Andrew Bowen
Metro ReporterAs the KPBS metro reporter, Andrew Bowen covers a broad range of issues across San Diego County, including local government, housing, transportation, infrastructure and climate change. His reporting at KPBS has won numerous awards, including the 2019 Gloria Penner Award for Political Affairs Reporting from the San Diego chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists and the 2018 Walk the Walk Award from Circulate San Diego. Before moving to San Diego, Andrew worked for six years as a freelance translator, radio reporter, and TV news producer in Germany. His work for the German international public broadcaster Deutsche Welle had him covering local, national, and international stories across Europe. He also worked as a producer and reporter for the English-language website of Der Spiegel, Germany's largest news magazine. Andrew is originally from Santa Rosa, California. He holds a bachelor of science degree in journalism with a minor in Spanish from Northwestern University. He speaks fluent Spanish, Portuguese, and German.
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In a lean budget year, California has shrunk the size of its climate investments while still spending hundreds of millions of dollars on freeway expansions. Carter Rubin, director of state transportation advocacy at the Natural Resources Defense Council, joins the podcast to talk about his research into the state's mixed priorities in transportation spending. Read more research on HOV/toll lanes. -
Prosecutors in San Diego are planning a crackdown on wage theft. It's a rampant problem but workers often have no idea it's happening to them. -
Transit advocates have long asked for a more accessible and user-friendly fare payment system. -
Most city streets were designed around the car, with pedestrian and bike safety an afterthought. -
A new report criticizes the real estate deal behind San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria’s proposed 1,000-bed homeless shelter. Also, a Supreme Court ruling is likely to reshape how many cities regulate homelessness, particularly in the South Bay. And, UC San Diego is seeking approval to spend $2 billion to address its student housing shortage. -
San Diego may have to pay a premium for any property that could be used as a homeless shelter.
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In two separate motions, the Public Safety and Livable Neighborhoods Committee approved a proposed ordinance establishing rules for the city's acquisition and use of surveillance equipment and technology and to establish a Privacy Advisory Commission. -
The city of San Diego announced Monday the entirety of Golden Hall and parts of the Convention Center will be converted to homeless shelters with hundreds of beds as the city rushes to prepare for what health officials are describing as a storm on the horizon with the COVID-19 pandemic. -
KPBS Midday EditionWhen California voters legalized recreational marijuana in 2016, they did so with the promise of new social and environmental programs funded by cannabis tax dollars. That promise remains largely unfulfilled in San Diego.
- In Escondido, a school board member changes her name but not her politics
- SCUBA divers volunteer at San Diego's Birch Aquarium
- San Diego Unified is getting rid of some K-8 middle schools
- San Diego City Council to once again consider Balboa Park parking fees
- Elected officials announce proposed ordinance aimed at fed enforcement actions