Power to parts of 35 counties 34 counties to reduce the risk of wildfires in windy conditions. According cal fire, the majority of the states destructive while wildfires have happened in october. Joining me no are anthony sehgal and jonathan cox welcomef to botyou, jonathan i want to begin with you give us a season is a shapup compared to last year with the camp fire and now we are approaching november, which was whenthe camp fire broke out, in early november. Thats right. In comparison to the last few years we experienced under 200,000 acres ofland burned california. This time last year, we were over 1 million acres of land burned, a relatively mild co season in arison to the last few. Maybe the biggest reason for that is because we have some more stens that we hahad in the last two years thats due to the rain and much we havent had earlier into the year. However we are nointo the timeframe that we tend to get large instructive fires in california. As we have seen over the last few days both in the bay area and now in southern california, some of the largest fires we fear when ese wind events happen are starting to break out. Have Power Outages actually monitor and fight fires . Ty to yes. We actually have put a lot of effort into preparing for blackos ourselves as an agency. We have to run our operations, our fire stations and fire engines and everybody else throughout the year, even when no power. Let me press you a bit, at about monitoring, are you better off for example, if web cameras that stream high fire risk areas are down because they dont have power, does that not hinder your fire . Y to quickly respond to a we always have a backup is maybe the best way to put it. Whether that be a radio system or some kind of communication that is not based on poweand internet, we have that ability. So, we are a redundancy agency when things are not workg at levels that they typically are, and we obviously prepare for them. The cameras that are out western u. S. , the alert wildfire cameras for wildfire verification or tool that are very helpful, if theyare no available then we revert tott g aircraft in the air to see if there is something going on to see if there is something iting on. S all about redundancy, this is the Largest Scale that we have seen for a power outage across the state. And it just means that we have had to revert to the plans that we have been acputting in since the beginning of the year. Let me go to jeremy, jeremy has been talking topeople in oakland, theres a lot of anger and frustration about thes outages, what have you been hearing . A lot of anger and frustration. What jonathan was saying that cal fire has backups in ace, a lot of these residents do not have backups in place. Some of that frustration was coming from the fact that the communication from pg e regarding these blackouts was confusing for residents who th felt lik got short notice ou the blackouts, and then once they were for sure tgoing to be happening in parts of the bay areapg e directedople to their website, when people are going online, the website was down, and that made itdi extremelicult to find out if your home was indeed going to be losing power, so at was a source of frustration for residents and then once the frustration power was actually off pg and e was warning that it could take days to restore even after extreme upeople to be out of powefor ys, can be difficult because food you have in your fridge that will go bad during that period of time. Particularly the peopleyou said needed medical devices, th what has beenCalifornia Office of Emergency Services role in all this during the Power Outages. Did they get any advance warning . The California Office of advance warning meaning they were finding out about this event likely earlier than residents affected so that they can prepare for what will happen when the target is also an event of this they were helping local jurisdiction enepare for the of a blackout. Doing things like helping local officers get intersections, e ere the lights going to be down, to put up temporary stop signs and let people know that they should treaties intersections as fourway stops. Then ey were aldoing things like getting information about where people can go in their communities to charge their phones and have access tod air ioning. I was a speaking early today with someone from callaw asked, he s saying for them this was the second highest level, which is close to an all hands on deck situation. It was not the level of what we saw last november with a camp fire which s a mass casualty incident, but you know, cal oes was certainly putting a lot of resources intothis. Back to you jonathan, governor reason newson recently signed 22 new bills. Your thoughts on what is actually in the offing for those bills, in terms of helping you . Exactly. I think maybe the most exciting part about this, is that we ares attacking problem from all angles right now which includes projects going on statewide fori as new helicopters, Additional Fire engines, and other things that may not get as much attention, like ings such as landuse planning. We have a whole bureau now in cal fire that works with local jurisdictions on landuse decisions anvery high fire hazard severities earn service goes way beyondjust 911, into some much larger social issues, at really touch on wildfire speaking of, how much tougher has your job been from Climate Change . Is undoubtedly more difficult, the data of the science reaffirms that the m wildfire probsed on the changes we are seeing, and i think more important than all of that is the temperatures. Ange in vegetation, as well as the nighttime temperatures, when you change nighttime temperatures higher than what ey re, feel moisture recovery does not come through in our fire behavior increases. Does cal fire have e resources to keep up with these challenges vigecvis climate ch i think we are continually adding to it and we are continually confronting this stage that at every we see. And i think, this increase legislation and all the differenactions being taken are a very big step in the right direction to confront this problem. Jeremy what have we learned from twhse outages about we need to do about the infrastructure, the old saying of this is the filth fifth wealthiest economy e world, we have kind of a third world and for structure. Just like how living Climate Change oveisall of so two people would say is potential mismanagement by pg e and you are seeing in the aftermath during this criticism from residence, criticism from local and state lawmakers of the utilities saying that they need to do something to upgrade their infrastructure, to make it so that this is a last resort, so that it is not that we are seeing massive blackouts that could last days all the time, you know, extreme fire seasons might be becoming the new normal here, you have lawmakers saying these blackouts can absolutely not become the new normal. At thsame time, i think people have frustration over the fact thatey were potentially in areas especially in the bay ea where you might say i dont have much fire risk sing power t when im in i the cells with the extreme wins, the way that pg es of the structure works is you yo might have lecture city lines connected to somewhere in the hills where there is more risk of extreme wind hearing a wildfire with their agreement. So because of the way that their infra structure isset up you have potentially more widespread blackouts than people would like to see in these situations. I like whto hear you have to say about residents worried about businesses for this matter, three things that they can do. Yeah, i think one, is we have probably seen the most heightened awareness around wildfires that we have seen probably ever in california right now. The three biggest things i would say is, first of all, have a plan to get out of your house, with your family, with your neighbors, and ensure that this includes those who may be elderly or have a disabili your area. Two, clear the vegetati around your home, there is no substitute fgressive space. Thirdly it just being hyperaware out of doors in california. Ate are human caused to some is degree. So we are our own worst enemy when it comes to fire ignition. What about defensibleace, theres a lot of concern that there may not be enough fire inspectors particularly in rral areas. That is be g addressed at the moment at a much higher level as to what is the best way and how we can actually inspect more property statewide it is without a doubt one of the best things that can be done is that oneonone contact withhomeowners, to give them that personalized information about how they n defend their home. Notwithstanding using people will be looking at some kind of serious and profound change looking at civilization are private ownership of utility, anything like that . You expect when lawmakers return to the next session that there will be conversations about this and e possibility of different municipal is asian. There have been talks of San Francisco taking over pg es. Hearings ever discovered of the same time governorvin newsom in a press conference last night, was saying, even if you say it did switch over control of pacific ga electric to the state you are still switching over infra structure r that is potentially outdated, and for structure that needs significant work. Even if the executives at pg e are not running the utility, there still might be a problem that persists and takes a long time t fix. We will have to see where it all goes, thank you so much for appreciate the work you are doing. Thank you. In less than four weeks, San Francisco voters will head to the polls in addition to deciding the fate of local measures, they will also elect the city next District Attorney, it is an open contest with four candidates vying to be the cities next top prosecutor but it is now mired in controversy. Last friday, San Francisco mayor london frbreed appointed one of those candidat, susie lofton as interim da after incumbent George Gaskin resigned to explore a run for the da race ins. Los ange with us now as the interim District Attorneys easy susie loftus, and one of her rivals ciin the san fro d da race. Think welcome to both of you. Nice to haveyou both. I will begin with you, we will get to the issues here, but, how do you react to the us interim da post, unfair in termprof the electoral ess . Michael, i think they said it really well and lled him a to withdraw the appointment, and to cease and desist her interference with what would have bee the first op District Attorneys race and hundred years. Voters in San Francisco were excited about having the chan to elect their District Attorney in a clean slate, and o a was trying take that away. If he appointed you you. Would have said sa correct. San franciscans are concerned about what is happening on the streets, they are concerned about the fact that we have 70 car breakins happening every day. Socawhen a y opened up in what is an incredibly Important Office for r our city, the mayo pick the person she thought was the most experienced and ready for the job, that is me, change has to start what we are doing is not working and i am the people of our city will decide who keeps a job and when i am called to serve that is what i will do point no feeling that you get it and under sanfords advantage . I think what im getting is another job, to do well in campai ing, mother of three am used to having a lot of jobs and im committed to doing it all well. Let me ask you and i will ason what is the top priority you would change that perhaps did not do as well under George Gaskin as it should have or might have. Ive been isrunning for office for not only the mayor but eight members of the board of supervisors, because People Living and working in sentences go are set up. They are fed up with eing glass onevery street from a car breakin. They are fed up withstepping over needles and having a City Infrastructure that says there is nothing we can do about it. E to bringing neighborhood prosecutors to partner with communities, to build safety in sentences go. People are looking for a change, and the change starts now. Asked him about his rs neighborhood prosecu from your perspective what has guest on not done that shou and needs to be done. We know that George Gaskin has done a woefully inadequate join the face of riving rising property crime. The surgeon property crime started back when susie was on the policommission and it has continued to this day under George Gaskin on estes attorney. The other thing he has failed to do is to prosecute and hold police accountable, for use of force, shootings, killings of unarmed civilians. I will say, one thing that George Gaskin r serves credit at he often does not get credit for is his willingness to file criminal charges against the deputy sheriffs involvedin the fight called case. To see that the Sheriff Department legal Team Including susie mishandled the evidence in that case, requiring the District Attorney to dismiss criminal charges. Deite overwhelming evidence that crime had been committed. Susie get your response to that . This is actually what sentences cans are ejecting across the board, continuing to think that what people are looking for is the blame ifgame and we have someone to blame and find fault that is enough. San franciscans are looking fo solutions. O has a track record. Leader when i was on the Police Commission for the first time in 20 years, i reformed the e of force policy that has resulted in a 30 percent decrease in injuri, police use of force and a decrease in injury to officers. What theyre looking for someone who is going to vest in neighborhood prosecutors, deal with some of the civil rights issues people are pushed out. Tenants it is time for leadership and an approach, that is completely different, the status quo is about finding someone to blame i am out delivering results. What about the concern many seem to have about you not having done any prosecutions. Ive done more years in the sentences ll of justice, ove last seven or eight years and all the other candidates combined, i have tried more than two dozen jury trials, i am the onl who comes at the job with a wide variety of experiences, personal and professional that none of thother candidates have. I visited my own parents in prison for my entire life, i have defended people wrongly i have advised people who are guilty that theyshould plead guilty and worked with two federal judges here in San Francisco, we presided over nine jury trials. I have seen the criminal justice syem for multiple different perspectives, i know it is broken,i have a concrete set of proposals for how to fix it and ive got a track record of fighting for those changes. This is not aboumeblame michael, this is about a track record of standing up for what is just and what makes us safer. Many of the policy proposals i thhave made in campaign, things like bill reform, and standing up to the trumpet ministration around immigration policy are things that all the other candidates now say they support. I have got a track record of fighting for those changes d they have a track rerd of being on the wrong side of them for years and years. What you want to do, susi t ms of triage what are you going to be looking at the change . We have got to st the tide of car breakins as i said the latest numbers as of september of this year is that there are 70 per day in San Francisco. The local journalist just put on twitter. We arat the top of the crime is per capita, while we often talk about proper crime as something that seems to be smaller or minimal, it is affecting peoples ability to afford to live in San Francisco. Whether it is retail theft happening from Small Businesses in chinatown, whether it is st side. Heft happening on the you know, whether it is the retail theft that is happening in midmarket, we have to have gy strand a plan to work with Law Enforcement and work with our community members, to actually deal with that which has not been done in the last few years. Plans or consumer ships in terms of homelessness . What are you proposing . I support the expansion of the use of conservatorships. Im from San Francisco, and am raising my family here, ive never seen ofthe level suffering happening on our streets and it is clear that a number of people are whatthe Legal Definition is, gravely disabled. We need to make sure that we can get people to help they need, conservatorship doesnt need to be forever but to get someone from where they are to being much better. Its a Board Meeting up at his office and taking it out of criminal setting of putting it in the state Attorneys Office and i veink we to make better that we are getting people to help they need because that is an important y public safrategy. Despite a final question to both of you, communities of color, how can you work better with th and how n you evoke more trust, especially given the fact that we have half of those in prison who are of africanamerican percent and only six percent of the population is africanamerican. Thats what my suort has been really about, to black firefighters to officers for justice ive had a 15 year ui have worked, in and with re communitieof color to buil justice and i am tremendously grateful to have their support in this race. What i have announced is that i want to have the firstever civil rights unit within the das office. We will not build a city that s e for all of us until we have a Justice System that works for all of us and raci disparities are a clear threat to that, five percent of our population is africanamerican 53 percent of whis inour jail we have work to do and District Attorney i will work every day to eradicate disparities. Racial disparities article defining feature of the criminal Justice System in the united states. In senteines go, we rcerate africanamericans at a higher rate than any other city inthe country. It is a disgrace, and it needs to change. I have announced the confidence of series of specific policy e ideas that on my website, and they attack Racial Disparities at every single step of the criminal justice stem. Those policies have won me the support of leaders like felici jones, the tina Democratic Club and across the country, criminal Justice Reform leaders like john legend, angela davis as well as five members of our bo supervisors. People who know that ive got the idea is to track the track record the vision and to make our crinal Justice System work for everybody. Thank you both for being with us thg evening. Good luck to you and campaign hardpoint thanks michael will do. Meryl streep one of the most celebrated performers of our time, since her stage debut in 1975, streep has won three oscars and 21 nominations, making her the most nominated actor in the history of the academy awards. Over the years, she has been ignoring for known for fighting ageism and d xism in hollywoo and for taking on pivotal roles in films like the bridges of ma son county and the Devil Wears Prada. Writer erin carlson spent nine e months researching aits that have made meryl streep such a commanding presence on on stage and screen. Joining me now is n. Erin carl welcome. Thank you for having me. Meryl streep indeed is a leading icon, legendary as i said but why queen . Queen of stage and screen arn qu more. I mean, the 21 Oscar Nominations says it all, three wins, there is something regal about her, there . You see her on the red carpet, accepting awards, Lifetime Achievement award, in 2017, she has this regal cleanly tearing, but i thought was perfect for the title of the book, and would also resident, with fans, who looked to her, you know, i was like a Queen Elizabeth type character, larger than fe. She certainly is one of the althoughpresident trump calls are overrated. Y oughts about that . Oh, that was, you know, trump and twitter a toxic mix. And, anyone is fair game. Merrill, in her 2017 speechof the Golden Globes went after him, e was championing diversity, and, you know, going after him on his bullying of the Washington Post was his disabled Washington Post reporter a responded by calling her the most overrated actors in hollywood. R afthat, her fans closed ranks about day because they knew that was patently untrue and it sort of made her legend grow, or stronger. Speaking about her legend, this is a book that i would describe as high praise. She is a icon to you and you adore her comes across in your prose, was there a daiter of g a erpiece that was to puffy . The problem is that she is perfect. For years, she has sort of to bfamous. T tightrope of how other people make big mistakes, public gas, but she manages to survive all of it, especi ly starting the 80s and 90s, she projected the image of the virtuous mother, you know, she can do it all, she is working mother, has four children, is incredible marriage, and, she uof olifetimes. Eatest ac rs so, she really knew how to navigate that media persona. The marriage came after she lost a eat love of her life anjohn tisdale o played the adaptation of not only being a mother and having four children, four pretty good kid n by my rds is pretty anomalous and call it in hollywood, you dont hear ouabo these ppily ever after stories i dont know if i call her perfect. But, youre talking about her life being perfect, o. Her life, if by having it all, a great marriage, children, a great career, then her life is prettperfect. However, what i found was that she is more yes, she is perfect ifyou look at her media image, but she is more flawed than you might think. She has also said i am arrogant andmy mother was ndarrogant right . Her mother was a very larger thanlife commercial artist and staywathome mom, she a second central flip figure in merrills life. She told merrill from a very young age that she could do anhing, and merrill said that as a result, she became arrogant and she really thought that she could do anything, and play any role. Whats amazing is the versatility of what she has he done throughouacting career which you capture in the book and also the fact that like many peop know in mamma mia she was singing and writing in a letter script and so forth im interested in hearing since you talk about all these movies, what movies that she t did, wle that she did with extraordinary range are most memorable you to you is chair is most . Oh, the first merrill movie i ever saw was the reveler river wild when i was 13, and i went with my mother, and i was sort of confused, because there was a woman lein a ing role, that a man would have play, the river wild was her first and last action movie. Sh got really rippfor it. And, she had a stunt double, a but she mostly did her own stunts. So, you know, i saw this movie, and i was just loud. Here is a woman in a mans role, it is not arnolds words and anger, bruce willis. That stuck with me. And, then, the next merrill movie that i really channeled her talents, to me will that i loved was the redevils w the Devil Wears Prada because i was working in new york is a 26 yearold anne haaways age in the movie and i just felt that movie. You know, it got something so right out working for a demanding boss in the media which i understood and she t played tle effortlessly. Despite its amazing how effortless she is and how many accents e can do in languages she can do. You tell the story about tina dealer and that opens yo book . Yeah. Merrill, she is 26, she is out of yale school of drama, or yale school of trauma, however you want to r say it, and she decides she maybe wants to be in movies, she is still doing theater, butlet me try movies. She goes into inauguration for king kong. Dena delorenzos remake. He is an italian producer, little doeshe know that she learned italian at vassar so she ts down and he is sitting there with his son, and he says to his son in italian. Iny did you me this, this is so ugly. She understands every word he is saying, so she says to him, look, this is what you see, this is what you get. And then, she gets up and walks out. A and jessnge takes the role. So, bullet dodged for merrill i guess to also a story that reveals a lot about her d character she a lot about her feminist principles and ideals and sexism, it stank thank you for this book i really enjoyed it. Thank you so much. You can meet aaron at hear more about her eabook merrill at music hall in hill valley for more information visit event bright. Com that wius do it for as always, you can find more of our coverage on kqed. Org newsroom. Thank you for joining us. Ns captioning sed by wnet pbs newshour weekend is made possib by bernard and irene schwartz. Sue and Edgar Wachenheim iii. The cheryl and Philip Milstein family. The j. P. B. Fndation