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

I'M MAYA TRABULSI.

COMING UP, SAN DIEGO SHERIFF IS STEPPING DOWN.

THE DECISION BY BILL GORE AND HOW IT MIGHT INFLUENCE WHO REPLACES HIM.

IS GOING SOLAR WORTH IT?

>>> AND WE'LL SHOW YOU HOW LOCAL ARBUTESES ARE EXPRESSING LOVE FOR VALENCIA PARK.

>> NEVERS THAT SOUNDS OF A GARBAGE TRUCK SOUNDED SO GOOD, AT LEAST IN LOCAL NEIGHBORHOODS THAT WENT WITHOUT SERVICE FOR A MONTH.

KITTY WAS THERE FOR THE FIRST DAY BACK ON THE JOB.

>> Reporter: MARTINEZ ASANITATION WORKER WITH REPUBLIC SERVICES IS BACK AT WORK IN CHULA VISTA AFTER BEING ON STRIKE FAR MONTH.

I'M HAPPY TO BE BACK AT WORK.

>> Reporter: TRASH PILED UP IN CHULA VISTA AND IT GOT SO BAD THEY DECLARED A STATE CITY OF EMERGENCY.

THEY PAID HUNDREDS OF DOLLARS TO A PRIVATE COMPANY TO HAUL IT AWAY.

>> THIS IS A NICE CLEAN AREA AND IT'S BAD FOR BUSINESS.

>> Reporter: REPUBLIC SERVICES AND LOCAL 54 THE, THE UNION THAT REPRESENTS MARTINEZ AND HIS WORKERS, CAME TO AN AGREEMENT LATE IN THE AFTERNOON.

EMPLOYEES WILL RETELAVIV A THOUSAND DOLLARS BONUSES, BUT NO BACK PAY, ONE SAID WHICH IS NOT A LUXURY SINCE THEY EARNED ONLY A SMALL PART OF THEIR SALARY.

>> IT WAS NECESSARY SACRIFICE A LOT OF OUR CO-WORKERS UNDERSTOOD.

>> Reporter: REPUBLIC SERVICES SAID THEY WELCOME THEIR EMPLOYEES BACK AND THANK THEIR CUSTOMERS FOR THEIR PATIENCE, BUT MANY CUSTOMERS ARE NOT HAPPY AND WANT TO BE REIMBURSED FOR THE MONTH THEY WENT WITHOUT THE TRASH COLLECTION AND FOR THE MONEY TO HAVE IT HAULED AWAY.

>> Reporter: JO GALVEZ SAYS SHE'S FIGHTING FOR THE REIMBURSMENT FOR THE RESIDENT AND THE CITY.

>> IT'S NOT BEEN CHEAP AND WE'LL BE DOING THAT FOR EVERY DOLLAR WE EVEN SPENT COLLECTING THE SUPPLEMENTAL TRASH AND WE'LL FIND AND PENALIZE.

>> Reporter: SANITATION WORKERS SET UP GOFUNDME ACCOUNT TO HELP SUPPORT THEIR FAMILIES.

SINCE ONE CO-WORKER SUFFER ADD HEART ATTACK AND PUT HIM IN A COMA THEY DECIDED TO GIVE IT TO HIM.

>> I HOPE FOLKS THAT HAVE A HEART AND WANT TO HELP -- >> Reporter: THEY HOPE THE COMMUNITY NOW SEES THEM IN A NEW LIGHT AFTER THE STRIKE.

>> I'M HOPING THAT THE COMMUNITY SEES WHAT IT IS THAT WE DO.

WE DO IT WITH PRIDE.

THEY DON'T JUST SEE US AS A STINKY TRASH TRUCK COMING THROUGH THE NEIGHBORHOOD, BUT THEY SEE THE HUMAN PART OF IT, THE PEOPLE INSIDE.

>> STAYING IN CHULA VISTA WHERE DOZENS OF ELEMENTARY WORKERS HAVE A NEW LEADER.

WE LOOK AT THE NEW SUPERINTENDENT AND HIS ROOTS IN THE SOUTH BAY.

>> I BELIEVE WE MADE THE BEST CHOICE FOR OUR DISTRICT.

>> Reporter: WITH THAT, WEDNESDAY NIGHT THE CHULA VISTA SCHOOL BOARD VOTED TO RENAME THE NEW SUPERINTENDENT, DR. EDUARDO REYES, CURRENTLY IN THE SWEET WATER HIGH SCHOOL DISTRICT.

HE IS ALSO A FORMER TEACHER READY TO DEAL WITH TEACHERS IN THE CHULA VISTA DISTRICT WHO HAVE BEEN WORKING WITH AN EXPIRED CONTRACT SINCE LAST JUNE.

>> WE WANT THEM TO HAVE GOOD WORK KANSAS CITY AND CONTRACT RESPECTED.

ARE DR. REYES IS A FAMILIAR FACE IN THE DISTRICT, AS A PARENT AND THEN A Z A FORMER SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER.

IT'S HIS CONNECTION TO SWEET WATER UNION THAT SOME SAY COMPLICATES THE NEW BOARD ASSIGNMENT.

TWO BOARD MEMBERS ARE BOTH TEACHERS IN THE SWEET WATER DISTRICT WHERE REYES HAS BEEN HEAD OF HUMAN RESOURCES FOR MORE THAN A YEAR NOW.

REYES RESIGNED FROM THE CHULA VISTA BOARD TO APPLY FOR THE SUPERINTENDENT BOARD.

THE PRACTICE OF GOING FROM ONE DISTRICT TO THE NEXT IS COMMON PRACTICE.

TO BE HONEST WITH YOU, MY GOAL AND MY FOCUS IS ON TEACHING AND LEARNING.

>> Reporter: PARENTS WE TALKED WITH WHO BROUGHT THEIR CHILDREN TO THE DISTRICT'S COVID CENTER THIS MORE THAN REGISTER FRUSTRATED WITH THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION AND SKEPTICAL ABOUT THE NEW APPOINTMENT COMING FROM THE TROUBLED SWEET WATER DISTRICT.

I FEEL A LOT OF PEOPLE SAID THEY DIDN'T WANT SOMEONE FROM SWEET WATER.

CANNOT CONTINUE PULL BEING PARENTS OUT OF THE WORK FORCE.

>> WHAT IS YOUR SITUATION.

>> THIS IS THE SECOND TIME I MISSED WORK JUST THIS WEEK ALONE.

>> AS THE SUPERINTENDENT PIPE ONLY FOCUS IS INSURING THE BEST FOR THE STUDENT AT THIS DISTRICT.

>> Reporter: THERE FOR MORE OF THE 28,000 OF STUDENTS TO SUPPORT.

HE BEGINS HIS NEW JOB FEBRUARY 22nd.

THE DISTRICT'S OFFICIAL PUBLIC ANNOUNCEMENT DID NOT INCLUDE ANY MENTION OF THE SWEET WATER UNION HIGH SCHOOL DISTRICT.

>> THE MURDER OF A PHOTOGRAPHER OUTSIDE OF HIS HOME IS THE LATEST TO BRING ATTENTION TO THE DANE JERE THE JOURNALIST FACE IN MEXICO.

WE LOOK AT WHO MARGUERITE MARTINEZ WAS AND WHAT THEY LOST.

>> [SPEAKING FOREIGN LANGUAGE] HELLO, HOW ARE YOU?

[SPEAKING FOREIGN LANGUAGE] >> Reporter: THAT WAS MARTINEZ, LAST STREAMING TO THOUSANDS OF HIS FACEBOOK FOLLOWERS FROM A TIJUANA CRIME SCENE THIS, ONE ABOUT HUMAN REMAINS FOUND ON A PEDESTRIAN OVERPASS.

WHEN IT CAME TO COVERING MURDER, HE WAS THE BEST.

HE BE OFTEN WORKED ALL NIGHT ON HIS GRIZZLY QUESTS TO CHRONICLE THE DARK SIDE.

>> I SHARED WITH HIM MANY, MANY NIGHTS, LATE NIGHTS FOLLOWING AMBULANCE, POLICE OFFICER, MILITARY CONVOYS.

>> Reporter: ONE FELLOW JOURNALIST SAY WHAT IS STOOD OUT ABOUT MARTINEZ WAS HIS ABILITY TO STAY POSITIVE AMID THE CHAOS.

EVEN IN THE WORST SITUATION HE WAS ALWAYS THERE WITH A REASSURING SMILE.

>> SMILE IN BETWEEN BLOOD, THE GUNSHOT, BETWEEN THE WORSE SCENARIO HE ALWAYS MADE YOU FEEL WE'RE GOING TO BE OKAY.

>> Reporter: IN MANY CASES MARTINEZ WAS THE ONLY PHOTOJOURNALIST DOCUMENTING THE MURDERS.

FORMER UNION TRIBUNE REPORTER COVERED TIJUANA FOR DECADES.

SHE SAYS WITHOUT HIS WORK A LOT OF THE CRIMES WOULD'VE GONE UNREPORTED.

>> HE WAS AN ESSENTIAL PERSON TO DOCUMENT THESE SCENES.

I THINK TO HAVE SOMEONE GO OUT THERE, YOU KNOW, JUST KEEP THE EYES OF THE WORLD ON AN IMPORTANT ISSUE FOR TIJUANA THAT OTHERWISE WOULD BE EASY TO OVERLOOK.

ARE NEWS OF HIS MURDER SHOCKED THE COMMUNITY.

REPORTERS ARE DEMANDING ANSWERS.

HIS COLLEAGUES SET UP GOFUNDME TO HELP HIS WIFE AND DAUGHTER.

I REMEMBER HIM TELLING ME ABOUT THE FIRST TIME HE PHOTOGRAPHED A CORPSE.

HE WAS 30 AND DRIVE THROUGH THE CITY WITH HIS MOTHER AND HEARD GUNFIRE.

HE SAYS I DON'T HAVE A NORMAL MOTHER.

VIE A JOURNALIST MOTHER.

SHE TOLD HIM TO GRAB A CAMERA AND RUN TOWARD IT WAS SCENE.

THAT'S WHAT HE DID UNTIL THE DAY HE DIED.

>> [SPEAKING FOREIGN LANGUAGE] >> THE TOP LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICE NEVER SAN DIEGO COUNTY IS CALLING IT A CAREER.

SHERIFF BILL GORE SAYS HE'LL RETIRE IN A COUPLE OF WEEKS.

WE LOOK AT WHAT IT MEANS FOR THOSE HOPING TO REPLACE HIM.

>> Reporter: GORE WAS APPOINTED CHAIR OF THE SUPERVISORS IN 2009 AFTER HIS PREDECESSOR RETIRED EARLY.

THAT APPOINTMENT GAVE HIM THE ADVANTAGE OF INCUMBENCY WHEN HE RAN FOR A FULL TERM IN 2010.

SOME SAID HE WAS ENDORSING A SIMILAR PLAN TO GET MARTINEZ HER APPOINTMENT.

MARTINEZ WOULD NOT ACCEPT THE POST.

AVA POZNER SAYS IT MAKES THE ELECTION MORE FAIR.

>> PEOPLE DIDN'T KNOW THEY COULD VOTE FOR SHERIFF, LET ALONE HAVING TRUE CHOICE THAT WAS NOT PRE DETERMINED.

>> Reporter: GORE HAS HAD A LONG CAREER IN LAW ENFORCEMENT WORKING 32 YEARS A THE FBI.

SUPPORTERS CREDIT HIM TO REDUCING RECITIVISM IN THE JAILS.

CRITICS SAY HE'S FAILED TO ADDRESS THE HIGH RATE OF INMATE DEATHS IN COUNTY JAILS.

THE SAN DIEGO UNION TRIBUNE EDITORIAL BOARD WROTE MORE THAN 150 PEOPLE HAVE DIED IN CUSTODY DUE TO POOR HEALTH, SUICIDE, OVERDOSES AND HOMICIDE SINCE GORE BECAME SHERIFF.

SOME SUFFERED DRUG WITHDRAWALS OR LACKING THE MEDICINE THEY NEEDED FOR SEVERE MEDICAL CONDITIONS.

COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS CHAIR, FLETCHER, SAYS THE VOTE TO REPLACE THE INTERIM SHERIFF COMES IN MARCH AFTER THE FILING DEADLINE A.HANDFUL ARE RUNNING WITH MARTINEZ AND RETIRED SHERIFF'S DEPUTY DAVE MYERS EMERGING AS FRONTRUNNERS.

>> A BIT OF A MILESTONE THIS WEEK IN PROTECTING THOSE IN SAN DIEGO FROM COVID-19.

NEW CASES ARE SURGING DUE TO THE OMICRON VARIANT THERE.

ARE SIGNS THE PEAK MIGHT BE ENDING.

>> Reporter: COVID-19 WASTEWATER DATA NOW SHOWS THAT THE RECORD SPREAD OF THE SINUS SAN DIEGO IS BEGINNING TO FALL.

>> COMING UP IT'S BOSS THAT CASES WILL STILL CONTINUE TO RISE OR PEAK AROUND NOW.

>> Reporter: UC SAN DIEGO PROFESSOR, ROB KNIGHT, LEADS THE PROJECT THAT HAS BEEN ANALYZEING THE SEWER FOR THE LAST TWO YEARS.

HE SAYS WASTEWATER IS A LEADING INDICATOR WITH THE VIRUS SPREAD WITH INDICATORS THREE WEEKS OF THE HIGHER CASES.

>> HIGH LEVELS IN THE WASTEWATER.

>> HE SAYS THE DECREASE AND LIKELY CONTINUED DECLINE IS GOOD NEW PHYSICIAN FOR HOSPITALS UP AGAINST DWINDLING CAPACITY.

WITH THOUSANDS OF CASES REPORTED DAILY, WE'RE NOT OUT OF THE SURGE YET.

>> WE HAVE TO BE CAREFUL NOW.

>> Reporter: THE RESEARCHERS PREDICTED THE RECORD SPIKE IN CASES AHEAD OF THE HOLIDAY.

THE OMICRON VARIANT MAKES UP THE MOST OF THE WASTE SAMPLES AND WITH IT BEING MORE CONTAGIOUS IT LED TO A SHARPER RISE IN CASES.

>> AND THAT STORY WAS ONE OF OUR MOST READ THIS WEEK AND KPBS.ORG.

HERE ARE OTHERS INCLUDING COVID TEST BEING SENT OUT ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

WE SHOW YOU HOW YOU GET YOURS FOR FREE.

>> THE BIRTH OF AN A ORANGUTAN AT THE ZOO, THE FIRST IN SEVEN YEARS AND CHANGES FOR SOLAR POWER IN CALIFORNIA.

ERIC ANDERSON TELLS US ABOUT A CONTROVERSIAL PLAN IN THE WORKS.

>> Reporter: THE CALIFORNIA PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION DELIVERED GRIM NEWS FOR THE STATE'S SOLAR INSTALLERS LAST MONTH.

BERN NET IS THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE CALIFORNIA SOLAR IN STORAGE ASSOCIATION.

>> WE THINK THE BONES OF IT ARE SO ROTTEN THAT IT WILL NOT HOLD.

>> THE PUBLIC AGENCY RECOMMENDED SLASHING HOW MUCH PEOPLE ARE PAYING FOR THE THE UTILITIES AND PROPOSE ADD STEEP INCREASE IN GRID ACCESS CHARGES FOR A TYPICAL CUSTOMER, ABOUT $60 A MONTH.

THE PLAN NEGATES THE FINANCIAL INCENTIVES FOR HOMEOWNERS TO PAY THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS TO ADD SOLAR PANELS TO THEIR ROOFS.

IT COULD DRY UP DEMAND FOR THE GREEN ENERGY OPTION AND THROW THOUSANDS OF SOLAR INSTALLERS OUT OF WORK.

THAT GOT SOLAR WORKERS TO A RALLY IN LOS ANGELES LAST WEEK.

THE MESSAGE WAS AIMED AT THE CPUC'S SATELLITE OFFICE IN L.A..

THE SOLAR WORKERS LIKE REVAMP ENERGY'S OWNER, CUTTING, SAYS THE BROWN AND BLACK WORKERS NEED THE SUPPORT OF COMMISSIONERS.

>> WE WOULD HATE TO SEE ALL OF THE HARD WORK AND PROGRESS MADE BE ENTAILED BY THE BILL.

WE CAME TO SHOW OUR SUPPORT AND SAY SAVE OUR JOBS.

>> Reporter: BUT THE COMMISSION IS NOT THE ONLY TARGET.

SOLAR INDUSTRY BAKERS HAVE WORKED HARD TO GET THE ATTENTION OF THE GOVERNOR AND HINTS THAT THEIR CAMPAIGN IS WORKING WHEN NEWSOM ANSWERED QUESTIONS ABOUT THE PROPOSAL DURING UNVEILING OF THE PROPOSED BUDGET THIS BE MONTH.

>> THAT DRAFT PLAN THAT WAS RECENTLY RELIEF, I HAD A CHANCE TO REVIEW AND WE STILL HAVE WORK TO DO.

>> Reporter: WHEN ASKED AGAIN LATER DURING EVENT NEWSOM ONE VAGUE BUT DID SUGGEST IT WOULD NOT SURVIVE IN ITS CURRENT FORM.

>> I THINK MY ANSWER SAYS, LEAST RESPONSE, DO I THINK THAT CHANGES NEED TO BE MADE?

YES, I DO.

>> Reporter: A RECENT DEVELOPMENT SUGGESTED CHANGE MIGHT BE COMING.

THEY FAILED TO PUT THE ITEM ON THE JANUARY 27 AGENDA AFTER PLANING THE VOTE FOR MORE THAN A YEAR.

IT'S UNCLEAR IF IT'S BEING PUSHED BACK A COUPLE OF WEEKS OR LONGER.

THEY'RE NOT READY TO CALL THE DELAY A VICTORY, ESPECIALLY WITH THE COMMISSION INFLUX.

THE CPCU PRESIDENT HAS ONLY BEEN IN OFFICE SINCE THE BEGINNING OF THE YEAR AND ANOTHER OF THE PANEL'S FIVE SEATS REMAINS UNFILLED.

IT'S UNPRECEDENT, THE SHAKE-UP OF THE LEADERSHIP OF THIS COMMISSION.

>> Reporter: SAN DIEGO GAS AND ELECTRIC HAS REMAINED QUIET ON THE ISSUE.

THE UTILITY CALLED THE PROCESS SENSITIVE AND SAID THEY WOULD NOT BE COMMENTING UNTIL AFTER A DECISION WAS MADE.

>> A FLAW IN STATE LAW IS FORCING CALIFORNIANS TO SUBSIDIZE WEALTHIER HOMEOWNERS WHO CAN AFFORD IT.

>> Reporter: KATHY EUBANKS RUNS AFFORDABLE ENERGY FOR ALL.

IT'S UNFAIR AND, YOU KNOW, WE UNDERSTAND WHY THE SOLAR INDUSTRY IS OBJECTING TO THESE REFORMS.

IT MEANS CUTS TO THE PROFIT, CUTS TO EXECUTIVE SALARIES AND BONUSES.

IT MEANS CUTS IN THEIR SHARE HOLDERS.

>> Reporter: MEANWHILE, SOLAR INDUSTRY BAKERS SAY IT IS UTILITIES MOTIVATED BY GREED.

REGULATORS WILL MAKE THE FINAL DECISION.

THEY'VE CHANGED THE SOLAR MARKETS BEFORE MAKING MINOR TWEAKS AFTER IT WAS REJECTED.

IT REMAINS UNCLEAR IF THAT WILL HAPPEN AGAIN.

>> FOR MANY HOME COOKS IN SAN DIEGO, L.A. CAL RULES BRING ONE CHANGE AFTER ANOTHER.

IT MIGHT GET EASIER SOON, BUT IT WON'T SAVE SOME KITCHENS THAT ALREADY SHUT DOWN.

ARE JUST SOUTH OF THE 94 FREEWAY IS WHERE ROSALYNN JOHNSON LIVES.

ORIGINALLY FROM ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI, JOHNSON LOVES TO COOK SOUL FOOD STAPLES.

SHE DECIDED TO SHARE HER PASSION WITH THE COMMUNITY AND OPENED CLAIRE'S KITCHEN FROM HER HOME AND HELPED TO SERVE SENIORS DURING THE PANDEMIC UNTIL SHE GOT A CEASE AND DESIST ORDER FROM THE CITY.

>> I DID SOME RESEARCH AND I FOUND OUT THAT IT WAS OKAY FOR YOU TO DO IT.

I GOT MY BUSINESS LICENSE, SELLER'S PERMIT.

ILL THOUGHT I WAS READY TO GO AND FOUND OUT I WASN'T.

>> Reporter: IN PARADISE HILL THERE IS IS A SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT STORY FOR DELILA DAVIS.

SHE'S BEEN COOKING AND SELLING FOOD FROM HER HOMES FOR SEVEN YEARS WITH MINIMAL ONLINE ADVERTISING BECAUSE IT'S ILLEGAL TO RUN A MICROKITCH NONE SAN DIEGO COUNTY EVEN THOUGH THE STATE ALLOWED FOR THEIR INTRODUCTION IN 2018.

IN FURTHER RESEARCH FINDING OUT THAT RIVERSIDE COUNTY APPROVED IT AND THERE WERE SEVERAL BUSINESSES ON OPERATING SUCCESSFULLY UNDER THE BILL, I WAS READY TO SALE MY HOUSE THIS YEAR.

I WAS GOING TO SALE MY HOME AND FIND ANOTHER HOME IN RIVERSIDE COUNTY JUST SO I COULD BE PART OF THAT.

ARE DAVIS AND JOHNSON WANTS ME PALACIOS HELD TO THE SAME SAFETY STANDARDS AS RESTAURANTS AND FOOD TRUCKS, BUT ACKNOWLEDGES CHALLENGES AT THE BEGINNING.

THEY HAVE A LOT MORE BENEFITS THAN DRAW BACKS BECAUSE OF THE LOWER START-UP COST.

>> THIS IS LIKE THE PERFECT OPPORTUNITY FOR ME TO GO INTO BUSINESS, GENERATE CASH FLOW AND IN ORDER TO ESTABLISH A BUSINESS.

>> IT'S THE SECOND ORDINANCE READING TO ALLOW THE KITCHENS COMING DURING MEETING ON JANUARY 26 F.THE BOARD VOTES IN FAVOR, MICOS WILL BE ALLOWED TO ON OPERATE.

>> AFTER A RECORD LOW LAST WINTER, THE NUMBER OF MONARCH BUTTERFLIES IS UP THIS YEAR.

WHAT'S BEHIND THE REBOUND?

WE FOUND IT COULD BE FROM A PARTICULAR PLANT MORE PEOPLE ARE PLANTING IN THEIR GARDENS.

>> WE HAVE MILK WEEDS AROUND HERE >> Reporter: ZENA IS THE OWNER OF THE VILLAGE ROCK SHOP IN CARLSBAD.

LAST YEAR DURING PANDEMIC SHE WANTED TO IMPROVE HER SHOP'S GARDEN SPACE.

HER GARDNER SUGGESTED SHE PLANT MILK WEED.

IT WORKED.

IT ATTRACTED CUSTOMERS AND BUTTERFLIES.

HE STARTS US ON THIS INCREDIBLE JOURNEY OF SEEING THE BUTTER LIFE CYCLE AND WHAT IT IS REALLY LIKE.

I DIDN'T KNOW BEFORE SO IT WAS GREAT LEARNING EXPERIENCE FOR ME.

>> Reporter: OVER THE SUMMER MORE THAN 2300 MONARCH BUTTERFLIES VISITED THE GARDEN.

PEOPLE ARE HELPING THE MONARCH REBOUND ACCORDING TO FLANAGAN WHO RUN AS BUTTERFLY FARM.

>> THEY HAVE A DIRECT RESULT OF PEOPLE ADDING MILK WEED IN THE URBAN GARDENS.

>> Reporter: LAST WINTER FEWER THAN TWO THOUSAND MONARCHS WERE RECORDED IN CALIFORNIA, A MASSIVE DECLINE FROM THE TENS OF THOUSANDS REPORTED IN PREVIOUS YEARS.

IN SAN DIEGO FLANAGAN SAYS HE'S COUNTED MORE THAN 300 SO FAR UP FROM 0 LAST YEAR.

ALAN RUSSELL WAS INSPIRED TO PLANT MILK WEEDS.

IT'S THE ONLY PLANT WHERE A FEMALE MONARCH BUTTERFLY WILL LAY EGGS.

>> THOUGHT ABOUT WHAT I COULD DO.

LAST YEAR I PROBABLY HAD 14, 15 MILK WEED PLANTS GOING AND NURTURED THEM.

ARE HE SAYS THERE IS NOTHING LIKE WATCHING MONARCH HATCH AND FLY AWAY.

FLANAGAN SAYS SCIENTISTSEN DON'T EXACTLY KNOW WHAT THE NUMBERS DECLINED OR SEEMED TO BE ON THE REBOUND.

>> AND WE END WITH ONE OF THE MOST POPULAR STORIES THIS WEEK.

TUCKED AWAY IS A HIDDEN STAIRWAY AND NOW IT'S GETTING LONG OVERDUE CARE.

WE MET THE ARTIST WHOSE ARE MAKING IT HAPPEN.

>> Reporter: IF YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU'RE LOOKING FOR, CHANCES ARE YOU MIGHT WALK BY VALENCIA STAIRS.

THE MORE THAN 150 STAIRS CONNECT THE SAN DIEGO SKYLINE ACROSS THE WAY.

HOW THE STAIRS CAME TO BE AND THEIR PURPOSE ARE A BIT OF A MYSTERY TO THE RESIDENTS.

THEY'VE BEEN A PART OF BARRY POLLARD'S LIFE SINCE HE WAS KID.

I USED THE STAIRS IN THE '70s.

>> Reporter: OVER THE YEARS THE STAIRS FELL INTO DISREPAIR.

>> AROUND THE '90s, '80s, THINGS STARTED TO PROBABLY CUTTING IN SOME OF THE SERVICE BECAUSE OF THE BUDGET FOR THE CITY AND MAYBE SOME DRAIN STUFF NEEDS TO OCCUR SO THERE ARE SOME STRUCTURAL ISSUES THAT WERE WORKING THROUGH.

>> Reporter: THAT IS UNTIL LAST YEAR WHEN THE VALENCIA PARK RESIDENT HAD HELPED FROM MONTGOMERY'S OFFICE STARTED TO CLEAN UP THE STAIRS.

THANKS TO A $15,000 DONATION FROM BLUE CROSS BLUE SHIELD, THE STAIRS ARE GETTING MAKE OVER.

LIGHTS ARE GOING TO BE PUT IN AND FOUR LOCAL ARTISTs ARE BEAUTIFYING THE SECRET STAIRS A MURAL OF FLOWERS.

THE GOAL IS TO MAKE IT MORE INVITING AND CHANGE THE PERCEPTION OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD.

>> I'VE HEARD PEOPLE CALLING THIS THE HOOD TOR GHETTO.

>> Reporter: SHANNON WHITE IS ONE OF THEM AND BELIEVES THE MURALS MAKE IT MORE INVITING AND MAKES PEOPLE FEEL GOOD ABOUT THE NEIGHBORHOOD.

>> THERE IS A SENSE OF PRIDE THAT COMES ALONG WITH SOMETHING LIKE THIS AND A SENSE OF OWNERSHIP .

IF YOU LIVE IN THIS AREA YOU CONSIDER THIS YOURS.

>> THE ARTISTS DECIDED TO COVER THE STAIRS DIFFERENT COLORED POPPIES.

THE NATIVE CALIFORNIA FLOWERS ARE HOMAGE TO A LOCAL STORY BECAUSE A DEVELOPER CREATED THEM SO HIS WIFE COULD COLLECT WILDFLOWERS.

>> I WAS NOT AWARE OF THE STORY SO WHEN I LEARNED ABOUT IT, IT MADE IT SPECIAL.

ARE ISABELLA GARCIA IS AN ARTIST WORKING ON THE PROJECT.

THE VALENCIA PARK NEIGHBORHOOD, LIKE SO MUCH OF SAN DIEGO, IS GENTRY PHIING AT A RAPID PACE.

HOME PRICES ROSE NEARLY THE 5% LAST YEAR 25% SINCE LAST YEAR.

ASLO CAL ARTIST, ISABELLA IS AWARE OF THE WORK.

>> IT'S FOR THE PEOPLE THAT LIVE HERE AND I WANT THEM TO FEEL INCLUDED.

>> Reporter: SO FAR THE RESPONSE FROM NEIGHBORHOODS HAS BEEN OVERWHELMINGLY POPULAR SAYS ANOTHER ONE OF THE ARTISTS.

>> TO SEE THE CHANGE, WHAT I'VE SEEN FROM HERE IS LIKE SEEING THE PEOPLE PASSING BY, SEEING THAT ANY COLOR IS GOING TO BE BROUGHT INTO THE AREA BRIGHTENS THEIR FACES.

>> >> REPORTER: RODRIGUEZ, WHO LIVES NEXT TO THE STEPS, SAYS HE'S ALREADY SEEING THE CHANGE.

>> IT'S NICE TO SEE PEOPLE WALK UP AND DOWN, LEFT AND RIGHT.

ILL THINK IT'S VERY MUCH MORE INVITING.

>> Reporter: AND THAT'S WHAT THE SECRET STAIRS MAKE OVER WAS SUPPOSED TO DO, INVITE PEOPLE TO USE THE SPACE, EXERCISE AND TAKE PRIDE IN VALENCIA PARK.

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

I'M MAYA TRABULSI.

THANKS FOR JOINING US.