sumac tonight on kqed newsroom. one on one with alex padilla, california's new junior senator. we will talk about vaccinations, and impeachment. severed cisco suing its own school board to officially battle gavin newsom for the governor seat. >> we wander through the oakland and san francisco zoo sneaking a peek of our favorite creatures. in this edition of something beautiful. welcome. our team is been looking forward to bring you this next interview for several weeks. we're talking now with california's newest u.s. senator who was sworn into office last month. joining us is senator alex

padilla. senator, tnk you for joining us. >> thank you for having me. >> senator despite the fact you have been a rising star for quite some time and you have been our secretary of state for six years, i still have a lot to learn when you were appointed senator to fill in kamala harris's seat. does that present bay area bias on my part? >> maybe. i think it's one of the beautiful parts about california. we don't just have the most -- in the nation we have the most diverse state our ethnic backgrounds, geographic differences. we all deserve a voice and leadership.? i can see you have great immigrant success story. your parents were undocumented, they met in l.a. he went to mit, your daughter's

fn, and then you went to work as a aerospace engineer and then decided to make a left into politics. my dad worked there by the way. am i doing it right? >> yes it was a different trajectory for a career in public service. but let's not affect what proposition -- had for me degree and committing to a call for government as a way to impact my community in the state. >> you are the youngest president of the los angeles city council at 28. he served in the california state senate and as our secretary of state. along the way you launched california's motor rotor program which automatically enrolls eligible voters when they go to the dmv. and you are responsible for not only the posting of nutritional information right on the menu at chain restaurants, also advanced our fashion sense with reusable tote bags. when you read that legislative

charge.? way to express yourself. >> now you are the newly minted representative from california to the u.s. senate. senator padilla, ask you w that you are there, what is at the top of yo agenda? >> that list of important issues to california, those are interesting to me. access to healthcare. comprehensive immigration. improving our covid-19 reli. summary families across the country are struggling not knowing maybe wherthe next meal is coming from. or if they are facing evictions at the end of the month. a lot of small businesses working so hard to keep their doors open. we know last year there was a lot left to be desired. a lack of leadership from the

trump administration. we have a president who believes in science entrusts public health officials and is willing to invest into the economy. so working with the biden ministration, governor newsom, and other state leaders is at the top of the agenda. >> we are using the vaccination priority system in california based on age and focusing on vaccinating the w income and marginalized neighborhoods. what concerns does it raise for you? >> i think, we had to do it right. it's not just the amount of vaccines. not just the amount of money we are putting into communities. but ensuring equity and how we are responding to covid-19. you heard from dr. felty in the cdc since day one that the coronavirus disproportionately impact certain community. whether it is essential workers, lower income communities, so therefore our response and investments in response need to reflect that.

so that is a big piece of my priority and the drum i continue to be. it's not just the numbers we are continuing to see thousands of people losing their lives each day. homoney people are still in hospitals and icus? if you look at the recent icenter in california, the epicenter of the epicenter is my hometown. i think of my dad who is 80 years old and was wondering for far too long when he could sign up for his first vaccine. he finally got it. it should've been soer and easier. that's indicative of far too many families. i think about what my father did for a living as you mention my father was a short order cook for many years. we see how the restaurant industry amongst other sectors have been devastated by the covid-19 pandemic.

so yes, you can say this is very personal. >> we have also not close our borders to travelers and that is something you have noted is a contributing factor to the spread of the virus. should we be more strict rather than loosening our rules? >> i think this is one of the areas where what a difference the president makes. for far too much of last year and the last four years frankly we had an administration that was very much an isolationist. and president biden has change that tone back to america being a leader on the world stage. not just when it comes to security and terrorism or what have you. but heaven forbid the u.s. is a natural leader on covid-19 relief and covid-19 response. because we are an international society. in california is home to more immigrants than any other state in the nation. we have a lot at stake. and the rules around if we get

our arms around the pandemic. >> you have been known for your immigration reform and your ideas with that. what changes are you actually planning to drive through in these next two years you have an office? >> it's very urgent issue. comprehensive reform for the country is long overdue. and no state has more at stake than the state of california. so for starters, we need to create a pathway for citizenship. for the millions of eligible immigrants. and so many documented immigrants. praising essential workers and other front-line workers and what they are doing on the hillside. there are lots of other people who work in hospitals we are

tipping our hat to farmworkers and grocery store workers. did you know more than 5 million essential workers is recognized by federal and state government are undocumented? if they don't deserve protections in the workplace and a pathway to citizenship, they have earned in my opinion. so that has to be part of the greater mix. the pathway to citizenship. it is ensuring justice for dreamers and their extended families. make sure those who benefit from --, restoring the asylum system at the border, and so much more. >> how much, how far do you think immigration to go? do you support open borders? >> i think that is now part of what we are discussing. public relief followed by comprehensive immigration reform and investing in our nations infrastructure. those are all top agenda items for the united states senate and the house of

representatives. and for the biden administration. i'm hopeful despite what people think it's a divided partisan environment in congress, i know in 2013, not that long ago there was a bipartisan package accrued by the u.s. senate. remember that? republicans being willing to support comprehensive immigration reform. it's possible. >> you have been an advocate for environmental change. you are now on the senate committee for environmental works. you have specific proposals for bills you will work this year? >> i am serving on the committee for a few reasons. california has been a national leader when it comes to climate change. and so i will be able to offer to my colleagues in the senate the california sex story. it hasn't just been dreams and goals but establishing

implementable policy that is shown progress and results in the state of california whether it is reducing emissions in electricity or transportation. to being able to build on that is a tremendous opportunity. a lot of infrastructure investment conversations will take place. a lot of deferred maintenance and trsportation and water infrastructure we need to be smart with much more sustainable and environmentally friendly practices and materials. >> let talk about the office you left behind. secretary of state. what were the challenges that remain for shirley weber, your successor?

>> strengthening voting rights in california modernizing elections and putting california in the lead when it comes to election security and the integrity of our election. but there's still more work to do. particularly with the disinformation in our elections. we saw how much of a threat that was. the bad information. those who seek to undermine the our election infrastructure or simply are fundamental confidence in the democratic process are going to continue with increased frequency and sophistication so countering election disinformation would lay a good foundation for dr. weber, secretary weber to build off of. he will continue in 2022 elections., 2024, and beyond. governor newsom is proposing a $1 billion budget

to reduce wildfire risk in california next year. now that you are in the federal government, what sort of help you expect secure to manage our file wires >> another example of the committee is so critical to bring that policy to bear. but one of the other committees i've been assigned to is the homeland security committee. which in part overseas the department of homeland security and fema specifically. so whether it is maximizing federal dollars that you can leverage or a response to disasters as well as the advance of the policy that can help prevent or mitigate future disasters, we are in a very strategic spot of the oversigh of federal department agencies and we will keep ensuring federal states cooperation. >> you have had criticism

leveled against you that you are not, super bold. the criminal justice advocacy group, the justice collaborative said your appointment was a wasted opportunity and they do not see evidence you will fight for the vulnerable in california. what will you do? not what have you done. what will you do to demonstrate support for those committees? >> they are going to see things they may not be familiar with. fundamental issues of justice and equity have been at my core throughout my public service career. it's why i got into politics and government to begin with. in response to proposition 187. back in 1994. if you look at my track record on building more equity in education for example, not only improving education for english learners, which make up a big percentage of our k-12 population statewide. but for students of color

trying to move -- and the environmental justice -- those are brief examples of what we will apply in the ongoing work for crimal justice reform. >> very last question. the senate will start impeachment proceedings next week. what are your expectations? >> preparing for long days. we need to hold him accountable. this am i getting his can imagine should be a no-brainer. the whole world saw the evidence of what happened on january 6th in real-time. not just an interaction in our nations capital. a fatal insurrection of the nations capital. without a doubt incited by donald trump and his neighbors. nobody is above the law. we must hold him accountable and i'm looking forward to cast

my voice in that process. alex padilla, thank you so much. and good luck. >> thank you. please continue to stay safe. >> to paul's release this week put numbers on the rumblings that governor gavin newsom's popularity has been dropping in recent months. in the early days of the pandemic governor newsom gained widespread support for his work but that shifted. in september a poll by berkeley's institute of governmental studies showed 64% of voters approved of the governors worked. but now that has dropped to 46%. newsom fared slightly better in another poll released the same day by the public policy institute of california. in may the ppi c poll showed the vernor with a 62% approval rating which is now dipped to 52%. joining us now is kqed scott ús nine.

they could joining us. scott, what do these pool to pool say to you about governor newsom's position? does it mean he is observable recall? >> maybe or maybe not. he is not as popular as he was back in september. some of that is inevitable. people are tired of the pandemic. there is pandemic for teague. people want the vaccines and they don't know where to get them. so i think are seeing the reflection of all the toxic political, settling on the governor right now. we always say polls are a snapshot in time. and you ask about the recall. the recall may not be of the qualifies at all it might not be on the ballot until december or november. maybe even into 2022. so things will be very different at the time voters are really considering whether to vote yes or no on a recall. if the vaccines get out of more people are feeling better and the economy recovers and kids are back in school, but

normalcy comes back, i think the governor's numbers will go back up again. not a size they were. it's hard to establish that skyhigh 64% once you have come down from the lofty levels. it could mean he is more vulnerable. certainly republicans hope so. >> heather, what are local leaders saying and whispering about how the governor is handling the pandemic? >> publicly they are very onboard and very supportive. just the other day when he was announcing a new vaccination site at the oakland coliseum oakland mayor was there just raving about what a great and wonderful governor we have. what of mike colleagues in sacramento said it was like she was having a campaigner to fight off the recall. but i think obviously mayor breed another local leaders get pushback from constituents with a cannot get vaccinations and when the parents cannot figure out how to sign up for an appointment at kaiser. even though it is not the

mayor's fault it feels like it is. i'm sure they are frustrated that the doses are not coming in. that is a combination of state and federal issues. but it boils down to the buck stops with the mayor. >> scott, what can you tell us about the san diego mayor who has officially thrown his hat in the ring for governor? >> kind of a moderate republican. he embraces climate change and steps to fix climate change or address climate change. he has been very critical when he was mayor of san diego of donald trump's policies along the border. he opposed the border wall. but at the same time kevin faulkner voted for donald trump. not in 2016 but it 2020. it's a bit of it had scratch it really because you can see why some people voted in 2016 especially if they do not like the policies of the past four years. so that will be a problem for him if he is in fact running statewide. because california is overwhelmingly democrat. the registration of voters is about to do one in favor of

democrats. even independents were about anotr quarter of the electorate they are leaning democrat often times. but he served his pro-business and moderate to liberal on social issues. so he is the kind of profile republicans think could appeal to some of the more conservative democrats and maybe some independent voters. but asi said, the last republican who faced gavin it's a steep hill for any republicans statewide. whether or not schools should reopen has been a very contentious topic. but now that cisco is actually suing its own school district. what is happening there? >> there was a huge development this week. we learned the mayor and the city attorney is suing the seven board members and the

city of seven cisco saying thnc eaplan to reopen schools. so he filed in superior court on wednesday. that prompted a huge response from the superintendent, the teachers union, and the school board. they said it was frivolous and we all need to come together to open schools. parents and kids meanwhile are just beyond frustrated. i hear from friends all the time whose kids are crying every day. they don't want to get out of bed. they are losing the learning they had and falling behind. and depressed unhappy kids when they used to be so outgoing and social. so i think families are just really at the breaking point and they were glad many of them that city hall had taken the strong issue. because they want somebody to force the issue and something has to happen. this is 11 months in. >> the lawsuit would not actually have a judge for schools to reopen, is that right? it just takes another step in that direction? >> it forces them to have a

plan for the superintendent said they have a plan but not including things would normally associate with a plan like dates, timelines, specifics. when we know anything. we need to improve ventilation and get contact tracy in place. we know what we need but parents really want more concrete details. so the judge could force them to come up with that plan. but really in a couple of days i think it is kind of forcing the issue and making all the players realized we need to act quicker. the teachers union held a press conference this morning in which they announced the proposal that they are giving the district today which previous proposals. along from they are now saying they would go back to schools in the red tier if school staff are vaccinated. they will not require kids to be vaccinated or families. and one thing that did come up in the past they were requiring ilet lids on every toilet. that is no longer in the proposal. they would go back in the orange tier without

vaccinations. >> it seems that it's moving forward. stomach scott, a private investor was killed and seven cisco and made national news. why was the such video? >> well jack -- was a sam spade type of private investigator played by humphrey bogart. he had very high profile clients including he was involved with bill clinton, pushing back on some of the allegations about his extra marital affairs. he worked on the jonestown massacres. he worked on the patty hearst kidnapping. and he had friends in high places including willie brown who once hired him in 2000 to do opposition research on some of his political opponents. so he was very well known for his camera. that's where hegot a lot of evidence from. he had a couple men allegedly tried to steal his camera he held onto it grabbed it from

the ground and hit his head. and actually his camera had photos of the people trying to do in there now i've been to i think it is just adding to the climate of fear there has been an uptick in the violence and burglaries and home invasions of those sorts of things. that led the mayor the da in the police chief to hold a press conference to reassure people. >>? heather there is a new housing proposal making waves and seven cisco. can you break it down for us? >> yes. i wrote about sacramento. taking a big step forward to build multiple unit housing throughout its entire city. they are going to allow for plexus on any piece of land now slated for one family's house. and in the column i suggested seven cisco look at doing the same. which was very controversial because housing politics are always causing fireworks at seven cisco. it turns out that supervisor rafael mendel men has proposed something similar. it doesn't go quite as far sacramento. he wants for plexus to be

allowed on any single-family home lot within a half-mile of a major transit station. so that would be the major -- stations. he also wants them to be allowed on any corner lot in so that is getting a lot of pushback already. but some people are on board and say we cannot just keep being in a city where middle- class people, teachers, nurses, nonprofit works cannot afford to live. we really need to do something. because even during this economic crisis our housing prices to buy art through the roof continuing to rise. >> do you think it does have a chance of moving through and passing eventually.? we only have one supervisor board so far. so that is not great math when you're talking about 11 supervisors. he has met haney but he will need to get six to get anywhere. and he is definitely having some private conversations. so it is to be determined. he was to start a conversation

and get the city moving forward on a housing policy that makes it easier for people to live your. >> let's take a look at congress member marjorie taylor greene. >> yes, very controversial freshman republican from georgia. democrats wanted to remove her from committees. she is a big conspiracy theory advocate. denied 911. denied school shootings saying they were all staged. all republicans in california have voted to support her except for young kim the orange county freshman republican who did want her removed from the committees. this is an issue that will continue to defy republicans. nancy pelosi is very much trying to define the republican party even calling kevin mccarthy instead of our q california press releases spelling kevin with a q. they're going to try and hold onto this and the republicans would very much like it to go

away. >> thank you for your insight and analysis. scott shafer and heather knight. >> thank you. >> thanks. now that there is a break from the rain perhaps you would like to amble outdoors. the oakland zoo reopen this week. the seven cisco zoo is open also. they set the scenes for the suites look at something beautifu

you can reach me on twitter -- you can find more of our news coverage at kqed.org/newsroom. from all of us, thank you for joining us. good night.

captioning sponsored by wnet >> sreenivasan: on this edition for sunday, february 7: with the impeachment trial looming, president biden focuses on his agenda. in our signature segment: a look at america's longest war in afghanistan. and stephen malkmus on his music, pre- and post-pandemic. next on “pbs newshour weekend.” >> pbs newshour weekend is made possible by: sue and edgar wachenheim iii. the anderson family fund. bernard and denise schwartz. the cheryl and philip milstein family. barbara hope zuckerberg. the