>>> THANK YOU FOR JOINING US FOR THIS LOOK AT THE BEST STORIES FROM KPBS NEWS THIS WEEK .

I'M MAYA TRABULSI .

COMING UP, IMPROVING SAN DIEGO'S MOST DANGEROUS STREETS.

ADVOCATES FOR PEDESTRIAN SAFETY MAKE THEIR CASE TO THE LEADERS WHO ARE DECIDING HOW TO SPEND NEXT YEAR'S BUDGET.

MANY SAN DIEGANS ARE AGING WITHOUT A SUPPORT SYSTEM.

KPBS LOOKS AT THE GROWING NEEDS OF THOSE CONSIDERED ELDER ORPHANS.

>>> MAY IS WILDFIRE AWARENESS MONTH.

SEE SOME OF THE WORK HAPPENING LOCALLY TO KEEP FIRST RESPONDERS READY.

>>> THIS WEEK, LOCAL UNIVERSITIES MOBILIZE TO JOIN IN SOLIDARITY PROTEST FOR PEOPLE OF GAZA.

DEMONSTRATIONS INCLUDE WALKOUT SDSU AND ONGOING ENCAMPMENT AT UC SAN DIEGO.

HERE'S THE EDUCATION REPORTER ON THE STUDENT LED ACTIVISM.

'S >> Reporter: THE STUDENTS AND REPORTERS MADE IT CLEAR WHAT SIDE THEY ARE ON.

FOR MORE THAN AN HOUR THIS AFTERNOON, THE RALLY AT SAN DIEGO STATE WAS LED BY STUDENTS FOR JUSTICE IN PALESTINE, A GROUP CALLING FOR CEASE-FIRE IN THE ISRAEL-HAMAS WAR AND FOR THIS UNIVERSITY AND OTHERS TO DIVEST FROM ANY ISRAELI FINANCIAL INTERESTS.

THE SPOKESMEN ONLY WANTED TO BE IDENTIFIED BY HIS FIRST NAME.

>> THIS IS THE RIGHT OF EVERY STUDENT, ESPECIALLY THE RIGHT OF EVERY PERSON IN THE UNITED STATES TO PROTEST AND ASSEMBLE AND TO SPEAK UP AGAINST OPPRESSION.

>> Reporter: JEWISH ACTIVISTS USED PATRIOTIC HEBREW SONG AND DANCE TO GET THEIR MESSAGE ACROSS ON BOTH SIDES, THIS CROWD WAS LOUD AND PROUD LEAVING MANY OTHERS SOMEWHERE IN BETWEEN, NOT WANTING TO BE NAMED BUT OKAY TO BE HEARD.

>> WE HAVE SEEN SO MUCH DEATH AND INEQUALITY AND HOW THE U.S. IS FUNDING A LOT OF THE WAR IN GAZA.

>> IT LOOKS PEACEFUL RIGHT NOW WHICH IS GOOD, AS LONG AS IT STAYS PEACEFUL, THAT IS ALL THAT MATTERS.

>> Reporter: THE PASSION FOR ACTIVISM AT SAN DIEGO STATE AS REAL AS IT IS ON ANY OTHER CAMPUS AROUND THE COUNTRY RIGHT NOW BUT THE RESPONSE FROM ADMINISTRATIONS VARIES.

IN A WRITTEN STATEMENT, SDSU SAID IT MUST ALLOW FOR CONSTITUTIONALLY PROTECTED FREE SPEECH AND INDIVIDUALS RIGHT TO ASK OF PEACEFUL PROTEST.

THE STATEMENT ALSO SAYS SAFETY PROFESSIONALS AND ADMINISTRATORS CONTINUE TO BE IN CONTACT WITH MEMBERS OF OUR JEWISH, ISLAMIC, ARAB, AND PALESTINIAN COMMUNITIES IN ADDITION TO OTHER CAMPUS COMMUNITY MEMBERS.

IT CONCLUDES, WE STRONGLY ENCOURAGE ALL JEWISH PEOPLE TOGETHER TO ADHERE TO LAWS AND UNIVERSITY POLICIES.

>> OUR PEOPLE SURVIVED EVERY SINGLE GENERATION THERE'S ANTI- SEMITISM AND WE WILL SURVIVE THIS.

>> Reporter: KAREN IS EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF HILLEL OF SAN DIEGO, ORGANIZATION THAT SUPPORTS SAN DIEGO STATE STUDENTS AS WELL AS 2500 OTHERS AT UC SAN DIEGO, UNIVERSITY OF SAN DIEGO, AND CAL STATE SAN MARCOS.

>> THESE PROTESTS ARE SEEKING TO SILENCE A RATE, DEHUMANIZE AND DEMONIZE JEWISH STUDENTS, SELF-DETERMINATION WITH OUR HISTORIC HOMELAND.

>> Reporter: IT IS NOT THE FINAL WORD ON THE MIDDLE EAST CONFLICT, IT IS THE LATEST CONFRONTATION THAT CONTINUES HERE AND HALF A WORLD AWAY.

THE MESSAGES EVERYWHERE, WAVING IN THE WIND, UNDERFOOT AND WRITTEN ON THE SIGNS OF THE TIME COMING FROM STUDENTS WHO HAVE SPENT A DAY AND A NIGHT DEMANDING A CEASE-FIRE IN THE ISRAEL-HAMAS WAR AND SO MUCH MORE.

HERE A LONG LIBRARY WAY ON THE UC SAN DIEGO CAMPUS >> WILL NOT LEAVE UNTIL OUR DEMANDS ARE MET AND AMNESTY FOR ALL AND DIVEST.

>> Reporter: THIS IS A SENIOR THAT WILL GRADUATE WITH A DEGREE IN INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS.

SHE JOINS HUNDREDS OF OTHER STUDENTS AND COMMUNITY ACTIVISTS WHO HAVE SET UP CAMP AND COMMUNITY THEY DO NOT WANT TO ERUPT IN VIOLENCE LIKE HAPPENED ON SO MANY OTHER CAMPUSES IN THE PAST WEEK.

>> THE AMOUNT OF CULTURES IDENTITIES AND RELIGIONS WE HAVE IN THIS ENCAMPMENT AND COMMUNITY WE CREATED IS BRINGING US TOGETHER, IT IS NOT JUST CENTERED ABOUT PALESTINIAN PEOPLE BUT ALL MARGINALIZED AND OPPRESSED PEOPLE ACROSS THE WORLD TO >> Reporter: THE PRIMARY ORGANIZERS COME FROM THE UCS DIVEST COALITION WITH THE PRIMARY DEMAND CALLING ON THE UNIVERSITY TO DIVEST FROM ITS EYES ISRAELI FINANCIAL INTERESTS .

SO FAR, THE UNIVERSITY HAS NOT RESPONDED TO THAT DEMAND OR ANY OF THE OTHERS.

OFFICIALS ARE COMMITTED TO KEEPING EVERYONE SAFE.

IN A WRITTEN STATEMENT FROM UC SAN DIEGO CHANCELLOR, HE ADDRESSED THE UNIVERSITY RESPONSE SAYING IN PART, UC SAN DIEGO CAMPUS POLICE AND SECURITY TEAMS ARE ON SITE TO ENSURE CAMPUS SAFETY AND THE CONTINUITY OF CAMPUS OPERATIONS.

UC SAN DIEGO IS ON A QUARTER SYSTEM WHICH MEANS STUDENTS HERE STILL HAVE ABOUT A MONTH LEFT BEFORE THEIR REGULAR CLASSES ARE OVER.

THERE ARE FACULTY WHO SUPPORT THE PROTEST AND ARE USING IT FOR A TEACHABLE MOMENT.

>> IF YOU OPPOSE STUDENT MOVEMENTS ON CAMPUS, YOU'RE ON THE WRONG SIDE OF HISTORY.

>> Reporter: CURTIS IS ONE OF THEM, PROFESSOR OF ETHNIC STUDIES THAT WILL PROTEST IN BETWEEN TEACHING HIS CLASSES.

AS LONG AS THE TENTS ARE UP AND THE TALK OF HISTORY CONTINUES.

>> FREE SPEECH PROTEST, ANTIWAR PROTEST, PROTEST FOR ETHICS STUDIES, ALL OF THOSE THINGS HAVE BEEN ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF HISTORY EVEN THOUGH THEY WERE OPPOSED BY ADMINISTRATIONS AT THE TIME TO >> Reporter: UNIVERSITY CHANCELLOR ALSO SAYS HE SUPPORTS THE RIGHT TO FREE SPEECH AND HE SAID THAT THIS ACTIVITY VIOLATES CAMPUS POLICY, WHICH PROHIBITS UNAUTHORIZED ENCAMPMENTS.

FOR NOW, THE ENCAMPMENT REMAINS WITH PLANS FOR A VISIT FROM A RABBI ON FRIDAY, ALONG WITH STUDY GROUPS FOR STUDENT PROTESTERS, DAILY PRAYER TIME, AND SHARING.

DAY THE ONE WAY TO LEARN ABOUT PEOPLE, ABOUT CULTURES, ABOUT HISTORY IS THROUGH STORYTELLING.

>> Reporter: THIS STORY IS STILL BEING TOLD.

M.G.

PEREZ WITH KPBS NEWS.

>>> SAN DIEGO CITY COUNCIL TRYING TO FIGURE OUT NEXT YEAR'S BUDGET.

THEY WERE WORKING WITH A DEFICIT WHICH MEANS SOME TOUGH DECISIONS WILL BE MADE METRO REPORTER ANDREW BOWEN SAYS THAT SAFETY ADVOCATES WANT THE CITY TO MAINTAIN COMMITMENT TO PEDESTRIAN SAFETY.

>> Reporter: GLORIA WANTS TO CONTINUE FUNDING FIRST STREET REPAVING CLOSE TO LEVEL SEEN FROM RECENT BUDGET YEARS.

ADVOCATES FOR TRAFFIC SAFETY SIZES BUDGET NEGLECTS FUNDING FOR SAFETY IMPROVEMENTS AT THE CITY'S THAT THESE INTERSECTIONS.

KATIE GORDON SPOKE TO THE CITY COUNCIL ON WEDNESDAY, HER HUSBAND, JASON, WAS STRUCK AND KILLED BY A HIT AND RUN DRIVER IN 2020.

SHE SAYS THE INTERSECTION WHERE IT HAPPENED, MARKET AND 19th IN SHERMAN HEIGHTS, IS JUST AS DANGEROUS TODAY AS IT WAS ON THE NIGHT HE WAS KILLED.

>> AT THE TIME, I HAD TWO TWIN GIRLS THAT WERE A-YEAR-OLD.

I'M HERE TO ADVOCATE FOR SAFER STREETS FOR THEM AND OTHERS IN OUR COMMUNITY.

>> Reporter: SOMEHOW THE CITY HAS TO CLOSE A BUDGET DEFICIT OF $172 MILLION.

LATER WEDNESDAY, ACTIVISTS PACKED THE COUNCIL CHAMBERS TO PROTEST MAYOR GLORIA'S PROPOSAL TO DEFUND PROGRAMS THAT SUPPORT VULNERABLE COMMUNITIES ON THE FRONT LINES OF THE CLIMATE CRISIS.

>> THIS IS NOT MERELY ABOUT BALANCING BOOKS.

YOU ARE SHAPING FUTURES.

OUR CITIES, BLACK, BROWN, LOW INCOME COMMUNITIES HAVE SUFFERED FROM CHRONIC UNDERFUNDING.

A FINANCIAL DEFICIT DOES NOT DIMINISH THE NEED FOR EQUITY.

IT INTENSIFIES THAT.

>> Reporter: THE CITY COUNCIL WILL CONTINUE HEARINGS ON MAYOR'S PROPOSED BUDGET THROUGH MAY 7th.

THE MAYOR WILL PROPOSE A REVISED BUDGET LATER THIS MONTH FOLLOWED BY A FINAL COUNSEL VOTE IN JUNE.

ANDREW BOWEN WITH KPBS NEWS.

>>> CALIFORNIA TOP LAWMAKERS ARE URGING THE U.S. POSTMASTER GENERAL TO REOPEN THE POST OFFICE IN NILAND.

COREY SUZUKI HAS AN UPDATE ON THE IMPERIAL VALLEY TOWN THAT HAS BEEN WITHOUT A POST OFFICE MORE THAN TWO YEARS.

>> Reporter: IN A LETTER TO POSTMASTER GENERAL LOUIS DEJOY EARLIER THIS MONTH, U.S.

SENATORS EXPEDIA AND LAPHONZA BUTLER AND U.S. REPRESENTATIVE ROWELL RUIZ OF PALM DESERT SAID THE ONGOING CLOSURE WAS UNACCEPTABLE AND THE MAJORITY LOW-INCOME TOWN COULD NOT AFFORD FOR THE DELAYS.

IN FEBRUARY 2022, A FIRE TORCH THE POST OFFICE BUILDING FORCING THE POSTAL SERVICE TO TEMPORARILY CLOSE DOWN.

TWO YEARS LATER, RESIDENTS HAVE NOT RECEIVED ANY CONCRETE UPDATES ON WHEN IT WILL REOPEN.

NILAND ADVOCATE GARCIA WAS MOVED BY THE LAWMAKERS LETTER.

GRATEFUL FOR THE SUPPORT.

>> WE NEEDED THAT, WE DO KNOW THEY ARE ON OUR SIDE BUT SEEING IT IN WRITING HAS HELPED US.

>> Reporter: GARCIA SAYS THAT RESIDENTS DESERVE MORE THAN A LETTER.

SHE WANTS THE LAWMAKERS TO COME TO NILAND.

>> WE NEED THEM TO COME TO THE ACTUAL TABLE AND SPEAK TO ONE ANOTHER AND ASK , WHAT IS THE HOLD UP?

IT HAS BEEN LONG ENOUGH.

>> Reporter: IN EMAIL, SPOKESPERSON SAID THAT AGENCY WOULD RESPOND TO LAWMAKER CONCERNS DIRECTLY.

IN NILAND, COREY SUZUKI WITH KPBS NEWS.

>>> SAN DIEGO COUNTY SENIOR PUBLISHING PROJECTED TO GROW BY 21% IN THE NEXT 10 YEARS.

HEALTH REPORTER HEIDI TO MARKER SAYS IS THE SENIOR POPULATION GROWS, SO DOES CONCERN ABOUT A GROUP KNOWN AS ELDER ORPHANS.

>> Reporter: WHEN NEIL CHRISTIANSEN WAS 65 YEARS OLD, HE SUFFERED A BRAIN BLEED.

FOR FOUR DAYS, HE LAY UNDISCOVERED IN HIS APARTMENT AND TOOK CONCERNED NEIGHBORS, NOTICING A SMELL, CALLED FOR HELP.

RESCUERS THOUGHT HE WAS DEAD AND TOOK HIM TO THE MORGUE BEFORE REALIZING HE WASN'T.

>> I WASN'T DEAD, DEAD, I WAS UNCONSCIOUS, BARELY EXISTING DEAD.

I STILL HAD BREATH BUT NOT MUCH.

>> Reporter: HIS STORY, ALTHOUGH RARE, IS A SOBERING EXAMPLE OF THE SOCIAL ISOLATION ELDER ORPHANS FACE AS THEY GROW OLD WITHOUT SUPPORT.

WHILE IT IS HARD TO KNOW THE EXACT NUMBER OF PEOPLE WHO FIT INTO THIS CATEGORY, IT IS ESTIMATED 101,000 PEOPLE OVER 65 LIVE ALONE IN SAN DIEGO COUNTY.

THAT IS ABOUT ONE IN FIVE SENIORS.

CHRISTIANSEN IS 82, HE NEVER MARRIED OR HAD CHILDREN, ALTHOUGH HE SAID HE CAME CLOSE A FEW TIMES.

IT HAS BEEN MORE THAN 20 YEARS SINCE HE HAS SEEN ANY FAMILY.

>> I STILL HAVE MY SECOND, THIRD COUSINS, THEY LIVE ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE COUNTRY.

LAST TIME I SAW THEM WAS AT MY MOTHER'S FUNERAL IN 2002.

I HAVE NOT HEARD FROM ANYONE SINCE.

>> Reporter: DR. ELLEN LEE AS A CLINICIAN AND RESEARCHER AT UC SAN DIEGO HEALTH.

SHE STUDIED THE EPIDEMIC OF SOCIAL ISOLATION AND LONELINESS AND SEES THE STEEP INCREASE IN OLDER ADULTS.

SHE ATTRIBUTES TO RISING RATES OF CHILDLESSNESS, LOWER RATES OF MARRIAGE, AND THE AGING OF BABY BOOMERS.

>> WHEN YOU GET OLDER, THE RISK FACTORS FOR BECOMING MORE LIKELY TO BE ISOLATED OR ALONE ARE INCREASED LIKE YOU ARE MORE LIKELY TO LOSE FAMILY AND FRIENDS AND SIGNIFICANT OTHERS AS THEY PASS AWAY.

YOU ARE MORE LIKELY TO BECOME MORE FRAIL AND LESS MOBILE SO YOU ARE MORE DEPENDENT ON PEOPLE, YOU MAY NOT BE ABLE TO ACCESS.

WE FEEL THAT THOSE RATES ARE RISING.

HOW MUCH IS DIFFICULT TO SAY.

>> Reporter: LEE SAYS THE ELDER ORPHANS OFTEN DO NOT HAVE ABLE TO HELP THEM WAS OPTIONAL SUPPORT.

SIMPLE TASKS THAT ARE HARDER TO ACCOMPLISH AS WE AGE.

>> PEOPLE THAT HELP YOU GET MEDICINE, DRIVE YOU TO THE DOCTOR, VERSUS HAVING EMOTIONAL INTIMATE RELATIONSHIPS.

EMOTIONAL SUPPORT.

>> Reporter: SHE SAYS IT IS CHALLENGING FOR CLINICIANS TO IDENTIFY THESE INDIVIDUALS MAKING DIFFICULT TO MANAGE THE COMPLEXITIES INVOLVED DELIVERING CARE, ESPECIALLY IF THEY DON'T VOLUNTEER THE INFORMATION.

AFTER HIS ACCIDENT, CHRISTIANSEN WAS LEFT MOSTLY PARALYZED BUT NEEDS A MOTORIZED WHEELCHAIR TO GET AROUND AND HE IS LEGALLY BLIND AND CAN ONLY SEE SHAPES.

HE RELIES ON CAREGIVER SUPPORT TWICE A WEEK FOR A FEW HOURS.

THEY HELP HIM WITH GRINNING, MAKING MEALS, AND SORTING MEDICATIONS.

>> YOU BETTER HAVE AN APPLE.

>> THEY REPRESENT FAMILY TO ME.

>> Reporter: CHRISTIANSEN LIVES AT A SENIOR RESIDENT IN THE EAST VILLAGE OF SAN DIEGO.

HE SAID HE IS NOT THE ONLY ONE LIVING THERE ALONE.

>> OF THE INDIVIDUALS THAT I KNOW HERE, AT LEAST SIX OF THEM HAVE NO OTHER IMMEDIATE FAMILY EXCEPT US.

>> Reporter: RESEARCH HAS LINKED SOCIAL ISOLATION AND LONELINESS IN OLDER ADULTS TO HIGHER RISKS FOR A VARIETY OF PHYSICAL AND MENTAL CONDITIONS SUCH AS HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE, HEART DISEASE, DEPRESSION, AND COGNITIVE DECLINE.

PAUL DOWNEY IS CEO OF CERTAIN SENIORS, A NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION THAT HELPS LOW INCOME ELDERS IN SAN DIEGO.

>> WE SEE A SIGNIFICANT NUMBER OF PEOPLE THAT LIVE ALONE, THAT FAMILY EITHER ISN'T THERE, ESTRANGED FROM, BUT THEY ARE BY THEMSELVES.

THEY HAVE TO COPE WITH EVERYTHING AND NOT JUST MEDICAL ISSUES.

THEY DON'T HAVE ANYBODY TO TALK TO.

>> Reporter: HE SAYS THAT ECONOMIC INSECURITY MAY ADD ANOTHER BURDEN TO ORPHAN ELDERS WITH 19% LIVING ON ABOUT $1500 A MONTH IN SAN DIEGO COUNTY.

AT HIS SENIOR CENTER, THE NUMBER IS MUCH HIGHER.

>> FOR US, THE BIGGEST CHALLENGES 86% OF OUR SENIORS LIVE BELOW THE FEDERAL POVERTY LEVEL WHICH MEANS THEY ARE ON THE CUSP OF HOMELESSNESS.

>> Reporter: EXPERTS SAY SENIOR CENTERS PLAY A CRITICAL ROLE ADDRESSING THIS EPIDEMIC OF LONELINESS BY CULTIVATING SOCIAL CONNECTIONS WHETHER IT IS A PLACE TO SHARE A MEAL, TAKE A FITNESS CLASS, OR SIMPLY ENGAGE WITH OTHERS, SENIOR CENTERS CAN BE A LIFELINE TO MANY OLDER ADULTS WHO LIVE ALONE AREA DOWNEY SAYS THAT THE COMMUNITY ALSO PLAYS A VITAL ROLE.

>> IF YOU HAVE OLDER ADULT NEIGHBOR, TO CHECK ON THEM, STOP BY AND SAY HELLO, BRING THEM A CUP OF COFFEE, GO OUT OF YOUR WAY.

>> Reporter: FOR CHRISTIANSEN, HIS BRUSH WITH DEATH HAS GIVEN HIM A NEW PERSPECTIVE ON AGING ALONE.

>> I'M QUITE HAPPY WITH BEING A MAC ORPHAN BECAUSE I SURVIVED THIS, I THINK EVERY DAY IS A GOOD DAY.

>> Reporter: HE KEEPS AN OPEN DOOR POLICY SO HE CAN WAIVE DIFFERENCE AS THEY PASSED BY THE HALL.

HEIDI DE MARCO WITH KPBS NEWS.

>>> FIND KPBS NEWS ON YOUTUBE, THAT IS WHERE WE STREAM KPBS NEWS THIS WEEK AT 5:00 AND WE HAVE A PLAYLIST WITH FEATURED REPORTING SO SUBSCRIBE AND GET NOTIFIED WHEN NEW CONTENT IS POSTED.

THAT STORY BY HEIDI DE MARCO IS ONE OF OUR MOST POPULAR THIS WEEK.

HERE ARE SOME OTHERS.

>>> HILLCREST IS HUNGRY FOR PARK SPACE AND NEIGHBORHOOD PLANNERS ARE LOOKING AT THE 163 FREEWAY FOR IDEAS TO MEMBERS OF CONGRESS LAUNCH INVESTIGATION INTO FRONT WASTE CREDIT UNION TREATMENT OF YOUNG MARINES FOLLOWING KPBS REPORTING.

>>> HIGH INTEREST IN THE ANTIWAR DEMONSTRATIONS AT LOCAL UNIVERSITIES.

YOU CAN SIGN UP FOR THE KPBS MOST POPULAR STORIES NEWSLETTER ON KPBS.ORG TO >>> THE WORLD DESIGN FESTIVAL IS HAPPENING IN TIJUANA WHICH TIES TOGETHER WITH SAN DIEGO.

JACOB BERRY SAYS THE FESTIVAL IS ONE PART OF A LARGER PROGRAM RECOGNIZING THE BINATIONAL REGION WITH TONS OF EVENTS PLANNED NOW THROUGH NOVEMBER.

>> Reporter: THE SAN DIEGO TIJUANA REGION WAS DESIGNATED AS THE WORLD DESIGN CAPITAL FOR 2024 DUE TO THE TWO CITY MOVEMENT TO HUMAN CENTERED DESIGN AND CROSS-BORDER COLLABORATION.

>> THAT IS BECAUSE OF OUR INCREDIBLE TALENTS AND SKILLS ACROSS A VARIETY OF DIFFERENT DIMENSIONS, ARTISTS, CULTURES, DESIGN, INNOVATION.

>> Reporter: IT IS A PRESTIGIOUS HONOR AND BOARD CHAIR WITH THE WORLD DESIGN CAPITAL.

THIS WEEK HELPING PUT ON THE WORLD DESIGN FESTIVAL IN TIJUANA, ONE OF SEVEN SIGNATURE EVENTS THIS YEAR TIED INTO THE DESIGNATION.

>> WE ARE CREATING 100 EVENTS AND 40 DIFFERENT VENUES.

THEY WILL BE EXPERIENCES, WORKSHOPS, TALKS, TOURS, SHOWS.

>> Reporter: THE FIVE-DAY FESTIVAL RUN THROUGH MAY 1st THROUGH THE 5th AND CULTURE EVENTS AT THE TIJUANA CULTURAL CENTER AND MONTEREY TECHNOLOGY PROFESSOR WHERE HAS A WILL BE SHOWING HIS WORK.

>> OBJECTS TO SEE HOW THEY TELL STORIES ABOUT MIGRANTS, NOT ONLY THE BORDER BUT ACROSS MEXICO.

>> Reporter: IT WILL FEATURE BABY CARRIERS, CELL PHONES, BRACELETS, OTHER ITEMS WITH DEEPER MEANINGS THE EXHIBITION IS CALLED [ SPEAKING IN A NON- ENGLISH LANGUAGE ] OR ARCHAEOLOGY IN TRANSIT.

>> NOT ABOUT FINDING SOLUTION BUT CRATING EMPATHY FOR OBJECTS.

>> Reporter: OTHER PARTS OF THE FESTIVAL SPREAD ACROSS TIJUANA.

WORLD DESIGN CAPITALS GIVEN ACROSS THE GLOBE EVERY TWO YEARS SINCE 2008.

SAN DIEGO TIJUANA IS THE FIRST EVER CROSS-BORDER REGION TO GET THE DESIGNATION.

>> THE WORLD AND MANY BORDER COMMUNITIES LOOK AT US AS AN EXAMPLE OF WHAT WORKS BUT ALSO WHAT DOESN'T WORK.

>> Reporter: MAI NGUYEN SAYS IT IS A CALL TO ACTION TO BRING THE COMMUNITY TOGETHER .

>> WORK ON OUR DIFFICULT SOCIETAL ISSUES LIKE CLIMATE CHANGE, AFFORDABLE HOUSING, USING THE LENS OF DESIGN SO WE ARE DOING BOTH, SHOWCASING WHAT IS GREAT ABOUT US BUT ALSO FOCUSING ON USING DESIGN TO SOLVE REAL PROBLEMS.

>> Reporter: THIS IS TREATMENT WORLD DESIGN IN SAN DIEGO WILL TAKE PLACE IN SEPTEMBER, DOZENS OF OTHER WORLD DESIGN CAPITAL EVENTS RUN THROUGH NOVEMBER ON BOTH SIDES OF THE BORDER AREA FOR MORE INFORMATION, GO ONLINE.

JACOB AERE WITH KPBS NEWS.

>>> THE PHILIPPINE PERFORMING ARTS COMPANY RETAINS CULTURE THROUGH MUSIC AND DANCE.

THE ORGANIZATION IS GOING DEEPER TO CONNECT THE COMMUNITY WITH CULTURAL AND INDIGENOUS ROOTS.

ELAINE ALFARO TELLS THE INTERGENERATIONAL STORY.

>> Reporter: THE LAUGHTER OF THE 2-YEAR-OLD, THE CLACK OF THE WING, THE JINGLE OF BEATS FROM TRADITIONAL ATTIRE REPRESENT THREE GENERATIONS OF THE FILIPINO DIASPORA.

THIS IS THE PERFORMANCE-BASED TRANSFORMED WITH TRADITIONALLY WOVEN INDIGENOUS FABRICS AND THE STORIES THEY TELL.

>> MADE OUT OF WILD BANANA FIBER .

IT IS A WILD BANANA FIBER SO WHEN YOU TOUCH IT, IT IS A LITTLE BIT ROUGH.

>> Reporter: CULTURAL WORKER AND THE TWO ARTISTS VISITING FROM THE PHILISTINES TO LEAD PUBLIC WORKSHOPS ABOUT ANCESTRAL STORYTELLING AND WEAVING PRACTICES TO PRACTICES SHE SAYS WERE PASSED THROUGH GENERATIONS.

>> GREAT GRANDMOTHER, IT STARTED WITH HER SO MY GRANDMOTHER TO MY MOTHER TO MEET.

INSPIRE.

FOUND SOMETHING BEAUTIFUL TO INCORPORATE IN OUR PATTERN, WE USE THE PATTERN BEFORE WE WEAVE.

>> Reporter: CULTURAL RETENTION AND EXPIRATION IS AT THE HEART OF PASACAT'S MISSION .

ARTISTIC DIRECTOR MATTHEW FIRST MET THE CULTURAL BARRIERS IN 2018 ON A TRIP TO THE PHILIPPINES WHERE HE EXPLORED HIS CULTURAL IDENTITY.

>> MUST'VE IT HAPPENS WITHIN YOURSELF TO WANTING TO DIG DEEPER, TRACING YOUR ROOTS.

THAT IS WHAT WE DID.

>> Reporter: NOW HE HOPES TO SHARE THE LESSONS WITH ED COUNTY FILIPINO AMERICAN COMMUNITY, ONE OF THE LARGEST IN THE U.S. WHERE THE NEXT GENERATION, LIKE HIS DAUGHTER, IS GROWING UP.

>> GODDESS OF GOOD DEEDS IS IDIYANALE .

THE GOOD DEEDS, I'M GETTING EMOTIONAL, CONNECTING FILIPINO AMERICANS LOOKING FOR IDENTITY.

>> Reporter: HE IS HELPING IDIYANALE 'S SEARCH FOR IDENTITY EARLY, INTRODUCING TO PEOPLE LIKE HER.

>> SHARE EVERYTHING WE HAVE, THESE PEOPLE ARE CAPABLE OF HELPING US CONTINUE PRACTICING ON CULTURE.

>> Reporter: ARTIFACTS, CONNECT HER TO ANCESTRAL CULTURE ONE THREAD AT A TIME.

TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE ONGOING SERIES WEAVING STORIES AND DREAMS, VISIT PASACAT.ORG.

ELAINE ALFARO WITH KPBS NEWS.

>>> PEAK FIRE SEASON IN SAN DIEGO COUNTY APPROACHES, GETTING PREPARED.

FIRST RESPONDERS SIMULATING EMERGENCIES IN ACTUAL NEIGHBORHOODS.

>> Reporter: OVER 750 FIREFIGHTERS FROM ACROSS THE REGION ALONG WITH THE SAN DIEGO SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT AND SG DE ARE PREPARING FOR EXERCISES TO >> WE COME TOGETHER AND TRAIN ON WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IF THERE WAS A WILDFIRE AND COOPERATION AND INTERACTION WE HAVE WITH DIFFERENT AGENCIES, IT IS IMPORTANT FOR FIRE PERSONNEL TO GET THE COBWEBS OUT OF SOME OF THE FIRE TRAINING FOR WILDLAND FIRES THAT WE DO.

>> Reporter: THE FIRE CAPTAIN SAYS EXCEPT FOR ACTUAL FIRE, THE EXERCISES ARE MEANT TO SIMULATE REAL-LIFE EMERGENCIES.

>> EVERYTHING ISRAEL UP TO THE COMMUNICATIONS, LAYING OUT THE HOSE, INCIDENT WITH AN EYE INCIDENT, COPTERS DROPPING WATER ON YOU, TRY TO MAKE IT AS REAL AS POSSIBLE.

>> Reporter: CHULA VISTA FIRE CAPTAIN ERIC MARTINEZ SAYS REAL FIRE IS USED DURING WHAT HE CALLS TABLETOP SESSIONS.

>> SIMILAR TO OUR GAME OF CHESS, INCIDENT HAPPENS AND WE UTILIZE THE DIFFERENT RESOURCES WE HAVE PLACED, SIMILAR TO PONDS ON A CHESSBOARD WHERE WE WOULD LIKE THEM DEPLOYED, WHERE WE WOULD LIKE THE WATER TO BE SPRAYED.

BECAUSE THE FIRE ACTIVE, WE CAN GET LIVE REACTION BASED ON WHAT WE DECIDE TO USE AND WHAT STRATEGIES AND TACTICS WE ARE EMPLOYING.

>> Reporter: THE MODELS SIMULATED ACTUAL NEIGHBORHOOD AT HIGH RISK FOR FIRE INCLUDING TOPOGRAPHY, POWER LINES, AND ROADS.

>> TO BE ABLE TO SEE THE POTENTIAL OF WHAT THE FIRE COULD DO AND HOW DIRECTLY OUR ACTIONS COULD IMPACT POSITIVELY OR THE MISTAKES NEGATIVELY IMPACTED AND IT IS GOOD TO LEARN IN A CONTROLLED STERILE ENVIRONMENT SO WE DON'T MAKE THOSE MISTAKES IN THE FIELD.

>> Reporter: FIRE AGENCIES ARE ASKING THE PUBLIC TO PREPARE FOR WILDFIRES NOW BY CLEARING 100 FEET OF DEFENSIBLE SPACE AROUND YOUR HOME.

MELISSA MAE WITH KPBS NEWS.

>>> NORTH COUNTY IS ALSO PREPARING FOR THE NEXT FIRE, PART OF THAT INCLUDES A NEW TOOL IN THIS WEEK IN SAN MARCOS.

ALEXANDER NGUYEN SHOWS US HOW IT CUTS RESPONSE TIME AND HALF.

>> Reporter: WITH WILDFIRE AWARENESS MONTH STARTING IN MAY, OFFICIALS FROM NORTH COUNTY ADDING ANOTHER TOOL TO THE FIREFIGHTING ARSENAL.

IT IS CALLED A HILO POD.

>> IT IS A TANK FILLED WITH 5000 GALLONS OF WATER THAT WILL BE UTILIZED BY HELICOPTERS.

>> Reporter: TIFFANY BOYD HODGSON, PRESIDENT OF THE LSU DOES WATER DISTRICT, JOINT VENTURE BETWEEN THE DISTRICT, CAL FIRE, SAN MARCO FIRE DEPARTMENT.

>> IT IS REALLY IMPORTANT BECAUSE IN NORTH COUNTY IN PARTICULAR, REALLY SUSCEPTIBLE TO CLIMATE EXTREMES AND WILDFIRE RISK AREA WE HAD SEVERAL FIRES IN THE AREA OVER THE LAST 15 YEARS WERE PEOPLE HAD TO EVACUATE.

>> Reporter: THE POD WILL MAKE THE WHOLE REGION SAFER, THE FIRST HELOPOD INSTALLED IN SAN MARCOS.

THE NEXT CLOSEST ONE IS FALLBROOK.

CAL FIRE PAID FOR THE HELOPOD, THAT COST $53,000, IS WATER DISTRICT, PAID FOR THE LABOR AND INSTALLATION COST.

THE BATTALION CHIEF SAYS IT IS A GREAT COLLABORATION FOR THE REGIONAL FIRE PROTECTION.

>> IT GIVES US ACCESS TO WATER WHICH IS KEY TO A WILDLAND FIRE STARTS AND REDUCES THE TURNAROUND TIME FOR THE HELICOPTERS THAT ARE SO IMPORTANT EXTINGUISHING THESE FIRES.

>> Reporter: THE POD IS LOCATED IN THE HILLS NORTH OF HIGHWAY 78 NEAR PALOMAR COLLEGE.

IT WILL CUT THE WATER RELOAD TIME AND HALF FROM 10 MINUTES DOWN TO FIVE THIS 5000 GALLON TANK CAN BE FILLED WITHIN THREE MINUTES AND BECAUSE IT IS FENCED IN AREA, HELICOPTERS CAN COME IN AND OUT QUICKLY WITHOUT HAVING TO ENDANGER THE PUBLIC SAN MARCO SMEAR REBECCA JONES SAYS THE TOOL WILL HELP KEEP THE CLASS WHEN ENTERING SERVICES RATING, THE HIGHEST RATING ISSUED BY THE OFFICE.

>> IT IS PRETTY PRESTIGIOUS, IT IS ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WILL HELP US MAINTAIN THAT RATING.

>> Reporter: THAT IS IMPORTANT FOR GROWING CITY IN A FIRE PRONE AREA.

ALEXANDER NGUYEN WITH KPBS NEWS.

>>> WE HOPE YOU ENJOYED THIS LOOK AT KPBS NEWS THIS WEEK AREA I'M MAYA TRABULSI AND THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.