>>> THANK YOU FOR JOINING US FOR THIS WORK OF THE BEST OF THE RECORDED FIRM TRANSFERRING THIS WEEK, I AM ANNIKA SHARMA.

COMING UP TAKE A RIDE ON THE BLUE LINE TROLLEY, AFTER DECADES OF PLANNING AND YEARS OF CONSTRUCTION, OUR REGION NOW HAS A DIRECT CONNECTION FROM THE BORDER IN TO UC SAN DIEGO.

>>> REPRESENTATION IN THE MEDICAL FIELD, LEARN ABOUT A PUSH TO HELP MORE NATIVE AMERICANS ACHIEVE THEIR GOAL OF BECOMING A DR. >>> THEY ARE ICONS IN THE SAN DIEGO BEACH COMMUNITY, BUT FIND OUT WHY THE CITY SAYS SOME OF THOSE SKYHIGH PALM TREES NEED TO COME DOWN.

>>> THE GAS LINE, AFTER MORE THAN 800 DAYS IT IS COMIC-CON WEEKEND ONCE AGAIN IN SAN DIEGO.

THIS IS WHAT IT LOOKED LIKE THIS WEEK AS SIGNS AND DECORATION STARTED GOING UP, COMIC-CON SPECIAL EDITION WILL BE SHORTER AND SMALLER THAN WHAT WE ARE USED TO, BUT ORGANIZERS STILL EXPECT TENS OF THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE TO TURN OUT.

KPBS ARTS AND CULTURE REPORTER, F OUR COMMANDO LETS US KNOW WHAT VISITORS CAN EXPECT.

>> THE EXHIBIT HALL IS NOW OPEN TO ATTENDEES.

>> Reporter: IT HAS A MORE THAN A YEAR SINCE I HAVE HEARD THAT, AND THIS YEAR ATTENDEES WILL NEED TO QUEUE UP TO PROVE VACCINATION STATUS BEFORE PICKING UP THEIR BADGES.

>> SAFETY IS A PRIMARY CONCERN OF OURS, EVERYONE WILL NEED TO BE WEARING A MASK AND HAVE HAD A VACCINATION OR PROOF OF A VACCINATION OR NEGATIVE COVID TEST.

>> Reporter: THE SPOKESPERSON FOR COMIC-CON INTERNATIONAL.

>> I THINK THE SHOW WILL BE MUCH SMALLER, PROBABLY HAVE THE SIZE MAYBE A LITTLE SMALLER, STILL.

I HAVE A FEELING THAT THOSE PEOPLE WHO REMEMBER COMIC-CON FROM SOME YEARS AGO MacY SOME SIMILARITIES TO THAT.

>> Reporter: THE EXHIBIT HALL WILL NOT BE AS CROWDED AS IN THE PANDEMIC TIMES, AND HALL H WILL SERVE AS THE STAGING AREA FOR REGISTRATION IS THAT OF POSTING HUGE HOLLYWOOD PANELS.

FOR THE LACK OF A HOLLYWOOD PRESENCE, IT MIGHT MEAN THAT PEOPLE WILL DISCOVER SMALLER PANELS.

LIKE ONE ON AN OPEN WORLD VIDEOGAME ABOUT THE UNTOLD MYTHICAL TALE OF ANCIENT MEXICO.

SIMILARLY, YOU WON'T FIND THE COMPANIES LIKE D.C. AND MARVEL ON THE EXHIBIT FLOOR.

BUT THEIR ABSENCE LEAVES ROOMS FOR NEW PLAYERS, LIKE PATRIZIO JENELLE SUH WHO WILL PROMOTE HIS FILM AND COMIC BOOK, LUMPIA WITH A VENGEANCE.

>> THIS IS WHAT EVERYONE IS TALKING ABOUT.

IT IS LUMPIA, A FILIPINO EGGROLL.

>> THE MOTIVES ON THE LUMPIA MAN.

>> IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR US INDEPENDENT CREATORS TO BE SEEN AND HEARD BY THE MASSES.

I THINK IT IS A RETURN TO REALLY WHAT THE CORE OF WHAT COMIC-CON IS VERY IT HAS ALWAYS BEEN ABOUT THE CREATORS.

AT COMIC-CON, IT IS RELATED TO THE AUDIENCE WE WANTED TO ATTRACT AND THIS IS OUR BIG OPPORTUNITY.

I CAN'T WRAP MY HEAD AROUND WHAT IS HAPPENING THIS WEEK.

>> Reporter: LIKE THE SCREENING OF THE FILM HE IS HOSTING ON FRIDAY, COMIC-CON SPECIAL EDITION WILL ALSO FEATURE A SOFT REOPENING OF THE COMIC-CON MUSEUM.

>> ONE OF THE GREAT THINGS WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO DO IS TO LOOK INTO HAVING THE MUSEUM THAT WILL DO PRETTY MUCH WHAT COMIC-CON DOES THROUGHOUT THE YEAR WHICH IS FOCUS ATTENTION ON AREAS OF POPULAR ARTS THAT PEOPLE MIGHT NOT EVEN REALIZE IS ART.

>> Reporter: THIS MORNING THE MUSEUM WAS BUZZING WITH ACTIVITY.

AND WE ARE STILL PUTTING THE FINAL TOUCHES ON THE EXHIBIT, WE EXPECT THEY WILL BE DONE BY TONIGHT BUT THERE STILL MAY BE A FEW THINGS THAT HAVE TO HAPPEN ON FRIDAY MORNING.

>> Reporter: THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR AT COMIC-CON MUSEUM.

>> Reporter: UPSTAIRS THAT IS AN EXHIBIT CALLED A REASON TO SURVIVE, AND IT IS ALL CREATED BY STUDENTS, PUT TOGETHER MY STUDENTS, DURING THE PANDEMIC.

YOU CAN ALSO FIND ORIGINAL ART BY CARTOONIST CHARLES ADDAMS.

80 YEARS OF ARCHIE COMICS.

A RETROSPECTIVE ON STAR TREK CREATOR GENE RODDENBERRY.

AND A ROOM DEVOTED TO COMIC-CON MUSEUM CHARACTER HALL OF FAME INDUCTEE, PAC-MAN.

THERE ARE ALSO NEW SPACES DEVOTED TO WORKSHOPS AND EDUCATION.

>> THIS IS A BIG COMPONENT OF WHAT WE ARE DOING AT COMIC-CON.

COMIC-CON IS KNOWN FOR ITS EDUCATIONAL PANELS, SO WE ARE CONTINUING THAT EDUCATIONAL THEME.

>> Reporter: THIS WILL NOT GET YOU ACCESS TO THE MUSEUM, ANYONE WHO WANTS TO VISIT NEEDS A TICKET FROM ONLINE OR OUT THE DOOR.

THE SPECIAL EDITION WILL BE GATHERING THE NERD TRIBE IN PERSON, TO CELEBRATE POPULAR ART AND THAT IS SOMETHING TO BE THANKFUL FOR THIS HOLIDAY WEEKEND.

KPBS NEWS.

>>> STICK AROUND FOR THE END OF THE NEWSCAST, WILL HAVE THE HOLIDAY FILMS, INCLUDING THE TAKE ON GHOSTBUSTERS, AFTERLIFE.

>>> WHAT A DIFFERENCE A WE ARE YOUR TAKES FOR TROUBLE, EVEN WITHOUT COMIC-CON IT WAS ALREADY A BUSY WEEKEND.

THAT AIRPORT TELLS ABOUT A NEW FREEWAY, TO GET THERE.

>> Reporter: AT CENTURY DEPOT NATIONAL AIRPORT TRAVELERS WILL MORE THAN DOUBLE THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE THAN LESTER.

>> YOU HAVE TO BE PATIENT AND BE PREPARED.

NOT JUST FOR FOOD AND SEPARATE HAVE EXTRA MASKS.

JUST HAVE EVERYTHING WITH YOU BECAUSE OTHERWISE YOU WILL FEEL LIKE IT IS CHAOTIC AND IT IS PRETTY BUSY.

>> Reporter: THIS WOMAN AND HER PUP FLEW IN FOR THANKSGIVING, SHE RECOMMENDS PEOPLE FLYING WITH PETS PREPARE AHEAD OF TIME BECAUSE EACH AIRLINE HAS DIFFERENT REGULATIONS.

KATIE WEAVER AND HER TIME AT THE AIRPORT, SHE TELLS US - >> THERE WERE CROWDED AREAS EVERYWHERE WE GO BUT IT HAS BEEN SMOOTH, IT HAS BEEN GREAT.

>> Reporter: ACCORDING TO A SPOKESWOMAN FOR THE INTERNATIONAL EVER, WEDNESDAY WILL BE A CHALLENGE.

>> WE ARE EXPECTING ABOUT 20% MORE PASSENGERS THROUGH THE TERMINAL THAT WE HAVE SEEN ON AN AVERAGE DAY IN NOVEMBER.

SO MOST OF THE PEOPLE WE ARE ANTICIPATING WILL BE FLYING THE WEDNESDAY BEFORE AND THE SUNDAY AFTER THINGS GIVING.

>> Reporter: AIRPORT PERSONNEL ARE CONSTANTLY CLEANING HIGH TOUCH AREAS AND THERE ARE STICKERS ON THE GROUND TO ENCOURAGE SOCIAL DISTANCING WAS POSSIBLE.

PLEXIGLAS STANCHIONS AND CHECK- IN AREAS AND FACE MAX REQUIRED AS PER FEDERAL MANDATE.

>> EVEN IF YOUR OUTSIDE, INSIDE AND ON THE AIRPLANE YOU WILL HAVE TO WEAR A MASK.

>> Reporter: SHE PREPARED AHEAD OF FLIGHT BY GOING TO THE AIRPORT.

IF YOU ARE STILL FIGURING OUT THE BEST WAY TO GET TO THE AIRPORT, THERE IS A NEW COMPANY RATE SHUTTLE SERVICE THAT RUNS SEVEN DAYS A WEEK.

EVERY 20-30 MINUTES.

>> IT IS CALLED THE SAN DIEGO FIRE AND IT PICKS UP AND DROPS OFF AT THE AIRPORT.

BOTH TERMINAL ONE AND TERMINAL 2.

AND THE OLD TOWN TRANSIT CENTER, IS ANYBODY THAT MAYBE IS TAKING AMTRAK OR NTS TROLLEYS, THEY CAN GET ON THE SAN DIEGO FIRE AND COME DIRECTLY TO THE AIRPORT.

KPBS NEWS.

>>> THE NEW AIRPORT SHUTTLE IS JUST AN APPETIZER WHEN IT COMES TO NEW TRANSIT OPTIONS, THE MAIN COURSE IS A NEW TROLLEY EXPANSION.

IT ENDS AT UTC MALL, WHICH IS BUSY WITH HOLIDAY SHOPPERS THIS WEEKEND.

ANDREW BOWEN WENT FOR A RIDE AND TELLS US HOW THIS MAJOR PROJECT CAME TOGETHER.

>> Reporter: SERVICE ON THE EXTENDED BLUE LINE BEGAN ON SUNDAY, BUT LAST WEEK THE AFTER THE MEDIA A PRE-RIDE.

IT WAS FASTEST AS WITH EXCELLENT VIEWS YOU CAN'T GET WHILE DRIVING.

FULL DISCLOSURE, I HAVE BEEN LOOKING FORWARD TO WRITING A TROLLEY FOR A REALLY LONG TIME.

AND IT'S HARD TO UNDERSTATE JUST HOW BIG A DEAL THIS PRODUCT IS.

NINE NEW STATIONS, 11 MILES OF TRACK AND THAT IS A 20% INCREASED TO THE NTS TROLLEY NETWORK.

>> WE ARE SO EXCITED ABOUT THIS PROJECT.

>> Reporter: THE BUBBLY DIRECTOR OF ENGINEERING AND CONSTRUCTION IS SO EXCITED, THE REGIONAL AGENCY THAT BUILT THE EXTENSION.

THE PROJECT HAS BEEN PLANNED SINCE THE 80s.

>> I MYSELF HAVE WORKED FOR THE LAST 10 YEARS ON THIS PROJECT, IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN DIRECT RATIFICATION, CIVIL ENGINEERING IS NOT THE FIELD FOR YOU.

>> Reporter: ONE OF THE KEY DECISIONS THEY MADE EARLY ON, WAS TO BUILD THE TRACKS NEXT TO THE I-5 FREEWAY, THAT MADE THE PROJECT CHEAPER AND EASIER TO BUILD BY LIMITING THE AMOUNT OF LAND SANDBAG HAD TO ACQUIRE.

>> NO ONE WANTS TO PART WITH PERSONAL PROPERTY, THEIR LAND, SO BY RUNNING MOST OF THE PROJECT THROUGH PUBLIC LANDS WE WERE ABLE TO AVOID IMPACTING PROPERTY OWNERS AND IMPACT COPIES.

>> Reporter: THE DOWNSIDE TO THAT DECISION, HALF THE LAND THAT SURROUNDS MANY OF THE STATIONS IS TAKEN UP BY THE FREEWAY.

THERE IS NO CHANCE OF BUILDING NEW HOUSING OR COMMERCIAL DEVELOPMENT NOW.

EVEN WHERE THE CITY DOES HAVE PLANS FOR TRANSIT ORIENTED GROWTH, IT WILL LIKELY TAKE YEARS TO COME TO FRUITION.

>> WHEN YOU LOOK AROUND, YOU DON'T SEE THE KIND OF HOUSING HERE THAT WE MIGHT HOPE FOR.

>> Reporter: KATIE CRIST IS A POSTDOCTORAL RESEARCHER AT USC, AND SHE IS STARTING A STUDY OF HOW THE NEW TROLLEY CHANGES THE TRANSPORTATION HABIT.

AMONG UNIVERSITY STAFF.

>> WHAT WE WOULD EXPECT, IS THAT WE WILL SEE AN INCREASE IN THE PRODUCTIVITY, IN WALKING AND TRANSIT TRIPS, AND A DECREASE IN VEHICLE MILES TRAVELED AMONG THE PEOPLE THAT LIVE NEAR TO A TROLLEY STOP VERSUS THOSE THAT LIVE FURTHER AWAY.

>> Reporter: SHE PLANS ON WRITING THE TROLLEY TO CAMPUS A COUPLE TIMES A WEEK, SHE LIVES IN NORMAL HEIGHTS, MILES AND CANS AWAY FROM THE NEAREST TROLLEY STOP.

BUT SHE IS A GUNG CYCLIST AND TRANSIT RIDER, EAGER TO GET TO THE TROLLEY HOWEVER SHE CAN.

THE EXTENSION STARTS AT OLD TOWN AND RENTS NOT BETWEEN PACIFIC BEACH AND CLAREMONT, THE FAR REACHING UNIVERSITY CITY.

CHRIS SAID SHE RIDES HER BIKE UP AND DOWN BALBOA AVENUE, AND A MASSIVE TRUCK ZOOMED BY US, MANY NEW STATIONS ARE DOWNRIGHT HAZARDOUS TO ASK IS BY FAR, WHEELCHAIR OR BIKE.

MOST PEOPLE WHO LIVE FAR FROM THE STATIONS WON'T GO OUT OF THEIR WAY TO RIDE THE TROLLEY, THERE ARE PLANS TO IMPROVE BIKE AND PEDESTRIAN INFRASTRUCTURE AROUND THE STATION.

BUT THERE IS NO CLEAR TIMELINE ON WHEN THEY WILL BE COMPLETE AND THEY MAY REQUIRE TAKING A LANE OR TWO AWAY FROM CARS.

CHRIS SAYS SHE DOESN'T SEE ANOTHER OPTION.

>> WE HAVE SOME AMBITIOUS TARGETS WITH OUR OPTION PLANS, WE KNOW THAT TRANSPORTATION IS THE BIGGEST CONTRIBUTOR TO GREENHOUSE GASES THAT ARE WARMING THE PLANET AND CAUSING PUBLIC HEALTH HARM.

SO, I THINK THAT IS A TRADE-OFF WE HAVE TO BE WILLING TO MAKE.

>> Reporter: THE BENEFITS OF THE NEW TROLLEY MAY TAKE A WHILE TO REACH MOST SAN DIEGO, BUT UCS CHANCELLOR, SAYS HE THANKS THE TROLLEY WILL CATCH ON WITH STUDENTS WITHIN A YEAR.

>> WE HAVE PASSES FOR ALL OF OUR STUDENTS, IT IS PART OF THEIR ACTIVITY FEES.

AND THEIR SUBSIDIZED PASSES AND THEIR PASSES NOT JUST FOR LIGHT RAIL BUT ALSO FOR THE BUSES.

SO THE STUDENTS WILL HAVE COMPLETE ACCESS TO SAN DIEGO WITHOUT A CAR.

>> Reporter: ACCESS TO THE PARTS OF SAN DIEGO YOU CAN EASILY GET TO VIA PUBLIC TRANSIT.

ANDREW BOWEN, KPBS NEWS.

>> WE ARE ALL MUCH BETTER OFF THAN WE WERE THIS TIME LASHER, IN THE FIGHT AGAINST COVID-19.

>>> WE WERE STILL WAITING FOR BACKSEAT LET ALONE THIS IS, THIS WEEK WE VISITED A TURKEY GIVEAWAY WHERE PEOPLE WERE ENCOURAGED TO GET A SHOT.

>> Reporter: NATIONAL CITY LEADERS AND ORGANIZATIONS PROVIDED A BUNDLE OF HOLIDAY OFFERINGS FOR THE COMMUNITY.

THE CITY'S MAYOR, SAYS A LARGE LINEUP OF CARS AT THE DRIVE- THROUGH DISTRIBUTION PROVES JUST HOW NEEDED THESE KINDS OF EVENTS ARE.

ESPECIALLY OVER THE PAST FEW HOLIDAY SEASONS.

>> AT 6:00, PEOPLE CAME TO SIGN UP TO GET THEIR TURKEYS.

AND IT WAS TRULY AMAZING, STARTING AT 6:00 IN THE MORNING, PEOPLE WERE HERE.

THE NEED IS SO GREAT.

>> Reporter: THERE WERE BOOSTER SHOTS ALSO OFFERED FOR THREE, AND FOR THOSE YET TO GET THE FIRST DOSE OF THE COVID-19 VACCINE, THERE WAS ALSO CONVENIENT OPTIONS ON SITE.

>> FOR THOSE FIRST 200 HOUSEHOLDS THAT SHOW PROOF OF VACCINATION WE WERE ABLE TO GIVE THEM ANOTHER LITTLE GIFT FROM AN OUTLET, AND NOT ONLY THAT BUT BEING ABLE TO SHARE HEY, IF YOU HAVEN'T HAD A CHANCE TO GO GET IT, AND YOUR HERE IN LINE, GET YOUR TICKET AND COME BACK AND GET YOUR VACCINE.

>> Reporter: A NATIONAL CITY RESIDENT CAME TO THE EVENT, GOT A FROZEN TURKEY, ALCOHOL WIPES AND SANITIZER AND EVEN A COVID- 19 BOOSTER SHOT.

>> NEEDED MY BOOSTER, AND KAISER, UNFORTUNATELY, DOESN'T HAVE ONE UNTIL JANUARY, FOR ME.

SO, THIS IS A BLESSING.

>> Reporter: THE MAYOR SAYS THIS IS THE THIRD ANNUAL TURKEY DRIVE IN NATIONAL CITY, BUT THIS YEAR'S EVENT IS THE FIRST TO OFFER THE COVID-19 VACCINE.

KPBS NEWS.

>>> DOCTORS HAVE HAD A BUSY 2021 BETWEEN DEALING WITH THE PANDEMIC AND ROLLING OUT VACCINES.

CALIFORNIA IS INVESTING IN EDUCATING FUTURE DOCTORS, AND ONE PROGRAM PLACES AN EMPHASIS ON SUPPORTING A NATIVE AMERICANS AND HEALTHCARE.

K PBS EDUCATION REPORTER ANGIE PEREZ HAS MORE ON THE WORK BEING DONE LOCALLY.

>> Reporter: PAUL MICHAEL ACOSTA IS WRAPPED IN WHAT NATIVE AMERICANS CALL IT LIKE IT OF KNOWLEDGE.

THE FIRST BLESSING AND LINK IT CEREMONY HELD AT THE UC SAN DIEGO SCHOOL OF MEDICINE.

IT HONORED EIGHT NATIVE AMERICANS TRANSITIONING FROM MEDICAL STUDENTS TO SECOND YEAR STUDENT DOCTORS.

PAUL MICHAEL IS A MEMBER OF THE AERO WALK NATION.

>> IF YOU ARE TREATED BY SOMEBODY WHO UNDERSTANDS YOUR CULTURAL VALUES AND RESPECT THEM AND ABLE TO RELATE TO THEM AND MESH THOSE INTO HIGH QUALITY MEDICAL CARE YOU GET THE BEST OUTCOME YOU POSSIBLY CAN FOR YOUR PATIENT.

>> Reporter: THIS FALL, UC SAN DIEGO WAS AWARDED $2.6 MILLION OF STATE MONEY TO FUND MEDICAL STUDENTS FINANCIAL AID AND DEVELOPMENT OF PROGRAMS TO BRING EQUITY TO HEALTHCARE FOR INDIGENOUS PEOPLES.

THREE IRONS ALSO RECEIVE DUPLICATE OF KNOWLEDGE WHICH SHE WEARS AS A BADGE OF HONOR AND RESPONSIBILITY.

SHE SAYS SHE HAS BEEN DESCRIBED AS WHITE PASSIVE, A TERM SOME USED TO REFER TO NATIVE AMERICANS WITH WHITE COLORED SKIN.

SHE STRONGLY AGAINST RACIST LABELS, AT THE ENCOURAGEMENT OF HER NATIVE GRANDFATHER, SHE ACTIVELY SUPPORTS HER CHICKASAW TRIBE AND ITS YOUNGER GENERATION.

>> WE NEED TO MAKE CHANGE IN OUR EDUCATION SYSTEM SO MORE PROACTIVELY, WORKING AGAINST DISCRIMINATION SO THAT THE NEXT GENERATION DOESN'T ENCOUNTER THOSE SAME STEREOTYPES.

>> MY SKIN IS NOT VERY DARK, I THINK MORE RED.

>> Reporter: DR. MICHAEL ALLISON IS A CHIEF MEDICAL, AND A CHIEF IN THE CHICKASAW NATION.

>> THE NEEDS OF THE RESERVATION ARE BEING ADDRESSED, THAT THEY ARE BEING VALIDATED FOR WHAT THEIR NEEDS ARE AS A GROUP THAT HAS BEEN UNDERREPRESENTED, IN HEALTHCARE.

>> Reporter: ONLY ONE PRESENTED UC SAN DIEGO STUDENTS ARE NATIVE AMERICAN, OR ALASKAN NATIVES.

THIS IS ALSO A LAND-GRANT INSTITUTION, WHICH CARRIES WITH IT ANOTHER SPECIAL MISSION.

LAND-GRANT UNIVERSITIES RECEIVE PUBLIC AND GOVERNMENT FUNDING FOR QUALITY HIGHER EDUCATION FOR UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES.

THAT HASN'T ALWAYS BEEN THE CASE.

THE NEW STATE GRANT MONEY WILL PAY TO INCREASE THE UC SAN DIEGO MEDICAL SCHOOL CLASS SIZE WITH ROOM FOR SIX ADDITIONAL STUDENTS NEXT YEAR.

WHO WILL TRAIN TO SERVE THE NATIVE AMERICAN COMMUNITY.

AND PRODUCE MANY MORE PICTURE- PERFECT MOMENTS.

MG PEREZ, KB.

TRANSIT IS WHAT >>> MORE PEOPLE ARE FREE TO COME AND GO AT THE BORDER, BUT ASYLUM-SEEKERS REMAIN STUCK IN A SYSTEM THAT HAS SPANNED TWO PRESIDENTS.

GUSTAV IS A LEASE SHOWS US HOW THIS IMPACTS PEOPLE LIVING IN TIJUANA.

>> VACCINATED TRISKA NOW CROSSED THE BORDER, BUT THAT GROUP OF ASYLUM-SEEKERS CAN'T.

>> Reporter: THEY BORROWED ASYLUM FROM THE U.S., AND IN TIJUANA, THIS IS THE RESULT OF TITLE 42.

THE MAKESHIFT MIGRANT CAMP JUST SOUTH OF THE U.S. BORDER.

ROUGHLY 700 MEN, WOMEN, AND LOTS OF CHILDREN, LIVE HERE.

THE CAMPUS IS A SPRAWLING LABYRINTH OF INTERCONNECTED TENTS, PEOPLE SLEEP ON CONCRETE FLOORS, ENCLOSED IN A CHAMBER SURROUNDED BY POLICE.

>> THAT IS A WILL WE CALL CARMEN, TO PROTECT HER IDENTITY.

SHE SAYS THE SITUATION HERE IS VERY UGLY.

SHE AND HER TWO CHILDREN FLED THEIR HOME STATE AFTER CARTEL MEMBERS KILLED HER BROTHERS AND KIDNAPPED HER OLDEST SON.

>> CARMEN'S STORY ISN'T ALL THAT UNIQUE HERE AT THE CAMP.

MOST OF HER NEIGHBORS FLED SIMILAR VIOLENCE, IN CENTRAL AMERICA AND OTHER PARTS OF MEXICO.

GINA GALLEGOS IS A SOCIAL WORKER WHO VISIT THE CAMP THREE TIMES A WEEK TO CHECK UP ON PEOPLE LIKE CARMEN.

>> PEOPLE IN THE CAMP ARE DESPERATE, SHE SAYS, THEY HAVE NOWHERE ELSE TO GO AND ONE OF THE HARDEST PARTS OF GALLEGOS'S JOB IS NOT HAVING AN ANSWER TO QUESTIONS SHE KEEPS HEARING OVER AND OVER AGAIN.

ANY NEWS?

WHAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN TO US?

WHAT OPTIONS DO WE HAVE?

SO WHY DO WE HAVE HUNDREDS OF DESPERATE PEOPLE STRANDED IN A MAKESHIFT CAMP JUST SOUTH OF OUR BORDER?

IT'S BECAUSE OF TITLE 42.

A PUBLIC HEALTH ORDER THAT THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION IMPLEMENTED IN MARCH, 2020, AND THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION HAS KEPT IN PLACE.

TITLE 42 ALLOWS BORDER OFFICIALS TO TURN BACK ASYLUM-SEEKERS WITHOUT DUE PROCESS.

>> THIS IS EFFECTIVELY THE MOST SWEEPING BAN ON ASYLUM, A PRETTY RADICAL POLICY.

>> Reporter: NORMALLY THE ASYLUM PROCESS LOOK LIKE THIS, SOMEONE LEAVES HER HOME BECAUSE OF PERSECUTION, THEY ARRIVED AT THE BORDER TELLING OFFICIALS THEY ARE FREE TO GO BACK HOME.

IF THEY PASS A CREDIBLE INTERVIEW, THEY ARE ALLOWED INTO THE U.S. AND START AN ASYLUM CASE AT COURT.

BUT TITLE 42 LETS BORDER OFFICIALS TURN PEOPLE AWAY WITHOUT GIVING THEM THE CREDIBLE FEAR INTERVIEW OR LETTING THEM SEE A JUDGE.

THEY SAY THE PANDEMIC JUSTIFIED USING TITLE 42, AND IT'S DISINGENUOUS.

>> THE FACT THAT NOW VACCINATED TOURISTS AND SHOPPERS ARE ALLOWED TO ENTER, BUT VACCINATED PEOPLE WHO ARE FLEEING VIOLENCE AND ARE IN URGENT DANGER ARE NOT, IS FURTHER EVIDENCE THAT THIS POLICY HAS NEVER BEEN ABOUT PUBLIC HEALTH.

>> Reporter: CARMEN, THEN MOTHER I TALKED ABOUT EARLIER HAS BEEN LIVING IN THE CAMP SINCE APRIL.

SHE DOESN'T UNDERSTAND HOW THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT CAN'T JUSTIFY LETTING ONE GROUP OF PEOPLE CROSS BUT NOT THE OTHER.

>> IT'S NOT FAIR, SHE SAYS, THEY DON'T WANT TO BE AT THE CAMP AT THE DON'T FEEL SAFE IN MEXICO.

THE CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL AND PREVENTION ISSUED THE PUBLIC HEALTH ORDER, WHEN WE ASKED WHY THE ASYLUM-SEEKERS ARE STILL BARRED FROM CROSSING THE BORDER, THEY SAID ASK THE WHITE HOUSE.

>> Reporter: THE WHITE HOUSE DIDN'T RESPOND TO OUR QUESTIONS.

TRANSIT IS.

>>> A REMINDER, ALL OF OUR REPORTER STORIES CAN BE STREAMED ANY TIME ON YOUTUBE, WE ALSO HAVE FULL EPISODES OF KPBS NEWS THIS WEEK, EVENING EDITION AND OUR PODCAST LIKE PORT OF ENTRY.

>>> THEY ARE ALMOST AS OLD AS THE COMMUNITY ITSELF, THOSE MASSIVE PALM TREES LINING EUCLID AVENUE AND OCEAN BEACH HAVE BEEN AROUND FOR MORE THAN 100 YEARS.

BUT SOME OF THOSE TREES MIGHT HAVE TO COME DOWN.

JOHN CARROLL EXPLAINS WHY AUNT TALKS WITH NEIGHBORS WHO REALLY WANT TO SAVE THEM.

>> Reporter: IT IS A QUINTESSENTIALLY SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA SCENE, THE COLONNADED PALM TREES LINING NEWPORT AVENUE FROM THE OCEAN UP TO THE TOP OF THE STREET, HAVE BEEN HERE SINCE BEING PLANTED IN THE EARLY PART OF THE LAST CENTURY.

>> WHEN WE FIRST RECEIVED THE LETTER THAT WAS DATED OCTOBER EIGHTH, WE DIDN'T RECEIVE THE LETTER UNTIL OCTOBER 14th.

>> Reporter: THE LETTER CAME FROM THE SAN DIEGO REGIONAL AIRPORT AUTHORITY, IT SAID THAT TWO PALM TREES IN FRONT OF THEIR HOUSE AND ACROSS THE STREET WOULD HAVE TO BE REMOVED BECAUSE THEY POSE OR WOULD SOON POSE A THREAT TO PLANES WHEN THEY LAND FROM THE WEST.

BUT SHE LOOKED AND FOUND IT WAS NOT JUST THOSE TWO TREES.

>> SOME OTHER RESIDENTS IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD ALSO RECEIVED A LETTER.

>> Reporter: THE CITY MANAGED TO CUT OFF THE TOP OF ONE OF THE TREES AT THE TOP OF NEWPORT AVENUE, BUT THEORETICALLY, THEY WOULD'VE KEPT ON GOING BUT THEN NEIGHBORS GOT INVOLVED.

AND THEY SPRANG INTO ACTION, FOLLOWING CITY CREWS AROUND, STANDING UNDER TREE SHE THOUGHT THEY WERE ABOUT TO CUT.

>> THEY TRIED TO CUT THE TOP OFF THE TREE BUT COULD NOT DO WITH ME STANDING RIGHT UNDER IT.

>> Reporter: AT THE SAME TIME AS SHE WAS PROTECTING THE STREET SHE WAS TRYING TO GET ANSWERS FROM THE AIRPORT AUTHORITY.

OF THE CITY.

SHE SAYS THAT HAS BEEN A FRUSTRATING EXPERIENCE.

>> WE ASKED FOR THE REPORTS, WE ASKED FOR THE CALCULATIONS THEY ARE USING, FOR THIS, AND WE WERE JUST GETTING A RUN AROUND BACK AND FORTH.

WITH NO ONE HAVING ANY INFORMATION FOR US.

>> Reporter: WE REACHED OUT TO THE AIRPORT AUTHORITY AND THE CITY, BOTH ISSUED STATEMENTS, THE ONE FROM THE AIRPORT SAYS TOM THE CITY OF SAN DIEGO OWN PALM WAYS LOCATED IN THE RIGHT- OF-WAY NEAR PUBLIC HOMES WILL SOON EXCEED ACCEPTABLE ELEVATIONS UNDER FEDERAL STANDARDS, INTRUDING INTO THE AIRSPACE THAT SURROUNDS THE AIRPORT.

AND THIS FROM THE CITY, AGAIN, JUST A PORTION OF THEIR OVERALL STATEMENT.

THERE IS CURRENTLY NO DATE FOR THE REMOVAL OF THE PALMS, AND WE ARE ENGAGING WITH THE FAA AND THE SAN DIEGO AIRPORT, SO THAT WE MAY RECEIVE DIRECTION ON WHY REMOVAL IS NECESSARY, AND THE EXPECTED IMPACT TO FLIGHT AND PUBLIC SAFETY IF THE TREES ARE NOT REMOVED.

MS. WALKER SAID IF IT CAN BE SURE THAT THEY REALLY ARE AN AVIATION HAZARD, SHE WILL NOT STAND IN THE WAY OF THEIR REMOVAL, BUT FOR NOW, IT NEEDS TO STAY THE WAY IT HAS BEEN FOR DECADES.

JOHN CARROLL, KPBS NEWS.

>>> HOLIDAYS AND MOVIES GO TOGETHER, SO WHAT IS ON THE CINEMATIC MENU FOR THIS THANKSGIVING WEEKEND?

FOR THAT RETURNED TO TRANSFER CINEMA JUNKIE BETH.

>> Reporter: THIS THANKSGIVING THERE IS DEFINITELY A LOT TO BE CAPABLE, JUST STARTING THE HOLIDAY FILL MENU WITH THE MAIN COURSE OF LAST NIGHT IN SOHO.

EXPERTLY BLENDED HITCHCOCK AND POLANSKY, AND IT LETS YOU KNOW THE LESS YOU KNOW ABOUT THE FILM THE BETTER, BUT ALL I WILL SAY IT IS SURPRISING.

IT LEFT ME GRATEFUL FOR GOURMET TREATS LIKE THIS.

LESS FILLING BUT GENUINELY SWEET AND SATISFYING HIS GHOSTBUSTERS AFTERLIFE.

THE LATEST FOLLOW-UP TO THE 1984 HIT FILM.

THIS MOVIE, UNLIKE THE 2016 REBOOT THAT LEFT A BAD TASTE IN HER MOUTH, REFERENCES THE ORIGINAL FILM WITH BOTH AFFECTION AND NATURED HUMOR.

AFTERLIFE IS A TOTAL TREAT AND WILL MAKE THE FANS OF THE ORIGINAL FEEL LIKE IT WAS SERVED UP JUST FOR THEM.

>> THIS THING IS REAL?

>> Reporter: THE CONCRETE MASTERPIECE FROM THE FIRST CENTURY ALONE.

AND IF YOU'RE STILL HAVING FOR A LIGHT AND AIRY CONVECTION, GO FOR THE FRENCH DISPATCH.

THE COLORS AND CONSISTENCY OF FRENCH MACAROON, AND PRACTICALLY MELTS IN YOUR MOUTH AS IT TICKLES YOUR TASTE BUDS WITH DELICATE AND SUBTLE FLAVORS.

AND FINALLY, IF YOU FEEL THE NEED TO STUFF YOURSELF WITH BLOATED OSCAR BAIT THERE IS HOUSE AGOUTI.

THIS LOOK AT THE EPIC UNRAVELING OF ITALIAN HOUSE OF WHAT YOU CONSUME THE THREE-HOUR OFFERING YOU CAN SEND IT BACK TO THE KITCHEN.

>> THIS IS SERIOUS, AND YOU ARE LAUGHING IT OFF.

TRANSIT IS.

>> WE HOPE YOU ENJOYED THIS LOOK AT K PBS NEWS THIS WEEK, I AM ANNIKA SHARMA, THANKS FOR JOINING US.