You are part of something bigger. A neighborhood, a community, a county, a state, a country. All of these places are made stronger when we engage with each other in conversation and participate in local decision-making. But where and how to start? Introducing Public Matters.
Sacramento Report: Two Gubernatorial Candidates on Tijuana River Pollution
Sacramento Report: Erasing Cesar Chavez
In Whose Backyard
Almost 100,000 new homes have been permitted across San Diego County since 2018. But the homes are not being spread evenly across the county. In Whose Backyard, brought to you by Public Matters, looks at where homes are being built, what kinds of homes are popping up and how that impacts the surrounding communities.
KPBS Voter Hub Special Election 2025:
A big decision awaits some voters this April as the race for San Diego County’s Supervisor District 1 seat heats up. Are you ready to vote? Check out the KPBS Voter Hub to learn about the candidates, the key issues the board is facing and how you can make your voice heard.
Documenters
The San Diego Documenters, an independently funded program of the nonprofit newsroom inewsource, is putting the “public” back in public meetings. The program trains and pays San Diegans to document community meetings and keep watch over local government.
Why It Matters: Exploring Key Political Issues in San Diego
Moving Midway Rising Forward
Money for convention center expansion
San Diego Unified Postpones Vote on Affordable Housing
Why It Matters: County dips into reserves for employee bonuses
New movement to repeal San Diego’s trash collection fee
40,000 SD Unified students favor farther schools
Battle Lines Drawn on Vacation Rental Tax
Big ideas and big skepticism at Politifest
City Attorney Halts Conservatorship Filings – and Looks to the County to Step Up
What to expect when San Diego votes on raising water rates
Why election mailers are suddenly filling San Diego mailboxes
County supes vote to tap reserves — but can’t yet
Padres do some polling
New safe parking site frees city to push campers out of Mission Bay
The places in San Diego meeting their housing goals will blow your mind
Fearing lawsuits, El Cajon Police stopped responding to some mental health calls
New plan to charge for Balboa Park parking could pack the zoo lots
Coronado and Imperial Beach haven’t produced a single affordable home in years
You’re Trying to Pull a Fast One
School enrollment falls in San Diego, and it’s getting worse
How the supervisors race will impact how much housing is built
San Diego’s risky bets to restore budget cuts
What happens now that the trash fee is passed
San Diego Unified Graduation Requirements
Future of Midway homeless shelter remains uncertain
The backstory to San Diego’s lawsuit over La Jolla independence fight
What’s going on with the La Jolla independence fight
Water Authority faces existential crisis
How the new San Diego County proposal for a tax increase would work
San Diego proposed trash fee is lower, but not by much
Mayor’s office: Ex-COO alleging discrimination was fired
City of San Diego urging CARE Court reforms
Why hotel room taxes are going up
Trash fees for San Diego homeowners
Why are San Diego water rates about to soar?
Why the Padres are involved in the new minimum wage fight
Are San Diego Schools Recovering from COVID Learning Loss? | VOSD Schools Guide
More than 100 people in San Diego in jail due to Prop. 36
La Jolla takes first step toward secession. What happens next?
Why Mayor Gloria was blaming the county in his speech
Why It Matters: Could La Jolla secede from the city of San Diego?
Why It Matters: What’s going on with San Diego’s Civic Center glow up?
Why It Matters: The shake-ups coming in San Diego leadership
Why It Matters: How Prop. 36 could increase demand for treatment beds in San Diego
Why It Matters: How Trump’s election will impact San Diego’s Republican Party
Why It Matters: How Proposition 5 would impact local cities like San Diego
Why It Matters: What exactly are the school bonds on San Diego ballots?
Why It Matters: What are independent expenditures and how are they impacting local races?
Why It Matters: Breaking down the rift between Carl DeMaio and San Diego GOP
Why It Matters: Can Republicans make a comeback in San Diego?
Public Matters is led by KPBS, inewsource and Voice of San Diego. These three independent, nonprofit news organizations are partnering to share content, conversation, and events that ensure all San Diegans understand their opportunity to participate in the democratic process and that it means more than voting in an election. The initiative provides news stories on politics and governance including the areas of housing affordability, public safety, neighborhood improvements and social justice; facilitated, in-person discussions around important issues that often divide us; and resources to help you make a difference in your community. At its core, it is about reminding us that we have a shared humanity, and together we are empowered to make positive change.