KQED NEWSROOM: Net Neutrality, Yosemite at 150, Redwood Burl Poaching | June 27, 2014

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>>> NEXT ON "KQED NEWSROOM"
SHOULD FAIR AND OPEN INTERNET
ACCESS BE DEBATED?
>>> ENVIRONMENTAL CRIME ON THE
RISE, STEALING OFF REDWOOD
TREES.
>> THE MOST BLATANT CUT WE'VE
SEEN, FIVE YARDS FROM THE ROAD
WAY.
>> YOSEMITE TURNS 150 YEARS OLD.
THE HISTORY ON DISPLAY.
>> THE SACREDNESS OF THAT
LANDSCAPE WHETHER YOU'VE SEEN IT
100 TIMES OR BEEN THERE 100
TYPES IS SO OVERWHELMING AND
BEAUTIFUL.
*
*
>>> GOOD EVENING AND WELCOME TO
"KQED NEWSROOM."
I'M THUY VU.
DEM STRAY TOMORROWS PROTESTED IN
MOUNTAIN VIEW AND WANT THE
INTERNET TO REMAIN OPEN WITHOUT
ACCESS FEES OR CENSORSHIP BY
INTERNET PROVIDERS.
IT'S KNOWN AS NET NEUTRALITY.
IT'S HEATING UP BECAUSE THE FCC
IS CONSIDERING NEW RULES FOR THE
INTERNET.
A PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD ENDS
JULY 15th.
THE ISSUE GAINS HIGH-SPEED
MOMENTUM AFRICA MEDIAN JOHN
OLIVER HIGHLIGHTED IT ON HIS HBO
SHOW.
IT GENERATED SO MANY COMMENTS IT
CRASHED THE AGENCY'S WEBSITE.
HERE IS A CLIP OF LAST WEEK'S
TONIGHT WITH JOHN OLIVER.
>> HERE IS THE THING, NET
NEUTRALITY IS HUGELY IMPORTANT.
ESSENTIALLY IT MEANS ALL DATA
HAS TO BE TREATED EQUALLY NO
MATTER WHO CREATES IT.
THE INTERNET IS A WEIRDLY
LEVELLED PLAYING FIELD AND
ESTABLISHED BRANDS, THAT'S HOW
FACEBOOK SURE PLANTED MY SPACE
AND HAVING FRIENDS.
DO YOU REMEMBER PHYSICALLY
HAVING FRIENDS?
IT WAS AWFUL.
YOU COULDN'T TAP PEOPLE'S FACES
TO MAKE THEM GO AWAY.
>> WELL, HERE TO EXAMINE THIS
DEBATE FURTHER ARE THE
ELECTRONIC FRONTIER FOUNDATION
AND BOB MCMILLER.
LAURA, JOHN OLIVER HAVING FUN.
NET NEUTRALITY CAN SOUND DRY,
WHY SHOULD WE CARE?
>> THE MOST BASIC REASON, FOR
EXAMPLE, IF CNN CAN AFFORD TO
MAKE SURE THAT ITS VIDEOS GET TO
YOU FASTER, THEY WILL PAY THE
MONEY AND SUPPOSE PBS CAN'T.
SO PBS PUBLIC BROADCASTING ON
THE INTERNET WOULD SUDDENLY BE
IN A SLOW LANE BECAUSE THEY
WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO PAY THE
EXTRA FEE.
IF YOU'RE A VIEWER, WHO WILL YOU
WATCH?
CNN OR ARE YOU GOING TO WATCH P
MANY -- PBS GOING IT'S
BUFFERING, AND BUFFERING, YOU'LL
MOVE OVER TO CNN.
THAT'S THE CORE OF THE ISSUE.
>> SO NOT ONLY BUSINESS INTEREST
BUT A MATTER OF FREE SPEECH.
>> THAT'S RIGHT.
NOW NETFLIX IS HUGE.
NETFLIX CAN AFFORD TO PAY A LOT
OF MONEY TO GET TRAFFIC TO YOU
RAPIDLY.
WHEREAS THE NEXT NETFLIX OR
YOUTUBE OR THE NEXT STARTUP MAY
NOT BE ABLE TO AFFORD IT.
THEY WILL NEED MORE INVESTMENT
MONEY.
WE'VE BEEN IN A WORLD WHERE MARK
ZUCKERBERG COULD SIT AND WITH
$50 A MONTH HE COULD START
FACEBOOK AND IT WOULD GET TO
EVERYBODY AT THE SAME SPEED.
THE FEAR IS THAT THE CABLE
COMPANIES, COMCAST, TIMEWARNER,
WOULD START TO CHARGE A FEE FOR
THE LAST MILE INTO THE HOME, AND
SAY WE'LL CREATE A LANE, FASTER
LANE SO YOU CAN PAY A LITTLE
EXTRA AND WE'LL MAKE SURE THAT
YOUR TRAFFIC, YOUR VIDEOS,
WHATEVER IT IS YOU'RE SELLING
GETS TO THE CONSUMER FASTER.
>> SO THE FCC IS CURRENTLY
TRYING TO DRAW UP NEW OPEN
INTERNET RULES, THE DEADLINE FOR
THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD JULY
15th.
REALISTICALLY, HOW MUCH CAN THE
FCC REGULATE THIS GIVE THAN A
FEDERAL COURT RULED IN JANUARY
THAT IT DOESN'T HAVE THE
AUTHORITY TO REGULATE IT RIGHT
NOW?
>> WELL, THE FCC CAN DO A LOT
BUT IN ORDER TO ACTUALLY
REGULATE, THE FCC IS GOING TO
HAVE TO CHANGE THE WAY THE
INTERNET IS CLASSIFIED.
WHAT THE COURT SAID WAS THAT AS
THE INTERNET IS CURRENTLY
CLASSIFIED, WHICH IS AS AN
INFORMATION SERVICE, THE FCC
CAN'T APPLY THE SAME PUBLIC
INTEREST REQUIREMENT IT CAN
APPLY TO A TELECOMMUNICATION
SERVICE SO THEY HAVE TO DO
REGULATORY RESHUFFLING SO IT HAS
THE PROPER AMOUNT OF POWER TO
ACTUALLY PUT SOME KIND OF PUBLIC
INTEREST REQUIREMENTS OVER THE
INTERNET BECAUSE WE NEED
INTERNET.
WE USE IT EVERY DAY.
IT'S ESSENTIAL TO OUR LIVES AND
WE NEED TO START TREATING IT
LIKE IT'S AS IMPORTANT AS IT AND
THE FCC NEEDS THE POWER TO
REGULATE IT PROPERLY.
>> BOB, THE INTERNET WAS
ACTUALLY CLASSIFIED IN THE 1990s
AS AN INFORMATION SERVICE, NOT
SO MUCH LIKE A
TELECOMMUNICATIONS INDUSTRY,
SERVICE PROVIDER.
GIVEN THAT, WHAT ARE THE BIG
INTERNET SERVICE PROVIDERS LIKE
COMCAST OR VERIZON SAYING ABOUT
ALL THIS?
>> THEY DON'T LIKE THE IDEA OF
REGULATION.
THEY WANT TO DO WHATEVER THEIR
BUSINESS DICTATES.
THEY ARE OPPOSED TO THE IDEA OF
APPLYING COMMON CARRIER
REGULATIONS THAT WE HAVE ON RAIL
WAYS AND AIRLINES AND TO THE
INTERNET.
THE INTERNET IS EXCEPTIONAL IN
THAT IT HASN'T -- IT REALLY VERY
MUCH ACTS LIKE A COMMON CARRIER.
EVERYBODY USES IT LIKE A COMMON
CARRIER BUT IT'S NEVER -- HASN'T
BEEN REGULATED THAT WAY.
SO THEY DON'T LIKE IT BUT, YOU
KNOW, THERE IS SORT OF A GROWING
SENTIMENT THAT SOMETHING NEEDS
TO BE DONE EVEN THOUGH THE
INTERNET HAS BEEN VERY
SUCCESSFUL AS THIS SORT OF
UNREGULATED FREE WHEELING WORLD.
IT'S GETTING OLDER AND SOME
PEOPLE ARE PUSHING FOR A
REGULATION THERE.
>> I MEAN, IT'S CHANGED A LOT.
BACK WHEN IT WAS, YOU KNOW, WHEN
THERE WAS LESS OF A NEED FOR
REGULATION, THERE WERE A LOT
MORE INTERNET PROVIDERS.
WE HAD MORE CHOICES.
RIGHT NOW THE MARKET IS
CONSOLIDATED WHERE THERE USED TO
BE MANY OPTIONS INTO YOUR HOME.
NOW THERE IS USUALLY ONE OPTION
OR TWO AT MOST FOR HIGH-SPEED
FIBER TO YOUR HOME.
>> AND I SHOULD ADD, THAT IS
BECAUSE ACTUALLY THE GOVERNMENT
DID GIVE VARIOUS COMPANIES LIKE
COMCAST MONOPOLIES OVER CERTAIN
AREAS TO ENCOURAGE THEM TO BUILD
OUT.
THEY BUILT OUT AND THERE IS
ANOTHER WAY TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM
WOULD BE WHAT THEY DO IN EUROPE
IS FORCE THE CARRIERS TO SELL AT
A MARKET PRICE TO OTHER
COMPETITORS SO THAT THERE WOULD
BE OTHER PEOPLE USING THE LINES
AND THAT WOULD BRING THE PRICE
DOWN AND MAYBE PREVENT THE
THREAT OF BLOCKING TRAFFIC OR
CREATING --
>> WE'RE IN A WEIRD SITUATION
WHERE THE INTERNET IS AMAZING.
THIS IS GREAT STUFF THAT HAPPENS
ON IT.
ON ONE HAND, WHY SHOULD WE MESS
WITH IT?
ON THE OTHER HAND, THE CABLE
COMPANIES AND COMPANIES LIKE
AT&T HAD REALLY BAD IDEAS WHAT
TO DO ON THE INTERNET.
IF YOU LOOK AT THE NET
NEUTRALITY DEBATE, IT WAS OVER
WHETHER YOU COULD HAVE VOICE
OVER IP OR WHETHER YOU COULD
HAVE A ROUTER IN YOUR HOUSE AND
THERE IS THE SENSE THAT THESE
BIG COMPANIES ARE GOING TO
PURSUE INTEREST AND THEY HAVE
TOO MUCH POWER RIGHT NOW.
>> AND A LOT OF THE DEBATE IS
OVER THIS CONCEPT OF THE FAST
LANE, IF YOU'RE A BIG COMPANY
LIKE GOOGLE OR FACEBOOK, YOU CAN
AFFORD TO PUT YOUR CONTENT ON
THE FAST LANE AND DELIVER IT IN
A MORE EFFICIENT QUICK WAY TO
HOUSEHOLDS.
IS THAT MISSING THE MARK?
A LOT OF THE BIG COMPANIES
ALREADY ARE IN THE FAST LANE.
>> WELL, I WROTE AN ARTICLE
ABOUT THIS THIS WEEK AND
BASICALLY, MAY ARGUMENT WAS THAT
IF WE WORRY TOO MUCH ABOUT FAST
LANES, WE'RE GOING TO IGNORE THE
SORT OF THE COMPETITIVE SIDE OF
THINGS.
THERE ARE OTHER ISSUES THAT ARE
REALLY IMPORTANT.
THERE IS A FREE SPEECH --
>> THAT IS ONLY ONE PART, ONLY
ONE WAY THAT INTERNET PROVIDERS
CAN DISCRIMINATE.
THERE ARE OTHER WAYS INTERNET
PROVIDERS CAN DISCRIMINATE.
IT'S NOT JUST ABOUT GIVING ONE
COMPANY FASTER ACCESS TO
SUBSCRIBERS THAT LETS ISPS ACT
LIKE THE GATE KEEPERS BUT
PEOPLE'S ATTENTION.
I MEAN, WHAT IS HAPPENING, IF
YOU HAVE A FAST WEBSITE AND SLOW
WEBSITE, YOU'LL GO TO THE FAST
WEBSITE.
THE ISPs ARE ESSENTIALLY ACTING
AS SENATORS.
>> PRIORITIZING, IF YOU WILL.
>> THERE IS A POSSIBILITY HERE,
TOO, WHICH FOR EXAMPLE, COMCAST
OWNS NBC AND FOR NOW, BECAUSE OF
ANOTHER AGREEMENT THEY MADE,
THEY CAN'T DO ANYTHING BUT AT
SOME POINT, COMCAST COULD DECIDE
TO PROMOTE NBA OVER OTHER
CONTENT PRODUCERS.
SO THE CONCERN, TOO, IS THAT
YOU'LL END UP SOMEHOW WITH THOSE
KINDS OF ARRANGEMENTS.
>> EXACTLY.
>> DARK CLOUDS ON THE HORIZON.
I'M CONCERNED ABOUT THE SORT OF
MIDDLEMEN IN THE INTERNET.
THERE ARE A LOT OF -- THE REASON
THAT SOMEONE LIKE MARK
ZUCKERBERG COULD START A
FACEBOOK AND BUILD OUT IS
BECAUSE THERE ARE COMPANIES IN
BETWEEN THAT AREN'T GOOGLE THAT
AREN'T COMCAST THAT PROVIDE
INTERNET CONNECTIVITY AND A
COMPETITIVE VIBRANT MARKETPLACE
AND IF ONE, IF THE CONSUMER IPs
GET TOO POWERFUL, THERE IS A
WORRY THAT MARKETPLACE COULD BE
SQUEEZED OUT.
>> THERE IS A SIGN IN FACT THAT
IS BEGINNING.
NETFLIX WAS HAVING PROBLEMS
GETTING ITS TRAFFIC THROUGH
EARLY PEOPLE.
THEY BRING THE TRAFFIC TO THE
PIPE THAT THEN GOES TOWARDS YOUR
HOUSE AND THEY WERE HAVING
PROBLEMS.
THEIR TRAFFIC WASN'T GOING
THROUGH SO THEY MADE A SPECIAL
DEAL WITH COMCAST AND THEY ARE
PAYING EXTRA TO GET DIRECTLY TO
COMCAST.
SO YOU'RE ALREADY SEEING
SOMETHING START TO SHIFT.
>> WHAT IS INTERESTING IS NOW
YOU HAVE A SITUATION WHERE THERE
ARE BIG CORPORATIONS LIKE
NETFLIX, LIKE GOOGLE SIDING WITH
THE ACTIVISTS AND SIGNED AN OPEN
LETTER SUPPORTING NET
NEUTRALITY.
>> THEY HAVE, YEAH.
OVER 150 COMPANIES CAME OUT AND
SIGNED THE LETTER IN SUPPORT OF
NET NEUTRALITY TO THE FCC.
>> WHAT ABOUT THE POINT THAT THE
INTERNET SERVICE PROVIDERS ARE
MAKING, THOUGH, THAT GOVERNMENT
REGULATION SLOWS DOWN INVASION.
THEY HAVE INVESTED A LOT OF
MONEY IN THE PIPELINES,
SHOULDN'T THEY BE ALLOWED TO
CHARGE MORE TO RECOUP
INVESTMENTS THEY MADE?
>> IT'S NOT ABOUT SLOWING DOWN.
RIGHT NOW WE NEED RULES TO ALLOW
FOR INVASION BECAUSE WE HAVE THE
LARGE INCUMBENT COMPANIES THAT
WILL BE ABLE TO AFFORD TO MAKE
IT TO THE FAST LANE, WILL BE
ABLE TO AFFORD INTERNET -- TO
PAY INTERNET PROVIDERS TO REACH
CUSTOMERS FASTER BUT NEW
INNOVATIVE COMPANIES WON'T BE
ABLE TO AFFORD IT.
MAYBE A FEW YEARS AGO THEY
NEEDED LESS RULES TO INVITE BUT
WE'RE IN A DIFFERENT SPACE NOW.
THE INTERNET CHANGED A LOT SINCE
2002, SINCE 2005.
>> I MEAN, THE BIG ISSUE AT THIS
POINT HAS TO DO WITH SOMETHING
AND MY EYES GLAZE OVER A MOMENT,
TITLE TWO AND WHETHER OR NOT THE
FCC SHOULD RECLASSIFIED INTERNET
AS SOMETHING CALLED TITLE TWO,
WHICH IS WHERE WE PUT THE PHONE
COMPANY AND ELECTRICITY.
>> WE NEED TO DO THAT.
>> A LOT OF PEOPLE FEEL, I DON'T
KNOW --
>> WHY AREN'T THEY DOING IT,
THOUGH?
>> THIS IS A GOOD QUESTION.
>> THE FCC NEEDS TO RECLASSIFIED
THE INTERNET AS TITLE TWO AS A
COMMON CARRIER TO HAVE THE
AUTHORITY AND POWER TO TELL ISPs
WHAT THEY CAN AND CAN'T DO.
>> WHY ISN'T IT --
>> THE REASON WHY IT WASN'T --
THE REASON WHY IT WASN'T
CLASSIFIED AS A COMMON CARRIER
BEFORE IS BECAUSE BACK IN 2002,
WE NEEDED LESS RULES TO HAVE
PERHAPS MORE COMPETITION AND A
DIFFERENT ENVIRONMENT.
>> ALSO, THE INTERNET HAS DONE
REALLY WELL WITH THE REGULATION
AND THERE IS A SENTIMENT AMONG
MANY PEOPLE IN THE TECH
COMMUNITY THAT WITHOUT THESE
REGULATIONS, YOU KNOW, TITLE TWO
COULD --
>> COULD I JUMP IN --
[ OVERLAPPING SPEAKERS ]
>> VERY SPIRITED.
>> VERY FAST.
>> I THINK THE CHAIRMAN OF THE
FCC IS WORRIED ABOUT CONGRESS
FIGHTING REALLY HARD TO PREVENT
HIM FROM DOING THIS, AND THERE
IS ALREADY A SIGN THEY WILL DO
THAT, REPUBLICANS IN CONGRESS
ALREADY TRIED.
>> WE WILL LEAVE IT THERE.
MY GUESTS, THANK YOU SO MUCH.
>>> WELL, LAST WEEK A NORTHERN
CALIFORNIA MAN WAS ORDERED TO
PAY MORE THAN $11,000 IN
RESTITUTION FOR STEALING PART OF
A TREE.
HE IS THE SECOND PERSON TO BE
CONVICTED THIS MONTH FOR
CHOPPING BURL OFF REDWOOD AT A
NATIONAL PARK.
A LOOK AT WHY THE ENVIRONMENTAL
CRIME IS PROMPTING ALARM AND A
CRACKDOWN.
STATE PARK RANGER BRETT SILVER
IS ON HIGH ALERT FOR UNWANTED
VISITORS.
SUSPICIOUS TRAILS IN THE PARK
HAVE RECENTLY LED RANGERS TO
SOME UNUSUAL CRIME SCENES.
>> RANGERS ON PATROL KNOW THE
GAME TRAIL LOOKED HEAVILY USED
SO THEY WENT FOR A HIKE AND THIS
IS WHAT THEY FOUND.
18 CUTS ON THIS TREE ALONE.
>> THIS REDWOOD WAS ROBBED OF
BURL, THE GROWTH FOUND AT THE
BASE OF THE TRUNK.
>> THIS ONE TO YOUR RIGHT, ONE
TO YOUR LEFT.
>> BURLS ARE CRITICAL TO THE
SURVIVAL OF REDWOODS BECAUSE NEW
TREES CAN REGENERATE FROM THEM
SAYS RANGER.
>> FROM THAT BURL, YOU CAN GET
AN IDENTICAL CLONE OF THE TREE
FOR ANOTHER 2,000 YEARS.
>> THESE REDWOODS ONCE COVERED
MORE THAN 2 MILLION ACRES FROM
MONTERREY TO THE OREGON BOARDER.
TODAY DUE TO LOGGING, ONLY ABOUT
5% OF THEM REMAIN.
THE TALLEST TREES IN THE WORLD
NOW FACE A NEW THREAT, POACHING
HAS GOTTEN WORSE.
SLABS CAN SELL FOR HUNDREDS TO
THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS.
SO ONLY 12 RANGERS TO PROTECT
132,000 ACRES OF DENSE FOREST
AND ARE WORRIED THE POACHING
PROBLEM IS MUCH BIGGER THAN THEY
SEEM.
>> I THINK WE'VE ONLY JUST SEEN
THE TIP OF THE ICEBERG.
THESE ARE JUST ONES THAT ARE
KIND OF OBVIOUS, YOU KNOW, THE
MOST BLATANT CUT WE'VE SEEN,
LITERALLY FIVE YARDS FROM THE
ROAD WAY.
>> THE LOSS OF TIMBER JOBS LED
TO A SPIKE IN CRIME IN GENERAL
SAYS THE SHERIFF.
>> JUST THEFTS AND THE LAST TEN
YEARS SKYROCKETED.
MAIN MOTIVES ARE SOMETIMES
DRUGS.
THEY ARE TRYING TO GET MONEY
FROM DRUGS.
SOMETIMES PEOPLE DON'T WANT TO
WORK AND THEY STEAL STUFF TO
PAWN IT.
>> AUTHORITIES CLOSED ROADS AT
NIGHT AND BOOSTED PATROL BUT
POACHERS SEEM TO BE GOING BIGGER
AND BOLDER.
THIS WAS 50 FEET UP IN THE TREE,
THE POACHERS CUT THE WHOLE TREE
DOWN.
THE TREE IS ESTIMATED TO HAVE
BEEN 400 YEARS OLD.
>> IT WAS THE FIRST TIME THAT
WE'VE EVER SEEN AN ENTIRE
REDWOOD TREE CUT SIMPLY IN ORDER
TO OBTAIN THE BURL THAT WAS ON
TOP OF THE TREE.
>> IT IS STARTING TO PAY OFF AND
AN ANONYMOUS TIP LED TO THE
ARREST OF TWO MEN FOR MAKING
THIS CUT.
IT WAS LATER FOUND AT A NEARBY
SHOP.
BOTH MEN PLED GUILTY TO FELONY
VANDALISM AND ORDERED TO PAY
MORE THAN $12,000 IN COMBINED
RESTITUTION.
THE ONCE BOOMING TIMBER INDUSTRY
PROVIDED WORKERS WITH PLENTY OF
REDWOOD, THAT INDUSTRY COLLAPSED
AND WITH IT, SUPPLY OF VALUABLE
BURL.
>> REDWOOD IS KIND OF LIKE A
TREASURE CHEST.
YOU CAN TAKE A GRAY PIECE OF
WOOD AND IT LOOKS GRAY AND
PLAIN, TO SOME PEOPLE LOOKS LIKE
A PIECE OF FIREWOOD AND CUT INTO
IT AND THE BEAUTY IS
UNEXPLAINABLE.
>> JIM TERMED THE BEAUTY OF BURL
INTO A LUCRATIVE BUSINESS.
THE SHOP SELLS FURNITURE AROUND
THE WORLD.
>> THIS IS A TABLE THAT WENT TO
THE PRESIDENT OF CHINA.
I MADE THE TOP.
>> PIECES LIKE THESE SELL FOR
THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS.
HE GETS THE BURL LEGALLY FROM
TREE STUMPS.
>> A TYPICAL DEAL FARMER JOE IS
GOING TO PASS THROUGH HIS LAND
AND HE'S GOT STUMPS.
YOU TAKE THAT OUT OF THE GROUND
AND THERE IS REALLY NICE WOOD IN
THERE.
>> WHILE THE BUSINESS IS
LEGITIMATE, RANGER DENNY
SUSPECTS THERE MIGHT BE A BURL
BLACK MARKET ON THE INTERNET.
>> YOU CAN GO ONLINE AND LOOK AT
ANY OF THE OPTIONS AND FIND BURL
BEING SOLD.
>> SELLERS SAY THEY ACQUIRED THE
BURL SLABS LEGALLY FROM FAMILY
OWNED LAND AND FRIENDS.
IN THE MEANTIME, MORE CRIMINAL
INVESTIGATIONS ARE HAPPENING.
RANGERS ARE HOPING CONSUMERS CAN
PLAY A ROLE IN SOLVING THE
PROBLEM.
>> I WOULD LIKE TO SEE WHEN
PEOPLE WHO ARE BUYING FROM
VENDORS OR BUSINESSES, THEY
REALLY ASK THE TOUGH QUESTION
WHERE DID THIS COME FROM?
USUALLY WHAT THEY WILL SAY IS IT
CAME FROM PRIVATE LAND.
THERE ISN'T ANY KIND OF PROOF.
>> THIS ONE HERE --
>> RANGERS SAY THIEVES ARE
SELLING OFF MORE THAN MERE
PIECES OF WOOD.
>> THE COAST REDWOOD FOREST IS A
DESIGNATION FOR PEOPLE AROUND
THE WORLD.
SO BY STEALING PIECES OF THIS
HERITAGE, YOU'RE STEALING FROM
ALL OF US.
>> 150 YEARS AGO THIS MONTH,
PRESIDENT ABRAHAM LINCOLN SET
ASIDE THE FIRST PUBLIC LANDS IN
THE COUNTRY FOR RESORT AND
RECREATION, YOSEMITE VALLEY, AN
EXHIBIT OPENING MONDAY AT THE
CALIFORNIA HISTORICAL SOCIETY IN
SAN FRANCISCO LOOKS AT THE HUMAN
STORIES THAT ARE PART OF
YOSEMITE'S HISTORY.
THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR SHARES
SOME OF THOSE STORIES WITH SCOTT
SHAFER.
>> WELCOME.
>> THANK YOU, SCOTT, PLEASURE.
>> TAKE US BACK TO 1864, IF YOU
WOULD, PRESIDENT LINCOLN ASSIGNS
THE YOSEMITE GRANT ACT.
WHAT ROLE DID PHOTOGRAPHY HAVE
ON HIM?
DURING THE CIVIL WAR USING
PHOTOS OF THE DEAD THAT MATTHEW
BRADY WAS DOING AND PHOTOGRAPHY
WAS NEW AT THE TIME.
>> BRAND-NEW.
THE FIRST PHOTOGRAPHER IN THE
VALLEY WAS ONLY IN 1859 AND IT
WAS WATKINS WHO COMES IN 1861,
DEVELOPED A NEW WAY OF A LARGE
SIZED CAMERA HE CALLS THE
MAMMOTH PRINT TO CAPTURE THE
BEAUTY OF SCENERY AND WATKINS
SHOW PREMIERED AT THE GALLERY OF
NEW YORK WHERE MATTHEW BRADY'S
PHOTOGRAPHS HAD JUST BEEN AND
CARNAGE ON CORPORATIONS ON TS ON THE BATTL E
FIELD.
THEY PROPOSED THE YOSEMITE ACT
AND GOT IT THROUGH CONGRESS HAD
WATKINS LIKE WE HAVE AT THE
CALIFORNIA HISTORICAL SOCIETY
AND WE'RE PRETTY SURE SHOWED
THEM TO LINCOLN.
HOW COULD HE NOT BE SO SWAYED BY
THAT BEAUTY?
>> OF COURSE, THERE ARE SO MANY
ICON I CAN PHOTOS NOW AND
OTHERS, HALF DOME, BUT THIS IS
MUCH MORE THAN THAT, THIS
EXHIBIT IS REALLY DESCRIBED AS A
HUMAN HISTORY OF THE PARK.
WHAT DOES THAT MEAN?
>> CORRECT.
WHEN YOU THINK OF THE ALMOST
10,000 YEARS OF HUMAN OCCUPATION
AND SKULL PS AND USE, IN THE
GALLERIES, THERE ARE ABOUT 23
STORIES AND IN OUR ACCOMPANIES
BOOK THERE IS A COUPLE DOZEN
MORE.
>> GIVE ME AN EXAMPLE OF ONE
THAT STANDS OUT.
>> ONE OF THE MORE BEAUTIFUL
ONES IS THE STORY OF JULIA
PARKER, STILL ALIVE, A
BEAUTIFUL, BEAUTIFUL SOUL WHO
WAS SENT LIKE MANY CALIFORNIA
INDIANS TO BOARDING SCHOOL, AN
INDIAN BOARDING SCHOOL IN
NEVADA.
MEETS HER HUSBAND.
HE'S FROM THE VALLEY.
SO HE COMES, BRINGS HIS
BEAUTIFUL BRIDE HOME AND
INTRODUCES HER TO HIS MOTHER AND
GRANDMOTHER AND AUNTIES ALL
BASKET MAKERS OF THE HIGHEST
ORDER, AND SHE DIDN'T EVEN KNOW
ANY MORE WHAT IT WAS LIKE TO BE
AN INDIAN, NOT TO MENTION AN
INDIAN BASKET MAKER.
SHE'S ASKED TO MAKE A BASKET FOR
THE QUEEN OF ENGLAND --
>> THERE IS A PICTURE OF HER
PRESENTING THE BASKET TO HER AND
THE PRINCE.
>> ABSOLUTELY AND HER FAMILY
HERE FROM THE NORTHERN COAST SAW
THE PICTURE IN THE NEWSPAPER AND
RECONNECTED WITH HER.
>> WOW.
>> NEVER HAVING KNOWN HER, NEVER
HAVING SEEN HER.
>> WOW.
>> IN TERMS THAT SHE IS A
DESCENDE
DESCENDENT.
>> THERE ARE PHOTOS IN THIS
EXHIBIT LIKE YOU DO A DOUBLE
TAKE.
THERE IS ONE OF A BEAR STANDING
ON ITS HIND LEGS AND A WOMAN
MAYBE SIX FEET AWAY.
>> RIGHT.
>> IS THAT A REAL BEAR?
>> THAT'S A REAL BEAR TRAINED BY
THE PARK'S FIRST FEMALE
NEUTRALISTS IN THE 1920s AND AT
THE TIME BEARS WERE SUPPOSED TO
BE LIKE PETS, SMALLER BEARS.
>> SO THERE WASN'T A GRIZZLY?
>> THE GRIZZLIES HAD BEEN GONE
SINCE THE 1880s AND IN THE
EXHIBITION WE SHOW ONE OF THE
LAST GRIZZLIES SHOT IN THE
VALLEY.
SO IT DESCRIBES THE ATTENTION
BETWEEN HOW NATURAL SHOULD IT BE
AND THE WAYS IN WHICH MEN AND
NATURE AND CULTURE HAVE WRESTLED
IN THAT.
OF COURSE, WE DON'T SEE THE
BEARS, WILD POLICY AND ITS KIND
OF GONE THE OTHER WAY TO FEED
THE BEARS WHICH IS WHAT WAS
HAPPENING.
>> SEEMED HAPPY.
SEEMED LIKE A HAPPY BEAR.
>> HAPPY RELATIONSHIP.
>> THERE WAS ANOTHER PHOTO OF
TWO WOMEN DRESSED IN THE GARB OF
THE DAY DRESSED LIKE A PINE
TREE.
ALMOST LOOKS PHOTO SHOP.
>> RIGHT.
THAT PINE TREE GREW OUT OF SOLID
GRANITE AT 4,000 FEET AND NOT
SURPRISINGLY ONE OF THE MOST
PHOTOGRAPHED TREES IN THE PARK
UNTIL IT DIED IN 2003 BUT THE --
THESE WOMEN PLAYFULLY STANDING
ON THE TREE.
SO MANY OTHERS SHOT BEFORE HIM
AGAIN IS THIS WONDERFUL SYMBOL
OF HOW WE GOT TO KNOW YOSEMITE,
LARGE LLY THROUGH PHOTOGRAPH AT
FIRST AND HOW WE'RE DISPLAYING
IT THROUGH PHOTOGRAPHS AND
GALLERY AND WHAT SPECIAL MAGIC
HAPPENS WHEN WE GO THERE.
>> THERE IS A RICH HISTORY IN
THE PARK OF CLIMBING.
>> ABSOLUTELY.
>> HOW DOES THAT PLAY OUT IN THE
EXHIBIT?
>> WE BRING FORTH THE REALLY
AMAZING STORY OF CLIMATI CLIMBING IN
1958 BUT REACHES THE MOMENT AS
CALIFORNIA, OF COURSE, IS GOING
THROUGH WRENCHING CHANGES IN THE
1960s AND WE SEE THE SHOW
THROUGH THE EYES ESPECIALLY OF
GLEN DENNY WHO IS STILL ALIVE
AND LIVES HERE IN SAN FRANCISCO,
STARTED, WENT IN FIRST TO
PHOTOGRAPH AND THEN STARTED TO
CLIMB AND HE HAS THIS WONDERFUL
QUOTE THAT THE AIR WAS HIS
PLATFORM, YOU KNOW, THAT THEY
LEARNED LIKE WATKINS BEFORE
THEM, THEY TOOK THESE DARING,
DARING PHOTOGRAPH COURAGE AS
THEY CLIMBED AND AS CLIMBING
EVOLVED INTO FREE CLIMBING, THE
DEATH DEFYING CULTURE AND CAMPED
OUT AT CAMP FOUR, WHICH WAS THE
ONLY FREE CAMP GROUND AT THE
PARK AND CREATED IN THIS
INTERESTING HIPPY CLIMBING
CULTURE.
>> YOU TOLD ME YOU'RE A THIRD
GENERATION CALIFORNIAN.
>> I AM.
>> DO YOU HAVE YOUR OWN RICH
MEMORIES OF YOSEMITE?
>> I DO.
LIKE MANY CALIFORNIANS, I WENT
ALL OVER THE WORLD BEFORE I WENT
TO YOSEMITE WHICH IS SAD.
I KNEW IT THROUGH PHOTOGRAPHY,
OUR SONS WERE SMALL WE FIRST
WENT AND THE SACREDNESS OF THE
LANDSCAPE WHETHER YOU'VE SEEN IT
100 TIMES OR BEEN THERE 100
TIMES WAS BEAUTIFUL.
>> AN INTERACTIVE EXHIBIT, I'M
SURE.
>> ABSOLUTELY.
FAMILY FRIENDLY, BEAUTIFUL
VISUALS, OVER LITERALLY HUNDREDS
OF DIFFERENT OBJECTS, ARTIFACTS,
VIDEOS.
>> AND SHOWING THROUGH --
>> THROUGH JANUARY 25th, YOU
HAVE THE WHOLE REST OF THE YEAR.
>> ALL RIGHT.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR SHARING IT
WITH US.
>> GREAT, THANK YOU.
>>> AND NOW FOR A LOOK AT WHAT
IS COMING UP ON KQED NEWS IS
SCOTT SHAFER, HIGH SCOTT.
>> HIGH THUY VU.
>> A BILL TO EXPAND THE BILL AND
THE MAN STANDING IN THE WAY OF
THE EXPANSION IS THE MAN THAT
REPRESENTS THE DISTRICT.
>> ICONIC.
TEA PARTY REPUBLICAN, SMALL
GOVERNMENT, SAYS HE DOESN'T WANT
TO EXPAND THE PARK AND BUY THAT
ADDITIONAL PROPERTY AVAILABLE
BECAUSE HE DOESN'T TRUST THE
NATIONAL PARK SERVICE.
AND SO IT'S ACTUALLY BECOME
SOMETHING OF AN ISSUE IN THE
CONGRESSIONAL RACE THERE.
HE CAME IN FIRST IN THE JUNE
PRIMARY BUT RUNNING AGAINST
ANOTHER REPUBLICAN MORE WHO
SUPPORTS EXPANDING.
SO IT'S A CLASSIC FACE-OFF
BETWEEN A TEA PARTY REPUBLICAN
AND A MORE MAIN STREAM
REPUBLICAN.
WE'LL SEE HOW THAT ISSUE PLAYS
OUT IN THE RACE.
>> INTERESTING TO WATCH.
ALSO, SOMETHING ELSE COMING UP
THIS FALL, ANOTHER ELECTION
ISSUE, PUBLIC SAFETY, A MEASURE
TO REDUCE PENALTIES FOR SOME
CRIMES.
UNDER WHAT CIRCUMSTANCES?
>> WHAT THEY WANT TO DO, IT'S A
BALLOT MEASURE SUPPORT THE BY
THE DA IN SAN FRANCISCO AND LAW
ENFORCEMENT OFFICIALS, THEY WANT
TO REDUCE THE SENTENCES FROM
FELONIES TO MISDEMEANORS FOR
SMALL RELATIVELY SMALL CRIMES
LIKE PETTY THEFT, CERTAIN DRUG
POSSESSIONS, THAT KIND OF THING.
AGAIN, IT'S PART OF THE WHOLE
IDEA OF DECRIMINALIZING DRUG
KINDS OF CRIMES, DEALING,
SENDING THEM TO REHABILITATION
INSTEAD OF PRISON, SO THAT WILL
BE ON THE BALLOT IN NOVEMBER.
>> THERE IS A BILL ABOUT THE
DEATH PENALTY CIRCULATING.
WHAT IS HAPPENING WITH THAT?
>> THAT'S SUPPORTED BY FORMER
GOVERNORS AND ANTI CRIME GROUPS,
DISTRICT ATTORNEYS.
THEY ARE COLLECTING SIGNATURES.
THE DEADLINE WAS YESTERDAY TO
GET IT ON THE NOVEMBER BALLOT.
IT MAY BE ON A FUTURE BALLOT BUT
NOT NOVEMBER.
>> SO MAYBE 2016 FOR THAT.
THIS DIDN'T GET MUCH ATTENTION
BUT THE STATE SUPREME COURT ON
THURSDAY ISSUED A 5-2 DECISION
SAYING THAT EFFECTIVELY THAT
UNDOCUMENTED IMMIGRANTS CAN FILE
FOR WORKER'S COMPENSATION.
>> THAT'S RIGHT.
A WORKER OVER WAS DISABLED, HE
SUED THE EMPLOYER FOR NOT HIRING
HIM BACK AND WANTED WORKERS COMP
BENEFITS.
BECAUSE HE WAS UNDOCUMENTED,
THERE WAS A THINKING THAT
PERHAPS HE COULDN'T BE ELIGIBLE
FOR THOSE BUT THE COURT SAID NO,
FEDERAL LAW DOES NOT PREEMP
UNDOCUMENTED WORKERS EVEN IF
THEY LIE TO GET FALSE PAPERS,
THEY ARE ENTITLED TO THOSE
PROTECTIONS.
>> SO IT WAS SET FORWARD?
>> ONE OUT OF 11 WORKERS ARE
UNDOCUMENTED AND IF THERE ARE
WAGE DISPUTES, SEXUAL HARASSMENT
CLAIMS, THEY COULD COME FORWARD
TO COURT.
>> THANK YOU.
>> YOU BET.
>>> FOR MORE, GO TO KQED
NEWS.COM.
>> I'M SCOTT SHAPE FER THANKS FOR
JOINING US.
>> AND I'M THUY VU, HAVE A GOOD
NIGHT.