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

I AM MAYA TRABULSI.

AS WE WRAP UP A BUSY WEEK FOR POLITICS, THIS WEEK WE ARE TAKING A LOOK AT SOME OF OUR BEST POLITICAL REPORTING FROM 2024.

COMING UP, PRESERVING CROSS- BORDER ART.

HISTORIANS TELL US WHY SAVING PIECES OF THE REPLACED BORDER WALL IS IMPORTANT FOR UNDERSTANDING THE BINATIONAL EXPERIENCE.

>>> THE GREEN PROMISE OF IMPERIAL CANDY.

WE GO TO AN OFTEN OVERLOOKED BUT OF CALIFORNIA THAT IS GETTING MORE ATTENTION AS THE STATE LOOKS FOR ALTERNATIVE ENERGY SOURCES.

>>> AND A LAWSUIT OVER PUBLIC COMMENT AT PUBLIC MEETINGS.

AS PART OF THE ONGOING ISSUES WITH CIVILITY AND DECORUM THAT EMERGED DURING THE PANDEMIC, AND THAT IS WHERE RESTART.

INVESTIGATIVE REPORTER AMITA SHARMA HAS COVERED THIS ISSUE EXTENSIVELY, PARTICULARLY AT THE SAN DIEGO COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS.

SHE RECENTLY TALKED TO THOSE WHO ARE INVOLVED IN THAT LAWSUIT, WHICH CHALLENGES EFFORTS TO CONTROL THE PUBLIC COMMENT PROCESS.

BUT FIRST, HERE IS SOME OF THE BACK STORY ON HOW THE SITUATION HAS GROWN HEATED IN RECENT YEARS.

>> Reporter: THERE WAS A TIME WHEN PEOPLE ADDRESSED THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS WITH POLITENESS TOO >> IN MORNING.

MY NAME IS DOUG LYNCH.

I LIVE IN THE HIDDEN MEADOWS AREA.

THE TWO ISSUES I WANTED TO TOUCH ON WHERE FIRE SAFETY AND JOBS AND THOSE OF ALREADY BEEN DONE, SO I WOULD LIKE TO ENCOURAGE YOU TO VOTE YES ON THIS.

THANK YOU.

>> Reporter: IN THE PANDEMIC HIT , AND STABILITY BY SOME TOOK A DIVE.

>> GOOD AFTERNOON MY BOARD OF TYRANTS.

>> Reporter: LANGUAGE, TONE, EVEN LUCIDITY SLID.

>> THE PANDEMIC HAS LEFT US WITH AN UNADDRESSED CASE OF NATIONAL PTSD.

SCARED THE VEGGIES A SET OF PEOPLE.

>> Reporter: POLITICAL SCIENTIST CARL LUNA IS THE DIRECTOR OF THE LOCAL INSTITUTE FOR CIVIL CIVIC ENGAGEMENT IN SAN DIEGO.

HIS ANALYSIS IS BACKED UP BY KPBS'S OWN REVIEW OF SUPERVISORS MEETINGS .

KPBS WATCHED THE PUBLIC COMMENT SECTIONS FROM A SAMPLE OF MEETINGS FROM 2009 TO 2023 AND FOUND A CLEAR TREND.

SURE ENOUGH, THE TIDE TURNED ONE YEAR INTO THE PANDEMIC.

VACCINES ARE A TRIGGER.

>> MORE TIME TRYING TO SAVE THE PEOPLE IN THE COUNTY AND NOT MURDER THEM WITH THESE SHOTS.

>> Reporter: IN 2009, THERE WERE TWO INCIDENTS AT INCIVILITY AT THE SUPERVISORS MEETINGS.

LAST YEAR, 167.

MOSTLY COMMITTED THE SAME SMALL GROUP OF COMMENTERS.

THE OFFENSES INCLUDED CONSPIRACIES AND THREATS.

>> WHAT ARE YOU DOING TO ACTUALLY STOP HUMAN TRAFFICKING?

NOTHING, BECAUSE YOU ARE A PART OF IT, MAYBE.

>> $20,000 TO CONTINUE COORDINATED VACCINE CLINICS.

I WOULD LIKE TO CALL THOSE MURDER OR GENOCIDE CLINICS.

>> YOU ARE FELONS.

I MEAN, YOU WILL BE, BUT, LIKE, YOU SHOULD BE TAKEN TO GET MOE.

>> MARCUS I CAN'T WAIT FOR YOUR ORDERLIES TO CLOG.

THEY ARE DOING IT FAST ENOUGH.

AND NATHAN, YOU SHOULD KILL YOURSELF.

I DON'T KNOW WHERE YOU ARE.

>> Reporter: THE PROFANE.

>> YOU DON'T GIVE A -- ABOUT WHAT WE HAVE TO SAY AND YOU ARE IN BIG CUP TROUBLE BECAUSE YOU HAVE A POWER TRIP ISSUE.

DO YOU LIKE BEING A -- >> Reporter: AND RACISM.

>> THE BLACKEST THING ABOUT HER IS HER HEART.

>> THERE'S A LOT HERE ANTI- SEMITIC THAT IS VERY TROUBLING.

>> Reporter: SHE SAYS THOSE COMMENTS CUT HER DIFFERENTLY.

>> IS A MEMBER OF THE JEWISH COMMUNITY, MY FEELINGS ARE HURT.

I FEEL AFRAID FOR PEOPLE IN OUR COMMUNITY.

>> Reporter: SHE PARTLY BLAMES THE NASTINESS AT MEETINGS ON FORMER PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP AND HIS COMMENTS ABOUT RACE AND WOMEN, DATING BACK TO HIS FIRST RUN FOR PRESIDENT IN 2016.

>> THERE WAS A SHIFT I THINK THAT ALOUD, LIKE, A NORMALIZATION OF THIS COURSE IN TOXICITY THAT WE ARE ALL GRAPPLING WITH NOW.

>> Reporter: LUNA SAYS A SETTLER SHIFT BEGAN MORE THAN 15 YEARS AGO, AS A BACKLASH TO THE ELECTION OF BARACK OBAMA AS THE FIRST BLACK PRESIDENT.

THE HIGH COST OF LIVING HAS ONLY WORSENED THE VITRIOL.

UCSD POLITICAL SCIENTIST FACT HAUSER SAYS A LACK OF FAITH IN PUBLIC INSTITUTIONS, COVID VACCINE MANDATES, AND FORCED BUSINESS CLOSURES INTENSIFIED DIVIDE.

>> ALL OF THOSE THINGS DRIVE PEOPLE'S ANGER, IN A CONTEXT WHEN THEY DON'T FEEL LIKE THEY HAVE ANYTHING IN COMMON WITH THE OTHER SIDE.

BACK ALL AMPLIFIED BY SOCIAL MEDIA.

LOCAL PUBLIC GOVERNMENT MEETINGS HAVE TYPICALLY BEEN THE BEDROCK OF DEMOCRACY, WHERE HYPER LOCAL ISSUES ARE DISCUSSED AND IMMUNE TO PARTISANSHIP.

>> ONE OF THE REASONS THAT LOCAL DEBATES AND LOCAL POLITICS SURVIVED POLARIZATION LONGER IS THAT WE HAD THICKER AND STRONGER CONNECTIONS TO OUR NEIGHBORS AND WE HAD A LOT OF TRUST THAT REBUILDS UP, BUT THAT TRUST ISN'T FREE AND IT'S BEING ERODED.

4 THE KROC INSTITUTE FOR PEACE AND JUSTICE RESEARCH MANAGER JOHN HORTON SAYS THERE ARE OTHER FORCES AT WORK.

OUTSIDE ORGANIZATIONS, DETERMINED TO DIVIDE.

>> WE CAN SEE THAT THERE ARE GROUPS ORGANIZING IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA WHOSE REASON FOR EXISTENCE IS TO MOBILIZE PEOPLE TO GO TO A SERIES OF PUBLIC MEETINGS AND TO BRING UP THESE POLICY PREFERENCES AT THEY HAVE.

4 SAN DIEGO PSYCHOLOGIST DAVID PETERS SAYS WHAT WE ARE REALLY SEEING AT THESE MEETINGS ARE SCARED PEOPLE.

>> AND IN OUR SPACES, PEOPLE ARE CONVERTING THE FEAR INTO ANGER SO AS TO FEEL POWERFUL.

>> Reporter: TOMORROW, WE WILL EXAMINE THE EFFECT OF THAT RAGE.

AMITA SHARMA, KPBS NEWS.

AS PART OF THE NONPROFIT -- WHICH STATES ITS MISSION IS GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTABILITY, MATT WAHLSTROM HAS A TENDENCY TO GO COUNTY SUPERVISORS MEETINGS.

HE IS WELL AWARE OF THE NASTINESS SPIRIT BY SOME MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC TOWARDS SUPERVISORS AND STAFF.

COMMENTS LIKE THESE.

>> YOUR CONDUCT IS DISRUPTING THE PROCEEDINGS OF THIS MEETING.

YOU CAN GO, TOO.

>> DO YOU LIKE BEING A -- >> Reporter: AND WAHLSTROM IS TURNED OFF.

>> I DON'T AGREE WITH THE DEFINITELY REPREHENSIBLE AND JUST REPUGNANT COMMENTS BY PEOPLE AT TIMES.

4 SUPERVISORS IMMEDIATELY THOUGHT TO LIMIT THE BARBS AND INTERRUPTIONS BY IMPOSING NEW RULES ON PUBLIC COMMENTS IN NOVEMBER OF 2022, AFTER SAN DIEGO AND JASON ROBO REFERRED TO THEN PUBLIC ANTI-HEALTH OFFICER DR. WILMA WOOTEN WHO IS BLACK THIS WAY.

>> AND, YOU ARE -- AUNT JEMIMA.

>> Reporter: BUT AUSTIN SAID THE SUPERVISORS FIX WENT TOO FAR.

HE IS SUING THE COUNTY ON GROUNDS THAT IT IS NOW TRAMPLING ON THE FREE-SPEECH RIGHTS OF COMMENTERS, NO MATTER HOW PROFANE OR DEGRADING THEY ARE.

>> SOME PEOPLE THINK THAT THAT IS THE ONLY WAY THAT THEY ARE GOING TO GET ACROSS, AND AGAIN, I MAY NOT AGREE WITH IT, BUT SO LONG AS IT DOES NOT CROSS THAT LINE, THAT BRIGHT CONSTITUTIONAL LINE, IT NEEDS TO BE ALLOWED.

>> Reporter: ONE CHANGE ALLOWS THE CHAIRPERSON OF THE BOARD TO REPRIMAND A MEMBER OF THE PUBLIC IF THERE STATEMENTS ARE DEEMED DISCRIMINATORY OR HARASSING, AND EVEN HAD A SHERIFF'S DEPUTY REMOVED THE PERSON.

>> THE PROBLEM IS WITH THE DEFINITION OF IS CREMATORY HARASSING REMARKS.

>> Reporter: LAWYER COREY BRIGGS REPRESENTS PROJECT FOR OPEN GOVERNMENT IN ITS LAWSUIT AGAINST THE COUNTY.

HE FREQUENTLY SUES LOCAL GOVERNMENTS.

>> WE ARE ALLOWED TO BE CRITICAL OF PUBLIC OFFICIALS AND PUBLIC EMPLOYEES.

WE ARE ALLOWED TO CRITICIZE THE GOVERNMENT.

WE CAN CRITICIZE THE GOVERNMENT STRONGLY.

THIS DEFINITION NOW ALLOWS ONE PERSON, THE CHAIR OF THE BOARD, TO DECIDE THAT HE OR SHE DOESN'T LIKE THE COMMENTS THAT ARE BEING MADE, AND EVEN IF THEY ARE LEGALLY PROTECTED UNDER THIS DEFINITION, CAN SAY STOP IT.

>> Reporter: THE COUNTY DID NOT RESPOND TO REQUESTS FOR COMMENT, BUT IT'S DOCUMENTS HIGHLIGHTING THE CHANGES DOES INDEED DEFINE DISCRIMINATORY OR HARASSING REMARKS AS LEGALLY PROTECTED SPEECH THAT DISPARAGES AN INDIVIDUAL OR GROUP BASED ON THEIR PERCEIVED RACE, RELIGION, SEXUAL ORIENTATION, ETHNICITY, GENDER, DISABILITY, OR OTHER HATE SPEECH , BUT DOES NOT RISE TO THE LEVEL OF A CRIMINAL THREAT OR INCITING VIOLENCE.

>> WHAT THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS CAN DO IS MAKE SURE THERE IS NO DISRUPTION OF THE MEETING, THAT NO ONE HAS THE RIGHT TO SHOUT OUT DURING THE MEETING.

ANYBODY WHO SHOUTS OUT CAN BE REMOVED, CAN BE BARRED FROM COMING BACK.

AND, THE CITY COUNCIL CAN LIMIT THE PUBLIC COMMENT TIME THAT IT WANTS.

OF THE PUBLIC COMMENT IS GETTING OUT OF HAND, THEY CAN CERTAINLY LIMIT THE AMOUNT OF TIME THAT THEY ARE GOING TO DEVOTE TO PUBLIC COMMENT.

>> Reporter: CONSTITUTIONAL SCHOLAR AND UC BERKELEY LAW SCHOOL D HERMAN SHARANSKY HAS ADVISED LOCAL GOVERNMENTS ON MANAGING NASTY PUBLIC COMMENTS, BUT HE IS NOT INVOLVED IN THIS LAWSUIT.

>> THE DIFFICULTY IS THAT THEY CAN'T SAY WE ARE GOING TO HAVE A CIVILITY CODE FOR HOW TO SPEAK.

THEY CAN'T SAY, NO PROFANITIES.

THEY CAN'T SAY NO ETHNIC OR RACIAL SLURS, BECAUSE THAT IS PROTECTED BY THE FIRST AMENDMENT.

>> Reporter: DAVID LOY OF THE FIRST AMENDMENT COALITION WHO ALSO IS NOT PART OF THE LAWSUIT SAYS THOSE CONSTITUTIONAL PROTECTIONS IN SHORT THAT THE GOVERNMENT CAN'T CRACKDOWN ON DISSENTERS.

>> THIS IS WHY WE HAVE A FIRST AMENDMENT, TO ENSURE THAT WE DO NOT ALLOW THE GOVERNMENT TO CENSOR PEOPLE BASED ON THEIR VIEWPOINT.

SOMETIMES THE PRICE WE PAY FOR THAT IS THAT WE HAVE TO TOLERATE SPEECH THAT WE DON'T LIKE.

>> Reporter: BRIGGS SAYS THE CASE CHALLENGING THE COUNTY'S ROLE CHANGE GOVERNING COMMENTS AT SUPERVISORS MEETINGS COULD GO TO TRIAL LATER THIS YEAR.

AMITA SHARMA , KPBS NEWS.

>>> AND AMITA SHARMA HAS DONE EXTENSIVE COVERAGE ON THIS TOPIC AND THE ISSUES SURROUNDING DEMOCRACY IN OUR REGION.

YOU CAN FIND MORE OF HER REPORTING IT KPBS.ORG.

>>> CALIFORNIA HAS AMBITIOUS GOALS TO TRANSITION AWAY FROM FOSSIL FUELS AND PART OF REACHING THAT GOAL LIES IN IMPERIAL COUNTY EAST OF SAN DIEGO, BUT THERE IS SKEPTICISM IN THE COMMUNITY AFTER PAST PROMISES OF DEVELOPMENT FAILED TO BRING POSTERITY TO THE AREA.

KPBS IMPERIAL VALLEY REPORTER COREY SUZUKI WONDERED WHAT WOULD IT TAKE FOR THINGS TO BE DIFFERENT THIS TIME AROUND?

>> Reporter: ACCOUNT -- TOWN OF PALATINE ATRIA IS A SMALL WORKING CLASS COMMUNITY ON THE NORTH END OF IMPERIAL COUNTY.

ONE MAIN STREET, ONE DOLLAR STORE, SURROUNDED BY ACRES OF FIELDS.

IT IS A SLEEPY PLACE, BUT THERE IS A CHANCE THAT COULD ALL CHANGE IN THE COMING YEARS.

>> WE SEE THIS IS ONE OF THE GREATEST ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITIES OF HER LIFETIME, AND WE WANT CALIFORNIA TO DOMINATE IN THIS SPACE.

>> Reporter: THAT IS CALIFORNIA GOVERNOR GAVIN NEWSOM.

HE WAS IN TOWN LAST YEAR TO HOLD A PRESS CONFERENCE IN FRONT OF A NEW THE IMPLANT, UNDER CONSTRUCTION JUST A FEW MILES WEST OF CALIPATRIA.

RECENT STUDIES HAVE FOUND THAT THE IMPERIAL VALLEY IS HOME TO HUGE AMOUNTS OF LITHIUM, A KEY ELEMENT IN ELECTRIC CAR BATTERIES AND OTHER TECHNOLOGY, AND DEMAND IS SOARING AROUND THE WORLD OF COUNTRIES LIKE THE U.S. TO GET GAS POWERED CARS OFF OF THE ROAD AND SLOW CLIMATE CHANGE.

NEWSOM AND OTHER OFFICIALS SAY THE INDUSTRY COULD TRANSFORM CALIPATRIA AND OTHER LOCAL COMMUNITIES WITH NEW JOBS AND TAX DOLLARS.

>> 100 CENTS TO THE DOLLAR WE WANT TO GO BACK TO THE COMMUNITY.

80% SPECIFICALLY TO THE COMMUNITY IN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES, AND THEN 20% OF THE SALTON SEA.

THAT'S NEVER HAPPENED BEFORE, SO THAT IS A COMMITMENT.

>> Reporter: IT WAS A BIG DEAL.

AT THE SAME TIME, THOUGH, SOME IMPERIAL COUNTY RESIDENTS WONDER HOW SERIOUSLY TO TAKE THOSE CLAIMS.

OFFICIALS HAVE MADE BIG CLAIMS ABOUT RENEWABLE ENERGIES IN THE PAST, LIKE GEOTHERMAL AND SOLAR.

MICHAEL LLEWELLYN SERVES ON THE CALIPATRIA CITY COUNCIL.

>> I AM EXCITED.

I AM OPTIMISTIC, BUT THERE ARE STILL THOSE THOUGHTS, YOU KNOW, WHAT IF LITHIUM DOESN'T COME.

>> Reporter: EVEN THOUGH THE COUNTIES LITHIUM INDUSTRY IS IN ITS VERY EARLY STAGES, EXPERTS SAY THINGS COULD BE DIFFERENT THIS TIME.

FOR WHEN THE MOMENTUM BEHIND IT IS STRONG.

RIGHT NOW, THREE ENERGY COMPANIES ARE PLANNING EXTRACTION PLANTS AT THE NORTH END OF THE COUNTY, AND THE STATUS ON ITS FULL WEIGHT BEHIND THOSE PROJECTS.

THE COMPANIES HIRE LOCAL RESIDENTS FOR JOBS IN THOSE PLANTS, THAT IS ONE OF THE MOST DIRECT WAYS THE REGION WILL BENEFIT.

THE ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR OF THE GOVERNMENT FINANCE RESEARCH CENTER AT THE UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS, CHICAGO.

>> THEY CAN EASILY SAY LET'S MAKE SURE THAT LABOR IS LOCAL.

IF THERE ARE NEEDS TO UPSCALE THE LABOR AND THEY DON'T HAVE THE SKILLS NECESSARY, LET'S DO ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVES TO TRY TO GIVE THEM THE SKILLS NEEDED.

4 ANOTHER WAY THE COMMUNITY COULD BE BENEFITED IS THE STATEWIDE EXTRACTION TAX PASSED IN 2022.

REQUIRES ALL LITHIUM PRODUCES IN CALIFORNIA TO PAYOUT TWEEN $400-$800 IN A STATEWIDE FUND FOR EACH TON OF LITHIUM THEY PULL OUT OF THE GROUND.

GOES BACK TO THE COUNTIES WHERE THAT LITHIUM CAME FROM.

IN IMPERIAL COUNTY, OFFICIALS WILL BE MADE TO SET ASIDE A MOST A THIRD OF THOSE TAX DOLLARS FOR THOSE FRONTLINE COMMUNITIES INCLUDING CALIPATRIA.

ALSO GO TOWARD RESTORING THE TOXIC SALT AND SEE.

THEY SAY THESE BENEFITS WOULD GO A LONG WAY, TOWARDS THINGS LIKE THE TOWNS KREMMLING SOURCE SYSTEM AND ITS TOWNS IN SCHOOLS.

>> I CAN'T SPEAK FOR EL CENTRO OR IMPERIAL, BUT EVERY CITY HAS THESE ISSUES NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED ASAP AND I THINK THE LITHIUM WILL HELP US WITH THAT.

>> Reporter: STILL EXPERTS KNOW THOSE BENEFITS AREN'T A SURE THING YET.

>> NONE OF THESE COMPANIES ARE DEVELOPING THAT LITHIUM EXTRACTION YET.

>> Reporter: CHRIS BENNER IS A PROFESSOR OF ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES AND SOCIOLOGY AT UC SANTA CRUZ.

HE SAYS THAT IT IS IMPORTANT TO REMEMBER THAT NO ONE HAS ACTUALLY STARTED PULLING LITHIUM OUT OF THE GROUND AT INDUSTRIAL LEVELS.

>> THEY BROKE GROUND IN JANUARY ON THEIR NEW GEOTHERMAL PLANT THAT WOULD HAVE LITHIUM EXTRACTION CONNECTED TO IT, BUT THEY ARE STILL TRYING TO GET ALL OF THE FINANCIAL INVESTMENT THEY NEED TO BUILD OUT THAT FULL PLANT.

>> Reporter: THE LITHIUM COMPANIES WITH PLANS IN IMPERIAL COUNTY ALSO HAVE NOT SIGNED ANY TIME COMMITMENTS TO OFFER WELL-PAID JOBS OR FOCUS ON HIRING LOCAL RESIDENTS.

THAT LITHIUM EXTRACTION TAXES ALSO IN JEOPARDY.

NOVEMBER CALIFORNIA BALLOT MEASURE TARGETING MANY STATE TAXES COULD WIPE IT OUT, FORCING LAWMAKERS AND LOCAL COMMUNITIES TO START FROM SCRATCH.

ALSO IN THE LONGER-TERM, MOST OF THE JOBS WILL COME AFTER THE LITHIUM IS EXTRACTED, WHEN THEY TURN THE MINERALS INTO BATTERIES AND ELECTRIC CARS.

THAT COULD BE A BIG OPPORTUNITY FOR IMPERIAL COUNTY, BUT IT IS ALSO A BIG OPEN QUESTION.

>> LESS THAN ONE HALF OF 1% OF ALL JOBS IN THE FULL SUPPLY CHAIN ARE IN LITHIUM EXTRACTION , SO YOU KNOW, IF WE WANT TO KEEP OUR EYES ON THE BALL, THE BIGGEST BALL IS IN THE ELECTRIC VEHICLE AND BATTERY MANUFACTURING, NOT SO MUCH IN EXTRACTION.

>> Reporter: BACK IN PELLA CALIPATRIA, LLEWELLYN SAYS HE UNDERSTANDS THAT THOSE QUESTIONS ARE SIGNIFICANT.

STILL, HE IS HOPEFUL ABOUT EVERYTHING THAT HAS HAPPENED SO FAR.

>> I THINK THIS WILL BE THE TIME THAT EVERYTHING IS DONE RIGHT, NOT JUST FOR CALIPATRIA OR IN IRELAND, BUT FOR THE ENTIRE COUNTY.

>> Reporter: BUT HE ALSO HEALS THE WEIGHT OF THIS MOMENT FOR THE REGION.

CALIPATRIA HE SAYS CAN'T AFFORD ANOTHER BROKEN PROMISE.

COREY SUZUKI, KPBS NEWS .

>>> EVERY FRIDAY YOU CAN GET OUR MOST POPULAR STORIES OF THE WEEK.

IT IS ONE OF THE NEWSLETTERS OFFERED BY KPBS.

WE HAVE MANY OTHERS INCLUDING DAILY HEADLINES , KPBS ART, STREAMING PICS, AND OUR NORTH COUNTY FOCUS.

GO TO KPBS.ORG AND LOOK FOR THE NEWSLETTERS SECTION AT THE TOP OF THE SCREEN , AND FROM THERE YOU CAN SIGN UP WITH YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS.

>>> EVERY YEAR KPBS PARTNERS WITH LOCAL LIBRARIES FOR ONE BOOK, ONE SAN DIEGO.

IT IS A COLLABORATION TO CELEBRATE LITERACY FOR ADULTS, TEENAGERS, KIDS, AND SPANISH- LANGUAGE READERS.

JUST RECENTLY WE ANNOUNCED OUR SELECTIONS FOR THE UPCOMING YEAR.

HERE IS MORE ON THAT ANNOUNCEMENT IN A FEW WORDS FROM THE AUTHORS.

>>> KPBS AND OUR COMMUNITY PARTNERS CELEBRATE 18 YEARS OF ONE BOOK ONE SAN DIEGO.

WE ARE EXCITED TO ANNOUNCE THE 2024 SELECTIONS.

FOR ADULTS IN ENGLISH AND SPANISH, NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER KNOW MY NAME, A MEMOIR BY CHANELLE MILLER.

>> I AM SO HONORED TO BE PARTICIPATING IN ONE BOOK, ONE SAN DIEGO THIS FALL.

THIS BOOK IS ABOUT SEXUAL ASSAULT IN MY JOURNEY THROUGH THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM AND HOW ISOLATING AND OPPRESSIVE THAT PROCESS WAS, BUT IT IS ALSO ABOUT HOW OVERTIME THERE WAS THIS FIRE BUILDING IN ME, AND HOW I WAS LEARNING TO ARTICULATE WHAT WAS HAPPENING AND LEARNING TO ABSORB THE LOVE AND SUPPORT OF THE PEOPLE AROUND ME.

I WENT FROM THE ANONYMOUS EMILY DOE IN THE COURTROOM TO EVENTUALLY COMING FORWARD TO REVEAL MY NAME, CHANELLE MILLER.

ULTIMATELY IT HAS BEEN AN EXCITING AND EMPOWERING SOME STORY.

I THINK THE SAN DIEGO HAS SELECTED IT AS A CITYWIDE READ SIGNALS TO ALL SURVIVORS THAT THERE IS NO SHAME AND TALK ABOUT ANY OF THIS AND WE ARE ALL HERE TO HELP EACH OTHER OUT.

SO I CAN'T WAIT TO MEET YOU ALL IN THE FALL.

PICK UP A COPY OF "KNOW MY NAME" AND I WILL SEE YOU SOON.

GOODBYE.

>> FOR TWEEN'S AND TEENS, AWARD- WINNING GRAPHIC MEMOIR "VICTORY, STAND, RAISING MY FIST FOR JUSTICE," -- >> THANK YOU ONE BOOK SAN DIEGO FOR CHOOSING THIS SELECTION.

I'M SO HONORED.

BECAUSE NOW THIS BOOK IS AMONGST A LIST OF OTHER CLASSIC BOOKS LIKE CHINESE BORN AMERICAN.

CROSSOVER, AND THE STARS WILL SCATTER IN BOOK 1 ON THE CROSSOVER SERIES OF THE LIFE IN THE LEGACY OF CONGRESSMAN JOHN LEWIS.

THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH.

I WROTE THIS BOOK, BECAUSE I FEEL LIKE THIS MAN IS THE LIVING EPITOME OF JUSTICE, BRAVERY, AND FIGHTING FOR WHAT IS RIGHT, AND HE ESSENTIALLY GAVE HIS CAREER AND HIS LIFE TO PROTEST RACISM IN THE MISTREATMENT OF BLACK PEOPLE IN THIS COUNTRY, SO I AM FOREVER INDEBTED TO HIM, AND I THINK THIS BOOK IS A COOL READ FOR YOUNG PEOPLE, BECAUSE HE DID NOT COME FROM A LIFE OF PRIVILEGE.

HE DID NOT COME FROM PEOPLE WITH MONEY.

HE DIDN'T COME FROM A FAMILY OF ACTORS.

HE ALWAYS DESCRIBED HIM AS A COUNTRY BOY FROM TEXAS WHO USED HIS GOD-GIVEN ABILITY TO STAND UP FOR WHAT IS RIGHT, BECAUSE WHEN WE KNOW BETTER, WE DO BETTER.

AGAIN, THANK YOU TO EVERYONE AND ONE BOOK, ONE SAN DIEGO.

EVERYONE AT THE SAN DIEGO PUBLIC LIBRARY, THE SAN DIEGO COUNTY LIBRARY, THE LIBRARIANS, I APPRECIATE YOU ALL SO MUCH, AND I WILL SEE YOU ALL IN FALL, SAN DIEGO.

PEACE.

>> AT OUR PICTURE BOOK FOR KIDS IN ENGLISH AND SPANISH "MARIO RISING," FROM OTHER IS ANTI-GUN NATIVE MARIA -- >> ILLUSTRATOR MAGDALENA MORA AND I ARE THRILLED TO BE THE CHILDREN'S BOOK SELECTION FOR ONE BOOK ONE SAN DIEGO.

>> [ SPEAKING IN A NON-ENGLISH LANGUAGE ] ONE BOOK, ONE SAN DIEGO.

>> THIS WORK WAS INSPIRED ON HOWEVER 50 YEARS AGO THE PEOPLE CAME TOGETHER TO FIGHT -- >> [ SPEAKING IN A NON-ENGLISH LANGUAGE ] >> BEING PART OF ONE BOOK, ONE SAN DIEGO IS A DREAM.

TO THINK THAT SO MANY READERS WILL FIND THIS BOOK FILLS MY HEART WITH SO MUCH JOY.

>> [ SPEAKING IN A NON-ENGLISH LANGUAGE ] >> IF YOU HAVE NOT READ THE BOOK YET, I HOPE YOU WILL GIVE IT A CHANCE.

I CANNOT WAIT TO CONNECT WITH THE SAN DIEGO COMMUNITY IN OCTOBER.

>> [ SPEAKING IN A NON-ENGLISH LANGUAGE ] >> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THIS HONOR AND OPPORTUNITY.

>> [ SPEAKING IN A NON-ENGLISH LANGUAGE ] >> THANK YOU.

GOODBYE.

>> MANY THANKS TO OUR ONE BOOK ONE SAN DIEGO SPONSORS AND COMMUNITY PARTNERS.

PICK UP THESE BOOKS AT YOUR LOCAL LIBRARY, OR FROM AN INDEPENDENT BOOKSTORE AND READ WITH US.

ALSO JOIN US FOR COMMUNITY EVENTS ACROSS THE REGION.

TO LEARN MORE, VISIT KPBS.ORG /1 BOOK.

>>> LITERARY AND ARTISTIC EXPRESSION OFTEN DRAWS FROM WHAT IS HAPPENING IN POLITICS, AND THAT IS EVIDENT AT THE SAN DIEGO-TIJUANA BORDER.

GUSTAVO SOLIS TELLS US HOW ACTIVISTS ARE WORKING TO PRESERVE WHAT WAS LOST WHEN A PORTION OF THE BORDER WALL WAS REPLACED.

>> Reporter: FOR A LONG TIME, THE BORDER WALL WAS JUST THAT.

AWOL.

AND THEN, ARTISTS ON THE MEXICAN SIDE DECIDED TO MAKE IT A WINDOW INTO OUR CROSS-BORDER CULTURE.

THEY PAINTED COLORFUL, VIBRANT MURALS, A BLOOD RED HEART WITH "LOVE" WRITTEN ON IT, A DEPICTION OF PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN MAKING OUT WITH DONALD TRUMP, AND POWERFUL TRIBUTES TO DEPORTED VETERANS.

FERNANDEZ IS A PHOTOGRAPHER WHO CHRONICLED THIS TRANSFORMATION FOR 25 YEARS.

>> SINCE I STARTED, I STARTED KIND OF FEELING THAT THE OBJECT, THE WALL, WAS ALIVE.

I SAW DURING ALL THIS TIME THAT IT WAS CHANGING.

WAS GROWING IN WILL AND HEART.

IT WAS REPRODUCING FROM ONE TO TWO AND IN OTHER PLACES TO THREE.

>> Reporter: THEN CAME 2023.

THAT IS WHEN THE U.S. GOVERNMENT TORE DOWN THE OLD WALL SO I COULD BUILD A BIGGER ONE, AND THE WINDOW WAS SHATTERED, OR SO WE THOUGHT.

>> WE KNEW THE MEXICO SIDE, THE COMMUNITY ON THE MEXICO SIDE HAD INVESTED SO MUCH LOVE AND CARE AND ENERGY AND CREATIVITY IN THIS SITE, WE WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT SOME OF THAT WAS PRESERVED.

HER BACK THAT IS JOHN, AN ACTIVIST WITH THE GROUP FRIENDS OF FRIENDSHIP PARK, AND HE COULD NOT BEAR TO SEE THOSE MURALS LOST FOREVER, SO HE CALLED MICAH PARSON, CEO OF THE MUSEUM OF US WITH ONE SIMPLE QUESTION.

>> WOULD YOU CONSIDER HAVING THE MUSEUM TRY TO OBTAIN THESE SECTIONS OF THE WALL BEFORE THEY GET DESTROYED, AND WE ABSOLUTELY JUMPED AT THE OPPORTUNITY.

>> Reporter: THE MUSEUM SPENT EIGHT MONTHS ACQUIRING 20 PIECES OF THE OLD BORDER WALL.

IT WAS A LONG AND COMPLICATED PROCESS THAT INVOLVED MULTIPLE CONVERSATIONS WITH CUSTOMS AND BORDER PROTECTION AND THE PRIVATE CONTRACTOR HIRED TO DISMANTLE THE WALL.

THOSE 20 PIECES ARE NOW SAFE IN AN UNDISCLOSED WAREHOUSE IN THE SOUTH BAY.

IF YOU LOOK CLOSE ENOUGH, AND OF JUST THE RIGHT ANGLE, YOU CAN SEE MIGRANTS CROSSING THE BORDER, AND EACH SECTION HAS SMALL DETAILS HIDDEN IN PLAIN SIGHT, LIKE TINY HEARTS AND BUTTERFLIES, EVEN HANDPRINTS.

YOU CAN EVEN TELL WHICH SECTIONS OF THE WALL WERE CLOSEST TO THE OCEAN BY LOOKING AT HOW THE SALTY AIR CORRODED THE METAL BEAMS.

FERNANDEZ THE PHOTOGRAPHER IS OVERJOYED TO SEE THE MURALS OF SURVIVE.

>> THEY MEAN A LOT.

THEY MEAN A LOT FOR THE HISTORY OF THAT AREA.

>> Reporter: PERSONS SAYS THE HISTORY WON'T BE LOCKED UP IN A MUSEUM.

>> THEY DON'T BELONG TO US.

THEY REALLY BELONG TO THE COMMUNITY, AND IT IS A COMMUNITY THAT SHOULD COME TOGETHER TO DECIDE HOW THIS SORT OF WEALTH GETS REDISTRIBUTED BACK INTO OUR TRI- NATIONAL REGION.

FOUR BACK MUSEUMS HAVE A HISTORY OF TAKING THINGS THAT DON'T BELONG TO THEM.

PERSONS SEES THIS PROJECT AS PART OF AN ONGOING EFFORT TO CORRECT THE MISTAKES OF THE PAST.

>> WE HAVE CAUSED IN A SUITABLE HARM TO INDIGENOUS COMMUNITIES, AND OTHER COMMUNITIES OF COLOR, BY TAKING THEIR BELONGINGS, BY TAKING THEIR ANCESTORS AND REFUSING TO GIVE THEM BACK FOR DECADES, AND WE HAVE REALLY OVER THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS TURNED THAT CORNER AND REALIZED THEY DON'T BELONG TO US AS AN INSTITUTION.

THEY BELONG BACK INTO THE COMMUNITY.

>> Reporter: HE SAYS THAT FRIENDS OF FRIENDSHIP PARK, THE MUSEUM OF US, AND OTHER COMMUNITY STAKEHOLDERS WILL SPEND THE NEXT YEAR FIGURING OUT WHERE AND HOW TO DISPLAY THESE UNIQUE ARTIFACTS.

>> PERHAPS THERE WILL BE SITES IN THE PUBLIC, ON EITHER SIDE OF THE BORDER, WHERE ONE OR MORE OF THESE SECTIONS OF ALL MIGHT BE DISPLAYED.

PERHAPS THERE MIGHT BE A TRAVELING SITE WITH A SECTION OR TWO OF THE WALL ABLE TO VISIT DIFFERENT LOCATIONS.

WE DON'T KNOW.

THESE ARE ALL POSSIBILITIES.

>> Reporter: THEY ENVISION A TRULY GENUINE TRI-NATIONAL EFFORT INVOLVING PEOPLE FROM SAN DIEGO, TIJUANA, AND FOR ME I NATION.

BRANDON LIPTON IS A CULTURAL CONSULTANT AND MEMBER OF THE COOMBE EIP >> BEFORE THERE WAS U.S.- MEXICO, THERE WAS US, SO WE ORIGINALLY INHABITED THE AREA FROM GENERALLY DOWN AROUND THE ENSENADA AREA UP TO THE CAPISTRANO AREA.

>> Reporter: AND FRIENDSHIP PARK IS RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF THAT AREA.

>> SO THE U.S.-MEXICO BORDER FROM ITS CONCEPTION SPLIT OUR HOMELAND VIRTUALLY IN HALF.

>> Reporter: LIPTON SAYS THE BORDER WALL HAS HAD A DEVASTATING IMPACT ON HIS PEOPLE.

IT HAS SEPARATED THEM FOR GENERATIONS.

>> I THINK THAT THIS PROJECT IS A GREAT WAY TO BRING ATTENTION TO THAT AND BRING SOME LIGHT TO THOSE ISSUES OF PEOPLE THE NEED TO MOVE BACK AND FORTH ACROSS THE BORDER.

>> Reporter: WAY TO REOPEN THE WINDOW.

GUSTAVO SOLIS, KPBS NEWS.

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I AM MAYA TRABULSI.

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