>> THANK YOU FOR JOINING US FOR THIS LOOK AT SOME OF THE BEST STORIES FROM KPBS NEWS, I'M MAYA TRABULSI , COMING UP, MONEY PROBLEMS FOR SAN DIEGO'S MTS, WE HAVE A DEEP DIVE INTO THE PUBLIC TRANSIT AGENCY, HOW IT IS TRYING TO COVER RISING COSTS AND WHAT THAT COULD MEAN FOR RIDERS.

AND WE HAVE A DAY IN THE LIFE OF JOURNALIST IN ONE OF CALIFORNIA'S LARGEST CITY, AND SEE HOW SDSU IS USING ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE TO STUDY ONE OF SAN DIEGO'S BIGGEST CHALLENGES.

>>> SAN DIEGO CITY COUNCIL IS TRYING TO FALL FOR ONE OF ITS BIGGEST BUDGET GAPS IN RECENT MEMORY, ALL WEEK CITY HALL HAS BEEN BUSY WITH HEARINGS WITH A MIX OF CRUNCHING NUMBERS AND WEIGHING THE HUMAN COSTS.

WE HAVE TWO STORIES AT WHAT IS AT STAKE.

>> Reporter: SAN DIEGO HAS NEARLY 3000 MILES OF STREETS AND 12 TRAFFIC ENGINEERS DEDICATED TO REDESIGNING THEM WITH SAFETY IMPROVEMENTS.

THINGS LIKE SLOWING TRAFFIC, IMPROVING VISIBILITY, AND ADDING CROSSWALKS AND BIKE LANES.

IT IS CALLED THE MULTIMODAL TEAM AND IN THE PROPOSED BUDGET, IT WOULD ELIMINATE IT ENTIRELY.

LAURA KEENAN COFOUNDED FAMILIES FOR SAFER STREETS, SAN DIEGO, AFTER HER HUSBAND WAS STRUCK AND KILLED WHILE BIKING IN 2021.

>> THE MAYOR SAID HIS NUMBER ONE PRIORITY IS SAFETY AND IF THAT IS TRULY THE CASE, HE NEEDS TO PRIORITIZE TRAFFIC SAFETY AND THIS MULTIMODAL TEAM IS A TEAM THAT IS RESPONSIBLE FOR MAKING SAFER STREETS IN A VERY COST-EFFECTIVE AND EFFICIENT WAY.

>> Reporter: TRAFFIC COLLISIONS KILLED AT LEAST 50 PEOPLE IN SAN DIEGO LAST YEAR AND CAUSED MORE THAN 5000 INJURIES ACCORDING TO CITY CRASH DATA.

ONE OF THOSE KILLED WAS ANDREW OLSON, AN 11-YEAR-OLD BOY WHO WAS STRUCK BY A DRIVER WHILE WALKING TO SCHOOL IN SAN CARLOS.

AFTER HIS DEATH, THE CITY IMPLEMENTED SAFETY IMPROVEMENTS AT THE CRASH SITE.

>> THE CITY ACTED ALMOST IMMEDIATELY TO MAKE COST- EFFECTIVE IMPROVEMENTS, THE TEAM WAS INSTRUMENTAL IN DESIGNING THE QUICK AND EASY FIXES.

>> Reporter: SEVERAL COUNCILMEMBERS ON MONDAY SUPPORTED THE TEAM BUT ACKNOWLEDGED RESERVING AND IT WOULD REQUIRE CUTS ELSEWHERE IN THE BUDGET, TOTAL FUNDING FOR THE TRANSPORTATION DEPARTMENT IS GOING UP.

THAT LED SOME TO QUESTION WHETHER THE PROPOSAL TO ELIMINATE THE MULTIMODAL TEAM IS MORE ABOUT POLITICS THAN BALANCING THE BUDGET.

>> THIS IS WHAT I'M CONCERNED ABOUT, THAT THE MAYOR'S OFFICE HEARD ONE TOO MANY COMPLAINTS ABOUT BIKE LANES AND JUST DECIDED TO MAKE A SHARP LEFT TURN AND SAY WE ARE NOT DOING THEM ANYMORE.

>> Reporter: THE MAYOR IS SET TO RELEASE A REVISED PROPOSAL NEXT WEEK, THE CITY COUNCIL IS EXPECTED TO ADOPT A BUDGET ON JANUARY 9th.

>> THE PROPOSED BUDGET SLASHES ARTS FUNDING BY $11.8 MILLION, COUNCILMEMBER, KENT LEE SAYS THE CUTS WOULD DEVASTATE THE ARTS COMMUNITY IN SAN DIEGO.

>> I CANNOT ENVISION A CITY WHERE STRUCTURALLY BALANCED DOES NOT INCLUDE ARTS AND CULTURE.

DOZENS OF ARTS ORGANIZATIONS WERE PRESENT AT THE COMMUNITY MEETING TODAY, THEY SAY THE CUTS WILL BE DISASTROUS NOT JUST FOR THE PROGRAMS BUT ALSO TO THE CITY'S CULTURAL VIBRANCY.

>> IF WE REALLY WANT TO BE AN IMPORTANT CITY, THE ARTS AND CULTURE HAVE TO BE A PART OF IT.

THERE IS NO CITY THAT DOESN'T HAVE A VIBRANT ARTS AND CULTURE COMMUNITY AND THE CITY HAS TO RECOGNIZE THAT.

>> Reporter: THE PRESIDENT AND CEO OF THE SAN FRANCISCO SYMPHONY SAYS THIS BUDGET IS A RESULT OF CITY COUNCIL NOT VALUING ARTS AND CULTURE, THE NONPROFIT ARTS AND CULTURE CENTER GENERATED $1.2 BILLION IN ECONOMIC ACTIVITY.

THAT IS PART OF THE REASON WHY COUNCILMEMBER WAS UPSET THAT THE MAYOR'S OFFICE DID NOT DO AN ECONOMIC ANALYSIS BEFORE DECIDING TO MAKE A CUT.

>> WE HAVE TO THINK ABOUT THE POTENTIAL IMPACT AND HOW WE ENSURE THAT WE DON'T JUST DECIMATE ONE PART OF OUR ECONOMY IN SAN DIEGO JUST IN THE NAME OF ACCOMPLISHING A REDUCTION IN NUMBERS.

>> Reporter: THE ARTS AND CULTURAL INSTITUTIONS HELP TO INCREASE TOURISM WHICH GENERATES REVENUE TO SUPPORT OTHER SERVICES.

CUTTING ARTS SPENDING ALSO HURTS THE CITY IN OTHER WAYS.

>> YOU REMOVE THE FUNDING FOR THE SYSTEM, IT'S NOT LIKE IT GOES TO SLEEP AND WAKES UP WHEN YOU DECIDE TO PUT THE MONEY INTO IT.

>> Reporter: SHE SAYS IT CREATES A COMMUNITY THAT IS HARD TO REBUILD BACK FROM, THE CITY COUNCIL WILL REVIEW THE BUDGET UNTIL NEXT FRIDAY, THE MAYOR IS EXPECTED TO REVISE THE BUDGET PROPOSAL BY MAY 13th.

FOUR FOUR CITY COUNCIL SEATS ARE ON THE ELECTION NOW LESS THAN A MONTH AWAY, BOATERS HAVE RECEIVED THEIR BALLOTS AND KPBS IS RAMPING UP OUR COVERAGE , THE VOTER HUB IS BEING UPDATED DAILY WITH FRESH CONTENT.

WE HAVE INFORMATION ON LOCAL AND STATEWIDE RACES IN AN EASY TO NAVIGATE FORMAT.

AND YOU CAN CHECK OUT YOUR REGISTRATION STATUS BEFORE THE MAY 18th DEADLINE, WE ALSO HAVE A SPANISH VERSION WITH ALL THE SAME INFORMATION.

YOU CAN FIND LINKS TO THE HUB ON OUR HOME PAGE OR YOU CAN GO TO KPBS .ORG/VOTE.

>>> TRANSIT RIDERS MAY SOON BE ASKED TO PAY MORE TO RIDE A BUS OR TROLLEY, THE BOARD VOTED TO RECOMMEND FAIR INCREASES LAST MONTH.

PUBLIC MATTERS REPORTER, JAKE GOT A TELLS US THAT NIGHT NOT BE A LONG-TERM SOLUTION THAT THE AGENCY NEEDS.

>> Reporter: MTS IS FACING A SIGNIFICANT DEFICIT, THERE IS A $500 MILLION GAP OVER THE NEXT FOUR YEARS.

THEY PLAN TO COVER MOST OF THAT WITH A MIX OF ONE-TIME STATE FUNDING, PARTNERSHIP OPPORTUNITIES, AND TRANSFER FROM A CAPITAL FUND THAT IS TYPICALLY MEANT FOR LONG-TERM INFRASTRUCTURE.

THERE'S STILL ABOUT $90 MILLION SHORT IN THE AGENCY WANTS TO MAKE UP A CHUNK OF THAT WITH INCREASED FARES ON BUSES AND TROLLEYS, THE MTS BOARD IS RECOMMENDING FAIRS UP TO 40% HIGHER WITH ONE-WAY RIDES INCREASING FROM $2.50 UP TO $3.25, THIS WILL BRING AN ADDITIONAL $9 MILLION THE FIRST YEAR AND $14 MILLION THE SECOND.

BUT NOT EVERYBODY IS ON BOARD WITH THIS PLAN.

>> I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE BEFORE WE ASK RIDERS , WHO ARE ALREADY OFTEN TIMES WORKING TWO OR THREE JOBS, WHO ARE STRETCHED THIN, TO PAY A CENT MORE THAT WE HAVE DONE EVERYTHING IN OUR POWER TO BRING IN MONEY IN OTHER WAYS.

>> Reporter: HE SAID IT UNFAIRLY BURDENS LOW INCOME RIDERS WHO DEPEND ON THE SYSTEM AND THERE SHOULD BE OTHER WAYS TO MAKE UP THE DIFFERENCE.

>> I THINK THERE IS BROAD SUPPORT FOR HAVING THE WEALTHY PAY MORE OF THEIR FAIR SHARE.

THERE IS BROAD SUPPORT FOR HAVING THE TOURISTS PAY MORE, TO PAY FOR THEIR IMPACTS HERE.

AND THAT IS A VERY DIFFERENT THING THAN ASKING EVERYDAY PEOPLE.

>> Reporter: HE TOLD KPBS THAT HE WOULD PREFER TO PAY A BIT MORE OTHER THAN LOSING SERVICE.

>> IF THEY PUT INCREASES ON THESE, NOBODY WOULD HAVE A WAY OF GETTING AROUND.

I KNOW HALF THE PEOPLE DON'T PAY.

>> Reporter: THAT IS ONE OF THE PROBLEMS FACING MTS, THE AGENCY SAYS MORE THAN 30% OF RIDERS WERE NOT PAYING THEIR FARES LAST YEAR, IN 2024 THEY MADE AN INVESTMENT TO IMPROVE SECURITY AND HIRE MORE COMPLIANCE OFFICERS.

AND IN FEBRUARY OF 2025, THE POLICY WAS CHANGED TO IMMEDIATELY CITE NONPAYING RIDERS.

PREVIOUSLY THEY ALLOWED THEM TO PAY THEIR FARES WITHOUT GETTING CAUGHT.

FARE EVASION IS COSTING THEM $1 MILLION PER MONTH BEFORE THAT CHANGE BUT THE EXTRA SECURITY AND POLICY CHANGE HAS HAD LIMITED IMPACT.

MTS SAID IN THE YEARS SINCE, FARE EVASION DROPPED 11% AND MORE THAN ONE THIRD OF RIDERS ARE STILL NOT PAYING.

THE AGENCY SAID THE ADDITIONAL REVENUE WAS ROUGHLY $4.9 MILLION ANNUALLY.

WELL SHORT OF THE 1 MILLION PER MONTH THEY SAID FARE EVASION COULD COST.

THIS RAISES A KEY QUESTION, WHY DON'T THE PLATFORMS HAVE GATES?

GATES OR TURNSTILES THAT ONLY OPEN AFTER AFFAIR IS PAID ARE COMMON ON MANY TRANSIT SYSTEMS BUT THE SAN DIEGO'S FIRST LINE WAS BUILT ALONG FREIGHT TRACKS BETWEEN DOWNTOWN AND THE BORDER WITH LIMITED SPACE.

WITH THE AGENCY'S FINANCIAL STRUGGLES, HOWEVER, AND HIGH EVASION RATES, THEY ARE ADVOCATING FOR GATES AT ALL PLATFORMS.

MTS SAID IT WOULD BE DIFFICULT AND EXPENSIVE TO INSTALL THE GATES AT EVERY STATION, PARTICULARLY DOWNTOWN.

AT THE FIFTH AVENUE STATION, A LOCAL ADVOCATE EXPLAINED SOME OF THE OBSTACLES.

>> YOU WOULD HAVE TO EVADE THESE WALLS, AND PEOPLE COULD STILL WALK IN, YOU WOULD HAVE TO HAVE DOORS THAT CLOSE WHEN THE TROLLEY IS NOT COMING.

THERE'S ALL THESE CHALLENGES.

>> Reporter: BUT, HE BELIEVES THESE OBSTACLES ARE SURMOUNTABLE.

>> MTS HAS SOME VERY SMART PEOPLE WHO CAN PROBLEM SOLVE.

I THINK THAT IF FOLKS ARE OPERATING UNDERGROUND TRANSPORTATION SYSTEMS, WE CAN FIGURE OUT HOW TO CREATE A CLOSED SYSTEM ABOVE GROUND.

>> Reporter: WHEN BAY AREA RAPID TRANSIT INSTALLED FAIR GATES, REVENUE INCREASED $10 MILLION ANNUALLY, AND UP-FRONT COSTS IN SAN DIEGO WOULD BE A PROBLEM.

>> WHAT IT EVENTUALLY PAY OUT AGAIN IS SOMETHING TO BE SEEN BUT WE DON'T HAVE THE MONEY TO PAY FOR THE PRODUCT AT THIS POINT.

>> Reporter: MTS SAY THEY ARE STUDYING THE FEASIBILITY OF THE COST.

THAT COULD BE AN AVENUE TO PAY FOR FAIR GATES.

ULTIMATELY IT WOULD TAKE A VARIETY OF SOLUTIONS TO DEAL WITH THE BUDGET PROBLEM.

EVEN IF 100% OF RIDERS PAID, MTS WOULD STILL FACE A DEFICIT BUT, FAIR GATES COULD BE A LONG- TERM FIX THAT HELPS PREVENT FUTURE FAIR INCREASES.

>> ALL OF THAT COMES BACK TO FAIRNESS FOR THE WORKING FAMILIES IN SAN DIEGO WHO DEPEND ON TRANSIT, THAT THEY ARE PAYING WHAT THEY ARE SUPPOSED TO BE PAYING AND NOW THEY ARE BEING ASKED TO PAY MORE.

>>> BEING A JOURNALIST HAS MANY CHALLENGES BUT OUR COLLEAGUES JUST ACROSS THE BORDER ARE FACING A SET OF OBSTACLES.

MATTHEW BULLER SPENT THE DAY CHASING DOWN LEADS WITH A FEW OF TIJUANA'S BEST JOURNALISTS.

>> Reporter: THAT IS GIOVANNI, A GENERAL ASSIGNMENT REPORTER AT THE EL SOL TIJUANA NEWSPAPER, WE MET UP WITH HIM ONE MORNING.

HE IS FROM TIJUANA.

>> Reporter: WE FOLLOWED HIM UPSTAIRS TO THE NEWSROOM.

HE SITS AT HIS DESK AND STARTS TO BANG AWAY ON HIS KEYBOARD.

HE'S THE FIRST ONE IN TODAY, HIS DESK HAS FIGURINES AND THE NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS SOUVENIR HELMET.

HE SHOWED ME THE FILING CABINET WITH MEMORIAL STICKERS FROM MARGARITO MARTINEZ, THE JOURNALIST MURDERED IN 2022.

>> [SPEAKING IN A GLOBAL LANGUAGE] >> Reporter: TWO JOURNALISTS HAVE BEEN KILLED IN MEXICO SO FAR THIS YEAR, IN THE FIRST SIX MONTHS OF 2025, EIGHT JOURNALISTS WERE KILLED.

>> BY 1988, I WAS AWARE OF MY FIRST COLLEAGUE BEING KILLED.

>> Reporter: HE HAS BEEN A JOURNALIST IN TIJUANA FOR SEVERAL YEARS, SINCE 1985, HE HELPED FOUND THE FAMOUS WEEKLY, ZETA TIJUANA.

>> WHEN YOU SEE THAT THERE'S CONSEQUENCES, PEOPLE THINK TWICE.

WE HADN'T SEEN THAT MORE OFTEN IN THE RECENT KILLINGS.

IN MEXICO AND IN TIJUANA.

>> Reporter: BACK ON ASSIGNMENT, WE PULL INTO THE MUSEUM HOSTING A BAJA SECURITY CONFERENCE.

WE WALK INTO THE TIJUANA CITIZENS PUBLIC SECURITY COMMITTEE MEETING.

LORENZO DODGED RIGHT INTO QUESTIONING THE PRESIDENT OF THE COMMITTEE.

OLD-FASHIONED BEAT REPORTING LIKE COVERING A COMMITTEE MEETING IS NOT THE ONLY KIND OF JOURNALISM IN TIJUANA.

THAT IS JOE, NICKNAMED JOE BLACK, HE IS A PHOTOJOURNALIST SPECIALIZING IN SOCIAL ISSUES, WE MET UP WITH HIM AT THE MIGRANT SHELTER.

HE IS KNOWN FOR IMMERSING HIMSELF IN HIS WORK.

>> I USED TO SLEEP IN THE CAMP, AND I STILL DO THAT SOMETIMES.

>> Reporter: TIME EQUALS ACCESS BUT THAT COMES WITH ITS OWN SET OF DANGERS.

>> IF YOU WANT TO BE A JOURNALIST OR THIS TYPE OF JOURNALIST, YOU'VE GOT TO KNOW THAT SOMEDAY, BECAUSE OF WHAT YOU ARE DOING, SOMETHING IS GOING TO GO TERRIBLY WRONG.

>> Reporter: MEXICO HAS A SYSTEM TO PROTECT JOURNALISTS.

IN 2019, TIJUANA JOURNALIST, MALDONADO TOLD THE THEN MEXICO PRESIDENT THAT SHE FEARED FOR HER LIFE.

MALDONADO WAS SHOT IN FRONT OF HER HOME ON JANUARY 23rd 2022, SHE WAS THE SECOND TIJUANA JOURNALIST KILLED IN LESS THAN A WEEK, THE FIRST, MARGARITO MARTINEZ, KILLED ON JANUARY 17th OF THAT SAME YEAR.

SINCE THEN, BEING A JOURNALIST ISN'T ANY SAFER AND THERE IS A NEW KIND OF THREAT ON THE RISE.

>> HARASSMENT OR THE STIGMATIZATION, POLITICS COMPLAINING ABOUT JOURNALISTS BEING SECRETIVE, THOSE THINGS ARE NOW MAKING THIS MORE COMPLICATED.

>> Reporter: HE SAYS HIS WIFE HAS ASKED HIM TO STOP.

>> MY WIFE, SHE KIND OF TOLD ME TO DROP IT, BECAUSE I HAVE GOTTEN A LOT OF THREATS.

SHE KNOWS THAT IF THEY KILL ME, IT'S BECAUSE I DID SOMETHING RIGHT.

>> Reporter: THE RISKS DON'T STOP THERE, IN SPITE OF THE THREATS HE WILL DODGE TIJUANA TRAFFIC TO GET A PHOTO.

HE WILL QUESTION AUTHORITY.

>> [SPEAKING IN A GLOBAL LANGUAGE] >> AND THROUGH IT ALL, HE SAYS THERE IS HOPE.

>> WHEN THINGS ARE NOT GOING ACCORDING TO THE ROLE, THEY CALL THE REPORTERS AND THE REPORTERS FROM TIJUANA ARE ANSWERING.

>> WHAT A GREAT STORY BY OUR VERY OWN, MATT BOWLER.

SIGN UP FOR OUR NEWSLETTER TO GET THE MOST POPULAR STORIES.

YOUR GUIDE TO 2026 PRIMARY ELECTION ENDORSEMENTS, AND HOW THE ARMY PAVED THE WAY FOR THE MARINES AT MIRAMAR.

HERE'S THE STORY FROM KPBS MILITARY REPORTER, ANDREW DYER.

>> Reporter: SAN DIEGO HISTORIAN, JIM SAID POOREST WALL WATER -- PORTS >> Reporter: THERE WAS NO DEVELOPED COMMUNITIES TO THE NORTH.

MIRAMAR WAS IN THE STICKS, WITH THE WAR OVER, AND THE UNITS MOVING TO CAMP PENDLETON, THE BASE WAS CLOSED, THAT IS WHEN THEY MOVED TO THE AIRPORT TO MIRAMAR.

>> IT WAS STILL AN UNDERDEVELOPED AREA SO, THAT IS SORT OF INTERESTING, AND PEOPLE TRYING TO UNDERSTAND JUST HOW FAR OUT THE TOWN WAS.

IT WAS OUT THERE.

>> Reporter: BUT CITY LEADERS AT THE TIME DIDN'T THINK ANYONE WOULD WANT TO TRAVEL THAT FAR TO GO TO THE AIRPORT.

>> IT WAS STILL TOO FAR OUT OF TOWN.

>> Reporter: COLONEL ERIC IS THE COMMANDING OFFICER TODAY, AND HE SAID HE IS THANKFUL THAT THEY WERE SOMEWHAT SHORTSIGHTED.

THE MARINES DID TURN OVER SOME EXCESS PARTS OF CAMP ELLIOTT, MISSION TRAILS OCCUPY LANDS ONCE PART OF THE CAMP.

>> IF YOUR IMAGINATION IS WORKING RIGHT, WE ARE NOW LOOKING AT ONE OF THE FASTEST GROWING CITIES IN AMERICA.

>> Reporter: THE POSTWAR ECONOMY BOOMED, MANUFACTURERS EMPLOYED THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE, GENERAL DYNAMICS OPENED A MASSIVE PLANT.

THAT IS WHERE THEY BEGAN DEVELOPING AND BUILDING THE FIRST EVER INTERCONTINENTAL BALLISTIC MISSILE, THE ATLAS.

AND THEY NEEDED A PLACE TO TEST IT.

>> WE ARE DEEP IN EAST MIRAMAR AND CLEARLY WE ARE NOT THE FIRST PEOPLE HERE.

THIS AREA IS EXTREMELY OFF- LIMITS, NOT ONLY IS IT DANGEROUS BUT THERE'S DECADES WORTH OF UNEXPLORED ORDINANCES POTENTIALLY ALL AROUND US.

THEY DO FIND SOME.

THIS IS THE SYCAMORE CANYON ROCKET TEST FACILITY, IT IS COMPLETELY ABANDONED TODAY.

BUT IN THE 1950s, IT IS WHERE THE AIR FORCE TESTED THE ATLAS MISSILE, IT WAS THE FIRST EVER INTERCONTINENTAL BALLISTIC MISSILE, THIS ENTIRE COMPLEX IS MOSTLY UNDERGROUND.

THIS IS THE EXHAUST VENT WHERE THE ROCKET EXHAUST WOULD FIRE WHEN THEY TESTED THE ROCKETS.

>> Reporter: THE FACILITY LOOKS LIKE SOMETHING OUT OF A ZOMBIE APOCALYPSE GAME, RUSTED METAL AND DECADES OF GRAFFITI ARE ALL THAT IS LEFT TODAY.

DURING THE EARLY DAYS OF THE COLD WAR, THIS IS WHAT THEY TESTED FOR THE CUTTING EDGE MILITARY TECH.

AND IT WAS TOP-SECRET, THE TEST SITE OPENED IN THE 50s AND WAS TURNED OVER TO NASA IN 1956.

IT WAS ABANDONED IN 1969.

>> THE WEAPONS AND TECHNOLOGIES BECAME OBSOLETE SO FAST.

>> Reporter: BY THEN, MIRAMAR WAS IN CONTROL OF THE NAVY.

IT WAS HOME OF THE AIR COMBAT SCHOOL, TOP GUN.

THE DEFENSE DEPARTMENT WAS DOWNSIZING THEIR BASES, ALL OF THEM WERE ON THE CHOPPING BLOCK, INCLUDING MIRAMAR.

>> BASICALLY THEY WERE ALL UNDER CONSIDERATION, IS WHAT I'M UNDERSTANDING, THAT'S WHY THERE WAS SUCH A FIGHT.

>> Reporter: THEY MOVED TO MIRAMAR, THE NAVY MOVED TO CENTRAL CALIFORNIA, TODAY THE BASE IS OWNED BY THE THIRD MARINE AIRCRAFT GROUP.

THERE'S 15,000 ACRES OF THE BASE EAST OF THE 15, AND HERMAN SAYS THEY ARE SPECIAL.

>> GOING SOUTH OF SAN DIEGO, YOU CAN SEE THIS MASSIVE EXPANSE OF UNIMPROVED LAND.

IT IS REALLY SPECIAL FOR US.

>> Reporter: HE SAYS UNITS COME FROM ALL OVER TO TRAIN AT MIRAMAR.

>> IT IS KIND OF BEST LEFT UNIMPROVED TO GET THAT SENSE OF RUGGEDNESS AND REALLY PREPARE FOLKS FOR WHAT THEY MIGHT SEE IN A NON-BUILT UP WAY.

>> Reporter: ANDREW DYER , KPBS NEWS.

>>> THE RECORD-BREAKING HEAT WAVE ALONG THE WEST COAST CONTINUES, SCIENTISTS ARE LOOKING AT A NEW HEAT WAVE FORMING FAR OFFSHORE.

TAMMY HAS MORE ON WHAT IS AT STAKE IF THE TWO MERGE.

>> Reporter: IN A SMALL BUILDING AT THE END OF THE PIER, RESEARCHERS TAKE TEMPERATURES OF THE OCEANS.

>> THAT IS ONE.

USUALLY WE LIKE TO SEE AROUND 16.

>> Reporter: 16 DEGREES CELSIUS IS 61 DEGREES FAHRENHEIT.

SHE SAYS THAT'S THE AVERAGE OCEAN SURFACE TEMPERATURE OFF THE LA JOLLA COAST.

BUT FOR MONTHS, TEMPERATURES ALONG THE WEST COAST HAVE RISEN THREE TO FOUR DEGREES FAHRENHEIT ABOVE NORMAL.

IT WAS ALSO WARMER DEEP BELOW THE SURFACE.

>> IN JANUARY AND FEBRUARY, WE STARTED SEEING THESE CONSISTENT 90th PERCENTILE RECORD-BREAKING TEMPERATURES THAT WERE OCCURRING ALONG THE COAST.

>> Reporter: SCIENTISTS SAY THIS HEAT WAVE IS RAISING ALARMS BECAUSE THE COASTAL OCEAN HAS REMAINED WARM WITHOUT AN EL NINO AT THE EQUATOR.

SCIENTISTS SAY A SEPARATE HEAT WAVE IS FORMING HUNDREDS OF MILES OFF THE PACIFIC COAST.

THAT ONE IS PART OF THE PATTERN OF THE LAST DECADE.

>> ANYWHERE FROM MARCH TO MAY THEY START IN THE SAME GENERAL AREA, AND THEY JUST SLOWLY GET BIGGER AND BIGGER AND BIGGER AND EVENTUALLY REACH THE COAST.

>> Reporter: ANDREW IS WITH THE NATIONAL OCEANIC AND ATMOSPHERIC DEMONSTRATION, HE IS MONITORING WHETHER THE TWO HEAT WAVES WILL MERGE IN THE LATE SUMMER OR FALL.

>> AND THE QUESTION WILL BE, ARE WE GOING TO ROLL INTO THE EL NINO ON TOP OF THAT, WHICH WILL KEEP THE WATERS WARM AGAIN.

SO, IF THAT HAPPENS BY NEXT YEAR THIS TIME, WE WILL PROBABLY SEE A LOT MORE IMPACTS BECAUSE AT THAT POINT, THE ANIMALS, ESPECIALLY IN CALIFORNIA WILL BE EXPOSED TO THIS HEAT.

>> Reporter: THE EL NINO FORECAST PUBLISHED THIS WEEK SHOWS A 61% CHANCE THE WEATHER SYSTEM WILL FORM BY JULY.

>>> SAN DIEGO STATE UNIVERSITY IS USING ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE TO TRACK THE MIGRATION OF HOMELESS PEOPLE IN THE COUNTY.

KPBS REPORTER, KATIE-SAYS THE SCIENCE IS SURPRISINGLY HUMAN.

>> Reporter: WE KNOW THAT THE HOMELESS POPULATION IS VERY DYNAMIC, THEY ARE MOVING EVERY SINGLE DAY.

HE LEADS THE PROJECT, AND HE USES A.I.

TO IDENTIFY AERIAL AND STREET VIEW IMAGES, LIKE THOSE YOU CAN SEE ON GOOGLE MAPS.

IT ESTIMATES HOW MANY PEOPLE LIVE INSIDE BY THEIR SIZE.

THE INFORMATION COULD HELP DECIDE WHERE TO PLACE RESOURCES LIKE SHELTERS, HANDWASHING STATIONS, AND STREET MEDICINE TEAMS.

THE TEAM USES SOMETHING CALLED GEO-MASKING TO PROTECT THE PEOPLE THEY ARE TRACKING.

>> WE SHOW THE POPULATION DENSITY OR THE HOTSPOTS.

>> Reporter: THE PROJECT RELIES ON ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE BUT IT'S ALSO VERY HUMAN.

THE STUDENTS DRIVE AROUND TO SEE WHERE A.I.

IS MAKING ERRORS AND WHY.

THEY SURVEY THE PEOPLE LIVING OUTSIDE, ASK QUESTIONS LIKE, WHY HERE, WHERE DID YOU STAY YESTERDAY, AND WHY DID YOU LEAVE?

>> WE ANALYZE THEN DATA, IT IS JUST A NUMBER, THE DIGITAL NUMBERS, DIGITAL MAPS, BUT EVERYTHING AND THAT IS THE STORY.

>> Reporter: HE PLANS TO WANT TO USE THE MODEL TO MAKE PREDICTIONS, HELP PEOPLE PREPARE BEFORE HOMELESS PEOPLE MOVE.

>>> A NEW AFFORDABLE HOUSING COMPLEX IN DOWNTOWN SAN DIEGO OFFICIALLY OPENED ITS DOORS THIS WEEK.

ALEXANDER WHEN SHOWS US IT WAS AN EMOTIONAL DAY FOR ONE OF THE FORMERLY HOMELESS RESIDENTS.

>> Reporter: THIS IS ISABEL FUENTES APARTMENT, IT IS DECORATED WITH ARTWORK SHE PAINTED HERSELF, WHEN SHE MOVED IN, ALL SHE HAD WERE HER CLOTHING.

>> I FELT EXCITED AND I COULDN'T BELIEVE IT.

I COULDN'T BELIEVE IT, I WAS STILL LIKE, AM I DREAMING?

>> Reporter: THE 88 UNIT COMPLEX IS IN CORTEZ HILL, IT WAS THE SITE OF A WOMEN'S SHELTER AND BEFORE THAT, A HOTEL.

THE SHELTER FELL INTO DISREPAIR AND WAS CLOSED MORE THAN TWO YEARS AGO.

>> THERE ARE FEW PRIORITIES HIGHER FOR ME THAN HOUSING PRIORITIES.

>> Reporter: HE WANTED TO SEE THIS PROJECT COME TO FRUITION.

>> WE HAVE AN INCREDIBLE DOWNTOWN COMMUNITY, THAT UNDERSTANDS ALL OF US HAVE TO BE THE SOLUTION.

>> Reporter: SEAN SPEAR IS THE PRESIDENT AND CEO, HE SAID PROJECTS LIKE THESE ARE HOMELESS REDEMPTION.

>> SO WE WILL ENABLE THEM TO BUY A ROOF OVER THEIR HEAD AND DEEP LEVEL SERVICES ALONGSIDE THAT THE HOPE IS THAT WE WILL CREATE A STABILIZED COMMUNITY FOR THEM.

>> Reporter: THE COMPLEX WAS RESERVED FOR FORMERLY HOMELESS RESIDENTS, ALL 88 UNITS ARE ALREADY OCCUPIED.

TYLER REMER IS WITH PEOPLE ASSISTING THE HOMELESS, HE SAYS THAT SHOWS THE CRITICAL NEED FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING.

>> WE NEED MORE AFFORDABLE HOUSING TO MAKE SURE WE CAN ALLOW FOR PEOPLE TO MOVE UP THE PIPELINE, AND HAVE HOUSING OPPORTUNITIES.

>> Reporter: WHEN THE RESIDENTS MOVE IN, THEY ARE GIVEN BASIC FURNITURE, THEN THEY CAN DECORATE THE PLACE TO MAKE IT FEEL MORE LIKE HOME.

TO QUALIFY, PEOPLE NEED TO ENROLL WITH A SERVICE PROVIDER SUCH AS THE HOUSING COMMISSION TO BE ADDED TO THE WAITLIST.

FUENTES WAS ON THE WAITLIST FOR SIX YEARS BEFORE MOVING IN.

>> THE VIEW AT NIGHT IS BEAUTIFUL, THE COLORS, THE RAINBOW COLORS.

>> ANOTHER WAY TO FOLLOW KPBS IS THROUGH OUR PODCAST, YOU CAN FIND THEM ON ALL MAJOR PODCAST PLATFORMS WITH A LITTLE BIT OF EVERYTHING FROM OUR DAILY NEWS PODCAST, SAN DIEGO NEWS NOW, TO INVESTIGATOR SERIES.

ONE OF OUR NEWEST PODCAST IS DRIVEN BY YOUTH AND IMPERIAL VALLEY.

YOU CAN ALSO FIND OUR PODCAST ON THE KPBS YOUTUBE PAGE AND OF COURSE AT KPBS .ORG.

WE HOPE YOU ENJOYED THIS LOOK AT KPBS NEWS THIS WEEK, I'M MAYA TRABULSI.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.