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Amita Sharma
Investigative Reporter
Amita Sharma has worked at KPBS since 2000 and has covered a wide range of stories for TV and radio. She is part of the KPBS Investigative Reporting unit and occasionally hosts KPBS Evening Edition.
Among the reports Amita has produced are a three-part series on child sex trafficking in San Diego, a two-part series on how the state is using survivors' benefits for foster children to pay for their upkeep, and a four-part series on the Port of San Diego's finances. Other investigations include the San Diego angle to the U.S. attorney firings, private security firm Blackwater’s controversial training camp proposal, and the Sunroad development controversy. Amita has also interviewed a number of local and national newsmakers including former Democratic presidential candidate Howard Dean, Wisconsin Congressman James Sensenbrenner, and fired U.S. Attorney David Iglesias. In 2005 she landed an exclusive interview with three federal prosecutors who worked on the bribery investigation resulting in the guilty plea of former San Diego Congressman Randy “Duke” Cunningham. She also covered the murder trial of David Westerfield, the 2001 shooting at Santana High School, and how three of the 9/11 hijackers spent their time in San Diego.
Amita has also worked as a newspaper reporter. She has degrees in journalism and international relations from the University of Southern California.
Recent Stories by Amita Sharma
San Diego Man Says He Experienced ‘Banking While Black’ In Local Bank of America Branch
- July 26
- By Amita Sharma
A Black lawyer walked into a branch in Pacific Beach hoping to cash an insurance settlement check. He said the bank’s assistant manager not only refused to cash the check, but also accused him of stealing.
State Fines San Diego Nursing Homes Over Handling Of Alleged Sexual Assaults By Caregiver
- July 9
- By Amita Sharma
The fines come months after a KPBS investigation into how state Department of Public Health regulators allowed a former caregiver to continue to work in local nursing homes even as they investigated him for sexual assault.
KPBS Wants To Hear From You If You Applied For FEMA Help After The September 2020 Fires
- June 22
- By Amita Sharma
Fires destroyed or damaged dozens of homes in San Diego County last September. The devastation prompted scores of homeowners and renters to apply for financial assistance through the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
KPBS Wants Your Help In Understanding The Prevalence Of Biased Banking
- June 22
- By Amita Sharma
If you believe you’ve received unfair treatment from a bank, KPBS wants to hear from you.
Federal Watchdog: Abuse Allegations Not Adequately Reported In California Nursing Homes
- June 18
- By Amita Sharma
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Inspector General found instances where nursing homes were either late in reporting allegations of abuse or neglect, or didn’t report them at all.
California Considers Changing Watchdog Role Of Nursing Home Inspectors
- June 2
- By Amita Sharma
State officials say their plan would establish a more frequent presence in nursing homes. Critics argue it would weaken oversight by turning the state’s inspectors into consultants.
State Resumes Annual Inspections of California Nursing Homes
- May 18
- By Amita Sharma
The California Department of Public Health suspended routine state surveys of nursing homes in March of 2020, at the start of the pandemic.
State Authorities Allowed Alleged Sexual Predator To Job-Hop Among San Diego Area Nursing Homes
- April 14
- By Amita Sharma
California Department of Public Health investigators knew that certified nursing assistant Matthew Fluckiger had been accused of sex crimes by women at multiple nursing homes in El Cajon and La Mesa. Yet, the agency waited years to revoke his license.
California Lawmakers Proposing Significant Nursing Home Reform Package
- April 2
- By Amita Sharma
Lawmakers say the bills will make nursing homes safer and hold their owners more accountable.
San Diego Nursing Homes Opening To Visitors With Restrictions
- March 9
- By Amita Sharma
In San Diego, fully vaccinated residents can have visitors in their room if the visitors have tested negative for COVID-19 within the previous two days. Restrictions will loosen as case rates go down.
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