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

>>> REPUBLICAN POLITICS, THE LATEST IN OUR PUBLIC MATTER SERIES LOOKS AT THE CHANGE IN THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT IN RECENT YEARS.

>>> THE ROLE OF SAFE PARKING WHEN IT COMES TO THE HOUSING CRISIS.

MEET A LOCAL FAMILY BENEFITING FROM A LOCAL PROGRAM THAT AIMS TO PROVIDE STABILITY.

>>> MORE ON OUR INVESTIGATION INTO CROSS-BORDER FENTANYL SMUGGLING.

>>> WE HAVE A LOT OF POLITICAL NEWS FOR YOU STARTING WITH HOW WE VOTE.

GOVERNOR GAVIN NEWSOM RECENTLY VETOED A BILL THAT WOULD HAVE NUMBERED -- EXPANDED THE NUMBER OF LANGUAGES AVAILABLE ON BALLOTS.

THAT BILL ACED PUSHBACK FROM ELECTION OFFICIALS WHO WERE CONCERNED ABOUT THE COSTS.

>> TRANSLATION AND LANGUAGE SERVICES CAN LOOK LIKE A LOT OF DIFFERENT THINGS BUT IN THE CONTEXT OF BOATING IT IS SIMPLE.

RECEIVING VOTING MATERIALS IN YOUR FIRST LANGUAGE.

THIS ACCESS HAS COME ALONG WAY SINCE THE VOTING ACT WAS PASSED IN 1965.

THAT LAW ONLY APPLIES FOR SPANISH, ASIAN, NATIVE AMERICAN AND NATIVE ALASKAN LANGUAGES.

CALIFORNIA HAS BUILT ON THAT NATIONAL WANT TO INCLUDE MORE LANGUAGES AND IN SAN DIEGO THAT MEANS AN ADDITIONAL FOUR LANGUAGES.

>> MUNICIPALITIES LIKE SAN FRANCISCO AND OAKLAND HAVE PASSED THE POLICY.

WE ARE SEEING THIS AT THE LOCAL LEVEL.

>> JACOB STUDIED LANGUAGE ACCESS LAW ACROSS THE NATION BUT THOSE VOTING MATERIALS REQUIRED BY STATE AND LOCAL LAWS ARE NOT ON THE ACTUAL BALLOTS.

INSTEAD THEY ARE ON REFERENCE BALLOTS.

THAT DOES NOT NECESSARILY TRANSLATE TO EQUITABLE ACCESS.

THE ASIAN LAW CAUCUS IS ONE OF THE SPONSORS OF THE BILL.

SHE SAYS THAT THEY DON'T ACTUALLY GET A BALLOT IN THEIR LANGUAGE.

>> THE LANGUAGE ASSISTANCE IS VERY LIMITED.

THEY GET A TRANSLATED REFERENCE BALLOT.

YOU CANNOT ACTUALLY VOTE ON IT.

ACROSS THE BOARD WE HEARD THAT THE TRANSLATED REFERENCE BALLOTS WERE BETTER THAN NOTHING BUT THEY WERE CONFUSING AND DIFFICULT TO USE.

>> THE BILL AIMED TO GET RID OF THOSE REFERENCE BALLOTS AND REQUIRE ACTIONABLE VOTER BALLOTS.

THAT COULD HAVE MADE A HUGE DIFFERENCE FOR THE COMMUNITIES SHE WORKS WITH.

>> WHEN COMPARING THE ENGLISH BALLOT TO THE ARABIC BALLOT, IT WAS VERY DIFFICULT.

THAT IS WHY IT IS SO IMPORTANT FOR THIS BILL TO GET US THAT BALLOT.

>> THE PRESIDENT OF THE CALIFORNIA ASSOCIATION OF CLERKS AND ELECTION OFFICIALS.

>> LIKE DOUBLE THE AMOUNT OF LANGUAGES WE WOULD HAVE TO BE ABLE TO PROVIDE.

ONE OF THE TRUE CHALLENGES WE WILL HAVE IS TRANSLATION.

>> HE SAYS TECHNOLOGY, VENDORS AND FUNDING CANNOT MEET THE BILLS REQUIREMENTS.

>> IF YOU START TO REPROGRAM THAT IN L.A., THEY DID AN ASSESSMENT AND IT WILL COST NEARLY $25 MILLION.

>> THE REGISTRAR OF VOTERS DECLINED TO COMMENT ON THE BILL BUT SAYS EVEN OFFERING REFERENCE BALLOTS TAKES A LOT OF WORK.

>> WITH OUR BUDGET AND THE TIME AVAILABLE AND THE TECHNOLOGY WE HAVE AND THE LANGUAGES THAT CAN BE SUPPORTED BY OUR VENDORS, WE FOLLOW THE LAW FOR THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA AND THE FEDERAL LAW.

>> BUT SOME SEE THIS BILL AS THE NEXT STEP.

>> WE WILL COMPARE THE BALLOT TO THE ENGLISH BALLOT.

THIS SHOULD BE A FUNDAMENTAL RIGHT FOR EVERYONE.

>> SAYING THAT THE VETO WAS A MISSED OPPORTUNITY FOR JUSTICE.

SHE SAYS THAT SHE IS NOT GIVING UP.

>>> IF YOU WANT TO GET AN EARLY START AT STUDYING YOUR BALLOT, SAMPLE BALLOTS ARE AVAILABLE FROM THE SAN DIEGO REGISTRAR OF VOTERS.

THOSE WHO GET EMAIL ALERTS GOT YOURS THIS WEEK.

YOU CAN ALSO GO TO THEIR WEBSITE.

YOU CAN JUST ENTER YOUR ADDRESS AND FROM THERE YOU CAN REVIEW YOUR PARTICULAR BALLOT AND THE VOTER INFORMATION PAMPHLET.

THE NOVEMBER ELECTION WOULD NOT BE POSSIBLE WITHOUT THE HELP OF POLL WORKERS.

THE SAN DIEGO REGISTRAR OF VOTERS IS LOOKING FOR HELP, ESPECIALLY FROM THOSE WHO ARE BILINGUAL.

>> POLL WORKER TURNOUT HAS BEEN POSITIVE BUT THE SAN DIEGO REGISTRAR OF VOTERS IS STILL LOOKING FOR MORE.

>> WE ARE LOOKING TO RECRUIT ROUGHLY 2500 POLL WORKERS AND WOULD LIKE TO HAVE A GOOD PRESENCE OF BILINGUAL WORKERS FOR ALL LOCATIONS.

>> SEAN IS AN ASSISTANT AT THE SAN DIEGO REGISTRAR OF VOTERS AND SAYS THERE IS A BIG NEED FOR BILINGUAL POLL WORKERS.

>> THE COUNTY IS SEEKING BILINGUAL POLL WORKERS IN 10 LANGUAGES.

OF INTEREST SPECIFICALLY RIGHT NOW IS THE FILIPINO, VIETNAMESE, CHINESE AND LAOTIAN.

>> HE SAYS THAT HAVE BEEN -- HAVING ILLEGAL POLL WORKERS COULD ENSURE A BETTER EXPERIENCE FOR MANY BOATERS.

>> WHEN THEY GO TO THE BOAT CENTER AND THEY ARE ABLE TO SEE SOMEBODY FROM THEIR COMMUNITY THAT THEY RECOGNIZE, THEY FEEL COMFORTABLE AND ARE ABLE TO ASK QUESTIONS AND UNDERSTAND THE VOTING PROCESS IN THEIR PREFERRED LANGUAGE.

>> HE SAYS THE COUNTY EMBRACES OUR DIVERSITY AND WANTS ALL VOTERS TO BE INFORMED.

IT IS IT TODAY TRAINING PROCESS FOR POLL WORKERS, LINGUAL OR NOT.

>> WE WILL GET EVERYBODY TRAINED.

IT IS GOOD TO HAVE THE BILINGUAL POLL WORKERS OUT THERE FOR THE COMFORT LEVEL.

>> POLLING CENTERS BEGIN TO OPEN OCTOBER 26th AND WILL BE LOCATED AROUND THE COUNTY.

POLL WORKERS RECEIVE A STIPEND FOR $145 FOR EACH DAY THEY WORK IN $245 ON ELECTION DAY.

>> IF YOU ARE A BILINGUAL SPEAKER YOU WILL RECEIVE AN ADDITIONAL FIVE DOLLARS STIPEND FOR EACH OF THOSE DAYS AND $10 ON ELECTION DAY.

IT IS ABOUT HELPING THE COMMUNITY BE CIVICALLY ENGAGED AND ALSO RECEIVE A STIPEND.

>> ANYONE INTERESTED HAS UNTIL THE END OF OCTOBER TO SIGN UP.

>>> PUBLIC MATTERS IS OUR NEW COLLABORATION WITH LOCAL NEWS OUTLETS FOCUSING ON DEMOCRACY.

THAT INCLUDES OUR WHY IT MATTERS SEGMENT WITH SCOTT LEWIS AND THIS WEEK HE TELLS US ABOUT HOW SAN DIEGO LOST ITS PLACE AS REPUBLICAN STRONGHOLD AND WHY IT MATTERS.

>> I'VE BEEN REPORTING ON SAN DIEGO POLITICS FOR THE PAST 20 YEARS AND THIS IS THE FIRST ELECTION CYCLE WHERE NO REPUBLICAN IS EVEN RUNNING FOR OFFICE IN THE CITY OF SAN DIEGO.

ALL THE CANDIDATES FOR MAYOR TO CITY COUNCIL ARE DEMOCRATS OR NONPARTISAN.

JUST FOUR YEARS AGO THEY WERE ALL REPUBLICANS AND NOW, NONE.

IT USED TO BE A MORE CONSERVATIVE CITY WITHIN CALIFORNIA.

RONALD REAGAN LOVE THAT HERE.

HIS LAST CAMPAIGN RALLY WAS AT FASHION VALLEY IN NOVEMBER OF 1984.

>> IT IS GREAT TO BE IN SAN DIEGO, MY GOOD LUCK CITY.

>> WHAT HAPPENED?

CAN REPUBLICANS EVER COME BACK?

PARTIES CAN HELP CANDIDATES RAISE MONEY AND SEND MAILERS ABOUT THEIR ENDORSED CANDIDATES.

REPUBLICANS REALLY STARTED TO LOSE TRACTION ABOUT 16 YEARS AGO AND BARACK OBAMA WAS ELECTED PRESIDENT THEN DONALD TRUMP WON.

IN SAN DIEGO HE WAS NOT POPULAR.

SAN DIEGO VOTERS SUPPORTED GEORGE W. BUSH'S RE-ELECTION IN 2004 BUT 16 YEARS LATER PRESIDENT BIDEN PRESIDENT TRUMP IN SAN DIEGO COUNTY BY MORE THAN 60% IN 2020.

DURING THAT TIME DEMOCRATS LEARNED ALL THEY HAD TO DO WAS TIE A LOCAL CANDIDATE TO TRUMP AND THEY CAN DOOM THAT CANDIDATE.

TAKE LORI ZEFF.

RUNNING FOR RE-ELECTION IN 2018, TWO YEARS AFTER TRUMP WON THE PRESIDENCY.

INCUMBENTS LIKE HER ALMOST ALWAYS WON THE RE-ELECTION.

SHE LOST BY 15 POINTS.

THIS YEAR WE WILL SEE A NEW TEST.

THE FORMER SAN DIEGO MAYOR, ONE OF THE LAST REPUBLICANS IN CITY POLITICS IS RUNNING FOR COUNTY SUPERVISOR.

HE HOPES TO OUST HIS INCUMBENT DEMOCRAT.

AND NOW SHE IS DOING THE SAME THING.

THIS IS A BILLBOARD IN OCEAN BEACH.

IF FAULKNER WINS THE REPUBLICANS HAVE A CHANCE TO REGAIN MAJORITY ON THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS WHICH THEY HAVE FOR DECADES.

MEANWHILE, THE SPLIT HAS SHIFTED.

MANY GROUPS HAVE SHIFTED FOCUS AND SUPPORT MORE CONSERVATIVE DEMOCRATS.

WILL THEY CONTINUE TO DO THAT?

WILL THE DEMOCRATS FIGHT AMONGST THEMSELVES OR WILL THE REPUBLICAN PARTY REBUILT.

WE ASK THAT IT -- THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE LINCOLN CLUB.

>> IF REPUBLICANS WANT TO WIN ELECTIONS IN ANY RACE, YOU HAVE TO HAVE INFRASTRUCTURE, COMMUNITY AND YOU HAVE TO BE ABLE TO HAVE ISSUES AND REPRESENTATION ALIGNED WITH THE DISTRICT YOU ARE RUNNING FOR.

IF YOU DON'T HAVE INFRASTRUCTURE AND YOU DON'T HAVE A PLAN OR GOOD COMMUNITY BACKING YOU WILL HAVE A TOUGH TIME GETTING ELECTED.

>> THAT IS THE FIRST THING TO WATCH ON ELECTION DAY.

IF FAULKNER WINS, MAYBE FORMER PRESIDENT TRUMP WILL NO LONGER BE HOLDING BACK CANDIDATES.

I'M SCOTT LEWIS AND THIS IS WHY IT MATTERS.

>> THIS IS PART OF OUR PUBLIC MATTERS INITIATIVE WITH THE VOICE OF SAN DIEGO AND INEWSOURCE.

YOU CAN SIGN UP FOR OUR NEWSLETTER TO GET A LIST OF OUR MOST POPULAR STORIES.

>>> MOST OF THE IMPERIAL BEACH SHORELINE REOPENED TO THE PUBLIC AFTER A LENGTHY CLOSURE.

THE SAN DIEGO CITY COUNCIL DECLINES TO RENEW ITS CONTRACT WITH ACE PARKING.

TWO NEW MEMORIALS DEDICATED TO THOSE LOST IN THE 1978 PSA CRASH .

WE WILL HAVE THAT STORY A LITTLE LATER.

>>> SAFE PARKING PROGRAMS HAVE BECOME A COUNTYWIDE METHOD TO LIFT PEOPLE OUT OF HOMELESSNESS.

MANY PARTICIPANTS ARE HOMELESS FOR THE FIRST TIME.

SUPPORTERS SAY THE PROGRAMS CATCH PEOPLE BEFORE THEY HAVE LOST EVERYTHING.

KATIE ANASTAS HAS THE STORY OF A FAMILY WHO LIVED IN A SAFE PARKING LOT FOR MORE THAN A YEAR.

>> WE HAVE BEEN HOMELESS FOR THREE YEARS, FOUR MONTHS AND 30 DAYS.

>> KATIE AND HER FAMILY BECAME HOMELESS IN THE SPRING OF 2021.

SHE SAYS A STATE WELFARE PROGRAM THAT HELP FAMILIES WITH CHILDREN PAID FOR 60 NIGHTS AT HOTELS.

AFTER THAT, ODD JOBS HELPED HER AND HER PARTNER PAY FOR HOTEL STAYS.

THEN THEY SAW A STORY ON TV ABOUT THE SAFE PARKING PROGRAM.

>> WE'VE SEEN IT ON THE NEWS.

>> WE CALLED AND THEY SAID, COME RIGHT DOWN.

>> THEY SPENT THE NEXT YEAR AND THREE MONTHS LIVING IN A TRAILER AT ONE OF THE PROGRAM SITES.

THEY HAVE TWO SONS, SEVEN AND EIGHT YEARS OLD.

>> JUNE AND JULY IS THEIR BIRTHDAYS.

AND WE'VE BEEN DOING THE BIRTHDAY FAIRY EVER SINCE WE'VE BEEN HOMELESS.

WE TAKE STREAMERS AND WE HANG THEM FROM THE CEILING.

WE HAD THINGS ON THE DOOR.

THEY WOKE UP TO IT.

>> NOW THE FAMILY HOPES TO CELEBRATE BIRTHDAYS IN THEIR NEW APARTMENT IN RAMONA.

RENT IS A LITTLE BIT OVER $1800 A MONTH FOR A TWO BEDROOM APARTMENT.

JEWISH FAMILY SERVICE PAID THEIR DEPOSIT.

>> I'M NOT AN EMOTIONAL MAN BUT I FELT IT.

>> THEY ARE ALSO BUYING THEM FURNITURE, SILVERWARE AND OTHER THINGS THEY NEED FOR THEIR NEW HOME.

THE BOYS WILL HAVE BUNK BEDS WITH SPIDER-MAN BEDDING.

>> IT MAKES US LIKE, WELL, IT ENCOURAGED ME TO CONTINUE TO STAY OUT.

>> OUT OF HOMELESSNESS.

JEWISH FAMILY SERVICES OPERATES FOUR PARKING SITES WITH MORE THAN 230 PARKING SITES.

MAYOR TODD GLORIA SAYS THAT THEY FILL A CRITICAL GAP IN THE JUSTICE SYSTEM.

HE SAYS IT IS RARE TO HAVE AN EMPTY SPOT.

>> WE DO HAVE A COMBINATION OF OLDER ADULTS ON FIXED INCOME, RETIRED OR ON DISABILITY OF SOME SORT.

BUT THE VAST MAJORITY OF OUR CLIENTS WORK EACH DAY.

>> CASE MANAGERS WORK AT EACH SITE TO CONNECT PEOPLE TO HOUSING AND OTHER SERVICES AND ALSO TRY TO REUNITE PEOPLE WITH FAMILY MEMBERS.

>> THE BENEFIT OF SAFE PARKING IS THAT YOU GET TO INTERVENE AT A LEVEL WHERE PEOPLE REALLY HAVEN'T LOST ALL OF THEIR HOPE.

A LOT OF OUR CLIENTS ARE FIRST- TIME HOMELESSNESS.

>> RESEARCHERS STUDYING THE PROGRAM IN 2022 FOUND THAT MANY CLIENTS WANTED MORE FLEXIBLE ACCESS TO THE LOTS.

TWO SITES ARE OPEN 24 HOURS, THE OTHERS ARE OPEN JUST IN THE EVENINGS AND THE MORNINGS.

OTHERS WANTED MORE EXCESS TO SHOWERS AND HELP OVERCOMING RACIAL BIAS.

SINCE 2018 THE PROGRAM HAS SERVED MORE THAN 5000 INDIVIDUALS AND 3000 HOUSEHOLDS AT SIX SITES IN SAN DIEGO COUNTY.

MORE THAN A THIRD HAVE MOVED INTO MORE SECURE HOUSING INCLUDING PERMANENT HOUSING, HOTEL ROOMS AND SHELTERS.

>> IF A CLIENT MISSES ONE NIGHT AT SAFE PARKING I URGE MYSELF TO CALL THEM THE NEXT DAY.

NINE TIMES OUT OF 10 IT WAS JUST, OH, I FOUND A FRIEND.

BUT THE MOST RESPONSE WE WOULD GET, I DIDN'T THINK ANYONE CARED WHERE I WAS AT.

THEY COME BACK BECAUSE WE CARE.

>> PEOPLE AT THESE SAFE PARKING SITES ARE CONSIDERED UNSHELTERED AND GLORIA HAS ASKED THE DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND REDEVELOPMENT TO RE-CLASS THEM AS PART OF THE SHELTERED HOMELESS POPULATION.

HE SAYS THE UNSHELTERED HOMELESS COUNT WOULD HAVE DROPPED BY NEARLY 10% THIS YEAR INSTEAD OF INCREASING AND WOULD REFLECT THE ROLE THAT THE SITES PLAY IN CONNECTING PEOPLE TO SERVICES.

PART OF THAT ROLE IS GIVING PEOPLE HOPE.

>> IT IS ONLY OVER WHEN WE TAP OUT.

>> THAT IS THE MESSAGE TO OTHER HOMELESS PARENTS, TOO.

>> I'M GOING TO CRY.

YOU HAVEN'T FAILED THOSE CHILDREN, JUST KEEP GOING.

ONCE YOU GIVE UP, THAT'S WHEN YOU FAIL THEM.

>> EARLIER THIS SUMMER THE CALIFORNIA COASTAL COMMISSION APPROVED A PLAN TO TOURNEY SITE IN POINT LOMA INTO A SAFE SPOT.

IT IS EXPECTED TO NEARLY DOUBLE THE NUMBER OF SAFE PARKING SPOTS IN THE CITY.

>> WE HAVE MORE FROM KATIE ANASTAS AND HELP FOR FAMILIES TRYING TO KEEP PACE WITH THE COST OF LIVING.

SHE RECENTLY VISITED A NEW FOOD PANTRY THAT SERVES MILITARY FAMILIES.

>> BREANNA AND HER FAMILY MOVED TO SAN DIEGO FROM TEXAS AND THE MOVE CAME WITH SOME STICKER SHOCK.

>> A LITTLE CAESARS PIZZA HERE IS $11.47 AND IN TEXAS IT WAS SIX DOLLARS.

>> HER HUSBAND IS IN THE NAVY.

>> THE SCHOOL COMMUNITY HAS BEEN THERE FOR US THROUGH LOTS OF DIFFERENT HARDSHIPS.

>> NOW THE SCHOOL HAS ANOTHER WAY TO SUPPORT THEM.

A FOOD PANTRY.

>> IT WAS AMAZING.

IT WASN'T JUST A BUNCH OF CANNED GOODS THROWN IN A BAG.

THAT IS USUALLY WHAT WE END UP FINDING A DIFFERENT FOOD RESOURCES.

THIS TIME IT WAS GREAT BECAUSE IT WAS A MIX OF THINGS THAT KIDS ACTUALLY WANT TO EAT.

>> HANCOCK ELEMENTARY IS ONE OF THE LATEST SCHOOLS TO GET OFF THE WAIT LIST FOR A SCHOOL PANTRY.

NEARLY ALL OF THE STUDENTS HAVE A PARENT IN THE MILITARY.

>> WE FOUND THAT A LOT OF OUR FAMILIES FOUND FOOD SECURITY TO BE DIFFICULT.

THEY WANTED MORE SNACKS IN THE CLASSROOM AND MORE FOOD RESOURCES TO USE AT HOME.

>> THE MILITARY MEMBERS HOUSING ALLOWANCE COUNTS AS INCOME WHEN APPLYING.

THE SAN DIEGO HUNGER COALITION HAS CALLED FOR IT TO BE EXEMPT SOMEWHERE MILITARY FAMILIES CAN ACCESS THAT BENEFIT.

SAYING THAT THE FOOD PANTRIES CAN REDUCE THE STIGMA BY BRINGING INTO A FAMILIAR AND TRUSTED PLACE.

>> FOR A LOT OF FAMILIES WHO ARE ALREADY ON THEIR DAY-TO-DAY PATH, IT MAKES FOOD A LOT MORE ACCESSIBLE AND MORE CONVENIENT.

>> FEEDING SAN DIEGO DISTRIBUTES FOOD AT 44 SCHOOLS IN THE COUNTY AND MORE THAN 30 OTHERS ARE ON THE WAITLIST.

IT COSTS ABOUT $30,000 TO RUN A SCHOOL PANTRY FOR A YEAR.

THEY NEED NEARLY $700,000 EACH YEAR TO TAKE THE REMAINING SCHOOLS OFF THE WAITLIST.

>>> FENTANYL USE IN SAN DIEGO COUNTY HAS SKYROCKETED IN RECENT YEARS BUT THE NUMBER OF OVERDOSES HAS BEGUN TO INCH DOWNWARD.

>> SAN DIEGO'S PROXIMITY TO THE BORDER MAKES IT A KEY PART OF THE FENTANYL SUPPLY CHAIN AND IT IS LIKELY TO STAY THAT WAY ACCORDING TO THE U.S. ATTORNEY, TARA McGRATH.

>> WE ARE A TRANSITION POINT FOR THE ARRIVAL OF FENTANYL.

WE ARE A TRANSPORTATION HUB.

THE FENTANYL COMES IN THROUGH THE MEXICAN BORDER AND TRANSFERS TO DISTRIBUTION HUBS LIKE LOS ANGELES AND LAS VEGAS.

AND THEN IT GETS DISTRIBUTED TO THE REST OF THE COUNTRY.

>> IT IS INEVITABLE THAT SOME OF THAT SUPPLY STAYS IN SAN DIEGO, BEATING THE DEMAND FOR FENTANYL WITH TRAGIC CONSEQUENCES.

FROM LESS THAN 100 TO MORE THAN 800 IN RECENT YEARS, IT IS A GRIM REALITY THAT THE STATES ATTORNEY IS ALL TOO FAMILIAR WITH.

>> WE'VE MADE FIGHTING FENTANYL A PRIORITY.

>> BUT THERE ARE SIGNS OF HOPE FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE THE CRISIS BEGAN.

THE NUMBER OF OVERDOSE DEATHS AS BEGAN TO GO DOWN.

>> SAN DIEGO HAS SORT OF UNIQUELY SHOWN A 7% REDUCTION IN THE NUMBER OF FENTANYL OVERDOSES IN 2023 COMPARED TO 2022 AND 2021.

>> WITH NEARLY 750 FENTANYL DEATHS COUNTYWIDE, SHE IS HARDLY CELEBRATING.

INSTEAD THEY ARE STUDYING A SHIFT IN HOW PEOPLE USE THE DRUG AND WHAT THAT MIGHT MEAN FOR THE FUTURE.

>> IN 2019 AND 2020, WE NEVER SAW CASES WHERE SOMEBODY WAS SEEKING OR ASKING FOR FENTANYL.

NOW IN 2024 WE HAVE MANY CASES WHERE THE VICTIMS ASKED SPECIFICALLY TO GET FENTANYL.

>> APRIL IS THE DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS FOR A NEW PATH, A DRUG TREATMENT ORGANIZATION BASED IN SAN DIEGO.

SHE SAYS THERE HAS BEEN AN EVOLUTION IN HOW PEOPLE USE FENTANYL.

A FEW YEARS AGO MOST PEOPLE TOOK IT BY ACCIDENT.

>> WHEN PEOPLE ARE SEARCHING FOR FENTANYL, THEY START WITH MAYBE XANAX LACED WITH FENTANYL.

>> EXPERTS TELL KPBS THAT FENTANYL IS NOW MUCH EASIER AND CHEAPER TO GET IN SAN DIEGO THAN HEROIN.

ADVOCATES CREDIT THE DROP IN DEATH TO LOCKS AND.

BUT FEWER OVERDOSE DEATHS DOES NOT NECESSARILY MEAN FEWER OVERDOSES.

NONFATAL OVERDOSES ARE EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO TRACK.

>> IF THEY DID NOT GO TO THE HOSPITAL OR THEY DID NOT GET THEM CARE OF SOME SORT THERE IS NO WAY TO TRACK HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE OVERDOSING.

>> DESPITE THE LACK OF RELIABLE DATA, A NEW PATH AS SEEN MORE OF A DEMAND FOR NARCAN.

>> WHEN WE ARE OUT IN THE FIELD, PEOPLE REPORTED, OH, I USED THREE OF THOSE KITS.

BUT THAT DOES NOT MEAN IT GETS REPORTED.

>> PROSECUTORS AGREE THAT IT IS MAKING A DIFFERENCE BUT THEY ALSO CREDITED INCREASED COLLABORATION, FEDERAL PROSECUTORS WORK CLOSELY WITH THE FBI, DEA, BORDER PATROL AND LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT TO GO AFTER LARGE DRUG OPERATIONS.

>> IDENTIFY AND DISMANTLE THE DRUG CARTELS.

THAT IS WHAT IT DOES.

>> TOUGHER DRUG SENTENCING LAWS ARE ALSO NEEDED.

MEANWHILE, ADVOCATES SAY THAT WOULD BE A RETURN TO FAILED POLICIES FOR THE WAR ON DRUGS.

>> THIS IS ANOTHER IN A SERIES OF STORIES FOCUSED ON SEPARATING FACT FROM MYTH REGARDING MIGRANT CRIME AND BORDER SECURITY.

YOU CAN WATCH ALL THE RELATED STORIES ON OUR YOUTUBE PAGE.

JUST CLICK ON THE NEWS FEATURES TAB.

>>> THIS WEEK MARKS 46 YEARS SINCE A DEADLY PLANE CRASH IN NORTH PARK.

FAMILY AND FRIENDS AND THOSE WHO HAVE DIED HAVE NOW REACHED A DECADES LONG GOAL.

>> ON THE NORTH SIDE OF ST. AUGUSTINE HIGH SCHOOL CHIMES SOUNDED.

A CALL TO REMEMBRANCE.

>> TO MEMORIALIZE THIS TRAGEDY WE HAVE CREATED THIS PRAYER GARDEN FOR OUR COMMUNITY.

>> A PRAYER GARDEN ANCHORED BY A BEAUTIFUL MEMORIAL.

ONE TILE FOR EACH OF THE LOST.

BEARING MUTED VERSIONS OF THE RED AND ORANGE COLORS.

>> IT WAS A GLORIOUS, BEAUTIFUL, SUNNY DAY THAT DAY.

WE WERE TALKING WITH HUNDREDS OF SAINTS MINT MILLING AROUND IN THE QUAD AS YOU STILL DO TODAY.

>> FATHER JAMES CLIFFORD LOOKED UP AND SAW SOMETHING TERRIFYING.

A CESSNA COMING UP AND UNDER THE BOEING 727, THEN THEY COLLIDED.

THE HORRIFYING SIGHT TURNING TO TERROR ON THE GROUND.

>> IT WAS COMING RIGHT TO US.

THAT WAS ANOTHER MOMENT WHERE WE WERE LIKE, ARE WE GOING TO SURVIVE?

>> STUDENTS, FORMER STUDENTS, SOME THAT WERE THERE THAT DAY, LISTENING AS THE MEMORIAL IS DEDICATED.

>> THE PRAYER GARDEN IS CERTAINLY BEAUTIFUL AND WILL PRESERVE THE HISTORY OF THIS EVENT AND GIVE ALL OF US A PLACE FOR QUIET SOLITUDE.

>> 46 YEARS AND IN THE SPACE OF ONE DAY WE GO FROM NO MEMORIALS TO TWO.

THIS ONE AT ST. AUGUSTINE.

AND HERE AT THE INTERSECTION OF DWIGHT AND NIALL WE ARE 46 YEARS AGO THE CESSNA LANDED JUST A COUPLE OF BLOCKS AWAY.

HERE, FINALLY, A PLAQUE DEDICATED TO THE 144 SOULS THAT LOST THEIR LIVES ON THAT AWFUL DAY.

AMONG THOSE ON THE PLANE THAT DAY, SEVERAL FLIGHT ATTENDANTS MAKING THEIR WAY HOME TO SAN DIEGO.

MARLOWE WAS ONE OF THEM.

HER MOTHER REMEMBERS IT LIKE IT WAS YESTERDAY.

>> I WAS AT WORK WHEN THIS OCCURRED AND WHEN THEY TOLD ME, I SAID, OH NO, MY DAUGHTER IS NOT ON THAT FLIGHT.

>> SHE TURNED ON THE NEWS WHEN SHE GOT HOME AND THEN CAME THE AWFUL REALIZATION THAT HER DAUGHTER WAS ON THAT FLIGHT.

FOR HER AND OTHER FAMILY MEMBERS AND FRIENDS IT HAS BEEN A LONG TIME WAITING FOR THE MEMORIAL.

IT FINALLY HAPPENED DUE TO THE WORK OF COUNCILMEMBERS STEPHEN WITTGREN AND HIS STAFF.

HE PROMISED A YEAR AGO THAT A MEMORIAL WILL BE PLACED WITHIN THE YEAR.

>> I THINK IT IS SYMBOLIC OF THE WEIGHT THAT HAS BEEN LIFTED OFF FAMILY MEMBERS THAT HAVE A PLACE TO COME AND MOURN AND REMEMBER THOSE THAT WERE LOST.

>> THERE IS AN INSCRIPTION ON THE MEMORIAL, PART OF IT READS, MAY THE MEMORY OF THE DECEASED AND ALL THAT SERVED THAT DAY AND THOSE THAT FOLLOWED BE ETERNAL.

WITH THE TWO MEMORIALS, THE HOPE OF THAT FUND WISH IS NOW MORE REAL FOR THOSE WHO WERE LEFT BEHIND, WHOSE LIVES WERE FOREVER CHANGED ON SEPTEMBER 25th, 1978.

>> WE HOPE THAT YOU ENJOY THIS LOOK AT THE KPBS NEWS THIS WEEK.

I AM MAYA TRABULSI, THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.