B14 THE SAN DIEGO UNION-TRIBUNE SUNDAY • MAY24, 2020

APATH FORWARD STUCK AT HOME, DREAMING OF TRAVEL AND INTERACTION

BY STEVEN P. DINKIN Americans seem intent on well says that when we as we’ve been doing every seen, firsthand, the conse- bly timely notion that was staying put for a while. As a change our experiences, we May for nearly 30 years. The quences of taking this path: pioneered by a Frenchman This Memorial Day result of the coronavirus, change our impressions — commemoration recognizes an “us-vs.-them” mentality some 200 years ago. The idea weekend, I’m thinking the usual hassle surround- eliminating unconscious Asian Americans and Pa- that produces hostilities, is to journey around your about St. Augustine. Not ing travel has been magni- bias. cific Islander Americans for manifested as vitriol or room — as in your own bed- the city in Florida that fied by a factor of 100. This pandemic is clog- their many contributions. violence. room or living room — with draws many visitors, but One of the worst things ging our neural pathways. Local public television Still, there is no substi- the same level of curiosity rather the 4th century philo- about prolonged isolation is For instance, hostility station KPBS recently aired tute for an opportunity to and awareness you bring to sopher who was known for missing out on valuable toward Asian Americans — adocumentary series titled meet the world, face-to-face. traveling in a new place. his contributions both to opportunities to interact something I wrote about “Asian Americans,” which Travel teaches us that peo- I’m not giving up com- Catholic theology and West- with others who don’t look several weeks ago — contin- chronicled the role this ple of all cultures are more pletely on the real thing. But ern thinking. or act or think like us. That’s ues, unabated. In the last community has played in alike than different, despite for now, I’ll take a trip to the St. Augustine said, “The how we learn and grow as two months, there have shaping our nation’s story. the variations in their ap- yard and imagine that it’s world is a book, and those human beings. So, once this been more than 1,100 docu- Such programming is in- pearances, customs and Senegal, which I visited last who do not travel only read pandemic is over, Ameri- mented attacks. Our fellow tended to broaden a viewer’s languages. Travel opens our year. I will recall the wildlife one page.” Here we are, at cans really need to get up citizens, Americans of Asian knowledge and build under- minds, reshapes our think- and beauty of the country. the unofficial start of the and go. descent, are being spat standing among cultures. ing and deepens our human- And if he’s agreeable, Milo summer travel season, and In his best-selling book upon, yelled at, even phys- It’s much the same work ity. can play the role of the Americans are stuck just “Blink,” Malcolm Gladwell ically assaulted. They’re that we do every day at the Alas, for most of us, at jackal. reading one page. writes about the new neural blamed for bringing the National Conflict Resolu- least for now, travel is but a The extent of the trav- pathways that are formed “Chinese virus” to the tion Center, where our train- dream. Dinkin is president of the National eling I’ll be doing over the when we meet other people. United States. Asian- ing gives people the tools for Alain de Botton’s book Conflict Resolution Center, a San next few months is making These pathways help us American children are being finding common ground, “The Art of Travel” offers a Diego-based organization working to trips to the yard or raiding overcome the stereotypes taunted, too. Imagine the appreciating differences fix. The author returns create innovative solutions to the refrigerator — that is, that creep up on society. scars this cruelty will leave and encouraging tolerance. home to London after a challenging issues, including when I’m not taking my dog, Unconscious bias, as it’s behind. The unfortunate, and all satisfying trip, feeling de- intolerance and incivility. NCRC is Milo, for a walk. known, is far more prevalent Ironically, this is occur- too comfortable, alternative pressed. To recreate his nationally recognized for its conflict I’m not alone. Even as than conscious prejudice. It ring even as our country is to only seek out informa- travel experiences, de Bot- management and communication some states take baby steps is also, often, incompatible celebrates Asian/Pacific tion that reinforces our ton introduces the concept strategies. To learn about NCRC’s toward reopening, many with a person’s values. Glad- American Heritage Month, prejudices and fears. We’ve of “room travel,” a remarka- programming, visit ncrconline.com SMOLENS

FROM B1 Over the years, Adam Day has served as chief of staff to county Supervisor Dianne Jacob and worked for Supervisor Greg Cox, former Supervisor George Bailey and former U.S. Sen. Pete Wilson. He has been a county planning commissioner and sat on the Del Mar fair board. He was an executive at the public affairs firm of Porter Novelli, where he worked briefly with Kevin Faulconer, now San Diego’s mayor. The two have been allies for years. Day was appointed to the CSU Board of Trustees in 2014 by then-Gov. Jerry Brown and was named chairman in 2018. He has been an executive at Sycuan for 20 years, the last seven as CAO. “Adam came to us with substantial experi- ence in government,” said Cody Martinez, tribal chairman of the Sycuan band, according to Day’s CSU bio. “The relationships he has built up over his career have enabled Sycuan to set itself apart from other tribes.” As the state and county began loosening the coronavirus shutdown rules for some non-essential businesses, Sycuan and other tribes announced plans to reopen their ca- sinos. But they weren’t among the businesses envisioned as part of the state’s early phases to reboot the economy. County Public Health Officer Dr. Wilma Wooten immediately said she would try to JOHN GASTALDO PHOTOS prevent them from opening, but quickly Arnulfo Azaam Quintero IV (center) gets a hearty welcome at Paving Great Futures having recently come off parole. backed off, realizing she had no authority over the sovereign tribes. Newsom privately and because (then) they win; you publicly asked them to delay, but to no avail. FUTURES didn’t.” Tribal leaders noted that they voluntarily King walked around the closed their casinos to help slow the spread of FROM B1 room looking at each participa- the deadly coronavirus and developed de- some spacing between partici- nt and sharing his own experi- tailed safety protocols in order to reopen. pants. On Wednesday, most ence with the justice system. Day said Sycuan has conferred with people sat apart, and not every- King spent more than a decade Wooten about their plans. “I think we have met one was wearing a face mask. working as a pimp until he be- the county’s guidelines,” he said. The participants, five young came active in the anti-sex traf- He said the casinos are needed to generate men and a woman, said they ficking movement. essential revenue so Sycuan can continue weren’t concerned about get- He told participants to carry providing services to its tribal members. For ting sick. One joked that the co- aphoto of someone they care that to continue, he emphasized the casino ronavirus was the least of his about and don’t want to let needs to operate safely in the coronavirus problems. down — for those difficult mo- world. “A lot of us come from broken ments when the easiest thing to “The most important thing is to have the homes or in and out of juvenile do would be to react negatively. confidence of our patrons and employees,” he hall or jail,” Quintero said. “(The “It’s good getting a certifi- said. program) allows me to feel nor- cate and everything, but the On the eve of Wednesday’s official reopen- mal, because I’ve been locked population we are dealing with, ing, Day said: “There’s a little bit of trep- away.” Ijust don’t want them to die or idation, but we’re all highly confident in our AZoom teleconference, go to jail,” King said. “If we can staff.” Facetime chat or weekly phone Julio “Bolo” Dulay, who has been jailed for previous run-ins get past that ... we will work on Hundreds of regular customers were in- call won’t do that, he said. with the police, speaks highly of Paving Great Futures. “It getting you a job. I just need you vited to a soft opening on Tuesday, which “Sitting behind a computer, keeps me busy, keeps me focused,” he said. alive.” served as sort of a shakedown cruise and trying to do a call would not be King said the nonprofit con- informed the casino operators what adjust- the same,” Quintero said. Men fication and on Wednesday at- He said the program keeps sidered running the program ments were needed before thousands showed make up the majority of partici- tended the customer service him busy and away from old online, to keep everyone safe up the following day. pants in this program. Everyone certification class. habits. Dulay, who is Quintero’s from the coronavirus, but he “There’s no room for error,” Day said. has been involved in the crimi- The 23-year-old admits he cousin, said meeting with King knew that if he did, he would be While Day has been steeped in the logistics nal justice system for various hasn’t always been consistent every week helps him stay fo- shutting out a lot of people who of the casino reopening, he was not as inti- reasons, from sex trafficking to with the work readiness pro- cused; he doesn’t think a virtual are not responsive to online out- mately involved in the SDSU-city negotiations selling drugs. gram because he was in and out meeting would be the same. reach. over the Mission Valley land sale. Participants receive a $50 of jail. But this time, he’s deter- Dulay took notes during the The nonprofit provides face Early on, he was actually supportiveof an stipend for every class they at- mined to stay out of trouble. customer service lesson plan on masks and gloves to participa- initial proposal for the property called Soc- tend and a $150 stipend for com- “This is my last chance at Wednesday. The participants nts but doesn’t police whether cerCity, a private development backed by pleting a test at the end of the getting it right,” Dulay said. were learning about customer they wear them or not. Faulconer. four-week class. Dulay was 19 when he first personalities and ways to inter- King said Paving Great Fu- Many university officials, alums and sup- Julio ‘Bolo’ Dulay recently went to jail on charges of evad- act with someone who is impo- tures is working on getting hous- porters strongly opposed the plan and when got out of the George F. Bailey ing police and reckless endan- lite or impatient. ing assistance for participants the group Friends of SDSU developed their Detention Facility in Otay Mesa, germent. He also has had trou- “Your job is not to respond and is looking to move into a big- rival initiative for what was then called SDSU after serving a five-month sen- ble following the conditions of with the same energy,” King ger facility, to help more people. West, Day jumped on board. tence for violating probation. his probation, such as informing said. “Raise the bar. Don’t let After Measure G passed, Day played a key He previously completed the his probation officer of address anybody outside your program andrea.lopezvillafana@ role in the project. program’s screen printing certi- changes. distract you from your program sduniontribune.com Day had been the only CSU trustee from San Diego when Jack McGrory, a leader of the SDSU group and former San Diego city man- vote centers a public health dan- noted that some in-person vot- non-Latino whites and 54.2 per- ager, was appointed to the board in 2018. The BALLOT ger in the fall. ing options will be available to cent of Asian Americans said two helped usher through a CSU financial In a complaint filed by Judi- Californians in November, even vote-by-mail was their preferred package of more than $600 million for the land Newsom stands cial Watch on behalf of Issa and with all registered voters receiv- method. In comparison only 48 purchase, stadium and infrastructure costs. other plaintiffs in Sacramento’s ing a mail ballot. percent of African-Americans Day said negotiations over the purchase by May 8 order U.S. District Court, the conser- “Vote by mail is not novel in and 47.9 percent of Latinos said have been drawn out too long. But he added vative group argues that New- the state of California, nor was it the same. that he respected the city’s desire to “go over it FROM B1 som’s order is an “unlawful at- in a recent special election,” The New Election Project’s with a fine-tooth comb” given the complexity ence across parties,” he said, tempt to supersede” current Newsom said, referring to this studyalsofoundthatashiftto an of the transaction. “some difference across ethnic state election law and that elec- month’s CA-25 election, which a allvote-by-mailelection—which One of the more peculiar sidelights of the groups, but everybody, a large tion results could be invalidated Republican candidate won. isn’t being considered yet in Cali- struggle hopefully will fade from memory. majority of every group, wants to if it’s still in place in November. “I think it’s the responsible fornia — is unlikely to tip the bal- SDSU Athletic Director John David Wicker cast a ballot they received in the The lawsuit specifically refers thing to do, to encourage people ance toward either political said the university was considering relocating mail, either by sending it in the to California’s 50th Congres- to vote and to have an alternative party. Nearly identical percent- Aztec football outside San Diegofor the 2021 mail or dropping it off.” sional District, which includes to waiting in line,” he said, “espe- ages of Republicans and Demo- season because no local venue was big enough The study shows a clear di- portions of East and inland cially potentially going back into crats said they wouldn’t partici- —save SDCCU Stadium, the Aztec’s longtime vide between the feelings of Cali- North San Diego County and a the fall and experiencing a sec- pate in that type of election, 2.7 home. He said playing there without a land fornia voters and the national small southern portion of Riv- ond wave that could put that percent and 2.8 percent respec- deal was a non-starter. Republican and Democratic erside County, where Issa is election at risk. tively. Carson in Los Angeles County was even leaders fighting over expanding mounting a return bid to Con- “I think elections are too im- Regardless of whether an mentioned. access to vote-by-mail nation- gress. portant. I think Mr. Issa’s elec- election was done entirely by The irony was rich. Day served as chairman wide before November’s elec- The suit states Issa’s cam- tion is too important.” mail or in person, the vast major- of Faulconer’s Citizens Stadium Advisory tion. paign is having to re-evaluate its In California vote-by-mail is ity of Californians said they in- Group, which recommended an ultimately President Donald Trump — electoral strategy because he actually more likely to be pre- tend to vote come Nov. 3. futile Mission Valley stadium plan in 2015 who is registered to vote by mail “registered to run for office ... ferred by certain segments of the About 5.6 percent said they aimed at keeping the Chargers in town. San —and other Republican na- under the electoral system es- Republican base than the wouldn’t vote if their only option Diego’s once-beloved NFL franchise made tionalleadershave saidthatmail tablished by the California Leg- Democratic base, Kousser said. is to vote in person, while 3.4 per- Carson their new, temporary home. balloting invites fraud, though islature,” according to the com- “If you look at the racial di- cent of people said they wouldn’t they have not provided evidence. plaint. vide, whites and Asians are the vote if their only option was to Tweet of the Week Gov. Gavin Newsom on May 8 The lawsuit drew criticism groups most likely to want to vote by mail, according to the Goes to Scott Lewis (@vosdscott), CEO signed an executive order in- from California’s Secretary of vote bymail.Ifyoulookattheage study. and editor in chief of Voice of San Diego. structing election officials to State and Newsom, who told re- divide, senior citizens 65 and “Very few people said they “Bravo, San Diego. Through all this, this send every registered voter in porters Friday he felt the order over are the most likely to want wouldn’t vote,” said Kousser. unprecedented and devastating crisis, we California a mail ballot for the stood on “firm legal ground.” to vote by mail,” Kousser said. “There is a clear commitment of have managed to still have a football team November election, a decision He said several states — in- According to the New Elec- people to making this election threatening to leave San Diego in the news.” made amid concerns that the cluding more conservative tion Project’s survey, when given work.” COVID-19 pandemic could make states like Utah — have shifted the option to cast a ballot any michael.smolens@ crowded polling locations and entirely to voting by mail, and he way they wished, 54.3 percent of [email protected] sduniontribune.com