Public Matters

You are part of something bigger. A neighborhood, a community, a county, a state, a country.
All of these places are made stronger when we engage with each other in conversation and participate in local decision-making.
But where and how to start? Introducing Public Matters.

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Politics, Democracy and Elections News
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The state of the US democracy: From immigration enforcement to funding cuts to cost of living

Why It Matters: San Diego may rethink water recycling program

Why It Matters: San Diego considers steep tax on vacation rentals and second homes

'It's a fantasy': Roxane Gay on the role of civility in political discourse

Registrar of Voters changes course

How San Diego Democrats are using Prop 50 to reach new voters

A new state law means more housing can be built across San Diego

University Heights project offers example for building more housing

San Diego is building a lot of homes in its most walkable neighborhoods

When the news hurts: How relentless bad headlines impact our health

In Whose Backyard

Almost 100,000 new homes have been permitted across San Diego County since 2018. But the homes are not being spread evenly across the county. This project looks at where homes are being built, what kinds of homes are popping up and how that impacts the surrounding communities.

Explore the series

Documenters

The San Diego Documenters, an independently funded program of the nonprofit newsroom inewsource, is putting the "public" back in public meetings. The program trains and pays San Diegans to document community meetings and keep watch over local government.

Explore Documenters

Everyday Heroes

KPBS is telling stories of local volunteers who are giving their time in unusual and unexpected ways.

View Everyday Heroes

Talking Sense

TALKING SENSE aims to help people have hard political conversations, better. Here you can find quick and easy tips to guide conversations and develop better communication skills. Understanding the way people view and communicate about polarizing issues is a first step in bridging political divides in our families and communities.

View Talking Sense

Share your thoughts

A lot has changed since the last International Day of Democracy.

The day is meant to be a chance to review the state of democracy in the world and “reinforce the importance of upholding free speech, civil liberties, and the rule of law; ensuring accountable institutions; and protecting and promoting human rights,” according to U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres.

But many fear democracy is eroding. Research shows that Americans’ trust in government and each other is on the decline. There is less hope, less civil dialogue, and less faith in local and federal government.

To explore those changes, we’re hosting a live Q&A as part of our Public Matters initiative.

We want to hear from you about your questions on democracy, housing, civic engagement and local government. Submit them in the form below.

Then, join our livestream Wednesday, Sept. 24 at noon on YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok.

Thousands of people march through downtown San Diego, California to protest the Trump administration’s sweeping immigration crackdown and efforts to consolidate power on June 14, 2025.

Who We Are

Public Matters is an initiative of KPBS, inewsource and Voice of San Diego.

These three independent, non-profit journalism organizations are sharing content, conversation, and events that ensure all San Diegans understand their opportunity to participate in the democratic process and that it means more than voting in an election.

At its core, it is about reminding us that we have a shared humanity, and together we are empowered to make positive change.

Public Matters will lead up to the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 2026.

Public Matters is generously funded by Irwin and Joan Jacobs.