>>> ♪ THANK YOU FOR JOINING US FOR A LOOK ON KPBS NEWS THIS WEEK AND I AM MAYA TRABULSI.

A CHURCH IN SAN DIEGO SHOWS US THE PROGRESS ON ITS PLAN TO BUILD AFFORDABLE HOMES ON ITS PROPERTY AND A MYSTERY SOLVED IN NORTH COUNTY WITH THE LOCAL B POPULATION TAKING A BIG HIT AND NOW WE HAVE THE SCIENCE OF WHY IT HAPPENED AND THE LATEST IN OUR ART SERIES GOES TO EAST COUNTY AND THOSE WHO BEAUTIFIED A MASSIVE WATER TOWER SHOWS US HOW IT CAME TOGETHER.

WE START WITH THE LOSS OF A VITAL INFORMATION SOURCE FOR SPANISH SPEAKERS.

THE UNION TRIBUNE CANCELED ITS SPANISH LANGUAGE WEEKLY AND WE TELL YOU HOW IT IS PART OF A LARGER TREND AS A YEAR BEGINS FOR A BUSY ELECTION.

TRUCK AT THEIR BEST, JOURNALISTS GIVE PEOPLE SITUATIONAL AWARENESS DURING EMERGENCIES AND SAVE LIVES.

AND AS WILDFIRES RIPPED THROUGH EASTERN SAN DIEGO COUNTY IN OCTOBER 2003, THIS REPORTER DID JUST THAT AND SOTO WAS WORKING FOR THE SAN DIEGO UNION TRIBUNE WEEKLY SPANISH-LANGUAGE EDITION AND DROVE TOWARD THE FIRE TO INTERVIEW FARMWORKERS.

>> IT WAS ALL FULL OF SMOKE AND YOU COULDN'T BREATHE AND THEY WERE STILL PICKING TOMATOES AND STRAWBERRIES AND THEY DIDN'T EVEN KNOW THERE WERE EVACUATION ORDERS.

>> Reporter: IT WAS SOTO WHO TOLD THEM TO EVACUATE AND 20 YEARS LATER HE SAID HE COULD'VE NEVER DELIVERED THAT CRUCIAL NEWS HAD THE WEEKLY NOT EXISTED.

SO HE WAS HEARTBROKEN LAST MONTH WHEN HE HEARD THE NEW OWNER OF THE PAPER HAD KILLED THE SPANISH-LANGUAGE EDITION AND THE PRIVATE EQUITY FIRM LAID OFF THE EDITOR FOR THE SPANISH VERSION AND REPORTERS AND HE WORRIES ABOUT TWO DECADES OF GAINS WILL BE LOST AND IT SERVED A COUNTY WHERE 35% OF ITS 3 MILLION PEOPLE ARE LATINO AND 150,000 CROSS THE BORDER WITH MEXICO DAILY.

>> BEFORE THIS PUBLICATION, THE TRIBUNE AND ITS COVERAGE OF IMMIGRANT COMMUNITIES AND LATINO COMMUNITIES AND BORDER COMMUNITIES WERE VERY CENTERED ON CRIME AND DRUG TRAFFICKING, ET CETERA AND WHEN THIS COVERED THE ARTS AND COMMUNITY LEADERS AND UPLIFTED PEOPLE WHO ARE DOING REAL CHANGE IN THE COMMUNITY.

TRUCK REPRESENTATIVES FOR THE UNION TRIBUNE AND ALDEN REFUSED TO COMMENT AND TIM FRANKLIN IS THE DIRECTOR OF THE LOCAL NEWS INITIATIVE HERE AT NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY.

HE SAID THAT ALDEN PUTS THE BOTTOM LINE 1st.

>> ALDEN WILL JETTISON WHAT IT VIEWS AS ITS MOST COSTLY OR AT LEAST PROFITABLE PIECES OF ITS OPERATION.

>> Reporter: ALDEN IS HARDLY THE OUTLIER AND FRANKLIN JUST UPDATED A LARGE DATABASE ON LOCAL NEWS ORGANIZATIONS ACROSS THE COUNTRY AND HE SAID ETHNIC MEDIA TOOK A HUGE HIT DURING THE PANDEMIC AS ITS MAIN SOURCE OF ADVERTISING REVENUE AND MOM- AND-POP BUSINESSES SHUTTERED.

>> IN 2020 THERE WERE 900 ETHNIC MEDIA OUTLETS IN THE UNITED STATES AND WE HAVE LOST 173 OF THOSE IN THE LAST THREE YEARS SINCE THE PANDEMIC.

OF THE 173 THAT CLOSED, 106 WERE LATINO PUBLICATIONS AND MOST OF THOSE SPANISH-LANGUAGE PUBLICATIONS.

>> Reporter: THE TIMING COULD NOT BE WORSE AND FOR THOSE WHO DEPENDED ON THE WEEKLY, THIS IS AN ELECTION YEAR WITH IMMIGRATION AND EDUCATION IN CIVIL RIGHTS ON THE BATTLE -- BALLOT.

>> IT LIMITS THEIR ABILITY TO DISSIPATE IN DEMOCRACY OR PREPARE THEIR CHILDREN TO DO THAT.

>> SHE IS THE VICE PRESIDENT FOR PRINT WITH THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF HISPANIC JOURNALISTS AND SAYS SO MANY COMMUNITIES ARE STILL DOMINANT SPANISH SPEAKING.

>> LATINAS ARE 14% AND CONTINUING TO GROW THE POPULATION AND THEIR IS AN INCREASING POPULATION THAT NEEDS RESOURCES TO NAVIGATE THIS NEW WORLD.

>> HE IS THE PUBLISHER OF THE SPANISH-LANGUAGE WEEKLY SAN DIEGO AND SAID EVEN MANY BILINGUAL PEOPLE LIKE TO READ TO THEIR NEWS IN SPANISH.

>> IT IS UNDERSTANDING THE CULTURE AND IMPACT OF ALL OF THESE ISSUES AND HOW THEY IMPACT LATINOS.

>> Reporter: FOR HIM IT IS ALSO ABOUT TRUST AND HE SAID THE SPANISH-LANGUAGE EDITION GAINS TRUST WITH LOCAL LATINOS IN 2007 WHEN FIRESTORMS RETURNED AND HE REPORTED ON MIGRANTS WHO WERE BURNED TO DEATH ATOP THIS PEAK.

>> WE FOUND THE BODIES OF PEOPLE BURNED AND WE TOLD THE STORIES OF PEOPLE WHO WERE LOST CROSSING THE BORDER AND THE STORIES BEHIND IT AND HOW PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY RALLIED IN PROVIDING RESOURCES FOR RESCUERS TO GO AND FIND THEIR LOVED ONES.

>> Reporter: HE SAID THAT THIS PIECE TOLD THEM THAT THE PAPER CARED ABOUT THEM BUT HE FEARS THIS IS NO LONGER TRUE.

>> MILLIONS OF MEXICANS LIVING IN THE UNITED STATES ARE LEGIBLE TO VOTE IN MEXICO'S UPCOMING PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS.

ARE REPORTER SPOKE WITH EXPERTS ABOUT WHY THEIR VOTES MAY MATTER MORE THAN EVER.

>> THERE WILL BE A HUGE PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION THIS YEAR.

YES, THERE IS THAT ONE, THAT IS NOT ONE WE'RE TALKING ABOUT.

THERE WILL ALSO BE A PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION IN MEXICO.

DEPENDING ON HOW YOU LOOK AT IT, IT IS EVEN BIGGER THAN THE UNITED STATES ELECTION.

>> IT IS THE SINGLE MOST IMPORTANT ELECTION IN MEXICAN HISTORY BECAUSE THERE WILL BE MORE THAN 20,000 DIFFERENT OFFICIALS AT STAKE AND THE PRESIDENCY AND THE ENTIRE CONGRESS AND NINE GOVERNORS AND A LOT OF LOCAL PLACES.

THIS IS A VERY IMPORTANT THING FOR MEXICO.

>> Reporter: THAT HE IS THE DIRECTOR OF THE CENTER FOR US- MEXICO STUDIES AT UC SAN DIEGO AND HE SAID THIS YEAR'S ELECTIONS IN THE UNITED STATES MAKE A MEXICAN ELECTION EVEN MORE IMPORTANT IN MEXICO ELECTS THE PRESIDENT FOR ONE TERM EVERY SIX YEARS SO IT WILL BE MORE THAN A DECADE BEFORE THE TWO COUNTRIES AGAIN HAVE THEIR ELECTIONS IN THE SAME YEAR.

>> THIS IS A GOOD TIME TO RESET THE RELATIONSHIP WITH THE UNITED STATES AND MEXICO BECAUSE WE HAVE RELATIONS HERE AND IN MEXICO'S OF THIS IS THE TIME TO DO THINGS AND TO THINK AHEAD TO HELP BETTER PROMOTE MORE COOPERATION.

>> IF YOU WERE BORN IN MEXICO BUT LIVE IN THE UNITED STATES NOW YOU ARE ELIGIBLE TO VOTE ON JUNE 2.

THERE ARE MILLIONS OF MEXICANS LIVING IN THE UNITED STATES.

>> 12 MILLION TO PEOPLE CAN DECIDE JUST BASICALLY DECIDING ANY ELECTION.

>> Reporter: HE WORKS FOR THE NATIONAL ELECTION INSTITUTE IN MEXICO AND HE SAID MEXICANS ABROAD REPRESENT A MASSIVE VOTING BLOCK BUT THEY HAVE NEVER ACTED LIKE ONE AND CONSIDER WHAT HAPPENED IN 2018 WHEN THE LAST PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION WAS HELD IN MEXICO AND OUT OF THOSE 12 MILLION PEOPLE, ONLY 69,000 VOTED.

>> THAT IS A TREMENDOUS GAP BETWEEN THOSE WHO LIVE ABROAD AND THOSE WHO HAVE A VOTING ID.

>> Reporter: THE INSTITUTE IS TRYING TO CHANGE THAT ENGAGING IN A HUGE OUTREACH EFFORT THAT INVOLVES THE MEXICAN CONSULATE THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY INCLUDING SAN DIEGO.

>> FOR THE LAST FEW MONTHS WE VISITED DALLAS AND SAN DIEGO, LOS ANGELES, CHICAGO AND NEW YORK.

>> PART OF THE PROBLEM IS APATHY AND MANY MEXICANS IN THE UNITED STATES DON'T REALLY HAVE MUCH INTEREST IN MEXICAN POLITICS AND NOT SURE WHY THEIR VOTE MATTERS SOUTH OF THE BORDER, BUT IT DOES.

HE SAID MEXICANS LIVING ABROAD STILL HAVE FAMILY AND FRIENDS BACK HOME AND SEND BILLIONS OF DOLLARS BACK TO MEXICO IN REMITTANCES EVERY YEAR AND THEY SHOULD HAVE A SAY IN HOW THAT MONEY IS TAXED AND HIS PITCHES SIMPLE.

>> SO WHAT IS HAPPENING RIGHT NOW, VOTE FOR THIS WOULD CONTINUE AND IF YOU DON'T LIKE IT, VOTE SO IT WILL CHANGE.

>> Reporter: THE DEADLINE TO REGISTER IS FEBRUARY 20.

YOU CAN REGISTER ONLINE, BUT YOU NEED TO HAVE A VOTER ID BEFORE YOU REGISTER.

>> IF YOU DON'T HAVE IT, GO AS SOON AS YOU CAN TO THE NEAREST CONSULATE OR EMBASSY AND REQUEST ONE.

>> YOU NEED THREE THINGS, PROOF OF NATIONALITY LIKE A MEXICAN BIRTH CERTIFICATE AND A VALID ID LIKE A DRIVERS LICENSE AND PROOF OF RESIDENCE LIKE A PHONE OR WATER BILL AND IT TAKES A FEW WEEKS TO GET THE VOTER ID AND MEXICANS LIVING IN THE UNITED STATES WILL BE ABLE TO VOTE ONLINE WITH THEIR COMPUTERS OR PHONES IN PERSON IS ONE OF 23 MEXICAN CONSULATES OR EVEN BY MAIL ON OR BEFORE JUNE 2.

>>> THE PRESIDENTIAL PRIMARY IN CALIFORNIA IS EARLIER THAN IN PAST YEARS HAPPENING TUESDAY, MARCH 5 AND KEEP TABS ON THE LATEST LOCAL AND NATIONAL ELECTION NEWS AT THE VOTER HAVE AND WE HAVE A LINK.

AND BACK IN 2016 VOTERS IN CALIFORNIA DECIDED TO FULLY LEGALIZE MARIJUANA AND NOW SAN DIEGO IS LAUNCHING AN EQUITY PROGRAM FOR THE INDUSTRY AND ARE REPORTER SPOKE WITH HOPEFUL PARTICIPANTS.

>> Reporter: MORE THAN A DOZEN PEOPLE PROTEST SILENTLY OUTSIDE THE STATE OF THE CITY ADDRESS DOWNTOWN BY THE MAYOR HOLDING SIGNS SAYING THINGS LIKE, COME ON, MAYOR, MAKE CANNABIS FAIR AND JAILED FOR CANNABIS AND CAN'T ENTER MARKET IN THE CITY JUST LAUNCHED THEIR SOCIAL EQUITY AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT OR SEED PROGRAM MEANT TO CREATE OPPORTUNITIES FOR PEOPLE CRIMINALIZED FOR CANNABIS AND DISPROPORTIONATELY BLACK AND BROWN TO ENTER THE NOW LEGAL INDUSTRY.

THE CITY STAFF INITIALLY RECOMMENDED 36 CANNABIS EQUITY LICENSES AND REDUCED RESTRICTIONS THAT COULD HELP LEVEL THE PLAYING FIELD WITH EXISTING CANNABIS OUTLETS AND LEGAL AND FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE.

THEY JUST ANNOUNCED THEY ARE DELIVERING ON ALL OF THAT, BUT AT HALF THE SCALE AND THEY WILL ISSUE JUST 18 EQUITY LICENSES THROUGH A LOTTERY SYSTEM.

>> THE SAME PLACE I WAS PHYSICALLY INCARCERATED IN HANDCUFFS IN A COP CAR, THERE IS A DISPENSARY OWNED BY THE SAME PEOPLE WHO WERE DOING THAT AGAINST US AND THE IRONY OF THAT.

>> Reporter: THAT IS A ORGANIZER ARMAND KING WHO SAID THE MAYOR IS CAVING TO PRESSURE FROM KERN OPERATORS.

HE WANTS A MERIT-BASED SYSTEM FOR PARTICIPANTS TO REINVEST PROFIT IN THEIR COMMUNITIES AND FOR 36 LICENSES TO MATCH THE NUMBER OF CURRENT OPERATORS.

>> 36 WOULD'VE BEEN EQUAL AND THAT MEANS THAT WE ARE LESS THAN EQUAL AND THAT REMINDS ME OF WHAT 3/5 OF A HUMAN BEING AND WE ARE STILL LESS THAN EQUAL?

>> THEY SAID THEY ONLY MET WITH KING AND THAT GLORIA DIDN'T THINK A HIGHER NUMBER OF EQUITY LICENSES WAS A GOOD IDEA AND THE STAFF WILL PRESENT THE PROGRAM TO THE PLANNING COMMISSION NEXT MONTH AND TO THE FULL CITY COUNCIL IN THE SPRING.

>>> IT WAS A MYSTERY LAST FALL WITH MILLIONS OF BEES THAT DIED IN A NORTH COUNTY SANCTUARY AND NOBODY WAS SURE WHY.

NOW THERE ARE SOME ANSWERS.

>> Reporter: ROUGHLY 3 MILLION HONEYBEES DIED OVER A FEW DAYS AT THE B SANCTUARY LAST SEPTEMBER WHICH WAS ABOUT TWO THIRDS OF THEIR POPULATION.

>> ALL OF THESE COLONIES, YOU SEE A PILE OF DEAD BEES.

>> Reporter: DOMINIC AND PAUL ARE CO-OWNERS OF A COMPANY WHICH RESCUES AND RELOCATES THEM THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY AND WE ARE HERE AT THE SAN DIEGO B SANCTUARY AT THEIR VALLEY CENTER SITE WITH 1.5 MILLION REMAINING BEES AND WHILE THESE ARE HEALTHY, THE ONES THAT WERE AT THEIR ESCONDIDO SITE DIDN'T HAVE THE SAME FATE AND THE QUESTION IS WHY THEY DIED IN THE COUNCIL THE PART OF AGRICULTURE RAN TESTS AND FOUND IT THEY TESTED POSITIVE FOR ROUGHLY TWICE THE TEXT SICK -- TOXIC DOSAGE OF A ANT AND TERMITE CONTROL.

>> Reporter: HE IS THE DEPUTY DIRECTOR WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AND SAID THEY BE POISONING THIS LARGE IS RARE.

>> WE SURVEYED A LOT OF THE PEST CONTROL BUSINESSES THAT WERE PROVIDING REPORTS IN THAT AREA AND NONE OF THEM HAD USED THAT INSECTICIDE AND WE ALSO LOOKED AT THE AGRICULTURE OPERATIONS.

>> Reporter: HE IS A PROFESSOR OF BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES AND THE EXPERT AND HE SAID THESE MASSIVE DIE OFFS HAPPENED AND HE SAID THE RESEARCH HERE SAW EIGHT COLONIES DIE AROUND THE SAME TIME AND IN CERTAIN PESTICIDES THESE ARE RUN REASON FOR THIS.

>> WE HAVE THE ABILITY TO BREED MORE AND RESTORE THE POPULATION, BUT THEY ARE UNHEALTHY AND IT'S HARD FOR BEEKEEPERS TO MAINTAIN GOOD COLONIES WITHOUT A LOT OF WORK.

>> Reporter: THEY SAY OVERALL POPULATIONS HAVE REMAINED OVERALL STABLE BUT WHEN THEY DIE, IT COULD AFFECT POLLINATION AND YIELDS AND AS FOR THE B SANCTUARY, THE NEW REPORT PROVIDES SOME ANSWERS, BUT THEY STILL HAVE IMPORTANT QUESTIONS AND IT IS KIND OF NICE TO KNOW WHAT IT WAS AND NICE TO NOT THINK IT WAS A NEIGHBORING FARM.

AND WHILE THE INVESTIGATION IS CLOSED, THEY PLAN TO GROW THE POPULATION BACK OVER THE COMING YEAR AND EXPANDING THE NEW SITES ACROSS THE COUNTY THANKS TO THE HELP OF FINANCIAL SUPPORT FROM THE COMMUNITY.

>> THE NORTH COUNTY FOCUSES ANITA'S -- LATEST NEWSLETTER AND YOU CAN SIGN UP FOR THAT TO GET TO DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX.

>>> A GROWING NUMBER OF CHURCHES IN SAN DIEGO ARE EXPLORING HOW TO BUILD AFFORDABLE HOUSING ON THEIR LAND.

OUR METRO REPORTER SAID THIS MOVEMENT EXPECTS TO COMPLETE THEIR FIRST PROJECT THIS YEAR.

>> THIS IS ALREADY BEEN COMPLETED AND WE HAVE STARTED THE CONCRETE FLOORING.

>> Reporter: THIS PASTOR IS WALKING ME THROUGH THE CONSTRUCTION SITE OF BETHEL ONE, A 26 UNIT AFFORDABLE HOUSING COMPLEX AT A CONSTRUCTION IN LOCAL HEIGHTS -- LOGAN HEIGHTS.

>> OUR CONGREGATION IS THE OLDEST AFRICAN AMERICAN CONGREGATION IN SAN DIEGO AND IT IS 136 YEARS OLD.

>> Reporter: FIVE YEARS AGO HE WAS APPROACHED BY A NEW ORGANIZATION CALLED YES IN GOD'S BACKYARD LOOKING FOR CHURCHES AND OTHER FAITH COMMUNITIES INTERESTED IN HELPING OUT WITH THE HOMELESSNESS IN SAN DIEGO AND AFFORDABLE HOUSING PRICES IN MANY CHURCHES HAVE UNDERUTILIZED LAND.

HELPING THE NEEDY AS PART OF THEIR MISSION.

>> I THINK WE SHOULD BE APPLYING THE GOSPEL, THE GOOD NEWS OF JESUS CHRIST TO THE SITUATION AND WHEN I WAS HUNGRY DID YOU FEED ME AND WHEN I WAS NAKED COTTAGE YOU CLOTHED ME AND WHEN I WAS HOMELESS, DID YOU HOUSE ME?

I REALLY BELIEVE CHURCHES HAVE A TREMENDOUS RESPONSIBILITY TO NOT JUST HER CONGREGATION BUT TO THE COMMUNITY IN WHICH OUR CHURCHES ARE LOCATED.

>> THE APARTMENTS HERE WILL BE SET ASIDE FOR LOW INCOME SENIORS AND VETERANS ON THE PROJECT IS UNCONVENTIONAL, NOT JUST BECAUSE IT IS BEING BUILT BY A CHURCH BUT ALSO FINANCED ENTIRELY WITH PRIVATE DOLLARS.

EVAN IS THE PROJECTS CONSULTANT.

>> TAX CREDITS AND PROGRAMS ARE A GREAT TOOL FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING BUT THE CHALLENGES YOU HAVE TO MAKE IT MAKES SENSE AND THERE IS ALSO A LOT OF SOFT COSTS AND ADDITIONAL FEES THAT GO INTO USING A SUBSIDY.

>> Reporter: AVOIDING THOSE ADDITIONAL COSTS RESULTED IN BIG SAVINGS AND EACH APARTMENT COSTS LESS THAN HALF OF WHAT A TYPICAL PUBLICLY SUBSIDIZED APARTMENT WOULD COST IN THE PASTOR DOES HOPE THIS PROJECT WILL INSPIRE MORE PHILANTHROPISTS TO JOIN WITH FAITH COMMUNITIES TO BUILD MORE HOUSING.

>> I THINK ONCE THE INDIVIDUALS WHO COMMITTED FINANCIALLY AND THEY SEE HOW THIS COMES UP THEY KNOW THE DEMOGRAPHIC WE ARE SERVING AND I THINK THEY WILL BE VERY EXCITED TO INVEST IN ANOTHER DEVELOPMENT SIMILAR TO THIS AND PERHAPS LARGER.

>> Reporter: BETHEL ONE IS EXPECTED TO BE READY BY THE END OF THIS YEAR.

>> THAT WAS ONE OF OUR MOST POPULAR STORIES THIS WEEKEND HERE ARE SOME OF THE OTHERS.

SOME INTERNATIONAL POSTDOCTORAL SCHOLARS FORCE -- FACE THE THREAT OF DEPORTATION AND A PARKING LOT AIMS TO INCREASE VISIBILITY AND INTERSECTIONS BUT WILL SAN DIEGO ENFORCE IT AND WILL AND EAST COUNTY WATER TOWER A MONSTROSITY OR PROVOCATIVE PUBLIC ART?

HERE IS THAT STORY.

>> Reporter: PUBLIC ART ON ANY SCALE CAN CAUSE CONTROVERSY.

>> IN THIS CASE THERE IS NO WAY TO BE SUBTLE AND THIS IS A GIANT MUSHROOM ON TOP OF A HILL OVERLOOKING A FREEWAY.

>> FOR SOME PEOPLE IT IS THE MOST UNWELCOME OF NEIGHBORS.

>> IT IS INHERENTLY UGLY AND A MONSTROSITY.

>> IT IS A RUST BUCKET AND NO UNCERTAIN TERMS.

>> A MONSTROUS PLIGHT ON OUR ENVIRONMENT.

>> Reporter: THOSE ARE SOME COMMENTS ON THE CLOUD PROJECT IN THE LATE 1990s.

>> IT IS BIG AND YOU SEE THE CLOUDS THERE ALONG THE RIM AND IT WAS AN ART PROJECT THAT WAS PUBLISHED.

>> Reporter: THREE DECADES LATER THE NEWS COVERAGE IS STILL FRUSTRATING TO GYM -- JIM, THE ARTIST HIRED TO DESIGN THE SCULPTURE FOR THE WATER TOWER.

>> IT WAS MEANT TO BE DISMISSIVE AND THE STUDENTS ARE THE ONES DOING THE HARD WORK AND LABOR BUT TO NOT EVEN TALK ABOUT WHAT THE PROJECT WAS AND WHAT IT MEANT AND WHY IT WAS BEING BUILT JUST SORT OF SEEMS LIKE IT WAS SAFE PLUS PIECE TO PUT ON THE NEWS.

>> THE CONTEXT HE WAS EAGER TO DISCUSS AND IT WAS IMPORTANT TO HIM AS AN ARTIST AND IT WAS WATER.

>> IT IS ALWAYS ABOUT WATER AND THE PLACE WE LIVE AND THE PEOPLE HERE SEE GREEN AND THEY SEE LAWNS AND TREES AND THEY THINK THIS IS THE WAY THINGS ARE AND IF YOU DECADES LATER WE HAVE A WATER SHORTAGE.

THAT IS WHAT THIS IS ABOUT TO MAKE PEOPLE THINK ABOUT WHERE THE WATER COMES FROM AND YOU HIDE A WATER TANK AND THEY DON'T THINK ABOUT IT.

>> THEY AGREED THEN AND NOW AND SAID TIMOTHY ROSS THE CURRENT DIRECTOR OF ENGINEERING.

>> WE KNEW THIS WOULD BE SEEN FOR MILES AND MILES AROUND AND WE WANTED TO MAKE IT A FEATURE AND NOT A DISTRACTION FROM THE ENVIRONMENT.

ONE OF THE REASONS WE DECIDED TO ENGAGE ON THIS PROJECT AND MAKE AN ART PIECE IS BECAUSE THIS REALLY IS A UNIQUE TANK FOR OUR SYSTEM AND I PERSONALLY REALLY THINK IT IS A VERY CREATIVE THING AND I THINK THIS TANK IS MEANT TO BE UNIQUE.

>> Reporter: IT IS TWO TANKS AND ONE AND DESIGNED TO NEVER NEED MAINTENANCE.

>> IT OXIDIZES THE EXTERIOR.

THIS TANK WILL NEVER NEED TO BE MAINTAINED OR HAVE ANYTHING DONE OVER THE NEXT TWO CENTURIES IT WILL BE IN SERVICE.

IT IS A VERY PRACTICAL APPLICATION, BUT WE ALSO THOUGHT THERE IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE IT A FEATURE AND BREAK ALL OF THAT BIG BROWN METAL WITH SOMETHING THAT STANDS OUT.

>> Reporter: HE SUGGESTED A TRIO OF DESIGNS PITCHED TO THE COMMUNITY WITH RESIDENTS OVERWHELMINGLY CHOOSING THE ONE WITH CLOUDS AND EVEN CONSTRUCT THOSE OUT OF STAINLESS STEEL.

>> TO DO THE FINISH, WE TOOK THE STAINLESS STEEL AND BRUSHED IT TO GIVE THE OPTICAL ILLUSION THAT THERE IS THREE DIMENSION AND THEN OVERLAID THAT WITH PERFORATED STAINLESS STEEL WHICH CREATES A SHADOW EFFECT.

TRUCK THE INTENT IS THE CLOSER YOU GET THE MORE THREE- DIMENSIONAL AND BEAUTIFULLY DETAILED THEY BECOME AND HE DID ENLISTED THE HELP OF HIS STUDENTS MANY OF WHOM WERE FROM THE COMMUNITY TO HELP BUILD THE CLOUDS.

>> IT TOOK A FEW YEARS.

THEY ARE HUGE AND THEY DON'T LOOK LIKE IT BUT SOME OF THEM ARE 12 FEET 14 FEET TALL AND 35 FEET WIDE WHICH IS THE SIZE OF A SMALL HOUSE.

>> IT WAS A CHALLENGE ON MANY LEVELS.

>> I HAD TO BUILD MY OWN CRANE AND I HAD TO BUILD SPREADER BARS TO LIFT THINGS UP AND JIGS AND I PULLED MY FATHER OUT OF RETIREMENT WHO WORKED AT GENERAL DYNAMICS AND HE SHOWED ME HOW TO DO LAYOUT WORK BECAUSE HE BUILT AIRCRAFT AND MISSILES AND IT WAS CHALLENGING TO GET IT THERE IN HERE.

>> HE WEATHERED A LOT OF CRITICISM BUT FEELS VINDICATED BY THE KIDS WHO GREW UP IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND ENDED UP THE COLLEGE WHERE HE TAUGHT.

>> WHEN THEY FOUND OUT I WAS THE ARTIST TO DID THAT, THEY WERE LIKE THAT IS THE COOLEST THING THAT EVER HAPPENED TO MY NEIGHBORHOOD WHEN I WAS GROWING UP AND THAT IS BECAUSE IT STIMULATED MY IMAGINATION AND I WANTED TO KNOW WHY IT WAS THERE AND IT REMINDED ME OVER THE CLOUDS AND THAT'S BASICALLY THE STORY WE WANTED TO TELL.

>> THE NEXT TIME YOU DRIVE AND SEE THE BROWN MUSHROOM SHAPED WATER TOWER, THINK ABOUT WHAT A MARVEL OF ENGINEERING IT IS AND WHAT THE ART IS TRYING TO CONVEY ABOUT WHO WE ARE AND WHERE WE LIVE.

>> YOU CAN FIND THIS SERIES AT OUR WEBSITE AND WE DO HAVE ALL OF THOSE STORIES AVAILABLE AT THE YOUTUBE PAGE.

>>> THIS SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA ARTIST DIED THIS MONTH AND HERE SHE IS KNOWN FOR ONE OF THE MOST RECOGNIZABLE WORK OF ART HERE THE SNAKE PAST.

OUR ARTS PRODUCER AND EDITOR HAS MORE ABOUT THIS TRAILBLAZING ARTIST.

>> Reporter: SHE WAS KNOWN FOR WITTY COLLAGE STYLE WORKS AND SOMETIMES AT A MASSIVE SCALE AND SHE COMBINED IMAGES AND OBJECTS FROM HOLLYWOOD, PULP CULTURE AND THE AMERICAN WEST AND IN 2022 SHE WAS CELEBRATED WITH A MAJOR SURVEY EXHIBITION AT THE MUSEUM OF CONTEMPORARY ART SAN DIEGO BUT HER BEST- KNOWN WORK LOCALLY MAY BE A FOOTPAD AND A SNAKE PAD WHICH WINDS UP A HILLSIDE TOWARD THE ICONIC LIBRARY AND COMPLETED IN 1992 IT IS A 560 FOOT LONG MOSAIC RENDERING OF A SERPENT WHICH DRAWS ON THEMES OF PARADISE, INNOCENCE AND KNOWLEDGE.

MATTHEW HAS WORKED WITH THIS COLLECTION SINCE THE 80s.

>> THIS WAS THE FIRST WORK THAT WAS COMPLETELY COMPLETELY EMBEDDED IN NOT JUST THE PHYSICAL LANDSCAPE BUT ALSO THE FUNCTIONAL LANDSCAPE USING THIS PATHWAY.

>> Reporter: STUDENTS WALKED DIRECTLY ON IT AND HE SAID THERE IS A CRUCIAL DIFFERENCE BETWEEN PUBLIC ART AND MUSEUM ART.

>> WHEN YOU PUT SOMETHING IN A MUSEUM GALLERY, THE AUDIENCE IS THE PEOPLE WHO KNOW IT IS THERE AND CHOOSE TO GO SEE IT AND THEN YOU PUT SOMETHING OUT IN THE WORLD, YOU GET EVERYBODY.

>> AND 2021 SHE BECAME THE ONLY ARTIST TO HAVE TWO WORKS IN THE COLLECTION AND HER MURAL AND COLLAGE WORK ONE THAT INSPIRED THE PATH IS NOW INSTALLED IN A NEW LECTURE HALL ON CAMPUS AND SHE WAS DIAGNOSED WITH ALZHEIMER'S IN 2015.

>> SHE WAS COURAGEOUS AND HAD THIS TENACITY AND WAS COMPLETELY AND ORIGINAL AND SHE DIDN'T FIT IN TO ANY COMPLETE IS HIM -- ISM OR EASY EXPLANATION.

>>> A NEW LAW IS TRYING TO MAKE SURE THE ABILITY TO WRITE IN CURSIVE DOESN'T BECOME A LOST ART .

ART EDUCATION REPORTER FINDS OUT WHY MORE CLASSROOMS ARE PUTTING PEN TO PAPER THIS SEMESTER.

>> Reporter: IN THE CHAOS OF THIS SIX GRADE CLASSROOM, THERE IS A LOT OF LEARNING GOING ON LED BY A VETERAN TEACHER AT THE MIDDLE SCHOOL HERE AND HE DIRECTS LESSONS IN LANGUAGE ARTS, HISTORY AND PENMANSHIP.

>> I TOOK THIS CURSIVE HANDWRITING SO SERIOUSLY AND I WOULD GET BETTER AND BETTER.

>> Reporter: AS OF JANUARY 1, THE ART OF CURSIVE WRITING IS A REQUIREMENT BY THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA FOR ALL PUBLIC SCHOOL STUDENTS IN FIRST GRADE THROUGH SIXTH GRADE AND IT HASN'T BEEN REQUIRED SINCE 2010 WHEN SUCCESS ON STANDARDIZED TESTING BECAME MUCH MORE IMPORTANT.

>> WITH THAT PRESSURE YOU WILL PUT THE CURSIVE STUFF ASIDE EVEN THOUGH YOU KNOW IT IS PART OF A ROBUST AND IMPORTANT AND EMPOWERING SET OF LESSONS.

>> IT'S KIND OF FUN IN CURSIVE AND IT HELPS YOU WRITE MORE NEATLY.

>> Reporter: SOPHIA CONSIDERS THIS HER ARTISTIC OUTLET AND SHE WAS FORTUNATE TO HAVE AN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL TEACHER WHO SHOWED HER HOW TO DO THIS.

>> IT IS FUN AND YOU CAN DO THINGS LIKE THIS AND IT IS A PERFECT WAY TO GET STARTED.

>> I WANT TO SELL HOUSES.

>> Reporter: CHANEL HAS A DIFFERENT OPINION AND PREFERS TO PUNCH KEYS ON HER CRUMBLE COMPUTER BECAUSE SHE FEELS IT WILL GET HER CLOSER TO HER CAREER GOALS THEN WRITING IN CURSIVE.

>> IT'S NOT A FEAR BUT YOU NEVER REALLY KNOW HOW TO DO IT AND I DON'T THINK IT WILL BE EASY FOR ME.

>> Reporter: THE NEW LAW REVIVING THE WRITING OF LETTERS WITH THE STROKES THAT DON'T LEAVE THE PAGE UNTIL THE WORD IS COMPLETE HAS BENEFITS OF IMPROVING CHILD BRAIN DEVELOPMENT AND FINE MOTOR SKILLS WHICH WILL TAKE SOME CONVINCING FOR STUDENTS WHO HAVE NEVER KNOWN ANOTHER WAY.

>> Reporter: ARE YOU BETTER IF YOU TYPE IS A STUDENT?

>> YES.

BECAUSE I AM TYPING REALLY QUICKLY AND I AM ALSO THINKING QUICKLY.

>> Reporter: MR. COURTNEY IS EXCITED TO SEE WHERE THIS EXPERIMENT TAKES HIS CLASS.

>> THERE WORK ON PAPER IS ART TO THEM AND IF YOU LOSE THAT, WHAT ELSE DO YOU LOSE AND CAN I MEASURE THAT ON A STANDARDIZED TEST?

I DON'T THINK SO.

CAN I SEE IT IN THE CLASSROOM?

100%.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

I AM MAYA TRABULSI .