tonight on kqed. a special guest oakland police chief armstrong on his soaring homicid rate. is california turning blue. we consider the impact on the states new laws. issues ranging from guns up to schools. we visit san francisco's chinatown in this week's edition of something beautiful. coming to you from kqed headquarters in san francisco. this friday, october 15th

2021. welcome to kqed únews i am your host. let's get into the news. the top five stories this week. we begin in southern california. the busiest port in the nation, port of los angeles will operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week. joe biden announced the hours as part of a 90 day sprint to clear up the nation's clogged supply chain. >> traditionally our ports have only been open during the week, monday through friday. they are close nights and weekends. by staying open seven days a week through the night and on weekends, the port of los angeles will open over 60 extra hours. in total it will double the number of hours the port is open. we turn to the drought. numbrs tell us this is the golden states driest number on

record. the water level in lake tahoe is so low that part is expense. water that flows out has slowed to a trickle. baseball rivals the giants and the dodgers battled through a historic playoffs. the dodgers won game 5 last night. was the first time the two teams met post. the dodgers move on to the national league championship series against the braves. two more californians have one a nobel prize. this time, economics. uc berkeley's david and stanford, studied real life situations. raising the minimum wage does not slow.

finally, in the future, large stores in california will be required to have a section of gender-neutral choice. the new law signed by the governor is intended to reduce gender bias in how kids play. it will go into effect january of 2024. we will have more on the latest bills governor newsom has signed. our first guest is the oakland police chief. the number of homicides jumped from double digits where they had been to triple digits for a total of 109 homicides 2020. this year it has been worse. as of this week 110 in 2021. we have 2 1/2 months of the year together. is the link the societal chanes the pandemic has brought. or other factors in the soaring

crime rate. with us now in studio to share his insight and plans on addressing the violence is the oakland police chief leronne armstrong. we spoke to you six months ago. you just started. we talked about the rising homicide rate. the numbers have continued to go up. >> it's unfortunate in oakland. we have seen violent crime continue to spike. it had been driven by group and gang violence. we are seeing a multitude of reasons. we have seen an increase in homicides related to human trafficking. robbery homicides. road rage homicides. we've seen homicides connected to random street violence. a myriad of things we have been trying to address. we can't overlook the fact that

we had issues holding people in custody when they were arrested for gun related offenses. there were bell changes. changes as a result of the pandemic and trying to reduce the number of people in jail. it resulted in when we make arrests. they have been able to get an emergency. much cheaper. it's something challenging. when people have been arrested for firearms they get back into the community in a short time. we had individuals with multiple arrests for firearms. it impact strategies. because of the virus they have not been held and they are back in the community reoffending. something you said during a press conference. right after a 15-year-old was killed. she was caught in the gunfire.

she wasn't a person holding the gun or yielding. you called for the community to be more involved. >> the child attends high school in oakland. she has friends in the city of oakland. family. tonight, i hope everybody wakes up and understands finally how uch do we have to bring before the public. how many times do we have to cry out for help. say to you we are in a moment of crisis. our children are in danger. you're saying children are in danger we are asking for help. what are you asking the community to do? >> we can't rely on law enforcement to address the increase in gun violence. it is a call to say we need to

be part of the solution. sharing information. providing video evidence that will help identify the individual responsible for the violent crimes. we clearly know we will not be able to arrest our way out. history shows arrests alone and doesn't bring down violence. there are people we have to focus on and hold accountable. most important is getting people to make different decisions around using guns. putting guns down and not bringing violence into our community. the community has to step up. step up for loved ones, family members. step up for people they care about. you have to put guns down and not be engaged. when you ask for community help you ask for trust. it has been broken a long time. you grew up in oakland. you lost a brother to gun violence. you have been in the department 22 years. you have seen issues, the

divide. the police and many you depend on the services. how do you think it gets fixed? >> more engagement on behalf of the police. we need to get out meet with the community. we have to be better at doing the jobs. we can't continue to be involved in conduct not aligned with values. not aligned with community values. change the culture so it's the department they trust. i lead from the front. i'm out every day in our community meeting with community members. talking of challenges. also focus solutions. i created a communication strategy around conversation. i identified all 35 beats in oakland. i will have a conversation with all community groups in the 35 beats. so far we met with 18 community groups discussing challenges.

i titled it conversations toward solutions. that's what it's about. solving the problem together. not in our different silos. i am doing my best to bring the community and our law enforcement together. tell me about staffing. >> we are facing challenges. 792. 55 were frozen in the last budget. we are currently authorized to hire 737. today 684. it has grown astronomically over 10 years in the department. it's smaller than it was. we face tremendous challenges. calls to 911. requesting community members be more present. on the ground. walking. a lot of things we would like but are unable.

we don't have officers. the positions are frozen by counsel. the money has been diverted. movable assistance community responders. a civilian response to nonviolent situations. wanted help to reduce pressure. i support alternative responses. i believe law enforcement has been asked to do more than it's capable of. we've been called on to do things not necessarily trained. address maybe you don't need police. i think there is a need for a robust police force. the calls we are facing. even with the addition will be challenging to meet the need of

communities. are police they are to prevent violence from occurring prevent crime? or to respond after? >> when you have a properly reinforced, resourced department they can do all of this. preventative, response to needs that the 911 system issues four. it is all encompassing. when you have a small police department you find yourself only being a response to people's calls. that's what we don't want. we want to prevent crime but it is challenging when you don't have officers on the ground taking calls and being able to get out and meet with community and prevent the things from happening. in addition to having conversations you address the culture. oakland police have been under negotiated settlement for 20 years. result of a corruption scandal.

for the past you have had several oversight, independent monitors. when you get close to the end something pops up. recently there was an incident. and instagram account that had racist, sexist things on it. it was started by a former officer followed by current officers. this seemed to be an example of poor choices. systemic problems with racism, sexism in the department. i want to read. something the independent investigation in the account. it said it signals an absence of processes within the department to ensure a safe workspace committed to court order reforms. at worse it speaks a culture so hostile to women, minorities and wedded to a discredited model of pete policing that it

can't modify messaging when it sees it. does it sound like opd? hostile to women and minorities. >> it doesn't sound like a culture i know. it doesn't represent the best majority of the men and women of the oakland police department. it is unacceptable conduct by some. a very small number of people within our organization. i truly believe in accountability. when i took the job. i said i would hold people accountable. certain behavior would not be tolerated. the behavior identified in the investigation will not be tolerated. the discipline was steph. steph. suspensions. a month and a half of pay taken away because of involvement. i take this seriously.

we are going to be better. we will provide training. they need to understand the impact. the behavior expected by not only me but the community. we are having more dialogue around race and equity. understanding the importance of value of different cultures. we are fortunate because we have a diverse department. not only were community members offended. members like myself were. it's our effort to be better. i spoke to the monitor. he understands what i will do to help change the culture. oakland police chief leronne armstrong , thanks for joining us. the bill signings for 2021 have concluded. on sunday governor gavin newsom sign the list up hundreds of

bills. expanding healthcare. addressing homelessness. bolstering schools. some push an agenda like requiring ethnic studies. some didn't make it to the governor's desk. an attempt to and oil drilling and fracking. the recent spill will keep that alive for the coming year. i'm joined by kqed's politic correspondent. you interviewed speaker nancy pelosi as a new series. scott, let's talk about the infrastructure package and the larger one stuck in congress. is there a compromise? >> it is all compromise. it passed the senate and it is being held up as they negotiate

and compromise with what was a 3.5 trillion bill. a child care tax credit as well as universal pre-k. several big baskets. what can they get past. whatever the house passes. they say i'm not going for anything more. it's compromised. they try to shorten the amount of years to bring it down. did they leave things out altogether? almost 100. they want to go for broke. the question is how does it get brought down in a way they can booths get past the senate and get enough votes from progressives who want more. there point is it will all get

paid for. >> the revenue is part. when we heard from her. i sat down with congressman adam. the devil is in the details always. they are hopeful big buckets of climate change care. elderly parents, children. they will give assistance. showing why they deserve to stay in power. you talked about voting rights. big focus in washington. what did she say? >> there are two bills. democrats feel act like. attempts to forward the big lie the former president has been telling about. the senate will put that up. they don't expect the time republicans they need.

putting pressure. senator joe who doesn't want to break the filibuster. it will take longer to play out. i do think that there is a hope there might be pressure points they can put on democrats that are less willing to go along. she spoke about being in the capital during the insurrection. it was beyond anything you could have ever imagined. when people say how come you weren't prepared. nobody could've been prepared for the president of the united states inciting an insurrection of that magnitude. people coming armed. well a photo op. it worked. it seems fresh.

>> she described what happened. traumatic. she gets all security. the members literally on their stomachs trying to move out of the chamber and get into safe. a committee cop bipartisan. trying to get to the root of what happened and what instigated it. real questions. and perhaps members of congress. republicans colluding with president trump. maybe subpoenas to get information like steve tannen. a lot of unanswered that they're trying to get answers to. congressman adam schiff has a book. >> the point he makes. he fell for a lot of members the real threat. it took days. the point he makes.

the threat to democracy isn't the people who stormed the capital. the colleagues in suits who came back to overturn the election. he's sounding the alarm of the democratic systems. he says the voting right bills will put a stop. pg&e and the settlement with victims of wildfires caused by pg&e electric lines. massive by hedge funds involved. it was reported by our colleague. lily can you tell us what is going on. and how this impacts the fire victims that were supposed to be getting some of the money from the settlement. >> we looked at filings involved in the bankruptcy. they tell the story.

right around the fire tragedy. they started buying shares when they fell 40%. when the 2018 campfire tragedy, suddenly the investment wasn't looking good. pg&e shares fell even lower when they voluntarily filed for chapter 11. the hedge funds having a choice. the choice they make is to get deeper. they are able to exert control over the company's board. exert in the bankruptcy. you can see the influence in a number of settlements including the one we have followed. the settlement.

70,000 who lost homes and businesses. in some cases relatives the hedge funds started bailing out big time. fire survivors are left holding 24%. almost a quarter. an unusual aspect. from what we understand they are heavily involved with influencing. what are your thoughts? >> what it shows, a conflict of having a public utility that millions rely on and the state relies on. nobody else can do what they do. there is a conflict.

incentives. not surprised. we saw lawyers and consultants make millions. a lot of victims have not seen one sent. the final week of signings for the governor on the 770 bills passed. what sticks out? >> the state had 80 billion they didn't expect. the trying to put serious downpayments on big issues like housing and homelessness and climate change. bills around the virus. this is what is confronting the state. other bills get more attention. trying to get more housing with incentives and changing zoning. putting a lot into affordable housing. those are the things governor newsom is hoping he can make a dent in.

it is difficult. he signed other bills on guns, environment. housing, homelessness, cost-of- living. things that will go on well into the next several years. some pointed to the bills and said overall the impact is there moving california in a progressive direction. governor newsom is more liberal than his predecessor. he vetoed some that the progressive wing would like to see happen. he's trying to titrate. you see them taking on amazon for quotas at warehouses. criminal justice reform. incremental steps. broadly yes we are moving left. the governor to scott's point transcends politics. housing how we see a difference of who was lining up where.

where are things headed? >> the virus will continue. the legislature will take up the personal beliefs, exemption to make it difficult to get out of getting vaccines. the oil spill in orange county will continue to put that on the agenda. it's been tough despite environmental words to get a lot done through limiting oil drilling, fracking. it will be tough. those things will be on the agenda. thank you beth. san francisco's chinatown is one of the oldest. it's this week's look at something beautiful. a place you find alleys with

eateries, cocktail languages, lounges and music.

that's the end of our show. thank you. if you want to look behind scenes join us online. we will see you right back here next friday night. have a great weekend.

>> subpoenas, cultures -- culture war and. >> we intend to take of criminal content. >> the committee investigating the capital attacked intends to hold steve bannon in criminal content after a he refuses a subpoena. >> i don't think parents should tell parents what they should teach. >> culture wars over education, race, covid and the 2020 election dominate politics and the virginia governor race. >> our goal is not to get over this bottleneck but to address these weaknesses in our transportation supply chain. >> the president tries to tackle