IT COMPLAINS IN THE CITY SAID THAT THEY HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY TO CLEAN UP THE PROPERTY TO PREVENT FLOOD DAMAGE AND IN A STATEMENT THE CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE OF THE PROPERTY OWNERS HAVE MAINTENANCE RESPONSIBILITIES FOR THAT ON THEIR PROPERTY TAKE ACTION THAT WOULD INCREASE STORM WATER RUNOFF.

HE IS AMONG THE 1500 RESIDENTS SUING THE CITY OVER THE FLOOD.

>> >> THE NEIGHBORHOODS WILL GET FLOODED.

>> HE LIVED NEXT TO THE CREEK AND VISIBLE FLOODING.

>> YOU CAN SEE THE WATERMARK RIGHT THERE.

>> Reporter: HE SAID HE HAS BEEN AFTER THE CITY TO CLEAN IT UP FOR YEARS >> I HAVE HUNDREDS AND HUNDREDS OF E-MAILS AND DOCUMENTATION TELLING THEM TO FIX THE PROBLEMS IN THE AREA, AND THEY DON'T BUT THE CITY WILL TRY TO SPEND MILLIONS AND MILLIONS OF DOLLARS TO GET THEMSELVES OUT OF THE LIABILITY THAT THEY KNOW THEY ARE LIABLE FOR.

>> Reporter: HE SAID THERE ARE ENOUGH PARTIES FOR THE COUNTERSUIT AND THE CITY SAID THEY ARE INVESTIGATING A THIRD PARTY'S RESPONSIBILITY IN THESE LAWSUITS AND COMMITTED TO GETTING A JUST OUTCOME FOR ALL PARTIES INVOLVED.

>>> RESIDENTS ARE STILL RECOVERING FROM LAST WEEK'S PLANE CRASH.

THESE EVENTS ARE RARE, SOMETIMES IT MAY FEEL LIKE SAN DIEGO SEES MORE THAN ITS FAIR SHARE.

TRAN ONES MILITARY REPORTER SAID DESPITE APPEARANCES FLYING AMONGST THE SAFEST WAY TO TRAVEL.

>> Reporter: THERE IS A CLICHE IN THE NEWS INDUSTRY.

THEY DON'T WRITE ABOUT THE PLANE THAT PLAN.

THEY ARE RARE AND IT DOESN'T ALWAYS FEEL THAT WAY BUT IN MANY WAYS THE HISTORY OF SAN DIEGO IS TIED IN TO THE HISTORY OF AVIATION.

>> SO OUR HISTORY OF COURSE IN AVIATION IS PHENOMENALLY LONG.

>> Reporter: HE IS THE PRESIDENT AND CEO OF THE SAN DIEGO AIR AND SPACE MUSEUM SAME AIR AND FLIGHT HAS BEEN HAPPENING SINCE 1811 AND THOUGH THE AIRPORT HAS ONE RUNWAY AVIATION LIVES -- PRIDES HERE.

>> WE HAVE A NUMBER OF AIRPORTS LIKE BROWNFIELD DOWN SOUTH, MONTGOMERY FIELD.

WE HAVE GILLESPIE AND WE EVEN HAVE AN AIRFIELD IN RAMONA.

>> Reporter: INCLUDING THOSE IN CORONADO AND IMPERIAL BEACH AND THOSE AT MIRAMAR AND CAMP PENDLETON AND IT MAKES FOR SOME BUSY SKIES.

>> IT IS BUSY, BUT IT ISN'T INTOLERABLE.

IT ISN'T SOMETHING THAT IS OUT OF CONTROL.

THE AIRSPACE IS WELL- CONTROLLED.

THE SKIES ARE BUSY, THE SKIES ARE ALSO VERY VERY SAFE.

>> Reporter: ACCIDENTS DO HAPPEN .

THOSE AMONG THEM IS THE AIR DISASTER OF 1978 WITH A BOEING 727 COLLIDING MIDAIR WITH A CESSNA 172 OVER NORTH PARK CRASHING INTO THE NEIGHBORHOOD DESTROYING OR DAMAGING 22 HOMES.

135 PEOPLE ON BOARD THE BOEING WERE KILLED AS BOTH CESSNA PILOTS AND SEVEN PEOPLE ON THE GROUND.

IN 2008 A HORNET MAKING AN EMERGENCY LANDING AT MIRAMAR CRASHED INTO HOMES THAT UNIVERSITY CITY.

HE SAID AIR TRAVEL IN THE UNITED STATES AND OVER SAN DIEGO IS SAFE.

>> YOU ARE MORE LIABLE TO BE IN AN ACCIDENT IN A CAR AND GET HURT OR KILLED THEN YOU ARE IN AN AIRPLANE, ANY AIRPLANE.

EVERY AIRCRAFT ACCIDENT GETS A LOT OF MEDIA.

IT IS JUST THE WAY IT IS.

>> Reporter: IT IS SAFE BECAUSE OF THE SYSTEMS IN PLACE FROM AIRCRAFT TO MAINTENANCE TO TRAINING.

>> WE WANT TO MAINTAIN THE HIGHEST STANDARDS OF TRAINING FOR THOSE WHO FLY THE AIRPLANE'S AND THE AIRCRAFT CONTROLLERS.

AS LONG AS WE MAINTAIN THE STANDARD VERY HIGH.

>>> IMAGINE LIVING IN A 15 STORY BUILDING WHERE THE ELEVATORS REALLY WORK.

THE RESIDENTS OF AN AFFORDABLE HOUSING COMMUNITY IN THE EAST VILLAGE SAY IT HAS BEEN THEIR SITUATION UNTIL RECENTLY.

THEY TOLD ME THEY HOPE THEIR ELEVATOR NIGHT HERE IS OVER.

>> Reporter: WHEN SAINT TERESA OF CALC HOW TO PHILIP OPENED IN EARLY 2022, IT WAS HAILED AS A SYMBOL OF HOPE BY THE PRESIDENT AND CEO DEACON GYM VARGAS.

I WAS THERE WITH THE PHOTOGRAPHER THAT DAY.

THE FACILITY WAS IMPRESSIVE, 407 UNITS OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING FOR SAN DIEGO AND THOSE TRANSITIONING OUT OF HOMELESSNESS.

THERE IS A PLAZA WITH OPEN-AIR DECKS AND A NICE SPACE TO WELCOME 400 PEOPLE TO A NEW HOME, A PLACE WHERE THEY CAN CONNECT WITH SERVICES.

BUT RESIDENTS SAY IT WASN'T LONG BEFORE ALL OF THAT HOPE AND PROMISE DESCENDED INTO SOMETHING QUITE DIFFERENT, A BUILDING THAT WASN'T PROPERLY MAINTAINED AND AT THE CENTER OF IT ALL THE BANK OF THREE ELEVATORS.

THESE PICTURES OF THE NONFUNCTIONING ELEVATORS WERE PROVIDED TO US BY A RESIDENTS.

>> I AM NOT SUPPOSED TO USE THE STAIRS OR LIFT ANYTHING OVER FIVE POUNDS AND I HAVE SEVERE DEGENERATIVE DISC DISEASE.

>> Reporter: THAT IS CHRISTINA ENNIS, MARIA, ONE OF THE FIRST RESIDENTS HERE AND MOVED HERE IN FEBRUARY OF 2022.

WE FIRST MET HER IN JULY OF 2023 WHEN SHE AND THE FELLOW RESIDENT GOT A LAWYER AND BROUGHT A LAWSUIT AND THE COMPANY THAT RUNS THE PLACE KNOWN AS COMMERCIAL AND 14th LLC.

>> THERE ARE MANY MANY MANY MORE PEOPLE A LOT WORSE OFF THAN I AM LIVE IN THIS BUILDING , PEOPLE IN WHEELCHAIRS AND WALKERS ALL THE WAY UP TO THE 15th FLOOR.

>> IT HAS BEEN KIND OF DIFFICULT.

I LIKE TO COME AND GO AS I WANT TO.

>> I HAVE MISSED APPOINTMENTS BECAUSE OF ELEVATORS AND SHUTTING DOWN.

>> Reporter: WE MET THIS ARMY VETERAN JIMMY WILLIAMS LAST YEAR WHEN WE VISITED.

HE USES A WHEELCHAIR, BUT, NEVERTHELESS, THE BUILDING MANAGEMENT PLACED HIM IN A FOURTH FLOOR APARTMENT.

>> IF THEY DID THIS EVERY BUDDY WHO HAS WALKERS AND WHEELCHAIRS AUTOMATICALLY SHOULD BE ON THE FIRST FLOOR HERE WE COULDN'T GET OUT.

>> Reporter: DELEGATIONS FROM JIMMY, MARIA AND MAURICE WERE CONFIRMED BY THE ELEVATOR UNIT AND IN AN EMAIL TO KPBS THEY SAID THEY HAD GOTTEN CONFIDENTIAL COMPLAINTS IN 2023 AND 2024 AND SAID WHEN THE INSPECTORS WENT INTO THE BUILDING, THEY FOUND THE ELEVATORS NEEDING REPAIR OR MAINTENANCE BUT THE ELEVATOR UNIT COULDN'T REQUIRE THE OWNERS TO GET THE ELEVATORS WORKING AGAIN.

>> THIS IS A VIOLATION OF THE FAIR HOUSING LAWS THAT REQUIRE ACCESS.

>> Reporter: ENTER THE ATTORNEY WHO IS A LONGTIME CIVIL RIGHTS LAWYER CALLING HERSELF A BULLDOG FOR JUSTICE.

SHE TOOK UP THE CASE.

>> CONSTANT BREAKDOWN WITH EITHER ONE OR TWO WORKING OR NOT WORKING, WHICH WAS DISASTROUS FOR PEOPLE INCLUDING MICHAEL MENDEZ, ONE OF THE PLAINTIFFS, WHO ENDED UP BEING STUCK OUT OF HIS APARTMENT FOR HOURS AND ENDED UP IN THE HOSPITAL WITH ONE DISASTER AFTER ANOTHER AND IT IS INCREDIBLY IRRESPONSIBLE TO NOT PUT THE MONEY IN TO HAVE PROPER MAINTENANCE AND THE ELEVATOR.

>> Reporter: SHE FILED A LAWSUIT IN JULY OF 2023 WHICH AT THAT TIME FATHER JOE SAID THEY COULDN'T TALK ABOUT PENDING LITIGATION BUT PROVIDED A STATEMENT WHICH SAID, F JV HAS AN INTERNAL COMPLAINT PROCESS TO REMEDY STRUCTURAL OR MAINTENANCE ISSUES RESIDENTS MADE DISCOVER.

AND NOW IN 2025, THERE IS A SETTLEMENT.

BUILDING MANAGEMENT IS BEEN COMPELLED TO FIX THE ELEVATORS AND KEEP THEM RUNNING.

>> WE HAVE A MECHANISM IN PLACE WITH THE COURT FOR TWO YEARS THAT WILL BE COURT MONITORED AND WE CAN GO TO THE JUDGE IF THERE IS A PROBLEM NOT BEING HANDLED PROPERLY.

WE DO HAVE THAT MECHANISM THERE WITH MEETING.

SO WE WILL STAY ON TOP OF IT.

>> Reporter: NOW THAT THE LAWSUIT IS SETTLED, WE THOUGHT FATHER JOE'S WOULD BE EAGER TO BE INTERVIEWED ON THE MATTER AND I SPOKE ON THE PHONE WITH THE PRESIDENT AND CEO, DEACON GYM VARGAS AND HE SAID TO ME THAT HE WAS AWARE THE LITIGATION HAD BEEN RESOLVED.

HE SAID HE WOULD DIRECT THE MEDIA RELATIONS COMPANY TO REACH OUT TO ME.

CONTACT THE STRATEGIST AND THERE BYRON KIMBALL DID REACH OUT.

IN AN EMAIL HE SAID THIS IS AN ACTIVE CASE AND FATHER JOE'S ISN'T AT LIBERTY TO COMMENT ON THE PROCEEDINGS.

KNOWING THE CASE HAD BEEN SETTLED, I RESPONDED WITH THAT FACT AND ASK THAT MAYBE HE WAS REFERRING TO A DIFFERENT LAWSUIT.

HE RESPONDED THAT HE WAS AWARE OF THE CURRENT SITUATION AND THAT DESPITE ALL THAT FATHER JOE'S VILLAGES ISN'T ABLE TO DISCUSS THIS CASE OR ITS PROCEEDINGS AT THIS TIME.

WE CAN'T GRANT YOU AN INTERVIEW.

I ASKED WHY THEY WOULDN'T PROVIDE AND I NEVER HEARD BACK.

>> I ALSO TRIED CALLING AND TEXTING AGAIN AND HAVEN'T RECEIVED A RESPONSE.

I ALSO REACHED OUT TO THE LAW FIRM THAT REPRESENTS THE BUILDING MANAGEMENT COMPANY 14th AND COMMERCIAL LLC AND DIDN'T GET A RESPONSE FROM THEM.

THE LACK OF RESPONSE FROM FATHER JOE'S IN THE LAW FIRM ASIDE THE RESIDENCE ARE CAUTIOUSLY OPTIMISTIC.

>> THEY HAVE BEEN A LOT NICER AND NONE OF THESE HAVE BEEN TIGHTENED UP AND ELEVATORS HAVE BEEN FIXED A LOT MORE LATELY.

EVERYTHING IS COMING TOGETHER BUT THERE IS A LOT LESS TENSION IN THE BUILDING WITH THIS.

>> THERE ARE SEVERAL PEOPLE HERE THAT NEED THINGS ESPECIALLY PEOPLE WHO WANT TO GET OUT.

AND IF THE ELEVATORS DON'T WORK IT'S DIFFICULT FOR PEOPLE TO COME OUT AND ENJOY THE WEATHER.

AND THIS IS A GREAT THING.

>> THIS IS A GREAT THING UNDER COURT ORDER TO STAY THAT WAY.

>> Reporter: I AM STAYING IN TOUCH WITH THE ATTORNEY AND IF THE JUDGE'S ORDER ISN'T BEING FOLLOWED AT ANY POINT YOU COULD EXPECT TO SEE A FOLLOW-UP STORY.

IF THAT HAPPENS WE WILL GIVE THEM OF COURSE ANOTHER OPPORTUNITY TO WEIGH IN ON THE MATTER AND WE HEAR FROM RESIDENCE WITH OTHER PROBLEMS WITH THAT RELATIVELY NEW BUILDING.

WE WILL KEEP AN EYE ON THAT STORY AS WELL.

AND HERE ANOTHER PLACE FOR THOSE WITHOUT PERMANENT HOUSING TO STAY THE NIGHT IN THE VEHICLES.

WE HAVE AN UPDATE ON THE SITE AND POINT LOGAN.

>> Reporter: NEARBY THE AIRPORT THE CITY OF SAN DIEGO IS GETTING READY TO OPEN ITS PARKING ON-SITE TO HELP THOSE FIND A SAFE PLACE TO SLEEP IN THE VEHICLE.

THIS ONE IS THE BIGGEST ONE YET.

>> Reporter: THIS 190 SPACE LOFT HAS AREAS RESERVED FOR RVs AND OVERSIZED VEHICLES.

THEY WILL GET HELP WITH HOUSING, MEDICAL ISSUES AND SIGNING UP FOR GOVERNMENT ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS.

JEWISH FAMILY SERVICE WILL OPERATE THIS SITE IN ADDITION TO FOUR OTHERS ACROSS THE CITY.

>> SAFE PARKING IS ONE OF OUR MOST SUCCESSFUL INTERVENTIONS IN THESE ARE TYPICALLY FIRST- TIME HOMELESS AND HAVE PROGRAMS LIVING OUT OF VEHICLES AND WE SEE A LOT OF FAMILIES AND YOUNG PROFESSIONALS.

>> Reporter: HE LEADS THE CITY'S COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT EFFORT FOR THE SOUND OF AND SAFE PARKING SITE.

>> WE WANT TO DOUBLE MORE THAN THE SYSTEM CAPACITY WHERE WE ARE REPURPOSING CITY-OWNED LAND FORMALLY PART OF THE NAVAL BASE AND USED BY SD PD AND FIRE FOR SEVERAL YEARS AND HAD SAT UNUSED FOR SEVERAL YEARS.

>> Reporter: THEY EXPECTED TO OPEN SOMETIME THIS MONTH.

DOES HAVE AN END DATE.

>> IT WAS SLATED FOR 2029.

HOWEVER, IT WILL HAVE AN INTERIM YOUTH IN THE MEANTIME AND WE TOOK ADVANTAGE OF CITY- OWNED LAND.

>> Reporter: SOME HAVE RAISED CONCERN ABOUT THE PARKING LOT SAFETY.

THIS REAL ESTATE DEVELOPER SUED THE COASTAL COMMISSION WHO APPROVED THE PERMIT APPLICATION TO STOP THE PROJECT.

THEY ARGUE THAT HOMELESS PARKING CASHEL TREATMENT SERVICES ARE NOT PERMISSIBLE ON THE SITE AND THE CITY LACKS A CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT FOR THE PROJECT.

THAT CASE GOES TO TRIAL IN FEBRUARY.

IN THE MEANTIME WHEN IT OPENS -- >> EACH ONE WILL BE IN OVERNIGHT ONLY LOT OPERATING FROM 6:00 TO 7:00 P.M. OVERNIGHT YOU DO HAVE ON-SITE SECURITY AND STAFF.

>> SIGN UP FOR THE NEWSLETTERS AND GET A LIST OF OUR MOST POPULAR STORIES.

HERE ARE SOME FROM THIS WEEK.

THE FIRST U.S. BISHOP APPOINTMENT WAS RIGHT HERE IN SAN DIEGO.

THEY COULD SOON ALLOW BUYING AND SELLING AND A FAMILY OWNED DEAL HIGHLIGHTS THE IMPORTANCE OF HABEAS CORPUS IN IMMIGRATION CASES.

>>> GETTING PARENTS INVOLVED IN THEIR EDUCATION CAN HELP IMPROVE GRADES AND ATTENDANCE.

EDUCATION LEADERS IN THE SOUTH BAY SAY LANGUAGE BARRIERS HAVE FEARS ABOUT FEDERAL IMMIGRATION POLICIES TO MAKE PARENTS RELUCTANT TO PARTICIPATE.

EDUCATION REPORTER KATIE ONASSIS HAS MORE FROM THE LATEST COMMUNITY CONVERSATION.

TOOK THIS MONTH TRAN ONE INVITED EDUCATION ADVOCATES, TEACHERS AND STUDENTS TO DISCUSS EDUCATION AND THE SOUTH BAY.

MANY SAY GETTING PARENTS INVOLVED IN THE SCHOOL SYSTEM CAN BE A CHALLENGE.

>> THERE ARE IEPS AND 504'S AND WHAT IS ALL OF THIS.

>> Reporter: SHE IS THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE PARENT INSTITUTE FOR QUALITY EDUCATION AND THEY OFFER WORKSHOPS FOR PARENTS ON HELPING KIDS WITH SCHOOLWORK AND NAVIGATING THE EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM.

>> PARENTS NEED TO BE EMPOWERED TO SAY CAN YOU TELL ME WHAT THAT STANDS FOR AND WHAT YOU MEAN BY THAT?

IF THEY DON'T KNOW THE LINGO, THEY ARE NOT SPEAKING THAT LANGUAGE AND THEY CAN PARTICIPATE IN THAT CONVERSATION.

>> Reporter: MANY OF THE PARENTS WE WORK WITH OUR ENGLISH LANGUAGE LEARNERS AND IMMIGRANTS.

IT HAS BEEN LATELY HARD TO TELL THEM ABOUT THE PROGRAMS.

THEY SAY SCHOOLS HAVE BECOME HESITANT TO SHARE ROSTERS AND PARENT CONTACT INFORMATION BECAUSE OF POLICIES.

PROVIDING CHILDCARE AND MEALS THAT EVENING EVENTS COULD HELP BRING MORE PARENTS IN.

>> WE DO SEE MORE OF THIS NOW DUE TO THE COMMUNITY GRANTS THAT A LOT OF OUR DISTRICTS HAVE GOTTEN.

>> Reporter: THIS IS THE PRESIDENT OF THE SOUTH BAY UNION SCHOOL DISTRICT TEACHERS UNION.

SHE SAID OTHER WAYS THAT THE DISTRICT CAN BOOST ATTENDANCE AND FAMILY ENGAGEMENT INCLUDE RECONSIDERING THEIR CALENDARS.

>> THIS STARTS IN JULY.

WHAT HAPPENS IS THE TRADITIONAL VACATION TIME IS DURING JULY AND AUGUST.

WE DO SEE A LOT OF STUDENTS WHO DON'T START THE SCHOOL YEAR WHEN WE START BUT INSTEAD WE GET A BIG FLUX OF STUDENTS REGISTERING IN SEPTEMBER.

>> Reporter: STUDENTS FACE ADDITIONAL CHALLENGES.

ISABELLA STARTED CROSSING THE BORDER EVERY DAY DURING HER SENIOR YEAR OF HIGH SCHOOL AND SAID IT WAS A HERD EXPLAIN HER SCHOOL SYSTEM TO HER PARENTS.

>> PARENTS DON'T KNOW WHAT IS GOING ON.

IT IS OPENING UP A WHOLE NEW WORLD AND THE CONCEPT.

IT IS SO HARD FOR THEM TO UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU ARE DOING AND ASKED THE STUDENTS TO EXPLAIN TO THEM .

IT IS SO HARD AND THEN TRANSLATE EVERYTHING AND ALSO IT'S TIRING.

>> IT HELPS STUDENTS APPLY FOR FINANCIAL AID AND PREPARE FOR COLLEGE.

SHE SAID THEY PROVIDE GUIDANCE SHE COULDN'T FIND AT HER SCHOOL.

THEY SAY SCHOOL DISTRICTS NEED TO INVEST IN PARENT ENGAGEMENT EFFORTS NOW MORE THAN EVER.

>> THERE ARE A LOT OF INCREDIBLE ORGANIZATIONS ON THE GROUND DOING INCREDIBLE THINGS FIRST THINGS BUT LIKE ANY TOOL NOT BEING USED OR THAT USEFUL.

TRUCK SHE SAID HELPING PARENTS GET INVOLVED IS KEY TO THEIR SUCCESS.

>>> SPOTIFY IS THE LARGEST MUSIC STREAMING PLATFORM IN THE UNITED STATES.

LISTENERS GAIN ACCESS TO MILLIONS OF SONGS, WHAT DOES THAT MEAN FOR AN ARTIST TRYING TO MAKE A LIVING?

ON A RECENT EPISODE OF THE FINEST, JULIA DIXON EVANS ASKED THAT QUESTION OF A LOCAL MUSICIAN.

♪ >> Reporter: GIULIANA HAS EXPERIENCED WHAT MANY ARTISTS DREAM OF, A HIT SONG.

HURT TRACK HAS RACKED UP MORE THAN 5 MILLION STREAMS ON SPOTIFY.

THAT IS A HUGE NUMBER.

SO WE ASKED HOW MUCH MONEY DO YOU THINK A MUSICIAN EARNS FROM THAT?

>> 500,000.

>> 700,000.

>> 300,000 TO 500,000.

>> MAYBE LIKE 300,000.

THAT IS MY GUESS.

>> Reporter: I ASKED TO CALCULATE WHAT SHE LEARNED FROM SUBWAY SONG AT A RATE OF 3/10 OF ONE CENT PER STREAM.

>> I MADE $50,000 ON IT OVER SEVEN YEARS.

NOT GREAT.

>> DOING THAT RIGHT IN FRONT OF YOU MAKES ME SO ANGRY AND EMOTIONAL.

I THINK THAT IS WHY I DON'T ENGAGE WITH IT TOO OFTEN BECAUSE IT IS SO HARD RAKING AND I HAD THE LUCK OF GETTING ONE SONG INTO THOSE NUMBERS AND IT'S REALLY HARD TO GET THOSE NUMBERS.

IT IS A SHOOTING STAR KIND OF THING AND I GOT TO EXPERIENCE THAT IS AN ARTIST IN MY LIFETIME AND I AM NOWHERE CLOSER TO BEING STABLE FINANCIALLY.

>> Reporter: SHE PERFORMS JUNE SEVEN AT THE NORTH PARK MUSIC FESTIVAL.

YOU COULD HEAR MORE OF HER STORY ON THE FINEST WHEREVER YOU GET YOUR PODCAST.

JULIA DIXON EVANS, KPBS NEWS.

>> THE FIRST SIX EPISODES OF THE FINEST ARE OUT NOW.

YOU CAN ALSO STREAM THE PODCAST AT THE YOUTUBE PAGE.

>>> WHEN YOU THINK OF A GOURD DO YOU THINK OF THE SQUASH OR PUMPKIN?

HOW ABOUT MUSICAL INSTRUMENT, STORAGE VESSEL OR HANDMADE ART?

MAYA TRABULSI TOOK A TRIP TO THE GOURD FARM WITH HIDDEN SAN DIEGO AND FOUND OUT HOW THEY HONOR THE CULTURALLY SIGNIFICANT FRUIT.

>> WHEN PEOPLE HERE THERE IS A GOURD FARM HERE BLOWS YOUR MIND AND IT JUST HAS AN ENERGY OF ITSELF.

MINIMUS JESSICA JOHNSON AND I RUN THE BRAND HIDDEN SAN DIEGO WHICH COVERS ALL UNIQUE LACES IN SAN DIEGO COUNTY.

THE WELBURN GOURD FARM IS PART OF FALLBROOK BUT THIS AREA IS LIKE ANY WHERE ELSE.

>> WE JUMPED IN.

WE BECAME GOURD FARMERS.

>> WHAT IS A GOURD IS THE BIGGEST QUESTION WE GET.

MY NAME IS SANDY WEBER.

>> I AM DANIEL MOLE AND WE OWN WELBURN GOURD FARM.

WE ARE THE LARGEST GOURD FARM IN THE WORLD AND WE SEE A BIG PART OF THAT DUE TO THE BEAUTIFUL CLIMATE AND ARE SOILED CONDITIONS.

>> THEY ARE QUITE ANCIENT.

PEOPLE USE THEM ACROSS MANY CULTURES AROUND THE WORLD.

SOME ARE USED FOR MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS AND SOME ARE USED FOR STORING GRAINS OR LICK WITH .

SOME ARE USED FOR DECORATING CEREMONIAL PURPOSES.

A LOT OF HOURS AND UP IN HAWAII.

THERE WAS A STRONG CONNECTION WITH THIS FARM AND THE HULA COMMUNITY AND HAWAII.

THEY COME AND MAKE THINGS OUT OF IT.

>> THE ART COMMUNITY IS SIGNIFICANT HERE.

YOU CAN DO ANY ART MEDIUM ON A GOURD.

YOU CAN CUT AND PAINT AND LEAVE.

IT IS ALMOST AN UNLIMITED CANVAS FOR ART.

>> SO YOU SEE ALL DIFFERENT SIZES AND THESE LOOK LIKE THE SMALLEST ONES.

>> MAJOR ALWAYS PROVIDES, RIGHT?

>> I KNOW THE NATIVE AMERICANS USE THEM FOR RATTLE AND JEWELRY AND IN HAWAII THEY USE THEM FOR DRUMS AND IN PERU, WHICH I KNOW THEY DRINK OUT OF IT.

AND I WAS TOLD AT RENAISSANCE FESTIVAL THEY USE THEM AS WATER BOTTLES WHICH YOU COULD SEE HOW IT WOULD BE USEFUL.

>> INSIDE THE STORE I SAW ONE BEING USED AS A SOAP DISPENSER.

>> I GOT ONE ALREADY.

>> WE HAVE A LITTLE BIRDHOUSE.

SO ALL THEY DID WAS CUT A HOLE IN THE CENTER AND IT IS A PERFECT HOME FOR A BIRD.

>> IT IS 120 ACRES.

WE HAVE A MINIATURE ANIMAL BARN IN THE BACK THAT PEOPLE LOVE TO ENGAGE WITH.

HAVE A BEAUTIFUL NEW ORGANIC VEGETABLE GARDEN.

WE HAVE FOUR SHORT-TERM RENTALS ON THE PROPERTY THAT IF YOU WANT TO STAY ON THE FARM AND SEE WHAT IT IS LIKE.

>> BELIEVE IT OR NOT THIS THRIVING GARDEN WAS A PARKING LOT A YEAR AGO.

TODAY, THEY HAVE THE MAN BEHIND ALL OF THIS, ANDREW BEATTY A WORLD RENOWNED FARMER.

>> IT'S MY FIRST GOURD FARM.

MY NAME IS ANDREW AND THE CONSULTANT HERE AT 1028 FARM.

>> Reporter: DO YOU ENJOY THE CHALLENGE WORKING WITH THEM?

>> FOR SURE.

THERE HAS TO BE A CHALLENGE.

THAT WAS THE MAIN DESIGN POINT OF THE GARDEN IS HOW DO WE RESPECT THE HISTORY OF THE GOURD FARM AND BRING THAT INTO A NEW LIGHT.

>> Reporter: SO YOU ARE MODERNIZING AN ANCIENT WAY OF FORMING A GOURD?

>> RIGHT.

EXACTLY THROUGH THAT.

>> SO WE WILL SEE THE ANIMALS NOW?

THAT IS THE PART I AM MOST EXCITED ABOUT.

>> IS THIS A DONKEY?

>> SO YES AND PONIES AND A PIG, GOATS AND EVEN SOME KITTENS HIDING INSIDE.

THIS CHICKEN LOVE THIS OR IS LEARNING.

>> IT IS LETTING ME PET IT.

>> ONE OF THE MOST INTERESTING THINGS IS IT WAS HOMESTEADED AND WAS RUN BY ONE FAMILY UNTIL 2024.

AND THE FAMILY WAS NEXT TO THE DATE FAMILY WITH A CEMETERY ON THE PROPERTY AND IT IS A UNIQUE PIECE OF HISTORY.

>> USUALLY IT'S FASCINATING AND TELL US ABOUT THIS.

>>> THIS IS THE GRAVEYARD FOR THE FAMILY WHO WERE THE ORIGINAL FARM OWNERS OF THIS LAND.

AND YOU CAN IMAGINE HOW THIS IS BEEN LOVINGLY ATTENDED THOSE WHO WANT TO BE BURIED HERE.

>> WHAT ARE SOME THINGS YOU SEE OFF THE GRAVESTONE?

>> I SEE 1888 TO 1889.

THAT IS A BABY.

>> THIS EXPANSIVE FIELD IS WHERE THEY GROW AND THEY PULLED THEM BEFORE THE FIRST FROST AND THEY LET THEM SLOWLY DRY.

THIS IS CRAZY BECAUSE THEY HAVE TO HAND TURN THEM THROUGHOUT EACH WEEK OR HOWEVER LONG THEY DON'T GROW MOLD SO THEY ACTUALLY TURN ALL OF THESE BY HAND, MANUAL LABOR TO MAKE SURE THIS IS HAPPENING.

THAT IS INCREDIBLE.

WE WILL HELP THEM OUT A LITTLE BIT.

LET'S TURN A FEW OF THESE AWAY.

>> THEY ARE HEAVY.

A BIG DIFFERENCE.

WE HAVE DONE OUR WORK.

ALL RIGHT.

MAYBE ONE MORE.

THIS ONE MAY BE READY.

WE HAD NO IDEA WHAT GOURD WERE.

YOU GO TO A COCKTAIL PARTY AND SOMEONE SAYS WHAT YOU DO FOR A LIVING AND YOU SAY I AM GOURD FARMER CUT IT BEGS THE FOLLOW- UP WESTON.

>>> YOU NEVER KNOW WHAT YOU WILL FIND IN THIS COUNTY WE HOPE YOU ENJOYED A LOOK AT OUR KPBS NEWS THIS WEEK .

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING.