PEELING THE ONION TO FIND OUT IT WASN'T JUST THIS LOT NEXT TO OURS, BUT UPWARDS OF TEN TO 12 PROPERTIES THAT WE KNOW ABOUT THAT ARE USING THE SAME BONUS ADU LOOPHOLE.

>> THE ENCANTO AREA MAKES SENSE FOR DEVELOPERS.

LARGER LOT SIZES FOR LESS MONEY THAN OTHER NEIGHBORHOODS.

IT USED TO BE RED LINED.

TODAY NEIGHBORS ARE MOSTLY BLACK AND LATINO AND LOW INCOME.

BATISTA ISN'T OPPOSED TO MORE HOUSING, SAY SIX MORE HOMES ON THIS LOT, BUT 43 MORE HAS HER WORRIED.

UNDER STATE LAW ADU DON'T HAVE TO PROVIDE PARKING.

ON TARBUCK STREET IT'S HARD TO IMAGINE WHERE MORE CARS WILL GO.

THE ROAD ISN'T MAINTAINED BY THE CITY.

IT'S RIDDLED WITH POTHOLES.

THERE ARE NO SIDEWALKS AND STORM DRAINS, ONLY TWO STREETLIGHTS AND OVERGROWN TREES AND PARKED CARS JET INTO THE ROAD.

ERIC BECERRA.

>> HOW ARE THEY TRYING TO PASS THIS TYPE OF BUILDING STRUCTURE WHEN THEY CAN'T EVEN HELP US WITH WHAT WE NEED?

>> AN EARLY ACADEMIC ASSESSMENT OF THE PROGRAM CAUTIONED SAN DIEGO ABOUT THE PATTERN OF LARGER ADU PROJECTIONS PROPOSED IN THE ENCANTO AREA.

QUOTE, THE CITY MAY NOT WANT TO SEA SUCH A HIGH CONCENTRATION OF UNITS IN AREAS THAT HAVE HISTORICALLY ABSORBED MORE THAN THEIR FAIR SHARE OF HOUSING DEVELOPMENT.

CO-AUTHOR JAKE WEGMAN.

>> THAT SOMETIMES RESULTS IN A FEELING AMONG PEOPLE IN THOSE AREAS WE'RE GETTING ALL OF THE DEVELOPMENT AND PEOPLE IN LA JOLLA OR MORE AFFLUENT AREAS HAVEN'T HAD THE SAME DEVELOPMENT THAT WE HAVE.

>> CALIFORNIA ADU DEVELOPERS DON'T HAVE TO PAY IMPACT FEES OR CONDUCT ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEWS AND ENCANTO IS DISPROPORTIONATELY AFFECTED BY ENVIRONMENTAL BURDENS AND HEALTH RISKS AND ALSO AT A HIGH RISK FOR FIRES.

UNLIKE APARTMENTS, ADUs DON'T HAVE TO HAVE SPRINKLERS.

MORE CONCRETE INSTEAD OF GRASSY LOTS ALSO MEANS MORE WATER RUNOFF.

THE NEIGHBORHOOD FLOODED LAST JANUARY.

WEGMAN CALLED THE INFRASTRUCTURE PROBLEM A CHICKEN AND EGG DYNAMIC.

>> SOMETIMES PEOPLE WILL SAY WE SHOULDN'T BUILD ANY MORE HOUSING IN THIS AREA BECAUSE THE INFRASTRUCTURE CAN'T HANDLE IT, RIGHT?

AND THEN ON THE OTHER HAND SOMETIMES YOU HEAR, WELL WHY WOULD WE ADD INFRASTRUCTURE TO THIS NEIGHBORHOOD BECAUSE THERE AREN'T ENOUGH PEOPLE THERE TO JUSTIFY IT?

NEIGHBOR LISA BECERRA ASKS -- >> SO WHAT ARE THESE PEOPLE SUPPOSED TO DO UNTIL IT CATCHES UP?

ABOUT 50 NEIGHBORS HAVE BEGUN TO ORGANIZE.

THEY CREATED A PETITION THIS MONTH THAT HAS OVER 500 SIGNATURES.

THEY SAID THEY WOULD CONSIDER LEGAL ACTION.

REBECCA BATISTA.

>> THIS HAS TURNED US INTO ACTIVISTS AND IT'S BEEN REALLY BEAUTIFUL FOR BRINGING OUR COMMUNITY TOGETHER FOR SOMETHING WE BELIEVE IN AND WE KNOW HOW SPECIAL ENCANTO IS.

>> IT IS TOWARD A MAJOR PUBLIC TRANSIT STOP.

IT'S SUPPOSED TO BE A MILE AWAY AT MOST, BUT GOOGLE MAPS SAYS IT'S A LITTLE MORE WITH NO SIDEWALK, WE'RE FORCED TO WALK ON THE ROAD.

THE WHEELS OF THEIR DOUBLE STROLLER AND HER DAUGHTER'S SCOOTER BUMPY HARD OVER POTHOLES.

WE PASS A SMALLER BUS STOP WITH NO SHADE, AN ELDERLY NASH'S CHARITY ISES ON THE GRASSY INCLINE.

BATISTA SAID SHE JUST SOLD HER PROPERTY TO A DEVELOPER.

KATIE HISEN, KPBS NEWS.

>> THAT STORY AND ALL OF OUR FEATURE REPORTING IS AVAILABLE ON THE KPBS YOUTUBE PAGE.

YOU CAN SUBSCRIBE AND GET NOTIFIED WHERE NEW STORIES ARE POSTED AND IT'S ALSO WHERE WE HAVE KPBS EVENING EDITION WEEKNIGHTS AT 5:00.

>>> AS WE HEAD INTO TONIGHT I WILL BE TRACKING SOME LOW CLOUDS ESPECIALLY NEAR THE COAST WITH OVERNIGHT LOWS AND A MIX OF 40s AND 50s.

HERE ACROSS THE SOUTH YOU SEE TEMPERATURES RANGING 40s AND 50s WITH PARTLY CLOUDY SKIES WITH THE HIGHER ELEVATIONS IN THE MOUNTAINS AND DOWN TO OCEANSIDE AND CAMP PENDLETON AND HERE IN SAN DIEGO, DOWNTOWN 50 DEGREES.

WE WILL SEE SOME HEAVY SNOWFALL CONTINUING THERE ACROSS THE ROCKIES WITH CLOUD COVERAGE WORKING ITS WAY ACROSS THE COAST HERE FOR YOUR EARLY THURSDAY MORNING.

AS WE HEAD THROUGHOUT THE DAY, CLOUDY SKIES WILL PERSIST, BUT IT LOOKS LIKE IT WILL STAY DRY ACROSS CENTRAL AND NORTHERN PARTS OF CALIFORNIA AND THAT WILL BE IT FOR YOUR RAINFALL CHANCE AS WE HEAD THROUGHOUT YOUR THURSDAY.

ON FRIDAY, WE'LL SEE RAINFALL ACROSS NORTHERN CALIFORNIA ESPECIALLY SNOWFALL ACROSS THE HIGHER ELEVATIONS.

SOME OF THE RAINFALL WILL TRY ITS BEST TO LOOK FARTHER TO THE SOUTH, BUT IT'S NOT GOING TO MAKE IT HERE AND DRY WEATHER CONTINUES HERE WITH THE WEATHER OFF TO THE EAST FOR YOUR THURSDAY AFTERNOON AND UPPER 50 'AND LOW 60s IN THE DESERT AREAS AND DRY WEATHER CONTINUES ACROSS THE FOUR CORNERS, TRACKING HEAVY RAINFALL TO THE NORTH.

FOR YOUR COAST TO COAST, FIVE-DAY OUTLOOK I'LL BE TRACKING LOTS OF SUNSHINE OVER THE NEXT FEW DAYS AND AFTERNOON HIGHS ARE IN THE 60s AS WE HEAD INTO THE WEEKEND AND THE TEMPERATURES WILL RAMP UP INTO THE MID TO UPPER 60s AND 70s IN THE FORECAST.

THE OVERNIGHT LOWS AND WE'LL BE IN THE UPPER 40s AS WE HEAD TO NEXT WEEK.

INLAND FORECAST WE'LL SEE 60s BEFORE THEY GET BACK INTO THE 40s HEADING INTO EARLY NEXT WEEK.

ACROSS THE MOUNTAINS WE'LL SEE MODERATE CONDITIONS BEFORE TEMPERATURES START TO RAMP UP HERE HEADING THROUGHOUT THE WEEKEND AND THEN IN THE DESERT WE'LL ACTUALLY BE IN THE 80s OR LOWS MAKING IT BACK INTO THE 50s ON SUNDAY.

>>> AT LEAST FIVE FIRES HAVE FORCED EVACUATIONS AND DISPLACED FAMILIES ACROSS SAN DIEGO COUNTY IN THE LAST WEEK ALONE.

KPBS HEALTH REPORTER HEIDI DiMARCO SAYS PEOPLE WITH ALZHEIMER'S OR OTHER COGNITIVE DECLINE, THE CHAOS OF AN EMERGENCY CAN BE ESPECIALLY OVERWHELMING.

>> WHEN FLAMES BROKE OUT IN LA JOLLA LAST WEEK BROOKE MARTINDALE KNEW SHE HAD TO ACT FAST.

SHE RUNS A HOME HEALTH CARE COMPANY AND IMMEDIATELY STARTED CALLING HER CAREGIVERS.

>> WHEN THE NOTIFICATIONS COME OUT WE ALL PANICKED, AND WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAD THAT PLAN AND THAT STRATEGY IN PLACE ESPECIALLY FOR PEOPLE WITH A COGNITIVE IMPAIRMENT OR MOBILE DIFFICULTY AND THEY'RE GOING TO GET ANXIOUS.

>> EXPERTS SAY FOR CAREGIVERS OF PEOPLE WITH COGNITIVE IMPAIRMENT HAVING A PLAN BEFORE DISASTER STRIKES IS CRUCIAL.

THAT INCLUDES KNOWING EVACUATION ROUTES KEEPING LEGAL DOCUMENTS HANDY AND HAVING RECENT PHOTOS IN CASE A LOVED ONE GETS LOST.

>> ONE OF THE HARDEST THINGS FOR SOMEONE WITH ALZHEIMER'S AND DEMENTIA IS CHANGES IN THEIR ROUTINE, AND I CAN'T THINK OF SOMETHING THAT'S MORE OF A CHANGE IN ROUTINE THAN BEING EVACUATED FROM YOUR HOME IN A RUSH.

>> SARAH SAYS AN EMERGENCY CAN WORSEN DEMENTIA SYMPTOMS.

SIGNS TO WATCH OUT FOR IS CHANGES IN SLEEP, PACING OR WANDERING.

THEY MIGHT BE EATING LESS OR DRINKING LESS, AND IT MIGHT BE SUSPICIOUS OF NEW PEOPLE AND THEY MIGHT HAVE BEHAVIOR SUCH AS PICKING AT THEIR SKIN ORPIKING AT THEIR CLOTHES.

>> BEING IN AN UNFAMILIAR PLEASE PLACE WHERE THERE'S A DIFRN KIND OF RHYTHM TO THE DAY.

IT CAN REALLY THROW A PERSON WITH DEMENTIA OFF AND CREATE THAT AGITATION OR THE FEELING OF OVERWHELM.

SIMMONS SAYS A CALM APPROACH AND SIMPLE COMMUNICATION CAN HELP.

>> FOR EXAMPLE, THINGS LIKE YOU ARE SAFE.

I AM STAYING WITH YOU.

WE WILL BE TOGETHER.

>> EXPERTS RECOMMEND PREPARING A GO BAG WITH MEDICATIONS, MEDICAL AND LEGAL DOCUMENTS AND FAMILIAR ITEMS TO HELP EASE THE TRANSITION IN CASE OF AN EVACUATION.

HEIDI DiMARCO, KPBS NEWS.

>> TODAY MARKS THE START OF LUNAR NEW YEAR, AND THE YEAR OF THE SNAKE.

IT'S A TIME OF CELEBRATION FOR MANY ASIAN CULTURES EACH WITH THEIR OWN UNIQUE TRADITIONS.

KPBS ARTS AND CULTURE REPORTER BETH AK AMANDO SPEAKS WITH THE LION DANCE ASSOCIATION ABOUT THE ART AND THE SIGNIFICANCE OF LION DANCES.

>> GROWING UP WITH A CHINESE GRANDFATHER MEANT THAT MY FAMILY GOT TO CELEBRATE LUNAR NEW YEAR.

MY GRANDFATHER IT WOULD TELL US ABOUT BEING A BOY IN CHINA AND CELEBRATING FOR 15 DAYS WITH FOOD, FAMILY AND OF COURSE, FIRECRACKERS.

THE ONES HE LOVED AS A CHILD WERE STRING FIRECRACKERS MADE UP OF HUNDREDS OF LITTLE FIRECRACKERS BRAIDED TOGETHER BY THEIR FUSES, AND WHEN YOU LIT ONE END OF THE BRAID HUNDREDS OF THESE WOULD EXPLODE ONE AFTER THE OTHER.

THE FIRECRACKERS ARE SUPPOSED TO WARD OFF BAD SPIRITS AND BAD LUCK, BUT FOR A LINE DANCER, THE SMOKE AND NOISE CAN BE A CHALLENGE.

>> THAT'S WHY WE TELL OUR PERFORMERS TO WEAR A MASK.

>> PETER TAM IS TEAM LEADER AND COORDINATOR WITH THE LINE DANCE ASSOCIATION.

>> EVIL SPIRITS AND BAD LUCK AND BRINGING PROSPERITY WITH ANY INDIVIDUAL OR GROUP AND IT'S NOT JUST A LIGHT DANCE AND IT'S BASICALLY A CHINESE MARTIAL ARTS FORM.

>> LION DANCES ARE POPULAR DURING LUNAR NEW YEAR.

IT DATES BACK THOUSANDS OF YEARS TO THE TENG DYNASTY AND THE LEGEND ABOUT AN EMPEROR HAVING A DREAM IN WHICH AN ANIMAL HE DEEMED TO BE A LION SAVED HIS LIFE.

>> THEY WENT OFF OF WHAT THE EMPEROR SAW IN HIS DREAM.

THAT'S YET COSTUME IS SO STYLIZED AND SPECTACULAR.

IT'S OFTEN BOLD RED OR BRIGHT GOLD WITH LARGE EYES, FLUFFY, ROUNDED EARS, A BIG MOUTH AND FLOWING BODY.

IT'S AMAZING TO SEE A PAIR OF DANCERS BREATHE LIFE INTO WHAT'S ESSENTIAL LE A LARGE PUPPET.

>> IT CAN PORTRAY ANGER, SADNESS AND ET CETERA.

FOLLOW THE FOOTWORK, WHATEVER THE FOOTWORK THE TAIL DOES WITH IT AND BEING ABLE TO BE SYNCHRONIZED WITH MUSIC.

THE OTHER STUNTS IS BEING ABLE TO LIFT YOUR PARTNER UP.

A LION MAY JUMP ON TABLES AND RISE UP ON ITS HIND LEGSERS ON PRANCE AROUND A CROWD ALL TO VERY DISTINCTIONIVE AND VIBRANT MUSIC CREATED BY A TRAY OWE OF TRIO.

>> THE HEAD OF THE LION CAN BE EXTREMELY EXPRESSIVE AS THE DANCER OPERATES STRINGS AND LEVERS TO WIGGLE THE EARS, BLINK THE EYES AND OPEN AND CLOSE THE MOUTH.

>> YOU HAVE TO GIVE THE LION LIFE.

IT'S STORYTELLING AND IT'S CAPTIVATING FOR THE AUDIENCE TO UNDERSTAND.

>> THE LION'S HEAD IS MADE OF BAMBOO, PAPIER-MACHE AND FABRIC CAN AND COST $1,000 AND CAN BE A CHALLENGE TO WORK IN.

>> WHEN YOU'RE INSIDE THE COSTUME YOU HAVE LIMITED VISION AND IF YOU'RE THE HEAD YOU LOOK THROUGH THE MOUTH.

SOUR GOAL IS TO PRESERVE THE CHINESE CULTURE AND ART OF LION DANCING.

>> LUNAR NEW YEAR IS THE PERFECT TIME TO SHARE AND CELEBRATE THAT HERITAGE.

KPBS NEWS.

>> THAT'S A GREAT STORY, AND YOU CAN FIND TONIGHT'S STORIES ON OUR WEBSITE KPBS.ORG.

THANKS FOR JOINING US.

I'M MAYA TREBOLSI.

GOOD NIGHT.

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