>> THANK YOU FOR JOINING US FOR THIS LOOK AT THE BEST ORIGINAL REPORTING THIS WEEK.

COMING UP, AFGHANS NOW IN SAN DIEGO FEAR OTHERS HOPING TO MAKE IT TO THE U.S. MIGHT BE FORGOTTEN AS THE WORLD ATTENTION SHIFTS TO UKRAINE.

>>> CALIFORNIA'S DROP IN K-12 ENROLLMENT DUE TO THE PANDEMIC MIGHT MEAN LESS MONEY FOR LOCAL SCHOOLS.

>>> AND HOW MANY PEOPLE DOES IT TAKE TO CHANGE A CITY LIGHTBULB?

A NEW DATA-DRIVEN APPROACH TO SPEED UP REPAIRS AROUND SAN DIEGO.

>>> AN EXAMPLE OF HOW SANDY AKINS WILL TAKE ANY HELP THEY CAN GET WHEN IT COMES TO GAS PRICES.

THE LOCAL AVERAGE AT NEARLY 6 DOLLARS.

KATIE ALVARADO WENT TO CHULA VISTA WHERE PEOPLE WERE LINED UP TO CATCH A BREAK ON THOSE COSTS.

>> NUMBER ONE!

>> Reporter: THAT DRIVER LEFT HER HOME AT FOUR IN THE MORNING AND BY 7:00, THE LINE WAS HOURS LONG.

IT KEPT GOING AND GOING AND GOING.

SO LONG, CAR BATTERIES DIED AND OTHER CARS WERE ON THE BRINK OF RUNNING OUT OF GAS.

>> THAT LITTLE GAS PUMP LIGHT COMES ON.

>> HELP IS ON THE WAY.

>> Reporter: SOME SIMPLY GIVE UP.

>> I AM ABOUT TO HEAD TO WORK RIGHT NOW.

>> Reporter: IF SHE CAN FIND A WAY OUT.

FOR MANY, THIS IS A WAY OUT.

A CHANCE TO GET A LITTLE RELIEF FROM THE PAIN AT THE PUMP.

WHERE SIX DOLLARS A GALLON IS BECOMING THE NORM.

BARBARA BRUCE SAYS SHE HAS HAD TO CUT WAY BACK.

>> MY GAS AND ELECTRIC, I PRAY THAT EVERY OTHER MONTH.

FOOD, WE CUT WAY BACK.

>> I AM FOREVER GRATEFUL, BUT IT IS A BIT OF A SACRIFICE OUT HERE IN THE LINES AND IT'S UNORGANIZED.

BUT WE WILL GET THROUGH IT.

>> Reporter: BARBARA'S NIECE ALREADY KNOWS HOW SHE WILL SPEND THE MONEY SHE SAVED ON THIS TANK OF GAS.

>> WHAT THAT MEANS FOR MY FAMILY IS THAT WE CAN PUT THAT TOWARDS THAT BILL.

>> IT SHOULD NOT BE HARD FOR OUR ELECTED OFFICIALS TO HAVE A HEART AND FEEL THE PAIN THAT THESE FOLKS FEEL.

>> Reporter: THE GAS GIVEAWAY WAS ORGANIZED BY SHANE HARRIS AND THE PEOPLE'S ASSOCIATION OF JUSTICE ADVOCATES.

IN ADDITION TO GASSING UP AROUND 300 CARS, THEY ALSO HANDED OUT FOOD BOXES FROM A LOCAL PANTRY.

GAS PRICES ARE FORCING WORKING- CLASS FAMILIES TO MAKE TOUGH CHOICES AND CALLED OUT POLITICIANS WHO PROMISE RELIEF.

>> WE CAN'T WAIT UNTIL JULY, PROMISES ABOUT REBATES COMING DOWN THE LINE AND WHAT THAT MIGHT LOOK LIKE.

BY THE TIME YOU GET TO JULY, PEOPLE WILL BE $1500 IN THE HOLE.

SO $400, WHAT WILL THAT DO?

>> Reporter: ROOSEVELT WILLIAMS, AN ENTREPRENEUR, SAYS HE DONATED TO THE EVENT BECAUSE THE NEED IN THE COMMUNITY IS CRITICAL.

>> WE ARE IN A STATE OF EMERGENCY.

YOU CAN SEE THE ISSUE AND CONCERN AND SEE THE INDIVIDUALS ARE MAKING LIFE DECISIONS AT THE PUMP .

>> Reporter: AFTER HOURS OF WAITING, A LITTLE CELEBRATION.

>> IT MIGHT BE SAUL -- SMALL TO SOMEONE BUT IT'S MAJOR TO ME.

>>> ONE REASON THAT PRICES ARE SO HIGH IS THE RUSSIAN INVASION OF UKRAINE.

WE HAVE ALL SEEN THE STORIES OF MILLIONS OF REFUGEES LEAVING THE WAR ZONE.

A FEW MONTHS AGO, AFGHANS WERE IN THE SAME POSITION.

AS A STEVE WALSH REPORTS, SOME ARE WORRIED THEY MAY BE FORGOTTEN.

>> Reporter: WATCHES ON HIS PHONE A RECENT NEWS REPORT OUT OF AFGHANISTAN, IT SHOWS A GROUP BEING TURNED AWAY FROM A SCHOOL.

>> WE ARE ALSO HUMAN BEINGS.

>> Reporter: HE INTERPRETS THE VIDEO FOR ME.

>> WE HAVE A RIGHT TO EDUCATION.

>> Reporter: FIVE MONTHS AGO, HE ARRIVED IN SAN DIEGO WITH HIS WIFE AND FAMILY.

PART OF A GROWING NUMBER OF AFGHAN REFUGEES.

THE WORLD WATCHES AS THE RUSSIAN INVASION PRODUCES MILLIONS OF REFUGEES OVERNIGHT.

BUT OTHER AFGHAN REFUGEES ARE STILL FOCUSED ON THE PLIGHT OF THEIR COUNTRY.

AND ARE NERVOUS THAT THE U.S. WILL MOVE ON, LEAVING THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE STRANDED.

SOME REMAIN IN HIDING.

>> THEY ARE HIDING THEM.

THIS IS A BIG CONCERN.

SOMETHING BAD MAY HAPPEN TO THEM.

>> Reporter: PART OF A COALITION THAT TRIES TO BRING AFGHANS WHO WORK WITH THE AMERICANS TO SAFETY.

THEY HAVE BEEN WORKING WITH THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION BUT THE WHITE HOUSE HAS SAID VERY LITTLE PUBLICLY.

>> WE ARE WILLING TO BREAK, BEND OVER BACKWARDS TO HELP EUROPEANS.

THAT WE HAVEN'T SERVED WITH AT THE SCALE THAT WE HAVE WITH AFGHANS.

AND THAT WE HAVE TAKEN OUR TIME ON AFGHANS.

FOLKS WITH WHOM WE SERVED FOR 20 YEARS, FOLKS WHO STOOD BY US ON THE BATTLEFIELD.

>> Reporter: AFGHANISTAN DIDN'T COME UP DURING THE STATE OF THE UNION ADDRESS EMMA HE WAS PARTICULARLY FRUSTRATED AFTER THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION ANNOUNCED THE U.S. WOULD ALLOW 100,000 UKRAINIAN REFUGEES INTO THE COUNTRY.

>> NOBODY IS SAYING WE SHOULDN'T BE HELPING YOU CRANES.

WE ALL AGREE.

WE ARE SAYING IT WOULD BE NICE IF FOLKS WHO DIDN'T LOOK LIKE US GOT THE SAME HELP.

>> Reporter: ADVOCATES ARE STILL WAITING FOR THE ADMINISTRATION TO GET BEHIND A PERMANENT STATUS FOR THOUSANDS OF AFGHANS.

WHO WAS GIVEN A TEMPORARY STATUS AND HUMANITARIAN PAROLE.

IT DOESN'T FIX THEIR SITUATION.

>> IT IS NOT A PERMANENT STATUS, IT IS NOT AN IMMIGRATION STATUS.

IT WAS VERY IMPORTANT IN THAT IT A LOT OF PEOPLE GOT HERE QUICKLY BUT WHAT HAS HAPPENED NOW IS THEY ARE HERE WITH NO PATH TO PERMANENCY.

>> Reporter: THE BIGGEST PROBLEM ISN'T THE SHIFTING FOCUS FROM ONE REFUGEE CRISIS TO ANOTHER, SHE SAYS THE PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATION GUTTED THE U.S.

REFUGEE RESETTLEMENT PROGRAM.

>> IT'S A LOT EASIER TO BACK THE PROGRAM THAT IT IS TO REBUILD.

SLOWLY BUT SURELY BUILDING UP.

IT FEELS PAINFULLY SLOW.

>> Reporter: HE HAD JUST RECEIVED HIS GREEN CARD, WHICH WILL ALLOW HIM TO USE HIS DEGREE IN COMPUTER PROGRAMMING.

HE WAS BEATEN BY THE TALIBAN AND HE MADE HIS WAY TO THE AIRPORT WITH HIS FAMILY.

JUST DAYS BEFORE THE LAST AMERICAN FLIGHT.

>> WE ESCAPE FROM THEM, AND SOMEHOW WE MADE IT TO THE AIRPORT.

>> Reporter: HE LEFT BEHIND TWO BROTHERS WHO ALSO WORK WITHIN AN AMERICAN COMPANY.

HE SAYS THE TALIBAN HAS SEARCHED THEIR HOMES LOOKING FOR PROOF THEY WORK WITH THE U.S. >> PLEASE HELP THE PEOPLE AND FAMILY OF THOSE HELPING THE AFGHAN GOVERNMENT.

AND ALSO THE AMERICAN TROOPS IN AFGHANISTAN.

>> Reporter: FOR MANY, TIME IS RUNNING OUT.

STEVE WALSH, PBS NEWS.

>>> LOCAL HEALTH EXPERTS ARE WORRIED A LACK OF FUNDING MIGHT SLOW AMERICA'S COVID RESPONSE.

MATT HOFFMAN SAYS THIS IS HAPPENING JUST AS SAN DIEGO RE- TOOLS ITS VACCINE STRATEGY.

>> Reporter: THE JACOB CENTER HAS BEEN DELIVERING COVID-19 VACCINES FOR NEARLY A YEAR IN SOUTHEAST SAN DIEGO.

BUT THAT IS ENDING THURSDAY.

COUNTY OFFICIALS HAVE BEEN LOOKING AT CLOSING THEIR VACCINATION SITES THAT HAVE LOW- VOLUME AND SHIFTING EFFORTS TO LOCAL TEAMS AND PROVIDERS.

>> WE AREN'T BRINGING IN THE NUMBERS THAT WE HAD INITIALLY.

DEFINITELY HAVE DROPPED OFF AND IN SOME SITUATIONS, IN PARTICULAR JACOB CENTER, WE ARE SEEING WELL BELOW 20 A DAY.

>> Reporter: DENISE FOSTER SAYS CURRENTLY ABOUT 10% OF THE REGION'S VACCINATIONS ARE HAPPENING AT COUNTY SITES.

THE BULK OF THEM ARE GIVEN OUT AT PHARMACIES, HOSPITALS AND CLINICS.

>> WHICH IS, REALLY, YOU GO TO THE MODEL THAT WE HAVE ALWAYS HAD, A SAFETY NET FOR THOSE WHO ARE UNDERSERVED IN THE COMMUNITY.

>> Reporter: THERE HAS BEEN A SLIGHT UPTICK IN VACCINATION APPOINTMENTS HERE IN SAN DIEGO.

THIS WEEK, THE CDC RECOMMENDED THOSE OVER 50 COULD GET A SECOND BOOSTER SHOT.

BUT THERE IS AN ISSUE.

PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN SAYS MORE FUNDING IS DESPERATELY NEEDED.

>> ENOUGH SUPPLY TO GIVE BOOSTER SHOTS TO THOSE INDIVIDUALS.

BUT IF CONGRESS FAILS TO ACT, WE WON'T HAVE THE SUPPLY WE NEED THIS FALL TO ENSURE THE SHOTS ARE AVAILABLE FREE, EASILY ACCESSIBLE FOR ALL AMERICANS.

>> Reporter: THE LACK OF FUNDING IS ALREADY IMPACTING OUR PANDEMIC RESPONSE.

SEE MAC WITHOUT FUNDING, WE WON'T BE ABLE TO SUSTAIN THE CAPACITY BEYOND THE MONTH OF JUNE.

AND IF WE FAIL ON THIS, WE LEAVE OURSELVES VULNERABLE IF ANOTHER WAVE HITS.

>> Reporter: EXPERTS ARE PREDICTING SOME SORT OF CASE INCREASE WITH THE MORE CONTAGIOUS VARIANT, NOW THE DOMINANT STRAIN IN THE U.S. >> THIS IS INCREDIBLE, THE WAVE IS JUST GOING RIGHT NOW.

>> Reporter: DIRECTOR OF THE SCRIPPS RESEARCH INSTITUTE IN LA JOLLA.

>> THIS IS THE LAST TIME THEY CUT FUNDING, ESSENTIAL FUNDING WHETHER IT IS TESTING, VACCINES, ANTIBODIES, TREATMENTS, THIS IS CRAZY.

AND IT SHOULDN'T BE TOLERATED AND THIS IS RIDICULOUS COMPLACENCY, NOT ACKNOWLEDGING WHAT IS GOING ON.

>> Reporter: IS STATE HEALTH OFFICIALS SAY THEIR PRIORITY REMAINS ASSURING EVERYONE, REGARDLESS OF THEIR ABILITY TO PAY OR INSURANCE, HAS ACCESS TO TESTING AND VACCINES.

THEY SAY THAT COVID SERVICES SHOULD BE PROVIDED BASED ON NEED, NOT SPECIFIED FUNDING SOURCES.

MATT HOFFMAN, PBS NEWS.

>>> RECOVERY MIGHT TAKE EVEN LONGER FOR PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

FUNDING IS TIED TO ENROLLMENT, WHICH HAS SEEN A SIGNIFICANT DROP .

EDUCATION REPORTER MJ PEREZ TELLS US WHAT THAT MEANS FOR KIDS AND TEACHERS IN THE YEARS AHEAD.

>> Reporter: SCHOOL IS IN SESSION THIS WEEK, THAT MEANS MONEY ALONG WITH THE LEARNING HAPPENING IN THESE CLASSROOMS.

THE UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT IS AMONG THE LOWEST STATE-FUNDED IN SAN DIEGO COUNTY AND IT IS NOT GETTING BETTER.

MAKING SURE STUDENTS GET TO CLASS IS CRITICAL.

KEEPING THE LIGHTS ON AND CLASSES STAFFED WITH QUALIFIED TEACHERS.

>> WE HAD THESE YEARS WHERE FUNDING IS REDUCED, PROGRAMS ARE GETTING CUT AND IT'S ALWAYS A CHALLENGE.

>> Reporter: THE STATE IS PROJECTING K-12 PUBLIC SCHOOL ENROLLMENT IN CALIFORNIA WILL DROP 9% OF THE YEAR 2030.

THAT MEANS LOSING MORE THAN HALF 1 MILLION STUDENTS IN THE PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM.

LOOK AT THE NUMBERS IN THE DISTRICT, IN THE 2019 SCHOOL YEAR, THERE WAS A TOTAL ENROLLMENT OF 36,514 STUDENTS.

JUST AS THE COVID STARTED.

A YEAR LATER, THAT DROPPED BY 900.

AND JUST LAST MONTH, IT WAS AT BARELY 35,000 STUDENTS.

A TOTAL LOSS OF 1460 IN TWO YEARS.

SCHOOL OFFICIALS SAY THE REASONS INCLUDE TRANSFERS TO OTHER DISTRICTS OR PRIVATE SCHOOLS.

AND FAMILIES LEAVING THE STATE FOR MORE AFFORDABLE LIVING.

FOR ABOUT 100 YEARS, CALIFORNIA HAS FUNDED DISTRICTS ON HOW OFTEN STUDENTS SHOW UP FOR SCHOOL INSTEAD OF A TOTAL HEADCOUNT.

THE FUNDING FORMULA ISN'T WORKING ANYMORE FOR MANY DISTRICTS.

AND COVID MADE IT WORSE.

RIGHT NOW, STATE LEGISLATORS ARE CONSIDERING A BILL THAT WOULD REPLACE THE AVERAGE DAILY ATTENDANCE FORMULA WITH TOTAL ENROLLMENT NUMBERS EACH SEMESTER.

THAT COULD BRING IN AN ADDITIONAL $3 BILLION IN ANNUAL STATE BUILDING -- FUNDING.

IN SMALLER DISTRICTS, WITH JUST SEVEN CAMPUSES, THE FINANCIAL IMPACT IS IMMEDIATE.

ATTENDANCE DROPS, ALONG WITH STATE FUNDING.

30% OF THIS DISTRICTS STUDENTS ARE ON HOUSE.

>> THESE ARE THE VERY CHILDREN THAT NEED MORE RESOURCES, THEY NEED RESOURCES FOR NOT ONLY THE SOCIAL AND EMOTIONAL LEARNING BUT FOR FOOD.

AND SHELTER SO THAT THEY CAN HAVE A MORE STABLE HOME LIFE.

>> Reporter: SAN YSIDRO CLOSER THAN MIGHT BE EXPECTED WHEN IT COMES TO STUDENT ENROLLMENT DROPPING AND FAMILIES WHO JUST CAN'T AFFORD TO CALL CALIFORNIA HOME ANYMORE.

>>> THAT STORY THAT YOU JUST WATCHED WAS ONE OF OUR MOST READ THIS WEEK AT KPBS.ORG.

SO WAS NEWS OF ANOTHER POLICE SHOOTING IN SAN DIEGO.

ONE PERSON WAS INJURED DURING A CALL ABOUT A DOMESTIC SPEED IN SAN CARLOS.

ANOTHER STORY GETTING ATTENTION IS THE MARINE CORPS RULING THE FORMER REPUBLICAN PARTY CHAIRMAN ENGAGED IN MISCONDUCT.

>>> AND MATT HOFFMAN'S REPORT ON UPTICK IN COVID-19 BEING DETECTED IN LOCAL WASTEWATER.

>>> COMPANIES ARE HAVING TROUBLE FINDING QUALIFIED OPTIONS FOR MILLIONS OF OPEN JOBS.

WE FOUND AN EMERGING TALENT POOL IN BAJA WHERE CANDIDATES ARE EASY TO FIND.

>> Reporter: A COMPANY THAT CONNECTS AMERICAN BUSINESSES WITH MEXICAN HEADQUARTERS.

HER CLIENTS SEEM TO BE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM.

>> EVERY TIME I ASK THEM, WHAT IS YOUR BIGGEST PROBLEM?

IT IS NO LONGER THE COST.

THE PREVIOUS PROBLEM IS BEING ABLE TO HIRE.

THEY WANT TO HIRE.

PARTICULARLY HERE IN CALIFORNIA, WHERE WE COMPETE WITH THE BIG ATTACK, GOOGLE AND AWS.

IT'S ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE FOR SMALL COMPANIES TO HIRE.

BECAUSE EVERY SOFTWARE ENGINEER WANTS TO GO WORK IN THE BIG ATTACK.

AND IT IS NOT JUST THE BRAND, IT IS ALSO THE SALARY.

>> EVERYONE IS STRUGGLING TO HIRE SOFTWARE DEVELOPERS RIGHT NOW, PARTICULARLY SMALL COMMUNITIES WHO KEEP LOSING TALENT TO GIANTS LIKE FACEBOOK, GOOGLE AND AMAZON.

TRADITIONALLY, IT HAS ALIGNED WITH INDIA AND CHINA, BUT COMPANIES NO LONGER NEED TO GO THAT FAR.

>> FOR US, BEING IN SAN DIEGO, THIS BEAUTIFUL AREA, IT IS ONLY 20 TO 30 MINUTES DOWN THE ROAD.

IT DOES NOT MAKE ANY SENSE TO GO TO INDIA OR CHINA OR PHILIPPINES OR ANYWHERE BUT HERE.

>> Reporter: OFFERS SEVERAL ADVANTAGES, THEIR SALARIES ARE HALF OF WHAT COMPANIES PLAY IN THE U.S., AND THEY AVOID LOGISTICAL HURDLES THAT COME WITH HIRING PEOPLE HALFWAY AROUND THE WORLD.

THEY RECENTLY OPENED OFFICES RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE UPSCALE NEIGHBORHOOD.

IT FEATURES MARBLE FLOORS AND THE OFFICES HAVE VIEWS OF THE CITY.

THE COMPANY STARTED IN 2019 AND IS ALREADY PRODUCED ROUGHLY 700 ENGINEERING JOBS.

TWO OF THOSE WENT TO RACHEL AND ANDRE.

BOTH OF THEM GRADUATED IN 2020.

THEY WERE ABLE TO FIND JOBS WITHIN A YEAR.

>> THERE'S A LOT OF OPPORTUNITIES IN TIJUANA.

>> Reporter: STARTED AS A TRAINEE AND NOW DEVELOPS MOBILE APPS.

THEY GET TO COLLABORATE WITH DEVELOPERS BASED IN SAN DIEGO.

>> WHEN YOU START WORKING, PEOPLE FROM THE USA OR INDIA OR DIFFERENT PLACES, YOU START TO LEARN FROM THEM AND THEY START TO LEARN FROM YOU.

IT'S A REALLY FUN THING TO COLLABORATE WITH DIFFERENT CULTURES AND ENVIRONMENTS.

>> Reporter: THEY SAY TIJUANA'S COST OF LIVING IS MUCH LOWER, SO FOR THEM IT EVENS OUT.

PLUS, THEIR EDUCATION IS WAY MORE AFFORDABLE.

>> I HEARD THE STORIES OF PEOPLE TAKING YEARS AND YEARS TO PAY STUDENT LOANS.

MEXICO IS WAY MORE ACCESSIBLE.

WE DON'T PAY NEARLY AS MUCH AS THE U.S.

DOES FOR UNIVERSITY.

THEY DID A GREAT JOB TEACHING US.

>> Reporter: DIAZ DOESN'T SEE THE LABOR SHORTAGE GETTING ANY BETTER IN THE SHORT TERM.

THE SHEER NUMBER OF JOB OPENINGS, VISAS FOR SKILLED LABOR ARE NO LONGER VIABLE.

THE VISA PROGRAM IS CAPPED AT 65,000, WHICH IS NOT NEARLY ENOUGH.

PLUS, THEY CAN SAVE A LOT OF MONEY BY HIRING IN MEXICO.

>> I DON'T SEE ANY REASON WHY COMPANIES NEED TO APPLY FOR VISAS LIKE THAT WHEN THEY CAN DRIVE 30 MINUTES AND BE THERE AND HAVE HUNDREDS OF ENGINEERS IN TIJUANA.

>> Reporter: THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE A CAREER IN A TECH WITHOUT LEAVING THEIR HOMETOWN.

>> THERE'S DEFINITELY A LOT OF ROOM FOR IMPROVEMENT.

BUT THE POTENTIAL IS THERE.

WITH THE RIGHT FOCUS AND WRITE WORK, WE CAN BECOME THE NEXT BIG HUB.

>>> KEEPING THE LIGHTS ON IN SAN DIEGO ISN'T ALWAYS AS EASY AS SWAPPING OUT A LIGHTBULB .

THE CITY IS TAKING A NEW APPROACH TO PRIORITIZING CALLS FOR SERVICE.

METRO REPORTER ANDREW BOWEN HIT THE STREETS WITH WORKERS WHO SAY IT IS ALREADY MAKING A DIFFERENCE.

>> WE GEAR UP, PUT OUR HARNESS ON FOR FALL PROTECTION.

>> Reporter: HE STRAPS HIMSELF INTO A TRUCK.

THAT LIFTS HIM UP TO A STREETLIGHT IN THE SAN DIEGO NEIGHBORHOOD.

A RESIDENT REPORTED THE STREETLIGHT BROKEN BUT WHEN HE RUNS A QUICK TEST, THE LIGHT TURNS ON.

HIS SUPERVISOR SAYS THE LIGHT IS PROBABLY ON IT'S LAST LEG AND IS STILL WORTH REPLACING WITH A NEWER, MORE ENERGY EFFICIENT L.E.D.

LIGHT.

THIS LIGHT WAS REPORTED OUT JUST UNDER A YEAR AGO.

AND THAT IS A TYPICAL WAIT TIME FOR A CITY THAT HAS ABOUT 70,000 STREETLIGHTS AND ONLY EIGHT ELECTRICIANS TO MAINTAIN THEM.

>> RIGHT NOW, THEY ARE FUNCTIONING ON PROBABLY HALF THE CREW THEY WOULD NORMALLY HAVE.

>> Reporter: MORE THAN 5000 STREETLIGHTS ARE REPORTED BROKEN IN SAN DIEGO.

>> WE HAVE BEEN ASKED TO DO MORE WITH LESS, IT IS NOBODY'S FAULT, JUST WHAT WE HAVE TO DEAL WITH RIGHT NOW.

>> Reporter: IT CAN TAKE 8 TO 12 WEEKS JUST TO GET MATERIALS.

AND EVEN BIGGER ISSUE IS STAFFING.

ELECTRICIANS TYPICALLY MAKE MORE MONEY WORKING IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR.

>> ON THE FLIPSIDE OF THAT, THE CITY IS A GREAT PLACE TO WORK FOR BECAUSE YOU HAVE YOUR SALARY GUARANTEED, YOU DON'T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT GETTING SENT HOME BECAUSE IT'S RAINING OR WHATEVER, YOU HAVE YOUR JOB SECURITY.

>> EACH ONE OF THESE DOTS ON THIS MAP REPRESENTS A REPORT ABOUT A STREETLIGHT THAT'S BEEN OUT.

THIS IS MORE OF AN EFFICIENCY TOOL FOR THEM, SO THEY UNDERSTAND WHERE THEY ARE IN RELATIONSHIP TO ALL OF THE WORK ORDERS.

>> IT COULD TAKE YEARS FOR SAN DIEGO TO FILL ALL OF ITS VACANT ELECTRICIAN JOBS.

IN THE MEANTIME, BRADY IS TASKED WITH HELPING THE EXISTING STAFF BE MORE EFFICIENT.

SHE DEVELOPED AN ALGORITHM THAT HELPS THE TEAM DECIDE WHICH STREETLIGHT REPAIRS ARE THE MOST URGENT.

>> WE CAN TELL HOW CLOSE IT IS TO A SCHOOL, HOW CLOSE IT MIGHT BE TO A PARK, THESE ARE IMPORTANT FOR SAFETY.

YOU WANT SELF -- SAFE RIGHTS FOR PEOPLE.

IF A PARTICULAR STREETLIGHT IS AN AREA WHERE THERE ARE A HIGH VOLUME OF TRAFFIC COLLISIONS, THAT SHOULD FACTOR IN TO THE AGENCY OF REPAIR.

>> Reporter: THE SYSTEM ALSO IDENTIFIES CLUSTERS SO THAT CREWS CAN SPEND LESS TIME DRIVING TO THE NEXT JOB.

RADY ADMITS DATA ALONE WON'T FIX THE BACKLOG.

BUT DRAWING ATTENTION TO HOW BIG THE PROBLEM IS COULD CONVINCE CITY OFFICIALS TO PUT MORE MONEY TOWARD FIXING IT.

>> THE CITY NEVER HAS ENOUGH MONEY TO THROW AT ALL THE DEPARTMENTS THAT NEED THINGS BUT OUR HOPE IS THAT BY SPOTLIGHTING SOME OF THE MOST FREQUENTLY REQUESTED SERVICES WE CAN START TO FUNNEL RESOURCES THERE AND IMPROVE THOSE OVERTIME.

>> Reporter: IT APPEARS TO BE IMPROVING EMPLOYEE MORALE.

THE SUPERVISING ELECTRICIANS AS REPAIR CREWS NOW FEEL LIKE THERE IS LOGIC BEHIND THEIR ASSIGNMENTS.

>> WE WERE JUMPING AROUND, WHOEVER WAS MAKING THE MOST NOISE THAT'S WHAT WE WERE DOING.

WHEREVER THE UPPER MANAGEMENT SEND US.

THIS SYSTEM IS A PERFECT SYSTEM FOR US.

>> Reporter: FIXING A BROKEN LIGHT ISN'T ALWAYS AS SIMPLE AS CHANGING THE BULB.

SOMETIMES, THE UNDERGROUND WIRING NEEDS REPLACEMENT.

WHICH CAN TAKE WEEKS, IF NOT MONTHS.

IN THE MEANTIME, THE CITY PLANS ON EVALUATING THE DATA-DRIVEN APPROACH TO STREETLIGHT REPAIR LATER THIS YEAR.

>>> FINALLY, A RETURN TO NORMALCY FOR THE SISTER CONVENTION TO COMIC-CON IN ORANGE COUNTY.

WE HAVE THIS PREVIEW OF THE WEEKEND.

>> Reporter: HE HAS PLAYED AS HAN SOLO AND CAPTAIN AMERICA.

AND WHILE HE MIGHT BE DISGUISED AS A MILD-MANNERED PROGRAMMER, HE DOES DISPLAY SUPERPOWERS AND FABRICATING SPECTACULAR COSTUMES OUT OF THIN AIR.

>> I AM A PROGRAMMER AS MY DAY JOB BUT PROGRAMMING LENT ITSELF IMMEDIATELY TO BEING A 3-D MODELER.

YOU START TO DRAW YOUR OWN STUFF, PRINTED OUT.

I HAVE A PLAN TO DO SOMETHING NEW, UNUSUAL, DOING A MASHUP OF STAR WARS CHARACTERS WOULD ALSO BE THE TOPIC OF A FRIDAY PANEL HE IS ON.

>> WE ARE TALKING ABOUT THE IMPACT OF SAMURAI ARMOR CULTURE.

ONE OF THE THINGS I WILL GET TO TALK ABOUT IS A SAMURAI ARMOR.

>> Reporter: COMMISSIONED TO BUILD A LIFE-SIZE VERSION OF ITS TOY, INSPIRED BY THE CHARACTER FROM THE FORCE AWAKENS.

THE STUNNING CREATION MIXES JAPANESE ARMOR TECHNIQUES WITH DO-IT-YOURSELF CONTINUITY AND MODERN MATERIALS.

EACH PROJECT REPRESENTS A JOURNEY.

>> I HAVE GONE AND PRESENTED IT, RECEIVED APPRECIATION FOR THE WORK AND STORYTELLING AND AN INVITATION TO DOING CHARITY EVENTS AND SOME COMMISSIONS.

>> Reporter: WONDER CON MAY OUTDO ITS SISTER CONVENTION.

COMIC-CON INTERNATIONAL SPOKESPERSON SAYS THE WONDER CON COSTLY COMMUNITY IS GREAT.

>> WHEN THE DOORS CLOSE AT 5:00 AND EVERYBODY IS BEING USHERED OUT, THEY STAY IN THE COURTYARD AREA TO TAKE PICTURES, MINGLE, NOBODY WANTS TO LEAVE AND I DON'T BLAME THEM.

>> Reporter: THIS WEEKEND'S WONDER CON IS THE FIRST FULL- FLEDGED SHOW SINCE THE PANDEMIC IN 2020.

IT HAS ALWAYS BEEN A SMALLER SHOW THAN COMIC-CON SO YOU MIGHT BE ABLE TO BYPASS IS AT THE SHOW.

PLUS, THE ANAHEIM CONVENTION CENTER GIVES THEM ROOM TO EXPAND.

>> WE HAVE A LOT OF SPACE TO ACCOMMODATE PEOPLE IF NEED BE.

>> Reporter: THIS YEAR, THERE WILL BE A MANDATORY MASK REQUIREMENT AS WELL AS PROOF OF VACCINE.

WITH WONDER CON BACK, PEOPLE ARE ALSO LOOKING FORWARD TO COMIC-CON'S RETURN THIS SUMMER.

BUT THE SHOW IS ESSENTIALLY SOLD OUT BECAUSE TICKETS PURCHASED IN 2019 HAVE BEEN ROLLED OVER.

>> WE WILL LOOK MORE FULLY INTO COMIC-CON, DECIDE IF THERE'S SOMETHING WE CAN DO.

>> Reporter: WHAT WE NEED IS A CONVENTION THAT CAN FIT MORE PEOPLE.

>>> WE HOPE YOU ENJOYED THIS LOOK AT KPBS NEWS THIS WEEK.

THANKS FOR JOINING US.