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August 25 - 29, 2003
Monday, Aug. 25
VENTURA
Broadcasting from Channel Islands Park
Pictsweet Arbitrations
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At the Pictsweet Mushroom Farm in Ventura, workers have been without a contract since 1987 and talks between the company and the United Farm Workers union in recent years have failed to progress. New legislation introduced by Senate leader John Burton imposes binding arbitration in agricultural labor disputes and is being invoked for the first time in this case. Kitty talks about the arbitrations with Barbara Macri-Ortiz, an attorney for the United Farm Workers Union, and Rob Roy, President and General Counsel of Ventura County Agricultural Association, a trade association representing the interests of over 100 major growers and shippers in Ventura and Santa Barbara counties.
Ventura County SOAR Initiative
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WeÕll take a look at the effect of a 1995 anti-sprawl initiative that has been enacted in 8 of Ventura countyÕs 10 cities and in Ventura county itself. The measure prevents farmland and open space outside cities from being rezoned for development without voter approval and is designed to use every available acre in the land-poor county to its fullest. Is it working? And is it fair to resident farmers who wish to sell their land? Kitty asks these questions and more of Steve Bennett, the Ventura County Supervisor who led the SOAR campaign throughout Ventura County, and Rob Roy who also acts as chief spokesperson for the Coalition for Community Planning, a group of agricultural business labor and development groups that opposed the SOAR initiative.
Recall Candidate Douglas Anderson
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Moorpark mortgage broker Douglas Anderson talks with Kitty about his bid for governor in the Oct 7 recall election. Anderson plans to eliminate the budget deficit by restricting spending, especially benefits to illegal immigrants. He also supports eliminating the Òteach to testÓ method of education.
Otter Relocation
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The population of California sea otters, once thought to have been wiped out by the 19th century fur trade, has been relatively stable at about 2200 animals for the last few years. But the species, listed as threatened under the Endangered Species Act, isnÕt rebounding either. Federal biologists have been involved in efforts to recover and relocate otters along the Central Coast but have seen only slight signs of expansion of the otter population. Kitty takes a look at the complexities of the otter recovery program and the issue of how much habitat humans are willing to cede to the sea otter with guest Greg Sanders, sea otter coordinator for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services, Ventura Fish and Wildlife Office.
Tuesday, Aug. 26
SANTA BARBARA
Broadcasting from Cold Spring Tavern
The Fight to Create Mission County
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A group led by the Citizens for County Organization is well on its way to putting a proposal to split Santa Barbara County in two on the ballot. The county-split movement reflects a 25-year struggle between the north county and the south, although this is the first time the effort might actually make the ballot. To qualify, pro-secession advocates need to certify about 20,800 signatures by September 30. Jim Diani, Chairman of Citizens for County Organization, says that he has already collected well over that amount. Kitty talks to Jim Diani about the revived effort to split the county and why it just might succeed this time around.
The Fight to Keep Santa Barbara County Together
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Joyce Howerton heads up the Coalition Against the County Split, a grass roots organization whose members are united in the fight to keep Santa Barbara County together. Kitty talks with Howerton about the organizationÕs reasons for their anti-secession stance and their issues with the fund-raising and signature gathering process of their opponents.
Journalist Jerry Cornfield
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Former radio personality Jerry Cornfield talks to Kitty about key issues at the core of the debate for and against the Santa Barbara County split. He also gets us up to speed on other local stories, including the newly opened $157 million casino in the Santa Ynez Valley, the fight over land use issues (which are getting a lot of attention thanks to the involvement of singer David Crosby), the state of the coastal wine industry, judge Diane HallÕs ongoing trial, and Michael JacksonÕs upcoming birthday party at his nearby ranch. Jerry Cornfield is the former host of ÒThe Voice of Santa BarbaraÓ on KEYT, a senior writer at the Santa Barbara independent, and editor at large for Santa Barbara Magazine.
Hollister Ranch Ð Public vs. Private Beach Access
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Before becoming a subdivision, Hollister Ranch was a cattle ranch. Some very lucky cattle remain on the property today and along with the other inhabitants of the gated community claim some of the most pristine California coastal land as there own. Some argue that the residents of Hollister Ranch should grant public access to the beaches. Residents claim that the land is too delicate to handle heavy traffic. Kitty Felde speaks with the President of the Gaviota Coastal Conservancy, Mike Lunsford, and with the Chairman of the Hollister Ranch Stewardship Task Force, Kim Kimbell, about the age-old conundrum of public versus private beach access.
Wednesday, Aug. 27
GUADELUPE
Broadcasting from the Dunes Center
Santa Maria Recall
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In Santa Maria a civic experiment is underway that mirrors the state-wide gubernatorial recall. This time itÕs the mayor and the entire city council that are being threatened with a recall. Kitty speaks with Tim Shaw, assignment editor at local CBS affiliate KCOY, who has been covering this region for his entire career to take a look at the likely success of this effort and why water fluoridation is at the root of the recall.
Plovers vs. Hummers
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What is it about the western snowy plover that is literally driving people off the beach? Plovers that live along the Pacific Coast are listed as threatened in 1993 under the Federal Endangered Species Act. In Oceano this means that the State Vehicular Recreation Area is closing a half-mile of beach that is popular both with campers and dune buggy riders. Kitty takes a look at an issue that is playing throughout the stateÕs beaches and throughout the nation: how to balance the need of endangered species with the recreational needs of local residents. Gillian Andrews is executive director of the Dunes Center, and Larry Hass owns Pacific Action Tours. This is a particularly timely discussion as the ploverÕs nesting season is about to end in early September.
Lost City
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A lost Egyptian city has been discovered right here on the Central Coast of California. And it was built, not thousands of years ago, but in 1923 by a pharaoh of filmÑthe one and only Cecil B. DeMille. It was the largest of the Ògreat setsÓ of the silent era. It stood over ten stories high and took one thousand workers a month to build. No one knows why DeMille had this city dismantled and buried but it was largely forgotten for the next 60 years. Although we can not reveal the exact location, preserve manager Willie Richerson will guide you on audio tour of the excavation site and Jeannie Sparks, chair of the Friends of the Lost City will talk about what has already been unearthed. For more information: Demille's Lost City
Thursday, Aug. 28
SAN LUIS OBISPO
Broadcasting from Boo Boo Records
New Shark Policy
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ItÕs been a little over a week since Deborah Franzman, 50, was killed by a 15-18 foot great white shark off of Avila Beach. Closure of harbor beaches Avila, FishermanÕs and Olde Porte have been extended againÑat least through Friday morning--as part of the Port San Luis Harbor CommissionÕs new policy for shark attacks and sightings. WeÕll speak with Harbor Operations Manager Casey Nielsen about the new policy that is keeping the beaches closed when they were originally rescheduled to open yesterday (Wednesday)
Avila Beach Clean Up
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Before the shark scare, there was an oil scare. Avila Beach is a popular tourist destination up the California Coast known for its warm (southward facing) water, its gentle waves and quaint town (population 380). At least until leaking oil was discovered from underground pipes owned by Unocal Corporation under the waterfront. Unocal responded to the public outcry by buying the beachfront property, tearing it down, mopping up the oil, and rebuilding the town to the tune of $100 million. As the project wraps up and as beach-goers and tourists once again return to the small town, Kitty takes a look back at the clean-up effort with Peg Pinard San Luis Obispo County Supervisor and
Bill Almas, Operations Team Manager for Unocal Corporation.
Grape Glut
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Harvest time for most wine grapes is just around the corner and this yearÕs crop yields are expected to be average or below which just might help their prices. The wine grape industry has been facing a Ògrape glutÓ or an oversupply situation the past few years forcing prices down and having unfortunate consequences for grape growers, especially those without a grape contract. Kitty takes a look at how the Central Coast, an important part of the California Wine Industry, is faring with Marty Meeker the owner of Meeker Vineyard and Raven Raily, the North County editor and wine columnist for the San Luis Obispo Tribune.
Recall Candidate Mike McCarthy
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San Luis Obispo native and owner of McCarthy Wholesale used car lot, Mike McCarthy joins Kitty to talk about his candidacy for Governor in the October 7 recall election. McCarthy wants to make California a friendly place for small businesses by reforming workers compensation and repealing the vehicle license fee.
CA Missions Foundation
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The 21 missions that have shaped California history, tradition and culture are literally coming apart with age and decay. The state of Mission San Miguel in San Luis Obispo is so bad that the County Planning Department has imposed a September 1 deadline to come up with a plan to fix up the Mission or face shutting it down. Kitty talks with Dr. Robert Hoover, a board member of the California Missions Foundations, about their goal to raise $50 million toward rehabilitating a quintessential piece of California history. For more information or to make a contribution call 916-498-0110.
Great American Melodrama and Vaudeville
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More than 25 years old now, the Great American Melodrama & Vaudeville still performs to a virtually sold out audience. Host Kitty Felde returns to the site of her first professional acting job to see how a 19th century theatrical tradition thrives in the 21st century. She is joined by owner and artistic director John Schlenker.
Friday, Aug. 29
CAMBRIA
Broadcasting from Pewter Plough Playhouse
The Hearst Ranch Project
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The Hearst Corporation owns a beautiful undeveloped swath of land on the Central Coast. The corporation has been looking to develop the property. Kitty Felde explores the intricate struggle of coastal development and the rising power of a conservationist ÒbrokerageÓ firm, the American Land Conservancy. She speaks with land attorney representing the Hearst Corporation interests, Rodger Lyon, and with the American Land Conservancy Project Manager, Kara Blakeslee.
Cambria & East-West Ranch
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Four hundred and seventeen acres make up the East-West Ranch. How it came to be a protected park reveals the dedication of a town and the generous compromise of business. The residents of Cambria, a town of around 6,000, orchestrated a series of fundraisers ranging from swing dances to bake sales and raised over a million dollars. However, it wasnÕt until the Mid-State Bank gave up about 20 acres, previously slated for development, that fund-raisers were given the $2 million required to free up $7 million in grants to buy the 417 acres. Kitty Felde gets the story.
The Other Castle
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Nitt Witt Ridge is the other castle on the Central Coast. Although less well known than itÕs opulent neighbor six miles away in San Simeon, the folklore creation of Arthur Harold Beal shares a similar enchantment with the central coast. Built over a period of fifty years, Beal used foraged treasures to craft a castle that was added to the California State Historical Landmark registry in 1986. Kitty Felde speaks with the current owner, Michael OÕMalley.
The Lovely Pool
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Perhaps the greatest perk of working for the Hearst Corporation is the Neptune Pool, the beautiful outdoor pool designed by Julia Morgan at Hearst Castle. Each year, employees are invited to dive in for a ninety-minute swim indulgence. Talk of the City host Kitty Felde peeks over the fence and talks with some employees enjoying their annual summer swim.
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