>>> THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

I AM MAYA TRABULSI.

COMING UP, WHAT WOULD YOU DO WITH $6000?

WE DRIVE INTO A RECENT STUDY, THAT IS HOW MUCH A TYPICAL SAN DIEGO AND USES COMMUTING EVERY YEAR.

>>> A PROBLEM WITH NO EASY OR CHEAP FIX.

SEE THE IDEAS AND THE PUSHBACK FOR ADDRESSING THE FUTURE OF RAIL TRAVEL ALONG THE COAST.

WE START WITH THE DELICATE WORK DONE EVERY DAY IN SAN DIEGO TO RICH PEOPLE LIVING ON OUR STREETS.

THE STREET HEALTH TEAM FOR FATHER JOE'S VILLAGES GRANTED ACCESS TO KPBS REPORTER AND VIDEO JOURNALIST AND IN THIS TWO-PART SERIES THEY CAPTURED SOME OF THE CHALLENGES AND SUCCESSES.

>> Reporter: ON A RECENT DAY IN DOWNTOWN SAN DIEGO THE FATHER JOE'S VILLAGES STREET HEALTH TEAM THAT IS READY TO HEAD OUT IN THEIR BAND.

NICKNAMED THE FLORENCE NIGHTINGALE TO CHECK IN WITH THEIR HOMELESS CLIENTS.

>> I KNOW MY TEAM IS OUT THERE DOING GOOD WORK IN HELPING PEOPLE CONNECT THE DOTS TO GET THE CARE THEY NEED.

>> Reporter: MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY TWICE A DAY SUPERVISOR JENNIFER WILKINS AND HER TEAM WORK ON BUILDING RELATIONSHIPS WITH THE HOMELESS COMMUNITY BY SHOWING UP AND FOLLOWING THROUGH WITH THE GOAL OF GETTING THEM INTO SHELTERS.

>> MICHELLE, I AM CONSIDERED FOR A SHELTER, CAN YOU TELL ME WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE.

WHAT ARE MY OPTIONS?

WHEN WE START HAVING THOSE MEANINGFUL CONVERSATIONS ABOUT WHAT THEY CAN DO TO START MAKING SOME PROGRESS THAT IS SUCCESS.

>> Reporter: YOU WOULDN'T KNOW IT BY LOOKING AT THEM BOTH WILKINS AND HER STREET HEALTH TEAMMATE MICHELLE IF YOU'VE OVERCAME ADDICTION THEMSELVES.

ALSO FORMALLY HOMELESS OUTREACH WORKERS MAKING AMENDS FOR THEIR PAST.

>> I HAVE BEEN WHERE THEY'VE BEEN AND I UNDERSTAND WHAT IT MEANS , THAT NEED TO HIDE THE PAIN.

SUBSTANCES IS A SOLUTION.

BUT NOW WHAT I GET IS THERE IS LIFE AFTER THAT IF YOU PUT IN THE HARD WORK.

>> ACCORDING TO THE SAN DIEGO DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE HOMELESS SAN DIEGO ' S ARE MORE LIKELY TO DIE FROM A DRUG OVERDOSE.

EACH MEMBER OF THE TEAM CARRIES A BACKPACK.

ONE HAS MEDICAL SUPPLIES AS WELL AS NARCAN AND OTHER MEDICATIONS TO REVERSE OVERDOSES.

ANOTHER CARRIES MORE BASIC MESSERLI NECESSITIES WHICH THEY CALL TOOLS OF ENGAGEMENT.

>> Reporter: THOSE TOLLS AND CONNECTIONS GO A LONG WAY.

THEY CAN EVENTUALLY LEAD CLIENTS TO REVEAL PERSONAL INFORMATION THAT MAKES IT EASIER FOR THE TEAM TO FOLLOW- UP AND TRACK THE PROGRESS.

>> GET PEOPLE REGISTERED AND INTO THE SYSTEM.

>> Reporter: FATHER JOE'S PSYCHIATRIST SAYS MANY UNSHELTERED RESIDENTS HAVE ANXIETY, DEPRESSION AND LIKELY EXPERIENCE SOME SORT OF TRAUMA.

HE CREDITS THE TEAM'S ABILITY TO BREAK DOWN BARRIERS.

>> THEY ARE A HERO FOR BUILDING THOSE CONNECTIONS.

THAT IS PROBABLY THE BIGGEST ISSUE, TRUST.

BUILDING THAT REPORT.

SOME OF THESE PEOPLE HAVE BEEN REALLY HURT AND ABUSE THEIR WHOLE LIVES.

AND TRUST IS HARD TO BUILD.

THE OUTREACH TEAM DOES THAT.

>> Reporter: IN THE LAST YEAR THE TEAM HAS HELPED MOVE ABOUT 20 PEOPLE INTO PERMANENT HOUSING IT ALMOST 60 INTO SHELTERS.

BUT THOUSANDS MORE ARE STILL LIVE ON THE STREET.

AND WITH THE CITY'S NEW UNSAFE CAMPING ORDINANCE THE TEAM SAYS IT HAS MADE THE JOB MORE DIFFICULT.

>> IT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE A SOLUTION TO HELP AND NOT HINDER AND WHEN CLIENTS ARE ACTUALLY WILLING TO RECEIVE THAT HELP AND IT IS NOT THE FIRST THING THAT IS BEING OFFERED, IT IS HEART WRENCHING.

FOR US AS A STREET HEALTH TEAM IT IS HARD TO FIND OUR CLIENTS.

IT IS HARD TO FIND HER PATIENTS.

>> Reporter: IS IN THE ATTIC A SAN DIEGO SPOKE TO SUNSET THE GOAL IS TO COMMUNICATE THAT OUR SIDEWALKS ARE NOT AN ACCEPTABLE PLACE TO LIVE AND TO ENCOURAGE UNHOUSED PEOPLE TO WORK WITH THEIR CASE MANAGERS TO GET ON A PATH TO END THEIR HOMELESSNESS.

WE ARE SUCCEEDING ON THAT FRONT.

SEEING THE HOMELESS CRISIS ON AN INTIMATE LEVEL DAY AFTER DAY THE STREET OUTREACH TEAM SAYS THE FIRST STEP TO SOLVING HOMELESSNESS IS GETTING MORE BOOTS ON THE GROUND TO BUILD THAT TRUST AND ULTIMATELY MOVE PEOPLE OFF THE STREET AND INTO HOUSING.

MELISSA MAY, KPBS NEWS.

IF YOU'RE EVER IN THE DOWNTOWN SAN DIEGO AREA, YOU MAY SEE A VAN LIKE THIS DRIVE BY.

BUT IT IS NOT JUST A VAN AND IS A LIFELINE FOR PEOPLE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS.

>> WE HAVE CLIENTS THAT WORK WITH US AND ARE WILLING TO ACCEPT OUR HELP AND THEN THEY AREN'T.

BUT NO MATTER WHAT WE DON'T GIVE UP.

WE KEEP COMING BACK EVEN WHEN THEY DON'T WANT US TO.

>> Reporter: THAT HIS FATHER JOE'S VILLAGES STREET HEALTH TEAM WORKER MICHELLE LeFEVER.

KPBS JOINED HER AND SUPERVISOR JENNIFER WILKINS ON A RECENT AFTERNOON TO SEE THEIR HOMELESS OUTREACH WORK FIRST HAND.

THE TEAM'S DAILY INTERACTIONS START WITH OFFERING WHAT THEY CALL, TOOLS OF ENGAGEMENT.

WILKINS ALSO TRAINS CLIENTS TO USE NARCAN WHICH CAN REDUCE OPIOID OVERDOSES.

>> SEE IF THEY HAVE ANY SIGNS OF LIFE AND IF NOT YOU CAN TAKE OUT THE SECOND DOSE AND DO ANOTHER DOSE.

OKAY?

JUST MAKE SURE YOU ARE CALLING FOR EMERGENCY SERVICES ARE ASKING SOMEONE TO HELP YOU.

>> Reporter: ACCORDING TO THE COUNTY MEDICAL EXAMINER 214 UNSHELTERED RESIDENTS HAVE DIED FROM OVERDOSES SO FAR IN 2023.

MOST WERE FROM THAT NO.

>> Reporter: STEPHEN BROWN HAS BEEN LIVING ON THE STREETS FOR THE LAST SIX MONTHS.

>> WITHOUT THEM I WOULD NOT BE WALKING RIGHT NOW.

MY LEG WAS REALLY INFECTED.

AND IT WAS HURT.

AND THEY LOOKED AT IT AND SAID WE HAVE A SOLUTION FOR YOU AND GAVE ME MY MEDICATION AND EVERYTHING I NEEDED.

I COULDN'T HAVE DONE IT WITHOUT THEM.

I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO WITHOUT THEM.

>> Reporter: EVERY DAY IS DIFFERENT FOR THE TEAM BUT ONE THING IS ALWAYS CONSISTENT, THEY MAKE AN IMPACT IN THE LIVES OF HOMELESS SAN DIEGANS .

>> WE SEE PEOPLE PHYSICALLY HEAL.

WE SEE PEOPLE'S HEALTH GET BETTER BECAUSE THEY STARTED TAKING HER MEDICATIONS.

WE SEE PEOPLE START TO PRACTICE SAFER USE PRACTICES.

SO THEY USE IS CAUSING LESS HARM.

>> Reporter: SOMETIMES THAT IMPACT BUILDS TRUST AND LEADS TO SUCCESS STORIES LIKE RUBY LEVINE WILSON.

>> IT TOOK ME OVER A YEAR .

>> Reporter: AFTER A LIFE FILLED WITH DRAMATIC EXPERIENCES WILSON SO SHE LIVED ON THE STREETS IN SAN DIEGO FOR THE LAST THREE YEARS.

I WAS RAPED AT 15.>> I HAD A BABY AND MY PARENTS PUT ME OUT.

AND I HAD BEEN ABUSED.

I SET OUT IN THE DESERT FOR DEAD.

MY EX-HUSBAND PUT BOTH ARMS OUT OF MY SOCKETS AND DECIDED TO BECOME HOMELESS SO HE CAN FIND IT.

ONE THING LED TO ANOTHER AND I WAS SLEEPING OUTSIDE OF THE ROUTES ON A STREET.

THIS TIME THIS GUY CAME IN AND SWOOPED ME UP.

THEY TOOK CARE OF MY WOUNDS.

>> Reporter: THE SAN DIEGO DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE AS PEOPLE WHO ARE HOMELESS IN SAN DIEGO OR 12 TIMES MORE LIKELY TO BE ASSAULTED THAN THE GENERAL POPULATION.

>> YOU DON'T WANT TO GET BEAT UP.

YOU DONT WANT TO GET RAPED.

YOU DON'T WANT TO GET ROBBED.

YOU DON'T SLEEP BECAUSE YOU ARE AFRAID TO SLEEP.

>> Reporter: BUT RECENTLY WILSON MOVED INTO HER OWN APARTMENT .

>> WOW.

THIS IS AMAZING!

>> Reporter: WITH HER RECEIPT FOR PAYING HER FIRST MONTHS RENT AND HAND WILSON CREDITS MICHELLE LeFEVER FOR NEVER GIVING UP ON HER.

>> SHE NATI POINT THAT I DIDN'T FALL THROUGH THE CRACKS.

>> Reporter: GETTING PEOPLE IN THE HOUSING IS THE ULTIMATE SUCCESS FOR THE STREET HEALTH TEAM BUT MICHELLE LeFEVER COUNTS ALL THE MILESTONES.

>> WE WANT TO HAVE THE CONVERSATION OF , I WANT TO GET CLEAN AND SOBER.

CAN YOU HELP ME.

I HAVE DELIVERED PEOPLE TO DETOX, TO REHAB.

AND I HAVE WATCHED THEM SUCCESSFULLY FINISH AND MOVE ON WITH THEIR LIVES.

>> Reporter: IN THE LAST YEAR THE TEAM HAS HELPED MOVE ABOUT 20 PEOPLE INTO PERMANENT HOUSING AND ALMOST 60 INTO SHELTERS.

IN JULY MORE THAN 1500 PEOPLE WERE LIVING ON THE STREETS OF DOWNTOWN SAN DIEGO.

MELISSA MAY, KPBS NEWS.

>> YOU CAN FIND BOTH STORIES ALONG WITH ALL OF OUR ORIGINAL IN-DEPTH FEATURE REPORTING ON OUR KPBS YOUTUBE PAGE AND THAT IS ALSO WHERE WE LIVE STREAM KPBS EVENING EDITION WEEKNIGHTS AT 5:00.

>>> COASTAL COMMUNITIES LIKE DEL MAR ARE GRAPPLING WITH WHAT TO DO ABOUT THEIR TRAIN TRACKS.

IDEAS INCLUDE BUILDING A TUNNEL OR MOVING THE TRACKS IN LENGTH.

KPBS NORTH COUNTY REPORTER TANIA THORNE TELLS US A CHALLENGE IN GETTING EVERYONE ON BOARD WAS A SOLUTION.

>> Reporter: A FEW FEET OF DELICATE ROCK STAND BETWEEN THE RAIL LINE IN THE BEACH.

WHERE PEOPLE OFTEN SUNBATHE AND WALK.

IT IS ALSO THE AREA WHERE OFFICIALS WANT TO MOVE THE RAIL LINE AWAY FROM THE BEACH AND INTO A TUNNEL.

IT WOULD BE A PERMANENT SOLUTION TO COASTAL EROSION HALTING TRAIN SERVICE.

BUT THOSE PLANS DON'T SIT WELL WITH SOME DEL MAR RESIDENTS.

BECAUSE THEY INCLUDED UNDERGROUND TUNNEL RUNNING OUT OF THE TOWN.

>> WHO DOES NOT WANT A TUNNEL IN DEL MAR?

RAISE YOUR HAND.

>> Reporter: DURING THE RECENT THE COUNCIL MEETING THEY GIVE AN UPDATE ON THE REALIGNMENT PROJECT IN DEL MAR.

FIVE ROUTE OPTIONS WERE PRESENTED AND TWO OF THEM HAVE BEEN STUDIED MORE SERIOUSLY BY SANDAG.

>> THIS HELPS TO INFORM THE PROCESS.

IT DOESN'T NECESSARILY TAKE EVERYTHING OFF THE TABLE.

IT JUST GIVES US THIS MINOR LEVEL OF DETAIL TO REALLY UNDERSTAND THE CONSTRAINT THAT WE ARE DEALING WITH IN THIS PROJECT.

THE STATE HAS GIVEN A $300 MILLION GRANT TO STUDY THE BEST OPTIONS.

THE TWO ROADS THAT WERE ANALYZED , CAMINO DEL MAR AND CREST CANYON.

>> AS HE STARTED TO DO THAT MORE DETAILED ANALYSIS WE CAME TO UNDERSTAND THAT WE DIDN'T ACTUALLY NEED AS BIG AS THE TUNNEL AS WE THOUGHT.

>> Reporter: SAYING THE ANALYSIS DOESN'T MEAN THE OTHER OPTIONS ARE ELIMINATED.

REVEREND BLAIR HUBERT IS THE DIRECTOR OF SAINT PETERS CHURCH WHICH IS SANDWICHED BETWEEN THE TWO ROUTES.

>> WE ARE PRETTY FAMILIAR WITH THE SOIL AND WE VERY RECENTLY DID A CONSTRUCTION PROJECT IN WHICH WE DUG AN ELEVATOR SHAFT AND IT WAS ACTUALLY THE MOST HAIRY PART OF THE PROJECT.

THERE HUBERT SAYS BEFORE A SHOVEL ONE INTO THE GROUND SOIL TEST AND ENGINEERING HAD TO BE CLEARED BUT NOTHING PREDICTED WHAT THEY FOUND WAS THE DIGGING BEGAN.

>> THE SIDES WERE COMING IN ON THEMSELVES AND IT WAS LIKE THEY WERE TRYING TO SHOVEL GLITTER.

>> Reporter: HER CONCERN WAS WHAT WILL COME OUT OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES THAT HAVE YET TO BE DONE.

>> IF THE SOIL IS ALREADY PROBLEMATIC WHERE THEY HAVE THE TRAIN TRACKS, IS PROBLEMATIC BECAUSE OF THE VIBRATION AND THE USE AND EROSION, ET CETERA.

TUNNELING THROUGH THE EARTH CREATING EROSION OPPORTUNITIES AND MORE VIBRATION OPPORTUNITIES, IT JUST SEEMS PRETTY PROBLEMATIC.

>> Reporter: SOME RESIDENTS THINK IT WOULD BE BETTER TO MOVE THE TRACKS NEAR THE I- FIVE FREEWAY BUT CLEMENTS AND SAYS THE I-4 ROUTE COMES WITH CHALLENGES.

>> Reporter: WITH I-5 YOU LOOK AT SOME THE OTHER OPTIONS.

IT IS FURTHER AWAY SO WE HAVE TO BUILD MORE INFRASTRUCTURE.

THAT INCREASES COSTS.

>> Reporter: SHE SAYS MORE TRACKS MEAN A LARGER IMPACT TO HOMES AND BUSINESSES.

>> WE ABSOLUTELY WANT TO MINIMIZE THE AMOUNT OF PROPERTY THAT HAS TO BE PURCHASED BUT WE KNOW NO MATTER WHAT WITH THIS PROJECT THERE WILL BE THE NEED FOR PROPERTY ACQUISITION.

>> Reporter: LONGER RAIL LINES MEANS AN INCREASE IN TRAVEL TIME TOO.

WHICH SANDAG DOES NOT WANT.

THE TRAIN BETWEEN SAN DIEGO AND ORANGE COUNTY HAS BEEN HALTED OVER AND OVER AGAIN.

BECAUSE OF ANOTHER TROUBLE SPOT AND SEND CLEMENTE.

>> WHAT HAS BEEN HAPPENING WITH INDIVIDUAL SECTIONS WILL COMPETE AGAINST EACH OTHER FOR GRANTS .

>> Reporter: STATE SENATOR SAYS THE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE 350 MILE LONG CORRIDOR CURRENTLY FALLS AMONG MULTIPLE AGENCIES.

>> THEY WILL ALSO MAKE THEIR OWN INTERNAL DECISIONS ABOUT WHETHER THE TREND THE AGENCY WANTS TO MAKE AN IMPROVEMENT TO THAT SECTION.

>> Reporter: THE AGENT THE NEED TO COME TOGETHER AND PRIORITIZE PROJECTS.

NOT TO COMPETE FOR FUNDING.

AND RIGHT NOW THE ATTENTION FALLS ON DEL MAR.

A FINAL DESIGN FOR DEL MAR WILL NOT BE ANNOUNCED UNTIL 2026.

UNTIL THEN THEY PLAN ON CONDUCTING STUDIES AND TALKING TO THE PUBLIC.

TANIA THORNE, KPBS NEWS.

>> THESE NEXT TWO STORIES ARE ABOUT MONEY GAINED AND MONEY LOST.

JACOB AIR WILL TELL ABOUT THE NEW STUDY THAT ERRORS OUT THE COST OF COMMUNITY HERE AS ALEXANDER WENT ON SOME OF THE MONEY INVESTED IS GETTING TO BOOST TRANSPORTATION IN THE NORTH COUNTY.

>> WITH TRAINS, CARS AND BUSES , BICYCLES AND PEDESTRIANS, THE CHULA VISTA TRANSIT CENTER IS BUSY.

BUT WHAT THE $250,000 FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION THE CITY OF THE STACK CAN FINALLY DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT.

>> THIS IS AN IMPORTANT INVESTMENT AND PART OF THIS IS OVERLOOKED.

>> Reporter: CONGRESSMAN WAS INSTRUMENTAL IN SECURING THE FUNDING.

>> THIS TRANSIT CENTER IS SO IMPORTANT AND WE PROVIDE MORE OPTIONS AND ALTERNATIVES FOR EVERYBODY MOVING AROUND THE CITY OF VISTA AND EVERYWHERE.

>> Reporter: DEPUTY MAYOR SAYS THE FUNDS WILL HELP IMPROVE THE SAFETY AND QUALITY OF LIFE OF THE PEOPLE LIVING IN THE AREA.

>> WE HAVE A VERY BUSY'S FIRE STATION AND THEY NEED TO BE ABLE TO CROSS QUICKLY.

WITH THE SEPARATION THERE WILL BE NO CONFLICT BETWEEN THE TRAIN GOING EVERY 15 MINUTES AND OUR FIRST RESPONDERS ACCESSING THIS CRITICAL CORRIDOR.

>> Reporter: AS YOU CAN SEE THE TRACKS CROSSES THE ROAD SO EVERY TIME A TRAIN COMES IT STOPS TRAFFIC.

THIS WILL ALLOW VISTA TO STUDY GRADE SEPARATION WHERE A TRAIN CAN PASS UNDER THE ROAD WITHOUT IMPEDING TRAFFIC.

CURRENTLY SOLANA BEACH IS THE ONLY CITY IN THE COUNTY WITH GRADE SEPARATION BETWEEN THE TRACKS IN THE ROAD.

CARLSBAD IS LOOKING AT DOING THE SAME.

LONGTIME TRAIN COMMUTER SUPPORTS THE PLAN.

>> I THINK IT IS A GOOD IDEA.

IT IS HELPING TRAFFIC IN THE TRAIN STATION IS STILL GOING.

YOU HAVE TWO METHODS OF TRANSPORTATION.

>> Reporter: AND I WILL HELP MAKE THE INTERSECTION SAFER FOR PEDESTRIANS.

ACCORDING TO THE LATEST REPORT BY THE SAN DIEGO COUNTY MEDICAL OFFICE 14 PEOPLE WERE KILLED IN 2021.

>> Reporter: HOW MUCH IS YOUR COMMUTE TO WORK REALLY TAKING FROM YOU?

A NEW STUDY SHOWS COMMUTERS IN SAN DIEGO USE AN ESTIMATE -- SIMILAR IN CHULA VISTA AND WORSE IN OCEANSIDE.

MANY LOW INCOME WORKERS HAVE NO CHOICE BUT TO DRIVE.

CIRCULATE SAN DIEGO: PARENT.

>> WE CAN BE TALKING ABOUT WORKING FROM HOME FOR BUS DRIVERS, NURSES, SCHOOL DRIVERS.

WE REALLY DO NEED TO TAKE INTO ACCOUNT AND THINK ABOUT HOW TO IMPROVE PEOPLE'S COMMUTES.

>> Reporter: THAT BEING SAID THERE ARE NOW REMOTE AND HYBRID OPTIONS FOR CERTAIN FIELDS.

>> FOR WORKERS AVOIDING THOSE COMMUTES IT HAS AN IMPACT ON PRODUCTIVITY AND QUALITY OF LIFE AND I THINK PROBABLY FROM AN EMPLOYER STANDPOINT YOU WOULD BE FAR HAPPIER FOR SOMEBODY TO BE WORKING AND BEING PRODUCTIVE RATHER THAN SITTING FOR A COUPLE OF HOURS ON OUR FREEWAYS.

THE SAN DIEGO NORTH ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL SAYS WAIT TIMES ARE GOING TO CONTINUE LONGER AND LESS PEOPLE CAN AFFORD TO LIVE WHERE THEY WORK.

>> IS SIMPLY BECAUSE THE FACT THAT HOUSING PROXIMATE TO EMPLOYMENT SITES IS AN SCARCE SUPPLY.

AND THAT DRIVES UP THE COST, IT FORCES PEOPLE TO LIVE FURTHER AND FURTHER AFIELD.

>> Reporter: HE SAYS IN ADDITION TO HOUSING MORE FUNCTIONAL MASS TRANSIT COULD CUT DOWN ON THOSE COSTS.

>> IF WE MADE THE BEST RUN MORE FREQUENTLY, THE TROLLEY RUN MORE FREQUENTLY IF WE BUILT MORE BIKE LANES AND MORE PEOPLE WOULD BE ABLE TO GET TO WHERE THEY ARE GOING AT A FASTER RATE WITH OUT HAVING TO BE STUCK IN TRAFFIC.

>> Reporter: THE STUDY SHOWS ROUGHLY 9012% OF ANNUAL WAGES IN SAN DIEGO COUNTY GO STRAIGHT INTO A GAS TANK.

JACOB AERE, KPBS NEWS.

>>> ANOTHER GOOD LESSON IS A FREEWAY EXIT PODCAST BY KPBS MUCH REPORTER ANDREW BOWMAN.

IT IS ALL THAT TRANSPORTATION HISTORY AND HOW FREEWAYS AFFECT OUR QUALITY OF LIFE.

YOU CAN DREAM FREEWAY EXIT ON ALL MAJOR PODCAST PLATFORMS AND AT KPBS.ORG.

APPLE IS EXCITED TO REVEAL NEW PRODUCTS THIS MONTH WHICH MAY INCLUDE A NEW iPHONE.

A GROUP OF SCIENTISTS AT UC SAN DIEGO SAY THEY HAVE A WAY TO PUT OLD SMART PHONES TO WORK.

KPBS TECH REPORTER HAS THE STORY.

>> Reporter: HOW LONG DO YOU KEEP AND USE YOUR SMART PHONE?

AN ESTIMATED 2 1/2 YEARS ON AVERAGE THE BATTERY DIES OR THERE IS A NEW IMPROVED MODEL YOU JUST GOT TO HAVE.

IN UNITED STATES ALONE HUNDRED AND 15 MILLION SMARTPHONES ARE DISCARDED EVERY YEAR AND END UP IN DRAWERS OR THEY END UP IN A PILE LIKE THIS.

>> TYPICALLY THE PROCESS IS FINE.

PEOPLE ARE GETTING RID OF THESE DEVICES EVERY COUPLE OF YEARS OR SO AND THEY STILL HAVE A POWERFUL PROCESSOR WITHIN THEM.

>> FIVE AND THAT PROCESSOR IS PART OF THE UCSD COMPUTER SCIENTISTS WANT TO REPURPOSE.

IT CAN RUN PERFECTLY WELL FOR AT LEAST SIX YEARS.

>> WE CAN COLLECT OLD UNWANTED FUNDS AND REDEPLOY THEM IN, FOR INSTANCE, A DATA CENTER AND WE WOULD INTRODUCE THE NUMBER OF NEW HARDWARE THAT WE WOULD NEED TO BUILD.

TODAY'S SMART PHONES ARE RECYCLED SO TO SPEAK BUT THE GOAL OF EXTRACTING PRECIOUS METALS LIKE COPPER AND SILVER IS DIFFICULT IT RENDERS VERY LITTLE RETURN.

THE U.S. CITIES COLORS THAT HE NEEDED TO GET PHONES TO TURN THEM INTO LITTLE DATA CENTER.

FELLOW COMPUTER SCIENTISTS GABRIEL MacCONNELL SAYS SWITZER HAD A PLAN.

>> JEN HAD A DONATION DRIVE WHERE SHE ASKED FOR DONATIONS FROM ANYONE ON CAMPUS.

IF THEY HAD OLD PHONES LYING AROUND IN A DRAWER TO GIVE THEM TO HER.

WE GOT A LOT OF PHONES THAT WAY.

>> Reporter: THE WORK BEGAN.

ASSEMBLING PHONES TOGETHER SO THE PROCESSORS CAN WORK ON THE SAME OPERATING SYSTEM.

THEY CALL THEM PHONE CLUSTERS BUT IN THE LAB THEY LOOKED MORE LIKE A SMART PHONE TOAST RACK OR MAYBE A PHONE SANDWICH.

>> ONE OF THE COOLEST THINGS ABOUT THIS IS THAT A PHONE, IN ITS WAY, IS ALREADY A DATA CENTER IN A BOX.

>> Reporter: AUS UCSD COMPUTER SCIENCE PROFESSOR AND SWITZER ADVISER.

SWITZER SAYS THEY HOSTED A WEBPAGE ON ONE AND PANNUTO SAYS THEY WILL NOT BE USED BY CONSUMERS BUT THEY COULD ENHANCE THE POWER OF DATA CENTERS AND EXPAND AND CENTRALIZE THE CLOUD.

>> WE HAVE DONE AND EQUALS 10 FOUND IN THE LAB.

WE CREATED A 10 PHONE CLUSTER.

WE PROVEN IT WORKS.

WHAT HAPPENS WHEN WE ARE DOING THINGS THAT SUPPORT ACTUAL COMMERCIAL INTEREST.

>> IF YOU HAVE A SMART PHONE , IT'S PROCESSOR COULD HAVE A FUTURE LIFE.

THOMAS FUDGE, KPBS NEWS.

>>> HERE ARE SOME OF OUR MOST POPULAR STORIES ONLINE THIS WEEK.

PART OF THE BERLIN WALL THAT ONCE SEPARATED GERMANY FIND A NEW HOME IN TIJUANA, MEXICO.

OCEANSIDE'S FIRST HOMELESS SHELTER IS NOW TAKING AND GUESS AND THE SAN DIEGO STREET PHOTOGRAPHER'S MAKE OR IN PUBLIC THAT IS ALSO ABOUT THE PUBLIC.

DECADES AGO THE U.S.

SPREAD AND MISINFORMATION THAT CAUSED THE BLACK PANTHER PARTY TO BECOME MOSTLY INACTIVE.

NOW, THE SAN DIEGO CHAPTER IS ONE OF MANY THAT IS REVIVING ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

KPBS PORTER EXPLORED THEIR RENEWED EFFORT TO RETURN ALL POWER TO THE PEOPLE.

>> Reporter: A ROOM IN THE MALCOLM X LIBRARY FILLED WITH CHATTER.

MORE THAN A DOZEN PEOPLE ARRIVE FOR A MEET AND GREET WITH THE BLACK PANTHERS.

>> THANK YOU EVERYONE FOR MAKING IT TO THE MEET AND GREET.

>> Reporter: HALF A CENTURY LATER THERE PLATFORM REMAINS THE SAME.

COPIES ARE BEING PASSED INTO A NEW GENERATION OF HANDS.

AT ONE END OF THE TABLE SITS A MINISTER'S INFORMATION.

A 24-YEAR-OLD AND ALL BLACK.

CURLY HAIR SPILLING OUT OF A BLACK BERET.

>> I LIKE MY SPEECH AND ACTION TOOLS.

IF I AM SAYING I LOVE HIM SO YOU ARE GOING TO'S THE A PANTHER.

A LOT OF US PRODUCE PSEUDONYMS JUST FOR IDENTITY PROTECTION AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE.

THE COUNTERINTELLIGENCE PROGRAMS ARE STILL OPERATING AGAINST, ESPECIALLY BLACK RADICAL ORGANIZATIONS.

SHE HAD BEEN HUNTING FOR AN OUTLET FOR WHAT SHE CALLS REVOLUTIONARY CHANGE.

>> I REALLY WASN'T REVIVING WITH, I WASN'T SITTING WITH A LOT OF THE MOVEMENTS HAPPENING AROUND ME.

>> SHE MAINLY SAW PROTEST 'S WITH NO FOLLOW-UP.

WE ARE HERE, ANGRY AND FACING A LOT OF VIOLENCE AND LITERALLY NOTHING IS CHANGING.

>> SHE LEARNED ABOUT THE BLACK PANTHERS AND A TV DOCUMENTARY.

AND LOOK TO SEE IF THEY WERE STILL AROUND.

SHE JOINED A LOCAL CHAPTER LAST YEAR.

THEY RUN A COMMUNITY GARDEN, FEED AND HOUSE PEOPLE AND RENT A FREE STORE ON WHAT USED TO BE A NOTORIOUS SIDE OF GANG ACTIVITY.

THE FILE COMPLAINTS AGAINST THE POLICE AND OBSERVED STOPS IN THEIR NEIGHBORHOOD.

THROUGH THE PROGRAMS THEY TEACH THE COMMUNITY HOW TO EMPOWER THEMSELVES.

THE PATTERNS WERE MOSTLY ACTIVE IN THE 1960s.

THEY ARE ICONIC BLACK BERET'S BROUGHT OUT OF THE HISTORY BOOKS AND INTO THE STREETS OF SAN DIEGO.

GRAB ATTENTION.

>> Reporter: CAN ASK WHAT YOUR FAMILY THOUGHT ABOUT YOU GETTING INVOLVED?

>> I DID NOT TELL THEM AT FIRST.

>> Reporter: SHE SAID SHE WAS NERVOUS ABOUT WHAT THEY MIGHT THINK.

THEY HAVE FACED A LIE THAT HAS SURVIVED ACROSS DECADES.

>> THEY ARE A BLACK VERSION OF THE KU KLUX KLAN .

THESE ARE ALL THINGS THAT WERE PUT OUT TO DELIBERATELY MISLEAD.

>> MISINFORMATION PUT OUT BY THE FBI WHO SAW THEIR ORGANIZING AND SOCIALIZED IDEOLOGY AS A THREAT.

THE GOVERNMENT'S EFFORTS CAUSE THE BLACK PANTHERS TO GO LARGELY INACTIVE BY 1970.

BUT THEY RECONVENE IN FOR 50th ANNIVERSARY IN LATE 2016.

>> THIS IS AROUND THE TIME OF -- >> Reporter: SHOT AND KILLED BY THE POLICE WHO WERE CALLED TO ASSIST HIM.

ORIGINAL MEMBERS DECIDED THE COMMUNITY SO NEEDED THE BLACK PANTHER PARTY SO THEY BROUGHT IT BACK TO LIFE.

POLICE VIOLENCE IS ONE OF MANY ISSUES THE PANTHERS ORGANIZED AROUND IN THE 60s THAT PERSIST TODAY.

>> IN A MOMENT THAT THE PANTHERS WERE ORGANIZING AGAINST INCARCERATION THERE WERE LESS INTENT THAN ARE IN PRISON NOW.

>> Reporter: IT IS NOT JUST IN SAN DIEGO.

THE PANTHERS ARE REVIVING IN PLACES ACROSS THE COUNTRY TO ADDRESS WORSENING ISSUES LIKE INCARCERATION, HOUSING AND FOOD INSECURITY.

THE CHIEF OF STAFF SAYS THEIR VISION IS BIGGER THAN THEIR SERVICE PROJECTS.

>> THESE ARE BAND-AIDS.

THESE ARE PROGRAMS DESIGNED FOR SURVIVAL.

THIS IS THE END GOAL.

>> Reporter: THE END GOAL IS TO EMPOWER THE COMMUNITY TO CHANGE THEIR CONDITIONS AND THE NEED FOR MANDATES AND FOR BLACK PANTHERS.

>> AS LONG AS WE HAVE PANTHERS OUR JOB IS NOT DONE.

>> Reporter: THE PARTY NOW THAT'S NEW MEMBERS INCLUDING BACKGROUND CHECKS.

ALSO A NEW MULTICULTURAL BRANCH CALLED UP AT THE PARTY AND THEY DON'T OPEN CARRY GUNS.

>> THE MOST SERIOUS WEAPON WE CARRY IS AN INK PEN.

>> THIS IS AN APPLICATION TO BE ABLE TO JOIN .

>> Reporter: APPLICATIONS CLOSE AUGUST 31st.

KPBS NEWS.

>> Reporter: WE HOPE YOU ENJOY THIS LOOK AT KPBS NEWS THIS WEEK I AM MAYA TRABULSI.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.